Product: Speedload
Machines: ZX/TS
From: Intercomputer
358 Chestnut Hill Ave.
Boston, MA 02146
617/738-5310
Price: $59.95 + $4.50 P&H
Loading and saving ZX/TS programs frustrates me. I sometimes have to adjust the controls on my recorder for 45 minutes just to load a seven minute program. I tried software packages that purport to ease and/or speed up the process: to no avail.
Finally I discovered Speedload. It works exactly as advertised. For less than $60 you get guaranteed performance almost identical to a $500 disk system. Speedload consists of an EPROM, attractively packaged with a ribbon cable to connect to your ZX/TS, and bus extension for your peripherals.
Since using Speedload I have not missed a single save or load. 16K programs save about 30 seconds. Existing programs can be loaded and then saved through Speedload. You call Speedload via one of three USR calls: one for LOAD, one for SAVE, and one for verify.
Intercomputer advertising and documentation refers to the TS1500 almost exclusively, although it works on all ZX/TS machines.
After loading, all programs emerge in FAST mode. If you want SLOW, you should put it in your program at the beginning.
Programs designed to autoRUN do not start automatically under Speedload. You need to type an appropriate GOTO command.
Memotech‘s Memotext and Spreadsheet will not go into PRINT mode with Speedload connected. When I use these two programs and anticipate printing output, I disconnect Speedload.