SomeGuy
Veteran Member
A while back I acquired a VTech (Video Technology Computers Ltd) Laser 3.5" floppy disk drive. One would expect that a 3.5" floppy drive for an Apple II clone would work with other Apple II computers, but this is not the case.
The Apple II world of 3.5" drives are a confusing mess of incompatible models and controllers (some combinations of which can go boom!). Various Internet resources were not crystal clear about what this drive is compatible with, so I am posting my findings here.
There are two very good resources that discuss drive and controller compatibility, but they don't discuss clones or integrated controllers.
http://apple2.info/wiki/index.php?title=A2_Floppy_Controllers
http://apple2.info/wiki/index.php?title=3.5_Drive_Compatibility
The Vtech Laser 3.5" floppy drive is a clone of the Macintosh "Apple 800K External" M131, but has a manual eject button.
The Laser 3.5" floppy drive is compatible with:
II+/IIe/IIgs with Vtech UDC card
Laser 128 (later models)/128ex
Macintosh
The Laser 3.5" floppy drive is NOT compatible with:
II+/IIe/IIgs with any other 3.5" cards
IIc/IIc Plus
IIgs
Laser 128 early model (type with slits in the cover, reported may/may not work)
Yes, that's right, this drive is really for the Macintosh, but works with and was sold for the Laser 128/128EX Apple II clone.
The Laser 128 itself supports most Apple 3.5" drives. Its support is equivalent to the Vtech UDC card, a very powerful add-on for the Apple II+/IIe/IIgs.
Reportedly, the Laser 128 SmartPort supports:
Apple IIe/IIc UniDisks (3.5" and 5.25" models)
Macintosh 3.5" drives (the ones without the buttons)
Apple IIGS daisy-chainable 3.5" drives and Apple 5.25" disks
Chinook CT-series 20 MB to 100 MB SmartPort hard drives
(Although according to the resources above, mixing an Apple UniDisk 3.5" and VTech Universal Disk Controller card may go boom. Not the case for the Laser 128?)
The Laser 128 SmartPort can support two 800K 3.5" drives, two 140K 5.25" drives, and one 100 MB CT100 hard drive simultaneously daisy-chained to each other.
The Apple II world of 3.5" drives are a confusing mess of incompatible models and controllers (some combinations of which can go boom!). Various Internet resources were not crystal clear about what this drive is compatible with, so I am posting my findings here.
There are two very good resources that discuss drive and controller compatibility, but they don't discuss clones or integrated controllers.
http://apple2.info/wiki/index.php?title=A2_Floppy_Controllers
http://apple2.info/wiki/index.php?title=3.5_Drive_Compatibility
The Vtech Laser 3.5" floppy drive is a clone of the Macintosh "Apple 800K External" M131, but has a manual eject button.
The Laser 3.5" floppy drive is compatible with:
II+/IIe/IIgs with Vtech UDC card
Laser 128 (later models)/128ex
Macintosh
The Laser 3.5" floppy drive is NOT compatible with:
II+/IIe/IIgs with any other 3.5" cards
IIc/IIc Plus
IIgs
Laser 128 early model (type with slits in the cover, reported may/may not work)
Yes, that's right, this drive is really for the Macintosh, but works with and was sold for the Laser 128/128EX Apple II clone.
The Laser 128 itself supports most Apple 3.5" drives. Its support is equivalent to the Vtech UDC card, a very powerful add-on for the Apple II+/IIe/IIgs.
Reportedly, the Laser 128 SmartPort supports:
Apple IIe/IIc UniDisks (3.5" and 5.25" models)
Macintosh 3.5" drives (the ones without the buttons)
Apple IIGS daisy-chainable 3.5" drives and Apple 5.25" disks
Chinook CT-series 20 MB to 100 MB SmartPort hard drives
(Although according to the resources above, mixing an Apple UniDisk 3.5" and VTech Universal Disk Controller card may go boom. Not the case for the Laser 128?)
The Laser 128 SmartPort can support two 800K 3.5" drives, two 140K 5.25" drives, and one 100 MB CT100 hard drive simultaneously daisy-chained to each other.