MicroDrive/Turbo

The MicroDrive/Turbo IDE Controller is a Mass Storage Device that can be used with the Apple IIgs or Enhanced IIe. It emulates a solid-state Hard Drive using Compact Flash Cards.

MicroDrive/Turbo is currently sold by ReActiveMicro. They sell it with a preloaded 256 MB Compact Flash Card to start using the MicroDrive/Turbo right out of the box. Software included is GS/OS v6.0.1, IIgs Memory Testers, ShrinkIt (8 and 16 bit), Copy II+, MicroDrive Utilities, DiskMaker8, DSK2File, DOS.MASTER and different AE Memory Testers for your IIe. Everything needed to start transferring and unpacking software from the Internet and start using your Apple II once again.

Project Status: Complete. In production. Actively sold by ReActiveMicro.

Support: Post on the Discussion page (link above) or email ReActiveMicro Support.

History

Looking to speed up your sluggish Apple II? The MicroDrive/Turbo is faster that any other Mass Storage controller since it uses DMA for reads and writes. As the name implies, it performs Direct Memory Access which bypasses the CPU and allows for a whopping 40% faster read and write speeds when compared to conventional controllers. For example, with an accelerator installed in your IIgs you can boot GS/OS in as fast as 7 seconds!

Why use Compact Flash Cards? They are readily available, inexpensive, low power, noiseless, shock proof, removable and last almost forever - things that can't be said about mechanical Hard Drives. However, it is still possible to use some older IDE Hard Drives with the MicroDrive/Turbo Controller if desired. Do you download software from the Internet and wonder how to get it to your Apple II or spend lots of time doing so? With the MicroDrive/Turbo IDE Controller it's now super easy! Just remove the Compact Flash Card from your MicroDrive/Turbo, insert it in to your PC and using you can read and write directly to the Compact Flash Card using CiderPress (Windows only). Using your PC for transferring files and backing up has never been so quick and painless!

The MicroDrive/Turbo IDE Controller is ProDOS compatible. It's recognized as a 'standard' Mass Storage Device just like any Hard Disk Drive is on your Apple II. Large Volume DOS 3.3 support is through the use of a program called DOS.MASTER which is also preloaded.

Any questions? Please ask! See our Wiki for software, images, manuals, and support.