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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: quarkx on August 07, 2008, 07:01:29 PM

Title: Will the "Backpack"parallel CD Burnners work with a amigia?
Post by: quarkx on August 07, 2008, 07:01:29 PM

Ok, silly question, but I have a few old parallel backpack CD burners kicking around on my old Tandy systems. Can I use them on the Amiga's? I know I would have to hunt down or write drivers and get a CD file system, but is it feasible? If I have more than one Amiga set up, can I use a printer switch box and share the CD between them? Or is that just over the top? :crazy:

Title: Re: Will the "Backpack"parallel CD Burnners work with a amigia?
Post by: Zac67 on August 07, 2008, 08:09:09 PM

In theory: probably. In reality, lacking drivers: no.

If the drives themselves are standard IDE or SCSI, you can get rid of the parallel interface and connect them directly.

Title: Re: Will the "Backpack"parallel CD Burnners work with a amigia?
Post by: hardlink on August 07, 2008, 08:10:49 PM

I have some of those, too, even a parallel port floppy drive, and I've always wondered. First, I'd think you would need a parallel port meeting the IBM clone spec, maybe on a GVP IO Extender card. Then you would probably have to run an IBM simulator program like PCTask to use the PC-DOS drivers. Then maybe ...

With a BridgeBoard, I'd say definately, since they had a hardware clone parallel port :)
 

Title: Re: Will the "Backpack"parallel CD Burnners work with a amigia?
Post by: quarkx on August 07, 2008, 08:20:18 PM

Are you saying the Amiga's Parallel port is different than the PC? (transfer rates, communication and what not?) :-?

Title: Re: Will the "Backpack"parallel CD Burnners work with a amigia?
Post by: hardlink on August 07, 2008, 08:24:55 PM

Quote

quarkx wrote:
Are you saying the Amiga's Parallel port is different than the PC? (transfer rates, communication and what not?) :-?

Pin definitions at least - here's a comment from a review of the GVP IOExtender:

"Another jumper is provided which switches the parallel port from Amiga Parallel to IBM PC Parallel. The difference here is that the Amiga port supplies 5 volts on pin 14 (allowing devices such as samplers and digitizers to be powered)."