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Loadstar 128 14
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2022-08-28
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L O A D S T A R 1 2 8 F O R U M
Compiled by Fender Tucker
Dear LOADSTAR 128,
LOADSTAR 128 #13 came with the usual "A Message from LS 128 Quarterly"
which offers Carmen San Diego and the Print Shop. The shipping for each is
$7 (to Canada). Why do the sheriffs feel that they must get $16 for
shipping a single back issue of LOADSTAR 128? And why is everything shipped
via Amsterdam, Netherlands?
Gerry Gallinat
Montreal, Quebec
LS: As mentioned last issue, I too felt that the $16.00 was out of line.
Believe it or not, my memo about this was acted upon and now the rates for
back issues are a much more reasonable $5.00 for the first issue and $0.50
for each additional disk. The Netherlands sidetrip is due to our mailing
things sorted bulk rate through a company called DHL. They apparently send
all their mail through Amsterdam.
Dear LOADSTAR 128,
There is a problem with some of the programs -- at least for us with
80-column monochrome monitors. The highlight bar is invisible in HOUSE CAT,
128 LIBRARY, and a few others. Is there a simple fix for these programs?
Ruth Ruotsalainen
Seattle WA
LS: A couple of years ago I said we would check all of our programs to make
sure they work with monochrome monitors. The reigning philosophy today
(which I admit that I share) is that LOADSTAR 128 is a color product for a
color computer. I know this sounds harsh but we don't have the time to
double-check every program to make sure everything shows up on monochrome
monitors, which, by the way, we don't even have anymore.
In my opinion the #1 thing going for the C-64 and C-128 computers these days
is that they are still the best computers for the home computerist. Try to
fix an IBM or Macintosh program. It can't be done by the end user. To
change the color of the highlight bar in HOUSE CAT break out of the program
with RUN/STOP-RESTORE and change the reversed "e" in line 120 to another
color code. How? Delete the "e" and do an INST. Then press CTRL-3 for
red, CTRL-4 for cyan, etc. Run the program to see if it helps. When you
find a color you like, scratch and save the program with a GOTO 10000. Just
about all of our programs have a scratch and save at line 10000.
For LOADSTAR 128 LIBRARY, Barbara Schulak uses the BASIC 7.0 COLOR command
rather than CTRL codes. Change the COLOR5,15 code in lines 120, 180, 5045
and 5075 to COLOR5,3 or COLOR5,4 -- again, whatever looks best to you. GOTO
10000 when it's fixed to your satisfaction.
I get letters from readers who say they don't do any programming and don't
want to. I understand that attitude but they're missing out on the biggest
advantage the C-64 and C-128 computers have over all of the other computers
in the world. Commodore computers come with BASIC built in. Don't waste
that power.
Finally, I must end this sermon by saying the letters I've received about
this have been VERY nice and polite. I talk regularly with the managing
editors of our Apple, IBM and Macintosh products and our readers are easily
the most understanding. Thank you all.
Dear LOADSTAR 128,
If you are using Creative Micro Designs' RAMLink, DO NOT have the
RAMLink in the enable position if you run CRIBBAGE from LOADSTAR 128 #10.
If you play the game and reset the computer you will lose all of the
partitions and programs on the RAM card and it will revert back to device
#16. Turn the computer off to be safe.
Also, I would advise CP/M users to avoid using the RAM card in the CP/M
mode. There are incompatibilities and their C-128 may lock up at
inopportune moments. If you must use the RAM card with CP/M then disable
the parallel cable with the @PO command first.
Donald Cox
Fullerton, CA
LS: Thanks for the advice, Don. The CMD products are terrific and propel
our 8-bit computers into the space age, but with that power comes
complexity. We don't know what's so "special" about CRIBBAGE but we will
research it and try to find what the RAMLink doesn't like. Readers, please
send information like this to us as you find it and I'll try to pass it on
to our readers. I guess we do have some of IBM's problems after all.
Dear LOADSTAR 128,
A good many of my fellow amateur radio operators are computer users as
well, and since the FCC has endorsed a new No-Code license which removes the
restriction that a licensee must be able to receive and transmit Morse Code,
more and more of them are turning to computerized amateur radio operation.
There are radio BBS's in every major town now, which, if not as
sophisticated as the telephone BBS's, are handier and cheaper...no phone
bills!
May I suggest you advertise in some of the following amateur radio
publications?
QST, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111, (203)-666-1541
CQ, 76 N. Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801, (516)-681-2922
Worldradio, 2120 28th Street, Sacramento, CA (916)-457-3655
Karl A. Schenk
Yakima, WA
LS: I'll pass this on to our marketing moguls...and to our readers. Thanks,
Karl.
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