One thing I really don't like about the file archive here is that in order to get something on to your newly setup NeXT you have to somehow manage to connect to it and then download, uncompress and then use it.
In my case I can't even use a network so most software is transferred by floppies or by cd-rw.
What would everyone think if I got a complete copy of our online file archive, uncompressed all the files and burned it on to cd(s) so that all you need to do is just insert a cd and install from there?
It would be great for easy access to drivers, documents and patches when they are needed and we can always make it so that it can be updated as the archive expands.
It will however mean we can't sell the cd's and the cd's would have to be burned in a way that makes them easy to read with cd drives in NeXT systems.
By the way, can you even mount a regular data cd on real NeXT hardware?
Every single data cd except for a few made with some REALLY cheap CD-Rs have mounted just fine on my turbo.
Excellent, so we have compatibility. :)
What I would really like is a complete copy of the archive arranged just how it is now in folders. Me manually downloading it could take half a day. Organizing it could take even longer.
I do remember having to play with the filenames though...
yeah, I would *not* decompress the files then stick 'em on the CD. Leave them as .tar or .tgz. or tar.gz or tar.Z. Decompressing stuff then sticking them on CDs has not worked well for me.
Okay then.
The files will stay compressed and I'll look into fixing those naming problems.
I have had luck decompressing a bunch of stuff on a Linux box for speed, then running all directories though a renaming script.
I have also seen success using one of the additional bundles directed at ISO9660 filesystem support (can't remember the name at present..)
I'll check my little archive when I get home.
- itomato