1988- Good Grief, Already!
-Days, weeks, months go by and I hardly pay attention, then POW another year, another decade, another time marker goes by and it seems impossible that the date, copyright on the screen could be that old!
-Hi and thanks to all user groups in our swap network. We pass on information from all sources to our members. We (who help put out the newsletter) need the help of ALL subscribers to write articles for our letter. To keep up our end of the exchange we continually need new input.
-Nov Meet- Vestal Library, 9 present, discussions on TS topics. Dave Schoenwetter, presiding.
-Dec Meet- Vestal Library, 7 present, demos of Bill Jones’ Word Processor by Clyde Tackley and a demo of Hal Sohn’s QL. Hal Sohn noted lack of on/off switches on his new QL due to British wall outlets have own on/off switch. Discussions on packet radio, local BBS situation, and need for local member participation in meetings and newsletter input. Dave Schoenwetter presiding.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>-1988 meeting calender-<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
-4th Wednesday- -5th Wednesday- -3rd Wednesday-
JANUARY 27 NOVEMBER 30 FEBRUARY 17
MARCH 23 APRIL 20
MAY 25 JUNE 15
JULY * 27 * AUGUST 17
SEPTEMBER 28 OCTOBER 19
DECEMBER 21
* = local dues due month!
GET A SEPERATE CALENDAR NOW-MARK IT WITH THE ABOVE DATES AND YOU WILL HAVE A REMINDER THROUGHOUT THE UPCOMING YEAR. MEETS START AT 7PM- AT THE VESTAL PUBLIC LIBRARY.
-John Colonna, SINCUS Tape Swap coordinator reports a brisk business in the tape swap program. Tape #3 is still under construction. Since John has gone disc, his time is wrapped into learning a whole new world of computers. For Oliger disc users the swap tapes will be available at cost on (DDDS) disc, a member with a Larken system will do likewise, so contact John at: [address omitted], Binghamton, NY, for info send along a SASE(self addressed stamped envelope) for a quick reply.
-Hal Sohn, SINCUS Tape Librarian (2068) reports his defection to Atari and the Sinclair QL. Hal wonders if any other Atari users are interested in meeting with us and perhaps swapping info via the newsletter. Good point Hal, other user groups are meeting with other computer users with varying degrees of success.
-TDM has a review of the Z88 in latest issue, it is an on hands review, and this is part one, first impressions. Get the magazine and read it. Time Designs Magazine, 29722 Hult Rd., Colton, OR 97017.
-Jullie-a doll, a computer, hi tech toy, light sensor, temperature sensor, voice recogntion, and extensive vocabually. This years Christmas toy hit, a computer that looks cute, and Dad wont get to play with it. Is this progress?
-received from Joan Kealy:
12-1-87
Dear Paul,
I said I’d let you know how good Dan Elliott [ Rte. 1, Box 117], Cabool MO did with my ailing 2068. He not only fixed 2 dead keys, but cured its inability to work with Magnavox Monitor. The TS2068 had been back to Timex Service Center in No. Carolina. No go. Both companies blamed the other but I brought new TS2068 that worked with Magnavox. So fault was in older TS2068. Dan fixed all-older 2068 works better than newer now.
J.K.
NOTE: letter received about two months from time info published so there is a good turn around time [ about 3 weeks and $15 ]. Good words on Mr. Elliott’s service from Rod McGowan of Oregon City, OR. As his reputation builds, he maybe be swamped with problem 2068s, and service may slow, be patient, it is only a part-time service. Other repair services are [ 1000/2068 ]: Carver Technology, 3832 Watterson Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45227 (513)271-5575; Sunset Electronics, Computer Services Dept., 2255 Taraval St.,San Francisco, CA 94116 (415)665-8330; [ QL ] A+ Computer Response, 69-B Island St.,Keene, NH 03431 (603)357-1800.
-received from D.G. Smith:
12-23-87
Sir(s);
Have you anyone in your group that might be willing to correspond and answer a large variety of questions? A few would be things like, how can I interface my TS1000 (or TS1500) to a full size printer? (I have a DIGITAL EQUIPMENT LETTER PRINTER 100 [LA100-ZA] which was given to me.) Can I use FORTH on the TS1000,(if I can learn it)? Where can I get an owners manual for the TS1500, and how much memory can be plugged on the back? Etc.
Thank You
D.G. Smith
[address omitted]
Johnstown, PA
-All you with out modems, or those of you who dont use the one you got, you are missing out on a GOOD thing. BBSs are generally FREE to users, but realize somebody has the extra change to purchase a computer and all the paraphanailia to get a BBS on line and then dedicate it to letting everyone else use it. If you use a BBS, say thanks to the SYSOPS once in awhile.
-TCCS BBS- 8-N-1 (607)785-2118 24 HOURS 7 DAYS A WEEK;SINCUS CONFERENCE;GROUP Password for next two months is “clive”. With all the yahoos not with TS computing leaving their clever comments on the SINCUS conference, this may give our group some “privacy”.
-Want to get into plotting? Check with John McMichael, 1710 Palmer Drive, Laramie, WY 82070 He has a plotting package for a VIC-1520; his interface and Pic-Plot utility software, for $30.95: other combinations for lesser prices available. The VIC-1520 is available elsewhere for about $50. Write for all the details, send a SASE.
-81s,1000s,1500s
-COMLINK I a plug in modem interface for your TS machine. 300 baud, software in onboard memory, no loading problems!-write to A. Eckhardt, 918 Anna Street, Boalsburg, PA 16827, $54.95(PP)
-81s,1000s,1500s
-ZX-Term*80 modem software for your Westridge or Byte-Back modem. Many, many features, up to 80 COLUMNS, upload/download, only 4K of memory, usable with any size RAMpac. $24.95 write to Silicon Mountain Computers, C-12, Mtn. Stn. Group Box, Nelson BC V1L 5P1, Canada (604)352-1668
Desk-Top Publishing on the TS2068-see ad this issue by S D Lemke
1988 ComputerFest see ad this issue by Jack Williamson
-Videos! MINI-FAIR SEMINAR TAPES(this past fall!) from RMG Enterprises, 1419 1/2 7th Street, Oregon City, OR 97045 (503)655-7484; 1-6 hour VHS tape for $15.95 (PP) Speakers-Syd Wyncoop, Michael Carver, Harvey Taylor, Wilf Rigter and others!
-MORE Videos! 2d Annual Midwest Computerfest of seminars and of the fest! Write SMUG, POB 101, Butler, WI 53007 for list of seminars and prices, Beta or VHS; also 2nd book on mc programming by Dr. Lloyd Dreger, for $16.95 + $1.50 s&h.
A couple issues ago there was a request for ROM addresses in the 2068 which corresponded with certain Spectrum commands. We had two responses from members, and I will include them in this issue for your information, if I can obtain permission from the people at SYNTAX, or from the author Nazir Pashtoon, of the LIST Group. It was in the final issue or issues of SYNTAX (Vol. 5, #10) Oct ’84.
WANTED
SPECTRUM ROM DISASSEMBLY
by Ian Logan
Please write to: Richard Hurd
[address omitted]
Warrenton, OR
-From R. Hurd: 3″ Maxell discs going for $33.50 per 10 from
Green Tree Computer Supplies
11 Osage Road
Rockaway, NJ 07866
-Taxes! How to figure, write: Herb Bowers, Sr.,2588 Woodshire Circle, Chesapeake, VA 23323 (304)487-5924 “W-4 Program how to figure Employee Withholding”=$7.00 (PP);”The NEW Tax Law and You”,$7.00 (PP), or both for $12.00 (PP). He also has a income tax preparer program for $29.50 (PP)called “QWIK-1040”. More! write Herb!
-The F.C.C. “Federal Communication Commission” has been mulling a $5 per hour tax on online telecommunication information services, like GEnie, Source and Compuserve. Of course if the tax is imposed, the cost will about double current online fees to the home user. January 1, 1988 is the start up date for the extra charge. Write to the F.C.C. and your congressman and your senators, and let him know your feelings, it may not be too late to have them suspend the tax.
Hello and Thank you to the following RENEWING members: Jim Kerr, Dolton, ILL; Jack Deuber, Casselberry, FLA; Don Lambert, Cedar Rapids, IA; Gerhard Meyer, Oceanside, NY; Laurie Futrell, Tucker, GA; Marinus Heuseveldt, Lantana, FLA; Lowell Heine, Minneapolis, MN; James Wilson, Akron, OH.
In reviewing several old newsletters, there are a lot of names of users and user groups no longer heard from. Where do they all go? Computer users are individuals, and the reasons for purchasing a computer range far and wide. The reason for quitting could be; lack of interest, time, money, space, spouse, movement to another system, or complete dissatisfaction with computing. Our TS computing is a tremendous investment in time and learning effort, and with the instant gratification demanded by many, a Cray II isn’t fast enough. The reasons for staying, curiosity, mind strecthing, a challenge, a fun hobby, keeping a useful tool. The ideal of some is to build their own system, others to buy the best, and others to make the most out of what they have. We are shedding the game players, the superficial, the “in” types, we are getting down to the HARD core TS and Sinclair computer users. Anyone who has expanded their system has had to learn anew, try, experiment, and redo or rewrite the manual, has had to use their grey matter on anything brought or homemade. Any program copied out of a magazine or book has to be debugged which teaches BASIC and frustrates many. A relatively simple matter for a brand name computer owner to add a disc, is a complex and for some an expensive undertaking. Modem users have tackled a new frontier with handholding by co-users, shared info from users around the country, not an 800 number. The whole picture of the modem user and what and where to go was put out, not by a national publisher, but by a couple of guys who got the ball rolling, not once but twice. The same with commercial software, bugs and printer and disc problems are not solved by the vendor, but by the user or his network of friends. Our numbers maybe fewer, but the friendliness of the remaining few is higher. Fewer users, fewer vendors, fewer manufactors but a closeness of the TS community which would never happen in the apple or atari or ibm world. Though I haven’t been to a TS computerfest yet, I have seen videos of fests past, read of the crowds, seen pictures of the participants, and enjoyed the atmosphere from afar. Our local group has been from the start a nationwide group, as some of the early writers were from Alabama to New York City, today we enjoy the efforts of people from Germany to Oregon, Texas to Canada. I predicted the TS groups would be history by now, and that the only place to find a TS computer would be the garage sale. With three disc systems, 300 or 1200 baud modems, ramdisk potential, two national publications(Time Designs and Syncware), QLs and Z88s, over thirty active user groups, TS Computerfests, and many BBSs and Timex conferences and many, many active and supportive vendors, 1988 will be another year to show how wrong I was in my prediction. Support your local user group by attending, paying dues and participating. Support your vendor by telling him where you saw his ads, by telling others of his service and by not pirating software. Support your BBSs by learning how to use it, use it, say hi and thanks to the sysops, and donate some bucks once in awhile. Subscribe to newsletters, magazines, and write to the editors, write a review or an article. You’ll get more out of it, by putting a little more in to the TS community.
Newsletters, BBSs, magazines are our only way to support the individuals far from a user group. Let’s use these connections in a positive way and soon we all be looking ahead at the 1990s and and still enjoying our TS computers!
From all of us here at SINCUS-Hi, Happy New Year, we appreciate reading your newsletters, we thank the many corresponding members for their support and hope to hear from you all in the new year.
