17 Nov
2014
17 Nov
'14
9:40 p.m.
After searching since the late-90's, in the last month I've finally had some real
luck on the Coleco front. First I got a ColecoVision, and then this last Saturday I was
able to get a Coleco Adam quite reasonably.
In doing some research I've learned that I should be able to replace the printer with
an Arcade power-supply that supplies +12V, +5V, and -5V. I also see that I can get a
IDE/CF adapter that lets me use a CF card as a drive.
Now for my questions, what software is available for the Adam that can make use of a CF
card 'disk drive'? Also, I gather that the system will erase any magnetic media
when turned on or off? What is it that actually does this, is it the power supply,
cassette drive, or something else?
Zane
18 Nov
18 Nov
3:36 a.m.
I was going to say, they are probably hard to find because they've set
fire to the living rooms of the former owners. (: My friend had one
back in the day. The printer was really impressive... it sounded like
a machine gun being fired in your house.
On 18 November 2014 02:40, Zane Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote:
After searching since the late-90's, in the last
month I've finally had some real luck on the Coleco front. First I got a
ColecoVision, and then this last Saturday I was able to get a Coleco Adam quite
reasonably.
In doing some research I've learned that I should be able to replace the printer with
an Arcade power-supply that supplies +12V, +5V, and -5V. I also see that I can get a
IDE/CF adapter that lets me use a CF card as a drive.
Now for my questions, what software is available for the Adam that can make use of a CF
card 'disk drive'? Also, I gather that the system will erase any magnetic media
when turned on or off? What is it that actually does this, is it the power supply,
cassette drive, or something else?
Zane
--
Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems: "The Future Begins Tomorrow"
Visit us at: http://www.yoyodyne-propulsion.net
--------
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this
sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." -- Jonathan
Swift
6:03 p.m.
On Nov 17, 2014, at 8:40 PM, Zane Healy wrote:
After searching since the late-90's, in the last
month I've finally had some real luck on the Coleco front. First I got a
ColecoVision, and then this last Saturday I was able to get a Coleco Adam quite
reasonably.
In doing some research I've learned that I should be able to replace the printer with
an Arcade power-supply that supplies +12V, +5V, and -5V. I also see that I can get a
IDE/CF adapter that lets me use a CF card as a drive.
Now for my questions, what software is available for the Adam that can make use of a CF
card 'disk drive'? Also, I gather that the system will erase any magnetic media
when turned on or off? What is it that actually does this, is it the power supply,
cassette drive, or something else?
Welcome! I've been involved in the ADAM scene for quite some time. It really is a cool
little computer that is oft overlooked. You are correct that a generic PC or arcade style
power supply can be used just fine with the ADAM. The printer cable also carries the
ADAMNet data (the same bus that is shared by the keyboard, tape drive controller, and disk
drives if you have them), but it is totally optional.
There is pretty good support for the IDE interface. The one you are referring to (the
Microfox) is a workalike of another vendor's product, the Micro Innovation IDE
interface. It works akin to the XT-IDE interface that's on the PCs now, in that it
will adapt an AT drive to an 8-bit data port. As such, there's a good bit of software
that can be had... either with patched original ADAM software, as is the case with the
native EOS/OS7 operating system (ADAM's OS or Coleco Vision), and also a special build
of TDOS, which is a CP/M 2.2 replacement. TDOS will run any CP/M compatible software you
care to throw at it.
As for the magnetic media thing, reports made it sound like I could sit a DDP or floppy
disk anywhere near the system and whammo... instant erasure. I have used a minimum amount
of precaution making sure that a tape isn't in the drive while turning the system off
and on, and haven't had a problem.
10:16 p.m.
On Nov 18, 2014, at 3:03 PM, Geoff Oltmans <oltmansg at gmail.com> wrote:
Welcome! I've been involved in the ADAM scene for
quite some time. It really is a cool little computer that is oft overlooked. You are
correct that a generic PC or arcade style power supply can be used just fine with the
ADAM. The printer cable also carries the ADAMNet data (the same bus that is shared by the
keyboard, tape drive controller, and disk drives if you have them), but it is totally
optional.
There is pretty good support for the IDE interface. The one you are referring to (the
Microfox) is a workalike of another vendor's product, the Micro Innovation IDE
interface. It works akin to the XT-IDE interface that's on the PCs now, in that it
will adapt an AT drive to an 8-bit data port. As such, there's a good bit of software
that can be had... either with patched original ADAM software, as is the case with the
native EOS/OS7 operating system (ADAM's OS or Coleco Vision), and also a special build
of TDOS, which is a CP/M 2.2 replacement. TDOS will run any CP/M compatible software you
care to throw at it.
As for the magnetic media thing, reports made it sound like I could sit a DDP or floppy
disk anywhere near the system and whammo... instant erasure. I have used a minimum amount
of precaution making sure that a tape isn't in the drive while turning the system off
and on, and haven't had a problem.
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.
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.
Zane
19 Nov
19 Nov
10:22 a.m.
Sent from my iPhone
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.
3882
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4 comments
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participants (3)
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healyzh＠aracnet.com -
john＠yoyodyne-propulsion.net -
oltmansg＠gmail.com