Date   : Fri, 23 Dec 1988 02:03:04 GMT
From   : caesar.usc.edu!mlinar@oberon.usc.edu (Mitch Mlinar)
Subject: Balcones <-> Xerox ?

In article <810@shell.shell.com> svh@shell.UUCP (Steve V. Hovater) writes:
>I have questions about the way the 8086 processor talks to the Z80 
>in a Xerox 16/8 (basically, how, and an example would be nice!).
>
>Since Balcones Computer (?) wrote the OS and BIOS, I think it would
>be extremely helpful to talk to him/her/them. If they're still around.
>
>Does anyone have an answer to the question, or can point to Balcones?

Balcones Computer only wrote the BIOS and ROM for the 820-II.  As far as
getting hold of them, good luck.  Jim Ferguson (of BigBoard fame among other
things) told me many years ago that they wrote the code, collected BIG bucks
for it from Xerox, and went away.  He did not say whether Balcones existed or
not anymore, but it sounds like they are gone.

Personally, I have found little use for the 8086 card in the 820-II due to
its anemic RAM and so generic MS-DOS that few IBM programs in recent memory
run on it.  You are better off putting together a clone.

On the other hand, I have found a use for the slot to install extra bankable
memory that my OS can use.

-Mitch