NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #18/NN_1992_18.iso/spool/comp/sys/cbm/3394

Internet Message Format | 1992-08-14 | 2.9 KB

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From: [e-mail] (Robert Andrew Knop)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: REU's for a flat C-128
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Date: 14 Aug 92 21:16:45 GMT
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[e-mail] (David W. Tamkin) writes:

>When REU's first came around about three or four years ago, I wasn't
>interested and paid no attention to the information.  Now I'm thinking
>about getting one for my C-128.

Your best bet would probably be to go with a CMD RAMDrive or RAMLink.  Those
devices will be compatable with almost any software you use.  (One notable
exception is DesTerm.)  They act as a superfast disk drive, even to the point
that they have separate power supplies, and can maintain their contents when
the computer is turned off.  They are capable of emulating 1541's, 1571's, and
1581's, so if software expects specifically one of those drives, the RL or RD
can handle it.  As to the SwiftLink question, a RAMLink has a pass-thru port
on it in which you can plug any cartraidges, and the SwiftLink will work in
here.

The 1750 or clone will not be used by as much software as the RL or RD, but it
does have some of its own advantages.  One, you may be able to find one used
for not too much money.  Some programs make very effective use of the REU for
internal buffers, e.g. Dialogue128, Big Blue Reader, ZED128; in these cases, a
RAMDrive or RAMLink won't serve the same purpose as an REU, although with all
three programs, to the best of my knowledge, you can still use a RD or a RL as
a superfast disk drive.  I believe that a 17xx is compatible with a SwiftLink,
but since it sucks up the cartraidge port, you would have to get one of those
cartraidge port expander thingies.

Myself, I hope one day before too long to be able to get a RAMLink; however, I
will keep my 1750, and continue to use the 1750 as a 1750 proper (rather than
use it is part of my RAMLink memory), so I can use it with programs that make
effective use of the 1750.

For you, getting your first RAM expander, probably you are better off with a
RAMLink or a RAMDrive.  Which you get would depend on what you want; the
RAMLink is the higher end device; you can expand it to 16 Meg at any time
using industry standard SIMM memory modules; if you think you might ever get a
CMD HD, your access to the HD will be much faster if you have a RAMLink (due
to a port for the HD on the RAMLink).  RAMDrive is a smaller, lower cost
closed package, which you can get in 0.5, 1, or 2 Meg; however, CMD is now
also advertising larger RAMDrives that they claim are expandible.  I don't
know much about that.

-Rob Knop
[e-mail]