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/* Mass-storage, RTC and network dilemma */
Multiple mass-storage, RTC and network solutions already exist for the Amstrad CPC. We can put them in 3 categories:
*'''Historical''': The [[Vortex Winchester Drive]] and the [[Dobbertin Harddisc|Dobbertin HD20]] with [[Dobbertin Smart Watch]] were sold during the commercial lifetime of the CPC. But these solutions are clumsy today with their very small capacity, their CP/M filesystem and their non-standard hard-drives and interface.
*'''Historically-plausible''': The [[Symbiface II]] or [[X-Mass]] with [[Nova]] NVRAM/RTC are using the IDE/PATA interface created in 1986 for mass-storage access. However, the IDE interface was introduced on the CPC way after its commercial lifetime, the Symbiface II being released in 2006. The whole IDE/PATA sector access and FAT filesystem dance the CPC has to perform here is not necessary with more modern solutions. On the positive side, this isolation of the filesystem guarantees that the CPC software and the CPC emulator cannot inadvertently do wrong on the host filesystem, as the operations are limited to modifying the contents of the virtual hard-drive file. A direct file view on the host side can also make trouble if the CPC assumes it is the sole owner of the filesystem and doesn't accept that we change files and folders behind his back. The [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/cyboard-for-amstrad-cpc-yet-another-hardware-project/ Cyboard] is a Symbiface II clone that adds Ethernet support at a TCP/UDP level. The [https://github.com/salafek/Net4CPC Net4CPC] is the Ethernet part of the Cyboard provided without the Symbiface II. The best solution here is a combination of X-Mass, Nova and Net4CPC expansions because you will get [https://unidos.cpcscene.net/doku.php?id=en:install#FatFs_DOS_node improved compatibility of the FAT filesystem] with old CPC software thanks to the NVRAM that is onboard the Nova RTC.
*'''Modern''': [[Albireo]], [[ULIfAC]], [[Symbiface 3]] and [[M4 Board]] as they give the CPC a direct file view of the mass-storage instead of a sectors view. These solutions are well suited to provide network too, as HTTP and FTP are file access protocols. The Symbiface 3 and the M4 Board provide a NetAPI to access the Internet unlike the Albireo and the ULIfAC. The Symbiface 3 also emulates other peripherals (Dobbertin HD20, SSA-1 speech synthesizer, Digiblaster and AmDrum soundcards) but it is going overboard with its embedded MP3 player.
