SINCUS AUGUST MEET
The meeting was held in the basement meeting room of the Chase/First City Branch office on the Vestal Parkway at Murray Hill Road (across from S.U.N.Y.) at 7pm August 15. 28 were in attendence.
The problems with the poor quality of reproduction of the last SINCUS NEWS was discussed. In the September issue several different type sizes will be run. If you are having difficulty reading the newsletter pick out the best size that suits you and we’ll try to incorporate the majority choice. We do use Tasword 2 word processor and all articles are to incorporate this if at all possible-set your RIGHT MARGIN AT 48. If you have something for the newsletter and do not have Tasword or a 2068, then submit it hand written or whatever means you have. But we need articles!
At the meeting several members demoed their recent purchases for all our benefit.
Jim Lamb had just received his Olivetti Ink Jet Printer. He hooked it up to a 2068, with a Tasman interface. The printer costs less than $200. The documentation shows it is capable of many goodies once Jim can figure out the “escape codes”. Half tone reproduction and reduction and enlargement are possible. The machine is fast and quiet, and then quality of the print is good (not letter quality) but good for everyday print outs.
Gary Ennis unpacked his Gemini-10X printer for the first time right there in front of everyone. About 40 minutes later he had hooked up thru the Tasman Interface and was clipping out 120cps. The quaility was very good. This newsletter should be in and out of his printer in no time. Apparently some 80 type styles are available with the right software.
Stan Livingston was finally able to get his Brother HR-5 printer running using the Tasman Interface and was he happy!
Since the meeting he ordered and received a Tasman interface from Knighted Computers and reports it is working and now if he can just figure out the graphic software drive, any ideas anybody?
Clyde Tackley brought in his Byte-Back modem. This runs about $150. I believe he said it als[illegible] has a RS232 port and the software is supposed to have up/down load capability. The cassette was blank and the people at Byte-Back sent him the real thing promptly. Lack of phone line cut short a demo.
I brought along the Alphacom 32 ($48.95) which I’d just got thru FOCUS, Brooklyn, NY. The first one they sent didn’t work, but no problem with the second. Between the orginial cost and final cost (phone calls, return postage,sales tax and shipping fees) was almost a $20 bill. Still cheaper than the $99.99 Sears is still asking. The Alphacom 32 is a mirror of the TS2040, just the name is different.
Hal Sohn of tape libray is requesting return of tapes from individual who borrowed them last February. We won’t mention John Sims name out loud.
NEWS from E. A. Brown Co….Sinclair is going to market the ZX81, the ZX Spectrum and the QL in the USA this fall. I’ll believe the date when I see it….but the idea is really fantasic for all of us -disc drives are loomi[illegible] over the horizon….software….magazines. There really is a God and HE’s on our side! Any how it will take time to get the Spectrum approved for sale, and this Christmas season is just about under way….so don’t throw away the Sinclair, it will be coming back!
We would like to report a happy ending to Gary’s problem with Ramex Int. Utica, MI. After SINCUS dropped them a note, Gary got a reply,part of his order and the rest of his money back. Most of the problems with mail order firms are a lack of communication, so far.
From CCAT/S (Clackamas County Area T/S Users Group Newsletter) Oregon City, Oregon:
Another word processor program-MSCRIPT from 21st Century Electronics, Guttenburg, NJ. This works with the AERCO IF (interface).
SMART TERM II software ready for 2050 modem first part of September, according to Westridge.
Stuart Lotwin, President of Westridge died the first week of August. The family will continue the business and shipments of modems w[illegible] resume. Sincus sends its sympathies to the Lotwin family.
BYTE-BACK is ready to release it’s version of SMART TERM software. This will upgrade the MD-68 modem to the MD-2B.
The copy of the CCAT/S Newsletter the PLOTTER will be on the bulletin board for all to read. If you want to borrow the copy to shoot some copies of info see me. The efforts of others into their newsletters is greatly appreciated and any info gleaned from them will be passed on . I must say that the editor of the Plotter certainily recogizes good cartoons. Til Sept meet.