Q: Where can I buy Mac labels in bulk? I am continually getting requests for them, and we're always in short supply. Does anybody make it in rolls for pinfeed? What about a Mac Label Maker/printing program?
A: A few of the sources for labels and label maker programs for the Macintosh include:
* MyDiskLabeler, Version 2 supports black and white and color printing. Labels for MyDiskLabeler are available for both the ImageWriter and LaserWriter. W. M. Williams & Macias, P. O. Box 19206, Spokane, WA 99219 [1-800-752-4400].
* MacLabels by DataWiz features rolls of blank Mac labels in 500 or 1,000 labels/roll, featuring wrap around, pin feed and removable adhesive. Labels are available in six colors: White, Yellow, Pink, Lt. Blue, Lt. Green and Grey. DataWiz, 21115 Devonshire Blvd., Suite 465-B, Chatsworth, CA 91311.
MacII RAM Configurations
========================
Q: What are the acceptable MacII RAM configurations?
A: The Macintosh II can presently be configured in five ways: 1M (standard),
or 2M, 4M, 5M and 8M using memory upgrades. No hardware modification need be
made to arrive at any of these configurations.
Bank A and Bank B are composed of four slots and all slots MUST have a SIMM
installed. If you are using different density RAMs, then alway place the
higher density ICs in Bank A.
The following chart summarizes the various SIMM configurations the Mac II will
support.
RAM Bank A Bank B What To Order
----- ------- ------- -------------
1M Four 256K SIMMs Empty Factory Standard
2M Four 256K SIMMs Four 256K SIMMs 1 - MO218
4M Four 1M SIMMs Empty 2 - MO2
5M Four 1M SIMMs Four 256K SIMMs 2 - MO219
8M Four 1M SIMMs Four 1M SIMMs 4 - MO219
Parameter RAM Revisited
=======================
Q: How do I reset Parameter RAM on the SE?
A: To reset the parameter RAM on the MacSE, you must hold down the Shift,
Option and Open-Apple (or Command) keys while selecting the Control Panel. A
dialog box will be displayed asking if you want to zero Parameter RAM.
Indicate "yes" and then Restart the SE using known good System Software.
* * * PRINTERS * * *
ImageWriter LQ Information
==========================
Q: Does the ImageWriter LQ have 24 pins?
A: No. The ImageWriter LQ has 27 pins.
LaserWriter ID - Gone With the Wind?
====================================
A "Tip-of-the Hat" to Jim Leathan of Computer Emporium, Vails Gate, NY for the following:
The revision number on the LaserWriter test print (under the first chart) used
to be a reliable way to tell if it's a LaserWriter or a LaserWriter Plus you were looking at, but this is only partially true now.
The Revision Number - What it really means:
1.0--256K ROMs installed--LaserWriter (No doubt about it)
2.0--512K ROMs installed---May be a newer LaserWriter or a LaserWriter Plus
The revision number refers to the ROM revision used. A LaserWriter or LaserWriter Plus using 512K ROMs has 8 ROMs, a LaserWriter using 256K ROMs has 16 ROMs.
* * * PROGRAMMING AND DEVELOPMENT * * *
Apple Programmers and Developers Association
--------------------------------------------
Corporate Switchboard (206) 251-6548
Customer Service (206) 251-9798 * Best number for information *
Orders (800) 426-3667
Orders (800) 527-7562 * Washington state *
* * * APPLE TAKES A VACATION * * *
Apple Equipment Abroad
======================
Q: We've received a number of questions from our customers about using their systems abroad.
These Apple products are designed to operate at a line voltage range of 107V to
137V, at 50 or 60 Hertz. In countries that supply a different standard,
usually 220V at 50 Hz, use a grounded Stepdown Isolation Transformer to convert
220V to 110V for these products:
Computers: Apple II, IIe, IIc, III, III+:
-- Video output is compatible with NTSC standard only.
I am often asked to do file conversion on old systems when my customer buys a
Mac. To date I have transferred CP/M, TRS-80 Model 4, IBM DOS and Apple //e
files over to the Mac.
CP/M and TRS-80 Conversions
---------------------------
For CP/M and TRS-80╒s, the single most useful item in the toolkit is the expensive version of the Smartcable from IQ Technologies. I think it╒s about $149 retail, and maybe $80 or so dealer cost. It has a bunch of switches and lights to tell you how the serial transfer is going, and it comes with a simple set of instructions which have not failed me yet.
With CP/M, you need to get an introductory book on the commands and learn how
to use the program called PIP which is the way you can transfer a file out the
serial port. On the Mac, you need a copy of a program from Scott Watson called
Red Ryder. It╒s a $40 ShareWare program, and worth every penny.
The file transfers I have done from the TRS-80 Mod 4 (8" diskettes) have
involved a rudimentary knowledge of Scripsit. It's tedious because you have to
transfer every file individually. You can set up the serial port to default to
2400 Baud with 7 data bits, 1 stop bit and even parity. Then you set up Red
Ryder on the Mac the same way and put it in the receive mode. For each TRS-80
file you will need to redirect the output to the serial port. What you get on
the Mac is a perfectly formatted text file, but with spaces instead of tabs and
line feeds instead of form feeds. You can leave the removal of these extraneous characters as an exercise for your customer.
Addendum - MacSE and MacII - Ideal Solutions for the Traveler
The MacSE and the MacII are self configuring and will work without transformers or adjustments of any kind "as is." The only change that is required in using either system abroad is the use of a power plug adapter or a new power cord that is compatible with the outlets of the country in which they are to be used.
IBM to MAC Conversion
---------------------
For the IBM to Mac transfer you need MacLink Plus which is about $195 retail and complete with the cable and full instructions, as well as several conversion programs. Although there is a Wordstar to MacWrite program, it converts to old MacWrite which then needs to be reconverted. I prefer to bring it over as a text file and do the conversion with a Public Domain program called UNWS+ 1.53 (file #2852) which you can find on GEnie, or I can Link it to you.
Apple to Mac Conversion
---------------------
For the Apple to Mac transfer, all you need is the regular ImageWriter II to Apple //GS printer cable, and use the GS for all transfers. You will need Red Ryder here, too as the receiver. For AppleWorks files, set up a custom printer with no control codes and output to port 1 as usual. Then fire up Red Ryder at about 2400 Baud, with the "Remove gremlin characters" option enabled. Don't forget to reconfigure your port on the GS for 2400 Baud also. The transfer has
problems faster than that and characters are lost.
Additional Information
----------------------
If you can arrange it, have your customer save everything on his old machine as
a pure text file rather than as a formatted document. Most formatting in those
files is usually pretty unsophisticated anyway, so they won't be losing much.
The biggest problem I have is with customers who refuse to use the tab key and
do all their formatting with the space bar. Columns of numbers are especially
tricky since often there is no decimal tab, and if there was, it wouldn't
transfer correctly.
In the "For What It's Worth" category, I have found that people mostly want to
transfer word processing files. I hardly ever get calls for spreadsheets or
databases. Sometimes it's a little easier to do a little pre-formatting on a
text file before the transfer, and on the IBM, I have found the Norton Editor
(because it's fast) and Word Perfect (because of the macros) to be invaluable.
You should also have a program called Macify version 2.1 which is a $10
ShareWare program from a fellow named Eric Celeste (available as a download from GEnie or CompuServe), which allows you to modify carriage returns and "many" spaces on Mac text files.
I use Word 3.01 as the final Mac editor because it's fast and easy once
you learn it. It also allows you to search out carriage returns and replace
them with a space.
To sum up:
1. Run all transfers at 2400 Baud.
2. Try to get all source files already in text only format.
3. Get Red Ryder and Macify.
4. Get a Smart Cable from IQ Technologies.
[Editorial Comment: A "Tip-of-the-Hat" and our thanks to George for his contribution to Tech Tidbits. While the solutions offered in this article may not be the only solutions available, we are grateful for for his reporting on his "hands-on" experiences in this area, and for his comments on the Third Party Products that he uses. Thank you George!]
Last week we poked a bit of gentle fun at novice users, so this week, we'll play fair, and pick on novice sales staff.
"How can you tell the ImageWriter and the 15" Wide Carriage ImageWriter apart?" asked the caller. We began listing the differences, but were interrupted. "No, no, that's not what I mean. I mean, how can you tell which is which, just by looking at them?"
And because turnabout is fair play, we promise, next issue, to "fess up" to one of our own [smile].
When All Else Fails...
======================
It was time for a new modem, and when it arrived, I immediately set about
getting it hooked up, turned on the computer, booted my terminal program and
entered a phone number to dial. Nothing. I double checked settings; I double
checked the AppleTalk connections; I checked the cable; I tried dialing again.
Nothing. I read the manual. I rechecked all my connections and double-checked
my terminal settings. I checked the Baud rate. Nothing. The modem lay there
deader-than-a-doornail. I'm a TSE, I thought. This shouldn't be happening to
me! I leaned back in my chair, deep in thought and stared down at the toes of
my shoes (which doesn't help matters much, admittedly, but it does help me
think), and after some minutes of contemplation, the truth began to dawn on me.
There, right next to my left foot lay the power cord, unplugged!
!@#$%@#%^ Flasher
==================
Our customer came in with a //e for repair. He said every time he got into his
program, he lost the "Cursing Flasher." [Submitted by Anne Lind of OmniComp
