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ON 256 K Expander Boards
The response to the 40 dollar 256K boards was so good, the Akron group will be ordering a hundred blank boards and selling them at cost. That is about 10 bux a board bare, or 40 with the sockets installed and tested. Let us know how may you want. They will be available about Oct 1st. Cost after you purchase your own chips will be about $80.00. That is a lot cheaper than any other 256K available today. And if you star with a blank board, yoou can build a complete 256K (with chips) for less than 60 dollars. You can't beat than anywhere in the world.
Didn't think another article on Piracy would do it. So I went for a more interesting title.
This iMY GOD, I'M PREGNANT SAID THE QUEEN, WHO DONE IT.
There in one title we have RELIGION, SEX, ROYALTY and MYSTERY. Hope it got your interest again.
Didn't think another article on Piracy would do it. So I went for a more interesting title.
This is NOT on the evils of piracy, as we all know it is evil, threatens the existence of Adam, drives programmers from our midst and may be a contributing circumstance to several unwholesome diseases.
What I am proposing here is not meant to encourage piracy, nor to give those criminal types who engage in piracy an excuse to continue it.
ALL SHOULD STOP SOFTWARE PIRACY NOW. NO MORE THEFTS OF SOFTWARE.
But for the pirated software you PRESENTLY have in your possession, I suggest the following:
IF YOU find yourself with some pirated software (perhaps it was forced upon you, planted in your home by a jealous ex-spouse or for whatever innocent reason) what I am proposing is that you determine the retail value of that pirated software (NIAD, Adam House, Ruth, etc. will be able to let you know) and then VOLUNTARILY SEND PAYMENT of not less than 60% of the retail value and upto l00% of the retail to the software producer or programmer involved.
You can do this without fear of anyone connecting you with it by purchasing a money order, make it payable to the software programmer but where it says FROM , list yourself as Peter Pirate or Polly Pirate. Use 1111 Main St. Honesty USA as your address.
Then you can sleep better at night, the software programmer gets some return for his efforts, does not abandon Adam, turns out the piece of software we have all been waiting for, and everyone lives happily ever after. The End.
Seriously, I do feel that there is TOO much pirated software around and by those having it voluntarily make payments for it we can accomplish a lot for Adam.
I sent my money order yesterday.
If you live in an area where there is no other Adamite in hundreds of miles and your post mark will give away your identity, then follow the above instructions, make payable to the software programmer, etc. and mail to me. I will remail to the programmer for you and no one will be able to locate you from your post mark.
Barry Wilson
Please distribute as widely & as soon as possible.
NO DEADLINE. That's right, NO deadline for registration! We will continue to accept deposits as long as there is room at the inn. BUT... it's very difficult to plan without a reasonably accurate count of registrants; so please, PLEASE send your $50 (per adult... not necessary for kids staying with parents) to Monte Neece. IF YOU ARE WAITING BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT SURE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT, don't worry about cancelling later. You will get a FULL refund of your deposit.
To refresh your memory, ADAMCON 01 will be held in Orlando, Florida from October 7 to October 11.
Door prizes will include a hard disk interface, a Type III tape formatter, a serial interface, a pair of airline tickets to next year's convention (or any city in the US or Canada serviced by American Airlines), hotel accommodations, Disney tickets, and an incredible amount of software, some of which will be released for the first time at ADAMCON. MMSG, Elliam Associates, Pittman Enterprises, The ADAM Connection, David White Software, Gerlach Family Software, The SoftWORKS Factory, Wizard's Lair, ADAM'S HOUSE, E&T, NIAD... those are just a few of the retailers contributing software; more contributions come in every day. We also have newsletter subscriptions, PD volumes, Compuserve packets, and even certificates for free hardware repairs!
Showcased at the convention will be unheard of items such as Syd Carter's new extended datapacks, Chris Braymen's MIDI interface, and many other projects which are being kept under wraps but promise to knock our socks off. We believe we will even have a working video expansion module which is not due to be distributed until November by a Canadian enterprise. This item alone would be well worth the trip! Big John and AWAUG seem to have some tricks up their respective sleeves, too... it gets more & more exciting!
Bargains galore: 30% off EVERYTHING IN THE MW RUTH CATALOG, and that's just for starters. Other retailers are working on their own special offers, and it looks as though there are going to be some VERY attractive surprises.
Meet the legendary Solomon Swift, Big John Lingrel, Ron Collins, Tony Morehan, Syd Carter, Alan Neeley, Tony Patterson, Eric Danz, Steve Pittman, Jim Marshall, Chris Braymen, Dave McIntosh, Bob Blair, Faye Deere, David Cobley, Ricki Gerlach, Paul Pappas, Philip Kosowsky, Ed Jenkins, and (we hope) dozens of other well-known ADAMites.
If you can POSSIBLY make it, please DO! And, if you belong to a group, investigate the possibility of sending just one member of the group to represent you and carry back the news. If you are into photography or video recording, please volunteer to help us capture the event for posterity.
Again, please help us to firm up our plans by making a commitment; as soon as he receives your deposit, Monte will mail you a very nice information pamphlet. Monte has worked hard to get us the best accommodations at very reasonable rates, including some meals; the closing dinner is going to be a knockout. (If you've never heard of Church Street Station, just wait!) Special deals are also available on car rentals, air fare via American, and extended visits. There are many attractions to tempt your family, including the Wet'n'Wild water park just across the street. The weather should be perfect. For some people, this will be a 3-day weekend anyway, as both Canada and the US have a holiday that week.
There IS another group (NOT ADAMites) gathering at the Las Palmas Inn during the same time; Monte is concerned that if we don't reserve enough space to accommodate everyone who wants to come, there may be a conflict, especially with the convention rooms. Do we need one room or two, or what? We can't really tell until we get your reservations!
Send to: ADAMCON 01
c/o Monte Neece
1048 Winter Springs Blvd
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Phone: (407) 695-9199
Jack Tilson is collecting photographs. Send to:
ROGUE'S GALLERY
c/o Jack Tilson
1091 Abagail Drive
Deltona, FL 32725
Phone: (407) 574-7024
You may send items for distribution, door prizes, or any other material for the convention to either of the above addresses, or to MOAUG President John Terry:
John Y. Terry
4901 Camberlane Dr.
Orlando, FL 32812-1608
Phone: (407) 380-1400
Or write the MOAUG newsletter at: Metro Orlando ADAM Users' Group
Editor, Patricia Herrinton
1003 Oak Lane
Apopka, FL 32703
Phone:
(407) 788-6396 (but I'm never there.)
IF YOU KNOW FOR SURE YOU CAN'T ATTEND, you can still participate. Send photos of yourself, your setup, your family, whatever, and be here in spirit. If you belong to a group, send group photos or photos of activities your group is involved in. Send newsletters, PD programs, or whatever you can share. If you sell an ADAM product, send flyers, catalogs, product descriptions, pictures, even video tapes to reach the people who will be at the convention. Send products on consignment if you wish. Send door prizes to be distributed to conventioneers.
--- PJH MOAUG August 19, 1989
the convention to either of the above addresses, or to MOAUG President John
DAVID CARMICHAEL the Sysop of PLINK has moved to: 4560 So. Hydraulic Ave. Lot B47, Wichita KS 672l6-2823. Residence # (3l6) 524-9727. Computer/Data Line (3l6) 524-973l.
THE VASE OF TURR: WALTERS SOFTWARE CO. producly presents THE VASEW OF TURR. A graphic adventure game for the Adam Computer. Search the mysterious catacombs of the Caves of Wris for cluses and objects to help you unlock the puzzles and obtain the ultimate treasure.
Pickup, drop and use objects, save and load games. Game requires only l K of space, allowing you to save several games to a disk or ddp.
Graphic smartkey interface, double high scrolling text message line, spirites, background music and sounds.
Requires an Adam Computer and TV or monitor.
Disk or DDP $ 29.95
*** 257 Rooms ***
AVAILABLE OCT. l, l989.
A CONTEST WITH A $ 50.00 CASH PRIZE FOR THE FIRST PERSON TO FINISH THE VASE OF TURR WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE. (SUBJECT TO RULES OF CONTEST).
WRITE WALTERS SOFTWARE CO. Rt # 4 Box 289-A, Titsuville PA l6354 for further details.
: 4560 So. Hydraulic Ave. Lot B47, Wichita KS 6
09-Aug-89 20:07:09
Sb: #Addictus
Fm: Richard A Salvati 73367,2773
To: ALL
Just had to warn anybody thinking off buying ADDICTUS (Reedy Sft)
.......BEWARE......
This game is very addicting and may be hazardous to your health. I,ve only had it 4 weeks and its the only disc I seem to boot up...the object is to align these 6 diferent shapes up at the bottom of a vertical graph to form a complete line across and you recieve points. Sounds simple ..BUT.. the shapes start to come down faster as you make more lines.
No really....I think this game is very well done and is a must for anyone tired of shotting aliens or other flying objects. Reedy has done a good job on designing games in the past but this TOPS them all.
Rich S.
PS my hi score is only 27458 with 185 lines.....would anybody like to share there tips on this addiction...
24-Jul-89 01:00:30
Sb: SoftWORKS Factory
Fm: Alan Neeley 74756,1104
To: ALL
Some new info from the SoftWORKS
Factory recently arrived in my mailbox.
It was a Dealer's List of software
products available through them
including. It appears that they are now
the official primary supplier of
software products from: Digital
Express, Digital Adventures, Data
Doctor, ACE, and Bryan's Software. An
important item found on the list is
TSF's soon to be released GoDOS/GoBASIC
(could it be commercially available?)!
I'll be glad to place an order for
anyone looking for a specific title
from this supplier.
24-Jul-89 05:18:22
Sb: #New 306K+ DDPs coming
Fm: Neil Wick 71056,613
To: All 71056,613 (X)
At the last meeting of MTAG (Metro Toronto Adam Group), Syd Carter of TriSyd video games officially announced his coming introduction of "Extended format" digital data packs for the Adam. A standard DDP, (C-60 length) can now hold up to 306K instead of just 256K. Testing is now under way to see how much capacity a tape can hold and still be 100% reliable. No changes are needed for EOS to access such a tape. A small patch would be required for CP/M to use the extra storage space. C-90 tapes would be able to hold 400K or more! After one year of development, it seems that a price and availability announcements for these tapes is imminent. No more missing blocks. These tapes can be copied with Syd's MegaCopy, too. Syd says it's theoretically possible to put 500K or more on a tape, but the drive would have to be slowed down to keep the computer from continually backing the tape up to as it would have passed the next block on the tape, by the time the previous block was all loaded into memory, so we want to stay with the 300+ capacity for C-60s. Farther into the future exists the possibility of getting specially formatted VHS videotapes which would hold up to 16 megabytes of information. Such a system could be invaluable for backing up those new hard disks. If you're going to Adam-Con, expect to see these new higher capacity DDPs there.
25-Jul-89 02:23:48
Sb: #81183-New 306K+ DDPs coming
Fm: Neil Wick 71056,613
To: Sysop/Rob 'ADAM' 76702,417 (X)
Yes, there are systems to back up HDs on VHS tape, but they're made for the IBM or other MS-DOS computers as far as I know and it wouldn't be possible to use them to back up an Adam hard disk. Syd's idea would use the built-in signal generating capabilities of the Adam, as used on the DDP drives, but would need some kind of hardware to control the VCR. He has envisioned a mechanical gizmo with little fingers to push the VCR's various buttons. I think this VCR proposal is very preliminary so far.
Neil
24-Jul-89 05:19:03
Sb: #Enchanced video coming
Fm: Neil Wick 71056,613
To: All 71056,613 (X)
The Adam-Image-Maker (AIM) video
expansion module was announced by Gary
Bowser of Oasis Pensive Abacutors (OPA)
at Saturday's meeting of MTAG. Gary
has been selling products for the TI
99/4A computer which uses the same
video chip as the Adam. The AIM is
based on the V9938 chip which is
software-compatible with the Adam's
TMS9928 chip, but offer's many enhanced
capabilities. I've seen it running on
the TI computer myself, and it's really
quite impressive, especially for
graphics. The unit will be an
"expansion module" that just hooks onto
the right side of the Adam. There's
nothing to take apart. Installation
should be very simple.
There's not even a prototype running
on an Adam yet, but the following is
promised:
Software for CP/M and Smartwriter to
allow 80 column text!
Complete assembly language and
SmartBASIC programming guide
128K of video RAM (versus present 16K),
expandable to 192K
RGB, composite, and TV output
Mouse port with mouse included
256 by 192/212 graphics mode with each
pixels being any of 256 colours!
512 bu 192/212 graphics mode. Pixels
can be any of 16 colours chosen from
the 256 in the pallette
32 sprites with up to 8 per horizontal
line
plus all of your present software will
work as normal. Cost will be around
$300 Canadian (about $255 US) (maybe
even less). Expected availability is
mid-November, though you should see it
at Adam_Con.
25-Jul-89 19:09:29
Sb: FLASH! DISK DRIVES!!!
Fm: Patricia Herrington 76537,1271
To: ALL
IF YOU ARE AT ALL INTERESTED IN DISK DRIVES AT
pleasecontact me at once. It looks as though we will be able to offer them for about $50 less than you'd expect to pay at the convention, if you have preordered them. On the other hand, if enough people are interested we may even be able to have them delivered; it all depends on the kind of response we get. I promise you I will be ordering a drive for my third computer, no matter how few people respond, but I sure would like to see everyone who wants a disk drive get one. USERS GROUPS, TAKE NOTE!!!!!
ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM THE AKRON BBS AND ADAM BBS NETWORK
*********************************
7/30/89
AKRON ADAM USERS GROUP BBS
****************************************************************
* HOT STUFF *
****************************************************************
* NATIONAL ADAM BBS USER'S GROUP PROPOSAL *
*--------------------------------------------------------------*
There has been a proposal made to tie all the known ADAM run Bulleitin Board Systems together to form a national or even an international Adam User's Group! Members of local user's groups with access to their own BBS would be linked to similar groups around the USA and CANADA. By sharing the various messages and bulletins as well as PD software, etc. with each other, no ADAM owner would ever find help beyond his reach. By asking a question on one BBS, you would be able to receive help from just about ANYWHERE in a short space of time! Late braking news on new hardware or software, using or installing it, etc. would always be close at hand! Both CP/M (AAUG Type) and EOS (ALink Type) systems could be supported. Currently, Bob Blair of the AWAUG User's Group is busy organizing things from his end as a central clearing house, so to speak, for the new proposal. You can contact Bob Blair via his own BBS (a sister to THIS one!) at 1-703-922-5497. Please let us know if this sounds like an idea that you would help support. You can leave us feedback either here, on Bob's BBS or on Larry Overman's BBS at 1-714-775-1603.
****************************** * AKRON ADAM BBS * * 216-882-4720 * *****************************
A7953 19:59 Aug-03-1989
TO: ALL
FROM: Big John (SYSOP) 111
SUBJ: NATIONAL NET
I read the messages on teh
CIS message base of a few
days ago. Let me make one
thing perfectly clear. I
AM NEUTRAL on the use of
any particular pice of BBS
software. I have offered
people an incentive to run
compatible software to
this to make it easier.
Thanks BJ
A7955 18:58 Aug-04-1989
TO: Alan Neely
FROM: Big John (SYSOP) 111
SUBJ: CIS # 81348
I am offering a free clockboard to "anyone who will run an AKRON compatible board " for one year. I do this only becuase we are implementing software to allow the merging of other boards messages so that they can be read as messages and not as an ASCII file. We still intend to use the A-NET messages in the NET libraries, though we we will have to make them into files that can be typed. BJ
A7963 17:02 Aug-05-1989
TO: ALL
FROM: Big John (SYSOP) 111
SUBJ: TDOS
Did you know that TDOS is
not PD nor is it for sale.
You may not buy or sell
it nor may you distribute
it on a BBS. If someone
is selling it, we would
like to know. Thanks
BJ
A7964 20:14 Aug-05-1989
TO: All
FROM: Larry D. Overmnan Sr SUBJ: NET
Ihave been getting some
very good responce so far
on this NET and I do hope
it continues to increase
in a short amount of
time...Thanks to everyone
whoo has participated so
far in this
endeavor.............
A7983 22:03 Aug-08-1989
TO: Anyone interested
FROM: Robert Leach 259
SUBJ: R80 game boards
On a recent order to
Jameco Electronic, I
noticed that they had
Coleco game boards for
$3.00. I ordered one. It
looked brand new and
turned out to be a working
R80. It tested out fine
on EOS and 80CVU TDOS.
There was some
interference on my color
monitor in 40 columns but
a perfect picture on the
80CVU. So I ordered 4
more to find out if it was
a fluke. One appeared new
and the others either had
identical prototype work
or repairs made to them.
Two of them were R80s that
worked as good as the
first and one did not have
40 col video but worked
fine with the 80CVU. The
forth board in the secord
order had a broken reset
switch. Overall seems like
cheap backup. Jameco's
phone# is (415)562-8097
and they require a minimum
$20.00 order. The person
I ordered from said they
had over 700 boards at
that time. They seem
pretty nice and probably
would honor a request to
send out the unrepaired
boards if they have them.
Couldn't hurt to ask.
A7989 15:02 Aug-09-1989
TO: ALL
FROM: Big John (SYSOP) 111
SUBJ: SCANNER
I need to know if there is
enough interest in a hand
held optical scanner to
warrant developement of
one. My approach will be
to interface a hand held
PC type scanner to the
ADAM. This will save any
hassels with trying to
install something on your
printer when your printer
should really be available
to print. IF there is the
interest, I would like ot
do this one. It would be
done as the hard drive is.
At user group cost only.
(You will have to buy the
scanner yourself, and we
will supply the interface
and the software). BJ
FROM THE AKRON BBS:
Sep-02-1989
TO: All
FROM: Ron Collins (SYSOP)
SUBJ: Old Avatex 1200
For those of you using the original old Avatex 1200 modem (I still use one and get great service from it!), if you want to use ZMP properly, you may have to change the modem init string. The Avatex 1200 is the one with the 3 buttons on the front that allow you to turn it on or off, set the baud rate and switch from data to voice. When using ZMP on my modem, I couldn't get it to dial. I could see the lights flicker, but it just wouldn't "sieze" the phone line. To solve that problem, I took a look at the string used in IMP for modems requiring verbose access. I installed then new string using the CONFIG option within the ZMP program. The new string for you to use is ATE1Q0V1X1H0! I can now use it with any computer and have no problems at all. IF you've been having the same problem, give it a try. * Ron *
A Sep-01-1989
FROM: Rick Lefko
SUBJ: MEMORY EXPANDERS
BJ: I was asked if you have any plans to release the "HOW- TO" make
a 256K memeory expander at home book! Maybe you have??? How about
it?? Do you have bare boards and other necessary goodies to make
them?? . I will relay your answer! . Thanks,
Rick
Sep-01-1989
TO: Rick Lefko
FROM: Big John (SYSOP)
SUBJ: DO IT YOURSELF
I am going to sell blank boards for everything that I ever built at cost to users groups. The only catch is that I must have orders ( prepaid ) for 100 of each before I can order them. A 256K will cost about 50 dollars at todays memory prices, a PIA2 about 5 dollars and a serial card a little over 10 bux. BJ
APPLE TO ADAM CONVERSION CHART
This chart taken from Adam Resource Directory, Second Edition. Submitted to them Courtesy of NIAD Uploaded to the TRADING POST, for your convience By: H Mason Jr. Note On Adam & Apple when 2 address es occure the first is Low value & the second is High value.
APPLE/ADAM Equivalents
APPLE ============== ADAM
32 Left Edge 71202 (1)
33 Line Width 17199 (30)
34 Top Edge 71201 (0)
35 Bottom Edge 17198 (23)
36 Cursor Horz (col) 17002 or
position 0
37 Cousor Vert (row) 17001 or
v pos (0)
48 Lores color 18633 GR
window
50 Text format
83 invse 127 flash use
255 normal commands
51 Promt Character 1146
105-106 Lowmem pointer 16095/16096
107-108 Start array spa ------
109-110 End array space ------
111-112 Start strng spa 16111/16112
113-114 End string spac 16115/16116
115-116 Himem pointer 16089/16090
APPLE ============== ADAM
CALLS
FOR THE ADAM
CALL # COMMAND
CALL 6047 END CALL 6159 RUN CALL 6336 TRACE CALL 6341 NOTRACE CALL 6356 NEW CALL 6378 STOP COMMAND CALL 6387 CONTinue CALL 8109 CLEAR ERROR (CLRERR) CALL 8141 CLEAR CALL 8313 RESUME CALL 8477 RETURN CALL 8493 POP CALL 9482 RESTORE CALL 11050 FLASH CALL 11055 INVERSE CALL 11060 NORMAL CALL 11065 TEXT CALL 11070 GR CALL 11075 HGR CALL 11080 HGR2 CALL 11090 HOME CALL 12137 GET$ CALL 17008 TEXT CALL 19504- 19526 PRINTS CHARACTERS CALL 19520 HOMES CURSOR W/O CLEARING SCREEN CALL 19526 END PAGE (symbol) CALL 19529 STOP CALL 19550 BREAK CALL 63585 WARM BOOT CALL 64560 TYPEWRITER CALL 64885 LAST KEY PRESSED
END OF CALLS
Uploaded by H Mason Jr. from the 1986 ADAM RESOURCE DIRECTORY, Second Edition.
CALL # COMMAND
CALL 6047 END CALL 6159 RUN CA
10REM ADAM WAR BASIC PROGRAM 20REM Load basic, then run AWARPROG 30REM PD Program by Barry Wilson 40REM Dedicated to those who have given their 50REM lives in the Adam Wars. 60? " FROM THE CREATOR OF EZ-RUMOR COMES A NEW EXCITING ADAM PROGRAM ":? 70? " ADAM WARS, THE GAME":? 80GOSUB 6000 95 ee=0: sc=0 100? " THE ADAM WARS............":?:? 110? " A series of battles which pitted hardware producers against hardware producers.":?120? " Software producers against software producers. BBSs of one type against those of another type........":? 130? " National newsletters against local newsletters, BBSs against newsletters........":?
140? " programmer against other programmers and EVERYONE AGAINST ADAM...........":?:? 150GOSUB 6000 160? " THE ADAM WARS DID NO GOOD, THEY ONLY DID HARM TO ADAM. They were mean, cruel and evil. ":GOSUB 6000
170? " KNOWING ALL OF THIS DO YOU WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME, KNOWING IT WILL ONLY HURT ADAM ?????":?:? 180GOSUB 5000 190INPUT "Y(es) OR N(o) ----->"; an$ 195IF ee>1 THEN sc=sc+1:GOTO 220 205IF an$="Y" THEN sc=sc+10:GOTO 230 207IF an$="y" THEN sc=sc+8:GOTO 230 209IF an$<>"Y" THEN sc=sc+1:GOTO 210 210 ee=ee+1:GOTO 100 220? " COME ON, PLAY THE GAME EVEN IF IT HURTS ADAM, EVERYONE ELSE DOES.":?
230? " GOOD !! I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU WISH To RUN ADAM PROGRAMMERS, SUPPLIERS, HARDWARE PRODUCERS":? 240? " BBSs, AUGS, NEWSLETTERS, ETC. OUT OF BUSINESS. LETS SEE IF WE CAN DO WHAT COLECO FAILED TO DO":?
250? " LET'S RUN ADAM INTO THE GROUND & OUT OF EXISTENCE.":?:GOSUB 6000 260? " DO YOU WANT TO BE ......... l. HARDWARE PRODUCER 2. SOFTWARE PROGRAMMER 3. BBS SYSOP"
270? " 4. NEWSLETTER EDITOR 5. ADAM OWNER 6. AUG OFFICER ??????" 280GOSUB 7000 290IF a=1 THEN sc=sc+5: a$="HARDWARE PRODUCER":GOTO 340 295IF a=2 THEN sc=sc+5: a$="SOFTWARE PROGRAMMER":GOTO 340 300IF a=3 THEN sc=sc+6: a$="BBS SYSOP ":GOTO 340 305IF a=4 THEN sc=sc+9: a$="NEWSLETTER EDITOR":GOTO 340 310IF a=5 THEN sc=sc+9: a$="ADAM OWNER":GOTO 340 315IF a=6 THEN sc=sc+8: a$="AUG OFFICER":GOTO 340 320GOSUB 8000:GOTO 260 340?:? " WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST ????? l. CHECK THE FACTS 2. TRY TO TALK TO YOUR FOE 3. SPREAD LIES "
350? " 4. SPREAD RUMORS 5. TELL THE TRUTH 6. STEAL FOE'S SECRETS ????":?:GOSUB 7000 360IF a=1 THEN sc=sc-5 365IF a=2 THEN sc=sc-8 370IF a=3 THEN sc=sc+6 375IF a=4 THEN sc=sc+4 380IF a=5 THEN sc=sc-9 385IF a=6 THEN sc=sc+9 390IF a>6 THEN GOSUB 8000:GOTO 340 400?:? " HOW WIDESPREAD IS THE WAR AREA ??? l. BBS only 2. Newsletters"
405? " 3. Word of mouth 4. Letters 5. ALL of the above ?????":?:GOSUB 7000 410IF a=1 THEN sc=sc+5 415IF a=2 THEN sc=sc+4 420IF a=3 THEN sc=sc+3 425IF a=4 THEN sc=sc+6 430IF a=5 THEN sc=sc+12 435IF a>5 THEN GOSUB 8000:GOTO 400 440?:? " GOOD BEGINNING. YOUR SCORE AT THIS POINT IS "; sc:? 450? " NOW WHO DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT l. HARDWARE PRODUCER 2. SOFTWARE PROGRAMMER 3. BBS SYSOP"
460? " 4. NEWSLETTER EDITOR 5. AUG OFFICER ??????":?:GOSUB 7000 470IF a=1 THEN b$="HARDWARE PRODUCER" 475IF a=2 THEN b$="SOFTWARE PROGRAMMER" 480IF a=3 THEN b$="BBS SYSOP " 485IF a=4 THEN b$="NEWSLETTER EDITOR " 490IF a=5 THEN b$="AUG OFFICER " 493IF a>5 THEN GOSUB 8000:GOTO 450 495 ff=0 500?:?:?:GOSUB 9000 510IF RND(-sc)>.5 THEN ? b$:?:? " Attacks you ":?:GOTO 530: sc=sc+2 520? " YOU attack ":?:? b$:?: sc=sc+6 530GOSUB 5000 540GOSUB 9000:IF rnd>.5 THEN ? " YOU spread lies about ":?:? b$: sc=sc+9:GOTO 558
550? b$:?:? " Calls you a crook & liar ": sc=sc+3 553? 558GOSUB 5000 560GOSUB 9000:IF rnd>.5 THEN ? " YOU steal ideas from ":?:? b$: sc=sc+8:GOTO 575
570? b$:?:? " pirates your ideas": sc=sc+6 573?:GOSUB 5000 575?:GOSUB 5000 580GOSUB 9000:IF rnd<.5 THEN ? " YOU try to steal Adamites from ":?:? b$: sc=sc+7:GOTO 600
590? b$:? " spreads rumors on BBS about YOU ": sc=sc+6 600GOSUB 5000:?:? " YOUR SCORE AT THIS POINT IS":? sc:? 610GOSUB 9000:IF rnd<.5 THEN ? " YOU WANT TO QUIT FIGHTING BUT CONTINUE ANYWAY DUMB!":?:?:GOTO 630
620? b$:?:? " WANTS TO QUIT FIGHTING BUT DOESN'T WANT TO LOOK SILLY SO THE FIGHT GOES ON ":? 630GOSUB 5000 635IF ff>2 THEN GOTO 650 640GOSUB 9000:IF rnd>.55 THEN ff=ff+1:GOTO 500 645IF ff<1 THEN GOTO 500 650?:?:GOSUB 9000 660IF rnd>.5 THEN ? " YOU DEFEAT ":?:? b$:?:? b$:?:? " GOES OUT OF BUSINESS ":GOTO 700
670? b$:?:? " DEFEATS YOU, YOU QUIT ADAM ":?:GOSUB 5000 700?:? " BUT REALLY WHO WON & LOST ?":?:? " ADAM and ALL ADAMITES ARE THE REAL LOSERS.":?
705GOSUB 5000 710? " YOUR SCORE WAS "; sc 720? " ADAMS SCORE WAS ZERO AND SO WAS THAT OF ALL ADAMITES.":GOSUB 5000 730?:? " WHEN THERE ARE ADAM WARS, WE ALL LOSE, THERE ARE REALLY NO WINNERS":?:GOSUB 5000
740?:? " DO YOU WANT TO PLAY ADAM WARS AGAIN ????? IF SO PRESS D FOR DUMB OR S FOR STUPID." 741?:? " OR PRESS N IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO CONTINUE & THINK THE ADAM WARS HAVE GONE ON LONG ENOUGH.":?
742?:INPUT "S, D or N & return----->"; q$ 743IF q$="N" OR q$="n" THEN GOTO 1000 750?:GOSUB 5000 760? " DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT ADAM WOULD ALLOW YOU TO PLAY ADAM WARS AGAIN.....":GOSUB 5000
770TEXT:? "DUMB":? " DUMB ":FOR x=1 TO 1000:NEXT x 780GR 785TEXT:? "STUPID":? " STUPID ":FOR x=1 TO 1000:NEXT x 790GR 795GOTO 770 800END 1000 fin=0 1001?:? " THANK GOD SOMEONE HAS SOME COMMON SENSE. MAYBE ADAM WILL SURVIVE AFTER ALL"
1010?:?:?: fin=fin+1 1013IF fin>3 THEN GOTO 1025 1015FOR x=1 TO 2000:NEXT x:HOME:GOTO 1001 1025?:?:? " THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF GOOD ADAMITES LIKE YOURSELF ADAM WILL LIVE LONG & PROSPER !!"
1030END 5000? "------------------------------":FOR x=1 TO 5000:NEXT x:?:RETURN 6000?:? " PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE:"; :GET k$:HOME:RETURN 7000?:INPUT "Press number & return ----->"; a:RETURN 8000? " WRONG NUMBER PRESSED...... SELECT AGAIN":? 8010GOSUB 6000:RETURN 9000 rnd=RND(-sc) 9010RETURN
With all the Adam Wars that go on endlessly, continuously, inevitably (?), etc. I get confused.
Unless you follow and read ALL the newsletters and logon ALL the BBSs, you may miss a few here or there. Or maybe not find out about them until they are half-way finished etc.
Also there are so many that it does tend to get confusing. Now was the Hardware Wars, the lst, 4th or (hopefully) last of the Adam Wars ???
I don't know and feel there are many other Adamites also confused by this issue. Well I have some suggestions to help remedy this confusion.
They are listed in order in which I would like to see them solved.
l. Stop the Adam Wars. (I know it will give a lot of people a lot of free time to work on improving Adam but sometimes you just must sacrifice. ).
2. Hire a Historian. We need someone professional, who is used to keeping track of this kind of stuff. That way we can always refer to the historian's papers and know who is fight whom, when, where and why (except the why is never really clear).
3. Develope a standard nomenclature for these Wars. Some thing like the World Wars. We could have Adam Wars III, or Adam Software Wars II, something like that. It would be easy then to tell if you were getting infor on the current Adam war, just look at the number.
I know some romantics would like us to stick with names like the French & Indian War, etc. Names which give more of the flavor of the war. I am not really against this as Adam Hardware War VI may not really bring to mind exactly who fought it, etc. But some standard system of naming these wars is required.
4. A peace keeping force. We could get armed Adamites from several AUGS who would go into trouble spots and keep the combatants apart, killing them if necessary to preserve the peace. It remains me of an old favor of mine. Bring peace to the Adam World, Kill a Pirate a day For Adam. Only you can prevent Piracy.
5. So as to have a minimum disruption of the Adam world, let each side choose its own warrior to represent it. Then these two (or three if its a 3 sided war) would meet armed in a locked room and battle until only l lived. This would settle the Adam War with a minimum of blood shed.
I know you may have other thoughts on this matter but I feel we should end these wars once and forever and have given my possible solutions above.
Thinking it over I am not sure these are Really in the order I would like them. It seems like # 5 should be much higher up on the list. What do you think ?????????????????????
REMEMBER........ADAM WARS ARE ADAM'S WAY OF SAYING GOODBYE......
BARRY WILSON (ST.L.AUG, Adam News Network)
*************************************
TO: ALL
FROM: Big John 1
SUBJ: SCANNERS
Have orderd the first
scanner. TOny already has
one in hand and work is
beginning. THis will be a
PD offering when it is
done. And it will be hand
held as opposed to hanging
something on a printer
making it useless as a
printer until you remove
the thing. Minh Ta,
will send you specifics as
soon as I have some for
you... BJ
FROM THE AWAUG BBS.
P0 10:12 Aug-14-1989
TO: Barry Wilson
FROM: Bob Blair 3
SUBJ: NATIONAL BBS NETWORK
The ADAM Washington Area
User's Group is offering a
free AVATEX 1200HC to any
ADAM Users Group that
needs one (it must be used
on the BBS) and that will
operate a BBS and
participate in the
NATIONAL ADAM BBS
NETWORK. We don't care
what BBS system is used
(A-NET, AKRON or
whatever). We would prefer
that the BBS operate for a
7 day week, but it is not
required . I hope you
will spread the word. The
only caveat is that if the
BBS does not participate
as a part of the NET for a
full year, it must be
returned, otherwise it's
theirs. Bob
Portions of the Barry Patch are being reprinted here for the benefit of those sharing certain very serious and grave concerns about the Adam Computer.
Contributions from Readers are welcomed, either by calling the BBS or by writing to ST.LAUG.
MODEM USES: I use my modem for only a few hours a day and got to thinking what the heck can you do with it the rest of the time.
Well others uses for the Modem became an ongoing project of the Barry Patch with the following results:
^AMODEM USES: l. Paper weight 2. Hang on belt as a fake pager for status. 3. To hammer nails (do carefully) 4. Defensively on nuisance callers, hit em with carrier tone. 5. To balance out your Adam set up. CPU on top of Printer on top of Drive # l on top of Drive #2, on top of power supply. Sometimes you need to wedge modem under it for balance.
6. Fishing sinker or weight (Ricki Gerlach) 7. Anchor (Ricki Gerlach) 8. Tape to window for fake burglar alarm. 9. Surf board for mice l0. Put wheels on it, skate board for mice. ll. In winter as sled for mice. l2. As a frisbee 13. As a base for baseball game. 14. Tie string on it & run in strong wind, A kite. 15. Raft for insects. 16. Landing carrier for insects. 17. Put stick under it, some cheese, mouse trap. 18. Put stick under it, some birdseed, bird trap. 19. Put stick under it, some software, Pirate trap. 20. Bug Killer (Keith Jefferson) 21. Wire to wall outlet, use as a hot plate. (Steve Majors) 22. Stick in back pocket, people will think you have a lot of money in your wallet. (Zonker)
23. Stick in front pocket, women will think .......... (Zonker) 24. Book Ends (Jay Bolton) 25. Decorate home in early Adam or early Computer. (Jay Bolton) 26. Hockey puck 27. Kick tee for foot ball. 28. Rattle for baby (especially if used for hammer lst). 29. trace squares in school. 30. For telecommunication (I know that's probably cheating). 31. Birth control. Keep wedged tightly between knees, do not open knees enough to let it drop.
32. Balance it on your head, helps give you good posture. 33. Rub two together to start fire. 34. Women can put under blouse, men think my they are big & square? . 35. Men put in shorts as athletic protector. 36. As a discus. 37. Put in shoe to make you taller.
By BARRY (TC11) Do you recieve your disks folded, bent, stapled &/or mutilated after going thru the mail system. I DO. I have some sug gestions that I have tried to over come this problem. A) DO NOT mark fragile or do not bend a s this seems to be waiving a red flag a t a bull (headed postal worker) who wil l meet the challenge each time. B) Try the decoy method. Mail an empty envelope (of disk size) mark it fragile ,magnetic media, do not x-ray, do not b end. Mail your disk in a plain envelop at the same time. The postal employee will spend so much time trying to find an x-ray machine & magentic to use on t he decoy, that the real disk will slip by him. WHAT DO YOU DO ????? .
By BARRY (TC11) IN RESPONDING TO THIS POST PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A FAMILY BOARD & Y OUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE DELICATELY WORDE D SO AS NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE. I received a letter from an Adamite,who I will only identify as a prominent hi gh ranking offical in the Busch Cabine t to protect his reputution. Anyway he asked how he could tell the sex of his modem. I did not ask him why he wanted to know & I think we might pass this ov er in our responses, we probably really dont want to know why he is interested. I DONT KNOW HOW TO TELL THE SEX OF THE MODEM, All I know is that mine are app arently ALL the SAME sex as I have neve r found little modems around in the day time (or maybe they're sterile) or may be, well who knows. CAN SOMEONE HELP OU T ON THIS ONE ?????
-- RESPONSE #1 -- By SHAMAN (UID#1) Uh, Barry, you have to take the covers off the, uh, mode(u)ms for absolute verification of gender. Which reminds me that there are gender menders for those who might like to have a nice fast lady modem. SHA
-- RESPONSE #2 -- By BARRY (UID#11) AL, I have a SHY modem, it won't let me take its cover off ??? I have tried l iquor, sweet talk, gifts, candy & flowe rs but am having no luck.
Maybe that means its a male modem and t herefore not interested in me
OR
Maybe it is a femal modem and I am NOT attractive to it. Who knows. Where is Dr. Ruth when you need her.
-- RESPONSE #3 -- By DUFFY (UID#6)
To tell the gender of a modem place a s crewdriver on the side of the modem wit h the modem standing on its other side tape gently until modem comes apart and if the wires inside are blue then its a male BUT if the wires are pink then o f course its a female!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- RESPONSE #5 -- By BARRY (UID#11)
REMEMBERING THAT THIS IS A FAMILY TYPE BOARD, KEEP YOUR RESPONSE PROPER.
Do you know how to use a modem as a birth control device ??????
Details next week OR add your own thoughts now.
-- RESPONSE #6 -- By KEITH (UID#7) Yes in CP/M there is a program called T rojan.COM which should be used before i ntroduce your modem to other strange mo dems.
Oh well I tried... Keith (Moti) -- RESPONSE #7 -- By SHAMAN (UID#1) On Sat Jul 29 1989 12:09 PM
Very personally, uh, I prefer SPARTA.COM But its not a PD program so don't ask me to share. SHAMAN
-- RESPONSE #8 -- By BARRY (UID#11) Modem use as birth control device. Possibly might even get approval of the Church. Place modem between knees, keep knees t ightly together to hold modem in place. DO NOT allow knees to open far enough for mode to fall from between them. If female member of pair will do this t he modem should function properly as a birth control device.
By BARRY (TC11) Jim Duffy & myself have been having a f riendly argument or discussion on the b est way to go 1200 baud. Jim seems to
feel putting 4 300 Baud adamlink modems (one in each expansion port & one in si side port) is the way to go. I feel tha t putting 300 Baud SOFTWARE in each of
2 disks drives & each of 2 tape drives is the proper way to go. Can any of you technical people out the re give us some help on this ??????????
1200 baud or bust
-- RESPONSE #2 -- By KEITH (UID#7) On Sat Jul 29 1989 1:39 AM
The speed of the modems depends on the sneakers it wears. The sneakers are ne ever seen because when not in use they are retracted as a turtle does its body Go to the nearest computer dealer and buy 1200baud MODEM sneakers. Since it s quite difficult to get into the MODEM and put on the new sneakers most people just buy a new one with 1200 baud sneak ers already being worn. Am I getting better?
Keith (MOTI)
Using MADAM7
-- RESPONSE #3 -- By BARRY (UID#11)
Are you on your 7th Madam or is tha the 7th house you are visiting. ALso how come you dont share your information & addresses wit the rest of us guys ???
Jerome Hess, 1st CPM column from July MOAUG:
Welcome one welcome all to the first BIOS CALL!!
Hi, I'm Jerome Hess and I'm your new CP/M librarian. I'll not waste the space with an introduction in hopes that over the next few months we'll get to know a lot about each other.
Instead I'm going to just jump right in and start off by glossing over the CP/M starter pack that I have put together. On this Disk (or DDP) are 18 of the PD utilities that I think that everyone should have in order to get comfortable with CP/M. Over the next several articles I will be going in depth about each of the programs as well as answering any questions that might arise. The starter pack is yours for the asking; all that is required is that you supply me with a SYSGENED CP/M DDP or Disk that will show me that you have a legitimate copy of CP/M and that I won't be breaking any laws by handing out the revised BIOS.
Enough of that, on with this show.
FILE EXTENSIONS - and how they are used.
On this "pack" you will notice 4 different file extensions (the 3 letters that come after the "." in the file name), .DZC , .COM , .4Z , .LBR . These extensions are short indicators of what kind of files these may be. The .COM files are all "command" files that may be "run" by merely typing in the first part of the file name ; ie: TRUE30 <return> . This will load and run the file from the drive that is indicated.
Secondly there are .LBR files. These are actually groups of files that have been arranged together in a "library" so as to save space and make storage more efficient. Usually all the files in a single "library" are related. To access these files you must use NULU.COM. For those of you who can't wait for the article on NULU I'll give you this: You must put a dash "-" before all of the one-letter commands and -m or -h will give you the command screen.
Lastly there are the .DZC files. These are Documentation files for programs or they may be information files. The "Z" in the second position indicates that these files have been "crunched" using CRUNCH.COM. As they are, they are only good for saving space, but by using UNCR20.COM you can turn them back into completely readable text files.
The other file extension present is 4Z and that is really just another crunched file. It's not a CP/M program, but a SmartBASIC program; but I think that it is such a great program that everyone ought to have a copy. Once you've uncrunched it, use CPMADAM.COM to transfer it to an EOS tape and run it from there.
On to the STARTER PACK! The first thing that you will notice when you boot up this pack is that the LOG-ON screen is different from the original. This can be changed using CONFIG.COM, but since I don't have a color monitor I just left it the way it was. The Smartkeys along the bottom are missing, but if you really like them, they may be toggled back by using SHIFT-UNDO in sequence. Several other modifications are that a DIR will show files in single column and that the size of each file as well as the space used and remaining are displayed. These are just a few of the mods, for more info, uncrunch ADAMNEW.DZC and print it out. If you do this please disregard the INSTALLATION instructions for the new CCP, as you already have it installed on your STARTER PACK.
Upon Boot-up I would STRONGLY encourage EVERYONE (who doesn't have an 80 column display) to use TRUE30.COM. True30 is a utility that allows ADAM CP/M to use a 30 column display instead of the "moving window" format that it originates in. Merely type TRUE30 <return> and when it asks if you would like the 80 columns changed, just hit the "y" key, and it will implement the change for you. Any other key will result in the program aborting. Next there's UNCR20.COM, that will allow you to get at all those .*Z* files. This is a very easy program to use and I'll even step-by-step an example for you: Let's get at ADAMNEW.DZC. When using UNCR20 always make sure that you have twice as much free space as the file is when it's crunched. For example ADAMNEW.DZC is 3k so we need at least 6k of free space on the DDP or disk that we are going to use. Once that is established type (at the command line) UNCR20 ADAMNEW.DZC <return>. Uncr20 will now go to work uncrunching the file and putting it into a useable form. The author of UNCR20 was thoughtful enough to give us a display to show us that the program is actually doing something, and for those larger files, something to look at while it's working.
Once the program is uncrunched, you may "TYPE" the file to read it on the screen (TYPE ADAMNEW.DOC) or you may use one of the enhanced functions called LIST. List will send whatever file follows to the printer (LIST ADAMNEW.DOC).
Well, I think that should get everyone started. The best suggestion that I can make for you is to "backup" your STARTER PACK and then just start running the different programs. The programs are PD, so they're free. And there really isn't too much harm you could do with what is here (except for ABP25.COM - PLEASE read those Docs first!) And if you do make a mistake you can always get another one!
I realize that this first column is rather disjointed, but I want to make sure that if anyone who has the pack already needs any questions answered then they can ask at the next meeting. If you would like a copy of the STARTER PACK, just bring a ED DDP or DISK to the next meeting, or send one to me with adequate return postage (college students are inherently poor) and I'll get it out to you. If, on the other hand, there are specific programs that you need or questions you'd like answered, drop me a line :
Jerome Hess P.O. Box 678203 Orlando, Fl. 32867
Or leave a message on the MIDAS touch ADAM ECHO (which was procured for us by prospective member Richard MEIZLIK:) (407) 648-1133 648-1133
Welcome to the second installment of BIOS CALL, your most up-to-date (?) CP/M source! Before launching into yet another action-packed column, I'd like to propose an idea that may help us to expand our public domain libraries. Over the past few weeks I've received several disks and DDPs in trade for the starter pak. First let me say - GREAT! I'm glad that the interest has started to show. Now here's my proposal. For everyone who sends a disk of DDP in for the pak, why not load it down with YOUR favorite PD programs! They don't have to be CP/M. EOS, RLE, Clip Art, maybe even just some information text files that you've picked up somewhere. Even if you're REAL SURE evrybody MUST already have a copy of the program, send it anyway! There might be people out there who are looking for just that file and haven't been able to find it! Chances are if you like it, then someone else will, too. Now back to your regularly scheduled column! Last month we discussed (among other things) the file compression technique known as crunching, which utilizes the file extension .*Z*. This month I'd like to tell you about one of the most popular IBM file compression techniques that is now available for the ADAM! It's called ARCing. The ARC or PKXARC operates in a very similar way as crunch, but works 15 to 20% more efficiently. The method that ARC uses is much too involved to go into in an article as brief as this, but I will say that the ARC format is used in several files that have been ARCed into a single file with an .ARC extension. This method will allow the easy transfer of several files at one time, and it will save file storage space as well. Before I go any further, let me point out that files from an IBM that have been ARCed will still NOT OPERATE in CP/M. But if the files are from an IBM that have been made to run under CP/M, or if they are CP/M files, or if they are text files that have been ARCed to save space, then yu can use UNARC1.COM to decompress them and take a look at them! On your starter pak, you'll find a program called UNARC1.COM. This is the utility that has been designed for use in CP/M to "UNARC", or extract, the files in an archive. There are two methods to unarc a file. If you know the name of the file that you'd like to extract then your format would be:
UNARC1 A:FILE.ARC B:FILE.EXT
Where A: is the drive that the archive is on, and B: is the drive that you want the extracted file to go to (they could be the same drive.) FILE.ARC is the name of the file as it exists in the archive; FILE.EXT is the name you want to give the unarf it was a warm boot or a cold boot. To execute STAT. COM in the simplest form you will type this:
A>STAT <CR>
The response might look something like this:
A: R/W, Space: 105K
This tells us that the disc on the A:Drive is a read and write disk and that the disc has 105 Kilobytes of available space remaining on the disc. A disc can be designated as a Read Only disc which means that you will be unable to write anything to that disc. This is the same kind of protection afforded to a disc with a write protect tab. STAT.COM is the utility program that enables you to change the status of a disc to read only (and back again). This information obtained above is not especially overwhelming. It tells nothing about the files on the disc.
You can use STAT.COM to give the status of a disc (or DDP) on another drive by typing this kind of command:
A>STAT B: <CR>
This will provide somewhat less information about the
B:disc. The resthe first method described.
Well, I think that should suffice for this month. As
always, you can write or call me:
Jerome Hess
PO Box 678203
Orlando, FL 32867
Phone: (407) 380-0457
CHAOS CORNER
By Aaron Hamlett
This month I want to talk about quite a few things, give you some facts, some opinions and hopefully an interesting column. To start off there were three articles on the ADAM in this month's "COMPUTER SHOPPER" which was two more than any other "classic computer". However the news was fairly routine and you can get much of the same here in your very own St. Louis Newsletter. (Unashamed plug)
If you have ever written a BASIC program that was very large, around 24 blocks long, you may have tried running the program only to get an "Out of memory error". You might use the FRE(0) command to find out how much memory you have left and discover that you have a few hundred bytes. How can it be out of memory if you have hundreds of bytes? Besides the space required to store the actual program, memory is needed when a variable is given a value. Real variables or "floating point variables" take ten bytes to store a number. If you just name a variable with letters it is classed as a real variable, even if the number actually assigned to the variable is an integer. If an integer is all that is needed and no division is used then use an integer variable. The percent sign (%) is used to declare an integer variable. An integer variable uses only five bytes of memory. The last variable type is the string variable and it is denoted with a dollar sign ($). These variables use at least five bytes and usually more since it requires one byte for each character in the string. One key item with variables, the variables K, K%, K$ are all different variables, whereas the variables KAT, KAY, and KANDY are really all the same variable since SmartBASIC only uses the first two letters of a variable name to keep track of it. If you have ever heard Grace Hopper, an early computer pioneer and officer in the U.S Navy, talk about computers you have probably been introduced to her nanosecond, and microsecond. Like most people, she had a hard time understanding such small units of time. Even experienced computer users who toss around these terms may not really understand how small these numbers are really. She pestered the engineers until they presented her with some concrete examples. What the engineers did was to calculate how far light traveled in a milli, micro and nanosecond. A millisecond is one thousandth of a second and in one millisecond a beam of light in space will travel 187 miles. A microsecond is one millionth of a second and a beam of light in space will travel 990 feet in that lenght of time. A nanosecond is one billionth of a second and this speedy beam of light will travel 12 inches every nanosecond. The engineers that Grace Hopper was working with cut some wire to illustrate the nanosecond and microsecond. The cost of 187 miles of wire was deemed to high just to be used as a demonstration for the millisecond, besides it would be very heavy. What does this have to do with the ADAM? Well, just think of that 990 feet of wire whenever you write a program and waste a microsecond. ly understand how small these numbers are really. She pestered the engineer
WELL HERE IS AN EASIER ONE ............... WHICH CAME FIRST THE PIRATE OR THE COPY PROTECTION ?????
Obviously the Pirate came first and as a result of the Pirate we now have increasing copy protection. Several programmers have recently written on this subject and I want to say that I feel they are justified and I support them strongly.
In the beginning there was NO copy protected programs with Adam but the wide spread piracy in the Adam world soon changed this.
You must keep in mind that with Adam there is a much smaller user base than with many of the other computers. Therefore piracy has a much greater effect as this small potential market is made even smaller by Piracy.
I know some pirates and I know some programmers and the programmers are right. They are entitled to a right on their investment of time.
The Adam programmers are not rich, large companies. They are indiviudal Adam owners such as yourselves who are spending late evenings working on Adam programs when you or I are relaxing, watching TV, etc.
They are entitled to something for the harsh words and dirty looks they get from the family for ignoring them to spend time on programs for you & I to make our Adam more usable for us.
MY POSITION AS STATED BEFORE REMAINS: KILL A PIRATE FOR ADAM, ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT PIRACY.
There is the back problem and that is a legitimate concern. I feel that programmers would be better off raising their prices a FEW dollars and automatically including a back up with each order. That should satisfy the back up problem.
I would like to see some of those complaining about the copy protection spend many hours of their time for no return and not be upset about it.
There apparently is an even worse problem than the individual pirate, some programmers feel that some retailers are making unauthorized copies and selling them. The greater majority of Adam retailers are fine and honorable people, serving the Adam world well. However some programmers do feel that some retailers are taking short cuts.
On the subject of copy protection, I had proposed in the past that the software programmers join together. That they internally mark each disk so they can tell what disk came from where etc. If you then suspect a certain retailer as being a pirate, write down the internal coding, and also put the internal coding info in a sealed envelope and mail to yourself, so it will get post marked and do NOT open when it comes back. That way, we can prove in the future what the coding was and the time at which we established that fact. Then for the retail cost of your item, I will have an Adamite, not well known or associated with myself or you, place an order for that item from that retailer. He would forward it UNOPENED to you or myself and we would open the item in the presence of some impartial witness. Then if the coding showed it to be a pirated version, we would be set to take some action.
The action could include: (l) my making an attorney demand on the retailer for a full accounting, payment of royalties, etc.; (2) publishing this info in the Adam world and trying to isolate this retailer, Adamites should boycott him & his products; &/or (3) refering the matter to the authorities. I would like to see the producers agree to work on such a plan or any other plan they may come up with.
I also had thought that each AUG and newsletter could make a condition of their membership or subscription that the subscriber-member, etc. agree not to condone, cooperate in or engage in piracy. Then if we caught an individual the groups &/or newsletters would be justified in dropping him as he broke his agreement with them and we could start isolating or cutting off these pirates from their Adam contacts. Again just a thought.
I have known both pirates and programmers and since working with several programmers on Adult items as well as general family stuff, realize what the programmers go thru for the very scant return.
I feel that if we solve the piracy problem, the copy protection problem will then disappear. To borrow that now old saying, IF OFFERED PIRATED SOFTWARE, JUST SAY NO.........
This is a problem which we can solve if we all work together on it. I suggest you read the articles of Ed Jenkins in August Adams Alive and Jim Walters in his Walters Software newsletter to also have the benefit of their thoughts on this matter.
REMEMBER............PIRACY IS ADAM'S WAY OF SAYING GOODBYE.......
Barry Wilson (ST.L.AUG; Adam News Network).
IT WAS DOWNLOADED FROM CIS.
For some technical reason beyond my understanding the fact that my disk drive goes at a different speed than my 1200 Baud modem, means that the modem must wait for the drive (or the buffer ) to get caught up but then it sometimes scrunches the letters together when it starts rapidly transmitting again. So if they are a few lines of jumbled or scrunched letters, I apologize.
A Short Concise Look at the Public Domain CP/M
Modem Programs for the Adam.
Rob Friedman (Syp Adam CP/M on CompuServe's
Computer Club)
As Adam users, we have the opportunity to use several modem progams at absolutely no cost to us whatsoever. These are referred to as Public Domain, which are available to everyone free of charge. All the progams that will be discussed here are used for downloading all files, binary or text. Binary files are those that are PMprograms, also known as .COM files, which these all are. There are 2 for the Adamlink Internal 300 baud modem, and 4 for use with a serial port <like the Orphanware serial port, or the SP-1> and 1200 baud external modem. The internal modem programs are Madam7, a variation of the original Modem and Modem7, and Mex114, which stands for Modem EXecutive, a very complete scripting program. The external programs are Mex114, Imp245, which stands for Improved Modem Program, Csexec, which iich simply means free in celtic>.
Together they give us a variy of programs to fill our needs. The brief descriptions and opinions <mine> follow below.
First starting with the first program I received and the earliest Adam CP/M program, Madam7 by John Moore. This is a very capable program for the internal modem. In fact, this was the program I used until I bought my serial port and Avatex1200 modem from Orphanware. The commands are simple, and are displayed by using M for Menu. It has a built in function-key display, and a built-in phone library. They are installed with the companion programs M7Lib, and M7fnk. The program uses xmodem transfers, using either CRC or Checksum for file checking, and uses 128-byte blocks. As we get it, it's ready to run on the Adamlink Modem. To recieve a file, you must first set up the system you are calling to send the file to you. Then, you must manually set your own system to receive the file by going into the COMMAND mode via a Cntrl-E, then uusi >R Filename.Typ transfer for you, then return you to Terminal Mode. A very easy program all around, and a very easy one to learn. High ratings.
Mex114, by Ron Fowler, on the other hand.. is a very complete program with features I haven't even used yet <both the internal and external versions>. Mex114 will work very similar to Madam7, or run a script file and be fully automated. The program comes with a help file <Mex.Hlp> and a large doc file. One unique feature is it's cloning ability. This, with the built-in phone library and function key, allows you to save the settings and phone numbers you had before. No external program needed. Mex also has a little known feature. It will do both 128-byte and 1K downloading <use the RK Filename.Typ version for 1K>. A special note here.. the external version of Mex <as set up for the Adam> currently doesnt let you switch baud rates. There are two versions available..a 300 baud, ana 1200 baud. Also.. the original version allowed you to use either Xmodem or CompuServe type-A a atmti,and a little bit faster. But,
about a 18 months ago, CompuServe changed their system, and Mex114 CIS-A no longer works. There is a commercial version called Mex+ that has the CIS-A, along with a few other features, but the PD version no longer functions. This has become another favorite of mine, basically, because the program works on most telecom systems, and BBS's without incident. Also.. you can set various features on the fly from the command mode. <I usually turn off the bell..since my terminal has a bell without a switch> This uses the same procedure as Madam7 to download with the exception of using Esc instead of Cntrl. One of the all time better programs.
Imp, by Irv Hoff, for the external modems only, is similar to Madam7 <which is based off Irv's Modem7> in commands, except you use ESC-E instead of Cnt-E to get into command mode <like Mex>. Imp is unique in that it is the only PD program that will autoselect 1K protocal for transmissions if the system is capable. If not.8-yeblcs.Ipalso has two companion programs for the phone library, and the function keys. And the Set Baud rate feature is implemented. Like Madam7, this is
a very easy program to run..since it has a built in Menu, and very few commands. <Unlike Mex which is chock full of options.. that one needs to constantly refer to the Doc or Help file for help> This is my prime modem program ,though occasionaly some BBS's wont download with it. If you have a problem downloading with Imp.. try Mex instead. A big hit in the CP/M world.
Now we come to the two different ones. Kermit, and Csexec. Both a little strange, Kermit is actually designed for use between mainframes and microcomputer and was developed at Columbia University. Kermit is not the frog, buts celtic for free. The current version is use is called the generic one, because it will work on almost any system. <I think I've seen a version of Kermit set up for the Internal modem, but i've never used it>. Kermit uses kermitprotocal, not Xmodemu..tisastandard in that several systems <mainframes> are using this
and Kermit will run on most systems. Of course it will download or upload only from systems running Kermit. <CompuServe recently implemented Kermit in addition to their own CIS-A, CIS-B, Xmodem, and ASCII <this is a nonchecking mode that can be used for basic or text files. This is what Adamlink 2 uses. Also known as file capture, or Xon/Xoff>. To use Kermit on an Adam with an external modem, you must first set the I/O port by using the command Set Port TTY. This will let Kermit work your modem. Then, use the Hayes commands for your modem . Ie: ATDT 2127771221 . The modem will operate and dial your numberTo recieve a file, you must let the system know the name you will use on your disk, then go into command mode, and use RECEIVE <no filename needed..you already told the system>. This is an interesting program because of it's usage to get progams from sources that don't use xmodem. Nice, after setting the port, but slow.
Casactually a commercial program from CompuServe that was put into Public Domain by CompuServe after they decided that CP/M was on the downswing. I came across it on CIS, and installed it for the Adam's serial port with a 1200 baud modem. There are no function keys, but it has a very, very simple script file feature that has to be seen. When I use Csexec, and have it use the script file, I hit the command to execute the default file, and when it's done..I've ended up in Computer Club. Nothing else to press. Csexec use CIS-B protocal which uses 512- byte blocks, which is faster than standard Xmodem on S. It as no function keys, or a phone library, but you canse up the different phone numbers in individual scrip files. To download with Csexec on ompuserve, all you do after requesting to use CIS- B protocal is to tell it the name for your disk, then Csexec does the rest. You don't have to do anything else. This protocal is also known as Vidtex-B. A definate plus when speed is of the essence.
What fow smytst f download times using all the external programs at 1200 baud on Compuserve's Computer Club. The system as I have, is an Adam module 3 with a ColecoVison <converted to direct video by myself from an old article by John Moore in ECN>, 2 ddp's, 2 disk drives, a PIA2 <Original!> and a Panasonic KXP1080i, a Orphanware Serial port <version 1> pluged into a used TRS-80 DT-1 terminal for an 80 col display, a second serial board with an Avatex1200 modem, and a 512K Orphanware Ramcard/memory expander. As most peoplon CIS know..I almost never run anything other than CP/M.
PROGRAM TESTED FOR DOWNLOADING TO RAMDRIVE:
WP-100.LBR showing as 37376 blocks online.
PROGRAM BLOCKS USED TIME TO DOWNLOAD MIN:SEC _______ ___________ ________________
IMP.COM 292 11:03 MEX12.COM 292 11:08 CSEXEC.COM 74.5 7:46 KERMIT.COM 564 18:53
Also, here is how Crosstalk version 3 larcmmrila progam that has it's own protocal, as well as Xmodem.
XTALK.COM 292 11:21
I hope this will give you a good overview of what is out there for us, and a brief comparison, so you can decidewhih is right for you.
Rob Friedman
East Rockaway, LI, NY
June 22 , 1988
<This was typed on my Adam using VDE265.COM..an excelnt PD editor>
SYSTEM MAINTANCE: as people CIS know..I almost never run anything other than CP/M.
PROGRAM TESTED FOR DOWNLOADING TO RAMDRIVE:
This article appears in September, '89 MOAUG newsletter under the title "Editorial Comment: DEJA VU." It was written by Patricia Herrington.
PIRACY. Oh, JOY. I can imagine some of you flinching out there. Presumably, you are all just as weary of this topic as I am. And I am good and tired of it. I thought we had said everything there was to say about the subject, and that we had pretty much settled on our policy. It's generally conceded by virtually everyone that the future of ADAM is best served by scrupulously avoiding illegal copying of software (or hardware, for that matter.) I had hoped never to have to talk about this again. . So, imagine my dismay when I opened the August issue of Computer Shopper and eagerly turned to the ADAM section, only to find an article which appears to justify the duplication of Coleco software!
. The article read, in part, "What about the software Coleco produced for the ADAM? What is its status since Coleco is in bankruptcy, and not expected to recover? ...This means that there is no software, and nowhere to buy any. ...Is it now public domain? No one seems to have the answer."
. Well, here is the answer: Coleco can NOT release that software into the public domain, because it does not own all the copyrights. The copyrights are owned by the people who developed the software: third parties such as Digital Research, Sierra Online, and all the other companies who worked with but not for Coleco; and by individual programmers. Rob Friedman, sysop of the ADAM CP/M forum on Compuserve, did extensive research into this area. He repeatedly telephoned Coleco representatives to see if there were any new developments. The answer was always the same: it can't be done. With the exception of SmartBASIC, to which you are entitled by virtue of having bought the system, and ADAMLINK II, none of the software is public domain and none of it will be public domain any time in the forseeable future.
. Most users' groups have taken the tack that the UNRELEASED programs are PD by virtue of the fact that nobody has ever sold them, and nobody can be hurt by our copying them. This is tenuous logic but MOAUG's policy is that, since those unreleased programs are sold as PD by the larger national groups, we small fish will consider them to be PD, too.
. But the software that was commercially released is still being sold. It IS available... from MANY sources! What's more, legal copies are available at a fraction of the cost we paid for them when Coleco was selling them. One of the most important functions of users' groups is to help put their members in touch with the vendors who sell it.
. I know many people are angry with Coleco for what they perceive as very shabby treatment of the customer. But who gets hurt when Coleco software is pirated? I can assure you it's not Coleco! No, the people who get hurt are the very people who are trying to keep ADAM alive; the people who were willing to take a chance by investing in Coleco's surplus merchandise. We NEED our vendors, and we can't afford to cut their throats. Even MOAUG bought a good deal of Coleco software from the department stores when they were closing it out, purely as a philanthropic gesture, so that ADAMites who need it in the future will be able to buy it. We have a lot of it left, all at closeout prices. And, of course, it comes with all the manuals. (What good is LOGO without the manual, anyway?)
. What will we do with our stockpile if people feel that it's okay to copy and distribute copyrighted software? We'll take a beating on it, that's what. Even at that, we ARE small fish. But there are vendors who have invested a great deal of money in the future of the ADAM; they deserve our gratitude and our patronage.
. If a few of the less popular games have become difficult to find, so what? The new games being produced by our own ADAM developers, such as ADDICTUS by Reedy Software, the new Pitman games, and scores of others, are widely available and in many cases superior to the Coleco originals. With the imminent release of GODOS, we are on the verge of a whole new generation of software. There is more software out there than ever before, and no end in sight. No one person could make full use of all that IS available. We do not need to stoop to piracy to keep ourselves afloat.
. The real danger is that, once we condone any kind of copyright infringement, it is all too easy to convince ourselves that it is okay to copy a new purchase to give to "just one friend." Such rationalization is easy to slip into, and is very hard to curb. The outcome would be that we would drive our most dedicated people out of business. We have already lost a few, including our best-known hardware developer, to piracy. Most ADAM developers operate on a shoestring. And most do it just because they enjoy working with ADAM and for ADAM owners. But this work is very time-consuming, and NOBODY can afford to devote that kind of time and energy without making a profit.
. I want this to be the last editorial I'll ever have to write on the subject. Please! I really am sick of it. But I just couldn't let that Computer Shopper article pass without comment. After all, Computer Shopper is the one source that carries ADAM news to people who have not yet learned to access our vast information network. Among CS' readers are people who don't even know how to buy ribbons and tapes, as Monte Neece is finding out. I devoutly hope that CS will, in the future, set a better example in the message it sends those people. It would be much more valuable to investigate sources of software, and pass that information on to the magazine's readers. The information is definitely out there; ADAMites are justly famous for their willingness to share such news. With more careful research, we could do a lot more for newcomers, and avoid leading them to dangerous conclusions. And that would be a lot more in keeping with the high quality we have learned to expect from the Computer Shopper ADAM columns!
--- PJH MOAUG 8/29/89
ect. Please! I really am sick of it. But I just couldn't let that Computer Shopper article pass without commen
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I promise you this... you are going to LOVE your new disk drive! Not only is it super-fast and convenient, but you are going to save a lot of money on media. I'm sure you've already thoroughly read your manual, but I'll bet you still have questions. What else do you need to know as a proud new disk drive owner? Well: . When you unpack your drive, SAVE THE STYROFOAM CONTAINER. It will be handy later when you need to transport your drive for some reason (like to ADAMCON!) And when you do have to move your drive, the experts advise you to insert a disk and close the drive so that the head doesn't rattle around and get damaged. (Please note: it is exactly the opposite for double-sided drives. With a DS drive, insert a disk but leave the latch OPEN so that the heads don't knock against each other.)
. Turn your disk drive on BEFORE you turn your computer on. This ensures that your drive is properly "logged on". Some software will not recognize the drive otherwise. SmartWRITER (the built- in word processor) is a prime example. If this is your SECOND disk drive, be aware that SmartWRITER will NOT recognize it. Ever. Coleco wasn't planning that far ahead in the beginning. But that's the only "program" you're likely to find which refuses to recognize your second drive, so take heart.
Always remove any disk in the drive before shutting it off. A neat trick to help you remember that your drive is occupied: Place a thin strip of fluorescent tape on the top ledge of the latch. You won't be able to see it when the drive is open, but it will be visible when the drive is closed, and will remind you to remove your disk. . Go down to Radio Shack and purchase a disk head cleaning kit. This usually consists of a special disk with cutouts exposing a material that you soak with some liquid (alcohol?) which is included in the kit. The kit is good for several cleanings. You don't need to clean your drive very often; depending how much you use it, every six months or so should suffice. If you get read errors, try cleaning your drive before you panic.
. If, when you insert a disk, the light comes on and you can hear it whirring but it doesn't stop, remove the disk. Chances are good that you put it in upside-down, or that it has not been formatted. You MUST format your disks before using them.
. Your drive comes with a formatting utility. It works, but I don't like it much. There are LOTS of format utilities out there, and most of them are far superior. Walters Brothers, Orphanware, and many others have some really superb disk management utilities. Backup+3.0 works fine for standard formatting. A VERY GOOD, and very cheap, choice is the PD contribution by Digital Express called "One Minute Formatter". If you just purchased a SECOND disk drive, you can't live without this utility, which can format disks in BOTH drives at once. It also gives you choices for directory size, etc.
. If, when you try to store something on a disk, you get a "CANNOT WRITE TO THIS FILE" message, check to see if you are trying to store to a disk with a write-protect tab on it. If so, remove the tab (or change disks.)
. QUIT SMOKING, or at least don't smoke around your disk drive. Big John loves to point out to me that my smoking is as bad for my electronic equipment as it is for my own health. I confess I haven't attained the state of grace required to follow this advice, but maybe you will.
. There are a few programs that do not translate well from datapack to disk, including some of Coleco's original software. Your SmartBASIC datapack, for example, will continue to search for the default tape drive as the number one drive. Some programs, such as Recipe Filer, won't work, period. To get a disk version of BASIC, you can use a number of tricks. If you have Backup+3.0, use the "copy BASIC" option. (This will give you a modified version of BASIC; just be aware that it's not "plain vanilla". There are now so many disk versions of BASIC that it's not worth trying to describe them all. We have Gregg Noblett's "Plain Vanilla BASIC for Disk" if you need it.
. For disk versions of such programs as Recipe Filer, check your catalogs for patches designed by Walter Brothers. Ron Collins has also converted many programs to disk, notably "Cabbage Patch Kids". Digital Express contributed a PD patch to convert Troll's Tale to disk. And there are many others. For the most part, though, you will have no trouble running your software from disk. Almost everything that's come out in recent years will run fine.
. Your drive does NOT require any kind of special disk. You can use any brand you like. Some people have favorites, but ADAM isn't fussy. They are called 5 1/4" floppy disks (or diskettes.) Most these days are DS/DD (Double sided, double density) but you can also use SS/DD (single sided, double density.) They DO have to be double density, but then, I don't think I've ever seen a single density disk! Disks are usually packaged in boxes of ten.
. Don't pay $10 for a box of disks. Most generic disks work like a charm. You can get them really cheap by mail, particularly if you order in quantity. Sometimes the quantity disks are packaged in plastic only (no individual boxes.) If this matters to you, check the ads carefully or ask the sales clerk. Almost all companies include disk sleeves (these may be paper or Tyvek) and color-coded labels in the price of the disks. Most also include write-protect tabs. All these items are sold separately (cheap.)
. I have ordered disks from about a dozen different companies. The larger suppliers of disks all have 800 numbers, they guarantee their products and their service, they accept charge cards, they have great prices, and they are prompt. I guess that's why they are large!) I do, however, avoid buying disks at flea markets. You never know where those disks came from or how they've been treated. Until you hook up with a mail order house, buy your disks at a computer store or a department store.
. If you've ever tried to back up a tape and accidentally switched the source and destination, you will appreciate the advantage of write-protect tabs for your disks. To prevent accidental erasure, all you have to do is put the tab (a small piece of paper with adhesive backing) over the square notch on the side of your disk. You can then read the disk, load it into memory, and copy it to another medium, but you cannot change the information on the disk itself. If you want to write to the disk, simply remove the tab.
. Disk organizers come in many sizes and shapes, from small plastic boxes to huge cabinets, and even notebook inserts. They are available locally, but the best price I've found is from MEI/Microcenter. MEI also has the very best prices on stiff cardboard disk mailers, preprinted with all the standard "handle with care" notices. These are a super buy at only nineteen cents each, in lots of fifty.
. Organizing your disks is easier with color-coding. Besides colored labels and containers, you can also get colored disks. The best source for these is DISKS & LABELS TO GO. They carry
* SEVENTEEN * colors, including yellow, red, orange, tan, pink, light and dark green, three shades of blue, lavender, two shades of grey, white, brown, maroon... even fuchsia! They are sold in lots of 20 (one color per lot) and cost just 41 cents each. . For years, people have been putting extra notches in their disks so that they can use the back side of the disk, too. In order to do this, you make a cardboard template or use an old disk as a pattern, and then cut out a second square notch on the second side of the disk. That's the easy part. The hard part is to take a hole punch and punch two more round holes close to the hub of the disk without ruining the disk. According to all the experts, YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THIS. But it's practically irresistible. One of the big advantages is that you can mail two disks for the price of one when you trade disks with a friend.
. It is also very handy to put two programs that belong together on the same disk. For example, I have PowerPAINT on the front of a disk and CLIPPER on the back; I also have SpritePOWER on the front of another with FontPOWER on the back. Obviously, you would not want to do this with any important files UNLESS YOU HAVE MADE BACKUPS. I've never had trouble, but you never know.
. On the other hand, this homemade notching business is time- consuming, and it's possible to destroy a disk if you are not careful with the hole punch. In short, it's a pain! I have better things to do with my time, so I stopped double- notching disks years ago. I used to have a source to buy them, but that source dried up. I have been trying to find more ever since. On a hunch, I checked with DISKS & LABELS TO GO, and guess what! That's right, you can buy them from that company for 42 cents apiece. (Ask for "flippy" disks.) It beats the tar out of doing it yourself, IF you are going to ignore the experts and do it anyway. The choice is yours... but at least you have a choice.
. Subscribe to COMPUTER SHOPPER, or pick it up at the checkout stand. Not only does it have some great ADAM columns by Paul Pappas and Faye Deere, but you will find bargains galore on disks and disk accessories (among other items.)
MEI/Micro Center: 1100 Steelwood Road Columbus, OH 43212-3972
1-800-634-3478
Disks & Labels To Go: Route 206, East Hampton Business Park
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
1-800-426-3303 (Tell Lisa I said "Hi!")
Walters Software: RD#4 Box 289-A Titusville, PA 16354
(814) 827-3776
Ron Collins: 529 Grandview Barberton, OH 44203
OR access the Akron BBS: (216) 882-4720
(Use Ron's address to find software formerly distributed by Orphanware, including Tony Morehan's super patches & utilities.)
"Digital Express" products and Solomon Swift's public domain software are now being distributed by The SoftWORKS Factory. Contact Sol or Tony Patterson at:
TSF PO Box 732 Ocean Springs, MS 39574
--- PJH MOAUG 9/1/89
ou will find bargains galore on disks and disk accessories (among other items.)
MEI/Micr
Ron Collins, of the Akron AUG, left this report on CIS:
[AS reported to us by the lovely editor of the MOAUG news, Patricia Herrington, THANKS PAT]
"...I spent the last hour looking at the program with SuperZAP. Sol has done some really amazing things. First, he borrowed from the Coleco SmartBASIC interface just enough to make the system recognizable to our system ROMs and also familiar enough to US for easy use. He has added a massive amount of new command syntax and capability. I saw references to turning speech on and off, setting mouse speed, drawing and erasing circles, blocks, etc. Accessing the colors of text/borders/screens is also a piece of cake now. Still not enough? He has added enough other stuff to the software that makes it really useful. My best description of it, based on what I saw with the block editor and my own trials to date is that GoBASIC is a super modified version of SmartBASIC blended expertly with the finest sound and graphics capabilities of LOGO. I think (a proposed) online RLE viewer might be a bit easier to realize under GoDOS. The pull-down menus are also quite nice... as is the ability to change character fonts on demand....
I have finally been able to compare the two programs... GoBASIC and French SmartBASIC+. There is NO comparison! The beta release from Sol and Tony is... astounding! * Ron * "
Ron is on target about the LOGO-like commands. While you are waiting for GODOS to become generally available, which should be any day now, you might as well dust off your LOGO tape and play with the demos. Many of the GoBASIC graphics commands are similar to LOGO commands. Remember, "sprites" in Basic are the same entity as "turtles" in LOGO; it's just always been so much more complicated to use them in Basic. That's a thing of the past. The more comfortable you are with LOGO features, such as hiding turtles, rotating them, and changing their shapes, the easier it will be to jump into the GoBASIC sprite-handling commands.
You won't believe how flexible the fonts are, too... you can change fonts to any of six sets already in memory, or you can use your own; and you can easily rotate them, reverse them, or display them in mirror-image, and place them anywhere you like, even scrolling them in windows. I've tried before to describe this, but you just have to see it.
The documentation has been the major holdup in getting GoDOS distributed, and even though TSF has been working steadily on it, it's still on the skimpy side. Knowing Sol and Tony, I am positive that they will write reams about GoDOS and GoBASIC eventually, but at this moment we have to make do with descriptions of the commands. (Which is why I really appreciate the early PD releases by other parties!) The doc files on the commands are thorough and clear, though. We have included in this issue several of the files from the doc disk, so you can get a general idea even before viewing GoBASIC. There are over 300 of them, so we didn't have room for all of them in one issue. (We'll run more next month.)
We appreciate Ron Mitchell sharing this information with us.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD PROGRAM?
Surveying the many programs available for Adam, or any other comARTICLE BY RON MITCHELL, PRESIDENT OF AUFG (Adam User Friendly Group) of Ontario Canada.
We appreciate Ron Mitchell sharing this information with us.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD PROGRAM?
Surveying the many programs available for Adam, or any other computer for that matter, often begs a question.
What makes a good program?
How often have you paid good money for a piece of software that disappoints you or that you felt was overpriced? Or perhaps you've written a program or two yourself, left them for a while, and returned sometime later to find your masterpiece is not nearly as brilliant as you'd first considered it to be.
The truth is, there's no single easy answer to the question. It may well be that one group of target users will criticize software that has completely pleased another. The variance of preferences can be infinite, but there are some general rules. One author, Edward Yourdon, sums up his view of a good program this way:
- It works. - It works according to specifications. - It is ready on time. - It has no bugs. - It is flexible - The bugs, which are inevitable, can be fixed quickly. - It is well documented. - It executes quickly. - It makes efficient use of memory.
A few pages later, the author has elaborated on this criteria somewhat, and throws in another rather interesting set of criteria which he calls "devious, perverse, illegal and immoral programming practices.
- badly commented or uncommented code. - use of assembly language when a high level language will do as well. - misuse of (language) instructions. - programs that modify themselves. - sharing temporary memory storage and variables amongst several subroutines. - excessive use of macros - excessive use of "goto's". - non-nmemonic variable names
Much is written about knowing exactly who you're writing for. One rather interesting charactization of so-called 'professionals' reads as follows:
- They know little about computers. - They are not interested in knowing about computers - in fact, they may not even like them. - They know how to turn the computer on. - They (probably) know how to load the program and bring up the first menu. - They have probably not read any program documentation. - They cannot be expected to remember anything that is not presented within the context of the program - They will consistently ignore screen prompts, and will enter data that have inappropriate type, format, length, and other characteristics. - They are motivated to accomplish the function the program was designed to serve. - They resent it when things go wrong and will blame it on you. - They will write data to the program disk, if possible. - They will attempt to load data from an empty disk drive.
Take that for what it's worth. The same author, Henry Simpson, actually provides a definition of user friendliness.
"....a "user friendly" program is one with features that acknowledge human factors.....ie. the various characteristics of people which influence their performance - memory, ability to see and hear, motivation, motor skills, and so on."
"In general, a user-friendly program is easy to use, tolerant of operator errors, easy to learn, and acknowledges that human beings are imperfect creatures."
Let's deal with some other features.
As a user, you might have a preference for menus. You want the program purpose to be stated 'up-front', and you want full guidance as to how you'll reach your destination - the job to be done. The opening screen should present you with a series of choices, clearly and concisely stated in an opening format that is both readable and pleasing to the eye. At this point, choices should be selectable with a single keystroke, or at the very most, a single word. Depending on the complexity of the program, there may be branches at this stage to other menus.
Opening instructions displayed on the screen should state in a concise manner the purpose of the program and the essential things that the user needs to know in order to operate the program. It is not likely, as we have seen, that the average user will be willing to refer to documentation, so don't assume that the book has been read. Provide a few well worded hints to prompt the user from the beginning.
There should be a method of bypassing the initial instructions once the user has become accustomed to the program. Menus can be shortened to provide only essential prompting and the more routine program functions can become automatic. The Smartwriter program has been criticized in this regard for being almost too user friendly. The persistent question "Are you sure?" can become a source of annoyance to those who know exactly how the "delete" key functions.
The average user expects a certain amount of forgiveness in the area of command or data entry. Some programs will simply return you to the beginning when incorrect data formats or commands are entered. Others seem to be endlessly patient. Suffice it to say that the user should have at least one chance to foul things up without crashing the program. After that, a certain amount of assistance should be available in the form of a 'help' command. It follows then, that the program should be capable of error checking to some degree.
In the matter of colour and fancy screen layouts, preferences are so diverse that it is difficult to state any hard and fast rules. Some prefer a plain black screen with standard white letters; others may be using a monochrome monitor and will want colours that show up well on it. Others may expect all the colours, flashing, and other bells and whistles that the computer is capable of, and be willing to sit through whatever form of entertainment display the programmer cares to provide. The answer would seem to lie in making your program as flexible as possible. Provide choices.
Screen layouts are important. Some Adam programs sacrifice clarity and readability by cramming too much information onto the screen at once. Others provide so little information that the user has difficulty following. Flashing data can be distracting and hard on the eyes. In some cases, there is little distinction between one section or screen of the program and the next. These are all aspects which require careful consideration.
Documentation is another important area. There should be sufficient information provided in a .doc file or in written form to permit the user to learn how to use the program, and what to do if something doesn't go quite as expected. We'll be reviewing the characteristics of good documentation in a future article.
REFERENCES:
Design of User-Friendly Programs for Small Computers. Henry Simpson - McGraw Hill, l985.
Techniques of Program Structure and Design. Edward Yourdon - Prentice Hall, 1975. choices.
Screen layouts are important. Some Adam programs sacrifice clarity and readability by cram
FROM THE AUGUST MOAUG: HOTNEWS
From Ron Collins (Compuserve Message:)Pat, BJ (Big John Lingrel) left me a message... That's right! The Big Guy is going to try to make it to ADAMCON too! ...In some way or other, every piece of hardware & software we have is the result of someone's work in a related area. BJ's hardware led software developers to come up with better ways to use the hardware. The new solftware was so good that it forced BJ to come up with even better ways to use the software! Other developers came up with products which use both! Then someone else does it easier & better! Now we have GoDOS to handle it ALL! WOW! Tell Sol I can't wait to see him again. It's been a long time since my visit to West Virginia to watch him create SwiftBASIC 80 out of thin air! *Ron*
From George Havach (Compuserve Message:)To ALL: Be sure and check out the following full-service ADAM supply center:
Heritage House
2547 Second Ave.
Council Bluffs, IOWA
(712) 325-1672 (Ask for John)
They have lots of ADAM software and hardware in stock, and
they also do repairs.
From Chris Braymen (Compuserve Message:)...I've held off saying anything until I was sure it worked, but work it does! I've been playing 16 voice songs on 2 synthesizers through the MIDI interface I developed. So far, I've been writing the songs with VideoTunes and playing the files with another program. It sounds wonderful! I can hear the songs played by strings, brass, harpsichord, or whatever. Even dog barks if I want! But that is only half of what MIDI can do. I'll have the MIDI IN part of the interface working soon and I'm working on a full-blown multi-channel sequencer. I've been talking with a well- known hardware developer about making MIDI interfaces... Meanwhile, I've got one, it's a load of fun, and I can't wait to show it off at ADAMCON!
From Ricki Gerlach (mail):I'm back in the USA now. I have my wife's permission to attend ADAMCON; now if I can just get the Army to release me for a week of sun in Florida, I'm coming. I am donating my seven volumes of Happy Clips as a prize to give away at the convention. I can also donate the 2-disk edition of my latest release, "LEARNING TURKISH WITH ADAM V2.3", if you think anyone would want a copy! I hav found a source of ADAM cartridges for the game CARNIVAL. I'll sell them for the price I got them, $3.85 each, plus $1.50 postage. There are no instruction books, but if I find one, I'll copy it for each buyer. My new address is:
Gerlach Family Software
PO Box 175
Ft. Campbell, KY 42223
From Neil Wick (several Compuserve messages:)MTAG (Metro Toronto ADAM Group) just held our meeting, & it looks like up to a half-dozen members will be at ADAMCON (including Syd Carter, of course.) We hear that Canadians are also planning to attend from the St. Catherines group, Ottowa, and Edmonton. Two new products from out club alone sound really exciting; this convention is a real incentive for new product development! .. Some expect Syd's new "Extended Format DDPs" and Gary Bowser's new "ADAM Image Maker" video expansion module to overshadow even GODOS in importance!
... The Adam-Image-Maker (AIM) was announced by Gary Bowser of Oasis Pensive Abacutors at the meeting. Gary has been selling products for the TI 99/4A, which uses the same video chip as ADAM. The AIM is based on the V9938 chip which is software-compatible with ADAM's chip, but offers many enhanced capabilities. I've seen it running on the TI computer myself, & it's really quite impressive, especially for graphics. The unit will be an "expansion module" which just hooks onto the right side of the ADAM. There's nothing to take apart; installation will be really simple. The following is promised:
~Software for CP/M & SmartWriter to allow 80-column text! ~Complete assembly language & SmartBASIC programming guide! ~128k of video RAM (vs present 16k), expandable to 192k! ~RGB, Composite, and TV output! ~Mouse port with mouse included! ~256 by 192/212 graphics mode; each pixel can be any of 256 colors! ~512 by 192/212 graphics mode. Pixels can be any of 16 colors chosen from the 256 in the pallette! ~32 sprites with up to 8 per horizontal line!
PLUS, all your present software will work as normal. Cost will be around $300 Canadian (about $255 US) or even less! Expected availability is mid-November, though you should see a preview of it at ADAMCON.
Our membership is around 100 strong, and we hold two meetings a month; membership is $20 per year. We have a newsletter every two months. One recent newsletter ran 72 pages, but we're trying to cut down. Our address is:
MTAG, Box 165, 260 Adelaide St. E., Toronto Ontario, CANADA M5A 1NO
The president, Richard Clee, can be contacted at:
(416) 783-0316 after 7:30 PM or on weekends.
Any club who puts us on their newsletter mailing list will get their club on our own newsletter mailing list.
The following is slated for September MOAUG news if we have
room:
Norman Castro of OAC has developed a reputation for his
crisp reproduction work. Norman sells reduced instructions
for hundreds of games & software packages, not just for
ADAM, but for several other game systems as well. We
mentioned here that Norman has acquired permission to
reprint the excellent but defunct newsletter, Expandable
Computer News (ECN.) We just received word that Norman is
now selling reductions of The ADAM Technical Journal by
Serendipity Productions. This was a superb early newsletter
that lasted only 3 issues, and has been out of print for
several years. One of the articles in the Journal concerned
information which led to the development of ALL the binary
save programs now available, from the PD "Cruncher" program
to the improved commercial version "Turboload", and
eventually to even more sophisticated programs such as DEI's
"IntelLoad". You can now purchase reproductions from Norman
at $2 per issue, plus $1 shipping & handling per issue; or,
all 3 issues for $8 postpaid. Write Norman at 809 W. 33rd
Ave, Bellevue, NE 68005.
A SERIES of articles on LOGO by RICKI GERLACH. We hope to distribute future parts of this series.
Ricki Gerlach's 2nd LOGO column from July MOAUG:
Features that contribute to LOGO's simplicity are summarized as: 1. LOGO IS INTERPRETED AND INTERACTIVE. This means that LOGO will try to carry out your commands right away, one line at a time. An interpreted language makes it extremely easy to explore new programming ideas. An interactive language is the major characteristic that makes BASIC easy to use. A noninteractive language like FORTRAN or PASCAL must be 'compiled'.
2. LOGO IS MODULAR. Most modern languages today (except BASIC) share this property. This characteristic of LOGO allows programming projects to be broken up into several smaller, simpler parts. Each part, or 'program', is called a 'PROCEDURE'.
3. LOGO IS EXTENSIBLE. LOGO has certain built-in key words like PRINT and FORWARD. These key words are called 'PRIMITIVES', words that the computer already knows. However, you can create new procedures which are used just like the primitives. An extensible language uses the same 'syntax' for both primitives and programmed procedures.
4. LOGO USES NONTYPED VARIABLES. Most
languages have several 'types' of
variables: numbers, strings, arrays,
integers, real, etc. LOGO uses words
(which includes numbers) and lists of
words. The same variable in LOGO can
be an integer in one part of the
program and a character later on.
5. LOGO USES AUTOMATIC DYNAMIC MEMORY ALLOCATAION. This means you don't have to worry about or declare the size of lists or words before (or while) you use them.
6. LOGO HAS DYNAMIC SCOPING. Roughly speaking, this means that LOGO will use local variables first, if defined. Otherwise, it will look for global definitions.
7. LOGO USES HELPFUL ERROR MESSAGES. LOGO error messages explain what caused the error and where the error occurs. Debugging programs becomes easy to do.
8. LOGO HAS TURTLE GRAPHICS. Turtle graphics provide a marvelous way to begin learning a new language. The visual feedback is highly motivating and not only teaches the language's vocabulary and structure, but also builds a foundation for the ideas of structured programming.
A list is enclosed by brackets [ ] You can list instructions for ADAM to follow, as we did in Part 1. Another short procedure is:
TO STAR REPEAT 5 [ FD 75 RT 144] END
When entering a procedure, you enter the line: TO (Name of Procedure) and a second line will appear, with the same words. You must move the cursor down to the second line, and hit return, so that it will become part of the procedure. Remember to push Smartkey VI after you type END. Try this one:
TO SNOWFLAKE REPEAT 10 [ FD 50 BK 50 RT 36] END
Several commands that we need to know
are: HOME, CLEARSCREEN or CS, PENUP or
PU, PENDOWN or PD, CLEARTEXT or CT, &
CLEARGRAPHICS or CG.
HOME sends the current turtle to the center of the screen with a heading of 0 (facing north, or the top of the screen.) CS clears the screen of text and graphics, and sends the current turtle home. PU raises the turtle's pen, so that it will not draw on the screen. PD puts the pen down, so that it will draw a line as the turtle moves across the screen. CT removes only text from the screen, leaving the graphics intact. CG removes graphics only, leaving any text on the screen.
A SERIES of articles on LOGO by RICKI GERLACH. We hope to distribute future parts of this series.
PART 3
Once we understand how to move the turtles around, we can do some simple but nice displays. The easiest one would be to draw a tree. In order to do this, we first decide that we want to draw a branch. To do this, we write the procedure:
TO BRANCH: SIZE RT 90 FD: SIZE / 2 WAIT 30 TR2: SIZE / 2 BK: SIZE BRANCH: SIZE END
What we have done here is to define the procedure BRANCH. When you run the procedure, you have to input a number SIZE so that BRANCH will know how far to draw the branch.
Now we add another procedure, TR2, to add to the tree by extending the trunk and adding another branch. It places the added branch on top of the tree, at half the size of the first one. Add another procedure, TR2:
TO TR2 :SIZE IF SIZE < 10 [STOP] FD :SIZE WAIT 30 TR2 :SIZE / 2 BK: SIZE BRANCH :SIZE END
If we look at this procedure, we will notice several things. First, we are telling ADAM that if our number, SIZE, is smaller than 10, then stop the pro- cedure. Second, the WAIT command tells ADAM to stop for the count of 30 before continuing the program. Last, we see that we are dividing the number we inputted by 2 (shown in the line: <TR2 :SIZE / 2>.) We also see that the procedure BRANCH, which we defined earlier, is being called from within this new procedure.
We will write one last procedure, which we will call TREE. It will look like this:
TO TREE :SIZE IF OR :SIZE < 10 :SIZE >110 [STOP] ST CS PU SETPOS [ 0 -80] PD TR2 :SIZE HT WAIT 180 CT END
Now, you have to save this program under the name TREE. In order to do this, enter:
SAVE "TREE
Note that you will use quotation marks only at the beginning of the file name, not at the end. Make sure that you have a disk or datapack in your drive before saving the file. After it's saved, you can run the program by entering the name and any number. For example, try this:
TREE 50
...and see what happens. Notice you do not have to use the command RUN, as you would in BASIC. This program draws a very crude tree, but shows very clearly how complex recursion works. By calling back on itself, the program could go on and on forever. To prevent this, we added a test condition to stop the recursive calls going on indefinitely. The test condition is the " IF OR " found in the TREE procedure, line two. We've added a half second pause to let you see the turtle draw each of the trunks first, then draw each branch. One important factor, in recursive calls, is that the turtle MUST return to its previous position; hence the turtle goes back to the bottom of the trunk, facing up.
This is shown in line four, where we put the pen in the up position (PU) and set the position of the turtle, then put the pen back down (PD).
(continued next month)
Ricki Gerlach's lst LOGO column from MOAUG:
LEARNING WITH LOGO
PART 1
BY: RICKI J. GERLACH
WHAT IS LOGO ?
Logo has been described as being both a computer language and a philosophy of learning. The major theme of Logo's philosophy is to learn by doing, to learn by trial and error, to learn by exploring and discovering. Errors do not reflect failure, but 'bugs' that can be analyzed and fixed. The language itself was designed to reflect this philosophy by being easy to use and powerful enough for sophisticated applications. Logo achieves these two seemingly opposing goals by incorporating several major design characteristics. The most important Logo feature is its ability to respond to new user-created words or programs in the same way Logo responds to its built-in words. Every computer language has certain 'reserved' words that the computer knows and responds to. In Logo, these key words are called PRIMITIVES, and include such commands as, MAKE, AND, IF, REPEAT, FORWARD, and RIGHT. For example, the command
FORWARD 50
will cause the turtle to draw a line 50 steps long on the screen, while the command
RIGHT 90
will turn the turtle 90 degrees to the right. We can create some rather interesting programs using these primitives. Here is one of the easiest programs to visualize.
TO BOX REPEAT 4 [ FORWARD 50 RIGHT 90 ] END
Remember to push SmartKey VI after typing this, so that ADAM will store it in the memory, for later recall. Think of it as ADAM remembering what BOX is. Now the key point here, is that we can run this program, called a PROCEDURE in Logo, just by typing its name, the same as we run a Logo primitive. We can even include this newly defined procedure into other procedures. For example, here is a simple procedure that uses our BOX procedure.
TO STAR REPEAT 20 [ BOX RIGHT 18 ] END (SMART KEY VI)
Now just run STAR, and watch what happens.
The primitive TO is used to enter the Logo editor in order to define new 'vocabulary' words. When a language uses new words just like it uses its built-in words, we say the language is 'extensible' and uses the same 'syntax' for procedures as for primitives.
Some words may be abbriviated, as
RIGHT or RT FORWARD or FD LEFT or LT BACKWARD or BKThis means that the procedure you entered for BOX, could also be entered as
TO BOX REPEAT 4 [ FD 50 RT 90 ] ENDand the procedure for STAR could be entered as
TO STAR REPEAT 20 [ BOX RT 18 ] END
This is the AWAUG article as it appears in the September issue of MOAUG under the title "A Closer Look At AWAUG." There are two PowerPAINT pics that go with this article: "AWAUG.pic" and "AWAUG.pic2."
This month's column is a salute to the ADAM, Washington Area Users' Group (AWAUG for short.) AWAUG has been a pivotal force in the recent drive to develop a stronger and more unified information network among ADAM owners and users' groups. The group even offers a free 1200 baud modem to any group wishing to start an electronic bulletin board system!
The ADAM, Washington Area User's Group, based in Northern Virginia, was established in March of 1984 with membership from the Washington D.C. metropolitan area including adjacent portions of Maryland and Virginia. The organization grew to include membership throughout the U.S. by providing services and communications via mail and modem.
The club conducts monthly meetings, mailing all members a full agenda in advance which describes the planned demonstrations, presentations, hands- on experimentation, training, and often an auction of ADAM hardware and software. A very well-done news- letter is published bimonthly. It includes articles from AWAUG members as well as articles chosen from other newsletters with reciprocal publish- ing agreements. . The club also operates a 24-hour CP/M-based Bulletin Board Service at 300/1200/2400 baud rates with 20 megabytes of storage space (using an ADAM with a Hard Disk Drive) and over 800 programs on-line for downloading.
A hardware repair service, the pro- duction of formatted tapes, and a library of public domain programs on tapes and disks provides members with services and supplies at members-only prices. Any surplus from the member- ship fees ($15.00 per year) and club club services is placed in the club treasury. These funds are used for AWAUG operating costs, and also provide funding for an ever-changing variety of Group hardware and software projects.
Current Group projects include the production of serial interfaces and cables for the Government surplus 80-column terminals and 1200 baud modems that the club provides for members. Jim Howard (a Railroad worker) provides the energy and the leadership for the special group projects.
AWAUG members have been particularly adept in ADAM hardware and software innovations, including: ... a speech synthesizer developed by Minh Ta, with dual parallel/serial inteface ports. You can type a sen- tence and press return, and the synthesizer will speak it -- or it will speak an entire stored text;
... adapting a Commodore Mouse (wired through a Coleco game paddle) for use on the ADAM ... also by Minh Ta;
... programming the ADAM to use a Radio Shack Home Utility/Security system to turn on/off electrical appliances and security devices through regular house wiring (still another Minh Ta project);
A Pascal mortgage/loan calculation program (by Ralph Mason);
... a BASIC program which enables you to complete forms (e.g. Federal Government SF-171 resume form) on an ADAM printer (Joe Mendez);
... a "DUPER" to produce the group's formatted tapes and public domain tapes, two at a time -- used for over three years now for all of AWAUG tape production (Howard Kuhn);
... and a wide variety of other in- novations, including some which will be unveiled for the first time at the ADAM Convention in October! . The vitality of the Group has come from a balance of the long and faithful service of a few and the innovation and excitement generated by the many who opt for periodic involvement and active participation.
"There is no reason why everyone cannot have fun and share the spotlight from time to time, with no continuing obligation other than to contribute as long as it's fun," says AWAUG President, Bob Blair.
Bob, who is a Training Officer for the U.S. Department of Labor, strongly believes that a good Users' Group is one that is small enough to give personal service and large enough to effectively fill the hard- ware and software gaps that develop for the ADAM. With the total member- ship ranging between 90 & 140 over the last two years, the club seems to have established a good balance be- tween size and service. . AWAUG's Newsletter Editor, Jack MacKenn, is a retired Navy officer. He was preceded by two previous editors: Peter Hartzler (a carpenter who just became a computer program- mer) and Monte Jones (a radio news- caster.) Among the many other AWAUG members who have provided special service to the club are: Ginny, Cathy and Jay Bolton; Gene Manning; Cliff Sinopoli; Manford Patterson; Shon McCallum; and former club officers who continue to assist in club guidance: Mike King, Don Wendell and Jim Tyson.
AWAUG makes every effort to provide its members with bargain prices. The group has an exclusive contract to distribute registered copies of Word Star 2.0 to members for the incred- ible price of $20! President Bob Blair doesn't like to make too much of that, though, because he feels that the group's version of the public domain CP/M editor, VDE, is superior to WordStar.
We are expecting to meet AWAUG mem- bers at ADAMCON. At the very least, Bob Blair will be dropping by for one day of the convention. (AWAUG has donated a serial interface made by the group as a door prize.) One thing is certain: we are going to be hearing a lot more from AWAUG in the months to come!
AUG members who have provided
A most prolific hardware developer. He has been extremely active helping to install hard drive interfaces for AWAUG members, developing new hardware and software innovations and repairing hardware for AWAUG members. Minh, a native of South Vietnam, became a US citizen earlier this year. He is an Electronic Communications Specialist with a division of COMSAT.
He has contributed the adaptation of the Commodore Mouse to the ADAM via a game paddle, a Speech Synthesizer that also has serial and parallel interfaces for the ADAM, the connection of the Radio Shack home appliance/security system to the ADAM, and many current projects including a light gun, light pen, digitizer and MIDI sound synthesizer
MINH TA has agreed to allow me to download his technical articles from the AWAUG BBS (703-922-5497 8Nl, Bob Blair Sysop) for use on the Adam News Network (ANN).
We appreciate Minh's efforts on behalf of Adam and his sharing with us.
SEE THE FILE SEC SYS (security system) on this disk.
interfaces for AWAUG members, developing new hardware and software innovations and repa
A LOOK AT THE ADAMOUSE
From N.O.A.H. Hardware Reviews
Northern Ohio Adam Hackers
by Ronald Collins
Well, I have just acquired the "pivotal point" in Adamhardware for the next few years. It's been called a lot of things by a wide range of computer distributors, but it's only now been made available to the Adam Computer owner. It's called a mouse. Such an un-assuming name isn't it? Don't worry! This one doesn't squeek, crawl under your feet or scare the daylights out of your loved ones when seen! It's just another hardware device... or is it? The basic idea behind the mouse is simple. After you spend a few minutes trying to draw a respectable looking picture with your joystick or arrow keys you tend to wish for something better. The mouse was a natural answer to this issue. It is a small palm sized device with a floating ball underneath (sort of a reverse roller controller on a different scale). You can make any type of drawings from curves to circles, squares, etc. Just a slight movement of your hand is all it takes. When the mouse moves any any direction, so does your onscreen cursor! This particular mouse is a product of THOMAS Electronics. If you are interested in more information on the mouse, you can write the manufacturer at 151 Devonshire Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CANADA, S7L 5V6. The mouse can be purchased in the USA from M.W. Ruth and from Orphanware Business Systems. I suggest that you call them for a current price. I found the mouse to be very well made. It is a fully proportional mouse. This means when you draw with it, your screen representation
won't be either elongated or squished. A tiny 8 line SmartBASIC program is listed in the ADAMOUSE installation manual to give you an idea of it's ability.
I received my ADAMOUSE from Orphanware Business Systems. I wanted to do a review of the mouse as well as it's installation.
Not being a hardware person, I figured that if I could do it, then it couldn't be too hard. The advertisements I had seen mentioned that it would only take about 20 minutes to install with normal hand tools. I suppose an experienced technician could do the job in about that length of time. He'd even have the ordinary hand tools (tools of HIS trade) on hand. To do the entire job, I only needed 5 tools..(A) a phillips head screw- driver, (B) a small tipped low wattage soldering pencil, (C) a wire stripping tool, (D) an X-ACTO knife and (E) a small file.
To be honest, it took me more time to get ready to install the mouse than it took to do the installation. I had to remove all the devices I've added over the years such as my modem, PIA2, auto-dialer, 256K memory board and both digital data drives. I also had to disconnect my disk drive and keyboard cables. The manual stresses the need to ground yourself from static charges. I suggest that you follow the expert advice they give you to avoid a catastrophic disaster in your memory console. The next step is to take the console apart. It's held together with phillips screws, so the screw-driver gets well used! Next, the game board has to be removed, the solder connections identified and the parts location determined. You are given simple instructions on picking the internal location of the mouse interface. You will find it necessary to remove 3 of the small louvers in the case to allow access to the port after installation. The X-Acto knife served this purpose quite well and the file was used to smooth out the job. This was for MY machine, and I wanted it to look NICE! The wire stripper is used to remove a small section of jacket from the 11 wires you will need to solder to the game board. The soldering pencil should be low wattage to avoid component damage to your memory console. The tip should be small so that it can solder the points without bridging connections.
After all this is finished, you still have to put the memory console back together. All in all, I spent about 2 hours installing the device. The time was well spent because it looks almost as if it WERE factory installed! I even have an extra joystick port if I ever need it! Now, what can I use it for?
Some Coleco programs such as AdamCALC and SmartWriter which let you use the joystick to navigate the screen will work easy with the Adamouse. Coleco or Adam games that don't rely on joystick key input will also work well. If a game uses the pause feature, it will have problems with the mouse. Games like GYRUS and ZAXXON work amazingly well with the mouse! Under SmartBASIC, the mouse has easily programmable capabilities.
My greatest complaint was the lack of current software support. I guess I shouldn't feel to bad though...as a new device, I couldn't really expect too much support. As a step into the "state of the art", I feel that with user support, our Adam could easily become as effective in such fields as desk top publishing as a Macintosh or IBM. Just think of the possibilities of a patch to PowerPaint that would provide for the simple mouse device requirements. It would be nice to simply use the mouse to move an arrow, let's say, to the SmartKey label, tap the button and see the next menu. Drawing would be easier too! Dr. Swift has done a fantastic job of making PowerPaint user friendly based on the hardware available. Now, with a mouse driver, the possibilities are no less than astounding! Programming isn't my department, but as an EOS expert, I'm quite sure Dr. Swift could make it work. While were on the subject of DEI, what about using a mouse with GO-DOS? Those pull down menus and such would certainly benefit! In the meantime, Thomas Electronics mentions an upcoming program called the ADAMOUSE GRAPHIC UTILITY. The manual states that it will have in excess of 4000, and perhaps as high as 16,000 drawing options! WOW! In conclusion, I leave you with a paragraph from the installation manual Thomas Electronics distributes with the mouse....
OVER THE HORIZON
Because the ADAMOUSE has opened an entirely new area for the ADAM, we will be constantly endeavoring to develop NEW and SUPERIOR SOFTWARE, to take FULL ADVANTAGE of the ADAMOUSE! ADAMOUSE CAD, and ADAMOUSE ARCHITECT, are only the start! What about a WORD PROCESSOR, or SPREAD SHEET, driven by the ADAMOUSE!
Well, that sure does spark some interest in me! Until next time, keep using your ADAM! It may be old, but it gets better and better every day!
Ronald Collins
Since I was capturing this file at 1200 and the disk drive runs slower than the modem (or something like that) I do sometimes get jumbled letters, which I have tried to correct but some may still appear. Apparently the letters are coming faster than the disk can store them and they run together (or something).
Enter Filename>NETWORK.ART
THE ADAM BBS NETWORK
We have embarked on a new adventure: the linkage of all ADAM Bulletin Board Systems (BBS') in the USA. Our objective is to be able to contact any one of the dozen or so ADAM BBS' and be able to read bulletins and messages from all other BBS' and leave messages for members of any of the BBS' and expect to have the message answered within a reasonable period of time. Is it possible? Well, it is in operation right now!
First of all we needed an inexpensive means of using the long distance lines for extensive periods of time as we download and upload message and bulletin files. The answer we found is a system called "STARLINK" which uses the TYMNET long distance lines and packet switching service. During non-prime time (8 pm to 6 am) calls can be made at $1.50 per hour (plus $10.50 per month flat charge) anywhere in the country. That's less than 3 cents per minute plus the flat monthly fee.
Second we needed the cooperation of ADAM BBS Systems Operators. That was the easy part!! Real champions for the concept emerged immediately. John Lingrel of the AKRON BBS (who sparked the idea in the first place - yes I know it was discussed long ago, but John is the one who showed us how to do it) The next few sentences were lost but I think they were indicating that Herman Mason &/or Alan Neeley worked on this from the aspect of the r all the A-NET BBS' around the country and distributed the idea and the software for other BBS operators to join the NETWORK. Larry Overman and Bart "ZONKER" Lynch who championed the concept in California and Washington State, respectively, and continue to help define and expand the ADAM BBS NETWORK. Barry Wilson and Al Fitsgerald of the St Louis ADAM Users Group, who have pressed hard for a long time to achieve a National Association of Adam users and who also provide continued support and materials for the concept. And, software developer, Tony Morehen (of Canada) who is rewriting the AWAUG, AKRON and SO CALIF BBS' to better accomodate the Network. There are others too who are joining and innovating new features for the NETWORK at this time.
With this support, we anticipate that the NETWORK will grow. Where it will wind up is another matter that only time will tell. In th enie eaepodt noneta h WU B hs endsgae steAA B EWR ETA. t is the focal point for the distribution of messages and bulletins. If you would like for your local ADAM BBS to participate, call Bob Blair on (703) 971-6465 or contact any of the above mentioned BBS' and let us know about your favorite ADAM BBS and how we can contact them. AWAUG has a standing offer: Any established ADAM Users Group that does not have a BBS, or any ADAM BBS that operates at only 300 baud, can receive a free 1200 baud AVATEX HC modem for use on their BBS if they join the NETWORK for one year. If the BBS discontinues operation on the NETWORK, it is to be returned - with no charge. Beyond one year, they keep it. This offer is available regardless of the type of BBS software used as long as it operates on the ADAM.
You know? Things are really getting interesting around here!
by Bob Blair
Micro Innovations of Reston, Virginia is pleased to announcethe imminent availability of their new expansion products for the Coleco Adam computer. The Powermate 2 and Powermate 4 are add-on stand-alone subsystems that give the Adam two RS-232 serial ports, a Centronics compatible parallel port, one or two 10, 20, or 30 MB hard disk drives, and one or two 360K or 720K floppy disk drives.
The Powermate 2 consists of an external cabinet (whichhouses up to two disk drives), an interface board (which mounts in the center expansion card slot inside the Adam), and all necessary cables and software. The Powermate 4 offers a four drive external cabinet in place of the standard two drive cabinet. Installation of the Powermate requires no modifications to the Adam.
Both Powermate models come standard with two 50 baud to 38Kilobaud RS-232 serial ports - one set up as a Data Communications Equipment (DCE) for direct connection of a CRT terminal or serial interface printer, and the other set up as a Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) for direct connection of an external modem. Also standard is a Centronics parallel port for direct connection of a parallel interface printer. All three ports are fully supported by the included CP/M BIOS software as devices UC1: (the external CRT terminal port), UP2: and UR2: (the modem port), and UL1: (the parallel printer port). The ports are addressed so that they do not interfere with existing Adam expansion products.
The standard Powermate 2 offers a single 10, 20, or 30 MBhard disk drive. A second hard disk drive or a single 360K or 720K floppy disk drive can be added as an option. The Powermate 4 also comes standard with a single hard disk drive. However, a second hard disk drive as well as one or two floppy disk drives can be added as options. The supplied software fully supports up to two physical hard disk drives (many logical hard disk drives) and two floppy disk drives. The standard ADAM floppy disk and tape drives are still available for use after installation of the supplied software.
Micro Innovations supplies a full auto- installing BIOS onADAM-compatible diskette or tape with each Powermate product. The BIOS contains full support for all serial and parallel ports and up to two hard and two floppy disk drives. The BIOS does not interfere with the operation of the stock ADAM serial and parallel ports, or tape and diskette drives. Disk formatting, hard disk park, and BIOS load utilities are supplied for the Powermates' external disk drives.
To install the Powermate BIOS, the user boots up CPM fromthe normal ADAM CPM diskette or tape. He or she then replaces the diskette or tape with the Powermate BIOS diskette or tape and executes the install program. The install program moves the CCP and BDOS down 2KB and places the Powermate BIOS in memory between the relocated BDOS and the ADAM BIOS. The relocated CCP and BDOS and the Powermate BIOS are then written to the boot track of hard disk number 1. The Powermate BIOS is now installed and running.
When the user powers down the system, it is highlyrecommended that the heads be parked on the hard disk drive(s). This avoids any possibility of power off glitches that can affect the data on the track that the heads are currently at (normally the directory tracks). The next time the user powers up the system, the hard disk automatically homes to track 0. The user boots from his or her normal CP/M floppy diskette or tape and executes the Powermate BIOS load program, which loads the relocated CCP and BDOS and the Powermate BIOS from the BOOT track of the hard disk.
Introductory pricing for the Powermate 2 is $399.00 for the10 MB configuration, $499.00 for the 20 MB configuration, and $599.00 for the 30 MB configuration. The equivalent configurations of the Powermate 4 are $499.00, $599.00, and $699.00. Floppy disk drives can be added to either product. A 360K drive costs an extra $100.00 when ordered as an option with the basic Powermate 2 or 4. A 720K drive (either a 3 1/2" or a 5 1/4") is an extra $150.00. All Powermate configurations come with a 90 day warantee and are completely assembled, tested, and ready to run. The component parts of the Powermate products are not available separately. Larger hard disk drives than 30MB (up to 1024 cylinders and 16 heads) can be supplied as custom configurations. A hard disk BOOT ROM, either in cartridge or ADAM CPU plug-in form, will be available before Christmas. An EOS driver package is also anticipated to be available in the same timeframe.
To place an order or for additional information, contactMark Gordon on the AWAUG BBS or write Micro Innovations at 12503 King's Lake Drive, Reston, VA 22091.
configurations of th
Presently the following REQUIREMENTS are in effect for using & being a part of this system:
l. YOU MUST GIVE PROPER CREDIT TO THE GROUP, ORGANIZATION AND THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHOR of any material taken from here. Failure to do so may result in your being excluded from this system.
2. To help cut down my time & expenses in producing these monthly mailings each person on the mailing list is REQUIRED to make copies and distribute to at least one other person or group (WHICH I WILL ASSIGN TO YOU) or upto THREE copies & remailings. Obviously, the more (3) you do, the more people we can reach. At this time I will assign these mailings, although you can make your suggestions as to who you would like to remail to or who you think should be added onto the list.
3. IF you would prefer to pay a cash fee rather than do a remailing, contact me and we will see what we can work out. However, this is NOT meant to be a profit making venture (& has costs me considerable in disks & postage upto this point), so I would prefer you do remailings rather than pay a cash fee at this time. But if the remailings are a problem, contact me.
4. BBS SYSOPS ARE ASKED TO UPLOAD TO THEIR AND OTHER ADAM BBSs ANY INFORMATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE OF INTEREST OR IMPORTANCE. This can take the place of your doing a remailing. YOU are invited to upload the entire mailing as one or two large files on your BBS for downing loading etc.
5. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH your newsletter editor, your BBS sysop, your members & officers.
6. WHILE it is felt that information included is correct and accurate, I take no responsibility for its accuracy, correctness, content, suggestions,etc. and you should use the same at your own risk.
7. I will try to indicate the source of the item in either the file name or internally in the file. Some things may have their own separate disk.
8. IF you do not wish to continue on the mailing list, please inform me so you name can be removed and someone else be added in your place.
9. WHILE IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT AT THIS TIME THAT YOU SUBMIT ITEMS TO ME for this mailing, that is the ONLY way in which we can make this work.
l0. Miscellaneous: Each disk will have a file showing its (intended) distribution. Each disk will be marked to indicate when the material can be used. Usually it will be usable after the first day of the month shown on the label. Of course,material can be saved to fill in at future times when you are short of items. The initial distribution will be approximately the middle of the month for material to be used starting the lst of the next month.
I hope this will serve to encourage other Adamites to write for several different newsletters. Most of the newsletters do not have a large overlap of coverage or subscribers and therefore no newsletter is really hurt by the items appearing in several newsletters.
By distributing these to you in this way, you are NOT reprinting items, these are all duplicate original items being sent to several newsletters for possible use.
Your suggestions are always welcome. I encourage you all to support the ADAM BBS NET pioneered by BJ, Larry Overman(So.Cal) and Bob Blair A(AWAUG-Wash.DC) which is exchanging messages & information from the various BBSs on a weekly basis.
Best regards, Barry A. Wilson
Presently the following REQUIREMENTS are in effect for using & being a part of this system:
l. YOU MUST GIVE PROPER CREDIT TO THE GROUP, ORGANIZATION AND THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHOR of any material taken from here. Failure to do so may result in your being excluded from this system.
2. To help cut down my time & expenses in producing these monthly mailings each person on the mailing list is REQUIRED to make copies and distribute to at least one other person or group (WHICH I WILL ASSIGN TO YOU) or upto THREE copies & remailings. Obviously, the more (3) you do, the more people we can reach. At this time I will assign these mailings, although you can make your suggestions as to who you would like to remail to or who you think should be added onto the list.
3. IF you would prefer to pay a cash fee rather than do a remailing, contact me and we will see what we can work out. However, this is NOT meant to be a profit making venture (& has costs me considerable in disks & postage upto this point), so I would prefer you do remailings rather than pay a cash fee at this time. But if the remailings are a problem, contact me.
4. BBS SYSOPS ARE ASKED TO UPLOAD TO THEIR AND OTHER ADAM BBSs ANY INFORMATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE OF INTEREST OR IMPORTANCE. This can take the place of your doing a remailing. YOU are invited to upload the entire mailing as one or two large files on your BBS for downing loading etc.
5. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH your newsletter editor, your BBS sysop, your members & officers.
6. WHILE it is felt that information included is correct and accurate, I take no responsibility for its accuracy, correctness, content, suggestions,etc. and you should use the same at your own risk.
7. I will try to indicate the source of the item in either the file name or internally in the file. Some things may have their own separate disk.
8. IF you do not wish to continue on the mailing list, please inform me so you name can be removed and someone else be added in your place.
9. WHILE IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT AT THIS TIME THAT YOU SUBMIT ITEMS TO ME for this mailing, that is the ONLY way in which we can make this work.
l0. Miscellaneous: Each disk will have a file showing its (intended) distribution. Each disk will be marked to indicate when the material can be used. Usually it will be usable after the first day of the month shown on the label. Of course,material can be saved to fill in at future times when you are short of items. The initial distribution will be approximately the middle of the month for material to be used starting the lst of the next month.
I hope this will serve to encourage other Adamites to write for several different newsletters. Most of the newsletters do not have a large overlap of coverage or subscribers and therefore no newsletter is really hurt by the items appearing in several newsletters.
By distributing these to you in this way, you are NOT reprinting items, these are all duplicate original items being sent to several newsletters for possible use.
Your suggestions are always welcome. I encourage you all to support the ADAM BBS NET pioneered by BJ, Larry Overman(So.Cal) and Bob Blair A(AWAUG-Wash.DC) which is exchanging messages & information from the various BBSs on a weekly basis.
Best regards, Barry A. Wilson
AKRON BBS: Some PUBLIC message files downloaded from Akron BBS.
A WAR I: An article on the subject of the Adam Wars. Also run the accompanying game AWARGAME after loading basic. Both are from the slightly off center viewpoint of Barry Wilson.
AWARGAME: Load basic first, then run this game program. See A WAR I
above.
AWAUG BBS: Some PUBLIC message files & bulletin information downloaded from AWAUG BBS.
BARRY PATC (PATCH): Thoughts, comments, etc. by Barry Wilson & friends. A slightly different look at the Adam World.
BIOS 1 : A regular feature of MOAUG newsletter. a CP/M Column by Jerome Hess.
BIOS 2 : A regular feature of MOAUG newsletter. a CP/M Column by Jerome Hess. Second Article
COPY PROT(ection): Barry Wilson's thoughts on Copy Protection and Piracy.
DISTRIBUTE: The distribution list for the Adam News Network (ANN)
monthly information disk.
GODOS2: A CIS download on GODOS, comments by Ron Collins.
HOT NEWS : News, information & thoughts on the Adam scene by the very capable editor of MOAUG newsletter, Pat Herrington & her friends.
LOGO pt 1: Part 1 of a series of Articles on LOGO which is appearing in MOAUG newsletter and authored by Ricki Gerlach.
LOGO pt 2: Part 2 of a series of Articles on LOGO which is appearing in MOAUG newsletter and authored by Ricki Gerlach.
LOGO pt 3: Part 3 of a series of Articles on LOGO which is appearing in MOAUG newsletter and authored by Ricki Gerlach.
NATION(AL) NET: AWAUG BBS article on National BBS network by Bob Blair.
README: Information on this Adam News Network service.
READMETWO: This file which gives a summary or info on the other files.
REV ALINK3: A review of the new modem program Adam Link III+. By AL Fitzgerald, Sysop of ST.Louis AUG BBS.
REV BUMPNJ(ump): A review of Cartridge game, Bump N Jump by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV CONTRO(llers): A review of Super Action Controllers by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV DAMBUS(ters) ): A review of Cartridge game, Dam Busters by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV SPYHUN(ter): A review of Cartridge game, Spy Hunter by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV START(reX): A review of Cartridge game, Star Trex by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
SCANNER: Some info on the Optical Scanner for Adam.
SPECIALS: Sales Specials by The Adam Connection. (Maybe in Speedywriter
format).
TIPS & TRICKS: Faster ways to use & obtain info from A-NET BBSs. (Maybe in Speedywrtier format).
TRYSYDTAPE: Information on a new development from TrySyd. (Syd Cartier).
256 K: A notice download from AKRON BBS on 256 K expanders.
AKRON BBS: Some PUBLIC message files downloaded from Akron BBS.
A WAR I: An article on the subject of the Adam Wars. Also run the accompanying game AWARGAME after loading basic. Both are from the slightly off center viewpoint of Barry Wilson.
AWARGAME: Load basic first, then run this game program. See A WAR I
above.
AWAUG BBS: Some PUBLIC message files & bulletin information downloaded from AWAUG BBS.
BARRY PATC (PATCH): Thoughts, comments, etc. by Barry Wilson & friends. A slightly different look at the Adam World.
BIOS 1 : A regular feature of MOAUG newsletter. a CP/M Column by Jerome Hess.
BIOS 2 : A regular feature of MOAUG newsletter. a CP/M Column by Jerome Hess. Second Article
COPY PROT(ection): Barry Wilson's thoughts on Copy Protection and Piracy.
DISTRIBUTE: The distribution list for the Adam News Network (ANN)
monthly information disk.
GODOS2: A CIS download on GODOS, comments by Ron Collins.
HOT NEWS : News, information & thoughts on the Adam scene by the very capable editor of MOAUG newsletter, Pat Herrington & her friends.
LOGO pt 1: Part 1 of a series of Articles on LOGO which is appearing in MOAUG newsletter and authored by Ricki Gerlach.
LOGO pt 2: Part 2 of a series of Articles on LOGO which is appearing in MOAUG newsletter and authored by Ricki Gerlach.
LOGO pt 3: Part 3 of a series of Articles on LOGO which is appearing in MOAUG newsletter and authored by Ricki Gerlach.
NATION(AL) NET: AWAUG BBS article on National BBS network by Bob Blair.
README: Information on this Adam News Network service.
READMETWO: This file which gives a summary or info on the other files.
REV ALINK3: A review of the new modem program Adam Link III+. By AL Fitzgerald, Sysop of ST.Louis AUG BBS.
REV BUMPNJ(ump): A review of Cartridge game, Bump N Jump by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV CONTRO(llers): A review of Super Action Controllers by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV DAMBUS(ters) ): A review of Cartridge game, Dam Busters by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV SPYHUN(ter): A review of Cartridge game, Spy Hunter by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
REV START(reX): A review of Cartridge game, Star Trex by Keith Jefferson of St.Louis AUG.
SCANNER: Some info on the Optical Scanner for Adam.
SPECIALS: Sales Specials by The Adam Connection. (Maybe in Speedywriter
format).
TIPS & TRICKS: Faster ways to use & obtain info from A-NET BBSs. (Maybe in Speedywrtier format).
TRYSYDTAPE: Information on a new development from TrySyd. (Syd Cartier).
256 K: A notice download from AKRON BBS on 256 K expanders.
I would like to respond to that article in defense, if any be required, of all our Adam hardware producers.
First I must compliment Ed Jenkins for publishing a letter so apparently critical of him. I do not know if I would have the integrity to do so.
The writer seems to fault E&T for announcing they were gong to develope a scanner, mouse, hard drive,etc. for Adam.
Well there is a mouse for Adam which apparently can be easily adapted from a Commodore mouse. (I have seen articles on how to do it, but have not seen them recently). There is a hard drive for Adam, from BJ.
I am not sure that E&T has given up on the scanner and they still may be working on it. BJ is also working on a scanner.
So the hardware is available for Adam if you want to look for it. Of course, that will take a little work and as the article writer stated you cannot just pick these items up off the shelve.
When any of us bought an Adam knowning it was NO LONGER MANUFACTURED, we had to have an idea that things would NOT be available off the shelf for us. In that respect the author was correct.
As to our hardware developers, ALL of them. They are serving a very useful place in the Adam world and are to be encouraged and discouraged.
With hardware (& I have no technical knowledge of the subject) you will require electrical components, parts, boards, etc. Some of these may be such that an individual can hand produce these but most must be made by professional electronic manufacturing companies.
I have seen BJ mention he needed l00 orders before a manufacturer would make boards for him; Syd Cartier that he required 25 orders before he could obtain the components for a disk drive for Adam, etc.
Many times it is NOT the Adam hardware producer who is the problem but the electrical component manufacturer who wants his minimum run of 50,l00,200 items before he will start production.
This is often why the Adam hardware producer indicates he is starting to work on a project and tries to find out what the interest level is in the project. He cannot work in secrecy and then suddenly put out an announcement, we now have 3500 Hard drives in stock, you can order off the shelf. There are just not that many interested Adamites desiring to purchase such items.
I want a scanner really bad and have tried to drum up interest and support in it but still only a few Adamites are interested in it.
Besides the problem with components and required minimum runs, there is the costs of development. How do you develope a scanner. IF you start working with existing scanners to modify for Adam you MUST BUY VARIOUS ONES TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE EASILY MODIFIED. All this costs money. Same with Hard drives, etc. How much can we expect these people to put out of their pockets for the research when there is only a limited market for the product when finally developed.
There is NOT the vast amount of product literature for Adam that there is for other computer companies and products. Coleco buried much of the important data rather than give it to the Adam world. I finally came across an old Coleco manual on programming for the Coleco vision games. I ran a few pages of it as an article in an Adam newsletter. I got one response but that was from an Adam software producer who told me he had spent 6 months decoding that same type information from the Colecovision unit & cartridges. 6 months because the information was buried. This is the type problem our Adam hardware producers run into daily.
The author of this article suggests that the hardware producer make a few of each item to send out for review. Again many of these items can only be made by purchasing lots of l00 items of a component at a time. There is no simple way to make l or 2 at low cost to try to see if they will sell. You must get an idea ahead of time as to your market and then see if it will support your efforts. Our hardware producers, like our software programmers are not big companies, making much money. Many of them work long and hard evenings and weekends to create these Adam hardware items for us. Then they must work with software producers to get the software to make these items run and be compatible with Adam. It is no easy job; no short job; no simple job.
The Adam dealers/developers do not want to keep Adam owners on a Merry-go-round as the author suggests. It is necessary to get the word out early that you are working on a project, so that the market and interest can be judged; some others having knowledge that may help shorten the time and lessen the cost of the hardware item, can find out that someone is working on it and make their knowledge, skills, etc. available.
If the Adam developers reach for the brass ring but never quite make it, then the loss is all of Adam's but the one who pays must heavily for this loss is not he who writes the critical article but the hardware developer who spent his time and money in the effort. Better to have tried & failed and increased our knowledge of Adam than not to have tried at all.
You really need to have read this prior article to understand why I am so upset about it. It ignores the fact that individual Adam owner who engages in or encourages piracy, Adam wars,etc. is hurting Adam and not the hardware producer who attempts to meet a need for Adam hardware.
The author of this article cries about no scanner (that is presently true), no mouse (that is not true, besides the articles on converting the commodore mouse, I believe Ruth Co. had ads for another Adam compatible mouse) and no hard drive (Again not true, just call BJ and you shall have your hard drive), but makes no effort to take advantage of the Adam hardware available to him.
In any case, I wanted to express my appreciation to all of the Adam hardware producers, for both their successes and their failures. All they can do is make their best attempt and if they fail, they hurt more than we do. If you look at Adam before and present, you can see how far we have come with both software and hardware. I sit here with my 80 column monitor (CP/M only), my 1200 Baud Modem, 720 K disk drive, 320 K disk drive, Panasonic printer, etc. and compare that to the initial Adam unit I first purchased and we have come a long long way.
r who attempts to meet a need for Adam hardware.
The author of this article cries about no
ÃReview by Jim DuffyÃ
Reedy Software has come out with another great auto-loading program with some very nice title screens called Addictus.This game requires some quick thinking and skillful hand-eye coordination because this game moves along very quickly (at least for me that is). At the beginning of the game you are presented with an empty pit and one by one,different shaped blocks will drop into the pit.The object of the game is to prevent the pit from overflowing while the blocks stack up and when they reach the top of the pit the game ends.
The player has a couple of different ways of manipulating the ever-falling blocks:The blocks can be moved left or right by using the left or right arrow keys or rotated by using the home key.You should try to fit the blocks in as tightly as possible leaving as little blank space as possible so when a horizontal row is completely filled,that row will disappear and the rows will fall down thus leaving more room for additional blocks.If you are really quick you can keep a game going for several minutes. Some of the nice features on the game screen are the top twenty HIGH SCORES on the left of the screen and on the right of the screen the SCORE,LINES(number of eliminated rows), and NEXT (displays what the next block looks like).
As you play the game and more lines are eliminated the difficulty of the game will begin to increase and the blocks will fall down faster.Points are added to the score each time a block lands and the higher up the pit the block lands the higher the difficulty level. Some of the controls on the keyboard are the DOWN ARROW KEY which is used to speed up the game(which is already fast enough for me),the RETURN KEY which starts the game at the title screen,the SPACE BAR which pauses the game,the ESCAPE KEY which you press to reset the game at the program title screen and the CLEAR KEY to clear the high scores at the title screen.
While playing this game you should remember to always leave the disk/tape in the drive so the high scores can be saved. The directions for this game are easy to understand and fill up 2 pages.I really liked this game and I hope Reedy Software continues to come out with more fine programs in the future for the ADAM.
ÃRATING-A+Ã
e). As you play the game and more lines are elimina
ÃEXCELLENT ARCADEÃ
ÃReview by Jim DuffyÃ
If you have ever purchased or had a chance to play Pinball games made with the Pinball Construction Set then I think you will really enjoy Excellent Arcade.This program has 10 different Pinball games: DEEP SPACE,RED HOT,BARON,EGYPT,FAST FOOD ,NORTH AMERICA,CLOWN,BONES, DISTORTION and CASTLE. To use the games you just follow these 7 steps. 1.Insert media. 2.Pull computer reset switch. 3.Select game at prompt. 4.Choose game from menu. 5.To launch ball use controller and depress the left side button. 6.Left and right side buttons also control the pinball flippers. toto er or during game press the "*" on the controll pad to return to the menu. Some of the nice features of this program are the many different colors and pictures used in each game.Also the use of either the keyboard or joystick to select games makes them easier to use.
If you enjoy pinball games I think Excellent Arcade at $14.95 is a fair price to pay.
ÃRATING-BÃ
NT ARCADEÃ
ÃReview by Jim DuffyÃ
If you have ever purchased or had a chance to play Pinball games made wi
ÃReview by Jim DuffyÃ
David Seaman has come out with 3 rather complex programs on one disk/ddp called ¯GROOVY GRAPHICS¯ selling for $19.95.The first thing you should do (after making your backup copy of course) is to print out the readme file and then the 3 doc files through SmartWriter before booting the disk.Now after sitting down,reading the documentation and feeling totally confused by words you might not of ever heard before,don't worry it is not really as complicated as it appears. Here is a brief description of the three programs included in this package.
CELLS-This program is the easiest of the three and is an adaptation of John Conway's "Game of Life".Alot has been written about it in Scienctific American's "Mathematical Games" and "Computer Recreations" columns.This program displays an 88 x 127 array of cells at about 2-3 generations per second.I tried drawing my name and then I viewed and printed it in the first 4 or 5 generations with some nice results.
LISSAJOUS-First of all a Lissajous figure is a type of curve made by plotting points whose position in one direction is determined by a sine wave,and whose position in the other direction is determined by another sine wave,usually of a different frequency and phase.These figures are usually made with a frequency generator and an oscilloscope.A few advantages of this program over the traditional method is that it allows the curves to be saved and printed out;it allows two different sine waves to be mixed on each axis;and it allows a third axis to be represented by color.This program can make some stunning pictures with different color pulsating sine waves.
IFS-This is a technique for making fractals and stands for "Iterated Function System".With this program you can make shapes and textures that you can save and then use with different painting programs.I made triangles,leaves ect... with this program and then printed them out with twice the resolution in each direction as is displayed on the screen using my dot matrix printer.David says there is a good article on this technique in BYTE magazine,January 1988,called "A Better Way to Compress Images".
Some of the nice features of these programs are the use of SMARTKeys (S-key I gives you one full help screen in all three programs and S-key VI is used to finish what you are doing or to switch modes) and if you press the print key you better make sure you have paper in your printer because it prints right after you touch the key.I might add that you must have a dot matrix printer to print out with this program.You can also make full use of your controller pad in various parts of the programs.Another nice feature is when you try to save a picture in the RLE format and forget to take the program disk out of the same drive you are writing to you get an I/0 error and then you just put in the other disk and it works fine.
I don't see how you can go wrong with these programs even if you just used CELLS which is the easiest program to learn considering you get all three for $19.95.I am sure once you learn how to use all the programs within ¯GROOVY GRAPHICS¯ you will realize all the different shapes and pictures you can create.
RATING-All help screen in all three programs and S-key VI is used to finis
By Barry Wilson.
WELL ADAMzap has done it again. Another high quality product from Eric Danz and his ADAMzap Software.
This is a purely entertainment program and game. The game includes a disk or data pack filled with several graphics screens that you shoot at with the suction dart gun and darts which COME WITH THE GAME.
You can use SmartWRITER to print out score cards from a file on the disk to use with each game (or screen).
There are six screens included in this game. They included the following: I. EZ-SHOT, which has cartoon-like characters and is an easy screen to score on.
II. TARGET, which is the classic round dart board. III. DECIDE, which is an executive decision maker, having areas marked "fire" , "hire", "yes" and "no".
IV. FOOT BALL, a foot ball field with goal posts, a field goal scores the most points. V. BUBBLES, various size bubbles each worth various scores. VI. COYOTE, which has a cartoon character with the most points for hitting him in the nose.
There are other volumes of different screens available. The graphics are very well done. Pull RESET and the game will load automatically. It will start with a title screen and theme musis and then continue to load the MAIN MENU. With this menu you can select a new or different screen by using the SmartKEYS.
By pressing the ESCAPE/WP key you will end the program and the computer will reset back to SmartWRITER. By pressing PRINT you get a program which can be displayed or printed out on the printer that is patched into EOS.
Either the SmartWRITER or a dotmatrix printer. By pressing STORE/GET you can load a different Screen Disk with more screens that are different and more difficult.
Check your local ADAMzap Dealer.
ZAP-ADAM is $ l5.50 and Screen Disks are $7.50.
THERE IS ALSO A SPECIAL FILE FOR HACKERS ON THE DISK SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN SCREEN DISKS.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. Be sure to read and apply the various cautions given including NOT FOR USE BY A CHILD OF 4 YEARS OR UNDER.
Barry Wilson, St.LAUG & ANN (Adam News Network).
l RESET and the game will load automatically. I
BY TOM CLARY SOFTWARE
Reviewed by Al Fitzgerald of the St.Louis AUG
I'm not the kind of guy who writes reviews of software. I hate writing...and that's a fact. But I love modeming and spend too much time and money on the Boards across the country keeping in touch with what's happening and sharing it with my Adam group. I guess that's why I actually volunteered to write the review on this new Adam communication software. BECAUSE IT'S EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED IN A MODEM PROGRAM! IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST THING I'VE SEEN FOR THE EOS ORIENTED ADAM USER! Yes, the CP/M programs will do everything that AdamLINK III+ will do, and yes, they do have Libraries and a few Macros. But me, I prefer to stay in a simpler, less complicated environment, such as the AdamLink software and Tom Clary has given us a beautiful working tool. What will it do? It will run either the internal AdamLINK modem at 300 baud with xmodem protocal (as does AdamLINK III) or it will allow you to use a serial card and external modem to run 300, 1200, or 2400!! baud with XMODEM file transfers. It will address either the standard Adam monitor or an 80 column adaptation, it will address either the Adam printer or whatever graphics printer you have installed....and all of these options at the touch of a few keys and following the SmartKeys menu prompts. Now I have been running Avatex 1200s and a Hayes Smartmodem with both Eve and Orphanware serial ports. Just recently I finally moved up to a Avatex 2400 baud modem. You ought to see that little sucker whiz the info across the screen for me when the ALIII+ is pushing it. Oh, yes, if you use an external modem but haven't the habit of turning on your capture buffer right away...better develop a new habit or you'll spend all your time stopping the input to read it. You probably have little idea of how cheap it is to zip onto a 1200 or 2400 baud board, download new messages or files, and jump off. I've phoned Ohio late at night and the cost has been 15 cents. And that was at 1200 baud and just looking for personal messages. ALIII+ that it operates with the same straightforwardness of the previous AdamLINK softwares. It still doesn't access the files on your storage disk as some of the later modem programs will. That would have been nice, but many of us live comfortably without it. If I have the most minor of complaints with the program, its just this. AdamLINK III+ has automatically redial for busy signals. That's good. But my copy would only redial once automatically. I would have preferred it to keep at it until I said stop. I'd recommend this change be made if it's as minor a detail as I suspect. Oh, oh, I can feel my brain starting to warm up. Well, there is just one other hope for future revisions (maybe that's why Tom didn't call it IV) and that is it would be nice to be able to view the buffer or the disk file without switching to other software. That would be a very nice cherry to top the cake. Perhaps the best news of all, I hear that for those who bought the AdamLINK III software that there is only a $5, plus shipping, fee for the upgrade. Now for what you get I can't imagine a better deal than that. Now where did I put that %@#$&! saleslip? Oh, yeah, otherwise, its $25. From NIAD in Evansville,Ill.
SHAMAN CIS #73657,2161 or PLINKy SHAMAN
(Buffer Closed!)
Title: Bump N Jump
Difficulty Level: Starts off quite easy but gains in difficulty as you go on.
Time to race but in an usual way. You are the driver of this silly looking car with wheels that can't seem to stay straight. When you reach a certain point of speed you are to jump in the air which is useful when you find that there is no bridge to cross bodies of water.
Game starts off in one of the four seasons and you the driver of the Bump n Jump car must bump and smash other cars into the wars and bodies of water while trying to avoid having the samething happen to you. If sucessful you get bonus points for the number of cars you smashed then you go on to the next season to challange hardercars to destroy and a more harzardous course. Play can get a little addictive with the use of the continueous play fuction in which you may continue at the beginning of the track where you lost your last car. The graphics are nice the sound is fair.
I give this *** 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Super Action
Super Action games (Baseball, Football, Frontline) can only be played with a special hand controller. The problem is that not everyone has one. You may not feel like spending the extra money for one on top of the price of the catridge just to play one game. Or maybe your s-a controllers are on the blink. Or maybe you do have a set but have gotten so good that you no longer find your s-a catridges interesting.
In any event this article should keep you entertained for a while. Maybe even give those games you thought you'd perfected a new lease on life because I'm going to show you how to play s-a games with a regular hand controller. For purposes of illustration I refer to the action battle game "Frontline" since that is the game I am most familiar with.
IN "Frontline", the player starts off as an infantryman surrounded by an advancing army on all sides. You are able to hurl grenades or fire your gun in the direction your arm points. Hiding behind obstacles, running and firing, you advance forward (avoid the land mines!) until you reach your tank. You promptly hop into your tank, where you continue the battle against the enemy's tank force. The object is to get to the enemy's main gun nest, hop out of your tank, and lob a grenade at it to end the game. Not an easy as it sounds, even with s-a controllers, as there will be two machine gun nests and tanks converging on you as soon as you leave your tank.
The s-a controllers allow you joystick movement as well as the 4 fire button options: turn firing arm clockwise (c), counterclockwise (cc), fire gun, and fire grenade. The grenade button is also used as a toggle to hop in and out of the tank when you are near it. If you try playing this game with regular controllers you find that the left fire button fires the gun and the right fire button rotates the arm clockwise. You can get up to the tank but you can't get in. Even if you got to the enemy's main machine gun nest you couldn't blow it up because you can't activate the grenade button.
Playing "Frontline" with regular controllers got me thinking that there must be some way to activate the other functions. Trhough experimentation I found that if you press the numbers 3 an 9 simultaneously on the keypad you are able to rotate the arm cc. Numbers 6 and 7 activate the grenade and tank toggle button. In addition to this I also found that numbers 3 and 5 launches a grenade as well as turning the arm cc.
Technically speaking, s-a controllers plug into the 9 pin "male" on the console just like the regular controllers. This means that they both use the same means to enter their commands to the computer. The special s-a buttons must activate a pin or series of pins that are common to both but not normally activated by the regular hand controllers. This is why you can use regular hand controllers in place of s-a's. (See table 1 for a comparison between s-a and regular hand controller fuctions and table 2 for alternate number combinations that you can use with the regular hand controllers in place of the numbers listed in table 1.)
I'm going to continue experimenting with other games and controllers and see what I can come up with. The above should work with "Rocky" but (because of the s-a roller) may give you some problems with "Baseball" and "Football". Till next time dust off your old s-a games and have a go at them with your regular hand controllers. It's a little more difficult at first but can extend the lifetime of a s-a cartridge for you experts out there.
Table 1
s-a and regular hand controller comparison
motion s-a buttons regular button
turn arm c orange 3 and 9 turn arm cc purple right fire fire gun yellow left button grenade/tank toggle blue 6 and 7
Table 2
alternate keypad number conbinations
grenade cc and grenade cc pause
2 and 3 1 and 4 1 and 0 1 and 9 3 and 7 3 and 4 3 and 0 6 and 7 3 and 5 3 and 9
Title: Dam Busters
Your mission will help break the back of Germany's war effort. Your modified Lancaster bombers, flying at low altitudes, will drop specially designed bombs on very select targets. You will destroy the dams that supply power for Germany's vast war-time industry.
This game is the most complicated game on cartridge yet (which reminds me - why is the game also released on tape? The 2 versions are the same except that the tape is slower, can not be used on the Colecovision game player, and is more prone to wearing out. Doesn't make sense.) Damb Busters simulates all the aspects of a WW2 bomber. There are no points tallied and just one goal - to blow up a dam. Since so many people have a lot of trouble figuring this one out, we've decided to focus mostly on playing tips in this review of the game. Just remember, stick with this game. It's a winner and will provide you with many more hours of fun than most other games will. This game grows on you and is, in our opinion the best we've yet seen (in terms of playability, not action or speed) for the Coleco game cartridge system.
Some useful pre-flight tips: 1)Be careful to shoot the attacking airplanes, especially the ones attacking from the rear of the plan (screen 3). 2) When there is a fire in one of the engines, go to the appropriate extinguisher and pull down on the button. Once the fire is out, try to restart the engine. (Note: evidently either engines one or three are the only ones that will ever catch on fire and out of these, the only one that can be restarted is engine #1.) 3) If one of your engines is on fire and you have already used the xtinguisher, to keep up the airspeed, sometimes decreasing the pitch of the propellers and increasing the engine speed slightly will increase your airspeed. If engine #1 is on fire and you have used your extinguisher, it's possible, for a temporary airspeed increase, to bring the #1 throttle to zero and then raise it to maximum engine speed. The engine will slowly die off but this is helpful when you need a little more airspeed to increase your altitude.
Starting Off ->Setting Parameters.<- The first thing to do is to increase the airspeed and set your course. Go to screen 6 and raise all 4 throttles until the tachometers show a reading of about 10 o'clock. Go back to screen 1. The air speed indicator should be reading about 9 o'clock. Next go to screen 5 and place the navigational marker over the dam which you are going to bomb. (Note the dam closest to the top of the screen (#5) is the easiest to bomb because the length of the lake is longer there giving you more time to set up the bombing parameters.) One you have chosen a dam, return to screen 1 and line up your compass with the red navigational indicator.
->Getting to the Destination.<- Now the trick is to get to the dam without being shot down, catching on fire, or just plain crashing. As you fight off the enemy planes, periodically check your compass (screen 1) to make sure that you are still on course and also check your map (screen 5) to see where you are in relation to the dam.
->Setting Up for the Dam.<- As you start approaching the dam, reduce your airspeed. (You may find that it is sometiems necessary to increase the pitch of the propellers as well as decreasing the engine speed to get the proper airspeed.) Your speed is good when the airspeed indicator reads about 7 o'clock. Continue to fly over the dam and past the end of the lake. After you have given yourself adequate room, make a U-turn towards the dam. Aligning the navigational indicator is critical at this time. Keep on checking the map to see how far the plane is from the dam. Once you reach the tip of the lake, go to the bomb room (#4), turn on the altitude lights, start the bomb spinning and adjust the altitude with the joystick until the edges of the circles just touch. Return to screen one. The dam should be in sight at this time. Try to keep the dam in the middle of the screen. go to the front gunners' room (#2) which is now th 60 mm aiming sights. If the dam isn't in the middle of the sights, return to screen one and realign the plane with respect to the dam, Return to screen 2 and if the sights are aligned properly, drop the bomb. If you pass over the dam or cannot line up the sights, you may turn around for another run at the dam.
Note: Once the dam is seen, the game switches into another
mode. The plan can't turn as quickly and the enemy planes
don't attack. This must be taken into consideration if you
plan to make a second attempt at hitting the dam.
Title: Spy Hunter
Ah yes! An Arcade classic if I ever saw one. The object of
this game?? Well the title tells it all. You are giving a
car armed with machine gun and your mission is to cruise
down the road searching for spies. Along the way you are
giving additional weapons such as smoke screen, oil slick
and missiles for those pesky helicopters that appear from
time to time. You must dispose of several different type of
spy cars as you drive down the winding road from cars that
have tire slashers to bullet proof cars that must be bumped
off the road to even the boss man himself who drives inside
a sleek limo that becomes a menace to you. If you are
skilled enough and stay alive long enough you may find
yourself turning in you car for a speed boat. Here you must
battle the on water in their boats. No extra weapons are
offered in the water. A dock appears on the right at
selected times if you want to switch back to the car.
This is one of the best graphics actions games for the Coleco Adam yet. The graphics are well done and this version of Spy Hunter is one of the best that I've seen yet. It even beats the Commodore and Nintendo versions for graphics and ease of play and car detail. I give this ***** out of 5 stars.
Title: Star Trek
Difficulty Level: Starts fair but difficulty greatly increases as the boards are cleared.
Space...The Final Frontier...Remember those famous lines? Well here is the home adaptation of the arcade game based off the Star Trek television series. You are the captain of the starship Enterprise and your mission is to defend your star bases from an invasion of the Klingon Empire.
You start this game with two outlooks of it. First you are given the first person look of the game which is more like the monitor that Kirk watches from his captain's chair. Here you can see a 3D look of everything that is in front of you that is within visable reach. The other screen show the entire sector giving the location of each Klingon vessels, Starbases, the Enterprise or what ever else should be in that sector.
Every five boards you giving what I call a bonus board which you must destroy a strange cigar shaped ship that is dropping mines all over the secor. Avoid these mines at all cost. You must destroy the ship before it lays all its mines and all the mines have detonated. Easy way to pick up a few points if you don't destroy yourself dodging through the mines.
The weapons you carry are Phasers and Photon torpedoes which shoots long range and can destroy several Klingons at once. Your only defense are your shields are weaken every time you take a shot or collide with an enemy vessel. You are given impulse drives which slowly moves your ship across the sector. For emergencies there is a Warp Drive that zips your ship quickly across the sector. Your shields are lowered during this process. Beware of the saucer that hooks to your ship and drains you Warp Power. Repairs are available at Starbases.
The graphics for this game are amazing and sound goes right along with it too. The only problem I've had is once I get to the high boards I don't stand a chance against the Klingons since they immediately ram into your ship and killing you. For you Trekies out there this is a MUST! I give this **** 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Title: Root Beer TAPPER from Coleco
Format: Cartridge
Interest Level: Fun at first but fails to maintain the same intensity with each play.
Difficulty Level: Easy to understand and play although the action can get rather frantic.
Poor Sam the soda jerk, he's all alone working the taps in a soda fountain full of thirsty customers. Play begins in the Westerm soda fountain where you must hustle to make him fill mugs from his taps and slide them down to incoming customers demanding to be served at four counters. Lucky for you and for Sam that there are also four root beer taps nearby. Sam must hop from one counter to the next in order to keep up with the thirsty crowd. Don't allow any customer to go without a drink and reach the end of the counter or else your Sam will be dragged over the counter and tossed out of the bar. The faster you make Sam serve that root beer, the better are the chances of closing up and moving on but in your haste you must be careful not to slide extra mugs to a counter that has sbeen cleared of customers.
Sounds refreshing doesn't it? For the drinkers maybe but not for poor old Sam who must also retrieve the returning empty mugs before they fall off the counters. But his hard work does not go unnoticed by his clientele as he is rewarded with tips. When you make Sam pick up his tip which although desirable is not always possible, entertainment starts and you must then be extra careful not to slide a mug to anyone whose back is turned and is enjoying the show. Additional screens include a Stadium soda fountain, a new version of the Western soda fountain and a futuristic Space soda fountain. Sam must reach down for that little extra effort as business activity really takes off with each successive soda fountain screen. When the bonus root beer screen appears Sam takes a bit of a breather. Here Sneaky Pete shakes up five of six root beer cans on the counter which he then mixes up. You must move Sam to the can you think wasn't shaken to earn bonus points.
What makes Tapper an interesting and amusing game are the detailed colorful graphics, the zany music, Sam's humorous gestures and the uniquely designed instruction sheet which is written and printed in the form of a menu card. One major weakness I found is that after playing the game five or six times one tends to find the action rather monotonous. The element of challenge involved is not very stimulating beyound the first few games, but ti's an excellent game for refining basic skills of eye and hand coordination nevertheless. Warning! Excessive play of TAPPER can cause "Trigger Finger".
TO: ALL
FROM: Big John 1
SUBJ: SCANNERS
The scanner project will
be done, regardless of
interest. I want one for
myself. But since I have a
CLONE also, we are going
to have a CLONE type
scanner so I can use it on
both computers.
Hopefully, we will just
release some software and
find a scanner that will
require very little
interfacing, if any. Then
all you do is download the
osftware and go out and
buy the scanner from
wherever you can find it.
BJ
A8793 04:48 Aug-19-1989
TO: ALL
FROM: Barry Wilson 114
SUBJ: OPTICAL SCANNERS
Apparently BJ needs to
have an idea how many of
us are interested in a
handheld optical scanner.
I know I am and hope
enough others are so that
BJ can accomplish the
production o or
instructions or whatever
so we can have an optical
scanner for ADAM. PLEASE
LEAVE MESSAGES FOR BJ if you are interested and
check with other Adamites
you know.
..........................
[Since I am not sure if there is a time limit on these, check with The Adam Connection to be sure prices are still effect and to obtain current prices and other current sale items.]
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*** SOFTWARE SPECIALS ***
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DEMONS & DRAGONS I & II for $25
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The Best of the Electronic Arts AND
The Best of Broderbund for just $8
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Super Donkey Kong AND Super Donkey
Kong Jr.(5 Screen) for just $13
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B.C. GROG'S REVENGE $6.95
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JEOPARDY (no bug version) $6.00
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Super Dam Busters $6.95
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* ALL INFOCOM GAMES ARE $18.95 *
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SmartFILER for $10
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ADAMCalc for just $20
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*** NEW PRODUCT ***
EXCELLENT ARCADE is a new product
by Renegade and is being sold thru
The ADAM Connection. This program
features GREAT graphics and will
keep you busy for hours with 10
different pinball games. You'll
also love another thing about this
game-- the price! $14.95
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-----------------------------------
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*** HARDWARE SPECIALS ***
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COLECO JOYSTICKS $4.95 each.
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BLANK ADAM DATA PACKS (SONY HF-60)
just $1.70 each
5 BLANK DATA PACKS for $8 10 BLANK DATA PACKS for $15
Original Loran/Coleco Data Packs
for $1.50 each
-----------------------------------
CARTRIDGES FOR SALE $10 each
Popeye Centipede Avenger
Donkey Kong D.K. Junior Illusions
Q*bert Star Wars Victory
Destructor Slither SpaceFury
Smurf War Games
-----------------------------------
ADAM 160K disk drives $165
-----------------------------------
New ADAMLink Modems $25 [SOLD!!]
-----------------------------------
Data Drives for $20
-----------------------------------
ADAM Ribbons for $3.95 each!!
Buy over 10 == $3 each
-----------------------------------
DAISY WHEELS (Pica, Courier or
Emphasis) just $3 each
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
*** USED SOFT/HARDWARE ***
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Phrase Craze $12
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Sub Raiders $19 [SOLD!!]
-----------------------------------
ShowOFF I (configured for Star SG10
and compatibles) $10
-----------------------------------
ShowOFF IIa (configured for Star
SG-10 and compatibles) $10
-----------------------------------
NIK Graphics Experimenter
(by:Nickelodeon Graphics) $15
-----------------------------------
ALAN NEELEY Custon Auto-Answer
Interface for ADAMLink 300 modem
and a BBS. $12 [SOLD]
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ADAM Printer, great condition
Newest model with soft paper
roller. $40
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Yer Sysop,
->(CONNECTION) <-
-----------------------------------
To order leave a message to TC1,
CONNECTION, or a message in Feed-
Back.
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STEVE MAJORS OF THE ADAM CONNECTION gives his hints and tricks.
NOTE--- This maybe reprinted or posted on any BBS as long as proper credit is given to The Connection BBS.
* Represents commands availiable on any A-NET system.
CONNECTION'S TIPS, TRICKS &
HELPFUL HINTS!!!----------------------------------
This file is designed to help you get the most out of the Connection BBS. It is to your advantage to read this as it will help you save A LOT of online time.
LOGIN - The first question you will be asked is how many nulls you need. Enter a number 0-9 if you terminal program loses characters. The larger the number, the less characters you will lose. If you are calling with 300 baud software you will be set with 0 nulls no matter what number you enter since you are less likely to lose characters. IF however you do lose some, you may change the setting at the TC/MAIN by entering a Z. * When you're asked to Press Return you can enter an A. This will bring you right to the login to enter your information. After you enter your info you can save more time by choosing to skip the welcome. When you get to the news you can about reading the text by pressing the spacebar. A simple rule for the A-NET BBS is that a press of the spacebar will abort text readings. IF you ever get denied access by the BBS try your Password again typing it carefully, if you still cannot get in, login as a new user using your handle with a "2" added to the end of it. On the application tell me who you are and what happened, leave your password too. You'll be fixed and ready to go by the next evening when the BBS goes back up.
* TC/MAIN - there's not too much time saving tips for this, but you must return here from any sub- section to access anything else. You can get a menu by entering a ?
ACCESS LEVEL & YOU - Type L to view what your access level is and to see what all other access levels are.
NULL SETTING - Type Z at the TC/MAIN to enter a new setting for your null rate.
* PRIVATE EMAIL - This is probably the most used section of the BBS. With this you have access to all the users and can leave private mail to anyone. Since this sub has many features I'll break them up to make it easier. * 1. NUMBER x - Enter the number of the message at the EMAIL prompt that you wish to read. * 2. REPLY - Typing an R will reply to the last message you read and send it to who sent it to you. You'll be given the A-NET editor to type your messages. If you're having trouble with the editor, read further into this file for hints on it. * 3. SEND MESSAGE - Type S at the EMAIL prompt to send a message to somebody. Enter their ID# or handle when asked. When you are asked for the subject of your message, enter it WITHOUT ANY COMMA'S!!!!!! This is very important. You'll then be given the A-NET editor. * 3. USER ID - Type UI to get a list of the users on the BBS. 4. WHO MENU - Type W to get a quick listing of the users. NOTE-- You can now view the WHO MENU thru the TC/MAIN by typing a U 5. FORWARD - Type a > to send a message to a user who's message was sent to you by mistake. * 6. QUIT - Type Q to get back to the TC/MAIN. If you have mail you'll be acked to delete it. Your mailbox can only hold 5 messages so it is wise to get rid of your mail when your thru with it.
N FILES - Type N at the TC/MAIL and you'll get News files. Here is where you can read some of the news of the ADAM community and some things about this BBS. Q will bring you back to the TC/MAIN; After reading a file L will relist the menu so you can select another.
* G & P files only G,S,K,K2 FILES - Same as the N files, type G instead. These are different files however.
NOTE--- With the N,G,S,K,K2 & P files you can now switch between them without returning to the TC/MAIN. Type ? while you're in these areas for a menu.
* WALL FILE - This is a place to enter a one line saying, usually you want to build on what was last said. It gets pretty fun after a while so give it a try. Type W at the TC/MAIN.
* COUNTRY WIDE BBS LISTING - Type ADAM at the TC/MAIN prompt to get a listing of other ADAM BBS' accross the country. Type R to Read the list or Q to quit. If you run a BBS just type W to write your BBS info to the system.
* PUBLIC MESSAGE SYSTEM - This system is much like the Email area so I'll list the various functions. LISTING BOARDS - Type a L to list the boards available in this area. To change the board enter it's number. * SCANING MESSAGES - Type a S to scan the messages that are under the current board you are in. * READING MESSAGES - Type R# to read a message, replace # with the number of the message you'd like to read. * RESPONDING TO A MESSAGE - After you are done reading the message of your choice, you can enter a R to respond. You then be given the A-NET editor to write your response. If you have trouble with the editor, be sure to continue reading for help with it. IF you do not want to respond, press RETURN to read the next message OR enter a Q to return to the Message Base Prompt. * 5. POSTING - To post a message enter a P. Make sure your subject fits the Board Title you are in!! After entering a P you'll be asked to enter the subject of your post. ENTER IT WITH NO COMMA'S!! Again this is very important. After this you'll be given the A-NET editor to do you post. (A-NET Editor hints are later in this file) * 6. KILLING A POST - To kill a post enter a K. You'll be asked which one you want to be destroyed. Enter it's number. PLEASE DON'T KILL SOMEONE ELSE'S POST, only yours. If you'd like one of the other's killed, leave EMAIL to me or to the person who wrote it. NOTE--- Control+C skips through the responses and Control+S pauses the display
* UD SECTION - This is the part of the BBS that lets you transfer files to and from the BBS. Again this is a large section of the BBS so I'll break it up. * 1. LISTING BOARDS - This is the same as the command for the Public Boards. Type an L to get the different boards containing files that pretain to the board titles. Enter the number of the board that you wish to Download from. * 2. SCANNING FILES - Again this command is the same as the Public Boards. Enter an S to Scan what files are under the board you are in. * 3. ASKING ABOUT A FILE - Enter an A followed by the number of the file you're interested in. You'll see a description of it. * 4. DOWNLOADING - Type a D to down- load a file you want. When asked enter it's number, the buffer will be opened and you will be asked to Press Return when ready. At this point goto your terminal mode and set your computer to recieve the file you want. Return on-line with THE CONNECTION and press return. The Computers will do transfer. When finished the BBS will display a thank you message and ask that you again press return when ready. Return to your terminal mode and disengage your transfer option, come back on-line and press return. Continue as you wish with the BBS. * 5. UPLOADING - To send a file to THE CONNECTION, make sure you are in UD BOARD #1, this is where all incomming files should go. Type UF and read the directions and press return to continue. At this time you should goto your terminal mode and set your Computer for file transfer. The BBS will tell you to start transfer in 15 seconds. The process is again done between the computer. You can press CONTROL+C to abort the transfer or CONTROL+X to save it. When done your account will be credited, press return to continue with the BBS.
* A-NET EDITOR COMMANDS - The A-NET
Editor is a unique feature and is
a very important part of the BBS.
Once you learn it's commands, you
will find it very easy. When you
are presented with it, just type
what your want to say and you'll
find no problems. Most people find
it confusing how to actually save
their info and therefore don't use
it. Just remember that each of the
Commands for it start with a .
YOU MUST PRESS THIS AT THE BEGIN-
NING OF A NEW LINE!!! If you do not
you'll get just a regular period.
When you press it at a new line
you'll get a >>, now the next letter
you press will have to be a command.
Press S and you'll end up with a
>>SAVE, mearly press return and
your file will be saved. It is very
easy to use. Their are a host of
editor commands that let you edit
your document until you get it
perfect. To get a list press (at
the beginning of a new line of
course) .H This will give you
the editor command. Some of the
more unique will be described here.
.R will let you read what you have
aritten.
.L will list your document with
line numbers to let you edit them.
.D will let you delete a line.
Enter a number folling the command
and your line will be deleted, the
default is the last line entered.
.I will let you insert a line. Enter
the number of the last line BEFORE
the one you want to insert. Type
your info and then press return,
you are given lines until you press
just return at one of them.
.E will let you edit a line. After
the command enter a line number you
with to edit. Retype the line the
way you want it. The defaut for
editing is the last line entered.
THIS CONCLUDES THE BBS HELPFUL HINTS. MORE WILL BE ADDED IF I REMEMBER SOMETHING I FORGOT. HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!!!
-> (CONNECTION) <-
(edited version appeared in Aug MOAUG)
Here's the scoop...Have you ever noticed how you're always ru nning out of storage space on your digital data pacs??? W ell, if you're one of the many Adam users who is in this situation then I have news!!!!! Trisyd Video Games has PERFECTED a format generator that has now increased the si ze of a standard digital data pac from 256k to 306k, and tha t's just for starters.. As of writing this, the process is capable of generating format code to support up to 16 megs!! ...Yes there is more..
At this time, the Trisyd Labs (as I fondly like to call it) i s still tweaking every byte it can to provide the best possi ble format in the smallest package. Theoretical predictions indicate a new standard to be set for C-60 cassettes being a storage capacity of 320k or twice the capacity of a standar d single sided disk drive. Provisions are now in effect t o format C-90 and upwards type magnetic media in an effort to increase the DDP capacity into the 400+k range!!! AND THE BEST PART is that all this comes without having to modify your EOS operating system!!
What this means it that you can just drop one of these beauties into your data drive and store all the smartwriter letters or basic programs that it will hold. For CP/M applications, the need to utilize a modified O/S such as TDOS will be required. I've already spoken with Tony Morehen (Whom you all should be aware of as being the driving force behind all the wonderful improvements to CP/M) and he tells me that the implementation of this type of tape size is a very simple procedure, in fact, I would say he has already made the provision for such an event seeing as he has already made modifications to CP/M for the 320k, 720k disk drives and the hard disk!!. The tapes are now in the league!!
Do not confuse this as a patch job from existing tapes.. These (Trisyd tapes?) are generated from scratch, 100% masters... This project has taken 1 year in research and development. It has met with failures yet still succeeded. The tapes created act just like they came out of the Coleco mother themselves, perhaps even BETTER!! These tapes are fully formatted. The missing blocks at the end of a tape (caused by improper spool length) are eliminated!! Within seconds the tape drive microprocessor is able to determine where it is on the tape and proceed to where it wants to be.
Well enough for this message... More updates to come as they happen.. I will announce price and availability soon!!! Keep posted!!
We appreciate Ron Mitchell sharing this information with us.
File Utilities Block Editors Copy Utilities Formatters
WHO NEEDS THEM?
Let's start with a quote....this from the first book I ever read on computers - one which my wife bought me the Christmas before ADAM....she now says she regrets the purchase....(wonder why?).....anyway, the quote goes like this:
"Many hobbyists can't understand why anyone would not want to learn everything there is to know about computers. To the devout there is no middle ground. If you like computers, you really like them. It's hard for the hobbyist to understand that some people just want to use the computer as a tool, not adopt it into the family." from "COMPUTERS FOR EVERYBODY" by Jerry Willis & Merl Miller.
To expand a little....
Members on the 'newsletter circuit' will have read vast and copious amounts on such programs as Uncle Ernie's Toolkit, Smartrix, Copy Magic, Backup Plus 3.0 and the like. To many of us a true ADAM enthusiast simply cannot do without such a program. And why is that? Well.....
CASE I
With any collection of disks and/or tapes, there is always housekeeping to be done...yes, even with Smartwriter files. Sooner or later you will reach a point where you've run out of space on a Sunday afternoon when Canadian Tire is closed. You can't buy, beg or even borrow a datapack or disk. Chances are you'll have all sorts of them sitting around, but more than likely, they'll all be full of programs, files and other collectables that must not be touched. What to do?
You look through what you've got for a few k of free space, and you quickly realize that most of your tapes and disks are taken up with backup versions of programs that have long since either been forgotten or sold for a million bucks. And you decide then and there to clean things up.
Fact is, you can't do it without a file copy program.
CASE II
You've pirated or otherwise acquired one of the neatest programs ever devised by man. You know it's neat because you saw it working on a friend's ADAM, but he has a disk drive and you don't. So you pleaded and whined until he made you a tape of it, and you chugged merrily on home to try it out. And....it froze up...right?
Fact is, you need a block editor to boldly sneak into the program code and change a few numbers here or there so that the default drive is changed from disk to datapack. It's called hacking, and it can be addictive once you start.
CASE III....related to CASE I
You finally locate a datapack that contains dispensible garbage. You try the "init" command from SmartBASIC to clean the tape, and then you discover that some joker has copied BASIC onto that particular datapack. Of course, the "init" command will not work.
Fact is, with Filemanager or Uncle Ernie's or Backup Plus 3.0, you could init the tape no matter what was on there.
CASE IV.....related to CASE III
You grow tired of having to boot up SmartBASIC before using your favourite program. You have to change tapes, and that's inefficient. Wouldn't it be nice to have BASIC resident on each of your disks or datapacks so all you have to do is load and pull the reset switch.
Same answer. You need a means of copying BASIC which doesn't even appear in your directory. But it's there. With a few changes by a block editor to block 1 of the datapack, it will appear in the directory as BASICPGM....28 blocks long. Most of the copy utilities listed above will permit you to copy your SmartBASIC onto another datapack. So let's not belabour the point. There are a number of jobs which the hobbyist needs done from time to time, and this is where the file utilities become an integral part of a good software library. You can organize your programs and files, delete unecessary duplicates or backups, free up space on a media, and generally keep your operation neat and clean.
There's more. You can also determine the specific location of your files on a given disk or datapack, and copy them to another in the order in which you want them. And most of all, you can enjoy the absolutely devilish fun of looking into someone else's locked program code even when the "list" command doesn't accomplish the task. 't even appear in your directory. But it's there. With a few changes by a block
We appreciate Ron Mitchell sharing this information with us.
VRAMREADER
by R.H. Mitchell
This little program will enlighten and entertain...(I hope). It's purpose is to show you the coding contained in ADAM's video ram (VRAM) and in doing so permit you to see exactly how the character set is formed.
A couple of issues ago, you'll recall that we discussed the formation of one character using a grid of eight bytes. In fact the character itself used a 5 by 7 pixel grid with the rest providing spacing in between the characters. Well here's the entire set, and if you want to get highly ambitious, you can even use the information provided to re-write your own character set.
The program will read the byte pattern in each of the 16384 VRAM addresses, and give you a choice of output. If you select the hex mode, you get a straight printout of the hex value at each VRAM address. Not too informative, I thought, so I decided to add a binary conversion routine, and do a little setting up on the screen. Selecting a binary readout will convert each of the VRAM bytes into binary and if you take them in groups of 8 over the first few pages, you'll see how each of the characters is formed. Aside each byte's binary printout is the ASCII character that byte is part of, the decimal equivalent of the binary value, and the VRAM address where it is stored. To read another byte, simply press return. To leave the program, press the escape key.
Enjoy. Here's the printout.
SEE VRREAD File.
en the char
We appreciate Ron Mitchell sharing this information with us.
0REM VIDEO RAM READER BY R.H. Mitchell...June 15, 1988
1LOMEM :29000
5DIM bit%(8)
10HOME: m=0:POKE 16953, 32
20HTAB 10:VTAB 12:? "VRAM-READER"
30HTAB 5:VTAB 23:? "PRESS ANY KEY TO START"
40GET a$
45IF a$=CHR THEN 450
50HOME:HTAB 5:VTAB 5:? "MENU"
52HTAB 5:VTAB 6:? "____"
55?:?
60? " I. Hex Listing"
65?
70? "II. Binary Listing"
75HTAB 3:VTAB 23:? "SELECT CHOICE WITH SMARTKEYS"
80GET a$: key=ASC(a$)-128
90ON (key=1) OR (key=2) GOTO 120, 120
100GOTO 80
120 g=0
140 x$="0123456789ABCDEF"
150POKE 17115, 31:POKE 17059, 31:POKE 17126, 23:TEXT
160DATA 62,0,211,191,62,0,211,191,0,0,0,0,219,190,50,84,111,201
170FOR x=28000 TO 28017
180READ d:POKE x, d:NEXT
190TEXT:INPUT " WHAT PAGE? "; p
195IF p<0 OR p>63 THEN HOME:VTAB 10:HTAB 10:? "ILLEGAL VALUE":FOR i=1 TO 3000:NEXT:GOTO 190
200POKE 28005, p
202POKE 16995, 6
203HTAB 2:VTAB 1
210?:? "PAGE "; p; " VRAM ADDRESSES "; p*256:? " TO "; p*256+255:?:?
211HTAB 1:VTAB 1:? SPC(15) 212HTAB 1:VTAB 5:? " BINARY ASCII DEC ADDRESS" 213HTAB 1:VTAB 6:? "------------------------------" 214HTAB 1:VTAB 7 220FOR e=0 TO 15 230FOR s=0 TO 15 240POKE 28001, e*16+s 250CALL 28000 260 g=PEEK(28500) 265IF key=2 THEN 310 280? MID$(x$, INT(g/16)+1, 1); 290? MID$(x$, (g/16-INT(g/16))*16+1, 1); " "; 305IF key=1 THEN 470 310REM 000 then print 320FOR j=7 TO 0 STEP -1 330 b=2^j 340IF g-b<0 THEN bit%(j)=0:GOTO 370 350 bit%(j)=1 360 g=g-b 370NEXT j 380FOR j=7 TO 0 STEP -1 390IF bit%(j)=l THEN INVERSE:? bit%(j); :NORMAL:GOTO 420 400? bit%(j); 420NEXT j 425IF p>7 THEN 435 430? "chr$("; INT(((p*256)+e*16+s)/8); ")"; SPC(2); PEEK(28500); 431HTAB 25:? (p*256)+e*16+s 432IF p<=7 THEN 440 435? SPC(3); PEEK(28500); SPC(10); (p*256)+e*16+s 436HTAB 10:VTAB 5:? "DECIMAL ADDRESS" 437HTAB 1:VTAB 7 440GET a$ 445 m=m+1 450IF a$=CHR THEN POKE 17115, 240:POKE 17059, 240:POKE 17126, 15:POKE 16953, 95:TEXT:END
460IF a$=CHR THEN ? 462IF a$=CHR THEN m=0:GOTO 190 465IF m/8=INT(m/8) AND p<8 THEN ? 470NEXT s 475NEXT e 480GOTO 190
K(z+2) 5220IF h>12 THEN h=h-12 5230HTAB (17):? h; ":"; 5240 m=PEEK(z+1) 5250IF m<10 THEN ? "0"; 5260? m; 5270IF PEEK(z+2)>1
SOURCE CODE LISTING FOR X10-ADAM HOME AUTOMATION CONTROLLER
*All memory location related to SmartBASIC in decimal 0000-00 0001 ORG 29000 *Initial serial port to 600bps,8,1,N 0000-00 DB47 0002 Serinit IN A,(47h) ;Reset 2651 0002-00 3E6E 0003 LD A,6Eh ;8,1,N 0004-00 D346 0004 OUT (46h),A 0006-00 3E36 0005 LD A,36h ;600bps internal clock
0008-00 D346 0006 OUT (46h),A 000A-00 3E07 0007 LD A,7h ;tx,rx enable 000C-00 D347 0008 OUT (47h),A 000E-00 DB44 0009 IN A,(44h) ;Clear rev 0010-00 DB44 0010 IN A,(44h) ;one more 0012-00 C9 0011 RET *Data upload from controller, number of byte to get is in location 29025 0013-00 21AC71 0012 Dupload LD HL,29100 ;Memory addrs 0016-00 0E44 0013 LD C,(44h) 0018-00 060D 0014 LD B,0Dh ;Number of byte to get 001A-00 DB45 0015 loop1 IN A,(45h) ;read status 001C-00 E602 0016 AND 02h ;get D1 001E-00 28FA 0017 JR Z,loop1 0020-00 EDA2 0018 INI ;save data 0022-00 20F6 0019 JR NZ,loop1 ;get next data 0024-00 C9 0020 RET *Output single byte in location 29044 to controller 0025-00 DB45 0021 serout IN A,(45h) ;get status 0027-00 E601 0022 AND 01h ;get D0 0029-00 28FA 0023 JR Z,serout 002B-00 3E00 0024 LD A,0h ;data to send 002D-00 D344 0025 OUT (44h),A ;send it out 002F-00 C9 0026 RET *Get a single byte from serial interface 0030-00 06FE 0027 serin LD B,0FEh 0032-00 05 0028 sinput DEC B 0033-00 280D 0029 JR Z,sererr 0035-00 DB45 0030 IN A,(45h) 0037-00 E602 0031 AND 02h ;get D1 0039-00 28F7 0032 JR Z,sinput 003B-00 21AC71 0033 LD HL,29100 ;memory location
003E-00 DB44 0034 IN A,(44h) 0040-00 77 0035 LD (HL),A ;save data 0041-00 C9 0036 RET *Use this to avoid hang-up when RS-232 serial interface not active 0042-00 21CA71 0037 sererr LD HL,29130 0045-00 3E00 0038 LD A,0h 0047-00 77 0039 LD (HL),A ;indicated error occur
0048-00 C9 0040 RET *Calculate checksum start at location 29150 of that many byte in Reg.B 0049-00 3E00 0041 LD A,0h 004B-00 0604 0042 LD B,4 ;do for this many byte
004D-00 21DE71 0043 LD HL,29150 ;start here 0050-00 86 0044 csum ADD A,(HL) 0051-00 23 0045 INC HL 0052-00 05 0046 DEC B 0053-00 20FB 0047 JR NZ,csum 0055-00 77 0048 LD (HL),A ;store result here 0056-00 C9 0049 RET
0050 END.. ...-.... 0041-00 C9 0036 RET *Use this to avoid hang-up when RS-232 serial inter
AN X10-HOME AUTOMATION CONTROLLER FOR THE ADAM COMPU TER
AWAUG 7/16/1989 by MINH TA
Would you like to have your house turn the outside light on when you want and go off when it should, or give you some light at dawn when you come back after a late party, keep air in the house at the most comfortable level that you like, scare the burglar away, simulate a live-in house when you are on a long vacation? If you find yourself saying: "Yes!" then the X10-ADAM controller is the right choice for your ADAM computer
You may have already said " Yeh ! Right ,it costs a fortune and it is too much work to install it " , the answer is NO! The controller costs around
$20 to $40, plus the receiver module at $8 to $16 each depending on what what kind of things you plug into it, from lamp dimmer to heavy-duty appliance receiver module. OK, how about installation ? . It is a piece of cake. Just plug the controller and the receivers into any 115vac power outlet around the house, plug the lamps, appliance (etc) into the receiver's receptacle and
you are set. Now you can use the ADAM to talk to the controller (with ADAM software, obviously) and turn things on or off, dim a light, run a fan slower or faster at certain times of the day... You can even turn off the ADAM or use it for some other programs after you have properly programmed the
timer events on the controller. Thats right! the controller only needs the ADAM to understand what you want it to do (Humanoid interface). After that,
it will run all by itself. It even has a battery backup if power fails! Interruption protection is good for 100 hours and uses a 9 volt battery readily available at local stores. Sounds very interesting right?
The X10 computer interface controller could be purchased at HeathKit retail store ($ 39,99) ,DAK mail order catalog or maybe a computer store close to where you live. The software that comes with the controller will not run on the ADAM (its for IBM PC). That may be a problem for us since
most computer product manufacturers stopped writing ADAM-supporting software for their newly available products. We are on our own if we want to use newer
computer peripherals on our beloved ADAM computer. I have been using my X10 controller a little over a year (bought it from DAK for $ 19.99) for my PC clone. Since the ADAM was my very first computer (6 years ago), It is still the most loved computer I have ever had (I have worked with Color computers, Commdore, IBM, Timex, Atari..) and I have been researching and building new hardware (RS-232 serial, parallel printer interfaces, intelligent speech synthesizer ...) or adapting other computers peripherals to work on the ADAM (C-64 mouse ..) .
Being together with all my best friends in the AWAUG club and on the AWAUG BBS is my greatest opportunity to continue improving and supporting the ADAM.
The X10-ADAM home automation controller was started as a surprise project that I was supposed to have at the July AWAUG meeting. It was a surprise for me too when I received my meeting announcement in the mail. After I called Bob (AWAUG's President) to confirm whats going on, I had only 3 more days to go (What a surprise ?!?). OK, I opened up the file cabinet and crossed my fingers that all the manuals that came with the X10 were still there. They were there!! (lucky ?) .
The software for X10-ADAM was written under SmartBASIC but all the I/O routines was done in assembly (Cross assembly on IBM-PC). After SmartBASIC loaded, it will load and run the HELLO program, set LOMEM to 30000 (just in case that some other driver will be implemented later on) and load the X10 machine language routine at memory location 29000. It then sets up the screen and waits for your further command by pressing the SmartKEY on the ADAM keyboard.
SmartKEY number V labeled PROG is not functioning yet so you can only use the immediate mode on X10-ADAM. Future developments on the program will allow you to download timer events, set time, save file, load file etc...on Timer mode
and the Security mode which will run a live-in simulation in your house when you are away from home. The program will be available for users further development on the AWAUG BBS in the WAUG files section. All X10-ADAM related
files will have the X10 prefix in their file name as follows:
X10ADAM.BAS The main program in SmartBASIC,
rename to HELLO if you wish
X10.BIN machine language routine
rename to X10 in SmartBASIC
X10ADAM.LST Source code listing for X10.BIN
The program was not done perfectly as I had only 3 days to get it working, so it really needs more work. Please feel free to download it and modify it to improve it as you like. Any contributions will be appreciated. It was just started as an ADAM users support hardware and software development project that will be another way to keep our ADAM alive for some more years .
Minh TA AWAUG Hardware Specialist July 16, 1989ny contributions wil are away from home. The program will be available for users
>> PROTOCOL.DOC << One of the most interesting things about a computer and a modem, is the exchange of public domain
files and programs over the telephone. A number of handshaking standards or 'protocols' have been developed to make this possible. One of the most important and widely used is the XMODEM' protocol (sometim 'MODEM7' protocol; or 'Christensen' protocol, after its
originator, Ward Christensen). The XMODEM protocol makes it possible for many different kinds of computers to communicate with each other via modem and telephone. Since a noisy phone connection may cause transmission errors, the XMODEM protocol can recognize and correct for errors when they occur. The XMODEM protocol has been upgraded several times since its invention about 10 years ago. However, all the upgrades are 'downward compatible' with earlier versions, so that even very simple programs can use it. Data to be transferred may contain up to 8 bits per byte (that is why we can transfer '.COM' files). The data is sent in 128 byte clusters called 'p (later versions of XMODEM can also transfer 1 k byte
packets). Each packet is checked for errors and if an error is found, the packet is sent again. The packet has a 'header' which is sent at the beginning, and a 'tail' which is sent at the en form:
HEADER / PACKET / TAIL ...(repeat for each packet).The protocol uses several ASCII 'control codes' to run the process -- ACK (ACKNOWLEDGE, 06 hex, control-F) CAN (CANCEL, 18 hex, control-X) EOT (EN OF TRANSMISSION, 04 hex, NAK (NEGATIVE ACKNOWLEDGE, 15 hex, control-U)
SOH (START OF HEADING, 01 hex, control-A) STX (START OF TEXT, 02 hex, control-B). THE HEADER The header consists of an SOH control code marker, followed by etc.), and then the two's complement or 'NOT' of the number (that is, the bits are reversed -- 1's are 0's, 0's are 1's). If these three elements are added together they should equal zero, and that is one way to check for transmission errors at the receiving end.
THE TAIL The tail consists of a 1 byte checksum, or alternately, a 2 byte CRC. CHECKSUM and CRC The checksum and CRC are used to detect errors. The receiving computer calculates the checksum or CRC f data it has received a sending computer. If they match, data is OK. If they do
not match, an error is indicated. The checksum is obtained by adding all the bytes of the header and packet together (ignoring carry). The checksum can catch 99 6 % of the errors. The CRC (cyclic redundancy code) requires a more complicated calculation involving multiplication of the bytes, but it can catch 99.9 % of the errors. Thus the use of CRC is preferred. Many systems give you option of selecting either checksum or CRC.
HANDSHAKING The entire process is initated by the receiving computer when it signals the sender to begin. That, and the way errors are handled, is why the XMODEM protocol is known as a 'receiver dr begin the process, the receiver may send any of three
different characters -- NAK -- indicates protocol with checksum, 'C' -- (capital 'C') protocol with CRC, 'K' -- (capital 'K') 1 k packet protocol. The sender then sends the f If the receiver receives the packet of data without errors (using checksum or CRC), it sends a ACK control code to the sender, and the next packet is transmitted. Otherwise, if an error was detected, the
receiver sends a NAK control code to the sender and thesame packet is transmitted again. This continues until all the data has been sent. End of data is indicated when the sender transmits a EOT control code and the receiver answers with an ACK. 1 K PROTOCOL More recently, added to the XMODEM protocol which permits 1 k byte packets (ie. 1024 bytes). This 1 k option always uses CRC (never checksum). The use of 128 byte data packets was a logical beginning because single density CP/M uses 128 involved in the XMODEM protocol consist of handshaking. This is especially significant at the higher baud rates (such as 2400 baud) and for long distance because of
transmission delay (especially via satelite). Thus theuse of a larger 1 k data packet can reduce transmission time somewhat, especially at the higher baud rates. However, the 128 byte data packet is faster if the phone connection is noisy. (If an error occurs in a 1 k byte packet retansmission takes 8 times byte packet). Most 1 k software downshifts the sender
automatically to 128 byte packets if excessive errors are detected; it also shifts down when the remaining sectors to be transmitted are fewer than 8. The Gender indicates it is sending a 1 k byte packet by using STX instead of SOH in the header. The XMODEM protocol also includes provision for a CAN (control-X) 'panic button' to abort the transmission.
-- Phillip Hansford, 123085
single density CP/M uses 128
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