A recent issue of Byte Magazine describes computers of the near future which will automatically save whatever has been worked on when the computer is shut down or when the power goes off. Most dedicated word processors such as my Tandy WP2 laptop will on power up take you directly to the document you were most recently working on. PC's of the future may have both capabilities.
A Future PC Capability Now on the C64/128
When I turn on my c64, within 6 seconds I am looking at the text screen of The Write Stuff word processor. If I want to take a break from writing, I turn off my computer without saving. When I turn on my computer at any time in the future, the text is still there. If I leave my document and load another application from disk, when I return to TWS, my text is intact. In every other way, TWS functions as if it were the disk version. Saving and loading involve drives a through e, including a ram expansion unit, which is normally used to store the large dictionary for fast spell checking.
These autoload and autosave features do not require the use of a disk drive. I know of at least one elementary school classroom which runs several Commodore 64's for word processing while using only one 1541 disk drive.
The Quick Brown Box
What makes all this possible for me and that school is the Quick Brown Box. This 1" by 2 1/2" by 3 1/3" box fits into the cartridge port. Instead of wall current, a 10 year lithium battery supplies the power. This means that I can carry the box including the document I am currently working on between computers at home and at work.
It also means that the single drive but several computer classroom was able to run a word processor on all their computers by using the one drive to load the word processor into each box. From that point the 64's had no need to use the drive for loading since each box turned its computer into a dedicated word processor. The teacher was satisfied with paper copies of what the students typed, so no other use was made of the disk drive.
The Write Stuff and Quick Brown Box
Eric Lee, the creator of TWS, modified the disk version so that it would work from the QBB. While his c64 version automatically saves only the current document, the 128 version instead allows intentional saving of multiple text files to the cartridge.
The QBB comes in 64k, 128k and 256k versions. Eric's adaptation of TWS for the 128k QBB also contains his small dictionary, which I find useful for checking for typographical errors.
I was at first frustrated when I heard of a 128k version of TWS, since I had already bought the 64k QBB, found it useful, but did not want to go to the expense of purchasing the 128k box. At the time Brown Boxes were also selling a 64k B box. If an Aprospand or similar extender card is inserted into the cartridge port, the two 64k boxes (a and b), can coexist on the card, and with the 128k version of TWS, or the QBB 128k manager programme, will act as if there is 128k of continuous storage memory. QBB have stopped manufacturing the 64k b box, but may still have a few in stock.
My principal problem with my QBB/TWS combination is that once I pass about 2200 words, processing speed declines dramatically. At about 2500 words, the box and word processor stop functioning. I then need to initialize the box, and reload its management programme. When I do this, the original text is intact. I know that I should start a new file at about 2000 words, but usually forget to. If I owned a 128, my text capacity would be about double these numbers.
QBB and the Ram Expansion Unit
I have one other device on my extender card. Since the Aprospand allows all cartridge slots to be on simultaneously, I am able to run my two QBB's and a 1750 512k reu together. Since the reu normally loses its memory when the power is turned off, its word processing use is reserved for when a long document or several documents need to be spelling checked with the large dictionary. As users of the RUN Script or the 128 version of Paperclip know, spell checking is very fast from a reu. I knew at least one businessman who left his 64 on throughout the work week so that his dictionary in his reu was always available. The $60 bbu (battery back up unit) from PPI allows me to maintain my reu's memory when the computer is turned off. Except for the safety of back ups, I have no need of a physical disk drive for my word processing system. My word processor is in my QBB as is my small dictionary and the document I am currently working on. The large dictionary can sit in my reu, as can any text files that I wish to save to it. Loading and saving are instantaneous.
Unfortunately, I found that whenever I used my reu with my Big Blue Reader to copy files between ms dos and Commodore format, I lost the previous contents of the reu due to initialization. Since I need the size and speed of a reu for these file transfers, I have had to sacrifice most of my QBB/reu partnerships.
Other Residents of my QBB
Although there is a special The Write Stuff for the Quick Brown Box, it is not the only word processor that works from the box. The classroom I described is using Speedscript, which can be stored in the QBB, but will not store text on power down.
RUNpaint
I also run RUNpaint from my QBB. When called from the Box directory, it is available virtually instantly. Except for instantly loading, it functions as it would from disk. Image files are saved and loaded to and from disk. If I start a RUNpaint task, leave it, run another programme from disk and then return to RUNpaint, the image I was working on will be gone. If however, I have cut or moved the image to RUNpaint's buffer, and the computer has not been turned off between applications, I will be able to retrieve that picture from the buffer on re- entering RUNpaint. In a sense, there is terminate and stay capability for RUNpaint in that it can be left under the circumstances I have described and returned to without loss of product. If however I move from Runpaint to TWS within QBB and back, I will lose my RUNpaint picture. TWS under all circumstances retains its text. TWS then, because it is modified to work within QBB, provides true terminate and stay. My RUNpaint discovery was serendipity and I am sure, unintended by its designers.
Calc
My 128k QBB combination contains one other major application that has been modified to work with QBB. David Pankhurst's Calc is a simple to use yet powerful spreadsheet. This is version one. It will not do sorts. It will however, load to and save from the QBB as well as disk. Since there are no disk accesses, its speed is very quick. I can imagine a business running continuously with a c64 connected to a large QBB containing Calc and TWS. A disk drive would only be needed for periodic safety back ups.
Other Programme Possibilities
Any basic programme or programme that uses a basic loader should be able to reside in and run from QBB. If it loads in stages, or periodically accesses the Box, difficulties may arise. While a loader programme for GEOS that runs from the Box is available, I do not know of a total GEOS adaptation for QBB.
A disk is available with the QBB's purchase that contains a number of useful utilities. From it, I have stored in the box a short programme that "kills" the Box if compatibility conflicts arise with other programmes, and a copy of ramdos so that I can access my reu more easily. If I had a 128, I would also make use of the enclosed communication/modem programme and datebook.
Incompatibilities
The "kill" programme is necessary. A number of programmes including Big Blue Reader, Print Shop, and GEOS, require that the Box be disabled before they can be loaded. Jiffydos features on the other hand can be accessed when a short utility is run from the Box.
Other Uses
There are a number of QBB features that I do not use. I could programme and regularly save my code to a section of the Box that is configured as a ram disk. If I wished to use the QBB in both 64 and 128 mode, I can partition my Box into appropriate sections. A third party sells a programme which configures QBB as a cpm ram disk.
I use my computer more frequently because of QBB. If I can access my word processor, paint programme or spreadsheet within a few seconds after turning the computer on, I am more likely to use them for a few minutes at a time, rather than waiting until I have more free time available. In the case of my word processor, I can instantly start at the point where I made my last key stroke. My wife appreciates the QBB/TWS partnership because she can compose documents without being concerned about the computer's operating system. When she turns the computer on, TWS is open. I could incidentally have arranged for any programme to be the default autoload.
Since Brown Boxes is a very small operation, there is no money for advertisements. Word of mouth is perhaps in the long run the best promotion. For Commodore users who primarily work with spreadsheets, word processors or paint programmes, I can think of no other platform that matches the Quick Brown Box's cost efficiency and ease of use.
My most recent information sheet may be out of date:
