Description
The Atari 1050 disk drive was Atari’s replacement to the Atari 810 disk drive. The new Atari 1050 disk drive matched the new high-tech, low profile line of Atari XL home computer systems. The original Atari 810 could hold single density data (88K out of 100K diskettes) which was standard. The new Atari 1050 disk drives were DUAL-DENSITY disk drives and could use the older Atari 810 diskettes, but could also hold data in a new Enhanced Density mode of 127K. Although the standard for disk drives was 180K, this additional storage was welcomed by Atari users who bought the disk drives.
This SDrive-MAX is beautifully crafted to look like the original Atari 810 floppy drive from 1982 and great attention to detail has been put into its design.
The SDrive-MAX is a modern solution to the old problem of not enough disk space on your Atari 8bit computer. SDrive-MAX is a floppy drive emulator that emulates up to 4 physical floppy drives and one tape drive. Store thousands of floppy drive images on a single micro SD card that loads just like the original floppy did.
The all-new SDrive-MAX also functions flawlessly alongside physical drives giving you the ability to back-up those aging floppy disks onto modern storage that will last. It is incredible that floppy disks from 40 years ago still work, but it is only a matter of time before the data on them vanishes forever. The SDrive-MAX allows you to copy all of that data of the aging floppy for use far into the future. You can copy from the SDrive-MAX to physical drives just as effortlessly as from a physical disk to the SDrive-MAX.
The SDrive-MAX comes with a large touch-screen display, a 16GB micro SD card, an external power supply for maximum flexibility and a stylus for easy control. SDrive-MAX’s can get power from the SIO cable, but we include an external power supply for the original 800/400 computers that do not supply power fast enough to the SDrive-MAX to boot from it. You can also load CAS images using the SDrive-MAX since it also emulates the old tape drives used in the ’80s.
Item includes:
- SDrive-MAX.
- Supports “ATR”, “ATX”, “CAS”, “COM”, “BIN”, “EXE”, “XEX”, “XFD”, “TAP”, “IMG” images.
- 16gb microSD Card.
- 3′ cable with SIO plug.
- Touchscreen.
- Stylus.
- Stylus holder built into the drive.
- Optional External power supply (Input: AC 100-240V Output: DC 12V 1A US style plug).
- Power switch modification allowing either power over SIO cable to the external power supply. External power is highly recommended.
- SIO modification to allow for SDrive-MAX to operate along with physical drive connected to the SIO bus.
- Working Power LED.
- Working Drive Activity Light.
- Footpads.
The case is available in either left-handed or right-handed versions. The stylus is on the left side for the left-handed version and the right side for the right-handed version.
About the Cases
The original design for these cases was done by Steve Boswell of Atari8Bit.net. We took his base design and made a few changes that we think improved the design a little. We added multiple parts so we could have a black drive door with the brown basal, we added some holes for the power and activity LEDs, added a place for a switch to select between SIO and external power, and closed the back wire slot, and made a hole for the wire we use with our drives. Steve did an amazing job recreating the look of the original drive and we just love it. In the spirit of Open-Source, we are releasing our STL designs so that anyone who would like to print their own can. Make sure you check out Steves’s site for all kinds of cool Atari related things and thank him for this amazing case design! Steve has a great deal of talent when it comes to 3D modeling and design.
Please note – The documentation for the SDrive-MAX is included on the SD card, please read it before use.
SDrive-MAX Files
bcripon89 –
I was very pleased with the SDrive Max. Initially, I had the original case but I really wanted the 1050 case because it looks like “Mini Me”. I’ve been happy with the build quality of the product.
I know some people have the knowledge and tools to build the Sdrive Max themselves for less money. However, I’m glad there are pre-built options for those of us who don’t have the time or ability to solder.
Old Hippie (verified owner) –
I just received it today and I was very impressed with the quality and craftsmanship they put into designing and building their 1050 SDrive-MAX. The high quality details of the 1050 case are perfect, including the power light and busy light! I spent several hours playing games, copying ATRs to floppies and backing up floppies to ATRs. This is a dream to operate! It comes with a 16GB MicroSD card that will store thousands of your games, DOS, utilities, etc. on it. The 1050 case is bigger than the other cases, and I like that because it is easier to handle and there is room to rest my hand when I am using the stylus. I am completely satisfied with the purchase of Vintage Computer Center’s SDrive-MAX! Thank you!
Dale Stothers (verified owner) –
First off, it’s adorable. It’s like my 1050 had a baby. Love, love, love the look.
It’s not the most user intuitive device, but there’s a pretty good review/tutorial on YouTube by 8-bit and more. After playing with it a bit, I felt comfortable enough to start transferring my old program disks to atr files. Easy enough to daisy chain the unit to the back and use the physical drive as D1. I certainly could never afford a second drive in the 80s, so it’s fantastic to have 5 now.
The only gripe I have is that the SD card is situated just above the input cord in back. You need some really skinny tweezer-like fingers to pull it out. My fingers are not. I assume this was designed so the front was free to look exactly like the 1050, so it’s an inconvenience I can live with.
So far, really digging this.
Gavin –
Try a little bit of clear tape on the SD card. Make a little tab that allows you to grab it with adult-size fingers.
j_c_chacon_jr (verified owner) –
It took a little getting used to, but I was up and running in short order. Started copying/preserving my original disk archive already. The only hiccups I’ve had is with remembering how to perform Atari DOS procedures; the unti also froze on me once or twice, but nothing that a quick reboot didn’t resolve. The good ol’ Internet and referring to my “Your Atari Computer” bible came to the rescue on remembering how to do things, and temporarily disconnecting/reconnecting power to the unit resolved the other.
This might be a packaged solution that can probably be done on one’s own, but if you want something that’s ready to go, I think the price is reasonable and the product simply works – and come on – the “Baby 1050” looks awesome next to an original!