ignatz (01/08/83)
I purchased, for a number of reasons, an Osborne I as a portable smart "terminal". However, I *do* have some questions: 1) Does *anyone* have a working termcap entry (yes,yes, I'm working on it, but I'm lazy...) 2) What is, unquestionably, the best macro-assembler and linking loader for it? For my purposes, it MUST: a) Support the full Z80 instruction set, as well as 8080 compatiblity b) Support overlays c) Support parameters in the macro calls 3) What is, unquestionably, the best 'C' compiler? I have, sadly, the Software Toolworks version, and am the checking BDS 'C" documentation. I especially want one to interface with whatever macro assembler I buy. I particularly am gronched out by the Software Toolworks not supporting longs and parameterized #defines. 4) Does anyone know if I can get to the/any hardware clock on the Osborne? It used to have either a clock interface routine, or a software clock, in the FDOS; but, for some reason, this was removed in a past revision. I have the schematics, but these will not tell me if a timer chip is available at, say, address 0x10000, even if there is such a chip onboard. For those who wish to know (there was a query on this earlier, I know), the Osborne Technical Manual is available for $50.00. Yes, it has full schematics, a description of everything from how to disassemble the beast to full listings of the BIOS and BDOS, and descriptions of the various subsystems. (Incidentally, before visions of custom CP/M go dancing in your heads, part of it is in rom, so you'd best have a cross-assembler and prom burner to try this; not paying any attention to the fact that your warranty is dead the moment a non-Osborne screwdriver touches those virgin case screws...) Finally, I doubt there are enough Osborne owners out there to form a group. But I am willing to act as a moderator/digestifier/remailer/contact person for any who are interested in sharing Osborne information/programs/etc. I've already contacted the Chicago Area First Osborne Users Group and several other organizations in an attempt to organize things... Thanks for your patience in this ramble, Dave Ihnat ihuxx!ignatz