[comp.os.os9] What's it take?

kellyp@ucscg.UCSC.EDU (17531000) (01/07/90)

What does it take to get a CoCo running os9?  

I'm wondering about if it would be inexpensive to have such a system.
I assume one would need at least a disk drive and the CoCo itself.
How much does the software cost?  Also, what about a used system?  Where
would be a good place to look?

Thanks...
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Patrick Kelly    ----   mail to kellyp@ucscB.ucsc.edu   ----    Zxcvbne Rtyui
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lak8141@oak.circa.ufl.edu (01/09/90)

In article <10200@saturn.ucsc.edu>, kellyp@ucscg.UCSC.EDU (17531000) writes...
> 
>What does it take to get a CoCo running os9?  
>I'm wondering about if it would be inexpensive to have such a system.
>I assume one would need at least a disk drive and the CoCo itself.
>How much does the software cost?  Also, what about a used system?  Where
>would be a good place to look?

Well it depends on whether you want OS-9 Level I or OS-9 Level II. Level II is
far superior to Level I, but in very limited applications would probably by
more than neccesary. While OS-9 Level I can run on any CoCo machine, OS-9
Level II only runs on the CoCo 3. Otherwise, techincally all you need is a
disk drive.
However, with only one floppy drive, you'd find that you'd need to be switching
disks a LOT. Two or three drives can save a lot of trouble.
OS-9 Level II software wise is very expensive, though you get a rather
large manual with it (when you buy many of the CoCo 3 disk games, you are
techincally buying the OS-9 Level II operating system to, but with virtually
no functions.) so you could spend 300 to 400 dollars getting an OS-9 Level II
set-up (including CoCo3) when going through Radio Shack... however, you can
mail order the hardware pretty cheap (some company in texas was selling
128K CoCo 3 machines for 90 bucks!) and probably find someone who would sell
you the OS-9 Level II software at a discount...
(The manual is the important thing. Without it, you're lost... and even with
it, things can be VERY difficult)

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