Welcome the Astra 1620 Dual Floppy Drive

Today we welcome to the collection, the Astra 1620 Dual Floppy Drive

AND NOW ASTRA HAS THREE
MODELS FOR YOUR ATARI

ASTRA 1620

Our original single or double density dual disc drive.
Two drives, for the price of one.

(360 KBYTES)

ASTRA 2001

^H B| All of the features

of the 1620, but

with improved

circuitry, rotary

doors, and direct

drive motors.

(360 KBYTES)

ASTRA “BJG P”

Double sided, single or double density,
dual disk drive.

(720 KBYTES)

ALL DRIVES FURNISHED WITH
SMARTDOS OR MYDOS *

*DOUBLE SIDED DRIVES

FOR NEAREST DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR
CALL (714) 549-2141

*flSTRfl SVST6MS

2500 South Fairview* unit L • Santa Ana, Ca. 92704

^ASTRA SVSTCMS, INC.

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding Astra Systems.

At the present time we are manufacturing three drives for the
Atari Computers.

All of these are compatible with new Atari line (800XL-600XL)
as well as the original and intermediate units
(400,800,1200XL).

We are enclosing a copy of our recent ad which is running in
“Antic” and “Analog” magazines. It outlines the three models
mentioned above.

We are also enclosing an insert which answers the most common
questions about our drives.

If you have any additional questions please feel free to
contact me at Astra Systems.

Thank you.

Louis A. Schwing
President

2500 S. FAIRVIEW, UNIT L

SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92704

(714) 549-2141

ASTRA SYSTEMS, INC.

DISK DRIVES WITH A DIFFERENCE!

THE “MORE USEFUL” PERIPHERALS

Astra disk drive systems provide you with two high quality
half-height disk drives in one attractively styled cabinet. The drive
mechanisms feature direct drive motors for better reliability and more
critical speed control.

WHY TWO DRIVES?

One disk drive is simply not adequate for any but the most
superficial application. If you are using your computer for word
processing, spreadsheet analysis, or data base management; if you back
up your disks regularly; or if you use your computer in a business
application, then a two drive system is an ideal configuration. Many
of the more sophisticated programs are modular in nature, requiring
that a system disk be present in drive #1 throughout your computing
session (except when you are saving or loading files). With a dual
drive system that’s no problem: simply leave your system disk in
drive #1, place your data disk in drive §2 and forget about the
onerous and error-prone chore of disk swapping.

SINGLE OR DOUBLE DENSITY

Astra drives offer you the choice of single or double density data
storage. In single density, disk capacity is 90 Kilobytes, but in
double density that jumps us to 180 Kilobytes per drive. Thus, if
both your drives are configured as double density, your on-line
storage is a whopping 360 Kilobytes!

SINGLE OR DOUBLE SIDED

We also offer a model called the Big D. In addition to the dual
drive, double density capacity of the Astra 2001, the Big D features
double sided drives. Now, your storage capacity soars to nearly 3/A
Megabytes!! That’s serious storage.

The Big D is meant to serve the large file-handling and data
storage needs of those people using their computers in business and
for telecomputing through bulletin board systems and large databases
such as the Source and CompuServe.

EASY TO USE – EASY TO LOVE

Astra drives are ready to be plugged in, turned on, and used as
soon as they come out of the box. We ship them with everything you
need to begin enjoying your new-found storage capacity; i/o cable.
Warranty Card, Manual, and a superior Disk Operating System.

Astra 2001s come with SMARTD0S, the most sophisticated and
friendliest DOS ever produced for Atari computers. Astra Big Ds are
shipped with MYD0S. MYD0S is the only double sided DOS worth
considering for Atari computers. Its ease-of-use rivals that of
SMARTD0S and it gives you effortless access to both sides of your
disks.

DISK DRIVE SPECIFICATIONS
ASTRA SYSTEMS 2001 DUAL DRIVE UNITS

FUNCTION

CHARACTERISTICS (each drive)

Single

density

double density

Encoding Method

FM

MFM

Diskette type

ANSI Standard

ANSI Standard

Storage Capacity

Unf ormatted 5 *

90 K

Bytes

180 K bytes

Formatted 5 *

88 K

Bytes

176 K Bytes

Data Transfer Rate
(MFM)

125 kilobits/sec

250 kilobits/sec

Number of R/W Heads

one 5 *

one 5 *

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

Tracks

40

Rotational Speed

290 RPM

+ – 1$

Track Density

48 Tracks

per inch

Rotational Latency

Average

100 Milliseconds

Access Time

Track-to-track

Step Settling Time
Average

Turnaround Time

6-20

1 5-20
93-275
20-35

msec

msec

msec (incl settling time)
msec

Head Switching Time

200 microseconds

Read/Write Head

Single-sided, w/tunnel erase 5 *

Reliability

MTBF

MTTR

10,000 P0H

0.5 hour

Read Errors

Recoverable

Non-Recoverable

Less than 1 in 10 billion

Less then 1 in 10 trillion

Seek Errors

Less than 1 in 10 million

* With the Astra Big D, there are two read/write heads per drive, and
the storage capacity figures are exactly twice these figures.

ASTRA SYSTEMS DISK DRIVES

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ASTRA

DISK DRIVES

Q—Are the ASTRA drives compatible with all software written for the Atari
line of computers?

A—We have tested over 650 software packages on the ASTRA drives and have
found that they are the most compatible of any of the third-party drives.
Some software publishers employ elaborate copy-protection schemes which may
cause difficulty in loading from time to time. Some versions of LETTER
PERFECT and DATA PERFECT exhibit unusual formatting methods, but we have
found that disks formatted through a normal DOS will work perfectly with
those software products. In short, the ASTRA drives are highly compatible
with normally written software for Atari computers.

Q—Will the ASTRAs work with the new Atari XL computers?

A–ASTRA drives were designed with the new computers in mind and will work
with them superbly. The ASTRA colors were chosen to complement the XL
computers. Not to be left out, ASTRA drives work just as well with the
older 400, 800, and 1200XL computers, too.

Q–How can I take advantage of double density storage while using some of
the commercial word processing programs?

A–Since the ASTRA drives contain their own computers, all that is
necessary is to “boot” the drive with a DOS disk, and reconfigure Drive #2
as double-density. Then, leaving your drive on, insert your word
processing system disk in Drive #1, turn the COMPUTER off, then on again.
Then, whenever you save text to a file on Drive #2 it is automatically
saved in double-density.

Q—I understand that a DOS system is very important to using a disk drive
to its full advantage.

A—This is very true. For that reason we are pleased to include, at no
extra charge, the most powerful DOS made for Atari computers: SMARTD0S.
SMARTD0S is supplied with every ASTRA 1620 and 2001. With the ASTRA Big D,
we supply a well-designed double-sided DOS called MYD0S.

Q—Can ASTRA drives be made to answer as anything but Drives #1 and #2?

A—Yes. Full instructions are included with each unit.

Q–Do ASTRA drives support the Atari “enhanced density” of DOS III?

A–No. DOS III makes little sense compared to a full double-density DOS
and we can see little need for support of this format. In all applications
we have reviewed, we were able to use double-density whenever “enhanced
density” was called for. To the best of our knowledge, Atari Corp. has no
plans to publish any programs in this format.

Q–We have seen ads for other disk drives showing a lot of information that
can be displayed. Do the ASTRA drives have this and is it helpful?

A–ASTRA drives were designed to function perfectly well without the “bells
and whistles” found on some other units. Most of the displayed information
is of little or no use and simply adds to the cost of the unit while
degrading its reliability. ASTRA drives offer the advantages of two drives
and true double-density in one low-priced unit. Besides, SMARTD0S provides
you with most of the status information on screen (where it belongs).

Q—Are the drives in the ASTRAs belt-driven or direct-drive?

A–In the 1620s, the drives are belt driven, whereas those in both the 2001
and the Big D are direct drive units. The belt driven 1620s are reliable
and adequate for most home applications, while the direct drive units are
preferred for heavier-duty business applications.

PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT

ADVANCED PROGRAMMER’S EQUIPMENT is proud to announce its appointment as an
Astra Systems dealer. We currently offer the entire dual disk drive line.

Because we are limiting the lines that we carry, we are able to deliver a
highly desirable product at a very low price.

Call us today to place your order. (714) 557-5174.

s @

ORDER FORM

[ ] ASTRA 1 620 3^5 3^9 . 00 + $10.00 S/H–T0TAL $409.00
[ ] ASTRA 2001 + $10.00 S/H–T0TAL $609.00

[ ] ASTRA BIG D S^SssferBO + $10.00 S/H–T0TAL $655.00

[ ] DISK DOUBLER $ 14.95 + $ 1.50 S/H–T0TAL $ 16.45

[ ] 5′ 1/0 CABLE $ 12.95 + $ 1.50 S/H–T0TAL $ 14.45

[ ] FOOT LONG CABLE $ 8.50 + $ 1.50 S/H–T0TAL $ 10.00

SUB TOTAL
CA RES. ADD SALES TAX

TOTAL

NAME_

ADDRESS_

CITY ST ZIP

PHONE (

ADVANCED

PROGRAMMER’S

EQUIPMENT

18929 Norwalk Blyd. Suite 193,
Artesia, California 90701

[ ] PAYMENT ENCLOSED

[ ] CREDIT CARD

[ ] VISA [ ] MASTERCARD

CARD § _

EXP. DATE (MO./YR.)_

YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE
YOUR FIRST MISTAKE!

You thought that cassette recorder
would handle your storage needs.

WRONG

DON’T MAKE ANOTHER ONE!

You think you need a disk drive to
solve your storage problems.

WRONG

YOU NEED 2 DISK DRIVES!

Any serious application practically
demands at least 2 drives.

WORD PROCESSING
SPREADSHEET
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
MAILING LIST SOFTWARE
All of these are made more powerful
and, at the same time, easier to use if
you have two disk drives.

So now it will cost twice as much,

right? WRONG

You need an Astra single or double
density dual disk drive. Two drives
in one