This mini forum is intended to provide a simple means of discussion about the Tandy Radio Shack  Color Computer 3 computer. If you want to share your own experience or memories, or add relevant information about this system: post a message!

Disk Extended Color Basic wasn''t available on any of the CoCo line without the addition of the Floppy controller and the included internal ROM that plugged into the 40-pin expansion slot or the Multi-Pack Interface (or equivalant.) Otherwise just Extended Color Basic was available for use.

Michael Devenney, I am definitely interested. please E-mail me at the.lynchster@gmail.com

I have a Tandy computer color 3 new in the box, never used. The outer box is in terrible condition , but the computer is unwrapped and has been never used. Anyone interested?

This was also my first computer since I owned a 2600 Atari and NES game system back in 1987. Learning basic was fun on this system with the built in color graphics. I remember bagging my parents for the floppy drive unit shortly afterwords and was able to save the basic programs and run games like Kings Quest. This was truly a revolution for the time and even had a special color monitor that could be purchased. What I was especially impressed about this system is all the expansion options that were available. When I was younger growing up I could all the options at once but being able to upgrade the system was an advantage along with having the composite video connection to get started.

One of my biggest regrets was selling my entire system for $50 USD and purchasing a 286 computer at the time. This system and the first IBM computer tough me a lot. The new generation of youth has a lot to be learned as we grew up in our generation.

the Tandy was my very first computer. I spent hours of fun on it. back when you had to turn the little switch from TV to computer on channel 3 back then. I wish Ii held onto it now, it''sd be fun to mess around again on it. thanks for the fun., Jack

I have uploaded scans of the system manuals, in PDF on skydrive, the Public address is https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid$c1a7e9824022ad17$resid$C1A7E9824022AD17!732

I have some of the most common hardware manuals there too, if you are looking for another manual, most likely I have it.

The manuals are for all 3 Color Computers ( 1, 2, and 3) Schematics and repair manual included.

Please archive these manuals, I don''t know how long I will keep them there, or add them to Old-Computers.com as a direct download.

Does anyone know if the COCO 3 FPGA project has been put into a low cost ASIC chip... i.e. a single ASIC chip Coco 3... I''m wanting to use one instead of a PIC or embedded processor ... It would be great if I could get a single chip coco 3 with the functions of the coco 3 ( Enhanced ) and the functionality of a PIC... I''d love to buy one ...

The CoCo3FPGA SOC actually started on the Xylinx platform, and was fairly recently ported to Altera. My blog shows my build of the CoCo3FPGA, put into an old CoCo 3 case.

If you want more info about CoCo3FPGA, see the Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CoCo3FPGA/

Poke 65495,0 was for the Coco 1 and 2. The speed up poke on the Coco 3 was poke 65497,0 and the slowdown was poke 65496,0.

I believe these are on a Altera DE1 board using a cyclone chip runnning at 25MHz.

The Coco 3 is now on a single chip (FPGA, Field programmable Gate Array) running at 25MHz!!

Anyone with more info on this please post a message....

The 2 MHZ command was poke 65495,0.
I still have several of these,1 inside of an IBM case.
These machines still work great as a basis for a home security system,satellite descrambler and a way to monitor an automotive computer.
BTW I still love playing the Kronis Rift.