The two computers I had (have, actually) that used cassette interfaces were always fairly reliable, though naturally slow. (Home computing had a long history of cassette interfaces prior to the machines we've been discussing.) I used a Pioneer piano-key cassette recorder that was notably better in audio quality than the usual. A KD-12? It was also the 'sound system' in my college dorm room.
One of those computers later got a computer-controlled cassette tape drive that was considerably faster. I no longer remember the data rate of the interface, but I had it hooked to Forth, to load 'screens'. It would seek, forwards and backwards. I designed the tape format so that it could scan screen headers as it rewound, so that it wasn't guessing when it would turn around and go forwards to do the read. There was only one speed, fast, not separate speeds for FF/RW and reading. It was kind of cool, in a totally obsolescent way. That same computer got floppies, a serial RS-232 interface for a dial-up modem, 'gobs' of RAM, a 24x80 video, 6-channel sound (beeps), and an EPROM programmer! I had _so_ much fun with that thing. The projects I accomplished on it were pretty much directly responsible for my getting my first real job. A dream job, I might add. -- Jim _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
