Msg: 3427 *Conference*

11-22-92 11:30:18

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : CARL VOGEL

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #3424 (LEARNING THE 100)

Carl: Got your message in good order.  For your information, uploading messages
into this online editor can be a bit tricky.  The trick is to make sure there
are no blank lines within your message. 
  
For instance, the above "blank line" is not blank.  It contains a space
character, i.e., I hit my spacebar before hitting <enter>.  Before coming
online to upload a text file (.DO file) message, go through the message and
make sure there is a space on each blank line within the message.  I mentioned
this on page 17 of the Club 100 1992 Catalog. 
  
Now, onto your questions:
  
---
  
1) What are the two connectors in the compartment under the keyboard of the
Model 100, and how are they used? 
  
The flat, 40 pin connector--the one with the two rows of holes--is the system
bus.  The system bus is used for external device control, i.e., DVI (disk video
interface), rampac via our special cable, 1/2 of a Booster Pak connection,
process control via the A-Bus by Alpha Micro, and/or OWL unit connections by
EME Systems, Berkeley, CA, etc.  The system bus is where various,
no-longer-available, add-on RAM devices connected. 
  
The other connector is called your option ROM socket.  This is where you plug
option ROM's, i.e., The Ultimate ROM II, Sardine ROM, TS-DOS ROM, CARFIL ROM,
ROM2/Cleuseau, SuperROM, Lucid ROM, Write ROM, Business Analyst ROM, or custom
ROM's developed by various companies for in-house use. 
  
The option ROM connector--also called a Molex connector--is also used for EME
Systems new RAM/ROM products, i.e., extRAM and XR4.  These two RAM/ROM products
may be used as a RAM storage, RAM bank, or option ROM image holders; wherein
presaved option ROM images may be copied into the device and called/used as the
option ROM image currently installed.  Hmmm... that was a strange sentence,
huh?  Anyway, think about it for awhile and you'll get the idea. 
  
Part of your first question is: Is one of them RAM and the other ROM?  Can I
use both at once? 
  
Based on my explanation, the answer to both these questions is yes but you must
apply the concept of "yes" correctly.  Yes to you and yes to me may be
different yes'es, depending on your understanding of the various
device-combinations available, and how they are used.
  
2) Why have some called the Multiplan ROM "naughty?"  How is it different from,
say, Lucid?  Are any still available for $20? 
  
The Multiplan ROM, originally sold by Tandy, was self booting.  It hooked into
the system RAM in such manner that effected non-Tandy, 3rd party products. This
is not all-together bad; at least from Tandy's point of view.  After all, they
[Tandy] are not in business to support non-Tandy products.  Anyway, 3rd party
developers call Tandy ROM's "naughty" because they don't work with their [3rd
party] products.  I guess it's all in your point of view.  Multiplan ROM works
well. 
  
How is Multiplan different from Lucid?  In a nut shell, Multiplan is a simple,
straight forward spreadsheet program.  Lucid has more features.  Both ROM's a
fine products.  The "exact" differences were presented in past issues of
Portable 100 Magazine.  If you are interested in back issues, call them at
603-924-9455. 
  
Do I still have Multiplan ROM's available for $20?  Yes, I have about 70 copies
left out of over 500.  The price remains at $19.50 + $2 s&h. 
  
3) Why is Lapdos II better then using telcom on the laptop coupled with a
terminal program on the DOS computer? 
  
In the manner you described, you must open a file on the DOS computer, send the
file from the laptop, wait for it to pass--in ASCII of course, where errors can
occur--then close the file on the DOS end.  You "must" do this for each file
you wish to transfer between the two machines.  Furthermore, you are limited to
.DO (ASCII) files, not .BA (tokenized BASIC), or .CO (machine language) files.
Thus, you're missing out on 2/3rd of the files available. 
  
With Lapdos II, you run a little emulation program on your laptop--pumped into
your laptop via LOADER.COM on the Lapdos II distribution disk--turning your
laptop into a dumb peripheral.  You then run Lapdos II (LAP.EXE) on your DOS
computer where you get a split screen, vertically.  Your DOS files are
presented on your left and your laptop files are presented on your right.  You
have a highlighter and a small but capable menu of options presented at the
bottom of your DOS screen, i.e., Help Log View Copy Wildcopy Format Erase
Rename Goto Xchange Setup Quit. 
  
You may use the "Log" function to log onto any drive and simply hit enter to
enter or leave sub-directories. 
  
You use the "Copy" or "Wildcopy" commands to move file(s) to and from the
machines.  Note: Lapdos II supports all file types, i.e., .DO, .BA and .CO.
Furthermore, files create their own filename on the receiving machine--no need
to key in filenames--and move at 19200 baud via a binary transfer protocol;
thus file contents remain in tact. 
  
You have complete control of your laptop from your desktop end, wherein you may
view files, rename files, erase files, and even reformat the portable device!
What did I say?  "Reformat the portable device."  Why would you want to do
that?  Well, to make a long story short, Lapdos was originally created to
access the TPDD (Tandy Portable Disk Drive).  Wouldn't it make sense for the
developers to add "disk formatting" capabilities to their product?  Now, Lapdos
II not only accesses the TPDD, but the TPDD2 and directly to Model 100, 102,
200 and NEC PC8201a computer via our special null-modem cable. 
  
Speaking of cables: We build the right cable.  Others do not.  Our cables are
just $17.50 + $3 s&h.  However, you may save some money by either altering the
cable or null-modem adaptor you already own or building your own.  "Correct"
cable diagrams are listed in a file on the Lapdos II distribution disk, as well
as in the (T)op menu (H)elpfiles #10 on this BBS. 
  
So, is Lapdos II "better" then using a terminal program between your laptop and
your desktop?  Yes, you are missing far too much by not experiencing the power
of Lapdos II. 
  
4) How much is the Power Pillow?
  
Thanks for asking.  I screwed up when I put the 1992 catalog together last
year.  I overlooked the little detail of price of the Power Pillow.  The price
is just $19.95 + $3 s&h. 
  
5) What is bubble memory, where does it go, and how reliable is it?
  
Bubble memory is a memory device that uses electronic bubbles as on's and
off's; representing the BIT's of the bytes.  As I recall, only one company made
bubble memory for the Model 100 computer.  That company is out of business.
Bubble memory is expensive to make, and takes far too much power to remain lit.
The only source for bubble memory that I know of it Computer Reset in Garland,
TX.  They were selling used Model 100's the bubble memory add-ons for $199.00
all last year but I have not heard what the status of this deal is, currently. 
  
The bubble memory plugged into the system bus on the bottom of your Model 100.
(see previous question, above).  As far as I know, the actual unit was the size
of the bottom of the Model 100; thus doubling the bottom height. 
  
How reliable is bubble memory?  I don't know.
  
6) You can write to your tape but not read what you wrote.  What's going on?
  
So, now you know why we don't recommend tape as a storage medium.  It [tape] is
not reliable unless you have the "right" tape recorder.  The "right" tape
recorder uses a square-wave circuit for digital storage and playback.  The only
tape recorder I found useful, most of the time, was the CCR-82 (Computer
Cassette Recorder 82).  The 81 and the 83 are not reliable.  In any case, you
still must save files several times, then test (read back) each file to make
sure you received a good save.  These added steps to assure file integrity make
using tape as a storage medium useless for serious Model 100 users. 
  
I highly recommend buying a TPDD or TPDD2 and using TS-DOS on disk or ROM. This
combination will open up opportunities far beyond your wildest dreams. Your
Model 100 (102, 200 or NEC8201) suddenly becomes a serious, full function
computer once you add a disk drive and full-function disk operating system
(DOS). 
  
---
  
I really appreciate all the questions, Carl.  You hit me at the right time.  I
was just sitting here, working on the 1993, 10th anniversary catalog contents,
and have been thinking about all the stuff I want to write about.  So, many
questions need to be placed in writing once and for all.  I may not be the best
person to do this but the job falls on me, anyway.  Your questions are just
some of those asked over and over again.  Thanks for asking.  -Rick-