Re: What are the really unusual or weird computers?

> 
> On 28 Jun 2007 at 23:06, Tony Duell wrote:
> 
> > IIRC, cassette I/O went via a software interrupt
(INT 15????). The 
> > routines in later BIOSes (XT, AT, etc) returned
without doing anything, 
> > bnt since all said BIOSes supported extension
ROMs, I see no good reason 
> > why you couldn't have a BIOS extension and a
little hardware to add 
> > cassette I/O to the later machines, if you were
insane enough to want it.
> 
> Now you're being pedantic, Tony!  i'm not aware of any
stock plug-in 

You;'ve been on this list long enough to know that I'm often
pedantic 

> adapter that gives one 5150-style cassette I/O on a
5160.  I might as 

Nor am I. I was just saying it's possible, using documented
software 
interfaces.

> well claim that I could run Windows XP on a 5160, given
the right 
> hardware and software additions.

Oh come on. There's a big difference between writing an
extension ROM, 
which follows a well-docuemtned pattern, to implement a
well-documented 
function and replacing the procesosr, memory system (I doubt
you'll get 
anywhere with XP in 640K), expanding the address bus,
replacing the video 
system (XP won't run on nn MDA or CGA card), etc, etc, etc.

-tony