Letters to the Editor

Dear Ed,

Do You have any info on the SUN organization (Sinclair Users’ Network) in Palatine, IL? No phone or written communications seem possible.

On self-starting programs, as you have, is it possible to get a listing from that program?

Sincerely,
Heinz Zuschlag – Trumbull, CT

Dear Heinz,

The SUN newsletter, I’m sorry to say, is no longer being published – a victim of the sad situation regarding the TS-1000 market. That’s all the information I have at this time.

Self-running BASIC programs can be broken and listed the same way a normal BASIC program can. We have mentioned the method in earlier issues but it bears repeating. The simplest method involves adding 2 lines to your program such as:

9998 SAVE "PROGRAM"
9999 RUN

or

9999 GOTO line number

The second method allows variables to be stored with the program. Make sure the line number you designate doesn’t encounter and LET or DIM statements that will destroy the variables the program was saved with.

Now, to get the program to self-run after loading, SAVE it by entering “GOTO 9998”. This saves the program on tape and then executes it. When the program is re-loaded from tape, it automatically goes to line 9999.

The TS-2068 is an entirely different story. It is possible to write programs in BASIC that cannot be broken or listed. Programmers who catch on to the techniques can pretty much assure themselves of having a good deal of author protection – Ed.

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Dear Ed,

I have just become the proud owner of a 2068 computer. I’m very pleased with it but am very anxious to find out how to utilize the other 3 screens. User defined graphics are going to be very handy; the higher resolution certainly improves graphics.

Unfortunately, I have a Mindware MW-100 printer, which is not compatible with the 2068. I called Mindware and they offered no solution. If anyone has one, I’d like to know what it is.

I still use my TS-1000; it has an add-on keyboard and has a UHF modulator installed so it’s very easy to use. I also have a Winky Board which is fantastic. I thought some of my early software was gone forever, but it’s loadable with the Winky.

I would like to see more about the 2068 in your magazine.

Sincerely, Marilyn Busby – Katy, TX

Dear Marilyn,

The little information we have on the 3 screen mode is covered in appendix C of the manual starting on page 247. Try this program and see what displays on the screen.

10 FOR n=0 TO 255
20 OUT 255,n
30 CLS
40 FOR i=1 TO 704
50 PRINT ".";
60 NEXT i
70 NEXT n

I know a hi-res monitor will improve the clarity and it even says on the box that the 2068 comes in that it has 80 column format (lower left corner/front). We don’t have a high-res monitor but I believe that when one is plugged into the monitor jack, the display will be formatted properly.

The PIXIE character editor package (see review this month) is an exiting tool that exploits the full high-resolution character graphics capability of the 2068.

The Mindware printer is designed to use the Sinclair code of the ZX-81 or TS-1000. The 2068 uses ASCII code which is completely different. The 2040 printer can operate on all T/S computers. We don’t believe you can use the MW-100 without internal modifications to the printer – Ed.

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Dear Ed,

In response to your question concerning articles, etc. regarding the 2000/1000, I would hope that you would start IMMEDIATELY with tips & programs for the 2000 on maybe a 50-50 basis and within a few months up it to 75/25. I don’t think you ought to phase out the 1000 entirely. I know I’ll be using both of my machines for a long time to come. I have an awful lot of information on cassettes that I doubt if I will convert to my 2000. Tips, ideas and programming techniques are what are needed right now, though, for the 2000 (or for that matter, for my 1000 or ZX-81).

I sure enjoy just messing around. I am retired and got into computing out of curiosity. It kept my water from freezing in my brain. I recommend it highly to retirees as a great hobby.

P.S. I buy Hewlett-Packard paper (82954A) in 400′ rolls for my 2040 printer and made a frame and dust cover. It works great and is cheaper, too, if you price it by the foot.

George G. Cary – Coloma, CA

Dear George,

Your thoughts, regarding magazine content, pretty much reflect those of the majority. I still stand fast in my opinion that this is the “peoples’ computer”.

As stated in last month’s issue, we will be phasing out the magazine/cassette concept of Synchro-Sette (last issue – Oct. 84). We will definitely supply software for all the Timex computers along with other popular computers such as the Commodore 64.

We may come out with a newsletter containing a lot of the Synchro-Sette format for all the popular computers we support with software, the theme being programs, computer awareness education and news/gossip. We are not sure if this idea is marketable. We might just send out a quarterly publication to any purchaser within the previous 6 months as a freebie and hope that the revenue generated from the software sales of items contained would contain the expense and also send an update sheet with any new order.

Times are surely lean in the Timex/supporter market as evidenced by almost every supporting company, including ourselves.

I would like to hear anyone’s opinions on what they feel the market should provide – Ed.