ACOS stands for Advanced Cassette Operating System. Melbourne House claims ACOS allows a cassette to be operated like a disk drive.

However, ACOS is merely a computerised version of what we do already; it notes counter number, program title, plus next available space and fast forwards to required position. Blank tape is 'formatted' via fairly lengthy process, and a directory header is put on it.

To SAVE or LOAD, ACOS must be present, and once the directory is loaded, you press appropriate recorder keys under program direction and, after SAVEing, save directory.

Directory lists all titles on screen, but does not LOAD or SAVE at any increased speed. Since you must LOAD ACOS the time taken to reach and load formatted program is actually longer than normal.

ACOS cuts tape loss between programs, could tidy up message libraries, but is no substitute for a disc drive.

Extra Basic commands are most interesting and offer easier access to sound, graphics, sprites, collisions, interrupts and memory. The manual is technical. ACOS-written programs need it to run so it's useless for commercial purposes.

Free game, reasonable price. It could be useful.

D.C.