[Color Computer][Coco] DLOAD mystery

[Ward Griffiths]

On 03/08/2006 01:52 am, Neil Morrison wrote:
> AFAIK, that was done via the cassette port(s). The teacher could CSAVE to
> all the computers, or CLOAD from one of them. I don't recall the DLOAD
> command ever being used or supported.

Exactly.  There were two versions of the system, though they looked identical.  
The first was just good for the 500 bps TRS-80 Mod One tape speed, the second 
worked with the 1500 bps of the Mod 3, Coco and later the Mod 100 and MC-10 
(though I never heard of that last ever demonstrated).  A connector for the 
teacher's station and sixteen for students.  It came with cables (DIN5M to 
DIN5M at mostly wrong lengths -- cabling a classroom was a royal PITA).  My 
original Las Vegas RSCC classroom in 1980 had the first version, with a Mod 
One teacher's station and a bunch of Mod 3 student machines.  Had to remind 
the students to select the slow cassette rate at boot.  Later in Los Angeles 
I had the second version and did teach a few classes with Cocos and Mod 100s 
(never more than half a dozen Coco student machines involved in those, a fair 
number with a full load of Mod 100s).

Both versions supported 16 student stations.  All student stations had to 
start the CLOAD (or CLOADM) before the transfer.  There was a rotary switch 
that let any one student CSAVE to the teacher's machine.  The students almost 
always hit the ENTER key too soon, in my experience.  Life was so much better 
when I got to teach Xenix with honest serial connections.

-- 
Ward Griffiths    wdg3rd at comcast.net

I think boys might benefit from owning a Barbie doll; every young man
should understand what an expensive proposition it is to cohabitate with
a narcissistic woman built like a stripper.  --  Tony Woodlief