REX: Difference between revisions

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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 16
<table border="0">
in-circuit selectable option roms. That means, you can have 16 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.


An additional feature is a facility for freezing/thawing up to 16 RAM images to/from flash. This offers 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!
<big> '''How to order  --->[[Ordering Information]] '''</big>


For advanced users, REX distinguishes between traditional option rom software, and alternative OS software which runs from the option rom memory location.  This allows for some interesting future capabilities like CP/M or a FORTH based system.


[[Media:Rex_OverviewV4.2.pdf|REX Overview PDF]]
{| class="wikitable"
|'''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
|-
|}


== REX Manager ==
  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.


REX comes pre-programmed with REX Manager software. REX
Manager allows you to pick which of the ROM or OS images is the one
currently in use, and also supports management of RAM images.


REX Manager operates "behind the scenes" to make sure the currently
selected Option ROM image is automatically enabled on every power cycle.
This is an impressive trick since REX does not receive power while
the laptop is off (unlike the RAM memory circuit).
REX Manager is started by running the program REXMGR.BA from Menu.
== Advanced BASIC ROM Replacement Mode (OPTIONAL) ==
For users with the do-it-yourself spirit, an optional
feature of REX can be enabled.
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 ==
REXUPG.CO is a utility that allows the user to upgrade the internal REX Manager software.
REXMR.CO is a utility that allows the user to program upgraded main rom images into REX for use in "ROM Replacement" installations.
== Future Roadmap ==


No longer orderable (from me), and end-of-support:
<table border="0">
<tr><td>[[Image:REXclassic.PNG]]    </td><td>    Classic Flash based REX      ---></td><td>[[REXclassic]]</td></tr>
</table>




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

Latest revision as of 05:28, 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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