UPDATE Magazine launches into the next four years of publishing with near 100% renewals of subscriptions, and a flood of new subscribers. Most gratifying are the many favorable comments and good wishes received with the subscription renewals. Actually, subscribers more than trippled since the last issue. It is difficult to take score of QL users and TS-2068 users. Around 2/3 of the subscribers are QL owners, but half of them also own a TS-2068.
MAX DOS Versas the IBM MS DOS Versas QL DOS
In past writings I’ve kinda given the IBM PC a bit of criticisms, mainly to re-assure the TS-2068 and QL users that they really aren’t missing much by not having a IBM Compatable machine. AND, we need to feel good about what we are doing! A letter came in from a subscriber who was one of the original designers of the IBM operating system. He ask for anonymity, so I will quote only half of his letter:
“Dear Bill, Enclosed please find my 1989 renewal. Unfortunately I do not run any of the disk systems that you support, however, the organization and the quality of the articles in Update are well worth the price. I have invested so much of myself into SPDOS, using many of the system components, that I cannot face even evaluating another system. I am, however, beginning to worry about equipment failures. If you hear of any MILLENNIA K disk systems available I would appreciate a call. I could also use a disk drive case with power supply for two 5.25″ drives.
I was pleased to note your reaction to MS DOS. In 1965 we were similarily concerned about OS/360 (similiar philosophy) then being developed for the main frame family. Two others and I built the prototype virtual machine operating system at IBM Cambridge Scientific Center.
INTEL has built a (8086) Virtual Machine Facility into their 80386 chip (Intel 231252-001) which now seems to be supported by VM/386. Perhaps when this is expanded to use paging and allow VM/386 to run under VM/386 I may desert the 2068 for purely personal reasons. (Signature)”
To the writer, and others interested: Thanks for your comments. The CUYAHOGA VALLEY SOFTWARE WORKS, 615 School Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221, is a group of users and programmers using SPDOS and the Millennia K Disk system. The address given is that of Thomas Simon, one of the leaders of the group. This group has developed SPDOS on disk to load into and operate with the TS-2068 Oliger Disk System. SPDOS loads to RAM and is co-resident with the Oliger DOS, providing two disk formats and a “combined” DOS Tool Kit language structure, much more powerful than either DOS.
The nice part for Oliger Disk owners is that no additional hardware is needed. All they need to do is order the SPDOS Disk ($29.95 from address given).
The nice part for the Millennia K SPDOS users is that the Oliger disk system provides a new “hardware home” for SPDOS, where all of their existing software disks can be loaded and used in an even more capable environment than that of Millennia K.
So Friend, dont give up the ship, Just add the Oliger Disk, which is less expensive than an IBM controller card, and you will continue to be comfortable using SPDOS. Also I appreciate your nice comments and your agreement with the position I take on MS-DOS. There are not too many who are willing to “buck the tide” and tell it like it is, in the face of the “MS DOS Compatability fraud” that the industry has perpetrated upon the public. People actually develop an inferiority complex over not having a “IBM Compatable” computer! By the way– why dont you do some articles for UPDATE? We could benefit form your expertise. The next subject broadens upon this discussion.
MAX DOS: (Reference article in UPDATE, July 88 issue for background). I have continued to use the Oliger DOS and Larken DOS together, and have experimented with stacking SPDOS “on top of both”, THREE Disk Operating systems together. Actually the Larken DOS and SPDOS have many of the same functions. So there is not a great difference in the capabilities of “Stacked Oliger/Larken” and “Stacked Oliger/SPDOS”, so we could dub the two “MAX DOS L” and “MAX DOS S”
So, I will continue to discuss MAX DOS as the combo of “Oliger DOS Hardware interface”, and the “LARKEN LKDOS Dock Cartridge”. I have been operating with this combination of hardware for the past several months, hardly ever bothering to remove the cartridge or the Oliger B board. A couple of months ago I received a “loaner B board” from John Oliger. This one has a “EPROM OFF” switch, which my earlier board did not have. The significance of this added switch in the MAX DOS environment is that the LARKEN NMI functions will work when the OLIGER EPROM is switched OFF. BUT, to use the OLIGER NMI functions, you must remove the LKDOS Cartridge. Now we need to convince Larry Kenny to give us a little switch modification to his LKDOS cart to do the same, in order to allow the OLIGER NMI functions to work as well.
Otherwise, MAX DOS is indeed a very powerful DOS, despite the minor NMI clash . Now I dont want this to sound like criticism, so will lead in with with compliments. The LKDOS EXTRA BASIC functions are SUPER! AND, so are the Oliger Extra Basic functions. When operating in the MAX DOS environment, one can use ALL of BOTH system’s extra basic tool kit functions. The nice part is that the LKDOS functions are speeded up by the Oliger system’s faster disk operation. This extra speed is most noticable when popping in screens from disk, MERGING in program segments, bringing in data files from disk and saving data to disk.
The OPTIMUM disk drive situation is TWO drives. One drive is used for DISCRETE Oliger DOS use, and the other is for DISCRETE LKDOS use. Each are “assigned their drive number” by either programming in software or by direct commands. EXAMPLE: LET/d=0 would assign drive zero as an OLIGER DISK. AND- PRINT #4:GO TO 1 – would assign disk 1 as a LKDOS disk. From then on, the system “remembers”, and a LKDOS disk command automatically accesses DRIVE 1, or a Oliger DISK command will access disk zero.
But that sounds like we have two separate disk systems, which we have-. We can load and operate disks that have been produced by anyone’s Larken or Oliger system. And, we can Format and Prepare disks in either Larken or Oliger disk formats. BUT, we also have a COMBINED SYSTEM. Programs may contain any combination of DOS commands. Boot a screen in from the Oliger disk, or save a file to the Larken disk. Programs that contain BOTH DOS DISK commands may be SAVED to either disk. AND, the operator does not even need to think about which disk will be operating. A Disk Command in the software will automatically use the proper disk, as designated by the previous LET/d= and the PRINT #4:GO TO.
MAX DOS opens up tremendous power for programmers to use, employing all of the command functions of two disk operating systems in one or more programs to command two disk drives. The software can be controlling up to nearly 2 mega bytes of disk capacity (2 80 track drives). Good planning can result in “programs in one disk and Data in the other disk” and keeping the program disk write protected. SO- whether MAX DOS is Larken DOS, or SPDOS- combined with the Oliger system, it is one tremendous Disk Operating System. All we need is for more TS-2068 users to discover this.
THE QL DOS
The SINCLAIR QL DOS is excellent. Nobody needs to feel inferior about using the QL. I look at it this way. How many IBM’s have you seen that have a pair of additional fast tape drives? It is made even more powerful by the BIG Tool kit functions available in ROM cartridges, TRUMP CARD, and SANDY BOARD. Disk Drive works with the QL with nothing more than a Controller card, same as any other system, but it is less expensive than any other. Memory expansion is also less expensive. Do we need IBM Compatability?
TS-2068 and SINCLAIR QL ISSUE DISKS and MICO DRIVE DUBBING
The Issue Disk program for the TS-2068 will be carried on for support of the QL users, but with a small difference. TS-2068 programs and utilities given in the UPDATE pages are actual listings given for those who want to try keying in the listings. Some are quite long and keying in may not be very practical. Yet they are there to try. QL utilities will be listed for key-in also. But the software programs for the QL are generally just too long for practical key in projects and the listings would take up too much page space. These long QL programs will be written up as “Mini Manuals” in UPDATE. Although, this issue has one complete (but short) QL software “Mail Merge” that will be listed as a key in project. So, whether the QL programs are listed or not will be determined by their program length.
The ISSUE DISK for the TS-2068 programs will include all of the software and utilities of a given issue. The QL Issue Disk will be variable, and will include at least one major software and the utilities given in the pages of the current issue. Sometimes there will be two issue disks for the QL users in one magazine issue. It just depends upon the program lenght and applications of the software.
PRICING: All Issue Disks for both computers will be priced at $20.00. This is an increase of $4.00 over past TS-2068 disk price because UPDATE was not breaking even at $16.00 each. UPDATE supplies the disks, does the recordings, pays the mailing expenses, and shares half of the proceeds of issue disk sales with the authors of the programs. It really is a non-profit situation for the magazine and the authors don’t realize more than a token payment for their support of us all.
MICRO DRIVE ISSUE Recordings: Due to the higher price of the cartridges and their scarcity, UPDATE will provide Issue Dubbing service. Those who want the programs and utilities may send in a FORMATTED MDV cartridge and it will be returned with the Issue programs recorded. “Formatted” is emphasised because if the user formats the cartridge first, he is assured that the cart will take the programs and there will be no mail delays. The price for MDV dubbing will be the same, $20.00 per named Issue Disk.
UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: Subscribers may be sure that these programs on disk or mdv are worth the price or more. If not not completely satisfied, the user may keep the disk or cartridge and just ask for full refund. Sometimes a software program may require more documentation than UPDATE can accommodate in the issue pages. PAPER documentation and the mailing of paper is expensive, and the author may need to charge extra for an extensive manual. These instances will be announced. Documentation within a disk or micro drive is a much better method, where text can be illustrated with screen examples, and the text sent to a printer.
COPYRIGHTS
Unless specifically stated, all programs presented in UPDATE magazine are the property of the individual authors and are protected by copyright. The authors give their limited permission for publication in UPDATE Magazine and for the distribution of recorded copies to the purchasers of the Issue Disk series. No other sale or transfer of these programs are authorized by anyone or any other publication. Some Programs and utilities may be donated to public domain by specific statements made by the author within the text of the programs presented in the magazine. In the absence of such statements, the programs are priviledged.
MICRO DRIVE V/S DISK: Both mediums are excellent. A huge software may be recorded on disk, but to use micro drive, such a program would need to be broken down into several individual segments, as is the four PSION sofwares. By the same token, an un-expanded QL can run large programs that are broken down in “boot in segments”. Most large programs presented in UPDATE will have two versions, one for disk and another for micro drive. All programs presented will work on standard QL computers, but some may have annexes to expand into extra memory.
QL SUPPORT IN THIS ISSUE
Remember that UPDATE questionare? Well, a tabulation reveals much about the QL user’s equipment and desires. About 60% of present user have un-adorned QL computers– no memory expansion, and micro drive only as a storage device. The other 40% have disk and extra memory. Of the group, about 70% say that they need beginner level programming information, tips, and utilities to use. The 30% minority ask for more sophisticated information about disk drive, trump card tool kit programming, more advanced software, conversion of IBM MS DOS software, and other hi brow stuff. UPDATE will try to accommodate all. This issue begins a feature article titled, “THE QL BEGINNER COURSE”. This series will go on “forever”. I guarantee that it will because I’m the author. If you’ll follow this series you will learn how to program the QL, and how to get the most out of the four PSION Softwares. You’ll learn it as I learn it, because I am a novice on the QL. But better stay up with each issue or you’ll get behind! I’m a mean and lean TS-2068 programmer and learning the QL will come naturally. So, start with me in this issue and progress with me.
MEET some QL Programmers
Bill Cable, Wood and Wind Computing, RR-2 Box 92, Cornish, NH 03745 (tel 603 675 2218). I lead right off with a plug! This is because I want you to know Bill. I want you to know all of our supporters, dealers, and publishers. Bill Cable is one of them extraordinary programmers who specializes. Bill is a QL dealer who developed a customer base of businesses, selling QL computers to medium and small business people, and then supporting them with custom software. Needless to say, his feet were cut from beneath when Sinclair stopped production and support of the QL. I am sure that all QL users will encourage Bill Cable to turn his programming efforts to support the users. This issue brings in one of Bill’s outstanding softwares, titled “REFIELD“. This software is designed to augument the PSION ARCHIVE to make it infinitely more flexible and powerful. REFIELD is presented in versions for both Floppy disk and for Micro Drive, and will occupy one of the two October Issue Disks. REFIELD will also be offered for Micro Drive Dubbing. See the last page of this issue for details.
NEXT, another well known author and programmer has invaded the QL Group. Bob Hartung has been a regular writer and programmer for UPDATE since it’s first issue, but doing TS-2068 articles. Bob continues to write and program for the TS-2068 while producing for the QL as well. Thats kinda like alternating between both seats of a bicycle built for two while its rolling down hill. Now get this! Bob’s “QL ADDRESS FILE” software, given in this issue, is designed so that it works in three different computers, the QL, the TS-2068, and with Beta Basic in the Spectrum. QL Address File is designed as a simple program that works independently, and is an excellent one to tackle as a key-in project. Whatever, this one will also be offered on disk and for micro drive dubbing. See the last page for ordering information.
BOB DIGGS KV3Q, a HAM Radio Operator, has been tackling the QL and its problems associated with Telecomputing, only on a little different tack, with PACKET. This gave me a chance to open up the subject, “Telecomputing”. Hope others join in to cover Telecomputing in detail.
Finally, several re-prints of QL articles from the various Sinclair User Clubs are given in this issue. One of the very best paths to learning computers is to join a User Club, and participate. This way, one meets folks who have like interests in computing. Friendships are formed and telephone numbers exchanged so that help is but a few feet away at your telephone. Some travel over a hundred miles one way to attend User Group Club meetings and benefit greatly from the association. The idea is to form a “special interest group” of QL users within the special interest Sinclair Club. Then you get together and exchange information and tips, swap public domain software, and copy programs from the club library. This issue brings information about several live wire clubs, and samples some of their newletter articles. If there is not a club listed near to your home, call me and I’ll put you in touch with one.
SINCUS PROGRAMS
Time Designs did the Timex Sinclair users an excellent service by producing an up to date listing of all Sinclair Timex Clubs, listing all Club publications, and rating them on a scale of from 1 downward. SINCUS NEWS, 1229 Rhodes Road, Johnson City, NY 13790 copped FIRST PLACE. Subscription is $8.00 per year (underpriced). SINCUS provides more service to both members and non members than just a good newsletter. See clips below.
SINCUS OFFERINGS:
RENEW or Subscribe to SINCUS NEWS for $8 per year. Send in a Mailing label of either UPDATE, Time Designs, or Syncware news and receive and extra issue of Sincus News FREE, added to your subscription. (Offer ends 12-31-88)
SINCUS TAPE/DISK LIBRARY: Write for details (An OUTSTANDING BARGAIN- UPDATE RECOMMENDS! ed)
SINCUS “Computus Interruptus”- a 63 page programming manual by Wes Brzozowski. (UPDATE rates this as EXCELLENT) Comes in two forms- a paper manual for $10 member or $12 non member of SINCUS. or, a disk in 40 or 80 track Oliger or Larken Format- $5 member, or $6 non member of Sincus.
SINCUS CLONE:- TS-2068 tape copier- $6 for tape and documentation.
The SEP/OCT issue of SINCUS NEWS is in and contains some very interesting stuffin. The Editor gave UPDATE MAGAZINE some very appreciated praise, for which I thank him for profusely. BUT- he didn’t get everything right! He said that UPDATE is “virtually a one man show”. Actually, about 75% of the red meat pages in UPDATE is contributed by GUEST WRITERS. (Count um!) The Editor does a few new utilities and rambles on in editorials to give the UPDATE its personality.
Without the generous participation of expert writers, UPDATE would be just a little nothing newsletter. The editor realizes that some folks just don’t like OPINIONS expressed in editorials, so pages are piled on to make up for editorial verbosity. So, Paul, Thanks, but stand corrected. UPDATE is a “participating” magazine, and owes its reputation to the writers of fine articles, programs, and utilities.
The North American Sinclair Society
Now to slip out of the third person: Paul Hill, editor of Sincus News, has some darn good ideas about consolodation of publishing efforts into ONE MONTHLY Magazine which would encompass all existing publications and all Club Newsletters. It’s a good idea, Paul. What is lacking is “Management Control”, so that such a publication would not become a “Sinclair publishing monopoly”, setting advertising rates up to unfair prices, and reducing page (red meat) content down to minimal in order to make higher profits. But still, it is a good idea to pursue. I would invision a Sinclair Timex publication that would be managed and controlled “by the user group”.
WHAT USER GROUP? There is no organized user group. ENTER “The North American Sinclair Society”, or some such named organization. The Florida Groups coined “SNUG” which everyone has trouble breaking down into prose. But WHATEVER, we need a PARENT ORGANIZATION of Sinclair Timex user groups of North America. ONLY When such a parent group is formed can there be concerted effort to do things for the good of all. This, I believe is where all of the present User Group officials should be working and coordinating. A North American Group wont be formed without such coordination amongst the existing strong clubs.
I cannot form a North American Group. Neither can Tim Woods, or the other publishers. We do not represent anyone. But, we stand by to lend our support. You present officials of Clubs DO represent people. Why dont you establish direct coordination between Clubs and form the North American Group? Vote in a management board of officers who will operate as a Senate to form up the charter and by-laws. Use the existing publications as tools for publicity membership drive, and COMMIT your own club members en-mass to become members of the North American Group.
THEN, when the North American Group is fully formed and has establised a sense of directions, it will be time to explore the idea of a Single Publication, of ample size, to become the voice of Sinclair Timex Computing in North America. Membership in the Parent Group should carry with it a subscription to the Group publication. UPDATE Magazine will cooperate if the interests of the subscribers are guaranteed to be fulfilled. So there you are. A gauntlet has been thrown to the Officials of our current Sinclair Timex Clubs. Who will accept the challange and assume leadership for coordination? Its your move now.