CP/M

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ CP/M / CPM_CDROM.iso / cpm / news / dec86.mag < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1994-07-13 | 28.0 KB | 616 lines

================================================================= The $ R / O R E A D O N L Y -=( December 1986 Issue )=- The monthly news magazine of the Tampa Bay Kaypro User's Group and the DataCOM Super Systems(tm) ================================================================= News and reviews of programs, hardware, and peripherals for users of microcomputers with CP/M, MP/M, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, or TurboDOS multi-user operating system. ================================================================= Steven L. Sanders - Editor (Sysop) ================================================================= The DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is a "state of the art" multi-user remote database with three incoming modem lines and 115mb of files online. An annual fee of $35.00 is required for access, an application may be downloaded by calling (813) 791-1454, 791- 1455, or IBM-PC users should call 796-5627 at 1200/2400 baud, or contact us by US Mail at: DataCOM Super Systems(tm) 2643 Cedar View Court Clearwater, FL 33519 (Accessible thru Telenet's PC Pursuit Service by 12/31/86.) -==( DISCLAIMER )==- Articles and reviews of microcomputers, hardware, software, and other peripherals reflect currently advertised prices as released by the distributors and are included here for YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. The TBKUG/DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is NOT being paid to advertise these products and we cannot be held accountable for the actual retail price and/or performance of said products. ================================================================= -={ Future Shock - New Products }=- 10 Megabyte Floppy Drive by Edward Warner (INFOWORLD 11/10/86) SUNNYVALE, CA - Konica Technology Inc. said it plans to introduce at COMDEX the first diskette drive to store 10 megabytes of data on a standard 5-1/4 inch diskette. The drive will also be able to read 1.2-megabyte floppy disks, Konica said. The KT-510 diskette drive writes 480 tracks per inch (TPI) on a diskette instead of the standard 96 tracks, because of more accurate head positioning of the drive's recording head. The half-height drive will be sold only to OEM customers for under $400 per unit "in large quantity." The retail price of the KT- 510 drive will most likely be priced between $800 and $900. The KT-510 drive has an average access time of 75 milliseconds and a data transfer rate of 1.6 megabits per second - this is comparable to a low-end Winchester hard disk drive! The drive also has a built-in SCSI interface and an on-board intelligent controller that provides self-diagnostics. 19,200 Baud Dial-Up Modems RESTON, VA - Fastcomm Data Corp. announced last week two asynchronous 19.2-kilobit-per-second modems that run on standard telephone lines. Designed for transferring large files between PCs and mainframes, the Fastcomm Turbo 2496 and Fastcomm Turbo 9600 reduce the time it takes to transfer files. For example, a data transfer that would require an hour using a 1,200-bps modem would take only six minutes with a 19.2-Kbps modem. Both modems are available now. The modems support full error detection and correction at the high speed. When an error occurs, the modem automatically retransmits only error blocks of data, not the entire file. User must have a 19.2-Kbps modem on each end to transfer data at that speed. Both modems support data rates of 9,600, 7,200, and 4,800 bps. The Turbo 2496 also supports the popular 300, 1200, and 2400 bps rates used by most telecomm services and BBS systems. The Turbo modems are available in external models and an internal version that fits into a half-card slot of an IBM-PC, PC-XT, or PC-AT, or compatible computer. The Fastcomm Turbo 2496 modem is priced at $1,099 for external and $1,079 for the internal model. The Fastcomm 9600 modem is priced at $1,019 for external and $999 for the internal model. Users may upgrade the Turbo 9600 for $100 per modem. -={ New WORM Drives }=- by Patrick Waurzyniak Kodak's WORM Entry Eastman Kodak Co. of Rochester, New York, has entered into a partnership with Philips and Du Pont Optical Co. (PDO) of Wilmington, Delaware to manufacture a 14-inch write-once read- many (WORM) optical disk drive with a storage capacity of 6.8 gigabytes. Intended for archiving large amounts of data, the Kodak/PDO optical disk drive prototype provides huge archival storage capability, but it operates at access speeds that are comparable to slower hard disk drives. Kodak claims that the double-sided 14-inch disk, which has 14,111 tracks per inch, has a data transfer rate of 1 megabyte per second, and an average access time of 100 milliseconds for one of the disk's five bands. The high-capacity prototype disk has 3.4 gigabytes per side for a total of 6.8 gigabytes, equivalent to 6,800 megabytes of storage. Kodak, which has no pricing available, expects to ship evaluation units of the optical disk system by early 1987, with volume shipments by the end of next year. Optotech's WORM Entry Colorado Springs, CO -- Optotech Inc. has enhanced its 5-1/4-inch write-once read-many (WORM) optical disk drive designed to fit inside the case of an IBM PC AT or compatible. The drive, capable of storing 400 megabytes of information for PC systems when using double-sided optical disk, will be marketed to original equipment manufacturers and systems integrators at volume prices of $2,000 each. Optotech's full-height Model 5984 AT drive, which features a half-height front panel, comes with software and an add-on controller board that integrate the WORM drive into personal computer systems. The Model 5984 is the only drive on the market that fits into a PC. The Optotech drive can be incorporated into personal computers or minicomputers and workstations that accept full-height drives. It is immediately available and comes with either an Optotech- produced SCSI bus controller or PC bus controller at an additional $400 per controller. External versions of the drive are an extra $300. Optotech also announced a read-write device driver that allows the drive to run existing PC software without modification. -={ WHATSNEW in Public Domain }=- [CP/M] RCPM1086.LZT The venerable national/international Remote CP/M Systems list for October-November 1986. All systems were verified for this listing. List is now in Wordstar document format with an index up front. The list is also now crunched instead of squeezed as crunching yields a much smaller file. CRUNCH23.LBR The latest version of CRunch and UNCRunch for Z80 CPU machines with CP/M 2.2 operating systems. Crunch now features a 1-pass install program that configures several different internal options of both CR and UNCR. Faster than before and complete notes for CP/M and TurboDOS users. Crunched files are usually much smaller than their squeezed counterparts and are gaining wide acceptance on many RCPM systems. CONIX.LBR Tired of hearing about ZCPR3! Then try the ConIX system instead. ConIX is another CP/M 2.2 CCP (console command processor) replacement that offers larger memory (it uses only 1/2k itself) and so many features it's impossible to list them all and have any room for anything else. ConIX was being sold commercially for the past several years but due to the diminishing interest in CP/M, is now being offered as Shareware thru BBS systems. ConIX features pull-down menus for all of its features and has over 100 built-in commands! PHONE3.LBR Here's a unique notebook type program that stores data as 80-chr lines sorted on input. So what's unique about that? Well, it stores your data internally to the .COM file itself and expands and contracts in size accordingly. PORTFO15.LBR A family of dBase programs that are designed to provide you with the capability of maintaining a record of personal assets, their original value, current value, and income producing capability. KPBROWSE.LBR A Turbo Pascal program for video Kaypro models that shows BOLD, UNDERLINE, and DIM/BRIGHT video on screen. It also queries you at end-of-file if you want to run it again, if you answer YES, it will show you a directory of files to choose from. AF42.LBR A fast Turbo Pascal update of Address Filer. Includes conversion utility for updating original AF data files. Superb address database with excellent search facilities. Will output merge files for Wordstar or NewWord and several files can be combined back into AF42 to break down and/or multiply databases. SFILE31.LBR SuperFile, a file finding utility, now has the ability to look inside of LBR or ARC files for matching files. [IBM-DOS] SIMCGA.ARC Allows users with Hercules cards to run programs designed for CGA cards. Great for game players! XONE21.ARC To create an ARC file from one or more files that are contained within another ARC file. XONE was written by Vernon Buerg and may be used without restrictions. PCDRAFT2.ARC PC-Draft I (TM) Version 2.00 is a high resolution pixel oriented drawing and graphing utility, which is designed to facilitate a variety of drawing and drafting needs. With PC-Draft I you can produce drawings up to 1280 by 700 dots using IBM's color graphic adaptor high resolution graphics mode (640 x 200 dots per screen). Such a drawing will fill an 8-1/2 x 11 inch printed output (at 150 dots per inch resolution). Built-in functions allow you to draw circles, lines, boxes; draw bar, line and pie graphs; create patterns with which to fill areas; cut and paste objects and save objects to files for later use. You can record graphic keyboard macros saved in files for later playback and for animation effects. You can load and edit fonts. And you can print your drawings on Epson compatible graphic printers or HP Laserjet+ printers. FINDS101.ARC FINDSTR is a program that can be used to search multiple files for multiple text strings. It was actually developed as a test program for a Boyer-Moore string search subroutine. The Boyer-Moore algorithm is many times faster than the more common string search algorithms and FINDSTR is several times faster than other similar programs. STYPE12.ARC STYPE types a file to the screen controlled by an IBM Enhanced Graphics Adaptor, using variable speed smooth scroll. If no file name is supplied, it will read from standard in (eg: STYPE < FILENAME, or PROGRAM | STYPE), and thus can act as a "MORE" type filter. SST-V201.ARC SST is a program that is designed to reorganize a DOS disk so that it will run "Faster". Normal daily use of a disk will produce a disk with many fragmented files and subdirectories. Simply put, these are files that are not completely contiguous or together, but are spread out all over the disk. These fragmented files and subdirectories slow disk access down because DOS must tell the Disk Head to Seek to other parts of the disk to pick up other parts of the same file. WARNING: SST does all of its work in MEMORY - if you have a power failure you could be in BIG trouble! Best to use this program only if you have a UPS (uniterruptable power supply) hooked up to your computer - otherwise you are at the mercy of your local power company. QDR26.ARC Re-format a floppy disk quickly, optionally with a new volume label, deleting all files and sub-directories. Yet another good utility from Vern Buerg. READ115.ARC New version of READMAC, view MacIntosh Paint picture files. Replaces all other versions of READMAC2, READMAC3, and RMACEGA. Auto detects CGA/EGA/Hercules cards and displays picture accordingly. Also now comes with MACPRT, this lets you print-out picture files to your printer - Epson/Citizen/IBM graphics/Gemini/Laser and others. DB3FIXPO.ARC DB3FIXPO is a program that repairs or recovers a damaged dBASEIII data base in 15 seconds or less regardless of the size of the data base. It was designed to save you lots of wasted hours, gray hair and money. It was first used on a damaged file with 1 Meg worth of data and did the job in 10 seconds. Even Ashton-Tate does not know that the recovery can be made this way, or if they do, they are not telling you. It can also do less demanding fixes. CARDEX.ARC Creates an rotary index card file on IBM PC computers and compatibles. It is the equivelent of a ROLODEX (tm) for storing addresses, phone numbers, and misc. information of persons or companies. CARDEX is a visual facsimile of a rotaty index card file, with the added feature that the names and phone numbers of the three preceeding entries and three following entries are visible along with the full information on the current card. DPU.ARC This little utility allows you to set various options for the Compaq Deskpro (and presumably other Compaq's) from the DOS command line (and more usefully) from batch files. ? -- Display this screen Cn -- Set Caps Lock where n = T(toggle), 0(off), or 1(on) Nn -- Set Num Lock where n = T(toggle), 0(off), or 1(on) Sn -- Set Scroll Lock where n = T(toggle), 0(off), or 1(on) Mn -- Set mode of fP clock n = T(toggle), 0(slow), or 1(fast) Vn -- Set volume of keyclick where 0 < n < 124 TY22.ARC Written by member Dave Oshel, TY is an ASCII file viewing utility that features: PgUp backs up through the file, one screen at a time allows unix style pathnames, i.e. with /, forward slash, allows wildcards * and ? in file names name of the current file is always visible * * * * * 5-Star Winner !!! * * * * * FILEMAN.ARC FM, the disk directory utility program. FM.COM is a "load and RAM resident" program that operates much like Borland's SideKick. FILE MANAGER is a utility that gives you the abilities to access any directory on any disk and then to return to your original program without disturbing it. FILE MANAGER can list directories, copy, del, ren, print files. It has been tested on IBM PC's with color graphics boards, monochrome monitor machines and IBM PC/AT's with EGA's. -={ PC Pursuit is Coming !! }=- The long wait is almost over... I just received the PC Pursuit Connection newsletter for November 1986 and they have announced the addition of 11 new areacodes. The following areacodes and cities will be available as of 12/31/86: 503 - Portland 813 - Tampa 305 - Miami 408 - San Jose 818 - Glendale 612 - Minneapolis 602 - Phoenix 216 - Cleveland 801 - Salt Lake City 414 - Milwaukee 919 - Research Triangle Park (No Carolina) As you can see, the 813 areacode, our areacode, will be one of the newly added service areas. I'm sure PC Pursuit can do the same for your phone bill as it has already done for mine. You only pay a one-time sign-up fee of $25 and then a flat $25/month for unlimited calls between 6p-7a M-F, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. 2400 Baud Support - Soon 2400 baud will also be available in all PC Pursuit areas by the end of the first quarter of '87 (or shortly thereafter.) 8-N-1 Protocol For those of you who are frustrated by the 7-E-1 parameters required by PC Pursuit, try this: 1.) Set your comm parameters to 8-N-1, then dial your local Telenet number. 2.) Once connected, enter (cr) D (cr) 3.) At the TERMINAL = prompt, enter D1 (cr) This should be the cure for those of you who forget to reset your comm parameters before trying to download files with the XMODEM or YMODEM protocols. How-To Sign Up For sign-up information you can call the PC Pursuit FIDO system by modem at 800-835-3001 (use 7-E-1 settings.) Or you can call by voice to 800-TELENET between 8am-5pm weekdays. -={ Plu*Perfect's Backgrounder II }=- The Marriage of Plu*Perfect CP/M 2.2E and ZCPR3/ZRDOS by John Stensvaag (TBKUG) As a CP/M computer user, have you been troubled by the need to choose between ZCPR3 (with or without its ZRDOS operating system) and Plu*Perfect's CP/M 2.2E? Many of us have made this choice only reluctantly. And no wonder! Plu*Perfect has offered us the extraordinary power of DateStamper and Backgrounder, two programs that are unparalleled by any rivals. Moreover, Plu*Perfect's owner, Derek McKay, has removed physical limits on the lowly Kaypro computer by authoring the Advent TurboROM, a stunning and inexpensive ROM replacement that will support up to 112 megabytes of hard disk and 2 megabytes of ram disk, all with minimal sacrifice of TPA. I am one of the loyal Plu*Perfect users, who has bought everything McKay ever offered. For the life of me, I have never been able to under- stand how ZCPR3 users--including most sysops--can stand the lack of time/date stamping of their files. Yet, to be honest, those of us who have opted for Plu*Perfect's CP/M 2.2E have wistfully read about the magic of ZCPR3 through the years, including such wizardry as multiple command lines, shells, named directory areas, wheel bytes, and countless fancy utilities with exotic names like VFILER, VMENU, and ALIAS. More than once, I have drooled over a public domain offering, only to be brought back to reality by the notation that the software runs only under ZCPR3. My pangs of regret at not being a ZCPR3 user have been heighted in recent months by Echelon's tantalizing advertisements for bootable Kaypro ZCPR3/ZRDOS systems. These ads caused me to dust off Ted Silveira's two-part article on the Z-System in the December 1985 and January 1986 issues of ProFiles. His description of menus, shells, and multiple command lines opened my eyes to the "cost" of choosing CP/M 2.2E. Silveira's glowing review made it clear that ZCPR3 is an extra- ordinary product, delivering fantastic value for the money. On greater reflection, I no longer marveled at the decisions by sysops to forgo DateStamping; ZCPR3 might be worth this "price." As a result of this rethinking, I decided that I just had to try out ZCPR3, even if this meant withdrawal from my dependence on CP/M 2.2E. Before engaging in such a disloyal act, however, I made one last call to Derek McKay, to inquire about a possible meshing of ZCPR3 and DateStamper. Once again, McKay has come through, and I have postponed my rush to acquire Echelon's (no-doubt outstanding) products. The good news is that it may no longer be necessary to make a choice between the power of Plu*Perfect's DateStamper/Backgrounder and the wizardry of ZCPR3. First, Plu*Perfect now offers "General DateStamper," for persons who do not want to use CP/M 2.2E; I knew that already, but suspected that meshing General DateStamper/ZCPR3 with Non-General DateStamper/CPM 2.2E (if I needed to toggle between the two operating systems) would be a logistical nightmare. No matter what else you may do, if you operate a CP/M computer without DateStamper, I think you're nuts. More importantly, however, Plu*Perfect plans to release its "General Backgrounder" (or "Backgrounder 2") by the end of November. (Only publication of the manual is holding up release.) In the past, Backgrounder has been just one (although maybe the best) of several key redefinition programs, and would run only with CP/M 2.2E. The new Backgrounder is such a new product that the use of the old name may unfortunately turn people away before they give it the look that it deserves. The truly miraculous thing about BG2 is that, according to McKay, the program will work for current ZCPR3 users as well as current Plu*Perfect users, and will provide virtually all the power of the two separate systems, plus the unprecedented capability of multi-tasking. As McKay explained it, BG2, when loaded, will sense whether the user is running a ZCPR3 environment or a standard (or Plu*Perfect CP/M 2.2E) environment. If the user is already in ZCPR3, BG2 will automatically enhance it with additional features (such as multi-tasking capability), but will retain the existing environment, so the user will still be in ZCPR3. [McKay explained that BG2 will support only certain version of ZRDOS (Versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.7, and any future stable versions), because it is not profitable to "chase" Echelon's repeated issuance of temporary versions.] If the user is, instead, operating with standard CP/M or Plu*Perfect's CP/M 2.2E, BG2 will establish what McKay calls a "pseudo-ZCPR3 environment." McKay calls this system a "pseudo- ZCPR3 environment," because the code was "rewritten from the ground up" to emulate ZCPR3's capabilities. The result, according to McKay, is that BG2 being run on a non-ZCPR3-modified CP/M computer will add almost all of ZCPR3's features (including named directories, multiple command lines, and aliases), without the need to tinker with the operating system image, and without the need to install ZCPR3 or give up one's existing CP/M 2.2E system. Moreover, with a single command (BGOFF), BG2 will be removed and the user will be restored to the pre-existing system, whether ZCPR3 or Plu*Perfect CP/M 2.2E. All this is done, as I understand it, by using surprisingly little TPA. BG2, when loaded, will replace the CCP plus take up 2.75K of ram; this is much smaller than other key redefinition programs (including Backgrounder 1). This is done by using a "virtual memory" technique, involving a swap file (shades of Perfect Writer!). Delays associated with the swap file should be minimal on a hard disk, and a small price to pay for the increased free TPA. "Sure!" you say. "But what about VFILER, VMENU, ALIAS, and all those other ZCPR3 utilities that I just can't live without?" Well, it is true that BG2 does not come with those utilities. But these utilities can be obtained in the public domain, and McKay assures me that virtually all ZCPR3 utilities will work without a hitch under BG2, whether your original system was installed for ZCPR3, standard CP/M, or CP/M 2.2E. In particular, he assures me that BG2 is compatible with VFILER and VMENU. Still sound too good to be true? I have learned through the years that McKay delivers what he promises. In this case, he informs me that BG2 has been extensively tested by some of the most prominent ZCPR3 programmers and authors of ZCPR3 books, and that these individuals have been sticklers for working all the bugs out and developing complete compatibility. For several years, now, it has been a darn shame to have to forego the features of ZCPR3 or Plu*Perfect's CP/M 2.2E, because of the need to make a choice between the two systems. Now, with the forthcoming release of Backgrounder 2, the marriage of these two systems may at last make it possible for CP/M operators of all types to obtain the benefits of both systems with a minimum of effort. For more information, contact: Plu*Perfect Systems Box 1494 Idyllwild, California 92349 714-659-4432 -={ TBKUG User Disk Volumes }=- This is a good place to remind you that TBKUG/DataCOM has every ZCPR3, CP/M, or IBM-DOS shareware or public domain program you'd ever need. We have well over 40,000 files in our master library and have organized these into User Disk volumes for both CP/M and IBM-DOS users. All of our disks are priced as follows: 1 each ............ $ 10.00 10 - 25 ........... $ 8.50/ea 25 - 50 ........... $ 7.50/ea 50 or more ........ $ 5.00/ea To qualify for quantity discounts you must; order all of the disks at one time, and the order must be pre-paid by check or money order. No COD orders will be accepted at any time. Our catalogs are available BY MAIL or MODEM. If you want catalogs by mail you must: (1) Send a blank diskette, (2) use a re-usable mailer, and (3) enclose sufficient return postage. Please indicate whether you desire CP/M or IBM disk catalogs. SPECIAL - The BIBLE, 9 CP/M disks $65.00, or 7 IBM disks $50.00 -={ Year-End Ramblings... }=- Many thanks to all the TBKUG/DataCOM members for your continued support. We have come a long way since our group was founded in 1982. Hard to believe that it all began on a Kaypro II with two floppy disk drives and a Hayes 300 modem !! We now have two incoming lines supporting 300-1200-2400 baud going into a multi- user TurboDOS system plus a third line with 1200-2400 baud capability running on an IBM-AT clone. Very soon I will be installing PC slave processor cards in the AT machine and will be phasing out the TurboDOS system. You CP/M users need not worry, I will continue to have CP/M software available online as long as there is a call for it! IBM may be taking over but we will never forget our CP/M roots... The latest data shows we now have about 900 active members with a renewal rate exceeding 78% and a new-member growth rate of about 10 to 15 new members added each month. Our remote systems are very busy between the hours of 7pm through 2am daily and on the weekends. During the daytime on weekdays there is plenty of OPEN time with no callers at all. The PCBoard is moderately busy all the time as it only has one incoming phone line. This will change soon when we merge ALL the systems into the new AT machine and make it true multi-user handling all three of our modem lines. Usage of the remote systems is likely to increase after December 31 when PC Pursuit service becomes available to our area. Long distance charges keep many of our users from being "regulars" but this should change as more and more of them join Telenet and enjoy the benefits of UNLIMITED calling for only $25 a month. Many thanks to the users who have left all the kind words about our services and encouraged others to join our group. We are here to serve you - "quality is job #1" as FORD says on their TV ads!! From our family to yours: S E A S O N ' S G R E E T I N G S a n d a H A P P Y N E W Y E A R t o a l l {eof}