9:00 AM PDT Sunday, May 10, 1987 (Larry L) morning Hi there (Sysop Denny) Hi Larry (Larry L) hello hiya Denny..you head honcho today? (Sysop Denny) Well, I'm hosting, if that's what you mean. (Larry L) yup...I've been away for the last 2 weeks..anything new?.. (R Caley) Good morning all (Larry L) hi rush (Sysop Denny) Geez, big question! (Dave M., UltraSoft) G'mornin' (Larry L) denny...no pressure (Sysop Denny) Seems we have a new Rep from U-soft, grin. (Phil W) [hi, all] (Dave M., UltraSoft) richard's getting boggeled down with paperwork! How about Tony's slides that I keep hearing about? (Phil W) [awfully early for the slides!] (Sysop Denny) We'll get to those later. (R Caley) OK This may be a silly question..but I own 3 or 4 very good word processors for M-100 - What would be a good reason to elect to purchase Ultrasoft's Text power as well? are there any Special features I might covet? (Dave M.) Well, Text Power is not a Word Processor. It inhances the already existing TEXT. It gives you a graphic drawing of your letter on your LCD. You can Embed special Print Codes for your printer (ex. Bold, superscript, etc.) (R Caley) OK..thanks...that's it.. (Phil W) Dave, (Dave M.) yes? (Phil W) there is at least one very good program, PRN100, in DL2 that has similar features. What are the special and unique aspects of Text Power 100? (Dave M.) Well, I'll have to look at PRN100 to be able to answer that, Is it ML or basic? (Phil W) Machine language loader form. (Dave M.) Like I said I'll Have to look at PRN100. ga.. sorry! (Sysop Denny) Well, any more on that RC? (R Caley) Nope.. (Sysop Denny) Ok, looks like we might be getting the slides out early after all! (Dave M.) Yes, I was looking thru the Data libraries a while back And found a file that tells you how to put a double drive in the DVI. I'm thinking of doing this for mine, but I'd like to use the system bus to control which side is accessed. Any one know how to send a 6-volt signal thru one of the unused ports? (R Caley) I have a two drive DV/I and it works great..I'm not exactly sure what Dave means by "which side"...they are single sided drives.. (Sysop Denny) Well, you can put a double sided drive ... (Dave M.) well, this file tells you how to put a double sided drive in the bottom slot ... (Phil W) [double drive, or double-sided drive, Dave?] (Dave M.) 1/2 meg total memory! double-sided Drive ... (Sysop Denny) Dave, I think you access ... (Dave M.) replace second drive with a double sided drive! ... (Sysop Denny) the other drives by using 1: as a prefix ... (Dave M.) or in my case , add a drive. (Sysop Denny) I'm not sure that 2: or 3: is valid Did the file describe that? (R Caley) [this is confusing] (Dave M.) yes, the second drive can be controled by the motor relay (all you need is a small switch). sorry (cassette MOTOR) (R Caley) Ok There is NO way you can access a 2: or 3: unless you have written some type of alternate DOS to overlay the DV/I's Rom.. (Sysop Denny) Well, it seems you have 0: and 1: time two ... (Dave M.) well the way this works. you still use 1: but, ... (Sysop Denny) On a switch, you move to the backside of each drive. (Dave M.) you flick a switch to access the other side of the second drive. I wanted to make this controled by software! phew confusing subject! (R Caley) [where's the file?] (Sysop Denny) Ok, not sure about that one, Dave ... (Dave M.) DV/I data library. ... (Sysop Denny) But our resident DVI guru ... (Dave M.) can't remeber the name. (R Caley) I'll get a hardware man on it (Sysop Denny) Leonard Erickson should have something to say about that. PPN=70465,203 If you'd like to leave a message. (Dave M.) I'll drop him a line, thanx. (Sysop Denny) Ah, we have the name of the file: DVI2ND.INF. (DL9) (Dave M.) That's IT! (Larry L) ok I was wondering if Tandy sells overseas....I just got back from Israel and they seem to be living on IBM clones and Apple clones also Lots of Commodores. (Dave M.) Well, I'm not sure if Tandy Sells in Israel, but i do know that the sell in England. (Sysop Denny) Yes...and they are pulling out of Germany, as it has been reported here. (Larry L) I see....It seems a good place to sell a reliable less expensive computer. Also I was amazed by the amount of software piracy overseas. The motto "It's mine and I'll do with it what I want" is the norm. (Sysop Denny) Well, I guess it cuts down expenses! (Larry L) yes Also the quality of software is markedly lower. (DaveW.) Speaking of inexpensive, I've run across a $79 128K print buffer, anyone interested? (Larry L) [Tell us Dave] (Sysop Denny) That's a pretty good deal ga Dave. (DaveW.) It's a no frills buffer made by Practical Peripherals in Westlake Village, Ca. I purchased one through PC Connection in New Hampshire. (Sysop Denny) Thanks Dave, I bought one of their full featured ones for work. It was quite a bit more expensive. The thing to remember with simple print buffers is that they usually don't allow you to reprint what is in the buffer, so it is just a simple print spooler. (DaveW.) That's correct. All you can do is reset the buffer by turning the unit off and back on. I got it strickly to speed up throughput to printer. (Sysop Denny) That is a good deal though...can you upgrade to 256K? (DaveW.) No, it is fully configured at 128K. (Sysop Denny) ok, any more on that? (DaveW.) [Uses 4 41256 DRAMs.] (Bill H.) ok looks like slide time and I just got back from a Motorcycle vacation to Northern Calif and Nevada and I took my 102 with me for checking the weather etc. also stopped by Node Computers in Nevada City calif but I must have got there on a fishing day ha ha or lunch time -- very hot so I didn't stick around for them to come back. (Sysop Denny) Too bad. It would have been good to have a report on them... (Dave M.) That's agood Idea. I'll be doing a Montreal, que. ---> Vancouver, B.C. trip this summer, by motrocycle I never thought of bringing my 100 to check on weather. (Bill H.) works fantastic (Dave M.) Using CIS, I presume (Bill H.) yes (Sysop Denny) If you make it to Vancouver, you could check in on Traveling Software, grin (Bill H.) using the PP and EF along with the Lf lets you know whats going on all around you and you tailor your trip to the fine weaather. be sure and get the phone no.s from csis before the trip. (GO PHONES) I used an old list and sometimes was in a location that I knew had a new node but couldn't find it. (Sysop Denny) Bill, did you do any weather maps? (Bill H.) negitive but you might be interested to know that the 102 was in the trunk of my Goldwing when I went thru Sacramento at 100+ degrees and no problems. (Sysop Denny) Hearty little beastie ain't it. (Dave M.) Bill. I'll trade you my SilverWing for youR GoldWing (grin) (Bill H.) ha ha ha ha!!! (DaveW.) [I'll keep my VMAX.] (joshua) The user group lists in the libraries are pretty old. Does anyone know of new ones in the Balt. Md area? (Sysop Denny) Haven't heard of any, but you might try Dave Thomas [70526,1117] (joshua) or new ones at all! considering that one of the lists is sponsored BY Portable 100 magazine. (Sysop Denny) Well there is now a national user group being sponsored by Laptop User magazine. If you are not a subscriber yet see MAG.100 in DL13 on info how to get a FREE subscription to the mag and info on how to join the user group. (joshua) Enough national, I'd like a little regional stuff (Sysop Denny) Well, like I said, Dave Thomas might be able to help you, he lives in that area. (Sysop Denny) Do you have a question Gerald? (Gerald G) Yes, but on another topic. (Sysop Denny) Ok, If Joshua is thru We may proceed. ga Gerald ga. (joshua) yes (Gerald G) There are over a half dozen companies manufacturing laptop ms dos equipment did Tandy make any forecasts on whether it would be entering that market? (Sysop Denny) There have been rumblings, but nothing "offical" They have a pretty firm policy of not pre-announcing *anything* (Except the accoustic cups!) (Bill H.) what would be the advantage to ms dos and how would it enhance the laptop ? (Sysop Denny) Bill, this would be a completely new machine. (Gerald G) I would assume that data entered into a ms dos lapotop could be transferred to a desktop at home and the office. Also, ms dos programs that were run on desktops might work on ms dos laptops and permit more people to transact business away from the home/office. (Sysop Denny) Yes, and they would be in direct competition with Toshiba and NEC (joshua) I would think they got a little burned on the 600 (brand new machine with expanded capability) and are going with low cost versions of IBM's products after all they don't have to create their rep. along with their machines. (Gerald G) I believe that new users of ms dos laps tops are in at least five digit and perhaps 6 digits figures There is definitely a market for this equipment and since it was mentioned here that the 102 has few enchancements over the m100 (except making the new version inompatible with existing third party accessories such as disk drives, etc) I am not in a capacity to speak for Tandy, but the public appears to be more and more interested in the new laptop models, and another entry into the market might spread everyone a little thin, there is business to be had. (Sysop Denny) Well, if Tandy gets into it, they usually have done their marketing homework. (J.D. (D.C.)) Hello? (Sysop Denny) Hi JD (J.D. (D.C.)) Hi Denny (joshua) hi jd (J.D. (D.C.)) Hi Joshua...u near Baltimore? (Sysop Denny) Do you have a question, JD? (Phil W) [slide time!] (J.D. (D.C.)) Anyone know of a Tandy 200 for sale? ) Denny=> Been looking for a good deal on a 200 (Sysop Denny) JD, You can check out any ... (J.D. (D.C.)) Denny=> I just purchased a NEC 8401....any comments about it? (Sysop Denny) sale items by doing a RS;S;SALE;0 command. (on the message board) (J.D. (D.C.)) Denny=> Thanks...I do every day! (Sysop Denny) Ok, Phil (Phil W) New topic -- checksums If any one here (or reading the transcript) is a user of QIKCHK, LDQQCK, CHECK.ASM, CHECK.PC or CHEC.COM please note that these pgms gave incorrect result for extended (8-bit) ASCII files. They have now been fixed, and new versions are in DL7. (J.D. (D.C.)) Anyone know anything about the NEC 8401 laptop? (Sysop Denny) Yes, important announcement, especially since we have our first 8 bit file in the library, which has caused all of this in the first place. JD, I don't think anyone here is familiar with that NEC. Ok, another anouncement: There is now a new version of EM8SIG.MMM in DL3 that handles the new changes to Easyplex so, if you are a user of this program, it would be wise to pick up a new copy. (J.D. (D.C.)) Thanks Denny...see you all later....if I ever get a Tandy! (Sysop Denny) Is it slide time? whew, saved again ga Joshua (joshua) Slide time? What, free for all? (Sysop Denny) No, I hold up slides, and then describe them to you! (joshua) No my real question is: Any third party soft/hardware to go with the ... (Sysop Denny) (they are Tony's slides actually. grin) (joshua) new Tandy PDD? and how useful are the old 3rd party DOS's? (Sysop Denny) Well, Have you heard of Sardine? (joshua) Now I have! I think I may have seen the ad in Laptop User. (Sysop Denny) Ok, yes there is an ad there. It is the newest ROM available and uses the TDD for a 30,000 word dictionary It also will boot (with a single key) any operating system that you name DOS100.CO The newest OS for the TDD1 is Power-DOS by Acroatix and For the TDD2, There will be a new version of Disk-Power by Ultrasoft. Most of the commercial OS's are very useful, your only decision is which one suits your needs best. (joshua) Thanks , thats about what i wondered but the os's for TDD1 are not going to be automatically working on a TDD2. Right? (Sysop Denny) Right, the current version of Disk-Power works with the TDD2, but they are coming out with a new one that takes full advantage of the new system. Other vendors will be coming out with new versions (hopefully) But Sardine works with both right now. (Bill H.) [theres a good write up on Sardine in one of the DL's] (Sysop Denny) [hee, hee, Thanks, I wrote it!] (Bill H.) congrats !! (joshua) is Sardine an OS itself or a loader? (Sysop Denny) Well, it has a loader program for a normal OS but it is also its own operating system ... (Phil W) [one of Denny's major accomplishments this year! (tee-hee)] (Sysop Denny) when it is using the dictionary disk [Hey, lay off!] (joshua) ok thanks. (Bill H.) not you josh... the other guys he meant! (Sysop Denny) Oh, yes! that was for Phil! (Bill H.) ok (joshua) oh quite understood! (Bill H.) does anyone know where to get one of those Franklin spelling checkers ? (Sysop Denny) Franklin? (Bill H.) yes its a little hand held job like a calculator that checks about 80,000 words (Sysop Denny) Hmm Nope, haven't heard of that one but it sounds neat. (Bill H.) I will find one and let you know , its about $90.00 but I would like to have one sitting next to my computer. (Sysop Denny) Yes, I have a 30lb unabridged dictionary sitting here that gives me a hernia everytime I have to use it. (Bill H.) This thing is pocket size but I don't know where to find it now. also, it uses wildcards. (Sysop Denny) Sounds like it might be from the Franklin Mint company (Bill H.) yeah... the cost is for sure. (Sysop Denny) You might try finding an ad from them (they're everywhere) to check it out. (Bill H.) two minutes to go Denny and you're off the hook ! where's [everywhere]? (Sysop Denny) In almost every mag I look at there is an ad of some kind for the Franklin mint. They sell all sorts of stuff. (Bill H.) ahh so I'll check thanks. just you and me Denny. they all left. (Sysop Denny) Well, the clock in the computer says it's time so it looks like we're out of time for this morning's conference. So I'll end the formal conference now. Feel free to stick around and chat further, if you like. Thanks for coming this morning, we appreciate your input. Bye. *** END OF CONFERENCE *** (Bill H.) See you later Denny. (Sysop Denny) Thanks for hanging in, Bill. bye. (Bill H.) bye List of Participants: 70250,211 PETER 71266,125 Phil W 72217,541 joshua 72276,3505 john k 72300,3072 Bill H. 72316,647 R Caley 73327,2262 Dave M. 73720,326 Martin Toombs 73765,605 Larry L 74166,305 J.D. (D.C.) 74425,231 Gerald G 75515,372 LLOYD HICKS 75775,202 DaveW. 76672,674 MIKE 76701,40 Sysop Denny