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On Nov 18, 2014, at 9:16 PM, Zane Healy wrote
Believe it or not, it was Richard Drushel's posts about the ADAM to
alt.folklore.computers on USENET, way back in '97, that got me interested in the ADAM.
It's just taken me 17 years to finally find one. :-)
I hope to have an arcade power supply by the end of the week, so that I can start
building a stand-alone PS. Unfortunately I lack a floppy drive. I have one DDP tape, but
haven't figured out how to use it, or if anything is on it. Unfortunately while I got
a boxed system, I didn't get manuals, or the DDP tape(s) that would have normally come
with an ADAM.
There are three basic types of digital data packs: self-booting super
Games, cp/m format, and "normal" directory tapes with the directory in the
middle of the tape.
The system will attempt to boot a tape when you load it into the drive and pull computer
reset. If it's my bootable, generally adam tapes will have files accessible either
through the SmartWriter word processor, SmartBASIC, or some other application. Unlike a
lot of other home computers of this vintage, BASIC isn't contained in ROM, you must
load it from tape (or disk). The system originally shipped with three tapes, a blank
formatted one, SmartBASIC, and Super Buck Rogers. Loading and storing files in the word
processor are as simple as pressing store/get on the keyboard, and selecting the drive and
operation via the function keys. Most other Adam apps work the same way. SmartBASIC is all
text driven and has its own unique commands for that.
I'm slowly making my way through trying to
discover what info is available on the Internet. So far it's been slow going, so I
appreciate the answers.
Your best bet is to join the Adam mailing list at
ADAMCon.org and also over on
atariage.com on the colecovision an Adam forums. There are lots of enthusiasts in both
places.