Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Anonymous MOS on July 16, 2007, 12:15:32 AM

Title: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: Anonymous MOS on July 16, 2007, 12:15:32 AM: Hey guys,

Does the California Access Floppy drive have a good reputation, if it has one at all?

Thanks,
Steve
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: Jeff on July 16, 2007, 01:24:17 AM: I have one that I purchased new years ago, and one that I just got used recently in a bundle. They both still work fine if that helps any.

Jeff
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: Anonymous MOS on July 16, 2007, 02:39:20 AM: Yeah, that helps. Thanks. :-)
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: TjLaZer on July 16, 2007, 03:16:30 AM: Yes the CA-880 was the Cadillac of external floppy drives. I bought one NEW back in the day as well, and ended up getting another one on ebay recently. They are very high quality, I would give it the token thumbs up and say it's even milspec!

(http://images.usatoday.com/news/_photos/2002/08/07bush-inside.jpg)
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: ChaosLord on July 16, 2007, 04:01:41 AM: Their drives were so good that I became a dealer and started selling them to all my friends.

I think I still have 1 or 2 of them brand new and never opened, stashed in my closet somewhere.

Amiga Rules Forever!
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: Anonymous MOS on July 16, 2007, 06:02:24 AM: So, they are better than the Amiga brand floppy drives?
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: marcfrick2112 on July 16, 2007, 06:34:11 AM: @Ranthalion: I have not actually owned one of these drives, (though I want one) but back in the day, they were highly regarded according to friends, and some old magazine reviews.
What I can say for sure, is that I have owned 3 Amiga 1010 external drives, only one survives today....

my 2 cents...
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: TjLaZer on July 16, 2007, 07:08:09 AM: Yes they are better.

1. smaller
2. no clicking
3. drive disable switch on back
4. reliable

my 4 cents
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: Anonymous MOS on July 17, 2007, 12:39:11 AM: Yes, that helps so much guys. I just secured one on eBay today because of your information!

Thanks again,
Steve

P.S. As I've said before, this place is great!
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: shayes1981 on July 17, 2007, 04:26:55 AM: I remember when my dad brought one of these home back in '88 or '89. My brother had just bought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, and the thing required a disk swap about every two seconds!

It didn't annoy me much (I was seven or eight, and just liked being Leonardo), but it gave Dad an excuse to buy another expansion for the A500.

BTW, the CA880 is still attached to the Dad's A1000, working perfectly. The only quirk was that if you had the drive off when the computer was turned on, and turned the drive on later, it wouldn't pick it up. Still, a wonderful product! I wish my A1200 internal drive was so well built!
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: Anonymous MOS on July 17, 2007, 04:45:13 AM: I had been looking for an internal drive, mine went out a while back, and just decided on an external. They seem easier to find.
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: Anonymous MOS on July 20, 2007, 11:20:11 PM: Oh my god! I told you I purchased one off of eBay... Well, It came today. :-o It was packaged in a bubble envelope.... An old floppy drive.... in a BUBBLE ENVELOPE?!?!?!? :pissed: It didn't look good. It looked like it had been stepped on and thrown around in a greasy mechanics garage before getting to me....

IT WORKS!!! It works great! Of course it feels like a brick and is made awesomely well. It's like a little tank!

Thanks for your advice guys, :-D
Steve
Title: Re: California Access 880 Floppy Drive
Post by: TjLaZer on August 30, 2007, 07:44:13 AM: Ah yes the bubble envelope. The staple of professional packing for moronic eBay sellers. You gotta love Electronic Commerce in the sticks.