[Info-vax] Anyone interested in another public access system

[yyyc186]

On Apr 7, 8:48 pm, yyyc186 <yyyc... at hughes.net> wrote:
>
> > I believe you're right.  ISTR that someone came up with a Format program
> > for the properRainbowformat.  It worked perfectly, DEC's claims to the
> > contrary not withstanding.  DEC lost!
>

I am right, but need to see some final confirmation.  Found this
snippet:

-----
The floppy disk drives took 400 KB[2] single-sided quad-density disks
when all the other microcomputers were using 360 KB double-sided
double-density disks. Initially users had to buy media from DEC with a
special reinforcing ring at the hub, but this became unnecessary when
other manufacturers began producing diskettes that suited both types
of drive.
-----

None of them initially had a FORMAT utility because none of the floppy
disk manufacturers were putting that, now standard, reinforcing ring
on at the time.  Shortly after DEC started requiring the reinforcing
ring, most other 360K floppy manufacturers started putting it in.
Later in life you differentiated 360K from 1.2M floppies by seeing if
they had a reinforcing ring.  I KNEW there was a reason they were able
to justify not shipping a FORMAT utility initially.  The media was
proprietary...for a very short while.  As I recall, you _had_ to have
the ring.  The drive had too much torque or speed or something.  Non-
reinforced floppies would work for only a very short while.

Ah.....memories of the dual floppy toaster!

Sighhhhhh