[Coco] The BIGGEST PROBLEM with (So-Called) NEW CoCo Hardware...

[Barry Nelson]

> Francis Swygert farna at att.net  <mailto:coco%40maltedmedia.com?Subject=Re%3A%20%5BCoco%5D%20The%20BIGGEST%20PROBLEM%20with%20%28So-Called%29%20NEW%20CoCo%20Hardware...&In-Reply-To=%3C1886427027.2735146.1488800691284%40mail.yahoo.com%3E>
> Mon Mar 6 06:44:51 EST 2017
> 
> If you're using OS-9/Nitros-9 or HDB-DOS Drivewire is a perfect printing solution. If you're using plain DECB it's not. IT's not hard to get HDB-DOS, and it's free, but you have to get it burned into a ROM. In some cases it's just not practical, or you need/want plain vannila DECB. A plug-in printer interface that uses a common USB printer would still be practical. An Adruino or some other mini computer (RPi, etc.) that takes the output from a CoCo and emulates a standard dot matrix that most CoCo software would recognize, then output to a USB port in something a common ink jet would recognize would be a seller, I think.  Maybe a good use for Allen's $4 USB chip, but would take a lot more support circuitry.  Frank Swygert
>  Fix-It-Frank Handyman Service
>  803-604-6548
Just so you know, there exists driver software that will allow you to print to a DriveWire server from Extended Color BASIC, even using a standard ROM. Also you don’t have to burn HDBDOS into ROM to use it, you can load it from disk, or if you have to, cassette. I do agree that a more direct USB interface would be nice.