Here we go! Like the Wright Flyer, we’re off the ground! This first issue of TS-2068 Safe Disk Up-date cost a bundle because of the insert cover and section separations. But maybe the red ink will change to green by the end of the first year. I wanted to provide a couple of pages for each section so that you would get acquainted with the organization. These sections will build as the issues come to you.
The pages are punched for insertion in a three ring note book in order to keep the issues together in one place. Each section will be a different color so that major subjects can be easily found. I’ve never seen a publication organized that way, but I’ve never published anything before. Anyway, it sounded like a good idea.
If you like this issue, please rave about it to all who have a TS-2068, members of clubs especially. Although we will always support SDOS, the subject matter will be applicable to the TS-2068, whatever the configuration. Please help the newsletter grow by recommending it to your friends.
This issue has several useful utilities plus two major programs. The second program “SDOS MAIL MERGE” is outstanding in its usefulness. SDOS MAIL MERGE will work right now as a printing mail list, using the Safe Disk printer driver routine. It will print labels and envelopes, or just listings of whatever nature you store in the data base. For the next two issues we will be adding more functions to Mail Merge. We’ll add a couple more menus, a printer control group, auto printing of disk files, plus more. This software will grow.
The first program is a nice group of six interactive utilities. You can actually do “mixed math” using inputs of HEX or Decimal. Multiply FFF Hex time 123 Decimal, for example. Even fractions are handled. Of course there is not a way of expressing fractions in HEX, but this will work: Divide 102697 by FA5 Hex. The result will be printed in decimal with fraction. Direct conversions of Decimal to Hex or Hex to Decimal are handled up to FFFFFFh or 16777215 decimal. Thats 16 megabytes.
SDU DISKETTES: Lazy? Well, maybe just “busy”. Whatever, if you dont want to key in the programs and utilities and debug key-in errors, you can order the “SDU DISKETTE”. There will be a SDU DISKETTE for each issue. Each SDU diskette will have all programs and utilities of that issue on 5 1/4 inch diskette. Additional documentation will be provided when appropriate. All formats of 5 1/4 inch diskettes will be supported. You can order the SDU Diskette for a price of $16.00. See the order form in the yellow pages for each issue. A scheme has been concocted to share the proceeds of SDU Diskette sales with the authors of the programs and utilities. SDU will provide the diskettes and take 50% for expenses. The other 50% will be shared on a basis of the author’s percentage of the total diskette programs. One wont get rich this way, but will at least receive something for one’s efforts.
The BLUE section of SDU will be filled in as issues continue. It will be a complete “Electronics Data” section and will include all abbreviations, symbols, conversions, tables, and formulas. The Technical Section will contain all of the TIMEX schematics, Port pin assignments, Oliger schematics, and technical data about modifications.
The Club: Well, actually it isn’t a club, but lets think of TS-2068 Safe Disk Up-date as representing the TS-2068 user group. SDU encourages your participation, your questions, and your comments. We need useful utilities and short programs for publication. Please send in your creations. Lets use this analogy in computer syntax: < IF 100 subscribers SHARE utilities and programming TIPS THEN ALL MAY INCREASE computer literacy BY a FACTOR OF 100 > < IF NO OVERLAP >. Oh well, you get the gist of the idea. Lets have a participating group for the benefits of all.
The section titled “TS-2068 Computing With SDOS” is John Oliger‘s section, his rapport with Safe Disk Users. John will answer all of your questions. Send your questions to the newsletter, or direct to John. I’m sure that John already has a number of questions that he has answered to individuals, that would also be of interest to most users. I’ll keep my hands off of this section and it will be what you, the readers, and John make of it.
Subscribers FREE ADS: You may send in an ad to sell something that you dont need anymore, or ask for something that you dont have (Wanted), or TRADE. These free ads will be column printed and must be 400 characters or less in length. Please give your mailing address and phone number if possible, and state if the item is in working order.
The Catalog Section: Consider this “the yellow pages”. Some of the ads will be paid ads from vendors. Subscribers who have their own software or hardware to sell may “announce the product” FREE. Such free announcements must be sent in “copy ready” and shaped to 1/2 page in size. Use a good typewriter or computer print with a “letter quality” printer. Draft quality print wont copy very well. These subscriber “Free Announcements” are given to encourage the programmer to create good software for the users. It’s tough out there to have to pay to advertise to a small user group. This may induce our qualified programmers to PRODUCE.
REVIEWS: We need volenteer reviewers. If you want to receive software and write reviews, please write in and get on the SDU writer list. Individuals or firms who desire that a product be reviewed, please send the software or hardware to the newsletter. We will expect that a software will be kept by the reviewer as compensation for the writing effort. Reviewers of hardware should be allowed to purchase the hardware at 40% off market price.
LETTERS: I will appreciate your comments. The editorial section will be kept brief because we dont want much “non permanent” data to clutter up the Safe Disk Notebook. Letters, while appreciated, may not be published, depending upon whether or not the comments are deemed to be of interest to most subscribers. QUESTIONS and informatives WILL be published. Complaints about vendors will be handled by direct contact with the vendor to attempt to satisfy the user, and will be published only if a vendor fails consistantly to resolve complaints.
So, thats my two cents worth for this October 87 issue. Hang in there and participate! We need that. (Ed)