French-language cartridge for the Coco?

[jhd]

I have a very vague recollection of there having once existed a French-language cartridge for the Coco. Nothing appears on the various lists of "ROM Paks", but this item would have been very obscure. I assume that it was only ever sold in Canada, and probably mostly in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Ontario at that.

 

I do not recall what functionality it provided, other than (presumably) accented characters. As a cartridge, it would have limited ability to interact with any other software.

 

Am I confusing a Coco product with something for a related system? Did I just imagine this?

 

I have quickly looked at the Radio Shack catalogues available online, but there is very little Canadian content.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Your not imagining things. It's called Clavier Francais, 26-9490. It's probably ultra rare by now though.

[jhd]

Thank-you! Now that I know what to look for, I was able to find a photograph (and some information) online.

 

This seems very much like a solution in search of a problem. Who was clamoring for an international keyboard for the Coco?

 

The market for such a product in North America would be tiny; anyone seriously needing international characters would (presumably) have purchased a computer with that capability built-in.