The ADAM is available in two models, the complete system and Expansion Module #3. When the memory console of Expansion Module #3 is connected to the ColecoVision, the two models are essentially identical in function. The unit pictured here is the expasion module #3 (it is shorter than the complete unit). The expansion module #3 uses part of the Colecovision hardware, thus the memory unit doesn't have any cartridge slot, and isn't delivered with any controllers nor TV switch box.
The whole system is made of the daisywheel printer, the memory unit and the keyboard. The power supply is built-in the printer!
The Smart Basic isn't in ROM and has to be loaded from a tape, however there's a little word processor in ROM, this word processor prints the text to the printer at the same time the user types on the keyboard, but can also be used as a classic wordprocessor.
The Adam had a pretty short life, only two years! Despite this there is still a community of Adam fans who still use their system. Nowadays, most Adam users use a 320k 5 1/4 inch disk drive, an external 2400 baud modem, and a 20, 30 or 40 megabyte IDE harddisk. Adams often have memory expanders up to 2 MB in size (which is usually used as a RAM disk), and also a parallel printer (like a bubble jet)!
Greg Bowman reports that he got an external CD drive for his Adam from his uncle who was then Vice President of Coleco. He notices that this CD drive was designed especially for the Adam. If anyone has more information about this CD drive, don't hesitate to mail us.
We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system,
please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
Most hyped home computer ever, oh my. The folks who brought you the Cabbage Patch Kids were now bringing you... a useful home computer system! One big box held everything. The big selling point was that it came with a printer -- and the whole shebang would cost $600 -- this at a time when printers alone were more expensive than that. Much more. Especially daisy wheel "full letter quality" printers. Yike. Okay. Well, the price changed to $700 by the time it was released... and the complaints rolled in. The first complaint was that the printer was of low quality and not durable. After a little while, it would start printing letters on a slant. Wow. So, you had to send the printer in for a repair... and in the meantime, you couldn't use your computer system because the power supply was in the printer! Sucked! Also, the system box would give off a nice big magnetic pulse when it was powered up, so if you happened to have your BASIC tape in the drive or sitting on top of the console, it might get corrupted. Sucked! Oh well. There were a few games that came out for the Adam, and you could buy blank tapes too, and it'd play colecovision cartridges. Eventually a disk drive was introduced... but by then it was too late. The home computer format war had split into Commodore 64 / Apple IIe / Atari 800XL. Your local retailer wasn't interested in giving over shelf space to anything else (well, until the Atari ST and Amiga 1000 arrived, and plenty of retailers ignored those two).
I''ve just released the free ColEm 5.1 for Windows and Linux, with the source code for those interested in porting ColEm to other platforms:
http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ $ homepage http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ColEm51-Windows-bin.zip $ free Windows version http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ColEm51-Ubuntu-x86-bin.tgz $ free Linux version http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ColEm51-Source.zip $ portable source code
This release adds configurable global color palette (via ColEm.pal file) and fixes state saving, loading, and rewind for Adam software. I have also added support for more Adam-specific keys. Please note that since Coleco Adam emulation is very new, it may have bugs. If you encounter any problems, or any Adam software that does not run, please, report it here:
https://groups.google.com/forum/$!forum/emul8
ALL CHANGES: * Added Coleco Adam state saving, loading, and rewinding. * Added support for more Coleco Adam keys (see documentation). * Disabled loading disks or tapes with no Adam firmware ROMs. * Added support for default palette file named ColEm.pal. * Now able to supply .PAL filename to -palette parameter. * Changing palette in Windows no longer resets emulation.
I''ve just released the free ColEm 5.0 for Windows and Linux, with the source code for those interested in porting ColEm to other platforms:
http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ $ homepage http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ColEm50-Windows-bin.zip $ free Windows version http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ColEm50-Ubuntu-x86-bin.tgz $ free Linux version http://fms.komkon.org/ColEm/ColEm50-Source.zip $ portable source code
This release adds the complete Coleco Adam emulation, including keyboard, printer, disk, and tape drives. Both .DSK and .DDP file types are now supported. There are multiple new menu and command line options for working with printers, disks, and tapes. Please note that since Coleco Adam emulation is very new, it may have bugs. If you encounter any problems, or any Adam software that does not run, please, report it here.
Recent ColEm releases also added support for 2kB SRAM found in the Lord Of The Dungeon game, Super Game Module (SGM) emulation, AY8910 PSG, 24c08 and 24c256 EEPROM emulation, and other modern features important to the homebrew community. See below for all the changes in the latest release.
ALL CHANGES: * Coleco Adam emulation is now operational, with keyboard, printer, disk, and tape drives. Use -adam command line or "Hardware $ Adam" menu to enable. Requires EOS.ROM and WRITER.ROM files. * Emulator will load .DSK files into disk drive A: and enable Adam mode. * Emulator will load .DDP files into tape drive A: and enable Adam mode. * Printer output can be sent to a file with -printer option. * Adam disk drives can also be loaded with -disk* options. * Adam tape drives can also be loaded with -tape* options. * Windows version has got full support for Adam-specific media images and hardware. * Added "File $ Save Printer Output" menu to ColEm-Windows. * Added "Hardware $ Disk Drives" menu to ColEm-Windows. * Added "Hardware $ Tape Drives" menu to ColEm-Windows.
SmartWriter wordprocessor, Smart BASIC delivered on data-pack
KEYBOARD
Full-stroke keyboard with separated arrow keys, ten command keys and six programmable function keys. 75 keys
CPU
Zilog Z80 A
SPEED
4 mHz
CO-PROCESSOR
6801 Master-microcomputer
RAM
64 kb (25 kb available with Smart Basic), upgradable to 144 kb
VRAM
16 kb
ROM
32 kb
TEXT MODES
40 x 24 / 36 x 24
GRAPHIC MODES
256 x 192
COLORS
16
SOUND
3 voices, 5 octaves
I/O PORTS
Cartridge slot (complete system only), RGB video out, 2 x Joystick sockets, expansion port, 2 x ADAMNET port (serial port used to connect printer, digital tapes and keyboard), 3 x card connectors inside the case
BUILT IN MEDIA
1 - Digital data pack reader (real to real magnetic tape encased in a Lexan cassette), 256 KB. There is a room for an optional second one
OS
EOS (Elementary Operating System) / OS-7
POWER SUPPLY
Built-in the printer !
PERIPHERALS
Second digital data-pack drive, 5''1/4 disk-drive, modem, 64k RAM expansion
(France, 1984)
