256K RAM IS READY FOR TS2068
Perhaps the best news to top off our list for 1988 is that Larry Kenny has decided to go ahead and manufacture his 256K RAMDISK expansion system for the TS2068. By the time you read this, it will be available for shipping. A package that consists of a memory board with 64K RAM, and the LKDOS Ex-BASIC Cartridge, is priced at $129.95 (+ $5 shipping). Other package plans are available, including one with the popular LARKEN Floppy Disk Drive System. Only 64K RAM is initially supplied, to keep the customer pricing down. As the user’s wallet increases, so can the RAM chips, up to a maximum of 256K. The Larken Cartridge contains all of the Ramdisk commands, which are basically equivalent to standard cassette/disk commands. Actually, a Ramdisk works just like an “electronic” tape or disk drive, only much faster. The Larken Ramdisk is also backed-up by battery, and for further safe-keeping of your data, a tape backup program is included. This new Ramdisk might be considered the “poor TS2068 owner’s disk drive system”, but most wealthy owner’s will want one of these too! For further info: Larken Electronics, RR#2 Navan, Ontario, Canada K4B-1H9.
HOT NEW PC BOARD DESIGNER
This new TS2068/Spectrum software package has a professional touch, from it’s packaging to the detailed and thoughtful User Guide. PC-DRAW VERSION 3.0 is the latest from a new company called M.D.M. Enterprises. PC-DRAW is a tool that, with a little practice, will design highly-detailed drawings of printed circuit boards suitable for photographing (providing a negative for circuit board etching). Version 3.0 is an improved descendant of version 2.0, which was briefly released last year. Mike Davis, of M.D.M Enterprises, told TDM that owner’s of Ver.2.0 can upgrade to 3.0 by sending $7.00 to: Mike Davis, 706 S. Mason, Saginaw, MI 48602. Interested TS2068/Spectrum users can send a S.A.S.E. to the address above for a list of TS dealers who carry the new Ver.3.0. It is priced at $19.95. M.D.M. is only a software developer and distributor. They only wish to sell the program through dealers.
If you are interested in developing circuit boards like the example below, with your home computer and a high-quality dot matrix printer, then give your favorite TS dealer a call. Chances are, when the word gets around about this one, he just might be “sold out”!
WEAK DOLLAR FORCES COMPUTER PRICES UP
If you have looked up from your computer monitor latley and turned towards the evening news, you may have noticed what the stock market, the deficit, and the slow-growing economy, has done to the U.S. dollar overseas. Especially in Europe, the homeland of our Sinclair computers, and still the provider of many hardware and software items purchased here in the States. As of this writing, the British Sterling Pound fluctuated sharply between 1.84 and 1.88 equivalent U.S. dollars on the international currency exchange. No significant improvement is forecasted at this time.
What does this mean? Well, checking with the two dealers most involved in importing computer goods from the U.K., Sharp’s Inc. and Curry Computer…prices are indeed going up. For example, interfaces for the Sinclair QL (like the Trump Card from Miracle Systems) have raised 10%. Sharp’s, Inc. was forced to raise the price on the new Cambridge Z88 laptop to $479.95, since previous stock was purchased before the last big drop of the dollar.
It’s possible that sales of home-brew Sinclair hardware and software support may show a significant surge. While the number of independants who develop after-market items don’t even come close to their counterparts in the U.K., there is still a talented force out there who could produce, if called upon.
UPDATED TAX SOFTWARE…JUST IN TIME!
If your play’n and singing the “tax reform blues” this spring, you just might need some accompaniment from one of the two tax software packages released just in the nick of time.
QWIK-1040 from Herb Bowers, Sr (ABBA SOFT) is for the TS2068 and covers just about any common 1987 Federal Tax form and schedule, with over 80K of data in two parts. Herb Bowers, a former Federal auditor, has a real knack at explaining the tax code, and his comprehensive programs pack a lot of extra’s. Quick First Class delivery is promised for $29.50 postage paid on cassette tape. Write to: 2588 Woodshire Circle, Chesapeake, VA 23323.
QL users, TAX-I-QL/87 will help! Peter Hale of EMSOFT has devised a template for use with Psion’s ABACUS (QLSS) spreadsheet which will aid in the filing of Form 1040 and associated schedules and forms. 256K RAM is required, and there is a standard version on Microdrive cartridge, and a disk version which actually prints to the IRS forms (just like the big guys!). Price for the package (either version) is $24.95 from: EMSOFT, PO Box 8763, Boston, MA 02114.
DAN THE “REPAIR GUY”
Is what one of our reader’s kindly referred to Dan Elliott, of Promise Land Electronics, as. Since we first discovered and reported on Dan in our September/October ’87 issue, he has been fairly busy performing repairs on all types of Sinclair equipment. And now he has added the Sinclair QL to the list of popular microcomputers he will service for a reasonable rate. We have received several notes of praise for Dan’s quality repair work, and want to wish him continued success. On a side note, Dan told TDM that he has been having trouble tracking down replacement SCLD’s for the TS2068. If anyone has knowledge of where to obtain this custom chip, please get in touch with him. A number of computers will remain on the “critical list” without it. For a service charge rate sheet or other inquiries, send a S.A.S.E. to: Dan Elliott, Rt 1 Box 117, Cabool, MO 65689, or call evenings (314) 739-1712, Sunday through Thursday.
BETA BASIC 3.0
Robert Hartung reviewed the excellent BETA BASIC 3.0 programming utility package in the May/June ’87 issue, which gives the user over 100 new commands for the Spectrum/emulated TS2068. Mr. Hartung is one of the most knowlegeable proponents of Beta Basic in the U.S., and has spent much time in writing about it’s virtues. To quote from the TDM article, “…after a year of learning my way around it a bit I am even more convinced that it provides our “toy” computers with what it probably the most powerful BASIC programming language available on any 8-bit micro today.”
Robert Hartung has just sent us an update on Beta Basic: Andy Wright (the head of BetaSoft and author of the program) informs me they have moved. MasterCard or VISA orders for Beta Basic should be sent to the new address- BetaSoft, 24 Wyche Avenue, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 6LQ, England. Both Beta Basic 4.0 with RAMdisk features for the 128K Spectrum, and Beta Basic 3.0 for the 48K Spectrum (and TS2068), are supplied on the same tape for 15.95 British pounds ppd. Beta Basic 3.0 alone is about $1.00 less.
“After playing with a QL for awhile, even with Super Toolkit II added, I still believe Beta Basic is far more “user-friendly” than SuperBASIC in its syntax and ease of access to most of the comparable programming features, especially when used with my Oliger DOS.”
ADD THESE BBS #’s TO YOUR LIST
Fred Nachbaur of Silicon Mtn. Computers, has been working overtime for users of the TS1000/ZX81. This time he has managed to secure space on a sub-board of the Nicolson Nightime Network, in Nelson, British Columbia, and has appropriately named it the ZX TERM EXCHANGE. The BBS phone number is (604) 354-4666. Settings are 8/1/N (300 baud). After you logon, go to SIG 3. Fred reported that there are currently 20 programs to download, along with a TS message base.
James Rodlin is SYSOP of the TIMEWARP BBS, a 24 hour, all Sinclair board, located in the Boston area. The phone number is (617) 481-0555. Settings are 8/1/N (300 baud). James has some plans for the BBS…”I will be upgrading to 1200 baud once TMX-64 is released. There are currently eight sub-boards, and more will be coming once I get more disk drives for my system (the new Larken DOS). I use the TS1000, TS2068, Spectrum, and QL.” Why don’t you give the TIMEWARP a try?
SINCLAIR ON THE AIR
If you happen to live in the southern part of Texas you may be surprised to hear what’s going over the airwaves on AM radio. “The Computer Show” is a popular feature on Saturday afternoon’s at WOAI Radio in San Antonio, Texas. While the “question and answer” format of the two hour talk show is geared more towards the IBM PC market, from time to time, special spots have been given to other computer models, including Sinclair. WOAI programming director, John Stewart, is responsible for the format of the show. He is also a Sinclair user, and owns both a ZX81 and a QL. Recently, spots have been given to the high-resolution software from Fred Nachbaur of Silicon Mountain Computers (and TDM contributor), and also the Sinclair QL. In fact, a QL purchased from Sharp’s Inc. sits in the control room at the station. Stewart claims that whenever the information on Sinclair or Timex/Sinclair has been presented, the response has ranged from favorable to that of genuine surprise. A lot of our the listners have a TS1000 or ZX81 tucked away in a closet, and aren’t aware there is still support.
TS2068 COMPUTERFACTS
Last year at the TS Fest in Indianapolis, a representative from the Howard W. Sams Co. discussed the possibility of a Sams Computerfact for the Timex Sinclair 2068, with TDM editor, Tim Woods. Computerfacts are special information packets that provide technical data to service professionals. There is already a packet for the TS1000/ZX81. The TS2068 Computerfact has just been released. Both packets list for $19.95 each. For more info, contact your local Sams dealer, or call (800) 428-7267.
NEW 2068/SPECTRUM SOFTWARE
Dr. Faisal El-Shoufy, is Director of the Computer Training Center in New Iberia, Louisiana, and has just completed programming five new arcade games that will be marketed for the Spectrum in Europe, but also will run on the stock TS2068 without any software or hardware modification.
The new titles include: WitchiGlenda ($8.50), Gulf War ($8.50), Rooten Tooten ($8.50), Knight & Goblins ($10.50), and Moon Fight ($9.50). The games are reported to contain high resolution colorful graphics, well-designed sprites, and excellent sound effects. Prices quoted above are for cassette tape and include postage. Shortly, versions will be released on disk for Disciple users, and on wafer for Rotronics users. Write to: Computer Training Center of New Iberia, 525 E. Main St., Suite 5, New Iberia, LA 70560.
PLANNING MEETING
On January 30, 1988, there will be a Midwest User Group meeting at the Linden Library in Columbus, Ohio, from 1:30 to 5:30 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to look at the possibility of another Midwest Fest. A tour of CompuServe headquarters is also slated. If interested, contact: Mowgli Assor, [address omitted], Columbus, OH 43212.
WEST COAST FAIR PLANNED
The CCAT/S User Group of Oregon is the host group for the Third Annual International/Great NW Timex Sinclair Mini-Fair. Since the San Francisco Fest was scrapped, the planning committee has decided to run the fair for two days and open the event up to the whole west coast (or anyone for that matter). Tentative date for the Mini-Fair is the second or third week of August, 1988. A suitable site is currently being selected in the Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area. The planning committee is also placing emphasis on the whole family, and will have many activities for non-computer enthusiasts. The RMG BBS at (503) 656-8072 is the official Fair BBS and clearing house for info regarding the upcoming event (settings are 8/1/N, and is operated through the evening hours and early morning). Start planning your summer vacation for the Great Northwest.
PIXEL PRINT PLUS
Stan Lemke informed TDM, that after a year on the market, he has upgraded his popular Desktop Publishing software for the TS2068. PIXEL PRINT PLUS offers ten new features, yet is 100% compatible with all the old ICONS, FONTS and files created with Ver.2.0, and also still works with the TASWORD conversion utility. Stan has also written a new User Guide to accommodate the newest version, and even provides printer POKE’s for nine varieties of printers. Also in the works is an all new disk version of PIXEL PRINT for the Larken and Aerco disk drive systems. For further information write: Lemke Software Development, 2144 White Oak, Wichita, KS 67207.
CATALOGS TO WRITE FOR
Group Technology, Ltd., 6925 Dogwood Road, Baltimore, Maryland, 21207. Offers a catalog containing some TS items, and many other products suitable for any computer. Strong on books, and hardware experimentation.
Frank Lockhart, P.O. Box 1131, Shelby, NC 28250, will send a free listing of available software for the TS1000, TS2068, and Sinclair QL, in exchange for a S.A.S.E. Mr. Lockhart has programs for engineering, mathematics, and some games.