[Coco] [coco] OS9, terminals and memory

[George Ramsower]

  Years ago, I wanted a better display for my coco2. Since I used OS9, I 
figured this shouldn't be too difficult to use the terminal instead. I 
had a Kimtron KT-7. I think the model # is correct.
  So, after proving it would work as a /t2 terminal, I made a new boot 
disk without gfx or /term drivers, maybe a couple other things used for 
the video and/or keyboard. In the boot, /term was /t2 renamed /term. It 
too, worked.
  It was interesting to see the boot-up work. It started out looking 
normal on the old TV but, once OS9 started, the display stopped getting 
updated and everything began to show up on the Kimtron. The keyboard was 
disabled. The driver for the keyboard was deleted in the new boot too. 
At the time, I didn't know enough to save some memory, if it could be 
done without those drivers but, it worked!!
  As I experimented further, I saw that the old video memory for the 
built in VDG got used for other processes. I would assume this also gave 
me a few more bytes to use. It was fun to play with until I got a CC3 
with 512k ram and the experiment ended.
  Of course, it wouldn't support any video games or graphics at all but, 
since I didn't use those anyway, it was good by me.


George