Msg: 4075 *Conference*

03-02-93 21:04:47

From: TRACY ALLEN

To : DICK LITTMAN

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #4070 (TS-DOS AND 4XRAM)

Dear Dick,
  The advantage of the expanded extRAM (XR4) is that it has four times as much
memory capacity as the original extRAM.  It can hold up to four ROM images at
once.  Once the ROM images are loaded into the XR4, it is a very simple command
to switch from one to the next.  You don't have to load anything from outside.
Any memory you don't need for ROMs, you can use for additional memory for your
programs and data files.   The original extRAM could only hold one ROM "image"
at a time, so when you wanted to change ROMs you had to load in a new image
from disk.  The XR4 gets around that by allowing you to have up to four ROM
images loaded at once.  The XR4 is also more stae for using certain ROMs,
namely Multiplan and SuperROM that had some problems running from extRAM.  XR4
can be write-protected using a software command.
  
  I appreciate Rick's admiration for the Booster pak.  It really is classy.
But you have to be aware that it almost doubles the thickness of your model
T--so the result is a lot less portable than you had been used to.  The XR4
completely protable and lightweight and fits 100% inside the case of the M100
or T102.
  
 Another option is the RAMPAK.  It is a 256k memory, about the size of deck of
cards, that plugs into the bus socket on the back edge of the T102.  (Or into
an adapter cable on the M100).  The software allows you to save and load files
that you store on the RAMPAK, like on a disk drive, but much faster & more
portable.
 The good news is that all these options are available from Club100.  If you
email me your mailing address, I can send you some hardcopy info about the XR4,
extRAM and RAMPAK.
  -- Tracy /e\m/e\