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Text File  |  1979-12-31  |  9KB  |  163 lines
  1. .HE PREMIUM 64 chars x 55 lines. No .pa used        Page No #
  2.    *******************************************************
  3.    **   A USER'S OVERVIEW OF THE 128K PREMIUM SYSTEM.   **
  4.    *******************************************************
  5.                                                  Jiφ Francis«
  6.  
  7.      M∙ comment≤ mus⌠ bσ placeΣ iε perspective as m∙ application≤ ì
  8. and needs ma∙ no⌠ bσ thσ samσ a≤ yours.
  9.      ╔ aφ strictl∙ ß compute≥ use≥ - computer≤ arσ onl∙ t∩ ì
  10. perforφ otherwisσ morσ difficul⌠ functions«  He° addresse≤ arσ ì
  11. place≤ zappeΣ b∙ witches¼ hackinτ i≤ choppinτ barbiσ wood.
  12.      M∙ need≤ arσ functional anΣ semi-business«  M∙ program≤ arσ ì
  13. fo≥ specifiπ application¼ seldoφ usefu∞ t∩ others¼ anΣ usσ fe≈ ì
  14. graphics«  Game≤ don'⌠ interes⌠ me¼ anΣ ╔ can'⌠ afforΣ colour.
  15.      ╔ havσ owneΣ threσ excellen⌠ 32δ units¼ anΣ aε atypicall∙ ì
  16. troublesomσ 128δ Smal∞ Busines≤ Compute≥ systeφ wa≤ (ver∙ ì
  17. recently⌐ uptradeΣ t∩ thσ 128δ Premiuφ system.
  18.  
  19.      Thσ Premiuφ i≤ virtuall∙ aε al∞ ne≈ computer«  WitΦ ne≈ ì
  20. board≤ anΣ case¼ expandeΣ graphics¼ buil⌠ iε Viate∞ anΣ colour¼ ì
  21. anΣ improveΣ screeε display¼ thσ extrß cos⌠ ove≥ ß StandarΣ i≤ ß ì
  22. bargain«  Al∞ flopp∙ system≤ no≈ have thσ samσ boo⌠ ROM«  I use ì
  23. thσ SB├ 5.25ó discs¼ bu⌠ thσ `mix-n-matchº approacΦ allow≤ thσ ì
  24. 3.5ó disπ drive≤ t∩ pluτ straigh⌠ on.
  25.  
  26.      Tw∩ MicroWorlΣ disπ BASIC≤ (32δ 6.26e╗ 22δ 6.28e⌐ addres≤ ì
  27. thσ ne≈ colou≥ anΣ graphic≤ (HIRES2⌐ commands«  Tapσ BASI├ i≤ ì
  28. als∩ included«  v6.2╢ addresse≤ thσ ful∞ expandeΣ graphics¼ anΣ ì
  29. v6.2╕ i≤ ß modifieΣ `bridgingº BASIC«  Othe≥ difference≤ havσ no⌠ ì
  30. beeε explored¼ (especiall∙ colour)¼ bu⌠ thesσ raisσ concerns.
  31.      HIRES▓ i≤ mucΦ faste≥ thaε HIRE╙ anΣ ma∙ causσ variation≤ iε ì
  32. prograφ executioε speed«  A≤ i⌠ cause≤ Syta° Erro≥ iε earlie≥ ì
  33. BASICs some downwarΣ prograφ incompatibility seems probable.
  34.      ╔ understanΣ colou≥ i≤ incompatabilσ betweeε BASI├ versions.
  35.      
  36.      Thσ Shel∞ systeφ i≤ furthe≥ improved«  AlthougΦ derideΣ b∙ ì
  37. man∙ thσ Shel∞ allow≤ easie≥ anΣ safe≥ `housekeeping'« A≤ aε ì
  38. analogy¼ althougΦ competen⌠ witΦ 1╢ speeΣ 18-wheeler≤ m∙ ca≥ i≤ ì
  39. automatic¼ despitσ motorinτ expert≤ claiminτ `GooΣ driver≤ don'⌠ ì
  40. usσ automatics'«  Thσ easies⌠ wa∙ usuall∙ produce≤ les≤ errors«  ì
  41. Aε automatiπ let≤ mσ attenΣ t∩ thσ road¼ anΣ thσ Shel∞ let≤ mσ ì
  42. attenΣ t∩ computing« ╔ usσ CP/═ wheε necessary¼ bu⌠ fee∞ tha⌠ ì
  43. whilσ programmer≤ ma∙ prefe≥ CP/M¼ mos⌠ user≤ wil∞ prefe≥ Shell«  ì
  44. ┴ majo≥ featurσ oµ morσ expensivσ system≤ i≤ user-friendliness.
  45.  
  46.      Tw∩ completel∙ ne≈ manuals¼ writteε iε aε informative¼ eas∙ ì
  47. t∩ reaΣ style¼ seeφ t∩ equa∞ o≥ bette≥ thosσ fo≥ simila≥ systems«
  48.      MS╠ havσ competentl∙ bridgeΣ thσ technolog∙ t∩ use≥ gap¼ ì
  49. mercifull∙ withou⌠ somσ competitorsº insultinτ childishness.
  50.      Feature≤ user≤ canno⌠ appl∙ ma∙ a≤ wel∞ bσ omitted¼ s∩ tex⌠ ì
  51. i≤ ofteε a≤ importan⌠ a≤ systeφ improvement«  Thesσ manual≤ arσ ß ì
  52. significan⌠ improvement¼ and¼ onσ hopes¼ indicatσ ß ne≈ awarenes≤ ì
  53. froφ Microbeσ oµ public relations and owne≥ needs.
  54.  
  55.      Thσ ne≈ System≤ Manua∞ ha≤ aε explanator∙ Introduction¼ anΣ ì
  56. Shel∞ System¼ CP/M¼ Graphic≤ Wordbee¼ anΣ Telecoφ Tutorial≤ a≤ ß ìè3.5cφ thicδ loose-leaµ inser⌠ iε ß flat-openinτ harΣ cover«  I⌠ ì
  57. ha≤ man∙ time≤ thσ informatioε conten⌠ oµ thσ olΣ Manual.
  58.      Thσ CP/═ Tutoria∞ i≤ comprehensive¼ commencinτ a⌠ ß ver∙ ì
  59. simplσ leve∞ anΣ progressinτ beyonΣ ß stagσ ╔ woulΣ consul⌠ ì
  60. CortesΘ (o≥ Roge≥ Cooper¼ etc).
  61.      Thσ Graphiπ Wordbeσ anΣ Telecoφ Tutorial≤ arσ similarl∙ ì
  62. comprehensive.
  63.  
  64.      Thσ ne≈ BASI├ manua∞ finall∙ cover≤ botΦ disπ anΣ RO═ BASIC¼ ì
  65. ha≤ abou⌠ threσ time≤ thσ page≤ anΣ teε time≤ thσ information¼ ì
  66. anΣ man∙ morσ example≤ anΣ demonstratioε programs«  ┴ `Masterinτ ì
  67. Microbeeº stylσ Tutoria∞ sectioε progresse≤ t∩ ß wel∞ structureΣ ì
  68. AdvanceΣ Programminτ Tutorial¼ anΣ ß Referencσ Sectioε anΣ ì
  69. Appendi° arσ simila≥ t∩ expandeΣ version≤ oµ thσ olΣ manual«  ╔ ì
  70. prefe≥ thσ Systeφ manua∞ loosσ leaµ folde≥ forma⌠ fo≥ easie≥ use¼ ì
  71. correction/note≤ insertion¼ updating¼ etc¼ anΣ protectioε anΣ ì
  72. aesthetiπ reasons¼ bu⌠ tha⌠ i≤ no⌠ ß criticism.
  73.  
  74.      Videote° no≈ save≤ 2░ frame≤ anΣ download≤ software¼ bu⌠ ì
  75. appea∞ seem≤ subjective«  Onl∙ aε owne≥ caε decidσ iµ i⌠ i≤ wortΦ ì
  76. thσ cost«  ╔ mus⌠ confes≤ mucΦ oµ m∙ usσ coulΣ bσ classifieΣ a≤ ì
  77. `windo≈ shopping'¼ whicΦ caε easil∙ ge⌠ expensive.
  78.  
  79.      Simpl∙D┬ i≤ the same wel∞ known small data base system.
  80.  
  81.      Simplσ Busines≤ Graphic≤ produce≤ severa∞ type≤ (pie¼ bar¼ ì
  82. line¼ etc⌐ oµ graphs«  I⌠ i≤ extremel∙ simplσ t∩ use¼ anΣ idea∞ ì
  83. fo≥ schools¼ householΣ anΣ simila≥ applications«  Prograφ ì
  84. appreciatioε anΣ applicatioε idea≤ increaseΣ witΦ familiarity« 
  85.  
  86.      Doε HowarΣ i≤ morσ competen⌠ anΣ experienceΣ thaε I«  Hi≤ ì
  87. comment≤ las⌠ issuσ deservσ thσ respec⌠ hi≤ standinτ deserves¼ ì
  88. anΣ ╔ refe≥ yo⌡ t∩ them«  Howeve≥ fo≥ m∙ need≤ ß 128δ i≤ superio≥ ì
  89. t∩ ß 64k¼ anΣ m∙ uni⌠ display≤ nonσ oµ thσ problem≤ hσ mentions«  ì
  90. I⌠ seem≤ a≤ fas⌠ anΣ efficient¼ game≤ operatσ a⌠ thσ samσ speed¼ ì
  91. Premiuφ graphic≤ shoulΣ bσ thσ fastes⌠ seeε oε ß Microbee¼ anΣ ì
  92. rapiΣ tex⌠ entr∙ i≤ n∩ problem«  I⌠ handle≤ large≥ file≤ faste≥ ì
  93. s∩ therσ i≤ n∩ comparisoε iε Multiplaε o≥ Wordstar«  Doε haΣ aε ì
  94. earl∙ Premium¼ anΣ minσ ma∙ bσ improved«  
  95.  
  96.      Complaint≤ with this system arσ mino≥ anΣ ver∙ few.
  97.  
  98.      Thσ Premiuφ ma∙ bσ slightl∙ morσ susceptiblσ t∩ powe≥ spike≤ ì
  99. thaε olde≥ models«  ╔ tenΣ t∩ SAV┼ morσ often.
  100.  
  101.      No⌠ eveε sticker≤ identif∙ memor∙ sizσ o≥ m∙ Premiuφ froφ ß ì
  102. Standard«  Externally¼ onl∙ thσ curso≥ key≤ arσ different.
  103.  
  104.      `Uptradingº ma∙ bσ to∩ expensivσ fo≥ mos⌠ owners¼ slowinτ ì
  105. thσ impac⌠ oµ thσ Premiuφ oε thσ marke⌠ anΣ factionalisinτ ì
  106. Microbeσ owners¼ prograφ demand¼ etc.
  107.      Thi≤ lead≤ t∩ thσ nex⌠ comment«  Thσ excellen⌠ program≤ no≈ ì
  108. availablσ neeΣ t∩ bσ furthe≥ developeΣ t∩ complemen⌠ anΣ utilisσ ì
  109. thσ improveΣ feature≤ oµ thσ Premium¼ bu⌠ thσ man∙ version≤ oµ ì
  110. MicroWorlΣ BASI├ arσ ß problem«  Programmer≤ won'⌠ developìèprogram≤ withou⌠ marke⌠ demand¼ bu⌠ marke⌠ demanΣ ma∙ takσ longe≥ ì
  111. t∩ develo≡ duσ t∩ StandarΣ mode∞ sale≤ anΣ les≤ upgrading.
  112.  
  113.      ╔ havσ t∩ ech∩ curso≥ contro∞ ke∙ comments«  A≤ ╔ mus⌠ worδ ì
  114. lyinτ dowε onσ ke∙ command≤ seemeΣ great«  I⌠ isn'⌠ tha⌠ simple«  ì
  115. Thσ curso≥ key≤ havσ onl∙ limiteΣ applicatioε anΣ ge⌠ iε thσ wa∙ ì
  116. oµ SHIF╘ anΣ RESET«  Usinτ SHIF╘ anΣ endinτ oε anothe≥ linσ i≤ ì
  117. annoying«  Bu⌠ contemplatσ thσ grieµ iµ yo⌡ arσ workinτ oε ß lonτ ì
  118. essa∙ o≥ spreadshee⌠ (anΣ naturall∙ haven'⌠ SAVEΣ sincσ thσ las⌠ ì
  119. cu≡ oµ coffee)«  Yo⌡ wonde≥ wh∙ thσ curso≥ didn'⌠ move¼ glancσ a⌠ ì
  120. thσ keyboard¼ anΣ finΣ you≥ finge≥ oε RESE╘ insteaΣ oµ ß curso≥ ì
  121. key«  Thσ keyboarΣ become≤ tear-filleΣ anΣ sogg∙ a≤ yo⌡ realisσ ì
  122. liftinτ you≥ pink∙ wil∞ clea≥ memory«  ╔ seldoφ hi⌠ othe≥ key≤ b∙ ì
  123. mistake¼ s∩ ma∙ learε t∩ usσ thσ layout«  Doε suggest≤ cuttinτ ì
  124. thσ to≡ ofµ thσ key≤ t∩ se⌠ theφ lower«  M∙ famil∙ suggest≤ ß ì
  125. volumσ contro∞ oε mσ insteaΣ oµ thσ computer.
  126.  
  127.      WordStar¼ MultiPlan¼ anΣ Microsof⌠ BASI├ seeφ casualtie≤ oµ ì
  128. costs«  Despitσ thei≥ agσ WordSta≥ anΣ MultiPlaε alway≤ perforφ ì
  129. well¼ witΦ sufficien⌠ feature≤ fo≥ mos⌠ oµ m∙ needs«  Lotu≤ typσ ì
  130. integrateΣ softwarσ woulΣ bσ great¼ bu⌠ ╔ can'⌠ afforΣ program≤ ì
  131. tha⌠ cos⌠ a≤ mucΦ a≤ thσ computerí  Thσ SB├ packagσ efficientl∙ ì
  132. diΣ al∞ ╔ neeΣ a⌠ ß pricσ ╔ coulΣ afford.
  133.      Softwarσ no≈ include≤ MicroWorlΣ BASIC¼ Graphiπ WordBee¼ ì
  134. Viatel¼ SimplyDB¼ Telecom¼ S.B« Graphics¼ anΣ utilitie≤ oε ▓ ì
  135. discs«  Aε SB├ haΣ ╡ disk≤ oµ softwarσ - sucΦ i≤ inflation«  ╔ ì
  136. understanΣ MS╠ offe≥ specifiπ applicatioε softwarσ packagσ deals.
  137.  
  138.      Fe≈ thing≤ iε lifσ arσ thi≤ good«  Complaint≤ arσ takeε ou⌠ ì
  139. oµ context¼ anΣ man∙ arσ subjective«  I'φ n∩ one-eyeΣ fanatiπ anΣ ì
  140. ver∙ critica∞ wheε justified¼ bu⌠ thi≤ systeφ i≤ impressive«  I⌠ ì
  141. SHOULDN'╘ comparσ witΦ system≤ costinτ man∙ time≤ more¼ bu⌠ fas⌠ ì
  142. talkinτ woulΣ bσ needeΣ t∩ convincσ mσ thesσ system≤ arσ superio≥ ì
  143. iε man∙ respects¼ o≥ fo≥ m∙ need≤ arσ wortΦ thσ highe≥ cos⌠ anΣ ì
  144. higΦ expensσ oµ thσ essentia∞ expansion≤ anΣ softwarσ required«  ì
  145. Wh∙ bu∙ ß FerrarΘ wheε yo⌡ can'⌠ afforΣ runninτ costs¼ can'⌠ usσ ì
  146. it≤ potential¼ anΣ ß Falcoε i≤ morσ appropriate┐  A≤ ß reasonabl∙ ì
  147. priced¼ reliable¼ eas∙ t∩ usσ anΣ excellen⌠ value-for-mone∙ ì
  148. systeφ fo≥ genera∞ usσ witΦ gooΣ manufacturer¼ softwarσ anΣ use≥ ì
  149. grou≡ support¼ it'≤ harΣ t∩ pass.
  150.      Fo≥ m∙ need≤ i⌠ is brilliant.
  151.   
  152.      Thσ Premiuφ operate≤ s∩ smoothl∙ computinτ i≤ almos⌠ ß non-ì
  153. event¼ allowinτ concentratioε oε tasking«  Thi≤ shor⌠ statemen⌠ ì
  154. indicates¼ bu⌠ canno⌠ possibl∙ convey¼ it≤ excellence.
  155.  
  156.      Thσ Premiuφ i≤ ß credi⌠ t∩ Microbeσ System≤ anΣ thei≥ R&─ ì
  157. teaφ, advancing Microbeσ technologica∞ excellencσ t∩ movσ furthe≥ ì
  158. ahead«  Howeve≥ i⌠ face≤ harΣ competition¼ mainl∙ duσ t∩ publiπ ì
  159. relations¼ exposure¼ anΣ marketinτ techniques«  ╔ beτ MS╠ t∩ ì
  160. providσ thσ customer¼ programmer¼ anΣ publiπ relation≤ suppor⌠ i⌠ ì
  161. deserves¼ anΣ recognisσ anΣ assis⌠ it≤ mos⌠ devoteΣ sale≤ anΣ ì
  162. suppor⌠ personne∞ - user≤ anΣ use≥ groups.
  163.