30 Dec
2009
30 Dec
'09
12:41 a.m.
Contrary to popular opinion, I actually think this was a smart idea. Here's why:
While it is true that if the printer PS dies, the computer isn't usable, putting the
PS for the system in the printer actually simplified the wiring of the unit. It only
required one AC connection for the whole thing, one wire going from the printer to the
computer, and one wire to the keyboard. The whole system was designed with the idea of
making things simple for non-techies to use. So, in that respect, I think it was a good
idea.
On Dec 29, 2009, at 12:38 PM, Brian Lanning wrote:
On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 12:20 PM, Christian Liendo
<christian_liendo at yahoo.com> wrote:
FYI : The unit was called "Adam"
because Coleco hoped it would take a "bite" out of Apple (computers). Oh well;
it was a cute idea...
Maybe it would have had they not put the power supply in the printer.
I can't imagine an engineer ever thinking that was a good idea.
Sounds like a cost-cutting move forced on the engineers by marketing.
Is a power brick really so bad? You could even daisy-chain the
devices together and run them off of one power brick if you had to.
Oh, then there was that thing about the tape drive wiping out tapes
when they were left in the drive when the power was switched off (or
was it on?).
brian