mdj wrote:
> On Feb 1, 12:03 pm, "Michael J. Mahon"  wrote:
>> 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.
> 
> Unless such a format can allow for a bitream that records every
> readable flux transition in a continuous track at every possible track
> position, there's no way to guarantee it will not prove inadequate for
> some software title or another :(

I think that's ultimately the case.  But if this extreme is only needed
to support fewer than 1% of the desirable protected disks, then
"the market" may choose a less capable but more economical approach.

My question is not about what can be done, but about how much is seen
as "worth it" to emulator users and archivists.

Although I would very much like to see a format in wide use that can
capture essentially *everything* about a disk that a Disk ][ can
discern, I suspect that the tradeoff in cost and complexity to achieve
the ability to image *100%* of protected Apple II disks might be too
great to ensure its wide acceptance.  In this case, a widespread
"good enough" would certainly be better than a little-used
"perfect".

-michael

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