Re: OS-9 as Replacement for DECB
1. Art Flexser already improved DECB/SECB -- it's called ADOS. SECB was layered over ECB and DECB for two
reasons -- backwards compatibility and the licensing agreement with Microsoft. I wouldn't worry about
MS now because of size of market and age of code, but re-write to extensively and you'll give up
compatibility with CC3 software as well as older. For some that won't be a problem, but for most it will.
2. The main problem with OS-9 burned into a CC3 ROM and booting from such is one of the main reasons OS_9 is so
powerful -- it's flexibility. It should be possible to burn a "standard" OS-9 boot file into the ROM that
would look for a standard set of devices. Say all the stock CoCo hardware along with a single sided drive as
drive 0 (shouldn't matter if it's 35 or 40 tracks) and drive 1, and double sided drive 3 (40 track?). OS-9
users are already cringing, but what does the most common DECB user have? They may not have more powerful
hardware, and to catch most you'd need to go with the lowest common denominator (LCD). There's a work
around here too! Have the ROM look for a boot file on the drive first, then boot from that if present. If not
present, boot from the LCD file in ROM. That still won't make OS-9 that much easier to use. A good front-end
program similar to Chris Dekker's "CoCo
Top" is needed also. It uses much less processing power than Multi-Vue. MV is good for mor
e experienced users, a simple file manipulation/launch program is all a beginner needs. OS-9 programmers
would have to concentrate on ease of use and simplicity instead of feature rich programs, something they
aren't accustomed to! You can always tell when the design engineeer writes the user manual... only he
understands a program (or hardware) really in depth, and makes assumptions that a new user has no idea of!!
I've had software and hardware like that before, nothing turns someon off a new thing that not
understanding the manual, and having a 2" thick manual to begin with! A basic, non-graphic or
semi-graphic front end would be a big help. CoCoTop was the best I'd ever seen -- mostly text menus with
pop-up text boxes (windows) for menus. Just some simple line graphics and text -- fast and easy!!
3. The ROM socket isn't that big an issue. Destructively remove the original by cutting the legs as close to
the chip body as possible. If you're good at de-soldering, remove the legs. If not, solder a socket onto the
legs. There's room in the case above the board. Just make a disk copy of the ROM first so it can be burned and
returned if necessary. For those who can't sodler or doesn't know someone who will do the work, offer a send
in service.
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