2068 Review: Hi*Res

There was once a time when I had a small touch of envy when I read an ad for a plotter for some computer other than my Sinclairs. I was even able to use a plotter-printer with my old Commodore VIC-20. In fact, I still had my Commodore 1520, but had rarely used it the last few years. It had come with no ready software, and the type-in programs that were in the manual were riddled with errors. The plotter-printer worked fine, but I just had no real use for it.

Well, along comes

John McMichael
1710 Palmer Dr.
Laramie WY 82070

to the rescue with both an interface and software to boot.

The plotter uses plain paper that is 4.5 inches wide and comes in rolls. It is readily available at Radio Shack stores who sold a similar plotter printer a few years ago, along with Atari. They also sell the four colored pens used by the plotter. The plottable area on this paper is as follows:

“Along the X axis: 96 mm (480 positions numbered 0 to 479 separated by 479 steps)

“There is à 9 mm border on the left and right sides of the X plottable area so that the actual paper width is 114 mm.

“Along the Y axis: Programmable as desired (+/999 positions numbered 0 to 998 separated by 998 Steps)”

With the interface of John’s you are able to use this four color (red, black, blue, and green)

plotter with your TS2068. He has a simple interface which will allow you to connect it to the computer in one of two ways, so let him know which you want. It can be connected directly out the back of your expansion port on the rear, or plugged into a John Oliger Co. motherboard. As I use the Oliger Disk system, I opted for the motherboard plug in. The interface comes in two forms. One is a kit, and if you are handy with a soldering iron and have the time it will save you a few bucks. Otherwise you had best order the completed board.

So what are the drawbacks to using this Commodore plotter-printer? The first is that like our Timex-Sinclairs…the 1520 is also an orphan in a sense, The company that made them is still around but does not seem to offer any support. They are available at many TOYS-R-US stores for about $30. I have also seen used ones for sale at EVERY Ham and Computer show I went to last year. You might also check any local Commodore User Group in your area.

They are still being sold in Britain; I have seen ads for them in British computer mags such as Your Computer.

So you need to get one of the Commodore 1520’s to use the interface and the software from John McMichael. I could also wish for a plotter that uses regular size paper, but this is the best deal I have run across yet.

Now to tell you a little about the software available for this plotter. First there is the Driver Program that comes with the interface, and contains a very extensive showing of just what can be done with the plotter. The demo lasts over 13 minutes and shows you geometric designs; 20, 40, 60, 80 columns for text; rotated text; different colors; and many sizes of print to choose from.

He also has available a Screen-to-Plotter program that allows you to use the plotter like a Drawing (with text) program by either using the cursor or a joystick. You can save screens, load in previously saved screens, edit them, all in four colors. When using text, you can change size of print, color, rotate print, use solid or dashed lines, center text, etc. All of this for $8.95.

Bannerific is a banner program for the 1520. You may print out your font and size selected message either as horizontal or vertical print. Each letter can be a diffrent color from its neighbor letter. You may also do an inverse of the selected characters. The one thing I wish it did have, but does not, 1s a selection ol Ill patterns for the text. It will not accept “token” characters, nor will you be allowed to exceed 200 characters in your text. These drawbacks are minor compared with what you get, again for only $8.95.

The last of the currently available programs by John for the 1520 is CMS/1520. This allows you to combine MSCRIPT Version 5.0 or 5.2 with the picture-plotter as an 80 column word processor. John gives you full instructions on how to combone these two programs and to get you familiar with the ensuing differences. Some of the differences outlined are that two home menu commands are no longer effective, but are no longer needed. These are FEED and INTERFACE, and are overwritten by the CMS/1520 driver code. This is the most fun 1 have ever gotten out of MSCRIPT (of course, I usually use my personalized Spectral Writer as my word processor). This program also retails for $8.95.

I have tried to give you the honest pros and cons of this interface and software so that you can make an intelligent decision. Personally, I feel that it is a bargain and will open up a new area of computing for you.