Commodore Free 13/Commodore_Free_Issue_13_2007_Commodore_Computer_Club.d64/t.iv charles

Text File | 2023-02-26 | 12KB | 413 lines

uInterview with Charles Gutman
8 bit designs
http://www.8bitprodserv.spaces.live.com

Q Please introduce yourself

A Well my name is Charles J. Gutman,
I've been in the computer/electrical/
electronics field now for over 15 yrs!
I first became acquainted with
electronics in High School where they
were offering their first year of
Electronics classes & I eagerly
enrolled. From there, I took the 2nd
semester class, & then transferred to
another school where I enrolled in Auto
Mechanics instead. Little did I know
that my electronic background would
come back my way again many years later ;)

Q Please tell us about 8-bit designs

A  8-Bit Designs is a company founded
in 1993 by a guy named Michael Hunter
up in Alaska. The reason for this, I
think, was to support those interested
in the older 8-Bit types of computers.
He must have seen the need & the lack
of support for those that were still
interested in using these 'older'
machines. So he met that need by
designing, producing, & selling nifty
products & services from his home. (If
this is incorrect, please contact me &
let me know, Michael)

Q Do you have electronic
qualifications?

A As mentioned in my intro I have 1 yr
of electronic 'THEORY' under my belt,
but what I haven't yet mentioned was
that in 1995 I ran a electronics,
automotive, & appliance repair shop in
the back of my home until my divorce
ended that in 1997 (4 years of
experience). Then I was employed by a
CB Shop in Arizona where we diagnosed,
upgraded, repaired, & installed many
types of electronic devices (mostly
CB's) from radio's to tracking devices
& computer video conferencing
interfaces. (Thats another year of
experience)

Q Can you tell us how you first came
across the C= brand name?

A  Came across for the first time, or
the first time I actually used one? The
first time I ever seen one was back in
1981 when I saw this HUGE MAINFRAME
computer sitting on this desk at a DMV
(I think, it might have been a Social
security office). It had clear
resolution & big, hard, black keys & a
green display. Little did I know what
kind of computer it was, nor did I know
that it would one day become a classic
of ALL CLASSIC'S! Obviously we are
speaking of some type of PET computer:)

The first time I ever 'USED' one was
when my neighbor invited me to play
some video games on his 'NEW COMPUTER'
I walked over & found it plugged into
his TV. It was the first time I EVER
TOUCHED A C64 Computer! ;)

A couple years later, in the US Navy,
one of my supervisors was selling his
128D for $300.00 with ALL SUPPLIES!!
Naturally I purchased it & was VERY
HAPPY with its performance. This was
the first computer that I ever ACTUALLY
OWNED!!!

Q So you purchased the company from
Michael Hunter is this correct?

A  Nope. I knew who he was when I first
bought a 4-IN-1 Printer Interface from
him back in 2003 for my C-64 that I was
running GEOS on. I also knew that he
was selling the business due to his
daughter being born & wanting to spend
more time with his family. It wasn't
until 2005 that I found out that the
owner of C64DIEHARDS.COM was the 'New
Owner' of the 8-Bit Designs lines of
products & services. He only owned it
for about a year or so before he
started taking 'offers' in the Google
Comp.Sys.CBM Group for 'OWNERSHIP' of
some of the individual products (Yes,
unfortunately he BROKE UP THE COMPANY
FROM IT'S PRODUCTS)

Well after many negotiations, & much
time & deliberating we finally came to
an agreement that resulted in a FIRM
CONTRACT that stated that I am the SOLE
OWNER OF ALL 8-BIT DESIGNS PRODUCTS,
LOGO's, CONTRACTS, SERVICES, & all
other assets either stated clearly or
unstated, but ASSUMED.  Once the
contract was PAID IN FULL (in 2005), I
am now working on making new products &
offering new services to the community.
>  At first, the discussions were for
only 3 of the many products ( User Port
Commander, Bus Reset Switch, & Serial-Y
Adapter Cable) that were under 8-Bit
Designs property, but in the end, I
ended up with 80% of the property, & as
such, I am the NEW SOLE OWNER!

Q What is the best product you sell (in
your opinion)?

A The User Port Commander. It's really
the reason I agreed to purchase the
business in the first place was because
I loved this product! It just came
along with the Bus Reset Switch & the
Serial-Y Adapter Cable in the 'initial
negations,' but  after the FINAL
AGREEMENTS were reached, I was also
given the +4 Joystick Adapter, +4 Card
Edge Connector, Power Pro 250 HD Power
Supplies, Tandy Printer Cable, & Tandy
Communicator + Modem Cable.  In
addition there are a variety of other
'SPECIAL CABLES' that I have 'CUSTOM
MADE' for individuals requiring
specific needs for their applications.
So depending on what your requirements
are, I can make them according to your
needs

Q I purchased a User Port Commander
from you & its a superb product! Can
you enlighten our reader about its
use?

A  Well what is is 'INITIALLY' is a
printer interface that's BACKWARDLY
COMPATIBLE with GEO Cable for use
within GEOS/WHEELS environments.
However, it's much, MUCH MORE THAN
THAT! It also has a toggle switch that
allows the user to swap between BASIC
V7 128 MODE & GEOCABLE MODE, a 5 VDC
TAP for allowances to connect other 5
VDC Devices to your system without
having to use up your computer ports.
It also has a SYSTEM RESET SWITCH for
C64 Users & a I/O RESET SWITCH for 128
Users. Finally, it comes with it's OWN
SPECIFIC DRIVERS on a disk for allowing
the user to make their UPC User
Specific! Overall, this is the BEST
PRODUCT that I manufacture for a
variety of reasons...

 #1) It's easy to make

 #2) It's affordable

 #3) It's VERY FLEXIBLE!

 #4) It has GEOS USERS in mind

 #5) & finally, I have LOTS IN STOCK!

Q Have you had much user feedback about
your Products?

A  No, but I hope to now that people
are finally getting familiar with me &
my products. I went to a few meetings
to make myself known in hopes of
establishing my reputation & recreating
8-Bit Designs under MY OWN IDENTITY!

Q Do you have plans for more designs?

A  As a matter of fact, I currently
have 3 'NEW' Products! The Universal
Video Module, The Quad Port +, & the
C2N16 Adapter. For information on these
fabulous new products, take a look at
my website. It has descriptions, uses,
prices, & availabilities of these, &
the other products that I offer

Q Do you just support Commodore 8 bit
machines?

A Um, no, but I DO PREFER staying 99%
COMMODORE (as these are the machines
that I have come to know & love over
many years)

Q Many people want an adaptor that is a
1 box device allowing you to connect a
C64 or C128 to a TFT monitor, also with
the C128 operating in 80 column mode,
have you thought about taking up the
challenge to design such a device or
modify off the shelf components to
create such a device?

A  Actually, NOT SPECIFICALLY THAT
DEVICE, But I have been thinking about
& taking many suggestions on the
possibilities of manufacturing other
hardware devices. FOR example: Many
people have suggested that since the
source Code for Warp-Speed is now in
the PD that I should take on the task
of remanufacturing it once more. So I
have! I am currently 30% completed with
the designing of the circuit board
prototype. I hope to have that
completed by the end of the year &
hopefully by next summer have a bunch
of BLANK PCB BOARDS sitting here
awaiting the EPROMs to be programmed so
we can distribute them to the public. I
am also checking into the 1541 8K ROM
UPGRADE FOR THE RAMBOARD for use with
Maverick!

In addition, I am looking into the LCD
PROJECT & the ATA/IDE HD Projects as
well. So you see, there are many things
that I am 'looking into' at the moment,
but if you tell me what it is,
'EXACTLY' that you would like me to
build (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC so I am clear
on what it is), I would more than happy
to 'investigate' it's feasibility & get
back with you after a full review of
options

Q Do you repair machines?

A Of course! I diagnose, repair, & EVEN
UPGRADE (if you supply the chips to me)
the C64, C64C, C128, C128D, +4, & C16
machines. I would love to get into PET
repairs, but just don't have anything
to go by here for references

Q How would our reader get in touch
with you? (now is the chance to plug
the website)

A You can contact me using any of the
following options:

EMAIL: [e-mail]

TELNET BBS: masterskingdom.dnsalias.org

WEBSITE:
http://www.8bitprodserv.spaces.live.com

or

Charles J. Gutman
9590 Acacia Ave. #3
Fontana, CA
92335 USA

Q I notice you prefer Cash or bank
transfers why cant you accept something
like PayPal?

A I am in the 'process' of establishing
a bank account where I can do that.
Also in the 'VERY NEAR FUTURE,' I will
be acquiring a 'pay-as-you-go' credit
card where the client can just send the
money to the credit card & I can ship
out that way. Please keep in mind, that
these are BOTH WORKS IN PROGRESS so
there are NO GUARANTEES except for
either international post office money
orders, or a MoneyGram/Western Union
money transfer. The problem with these
methods are that they are VERY
EXPENSIVE

Q Have you thought about setting up a
stall so People can purchase directly
off the site  or approached someone
like Protovision for sales of your
devices?

A  Funny you ask that question as
Protovision APPROACHED ME LAST YEAR
about that! I really don't know what
has happened since as I have heard hide
nor hair from them on the matter. I DID
SEND them an email the other day though
asking what had happened as I DO WANT
some of their stuff too! I had a stand
set up at the COMVEX in Las Vegas this
last month, but hardly anyone came by

A few people did & I was able to sell a
few things, but overall it wasn't worth
the time, trouble, cost, & labor
invested in it; so I won't be going
back anytime soon until I get a
guarantee of SOME PROFITS so I can at
least cover my costs!

Q I am a little confused by the 'The
Universal Video Module' what is its
purpose & what benefits would it give
me over a standard video cable?

A LOTS! It's a plastic box that offers
the following Audio/Video enhancements:

 #1) It offers the user the opportunity
to use 'STANDARD A/V CABLES on the
C= Computer (which is good as they are
readily available & very low cost)

 #2) It 'splits' the audio out signal
to give the user a 'STEREO EMULATION
EFFECT'

 #3) It utilizes the NEVER BEFORE USED
AUDIO IN PIN from the DIN PLUG making
allowances for programmers to modify,
create their own, or change audio on
precreated programs or self-made
programs (I think that this is one of
the 'COOLEST' features)!

 #4) & FINALLY, it utilizes the S-VIDEO
OUT OPTION for those that want to
connect to HIGH QUALITY VIDEO DEVICES
such as large screen TVs, or LCD
Monitors!

THE BONUS: ALL COME WITH A FREE S-VIDEO
CABLE ($4.99 VALUE)!

Q Your current Catalog is printed in
this issue so if our readers want to
purchase an item what is the procedure
to follow?

A  Just contact me at any contact
point above, & I will be more than
pleased to explain anything I can to
you & help you in any way I can

Q Forums can be quite aggressive, & I
notice your name has cropped up with
some less than flattering comments,
does this upset you?

A Gotta admit, at first it did, but
that was when I was still 'NEW' to the
scene & there was a lot of 'FEAR' &
'UNCERTAINTY' to the stability of me &
the the 8-Bit Designs continued
existence. I also happen to believe
that some of those 'flame wars' were
caused by a bit of 'jealousy' towards
me for not 'GIVING AWAY' the work of my
hands (God says in The Bible that a
workman is worthy of his hire) to those
in the group.  So I just tell everyone
the same thing, 'You know where I am if
you want something.' So I don't pay the
negative no mind anymore

Q Have you anything you would like to
add?

A  Well it's been an honor & a pleasure
getting this invite to share with all
of you today. It's even more so as the
scene over there is MUCH GREATER than
it is over here! So I'm much obliged. I
just want to wish everyone over there a
good day, many blessings, happiness
through all their days, happy
computing, & most of all... LORD BLESS!

Apostle Ramswell (Charles)
 >8-Bit Designs
http://www.8bitprodserv.spaces.live.com