The Hacker
Publisher(s):
Timex/Sinclair User Group of Las Vegas
Publication of the Timex/Sinclair User Group of Las Vegas.
Contributing Staff
- Editor: Steve Sawchuk
- Co-Editor: Ralph Hammer
- Art Director: Chris Fenn
- Mailing Director: Dawn Sawchuk
| Title | Description | Computers |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Not Too Good for User Groups | ||
| 2068 Fix Star NX-1000/Aerco Centronics I/F Fix | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| 3 Short Programs | Timex/Sinclair 1000, Type-in program | |
| A Hands-On Review of Psion's New MC400 Laptop | ||
| And Out of the Ashes | ||
| Another Newsletter Editor Turns Over Duties for Need of Rest | Reports that Vernon Smith, editor of the CATS newsletter, is stepping down to rest, with Tim Swenson taking over as editor while Vernon remains as publisher. Brief front-page news item about leadership transitions in affiliated groups. | |
| Beyond Programming: Software vs Hardware | Introduction to hardware terms. | |
| Beyond Programming: Software vs. Hardware | Philosophical discussion exploring the definitions of hardware, software, and firmware by consulting Webster’s dictionary and electronics reference works. Examines where the conceptual boundaries lie and how these terms apply to real-world computer components. | |
| Bill Heberlein Lists Solutions to Hacker Contest | ||
| Buyer Beware? | ||
| Byte Reviews Z88 | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Cambridge Computer Extends Sales | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Cambridge Launches New Product | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Cambridge New England Launches Second Wave on Vegas' CES | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Check This Out | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Chris Fenn's Column: Z88/PSION News and BBS Listings | Chris Fenn covers the PSION MC400 laptop delay, the new Z88 1 MEG RAM cartridge, Z88 CLI file command examples, and a selection of out-of-state BBS listings. Regular column appearing across multiple issues. | Cambridge Z88 |
| Comedian Thinks Z88 Not So Funny | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Comparison Revisited | Comparison between Cambridge Z88 and Tandy 200. | Cambridge Z88 |
| Comparison Revisited: Cambridge Z88 vs. Tandy 200 | Side-by-side comparison of the Cambridge Z88 and the Tandy 200 laptop. Tandy 200 advantages: 240×128 pixel graphics, better sound, built-in modem. Z88 advantages: overall performance, storage capacity, and built-in utility software. | Cambridge Z88 |
| CRAGIST N/L Newest On List of Exchange of Info | ||
| CUBE-IT | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program | |
| East Coast Group Sponsors Giant Fest | ||
| England to Receive U.S. Donation | Cambridge Z88 | |
| First Club Z88 Newsletter Out | Cambridge Z88 | |
| FLASH BBS Bites The Dust in Las Vegas | Bob Royall, sysop, shut down BBS because his wife was ordered to a duty station in Turkey. | |
| For Your Information | ||
| Former Cambridge Salesman Tries Database for Mail Order | Cambridge Z88 | |
| From the Desk of Chris Fenn | Short editorial about Psion MC400 delays, Z88 updates. | Cambridge Z88 |
| From the Disk of Chris Fenn | Cambridge Z88 | |
| From the Editor's Desk | ||
| From the Editor's Desk | ||
| From the Editor's Desk | ||
| From the Editor's Desk | Steve Sawchuk editorial: spring meeting woes (only 2 attendees at the March 16 meeting), meeting schedule change to 3rd Thursdays starting May, letter from Jack Boatwright (Ontario, OR) re-engaging with ZX-81, report on Richard Matajovic using a TS1000 with an Aerco Disk Drive to read MS-DOS disks, and a joking April Fools resignation notice. | |
| From the Editor's Desk: Has This Happened Before? | Editorial comparing IBM’s new PS-1 home computer line ($999, department-store sold, built-in modem, Microsoft software bundle) to the original Timex/Sinclair marketing strategy, drawing parallels between the two approaches to bringing affordable computing to mass-market retail channels. | |
| FYI | ||
| GE & RCA Calls for Recall! | Reprint from the Westmoreland Computer Users Club: recall notice for approximately 45,000 GE/RCA surge suppressors sold between October 1986 and December 1987. | |
| GEnie Laptop SIG Under Construction | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Good News and Bad News | ||
| Guess What I Saw? | ||
| H.A.T.S. Newsletter Prints Its Final Issue | ||
| Hey! Did Ya Hear What's Going On All Around | ||
| I'd Rather Fight Than Switch? | ||
| Inflation | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program | |
| Larken Electronics Launches Maxcomm | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Last Minute News | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Last Minute, Late News | ||
| Learn to Fly a 747 on Your 2068 at Home | Brief description of the flight simulator. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Learn to Fly a 747 on Your 2068 at Home | Announcement of a 747 Flight Simulator program by Derek Ashton for the TS2068, capable of flying over 7 airfields in real time. The program never reached commercial release; interested parties were directed to contact Bob Swoger in Streamwood, IL. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Lemke Software Goes Public Domain | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Local BBS Listings | Directory of six Las Vegas-area BBS systems with full detail: sysop names, phone numbers, hardware specifications, and access information. Systems listed include Firth of Fifth, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Nighthawk BBS, The Comic Connection, and Weekend Huddle. | |
| More User Groups Form New SEG's to Keep Up with the Times | Reports that C/CATS (Portland, OR) is adding a PC Special Education Group (PC-SEG) for MS-DOS users, with its first meeting scheduled for July 13. Announces that The Plotter newsletter will add a new PC PAGE section to serve the expanding membership interests. | |
| Mountaineer Software Needs Your Help | ||
| MS-DOS Emulator Ready for QL | Sinclair QL | |
| New Cambridge DOS Laptop Announced | ||
| New Life for the QL | Sinclair QL | |
| News from the Northwest | ||
| Newsletter Editor Turns Over Duties for Need of Rest | Vernon Smith, editor of the CATS Newsletter, steps down. Tim Swenson takes over. | |
| Newsletter Exchange List | Directory of approximately 30 user groups with whom The Hacker exchanges newsletters, with mailing addresses for each. Useful reference for the broader TS/Sinclair user-group network of the late 1980s. | |
| NO MEETING HELD IN APRIL / EDITOR NEEDS A BREAK | Brief editor’s note explaining that no April meeting was held due to the Easter weekend coinciding with the editor’s wedding. Announces that regular meetings will shift to 3rd Thursday evenings starting in May. | |
| No Meeting Held in April. Editor Needs Break. | ||
| Now Here's Something to Think About | Timex/Sinclair 1000 | |
| Oops! Another Mistake | The ZX81 and Z88 were featured in Playboy magazine. | Cambridge Z88, Sinclair ZX81 |
| Partial Review of Maxcom | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Portable Disk Drive Available | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Printer Commands | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program | |
| Program of the Month: Bingo | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program | |
| Program of the Month: Poker | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program | |
| Program of the Month: Slot Machine | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program | |
| Program of the Month: Tax Increases | Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program | |
| Program Review: Yacht, Tarot | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Psion 'PCFOUR' Lets a $1000 MS-DOS Machine Act Like Your $100 QL | Psion’s software package, written for the QL, is available for MS-DOS. | |
| PSION "PCFOUR" Lets a $1000 MS-DOS Machine Act Like Your $100 QL | Reprint from The Hacker February 1988: review of the PSION PC software suite ($99 for IBM PC), comparing it feature-by-feature to the QL’s native Archive database, word processor, and spreadsheet. Discusses practical data transfer between QL and IBM via RS-232. | Sinclair QL |
| PSION MC400 Laptop — A Hands-On Review | Detailed hands-on review of the PSION MC400 Mobile Computer: 640×400 non-backlit screen, 61-key keyboard with touchpad, SSD cartridge slots (ROM/RAM/Flash), and expansion bays for serial/printer, 2400 baud modem, and voice digitiser. Built-in apps reviewed include Diary, Alarm, Database, Text Processor, and Terminal. Review continues in next issue. | |
| Satellite Tracking Program Available for Free | ||
| Several Newsletters Cutting Back | ||
| SMUG Editor Wins Hacker Contest | ||
| SMUG Selling Digitizer for the 2068 | Timex/Sinclair 2068 | |
| Sysop John's BBS Beat | Updates on bulletin boards. | |
| TDM Is Alive & Well | ||
| TDM Reported to Be Back In Business | ||
| The Honest Truth | ||
| The Honest Truth | ||
| The Honest Truth | ||
| The Honest Truth | Updates on newsletters, Larry Kenny and upcoming TS FEST. | |
| The Honest Truth | Editorial commentary on humor in user-group newsletters, mentioning the SWYM newsletter, ZX-APPEAL (Harvey Taylor), SNUG, Larry Kenny’s DTP and spelling checker work, Rod Gowen as the last known TS dealer, and the upcoming TS FEST in June hosted by the Milwaukee group. | |
| This Happened Before? | Editorial about IBM’s PS-1 series computers. | |
| Three Dealers Bow Out of Software Sales | ||
| Tid-Bytes and Not So New News | ||
| Timex-Sinclair Program Page | Three short programs for the TS 1000 and TS 2068. | Timex/Sinclair 1000, Timex/Sinclair 2068, Type-in program |
| Toss Your Floppies? | ||
| TSUG of L.V. Celebrates Fourth Birthday | Origin of the group dates to October 1983. Formed June 9, 1984. | |
| TSUG of Las Vegas Has Change of Command | ||
| TSUG of LV Celebrates Fourth Birthday | Club history of the Timex/Sinclair User Group of Las Vegas from its founding in 1984 (John Shifler’s original idea, October 1983; first official meeting June 9, 1984), through its newsletter origins (Tony Vidana as first editor, 5 pages, 2 programs) and logo creation (Mike Rhees). Covers hardware and publication evolution through the group’s first four | |
| Two Groups Cast Votes for New Leaders | Updates on C/CATS (Portland, Oregon) and CATS (Washington, DC). Ken Lutes elected chairman of C/CATS, Ruth Fegley elected president of CATS. | |
| Wanted: Info on TS1500-Controlled Pinewood Derby Track | Brief wanted notice from Ralph Hammer requesting information and/or schematics for a TS1500-controlled Pinewood Derby track and timekeeping system. Seeks help from anyone who has built or knows of such a setup. | Timex/Sinclair 1500 |
| Welcome to the Great N.W. Mini-Fair | Free issue distributed at the North West Mini-Fair. | |
| Welcome to the Great N.W. Mini-Fair | Introduction to this special souvenir edition of The Hacker produced for the Great Northwest Mini-Fair (August 1988). Explains the issue’s purpose and includes a subscription offer: 13 issues for $15 if signed up by August 31, 1988. | |
| Well Known T/S User Passes Away | ||
| Well, I'll be Switched | Author purchased a PC compatible. Describes plans to continue using the 2068 to support his Cub Scout business. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| Well, I'll Be Switched!!! | Ralph Hammer’s personal account of purchasing a Tandy 1000 SX PC-compatible with RGB monitor, 1200B modem, and ProComm terminal software — while still using his TS-2068 for Cub Scout record-keeping. A candid reflection on transitioning from dedicated TS hardware to PC-compatible systems. | Timex/Sinclair 2068 |
| What's This Mr. Watson? | ||
| Who's Selling What? | ||
| Z88 Hailed in National Publication | Jerry Pournelle and Laurence Loeb praise the Z88 in Byte magazine. | Cambridge Z88 |
| Z88 Testimonials Keep Presses Rolling | Cambridge Z88 | |
| Z88 User Produces Just The Fax? | Cambridge Z88 | |
| ZX-Appeal Honors Fred Nachbaur |
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