From all of us here to all of you out there,”HAPPY Thanksgiving MERRY Christmas and HAPPY New Year 1990″. This is also the start of year EIGHT! It has been a fun year, and Clyde and I are glad we could represent SINCUS at the CapitalFEST in Washington, DC this past year and meet hundreds of our fellow TSusers. Clyde and I have talked of going to the MilwaukeeFest, and he says fine, but I gotta drive this time! Now I have to clear this with the Boss and see what she says!!
In this issue is part three in the series on Ray Byler’s Spectrum/TS2068 ROM directories. It is in four parts, the Spectrum ROM directory listed alphabetically and cross referrenced to the TS2068. Then the TS2068 ROM is listed alphabetically and cross referrenced to the Spectrum. The last two parts have the ROMs listed by address and cross referrenced. With Spectrum programs so popular, one can (hopefully) determine the 2068 ROM call, and change it to run on ones TS2068.
Steve Spalding, [address omitted], put his Graphics support package for Stan Lemke’s Pixel Print Program, into public domain. Sorry for the misspelling of your last name in the last issue, Steve.
Newsletter News—— QZX finally gots their rights righ.
SNUG
SNUG’s next meet will probably be at the Milwaukee Computer Fest on Saturday Nite, June 2 1990. The SMUG group is putting on the SINCLAIR FEST of the YEAR, room rates maybe be $45 per night, a Friday nite buffet of three types of food. Indoor pool, excellent food. Contact Bill Heberlein, [phone number omitted], [address omitted], Butler WI. MORE on SNUG on page 2.
Time Designs
From VISTA Newsletter, Tony Willing, [address omitted], Vashon, WA comes news of Tim Woods and the delinquent Time Designs magazine. Last news from Tim, (late August or early September) issue 5-2 is being printed right now. Earlier letter from Tim, dated late July 1989, Tim has not had the time for the magazine, his wife is no longer helping him with the mag, a mountain of unanswered mail and worst case scenario, his address data base has been corrupted. He is answering the mail starting with the oldest date, he is rebuilding his data file, and he is working on the next issue (5-2). He plans to be around for quite awhile. (Comment – back up them files, do I do that myself?? no, it is too much like work) -UPDATE- from the PLOTTER,(November 1989) Tim says issue 5-2 is in the mail, and 5-3 isnt far behind. Tim has a BBS up and running on his business phone (503)824-2658 at 300 baud, settings 8/N/1. If you haven’t received issues paid for, leave your name and address on the BBS.
!!Former Compuserve Users Alert!!
I tried out Compuserve and did not like it, so I quit using it, but apparently Compuserve is not through with me! I stopped using Compuserve in February 1989. In July I started getting bills on my VISA card. Apparently my credit in my Compuserv account had been wiped out by their monthly minimum charge which started in April. I did not give them my new expiry date on my VISA the last time I tried to log on, this I figured was a good time to quit. I wrote a letter to them in September 1989, and have yet to hear from them. I checked with my VISA card bank, and there is little I can do to block this $1.50 a month charge by Compuserve. I could spent $10 a month to put the number on the warning list, boy that would save me money. I can block a specific account, but that has to be for $50 or more, and the Compuserve charge will slide under the block. I can change numbers, but even then the charge will NOT be stopped, as the old account number is still active until the end of the year. – IF YOU are a FORMER user of Compuserve, check your charge cards, you maybe still paying for it. How does one QUIT compuserve? If you are going to change card numbers as I did, do it BEFORE the end of this year, else the account will be active and you liable for all charges under $50…for the rest of 1990! Act now, unless you like paying for what you don’t use.
-UPDATE- The letter I wrote in mid-September might be working! The billing usually made towards the end of the month did not show up on the September charges, and Online has yet to show up in my mail. Well it has been an education for me and I hope others benefit, both about Compuserve and the charge card.
SNUG
Indiana TSUG has virtually taken over the operations of SNUG- their Jul/Aug 89 issue is devoted to SNUG’s situation and who is doing what. In a nut shell, SNUG prez, Mel Nathanson has temporarily stepped aside, leaving Paul Holmgren as the acting Prez, and Basil Wentworth as VP. Frank Davis is the SNUG PD librarian, and he, Basil and Paul are getting a SNUG newsletter out as soon as possible. All current dues have been extended 6 months. If you want info on the PD library send $2, to Frank at 513 East Main, Peru, IN 46970- credits towards future purchase – allow several weeks to process. PLEASE use SASE when requesting info.
(SNUG’s chances of survival are considerably better, one; all the elected officals are within shouting distance of each other. Two; the people in there have working knowledge of running a user group. Three; they have already done something, published this info, and are getting the library in shape. The problem facing them faces all user groups, declining enrollments and rising costs.)
Surviving Vendors
Russell Electronics,RD#1, Box 539, Centre Hall,PA 16828
RMG, 1419 1/2 7th Street, Oregon City, OR 97045 (TS stuff galore)
Bottle Cap Software,1284 Brushwood Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45224
Ed Gray, PO BOX 2186, Inglewood, CA 90305 (2068 hardware support)
John McMichael, 1710 Palmer Dr., Laramie, WY 82070 (2068 software)
Repairs-2068
Dan Elliott, Route 1, Box 117, Cabool, MO 65689
J. Matthewson, 1852 Appleford St., Gloucester, Ont. K1J 6T4
Vendors Con’t
Eric Johnson, 249 N. Harden Ave., Orange City, FL
Magazines
Byte Power, 1748 Meadowview Ave.,Pickering Ont., Canada L1V 368 (2068 Tap[illegible] Magazine)
UPDATES, Bill Jones, 1317 Stratford Ave., Panama City, FL 32404
Time Designs, Tim Woods, 29722 Hult Rd., Colton, OR 97017
2068 Disc Drive Interfaces
Larken Electonics, RR #2, Navan, Ontario, Canada K4B 1H9
The John Oliger Co., 11601 Whidbey Dr., Cumberland, IN 46229
-Write for addition info, current items, and enclosing a SASE wouldn’t hur[illegible] anybodies feelins any. Apologies to any 2068 vendor not on this list, let me kno[illegible] of omissions and I will gladly include them next time.
On the good news side, Larken’s “MAXCOM” is getting a workout as the software of the Ottawa-Hull TSUG’s BBS. I have been on it 3x now as a representive of SINCUS, and hope to maintain close ties with this group via the BBS. For those of you wishing to get on a new BBS, contact them at 8-N-1, currently 300 baud, due to be upgraded to 1200, at (613)745-8838. Operating 24 hours everyday. If you are not a member log on with the name Special Guest, and use the password “CLIVE”(no quote marks please-but use all caps).
Locally our Hambone BBS is back up after a 30meg hardrive crash – this BBS allows user access the first time. Howard the sysop is going for hamusers and the software allows 64 users at on time to access the board. See last page for BBS info. If you wish to leave a message for us at SINCUS, go J 8, “section eight” for TSers! I also am on Nitewing BBS at least once a week, 3/12/24/9600 baud, 8-N-1, once on, wait until the machine boots up, sometimes 10-20 seconds. Call 24 hours at (607)687-3470. Leave a message under local area. If you get on any of these BBSs, you will see my ranting at the Compuserve charges!
The Capital District Timex Sinclair Computer Club, Jack Barone, [address omitted], Albany, NY just contacted us and we are beginning a newsletter swap with them. They are 5 years old and have computers from the TS1000 to the QL. Maybe someday (after the winter snows) we can meet with them.
News from The PLOTTER, WMJ Data Systems has sold out it’s stock to RMG. RMG is also selling the Novelsoft line. Rod has his catalog on 2 5.25″ on LKDOS and he used Tasword to write it. $3.00 pp per cat, and monthly flyers at $12 a year. Rebates towards purchases.
WANTED: A good woman who can cook, sew and clean. Must be able to communicate with hard core computer nut/hacker/nerd/user/freak (choose one) in various languages, Basic, Fortran or APL. Must have good paying job or large savings account. Prefer woman who has own personal computer and hard disc. Please send photo of computer.