sicklittlemonkey wrote:
> 
> 
> On Feb 1, 8:09 am, "Michael J. Mahon"  wrote:
>> In any case, if a format were developed that was only, say, twice
>> the size of a typical .dsk or .nib image, but that supported, say,
>> 99% of the desirable programs, that would be a fine tradeoff.
> 
> You don't even have to double the size of NIBs that use half tracks.
> Because adjacent tracks cannot be written (using the Apple II at
> least) we can just round down to a whole track. Actually AppleWin
> already does this. (Shh! ;-)

This would be true for whole tracks only.  Any use of partial
tracks (track arcing) would require additional information.

> If we add track length and track sync that should be 99%, no?

I don't know.  I'm beginning to think that no one does.

We need a couple of numbers, at least approximately:
1)  the total number of copy-protected titles, and
2)  the number of such titles that can be represented
     in the format you propose.  (Or, alternatively, the
     number that cannot.)

It's hard to tell whether the fame of some of the more
sophisticated protection schemes came as a result of the
quantity and desirability of their titles or simply as
a result of their unusual interest to deprotectors.

-michael

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