14/02/93



I think I've got great news for all port users who want to

connect their Portfolio directly to a floppy disk drive:



As the Portfolio is my only computer I was always dependent

on some friends and their PC's after receiving new software

for the port (for example a new issue of Re:port with another

great utility-HOOK).

The Drive 95 for the HP-95 seemed to be a good choice but

294,95 $ + shipping/handling (+ german VAT) was not the price

I had in mind for that kind of hardware.

Accidentially I got in contact with a company called

GEMAC which had just finished a FDD-interface for the port !

The whole components sit in the case of an original ATARI

memory extension (the one that isn't available in the USA).

It contains a serial and a parallel port and a floppy cable

for either a ATARI SF314 drive or a Shugart compatible drive.

You initialize the interface by pressing Fn-O and rebooting

the system after conneting it to the "DiskFolio".

Now you can use the FDD as drive B: !

All this sounds great ?! - In my opinion, this is the *most*

useful peripheral for the Portfolio I've ever heard about !!

I use it for about five weeks now and it's really a

completely new "Port-Feeling".

As all this sounds rather enthusiastic there are still some

minor problems to be solved :

1.)Diskfolio comes with all the necessary software in a

built-in EPROM. Unfortunately you can't use UPDATE.COM yet

together with the DiskFolio software, because it uses a

ROM extension that isn't -yet- compatible to the original

update program. (But according to GEMAC this problem will

soon be solved.)

2.)DiskFolio isn't able to format a floppy disk (you can

only use 720kb floppy disks !) But if you use pre-formatted

disks this isn't a problem any longer.

3.)DiskFolio isn't able to create sub-directories. Use your

PC to create sub-directories or write only to b:\.

(with the file-manager the whole job is really comfortable !)



The price isn't yet fixed, but will be around 300,-DM 

(about 180,- $).

GEMAC also plans to offer a complete package of interface

and your choice of FDD.

To contact GEMAC you can call, fax, or write.



GEMAC mbH Chemnitz

Matthesstr. 53

D-O 9003 Chemnitz



phone :++49-371-91190

fax   :++49-371-31070



If you need further information call :

Mr. Mario Reichel (he created the interface)

phone :++49-371-9119-209

(if you contact him please tell him that I've sent you.)



If you want to know more about this "universal-interface"

(yes, I know we have already got one) feel free to contact me.



Best wishes



