THE GOLD CARD SYSTEM What is it: Expensive! Credit card size memory expansion for the M100, M102. The cards are available in sizes of 32, 64, 128, 256, 512k and up. The unit connects to the system buss and includes a ROM chip (GoldBasic). This ROM chip is not necessary for operation. *see #4 below. The small card holder (6" x 6" x 1/4") will hold two cards, these card(s) are easily inserted and removed. They are powered by lithium batteries and the batteries last well over a year. Just What it is: 1. A menu system or direct access that allows files in RAM and GoldCard to be copied back and forth, renamed, deleted, etc. 2. The ability to read from and write to files on the Gold Card using familiar syntax. (OPEN"A:xxx) etc. The ability to RUN BASIC files that are resident on the Gold Card. This makes it possible to create an entire system in small BASIC modules that can load and run each other, thus eliminating the M100,102 code size limit. 3. Downloading directly to the GoldCard as Drive A or B (GoldCard). (the same as D'loading to RAM - no loss of carrier) 4. A series of extended service calls that may be executed from within a BASIC program that provide services that are not available within BASIC. (GoldCard Basic on the ROM chip). 5. A comprehensive series of testing programs for testing the hardware integrity of the GoldCard. 6. A variety of miscellaneous services i.e. the ability to load from or save to the GoldCard while running TEXT, or to run the TEXT editor or .CO programs from within the GoldCard menu. 7. Edit files the size of the GoldCard (not in banks or sections) in my case a file of 256k that works just like the built-in TEXT editor. a. In EDIT mode you can load a file into TEXT "in place" (merge/boilerplate) 8. A Dual Disk Drive approach that configures the GoldCard as drives A: and B:. That combined with the availability of GoldCard ROMs makes it possible to develop large BASIC applications and burn them into a GoldCard ROM to be placed in one drive, while the application themselves access data files on the other drive. 9. ROM Emulation. Image as many ROM chips as you want and switch from one to the other with ease. No need to switch ROM chips or use a ROM bank. Why did I purchase it: Using a M100 since 1984, finally the time came to upgrade to an IBM clone. At that time weighing the prices including the software to duplicate what I was doing with my M100's easily made the 100 upgrade my choice. I got real lucky. I bought a used Gold Card system, including a M102 for $550. I then sold one of my M100s, some software and hardware I no longer needed and realized about $450 from this. My original (circa 1984) $995 M100 is now my desktop. More on this later. The system is menu driven, easy to use and offers drive protection. There are no hook conflicts as a simple call turns GoldCard hooks off or on. Hooks on/off, protection services can also be accessed from the GoldCard Menu. I love the system! The ease of use and ROM emulation, the elimination of the disk drive, the TEXT editing and the instant loading of PowrDos or any DOS, the elimination of M/L conflicts make INTENTIONAL cold starts a frequent occurence - when finished with a large number of files - why waste the time to erase them, when a cold start does it in one easy sweep plus resetting all hooks etc. The system menu is very easy to read and F-keys control all operations. The "Calls" are easy to remember e.g., "CALL 63012'rmv" = Remove the system; "CALL 63012'h" = Hooks Installed; "CALL 63012'u" = Hooks UN-installed. All "CALLs" work in a BASIC program. Here's just two of the many examples of using GoldCard Basic: 10 CLEAR 200,60000 20 FN$ = "TEST.CO" 30 CALL 63012,, VARPTR(FN$)'LCO The 'LCO service request has one big advantage over LOADM. LOADM destroys the current BASIC variable list, LCO does not. This makes it possible to load a .CO program in the middle of a BASIC program without losing the values of existing variables. In the above program substituting the service call suffix 'RCO (line 30) for 'LCO allows to load an run the .CO program with the same variable condition. Notice that LCO = Load .CO and RCO = Run .CO. All service calls are in this easy to remember format. Just a note on the ROM image function. Option ROM programs can be developed on an IBM or compatible and loaded directly from the PC into the "ROM Eliminator" and tested without the need for time consuming ROM burns. A version can be saved to the GoldCard while another version is prepared for testing. The software is included and menu driven from the GoldCard Utility Menu. Here's an example of loading a ROM to the GoldCard: 1. Insert desired ROM chip 2. Select RAMROM from utility menu (to load to RAM) one keystroke. 3. CALL 63012'rmv (remove GoldCard system. 4. type the command OUT 56,1 (clear option ROM socket) 5. run RAMROM from M100 menu and select the SAVE ROM option (one keystroke). You can save as many ROM images as the size of your GoldCard will hold. I find that I only use 5 service calls so I have a set of F-Keys for use of the system. Overall View: Each card is structured with 9 banks, designated BANK 1, BANK 2, etc. These banks are available from the GoldCard Menu or with a BASIC call (OPEN"A:xxxxxx). When accessing a file from the Card(s) all 9 banks are addressed as 1 bank, i.e., you don't have to designate the bank just the card. Actually each card has 10 banks, one bank being the UTILITY menu which VERIFY's, TEST's, INITIALIZE's, or COPY's or LOAD's ROM chips. I've designated Bank 9 as my ROM Bank - SupeRom, Sardine, CRDFIL, RAM+, TS-Dos/TS RANDOM and RAMROM. Bank 8 is my TELCOM Bank - XMDPW6, NSXM, EM8SIG, XMD5HZ, Q-PORT, ADRS.DO and PIN# file. Depending what I'm doing on TELCOM dictates the COM program(s) I'll load to RAM or RUN from the GoldCard. Using CMD.BA, one keystroke executes any method I chose. If I'm downloading anything in access of 12k I then download directly to the GoldCard. With the 2 Card System I have 18 banks + RAM available. M100 as a DeskTop System: 1. GoldCard System - 2 ea. 256k GoldCards w/ GoldText and ROM Emulation. 2. 2 ea. Tandy Disk Drives w/RS232 port expander 3. 32k Printer Spooler 4. DMP 130 and Epson printers. a. the spooler allows printer output with no down time for computer b. actually, I can be printing 2 different files (w/2 printers) and my laptop is available! 5. 1200 baud external modem 6. CompuServe member a. I upload data to my CIS "Personal File Area" from my office to later download at home or on the road for further processing 7. Color disks - easy ID and searching with this method. Red = Form Letters, Green = Spreadsheets, etc. Because I have large data files 20k + the 2 drives and also the GoldCards allow editing from the Card and saving to disk "as I go" while retaining the original file. This with the Append function to drives 1 or 2 or drives A or B allow for further manipulation. As I write this I realize I have 4 mass storage devices plus the RAM available at all times. The 2 drive system is not really necessary with the GoldCards but I have it and I use it. Incidentally, the 2 drive system also allows downloading to disk while online. Hardware and Software Used: SOUNDSIGHT GoldCard System 2 ea. 256 k cards GOLDTEXT editor GOLD ROM ELIMINATOR WORLDPORT 1200 Baud Pocket Modem software: Q-PORT XMDZH5 allows 1200 Baud access with XMDPW5 OR XMDPW6 TBA RS 232 Port Expander (for 2 drive use) RS 232 A/B Switch Box - no need to switch modem and drive cables. TANDY PDD 1 (100 k) 2 ea. PowrDos, DiskPower, TS-DOS prefer PowrDos but like DiskPower for printing files from disk without extra software. MICROMINI Printer Spooler/Buffer Practical Peripherals 32 k 2 ea. Footprint 4"x 3"x 1". If you have a Printer Spooler, and desire a download VIA EHCO use the spooler as there is no "catch-up" time for the printer - time and $ saver. PRINTERS: DMP 130 EPSON FX-80 w/"DOTS PERFECT" upgrade Eugene Nestro 10/23/90