The RAMTOP Mar-Apr 1988
Date: Mar-Apr 1988
See all issues of The RAMTOP
Articles
| Title | Description | Computers |
|---|---|---|
| About the 128K Spectrum | Brief notes on the Spectrum 128K covering its extended BASIC section, microdrive usage (including a split-save technique for 128K programs), and the improved music capabilities of the 128K model. | Sinclair ZX Spectrum |
| Big Printer Banner Program | A BASIC plus machine language program for the Timex/Sinclair 2068 that prints large banner-style text using the Tasman printer interface. Includes DATA statements for the machine code routine embedded in the BASIC listing. | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program |
| Editorial | Covers the editor’s new camcorder and plans for a video digitizer demo and Oliger disk video demonstration at an upcoming meeting. Notes a conference scheduling decision and mentions Ed Grey’s RS-232 I/O board for the 2068 ($27 bare board). Includes a member obituary for Clarence Lucht and news that Dick Sieg is hospitalized. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| FCC Drops Modem Access Charge Plan | A reprint from the Hi-Tech Business Machines BBS of a Wall Street Journal article reporting that the FCC has abandoned its plan to charge computer users for telephone system access. Covers Rep. Markey’s role and an ongoing $4.50/hr private network charge proposal. | |
| North Coast Computer Fair (Oct 1988) | Updates the North Coast Computer Fair date to October 1–2, 1988 at Euclid Square Mall (moved up one week from the original date), open to all computer types. Vendor and user group response deadline is May 31. | |
| QL Notes | Reviews the Zenkar 128K RAM expansion board (fits inside QL, heat issues, RAM chip recommendations, 5-year warranty) and the COPYTEK disk duplication program. Also covers Digital C for QL (based on Small C, limitations noted) and corrects a prior item about Stan Lemke’s art program and 2068 extended color mode support. | Sinclair QL, Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| QL Stories from the Mountain Tops | QL news covering the new Minerva ROM (fixes all known bugs, includes Super Toolkit, supports CST hard drives, runs Thor software, ~$34), a new INMOS transputer co-processor board, the QJUMP QPTR windowing program, and 3.25″ single-sided 400K drives available at $29 from J&B Electronics. | Sinclair QL |
| Third Annual T/S-Amstrad Conference Announcement | Announces the Third Annual T/S-Amstrad Conference hosted by GCUG, scheduled for August 26–27, 1988 at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, OH. Seeks volunteers, presentations, user groups, and vendor participants; contact Andy Kosiorek. | |
| Timex/Sinclair News & Resources | Reports several hardware developments: the Spectrum +3 with built-in 3″ disk drive, the Miles Gordon Technology ‘Plus D’ disk controller for the Spectrum, an upcoming MGT Spectrum clone with enhanced specs, Florida show attendance of ~250, and a Z80A pull-up resistor issue in the TS2068 that may cause problems with Z80A/B replacements. | Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Using QL C, Part One: Opening Devices | Tutorial with code examples showing how to open serial port, console, and screen devices in Metacomco QL C, and explaining the difference between buffered and unbuffered I/O using setnbf(). A sample program demonstrates printing output to the QL serial port. | Sinclair QL |
| Using QL C, Part Two: Using QDOS with C | Continues the QL C series with a mini library for accessing QDOS traps from Metacomco C using qdos1/2/3 wrapper functions. Implements CLS, INPUT (with cursor movement), RESIZE, TIME, and BEEP routines, referencing the Sinclair QDOS Companion and QL Technical Guide. | Sinclair QL |