26 Apr
2002
26 Apr
'02
12:24 p.m.
When you opened the box with your COCO, what useful
work
would it do with the
$399 you had just spent? Could you write a letter? Could
you write and
compile a Fortran program?
A REAL programmer can write a FORTRAN program in ANY language.
There was a fairly good (even though Microsoft) BASIC interpreter in ROM.
A REAL programmer could write a FORTRAN program with it.
Given that you had a printer, could you attach it and
use it?
Of course! Although it took me 15 minutes to make a cable, my DTC-300
(HiType I daisy wheel terminal) printed immediately.
What software
was there, that you could install and use?
A "TOY" computer comes with software. With a REAL computer, you have to
program.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com