DOS 3.3
Apple's 16-sector-per-track DOS, ~20% more capacity than 3.2's 13-sector format. Announced at NCC May 1980 (~$15) along with an UPDATE 16 utility on the master disk to migrate 3.0–3.2 disks. PASCAL-compatible disk format.
Bugs found shortly after release (Val Golding, Sept 1980):
- 48K-only
- Random-access file writes could blow the diskette
- Zeroes $E000 on reboot — wipes any Integer BASIC or Applesoft II loaded into the Language Card. Patch: change byte $CC of Track 0 Sector 9 to $10
- Mike Wise of Southeastern Software provided a full patch (1980-10 — V02 N10)
Pi ran a DOS 3.3 group purchase through 1980 — substantial discount from the $60 retail; $20 deposit required.
How Pi has treated it
- 1980-03 — V02 N03 — first rumored (140 KB capacity, Pascal compatibility)
- 1980-05 — V02 N05 — formal announcement; specs
- 1980-07 — V02 N07 / 1980-08 — V02 N08 — group purchase
- 1980-09 — V02 N09 — Val Golding bug report; Apple withdrawal
- 1980-10 — V02 N10 — Mike Wise patch
- 1980-11 — V02 N11 / 1980-12 — V02 N12 — Lefkowitz and Schwartz follow-ups
Related
- DOS Internals
- Apple Language Card
- Apple PASCAL