New external floppy drives

strim · 28 February 2015, 01:11

New external floppy drive for Amiga is now available for preorder at RetroAmi! The drives are made by Sakura company, which previously successfully completed the project of PCMCIA SRAM expansions.

The new drives were previously discussed in this EAB thread and are compatible with all classic Amiga models equipped with external disk drive connector. The version avaialble in preorder will be shipped with PC drive mechanism, but behave exactly as original Amiga-style 880kB DD disk drives (thanks to flexibility of the interface board). Version with no floppy drive included, or with emulator installed is not available in preorder.

The picture displayed at RetroAmi shows a prototype. Final version will be painted black and have some minor case corrections.

The price in preorder is 195 PLN (around $53). Note that after preorder ends, the price will increase. The drives are covered by 24-months warranty and will be shipped to users late April.

Hewitson · 28 February 2015, 08:36

I assume this company didn't make the actual drive. What drives are used?

strim · 28 February 2015, 09:25

The drives will be shipped with Sony MPF920 drive mechanism installed. They are NOS, guaranteed and delivered to us in original factory packaging.

Zippy Zapp · 02 March 2015, 13:28

Cool! I have never ordered from RetroAmi, but I just pre-ordered one. I still use floppies and a new compatible drive is a good thing.

strim · 02 March 2015, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippy Zapp

Cool! I have never ordered from RetroAmi, but I just pre-ordered one. I still use floppies and a new compatible drive is a good thing.

Thank you!

Zippy Zapp · 02 March 2015, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by strim

Thank you!

Thank You for making it!

strim · 24 April 2015, 11:32

The preorder will end on Tuesday, so anyone interested still have a few days to buy the drive at a reduced price of 48 EUR!

There was a small delay in the production, but it's almost done. We hope to start delivery to RetroAmi next week.

Zippy Zapp · 24 April 2015, 16:29

Thanks for the Update. Looks Fantastic!

Looking forward to getting one.

NovaCoder · 27 April 2015, 03:54

It does look fantastic...a really nice retro product

I don't actually use floppies myself but it's always nice to see new retro hardware!

strim · 27 April 2015, 11:46

Thanks guys.

We focused on producing the highest possible quality product. I hope the users will be satisfied!

Lord Aga · 27 April 2015, 12:35

Congrats Strim ! This looks very good indeed. I'll have to scrape up some money to get me one of these

jbenam · 27 April 2015, 13:59

Seriously, that looks amazing! Congrats, strim!

What's next? An internal adapter board to use PC HD floppy drives as HD on Amiga?

strim · 27 April 2015, 14:06

Quote:

What's next? An internal adapter board to use PC HD floppy drives as HD on Amiga?

Next is finishing Decelerator 4030

.

jbenam · 27 April 2015, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by strim

Next is finishing Decelerator 4030

.

True, gotta admit, the idea of running WHDLoad games on my A4000 without the usual incompatibilities the 040 comes with is a quite enticing idea

strim · 19 May 2015, 11:22

Last week first drives were shipped to customers. If you already received it, I'm curious about your opinion!

Supamax · 20 May 2015, 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbenam

What's next? An internal adapter board to use PC HD floppy drives as HD on Amiga?

Would that be possible with a not-so-complex circuit?

Zippy Zapp · 21 May 2015, 03:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by strim

Last week first drives were shipped to customers. If you already received it, I'm curious about your opinion!

I just got a notice that mine is going through customs. Should hopefully have it next week sometime to test it out. Thanks!

dirkies · 22 May 2015, 16:38

>Version with no floppy drive included, or with emulator installed is not available in preorder.

with all the Gotek frenzy going on, you may reconsider this position...?

strim · 22 May 2015, 18:21

The pre order period has already ended, soon the no-floppy-drive-included version will be available at RetroAmi.

Yulquen74 · 22 May 2015, 22:34

Nice one!

Is there any chance you will do internal replacement drives for A500's?

28 February 2015, 01:11	#1
strim NetBSD developer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 411	New external floppy drives New external floppy drive for Amiga is now available for preorder at RetroAmi! The drives are made by Sakura company, which previously successfully completed the project of PCMCIA SRAM expansions. The new drives were previously discussed in this EAB thread and are compatible with all classic Amiga models equipped with external disk drive connector. The version avaialble in preorder will be shipped with PC drive mechanism, but behave exactly as original Amiga-style 880kB DD disk drives (thanks to flexibility of the interface board). Version with no floppy drive included, or with emulator installed is not available in preorder. The picture displayed at RetroAmi shows a prototype. Final version will be painted black and have some minor case corrections. The price in preorder is 195 PLN (around $53). Note that after preorder ends, the price will increase. The drives are covered by 24-months warranty and will be shipped to users late April.

28 February 2015, 09:25	#3
strim NetBSD developer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 411	The drives will be shipped with Sony MPF920 drive mechanism installed. They are NOS, guaranteed and delivered to us in original factory packaging. Last edited by strim; 28 February 2015 at 09:32.

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28 February 2015, 08:36	#2
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,771	I assume this company didn't make the actual drive. What drives are used?

02 March 2015, 13:28	#4
Zippy Zapp Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: CA/USA Posts: 346	Cool! I have never ordered from RetroAmi, but I just pre-ordered one. I still use floppies and a new compatible drive is a good thing.

24 April 2015, 11:32	#7
strim NetBSD developer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 411	The preorder will end on Tuesday, so anyone interested still have a few days to buy the drive at a reduced price of 48 EUR! There was a small delay in the production, but it's almost done. We hope to start delivery to RetroAmi next week.

24 April 2015, 16:29	#8
Zippy Zapp Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: CA/USA Posts: 346	Thanks for the Update. Looks Fantastic! Looking forward to getting one.

27 April 2015, 03:54	#9
NovaCoder Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 4,400	It does look fantastic...a really nice retro product I don't actually use floppies myself but it's always nice to see new retro hardware!

27 April 2015, 11:46	#10
strim NetBSD developer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 411	Thanks guys. We focused on producing the highest possible quality product. I hope the users will be satisfied!

27 April 2015, 12:35	#11
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	Congrats Strim ! This looks very good indeed. I'll have to scrape up some money to get me one of these

27 April 2015, 13:59	#12
jbenam Italian Amiga Zealot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Italy Age: 36 Posts: 1,910	Seriously, that looks amazing! Congrats, strim! What's next? An internal adapter board to use PC HD floppy drives as HD on Amiga?

19 May 2015, 11:22	#15
strim NetBSD developer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 411	Last week first drives were shipped to customers. If you already received it, I'm curious about your opinion!

22 May 2015, 16:38	#18
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	>Version with no floppy drive included, or with emulator installed is not available in preorder. with all the Gotek frenzy going on, you may reconsider this position...?

22 May 2015, 18:21	#19
strim NetBSD developer Join Date: May 2012 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 411	The pre order period has already ended, soon the no-floppy-drive-included version will be available at RetroAmi.

22 May 2015, 22:34	#20
Yulquen74 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kleppe / Norway Posts: 253	Nice one! Is there any chance you will do internal replacement drives for A500's?

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