I got a chance to play with my Backpack Drive today for a little bit. So far I'm really happy with it. It's seems to work great and be pretty easy to use. I was only testing on a device with a REX, so I already have TS-DOS but I'm really thinking with the built-in bootstrapping, it will be nice for one of my other systems with no REX. I haven't tested that yet though.
On Sun, 2021-07-04 at 07:44 -0500, Jeffrey Birt wrote: > Hi all, > > A friend and fellow list member has developed a SD card storage > solution for the M100, T102, WP-2 NECs, etc. He sent me one a few > months ago and I loved it so much I encouraged him to offer them up > for sale. It is a small device, about 25mmx40mmx75mm with the case > on. It runs from a single AA battery with a 1025 coin cell to run the > RTC (the RTC allows for time/date stamping file). It works like a > TPPD2 but ignores calls to change partitions. All TS-DOS commands are > supported including directory navigation. It also has an extensive > CLI interface which makes it easy to do things like set the > time/date, update firmware, etc. > > Hi Everyone. We have a small number of the mini TPDD 'Backpack' > drives ready for a new home. The documentation has been poured over > by four of us, but I am sure there are still a few rough edges. Much > thanks go out to @48kRAM and @Fezzler for helping to improve the > documentation and being beta testers. There is a Git Hub page up now: > https://github.com/Jeff-Birt/Backpack which has lots of images too. > > I have offered to handle distribution as I am already set up to do > so. > > This first small batch is completely assembled, and it comes with a > 3D printed enclosure. You will need an AA battery and a smallish SD > card, i.e. 4GB, 8GB, etc. There are images of the enclosure colors at > the link above. The main colors are white, grey, and ‘old computer > beige’ I did print a case in black and one in a pearlescent color > that is kind of interesting. The price is $60. > > If you want to use it with a WP2 you need a DB25F<->DB9F adapter, The > developer of the 'Backpack' found a small number of NOS Belkin > adapters on eBay and is selling them at his cost, $5 in case someone > needs one. He also laid up a small PCB so folks can build their own > if they want. The links to the PCB files will be available shortly. > > Shipping in the USA is $5.50 for one unit, about $7.00 with the > adapter by first class mail. By Priority Mail it will be $9 for a > Small Flat Rate box. For international orders I’ll need to your > address to get shipping rates. To make thing easier email me > directly with your email address, shipping address, color of case and > if you want an adapter for the WP2. I'll send out a PayPal invoice. > > Keep in mind we have a small number in this first batch let’s give > everyone a chance to get one. A second small batch of hand assembled > boards will be available in the near future. > > Jeff Birt (Hey Birt!) >
