Msg: 4006 *Conference*

02-14-93 22:46:36

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : MICHAEL VOLOW

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #4004 (XTRA MEMORY + URII)

You've asked a common question, Michael.  One worth open discussion for others
to chime in as well.

Model 100's and 102's have a "fixed" upper limit to contiguous RAM (memory).
That limit is 32K minus system overhead, or a little over 29000 bytes.  You may
not exceed this upper limit by any available device.  However, you may add
"banks" or "RAM disk storage" to your Model T to give you more available
RAM-like storage.  These devices include extRAM, XR4, or Booster Pac.

Since you also want ROM-based text formatting software, my highest
recommendation is for Booster Pac.  A Booster Pac gives you 96K of RAM storage
and 11 extra sockets for adding more RAM or ROM's.  The BP comes with TS-DOS in
its system ROM's, thus eliminating the need to have a DOS in RAM.  Now, add
either the Ultimate ROM II or Sardine ROM to a Booster Pac and you have a
killer writting system, wherein you may have lots of files available, a built
in DOS and a built in text formatter, as well as other nifty programs;
depending on which ROM you choose, of course.

The other choices, although great devices, use the option ROM socket for both
RAM banks and ROM-image storage.  The extRAM gives you one bank which you may
use as either a RAM bank or a ROM bank.  The XR4 gives you 4 banks which may be
configured as either RAM or ROM.  In both cases, you must swap between banks to
use those configured as RAM, or those used as ROM.  You must remain alert to
proper use, and you must manage ROM image files.

The Booster Pac, on the other hand, does an amazing amount of stuff for you in
the background.  Also, ROM addition is a simple process of sticking in the ROM.
Furthermore, you never fear a cold start with a Booster Pac as the machine may
cold start but the Booster Pac does not.  If you get a cold start you simply
call the Booster Pac and you're back.

I have further information on RAM/ROM options and Booster Pac details that I
will send you this week.  Thanks for asking... -Rick-