[Coco] Why DECB is important to OS-9 folk.

[Ward Griffiths]

On 09/09/2005 01:03 pm, jdaggett at gate.net wrote:
> Roy
>
> Something good could be said of both approaches. I do prefer the
> instant on of DECB. It lends itself better for embedded porojects.
> While OS9 and Niros9 requires a learning curve and some
> familiarity with Unix would not hurt. I can't complain to much as
> learning OS9 and Basic09 made learning Fortran 77 real easy.  You
> cannot believe the similarities between Basic09 and Fortran 77.
>
> j ust my inputs
>
> james

Got that right, James.  I was lucky, since I was doing tech support and 
training at an RSCC so I learned Xenix before I had to deal with MS-DOS or 
OS-9.  That made the OS-9 L1 manuals readable enough so I could set up the 
first $1k timesharing demo system in SoCal (possibly the first on the 
planet).  A 64k Coco with one floppy and OS-9, a 4k Coco with a Vidtex cart 
and a kluged null-modem between bit-banger ports.  Assuming you already owned 
two TV sets (generally a safe bet) it retailed for $1,000.71 including CA 
sales tax and the Los Angeles surcharge with that month's sale specials.  A 
bit slower than a Mod 16b Xenix setup, but about a sixth of the price.

The OS-9 manual had commands listed that implied it could be done.  Turns out 
the manual was right.  Took less than a day to set up, including mangling and 
splicing a couple of Coco printer cables.
-- 
Ward Griffiths    wdg3rd at comcast.net

But today doctors are as dependent on Medicare and Medicaid as their
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