Msg: 2351 *Conference*
04-14-92 08:24:09
From: RICHARD HANSON
To : RUSSELL F. BAKER
Subj: REPLY TO MSG #2341 (TS-DOS)
----- Russell: TS-DOS may or may not be "better" than floppy.co. The concept of better is better left up to you, not me. Both DOSes do the same, practical functions, i.e., save, load, kill, rename, format. With floppy you can make image duplications. TS-DOS does not have that feature. TS-DOS functions are point-n-shoot while floppy requires rekeying filename. TS-DOS allows file tagging for batch use, viewing files while on disk without first bringing them into RAM. Floppy does not have such features, but it is smaller than TS-DOS--featuers need code. TS-DOS is also noted for its DOS-ON feature, allowing disk drive access from within TEXT and BASIC. From a TEXT point of view, saving or retrieving files is simply a matter of tapping <f2> Load, or <f3> Save as, function keys while in your document and entering 0:filename <enter>. The same is true in BASIC, i.e., OPEN"0:filename"FOR...INPUT... OUTPUT... or APPEND. TS-DOS is available on either bootable disk or option ROM. The ROM version is my favorate when all I want to do is disk drive access while remote. I use Lapdos II almost all the time to move files over to my DOS computers for finish work. Lapdos II allows single or batch file movement from either my laptop or my disk drive. Thus, I tend to go into the field with TS-DOS on ROM and use Lapdos II for file saving. This, of course, is not my only configuration. I reconfigure based on task requirements. I also like to configure up with a ROM2/Cleuseau ROM and TS-DOS on disk, via a TPDD2--booting the TPDD2 is far easier then booting the TPDD. This configuration I use when doing recreational programming and certin TEXT tasks--the Cleuseau part of the ROM has some great TEXT enhansements. Side note: The TS-DOS ROM for the Model 200 has an added, hidden, undocumented feature. If you just happen to cold start your Model 200, and just happen to have a TS-DOS ROM installed, you can recover all your RAM easily by entering BASIC and issuing the command: CALL 921,146. Recovery is almost instant! So, there you have it in a nut shell... the pros and cons of TS-DOS vs. Floppy. I'll let you be the judge of the concept of "better". Frankly, I've removed "better" from my vocabulary. -Rick- PS: That "other" connector next to your option ROM socket is your system bus socket, explaned in detail in your manual. Its uses are many, but reserved for another discussion.