iBook-64?
May 15, 2006 6:18 PM Subscribe
Help my iBook talk to my Commodore SX-64.
I recently came into possession of a Commodore SX-64 (the Portable C=64, with built in 1541 disk drive and display). I have blank floppies, but no software. I know plenty of places to download ROMs. However, I can't get the files from my iBook G4 to the SX-64. All of the crossover cables I have seen involve serial ports (which I lack -- the only PC in the house also lacks a serial port). Does a USB solution exist? Am I SOL or can I play Bionic Commando and Impossible Mission soon?
I recently came into possession of a Commodore SX-64 (the Portable C=64, with built in 1541 disk drive and display). I have blank floppies, but no software. I know plenty of places to download ROMs. However, I can't get the files from my iBook G4 to the SX-64. All of the crossover cables I have seen involve serial ports (which I lack -- the only PC in the house also lacks a serial port). Does a USB solution exist? Am I SOL or can I play Bionic Commando and Impossible Mission soon?
p.s. you can play Bionic Commando, etc. using the VICE emulator, which runs on Mac OS X. Download.
posted by ori at 6:39 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by ori at 6:39 PM on May 15, 2006
Response by poster: I should note that I can't get a serial port PCI card because only laptops are in the house. As for emulation, I have been a long fan of that -- however, I need to justify keeping this SX-64 around (we're about to move cross country and I feel bad about taking on this extra weight, but it's the only kitschy nostalgia-ish piece of electronics that I own).
Any experience with the serial-to-USB adapters in this kind of situation? I have used one once before and found it highly irregular -- it was hooked to a device that required very precise timing and the timing was never right.
posted by trey at 6:43 PM on May 15, 2006
Any experience with the serial-to-USB adapters in this kind of situation? I have used one once before and found it highly irregular -- it was hooked to a device that required very precise timing and the timing was never right.
posted by trey at 6:43 PM on May 15, 2006
You should convert them to Datasette format using something like this.
posted by Kirklander at 8:01 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by Kirklander at 8:01 PM on May 15, 2006
...although that really might go the wrong way...
posted by Kirklander at 8:01 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by Kirklander at 8:01 PM on May 15, 2006
I got a 1581 drive on ebay for my C64 for transfers from my PC. This makes the PC side pretty simple. There are plenty of programs for the 64 that will read an IBM formatted 720KB disk with the 1581. You might have a problem finding DSDD 3.5 " disks, though - I have plenty of Amiga disks to use.
posted by rfs at 8:49 AM on May 16, 2006
posted by rfs at 8:49 AM on May 16, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
When I was recently faced with a similar problem I just bought a serial port PCI card.
posted by pombe at 6:25 PM on May 15, 2006