SINCLAIR’S PRINTER NOW AVAILABLE
Gladstone is now selling the Sinclair printer for $99.95. They are offering a free 32 page catalog showing all of their products. Another interesting item ist their profesional keyboard & case that connects to the computer with no soldering required. The case allows the TS/ZX circuit board to be mounted inside with output jacks for cords and expansion devices (RAMpacks, etc.). Price for the keyboard is $85.00 and the case is $25.00.
Gladstone had 100 of these printers in stock and sold them the first day. We ordered one with a company check, but the credit card holders beat us to the original stock. We still hope to get ours soon.
For further info, contact Gladstone Electronics, 1585 Kenmore Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14217 (1-800) 833-8400 or (716) 874-5510.
MEMOTECH OFFERS PROFESSIONAL PLAIN PAPER PRINTER
The GP-100 converts the Sinclair code into ASCII code and prints on a standard 9 1/2 x 11 fanfold computer paper. The specifications are as follows:
- 5 x 7 dot matrix impact
- ASCII upper & lower case (graphic letters are lower case)
- 30 characters/sec.
- 80 character/line
- 8 bit ASCII code
- Original + 1 or 2 copies
- 10 characters/inch
- 6 or 9 lines/inch
- 5 or 7.5 lines/second
- Single color, special self-inking cassette type ribbon
The GP-100 is manufactured by Seikosha of the Sieko group and includes the printer, Memopak Centronic Parallel interface and the Centronic parallel connecting cable. It sells for $399.00 plus 9.95 for shipping & handling.
Memotech also sells the parallel interface board by itself for 104.95 or a serial interface board for 139.95. These devices would allow you to hook up other printers and/or computer typewriters.
For further informations contact Memotech Corp., 7550 W. Yale Ave., Denver CO, 80227 or call (303) 986-1516 or TWX 910-320-2917.
Our thanks to Bob & Gloria DeLisle of Hammond IN for forwarding this information to us.
NEW PRINTER FROM CAI
And if you haven’t had your fill of printer news, CAI is now offering still another printer besides the two they already offer. What makes this one different?
It connects directly to the computer and doesn’t need the CAI/O board like the others do. It prints in 40 character per line mode or 20 (double size) character per line mode.
The CAI/P40 sells for $139.95 – add $5.00 for shipping – MI res. add 4% tax.
CAI also has the best price I’ve seen on the Memopak 64K RAMpack for $159.95.
For further info contact:
CAI Instruments
PO BOX 2032
Midland, MI, 48640
(517) 687-7343
TIMEX RAMPACK SHORTAGE
It is becoming more difficult to find stores that have the Timex 16K RAMpacks in stock as the demand becomes greater. It is not unusual to find many of the stores not even having the computers.
If you have trouble getting one, the best one I have used is being sold by Memotech for $59.95 for th 16K version. Even though it is $10 more than Timex’s, it allows you to piggy-back another 16K or 32K module on the back. This is something to keep in mind if you need more memory.
TIMEX DEMO BOOTHS
We have received reports that K-MART is now selling the TS-1000s on the west coast, which means for those living out there, you should be able to get the available software too.
If you have ever gone into some of the chain stores that have booths for demonstrating computers such as the VIC-20 and ATARI, Timex is now supplying these booths to some of the chains. I saw the first one in a K-Mart but it wasn’t hooked up yet.
What this means to you is that you will be able to check out the software or RAMpacks you are interested in purchasing before you buy them.
WINKY BOARD INTERFACE
Have you ever wanted to duplicate tape programs that were non-savable? Consider first that copyright laws do not allow copyrighted programs to be copied and resold. Many times we want a duplicate tape for a backup just in case the original malfunctions, but stricly for our own use.
Or maybe you have written a bunch of programs that are all on one tape and you want to give a duplicate to a friend. You could LOAD & SAVE each program from original to duplicate tape. There is, however, a much simpler way.
The Winky Board can duplicate any ZX/TS tape (single or multiple progams) from one recorder to another. That’s right, you don’t need the computer for this process.
The Winky Board has 2 LED lights that let you immediately and precisely set the optimum tape volume adjustment for any tape you want to LOAD.
An earphone eavesdropping option allows you to listen to the pulses without manipulating jack plugs and/or cassette volume control.
It can be used with the computer to LOAD or SAVE programs and filters electrical noises and interference to eliminate a common cause of unsuccessful LOADs.
It can be used to aid in tape head realignment with its LED monitors.
The open board unit requires no power or modifications to the computer and sells complete, assembled and tested for $18.00 PPD. The kit sells for $12.00. Add 1.00 extra if you want the earphone. PA residents add 6% – overseas must add $2.00 for shipping and must be paid by International MO or in US currency.
The unit is very well documented. It came too late for me to do an actual test but we hope to do one soon and print the results for you.
For further info contact:
G. Russell – Electronics
RD 1 BOX 539
Centre Hall, PA, 16828
MISTAKES IN THE SEP/82 MAGAZINE
We saved the worst till last. Hopefully, this will be the last month where listed programs will have mistakes. Because of lack of printers, we were transferring the listings by observing the TS/ZX CRT and re-typing the information into a word processor. It is amazing how we can sit with a typed-out listing and compare it with what is on the screen and still have mistakes go by us. Next month, if we have any of the three printers we have ordered from supporting companies, we will use the direct computer listings.
On page 10 of the SEP/82 issue, change the following lines on pages 9 & 10 to read:
250 FOR N = 11 TO 20
340 PRINT AT A,N; A$(B)If you don’t know how to make an inverse asterisk as requested in line 10 on page 9, it is done as follows:
After you have the first quotation mark on the screen, hold down the SHIFT key and press the (9) key. This puts the computer into the GRAPHICS mode as evidenced by the (G) in the cursor. Now hold down the SHIFT key and press the (B) key. The inverse (*) should appear after the (“). Now hold down the SHIFT key again and press the (9) key. The (L) should reappear in the cursor. Now type in the last quotation mark and ENTER the line.
RUN-IT SOFTWARE CLUB
You’ve heard of Book of the Month Clubs? How about a Software of the Month Club. A press release from Run-it reads as follows:
“Very soon, Timex/Sinclair users will find a unique solution to that never-ending thirst for quality program tapes.
The Run-it Software Club will initially be introduced to user groups around 11/01/82. 10 to 15 Run-it programs will be presented at that time, including games, educational and personal/business/finance programs. Each will offer quality duplication, ease of use and utility in the home computer situation.
Each Run-it program will come with a money-back guarantee. One or two programs will be featured each month, priced at 30% to 40% off retail. Other selections (which eventually will reach 30 or more each month) will be offered at 10% to 20% off retail or conventual mail order price. Further announcements will be released to user groups and Timex/Sinclair related publications.
For further information contact – Run-it Software Club, 732 S. Sherman, Chicago, IL, 60605, (312) 427-6526″
(My understanding, after talking to a company representitive, is that Run-it will not only sell to user groups but also to individuals – Ed.)