Hi,
BTW Can TRS-80
Model 1's or Memotech's run CP/M (I had an
"SDX" disc pack....
No idea on the MEmotech (I don';t have one yet)....
I just did a bit of "Googling"; seems the Memotechs could run CP/M when
fitted with the "FDX" expansion "chassis".
I never did manage to track one of those units down. They were pretty nifty
gizmos which could house 2 floppy drives, a hard drive and Memotech's own
"Silicon Discs" (aka ramdiscs) amongst other things. They also came with an
internal 80 column video card to make CP/M usable. :-)
The really odd thing is that I can find no mention whatsoever of the "SDX"
disc unit which I had...?
The SDX was a very simple unit, consisting of a single half height FD in a
case with PSU and the interface which took the form of a "cartridge" which
was the same shape as the computer and plugged in on the right hand side of
the machine (you had to have a couple of internal expansion cards fitted to
extend the expansion bus out to the edge of the case).
This was most definitely a genuine Memotech product, but information on it
was thin on the ground even "back in the day".
The problem was that CP/M needs RAM starting at
location 0, the
TRS-80 has the BASIC ROMs there and starts RAM at, IIRC, 0x4000.
Hmm, same problem as the Model III then (ISTR that had its ROM located at
$0000 too, hence the reason for the Model IV).
The first solution was a modifed CP/M _and modified
application
programs_ relocated to run in RAM starting at 0x4000....
Ouch....I can see that being somewhat "problematical". ;-)
....The second solution was an add-on circuit board....
Hmm, sounds like these are probably going to be as easy to get hold of now
as hen's teeth...?
Think I'll just get a Z80 Second Processor for my Beeb instead (far less
hassle).
TTFN - Pete.