[aclug-L] Re: Linux as an alternative to a Windows desktop

["Jonathan Hall" <flimzy@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The Commodore computers did something similar on their 5.25" floppies.
Although in theory that could allow for faster access on the tracks that
hold more information, in reality, those drives were so slow that it really
didn't make any difference anyway :)

Another random tangent on Commodore floppy drives... they often had more CPU
power than the main computer did.  Some programmers would even offload
repetative tasks to the floppy drive to do, or use the small amounts of
memory in the floppy drives for temporary storage.

Hmmm!  D.net for hard drive controllers, anyone?

-- Jonathan


----- Original Message -----
From: "bruce" <bbales@xxxxxxx>
To: <discussion@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 9:00 PM
Subject: [aclug-L] Re: Linux as an alternative to a Windows desktop


>
> On Monday 16 December 2002 08:29 pm, you wrote:
> > Now this thread has taken an interesting tangent.
> >
> Another consideration (maybe) - 12 or 15 years ago, some of the
> newer disks NCR was receiving had variable amounts of data on
> different tracks.  Since capacity was limited (at least then)
> to a certain number of bits per mm, the outer tracks could hold
> more data.  So they put more sectors on the outer tracks, then
> mapped it so it looked like all tracks were the same.
>
> The result was that the heads had to move less on the outer
> tracks and the data came off faster (more bits per revolution).
> I suspect this scheme is still used - you'd have to ask a disk
> designer.
>
> If it is, it could have a big impact on where the best place to
> put data really is.
> bruce
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