Random Access From Our Readers
M. Bowers of Warminster, PA, writes: “I would like to see a crisp explanation of memory (of TS computers). . . A comprehensive write-up, with all the details in one place, would be a great help.”
Here’s a challenge. Much information is available, but a comprehensive tutorial would be welcome to many readers. I love the word “crisp”–bw
From Pete Kelly of Petal, MS comes the following want list:
” . . . would be willing to buy plug-in peripherals to increase the real world usefulness of my 2068. . . (a system that uses) a digitizer and a ramdisk to create picture stories for children or information packets for adults. . . “(He suggests the city map as an example.) “. . . an article on how to hook my 2068 and 2040 printer to a bettery and small DC monitor or TV that I can carry in a briefcase or small suitcase.”
Pete also calls our attention to a mini-series of articles on digitizers in RAMTOP, newlsetter of the Greater Cleveland Sinclair User Group, edited by James Dupuy, [address omitted].
Warren Fricke, from Depew, NY endorses the idea of adding voice markers to your tapes of programs, but suggests a voice announcement at the end of each program as well, both of the announcements to refer to a written log that is filed with the tape.
From Roger Phelps, of Ithaca, MI: “I would like to see a very thorough article on (how to use) the TS2068 in the extended color mode. Also I would like information on how to print and plot in the lower portion of the screen and information on sprites.”
Here’s another example where information is available in bits and pieces, but a comprehensive treatment of the subject would be most welcome–bw
So They Say…
The November 5,1987 issue of the ANN ARBOR NEWS, published by University of Michigan, carries a fascinating article on artificial intelligence. One particularly provocative passage: “…there is ‘extraordinary potential’ now for scientists to make progress in the area of learning…INDUCTION, to be published by MIT Press later this year (1987) lays out important work that lies ahead for psychologists and computer scientists interested in thinking.”
* * *
A media release from the Merrimack, NH offices of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) announced a “joint development effort to integrate Macintosh personal computers and AppleTalk networks with VAX systems and DECnet/OSI enterprise networks. These development efforts will take advantage of open standards for desktop integration, based on the industry-standard Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model of the International Standards Organization (ISO).”
Silicon Mountain Computers to Close Doors
Silicon Mountain Computers (SMC) is closing its doors, and will no longer supply commercial software or hardware products. Existing obligations will of course be filled, and Fred will continue to be involved with the ZX81 family of fine computers; as a user, writer, and hacker, but not as a supplier.
We gratefully thank the many individuals who have supported us in the past, and made it possible to fight a losing battle for as long as we have. We appreciate the support, friendship, and patience you all have extended over the past six years.
Silicon Mountain Computers will be renamed “Silicon Mountain Electronics”, which, as the name implies, will pursue avenues of a more general electronic nature as well as computers.
With the exception of SRAM HI-RES EXTENDED BASIC and ZX-TERM*80, all of the programs authored by Fred Nachbaur are hereby released from copyright restrictions. Pass them around to your friends, submit them to your user group library, enjoy them, learn from them. With the exception of the two afore-mentioned programs and any new releases that may be developed in the future, there are no strings attached. (However, any “shareware” contributions would certainly not be refused.) The two excluded programs and any new releases will be offered for distribution to established retailers.
We encourage other programmers and developers who are no longer actively marketing their products, to do the same. There are many people who can still benefit from your work, and you will be doing them a big favour by letting them do, with your blessing, what they’re doing already anyway. (Besides, it’s a cheap way to attain a modicum of immortality.)
As the rumour mill has alredy reported, one of Silicon Mountain Electronics’ research projects is the investigation of the feasibility of developing a new computer. It should be clearly understood, however, that this project is by no means a certainty at this point. It’s not because of the infamous “big IF”, rather it depends on a whole lot of “little ifs”. I have carefully chosen a core of potential developers who have expressed an interest to investigate the potentials; IF we all agree on the route to take, IF we all find the time to do our parts, IF the economics fall into place, IF the result of our brain-pooling results in a marketable product, IF no-one comes up with a better mouse before we build a better trap. . . then there will be a new computer. But don’t believe anything you hear, unless you hear it from us.
If it does happen, it will not be, as rumour has it, a Timex “clone”. The new machine will have some common features, such as elegance in simplicity, but it will be a new machine in its own right. We’ll keep you posted.
EDITOR’s COMMENT: We are sorry to see Fred leave the computer field–or rather, to let his interest in computers be diluted. I don’t know how many of you realize how much the Timex fraternity owes to this one man.
His release of programs to the public domain is typical of Fred’s style–he wants the world to reap whatever residual benefits it can from his brain-children, even though he will no longer be nurturing them.
As any author/programmer/composer or other artist knows, Fred’s remark about immortality, though light-hearted, is quite serious. Let’s help him get the immortality he deserves, by continuing to acknowledge his authorship on any of the programs we appropriate with his permission.
Good luck, Fred. We trust that we haven’t heard the last from you. We are sure that you haven’t heard the last from us.
Cedric Bastiaans, SWN Author, Dies
I was informed that Cedric Bastiaans died on April 30.
I never met Cedric personally, but had got to know him pretty well through correspondence over the past few months. Maybe some of you remember him as a contributor to SyncWare News some years ago. I believe that he has also been active in a number of users’ groups.
Cedric told me early on that his heart was failing, and he was forced accordingly to cut down on his output. He accepted the limitation realistically, however, without self-pity and without losing his good humor. He was an accomplished linguist and (as is not at all uncommon with linguists) his programming showed a deep insight into the workings of the human mind. He will be sadly missed.
Condolences may be sent to
Ernest D. Bastiaans
[address omitted]
Late News on Cleveland 1988 Mid West T/S Conference
The Cleveland Mid-West T/S Conference will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 26 and 27, 1988, at
Beck Center for the Arts
Lakewood, Ohio
There is no nearby hotel complex, the organizers warn us, so you will need either a car or access to a car pool.
Inquiries should be addressed to
Andy Kosiorek
Cleveland Sinclair Users Group
[address omitted]
COMPUSERVE ID [e-mail address omitted]
Cleveland Freenet BBS (216-368-388, ID [e-mail address omitted]
or
c/o SYSOP, Timelines T/S BBS (216-671-6922 10 PM to 6 AM, EST)
In the fully spelled out version of their title, the organizers include Amstrad along with Timex and Sinclair.
The conference welcomes exhibitors ($25 per table), people willing to make a conference presentation, and members of the Great American Public who want to observe and learn. And to buy.
A Plug for SNUG
I hope that the proposal for a North American Users’ Group (S.N.U.G.) is still alive by the time this issue of SyncWare News reached you. I also hope that it’s not too late to make one more suggestion as to how SNUG can serve its members.
One of the problems that bedevil the organizers of computer shows is the danger of conflicting with other events. Shows scheduled too close together (either in space or in time) can cause difficulties both for exhibitors and for the public. A national group could help to minimize such conflicts.
I hope that we don’t ever see the day when any organizer has to get permission from the national group in order to stage a show, or when any exhibitor has to get permission to take part. (And Heaven help us indeed if we ever have to get permission from anybody–except our spouses–to attend a show!) But SNUG could certainly act as a clearing house for information, so that anybody causing a conflict would at least know what he was doing.
Missing Person Report
Can anybody tell us where to find Mike Trivissono? Mike contributed a couple of fine articles to us a few years ago, on the subject Building a 2068 Data Base. I don’t know why the series was discontinued, but I hope it wasn’t as the result of something that we did. (Or didn’t do.)
Anyway, one of our readers would like to see more of the series, and we’d like to ask Mike whether he wants to continue it. Unfortunately, the U. S. Mail tells us that they can’t find him.
Can any of you let him know that we’d like to hear from him?
Truth or Consequences
You may remember a reference in our Vol. 5 No. 3 to the city of T or C, New Mexico. T.G. Morley sends us a Chamber of Commerce anouncment explaining that the city, originally known as “Hot Springs”, was named Truth or Consequences in 1954–to mark the 10th anniversary of the radio program called “Truth or Consequences”. Three subsequent referenda have upheld the name change. In recognition of this gesture, Ralph Edwards, producer of the show, has returned to the city annually.
The Chamber also notes that the city is no longer confused with other locations with “Hot Springs” in their names, that the mineral baths and fresh air are still available, and that living costs are “extremely reasonable”.
Further Info on that “Other” PC
Fred informs us that the IQ8300 is exactly the same as the PC8300. So is the Power 3000. Makes one wonder why the proliferation of names.
A Reader Replies
Earl Dunnington, of Boynton Beach, FL, volunteers the following information:
. . . For Gerard Triptree of Little Ferry, NJ:
An article on modifying the TS 1500 for connection to a monitor was published in “THE BEST OF TIME DESIGNS VOLUME ONE”.
(NOTE: Our own SWN also treated this subject in Vol. II No. 5, in the fourth paragraph of “TS1500 VIDEO TOPICS” on page 22. — bw.)
A TS 1500 schematic can be obtained from Sunset Electronics, 2254 Taraval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116.
The TS2068 Bookshelf
. . . For Dorothea Bundy of Ventura, CA:
A BASIC programmer’s library for the 2068 should contain the following books:
The 2068 Personal Color Computer USER MANUAL
THE TIMEX SINCLAIR 2068 EXPLORED--Tim Hartnell
TIMEX SINCLAIR 2068 BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE
GUIDE--Fred Blechman
T/S 2068 BASICS AND BEYOND--Sharon Zardetto Aker
THE BASIC HANDBOOK--Encyclopedia of the BASIC
Computer Language--David A. Lien (2nd
edition and 3rd edition)
There is a real dearth of any books for machine code on the 2068. I would advise anyone learning Z80 Assembly Language to obtain a TS 1500 (or 1000) to use until you become proficient.
Reference books should include:
The appendix of the USER MANUALS
MASTERING MACHINE CODE ON YOUR TIMEX SINCLAIR
1500/1000--Toni Baker
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MACHINE LANGUAGE
PROGRAMMING ON THE TIMEX/SINCLAIR 1500 and
1000--David B. Wood
THE COMPLETE TIMEX/SINCLAIR ZX 81
ROM DISASSEMBLY--Dr. Ian Logan and Dr. Frank
O'Hara
INTRODUCTION TO 2068 MACHINE CODE--Dr. Lloyd
Dreger
THE TIMEX/SINCLAIR 2068 ROM MANUSCRIPT--Dr. Lloyd
Dreger
Z-80 and 8080 ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING--
Kathe Spracklen
HOW TO PROGRAM THE Z80--Rodnay Zaks (Radio Shack)
Support Available for the Z88
Larry Chavarie of Ottawa reports that there is a Z88 Users’ Club (they even put the apostrophe in the right place!), with a bi-monthly newsletter. The club is:
Z88 USERS’ CLUB
68 WELLINGTON STREET
LONG EATON
NOTTINGHAM NG 10 4NG
ENGLAND
Their newsletter is called Z88 EPROM.