First, a word or two concerning joysticks for the budget-minded. One of the following reviews is of a product which requires a joystick in the left port of the 2068.
I obtained excellent results in reviewing that program by “borrowing” a joystick from a seldom-used ODYSSEY 2 video game which had been languishing in the closet. I would surmise that similar video game machines could de encountered at garage sales, flea markets, etc. at very reasonable prices.
Converting the Odyssey joystick for use on the 2068 was both cheap and simple. A pair of D-subminature 9-pin connectors from Radio Shack (Part No. 276-1537 and 276- 1538) were utilized. The joystick cable was clipped close to the Odyssey case. This leaves sufficient leads remaining inside the case that the socket half of the connector pair may be installed therein, and the removed joystick may then be utilized either on the Odyssey or Timex machine.
I used an ohmmeter to check the color coding of the joystick cable. I found that the black wire was common so it was connected to pin 8, which is “Read Strobe” on the Timex port. in like manner, red wire was connected to pin 1 (UP), (DOWN), green to pin 3 (LEFt), orange to pin 4 (RIGHT), and white to pin 6 (BUTTON). Note that color coding may not always be the same tor the joystick cables, but the functions given are correct for the 2068 joystick port. Pins Nos. 5, 7 and g are not used. I was also able to play Quicksilva’s “Astro Blasters” (a fast-paced arcade type game) with the joystick, but had to use the keyboard for starting the game and claiming high scores.
Now the reviews.
“BIZ”
Copyright 1985 by Mike James. Available from Curry Computer, 5344 West Banff Lane, Glendale, AL 85306.
(Correspondence from Curry Computer indicated that the tape supplied for review contained a known division error in the calculator mode, which had been corrected on later tapes.)
“BIZ” is a home management program that goes a long way towards proving that fancy features are not limited to the big computers. Although actual file capacities are not large, “BIZ” has Memo Pad, Address Book, Calculator, Calendar, 24 hour Clock (with Alarm and Message), Budget Graphics (“3-D” quite attractive), Security Lock! (Forget your access code and it can be “un-locked” without destroying your data for a nominal feel . “BIZ” even does windows. (That sounds like a detergent ad!) And the calculator, called up in a window mode, also has an active “window” which normally displays calculator memory status but displays a scrolling “HELP message on request.
Documentation is brief but adequate. Main and sub menus are consistent and logical; error protection appears to be excellent Clock and Alarm are set from the main menu, as are Lock, Save, and Run. Since Run will clear data it has special error trapping, but all other menu options are called with a single keystroke.
Color and sound are used in a restrained but effective manner. “BIZ” screens may be output to the T/S Printer from the menu, but no mention is made of other printers.
“BIZ” is shipped with sample data on the tape, which serves as a good illustration of the features encompassed. This original tape should of course be considered the “Master” “, and be used primarily to prepare a “working copy”; then filed for later reference should disaster strike.
DRAW II
Copyright 1984 by Peech Il Productions, 6333 Parkman Place, Cincinnati, OH 45213.
(Program may also be available from the T/S Connection, 3832 Watterson Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45227)
As the title implies, DRAW II is a program to draw pictures with. Colors utilized are user selected, and various options may be accessed via simple menus and (watch out, MAC!) ICONS. Joystick is REQUIRED, and must be plugged into the left joystick port. Pre-drawn circle, triangle, and square may be selected from the icons in a graphics mode along with “brush width”. When pre-drawn figures are utilized, the user is re-quested to specify size and whether the figure is to be filled or remain an outline only. Finished drawings may be SAVED and reloaded, and one drawing may de retained in memory. Screens may be output to the T/S Printer, and Mark Fendrick (Computer Shopper, March 1985) reports similar results with his Gemini 10X.
While DRAW II displays some outstanding concepts, it falls a bit short of perfection in actual performance. First, it is slow. Second, it is hard to maintain accurate positioning of the cursor in the “fine” mode. Third and most serious, when using predrawn figures one is often advised that the size selected is too large when it is quite evident that sufficient room exists in the area selected for the figure to occupy. Placing the selected figure of the selected size in the selected area COULD sometimes be accomplished by starting with a much smaller figure, then enlarging it in steps by returning to the icons and menus; a laborious and time consuming process! in addition, it was noted that certain “dead” spots existed where the cursor would not proceed. In drawing a diagonal line, the visible cursor would not go past the screen boundaries, which the actual plot position did. This made it difficult to draw a diagonal corner with the apex lying exactly on the border line.
Let me repeat that this program is built on some beautiful concepts, and I have no desire to condemn it.
I would just like to see a completely debugged version with a bit of machine code for added speed!