Timex Tips

QUESTION: How many ‘ports’ do we have? What are ports used for?

ANSWER: A port is a window to the outside world, just like on a ship. In the Timex-Sinclair line of computers, we have a total of 256 possible serial ports. This is because the machine code instructions used to access ports require a port number and a data number. Each of these numbers must be 0-255. That is, OUT 232,144 means the computer should send out, through port number 232, the data value of 144. In practice, peripherals are hard-wired, by means of AND, OF, NAND, and NOR gates to respond only when a given number is placed on the lower eight lines of the address bus. Of course, 256 peripherals should be enough for just about anybody. Ports are used to send and receive data in a serial fashion. ome number after the other. You probably know MODEMs and PRINTERS are devices that are accessed ts means of PORTS.

QUESTION: What da other computers mean by TAPE-BACK-UP? Is it anything like our tape system? Also, what is meant by TURBO?

ANSWER : In theory, the two tape systems are the same. That is, both use tape to hold dats from the computer. The tape back-up systems you have probably seen are used to record the data on a hard disk, which means a LOT of data compared to the amount we are used to dealing with. Since all man-made device can fail, the important data held on hard disks is duplicated on tape each night by many computer users. That way, if the disk during the business day. and all data on it is lost, a sew disk can be installed and the data restored to it from the tape. All that is lest is what was generated on the day of the failure.

TURBO is one of this year’s buzz words. It means a given computer design has been made to run faster by increasing the “clock speed” of the CPU. This usually requires the upgrading of all CPU and memory devices to more expensive versions that are made to react more quickly. As prices fall with the passage of time, expensive high speed devices may me within the reach of ordinary users like you and me. Last year’s COMPUTER becomes the year’s TURBO COMPUTER at about the same prize. Electronic devices are in a very small group of things that get less expensive as time goes on. Some of the TURBO models have a switch on the back to change between ordinary and TURBO speed. It is hard enough to win at PAC-MAN without having him moving around at TURBO speed.