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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

5333.0. "CDROM, Please help me understand!" by NCMWFS::GAINES () Wed Jan 08 1992 11:58

	I know this has been asked before, yet I still get conflicting
	information regarding CDROM options for the Amiga. I'd like to
	see this note clear up all my confusion regarding this technology
	for the AMIGA PC.

	My current understanding is that the ISO 9660 is already the leader
	in setting the standard for CDROM communications/format. Based
	on this assumption, I have the following questions.

.	Does Amiga support ISO 9660 format for CD-ROM?

.	If the Amiga does support ISO 9660 format, does this mean
	the Amiga can take advantage of all the CD-ROM media created
	using ISO 9660 specifications? 

.	Is the CD-ROM media CPU dependent, i.e., Can an ISO 9660 CD-ROM
	media being used on an IBM, MAC, etc... Be equally utilized on 
	the Amiga, if the Amiga is supporting the same ISO 9660 specifications?

.	Is the data, graphics, sound, all part of the ISO 9660 specs? Or
	is this part of the delima, i.e., Amiga needs graphics data it 
	understands, IBM needs graphics data it understands, etc...?

.	If I have a CD-ROM drive, does a particular drive support any
	CD-ROM specification? Is the only difference the drivers associated?
	In other words, could I buy a CD-ROM and have the ISO 9660 driver,
	and then utilize iso 9660 media and then simply switch drivers and
	then utilize media tailored for that driver/specification?

	I would like to purchase the DAK Sony ISO 9660 CD-ROM player
	and take advantage of much of their cheap media offerings. If
	I do this, will I be able to get this drive to work on my Amiga
	and be able to view all data, illustrations etc...?

	MAG
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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5333.1ISO 9660 and AmigaSTAR::GUINEAUnothing personal...Wed Jan 08 1992 14:2134
>.	Does Amiga support ISO 9660 format for CD-ROM?

Yes, you can buy the filesystem (CDROM-FS) for about $50.00.

>.	If the Amiga does support ISO 9660 format, does this mean
>	the Amiga can take advantage of all the CD-ROM media created
>	using ISO 9660 specifications? 

Well, not necesarily. Having ISO-9660 support allows you to read the files on 
the CDROM's. You can type text files, view pictures (assuming appropriate
converter sw on Amiga - ex. GIF to IFF etc) etc.

BUT - Most CDROM's today are made for PC's. That means the application that 
accesses the  data on the CDROM is a PC executable. 

Hopefully, Once more Amiga's start having CDROM, more software houses will
start including Amiga versions of the application on the CDROMs. We already
see CDROM's with MSDOS, MAC and VMS versions of executables on them. 

I think this also answers you next couple questions.

>.	If I have a CD-ROM drive, does a particular drive support any
>	CD-ROM specification? Is the only difference the drivers associated?
>	In other words, could I buy a CD-ROM and have the ISO 9660 driver,
>	and then utilize iso 9660 media and then simply switch drivers and
>	then utilize media tailored for that driver/specification?

The CDROM drive simply allows you to read data from the medium. There is a CDROM 
standard as to what the low level recording format is and all CDROM's follow it.
Some are AUDIO, some are DATA, some are mixed audio and data. The drive
has no knowledgs of what the usage of the data on the media is (i.e ISO-9660,
FILES-11, DOS etc). It does know the differnece between AUDIO and DATA.


5333.2The AMIGA500 CD+G rom DUCK::NONDEPIl est des fois que je souhaite....Thu Jan 09 1992 06:418
    Is the Amiga "A560 or something"for the AMIGA500 due out in February 
    here in the U.K. going to allow writing or just reading?
    
    Seems to be a good deal or is it at an expected price of 200-300 pounds.
    
    
    Cheers, Patrick
    
5333.3read only ARRODS::GOLDSTEINSteve G. DTN: 847-5401Thu Jan 09 1992 07:4013
    
    
    	It going to be called the A690 and is called the CD-ROM
                                                            ===
    
    
    	It only allows reading ....(ROM := Read only Memory) 
    
    
    	It also will also allow upto 8-megs of memory to be fitted....
    
    
    	Steve G
5333.4More info pleaseDUCK::NONDEPIl est des fois que je souhaite....Thu Jan 09 1992 08:4110
    Steve,
    
    Happy New Year. Had a nice time over X'mas playing with the new toy ?
    
    Will it be CHIP ram and/or usable/accessible for any application DPIV
    or Prowrite or Database
    
    Cheers, Patrick
    
    
5333.5DAK drive unusable on AmigaKALI::PLOUFFOwns that third brand computerThu Jan 09 1992 11:517
    re: the DAK inexpensive CD-ROM drive.
    
    This comes with an interface card for PCs only.  *All* CD-ROM drives
    seen for Amiga to date use the SCSI interface and any hard drive
    controller card.
    
    Wes
5333.6Are you sure about the DAK drive?HYDRA::MOORESimply reinstall....EVERYTHING!Thu Jan 09 1992 17:073
    From what I've heard, the DAK drive *is* a SCSI drive.  That's why
    the PC interface card is included, most PCs use non-SCSI hard drives
    so the CD-ROM is usually their first SCSI device.
5333.7DAK drive reportedly worksDECWET::DAVISMark W. Davis 206.865.8749Thu Jan 09 1992 17:256
    I recall reading on usenet of someone installing and using the DAK
    CD-ROM drive.  He did not say anything bad about the drive. <-all I can
    remember.  fwiw
    
    md
    
5333.8DAK CD-ROM drive report from UsenetHYDRA::MOORESimply reinstall....EVERYTHING!Thu Jan 09 1992 22:2556
From: [email protected] (Robert Kimball)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Inexpensive CD-ROM for the Amiga!
Summary: CD-ROM drive for $229 from DAK works with Amiga.
Date: 29 Dec 91 18:19:18 GMT
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Lines: 46


 recently purchased a CDR-80 CR-ROM drive from DAK for $229 and thought
 some people on the net would be interested in what I think of the thing.

 The drive is an internal SCSI drive with an audio out jack and volume
 control on the faceplate.  It is a nice looking drive and the color is
 close to the Amiga color but is a little lighter.  I got the drive from
 DAK for $229 plus tax and shipping and it arrived in a little over a week
 (during Christmas season so I expected it to take a little longer.)
 The drive came with a SCSI adapter for an IBM PC, a ribbon cable, a
 Y-adapter for the power, Microsoft Bookshelf (for the PC, of course) and
 various documentation.

 The SCSI card has a 50 pin internal connector and a 25 pin external
 connector.  The external connector is identical to the Amiga 3000 external
 SCSI connector so I mounted the drive in an external cabinate.  That way
 I can easily swap the drive between my PC and Amiga.

 I got the CD-ROM File System for ~$30 mail order.  It installed without
 a hitch on the Amiga and included a utility for playing audio CDs in
 the drive.  The CDR-80 was specifically mentioned in the compatability
 list for the file system software.

 With the file system running the drive is mounted as NEC:.  Here is a
 dir command of the microsoft bookshelf:

 1.System:> dir nec:
      BOOKS (dir)
      MSLIB (dir)
   README.DOC                       SETUP.EXE
   SETUP.INF     
		 
 Works just like another drive except you can't write to it.

 I will have to get some CD disks from a friend to really try this
 thing out.

 So far I think the drive is very nice and the price can't be beat.


 I am really looking for someone in San Diego with a CDTV and lots of
 software.  I would like to try out the software and post the results.

-- 
Robert Kimball
[email protected]


5333.9Hmmm inreresting CX3PT1::WSC017::A_ANDERSONCSC32::A_Anderson NSU/VAX DTN 592-4170Fri Jan 10 1992 10:264
So possibly with a VGA adapter for the bridge board we can access both Amiga
CD-Rom applications and IBM PC CD-Rom applications.  Assuming the PC SCSI host
will peacably coexist on the same SCSI bus as the Amiga SCSI host.

5333.10How 'bout emulation mode?ALLVAX::TERELLAFri Jan 10 1992 15:475
	I don't know much (anything) about the program, but could you access 
	the drive using the IBEM software?	

	-mt
5333.11CX3PT1::WSC017::A_ANDERSONCSC32::A_Anderson NSU/VAX DTN 592-4170Fri Jan 10 1992 22:1115
    Re .10 My guess is no.
    
    IBeM as far as I know can only handle three drives IBMA IBMB and IBMC.
    All three need a MsDos file system.  I do not have a CDRom so I am guesing 
    but the Amiga CDRom file system is needed to access the CDRom.  I doubt 
    there is any way to mix the CDRom file system and the MSDos File system 
    for the same drive.
    
    I guess a MSDos based Driver can be written to link to the CRDom and
    emulate a MSDos SCSI Host.  But it would have to be close enough to
    fool the MSDos software into thinking its on a real SCSI host.
    
    
    Alan
    
5333.12not yetSTAR::GUINEAUnothing personal...Mon Jan 13 1992 08:017
Right, there is currently no way to access the CDROM as ISO-9660 format
from IBeM. I have successfully copied CDROM applications to the hard
disk IBeM partition and run them.

I've asked Mark (IBeM developer) for this support...

john
5333.13Possible Native Amiga solution: CX3PT3::WSC017::A_ANDERSONCSC32::A_Anderson NSU/VAX DTN 592-4170Mon Jan 13 1992 10:5610
Any body seen anything utilizing some of the Amiga Solutions:

Such as Art Dept Pro to read the Non amiga graphics and amiga Vision as a 
front end and AREXX to tie it all together.

We may not be able to run the Executables but we should be able to access 
the data files directly.



5333.14ANy RRD4x users?? And DAK Ph num ?MEO78B::MANDERSONAmiga + &#039;030 == MicroCRAYFri Jan 17 1992 08:458
    Two questions:
    
    1. Has anyone (sucessfully) used a Digital RRD40 or RRD42 on an Amiga??
    2. Has anyone got the phone number for DAK so I can call them ( please
    no 800 numbers as I can't use that from outside the USA)
    
    regards
    kevin
5333.15RRD42 - Yes!KALI::PLOUFFOwns that third brand computerFri Jan 17 1992 10:0313
    RRD40 - I don't think anyone has made it work with an Amiga because of
    the Digital difference - we say sectors are 512 bytes, while the
    ISO 9660 standard (everyone else) uses 2048 byte sectors.  Note: this
    is changing as standard format CD-ROMs gain favor at Digital.
    
    RRD42 - yes.  Simply insert or remove the parity jumper on the back
    panel.  At one setting it thinks it's a Digital RRD42.  At the other
    setting, the one that's useful on a personal computer, it thinks it's a
    vanilla CD-ROM drive from the manufacturer.
    
    This is discussed in a note a few months back.
    
    Wes
5333.16Now just when you need a Toll numberCX3PT3::WSC017::A_ANDERSONCSC32::A_Anderson NSU/VAX DTN 592-4170Fri Jan 17 1992 19:5620
    re .14
    
    This is all I could find on DAK.
    
    DAK Industries Inc.
    8200 Remmet Ave.
    Canoga Park, Ca. 91304
    
    Corporate Office 1-800-888-8220
    Order            1-800-325-0800
    Technical info   1-800-888-9818
    Other Inquiries  1-800-888-7808
    TDD Hearing imp  1-800-888-6703
    FAX Orders       1-818-888-2837
    
    
    Anybody in Canoga Ca have a phone book and a local listing for DAK.
    
    
    
5333.17re .16 - ThanksMEO78B::MANDERSONAmiga + &#039;030 == MicroCRAYSat Jan 18 1992 17:321
    
5333.18May not need to buy a CDTV box just to play CDTV titles.ULTRA::BURGESSMad Man across the waterMon Jan 27 1992 12:5212
	This may be old news, but I just caught the small print in 
BriWall's ad in the February AmigaWorld.

	On page 118, under the Xetec ad there is a claim that the 
Xetec CD drives are (among other things)  

	"compatible with CDTV titles (when running under the included
CDTV emulation software.)" 

	Reg