Msg: 3217 *Conference*

09-21-92 09:09:45

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : DAVID BROWN

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #3211 (ROM II/CLEUSEAU)

Congratulations on selling your ROM2/Cleuseau ROM, David.  Glad to assit in
that area.  And thanks, too, for your positive feedback on the use of LAPDOS II
and TS-DOS.
 
Taking a writing class is a "great idea!"  And, using your laptop, in
combination with LAPDOS, a DOS computer, and a DOS-based word processing
program is "the way" these days for us Model T owners.
 
Unless you really, really, really need th money, I recommend not selling your
disk drive, or TS-DOS ROM.  The ROM-based TS-DOS may be used as a file manager,
i.e., kill, rename, pack, unpack, list file contents, etc.  Your drive will
come in handy as your begin "really" writing.  Once you start writing--and I
mean really writing--you will be very glad to have your disk drive for file
storage.  Not only will your RAM tend to fill up, as your motor-fingers fly,
but you will be very gald that you kept a back up of all your important
writings.  Remember, the most important part of your computer system is your
data.  You'll feel VERY BAD when you lose something you really didn't want to
lose.  Murphy works in strange ways.  Also, a writer writes.  And the more a
writer writes the more there is to write about, i.e., writing begets more
writing.  Right?
 
To ease the pain of saving files to your TPDD, may I suggest using the TS-DOS
DOS-ON function.  I use the DOS-ON function all the time.  It goes like this:
 
 1) Get into TS-DOS
 2) Tap <F5> DOS-OFF to DOS-ON
 3) Get out of TS-DOS
 
Next, start a TEXT file, or enter an existing .DO file.  On the first line,
place the name of the file, i.e., NOTE.DO, MYSTUF.DO, JOKES.DO.  Skip a couple
of lines and start your text.
 
Now, when you want to save a copy of your .DO file to the drive, do the
following:  (assuming your TPDD is plugged into your Model T, and a formatted
disk is in the drive)
 
 1) Turn on the drive.
 2) <ctrl> <up arrow>
 
NOTE: Step 2 is not necessary if you ABSOLUTELY remember the name of the file
you are currently working on.  Most of us do not remember, so I feel that it's
better save than sorry.
 
 3) Tap <F3> and respond with 0:filename ...the actual name of the file
 4) Hit <enter> and wait for the saving to stop.
 5) Turn off the drive.
 
Using this system, you will ALWAYS have a "safe" copy of your file on disk.
You will NEVER fear a cold start.  And, lastly, you can save your working file
often, and conveniently, as you work.
 
Hope this helps... -Rick-