SYNC Program Listings
Readers should note the following conventions used in the program listings in this issue:
# or • = Used in PRINT statements to show necessary spaces.
“A” (shift) = Used in PRINT statements to indicate graphics; in this case use the graphic on shift A.
INPUT = Used in PRINT statements to show that the keyboard key or token should be used instead of spelling out the word (Richard McDaniel’s article in this issue).
In some schematics you may have noticed a designation given as 2K2. This is U.K. usage. U.S. usage is 2.2K. SYNC follows U.S. usage, but occasionally a U.K. schematic does not get completely converted.
8K ROM Problems
Several readers have asked for information about 8K ROM problems they had encountered. We referred the question to Sinclair, USA, and this is Nigel Searle’s answer: “Some 8K ROMs have a bug. We are waiting for a new batch of correct ROMs from our supplier. This may take several weeks. In the meantime, please write your name, address, and the words, “8K ROM” on a piece of paper and send it to Sinclair Research, 50 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114. We will then send you a new ROM as soon as they are available. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have been caused.”
How do you know whether your ROM is one with the bug? The bug seems to show up only in certain arithmetic computations using large numbers. David Orstein has supplied us with a simple test: Try having your 8K ZX80 print 2^32. The answer shown should be 4,294,967,300 (actually 4,294,967,296). Then print 2^32-1. If the answer given is anything other than the first answer minus 1, you have one of the ROMs with the bug and you should send in as above. However, Nigel Searle has emphasized that you should keep your present 8K ROM until it is replaced and that it should cause no problems in normal programming.
SYNC Subscriptions
SYNC subscribers have now passed the 8000 mark. Up to this point all subscriptions have begun with the first issue, but now we have to start with the second issue.
ZX Microfair
The first show centered on the ZX80/1 computer will be held on September 26, 1981, at Central Hall, Westminster, London. Mike Johnson is organizing the show in association with the National ZX80/1 Users Club. Hardware and software suppliers will have space for their wares. “We hope,” says Mike, “that the exhibition will prove an excellent market-place for the exchange of ideas and information, as well as giving people a chance to display and sell programs and peripherals.”
SYNC in Microcomputer Index
SYNC is now one of the twenty microcomputer magazines included in Microcomputer Index, a recent entry into periodical indexing.
Since the field of microcomputers is growing so rapidly, one of our big problems is finding out what others are doing. One answer, of course, is to subscribe to every magazine that might cover the topics we are interested in. Microcomputer Index provides an alternative and promises to be a major resource for those people working (and/or playing) in the field. Users will be able to keep up with what is going on and to pinpoint the articles that will be of most use.
The Index has two sections. In the first section articles are indexed alphabetically by title under nearly 300 topic headings which are listed together in the front of the Index. The title is followed by the author’s name, an abstract number, a classification by type (article, book review, column, hardware review, letter, software review), the language of the program listing, the magazine, the volume and issue numbers, and the date of issue.
In the second section the same information is given under the magazine name for each issue covered by the current index. Entries are made in the order of appearance in the magazine. In addition, an abstract of the article is given along with the list of topics under which it is indexed. These abstracts are brief, usually about 25 words, and on target (at least as far as the SYNC articles surveyed are concerned).
The current issue runs 96 pages and includes about 1250 articles. The Index, now into its second volume, is published by Microcomputer Information Services (see SYNC 1:4, Resources, p. 48).
SYNC NOTES: UK
Sinclair Launches the ZX Printer
Sinclair Research has introduced the long awaited ZX Printer for the ZX81 and ZX80 (8K ROM only) at the PCW show in London in early September. The printer is available only from Sinclair by mail order at £49.95 inc VAT.
ZX80/1 users will now be able to get hard copy of their listings. The printer features full alphanumerics and sophisticated high resolution graphics. The special features include COPY, which prints out exactly what is on the screen without further instructions. The operation is complete in 14 seconds at an effective cost of less than 1p. L LIST instructs the printer to produce an entire completed program, and L PRINT to print copy out on the printer and not the screen. The copy has 32 characters to the line, 9 lines to the vertical inch, and a printing speed of 50 characters per second. It is attached to the rear of the computer by a stackable connector which allows the 16K RAM pack to be used at the same time. The special aluminized paper comes in 65-foot rolls which will take care of over 250 full screens of text. The paper will be supplied in packs of five for £11.95.
Sinclair to Sell ZX81 Retail
Sinclair has signed an exclusive trial agreement to sell the ZX81 retail through over 100 W H Smith high-street stores. “Both parties view the agreement as an experiment,” commented Clive Sinclair, Chairman of Sinclair Research. Under the initial five month agreement Smith’s will set up new computer departments in each store with specially trained staff to demonstrate the ZX81 and give after-sales service. Sinclair products will sell at the normal prices, but the new ZX Printer and ZX81 kit will not be available for the time being.