Loadstar 128 29/q29.d81/t.diskovery 29

Text File | 2022-08-28 | 6KB | 104 lines

                     DISKOVERY:  THE RUNT OF THE LITTER

                              by Fender Tucker


    When the C-128 first came out it was touted as the best 8-bit computer
ever created.  It was true then and it's still true.  All subsequent
computers, which are arguably more powerful than the C-128, are 16- or 32-
bit machines.  What happened in the past ten years?  Why is the C-64 the
"classic" computer while the C-128 languishes in a world where only 800
dedicated users seem to exist?

    Well, of course there are more than 800 C-128 users worldwide, but I
tend to only count those who subscribe.  After all, is there any other
place to find non-PD, non-shareware software besides LOADSTAR 128?

    With over 4000 subscribers LOADSTAR for the C-64 is definitely the
healthier of the two LOADSTARs.  In Europe there is a rabid following for
the C-64 with new games coming out practically every day.  ESCOM, the
German company that bought the rights to Comodore technology, plans to
eventually make more C-64s for Eastern Europe and the Far East.  No mention
of the C-128, at least in all that I've read.

    But we all know what a terrific machine we have, and all 800 of you
have proven how dedicated you are to the C-128 by subscribing to LS 128,
even when we were charging a premium price for it.  I never liked the fact
that LS 128 was $10 when the 2-disk LS 64 was $7, but that was a corporate
decision by Softdisk.  I hesitate to second guess Softdisk, because they
were working with figures unknown to me, but I'm glad that LOADSTAR 128 is
now down to a more reasonable $6.25 per issue.

    It's still not easy finding good software for the 128 mode but I've
managed to talk a few 64 programmers into getting 128s and writing for the
wonderful 80-column screen.  Bob Markland had a huge hand in putting this
issue together.  Dave Moorman is working on some 80-column projects, and if
you get LS 64, you know that he doesn't skimp when it comes to developing
ideas.  I consider our buying DAVE'S TERM 128 from Dave Jansen quite a
publishing coup.  Even if you don't get online, the copiers, converters,
packers and other utilities you get with DT128 are worth the $25 you spent
on the last four issues of LOADSTAR 128.

    It's true that I've neglected this magazine that supports what has
become the runt of the Commodore litter -- the other babies, the VIC-20,
the Plus 4, the Colt have all mercifully passed away -- but it's not the
fault of the computer.  I'm embarrassed by some of my inactions.  For
example, several people asked me to change the way our menu prints so that
instead of having a one inch border on the right of the page, it would put
the border on the left where you would normally punch holes for a binder.
I looked at the code, saw that Jon Mattson, the designer of our menu
system, used ML to do the printing, and figured it couldn't be easily done
without bothering Jon.  If I had only looked closer I would have noticed
that the ML only prints one line at a time.  The SYS is in a BASIC loop so
all that needed to be changed is one dinky little line in "presenter.128".

    It's fixed on this issue, so you can substitute the 40-block file
"presenter.128" on this issue for the same file on older issues (back to
#9) and the text on them will print more nicely for binding.  Or you can
change the code yourself.  Just run LOADSTAR 128 and break out of it with
STOP-RESTORE.  Then insert this command in front of line 1020, leaving
everything else in the line intact:

  PRINT"    ";:                That's four spaces in quotes

When done you can scratch and save the program with GOTO10000.

    Jeff Jones is constantly upgrading everything he does for LS 64 but
since he doesn't have time for LS 128, it's up to me to do it, and it
usually doesn't get done.  Last issue we added a DOS command line to the
Presenter thanks to Charles Kirby and the folks at WCUG in Delmar MD.  This
may be the best way to get things done for LS 128.  Do them for me and send
me the disk explaining things so that even a fool such as I can see their
benefit.

    The C-128 never got the respect it deserved.  Commodore immediately
followed the C-128 with the Amiga and since it cost more, of course they
pushed it more.  I'd like to make up for the last decade by keeping LS 128
going, finding more good programmers who aren't switching to Windows, and
spending more time writing programs for the 80-column screen.  I need help,
though, and appreciate all you can send.  Sam Phelps of Gaston SC sent me
three 1581 disks full of 128 programs he has accumulated over the years.
It's all PD but some of it looks very good.  I wouldn't want to sell you
something you could get for "free" online (hah!) but there are some
programs that would be very nice after getting the LOADSTAR treatment.  Bob
Markland is helping me update programs by making them work on any drive
(essential in the 90s), adding file requestors, DOS command lines, a modern
look and feel, etc.  Since many "PD" programs are only PD if they're not
changed, I have to negotiate with authors, many of whom are hard to find.

    You've paid your dues.  You deserve a disk full of good, tested, 80-
column software for your 8-bit powerhouse every three months and I'm going
to see that you get it.  Judi Mangham (my wife) and I recently formed a
separate company called J & F Publishing, Inc. and we're dedicated to
keeping LOADSTAR and LOADSTAR 128 going into the next century.  I have a
feeling that if you stay with us I won't be using terms like "runt of the
litter" when talking about our C-128 anymore.  I only did that to get your
attention.  There's nothing runtish about 122365 BASIC bytes free when a
massive program like THE WRITE STUFF 128 only takes up about a fourth of
that.

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