Printed in Jan/Feb 1986, “,SINC-LINK”, Newsletter of the Toronto TSUG, Canada. PO BOX 7274, Stn A; Toronto, Ont. M5W 1X9
“…there is another 2068/Spectrum compatiable Disc Drive Interface (DDI) on the market, it is the John Oliger Disk Drive Interface. It is available in four configurations, from John Oliger Company, 11601 Whidbey Drive, Cumberland, IN 46229; a) the two bare boards $44.00, b) as a kit with all parts $98.00, c) assembled and tested (without NMI) for $120.00, and lastly, d) assembled and tested (with NMI) for $130.00. NMI stands for “Non Maskable Interrupt”, which simply means that ram contents can be dumped to disk at the touch of a button. All prices are in US funds and include the JLO SAFE DOS on a 8K emprom plus postage. In order to operate this DDI you must also buy the Oliger expansion board. I now have my bare boards assembled and am in the process of testing. On power up – the JLO SAFE DOS checks to see which ROM is being used – I can report that this aspect really works. One last word “this DOS is FAST”, more in next issue….There is definately a mouse in my house! It is a Radio Shack CoCo mouse connected to the Zebra Graphic Pad Interface (with slight modification). AND IT WORKS!! To be able to use Tech Draw without all that “screen splatter” is quite a treat.
SPECTRUM: My big news item for the Spectrum is that I now have the Technology Research “Beta” DDI up and running on my “plus” complete with IF1 and two microdrives. WHAT A SYSTEM!! It comes with a 5.25″ utility disc, which I can use on the quad drive or can be transferred to a 3″ disk. Very Flexible! It is possible to switch from DOS to Sinclair Basic by software commands. This means that discs, microdrives and cassette can be used at anytime without a problem. Using the “magic button” on the DDI I can dump the RAM contents to disc at any time. This means that ALL games can be put on disc and can come up running at the location on the screen when the button was pressed. …there has been considerable press concerning “Lenslock”, a software protection device which looks like a a small folding magnifying glass. The observation have been mixed – the software people like and it appears that the users are not quite so sure. Think about it, how would you like to look at a “very bright” screen through a magnifying lens to load a stubborn program. Apparently FIREBIRD used it on their latest program “ELITE” and are quoted as saying that they are considering not using it in the future, due to very bad reviews about their instructions for using lenslok….you must try “Tomahawk” by Digital Intergration. It seems to be the best flight simulator available, even if it is a helicopter( but what a helicopter!!)
TS1000/ZX81: Anyone interested in joining a COMPUSA USER’S GROUP should write to CUSS, PO BOX 2186, Inglewood, CA 90305. Or you can reach Ed Grey at FIDO NET 102 Node 106 or Compuserve [e-mail address omitted] or Tony Gomez at Fido NET 102 Node 602.
Ian strongly feels that the Oliger Disc system could well become the standard for all the rest of the DDIs for the TS2068, because:
1) The Ray Kingsley DOS which is reported to be almost ready and should support all proper business type DOS commands similiar to TDOS and SPDOS.
2) Does not use precious RAM.
3) FULLY compatiable with both 2068 and Spectrum ROM’s.
4) NMI function for games enthusiasts
5) future 64K RAM bank switching
6) compatiable with Zebra Graphic Interface
7) Jeff Street of LIST is revising 2 bytes of his OS-64 to make it compatiable with the JLO DDI
8) All ports are decoded on firmware/bank/logic/memory board
9) So far is compatiable with cartridge dock
10)The sheer joy of assembling a kit that actually works.
Tasman has just released “TASWORD 3” for the Spectrum. Word on that soon. OCP’s “Word Manager”- so so, not user friendly!
Ian has CLONE and writes”…A very special Thanks for the copy of “CLONE”, it is truly a well written and useful addition to any serious programmers library. Wes is to be congratulated.”
Ed.Notes: Ian’s letters while full of up to the minute data on what’s new in our computer line, is very valuable to me and all who read his very interesting reviews of products that he buys and tries. He is a one man Consumer Guide for 2068 Users, thanks Ian from all of us who have avoided the dogs and enjoyed the cream without the pain.