Amstrad PCW 8256/8512

[Chuck Guzis]

On 29 Apr 2007 at 12:22, Chris M wrote:

>  I obtained one of these at a computer show yesterday.
> I was told that the 3" disks are still available in
> the UK. Is this so?

You might even find some old stock on this side of the pond.  They're 
known as "CF2" floppies and I sometimes see them on ePay.

I just picked up a Joyce for the floppy drive.  I'll probably scrap 
the rest of the unit, since there doesn't seem to be a lot of 
interest in the PCW in the US.  I do know that people replaced the CF 
drive with standard 3.5" drives quite often.  That may be your best 
bet if you're interested in running software.  IIRC, there was also a 
Yamaha diskette drive (MDR-1) that hooked to Yamaha organs like the 
FX-20 that also used them.  You can still get them NOS from overseas, 
but the prices aren't for the squeamish:

http://www.clive.nl/detail/24336/

>  This page: http://www.seasip.demon.co.uk/Unix/Joyce/
> states that there is a "hideous hybrid" of an upgrade
> that effectively turns it into an PEECEE/AT. I demand
> to know where I can find one.

Looks a little ridiculous to me--just like that thingummy that fit 
around the Classic Mac to get you PC capabilities--it cost more than 
a PC IIRC.  I don't remember the name of it.

CHeers,
Chuck