I have gotten several inquiries about the previous QPC articles, especially concerning the SMSQ/E environment in which it runs. Since I have used SMSQ/E only with QPC, and not with systems such as Atari, QXL, or Gold Card, I don’t know what differences one would find with these versions, if any.
Recently I updated my QPC to v1.42, which is the current version as of April 8. This also included an update of SMSQ/E to v2.88, since they are both on the one master disk. These updates are free to registered users, requiring only the return of the original master disk with three IRC’s (international reply coupons). If a revised manual is also desired, add another five IRC’s, or DM 10 if you purchased QPC from Jochen Merz Software.
The most obvious improvements in the QPC/SMSQ/E combo are in speed. As compared to my original versions, the floppy disk and hard drive access is up to nine times faster. The screen driver (depending on your graphics card and the SW in use) now supports VESA, QL (512 X 256 mode), EGA, VGA, SVGA, up to 1600 X 1200 pixels, at up to twice the former display speed
Note that, as in PC mode, higher display resolutions produce finer definition but smaller actual window size, except when used with current versions of programs such as ProWesS and Text 87 which allow configuration of display fonts. The WINDOW #0, #1, #2,x,x,x,x command may be used to change BASIC window sizes, but programs such as the old PSION suite and XCHANGE were written with the QL screen size of 512 X 256 encoded into them and so will default to this.
There is a dramatic improvement in the time required to format a WIN partition (actually a very long DOS file) on a hard drive or removable cartridge drive. What once took an hour or more now is done in only a few seconds! In fact it takes longer to type in the two commands to unprotect and then format the WIN file than it does to actually create the partition. Direct access to and from other DOS files is now enabled in QPC.
In my previous QPC articles I omitted a command line in the DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT file which will speed up booting and termination of the emulator by a few seconds. Following the PATH definition line, insert this line: SET COMSPEC=d:DOSCOMMAND.COM. Make d:DOS the drive:directory where COMMAND.COM is to be found on the hard drive rather than on the boot floppy, to which it would otherwise default.
I have also gained some experience in running the TEXT 87 Plus4 and Perfection word-processors in QPC. Although I do not have the latest versions of either, both seem well-behaved. I tried a 1985 version of Eddy Yeung’s EDITOR. While I have not used its code-compiling features, the multi-tasking and line-editing seem to function OK.
Freddy Vacha of Digital Precision recently announced in QL Today that an upgraded version of Perfection is available this spring. It is able to take better advantage of the enhanced screen resolutions enabled by the improvements in the QPC/SMSQ/E combo. He also said that the Turbo compiler and Toolkit are being upgraded for better compatibility with Minerva SMSQ and SMSQ/E. According to the QPC manual, depending on the speed of the CPU on the host PC, there is little or no speed advantage in using Turbo or QLiberator-compiled programs with QPC although the listings may be adapted to do so by removing any code SBASIC doesn’t like.
In other QL Today news, a QBranch ad in the March/April issue announces that a 500-page SBASIC/SUPERBASIC Reference Manual is now available. It is a guide to BASIC programming that brings together all the command structures now provided in QDOS/SBASIC/SMSQ. It includes three disks of PD toolkits, example procedures, and an electronic index. Inquire of QBranch for pricing details. They have their own web site at http.//www.qbranch.demon.co.uk.
Last but not least, at the QL meeting in Eindoven, Germany, last November, a working prototype of the Q40 was demonstrated. This is a mainboard which simulates or replaces all QL hardware in a configuration that fits an industry standard case and power supply. Presently it is using a Motorola 68040 microprocessor, but will have the 68060 with 0.42 micron gate technology when it is in production. It will run under the SMSQ/E environment, with high color/resolution graphics, and will accept a standard keyboard. Extension slots are provided for an IDE/IO card to use with 2 HD floppies, 2 IDE hard drives, 2 serial ports, a parallel port, a joystick, CD ROM, and up to 32 Mb DRAM SIMM memory.