Msg: 3470 *Conference*

11-30-92 13:30:27

From: GARY WEBER

To : TRACY ALLEN

Subj: XR4 <--> NEC 8201?

Well, at least I *hope* I'm addressing this message to the correct account!
Please forgive my misplaced message and disregard if I'm in error.
 
I own the NEC PC-8300 (very closely compatible with the PC-8201).  I've heard
about the extRAM and XR4 products that EME Systems is offering,  and I'm
curious about the feasibility of porting this product over to the NEC
PC-8201/8300 computer.  If it simply attaches to the option ROM socket, then
about the only change that would need to be made is the program which runs on
the computer itself, and since the 8201 & Tandy 100 have all the same ROM
routines, just at different addresses, the conversion of the software would be
incredibly easy.  But, if both of these products attach via the system bus,
there there would indeed be a need to redesign the hardware a bit.  
 
If software conversion is all that is necessary, I'd even be glad to offer my
time to do the conversion (provided I was able to get the source code to the
N2X.CO program and other necessary software under a non-
disclosure agreement.  I've written many 8080/8085 Assembly programs as well as
BASIC programs.  M100 to NEC conversions are something I do all the time.  What
are your thoughts on this?  It would open up a new market
 (how big, I don't know, but if software is the only thing that needs to
change, consider how low the development cost would be!) and it would also help
out us NEC 8201/8300 users who would like a few third-party products like this.
 
Thanks for listening, Gary Weber