Help identify this?

chaosmongers

I picked this up recently on buying expeditions. I'm assuming it's for the Speccy...



I *think* it might be a Plus D interface and drive, but I'm not sure. There's no power supply with it (assuming it needs one).

I don't have much knowledge of this kind of thing, not being able to afford one back in the day.

rich_chandler

You could be right.

ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/hardware-adverts/MGTPlusD_3.jpg

chaosmongers

that does look very similar. Will look for some more info now!

jamorski

Same as the Datel +D I had. The 3.5" drive came with a 3.5mm jack socket on the back for the PSU to plug into. Bit ropey as mine kept shorting on several occasions.

zeropolis79

Looks like a Datel +D.. Mine is a MGT model but on my disc drive, the power lead is hard wired.

Jmk

Yes, a Datel +D with a FixIt (for the +2A/+3) stuck on.

Where did I put that PSU though... I'll try to find it.

ewgf

Yes, that looks like a +D, I had one and it was *fantastic*. Five seconds to load a 48K snapshot (can't remember how long a 128K snapshot took, but it was similarly impressive). Beware though, the early version(s) of the +D's operating system could corrupt files on disc, either use the fix, or use the third party OS (Beta-DOS, maybe, I can't remember?) which doesn't have the bug.

Also, I used a Multiface with mine, as unlike the +D's snapshot feature, the +D would compress the snapshots to save disc space. I think the +D had about 780kb per double sided disk, if I remember correctly. Not all Multface's had the save-to-+D feature (and I think it might have been called the 'Disciple' rather than the +D in the MF's menu, as the Disciple was the older brother of the +D).

DavidB

Yes - looks like the Datel version.

For some reason, Datel seemed to think that white was a good idea for Spectrum interfaces - unlike Brucey (Gordon) who knew that black is the proper colour :-)

I remember getting my original +D from Mr Robert Brenchley at a show at Norbrek in Blackpool... mind you, the reason I was there was mostly to see the SAM Coupe prototype - which was actually a wooden mockup of the final case (although with slightly different keyboard layout) .. with a working protype running safely out of stray hands.

DavidB

ewgf wrote: »

Yes, that looks like a +D, I had one and it was *fantastic*. Five seconds to load a 48K snapshot (can't remember how long a 128K snapshot took, but it was similarly impressive).

Something like 8-12 seconds I think.

I swore by +D Toolkit - by Steve Nutting - which was really useful (and cheap!) - the +D Hacker part of the toolkit came in very handy for my odd couple of attempts at hacking - and studying the Spectrum version of Manic Miner in great detail :-)