REX: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Red_logo_small.png||center]]<br/>
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== What Is REX ==
<big> '''REX Products for Model T laptops! '''</big>


REX is completely plug and play flash memory upgrade. REX plugs
into the Option ROM slot, with no soldering or necessity to open
the laptop case.


REX provides support for up to 8
<table border="0">
in-circuit selectable option roms. That means, you can have 8 different
<tr><td>[[Image:REXCPM.PNG]]        </td><td>    All of REX + CP/M support!    ---></td><td>[[REXCPM]]    </td><td>[[Image:rexcpm.jpg]]</td></tr>
software packages on one Option ROM, and select between them without
<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
physically unplugging anything.
<tr><td>[[Image:REXsharp.PNG]]      </td><td>    Next Gen Flash based REX      ---></td><td>[[REXsharp|REX#]]  </td><td>[[Image:rexsharp.jpg]]</td></tr>
<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
</table>


In addition, REX is in-circuit, software
reprogrammable. That means you can change, patch, or replace an Option ROM image
without any special hardware or physically unplugging REX.


[[Media:Rex_OverviewV4.2.pdf|REX Overview PDF]]
<big> '''How to order  --->[[Ordering Information]] '''</big>


== REX Manager ==


REX comes pre-programmed with REX Manager software. REX
{| class="wikitable"
Manager allows you to pick which of the 8 ROM images is the one
|'''Type'''||'''Supported Models'''||'''Memory type'''||'''Memory permanent?'''||'''CP/M?'''||'''Option ROMs?'''||'''RAM backups?'''||'''PCB2MOLEX Carrier?'''||'''Robustness improvements?'''
currently in use.
|-
|REXCPM||M100, T102||Static RAM, 2MB or 4MB||NO - SRAM||YES||YES||YES||YES||YES
|-
|REXsharp||M100, T102, T200, NEC||Flash, 1MB||YES- FLASH||NO||YES||YES||YES||YES
|-
|}


REX Manager operates "behind the scenes" to make sure the currently
  Memory permanenance:  After using REXCPM, if you were to remove it from the laptop, it would eventually discharge
selected Option ROM image is automatically enabled on every power cycle.
  and the memory contents would degrade.  So, you have the extra work of backing up REXCPM if you want to remove it,
This is an impressive trick since REX does not receive power while
  with a subsequent restore when you want to use it again.
the laptop is off (unlike the RAM memory circuit).
  REX#, being flash based, does not have this issue.


Also, REX Manager is able to do this while using a minimal amount of RAM space (about 10 bytes)!


== Advanced BASIC ROM Replacement Mode (OPTIONAL) ==


For users with the do-it-yourself spirit, an optional
No longer orderable (from me), and end-of-support:
feature of REX can be enabled.
<table border="0">
<tr><td>[[Image:REXclassic.PNG]]    </td><td>    Classic Flash based REX       ---></td><td>[[REXclassic]]</td></tr>
</table>


With a single wire soldered in place, REX permits BASIC ROM replacement!
This means that you can disable the built-in BASIC/TEXT/TELCOM ROM
on your motherboard and replace it with a specific block of REX flash memory.
Typically, this will be the same BASIC/TEXT/TELCOM ROM image we know and
love, with a few changes. So, you can
upgrade your Model T with little tweaks like Y2K, the lomem patch, new
character sets, put your name on the main menu, etc.
== Installing REX Manager - It's Easy ==
From a cold restart, power cycle the laptop and the simply type
<code><pre>CALL 63012</pre></code>
will install the REX system.
You should see a program in the Menu called REXMGR.BA.  Running this program will always start the REX Manager software.
== Additional Utilities ==
A separately loadable utility allows you to burn ROM images into REX.
== Future Roadmap ==
Future releases of REX will have a built in file system for managing
REX files, TPDD files and RAM files.
There will be approximately 512K of
file storage.
A likely future feature is a facility for freezing/thawing RAM images to/from flash. This would offer an easy way to quickly backup all RAM to flash, or switch between multiple snapshots of RAM. This is similar to the "fast switch environments" on Remem: it would be like having multiple laptops in the same case!


[[Category:Model T Hardware]]
[[Category:Model T Hardware]]

Latest revision as of 06:28, 1 April 2022

Red logo small.png


REX Products for Model T laptops!


REXCPM.PNG All of REX + CP/M support! --->REXCPM Rexcpm.jpg
REXsharp.PNG Next Gen Flash based REX --->REX# Rexsharp.jpg


How to order --->Ordering Information


Type Supported Models Memory type Memory permanent? CP/M? Option ROMs? RAM backups? PCB2MOLEX Carrier? Robustness improvements?
REXCPM M100, T102 Static RAM, 2MB or 4MB NO - SRAM YES YES YES YES YES
REXsharp M100, T102, T200, NEC Flash, 1MB YES- FLASH NO YES YES YES YES 
  Memory permanenance:  After using REXCPM, if you were to remove it from the laptop, it would eventually discharge 
  and the memory contents would degrade.  So, you have the extra work of backing up REXCPM if you want to remove it,
  with a subsequent restore when you want to use it again.
  REX#, being flash based, does not have this issue.


No longer orderable (from me), and end-of-support:

REXclassic.PNG Classic Flash based REX --->REXclassic
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