knudsen (11/12/82)
This is all the mail & articles I received in response to following
article. I've deleted most headers for brevity & privacy.
You can roll thru this, say "s- somefilename" and look at it later.
There's some info on competing machines at end, for comparison
shopping.
------------------------------------------------
Subject: TRS-80 COLOR questions
I stopped by local Lady O'Shack yesterday with 8-yr son to
check out the 16K Color Computer. I was pretty well impressed.
But before I try to get wife to release $300 (with aid of son,
who thought the games were pretty good), I'd like to know:
1) Can the basic 16K machine be later retro-fitted up to the
"extended BASIC", or should I spend $100 more for that now?
I understand the Extended gives better color graphics functions;
is it worth $100 extra?
2) Spec sheet sez the 6809E inside is clocked at 0.89 MHz.
Seems slow; that chip is rated 2.0 MHz, right?
Why is this, and what can be done about it?
(I like to synthesize music, so want speed).
3) What is their expansion buss like? Full 16-bit address?
Easy to hook up home-brew hack cards to? It could be clean
like the 6809, or did they hose it up like S100 did to the 8080?
4) How easily can I expand screen to 64--80 chars and LOWER CASE?
(Yeah--buy some mem-map video board, right? Well, at least it need not
have graphics!!!).
5) Is the sound generator inside really limited to one tone at a time,
at rather limited random pitches, or can it play 3+ genuine musical
pitches at once? Someone here told me they use a genuine D-A converter,
but it sounded like bad old square wave to me.
6) How do you rate the BASIC and machine-code monitor?
I DEFINITELY want to write machine code for a beatiful architecture
like the 6809; wihtout mach8ne code, I might as well use a Z80.
PS--The analog (!) joystick, as used in the Missile Command (Polaris)
game, is terrific. Also the BASIC can do File I/O to the casette,
for us folks too poor to buy floppies.
Please post comments to net.micro -- thanks.
Subject: Re: Color Computer answers.
In addition to Kenny's information, let it be known that you can
actually expand the Color Computer to 64K by bypassing the cartridge
area. The Videtex cartridge is available for turning the computer
into a terminal. You can also build a parallel interface for it.
The list goes on and on...
Subject: Color computer
I had an apple II for about 4 years (I now own an apple ///), durring
that time I purchased an 6809 board for the II. Boy was I ever impressed.
There is an opperating system called O.S. 9 for it that has an UNIX flavor,
(Yes it could to multi processing!!) and a compiled BASIC called BASIC09 that
was the fastest I have ever used (I have written programs in at leat 9
versions of basic). I don't know if O.S. 9 will ever be available for the
Radio Shack box but I shure think it's one really nice processor.
Hmmm.... This dosn't help you make a decision, but I'd sure
like to here from you after you have had it for a while. I'm currently
wondering what to by to play my favorite mindless game on.
Subject: OS9
Sorry to give you the impression that I work for BTL. Actually
I work for AT&T Long Lines, downtown Chicago. To answer your questions:
1. Where did you get OS9?
I purchased the 6809 board for My apple II from a
company called Stellation Two, in Santa Baraba Ca.
They supplied OS9 as an extra cost option.
2. What peripherals and RAM was needed?
The system required at least 1 floppy (However if
you wanted to do anything real you needed 2). It
also ran in a 48K apple but was once again happier
with 64K. There also was to be a "C" compiler for it
however, I switched Apples before That was available.
3. Did I ever program in 6809 Assembly?
Nope.
What I really used the 6809 for was to speed up
my Pascal system. That it did real nicely. I got OS9 as
a toy and didn't have time to work with it much.
I was impressed with the processor. And was looking
for someone who has one so I can pick their brains later when I
make the decision to get another game machine.
In response to your inquiry about the Color computer.
1)The extended basic is really worth the extra $100. However if you don't
get it now it easy easy to have the extended basic rom put in later on.
The extended basic gives you a maximum resolution of 256 by 192 two color or six
lower res modes in between with a maximum of four colors
at a time from two color sets as the resolution goes down.
2)The reason the 6809E (E is for external clock) clock at .89 mhz is because
a standard TV colorburst crystal is used. The 1.8 mhz speed can be selected in
software from basic by POKEING 65495,0 . This allows the 6809 to read the rom at
1.8 mhz and switch to .89 mhz for acessing the slower 4116 rams. In essence
thismakes the basic run 1 1/2 to 2 times as fast depending on what function your are
using.
The best thing about the extended basic are the graphics functions it supports
including vector line draws at amazing (and I mean amazing speeds) when the
processor is turbocharged at 1.8mhz.
Among other things it can draw circles of
a given radius color and eccentricity with a
single basic command and do polygonal color fills
with the paint command. It is definitely worth it to get extended basic right off the bat.
It turn the color computer from a toy into a very powerful graphics.
3) The edge connector of the color computer has all clock, data and address
line coming out of it.
Basically any signal you need is there as far as interfacing the 6809 is concerned.
4)The Color computer contains a 6 bit D/A converter and a comparator which
are driven by software to act as a succesive approximation A/D converter. The
D/A converter is available in machine language as an I/O port.
5)The Color computer also has several other languages available for it including C, Pascal, Logo.
A bevy of other languages are available if the Flex options
are purchased. The flex operating system is similar to unix according to what
I have heard.
Last months creative computing has an article on the available languages.
I own a 32k Color computer which can be gotten mail order for about $500.
So far I am enthralled with its capabilities especially the EDTASM+ assembler
that the shack sells although it written by microsoft.
6) The main draw back the color computer has is that it is almost impossible
to
convert the display to more than 32 characters in hardware. A package is
available by Interactive Memory banks (IMB) in massachussets that generates
50 columns in software using the hi- res screen. Its about $20.
I hope you choose the Color. Its really a great machine and the keyboard
isn't as bad as it looks. I got used to it rather quickly. The color will
eventually gain recognition as the fine machine it is but it has to overcome
the TRASH 80 stigma.
Subject: Color Computer answers.
1) Can the basic 16K machine be later retro-fitted up to the
"extended BASIC", or should I spend $100 more for that now?
I understand the Extended gives better color graphics functions;
is it worth $100 extra?
Yes, it can be expanded later. And yes, it's definitely
worth it to get extended basic.
2) Spec sheet sez the 6809E inside is clocked at 0.89 MHz.
Seems slow; that chip is rated 2.0 MHz, right?
The 68B09E is rated 2.0 MHz
The 6809E is not, and there are other
chips inside that also are not rated
that high. You can double the clock
speed in software, though this isn't
guaranteed to work in all cases.
For example, I/O will generally not
work correctly, and the ROM cartridges
usually won't work. I have heard
that the Basic rom does switch speeds
frequently, but I don't know for sure.
(Replacing the two 6821's with 68A21's
will usually solve most of the problems
with high speed.)
3) What is their expansion buss like? Full 16-bit address?
Easy to hook up home-brew hack cards to? It could be clean
like the 6809, or did they hose it up like S100 did to the 8080?
The expansion bus IS nice. Radio Shack publishes
an understandable technical guide to the color
computer which your local store should carry.
It has all the relevant info.
4) How easily can I expand screen to 64--80 chars and LOWER CASE?
(Yeah--buy some mem-map video board, right? Well, at least it need not
have graphics!!!).
80-microcomputing has had articles on how
to have lower case, and on many other
hardware mods. If you do buy a CC, a
subscription is probably a wise investment.
See if you can get specific back issues
somewhere locally.
5) Is the sound generator inside really limited to one tone at a time,
at rather limited random pitches, or can it play 3+ genuine musical
pitches at once? Someone here told me they use a genuine D-A converter,
but it sounded like bad old square wave to me.
There is a 6-bit D-A converter so you could write
your own (assembly lang.) routines to get better
sound. See technical manual for details.
* Generally, I would recommend Atari over
* Radio Shack for sound. The Commodore 64 also
* looks good (good price, too!), but quality has
* traditionally been a problem with any CBM machine.
6) How do you rate the BASIC and machine-code monitor?
I DEFINITELY want to write machine code for a beatiful architecture
like the 6809; wihtout machine code, I might as well use a Z80.
Basic is Microsoft and very good (I'm talking
extended basic). What machine-code monitor?
There's none built in, but several companies
make good ones. 6809 is definitely a step up
from Z80. Too bad Radio Shack didn't build
a machine that lived up to the power of the
6809. The design is obviously modified
from an example by Motorola on how to inter-
face the 6809 with the color graphics chip
that the color computer uses. They added
the keyboard and rs-232 interface and
the cassette/sound/joystick interface
and commissioned Microsoft to write a
BASIC for it. Fortunately, there's room
for escape with the expansion interface.
PS--The analog (!) joystick, as used in the Missile Command (Polaris)
game, is terrific. Also the BASIC can do File I/O to the casette,
for us folks too poor to buy floppies.
The analog joystick is definitely good for some
uses, but for many (most?) games a self-centering
one would be nice, and analog is usually not
required.
Subject: TRS-80 COLOR questions
Two magazines which deal exclusively with the TRS-80 Color
Computer are:
The Rainbow
5803 Timber Ridge Drive
P.O. Box 209
Prospect, KY 40059 ($16/yr.)
Color Computer News
REMarkable Software
P.O. Box 1192
Muskegon, MI 49443 ($21/yr [I think])
They are both very similar, catering to a wide audience, from
beginners to hackers. I find them most valuable as a source
of advertisers (which are scarce in the mainstream magazines.)
Also, both are beginning to have information on versions of
FLEX and OS-9, as alternatives to the Radio Shack disk OS.
Subject: Apple versus Color-80; Commence Primary Ignition
Having received a lot of responses to my TRS-80 Color Computer query,
I'm beginning to wonder whether and why the Apple-II costs 3-4 times
as much as a Color-80. Or to rephrase that, why anyone should pay
over $1200 for something not all that better than the Shack's
(Okay, auxiliary fuel pumps started...)
Now, before you punch the affterburners, I will conceded/pre-empt/
refute the following:
1) the 6809 is not *totally* superior to the 6502 (see my article of two
hours erlier)
2) Both video systems blow as far as # of chars (16 rows of 32;
or does Apple have more rows?) However, the limit is really
in the color TV bandwidth.
So Apple graphics probably doesn't beat 192x256 (Color-80's) for
the same reason.
Does Apple have lower case? Color-80 can be retro'ed for it.
3) Does Apple keyboard have CONTROL and/or ESCAPE keys, and
curly braces (all missing on 80)?
4) Apple has lots more hardware and software support from the outside
world, and bigger, better organized user group.
Hopefully COCO will acquire these in time.
5) Color-80 is made by "trash" company and marketed as a game player
which, by the way, can do Basic and uh, well, maybe even machine code
programming. "Serious" computer types get steered to the black & white
TRS-80's with all the floppies & business sof & hard ware (serious==
business, right?)
Well, so much for Tandy's marketing staff.
And by all accounts, Color BASIC is a
very good Basic, written by Microsoft (hardly humble origins there).
6) Are Apples just better made, solidly built, etc?
Color-80's seem a lot more rugged than the old Trashers.
Also the Color audio cassette interface is said to be much more reliable.
Please, I'm not knocking the Apple, which is several years older and
thus may be less cost-effective. But I can't spit off
$1200+ for a machine, and would just like to know what the Apple
has that Color doesn't.
PS--Having an 8-year-old and sometimes getting weary of serious hacking,
I could ask how far you have to drive to buy a good video game for
your Apple...
Color me--
Subject: p.s.
You have access to the full address, data and control busses through
the expansion slot, although you usually only have slot space from $C000 to
$FF00, i.e. less than 16k. One signal can disable this effect though.
It is terribly difficult to expand the video to more than 32 columns.
Some people have software which paints low quality characters onto the
hi res graphics screen, others have complex hardware boards which add
the chips (MC6845 etc) through the expansion slot.
Subject: TRS80C
I have a colour computer. I bought it because of all the little goodies
it comes with and because i love 68xx's.
You can add the extended basic later...it is well worth it. It makes the
computer a reasonable machine.
Radio Shacks EDTASM+ is fairly good - no macros.
It does the sound generation by bit banging - you can program it to make
more than one voice in assembler - I have heard 4 part harmony on a friends.
You can speed the thing up to double speed with a POKE 65495,0. This
programs the 6847 to double the processor clock when not accessing memory.
(It results in between 1.5 and 2 times performance.)
CONCLUSION: go ahead and get it. It is good value for the money, is well
supported, and I am pleased with mine.
subj: CoCo
I suggest you check some of the ads in the 68 Micro Journal for expansion
stuff for the Color Computer. Most everything you mentioned is possible
with exception of changing the screen format and clock speed. You can
even run OS9 (a UNIX format clone) on it!
Subject: An APPLE advantage
>From an old ('77) issue of Kilobaud (now Microcomputing), I learned
one major feature of the Apple over Color-80, VIC, Atari etc --
the Apple has extra room inside with a mother board for expansion
cards, including the connectors, and presumably a power supply with
extra guts. This is certainly worth several $100 over the new machines.
Unfortunately, the boards are rather limited in size.
I'm not afraid to answer (partly) my own questions..
Subject: TRS-80 Color Answers- continued
May I suggest some answers to questions posted regarding the coco.
(1) The extended basic $100 cost only buys you a users manual
and a rom which plugs in an empty socket. I asked Motorola
for a sample and they sent one! You could plug in an EPROM
if you wanted.
(2) You can cut a few leads inside and wire in a 1.00 MHZ crystal
for the processor, but then the music and baud rate timing
software would be wrong.
(3) I have found the expansion bus great except that the capacitive
loading on the bus address lines is already nearly too much.
Any length of connector greater than about 3 inches requires
that bus drivers for all address, clock and data lines be
mounted right on the plug in card. That takes about 4-5 ICs.
(4) Eighty character lines with uc/lc is done in software in most
cases. However you can hardly read it on a standard color
TV. The background noise on the screen becomes very annoying.
(5) You can easily add a sound generator chip by building a plug in
module with one. A sound input line is available on the
ex
I have owned a CoCo for over a year, and know what you need:
1. Yes you can retrofit with extended BASIC at any time, but it is
cheaper if you do it now rather than later.
2. 890 KHZ is a limit that RS put in the machine so that they could use
cheap PIA's. Most PIA's will run at the higher rate, they just aren't
guaranteed to. You can buy ones that will do so and replace them, then by
doing a "POKE 65495,0" Voila! your machine is running twice as fast. Tos
slow it down again, do "POKE 65494,0". You gotta do this before doing
cassette operations because the software timing loops don't work as well.
It doesn't quite double your processing rate anyhow because you pick up
wait-cycles when getting into the screen RAM.
By the way, what you have to understand is that Motorola clocking is
not comparable to that of other companies. A memory access takes 3 cycles
at 890 KHZ for the 6809, but 14 cycles at 4 MHZ for a Z-80. Turns out
to be about the same time. (I am referring to a LDA-type instruction.)
3. The expansion bus has the full 16-bit address, 8-bit data buss, NMI,
RESET, E and Q clocks, +12, -12, +5, R/W and some signals that
do other weird functions (like SND which stands for "SOUND" - it is an
input into the sound-channel of the CH3/CH4 modulator). You have the
ability to completely disable the 6809 or anything inside from the
bus.
*** In fact, someone out there sells a Z-80 card for it (good God!).
4. You can get lower case by buying a card for about $80 and installing
it. However, what you have to realize is that you aren't going to get
80 characters wide on ANY computer with color display. There are some
software packages that use the high-res graphics mode to draw truly
awful looking characters, but they get 51 wide on the screen. This is
the limit.
5. There are two different noise makers inside: a square-wave generator
and a 6-bit D/A. The RS "SOUND" command and the "PLAY" command in
X-BASIC both use the square wave generator. (The 6-bit D/A is used
for all kinds of things. They use it to generate sine waves to record
onto the Cassette, and it is used with an analog comparator to do the
A/D on the joysticks.) If you are creative, you can generate anything you
want with the D/A, but it has only one and you get to do the
mixing with software - a tough job.
6. The BASIC is standard Microsoft BASIC, and as such is pretty normal.
The Extended stuff has some truly nice graphics commands, and when you
get a disk it adds still more. There is no standard machine language
monitor, nor is there a disk monitor - instead, BASIC now knows about the
disk. The word on the RS assembly ROMPACK is that it is serviceable and
not particularly special.
*** There is an extremely good macro assembler
available from a company in California called Micro-works, that runs
on the DISK and comes with a debugger.
7. You have full ability to use the cassette for data files, however,
the floppies are far more convenient.
8. The only thing wrong I have found that really gripes me is that there
is no way to trap errors - "ON ERROR GOTO" is missing. This is almost
a major blunder, and is always a pain in the ass. Aside from that
it is a quite serviceable machine. Support for it is beginning to show
up from third party vendors, because there are now a LOT of CoCo's out
there (I have heard it estimated that there will be in excess of 250,000
by the end of this year). This is being accelerated by the fact that
RS is introducing it as the TDP-1000 through outside merchandisers.
Evidently the only difference between the 80C and the TDP-1000 is that
the latter has a white case and a different number on it.
Subject: Re: 6809 vs. 6502
I agree. Those two adressing modes would be nice on the 6809.
One thing I forgot to mention about the Color Computer
interface was that they left off BA and BS (I think), which
aren't essential, but are nice for doing things like vector-ed
interrupts. On the CC, though, you can do that by putting the addresses
at certain places places in RAM, so it isn't that big a deal.
Did you here anything about Atari discontinuing their 400 and
800 models? The replacement for the 400 will be named 600,and for the 800 ,
the 1000. The major difference is going to be single board construction. There
is some local debate about whether the 600 will have a "real" keyboard or not.
Anyway the prices are expected to match with the Commodore machines. Someone
told me that the current sale of the 400 model is suffering from the
introduction of the VIC-20, and that VIC is saleing about 70,000 a month!
I personally HOPE that Atari will reduce the price of the Disk
Drives( Commodore ones are selling for as little as $315). Or they should
shove in two thin-lines in that ungainly drive cabinet for the current price.
I reason for my hope is I cant decide whether to buy a far east Apple clone or
an Atari. The point in favour of Apple is fxxx(stxxxx) software, of course.
The best thing to do probably is wait till Xmas, when the new models should
hit the market.
The new Atari game machine seems to be a 400 without the keyboard.
Subject: Re: Atari rumors
Atari told the retailers earlier in the year to expect an ATARI 600 which
was described as a 400 with a real keyboard. I don't know if the 600 is
still going to be released or not. The new video game (5200) is going
to be (actually you can buy it now) a 400 without keyboard, with special
controllers, with a stripped down OS and identical (or maybe improved)
hardware.
I'm very partial to my VIC-20 so I decided to respond to your letter about
VIC's not having an expansion board. The VIC comes with one expansion
slot. Through this slot, one can install an expansion chassis which
allows one to use between 3 and 9 expansion cards simultaneously. The
boards are usually between $50 and $110. All of the boards contain
fuses which prevent them from overloading the VIC's powersupply.
Subject: Atari 5200 question
If the Atari 5200 is really a 400 without a keyboard, it would seem to be
worth a try to connect a keyboard to it rather than doing it to a 400 and
paying for its miserable keyboard. Anyone tried it?
Subject: Pure speculation.
If the Atari 5200 is really a 400 without a keyboard....
Internally, the 400 has a few custom chips for graphics, sound,
etc. One of these chips also implements the serial I/O bus. So,
if you want to change a 5200 into a 400, you would need to add
all the serial I/O hardware as well as a keyboard.
And there's always the matter of software ...
If anyone turns a 5200 into a smart graphics system tho', I've
always wanted a little bit of color next to my terminal.
Subject: Color Computer vs Ataris
Thanks to you folks for all the commentaries on the Trash-80 CoCo,
most of it favorable. I will threaten to post a cleaned-up version
of it to the net, of no one begs me not to (it will be a few 100 lines,
but you got an N key).
Unless I hear certain things soon, I will mail-order an Extended 16K CoCO
within the next few days. Such things as:
1) Atari is really about to come out with something equivalent to a 400
but with a real keyboard for no more than $400 (discounted;
I can get the Ex COCO for $335 by mail.)
The Ataris have better sound, better IN SOME WAYS (worse in others)
graphics, my son is a Pac-Freak (so's his old man),
but the 800 is way out of budget and I can't hadnle the Sinclair keyboard
on the 400.
2) Someone (mail order?) is selling Commodore 64 for $400-$450
(hey, stretch that Atari to $450 too, maybe).
They have just come out and the local stores want list price $595;
but then they want list for everything except Apples with disks.
I don't know that much about the Commo's capabilities, since the
stores have no or lousy demos and the BASIC manuals that come with
Ataris and Commos don't tell you as much as the RadioSchack COCO manual.
I'd buy an Atari 800 if I had the bucks, but the COCO seems to be IT
in the $00-450 range, still. Thanks for all the replies,
I'm not afraid of TRASH... mike knudsen
I haven't heard any prices or details yet but Atari is to be forthcoming
with improved replacements for the 400 and 800 to be called the 600 and
1000, respectively.
Subject: Re: Atari language query
I've heard of but not actually seen for sale a BASIC compiler from DATASOFT.
Also I recall seeing an add for a C compiler for Atari and Apple machines,
but I don't remember the supplier. Atari has released (through APX) a
Pascal compiler but it needs 48K and 2 disk drives and Atari doesn't
guarantee that it's fully debugged.
Subject: Re: Atari 5200 question
You can't easily convert a 5200 to a 400, because not just the keyboard
is missing. You also would need an Operating System, a 400/800 style
ROM cartridge slot, controller ports (perhaps), and an I/O bus port.
I think there is a whole world of SS50 bus systems out there that used the
M6800 and many have gone to the 6809. As I recal from a recent magazine
article, there are 25-50 suppliers of these systems. One of the larger one
is Gimix systems, right here in Chicago, and of course there is Smoke Signal
Broadcasting which started it all. Larry Schutte, ihuxs!ljspot
SWTP (SWWTP, SWTSP, something like that, you know, the guys that make
the Li'l tiger amp and other neat amps) had a 6809 system, I think.
Subject: Color Computer
Med Systems has several arcade games for the Color Computer,
including a Donkey Kong rip-off (actually, they're trying to
get a license). And they're always looking for new programs,
so if you want to make some money... I haven't written any
color computer games yet, but I will. Also, NEC is coming
out with a Z80 computer that uses the same graphics chip
as the CC, and Med Systems is contracted to write several
cartridges for that, so they'll probably also bring out
the same programs for the CC.
Subj: Color Computer
I don't have one or plan to get one, but the phone nos. below might
put you in touch with other owners for the puposes you mentioned.
In particular, many of these bbs's have many programs that you
can download free (except for phonebills) onto your machine.
I think Arlan Andrews has a coco. there are LOTS of chicago area
bbs's; let me know if you have any trouble finding phone nos.
Subj: Dial-up bulletin board services (bbs)
I think I said I would send you some info. Try cu'ing or
dialing any of the following nos. from your terminal or personal
computer if it has the capability. Instructions will appear on
your screen. If interested, you can then get a list of hundreds
of other nos. from the Akron no. (takes 10-20 min to transmit!).
--Charlie Harris, MH 2D-505, x6692 (rabbit!xchar)
*24 means available 24 hrs/day.
617 423 6985*24:Boston Information Exchange UNIX, message hierarchy
216 867-7463*24:ABBS RAUG, AKRON, OH list of bbs phone nos.
317 862-6191*24 P INDIANAPOLIS, IN
213 394-1505 CONF-TREE SANTA MONICA Special topics
214 769-3036*24:Bullet-80 Hawkins TX Dave & Lydia Mitchell
617 266-7789 Boston 1200
313 547 7903*24:Treasure Island 11pm-8am M-F, some wkends
Subject: Orphaned 6809?
Just out of curiosity -- has anyone ever heard of any commercial
system (board, box, controller, toy, game, ...)
using the Motorola 6809 uP chip (an improved (!!!) 6800,
better than 6502 even (?)) ?
I already know about Radio Shack Color Computer. Any others?
Subject: Atari 400 questions
Recently got an Atari 400, and would like to hear from anyone who knows
the answers to the following:
1) Can you use an ordinary cassette deck instead of shelling out for the
410 recorder? Does it use motor control, or other fancy stuff? I know it
has a second audio channel - is this worthwhile?
2) Can you get at separate composite video and sound signals, instead of
using the built-in rf modulator?
3) I know you can expand a 400 to 48K; does this mean you can hook up the
810 disk drive(s) somehow, i.e. is it only the supposed inability to go to
48K that results in Atari's silence about disks on the 400? (A salesman
told me you can do it).
4) Is there a technical reference manual available for the 400/800 that
gives schematics, connector pinouts, rom listings, etc. like you can for
the Apple? Is there a magazine that covers such topics?
I'll summarize to the net if there is interest...
Thanks,
Subject: Color Computer Answer Addenda
In reference to the answers from duke!unc!kh to the questions from
Mike Knudsen, I have a few comments.
First, I should add to the statement on possibility of later addition
of Extended Color BASIC. This addition involves simply pushing the
X-BASIC chip in a socket. Provisions are that you don't mind voiding
your warranty by taking the cover off the machine, that you have 16K
RAM (standard now), and have removed the heat shield within. The X-BASIC
is very nice.
Second, I tried the substitution of 68B21's (faster version of 68A21's) for
6821's. Intermittent success. I then cut a few RF interference-limiting
capacitors. Double speed worked fine with or without the faster chip.
CONCLUSION: DOUBLE SPEED CAN BE FREE.
Third, in reference to the expansion bus, all CPU lines go directly to the
cartridge slot. However, lines for memory refresh do not. Slot's still a
nice touch.
Fourth, there are CHEAP assemblers around ($6.95) and the RaShack ROM
cartridge version seems to be very nice. Also, a recent issue of Creative
Computing listed alternative languages available with ratings. I use
ColorForth. Also available are Pascal, Cobol, C and others (probably limited
subsets).
Fifth, just about any chosen joystick can be modified for use on the COCO.
Sixth, 52 and 64 column display software packages are available. I use one
called COLORTERM. These software packages use the Hi-Res screen graphics
and are marginally tolerable on a television, yet better than 32-column time-
sharing. Consequently, I lust in my heart after a monitor. (Any comments on
the cheapie green-screens available? Like <$100 or so?)
Conclusion: To make a short story long, I wanted a machine I could break a
few times without it breaking me. I'm still surprised at what the Chevy of
home computers can do compared to the Cadillacs around (IBM, Apple, etc.).
Lots of bang for the buck. -- YOU SAID IT! ... knudsen
P. S.
Let's hear more about tearing this sucker apart! (SW and HW) YEAH!
Mike,
I have some friends that also have coco's and we always pass
around programs. When we need more, we will form a pool
and buy the best available. I don't know how to trade over
UNIX but i'm very interested in trading.
Subject: 6809 orphaned?
Of course the marvelous 6809 is used. The famed Super Pet developed here
at Waterloo is designed around it. As the name suggests, it is a souped up
Pet. A room full of them are used for some second year course, for instance.
Subject: Re: Orphaned 6809
There are many companies making 6809 machines for the S-50 bus.
(For example, Southwest Technical Products, Smoke Signal Broadcasting,
Gimix,...). Some of the machines are fairly complex (memory management giving up to
1 megabyte with 4k or 2k pages, 9512 math chips, etc.) The primary publication
for 6800/09 microcomputerists is '68 Micro Journal.
The alternative (i.e., non-Radio Shack) operating systems and languages
for the Color Computer were developed for these S-50 buss machines and have
been adapted to run on the trs-80c. One of them, OS-9 is a pseudo-U**X
with an extremely nice, modular, adaptable, IO system. If you want more
information (addresses, phone numbers, or other details), just ask.
Subject: ATARI_advantages
Some Atari advantages:
The Atari computers (400/800) have some advantages of
their own. For about 300 dollars the 400 comes with
upper and lower case, inverse video, built in screen
editor, horizontal and vertical scrolling, floating
point Basic, and 4 hardware timers. Also the Atari computers
have their own internal Operating System (allows for
some nifty features). The game ports on the front are
actually 2 parallel i/o ports. Also the cartridge
slot allows for convinece of plug in rom. Another advantage
is the use of a software charactor generator. If you
don't like the keyboard on the 400 it is not hard
to hook up a good one to it. Also you do not half to
buy a video modulator, if you want to use a TV.
Subject: Re: ATARI_advantages
Another major advantage for the Atari is COLOR REGISTERS....
All screen colors are done indirectly through color registers, and merely
changing these registers results in changes of screen display. This allows
for very fast animation, and all sorts of video magic.
See November, 1982 BYTE magazine for more details...