Byte Magazine Volume 10 Number 06: Programming Techniques

PVTf

THE SMALL SYSTEMS JOURNAL

JUNE 1985 VOL.10, NO. 6

$3.50 IN UNITED STATES

$4.25 IN CANADA / £2.10 IN U.K.

A McGRAW-HILL PUBLICATION

0360-5280

PROGRAMMING
TECHNIQUES

■■.•

How to awid payingyour bilk

X J i^J J by Alan Greenspan

Alan (hvensfMH. Famous Economic /hliisor

"The other day a prominent politician
in the executive branch of our government phoned
me up.

'Alan, he said to me, 'the budget is a mess!

'No joke! I said.

'Not that budget^ the prominent politician

nsfxm

Everyone has to pay their bills,
and nobody likes to do it.

You can keep file folders full of bills,
drawers stuffed with grocery receipts,
envelopes brimming with cancelled
checks, and at the end of the month,
it still takes horn's to figure out just
where your money has gone. Not to
mention how long it takes to straight-
en things out at the end of the year.
Well, after veal's of financial
consulting, I've discovered a way to
avoid paying your bills: let an Apple" II
Personal Computer pay them for you.
There are several advantages to
letting an Apple handle your finances.
It will save you time.
It will organize everything.
It will tell you, at a glance,
exactly what is going on with your money

It will pay your bills, and never send you any.
And now Id like to turn the page over to those
nice people at Apple, who will explain, in their own
excruciating detail, just what I'm talking about!"

The Apple II and the Home Budget.

continued. 'My budget. My checkings overdrawn.

They're threatening to disconnect my phones. I even With software programs like The Home Accountant 7 '

got into a shouting match with my wife
when I tried to lay off the servants!

'Civil?'

'Not very. And I think I'm about to
be audited. What would I show them?
Who keeps receipts for embassy parties?'

At this point, we were discon-
nected. And although it was too late
to teach proper money management
to this prominent politician, there is
a lesson all of us can learn from his
misfortune.

1$

An /\j ')/)/(' II mil take care of erenlbing from your bousMtt budget
to your /axes irilh software [>n)grams like Dollar & Stmise. The Home
Accountant, and Tax hiptrer.

and Dollars & Sense'" the Apple II makes
it easy to set up household books. First,
it will ask you some questions about your
home finances. Like how much money
you bring in each month, how much rent
you pay, and whether you owe money
to credit card companies, mortgage
holders, or any other surly
characters. Then, it will ask
you to enter some of the
bills you receive each month
whose prices may van':

s

phone, utilities, and the like. Then, it will ask you
where you keep your money, and for the numbers of
your various checking and savings accounts.

That's really all there is to it. After that, an
Apple II can automatically write checks for all your
fixed expenses each month. It will also tell you

what other bills you can be expecting, and when you Barrons, and the Dow Jones News/Retrieval® seivice.
enter their costs, an Apple II will pay them, too. Find out what they've been saying on Wall Street

An Apple II will see to it that your checkbooks Week. And in most cases, get up to the minute price

ThisLuin'Ajph

slais bvplmne. II aba coiimrb your /t/iple II to a wealth o/iii/ormalion seirices, like THE

miiCE m ami Compi&ive"

using an Apple modem, you'll gain instant access to
financial news sources like The Wall Street Journal,

remain balanced, and that you'll know when your

expenses are about to exceed your income. It can

even help you plan to buy a new car. Or a home.

Or a iur-lined boat, if your budget permits.

How to avoid your
banker.

After the Apple II writes
your checks, it can call
your bank with the help
of your telephone and
an Apple modem. And
faster than a teller can
say "Next window,

With our Scribe* color/ graphics printer, y§u can
automatically print out your own checks—
not to mention reports, papers, almost anything
lixafjl money

quotes on over six thousand stocks, options, and
other securities.

An Apple II lets you buy and sell securities right
in your home or office, at the moment you want to
make the trade. It automatically updates your port-
folio and gives you detailed holding reports. It even
produces charts and graphs, so you can quickly see
how you and your investments are doing.

A little tax relief.

If you become perturbed everytime the subject of
doing taxes comes up, an Apple II can do them for
you with programs like Forecast™ and Tax Preparer™
It can store your records, plan for the next

please!' you can find out all your balances, enter de- year, and calculate your taxes.

posits, see what checks have cleared, transfer money
from one account to another, and even pay off
some of your credit cards and other bills electroni
cally— without ever wilting a check.

So the only time
you'll have to go to the
bank is when you
want to visit with your
money personally

yir/1 ■ 1 i It can manage your entire stock portfolio withpwgrams like Dow 'Jones hw

W mCn, Wlieil and Company >s The Equalizer It can even mow you what's going on in y<

You'll be alerted to payments you've made over
the year that may be tax-deductible. It even keeps
year-round records, automatically updating totals
and making corrections for you. It will even print

out completed tax
forms that the I.R.S.
will accept.

And it can do
about 10,000 other
things totally unrelat-

•cstors WorkshofF and Charles Schwab
your bank account*

done in moderation, we can recommend most highly, ed to taxes or this ad. So there's no telling how far

The Apple II and making money

An Apple II can do wondrous things for your person-
al finances. With several different software programs,
you can become your own stockbroker. Again, by

an Apple II can take you.

"Well, I think that about covers it. And what if,
after all of this, you still have some money left over?

Congratulations. You're doing a lot better than

the government.' 1

*A note to Dr. Greenspans relatives: lie says, "Don't get excited '/'his isn't my real bank account"© 1985 /if file Computer, Inc. Affile and the Apple logo are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc.
The Home Accountant is a trademark oj Continental Software. Dollars^ Sense and Forecast are trademarks q/'Monogt'am. Dow Jones Aim/ Retrieval and Dow Jones I ^

of Dow Jones and Com umy, Inc. Tax Preparer is a trademark of Howard Software Services. Scribe is a registered trademark licensed to Affile Computer, Inc. 'THE SOURCE is a sen ice mark of Source
ii'lecompuliug Corporation, a subsidiary of the Reader's Digest Association, Inc. CompuServe is a trademark of CompuServe Coiporation, an II & R Block Company. The Equalizer and Equalizer are
trademarks of Charles Schwab & Company inc. Spectrum is a registered service mark oftlx Chase Manhattan Corporation For an authorized Affile dealer near you call (800) 538-9696.
In Canada, call (800) 268-7796 or (800) 268-7631

CONTENTS

106

232

FEATURES

Introduction 106

Interactive Audio in a Videodisc System

by ]ohn Lawler. Paul Hairsine. and Albert E. Miller 108

The tool described consists of a microcomputer, a touch-sensitive display,
and an external audio box that's computer-controlled.

Ciarcias Circuit Cellar: Build the Home Run Control System,

Part 3: The Software by Steve Garcia 121

In this final part ot his home-control system. Steve describes the software and
demonstrates a schedule entry

SALT by Samuel D. Fenster and Lincoln E. Ford 147

SALT is a reinvention of the threaded interpretive language in which assembly-language
routines can be used in a single CALL statement from BASIC

The SUM: An AI Coprocessor by Phillip Robinson 169

This coprocessor is intended for computers geared toward Al programming.

Inside AppleTalk by David Ushijima 185

Apple's new local-area network is designed to let Apple and non-Apple products
communicate and share information and resources.

The Expert Mechanic by Michael Fichtelman 205

Expert systems needn't be esoteric or waste resources.

Switch by Werner F. Grunbaum 221

Use color and monochrome monitors simultaneously on your IBM PC

Two'S-Complement Numbers Revisited by Gary Bronson and Karl Lyon 228

A value box helps simplify the conversion of positive numbers from binary to decimal form.

THEMES

Introduction 232

Choosing a Programming Language by Gary Elfring 235

It's a three-step process.

Structuring BASIC by Arthur Huston 243

Compensate for some of the language's shortcomings with a library of subroutines.

Subroutine Libraries in Pascal by Bruce Webster 253

The author presents a look at some of the facilities available for developing these libraries.

Using Data Flow for Application Development by Wayne P. Stevens 267

This form of linkage results in functions that are easier to understand, develop, and maintain.

Debugging Techniques by Gregg Williams 279

There are no magic formulas, but there are tools, and the most powerful one is your own brain.

6502 Tricks and Traps by \oe Holt 295

A programmer offers tips for surviving 6502 assembly-language programming.

Software-ICs by Lamar ledbetter and Brad Cox. 307

Productivity Products International offers a plan for building reusable software components.

REVIEWS

Introduction 320

Reviewer's Notebook by Glenn Hartwig 323

BYTE (ISSN 0360-52801 is published monthly with one extra issue per year by McGraw-Hill Inc. Founder: lames H. McCraw 11860-19481. Executive, editorial,
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weeks for delivery of first issue. Printed in the United States of America.

2 BYTE* IUNE 1985

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT TINNEY

VOLUME 10, NUMBER 6, 1985

The Mindset Personal Computer by Tom Wadlow 324

A machine that works like an IBM PC but adds CAD/CAM-inspired graphics capabilities.

Idea Processors by William Hershey 337

Four packages for organizing text and thoughts.

Convenience Software by Mark J. Welch 353

A comparative review of pop-up programs.

Building Expert Systems with M.l by Bruce D'Ambrosio 371

A knowledge-engineering tool that's part software, part seminar.

Hewlett-Packards HP 7475A Plotter by Rich Malloy 379

A six-pen graphics machine.

The IBM Quietwriter Printer by jon R. Edwards 385

A letter-quality printer that uses thermal-transfer technology.

The Word Plus by George Sheldon 393

Software that checks your spelling.

Review Feedback 401

Readers respond to previous reviews.

KERNEL

Introduction 406

Computing at Chaos Manor: From the Living Room by jerry Poumelle 409

Complete chaos at the Manor causes ferry to escape to New York, but he still finds time
to visit shows and look at new products.

Chaos Manor Mail conducted by jerry Poumelle 435

Jerry's readers write, and he replies.

BYTE U.K.: Telephone Computers by Dick. Pountain 439

The One Per Desk is a personal computer with built-in telephone hardware, tightly integrated
telecommunications software, and general-purpose desktop computer facilities.

BYTE Japan: New NECs and a Cartridge Disk by William M. Raike 451

Our Japan reporter tells about three new microcomputers from NEC. a cartridge
hard-disk system from lomas Electronics, and Japans use of public video-display units
as shoppers' directories.

BYTE West Coast: A GEM Seminar by John Markoff and Phillip Robinson 455

Our West Coast correspondents report on DR's seminar to teach programmers
to adapt their software to the GEM environment, and on MacNosy and advances
in disk-controller technology.

Circuit Cellar Feedback conducted by Steve Garcia 461

Steve answers project-related queries from readers.

BYTELINES conducted by Sol Libes 468

Editorial:
The BYTE Information Exchange . . .6

Microbytes 9

Letters 14

Fixes and Updates 33

Whats New 39, 470

Ask BYTE 48

CLU8S & Newsletters 58

BOMB Results
Reader Service .

Address all editorial correspondence to the Editor. BYTE. POB 372. Hancock. NH 03449. Unacceptable manuscripts will be returned if accompanied
by sufficient first-class postage. Not responsible for lost manuscripts or photos. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of BYTE

Copyright© 1985 by McGraw-Hill Inc. All rights reserved. Trademark registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Where necessary,
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St.. Salem. MA 01970. Specify ISSN 0360-5280/83 SI. 50. Copying done for other than personal or internal reference use without the permis-
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Subscription questions or problems should be addressed to: BYTE Subscriber Service, POB 328. Hancock. NH 03449

Book Reviews 65

Event Queue 86

Books Received 465

Unclassified Ads .525

BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box,

526

527

320

W'

406

SECTION ART BY DAVE CALVE R

)UNE 1985 • BYTE 3

Can You Name Every
Dual-Drive Color PC
That Runs Lotus 1,3,3
and Costs Under $1500?

Hints

• It comes with a 14" RGB monitor
much like the 14" monitor that comes
with the $2495 Leading Edge PC.

• It has dual 800K disk drives muchl
like the $2495 Tandy 2000, but unlike
the 2000 it will also read and write to
160K, 320K, and 360K IBM-PC formats.!

• It's an 8088, MS-DOS system with
256K of RAM, butit comes with a better
free software bundle than the 8-bit Kaypro I
including MS-DOS 2.1 1, HAGEN-DOS, |
DOS-TUTOR, WordStar 3.3, Easy Writer,
Spell, Mail Track, PC File III, FILE-
BASE, CalcStar, games, graphics, utili- |
ties, and two BASIC languages.

• Although it's not PC-DOS compatible
it will run hundreds of the same pro-
grams as the IBM including dBASE II,
Multiplan, the PFS series, Lotus 1,2,3
and even Flight Simulator.

• During the dog days of summer
computer sales, we've lowered the prices
ofbothourcolorandmonochrome systems.
You can receive a free booklet on these
systems by calling our machine at
1-800-FORA FOX, and leaving your
name and address at the beep.

Your time is up the answer is:

Color Fox $1497

also
Fox Jr. . . . $899 Silver Fox . . $1297

Scorrsdale Systems, w.

617 N. Scorrsdole Rd. #D. Scortsdole, A2 85257

(602)941-5856

The Silver Fox is Bold exclusively by Scottedale Systems
Ltd., 617 N. Scottsdale Road KB, Scottedale, AZ 85257.
Trademark*: Silver Fox, HAGEN-DOS, and Datemate,
Scottidale Systems Ltd.; WordStar and CalcStar,
Micropro International; MS-DOS, and Multiplan, Micro-
soft Corporation; FILEBASE, EWDP Software, Inc.;
dBASE II, AshtonTate; IBM-PC, and IBM-PC DOS;
International Business Machines Corporation. Ordering:
Telemarketing only, Silver Fox price is for cash,
F.O.B. Scottsdale, prices subject to change, product
subject to limited supply. We accept purchaseorders from
Fortune 1000 companies and major universities with
good credit - add 2% Visa, Mastercard add 3%, AZ'
residents add 6%. Returned merchandise subject to a 20%
restocking fee. Personal or company checks take up to 3
weeks to clear. No COD's or APO'e.

BYTE

editor in chief

Philip Lemmons
managing editor
Gene Smarte
consulting editors

Steve Garcia
Jerry Pournelle
Bruce Webster
senior technical editors

G. Michael Vose. Themes
Gregg Williams
technical editors

Thomas R. Clune

Jon R. Edwards

Richard Grehan

Glenn Hartwig, Reviews

Ken Sheldon

Richard S. Shuford

Jane Morrill Tazelaar

Eva White

Stanley Wszola

Margaret Cook Gurney, Associate

Alan Easton. Drafting

WEST COAST EDITORS

Ezra Shapiro. Bureau Chief. San Francisco
John Markoff. Senior Technical Editor. Palo Alto
Phillip Robinson. Senior Technical Editor. Palo Alto
Donna Osgood, Associate Editor. San Francisco
Brenda McLaughlin. Editorial Assistant. San Francisco

NEW YORK EDITOR

Richard Malloy. Senior Technical Editor

managing editor,

electronic publishing and communications

George Bond

user news editor. east coast

Anthony I. Lockwood. Whais New

USER NEWS EDITOR, WEST COAST

Mark Welch. Microbules

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Mark Dahmke, video, operating systems

Mark Haas, at large

Rik Iadrnicek. CAD. graphics, spreadsheets

Mark Klein, communications

Alastair J. W. Mayer, software

Alan Miller, languages and engineering

John C. Nash, scientific computing

Dick Pountain. U.K.

William M. Raike, \apan

Perry Saidman, computers and law

Robert Sterne, computers and law

COPY EDITORS

Bud Sadler. Chief
Dennis Barker
Elizabeth Cooper
Anne L. Fischer
Nancy Hayes
Lynne M. Nadeau
Paula Noonan

)OAN VlGNEAU ROY

Warren Williamson

assistants

Peggy Dunham
Martha Hicks
Beverly Jackson
Lisa Jo Steiner

ART

Rosslyn A Frick, Art Director
Nancy Rice. Assistant Art Director

PRODUCTION

David R. Anderson. Production Director
Denise Chartrand
Michael J. Lonsky
Jan Muller

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT PUBLISHER

Harry L. Brown

PUBLISHER'S ASSISTANT

Doris R. Gamble

PERSONNEL

Cheryl Hurd. 0//ice Manager
Patricia Burke. Personnel Coordinator

ADVERTISING SALES (603-924-6137)

). Peter Huestis. Sales Manager
Sandra Foster. Administrative Assistant

ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION (603-924-6448)

Lisa Wozmak, Supervisor

Robert D Hannings. Senior Account Manager

Marion Carlson

Karen Cilley

Lyda Clark

MicheleGilmore

Denise Proctor

Wai Chiu Li. Quality Control Director

Julie Nelson, Advertising/Production Coordinator

CIRCULATION (800-258-5485)

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Carol Aho

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marketing communications

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Vicki Reynolds, Marfeetina Production Manager

Priscilla Arnold, Marfeetina Assistant

Stephanie Warnesky. Marfeetina Art Director

Sharon Price. Assistant Art Director

Doug Webster. Director of Public Relations (603-924-9027)

Wilbur S. Watson, Operations Manager. Exhibits

planning and development

Michele P. Verville. Manager

Patricia Akerley. Research Manager

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Faith Kluntz, Copyria/its Coordinator

manufacturing/finance/services

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ACCOUNTING

Kenneth A. King, Assistant Controller

Vicki Wesion, Accounting Manager

Linda Short, D/P Manager

Edson Ware, Credit

Marie Caggiani

Marilyn Haigh

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Vern Rockwell

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typography

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Nan Fornal

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building services/traffic

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Brian Higgins

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receptionists

L Ryan McCombs

Cheryl Castro. Assistant

Editorial and Business Office: 70 Main Street. Peterborough. New Hampshire 034 58. (603) 924-9281.
West Coast Offices: McGraw-Hill. 425 Battery St.. San Francisco. CA 94) 1 1. (41 5) 362-4600.

McGraw-Hill. 1000 Elwell Court. Palo Alto, CA 94303, (415) 964-0624.
New York Office: 1221 Avenue of the Americas. New York, NY 10020. (212) 512-2000.

Officers of McGraw-Hill Information Systems Company: President; Richard B. Miller. Executive Vice Presidents: Frederick P. lannott. Con-
struction Information Group: Russell C White, Computers and Communications Information Group; ]. Thomas Ryan. Marketing and Interna-
tional. Senior Vice Presidents: Francis A. Shinal. Controller: Robert C. Violette. Manufacturing and Technology. Senior Vice Presidents and
Publishers: Harry L. Brown. Computers and Communications: David 1. McGrath. Construction. Group Vice President: Peter B. McCuen. Com-
munications. Vice Presidents: Fred O. Jensen. Planning and Development: Margaret L. Dagner. Human Resources.
Officers of McGraw-Hill. Inc.: Harold W. McGraw. Ir., Chairman; loseph L. Dionne. President and Chief Executive Officer: Robert N. Landes. Executive
Vice President and Secretary; Ralph I. Webb, Vice President and Treasurer; Donald L. Fruehling. Executive Vice President. Publishing Operations Group:
Ralph R. Schulz, Senior Vice President, Editorial: Walter D. Serwatka. Senior Vice President. Manufacturing and Circulation Services. Vice Presidents:
Shel F. Asen. Manufacturing: George R. Elsinger, Circulation.

Ml

4 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Give yourself a Giff.

Now you can network IBM PCs with a
powerful, multitasking, multiuser system.

Run popular MS-DOS™ programs like Lotus™ 1-2-3,
SuperCalc" 3 and WordStar™ Plus all the thousands of CP/M*
programs. Plus true multiuser accounting, database manage-
ment, and electronic mail.

Gifford's MC-NEi;™ running on our MC-186™ and IBM
compatible PCs, gives you all this capability and more. It lets
you grow a network that shares information and resources
among hundreds of people. With full security. Advanced tele-
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Get the whole story on Gifford hardware, software and
service. Just call 415/895-0798 and ask for a Giff Pack.™ Or write
to us at 2446 Verna Court, San Leandro, CA 94577

Give yourself the Giff that keeps on giving.

©GIFFORD
COMPUTER SYSTEMS

A subsidiary of Zitel Corporation

THE MULTIUSER COMPANY'

2446 Verna Court, San Leandro, CA 94577 415/895-0798 Telex 704521 2050 North Loop West, Suite 1 16 Houston, TX 77018 713/680-1944

In Europe: London (01) 878-91 1 1 Telex 28106 (UK)

MC -NET and MC-186 are trademarks of Giffbrd Computer Systems. MS-DOS, CP/M, Lotus 1-2-3, SuperCalc 3 and VSbrdStar are trademarks of Microsoft, Digital Research,
Lotus Development Corporation, Sorcim/IUS Micro Software, and MicroPro International respectively.

Inquiry 196

JUNE 1985 -BYTE

EDITORIAL

The BYTE Information
Exchange

BYTE will soon become an interactive
magazine by founding the BYTE Informa-
tion Exchange (BIX). The goal of BIX is to
set up ideal forums for exchanging infor-
mation about computers and related
topics. If even 1 percent of our circulation
owns a specific kind of computer, that
translates to several thousand people-
enough to constitute a thriving user
community.

Although a new product, BIX is also an
extension of the BYTE magazine that you
read each month. Through the BYTE In-
formation Exchange, you'll be able to get
your messages to Steve Ciarcia and Jerry
Pournelle more quickly. You'll be able to
download program listings from BYTE ar-
ticles for noncommercial use. In time,
you'll find in BIX more product announce-
ments and scheduled events than we're
able to print on paper in BYTE's What's
New and Event Queue.

BIX has all the functions of an electronic
bulletin board but also provides true com-
puter conferencing. "Computer conferen-
cing" fails to express the kind and quality
of person-to-person communication that
this technology fosters. Printouts of con-
ferences often read like the transcripts of
lively face-to-face discussions, and you
wish you had been there. You have to
remind yourself that the "speakers"
weren't "there" either— like you, they were
using personal computers in their homes,
offices, or hotel rooms and were transmit-
ting messages at whatever hours they
found convenient.

Because computer conferencing makes
it possible to have a group discussion
without gathering everyone in one place
or at one time, it is the ideal way to tap
distributed resources. BYTE's subscribers
are a paradigm of distributed resources.
Collectively you possess more information
about personal computers and corre-
sponding topics than any other group of
people in the world. We think of you as
a living database.

Through BIX, you can share not only the
knowledge of other subscribers but also
their thinking power. Terms like "dis-
tributed resources" and "living database"
fall short of the real possibilities for infor-

mation exchange that mechanisms such
as BIX can bring about.

How BIX Makes BYTE

"Subscriber-Specific"

Besides giving you a major new resource
for information on computers, BIX will let
us customize BYTE for you. How? Once
you join a "conference— just by typing join
and the conference's name— you automa-
tically receive all new comments from the
conference each time you sign on. You can
join all those conferences that meet your
individual interests. Suppose you're in-
terested in the Macintosh. FORTH, the
68020, computers in education, and
robotics. You can join a conference on
each of those topics. When you sign on,
you'll find all the new comments on those
topics waiting for you to read, and, if you
wish, you can enter comments yourself,
including queries. Another subscriber may
be interested in IBM PCs, C. PC-DOS,
XENIX, graphics, the 80286, and scientific
computing. Neither of you will have to
wade through the comments in topics that
don't interest you. BIX will enable BYTE
to cover your particular machine, but it will
be much better than "machine-specific."
Through BIX. BYTE will serve each
subscriber's needs.

We will set up conferences and sub-
conferences on any topic of legitimate in-
terest in personal computing and related
fields. We'll start with conferences on dif-
ferent computers, programming lan-
guages, chips, and operating systems, as
well as such topics as graphics, artificial
intelligence, and telecommunications.

Software and Sign -Up

The BYTE Information Exchange is based

on CoSy (for conferencing system). CoSy
is a powerful and friendly piece of con-
ferencing software developed by friends
of ours at the University of Guelph in
Ontario. After you first sign on and
register, you can see the major groups of
conferences by typing show groups. You
can see a list of all the conferences by typ-
ing show all. If you want to participate in
a conference not listed, send a note to the
editors proposing the conference. Nte'll
find the right place for the new conference
in the BIX structure and let everyone know
where to find it. Once you sign up for BIX,
we'll send you the BIX user's manual,
which has one of Robert Tinney's best
covers ever.

Charter Subscriptions

Charter subscribers— people who join BIX
before January I, 1986— will receive spe-
cial low rates, The introductory sign-up fee
is $2 5. If you call through our own com-
munications nodes, you pay evening and
weekend charges of $6 per hour of con-
nect time, whether for 300 or 1200 bps.
Charter subscribers calling through
Tymnet will pay the same $2 5 sign-up fee
plus evening charges of $8 per hour. Dur-
ing the day, our direct rate will be $18 per
hour and our Tymnet rate $24 per hour.

In the beginning, there will be direct BIX
numbers in four cities: San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. You'll be
receiving the direct BIX numbers and
other information either here in the
magazine or through direct mail. The infor-
mation will include instructions for sign-
ing up, which you can do either on line
or through the mail. Billing will be through
Visa and MasterCard.

Readers who use our free bulletin board
to download program listings should rest
assured that it will remain available. BIX
users will be able to download program
listings using either Kermit or XMODEM
protocol,

We're excited about the prospect of on-
line interaction with subscribers. It should
enable us to do a better job of meeting
your needs and should make a stronger
community of us all. We hope to meet you
on line soon.

— Phil Ummons, Editor in Chief

B YTE • JUNE 1985

maxell

FLOPPY DISK

Gold.

The floppy disk

that helps IBM PC AT

spell it out,
keeps Data General

specific,

and suits AT&T to aT

Tailored to surpass your most
demanding specifications. Maxell.
The Gold Standard in floppy disks.
From high density floppys
for PC AT (ours was the first
commercially available) to
standard formats for virtually
every computer made, Maxell
leads the way. Each comes with
a lifetime warranty. And each
carries the name to make your
next floppy disk purchase decision
a solid triumph.

maxell

IT'S WORTH IT

Maxell Corporation of America, 60 Oxford Drive, Moonachie, N.J. 07074
Inquiry 266

PC AT is a registered trademark of IBM Corp.

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 7

YOUR DAYS OF
BUYING TERMINALS
ARE OVER!

Now there's SmarTerm terminal
emulation software for your IBM*
PC, XT, AT or compatible system.
All SmarTerm products offer com-
prehensive and exact terminal
emulation, powerful ASCII and
binary file transfer facilities, and
include TTY mode to link you to
The Source, CompuServe, Dow
Jones, Easylink, Tymnet or other
popular services. We've included
features such as multiple setup
configurations, XMODEM and PDIP*
protocol support,
"smart" softkeys,
plus European
DOS support.

NEW! SmarTerm 220 supports
A-to-Z and other software which
requires DEC* VT220 terminals.
It includes the full capabilities of
SmarTerm 100: DEC VT102,
VT100, and VT52 emulation. If
you need VT125 ReGIS graphics
support, choose SmarTerm 125.
For Data General Dasher* D400,
D200 or D100 emulation you need
SmarTerm 400.

More than 20,000 smart "cookies"
are already using SmarTerm.
Try it for 30 days with full refund
privileges.

Persoft, Inc., 2740 Ski Lane

Madison, Wl 53713

(608) 273-6000 - TELEX 759491

AFTER

SMARTERM, WHAT "
YOU DO WITH YOUR

I ft

IDEA CREDIT: Hank Cramer of Campbell, California See your name in print! The best ideas for uses of obsolete

terminals replaced by SmarTerm will be used in future ads. Write Persoft, Dept. COOKIE., 2740 Ski Lane, Madison, Wl 53713.

'SMARTERM and POIP are trademarks ol Person. Inc " IBM is a registered trademark ol
International Business Machmes Corp. * DEC. VT and ReGlS are trademarks ol Digital
Equipment Corp ' DASHER ts a registered trademark ol Data General Corp.

© Persoft. Inc 1985 All rights reserved

aersa/r

J Inquiry 326

MICROBYTES

Staff-written highlights of late developments in the microcomputer industry.

Complex High-End Chips Hit Snags

Problems in debugging complex microprocessor chips have caused new problems at Zilog
and Intel. Zilog admitted that sampling of its Z80000 32-bit processor, announced in the
summer of 1983, has been delayed until early 1986. Zilog had originally planned to start
shipping the Z80000 in late 1984.

A newly discovered bug in Intel's newest 80286 processor reportedly has delayed Digital
Research's work on the Concurrent 286 operating system. The bug, which Intel says was
undetected until the third version of the 80286, apparently affects software in the chip's
"protected" mode, used in multitasking and multiuser applications.

Intel has also stopped all manufacturing, marketing, and support activities for its 432
microprocessor. The 432 was Intel's first 32-bit chip set, but it was never used in any large-
volume computers. Intel is reportedly working on two other 32-bit chip designs, including
the Intel 80386, which will be compatible with its 80286 and earlier designs. Intel will begin
shipping samples of the 80386 late this year.

Lotus, Intel Agree on 8-megabyte Memory Standard for IBM PC

Lotus and Intel have announced an expanded-memory specification for addressing memory
above the IBM PC's 640K-byte limit and the PC AT's 3-megabyte limit. New versions of
Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony and AshtonTate's Framework will be able to directly address up
to 4 megabytes of memory.

Intel's new Personal Computer Enhancement Operation division announced the first ex-
pansion cards that address and also go beyond the specification. Each of Intel's Above
Board expansion cards adds up to 2 megabytes of RAM to the IBM PC and 4 megabytes to
the IBM PC AT. The Above Board/PC card, with 64K bytes already installed, is $395; the
Above Board/AT card will be available next month for $595 with 128K bytes installed.

New Computers Unveiled at COMDEX

Several companies had plans to introduce computers in May. Compaq announced 80286-
based IBM PC AT-compatible versions of its Portable and DeskPro computers late in April.
Both machines feature 6- or 8-MHz clocks and 256K bytes of RAM. The Portable can han-
dle 640K bytes of RAM on its main board, while the DeskPro can be equipped with 2.2
megabytes. Additional boards provide the former with 2.6 megabytes of RAM and the latter
with 8.2 megabytes. The Portable's storage configurations range from single or dual 360K-
byte or 1.2-megabyte floppy-disk drives with a 20-megabyte Winchester drive to a unit with
a single floppy-disk drive and a hard-disk drive with a fixed-disk backup. The DeskPro is of-
fered with the same floppy-disk storage arrangements and hard-disk capacities ranging from
20 to 70 megabytes. Pricing will be competitive with the PC AT.

TeleVideo unveiled a computer designed to outperform the IBM PC AT. The system uses
an 8-MHz 80286 processor instead of the 6-MHz version used in the AT and reportedly also
has faster disk access. The system features four unoccupied AT-compatible expansion slots
and two XT-compatible slots, serial and parallel ports, a I.2-megabyte 5 '/4-inch disk drive,
and an optional 20-megabyte hard disk. TeleVideo said pricing for the system, including MS-
DOS 3.1, would be about 15 percent less than prices for comparable IBM products.
TeleVideo will also sell a high-resolution 640- by 400-pixel graphics card and monitor for the
computer.

Zenith Data Systems was to unveil the Z-17I and Z-138, two IBM PC-compatible portable
computers. The Z-171 is a battery-powered 17-pound portable based on Morrow's rede-
signed Pivot computer. With a backlit 80-character by 25-line liquid-crystal display, two
5 '/4-inch disk drives, and 256K bytes of memory, the Z-171 retails for $2699. The Z-138 is a
25-pound transportable computer with one expansion slot and color graphics capabilities.
With one 5/4-inch disk drive and I28K bytes, it will sell for $2199; with 256K bytes and two

{continued)
JUNE 1985 -BYTE 9

drives, it's $2499. Zenith also planned to unveil three new flat-screen monochrome
monitors.

Leading Edge Products hoped to reduce supply problems resulting from its dispute with
supplier Mitsubishi by offering a new system manufactured by Daewoo of South Korea. The
new machine will offer a smaller footprint than its earlier computer. Pricing will range from
$1495 for a two-drive 256K-byte system with a monochrome monitor to $2695 with a
10-megabyte hard disk and an RGB monitor.

Columbia Data Products introduced a multiuser system based on its IBM PC-compatible
MPC Models 4750 and 4950. Each workstation includes a processor card with an 8-MHz
8088, 2 56K bytes of RAM (expandable to 768K), and a serial port; the workstation itself
features a parallel port and connectors for a color or monochrome monitor. Workstations
are connected to the computer via four- or six-wire twisted-pair cables. Up to four $1200
workstations can be added to a standard MPC. Theoretically, up to 31 workstations could
be added using optional expansion chassis. Columbia's system uses software licensed from
Alloy Computer Systems, which also sells hardware and software allowing multiuser access
to the IBM PC.

New Laser-Class Printers

Data Recording Systems Inc., Melville, NY, announced the LaserScribe/8415 laser printer,
available to other manufacturers in versions with print resolutions of 600, 800, and 1000
dots per inch at speeds from three to eight pages per minute. Retail products based on the
8415 will probably be priced well above $30,000.

Casio announced the LCS-2400 "electro-photographic" printer, using liquid-crystal shutter
technology. The LCS-2400 prints up to nine pages per minute at a resolution of about 240
dots per inch. Casio was unsure of U.S. pricing but said the printer currently sells for about
$1600 in Japan. In the U.S., it will be available only to other manufacturers.

Products Will Aid Visually Disabled Computer Users

Computer Aids, Fort Wayne, IN, introduced several microcomputer products for the dis-
abled. One product, Small-Talk, uses a modified Epson HX-20 and a speech synthesizer to
allow blind users to perform word-processing tasks. With a printer, microcassette tape drive,
and special word-processing software, the computer will cost about $2000.

NANOBYTES

Advanced Micro Devices unveiled several new products, including a I -megabit EPROM, a
bit-mapped color graphics chip, and a data-compression and -expansion chip. AMD also
hopes to begin sampling both 1200- and 2400-bps single-chip modems late this year. . . .
Alpha Software added its name to the list of manufacturers of keyboard-enhancement pro-
grams with its new $90 Keyworks .... Microsoft unveiled Microsoft Access, a $2 50 com-
munications program. . . . Hayes Microcomputer Products announced the Transet 1000, an
intelligent printer/communications buffer/port expander. The $399 unit includes a 68008 pro-
cessor and 128K bytes of memory. ... In response to customer complaints about copy pro-
tection, several companies are dropping software protection or are offering unprotected ver-
sions at a higher price. MicroPro and Stoneware dropped copy protection from their
newest IBM PC products. MaxThink offers an unprotected version of MaxThink for $60 ex-
tra, following the earlier example of Borland International .... Scenic Computer Systems
Corp., Redmond, WA, has introduced a text-composition system that prepares text for laser
printers using an IBM PC. Scenic Writer for the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet is $995 .... In-
terstate Voice Products, Orange, CA, announced a connected-speech recognition system
for the IBM PC. A vocabulary of 15 to 20 words can be recognized in continuous speech,
while an additional 240 words are recognized when pronounced with silence between
words. The $1650 card includes an 80186 processor and 128K bytes of RAM. . . . Beaman
Porter, Harrison, NY, has unveiled PowefText Formatter, a $50 program that allows users of
most popular word processors to print documents in a two-column format with foot-
notes. . . . IBM introduced PC Storyboard, a slide-show graphics package that can reside as
a background task and can be used to "capture" screen graphics from other programs. The
$250 program can then be used to enhance the graphs and display them in a slide-show-
like sequence. . . . Manhattan Graphics Corp. has unveiled a $125 page-design program for
Apple's 512K-byte Macintosh. Users of ReadySetGo can resize and rearrange blocks of text
and graphics on a page for newsletters or other documents.

10 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Both letter-quality and draft hard copy

Fastest document
throughput in its class

Industry
standard serial
and parallel j
interfaces. /

i

1

M. Kun n. Ki.ly

ll»tln0i Of «v« l«bli (want tfa.l »*t tk

••t for wur m, mtdcnc* h»r« m Himt
llttlnoa Mtt your specif ic»tio«» *r,4 I ).<*• ■ 4»i»n
■art that I thin* Mould pl»*i* y™, but <nr;<- m mi
rw p rnt or «oUwr fro* what n indict.* you Mattt.

ftl you rooUMtodr I tpot* »lth your c«rjtrtti
ooaptrollw ftohrrt Clark *nd ht UditiUJ tint r.U«-
tlon fundi em bi forward *e by i«nk win i« y*u xould
bo «bl« to Mto your mU<u<k *n* »•?!•*• til tht
(toUtH In m trip brier* y«u l«**t f»r your
oo wf w onot in ftxttt Carlo,

Both friction and
tractor paper feed

■ whm i -iiij

|h*t*fraphi «f tM 1U

Better,

more versatile
operator
, controls

H^MgHHB|-

Tl reliability

• V '■"'■■ ' ■■;■. - ■. i#',-'

5=

Compatibility with third-party
and proprietary software

Better,

more durable
easy-access
font modules

TheTl 855 microprinter.

No other printer says better

so many ways.

Feature for feature, no other microprinter
can match the versatility, compatibility,
reliability and productivity of the
OMNI 800* Model 855 microprinter.
Here's why.

Two Printers In One. With the TI 855
you get the speed of dot matrix draft
copy. Plus the precise clarity of the most
advanced matrix technology for letter-
quality print. It's two printers in one — at
one low price.

A Great Family Name. Texas Instru-
ments is known for providing the world
with the industry standard for printers —
the TI 810. TI builds the same reliability
into every 800 series microprinter. Both
the 855 and the data processing Model
850 are part of the expanding TI line of
high-performance, low-cost microprinters.

Hardware Compatible. The TI 855

microprinter is compatible with all major
PC hardware. And it provides both serial
RS232C subset and "Centronics-type"
parallel as standard interfaces.
Software Compatible. The TI 855 uses
industry standard escape sequences for
compatibility with virtually all third-party
software. And for those with proprietary
software needs, a model is available with
ANSI standard escape sequences.
Tough Font Modules For Quick Char-
acter Change. Three font modules can
be inserted into the front of the printer at
one time, and are accessed individually.
Each contains both draft- and letter-
quality character sets. They're easier to
use, more reliable and more durable than
traditional metal or plastic daisy wheels.

More Productivity Than Any Other
Microprinter. The 855 offers both fric-
tion and tractor paper feed, to handle all
types of word and data processing applica-
tions. A quick-change snap-in cartridge
ribbon. Raster and mosaic graphics. And
intelligent printing which maximizes doc-
ument throughput — regardless of format.

Get the printer that makes for better
information systems. For more information
visit your nearest TI authorized dealer or
write Texas Instruments Incorporated, P.O.
Box 402430, Dept. DPF-082BY, m.
Dallas, TX 75380-9063. Or call JJX
toll-free: 1-800-527-3500. ^C

Texas
Instruments

Copyright © 1984 Texas Instruments ' Trademark of Texas Instruments

Creating useful products
and services for you.

291380-R2

JUNE 1985 • BYTE II

COMBINE POWER AND
ENHANCE YOUR PC-AT

Quadram introduces the smart way to enhance your IBM PC-AT. Quadmeg-AT and
Quadport* AT. Smart because Quadmeg-AT and Quadport-AT make the most of your AT
system today and expand to meet your system's growing needs in the future.

Quadmeg-AT comes socketed
for memory expansion from
128K to 2 Megabytes. Harness
this power to create megabyte-
sized RAM drives, access

QUADMEGAT"

Advance to 4 Megabytes

When you need more than
2Mbytes, Quadmeg-AT adapts
with two Quadmeg-AT
Expansion Cards. Each packs
512K or 1Mbyte extra RAM.

Both cards filled give
Quadmeg-AT a powerful
4Mbyte capacity.
Quadmeg-AT delivers
the power you need to
take full advantage of the
AT s capabilities.

Maximum Performance in
Minimum Space

Quadmeg-AT and Quadport-AT fit
snugly side by side to deliver a powerful
4Mb RAM and multiple I/O expan-
sion in just two AT expansion slots.

greater amounts of informa-
tion, and process data faster
and more efficiently than
ever before. Plus, with
u split memory mapping"
Quadmeg-AT lets you expand
the AT s base system memory
to 640K without buying a
space-wasting 128K card.

Add a Second
Quadport

Two Quadport- AT s give
your AT system a total
of 2 parallel ports and
1 serial ports. Add
peripheral devices or
workstations for the
ultimate in PC-AT,
performance.

,. v TM Look for this seal. It's the
. mark of dependability and
w ^s,7^ performance from the
^l.^?* leader in microcomputer
l^wnY! enhancements.

IBM PC-AT is a registered trademark of
International Business Machines Corporation.

12 BYTE • JUNE 1985

EXPANDABILITY TO
THE SMART WAY

QOVDPOKTAT

Quadport-AT combines a
parallel printer port and a
serial port to give your AT t
features found on
IBM's Serial/
Parallel Adapter. ,
But at a lower
cost and with

built-in expandability. Connect
printers, plotters, modems,
and other devices for increased
productivity.

Advanced Port Expansion

As your AT becomes the
center of a high-performance
u, T __ m I LAN or growing multi-
user, multi-tasking system,
snap on the optional
Quadport-AT Expansion
Kit and add 4 more serial
ports to your system. The
Quadport AT Expansion
Kit comes with software
to access these ports,
making it easy to add
shared peripherals or
workstations.

Enhance the smart way
with Quadram*

For basic AT expansion,
Quadmeg-AT and Quadport AT
work together to provide 128K
memory expansion, a serial port,
and a parallel port.
Then, as your system
grows, Quadmeg-AT and
Quadport-AT give you up to
4MB RAM, 1 parallel port,
and up to 5 serial ports in just
two PC AT expansion slots.
Only Quadram combines so
much power and expandability.
That's PC AT enhancement
the smart way.

Features

Quadmeg-AT: RAM

Expansion Cards: Two cards

expansion from 128K to

available. Each comes with

2Mbytes. Expandable in 5 12K

5 12K or 1Mbyte RAM

increments. Split memory

installed.

mapping assigns 128Kor 384 K

to base memory.

QuadMaster'AT Software:

Total RAM Capacity:

RAM Drives and Spooling for

4Mbytes.

extended memory.

Quadport-AT: Port expansion

Quadport-AT Expansion Kit:

with 1 Centronics parallel port

(optional) 4 RS-232C serial

and 1 RS-232C serial port.

ports. Software to access ports.

For a free demonstration visit
the Quadram dealer nearest
you. Or, for information, write
us at 4355 International Blvd.,
Norcross, Georgia 30093
(404)923^6666.

QUADRAM

' -* An Intelligent Systems Company

Inquiry 344

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 13

LETTERS

Votes for Programming
Insights

This is a complaint. It is no service to your
readers to bury very useful articles under
"Programming Insight" at the bottom of
your table of contents. "Simultaneous
Equations with Lotus 1-2-3" by Jan-Henrik
Johannson (February, page 399) was the
most interesting article in that issue.

You might justify your position by say-
ing that such articles never get mentioned
in the BOMB (BYTE's Ongoing Monitor
Box). I agree. But the reason is that you
exclude them from the ballot! So here's
a vote for Johansson— the only way I can
do it.

N. C. Webb, M.D.
Lincoln, MA

Gene Smarte replies:

Thank you for your vote. It will be in-
cluded in our tabulation. As of May, we
are adding all the Programming Insights,
Application Notes, and other brief ar-
ticles that appear at the back of the book
to the table of contents and the BOMB.

Mail-order Delays

Regarding Phil Lemmons's editorial "Ser-
vice and Support" (February, page 6), I
have purchased various computer systems
and components via mail order, and I have
not had any problems except with Priori-
ty One Electronics in Chatsworth, Califor-
nia.

Priority One has been sitting on $300
of mine since August 1984. Several phone
calls resulted only in assurances that my
parts would be mailed "Real Soon Now."
That was several months ago. I have never
been informed that there would be any
delay in delivery of my order.

Priority One Electronics continues to
advertise and take orders for the same
parts that I have yet to receive!

Bob Harrington
Duquesne, PA

Priority One Electronics replies:

First, allow us to apologize for the
delays associated with your order. On
August 30, the day after we received your
order, we shipped the items that were
available. But for Prometheus Products'
inability to deliver the balance of your

order, the order would have been
shipped complete.

As a rule, we advertise only those items
we have in stock or for which we have
received a firm commitment from the
manufacturer that the product will be
available by the time our advertisement
is published. Our decision to advertise
Prometheus's products was based on
that company's promise of delivery.

Due to production problems, Prome-
theus was unable to deliver the options
processor and display you ordered as it
had promised us some three months ear-
lier. Because we had received numerous
broken promises from Prometheus that
the processors and displays would ship
"any day," we were hesitant to launch a
major campaign to notify our customers
of a shipping date and instead concen-
trated our efforts on pressuring Pro-
metheus into expediting our order. When
you contacted our customer-service
group, we could relay to you only the
limited information we had obtained
from Prometheus.

Finally, after whatever flaws that
delayed production were corrected, at
our insistence, Prometheus worked
through a weekend to ft 11 our back orders.
We are proud to say that we shipped all
our customers' orders in only that part
of a day that it took for us to receive the
product and package the outgoing
orders.

We are happy that we were able to
complete your order. If Prometheus had
not delivered when it did, our next
course of action would have been to
cancel all our orders for this product.

We regret that these events may have
soured your taste for our company. How-
ever, we understand your position and
appreciate your feelings. It is our sincere
hope that this experience does not un-
justly bias any future decisions you may
make regarding shopping via mail order.
John C Gunn
Director of Consumer Affairs
Priority One Electronics

Notes on the VU68K

Remember "The VU68K Single-Board
Computer" described by Edward M.
Carter and A. B. Bonds (January 1984,

page 403)? Well, I finally completed it and
found it to be an excellent vehicle to learn
about the marvels of the 68000 with little
expense. BYTE and the authors are to be
commended for the article as there are
still readers who want to learn about
microcomputers from the ground up.

Here are a few suggestions for others
who may be having problems with the
project. The address lines A 21 and A22
are incorrectly connected to the terminal
ACIA (ICII) in the wiring diagram and
should be reversed. I tied BR, BGACK, and
BERR high although it may not be neces-
sary. Lastly, the monitor program (VUBUG)
as I received it was assembled with a one-
pass assembler, and therefore all forward
references must be resolved before you
can use it.

Walter R. Curtice
Princeton Junction, NJ

Remote Diagnostics

I found Phil Lemmons's editorial concern-
ing remote diagnostics both interesting
and informative ("Service and Support,"
February, page 6). As more systems are
being sold to first-time computer users,
the need for better repair service is
becoming an even greater factor than the
performance features of the system.

We at RACET have long believed that the
key to success in the systems-house busi-
ness is support. Although we're a small
company, our customers expect big-
company support. Several years ago, we
developed a series of diagnostic tests for
checkout of the hard-disk subsystems that
we sold to the Radio Shack market. The
diagnostic was set up so that it could be
run via remote (modem) connection, en-

[conlinued)

LETTERS POLICY: To be considered for publica-
tion, a letter must be typed double-spaced on one
side of the paper and must include your name and
address. Comments and ideas should be expressed as
clearly and concisely as possible. Listings and tables
may be printed along with a letter if they are short
and legible.

Because BYTE receives hundreds of letters each
month, not all of them can be published, letters will
not be returned to authors. Generally, it takes four
months from the time BYTE receives a letter until
it is published.

14 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Maynard's new state-of-
the-art tape backup

svstem can back up the
average 10MB hard drive
in just 3 minutes! Protect
select files or back up
your entire hard drive
with a simple command.
Offers unmatched
efficiency and comes
with our industry-leading
1 -year warranty.
The MaynStream™ is
available in 20MB,
27MB, and 60MB, and
as an internal unit for

the AT.

Compatible with IBM,

Compaq, and NCR per-
sonal computers.t

•Actual time: 2 min/57 sec. Total files

mTmoryanS one 10MB hard disk dnve.

YoTactual back-uptime may vary.
+IBM is a trademark of International
Business Machines. Compaq .s a
Trademark of Compaq Computer Cor-
poration. NCR is a trademark of
NCR Corporation.

WPE : BACKUP SVSTEM
BY MAYNARD ELECTRONICS

Mayiprd Electronics

Shaping Tomorrow's Technology

430 E. SEMORAN BLVD., CASSELBERRY, FL 32707
305/331-6402 Inquiry 268

If you're tired of waiting,

you're using the wrong file manager.

Be fast. Btrieve.™

If batch jobs and reports turn wait-
ing time to nighttime, then wake up!
You're using the wrong file manager.

Btrieve™ file management hates
waiting as much as you do. It's writ-
ten in assembly language especially
for the IBM PC . And based on
b-tree file indexing, with automatic
balancing for access speed that won't
degrade as your database grows. With
Btrieve, your applications always run
fast. So you'll be out the door faster.

The standard for networking.
Btrieve/N (network version) sets the
standard for the industry's most
popular LANs, including IBM's PC
Network. Btrieve/N offers safe net-
work file management that coor-
dinates simultaneous updates and
prevents lost data.

Automatic file recovery. Btrieve pro-
vides automatic file recovery after a

system crash. Your Btrieve data always
comes back intact.
Fully-relational data management.

SoftCraft's entire family of products
gives you a complete, fully-relational
database management system.
Rtrieve™ adds report writing capabili-
ties. Xtrieve™ speeds users through
database queries with interactive
menus.

For professional programmers.
Btrieve is the fast, reliable answer for
all your application development in
BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C, FORTRAN,
and APL. With Btrieve, you can
develop better applications faster.
And know they'll run— fast.

SoftCraftlnc.

P. O. Box #917 Austin, Texas 78766
(512) 346-8380 Telex 358 200

Suggested retail prices: Btrieve, $245; Btrieve/N, $595; Xtrieve, $195; Xtrieve/N, $395; Rtrieve, $85;
Rtrieve/N, $175. Requires PC-DOS or MS-DOS l.X, 2.X, or 3.X.

LETTERS

abling our support people to check out
a reported problem without flying all over
the country.

We have since migrated to the IBM PC
market, where we offer hard-disk and tape
subsystems capable of storing from 100
to 400 megabytes. Our remote-diagnostic
program allows us to check out the disk,
tape, and controllers and isolate down to
the module level. We can then expedite
the replacement module or component to
the customer before a field technician is
sent out. This procedure saves our
customers time and money and improves
the relationship with their customers.

For us, remote diagnostics has been
standard practice for several years and we
agree totally that the industry should
follow suit.

Thomas S. Bernard

Vice President, Marketing and Sales

RACET Computes Ltd.

Orange, CA

ICONOCLASM AND THE MAC

Ann Marchant's letter on icons ("Icons Are
Arcane," February, page 24) agrees with
my own experience, but there's another
example of their use that started 4990
years later than hers. We now see rabbits,
turtles, and globs of oil used on farm-
equipment instrument and control panels
where we used to see plain English. The
Dymo labeler solved most of the problem,
but there were a couple of side effects.
First the suspicion farmers had that
agricultural engineers were illiterate was
reinforced. The second was more perti-
nent. Several of my former professors and
classmates have worked on projects in the
third world. They found that the locals'
knowledge of English rarely extended to
the fables of Aesop, and there was a prob-
lem if rabbits or turtles were not part of
the local fauna. Training people who don't
know how to drive a car to operate com-
plex modern farm machinery is enough
of a problem without having to interpret
nonsensical symbols for them.

My own experience with the Macintosh
was an exercise in frustration. I was look-
ing for something better than my TRS-80
Model PC-2 pocket computer, and I got
the chance to use a relative's Mac for two
days. I ran a series of small benchmarks,
and I could edit a program on the PC-2
far more quickly than I could on the Mac.
The mouse is no substitute for a good set
of cursor and function keys. I was so sure
this turkey would never fly that I got a bit
paranoid and wiped the Apple He and lie
off my shopping list as well. I bought a

[continued)

16 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 374

ProModem 1200... HOT" LINE

Our ProModem 1200 Makes
Smart Modems Look Dumb

ProModem 1200
(RS-232)

Send Or Receive 50 Pages Of Text
Without Tying Up Your Computer

COMPUTER
BUSY

COMPUTER
TURNED OFF

No wonder Smart Modems, Cats, and Maxwells
cringe when compared to our $495 ProModem
1200, an expandable 1200/300 baud modem
for use with all personal computers. It costs
less, but is smarter than the rest.

And when you add our $99 Communica-
tions Buffer and Alphanumeric Display options,
ProModem 1200 becomes a veritable genius!

Imagine, you unplug your computer, take it
home for the weekend, and while you're gone,
ProModem 1200 answers the phone, collects
messages up to 50 pages long, sends out
electronic mail, and displays all events with the
exact time of each. Thanks to ProModem 1200,
expensive, hard-to-use communications soft-
ware isn't needed. The communications is in the
modem, and electronic mail becomes aback-
ground function, where it belongs.

TfUJjoLku-

ProModem 1200M

(Macintosh)

" MM '

Simple To Install And Use

Our Communications Buffer is a 4 by 6 card that
plugs into the ProModem 1200 motherboard.
It comes with 2K of CMOS battery backed-up
memory, expandable to 64K. Part of the mem-
ory is used as a dialing directory with the
balance reserved for storage. For $99 more,
a front panel Alphanumeric Display can be
added to show time, date, and 24 status and
help messages. These two powerful options
can be included at time of purchase, or can
be added later.

Hayes Compatible

ProModem 1200 is Hayes compatible but that's
where the resemblance ends. Our standard
$495 modem includes a real-time clock/
calendar. Hayes charges hundreds more for a
Smart Modem with a time-base. Nor do they
have electronic mail capability at any price.

ffTTT

/ i \,

ProModem 1200 contains a battery backed-up real-time
clock/calendar, a large dialing directory and can send or
receive messages up to 50 pages long without
• tying up the computer.

Send for complete details and the name
of the Prometheus dealer nearest you.

PRODUCTS INCORPORATED

4545 Cushing Pkwy. • Fremont CA 94538

8Kgs&-

4151490

-2370

Inquiry 340

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 17

TM

RUN/C:

The C Interpreter

Only s 149.95! i

For both

the beginner and the C professional,

RUN/C: The C Interpreter

makes program development easier and
faster. With RUN/C all those C programs you've
been writing — or have been wanting to write —
can be up and running in a fraction of the time.

The beauty of RUN/C is that it provides

a BASIC-like user interface for C; it allows the user

to edit and debug code immediately and interactively

RUN/C is the first program to make C a user-friendly language.

Although C is structured, compact and FAST, the writing and testing
of C programs is often a tedious process. RUN/C helps bring up to
speed both your programs and your C programming skills. C
programming has never been so fast and enjoyablel

When running under RUN/C, yourC program performs exactly as it
would if it were compiled (although slower since RUN/C is a true
interpreter). If your program does have an error, RUN/C finds it,
gives you a comprehensive error message and allows you to correct the
error on the spot. Once you are completely satisfied with your C
program it can be SAVEd, then compiled and linked using your favorite
C compiler.

RUN/C offers easy and familiar commands such as LOAD, LIST,
SAVE. RUN, etc. A powerful line editor is built right in. RUN/C's
SHELL command will also allow you to use your own editor for
extensive full-screen editing, and then return your newly edited
program to RUN/C — all within a single, unified environment.

RUN/C offers:

• A robust implementation of
standard Kernighan and Ritchie C.

• Full floating point, 8087 math
chip support, structures,
unions, initializers, casts and
more than 100 built-in standard
C library functions.

• An easy-to-read 475-page
manual filled with useful
examples to help you master
the C language.

• TRON, TRACE and DUMP
diagnostics PLUS a program
profiler.

For immediate delivery

• Printer and asynchronous
communications support.

• A full set of buffered and
unbuffered file I/O functions.

• Nearly 100 sample C programs
on disk illustrating the most
important C functions and
concepts.

• System Requirements:
IBM® PC or compatible with
PC-DOS 2.0 or MS™-D0S 2.0

CALL for information on non-IBM
compatible MS-DOS systems.

or more information:

Call

1-800-847-7078

In NY, 1-212-860-0300

Lifeboat 7

Lifeboat™ Associates 1651 Third Ave. New York, NY 10128

LETTERS

emark of Age of Reason Co.

"Iandy 1000 and like it so far. although it
is still an immature system. The Text word
processor of DeskMate, on which this let-
ter is being written, is a lot nicer than Mac-
Write. Worksheet, Filer, and the BASIC
have a few problems. The Radio Shack
DWP-210 printer is a bit faster than adver-
tised, running the 60-column Shannon test
(discussed on page 207 of Sergio Mello-
Grand's "The Art of Benchmarking
Printers." February 1984, page 193) at 19.7
characters per second (cps) rather than the
claimed 18 cps.

On further reflection, I think the Mac
may find a niche in the educational and
graphics markets, but it will never chal-
lenge the MS-DOS machines for the busi-
ness market unless someone finds a way
to bypass the bells and whistles.

Jack Monteith
Balcarres, Saskatchewan, Canada

The Origin of

In his review of the book Alan 'Wing: The
Enigma (February, page 65), G. Michael
Vose mentioned r Hiring's habit of writing
zero as 7" as possibly the origin of the
computer habit of writing zero as to
differentiate it from the letter O.

I own an ancient Model 1 7 Teletype that
I am sure, judging by its condition, goes
at least as far back as World War II, and
it uses a "0." I think the convention goes
back to telegraphers who had to clearly
distinguish between the two as they hur-
riedly transcribed the clicking of the wires.
William D. A. Geary
Deer Park, NY

GPIB VS. HP IB

I read Thomas R. Clune's article "Interfac-
ing for Data Acquisition" (February page
269) with great interest. I am involved with
standards, both in the IEEE and HP, for
devices that use the IEEE-488 bus. He has
done a great service in describing the
attributes of a communication medium
that has eased the construction of instru-
ment systems for years. I do, however, feel
that a few points in the article need clari-
fication.

Hewlett-Packard never uses GPIB in ref-
erence to any of its products. We always
use HP-IB. Our lawyers say the hyphen is
important because it protects the HP
trademark.

I was a little confused by the way Clune
differentiated between command and
data modes. I have always thought of the
command mode as involving setting up
which device would talk and which would
listen. Technically, sending messages to a

[continued)

18 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 248

40ut Of 5 PC-ATExpansion Boaid
Buyers Own Advantage!"

The overwhelming choice of IBM®
PC-AT users, Advantage! from AST
sets the standard in high-powered
multifunction enhancement.
Advantage! was the first multifunc-
tion board for the PC-AT. And it
remains the leader by providing mil-
lions of characters of memory capac-
ity, two serial ports, a parallel port
and a game port. All in a single expan-
sion slot.

First In Memory. All it takes is
Advantage! There's no need to add
other cards or hard-to-find chips
on your system board. Whether you
have an 256K, 512K or 640K AT, our
unique memory addressing tech-
nique lets you add up to 3 Megabytes
of parity checked user memory
efficiently and economically. For
flexibility, Advantage! can use either
64K or 256K memory chips. And
of course, it supports your ATs high
performance 16-bit bus and faster
program processing speed.

Now you can have the extra
memory to run integrated business
software such as Symphony™ and

Framework™ To make full use of new
concept windowing software such
as DESQ™To utilize multitasking pro-
grams such as IBM's TopView™ or
multiuser operating systems such
as XENIX7 M To handle larger amounts
of data, faster. Or for RAM disks.

First In I/O. Here's all the I/O capa-
bility you need now, even if you're
starting with a base model AT. Every
Advantage! card includes an AT
compatible serial port and a parallel
port so you can connect printers,
plotters, mice and modems. Or with
the appropriate software, you can
connect other terminals to create
multiuser environments.

With our optional second serial
port you can attach even more peri-
pherals, while our optional game
port lets you plug in joysticks and
other cursor-control devices for
business or just for fun.

First In Quality. AST's reputation
is built on quality products, qual-
ity support and quality service. Our
complete documentation means
Advantage! is exceptionally easy

to install and use, but if it's not
enough we're always here to help.

Four out of five buyers agree, the
choice is Advantage! -only from AST.
Ask your dealer, or call our Customer
Information Center (714) 863-1333
for more information. AST Research,
Inc., 2121 Alton Avenue, Irvine, CA
92714 TWX: 753699ASTR UR

FEATURES

Memory Expansion

I/O Expansion

• 128Kb to 3.0Mb in

• Up to 2 Serial

a single slot

Ports (1 optional)

• User Upgradeable with

• Parallel Printer

either 64K or 256K

Port

memory chips

• Optional Game

• Split Memory Address-

Port

ing rounds out APs

Advantage!

system memory to 640K

Supports AT's Full

and continues memory

Program Process-

expansion at 1Mb

ing Speed

Advantage! trademark of AST Research, Inc. IBM PC-AT and
TopView trademarks of International Business Machines Corp.
Framework trademark of Ashton-Tate. Symphony trademark
of Lotus Development Corp. DESQ trademark of Quarterdeck
Office Systems. XENIX trademark of Microsoft Corp.

R€S€flRCH INC. 4

Inquiry 4 for End-Users.
Inquiry 5 for DEALERS ONLY.

INTERRUPT
PRODUCT

w fe

.

mm*

THIS MAJOR
INTRODUCTION TO

YOU SOMETHING
REALLY

IMPORTANT.

ft»

THE BIG NEWS IN DISK/TAPE IS PC/T, A
SENSIBLE NEW APPROACH TO ARCHIVAL
STORAGE.

We've tamed tape. And made it docile.
By making it DOS-like.

So, while this started as an ad for our
five new HardFile™ subsystems, which
deliver 25 to 80 megabytes of hard disk
storage and 60 megabytes of tape backup,
instead we want to introduce you to PC/T.™

PC/T is a new format that makes
tape a more sensible storage solution for
personal computers. It puts tape on line,
in real time, for instant access. And frees
your hard disk for your most current data.

You already know how to use PC/T
Because it responds to standard DOS
commands.

Here's the big news: just like any
DOS-controlled hard or floppy disk, PC/T
enables you to create directories and files
on tape. Then you can call up the exact file
you need, and change a portion of the tape
without having to erase and overwrite the
entire cartridge.

Without PC/T, you have
to rewrite the entire 60MB
cartridge each time you
make a single change.

With PC/T, you create and
directly access files on
tape, just like with floppy
or hard disk.

PC/T formats each new tape cartridge,
just like you format any hard or floppy
disk, locking out bad blocks to assure that
every bit of data you write to tape is
recorded with utter accuracy.

What's more, PC/T gives tape true
error correction capability. 50% redundancy
during write operations ensures 100%
reconstruction of data lost because of oper-
ator error, dust and dirt, or everyday wear
and tear.

There is a catch. You can get your
hands on PC/T just one way: Buy one of our
powerful new HardFile subsystems. With
disk plus tape. Or tape alone. Which brings
us back to where we started. And gives
you a place to start. Just call 1-800-228-
DISK for the Tallgrass dealer nearest you.

TALLGRASS SELLS MORE HARD DISK
STORAGE WITH CARTRIDGE TAPE
BACKUP THAN ANYONE IN THE
WORLD.

TALLGRASS 9
TECHNOLOGIES

COMMITTED TO MEMORY

Inquiry 399

Hard File'" and Tallgrass' 1 ' a re trademarks
of Tallgrass Technologies Corporation
© 1985 Tallgrass Technologies

datasouth
Wheels Out
your new
Corporate
Image

Dear Businessperson:

A good daisywheel printer
should work like a pin-stripe
suit for your letterhead .

That's why you need a new
DaisyWheel 36 from Datasouth. It is,
literally, a very impressive machine.

The DaisyWheel 36 is quick, with a top speed of 36 cps.
It f s more capable than any other daisywheel in its class,
with superscripts ? subscripts > boldfacing, under lining ,
text reprinting, red & black color printing and proportional
spacing, among other impressive features. And with its
Diablo 630 compatibility, your DaisyWheel 36 will get along
with just about any computer in your office.

Your secretary will get along with your DaisyWheel 36
too — thanks to its sheet and tractor feed options, cartridge
ribbon, and a whole garden of distinctive daisywheel type
faces, each with its own protective cassette.

Best of all, the DaisyWheel 36 comes from a company
with a most impressive name: Datasouth — the name that
means high performance.

So wheel over to your Datasouth Dealer and run some of
your best letterhead through a new DaisyWheel 36, the high
performance daisywheel from Datasouth.

By the way, the DaisyWheel 36 lists for just $995

Which is a pretty good price for the
best image around.

Eventually yours,

DaisyWheel 36

data

P E R F O R M A N C E

Datasouth Computer Corporation
Box 240947 • Charlotte, NC 28224
704/523-8500 • Telex 6843018 DASOU UW
Inquiry 132

CALL TOLL FREE:

1-800-222-4528

LETTERS

DMM (digital multimeter) to set up its
measurement function is done in the data
mode. The message is going from the
computer (talker) to the DMM (listener).
During this time the controller function in
the computer is inactive.

While service requests and parallel polls
are often used to indicate unexpected
conditions, they have applications beyond
just indicating problems. A common
usage is to synchronize stimulus and mea-
surement devices. A source may take a
significant length of time before its out-
put is stable. By asserting SRQ (service
request) when everything is ready the
device signals the computer that a mea-
surement can be taken. Some instruments,
like swept-spectrum analyzers, take quite
a while to complete a measurement. Using
polling methods, the computer can pro-
cess other tasks while waiting.

Table 1 of the article described the bit
pattern "NllSSSSS" as a secondary ad-
dress. Actually it should be described as
a secondary command. A secondary com-
mand has meaning after either a parallel-
poll configure or a primary address. The
secondary command after a parallel-poll-
configure command programs which bit
the device will drive during a parallel poll.

The other use of secondary commands
is for secondary addressing. A device may
implement extended talker or extended
listener functions. If so, the device must
receive its primary address followed by its
secondary address in order to be ad-
dressed. Using secondary addresses to
program device functions is not generally
done. A device may have several TE (ex-
tended talker) and LE (extended listener)
functions to allow access to various parts
of the instrument. Conceivably, a device
could contain both a power supply and
a voltmeter. One secondary address
would allow programming messages to go
to the voltmeter section and another
would allow them to reach the power-
supply section.

I'm not sure 1 would describe REN
(remote enable) as a 'warm boot." REN
gives the controller charge over where the
instrument will receive its instructions.
While REN is false the front panel is ac-
tive. If REN is true and the listen address
is received, the front panel is deactivated.
I think the description of IFC (interface
clear) as a "panic button" is very accurate.

The IEEE has a companion document
to IEEE-488 called "IEEE Recommended
Practice for Code and Format Conven-
tions" or ANSI/IEEE Standard 728-1982.
This standard is directed toward program-

[continued)

Data
communication

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Highway 603, P.O. Box 387, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39520
Telex: 910-333-1618 EasyLink: 6277-1271

Inquiry 47

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 23

LETTERS

ming and response messages. The IEEE
has also formed a committee, P98I, to
work on extending and refining the cur-
rent standards. My article, "lest/Control
Update: GPIB Instruments" [Electronic
Engineering Times, December 17, 1984, page
47), may be of interest.

I think the BYTE article did a good job
of communicating the fundamental capa-
bilities and advantages of the IEEE-488

bus. The application example demon-
strates the power that is available to the
user. I am convinced that this interface will
become more widely used with personal
computers. I appreciate your efforts in
spreading the word.

Stephen Greer

Interface Engineer

Hewlett-Packard

Loveland, CO

Choose from our Stand Alone, Intelligent, RS-232 units.

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DISTRIBUTORS INQUIRY WELCOME Inquiry 2 5 4

QGH3QQQQ

Thomas R. Clune replies:

I appreciate the clarity of your well-
informed remarks. 1 do, however, think
that you have overstated the sharpness
of the distinction between command and
data modes. For example, a DMM manu-
facturer would be perfectly free to treat
its product as three instruments in one.
The voltmeter could be given a different
secondary address from the ohm meter,
etc. Thus, addressing the voltmeter to
talk would be functionally equivalent to
selecting the volts function in data mode
on, for example, the HP 3 47 8 A. Further,
commands like GET are, to my mind,
more like programming statements than
address information. Having said that let
me thank you for your corrections and
additions to my remarks. 1 look forward
to reading your article in Electronic
Engineering Times.

Conversion Utilities

I read with interest 'led Carnevale's "C to
Pascal" (February, page 138). Carnevale of-
fered a filter program for converting C
source code into a form that requires
minimal editing to produce the corre-
sponding Pascal. The author's explication
of his problem and the chosen method of
solving it were informative and lucid. This
article was also valuable as an illustration
of program construction. Your readers
may be interested to know of an alter-
native method for carrying out such con-
versions in a few minutes without pro-
gramming.

The WP Toolset provides 50 utilities for
the IBM PC including a program to make
any set of regular substitutions in disk files.
This general-purpose filter makes multiple
global replacements in one pass, replac-
ing any string of printable or nonprintable
characters with replacement strings of
your choice. The replacements are stored
in an ASCII file with nonprintable charac-
ters represented in hexadecimal. The filter
can be called from the command line or
batch files for conversion of programs,
word-processing files, or any data whose
line delimiters need modification. The WP
Toolset is available for $39 from iRr Soft-
ware, 28 Ridgewood Rd., Concord, MA
01742.

Gail Johnsen

iRr Software

Concord, MA

Art Appreciation

The illustration on page 96 of your March
issue, by artist Barrett Root, is without a
doubt one of the finest that has ever ap-

[continued)

PERSONALITY
PROBLEM?

UNIX™ and DOS™ At the Same Time!

Also
available
on the
PC/XT and
compatibles

Looking at an IBM PC/AT? Happy with DOS but want
UNIX? Happy with UNIX but want DOS? Want them
working together?

Get The Connector!™

The Connector is a revolutionary product that allows
DOS applications to run on the IBM PC/AT or XT
under VENIX/86 ( the first licensed AT&T UNIX
operating system for the IBM PCs) or PC/IX. That
means you can add one or more terminals to your AT
which run programs using multi-user VENIX/86 to
share the disk and printer. Switch between UNIX and
DOS at the console with a single command. And run
more than one task simultaneously. Like running a
spelling check in the background while you print a
report and run Lotus 1-2-3™ or dBaselP.'

Get yourself an AT and load it with VENIX. Collect
your DOS and/or UNIX applications. We'll supply The
Connector. The right solution to your software per-
sonality problems.

Call for complete details.

Unisource Software Corp. , Department 4109,
71 BentStreet, Cambridge, MA 02141.
Telex 92-1401/COMPUMART CAM.

617-491-1264

■ UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Technologies. Inc. DOSisa trademark of. Microsoft. Inc. PC/AT and PC/XT arc trademarks of IBM. The Connector Is a trademark
of Uniform Software Systems, Inc. VENIX/86 implementation by VenturCom, Im\ 1-2- 3 and LOTUS are trademarks of Lotus Development Corp dBase! I is a
trademark of Ashton-Tatc,

Inquiry 411

Getting UNIX Software
Down to Business

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 25

LETTERS

peared in a computer-oriented magazine.

The symbolism isn't subtle, but how
perfectly right the artist was, that demon
terminal and computer have become our
gods! And that the temple computer is at
the summit of the other lesser computers
or terminals.

I actually know computerists who vir-
tually worship their computers and who
religiously do obeisance to their electronic
gods. I'm sure that the Parthenon did not
exert the influence on some of its
devotees that the microcomputer does

today on many of its owners.

My sincere compliments and thanks to
Mr. Root.

Bernard A. McIlhany
Marble Hill GA

FACTORING WITH SI

Thanks for Richard B. Leining's interesting
article, "Factoring with Hyper" (March,
page 396). The method outlined is un-
doubtedly applicable in certain circum-
stances. However . . .
Instead of comparing Hyper with a so-

Table I: The number of trials necessary to find a factor.

N= number to be factored
Q = actual factor to be found
Qmax = y/~N
Rq = Q/Qmax

Method

Hyper

S1

Rq=05
0.125 *Qmax
0.25* Qmax

Rq =0.2

OB* Qmax
A* Qmax

Rq=0A

2.03* Qmax
.45* Qmax

phisticated program I compared it with the
simplest factoring program possible,
which I have called SI (Simple l). You start
with Qmax=yf~N and try dividing N by
each odd number smaller than Qmax. Thus
for N= 96.00 l.Qmax= 309.84, and you try
= 309. 307, 305, etc. The most numbers
one can ever try with SI is Qmax/2: thus
for 96.001 after 1 54 trials you reach 0= I
and conclude (correctly) that 96,001 is
prime.

Hyper takes 7846 trials to conclude that
96,001 is prime. But wait! One expects to
use Hyper for numbers that can actually
be factored. The question is, how long do
you have to search before finding the fac-
tor? If we define Qmax as equal to V/V
and Rq as equal to Q/Qmax, where O is the
actual factor that will be found by either
Hyper or SI, we can calculate how many
trials each will require. For SI. TYials=
Qmx*[\-Rq)l2. For Hyper, Dr\a\s=Qmax*
(Rq+ \lRq-2)l4. If Rq is near 1, Hyper gets
the job done faster than SI. But as Rq
becomes small, Hyper suffers, lable I il-
lustrates some examples.

[continued)

8 MHz/ 1 Megabyte PC

Where doTAVA PC, WESTERN PC, CONQUEST PC, and STAR PC get their
PC compatible system boards? They use the ADVANCED PC from ADVANCED
LOGIC RESEARCH, INC.

ADVANCED LOGIC RESEARCH (ALR), the original designer of the TAVA
PC, is currently offering the ADVANCED PC to OEMS, DEALERS, and
SYSTEM INTEGRATORS.

The ADVANCED PC is a single board computer that was designed to
maximize compatibility with the IBM PC Its features include a switch
selectable 8MHz/4.77 MHz CPU clock, 1 megabyte memory without
addition of add-oncards, 1 serial and 1 parallel port, and 5 expansion slots.
The BIOS used on the ADVANCED PC is the same that is used on the TAVA
PC, WESTERN PC, ETC., and has proven to offer the highest degree of
compatibility available.

ALR also provides PC-AT storage for your PC with the ALR I/O FLOPPY.
The standard features of the I/O FLOPPY include support for 1 .2 MB HIGH
DENSITY drives, 8" drives, as well as standard 360K drives. Optional
features include an AST compatible clock/calendar interface, RS232
serial port, and 1 parallel port.

ALR1001T -ADVANCED PC TURBO SYSTEM
26 BYTE • JUNE 1985

ADVANCED PC
COMPLETE SYSTEM $1 695

mm

(714) 832-7808
(714) 832-7809

The complete system includes:
8 MHz CPU, 256K Memory, 2 Drives, ALR I/O
Floppy with AST compatible Clock/Calendar,
Monochrome Display Card and Monitor, 5151
Style Keyboard.

fflM,

IADVANCED LOGIC RESEARCH, INC.
15455-B Red Hill Avenue, Tustin, California 92630

TELEX - 756-731-ANS/WESTERN COMP.

Inquiry 1 5 for End-Users. Inquiry 16 for DEALERS ONLY.

Ven-Tel's Half Card™ modem
is in all the best computers.

Here's why. -'

Ven-Tel gives you lots of reasons to buy our Half Card 1
modem for your IBM PC or compatible. The Half Card
Is a complete system that lets you communicate with
other PCs, mainframes, and databases effortlessly.
It Includes Crosstalk-XVI® software. It's reliable.
It's got all of the features you want. And It's
a good value.

Do You Own One of These
Computers?

Chances are you do. And If you're
thinking of buying a modem, consider
the Half Card™. Because of its small size,
the Half Card™ fits in more computers,
including all of the models we've listed
here. The Half Card™ is small, so it fits in
short slots or long. That means you can
save your long slots for other expan-
sion uses.

Effortless Communication
Each Half Card™comes with Crosstalk-XVI®
communications software, by Microstuf. It's
the easiest to use, whether you're a beginner
or an old hand, and the most powerful. A full
on-line help menu makes using Crosstalk® for
the first time a snap. It can turn your PC into a
terminal on a mainframe computer with its power
ful terminal emulation feature. It will even oper-
ate your PC when you're not there. You can call
intoan information service such asThe Source or Dow Jones News
Retrieval, or transfer files and electronic mail, all at the touch of
a button. The Half Card™ connects your computer to the world.
Effortlessly.

More Modem for Your Money

When you buy the Half Card™ you don't need anything else. The
Half Card™ is a complete communications package that includes
at ull-f eatured modem and the best known software on the market.
Complete easy-to-understand instructions with full technical support
on installation and use. And a very competitive price. The Half
Card™ with Crosstalk-XVI® software, retails for only $549.

Features

. 1200/300 baud auto-dial, auto-answer.
. Uses the industry standard "AT"

command set.
. Runs with virtually all communications

software, including Smartcom II and PC

Talk III and integrated packages such

as Symphony and Framework.
. Includes Crosstalk-XVI® software.
. On-board speaker and extra phone jack

for easy switching from voice

to data mode.
. Selective tone or pulse dialing;

full or half duplex.
. Automatic answer on any ring.
• True ring or busy signal detection.

Reliability

Ven-Tel has been making

modems for 10 years. Our

experience shows. Ven-Tel's

Half Card™ only has about 70 parts, compared

to almost 300 on other modems. We reduced the parts

by building the first LSI modem chip using advanced

switched capacitor technology. What that means to you is

greater reliability and lower power consumption, so you can

load up your PC with expansion boards and not worry about

heat or power problems. And we back the Half Card™ with a full

two-year warranty on parts and labor.

You Can Buy the Half Card™
Anywhere

You can get the Half Card™ at Computer-
Land, Businessland, the Genra Group,
Entr6 Computer Centers, Macy's Computer
Stores and other fine dealers nationwide.
Also from Ven-Tel: the 1200 Plus™ an
external modem and the PC Modem
1200™ an IBM internal with V.22 inter-
national capability.

Effortless Communication

Ven-Tel Inc.

2342 Walsh Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 727-5721

Crosstalk is a registered trademark of Microstuf, Inc. Smartcom II is a trademark of Hayes Microcomputer Products. Symphony is a trademark of Lotus Development. Framework is a trademark of AshtonTate.
Inquiry 415 JUNE 1985 • B Y TE 27

Now last minute presentations

can be made from

your personal computer.

In color. In house. In minutes.

A black bordei^m^V appear around
the Palette slide image which will be
imperceptible when projected.

Introducing Polaroid Palette.

Whether your presentation is in 30
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it lets you make Polaroid 35mm Instant
Slides or prints from personal com-
puter-generated data. Right at your
desk. So now you can create a presen-
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rush service or risking the security of
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Works with the graphics

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DEC Rainbow or PRO, Apple lie

or 11+ and AT&T 6300.

The Polaroid Palette is designed to
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packages. In fact, when using such
programs as Graphwriter, Chart-

Master, Sign-Master, DR Draw, DR Graph,
and ATHENA/graph, Palette can virtu-
ally double both the horizontal and
vertical resolution of your monitor.
Plus, a "backfill" feature reduces raster
lines for a smoother, more finished
appearance. The result— presentation
quality slides. On-the-spot.

Color 35mm slides, even from
a black and white CRT

Think of it as an artists palette.
Because Palette "paints" your graphs,
charts and text. Youre choosing from
up to 72 colors. If you don't want red,
press a few keys— it s green. And if
you re not the artistic-type, Polaroid
has developed a menu of color sets:
combinations of colors that have been
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The Polaroid Palette is the fast, con-
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VISIT OUR BOOTH AT THE NATIONAL COMPUTER CONFERENCE.

Alabama: Business Graphics, Birmingham, (205)

663-2492; The Computer Shoppe #210, Huntsville,

(205)830-2615.

Arizona: Computer Superstores, Phoenix, (602)

957-6780; American Computer Svs., Phoenix, (602)

978-3244; MicroAge Computer Store, Phoenix, (602)

265-0065; Computerland Major Accounts, Phoenix,

(602) 861-9667; MicroAge Computer Store, Tucson,

(602)571-1201 or 887-1485.

Arkansas: The Computer Shoppe #215, Little Rock,

(501)375-5544.

California: Drake Morton (Lomita Pacific Photo),
Lomita, (213) 326-7077; Raytec, Inc., San Diego,
(619) 695-8611.

Los Angeles: Media Fabricators, Los Angeles, (213)
937-3344 or (714) 954-0590; Computer Business
Center, Santa Monica, (213) 452-2027; Long Beach
Micro, Long Beach, (213) 435-3006; Advanced
Computer Products, Santa Ana, (714) 558-8813; Photo
& Sound, E! Monte, (213) 575-1924; Software Central,
Pasadena, (818) 793-4101; Computerland of Simi Vallev,
Simi Valley, (805) 583-5585; Manumit
Microcomputers, Anaheim, (714) 520-0411; #33
Businessland, Los Angeles, (213) 387-1938.
San Francisco Area: Image Sales, Inc., Walnut
Creek, (415) 932-1031 or (800) 321-1821; KSP Inc., Palo
Alto, (415) 327-8996; Computerland/Dublin, Dublin,
(415) 828-8090; Able Computer, Belmont, (415) 593-
2253; Imago Data.Sunnyvale, (408) 737-9172; PC
Support, Sunnyvale, (408) 746-2772; Photo & Sound,
San Francisco, (415) 421-0410; #6 Businessland, San
Francisco, (415) 989-3741.

Colorado: Fairview Audio-Visual, Englewood, (303)
771-6335;BFACorp., Denver, (303)777-8070.
Connecticut: Computerease, Avon, (203) 677-7191;
Computerease, Danbury, (203) 794-9493;
Computerease, Darien, (203) 656-1494;
Computerease, E. Hartford, (203) 278-1080;
Computerease, Milford, (203)877-7447; Entre
ComputerCenter,Stamford, (203) 967-2233.
Delaware: RSG Computer Supplies, Inc., Newark,
(302)368-4938.

Florida: Micro Mart, Altamonte Springs, (305) 830-
4076; Micro Mart, Coral Gables, (305) 445-9500;
Micro Mart, Ft. Lauderdale, (305) 749-0330; Computer
Station,Jacksonville,(904) 724-3174; Micro Mart,
Jacksonville, (904) 396-8089; Kendall Computers,
Miami, (305)274-6312; United Computers Business
Center, Miami, (305)371-6100; United Computers
Business Center, Miami-Bay Harbor, (305) 868-8300;
Procomp Systems, Inc., Pompano Beach, (305) 997-
6313; Micro Mart,Tampa, (813) 972-5000.
Georgia: The Computer Pro, Augusta, (404) 737-
8313; MicroWorks, Smyrna, Atlanta, (404) 980-1000;
OTP Atlanta, (404) 688-3107; Software Atlanta, Atlanta,
(404)934-0924;Boardroom Graphics Systems,
Atlanta, (404) 457-2836; Southern Business
Communications, Inc., Macon, (800) 282-5687;
MicroWorks, Norcross, (404) 446-1678; Southern
Business Communications, Inc., Norcross, (404) 449-
4088, Micro Mart, Norcross, (404) 449-8081; Software
Atlanta, Smyrna, (404) 434-4171; Computer Network,
Smyrna, (404) 951-0134; Micro Mart, Smyrna (404)
956-8088; Southern Business Communications, Inc.,
Savannah, (800) 282-5687.

Illinois: Midwest Visual Equipment, Chicago, (312)
478-1250; Eberhardt Instruments, Downers Grove,
(312) 964-4240; Computerland, Elmhurst, (312) 832-
0075; NorthBrook Computer, NorthBrook, (312) 480-
9190; Software and Beyond, Schaumburg, (312) 882-
3733; New Orient Media, W Dundee, (312) 428-6000.
Indiana: CBM Computer Center, Evansville,(812)
474-0555.

Kentucky : CBM Computer Center, Lexington, (606)
276-1519;The Computer Shoppe #209, Louisville,
(502) 426-8787; The Computer Shoppe #217,
Louisville, (502) 581-9109; CBM Computer Center,
Louisville, (502) 425-7602; Micro Mart, Louisville,
(502)895-5624.

Louisiana: Micro Mart, Metairie, (504) 835-6481.
Maryland: MBI Business Centers, Bethesda, (301)
657-1611; Folkemer Photo & Computer Center, Ellicott
City, (301) 465-7788; Software Centre Wintergreen
Plaza, Rockville, (301) 424-3024; MBI Business
Centers, Rockville, (301) 984-8922; Micro Mart,
Rockville, (301) 294-9000.

Inquiry 330

Massachusetts: Microsource Financial, Boston,
(617) 423-0108; The Computer Store, Boston, (617)
426-4385; #52 Businessland, Boston, (617) 542-8099;
Micro Store, Brockton, (617) 588-1837; The Computer
Store, Burlington, (617) 272-8770; The Computer
Store, Cambridge, (617) 354-4599; Entre Computer
Center, Centerville, (617) 771-9747; Entre Computer
Center, No. Dartmouth, (617) 997-3113; The Computer
Store, Framingham, (617) 879-3720; Computerland
Leominster, Leominster, (617) 534-5240; Computer
Source, Pittsfield, (413) 443-7181; Micro Store,
Taunton, (617) 823-8106; Microsource Financial,
Watertown, (617) 924-5500; Computer Haus,
Wilmington, (617) 657-6433-
Michigan: Inacomp Computer Center, Ann Arbor,
(313) 665-4453; Inacomp Computer Center, E. Detroit,
(313) 445-8010; Inacomp Computer Center, E. Lansing,
(517)351-1777; Inacomp Computer Center, Flint, (313)
234-0161; Inacomp Computer Center, Grand Rapids,
(616) 942-2690; Inacomp Computer Center, Holland,
(616) 396-5006; Inacomp Computer Center,
Kalamazoo, (616) 323-2222; Lysinger Corp., Troy,
(313) 583-1070; Inacomp Computer Center, Troy,
(313)649-0910.

Minnesota: Blumberg Communications,
Minneapolis, (612) 333-1271.
Missouri: Photo & Sound, St. Louis, (314) 432-7190.
New Hampshire: McAuliffe, Inc., Keene, (603) 352-
0258; Computer Barn, Salem, (603)893-2511.
New Mexico: BFA Corp, Albuquerque, ( 505) 292-
1212; Computer Superstores, Albuquerque, (505 )
293-5370; BFA Corp, LasCruces,(505) 524-9693-

Now
Polaroid Palette's
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GraFIX Partner,

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These dealers are offering
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New Jersey: Performance Software, Bloomfield,
(201) 429-9099; MBI Business Centers, Cherrv Hill,
(609) 428-7055; Prodigy Systems, Edison, (201) 321-
1717; Prodigy Systems, East 1 lanover, (201) 428-0200;
Prodigy Systems, Green Brook, (201) 752-6300; TMA
Logon, Hackensack, (201) 646-9222; Prodigy Systems,
Iselin, (201) 283-0600; Prodigy Systems,
Lawrenceville, (609) 452-1858; Clancy Paul Computer,
New Brunswick, (201) 246-8585; MicroAge Computer
Stores, Paramus, (201) 843-5678; Clancv Paul
Computer, Princeton, (609) 683-0060; Clancy Paul
Computer, Red Bank, (201) 747-7150; Software House
of New Jersey, River Vale, (201) 664-5100.
New York State: The Computer Room, Albany, (518)
869-3818; Computer Professionals, Albany, ( 518) 438-
0010; National Graphics, Albany, (518) 438-8411;
Graphic Arts Computer Products, Buffalo, (716) 854-
0004; The Computer Room, Glens Falls, (518) 798-
1446; The Computer Room, Kingston, (914) 336-4155;
Graphic Arts Computer Products, Rochester, (716)
342-0602; All Things Computer, Scarsdale, (914)
723-6262; The Computer Room, Schenectady,
(518)382-1182.

New York City: Future Information Systems, New
York, (212) 732-3905 or 751-7888; Brilliant Image, New
York, (212) 736-9661; Erin Data Systems, Melville,
(516) 293-4114; MicroAge Computer Stores,
Farmingdale, (516) 752-1600.
North Carolina:-Carolina Camera Center, Inc.
Greensboro, (919) 379-9177; Audio Buys, Raleigh,
(919)821-1776.

Ohio: Radgo Computer, Cincinnati, (513)752-6920;
CBM Computer Center, Cincinnati, (513) 793-1787;
Micro Mart, Cincinnati, (513) 621-8898; Programs,
Unltd., Columbus, (614) 228-4610; OTEC Computer,
Mantua, (216) 274-2818; Northeast Business Center,
Richmond Heights, (216) 442-4808; Programs Unltd.,
Worthington, (614)431-2228.
Oklahoma: Argus Systems, Inc., Norman, (405) 329-
0180; Fairview Audio Visual, Oklahoma Citv, (405) 521-
0031; Fairview Audio Visual, Tulsa, (918) 664-8020.
Oregon: Photo & Sound, Portland, (503) 224-3456.
Pennsylvania: MBI Business Centers, Bala-Cynwyd, "
(215) 668-0870; MBI Business Centersjenkintown,
(215) 576-6650; Computers for the Professional,
Kulpsville, (215) 362-1888; S&S Klinetics, Media, (215)
565-5388; OTI> Philadelphia, (215) 925-6300; Monterey
Microsystems, Inc., Pittsburgh, (412) 242-1188;
MicroAge Computer Stores, Pittsburgh, (412) 323-
2700; Micro Mart, Pittsburgh, (412) 391-3456; MBI
Business Centers, Wayne, (215) 687-5991.
Rhode Island: The Computer Store, Providence,
(401)331-0220.

South Carolina: Southern Business Communica-
tions, Greenville, Spartanburg, (800) 241-5312.
Tennessee: The Computer Shoppe #219,
Chattanooga, (615) 267-8107; Southern Business
Communications, Inc., Chattanooga, (800) 241-5312;
The Computer Shoppe #213, Goodlettsville, (615)
859-4015; The Computer Shoppe #216, Knoxville,
(615) 690-8636; The Computer Shoppe #211,
Nashville, (615) 366-3810; The Computer Shoppe
#214, Nashville, (615 ) 255-3486; The Computer
Shoppe #220, Nashville, (615) 292-4496; CBM
Computer Center, Nashville, (615) 385-1855; Micro
Mart, Nashville, ( 615 ) 292-5600; The Computer
Shoppe #218, Memphis, (901) 682-7082.
Texas: The SoftSource, Dallas, (214) 361-4048 or 960-
0413; Kimball Audio Video, Inc., Dallas, (214) 869-0117;
#17 Businessland, Dallas, (214) 698-0374; Computer
Superstores, El Paso, (915) 533-2215; Personal
Computing Delta, Inc., Houston, (713) 850-8445;
Jobar's Camera Center, Bellaire (Houston), (713)
668-5773.

Vermont: McAuliffe, Inc., Burlington, (802) 658-
4444; McAuliffe, Inc., Rutland, (802) 775-1955; Entre
Computer Center, Shelburne, (802) 985-3366.
Virginia: Technology Services, Alexandria, (703)
354-8668; Micro Graphics, Annandale, (703) 642-1444;
MBI Business Centers, Arlington, (703) 892-1666;
Carys Camera Shop, Charlottesville, (804) 293-4552;
MBI Business Centers, Fairfax, (703) 691-8600;
Computerland of Hampton, Hampton, (804)827-
8899; Computerland of Norfolk, Norfolk, (804) 625-
3427; Micro Age, Norfolk, (804) 461-6460;
Computerland, Richmond, (804) 643-0225 or 741-
3502; #41 Businessland, Rosslvn, (703) 524-5112; MBI
Business Centers, Springfield, (703) 451-7100; MBI
Business Centers, Sterling, (703 ) 430-0300 or (301)
450-4303; MBI Business Centers, Vienna, (703) 893-
0300 or (703) 893-0683; Computerland of Virginia
Beach, Virginia Beach, (804) 422-8271; Micro
Graphics, Virginia Beach, (804) 460-9080
Washington, D.C.: Memory Systems, Inc., (202)
429-1922; After Computer, (202) 822-0604; MBI
Business Centers, (202) 463-7474 or 293-1390; OTR
(202)371-2150.

Washington State: Savant Computer Support, Inc.,
Issaquah, (206) 643-9116; Photo & Sound, Kent, (206)
632-8461.

Wisconsin: Graphic Business Systems, Lake Geneva,
(414) 248-9690; Allied Computer Group, Milwaukee,
(414)228-9333.

CALL 800-225-1618

Polar

• •

The GraFIX Partner is a trademark of Brightbill-Roberts
and Company, LTD. *Suggested list price.

JUNE 1985

I Y T E 29

inquiry 80

CETDC EXHIBITION COMPLEX,
Taipei Sungshan Airport,
Taiwan, R.O.C.

Taiwan has been staking out an increasingly
important position in the international
trade in microcomputers, peripherals such
as terminals, disk drives and printers,
various computer accessories, and software.
Now there is an exhibition that gives you
the opportunity to check out the latest
products and establish business connections
with this dynamic industry.
Be sure to attend Computex Taipei '85.

Organizer:

china external trade
development council

201, Tun Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Telex: 21676 CETRA. Tel : 71 5-1 515.

Sponsor:
CETDC, Inc.

41 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010, U.S.A.
Telex: 426299 CETDC NY. Tel: (212) 532-7055.

to You

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LETTERS

One can of course use a hybrid search
method, using Hyper until Rq=\/yf3, then
switching to SI. But the fact remains that
there will be little relative gain over SI
overall unless Rq is near l. In public-key
encryption, I am not aware of any restric-
tion that would prevent Rq from being
quite small— 0.1, for example. Hyper or SI
or a combination will still take on the order
of 0. 5 *Qmax trials to factor the key. For the
oft-quoted 200-digit key, that's about
0.5* 10 100 trials. And Hyper doesn't do any
better relative to SI when the keys are
smaller.

The above discussion has assumed that
a Hyper trial will burn the same computing
time as an SI trial. In fact, a Hyper trial
will take perhaps three times as long, in-
volving as it does an expression with
numbers on the order of N 2 compared to
Si's single computation of N MOD Q Also
note that we can swing the balance fur-
ther by skipping every third odd number
in SI, those that are divisible by 3.

)OHN DELAUBENFELS

Duluth, GA

Richard B. Leining replies:

Basically, we agree on the mechanics
but not what to make of them. Let's take
your comments one at a time.

First, Hyper is too slow for testing the
primality of a number like 96,001.
Agreed. Although I've not run it manual-
ly 1 predict 7847 trials, like your 7846.

Hyper is used primarily where factors
are expected to exist— yes, and it is effi-
cient near the square root but not far
from it The number of trials is

I +

(1-a) 2
4a

where

a = factor/^TrT = your Rq

and

^/~N~ = your Qmax

If I drop the first trial at the critical up-
per bound of <?!>/4, then my expression is
equivalent to your Qmax *(Rq + 1/Rq -
2)/4. This expression for the number of
trials was edited out of my manuscript
Your searching of odd numbers below
the square root is interesting. For small
factors, it is not as trivial as it seems at
first glance. But for your example of
96,001, I would use a table of primes.
There are only 168 primes below 1000.
I suspect that there are less than 154 of
them below the square root 309.8. But
I don 't know how many, as my table and

{continued)

30 BYTE- 1UNE 1985

Inquiry 367

Inquiry 380-

HOW TO CONTROL

**'*2

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But now there's a solution you can af-
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OWER.

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LETTERS

the computer I use are at work.

My manuscript assessed the possibili-
ty of Hyper breaking a large Rivest-
Shamir-Adleman cipher, described in
C E. Burton's "RSA: A Public Key Cryp-
tography System, Part 1" (Dr. Dobb's Jour-
nal March 1984, page 16). 1 wouldn't
want to pay for 10 27 trials on a big com-
puter. I concluded that Hyper's cryptan-
alytic virtues were limited to toy ciphers,

especially in BASIC. Those comments
were edited out along with my observa-
tions about numbers the order of
N 2 /4.

What is the point of Hyper? Well, why
does anyone factor? For research, 1
guess. It fascinates me that two of the
equations of the RS A cipher should sug-
gest a new substitute for factoring. It is
also interesting that equations (2) and

Data worth keeping
deserves a Data Defender.

Data Defenders by Ring
King. They're the finest quality
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printout.

The Ring King 070 Tray holds
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are punched to fit standard 3-

ring binders. Ring King Data
Binders hold up to 8" of 9 1 /2"x
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Ask for Ring King Data Defen-
ders at your computer supply
dealer. Or send for our free, full-
color catalog of computer sup-
port products. Write Ring King
Visibles, Inc., 2210 Second Ave-
nue, P.O. Box 599, Muscatine,
Iowa 5276 1 . For customer serv-
ice, phone (800) 553-9647, in
Iowa (319)263-8144.

DATA
DEFENDER.

Ring

(2 A) of my article lead to factoring sub-
stitutes that are mirror images of each
other, one searching downward from a
critical upper bound, the other searching
upward from a critical lower bound, and
both bounds found in equation (16). Has
some mirror image ofEuler's totient func-
tion been overlooked?

Your interest in Hyper is appreciated.
I'm impressed that you figured out the
number of trials so quickly.

Other people helped me develop the
Hyper factoring program, to the limit of
double-precision BASIC. Scaling down
the entire computation by a factor of 4,
to defer overflow, was a solution sug-
gested by Professor Bill Viavant of the
Computer Science Department of the
University of Utah.

DEC Rainbow Woes

A few words about some bugs I have
found in my DEC Rainbow. So far, I've had
little luck with DEC customer support.

• The CP/M-86/80 2.0 command to back
up the hard disk apparently eats files at
random. All I can advise is that you sim-
ply not back up files; or you can spend
all day using the PIP command.

• Under CP/M-86/80 2.0, the MAINT com-
mand produces erroneous results when
large files (50K bytes) are involved or the
hard disk is over 50 percent full.

• Under WordStar 3.3 and CP/M-86/80 2.0
(exact source of bug unknown), large files
(over 30K bytes) mysteriously cannot be
edited at times. You can edit them on
screen, but after saving the files, they
come back with the old text, not the revi-
sions. Neat trick. One solution is to avoid
writing long files and try resaving the file
as a block write, under a new name. Back-
ing up a work in progress should be done
the same way; the "save-S-resume" com-
mand, the ,l save-&-new" command, and
the "save-&-exit" command all seem to
have this random bug.

• The MS-DOS operating system comes
with a very basic user's guide; it doesn't
even explain the directory/subdirectory/
path commands. In fact it tells you very
little besides how to boot the system. Is
there any other documentation available
besides the $2 50-plus technical manuals?

I also found that "upgrading" to a hard
disk means buying a new $1500 system
board (the one different chip can't be
swapped) or else keeping the operating
system on one floppy all the time; it's no
simple upgrade, as promised, either.

Jared Sherman
Jackson Heights, NY ■

32 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 3 54

FIXES AND UPDATES

YTE'S BITS

More Equipment Eases Access to BYTEnet

As a direct result of the phenomenal
response to BYTEnet Listings, we have
recently increased the number of tele-
phone lines and microcomputers support-
Author to Advise C Group

ing our new telecommunications service.
To accommodate the upgraded equip-
ment, we had to change the number
called to access BYTEnet Listings. Please

dial (617) 861-9774. When communication
is established, please hit a carriage return
or two so that the software can determine
your data-transmission rate.

An independent Lattice C Users' Group
has been formed under the guidance of
Bill Hunt, author of the book The C Toolbox.
Although the group will address the needs
of users of Lattice, Lifeboat, and Microsoft
versions of Lattice C, membership is not

limited to those users.

Group members receive a 16-page
bimonthly newsletter that explains C's
features, provides examples, and offers
ways to employ C. A question-and-answer
column is featured. Supplementing the

newsletter is a disk containing source files,
demonstration programs, library functions,
and public-domain programs.

A full year's membership is $30. For
details, contact the Lattice C Users' Group,
POB 271965, Concord, CA 94527.

Upgrade to Lowercase Descenders

Tim Worcester, proprietor of the Electronic
Closet in Bainbridge Island, Washington,
has developed an upgrade kit that may be
of interest to owners of the Gorilla Banana
Printer.

The Banana, a low-cost printer from
DAK Industries, does not produce true
lowercase descenders, which, in turn,
hampers its use in serious word-pro-

cessing applications.

'The software I have developed," says
Worcester, "solves the lowercase problem
and gives the user true descenders."

The software resides in EPROM, and
installation is said to require the removal
of the Banana's standard EPROM. which
is then replaced by Mr. Worcester's
EPROM.

A limited number of Banana upgrade
kits are available for evaluation on a first-
come, first-served basis from Mr.
Worcester. He also has upgrade kits for
Axiom's GPI00 series and for landy's
TRS-80 LPVII and DMP-100 printers. For
further information, contact Tim
Worcester, Electronic Closet, 8187 Blakely
Court W. Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

User-Supported VT Terminal Emulator

PC-VT is a user-supported software
emulator that enables the IBM PC to func-
tion as a DEC VT52, VT-100. or VT-102
video terminal. It handles communication
over an RS-232C port configured as either
COMI or COM2, and it supports common
data-transmission rates and data-bit
settings.

PC-VT is suitable for use with null
modems for direct connection to a host
computer or with a modem that does not

require modem-control signals. It sends
DSR and RTS.

It supports Hayes dialing commands
and has a 10-entry dialing directory. Func-
tion keys I through 10 can be used as
macro keys, and PC-VT supports both
numeric and application keypad modes.

It's said to have full-featured uploading
and downloading file capabilities. ASCII
and XMODEM protocols are supported.
The ASCII upload feature has handshak-

ing capabilities.

A copy of the program is available by
sending a formatted double-sided double-
density disk to Mark C. DiVecchio, 9067
Hillery Dr., San Diego, CA 92126. A
stamped, self-addressed mailer must ac-
company your request. A voluntary con-
tribution is suggested. Contact Mr.
DiVecchio for further information at the
address above or call him at (619)
566-6810.

BYTE'S BUGS

A Few Points on a Million Points

Several readers have uncovered errors in
James Hawley's 'A Million-Point Graphics
lablet." (See April, page 120.)

In the caption for figure I, ICI through
1C4 are inadvertently identified as UI
through U4.

In the parts list, a 100-microfarad
capacitor is listed, yet no such device ap-
pears in the circuit diagram. Mr. Hawley
informs us that this capacitor should be

connected between + 5 volts and ground
near the 7805 voltage regulator.

r Iwo wiring errors mar the circuit
diagram. The connection between pins 2
and 10 of IC2 should go between pins 5
.and 10. In addition, a connection, omitted
on the diagram, should be made between
ICI pin 6 and IC2 pin 13.

Finally, on page 120 there's a reference
to a photo that does not appear. We

apologize for this oversight.

The following are clarifications of the
discussion in the article:

The microcode in listing 1 is not a com-
plete program, nor was it ever intended
to be one. This code fragment provides
access to the KoalaPad. It is all the
necessary programming to obtain the x,y
values that you need for drawing or for

[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 33

Inquiry 296

MidWest

Micro-Peripherals

Gigantic Sale!

ison ■ Brother - Star - Zenith

PRICE GUARANTEE

We at MidWest Micro quarantee that we can save you up to
49% or more on your purchase of new fully warranteed
equipment and supplies. And we will still give you friendly,
courteous seivice. Call today and Save With Confidence!

Don't spend a fortune to own the world's
most popular printer .

N^W

EPSON

LX-80

YOUR
PRICE

$269

"me new EPSON LX-80 printssmoothlyand quietlyat a speedof 100

cps With the superb near letter quality mode and full graphic
capabilities as standard, your correspondence will be letter perfect.
The LX-80 comes complete with a parallel interface to quickly
connect it to virtually all computers. There are 160 typestyles that are
switch selectable and the LX-80 comes with EPSON'S full 1 year
warranty. Friction feed is standard and an optional tractor feed is
available. Let the EPSON LX-80 print your next business letter or
report.

Complete EPSON Line . . . Llst £}"«

LX-80 (100 cps. N0L Mode, 80 Col.) 349 269

RX-100 (100 cps, 136 Col.) 895 399

FX-80-H1 60 cps, 9.0 GbL 2K Buffer) 699 389

FX-100+(160 cps, 136 Col, 2k Buffer) 999 589

LQ-1500 (200 cps, NLQ Mode, 136 Col.) 1395. . . $CALL$

brother

printer's give you all the
features of a letter quality
and more with . . ,

HR-15XL

ONLY

$379

The HR-15XL gives you Daisywheel printing and added attractions
such as text reprinting, red printing, attachable cut sheet feeder and
the exclusive Brother keyboard attachment.
Complete BROTHER Line . .

List

Your
Price

HR-15XL (17 cps, 13.5" carriage, 3k Buffer) $599 . . . $379

HR-15 & HR-15XL Keyboard Attachment 200 .$CALL$

HR-25 (23 cps, 16.5" carriage, 3k Buffer) 895 ... . 649'

HR-35 (32 cps, 16.5" carriage, 7k Buffer. 1245 .... 899

Brother 2024(1 60 cps, 24 pin head, NL0 Mode) . 1495 .... 999

Get great hard copy and near letter quality
with, . . i^lt.

Otji" I U List $299

(Replaces the Gemini 10X)

The SG-10 gives you enough versatility for home or office use. It
operates bi-directionally at 120 cps and includes many special
features such as near letter quality printing, easy access format
switches for a wide range of character modes, friction feed for single
sheets and tractor feed for fanfold paper, and even hex dump. Another
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switch. You get all of this plus a 2k memoiy buffer and Star's full 1
year warranty at a price you can afford!
Complete STAR- Line. . . . $CALL$ and SAVE!

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Prices subject to change and type errors

^ST FREE CARD USE Q£}

"Call Today! w

Information - Ordering
1-800-423-8215

In Ohio 1-800-321-7731

CUSTOMER SERVICE (513) 663-4992

CASH PRICES. Cert. Check, Money Orders. VISA o r MC
CODs (Add $5) AMEX (Add 4%) P.O.s (Add 5%)

MidWest Micro-Pf riphtrali

(Division of Infotel, Inc.)

135 South Springfield St.

St. Paris. Ohio 43072

FIXES & UPDATES

cursor movements from the circuit board.
If you add a Return at the end of the code,
you will convert it into a subroutine that
can be used in any graphics program that
you devise.

The KoalaPad discussed in the article is
the version that's designed to plug into the
16-pin game I/O socket of the Apple com-
puter. The KoalaPad is produced by Koala
Technologies Corp., 3100 Patrick Henry
Dr., Santa Clara, CA 95050.

Manufacturer Misidentified

Address Correction

On page 370 of the April BYTE, we pub-
lished an out-of-date address for Multi
Solutions Inc., maker of the SI operating
system. (See ''Computing at Chaos Manor:
Over the Moat" by Jerry Pournelle, page
355.)

The correct address for Multi Solutions
Inc. is Suite 207, 123 Franklin Corner Rd.,
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, (609) 896-4100.

In the April BYTE, we misidentified the
manufacturer of KES. (See "The
Technology of Expert Systems" by Robert
H. Michaelsen, Donald Michie, and Albert
Boulanger, page 303.)

On page 306, in the partial listing of
domain-independent rule-based expert
systems, we identified another company
as the manufacturer of KES when, in fact,
Software Architecture and Engineering
Inc. of Arlington. Virginia, developed and
markets the system.

KES, or Knowledge Engineering System,

Bugs Warp Reply

runs on an IBM PC XT and requires
IQLISP. an 8087 coprocessor, and 640K
bytes of RAM. The IBM PC XT version is
$4000, which includes documentation.
Versions of KES are also available for the
VAX and other machines.

Software A&E maintains offices at Suite
800, 1500 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA
22209, (703) 276-7910. In the United
Kingdom, address inquiries to Software
Architecture and Engineering Inc., 1 6 New
Park Rd., Chichester, West Sussex P019
IXH; tel: 0243-789310.

Several typographical errors marred
Charles Kluepfel's reply to Martin
Kochanski's letter in the March BYTE. (See
'The Real RSA Algorithm" on page 26.)
The errors began around the discussion
of the subroutine coding on page 30. The
text should have read:

In place of the line in listing 1 that says

D:QUOTIENT(2*(P- 1)*(Q- 1)+ 1,3),

put the following coding:

D:NXPRIME(P + Q),
LOOP

D: NXPRIME(D-M),

X0: (P-1)*(Q-1),

X1: D,

A0: 1,

B0: 0,

Benchmark Misstated

A1: 0,
B1: 1,
LOOP
QU: QUOTIENT(X0,X1),
X2: X0-QU*X1,
A2: A0-QOA1,
B2: B0-QOB1,
X0: X1,
X1: X2,
A0: A1,
A1: A2,
B0: B1,
B1: B2,
WHEN X1=1,
E: ABS(B1), EXIT,
ENDLOOP,

WHEN E>2026, EXIT,
WHEN 2~E>N, EXIT,
ENDLOOP

In a recent What's New write-up, we incor-
rectly reported the speed of Systems
Management Associates' PROMAL lan-
guage for the Commodore 64. (See "Struc-
tured Programming Language Released
for Commodore." page 446, April.)

The benchmarks show PROMAL to be
from 70 to 2000 percent faster than
BASIC, COMAL, FORTH, and Pascal.

PROMAL. a high-level, structured lan-

guage that's similar to C and Pascal, is
available in versions for the Apple lie and
lie and the IBM PC. The price is $49.95;
a developer's package with an unlimited
distribution license is $99.95. Contact
Systems Management Associates, 3700
Computer Dr.. POB 2002 5, Raleigh, NC
27619. Technical information is available
by calling (91 9) 787-7703, or, for orders
only you can call (800) 762-7874.

34 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Circuit-Board-Artwork Software
for the Design Engineer

a Hurry

For only $895, smARTWORK® lets
the design engineer create and
revise printed-circuit-board art-
work on the IBM Personal Com-
puter. You keep complete control
over your circuit-board artwork—
from start to finish.

Forget the tedium of taping it
yourself or waiting for a tech-
nician, draftsman, or the CAD
department to get to your project.

smARTWORK® is the only low-
cost printed-circuit-board artwork
editor with all these advantages:

□ Complete interactive control
over placement and routing

D Quick correction and revision

D Production-quality 2X artwork
from a pen-and-ink plotter

□ Prototype-quality 2X artwork
from a dot-matrix printer

□ Easy to learn and operate, yet
capable of sophisticated
layouts

□ Single-sided and double-sided
printed circuit boards up to

10 x16 inches

□ Multicolor or black-and-white
display

System Requirements:

□ IBM Personal Computer, XT, or
AT with 256K RAM, 2 disk drives,
and DOS Version 2.0 or later

□ IBM Color/Graphics Adapter
with RGB color or black-and-
white monitor

□ IBM Graphics Printer or Epson
FX/MX/RX series dot-matrix
printer

□ Houston Instrument DMP-41
pen-and-ink plotter

□ Optional Microsoft Mouse

The Smart Buy

At $895, smARTWORK® is proven,
convenient, fast, and a sound
value. Call us today. And put it to
work for yourself next week.

* A

WBEsr-yacar

Wintek Corporation
1801 South Street
Lafayette, IN 47904-2993
Telephone: (317) 742-8428
Telex: 70-9079 WINTEK CORP UD

In Europe contact: RIVA Terminals Limited,
Woking, Surrey GU21 5JY ENGLAND,
Telephone: 04862-71001, Telex: 859502

"smARTWORK'.' "Wintek" and the Wintek logo are
registered trademarks of Wintek Corporation.
Inquiry 42 5

Which is the better way to

Any growing business needs to
organize, analyze and use data.

Customer orders. Shipping
records. Inventory. Billing.
Prospect lists.

Now, depending on your Macin-
tosh software, you can manage data
one of two ways.

The simple,

stuff-everything-into-one-file
theory of data management.

That's how ordinary filers and
information managers work.

You jam data into a single file that
includes every piece of information
you might ever want to know.

5

1

AAKA ACRES

I

5

503

PATCH KIT

40.0

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13. til

4

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TOM fiURKE

z

5

501

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663

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TOM BURKE

3

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504

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7.0

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501

HOT MELT

66.3

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77^9

With an ordinary data manager, you have to re-enter
existing information every time you enter new infor-
mation. Pretty inefficient.

\ ENUIMRUS I

[ Md ] ( DBlale J \ Nam | (Praulout} [ Firtl ] [ lail ] [ Qui I )

SftLESnEII'S SALES STATISTICS

HflflE : 1011 BURtE
AREA: 3
LIKE: 5

■ ffflOUCT JSH. FEB~

501 HOT riELT

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5CH AEROSPACE
£05 PfiSTE

ftpft. HflV ~m~

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33.5
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y

Hi I 120 t

With MacLion, you only have to enter the new data
that has changed. Not only that, you can design
your own data entry screens. Now, which is the most
efficient way to manage your business data?

The problem?

Well, if you have a sales order
entry file, every time you enter new
data about a customer's order, you
also have to re-enter all the existing
data about your customer.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Worse, if you ever want to move
the data from your sales order entry
file to develop a new file, without
having to rework it all over again,
there's one small problem.

You can't.

Okay Let's get serious.

MacLion™, on the other hand,
is a true relational database
management system.

Macliori Serious database power for serious

36 BYTE • JUNE 1985

manage your data? /q %

So instead of trying to jam all your
business data into one massive file,
you can set up several smaller, more
manageable "relations." (Picture
them as a series of neat file folders.)

The advantage?

In a sales order entry system, one
relation contains biographical data
about your customers that doesn't
change. Another hastheir order data
that does.

There's no duplication.

So when it's time to update
customer orders, you only have to
enter in new data. Not re-enter what
already exists. And you can develop

Macintosh users.

%,

entirely new applications for your
existing database just by adding
new relations.

That's the most efficient way to
manage your data.

r o

For a MacLion demonstration,
see your dealer. Or, send for our
"Serious Buyer's Guide to Database
Management Systems," which
includes a demonstration disk

Simple vs. serious.

And MacLion gives you some
other remarkable features, too.

You can design and generate your
own custom data entry screens and
reports. Just by clicking your mouse
through Macintosh pull-down
menus— without programming.

Or, if you're a programmer at heart,
you can also use MacLion's built-in
procedural language and add even
more specialized functions.

That's serious database power,
only possible with MacLion.

plus complete information
on what a database management
system can do for your business.
Get serious— with MacLion.

MAC

LION

1904 Wright Circle, Anaheim, C A 92806

Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer, Inc.
MacLion is a trademark of Computer Software Designs, Inc.

Inquiry 107

I'm serious about managing my data.

i □ Please send me your free "How to Buy a Database Management System" brochure.

□ Please send me "A Serious Buyer's Guide to Database Management Systems.'
I've enclosed $9.95.

□ Check or money order enclosed.

□ Please charge my: VISA MasterCard Number

Signature.

VISA and MasterCard orders can be
placed by phone. Call (800)252-LION
or (714)634-9012.
Calif, residents please add 6% tax.
Send to: Database Guide
COMPUTER SOFTWARE DESIGNS INC.
1904 Wright Circle
Anaheim, California 92806

State.

-Zip-

INTftXXJCING

N£AR VcXXtR QUALITY
ANP THRDU&HPUTSP^ePS
CTH£R RRlhHHRSCANT

COMB NEAR.

The newC.ltoh Pro Writer 8510S-LQ
Near Letter Quality printer is a whole
new field of one.

It's priced at just $549. But it gives you
near letter quality printing for beautifully
sharp characters like printers costing
hundreds of dollars more.

And in a text and graphics
speed test against its closest
competition, namely the Epson®
FX-80 and the Okidata Microline
92, the new and faster C. Itoh
8510S-LQ out printed them all.
The stopwatch proved that
the 8510S-LQ, at throughput
speeds of 100 full lines per
minute, printed text up to 35% faster than
the competition. And it created bar
graphs and pie charts up to 54% faster.

Of course, speed in itself does not
keep a printer in a class by itself. Reli-
ability does. That's something no C.ltoh
printer has ever lacked. No other printers
are more thoroughly tested or
proven on the job. Which is why
C.ltoh printers continue to be the
world's best sellers, with 1.7
million sold last year alone.

For more information on the
new and faster C.ltoh 8510S-LQ
or wider carriage 1550S-LQ Near
Letter Quality printers just see
your C. Itoh dealer. Or call us toll
free at 1-800-423-0300.

Or write C.ltoh Digital Products,
Inc., 19750 South Vermont Avenue,
Suite 220, Torrance, CA 90502.

m ProWriter is a Trademark of C.ltoh Digital Products, Inc.
•Epson is a Registered Trademark of Epson, America, Inc.
« 1985 C.ltoh Digital Products. Inc.

Theirs

C.IT0H

Printers

38 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 67 for End-Users. Inquiry 68 for DEALERS ONLY.

WHAT'S NEW

Commodore Exhibits
Computer Series

Commodore International
exhibited its new 900
series computer at the Han-
nover Fair in West Germany
late in April.

The Commodore 900
series consists of a multi-
user, UNIX-like system and a
high-performance individual
workstation. Commodore
spokespeople claim that,
although the 900 will sell for
"well below $4000," its func-
tionality and performance
are similar to workstations
costing five times more.

The individual workstation
is distinguished by a 14-inch,
bit-mapped monitor that has
a resolution of 1024 by 800
pixels and a 72-MHz band-
width. The video controller
carries 128K bytes of RAM
and will soon employ two-
dimensional Bit-BLT tech-
nology, which, in short will
give you raster-like, display-
screen operations from
hardware. With the bit-
mapped display, you can
mix text and graphics win-
dows on screen. A 1 7-inch
monitor is available.

The multiuser version of
the 900 has a monochrome,
character-mapped display. Its
attributes are similar to
those of the IBM Personal
Computer's monochrome
monitor. The display format
is 80 by 2 5.

An 8-MHz Zilog Z8000,
backed by a minimum of
512K bytes of RAM and
Mark Williams Company's
Coherent, is at the heart of
the Commodore 900. A
10-MHz version of the
Z8000 is being developed,

The Commodore 900 made its debut in Europe.

although the 8-MHz model
reportedly provides the
speed and performance of a
286 microprocessor running
at 10 MHz.

Coherent, a multiuser,
multitasking system, is fully
UNIX-compatible. It is cur-
rently being optimized for
further compatibility with
AT&T UNIX System VII as
well as for use on the Com-
modore 900.

Formatted storage is pro-
vided by a 20-megabyte
hard-disk drive and a
1.2-megabyte, half-height
floppy-disk drive. A second
floppy-disk drive, a stream-
ing-tape backup, and 40- or
67-megabyte hard-disk units
are available as options.

The Commodore 900 has
two RS-232C interfaces, a
parallel port, and an
1EEE-488 connection for a
variety of peripherals and
instruments. A VD1 interface
and a graphics kernel system
are provided. An optional

eight-port RS-232C board
serves as the multiuser link.
You can easily access four
expansion slots through the
back of the machine.

Mounted on the keyboard
is a mouse-control pad that
can also serve as a standard
cursor-control unit. The key-
board itself has 99 keys as
well as a separate numeric
pad. A three-button mouse
is standard with the in-
dividual workstation.

In addition to Coherent,
the Commodore 900 comes
with the new ANSI-standard
BASIC and a UUC (UNIX-to-
UNIX Copy) package. Pascal
and COBOL are among the
supported compilers.

User memory can be ex-
panded to 2 megabytes on
the main board with 2 56K-

byte dynamic RAMS. Com-
modore plans color
capabilities and will offer a
software plotting package.

At press time, Commodore
had not made a final deci-
sion on pricing for the multi-
user version of the Com-
modore 900; however,
sources at Commodore esti-
mated that the base price
will be in the $3000 range.

European shipments of the
Commodore 900 should
start during September. It is
uncertain when deliveries in
the U.S. will commence.
Contact Commodore Inter-
national Ltd., 1200 Wilson
Dr., West Chester, PA 19380,
(215) 431-9100.
Inquiry 600.

NAPLPS Board
for IBM

The MGB 8024
NAPLPS/graphics board
from Electronic Office Sys-
tems (Videotex) Limited of
Israel is designed to replace
or supplement existing IBM
PC graphics adapters. It
works with both the IBM PC
family and its compatibles.

Its software drivers let you
select from the following
modes: full SRM NAPLPS
decoder with 2 56 by 210
resolution and 16 colors
from a palette of 4096; a
graphics mode with resolu-
tions of 640 by 200 or 512
by 256 using 4 colors out of
the full palette; a 4-color
text mode with an 80-col-
umn by 25-line display; and
a Prestel decoder emulation
mode.

The MGB 8024 comes
with a dedicated graphics
controller. Installed versions
{continued)

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 1 39

WHAT'S NEW

The QuadLaser has 256K bytes of memory for image storage.

of popular graphics applica-
tions will be available. With
a manual and software, the
MGB 8024 is $495. Contact
Electronic Office Systems
(Videotex) Ltd.. POB 45266,
lei Aviv 61452, Israel; tel:
(972)-3-299908; lelex:
341667 RMYM IL ATT
EOS/949.
Inquiry 601.

Quadrant's Laser
Printer

Quadram's Quadl^aser is
an 8-page-per-minute
laser printer. It comes with
2 56K bytes of memory (ex-
pandable to 2 megabytes)
for storage of bit-mapped
images, programs, or up to
60 standard and user-
developed type fonts.

Quadl^ser has ROM soft-
ware to emulate Epson and
Qume printers. You can
download user-written soft-
ware to emulate other
printers or provide more ad-
vanced features using the
controller's Z8001 processor.
Quadram supplies 7 fonts
on IBM PC disks with the
QuadLaser. You can use
each font in portrait or land-
scape modes (horizontally

or vertically), and you can
also create additional fonts
using an editor that comes
with the QuadLaser. You can
get 13 more fonts from
Quadram at extra cost.

The Quadl^aser can print
up to 10,000 pages per
month, and Quadram says it
will last for about 600,000
pages. In addition to stan-
dard 8/2- by 11-inch paper,
the QuadLaser can print on
transparencies and Euro-
pean-size paper. Its paper
cassette stores 2 50 sheets.
You replace toner cartridges
and the print belt sepa-
rately— Quadram claims that
this reduces the printer's
operating cost. The Quad-
Laser weighs 85 pounds and
measures 141/2 by 20% by
2 3/ 5 inches with the paper
cassette and tray installed.

The QuadLaser will be
available this month for
under $3400. Contact
Quadram Corp., 4355 Inter-
national Blvd., Norcross. GA
30093, (404) 923-6666.
Inquiry 602.

Victor PCs Are
Compatible with IBM

Victor lechnologies' VPC
and VI are compatible
with the IBM Personal Com-

puter. Built around Intel's
8088 processor, these com-
puters come with a mini-
mum of 2 56K bytes of RAM
and VBASICA, a Victor-
enhanced version of
BASICA. The operating
system is MS-DOS 2. 1, and
an upgrade to MS-DOS 3.0
is planned,

Both systems employ
Victor-VU, an on-screen
guide that translates DOS
functions into easy-to-use in-
structions. This interface
gives you single-keystroke
help screens, an on-screen
application guide, keyboard
programmability, and pop-up
windows.

Victor offers three models
of the VPC. One features
twin 360K-byte floppy-disk
drives; the others have a
single floppy disk and either

1 5 or 30 megabytes of hard-
disk storage.

Seven expansion slots let
you add features to the VPC
as your needs evolve. Its
standard parallel port gives
you links with many printers
or plotters. High-resolution
monochrome or full-color
display screens are available,
and the 83-key keyboard has
10 function keys and capital-
and number-lock LEDs.

VPC pricing begins at
$2485, which includes a
14-inch monitor. The 30-
megabyte version is $4785.

The Victor VI is offered
with a choice of storage ar-
rangements: dual 1.2-mega-
byte floppy-disk drives or a
single floppy-disk unit with
either a 10- 20- or 30-mega-
byte hard disk. The VI key-
board, which can be pro-
grammed for dual Victor
and IBM functionality, has

16 function keys, a numeric
keypad, and cursor controls.

In the Victor mode, the
nonglare 12- or 14-inch

monitor provides high-
resolution, 800- by 400-
pixel, bit-mapped images.
The format is 80 by 25 with
a 10- by 16-dot character
cell. The display supports
IBM PC screen attributes in
the IBM mode. Other dis-
play features include color
emulation with shading and
dot pattern supporting 320-
and 640- by 200-dot graph-
ics modes and 40- and
80-column PC text modes.

The VI has two indepen-
dent, full-duplex RS-232C
ports and single 36-pin Cen-
tronics and 50-pin user-
programmable ports. The
Centronics port supports
[EEE-488 in the Victor
mode. Three slots are avail-
able for expansion, and you
can expand RAM to 1.98
megabytes.

IBM PC programs can be
stored on Victor-formatted
disks and vice versa. Victor
9000 MS-DOS programs are
supported.

The VI with two floppy-
disk drives begins at $4295.
Contact Victor lechnologies
Inc., 380 El Pueblo Rd.,
Scotts Valley, CA 95066,
(408) 438-6680.
Inquiry 603.

BDS Laser Printer

BDS Corporation has in-
troduced the BDS Laser
630/8. Like the Hewlett-
Packard Laserjet, the 630/8
is based on Canon's LBP-CX
print engine and uses the
same replaceable toner/belt
cartridge.

The BDS printer comes
with nine type fonts: two
fonts each in normal, italic,
bold, and bold italic, and
one font in "landscape
mode." Using optional ROM
or RAM cartridges, you can
download type fonts from a
microcomputer. A Diablo

[continued)

40 B YTE • IUNE 1985

They said it couldn't be
Borland Did ILTurbo Pascal 3j0

The industry standard

With more than 250,000 users worldwide Turbo
Pascal is the industry's de facto standard. Turbo
Pascal is praised by more engineers, hobbyists,
students and professional programmers than any
other development environment in the history of
microcomputing. And yet, Turbo Pascal is
simple and fun to use!

TURBO
3.0

TURBO
2.0

MS
PASCAL

COMPILATION SPEED

EXECUTION SPEED

CODE SIZE

BUILT-IN INTERACTIVE EDITOR

ONE STEP COMPILE

(NO LINKING NECESSARY)

COMPILER SIZE

TURTLE GRAPHICS

BCD OPTION

PRICE

Portability.

Turbo Pascal is available today for most com-
puters running PC DOS, MS DOS, CP/M 80 or
CP/M 86. A XENIX version of Turbo Pascal will
soon be announced, and before the end of the
year, Turbo Pascal will be running on most 68000
based microcomputers.

An Offer You Can't Refuse.

Until June 1st, 1985, you can get Turbo Pascal 3.0
for only $69.95. Turbo Pascal 3.0, equipped with
either the BCD or 8087 options, is available for an
additional $39.95 or Turbo Pascal 3.0 with both options
for only $124.95. As a matter of fact, if you own a 16-
Bit computer and are serious about programming/you
might as well get both options right away and save
almost $25.

(*) Benchmark run on an IBM PC using MS Pascal version 3.2 and
the DOS linker version 2.6. The 179 line program used is the "Gauss-
Seidel" program out of Alan R. Miller's book; Pascal programs for
scientists and engineers (Sybex, page 128) with a 3 dimensional
non-singular matrix and a relaxation coefficient of 1.0.

The best just got better:
Introducing Turbo Pascal 10

We just added a whole range of exciting new
features to Turbo Pascal:

• First, the world's fastest Pascal compiler just got
faster. Turbo Pascal 3.0 (16 bit version) compiles
twice as fast as Turbo Pascal 2.0! No kidding.

• Then, we totally rewrote the file I/O system, and
we also now support I/O redirection.

• For the IBM PC versions, we've even added
"turtle graphics" and full tree directory support.

• For all 16 Bit versions, we now offer two addi-
tional options: 8087 math coprocessor support
for intensive calculations and Binary Coded
Decimals (BCD) for business applications.

• And much much more.

The Critics' Choice.

Jeff Duntemann, PC Magazine: "Language
deal of the century . . . Turbo Pascal: It
introduces a new programming environment and
runs like magic."

Dave Garland, Popular Computing: "Most
Pascal compilers barely fit on a disk, but Turbo
Pascal packs an editor, compiler, linker, and run-
time library into just 39K bytes of random-
access memory!'

Jerry Pournelle, BYTE: 'What! think the
computer industry is headed for: well
documented, standard, plenty of good features,

and a reasonable price."

Update policy.

As always, our first commitment is to our customers.
You built Borland and we will always honor your support.

[ S'0, :to make your upgrade to the exciting new version of
Turbo Pascal 3.0 easy, We will accept your original Turbo
Pascal ef/sfc (in a bend-proot container) fon a frade-in credit
of $39.95 and y$ur Turbo87 original disk for $59:95. This
trade-in credit may only be applied lowafcl the purchase of
Turbo Pascal 3.0 and its additional BGG) arjd 8087 options
"(trade-in offer IS only, valiU directly through Borland arid until
June 1st. 1985).

\
\
\

Available
nearest you-

Healed n^d ca"

^S credit

(800) 25°

■eh*

nesc" Dey T'
Ca^""' , e ,Sys< e ' r '

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• 800a ? f S l -n.^^Ouan...
,a!30

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pas<
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BCD _-

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BBORlAflD
INTERNATIONAL

Software?* Newest Direction

4585Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
TELEX 172373

Turbo Pascal Is a registered tedenwrk ofBofiand International, inc.

PC Week is a trademark of Ziff-Davis Pub, Co.

Inquiry 55 for End-Users. Inquiry 56 for DEALERS ONLY.

> COD's

V Outsit

_jB>age#-

WHAT'S NEW

630 emulation mode is pro-
vided for offices already
using a daisy-wheel printer.
The BDS 630/8 can print
text at a resolution of 300
by 300 dots per inch.

The printer provides a
"screen dump" image from
an IBM PC and can enlarge
text and screen images from
two to eight times. It has
two Z80 processors and 64K
bytes of local memory to
store font information and
to buffer up to about five
pages of text. Parallel and
serial ports let you link the
printer to two computers.

The BDS 630/8 laser
printer sells for $3495. For
more information, contact
BDS Corp., 800 Maude Ave..
Mountain View, CA 94043,
(415) 964-2115.
Inquiry 604.

XTRA XP: An
80286 Based PC

ITT's XTRA XP is compati-
ble with the IBM PC XT
but executes programs faster
because it uses Intel's
6-MHz 80286 micropro-
cessor. According to ITT, the
XTRA XP also features "no-
wait-state" RAM, letting it
access memory information
more quickly than com-
parable IBM computers. This
includes the PC AT which
uses the same processor.

The XTRA XP has 512K
bytes of memory (expand-
able on the main circuit
board to 640K bytes), serial
and parallel ports, ROM
diagnostics software, one
360K-byte 514-inch floppy-
disk drive, and a 10- or
20-megabyte hard-disk drive.
Of the system's five IBM PC
XT-compatible expansion
slots, one is for the hard-
disk controller and another
for an optional graphics-
display adapter.

You can get an optional

The XTRA XP has "no-wait-state" RAM.

card with 1 megabyte of ad-
ditional "no-wait-state" RAM
for use as a virtual disk.
Other options include an
80287 numeric coprocessor
and the MS-DOS 2.11 oper-
ating system.

The ITT XTRA XP with a
10-megabyte hard disk will
carry a suggested list price
of $3995. With a 20-mega-
byte drive, the price is
$4595. Monochrome or
color graphics adapters are
$145 and $190, respectively.
The 1 -megabyte RAM-disk
expansion card with 51 2K
bytes of memory on board
will sell for $395. Contact
ITT Information Systems,
2041 Lundy Ave., San Jose,
CA 95131, (408) 945-8950.
Inquiry 605.

AT&T Links MS-DOS
and UNIX Micros,
Offers PC 6300
Enhancements

AT&T has introduced a
local-area network and
a number of enhancements
for its PC 6300 micro-
computer.

STARLAN, slated for
release at year's end, links

up to 200 computers in a
star or ring configuration or
a combination of both.
Adapter boards tailor the
network for computers with
IBM PC-compatible expan-
sion slots and for AT&T's
UNIX-based systems.

STARLAN uses twisted-pair
cabling and can take advan-
tage of existing telephone
wiring. The maximum data-
transfer rate is 1 megabit
per second. Network boards
are about $600, and the
network software is $12 5
per machine.

AT&T's PC 6300 Display
Enhancement Board lets you
display 16 colors at a reso-
lution of 640 by 400 pixels
on a standard IBM PC-com-
patible RGB monitor. On a
monochrome monitor, the
6300 can produce 16
shades of gray at this reso-
lution. Color mapping for
rapid color changes is
supported.

The Mouse 6300 attaches
directly to the PC 6300's
keyboard and comes with
software that allows its use
with many programs that
were not designed for mice.

It comes with a simple word
processor and graphics. The
suggested price is $150.

A version of XENIX,
adapted for AT&T by the
Santa Cruz Operation, is
available for the PC 6300.
This version of XENIX sup-
ports two users, allows file
transfers between it and MS-
DOS, and provides file and
record locking. It's divided
into three modules: the
basic operating system
($395), a software-develop-
ment package ($4 50), and a
text-processing package
($150).

The AT&T Communications
Manager board for the PC
6300 and the IBM PC comes
with a 1200-bps modem,
three phone jacks, and com-
munications software. It lets
you auto-dial up to 200
numbers and, if connected
to two telephone lines, can
handle simultaneous voice
and data connections. The
software lets you switch
from communications to any
other PC application instan-
taneously. The modem is
not Hayes-compatible, but
VT-100 terminal-emulation
software is provided. It lists
for $599.

Other enhancements for
the AT&T PC 6300 include a
20-megabyte hard-disk drive
and an 8-MHz 8087-2
numeric coprocessor. The
coprocessor is $295; the
hard disk's pricing was not
available at press time.
Contact AT&T Information
Systems, 100 Southgate
Parkway, Morristown, NJ
07960.
Inquiry 606.

GEM Applications

GEM Desktop and GEM
Draw are Digital
Research's first end-user ap-
plications designed exclu-
sively for its Graphics En-
vironment Manager (GEM)
operating-system extension.
In a related announcement,
[continued)

42 B YTE • 1UNE 1985

Borland's SideKick
Software Product of theYear

SideKick is InfoWorld Software Product of the Year. It won over

Symphony. Over Framework. Over ALL the programs advertised in

this magazine. Including, of course, all the "fly-by-night" SideKick

imitations. SideKick .... Simply the best.

Here's SideKick running over Lotus 1-2-3. In the SideKick
Notepad you'll notice data that's been imported directly from
{ the Lotus screen. In the upper right you
can see the SideKick Calculator.

All the SideKick windows stacked up over Lotus 1-2-3. From
bottom to top: SideKick's "Menu Window", ASCII table,
Notepad, Calculator, Appointment Scheduler/Calendar,
and Phone Dialer. Whether you're running WordStar, Lotus,
dBase, or any other program, SideKick puts all these desktop
accessories instantly at your fingertips.

I n foWor Id Report Card 1984 by Pop tilar
Computing. Inc., a subsidiary of CW
Commit nil at ions Inc. Reprinted from

InfoWorld. 1060 Marsh Road.

Menln Park, CA 94025.

Jerry Poumelle, BYTE: "If you use a

PC, get SideKick. You' II soon become
dependent on it."

Garry Ray, PC Week: "SideKick deserves
a place in every PC."
Charles Petzold, PC Magazine: "In a
simple, beautiful implementation of Word-
Star's block copy commands, SideKick
can transport all or any part of the display
screen (even an area overlaid by the notepad
display) to the notepad"
Dan Robinson, InfoWorld: "SideKick is a
time-saving, frustration-saving bargain .'..-■■

i

lilable at

Avaiiao"; - - der by
nearest yo^ I0

please s e "
SideKick

Z^JSSfc «<*»**

p^hs^ 74 * 1133

Credit

fit BADIAA^ Software?* Newest Direction

ft iSOKUrii II J 4585 Scotts Valley Drive
$k-~Z^?£*,r, Scotts Valley, CA 95066

I INTERNATIONAL rmcim

Symphony, Lotus & Lotus 1-2-3 are trademarks of Lotus Development Corp. dBase
& Framework are trademarks of Ashton-Tate. WordStar is a trademark of Micropm
national Cotp. SideKick is a trademark of Borland International.

ied by infoWorfd as the most significant software product of rh* year.
Inquiry 57 for End-Users. Inquiry 58 for DEALERS ONLY.

i
i

WHAT'S NEW

Digital Research introduced
GEM Paint and GEM Write,
a pair of programs that will
be bundled with GEM Desk-
top in a package called the
GEM Collection.

GEM applications feature
drop-down menus, windows,
and icons. They run on the
IBM PC and its compatibles.

GEM Desktop replaces
operating-system commands
with a visual interface. It
produces a graphics repre-
sentation of desktop func-
tions, including floppy disks,
a wastepaper basket, and
file folders. You use your
mouse or a few keystrokes
to open files, run programs,
and execute other operating-
system commands. As many
as six Desktop accessories,
such as a clock or a calcu-
lator, can run with other
GEM applications.

GEM Draw is a graphics
editor that produces organi-
zational charts, flow charts,
logos, and a variety of pic-
tures. It comes with a library
of predesigned graphics that
you can integrate into your
work. You can also use it to
edit and augment graphics
and charts produced with
GEM applications.

The GEM Collection is
made up of GEM Desktop.
GEM Paint, and GEM Write.
GEM Paint is a graphics-
design tool, while GEM
Write, said to be a full-
function word processor, lets
you merge graphics from
other GEM applications with
written reports.

The GEM Collection is due
to be released this month
for $199. GEM Desktop is
$49.95. Until August 31.
GEM Draw will be priced at
$149; after that it's $249.
Contact Digital Research
Inc.. POB DRI, Monterey. CA
93942, (800) 443-4200; in
California. (408) 649-3896.
Inquiry 607.

Ericsson's Portable PC has a plasma display.

Portable Has
Plasma Display

Ericsson says that its Por-
table PCs plasma dis-
play lets you view on-screen
information from any angle
no matter what amount of
ambient light is present.
This claim is based on the
fact that plasma-display
technology generates its
own light rather than reflect-
ing light as liquid-crystal
technology does. The dis-
play resolution is 640 by
400 pixels, and its format is
80 columns by 2 5 lines,
comparable to an 1 1-inch
CRT screen.

A 360K-byte. half -height,
floppy-disk drive is built into
the Portable PC, as are ports
for serial and parallel inter-
faces. It comes with 2 56K
bytes of RAM and a detach-
able keyboard. The Intel
8088 serves as the central
processor and the Portable
PC operates on either 110-
or 220-volt currents. It
measures 1 2 / 5 by 15% by A ] A
inches and weighs 15-
pounds.

User memory can be ex-
panded by 256K bytes, and

a 512K-byte solid-state disk
will further increase storage
capacity. You can install a
40-character-per-second ther-
mal ribbon-transfer printer
with graphics capabilities; it
adds 2 pounds to the
overall system weight.

An expansion box de-
signed to accommodate
add-in boards marketed for
the IBM Personal Computer
is another option. An inter-
nal 300/1200-bps modem
will soon be available. With
keyboard and plasma dis-
play, the basic Ericsson Por-
table PC is $2995, Contact
Ericsson Inc., Greenwich Of-
fice Park 1, POB 2522,
Greenwich. CT 06836-2 522.
Inquiry 608.

HP Tbuchscreen II

Hewlett-Packard's
'Ibuchscreen 11 Personal
Computer is compatible with
existing r Ibuchscreen prod-

ucts and comes with a vari-
ety of storage and communi-
cations options designed to
address a range of needs.

The Touchscreen 11 has a
12-inch display screen and
four accessory slots that
offer a wider choice of
memory and communica-
tions cards than its prede-
cessor's 9-inch screen and
two expansion slots. The
display format is 80 by 27.
HP 2623 terminal emulation
is built in. and VT-100 and
IBM 3276/3278 emulation
are optional.

An 8-MHz 8088 serves as
the Touchscreen lis central
processor. Standard hard-
ware includes 256K bytes of
RAM expandable to 640K
bytes. 160K bytes of ROM.
an HP-H1L interface, one
RS-232C port, and one port
that can be configured for
either RS-232C or RS-422.

The Personal Applications
Manager (PAM), a shell over
the MS-DOS 2.11 operating
system, simplifies use by
eliminating the need to
memorize system or pro-
gram commands. Eight on-
screen command keys also
simplify operation.

You can add networking
and communications to the
Touchscreen II. An extended
I/O accessory provides for
communications between
the Tbuchscreen 11 and the
HP Portable and offers a
Centronics-type parallel in-
terface. Some other options
are a touchscreen, mouse,
and graphics tablet.

A Touchscreen II with two
710K-byte floppy-disk drives
is $3545. A 10-megabyte
system with a single floppy
drive is $4770. With one
floppy and a 20-megabyte
Winchester, it's $5570. All
floppy-disk drives are
3!/2-inch microfloppies. The
touchscreen interface is
$300. Contact your local
Hewlett-Packard dealer,
Inquiry 609.

[continued on page 470)

44 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Speed, Power, Price.
Borland's Turbo Pascal Family.

The industry Slindard. With more than 250,000 users worldwide Turbo Pascal is the industry's de facto standard.
Turbo Pascal is praised by more engineers, hobbyists, students and professional programmers than any other development
environment in the history of microcomputing. And yet, Turbo Pascal is simple and fun to use!

JettDuntemann, PC Magazine: "language deal of the century . . . Turbo Pascal: It introduces a new
programming environment and runs like magic. "

Dave Garland, Popular Computing: "Most Pascal compilers barely fit on a disk, but Turbo Pascal packs an editor, compiler, linker,
and run-time library into just 29K bytes of random-access memoiy."

Jerry Pournelle, BYTE: "What I think the computer industry is headed for: well documented, standard, plenty of good features,
and a reasonable price."

Portability. Turbo Pascal is available today for most computers running PC DOS, MS DOS, CP/M 80 or CP/M 86. A XENIX verison of Turbo
Pascal will soon be announced, and before the end of the year, Turbo Pascal will be running on most 68000 based microcomputers.

High resolution monochrome graphics for the IBM PC and the Zenith 100 computers

Dazzling graphics and painless Windows. The Turbo Graphix Toolbox will give even a beginning programmer
the expert's edge. It's a complete library of Pascal procedures that include:

Full graphics window management.

—Tools that will allow you to draw and hatch pie charts, bar charts, circles, rectangles and a full range of geometric shapes.
—Procedures that will save and restore graphic images to and from disk.
—Functions that will allow you to precisely plot curves.

—Tools that will allow you to create animation or solve those difficult curve fitting problems,
and much, much more

No Sweat and no royalties. You may incorporate part, or all of these tools in your programs,
and yet, we won't charge you any royalties. Best of all, these functions and procedures come complete
with commented source code on disk ready to compile!

W of

w ;

Searching and sorting made simple

The perfect Complement tO TurbO Pascal. It contains: Turbo-Access, a powerful implementation of the state-of-the-art B+tree ISAM
technique; Turbo-Sort, a super efficient implementation of the fastest data sorting algorithm, "Quicksort on disk". And much more.

Jerry Poumelle, BYTE: "The tools include a B+tree search and a sorting system; I've seen stuff like this, but not
as well thought out, sell for hundreds of dollars."

Get Started right away: free database! Included on every Toolbox disk is the source code to a working
data base which demonstrates how powerful and easy to use the Turbo-Access system realty is.
Modify it to suit your individual needs or just compile it and run.

Remember, no royalties!

From Start to Finish in 300 pages. Turbo Tutor

is for everyone, from novice to expert. Even if you've never
programmed before, Turbo Tutor will get you started right away.
If you already have some experience with Pascal or another
programming language, Turbo Tutor will take you step by step
through topics like data structures and pointers. If you're an expert,
you'll lovetfie sections detailing subjects such as "how to use assem-
bly language routines with your Turbo Pascal programs."

A must. You'll find the source code for all
the examples in the book on the accompanying
disk ready to compile. Turbo Tutor might be
the only reference on Pascal and pro-
gramming you'll ever need.

l

^-- ^nW ide ',?fR00)255- 800b ' $ 69 .95 ■

^— - T^dea |ers n ,f card call ( 8 ° U)

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TurboTul"' i0 clude sWP d ™ s

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■9 INTERNATIONAL

Inquiry 59 for End-Users, Inquiry 60 for DEALERS ONLY.

Software's Newest Direction

4585 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley CA 95066
TELEX172373

Turbo Pascal is a registered trademarit of Borland International, Inc.

I 1/ / '.~-»

m +m<* w) ,** i mm > +m ^ m J-W <i<'**'t* t* n*»*» * >i i i WH) n i p' 1 ' ) l

Borland Does It Again:
SuperKey $69.95

Sure, ProKey™ is a nice little program. But when the people who brought you

Turbo Pascal and SideKick get serious about keyboard enhancers, you can

expect the impossible ... and we deliver.

SuperKey

ProKey

ALL FEATURES RESIDENT IN RAM AT ALL TIMES

RESIDENT PULL-DOWN MACRO EDITOR

RESIDENT FILE ENCRYPTION

PROKEY COMPATIBILITY

DISPLAY PROTECTION

ABILITY TO IMPORT DATA FROM SCREEN

PULL-DOWN MENU USER INTERFACE

CONTEXT-SENSITIVE ON-LINE HELP SYSTEM

DISPLAY-ONLY MACRO CREATION

ENTRY AND FORMAT CONTROL IN DATA FIELDS

COMMAND KEYS REDEFINABLE "ON THE FLY"

PRICE

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Superb software at reasonable prices!

There is much more to SuperKty Maybe the best
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An offer you can't refuse.

Whether you are a ProKey user or you've never used a
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Get your PC a SuperKey today!

SuperKey is available now for your IBM PC, XT, AT, j'r. and truly
compatible microcomputers.

Inquiry 61 for End-Users.

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IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machine Corporation. ProKey is a trademark
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trademark of CompuServe Corp.

Total ProKey compatibility. Every Prokey Macro file may be
used by SuperKey without change so that you may capitalize on
all the precious time you've invested.

Now your PC can keep a secret! SuperKey includes a resident
file encryption system that uses your password to encrypt and
decrypt files, even while running other programs. Two different
encryption modes are offered:

1. Direct overwrite encryption (which leaves the file size un-
changed) for complete protection. At no point is a second file
that could be reconstructed by an intruder generated. Without
your secret password, no one will ever be able to type out your
confidential letters again!

2. COM or EXE file encryption which allows you to encrypt a
binary file into an ASCII file, transmit it through a phone line as a
text file and turn it back again into an executable file on the
target machine (only of course if your correspondent knows the
secret password!). Now, you will even be able to secretly ex-
change programs through Public Bulletin Board Systems or
services such as CompuServe.

Totally memory resident at all times, gives SuperKey the ability
to create, edit, save and even recall new or existing macro files
anytime, even while running another program.

Pull down macro editor. Finally, a sensible way to create, edit,
change and alter existing macro definitions. Even while using
another application, a simple keystroke instantly opens a
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much more.

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Conducted by Steve Garcia

Speed Up a Micro

Dear Steve,

1 hope 1 am not asking for the moon, but
how does one speed up a micropro-
cessor? Will doing that cause problems in
the operation of the computer?

A. C. Posada
Charlottesville, VA

Microprocessor instructions require a
specific number of cycles to execute.
These cycles are timed by a system clock,
and the speed of the computer is a direct
function of the clock frequency. Increas-
ing the frequency of the system clock,
simply by changing a crystal or divider
circuit will increase the overall execu-
tion speed, but there are some limita-
tions.

The microprocessor chip itself has a
speed limitation, so when the clock fre-
quency is increased, often a higher-speed
version must be used. This is usually what
the letter at the end of the chip number
signifies.

The memory chips are also affected by
speed and must be replaced with faster
versions. Otherwise, additional wait
states, which reduce some of the benefits
of the increased speed, will be needed.
Some of the peripheral driver chips may
become speed-limited, also reducing the
overall throughput— Steve

65816 Atari?

Dear Steve,

1 have been considering upgrading my
Atari 800 by installing a 65816 chip in
place of t h e 6 502 . According t o the adver-
tisements, the chip is software- and hard-
ware-compatible with any machine using
a 6502. The lure of a 16-bit processor able
to directly address 16 megabytes is hard
to resist, but 1 am worried.

If the chip from Western Design Center
is all that it is claimed to be, why isn't
everybody installing it instantly?

James E. Rainey
Coos Bay, OR

The new 65816 microprocessor chip
has a 6502 emulation mode. In this
mode, it is pin- and software-compatible
with the 8-bit 6502 that is used in your
Atari 800.

When used to its full capability, ad-
dressing 16 megabytes requires a 24-bit
address bus. The 65816 handles the extra
8 address bits by multiplexing them with
the data bus. On one half of a clock cycle,
the pins are used for address lines; on
the other half cycle, for data lines. This
multiplexing requires additional circuitry,
which is not readily adaptable to your
Atari. This is why it has not become wide-
ly used.

A complete description of this new
chip can be found in the August and
September 1984 issuesofBYTEina two-
part article by Steven R Hendrix, "The
65816 Microprocessor. ' '—Steve

Half-inch Tape Backup

Dear Steve,

I've been frustrated for a long time
because most microcomputer manufac-
turers don't offer !/2-inch tape drives as an
optional accessory. The only one 1 know
of that does is Wicat.

Most of them offer 14-inch streamer tape
for backing up hard disks, but S/2-inch tape
would seem to be an ideal bridge over a
wide gap between many mainframe sys-
tems and micros. For instance, my firm, a
nonprofit organization, maintains a large
mailing list with a data-processing service.
I've spoken to the people there, and they
have neither floppy-disk nor modem capa-
bilities. The only way they can communi-
cate is via !/2-inch tape. 1 have gone the
route of transferring from tape to floppy
disk, but that is cumbersome and expen-
sive (not in principle, but in practice); few
firms offer this service, at least in this area.
We could save a lot of money (in key-
boarding time and errors) if we could write
14-inch tapes.

I've resisted purchasing the !4-inch
streamer-tape unit that Molecular, the
manufacturer of one of our computers, of-
fers because a /2-inch tape drive would
allow me to easily back up my hard disk
and communicate with the big fellows,
assuming enough compatibility were built
in. 1 assume the larger tape drive would
cost two or three times as much as the
smaller ones do, but it would be worth it
to gain both the larger capacity and abili-
ty to communicate.

Do you know of anyone offering a solu-

tion to this problem or planning to ad-
dress it? Would a controller have to be
built for each type of micro, or could
something be set up to run from a serial
port?

Steve Goldfield
San Francisco, CA

Overland Data Inc. sells a 9-track tape
controller for the IBM PC. It is capable
of reading and writing industry-standard
'/2-inch tape and is compatible with most
9-track formatted tape drives. It operates
with tape-drive speeds up to 120 inches
per second and allows data transfer at
rates up to 192,000 bytes per second. It
sells for $880 and can be purchased from
Overland Data Inc., Suite A, 5644 Kearny
Mesa Rd., San Diego, CA 92111, (619)
57/-5555.-Steve

Tall Order

Dear Steve,

1 make my living writing software, and
my only exposure to hardware has been
through building several Heathkits. 1 would
like to build a computer system from
board level, since it would enable me to
create a system to suit my needs. Also, it
would probably be cheaper than purchas-
ing a Heath H-100, for example. Just about
all I know hardware-wise is the difference
between an S-100 bus and a DB-25 con-
nector— 1 could not tell you the difference
between a switching and nonswitching
power supply.

How hard is it to get an operating sys-
tem/software for a machine that 1 put
together myself? What are other major ad-
vantages and disadvantages that 1 should
be aware of? Can you recommend some
books that can get me up to speed with
hardware?

Jeffrey Shulman
Highland Park, NJ

Building your own computer from
scratch is quite different from assembling
Heathkits. If you want to get some idea
of the scope of the job of designing and
building a computer with capabilities on
the order of the H-100, read my articles
on the MPX-16 in the November and
December 1 982 and January 1983 issues

{continued)

48 B YTE • JUNE 1985

COPYRIGHT© 1985 STEVEN A. CIARC1A. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

© 1985 AT&T Information Systems

THE AT&T PC.

THE COMPUTER WITH

THE FUTURE BUILT IH.

Before you buy a personal com-
puter for your business you should
ask yourself two essential questions.
One: What do you need today? Two:
What will you need tomorrow?

The AT&T PC 6300 is the answer
to both. Tbday, you'll get a high per-
formance computer that's competi-
tively priced. A computer that not
only runs the broadest selection of
software available, but has the power
and speed to make the most of it. A
computer with superb graphics in
monochrome or color. And a high reso-
lution screen that's easy on the eyes.

For tomorrow, you'll get a com-
puter with the future built in. With its
modular architecture and seven expan-

That's a commitment from AT&T.
And the AT&T PG, the computer with
the future built in.

For more information, call your
AT&T Account Executive, visit an
authorized AT&T dealer, or call
1-800-247-1212.

■»\H\

sion slots, it's ready now to work with
future technology, and meet your
future needs. From additional power
to multi-tasking capabilities, even to
features yet to come, it can be easily
enhanced as time goes by.

AT&T

The right choice

Inquiry 41

Inquiry 311

PC & COMPAQ

IBM PC wflrive. monitor 1450

IBM PC w/256k (2) 360 drives,
keyboard, monitor & monitor

adptr Call

IBM PC w/(1) 360k floppy &

20MU disc drtve 2M5

IBM PC as above w/RGB color

monitor Call

IBM PC-XT w/256k Call

IBM AT Enhanced Call

CANON Aihena Call

COMPAQ PORTABLE w/256k. (2)
360 disc drives. DOS 8.

basic 2199

COMPAQ PLUS Call

COMPAQ Desk Pros Call

LEADING EDGE PC wfi28k (2)
360 disc drives, monitor &

adapter, basic DOS 2.11 1499

LEADING EDGE PC wf256k as

above bul RGB color 1995

LEADING EDGE 10ML hard disc

system 2595

SANYQ 5502..... 699

SANYO 555-2 979

ZENITH ZF 15120 w/{2) 360k
disc drives. 128k RAM, IBM com
patible, wrtree Microsoft Word &
tree Microsoft Multiplan & Color

graphics card 1599

ZENITH ZW 151-52 as above but
w/color monitor & 10Mb hard disc

system 3495

ZENITH 3 COM Local Area

Network Call

LAP COMUTEHS
HP 110 w/272k HAM. Lotus 123.

80 col display, 95ibs 2295

MORHOW w/{2) 360k, disc
drives. 13lbs.. 255k, IBM
compatible..... Call

'boards ™-

FOR IBM

AMDEK MIA * 389

AST 6 Pak Plos w/64k 244

HERCULES color card 169

HERCULES graphic card lor T7L

mono monitor .289

KOLA game controller 44

TECMAR CAPTAIN

APPLE He wfctrrve

APPLE lie

APPLE Macintosh

APPLE lie protessional system w/

128k. (2) auo disc drives & "

col. card 1429

PRINTERS ,
& PLOTTERS

LQ1500..

EPSON

RX

JUKI:

6100 389 6300 799

HP: Laser Printer 2795

HP: Plotter Call

Sweet Pea Plotter Call

NEC: 3550 1349

OKIDATA: NEW! 182 239

NEW! 192..349 84 679

NEW! 193..569 2410 Call

OLYMPIA: RQ 319

SILVER REED:

400 249 500 289

550 449 770 769

TOSHIBA:

1340 598 351. 1239

/monitors 1 *

' auric* ?ina n

AMDEK 310A 179 l t=i/

GORILLA Green 89

LEADING EDGE RGB Color. .399
TTL Green. 139 HL Amber 149
PRINCETON GRAPHICS:

HX-12 459 Max 12 169

SR 12 w/Scan Doubter 899

SANYO CRT 30 99

CRT36 129 CRT70 499

ZENITH:

ZVM-122 B9 2VM-I23 98

ZVM-124 IBM Compatible. 139

5*

/HARD fif f - ^\
Amove v

HARD
DISKS

Tall Gran Call Ampex Call

Bernoulli Box 20Mb 2449

Tecmar 20Mb & 60Mb tape
backup Call

^SOFTWARE
f/IBM

Lolus 123.. 289
Word Star. .189
Multimate ..249

SideKick 32

Copywrite....39
Sargon III — 39
Master Type.34
TK! Solver .249

~3~

MODEMS

HAYES:

300 209 1200 409

1200B wrSmarlcom II 369

SMARTCOM II 99

2400 Call

Micro Modem He 249

NOVATION SMARTCAT

Internal 348 Exln 348

US ROBOTICS: Password „
329

mM

Symphony .419
WordStar Pro 249
Turbo Pascal32
Master Type .34

Sideways 59

Zork 29

Print Works .59
Think Tank. 109

IBM Topview Call

Framework ol dBase III 349

Flighl Simulator 39

Word w/Spell 229

Word Star 2000 249

PC Paintbrush w/Mouse 149

NORTON utilities 30 59

R Base 4000 258

Managing Your Money 119

Typing Tutor III 34

Desk Organizer 129

Electric Desk 199

Smart Soltware Call

XY Write II Plus 219

Quick Code III 149

Word Perfect 40 249

PeachTree Decision Manager.. .319

OS/DO
29
24

DISKETTES

SS/OD
verbatim Data Lite (M))21

FUJI (10) 18

MAXELL (10) 19

BASF (10) 17 Z3

IBM (10) 22 29

FAMOUS MAKE. ...13 T9

SPECIAL I TDK

Quantities of 100iea 1.35 ea 1.55

'access, e *2r \

Disc Bank holds 50 ™....14

HEAD disc drive cleaner ....13

VERBATIM IBM drive analyzer. 29
SURGE PROTECTORS:
NETWORK cube w/RF tiller

T

TYPEWRITERS !?S

CANON Typeslar 5 148

CANON Typeslar 6 196

BROTHER CE 58 458

OLYMPIA Compact II 384

SMITH CORONA 350M *318

/canon

COPIERS

IBM PC

W/64k(t) 360 Disc Drive .,„-„

& Keyboard lZHy

IBM PC W/256k (2) 360 Disc
Drives. Graphics Monitor Card.
Mon.. Keybd & Software Kit. ..Call
IBM PC AT Call

LEADING
EDGE PC

Wfl28k. Leading / fmmm<-\

Edge Monitor. / - w " w -* \

Keyboard, Monitor 4jnn
& Printer Adapter 1 499

ZENITH zf i5i-20 iBM,

W/(2) 360k JB^BI

Disc Drives. 128k .^Si
RAM. Microsoft Word. »
Multiplan. Keyboard, & -
90 Day On Sight Service.,

*~M

PC 10 469 PC 20 665

PC 25 939 Stand 99

SANYO 550-2

Nw Runs Lolus 123"
IBM PC Compatible.
360k Disc Drive,
128k RAM. Word Slar
Calc Slar & Easy Writer
HGB VIDEO CARD

OLYMPIA RO L

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Letter Quality. ■

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Basic Keyboard ZlMB

COMPAQ

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CORPORATE ACCCHJNfS WELCOME Minimum Shipping Older S50

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A ftiLfl QJLSLQJULSLSI $k

ASK BYTE

of BYTE. You could build that yourself
and save some money, but 1 recommend
that you buy the circuit board. Wire-
wrapping a project such as this is not
recommended.

If you want to start with something
more modest to learn something about
microcomputers, you could build The Lit-
tie Board from Digital Research Com-
puters (POB 461 565, Garland, TX 75046)
or any of the other small computer sys-
tems advertised in the back pages of
BYTE.

A practical, though not the least expen-
sive, way to build a computer to meet
your requirements is to assemble an
S-IOO system using commercially avail-
able boards. You can build your own
special-purpose cards using the S-IOO
prototyping boards, and many of the
common functions like serial I/O, video,
and printer-interface boards are available
in kit form. The book Interfacing to S-IOO
IEEE 696 Microcomputers by Sol Libes
and Mark Garetz (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
gives good information on interfacing to
things such as memory and I/O for the
S-IOO, and in a general way for most
computers.

Operating systems like Digital Re-
search's CP/M and Microsoft's MS-DOS
are readily available, either directly from
the manufacturer or from computer
stores and advertisers in BYTE. —Steve

Sticky Keys

Dear Steve,

I would appreciate any advice you might
give on remedies for sticking keys. I have
found them to be a minor but distracting
problem on my TI Professional computer,
and, after consulting with friends who use
other micros, I think the problem is fairly
widespread. Is it possible to apply a dry
lubricant or a leflon spray on key
mechanisms without interfering with elec-
tronic circuitry?

A second question has to do with clean-
ing the magnetic heads of floppy-disk
drives. There seems to be no consensus
about the use or the frequency of use of
cleaning kits. Can you offer an opinion?
Richard S. Moore
Huntsville, AL

Sticking keys can be a real nuisance,
and a spray lubricant may or may not be
effective. One of the main causes of the
sticking or binding is an interference be-
tween the key plunger (the stem under
the key top) and the switch housing.
Often, the clearance between these parts
is very small to preclude dust and dirt

from entering, but some dirt particles can
cause binding. In this instance, a control
cleaner (available at most electronic
supply stores) or some alcohol may suc-
cessfully flush away these particles.

Swelling of the plastic is another cause,
but lubricants have little effect since they
are quickly scraped away. A Teflon spray
or control cleaner can be tried, but re-
placement of the switch is often the final
solution.

Disk-drive cleaning kits should be used
as required and not as regular mainte-
nance. These kits are abrasive and will,
over a period of time, damage the read/
write head of the drive. The in-out mo-
tion of the head on the rotating disk pro-
vides a self -cleaning action for most con-
taminants. Frequency of use will depend
mainly on the quality of the disk medium.
Some brands seem to have more loose
oxide than others. As a general rule, use
a disk-cleaning kit when an occasional
read error is noted— Steve

Bigger Buffer

Dear Steve,

I own a Dynax DX-1 5 printer with a built-
in 3K-byte buffer that is expandable to 5K
bytes. This additional 2K bytes hardly
seems worth fooling with. Is there any way
this internal buffer can be expanded to
something more worthwhile, such as 1 6K
bytes or more, without radical surgery? It
seems to me that since the buffer is al-
ready present, it shouldn't be too compli-
cated to expand it to 64K bytes. Yes or no?

Thank you for any suggestions you have
that might make my Dynax more useful
or save it from needless slaughter.

Gerry L. Iurner
Quincy, 1L

1 have no circuit data for the Dynax
printer, so I am unable to determine if
it is possible to expand the buffer beyond
the 5K bytes that Dynax provides. It is
a function of the address decoding that
is utilized. Since the control-program and
character-generator ROMs require a sub-
stantial amount of the controller's ad-
dress space, it is doubtful that 64 K bytes
of memory can be obtained. Even if com-
patible memory chips of higher capaci-
ty could be used, decoding limits may
cause the controller to ignore anything
over the 5K-byte limit.

If you need more buffer space, con-
sider one of the external buffers
(spoolers) like the Microfazer from
Quad ram Corp. or the Spool/64 or
Spool /64SP from Apparat Inc. These pro-

[continued)

50 BYTE • )UNE 1985

YOU'VE GOT THE BEST PASCAL COMPILER!
NOW — GET THE BEST UTILITY!

4&<

ofc

NEVER AGAIN WRITE SOURCE CODE FOR SCREEN DISPLAYS!

If you LIKE Turbo Pascal", you'll LOVE TURBO SCREEN'"!

Tired of writing line after line of source code just to create effective screen displays and error-proof data handling?
Then use TURBO SCREEN'S Editor to create the screens, the Collator to define a list of screens. . .

and then relax for a few seconds while the Generator writes the code!

TURBOSCREEN

TM

100 Fields per screen, and up to 80 screens in your application.
One screen or eighty/the size of yourr program doesn't change.
I/O fleid types of:

Real, Integer, String, Character, Boolean.
"Bullet-proof" data entry.

Create Window-Style overlays or Full -screen pictures In
CP/M\ MS-DOS', or PC-DOS.

Supports video attributes for your terminal. And YES, if you
have an RGB monitor, you can create screens in COLOR on
your IBM PC or true compatible.

A SINGLE LINE of source code invoking TURBO SCREEN'S
"display" procedure controls:

—picture selection

—output to screen, printer, or disk

—I/O field update

TURBO SCREEN™ is completely menu-driven and includes a
built-in Screen Editor, Collator, and Generator, each called
up with a single keystroke!
ADVANCED EDITOR:
—Turbo Pascal*- like commands include:

—Block commands for copy, fill, exchange, erase.

—Draw lines in any direction with any character.

—Supports IBM color monitor and graphics characters.
FAST— Generates code for 20 screens In about 60 seconds!

DISK UTILITIES built-in:

—directories

—erase files
REQUIRES:

—Turbo Pascal any version

—80x24 or larger video screen
AVOID software "bottlenecks!"

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Start letting TURBO SCREE N™ write your I/O source code today!

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Money Order
Visa

TURBOSCREEN™
package $49.95
Plus Ship.
(UPS) 5.00

Total $54.95

Inside Ohio call 1-216-292-8745 (Lines Open 24 hours, 7 days)

Computer System: 8-bit 16-bit

Operating System: CP/M80 PC-DOS

CP/M86 MS-DOS

Computer Model:

Name:

Disk Format:

MasterCard.
Card #

Address:
City:

.State.

.Zip.

Exp. Date:

Telephone:

Ohio residents add 6 Vz % sales tax. Outside U.S.A. add $20.00 U.S. Dealer Inquiries Welcome.

*Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International. IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines. MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft. CP/M Is a trademark of Digital Research.

Inquiry 318

10 MB Hard Disk Drive Set $569
20 MB Hard Disk Drive Set $749

130W Switching
Power Supply $109

Direct replacement for your IBM PC power
supply. Fits inside your PC case. Four power
plugs allow you to connect floppy & hard disk
drives, tape backup systems, etc.

Includes top quality half height Microscience hard
disk drive, Mitsuba hard disk drive controller, cables,
full height cover plate, mounting screws, software,
installation instructions. Microscience is known for
quality & performance. Full year warranty. You cannot
beat the value & our low price.

Multifunction Board (OK) $149

Includes one serial port, one parallel port, one game
port, clock/calendar & 6 memory banks. Can add up to
addl. 384K. to your PC. Software included to perform
set/get clock, RAM disk & printer spool.

Please call or write for FREE catalog 312-355-9726

MICRO CITY P.O. Box 571, Downers Grove, IL 60515

A Division of PACE Systems, inc.

We accept check, money order, VISA, Mastercard, or American Express {include ft and expiration date). Our prices reflect a
2%cash discount. Please add 2%forcredit card purchase. $2.50 shippingA handling in continental U.S. {Alaska. Hawaii and
foreign add $5.00 for orders under$ 1 00, 5% for orders over $ 1 00). Illinois residents add 6.25%sales tax. Personal and company
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vide 64 K bytes or more and features like
multiple copies and the ability to cancel
printing. Such buffers are available to
match almost any printer/computer com-
bination for around $150 and up, de-
pending on memory size and features.
— Steve

Printer Trouble

Dear Steve,

We are having trouble printing graphics
with our Toshiba PI 3 50 dot-matrix printer,
which is hosted by a Zenith Z-100 Model
ZW-1 10-32 desktop computer. The printer
has graphics characters and dot-image
graphics printing capability. However, it
does not respond to any Printgraph com-
mands or any Escape sequence printer
setup commands while using Lotus 1-2-3.
In Z-BASIC the printer accepts a few
Escape sequence commands but not
those that enable the graphics mode. We'd
appreciate any help you can provide.

Dominic Au
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

If the inability to get your Toshiba
PI 350 to print graphics were limited to
Lotus 1-2-3. 1 would suspect that the
printer driver was not properly installed
in the program. Since it doesn't work in
BASIC either, it appears that you have a
printer problem. The graphics option
may be defective or missing, or there
may be a bad or incorrectly wired cable.
The latter is not too likely since you don't
mention any other problems. Toshiba
says you need the PaperScreen and the
color/graphics adapter to print graphics
with Lotus 1-2-3 on the IBM PC, so
maybe you are encountering a minor in-
compatibility with the Zenith graphics
board.

There are two other possibilities. If you
are using a serial interface, the protocol
must be set for 8-bit data to use graphics.
Also, check your manual to see if there
are any switch settings that could be dis-
abling the graphics. If none of these sug-
gestions help, the printer is either not
working properly or does not have the
correct options installed. Take it to your
dealer or a Toshiba service center for
diagnosis— Steve

INTERCABIN TELEPHONES

Dear Steve,

1 am part owner of a summer resort with
1 1 cabins. The main cabin has the only
telephone line out of camp, and the other
cabins have no communication lines. 1
would like to build a telephone system for

[continued)

52 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 29

AziEc The Most Powerful C

for the IBM AT • MACINTOSH • MS DOS • CP/M-80 • ROM APPLICATIONS
IBM PC/XT • APPLE // • CP/M-86 • TRSDOS • CROSS DEVELOPMENT

Why Professionals Choose Aztec C

AZTEC C compilers generate fast, compact
code. AZTEC C is a sophisticated development
system with assemblers, debuggers, linkers,
editors, utilities and extensive run time libraries.
AZTEC C is documented in detail. AZTEC C is
the most accurate and portable implementation
of C for microcomputers. AZTEC C supports
specialized professional needs such as cross
development and ROM code development.
MANX provides qualified technical support.

AZTEC C86/PRO
- for the IBM AT and PC/XT

AZTEC C86/PRO provides the power, portabili-
ty, and professional features you need to
develop sophisticated software for PC DOS, MS
DOS AND CP/M-86 based microsystems. The
system also supports the generation of ROM
based software for 8088/8086, 80186, and 80286
processors. Options exist to cross develop ROM
code for 65xx, 8080, 8085, and Z80 processors.
Cross development systems are also available
that target most micro computers. Call for infor-
mation on AZTEC C86/PRO support for XENIX
and TOPVIEW.

POWERFUL — AZTEC C86/PRO 3.2 outper-
forms Lattice 2.1 on the DHRYSTONE
benchmark 2 to 1 for speed (17.8 sees vs 37.1)
while using 65% less memory (5.8k vs 14k). The
AZTEC C86/PRO system also compiles in 10%
to 60% less timeand supports fast, high volume
I/O.

PORTABLE — MANX Software Systems pro-
vides real portability with a family of compatible
AZTEC C software development systems for PC
DOS, MS DOS, CP/M-86, Macintosh, CP/M-80,
APPLE // + , lie, and lie (NIBBLE - 4 apple rating),
TRSDOS (80-MICRO - 5 star rating), and Commo-
dore C64 (the C64 system is only available as a
cross compiler - call for details). AZTEC
C86/PRO is compatible with UNIX and XENIX.

PROFESSIONAL — For professional features
AZTEC C86/PRO is unparalleled.

• Full C Compiler (8088/8086 - 80186 - 80286)

• Macro Assembler for 8088/8086/80186/80286

• Linkage Editor with ROM support and overlays

• Run Time Libraries - object libraries + source
DOS 1.x; DOS 2.x; DOS 3.x; screen I/O; Graphics;
UNIX I/O; STRING; simulated float; 8087 support;
MATH; ROM; CP/M-86

• Selection of 8088/8086, 80186, or 80286 code genera-
tion to guarantee best choice for performance and
compatibility

• Utility to convert AZTEC object code or libraries to
Microsoft format. (Assembly + conversion takes
less than half the time as Microsoft's MASM to pro-
duce MS object)

• Large memory models and sophisticated memory
management

• Support products for graphics, DB, Screen, & ...

• ROMabtecode + ROM support + separate code and
data + INTEL Hex Converter

• Symbolic Debugger & Other Utilities

• Full Screen Editor(like VI)

• CROSS Compilers are available to APPLE //, Macin-
tosh, CP/M-80, TRSDOS, COMMODORE C64, and
ROM based 65xx, and 8080/8085/Z80

• Detailed Documentation

AZTEC C86/PRO-AT $500

(configured for IBM AT - options for 8088/8086)

AZTEC C86/PRO-PC/XT $500

(configured for IBM PC/XT - options for 80186/80286)

AZTEC C86/BAS Includes C compiler (small model only),
8086 MACRO assembler, overlay linker, UNIX, MATH,
SCREEN, and GRAPHICS libraries, debugger, and
editor.

AZTEC C86/BAS $199

AZTEC C86/BAS (CP/M-86) $199

AZTEC C86/BAS(DOS + CP/M-86) $299

UPGRADE to AZTEC C86/PRO $310

C-TREE Database with source $399

C-TREE Database (object) $149

CROSS COMPILERS

CrossCompilers for ROM, MS DOS, PC DOS, orCP/M-86
applications.

VAX - >8086/80xxx cross $5000

PDP-11 • >8086/80xxx cross $2000

Cross Compilers with PC DOS orCP/M-86 hosts are $750
for the first target and $500 for each additional target.
Targets: 65xx; CP/M-80; C64; 8080/8085/Z80; Macintosh;
TRSDOS; 8086/8088/80186/80286; APPLE //.

AZTEC C68K
— for the Macintosh

For power, portability, and professional features
AZTEC C68K-C is the finest C software development
system available for the Macintosh.

The AZTEC C68K-C system Includes a 68000 macro
assembler, a linkage editor, a source editor, a mouse
based editor, a SHELL development environment, a
library of UNIX I/O and utility routines, full access and
support of the Macintosh TOOLBOX routines, debug-
ging aides, utilities, make, diff, grep.TTY simulator with
upload & download (source supplied), a RAM disk (for
512K Mac), a resource maker, and a no royalty license
agreement. Programming examples are included. (Over
600 pages of documentation).

AZTEC C68K-C requires a 128K Macintosh,
and two disk drives (frugal developers can make
do with one drive). AZTEC C68K supports the
512K Macintosh and hard disks.

AZTEC C68K-C (commercial system) $500

AZTEC C68K-p (personal system) $199

AZTEC C68K-p to AZTEC C68K-C upgrade $310

MacC-treedatabase $149

Mac C-tree database with source $399

Lisa Kit (Pascal to AZTEC C68k object converter) ..$ 99

AZTEC C65

— for the APPLE //

"...The AZTEC C-system is one of the finest software
packages I have seen..." NIBBLE review, July 1984.

The only commercial C development system available
that runs native on the APPLE II + , lie, and lie, the
AZTEC C65 development system includes af ull floating
point C complier compatible with UNIX C and other
MANX AZTEC C compliers, a 6502 relocating assem-
bler, a linkage editor, a library utility, a SHELL develop-
ment environment, a full screen editor, UNIX I/O and
utility subroutines, simple graphics, and screen func-
tions.

AZTEC C65 (Apple DOS 3.3) $199

AZTEC C65/PRO (Apple DOS + ProDos) $350

(call for availability)

AZTEC C ll/PRO

- for CP/M-80

The first member of the AZTEC C family was the
CP/M-80 AZTEC C compiler. It is "the standard" com-
piler for development on CP/M-80. The system includes
the AZTEC C II C compiler, an 8080 assembler, a linkage
editor, an object librarian, a full library of UNIX I/O and
utility routines, CP/M-80 run time routines, the SMALL
library (creates modules less than 3K In size), the fast
linker for reduced development times, the ROM library,
RMAC and M80 support, library source, support for
DRI's SID/ZSID symbolic debugger, and more.

AZTEC C ll/PRO $349

AZTEC CII/BAS $199

C-TREE Database with source $399

C-TREE Database in AZTEC object form $149

AZTEC C80

— for TRSDOS (Radio Shack Model III & 4)

"I've had a lot of experience with different C compilers,
but the Aztec C80 Compiler and Professional Develop-
ment System is the best I've seen." 80-Micro, Decem-
ber, 1984, John B. Harrell III

This sytem has most of the features of AZTEC C II for
CP/M. It is perhaps the best software development
system for the Radio Shack Model III and IV.

AZTECC80 model 3 (no floating point) $149

AZTEC C80 model 4 (full) $199

AZTECC80/PRO(full for model 3 and 4) $299

To order or for information call:

800-221-0440

(201) 530-7997 (NJ and outside U.S.A.). Or write: MANX
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, P.O. Box 55, Shrewsbury, N.J.
07701.

MANX

TRS 80 RADIO SHACKTRSDOS is a trademark of TANDY.
APPLE DOS MACINTOSH is a trademark of APPLE.

SHIPPING INFORMATION - Standard U.S.
shipment is UPS ground (no fee). In the U.S.
one day shipment is $20, two days is $10.
Canadian shipment is $10. Two days ship-
ment outside the U.S. is by courier and is
freight collect.

For Technical Support
(Bug Busters) call: 201-530-6557

Inquiry 262

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 53

Inquiry 356

Robotic Development
System Using IBM PC/Apple lie

tf-f

M M

D-^0-

0BKOK/A ~

.

Complete 2 axis systems using 2 size 23 stepper motors
with R2D23 dual-axis driver; cable & powerful system software,
expandable to 4 axis.

IBM PC/XT Version $792 Apple ll/lle Version $420

• I 432 I/O stepper controller • A6 T/D stepper controller

• 32 digital I/O • 32 digital I/O available

Digital I/O accessories, power supply and higher power size 34
stepper motor system are available.

[jt ROGERS LABS

(714) 751-0442
2727-E So. Croddy Way, Santa Ana, CA 92704 TELEX 681393

CATALOG

YOUR 80-PAGE GUIDE TO COMPUTER
SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES -INCLUDING
COMPLETE NEW PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS.

Packed with over 1600 products (or microcomputers, mini-
computers, and word processors - many available nowhere else.

Big special sectiondevoted to newsupplies and accessories.

■ Comprehensive product descriptions-with more than
475 lull-color photos— clearly explain features and benefits.

■ Easy-to-use cross reference guides to magnetic
- media, ribbons, and more - along with the industry!s
most complete cable guide.

Helpful suggestions and tips, ranging from flexible disk
care to proper ribbon selection to useful application ideas.

PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-800-547-5444* OR SEND COUPON BELOW TODAY

*ln California, call 1-800-547-5447.

I
I
I

Inmac Catalog Dept, 2465 Augustine
Drive, Santa Clara, California 95054

Please rush my free copy of the Inmac
Catalog. I understand there is absolutely
no obligation whatsoever.

. PHONE .

i
i
i

ASK BYTE

the camp that would allow a telephone in
every cabin (preferably pulse dial because
of their current low cost), intercabin com-
munications, and access to the one main
line from every cabin.

Could you recommend: (I) a circuit to
decode pulses from the incoming lines, (2)
any telecommunications integrated cir-
cuits that might aid me, and (3) an inex-
pensive microprocessor that would han-
dle all switching requirements?

David A. Kearney
Hudson, MA

Jules H. Gilder has written two books
on telephones that should give you the
necessary information to construct the
intercabin telephone system that you re-
quire. Telephone Accessories You Can
Build and More Telephone Accessories
You Can Build, both published by Hayden
Book Company, feature the theory of
operation and simple construction proj-
ects ranging from a simple ring detector
to an elaborate telephone system. The
specific circuits for your project are in
More Telephone Accessories. These
books are available at many bookstores.
—Steve ■

Between Circuit Cellar Feedback personal ques-
tions, and Ask BYTE, I receive hundreds of letters
each month. As you might have noticed, at the end
of Ask BYTE 1 have listed my own paid staff. We
answer many more letters than you see published,
and it often takes a lot of research.

\f you would like to share the knowledge you have
on microcomputer hardware with other BYTE
readers, joining the Circuit CellarlAsk BYTE staff
would give you the opportunity. Wre looking for
additional researchers to answer letters and gather
Circuit Cellar project material.

1/ you're interested, let us hear from you. Send
a short letter describing your areas of interest and
qualifications to Steve Garcia, POB 582, Glaston-
bury, CT 06033.

IN ASK BYTE, Steve Garcia answers questions on
any area of microcomputing. The most representative
questions received each month will be answered and
published. Do you have a nagging problem? Send
your inquiry to

Ask BYTE

do Steve Garcia

POB 582

Glastonbury, CT 06033
Due to the high volume of inquires, personal replies
cannot be given. All letters and photographs become
the property of Steve Garcia and cannot be returned.
Be sure to include 'Ask BYTE" in the address.

The Ask BYTE staff includes manager Harv
Weiner and researchers Bill Curlew. Larry Bregoli,
Dick Sawyer. Robert Stek, and \eannette Dojan.

54 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 222

For a demonstration of the Z-Engine please see
one of the following :

Winner's Circle
2816 Telegraph
Berkley. CA 94705
(415)845-4814

Micro Data

813 N. La Cadena
Colton. CA 92324
(714)824-2266

Software Supermarket

16200 Hawthorne Blvd.
Lawndale. CA 90230
(213)542-3801

Software Supermarket
11960 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles. CA 90025
(213) 207-1494

Con-Soft

429 Hafght Street

San Francisco, CA 94117

(415) 628-8181

Computer Discount Products

4228 Olympic Avenue

San Mateo. CA 94403

(415) 571-1658

Advanced Computer Products

1310-B Edinger

Santa Ana. CA 92705

(714) 5588813

Software Supermarket

15113 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks. CA 91403

(818) 783-3233

Computer Wave

6791 Westminster Ave

Westminster. CA 92683

(714) 891-2584

Micro Computer Concepts

13772 Goldenwest Street

Westminster. CA 92683

(714) 898-3002

(800) 772-3914

DMA Digital Computer Systems

105 E. Vermijo

Colorado Springs. CO 80903

(303) 475-2488

Varsity Computing

401 E. Broad
Athens. GA 30601
(404) 548-3434

Cash Register Systems

1501 Hicks Street
Augusta. GA 30904
(404) 724-1747

Computer Pro

2525 Washington Road
Augusta. GA 30904
(404) 737-8313

Varsity Computing
7732 Spalding Drive
Norcross. GA 30092
(404) 446-3434

Ponder's Computer Ctr.
117 W.Jefferson Streel
Thomasville. GA 31792
(912) 226-3341

Strickly Software

2334 S. King Street #206
Honolulu. HI 96826
(808) 944-0462

Memory Lane

98-1254 Kaahumanu
Pearl City, HI 96782
(808) 487-7999

Caribe Exchange Inc.

213 South Conroy Street
Knockville, IA 50138
(515) 842-3619

Famsworth Computer Center
1891 N. Farnsworth
Aurora. IL 60605
(312) 851-6567

Z-Engine delivers
CP/Nffor your Apple

Z-Engine delivers a trainload of
additional programs to your
Apple II, II + , lie or Apple com-
patible computer. Many of the
most powerful and sophisticated pro-
grams available today are CP/M based;
Z-Engine opens the door to them all.
You might expect that something that
gives so much would cost so much. Not so.
Z-Engine is, undoubtedly, one of the
greatest values in the microcomputer industry.
Z-Engine is first class service at economy fare
Once the Z-Engine has been delivered we don'i
off the steam - we support our products - and
guarantee them. If you knew what we know
about the Z-Engine you'd be our next customer
The Z-Engine delivers.

Advanced Logic Systems

1195 East Arques Ave.
Sunnyvale, C A 94086
(408) 730-0307.

Compu-Net

1946 Norlh Clark

Chicago, IL 60614

(312) 6644585

Universal Computer

1890 First Street

Highland Park, IL 60035

(312) 433-8930

Micro City

24 W. 500 Maple Ave.

Naperville, IL 60540

(312) 355-9749

Alpine Computer Center

2418 South Alpine Road

Rockford, IL 61108

(815) 229-0200

Vons Computer

317 West State Street

West Lafayette, IN 47906

(317) 743-4041

Computer SOS

5731 Youree Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105
(318)865-7188
Computer Shoppe
3828 Veterans Blvd.
Metairie. LA 70002
(504) 454-6600
Advanced Management
2838 Henry Street
Muskegon, Ml 49441
(616) 739-3395
Alternate Computer Supply
6034 East Street
Twin Lake, Ml 49457
(616) 458-7649
Personalized Computers
12350 Natural Bridge
Hazelwood. MO 63044
(314) 739-0263

Mid West Computing

201 North Pine

Rolla, MO 65401

(314) 364-1998

The Computerworks

121 West Mission

Bellvue.NB 68005

(402) 29V7804

Computer Ark

1921 New Road

Northfield, NJ 08225

(609) 641-4300

Bayonne Computer Center

618 Broadway

Bayonne, NJ 07002

(201) 436-8555

Computerland

2076 E. Route 70

Cherry Hill, N J 08003

(609) 424-8100

AFC Electronics

Salem Industrial Park Rt. 22

LeBannon. NJ 08833

(201) 534-6343

Round Valley Computer

Box 448 US HWY, 22 East

LeBannon. NJ 08833

(201) 236-9575

Computer Discount of New Jersey

280-B Hwy, 17

Mahwah. NJ 07430

(201) 529-4026

Medford Computer Center

Route 7 Hartford Road

Medford. NJ 08055

(609)953-0823

Family Computer Centres

154 Valley Street South

Orange. NJ 07079

(201) 762-6661

Family Computer Centers

154 Valley Street

South Orange. NJ 07079

(201) 762-6661

Computer Pro's Inc.

West Belt Mall

Wayne. NJ 07470

(201) 256-7070

Computer Discount of America

31 Marshall Hill Road

W. Milford, NJ 07480

In NJ - (201) 728-8082

Out NJ - (800) 526-5313

Sandia Micro Systems

812 Charleston N.E.

Albuquerque, NM 87110

(505) 266-7410

47th Street Photo

1 15 W. 45th Street

New York. NY 10036

(212) 260-4410

Tec Computer Products Inc.

56 West 45th Street

New York. NY 10036

(212)944-1166

Byte General Dlst.

3 SiierksLane

Roslyn Harbor, NY 11576

(516) 625-3020

Upstate Computer Shop

99 Commercial Drive

Whitesboro. NY 13692

(315) 768-8151

Computer Store of Laurenburg

1023 South Main

Laurenburg. NC 28352

(919) 276 4424

Audio Buys

1700 Glenwood Ave

Raleigh. NC 27608

(919)821-1776

Computer Utility Corp.

808 East Main

Ada. OK 74820

(405) 332-4858

Dowling Inc.

3017 N. Stiles Ave

Oaklahoma City. OK 73105

(405) 528-2933

Conroy LaPointe

12060 Southwest Garden Place

Tigard. OR 97223

(800) 547-1289

Edu-Care Micro Computer

The Learning Source

Hills Shopping Plaza

Camp Hill, PA 17011

(717) 761-7487

East Coast Software

49 Derrytown Mall

Hershey. PA 17033

(717) 533-8125

Software Hut

2534 South Broad Street

Philadelphia. PA 19145

(215) 462-2268

Opus II

747 Brook Haven Circle

Memphis. TN 38117

(901)683-0117

Inacomp Computer Center

330 Franklin Road

Brentwood, TN 37027

(615) 373-5667

Software Centre

5545 Richmond Avenue

Houston. TX 77056

(713) 783-9857

Computer Office

22025 61st Ave SE

Bothell, WA 98021

(206)481-2600

A.P.P.LE

290 S.W. 43rd Street

Renton, WA 98055

Orders - (800) 426-3867

Info • (206) 251-5222

Computer Horizons Inc.

West Virginia

Morgantown, Wheeling, Beckley

(304) 594-1855

(304) 233-2484

(304) 255-7474

Oryx Systems

425 First Street

Wausau. Wl 54401

(715) 848-1374

Dealer inquiries are invited — please contact one
of the following distributors. If a distributor or
dealer is not in your area please contact us directly.

The Computer Connection

17121 S. Central Ave.

Union L

Carson, CA 90746

(213) 514-9019

Softeam

900 West Walnut Street
Compton, CA 90220
(800) 847-6383

Softsel Computer Products

546 Oak

Englewood. CA 90312-6080

(800)847-6383

Caltek Components

4079 Glen Coe Ave
Marina Del Rey. CA 90292
(213) 827-1851

First Soflware

17-21 Ballard Way

Lawrence. MA 01843

(617) 689-0077

(800) 343-1 290

PC Micro Dealers Co-op

12216 Marc Lane

Glen Arms. MD 21057

(301)592-5110

Jersey Micro Systems

1200 B Haddonfield Road

Cherry Hill. NJ 08002

(609) 665-7611

Specialists Financial Planning

160 Washington South East

Alb. New Mexico. 87108

(505) 265-8308

Simco

2040 Des Cascades. St. Hyacianthe

Quebec J2S 3J6

(514) 773-7843

IiTSKiTiTu

5T5

I

•

I

I

Ijij (jTjTj

£?•] I h 1 II

TR *WET 1000

1 2 3

Ttanset 1000: The print buffer, communications buffer,
port expander, printer sharer and I/O switcher. All in one.

Anyone with a personal computer
and one or more peripherals has
faced the all-too-familiar dilemma.''
You need your computer to do an
important job. But you're forced
to wait for the system to finish one
job (printing, communicating, what-
ever) before you can go on to the
next one. Or you need to stop what
you're doing to switch cables when
you want to use another peripheral.

Wait no more. Now Hayes intro-
duces an innovative new device that
lets you perform many jobs— at the
same time— independent of your
computer. lYanset 1000. It works
with a wide range of systems and
configurations. And it allows you
to continually
expand your sys-
tem as your needs
grow.

lYanset 1000
frees your com-
puter from waiting
on your printer or
modem— so you
and your com-
puter can go on
to another task.
It even lets you

print out documents in pre-set for-
mats without having to go back into
your computer. At the same time,
TYanset 1000 can operate unattended
mailbox communications— 24 hours
a day— even if your computer
is turned off.

'I\vo computers can share one printer with
Iranset 1000. Or. you can uselYanset 1000 to let
two computers communicate with each other.

Even while printing, Transet 1000 acts as a com-
munications buffer and 24-hour mailbox. And I/O
switching lets you route information among
peripherals, without switching cables.

In addition, TVanset 1000 is a port
expander and software-controlled
I/O switcher. Now files can be easily
directed and redirected to different
peripherals, without physically
changing cable connections.

Transet 1000
contains a stand-
alone micropro-
cessor, and comes
with 12 8K of mem-
ory. It operates
with any RS-232
interface com-
puter, and has
optional accessory
kits available for
the IBM* PC and PC
XT, Macintosh'and
Apple* lie. Kits contain the necessary
host cable, a user guide and menu-
driven software that lets you
graphically set up or
customize

parameters and printing formats.
Cables available for IBM PC AT other
computers and peripherals.

Like all Hayes products.Ttenset 1000
combines sophisticated capabilities
with easy operation, just as Hayes
set the standard in personal com-
puter communications, now Hayes
is taking the lead in computer task
management.

Contact your authorized Hayes
dealer to see how TVanset 1000 can
help you get a lot more productivity

Transet lOOOallowsprintingon both a dot matrix
printer and letter quality printer, while freeing your
computer for other tasks.

out of your computer system—
without tying up your computer
or you.

Hayes Microcomputer
Products, Inc., RO Box
Atlanta, Georgia 30348
404/441-1617

WIN ""lltljljlll 11

J//L JUkJk

Innovative products for enterprising people

Inquiry 205

lansetlOOO

©1985 Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc.

CLUBS & NEWSLETTERS

• GARDENING ON LINE
Interviews with gardening
experts adept at using
microcomputers to benefit
their yards are included in
The Online Gardener, a
quarterly newsletter that
covers news, trends, and
product and software
reviews relevant to home-
garden applications.
Subscriptions are $8 a year.
Contact The Online Gardener,
1287 McLendon Ave.,
Atlanta, GA 30307.

• NEWS FROM RIVER CITY
The Sanyo MBC-2000/3000
Forum is designed to pro-
vide technical support and
an exchange of information
without meetings for Sanyo
MBC 2000 and MBC 3000
users. Membership includes

a subscription to the month-
ly newsletter, access to a
public-domain software
library, and nationwide com-
munication by mail and
modem. The annual fee is
$15. Contact William Pletcher,
Sanyo MBC-2000/3000 Forum.
River City Datamation, 2653
Yuma Circle, Sacramento, CA
95827, (916) 362-1537.

• TELESAT
INTERNATIONAL
Members of lelesat Interna-
tional benefit from a BBS
featuring computing reviews,
databases, and international
yellow pages. The board is
operational 24 hours a day
for an annual fee of $2 5. For
a free membership kit and
details, contact Customer
Service, Telesat International,
POB 2334, Elizabeth, N]
07207-2334, (201) 352-2319.

• A DENVER GEM

An organization that pro-
vides geologists with access
to a BBS with extensive pub-

lic-domain geological pro-
grams also produces a
catalog, monthly newsletter,
and member directory and
holds conferences and ex-
hibits. Further, experts in
geological-applications soft-
ware and databases present
technical papers at the
monthly meetings of the
Computer Oriented
Geological Society (COGS)
held in Denver, Colorado.
Contact COGS. POB 1317,
Denver. CO 80201.

• ACTIVE ON LINE

Users of the Commodore 64
can link into an electronic
newspaper, search its
database, exchange
messages with other users,
and upload and download
all on line from Ontario.
Canada, for a $20 annual
fee. The Stelex Sector BBS,
available 24 hours a day at
(416) 766-3038, also provides
an on-line typing service,
bulletins, and products
available for sale. The BBS
manual sells for $5. Send an
SAE to The Stelex Sector
BBS. POB 6238, Station A,
Toronto, Ontario M5W 1P6,
Canada, or call Roman
Kowalczuk at (416) 769-8226.

• DISK ANSWERS
Chicago's First Osborne
Group (CFOG) gives new
members a disk that con-
tains an explanation of
meetings, copies of public-
domain programs, a list of
members who offer help,
and instructions on how to
operate the group's 2 4 -hour

RCP/M, which operates on an
Osborne 1, a 1200-bps
Hayes Smartmodem, and a
Design One 10-megabyte
hard disk. A $2 initiation fee
is required. Contact Benjamin
Cohen. CFOG. POB 1674,
Chicago, IL 60690.

• SEE BASIC CLEARLY
null-Babel/CBNews, a newsletter
for CBASIC programmers, is
published monthly by the
CBASIC Users Group. The
group also maintains a
public-domain library. A
subscription is $18; $28 over-
seas. Sample and back
issues are $2. Contact Ric
Allan, POB 40690, Cincinnati.
OH 45240-0690.

• INVESTORS JOURNAL

The Microcomputer Investor, the
semiannual journal of the
Microcomputer Investors
Association (MCIA), furthers
the group's intentions to
facilitate communications for
investors who use microcom-
puters. Contact Jack Williams,
MCIA, 902 Anderson Dr.,
Fredericksburg. VA 22405.

• INTERACTIVE NEWS
The Society for Applied
Learning Technology pro-
duces a quarterly newsletter
that contains information on
scheduled events concerning
interactive videodiscs and
microcomputers in educa-
tion. Annual membership is
$30. Members are invited to
subscribe to the journal of
Educational Technology Systems
for an additional $31. Con-
tact the Society for Applied

CLUBS & NEWSLETTERS is a forum for letting BYTE readers know what
is happening in the microcomputing community. Emphasis is given to elec-
tronic bulletin-board services, club-sponsored classes, community-help projects,
and other activities. We will continue to list new clubs and newsletters. Allow
at least four months for your club's mention to appear. Send information
to BYTE. Clubs & Newsletters. POB 372, Hancock. NH 03449.

Learning Technology, 50
Culpeper St.. Warrenton, VA
22186, (703) 347-0055.

• A DIRECT LINE

The Long Island NEC Users
Group (LINECUG) is a non-
profit organization that
distributes public-domain
software to users of the NEC
PC-8000 and PC-8800. A $5
annual membership includes
biannual updates of the
club's software. Contact Jerry
Worthing. LINECUG. 75
Weaving Lane, Wantagh, NY
11793. (516) 735-2952.

• PRO FORMA
Iranscripts of the C-Pro
Users Group's bulletin-board
messages at (703) 491-1852
are published in the newslet-
ter, as well as public-domain
programs, hardware and
software reviews, and tech-
nical information for Com-
puPro and other S-100 bus
systems. Membership is $24
per year. Contact the
C-Pro Users Group. POB
1474, 14057 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Woodbridge. VA
22193. (703) 690-3312.

• SIGCC TAKES ROOT
The International Council
for Computers in Education
(1CCE) seeks local chapters
for the Special Interest
Group for Computer Co-
ordinators (SIGCC), for peo-
ple with any computer-co-
ordinator responsibilities. A
public-message bulletin
board. The ICCE Forum, is
available on CompuServe at
GO EDU18; otherwise ICCE's
number on CompuServe is
70014,2117. ICCE houses
SIGs for special educators,
administrators, and teachers
and publishes The Computing
journal and a quarterly

{continued)

58 BYTE • IUNE 1985

You can still buy

quality and dependability

at a reasonable price

v/Asvn

The CompuPro People

Where Computers Grow

Without the bugs.
And without the

worry.

Our drive for more
power, reliability and
economy.

Since 1973, the CompuPro
people have been dedicated to
bringing highly innovative com-
puter technology to all users.
Their success has been due to
making state-of-the-art available
at outstanding values, combining
high quality and reliability with
the best possible prices.This mar-
ket philosophy is based on the
same principles that made the
Volkswagen a symbol of d
reliability and economy
all over the world.

Today, VIASYN
continues this tradi-
tion with its diverse
and dependable
CompuPro^ product
line. It covers the
needs of

experts, a

beginners, OEMs, Built to fit.
VARs, software developers and
sophisticated end-users. It goes
from boards and subsystems to
VIASYN'S powerful CompuPro
816 computer family that extends
to advanced multi-user, multipro-
cessor business
computers. This
versatile product
line is

designed for growth and
compatibility with the most
popular
and suc-

cessful computer sys
terns in the industry.
This is why your
purchase is a true

investment ■ — -

you can build on for Built

years to come. It gives you more
computer power— without the
bugs and the worry about defects
or early obsolescence.

The evidence of
quality Our warranty
service and support.

also informs and edu-
cates its customers on all
levels. In keeping with
our drive to bring
advanced computing
power to the people,
we offer a helpful
booklet entitled
"Bits, Bytes &
to last. Buzzwords" that
explains computer technology in
simple, easy-to-understand
terms. It's available at any of our
Full Service System Centers.

800-VIASYN-l.Your
direct line to
unmatched values.

Built to grow.

VIASYN offers all customers
an exceptional one -year warranty.
Since all systems are tested for
two years of reliability, this war-
ranty can be extended to cover
two full years. Other warranties
are available at an extra, nominal
charge. It's solid evidence for the
built-in quality of our products.

Our customers are also
assured of full technical support.
The growing, national and inter-
national network of CompuPro
Full Service System Centers is
staffed by expert sales and service
personnel who can help with sys-
tem and software customization.
They are prepared to offer techni-
cal assistance, expert advice and
field maintenance contracts to

make certain you get the

most out of our products.

True to its commitment to
all computer users, VIASYN

This toll-free number con-
nects you with your nearest
Full Service CompuPro System
Center (in California, dial 800/
VIASYN-2). It can supply all of
the products highlighted in the
following pages — and more. If
you are looking for a product
designed for your particular
application, you'll find it at your
local CompuPro center. Their
staffs are trained to provide
quality solutions to
your problems,
now and in
the long run.
At values that
are truly
exceptional
in our com-
petitive
marketplace. I

ifiBflflMfe I

Built to save.

Computers

designed to
grow, and grow,

The CompuPro 816
(Al through Zl).

A whole family that offers
you exactly what you want in a
computer. Dependable perfor-
mance. Flexibility to grow.
Increased productivity over a
wide range of applications. You
can expand from single to
multi-user systems by simply
adding more boards and periph-
erals. Use just as much power
as you need— for over 3,000
industry standard business appli-
cations, as well as a wide variety
of scientific and industrial pro-
grams. And this multi-user com-
puter system lets you link as
many as 255 systems for net-
works of more than 1000 users.

Our systems offer you many
standard features that give you
more functionality and value
from the start. Operating system
and selected applications pro-

grams are part of each system.
All systems adhere to the
IEEE 696/S-100 bus standard
and may be easily expanded
or upgraded with S-100 boards
available from VIASYN. And
each system is equipped with
an 800 Kbyte double-sided,
double-density 5%" floppy disk
drive.

In addition, we give you
a wide choice of options that
increase your system's power
and versatility. You can add 5%"
or 8" floppy disk drives. Put
on 40-Mbyte or 80-Mbyte hard
disks, and get a 10-Mbyte tape
backup. Instead of selecting our
standard desktop models, you
can choose our 19" rack mount
option.

No matter which system or
what options you choose, you
can count on getting optimum
performance for your money.

CompuPro 816/Ai: M Ideal
start-up system. Based on
8085/8088 CPU. Includes 128K
RAM and our CP/M® 8-16™
operating system. $3995.

CompuPro 816/C1™

Advanced 8085/8088 multi-user
system. Equipped with 512
Kbytes of RAM. Bundled with
Concurrent DOS™ 8-16™ $6895.

CompuPro 816/D1™ Based
on 8086 processor, featuring
512K RAM and Concurrent DOS
8-16. The logical, economical
way to grow. $6995.

CompuPro 816/Ei: M

Powered by Motorola's 10-MHz
68000 chip, this 16-bit engine
gives you 512 Kbytes of RAM,
plus CP/M-68K™ for high-level
languages, like mapForth and C.
$6495.

CompuPro 816/F1I M A

16-bit computer that uses Intel's
80286 processor. Features 512K
of RAM and operates with
Concurrent DOS 8-16. $7995.

CompuPro 816/G1™

Outfitted with National Semicon-
ductor's 16/32-bit 32016 micro-
processor. This system offers you
512 Kbytes of RAM and is
designed to run FORTH and
UNIX™ Fast, dependable,
efficient. $6895.

CompuPro 816/Zi: M Uses

Zilog's proven 8-MHz Z-80
processor and operates with
CP/M 2.2. Offers 64 Kbytes
of static memory. It's the
ideal personal tool. $3495.

and grow, and grow,

The CompuPro 816
(Fully Integrated
Systems).

'■""■■ »

The CompuPro 286. This
multi-user, multi-tasking com-
puter is one of the most powerful
business systems available in a
desktop. Features Intel's 80286
processor for 16-bit operations,
while CompuPro's Slave Pro-
cessor Unit runs all 8-bit tasks
via a speedy Z-80. The basic
system is configured for 4 users
but its expanded version can
support eight users or more. Uti-
lizes Concurrent DOS 8-16
and a wide range of sophisticated
business programs. $9995.

CompuPro 10 Plus 2.

Equipped with 2 800 Kbyte flop-
pies, 2 Z80 slave processors,
each containing 64K RAM. Fea-
tures the 8088 processor with
256K RAM. Options let you
increase RAM in 256K incre-
ments to a maximum of
768K. You can add a second
set of 2 slave processors,
our MDRIVE®/H and our Net
10 board that facilitates network
connections. $3995.

CompuPro 10 Plus 40. In

addition to an 800 Kbyte floppy,
this system includes a 40 Mbyte
hard disk and increases the
number of Z80 slaves to four, at
64K RAM per board. The 10
Plus 40 also operates with 256K
RAM for the 8088 processor and
features the same options as the
basic 10 Plus 2 system above,
but adds a tape backup to the
list. $6995.

CompuPro 816 makes
networking easy

This multi-user, multi-
processor option lets you share
data and peripherals via the
nodal cluster concept. Each node
consists of one CompuPro 816
and its tied-in workstations. Con-
necting nodes is as easy as
installing one of our Net 100 or
Net 10 boards in each computer,
and running standard RG 62
cables between them. Network
hubs allow you to connect three
or more computers. In this way,
the CompuPro 816 network can
support 255 nodes and cover
distances to four miles. You work
with speedy 2.5 megabit/second
transfer rates and get individual,
transparent on/off node opera-
tion. Thus, nodes can run with-
out involving the entire network
and do not affect overall net-
work performance.

Operating Systems for
the CompuPro 816
Family

CP/M 2.2. An 8-bit high-
performance, single-user oper-
ating system. Works with all
CompuPro systems based on
Inters 8085 or Zilog's Z-80
CPUs. Uses the entire family
of CP/M application software.
Requires minimal hardware
configurations.

CP/M 8-16. Single-user
8-bit and 16-bit operating system
based on Digital Research's
CP/M-86™ Downward compatible
with most CP/M 2.2 software.
Supports a variety of application
software and languages as well
as many more productivity tools.

CP/M-68K. 16-bit operat-
ing system supports Motorola's
68000 CPU Similar to our CP/M
2.2 because it allows easy infor-
mation transfer and convenient
file manipulation. Lets you utilize
all peripherals in your com-
puter system.

Concurrent DOS 8-16. A

high-performance, true multi-
user, multi-tasking operating
system for the CompuPro 816
series. Can be configured in
either single- or multi-tasking
mode for simultaneous 8- and
16-bit operation. This operating
system supports DR/NET™
allowing peripheral sharing
among work stations and facili-
tating full local processing when
used with the CompuPro Net
100 network board. Supports
Digital Research's GSX graphics

and grow, and grow,

software and includes modem
software. Features single-stroke,
virtual screen switching
(terminal-dependent). It can sup-
port more than eight users and
a number of printers in a multi-
user mode.

More power and
flexibility across
the board.

Our versatile CPU and
memory boards are fully IEEE
696/S-100 bus compatible. You'll
be able to mix or match 8-bit
and 16-bit software on the same
machine and choose just the
power and memory your system
needs.

CPU-ZT M 8-bit board with all
standard Z80 features. Can be
run at slower clock speeds when
necessary generating MWRITE
for such operations. Includes
plug that takes the connector
from IMSAI type front panel.
Equipped with 8 MHz Z80. $275.

CPU 8085/88™ Includes
two processors: the 10 MHz
8088, which is an 8-bit bus ver-
sion of the 8086 16-bit CPU, and
the 6 MHz 8085, an advanced
8-bit processor to run existing
8-bit software. Can be run at
2 MHz to accommodate timing-
dependent software. $350.

CPU 86™Operates with
Intel's high-performance 10 MHz
8086 processor. Includes socket
for 8087 math processor. Compat-
ible with 8-bit and 16-bit mem-
ory. $395.

CPU 68KT M Based on
Motorola's 68000 10 MHz pro-
cessor. Socket for 68451
Memory Management Unit and
sockets for up to 16 Kbytes of
EPROM (8K x 16 bit organiza-
tion). $425.

CPU 32016™ This true
32-bit 6 MHz processor brings
mainframe power to desktop
micros. Includes sockets for
on-board memory management
and floating point units, plus
up to 32 Kbytes of ROM. $895.

A lot of memory for
a lot less.

CPU 286™ Intel's iAPX™
80286 16-bit processor shifts into
high gear for you. C-Step 6 MHz
version that offers sockets for
16 Kbytes of on-board EPROM
and for 80287 math processor.
Compatible with both 8- and
16-bit memory, mixing both in
the same system. Includes our
unique clock switching circuit for
bus sharing by special slave
processor boards. This feature
lets you run alternate 8- and
16-bit software libraries with
ease. $995.

Ram22™256Kx8bitor
128K x 16 bit organizations of
low power static RAM. High-
speed, high-density board auto-
matically works with 8- or
16-bit processors. Smooth han-
dling of fully static operations
(e.g. DMA transfers). Draws half
the power of dynamic equiva-
lents. Operates with all our
CPUs. $1250.

Ram 23™ Same features as
RAM 22 above in 128K x 8-bit
or 64K x 16-bit configuration.
$395.

MDRIVE/H. Can increase
operating speeds to 3500%!
Greatly enhances disk-intensive
performance. Emulates disk
drive operation but runs at RAM
speed. All of CompuPro's
operating systems — including
CP/M 8-16 and Concurrent
DOS 8-16 — support our
MDRIVE/H. 512K $695. 1
Mbyte $1350 (10 Plus). 2 Mbyte
$2450. 4 Mbyte $4500 (10 Plus).

and grotty and grow,

Our disk controller
boards drive for
efficiency.

Disk lA T . M This floppy disk
controller is geared for 8" and
5%" drives. Reads and writes
most popular formats. Uses the
most advanced LSI floppy con-
troller available. $495.

Disk 2™/Selector
Channel™Our high-performance
disk controller for sophisticated
8" Winchester drives, $695.

Disk 3 ™ Winchester con-
troller for up to four 5%" hard-
disk drives. Unprecedented high
performance for multi-tasking
systems. The disk's channel pro-
cessor seeks, reads and writes
without external prompting. The
host can transfer large data
blocks between disk and memory
on single command, designating
source, destination and length.
Disk sectors are transferred in
high-speed "burst mode" DMA.
ST 506 interface standard;
SA 1100 available on special
order. $595.

More options for the
growing CompuPro
816 network.

CompuPro Net 100 Board.

Meets all IEEE 696/S-100
requirements, featuring eight
switch-selectable I/O ports, on
any 8-port boundary in the
64K I/O space. Supports 8-bit
or 16-bit addressing. Also sup-
ports the ARCnet® token passing
local area network protocol
under Digital Research's DR/
NET. Mainframe communication
option available. $395.

CompuPro Net 10. Has

all the features of our Net 100
board but is used in CompuPro
10 Plus only. Mainframe com-
munication option available
as well. $395.

Net Passive Hub. Connects
up to four CompuPro 816 Com-
puters. $65.

Net Hybrid Hub. Connects
up to eight CompuPro 816
Computers. $295.

Interface Boards.
Smoother ways to
make peripherals talk.

Interfaced™ This eight-
channel serial I/O board conforms
to all IEEE 696/S-100 specs.
Ideal for multi-user, interrupt-
driven environments. Includes
six asynchronous DCE inter-
faces with full RS-232C hand-
shaking. Two synchronous/
asynchronous DTE/DCE high-
speed channels provide RS-232C
handshaking and bi-directional
clock drivers. CRTs, printers,
modems and other computers are
easily connected. Also provides
an exceptional interrupt structure.
$495.

Interfaced™ Advanced
serial/parallel I/O board — the
only one needed for most com-
puter systems. Features asyn-
chronous serial interface with full
RS-232 handshaking and current

and even multiply.

loop capability. Two synchronous/
asynchronous high-speed
channels, plus RS-232 hand-
shaking and bi-directional
clock drivers. Smooth peripheral
connections and Centronics
parallel interface for fast printer
signal transmission. Unique,
easy interrupt structure, fully
maskable and designed for
flexible strapping. $350.

A strong showing for
better displays.

PC Video Board. Our high-
speed PC Video board is a bit-
mapped monochrome and RGB
graphics show. It operates
with the IBM®PC compatibility
module and with Digital
Research's GSX (Graphics Sys-
tem Extension) software, both
supported by Concurrent DOS
8-16. Features 80 (normal) or
40 (double-width) columns by
25 lines in alphanumeric screen,
in your choice of 16 colors or
monochrome display mode. High-
resolution: Up to 200 x 640
pixels (monochrome). Comes
with Window Manager software.
Supports "well-behaved" IBM

PC compatible software pro-
grams, plus DR Graph™ and DR
Draw™ graphics packages from
Digital Research, Inc. This board
is the one to watch. $495.

System support on a
single board.

System Support 1™ A

multiple-function S-100 board
with 4K bytes of on-board RAM,
dual interrupt controllers, 16-bit
internal timers, a math processor,
real time clock/calendar with
battery backup and full RS-232
serial channel featuring software -
selectable baud rate. ROM/
RAM can be enabled/disabled
by PHANTOM control and
respond to the IEEE 24-bit (16
megabytes) extended address
protocol. A board of many talents
made for demanding systems.
$350.

A great choice in
motherboards.

Pick 6, 12 or 21 slot ver-
sions. All are exceptionally quiet,
fast and dependable. They offer
active termination, full Faraday
shielding of all signal traces,
plus heavy power busses— with

great bypassing capability.
Mating power connections are
provided. $135 (6 slot); $195
(12 slot); $295 (21 slot).

Enclosures for hard
working systems.

VIASYN offers you Compu-
Pro Desktop or Rack Mount
(19") Enclosures. Constant volt-
age transformers provide cooler
and more reliable operation with
solid protection against varying
line voltages. Rugged, metal
construction. Line filter reduces
effects of power line spikes
and RFI. Fully terminated 21-slot
motherboard and Faraday shield-
ing, ideal for high-speed sys-
tems to 10 MHz. Enclosures
include low-noise fan, air filter,
3 switched rear outlets, circuit
breaker, lighted reset button and
rear punchouts for DB-25,
DB-15 and DB-50 connectors.
Desktop $950. 19" Rack Mount
$995.

Just what your system
needs now.

The components, operating
systems and the building blocks
that can make computer systems
grow stronger and more capable.
All you have to do is contact your
nearest Full Service CompuPro
System Center and get the qual-
ity, dependability and cost
economy you're looking for.
Call toll-free: 800-VIASYN-L

Registered Trademarks: CP/M, Digital Research Inc.; ARCnet, Datapoint Corporation; IBM, International Business Machines Corp.;

MDRIVE and CompuPro, Viasyn Corporation; Compound Trademarks; CP/M 8-16 and Concurrent DOS 8-16, Digital Research and

Viasyn Corporation. Trademarks: CP/M-68K, CP/M-86, DR/NET, DR Graph, and DR Draw, Digital Research;

iAPX, Intel Corporation; UNIX, Bell Laboratories, Inc.

All prices and information subject to change without notice. Copyright © 1985 by Viasyn Corporation. Printed in the U.S.A.

Viasvn

s

fiasy
uppfi

ra

room and ooard
to OEMs.

As much room and board as you need for
your system. CompuPro® IEEE 696/S-100 Bus
boards that let your systems grow and multiply.
Reliable boards, delivered at prices our com-
petition finds hard to beat.

As an experienced OEM supplier, we give
you the choice and versatility you're looking for.
For example, one of our CompuPro CPU boards
is designed for concurrent 8- and 16 -bit oper-
ation — mix or match. And you can choose from a
wide variety of support boards, such as memory
boards, interface boards, motherboards, con-
troller boards— you name it.

In addition, you can count on reliable product
performance. Evidence: our exclusive one year
warranty with an option to extend it to two years
on most products. Plus, the support of our nation-
wide network of expert service representatives.

So if you're looking for a dependable place

that gives you plenty of room and board, just take

a look at the preceding pages. % j#a ^^ JT\ M

Then call us toll- free for the \^y3^Syl

best rates in town. ' %., T^"T, „

The CompuPro People

Where Computers Grow

3506 Breakwater Court, Hay ward, CA 94545
Call 800/VIASYN-l ■ In CA, 800/VIASYN-2 • Telex: 510-100-3288 VIASYN CORP

CompuPro is a registered trademark of Viasyn Corporation.

Draw "Your Own Destiny

If You Can Dream It, Do It With PC -Draw.

Go on. Think big. For the world beats a path to the door
of those who make things happen. Now, graphically
depict your bold new concepts. From ingenious ideas and
designs — to master plans and proposals. Communicate
with absolute clarity. And create truly persuasive
presentations and reports.

What fuels the power of your mind?
PC-Draw®. An incredibly versatile, interac-
tive graphics program for the IBM PC®,
XT®, AT® or enhanced PCjr® — unlike
anything else on the market. Using your
personal computer and a plotter or printer you
conceive, develop, then produce a hard copy
picture of your thoughts. An optional light pen
makes PC-Draw even easier to use.

PC-Draw offers much more than mere painting systems.
With it, create in far greater detail an endless variety of
presentation graphics, proposals, systems design, charts,

forms, diagrams and illustrations. Produce drawings up to
99 pages long. Use PC-Draw symbol libraries for appli-
cations such as flowcharting, organization charts, forms
design, office layout and electrical design. And more.
Or generate and store your own unlimited supply of
user defined symbols.

TVy PC-Draw for a 10 Day TVial Period.

PC-Draw includes an easy to follow interactive
tutorial. Requires IBM compatible computer, graphics
adapter and graphics monitor (or IBM monochrome
monitor with Paradise® modular graphics card).
Graphic boards, light pens at excellent prices.

Go ahead. Control your destiny. Dial 800/2PC-DRAW
to order or for free brochure. In Texas or for customer
support call 214/234-1769. MICROGRAFX, Inc., 1701
N. Greenville Ave., Suite 305, Richardson, Texas 75081.

MICROGRAFX

The Picture of Success.

Inquiry 281

(Most popular plotters & printers supported.
Version for PCjr available)

PC-Draw and MICROGRAFX arc trademarks o f MICROGRAFX, Inc.
IBM, PC, XT, AT and PCjr are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. Paradise is a trademark of Paradise Systems. Inc.

Inquiry 357

DISK DRIV6 SUBSVST6MS

PC-INSID€R S€RI€S FOR IBM
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AND fill N€C€SSfiRV CRBLCS, HARDWARC
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IMPROV€ DISK I/O BV 10 TIM€S

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nvnimme FOR COMPUPRO CONCURR€NT

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SFs=TSfSSfS (800) SEE PAGE 485
m* = mmSmS,. 528-3138 FOR OTHER MDSE

DISK
COPYING

Whether you need 50 disks or thousands, we have years
of experience in creating the highest quality copies. Reasonable
prices — fast turnaround. Call today for our free booklet on
software duplication and packaging.

BLANK

DISKS

Can you tell a good disk from a great one? We can, because
we copy thousands each day. We'll tell you which brand is
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Call ALF first

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CLUBS & NEWSLETTERS

called The SIG Bulletin.
SIG membership ranges
from $10 to $17 annually,
depending on ICCE
membership and location.
Contact the International
Council for Computers in
Education, University of
Oregon. 1787 Agate St..
Eugene. OR 97403, (503)
686-4414.

• REFER TO SNUG

The bulletin boards of the
Sanyo National Users Group
(SNUG) at (509) 884-0613
and 33 5-1652 in Wanatchee
and Pullman, Washington,
provide technical assistance
for users of the Sanyo MBC.
In addition, a public-domain
library is maintained, a
monthly newsletter is
produced, and group-
purchase discounts are
organized. The annual fee is
$15. Contact Michael
Russell. SNUG, POB 2084CS,
Pullman. WA 99163.

• BCS KAYPRO

The Boston Kaypro Users
Group (BOSKUG). affiliated
with the Boston Computer
Society (BCS). runs an
RCP/M and publishes a bi-
monthly newsletter called
The Boston Kugel. Meetings
are held semimonthly every
second and fourth Tliesday.
Joining the BCS entitles you
to membership both in
BOSKUG and the BCS and
to receive their respective
publications. For member-
ship information, contact
BCS, 1 Center Plaza. Boston.
MA 02108. (617) 367-8080.
For a subscription to The
Boston Kugel beyond a
75-mile radius of Boston,
send $10 to BOSKUG. 27
Howland Rd.. West Newton,
MA 02165. or call Lee
Lockwood at (617) 965-6343.

• WHAT'S NEXT?

Due to an alleged lack of
company-sponsored user
support, the managing staff
of NefiHorld, The Independent
NEC APC News ]ournal, in-
vites interested users to

discuss a right to company
support. Write to Count Me
In. Nefflbrld. 388 Old Turn-
pike Rd., Woodstock. CT
06281. (203) 974-3505.

• V FOR VENTURA

The Ventura County Macin-
tosh Club (VMAC) holds
monthly meetings, produces
a monthly newsletter, and
maintains a software library.
Membership is $15 annually.
Contact Ventura County
Macintosh Club. 1 4 1 3-D
South Victoria Ave.. Ventura.
CA 93003, (805) 644-5220
or 985-3400.

• OPEN EXCHANGE
The East Carolina CP/M-
MS/DOS Group welcomes an
exchange of newsletters,
public-domain software, and
other information relevant to
the CP/M and MS-DOS oper-
ating systems. The club pro-
duces a newsletter that is
published every other
month, and a bulletin board
is in the works. The annual
dues are $10. Contact East
Carolina CP/M-MS/DOS
Group, 707 Edge Hill Rd.,
New Bern, NC 28560.

• DEVELOPERS UNITE

The Software Developers
Association is a nonprofit
association of computer
software developers in
Canada. A single monthly
newsletter is $5; an
annual subscription is $50.
Contact Bob Bruce. Soft-
ware Developers Associa-
tion. Suite 500, 185 Bloor
St. E. Toronto. Ontario
M4W3J3, Canada. (416)
922-1153.

• SANYO BLOOMS IN
INDIANA— Members of the
Bloomington Area Sanyo
Users Group wish to ex-
change information with
Sanyo-specific and other
MS-DOS computer groups.
Contact Rober Cole. Bloom-
ington Area Sanyo Users
Group. 430 South Dunn
#205, Bloomington. IN
47401, (812) 336-7272. ■

60 B YTE ■ JUNE 1985

Inquiry 18

Sweet-P Model (SP600)

A six-pen graphics plotter that's more
compatible . . . uses more software.

Last year 430 million business
slides were made at a cost of
$3.2 billion. Most of these slides
were manually generated.*
These slides could have been
made on Sweet-P® Personal
Plotters™ . Faster and better.
With a savings of millions of $!

The Sweet-P SP600 is a high
quality American made precision
machine. It's fast. It plots 14 inches
per second. It's beautiful for office
and technical work.

Over 100 graphics software
packages drive the Sweet-P™
world famous packages like Lotus
1-2-3™ Framework™ and Super-
Calc™ technical software like
AutoCAD™ PC AD Robographics™
and dedicated business graphics
software such as Micro-soft Chart,
ChartStar™ Energraphics*" Chart-
master™ and pfs Graph™

Pens are capped automatically
when not in use, so that pens last
longer and start quicker.

The Sweet-P easily connects to
almost any computer. It has RS-232
serial and Centronics™ parallel
connectors. And it supports two
standard graphics languages—
Sweet-P Graphics Language
(SPGL™) and Hewlett-Packard
Graphics Language (HPGL™).

The Sweet-P plots on almost any
media. Make brilliant overhead'
transparencies. Plot on film, and on
plain and coated papers.

Save on wiring costs too. The
Sweet-P will "eavesdrop" on the
RS-232 cablesthat connect your
terminals now. (This makes it easy
for Sweet-P to join local and long
distance networks.)

What about support? Sweet-P
customers get fast professional
help with software, hardware and
interface questions. And warranty
and service support is quick.

Sweet-P Model 600 also comes
with 18 ANSI ASCII internal Char-
ter sets.

only $1,095

U.S. DISTRIBUTORS

Arizona

First Source Distributing
(602) 263-1950

California

Zenith Data Systems • (415) 621-8545

Colorado

Ares Distributing • (303) 752-2972

Florida

Cam Bultman • (904) 356-4812

Illinois

PC Distributing • (312) 356-4812
Zenith Data Systems • (312) 562-7300

Inland Computer • (913) 492-9100

Maryland

Federal Data • (301) 986-0800

Missouri

Computime, Inc. • (314) 991-2991

North Carolina

Allison-Erwm • (704) 334-8621

N©w T©rs©v

Data Research • (201) 569-2620
Buhl Industries • (201) 423-2800

Pennsylvania

Peif ce Phelps, Inc. • (215) 879-7068
Pryor Corp • (800) 245-0209
Chessell Robocom • (215) 968-4422

Tennessee

Multi Computer Products
(615) 528-7777

Texas

AMCAD, Inc. • (214) 323-0700
National Marketing Inc.
(214) 386-8151

Washington

Comquest Systems • (206) 641-7650

Canada

Altel Data • (403) 259-7814
Interworld Electronics Inc
(604) 984-4171
The Pringle Group
(416) 449-5640

<^A

Enter Computer Inc.
6867 Nancy Ridge Dr.
San Diego, C A 92121

619-450-0601 • 800-227-4371 CA
800-227-4375 • TELEX-181740

Trademarks: Sweet-P. Six Shooter. Personal Plotter,
SPGL. Enter Computer, Inc.; HPGL, Hewlett-Packard;
Lotus, Lotus Development Corp; Framework, Ashton-
Tate; Super- Calc, Sorcim, Inc.; AutoCAD, Autodesk,
PCAD Robographics, Chessell-Robocom, Inc.; Chart
Star, Micro-Pro Int'l Corp.; Energraphics, Enertronics
Research, Inc.; pfs Graph, Software publishing
Corp.; Chart-Master, Decision Resources; Cen-
tronics, Centronics Corp.

Source notes * Yankee Group. The Technical Office. Vol.III 1983
"Wharton School Study. September 198]

Inquiry 170 for End-Users.
Inquiry 171 for DEALERS ONLY.

For everyone who ever tried
doing five things at once

The perfect computer program
for someone as busy as you.
It lets you keep several other
programs working at once.

Do you ever go in so many directions
so fast not even a computer can keep up
with you?

Well, now an IBM Personal Comput-
er can— thanks to IBM TopView.

TopView is a new kind of software
that lets you switch between other pro-
grams as quickly as you can change your
mind, even run several programs at the
same time.

Once you load TopView into your
computer, you load the other programs
you use most— as many as your com-
puter's memory will permit.

After that, the greatest distance
between two programs is just a couple of

keystrokes, or (optional) mouse moves.

There's no waiting and a lot less
diskette swapping.

But when youre really busy is when
TopView really shines, letting you do
many jobs simultaneously.

For example, you can print a letter,
while you search a file, while you analyze
a spreadsheet, while your clock/calen-
dar reminds you that your automatic
dialer is about to place a call for >fou.

Little Tramp character licensed by Bubbles Inc., s.a.

62 BYTE • JUNE 1985

...IBM presents TopView.

And you can see everything through
on-screen "windows* and control it all
with easy-to-use pop-up menus.

You can even make unrelated pro-
grams work together; say a "Brand Y"
spreadsheet with a "Brand Z" word pro-
cessor.

But simplest of all is a certain
'Brand IBM", namely the IBM Assistant
Series— for filing, writing, planning,
reporting and graphing.

Many other popular programs also
work with TopView., and the number is
growing.

Naturally, the more computer
memory you have, the more TopView can
help you. At least 512 K is recommended.

And the price is only $149*

Beyond that, all you need is to be the
kind of pei*son who never does a single
thing all day, but who wants to do every-
thing, at once.

To learn more, call an IBM market-
ing representative, or visit an IBM Prod-
uct Center or Authorized IBM PC or
Sof tware Dealer.

For the store nearest you, and a free
brochure, call 800-447-4700. (In Alaska
and Hawaii, 800-447-0890.)

Personal Computer Software

IBM Product Center price.
Inquiry 218

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 63

Innovative Backup and Hard Disk Drive Systems
For Your IBM PC, XT and AT

Backup Option

Retrieve Option

Selective

File-By-File

-*

File-By-File
Retrieval

The Standard of Excellence in Backup Software

• Revolutionary Everex Backup systems give you
the backup/retrieve flexibility you want while
saving you hours of time. You can backup your
hard disk drive in minutes with a fast "mirror
image" then retrieve this information either file-
by-file or the entire hard disk image.

• High speed backup/retrieve- up to 5MB
per minute.

• Menu Driven software includes the largest
selection of file selectable options-choose
from name, date, time interval, global, qualifier
and more.

• Advanced installation program automatically
configures the optimal backup/retrieve speed
with your hard disk drive.

The Leader in External Expansion Systems

• All external systems are available with any com-
bination of Everex Backup and Hard Disk
Drive systems.

• Slimline systems include one short and three
long expansion slots for adding more acces-
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• Half-Size system includes four long expan-
sion slots.

• Full-Size system (looks like your PC) includes
eight long expansion slots.

• External systems include one high quality,
round shielded cable.

The Total Solution For Backup That Plugs Right
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• A wide selection of backup solutions with the
price and performance to meet your needs:

• The EXCEL 4500, 45 and 60 MB high per-
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the EXCEL 200, 20 MB Cassette system
and the EXCEL 10 MB Floppy Tape system.

• Space-saving half height units with single
board controller.

• Combine with Everex hard disk drives for
lower cost and higher performance.

• Unique "piggyback" power supplies ensure
dependable operation and save space.

Visit your local Everex dealer today and ask
to see Everex products in action. For the name
of your nearest Everex dealer, please call
(415)498-1111.

Imagineering Ultimo, Australia TLX: 74349 IMAGIN AA

Microage Distribution Ltd. London, England TLX: 881 3241 WONGS G

Feeder Paris, France TLX: 4413241 FEEDER

Automated Office Systems Hout Bay, South Africa 2721 -70-8091

Survex. 1027 Speers Road. Oakville, Ontario Canada L6L-2X5. 416-842-6093

Pride Computers, 1.02-8167 Main Street, Vancouver,

British Columbia, V5X3L2, 604-321-5690

IBM, PC, XT and AT are registered trademarks of International Business

Machines Corporation.

EXCEL is a trademark of Everex Systems Inc.

EVER for Excellence
Address: 47777 Warm Springs Blvd.. Fremont, CA 94539 (415) 498-1111.

Dealer Hotline (800) 821-0806 * In CA (800) 821-0807

64 BYTE • JUNE I985

Inquiry 1 73

BOOK REVIEWS

PROGRAMMER
PRODUCTIVITY:
ACHIEVING AN URGENT
PRIORITY
Girish Parikh
Reston Publishing
Reston, VA: 1984
236 pages, $31.50

APPLYING SOFTWARE

ENGINEERING

PRINCIPLES

David Marca

Little, Brown

Boston, MA: 1984

288 pages, $29.95

CP/M-86 USER'S GUIDE
Jonathan Sachs
Osborne/McGraw-Hill
Berkeley, CA: 1985
568 pages, $18.95

PROGRAMMER
PRODUCTIVITY:
ACHIEVING AN URGENT
PRIORITY

Reviewed by Michael Martinez and E. Francis Avila

In the world of data processing, systems managers will
tell you software development and maintenance are the
most expensive costs incurred in running a large system.
While computer-hardware costs have dropped, software-
development costs have risen. The issue, then, is finding
useful, reliable methods of increasing programmer
efficiency, crucial to stemming the climbing costs of
developing and maintaining software.

In Programmer Productivity: Achieving an Urgent Priority, Girish
Parikh, an experienced data-processing programmer and
manager, tackles this difficult but vital task head-on. He
offers practical solutions that promise to increase
productivity while reducing maintenance costs.

COMPUTER ANIMATION

PRIMER

David Fox

and Mitchell Waite

McGraw-Hill

New York: 1984

522 pages, $22.95

THE COMPLETE
HOME EDUCATOR:
A COMPREHENSIVE
GUIDE TO MODERN
HOME-TEACHING
Mario Pagnoni
Larson Publications
Burdett NY: 1984
248 pages, $10.95

Be forewarned that Pro-
grammer Productivity is not
intended for hobbyists,
although amateur program-
mers would do well to
adopt good programming practices. Parikh has written this
text primarily for professional programmers and data-
processing managers working in large-systems
environments with teams of programmers, designers, and
analysts developing applications software that often
encompasses thousands upon thousands of lines of code.
Consequently, the book's technical nature often makes
for dry, sometimes ponderous reading. Additionally, Parikh
assumes the reader possesses more than a casual knowl-
edge of professional programming operations. He does
not shy away from technical prose.

Parikh begins each chapter by quoting either his own
experiences or those of other data-processing experts. He
follows this with a presentation of some of the more

[continued)

ILLUSTRATED BY KATHERINE MAHONEY

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 65

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£ Copyright )985 COMPUTeflBRNC. All Rights Reserved

BOOK REVIEWS

popular (and not so popular) theories and practical
methods that promise to increase programming efficiency
and lower maintenance costs.

Throughout the book, the author intersperses details of
personal successes and failures, as well as other case
studies, encountered during the process of implementing
and testing the various productivity techniques. Generally,
Parikh does not hesitate to show his support for one
technique over another.

Improved Technologies'

The book's central hypothesis revolves around what Parikh
calls "improved programming technologies." If these tech-
nologies are adopted, dramatic increases in the
productivity of programming projects can be realized, ac-
cording to Parikh. In the first chapter, he lists these tech-
nologies: HIPO (hierarchy plus input-process-output), top-
down program development, chief-programmer teams, de-
velopment-support libraries, structured programming, and
structured walk-through.

Unfortunately, Parikh does not go into any great detail
about any one technique; he leaves that for further
research by the reader. Instead, he offers a quick overview
of each technique, sometimes listing the good and bad
points. With HIPO and structured programming design,
for example, he provides simplistic models of these
different approaches, mixing each with comments and his
own experiences.

Of course, many techniques employed to increase pro-
grammer output, such as Warnier-Orr diagraming and
structured design, are subjects of books themselves. Parikh
cannot be expected to treat them in depth in a book
designed as an overview of programmer productivity.

The success of any one of Parikh's recommendations
depends on the size and nature of the project. But of the
six technologies outlined by Parikh, you'll get the impres-
sion that structured programming technique is the method
most capable of producing the most success. And indeed
it has been our experience that structured programming
methods have proven more successful in increasing prod-
uctivity as well as long-term maintainability of software
than many other methods devised.

You might get the impression that the author is address-
ing only COBOL programmers. However, this is not the
case. While a chapter is devoted specifically to COBOL
using a preprocessor, the wealth of material Parikh covers
is not bound by any language and could be just as easily
applied to FORTRAN, C, Pascal, or BASIC

Pedantic

Parikh occasionally drops his guard and comes across
sounding a little pedantic, at times condescending. This
is unfortunate because it detracts from an otherwise good
treatment of material. There are times when Parikh writes
more like a crusader waving the banner of improved pro-
gramming technologies than a professional sharing his

[continued)

66 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry It

E BEST MODE
THE MARKET

Other people make modems for telecommunications.
But our new Courier 2400™ modem is made for busi-
ness. This modern modem transmits, over the phone,
240 characters a second, enabling you to upload or
download data at twice the speed of a 1 200 bps
modem. You'll cut phone costs, save precious hours
and increase productivity.

wfciwgiq

•MPORTANT.

The Courier 2400 features auto-dial and auto-answer
. . . and is fully CCITT and Bell compatible. It responds
to the full AT command set, allowing you to use any
of the popular telecom software packages, including
Telpac™ by U.S. Robotics, Crosstalk™, PC Talk™,
Smartcom™ and many
others. And the entire AT
command set and S-register
functions are displayed on
"help screens" and again
summarized for you on the
underside of the unit.
Courier 2400 is accom-
He\p screens modating in other ways too.

It lets you know the length of each call, tells you (on
screen) the status of a call in progress, and even fea-
tures an adjustable speaker to provide audio phone

line monitoring. Courier can test itself
in both answer and originate modes,
and automatically adjusts from 2400
bps to 1 200 or 300 bps. And a powerful
automatic equalizer assures nearly
perfect performance on every call.

At $699, you'll not find more modem for
the money. If you prefer an internal
slot modem for IBM-PC and compatible

Microiink24oo™ comput ers, our new Microlink 2400™

will deliver the same superior performance at the

same affordable price.

And to get the most

out of either Courier

or Microlink, ask for

new, improved Telpac

telecommunications

software with easy to

use windows.

We Set OUt tO build Bottom of Courier

the best modem on the market. Now, it's ready. Once
you try Courier or Microlink, we think you'll agree —
we're not exaggerating one bit. inquiry 409

courier

by U.S. Robotics, Inc.

8100 McCormick Blvd.
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Phone: (312) 733-0497
Telex: 650-1 86-3130
Outside Illinois: 1-600-Dlal USR

Inquiry 51

P^

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BOOK REVIEWS

knowledge and experience. Obviously, he feels very
strongly about his subject matter.

The Egoless Programmer

One intriguing subject that Parikh suggests needs more
attention is his idea of "egoless programming." He devotes
an entire chapter to this ignored topic.

Parikh urges programmers and managers alike to aban-
don egocentric attitudes and pull together as a team on
projects. He asserts that the key to self-fulfillment is to
become "egoless." Only then will programmers (and
managers) get a clearer picture of the task at hand. He
cautions programmers not to take criticism personally but
to instead be open to suggestions from peers and accept
"humbling tasks."

To merge ego into the programming team may sound
a bit offbeat for the average software-development group
in this country. Given the prevailing attitudes of most
American workers, we doubt that this philosophy would
stand much of a chance of being taken seriously, but
Parikh's discussion is interesting nevertheless.

Programmer Productivity opens several doors that poten-
tially lead to increasing both the quantity and the quality
of computer-programmer output. The author freely
acknowledges that the programmer's craft as an intellec-
tual endeavor is very difficult to measure, let alone im-
prove upon. But, he insists, with the proper use of "im-
proved programming technologies" it can be done. Parikh
leaves it to the reader to choose which technology is best.

Michael Martinez (7475 San Bergamo Dr., Goleta. CA 93117)
is a systems programmer. E. Francis Avila (POB 4401, Auburn,
CA 95604) is a contract programmer working on a degree in
mathematics.

APPLYING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES
Reviewed by Annette Hinshaw

With questions and exercises at the end of every
chapter and a dry academic style that tends to
obscure the important material it contains, Applying Soft-
ware Engineering Principles looks like a textbook. However,
the exercises suggest individual study rather than class-
room use. Every problem requires access to a library of
programs used in business. The questions ask the reader
to analyze both successful and unsuccessful software in
light of the principles covered in that chapter. They also
suggest ways to implement the ideas from the chapter in
upcoming programming projects.

These exercises are excellent, but they seem pertinent
only to people working in programming shops large
enough to require multiperson projects. On the other
hand, the exercises may require more time to complete
than most working programmers can spare for self-
improvement.

[continued)

68 BYTE • )UNE 1985

Inquiry 66

Ifoumaybe
the best programmer

in the world*

Salesperson: \
Ilia's tote; %ffim

Ship To: ;

nfranco Office $yste*s
23 89th Street
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| j23-CH12|ITPlug Pin

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]12

IC=|[

i fume — m l

For $125 you can #
let the world know it

You're a good programmer. Maybe even the best.

But do your users know it?

After all, they weren't around while you were
working on your latest program. They can't know
all the creative energy, all the problem-solving
persistence that went into it.

All they know is what they see on the screen. Is it
handsome? Is it elegant? Does it make the program
easier to use?

Or is the screen dull, unimaginative and not as
clear as it might be?

Nowyou can remove the last obstacle between
you and programming perfection. You and Screen
Sculptor can create a beautiful, logical screen in
minutes. Then Screen Sculptor automatically
writes the program — in IBM Basic, IBM Pascal,
or Turbo Pascal — to display the screen and allow

SOFTWARE
BDTTLinG

cnmpfinv

the user to enter data.

Design a screen you like and rearrange it when-
ever you like. Select colors from a mouth-
watering menu. Choose special characters, draw
lines and boxes, paint in areas, repeat a character in
any direction!

Specify input fields, variable names, data types,
acceptable data ranges and more. If you like, design
one screen to input data, another to output it.

Then Screen Sculptor generates actual program
source code based on your screen design.

You'll need an IBM PC, XT, PCjr, PC AT or
100% compatible, 128K, DOS, one 3 20K disk drive
and any 80-column display. We supply the rest.

Screen Sculptor. For $125 you can make your
users very, very happy.

While making yourself look very, very good.

Try itFREE for 30 days!

Here's a no-risk off er. Order now and
you'll also get a full demo disk. Use the
demo and the manual for 30 days. If you
don't love it, return the package for a full
refund!

Credit card orders only call 24 hours a day, 1-800-824-7888, operator 268.

For all other orders and inquiries call orwrite: The Software Bottling Company of New York, 6600 L.I. Expwy, Maspeth, NY 1 1378.
(718) 458-3700. If we're shipping to a NYS address, please add S l A% sales tax.

Inquiry 3 76

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 69

High performance to cost ratio...

Programming Chips?

Projects develop profitably with development hardware /software from GTEK.

MODEL 7228 - $599
This model has all the features
of Model 7128, plus Intelligent
Programming Algorithims. It
supports the newest devices
available through 512Kbits; pro-
grams 6x as fast as stanaard
algorithims. Programs the 2764 in
one minute! Supports Intel 2764A
& 27128A chips. Supports
Tektronics, Intel, Motorola and
other formats.

MODEL 7956

(with RS232 option) .... $1099.
MODEL 7956 (stand alone) $ 979.

GTEK's outstanding Gang Pro-
grammer with intelligent
algorithm can copy 8 EPROMS at
a time! This unit is used in a pro-
duction environment when pro-
gramming a large number of chips
is required. It will program all
popular chips on the market
through the 27512 EPROMS. It
also supports the Intel 2764A &
27128A chips. It will also program
single chip processors.

EPROM

PROGRAMMERS

— H>eee features are standard from GTEK—
Compatible with all RS232 serial interface parts • Auto select baud rate • With cr without hand-
shaking • Bidirectional Xon/Xoff • CTSDTR supported • Read pin ooiupatibfe ROMS • Noper-
sanality modules • Intel, Motorola, MCS86 Hex formats • Split facility for 16 bit data paths •
Read, program, formatted hst onmmands • Interrupt driven — program and verify real time while
sailing data • Program single byte, block, or whole EPROM • Intelligent diagnostics discern bad
and/cr erasable EPROM • Verify erasure and compare commands • Busy hght • Complete with
Textool zero insertion foroe socket and integral 120 VAC powa- (240 VAC/50Hz avaflabfe) •

&PAL

MODEL 7324 - $1199
This unit has a built-in compiler.
The Model 7324 programs all
MMI. National and TI 20 and 24
pin PALs. Has non-volatile
memory. It operates stand alone
or via RS232.

MODEL 7128 - $429
This model has the highest
performance-to-price-ratio of any
unit. This is GTEK's most popular
unit! It supports the newest
devices available through
256Kbits.

MODEL 7316 Pal Programmer $ 599

Programs Series 20 PALs. Built-in PALASM compiler.

DEVICES SUPPORTED

by GTEK's EPROM Programmers

NMOS

NMOS

2758 2764A 2508 68764

2716 27128 2516 8755

2732 27128A 2532 5133

2732A 27256 2564 5143

2764 27512 68766

CMOS

27C16

27C16H

27C32H

27C64

27C256

EEPROM

MPU'S

5213 I2816A 8748 8741H

5213H I2817A 8748H 8744
52B13 8749H 8751

X2816 8741 68705

48016 8742H

UTILITY PACKAGES

GTEK's PGX Utility Packages will allow you to specify a range of addresses to
send to the programmer, verify erasure and/or set the EPROM type. The PGX Utili-
ty Package includes GHEX, a utility used to generate an Intel HEX file.

PALX Utility Package — for use with GTEK's Pal Programmers - allows
transfer of PALASM® source file or ASCII HEX object code file.

Both utility packages are available for CPM,® MSDOS,® PCDOS,® ISIS® and
TRSDOS® operating systems. Call for pricing.

AVOCET CROSS ASSEMBLERS

These assemblers are available to handle the 8748, 8751, Z8, 6502, 68X and other
microprocessors. They are available for CPM and MSDOS computers. When order-
ing, please specify processor and computer types.

ACCESSORIES

Model 7128-L1, L2, L2A

(OEM Quantity) $259.

Model 7128-24 $329.

Cross Assemblers $200.

PGX Utilities Call for pricing

PALX Call for pricing

Qtek

XASM (for MSDOS) $250.

U/V Eraser DE4 $ 80.

RS232 Cables $ 30.

8751 Adapter $174.

8755 Adapter $135.

48 Family Adapter $ 98.

68705 Programmer $299.

Development Hardware/Software
P.O. Box 289, Waveland, MS 39576
601/467-8048
,INC.

GTEK, PALASM, CPM, MSDOS, PCDOS, ISIS, and TRSDOS
are all registered trademarks.

BOOK REVIEWS

David Marca has divided his book into four sections:
general concepts, engineering with a computer language,
engineering using existing software, and engineering with
regard to human and machine environments.

Marca researched this book extensively; he supports
many important ideas with numerous citations. The book
is long on general principles, but it never quite makes it
to the "applying" of the title. For the most part, these
general principles are not related to concrete, real-world
issues. Although he promises early in the book that he
will help software engineers make specific design choices,
Marca does not fulfill this promise. The book contains the
pieces to develop decision guidelines, but they are like
unstrung beads. I wanted walk-through examples show-
ing how to apply principles to specific situations. And I
had trouble making the obviously sound ideas in the book
jell into a set of rules for making decisions.

Marca defines software engineering as "the act of an
individual who learns to develop software in a practical
setting." He emphasizes that engineering is different from
writing program code. lust as most of the engineering on
a bridge is complete before construction begins, so soft-
ware engineering is largely a series of planning decisions
on what to include in a software system and how to ar-
range the program for easy use and maintenance. This
planning comes in stages: analysis, design, implementa-
tion, and installation. Marca devotes most of the book to
the implementation stage, where actual code is generated.

All programming examples are in FORTRAN. The
author's decision to use only one language limits coverage
on some topics. He mentions recursion but does not
discuss it because FORTRAN does not support this tech-
nique. He uses FORTRAN'S poor string handling as an ex-
ample of a need to extend a computer language, but he
does not address strings as a data type because most ver-
sions of FORTRAN do not use text. He touches on the
difficulty of using files in FORTRAN but does not provide
examples of this function from another language.

Marca discusses designing software with parameters
such as cost-effectiveness, timely production, and simplici-
ty. He recommends organizing activities into analyzing a
problem, designing a system that can solve the problem,
writing a program to the design, and installing the finished
program. His principles are not original, but they are a
sound basis for operation.

Models

The chapters on modeling are a good example of my
frustration with this book. Obviously a good model for
a system is central to good software design. Marca begins
by analyzing what makes a model and then explains limita-
tions. He talks about form and language and offers an al-
gorithm for creating a model. Instead of providing some-
thing concrete, he moves on to validating a model. The
exercises at the end of the chapter do offer concrete
examples, but this makes the book useless for anyone who

[continued]

70 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 201

Just hatched

BDT Products BDT

EPSON

We just hatched a new line of automatic sheet
feeders for the Epson FX-80 + and FX-100 + .

They're called the Lettermate l/e's and they sell for
chicken feed; starting at $199.00.

Being LetterMates from BDT Products, they have all
the features you'd expect: continuous feeding action,
an adjustable bin for horizontal or landscape printing,
and easy, super-fast installation by the user.

Your local BDT dealer would be proud as a peacotk
to show off the LetterMate I/e's. Give him a whistle.

Nothing tops a printer lihe a LetterMate

For More Information, call or write: BDT Products Inc.

BDT Products Inc. 17152 Armstrong Ave. • Irvine, CA 92714 • (714) 660-1386 -Telex 681-334 • Telecopier (714) 474-0480
In West Germany BDT GmbH • P.O. Box 80 • D-7210 Rottweil, W, Germany • Telephone (0741) 248-0 • Telex 762-876 (bdtro) d
Inquiry 48 for End-Users. Inquiry 49 for DEALERS ONLY.

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72 BYTE • JUNE 1985

NATIONAL REFERRAL
SERVICE AND SUPPORT.

Computers Multifunction Boards micropro chartstar.

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AT&T Color and Mono systems. Instock!! compatible with the Portable, AX XT, & Jr. Communications

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PC TURB0 186 by ORCHID, 80186 coprocessor TALLTREE J-RAM II III IV. New Low Price! LIFETREE Volkswriter Deluxe. $169

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Inquiry 2 77

JUNE I985 -BYTE 73

64K S100 STATIC RAM

*139?°

'KIT

NEW!

LOW POWER!
150 NS ADD $10

BLANK PC BOARD
WITH DOCUMENTATION

$49.95

SUPPORT ICs + CAPS
$17.50

FULL SOCKET SET
$14.50

FULLY SUPPORTS THE

NEW IEEE 696 S100

STANDARD

(AS PROPOSED)

FOR 56K KIT $125

ASSEMBLED AND
TESTED ADD $50

FEATURES: PRICE CUT!

* Uses new 2K x 8 (TMM 2016 or HM 6116) RAMs.

* Fully supports IEEE 696 24 BIT Extended
Addressing.

* 64K draws only approximately 500 MA.

* 200 NS RAMs are standard. (TOSHIBA makes
TMM 2016s as fast as 100 NS. FOR YOUR HIGH
SPEED APPLICATIONS.)

* SUPPORTS PHANTOM (BOTH LOWER 32K
AND ENTIRE BOARD).

* 2716 EPROMs may be installed In any of top 48K.

* Any of the top 8K (E000 H AND ABOVE) may
be disabled to provide windows to eliminate
any possible conflicts with your system monitor,
disk controller, etc.

* Perfect for small systems since BOTH RAM and
EPROM may co-exist on the same board.

* BOARD may be partially populated as 56K.

PRICE CUT!

256K S-100 SOLID STATE DISK SIMULATOR!

WE CALL THIS BOARD THE "LIGHT-SPEED-100" BECAUSE ITOFFERS
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+ 256K on board, using + 5V 64K
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* Up to 8 LS-100 boards can be run
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* Provisions for Battery back-up.
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* Compare our price! You could pay
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BLANK PCB

(WITH CP/M* 2.2

PATCHES AND INSTALL

PROGRAM ON DISKETTE)

$69 95

(8203-1 INTEL S29.95)

#LS-100
(FULL 256K KIT)

(ADD $50 FOR A&T)

$169

00

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TERMS: Add $3.00 postage. We pay balance. Orders under $15 add 75$ handling. No
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BOOK REVIEWS

lacks access to records of large programming projects.

The rest of the material on modeling consists of truisms.
Marca provides names for types of software engineering
models. He sets up principles like, "Selecting the proper
form for a model minimizes error" and "A model is either
static or dynamic." He never quite advises how to find the
best form for a given model. He doesn't tell you where
to choose static or dynamic models.

Anyone not familiar with the principles of structured pro-
gramming can profit from the second section of the book.
In the most cogent part of his text Marca explains simply
and clearly how isolating data, subroutines, and sub-
programs makes software easier to debug and maintain.
He discusses complex data structures and search tech-
niques. This section does not include much advanced
material, but it is well organized, and it shows the advan-
tages of careful planning and structuring in all aspects of
writing a program.

One section addresses recycling software. Software engi-
neers may wish to lift subprograms from existing software
to meet the needs of a new design. Well-designed soft-
ware (i.e., structured, with each function complete and
isolated) makes such reuse easy. Marca reprises some of
the material from the previous section and discusses in-
tegrating and testing subprograms. He also talks about
software utilities, such as debugging tools.

Marca presents a FORTRAN string-handling facility as
an example of extending a computer language to meet
design needs. In a chapter on software filters he discusses
separation and testing of data. He also shows how to
analyze the "behavior" of a system. A list of possible
inputs is matched to possible outputs. Marca uses this list
to derive a table of states of the system for all possible
I/O (input/output) configurations. This table can be
translated to a set of values, which can in turn control the
program. The purpose of all this is to engineer a finite-
state machine, which Marca says offers superior program
control. In an appendix he includes the FORTRAN listing
that implements the example of a finite-state design.

The last part of the book talks about separating diverse
concerns and dealing with them as distinct problems.
Marca covers hardware factors and the user interface. I
found the material in the chapters on human limitations
in data handling and on building user interfaces the most
interesting in the book. But again, the author offers a lot
of valuable information and stops just short of making it
really useful. For example, he says that the control for an
operation can reside mainly with the machine, mainly with
the person, or be shared between the two. Then he fails
to discuss when to use which for most effective engineer-
ing. The chapter on user interfaces contains more perti-
nent information, but it is hidden under an unnecessarily
academic prose style.

Applying Software Engineering Principles is heavy on general
principles but light on nitty-gritty applications. If Marca
revised its excellent application exercises for classroom

[continued)

74 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 142

Mark Williams knows that
programmers are like everyone
else: you tend to put your pants
on one leg at a time.

But you still have to get your
programs up and running as fast
as possible. With all the buttons
buttoned and all the zippers
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That's why we developed the
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To err is human-to debug,
superhuman.

Normally, nothing is more frus-
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That's where our C Source
Debugger (cscf)can be a big help.

csdlets you debug like a
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program lines, trace and display
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variable, and much more.

With cscf you can run the
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products.

EXECUTION TIME (SECONDS)

The C Programming System
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With all these advantages, it's
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■ -Small Memory Model
■-Large Memory Model

NOTE: Sort program as in Byte, August
1983, p. 91. Register declaration added.
Further information on these benchmarks
available from Mark Williams Company
upon request.

Mark

Williams

Company

1430 West Wrightwood Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60614

Call 1-800-MWC-1700 To order.

IN ILLINOIS CALL 312-472-6659. VISA/MC ACCEPTED

Inquiry 263

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 75

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BOOK REVIEWS

use, it could be a reasonable basic textbook. As a guide
for software engineers in the field, the book is seriously
lacking. Engineers will still have to derive most of their
own specific application guidelines.

Annette Hinshaw (POB 58063 5, lUlsa, OK 741 58) is a freelance
technical writer.

CP/M-86 USER'S GUIDE
Reviewed by Paul W. Lowans

This guide covers Digital Research's CP/M-86 family of
operating systems, including MP/M-86, Concurrent
CP/M-86, and Concurrent DOS. In the beginning of
CP/M-86 User's Guide, author Jonathan Sachs, a computer
consultant on technical writing and software development,
suggests how to set up your system, discusses hardware,
and introduces a basic implementation of commands. The
rest of the book explains CP/M's more advanced features,
covering in more detail the commands and utilities. An
additional "Note to the System Manager" describes how
to assist a CP/M novice in using the guide with hands-on
experience. Sachs has written this book for people at dif-
ferent levels of expertise.

Appendixes cover the differences in various releases of
CP/M systems. The book also contains a resource guide
of names and addresses of computer-related publications,
products, and accessories, as well as a listing of bulletin
boards. Also included are specific notes for users of Com-
puPro, DEC Rainbow, and IBM PC and PC XT computers.

Sachs points out in the acknowledgments that he wrote
the book while Concurrent CP/M-86 and Concurrent DOS
were still being developed; thus, the syntax he explains
could be in error. Since I work strictly with CP/M-86, 1 can-
not determine any such errors; you should check this out
before you buy the guide.

A main drawback in the book is its organization by
operation, not by family member. It is fragmented by
having a little bit of material on each command for each
system. Sachs jumps from one system to another, which
can cause confusion. He begins one section with how to
boot each system, then explains how to format a disk for
each system, then how to manipulate files, and so on.

This fragmentation forces the reader who wants to get
the full story about an operating system to read the book
from cover to cover, but jumping from system to system
forces the reader to skip portions that do not apply to
his CP/M family member.

Conclusions

Sachs uses plain English and simple examples to explain
the operations of each system. Throughout the book are
boxes titled "Things That Might Go Wrong"; they explain
error messages and how to recover. Sachs begins the
guide simply and moves on to the more complex. It is
similar to taking a programmed book course whereby the

Inquiry 136

BOOK REVIEWS

user is encouraged to try examples that build on each
other in the learning process.

Because the guide covers the family of CP/M. it is good
for people who want to use more than one version. The
appendixes are not only well written but prove to be good
references for the user who has some familiarity with
CP/M. However, Sachs does not explain the CP/M-86
assembly language or the 8086 instruction set other than
the syntax for ASM-86.

Pau\ W. inwans (2709 South Union St., Spencerport, NY 14559)
is an electronics engineering technician at Xerox Corporation in
Rochester, New York.

COMPUTER ANIMATION PRIMER
Reviewed by ]eff Campbell

Computer Animation Primer provides the armchair pro-
grammer and would-be computer animator with a fas-
cinating overview of a technology capable of bringing the
illusion of reality to our most abstract imaginings. From
the high-tech marvels of Star Wars special effects to BASIC
programs to run on your personal computer, David Fox
and Mitchell Waite explore how to become involved in
computer animation today.

Fox and Waite begin with a brief history of animation.
Antique animation devices with such exotic names as
Thaumatrope, Phenakistoscope, and Zoetrope almost
seemed to anticipate their computerized futures. The
discussion highlights the major advances by animation
pioneers like Walt Disney, Walter Lantz, Max Fleischer, et
al. The perspective concludes with an examination of how
computer animation is used today in the film industry,
medical research, sports, education, engineering, adver-
tising, and arcade games.

One section extensively describes the basic hardware
used in computer animation. Brief explanations cover
everything from the mechanics of creating movement and
color on a cathode-ray tube to the light pens, digitizing
tablets, and joysticks used to create and manipulate
graphics images. The authors conclude this section with
the observation that the "trickle-down" effect will continue
to allow increasingly sophisticated equipment to become
available to the personal computer user.

In a chapter on computer-animation software and ap-
plications, Fox and Waite focus on techniques for defin-
ing graphics objects in ways that a computer can under-
stand. Some rather complex algorithms come into play
when images are rotated, translated, and scaled, yet these
discussions do not bog down. The text is lucid, and the
authors are not above an occasional humorous touch.

Sample Programs

The bulk of the book deals with actual programs for
animating on a personal computer. The authors have

[continued)

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Inquiry 273

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 77

Inquiry 112

THE TOP OF THE LINE IBM COMPATIBLE

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BOOK REVIEWS

chosen to work with Atari BASIC because they think it has
high potential for graphics and animation. The programs
themselves are widely adaptable for use on other micro-
computers. Fox and Waite provide instructions for creating
customized character sets (or making do with the ones
you have) and then animating them. They cover anima-
tion loops; with this information you can create gallop-
ing horses, a walking man, or an exploding bomb. Move-
ment can also be suggested by changes in color. This is
covered in a section on color-register animation.

Separate chapters deal with player-missile graphics,
employed in many arcade games, and using machine lan-
guage in BASIC programs. The final chapter offers the in-
formation necessary to create scrolling backgrounds. By
applying this knowledge, it's possible to create some very
impressive animated graphics.

Visual Effects

The layout of this book deserves special mention. Wide
margins on the outside of each page not only contribute
to an uncluttered page but allow the inclusion of four "flip
book" computer-animation movies. By flipping through
the upper corners of this book— both forward and back-
ward—you can view approximate real-time segments of
the animation discussed in the book. Fox and Waite use
one of the oldest animation techniques to elucidate one
of the newest.

The book also has a 16-page color section. Appendixes
include a compilation of all program listings reproduced
in larger detail, a character-set grid, listing conventions for
representing hidden (or invisible) characters, methods for
storing machine-language routines in strings, parameter-
table entries for black-box routines, source-code listings
of assembly-language routines, and Atari hardware and
shadow registers.

Computer Animation Primer is the book for people who
want action livening up their computer screens.

]eff Campbell (9296 West 98th Place, Broomfield. CO 80020) is
president of Campbell Photo/Graphics.

THE COMPLETE HOME EDUCATOR:
A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
TO MODERN HOME-TEACHING
Reviewed by Hunter Holmes Alexander

Many parents despair of the public schools but few
act to set things right. The Complete Home Educator:
A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Home^eaching is a step-by-
step handbook for teaching youngsters at home. It is also
a book about the mediocrity of schools and how micro-
computers can be used to improve education.

Mario Pagnoni, a teacher for 1 3 years, decided to leave
his school in order to teach his two sons math, computer
skills, writing, spelling, and problem solving at home. He

[continued)

78 BYTE ■ IUNE 1985

Inquiry 404

^

A

<&

&

.0

<CV.

Sizzling C

The fastest C.The C that Microsoft
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Efficient C.

We give you everything you need to
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"Preliminary testing on the Microsoft C
Compiler produced code that was signi-
ficantly smaller than that produced by
other C compilers'.'
Paul Springer, Ashton-Tate.

"We found the FAR pointer very helpful
for situations where a mix of memory
models offers the greatest efficiency."
Robert Frankston, Software Arts.

"The portability of the code between
MS-DOS and XEMX® is great'.'
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But it's really no surprise that our C
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wrote both the MS-DOS and the
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*Purchase both Microsoft C Compiler and Microsoft Macro Assembler
and get a $25 rebate direct from Microsoft. See package for details.

Microsoft, MS-DOS and XENIX are registered trademarks and
The High Performance Software is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

For the name of your nearest Microsoft
dealer, or to upgrade from Microsoft C

°iwlte42£? c MICROSOFT.

Caii (OUU J ^ZO-y ^UU. The High Performance Software

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And make your programs really cook.

Microsoft C Compiler Version 3.0

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♦Produces compact code and fast executables.

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— Floating point emulator (utilizes the 8087/287 if installed).

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♦Link routines written in Microsoft FORTRAN (V 3.3 or higher),

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EXEPACK Utility

A new utility to compress sequences of identical characters from an
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EXEMOD Utility

A new utility used to modify the fields in the header according to
the instructions given by the user in the command line.
'C 1 Benchmarks— done on a Compaq Plus with 512k memory
with no 8087. Program "SIEVE',' with register variables,

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Microsoft C :9.39 141 5,914

Lattice C : 12.24 164 20,072

IBM's

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now going into

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Inquiry 133

Apple is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer. Inc. IBM
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Inquiry 251

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used an Apple II+ as an aid in instruction.

What tricks did he discover? Pagnoni advises home-
schoolers to be the educational consultant for their
children rather than the traditional pedagogue. He cites
test scores to show that his sons, ages 7 and I0, learned
more in the year he tutored them at home than in the
years they endured in the traditional school with its
regimentation and instructors who are sometimes
underqualified.

This book is written primarily for parents who want to
take their children out of the school system or those who
want to tutor their children after school. But it could
benefit computerists who don't know about teaching, peo-
ple who aspire to teach about computers, and computer
businesspeople, as well as sociologists, salespeople, politi-
cians, and people interested in school-board positions.
Mostly it is for parents who know little about computers,
as was the case with Pagnoni only a few years ago.

Parent/Child Bond

Pagnoni advises against forcing youngsters to learn
something the way you learned it. He suggests that home-
schoolers write to a private school for its curriculum. He
recommends a list of read-aloud books and encourages
parents and children to read aloud together.

One advantage of home-schooling, Pagnoni says, is that
it strengthens the parent/child bond since the parent and
child spend more time together. Also, teaching will make
parents feel more in charge of their children's education.
Children taught at home generally test higher than those
in public schools and have more self-esteem; Pagnoni says
that students who have been taught at home can get into
Harvard.

The disadvantages of home-instruction include the pos-
sibility of failure. Also, children could miss out on some
peer-group experiences, although the author suggests
ways to prevent this.

Pagnoni discusses BASIC programming and word pro-
cessing for novices. Appendixes cover sources for legal
information, correspondence courses, and resources for
learning programming. A subject index is included.

The introduction endorsing Pagnoni's work is by John
Holt, author of Growing Without Schooling and editor of a
newsletter on home-schooling.

The Complete Home Educator is entertaining and useful.
Pagnoni shows how to put the fun back into schooling.
More and more court cases are going in favor of home-
schoolers, and "unfriendly" school boards seem to be get-
ting poor publicity. Home education is a growing social
movement and no longer seems as radical as it once did.
About 40,000 Americans teach their children at home.
Pagnoni's book provides them with a good model for
home education with high technology. ■

Hunter Holmes Alexander (4520 King St. #404, Alexandria, VA
22302) is BYTE's Washington correspondent, belongs to the
Washington Apple Pi users club, and is a former teacher.

82 BYTE • lUNE 1985

Inquiry 421

Finally, business computer
software for the hard-nosed

No one takes a harder look at
software than small to mid-sized
businesses.

So take a long, hard look at
The Accounting Solution™ a new,
totally integrated software package
from Business Tools, Inc™

You'll find its breakthrough fea-
tures are designed to pay off where
it counts— on the bottom line.

Hard-nosed economy, $99.*

Contrary to popular opinion,
you don't need a small business
loan to buy quality software. Not
if you're buying The Accounting
Solution. For $99, you get a
language/data base manager with
more hard-nose capabilities and
speed than any program available
at any price; $249 buys the
language plus accounts receivable/
payable and general ledger; $399
gets you all the above plus inven-
tory control, sales order entry,
purchase order entry and payroll.
Even more good news for the
budget minded— source code is
included with applications.

Easy for any hard-nose.

The Accounting Solution is easy

enough for the novice hard -nose
to use within minutes of receiving
the package. Yet it's also sophisti-
cated, offering unlimited flexibility
and opportunity to the hot- shot
hard -nose. And it's designed to
run on CP/M-80, MP/M-80, IBM
PC and compatibles!*

Multi hard-nose capability.

The Accounting Solution never

Duaniboa i uuua

icounling
Solutio

Write or call:

Business Tools, Inc.

4038-B 128th Avenue SE

Bellevue, WA 98006

1-800-648-6258

Washington State:
(206) 644-2015

Dealer inquiries welcome.

stands in the way of progress.
Thanks to multi-user capability, two
or more hard -noses can use the
same application at the same time.

Hard-nosed flexibility.

With The Accounting Solution,
it's easy to change your mind
because the source code is so
simple to modify. Ready to grow?
Great. You can change hardware
without spending a dime on new
software.

Take it from hard-nose
Phil Mickelson.

Phil created The Sensible
Solution ** a highly respected soft-
ware package. Now he's offering
the next step, another break-
through: The Accounting Solution.
It's simple. Sophisticated. Affordable.
And backed by Phil's reputation
and personal service. If you're
looking for hard-nosed value and
quality, you'll agree, The Accounting
Solution is the only solution.

' Suggested retail price.
' 'CP/M-80 and MP/M-80 are registered trademarks of
Digital Research, Inc.; IBM PC is a registered trade-
mark of International Business Machines Corporation;
The Sensible Solution trademark rights are claimed by
O'Hanlon Computer Systems.

Inquiry 65

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 83

TAR'S NEW
SPREADSHEET

PRINTERS:

4 WAYS TO A

BETTER

BALANCE SHEET.

SR-15™ features a 16K buffer and prints at 200cps

84 BYTE • JUNE 1985

or a better return on your com-
puter investment, consider Star's new "S"
series spreadsheet printers.

They're faster— with 20% increased
throughput and an unbeatable 16K memory.
Andbetter-100% IBM® compatible, with
prices that make these printers the best
value in the business.

TO 15" IN JUST
.66 SECONDS

No other printer gives
you greater throughput-per-
dollar than Star. With the highest-speed NLQ
in its class. And the best print quality in the
business.

All our new business printers feature
draft and near-letter-quality standard (no
extra charge). So whatever the assignment,
these printers come fully qualified.

16KANDNOTA
BIT LESS

EASY AS 1-2-3

Star's business
printers are fully com-
patible with IBM®-
PC, Apple? and all
compatibles.

They're ready to run
with hundreds of popular
spreadsheet packages
including 1-2-3,™ General Account-
ing,™ dBase III™ and MultiPlan® Even inte-
grated formats like Framework™ and
Symphony.™

All Star printers are covered by a full one
year warranty on parts and labor. Plus a net-
work of factory- trained service centers.

Faster. More memory. More flexibility.
More compatibility. Greater reliability. The
best print quality. And the best value in
the business.

Star's spreadsheet printers give you the
best-looking financial statements you've
ever seen.

SD-15™ prints draft and NLQ

On all Star's new
business machines,
the convenience of a
16K buffer is stan-
dard. No leading
spreadsheet printer has
more memory. So hooking
up with a Star gives your system
the power to process and print at the
same time.

SG-15 " includes 16K memory

for spreadsheets

THE POWER BEHIND THE PRINTED WORD®

200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166

Chicago, IL (312) 773-3717 • Boston, MA (617) 329-8560

Irvine, CA (714) 586-8850

All trademarks (except SG-10/15, SD-10/15, SR-10/15 and Star Micronics Inc.) are proprietary
to or registered trademarks of companies other than Star Micronics, Inc.

Inquiry 387

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 85

EVENT QUEUE

}une 1985

• C STUDIED

C Language Workshops,
various sites throughout the
U.S. Workshops and semi-
nars on C programming and
issues. Contact Plum Hall
Inc., 1 Spruce Ave., Cardiff, NJ
08232, (609) 927-3770. ]une

• FIX-IT WORKSHOP
Computer Repair User Work-
shops, various sites through-
out the U.S. A one-day
seminar on repairing com-
puters. The fee ranges from
$140 to $175, depending
upon location. Contact
Cascio School of Computer
Technology, Suite B109-Q,

2 580 San Ramon Valley
Blvd., San Ramon, CA
94583, (415) 829-5140. }une

• CONFERENCES FOR
MANUFACTURERS, USERS

Conferences for Manufac-
turers and Users from the
Institute for Graphic Com-
munication, various sites
throughout the U.S. Planned
are "Slidemaking with Com-
puter Graphics" and "Digital
Facsimile." Contact Richard
D. Murray, Institute for
Graphic Communication,
375 Commonwealth Ave.,
Boston, MA 02115, (617)
267-942 5. }une

• SEMINARS FOR
MANAGERS, PRO-
FESSION ALS-Datapro
Seminars, various sites
throughout the U.S. Among
the topics covered are
microcomputer communica-
tions, telecommunications,
and local-area networks.
Contact Datapro Research
Corp.. 1221 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY
10020, (800) 2 57-9406. )une

• SEMINARS AND
SYMPOS1A-EDP Seminars

and Symposia, various sites
throughout the U.S. "Data-
base Management and
Fourth Generation Lan-
guages for Personal Com-
puters" and "Introduction to
the UNIX System" are
among the offerings. Fees
range from $395 to $895.
Calendar available. Contact
Software Institute of
America Inc., 8 Windsor St.,
Andover, MA 01810, (617)
470-3880. June

• PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT-Intensive
Seminars for Professional
Development, various loca-
tions in the Boston metro-
politan area, Syracuse, NY,
and Saddle Brook, NJ, Com-
puter, management, and
manufacturing seminars.
Catalog available. Contact
Kathy Shaw, Office of Con-
tinuing Education, Worcester
Polytechnic Institute, Higgins
House, Worcester, MA
01609, (617) 793-5517. }une

• MICRO WORKSHOPS
Microcomputer Workshops,
various sites throughout the
U.S. and Canada. More than
20 workshops for all levels
of expertise. Contact
Rhonda Carney, Intel Corp.,
Customer Training, 27 In-
dustrial Ave., Chelmsford,
MA 01824-3688, (617)
256-1374. ]une

• HOME, OFFICE
COMPUTING-New Olden
Spring and Summer Com-
puter Workshops, New York
City. Introductory and ad-
vanced workshops on per-
sonal, executive, and

secretarial computing. Fees
range from $4 5 to $400,
depending upon duration.
Contact The Olden Com-
puter Workshops, 1265
Broadway, New York, NY
10001, (212) 685-1234.
]une

• SEMINAR, WORKSHOP
Personal Computers and the
Mainframe Connection; Ad-
vanced Applications Tech-
niques: Using Lotus 1-2-3
Macros and Functions,
various sites throughout the
U.S. For information on
these seminars, contact
Data-Tech Institute, Lakeview
Plaza. POB 2429, Clifton. NJ
07015. (201) 478-5400. ]une

• SUMMER SEMINARS
Summer Seminar Series,
Rochester Institute of Tech-
nology, NY A series of one-
week seminars. Titles include
"Introduction to Linear Sys-
tems and Digital Signal Pro-
cessing" and "Advanced
Digital Logic." Contact
Yvonne Fish, School of Engi-
neering Technology,
Rochester Institute of Tech-
nology, One Lomb Memorial
Dr., POB 9887, Rochester,
NY 14623, (716) 475-2915.
}une

• Al. EXPERT SYSTEMS
BRIEFING— Artificial Intelli-
gence and Expert Systems:
What Users and Suppliers
Must Know Today to Deploy
These Technologies as Pro-
fitable Strategic Corporate
Resources Tomorrow, Boston
and Framingham, MA. A
one-day executive briefing.
The fee is $790. Contact Ms.

IF YOU WANT your organization's public activities listed in BYTE's Event
Queue, we need to know about them at least four months in advance. Send
information about computer conferences, seminars, workshops, and courses
to BYTE, Event Queue. POB 372, Hancock. NH 03449.

Lee Burgess, Professional
Development Programs,
Rensselaer Polytechnic In-
stitute, Troy Building, Troy,
NY 12180-3590, (518)
266-6589. )une-\uly

• DATA SWITCHING
Distributed Data Switching
Seminar, various sites
throughout the U.S. A one-
day seminar on the tech-
nology and application of
distributed data switching in
telecommunications. The fee
is $395. Contact Timeplex
Seminars, 400 Chestnut
Ridge Rd., Woodcliff, Nj
07675, (201) 930-4600.
]une~]uly

• INFO MANAGEMENT
SEMINARS-NYU Seminars
on Information Manage-
ment, various sites through-
out the U.S. On the agenda
are "Legal Issues in Acquir-
ing and Using Computers"
and "Networking Personal
Computers." Contact School
of Continuing Education,
Seminar Center, New York
University, 575 Madison
Ave., New York, NY 10022,
(212) 580-5200. ]une-]uly

• CAD COURSE
Computer-Aided Design, Col-
orado State University, Fort
Collins. Three one-week
courses with participants
using a high-performance
dynamic graphics machine.
The fee is $800. Contact
Professor Gearold Johnson,
Center for Computer-
Assisted Engineering, Col-
orado State University, Fort
Collins. CO 80523, (303)
491-5543. ]une- August

• ENGINEERING CON-
FERENCES-Engineering
Summer Conferences,

{continued)

86 BYTE • JUNE 1985

THE PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE

Lotus
1-2-3

CaU

Lotus
Symphony

CaU

dBase III I ErameWork MultiMate

$349 *349 *S49

Word
Perfect

*309

Software

Word Processing Editors

FANCYFONT $139

FINAL WORD $189

MICROSOFT WORD $229

MULTIMATE $249
OFFICE WRITER/

SPELLER $279

PFS: WRITE $ 95

SAMNA WORD III $279
VOLKSWRITER

DELUXE $159
VOLKSWRITER

SCIENTIFIC $279
THE WORD PLUS

(OASIS) $105

WORD PERFECT $209

WORDSTAR $199

WORDSTAR 2000 $269

WORDSTAR 2000+ $309

WORDSTAR PRO $259

XYWRITE II+ $199

Spreadsheets/

Integrated Packages

ELECTRIC DESK $209

ENABLE $359

FRAMEWORK $349

LOTUS 1-2-3 $Call

MULTIPLAN $135

OPEN ACCESS $359

SAMNA PLUS $379

SMART SYSTEM $559
SPREADSHEET

AUDITOR $ 79

SUPERCALC3 $179

SYMPHONY $Call

TKI SOLVER $269

Languages/Utilities

CONCURRENT DOS $189

C86C COMPILER $299
DIGITAL RESEARCH

C COMPILER $219

DR FORTRAN 77 $219

LATTICE C COMPILER $299
MICROSOFT C

COMPILER $249

MS BASIC COMPILER $249

MS FORTRAN $239

NORTON UTILITIES $ 69

TURBO PASCAL $ 59

Database Systems
ALPHA DATA BASE

MANAGER II
CLIPPER
CLOUT V 2.0
CONDOR III
CORNERSTONE
DBASE II
DBASE III
INFOSTAR+
KNOWLEDGEMAN
PFS: FILE/PFS:

REPORT
POWERBASE
QUICKCODE III
QUICKREPORT
R BASE 4000

Project Management
HARVARD PROJECT

MANAGER
HARVARD TOTAL

PROJECT MANAGER
MICROSOFT

PROJECT
PERTMASTER
SCITOR PROJECT

5000W/GRAPHICS
SUPERPROJECT
TIMELINE

Desktop Environments
DESK ORGANIZER
SIDEKICK
SPOTLIGHT

Accounting

BPI

GREAT PLAINS
IUS EASYBUSINESS
ONE WRITE PLUS
OPEN SYSTEMS
PEACHTREE
REAL WORLD
STATE OF THE ART
STARACCOUNTING

PARTNER
STAR ACCOUNTING

PARTNER II

Personal Finance
DOLLARS AND

SENSE
HOWARD TAX

PREPARER 85
MANAGING YOUR

MONEY

$209

$269

$159
$549

$259
$199
$259

$129
S 45
$109

$329
$479
$279
$199
$379
$299
$469
$389

$249

$549

$119
$195
$129

Graphics/Statistics
ABSTAT
AUTOCAD
BPS BUSINESS

GRAPHICS
CHARTMASTER
CHARTSTAR
DR DRAW
ENERGRAPHICSW/

PLOTTER
EXECUVISION
GRAPHWRITER

COMBO
MS CHART
OVERHEAD

EXPRESS
PC DRAW
PC PAINTBRUSH
PFS: GRAPH
SIGNMASTER
STATPAK-NWA
STATPAC-

WALONICK
SYSTAT

$279
$1475

$229
$239
$209
$199

$279
$259

$359
$159

$139
$259
$ 69
i 95
$179
$329

$349
$419

Professional Development
EXPERTEASE $Call

MANAGEMENT EDGE $159
SALES EDGE $159

THINK TANK $119

Communications/
Productivity Tools

CROSSTALK

PROKEY

RELAY

SMARTCOM II

$105
$ 89
$ 99
$109

Display Boards
EVEREX GRAPHICS

EDGE $329

HERCULES GRAPHICS

CARD $299

HERCULES COLOR

CARD $169

PARADISE MODULAR

GRAPHICS $275

PARADISE

MULTIDISPLAY CARD $295
PERSYSTBOB $449

PRINCETON SCAN

DOUBLER $Call

SIGMA COLOR 400 $559

STB GRAPHICS

PLUS II $309

TECMAR GRAPHICS

MASTER $479

TSENG ULTRA PAK $399

TSENG ULTRA PAK-S $349

Networks

AST PC NET $CaH

CORVUS NET $CaM

ORCHID PC NET $Call

3 COM $Call

Mass Storage/Backup
IOMEGA BERNOULLI

BOX $2695

MT25 TAPE BACKUP $885

TALLGARSS TG5025 $2945

SYSGEN IMAGE $850

SYSGEN OICFILE $Call

Input Devices
KEYTRONIC 5151
KOALA

MICROSOFT MOUSE
PC MOUSE W PAINT

Emulation Boards
AST

CXI 3278/9
IRMA
IRMALINE
1RMAPRINT
QUAD 3278

Modems
AST REACH 1200
HAYES 1200
HAYES 1200B
HAYES 2400.
VENTEL 1200
HALF CARD

$179
$Calt
$139
$159

$Call
$950
$799
$999
$Call
$949

SCall
$389
$365
$609

$379

Hardware 4

Displays
AMDEK310A
PRINCETON HX-12
PRINCETON MAX-12
PRINCETON SR-12
QUADRAM

AMBERCHROME
TAXAN 122 AMBER
TAXAN 420/440
ZENITH 124 AMBER
ZENITH 135 COLOR

$169
$459
$179
$599

$179
$159
$399/599
$145
$Cril

Printers/Plotters
C. ITOH

DIABLO 620/630
EPSON FX-80+
EPSON FX-100+
EPSON LQ-1500
HP 7475A PLOTTER
JUKI 6100
NECP3 COLOR
NECP3
NEC 2050
NEC 3550
OKIDATA 84P/93P
PANASONIC
QUME SPRINT 1155
STAR SG/SR/SD
TOSHIBA PI340
TOSHIBA P351

$Call
$Call
$349
$499
$999
$Ca!i
$419

$1099
$799
$769

$1139

$729/619

$Call

$1569
$Call
$779

$1279

Multifunction Boards

AST ADVANTAGE $375

AST 6 PAK PLUS (64K) $259

AST 6 PAK PLUS (384K) $339
ORCHID BLOSSOM

(64K) $289

ORCHID PC TURBO $739
PERSYST TIME SPECTRUM

(64K) $259

QUADBOARD (OK) $229

QUADBOARD (384K) $329
TECMAR CAPTAIN

(64K) $Cali
TECMAR JR CAPTAIN

(128K) $329

TECMAR JR WAVE (64K) $249

TECMAR MAESTRO $429

TECMAR WAVE (64K) $209

Accessories
CURTIS SURGE

PROTECTORS $CaJI
DATASHIELD BACKUP

POWER $Cafl
GILTRONIX A/B SWITCH $Call
MICROBUFFER INLINE

(64K) $264
MICROFAZER INLINE

(64K) $219

64K RAM SET $25

256K RAM SET $ 79

8087 MATH CHIP $150

*CALL FOR SHIPPING COSTS

Tseng
Ultra Pak

$399

Smartmodem
1200B

$365

Smartmodem
2400

$609

LOWEST PRICE
GUARANTEE!!

We will match current

nationally advertised

prices on most products.

Call and compare.

fie

el

Diskette

Library

Case

with your order

In New York State call (718) 438-6057

TERMS:

Checks— allow 14 days to clear. Credit processing— add 3%. COD orders— cash,
M.O or certified check— add $3.00. Shipping and handling UPS surface— add $3.00
per item (UPS Blue $6.00 per item). NY State Residents— add applicable sales tax.
All prices subject to change.

Iffl Tlffl

MON.-THURS. 9:00AM-8:00PM
SUN. & FRI. 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

/ Softline Corporation
/// P.O. Box 729, Brooklyn, N.Y. 1 1230
^ TELEX: 421047 ATLN Ul

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 87

Inquiry 368

ELEPHANT II SPR 2800

$399.00 U.S.

(F.O.B. Edmonton, Canada)

LOW COST PROM PROGRAMMING

• Use with Printers, Video Displays, Personal Computers. Main
Frame Computers.

• Base price includes CSA UL approved wall adaptor, 8K RAM,
2716/2516, 2732,2732A,2764 EPROM Personality Modules.

• Purchase Personality Kits for the 2532, 2564, 2764A, 27128,
27128A, 27256.

• RS232 Interface to View, Upload, Download, Modify, Examine,
etc.

• Extremely easy to use, no complicated key sequences.

• In Stand Alone mode copy, verify and check for all locations
erased. A proven product, successorto the Elephant I, SPR 2700
(for 2708, 2716,2732).

• Accept VISA or Money Order

• Distributor Inquiries Welcome.

SHERREX SYSTEMS LIMITED

4196 - 93 Street, Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
T6E 5P5, (403) 462-4085

MAX. IBM® AT/PC $995
COMPATIBILITY

Mllll

PC-2001*
Made In USA COMPLETE SYSTEM

*OEM BASIC System $555 (Minimum Order 10 Units)

♦PC-2001 Complete System $995 (Dealers at Quantity 2)

*XT-2001 10 MB Complete System $1695 (Dealers at Quantity 2)

*AT-7000 Call For Evaluation Unit $ (Approx. $2000 Off IBM Pricing)

PC-2001 Partial Features: (Dealers Please Call For Details)
• Multi-layered Mother Board • RAM Memory Upgradable to 640K • K«400 or
K-9600 Keyboard • TEAC Drive, & Controller • 2 Serial & 1 Parallel Ports • Buns
Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony, Fllgh't Simulator and thousands more

^DEALER INQUIRIES
INVITED

PLEASE CALL FOR
DEALERS NEAREST \
YOU

■Ac

Other OEM Accessories:
♦20 MB HARD DISK
♦TAPE BACK UP
♦8 SLOT MOTHER BOARD
♦AT-7000 MOTHER BOARD

^^^ W~ t te 2™ e imper,al hwy - bldg - a

^B m T JUL I J 1 imP brea;-ca 92621

IBM is a ^^| ^m
lemark oflfflnCori

£1U CORPORATION ggWW

5794691

EVENT QUEUE

Chrysler Center for Continu-
ing Engineering Education.
University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor. Conferences in such
areas as biomedical,
chemical, civil, computer,
electrical, and environmental
engineering. Contact Engi-
neering Summer Con-
ferences. 200 Chrysler
Center, North Campus, Uni-
versity of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, MI 48109, (313)
764-8490. June-August

• COMPUTER SHORT
COURSES-The Fifteenth
Annual Institute in Computer
Science, University of
California, Santa Cruz.
Among the offerings are
"Relational Database Man-
agement," "Data Storage,"
and "Computer-Aided Geo-
metric Design." Contact Sally
Thomas, University of
California Extension, Santa
Cruz, CA 95064, (408)
429-4534. ]une- August

• SOFTWARE COURSES
Software Short Courses,
various sites throughout the
U.S. Among the courses are
"UNIX: A Hands-on Intro-
duction," "Programming in
C: A Hands-on Workshop,"
and "Software Requirements,
Specifications, and Tests."
Contact Integrated Computer
Systems, 6305 Arizona
Place, POB 45405, Los
Angeles. CA 9004 5. (800)
421-8166; in California, (800)
352-8251 or (213) 417-8888;
in Canada, (800) 228-6799.
}une- August

• DEVELOPMENT

SEMINARS-Professional
Development Seminars,
various sites around Boston,
MA. A brochure describing
one- and two-day seminars
on computer competence,
management, sales, and
finance is available. Contact
Boston University Metro-
politan College, 735 Com-
monwealth Ave., Boston, MA
02215. (800) 255-1080; in
Massachusetts, (617)
738-5020. ]une-Septernber

• SME CONFERENCES,
EXPOS— Conferences and
Expositions from the Society
of Manufacturing Engineers,
various sites throughout the
U.S. For a calendar, contact
the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers, Public Relations
Department. One SME Dr.,
POB 930, Dearborn, MI
48121, (313) 271-0777.
June-November

• SNA SEMINAR
IBM's Systems Network
Architecture (SNA) Seminar,
various sites throughout the
U.S. Covers such topics as
local-area networks, SNA
distribution services, and
personal computer connec-
tions. Contact Communica-
tions Solutions Inc., 992
South Saratoga-Sunnyvale
Rd. San lose, CA 95129,
(408) 725-1568. )une~Decernber

• PICK EDUCATION

Pick System Educational
Series, various sites through-
out the U.S. and Europe.
Seminars and workshops on
the Pick operating system.
Contact JES & Associates
Inc., POB 19274, Irvine. CA
92714, (714) 786-2211.
]une-December

• MUMPS MEETING
The Fourteenth Annual
Meeting of the MUMPS
Users' Group, McCormick
Center Hotel, Chicago, IL.
Tutorials, workshops, site
visits, discussions, and ex-
hibits. Contact MUMPS
Users' Group, Suite 510,
4321 Hartwick Rd, College
Park, MD 20740, (301)
779-6555. ]une 10-14

• ROBOTIC STRATEGIES
Robot Manipulators, Com-
puter Vision, and Intelligent
Robot Systems, University of
Stirling, Stirling, Scotland.
The emphasis is on develop-
ing strategies for solving
robotic-sensing, spatial-
reasoning, and manipulation
problems. Contact Director
of Summer Session, Room

[continued)

88 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 434 for End-Users.
Inquiry 435 for DEALERS ONLY.

AT Power/XT Prices

Our new Zorro AT systems give you: on 60286 CPU operating or o quick 6 Mz.. eight
expansion slots, a clock/calendar wirh boftery backup, o 1 .2 Megobyre 5 1 /4" floppy disk drive,
ond IBM- AT comporibillry.

Zorro AT's also include options that would cost you almost $1000 from IBM: a O'o'OJS drive to
give you PC/XT media compatibility, a copy of DOS -3.0 to get yoi/ started, and a full 512K of
RAM on the main board.

Zarro AT-20's feoture o 20 Mb. Winchester drive from NEC. ond you 3 rill hove room to add a
fourth drive or tope backup.

To be quite fronk. we believe our Zorro AT's ore built better, and we back each system with a
limited warranty for o full year. Our quality and features invite comparison, our prices speok for I
themselves.

Zorro AT $2695 I

Zorro AT-20 $3695

The Silver Fox Trots
Through Lotus Like 1,2,3

The Silver Fox is not IBM-PC compatible yet it runs hundreds of MS-DOS programs including
Lotus 1,2,3, dBASE II. Multiplan, and even Right Simulator.

The Silver Fox does not hove IBM compatible expansion slots but you con economically odd
printers, serial ports, modems, 10-40 Mb. hord disks, clock/calendar cords, RAM, joysticks, an
8087 co-processor, ond more.

What makes the Silver Fox unique, however, isn't what you con odd to it, but what comes
wirh it. Each Silver Fox comes with on 8088 CPU. 256K of RAM. four video ports, and a printer
port. Plus you get more than twice the storage of o standard PC. 1 .6 Megabytes on dual 5 1 /4"
floppys, and the Fox will read and write to standard 1 60K. 320K. and 360K IDM-PC formats.

Standard equipment also includes o better keyboard, a 12" high resolution monitor with o
full 25x80 display, and we bock each Silver Fox with o one year limited worronry.

Were rhls not enough each Silver Fox comes with the best free sofrwore bundle In the
business including: MS-DOS 2.1 1 /HAGEN-DOS 2.1 1 . DOS Tutor. Wordstor 3.3, Easy Writer. Spell.
Moil Track, PC File III. FILEDASE, ColcStor, gomes, graphics, utilities, and two BASIC languages.

Because computer sales usually slow down during the summer we've gjven you an extra
incentive to buy o Fox by lowering our prices. If you want to get the most for your computer
dollar, call our machine of 1-800-FORAFOX. leave your name and address at the beep, and
we'll send you o Silver Fox booklet that will fell you how ir con.

Silver Fox $1297

Color Fox $1497

Altos

High-performance, Xenix-based, multi-user sysrems from
lAltos-world leaders in mulfi-user sysrems and applicarions
|sofrware.

As part of TRW's marketing support group we can have your
lAlfos system installed on your site (additional charge).

Altos systems are easy to expand, and with shared printers
land hard disks are cost competitive with multiple single user
I systems, Coll for additional pricing and availability.

1486-20 $4539

1586-40 $7249

|986-40 $8829

Alms Acer $2779

"printers

■■f\

EpsonFX-80+ "WC$180 off

LX-80 "^4£$100 off

|Okidata92 $2WC$125off

|Okidata93 D9C$210off

|Okidoto84 Coll

|5tar5G-10 $239

SrorSR-15 $599

] Panasonic 1091 $298

I Toshiba 1340 $579

|Toshiba351 $1319

LETTER QUALITY

I Powertype $299

Juki 6100 $399

Juki 6300 $719

Silver Reed 500 $299

Silver Reed 550 $409

Silver Reed 770 $724

Diablo Call

NEC Call

| Doisywrifer 2000 $824

I HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS

DMP-29 $1795

DMP-40 $745

DMP-41 $2340

other models Call

P

W

I The Bernoulli Box:

■ Hard disk capacity and performance

■ Removable cartridge economy and convenience I

■ Cartridge convenience "Flexible disk economy I

■ Winchester capacity ■Unparalleled reliability

1 10Mb $18391

20 MD $2529

[5 Mb./Mac $13791

Columbia 4220 or 2220

Now!

Fox Jrr

$899

S1698

/ V

Seottsdale Systems L r d

617 N. Scortsdale Road, Suite D, Seottsdale, Arizona 85257

(602)941-5856

'A'

Call 8-5 Mon.-Fri.

m/\m We participate in arbitration for business and customers through the Better
Business Bureau of Maricopa County.

SINCE 1980

TELEMARKETING ONLY: If you pion to stop by please phone ahead. Prices listed are for |

cash. P.O.'s from Fortune 1200 companies and universities with good credit add 2% /

Mastercard and Visa add 0% / Arizona residents add 6% sales tox / Shipping extra / All
| items are new with manufacturers warranty / Returned merchandise subject to 20%

restocking fee / Personal or company checks fake up to weeks to clear / No COD's or I
| APO's. Trademarks: Silver Fox. HAGEN-DOS, and Zorro AT, Seottsdale Systems, Ltd.;

Wordstar and CalcStar, Micropro International; MS-DOS. and Multiplan, Microsoft Corporation;

FILEBASE. EWDP Sofrwore. Inc.; dBASE II. AshtonTate; IBM-PC. IBM-PC DOS, ond IBM-AT,

International Business Machines.

WYSESO's

$449

1200 BPS Modems

Volksmodem 12 $199 [

Password $209

Prometheus $31 5 [

Hayes 300/1200 $429 J

call for details

O OLYMPIA

To LQ or NLQ
That is the Question

Whether 'tis noblerro zip along at 165
CP5 in draft mode and use an incredible
1 7x1 7 NLQ mode for letters, or produce
letter perfect outpur- Olympia gives you a
choice.

Compare the Olympia HP to the popular
Epson FX-60 or the Okidaro 92. The HP is
slightly faster, noticeably quieter ond
includes push-type tractors (and friction
feed) as standard equipment.

But the NP's really big feature is its fine
script mode which is superior to the Okidato
92, and even berter than on FX-80+ wirh o
S 199 "NLQ" option. To quote PC magazine.
"The (NP) printer is o sure thing if ir foils into
your price range - and even if it doesn r . . '

If you're looking for the best buy in a
true lerter-quoliry printer (like the Silver
Reed 550 or the Juki 6100) the Olympio
RO is for you. The RO is a 14 CPS. wide-
carriage, that comes with both friction and
tractor feed, serial and parallel ports, ond
quality thot has mode Olympia a world
leader in typewriters.
To LQ or NLQ is up ro you, the price for
either rhe Olympio RO or rhe NP with o 1 0'
shielded cable ro your computer is only:

$344

JUNE I985 -BYTE 89

ADVERTISEMENT

New C Books from Plum Hall

The business of Plum Hall is C Language: training
courses, video-tape presentations, and authoritative
books. We are introducing two new advanced
books: Efficient C, and Reliable Data Structures in
C.

Efficient C (Thomas Plum and Jim Brodie, 1985)
provides a small suite of C functions into which the
reader can "plug in" any C statement and deter-
mine how many microseconds of CPU time it takes
to execute. Expanding upon this technique, the
book presents tables of CPU time and code space
for C operators, control structures, and function
calls. These allow the reader to make fairly accu-
rate estimates of the resources that a program will
take, without resorting to assembler listings. The
book discusses optimization techniques performed
automatically by several compilers, as well as those
techniques which can be effectively used by the
programmer.

Plum and Brodie are respectively Vice -Chair and
Chair of the ANSI committee X3J11 which is stan-
dardizing C language.

Reliable Data Structures in C (Thomas Plum, 1985)
describes techniques for a "no surprises" usage of
pointers, structures, and files. Standard data struc-
ture techniques like stacks, queues, and trees are
presented using reliability techniques, along with a
complete menu -and -forms screen generator.
Relevant information about the draft ANSI stan-
dard for C is presented to allow programmers to
write compatibly with existing and forthcoming
compiler and interpreter environments.

Two other well -received books from Plum Hall:

Learning to Program in C (Thomas Plum, 1983)
presents the fundamentals of C. Presupposing only
an acquaintance with computers, it covers C up
through the basics of pointers and structures.
C Programming Guidelines (Thomas Plum, 1984)
provides a style standard for projects working in C
language. Arranged in "manual -page" reference
format, it gives rules for using variables, data types,
operators, expressions, statements, functions, files,
libraries, and documentation.

Each book is $25.00 (plus 6% within NJ), $30.00
outside USA (airmail). We ship within two days
when ordered by phone or mail with credit card,
purchase order, or check. Plum Hall Inc also pro-
vides introductory and advanced training in C,
both at public courses and in -house. Please call or
write for our public course schedule and inhouse
course details.

Plum Hall Inc

1 Spruce A v
Cardiff NJ 08232
609-927-3770

EVENT QUEUE

El 9-3 56, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, MA 02139.
]une 10-14

• CARACAS EXPO

The First International Com-
munications and Computer
Exhibition and Technical
Conference: VenCom '85,
Caracas Hilton Hotel,
Caracas, Venezuela. Contact
VenCom 85. Suite 219, 3421
M St. NW, Washington, DC
20007, (703) 685-0600.
]une 11-14

• UNIX. C CONFERENCE
USENIX Conference and
Vendor Exhibition, Marriott
Hotel, Portland, OR. USENIX
is a nonprofit organization
promoting UNIX. UNIX-like
systems, and C-language
programming. Contact
USENIX Conference Office,
POB 385, Sunset Beach, CA
90742, (213) 592-3243.

)une 11-14

• NETWORK CONTROL
AND MANAGEMENT-Net-
work Management/Technical
Control, Santa Clara Mar-
riott, Santa Clara, CA.
Diagnostic and test instru-
ments will be displayed.
Contact Louise Myerow, CW
Conference Management
Group, 375 Cochituate Rd..
POB 880, Framingham, MA
01701, (800) 225-4698; in
Massachusetts, (617)
879-0700. June 12-13

• COMPUTERS IN
CLINICAL LABS-Clinical
Laboratory Computers: Sym-
posium 1985, The Towsley
Center, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor. Con-
tact Dove Margenau, Office
of Continuing Medical
Education, The Towsley
Center, Box 057. University
of Michigan Medical School,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0010,
(313) 763-1400. )une 12-14

• CLINICAL COMPUTING
Computing in Clinical
Laboratories: The Fifth Inter-
national Conference, Stutt-

gart, Federal Republic of
Germany. Topics include
databases, data presenta-
tion, and expected develop-
ments. Demonstrations and
exhibits. Contact PD Dr. Chr.
Trendelenburg, Katharinen-
hospital KG. Kriegsberg-
strasse 60, D-7000 Stuttgart
I. Federal Republic of Ger-
many; tel: (07 1 1) 20 34-4 82.
}une 12-14

• INFO MANAGEMENT
INFO/West: The Western In-
formation Management Ex-
position and Conference,
Convention Center, Ana-
heim, CA. TYade show for
executives and data-
processing and manage-
ment-information system
managers. Contact INFO/
West, 999 Summer St. Stam-
ford, CT 06905, (203)
964-8287. June 12-14

• FORTH CONFERENCE
The 1985 Rochester FORTH
Conference, University of
Rochester, Rochester, NY.
The focus will be on soft-
ware engineering and man-
agement. Contact Ms. Maria
Gress, Institute for Applied
FORTH Research, 70 Elm-
wood Ave., Rochester, NY
14611, (716) 235-0168.

]une 12-15

• ELECTRONIC
PUBLISHING

Pages That Fly, New York
University, New York. Ses-
sions of interest to telecom-
munications experts, pub-
lishers, and corporate and
educational professionals.
Contact Arlene Krebs, New
York University, 51 Press
Building, New York, NY
10003, (212) 598-3993.
}une 13-14

• LOGICAL MACHINES
The Second Annual Con-
ference on Logic, Logic
Machines, and Public Educa-
tion, University of Houston-
Clear Lake, Houston, TX.
Formal and informal ses-
sions, symposia, and work-

[continued)

90 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 328

I ft

A system that keeps

your private computer files

from becoming public.

-•^ >§r- ■;:^

GTX-100. Computer security
so advanced, it could even
keep secrets from Mata Hari.

Does your computer talk to
strangers? Before you answer
no, remember, today's com-
puter intruders are very skillful.

In fact, even a famous spy
like Mata Hari would be hard
pressed to match their inven-
tiveness. With one deft phone
call, these electronic trespassers
can tamper with such secret
items as privileged customer
reports, confidential corres-
pondence, and marketing
intelligence.

Inquiry 252

Jj^^Rr ''•'*

&***» H*t ?•* *to*A*

1 eo^oH

III €t)t Bail? Cl)tonitlt

wto mis nl

FILES STOLEN
MY PHONE CALL

Data thieves can steal infor-
mation like that. Or erase it.
Or alter it to their advantage.

That's why your computer
needs the protection of
GTX-100. It's a new kind of
security subsystem developed
from Lockheed's years of
experience with high tech-
nology and strict security.

GTX-100 puts an electronic
wall around your sensitive
computer files and keeps your
private data private.

Use the coupon to get a
GTX-100 brochure plus the
name of your nearest sales
office. They'll show you how
GTX-100 can guard your
secrets the next time a stranger
comes calling.

© Lockheed-GETEX 1985

Mail to:

Lockheed-GETEX, Suite 945,
1100 Circle 75 Parkway, Atlanta,
GA 30339. (404) 951-0878.

Please send me:

□ GTX-100 brochure.

□ The name of my nearest sales
office.

Name

Title"

Company Name

Address

City State Zip

^Lockheed-GETEX

m Giving shape to imagination.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 91

I
I

THE CMO ADVANTAGE HOME COMPUTERS

* THE BEST PRICES!

We will meet or beat any
qualified price you find.

i' Next day shipping on all in stock
items.

S Free easy access order inquiry.

i' Orders from outside

Pennsylvania and Nevada save
state sales tax.

^ Free technicial support with our
factory trained technical staff.

^ There is no limit and no deposit
on C.O.D. orders.

x' There's no extra charge for
using your credit card. Your card
is not charged until we ship.

ix No waiting period for cashiers
checks.

x' We accept purchase orders from
qualified corporations. Subject to
approval.

S Educational discounts available
to qualified institutions.

• FREE CATALOG MEMBERSHIP,

VISA

(MasterCard)

Inquiry 106 ^\9

SHIPPING

Add 3%, minimum $5.00 shipping
and handling on all orders. Larger
shipments may require additional
charges.

All items subject to availability and
price change.

Returned shipments may be sub-
ject to a restocking fee.

APPLE

APPLE lie CALL

APPLE lie CALL

MaclNTOSH CALL

lie LCD Display CALL

A ATARI

65XE (64K) -*

130XE (128K) **V£

130ST (128KJ ?2o^ S

520ST (512KJ 4*

ATARI 600XL CLOSEOUT
S49.99

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

800XL 64K CALL

850 Interface $109.00

1010 Recorder $49.99

1020 Color Printer $79.99

1025 Dot Matrix Printer $199.99

1027 Letter Quality Printer $269.99

1030 Direct Connect Modem $69.99

1050 Disk Drive $179.99

Touch Tablet $64.99

7097 Atari Logo $74.99

4018 Pilot (Home) $57.99

5049 VisiCalc $59.99

4011 Star Raiders $12.99

4022 PacMan $16.99

BOARDS FOR ATARI

Axlon 32K $39.99

Axlon 48K (400) $69.99

Axlon 128K $269.99

Microbits 64K (600) $109.00

Bit 3 Full View 80 $229.00

Qz. commodore
NEW
Commodore 128, LCD..CALL

SX-64 Portable $499.00

Commodore Plus 4 $199.00

CBM 64 $149.00

C1541 Disk Drive $199.00

C1530 Datasette $39.99

M-801 Dot Matrix Printer $189.00

M-802 Dot Matrix/Serial $219.00

MCS 803 Dot Matrix $179.00

C1802 Color Monitor $199.00

C1660 Auto Modem $59.99

DPS 1101 Daisy Printer $339.00

Professional Software

Fleet System II w/Spell^ $49.99

Trivia Fever $29.99

File (64) $59.99

Report (64) $49.99

Precision Software

Superbase 64 $54.99

BATTHRlsi§!NCLJJDen

PaperClip w/Spell Pack $79.99

The Consultant DBMS $69.99

Bus Card II $139.00

80 Col Display $139.00

Qz. commodore

CBM 8032 $639.00

CBM 4032 $599.00

2031 LP Disk Drive $299.00

8050 Disk Drive $949.00

8250 Disk Drive $1249.00

4023 Printer $329.00

8023 Printer $589.00

6400 Printer CALL

Z-RAM $299.00

Silicon Office $299.00

Professional Software

Word Pro 4 Plus/5 Plus each... $239.00

Info Pro $179.00

Administrator $399.00

Power $69.99

JRTABU COMPUTERS

Wiffl HEWLETT

mL/ZM PACKARD

41CV $189.99

41CX $249.99

HP 71B $419.99

HP 11C $62.99

HP 12C/15C/16C $89.99

HP 75D $999.99

HPIL Module $98.99

HPIL Cassette or Printer $359.99

Card Reader $143.99

Extended Function Module $63.99

Time Module $63.99

We stock the full line of
HP calculator products

SEC

PC-8401 $749.00

PC-8201 Portable Computer.. ..$289.00

PC-8231 Disk Drive $599.00

PC-8221A Thermal Printers $149.00

PC-8281A Data Recorder $99.99

PC-8201-06 8K RAM Chips $105.00

SHARP

PC-1350 $159.99

PC-1261 $159.99

PC-1260 $109.99

PC-1500A $165.99

PC-1250A $88.99

CE-125 Printer/Cassette $128.99

CE-150 Color Printer Cassette.$171.99
CE-161 16K RAM $134.99

HARD

£ucy

PC Stor CALL

PC Disc CALL

PC QlC-Stor CALL

PC Back-Up CALL

EVEREX

Hard Drives CALL

Tape Back Up CALL

IDlAssociiUes

5 meg Removable/Internal $1399.00

10 meg Fixed/Internal $1249.00

15 meg 5 Removable/10 Fixed$21 49.00
25 meg 5 Removable/20 Fixed$2499.00

[•MEGA-

10 meg Bernoulli Box $2149.00

20 meg Bernoulli Box $2699.00

5 meg "MacNoulli" $1599.00

■arRanaSystems

10 meg Internal $699.00

fTALLGRASS
TECHNOLOGIES
COMMITTED TO M6wORY

12, 25, 35, 50, 80 meg (PC)
from $1499.00

FLOPPY

INDUS

Apple GT $209.00

Atari GT $249.00

C-64 GT $259.00

EE3

A1.5 Apple $199.00

A2 Apple $199.00

SD1 C-64 Single $269.00

SD2 C-64 Dual $469.00

mm RanaSystems

Rana 1000 (Atari) $199.00

Elite 1 (Apple) $189.00

london

320K 5 1 A" (PC) $129.00

Qume

320K 5V4" .'......."' $109.00

ANCHOR
Volksmodem $59.99

Volksmodem XII $189.99

Mark IL Serial $79.99

Mark VII (Auto Ans/Auto Dial).. ..$99.99

Mark XII (1200 Baud) $259.00

©Hayes

Smartmodem 300 $145.00

Smartmodem 1200 $389.00

Smartmodem 1200B $359.00

Smartmodem 2400 $699.00

Micromodem Me $249.00

Smart Com II $89.99

Chronograph $199.00

ABC

Reach 1200 Baud Half Card. ...$399.00

(WPP miCROBITS

MPP-1000E AD/AA (Atari) $79.99

MPP-1064 AD/AA (C-64) $69.00

[Novation^

Smart Cat Plus $319.00

Smart Cat 103 $169.00

Smart Cat 103/212 $369.00

Novation 2400 CALL

212 AutoCat II $499.00

Apple Cat II $229.00

212 Apple Cat II $379.00

Apple Cat 212 Upgrade $229.00

Macmodem $319.00

TELELEARNING

C64 300 Baud $49.99

ZT-1 fTT..... $339.00

ZT-10 $309.00

ZT-11 $369.00

Z-22 Video Data Terminal $529.00

maxelk

3Vz" SS/DD $39.99

3Vz" DS/DD $54.99

5W MD-1 $17.99

5Va" MD-2 $23.99

8" FD-1 $39.99

8" FD-2 $49.99

vA Verbatim,

5V4" SS/DD $21.99

51A" DS/DD $29 99

Disk Analyzer $24.9?;

Esnsa

Elephant 5 1 /i" SS/SD $13.99

Elephant 5Va" SS/DD $15.99

Elephant 5Va" DS/DD $17.99

Elephant EMSP 5 1 A $24.99

5V4" Disk Head Cleaner $14.99

DISK HOLDERS

INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS

Flip-in-File 10 $3.99

Flip-in-Fiie 50 $17.99

Flip-in-File 50 w/lock $24.99

Flip-in-File (400/800 ROM) $11.99

AMARAY

50 Disk Tub 5V4 M $9.99

30 Disk Tub 3Vz" 8.99

^hoala

IBM $89.99

Apple/Franklin $79.99

Polaroid

Palette $1299.00

MONITORS

PRINTERS

Inquiry 106

PC COMPATIBLES

XlMDEK

300 Green $129.00

300 Amber $139.00

310 Amber IBM-Plug $169.00

300 Color/Audio $239.00

Color 500 Composite/RGB $389.00

Color 600 Hi-Res (640x240) $399.00

Color 700 Hi-Res (720x240) $499.00

Color 710 Long Phosphor $579.00

Q

12" Amber/Green Composite $99.99

12" Amber/Green TTL (ea.) $119.00

SEC

JB 1260 Green $79.99

JB 1201/1205 Green $129.00

JB 1280 G TTL (ea.) $149.00

JB 1285 A TTL $149.00

JC 1215 Color $229.00

JC 1216 RGB $379.00

JC 1460 Color $269.00

JC 1410 RGB $669,00

PRINCETON

MAX-12 Amber $189.00

HX-12 RGB $469.00

SR-12 RGB ' .9.00

Scan Doubter Board $199.00

115 12" Green Mono $99.99

116 12" Amber Mono $99.99

121 Green TTL $139.00

122 Amber TTL $149.00

210 Color RGB $239.00

400 Med-Res RGB $299.00

410 Hi-Res RGB $339.00

420 Hi-Res RGB (IBM) $429.00

440 Ultra Hi-Res RGB $589.00

QUADRAN^

8400 Quadchrome $479.00

8410 Quadchrome II $469.00

8420 Amberchrome $179.00

ZVM 122/123 $89.99

ZVM 124 IBM Amber $149.00

ZVM 130 Color $279.00

ZVM 131 Color $299.00

ZVM 133 RGB $429.00

ZVM 135 RGB/Color $459.00

ZVM 136 RGB/Color $599.00

UUpfuumcAL

Graphcard $79.99

Seriall Card $99.99

Microbuffer l\ + $169.00

Microbuffer 32K $189.00

QUADRAN^

Microfazer from $139.00

Efazer (Epson) from $79.99

IJOrange micro

Grappler CD (C64) $99.99

Grappler + (Apple) $89.99

Grappler 16K + (Apple) $159.00

DIGITAL DEVICES

Ape Face (Atari) $49.99

U-Print A (Atari) $54.99

U-A16/Buffer (Atari) $74.99

U-Call Interface (Atari) $39.99

U-Print C (C64) $49.99

P-16 Print Buffer $74.99

n*e miCROBITS

MB1150 Parallel (Atari) $79.99

MPP-1150 Parallel (Atari) $69.99

MP-1150XL (Atari 1200XL) $69.99

MicroStuffer 64K Print Buffer.. .$109.00

AT-100 Atari Interface Printer.. .$159.00

AT-550 Atari Dual Mode $259.00

GP-100 Parallel Interface $189.00

GP-700 Atari Color Printer $489.00

GP-550 Parallel Printer $269.00

#CITIZEN

MSP-10 (80 col) $349.00

MSP-15 (132 col) $539.00

MSP-20 (80 col.) $569.00

MSP-25 (132 col.) $729.00

c.rroH

Prowriter 7500 $219.00

Prowriter 8510P $299.00

Prowriter 1550P $469.00

Son of Starwriter A10P $459.00

F10-40P Starwriter $869.00

F10-55 Printmaster 31049.00

ComWriterll Letter Quality $399.00

DIABLO

D25 $599.00

corona

Lazer LP-300 $2799.00

d*isywriter

2000 $749.00

EPSON

RX-80, FX-80 + , LX-80, JX-80 CALL

FX-100 + , RX-100, LQ1500 CALL

Homewriter 10 CALL

JUKI

6100 Letter Quality $399.00

6300 Letter Quality $719.00

NEC

8027 Transportable $299.00

2000 Series $699.00

3000 Series $1099.00

8000 Series $1499.00

ELF 360 $449.00

PR103A - Trimode $289.00

LQ15 - Near Letter $359.00

8025 - Wide Carriage $469.00

OKIDATA

83, 84, 92, 93, 182, 192, 193

2410, Okimate-20 CALL

Okimate 10 (Specify C64/Atari)$1 99.00

OLYMPIA

Needlepoint Dot Matrix $329.00

Compact RO $339.00

Compact 2 $369.00

Panasonic

KX1090 $199.00

KX1091 $279.00

KX1092 $409.00

KX1093 $599.00

Quadjet $749.00

2J SJLYER-RECO

400 Letter Quality $279.00

500 Letter Quality $299.00

550 Letter Quality $429.00

770 Letter Quality $779.00

SG10 (120 cps) $239.00

SG15 (120 cps) $399.00

SD10 (160 cps) $359.00

SD15 (160 cps) $479.00

SR10 (200 cps) $499.00

SR15 (200 cps) $639.00

Powertype Letter Quality $319.00

SB10 (NEW) CALL

TOSHIBA

1340 (80 column) $599.00

1351 (132 column) $1199.00

P351 .$1299.00

PC-150 Desktop..... CALL

PC-160 Portable CALL

s

2220 Dual Portable.... $1999.00

4220 Dual Desktop $1999.00

^ SANYO

MBC 550-2 Single Drive $699.00

MBC 555-2 Dual Drive $969.00

MBC 775 Portable CALL

MBC 511 10 meg CALL

pAThT

Safari CALL

6300 CALL

corona

PPC22 Dual Portable $1599.00

PPCXTA 10 meg Portable $2799.00

PC40022 Dual Desktop $2199.00

PC Paintbrush I.^. 5 .! $94.99

• Lotus

Symphony $429.00

1-2-3 ,., $299.00

PeachPack (GL/AP/AR) $199.00

III MicroPro

WordStar 2000 $249.00

WordStar 2000 + $319.00

LMiMaiMiMI

R:Base 4000 $249.00

Clout 2.0 $129.00

MultiMate

Multi Mate.... $249.00

Crosstalk $89.99

MICROSOFT.

Flight Simulator $39.99

MultiPlan $129.00

ASHTONTATES

Framework $349.00

dBASE II $299,00

dBASE III $369.00

Professional Software

PC Plus/The Boss $249.00

synapse

File Manager (IBM) $39.99

St^ ELECTRONIC ARTS*

Get Organized $69.99

Cut -n- Paste $39.99

Music Construction $29.99

One -on- One $29.99

Financial Cookbook $34.99

Electronic Desk $199.00

BBORIPHD
INTFRfJAliONAl

Turbo Pascal $39.99

Sidekick $39.99

SPI

Open Access $379.00

^ I Iarvarcl Software Inc.

Harvard Project Manager $209.00

Total Project Manager $269.00

IBM/APPLE

Access (NEW) $79.99

Write/Graph/File/Plan (ea.) $79.99

Report $74.99

Proof $59.99

Mac Software CALL

SSI Software

Word Perfect $239.00

Human Edge™

Communication Edge 399.99

Management Edge $11 9. CO

Negotiation Edge $139.00

Sales Edge $119.00

SOFTWARE GROUP

Enable $549.00

THOUGHTWARE

Trigger $289.00

Sell, Sell, Sell

Training $299.00

Application $179.00

IBM PC SYSTEMS

Configured to your

specifications.
Call for Best Price!

IBM-PC

IBM-PC II
IBM-XT

IBM-AT

NEC

PC-8800 System

NEC -8800 CPU
NEC - 8831 Dual Drives
NEC - 1460 RGB Monitor
NEC - 15LQ Printer

$1499.00

SOFTWARE FOR IBM MULTIFUNCTION CARDS

AST

Six Pack Plus $239.00

Mega Plus II $269.00

I/O Plus II $139,00

Memory MBII $249.00

Advantage-AT $399.00

Preview Monograph $299.00

Graph Pak Mono/64K $599.00

MonoGraph Plus $399.00

5251/11 $799.00

5251/12 $579.00

3780 $639.00

BSC $499.00

dea

IRMA 3270 $899.00

IRMA Print S999.00

easie

Color $199.00

Mono $149.00

EVEREX

Color Card (Graphics Edge) $299.00

Magic Card $199.00

HERCULES

Graphics $319.00

Color $169.00

BElssociaics

IDEAmax - ZPR, 64K, C, S, P.$229.00

IDEAmini- YPR, C, S, P $189.00

IDEAminimax - MPR 128K $229.00

IDEAshare Software $219.00

IDEA 5251 $699.00

MYLEX

The Chairman $489.00

PARADISF.

Modular Graphics Card $279.00

Multi Display Card $299.00

Five Pack C, S $159.00

PLANTRONICS

Color Plus S369.00

Captain - 64 $239.00

Captain Jr. 128K S339.00

Graphics Master $469.00

QUADRAN^

Quadboard II $229.00

Expanded Quadboard $239.00

Quad 512 + $249.00

Quad 2 Meg $879.00

Memory Board $229.00

QuadJr Exp. Chassis $539.00

QuadJr Exp. Memory $219.00

QuadMemJr $229.00

Chronograph $89.99

Parallel Card $69.99

Quadcolor I $219.00

Quadgraph $379.00

E^EgE

■

^V

KEYBOARDS

Keytronics Keyboards 5150, 5151.

5151 Jr, 5149 Jr CALL

MEMORY CHIPS

4164 RAM Chips (ea.) $2.39

Inquiry 293

No More WAITing with

8087 SPEED for
LOTUS 1-2-3"

FASTBRE AK speeds up 1 -2-3 recalculations byupto36to1ona
4.77 MHz PC and by 79 to 1 on a NUMBER SMASHER equipped
PC. It extends DOS functionality to include the 8087 and comes
with a daughterboard which fits into the 8087 socket, an 8087, a
break button and the necessary software. A number of additional
features are invoked through its novel break button. These enable
the user to lock out the keyboard, exchange information with pro-
grams written In BASIC, FORTRAN or C that are running concur-
rently, spool LOTUS output to a printer and install a single protected
copy of 1 -2-3 and FASTBRE AK on your hard disk. An optional LOCK
BOX makes it possible to RESET your PC and remove the break
button from the computer $339 LOCK BOX $60

See our full page ads elsewhere in this issue
for other MicroWay products including:

8087 5MHz $1 09

64K RAM Set $12

256K HMOS RAM Set $72

256K CMOS RAM Set $1 35

Contact MicroWay, Inc. or your local
MicroWay® Installation Center to order.

Lotus and 1-2-3 are trademarks of Lotus Development Corp. MicroWay,
FASTBREAK and NUMBER SMASHER are trademarks of MicroWay, Inc.

Micro
Way

P.O. Box 79

Kingston, Mass.
02364 USA
(617) 746-7341

The World Leader
in 8087 Support!

COMPETITIVE EDGE

P.O. Box 556 — Plymouth, Ml 48170 — 313-451-0665
Compupro®, LOMAS, EARTH, TELETEK, Macrotech

S-100 CIRCUIT BOARDS

CompuPro286CPU"

S750.

Lomas 286

S821.

Macrotech 286/Z80H

S795.

CompuPro SPUZ'"8MHZ

261.

Lomas 8086

420.

Lomas 10MHz 8086

520.

CompuPro 8085/88' "

245.

Lomas Octaport '" BSerial

320.

Lomas 4 serial

200.

CompuProDisk 1 A '"

347.

Lomas LDP" 72

206.

Macrotech 256K Dram

499.

CompuPro Disk 3'"

417.

Lomas 256KDram

556.

Macrotech 512K Dram

799.

CompuPro Ram 22'"

850.

Lomas 512K Dram

821.

Macrotech 512K static

1595.

CompuPro Ram 23'"

277.

LomasRam67"

725.

Macrotech256K static

795.

CompuPro Ram23 128

487.

Lomas Hazitall'"

244.

Lomas ColorMagic'" 16K

476.

CompuPro CPU Z" 1

189.

Thunder 186'"

1095.

Lomas MSDOS'" 2.11

200.

CompuPro CCP/M' 81 6 *•'

250.

LomasCCP/M*86 ""

280.

CompuPro MDrive H*512K

495.

System Support One '"

245.

CompuPro I/O 4

245.

CompuPro I/O 3 8 port

459.

TeletekHD/

375.

Teletek SBC 1

525.

Teletek SBC 16MHz 128

699.

Teletek Systemaster"

557.

Systemaster 1 1*

899.

Turbodos*' f orTeletek

650.

Lomas 2 Megabyte Ram-(2048K) just S1595.

Earth Computer TURBO SLAVE 1 8MHz 1 28K $395.

Turbo Slave I runs with Teletek, North Star Horizon, Advanced Digital and Others.

SYSTEMS

CompuPro 85/88.256K.CDOS, SS1.I/0 4.2-96TPI DRS. 10 Slot
CompuPro 85/88.256K.CDOS, SSI, I/O 4.1-96TPI.20MB, 10 Slot
286Z80H.1024K Static. CDOS, SS1.I/0 4.1-96TPI.40MB, 10 Slot
M-Drive-H Option S495 per 512K or S1795 per 2048K each
Lomas 286,1024K,20MB HD, 1-5", CDOS. 6 SERIAL, 2 Par, 10 Slot
Lomas Thunder 186, 256K, 20 MB HD, 1-5", CDOS, 4 Slot
Teletek 8MHz Master, 4-8MHz 128K SLVS, 1-5", 20 MB HD, TDOS

UPGRADE YOUR IBM® PC™!!

S3095
S4295
S7495

S4995
S2895
S4495

S299
S159
S449
S279
S279

S119
S125
S 21

ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND STOCK ON HAND

CompuPfO is a Registered Trademark ol Viasyn. CPU Z. Disk 1A, Disk 3. Interfacer 3, Interlacer 4.. CPU 286. CPU 8085 88,
System Support 1, MDRiVE-H, Ram 22, Ram 23 ace trademarks or registered trademarks of Viasyn CP M 2.2, CCP M, are
registered trademarks ol Digital Research Inc. MSDOS is a registered trademark ot Microsoft, Systemaster & Systemaster II are
registered trademarks of Te/etek Enterprises. Turbodos is registered trademark ot Software 2000. IBM is a registered trademark
of International Business Machines.

MONITORS

GRAPHIC BOARDS

Amdex310A

S159

Hercules Monochrome

Taxan Color 440

S549

Hercules Color Card

Princeton Color HR-1 2

S459

Tecmar Graphics Master

Princeton Color SR-12

S649

Paradise Graphics
STB Graphix ... II

MULTI-FUNCTION BOARDS

FLOPPY DRIVES

AST6Pak64K

S245

TEAC1/2HTFD55B

Quadram Expanded Quadboard OK

S219

Mitsubishi96TPI

TecmarCaptain64K

S199

5" OSOD Color Diskettes

EVENT QUEUE

shops. Contact the Institute
for Logic and Cognitive
Studies, University of
Houston-Clear Lake, Box
269. Houston, TX 77058.
(713) 488-9274. }une 13-15

• INTERNATIONAL SHOW
The International Computer
Show, Trade Fair Center, Col-
ogne, West Germany. More
than 3 50 manufacturers
from more than 18 countries
are expected to display their
wares. Contact Messe- und
Ausstellungs-Ges.m.b.H.
Koln, Messeplatz, Postfach
210760. D-5000 Koln 21,
West Germany; tel: (0221)
821-l;lelex:8 873 426muad.
June 13-16

• SYSTEM/38 SEMINAR
The IBM System/38: Stan-
dards and Practices,
Halloran House Hotel, New
York City. The fee is $595.
Contact DGC Inc., 14 50
Preston Forest Square,
Dallas. TX 75320, (214)
991-4044. ]une 17-18

• BIO RESEARCH
RESOURCE— Introduction to
BIONET: A National Com-
puter Resource for Mole-
cular Biology, Rutgers
University, Piscataway, N).
Workshops on using com-
puters for molecular biology
research. Contact Selma Git-
terman, Continuing Profes-
sional Education, Institute of
Microbiology, Rutgers Uni-
versity, POB 759, Piscataway,
NJ 08854-0759, (201)
932-4258. )une 17-19

• PC IN BIG APPLE

PC Expo, Coliseum, New
York, NY. Seminars and
product displays. Contact PC
Expo. 333 Sylvan Ave.,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632,
(800) 922-0324; in New
jersey, (201) 569-8542.
June 17-19

• INTRO TO FORTH
Beginning FORTH Program-
ming, Humboldt State Uni-
versity, Areata, CA. A hands-
on, introductory course for

those wishing to learn
FORTH and write applica-
tions in it. The fee is $150
or $200 with three credit
hours. Contact Claire Duffey,
Office of Continuing Educa-
tion, Humboldt State Univer-
sity. Areata, CA 95521. (707)
826-3731. June 17-21

• ENGINEERING
SOFTWARE— Engineering
Software; Engsoft '85. The
Fourth International Con-
ference and Exhibition, Ken-
sington Exhibition Centre,
London, England. Exhibits
and sessions. Contact Elaine
laylor, Computational
Mechanics Centre, Ashurst
Lodge, Ashurst, Southamp-
ton S04 2 A A. England; tel:
(042 129) 3223; Telex; 47388
Attn. COMPMECH.

]une 18-20

• COMPUTERS AND
MANUFACTURING-Success-
ful Implementation of Com-
puter Integrated Manufactur-
ing, Constellation Hotel.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
'Ibpics covered include com-
ponents of computer-
integrated manufacturing,
methods of implementation,
and planning and manage-
ment. Contact Computer
and Automated Systems
Association, Society of
Manufacturing Engineers,
One SME Dr.. POB 930.
Dearborn. MI 48121. (313)
271-1500. }une 18-20

• DATA COMMUNICA-
TIONS UPDATE-Data Com-
munications: A Complete
Overview and Update, New-
port Beach, CA. The mana-
gerial, operational, and
technical aspects of data
communications and facili-
ties are covered. Contact
Data-lech Institute, Lakeview
Plaza. POB 2429, Clifton, NI
07015, (201) 478-5400.

June 19-21

• TIPS FOR NET

MANAGERS-Network Man-
agement/lechnical Control,

[continued)

94 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 94

Alloy takes your PC
totheliniit

QICSTOR-PLUS. The ultimate in PC expansion with

five IBM compatible slots, hard disk storage, and

streaming tape backup in one neat package.

Alloy's QICSTOR-PLUS meets all your ity of 36 to 128 MBytes. And QICSTOR-

Alloy's QICSTOR-PLUS meets all your
expansion needs. It's the ideal upgrade
for a growing PC or AT system.

QICSTOR-PLUS has five full size
expansion slots which are completely
compatible with the IBM PC bus and

PLUS has file-oriented streaming tape
backup with a formatted capacity of
over 50 MBytes. Alloy provides file-
oriented QTIP software with a trans-
fer rate of 2 MBytes/minute.
QICSTOR-PLUS is available right

they also support Alloy's PC-SLAVE/16 QICSTOR-PLUS is available i
multi-processor, multi-user capability. Its now. So call Alloy today at (617)
high performance hard disk has a capac- 875-6100.

Spring '85

Computer Products, Inc.

Alloy Computer Products Inc., 100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701. Tel: (617) 875-6100, TWX: 710-346-0394
In Europe: Alloy Computer Products (Europe), Ltd., Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England. Tel: 0285-68709, Tlx: 43340

Inquiry 20

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 95

Inquiry 95 for End-Users. Inquiry 96 for DEALERS ONLY.

ECOMPAQ desk pro

= IBM P.C. AVAILABLEPRODUCTSr

10 MEGABYTE HARD DISK

• Low power consumpiion

PORTABLE

XT

• 10 Megabyiefiai
disk. fully shock
mounied

• Tape Back-up in
Power Cenier.' u

•640K expansion
on moiher board
using256K chips.

h height

• Tape Back-up.
[floppy tape)

• 640K expansionon
molherboardusing 256K
chips,

• 20.40. GOMegabyte
(ape backup

• Economical. fast, re

:IBM P.C. AT AVAILABLE F

• Opiionat 2ndharddiskor removablehard
disklor backup

• CMI 20/30 Megabyte hard disk (Same
asusedbylBM)

•20.40.60 Megabyte Vi heightTape Back-up
Very (as), ellicient & reliable

• Removable hard disk 10 Megabyte

EXPANSION BOARDS

ATRAMCARD

• 12 8Kexpansion.
1.5 Megabyte
using 256K chi

• I 28K Piggy Back
Chips lormother
board expansion

rallelPon
•Fully IBM AT
compatible

AVAILABLE PRODUCTS:

HARD DISK

TAPE

RAM UPGRADE

10. 22, 33 MEGABYTE

• Fully compatible

•DOS 2.1 &3 0compaiibie

• Vi helghi

•20.4 0.60 Megabyte

• Siandarddaiaiormat

• imageorliieby tile

COMPAQ PORTABLE

• 640K expansion on
motherboard usmg256K
Chips

10, 20, MEGABYTE HARD DISK

• Low power consumption • External Back. up in Power Center '

• Special shock mounted (Same as usedby Compaq!

;AT&T

AVAILABLE PRODUCTS -

HARD DISK

TAPE

RAM UPGRADE

10.22,33.87. MEGABYTE
INTERNAL* EXTERNAL UNITS

• Low power consumption

• 100% compatible

• Controller same as used by AT & T

• ExlernalTape
Back-upm
PowerCenter "

ONE CALL DOES IT ALL!

(714)953-0470

2 E. Edinger Ave. • Santa Ana. CA 92705

64K $BCs.™$99.

in OEM quantities

• Save development time and costs with
Megatel Quark® single board computers
• Select only the features you require
•We deliver your first unit in
two weeks or less

• 6MHz Z80B®

• 8088 Co-Processor

• 64K, 128K or 256K RAM

• Alpha/Graphics

Video Controller

• Floppy Disk Control

(8", 5V or 3V)

• Winchester Hard

Disk Control

• Up to 2 Full Duplex

Serial Ports

Special Packages:

Entry Level Quark 10 with Z80B®, 64K RAM, EPROM, Video,
Serial and Parallel I/O only $295.*

64K SBC Package with CP/M® 2.2 on disk. . .only $375.*

Custom designs and layouts available

• Up to 128K EPROM

• E 2 PROM Support

• Time of Day Clock

• Up to 4 Parallel

I/O Ports

• Peripheral Expansion

Interface

• CP/M® 2.2 or CP/M® 3.0

Operating Systems

To order your first unit call
our Toronto sales office today.
(416) 745-7214

Or write us: Megatel
1051 Clinton St.,
Buffalo, N.Y 14206

CP/M Is a registered trademark ot Digital Research -Quantity one price
Z80B Is a registered trademark ot Zllog Inc.

megatel

EVENT QUEUE

Convention Center, San Jose,
CA. A conference and ex-
position. Contact CW Con-
ference Management Group,
375 Cochituate Rd., POB
880, Framingham, MA
01701, (800) 225-4698; in
Massachusetts, (61 7)
879-0700. ]une 24-27

• WORK WITH A
COMPUTER-Using a Per-
sonal Computer, Brecken-
ridge Concourse Hotel. St.
Louis, MO. A hands-on
course for those who want
to use integrated software
packages. The fee is $965.
Contact The Center for Pro-
fessional Advancement. POB
H, East Brunswick, NJ 08816,
(201) 238-1600. June 24-27

• ADVANCED FORTH
Using FORTH Effectively,
Humboldt State University,
Areata, CA. An advanced,
hands-on workshop in apply-
ing FORTH to real-world
problems. The fee is $150 or
$200 with three credit
hours. Contact Claire Duffey,
Office of Continuing Educa-
tion, Humboldt State Univer-
sity. Areata, CA 95521, (707)
826-3731. ]une 24-28

• ADVANCED LOTUS
CLASS— Advanced Lotus
1-2-3, Georgia Institute of
lechnology, Atlanta. A con-
centration on macros, macro
menus, and multiple linked
worksheets. The fee is $390.
Contact Irish Stolton.
Department of Continuing
Education, Georgia Institute
of lechnology, Atlanta, GA
30332, (404) 894-2 547.

]me 25-26

• GRAPHICS IN SUNSHINE

Computer Graphics '85
West, Los Angeles. CA. Con-
tact National Computer
Graphics Association, 8401
Arlington Blvd.. Fairfax, VA
22031, (703) 698-9600.
]me 25-27

• UNIX FOR MANAGERS
UNIX Overview for
Managers, City University,

Bellevue, WA. For managers
considering a UNIX system
for office automation or
software development. The
fee is $100. Contact David
Cheyette, Specialized
Systems Consultants. POB 7,
Northgate Station, Seattle,
WA 9812 5, (206) 367-8649.
June 26

• CAD TECHNOLOGY

CAD 2001: The Countdown,
Boston, MA. Presentations
on the future of computer-
aided design. The fee is
$900. Contact CAD Seminars
Inc., Suite 400, 1 50 East
Riverside. Austin. TX 78704,
(512) 445-7342. )une 26-28

• DATA COMMUNICA-
TIONS UPDATE-Data Com-
munications: A Complete
Overview and Update,
Philadelphia, PA. See June
19-21 for details. ]une 26-28

• COMPUTERS IN AUSTIN

The Third Annual Austin
Computer Fair. Municipal
Auditorium, Austin, TX.
More than 1 50 exhibits and
seminars are planned. Con-
tact David Orshalick, Austin
Seminars Inc., POB 4531,
Austin, TX 78765, (512)
451-2954. ]une 27-29

]uly 1985

• COMPUTER TRAINING

Computer Iteming Programs,
Wintergreen Learning In-
stitute, Wintergreen. VA.
Hands-on training in word
processing, information
management, spreadsheets,
and graphics. Contact Dr.
M. D Corcoran, Wintergreen
Learning Institute, POB 7,
Wintergreen, VA 22958.
(804) 325-1107. ]uly~Septernber

• AUTOMATION DOWN
UNDER-AutoMach Australia
'85, Melbourne. An auto-
mated manufacturing con-
ference and exhibition. Con-
tact SME World Head-
continued)

96 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 270

AMAZING miSf

NOW! FULL SIZE, FULL FEATURE, LETTER QUALITY AT ONLY $353

If you have been searching for a letter
quality printer you have probably found
the flood of claims and counterclaims to
be a real roadblock in your search. Not
long ago we were in the same position.
We tried to determine which daisy wheel
printer had all the features our
customers wanted, yet would not set
them back a month's salary. Recently
several manufacturers have introduced
machines that had features we were
seaching for. After a thorough assess-
ment, we eliminated one model after the
other for lack of one feature or another
until we only had one left.

THE RESULTS ARE IN

We found the printer which has all the
features anyone could want. The winner
is the Aprotek Daisy 1120, a real heavy-
duty workhorse printing at 20 characters
per second. The manufacturer is Olympic
Co. Ltd., a highly respected Japanese firm.

FEATURES GALORE

This printer has it all. To start with, it
has a front panel Pitch Selector button
with indicators which allows 10, 12, 15
characters per inch (CPI) or
Proportional Spacing. There is a Select
(Online) button (with indicator) and a
Line Feed button. You can also set Top-
of-Form or Form Feed with the touch of
the TOF button. Other front panel in-
dicators include Power and Alarm.

To load a sheet of paper, simply place
it in the feed slot and pull the paper bail
lever. PRESTO! The paper feeds automati-
cally to a 1 inch top margin and the car-
riage aligns to the selected left margin.
In this manner, each page can have iden-
tical margins automatically. You can con-
tinue to compute while the
Daisy 1120 is

printing. The built in 2K buffer frees up
your computer while printing a page on
two allowing you to go to your next job.
To really put your printer to work, the
Cut Sheet Feeder option is great for
automatic printing of those long jobs.
Also available is the adjustable Tractor
Feed option. Compare our option prices!
Best of all the Daisy 1 120 is quiet: only
57 dB-A (compare with an average of
62-65 dB-A for others).

COMPLETE COMPATIBILITY

The Daisy 1120 uses industry standard
Diablo® compatible printwheels. Scores
of typeface styles are available at most
computer or stationary stores. You can
pop in a 10, 12, 15 pitch or proportional
printwheel and use paper as wide as 14".
At 15 CPI you can print 165
columns— great for spreadsheets.

The Daisy 1120 uses the Diablo
Hytype II® standard ribbon cartridges.
Again universally available.

Not only is the hardware completely
compatible, the control codes recognized
by the Daisy 1120 are Diablo 630®
compatible (industry standard). You can
take advantage of all the great features
of word processing packages like
Wordstar® , pfs: Write® , Microsoft
Word® and most others which allow you
to automatically use superscripts,
subscripts, automatic underlining, bold-
face (shadow printing) and doublestrike.

The printer has a set of rear switches
which allow the use of standard ASCII as
well as foreign character printwheels.
Page length can be set to 8, 11, 12, or
15". The Daisy 1120 can also be switch-
ed to add automatic line feed if required.

^

^s^^

THE BEST PART

When shopping for a daisy wheel
printer with all these features (if you
could find one), you could expect to pay
$600 or $700 dollars. The options would
add much more. Not now! We have done
our homework. We can now offer this
printer for only $353. Order yours today!

NO RISK OFFER

Try the Daisy 1120 for 2 weeks. If you
are not satisfied for ANY reason we will
refund the full price— promptly. A full
1-year parts and labor warranty is
included.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Aprotek Daisy 1120 (Order#1120) $353
w/standard Centronics parallel interface
and 2K buffer.
Options

Auto Cut Sheet Feeder (#11 10) $188
Tractor Feed (#1112) $77
Accessories

8' Cable for IBM PC® and compatibles
(#1103) $26

Interface with cable: «TI-99/4A (#106) $66
•Apple II or He (#1104) $76
•All Commodore (except Pet) (#1105) $44
•All Atari (#1107) $66
Shipping is $11— UPS continental USA. If you are in
a hurry, UPS Blue or Air Parcel Post (second day
air) is $25. Canada, Alaska, Mexico and Hawaii are
$30 (air). Other foreign is $60 (air). California
residents add 6% tax. Prices are cash prices— VISA
and M/C add 3% to total. We ship promptly on
money orders, cashier's checks, and charge cards.
Allow 14-day clearing for checks. No C.O.D.'s. Pay-
ment in US dollars only.

TO ORDER ONLY CALL TOLL FREE
(800) 962-5800 USA
(800) 962-3800 CALIF.

Or send payment to address below:
Technical Information & Customer
Service: (805) 987-2454 (8-5 PST)
Dealer Inquiries Invited

©1985 APROTEK. All rights reserved.

Trademarks: Diablo, Hytype II, 630-Xerox
Corp: Wordstar-Micropro Corp.; PFS-
Software Publishing Corp.: Microsoft
Word-Microsoft Corp.; Apple, II,
lie-Apple Computer, Inc.;
IBM PC-IBM Corp.;
PET, CBM,

(8-8 PST)

.■dPROKK

1071-A Avenida Acaso, Camarillo, C A 93010

Inquiry 303

The best of two worlds

The MYTECH COMAL interacts programming language gives
you the simplicity of Basic and the power of Pascal. Many of the
concepts are influenced by ADA® 1 , for example exception
handling, packages etc.

Mytech Comal features

• Friendly, interactive user inter-
face with help facilities

• 100% orthogonal.

/ / PROP Sangu

a^e.cbeek.

n

thr^

THEM

'■'*

itee—pngramtng

l_[aiF>»c

I K fbHran 0K«<t». otttw.

!»ryt^7HIH

i i "*

njctured.fTOgramrrii'ng

\\emwf

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jrwAJP-eiieck

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/^Mssssi

'ggggSSS -s

KKX

'& ocDcaaoc

OODOC2CSD

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» Screen editor
• Fulfills the Comal 2.00 requirements

Available for IBM® 2 , MACINTOSH* 8 ,
HP, OLIVETTI, APRICOT*',
WICATetc

Implemented on UNIX® 2 ,
CPM/86® 3 , C-CPM/86® 4 ,
MS-DOS® 5 , PC-DOS® 6
• Easily ported to 16/32-bits systems
Tne pacKage concept makes
Mytech Comal extensible

Turtiegraphics package (LOGO)

is available

Easily customized for

foreign languages

Support for the 8087.

Is written in "C".

Comal is an official education

language in Europe.

Mytech Comal is the perfect language for students as well as for the
professional programmer. For further information please ask for a
data sheet. Or why not do it the right way, order your Mytech Comal
system today and move in to a new fascinating and powerful pro-
gramming dimension.

MYTECH W DATA AB

Mytech Software INC, 1 1 1 20 Rosell Street no.E, San Diego, CA921 21 USA
Tel. 619-452-9847,Telex. 705340

No Lower Price Anywhere

We have the lowest prices for ©Sanyo
G reywolf marketing 203-928-3654 PH0NE 0RDERS

ONLY

Included with Each Computer

WORDSTAR MAILMERGE SPELLSTAR CALCSTAR INFOSTAR BASIC

NEW Computers with Full Sanyo Warranty

1 Year on Mother Board — 90 Days on All Other Parts

SECOND DISC DRIVE : JM gg00

r £sm.

MBC1100 $599

8-Bit Integrated Computer with 64KB RAM M BC 4000

c 2 -msa cpu wth ™>.wa,i moflo and targe 6JKQ Compact 16-Bit Integrated Computer with

RAMMKB ROM memory capaMy tor fast mcojUw ! 28KB RAM

MBC 1200 S799

B-Bit Integrated Computer with
High Resolution Display

I ' Qprrf'.'tiC 1 1C0; ..■■ ',-.., iMFiC1i , <;jj:iii--:ri;ild:ji.l,'.

a:-.'); *.in 3?C<r3 l.;,r mailed capacity
K :.■>-■'!',■ ■•■■:■■• v : ■ :■■■

□ 128KB RAM met
EJInl«rtaeesforoo

r«. HS.232C|X.i

I i Specially-designed dr.

a High resolution 640 k -iOO dot main* dis»l,iy w.lt

graphtcsrunciions
D Cnocoot 33tineor 40 lineteni mode

□ DWM operating system with editor assembler a
all standard utilities

D Easy to-uso Sanyo Graphic BASIC

D O/ie |MBCt200)or l»rt)(MSC lZ50)Jnten.al doul
Sir3eitdoobie<Ser6rty, douWMia*. 5U" slim-iy
mm Oop»7y Oak flmres win 6JOKB rormaned

□ Speoaiiy-designeddelacrvable keyboard with cc
oneRS-232port

• CASH PRICE ONLY*

Check in advance. Add 3% lorVISA'MC. No Returns.
Shipping & Handling charges will be added to each order.

For complete technical literature send SI" lo:

P.O. Box 689 PHONE ORDERS ONLY:

Putnam, CT 06260 203-928-3654

EVENT QUEUE

quarters. One SME Dr.. POB
930. Dearborn. MI 48121.
(313) 271-1500; in Australia,
Mr. Greco, Integrated Project
Management Services. POB
1399. Crows Nest 2065. New
South Wales, Australia; tel:
02-439-4014; Telex:
AA2 5468. ]uly 2-5

• ADVANCED
AUTOMATION -Robot
Manipulators, Computer
Vision, and Automated As-
sembly. Cambridge. MA.
Contact Director of the Sum-
mer Session, Room E19-3 56.
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge. MA
02139. Ju/y

• COMPUTATIONAL
LINGUISTICS-The Twenty-
Third Annual Meeting of the
Association for Computa-
tional Linguistics, University
of Chicago, IL. Papers, dem-
onstrations, and tutorials.
Contact Don Walker (ACL),
Bell Communications Re-
search. 44 5 South St., Mor-
ristown, Nj 07960. (201)
829-4312. July 8-12

• SYMPHONY TIPS

Advanced Symphony,
Georgia Institute of 'tech-
nology. Atlanta. Areas
covered include auto-dialing
to remote computers and
"smart" spreadsheets using
AI concepts to preanalyze
numeric outputs. The fee is
$390. Contact Irish Stolton,
Department of Continuing
Education, Georgia Institute
of Technology, Atlanta. GA
30332. (404) 894-2 547.
July 9-10

• AWC CONFERENCE
The Fourth Annual National
Conference of the Associa-
tion for Women in Comput-
ing, Allerton Hotel. Chicago,
IL. Workshops and sessions
on technical and career-
enhancement topics. For
more information, contact
loan Wallbaum, AWCC '85,
407 Hillmore Dr., Silver
Spring, MD 20901.

}uly 13-14

• THENCC

The 1985 National Com-
puter Conference; NCC '85,
McCormick Place. Chicago,
IL. Exhibits, technical ses-
sions, and development
seminars. This year's theme
is 'Technology's Expanding
Horizons." Contact Helen
Mugnier, AFIPS. 1899
Preston White Dr., Reston,
VA 22091, (703) 620-8926.
Inly 15-18

• iRMX USERS MEET
The iRUG Annual Interna-
tional Conference, Palmer
House, Chicago, IL. The
theme is 'The Future Direc-
tion of Real-Time Software
Applications." iRUG is a a
nonprofit organization made
up of Intel iRMX operating
system users. Contact
Catherine Moon. MS/HF2-57.
Intel Corp., 5200 Northeast
Elam Young Parkway.
Hillsboro. OR 97123. (503)
640-7038. }uly 17

• SIMULATION

The 1985 Summer Computer
Simulation Conference;
SCSC '85. Westin Hotel,
Chicago, IL. Contact Charles
Pratt, Society for Computer
Simulation, POB 2228, La
Jolla. CA 92038. (619)
459-3888. )uly 22-26

• COMPUTER
WORKSHOPS-Personal

Computer Workshops. Aspen
and Colorado Springs, CO.
Tutorials, including an intro-
duction to personal com-
puters, word processing,
spreadsheets, and database
management. Contact Rocky
Mountain Institute of Soft-
ware Engineering. 1670 Bear
Mountain Dr., POB 3521.
Boulder. CO 80303, (303)
499-4782. ]uly 22-26

• SIGGRAPH

SIGGRAPH '85; The Twelfth
Annual Conference on Com-
puter Graphics and Interac-
tive Techniques, Moscone
Center, San Francisco, CA.
Contact SIGGRAPH '85,

[continued)

98 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 200

"EK

2213A/2215A/2235

DUAL TRACE OSCILLOSCOPES

THE ANSWER

BY ANY MEASURE

Now! Tek quality and expert advice
are just a free phone call away!

The industry
standard in CRT
performance.

Crisp, easy-to-
read, bright CRT;
14kV accelerating
potential, provides
high writing rate
and small spot
size. Full size 8x10
cm display for
measurement
accuracy.

Display controls
are flexible and
easy to use. Sep-
arate intensity
controls reduce
blooming in alter-
nate sweep mode.
Focus tracking
minimizes control
adjustment and
BEAM FIND elimi-
nates confusion.

Vertical sys-
tem provides
measurement
assurance. Flat
transient response
and high accuracy
ensures true
reproduction of
your signals. Fast
risetime and high
bandwidth is well
suited for a variety
of measurement.

Perform delayed
sweep measure-
ments accurately
and easily. Both
sweeps can be
displayed alter-
nately making dif-
ferential measure-
ments easy and
accurate (1%).
An interlocking
SEC/DIV control
simplifies set-up.

Stable hands-off
triggering. P-P

AUTO detects sig-
nal peaks, then
sets the trigger
levelforyou. Dis-
play asynchronous
signals using
VERT MODE trig-
gering. Indepen-
dent TV field and
line selection.

Front panel laid
out by function
for ease of use.

Color coding aids
the user in opera-
tion. Functions
and modes are
placed logically.
All nomenclature
is clearly labeled,
and protected
behind a scratch-
less Lexan surface.

Our direct order line gets
you the industry's leading
price/performance portables. . .
and fast answers from experts!

The 60 MHz single time base delay
2213A, the 60 MHz dual time base
221 5A and the 1 00 MHz dual time
base 2235 offer unprecedented
reliability and affordability, plus the
industry's first 3-year warranty*
on labor and parts, CRT included.

The cost: just $1275 for the
2213 A, $1525 for the 2215 A,
$1750 for the 2235.t Even at
these low prices, there's no
scrimping on performance. You

have the bandwidth for digital
and analog circuits. The sensitivity
for low signal measurements. The
sweep speeds for fast logic fami-
lies. And delayed sweep for fast,
accurate timing measurements.
All scopes are UL Listed and CSA
approved.

You can order, or obtain
literature, through the Tek
National Marketing Center. Tech-
nical personnel, expert in scope
applications, will answer your
questions and expedite delivery.
Direct orders include comprehen-
sive 3-year warranty*, operator's

manual, two 1 0X probes, 1 5-day
return policy and worldwide ser-
vice backup.

Order toll free:
1-800-426-2200,
Ask for Rick.

In Oregon, call collect:
(503) 627-9000.
Or write Tektronix, Inc.
P.O. Box 1700
Beaverton, OR 97075

Ttektronix

coMMrrrED to excellence

Copyright ® 1985, Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. #TTA-439-3. fPrice FOB. Beaverton, OR. '3-year warranty includes CRT. s

JUNE I985 -BYTE 99

Inquiry 291

MICROTIME

5020 N. ORRCLE, TUCSON, RZ 85704

SflNVO

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WORDSTAR • EASYWRITER • CALCSTAR

MSD0S2.11 • 128KRAM

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zeiiith moniTOH* Epson hx-bo

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COLOH POHTRBLE • mOIlQ POHTHBLE
OPTIONAL 10 MEGABYTE HARD DISK

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THE WORD* • MULTIPLAN*
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320K RAM • (2)360K DRIVES
ZEMTHmaillTOH • BROTHER Hfl-15

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AST SIX-PACK WITH 64K
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DISKETTES

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IL CALL COLLECT 312-455*4488

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— P.O. BOX 35146

CHICAGO IL • 60635*0146

MASTERCARD/VISA/CO.D,

EVENT QUEUE

Conference Services Office,
Smith, Bucklin and Asso-
ciates Inc.. 1 1 1 East Wacker
Dr., Chicago, IL 6060 L (3 12)
644-6610. )u\y 22-26

• INTELLIGENT MACHINES
Logic Programming & Expert
Systems, The TUring Institute,
Edinburgh, Scotland. Lec-
tures, demonstrations, and
sessions on programming
techniques, system structure,
and Prolog. Contact The Hir-
ing Institute, 2 Hope Park
Square, Edinburgh EH8
9NW, Scotland; tel:
031-668-1737. July 24-25

• TECH CONFERENCE
Semi-Official Get-together:
SOG IV, Central Oregon
Community College, Bend,
OR. Sponsored by Micro
Cornucopia, this conference
features forums on commu-
nications and single-board
systems design. Admission is
free. Contact Micro
Cornucopia Inc., POB 223,
Bend, OR 97709, (503)
382-8048. Ju/u 2 5-28

• CHEMICAL

ENGINEERING
The Seventh C.C.C.E. Na-
tional Computer Workshops-
East, Clarkson University,
Potsdam, NY. Sponsored by
the American Chemical
Society Division of Chemical
Education's Committee on
Computers in Chemical
Education and Project
SERAPHIM. Advanced regis-
tration is $100. Contact Dr.
Donald Rosenthal, Depart-
ment of Chemistry, Clarkson
University. Potsdam, NY
13676, (315) 268-6647.
]uly 28-August I

• PUBLIC COMPUTING
The 'I\venty-Third Annual
Conference of the Urban
and Regional Information
Systems Association, Westin
Hotel, Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada. The conference
theme is "Computers in
Public Agencies, Sharing
Solutions." Contact URISA
Secretariat, Suite 300, 1340

Old Chain Bridge Rd.,
McLean, VA 22101, (703)
790-1745. ]uly 28-August I

• COMPUTERS AND
EDUCATION-The 1985
World Conference on Com-
puters in Education. SCOPE
Convention Center, Norfolk,
VA. Exhibits, papers, panel
sessions, tutorials, and
preconference workshops.
Contact WCCE/85, AFIPS,
1899 Preston White Dr.,
Reston, VA 22091. (800)
622-1985; in Virginia, (703)
620-8900. )uly 29-August 2

August 1985

• ENGINEERING CON-
FERENCE, EXPO-The 1985
ASME International Com-
puters in Engineering Con-
ference and Exhibition,
Sheraton Boston Hotel,
Boston, MA. The theme is
"Expert Systems: A New
Dimension in Computer
Engineering." Contact The
American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, 345
East 47th St., New York. NY
10017, (212) 705-7100.
August 4-8

• EVENT FOR TRAINERS

COMTRED '85: The National
Computer Training and
Education Conference and
Exhibition, Civic Center,
Philadelphia, PA. Seminars
and conferences for edu-
cators, computer trainers,
retailers, and distributors.
More than 50 exhibits. Pre-
conference workshops on
August 6. Contact National
Computer Education Exposi-
tions Inc., Suite 200, 1411
Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA
19102, (215) 972-8792.
August 7-9

• TOMORROW'S

COMPUTERS— International
Symposium on New Direc-
tions in Computing,
Norwegian Institute of
Technology, Trondheim,

[continued)

100 B YTE ■ JUNE 1985

Inquiry 118

Introducing the new and improved

IBMPCH9 95

Actually, it's not a new
IBM® PC.

It's GEM DESKTOP.™
The $49.95 software
breakthrough that makes
your old IBM PC so aston-
ishingly easy to use that it
seems like a new one.

So long PC DOS,
hello GEM.™

GEM DESKTOP software
looks like an ordinary floppy for
your PC. But slide it into your
IBM's disk drive, and the change begins.

From this moment on, you can run
most of the important PC programs—
but instead of typing cryptic commands
to get into your program menu, you
simply point and click your mouse* or
use your cursor keys to open a window.
It's like a breath of fresh air compared
to the complex PC DOS operating sys-
tem you've been using.

Point and click vs. stroke, stroke,
stroke.

Next, instead of typing and retyping
long file names, you simply point and
click again at the appropriate symbols.
And voila! Your file appears on screen.
But it's not quite the same screen
you've been used to.

Simple menu headers at the top to
guide you effortlessly from one func-
tion to the next. So instead of making
more complex keystrokes that can
easily be mistyped, your IBM PC is
easier and faster to use than ever
before. There is also a clock and a
calculator both built right in.

Indispensable. And only $49.95.

Your GEM Desktop includes all
operating system interface software
and comes with amazingly simple
instructions. In fact, GEM DESKTOP
software makes it possible, for the first
time, for anyone to learn to use an
IBM PC. (Who knows, maybe even
the most dedicated computerphobes in
your company will warm up to the PC,
after this.)

And you can just as easily justify
the cost— only $49.95 for complete
operating package. Which makes it
affordable enough to have several.

If you can use a phone, you can
have GEM DESKTOP.
Right Now.

To order GEM DESKTOP, just call
toll-free (800) 443-4200. Charge your
order to your Visa, MasterCard or
American Express. While you're on
the line ask us about GEM DRAW,™

our nifty $149.00 graphics package with
an extensive gallery of art.

Or mail this order form, along with
your payment.

[nI]

' GEM requires that your cojnputer have appropriate graphics capability and that the pointing device be compatible.Call for exact requirements.
GEM, GEM DRAW and GEMDESKTOPare trademarks of Digital Research Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business
Machines Corporation. Digital Research is a registered trademark of Digital Research Inc.© 1985, Digital Research Inc. All rights reserved.

Inquiry 139

Name.

Address .

City

State

_ZIP.

GEM DESKTOP

$49.95 plus $3.00 shipping and

handling.

GEM DRAW

$149.00 plus $4.00 shipping and

handling.

Applicable sales or use tax will be added. COD,
checks or purchase orders will not be accepted.
(Outside USA add $10.)

Method of payment. Circle one.

VISA MASTERCARD AM. EX.

Card number

Exp. date

Signature

Mail to: GEM Software

Digital Research Inc.

60 Garden Court

Box DRI

Monterey, C A 93942

Or call (800) 443-4200.

SGEM

FROM DIGITAL RESEARCH®

Inquiry 204

HARMONY VIDEO & COMPUTERS

2357CONEY ISLAND AVE.. BROOKLYN. NY 11223
800VIDEO84 OR 800-441-1144 OR 718-627-1000

IBMPC256K

COMMODORE 64

\^L_^a

w

$1248.95

$149.95

STAR SG 10

APPLE2Ew/DRIVE

$212.50

$819.95

<

'PRINTER SPECIALS"

Brother HR15 XL

338

Jukl6100 Televldeo

349

Panasonic KXP 1093 474

Brother HR 35

770

Juki 6300

687

Panasonic XKP 3151 442

Brother Keyboard

120

Mannesman Spirit 80

174

Powertype 275

Citizen MSP 10

289

NEC 2050

824

Rlteman Blue + 198

Citizen MSP 15

468

NEC 3550

999

StarSGlO 209

Corona Laser

2496

NEC 7730

1399

StarSG15 347

Daisywrlter

728

NEC 8850

1399

StarSDIO 318

Epson RX80FT +

249

Nee p3 or p2

832

StarSD15 411

Epson RX80

194

Okldata92

349

StarSRIO 457

Epson RX 100

374

Okldata93

584

StarSR15 552

Epson FX B0

329

Oklmate 10

125

StarSBIO 878

Epson JXB0

548

Olympal Compacl 2

338

Silver Reed Exp 550 364

Epson FX 100 +

514

Olympalro

297

Silver Reed Exp 500 249

EpsonLO1500

909

Panasonic KXP 1091

249

Silver Reed Exp 770 850

HP Laser Jet

2808

Panasonic KXP 1090

174

Toshiba 1340 515

Panasonic KXP 1092

338

Toshiba 1351 1103

WOW! WOW! WOW!

IBM

PCw/Drlve

1249

PCXT

1899

IBM Drive

189

ASTSIxPack

209

Taligrass20Meg

2252

Quad Board

221

Keytronlcs

129

Hercules Color

140

Hercules Monochrome

279

Paradise Graphics

252

Paradise Multl Display

273

STB Graphics +2

248

STB R10-2

236

Tecmar Graphics

439

Tecmar Captain

189

Persyst Monocard

182

Bernouli Box

1935

10 Meg Drive

593

Joystick

28

Tandon 100-2

104

ZENITH

Zenith PC 2150

1619 ,

Zenith PC 15152

2057 |

Zenith PC161-52

2204 y

APPLE

MONITORS

2EwfDlsk Drive

819

Amdek 300 Green

109

Macintosh

1352

Amdek 300 Amber

109

Apple 2C

879

310 Amber

142

magewrlter

468

Color 300

205

Addt. Drives from 119

Color 500

274

Modem 12

429

Color 600

374

ATARI

Color700

419

BOO XL

96

Color 710

505

1027 Printer

224

PrlnctonHX12

419

1050 Drive

146

PrlnctonMax12

159

Indus. Drive

219

Taxan 122A

135

1025 Printer

156

Taxan420

390

Rana 1000

167

Koala Pad

32

SANYO

Printerl/F

49

550 D.S.

645

MODEMS

555 D.S

947

Hayes 1200

375

MBC 775

1727

Hayes 1200B

312

Hayes 300

177

COMMODORI:

v1lcromodem2E

204

Commodore84

127

Novation J-cat

89

1541 Disk Drive

172

1702 Monitor

182

182

800-441-1

144

Indus. Drive

219

Items reflect cash discount. For your protection we check for stolen credit cards.

YOUR COMPUTER'S FUTURE

rpopttons

II odd accept list q

•pdisplay

which(_medicatio

aspirin

panadol

alcohol

no(more)ansver3

delete kill load save clear quit

-patient should- take -medication if

_patient complains- of ^symptom end
-medication suppresses -symptom

LPA micro- PROLOG professional is a new more powerful
version of LPA micro-PROLOG with its own window handling
primitives and "Wordstar- like" screen editor. With
"Macintosh-style" menus and windows, LPA micro-
PROLOG professional is fully integrated with the MS DOS 2
environment using all the memory available.

LPA micro-PROLOG professional is considerably faster
than LPA micro-PROLOG 3.1 and is an unbeatable
production tool for Artificial Intelligence programs, writing of
Expert Systems and the rapid prototyping of micro computer
software.
Launch price US $395. 00. Upgrade price is US $ 1 95.00.

For mformanoncontact —
NORTH AMERICA

PB Programming Loge System Inc, .
rmt 31 Crescent Dnve. Mitford. CT 06460. U.S.A.
Tel: (203) 877 7988

REST OF THE WORLD

"o*!] Logic Programming Associates Ltd., Dept. BY/2
rrfl 1 0Burntwood Close, London SW183JU
Te). 01 -874 0350

EVENT QUEUE

Norway. Contact New Direc-
tions in Computing, IEEE
Computer Society. POB 639,
Silver Spring. MD 2090I.
August 1 2- 14

• GRAPHICS

Ausgraph '85, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia.
Australia's first international
conference and exhibition
on computer graphics. Con-
tact Conference Secretariat,
Ausgraph '85, POB 29,
Parkville, Victoria 3052,
Australia; tel: (03) 387 9955;
Telex: AA 33761.
August 12-16

• COMPUTER SWAP

Northwest Computer Swap
Number 9, Fiesta Exhibit
Hall. San Mateo County Fair-
grounds, San Mateo, CA.
Admission is $5. Contact
Northwest Computer Swap,
4883 'Ibnino Dr., San jose,
CA 95136, or call Robert
Kushner, (408) 978-7927.
August 17

• AI INVESTIGATED
IjCAI-85: The International
joint Conferences on Arti-
ficial Intelligence, University,
of California, Los Angeles.
Topics include AI architec-
tures and languages, intel-
ligent CAI, automated rea-
soning, and expert systems.
Tutorials. Contact IJCAI-85,
American Association for
Artificial Intelligence, 445
Burgess Dr., Menlo Park, CA
94025, (415) 321-1118.
August 18-24

• FOR EDUCATORS

Innovative Applications of
Microcomputer Technology
in Vocational Education,
University of Wisconsin,
Madison. The emphasis will
be on interactive video, net-
working, hard-disk systems,
and telecommunications for
agriculture, education, and
health applications. Contact
Dr. Judith Rodenstein, Voca-
tional Studies Center, 964
Educational Sciences
Building, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, 1025

West Johnson St., Madison,
WI 53706, (608) 263-4367.
August 19-21

• INTERFACING
WORKSHOP-Personal Com-
puter and STD Computer In-
terfacing for Scientific Instru-
ment Automation,
Washington, DC, area. A
hands-on workshop with
each participant wiring and
testing interfaces. The fee is
$450. Contact Dr. Linda
Leffel, C.E.C., Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and
State University, Blacksburg,
VA 24061, (703) 961-4848.
August 22-24

• OFFICE AUTOMATION
EVENT-INTECH '85: The In-
tegrated Information r fech-
nology Conference and Ex-
position, Moscone Center,
San Francisco, CA. An
office-automation forum.
Contact Jill Nieman, National
Trade Productions Inc., Suite
400, 2111 Eisenhower Ave.,
Alexandria, VA 22314, (800)
638-8510; in Virginia, (703)
683-8500.

August 26-29

• VIDEODISC
CONFERENCE-The Fifth
Annual Nebraska Videodisc
Symposium, University of
Nebraska, Lincoln. The
theme is "Videodisc— The In-
dustry Comes of Age." Panel
discussions, presentations,
and exhibits. Registration is
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• NEW ZEAL ANDERS
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Zealand National Computer
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Auckland, New Zealand.
Speakers, panel sessions,
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contact Conference Commit-
tee, POB 3839, Auckland,
New Zealand. August
27-31 ■

102 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 253

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 103

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 105

BVTE

Features

Interactive Audio in a Videodisc System

by \ohn lawler. Paul Hairsine,

and Albert E. Miller 108

Ciarcias Circuit Cellar:

Build the Home Run Control System.

Part 3: The Software

by Steve Garcia . . 121

SALT

by Samuel D. Fenster and Lincoln E. Ford. .147

The SUM: An AI Coprocessor

by Phillip Robinson 169

Inside AppleTalk

by David Ushijima 185

The Expert Mechanic

by Michael Fkhtelman 205

Switch

by Werner F. Grunbaum 221

Twos-Complement Numbers Revisited

by Gary Bronson and Karl Lyon 228

LAST JULY OUR THEME was computers and video. This month we present
a different aspect of this interesting topic. John Lawler, Paul Hairsine and Albert
Miller explain the design and operation of the Search 400-R audio box, which
transfers sound from a cassette recorder to videodisc systems.

June also sees Steve Ciarcia finishing up his Home Run Control System (HCS)
project by describing the system's software. The heart of the HCS is an
interrupt-service routine. All of the system's other functions are subroutines
that are called from this main routine.

Prior to the development of their SALT language, Samuel Fenster and Lincoln
Ford spent a lot of time developing programs that would accommodate their
work in research laboratories. SALT is a threaded interpretive language that
performs repetitious procedures rapidly and does not use much memory
space.

Phillip Robinson, a senior technical editor in our Palo Alto office, looks at
the SUM coprocessor, which is being developed for computers geared toward
AI programming. Originally, the SUM research team planned to develop a
unification chip, but it became clear that at present levels of integration a
single chip would be impractical; therefore, the group decided to design a
full-blown processor.

In February our BYTE West Coast staff previewed AppleTalk in 'The Macin-
tosh Office" (page 120). This month David Ushijima takes a closer look at
Apple's new local-area network (LAN), which is designed to let Apple and
non- Apple products communicate and share resources. AppleTalk is extremely
flexible and can be used in three ways: as a peripheral bus, as a small LAN,
or as a path to a more complex network.

Imagine your computer taking the place of your car mechanic. Michael
Fichtelman presents an expert mechanic program written in Logo. The ex-
pert mechanic analyzes problems with knowledge-base searches— probing until
the source of the mechanical problem is found. This program could serve
as a model for many areas of expertise.

Switch is a BASIC program for IBM PCs that enables you to use both mono-
chrome and color monitors at the same time. Werner F Grunbaum shows you
how to write graphic instructions on your monochrome monitor and display
the results on your color monitor— a neat idea.

Converting negative numbers on a computer can be difficult. Gary Bronson
and Karl Lyon show us a new two's-complement conversion method using the
"value box," which simplifies the process by visually connecting a two's-
complement binary number to its decimal value.

—Phil Lemmons, Anne Fischer, and loan Roy, BYTE

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 107

Interactive
Audio in a
Videodisc System

Create various

sound tracks for
your videodisc show

Microcomputer-driven
videodisc teaching
systems usually con-
sist of a microcom-
puter, such as an Apple lie or an IBM
Personal Computer (PC), and a video-
disc player controlled externally by
computer. Some systems also use an
input device like a TSD (touch-
sensitive display) or a mouse. The
system described in this article con-
sists of a microcomputer (which con-
trols the videodisc player), a TSD, and
an external audio system that uses or-
dinary cassette tapes. (For an in-depth
discussion of videodiscs, see "Video-
discs and Computers" by Stan Jarvis,
July 1984. BYTE, page 187.)

While you can use videotape
players interactively, videodiscs are
more readily controlled by computer,
have much faster interimage access
times, and can store up to 54,000
frames on one side. You can also con-
nect a TSD so that the computer can
determine what action to take de-
pending on the area of the screen you
touch.

Such a system needs computer con-
trol. While some videodisc players
have a small amount of memory and
therefore can have rudimentary pro-
grams encoded on the actual video-
disc, a microcomputer-driven system

is infinitely more versatile.

Software written for the computer
can easily drive not only the videodisc
player but other connected devices as
well. These programs offer you higher
levels of interactivity because most
computers are not limited to small
amounts of memory. Keep in mind
that the interactivity of such a system
comes not from the media (videodisc,
etc.) but from the computer program.
How well it uses the various parts of
the system and the techniques of an
effective presentation determines the
success of your videodisc system.

You can create teaching packages
with slides and videotaped motion se-
quences that have been transferred
onto the videodisc and mixed with
computer text and graphics either on
the videodisc or overlaid on the
videodisc image on the display. The
resulting system is not merely an ex-
pensive, glorified slide show. You can
have as interactive a teaching tool as
you want as long as it is controlled by
computer. You can easily program as
many help buttons, quizzes, etc., as
you need using the information on
the videodisc. There are many appli-
cations for such a system in all phases
of education— lab work, review,
remedial help, self-paced courses,
etc.— and at any grade level.

While pictures and animation may
serve many purposes, speech and
sound are often invaluable. Most
videodiscs have an audio track for
recording sound. But while sound can
accompany a sequence of frames
(animation), such as a space-shuttle
launch, it cannot accompany a single

still picture because a single frame
does not have enough space to hold
it. There are two ways around this.
One is to show many copies of the
same picture, one after the other, or,
in other words, animate it. This is the
same as showing a sequence, and
sound can accompany it. But even a
1 5-second use of videodisc-recorded
sound uses 450 copies (30 frames =
1 second of motion) of one picture,
an obvious waste of space. Sony has

[continued)

]ohn lawler is currently a junior at the
University of Notre Dame majoring in elec-
trical engineering with a concentration in com-
puter engineering.

Paul Hairsine, who designed the board
described in this article, has both a B.S. and
an M.S. in electrical engineering from Notre
Dame and is currently working at McDon-
nel Douglas.

Albert E. Miller is a graduate of the Col-
orado School of Mines and has a PhD. from
\owa State University. He is a professor in
the Department of Metallurgical Engineering
and Materials Science at Notre Dame and
directs a group involved with interactive
videodisc systems for training purposes. All
authors can be reached at the University of
Notre Dame, Department of Metallurgical
Engineering and Materials Science, Notre
Dame, IN 46556.

108 B YTE • IUNE 1985

by John Lawler, Paul Hairsine, and Albert E. Miller

ILLUSTRATED BY FRANK LEVY

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 109

INTERACTIVE AUDIO

The Operation
of the Search 40OR

The Search 400-R is a self-contained
box consisting of a cassette deck
mounted on an electronics board, a
keyboard control with a light-emitting
diode (LED) display, and a 16-pin dual-
inline-package (DIP) cable connected
to a computer interface. You can
operate the unit manually or by
computer.

The main difference between the
Search 400-R audio system and a nor-
mal cassette player is in the way you
record sound on the tape. Normal
cassette tapes have only one track, or
one recording surface, on which to
record sound. The Search 400-R audio
box. however, divides the tape into
four tracks, each of which can be
recorded on separately. It sections
each track further into either 2 5, 50,
or 100 locations. Therefore, you can
divide a standard CI 20 (2-hour) tape
into as many as 400 locations. How-
ever, tracks have a finite amount of
recording surface, so the more loca-
tions you have per track, the less sound
you can fit into each location. With 100.
50. or 2 5 locations per track, you can
have 0.5. 1.1, or 2.3 minutes of audio
per location, respectively. A by-product
of this recording scheme is an in-
creased tape capacity— from the
original 2 hours to as much as 3.83
hours (4 tracks x 2 5 locations per track
x 2.3 minutes per location).

The Search 400-R is especially useful
in a computer system because the tape
locations are accessed randomly. This
shortens the time between requesting
a location and playing it. Accessing a
location 2 5 minutes away from your
current position takes about 12
seconds; the search time between ad-
jacent locations is substantially less—
approximately I second for each loca-
tion; i.e., it takes 10 seconds to jump
10 locations. These locations are in-
dexed from 00 to 99 while track selec-
tions are 1 through 4.

The deck finds various sections of

One by-product is a

greater tape capacity:

as much as 3.83 hours

on a 2-hour tape.

audio by counting the number of times
the tape reel turns. This indirect
method of addressing specific tape
locations results in high-speed
searches without tape-to-head contact.
There are up to 100 locations per track,
and each needs a particular number of
reel turns to be found; these numbers
are stored in the Search 400-R's on-
board ROM (read-only memory). The
deck counts the number of reel turns
optically and saves it in an up-down
counter, which is then compared to the
number stored in ROM. Then the deck
fast forwards or rewinds itself as
necessary to find the desired location.

One inherent source of error in such
reel-count methods is the variable
packing density of different tapes. How
tightly or loosely the tape is wound
around the reel can distort the reel
count enough to compare incorrectly
with the number stored in ROM. This
results in selecting the wrong audio
location. Differences in packing density
arise because the take-up reel winds
the tape more tightly during fast for-
ward than during normal play. The
reverse reel, however, maintains a con-
sistent packing density regardless of
the operation. The Search 400-R, there-
fore, counts the number of times the
reverse reel turns to minimize the dif-
ferences in reel counts.

Another possible source of error is
uneven braking, To stop the tape, the
deck sends equal amounts of braking
currents to the two reels. However,
momentum causes the reel containing
the larger amount of tape to stop more

slowly. The Search 400-R alleviates this
problem by boosting the braking cur-
rent to this reel, so both reels stop at
the same time.

Counting errors can also occur if the
deck goes directly from, for example,
fast forward to rewind. This doesn't
always allow enough time to properly
update the reel count. The Search
400-R avoids this by not allowing the
audio deck to switch modes (i.e.. play
to rewind) until it stops completely and
updates the reel count. Therefore, the
deck can search for specific audio loca-
tions with a great deal of accuracy.

The audio deck has more than one
format of operation, that is. 2 5, 50. or
100 locations per track. A small rotary
switch inside the audio box selects the
mode. You can access this switch by
removing the four screws on the back
of the unit and sliding the deck out of
its housing. The switch simply selects
which portions of the ROM will be ad-
dressed, either manually or by com-
puter.

The longest piece of audio any loca-
tion can hold is 2.3 minutes. However,
this does not preclude a 5-minute ex-
planation, [f the audio content in a par-
ticular location exceeds the defined
length, the deck continues to record,
but it erases whatever is in the next
location; likewise, it is erased if you
record another piece of audio in that
next location.

To facilitate manual operation of the
Search 400-R. the audio box is
equipped with a 16-button keypad, an
LED readout, a manual track selector,
a volume control, and status lights. The
keypad contains the following keys;

0-9

address digits

A

run

B

fast forward

C

stop

D

rewind

*

search

#

record

110 BYTE • IUNE 1985

INTERACTIVE AUDIO

The front panel also contains three
side switches: auto run, auto search,
and auto repeat. When you set auto
search on, the deck begins to search
as soon as you enter the two location
digits. When auto run is turned on, the
deck doesn't wait for the actual run
command but plays the message as
soon as it is found. Auto repeat con-
tinues repeating the message until you
enter a stop command. These three
functions are useful in manual mode,
but you should turn them off if you are
running under computer control to
prevent messages from playing before
you want them to.

The deck also has a silence-sense cir-
cuit that detects the end of the audio
and automatically stops the deck after
2.5 seconds of silence. This circuit
senses the sequence of audio then
silence, so that the silence before the
audio doesn't stop the deck.

The following operating procedure
applies to both manual and computer
control of the Search 400-R. It is im-
portant to remember that you can
manually override computer control.
When you insert a new tape into the
audio deck or turn the deck on, you
(or the computer) first issue a rewind
command to properly reset the reel
counter. Then you enter the appropri-
ate track and location information
followed by a search command. After
the search completes, the bulb next to
the search button lights up to tell you
that the audio deck is waiting for a new
command. If the box is under com-
puter control, the bulb lights up, and
the computer is informed of its status.
Then you enter the run command so
the message found by the search will
begin to play. When the message ends,
the deck stops and the bulb next to the
stop button lights up, indicating that it
is ready for new selections and com-
mands. If any of the side switches, such
as auto run, are on, some steps will be
done automatically. It is important that
the track and location entered be con-
sistent with the internal settings of the
machine. In other words, you can't ef-
fectively search for location 78 when
the system is set up for 50 locations.

The audio deck can record tapes as

well as play them. When you press the
# button— or the computer sends the
record command— the system enters
record mode provided the record-
protect tab on the tape has not been
removed. The deck does have some
idiosyncrasies that you need to under-
stand. It has a four-track format but
only two tape heads. Each head covers
a pair of tracks (tracks I and 2 and
tracks 3 and 4). When recording in
stereo, this causes no problem because
you are recording two tracks simulta-
neously. When recording in mono,
however, you must be careful not to
erase locations. The circuitry of the
audio deck requires that you select
track 2 or 4 to activate the tape heads.
This means that you should record
track 2 before track 1. and track 4
before track 3. Otherwise, while you
are recording one track, you will be
erasing the other. You also have an
automatic volume control when you
record a tape. The Search 400-R user's
manual contains instructions on how
to adjust it.

The general operating procedure for
recording a tape is basically the same
as for playing it. After you insert the
tape in the deck, you fast forward it to
the end and then completely rewind it.
This resets the reel counter and en-
sures proper packing density. (It is not
necessary to fast forward and rewind
the tape just to play it, but it won't hurt
either.) After the tape stops, you give
it the record command, either pro-
grammatically or manually with the #
button. Then you enter the track and
location you wish to record. A search
command advances the tape to that
location, and when the search status
light goes on, you enter the run com-
mand to start recording. A built-in
delay mutes the recording for two sec-
onds to provide a gap between loca-
tions; this allows for small deviations
in searching for a location. When the
commence light appears, you speak
your message into a microphone;
when you finish, you enter the stop
command. Pressing the # button
returns the deck to playback mode,
where you can check the location and
message you have just recorded.

a way of recording sound on a video-
disc while showing only one frame,
but it too uses a great deal of space.

Another problem with recording
sound on a videodisc is that once
recorded it is permanent. At the pres-
ent time you cannot erase videodiscs.
This is not a problem unless you
decide that some recorded sound se-
quence isn't very clear; how can you
change it? You could make another
videodisc for a few thousand dollars,
or you could use an external audio
box.

The audio box described in this ar-
ticle uses cassette tapes, so if the
sound is not right, you can simply
record over it. allowing greater
presentation flexibility. Indeed, the
combination of a computer and a
separate audio box means that you
can make one videodisc master and
use it for two completely different
groups. Assume, for example, that you
want to use a videodisc about the
space program for both grammar
school students and aerospace engi-
neering students. Since the two
groups have different comprehension
levels, you would gear a different pro-
gram and audiotape to each group—
an easier one for the grammar school
students and a more difficult one for
the college students.

Recording sound onto cassette
tapes is not enough; you must inte-
grate the audio box into the sys-
tem—it must be controllable by the
computer. It must also have facilities
for random access— given the loca-
tion, to quickly find some piece of
sound without searching the entire
tape. And there must be some sort of
interface between the computer and
the audio box.

We decided to include audio capa-
bilities in our interactive video system
and to begin with something simple
and inexpensive. And we wanted an
easily erasable, readily available re-
cording medium— essentially a com-
puter-controlled cassette tape re-
corder. This need was met by the
Search 400-R by Phi lechnologies.

The Search 400-R is a self-contained
box consisting of a cassette deck

[continued)

JUNE 1985 • BYTE III

FINALLY! MAIL ORDER SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON!

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INTERACTIVE AUDIO

mounted on an electronics board, a
keyboard control with an LED (light-
emitting diode) display, and a 16-pin
DIP (dual-inline package) cable con-
nected to a computer interface. The
unit can be operated either manually
or under computer control. There are,
however, differences between a nor-
mal cassette player and the Search
400-R audio system, which are de-
scribed in the text box "The Opera-
tion of the Search 400-R" on page
110.

The 16-pin DIP connector lets you
interface the cassette deck with a per-
sonal computer from which you can
enter all necessary track and location
data, as well as any desired com-
mands. However, you must build an
interface for the two machines to
communicate with each other. The
text box "Designing an Interface
Card" at right describes this
process.

Software Support

To make the hardware described in
the text boxes useful, it must be sup-
ported by software. Luckily, simple
BASIC programs can provide such
support. Operating the Search 400-R
with an Apple He is a simple process.
The peripherals are plugged into in-
ternal expansion slots— called I/O (in-
put/output) slots— numbered O
through 7. The Apple lie treats its I/O
slots like memory locations (ad-
dresses); therefore, to communicate
with a peripheral device plugged into
an I/O slot, the software program must
merely access the address that cor-
responds to the slot it wants. Ikble I
provides the slot numbers for the
Apple lie, along with their corre-
sponding addresses in decimal form.

If the interface card between the
Apple and the Search 400-R is pres-
ent in slot 3, for example, the program
must address location 49328. Since
the Apple He accesses the I/O slots as
memory locations, you can establish
communication with the audio box by
using the BASIC statements PEEK(x)
and POKE(x) where x is a memory
address such as 49328.

To function properly, the program

[continued)

112 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 175

INTERACTIVE AUDIO

Designing an Interface Card

To design a n interface card to con-
trol the Search 400-R with a micro-
computer, you must first understand
the microprocessor interface on the
audio deck. On the back of the deck
you will find a 1 6-pin connector that at-
taches it to the computer. The pins are
all 5 volts and compatible with TTL
(transistor-transistor logic), Schottky,
and CMOS (complementary metal-
oxide semiconductor). (For more infor-
mation, see table A.)

The first seven pins are used to enter
track and location data into the audio
deck. If you want to use an address,
you enter two binary-coded-decimal
(BCD) numbers sequentially into pins
I through 4, the most significant digit
(MSD) first. Then you send a strobe
pulse through the address strobe at pin
5 to inform the audio deck that an ad-
dress, rather than a command, has
been entered. The track number is
entered into pins 7 and 8 and must be
there when you input the first number
of the address. Remember that count-
ing starts at in this system: repre-
sents the first track, 1 the second, etc.
Therefore, you must enter the loca-
tion's MSD and the track information
into the appropriate pins before you
activate the strobe. Then you can in-
put the location's least significant digit
(LSD) and strobe it as well.

You enter commands to the audio
box in exactly the same manner but
you don't activate the address strobe.
Commands are entered as BCD
numbers with decimal values 10
through 1 5, as follows:

search

10

record

11

run

12

fast forward

13

stop

14

rewind

15

These numbers must stay on the input
pins for at least I millisecond to
register the commands properly.

Pins 10 through 1 5 are known as the
status outputs and are used for data
coming from the audio box. They are
connected directly to the LED (light-
emitting diode) display on the Search
400-R and can tell the computer what

the audio box is doing at any given
time. They are active low, so finding the
pins at ground determines the status
of the unit. (The start run pin is used
by remote-control devices such as
timers and therefore is not applicable
for computer control.)

Controlling the Search 400-R

Both the Apple lie and IBM Personal
Computer (PC) have internal expansion
slots for plug-in circuit boards that are
directly connected to the I/O (input/out-
put) channels. Each slot consists of a
bidirectional data bus, address lines,
and interrupt and DMA (direct memory
access) control lines. The channels
have I/O read or write lines, clock and
timing lines, and power and ground for
the circuit boards. You can put infor-
mation on or take it off the I/O chan-
nel's data lines by connecting them to
the clock's input lines, which allows the
computer to control the deck, and by

connecting them to the deck's status-
output lines, which allows the com-
puter to monitor the status of the deck.
Thus, by connecting the Search 400-R
unit in this manner, you can— with the
appropriate software— have two-way
communications between the deck and
the controlling computer.

The Apple Interface

We purchased an interface card made
by Phi Technologies for the Apple He
rather than designing one from
scratch. It uses only the data lines, a
read/write line, a clock line, and the
device-select line from the Apple's I/O
channel to control the audio box. It is
available as item #9000-009 from Phi
Technologies Inc. (4605 North Stiles,
Oklahoma City, OK 73105) for $160.
Each I/O slot in the Apple lie has a
specific address and uses the device-
select line for decoding instead of the

[continued)

T^ble A:

The functions and active levels of the 16 pins in the 16-pin

connector found on the back of the Search 400-R and used to connect it to

the computer. (LSB stands for least

significant bit, and MSB stands for

most significant bit.)

Pin 1

data bit 1 (LSB)

active high

Pin 2

data bit 2

active high

Pin 3

data bit 3

active high

Pin 4

data bit 4 (MSB)

active high

Pin 5

address strobe

active high

Pin 6

track bit 1 (LSB)

active high

Pin 7

track bit 2 (MSB)

active high

Pin 8

ground

Pin 9

start run

active high

Pin 10

search OK status

active low

Pin 11

rewind status

active low

Pin 12

fast forward status

active low

Pin 13

run status

active low

Pin 14

stop status

active low

Pin 15

record status

active low

Pin 16

+ 5 volts

T^ble B: The addresses you can use to activate two channels if you wish
to attach two audio boxes.

A 9

A 8

A 7

A 6

A 5

A 4

A 3

A 2

A,

A

Channel 1

1

1

X

X

Channel 2

1

1

X

X

1

1

JUNE 1985 -BYTE

INTERACTIVE AUDIO

address lines. When you wish to either
send or receive data from the I/O slot's
address, you activate that slot's
device-select line. Its data lines are
connected to the status-output lines,
and to the deck's two input lines (pins
1-7) via seven clocked D-type flip-
flops. Of the seven data bits sent
through the input lines, the four LSD
bits are the address bits, the next two
the track bits, and the seventh the ad-
dress strobe. Note that the MSD bit is

not used. The clock inputs to the seven
D-type flip-flops are connected to the
output of another clocked D-type flip-
flop that is further connected to the
output of the decoding circuitry. When
you activate the device-select line, and
the read/write line is in the write state,
the input to the lone D-type flip-flop
goes from low to high.

The corresponding clock line is con-
nected to a system clock that goes
high halfway through the I/O cycle. If

the input to the lone D-type flip-flop
has been set high by the decoding cir-
cuitry, when the system-clock line goes
high, the output of this flip-flop goes
from low to high. This is seen as a clock
pulse that initiates the data transfer
from the data lines to the input lines.
A series of three-state gates con-
nects the status-output lines to the
data lines. These gates act as buffers
and prevent the data from the status
lines from entering the data lines

El
E 3
E 4

E 6 '
E 7 '
E 8 '
E9 '
E30 '

E„ «

74LS42
4 TO 10
DECODER

2

(IOR) 814 *-
(IOW) B 13 ^-
(CLK) B 20 °-

'-D" 1

,:0^>-

-E>

74LS245
TRANSCEIVER

74LS24:
TRANS'

5
CEIVER

D F/F
D Q

:e>— o

QUAD D F/F
74LS175

74LS244
BUS DRIVER

~7h

I E:

74LS244
BUS DRIVER

~7h

TWO-CHANNEL SEARCH 400-R IBM PC INTERFACE

-m

~lXI l ADDRESS
-CD I BITS

"EH "I TRACK

[T] STROBE

r—nn GND

SEARCH OK-i

REWIND

LU

F. FWD.

<

RUN STATUS

or

STOP
RECORD

1-

_

' D

-CD

-m
-m
-m

ADDRESS
BITS

-<B 1 TR^
-H J BIT

ACK
S

-Tsl STROBE

^

SEARCH OK-.

REWIND

F. FWD.

RUN STATl

STOP I

RECORD

+5 1

Figure A: A logic diagram of Paul Hairsine's interface card for the IBM PC.

114 BYTE

IUNE 1985

INTERACTIVE AUDIO

unless the interface card requests a
read. When the computer asks for the
status of the Search 400-R, the device-
select line is activated and the read/
write line goes to the read state, ac-
tivating the three-state gates. This ac-
tion puts the data from the status line
onto the I/O channel's data line. It re-
mains there until the end of the I/O in-
struction cycle, at which time the three-
state gates deactivate. In this manner,
the computer can monitor the status
of the audio box.

The IBM Interface

Although there was an interface for the
Apple He, there was none for the IBM
PC so we had to design one. We used
an IBM prototype card that plugs into
an expansion slot. The logic diagrams
for the designed interface and the pro-
totype card are included in figure A.

The prototype card contains a
voltage bus ( + 5 volts) that borders on
its back and a ground bus on its front.
It has a system-interface design that en-
sures that you only use the I/O address
assigned for user design and protects
the computer from faulty circuit
designs. The prototype card's interface
has five address lines not used as part
of its decoding circuitry, allowing you
to assign different addresses to dif-
ferent cards or to different circuits on
the same card. The rest of the address
lines are decoded into an I/O decode
line, which activates the circuitry on the
card. The prototype card's interface
also has eight data lines that are used
for its circuitry.

Because the IBM PC's I/O channel
can address two different circuits on
the same board, we designed the in-
terface card with two channels so you
can drive two Search 400-Rs with it.
Two audio boxes on the same system
provide faster access time to tape loca-
tions and allow two separate videodisc
systems to share the same computer.
Having only one interface card instead
of two also leaves one of the IBM PC's
few expansion slots free for other uses.
Its design is similar to the Apple's to
allow easy software transfer between
the two systems.

We used a 4-to-10 decoder to create
the two channels. It uses the last three
address bits, E 14 -Ei 2 . and the I/O select
bit, E n , from the prototype card for its
four input lines (see figure A). The out-

Table C: The chips required to
build the IBM PC interface card.

1 74LS42 4-to-10 decoder

2 74LS245 octal-bus transceivers
2 74LS244 octal-buffer line drivers
4 74LS175 quad D-type flip-flops

1 74LS74 dual D-type flip-flop

1 74LS04 hex inverter

1 74LS02 quad NOR gate

12 chips total

put lines that activate the two channels
also determine their addresses. Out-
puts O and 3 are used with the in-
terface card and provide the possible
addresses for each channel shown in
table B. The Xs can be either Os or Is.
If you use all possible combinations
and convert these binary numbers to
decimal you can address channel I
with 768, 776. 784, and 792 and chan-
nel 2 with 771, 779, 787, and 795. If
you use these addresses properly, you
can easily transfer data to or from the
appropriate audio deck. The two chan-
nels are identical except for the ad-
dresses that activate them.

Each channel uses an octal trans-
ceiver to connect its data lines to the
prototype card's data lines. A trans-
ceiver is a device that allows one of
three possible actions between the two
points it connects: Data can flow from
A to B or from B to A, or A and B can
be isolated from each other. This is
ideal for the interface card; each chan-
nel can be bidirectional when activated
or it can be isolated from the com-
puter. The direction of the data transfer
through the transceiver is determined
by the I/O read line: If the line is ac-
tive, the data is sent to the computer;
if it is not, the information is sent only
to the audio deck.

The deck's input lines for each chan-
nel are connected to its transceiver
through seven clocked D-type flip-
flops, with the pin assignments iden-
tical to those of the Apple He interface.
The clock of all seven D-type flip-flops
is connected to the output of another
clocked D-type flip-flop, which in turn
is connected to the output of the

decoding circuitry. The decoding cir-
cuitry is simply a NOR gate whose in-
puts are connected to the I/O write line
and the decoder output corresponding
to that channel. Both inputs are active
low, so when both lines activate the in-
put, the control D-type flip-flop goes
high. Its clock is connected to the sys-
tem clock, so after the I/O write and the
decoder output both activate, the out-
put of the control D-type flip-flop goes
from low to high on the next system
clock pulse. The track and location
data are on the data lines when the I/O
write line is activated; when the
decoder output activates, the trans-
ceiver is activated. The seven D-type
flip-flops see this low-to-high transition
as a clock pulse and pass the data on
the data lines from the computer to the
Search 400-R.

An octal-buffer line driver connects
the status-output lines for each chan-
nel to its transceiver. This driver allows
only two possible states: Data is trans-
mitted from A to B, or A and B are
isolated. When the computer requests
information from the audio box, the I/O
read line and its corresponding
decoder line are activated. Both are ac-
tive, low, and since the line driver ac-
tivates on a low signal, you must OR
the two inputs to enable it. Since we
used inverters and NOR gates to
design the interface board, we used an
inverted NOR to implement the OR
gate. This saved us from having to add
an OR gate to the board. After the line
driver activates, data from the status
outputs appears on the I/O channel's
data lines and remains there until the
end of the instruction cycle. This pro-
vides the computer with enough time
to fetch the data and to monitor the
status of an audio box on either
channel.

We built the interface card with the
chips shown in table C. The card is con-
nected to the Search 400-R through a
16-line flat cable. Each end of the cable
has a 16-pin DIP (dual-inline package)
connector, which plugs into the 16-pin
wire-wrapped sockets on the interface
card and into the audio deck's inter-
face receptacle. You can find a layout
of the card in figure A. The pin assign-
ments of the 16-pin wire-wrapped
sockets correspond to the numbers of
the Search 400-R's receptacle shown in
table A.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 115

INTERACTIVE AUDIO

needs the track and location of the
desired sound sequence. These two
numbers, track and location, first must
be converted to binary-coded-decimal
(BCD) numbers and then output to
the audio box through the interface
card. The most significant digit (MSD)
is output first and the least significant
digit (LSD), last. If you set the Search
400-R audio box for computer con-

trol you must set bits 4 and 5 of the
input data to the track number used
when the MSD is output; you must set
bit 6 high on both the track and loca-
tion address outputs. The Search
400-R has six commands, and each
has a two-digit code. Issuing a com-
mand to the audio unit is simply a
matter of implementing a POKE to in-
sert its code into the address of the

audio system. The following is a list
of the commands and their codes:

Table

: The slot numbers for the Apple We along with the corresponding

decimal addresses. (Note: Slot is not present in the Apple We but is present in

the Apple II and the Apple II+.)

Slot

Decimal Address

49280

1

49296

2

49312

3

49328

4

49344

5

49360

6

49376

7

49392

Listing I: The Apple lie code
required to tell the audio box to
search for a specific location on the
tape.

100 INPUT "Enter track number: ";T
110 INPUT "Enter location: ";L
120 A = INT(L/10): B = L-(A*10)
130 A = A + (T*10) + 64: B = B + 64
140 POKE 49328.A: POKE 49328,0
150 POKE 49328, B: POKE 49328,0
160 POKE 49328,10: POKE 49328,0

Listing 2: This section of Apple

II^ code contains a

search

followed by a wait

for the search

OK before issuing

the run

command.

10 POKE 49328,10:

POKE 49328,0

20 IF PEEK(49328)

<> 110 THEN 20

30 POKE 49328,12

POKE 49328,0

Listing 3: The code required to establish communications between the audio box

and the IBM PC and the Apple lie. respectively.

IBM PC

Apple He

100 INPUT "Enter track: ";T

100 INPUT "Enter track: ";T

110 INPUT "Enter location: ";L

110 INPUT "Enter location: ";L

120 A = INT(L/10): B = L-(A*10)

120 A = INT(L/10): B = L-(A*10)

130 A = A + (T*10) + 64: B=B + 64

130 A = A + (T*10) + 64: B = B + 64

140 OUT 768, A: OUT 768,0

140 POKE 49328,A: POKE 49328,0

150 OUT 768.B: OUT 768,0

150 POKE 49328.B: POKE 49328,0

160 OUT 768,10: OUT 768,0

160 POKE 49328,10: POKE 49328,0

170 IF INP(768)<> 110 THEN 170

170 IF PEEK(49328)<>110 THEN 170

180 OUT 768,12: OUT 768,0

180 POKE 49328,12: POKE 49328,0

Command name

Code

search

I0

record

II

run

I2

fast forward

I3

stop

14

rewind

15

You must follow each POKE of a com-
mand code with a POKE of 0, which
prepares the interface card to accept
another command. For example, to
tell an audio box connected to I/O slot
3 (address 49328) to rewind the tape
(code 1 5) you would have to send the
commands POKE 49328,15: POKE
49328,0.

Listing I provides a simple but
workable example of how to tell the
audio box to search for a certain loca-
tion on the tape. Lines 100 and 110
ask for the track and location of the
piece of sound desired. Line 120 sets
A to the location's MSD and B to its
LSD. Line 130 sets up the data for
proper output. This is done by setting
the address strobe (bit 6) high ( + 64)
for both A and B. T* 10 sets bits 4 and
5 of the first address digit to the track
number. Lines 1 40 and 1 50 output the
address to the interface, and line 160
gives it the search command. These
few lines can fully control the Search
400-R audio box.

Occasionally, you might want to
check for proper operation of the
audio deck by reading the status lines.
Essentially, the status information
works like a stoplight that tells the
computer when the next command
can continue to its destination. The
status line can tell you if everything
is running smoothly. If it is, you can
have the next command sent. If not,
the computer delays the command
until it is ready for it. Reading the
status is easy with BASIC'S PEEK
command. Seven status lines provide
information on the audio deck's oper-
ation. Combined, they make up a
status byte. The Apple He is an 8-bit
machine, and it reads 8-bit bytes, such
as the status byte of the audio box.

The status lines are all considered
active low except for the power on line.

116 B YTE • JUNE 1985

INTERACTIVE AUDIO

This means that if a certain status is
on, its particular bit in the status byte
is equal to 0— just the opposite of
what you would expect— and if the
status is off, the bit equals 1. The ex-
ception lies in the status of power on,
which follows the more common
usage; i.e., 1 means on and means
off. The following list shows what func-
tions the various status bits imply:

Status

Data bit

search OK

rewind

1

fast forward

2

run

3

stop

4

record

5

power on

6

Consider the status byte shown in
figure 1. Bits through 6 are the
status bits, and each provides some
piece of information; for instance, bit
4 tells you whether the audio deck
has stopped. Therefore, if you need
information about the current status
of the audio box, your program must
access the status byte. This can be
done by looking at the address of the
interface using the PEEK command,
which is the same process as using
POKE to enter a command. However,
PEEK(x) reads a decimal number x,
while the status information is in
binary form. You must, therefore, con-
vert the binary number to decimal
form. Consider the status byte in
figure 2. The binary number is
1 101 110, telling us that the power is
on, the search for a piece of sound
was successful, and the audio unit has
stopped doing anything and is ready
to accept another command. The dec-
imal equivalent of 1101110 is 110, so
the PEEK command would retrieve
the number 110. Line 20 in listing 2
demonstrates how you can make the
computer wait until a search OK ap-
pears after having issued a search
command.

The software used to control the
Search 400-R from the Apple He is
straightforward. Controlling the audio
box from an IBM PC requires basical-
ly the same process; however, the IBM
PC doesn't treat the I/O addresses as
memory locations, so the chart of slot

NOT
USED

POWER
ON

RECORD

STOP

RUN

FAST
FWD

REWIND

SEARCH
OK

Figure 1: The layout of the audio deck's status byte.

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

N

OT

LISEI

OWE

R

REC

ORD

STOP

RUN

T FORW

REWIND

ARCH

P

|0FF|

|0FF|
FAS

1 OFF |
ARD SE

K

| ON

1

1 ™ 1

1 0FF 1

| ON

1

Figure 2: An example of the status byte for the audio deck

numbers and addresses given above
is not applicable. POKE and PEEK
won't allow communication between
the IBM PC and the audio box either.
Instead, you must use the commands
OUT x,y, and INP(x).

Listing 3 contains the programming
necessary to establish communica-
tions between the audio box and the
IBM PC and the Apple He, respective-
ly. Both programs need to have the
track and location of the desired
piece of sound, a search (code 10) for
the sound, a check of the status byte
for search OK, and if found, a run
command (code 12). You can see from
the similarity of the two programs that
you can transfer BASIC programs writ-
ten on either machine to the other
with a minimum of translation.

While we have used BASIC in the
example, you can use any computer
language to accomplish the same
thing, as long as you know how to out-
put data to the I/O channel and accept
input from it. Furthermore, after the
audio box rewinds the tape to the be-
ginning, approximately 100 millisec-

onds must elapse between stopping
the tape and entering a command to
move it. This allows the counting cir-
cuits in the audio box to reset. In ad-
dition, the IBM PC changes its data
bits too quickly when trying to input
address locations. This means that
data doesn't stay on the lines long
enough to properly activate the audio
deck. You can correct this by writing
a software delay into the program.

Conclusion

By using an interactive audio system,
such as the Search 400-R, you can
create more versatile interactive-
videodisc training packages. While
this article describes using interactive
audio in conjunction with interactive
video, the concept can just as easily
be used in normal computer-based
teaching packages. ■

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to express their gratitude
to the IBM Corporation, the National
Science Foundation, and the Notre Dame
College of Engineering for continued sup-
port of this work.

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 117

How do you get

your PC to wear

many different hats

at the same time?

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Concurrent Processing, your

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Switch from one program

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With your current system, each time you need
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have to save your files, unload and load a pro-
gram. E-Z-DOS-IT enables you to switch con-

veniently from one applica-
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You'll find it takes only ten
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Improved personal productivity at
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E-Z-DOS-IT is the one system software
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Redefining Your PC Productivity.

E-Z-DOS-IT is a trademark of Hammer Computer Systems, Inc., 700 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 285, Larkspur, CA 94939

The following registered trademarks are acknowledged; IBM and IBM PC, International Business Machines; Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony, Lotus Development Corporation; dBase II and Framework, Ashton-Tate; Wbrdstar, MicroPro International; PFS:Fi!e,
Software Publishing; Crosstalk, Microstuf f, Inc.; Multi-Plan, Microsoft Corporation.

Inquiry 203

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 119

BASF QUALIMETRIC FLEXYDISKS:
A GUARANTEED LIFETIMEOF
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE.

BASF Qualimetric FlexyDisks feature a unique lifetime warranty* firm
assurance that the vital information you enter on BASF FlexyDisks today
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You can count on BASF FlexyDisks because the Qualimetric
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For information security that
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and tomorrow, look for the
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JSASf^

<*§} ) / = fetxy£?isK

'"Contact BASF for warranty details.

Inquiry 46

■

ENTER TOMORROW ON BASF TODAY

, Bedford, MA

CIARCIA'S CIRCUIT CELLAR

BUILD THE
HOME RUN CONTROL

SYSTEM

PART 3: THE SOFTWARE

by Steve Ciarcia

Energy management, convenience,
and security in one package

Over the past few months
I've been describing the
Home Run Control Sys-
tem (HCS). my rendition of
a sophisticated yet cost-
effective home-control
system. Briefly, the HCS is
a single-board computer with the hardware
and software needed to control lights and
appliances in a home or a specific produc-
tion process in a small business. The system
uses BSR home-control modules that are
activated by signals superimposed on the
house wiring and can also directly control
the process through hard-wired inputs and
outputs. Home Run can accommodate 48
BSR modules, 16 digital inputs, 8 TTL
(transistor-transistor logic)-compatible out-
puts, and 16 messages.

In the first two parts, I introduced you to
the overall system concept and the hard-
ware. This month, I'll finish by describing the
HCS's editing software and demonstrating
a simple schedule entry.

Home Run Is Interrupt-Driven

The heart of the HCS is an interrupt-service
routine. All other HCS functions are subrou-
tines that are called from this main routine.
I have outlined the software in great detail
because many readers can understand and
appreciate the HCS better from that per-
spective. Also, the control methodology can

be used as a model for more personalized
control designs should you not care to
specifically build mine.

Figure I is the main interrupt handler.
Each block in the flowchart represents a
program action that in most cases is self-
explanatory and requires few statements to
implement. In more involved tasks, subor-
dinate flowchart sections (figures 2 through
8) are referenced to explain those opera-
tions in greater detail. Together, they func-
tion as follows:

The timing-generator circuitry sends inter-
rupts to the processor at approximately 601
hertz (Hz). When the processor detects the
interrupt, it finishes the current instruction,
saves its status, and gets the address of the
interrupt-service routine. The processor ex-
ecutes the routine at that address until it
encounters a return-from-interrupt instruc-
tion. When that occurs, the processor will
recover its status and continue from where
it left off prior to the interrupt.

When the interrupt-service routine is
called, it decrements the interrupt counter.
When this counter reaches 0, one second

[continued)

Steve Ciarcia (pronounced "see~ARE-see*ah") is an elec-
tronics engineer and computer consultant with experience
in process control, digital design, nuclear instrumenta-
tion, and product development. He is the author of
several books about electronics. You can write to him
at POB 582. Glastonbury, CT 06033.

COPYRIGHT © 1985 STEVEN A. CIARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 121

CIRCUIT CELLAR

is added to the current time. If the time changes to a new
minute, the routine will check the status of the Command
FIFO (first-in/first-out) buffer. If there are any commands
(turning a module or output on or off), they are executed
one at a time in the order they entered the FIFO buffer.
When the Command FIFO buffer is finished, the pro-
cessor checks the status of the Time FIFO buffer. If it is
empty, the table of events is scanned to find events that
are activated by one of the input lines. When one such
event is found, the appropriate input line is checked to
see if it has changed status within the last second. If it

has, the appropriate on or off command is placed in the
Command FIFO buffer for execution. The scan continues
until all input-activated events are checked.

If the Time FIFO buffer is not empty, the first time in
the FIFO buffer is saved, and the table of events is scanned
to find events that are scheduled to occur at that time.
If the time matches, the appropriate on or off command
is placed in the Command FIFO buffer for execution, and
the event scan continues until all events have been
checked.

[continued)

INTERRUPT OCCURS

PREVENT FURTHER
INTERRUPTS

NO/

3 J±

YES

^

READ KEY AND SAVE
FOR I/O ROUTINE

READ CURRENT STATE
OF INPUT LINES

IF ANY LINE IS DIFFERENT
FROM ITS REFERENCE LEVEL.
THEN SET THE REQUEST FLAG
FOR THAT LINE

IS
NO/ MODEM
ACTIVE

SET FLAG FOR SERIAL I/O

X KEY PRESSED I
" [ON KEYBOARD '

I 1

| CHECK IF A L^

. BSR COMMAND |
IS BEING ,

1 TRANSMITTED
I 1

I J

| CHECK IF .

i THERE ARE ANY \"
. COMMANDS

WAITING

TO BE I
I EXECUTED I
I I

I 1

I IS TERMINAL OR

■ KEYBOARD
IN USE

\ T*

Hs THE EVENT~j

I TABLE

j CURRENTLY

■ BEING
SCANNED p*

DECREMENT ]
J INTERRUPT
\ COUNTER

ALLOW FURTHER INTERRUPTS

RESET THE
INTERRUPT COUNTER

UPDATE THE CLOCK

CHECK IF ANY INPUT LINE
IS REQUESTING RESTORE

TO FIGURE 2

TO FIGURE 3

CHECK IF ANY INPUT LINES
ARE REQUESTING THAT HOLD
BE APPLIED OR REMOVED

-»- TO FIGURE 4

EXECUTE ONE COMMAND

YES

YES

-+ TO FIGURE 5

SCAN THE EVENT TABLE

-* TO FIGURE 6

L-*- RETURN FROM INTERRUPT

Figure 1: Master Interrupt Handler flowchart.

122 B YTE • IUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

.

Q

fc UJ

&!-

<y

Q u

U. -<

o wh

UJ W c/>

UJ

z
o

Q

§Sg

3<H

<Oh

a

id

o

to

o

Q

_1

z

o

o
o

UJ

UJ

X

CO

o

LU

H

F

,

<

Q

Q

Q_

Q

3

<

Figure 2; Clock Update flowchart.

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 123

CIRCUIT CELLAR

If the time is the start of a new minute, the current time
is put into the Time FIFO buffer for use in the event scan.
If the terminal is not currently being used for some other
display, the main display is updated, and the program
starts checking the FIFO buffers.

When certain commands such as DIM, or functions such
as Restore or Manual Control, are executed, they use a
large amount of processor time. This can cause a conflict
if the interrupt-service routine attempts to execute other
commands or scans the event table. To prevent this possi-
ble conflict, the time-consuming routines set a priority flag
that prevents the interrupt-service routine from perform-
ing any operations with the FIFO buffers. As soon as the
priority routines are finished and clear the flag, the
interrupt-service routine can begin processing the FIFO
buffers again.

Whenever a function requires input from the terminal,
it would be possible to miss a character that was typed
if an interrupt occurred and a FIFO buffer required pro-
cessing. To prevent this, routines requiring input set a flag
that gives input priority to the terminal. The interrupt-
service routine is allowed to put the current time into the
Time FIFO buffer every minute, but it is prevented from
taking times out and scanning the event table. When the
flag is cleared, the interrupt-service routine begins scan-
ning the event table with the times that were stored in
the FIFO buffer. This means that if an event was sched-
uled to occur while you were typing, it would not really
occur until after you had completed whatever you were
entering.

If for some reason the HCS is left waiting for terminal
input or in the editing mode and no characters are input

RESTORE BY INPUT

| IS RESTORE |
j CURRENTLY
> | BEING DONE !

I IS RESTORE
BY INPUT

^AVAILABLE j

EXECUTE RESTORE

THE REQUEST
I ' FLAG FOR THE l
| I INPUT LINE I
. I THAT CONTROLS l
I , RESTORE SET
|l 1

I

-J

YES

START WITH DRIVER 1.
MODULE 1

SET SERVICED FLAG
FOR THE INPUT LINE

| CHECK LAST ^

I KNOWN STATUS | "

OF MODULE ;

DONE

TURN MODULE ON

TURN MODULE OFF

NEXT MODULE

Figure 3: Restore Request Check flowchart.

124 B YTE • JUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

for 5 minutes, it will return to the status display and begin
processing the FIFO buffers.

NOMENCLATURE

Before I can adequately discuss all the menu options and
control features of the HCS, the nomenclature must be
described in more detail.

A module can be a message, a BSR module, or some
electrical equipment connected to a direct output line.
Each module is identified by a module number from I
to 16 (8 in the case of the direct outputs). For messages,
the module number identifies I of 16 possible messages
(each can be any length). For BSR modules, the module
number identifies the number you set on the BSR
module's unit-code switch. For direct outputs, the module
number refers specifically to the 1 -of -8 output lines to

which directly controlled equipment can be connected.

An event is a set of actions that you want performed
on a module. Each event has four parts:, the driver, the
module, what turns the module on, and what turns the
module off. "On" and "off" actions result from coincidence
with a prespecified time and date, a logic-level transition
on I of 16 input lines, or a predefined time duration.

A driver defines what an event does when it is executed.
Seven drivers are used in the HCS (an eighth driver is the
Superkey, which will be explained later), and their func-
tions are as follows:

The Message driver (#7) displays messages on the
terminal.

The BSR On/Off driver (#1. #4, and #5) turns a BSR
module on or off.

[continued)

\

■■■■ -'"tl:]:

CHECK IF ANY INPUT
LINES ARE REQUESTING
THAT HOLD BE
REMOVED OR APPLIED

| IS THE REQUEST |
I FLAG FOR THE i
■ APPLY-HOLD , ^
INPUT ACTIVE

><<

p

\^ NO

[YES

| 1

SET THE SERVICED
FLAG FOR THE
APPLY-HOLD INPUT

SET THE
HOLD-ENABLE FLAG

\

| IS THE REQUEST |

t

NO y

[YES

^A FLAG FOR THE
;> ~ REMOVE-HOLD
"* INPUT ACTIVE )

SET SERVICED

FLAG FOR

REMOVE- HOLD INPUT

CLEAR
HOLD-ENABLE FLAG

.

5

DONE

-:-..■■:

Figure 4: Hold Request Check flowchart.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 125

CIRCUIT CELLAR

The BSR Dimmer driver (#2) lets you remotely control
the brightness of a lamp connected to a BSR lamp module.
The brightness of the lamp is defined by a level from I
to 16. Level 16 is fully on.

The BSR Cycler driver (#3) will turn a BSR module on
for a selected time interval and then off for the same in-
terval. This cycle repeats until the event is scheduled to
stop The interval is specified in minutes and can have a
value from I to 180 minutes.

The Direct Output driver (#6) provides an open-collector
TTL-compatible control signal on each of eight output
lines. An 'ON' signal is a logical high, greater than 2.4 volts
(V); an 'OFF' signal is a logical low, less than 0.4 V.

An input is an electrical signal that is less than 0.2 V
(logic 0) or greater than 3.0 V (logic 1). The HCS can ac-
commodate -9-V to +9-V input levels. When the HCS is
first powered up or the manual Reset button is pushed,
the current state of each line, either high or low, is saved
and is considered to be the reference or nonactive state
of that line. The reference state can be changed at any
time by a command. If an input line changes from its ref-
erence state, either a transition from low to high or high
to low, an input is said to have occurred, and the HCS will
react accordingly.

Dimmer, Cycler, and BSR On/Off drivers are further de-
fined by a house code. The house code determines which
BSR modules respond to a particular driver. On power-

• ARE THERE ANY
TIMES STORED IN .
THE TIME FIFO

SCAN TABLE FOR
TIME-CONTROLLED
EVENTS ONLY

SCAN TABLE FOR
EVENTS CONTROLLED
BY INPUTS

TO FIGURE 7

TO FIGURE 8

IF SERVICED FLAG
IS SET FOR
ANY INPUT LINE.
THEN CLEAR
REQUEST FLAG
FOR THAT LINE

up, the HCS defaults to house code A. It can be alternately
redefined as any one of the 16 possible house codes
through a menu-selected editing command. The first BSR
driver and the Cycler and Dimmer drivers use the A house
code, while BSR drivers #4 and #5 each use the next se-
quential letters. This allows control of 48 BSR modules
independently.

The Status Display

When the HCS is functioning, the current on/off status of
each module is presented with the time and date in a
status display. 'Typically, it is a 24-line display that appears
as shown in listing I and photo I .

The number in the left column is the driver number used
in input routines. The next column is the driver type and
the house code for those that designate BSR drivers.

The status of each module is represented by a symbol.
A dash (-) means that no events are scheduled for that
driver/module combination. (A dash appears only on a
printout or a terminal. A raised dot is used on the integral
video display.) A zero (0) means that events are sched-
uled for that driver/module and that the last command
executed was an off command (currently inactive). A one
(1) means that events are scheduled for that driver/module
and that the last command executed was an on command
(currently active).

[continued)

■

J IS THE HOLD FLAG .

, SET FOR THIS k^

| DRIVER AND MODULE

EXECUTE

ONE COMMAND

GET COMMAND

FROM FIFO

•**

*"*" >^^\

\ YE

s

[no

YES /mMMAMnX

^

|

ON S

[NO

CLEAR STATUS FLAG

FOR THIS

DRIVER AND MODULE

SET STATUS FLAG

FOR THIS

DRIVER AND MODULE

GET DRIVER AND
TURN MODULE

ON OR OFF

DONE

Figure 5: Execute Command flowchart.

Figure 6: Scan Events Table flowchart.

126 B YTE • IUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

SCAN TABLE FOR EVENTS
CONTROLLED BY TIME

GET TIME FROM TIME
FIFO BUFFER

POINT TO FIRST EVENT
IN THE TABLE

^ IS THE BYPASS FLAG ,
L^SET FOR THIS MODULE _J

rbECREMENT BYPASsH
'•^J'TIME COUNTER

[TOR THIS EVENT [

CLEAR BYPASS FLAG
FOR THIS MODULE

| IS ON- DELAY
^^j COUNTER RUNNING .
j FOR THIS EVENT

'"decrement :

|^ on-delay counter i

YES

YES

^ I

DOES ANY INPUT |
CONTROL THE ON i
] PART OF THIS
EVENT

COMPARE THE ON

I TIME OF THIS

■*J EVENT TO THE I

1 TIME TAKEN |

1 FROM THE FIFO

I 1

tF ON DELAY |

I ENABLED AND NOT
-H COUNTING, THEN *
. START COUNTING

IF THIS IS A CYCLER EVENT,
GET LENGTH FOR ON TIME AND
STORE IN CYCLER BUFFER

IF THIS IS A DIMMER EVENT,
GET BRIGHTNESS LEVEL AND
STORE IN DIMMER BUFFER

Figure 7: Scan for Time Events flowchart

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 127

CIRCUIT CELLAR

The normal display will show the current time, any mes-
sages, and the status of all 120 modules. To see a menu
of the available commands, enter a space character. The
HCS will display an editing menu, as shown in listing 2.

To use one of the functions displayed, answer the
prompt with the appropriate letter followed by a return.
Each of the editing functions will be discussed further as
we attempt to actually run the HCS.

Firing It Up

Before starting to use your HCS for the first time, a few
items must be considered. If you are using an external
terminal or computer for display, use table 1 to select the
data-transmission rate that your terminal or computer's
serial interface uses.

Set the selected switch ON, making sure that only one
switch is on at any time. If you intend to use only the in-
ternal video display and no serial peripherals, port con-
figuration jumper II should be installed. If a modem or
printer is to be connected, however, Jl should be left out.
If you intend to use the internal video output with a

Listing I: Status display.
SUN FEB 3 3:37 PM

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A 00100-1-0 1

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT 01

7 MESSAGES 000

8 SUPERKEY

modem, set the data-transmission rate to that of the
modem.

If you intend using a modem or just want additional
security, installing configuration jumper )2 enables the
password identification. Whenever the modem answers
or a command entry is made through the terminal or key-
board, the HCS will ask for your password (entered on
power-up). If entered correctly, it will allow you to proceed;
otherwise, it will revert to the status display and inhibit
command entry. Once the correct password is entered,
further password identification is not required as long as
continuous communication is maintained with the oper-
ator. A lapse in command entry longer than 3 minutes
will cause the HCS to ask for the password again.

TWo additional jumpers must be positioned according
to the amount and location of the RAM (random-access
read/write memory) in the system. This area was covered
in detail in part 2, and I refer you to that section for
explanation.

After all the switches and jumpers have been set (I chose

[continued)

Listing 2: Editing menu.

A REPORT.CREATE.OR DELETE EVENT

B SET HOUSE CODE

C MANUAL ON/OFF

D MANUAL RESTORE

E AUTO-RESTORE

F RESTORE BY INPUT

G SET DATE AND TIME

H CLOCK ACCURACY

I TIME FORMAT

J TRACK SUNSET

K DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

L LIST EVENTS

M SET LIST SPEED

N "TOTAL RESET**

O LINES PER SCREEN

P INPUT STATUS

Q HOLD BY INPUT

R DEFINE SUPERKEY

S BYPASS MODULE

T DELAY EVENT

U SET BEEPER TIME

V SET EVENT TO EXECUTE ONLY ONCE

ENTER LETTER OF CHOICE (A-V)?

FRI APR 5 8:18 PM

1 BSR ON/OFF ft 1111-

£ BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES 00- -
3 SUPERKEY 0---

Photo I: Status display.

mini

1234567890123456

Tbble 1 : HCS data-transrnission-rate settings.

Switch

Data-Transmission Rate

1

4800

2

2400

3

1200

4

600

5

300

6

150

7

75

8

not used

128 BYTE • JUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

SCAN TABLE FOR EVENTS
CONTROLLED BY INPUTS

j IS THE ON- DELAY COUNTER - 1
" , RUNNING FOR THIS EVENT

CLEAR INPUT-PRIORITY FLAG

IS THE INPUT THAT CONTROLS THE
I ON PART OF THIS EVENT THE SAME
. AS THF ONF THAT CONTROI S THF '

AS THE ONE THAT CONTROLS THE

__J

YES

I 1

| IS THE REQUEST FLAG FOR THE
j INPUT THAT CONTROLS THE ON I
\ PART OF THIS EVENT SET I
I I

PUT ON COMMAND
INTO COMMAND FIFO

IF DELAY IS ENABLED, THEN START
ON-DELAY COUNTER RUNNING

IS THIS EVENT SUPPOSED TO

-"* TURN THE MODULE OFF AFTER .

1 A SPECIFIED LENGTH OF TIME '

ADD SPECIFIED LENGTH OF TIME
TO THE CURRENT TIME AND CREATE
NEW OFF TIME

i IS OFF-DELAY COUNTER RUNNING
L FOR THIS EVENT

YES

I IS THE INPUT THAT CONTROLS |

I THE OFF PART OF THIS EVENT i

/\ THE SAME AS THE ONE THAT

■ CONTROLS THE ON PART

YES

IS THIS EVENT SET TO
EXECUTE ONLY ONE TIME

r

NO N^.

YES

DELETE THIS EVENT
FROM THE TABLE

POINT TO NEXT EVENT

1 r

NO S EVENTS \

I IS THE REQUEST FLAG FOR THE |
* INPUT THAT CONTROLS THE OFF |

PART OF THIS EVENT SET

PUT OFF COMMAND
INTO COMMAND FIFO

IF DELAY IS ENABLED. THEN START
OFF -DELAY COUNTING

SET SERVICED FLAG

Figure 8: Scan for Input Events flowchart.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 129

CIRCUIT CELLAR

to include the password), the HCS is plugged in and the
following appears:

COPYRIGHT (C) 1985
CIRCUIT CELLAR INC.

HOME RUN CONTROL SYSTEM

VER. X.XX

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

ENTER NEW PASSWORD:

Since this is a cold start you must enter the date and
your five-letter password:

ENTER NEW PASSWORD: STEVE

I chose my name as the password in this example, but
any five printable ASCII (American Standard Code for In-
formation Interchange) characters (such as @#%&N) can
be used. If you have enabled the password option, the
HCS presumes it might have an auto-answer modem con-
nected. The HCS will automatically send the necessary
commands to a Hayes-compatible auto-answer modem
to set the proper number of rings. I chose eight rings.

HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE ANSWERING

= DONT ANSWER (0-255)? 8

In general, whenever you must choose one of several
answers to a question, each item will have a number to
the left of the item. To choose a particular item, enter the
number when the prompt appears. In addition, the
prompts themselves have the allowable entries in paren-
theses. If you enter a value outside of this range, the
prompt will repeat until you enter a correct value. You can
return to the main display at any time by typing only a
carriage return in response to a prompt. The display
prompts continue by asking the date and time as follows:

1 JAN 2 FEB 3 MAR 4 APR
5 MAY 6 JUN 7 JUL 8 AUG
9 SEP 10 OCT 11 NOV 12 DEC
ENTER MONTH (1-12)? 2

ENTER DAY OF MONTH (1-31)? 3

1 SUN 2 MON 3 TUE 4 WED
5 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT
ENTER DAY OF WEEK (1-7)? 1

The final cold-start prompt will be

ENTER TIME AS HH:MM:A
OR HH:MM:P

? 4:56:P

After this, HCS is ready to have events programmed, and
a no-events-scheduled status display appears.

Command and Editing Functions

It's time to get back to an explanation of the editing-menu
options. By selecting the different functions, you can

create, delete, bypass, hold, or restore an event. The
majority of these functions are different from typical
home-control systems and are the essence of the HCS.

Entering Events

When you want to create a new event, an event-trigger
menu will be displayed, showing you the combinations
of input and time used to start and stop an event:

1 ON AT SPECIFIED TIME
OFF AT SPECIFIED TIME

2 ON AT SPECIFIED TIME

OFF WHEN SPECIFIED INPUT OCCURS

3 ON WHEN SPECIFIED INPUT OCCURS
OFF AT SPECIFIED TIME

4 ON WHEN SPECIFIED INPUT OCCURS
OFF WHEN SPECIFIED INPUT OCCURS

5 ON WHEN SPECIFIED INPUT OCCURS
OFF AFTER PERIOD OF TIME

ENTER NUMBER OF ON/OFF
COMBINATION (1-5)?

If you select one of these combinations, one or a series
of events can be created that use those same on and off
parameters without redesignating this choice each time
(to select another trigger combination, you exit to the
status display and then return to this menu and make
another choice). Number I will create events that use a
time for both starting and stopping the event. Number 2
creates events that start at the specified time but will not
stop until a specified input changes the logic state.
Number 3 will create events that start when the specified
input occurs and will stop at a specified time. Number 4
creates events that start when a specified input occurs and
stop when another input occurs. If the same input-bit
number is chosen for both conditions, it will constitute
an "on while" state with the event activated only while
the input bit is active. Number 5 creates a special type
of event that starts when a specified input occurs and then
waits a predetermined period of time (up to 24 hours)
before stopping the event.

After you have selected the on/off combination, the
status display will appear, and you will be asked to select
the number of the driver and module you want the event
to use. After entering these, if you did not select the
Message driver and the selected module has not been
used before, you will be asked to give it a name, or label:

216 CHARACTERS AVAILABLE
ENTER NAME OF MODULE

ONE RETURN STARTS NEW LINE
AND TWO RETURNS ENDS
? Front Porch Light

The first line indicates the number of characters set aside

130 B YTE • IUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

for use as labels. The available space depends on the
quantity of RAM in the system. If the module already exists
(i.e., you have already programmed the porch light to come
on by some other combination of parameters), the label
will be displayed, and you will be prompted to add to or
delete these events.

Next, you will be asked to enter the parameters for the
on and then the off part of the event. There will be
prompts for either the time or input, depending on which
combination you chose.

The prompts for a time look like this:

ENTER ON TIME

1 SUN 2 MON 3TUE 4 WED

5 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT

8 REPEAT 9 DAY OF MONTH

ENTER DAY OF WEEK, REPEAT CODE,
OR DAY OF MONTH CODE (1-9)?

If you enter a number from I to 7, the event will use
the day of the week that you select. If you enter a 9, you
will be asked for the day of the month:

ENTER DAY OF MONTH (1-31)?

If you enter 8. you will be prompted for how many days
you want the event repeated:

HOW MANY CONSECUTIVE DAYS DO YOU
WANT THIS EVENT REPEATED (2-7)?

For example, if you enter 5 and an event that starts on
Monday, the event will occur every day from Monday
through Friday. Repeating an event for seven days makes
it a daily program. (For all modules, a combination of
events can be designated. We could, for example, have
the front porch light come on Monday through Friday from
5 to 1 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.,
for 10 minutes every time the front door opens |contact-
closure input), and on one night for as long as necessary
until you get home.)

After the day is entered, you will be asked to enter the
time:

ENTER TIME AS HH:MM:A
OR HH:MM:P

The time of day is entered on a single line, the same
way as setting the clock.

If input is selected as part of the combination, you will
be asked to enter the number of the input line that you
want to control the event:

ENTER INPUT # FOR ON (1-16)?

or
ENTER INPUT # FOR OFF (1-16)?

If you select the Message driver and a message already
exists for that module, you will be asked if you want to

delete the old message. If you enter Y or no message
existed, you can enter a message in the same way that
you enter a label. Messages can be any length but are
limited by available memory space. (Can't remember when
to put the trash out? Have the HCS display PUT THE
TRASH OUT every Friday morning at 8 a.m.)

If you select the BSR Dimmer, you will be asked to enter
the brightness level (I to 16): if you select the BSR Cycler,
you will be asked for the time interval you want to use.
Along with the BSR driver, these routines will repeat the
prompts to create a new event using the same driver and
module unless you abort the routine.

Manual Control

Manual Control lets you turn modules on and off without
having to schedule an event. The routine will display the
current driver/module status table and ask for the driver
number. The routine then displays which keys perform
which functions.

KEY ASSIGNMENTS:

MODULE NUMBER

1-16
Y
N
D
R

MODULE ON
MODULE OFF
DIM LIGHT
NEW DRIVER

To turn a module on or off, you must type the module
number and the appropriate letter, such as 1Y to turn
module number I on or 1N to turn it off. You can enter
more commands on the same line, such as 1Y2Y3N. which
would turn modules 1 and 2 on and module 3 off. If you
want to manually dim a light, you must first turn it fully
on and then type D until the desired brightness is reached.
When you are finished with Manual Control, type a return
to exit to the status display.

The Restore Actual Status Function

The Restore function is one of the more unique functions
of the HCS. BSR control modules are notorious for ar-
bitrarily turning on or off as a result of power-line tran-
sients. While the HCS has direct outputs for the most
critical control signals, it is disconcerting to find that BSR-
controlled appliances and lamps are not in the desired
state after a few hours. The HCS has the ability to restore
the current state of all modules on command, on input,
or at regular intervals.

Restore lets you make sure that every module in use is
set to the same status, on or off, that is currently in the
status table. Since BSR modules can be manually con-
trolled without the HCS (i.e., you can directly turn on the
hall light by pressing the BSR wall-module button), it might
be necessary to return the house or office to a known
condition.

[continued)

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 131

CIRCUIT CELLAR

If a power failure occurs and the HCS is equipped with
battery backup, a restore operation will be performed
automatically after the power returns (it allows a few extra
minutes for the line to settle first). Or, at any time, you
can select the Manual Restore function to restore all out-
puts to that status listed in the status display.

The Auto-Restore function causes the HCS to perform
a restore operation every 4 minutes automatically This
is useful, for example, if the HCS is being used to control
modules that are unattended for long periods of time and
will not be manually overridden.

A restore operation can also be triggered by an input.
On power-up, restore by input is preset to bit 14 and in-
active. When selected through the editing menu, the se-
quence is as follows:

RESTORE BY INPUT DISABLED

INPUT NUMBER FOR RESTORE IS 14

ENABLE RESTORE BY INPUT (Y-N)? Y

ENTER INPUT NUMBER THAT YOU
WANT TO CAUSE RESTORE, OR
RETURN TO USE THE CURRENT
INPUT NUMBER (1-16)?

Hold by Input

An equally unique HCS function is the Hold command.
Hold is used to stop modules from turning on or off. For
example, in a security system, the alarm modules could
be put on hold when the building is open. Hold is ac-
tivated and deactivated by input lines that you select. The
lines default to 1 5 and 16 on power-up. The command dis-
plays the following:

HOLD STARTED BY INPUT #15
HOLD STOPPED BY INPUT #16
HOLD INPUTS CANNOT CHANGE HOLD STATUS

MODULE(S) ARE NOT ON HOLD

mini

1234567898123456

"EPENCE 1111111111111111
I LEUEL 1111111111111111

JJCKOUT 0000006008000000

i LEUEL
STATUS

Photo 2: \nput status display.

REDISPLAY STATUS

1 ALLOW INPUTS TO CHANGE HOLD STATUS

2 STOP INPUTS FROM CHANGING HOLD STATUS

3 ASSIGN HOLD-INPUT NUMBERS

4 SELECT MODULES TO PUT ON HOLD

ENTER OPTION NUMBER (0-4)?

When selecting modules to put on hold, the status
display will show the letter M H," indicating which modules
are set for hold. The "H" will toggle similar to the "S" in
sunset when you enter a driver and module. When in the
main display, modules on hold in the on state will be rep-
resented by an inverse "1," and a module in the off state
will be represented by an inverse "0" on the video display.
When Hold is enabled, the above display will state that
inputs can change Hold status and whether they are or
are not currently on hold.

In my application, I have the Hold input connected to
the alarm system. When I am not home and the alarm is
on, the HCS simulates occupancy. When the alarm is off
and I am home, these functions are put on hold.

Delaying and Bypassing Events

Delay Event allows you to postpone the actual execution
of an event for a time period up to 23 hours and 59
minutes. For example, if you have an event that is sched-
uled to turn a light on when you return home in the eve-
ning and you are going to be 2 hours late, instead of
creating a new event for this one occurrence, simply delay
the event for 2 hours. If the light is scheduled to turn on
at 18:00 and turn off at 18:15, a delay of 2 hours would
cause the light to turn on at 20:00 and turn off at 20:15
instead. After the delay has timed out, the event returns
to its normal schedule.

The Bypass Module function allows you to instruct the
HCS to ignore a driver/module combination for a time
period up to 44 days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes. During
the time Bypass Module is enabled, the scheduled events
for that module will not occur. For example, if you have
a large number of events for a driver/module, such as
heating or cooling your home, and you are going to be
away for several days, instead of deleting all the events
before you leave and reentering them when you return,
you can bypass that module for the amount of time you
will be gone. The bypass time begins as soon as you
enable it.

When selected, Bypass Module will display the current
driver/module status and ask you for the driver and
module to bypass. When you have entered these, it will
ask for the length of the bypass in days, hours, and
minutes. If you wish to remove a bypass early, entering
for the days, hours, and minutes will abort the bypass
that is in progress and restore normal operation.

Input Status

The current status of the input lines can be displayed by
typing the P option. It is displayed as shown in photo 2.

132 BYTE • JUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

The row labeled REFERENCE is the nonactivated level
for each input line. A reference level of indicates a nor-
mally low/active high input signal. A reference level of I
indicates a normally high/active low input. The row labeled
CURRENT LEVEL is the current level of each input at the
time the input status-display command is called.

INPUT LOCKOUT (indicated by a logic I in the desig-
nated display position) allows a user to selectively shut
off inputs without using the Bypass Module or Hold func-
tions. In the following display, inputs I through 6 are ac-
tive low, and inputs 7 through 16 are active high. Inputs
6, 8, and 10 are locked out. The current input levels are
as displayed:

INPUT STATUS

1111111

1234567890123456

0000001111111111

0110000110001111

0000010101000000

REFERENCE
CURRENT LEVEL
INPUT LOCKOUT

SUPERKEYS

When 1 first started testing the HCS, it was necessary to
continually preset the on/off conditions of many modules
so that I could observe specific functions, lb facilitate this,
I designed the Superkey. Superkeys enable you to perform
a large number of Manual Control operations with just
two keystrokes. To create a Superkey, you specify which
number you want to define (16 Superkeys are designated
as #1— #16) and enter a list of modules you want to turn
on or off. lb execute a Superkey, you enter its number
followed by an escape. A typical Superkey list might ap-
pear as follows:

8 SUPERKEY 1

1 BSR ON/OFF A

1 OFF

1 BSR ON/OFF A

2 OFF

1 BSR ON/OFF A

3 ON

1 BSR ON/OFF A

4 ON

1 BSR ON/OFF A

5 OFF

1 BSR ON/OFF A

8 OFF

If you press 1, then Escape, driver I modules 1, 2, 5,
and 8 would turn off and modules 3 and 4 would turn on.

Tracking Sunset and Onetime Events

One function that the HCS can perform is turning lights
on at the same time relative to sunset each day. Sunset
changes from day to day throughout the year. Ordinarily,
fixed-time controllers would need to have their program
manually changed every few weeks in order to keep up
with the sunset. The HCS has a special menu selection
that allows you to designate which modules will have their
on times changed, according to the long-term variation
in actual sunset. Each month, on the 8th and 2 2nd, the
HCS recalculates the on times of sunset-adjust-designated
modules. (The calculation is accurate only for North
America at the present time.)

The 1-rime Event function allows you to create an event
that will automatically delete itself after it executes the
off portion of the event. When selected, it will display the
current driver/module status table and ask you for the
driver and module numbers. After you enter these, it will
display all the events for that driver and module, each with
an identifying number. To enable the l-Time Event func-
tion for an event, enter the number of the event. If the
particular event already has the I -Time Event function
enabled, the HCS will ask you if you want to cancel it.

A Simple HCS Application

As I mentioned earlier, the Circuit Cellar and my home
are somewhat unconventional. While many of you will no
doubt find applications for the HCS as an environmental
controller or security system, my initial use is for automatic
lighting (I have a separate security system). Perhaps when
you read this I'll have connected the air conditioning and
vent fans, but right now I'm motivated by deadline and
necessity. I am tired of walking in the dark, and it's hard
to think about air conditioning when it's 7° and snowing
outside. The only environmental control worth consider-
ing right now as I write this is keeping the doors closed
and all the heat on.

When I go from the kitchen down to the storage area
behind the Circuit Cellar, it is a long trek with six light
switches along the way. In addition, there are a few other
items 1 frequently switch on and off. If I assign a BSR
module to each for remote control, the list could start as
follows:

Circuit Cellar floor lamp module #8

HCS CRT monitor module #6

Upstairs hallway light module #5

Staircase light module #4
Circuit Cellar hallway/copier light module #3

Storage-area lights module #2

Garage light module #1

I n a standard off-the-shelf open-loop BSR controller, we'd
be limited to timed activation of these lights or walking
around with the BSR ultrasonic hand-held controller aimed
at a command controller in each room. This is hardly con-
venient. My idea of automatic lighting is noncontact and
not user-activated! 1 want a completely passive system.
When I walk into a room, the lights come on. As long as
1 stay there, they remain on. When I leave, they turn off
after a reasonable period of time.

The HCS can be easily programmed to control lights and
appliances in this manner by monitoring certain signals
through its direct input lines. In this instance, passive in-
frared motion detectors are used to scan the affected areas
and indicate to the HCS when a person walks into a par-
ticular area. The motion detector senses a difference in
heat level between the person and the surrounding area
and simply opens a relay contact. Using a + 5-V source
and a pull-up resistor, the motion detector can be con-

[continued]

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 133

CIRCUIT CELLAR

nected to the HCS as a simple TTL input.

To control all the lights in the areas 1 listed above, it was
necessary to run a few wires around my house. Fortunate-
ly, I already have an elaborate commercially installed
security system, and 1 was able to tap off many of the re-
quired signals directly from the alarm box. Unfortunate-
ly, security systems are perimeter-oriented and specific in
purpose. I had to add more motion detectors to cover all
the areas I wanted to control. I spent a few days stringing
wires and drilling holes. There are now a dozen little in-
frared eyes watching my every move. Now, as I walk down
the stairs, lights come on automatically, both on the stair-
case and the top and bottom landings.

Some of you may not want a computer-controlled house,
but connecting these inputs and controlling the lighting
provides a simple illustration of the HCS's capability and
a process that I can describe. First, each motion detector

is attached to a separate input bit. No motion is a logic
(gnd), and motion detected is a logic I (+5 V). The in-
puts are as follows:

Input # 1 Garage-area motion detector

Input #2 Circuit Cellar storage-area motion detector

Input #3 Staircase motion detector

Input #4 Upstairs hallway motion detector

Input #5 Circuit Cellar office area

Next, we fire up the HCS and enter the statements that
turn on the appropriate light and extinguish it after the
prescribed duration. For brevity, I have chosen to edit out
some of the more repetitive displays. In the following com-
munication exchange (done with a live HCS via modem),
HCS keyboard or terminal entries are in italics. The ex-
planations I've added are presented in lowercase letters.

[continued]

Listing 3: Programming events on the HCS to

occur when a certain input occurs.

COPYRIGHT (C) 1985
CIRCUIT CELLAR INC

HOME RUN CONTROL SYSTEM
VER. 5.17

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

>

ENTER NEW PASSWORD: STEVE

(password is asked for if jumper 2 has been installed)

HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE ANSWERING

= DON'T ANSWER (0-255)? 5

1 JAN 2 FEB 3 MAR 4 APR
5 MAY 6JUN 7 JUL 8 AUG
9 SEP 10 OCT 11 NOV 12 DEC

(if your Hayes-compatible auto-answer modem is installed, the HCS will
send it ATS0= 5 to tell it to answer at 5 rings)

ENTER MONTH (1-12)? 1

ENTER DAY OF MONTH (1-31)? 27

1 SUN 2 MON 3 TUE 4 WED
5 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT

ENTER DAY OF WEEK (1-7)? 1

ENTER TIME AS HH:MM:A

OR HH:MM:P

? 2:48:P

(the status display appears here with nothing scheduled; next. A is entered to create an event)

ENTER LETTER OF CHOICE (A-V)? A

ENTER YOUR PASSWORD: *****

* MEANS EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED

(the first time that you enter a command, the HCS requires a password
verification; it will not be required again unless 3 minutes expire with no
communication; an asterisk and not the password is actually displayed}

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A

2 BSR DIMMER A -

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B -----

[continued)

134 B YTE • JUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES ------ ---

8 SUPERKEY

ENTER DRIVER NUMBER (1-8)? 1

ENTER MODULE NUMBER (1-16)? 1

THIS DRIVER/MODULE NOT IN USE

CREATE EVENT.DELETE EVENT.OR
REPORT EVENTS AGAIN (C/D/R)? C

(the event-trigger listing appears again here)

ENTER ON/OFF COMBINATION (1-5)? 5
ENTER INPUT # FOR ON (1-16)? 1

ENTER PERIOD OF TIME TO WAIT
BEFORE TURNING OFF

NUMBER OF HOURS (0-23)?
NUMBER OF MINUTES (0-59)? 5

374 CHARACTERS AVAILABLE
ENTER NAME OF MODULE

ONE RETURN STARTS NEW LINE
AND TWO RETURNS ENDS
GARAGE LIGHT

(each time you enter the create or delete option, the HCS lists the status
display with an asterisk to indicated modules that are in use— this is called
the scheduled-events display)

(here we have selected to turn on BSR #l for 5 minutes each; input #l
goes high; the time duration extends if input #l is retriggered before the
5 minutes has expired)

GARAGE LIGHT
1 1NPUT# 1

PERIOD 00:05

ENTER INPUT # FOR ON (1-16)?

(entering just a return redisplays the status menu)
SUN JAN 27 2:53 PM

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A -----

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C - -

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES

8 SUPERKEY A

* MEANS EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A *

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES

8 SUPERKEY ----- --

ENTER DRIVER NUMBER (1-8)? 1
ENTER MODULE NUMBER (1-16)? 2

THIS DRIVER/MODULE NOT IN USE

(this is the form the HCS lists its programmed events)
(more events could be added)

(the event we just scheduled is shown on the status display; it is presently
inactive)

(we can go directly to the create function without displaying the editing
menu; just enter A and return)

(scheduled-events display)

[continued)

JUNE I985 -BYTE 135

CIRCUIT CELLAR

CREATE EVENT.DELETE EVENT.OR
REPORT EVENTS AGAIN (C/D/R)? C

(the event-trigger listing is redisplayed here)

ENTER ON/OFF COMBINATION (1-5)? 5
ENTER INPUT # FOR ON (1-16)? 1

ENTER PERIOD OF TIME TO WAIT
BEFORE TURNING OFF

NUMBER OF HOURS (0-23)?
NUMBER OF MINUTES (0-59)? 5

358 CHARACTERS AVAILABLE

ENTER NAME OF MODULE

ONE RETURN STARTS NEW LINE
AND TWO RETURNS ENDS
STORAGE-AREA CEILING LIGHT

STORAGE-AREA CEILING LIGHT

1 INPUT# 1 PERIOD 00:05

ENTER INPUT # FOR ON (1-16)? 2

ENTER PERIOD OF TIME TO WAIT
BEFORE TURNING OFF

NUMBER OF HOURS (0-23)?
NUMBER OF MINUTES (0-59)? 5

STORAGE-AREA CEILING LIGHT

(this time we have scheduled the storage-area light to come on
puts #1 or #2 are triggered)

if either in-

1 INPUT# 1 PERIOD 00:05

2 INPUT# 2 PERIOD 00:05

ENTER INPUT # FOR ON (1-16)?

(enter return)

The HCS begins with a cold start, as shown in listing 3.
Rather than bore you with continued display listings, I'll
add a bit more without repeating it. In a similar manner
(using option 5 from the event-trigger listing in all cases)
as presented in listing 3, the following is scheduled:

CIRCUIT CELLAR HALL LIGHT

1 INPUT* 3 PERIOD 00:03

2 INPUT* 2 PERIOD 00:05

STAIRCASE LIGHT

1 INPUT* 3

2 INPUT* 4

PERIOD 00:03
PERIOD 00:03

UPSTAIRS HALL LIGHT

1 INPUT* 3 PERIOD 00:03

2 INPUT* 4 PERIOD 00:03

HCS CRT MONITOR
1 INPUT* 2 PERIOD 00:15

CIRCUIT CELLAR FLOOR LAMP
1 INPUT* 5 PERIOD 00:30

At this point, seven modules have been programmed
with all events of the "on-duration" format, lb give you
some traditional control reference, I'd also like to dem-

onstrate a time-on/time-off event as well. In my case, I'll
turn the porch light on at 4:30 p.m. each day and off at
6 a.m. the next morning, as shown in listing 4.

IBM PC HCS EXEC

While the menu-driven event programming is straight-
forward in the basic HCS and requires no external sup-
port hardware, the facilities afforded in a larger computer
can greatly expand user-friendliness. An IBM PC HCS Exec
upload/download program written by Robin Computing
takes HCS programming from sequential menu entry to
"paint by numbers." Shown in photo 3 (the display can
be either black-and-white or color), HCS Exec uses cur-
sor positioning, return, and escape as its primary entry
codes. It can communicate with the HCS at up to 4800
bits per second and upload and download the complete
HCS event program sequence.

In Exec, drivers and module numbers are referred to
as devices, selected by name, as shown in photo 4. By
positioning the cursor over the "upstairs hall light" and
pressing Return, we display that device's particulars, as
shown in photo 5. In Exec, any time a device selection
is necessary, a window with the device list appears, and

[continued)

136 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 305

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Listing 4: Programming events on the HCS to occur at a certain time.
SUN JAN 27 3:06 PM

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A 000000-0

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES

8 SUPERKEY A

* MEANS EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A ******-*

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES

8 SUPERKEY

ENTER DRIVER NUMBER (1-8)? 1
ENTER MODULE NUMBER (1-16)? 12

THIS DRIVER/MODULE NOT IN USE

CREATE EVENT.DELETE EVENT.OR
REPORT EVENTS AGAIN (C/D/R)? C

(the event-trigger listing shows up here)

ENTER ON/OFF COMBINATION (1-5)? 1

ENTER ON TIME

1 SUN 2 MON 3 TUE 4 WED

5 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT

8 REPEAT 9 DAY OF MONTH

ENTER DAY OF WEEK, REPEAT CODE,
OR DAY OF MONTH CODE (1-9)? 8

HOW MANY CONSECUTIVE DAYS DO YOU
WANT THIS EVENT REPEATED (2-7)? 7

ENTER TIMES FOR THE FIRST DAY

1 SUN 2 MON 3 TUE 4 WED
5 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT

ENTER DAY OF WEEK (1-7)? 1

ENTER TIME AS HH:MM:A
OR HH:MM:P

? 4:30:P

ENTER OFF TIME

1 SUN 2 MON 3 TUE 4 WED
5 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT

ENTER DAY OF WEEK (1-7)? 2

(our status display indicates
that we have seven modules in
use— none on)

(create an event by entering A)

(scheduled-events display again)

(this time we select item l)

( l want the event repeated
seven days a week starting on
Sunday)

(turn on at 4:30 p.m. Sunday)

[continued)

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 137

Inquiry 90

<8*

6&' A

tf<

#*

*v'

%V

a«>

t°^ e V^_

CIRCUIT CELLAR

ENTER TIMEASHH:MM:A

OR HH:MM:P

? 6:00:4

(turn off at 6:00 a.m. Monday)

236 CHARACTERS AVAILABLE

ENTER NAME OF MODULE

ONE RETURN STARTS NEW LINE

AND TWO RETURNS ENDS

FRONT PORCH LIGHT

(the HCS automatically

FRONT PORCH LIGHT

generates the complete weekly

1 SUN 4:30 PM MON 6:00 AM

schedule)

2 MON 4:30 PM TUE 6:00 AM

3 TUE 4:30 PM WED 6:00 AM

4 WED 4:30 PM THU 6:00 AM

5 THU 4:30 PM FRI 6:00 AM

6 FRI 4:30 PM SAT 6:00 AM

7 SAT 4:30 PM SUN 6:00 AM

SUN JAN 27 3:09 PM

(turning on the porch light at

1111111

4:30 p.m. in January is fine but

1234567890123456

not in July; returning to the

1 BSR ON/OFF A 000000-0

editing menu, we select I and

2 BSR DIMMER A

sunset-adjust the porch light)

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

c DIRFPT Ol IT

7 MFSSAf^F^

1 IVI QOOrAVJJCO

q ciippDi<FY

(space brings up the edit menu.

o ourLnrvL i

then the following)

ENTER LETTER OF CHOICE (A-V)? J

SUNSET ADJUSTMENT

1111111

1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A ******-* *

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

fi DIRFDT OUT

7 MF^AftF^

f IVICOOAAvJ CO

q ci jpprkpy

o ourtniM. i

ENTER DRIVER NUMBER (1-8)? 1

ENTER MODULE NUMBER (1-16)? 12

SUNSET ADJUSTMENT

1111111

1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A ******-* s

2 BSR DIMMER A

138 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 71

CIRCUIT CELLAR

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES

8 SUPERKEY

ENTER DRIVER NUMBER (1-8)?

SUN JAN 27 3:10 PM

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A 000000-0— -0

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES

8 SUPERKEY P

(the porch-light event schedule
will now be automatically
adjusted every 8th and 22 nd to
follow the change in sunset)

(just enter a return to get the status
display again)

INPUT STATUS

1111111

1234567890123456

REFERENCE 0000011111111111

CURRENT LEVEL 00001 11111111111

INPUT LOCKOUT 1111100000000000

A CHANGE REFERENCE LEVEL
B CHANGE LOCKOUT STATUS

ENTER LETTER OF CHOICE (A-B)?

(at this point the lockouts are removed from input bits
the input status then appears as follows:)

INPUT STATUS

(input events take priority
over everything else; to keep
the status from changing while
l was communicating via a live
terminal to an installed HCS. I
locked out inputs 1-5: entering
P displays the input status)

(for this illustration, l had

only five inputs connected;

6- 16 are open and read logic 1)

through 5;

1111111

1234567890123456

REFERENCE 0000011111111111

CURRENT LEVEL 00001 11111111111

INPUT LOCKOUT 0000000000000000

A CHANGE REFERENCE LEVEL
B CHANGE LOCKOUT STATUS

ENTER LETTER OF CHOICE (A-B)?

(return entered to see status again)

SUN JAN 27 3:16 PM

1111111
1234567890123456

1 BSR ON/OFF A 001110-1

2 BSR DIMMER A

3 BSR CYCLER A

4 BSR ON/OFF B

5 BSR ON/OFF C

6 DIRECT OUT

7 MESSAGES

8 SUPERKEY

(note that bit #5 is high)

(while the input display showed
only me at the terminal in the Circuit
Cellar when I called it— motion
sensors are short-pulse output
devices— apparently the system
caught me running upstairs to the
bathroom; it turned the lights
on, by the way)

GET SERIOUS!

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without notlca.

JUNE I985 -BYTE 139

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Photo 3: HCS Exec initial menu.

Photo 4: Device selection on Exec.

Photo 5: Device particulars as shown on Exec.

Photo 6: Input selection on Exec.

Photo 7: Input particulars as shown on Exec.

Photo 8: Device status on Exec.

140 BYTE • JUNE 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

the cursor is merely positioned over the device to select it.

In a similar manner, Exec defines and designates inputs
by name, as photo 6 shows. r Ifen of the inputs are shown
at a time (they scroll up and down), and positioning the
cursor over an input gives the particulars for that input.
In photo 7, the "Circuit Cellar Staircase" input designates
a motion detector connected to input line #3, which is cur-
rently enabled and is activated with a logic I input level.
When all inputs are defined, Exec can monitor inputs or
devices in real time. The status display and input option
(see photos 1 and 2) are polled once a second by Exec
and used to update a real-time display on the PC Devices
that are currently active are highlighted (see photo 8).

Once the devices, and inputs if necessary, have been
defined, events can be designated for each output device.
In the case of the porch light (photo 9), seven daily events
turn the light on at 7 p.m. and off at 6 a.m. For the upstairs
hall light (photo 10), 3-minute time periods are triggered
by either inputs from the "Circuit Cellar Staircase" mo-
tion detector or the "Upstairs Hallway" motion detector.

One thing that I hadn't thought of until late in the pro-
cess is shown in photo 11. Under program control, this
HCS option enables you to connect a parallel printer to
produce a permanent record of time, date, and events trig-
gered by an input change of state.

In Conclusion

It's impossible to demonstrate all the features of the HCS
in a few articles. My system has expanded considerably
since the first few automatically controlled lights. Now I
can call the Circuit Cellar from anywhere in the world,
assess the situation, and modify the control accordingly.
Of course, this same capability can be accomplished with
your average personal computer, an elaborate I/O (input/
output) interface, and many programmer-months of effort.

The HCS is a stand-alone single-board realization of all
these fantasies. It is not an exercise left to the reader but
a tried-and-proven design that allows control-happy com-
puterists to come out of the closet at a reasonable
expense.

For those of us who are beyond help, the maze just
keeps growing. The 3- by 4-foot plywood area is full, a
second HCS is performing dedicated control tasks, and
I really am thinking about the air conditioning. Given all
the installed motion detectors, the HCS can make real-time
decisions and direct air conditioning only to inhabited
areas. What's another 18-lead cable strung through the
Circuit Cellar?

EXPERIMENTERS AND OEM USERS

As always, 1 try to support the computer experimenter by
providing sources for many of the components. The Cir-
cuit Cellar HCS is suitable for OEM applications as well.
It is available in various configurations that are all ultimate-
ly upgradable to the same potential.
If you plan on building the unit from scratch, good luck

Photo 9: Event triggers for a porch light.

Photo 10: Event triggers for a hall light.

Photo 1 1 : Printer-interface capability.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 141

Inquiry 234

Real-Time Multitasking Executive

i No royalties
i Source code included
i Fault free operation
i Ideal for process control
i Timing control provided
i Low interrupt overhead
i Inter-task messages

Options:

■ Resource Manager

■ Buffer Manager

■ Integer Math Library

■ Language Interfaces :

C Pascal
PL/M Fortran

■ DOS File Access :

CP/M-80
IBM PC DOS

AMX IsTM of KADAK Products Lid.
CP/M-80 UTM of Digital Research Corp.
IBM, PC DOS areTM olIBM Corp.

AMX for 8080 $ 800 US

8086 950

6809 950

68000 1600

Manual (specify processor) 75

J£ KADAK Products Ltd

(604) 734-2796
Telex: 04-55670
206-1847 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6J 1Y5

- <&n — I ONLY

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CIRCUIT CELLAR

and take heart. Send me a picture of your board, and I'll
send you a hexadecimal dump (16K bytes) of the control
software (provided it is for noncommercial private use).
If you're a bit more well-heeled, I'll supply the code on
two 2764 EPROMs (erasable programmable read-only
memories) and a manual for $32, postpaid in the U.S., $5
extra overseas. (No picture is required.)

Circuit Cellar Feedback

This month's feedback begins on page 46 1.

Next Month

I'll present a collection of alarm and environmental moni-
toring circuits. ■

Special thanks to Bill Summers and Leo Taylor for their software expertise.

Editor's Note: Steve often refers to previous Circuit Cellar articles. Most
of these past articles are available in book form from BYTE Books,
McGraw-Hill Book Company. POB 400. Hightstown, N] 08250.

Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar. Volume I covers articles in BYTE from September
1977 through November 1 978. Volume II covers December 1 978 through
June 1980. Volume III covers July 1 980 through December 1981. Volume
IV covers lanuary 1982 through June I983.

The following items are available from

The Micromint Inc.

2 5 Terrace Dr.

Vernon, CT 06066

(800) 635-3355 for orders

(203) 871-6170 for information

1. Home Run HCS— Complete assembled system with enclosure and
parallel-encoded keyboard HCSOl. $589

2. Home Run HCS-Populated PC board. Assembled and tested PC
board. No enclosure or keyboard HCS02, $429

3. Home Run HCS— Video-based kit. Includes PC board and all com-
ponents except enclosure, keyboard, and serial-interface components
(ICI6. IC17. IC20. and two DB-2 5 connectors) HCSV05. $329

4. Home Run HCS— Ierminal-based kit. Includes PC board and all
components except video-display processor (IC22, IC2 5, and IC26).
No keyboard, enclosure, or RF modulator HCST06. $289

5. 8K-byte static-RAM upgrade. Increases RAM to 16K bytes
HCS20, $35

6. Apple ll-compatible ASCII-encoded keyboard HCS21, $79

7. Wall transformer/transmitter module (available separately)
HCS22, $40

8. IBM PC Upload/Download event-schedule-storage software with
terminal emulator, written in C provided on IBM PC-DOS 2.0 disk
HCS25. $49

All kits and assembled units include operators manual, power supply
with wall transformer/transmitter module, and 8K bytes of RAM. All
units are supplied without keyboard-encoder chip (not necessary
when using encoded keyboard, ICI 8— optionally available). All item
numbers that list enclosures also include backup battery holder (six
C cells), less batteries. Serial-port and video-display-processor up-
grades for items 3 and 4 and various other components are also
available.

Please include $8 for shipping and handling in the continental United
States, $12 elsewhere. New York residents please include 8 percent
sales tax. Connecticut residents please include 7.5 percent sales tax.

To receive a complete list of Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar project kits, cir-
cle 100 on the reader-service inquiry card at the back of the magazine.

142 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 304

C^&ggS^SeS^

-

"Difficult to use", -Amazingly powerful", "Can't spot
syntax errors", "It's so much faster." G is the
programming language of the decade. It has the
power and the sophistication everyone is looking for,
yet it's so difficult to use.
- With Living C everyone can program in C That
means you can learn how to write powerful
applications in C that run at great speed. Living C is a
systematic programming tool, that shows you,
through cursor movements, the statements that are
actually executed (and their consequence), rather
than the bnesyou think are executed. This one feature
alone will allow immediate and correct
understanding of your own, or equally importantly,
someone else's program.

So what's Living C got? Well, it consists of a full
function Screen Editor, compiler and run-time
package that allows you to 'animate' the code on
screen. Breakpoints may be set, or programs may be
traced one line at a time. Several windows may be
displayed on your PC's screen, so that your program's
output is kept separate from your debugging
information.

Variables may be examined or altered, and in
addition, the value of a variable may be continuously
displayed in a window.

Furthermore, Living C gives you full menu and
multi-level intelligent tielp facilities, allowing you to
call for help and advice at any time during entry,
execution or debugging of your C code. During
compilation any errors are automatically highlighted
in the text, which can then be corrected immediately
using Living C's full screen editor.

Finally, once you've finished developing and
editingyour program, Living C will disappear into the
background to letyou get on with running the
program you've created.

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Main Features: V_-" S" *-^> C~^> <_

• Full C compiler compatible with Kernighan and

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Programs are fully animated on screen

>lewitl

Multiple windows to separate output and

ease testing

Full trace and debug facilities

Full screen editor included. Errors can be corrected

without leaving the environment and the

compilation continued

Teaching tool for learning C or understanding

complex programs

c

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Living C - Personal is available for PC-DOS with min 1 92KB RAM.

COD's and Purchase Orders will not be accepted by Living
Software.

Inquiry 444

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 143

- - +m*mmw i i nimiMrt

DOES WORKING ON LOTUS 1-2-3 MAKE YOU SEE RED?

Granted, Lotus 1-2-3™ can be a fast spreadsheet.

Except when you first buy it, take out the five floppy
disks, study the manual to figure out which ones do what,
put the plastic doohickey over the keyboard, and begin
reading about all the installation procedures you need to
get the thing up and running.

Or if you never make a circular calculation (any simul-
taneous equation, even something as simple as "bonus
equals 10% of profit after bonus") when doing a compli-
cated spreadsheet.

By the time 1-2-3 calculates it correctly, you may have
retired.

Or if you'd like to plot your data with a single key-
stroke, because it can take several minutes (including a
disk change) just to start the process.

Or if you'd like to quickly create a
file directory under program con-
trol. 1-2-3 can't do that at all . V ^

What's the point of all this?

We'd like you to go down to

144 B YTE • IUNE 1985

^

/our software dealer and see a new product called
kiperCalc® 3 Release 2, which, unlike Lotus 1-2-3, does
ill of the above.

Along with a larger spreadsheet. Vastly superior
graphics. Incredible speed (that becomes even faster when
jsed with the 8087 or 80287 math co-processors, which
-2-3 doesn't support). And more.

For a lot less money.

All on one disk that you can run right out of the
)ox. (Our lawyers want you to know we include an addi-

1985 Computer Associates Internationa), Inc. SuperCalc is a registered trademark of Computer Associ,
rademark of Funk Software, Inc.

Inquiry 382

tional file disk. Which also contains the popular printing
program Sideways", so you'll never have to cut and
paste wide printed reports together again. Unless you
use 1-2-3.)

But don't believe us about all this. Go take
a look.

After you do, one thing should become

0bVi0 Whatareyou SORClM/lUS
waiting for? MICRO SOFTWARE

waiting 1UI . a Divisionof Computer Associates international. Inc.

ites International, Inc. Lotus and 1-2-3 are trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation. Sideways is a

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 145

Chart-Master™ turns

volumes of complex data into

easy-to-understand graphics.

"A picture is worth a thousand words." With this simple
concept as a building block, Chart-Master is changing the
way busy executives, analysts and secretaries look at,
interpret and present information. In a fraction of the time
required to wade through volumes of printouts, you can

wan um t wc nxa

i ~m

Values printed at data points; both left and right Y-axis scales; floating
legends & bars; both horizontal & vertical formats; exploded pie sections.

produce easy-to-understand bar charts, pie charts and
scatter diagrams quickly and dramatically. Chart-Master
makes it easy to customize reports and presentations with
six different fonts, label placement, proportional pie charts
and more.

Menu-driven Chart-Master allows you to enter data and
select a chart format at the press of a button. You then
preview your selection on your personal computer screen
as it would appear in final form. Or, you can review the
various Chart-Master graphto-opjjons to make sure you
have selected the most effective fo?f1iat>.When satisfied,

146 B YTE • IUNE 1985

you can transfer your selection to paperbr acetate trans-
parencies for a colorful;, presentation-quality chart in
seconds.

Chart-Master presents a clear picture of the "bottom
line," which conveyors of information understand and deci-
sion makers appreciate. That's why major corporations like
GE, Eastman Kodak, Exxon, Union Carbide, GM, AT&T,
DuPont, 3M, Citibank, Motorola, Procter & Gamble, and
GTE rely on Chart-Master to translate "volumes of com-
plex data into meaningful information."

Chart-Master supports the IBM Instruments XY750,
Panasonic VP Series, Houston Instruments DMP29,
Yokogawa PL 1000 and Strobe plotters, in addition to the
Hewlett-Packard family of plotters, for use with IBM PC
and other compatible computers.

The retail price of Chart-Master is $375. For a complete
information kit and name of your nearest dealer, contact
Decision Resources, Inc., 25 Sylvan Road S., Westport,
CT 06880. (203)222-1974.

DecisionResourcei

Software Designed for Decision Makers

Inquiry 1 34

by Samuel D. Fenster and
Lincoln E. Ford, M.D.

SALT

A threaded interpretive
language interfaced

to BASIC

for research laboratory
applications

Research laboratories such
as ours have become in-
creasingly dependent on
computers. This spiraling
dependence has been fueled by the
decreasing cost and increasing avail-
ability and power of microcomputers.
A major impediment to the further
use of computers is the lack of ade-
quate software. To overcome this
limitation, we developed a method of
combining compiled and interpretive
higher-level languages for general use
in a diversity of laboratory applica-
tions.

In our previous work with mini-
computers, control programs were
written in a higher-level language,
such as BASIC, with assembly-lan-
guage subroutines for each special-
ized task. When two tasks were to be
performed in immediate sequence,
we either wrote a new routine com-
bining the two earlier versions or
made two separate calls to the rou-
tines from BASIC. Rewriting programs
requires a great deal of programming
time, but making repetitive calls from
BASIC frequently took unacceptably
long execution times. To eliminate
both of these problems, we decided
to develop a means of linking assem-

bly-language routines together so that
they could be used in a single CALL
statement from BASIC. Before we had
progressed very far. we found that we
had reinvented the threaded interpre-
tive language (TIL), this time in a form
that was interfaced directly to BASIC.

Threaded Interpretive
Languages

TILs consist of a set of "words."
Primary words, called primitives, con-
sist of machine-language subroutines.
More complex words, secondaries, con-
sist of a sequence of calls to primi-
tives. Higher-level words may call
primitives or previously defined sec-
ondaries in any order. They consist
simply of a list of calls to starting ad-
dresses of the words. Program execu-
tion is rapid because all the primitives
are run in machine language and the
only extra time is that which is re-
quired to pass parameters to each
routine and to proceed from one
routine to the next.

A TIL has two distinct functions, com-
piling and running. Compiling consists
of creating the lists of tasks to be per-
formed in sequence and placing the
necessary parameters in a place
where the primitives can obtain them.
Running consists of carrying out the
tasks in sequence. The major dif-
ference between types of threaded in-
terpretive languages is the way the
program passes from one routine to
the next by a process called thread-
ing (see reference 1). We use the tech-
nique called subroutine threading.
When running, the program simply
makes a subroutine call to each word
in sequence. Every word, both
primary and secondary, ends with a
return (RET) instruction. Since the se-

quence of routines in our application
is initially called from BASIC, the final
RET statement in the list returns pro-
gram control to BASIC.

It might be asked why we do not use
one of the existing TILs. The principal
reason is that we require a more in-
teractive control language in the
laboratory, where every possible turn
of events cannot be anticipated when
a program is written. Another reason
is that we find looping and conditional
branching restrictive and difficult to
use in other TILs. Finally, other higher-
level languages contain commands
that are convenient for performing
routine tasks but are not readily avail-
able in most TILs.

BASIC

BASIC was developed as a language
for beginners. In fact, most people can
learn to write programs in BASIC
within a few hours. This is an advan-
tage in a university laboratory popu-
lated partially by students, where in-
experience is common and personnel
turnover is high. It is not, however, the
major reason for using BASIC as the
principal language in the laboratory.
Its major virtue in this setting is a char-
acteristic that might usually be con-
sidered a drawback, namely, that it is

[continued)
When Sam Fenster isn't working as a com-
puter programmer at the University of
Chicago, he is a sophomore majoring in math-
ematics and computer science at Columbia
University. Lincoln E. Ford is associate pro-
fessor of Medicine and Cardiology at the
University of Chicago.

You can write to the authors at the Univer-
sity of Chicago, Section of Cardiology, Depart-
ment of Medicine, Hospital Box 249, 950
East 59th St., Chicago, IL 60637.

JUNE 1985 'BYTE

147

SALT

BASIC has become
the standard language
of many small
computers, and thus
is constantly
being improved.

an interpretive language. This means
that every command in a program is
translated to machine language im-
mediately before it is carried out. The
need for separately interpreting each
command slows program execution
greatly but it also makes the pro-
grams highly interactive. That is, a pro-
gram can be stopped at any point and
the operator will know precisely
where he is because his original pro-
gram is unaltered.

Once a BASIC program has been in-
terrupted, the computer can be run
in immediate mode. The operator can
instruct the computer to carry out
commands one at a time. In this man-
ner, it is possible for the operator to
determine the value of a variable,
change a variable, or even change the
path of program flow. The ability to
interrupt a computer that is interfaced
to laboratory apparatus is invaluable
when the operation of the apparatus
is not entirely predictable, as is often
the case.

A final advantage of BASIC is that
it has become the standard language
of many small computers, including
the IBM Personal Computer (PC). As
a result, it is constantly being im-
proved and has many useful features.

One disadvantage of some forms of
BASIC is their limited memory capa-
bility. The version used on the IBM PC
can address only 64K bytes. Although
this is sufficient space for most pro-
grams, laboratory apparatus can fre-
quently generate enough data to
make this space seem cramped. Sub-
sequent analysis can usually reduce
the data to a more manageable size,

but it is necessary to find some way
to hold the data without severely
limiting the program area. To this end
we have designed SALT to store raw
data in areas of "high" memory above
the BASIC space. An entire block of
data can be transferred between this
space and disk. Portions of the data
in a block can also be transferred be-
tween high memory and BASIC arrays.
This ability to move large amounts of
data between high memory and disk
and to operate on smaller parts of it
in BASIC arrays provides a type of vir-
tual memory, greatly expanding the
capability of BASIC.

The major disadvantage of BASIC is
its slowness. While running programs
in an interpretive language, the com-
puter cannot respond fast enough for
many laboratory applications. To over-
come this slowness, machine-lan-
guage subroutines control the com-
puter when it is interacting with the
laboratory apparatus. A difficulty with
using simple subroutines occurs when
two or more of them are to be run in
sequence. Program control returns to
BASIC after each subroutine call. This
return costs valuable time, and more
importantly, the time required may be
somewhat unpredictable, especially
when parameters must be passed
from BASIC to the subroutines. For
time-critical operations in which sub-
routines are to be run sequentially, it
was previously necessary to write ad-
ditional subroutines, combining earlier
ones in the proper sequence. As the
number of computer applications in
the laboratory increased, the con-
tinued rewriting of subroutine se-
quences became costly, lb overcome
this difficulty, we have developed a
method of calling subroutines from a
master machine-language routine,
with one CALL statement from BASIC.

SALT

SALT is a laboratory TIL. As with all
TILs, SALT'S two distinct functions are
compiling and running. All compila-
tion is performed by a single assem-
bly-language routine called from
BASIC. This routine, named LOADER,
creates secondary machine-language
words that are subsequently called

from BASIC. A secondary word con-
sists of a sequence of CALL instruc-
tions, each followed by the starting
address of the routine being called
and any necessary parameters. Thus,
a call from BASIC to a secondary
word initiates a second call to the first
word in a sequence. The final instruc-
tion in a list is RET, bringing the pro-
gram back to BASIC. It is not possible
to call any of the primitive subroutines
directly from BASIC. The LOADER
routine must first translate the name
of the routine to its starting address
and create a secondary word consist-
ing of a machine-language CALL in-
struction followed by all necessary
parameters and RET at the end.

The secondary words in a program
are recompiled each time the pro-
gram is run. Thus, programs in SALT
are actually created and stored from
within BASIC programs. It is not pos-
sible with SALT and probably not
desirable in general, to create secon-
dary words that retain their identity
outside the individual program. To
use SALT a programmer must be
familiar only with the general re-
quirements of the assembly-language
routines he wishes to run and with the
requirements of the LOADER com-
mand. He need not know about any
previously written programs or about
the specifics of the assembly-lan-
guage programs. [Editor's note: See the
end of the article for details on obtaining copies
of the SALT software package]

At present, we have more than 100
separate assembly-language primi-
tives. These are grouped into func-
tional categories described in detail
below.

Hardware

The software described here was writ-
ten specifically for an IBM PC
equipped with a Tecmar Lab Master
board, 512K bytes of memory, and
two floppy-disk drives. It was devel-
oped out of a need for an easy and
efficient way to make use of the Lab
Master. The general principles can,
however, be applied to any similar
computer system. Almost all labora-
tory applications can be described as

{continued}

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SALT

a combination of the following func-
tions: control of experiments, in-
cluding timing and synchronization of
external events, and setting external
voltages; data acquisition, usually
through the digital conversion of elec-
trical analog signals; data storage; and
data analysis. All of these functions
can be implemented with the hard-
ware and programs described here,
except that the topics to be described
under the heading of data analysis are
limited to a few routines for simple
arithmetic procedures and display
that might be used as part of more
sophisticated analyses.

The Lab Master board has four dis-
crete functions required for laboratory
application: an analog-to-digital (A/D)
converter with 16 channels of input;
two digital-to-analog (D/A) converters;
a 24-channel digital input/output (I/O)
device; and a chip with five program-
mable counters and an internal I -MHz
clock, whose basic frequency can be
divided either by powers of 10 or
powers of 16. Most of the software
routines that we will describe are
directed at implementing the four
functions of the board. The remainder
are used for performing simple arith-
metic operations on blocks of num-

bers and for moving blocks of data
between storage areas.

Details of Operation

SALT consists of a single compiling
routine, LOADER, and a large number
of small subroutines that perform
very specific operations during pro-
gram execution. The small subrou-
tines are no different from any other
type of assembly-language routine ex-
cept that many are designed to be
used in sets. For example, one subrou-
tine may set up a counter for timing
operation and another may be re-
quired to start the actual timing. The
aspect of SALT that makes it unique
is the LOADER routine that estab-
lishes the secondary words that are
called from BASIC.

Loader

The LOADER routine that compiles
the secondary words converts all
other subroutine names to addresses,
eliminating the time required to look
up addresses during execution. It then
uses the addresses in a sequence
where each one is the operand of a
CALL, which is followed by any
necessary parameters. A RET is
placed at the end of the sequence,

and the starting address of the entire
sequence in memory is placed in a
table. The use of memory by the
LOADER routines, as well as the
memory allocation for SALT and the
A/D data operation, is shown in figure
I. As illustrated, separate memory
areas are reserved for secondary
routines and for their addresses when
SALT is loaded into memory The
LOADER routine fills these areas as
it compiles secondary words. In the
present version of SALT those re-
served areas are relatively small
because there is no need in our ap-
plication to have them any larger. In
principle, the only limitation to the
size of these areas is the amount of
available memory.

The parameters passed to the rou-
tine can be of three types: fixed in-
teger values placed after the routine
call; positions of binary bits to be set
in a byte that is then placed after the
routine call; and BASIC integer vari-
ables whose addresses are stored
after the call. The following example
illustrates the operation of LOADER.

In this example, a word called DR. 2
(driver routine number 2) will first con-
figure the'24 I/O lines into three 8-bit

[continued]

• • UNUSED • •

INSTALL
SALT

►

primitive routines
(9K bytes)

CALL

LOADER

(DR.n,...)

►

Y//////A

ADSET

OR

ALOAD

y////////,

table of primitive
addresses

w//////,

/////////

1024 bytes reserved

secondary words

///;////;

LOADER
(3K bytes)

'////////,

■>////////,

200 bytes reserved

table of secondary
addresses

v////////

channel 15

channel 14

channel 13

A/D DATA SPACE

programs and variables

BASIC

interpreter

Y//////Y

V//////6

V//////A

PC-DOS

/////////.

'////////.

/////////

interrupts

'////////,

'////////,

'////////,

Figure I: Installing SALT with a BASIC BLOAD instruction
puts the primitives and LOADER routines at the high end of
memory and reserves space for the compiled secondary words and
for a table of addresses of the secondary words. A CALL to

LOADER creates a secondary word and places the starting
address of the word in a table. The ADSET or ADLOAD
routines allocate data space in memory immediately above
BASIC. The data space is arranged into equal-size channels.

150 BYTE • JUNE 1985

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SALT

ports such that the first (A) port is in-
put and the remaining two (B and C)
are output. Second, DR. 2 initializes
counter number 1 to count 20 milli-
seconds. Finally, DR. 2 stops the
counter at its initialized value to wait
for the command START to begin
counting. The BASIC command to
perform this sequence is

CALL LOADER (DR.2JOSET1.0.0,
TIME.1.20.3, STOR1).

LOADER would then create a secon-
dary word in memory consisting of
the following sequence:

CALL 1003

1

CALL 1097

1
20

3
CALL 2034

1
RET

The starting address of this se-
quence would be placed in the sec-
ond position of the driver table, a posi-
tion reserved, specifically for the ad-
dress of the secondary word called
DR. 2. The value 1003 is the starting
address of the IOSET primitive that
initializes the I/O ports, and the pa-
rameters 1.0.0. specify the desired
configuration. The value 1097 is the
starting address of TIME, the routine
that sets a counter to count from the
Tecmar clock. The parameter 1 spec-
ifies the first counter, and the
parameter 20 gives the number of
pulses to count. The parameter 3
specifies the millisecond rate. The
STOP routine, which begins at ad-
dress 2034, holds counter number 1
at its pre-set count until a START.1
command begins the count.

Once the initialization is complete,
another secondary word can use
parts of the Lab Master board for
other purposes. For example, a word
called DR. 3 can be written to: wait for
I/O line A2 to go high; read a voltage
value on A/D channel 10; put the
same voltage on D/A channel 1 ; wait

Tcible 1: Functional categories
of SALT'S primitive subroutines.

File and data management

Timing

Analog-to-digital conversion

Digital-to-analog conversion

Digital input/output

Arithmetic procedures

Miscellaneous routines

20 milliseconds using counter number
1. which was initialized by DR. 2; and
set I/O channels B2 and B7 high. The
BASIC command to create this se-
quence would be

CALL LOADER

(DR.3, RHA.2, VAD.10, DVOLT,

VDAV.1, DVOLT, START.1, WAIT1,

WHB.2.7)

The two secondary words DR. 2 and
DR.3 can be called from BASIC
separately, or another secondary
word can be written to call them in se-
quence with a single call. This latter
option would be compiled with the
command CALL LOADER (DR.4,
CDR.2, CDR.3), which would use the
addresses in positions 2 and 3 of the
driver table to create the assembly-
language sequence

CALL 812
CALL 871
RET

CALL DR.4 is the BASIC command
that would execute the entire se-
quence of tasks before returning to
BASIC.

The LOADER command has very
specific requirements, some of which
have been imposed for ease of the ini-
tial programming, some of which have
been created for ease of subsequent
programming, and some of which
have been imposed by the idiosyn-
crasies of IBM BASIC. For example, all
of the secondary words are called
DR. N where N is an integer between
and 100, and the commands DE-
FINT D and LOADER = 3 must
precede the first call to LOADER in
the BASIC program. The starting ad-
dress of the LOADER routine is 3. The

necessity for using the DEFINT D
statement has been imposed to
eliminate the need for typing the "%"
character following each DR definition
and each BASIC integer variable pa-
rameter, such as DVOLT. The term DR
is always used to name the secondary
words so that the LOADER program
can find the beginning of the param-
eter list following the words CALL
LOADER. A CALL statement from
BASIC pushes the entire parameter
list in the statement onto the stack.
The LOADER routine examines the
stack to find the first variable, which
always begins with DR. Once this is
found, the integer following DR. is
used to identify the secondary word.

Primitive Subroutines

The individual primitive can be
grouped under the separate func-
tional categories listed in table I. They
are described below in detail by
category. The listings of the individual
routines are not given here because
they require too much space and
because they are, for the most part,
specific to the Lab Master board.

When these routines were devel-
oped, the highest priority was given
to speed, because they were de-
signed to be used in real-time applica-
tions. To achieve this speed, the rou-
tines were made as simple as pos-
sible. The number of Test and Condi-
tional Jump instructions was kept to
a minimum because they take a
moderate amount of program execu-
tion time. The desired simplicity was
achieved at the expense of some
redundancy in the program. For ex-
ample, there are nine separate rou-
tines to write nonvariable data to the
three digital I/O ports. These nine
routines differ from each other in on-
ly two characteristics, the I/O port to
be written to, and the type of output,
i.e., whether the specified channels
are to be made high, made low, or to
toggle (change from the previous
value). Since there are three alter-
natives for each of the three channels,
there are nine combinations. Each of
the routines is short (about 18 bytes),
so that the memory required for nine

[continued)

152 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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SALT

separate simple routines is not much
greater than that for a single routine
that would accept the I/O port and the
type of output as parameters. A
larger, single routine would, however,
require much more execution time.
Execution times were measured for

all the time-critical routines that might
be used during an experiment. These
were estimated in two ways. Some ex-
ecution times were measured from
failures to make A/D recordings on a
regular schedule. A ramp voltage was
put into one channel of the A/D con-

A. 22^S/CONVERSlON

-H-h

1111

111!

M il

-H-h-H^R-

MM

MM

-HHh

B. 20/xS/CONVERSION

t

III!

MM

V

* —

MM

V-r

MM

?«?

V--'

MM

\.--'

MM

\

MM

H-h-h

Figure 2: A voltage ramp was recorded at two sampling intervals, differing by only 2
lis. The digitized data was displayed at the same rate for both. Failure to make a con-
version, indicated by the arrows in B, resulted in a complete sample being missed after
every 5-8 conversions. The voltage step after a missed sample is twice normal.

verter, which was programmed to
make conversions at regular intervals
that had been established by the fre-
quency of the internal clock. The in-
tervals between clock cycles were
decreased in increments of 1 micro-
second (fis) until the A/D failed to
make a conversion. Tb detect a failure,
the recorded ramp voltage was out-
put to the oscilloscope using the D/A
routine. A missed sample was recog-
nized as a double step between
voltage levels in the displayed ramp,
as shown by the arrows in figure 2.
This method could also be used to
measure execution times of routines
by directing the computer to perform
the routines between sampling
periods. A second, more straightfor-
ward method of measuring execution
times was to use a primitive called
COUNT that returns the value in the
buffer of a specified counter without
influencing the counter's operation.
By setting the counter to count down
from a large number at microsecond
intervals, it was possible to estimate
execution times with a resolution of
1 /ts. The COUNT routine took 68 ps
± I fis each time it was called. The ex-
ecution time of routines inserted be-
tween two calls to the COUNT
routine was therefore calculated by
subtracting 68 fis from the measured
interval.

It might be expected that the execu-
tion time for a given routine could be
calculated from the number of clock
cycles required for each instruction in
the routine. In general the routine
took 30 to 50 percent longer than ex-
pected. A possible explanation for
these longer times has been given in
PC TECH JOURNAL (see reference 2).
Further explanations are beyond the
scope of this article. In addition, the
execution times were somewhat vari-
able. A possible cause of this vari-
ability in timing arises from memory-
refresh cycles that occur at unpredict-
able intervals during program execu-
tion. This variability may cause a
routine to take variable periods of
time, so that variations in execution
times will not occur regularly or pre-
dictably. Thus, it was necessary to

[continued)

154 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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SALT

measure execution times repetitively
and to estimate an average and a
range of speeds.

File and Data Management

All data is handled as 2 -byte integer
samples. A few primitives operate on
a single number. For example, one
primitive sets a voltage value on one
of the D/A channels and another
records the voltage of a single A/D
channel. Most data is handled as long
arrays. Before such data can be
recorded, a space must be reserved
for it in high memory using the
ADSET routine, as shown in figure 1.
This primitive requires two
parameters to establish the number
of channels and the number of sam-
ples per channel. Once recorded, the
data can be transferred to disk using
the SAVEF primitive, which creates a
disk file using a filename previously
specified as a BASIC string variable.

The first 2 bytes in the file are used
to record the number of samples per
channel. When a file is read from disk
using the LOADF primitive, a buffer
of the correct size is first created in
high memory, and the data is read
into it. To use the recorded data in a
BASIC program, it is necessary to
move the data from its buffer in high
memory to a BASIC integer array (e.g.,
DATAARRAY). This is done with the
FETCH primitive, which requires two
parameters. The first is an integer that
designates the channel number, the
second (e.g., D.N2) is a BASIC variable
that has been set by the BASIC
VARPTR function to the starting ad-
dress of the BASIC array. The BASIC
instruction

D.N2 = VARPTR(DATAARRAY(0))

should immediately precede a CALL
to a secondary containing the FETCH
primitive because BASIC moves its ar-

rays around unpredictably. The
number of the first sample to be
transferred from a channel is placed
in the zero position of the BASIC ar-
ray using a BASIC instruction. Sam-
ples are transferred sequentially until
the defined array is filled or until the
end of the channel is reached. In this
manner, only a portion of a record is
transferred at one time, so that only
a small amount of BASIC array space
need be used. Another instruction
called STORE performs the inverse of
FETCH. It transfers data from a BASIC
array to a previously defined data
space in high memory.

TWo additional routines, SAVEF and
LOADF, transfer arrays of data in high
memory to and from disk. The ar-
rangement of data into channels is the
same as that produced by the ADSET
routine (see figure 1).

There is a primitive called SWITCH
that allows the operator to switch be-

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SALT

tween two simultaneously existing
buffers in high memory. Since each
buffer can be as large as 64K bytes,
a total of 128K bytes of high memory
is available. The combination of
ADSET, FETCH, STORE, SAVEF.
LOADF, and SWITCH greatly expand
the amount of space available to
BASIC for handling data. Because
data can be transferred between buf-
fer and disk and then to and from
BASIC, the routines provide BASIC
with a form of virtual memory.

Timing

Precise timing is essential in almost
all laboratory applications. Such tim-
ing is made available by a 1-MHz
clock in the timer-counter chip on the
Lab Master board. The basic frequen-
cy can be divided either by powers of
10 or powers of 16. To keep the ap-
plication simple, we have chosen to
use only the decimal divisions. The

divided frequencies are available in
two forms. They can be divided fur-
ther by numbers ranging from 1 to 16
and made available externally as an
Tout" square wave. We have not yet
found this provision useful and in-
stead have chosen to perform timing
using one of the five counters in the
chip. There were two reasons for this
decision: The F-out pulse is not avail-
able internally to software, and more
importantly, it cannot be synchron-
ized to external events. The 1-MHz
clock and its dividers operate con-
tinuously so that they cannot be syn-
chronized at all. The counter can,
however, be made to begin counting
in synchronization with an externally
applied signal. By counting a large
number of high-frequency pulses, it is
possible to synchronize the counters
to within the limits of the basic fre-
quency. Since the counters can count
to two pulses, it is possible, in princi-

ple, to achieve l-/*s accuracy of syn-
chronization. In practice, the accuracy
is limited to 3 f.is because about 3 out
of every 15 /as (14 out of every 72
central-processor clock cycles) are
used by the computer for memory
refresh, and it is not possible to con-
trol when the 3-/*s interruptions will
occur.

The counters on the Lab Master
board are complex and have 18 dif-
ferent modes of operation. Despite
this complexity, the chip containing
the five counters, the 1-MHz frequen-
cy generator, and the frequency
divider is controlled using two 1-byte
ports. While it would be possible to
initialize the counters directly from
BASIC by sending data to the two
control bytes, the complexity of the
timers makes it much easier to use
separate subroutines to establish
each of the modes of operation.

[continued)

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IUNE 1985 -BYTE 157

SALT

The complexity of the counters
arises from the combinations of avail-
able functions. Each counter can
count either internal pulses or exter-
nal pulses, each can count repetitive-
ly or give a single count, and each
counter can be gated either internal-
ly or externally. Finally, each counter
has two 16-bit registers from which it

obtains its count.

In our application the counters are
used for two main purposes. The first
is the timing of D/A and A/D conver-
sion. Since conversions are usually
made at regular intervals, the counters
are usually set to run continuously In
most cases, the duration of the pulses
is not critical because the digital con-

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versions are triggered on the chang-
ing edge of the counter pulses, so that
only one of the two counter registers
is used at one time to generate the
correct frequency. In one application,
the counter pulses are also applied to
sample-and-hold circuits used to syn-
chronize the conversion. In this case
the pulses from the counter must be
sufficiently long to hold all the exter-
nal circuits in the hold mode until the
analog values are converted. Both
counter registers are used, one to
establish the frequency and the other
to set the pulse duration. In another
application, the two counter registers
are used to establish two separate fre-
quencies. Switching between the two
frequencies is accomplished with
gating pulses applied externally. The
use of these gates eliminates the need
for reprogramming the counters and
thereby hastens program execution.
The second application of the
counters is to control external events
by providing pulses of specified dura-
tion at specified times. The counter
registers are used to establish pulse
duration as well as the delay between
some initiating event and the onset of
the pulse. The counters can be very
useful for this purpose because they
operate independently of the com-
puter's central processing unit once
they have been started. This indepen-
dent operation speeds program ex-
ecution greatly.

A/D Conversion

The simplest A/D primitives convert
a single analog voltage value on one
A/D channel and place the digitized
integer value in the BASIC variable
space. All the other A/D primitives
make sequential conversions at a fre-
quency determined by a counter on
the timer chip. The principal need for
speed in laboratory applications is in
the rapid accumulation of digitized
data from electrical analog signals.
There are four separate routines for
this purpose and each has separate
advantages with respect to simplici-
ty, speed, and synchronization. All of
the routines have been written in a
way that makes it possible to interrupt

(continued)

158 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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SALT

The two main uses
for digital-to-analog
conversion in
the laboratory
are setting
control voltage and
displaying data.

recording to perform some task, such
as changing the speed of recording or
outputting a control pulse. This latter
provision makes it possible to exert
a great deal of control over the exper-
iments while collecting data.

All of the sequential A/D routines
require that a buffer for the digitized
data be established in high memory
above the BASIC program area. This
is done with the ADSET primitive de-
scribed above. If recording is stopped
before the buffer is full, data will be
placed in the next available space
when recording resumes. It is also
possible to establish two buffers in
the present version of SALT. This pro-
vision permits data to be collected
from a different number of channels
at different times. It also makes it
possible to transfer data from one
buffer to another while performing
mathematical manipulations, without
destroying the original data.

The simplest sequential A/D primi-
tive, AD1E, makes a single conversion
from one channel on every clock
pulse and the digitized data is sent se-
quentially to memory This is the
fastest form of operation because the
assembly-language instruction that
sends the data to memory increments
automatically and there is no need to
keep track of the memory location.
The AD1 E routine was used to collect
the data in figure 2. The minimum
safe time between conversions is
2 2 fxs. Timing is accomplished by wir-
ing the external output of a frequen-
cy generator to the external start in-

put of the A/D converter. This mode
of operation is used because it pro-
vides the most accurate timing; each
conversion is initiated on a counter
pulse without any program interven-
tion.

The three other sequential A/D
primitives collect data from multiple
channels in sequential order. The Lab
Master board has a provision that
automatically increments the channel
number, beginning with a channel
that is specified by software and end-
ing with a channel that is specified by
switches on the board. We keep our
switches set at the highest channel
number to be able to use all 16 chan-
nels on the board. The simplest of
these multichannel primitives, ADQE,
sends data to memory as it is col-
lected, so that the first sample of
channel I is followed by a first sam-
ple of channel 2, and so on. At the
end of the period of recording, a
routine called SORT orders the data
by channels so that the first sample
of channel I is followed by the sec-
ond sample of channel I and the last
sample of channel I is followed by the
first sample of channel 2, etc. Data ac-
quisition with this routine is as fast as
AD1E (22 ^s per conversion) because
the channel number is incremented
automatically, without program inter-
vention, and because the routines for
memory storage are the same.

The remaining A/D primitives order
the data as it is collected, sending
data from each channel to its proper
place in memory. Even though the
auto-increment mode is used, the pro-
gram must keep track of which chan-
nel is being converted because the
data must be sent to the correct chan-
nel block within the buffer. Thus, the
program must use two counter regis-
ters, one for the channel number and
one for the sample number. The need
for two counters, as well as the addi-
tional programming required to con-
tinuously redirect data to different
parts of the memory slows program
execution substantially The minimum
interval between conversions ranges
from 40 /xs for 16 channels to 48 /xs
for two channels. The main advantage
of these routines over ADQE is that

the data need not be reordered after
recording, so that a second buffer is
not needed. For many applications
this routine is more satisfactory
because it is simpler.

The multichannel A/D primitives
described above collect data from the
different channels at regular intervals
so that the first sample of channel 2
is collected later than the first sample
of channel I, and the first sample of
channel 3 is collected later than the
first sample of channel 2, etc. This is
not a major disadvantage because the
values in any channel at any given
time can be estimated by interpola-
tion. The final A/D primitive, AD, is
designed to make nearly simulta-
neous conversions from all channels.
With this primitive, each round of con-
versions is initiated on a single clock
pulse and all samples are converted
as rapidly as the software will allow,
thereby minimizing the intervals be-
tween samples taken from different
channels. The interval between
samples is not critical because the
routine is designed to be used with
external sample-and-hold circuits. This
routine uses a "software start" to ini-
tiate each A/D conversion and instead
of detecting an 'A/D done" flag, it
detects the presence of a pulse on the
counter output to start the round of
conversions. The same pulse is also
output externally to trigger sample-
and-hold circuits for each channel.
Synchronization occurs because the
sample-and-hold circuits are triggered
to hold their values on the rising edge
of the pulse.

D/A Conversion

The two main uses for D/A conversion
in the laboratory are setting control
voltage and displaying data. Control
voltages are set using one of three
routines, which differ according to the
type of parameter they take.

Data is displayed on an oscillo-
scope, as in figure 2, using sequential
D/A primitives. There are 2 D/A chan-
nels and there are 16 A/D channels,
so it is necessary to specify which
channels are to be displayed. In ad-
dition, it is necessary to specify the

[continued)

160 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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Inquiry 275

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Inquiry 195

Inquiry 162

SALT

rate of conversion. Since the output
is displayed repetitively on an oscil-
loscope, it is important to make this
routine as fast as possible. In addition,
it is highly desirable to have the sam-
ple output rate be a round number of
milliseconds. The D/A routines can
operate without failure at 48 /*s per
conversion and so can be used con-
veniently at 50 lis per conversion. At
this rate two channels of 1000 sam-
ples each require 50 milliseconds for
display. The two-channel repetition
rate is thus about 10 per second. The
repetition rate is actually a little lower
because the oscilloscope requires a
few milliseconds to reset its beam to
the beginning of each trace. A repeti-
tion rate of 12 to 18 Hz is not flicker-
free, but is also not too uncomfortable
to scrutinize.

Digital I/O Primitives

The I/O ports are used in our labora-
tory to transfer 5-volt TTL (tran-
sistor-transistor logic) pulses between
the computer and other apparatus.
This transfer of digital signals enables
the computer to control the experi-
ments, or in some cases, to be
directed by external events. Frequent-
ly the digital pulses must be trans-
ferred during other time-critical
operations, such as making rapid A/D
recordings. For this reason, these
routines were made as simple and
therefore as short as possible. As ex-
plained above, this need for simplici-
ty resulted in a large number of very
similar primitives. The simple routines
take about 3 1 /as. If the routine is to
be run during A/D sampling, an addi-
tional 50 fis is required to stop and
start the sequential A/D routines.

Arithmetic Primitives

A group of primitives perform simple
arithmetic manipulations on entire
channels of data located in high mem-
ory. The manipulations include addi-
tion, subtraction, multiplication, and
division by constants as well as inte-
gration and differentiation. These rou-
tines can be very useful in making
displays, finding maxima, and detect-
ing trends.

[continued)

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Inquiry 122

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 163

SALT

There are a few miscellaneous rou-
tines for operations that could also be
run from BASIC but which have been
included in SALT so that program
control would not have to return to
BASIC each time they were to be run.
These routines print messages on the
monitor, sound the beeper, etc. They
can be used, for example, to provide

warning sounds and error messages
in SALT.

Future Improvements

This first version of SALT contains all
the necessary routines for interfacing
a computer to laboratory apparatus
and for manipulating blocks of data,
but it contains very little else. It is ob-

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Inquiry 37 for Dealers.
Inquiry 38 for End Users.

vious that more primitive routines for
data analysis would be useful and
that the language might be useful out-
side the lab. Rapid routines for dis-
playing records with cursors on the
displays, finding maxima and minima
in records, etc., would greatly speed
some types of analysis. High-speed
mathematical routines, such as fast
Fourier transforms, could also be ex-
tremely useful in some specialized ap-
plications. Nonlaboratory applications
would include all forms of assembly-
language routines to be run in
batches under control of an inter-
active higher-level language, such as
BASIC The use of assembly-language
routines for performing repetitious
procedures and for handling large
blocks of data can greatly hasten pro-
gram execution time and expand the
memory space available to BASIC
without sacrificing its interactive
qualities. Fortunately, the structure of
the language permits the simple ad-
dition of the necessary primitives.
Once the routine is written, its name,
starting address, and parameter for-
mat are simply added to the tables of
primitives. Since the assembly-lan-
guage routines are short, it will
generally not be necessary to remove
old routines to make room for new
ones. The current version of SALT oc-
cupies about 12K bytes of instruction
space, of which 9K bytes are used for
primitives. As written, the program
can fill up to 64K bytes of higher
memory with assembly-language pro-
grams, so that the space occupied by
the primitive routines can be ex-
panded over fivefold before economy
of space becomes a consideration.
| Editor's note: You can obtain a copy o\ SALT
on disk and documentation of its operation
by sending $50 to Sam Fenster, 4949 S.
Woodlawn Ave.. Chicago. IL 6061 5. | ■

REFERENCES

1. Ritter, Terry, and Gregory Walker.
'Varieties of Threaded Code for Language
Implementation." BYTE, September 1980,
page 206.

2. Smith, Bob, and Tom Puckett. "Life in
the Fast Lane: Techniques for Obtaining
Timing Information with Microsecond
Resolution on the PC." PC TECH JOUR-
NAL. April 1984, page 63.

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By Phillip Robinson

The SUM: An
AI Coprocessor

Turning a common
AI operation
into silicon

Logic programming is a
staple of artificial-intelli-
gence (AI) software and is
often dominated by the pat-
tern-matching process of unification
(seethe "Resolution and Unification"
text box on page 173). In fact when
logic-programming languages such as
Prolog and LOGLISP are used, as
much as 50 to 60 percent of a com-
puter's processing time is spent on
unification. When a single algorithm
is used that frequently, it is natural to
consider implementing it as custom
hardware. When that same algorithm
lends itself to parallelism and concur-
rency because of its recursive, tree-
search characteristics, it practically
begs for VLSI (very large scale integra-
tion) implementation.

SUM History

Professor John Oldfield and a team of
researchers at Syracuse University are
developing the SUM (Syracuse Unifi-
cation Machine), a coprocessor for
computers geared toward A I pro-
gramming. The project combines the
resources of the Syracuse CIS (Com-
puter and Information Science) de-
partment, ECE (Electrical and Com-
puter Engineering) department, and
the CASE Center (Computer Applica-
tions and Software Engineering
Center, set up by New York State). Key
SUM individuals are Dr. Oldfield
himself (who contributed CAD |com-

puter-aided design| and VLSI exper-
tise), Professor Alan Robinson (who
is the head of the logic-programming
efforts at Syracuse), and Kevin Greene
(who made the initial designs of the
SUM). Because of a famous 1965
paper, Dr. Robinson is often credited
with inventing unification. He is more
modest, pointing to the work of Her-
brand in the 1930s and the studies of
Prawitz and Kenger concerning unifi-
cation. Dr. Robinson contends that he
was just the first to formalize the
unification process and apply it to
resolution.

In 1981, the Syracuse CIS logic-pro-
gramming group learned that Caltech
(California Institute of ifechnology) stu-
dent Sheue-Ling Lien had designed a
chip that embodied Dr. Robinson's
original unification algorithm (see the
"Unification on a Chip" text box, page
174). Dr. Robinson and his colleagues
were somewhat taken aback that
someone else had taken this step.
Lien's report was a major inspiration
for the development of the SUM, even
though the chip it described was
never actually made. Because ECE
had been developing custom VLSI

thip-design capability and had a
strong logic-programming group,
combining the pursuits "seemed a
natural thing" according to Dr.
Oldfield.

Coprocessor Strategy

As Dr. Oldfield explains, "Although we
started talking about a unification
chip, following along the lines of the
Caltech one, it soon became fairly
clear that at present levels of integra-
tion that was fairly ridiculous. You
could make a chip, but it would be
limited to solving such small prob-
lems that it wouldn't be worthwhile."
The SUM group wanted to design a
full-blown, practical processor. Be-
sides, Lien's chip used Dr. Robinson's
original 1965 algorithm. Much more
efficient algorithms have been devel-
oped since.

When they realized that a single
chip wasn't realistic, the members of
the group looked at the possibility of
a coprocessor, initially for the LMI

(continued)
Phillip Robinson is a senior technical editor
at BYTE. He can be contacted at 1000
Elwell Court, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

ILLUSTRATED BY RANDALL ENOS

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 169

THE SUM

(LISP Machine Inc.) Lambda com-
puter. Dr. Oldfield continues, "Here's
the LMI Lambda executing a LISP pro-
gram. When it comes up to the point
where it needs to do a unification,
then that task is given over to the
SUM," which would handle it more ef-
ficiently than the Lambda could. The
SUM interface is tailored to the LMI
Lambda's high-speed, parallel Nubus
(developed by Texas Instruments) but
could easily be adapted to other ma-
chines and buses.

Resolution, Unification,
and Trees

Although the unification algorithm
has a number of uses, it is often
employed as part of a wider process
called resolution. Resolution is a rule of
inference for constructing deductive
proofs from any number of accepted
clauses. Practical problems may in-
volve thousands or millions of

clauses. One way to view resolution
is as the exploration of a tree of pos-
sible proofs. Resolution uses unifica-
tion to help reduce the number of
clauses. Unification, in effect, works
on its own tree, moving down
branches and trying to bind— find ac-
ceptable values for— variables. If unifi-
cation is successful on one branch, it
switches to another branch farther
down and binds some more variables.
Failure of resolution on a branch of
the resolution tree is not a disaster-
it just means another branch must be
explored. Similarly when unification
fails on a branch of the unification
tree, the process keeps all bindings
except the most recent and explores
another branch.

SUM Architecture and
Operation

Figure I is a block diagram of the
SUM that Kevin Greene developed.

Unification tasks come into the SUM
from the Lambda, are performed, and
the results are passed back. The com-
munication agent, which is the inter-
face between the Lambda and the
SUM, passes unification tasks to the
work manager. Initially, the work
manager's task pool will have only
one task, but as processing continues
other tasks will come back from the
binding agents. Those tasks must be
coordinated with the tasks coming
from the communication agent. The
work manager pushes the unification
task out into the analysis agent, which
executes the heart of the unification
algorithm.

The analysis agent must decide
what to do with the expressions it
receives. What it does depends on the
type of expression. If both expres-
sions are simple constants, unification
succeeds only if they are identical. If

[continued)

D

FROM a TO
LAMBDA

COMMUNICATION
AGENT

CACHE '

EXTENDED REFERENCES AND
COMPARISONS OF COMPLEX CONSTANTS

WORK
MANAGER

TASK POOL

;^n

o

ANALYSIS
AGENT

(PIPELINED)

BINDING TASKS

ANALYSIS
TASKS

BINDING
CONTROLLER

7*>

* CUSTOM VLSI CHIPS

\y

BINDING

AGENT

(ODD INDICES)

AM*

RAM

NEW UNIFICATION TASKS

BINDING

AGENT

(EVEN INDICES)

AM*

RAM

Figure I: A block diagram of the Syracuse Unification Machine.

170 BYTE • JUNE 1985

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THE SUM

the expressions are complex con-
stants, such as floating-point numbers
or strings, the analysis agent may be
given pointers to the data structures
rather than the data structures
themselves. Since unification requires
an equivalency check, the SUM must
pass the pointers back to the
Lambda. As Dr. Oldfield says, "SUM
doesn't know anything about list

structures. All it can handle are
pointers to structures that continue to
reside in the Lambda." In this case, the
comparison is made by the Lambda,
and the result is then returned to the
SUM.

Finally, the analysis agent may en-
counter the job of having to unify a
variable and an expression. It can try

[continued]

Resolution and Unification

Many problems in AI are most ef-
ficiently solved by logical oper-
ations. In fact, the language Prolog is
specifically oriented to the use of prop-
ositional and predicate logic. In their
simplest forms, the rules of logic deal
with operators such as AND, OR, and
NOT. However, complex problems in
AI are nearly always solved by applica-
tion of a more powerful logical tech-
nique, a deduction method known as
resolution.

Propositions are statements of fact
that may be true or false. These are
propositions:

My hard disk just crashed.

My warranty expired yesterday.

We frequently represent propositions
symbolically as single letters:

Atoms are propositions that cannot
be broken down into other proposi-
tions. Atoms are also called positive
literals; atoms preceded by the NOT
operator are called negative literals.
The propositions described above are
atoms, while the following are not:

My hard disk just crashed AND my
warranty expired yesterday,
p OR q

A series of literals connected by OR
operators forms a clause, and we can
use resolution to work with clauses in
this way:

If there is a clause p OR q
and another clause (NOT q) OR r
then p OR r

follows by resolution. Resolution makes
no statement about the truth of p, q,
or r; it merely assures that we can per-
form that particular manipulation of

the logical instructions.

Where does unification come in? To
resolve two clauses, two literals must
be found, one in each clause, such that
one literal is the exact negation of the
other. If the literals do not match, they
can sometimes be made to do so by
substitutions that follow certain rules.
You can replace a variable with a con-
stant (this is called instantiation), with an-
other variable, or with an expression
(as long as that expression does not
contain the original variable). If you
follow the rules and find a substitution
that resolves the two clauses, then you
have found a unifier and have per-
formed unification.

In general, after you have converted
the logical statements describing a
situation into clauses, you can use
unification to try to prove a theorem
about the situation. Resolution will ter-
minate either when clauses remain that
are not resolvable or when resolution
is attempted on a statement and its
negation— a contradiction (this pro-
duces the empty clause, often called
NIL).

For instance, if a robot were under-
water and wanted to know if its bat-
teries were endangered by the water,
it would first combine all the rules it
knew about water and batteries with
the data from its sensors. That infor-
mation would be put into clause form
along with the negation of the theorem
"My batteries will be damaged." The
robot would then use unification sub-
stitutions to attempt resolution. The
result will either be unresolvable
clauses, in which case the theorem is
false and the robot can go on to worry
about: something else, or an empty
clause, in which case the theorem is
true and the robot may be doomed.

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COMPUTERS

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 173

THE SUM

to bind the variable to the expression,
in which case the task is pushed out
to the binding agent.

Parallelism and Recursion
in Binding

The SUM team decided that the bind-
ing process could exploit parallelism
because many bindings can be done
concurrently. The original design uses
two binding agents, but the work could
be split up for four, eight, or more.
Before you make a binding, you
have to find out whether the variable
is already bound. For example, if A is
already bound to 1 5, or to a character
string, you don't make a new binding
of A to 3. For efficiency, the SUM must
be able to check bindings quickly in
what is basically a table lookup. A
subsidiary unification task is gen-
erated, goes back into the work
manager's task pool, and then goes
around the system again.

Unification Failure
and Success

Unification can fail in only one of two
places: the Lambda or the analysis
agent. If unification fails, all activity in
the SUM must cease. Then the SUM
must inform the Lambda of the failure.
However, the Lambda may find out by

4096
ENTRIES

NAME 1 EXPRESSION

h-lB— H««-

BITS

Figure 2: A diagram of the binding agent.

itself. For example, in the case of the
complex constants that are passed
back to the Lambda, the Lambda rec-
ognizes failure before the SUM does.
In that case, the Lambda immediate-
ly directs the SUM to move on to the
next task.

Unification has succeeded when
there are no tasks waiting in the
SUM— nothing in the analysis agent
and no bindings in progress. In that
case, any new bindings are extracted
and passed back to the Lambda.

The bindings are made in a stack
that grows from the bottom up. The
shift-register-like organization of the
stack pointer makes for fast and flex-
ible manipulations. For example,

when unification succeeds and bind-
ings have to be extracted for return
to the Lambda, you can unwind the
stack without losing its contents. This
is important if you are performing
more than one unification using the
same set of bindings. Also, in cases
such as failure of unification, the
Lambda can instruct the SUM to
relocate its stack pointer and adjust
to an earlier context.

Binding Agent-
Custom CAMs

The asterisks in figure I indicate the
parts the SUM team feels have the
most promise for VLSI implementa-
tion. While the cache and various con-
trollers have had some development,
'The binding agent is the part that
we've done the most work on and
where there seems to be a tremen-
dous amount of payoff for custom
VLSI," according to Dr. Oldfield.

Figure 2 is a simple block diagram
of the binding agent. It has 4096 en-
tries, each with a name composed of
a 12-bit index and a 6-bit identifier.
Associated with each name is a 40-bit
expression and another 12-bit index.
In other words, the binding agent re-
quires a lot of RAM. Rather than inte-

[continued]

Unification on a Chip

While many people have talked
about putting unification on a
chip, a computer science graduate stu-
dent's attempt was the charge that
galvanized the Syracuse team to seri-
ously address the challenge. As a
master's project in 1981 for Professor
Jim Kajiya, Caltech student Sheue-Ling
Lien— now Dr. Sheue-Ling Chang of
Sun Microsystems— designed a chip
that implemented Robinson's original
1965 unification algorithm. She called
it the UNlF-chip.

Dr. Chang had been very interested
in Prolog and realized that unification
presented a bottleneck to efficient Pro-
log execution. She decided that a uni-
fication-chip coprocessor, combined
with Caltech's strong interest in VLSI,
was just what the doctor ordered.

DARPA (Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency) sponsored the
research. Dr. Chang designed the chip
with the idea that many of them might
be linked together to concurrently
solve unification problems on different
branches of a Prolog tree structure.

About 18 months after the first design
was complete, Chang and Kajiya
discussed the possibility of taking some
of the stack memory off the chip to
make it small enough for actual produc-
tion. They decided against it because
Chang had become ensconced in her
solid-modeling graphics Ph.D. work and
didn't have time to completely redesign
a chip. The paper disappeared into the
Caltech library.

Professor Kajiya says no one else at
Caltech took up the challenge of silicon

unification because they were waiting
for better design tools. In his opinion,
those tools haven't arrived yet. Still.
when they do get here, he feels that
putting complex tasks such as unifica-
tion into silicon is "definitely the way
to go." He points out that, while the
past 20 years has seen much effort in
improving algorithms, there is now
evidence that sheer processing speed
and power can accomplish more than
was previously thought. Kajiya points
to the championship chess-playing pro-
grams, such as Belle (which has its own
custom hardware) and Cray Blitz (for
the Cray supercomputer), which exploit
tremendous hardware power. Kajiya
says that the success of these chess
machines may "teach us that the
eighties is the decade of brute force."

174 B YTE • IUNE 1985

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THE SUM

SEARCH _T~l
MODE

PULLED LOW
F MATCH
FAILS

DATA

DATA

Figure 3: A 9-transistor associative-memory cell. By adding another 3 transistors to a
basic 6-transistor static RAM cell you get a well-known but rarely used cell that is the
basis of the custom CAM. This cell has a very attractive search feature: Every word in
the memory can simultaneously be searched by a single read access that takes about
100 nanoseconds.

52b

Figure 4: Ttoo parts of the binding agent: an associative-memory stack (left) and a
conventional RAM (right).

grating it all on custom silicon, Dr.
Oldfield decided to use conventional
memory chips wherever possible.

A student's VLSI project on associa-
tive memories gave Dr. Oldfield the
clue to the fast table-lookup architec-
ture he needed. An ideal CAM (con-
tent-addressable memory) or AM (as-
sociative memory) would allow you to
simultaneously search all entries for
a name, an expression, or both. As Dr.
Oldfield states, "It's very, very much
faster than you can do by software
techniques" (see figure 3). Such a
memory could even have wild-card
fields. Dr. Oldfield split the binding
agent into the two parts shown in
figure 4: an AM stack (on the left) and
a conventional RAM (random-access
read/write memory) (on the right).

To maximize the SUM'S perfor-
mance, the designers squeezed as
many variable names as they could
onto the CAM chip. The result was
128 entries of 128 rows by 17 bits.
Each bit is implemented by a
9-transistor AM cell. (If you recall that
each name entry is composed of 12
+ 6 - 18 bits, you are probably
wondering what happened to I bit.
The explanation is that it has been
split off and indicates which of the
two binding agents to use.) The sys-
tem of 4096 entries requires 32 of the
custom CAM chips.

CAD Problems

With a theoretical design for the bind-
ing agent's CAM completed, the SUM
team decided to make the largest pro-
totype chip possible with its CAD fa-
cilities. But as Dr. Oldfield admits, "At
the time our CAD facilities were very
rudimentary." Most of the powerful
tools (mainly computer-aided design
and test programs) are written in C for
a UNIX machine but were too big to
run on Syracuse's DEC PDP-I I . "It's a
funny way to describe it." says Dr.
Oldfield, "but you really have to have
a VAX to do anything in this business.
So we had to do all of our software
locally."

In fact, all of the students had to lay
chips out in CIF (Caltech Intermediate
Form). CIF is a low-level, machine-

(contlnued)

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THE SUM

readable, layer-description language
that, as Dr. Oldfield describes, is
"painfully" written out by hand. For-
tunately, Syracuse now has a set of
tools from the University of Washing-
ton running on a borrowed VAX and
is installing its own VAX.

The experimental prototype has all
the features of the full-scale CAM
chip. However, instead of having 128
rows of 17 bits, it has only 8 rows of
3 bits. According to Dr. Oldfield, it was
"a very ingenious student named Ser-
Hou Kuang" who designed the 8 by
3 prototype memory. Kuang worked
out a stretched version of the 9-tran-
sistor cell that was as long and thin as
possible, yet still met MOSIS design
rules. (MOSIS— Metal-Oxide Silicon Im-

plementation System— is a nonprofit
intermediary organization affiliated
with the University of Southern Califor-
nia and DARPA that accepts prototype
chip designs from universities, govern-
ment agencies, and others, and ar-
ranges to have those designs fabri-
cated by Silicon Valley manufacturers.)
Referring again to his group's poor
CAD facilities, Dr. Oldfield said, "In
fact I would claim this is sort of a
record. This must be about the most
complicated chip anybody's every
designed with such poor aids."

The University of Rochester, which
had better CAD facilities, helped by
running a design rule check on the
chip. The design was then submitted
to MOSIS and the sample chip shown

Photo I: Prototype content-addressable memory chip used in the SUM'S binding
agent.

INPUT BUFFER

AM CELL 1 |

WORD
LINE
BUFFER

ROW
SELECT

ADDRESS

LINE

BUFFER

MASK
REGISTER

ADDRESS
ENCODER

8 ROWS OF 3 | BITS

OUTPUT BUFFER

Figure 5: The 8 by 3 prototype associative memory.

The prototype has all
the features of the
full-scale CAM chip.

in photo I was fabricated. Figure 5 is
a floor plan for the prototype.

All of the chips functioned except
for one problem: The address en-
coder didn't work. As Dr. Oldfield
remembered, "You could write to the
memory, you could search on it, you
could find the pattern you were look-
ing for, and you could read stuff out
of the memory Everything worked
functionally except it never set the ad-
dress lines properly"

Finally, after using a mask-extraction
program called MEXTRA, the SUM
team found a faulty part of the circuit.
A depletion transistor was always on
because it was connected by a length
of diffusion to ground and had no
gate. Apart from that trivial design
mistake, the prototype chips per-
formed excellently and proved the
SUM concepts.

In December 1984, the full-size pro-
totype design was finished and wait-
ing for final design check. Assuming
it works, the SUM team is thinking
about the next phase, producing
quantities of the chip. Dr. Oldfield
points out that university work often
"leads to just one chip" and that it is
"interesting to find a case where you
can usefully use a significant number
in an operation."

Possibilities
for the Future

A negative aspect of the SUM con-
cerns its overall impact on AI. Even
if unification takes up a full 60 percent
of a LISP machine's time, an infinitely
fast SUM could speed up the overall
process only by a factor of slightly
better than 2. Coprocessors in other
circumstances sometimes speed pro-
cessing on the order of hundreds of
times. As Dr. Oldfield freely admits,
this is "not the same story at all."
Looking down the road, Dr. Oldfield

[continued)

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THE SUM

sees the SUM shrinking. He says that
while "this overall machine's not a
chip, at the beginning we sort of
hoped to have a chip." As it turns out,
each binding agent comprises at least
32 chips. But the chips are made ■
using a fairly conservative 4-micron
NMOS (N-channel metal-oxide semi-
conductor) process. MOSIS already is
offering a 1.2 5-micron process that
could substantially increase chip den-
sity. And although it will be some
years, Dr. Oldfield explains that "It's
not unrealistic to think of the effect of
higher packing density leading to
SUM as a custom VLSI component." ■

REFERENCES

1. Robinson, J. A. "A Machine-Oriented
Logic Based on the Resolution Principle."'
journal of the Association for Computing
Machinery, 1965, vol. 12, pages 23-41.

2. Mead, Carver, and Lynn Conway. Intro-
duction to VLSI Systems. Reading, MA:
Addison-Wesley, 1980.

3. Clark. K. L.. and S. A. larnlund (edsj.
Logic Programming. Orlando, FL: Academic
Press. 1982..

4. Robinson, I. A., and E. E. Sibert. "Logic
Programming in LISP." Syracuse Univer-
sity: School of Computer and Information
Science. 1980.

5. Warren. D. H. Q. L. M. Pereira. and F.
Pereira. "PROLOG-The Language and Its
Implementation Compared with LISP."
Proceedings of the Symposium on Artificial In-
telligence and Programming languages (ACM):
SIGPLAN Notices 12(8); and SIGART
Newsletter 64. pages 109-115, 1977.

6. Lien. Sheue-Ling. 'Toward a Theorem
Proving Architecture." California Institute
of Technology, Computer Science Depart-
ment. 1981.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to extend special thanks to
Professor John Oldfield and Professor
Alan Robinson of Syracuse University, Pro-
fessor Jim Kajiya and Paula Samazan of the
California Institute of Technology, Dr.
Sheue-Ling Chang of Sun Microsystems,
and Dr. George Lewicki of the USC/Infor-
mation Sciences Institute. They made this
article possible by their willingness to
spend some of their valuable time discuss-
ing or digging up information for me.
Melgar Commercial Photographers of
Santa Clara, California, photographed the
prototype chip.

180 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 193

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It allows double precision and
complex numbers, full EEE float-
ing point, and a full range of other
important features for the serious
FORTRAM programmer. Both
8087 support and a RATFOR pre-
processor are optionally available.
FORTRAM (CP/M-80 & 86, MS

DOS, PC DOS): $325
8087 support: $50 RATFOR: $100

To order call 800-762-6629

In Illinois call 217-359-21 12

In conjunction with SuperSoft, SuperSoft FORTRAN was developed by Small Systems Services,
Qrbana, 1L, a leader in FORTRAN development.

Japanese Distributor: ASR Corporation International, TBL Building, 7th Floor, 1-19-9 Toranomon,
Minato-Ku. Tokyo 105, Japan Tel. 03-5025550. Telex 222-5650 ASRTYO J.

'Ada is a trademark of the Department of Defense
PC DOS is a trademark of International Business Machines.
MS DOS is a trademark of Microsoft
CP/M-80 and CP/M-86 are trademarks of Digital Research, Inc.

Inquiry 397

SuperSoft
BASIC

The SuperSoft BASIC compiler Jets
you get serious with business and
financial programs. It uses BCD
math to give you highly accurate
results for demanding applications.
SuperSoft BASIC is a true native
code compiler that is generally
compatible with Microsoft's BASIC
interpreter. And an additional
bonus -no run time license fee is
required.

SuperSoft BASIC Compiler (for
MS DOS, PC DOS, and CP/M-86):
$300

Also available for programmers:

Star-Edit, a full-featured

programmer's text editor: $225.00
Disk-Edit, an invaluable

programmer's disk data editor:

$100.00

SuperS ft

SuperSoft, Inc., 1713 S. Neil St.,
P.O. Box 1628, Champaign, IL 61820

IUNE 1985 • BYTE 181

THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER MAIL ORDER FIRM

#B20

§.

§.

( TELEX 910 380 3980 ALL MAIL: 1 2060 SW Garden Place, Portland, OR 97223 )

FOR YOUR APPLE

MACINTOSH

COMPUTERS

^ippkz

BUSINESS SOFTWARE UTILITIES SOFTWARE

lie, lie, Mac, Mac XL

IN STOCK, CALL

ASSIMILATION PROC, Turbo Touch $ 129 $ 92
BLUECHIP, Millionaire, Barron, Tycoon, ea. $ 60 $ 39
CENTRAL POINT, Copy II Mac or MacTools, ea. $ 40 $ 24
CONROY-LA POINTE, Diskettes, 10 pak $ 65 $ 29

50 pak Diskettes S 325 $ 140

CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant S 100 $ 65
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, MacForth Level I $ 149 $ 95
CREIGHTON, Home Pak or Mac Office, ea. $ 39 $ 26

Mac Spell + $ 99 $ 63

DESKTOP, 1st Base $ 195 $ 125

DOW JONES, Market Manager Plus S 249 $ 159
EXPERTELLIGENCE, ExperLogo S 150 $ 95
FIRST BYTE, Smooth Talker $ 150 $ 95

FORETHOUGHT, Fact Finder $ 150 $ 95

HAYDEN, Sargon III $ 50 $ 31

Music Works $ 80 $ 50

HUMAN EDGE, Sales or Mgmt Edge, ea. $ 250 $ 159

Mind Prober $ 50 $ 32

INFOCOM, Hitchhiker's Guide $ 40 $ 25

INNOVATIVE, Flip-n-File, 40 $ 30 $ 1

KOALA, Mac Vision $ 400 $ 229

LIVING VIDEOTEXT, Think Tank $ 145 $ 85
LOTUS, Jazz $ 595 $ 395

MEGAHAUS, Megafiler $ 195 $ 125

Megaworks or Megamerge, each $ 125 $ 79
MICROSOFT, Business Pak NEW $ 595 $ 395

Multiplan, Word, or File, each $ 195 $ 129

MILES, Mac the Knife, v. 1 $ 39 $ 25

MONOGRAM, Dollars & Sense $ 150 $ 95

NOVATION, Smaitcat Plus Modem w/Software$ 499 $ 349
ODESTA, Helix $ 395 $

PENGUIN, Graphics Magician $ 50 $ 32

PROVUE, Overvue S 295 $ 185

SIMON & SCHUSTER, Typing Tutor III S 50 $ 30
SOFTW. PUBL., PFS: File & Report Combo $ 195 $ 125
SOFTWARE ARTS, T/K Solver $ 249 $ 159

STATE OF THE AHT, Electronic Checkbook $ 80 $ 50
STONEWARE, DB Master $ 195 $ 125

TELOS, File Vision $ 195 $ 125

WARNER, Desk Organizer $ 149 $ 99

FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

list C0NR0Y

MICRO-SCI, A2 Disk Drive, 143K

$ 345 $ 185

A2 Controller Card

$ 100 $ 60

Half Height Drive for lie

$ 269 $ 189

Half Height Drive for lie

$ 299 $ 199

RANA, Elite I, 163K, 40 Track

$ 299 $ 189

Elite II, 326K, 80 Track

$ 499 $ 369

Elite Controller

$ 145 S 79

HARD DISKS

QUARK, QC10 for llc/lle/lll/MAC

OTHER HARDWARE

CCS, 7711 or 7710- A Interface, ea. $ 115 $ 85

CPS/EASTSIDE, Wild Card II (copier, 1 1 + /lie) $ 140 $ 99

COMX, 80 Col. + 64K RAM Card (lie) $ 199 $ 99

16K RAM Card (II + ), 1 yr ltd wty $ 119 $ 29

HAYES, Mach ll/lll Joystick (II +/lle) CALL

KENSINGTON, System Saver Fan $ 90 $ 65

KEY TRONIC, KB200 Keyboard $ 298 $ 188

KOALA, Muppet Keys $ 80 $ 49

Touch Tablet w/Micro Illustrator (lle/llc) $ 125 $ 75

KRAFT, Joystick (ll/ll + /lle) $65$ 35

Game Paddles (ll/ll+/lle) $50$ 26

MICROSOFT, Premium Softcard (He) $ 395 $ 275

ORANGE MICRO, Buffered Grappler Plus, 16K $ 239 $ 159

16K Buffer Board for Grappler Plus $ 99 $ 59

PCPI, Applicard, 6 MHz, 14 features $ 375 $ 250

RH ELECT., Super Fan II w/surge protector $ 89 $ 59

TITAN, Accelerator lie $ 319 $ 219

128KRAMCard(ll + ) $ 269 $ 189

TRACKHOUSE, Numeric Key Pad (II +/lle) $ 149 $ 94

TG, Select-a-Port $ 40 $ 26

Joystick or Game Paddles, each $ 35 $ 22

VIDEO 7, V Color 7, lie, RGB Card $ 200 $ 139

V Color 7, lie, RGB Card $ 250 $ 169

VIDEX, UltraTerm (II + /lie) $ 379 $ 229

VideoTerm 80 Col. Card (II +/lle) $ 279 $ 175

WICO, Smartcard (spec. Il/ll+/lle) $ 199 $ 159

LIST C0NH0Y

ALS, Word or List Handler, ea. S 80 S 36

Handler Pak (Word/List/Spell) S 170 $ 73

ASHTON-T ATE, dBase ll(RegCP/M80) $ 495 $ 289

BPI, AR, AP. PR or INV, each $ 395 $ 240

BRODERBUND, Print Shop $ 50 $ 29

Print Shop Graphics Library $ 25 $ 1

Bank St. Writer or Speller, ea $ 70 $ 45

Bank St. Combo (Writer & Speller) $ 140 $ 85

CDEX, for Visicalc, Multiplan, Apple He, ea. $ 60 $ 40

DOW JONES, Market Manager Plus $ 249 $ 159

Market Analyzer or Microscope, ea. S 349 $219

HOWARD SOFT, Tax Preparer for'84taxes $ 250 $ 1 65

Kit for California $ 95 $ 63

HUMAN EDGE, Sales or Mgmt Edge, ea. $ 250 $ 165]

LIVING VIDEOTEXT, Think Tank $ 145 $

MECA, Managing Your Money $ 200 $ 125

MEGAHAUS, Megawriter $ 100 $ 65

Megaworks $ 125 $ 80

MICRO PRO, WordStar $ 350 $ 189

WordStar w/ Starcard $ 495 $ 265

WordStar Professional, 4 Pak S 495 $ 265

MailMerge, SpellStar, or Starlndex, ea S 99 $ 54

InfoStar and StarCard Combo $ 595 $ 295

MICROSOFT, Multi-Plan (Ap DOS) $ 95 $ 69

QUARK, Word Juggler &Lexicheck (lle/llc) $ 189 $ 129

SENSIBLE. Sensible Speller $ 125 $ 79

SIERRA/ON-LINE, Homeword $ 50 $ 45

Screen Writer II, 2 Pak w/Dictionary $ 130 $ 79

SOFTWARE PUBL, PFSfile or Write, each $ 125 $ 79

PFS:Graph or Report, each $ 125 $ 79

STONEWARE, DB Master, v. 4 $ 350 $ 225

LIST C0NR0Y
PRICE PRICE
EPSON, Graphics Dump $ 15 $ 7

FUNK, Sideways S 60 $ 37

HAYES, Terminal Prog, for Smartmodem $ 99 $ 65
MICROSOFT, Full Line in Stock CALL

OMEGA, Locksmith $ 100 $ 70

PENGUIN, Complete Graphics System II $ 80 $ 49
Graphics Magician $ 60 $ 40

QUALITY, Bag of Tricks $ 40 $ 29

UNITED SWI, ASCII Express-Trie Pro S 130 $ 82
UTILICO, Essential Data Duplicator III $ 80 $ 49

HOME & EDUCATIONAL

BEAGLE BROS., Full line IN STOCK CALL

BRODERBUND, Print Shop $ 50 $ 29

CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant $ 75 $ 43

DOW JONES, Home Budget $ 99 $ 69

KOALA, Full line IN STOCK CALL

MICROSOFT, Typing Tutor II $ 25 $ 17

MONOGRAM, Dollars & Sense or S. A.M. ,ea $ 100 $ 59

Dollars & Sense for He $ 120 $ 69

Forecast . $ 60 $ 38

SCARBOROUGH, Mastertype $ 40 $ 27

Your Personal Net Worth S 80 $ 50

SIERRA/ON-LINE, Homeword $ 50 $ 45

SIMON & SCHUSTER, Typing Tutor III $ 50 $ 33

PLUS: BARRONS, CBS, DAVIDSON, EDU-WARE,
HARCOURT, LEARNING CO., TERRAPIN

RECREATIONAL SOFTWARE

UTILITIES SOFTWARE

BEAGLE, GPLE, Alpha Plot or B.Basic, ea $ 50 $ 27
Pronto DOS, Disk Quick, Ap.Mech.orl.O. Silver, ea $ 30$ 19
Full line IN STOCK CALL

BORLAND, Turbo Pascal $ 55 $ 33

3 Pak (Pasc, Turbo Tut, Toolbox) NEW $ 105 $ 59

CENTRAL POINT Copy II Plus (bit copier) $ 40 $ 23

BLUECHIP, Millionaire, Squire, Barron, ea. $
DATASOFT, Aztec or Zaxxon, each $
ELECTRON. ARTS, Sky Fox & others, ea. $

HAYDEN, Sargon III (Chess) $

INFOCOM, Zork I, II, or III, ea $

ORIGIN, Ultima III $

PENGUIN, Transylvania $

PROFESSIONAL, Trivia Fever $
SPINNAKER, IN STOCK CALL

SUB LOGIC, Flight Simulator II $ 50 $ 3C

PLUS: BRODERBUND, DATAMOST, MUSE,
SIR-TECH

DISKETTES

• CONROY-LAPOINTE m DISKETTES *

We guarantee these top quality products with our name.
5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. Discounts on orders vwb labels.

10 ea. SS/SD, (Apple, etc) 35 Trk, W/FLIP BOX $ 12

1 e a . SS/SD, (Apple, etc) 3 5 Trk $ 99

1000 ea. SS/SD, (Apple, etc.) 35 Trk $ 840

10ea.DS/DD,(IBM,H/P)48Trk,W/FLIPBOX $ 15

100 ea. DS/DD. (IBM, H/P) 4 8 Trk $ 1 1 9

1000 ea. DS/DD, (IBM, H/P) 48 Trk $ 859

10 ea. DS/DD, 3V 2 " (MAC, H/P), W/FLIP BOX $ 29

50 ea. DS/DD, 3V 2 " (MAC, H/P) $ 140

100 ea. DS/DD, 3V 2 " (MAC, H/P) $ 270

CONROY-LAPOINTE"' IBM PRE-FORMATTED

10 ea, DS/DD, 48 Trk W/FLIP BOX $ 19

100 ea, DS/DD. 48 Trk $ 149

1000 ea, DS/DD, 48 Trk $ 959

SINGLE-SIDED, DOUBLE DENSITY

LIST C0NR0Y
CDC, 10 ea, SS/DD, 40 Trk (Apple, etc) $ 55 $ 19
DYSAN, 10 ea, SS/DD, (Apple, etc.) $ 40 $ 27
MAXELL, 10 ea, SS/DD, MD1 (Apple) $ 55 $ 19
VERBATIM, 10 ea, SS/DD, MD51541, (Apple) $ 4 9 $ 25

DOUBLE-SIDED, DOUBLE DENSITY

CDC, 10 ea, DS/DD, 40 Trk (IBM, H/P) $ 75 $ 23
DYSAN, 10 ea, DS/DD, (IBM. H/P) $ 69 $ 35
MAXELL, 10 ea, DS/DD, MD2 (IBM) $ 75 $ 26
VERBATIM, 10 ea, DS/DD, MD34 (IBM) $ 84 $ 29

3V4" MICRO DISKETTES

CONROY-LAPOINTE, 10ea, DS/DD (MAC, H/P) $ 29

MAXELL, 10 ea. SS/DD (MAC, H/P) $ 60 $ 35

MEMOREX, 10 ea. SS/DD (MAC, H/P) $ 60 $ 35

VERBATIM, 10 ea. SS/DD (MAC, H/P) $ 65$ 35

HIGH DENSITY DISKETTES FOR IBM-AT

MAXELL, 10 ea. DS/QD (IBM-AT) $ 77 $ 49
MEMOREX, 10 ea. DS/QD (IBM-AT) $ 84 $ 54

• GENERIK DISKETTES •

Top quality, w/jackets. no labels. Quantity discounts.

90 day "No hassle, money back guarantee."
100 ea. SS/DD, 35 Track (Apple, etc) $ 80

100 ea, DS/DD, 48 Track, (IBM, H/P) $ 95

MODEMS

ANCHOR, Signalman Mark XII (IBM) $ 399

HAYES, 2400B External Modem (IBM) $ 899

Smartmodem 1200B (IBM) $ 549

Smartcom II Software (IBM) $ 149

Smartmodem 1200 (AP or IBM) $ 599

Micromodem He w/Smartcom (AP) $ 329

KENSINGTON, Portable Modem, 300 Baud (MAC) $ 140

NOVATION, Apple Cat II 300 Baud (AP) $ 389

212 Apple Cat. 1200 Baud (AP) $ 725

SmartCat Plus w/software (MAC) $ 499

ACCESS 1-2-3 1200B Modem+Crosstalk (IBM) $ 595

PROMETHEUS, 1200 Standalone Modem $ 495

ProModem 1200 w/software (MAC) $ 549

ProModem 1200A (AP) $ 449

ProModem 1200B (IBM) $ 399

QUADRAM, Quadmodem, Internal (IBM) $ 595

Quadmodem, External, (IBM) $ 695

PRINTERS

C0NR0Y

$ 259

$ 699

$ 389

$ 107

$ 429

$ 239

" 109

219

419

349

369

345

429

$ 349

$ 289

$ 425

$ 495

MONITORS

AMDEK, Color 300 - Comp/Audio $ 349 $ 249
Color 500 - Comp/VCR/RGB/ Audio $ 525 $ 375

Color 600 - Hi Res/RGB/Audio $ 599 $ 449

300A - 12" Amber $ 199 $ 139

300G, 12" Green $ 179 $ 129

310 A, 12" Amber/Comp $ 230 $ 159

PRINCETON, HX-12 - Hi Res/RGB $ 795 $ 495

SR-12 - Hi Res/RGB $ 799 $ 599

MAX- 12 - Amber (monochrome) S 249 $ 199

ZENITH, ZVM122 - 12" Amber $ 159 $ 95

ZMV123 - 12" Green $ 149 $ 89

ZMV124 & ZVM 135 20-30% OFF

DOT MATRIX:

LET

EPSON, RX /FX Series - In Stock

LX80 - 100 cps DQ/16 cps NLQ $ 349

JX80 - Color Printer, 160 cps. $ 799

LQ1500 - 200 cps DQ/67 cps LQ $1395

MANN.-TALLY, Spirit-80 - 80 cps/80 col $ 269

OKIDATA, Okimate 20 - Color, Hi Res $ 268

182-120 cps/80 col $ 299

92 - 160 cps/80 col/para. $ 499

93 - 160 cps/136 col/para. $ 799
2410 Pacemark - 350 cps/para. $2995

PANASONIC, P1090 - 80 cps/10" $ 349

P1092 - 180 cps/10" $ 599

QUADRAM, Ouadjet -Inkjet Color $ 895

STAR MICRO, SG10 - 120 cps DQ/30 cps NLQ $ 299

SG15 - 120 cps DQ, 30 cps NLQ, 16K $ 499

SD10 - 160 cps DQ, 40 cps NLQ $ 449

SD15 - 160 cps DQ, 40 cps NLQ, 16K $ 599

SR10 - 200 cps DQ, 50 cps NLQ $ 649

SR15 - 200 cps DQ, 50 cps NLQ, 16K $ 799

C0NR0Y
CALL
CALL
CALL
CALL
$ 219
$ 208
$ 239
$ 399
$ 639
$1975
$ 249
$ 459
$ 395
$ 249
$ 419
$ 379
$ 509
$ 549
$ 679

PRINTER INTERFACES
AND BUFFERS

ARBO, IBM-PC to Para Printer Cable $ 60
ASSIM PROC, Mac to Epson Conn l/F $ 89
EPSON, Parallel Interlace for LQ1500 $ 100

Serial Interface Board $ 130

MPC, Apple II l/F & Cable forEpson & Gemini $ 95
OKIOATA, Rug 'n Play, Tractors, Okigraph, ea. $ 50
ORANGE MICRO, Grappler Plus for Apple $ 149

Serial Grappler $ 119

Buffered Grappler Plus, 16K $ 239

QUADRAM, Mi crof azers. full line IN STOCK

Microfazers 8K, P-P, w/copy $ 189

C0NR0Y

$ 30

$ 69

$ 79

$ 105

$ 59

$ 42

$ 99

$ 79

$ 159

CALL

$ 139

CABLES

LETTER-QUALITY:

JUKI, 6300 - 40cps/para. $ 995 $ 795

6100 - 18 cps/para/3 pitch $ 599 $ 439

PANASONIC, P3151 - 22 cps/15V 2 " $ 699 $ 549
TOSHIBA, Prop, spacing & hi-res graphics:
1351 - 192 cps DQ & 100 cps LQ S1B95 $1375
1340 - 144 cps DQ & 54 cps LQ $ 995 $ 659
Bi-direction Tractor Feed S 195 $ 175

PLOTTERS:

EPSON, 4 Pen Plotter $ 599 CALL

PRINTER SUPPLIES:

Paper: White, Colored, Laser Cut, etc;
Ribbons, Daisy Wheels

ARBO, IBM-PC to Modem Cable $ 29 $ 19

IBM-PC to Para Printer Cable $ 60 $ 30

ASTAR, RF Modulator for T.V. (Apple) $ 35 $ 20

CURTIS, Monitor Extension Cable (IBM) $ 50 $ 35

3'-9' Keyboard Extens. Cable (IBM) $ 40 $ 30

RCA, Monitor Cable $ 15 $ 9

ACCESSORIES

CURTIS, Diamond, 6 outlets, switched $ 50$ 29

60 $
90 $
80 $
45 $
70 $
$ 100 $
$ 60 $

Emerald , 6 outlets, 6' cord

Ruby, 6 outlets, 6' cord, filter

Sapphire, 3 outlets, w/filter
EPD, Lemon, 6 outlets/wall

Lime, 6 outlets/cord

Orange, 6 outlets/cord

Peach, 3 outlets/wall
INNOVATIVE, Flip-n-File 50 (disk holder) $ 22 $
KENSINGTON, Masterpiece (IBM) $ 140 $

System Saver Fan (Apple) $ 90 $ 65

Printer Stand S 30 $ 20

NET WORX, Wiretree, 4 outlet, w/filt & surge $ 70 $ 39

Wiretree Plus $ 100 $ 59

PERFECT DATA, Head Cleaning Kit $ 16 $ 12
PROD TECH INTL., UninterruptablePower Supply

200 Watts, PC200 for IBM-PC $ 359 $ 229

300 Watts, XT300 for IBM-XT $499 $ 379

800 Watts, AT800 for IBM-AT, 72 lbs. CALL

r

CONROY-
LAPOINTE
CREDIT CARD

Send me a Cortroy-LaPomte

credit application form, so I

can get cash discount prices

with credit card

convenience. S400

purchase.

Minimum ini

CITY STATE

MAIL TO: T206O SW Garden Place,

ZIP
Port/and, OR 97223

HDnCDIMr 1 IMTA O TCDRflC" MAIL TO: 12060 SW Garden Place, Portland, OR 97223 - Include telephone number. Check
v/nL/EZflllMvl I IM I \J (X I CniVIO- your figures tor Shipping, Insurance and Handling (SIH). All items usually in stock. NO C.O.D.
Cashiers checks, money orders, Fortune 1000 checks and government checks honored immediately. Personal and other company checks -allow 20 days to clear. Prices reflect
3% cash & Conroy-LaPointe Credit Card discount, so ADD 3% to above prices for VISA/MasterCard/American Express. Your cards NOT charged til we ship. Add SIH CHARGES:
U.S. Mainland, 3% ($5 minimum) for standard UPS ground; UPS Blue, 6% ($10 min); for U.S. Postal APO or FPO or Alaska, 6% ($10 min). Canada, 12% ($15 min). Foreign
orders except Canada, 18% ($25 min). Monitors by Postal or to foreign countries, 30% ($50 min). Orders received with insufficient SIH will be refunded. All prices, availability
and specifications subject to errors or change without notice, so call to verify. All goods are new, include warranty and are guaranteed to work. Due to our low prices and
our assurance that you will get new, unused products-ALL SALES ARE FINAL. We do not guarantee compatibility. Call before returning goods for repair or replacement.
ORDER DESK HOURS -6AM to 6PM PST, Monday through Friday, Saturday 10 to 4. EconoRAM'*, Fastrak™, and Generic are trademarks of ComX Corporation.

Inquiry 113 for Apple. Inquiry 1 1 4 for IBM Peripherals. Inquiry 1 1 5 for all others.

#B20

ORDER, CALL (800)

FOR YOUR IIM-PC, XT, AT or JR

COMPUTER SYSTEMS OTHER HARDWARE OTHER HARDWARE

— Call for Details —

256K IBM - PC

360K

Disk Drives

by CDC

COmPAd Portable.

256K. 2 360K Disk Drives

^~~~ Z150,

256K. 2 320K Disk Drives.

MS DOS 2.1. 8088 Chip. 2 S/P

HARD DISKS &
TAPE BACKUP

KAMERMAN, Internal 10 meg kit $ 895 $ 749
External 10 meg kit w/power $1295 $1049

MF-10/10, H Disk, tape back, cont. power $2295 $1 795

MICRO SCIENCE, 10 meg w/controller $ 895 $ 689

RANA, External 10 meg w/controller $1495 $1095
Internal 10 meg w/controller $ 995 $ 689

TALLGRASS, 25 meg disk, 55 meg tape, intf. $3660 $31 60

FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

CDC, Limited 30 day warranty; Call for quantity prices

Full Height $129

Half Height $109

MAYNARD, Controller Card w/para port $ 300 $ 185
Controller Card w/serial port $ 310 $ 195

Sandstar Cont Card (accepts 3 modules) $ 265 $ 205

PERFECT DATA, Head Cleaning Kit $ 16 $ 12

LIST
PRICE
AST,

SixPak Plus, 64K

SixPak Plus, 256K, S/P/CC + S/W $ 695
SixPak Plus, 384K, S/P/CC + S/W S 895
Game Port for SixPak $ 50

Preview'" Graphics Card w/para, 64K $ 399
Advantage" Multif. Bd. for AT, 128K $ 595
I/O Plus II, S/P/CC $ 215

I/O Plus II, S/P/CC/G $ 265

I/O Plus II, 2S/P/CC/G $ 315

Port Kits • ser, para, or game, ea. $ 50
MonoGraphPlus"' P/CC (for Lotus) $ 495
COMX, NEW

ECOnORAM™ PIUS.384Kto 1.5 meg.

board, S/P/CC/G Fastrak & Spooler

EconoRAM"', full 384K board $ 295

HAUPPAGE (HCW), 8087 Chip $ 175

8087 Math Pak (Chip & softw.) $ 295

HAYES, Mach II Joystick $ 45

Mach III (PC or Jr.) $ 55

HERCULES, Color Card w/para. $ 245

Mono Graphics Card $499

KENSINGTON, Masterpiece" $ 140

PC Saver" Line Cord w/Filter $ 50

KEY TRONIC, KB5151, Std. Keyboard $ 255

KOALA, Speed Key System $ 100

Speed Key Tablet w/software $ 200

Koala Pad w/PC Design $ 150

MAYNARD, SAND STAR SERIES

Multifunction (6) Card $ 89

Memory Card no RAM $ 199

Memory Card 256K $ 495
Floppy Cont. Card (accepts 3 modules) $ 265

Hard Disk l/F Module $ 499

Hard Disk Cable $ 30

Serial Port Module $ 95

Para or Clock Cal. Module, ea. $ 59

Game Adapter Module S 49

Memory Module, OK $ 122

Memory Module 256K $ 422

C0NR0Y
PRICE

$259

$ 395
$ 465
$ 39
$ 299
$ 445
$ 150
$ 185
$ 215
$ 39
$ 375

$265

$ 195

$ 129
$ 235
$ 29
$ 35
$ 169
$ 329
$ 99
$ 35
$ 195
$ 63
$ 115
$ 89

$ 79
$ 139
$ 395
$ 205
$ 399
$ 27
79
49
43
99

$

$
$
$
$ 357

LIST C0NR0Y
PRICE PRICE

MICROSOFT, Mouse (for PC) $ 195 $ 135

Serial Mouse $ 195 $ 135

MOUSE SYSTEMS, PC Mouse & Paint $ 295 $ 140

PARADISE, Modular Graphics Card $ 395 $ 285
Parallel or Serial Port, ea. $ 95 S 65

PERSYST, NEW
PC/Mono Board, w/para port $ 250 $ 195

PC/Color Graphics Bdw/light pen & l/F $ 244 $ 176
BOB Board Color Adapter, hi res. $ 595 $ 465

QUADRAM,

Quadboard 64K, to 384K, s/p/cc/g $245

Quadboard, no RAM, expand to 384K$ 295 $ 225
Quadboard 256K, to 384K, S/P/CC $ 395 $ 295
Quadboard, 384K (full), S/P/CC/G $ 795 $ 495
Quadboard II, no RAM, to 256K $ 295 $ 215
Quadboard II, 64K, to 256K, 2S/CC $ 395 $ 265
Quadboard II, 256K, 2S/CC $ 595 $ 395

Quad 512 + 64K w/serial port $ 325 $ 245

Quadcolor I, board, 4 colors $ 295 $ 195

Upgrade Quadcolor I to II kit $ 275 $ 1 99

Quadvue, board, Mono, S/P/CC $ 345 $ 269
Quad 3278 $1195 $1050

Quadnet VI $2295 $1545

Quadnet IX $1995 $1745

Quadlink $ 495 $ 385

Quadsprint $ 645 $ 495

TG PRODUCTS, Joystick $ 45 $ 29

WICO, Smartboard Keyboard $ 400 $ 279

• * FOR YOUR PCJR* *

KEY TRONIC, KB5151 Jr. Keyboard $ 255 $ lab

Numeric Keypad $ 100 $ 77

KOALA, Touch Tablet for Jr. $ 125 $ 75

MICROSOFT, Booster 128Kw/Mouse$ 495 $ 339

MOUSE SYSTEMS, Mouse (for Jr.) $ 195 $ 125

QUADRAM, Expansion Chassis S 695 $ 540

Memory Expansion Board (128K, P/CC) $ 275 $ 215

TECMAR, Jr. Captain $ 395 $ 325

• 256K*
CHIP KIT

9 Each. 4256 chips
150 ns

9 Each. 4164 chips
90 Day Warranty by us

$14 ea.

10 or more

• ComX • 'O)

EconoRAM Plus"

%

$265

384K Multifunction RAM Board
expandable to 1.5 Megabyte

works like AST SixPakPlus™ with

capacity for up to 1.5meg, game port,

Fastrak 1 " RAM Disk and Spooler Software.

EconoRAM™ 384K
Single Function Board

$195

With Fastrak™ and Spooler.

Fully Compatible. 1 Year Limited Vterranty.

WorksonD0Sl.1.2.0or2.1

Prices and availability subject to change. Call

SOFTWARE FOR YOUR IBM-PC, XT, AT or JR

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

UTILITIES

,

LIST

PRICE

ASHTON-TATE, Framework $ 695

dBase III $ 695

dBase II, (req. PC-DOS & 128K) S 495

ATI, Training Programs— Large Inventory $ 75

BPI, General Acctg. AR, AP. or PR, ea. $ 595

BRODERBUND, Bank St. Writer (PC or Jr.) $ 80

CDEX, Training Programs-Large Inventory $ 70

CONTINENTAL, Ultrafile (PC) $ 195

Tax Advantage (PC or Jr.) $ 70

Property Management (PC) $ 495

DATA TRANS., Fontrix NEW $ 125

DOW JONES, Investment Evaluator $ 149

Market Manager Plus $ 249

Market Analyzer or Market Microscope $ 349

Spread Sheet Link $ 249

FOX & GELLER, Quickcode III $ 295

HARVARD, Total Project Manager $ 495

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184 BYTE • IUNE 1985

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Inquiry 442 for End-Users. Inquiry 443 for DEALERS ONLY.

by David Ushijima

Inside
AppleTalk

A closer look

at Apple's new link

In January Apple Computer Inc.
unveiled its long-awaited
AppleTalk local-area network
(LAN), designed to let Apple
and non-Apple products communi-
cate and share information and
resources. (See "The Macintosh Of-
fice" by John Markoff and Phillip
Robinson, February BYTE, page 120,
for more information.)

Physically, AppleTalk consists of a
simple shielded twisted-pair cable
called a trunk cable. You attach
devices such as computers and pe-
ripherals to the trunk cable using con-
nection boxes (see figure 1). Each con-
nection box contains two miniature
3-pin connectors and a short length
of cable terminating in a DB-9 connec-
tor. With the connector modules join-
ing the segments of the trunk cable,
you can connect up to 32 devices to
a single AppleTalk network over a
total distance of up to 300 meters. In
addition, you can interconnect a
number of such networks using a
special device called a bridge.

Electrically, AppleTalk is an
RS-422A balanced transmission line
with a raw data-transfer rate of 230.4K
bits per second. The data is sent over
the bus in a synchronous format using
a bit-oriented protocol based on the

synchronous data-link control (SDLC)
protocol. Currently, only the Macin-
tosh has the hardware necessary to
support this standard.

Serial port B on the back of the
Macintosh (the printer port) can be at-
tached to AppleTalk. The circuitry re-
quired to implement the AppleTalk
protocols is entirely contained on the
Macintosh's digital board. The heart
of the serial interface is the Zilog 8530
serial communications controller
(SCC). This chip takes care of all the
details necessary to send and receive
data in the format required by Apple-

Talk. The RS-422A drivers and
receivers (26LS30 and 26LS32) pro-
vide the balanced line interface to the
bus.

To allow IBM Personal Computers
(PCs) to share resources and data with
Macintosh office products, Apple is
marketing an interface card for the
IBM PC that will let it communicate
via AppleTalk. While Apple has not
announced an AppleTalk card for the

[continued)
David Ushijima (2600 Tenth St.. Berkeley,
CA 94 7 10) is a technical editor at Osborne/
McGraw-Hill.

ILLUSTRATED BY ANDREW SHACHAT

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 185

APPLETALK

Apple II, it would be easy for the com-
pany to add one.

Configuring the Bus

AppleTalk was designed specifically
as a network for personal computers.
As a result, it is extremely flexible and
can be used in three ways: as a pe-
ripheral bus, as a small LAN, or as a
path to a large, complex network.

As a peripheral bus, AppleTalk
allows the implementation of so-
called virtual slots. While you cannot
expand the Macintosh by plugging in
boards (as with the Apple He or the
IBM PC), you can add devices via
AppleTalk. Since the bus is fast
enough to accommodate the connec-
tion of devices such as hard disks, it
provides the functional equivalent of
slots— thus the term "virtual slots."

Although the speed with which the
Macintosh can access a device via
AppleTalk is slower than that which
could be obtained if you were to plug
a controller card directly into a slot,
the overall performance is still re-
spectable (approximately 29K bytes
per second).

The LAN configuration of Apple-
Talk is probably the most common for
most small- to medium-size busi-
nesses. In this configuration Apple-
Talk is used to connect small clusters
of computers so that they can ex-
change information and share hard
disks and high-speed printers (such as
Apple's new LaserWriter).

Devices that let computers share a
resource are called servers. A file
server lets users share files on a hard
disk and a print server lets them share
a high-speed printer. The LaserWriter
and the as-yet unreleased file server
are examples of servers. An LAN con-
figuration is shown in figure 2. In this
case, a node is any device connected
to the bus. Thus, a node could be a
Macintosh or an IBM PC with the
proper AppleTalk interface card.

One variation of the LAN configura-
tion would allow a local AppleTalk
network to serve as a path to a larger,
more complex network such as GTE's
Telenet. This would allow you to com-
municate with computers that are
located beyond the confines of the
local area.

MACINTOSH

MACINTOSH

PRINTER

r ■

— 1 1 -

[ i

1

ZD<~

MODULE

1

1 i 1 ->

1 — ,

1

TRUNK CABLE— "

HARD DISK

Figure I : The typical AppleTalk configuration.

The most complex configuration of
AppleTalk is that of a full-blown net-
work such as the one shown in figure
3. While AppleTalk was designed to
accommodate a large number of
computers configured in complex ar-
rangements, most users will never
have to deal with this level of com-
plexity. Universities and large busi-
nesses that need to incorporate a
large number of personal computers
into a unified network will be con-
cerned with this configuration.

The AppleTalk Architecture

In the real world, the development of
a network can be likened to the de-
velopment of a telephone system. For
communication to take place, you
must have a connecting link, the tele-
phone cable. Before you can lay the
cable, you must have a set of plans
that everyone agrees to follow. In the
case of AppleTalk, the plans for the
system consist of a set of rules or pro-
tocols that a device such as the
Macintosh or Lisa must follow in
order to talk to other members of the
network.

The AppleTalk architecture consists
of a set of well-thought-out rules that
allow a wide range of devices to be
connected together. Apple has de-
signed the architecture to be an open
system, that is, one in which outside
or third-party developers are en-
couraged to add to or modify the sys-
tem according to their needs. Essen-
tially, Apple is providing third-party
developers with a set of tools that will
allow them to connect their devices
to the network and with a set of sug-

MACINTOSH

FILE SERVER

n c=P-

PRINT SERVER

MACINTOSH

MACINTOSH

-CZ3

COMMUNICATION

SERVER

(GATEWAY)

TO MAINFRAME
-*» OR

REMOTE NETWORK

Figure 2: AppleTalk configured as a local network.

186 BYTE • JUNE 1985

APPLETALK

gested rules that will let them imple-
ment various functions. Beyond the
basic rules, developers are free to
select and design their own protocols
to add to what Apple supplies.

The ISO Open Systems Model

Tb understand the workings of Apple-
Talk let's take a look at the ISO (Inter-
national Standards Organization)
Open Systems Model. The ISO was
established to guide network devel-
opers and promote compatibility be-
tween networks. Since different net-
works are designed with different
goals in mind, one network may im-
plement a number of features that are
not necessary on another network.
However, it is desirable to have com-
patible networks. To promote compat-
ibility, the ISO Open Systems Model
defines what it calls "levels" or
"layers" of a network. Each layer con-
sists of a particular set of rules. The
layers at the bottom of the network
specify the most elementary or basic
rules or protocols. Each successive
layer, proceeding from bottom to top,
adds a function or feature that
depends on the mechanism defined
in the layer below it.

Because the Open Systems Model
is based on logical rather than
physical divisions, it can be somewhat
confusing when you are trying to in-
terpret how a physical system is ac-
tually put together. To get a feel for
how a model like this represents a
process that occurs in the real world,
consider the analogy of a telephone
conference.

Suppose you set up a conference
call between members of different
countries. For this to be possible, the
basic telephone equipment must be
compatible. Furthermore, everyone
must agree to speak the same lan-
guage. The participants must agree on
a set of rules (formal or informal)
detailing, for example, who may speak
when, for how long, etc. Without this
groundwork, the conference call
could result in a melange of voices. In
this example you can see several
levels of protocol that must be in ef-
fect for communication to take place.

The ISO Open Systems Model con-

BRIDGE

BRIDGE

BRIDGE

TO
•REMOTE
BRIDGE

Figure 3: An AppleTalk internet.

APPLICATION LAYER

PRESENTATION LAYER

SESSION LAYER

TRANSPORT LAYER

NETWORK LAYER

DATA-LINK LAYER

PHYSICAL LAYER

h

4 ilf

NAN
PRO

E-BINDI
TOCOL (N

MG
BP)

APPLETALK TRANSACTION
PROTOCOL (ATP)

DATAGRAM-DELIVERY
PROTOCOL (DDP)

APPLETALK LINK-ACCESS
PROTOCOL (ATLAP)

RS-422A

ISO OPEN SYSTEMS MODEL

APPLETALK CORE PROTOCOLS

Figure 4: The ISO Open Systems Model and the AppleTalk core protocols.

sists of seven layers: physical, data understand the workings of the sys-

link, network, transport, session, pre- tern, it doesn't necessarily reflect the

sentation, and application (see figure system's physical structure. Let's take

4). While the model allows you to [continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 187

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Microsoft Multiplan $119

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22$taiD

APPLETALK

a look at what each of the levels rep-
resents.

The lowest level is the physical link.
This is simply a set of rules specify-
ing the electrical and physical connec-
tion between devices. The physical
link specifies the cable connections
and the electrical rules necessary to
transfer data between devices. Typi-
cally, the physical link corresponds to
established interface standards such
as RS-232C, RS-422A, or RS-423A.

The next layer up is the data-link or
link-access layer. This layer specifies
how a device gains access to the
medium specified in the physical
layer. With a number of devices vying
for access, this becomes an important
issue. The data-link layer is also
responsible for framing— that is, en-
closing the data in the electrical
equivalent of the envelope you use to
mail your letters. Finally, this layer is
responsible for addressing the
envelope to the destination device on
the link.

The network layer is responsible for
setting up a logical connection be-
tween a source and a destination on
the network. In a complex network, a
source and a destination may not be
directly connected by a single path.
Rather, the path may consist of many
subpathe. Thus, the network layer is
responsible for routing the data over
this path through the network system.

The transport layer is responsible
for guaranteeing that a message is
correctly received. This is often imple-
mented by having the receiving party
return an acknowledgment upon
receipt of a message from the send-
ing party.

While the first four layers are fairly
well defined, the top three layers may
vary depending on the network. Gen-
erally, though, the session layer will
allow two devices on the network to
coordinate their actions (for example,
one device accessing the files of an-
other device). Messages at this level
may consist of commands that allow
one device to control another over
the network.

The presentation layer is responsi-
ble for formatting data in such a way

{continued)

188 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 422

POWERS CRWT SOFTWARE

nual £m&

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• EXTRA MANUALS $14.95

• COBOL Application Packages, Book 1 $ 9.95

• BIG PRI NT-Diskette , ., .$19.95

The CP/M Operating System, an 8080, 8085, or Z-80 (8-Bit) micropro-
cessor, and 32K RAM are required, unless otherwise stated above.

WHEN YOU ORDER, PLEASE SPECIFY O NE OF THE
FOLLOWING DISKETTE FORMATS:

D 8" SSSD (Standard CP/M IBM 3740)

5V4" Diskettes for:

D Access/Actrix

D Apple CP/M

D DEC VT 180

D DEC Rainbow

□ Epson QX-10

D Heath Hard Sector (Z-89)

D Heath Soft Sector

(Z-90,Z-100)
D IBM-PC (Requires Z-80,

Baby Blue II Card)

D Kaypro Double Density (NCR)

□ MicropolisModll
NEC PC 8001

North Star Double Density
North Star Single Density
Osborne Single Density
Sanyo 1000, 1050
Superbrain DD DOS 3.X

(512 byte sec)
Televldeo
D TRS-80 Model 1 (BaseO Mapper)

□ Xerox 820 Single Density

CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research. Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Corp. TRS-80 is a registered trademark of Tandy Corp. Apple II is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Osbor nets a re gistered trademark of Osborne Com puter Corp. Xe rox 820 is a trademark o f Xerox Corp.
Kaypro rs a trademark of Nonlinear Sys. Heatn/Zenith is a trademark of Heath Corp. IBM is a registered
trademark of International Business Machines, Corp. Nevada BASIC, Nevada COBOL, Nevada FOR-
TRAN. Nevada PILOT, Nevada EDIT. Nevada PASCAL, and Ellis Computing are trademarks of Ellis Com-
puting, Inc. © 1984 EllisCompuling, Inc.

JUNE I985 -BYTE 189

Inquiry 21

Multi-user PC,
single-user price.

Introducing affordable PC expansion for IBM PCs.

MicroSystems Executive Workstations transform your
IBM PC into a multi-user, multi-processor system with shared
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D Please send me Bottomline V for ... Spreadsheet

on the computer. My check for $295 plus $5

for shipping and handling is enclosed.

Name

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2660 I

APPLETALK

that information sent from one device
can be properly used by the receiv-
ing device. For example, the presen-
tation layer would translate a docu-
ment into a form that could be under-
stood and printed by the LaserWriter.
Finally, the application layer ensures
that data from an application running
on one device is directly usable by an
application running on another
device.

A Closer Look at Applet alk

Figure 4 shows the relationship of the
primary AppleTalk protocols to the
ISO Open Systems Model. The five
levels of AppleTalk represent what
Apple calls the core protocols. These
are the protocols that Apple will be
providing for use by third-party devel-
opers with computers such as the
Macintosh and the Lisa. Since Apple-
Talk was designed as an open system,
developers are free to add to the
basic set of protocols. Similarly, a de-
veloper may choose to use only the
bottom layers provided by Apple and
institute its own higher-level protocols.
For example, by using the services
provided by Apple at the three lowest
layers of the ISO model, a developer
will still have the ability to send mes-
sages, or "datagrams" in AppleTalk
terminology.

Let's take a closer look at the major
protocols or services that Apple will
provide.

The Physical Link

The lowest level or physical layer of
AppleTalk is the shielded twisted-pair
cable and the connection box.
Through the use of the connection
box, each node is coupled to the
trunk cable with a transformer. Thus,
a missing node or one that is unable
to receive or transmit will not affect
the performance of the bus. Also,
transformer coupling provides ground
isolation as well as protection from
static discharge. The physical link of
AppleTalk is also defined to be
RS-422A-compatible.

So far we have a cable and a set of
pin definitions for the interface. Tb this
we now add a method of bit encoding

[continued)

190 BYTE • ]UNE 1985

Inquiry 220 for End-Users. Inquiry 221 for DEALERS ONLY.

The fastest micro in the world

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UNIX is a Registered Trade Mark of Bell Labs. CP/M- 68K is a Registered Trade Mark of Digital Research. Inquiry 327

APPLETALK

known as FM (frequency modulation)
(see figure 5). With this method,
there is at least one transition at the
beginning and end of each bit. A cell
representing a will contain an addi-
tional transition in the middle of the
bit cell. This technique allows the
clock to be recovered using a phase-
locked loop at the receiving end.

The physical layer of AppleTalk
defines a synchronous RS-422A bus
upon which each succeeding layer
can build. Notice that the physical
layer only provides for a series of I s
and Os to be sent over the bus. The
rules governing how a node gains ac-
cess to the bus and how the Is and
Os are to be interpreted are left to
higher levels of the architecture.

The Data Link

In the AppleTalk architecture, the
data-link layer uses the AppleTalk link-

access protocol (ATLAP). There are
three functions implemented in the
ATLAP: framing, bus-access control,
and node addressing.

To send a message, a device must
have some way of putting the mes-
sage into the equivalent of an
envelope. In the terminology of a net-
work, an envelope is called a frame.
ATLAP specifies a frame that is based
on a bit-oriented message; that is,
messages are sent as pure sequences
of bits, not as individual characters.
The ATLAP frame is shown in figure 6.

The ATLAP frame consists of three
parts: the header, the data, and the
check field. At the beginning of each
header are two flag bytes (hexadeci-
mal 7E), followed by a single byte
destination and source address speci-
fying the node number of the source
and destination. This is followed by a
type field used to specify the type of

Figure 5: An example of FM modulation.

frame. ATLAP frames may be one of
two types: control or data.

ATLAP uses control frames for its in-
ternal functions such as assigning ad-
dresses to nodes and controlling ac-
cess to the network. A control frame
is indicated by a type field value from
128 to 255 (hexadecimal 80toFF) in
the ATLAP type field. Values from I
to 127 (hexadecimal 01 to 7F) indicate
a data frame.

In a data frame, up to 600 bytes of
user data (provided by the higher-
level protocols) can follow the ATLAP
header information. ATLAP control
frames do not contain a data field.
Finally, following the data field is a
16-bit frame-check character used to
ensure the validity of the data in the
frame.

The second function of the ATLAP
layer, controlling who gets access to
the bus and when, is of fundamental
importance because up to 32 dif-
ferent devices may be trying to talk
on a single AppleTalk network at the
same time. Suppose you have the
configuration shown in figure 2. in this
case you have many devices or nodes
vying for access to the bus. In the real
world, that's like having several peo-

[continued)

ATLAP
HEADER

DESTINATION ADDRESS

SOURCE ADDRESS

LAP TYPE FIELD

DATA FIELD

{UP TO 600 BYTES)

FRAME CHECK
CHARACTER

APPLETALK
LINK-ACCESS
PROTOCOL
(ATLAP)

LAP TYPE FIELD =1

DATAGRAM LENGTH

DESTINATION SOCKET*

SOURCE SOCKET 4 "

DDP PROTOCOL TYPE

DATAGRAM DATA
(UP TO 586 BYTES)

DDP PROTOCOL TYPE =3

COMMAND/CONTROL

BIT MAP/SEQUENCE NUMBER

TRANSACTION ID

TRANSACTION ID

ATP DATA

DATAGRAM
DELIVERY
PROTOCOL
(DDP)

APPLETALK
TRANSACTION
PROTOCOL
(ATP)

DATA-LINK
LAYER

NETWORK
LAYER

TRANSPORT
LAYER

Figure 6: The ATLAP packet format, DDP packet format, and ATP packet format.

192 BYTE • JUNE 1985

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IUNE 1985 -BYTE 193

APPLETALK

pie on a party line all trying to make
a call at the same time. You need
some way of controlling who can use
the line and when.

In AppleTalk, the method used to
resolve this contention problem is
called CSMA/CA (carrier-sense multi-
ple-access with collision avoidance).
When two devices try to talk at the

same time, a collision occurs. When
a collision is detected, each sending
device must back off or wait some
predetermined amount of time before
trying again.

One method to avoid collisions re-
quires each device to listen to the bus.
If a device hears some activity on the
bus, it knows that the bus is busy, and

is
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■■ETCHES

8

When two devices try
to talk at once,
a collision occurs.

it waits until the bus is free before
transmitting.

One of the limitations of AppleTalk
is that nodes do not have special
hardware to detect collisions. This is
true simply because of the limitations
of the serial interfaces used on most
microcomputers: A device (unlike a
person) can either be transmitting
(talking) or receiving (listening) but not
both simultaneously To overcome this
limitation, AppleTalk uses the scheme
described above, whereby each
device must listen to the bus. If the
bus is busy, the node must wait until
it is free before sending a message.
Once the bus is free (that is, no ac-
tivity is going on), a device must wait
an amount of time based on the
generation of a pseudorandom
number before transmitting to avoid
collisions with other devices waiting
to use the bus.

In our party-line analogy, this col-
lision-avoidance method means that
each party must listen to the line. If
the line is busy, you must wait until
you don't hear any voices. Once the
line is free, you must wait some ran-
dom amount of time before dialing.

The third function implemented by
the ATLAP is addressing. Each node
on the AppleTalk network is assigned
a unique 8-bit address known as the
node ID (identification). However, a
node is not required to have a fixed
node address. When a node is
switched on, it chooses a node ID by
either looking up a previously saved
value from nonvolatile memory (like
a disk file) or by generating a random
number. Once a node has chosen a
node ID, it sends a special ATLAP
control frame called an enquiry (ENQ)
frame to its own address. Any node
receiving an ENQ frame must send
out a control frame called an acknowl-
edge (ACK) frame. Therefore, if a node

[continued]

194 B YTE • 1UNE 1985

Inquiry 223

Clear advantage!

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Inquiry 348

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 195

APPLETALK

sends out an ENQ to the address it
has chosen and receives an ACK, it
knows that the node ID is already be-
ing used. If, after repeatedly sending
out ENQ frames, no ACK is received,
the new node simply takes the node
ID as its own.

The Datagram
Delivery Protocol

While the ATLAP provides a delivery
service from one node to another,
often a node may contain more than
one logical source or destination. In
AppleTalk terminology, a logical
source or destination is referred to as
a socket. For example, consider the
case of a program that manages a
disk-file system that can be accessed
by many users. This program could be
handling many requests for file reads
and writes from many different users.
To keep these requests straight, the
file manager could require many

sockets, in this case, one for each user.

To provide a delivery service that
extends the functions of ATLAP to the
socket level, AppleTalk provides a
protocol called the datagram delivery
protocol (DDP). At the network layer,
the DDP defines a packet of informa-
tion called a datagram.

The format of a datagram is shown
in figure 6. Note that the datagram is
actually contained within the ATLAP
frame— thus the concept of layering.
The datagram is essentially enclosed
within the envelope defined by the
ATLAP in the data-link layer.

You can also see that the datagram
header directly follows the ATLAP
header. If the ATLAP type field is
equal to I , the next 5 bytes are taken
as the datagram header.

The datagram header consists of 5
bytes. These bytes contain the follow-
ing fields: a 10-bit length field, the
destination-socket number, the

source-socket number, and the DDP
protocol type field.

The first 6 bits of the datagram (DDP
header) are set to 0. The following 10
bits contain the length of the
datagram (from the first byte of the
DDP header to the last part of the
DDP data field). A datagram packet
arriving at a destination node is im-
mediately checked for correct length
using the value stored in the data-
gram's header. If the length of the
received datagram does not match
the DDP length field, the packet is im-
mediately discarded.

The next byte is the destination-
socket number, followed by the
source-socket number. Finally the last
byte of the header is the DDP pro-
tocol type field. This field specifies the
type of protocol used in the next
higher layer; that is, it indicates to the
destination node the format of the
data contained in the DDP data field.

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196 BYTE • JUNE 1985

APPLETALK

Up to 586 bytes of data may follow
the DDP header. Again, because of
the layered protocol the definition of
this data depends upon the protocol
used in the next higher level.

The DDP also allows for the delivery
of packets over a complex network
composed of what are called inter-
nets. By connecting individual Apple-
Talk networks (up to 32 nodes)
through what are called bridges, an in-
ternet is formed. A complex network
can be formed by connecting many
AppleTalk buses this way.

To handle the addressing on a com-
plex internet, the DDP uses an ex-
tended form of the DDP header that
contains a source and destination net-
work number, node ID, and socket
number. These six values completely
specify the address of any source and
destination on an internet.

Suppose you have the following
situation: A datagram is to be sent

from point A to point 1 on the com-
plex network shown in figure 3. To get
from one AppleTalk to another, the
datagram must pass through several
bridges. Each bridge contains routing
tables, which contain the information
necessary to forward a datagram to
a destination network. By passing
through various bridges, a datagram
will eventually arrive at the proper
network, node, and socket.

There is one additional field in the
extended DDP header: the hop count.
Each time a datagram passes through
a bridge, the hop count is incre-
mented. A datagram containing a hop
count of 1 5 will not be forwarded but
instead will be discarded. This
prevents a datagram from endlessly
circulating through the network.

The Transaction Protocol

At the next level up is the AppleTalk
transaction protocol (ATP). This pro-

tocol corresponds to the transport
layer of the ISO Open Systems Model.
The ATP guarantees that a packet sent
to a node is correctly received. It im-
plements this through a series of
transaction requests and responses.
The requesting end sends a transac-
tion request, specifying, for example,
a command to be executed at the
receiving end. When the receiving
end gets the request, it sends one or
more transaction responses, which
carry data generated by the execution
of the command. The responses also
serve as acknowledgment of delivery
of the transaction request.

The format of an ATP packet (in
figure 6) also consists of a header and
a data field. Notice that the ATP
header directly follows the DDP
header; that is, the ATP packet sits on
top of the DDP packet. If the DDP pro-
tocol type field is equal to 3, the

[continued)

tf

W

Imagine what they will say

it its successor.

;••

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Inquiry 407

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 197

APPLETALK

receiving node knows that the DDP
data field contains an ATP packet.

The first 8 bits of the ATP header
contain a command and control field.
The first 2 bits are used to identify a
transaction request (01), a transaction
response (10), and a transaction
release (11).

The following 8 bits constitute a se-

quence bit map used to keep track of
transactions where multiple re-
sponses are necessary. For example,
a transaction request could be a read
command to a disk. The transaction
response would consist of a series of
packets containing the data read from
the disk. The bit map is used to keep
track of what packets have been prop-

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erly sent. It also provides a means of
requesting the retransmission of
selective packets, thus avoiding the
need to retransmit the entire se-
quence of packets.

Finally, the last field of the ATP
header is the transaction ID. This is a
16-bit number assigned to the trans-
action request by the sending node.
The transaction ID allows each node
to accurately track transactions and
responses. This is done by including
the same value in all requests, re-
sponses, and release packets belong-
ing to a particular transaction.

The Name-Binding Protocol

One service Apple provides at the
layer corresponding to the session
layer of the ISO Open Systems Model
is the name-binding protocol (NBP).
Recall that in a complex network or
internet, the extended DDP header
specifies a source and destination net-
work, node, and socket number. Such
numerical addresses are efficient
when used by network protocols but
inconvenient and clumsy for human
users who prefer dealing with names
and strings of characters. The Apple-
Talk architecture includes facilities in
its NBP for the use of names.

The actual NBP functions are imple-
mented in a series of lookup tables
distributed throughout the nodes in
a network. These lookup tables cor-
relate names with networks, nodes,
and socket numbers. Each node con-
tains a socket dedicated to the NBP
function. The user can issue a call to
the NBP process requesting the ad-
dress corresonding to a name. Given
the name, the NBP will search through
the tables in all nodes in a zone and
return the corresponding address,
that is, network, node, and socket
number.

Higer-Level Protocols

AppleTalk's higher-level (presentation-
and application-layer) protocols will
allow the formatting of data for
specific devices and applications. At
the presentation level, Apple has in-
troduced a protocol in conjunction
with the LaserWriter printer. To allow

[continued)

198 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 245

WHEN HEWLETT-PACKARD

aiffraf

> J'l j ^ ft-

lOJ M

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AND COSTS ONLY $495,

THE WORDTRAVELEDFAST.

,

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HEWLETT
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THINKJET.

Hewlett-Packard research has used inkjet
technology to make the Thinkjet personal com-
puter printer surprisingly quiet while printing
150 high quality, dot-matrix characters per second
for text or graphics. The Thinkjet printer weighs
only 6% pounds and it takes up just a bit more
room than your telephone. So, it can work right on
your desk. And, the Thinkjet printer's ink supply
and printhead are designed in one neat disposable
unit that simply clicks out when its time to change.

The Thinkjet printer will work with most

popular personal computers, including Hewlett-
Packard, IBM® COMPAQ,™ or Apple?

Finally, as quiet, fast and compact as the
Thinkjet printer is, it still has one more feature
that's going to cause a commotion; its price . . .
$495.00?

See the entire family of personal computers,
software and peripherals at your authorized
Hewlett-Packard dealer.

Call (800) FOR-HPPC for the dealer
nearest you.

PG02510

m

HEWLETT
PACKARD

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. COMPAQ is a trademark of COMPAQ Computer Corporation.
APPLE is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. *Suggested retail price.

Inquiry 209

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 199

inquiry 455

Powerful in circuit emulation, priced
well within your grasp, That'sNICE. ™

NICE may be only 3" square and W thick, but it hands you full spfced,
real-time emulation— over 50 emulation functions, software breakpoints^,
all memory addresses and all I/O ports. \ \

Just plug NICE directly into the target MP socket and any RS2B£ terminal
for system development, troubleshooting, debugging or testing . . .%it home,
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And NICE hands you all this performance, portability and versatility for only
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Call in your order today using
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• FORTH programs are highly struc-
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• FORTH affords direct control over
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• FORTH allows full access to DOS
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• FORTH application programs can
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• FORTH Cross Compilers are
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Z-80 FORTH for CP/M® 2.2 or MP/M II, $100.00;
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Phone credit card orders to (213) 306-7412 HI B_J

APPLETALK

Plans for Apple's
"telephone system"

are complete.

the Macintosh to send documents to
the LaserWriter, Apple has incor-
porated the features of a language
called PostScript developed by Adobe
Systems. PostScript allows all Apple-
Talk devices to communicate with the
LaserWriter via a programming lan-
guage similar to FORTH. Similarly the
AppleTalk filing protocol will provide
high-level support for Apple's file
servers.

AppleTalk Software

While the hardware necessary to sup-
port AppleTalk is built into the Macin-
tosh, the software required to use the
network consists of a set of device
drivers. On the Macintosh this is sim-
ply a file that must be installed in the
system folder of each Macintosh on
the network. This file contains the
software that implements the lower
levels of the AppleTalk protocols and
the software to implement the higher-
level protocols necessary to com-
municate with devices like the Laser-
Writer.

The core protocols are imple-
mented in a driver referred to as the
Macintosh protocol package (MPP).
The MPP, along with the driver that
implements the ATP, takes up less
than 6K bytes on the disk. Tb use the
LaserWriter, an additional driver, the
LaserWriter print manager, is also re-
quired.

Summary

Plans for Apple's "telephone system"
are complete. At this point, the poles
have been set up, the cables strung,
and conversational rules established.
Apple and third-party developers
have announced a series of AppleTalk
products. Now, the time it takes for
AppleTalk to develop into the elec-
tronic counterpart of today's tele-
phone system will depend on the
availability of network software. ■

200 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 240

WHEN HEWLETT-PACKARD USED

I

300 CHARACTERS PER SECOND,

-

IMLF FOMH I HAMU H

ran feed I ruo ■

1M!

m

HEWLETT
PACKARD

TRAVELED
TWICE AS FAST.

LASERJET.

Now you can print an entire page of text
in just 7 l / 2 seconds. That's the equivalent of 300
characters per second. The LaserJet personal
computer printer can do it. Hewlett-Packard has
brought the speed, quiet and letter quality of
laser printing to the personal computer user for
under $3,500?

The LaserJet printer is designed for Hewlett-
Packard personal computers, the IBM® PC, PC

compatibles and most other personal computers.

No other personal computer printer is
engineered to do what the LaserJet printer can
do at such an affordable price. But then consider
where it came from.

See the entire family of personal computers,
software and peripherals at your authorized
Hewlett-Packard dealer. Call (800) FOR-HPPC
for the dealer nearest you.

PG02417

m

HEWLETT
PACKARD

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Inquiry 2IO

*Suggested retail price.
IUNE 1985 -BYTE 201

Gone are the glory days
for Apple. Because Europe's
most successful business com-
puter company is now doing
business in America.

Introducing Apricot. A
full line of computers specifi-
cally designed for business.

Not adapted to it.

In fact, the facts speak
for themselves.

Apricots are elegant and
compact, true 16-bit comput-
ers. They employ the MS-DOS
operating system, and a mini-
mum of 256K memory. One of
our models, the Apricot Xi,
boasts an incredible 1 Mega-

byte of memory, and features a
Winchester hard disk with 20
Megabytes of storage. We also
have models that feature
speech recognition, full-size
LCD, and icon driven menus.
In addition, you have a
choice between 9" or 12" b/w
or 10" color monitors. All of

) 1985, Apricot, Inc.
202 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Present

which have a higher screen
resolution than Apple.

And as if all that weren't
enough, all of our models can
be networked from the moment
you take them out of the box.
They're also capable of run-
ning thousands of business
software programs like Lotus'"

pf sf and d-Base IirSpecially
written for Apricot on 3!/2
inch disks.

Now, how do you like
them Apricots?

Apricot, Inc., 3375
Scott Blvd. , Santa Clara, CA
95054. Call 800-227-6703, or
in California 800-632-7979.

The Apricot Portable. 512K RAM. 720K diskette.
80x25 line LCD. MS-DOS. $2495.

apricot

J-WeYe changing how
American business does business.

Inquiry 33

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 203

Equipping a PC for business takes a

harddisk. Turn to
SYSGEN™ when
you want the best.

Smart disk users insist on
* tape for data file back-up.

SYSGEN
is the
leader.

iy And y if your needs
7 begin to exceed the
§0. limits of PC memory

and slot

expansion,

SYSGEN

has the

solution.

18 Megabytes and 6 expansion slots for
the PC, XT, or AT ™. $1995.

For demanding PC owners who need more versatility and
memory, Sysgen introduces a powerful, reliable, and unique
solution: The DISK I/O™.

It includes 6 new expansion slots
for your choice of plug-in

boards, plus, an 18 MByte hard disk — all for slightly more than
a hard disk alone.

Sysgen offers the full range of expansion, storage, and tape
back-up solutions with the best performance ratings for the
IBM® PC, XT, AT and compatibles.

For more information on the Sysgen family of expansion
products contact your local dealer.

I N C O R P O

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Fremont, CA. 94539
(415) 490-6770 Telex 4990843
RATED 800-821-2151

Trademarks: Sysgen, DISK I/O — Sysgen, Inc.; AT — International Business Machines Corporation. Registered trademarks: IBM — International Business Machines Corporation.
204 BYTE • JUNE 1985

by Michael Fichtelman

THe Expert
Mechanic

Expert systems

needn't be esoteric or
waste resources

Most people who have
heard of Logo prob-
ably think it is a pro-
gramming language
for kids. Likewise, most people who
have heard the term "expert system"

probably think it refers to something
esoteric on the frontiers of computer
science. Both conceptions contain an
element of truth, but both are over-
simplifications. In fact, Logo can be
used to develop an expert system that
learns.

Definitions

Expert systems are exactly that: sys-
tems that do what an expert in a given
field can do. One of the first expert
systems was a program called DEN-
DRAL, developed by Edward Fiegen-
baum of Stanford University. DEN-
DRAL operated at the intellectual
level of a chemistry Ph.D.

Most expert systems are developed
using languages like LISP and Prolog.
With these languages it is relatively
easy to write programs that modify
themselves— programs that learn. Of
course, you can write an assembler
program that dynamically modifies its
own code, but that involves consider-
able effort. Unfortunately, few imple-
mentations of LISP and Prolog are
available for microcomputers since
both languages require fairly large
amounts of memory. Logo provides
many of their capabilities, and ver-
sions of Logo are available for most
microcomputers.

Logo was developed by Seymour
Papert a professor of mathematics at
MIT 1 . Logo has some of the features
of its parent language, LISP, in addi-
tion to a powerful graphics capabili-
ty. In Logo, a program or procedure
is a list of lists. Because the process

[continued)
Michael Fichtelman is a systems analyst at
the European American Bank in New York.
You can reach him at 72-61 113 St.. Forest
Hills, NY 11375.

ILLUSTRATED BY MICHAEL BARTALOS

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 205

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EXPERT MECHANIC

of recursion is easy to implement in expert system. Once the system is im-

Logo, procedures or lists can refer to
themselves. A complete discussion of
Logo is outside the scope of this arti-
cle, but for our purposes knowledge
of Logo is important only if you want
to understand how to implement an

plemented, anyone can interact with
and modify its knowledge base.

Making an Expert

Mechanic is an expert system that

(continued)

***EXPERT MECHANIC***

WE WILL TRY TO DIAGNOSE

THE PROBLEM BY ASKING QUESTIONS.

DOES THE ENGINE START?

YES
DOES THE ENGINE STALL?

NO
DOES ENGINE MISFIRE?

NO
DOES ENGINE LACK POWER/PERFORMANCE?

NO
DOES ENGINE IDLE ROUGHLY?

YES
COULD IT BE FUEL VOLATILITY?

NO
WHEN YOU FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, ADD IT TO KNOWLEDGE
BASE.
WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM?

CHOKE
PLEASE TYPE IN A QUESTION WHOSE ANSWER
IS "YES" FOR THE CHOKE AND "NO" FOR THE FUEL VOLATILITY

LETS DIAGNOSE THE NEXT PROBLEM.

Figure I : Building a knowledge base involves applying human expertise when
the correct solution is not yet part of the knowledge base.

'"EXPERT MECHANIC***

WE WILL TRY TO DIAGNOSE

THE PROBLEM BY ASKING QUESTIONS.

DOES THE ENGINE START?

NO
DOES THE STARTER CRANK ENGINE?

NO
ARE BATTERY TERMINALS LOOSE OR CORRODED?

NO
DOES STARTER MOTOR FAIL TO OPERATE WHEN POWER IS APPLIED
DIRECTLY?

YES
COULD IT BE THE STARTER?

YES

CONGRATULATIONS! NOW FIX THE PROBLEM.
LET'S DIAGNOSE THE NEXT PROBLEM.

Figure 2: Here. Mechanic already has the information to move directly to a
correct solution to the problem of why the car won't start.

206 BYTE • JUNE 1985

"'

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Inquiry 24

COMPANY NAME %

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30 da y mo ney-bOCk -California residents add 6% sales tax. Outside U.S. please add $15. Checksmust

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For dealer and site license information.
calUOfi 996-1883.

Inquiry 102

Mac

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EXPERT MECHANIC

Listing 1 : Procedure DISPLAY. KBASE shows you the entire knowledge-base
binary tree and includes both the information and its logical structure.

TO START UP

MAKE 'STARTUP [MECHANIC]
END

TO MECHANIC

ND

PRINT[***EXPERT MECHANIC***]

PRINT[WE WILL TRY TO DIAGNOSE]

PRINT [THE PROBLEM BY ASKING QUESTIONS.]

PRINT []
SEARCH :KBASE

PRINT [LET'S DIAGNOSE THE NEXT PROBLEM.]

HOLD 1000

MECHANIC
END

TO HOLD:N

REPEAT :N[]
END

TO SEARCH POSSIBLES

IF (WORD? POSSIBLES) END.SEARCHPOSSIBLES STOP

LOCAL "RESPONSE

MAKE "RESPONSE QRYPOS.OR.NEG (QUERYPOSSIBLES)

IF :RESPONSE = [YES] SEARCH POS.BRANCHPOSSIBLES STOP

SEARCH NEG.BRANCHPOSSIBLES
END

TO END.SEARCH POSSIBLE
LOCAL "LAST.QUESTION
LOCAL "RESPONSE

MAKE "LAST.QUESTION (SE [COULD IT BE] ARTICLE POSSIBLE [?])
MAKE "RESPONSE QRYPOS.OR.NEG : LAST.QUESTION
IF RESPONSE = [YES] PRINT [CONGRATULATIONS! NOW FIX THE
PROBLEM.]

STOP

LEARNPOSSIBLE

END

TO QRYPOS.OR.NEG QUESTION

LOCAL "ANSWER

PRINT 1 QUESTION

IF "? = LAST LAST :'QUESTION PRINT [] ELSE PRINT'?

MAKE 'ANSWER REQUEST

IF .ANSWER = [YES] OUTPUT [YES]

IF :ANSWER = [NO] OUTPUT [NO]

PRINT [PLEASE TYPE "YES" OR "NO"]

OUTPUT QRYPOS.OR.NEG QUESTION
END

TO QUERY :BTREE

OUTPUT FIRST
END

BTREE

TO POS. BRANCH :BTREE
OUTPUT FIRST BUTFIRST :BTREE

END

TO NEG. BRANCH :BTREE

(continued)

208 BYTE • JUNE 1985

.m

w^~

OH

Am

bukno
fie right so
So do

ate

are i

Lk^B

So before you make any decisions about
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Excellent error diagnostics make WATCOM Interpreters the
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taXTirrr

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The right choice in software.

Inquiry 423

Yesl I want to make the right choice in software. Send me more information on:
□ WATCOM INTERPRETERS □ WATCOM Software Catalogue

Name:

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_Zip:_

WATCOM PRODUCTS INC.

415 Phillip Street
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L3X2

(519) 886-3700

Telex 06-955458

•WATFOR. WATFIV and WATBOL are registered trademarks of the University of Waterloo.

■IBM PC and IBM 370 VM/SP CMS are registered trademarks of international Business Machines Corporation.

•VAX, VMS are registered trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.

1\wt *Wf/Tbf*3w MFwMKWJ 1© ^* s l lumorous illustration is no comfort to
Mjy IlUJLxZi^ll T\jtAJl%/€U those who have experienced the frustration of

losing hours of programming and data entry due to a power outage or surge. In addition

to the inconvenience, such occurrences can mean lost programs and perhaps an expensive

component destroyed.

Dynaflfech boasts 25 years of engineering experience in power and data line
interference problems. We are one of the largest manufacturers of products solving these
problems-and, without question, the engineering trendsetter in the industry

The latest Dynaflfech trendsetter is our PowerHouse" line of standby power supplies.
Available in 300- and 500-watt models, PowerHouse
protects your computer in two ways. First, should power 1
fail, you instantaneously get clean, regulated power to
your system, allowing for an orderly shutdown. Second, \^
while on commercial power, our SurgeSentry ™ circuitry
protects your system from surges and other hazards.

lb learn more about PowerHouse and other fine
Dynaflfech products, call one of the dealers listed here
or call us toll free for one near you: (800) 638-9098.

Computer Power Inc.

4865 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066

DyndRch Dealers

201/462-9696-CMl (COMPUTER MADNESS)
201/487-0919-MICROMED
205/355-4583-SEQUENTIAL SYSTEMS/COMPUTER

COTTAGE
207/772-:J622-ENTRE COMPUTER CENTER
213/391 -6763-ELECTRONIC TRADING POST
213/970-1242-STRICTLY SOFTWARE
214/385-8885-MP SYSTEMS
2 14/785-0041 -BUSINESS SYSTEMS
215/362-1888-COMPUTERS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL
219/232-7921-COMPUTERASSOCIATES
219/493-6505-COMPUTER CORNER
303/761-5763-DATA SPECIALTIES
305/894-3354-G.M.I. DISTRIBUTORS
309/346-5181-ILLINOIS VALLEY COMPUTER
312/885-0008-DIEHL OFFICE PRODUCTS
313/573-8120-COMMAND COMPUTER SYSTEMS INC.
313/694-3740-COMPUTER CONTACT
316/564-3636-GENESYS SYSTEMS
317/844-5960-HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS INC.
319/236-3861-DHEIN'S TRUE VALUE
404/292-8050-PEACHTREE MICROSYSTEMS
405/269-2554-PROCESS INC.
405/332-5588-ADA TYPEWRITER SUPPLY
405/373-3210-COMCON SYSTEMS INC.
405/632-6007-COMPUTER SOFTWARE CENTER
406/443-1710-MSD COMPUTERSUPPLY
408/438-597 1-PC LAND

414/276-5585-APPLIED DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
4 15/383-8800-COMPUTERTIME
415/397-6776-COMPUTERTIME
4 15/459-8080-COMPUTERTIME
415/864-3026-EXPRESS COMPUTER SUPPLIES
419/224-3746-LIMA BUSINESS MACHINES
419/625-2232-DATADIMENSIONS INC.
501/224-7770-ENTRE COMPUTER CENTER
502/589-1258-COMPUTEREMPORIUM
502/782-9466-COMPUTER MARKET
503/754-4323-OSU BOOKSTORE INC.
505/883-4545-OMEGA BUSINESS PRODUCTS
509/922-6565-NOVA SYSTEMS
509/943-5608-ALPHA COMPUTER CENTER
512/226-8188-COMPUTER & BUSINESS SUPPLIES
512/280-1183-RESPONSE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
512/682-2372-ADVANCED SYSTEM TECHNIQUES
513/299-4594-THE BLUE CHIP COMPUTER
513/548-3326-HOWELL'S COMPUTER CENTER
515/224-1992-COMPUTER EMPORIUM
515/288-6668-THE COMPUTER SUPPLY STORE
602/274-0124-STEW ART TECHNOLOGIES
602/990-7276-DAYZ SYSTEMS INC.
605/772-5229-RESEARCH DATA SYSTEMS
612/888-4444-ON LINE INTERNATIONAL
614/895-7747-ON LINE COMPUTER CENTER
614/774-6565-THE CHILLICOTHE COMPUTER STORE
615/366-3810-COMPUTER SHOPPE
615/892-3253-COMPUTER CONNECTION
616/243-1312-ADVANCED INFORMATION SYSTEMS
616/924-0310-POS ELECTRONIC BUSINESS SYSTEMS
617/342-9707-HYLAND/RICE SYSTEMS
618/797-6640-METRO CONNECTION
619/448-9240-COMPUTERKONTROL
619/450-0810-ALLEN MICROCOMPUTER SERVICES
702/322-4559-HARRYS BUSINESS MACHINES
702/737-1510-AMERICAN OFFICE EQUIPMENT
702/870-4138-PC COMPUTERS
704/658-2795-COMPUTERAID/MICROMASTERS
713/890-1025-SOUTHWEST COMPUTER SUPPLIES
7 13/988-8560-TYNER AND ASSOCIATES
714/727-1 142-COMPUTER KINGDOM
714/969-2225-WEH COMPUTERS
800/528-7100-SAFEGUARD BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC.
800/528-7300-SAFEGUARD BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC.
801/224-8887-COM-TEL COMPUTER
802/447-2186-COMPUTER SUPPLIES INTERNATIONAL
804/320-6496-FIRST STEP COMPUTERS
805/658-0355-ENTRE COMPUTER CENTER
806/935-7492-THE UNLAUB COMPANY OF TEXAS
808/486-4848-PEARL CITYCOMPUTERS
808/969-1 166-THE COMPUTER STORE
814/472-6066-INFOCON CORPORATION
816/891-6512-TOTAL SOFTWARE INC.
817/284-5251 -TAYLOR COMPUTER PRODUCTS
817/383-2631 -AUDIO CONCEPTS ULTD. DBA RADIO

SHACK ASSOCIATES
817/429-9166-GEORGEDOWLING ASSOCIATES
901/722-8280-MICROAGE COMPUTER STORE
907/443-511 1-GOLD RUSH BUSINESS & ELECTRONIC

EQUIPMENT
907/562-3900-ALASKA MICROSYSTEMS
913/541-0001-MIDWEST COMPUTER ASSOCIATES
915/563- 1108-THE COMPUTER DIVISION OF I.C.I.
918/687-3161-DIGITALCOMPUTERSYSTEMS
919/799-0327-COMPUTER E'S

DynaTech Computer Power, Inc., was formed as
the result of the acquisition and merger of RKS
Industries, Inc., and Dymarc Industries by
Dynatech International, Inc.

EXPERT MECHANIC

OUTPUT LAST :BTREE
END

TO ARTICLE WORD

OUTPUT SENTENCE "THE :WORD
END

TO LEARN MISTAKE

PRINT [WHEN YOU FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, ADD IT TO THE

KNOWLEDGE BASE. WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM?]

MAKE "RIGHTANSWER (LAST REQUEST)

PRINT [PLEASE TYPE IN A QUESTION WHOSE ANSWER]

PRINT ( SE [IS "YES" FOR} ARTICLE :RIGHTANSWER[AND])

PRINT( SE ["NOTOR] ARTICLE :MISTAKE)

MAKE "QUESTION REQUEST

INCREASE.KBASE QUESTION :RIGHTANSWER :MISTAKE
END

TO INCREASE.KBASE :NEW.QUESTION :POS.ANSWER :NEG.ANSWER
MAKE "KBASE CHANGE :KBASE :MISTAKE(LIST :NEW.QUESTION
:RIGHTANSWER :MISTAKE)

END

TO CHANGE :DATA :WORD :NEW.BRANCH

IF:DATA = :WORD OP :NEW.BRANCH

IF WORD? :DATA OP :DATA

OP (LIST QUERY :DATA CHANGE POS.BRANCH :DATA :WORD

:NEW.BRANCH CHANGE NEG. BRANCH :DATA :WORD :NEW.BRANCH)
END

TO STARTKBASE

MAKE"KBASE [[DOES THE ENGINE START?] [[DOES THE ENGINE STALL?]
[[ANY AIR LEAKS IN OR AROUND INTAKE MANIFOLD?] MANIFOLD [[ARE
VALVES SET TOO TIGHT?] VALVES [[ARE IGN POINTS BURNED, PITTED,
OR GAPPED IMPROPERLY?]POINTS [[IS IDLE SPEED SET TOO LOW?]
IDLE-SPEED CARB-MIXTURE ]]]] [[DOES ENGINE MISFIRE?] [[ARE SPARK
PLUGS FOULED, DAMAGED, TOO HOT, TOO COLD, OR GAPPED
INCORRECTLY?] PLUGS [[IS HEAD GASKET BLOWN?] HEAD GASKET
[[ARE POINTS BURNED, PITTED, OR INCORRECTLY GAPPED?] POINTS
[[ARE VALVES WORN, STICKING, OR VALVE SPRINGS BROKEN, WEAK?]
VALVES [[IS CARBURETION POOR DUE TO CLOGGED OR LOOSE JETS,
AIR LEAKS, OR INCORRECT FUEL-TO-AIR MIXTURE?]CARBURETOR
IGNTIMING]]]]] [[DOES ENGINE LACK POWER/PERFORMANCE?] [[IS IGN
TIMING OFF?] IGN TIMING [[HAS VACUUM ADVANCE FAILED?]
VACUUM-ADVANCE [[ARE POINTS BURNED, PITTED, STICKING, OR
BOUNCING?] POINTS PISTON-RINGS]]] [[DOES ENGINE IDLE ROUGHLY?]
FUEL-VOLATILITY CYL-HEAD]]]] [[DOES THE STARTER CRANK ENGINE?]
[[ARE POINTS BURNED, PITTED, DIRTY, OR FAIL TO FUNCTION?]
POINTS[[IS COIL RESISTOR BURNED OUT OR OPEN?] COIL [[ARE SPARK
PLUGS DAMAGED, DIRTY, WET, OR GAPPED INCORRECTLY?] PLUGS [[IS
FUEL PUMP WORN, LEAKING, CLOGGED, OR INOPERATIVE?] FUEL
PUMP [[IS CARB FLOAT LEAKING OR SET INCORRECTLY, ARE JETS
CLOGGED, IS NEEDLE VALVE OR SEAT DIRTY OR WORN, IS CHOKE
INCORRECTLY SET OR INOPERATIVE?] CARBURETION [[IS DISTRIBUTOR
CAP, ROTOR, TERMINAL INSULATOR DAMAGED, IS DISTRIBUTOR WET?]
DISTRIBUTOR [[ARE IGN CABLES CRACKED, WET, CORRODED?] IGN-
CABLES [[DOES IGN SWITCH REMAIN OPEN WHEN KEY IS TURNED?
IGN-SWITCH FUEL ]]]]]]]] [[ARE BATTERY TERMINALS LOOSE OR
CORRODED?] TERMINALS [[DOES STARTER MOTOR FAIL TO OPERATE
WHEN POWER IS APPLIED DIRECTLY?] STARTER [[DOES STARTER DRIVE
GEAR FAIL TO ENGAGE FLYWHEEL?] SOLENOID BATTERY]]]]]

END

[continued)

Inquiry 157

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 211

Inquiry 215

SINGLE

BOARD

COMPUTER

PC BUS
SYSTEM

Put the power of the IBM PC into
your OEM system with the new I-Bus
Single Board Computer and Enclosures.
Now you can make use of that vast
array of PC-compatible expansion
cards — for communications, graphics,
data acquisition, peripheral control, and
every other imaginable task.

I-Bus Systems has coupled Intel's
powerful new 80188 CPU with 64K of
RAM and up to 160K of on-board
EPROM, plus a serial console port to
talk to a terminal or a PC. Just plug the
SBC into an I-Bus 6-slot chassis or 9-
slot card cage and you have the heart
of a computer system, ready to run.

Best of all, the IBM PC works per-
fectly as a software development sys-
tem. You can assemble and test appli-
cations programs on the PC, then
download them to the I-Bus system for
dedicated execution.

For all the details, give us a call today
at (800) 382-4229. In California, call
(619) 569-0646.

SYSTEMS

9235 Chesapeake Drive
San Diego, CA 92123

IBM PC is a trademark of International Business Machines

EXPERT MECHANIC

TO DISPLAY.KBASE
DISP :KBASE
END

TO DISP :KBASE TIER

IF WORD? :KBASE BDISP :KBASE TIER STOP

BDISP (QUERY :KBASE ) TIER

BDISP [IF YES:] TIER

DISP POS.BRANCH :KBASE :TIER + 1

BDISP [IF NO:] TIER

DISP NEG.BRANCH :KBASE :TIER + 1
END

TO BDISP :BRANCH TIER

REPEAT 2* .TIER [PRINT1""]

PRINT :BRANCH
END

DOES THE ENGINE START?
IF YES:

DOES THE ENGINE STALL?
IF YES:
ANY AIR LEAKS IN OR AROUND INTAKE MANIFOLD?
IF YES:

MANIFOLD
IF NO:
ARE VALVES SET TOO TIGHT?
IF YES:

VALVES
IF NO:
ARE IGN POINTS BURNED, PITTED, OR GAPPED IMPROPERLY?
IF YES:

POINTS
IF NO:
IS IDLE SPEED SET TOO LOW?
IF YES:

IDLE SPEED
IF NO:
CARB MIXTURE
IF NO:

DOES ENGINE MISFIRE?
IF YES:
ARE SPARK PLUGS FOULED, DAMAGED, TOO HOT, TOO COLD, OR
GAPPED INCORRECTLY?
IF YES:

PLUGS
IF NO:
IS HEAD GASKET BLOWN?
IF YES:

HEAD GASKET
IF NO:
ARE POINTS BURNED, PITTED, OR INCORRECTLY GAPPED?
IF YES:

POINTS
IF NO:
ARE VALVES WORN, STICKING, OR VALVE SPRINGS BROKEN,
WEAK?
IF YES:
VALVES
IF NO:
IS CARBURETION POOR DUE TO CLOGGED OR LOOSE JETS, AIR

[continued)

212 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Teleteknology

One Success After Another. v^J /

Since 1978 Teletek has been a leader in the design and
manufacture of single board computers, controllers,
memory boards and interface boards.

Teletek offers five distinct single board computers
(SBCs), each with its own unique features, to meet the
varied needs of the system integrator. Based on the
8086 16-bit and Z80 8-bit microprocessors, Teletek's SBCs

will run at 4, 5, 6, or 8MHz and are available with up to
512K of r onboard dynamic RAM. The SBC 86/87 also offers
an optional 8087 math coprocessor for numeric intensive
applications.

Teletek's Systemaster II provides two RS232C serial
ports and two Centronics-compatible parallel ports or
may be optionally configured to provide a SCSI interface
or an IEEE-488 interface to support many laboratory
testing and measuring instruments.

Teletek also offers a dual controller board, the HD/
CTC, which will control any two ST506-compatible hard
disk drives and any QIC-02/QIC-24-compatible
cartridge tape drive. This unique design saves
hardware cost as well as space in the mainframe.

Teletek's IEEE 696/S-100 boards run under
the multi-user, multi-processing operating
system TurboDOS by Software 2000, support-
ing up to 16 users and
capable of running PC-DOS
application programs. For
single- user systems, Teletek
is supported by the CP/M
operating system.

In Europe:
Kode Limited
Station Road
Calne, Wiltshire
SN11 OJR England
tel: 0249-813771
telex: 449335

In Brazil:
DANVIC SA
R. Conselheiro

Nebias, 1409
01203 Sao Paulo, Brazil °Q fc
tel: 221-6033 (PABX)
telex: 11 23888 CICPBR

Teletek provides a 30 day evaluation
program to qualified customers. For
more information, call our Sales Depart
ment at 916-920-4600 or write for our
information package.

ELETE

4600 Pell Drive

L- 1

Sacramento, CA 95638

<S} J

916-920-4600

E

Inquiry 405

© 1964 Teletek

&■

Inquiry 408

0m

PROGRAMMER'S UTILITIES
especially for Turbo Pascal on
IBM PC/XT/AT and compatibles

MORE POWERFUL THAN UNIX UTILITIES!!!

Whelher you are a

-• Student •• Hobbyist -- Professional Software Developer --

THESE UTILITIES WILL IMPROVE YOUR

PROGRAMMING PRODUCTIVITY!!!

These Powerful. Ready-to-Use programs fully support Turbo

Pascal versions 2.0 and 3.0, and MSDOS 2.X and 3.0. Here's

what you get:

Pretty Printer

Standardize capitalization, indentation, and spacing of
source code. Don't waste your own time 1 Several adjustable
parameters to suit your tastes (works with any standard
Pascal source).

Program Structure Analyzer

Find subtle problems the compiler doesn't: uninitialized and
unused variables, modified value parameters, "sneaky"
variable modification, redefined standard identifiers. Also
generates a complete variable cross reference and a pro-
gram hierarchy diagram. Interactive or write to file (works
with any standard Pascal source)

Execution Timer

Obtain a summary of time spent in each procedure and
function of your program, accurate to within 200 micro-
seconds. Also counts number of calls to each subprogram.
Fully automatic.

Execution Profiler

Obtain a graphic profile of where your program spends its
ttme. Interactive, easy-to-use. Identify weak code at the in-
struction level. (Profiler and Tinier for Turbo Pascal Source
code only.)

Command Repeater

Go beyond MSDOS batch files to combine a powerful text
parser with general-purpose command execution capability.
Use to copy, print or delete across subdirectories, "make"
programs and more.

Pattern Replacer

Find and REPLACE versatile regular expression paiterns in
any lext file. Supports nesting, alternation, tagged words
and more. Over a dozen programmer's applications
included.

Difference Finder

Find differences between two text files, and optionally create
an EDLIN script which rebuilds one from the other.
Disregard white space, case, arbitrary characters and Pascal
comments if desired.

Super Directory

Replace PCDOS DIR command with extended pattern
matching, sort capability, hidden file display, date filtering,
and more.

File Finder

Locate files anywhere in the subdirectory tree and access
them with a single keystroke. Display the subdirectory tree
graphically.

AVAILABLE IN SOURCE
AND EXECUTABLE FORMAT

Executable: S55 COMPLETE including tax and shipping.
Compiled and ready to run, includes user manual, reference
card and one 5W DSDD disk. Ideal for programmers not
using Turbo.

Source: S95 COMPLETE including tax and shipping. In-
cludes all of the above, and two additional DSDD disks.
Disks include complete Turbo Pascal source code, detailed
programmer's manual (on disk) and several bonus utilities.
Requires Turbo Pascal 2.0 or 3,0.

Requirements: MSDOS 2.X or 3.0, 192K RAM - programs
run in less RAM with reduced capacity. Two drives or hard
disk recommended.

TO ORDER:

VISA/MasterCard orders, call 7 days' toll-free 1-800-538-8157
x830. In California, call 1-800-672-3470 x830 any day.
Or mail check/money order to:

TurboPower Software

478 W. Hamilton Ave., Suite 196

Campbell, CA 95008

EXPERT MECHANIC

LEAKS, OR INCORRECT FUELTO-AIR MIXTURE?
IF YES:

CARBURETOR
IF NO:
IGN TIMING
IF NO:

DOES ENGINE LACK POWER/PERFORMANCE?
IF YES:
IS IGN TIMING OFF?
IF YES:
IGN TIMING
IF NO:
HAS VACUUM ADVANCE FAILED?
IF YES:

VACUUM ADVANCE
IF NO:
ARE POINTS BURNED, PITTED, STICKING, OR BOUNCING?
IF YES:

POINTS
IF NO:
PISTON RINGS
IF NO:

DOES ENGINE IDLE ROUGHLY?
IF YES:

FUEL VOLATILITY
IF NO:
CYL HEAD
IF NO:

DOES THE STARTER CRANK ENGINE?
IF YES:
ARE POINTS BURNED, PITTED, DIRTY, OR FAIL TO FUNCTION?
IF YES:

POINTS
IF NO:
IS COIL OUTPUT WEAK OR NONEXISTENT, IS COIL RESISTOR
BURNED OUT OR OPEN?
IF YES:
COIL
IF NO:
ARE SPARK PLUGS DAMAGED, DIRTY, WET, OR GAPPED
INCORRECTLY?
IF YES:

PLUGS
IF NO:
IS FUEL PUMP WORN, LEAKING, CLOGGED, OR INOPERATIVE?
IF YES:

FUEL PUMP
IF NO:
IS CARB FLOAT LEAKING OR SET INCORRECTLY, ARE JETS
CLOGGED, IS NEEDLE VALVE OR SEAT DIRTY OR WORN, IS
CHOKE INCORRECTLY SET OR INOPERATIVE?
IF YES:

CARBURETION
IF NO:

IS DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR, TERMINAL INSULATOR
DAMAGED, IS DISTRIBUTOR WET?
IF YES:

DISTRIBUTOR
IF NO:
ARE IGN CABLES CRACKED, WET, CORRODED?
IF YES:

[continued]

214 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Sometimes the best way to get ahead is to go sideways.

'J-.- sS : : t '•■■■ ■ "■ p - "~ "■- ~ r "- : ' ' : " " : ,: " ; "£ s- "'-'r
'B 1M x= ss Sis jfs H ks sis £s lis £5 ss "iri "li'S as Vis '5.S

i» .?;!• ..•;* _LH? is is ..

?P The problem with spreadsheets is they
fj: get printed the wrong way.

^^""" You still have a lot of stapling, gluing,
^ or taping to look forward to before your
printout is readable.

To really get ahead, go Sideways T . M

Sideways is the clever software program that prints
your spreadsheets— you guessed it— sideways. So your
spreadsheet columns need never fall off the edge of
your printer paper again.

With Sideways on your side, no spreadsheet you invent
with Lotus 1 -2-3,® Symphony,™ VisiCalc® Multiplan® or
SuperCalc™ is too wide! And it's just as powerful an
ally when you're creating far-into-the -future schedules
and pert charts. So for a presentable printout, get rid
of that glue stick and scotch tape— put your best foot
forward and go Sideways.

You can go Sideways today with an IBM® PC or an
Apple® II, and over a dozen different printers, including
Epsonf Okidata,IBMf Applef C. Itoh and Mannes-
mann Tally. Ask for Sideways at your local Computer-
Landf Entre, or other computer store. Or mail a $60
check to Funk Software, P.O. Box 1 290, Cambridge,
MA 02238. Or call 61 7-497-6339. MC/ Visa accepted.

9DBWWS

SIDEWAYS PRINTS SPREADSHEETS SIDEWA/S.

Inquiry 189

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 215

EXPERT MECHANIC

IGN CABLES
IF NO:
DOES IGN SWITCH REMAIN OPEN WHEN KEY IS
TURNED?
IF YES:

IGN SWITCH
IF NO:

FUEL

IF NO:

ARE BATTERY TERMINALS LOOSE OR CORRODED?
IF YES:

TERMINALS
IF NO:
DOES STARTER MOTOR FAIL TO OPERATE WHEN POWER IS APPLIED
DIRECTLY?
IF YES:

STARTER
IF NO:
DOES STARTER DRIVE GEAR FAIL TO ENGAGE FLYWHEEL?
IF YES:

SOLENOID
IF NO:
BATTERY

simulates an automobile mechanic.
Due to memory constraints, I decided
to limit the knowledge base to include
only the expertise required to diag-
nose engine failure. If you have
enough memory, there is no reason
why you cannot extend the knowl-
edge base to include comprehensive
automobile diagnostics. An alter-
native would be to build different
knowledge bases for each area— one
for the electrical system, one for
suspension, one for steering, and so
on.

The Mechanic procedure applies
the concept of the binary tree to per-
form knowledge-base searches. Each
question is a node on the search tree,
and every node has exactly two
branches. For example, the highest
node is the question "Does the
engine start?" If the answer to this
question is "Yes," the next node is
"Does the engine stall?" If the answer
is "No," the next node is "Does the
starter crank engine?"

In this way, Mechanic navigates the
knowledge base until the problem is

solved or a new node is added.
Figures I and 2 are examples of the
complete execution of Mechanic. In
figure 1, the solution to the problem
is not in the knowledge base.
Mechanic can take you only to the
limit of its expertise. However, the pro-
gram asks to be informed if you
discover a solution. It also asks you
to formulate a question that will
distinguish the actual solution from
the solution Mechanic proposed. In
this way, the program learns and the
knowledge base grows. The next time
someone uses Mechanic, its ability to
solve problems can be extended
further.

In figure 2, Mechanic moves direct-
ly to a solution. It simply suggests that
the user fix the problem since com-
puter programs cannot yet replace
starter motors.

The Procedures

The main procedure is MECHANIC. It
is recursive and calls the procedure
SEARCH. SEARCH is also recursive;
if the answer to a prompt is "Yes" it

calls the procedure POS.BRANCH.
Otherwise, SEARCH calls NEG.-
BRANCH to display the next node in
the binary tree. If the end of a par-
ticular branch is reached before a
positive reply is received, END-
SEARCH is called to suggest a solu-
tion to the problem. If END.SEARCH
proposes the correct solution, a con-
gratulatory message is displayed and
MECHANIC executes again. If END.-
SEARCH is wrong, it calls the pro-
cedure LEARN. LEARN asks the user
if the solution was found and adds it
to the knowledge base by calling IN-
CREASE.KBASE.

lb initialize the knowledge base
before it is first used, execute START.,-
KBASE. This procedure sets the value
of the global variable KBASE. There-
after, you can directly modify the
knowledge base by altering the lists
in this procedure.

The procedure DISPLAYKBASE is a
utility you can use to display the
knowledge-base binary tree. It calls
the procedures DISP and BDISP. List-
ing I is this procedure's output, in-
cluding both the information and its
logical structure.

New Directions

An expert system is only as good as
the expertise it contains. I deliberately
limited the size of the knowledge base
to allow room for experimentation.
Obviously, the knowledge base can
grow to fill a computer's available
memory When you build your knowl-
edge base, keep in mind that some
binary-tree structures are more logical
than others. A carefully built structure
can expedite problem solving.

Mechanic is a model for developing
expert systems using Logo. You can
use the procedures described here as
a shell for any area of expertise. You
can easily modify them to conform to
the requirements of different applica-
tions and to build a variety of knowl-
edge bases. ■

BIBLIOGRAPHY

McCorduck, Pamela. Machines Wfto Ihink.

New York: W.H. Freeman & Co., 1979.
Papert, Seymour. Mndstorrns. New York:

Basic Books, 1982.

216 BYTE ■ IUNE 1985

Introducing
the *

new

and improved
IBM PC.

Introducing
GEM.

■..;£?■; .. ■ .;;/^:r; . -^^ ■■■

^r--~-

™3E? ~£ ™ ?riCC ' GEM reqUir " dUt y ° Ur com P utcr havc appropriacc graphic, capability and that the pointing device be compatible GEM G
PAINT GEM DRAW. GEM GRAPH and GEM WORDCHART are trademark, and Digital Rematch is a registered trademU^DiriS' Res*«ch
registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. © 1985, Digital Research Inc. All rights reserved.

GEM COLLECTION, GEM DESKTOP GEM WRITE, <
Inc. GEM WRITE is by Lifetree Software, Inc. IBM is a

Congratulations.

You just found the perfect way to get a
brand new and improved IBM® PC without
buying one.

Get GEM™ software from Digital Research
instead. And your IBM PC, PC/XT; AT or
compatible will become something it's never
been before.

Easy to use.

Now instead of getting lost in PC DOS,

you can actually use your PC to get some-
thing done. (An astonishing idea, if ever there
was one.)

It all starts with GEM DESKTOP;* a clever
little $49.95*program that hides the rigmarole
of PC DOS. And lets you work with a simple
header menu, icons, drop-down menus and
a pointer.

So opening a file, for instance, is as easy as
pointing with your mouse (or your cursor
keys, if mice make you uneasy) to the file
folder you want to work on. And click.
It's open.

That's how GEM works. Here's what it
works with. First of all, you can still run most
important programs ever written for the IBM
PC. And GEM software will make them
easier to get into.

Then there are GEM programs we've
written ourselves.

Like the GEM COLLECTION:' a bundle
that includes GEM DESKTOP? GEM
WRITE™* and GEM PAINT 1 ; 1 So you can
process words and pictures together.

GEM DRAW™ with an extensive gallery
of art to help you create everything from fine
art to line art. GEM GRAPH™ to turn num-
bers into something more tangible. And GEM
WORDCHART,™ the simplest last word (and
chart) in presentation graphics.

And soon you'll see important programs
from a host of major software houses.

J;

Now, GEM is as easy to find as it is to use.
Call (800) 443-4200. Ask for our GEM bro-
chure. The name of your GEM software
dealer. Or simply place an order.

Because with GEM, the best new com-
puter on the market isn't a computer at all.

^GEM

FROM DIGITAL RESEARCH®

Inquiry 141

This is the

•

•

•

Modules.

Model DA3

4 to 20 ma output

)•!!•

Optically isolated analog input or output modules available from Opto 22.

Five years ago we introduced the industry standard optically isolated digi-
tal I/O modules. The optically isolated analog I/O modules are now ready.

Our engineers have combined signal conditioning A/D or D/A conversion
and optical isolation in a single module at prices you have been waiting for, and
they've designed a module for every application: ■ Thermocouple input mod-
ules (Type J & K) ■ Voltage input and output modules ■ Current input and
output modules ■ Temperature sensing module with ICTD probe

All modules plug into four position or sixteen position racks with an on-
board microcomputer that communicates to your host computer via a simple
twisted pair.

Optically isolated analog modules — the new industry standard.

JJLiii

15461 Springdale Street • Huntington Beach • CA • (714) 891-5861 • (800) 854-8851

Inquiry 3I2 for End-Users. Inquiry 31 3 for DEALERS ONLY.

by Werner F. Grunbaum

Use color and

monochrome monitors
simultaneously on
your IBM PC

Editor's note: \n November 1983, BYTE
presented an assembly-language program for
the IBM PC entitled Screen ("Enhancing
Screen Displays for the IBM PC," by Tim
Field, page 99), of which one function was
the ability to connect both color and mono-
chrome monitors to the IBM PC and switch
back and forth between them. This article
describes a simple program that allows you
to do the same thing while developing BASIC
applications.

Many IBM PC owners have
both monochrome and
color/graphics adapters in
their computers. Unfortunately, only
a few programs take advantage of the
opportunity to use both a mono-
chrome and a color monitor at the
same time. The programs that do,
such as Lotus 1-2-3 and SuperCalc3,
simultaneously display graphics on
one monitor and a spreadsheet on
the other when the monitors are con-
nected to separate cards. Such a
setup has advantages, as these two
cases illustrate: You can check the
spreadsheet data and the graphics at
the same time, and you can easily

SWITCH

change graphics commands on one
screen while viewing the graphics
themselves on the other screen.

Switch enables you to write graph-
ics instructions in BASIC on your
monochrome monitor and to display
the output on a color monitor con-
nected to your color/graphics card.
Minimum requirements for using this
program are an IBM PC with two
monitors connected to separate inter-
nal cards, one disk drive, and BASICA

Using the Program

Essentially, Switch is a program kernel
to which you can add your own graph-
ics applications. Once you have keyed
in the 45 lines of code (listing 1), you

WORLD COORDINATES

can *run Switch and begin to experi-
ment, adding your own graphics ap-
plication beginning at line 1000. Lines
1000 to 7 500 are reserved for your
application. Listings 1,2, and 3 are
available on BYTEnet Listings at (617)
861-9774.

TWo function keys control the pro-
gram's operation, execution, and
screen display. Function key 5 trans-

[continued)

Werner F. Grunbaum, Ph.D. (Department of
Political Science, University of Missouri-St.
\mis, St. Louis, MO 63121), is a professor
of political science. He is a member of the
Association for Computing Machinery and a
regular reviewer of legal applications for ACM
Computer Reviews.

IBM PC COORDINATES

Figure 1: Nine sample screen locations, shown with both the IBM PC screen
coordinates and world coordinates.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 221

SWITCH

STOP DATA LOSS.

As a computer maintenance profes-
sional, you're well aware that most of
computer downtime and data loss are
caused by dust and dirt contamination.

That's why more and more com-
puter servicing organizations are tak-
ing Dust-Off® II with them on every
service call. Unlike liquid cleaners,
Dust-Off II is a safe, dry, "canned air"
cleaning system for computers,
printers, disk and tape drives, CRTs,
media storage containers and modems.
Dust-Off II's pa-
tented valve gives you
pinpoint fingertip-con-
trol to blast away dust,
dirt and grime before
they cause downtime.
Add the Stat-Off® II ac-
cessory, and you have
the only dry, non-con-
tact method for elim-
inating dust-holding static electricity.
The Dust-Off II system also includes the
Dual Extender and the Mini- Vac minia-
ture vacuum for eliminating hard-to-
reach dust.

Your customers depend on you to
keep their precision equipment in top

working order. You can depend on Dust-
Off II to help you do it.

Dust-Off II can be a source of addi-
tional profit for you. Sell it to your cus-
tomers so they can maintain their
machines between service calls.

Dust-Off II is as close as your
Falcon distributor. Contact us for his
name and details on the complete Dust-
Off II line.

Dust-Off „

System II

Dust-Offll

THE SAFE, DRY, "CANNED AIR"CLEANING SYSTEM.

fers control to the graphics monitor
and then executes the program, which
displays the graphics on the color
monitor. Function key 4 returns pro-
gram control to the monochrome
monitor and lists the graphics com-
mands in lines 1000 to 7500, to which
you can add new commands. You can
test these commands at any time by
pressing function key 5.

Correcting errors, deleting un-
wanted commands, and adding new
commands is easy with Switch, since
the graphics (on the color monitor)
are not obscured by commands and
new commands are not fouled up by
the inclusion of stray bits of graphics
or text, as can happen when you're
working with one monitor. Screen-
refresh time is quite fast for both
monitors, and you can make changes
quickly, without having to make print-
outs or relying on your memory.

With Switch, you can make correc-
tions on either monitor. Correcting
minor errors is faster and easier on
the color screen than switching moni-
tors. After you make the corrections
on the color monitor, press function
key 2 (RUN) to try the program again.
To correct major errors, it is better to
switch back to the monochrome
monitor, because the color monitor
can display only 40 characters of text
and because the graphics display will
be at least partially blanked by major
corrections.

If your graphics contain text, it is
best to position the text on the color
screen as it will appear when the pro-
gram is executed. This way you can
check the layout before you write the
commands that will print the text.

Once the screen layout of the text
is satisfactory, you can save it by using
the LOCATE (row, column) statement
immediately before your normal
PRINT statements. To do this, deter-
mine the row number for screen text
locations by starting the cursor at the
upper left-hand corner of the screen.
Use the cursor to count down (rows)
and to the right (columns) to where
the text is located. Use the row and
column numbers in the LOCATE state-
ment, which is placed just before the
appropriate print statement, as in:

Falcon Safety Products, Inc., Dept.B, 1065 Bristol Road, Mountainside, N.J. 07092. U.S.A.

222 BYTE • JUNE 1985 Inquiry 178

SWITCH

10 LOCATE {row, col.)

20 PRINT "Graphics Screen"

For another way to locate the row and
column, without counting, see the
text box on page 226 of this article.

When you are satisfied with the out-
put of your graphics application— as-
suming that you have run GRAPH-
ICS.COM under DOS 2.0 before you
wrote the application— you can press
Shift-PrtSc and get a graphics dump
of the screen. If you do not have DOS
2.0, several commercial graphics
dumps run under earlier versions.

A couple of warnings. Remember
not to execute graphics on the mono-
chrome monitor. It can run graphics
only if it is connected to a special card
designed to run graphics on IBM
monochrome monitors, such as the
Hercules card. BASICA will respond
with an Illegal Function Call error
message if you try to run graphics on
the monochrome monitor. If this error
occurs, press function key 5 to run
your program on the other monitor.
Also, don't try to use Switch without
a monochrome adapter, or the pro-
gram will hang up when you press F4.

Program Description

Switch consists of a main section that
performs the housekeeping functions,
space for graphics commands, and
two subroutines that transfer monitor
control. The code for the subroutines
that transfer monitor functions ap-
pears in the IBM BASIC manual, Ap-
pendix I, page 1-8. The code instruc-
tions to reset the monitor appear to
be straightforward. However, a pro-
gramming trick is added to syn-
chronize the color screen after switch-
ing monitors. IBM's trick becomes ob-
vious when the color screen rolls just
before the screen is refreshed. There
appears to be no way to overcome
this problem, but, fortunately, it is
only cosmetic. Finally, the main pro-
gram and each subroutine contain
their own screen menus, which do not
scroll.

Switch also includes a scaling func-
tion, which allows graphics mode
commands, such as LINE and CIR-
CLE, to be expressed in what are

known as "world coordinates." As
shown in figure l, the usual IBM PC
screen coordinates start at the top of
the screen (rather than at the bottom,
as in normal graphics applications)
and range from (0,0) to (319,199).
World coordinates start at the lower
left of the screen and range from (0,0)
to (1,1). Neither of these coordinates
should be confused with the coor-
dinates for text, which range from (1,1)
to (24,40) and are used with the
LOCATE command.

In practice, it is easier to specify, for
example, the midpoint of the screen
by using (.5,. 5) in world coordinates,
rather than (160,100) in IBM PC units.
However, you can use both types of
coordinate systems in the program.
You can use IBM's screen coordinates
without modification, but world coor-
dinates must follow this format:

FNY( y ) for the ^-coordinate
FNY( x ) for the x-coordinate

[continued]

Listing I: Switch, a monochrome to color/graphics monitor switching program.

Mr\ pru *********************************************************

20 REM "SWITCH" graphics design aid to support simultaneous graphics and text

30 REM display for the IBM PC by Werner Grunbaum, July 1984.

40 REM ******* ******** **************************************** * *

50 KEY OFF

60 KEY 4,"GOSUB 8000" + CHR$(13) 'Switch to monochrome monitor

70 KEY 5,"GOSUB 9000" + CHR$(13) 'Switch to color monitor, medium resolution

80 LOCATE 25,1

90 PRINT "1:LIST 2:RUN 3:LOAD 4:MONO 5:COLOR"

100 DEF FNY(Y) = CINT(199-(Y*199))

110 DEF FNX(X) = CINT(319*X)

120 IF FLAG = 1 THEN GOTO 150 'Displays graphics on color monitor

130 FLAG = 1: GOSUB 9000

140 '

150 ' Begin graphics text at line 1000.

7960 '

7970 LOCATE 1,1 'Sets graphics image at Row 1, Col. 1, for printing
7980 GOTO 10000
, 7990 '
8000 ' Switch to monochrome monitor

8010 '

8020 DEFSEG =

8030 POKE &H410, (PEEK(&H410) OR &H30)
8040 SCREEN
8050 WIDTH 40
8060 WIDTH 80
8070 LOCATE ,,1,12,13
8080 LOCATE 25,1: PRINT "1:LIST 2:RUN 3:LOAD 4:MONO display 5:COLOR

display"
8090 LOCATE 1,1: PRINT "Ready for text editing at line 1000": LIST 1000-7500
8100 RETURN
8110 '

9000 ' Switch to color monitor

9010 '

9020 PRINT "Color subroutine reached."
9030 DEF SEG=0

9040 POKE &H410, (PEEK(&H410) AND &HCF) OR &H10
9050 SCREEN 1,0,0,0
9060 CLS
9070 WIDTH 40
9080 LOCATE ,,1,6,7
9090 COLOR 1,2

9100 LOCATE 25,1:PRINT "1:LIST 2:RUN 3:LOAD 4:MONO 5:COLOR"
9110 GOTO 100
9120 RETURN
10000 END

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 223

SWITCH

Listing 2: FLOWCHRT.BAS, a flowchart application that describes, and was
developed using, Switch.

1000 CIRCLE (FNX(.505),FNY(.9)),23,1
1010 LOCATE 3,19: PRINT "Start"
1020 LOCATE 7,14: PRINT "Initialization"
1030 LOCATE 9,18: PRINT "Display"
1040 LOCATE 10,13: PRINT "Graphics Screen
1050 LOCATE 12,9: PRINT "Fn4 Select

1060 LOCATE 13,17: PRINT "Monitor"
1070 LOCATE 15,5: PRINT

PRINT

PRINT

PRINT

PRINT

Flowchart application

Fn5"

Mono Mntr.

Color Mntr

Edits Text

Displays"

at

Graphics"

Line 1000ff

Stop"

Retr

Retr"

1080 LOCATE 16,4

1090 LOCATE 17,8

1100 LOCATE 18,4

1110 LOCATE 22,7

1120 CIRCLE (FNX(.2),FNY(.14)),18,1

1130 CIRCLE (FNX(.8),FNY(.14)),18,1

1140 LINE (FNX(.295),FNY(.78))-(FNX(.7),FNY(.71)),2,B

1150 LINE (FNXf^.FNYOeSSW-tFNXtJJ.FNYCej^.B

1160 LINE (FNX(.295),FNY(.57 ))-(FNX(.7),FNY(.47 )),2,B

1170 LINE (FNX(.06),FNY(.28 ))-(FNX(.36),FNY(.44 )),2,B

1180 LINE (FNX(.64),FNY(.28 ))-(FNX(.95),FNY(.44 )),2,B

1190 CIRCLE (FNX(.5),FNY(.3)),24,1

1200 LINE (FNX(.5),FNY(.805))-(FNX(.5),FNY(.78)): DRAW

1210 LINE (FNX(.5),FNY(.71))-(FNX(.5),FNY(.685)): DRAW

1220 LINE (FNX(.5),FNY(.6))-(FNX(.5),FNY(.57)): DRAW "NH4 E4"

1230 LINE (FNX(.5),FNY(.47))-(FNX(.5),FNY(.4)): DRAW "NH4 E4"

1240 LINE (FNX(.7),FNY(.52))-(FNX(.8),FNY(.52))„,&HCCCC

1250 LINE -(FNX(.8),FNY(.44)),„&HCCCC: DRAW "NH4 E4"

1260 LINE (FNX(.8),FNY(.28))-(FNX(.8),FNY(.21)): DRAW "NH4 E4

1270 LINE (FNX(.295),FNY(.52))-(FNX(.2),FNY(.52))„,&HCCCC

1280 LINE -(FNX(.2),FNY(.44)) ((1 &HCCCC: DRAW "NH4 E4"

1290 LINE (FNX(.2),FNY(.28))-(FNX(.2),FNY(.21)): DRAW "NH4 E4

'NH4 E4"
'NH4 E4"

Photo l: A screen display of the flowchart application in listing 2.

The scaling function is performed
by line 100 (listing 1), which scales the
^-coordinate, and by line 110, which
scales the x-coordinate, translating
them into IBM PC screen coordinates.

Although using world coordinates
requires extra keystrokes, it simplifies
graphics layout. Just as important is
that, when you use world coordinates,
programs require only minor changes
for adaptation to high-resolution
mode as well as adaptation to plot-
ters, different computers, and other
types of output devices.

An Application

Listing 2 is a sample application that
creates a flowchart to illustrate Switch.
The color graphics display produced
by this application is shown in photo
I . Note that the code in listing 2 uses
world coordinates for the graphics
commands, as discussed above.

Initially, I drew the flowchart on
paper and made a screen layout by
positioning the text on the screen. I
determined the column and row cur-
sor positions by moving the cursor
and keeping a record of cursor posi-
tions. Then I composed the appro-
priate PRINT command statements
on the monochrome screen.

I programmed the graphics com-
mands around the text, then tested
and corrected the instructions in small
groups. Finally, I added the arrows
with the DRAW command and put in
the broken lines with the bit pattern
found in the BASIC manual.

The same application could also be
adapted to high-resolution mode,
which allows more text to be shown
but provides only monochrome out-
put. This would require making
changes in the SCREEN and WIDTH
commands, deleting the COLOR
command, changing the text locations
to fit 80 columns, and so on.

Conclusion

In addition to developing your own
graphics applications, you can use
Switch to edit output from a number
of commercially available graphics
packages that provide output in the
form of BASIC files. You can then

[continued]

224 BYTE • JUNE 1985

than a speeding bullet.

NOTHING CAN STAND UP TO
SAFT'S NEW SUPER PROTECTION
SYSTEM (SPS).

Pull a fast one on the high cost of prote
your computer's memory against sudden voltaj
drops or power outages. Get the fastest-switch
power protection unit on the market today. Ge
the SAFT SPS-IOGOVA.

The SPS-lOOOVAfcan do everything a !
System can do. . . except cost a lot of money.
the line drops to 108 vo|s, the new SAFT
leaps into action in 1 millisecond or less. B
the cost is only about )f% of the UPS prici
.,

Inquiry 445 for End-Users.
Inquiry 446 for DEALERS ONLY.

All computers, including ' Brand AT

networks, are right for the power Hfits of
the SPS- 1000 VA. It provides clean sine wave
power, which is both voltage regulated
^current limited.

Best of all, the SPS- 1000 m is made by SAFX
e hottest name in the batterv busi HSo are
p 200 VA and 400 VA Standby ! ' Stems. To

ve how extraordinary these syst ^really
each comes with a 2-year warran
For complete information on the truly super
-1000VA, and 200 VA an ! )0VA, call SAFT at
602-894-6864./ >r writt SAFT Electronic
Systems Divisii i ! 1 W. 14th St. ,
Tempe, Arizona 85281.

YOU.

Inquiry 172

BUY

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DIRECT
FROM

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AND

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Why pay shipping from
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We ship from St. Louis and

most orders are shipped

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Other Printers Monitors

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TIRED OF SOME

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WE DELIVER PRODUCT . . .

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Dealer Inquiries Invited

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Computer & Video
Supply Company

P.O. Box 28448
St. Louis, Missouri 63146

C.O.D.

SWITCH

Cursor Location Made Easy

If you'd rather not spend your time
counting rows and columns in order
to locate text in the right places for
your graphics applications, try Black-
board (listing A). This add-on to Switch
lets you position the cursor where you
want text to begin, hit Return and
receive the screen location from the
computer. The code fits into the un-
used lines 9 500 to 9800 in Switch and
adds line number 75 to initiate Black-

board when you press function key 6.
You can also add to lines 90 and 9100
of Switch so that function key 6 is iden-
tified as the Blackboard key.

To use Blackboard, position the cur-
sor using the cursor arrow keys and hit
Return. After identifying the desired
cursor location, Blackboard will switch
you back to the monochrome monitor,
where you can incorporate the row and
column into a LOCATE statement.

Listing A: BLACKBRD.BAS, an optional cursor -location subroutine for Switch.

75 KEY 6,"GOSUB 9500" + CHR$(13) 'Switch to Blackboard

9500 '

9510 ' Blackboard

9520 *********

9530 PRINT "See color monitor and press F6 for Blackboard screen."

9540 DEF SEG= H800: Z = PEEK (&H410)

9550 IF Z= 125 THEN 9030 ELSE 9560

9560 ON KEY (11) GOSUB 9730

9570 ON KEY (12) GOSUB 9750

9580 ON KEY (13) GOSUB 9770

9590 ON KEY (14) GOSUB 9790

9600 SCREEN 1,0,0,0

9610 SCREEN 0: COLOR 7,0,1

9620 LOCATE 25,1: PRINT "Move cursor with arrows. RETURN to mark."

9630 LOCATE 1,1,1,2,6

9640 FOR I = 1 1 TO 14:KEY(I) ON:NEXT

9650 A$= INKEY$:IF A$< >CHR$(13) THEN 9650

9660X = POS(0)

9670 Y = CSRLIN

9680 FOR I = 1 1 TO 14:KEY(I) OFF:NEXT

9690 LOCATE 25,1

9700 PRINT USING " Location ##,##. SWITCHED to monochrome.";Y;X;

9710 LOCATE Y,X: GOSUB 8000

9720 RETURN

9730 IF CSRLIN>1 THEN LOCATE CSRLIN - 1 ,POS(0),1 ELSE LOCATE 24,

POS(0),1
9740 RETURN
9750 IF POS(0)>1 THEN LOCATE CSRLIN,POS(0)- 1,1 ELSE LOCATE

CSRLIN, 40,1
9760 RETURN
9770 IF POS(0)<40 THEN LOCATE CSRLIN,POS(0) + 1,1 ELSE LOCATE

CSRLIN, 1,1
9780 RETURN
9790 IF CSRLIN<24 THEN LOCATE CSRLIN + 1,POS(0),1 ELSE LOCATE 1,

POS(0),1
9800 RETURN

enhance or modify such files to suit
your needs.

With Switch, you can use one of the
features of expensive CAD/CAM sys-
tems in your office and home: display-

ing graphics on one screen and graph-
ics commands on another. By experi-
menting and adding a few routines,
you should be able to add other fea-
tures to the program. ■

226 BYTE • JUNE 1985

dBASE III vs. dBASE III

M(XE POWERFUL/

£4Sy TO USE/

d BASE JU IS A DXAMA7JC AHD POWERFUL
NEW BUSINESS PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE.

-Bob Davies, President/SBT Corporation

AFTER A TWO- HOUR.
HANDS-ON SESSION WITH
d&ASEHi f IT \S£V/£EYT THAT
ASHTON-TATE HAS MADE A StbN/F/CANT
ADVANCEMENT IN THE TECHNOLOGY
OF MICflGPROCESSOR-BASED D8MS.
-Robert Dew, Vice President/
The Computer Society

RATHER THAN BEING
AN tMlTATOR, ASHTON-TATE
HAS ONCE AGAIN SHOWN ITSELF TO / ASHTON-TATE
BE AN //MOMTO*. / HAS LISTENED TO

-Larry Heimindinger/Origin, Inc. ^/ THEIR USERS. THIS

PRODUCT ADDRESSES EVERY
ITEM ON MY W/Stf'l/S7.
-Mark DaVia/National Microware, Inc.

ASHTON-TATE
HAS USHERED IN A R&M/SZWCE.
THE NEXT GEVER4T/OV OF SOFTWARE
IS NOW A REAUTY.

-Chris MacNeil/Abel Computers

THE NEW REPORT
GENERATOR IS SUPER TO
USE AND MODIFX
LABEL GENERATION IS
ALSO A NICE. TOUCH.
-Michael Broska/Agate
Systems, Inc.

dBASEIH IS BY
FAR THE EAS/EST, MOST
COST-EFFECT/VE

WAY TO MANAGE. A
LARGE. DATA &ASE.

-Robb Auspitz/McEntyre Designs

dBASE III IS MUCH EAS/ER
TO OPERATE AND UNDERSTAND.
PROGRAMMING WITH IT IS
A BREEZE.

-Michael Broska/Agate Systems, Inc.

THE NATURAL CHOICE
OF THE. NOVICE USER
WITH EXPANDABLE NEED5
dBASE III IS REALLY
EASY TO USE I
Alex Gersen/Alex Systems

dBASE 111
SUCCESSFULLY
COMBINES THE
FEATURES OF A POWERFUL

DATABASE MANAGER WITH THE SIMPLICITY
AND USER-FRIENDLINESS OF A FILE MANAGER
II SETS THE STANDARD AGAINST WHICH ALL
OTHERS WILL HAVE TO BE COMPARED.

-Jerry Schneider. Vice President/WBS & Associates

ASHTON-TATE.

has asv/oo&y listened

TO THE END USERS.

-Dave Browning. Chairman/
Database SIG, Capital PC Users Group

THE DEGREE
OF RESPONSIVENESS
WHICH ASHTON-TATE HAS SHOWN
IN ITS WLUNWESS TO 1/S7E/Y AND ADAPT
TO USER /YEEO SHOULD GUARANTEE IT A
COMMITTED FOLLOWING IN THE
MICROCOMPUTER COMMUNITY
-Phillip Wood. Director of Data Processing/
Search Institute

dBASE III™ is the powerful and easy-to-use relational database management system

you've been waiting for. You can use it without hesitation whether you're a beginner or an expert.

The big winner in the easy-to-use vs. more powerful controversy is you. If you want to know

all about dBASE III, come to your Ashton-Tkte software dealer for a free demonstration.

For more information call (800) 437-4329 ext. 232 or in Colorado call (303) 799-4900 ext. 232.

Software from

dBASE III and Ashton-Tate are trademarks tf Ashton-Tate. ©Ashton-late 1985. All rights reserved.

/SHTDN -TOE

Well put you in control.

Inquiry 39

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 227

Publish the Most Imporl

Names. Addresses. Phone numbers.
All those little notes. . . If you stop and think
about it, they're probably your most valuable
business tools. But if you're like most people,
those little pieces of paper never seem
to be quite where you need them. Which
means, they're everywhere. That's why
we created "The Little Black Book."™
A practical little software package that
takes all those names and numbers and
puts them together. Then, prints them
out quick. In little black book size.

400 Entries. 30 Categories.

Think of The Little Black Book
as your personal contacts data-
base. And it holds 400 of them,
But what's really important is
that it lets you index your
contacts. Set up 30 different
categories (like sales offices,
friends, customers, etc.).
Call them whatever you want.
Put 30 entries in each index.
Even all entries in multiple
indexes. Now, sort and print
alphabetically; by index;
addresses and phone
numbers. . . you name it.
What you get is personal
electronic white and yellow
pages for your PC. Oh, and
one more thing. Each entry
can have a couple of lines of notes.
So you can really make it personal

Pops in. Pops out. Even dials.

Here's how it works. You're preparing a
spreadsheet and you need to look up a phone
number. Tap <Alt> <Space bar> and up pops
your 30 most frequently used entries. Hit the
view number function key and the two-digit
code next to the person you want, and there's
the number. Tap <F1>, and you're back to
your spreadsheet. Exactly where you left it.

If you have a modem, here's a pleasant
surprise. The Little Black Book may also be
the most powerful autodialer you can buy for
your PC. Tap the two-digit code, and your PC
dials automatically through the modem. Includ-
ing all the access and security codes for
SPRINT, MCI, etc. No modem? Use our inex-
pensive Dialer Board accessory. With the

The Little Black Book

400 names,
addresses,
and notes
numbers

Prints entries in
30 categories that
you create

Includes a handsome
cover and materials
for your PC to make
multiple books

money you save on your calls, it'll probably pay
for itself several times over.

And now the book. Included in our pack-
age is a handsome cover for your very own
little black book. After you've entered your
names, numbers, etc. , just tell it to print. A
couple of quick keystrokes and bingo, out of
your printer comes your little black book. On
standard printer paper. Just cut along the
dotted lines, staple to the heavy backing we
provide and slip it into the cover. When you've
changed a few numbers,
or added a few
addresses, print it
again. The whole
process only takes

Print , cut, staple,
then slip into the cover

• 1985 Cygnet Technologies, Inc.

The Little Black Book is a trademark and Cygnet is a registered trademark of Cygnet Technologies. Inc. SPRINT is a trademark of SP Communications.
Lotus 123 and Symphony are trademarks of Lotus Development Corp. The Little Black Book works with IBM PC's and 100% compatibles.

228 BYTE • JUNE 1985

int Book¥)uTl Ever Own.

For

Never W

minutes. Think of it this way. If you lost your
address book, how long would it take you to
replace it? Could you replace it? With The
Little Black Book it's as easy as P R I N T.
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Use it Yourself.
Share it with Friends.

Use The Little Black Book to
keep track of sales prospects. Print
one book for the office, one for home,
and another for the road. Buy one pro-
gram and make books for everyone in
your company. Keep it in your pocket.
On your desk. In your briefcase. . .
enough already. The Little Black Book
is pretty flexible. And quite frankly, we
can't think of someone who wouldn't
benefit from using it.

Bells. Whistles. And a Guarantee.

We want to tell you about our Area Code
Directory window that pops in on command
(know the area, find the city and vice versa).
And about our screen dialer
that dials phone numbers from
other applications programs
(like your existing database of * ;

phone numbers, or an accounts
receivable program). And that
if you have a hard disk, you
don't have to keep our disk in
your A drive. But, we're
almost out of room. What is
important is that we work in
background just fine with
Lotus 123, Symphony, and vir-
tually every PC-DOS program >
on the market (even Sidekick).

There are thousands
of reasons to buy The
Little Black Book, ^m
but maybe the

most important is the On-Off switch on your
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Call in your order today and get the spe-
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Call today:
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(in California)

CYGNET

Handy software for busy people.

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Charge By Phone or Send in the Coupon Today

D Please send me The Little Black Book for $49,95. Name—
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D Also sen: ional Cygnet Accessory Dialer

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To: Cygnet Technologies, Inc.

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ExjHfatitHJ

AbsohdemJS r o Questions A 3-DAY Mi

nv: 1-800-6
(in California) 1-800-331-9113

GUARi

Inquiry 126

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 229

Two's-

Complement

Numbers

Revisited

A new tool

for dealing with
the fundamentals
of number storage

Converting positive numbers
from their binary to their
decimal form (and vice
versa) is generally easy to
understand. Here, traditional conver-
sion methods (and there are many)
work just fine. One such method in-
volves the use of a diagram known as
a "value box" (see figure 1). Notice
that the value on the far right in the
box is 1 and each succeeding position
to the left is double in value.

For example, let's say that you want
to find the decimal value of the binary
number 01011111. Since this is an 8-bit
binary number, you can use the
8-position value box shown in figure
1 . Insert the binary number into the
empty boxes from left to right; add
the numbers above each slot that con-
tains a 1 ( and you'll arrive at the
answer. 95 (see figure 2).

It is also possible to convert decimal
numbers to binary using the box in

figure 1. For instance, to find the
binary number corresponding to 43.
first see if there i s a 43 on the top row
of the value box. If there isn't (and
there isn't), take the next smaller
number. This would be 32. Place a 1
in the corresponding slot in the box.
subtract 32 from 43, and repeat the
above process on the remaining
amount (11) until is reached. Final-
ly, fill in the empty slots with 0s and
"read out" the binary number (see
figure 3).

Conversion becomes more difficult
when you consider negative numbers
on the computer. This involves finding
the number's "two's complement" a
representation that handles the prob-
lem of having to indicate a number's
"negativeness" using only Is and 0s.
At the same time, it maintains the
proper functioning of mathematical
operations, so that addition, subtrac-
tion, etc., of positive and negative
numbers yield correct results. Rather
than describe the traditional two's-
complement conversion technique
(which you can find in any introduc-
tory programming book), we'll show
you another method that yields the
same result. We believe this new
method is unique, easy, and more in-
sightful than the traditional negative-
number conversion method. For sim-

plicity, we will continue to use 8-bit
binary numbers.

Tb find the two's-complement binary
representation of both positive and
negative numbers, use the standard
value box with one simple modifica-
tion—change the largest (leftmost)
value in the box to a negative number
(see figure 4).

Tb illustrate the ease of converting
negative numbers, we will use the
value box in figure 4 to convert the
binary number 10000011 to its
decimal form. We put the digits
10000011 into the value box, and by
adding up the slots with Is in them,
we get -128 + 2 + 1 = -125. The
traditionalists among you can verify
that 10000011 works out to -125
using the conventional procedure.

The beauty of the value-box tech-
nique is that it connects a two's-
complement binary number visually
to its decimal value. As you can see
in figure 4, the most negative two's-
complement binary number that can
be represented using 8 bits is - 128.
Any other nonzero bit will simply add
a positive amount to the number. Ad-
ditionally, it is clear that a negative
number must have a 1 as its leftmost
bit and a positive number must have
a as its leftmost bit From this you
can see that the largest positive 8-bit

230 BYTE • JUNE 1985

by Gary Bronson and Karl Lyon

binary number is 01111111 or 127.

Do you want to find the two's-com-
plement representation of -120?
Using the value box illustrated in
figure 4 reduces the conversion to
finding what positive values, when
added to -128. equal -120. Since
-128 plus 8 is -120. the two's-
complement representation of - 120
is 10001000. Notice that you can
almost read 10001000 directly as a
decimal number.

For the aficionados among you. the
new technique is related directly to
the original mathematical basis of
twos-complement numbers. Actually,
two's-complement numbers is a
misnomer. TWo's complement is a pro-
cedure for converting a negative
decimal number into a weighted-sign
binary number. Weighted-sign simply
means that the leftmost bit of the
binary number represents both a sign
and a value. A 1 as the leftmost bit
corresponds to a minus sign and a
corresponds to a plus sign. The value
assigned is equal to 2 raised to the
n- 1 power, where n is the number of
bits in the binary number.

The value-box technique presented
here is simply another procedure for
performing decimal to weighted-sign
binary conversions and finding what
is commonly called two's-complement
numbers. ■

Dr. Gary Bromon is a professor in the depart-
ment of computer and decision systems at
Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has been
a regular visiting instructor to Bell
laboratories in-house continuing education
program and is a consultant to AT&T docu-
mentation and educational organizations. He
can be reached at 891 Ridgewood Rd.. Mill-
burn. N) 07041. Karl Ujon is currently a
senior studying computer science at Fairleigh
Dickinson University. He is interested in all
aspects of computer science and can be con-
tacted at 2 1 Orchard PI. E. East Hanover,
NJ 07936.

128

64

32

16

8

4

2

1

Figure l : An eight-position value box.

128

64

32

16

8

4

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

64 +16+8+4+2+1 =

95

Figure 2: Using the value box to convert the binary number 1 1 1 1 1 1
to its decimal equivalent.

128

64

32

16

8

4

2

1

1

1

1

1

43

= 32 +8 +2+1

Figure 3: Using the value box to convert the decimal number 43 to
its binary equivalent.

-128

64

32

16

8

4

2

1

Figure 4: An eight-position two's-complement value box.

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 23!

■40-

;

^9

BYTE

Programming
Techniques

Choosing a Programming Language

by Gary Flfring 235

Structuring BASIC

by Arthur Huston 243

Subroutine Libraries in Pascal

by Bruce Webster 253

Using Data Flow

for Application Development

by Wayne P. Stevens 267

Debugging Techniques

by Gregg Williams 279

6502 Tricks and Traps

by \oe Holt 295

SOFTWARE-ICS

by Lamar Ledbetter and Brad Cox. 307

LEO BRODIE SAID IT BEST in the preface to his book Thinking FORTH:
"Building models in the mind is both the challenge and the joy of program-
ming." It's true. For most of us, software reigns supreme— we like what it does,
and we like to make it do new things. Of course, we can't do it without hard-
ware, but hardware is more like the canvas and paint that makes the painting
itself possible.

Because it is such a complex activity, programming requires both craft and
insight. We hope that the articles in this theme section will help you become
more intimate with both the theory and practice of programming.

"Choosing a Programming Language," by Gary Elf ring, explores a decision
that many of us usually don't think about: "What computer language should
I use for this problem?" It is said that a (human) language determines the
thoughts a person can have, and the same is true with programming languages.
The fit between the language and the problem to be solved is only one of
several issues that Elfring talks about in his article.

Reinventing the wheel is a common human experience, bad enough when
I reinvent your wheel but even worse when I reinvent my own. With some plan-
ning, you can develop a library of tested, reliable subroutines for your own
work that reduce the amount of repetitive programming, allowing you to con-
centrate on the novel aspects of your current program. Arthur Huston's "Struc-
turing BASIC" and Bruce Webster's "Subroutine Libraries in Pascal" present
two schemes for doing this in two popular languages.

The flowchart is a ubiquitous but mediocre design and documentation tool,
but the data-flow diagram is a simple, useful tool that too few people know
about. Wayne P. Stevens's article, "Using Data Flow for Application Develop-
ment," explains one use of data-flow diagrams in the design process.

Because we have not yet developed a computer that does what we mean,
not what we say, program debugging still consumes a significant part of a pro-
grammer's energy. In my article, "Debugging Techniques," I try to classify and
explain the debugging techniques available to most of us.

The 6502-family microprocessor is present in many of the most popular
personal computers, but this relatively old chip still contains surprises for the
unsuspecting programmer. Joe Holt's "6502 Tficks and TVaps" explains how
best to use the 6502 if you have the occasion to program in 6502 assembly
language.

Finally, "Software-ICs," by Lamar Ledbetter and Brad Cox, describes an ap-
proach to building reusable software. We asked the authors to describe the
philosophy behind their product, Objective-C because it ties a conventional
language available on many microcomputers— C— to the increasingly popular
concept of object-oriented languages, which have traditionally been associated
with more powerful machines than today's micros.

By learning more about programming, we become better programmers and
create better software. Enjoy this month's theme section.

— Gregg Williams, Senior Editor

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 233

Gold Hill Computers brings the language of
Artificial Intelligence to Your Personal Computer.

Why every Computer Professional
should know Common Lisp.

You know how frustrating it is to
deal with programs that are stupid and
inflexible like those buried inside
automated bank teller machines and
airline reservation systems. You also
know how frustrating it is to engineer
solutions to today's information-
processing problems with languages
designed mainly for number crunching.
It doesn't have to be this way.

Programs based on the ideas of
Artificial Intelligence and implemented
in Common Lisp can be intelligent, flex-
ible, and human-like. When you use
Common Lisp in combination with
artificial intelligence techniques, you
will be able to solve problems you
could never solve before. You will be
able to write powerful programs that
can accommodate naive computer
users who want intelligible answers
to questions quickly.

The best way to get started is to buy
Golden Common Lisp t " the first Common
Lisp for personal computers.

Golden Common Lisp:
The AI Tutor

Golden Common Lisp makes it easy
for you to learn to use Common Lisp, on
your personal computer, by yourself,
at your own pace. The San Marco Lisp
Explorer;" a 1000-frame interactive soft-
ware slide show developed by Patrick H.
Winston and San Marco Associates,
takes you through Common Lisp and
exciting artificial intelligence applica-
tions like expert systems, intelligent
data-access systems, and natural
language interfaces.

Golden Common Lisp requires an
IBM, PC XT, PC AT, or 100% IBM PC
compatible computer with 512K bytes
of memory and PC-DOS 2.0 or higher.
More memory is recommended for
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ORDER GCLisp TODAY using
the coupon below. Or call our Sales
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Golden Common Lisp: The
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The Golden Common Lisp
package includes:

• the GCLisp interpreter

• the GMACS editor

• the San Marco Lisp Explorer

• the On-line Help system

• Lisp, 2nd edition by Winston
and Horn

• the Common Lisp Reference Manual
by Steele

• the Golden Common Lisp User's
Manual

Golden Common Lisp: The
Powertool for Personal Computing

Golden Common Lisp is an extensive
subset of Common Lisp, supporting more
than 400 Lisp primitives. Advanced
features of Golden Common Lisp include
co-routines for multi-tasking, macros for
code clarity, streams for I/O, closures
for object-centered programming,
and multiple-value-returning functions
for efficiency

L L COM

| Gold H ill Computers
163 Harvard Street
Cambridge, MA 02139

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Inquiry 197

Golden Common Lisp and G C Lisp are trademarks o f Gold Hill Computers. The San M arco Lisp Explorer i s a trademark o f San M arco Associates.

Lisp is copyrighted by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. The Common L/sp Reference Manual is copyrighted by Digital Equipment

Corporation. IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, and PC-DOS are trademarks of International Business Machines.

PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

CHOOSING A

PROGRAMMING

LANGUAGE

by Gary Elfring

IF YOU WERE a carpenter building a
new house, the first thing you would
do would be to collect your tools. The
tools you'd select would vary depend-
ing on the type of job. The same thing
should be true if you are a program-
mer. You have a wide range of tools
available, and you just choose the
right tools for the job. Your tools are
the languages that you program in
and the environments needed to sup-
port those languages.

How do you go about selecting the
right tool for the job? There are more
programming languages available for
microprocessors than most people
could learn in a lifetime. What you
need is a methodology that can be
used to select one language from all
the rest for a given application.

This article presents a practical
method for comparing programming
languages. It has an inherent bias
toward compiled high-level languages.
Compiled languages are faster than
interpreted ones, and most inter-
preted languages also offer a com-
piler version. Since program speed is
often an issue, I chose compilers over
interpreters.

It's a three-step process

The actual process of evaluating a
group of programming languages can
be broken down into three major
steps. The first step is to characterize
the application the language is being
selected for. Then you must identify
the features that a language should
have in order to deal with the
previously described application.
Finally, you should take into account
practical considerations to further nar-
row down the language selection.

The Application

You can't choose a tool unless you
know what you intend to do with it.
You have to describe your application.
Once you have this information you
can then proceed to determine
whether or not the existing language
choices are the right tools for the job.
To describe an application, you
must consider both the type and size
of the application. These questions
must be answered before you can
proceed any further in the language
evaluation:

What is the type or class of application?
What level of language is needed?

There are a number of different
classes of program applications. An
application can belong to a single
class or several. Identifying the class
of your application is relatively sim-
ple and helps narrow the list of ac-
ceptable languages. Some of the
more common classes include scien-
tific, business, and system program-
ming; text processing; expert systems;
and real-time control.

Most programming languages are
better suited to solving one particular
class of problem than another.
COBOL is one example. While it is
easy to write maintainable business
programs with COBOL, no one would
expect to use this language to solve
real-time control problems.

Another consideration is the level of
programming that the application will
require. If you need low-level control
of various machine-dependent fea-
tures, then a very high level language

[continued)
Gary Elfring (4N899 West Mary Dr., St.
Charles. IL 601 74) is the president of Elfring
Consulting Inc., a microprocessor consulting
firm. His interests include robotics and arti-
ficial intelligence.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 235

CHOOSING A LANGUAGE

would be a bad choice.

Is it too big to be expressed as one module?
Is it too big to be fully understood by one
programmer?

lust how big is the potential applica-
tion? Large programs should not be
squeezed into a single module. This
implies that the language chosen
must support separate program
module compilation. It is always
easier to compile many small pro-
grams and combine them into one
large version than to compile one
gigantic program.

Related side questions consider the
complexity of the application itself.
Can a single programmer understand
it? If not, then the language chosen
must support multiple program
modules and some way of managing
them. Also, remember that a number
of programs start out small and end
up growing quite large.

Language Features

After characterizing the nature of the
software application, the next step is
to identify what features are required
or desired to implement it. This list of
features can then be used to rate each
available language. The result of this
process will be a short list of accept-
able programming languages.

Wftflt audience was the language designed for?
What class of problems was the language
designed to solve?

Some languages were designed for
a specific audience instead of a class
of applications. This type of language
was typically designed to do some-
thing like teach programming tech-
niques. A language that was designed
to solve a specific class of problems
will generally do a much better job at
that task than one designed to teach
the techniques of programming.

Most languages were designed with
some class of applications in mind.
This inherent bias toward certain
classes of problems will affect the way
a language is used on other classes
of problems. A short history of each
language under consideration is nec-
essary to aid in the evaluation of that
language. For example, knowing the

history of COBOL and APL will allow
you to reject them immediately as lan-
guages for programming a real-time
control application.

Can the syntax be understood?
Is it terse or verbose?
Is it consistent?

The syntax of a language should be
both readable and intelligible. A syn-
tax should aid the mechanical aspects
of reading it and help you understand
what the program is doing.

A syntax should be concise, yet ex-
pressive. Verbose languages can turn
what should be a one-page program
into a multipage listing. Since, general-
ly, the longer a program is, the harder
it is to follow, such verbose syntax can
actually defeat its own purpose of in-
creasing the understandability of a
program.

Inconsistency in syntax makes a lan-
guage hard to learn. It also increases
the possibility of error significantly.
The syntax should be an aid to pro-
gramming, not a hindrance.

What data types are supported?
How are data types treated?

The organization and representa-
tion of data is an important part of
programming. Some basic data types
on microprocessors are 8-, 16-, 3 2 -bit
integers, single- and double-precision
floating point, records/structures,
pointers, bit fields, and arrays of all
data types. Some compilers even
allow you to create user-defined data
types.

Structures or records, in particular,
are important data-handling tools.
They let you group items of different
data types together so they can be
referenced as a unit. The more con-
trol a language gives over the use and
construction of structures, the easier
it will be to handle data.

The use of data types not only gives
you great flexibility in how you manip-
ulate data but also lets a good com-
piler do a considerable amount of
error checking. The compiler can
check for mismatches in the use of
data types and flag them as errors.
This will catch a large percentage of
the simple errors that a programmer

makes, well before the program enters
the debugging stage. For these
reasons a language should offer as
rich a selection of data types as is
possible.

Does the language support structured

programming?
Are exceptions possible?

Languages that support structured
programming are inherently more
safe to use than those that do not. A
programming language should at
least offer you the choice of using
structured programming techniques.
Modern structured programming
generally requires, at a minimum, a
grouping syntax (either functions or
procedures), two types of decision
statements (generally the IF and
CASE statements), and two types of
loops (counted and uncounted).

Sooner or later exceptions will arise
that must be dealt with in some man-
ner. Languages that allow no excep-
tions can make it quite difficult to
write certain kinds of programs. Some
languages totally rule out exceptions
or can deal with them only in an un-
controlled fashion such as with a
GOTO. One structured way of han-
dling exceptions, the BREAK com-
mand, is used as an escape from
counted and uncounted loops. It is
preferable to the use of a GOTO and
is featured in languages like Ada, C,
and Modula-2.

Is portability needed?

How portable is the language?

The portability of programming lan-
guages is becoming more and more
important in the world of micropro-
cessors. Large amounts of time and
money are spent developing software
that becomes obsolete when the next
microprocessor comes out. Some
method is needed to protect this large
investment in software. The answer is
portability.

There are several levels of portabili-
ty. At the lowest level, the language
is portable from compiler to compiler
on the same microprocessor. The
next level of portability covers the
ability to port code from one micro-

{continued)

236 BYTE' JUNE 1985

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 2

CHOOSING A LANGUAGE

processor to another of the same
level, for example, between 16-bit
microprocessors. A final level of por-
tability is between any two micropro-
cessors.

If an application can be ported from
an 8-bit microprocessor to a 3 2 -bit
one (say from Intel's 8051 to
Motorola's 68020), then the language

is truly portable. Note that it is prob-
ably unreasonable to expect that any
application be ported all the way
down from a 3 2 -bit microprocessor to
an 8-bit one, but you should expect
a language to offer upwardly compati-
ble extensions.

How is I/O (input/output) handled?

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Is access to other programming languages

needed?
Is stand-alone product support required?
Is real-time control needed?

Not all programs need file or ter-
minal I/O. However, almost anyone
would agree it is a useful function.
Device-independent I/O is preferable
to any other kind. Languages that
make no distinction between different
types of I/O devices are easier to pro-
gram in. They are inherently more
consistent since they don't differen-
tiate between hardware devices.

Some applications require the use
of more than one language. The sec-
ond language is typically assembly
language. If your application needs an
interface to another language, then
the amount and type of support for
the other language must be assessed.

Is the software application going to
be for a stand-alone product (such as
a microprocessor-controlled blender)
or a product run on a computer with
an operating system (such as a data-
base-management system)? A lan-
guage for a stand-alone application
must be able to get "close" to the
hardware; that is, it will need features
that allow absolute control over ad-
dressing, I/O, and interrupts. It will
also generally have to run from some
kind of ROM (read-only memory).
However, a product such as a data-
base-management system interacts
with the hardware through the oper-
ating system and runs from RAM
(random-access read/write memory).

Yet another consideration is real-
time control. Does the intended lan-
guage support it, or will it at least
allow itself to be modified or ex-
tended to do so?

Practical Considerations

There is more to selecting a program-
ming language than a simple com-
parison of features. In the real world
a number of practical considerations
enter into the picture. They range
from considerations about existing
compilers to questions about the de-
velopment tools for a particular lan-
guage. This series of qualifications is

[continued]

238 BYTE • JUNE 1985

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Inquiry 343

IBM* PC . PC AT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. " 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corp. dBASE III is a
trademark of AshtonTate. Inc. Wordstar is a trademark of MicroPro Corp. ©Copyright 1984 Quadram Corporation. All rights reserved.

Inquiry 353

The Best Source
Debugger for C

Interactive testing: enter any C
expression, statement, or function call,
and it is immediately executed and the
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allows fast and thorough testing,
makes learning C a snap.

Run-time checking: execution stops
upon exception, and source code dis-
played. Exceptions include array refer-
ence bounds, stack overflow arithmetic
or floating point error, etc. Pointers are
checked for null or out of range values.

Breakpoints: any number of break-
points can be set anywhere in your
program; breakpoints are set with screen
editor, not by line numbers. Breakpoints
may be conditional. Single-step by
statement. Interrupt execution from
keyboard. Breakpoint, exception, or
interruption is always shown with source
code. Examine and modify data, look
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lint-like Compile-time checking:

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The best feature of all: the fastest C
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CHOOSING A LANGUAGE

used to further narrow the language
choices based on real-world criteria.

How available is the language?
How popular is the language?

How many different compilers are
available for this language? Are they
compatible with each other? How
hard is it to locate compilers for this
language? Answers to these questions
describe the availability of a language.
Generally, the more available a lan-
guage is, the safer it will be to use.

It is important to choose a language
that has an established history and
predictable future. Will the language
you choose be around tomorrow or
does it belong to the "Language of
the Month" club? Brand-new lan-
guages may offer many desirable fea-
tures. But the future of both the lan-
guage and its new features can be un-
certain. If it doesn't catch on, the
language and its special features may
die.

How do you learn the language?
What is the source of this information?

If the language chosen is not in your
programming repertoire, you are go-
ing to have to learn it. How do you
learn to program in the language? Are
there good reference materials or out-
side help available to teach you the
language? The best language in the
world is no help to you if you can't
figure out how to use it.

What are the characteristics of the compiler?
Is the code produced quick, compact, and
predictable?

Theory and practice must merge in
the creation of a compiler. The com-
piler should operate quickly and be
reliable. It should not require a great
deal of memory or disk space. Final-
ly, the amount of support from the
manufacturer is important.

Compilers translate high-level in-
structions into code that a particular
computer can execute. The code that
they produce must be efficient both
in size and speed. Furthermore, the
execution time and size of the code
produced by the compiler should be
reasonably predictable. That is, the
compiler should be consistent in the

quality of the code it produces.

What hardware-development tools are

available?
What software-development tools are

available?
What kinds of software libraries are

available?

The types of tools associated with
a programming language are impor-
tant considerations in that language's
evaluation. Tools make you significant-
ly more productive and ease your
work load.

Tbols come in many different forms.
Hardware-development tools, such as
an in-circuit emulator, are indispens-
able in the development of software-
controlled products. The availability of
this type of tool could easily alter a
choice of a programming language.

Another form of tool is software-
oriented. Software-development, de-
bugging, and management tools are
quite popular but not compatible with
all programming languages. A good
directory program for file mainte-
nance is also a tool. The purpose of
these tools is to make the job of pro-
gramming as easy as possible.

One final type of tool is the software
library. It is often more feasible to pur-
chase a library of software functions
than to write your own. Examples of
software libraries include graphics
and real-time control packages. The
availability of good software libraries
at low cost is an important practical
consideration in the choice of a lan-
guage.

Language Suitability

Now that you know how to describe
the application, programming fea-
tures, and practical considerations,
the selection process can begin. The
end result of this evaluation process
is a list of from one to three languages
that are ideally suited to your par-
ticular application. If you end up with
more than one language on your list,
then any one of these can be
selected. This is the only point in the
language-selection process where you
can apply your own personal bias and
not affect the quality of the final lan-
guage choice. ■

240 BYTE • JUNE 1985

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inquiry 83

PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

STRUCTURING

BASIC

by Arthur Huston

Creating a library
of subroutines

COUNTING ALL of its dialects, BASIC
is now among the world's major lan-
guages. Even so, many programmers
complain that it lacks features found
in more structured languages. By
creating a library of procedures and
functions, however, you can compen-
sate for some of the language's short-
comings and write more powerful pro-
grams in less time.

Most structured languages have two
types of library routines: functions
and procedures. In BASIC the former
is a subroutine that returns only one
value; the latter returns more than
one, or none. It's not possible, how-
ever, to incorporate into BASIC the
concept of local variables or to pass
variables of different names into sub-
routines. And since BASIC requires
line numbers, inserting a subroutine
into a program could overwrite exist-
ing code.

For these reasons, BASIC program-
mers usually rename the variables
and renumber the code when they re-
use a subroutine in a new program or,
worse, they only use subroutines to
eliminate redundant code in one pro-
gram. With some discipline, however,
you can force BASIC to mimic true
procedures and functions and thus

eliminate redundancy between pro-
grams as opposed to within a single
program.

Newer dialects of BASIC, including
recent versions of DEC VAX BASIC,
the Microsoft Business BASIC Com-
piler, Better BASIC from Summit Tech-
nology, and True BASIC from True
BASIC Inc., implement these concepts
and bring much-needed structure and
power to the language. I will concen-
trate instead on the garden-variety
Microsoft BASIC interpreter and such
offshoots as GW-BASIC, Applesoft
BASIC, and Commodore 64 BASIC.

Mimicking more structured features
requires that you invent a set of pro-
gramming rules and adhere to them
rigidly. You may find at first that the
discipline required inhibits your pro-
gramming, but consider the benefits
of assembling a library. When you
start a program you can concentrate
on its purpose rather than worry
about chores like menus and date ma-
nipulation. Your programs will have a
consistent user interface, and entire
sections of code will be thoroughly
debugged before you start. Anyone
familiar with your library can maintain
your code, and porting your programs
to a different computer will be

easier— you simply convert your
library.

Line-Numbering Rules

Without line-numbering rules, merg-
ing in a subroutine might mean over-
writing existing code or require scan-
ning programs for a free set of line
numbers (and then loading, renum-
bering, and saving the subroutine, re-
loading the program, and finally
merging in the subroutine). With line-
numbering rules, you need only break
a program into logical parts and
assign line numbers to each part.

Programs always begin with ini-
tialization, or declaration. A set of
remarks should tell you what the pro-
gram does, and the early lines al-
locate string space and dimension all
arrays. Ideally, you should initialize
every variable with special meaning in
the program code and add a remark
that explains its function. Reserving
line numbers 0-999 leaves more than
enough room.

Some programmers like to put ini-
tialization at the end of the program

[continued]
Arthur Huston (154 Park St., Stougfiton,
MA 02401) is a programmer of financial
software in Boston.

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 243

STRUCTURING BASIC

and call it with a GOSUB. I find such
programs less readable; more impor-
tant, they are incompatible with most
compilers, which require that the
code dimension arrays before refer-
encing them.

Program code comes next. You will
want to make judicious use of your
subroutine library; this code simply
calls the subroutines in the correct
order and gives your program its
uniqueness. Let's set aside lines
1000-9999.

Next are program subroutines,
which are not part of your library but
are of use only to the program in
which they appear. Line numbers
10000-14999 should be enough.

Specific applications require ap-
plication subroutines. A payroll sys-
tem, for example, might use a routine
to read employee names from a file;
a stock portfolio might have a pro-
cedure to calculate which stocks to
buy Reserve lines 1 5000-24999.

Last are the system subroutines—
your software library, which is useful
in every program you write. Let's set
aside the lion's share of your pro-
gramming space, lines 2 5000-65000.
You'll be surprised at how quickly
you'll fill it up.

We can differentiate the system sub-
routines further into their logical func-
tions. Lines 25000-29999 might han-
dle user-interface routines such as
menus; 30000-34999 could be re-
served for file handling; 35000-59999
for all-purpose subroutines like data

handling and string manipulation;
lines 60000-65000 for ON ERROR
GOTO routines. See table 1 for a sum-
mary of these line-numbering rules.

In some versions of BASIC, placing
the subroutines immediately after ini-
tialization results in faster program ex-
ecution. The BASIC code stored in
memory is simply a linked list, with
each line pointing to the next one; it
follows that lines near the beginning
of a program will be found faster than
those at the end. The current versions
of Microsoft GW-BASIC, however,
search for the line number the first
time it is called and thereafter branch
directly. The time saving is so minimal
for this popular version of BASIC that
I have not placed my subroutines at
the beginning.

There are, however, a number of
caveats to using this system. When
you create your library, make sure
there's no overlap from one routine
to the next. If you must add features
or debug a routine, insert new code
between lines rather than extending
the routine. Lastly, renumbering your
programs in increments of 10 would
render the entire scheme useless. You
can, however, renumber the program
code and program subroutines
sections.

These line numbers are not cast in
stone; the point is to predict how
many lines each section of your code
will require and then allocate them ac-
cordingly. You'll notice, for instance,
that I gave the largest section to sys-

Ikble 1: This line-numbering scheme is only a suggestion: the important thing

to do is predict how many

lines each section of your code will require. \n

addition, the initialization part should always be the first section of code. Note

that in some versions of BASIC, placing the subroutines immediately after

initialization will speed up program execution.

Code Section

Lines

Initialization (declaration)

0- 999

Program code

1000- 9999

Program subroutines

10000- 14999

Application subroutines

15000 -24999

System subroutines

25000 - 65000

—user interface

25000 - 29999

—file handling

30000 - 34999

—all-purpose routines

350.00 - 59999

-ON ERROR GOTO

60000 - 65000

tern subroutines. Few of these are
used in any one program, but all of
them will be needed to accommodate
your library.

Some programmers never begin
subroutines with remarks because
many compression programs delete
the REMs, leaving undefined lines. I
always reference remarks, but I use
more sophisticated compression rou-
tines that avoid the conflict. Some of
these packages include The BASIC
Development System from SoftTool
Systems on the IBM PC, GPLE from
Beagle Bros, on the Apple, and the
Snapp Utilities from Snapp Inc. on the
TRS-80. All three packages contain
other utilities to ease programming.
Note that an alternative method
would place remarks just prior to the
referenced line (e.g., placing REMs on
lines 5196-5199 for a subroutine be-
ginning on line 5200).

Naming Rules

Giving subroutines descriptive names
certainly helps to explain their use,
but the eight-character filename limit
of many BASICS is severely restricting.
For a naming convention, therefore,
I suggest that the starting line number
of the subroutine follow a two-char-
acter prefix (SS, for example, for your
system subroutines). Application sub-
routines could assume the prefix from
the application's name (PR for payroll,
for example). Using this method, you
can quickly identify the type of sub-
routine—application or system— and
its line numbers. Rely on your written
documentation to tell you what the
subroutine does.

Variable-naming rules prevent "col-
lisions," or "side effects," which occur
when program code and a subroutine
use the same variable for different
purposes. For example, if the program
code used the variable PR to record
payroll and a subroutine used PR as
a flag to see if the printer were on line,
calling the subroutine would change
the value of the variable.

To avoid the problem, you can
simulate the concept of local variables
by assigning groups of variables to
logical sections of code. For example,

[continued)

244 B YTE • JUNE 1985

ma mm

[ECMTE MIA

)I ORIGINAL MIft

(F2) foiiia rmim mii

(TO lIFFEKMIlIlt MTfl

<K> SHMIH Mill

(Fit) PUT MOST ffiCEW MIA

AS/ST multiple windows permit side-by- side
comparisons. The two-dimensional FF1 'routine,
shown, is one of the many built-in functions.

With ASYST, data acquisition and analysis
routines can be combined to create powerful,
menu- driven functions.

Least squares, polynomial, exponential, and
logarithmic curve fitting routines fully
integrate with other ASYST capabilities.

ASYST integrates analysis functions with
graphics. On-screen cursors allow interactive
selection of curve segments.

ASYST Scientific Software-
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turn your IBM PC into a powerful workstation-

ASYST and your IBM PC, XT,™ AT, or
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ASYST is composed of three separate,
but fully-integrated, modules:
Module 1: System/Graphics/Statistics
establishes the environment. Includes
data representation and storage; arith-

Copyright 1984 byMacmillan Software Company.

Inquiry 260

metic, trigonometric, hyperbolic and other
mathematical and statistical functions;
direct graphics output and display; array
manipulation; control of vectors and
matrices; automatic plotting; file manipu-
lation; programming control structures;
and a built-in text editor.

Module 2: Analysis reduces and ana-
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JUNE 1985 'BYTE 245

STRUCTURING BASIC

you can set aside variables beginning
with A-H for program code and pro-
gram subroutines, H for program
code loops (following the program-
ming convention started with FOR-
TRAN), K-P for application subrou-
tines, and Q-Z for system subroutines.
T&ble 2 summarizes these variable-
naming rules.

I suggest breaking variables down
even further. Each section of code
uses two sorts of variables: "throw-
aways," which are used in calculations
and then discarded, and permanent

variables, which have a consistent
meaning throughout a program or
within a given application. Program
variables, for instance, could use
A-D as throwaways and E-H as per-
manent variables. In addition, you can
break down the system variables ac-
cording to the same logical functions
as the corresponding line numbers.
When you call a subroutine, simply
set the local variables required by the
subroutine to the values you want to
pass. On return, transfer the values
you want to save into program vari-

Tkble 2: Variable-naming rules give BASIC the ability to mimic local variables.

They ensure that the variables in your subroutines will not collide with program

variables and create bugs. You can differentiate

variables further into throwaway

and permanent variables. You can also organize system variables according to the

logical functions of the system line numbers.

Code Section

Variable Name

Program code

A-H, l-J for FOR . . NEXT loops

— Throwaway

A-D

—Permanent

E-H, descriptive variables

Program subroutines

A-H (shared w/program code)

—Throwaway

A-D

—Permanent

E-H

Application subroutines

K-P

—Throwaway

K-M

—Permanent

N-P

System subroutines

Q-Z

—Throwaway

Q-R

—Permanent user-interface variables

S-T

—Permanent file-handling variables

U-V

—Permanent all-purpose variables

w-x

—Permanent ON ERROR GOTO variables

Y-Z

—System variables like true, false,

screen-control strings, etc.

— Remarks to describe the purpose of the program

— DEFINT, DEFSTR, DEFSNG, DEFDBL, used to specify the data type of variables
without constantly using the °/o, !, and $ notation

— DIM statements, to dimension your arrays

— COMMON statements, used to pass variables between programs

— ON ERROR GOTO

— DEF FN, to define functions

— Declare program variables, e.g.,

100 REM 100-199 Declare program variables

1 10 REM Today's date, user name, # of items changed

120 E0$=DATE$(0) : E1$ = u " : E0 =

Figure I : I recommend this initialization order, which is similar to those of more
structured languages and will make your code compatible with most BASIC
compilers.

ables before calling other subroutines,
which otherwise might change the
values.

I suggest using descriptive variables
only in the program code, program
subroutines, and application subrou-
tines, and then only for permanent
variables. Avoid using descriptive vari-
ables in system subroutines because
that eliminates their usefulness else-
where (exceptions are variables like
true and false that always have the
same definition. Be aware of poten-
tial conflicts in BASICS in which only
the first two letters of the variable
names are significant.

Starting Your Library

Now is the time to break your anti-
documentation habit. To turn these
programming conventions to your ad-
vantage, take the time to write them
down systematically (napkins are out).
Having written copies of your line-
numbering, subroutine-naming, and
variable-naming rules will make them
easier to apply. Make copies for
everyone who has to work with your
code.

Once you have established your
programming rules, create a skeleton
program to use every time you start
development. The first part could
establish a simple order for the ini-
tialization process, to keep it logical
and to ease compilation of your pro-
grams. Figure I contains a suggested
order for this code. The second part
of this program could contain a set of
remarks describing where everything
goes. Line 1000, for instance, might
read 1000 REM MAINLINE CODE
1000-9999.

Before adding a routine to your
library, ask yourself whether it is
useful in many programs and whether
it is general enough without losing
functionality. If the answer to both
questions is "Yes," you probably have
a good candidate. Some examples are
"Press < Return > to Continue," strip
leading and trailing blanks from a
string, evaluate a string to see if it's
a valid numeric, and so on. More
elaborate routines might include a
classy menu operating with the cur-

(continued)

246 BYTE • IUNE 1985

If you don't have a

Hercules Graphics Card, you could

end up looking like this:

"I know, because one day it hap-
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"What causes low res
olutionitis? Experts point M
to ordinary monochrome
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"Including Microsoft Flight Simulator,
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"Oh, and don't forget that a parallel
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Graphics Card, not an extra cost option.

"Now, if you're worried about buying
a new product that hasn't had all the bugs

worked out, relax. Hercules has
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cards for the IBM®PC,XT™ and AT™
than anyone else in the world.

"So . . . you're convinced that
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Graphics Card. Now, steer
clear of cheap imitations.
You may save a few bucks,
but you won't get all of
these five essential features
which only Hercules has:
"1) A safety switch that
helps prevent damage to
your monitor, 2) the
ability to keep a Hercules
Color Card in your
system, 3) the ability to use the PC's BASIC
to do graphics, 4) a Hercules designed chip
that eliminates 30% of the parts that can go
wrong, and 5) a two year warranty, because
we think reliability is something you should
deliver and not just talk about."

"Call 1-800-532-0600 Ext 408 for the
name of the Hercules dealer nearest you
and we'll rush you our free info kit.

Hercules.

We're strong on graphics.

Address: 2550 Ninth St., Berkeley, CA 94710 Ph: 540-G000 Telex: 754063 Trademark/Owners: Hercules/Hercules Computer Tech; IBM.XT.AT/IBM; Lotusl-2-3,
Symphony /Lotus Development; Framework/Ashton-Tate; Microsoft/Microsoft; pfs:Graph/Software Publishing; SuperCalc 3/Sorcim-IUS; AutoCad/AutoDesk.

Inquiry 207

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 247

STRUCTURING BASIC

sor and Return keys.

Use your imagination to put power
into your programming. For instance,
an input routine that takes a string
from the keyboard up to a given
number of characters would be even
better if it allowed you to program the
function keys, permitting messages
like "Enter Search Code, < Fl > to Go

Back, < F2 > to Go Forward < F3 >
to Quit."

You might create some subroutines
with the DEF FN construct, allowing
you to define functions similar to
those of structured languages. Many
versions of BASIC restrict you to a
one-line equation, but even this would
be handy for a function such as

Subroutine Name

Line #s

Purpose

Required Variables
Returned Variables

CT35510

35510-35550

Compare a string to a list of valid passwords and return a

flag on the result

Q$ = String to compare to password list

00 = Number of the password, or zero if invalid

Notes: This subroutine requires that CT24340 (Input a string from keyboard) be
present in the same program.

Figure 2: A subroutine documentation form should identify the purpose of the
routine, the required and returned variables, the line numbers it occupies, and
any other prerequisite subroutines.

centering messages on the screen.

Document your routines both in the
code and on paper. The first three
lines of each routine should list the
purpose of the routine and both the
required and returned variables. The
written documentation will allow you
to identify subroutines and will ex-
plain how to use them correctly.
Figure 2 suggests a format for the
documentation.

By providing everyday tools, the
subroutine library allows you to con-
centrate on "the good stuff." Those in-
terested in taking the concept a step
further can assemble a library of util-
ities to handle large tasks like file
management. It would be a simple
matter to decide what variables you
need to describe a file and its fields,
to write subroutines to read the file
descriptors and file into memory, and
then to write a program to manage
the file. ■

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248 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Compare the
Hercules Color Card

to IBM's.

Five reasons why the Hercules Color Card is better.

1. Compatibility

3. Size.

4. Flexibility.

5. Warranty.

IBM Color Adapter $244

Runs hundreds of graphics
programs.

2. Printer port. None.

13.25 inches. Limited to long
slots.

Can't always work with a
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90 days.

Hercules Color Card $245

Runs the same hundreds of
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Standard. Our parallel port
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5.25 inches. Fits in a long or short
slot in a PC, XT, AT or Portable.

Always works with a Hercules
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software switch.

Two years.

Any one of these five features is enough reason to buy a Hercules Color Card. But
perhaps the most convincing reason of all is just how easy the Hercules Color Card is to
use: "Right out of the box, the Hercules Color Card goes into an empty expansion slot,
ready for you to plug in . . . and go to work — no jumpers, no software. For most
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Call 1-800-532-0600 Ext. 421 for the name of the Hercules dealer nearest you and
we'll rush you our free info kit. tt i

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We're strong on graphics.

Inquiry 208
Address: Hercules, 2550 Ninth St, Berkeley, CA 94710 Ph: 415 540-6000 Telex: 754063 Trademarks/Owners: Hercules/Hercules Computer Technology; IBM/IBM.

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JUNE 1985 'BYTE 251

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PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

SUBROUTINE
LIBRARIES
IN PASCAL

by Bruce Webster

A look at some of the facilities available
for creating these libraries

ONE PHRASE OFTEN USED in soft-
ware development— indeed, in almost
all aspects of computers— is "reinvent-
ing the wheel." It's what you often find
yourself forced to do, over and over,
with each new software project. Most
programs need to perform certain
functions, such as user I/O, file access,
and specific types of computation.
Fortunately, there's one way you can
avoid rewriting the same routines: Use
subroutine libraries.

A subroutine library is basically a
collection of useful, trustworthy
routines that can be used by different
programs. The advantages of using
subroutine libraries are obvious. First,
you can break programs into smaller
chunks that are more easily edited.
Second, you can do the job right once
and then never worry about it again.
It's as if you are extending the lan-
guage to meet your needs. Third, all
of your programs will behave in pre-
dictable ways, at least as far as the
library routines are concerned. Each
program will carry out the same ac-
tions in the same way. This not only
means that the user interface can be
consistent but also makes it easier for

different programs to share resources
and information. Fourth, subroutine
libraries make group software projects
easier. Effort isn't duplicated by each
person writing his or her own clear-
screen routine.

To create a subroutine library, you
gather together those routines that
have general use. It makes little sense
to create a library of routines so
specialized that they will be used in
only one program. Then you test the
routines thoroughly to make sure that
they are bulletproof. A subroutine
that can blow up or otherwise pro-
duce poor results is a dangerous thing
to place in a library. Finally, use the
libraries as often as you can, improv-
ing and modifying them as errors and
deficiencies show up. Amending your
programs will give you better libraries
and will give your programs a degree
of consistency that will make them
easy to maintain.

The original definition of Pascal
does not contain any provisions for
creating subroutine libraries beyond
reusing the same routines in each pro-
gram. However, most microcomputer
implementations of Pascal contain at

least one of two extensions to aid in
using libraries. The simplest involves
include files, which are files of subrou-
tines that can be pulled in during
compilation. The second uses units to
group related definitions and routines
into precompiled chunks. Let's take a
look at each method.

Include Files

Almost every version of Pascal that
runs on microcomputers lets the user
define include statements that direct
the compiler to read and compile the
contents of another file before con-
tinuing. These statements take the
form of a compiler option giving the
name of the file to be read. Figure I
illustrates what a program containing
an include statement might look like.
When the compiler gets to the state-
ment {$1 utility.lib}, it starts reading
from the file utility.lib, just as if the

[continued]
Bruce Webster (621 5 Thorn St.. San Diego,
CA 92115) is « consulting editor to BYTE
and a charter member of the PMS Comman-
do Team. His interests include programming,
reading, weightlifting, go, war games, and ex-
actly one attempt at skydiving.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 253

SUBROUTINE LIBRARIES

contents of that file were present after
the declaration of Indx and Jndx and
before the start of the procedure
Testl .

The technique is simple enough, but
it has some problems. The most com-
mon is a conflict between identifiers
in the library and identifiers in the
program itself. (An identifier is the
name given anything— a constant, a
data type, a variable, a subroutine,
and so on.) For example, if the file utili-
ty.lib contained a subroutine named
Initialize, then the compiler would
generate an error when it found the
procedure Initialize in the program
TestLibrary. Similar problems might
arise if you were using more than one
library and both libraries contained
routines, variables, or data types with
the same identifiers.

One solution to the conflicting iden-
tifier problem is to have a unique
prefix precede the identifiers in a
given library. For instance, all iden-
tifiers in utility. li kD could start with the
characters Util. The library routine Ini-
tialize would now become Utilinitialize
and would not conflict with any
routines in the main program. This

has the added advantage of remind-
ing you from which library each rou-
tine used in your program came.
There are some problems, though.
First, typing the extra four characters
for each identifier may become tiring
after a while. Second, the version of
Pascal that you are using has some
limit on the number of "significant"
characters in an identifier. If this limit
is small— around eight characters,
say— then the prefix may significant-
ly reduce what you've got to work
with.

Suppose you had two library rou-
tines, ClearEOL and ClearEOS, which
cleared to the end of a line and the
end of the screen, respectively. If you
add the prefix Util, then the resulting
identifiers are identical past the eight-
character limit. Even if you reduce the
prefix to Ut, you'll still have to
shorten the names to something like
UtClrEOL and UtClrEOS. This raises
the third potential problem: Short
identifiers with prefixes may lose
some of their mnemonic value. Clear-
EOS explains itself more clearly than
UtClrEOS.

Another solution is to forget about

program TestLibrary;
var
Indx.Jndx : Integer;

{$1 utility.lib) { pull in subroutine library}

procedure Initialize;
begin

end; { of proc Initialize

procedure DoTest;
begin

end; { of proc DoTest)

begin { main body of program TestLibrary }

Initialize;

DoTest
end. { of program TestLibrary }

Figure 1 : An illustration of how to include library routines in a Pascal program.

the prefixes and keep a list of all iden-
tifiers within each library. You can do
this at the start of the library file
within comment statements. When
you include a particular library file,
you would then refer to its list to avoid
identifier conflicts within the program
using it. This, of course, is not without
its drawbacks. It may be tedious to
maintain the identifier list, especially
for large libraries. And it doesn't solve
the problem of similar routines with
identical names in different libraries;
you have to solve that by choosing
distinct names for each.

A less common problem can occur
if your library gets big. The compiler
may not be able to handle all the ad-
ditional identifiers, resulting in some
sort of symbol-table overflow error
during compilation. Or the program
may compile fine, but the resulting
code file may be too large for the
available memory. If you have these
problems, there's a good chance that
your library contains unused or
redundant subroutines. If that's the
case, you have several options. First,
you can create another library that
contains only the routines you need
for that specific program. Second, you
can break the library up into two or
three sublibraries; one could contain
the most commonly used routines
and the others could hold less-
needed functions. Third, you may be
able to replace a large group of spe-
cialized routines with a few routines
that use parameters to choose the
specific action. For example, instead
of having separate routines to per-
form different screen actions— clear
screen, clear line, clear to end of
screen, clear to end of line, and so
on— you might have a single routine,
DoScreen, that performs all of those
actions based on one or two
parameters.

Yet another problem involves rou-
tines that use a nonstandard data
type as a parameter or as a variable
within the routines themselves. This
might involve a specific example of a
predefined data type (such as a set of
characters or a string of a certain
length), or it might require a user-

[continued]

254 BYTE ' JUNE 1985

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Inquiry 314

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 255

SUBROUTINE LIBRARIES

defined data type, such as a record
of some sort. If the compiler allows
free mixing of declarations and rou-
tines, as do 'Hirbo Pascal and a few
other implementations of Pascal the
appropriate declarations can be made
as needed. However, if the order of
declaration is more strict, then a sec-
ond include file containing only dec-

larations (constants, data types, and
variables) can be created and in-
cluded at the proper spot (usually
before all of the program's declara-
tions).

Libraries based on include files can
be used with almost every microcom-
puter-based Pascal available. How-
ever, a number of Pascal implemen-

¥)u're inGoodCompany

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INTERACTIVE BetterBASIC acts like an
interpreter, responding to the users' commands
in an immediate mode. However, each
statement is actually compiled as it is entered.
EXTENSIBLE Create your own
BetterBASIC modules which contain
BetterBASIC extensions
(ideal for OEMs).
COMPILED Each line
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compiled as it is entered

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BetterBASIC Runs on IBM PC, IBM
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ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE TANDY 2000, 1200 AND 1000

tations have a more sophisticated
mechanism for libraries, known as
units. Let's take a look at these.

Units

The UCSD p-System pioneered the
use of unit subroutine libraries. Units
can also be found in the Apple and
Microsoft (IBM) Pascal implementa-
tions. (An even more powerful form,
the module, is found in the languages
Modula-2 and Ada.) A unit is a sub-
routine library with two parts. The first
part, the interface, is visible to the pro-
gram using the unit. It contains all the
declarations that the program needs
to use in that unit. The second part,
the implementation, holds the actual
code of the routines declared in the
interface as well as any other routines
and/or declarations needed. Those
other routines/declarations are invisi-
ble to the program using the unit and
can be referenced only by the code
found in the implementation. Hence,
you can hide how the routines in the
units are implemented.

The other great advantage of units
is that they are compiled separately
from the program. When a unit is
compiled, the text of the interface is
saved, but the implementation is con-
verted to machine code (or, in the
case of the p-System, p-code). The
compiled unit is then placed in a
library. When you compile a program
using that unit, the compiler just reads
the interface to get the declarations
it needs; the implementation is not
recompiled. This can save a lot of
time, especially if the unit or units in-
volved are large.

Since the unit isn't recompiled, the
question of what happens to the code
arises. The answer depends upon the
particular implementation, but there
are two basic approaches. The first in-
volves code-based units (in Apple
Pascal, this is known as a regular unit).
The code from such a unit is directly
copied from the library into the pro-
gram's code file, either at compilation
time or in a later linking step. This pro-
duces a single executable file with all
the code needed to run. If several
such programs occupy the same disk,

[continued)

256 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 392

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SUBROUTINE LIBRARIES

each will have its own copy of the
unit(s). In Apple Pascal all units are
code-based (regular) unless otherwise
specified.

The second approach uses library-
based units (known as intrinsic units
in Apple Pascal). Such a unit remains
in the library file until needed, which
may be when the program using it is
started or not until some routine in
the unit is actually called. At this time,
the unit is loaded into memory. This
requires, of course, that the library file
containing the unit be available (i.e.,
on a currently mounted disk and in
a known location) when the program
is executed. All units in UCSD Pascal
(version IV.O and later) are by default
library-based; a utility known as the
Librarian must be used to make them
code-based.

A library-based scheme works best
when several programs on the same
disk use the same unit(s). One "real-

world" example is the computer game
SunDog, of which I was the principal
programmer. One side of the SunDog
disk contains three code files— a
demo program, a utility program, and
the game itself— along with a library
file containing seven intrinsic (library-
based) units. All three code files use
most of the units in the library. If the
units' code had to exist in each pro-
gram file, an additional 20K to 30K
bytes of disk space would be
needed— space that just isn't there.
Some of the problems mentioned
with include files also exist for units,
though usually to a lesser degree.
There is the same potential for con-
flicts between identifiers, and the
same solutions are available. Overtax-
ing the compiler becomes less likely,
since only those identifiers absolutely
needed by the program need be
declared in the interface, and units
can give you greater control over the

code size of the finished product. The
problem of correct data types disap-
pears altogether, since you can free-
ly declare constants, data types, and
variables in both the interface and the
implementation sections. All in all,
units tend to be easier and more flex-
ible to work with.

Units represent a major step for-
ward in subroutine libraries, but ad-
ditional steps can yet be taken. r IWo
newer, Pascal-derived languages have
more powerful features for library
creation. Modula-2, designed by
Niklaus Wirth as a successor to
Pascal, can be thought of loosely as
a language using nothing but units,
allowing an entire program to consist
of separately compiled chunks. Ada,
designed by the Department of
Defense as a replacement for every-
thing, also has units, which come in
several flavors. (Both Modula-2 and

[continued]

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258 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 321

MICROWAY'S 8087 RUNS 1-2-3™!

MicroWay is the world's leading retail-
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Microsoft Fortran 3.2 229

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Lattice C 299

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Inquiry 294

JUNE I985 -BYTE 259

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SUBROUTINE LIBRARIES

Unit subroutine
libraries allow for
information hiding and
separate compilation.

Ada started with Pascal, but the two
went in opposite directions, Modula-2
toward a simple language definition,
Ada toward a complex one. It will be
interesting to see which proves to be
more successful.)

Updating Libraries

Like all other portions of your pro-
grams, your libraries will change with
time. You will find and fix bugs, add
and delete features, and generally im-
prove your libraries. But if they
change, what of your programs that
use them?

For include files and code-based
units, the answer is the same: If you
want the changes reflected in your
programs, you'll have to recompile
the programs. (For code-based units,
you'll have to recompile the units
first.) As a rule it is probably best that
you recompile all programs using a
given library after each major change
to that library. This maintains con-
sistency and predictability for each of
your programs.

Library-based units are another
story altogether. If you make changes
to the interface portion of a library-
based unit, then you must recompile
all programs using the library file
where that unit resides. Failure to do
so could cause the programs to crash
or behave erratically. Why? Because
the interface that the unit now has
and the interface that the program
"remembers" are no longer the same.
All sorts of problems may arise, due
to changes in data structures, dif-
ferences in variable addresses, and
relocations of subroutines.

On the other hand, if you change
only the implementation portion, you
don't need to recompile anything ex-
cept the unit itself. This is the real vir-

[continued)

260 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 4I6 for End-Users. Inquiry 417 for DEALERS ONLY

MICRO CAP and MICRO LOGIC
put your engineers on line...

not in line, ^jfe

r'

s~QT

'V?

7 /^\ ^O .tflfe 0~X

/vfc'xr/

r'

AJ-

UUmMiffiMa Lite

MyoWN iV0f?KST/»TiO/4

How many long unproductive hours
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MICROLOGIC can put you on line by
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Both of these sophisticated engineering
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And here's how.

MICROCAP:

Your Analog Solution

MICROCAP is an interactive analog
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"Typical MICROCAP Transient Analysis"

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"Typical MICROLOGIC Diagram "

Reviewers Love
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Now, to get on line, call or write today!

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Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 738-4387

Inquiry 384

Inquiry 138

TOUGH LOCAL NETWORK PROBLEM:

"How can our department get our six computers and three

printers to work together efficiently? We also want to

he able to access outside data services and our

future company LAN."

SIMPLE $2995* SOLUTION: NetCommander

NetCommander is a smart, small Local

Area Network manager. It lets you link

from four to 40 computers and peripherals —

in any mix of models and makes. A 50K buffer

(expandable to 250K.) makes sure that productivity

is high — keeping fewer printers humming — while

computer and PC users do their thing, without waiting

for a printer, modem, or shared disk. Those devices can be

specified with names defined by users — and allocated on the

basis of availability and capability. And NetCommander handles

multiple protocols and different baud rates simultaneously —

without modifications to hardware or software. It will also tie into your

company's LAN. The latest in a family of products in use since 1979,

NetCommander is a smart, small, efficient network manager.

For more information, call or write:

-NetCommander

Digital Products Inc. • The Simple Network Solution Company

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(617) V2-t-I6X0 • Outside Mass., call I -H00 -2-1 3 -23 33

And check out our 30-day trial ex'aluation.

•For Hi pons

The BASIC idea.

Now it's even better.

T

J

A new, more powerful version of the
world's most widely used programming
language-created by the original developers
of BASIC, John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz.

True BASIC is still easy to learn and use yet
offers the following advanced features:

• STRUCTURE-True BASIC allows you to
write modular programs. It supports
advanced control structures such as SELECT
CASE, IF-THEN-ELSEIF, DO Loops, etc.

• EXTERNAL PROGRAMS-lncrease your
programming efficiency by storing fre-
quently used functions and subroutines
in user-defined libraries. True BASIC
supports calls to assembly language
subroutines.

• FULL MEMORY-With True BASIC you
can use all the available memory in your
computer.

• SUPERIOR GRAPHICS-Allowyou to
draw in your own coordinates, not in
terms of pixels. Animation, sound and
color are supported.

• IMPROVED ERROR CHECKING-

Compiler reports syntax errors before
running a program. The language incor-
porates user-defined error messages.

• WINDOWS-?ue BASIC allows you to
program multiple screen windows, each
with its own parameters.

• SPEED-Because True BASIC is compiled,
it is faster than interpreted BASICs. Auto-
matic 8087 support is standard.

Now available for the IBM PC Apple
Macintosh available Summer, 1985.

True BASIC™

The BASIC idea made better.
" Addison -Wesley

Reading, Massachusetts OltiG?

True BA5IC is a trademark of True BASIC, Inc./IBM is a regis-
tered trademark of International Business Machines, Inc. /Apple
is a trademark of Apple Computer; Inc. /Macintosh is a trade-
mark licensed to Apple Computer, Inc.

SUBROUTINE LIBRARIES

Subroutine libraries
maintain consistency
between programs.

tue of the "hidden" portion of a
library-based unit: You can implement
the unit however you want, and the
program doesn't care as long as the
interface remains the same. This can
make a big difference when several
large programs use the same library
and recompilation might end up tak-
ing a few hours.

Sample Libraries

TWo actual subroutine libraries are
available for downloading from BYTE-
net Listings at (617) 861-9774. The
first— an include file— is a rather exten-
sive 56K-byte source text library
designed for llirbo Pascal running
under MS-DOS. I was unable to learn
the author of this public-domain file;
it was uploaded to my bulletin board,
and a copy can be found on the
BYTEnet Listings bulletin board. The
file is named TURBUTIL.PAS.

The second library, an intrinsic
(library-based) unit designed for
Apple Pascal, contains a number of
routines for low-level manipulation of
memory, variables, and pointers. The
unit actually has two parts, one in
Pascal, the other in 6502 assembly
language. The first part must be com-
piled, the second assembled, and
then the two are linked together.
These files, too, are posted on BYTE-
net Listings and are named LOWLIB.
PAS and LOWLIB.ASM, respectively.

Conclusions

Subroutine libraries save time, main-
tain consistency between programs,
and speed up the entire software-
development cycle. Their importance
is evident in the large role they play
in newer languages, such as Modula-2
and Ada. 'l&ke it from someone who
spent over two years developing a
large (20,000+ lines), complex set of
Pascal programs: Libraries can be a
real lifesaver. ■

262 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry II

Put your PC
in Pictures

With PC-EYE™ your IBM PC can
capture real-life pictures of people,
products, drawings, text - anything
a video camera can see. Add one
or more of CHORUS' software
packages and you can perform
sophisticated graphic arts, data
base management, security and
long distance communications
tasks.

Start with the PC-EYE™ video
capture system. There are three
models to choose from with up to
640 x 512 resolution — 16, 64,
and 256 gray levels or color
combinations. Then add one or
more of the following software
packages for your application.

PhotoBase™ - Integrates pictures
with your data base

Compatible with dBase II, R:Base
4000 and the IBM Filing Assistant
and others, PhotoBase lets you use
your data base system as you now
do. BUT, now you can add a quarter
screen picture captured by a video
camera or VCR and display data,
pictures, and signatures on the
screen simultaneously. Applications
include real estate, bank security
and signature verification, medical
record keeping, product cataloging
and more.

IMiGIT

IMiGIT™ - Graphic Arts Capability

IMiGIT is icon driven and ideal for
creating traditional or exotic illustra-
tions using combinations of art, text
and photos for slide presentations,
video graphics, CAD, medical, adver-
tising and publishing applications.
IMiGIT PLUS delivers high quality
true color graphics you can mani-
pulate and edit with text, painting, air
brushing, curve fitting, filled and
unfilled circles, boxes and much
more via mouse or digitizer pad.

CHORUS

i^^'

PhotoMail™ - Two-way
Communications using pictures,
text and voice.

Transmit pictures over ordinary
telephone lines to remote com-
puters. Pictures of people, dia-
grams, text, houses, construction
sites - anything you can capture
with standard video equipment you
can display and transmit at resolu-
tions up to 640 x 400 x 16 levels of
gray or color. You can edit pictures
with text and labels. Dual cursors
permit simultaneous pointing to
common pictures. PhotoMail sup-
ports alternate voice and image
transmission, disk storage, and
hardcopy printout. File conversion
is included to support "electronic
mail" systems.

Great Value Added Opportunities

OEMs and software developers can
incorporate high quality pictures
int6 their products. Systems can be
upgraded with PC-EYE digitizing
expansion boards using an EIA
RS-170 or RS-330 video source
and PC-EYE imaging subroutines.

Call us about our other imaging
products like Colorverter,™
Screen Master,™ and CompressIT™
to help meet your application needs.
1-800-OCHORUS or 603-424-2900.
Or write for our "Seeing is
Believing" comprehensive brochure.

TM: All are trademarks of
CHORUS DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

*dBase II is a trademark of Ashton-Tate; R-Base
4000 is a trademark of Microrim, Inc.; IBM Filing
Assistant is a trademark of International Business
Machines Corporation.

Inquiry 82

CHORUS Data Systems, Inc., 6 Continental Blvd., P.O. Box 370, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054

Give us your staine
your filthy dirty

Aunt Molly's jam

Regular coffee, two lumps

The big chill

Hot dog mustard

Potted plant-no pot

Fizzy orange soda

Clouds of smoke

Tacky white tape

Cracker crumbs

One scoop of ice cream

264 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Sudsy soap bubbles

Maria's liquid cover

Lunchcounter ketchup

-r— r^ *—

I

Dust (cough-cough)

Chocolate fingerprints

iyour dog-eared
your mistreated

I

Dry martini, one olive

Boss's cigar ashes

Spilled milk

Dog-eared jacket

i

Sunny side up

Waterbased ink spots

English breakfast tea

-fl^ w f\

Eraser bits

If it's a Polaroid
diskette,well fix it.

Accidents can be fatal to floppy disks. But now and we will tell you how our service works.
Polaroid introduces a free data recovery service. These Polaroid floppy disks boast a 20-year

So, if you spill coffee on a Polaroid Professional guarantee and are certified 100% error-free. And

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(And most other accidents, too.) Call 800-241-4403 Because accidents happen.

Polaroid" 8 of Polaroid Corp.
Perfect Data"™ of Perfect Data Corp.

Inquiry 331

= Polaroid

PerfectData

THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY DISKETTE IN THE GRAY BOX.

©1985 Polaroid Corp.
JUNE 1985 -BYTE 265

2400 bps modems:
Do you Really need
another speed?

• Is the shift from 300 to 1 200 bps going to repeat itself
at 2400 bps? The answer is both yes and no. There
certainly are applications for 2400 bps asynch dial-up
modems, but we shouldn't expect 1200 bps to die
overnight.

• 2400 bps modems can improve throughput, thereby
getting tasks done quicker and more economically
However, 1200 bps has become the virtual standard for
professional dial-up communications, and most users
are satisfied with it. So why consider a 2400 bps modem
at all?

• One reason is flexibility. If the modem you select
operates at all three speeds (300, 1200 & 2400) in
accordance with accepted industry standards, it will
serve virtually all dial-up applications now and in the
foreseeable future.

• The modem you select should be the
MultiModem224. It is Bell 21 2A and 103 compatible at
1200 and 300 bps, and CCITT V.22bis compatible at
2400. It is also 100% compatible with the Hayes
command set, meaning that it will work with virtually all
communications software packages, at all three speeds.
Other features include both synchronous and
asynchronous operation, full intelligence and a phone
number memory.

• The MultiModem224 is available in both desktop and
IBM PC™ internal card versions. (There is also a rack-
mounted version for central sites.) And as a bonus, we
provide free offers from ten of the most popular on-line
information services, including CompuServe™ Dow
Jones™ and The Source.™

• A 2400 / 1 200/300 bps modem is just a plain good
investment. Why not let the MultiModem224 provide your
communications for both today and tomorrow?

Inquiry 300

MultiTech

Systems

82 Second Ave. S.E.. New Brighton. MN 55112

The right answer evesy time.

(612) 631-3550, TWX: 910-563-3610

Mutti «

Systems ^Qf

MuWMoc^224

2400/1200/300 BPS Intelligent Modem

PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

USING DATA FLOW

FOR APPLICATION

DEVELOPMENT

by Wayne P. Stevens

This form of linkage results in functions
that are easier to understand, develop, and maintain

DATA FLOW IS the technique of con-
necting functions only by flows of
data. Data-flow diagrams, which
depict the flows of data among func-
tions, are a natural way to document
and design applications. The resulting
applications are much easier to
develop, test, and maintain, and the
various functions are easier to reuse
than those connected in other ways.
The terms "data flow" and "data-
flow diagrams" have gained populari-
ty in the last 5 to 10 years. However,
the concepts they represent have
been used in the computer industry
since its inception. lob steps are con-
nected to each other by flows of data
through the files and databases they
reference. And systems flowcharts, the
diagrams that depict the flows of data
among job steps, are not flowcharts
in the normal sense, but rather charts
of data flow— data-flow diagrams (see
figure 1).

Kinds of Connections

Almost all connections between func-
tions in computer applications in-
clude the sharing of data. With data
flow, only one function can access the

data at a time. Connections between
functions can also include passing
control or sharing a common data
area, neither of which involves data
flow. The following are various ways
in which one function in an applica-
tion can relate to another:

• follow or branch to another function
in the same program

• do a source include or reference a
macro

• perform or branch and link to an-
other function in the same program

• call another function

• pass only data to another function

When functions follow each other in
the same program, the computer
automatically executes the second
one after executing the first. The con-
nection consists of passing control
from the first to the second. While
they are also connected by any vari-
ables they can both reference, there
is no flow of data. The same is true if
one function branches to the other.

Source includes, which bring a
referenced function into the program
at compile time, enable multiple pro-
grams to include a particular function.

However, once included, its connec-
tion to the functions around it is the
same as above. It is connected by
passed control and shared common
data rather than by data flow.

A perform or branch and link to a
function within the same program in-
volves a more reusable routine. How-
ever, the connection between the
functions is still one of passed con-
trol and shared common data.

When you package functions into
separate modules, usually with a
separate compile, you can pass data
between them. A called function
receives data from its caller, does its
job, and can pass data back to its
caller. The data passed is accessed
only by the called routine until it
returns control to the caller. This pass-
ing of control makes the functions
more dependent on each other than
those connected only by data flow.

[continued)
VJayne P. Stevens (IBM Corporation, 1241
East Main St., Stamford. CT 06904) works
in IBM's Information Programming Services
doing planning for future development tools.
He has an M.S. in electrical engineering from
MIT.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 267

Inquiry 385

Pascal and C

Programmers

Your programs can
now compile the

FirsTime™

FirsTime is an intelligent editor that
knows the rules of the language being
programmed. It checks your statements
as you enter them, and if il spots a
mistake, it identifies it. FirsTime then
posit ions the cursor over the error so
you can correct it easily. FirsTime will
identify «// syntax errors, undefined
variables, and even statements with
mismatched variable types. In fact, any
program developed with the FirsTime
editor will compile on the first try.

More than a syntax checker!

FirsTime has many unique features
found in no other editor. These powerful
capabilities include a zoom command
that allows you to examine the
structure of your program, automatic
program formatting, and block
1 ransf orms.

If you wish, you can work even faster
by automatically generating program
structures with a single key-stroke. This
feature is especially useful to those
learning a new language, or to those
who often switch between different
languages.

Other Features: Full screen editing,
horizontal scrolling, function key menus,
help screens, inserts, deletes, appends,
searches, and global replacing.

Programmers enjoy using FirsTime. It
allows them to concentrate on program
logic without having to won-y aboul
coding details. Debugging is reduced
dramatically, and deadlines are more
easily met.

FirsTime for PASCAL $245

FirsTime for C $295

M icrosof t PASCAL Compiler $245

Microsoft C Compiler $395

Demonstration disk $25

Get an extra $100 off the compiler when

it is purchased with FirsTime.

(N.J. residents please add 6% sales tax.)

Spruce

Technology Corporation

1 10 Whispering Pines Drive

Lincroft, N.J. 07738

(201) 741-8188 or (201) 663-0063

Dealer enquiries welcome. Custom versions
for computer manufacturers and language
developers are available.

FirstTime is a trademark of Spruce Techmilnjjy
Corporal ion. r -->-— -O MHH^H

WtwCordi | VISA* I

DATA FLOW

Functions connected by data flow
are not dependent on adjacent func-
tions. They simply do their jobs, send-
ing and receiving data as available.
This independence is what makes it
easier to develop and maintain data-
flow-connected functions.

Connections that pass control re-
quire that the functions be on the
same computer at the same time, and
many require that the functions be
written in the same language.

In contrast functions connected
only by data flow, such as job steps,
need not be on the same computer
at the same time, or ever. For exam-
ple, an independent job step can ex-

ecute as long as its input data is avail-
able and it can dispose of its output
data. It is not dependent on whether
the previous step is or was ever on the
same machine, or even if it was ac-
complished on any machine— it may
be a manual step. The only constraint
is that the passed data be available.
Actually, most connections between
functions are data flow. Job steps are
data-flow-connected; so are com-
mands in on-line development sys-
tems. Consider the commands that
read in a file, sort it, and print. These
commands operate independently
and can be used to process the data

' (continued)

CONTROL
LISTING
TOTAL TRANS.
§ VALUE

VERIFY

SORTED

PAYMENTS

FILE

MERGE BY
INVOICE

NUMBER WITHIN
CUSTOMER NUMBER

'

!

1

CONTROL
LISTING

FLAG PAID
INVOICES
UPDATE AND

PAYMENT [^

FLAG
PARTIAL
PAID IN>

.LY
/OICES

JOURNAL

NEW
INVOICE
SUMMARY
FILE

Figure I : A systems flowchart—also a data-flow diagram.

268 B YTE • IUNE 1985

The Corporate Database Standard.

DATAEA5E

#1 with Corporate users.

Thousands of businesses, both
large and small, use DATAEA5E
to solve their needs. Because
DATAEA5E, with its ideal combi-
nation of power and ease-of-use,
allows you to gather, link, calcu-
late and report information Key
to decision making — all without
programming skills.

% We chose DATAEA5E over
dB/\5Ell m and Lotus 1-2-5™
because most of the program-
ming was already done"

Joe Dane, human Resources Director
MCI Telecommunications Corporation

"Office staff members with little
to no computer experience are
actively using DATAEA5E to
improve productivity in handling
large amounts of information."

Louis M. Brigando, Senior \tP,
MetPath, Inc.

'We switched from a $250,000
mini system to a $15,000 sys-
tem of IBM PCs and DATAEA5E.
Now orders, inventory, sales . . .
everything is easier: All without
the help of a programmer"

J A. Fulmer
Robinson
Foundry, Inc.

DATAEA5E

#1 with Reviewers

"/ was very impressed with its
overall performance and features"

Bill Jacobson
BYTE, October 1984

*DATAEA5E is a true winner"

Business Computer Systems
April 1984

DATAEA5E was rated good or
excellent in performance, docu-
mentation, ease-of-use, error
handling, support... in all areas.

InfoWortd
March 25, 1985

"DATAEA5E is perhaps the most
effective blend of ease-of-use
and performance available for
PC users to date"

Data Decisions
January 1985

For information or the dealer nearest you call:

800-243-5123

i 1985 5oftware Solutions, Inc.

DATAEA5E

#1 in Corporate sales.

According to several recent best
seller lists, DATAEA5E is now the
industry standard for corporate
users who want a database that
doesn't require programming:

DATAEA5E tops dBA5EII, R:BA5E™
in Corporate 5oftware sales.

tnfosystems, March 1985
Corporate Bestseller List

DATAEA5E outsold all other
database management systems -
ahead of dBA5EIII ™ , 5 ymphony™ ,
Framework™ and R-.BA5E 4000.

MIS, Inc., September 1984

A leading supplier to Corporate

America

DATAE A5E ranked #5 on best
sellers list; outselling
Lotus 1-2-5™, R-m5E and
Power base™.

Software News, March 1985
Corporate Bestsellers List

Why settle for less? Contact
Software Solutions, Inc. for more
information on DATAEA5E, the
#1 choice of Corporate America.

5oftware Solutions, Inc.

505 Bic Drive, Mllford, CT 06460
205-877-9268
Telex: 705972

5candanavia

West Soft A/5, Alesund, Norway; (47) 71-41141

5outh Africa

Dataflex, Craighill; 11724-6353

United Kingdom West Germany, Austria

Sapphire Systems, Essex; 01-554-0582 M&T Software Verlag, Munich; 089-4613-0

Switzerland, France

Softsource, 5&A 1222 Vesenaz, Switzerland; 022-3518-55

Inquiry 379

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 269

DATA FLOW

the previous command produced as
output, that is, read, sort, and print
the same file Similarly data flow con-
nects the commands or transactions
in on-line applications. The interfaces
between computer applications and
their users are also based on data
flow. And functions in distributed ap-
plications operate independently,
passing data to one another.

The various commands within text
editors are also data-flow-connected.
They do not call each other, they just
act on the data in the file being
edited. You can execute them in any
order. And the text editors are data-
flow-connected to the text processors
that format and print the data. The
UNIX shell can connect independent
modules with data flow via pipes. IBM
PC-DOS uses a similar technique to let
programs pass data to generalized I/O
(input/output) routines.

Using Data Flow

You and I use data flow every time we
communicate with someone else,

pass a form or letter along, or enter
data into a computer. In fact, it is hard
to avoid using data flow. Let's apply
this inherent knowledge to the pro-
cess of developing applications.

The basic tool for utilizing data flow
is the data-flow diagram. This is
similar to a systems flowchart but with
slightly different symbols. Data-flow
diagrams do not indicate the medium
on which the data will be passed
(tape, disk, printer, etc.). Data-flow
diagrams using the Gaine and Sarson
notation (see reference I) include five
symbols (see figure 2). Functions are
represented by rectangles, and flows
of data among them by arrows. Files
and databases are represented by a
U-shaped symbol on its side (or just
parallel lines). Squares represent ex-
ternal entities that are sources or
targets for data (e.g., user depart-
ments). Small circles are used for off-
page connectors. And typically data
flows from left to right in the
diagrams.

One advantage of this notation is its

ability to include both the limited
system name for a function or file and
a longer, descriptive label. There are
other notations (see figures 3 and 4),
but the meaning is the same. They all
show functions connected by flows of
data to other functions, to files, and
to external entities.

The key to developing data-flow
diagrams that are easy to work with
is to keep them to 7 ± 2 functions.
Our short-term memory can handle
only 7 + 2 chunks easily and accurate-
ly. (This is why, for example, local tele-
phone numbers were limited to 7
digits.) An 8/2- by 11-inch piece of
paper also contains approximately
the amount of information we can
easily handle at one time. It is no ac-
cident that data-flow diagrams kept to
7 ± 2 functions will fit on a single
page.

You can represent larger numbers
of functions without exceeding 7 ± 2
functions in any one diagram by using
hierarchies (see figure 5). Any function
on a data-flow diagram can represent

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Figure 2: A data-flow diagram. Rectangles represent functions
(notice that each rectangle contains a short description of the
function and, above it. the name of the computer module that
implements it), arrows represent flows of data, squares represent

external sources or destinations of the data, and sideways Us
represent files or databases. This figure was drawn by
EXCELERATOR. a program that manages and manipulates
data-flow diagrams.

270 BYTE • JUNE 1985

DATA FLOW

a lower-level data-flow diagram, and
so on. The process stops when you
are going to implement a function via
a different technique, for example, as
an individual module or as a hierar-
chy of called modules. It is not nec-
essary to decompose all the functions
at any given level in the hierarchy. Any
one or more may be decomposed,
while others in the same diagram can
be bottom-level modules.

In hierarchies of data-flow diagrams,
a function's lowest-level diagram must
show the data flows into and out of
it (see figure 5). However, higher-level
diagrams can repeat files and exter-
nal entities shown on a lower-level
diagram or not, as desired. In fact,
often the highest-level diagrams only
show the major flows of data. The files
are relegated to the lower-level
diagrams. It is helpful, though, to
show files shared between two func-
tions on the highest-level diagram that
contains the two functions.

How do you design the flows of
data within a single diagram? If you
are documenting an existing manual
or automated application, you can do
the following:

• Record existing functions and the
data that flows among them.

• Include existing files and external
sources and targets for data.

• Name each function, flow of data,
file, database, and external entity.
Note that functions do something to
the data, and thus typically their
descriptions start with a verb (e.g.,
READ THE SCREEN, EDIT THE
DATA). Flows of data are objects. Their
descriptions are usually nouns, often
qualified by an adjective (e.g.,
MASTER RECORD, FORMATTED
RESULTS, TRANSACTION). Files and
databases typically have names that
indicate their contents (e.g., PAY-
ROLL, ORDERS, TRANSACTION
LOG). An external entity can be a
manual step, another application, in-
put data, or an output report. Its
name usually reflects the name of the
user, application, data, or report.

Some approaches and tips that can
help when you design a new data-flow

[continued]

BACK ORDERS

BACK ORDER FILE

Figure 3: A Yourdon data-flow diagram. This diagram is equivalent to figure 2
but is in the notation used by Yourdon Inc.

ORDER

2 D ORDER ENTRY

PRINT INVOICE

3B

IN STOCK

6A

INVOICE

SHIPPING
NOTICE

Figure 4: A data-flow diagram in Swedish notation. This diagram is equivalent
to figures 2 and 3 but uses a different notation. Note: The large boxes are forms
and the small ones are functions.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 271

DATA FLOW

diagram are the following:

• When designing flows between new
functions, do it as if the functions were
people at desks who send forms to
each other.

• Group data that logically goes
together into forms (similar to design-
ing a flat-file record).

• Do not try to send the minimum
data to each function, as in structured
design (see reference 2). Sending sub-
sets of data is only applicable when
each function must return its data to
its caller. In data-flow diagrams, a
function typically sends data forward
to another function rather than back
to the function that sent its data. So,
unless all the data is sent forward
together, it is usually necessary to
reassemble it later in the diagram, and
this is a complex and unnecessary
task.

• Since a big advantage of data-flow
connections is easy reuse, take advan-
tage of existing usable functions. Of

course, using an existing function
determines the data flows between it
and adjacent functions.

• Draw data-flow diagrams to de-
scribe either existing and/or new
physical systems. Drawing old and
new logical systems seems to be dif-
ficult and creates unnecessary steps.

The Benefits of Data Flow

Connecting functions only by flows of
data has several advantages.

• It is a consistent, natural way to view
connections between functions.

• The resulting applications are
simpler to understand, develop, and
maintain.

• Testing and making changes are
both much easier.

• Such functions are easier to reuse
than functions connected in other
ways.

Developing applications involves
viewing them at several phases in the
development process. First, there are

Figure 5: Skeleton hierarchies of data-flow diagrams.

the manual applications that are be-
ing automated or to which an auto-
mated application must interface. You
can describe manual applications
with data-flow diagrams. In fact, data-
flow diagrams may be the best way to
picture many manual applications so
that people not trained in data pro-
cessing can easily understand and
relate to them.

The development phases include
application identification, analysis and
design, implementation, and mainte-
nance. The purpose of application
identification is to determine the
major functions to be performed and
the flows of data among them. This
is the information that data-flow
diagrams depict. Structured analysis
is the technique of using data-flow
diagrams for the analysis and design
phase. Most of the advantages of
structured techniques come from the
ability to consider part of the applica-
tion relatively independently of the
rest. The segmentation of structured
programming, the modules of struc-
tured design, and the functions of
HIPO (hierarchy plus input, process,
output) provide the pieces we can
consider separately Hierarchies pro-
vide these advantages for data-flow
diagrams.

Functions must share data in order
to be part of the same application.
Data-flow diagrams can picture the
flows between many of the functions
during implementation, for example,
jobs, job steps, and on-line com-
mands. And you can use the same
diagrams for maintenance that you
used for design and implementation.
Often, applications in these various
phases are seen differently. This re-
quires translating between the dif-
ferent views as development pro-
ceeds, which adds complexity and in-
troduces errors. However, you can use
the data-flow view of an application
in all phases of the development
cycle.

There are significant advantages to
using data flow as a consistent ap-
plication view. First, you can include
both manual and automated func-
tions in the same diagram. Second,

(continued)

272 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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>

Inquiry 366

DATA FLOW

you can automate various functions
within a diagram at different times
without having to modify it. And third,
cycling back for corrections is much
easier since it doesn't require trans-
lating between various different ap-
plication views.

Data flow is the natural way to con-
nect functions because that is how
people interact with each other. We
go about our business independent-
ly until we exchange information with
others by talking with them, passing
along forms, etc In the same way, ap-
plication functions connected by data
flow operate independently and inter-
act with each other by exchanging
data.

Data-flow diagrams can describe ap-
plications from the simplest to the
most complex, whether on-line, batch,
or distributed. With data flow, on-line
applications differ from batch only by
doing input and output to terminals
rather than to readers and printers.
Distributed applications are natural-
ly data flow since they consist of func-
tions that execute independently and
send data to each other.

The complexity of developing appli-
cations rises exponentially as their
size increases. For example, a two-
page program is more than twice as
hard to develop as a one-page pro-
gram. Not only must each of the two
pages be developed, but the connec-
tions between the two pages must
also be handled, especially if different
people developed the two pages. You
can reduce this complexity if you can
divide the application into parts that
can be developed relatively inde-
pendently. The more independent the
pieces are, the simpler the develop-
ment.

Hierarchies of data-flow diagrams
have a significant advantage over call
hierarchies. With data-flow diagrams,
you can consider each level separate-
ly. But call hierarchies make sense
only if two or three levels are viewed
together. You must consider at least
two levels of a call hierarchy in order
to even see the relationships between
functions. Data-flow connections, on
the other hand, are between functions
on the same level. Thus, you can con-

sider each level of a data-flow diagram
independently making them easier to
work with and understand.

The most easily reusable functions
are those you can use without having
to understand their internals. It is
easier to reuse modules that have
been separately compiled so that you
don't have to synchronize the local

variables and labels with those of the
including module. However, modules
in a call hierarchy have the definition
of the hierarchy imbedded within
them. Thus, it is difficult to reuse any
but the bottom-level modules in an-
other hierarchy without recoding
them; obviously, recoding requires

[continued]

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DATA FLOW

Recommendations

1 . Use data-flow diagrams to document
all types of applications throughout the
development process.

2. Obtain reference books on data flow
(see references I and 3).

3. Keep data-flow diagrams to 7 ± 2
functions by constructing hierarchies.

4. Decompose functions to as small a
module as your environment allows. If
this is larger than one page of specifi-

cations (e.g., coding or generator in-
put), implement the remainder using
call hierarchies (see reference 2).

5. Design flows of data as though the
functions were being done manually
and connected by flows of forms.

6. Obtain a good tool to help draw the
diagrams, and one that captures the in-
formation for use later in the develop-
ment cycle.

knowledge of their internals. Data-
flow-connected modules don't even
know the adjacent modules exist. This
makes them more easily reusable.

Available Resources

Designers of data-flow diagrams have,
up to now, struggled with several com-
plications we no longer face, including
lack of education and documentation
and lack of adequate automated tools
to help draw the diagrams. Today
there are companies and consultants
who teach data-flow concepts; you
will probably find people in your own
company who already use data flow.
Good reference books include those
by DeMarco (generally considered to
be the father of structured analysis-
see reference 3) and Gaine and Sar-
son (reference l). The text listed as
reference 4 provides a description of
the advantages of data-flow mech-
anisms at the module level.

Several good products have
emerged in the past year or so that
automate the process of drawing and
maintaining data-flow diagrams.
Various personal computer software
packages are adequate for drawing
and maintaining data-flow diagrams.
I recommend you look for several
characteristics in such a tool. It should
let you enter and change the diagram
easily. It should enable you to con-
struct hierarchies of data-flow
diagrams and, preferably, to move be-
tween these hierarchies while drawing
them. It should allow you to enter
definitions of functions and data into
a dictionary for later use in the devel-
opment process. And it should allow

for selective input and output of such
specifications so they can be shared
with other people and used by other
tools. One example of such a tool is
EXCELERATOR, available from Index
'technology Corp. (Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts) for $8400.

Summary

Data-flow connections are the most
prevalent connection between func-
tions in computer applications. They
exist among job steps, on-line transac-
tions, manual processes, jobs in the
same application, and distributed ap-
plications. You can describe them with
data-flow diagrams (which are similar
to systems flowcharts). These dia-
grams provide a natural way to
describe applications. You can use
them throughout the development
process and for all sizes and types of
applications. Since we naturally inter-
face with each other in a data-flow
manner, common skills are used to
draw the diagrams. And applications
constructed from data-flow-connected
functions are easier to understand,
develop, and maintain. ■

REFERENCES

1 . Gaine, C, and T. Sarson. Structured Systems
Analysis: Tools and Techniques. New York: Im-
proved System Technologies, 1977.

2. Stevens, W. P. Using Structured Design. New
York: John Wiley & Sons. 198I.

3. DeMarco, T. Structured Analysis and System
Specification. New York: Yourdon, 1978,
pages l— 12 5.

4. Stevens. W. P. "How Data Flow Can Im-
prove Application Development Produc-
tivity," IBM Systems journal 2 1, No. 2, 1982,
pages 162-178.

276 BYTE • IUNE 1985

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PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

DEBUGGING
TECHNIQUES

by Gregg Williams

There are no magic formulas but there are tools,
and the most powerful one is your own brain

NOBODY LIKES TO debug a program.
It is tedious, time-consuming, and
often maddening. Debugging your
own code is bad enough, but debug-
ging someone else's (often someone
who is no longer available for ques-
tions) can be argued to be cruel and
unusual punishment— nevertheless, it
has to be done.

This article is a compilation of
debugging techniques gathered from
my personal experiences program-
ming in a commercial environment,
the experiences of other BYTE editors
and programmers, and published
texts. The news is not good: There are
no magic techniques; debugging is ac-
complished mostly through the sus-
tained use of a perceptive, disciplined
mind. Still, you will find the tech-
niques described here useful if you
aren't already acquainted with them.

Although J have tried to make the
article as general as possible, I'll
assume that you are running a high-
level language— BASIC, probably— and
that you don't have access to any so-
phisticated debugging tools.

Before Debugging

If you are fortunate enough to be
writing your own code, you can make

the debugging process easier. Here
are some suggestions:

• Use structured programming. This
does not mean that you have to give
up GOTO statements, only that you
not misuse them. You can use
structured programming techniques
with any computer language, not just
so-called structured languages like
Pascal and Modula-2. Structured pro-
gramming is a discipline; adopting it
will improve your programs more
than anything else mentioned in this
article. If you do not know much
about it, you can find plenty of books
and articles on the subject.

• Design your programs modularly.
Consider the program diagramed in
figure I (each block is a module of
code). If the program is considered as
a monolithic whole, you will have to
test the 30 (3 x 2 x 5) separate paths
the program can go through to debug
it properly. If you debug the modules
separately, you must test 1 1 things-
each of the 10 modules plus the con-
taining program that glues them to-
gether.

• Program for clarity and optimize
later. Write your code to be readable,
not clever— the performance gain

from terse code is usually not worth
the extra programming time that the
code will consume over the life of the
program. If you must optimize the pro-
gram, get it working first, then ex-
amine it to determine where optimiza-
tion will be the most effective.

• Avoid— or at least isolate and docu-
ment—system-dependent code. This
is more important if you are writing
programs at work (where you may
switch computers someday), but it
never hurts to call attention to pro-
gram behavior that is not determined
solely by the code itself.

• Document your program well, using
both program comments and printed
documentation.

Debugging Theory

Too many of us go about debugging
haphazardly and so spend more time
at it than we need to. To be effective,
debugging must be led by the "per-
ceptive, disciplined mind" mentioned

[continued)
Gregg Williams is a senior technical editor at
BYTE whose programming credentials include
an M.S. in computer science and several years
programming COBOL, BASIC, and APL.
He can be reached at POB 372, Hancock.
NH 03449.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 279

DEBUGGING

above. But what discipline do we
follow?

My experience leads me to say that
debugging is best driven by a com-
bination of the scientific method and

f BEGIN J

m i i

T T

i i i i

GD

Figure I : A modular program diagram.
To test the program as a whole, you
would have to test 30 (3 x 2 x 5)
different paths.

hunch playing. The scientific method,
which is the cornerstone of all scien-
tific discovery, can be modified for
debugging and described as follows:

1 . Describe the error.

2. Gather data about the program's
behavior.

3. Guess what caused the error (con-
sistent with all the data gathered so
far) and take steps to fix it.

4. r fest your guess. (Does the program
now work?)

5. If your guess does not fix the error,
go to step 2; otherwise, you have just
found and fixed the error.

Actually, confirming the error and fix-
ing it may be two separate operations.
You may confirm that a certain vari-
able is causing the error by verifying
that the variable contains an incorrect
value at a certain point; in this case,
fixing the error is a separate step.

In the scientific method, you are try-
ing to find a hypothesis that fits all the
facts. In debugging, your hypothesis
is "x is causing this error," and you test
this hypothesis by correcting x. If the
error disappears, your hypothesis is
correct and you have found and cor-
rected the error. If it does not (and this
is very important), you now have an-
other piece of data— that is, "x does
not cause this error"— and your next

Table I: An entry from my debugging log. Such entries may, in the future,
help you debug later programs.

Environment: While debugging a Microsoft (binary version) BASIC 2.0 program on
a 128K-byte Macintosh computer, I keep getting a "Type Mismatch" error on the
execution of the SUB (subprogram) "get.field(new.item$,1)" (get.field is defined as
"SUB get.field(msg.string$,button. pressed) STATIC"); new.item$ can have any value
(it goes in as a blank string), and 1 is a valid value for the second parameter
(which can be either 1 or 2).

Debugging: I get the same error with any other value in the second place (2, 3,
etc.). The program works fine when I assign the value to a variable and use a
variable in the call, but I check the variable and determine that its value hasn't
somehow changed. The program also works if I use "3/3" but not if I use "1 + 0".
Why?

Cause: It turns out that "1" is of type "integer" and "button. pressed" is of type
"single-precision real" in this version of BASIC. This caused the type mismatch
when I used the constant but not when I used the variable. I suspect that "3/3"
evaluates as a single-precision constant but that "1 + 0" remains an integer result.

Solution(s): (1) Pass values only through variables. (2) Change the dummy variable
to an integer using DEFINT or by appending "°/o" to it (i.e., "button. pressed°/o").
(3) Change the constant to a single-precision real by typing it as "1.0" or "13",

In the future: Be aware of variable types in Mac MBASIC 2.0.

hypothesis must be consistent with
this added data.

Assumptions in Debugging

An error (also called a bug) can come
from several sources. It may be
caused by errors in the syntax of the
program, er ors of logic that cause the
computer to malfunction, errors of
logic that cause the computer to give
plausible but incorrect answers, and
errors generated outside the program
(by the software or hardware used).
Because of this, you must be careful
not to eliminate any area that might
contain the source of the error. On the
other hand, computer hardware is not
at fault 99.9 percent of the time, and
system software (the operating sys-
tem, language, and utilities) is not at
fault 99 percent of the time. I have
summarized these realities in the
following three assumptions:

1. The computer is never at fault.

2. The system software is almost never
at fault.

3. Everything except this rule is
suspect (even assumptions I and 2,
but at different levels of probability).

In other words, never rule out hard-
ware or system software errors, but
pursue these hypotheses only after
extensive testing has failed to find all
the more probable causes of error.

Debugging Practice

Here are some collected notes on
debugging:

• Keep an interactive, written record
of your debugging. The form is irrele-
vant, but it should include a statement
of the error being sought; hypotheses,
their tests, and the results: un-
answered questions; and whatever
else comes to mind, fl&ble I shows
an entry from my debugging log.)

• Equally important, always save a
copy of your p ogram before you add
the latest "fix." If the fix makes things
worse, don't try to undo the damage.
Instead, revert to the previous version.
You might also profit from keeping
versions of the program at different
stages of debugging.

• When you are reading a printed

280 BYTE • IUNE 1985

DEBUGGING

listing, make sure it is current. To be
safe, print a new listing periodically.

• Tfest multiple variations of the pro-
gram, each of which changes one thing
about it, and analyze the results care-
fully. The effects can then be attrib-
uted to the change itself. This may
give you a clue to the nature of the
error you are trying to correct.

• Learn from negative results— even
tests that don't seem to tell you any-
thing actually do.

• Don't ignore the possibility of
rewriting the code rather than debug-
ging it; this is especially valid when
enough previous errors have been
patched that the program is more
patches than code. If the code is in
bad enough shape, you may be able
to rewrite it faster than you can debug
it, and the resulting code will be
easier to read and maintain.

• Be aware of the particular problems
of the language being used (for exam-
ple, inadvertently duplicated variable
names in BASIC, misuse of pointers
in C, the peculiar behavior of a
register, flag, or instruction in assem-
bly language).

• Watch out for often-confused sym-
bols (the letters capital I, capital O,
lowercase I, the numerals and I) and
missing spaces and carriage returns.

• Develop literal (for reading code)
and speculative (for hypothesizing
causes) modes of thought and learn
how to strengthen each and switch
between the two.

Debugging Techniques

I have divided these techniques into
three broad categories: techniques
for eliminating visible errors, finding
hidden errors and verifying program
correctness, and anticipating future
errors. The sections that follow
describe techniques that fall into
these categories. The three categories
begin with the headings "Indirect
Methods," "Testing vs. Debugging,"
and "Preventive Debugging," respec-
tively.

Indirect Methods

Many program errors are quite
visible— you know something's wrong
because you can see it— but their

causes are not. One way to find the
cause of an error is to play computer:
in other words, with program listing
and scratch paper in hand, you ex-
ecute the program manually, keeping
track of variable values on paper. This
method is time-consuming and
tedious, but it often catches subtle
errors. However, you must know ex-
actly what each program statement
does, and you must be very literal in
simulating code execution; otherwise,
you will keep making the mistake that
is the cause of the bug. (A variant of
playing computer is explaining the
error to someone else. Even if the
other person doesn't know much
about computers and can't offer a
solution, you often discover the fac-
tor you've overlooked.)

You can sometimes find an error
when you look at the structured
pseudocode, flowchart, or whatever
similar documentation you have.

Because this documentation is at a
higher level than actual program code,
it may be easier for you to see a
logical error in the design of the
program.

Finally, browse through your debug-
ging notebook for ideas; you may
realize that your current problem is
similar to an error you have already
fixed.

PRINT Statements

PRINT statements are probably the
most often used debugging tool, but
they are not often used effectively.
They can be used to gather data about
the program's behavior (i.e., "Is this
variable doing anything unusual?"), to
test a hypothesis ("Is this variable giv-
ing the incorrect value x?"), or to con-
firm the correct operation of the pro-
gram ("Is this variable now giving the
correct value y?').

[continued)

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Inquiry 153

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 281

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282 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 233

DEBUGGING

PRINT statements are most valu-
able when they are used effectively.
Three factors are critical: what you are
using the PRINT statement for, what
variables are being examined, and where
they are being examined. If you mis-
judge either of the last two factors,
you will be gathering data that wastes
your time and gives you no insight in-
to your situation.

PRINT statements can be either un-
conditional, like this:

6808 PRINT "At 6808, X = ";X;
" A$=";A$

or conditional:

6808 IF A$ = "" THEN PRINT
"At 6808, A$ empty, X = ";X

The unconditional PRINT statement
is the simplest to insert into a pro-
gram, but it may cause a distracting
number of relatively useless diag-
nostic statements— if , for example, line
6808 is in the middle of a triple-
nested DO loop. The conditional
PRINT statement is more useful
because it displays itself only when
some significant condition occurs (in
the second example above, the pro-
grammer knows that A$ is of interest
only if it is empty).

Also remember that PRINT state-
ments (and the print-oriented debug-
ging techniques mentioned below)
can go to at least three devices:
screen, printer, or disk file. Video out-
put gives you an interactive display of
the relationship between cause (the
printed variable's value) and effect
(the effect on the program), but it may
destroy the normal output to the
screen. Printed output gives you a
printed record that can be studied
later along with the program code.
Disk output is useful when you must
generate a lot of PRINT statements;
it is faster than printed output and can
be searched and examined quickly
using a word processor. It is your
responsibility to choose the tech-
nique best suited to a given situation.

You will sometimes have a visible
error and no idea of its cause. You can
then use PRINT statements in a
"divide and conquer" scheme. To do
this, find a point in the program where

things are okay and another one
where they are not. Then repeatedly
place a PRINT statement between the
two and decide which half contains
the error. Eventually, you will have
isolated the error to a small enough
area that the number of possible
causes is also small. (Here, you are
advised to consider— and apply—
Sherlock Holmes's famous statement,
"When you have eliminated the im-
possible, whatever remains, however im-
probable, must be the truth.")

Breakpoints

If you are able to stop your program,
examine and change the values of
variables, and resume execution at
the point you stopped the program,
you have breakpoint capability. You can
do this in assembly language if you
run your program along with some
kind of debugger/monitor program. In
most Microsoft BASICS, you can stop

a program with a Control-C from the
keyboard or a STOP from the pro-
gram, then examine and even change
variable values and resume by ex-
ecuting the CONT (continue) state-
ment. In many cases, you will want to
print out the values of some variables
before you stop the program.

Breakpoints let you debug your pro-
gram interactively. They have most of
the characteristics of PRINT state-
ments: They can be executed condi-
tionally or unconditionally; they can
be used to gather data for your next
debugging guess, to confirm a guess,
and to pinpoint the location of an
error; and their effectiveness depends
on the forethought used in planning
the breakpoint and evaluating its
results. Many programmers use break-
points as a mechanism through which
to do an open-ended exploration of
the program in the hope that they will

[continued)

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Inquiry 154

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 283

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284 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 129

DEBUGGING

stumble over some clue. This is usual-
ly unproductive and should be at-
tempted only when you are at a com-
plete loss as to what to do next.

Through breakpoints, you usually
have access to the state of the
machine— that is. all the data needed
to completely recreate the computer's
configuration at a given moment-
even though you may not make use
of it. Because of this, a breakpoint is
a measure halfway between a PRINT
statement and a snapshot, discussed
below. Breakpoints and snapshots dif-
fer in two ways: Breakpoints are not
always available, and snapshots are
harder to use but more thorough.

Snapshots

A snapshot is a printed record of the
state of the machine. Because a snap-
shot completely describes the program
at the point it is taken, it is the final
authority on what's "inside" the pro-
gram at that instant. This is both good
and bad— good because you have all
the information you could possibly
need, bad because you may not spot
the data you need in the sea of data
you have. A snapshot is also printed
documentation of the program's state
at a given point; because it can be
referred to later, it may save you from
having to recreate the situation. (In
the darker moments of debugging,
when your current results seem to
contradict your memory of past
results, a snapshot is often welcome
verification that you are not going
crazy.)

Snapshots are usually not used in-
teractively (but they can be if you
wanttowaitforthe.printout). They are
usually used with a fresh listing of the
program to hunt for clues about the
cause of the error. Because snapshots
are very long, they are also inconve-
nient to set up and take a long time
to print out (in some cases, you might
consider writing them to disk). For all
these reasons, snapshots are usually
used as a last resort.

For a high-level language snapshot,
make a list of all the system and pro-
gram variables (a cross-referencing
program will help in this); then write
a subroutine that prints these (prefer-

ably in alphabetic order). To use the
snapshot, add a line to your program
that prints some reference to itself
and calls the snapshot subroutine—
for example, in BASIC:

3305 PRINT "Snapshot at end of
input routine":GOSUB 9950

When debugging assembly-lan-
guage programs, capture the contents
of all memory and record the address
of the snapshot and the values of the
processor's flags and registers. If you
can, store the contents of memory as
a formatted dump that shows bytes
as both hexadecimal numbers and
ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange) characters.
You can make your snapshot shorter
by not capturing certain areas (those
containing video-display memory or
system ROMs— read-only memories),
but always keep in mind that you have
left something out— occasionally, it

may be what you need to find the
error!

Testing vs. Debugging

Before I can talk about finding hidden
errors and verifying program correct-
ness, I need to point out the dif-
ference between debugging and test-
ing. Debugging is the process of correct-
ing all the errors you find in a pro-
gram; it ends when you can find no
more bugs. Testing is a more deliberate,
methodical process that attempts to
prove that a program's behavior is
correct in all cases; it ends after you
have devised tests that reasonably
justify the claim, applied them (with
positive results), and documented
your methods and results for current
and future critics.

FORCING AND CHECKING

So you've found and corrected all the

[continued]

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Inquiry 155

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 285

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DEBUGGING

errors in your program— it's ready to
go, right? Wrong. You've corrected all
the visible errors; the program's been
debugged, but it hasn't been tested.
You can never be sure that a program
is completely error-free, but you can
test it to be reasonably certain that it
works correctly. Forcing and checking with
sample data are two methods used to
find hidden bugs and verify program
correctness.
Forcing involves simplifying the pro-

gram so that the relationship between
input and output is known or is easily
calculated; then you can exercise the
program with test data- and compare
the predicted output with the actual
output. In some cases, you can enter
a set of data that is considerably
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you may need to change the program

so that, at some point, it uses con-
stant values instead of calculated
values in some places.

This second method is the type of
forcing you'll use most often (this is
a variation of the change-only-one-
thing technique discussed above). By
setting certain variables to constant
values, you can observe the behavior
of the program as it is influenced by
the remaining variables. If you spot an

[continued)

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Inquiry I43

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 287

DEBUGGING

error in this way, you can use this
observed relationship to infer which
variables are causing the error. Once
you have found them, force the other
relevant variables to known values;
then you should be able to find the
error by studying the actual behavior
of the system compared to its ex-
pected behavior.

Another use of this method is to
force execution of a given section of
a program. When a program has few
enough alternate paths in it that you
can afford to test each one manually,
you can use forcing to ensure that you
are in fact testing each section of
code.

Forcing is a special case of checking

Recommended Books

Much has been written about the
theory and practice of design,
coding, and debugging. Here is a
selected list of especially useful books
that I have on my bookshelf. Some are
handy references, others challenge the
very foundation of your beliefs on how
one should write a program.

Bruce, Robert C. Software Debugging for
Microcomputers. Reston, VA: Reston
Publishing Company. 1980. A good
catalog of debugging techniques.

DeMarco, Tom. Structured Analysis and
System Specification. Englewood Cliffs,
NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1979. A very good
book on the design of large systems;
it contains extended information on
the use of the data-flow diagrams
(DFDs) and data dictionaries.

Ledgard, Henry F. Programming Proverbs.
Rochelle Park, NJ: Hayden Book Com-
pany, 197 5. A book of good
common-sense advice on program-
ming.

Ledin, George Jr.. and Victor Ledin. The
Programmer's Book of Rules. Belmont,
CA: Lifetime Learning Publications,
1975. A book of hierarchically
ordered rules that remind you of your
alternatives at various stages of the
design/code/debug cycle.

Meek. Brian, and Patricia Heath, eds.
Guide to Good Programming Practice. New
York: Halsted Press (division of John
Wiley and Sons). 1980. A good col-
lection of essays on various topics;
the essays do not fit into an or-
ganized whole, but each has good in-
formation in it.

Page-Jones, Meilir. The Practical Guide to
Structured Systems Design. New York:
Yourdon Press, 1980. A detailed but
pragmatic book on the proper de-
composition of large systems into
modular subtasks; it has good sec-

tions on data-flow diagrams and the
factors that influence the effec-
tiveness of a modular system or
program.

Peters, Lawrence J. Software Design:
Methods and Techniques. New York: Your-
don Press, 1981. An invaluable survey
book that describes dozens of design
methodologies, techniques, and
notations— excellent for browsing to
find the method that makes the most
sense to you.

Smith, TYuck. Secrets of Software Debugging.
Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Ikb Books.
1984. A well-written book that digs
deeply into the psychology of debug-
ging and illustrates its points with
three chapter-long microcomputer
examples; this is my favorite book on
debugging.

Ward, Paul T. Systems Development With-
out Pain. New York: Yourdon Press,
1984. Describes a new design tech-
nique that emphasizes good com-
munication between the designers
and the users; the method modifies
and simplifies the concept of struc-
tured analysis.

Yourdon, Edward Nash, ed. Classics in
Software Engineering. New York: Your-
don Press, 1979. Contains reprints of
and commentary about all the pivotal
papers on structured programming
and structured analysis, the debate
among Dijkstra, Knuth, and others
about GOTO statements, and many
essays on structured programming.

Yourdon, Edward, and Larry L. Con-
stantine. Structured Design. Englewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1979. This is
the first major book on structured
analysis; it uses data-flow diagrams
but puts heavy emphasis on structure
charts. It also contains several
theoretical chapters that debate how
best to modularize a program.

with sample data, a method that is used
to rigorously verify the correctness of
a program. The design and selection
of test data heavily influences the
validity of the testing process, so it
should be done with great care.

A meaningful discussion of this sub-
ject is beyond the scope of this arti-
cle, but I mention it to point out that
the use of sample data is an impor-
tant tool for even the most casual pro-
grammer. When you are working with
a program that deals with a range of
data, take the time to run the program
with input data that is just inside, on,
and just outside the range -of valid
data. For example, if your program
computes the average of between I
and 20 numbers, try it with 0, I, 2, 19,
20, and 21 numbers. In general, you
will be surprised at the number of
times that your program fails to act
correctly.

Preventive Debugging

TWo debugging techniques fall into
the category of preventive debugging—
that is, practices that will alert the
future user to the occurrence of an
error. The first is the simple technique
of using "sleeping" debugging instruc-
tions, while the second is a little-
known technique called firewalling.
Both techniques are available to peo-
ple who are coding the program they
will later maintain, though they can
sometimes be added to existing pro-
grams. They are most useful in a pro-
gram where error detection and quick
diagnosis and correction are
important.

Sleeping debugging instructions are con-
ditional diagnostic routines that ex-
ecute only if a predefined abnormal
condition wakes them up. These can
be as simple as a PRINT statement
that notifies the user that an error has
occurred or as complicated as a sub-
routine that analyzes the state of the
program and writes a file of useful
debugging information to the disk.

The best time to add such instruc-
tions into a program is when you are
writing (and, later, debugging) it, while
you have the greatest insight into how
the program works. Ask yourself ques-

[continued)

288 B YTE • JUNE 1985

INTRODUCING THE MERLM ELECTRONIC LETTERING SYSTEM.
IT BEATS THE HELVETICA OUT OF KROT

At any price, the new Merlin electronic lettering system from Varitronics™
is a major achievement.

At a suggested retail price of only $1,795, it's a minor miracle.
That's less than half the cost of its nearest competitor, the
Kroy 80K Editor,™ so you can save even more than you spend. But
superior technology means more than a lower cost. In this case it
means a much better system.

You'll find the Merlin to be significantly faster than any
electronic lettering machine on the market, and more than five
times faster than the old ''spin-and-print'' machines.
Loading and unloading the Merlin's sup-
plies is clean and easy The carbon ribbon simply
snaps into place like film in an instant camera.
And your hands never touch the actual ribbon.
You can interchange the color
carbon at any time in the middle of a job
to highlight a word or phrase.

And every lettering disc is the size of
a 45 RPM record for easy storage, each one
holding 101 upper and lower case letters and
symbols, in a variety of styles and sizes ranging
from 8 to 36 point.

Yet we managed to fit all these features, plus
many more, in a package that weighs just 23
pounds and takes up considerably less desktop space
than a comparable Kroy® machine.

Discover a world of ways the Merlin can work
its magic to improve the look and effectiveness of your
communications. Just call 1-800 -MERLIN-1 (in
Minnesota, call 1-800-742-5685, ext. 99). Orsendin
the coupon for more information, a sample of Merlin
lettering and the name of a dealer in your area who's

offering a substantial trade-in allowance on

your present lettering system.

Suggested retail prices as of 2/1/85.
©Varitronic Systems, Inc., 1985
Kroy and Kroy 80K Editor are trademarks of Kroy Inc.
Varitronics and Merlin are trademarks of Varitronic
Systems, Inc.

5 TIMES FASTER THAN

Due to its advanced technology,
the Merlin is able lo print more
than five times faster than the old
' 'spin-and-print ' ' machines.

$1795

The Merlin istlje result of superior design.
Yet we're offering it at less than half the price of
Ik Kroy 80K Editor.

At 23 pounds, ****"

the Merlin is both light-
might and compact, and less than
half the might and size oft he Kroy 80K Editor.

Inquiry 413

Name/Title.
lelephone L

Company

Address

Citv

Varitronic Systems, Inc.
Response Center, Dept. 023705
701 Decatur Ave. N„ Suite 205

Minneapolis, MN 55427

1-800-MERLIN 1

(IN MINNESOTA, 1-800-742-5685, EXT. 99)

Q Please send me more information about
Merlin and a free sample of Merlin lettering.

□ I'd like a hands-on demonstration of Merlin.

_ State.

_Zip_

MERLIN

BY VARITRONICS

\

One Board...
One Family

At the heart of every Stride 400 Series micro-
computer, from the floppy-based 420 to the
448M byte 460. is an identical CPU board. This
guarantees compatibility throughout the
entire product family. And it means, our CPU
board was designed with standard features
that are either options or simply unavail-
able on other microcomputers:

□ 68000 microprocessor
(10 MHz with no wait states)

□ VMEbus
D256K bytes RAM

□ 5 V 640Kbyte floppy
> □ Battery-backed real time clock

□ 4K CMOS RAM

□ Four RS-232C serial ports
(Stride multiuser BIOS)

□ Centronics bi-directional parallel port
□ Omninet Local Area Network (Liaison LAN software)

With this basic design, Stride is able to explore the full range of 68000 appli-
cations from an advanced multiuser; multi tasking BIOS to built-in local area
networking. No other microcomputer offers the flexibility to run over a dozen
different operating systems and more than 30 languages/compilers.

The basic design is backed by a rich option list:

□ 12 MHz 68000 processor □ VMEbus (Eurocard) cage □ Low cost, high
speed graphics □ NOD™cursor control □ 12M bytes of RAM □ 448M bytes
of hard disk storage □ 22 serial ports □ Floating point processor (NS 16081)

□ Cartridge streaming tape backup □ Memory Management Unit

CBASIC COBOL

Modula-2

Pascal FORTRAN

rm/cosUSD

UNIXSystemV

p-System

All this, and still the best price/

performance ratios in
the industry: from
$2900 to over
$60,000. But it
begins with
the powerful Stride
CPU board, a standard
feature of every 400 series system.
It's what we call " Performance By Design"

Formerly Sage Computer

For more information on Stride or
the location of the nearest Stride
Dealer call or write us today. We'll
also send you a free copy of our
32 page product catalog.
Corporate Offices:
4905 Energy Way
Reno NV 89502
(702)322-6868
Regional Offices:
Boston: (617) 229-6868
Dallas: (214) 392-7070

DEBUGGING

tions like these: "What's the most
damaging thing that could happen
while this program is running? What
can the program do to spot it? What
ranges of data will always be invalid?
What could the user do that the pro-
gram will have to guard against or cor-
rect?" . With careful planning and
design, you can add sleeping debug-
ging instructions that will alert you to
program errors and help minimize
their effect.

FlREWALLING

Firewalling is a preventive debugging
technique available to highly modular
programs. If you have designed your
modular program correctly, each
module is completely self-contained
and interacts with other modules only
through a known list of variables. A
fire wall is a special kind of sleeping
debugging instruction that checks the
validity of data as it comes out of a
module. The idea behind firewalling
is to ensure that, even if an error oc-
curs, it is not allowed to spread from
its origin to other modules. This
method is most useful in large sys-
tems that pass data from one pro-
gram to another, but you may find oc-
casion to use it in smaller programs
of your own.

Conclusions

As I said at the beginning of this arti-
cle, there are no magic techniques—
but there are tools, and the most
powerful one is your own brain. De-
bugging is part technique, part art,
part luck, and the most difficult part
of it is to be thinking hard when the
situation calls for it. I hope 1 have
presented some useful tools; if you
have any other useful techniques, I
would enjoy hearing from you.

The temptation is to take it easy, to
skip the hard parts, to keep rummag-
ing through the program for more
clues instead of thinking about the
ones you already have— but all that is
like the man who kept looking for his
lost car keys under the streetlight
because the light was better there. Al-
though luck and intuition contribute
in debugging, there is no substitute
for thoughtful sustained analysis. ■

290 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 390

". . . compatibility has been a cruel hoax
used to mislead the public!'

| This isoneofa seiies of design philosophy
discussions with Rod Coleman. President of
Stride Micro {formerly Sage Computer}.}

RC: One of the biggest mis-
takes being made today is that
many in this industry underes-
timate how much the public is
willing to take. Today's micro-
computer buyer is far more
sophisticated than those who
were buying systems just 24
months ago.

Q: How does that affect a
manufacturer?

RC: In our case, I think it means

" . . I'm often amazed

that our competitors

continue to introduce

products that don't

really relate to their

own machines
above or below them!'

that our designers and engineers
have to be more honest. By
that I mean that you can't simply
rely on clever marketing tech-
niques to overcome hardware
shortcomings.

Q: Give me an example.

RC: The best one I can think
of is the overused buzzword
of 'compatibility." It has been
a cruel hoax used to mislead
the public. Indeed, dozens of
these compatible machines
are interchangeable with one
another; but, in reality users don't
trade one system for another
of the same capacity. Instead,
they're looking to upgrade, link
or expand their capabilities.
That's when the so-called com-
patibility ends. One major man-
ufacturer changes to a different
CPU chip between entry-level
and mid-range machines, and
then changes again to move
into a high capacity environment.
Another competitor is only com-
patible until you decide you
want multiuser or local area net-
working; at that point you've
got to change operating systems
and software.

Q: How has Stride approached
this problem?

RC: From the start, we knew we
had to select a microprocessor
and basic system design that
had enough power and flexibility
to meet the needs on both ends
of the spectrum. Without a capa-
ble CPU. your system will never
be state-of-the-art. Thus all
machines in the Stride 400 Series
were designed to accommodate
the same 68000-based CPU
board. This board provides for
all the standard features such
as VMEbus, multiuser, LAN, etc.
Then, when a customer decides
to move up, it's a simple matter
of providing more RAM, storage,
backup devices, etc. Since every
system in the family has a com-
mon CPU board, compatibility
is guaranteed. The idea is so
basic, that I'm often amazed that
our competitors continue to
introduce products that don't
really relate to their own machines
above or below them.

Q: Do most customers buy
Stride machines for that
flexibility to expand?

RC: Many do, but we are also
getting a lot of response from
those looking for a big system
as the cornerstone to a growing
network of smaller machines.
This is where local area networks
really shine, but the incompati-
bility between the large hard disk
machines and the smaller work-
stations has prevented users from
capitalizing on this technology.
Again, since Stride's LAN is a stan-
dard feature of all systems, and
they share a common board, this
is a natural application.

Q: Is the 68000 microprocessor
the key to that compatibility?

RC: To a large extent, yes.
Although it's been on the market
for some years, we feel this
processor still holds a significant
advantage over other archi-
tectures. When we evolved from
Sage Computer to Stride Micro,
we closely examined the state of
the microprocessor market. We
elected to remain with the 68000
family because it was the only
proven product that would han-
dle everything from our floppy-
based 420 machine up to the
top-of-the-line Stride 460 with

22 users, I2M bytes of RAM
and 448M bytes of Winchester
hard disk storage. An extra ben-
efit of this is that we were able
to boost the already-impressive
performance of the Sages by
increasing the clock speed from
8MHz to the Stride's standard
10MHz and optional 12 MHz
without changing architectures.
That would have been impos-
sible with most other chips.

Q: Do you see others following
your lead?

RC: Yes and no. The good signs
are that more and more interest
is being generated in portable
languages and operating systems
that work across a broad range
of system capabilities. Yet, then
1 see an announcement from a
leading hardware supplier that
their newest multiuser machine
is only compatible with the
smaller systems when it's in sin-
gle user mode. Overall, I think
Stride will remain unique for
some time to come.

STRIDE

Formerly Sage Computer

For more information on Stride or
the location of the nearest Stride
Dealer call or write us today. We'll
also send you a free copy of our
32 page product catalog.
Corporate Offices:
4905 Energy Way
Reno. NV 89502
(702)322-6868
Regional Offices:
Boston: (617) 229-6868
Dallas: (214) 392-7070

Inquiry 391

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 291

Jameco Mail-Order Electronics • Worldwide • Since 1974 Jameco

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Pari Ho.

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Price Part No.

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Z80-DART

40

Dual Asynchronous RecfTrans

. 895

Z80-OMA

40

Dnecl Memory Access Circuit

. 12.49

ZB0-P10

40

ftiialleli/DlnteilaceConiioller. . . .

. 2.95 3-SS

Z80S10/0

40

Serial I/O OxCH and RkCB BinrJed)

. . 11.49

280-S10/1

40

Serial II (Lacks DTRB) .

11.49

Z80-S10/2

40

Serial l/0(Lacks SYNCB)

1149

Z80-S10/9

411

Serial V0

1149

ZBOA

40

CPlJ(MK38EON-4)(7B0C-1)4MHi. .

.2.95*4*

Z80AC1C

?H

Courier limerCircu'l

. 3.95-M9-

ZBOA-DAm

40

Dual AsyiictirortousRecTians .

995

ZB0ADMA

411

Ouecl Menay Access Circuit .

1295

Z80AP10

40

Pjttllcll/D Inleitace Controller

. . . 3 95

ZB0A-S10/0

40

Serial l/0(TxCBand RxC8 Bondeal

11.95

Z80A-S10/1

40

Serial I/O (Lacks 01RB) .

11.95

ZB0A-S10/2

40

Serial I/O (LacksSYNCB) ....

. 1195

ZBOA-S10/9

40

Serial 1/0 ......

1195

Z80B

40

CPUIMK3B80N.6I 6MRJ. .

895

Z8UBCTC

28

Counrer liittei Circuit.

1195

ZBOBDART

40

Dual Asyncfiionous Reu /Trans..

. 1995

Z80R-P10

4(1

Parallel l/D InleilaceConlrolter , .

. 1095

Z800II

48

CPUSedmerileddUMHzl . .

. . . 79.95

Z8002B

40

CPl)N(W.Seqmenled(IOMHz)

. 59 95

- 6! uu/6

6002

40

MPtJ writ! Clock (1MHz) , , .

4,95

6502A

40

MPU wilh Clock (2MHzl .

6.49

6502B

40

MPU with Clock 13MHz)

. . 8.95

6520

411

htnliheiallnler Adaoler

.... 3.95

40

\ft?rsnlile Inler Adapter

5.49

?a

Async. Comm inieilace Adapt.. . .

6.95 4ft%-

6800

411

MPU

2 95

6802CP

40

MPU Willi Clock and RAM

5.95 r-9*

GB09

40

CPU - 8-Bit (OnCtnpOscillatorl.

B.95

G809F

40

CPU - 8-Bil (ExleriMl Clocking).

. . 995

14.95 -W95-
.3 95

8035
B039
B040N-6

80B5A
B0B5A-2
8086-2

8155

8156

8205

8212

8224

8228

8237-5

B23B

8243

825QN

8251

8251A

8253

8255

8255A5

8259

8272

8274

8279

8282

8284

82B6

8287

8310

8741

8748

B749

8755

B0186-6

80183

40 CPU - 8-Bit (Exl Clocking) 2MHz 14.95

24 l28x8Slatrc RAM (2MHz) 5.95

40 I'tnplicral InleiAdiipl (MC6820) 2.75 «fr

40 Penplteial Inlerlacti Adapler (2MHz) 5,95

40 CRTCoiilrollerlCnTC) 9.95 +«5

40 CR1 Controller (CRTC) 2MHz. . . ,

24 A yncliiunous Cornm Adapter .

24 0-600Dps OiijilalMOOEM 7.95

64 MPU 16-Bit (8MHz) 39.95

40 General Puipo e Inl Adapter 995

8000/80000 SERIES

40 ConliolOnenledCPUw/RAM&!/0 12.95 H35

40 MPIJ - 8-Bil 4.95 646-

40 CPU— Sgi. Clup 8-Bit (12Bb1s RAMI 4.95 MS-

40 CPUI25G bytes RAM) 9 95

40 CPU - 8-Brt TJMDS 12.95 4+95

40 CPUw/Basic Micro Interpreter 29 95

40 CPU

CPU .

4 95

40 CPU-8-Bit NCliatinel(5MHz) 1095 +4-9*

40 CPU 16-bil 8MHz 19.95 ?+*

40 Arithmetic Processor 149.95 fBWS

40 CPU8(16-Bit .14.95 ***»

40 HMOSRAM l/OPorl-fimei 4.95 *§5-

40 RAMwiiltl/OPonanrJlimec 5.95-8*5

16 Hi Speed 1 oul of 8 Binary Decoder 395

24 8-Bil Input/Dulput (74S412) 295

IB Clock GenerakwOnwr . 295

28 Sys Com /Bus Onver (74S42B) 3.95-4*5-

40 High Perl Prog DMA Cont. (5MHzl 14.95 4ft96-

28 System Controlle i (74S438) . . 4.95

24 1/0 Expander lo/48 Series 3.95 +95-

40 Async Comm Element. 1095

28 Prog Comm. I/O [USART) 4 49 +§a-

2B Prog Comm Interface (USART) 4.95-rV95

24 Prog inler^l Timer 595 6-3S

40 Prog, Peripheral l/D (PPI) 4.49 4*

40 Prog Per»heiat I/O (PPI) 5MHz. . ... 4.95 *95

28 Prog Werrupl Control 5 95

40 Sgle/DbleOensilyFloppyOiskCont IB.95 +9*5

40 Mulli-Protrjcol Serial Cont (7201) 14.55 2*95

40 Prog KeyboarrJ/Disrjlaylnlerlace B.95

20 Octal Latch fi.49 ft9*

18 ClockGeneralor/Onvtr 5.49 6:95

20 OclalBus Transceiver 649 -7^95-

20 Octal Bu5 Tiansceiver (Inverted) 6.49 -7r95-

20 6us Controller ,. . 14.95 1*9&

20 8-Bil Tti-State Bi-Dnecnonal Trans 3.49

20 8-Bil Bt-Direclionai Receiver 3.49

20 Octal Lalclied Peripheral Driver 3.95

40 BBilUniv. Peripheral Interlace. . . . 19.95 -?9S5

40 HMOSEPROMMPU 19.95 -3MS

40 MPU8-BH (EPR0M Version 018049)24.95 9*95-

40 16K EPROM wrth 1/0 39.95

68 High inlegialiou 1 6-BilMRJ 99 95

E8 Higtilntegraie-BilMPUlB-BitDataBus) 89.95

SPECIAL FUNCTION

DSG026CN B Dual MOS Clock Driver !5MHz) 1 95

INS2651 28 Communication Chip 7.95

MC3470P IB Hoppy Disk Read Amp System 495

MM5321N 16 IV Camera Sync Generator. . 9.95

MM54240N 24 Asynchronous Transmitter/Receive! 5.95

V,MS8167AN 24 MiLruiviitessur Real lime Cluck 8.95

MM5B174AN IE Micro. Compatible Time Clock 8.95

MMii.M.HAA.'N B Prog Oscillator (Divider (GOHz) 1.79

MM5369EST B Prog OscrllaiorrDivider HOCH?). . , , , 1.95

Low Profile pin) Sockets

JilNo 19 10-99 IOC-tip

8 pin LP 16

14 pin LP 17

16 pm LP 19

18 pm LP 2G

20 pin LP 30

22 pin LP .31

24 pin LP .33

28 pin LP .40

40 pin LP .49

Soidertail |Gold| Standard

PirlMo. 1-9 10-99 IM- up

8 pmSG .39

14 pinSG 49

16 pinSG 55

IB pinSG .65

20pinSG 75

22pmSG .79

24pinSG .79

2BpinSG 95

36pmSG 1.25

40pinSG 1.39

Price

1103
4027

-ItSf.-J-K,
■:*H;,-,;::
■:i ; ii'i; 5 5
.; t-: p ,-t-'j

-:t':-!!J.VIJ

, ,' , .<-:^i

MM5270
'.'■•:■: ■■■;■,■
■"'i ■:■■>■>

-;i;i:-fi ; ! ,;:

•r.-_ ,.
4812B

2101

2102

2I02-2L

2111

2112

2114N

2I14N2

2147HN
2148I1N

TMS4045
TMS40L47-45
5101
MM5257

HM6116P-4
HM61 16LP-4

HM6264LP-15

27LS00

7489

74C921

74C930

74S1B9

74S2B9

82S10

82S25

TMS2716

2732
: ; , .-:■'.-. •:.
1 . ■
. : o;-- !:
27C32
i ' . ■■:

J/-:-!-2G
2764-25
2764-45
27CG4
1-
27256-25
MCM68764
7:, In'
74S2E
74S.?6S
74S387
74SJ71

74S473
74S474
74S475
74S475
'^: ; :".-
^ ■■?,-{
MS571
74S572
7^573
82S23
625115
B2S123

82S129

".'• , " :

'•

1024i 1 (30Ons) 99

40961) |250ns) 1.43

16.3(34x1 (150ns) , 1.39-8/1095

163B4.1 iJCOnsi 79-5629 1-1J r W9 »

16.384x1 (25C»nsl .69-8 5.49 -^'--^r i -

<*■- ■■■■< ■:; ■ 2-tn sit 95 S .IO <='4 & ^&
6!>.53G»1 "■"
1024x1

204Bil |365ru|

4it:!5>t K'bOnst

4lJyC>l !ffl0ns)2107. .

8192x1 1200ns)

I'l-^.t-M-.tllSOlis)

;.■>■:.'. i. ;■:>.) 1200ns)

I31.n7?vl j?53i-ii

- STATIC RAMS

256x4 (450ns) B101

1024x1 (350nsi

1024x1 |250rislLf'iy1L02)

256x4 (450ns) 8111

256x4 (450ns) MDS. .

1145 ^jj.
19.95 ?M5

1024x4 (200nsl .

1024x4 (200ns)L.P

4096x1 1.70ns}

UV4x4 tVOilS).

!(a4
2:-.:i.v1

1024x1

1024x4 (450ns) 1.95

256x4 |450nsl CMOS 3.95

4096x1 (JiOnsl 41)44 .... 4.95

2048x8 (120nsl CMOS 5.49 ■?*

204BxB (120ns) L.P CMOS E.49 ft*

20-VHxa (150ns) CMOS 3.95-44*

204Bx8 (150ns) L.P CMOS. . , . 4.95 +3-W

2048x6 (200nslCMDS 3.49 ■+«

2048x8 (200ns) L.P CMOS. , , . 3.95 ft49

til'JM! (120ns) CMOS 14.49 &W

8192x8 (120ns) LP CMOS 14.95 3U4)fr

Hiy?xB (150ns) CMOS 12.49 tM^S

-■■" " till". I I

(80ns) LP 3.95

(50ns) 3101 2.25

i25()nsi CMC'S 5.95

(250ns) CMOS I651BI . . . 5.95

(35ns) 93405 2.95

(35ns) 3101 2.95

(^iri,,i()C t:).'M15| 3.95

(50ns) OC 1

■ PROMS/ EPRQMS

25GxS (1,xs> 3.95

1024x8 (450ns) 3.95

2048*8 M-JOnsi iVHi 4 95

4096x6 (450 '

S'MI'xS (.iSOns) ... 1095

2048x8 (450ns) 3 voltage 7.95

204Bx8 (450ns). ...

2048x8 CMOS

204Bx8 1350ns). . . .

2048x8 (550ns). . . .

4096x8 (450ns) . .

4096x8 (200ns) 21V

4096x8 (250ns(2tV

•09h<8 i45i;-iM21V

-ll!9ti*8 CMOS 14.95

40'JGxE (300ns) 21V [CMOS) . . 22.95

£192*8 l20;)nSl2IV . . 9 95 44-S

8192x8 (250ns) 21 V.... 7 19

8l92xf. l-'oCns) 21V 649

fll'.i?*8 CMOS 21V 14.95-2**

15.384x8 (250ns) 128K 21V 9.95-3+%

32.768xB l250its)256Kl14Vi BJ5-9ft95-

8192*8 (45Cnsi 21V 14.95 -^-u^

32x6 PflOMO.C (6330. II . 1 75

256x4 PROMTS 16301-1) ... 179

:.:■■■:, ! : i-:.j.'.! is ,.-,.131 1' t ,■•■

??".-: FPOMOC. urSc: ii

256xB PROMTS. (6309-1) 495

512x8 PROM IS. (B349.il , 4 95

5)2x8 PROM OC 16348) 4 95

512x8 PROM TS. lOMa7S296N) 4 95
0.C (63401 .4 95

i:-:.. :-.---

4.95 6^9-

19 1024*4 PROMTS
"""yiS.

DC10

A0C060I

ADC0B03

AOC0BO4

DAC0B07

OAC0808

DAC0830

OAC0831

DAC100O

OAC1008

DAC1022

DAC1222

DAC1230

0AC1231

AY3-10150

AY 6 I0I3A

IE 512*4 PROMOC 163051 .... 2.95

16 512*4 PROMTS (6306) ... 295

19 1024 <4 PfiCMOC 16352) 4 95

18 MM PROM TS. I82S 137) ... .4.95

16 - . L r. VUf . 1 ."■[■

24 512*S 'T,:.,V IS ;2.--S!5i ^!'

16 32*8 PROM IS. I27S19) ,. 2.95

16 . : -1 '/hi 1 ', u 2.95

16 256.4 PP.!?.' IS .2:5211 2-5

'0 ■-..: ,--','ii(- 1.. SI, 3.95

IE 2048x4 PROM IS .'

24 2048x8 [BOns) 14.95

24 1024x8 PROMTS I82S181) .. . 9.95

18 20JS.4 FRDMO.C I62S164) 9.95

I -.; PROMTS (82S185) 9.95

24 2043x6 PROMTS 1B2S191) . 14.95

— DATA ACQUISITION

Mostek DC/DC Converter ^-5V to -9V 2 95

ZO B-Bit A.'D Cuii'.*r!er (1/4LSBI 14.95

20 B-Bit ArD Converter I - 1/2LSB). . . 4.95

20 B-Bit AiTJ Conwlei (ILSBl 3,49

20 o-Hi/rS^M- . :vC:'..::;T'Ar : V;

28 8-Bit AiD Convener (8-Ch. Mulli I 4.49

4D 8-Bil A'D Conv w/16-Channel Analorj 14.95

'> ,,,.,, Ml, " '

IE 8- Bit D'A CunvD.ltr (0 78''t, Lm ) . I 95

IB 8-Bit D/A Convene! (MCI 400-7), .. . 1.49

IE B-Bil D/A Converter (MCT 408-8). . . . 2.25

20 8-Bn Up D/A Conv. ( 05% Lin.) 5.95

20 3- Oil Up ! . i

24 10-Git D/A Conv Micro Comp |005 ,: 1 7 96

i« 1 ' "

IE 10-Uit D.'A Ci'-iiv i'i ?!.■■'. 1 11, ',:■:.

IB 12- Bit D/A Conv. (0.20H Lin.] 6.95

2Q 12-Bit Up D/A Conv f.0S*b Ltn.) 14.95

20 12-Bil Up O/A Conv. (.10% Lm.) 13.95

30 .'Si-. }>.::..:! IJ.',.".' I'i'

40 30K DiL-d MRT |IBIE02l. 3.95

Wire Wrap ^~-g
Sockets ^*
(Gold) Level m

ftrtNn, 1-9 10-99 lOO-up

8 pm WW 55 .49

lOpinWW ,69 .65

^pmlAW .75 .69

16p.nWW 79 72

IBpinWW .95 .85

20pm WW 1.19 1.09

22pmWrV129 1,19

24pmWW1.35 1.19

28pinWWl.69 1,55

36pmWW1.89 1.79

40pmWW2.29 1.95

59

Header Plugs [Gold)

PirlNrj. 1-9 10-89 100-u

65

59

.55

IS pin HP

m

i,-»

.59

24 pin HP

1 15

99

.89

14 pin HC .15
16pmHC .19
24 Bin HC .29

$10 Minimum Order - U.S. Funds Only CA Residents: Add 6Vj=ft Sal&sTax Spec Sheets - 30e each

Shipping: Add 5°/d plus $1.50 Insurance Send SI Postage for FREE 1985 Jameco Catalog Prices Subject to Change

Send stamped, sett-addressed envelope to receive a Monthly Sales Flyer — FREE!

Jminumjmmmmm-
ameco

1355 SHOREWAY ROAD, BELMONT, CA 94002
6/85 PHONE ORDERS WELCOME -1415) 592-8097 - Telex: 1 76043

NEWEEPROM

Part No. Pins Function . Price

2816 24 2048x8 16KE 2 PR0M 300ns. . . 12.95

Features: • On-board Address/Data Latches • Auto-Timed Byte Wrile (on
chip timer) ■ SV Erase/Wrrte/Read ■ Optional High Voltage Erase/Program
(12V-22V) • Power Up/Down Wrile Protection • Auto Erase before Write
The 2816 is an ideal nonvolatile memory providing in-sysl<jm alterability
with the same ease and wilh the same features as 2K*8 Sialic RAMs

DT 1 050 — AfjXiutwra: TEKfnrtrj wis. ippluneM. ck

linguigs Innjlilnnj. dc, Ihe OI105O is a standard DIGItALKER kit encoded win 13/ EtparaU
aiW uselnl words. 2 tones, and 5 tlitlerent silence duiatiorrs The vwds ana tones tia-rt teen
assigned discrete addresses, making it possible to out,,) r , < i & \ i, i 1 < i '
■."!:) |ifir,iii:s rr r.in M-nT-ini-, Ih,> 'v\;:e' riutf-ii: i;1 D't- DUciM ,s ,i I: ,n,y ,"'-■ ;■: - c- : -
vrju.e TtiE 011060 consul! ol i Speech Proctusi Chip MM54104 |40 pm| ind f« |2| S;;:c(i ROMs
MM52I64SSHI liid MM52I64SSR2 [24 pin | jlsnj anth i Multr Hbnf list md i recommended tthtmilm
dugnrn on Ihe ippliutmn sheet.

DT1050 Digitalker™ $34.95 ea.

MM 541 04 Processor Chip $14.95 ea.

DT1 057-Eipinits the DI1050wH6uljrj Iron 137 Id orer 26Dw/dt Incf 2 BOMs ind specs

Part No. DT1057 $24.95 ea.

INTERSIL

Pi lis Function

7045IP1

7045EWKi1

7106CPI

FE0202D

FE0203D

7106EV/KH

7107CPL

7107EV/Krt

7116CR.

72011US

72051PG

7205EWK.I

7206CJPE

7206CEV/Kit

7207AIPO

7207AEV/K.I

721 1R

7211MIPI.

721511'G

7215EV/Kit

72IGAUI

721GDIPI

7217IJI

7217A1PI

7224IP1.

7226AEV/KH

CMOS Precision Timet

:•: pwali '' Owp, XTL lEvalualion Kit! ....

3'i Oigil A/O (LCO Diitt)

-1 [)!,: r id) [!i:,fi:.i V tnr 7211IP1. S 7211MPI.

3t ? OigitLCD 0»splay for 7 1 06 & 7 1 1 6

C. Cucuil Brjard. Display (Evaluation Kil) .....

3'7 Diqrl A,^D tLEDOTi\e|

IC. Circuit Boiird, Display Evaluation Kill.

3'iDigilA'DLCDDiS,HLD

Low Balteiy Volt Indicator

CMOS LEO Staowalchffimei
Slopwalcti Chip. XTL (Evaluation Kit)

Tone Generator

Tone Generator Cfnp.XTL (Evaluation Kit)

Oscillator Conlrollei

Freq CounlerChip. XTL (Evaluation Kil)

4 Oigil LCD Display Oecoder/OrivEr (1TL compaiiole)
4 Digit LCD Display lecidei/Oriver (Mrcroproc compel
4 Fun;. CMOS Stopwnlch CKI
4 Func Slopwalch Chip. XTL (Evaluation Kit)

B Until Um GwntB Cft

8 Digit Freq Counter CC

4 Digit LED Up/UOWn Counter CA

■n.i.i;.: , ,.i.n Up Dm 1 1 Counter CC

LCD 4'? Digit Up Counter DPI

5 Function Counter Chip. XTL (Evnmalwi

4695
10.95

4695
1095

1695
19.49
3149
2149
. 1095

1 30009 1983 INTERSIL Data Book (nsep.) .... $9.951

74HC High Speed CMOS

74HCO0 14

74HC02 14

74HC03 14

74HC04 14

74HCI1I4 14

74HC0B 14

74HCIO 14

74HC11 14

74HC14 14

741C20 14

74HC27 14

74HC30 14

74HC32 14

74HC42 16

74MC5I 14

74HC5B 14

74HC73 14

74HC74 14

74HC75 16

74HC76 16

74HC85 16

74HC80 14

74HC107 14

74HC109 16

74HC112 16

74HC123 16

74I1C125 14

74HC132 14

74HC137 16

74MCI38 16

74HCI39 16

74HC147 16

74HC151 16

74HC153 16

74IIC154 24

74HC157 16

74KC15B 16

74HC160 16

74HC161 16

74HCI62 16

74HC163 16

74HC164 14

74HC165 16

74HCI66 16

74HC173 16

74HC174 16

74HC175 16

74HC190 16

74HC191 16

74HCI92 16

74HC193 16

74JC194 16

74HC195 16

74IIC221 16

74HC237 16

74HC240 ZO

74HC241 20

74HC242 14

74HC243 14

74HC244 20

74HC251 16

74HC253 16

74HC257 16

74HC259 16

74HC26B 14

74HC273 20

74HC2B0 14

74HC299 20

74HC36G 16

74HC367 16

74I1C373 20

74HC374 20

74HC390 16

74HC393 14

74HC533 20

74HC534 20

74HC595 16

74HC688 20

74HC4024 14

74HC4040 16

74HC4049 16

74HC4050 16

74HC4060 16

74H 4075 14

74HC407B 14

74HC4511 16

74HC4514 24

74HC4538 16

74HC4543 15
74HOJQ4 is un

74C0O
74C02
74C04
74C08
74C10
74C14
74C20
74C30
74C32
74C42
74C48
74C73
74C74
74C85
74C86
74CB9
74C90
74C93
74C95

14

14

Ml*fl

a*

ullM

74C107

14

79

74C15I

16

2.19

74C154

24

325

74C157

16

1.75

74C160

16

119

74CI6I

lb

119

74C162

16

119

74C163

16

1.19

74C164

14

1.29

74C165

16

1.29

74C173

16

.89

74C174

16

1 19

74C175

16

1.19

74C192

16

139

74C193

16

1.39

74CI95

16

129

74C221

16

1.75

74C24Q
74C244
74C373
74C374
74C901
74C902
74C903
74C906
74C907
74C911
74C912
74C915
74C917
74C922
74C923
74C925

80C95
80C97

m

TL071CP e

TL072CP 8

TL074CN 14

TL081CP 8

TL082CP 8

TL084CN 14

LM109K

LM301CN 6

LM302H

LM304H

LM305H

LM307CN S

LM308CN 8

LM309K

LM310CN S

LM311CN 8

LM312H

LM317T

LM317K

LM318CN 8

LM319N 14

LM320K-5

LM320K 12

LM320K-15

LM320K-24

LM320T-5

LM320T-12

LM320T-15

LM320T-24

LM322N 14

LM323K

LM324N 14

LM329U2

LM331N 8

LM3342

LM335Z

LM336Z

LM337MP

LM3371

LM338K

LM339N 14

LM340K-5

LM340K-I2

LM340K-15

LM340K24

LM340T-5

LM340T-12

LM3-10T-15

LM340T-24

LF347N 14

LM348N 14

LM350K

LF351N a

LF353N 8

LF355N 8

LF356N 8

LM358IJ 8

LM359N 14

LM370N 14

LM373N 14

LM377N 14

LM380CN 8

LM380N 14

LM381N 14

LM382f. 14

LM384N 14

LM386N-3 8

LM387N B

LM3B9N 16
LM39IN-80 16

LM392N 8

LM393N 8

LF398N 8
LM329K

LF412CN 8

TL494CN 16

TL496CP B

NE531V 8

NE544N 14

NE550A 14

NE555V 8

XIU555 8

LM556N 14

NE558N 16

NE564N 16

LM565N 14

LM566CN B

LM5C7V 8

NE570N IE

NE571N 16

NE592N 14

LM703CN 6

LM710N 14

LM71IN 14

LM723N 14

LM733N 14

LM739N 14

LM741CN 8

LM747N 14

LW748N 8
UA760HC

LM1456V 8

LM1458CN 8

LM1488N 14

LM1489N 14

LMI496N 14
LM1605CK

LM1871N 18

LM1B72K 18
LM1877N-9 14

LM18BSW 18

LMIB96N 14
LM2002T

IJLN2003A 15

XH2206 16

XR2207 14

XR2208 15

XH2211

14

LM2877P
LM2B78P

IM2901N 14

LM2902N 14

LM2907N 14

LM2917N a

LM3900N 14

LM3905CN 8

LM3909N B

LM3914N 18

LM3915N 18

LM3916N 18

RC4136N 14

RC4I51NB 8

RC4193NB 8
RC4195TK

LM425XN 8

NE5532 B

NE5534 8
78L05A
78L12A
79L05A
79«05AH

1CL8038 14

LMt3080H 8

I'/ljfjCliti IB

76002 14

76477 28

30003 1982 Nat. Linear Data Book ii952pgs) .S11.95

292 BYTE • JUNE 1 985

Commodore 1 Accessories *** SUMMER SPECIALS ***

RS232 Adapter
for VIC-20 and
Commodore 64

The JE232CM allows connection of standard serial RS232
printers, modems, etc. to your VIC-20 and C-64. A 4-pole
switch allows the inversion of the 4 control lines. Com-
plete installation and operation instructions included.
• Plugs into User Port • Provides Standard RS232 signal
levels • Uses 6 signals (Transmit, Receive. Clear to Send.
Request to Send. Data Terminal Ready. Data Set Ready).

JE232CM $39.95

VOICE SYNTHESIZER
FOR APPLE AND COMMODORE

«s

JE520CM

JE520AP

• Over 250 word vocabulary-affixes allow the formation of more
than 500 words • Built-in amplilier, speaker, volume control, and
audio jack • Recreates a clear, natural male voice • Plug-in user
ready with documentation and sample software • Case size:
7V*"L x 3'/."W x 1-3/8"H

APPLICATIONS:

• Security Warning

• Teaching

• Instrumentation

• Telecommunication

• Handicap Aid

• Games

Part No.

JE520CM
JE520AP

For Commodore 64 & VIC-20 $114.95

For Apple II, 11+ , and//e $149.95

Computer Memory
Expansion Kits

IBM PC, PC XT and Compatibles

Most o( the popular Memory Boards (eg Ouadram" Expansion Boards)
attow you to add an additional 64K. 128K. 192K or 256K. The I6M64K Kit witt
populate these boards in 64K byte increments The Kit is simple 10 instatt-
fust insert the 9 - 64K RAM chips in the provided sock ts and set the 2 groups
o( switches Complete conversion documentation included

IBM64K (Nine 200ns 64K RAMs) $19.95

IBM PC AT

Each kitcomes complete wilh nine 1 28K dynamic RAMsand documentation
forconversion.

IBM128K (Nine 250ns 128K RAMs). . . . $174.95
APPLE lie

Extended 80-Cotumn/64K RAM Card. Expands memory by 64K to give 1 28K
when used with programs like VisiCalc"". Fully assembled and tested.

JE864 $99.95

TRS-80MODELI,III

Each Kit comes comnlele with eight MM5290 (UPD4 16/4 11 6) 16K Dynamic
RAMs and documenlation lor conversion Model 1: 16K equipped with Ex-
pansion Interlace can be expanded to 48K with 2 Kits. Model III: Can be
expanded trom t6K to 48K using 2 Kits Each Kit will expand computer by
16K increments

TRS-16K3 200ns (Model III) $6.29

TRS-16K4 250ns (Model 1) $5.49

TRS-80 MODEL IV & 4P

Easy 10 installKitcomes complete with 8 ea. 41 64N-20 (200ns) 64K Dynamic
HAMs and conversion documentation. Converts TRS-80 Mode! IV computers
from 16K to 64K Also expands Model 4P Irom 64K to 128K.

TRS-64K-2 $1 7.95

(Converts the Model I V from 16K to 64K or will expand the Model 4P from
64Kto 128K)

TRS-64K2PAL (Model IV only) $38.95

(8 ■ 4164's with PAL Chip to expand from 64K to 128K)

TRS-80 COLOR AND COLOR II

Easy to install Kit comes complete with 8 each 4164N-20 (200ns) 64K
Dynamic RAMs and documentation lor conversion Converts TRS-80Color
Computers with D. E. ET. F and NC circuit boards to 32K. Also converts
TRS-80 Color Computer It to 64K Fiex DOS or OS-9 required to utilize
lutt 64K RAM onall computers

TRS-64K-2 $17.95

jJMr PROTECT YOURSELF...

yffr 4 DATASHIELD

^5 WM Surge Protector

^^ / ^F EllmmalesvoltagespikesandEMI-RFInoisebetorett

Modef^^ 'if '~ candamageyourequipmentorcause data toss 6-mo

■tnn ^m warranty Power dissipation (TOO microseconds)

I UU \^ 2.000.000 watts

PART NO. ' DESCRIPTION PfflCE

MODEL 75 4 SockelS, On/Off Switch S49.9S

MODEL 85 6 Sock., Super Fillers. On/Ofl Switch SS9.9S

MODEL 100 6 Sock.. Super Filters. Low Volt. Alarm. . . S69.95

MODEL 1 1 0AMS 6 Sockets. Super Filters.

Auto Master Switch S99.95

DATASHIELD'
Back-Up Power Source

Protect your computer from black-outs, brown-outs, power
sutges and hne noise PTI's PC200 is designed lor PCs
_ with (loppy disk memory, the XT300for hard diskmemory
■ t and the AT800 lor multi-user systems A typical compatible
PC loreachol these slandbys willbe supported tor 1 5 to
25 minutf'R after power is lost. Weight (PC200. 24 IDs) -
(XI3Q0 375I6S.I -IAT500 83 lbs ) - (AT800 B3 IDs ,)

PC200 (200 Watt Rating) S299.95

XT300 (300 Watt Rating) S399.95

AT500 (500WattRatlng) S699.95

AT800 (BOO Watt Rating) S799.95

ttt Intelligent 300/1 200 Baud
PROMETHEUS Telephone Modem with
Real Time Clock/Calendar

, The ProModerrT is a Beil 2 1 2A (300/1 200 baud) intelli-
gent stand-alone modem • Full featured expandable
modem -Standard features include Auto Answer and
Auto Dial. Help Commands, Programmable Intelligent
Dialing. Touch Tone"' and Pulse Dialing & More • Hayes
command set compatible plus an additional extended
command set- Shown w/lalphanumeric display option.

Part No. Description Price

PM1200 RS-232 Stand Alone Unit $319.95

PM1200A Apple II, II+ and He Internal Unit $299.95

PM1200B IBM PC and Compatible Internal Unit $239.95

PM1200BS IBM PC & Compatible Internal Unit w/Mite Software. . . $274.95

MAC PAC Macintosh Package $369.95

(Includes PM1200, Cable, and ProCom-M Software)

OPTIONS FOR ProModem 1200

PM-COM (ProCom Communication Software) $79.95

Please specify Operating System.

PM-OP (Options Processor) $79.95

PMO-16K (Options Processor Memory - 16K) $ 4.50

PMO-32K (Options Processor Memory - 32K) $ 9.00

PMO-64K (Options Processor Memory - 64K) $18.00

PM-ALP (Alphanumeric Display) $79.95

PM-Special (Includes Options Processor, 64K Memory d»-f f>Q QC
and Alphanumeric Display). ...^ IO\/.\?3

KEYBOARDS

■^m

13VLx4'i"Wx¥H

New!

nersi

SPECIAL
FUNCTIONS!

Description

Mitsumi 54-Key Unencoded
All-Purpose Keyboard

• SPST keyswitches • 20 pin ribbon cable connec-
tion • Low profile keys • Features: cursor controls,
control, caps (lock), function, enter and shift keys
■ Color (keycaps): grey • WV: 1 lb. • Pinout included

KB54 .......$14.95

5%" APPLE™

Direct Plug-In

Compatible Disk Drive

and Controller Card

The ADD-514 Disk Drive uses
Shugart SA390 mechanics-143K
formatted storage • 35 tracks
■ Compatible with Apple Control-
ler & ACC-1 Controller • The drive
comes complete with connector and cable - just plug
into your disk controller card • Size: 6"L x 3WW x
8-9/16"D • Weight: 4Vz lbs.

ADD-514 (Disk Drive) $169.95

ACC-1 (Controller Card) $ 49.95

More Apple Compatible Add-Ons...

APF-1 (Cooling Fan with surge protection).. . . $39.95

KHP4007 (Switching Power Supply) $59.95

JE614 (Numeric/ Aux. Keypad for tie) $59.95

KB-A68 (Keyboard w/Keypad lor II & ll+) $79.95

MON-12G (12" Green Monitor w/swivel stand). . . . $99.95

JE864 (80 Col. +64K RAM for We) $99.95

ADD-12 (5VV Hall-Height Disk Drive) $169.95

ADDITIONAL APPLE™
ADD-ONS AVAILABLE

ARC-16K(16K RAM Card (or Apple II & II+) $39.95

AEB-2 (EPROM Burner for Apple II. II+ & lie) . .$69.95

Allows copy of standard EPROMS

2716,2732.2764
A80-C (80-Column Card w/Soft Switch). . . . $74.95
ADD-llc (5V'Half-Ht. Disk Drive tor Anoietfc) $169.95

DISK DRIVES

82-Key ASCII Cherry Keyboard

• 7-bit parallel ASCII • 1 1-key numeric keypad
•Cursor keypad -SPST mechanical keyswitches

• 4 illuminated keys • 26-pin header connector
Color: while -Size: 18"L x 6VW x 1tt"H -Spec
included

KB8201 .

. (1700 avail). . . . $29.95

Apple Keyboard and Case
for Apple II and II+

Keyboard: • 68 keys • 15-key keypad • Direct con-
nection with 16-pin ribbon connector ■ 26 special
functions • Size: 1 4 Y'L x 5 VW x 1!i"H
Case Accommodates KB- A68 • Pop-uplidloreasy
access ■ Fits power supply and motherboard too
• Size: 151J"W x 18"Dx 4'VH Pnce

Documentation "\il ^"" & t esf

Included ^%^^^ ****

MPI51S (MPI 5tt " SS f ull-ht.) $ 89.95

RFD480 (Remex 5V<" DS full-ht.) $109.95

TM100-2 (Tandon 514" DS full-ht.) $159.95

FD55B (Teac 5 1 /4 " DS half-ht.) $1 49.95

SA455 (Shugart 5V« " DS half-ht.). ... $1 59.95

FDD1 00-8 (Siemens 8" SS full-ht.) $11 9.95

PCK-5 (5'/4" Power Cable Kit) $2.95

PCK-8 (8" Ftowpr Cahlp Kin S3 95

UV-EPROM Eraser

KB-EA1 Apple Keyboard and Case (pictured above) $134.95

KB-A68 68-Key Apple Keyboard only $ 79.95

EAEC-1 Expanded Apple Enclosure Case only $ 59.95

POWER SUPPLIES

8 Chips - 21 Minutes

^eu,/

Power/Mate Corp. REGULATED POWER SUPPLY

■ Input: 105-125/210-250 VAC at 47-63 Hz • Line regulation: ^0.05% • Three
mounting surfaces • Overvoltage protection • UL recognized • CSA certified
Part No. Output Size Weigh! Price

EMA5/6B
EMA5/6C

5V@3A/6V@2.5A 4VLx4"W x2V'H 2 lbs. $29.95
5V@6A/6V@5A 5WL x 4!i"W x 2WH 4 lbs. $39.95

KEPCO/TDK4-OUTPUT SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY

• Ideal for disk drive needs of CRT terminals, microcomputers and
video games • Input: 1 1 5/230VAC, 50/60HZ ■ Output: +5V@5Amp,+12V@
1.8 Amp, +12V @ 2 Amp, -12V @ 0.5 Amp ■ UL recognized ■ CSA certified

• Size: 7*"Lx6-3/16"Wx1VH. Weight: 2 lbs. $59,95 eaC \y Qf

MRM 174KF 2 for $99.95

Switching Power Supply for APPLE II, II+ & //e™

• Can drive four floppy disk drives and up to eight expansion cards

• Short circuit and overload protection • Fits inside Apple computer

• Fully regulated +5V @ 5A. + 1 2V @ 1 .5A, -5V @ .5A. - 1 2V @ .5 A

• Direct plug-in power cord included • Size: 9ft"L x 3WW x 2'VH

• Weight: 2 lbs.

KHP4007 (SPS-109) $59.95

4-CHANNEL SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY

■ Microprocessor, mini-computer, terminal, medical equipment and process
control applications • Input: 90-130VAC, 47-440H2 • Output: +5V0C @ 5A,
-5VDC@1 A; + 12VDC@1A,-12VDC@1A-Lineregulations:i0.2%- Ripple:
30mV p-p • Load regulation: ^1% • Overcurrent protection • Adj: 5V main
output ±10% -Size;6%"Lx 1!i"Wx 4-15/16 n H -Weight: \Vt lbs.

FCS-604A $69.95

IBM PCXT EQUIVALENT 130 WATT POWER SUPPLY

UPGRADE YOUR PC!

• Input: 100V-130V/200V-260V selectable @ 47 to 63Hz • Output:
+5VDC @ 15A. -5VDC @ 0.5A, +12VDC @ 4.2A, -12VDC @ 0.5A

• Plug compatible connectors • Fits into IBM PC • Weight: 6 lbs.

IBM-PS $159.95

$10 Minimum Order - US. Funds Only CA Residents: Add 6*/a% Sales Tax Spec Sheets -3 0« each

Shipping: Add 5% plus $1.50 Insurance Send S 1 Postage for FREE 1985 Jameco Catalog Prices Subject to Change

Send stamped, self-addressed envelope to receive a Monthly Sales Flyer- FREEI

MasterCard)

J!

MJ.HJW»J1'WII.UI.IM

ameco

EEgEEZIia

1355 SHOREWAY ROAD, BELMONT, CA 94002
6/85 PHONE ORDERS WELCOME- (415) 592-8097 - Telex: 176043

1 Chip -15 Minutes |

Erases all EPROMs. Erases up to 8 chips within 21 minutes (1 chip
in 1 5 minutes). Maintains constant exposure distance olone inch.
Special conductive foam liner eliminates static build-up. Built-in
safety lock to prevent UV exposure. Compact - only 9 00"L x
3.70"W x 2.60"H. Complete with holding tray lor 8 chips.

DE-4 UV-EPROM Eraser $74.95

UVS-11EL Replacement Bulb S16.95

See Our New IBM Communications Program!

24 & 28 PIN
ea on , \ PACKAGES

«l| 1 fik\8Kto64K

9H9 RA EPROMs

4

REQUIRES NO ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS FOR OPERATION

Programs and validates EPROMs • Checks for properly erased EPROMs
• Emulates PROMs or EPROMs • Loads data in RAM by keyboard ■ Changes
data in RAM by keyboard ■ Loads RAM Irom an EPROM ■ 664 RAMs can be
used tor external microprocessor development • Compares EPROMs tor
content differences ■ CopiesEPROMs * Input: 1 15VAC ® 60Hi • Assembled
and lested ■ Size: 1 5^"L x 8*i"D x 3^"H ■ Wt; 5^i lbs -2716 Moduleincluded

JE664-A EPROM Programmer $995.00

JE665-RS232C INTERFACE OPTION - This option implements computer
acce ssto the JE664's RAM, allowing c om puter to m anipulate, store, and Iran s-
ler EPROM dataloand from the JE664. Sample program listing is supplied in
MBASIC lor CP/M computers • Documentation provided to adapt the software
toother computers with an RS232 port ■ Specs: 9600 Baud. 8-bit word, odd
parity with 2 stop bits • Assembled and tested • 2716 Module included

EPROM Programmer
JE664-ARS w/JE6650otion $1195.00

JE664-ARS COMMUNICATION PROGRAM
For IBM-PC or XT and Compatibles

copies of EPROM data • View data in HEX and ASCII NEWI

The JE664-ARS Communication Program was written lor quick interfacing
between the JE664-ARS EPROM Programmer and the IBM-PC computer and
compatibles. Menu-driven program allows user to Load and Save EPROM
data to and Irom the computer or floppy disk. Dataentered by the computer
can be viewed in Hex S ASCII formats. Printed hard-c opiesarealso displayed
in both formats. Program ts Ideal for keeping archives of master EPROMs on
disk. The program Is compatible for all EPROMs listed with the JE664.
Computer requirements: IBM -PC. XT (or eq.) with at least 1 28K RAM and one
serial port. Optional: One parallel port for printer.

JE664-ARS-CP $49.95

JE664-ARS Communications Piogram (5V." Disk and User's Instructions)

JE664-CP CABLE $29.95

Cable for IBM-PC to JE664-ARS Program (5 1 Shielded Cable Assembly)
JUMPER (Personality) MODULES - Jumper (Personality) Modules tor 8K,
16K, 32K, and 64K EPROMs. 'Please specify EPROM and manufacturer. ,
JUMPER (Personality) MODULE ■ SI 4.95 each/

Inquiry 433

IUNE 1985 'BYTE 293

WeSiart
Servicing
Your PCs
Before We
EverSeeThem.

With Back-Up™ the service starts as soon as you call us.

Because we diagnose your malfunctioning equipment right
over the phone. And before we hang up, we know what's wrong
and what parts are needed before we arrive on site.

That way, we can service your equipment as quickly as
possible without tying up your office for hours on end.

We specialize in servicing business PCs. Particularly IBM-PCs.
(We've been servicing IBM equipment longer than any other
national third-party maintenance company)

And unlike most maintenance companies, we give you
centralized support. So calling one number brings service to your
company's PCs. Anywhere across the country.
Back-Up is just one of the ways we're using proven technology to solve computer
maintenance problems worldwide. Call 1-800-346-6789 (in Minnesota
612/292-2209). Outside the U.S., call your local Control Data office. And find out how
efficient we can be.

CONTRPL DATA

S()4H Copyright © 1985 Control Data Corporation

IBM-PC unci IHM art- registered trademurks.of the International Business Machines Corporation.

294 BYTE' JUNE 1985

Inquiry 117

PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

6502 TRICKS
AND TRAPS

by Joe Holt

Tips for surviving
6502 assembly-language programming

WITH THE ADVENT of complex microprocessors whose
operation codes (op codes) begin to resemble some high-
level languages, the days of the 6502 seem numbered.
Indeed, a microprocessor with only three 8-bit registers
and a 64K-byte address space is apparently no match for
a piece of silicon that can walk through 4 gigabytes of
memory in 32-bit strides and work with hundreds of bits
worth of registers. I won't try to fool you: The 6502 will
not be around forever. But when the last of its species
emerges from the forge, it will be joining an installed base
of more than 3 million 6502-based computers. There is
merit, therefore, in discussing the peculiarities of this dying
breed, the ins and outs of this most nonorthogonal micro-
processor.

The 6502 has three 8-bit registers (only one of which
can be used in arithmetic and Boolean operations), a
single-page (2 56-byte) fixed stack, and optimized perfor-
mance when dealing with the first 2 56 bytes of memory.
But what may be considered a tight architecture is
befuddled by an instruction set full of inconsistency and
seeming favoritism to certain combinations of address-
ing modes and op codes. Steve Wozniak even admitted
that the only reason he put a 6502 in his Apple II was
because it was cheap.

In order to gain the most benefit from the 6502, an as-
sembly-language programmer must understand these idio-
syncrasies and use them to his or her advantage.

Peculiarities

I will assume for the sake of brevity that you are already
familiar with the 6502's architecture and operation codes
(and assembly language in general) and perhaps have ac-

cess to an Apple or Atari with a decent assembler. If not,
you might want to pick up a good reference book on the
6502 and sit down with an assembler and experiment.
An intimate knowledge of your machine is the greatest
boon to any programming task.

Zero Page

The first two pages (512 bytes) of address space have
special meaning to the 6502. The first page, called the
Zero page, consists of memory addresses 0000 to 00FF
| Editor's note. All addresses are in hexadecimal unless otherwise spec-
ified] and is considered prime real estate for variable
storage. Memory references to the Zero page by most op
codes can be reduced to I byte because the 6502 has
a special addressing mode strictly for this area of memory
Not only are programs that place variables on the Zero
page shorter, but they also run faster because the micro-
processor need only fetch 1 byte from the program to
determine the memory address. The upper byte of the
address (OOxx) is supplied internally. For example, the
following sequence assembles to 6 bytes and executes
in eight clock cycles:

300:AD 80 03
303:8D 81 03

LDA $380
STA $381

;get value
;and stuff i

elsewhere

The equivalent sequence using Zero-page variables assem-
bles to only 4 bytes and executes in six clock cycles:

300:A5 80 LDA $80 ;get Zero-page value

[continued]
]oe Holt is a freelance technical writer. He can be reached at 476
West Main Rd., El Centro. CA 92243.

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 295

6502 TRICKS AND TRAPS

302:85 81

STA $81 ;and stuff it elsewhere

Where speed and space are critical there is no better
solution than to put oft-used variables on the Zero page.
But beware: Other programmers before you have done
the same, so it's important not to alter Zero-page memory
locations already used by your computer's ROM (read-only
memory) routines or DOS (disk operating system).

The Stack

The second page consists of memory addresses 0100 to
01FF and is the location of the 6502's stack. Because the
entire stack can be addressed by 9 bits, the stack pointer
is 8 bits wide with the upper bit (Olxx) supplied internal-
ly. You can only set this 8-bit stack pointer via the X
register; you must place the value in the X register and
transfer it to the stack pointer with the TXS (transfer X
register to stack pointer) op code. Because the stack grows
downward, it is good practice to initialize the stack pointer
at the beginning of any 6502 program with the following
code:

300:A2 FF LDX #$FF ;set pointer to very top of stack
302:9A TXS

Conversely the only way you can read the stack pointer
is through the X register, with the TSX (transfer stack
pointer to X register) op code. This instruction is handy
for "locating yourself" in a relocatable program, a topic
I'll describe later.

The stack never grows so low that it clobbers the Zero
page. Instead, the stack pointer wraps from 0100 back up
to 01FE possibly causing confusion if you've already got
a page full of variables or return addresses pushed onto
the stack. This situation can be kept in check by limiting
the use of recursive subroutines.

Flags

The 6502 is notorious for how it handles its flags, especial-
ly the Carry flag. Where most processors set the Carry
flag when a borrow occurs from a subtract operation, the
6502 produces a clear Carry to indicate a borrow. The
following is an illustration with the SBC (subtract with
Carry) instruction:

300:38 SEC ;be sure the Carry's set

301:E9 01 SBC #1 ;decrement the

accumulator
303:90 .. BCC BORROW ;a borrow occurred

You've probably noticed the lack of add and subtract
op codes on the 6502 that do not include the Carry flag.
This oversight necessitates setting (for SBC, as above) or
clearing (for ADC— add with Carry) the Carry before per-
forming one of these operations.

The backward Carry for subtract operations is not in it-
self confusing, that is, until you realize that compare opera-
tions (CMP, CPX, CPY) are actually subtracts in compares'
clothing. Logical compares are accomplished within most

microprocessors by simply subtracting from the value be-
ing compared the value to compare with and tossing away
the result. In other words, comparing 5 to 6 would be a
matter of subtracting 6 from 5 and setting the appropriate
status flags. In this situation (5 minus 6) a borrow would
occur, indicated by a clear Carry. Therefore, after a com-
pare operation, a clear Carry indicates less than, and a
set Carry indicates greater than or equal. This is backward
from the logic of all other popular microprocessors.

The other flag that you should be wary of is the Decimal
flag. When set, all arithmetic operations are performed
in BCD (binary-coded decimal). This is wonderful if you
intend to perform BCD mathematics, but it can cause all
kinds of unexplainable problems if not. Consequently, you
should start any 6502 program with a CLD (clear Decimal
flag) operation. Set the Decimal flag only when necessary
and clear it immediately afterward.

The way the 6502 decides to set or clear its flags after
different operations is not immediately obvious, and the
logic behind this is somewhat different from that of most
other microprocessors. For example, the Carry flag is only
affected by arithmetic (ADC, SBC, and compares) and
shift operations (ASL, LSR, ROL, and ROR), except when
explicitly changed (with CLC, SEC, or PLP). Operations
that affect the Carry flag on many other processors, such
as Boolean operations (AND, EOR, and ORA), do not
modify the Carry at all. Increment and decrement opera-
tions do not affect the Carry either, but this is only a prob-
lem when testing if a register or memory value was
decremented past 0, in which case you have to execute
an explicit comparison:

300:CA DEX
301 :E0 FF CPX
303:F0 . . BEQ

#$FF
ROLLUNDER

;count down
;past zero?
;yes

The two flags that are set or cleared in conjunction with
most operations are the Negative and Zero flags. The
Negative flag reflects the state of the eighth (most signifi-
cant) bit of the result of the operation, and the Zero flag
is set whenever the result is equal to (all bits cleared).
All operations that work with a value set these flags, in-
cluding the load (LDA, LDX, and LDY) and transfer (TAX,
TAY, TSX, TXA, TXS, and TYA) op codes.

The Bit Instruction

Although the 6502's instruction set includes no operations
for bit manipulation (short of Boolean operations), a
special instruction can be used to examine the eighth
(most significant) and seventh bits of a value in memory.
This is the BIT op code, and when used it will place the
eighth bit of the memory referenced in the Negative flag
and the seventh bit in the Overflow flag without affecting
the contents of any register. This has the most benefit
when you use it to test if a Boolean variable (that is, one
that is either 00 or FF) is set or not:

{continued)

296 B YTE • JUNE I985

This will renew
vour trust in the
phone company.

Mnybody who's ever sent data
over phone lines knows the problems
it can present.

Information gets mumble-
jumbled. $4,000 invoices become
$40,000 invoices. And soon your
company's lost a pretty penny over
some modem foul-up.

Well, now you can say good-by
to all that.

tK MNP is a trademark of Microcom, Inc. ^Copyright 1985 Codex Corp.

Because Codex just came
out with a modem that over-
comes the inadequacies of phone
line performance.

(Codex, as your friends in
data processing will tell you, is
the industry's acknowledged
leader in state-of-the-art
products, in service, in just about
everything that has to do with
networking.)

The Codex error-correcting
pc modem is a serious business
modem.

It gives you data trans-
missions more than 10,000 times
more reliable than most
other modems. Over anybody's
phone lines.

A sophisticated error-
correction system called MNP™
detects breakdowns in phone
line performance and retransmits
data. And the beauty is all
this happens without you ever
knowing it.

Just think. Data you
can trust.

Now don't you feel better
about those crazy phone lines?
If you're a data
communications manager responsible
for purchasing modems,
call 8004264212. Extension 225.
Or write Codex Corporation,
Department
707-225,
20 Cabot
Boulevard,
Mansfield,

MA 02048. COO<2\

®

MOTOROLA

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 297

Inquiry 358

fkmrM

data
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6502 TRICKS AND TRAPS

300:24 80
302:30 . .

BIT
BMI

ALLDONE
DONE

;are we done?
;yes

The BIT operation also has the side effect of setting or
clearing the Zero flag depending on the result of a logical
AND operator between the memory value and the ac-
cumulator. This feature (really the main purpose of the
BIT operation) has little use outside of testing status bits
in a memory-mapped I/O machine..

Saving X and Y

To complete the discussion of the 6502's peculiarities, I
should mention that there is no provision to push or pop
the contents of the X or Y registers. If you need to preserve
the contents of either of these registers, there are two
paths you can take. The first and most logical one is to
save the contents on the stack, but you can only do this
by transferring the register to the accumulator and then
pushing the accumulator onto the stack. To restore the
register, you must pop the accumulator from the stack and
transfer its contents back to the appropriate register:

300:8A
301:48

325:68
326:AA

TXA
PHA

PLA
TAX

;save the X register

;now restore the X register

The disadvantage of this method is obvious: The original
value in the accumulator is destroyed, and it is not a sim-
ple matter of pushing and popping the accumulator
around each sequence to preserve it. You must temporari-
ly save the contents of the accumulator either in the re-
maining register or in some memory location. Neither
situation is desirable. (Of course, if the accumulator isn't
holding anything of any consequence, then this disadvan-
tage can be ignored.)

Your alternative is to store the register in memory some-
where and then load it back when required. This has the
advantage of placing the register's content where it can
be easily accessed (by LDX, STX, LDY, and STY op codes),
but it forces you to set aside a specific location just for
preserving a register. Things get really messy when this
occurs in a recursive routine or if the location for saving
the register is also used someplace else for the same pur-
pose. In either case, havoc will ensue. The bottom line is
that no solution is perfect, and you must examine the
situation carefully to decide what will work best.

Tricks

Clicks (or "hacks") are techniques that use a feature or defi-
ciency in the programming environment to an advantage
not anticipated by the system designer. If you use them
with caution, they can result in faster, more compact ob-
ject code.

In the 6502's case, there are dozens of these optimiza-
tion tricks, each of which saves bytes and cycle time. Some

[continued)

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6502 TRICKS AND TRAPS

of the tricks described here are not necessarily applicable
just to the 6502 but are simply good programming prac-
tices. Nonetheless, they are essential to using the 6502's
full potential.

Branching

One of the glaring holes in the 6502's instruction set is
the absence of an unconditional relative jump (or branch).
This makes writing relocatable code difficult, and many
times it seems a waste to have to use 3 bytes for a jump
instruction just to skip over I or 2 bytes. One way you
can get around this is by using a conditional branch when
the state of a flag is guaranteed. For example, because
a load operation always modifies the Negative and Zero
flags, this type of sequence is possible:

300:C9 05

CMP #5

less than 5?

302:B0 . .

BCS NOTLESS

no

304:A9 01

LDA #1

yes, set to 1

306:D0 . .

BNE CONTINUE

— always taken

Because the accumulator is loaded with l , the Zero flag
will always be clear, in which case the BNE (branch if not
equal) will always be taken.

If you do not know the state of a flag for certain, but
you must use a branch instead of a jump (perhaps you
are writing some relocatable code), you can always force
one of the flags to a known state and branch on that con-
dition. Because the Overflow flag is seldom used, it finds
itself the most likely candidate:

300:B8
301:50

CLV

BVC SMORE

;clear overflow for branch
; — always taken

This sequence takes just as many bytes as an equivalent
jump (JMP) instruction, with the one disadvantage com-
mon to all 6502 relative branches: They can only jump
forward 127 bytes or back 128 bytes.

One other trick involves the misuse of the BIT opera-
tion. Because the BIT operation does not affect any
registers and only the Zero, Negative, and Overflow flags,
it can be put to good use as a "skip over the next 2 bytes"
instruction. For example,

300:C9 05
302:B0 03
304:A2 FF
306:2C
307:A2 00
309:86 80

CMP #5
BCS NO
LDX #$FF
DFB $2C
NO: LDX #0

STX AFLAG

less than 5?

no

yes, set to true

— BIT trick

no, set to false

save true/false status

If the condition is true (less than 5), the X register will
be loaded with the value FF. then a nonsense BIT instruc-
tion occurs, after which execution continues. If the condi-
tion is false, NO will be branched to, which loads the X
register with 00. In one sense, the operation immediately
following the LDX #$FF is a BIT operation with memory
address 00A2, but in another sense, that memory address
operand (00A2) disassembles to the instruction LDX #0.

300 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 426

Inquiry 267

6502 TRICKS AND TRAPS

This trick of hiding code within the operand of other code
is an old one but should nonetheless be used with caution.
This BIT technique can also be used to skip over 1 byte
by using the Zero-page addressing mode for BIT, in which
case the value for the DFB (define byte) pseudo-operation
would be 24.

Adding and Subtracting

Because of the lack of add and subtract operations that
do not include the Carry the sequences CLC, ADC and
SEC, SBC are common ones. There is one way to avoid
having to explicitly set or clear the Carry, but only if the
Carry is in a known state. For example,

300:C9 05

CMP #5

;less than 5?

302:B0 . .

BCS NOTLESS

;no

304:18

CLC

305:69 05

ADC #5

;yes, put it at

Because the Carry flag will always be clear if the branch
is not taken, the CLC before the ADC instruction is un-
necessary. You must be careful to ensure that the condi-
tion of the branch does not change, however.

If the Carry flag is in the wrong (but known) state, it can
still be used to your advantage if the operand for the ADC
or SBC is immediate:

300:C9 05
302:90 . .
304:69 04

CMP
BCC
ADC

#5

LESS

#5-1

;less than 5?

;yes!

;(or 4)

In this example, the ADC operation will still add 5 to
the accumulator because the Carry will always be set and
will therefore be added along with the 4.

Initialization

There are many places in a program where a number of
variables must be set to certain values. Usually, the code
looks like this:

300:A9 FF
302:85 80
304:85 81
306:A9 00
308:85 82
30A:A9 01
30C:85 83

LDA #$FF
STA VAR1
STA VAR2
LDA #0
STA VAR3
LDA #1
STA VAR4

;set a few true/false vars

;clear this one

;and initialize another

If the X or Y register can be sacrificed, the fact that the
values being stored are consecutive can be exploited:

300:A2 FF
302:86 80
304:86 81
306:E8
307:86 82
309:E8
30A:86 83

LDX #$FF

STX VAR1

STX VAR2

INX

STX VAR3

INX

STX VAR4

;set a few true/false vars

;now we're up to
;clear this one
;now we're up to 1
;and initialize another

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JUNE I985 -BYTE 301

6502 TRICKS AND TRAPS

Note that this only reduces the size of the code; there
is no savings in speed (an INX op code takes just as many
clock cycles as an LDA #).

Locating Yourself

Often it is necessary to know the location of code that
is executing in a relocatable environment. If there is within
the system the location of a known RTS instruction
(perhaps in ROM), this can be accomplished by calling this
RTS, then examining the remains on the stack. The follow-
ing example will determine what page the executing code
is on:

300:20 58 FF JSR KNOWNRTS ;get return address

on the stack

303 :BA TSX

304:BD 00 01 LDA $100,X ;now get what

page we're on

There is a special consideration when using this type
of code. If there is the possibility of a 6502 interrupt oc-
curring (from a real-time clock or a communications
device), the return address above the stack would be
destroyed by the 6502's interrupt processing. It would be
wise in this case to turn off interrupts before this bit of
code (SEI), then reenable them immediately after the LDA
$100,X (CLI). | Editor's note: These instructions are two more ex-
amples of the 6502's confusing mnemonics. At first glance, you would
think that SEI would mean "set interrupts!' However, SEI means
"set interrupt disable flag": its execution shuts off the 6502 inter-
rupts. CLI means "clear interrupt disable flag',' and a CLI instruc-
tion actually enables interrupts.]

NONINDEXED INDIRECT

One of the nicest features of the 6502 is its abundance
of addressing modes, but there are times when even these
are not enough. A prime example is the situation when
a Honindexed indirect reference must be made. Most of
the time, the Y register is sacrificed in this way:

300:A0 00 LDY #0 ;index of zero

302:B1 80 LDA (POINTER),Y ;nonindexed

But if the Y register is already being used, a similar method
involving the seldom (if ever) used preindexed indirect ad-
dressing mode can be used, at the expense of the X
register:

page in memory but a little extra programming can over-
come this. This technique uses an RTS instruction as a
kind of indirect jump:

300:A2 00
302:A1 80

LDX #0

LDA (POINTER.X)

;use some register

Of course, you should take advantage of an index
register that already contains 00.

Indirect Jumping

Last but not least is a technique for branching to different
routines depending on an index value. This can be used
for interpreting keyboard commands or executing alter-
nate parts of code based on a certain number. The only
limitation is that all the routines must reside on the same

300:A9 03

LDA #HIPAGE

;high byte of
address routines
are on

302:48

PHA

; stick it on the
stack

303:BD 20 03

LDA ADDRTAB.X

;X contains the
function number

306:48

PHA

;fake a 'return'
address

307:60

RTS

;go to the routine

The table ADDRTAB would contain the low byte of each
routine minus one due to the fact that the 6502's program
counter is incremented after the address is obtained for
the RTS. This portion of code expects the function number
in the X register. First, the high byte of the routines' ad-
dresses is pushed onto the stack, then the low byte is ob-
tained from the table and pushed onto the stack. At this
point, the stack contains the address of a routine to ex-
ecute just as if an instruction right before that routine had
been a JSR (jump to subroutine; note: JSR actually stands
for "jump and save return address"). When the RTS ex-
ecutes, it pulls the address off the stack, increments it,
then continues program execution at that address.

The 65C02

lust when you get used to the idea of having to use all
these tricks and have plastered your wall with 6502
peculiarities (as I've done), along comes the 65C02. The
65C02 is a revision of the 6502 that is built into the Apple
He is offered as an upgrade to the Apple lie, and solves
many of the problems and voids many of the hacks
described above. For example, the 65C02 includes a
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known-condition branching tricks, Also included are push
and pop X and Y instructions, which eliminate the need
for all the tricky register transfers or loading and storing.
Another nice addition is the inclusion of increment- and
decrement-accumulator instructions, so that it is no longer
necessary to resort to arithmetic just for this. A few bugs
within the 6502 have also been fixed in the 65C02.

The Future of the 6502

After all is said and done, has all this been purely
academic? I think not. Despite its simplicity and peculiar-
ities, the 6502 is still an attractive microprocessor for semi-
dedicated machines (that is, game machines, low-priced
home computers, etc.). It is a fast microprocessor with a
very efficient design. And to tell you the truth, I enjoy pro-
gramming the 6502 for the very quirks I've been complain-
ing about. I believe there are others who feel the same
way, and this if nothing else should guarantee a long and
prosperous life for the 6502. ■

302 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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Inquiry 127

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 303

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Inquiry 342

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PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

SOFTWARE-ICs

by Lamar Ledbetter and Brad Cox

A plan for building
reusable software components

THE SOFTWARE WORLD has run
headlong into the Software Crisis-
ambitious software projects are hard
to manage, too expensive, of medio-
cre quality, and hard to schedule
reliably. Moreover, all too often, soft-
ware delivers a solution that doesn't
meet the customers' needs. After
delivery, if not before, changing re-
quirements mean that systems must
be modified.

We must build systems in a radical-
ly different way if we are going to
satisfy tomorrow's quantity and quali-
ty demands, We must learn to build
systems that can withstand change.

Some system developers are al-
ready building software much faster
and of better quality than last year.
Not only that, the systems are much
more tolerant of change than ever
before, as a result of an old tech-
nology called message/object pro-
gramming. This technology, made
commercially viable because of the
cost/performance trends in hardware,
holds the key to a long-awaited
dream— software reusability. A new in-
dustry is developing to support the
design, development, distribution,
and support of reusable Software-ICs
(integrated circuits). A forthcoming

series in UNIX/World will address mes-
sage/object programming.

Message/Object Programming
and Software-ICs

In this article we'll look at the con-
cepts of message/object programming
and how they support the building of
"Software-ICs," as we call them, by
satisfying the requirements for re-
usability.

A Software-lC is a reusable software
component. It is a software packag-
ing concept that combines aspects of
subroutine libraries and UNIX filter
programs. A Software-IC is a standard
binary file produced by compiling a
C program generated by Objective-C.

The notion of objects that communi-
cate by messages is the foundation of
message/object programming and
fundamental to Software-ICs. An ob-
ject includes data, a collection of pro-
cedures (methods) that can access that
data directly, and a selection mecha-
nism whereby a message is translated
into a call to one of these procedures.
You can request objects to do things
by sending them a message.

Sending a message to an object is
exactly like calling a function to
operate on a data structure, with one

crucial difference: Function calls
specify not what should be accom-
plished but how. The function name
identifies specific code to be ex-
ecuted. Messages, by contrast, specify
what you want an object to do and
leave it up to the object to decide
how.

Requirements for Reusability

Only a few years ago, hardware de-
signers built hardware much as we
build software today. They assembled
custom circuits from individual elec-
trical components (transistors, re-
sistors, capacitors, and so on), just as
we build functions out of low-level
components of programming lan-
guages (assignment statements, con-
ditional statements, function calls, and
so on), Massive reusability of hard-
ware designs wasn't possible until a
packaging technology evolved that
could make the hardware environ-
ment of a chip (the circuit board and
adjoining electrical components) rela-

[conlmued)
Lamar Ledbetter is director of special projects
and Brad Cox is vice president of Productiv-
ity Products International (27 Glen Rd.,
Sandy Hook, CT 06482), which produces
Objective-C.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 307

SOFTWARE~ICs

tively independent of the detailed
workings of that chip. The IC quickly
developed to the point that multiple
chip vendors now vie to sell their
hardware design effort in a market for
reusable hardware designs.

One concept that stands out in
hardware systems is that many of the
components perform unique services.
Services are provided upon request
and the requester need not be con-
cerned with the internal methods or
data used, only the result. The equiv-
alent software concept, encapsulation, is
fundamental to success in software
reusability. Encapsulation defines a
data structure and a group of pro-
cedures for accessing it. Users access
the data structure only through a set

of carefully documented, controlled,
and standardized interfaces.

The concept of messaging is also
prevalent in the hardware world. It is
through messaging that the loose
coupling of components is achieved
and the division of responsibility be-
tween the user and the supplier is
defined and enforced.

The hardware industry has also
achieved a high degree of reusability
through the development of stan-
dards. There are standards for inter-
connection, power, and processing,
for example. In contrast, in the soft-
ware world standards for the syntax
and semantics of only a few lan-
guages have been defined and
adhered to across a range of hard-

MAILBOX DEVELOPER S
RESPONSIBILITY

theMailbox

FORMS DEVELOPER'S
RESPONSIBILITY

MEMO

TYPE
CONTENTS

Figure 1 : Mailbox using the operator! operand model. The Mailbox developer
must specify how to display the form by checking the form type and calling the
correct subroutine. As a result, every form type must be enumerated and the
implementation changed as form types are added or deleted.

ware. There have also been many un-
successful attempts to define stan-
dards for the implementation of soft-
ware algorithms and applications
(such as GOTO-less programming, no
global data, loose coupling, tight
binding, and data hiding, among
others). Stressing strict static "type
checking" as a standard helps solve
the problems of integration and de-
bugging but does not change the
basic operator/operand concept em-
bodied in most languages; it only
moves it to a higher level of abstrac-
tion. To reuse modules developed
using the operator/operand concept,
you have to hope that the output of
one module is compatible with the
"type" of the input of the receiver,
redefine the type of the operands in
either the receiver or sender, or trans-
form the operands. Because of the
complexity, there has been little prog-
ress in the definition of standards for
reusability in the operator/operand
model. In contrast, useful standards
for reusability are in use or being
developed in organizations that have
embraced the message/object para-
digm.

In the hardware world, the functions
of standard components are well de-
fined and identifiable. Given a knowl-
edge of the functions available and a
high level of standardization, hard-
ware designers routinely integrate re-
usable hardware components into
new systems. Standard functions are
easy to identify because they map
into the real-world model of hardware
systems. In the software world, the
definition of standard, identifiable
functions is still a dream, even with
our "standard" utility libraries. If soft-
ware reusability is to become a reali-
ty, languages must support a more
direct mapping from the model of the
real-world functions to the implemen-
tation.

Hardware components are deliv-
ered in an unmodifiable form. That
means that standard functions are
protected. If Software-lCs are to
become a reality, the languages and
standards must support the delivery
of components that operate as adver-
tised and are immune to modification

308 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 30

SOFTWARE-ICs

by the system builder. If the system
builder wants different functions, he
must go back to a Software-IC "foun-
dry" for a new component.

Reusability can have several mean-
ings in both the hardware and soft-
ware worlds. A hardware designer
would never think (as we do in soft-
ware) of starting the design of a
modification with a blank piece of
paper or by looking at the design of
all of the connecting components. A
designer also doesn't worry about
needing to modify the interfaces or
components not affected by the
change. Modified components "in-
herit" most of the previous implemen-
tation and contain only the changes
necessary to provide the required
new behavior. The inheritance of
already-working methods by a new
Software-IC has tremendous produc-
tivity implications.

Why Didnt Software-ICs
Exist Before?

One of the main reasons Software-ICs
didn't exist before is that the cost per-
formance of hardware did not support
the requirement that computer cycles
must be used ("wasted") to enhance
software reusability. The cycles were
too expensive, and performance op-
timization was necessarily a primary
goal. Strict implementations such as
Smalltalk-80 consume orders of
magnitude in performance. Less rev-
olutionary implementations of the
message/object paradigm, such as
Objective-C, while paying some per-
formance price, are viable for com-
mercial systems and are in use today
in companies building major software
systems.

Most of us have been taught to
think within the conceptual framework
of operators and operands. That
framework has Jed many to conclude
that the complexity involved in re-
using a software component far ex-
ceeds the possible benefits.

In order for Software-ICs to work,
the manner in which systems evolve
has to be fundamentally different. The
concept of inheritance, discussed in
detail later, is that fundamental dif-
ference. The concept of Software-ICs

Encapsulation

is fundamental

to success

in software reusability.

also demands a level of standardiza-
tion in system implementation that
has not been feasible until recently.
Finally, the market for Software-ICs is
a recent reality created by the recog-
nition that what I call the Software
Crisis can be solved only by fun-
damental changes in the way we build
systems. It is no longer competitively
viable to ignore the products of pre-
vious development efforts if there is
any way to reuse or reapply those
products.

Objects, Messages, and
Encapsulation

The distinction between specifying
what should be done as opposed to
how it should be done is subtle and
often misunderstood. It is, however, a
crucial one because, as has been
demonstrated in the hardware world,
it is central to reusability.

By way of example, imagine a pro-
grammer building an electronic mail-
box in an electronic office system, and
focus on the mailbox developer's role
as a user of services provided by his
supplier, the developer of the forms
being mailed. The mailbox developer
must provide a way to implement the
intention to display the selected item.
If he does this using the conventional
operator/operand model and specify-
ing how, not what, as depicted in
figure 1. the code given in listing la
results.

Notice the separation of responsi-
bilities. Because the mailbox devel-
oper is responsible for deciding how
to implement the function that is
called selectltemForReading. the
code must enumerate every data type
the forms developers might provide.
This results in code that is inherently
nonreusable; the case labels explicitly

[continued)

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 309

SOFTWARE-ICs

Listing I: Operator/ operand versus message/ object implementations. Listings \a
and 1 b are, respectively, examples of portions of code that create an electronic
Mailbox using conventional (operator/operand) and message/object models.
Comparing the two illustrates the difference between the Mailbox developer
specifying "how" versus "what'.'

(la)

selectltemForReading(theMailbox) {

*/

/* Select an item in theMailbox and
/* check the item type flag */

switch(item->type)
/* Now call the appropriate display subroutine */

{
case MEMO: displayMemo(item); break;
case EXPENSE: displayExpense(item); break;

default: error("unknown contents"); break;
}

(lb)
selectltemForReading(theMailbox) {

/* Select an item in theMailbox and . . . */

[item display]; /" Send item a message to display itself */

Listing 2: Using SoftwareACs, This message/object program counts the unique
words in a file using preexisting Software-\Cs from the Qbjective*C library: Set
and String.

// Reads words from stdin and counts unique ones main() {
extern id String, Set; // Specify object (instance) factory ids
id uniqueWords, currentWord; // Local object (instance) ids
char buf[MAXBUF]; // Word buffer

uniqueWords = [Set new]; // Create a new empty set instance

while (nextWord(buf) ! = EOF) { // forEachWord . . .
currentWord = [String stribuf]; // Create a string instance for each word
[uniqueWords filtencurrentWord];// Store unique ones in set

}

printf("The number of unique words is °/od\n" ( [uniqueWords size]);

state that this mailbox is useless
except for memo and expense
contents.

Now notice what happens in the re-
written code (listing lb) using mes-
sages and objects as depicted in
figure 2. The message expression,
item display, commands the object,
item, to display itself, thus specifying
only whatthe object is to do. How the
object is to do it is decided by the
forms developers so the mailbox
code becomes independent of its
contents.

The technical term for this is dynamic
binding. Dynamic binding and encap-
sulation are at the root of the re-
usability provided by this variety of
message/object programming.

Some modern programming lan-
guages (Ada, Modula-2, and CLU, for
example) provide a different form of
encapsulation by binding statically at
compile time. While this certainly is
an improvement over traditional lan-
guages like C and Pascal, it provides
no new help in solving the reusabili-
ty problem. The mailbox example
coded in any of these languages
would still need the switch statement.

The notion of a Software-lC, in
which reusable code is built and
tested by a supplier and then
delivered to consumers in binary
form, is not possible without dynamic
binding.

USING SOFTWARE-ICS

We will demonstrate the use of Soft-
ware-ICs by building a simple pro-
gram that counts the unique words in
a file. For the sake of comparison, we
will discuss two different solutions
based on reuse of existing software
and then turn our attention to the
Software-IC solution.

The subroutine-library solution
would reuse library functions for
managing files, printing results, and
comparing strings. Custom software
would be required for the word
parser, hash function, hash table/col-
lision handling, counting words in the
hash table, and printing the formatted
results. Much of the significant new
development and debugging effort
concerns algorithms that have been

310 BYTE ■ JUNE 1985

SOFTWARE-ICs

implemented in many previous appli-
cations. Once working, however, the
implementation should be fairly
efficient.

A UNIX-style solution would consist
of small "tools" connected by pipes.
The off-the-shelf utilities that could be
reused include tr (translate charac-
ters), sort (sorting utility), and wc
(word-count utility). The programmer
would have to custom-build a script
for assembling the utilities. This par-
ticular problem requires a good work-
ing knowledge of applicable UNIX
utilities but no custom software. The
implementation would be noticeably
slower than both the subroutine
library and Software-IC solutions.

The Software-IC solution involves
assembling two prefabricated
Software-ICs from a library of com-

ponents. A String is used to hold
words, and a Set can be used to hold
the unique words. Both are standard
components in the library released
with Objective-C. The performance of
the Software-IC solution would not be
as good as the first solution, but it
would certainly be acceptable and
could be optimized by tuning. The full
text for this solution, except for the
small function nextWord(), which
parses words from the input stream,
is presented in listing 2.

The two external symbols Set and
String identify a pair of factory objects
whose function is to produce in-
stances of their classes (Software-ICs).
Each class defines behaviors and
declares data for (a) its factory object
and (b) its instances. The two local
symbols uniqueWords and current-

The notion of a
Software-IC is not
possible without
dynamic binding.

Word identify instances, which will be
manufactured by Set and String at run
time.

In this example, String responds to
a str: message by allocating enough
space to hold the characters in the
message argument buf. The next
statement commands the set unique-
Words to perform the filter: function
on currentWord.

(continued)

MAILBOX DEVELOPER'S
RESPONSIBILITY

(SUPERCLASS)
INHERITS FROM
A

( METHODS)
( BEHAVIORS)
( PROCEDURES)

Figure 2: Mailbox using the message/ object model. The Mailbox
developer specifies what the form should do by sending it a

message to display itself. As a result, form types can be added
or deleted without changing the Mailbox implementation.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 311

(3a)

E
F

ARRAY

A

B

C

i

TO ARRAY'S

SUPERCLASS

(OBJECT)

CODE FOR B

CODE FOR
NEW B

CODE FOR

G

H

(3b)

NAME OF CLASS -

INHERITED METHOD
(NAME. POINTER. AND
CODE ACTUALLY IN
SUPERCLASS)

POINTER TO
SUPERCLASS

MODIFIED INHERITED METHOD
(REPLACES METHOD OF
SAME NAME IN SUPER- ^S
CLASS) ^

INSTANCE METHOD •

Z

,J

POINTER TO CODE

J

Figure 3: Inheritance. New specialized classes can be. and for example, the definition of Container includes only definitions

almost always are. defined by inheriting the data and behaviors for methods B and D. It inherits definitions for methods A and

of older generic classes, then specifying only how the new ones C from Array; these definitions do not need to be explicitly

differ. Figure 3a shows how the classes Container. FileFolder. and specified by the programmer, nor do they take any room in the

Mailbox are created; 3 b explains the notation used. Note that, definition of Container.

312 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 429

SOFTWARE-ICs

How are reusable sets possible,
since they must work properly with
many different kinds of contents? For
example, the same Set code may
need to compare strings, points, sym-
bols, and so on, often within the same
application. The answer is that
dynamic binding allows the Set to
legitimately consider equality testing,
for example, none of its business. In-
stead, it pushes that decision back
onto its contents. When it needs to
test the equality of two items, it mere-
ly commands one of them to report
whether it isEqual: to the other.

Classes, Methods, and
Inheritance

So far we have focused primarily on
encapsulation. This technology
should be thought of as an aid to
using the services in a system. It also
provides some advantages for the
suppliers (builders) of message/object
systems as well. Consider the job fac-
ing the builders of three familiar com-
ponents of an office-automation sys-
tem: Mailbox, Envelope, and File-
Folder.

At one level a Mailbox is very dif-
ferent from a FileFolder, but they are
similar in that they are kinds of con-
tainers. Each will have some amount
of code involved in managing collec-
tions of other objects.

Inheritance allows containment
code to be built, stockpiled, and
thereafter reused as often as needed.
This is done by building a class

The manner in which
systems evolve has
to be fundamentally
different.

named Container, whose methods
support the operations we expect of
containers: adding elements, remov-
ing them, expanding and shrinking
their internal capacity as needed.
Thereafter, specialized container
classes like Mailbox, Envelope, and
FileFolder are built by describing only
how each subclass differs. They may
differ by having additional private
data fields or by having additional (or
modified) behaviors. Figure 3 depicts
a typical inheritance hierarchy.

To design a new capability the pro-
grammer's thoughts turn immediately
to "What do I already have that is
most like the thing I need?" (see figure
4). For example, to develop an Enve-
lope the programmer focuses on
describing how Envelopes should dif-
fer from Containers. Envelopes differ
from Containers by for example, hav-
ing additional data variables such as
retumAddress, targetAddress, and
stamp. Envelopes also differ by ex-
hibiting additional behaviors (or
methods), for example, mailTo:, open,
and discard. Note that no methods

[continued]

OBJECT>

COLLECTION

ARRAY

DICTIONARY BAG

EXPENSE ENVELOPE CONTAINER

MAILBOX FILEFOLDER

Figure 4: Opportunities to reuse work emerge. As the design proceeds,
similarities to previously developed SoftwareACs become apparent, and a large
degree of reuse results.

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DIABLO

801 F $2369 630API

NEC

3550 . . . .$1049 8830 $1479

$CALL

1550P $439

F1055 . . . .$1019

.$1029

P2-P3.

2030

.$599

TERMINALS - MONITORS

WYSE 50 $445

WYSE 85 $585

QUME 102G $399

TELEVIDEO $CALL

AMDEK300A $129

PRINCETON MAX 12 $165

PRINCETON HX12 $459

DISK DRIVES & BOARDS

AST 6PK $259

PARADISE MODGRAP $259

HERCULES COLOR BOARD. . . . $155

TALLGRASS20MG $2289

TALLGRASS 3135 $3689

MODEMS

PROMODEM 1200

PROMODEM 1200B

. $309
. $259

PROMODEM 1200A

. $299

HAYES SMARTMODEM 1 200 . .
HAYES SMARTMODEM 1 200B .

. $389
. $369

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 313

SOFTWARE-ICs

Objective-C

Objective-C a PPI product (Pro-
ductivity Products International
Inc., 27 Glen Rd.. Sandy Hook, CT
06482), is a hybrid language that com-
bines the reusability, modeling power,
and complexity-reducing attributes of
Smalltalk-80 with the portability, effi-
ciency, compatibility, and access to
machine details of the C language. As
shown in figure A, the Objective-C
compiler transforms the Objective-C
language into standard C statements.
The message/object code examples
use the Objective-C syntax.

While Smalltalk-80 attempts to revo-
lutionize programming, Objective-C
seeks to change it through evolution.
Objective-C provides a thin layer of
new structure over its C substrate by
adding classes, objects, messages,
encapsulation, and inheritance. No
C-language capabilities are eliminated,

and none are changed. The pro-
grammer can choose conventional
C-language tools when efficiency and
portability are paramount and mes-
sage/object power tools when encap-
sulation, inheritance, and dynamic
binding are needed to enhance re-
usability and reduce code bulk and
complexity.

The hybrid approach of Objective-C
does breach the purity of the mes-
sage/object paradigm. This means that
the design and implementation rules
are not as clearly defined but must
evolve through experience. The hybrid
approach will also require more man-
agement diligence if the amount of
reusable code is to be optimized. The
criteria for choosing messages/objects
or writing functions in C should be
clearly defined and enforced. This will
require standards and control.

/* Objective-C Program Source */

= Mailbox: OrderedCollection {short userld;}
+ create { self = [super new] ; userld =getuid ( ); return self;}
-addEnvelope { [anEnvelope sendenuserld] ;
return [super add : anEnvelope] ;}

HANDLES ANY "#DEFINE"
AND "#INCLUDE" DIRECTIVES

C PREPROCESSOR

MODIFIED OBJECTIVE-C SOURCE

TRANSLATES MESSAGE

EXPRESSIONS AND CLASS

HIERARCHY INTO C FUNCTION

CALLS AND DATA STRUCTURES

OBJECTIVE-C COMPILER

STANDARD C SOURCE

PARSING AND
CODE GENERATION

STANDARD C COMPILER

Figure A: Objective-C— a superset of the C language. Objective-C is actually a
hybrid language whose message/object syntax is changed to standard C syntax by
the Objective-C compiler.

Message/object

programming allows a

more direct

representation of the
real-world model in
the code.

need be defined for adding and re-
moving contents from envelopes
because they, and the data variables
that support them, are acquired auto-
matically, or inherited, from Container.
FileFolders and Mailboxes will have
their own distinctive implementations.
However, only their differences from
a Container need to be designed,
coded, tested, documented, deliv-
ered, and maintained. Their contain-
ment abilities were developed once
and thereafter reused. Containment is
defined consistently, systemwide. You
add a letter to a Mailbox in precisely
the same manner as you add a letter
to a FileFolder.

System Building with
Software-ICs

System requirements normally model
data, data flow, and actions on data.
In traditional system building, the sys-
tem requirements must then be
mapped into the operator/operand
model in order to optimize the imple-
mentation on a computer. Message/
object programming allows a more
direct representation of the real-world
model in the code. The result is that
the normal radical transformation
from system requirements (defined in
users' terms) to system specifications
(defined in computer terms) is great-
ly reduced.

Software-ICs directly support the
concept of rapid prototyping (or, in
hardware terms, breadboarding). The
ability to demonstrate a subset of a
system's final functionality (particular-
ly the human interface) in a rapid pro-

[continued)

314 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 190

SOFTWARE-ICs

Table 1: Software-lC specification sheets. This is a condensed version of the
specification sheet for the Point SoftwareAC. The complete version contains 21
methods (versus the 9 shown).

Point
Instance variables: { short xLoc, yLoc; }

Inherits: Object

Inherited by:

Referenced by: Point Rectangle

Refers to: Geometry Point Primitive Object Object csav msg fprintf Imul sqrt

Discussion
Points are vectors (i.e., coordinates) on a two-dimensional plane. When displayed on
a graphics terminal, the origin is at the top left; the horizontal axis increases to the
right . . .

Instance Variables
xLoc A short integer specifying the value for the horizontal axis (e.g., column).
xLoc A short integer specifying the value for the vertical axis (e.g., row).

Instance Creation
+x:(int)xy=(int)y

Replies a new point at coordinates (x@y).
+fromUser
Prompts the user to specify the coordinates for a new point. The default
implementation is . . .

Instance Variable Access

Unless otherwise specified, these methods reply to the receiver.

— (int)x Replies the x-coordinate of the receiver.

— (int)y Replies the y-coordinate of the receiver.
-X:(int)xy:(int)y

Sets the coordinates of the receiver to (x@y).

Conditionals

In the following, words like "isAbove" or "isLeft" are with respect to a screen-oriented
point of reference, not the numerical magnitudes of the coordinates. For example,
the point (0, 0) is above and to the left of all other positive coordinates.
-(BOOL)isBelow:aPoint

Replies YES of receiver is below aPoint.

Equality Testing
-(int)hash

Replies xLoc * yLoc.
-(BOOL)isEqual:aPoint

The receiver and someObject are equal if and only if they are both points and
have equal coordinates.

Printing
-printOn:(IOD)anlOD
Prints the receiver as: fprintf(anlOD,") /od@°/od)", xLoc, yLoc);

[continued)

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IBM type case 5
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4. Chinon SS/DD
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lie, He 40 track not

just 35 $109.00

5. 10mb & 20mb hard
drive w/auto boot in-
telligent controller $549.00
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6. IBM type turbo
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15 day satisfaction
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With 512 KB $600.00

7. Panasonic DD/DS $82.00

DON'T HURRY, WE HAVE PLENTY
OF PRODUCTS

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 315

Inquiry 274

WHY WAIT FOR

ANSWERS FROM YOUR

IBM PC/AT/XT

NOW THERE'S

MEGA-MATH®

Engineers, scientists and statisticians are
discovering the time saving capability of
New "Mega Math" II. A library of over 45
assembly language subroutines for fast
numeric calculations, up to 11 times faster
than your present compiler.

The pretested routines use the 8087 or
80287 coprocessor for optimum perfor-
mance. The routines reduce development
time, code size and testing time.

"Mega Math" II Includes:

MATRIX OPERATIONS

VECTOR OPERATIONS

VECTOR SCALAR OPERATIONS

STATISTICAL OPERATIONS

FAST FOURIER TRANSFORM

CONVOLUTION

SOLUTION OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

The library is callable from Microsoft
Fortran, Basic, "C" and Pascal compilers.
Also IBM Professional Fortran and Macro
Assembler.

Get "Mega Math" II Performance for only

$299.00 (U.S.)

Also available Is the "Mega Math" A.T.
"Booster". A single PC board, designed to
reduce execution time in numeric processing
applications.

If your IBM AT is equipped with the 80287
coprocessor, the "Booster" will enhance its
performance by up to 50%.

price $349.00 (U.S.)

For increased performance of Mega Math
Routines, inquire about Micray's high perfor-
mance floating point processor for the IBM
AT or compatibles.

ELECTRONICS LTD.

(403) 250-1437

Bay 1, 4001A - 19 Street N.E.
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TRADEMARKS:

(IBM, PC/XT/ AT)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES

(MICROSOFT) MICROSOFT CORPORATION

(MEGA MATH) MICRAY

SOFTWARE-ICs

Declarations:Point.m
= = Point:Object (Geometry, Primitive) {
short xLoc, yLoc;

}

+ x:(int)xy:(int)y
+ fromUser

-(int)x

120000

100000

w 80000

o

o

o

£ 60000

z 40000

20000

1 1 1 1

□ OBJ-C

: .'

"S

"V

IV "' x ' : ' : ' ^

x-x-

*•■ """' — ^ i

i

1 =1 1

1 "I

3-D GRAPHICS CAD

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES

SPREADSHEET

Figure 5: Productivity experiences. Actual decreases in lines of code experienced
by PPI customers using Objective-C in three different application areas.

totype helps ensure that the system
built is the system needed.

No matter how well the delivered
system satisfies the requirements,
people usually have an immediate
desire to change/evolve the system.
Fortunately, as we have seen, it is
possible to build changeable systems.

System builders using Objective-C
employ a combination of aids to
enhance the reusability of their Soft-
ware-ICs. The standard libraries, for
example, are documented using a
catalog composed of Software-IC
specification sheets. Icible 1 sum-
marizes the specification sheet for a
Software-IC called Point.

Conclusions

The tools exist today in the software
world to build Software-lCs. They are
in use in a number of major com-

panies and have demonstrated (see
figure 5) code bulk reductions of be-
tween 2.5-1 and 5-1.

As the use of Software-ICs spreads,
productivity in the software world
should improve much as hardware ICs
improved productivity in the hard-
ware world. The use of Software-ICs
also will promote the evolution of op-
timized system-building methodolo-
gies and tools. Just as semiconductor
foundries produce both standard and
custom ICs, Software-IC foundries will
do exactly the same in the software
industry. ■

REFERENCES

1. Love, T. "Application Development in
Smalltalk-80." Arlington, VA: Proceedings of
So/t/flir-83.

2. Objective-C Reference Manual, Version 3.0,
Sandy Hook, CT Productivity Products In-
ternational, December 1984.

316 B YTE • IUNE 1985

Straight Talk.™

The information software that
keeps you on course.

DowJones

You don't go sailing without the
right navigational instruments.
And you don't make business deci-
sions without the right information.

Straight Talk and your Macintosh™
give you access to a world of
timely information. Fast. So you
have the information you need to
make informed business decisions.

Here's what it gives you:

• Automatic log-on and log-off to major informa-
tion services like, Dow Jones News/Retrieval,®
The Source SM , and CompuServe.

• The latest business information and financial
news, plus airline schedules and fares, an
encyclopedia, electronic mail and much more.

• Ability to review, save, edit and copy data
received online after you hang up.

• Communication with other Macintosh com-
puters via modem or networking.

And at $95, Straight Talk is the least expensive,
most diligent electronic know-it-all you'll ever
come across.

Straight Talk is the precision instrument
designed to make sure your ship comes in.

Special Offer!

For a limited time, order Straight Talk at $95 and
get 5 hours of free time on Dow Jones News/Retrieval
(approximately $100 value). To order, see your local
computer dealer* or call:

1-800-257-51 14, ask for John Austin.

(In New Jersey, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada, call 1-609-452-151 1 )
Please have your credit card information ready, including expiration
dates. VISA, MasterCard, and American Express accepted.
Act now - Offer expires July 31, 1985.

*To redeem offer send proof of purchase to Dow Jones & Company, Inc.,
John Austin, RO. Box 300, Princeton, NJ. 08540.

Straight Talk works with Apple* Macintosh!* 1

Inquiry 152

DowJones

Software

For Informed Decisions

TM

. '%

i ""- s

1 -think M turn left hem:

''•>.'. r >'■-.-' .','-'-

trademark licensed to Apple Computer, Inc. The Source is a'servicemark of Source Telecomputing Corporatio

Got a minute?

#

•
m
m
#

The folks who make very modern personal computers would have you accept
a very old fashioned idea. Namely that you should buy everything else
from them, too.
Including their printers.

But IBM owners everywhere are finding that while the IBM PC may be the
right tool for their business, the ideal tool for putting their
business on paper is the all new Microline 132 from Okidata. find it
isn't taking them long to find out.

First there's speed. The Microline 192 is twice as fast as the IBM

Graphics Printer. But IBM PC owners are finding some other very

remarkable features about the Microline 192 that the Graphics Printer
doesn't have.

PRINTER COMPARISON

TEXT SPD 6RAPH SPD WARRANTY PRICE
n OKIHATA ML 192 E23 IBM GRAPHICS PTF:

FEATURE

QKXDQTfi
160 CPS

IBM

SPEED

60 CPS

CORRESPONDENCE QUALITY

YES

NO

FREE FONT SOFTWARE

YES

NO

BIDIRECTIONAL GRAPHICS

YES

NO

MENU SELECT MODE

YES

NO

CUT SHEET FEEDER

OPTIONAL

NO

WIDE CARRIAGE MODEL

YES (ML-193 *699)

NO

WARRANTY

1 FULL YEAK

90 DAYS

WEIGHT

9 LBS

13 LBS

SUGGESTED LIST PRICE

$499

$449

$

Oh, one other comparison worth repeating. In the minute and ten
seconds it took the Microline 192 to print what you've just read,
the IBM Graphics Printer wouldn't have told half the story.

OKIDATA, an OKI AMERICA company

1

OKIDATA MICROLINE 192

That's about all it takes to discover
why Ohidata's new printer
beats the IBAfGraphics Printer.

The folks who make very modern personal computers would have you accept
a very old fashioned idea. Namely that you should buy everything else
from them, too.
Including their printers.

But IBM owners everywhere are finding that while the IBM PC may be the
right tool for their business, the ideal tool for putting their
business on paper is the all new Microline 192 from Okidata. And it
isn't taking them long to find out.

First there's speed. The Microline 192 is twice as fast as the IBM
Graphics Printer. But IBM F'C owners are finding some other very
remarkable features about the Microline 192 that, the Graphics F'r inter
doesn * t have.

PRINTER COMPARISON

OKIDATA

^L an OKI AMERICA company

Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, 1-800-OKIDATA

Inquiry 320

trademark of International Business Machines, Inc.

o

BITE

Reviews

Reviewers Notebook

by Glenn Hartwig 323

The Mindset Personal Computer

by lorn Wadlow 324

Idea Processors

by William Hersfiey 337

Convenience Software

by Mark I Welch 353

Building Expert Systems with M. 1

by Bruce D'Ambrosio 371

Hewlett-Packard s
HP 7475A Plotter

by Rich Ualloy . . , 379

The IBM Quietwriter Printer

by \on R. Edwards 385

The Word Plus

by George Sheldon 393

Review Feedback 401

SOME ARTISTS SPEND A LIFETIME trying to get their work displayed in a
major gallery The designers of the Mindset Personal Computer hit the big
time with their first effort: This aesthetically appealing machine is part of the
design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Although the
Mindset is not as popular as Apple or IBM machines, its graphics capabilities,
inspired by CAD/CAM minicomputers, deserve attention. We first looked at
this IBM PC work-alike in a product preview last year. Tom Wadlow now gives
us an updated report.

Idea processors, tools for organizing text and thoughts, are growing in
popularity. William Hershey examines an outline arranger (Thinkfenk). two
index-card systems (Executive Writer/Executive Filer and THOR). and a package
that can handle outlines and index cards (Framework). As Mr. Hershey points
out. these tools are applied in as many ways as there are users.

Another type of package that seems to be appearing frequently is the
memory-resident software that lets you interrupt your program in progress
to write notes, calculate, or execute DOS functions. Mark Welch compares some
of this "convenience software": Borland's SideKick. Software Arts' Spotlight,
and Bellsoft Inc.'s Pop-Ups.

Bruce D'Ambrosio poses the question: Would anyone of sound mind pay
$12,500 for a software program? Before you assume the answer is no. read
his review of M.l. a knowledge-engineering tool for the IBM PC from 'feknowl-
edge. a start-up company specializing in artificial intelligence.

Our two hardware reviews this month cover output devices. Our man in New
York. Rich Malloy plotted some graphs with Hewlett-Packard's HP 747 5 A and
describes this six-pen graphics machine. Jon Edwards, one of our technical
editors, reports on IBM's Quietwriter. Readers who think most letter-quality
printers sound like chain saws might be glad to hear this unidirectional unit
is neither loud nor slow. It's also not inexpensive.

Nothing can replace a good spelling teacher or proofreader, but according
to George Sheldon. The Word Plus from Oasis Systems is the next best thing.
This spelling-checker program includes a 45.000-word dictionary and runs on
most CP/M and MS-DOS computers.

—Glenn Hartwig, Dennis Barker, and Lynne Nadeau, BYTE

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 321

Resource Technology — What's it all about?

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

...and Time is relative. In business, time is profitability!

512K-6164
STATIC RAM

rrovv's Technology Todi

.loin some of the serious CCT clientele: U.S. Dcpl. of Slalc, Uniroyal, Miles Labs, Univ. of Massachusels, UCLA, Teledyne Semiconductor, VC Berkeley,
U.S. EPA, Proctor & Gamble, MIT, liukhced, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Navy, US- Coast Guard, Jet Propulsion Labs, Hallmark, McGruwrEdisoivSperrv,
International Paper, 3M, Beech' Aircraft, LSI, I usi man- Kodak, Western Electric, Nat'l. Bureau of Standards, USC, Cornell University, Briiish Cable and Wireless,
USAF, and thousands more, worldwide.

For further details, see our technical ad on page 483 of this issue, or contact our technical staff at (602) 282-6299.
For system quotations and ordering only, call our sales building at (800) 222-8686,

CUSTOM COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY / 1 CCT PLAZA / SEDONA, AZ 86340

Photograph: Sedona's famous Red Rock Crossing, taken with Nikon FE-2 and Nikkor 35-l05mm lens, at 40mm, at

n.l-l/60th, with special Kodak 5294 movie film-ASA 320.

REVIEWER'S NOTEBOOK

TeleSoft (10639 Roselle St.. San
Diego. CA 92121) recently
dropped the price of its Ada subset
compiler for the IBM Personal Com-
puter (PC) from $3030 to $1200,
prompting us to take a look at it. The
fact that TeleSoft's Ada compiler for
the 68000 has been validated made
it seem possible that the company's
IBM PC compiler would outperform
other efforts. When it arrived, the in-
clusion of an 850-page manual also
seemed promising.

The manual, however, carried on the
theme of the 68000 to such an extent
that much of the information it con-
tained was specific to that processor.
Inaccuracies and a cryptic style fur-
ther inhibited understanding.

IfeleSoft's Ada needs either an IBM
PC XT with 3 20K bytes of memory or
an IBM PC with dual floppy-disk drives
and at least 576K bytes of memory,
much of which it uses as a RAM
(random-access read/write memory)
disk for its many system files. A call
to IfeleSoft was required to create the
two working disks needed to run the
compiler (from the 10 floppy disks
provided); the manual's instructions
were mislabeled. Another call was
needed to decode and correct the
manual to learn to format and ini-
tialize a disk using ROS (real-time
operating system), IfeleSoft's pro-
prietary operating system. You have to
use TeleSoft's screen editor to enter
programs since ROS can't read text
files and disks created with PC-DOS
editors.

Once the system was ready, two
more calls tolfeleSoft were needed to
compile a program; the system really
expects a hard disk and requires
special, undocumented efforts to run
on a floppy-disk system. To its credit,
TeleSoft provided extensive phone
support.

Summarizing: The product costs

$ 1 2 00, has cryptic and sometimes in-
appropriate references in its docu-
mentation, requires numerous long-
distance telephone calls, makes you
learn a proprietary operating system
and a new screen editor, and gen-
erates intermediate code that you can
interpret only from within the pro-
prietary operating system.

A copy of SongPainter version LOO
for the Apple Macintosh came
from Rubicon Publishing (La Costa
Centre, 6300 La Calma Dr., Austin, TX
78752) with copyrights crediting Star-
cor I V., also of Austin; the Regents of
the University of California; and Ap-
ple Computer Inc. Given that its ask-
ing price is $59.95, it has generated
a lot of curiosity in most of those
who've heard it.

SongPainter's promotional material
says it's for experienced musicians or
users with "virtually no knowledge of
music." Basically, it lets you write a
song by picking a note from a "tone
window" and transferring it to one of
four tracks in a "song window." Notes
are labeled, and each is distinguished
by its own visual pattern (dots, cross-
hatching, stripes, in several varieties
each). You can paint single notes or
chords. You get a choice of 32 horns,
woodwinds, strings, percussion instru-
ments, keyboards, and synthesizer-
type waveforms.

The documentation that came to us
was a draft version, and the software
itself was labeled "Not For Release"
(although it is considered to be a full-
fledged version 1.00). I certainly hope
that the real documentation has an
index.

When and if the manufacturer
releases a production version of
SongPainter, I hope it fixes a fairly ob-
vious bug. Although you can copy
SongPainter (at least version 1.00)
onto a backup disk, trying to use the

help function on the backup crashes
the system.

I saw the Ericsson gas-plasma-screen
laptop portable for the first time at
the West Coast Computer Faire. I
admit I was intrigued. Actually, it's a
laptop transportable since it doesn't
have batteries for truly independent
operation. Still, it claims full IBM PC
compatibility, weighs about 14
pounds, has 2 56K bytes RAM. uses
514-inch disks, has an 80-column by
2 5-line screen, and has a full-size,
detachable keyboard. The whole
package looks very nice except that
it has only one disk drive. I'm looking
forward to getting one for evaluation.
Another nice item that was demon-
strated but wasn't ready for sale was
a 2 -megabyte Macintosh from Levco
Enterprises in San Diego. At the time,
Levco said it had all the bugs out and
was just waiting for a reliable source
of supply before setting a price and
taking orders. However, the vendor
was selling a Fat Mac upgrade kit for
$23 5. It wasn't surprising that the
Levco booth looked pretty busy for
most of the show.

We've gotten a number of re-
quests for the operating-system
patch that gives the NEC APC III par-
tial compatibility with the IBM PC. It
works with some packages but not
with others (for example, it works with
Perfect Writer, Filer, and Speller ver-
sion 1.0 but not with version 2.0).
We've put the program listingf or that
patch on BYTEnet Listings, our elec-
tronic bulletin-board system. If you
call (617) 861-9774, you can download
the patch and try it out on as many
packages as you like. An article detail-
ing how the patch works is scheduled
for an upcoming issue.

—Glenn Hartwig, Technical Editor, Reviews

* — Inquiry 123

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 323

SYSTEM REVIEW

The Mindset
Personal Computer

performance
graphics

machine that
runs IBM PC

by Tom Wadlow

IBM Personal Computer work-alikes,
often called 'clones" by the industry,
are designed to duplicate as many of
the IBM PCs features as possible. The
reason they can compete in the market-
place lies in their differences, however.
Clones usually have a lower price, a faster
processor, or a better keyboard than the
IBM PC.

Software ^ e Mindset Corporation has chosen to
enhance a different feature. The Mindset
Personal Computer system (see photo 1) dif-
fers from the IBM PC primarily in the quali-
ty and speed of its graphics display. The
Mindset machine has the ability to do some
graphics operations in hardware rather than
software. This makes some sophisticated
and otherwise time-consuming graphics
procedures run briskly on the Mindset PC.
[Editor's note: Many IBM PC-compatible manufac-
turers, Mindset included, have recently had some
financial trouble. However, the Mindset's extensive
graphics capabilities deserve close examination]

The System

As outlined in a BYTE Product Preview (see
"The Mindset Personal Computer" by Gregg
Williams, April 1984 BYTE, page 270), the
Mindset comes in five basic pieces: the sys-
tem unit, the expansion unit (disk drives),
the keyboard, a mouse, and the display. Of
these, the expansion unit and the mouse
are optional. A full system with two disk
drives and a monochrome display has a list
price of about $2900.

The system unit is the heart of the Mind-
set and contains the processor, 32 K bytes
of RAM (random-access read/write mem-
ory), two cartridge sockets, I/O (input/out-
put) module sockets, and system indicator
lights. The system unit also includes another
32K bytes of RAM specifically dedicated to
the video display.

The Mindset uses the Intel 80186 micro-
processor (with a 6-MHz clock speed),
rather than the 8088 used by the IBM PC
or the 8086 used by some of the other
clone systems. Since the 80186 is upward-

Tow VJadlow is an engineer and

freelance writer living in the San

Francisco Bay area. He can be

reached at POB 2755. Livermore,

CA 94550.

compatible with the 8088 (meaning that it
has all the same instructions as the 8088
and a few more as well), quite a lot of IBM
PC software runs on the Mindset.

The cartridge sockets were designed to
hold preprogrammed memory cartridges
but none are available from Mindset. How-
ever, a programmable 8K-byte cartridge that
Mindset calls an NVRAM (nonvolatile
random-access memory) is available. You
can store information in the cartridge, and
it will retain this information when you turn
off the power or remove the cartridge from
the machine. This cartridge consists of low-
power memory with its own battery.

Mindset originally intended that it would
be possible to use the cartridge system in
the same way as you would a floppy-disk-
based system. The Mindset's operations
guide gives the example of a cartridge con-
taining BASIC in one socket, with an
NVRAM cartridge in the other. Unfortunate-
ly, the BASIC cartridge is not available.

The rear of the system unit contains the
connectors for an external video monitor
and audio speaker. In addition, the Mind-
set has space for several I/O modules at the
back of the unit.

Mindset has covered all three display op-
tions. The system unit has connectors for
composite (NTSC) video, for RF (radio fre-
quency) video on a regular television set,
or for an RGB (red-green-blue) monitor. The
composite-video output is suitable for tap-
ing on a videocassette recorder. The RF out-
put can be seen on television channels 3
or 4. And the RGB output is compatible
with the IBM PC-type RGB monitor.

The Sync signal for the RGB is split into
separate horizontal and vertical drives. It is
not difficult to convert these signals to com-
posite sync, which is required by many non-
IBM RGB monitors. A single NOR gate is
all that is required. I used a 74LS02 to in-
terface my Sanyo DMC6 1 1 3 RGB monitor to
the Mindset. This is not necessary if you
have an IBM PC-compatible monitor.

You can add various interfaces to the

324 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Mindset by plugging special 1/0 modules
into three slots on the system unit's rear
panel. 7\vo of the slots can accommodate
one double-width I/O module or two single-
width modules. Mindset sells modules for
an RS-232C interface, printer interface, and
stereo sound. Each costs $99. A 300-bps
(bits per second) modem module takes up
two slots and costs $199. The Mindset has
no internal IBM-type slots for expansion
boards. Most of the capabilities that those
boards provide are handled by the I/O
modules.

The Mindset has three indicator lights on
the front of the system unit: a red light in-
dicating that power is on, and yellow and
green lights that can be accessed by soft-
ware. Not many of the Mindset programs
use these lights. The lights on my review
unit were visible only when the room
lighting was off.

Since Mindset does not offer any car-
tridges, most users will need the expansion
unit. Adding the expansion unit will bring
the total amount of RAM to either 128K
bytes or 2 56K bytes. Also, the expansion
unit contains one or two 360K-byte floppy-
disk drives. On the back of the expansion
unit are three more slots for 1/0 modules.

The expansion unit sits on top of the
system unit. The two are coupled together
by a special connector that extends down
from the expansion unit into a receptacle
on the system unit. Other than the friction
fit from this connector, there is no mechan-
ical connection between the two boxes, as
you will find out if you are careless in pick-
ing up a Mindset.

The Mindset keyboard (see photo 2) plugs
directly into the front of the system unit,
unlike the IBM PC keyboard, which plugs
into the rear. The jacks on either end of the
connecting cord resemble those modular
plugs used for telephone connections.

On the left and right sides of the keyboard
are connectors for a mouse or some other
type of pointing device. A joystick is avail-
able, and some software can use a bit pad.

Only the mouse was available for review.
Having two connectors for the mouse
means that both left- and right-handed peo-
ple will find the Mindset comfortable to use.
The only people who will be inconven-
ienced are those who like to put the key-
board on their lap. Note that you cannot
unplug the mouse and move it to the other
port once a program (such as Lumena) has
initialized it.

As is the case with any mouse, the Mind-
set mouse is useless unless a program
knows how to access it. This means that the
mouse may not be usable in many pro-
grams, such as spreadsheets or editors.
Some mice for the IBM PC come with soft-
ware patches that let you modify these pro-
grams so they can be used with a mouse.
There is no reason why a similar approach
could not be devised for the Mindset
mouse, but Mindset does not provide such
a patch.

The Mindset keyboard is slightly smaller
than that of the IBM PC and somewhat
lighter. The keys all have a solid feel to them

(continued)

Photo 1 : The Mindset Personal Computer with optional expansion unit, two
disk drives, and mouse.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 325

REVIEW: MINDSET

with good tactile feedback. Though
the Mindset is primarily a graphics
machine, the keyboard is adequate for
word processing or other applications
that demand a lot of continuous
typing.

A lot of thought went into the layout
of this keyboard. Mindset did not
make the mistake of duplicating the
IBM PC's key layout that caused such
an uproar among touch-typists. The
keyboard has the same functionality
as that of the IBM, retaining all the im-
portant keys. There is no numeric key-
pad, however, which may disturb
some. In its place, Mindset has put an
inverted-F cursor-control set and the
IBM's special-purpose keys such as
Ins, Del, PgUp, and PgDn. The 10 func-
tion keys are arranged across the top
of the keyboard. Since there is no
numeric keypad, the special Num
Lock, plus, and minus keys on the IBM
keyboard have not been duplicated
on the Mindset. The scroll-lock and
break functions, which share a single
key on the IBM, are separate keys on
the Mindset.

The Mindset power switch, by the
way, is in an unusal place— the back
of the keyboard. Certain parts of the
Mindset are powered up as long as
the unit is plugged into the wall. These
include the on-board clock/calendar
and the memory that holds the sys-
tem-configuration information.

When you boot the system after it
has been unplugged, a built-in con-
figuration program is run. This pro-
gram lets you reset the clock, specify
the order in which the system checks
the boot devices, inform the system
of the particular display device you
are using, and slightly modify the hori-
zontal and vertical position of the
screen display to compensate for your
monitor. The program also displays
the available amount of RAM and lets
you turn the audible beeper on or off.

The configuration program is orga-
nized as a visible menu with current-
ly selected options highlighted in
color. Pressing the space bar cycles
the current menu item through its
possible settings. Pressing Return
moves you to the next menu item. To
finalize the configuration, you just
reboot.

Although the Mindset has three dif-
ferent jacks for monitors, it has no way
of determining which jack is in use.
Some programs, such as Lumena,
need to know whether composite
video or RGB is in use, since certain
color combinations do not work well
on a composite monitor. Other video
features, such as the limited anti-
aliasing (blurring the jagged edges of
a diagonal line so that it appears
smoother) available on the Mindset,
will not work on an RGB monitor. The
configuration program lets you

tilLlLlLlllLjLlLlLlLTim^

L-ffi'LlLlLTT

Photo 2: The Mindset keyboard includes two connectors for a mouse or joystick. Note
the inverted^ cursor-key arrangement. The Sys Config key calls up the Configuration
program stored in ROM.

specify which monitor will be used.

I was using an RGB monitor but 1
noticed a little interference between
the RF output and my television. A
visible but fuzzy copy of the system
screen was ghosted on top of the pro-
gram on channel 3, about 20 feet
from the computer. An RCA plug with
the center pin clipped out and the
ground shield soldered across the
back cleared up this problem.

When you select the TV option
(composite video or RF-modulated
video), the Mindset will start up in
40-character by 16-line mode. The
monitor (RGB) option starts up in
80-character by 2 5-line mode.

It was a pleasant surprise to find
that Mindset has designed a new
typeface rather than adopting the
ugly one used by IBM on its color dis-
play. The Mindset font is similar, but
many of the irregularities, such as the
shape of the lowercase letters, are
smoothed out. The new font is pleas-
ant to look at.

The Mindset can boot from either
of the cartridge slots or drive A. If the
first device on the priority list does
not contain bootable code, it tries the
next device, then the third. You can
set the priority of each device in the
configuration program. If none of the
devices will boot, a picture of the
Mindset logo appears and begins to
rotate. This looks impressive and
beats an error message.

Software

The Mindset does not come with any
software. The operating system, MS-
DOS 2.0, is a $60 option. The Mind-
set version of MS-DOS is specially
written for it. In fact, the machine will
not boot an off-the-shelf copy of PC-
DOS. Newer versions of MS-DOS
must be obtained directly from Mind-
set or its distributors. The DOS
manual claims that this customization
is necessary to let the operating sys-
tem take advantage of the Mindset's
80186 processor. Although the DOS
is a custom product, it can read and
write disks from PC-DOS or other MS-
DOS systems, and it uses much of the
same applications software.

[continued)

326 BYTE • JUNE 1985

AT A GLANCE

Name

Mindset Personal Computer

Manufacturer

Mindset Corporation
617 North Mary
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(408) 737-8555

Size

(with expansion unit) 16 by
12.2 by 5.5 inches

Components

Display: Connects to RGB,
composite, or TV monitors
Text: 80 by 25 or 40 by 16
Graphics: 640 by 400 pixels
by 2 colors, 320 by 400 by 4,
640 by 200 by 4, 320 by 200
by 16, plus IBM PC graphics
modes

Keyboard: Detached, 84 keys
Processor: 16-/1 6-bit 80186,
6-MHz clock speed
Memory: (with expansion unit)
128K or 256K bytes
Storage: (with expansion unit)
One or two 360K-byte,
5 1 /4-inch floppy-disk drives,
MS-DOS format
Interfaces: Joystick or mouse,
cartridge slots
Options: 8K RAM cartridge
($79), parallel port ($99), serial
port ($99), 300-bps modem
($199), mouse ($149), joystick
($39), Genlock circuitry ($500)

Optional Software

MS-DOS ($60), GW-BASIC
($79), Lumena ($399)

Price

With 256K, two drives,
monochrome display, parallel
and serial ports, MS-DOS,
and GW-BASIC, $2885

Comments

Well-built solid machine with
good keyboard; much better
graphics performance than
IBM PC; recommended for
artists, graphics enthusiasts

MEMORY SIZE (K BYTES)

200 400 600

DISK STORAGE (K BYTES)
400 800 1200

11

m

BUNDLED SOFTWARE PACKAGES
2 4 6

PRICE ($1000)
10 2 4 6 8 10

NONE

MINDSET PC |;|||;1 IBM PC V//A APPLE HE

The Memory Size graph shows the standard
and optional memory available for the com-
puters under comparison. The Disk Storage
graph shows the highest capacity for a single
floppy-disk drive and the maximum standard
capacity for each system. The Bundled Soft-
ware Packages graph shows the number of

software packages included with each system.
The Price graph shows the list price of a system
with two disk drives, a monochrome monitor,
a printer port and a serial port, 256K bytes of
memory (64K bytes for 8-bit systems), and the
standard operating systems and BASIC inter-
preter for the computers under comparison.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 327

The rear panel of the Mindset system unit and expansion unit.
Note the three slots on each for I/O modules.

DISK ACCESS IN BASIC (SEC)
250

200

150

100

50

58 56

WRITE

SYSTEM UTILITIES (SEC)

READ

40K FORMAT/ DISK COPY 40K FILE COPY

r~n m|ndset pc

The graph for Disk Access i n BASIC shows how long it takes to write
and to read a 64K-byte sequential text file to a blank formatted flop-
py disk. (For the program listings, see "The Chameleon Plus" by
Rich Krajewski, June 1984 BYTE, page 327, and October 1984, page
33.) The Sieve column in the BASIC Performance graph shows how
long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes prime-
number benchmark. The Calculations column shows how long it
takes to do 10,000 multiplication and 10,000 division operations using
single-precision numbers. The System Utilities graph shows how long

The inside of the Mindset Personal Computer;

BASIC PERFORMANCE (SEC)
250

200

100

CALCULATIONS

SPREADSHEET (SEC)

IBM PC

it takes to format and to copy a standard text file to disk (adjusted
time for 40K bytes of disk data) and to copy a 40K-byte file using
the system utility programs. The Spreadsheet graph shows how long
it takes to load and recalculate a 25- by 25-cell spreadsheet where
each cell equals 1.001 times the cell to its left. Microsoft Multiplan
was the spreadsheet used. The tests for the Mindset used Mindset
DOS 2.0 and GW-BASIC. Tests for the Apple lie used ProDOS (ex-
cept for the spreadsheet test, which was done with DOS 3.3). The
IBM PC was tested running under PC-DOS 2.0.

328 BYTE • JUNE 1985

REVIEW: MINDSET

Although the primary purpose is
color graphics, Mindset claims that its
machine can run a large number of
IBM PC software packages. I have suc-
cessfully run Multiplan, The Final
Word dBASE I!, PC/FORTH, Kermit,
TUrbo Pascal, and Starcross. However,
I did not exhaustively test all these
packages (especially the Starcross
game, which I haven't solved yet). One
unfortunate failure was the Microsoft
Flight Simulator, which 1 particularly
wanted to see on this machine.

LUMENA

Two software packages that drive the
Mindset graphics particularly well are
Lumena and the special Mindset ver-
sion of GW-BAS1C. Lumena is a paint
program, similar in principle but not
in appearance to MacPaint. GW-BASIC
is the familiar Microsoft BASIC clone
package with special additions to use
Mindset's display capabilities.

Lumena apparently runs on a wide
variety of graphics machines, of which
the Mindset is on the lower end. It was
written by Time Arts Inc. of Santa
Rosa, California, and it is a real tool
for artists and illustrators. Time Arts
sells a range of products based
around Lumena, including special
workstations, animation tools, and
digitizers. On the appropriate hard-
ware, you can create some truly spec-
tacular artwork with this package.

A typical Lumena system uses a
graphics screen with 512- by 512-pixel
resolution and a choice of 2 56 simul-
taneous colors. The workspace avail-
able on the Mindset is limited to 320
by 200 pixels and only 16 simul-
taneous colors. While it is not possi-
ble to duplicate the efforts of the pro-
fessional system on the Mindset,
some interesting and useful work can
be done with the Mindset/Lumena
combination (see photos 3 and 4).

Lumena (from now on, I refer to the
Mindset version) uses the graphics
screen as a frame buffer to store an
image the artist can work on. Most of
the time the artist sees just his or her
design with the Lumena cursor, a
small white cross, superimposed. By
bringing the cursor to the bottom of
the screen, you get the Lumena com-

mand menu on the bottom third of
the screen over part of the image.
Moving the cursor out of the com-
mand menu causes the menu to

vanish, and the portion of the image
that was covered reappears.
Lumena has a tree-structured menu

[continued)

Photo 3: An example of graphics produced by the Mindset using Lumena software
and an IBM PC-compatible RGB monitor. The photo shows the Lumena control panel.
This display is overlaid on your drawing when the cursor is moved through the bottom
of the screen. Moving the cursor out of the control panel restores the screen to its
original condition.

Photo 4: Another example of Lumena on the Mindset. This picture is courtesy of
Rebecca Wilson.

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 329

REVIEW: MINDSET

interface. This means that some menu
selections will bring up a submenu.
You select an item by touching the ap-
propriate menu entry with the cursor
and clicking the left button on the
Mindset mouse. The left button is
consistently used to select or draw.
The right button always repositions
the cursor to the center of the screen.
Clicking a command such as Air-
brush causes the cursor to act as
such. Some commands, such as
Shape, have many possible subcom-
mands, such as Circle or Ellipse.
Selecting these commands places you
in a submenu. Selecting the Menu op-
tion (always the top left choice in each
submenu) returns you to the next

higher menu on the tree. Selecting the
%, <" option takes you to the most
recently used submenu, so you need
not go up to the main menu and back
down the other side of the tree.

The basic drawing implements of
Lumena are brushes and pens. The
differences between these two are
slight. You can draw freehand with
round circles, squares, and airbrushes
(like spray paint). You can also draw
straight lines by specifying the end
points, circles by specifying the center
and radius, ellipses by a center and
two points on the circumference, and
so on. All of this is done graphically.
You do not have to enter numbers for
size or position. You point and click.

An Artist
Reacts to the Mindset

by Carolyn King

Having been trained in the tradi-
tional arts and crafts, I have
always tended toward an appreciation
of handcrafted artwork and an appre-
hension about things technological.
Using a computer was something I had
avoided for years.

My training is mainly as a printmaker
and painter. I have always felt that the
visceral side of art-making can be as
important as the art itself. Manipulating
media such as clay, fiber, and paint can
somehow set up a bridge between our
awareness of ourselves and an aware-
ness of the history behind the art.
Although this account might seem
quite familiar to other users of mouse-
based systems, it is my way of under-
scoring how surprised I was by the out-
come of working on the Mindset with
Lumena.

I was surprised at how little time it
took to learn how to use the mouse as
a drawing tool. In just a few hours, I felt
relatively comfortable with the mouse
and the mechanics of the Lumena
program.

I enjoyed the blend of sculpture and
graphic arts used to create images.
Bringing the image into view by

"sculpting" the negative space (i.e.,
using black or the background color to
nibble away at the picture) is a wonder-
ful addition to the usual technique of
painting color on background.

I was surprised and relieved to find
that, although the computer is not a
"plastic" medium to the senses in the
way that paint and clay are, I was able
to slip into that "altered state" in which
the images flow from me to the medi-
um. This was an important discovery
for me and eliminated most of my mis-
givings about the computer as an art
tool.

Finally, as far as the mechanics of this
particular unit go, the screen doesn't
have good enough resolution, so the
artist is limited in the ability to refine
the image beyond a certain point.

On the whole, I have been convinced
that the computer can be a tool the art-
ist can use like any other. Working with
a computer is full of a lot more sur-
prises, however. I went into this with a
lot of resistance and preconceived no-
tions. I came away with a much wider
view of the computer as a tool for the
artist and the stirrings of a serious ad-
diction to the mouse.

With the exception of the Escape key,
which is used to abort a command in
progress, the keyboard remains un-
touched during a Lumena session.

In addition to pens and brushes,
Lumena provides a wide selection of
transformations that you can apply to
a portion of the image. You can easi-
ly select a part of the display and
enlarge, shrink, move, copy, make a
mirror image in either direction,
rotate, taper, or render it in perspec-
tive. You can even take a rectangular
piece of the screen and use that as
a paintbrush. The special graphics
hardware in the Mindset makes these
operations happen fast. You can use
the mouse to select half the screen
and move it around superimposed on
the rest of the picture. Lumena can
overlay an image using several logical
operations, such as AND, OR, XOR,
or their complements.

Like the Macintosh's MacPaint pro-
gram, Lumena's command interface
encourages playful exploration. It is
easy to try out a function just to see
what it does. This feature is the most
addictive in the program. Even if you
are not an artist, you can have hours
of fun doodling on the screen. It is a
very malleable medium and an easy
one in which to correct your mistakes.

Having no artistic training myself,
it seemed prudent to get an artist's
opinion. I asked graphic artist Carolyn
King to try the system. She was reluc-
tant, having managed to avoid com-
puters up to this point. After a brief
introduction to Lumena, I left Carolyn
alone with the machine. In an hour I
returned to find her using sophisti-
cated commands that she learned by
playing with Lumena. After minimal
training and an hour of experience,
she was making real pictures without
resorting to the manual. She could
even correct some of my mistakes.
That is the mark of a well-designed
user interface (see the text box
"An Artist Reacts to the Mindset" at
left).

BASIC

A strong point of the Mindset version
of GW-BASIC is animation. GW-BASIC

{continued)

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REVIEW: MINDSET

lets you define "objects" and move
them around the screen. During their
journey, they may vary their ap-
pearance using up to eight different
views. They may collide with other ob-
jects or perform a specific action
upon arriving at a destination. Objects
can also be clipped, which means that
they can pass through a "window" on
the screen, becoming partially then
fully visible as they move into view,
and then gradually vanishing as they
pass back out of view, much like a car
moving past a window.

A simple yet impressive demonstra-
tion of the animation facilities comes
with GW-BASIC. Across a background
of words, a picture of a Saturn-like
ringed planet slowly tumbles across
the screen. As it hits the edge, it
bounces off toward another part of
the display The power of this system
becomes evident when you run this
program in high-speed mode. Saturn
becomes a streak, still bouncing and
spinning but whipping across the
screen faster than an IBM PC user
would think possible.

As for non-graphics capabilities,
GW-BASIC performs in the same ball-

park as the IBM PC. Mindset's GW-
BASIC together with some special
video interfaces Mindset has de-
signed, might provide the basis for
some impressive video-production
systems (see the text box"Update on
Mindset" below).

Problems

Every system has some flaws, and the
Mindset is no exception. One par-
ticular annoyance is the insistence of
the operating system to look for its
Command program (COMMAND.
COM) only in the current drive. For ex-
ample, if you are running Multiplan on
drive B and you quit, the system will
check only drive B for COMMAND.
COM, never A. Fortunately, many ap-
plications will be unaffected by this,
since they leave the resident copy of
CCMMAND.COM in memory while
they are running.

A slight but annoying feature in-
volves the mouse's design. The mouse
cord is very thick, as big as the power
cord for the system unit. The place-
ment of the mouse connector on the
side of the keyboard, combined with
this monstrous cable, means that you

Update on Mindset

by Rich Malloy

Mindset has recently been aiming
its machine away from the
general consumer market and toward
professional graphics designers. This is
evidenced by the fact that consumer-
oriented software such as games has
not been developed for the machine,
despite the fact that the Mindset's
graphics hardware seems well suited
for such applications. Instead, Mindset
has made available some special
video-related products that might be
more at home in professional video
studios.

A special version of the system unit
includes Genlock circuitry to let it inter-
act better with video equipment. There

is also an external video-production
module that lets you mix the Mindset's
computer-developed graphics with
signals from standard cameras and
recorders. According to Mindset these
options let you superimpose Mindset
graphics on video images. In addition,
you can fade graphics in and out. The
special Genlock circuitry costs an ad-
ditional $500; the video-production
module is $799.

I have not tested this equipment, but
Mindset claims that its system is
already being used for graphics in a
new television game show entitled
"Catch Phrase," which should debut
this fall.

constantly readjust the cord to get it
out of the way. A thin mouse cord
with a connector on the system unit
would have been appreciated.

A major problem with this system
has to do with copy protection. Both
Lumena and the disk-based version of
GW-BASIC are copy-protected. You
can copy each disk, but neither will
run unless the original disk is in the
default drive. I would be very hesitant
about buying software that does not
permit at least one working backup
copy.

Lumena appears to have a bug in
the way it writes to the disk. The
Lumena manual says that the correct
way to run the program is to keep the
master disk in drive A with the work-
ing disk in drive B. Then you set B as
the default drive and you enter
A:LUMENA. Thus, you are running
the program from drive A but writing
by default to drive B. This does work
and it is the only way that it works.
Reversing the disks or running from
drive A and using the Lumena com-
mand to change the current disk
cause big problems. In particular, sav-
ing a file to drive B will eat up all the
available space on that disk and
Lumena will die. The disk can be fixed
with the Recover program.

Lumena also seems prone to "Zero
Divide" errors. These happen occa-
sionally for no apparent reason. They
cause Lumena to crash and return to
DOS. Luckily, the Mindset frame buf-
fer is not cleared on each invocation
of Lumena, so it is sometimes pos-
sible to reenter the program and find
your work retained in the graphics
memory. Still, I would prefer to avoid
the need for such error recovery.

Conclusions

All in all, the Mindset is a pleasant
alternative to the IBM PC. If you have
no need for graphics, you have no
compelling reason to select this ma-
chine over many of the other IBM
compatibles on the market. But if your
application requires fast, easy-to-use,
medium-resolution color graphics,
and particularly if you want animation
capability, the Mindset/Lumena com-
bination is hard to beat. ■

332 BYTE • JUNE 1985

SoftCardllg
squeezes the most Juice
out ^^uiij^ppl^

\

\ \

Microsoft® SoftCard II is the
latest high-performance CP/M®
board that really juices the Apple®
II, lie and IR

Hard facts on SoftCard*

The new SoftCard has a high
speed (6MHz) Z-80 that runs CP/M
programs up to three times faster
than lesser boards. Plus 64K
memory. And if that wasn't enough,
we also support the Apple Profile
hard disk.

Microsoft BASIC is included so
it's compatible with more Apple
CP/M software than any other
board on the market. Thousands
of the juiciest business programs
including dBasehT WordStar® and
sophisticated Microsoft languages

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334 BYTE -JUNE 1985

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SOFTWARE REVIEW

Idea Processors

ThinkEank

Executive Writer/

Executive Filer

THOR

Framework

by William Hershey

William Hershey (MITRE Corp..

1820 Dolley Madison Blvd.,

McUan. VA 22102) is a systems

engineer with a B.S. in engineering

from Princeton and an M.A. in

computer and communication

sciences from the University of

Michigan. He is also an instructor

in computer literacy at the

University of Maryland's University

College.

An idea processor is a tool for
organizing blocks of text. Because
text is a critical part of the final
product, idea processors incorporate some
type of text editor, even a full-blown word
processor in some cases. So far the prod-
ucts that call themselves idea processors
seem to fall into two classes: outline
organizers and computerized index-card
retrieval systems.

Like spreadsheets, these tools are applied
in as many ways as there are users. I prefer
outline processors to index-card systems.
They are better at giving you a top-down
view of things, which is supposed to be the
best way to think. If you have a large
amount of textual reference material to
manage, an index-card system might better
meet your needs. But keep in mind that it
is easy to structure an outline to work like
a deck of cards.

Idea processors are growing in popular-
ity, and their range of capabilities varies
widely. This review examines four. One pro-
gram is an outline processor, two are index-
card systems, and the fourth can be used
both ways. All four packages are available
for the IBM Personal Computer (PC) and
compatibles; Thinkl&nk is also available for
the Macintosh. I tested the IBM versions on
a Compaq with 640K bytes of RAM
(random-access read/write memory) and
two floppy-disk drives.

ThinkTank

Billed by Living Videotext as the first idea
processor, Thinkl&nk is a versatile outlining
tool with a decent text editor. Since the pro-
gram's introduction on the Apple II and III,
reincarnations with varying capabilities have
arrived for the Macintosh and the IBM PC.
The command tree in the PC version is com-
plex. But once you discover the shortcuts,
you won't have any trouble using it. The ver-
sion for the 128K-byte Macintosh, called
Thinkl&nk 128, is like a sports car. It won't
hold much, but it's fun to drive and gets you
where you're going fast.

I first used and reviewed Thinkfenk (on an
Apple III) more than a year ago (see my
review "Thinktenk" in the May 1984 BTYE,
page 189). Now that the IBM PC and Macin-
tosh versions have been on the market for
a while, that review deserves an update. The
IBM version is much improved over the first
Apple versions. Disk accesses are reduced,
paragraph capacity is dramatically in-
creased, and editing is easier. But the com-
mands for the PC version could confuse
novices. The initial Macintosh version has
limitations and design problems, but its
simplicity and speed make it effective.

Thinkfank outlines have just a few key
elements. You can enter headlines as long
as. 77 characters. Each headline can have
any number of subheadings beneath it and,
with the IBM PC version, a "paragraph" of
up to 20,000 characters of text. You can
break up Thinkl&nk's paragraphs into your
own smaller paragraphs by inserting "hard"
carriage returns. The subheadings can have
more subheadings and paragraphs beneath
them, up to as many as 10,000 levels.

A bar cursor highlights each headline as
you scroll through the outline. You can "ex-
pand" a headline (using the plus-sign key
on the PC's numeric keypad) to see the
subheadings and paragraphs beneath it, or
you can "collapse" it (using the minus-sign
key) to hide all the subordinate levels.
Thinkl&nk automatically precedes each
headline with a plus or minus sign. A plus
means that the headline has subordinate
levels or paragraphs. A minus means that
no deeper levels exist.

The ability to collapse or expand an
outline at any headline level gives you many
ways of viewing the ideas that make up your
outline. This, combined with the ability to
move headlines and insert new ones at any
point, is the essence of idea processing,
Thinktenk-style. Thinktenk 128 does not let
you enter paragraphs under the headlines.
That's a serious drawback, but the benefit
is speed. With your whole outline in mem-

[continued]

* — Inquiry 295

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 337

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

Except for the lack
of paragraphs,
Thinfttank 128's
biggest flaw is its
unconventional
user interface.

ory and the mouse to guide you
through the commands, the program
is a joy to use. (Thinkleink 512, with
enhanced capabilities that include
paragraph and image handling,
should be on sale by the time you
read this but was not available for this
review.)

In converting the program from the
Apple III to the PC, Living Videotext
made some commands easier to use
by assigning them to the PC's function
keys and the keys on the numeric
keypad. Unfortunately, the company

left all the old commands intact and
mixed function keys, the Insert and
Delete keys, and single-letter com-
mands in the same main command
menu. This could make the command
structure seem very complex to a first-
time user. In some cases, there are as
many as three paths to travel to per-
form a given operation. Once you
have learned the program, of course,
you avoid the long detours and take
the express route. Replacing the old
menu commands with function-key
definitions at the bottom of the
screen might simplify the process.

The editor works well. You can move
through a paragraph quickly and eas-
ily by using the numeric keypad.
Moving and copying text between
paragraphs, however, is tedious. Once
you leave a paragraph and go to
another one beneath a different head-
line, you are effectively editing a dif-
ferent document. Selected blocks
can't go with you. Whole paragraphs
can be merged, but only if their
parent headlines are adjacent.

Using Thinkffenk 128 is quite easy
because of the Mac's pull-down

Photo I: \n the Macintosh version of ThinkYank, moving headlines and their
subheadings is much easier than in the IBM PC version. When you hold the mouse
button down, a fuzzy box appears around the headline and everything subordinate to it.
You can then drag it where you want it.

menus and the use of the mouse. You
control the position of an arrow on
the screen with the mouse. When you
click the mouse button, a box appears
around the nearest headline. Double-
clicking makes a headline's subor-
dinate levels expand or collapse. Finer
control with the mouse lets you put
a vertical bar inside the boxed head-
line to set an insertion point for
editing. Holding down the mouse but-
ton changes the sharp box around the
headline to a fuzzy one. and you can
then drag it along with all of its sub-
headings to a different spot in the
outline (see photo 1). Here the Macin-
tosh really outshines the PC. You can
also move headlines the old way,
using the keyboard. The keyboard
commands are most useful for insert-
ing new headlines.

The Macintosh Clipboard works as
expected for some cut-and-paste
operations, including sending all or
part of your outline to another appli-
cation like MacWrite. But drag selec-
tion for cutting and copying does not
work within a headline; the Backspace
key is your only deletion tool there.
In fact, drag selection is not imple-
mented anywhere in Thinkl&nk 128.
Consequently, you cannot select
groups of headlines for deleting,
moving, or copying unless they all fall
under a high-level headline.

Sorting of subheadings and search-
ing for strings of text are available in
another pull-down menu. They are
easier to use here than in the PC ver-
sion, which has them buried deep in
the menu tree. Unfortunately, how-
ever, Thinkfenk 1 28 has no Undo com-
mand as do many Mac programs.
When you delete part of your outline
or sort a set of subheadings in a way
you don't like, you have no way to
restore things to their previous
condition.

Except for the lack of paragraphs.
Thinkl&nk 128's biggest flaw is its un-
conventional user interface. Scrolling
is one example. Instead of using the
predefined "scroll bars" from the
Macintosh's built-in routines, the Liv-
ing Videotext programmers invented
their own "hot" border surrounding
the text window. It's the same gray

338 B YTE • JUNE 1985

r

AT A GLANCE

Name

Type

Manufacturer

Computer

Features

ThlnkTank

Idea processor

Living Videotext
2432 Charleston Rd.
Mountain View, CA 94043
(415) 964-6300

256K IBM PC,

128K and 512K

Macintosh,

64K Apple II family,

96K Apple III,

384K Data General/One

Outlining, text editing,
formatting

Executive Writer/
Executive Filer

Idea processor

Paperback Software
International
2612 Eighth St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
(415) 644-2116

192K IBM PC,
256K PCjr

THOR

Idea processor

Fastware

200 Freeway Dr. East
East Orange, NJ 07018
(800) 372-2345

128K IBM PC

Framework

Integrated package

AshtonTate

10150 West Jefferson Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
(213) 204-5570

384K IBM PC

Documentation Users manual

Price

IBM PC, $195;

128K Macintosh, $145;

512K Macintosh, $245;

Apple II family, $150;

Apple III, $150;

Data General/One, $195

Index-card retrieval
and word processing

User's manual

Executive Writer, $69.95;
Executive Filer, $49.95

Index-card retrieval
and text editing

User's manual

$295

Integrated outlining,
word processor, database,
spreadsheet, graphics,
telecommunications

Tutorial, reference manual

$700

pattern as the normal Mac desktop
background. A press of the mouse
button when the arrow is on one of
the four borders causes the text to
scroll away from that border. Clicking
on the corners causes diagonal
scrolling.

It sounds easy and it is. But Mac
users are used to seeing scroll bars
with arrows and a "thumb" that can
be dragged to a relative position in
the document. Giving them a non-
standard alternative to what they
already know is contrary to Apple's
philosophy of keeping the Macintosh
user interface consistent from one
program to another. This is one of the
few features 1 had to find in the
manual before I could make full use
of Thinktenk 128.

Thinkl&nk's diagonal scrolling is not
available with standard Macintosh
scroll bars. But how many times have
you wished for diagonal scrolling?
Another shortcoming is that you can-
not drag or size the Thinlflknk 128
outline window (at least not in the ver-
sion I tried).

Even the IBM PC version of
Thinkl&nk does not claim to be a word

processor. Although it lacks advanced
editing and formatting features, it
does a decent job of putting an out-
line on paper. For some features, the
paragraph editor in the IBM PC ver-
sion of Thinkl&nk is easier to use than
Executive Writer (reviewed later),
which does claim to be a full word
processor. Neither program formats
text on the screen as it will appear on
paper, but at least Thinkl&nk refor-
mats paragraphs automatically to end
lines at word boundaries. Executive
Writer requires the press of a function
key for that.

Thinkl&nk lets you format output as
DOS (disk operating system) text files
(with hard carriage returns after each
line) for polishing with your favorite
word processor. WordStar users will
appreciate the option that inserts
WordStar formatting codes into the
output file. Thinkl&nk's 17 format op-
tions include outline-specific informa-
tion, such as the number of spaces for
indentation of the various levels and
the depth for printing headlines, para-
graphs, and section numbers. Think-
1&nk will print a table of contents to
the level you specify and automatical-

ly insert the page number where each
section heading will appear. The ver-
sion for the 128K-byte Macintosh,
however, severely limits printing
capabilities. You highlight a headline,
and the program will print out that
headline; all others become subor-
dinate to it. You have no control over
outline depth and no table of
contents.

The IBM PC version comes with two
manuals. The well-written user's
manual combines a tutorial approach
with a full account of how things work.
The last 10 pages are reproduced as
a separate quick-reference guide to
help you keep track of commands.
Thinklknk 128's documentation is of
similar quality but takes a different ap-
proach. It has a tutorial section and
two reference sections, covering the
specific and the general. Thinkl&nk's
simplicity on the Macintosh elimi-
nates the need for a Mac quick-refer-
ence guide.

Both versions come with one disk
that contains the program and sam-
ple outlines. Unlike the Apple III ver-
sion that I reviewed earlier, the IBM

{continued)

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 339

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

and Macintosh disks are copy-pro-
tected. With the IBM version you can
copy the program to your own disk
(including hard disk) and execute it
from there, but you must have the
master disk in drive A when you start
the program.

Executive Writer/
Executive Filer

| Editor's note: Prior to January, Executive
Writer and Executive Filer were marketed as
one package, called The Idea Processor. The
developer, Idea Ware, split the package and
sold the two programs to Adam Osborne's
Paperback Software International (PSI) for
distribution. \n its new incarnation, the prod-
uct has been upgraded to version 2 .0 and re-
packaged as Executive Writer and Executive
Filer. Each package consists of a manual with
a software disk inside the back cover. The

packages sell for $69.95 and $49.95, re-
spectively. Version 2.0's reported improve-
ments include on-screen formatting, horizon-
tal scrolling, and enhanced speed. Steve Cook
of PSI said that version 2.0 provides on-screen
help, printing from within the editor, and
many WordStar-like control-key sequences.
Cook explained that the package is offered as
separate modules because PSI wanted a word
processor and felt that The Idea Processor's
was a good one. Buyers who purchase both
modules integrate them by using a routine pro-
vided by PSI that needs to be invoked only
once. PSI provides all support for both
packages.

Mr, Wershey initially reviewed The Idea
Processor but has added material to reflect the
capabilities of the new packages]

Executive Writer and Executive Filer
combine a flexible word processor
with an indexed "cardfile" system that

CARDFILE

Display *

Main Document

EDITOR

Figure 1: With Executive Writer and Executive Filer you can create and
organize blocks of text on "cards'.' You can move text back and forth between the
cardfile and a document in the editor.

lets you search for cards by keywords.
You can shuttle blocks of text quickly
between the cardfile and your docu-
ment. Features include keyboard
macros and the ability to store and
recall graphics images for insertion in-
to your text.

In The Idea Processor, as well as in
Executive Writer and Executive Filer,
the word processor and cardfile are
integrated. The cardfile resides in a
hierarchical system of "drawers" and
"cabinets," making it easy to relate to
the real world. Figure 1 shows an over-
view of the system's operation.

Unlike Thinkfank, Executive Writer
and Executive Filer do not help you
visualize the big picture. Your docu-
ment consists of straight text, just as
it would in any word processor. You
have no tools to experiment with the
overall structure of your work. The
value of Executive Filer lies in finding
blocks of text by keyword. Especially
if you keep a large amount of refer-
ence material on disk, this retrieval
feature could save you time.

Even if you don't need the cardfile,
Executive Writer might meet your
word-processing needs. It has many
features and is relatively easy to learn
and use. When used with the Ctrl key,
the cursor keys on the numeric key-
pad and the Insert, Delete, Backspace,
and 1£b keys position the cursor to
the beginning or end of a line, to the
top or bottom of the screen, or to the
next or previous word. A status line
near the bottom of the screen shows
whether the insert, wordwrap, bold-
face, and underline features are on or
off.

Function keys handle most of the
other word-processing commands. An
information line at the bottom of the
screen labels them. They work alone
or in combination with the Ctrl, Alt,
and Shift keys to invoke 40 different
operations. I found using the function
keys cumbersome in some cases.
Block operations, for example, use
Ctrl with the function keys. Copying a
block of text requires pressing Ctrl-F3
to begin the block, moving the cursor
to extend it, Ctrl-F4 to end it, moving
the cursor again to indicate where you
want the copy, Ctrl-F7 to put it there,

340 BYTE • JUNE 1985

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

and Ctrl- F 5 to make the highlight on
the original block disappear. Deleting
and moving blocks requires similar
finger contortions. Fortunately, short-
cuts with the Ctrl Alt, Backspace, End,
and Delete keys make it easy to delete
individual words or all or part of a
line, eliminating the need to select a
block for deletion.

Executive Writer's search and
replace capabilities are flexible. The
function keys work with the Shift key
to activate them. You can define up
to 10 keyboard macros with as many
as 100 keystrokes each. They dis-
appeared when you left The Idea Pro-
cessor, but in Executive Writer you
can save them along with margin and
tab settings. You assign each a
number from to 9 and call them by
pressing Ctrl and the appropriate
number. You can nest macros within
each other as long as you don't ask
a macro to call itself. Macros work
with the cardfile's editor, too.

Besides the minor complaints
already noted, The Idea Processor's
biggest shortcoming was the editor's
inability to format text on the screen
as it will appear on paper. Some for-
mat features like boldface and under-
lined text did appear on the screen,
and Executive Writer adds on-screen
margin control to these. Page breaks
are still left to your imagination.
Another annoyance that remains in
Executive Writer is the need to press
F2 periodically to reformat the current
paragraph.

Each format command is a two-
letter code. Pressing F6 generates a
special "feather" symbol that
precedes the code. There are 24 of
them, giving you the usual formatting
capabilities plus special features like
even/odd logic in headings and
footings, automatic numbering of
footnotes, automatic counters any-
where in the text (for section
numbers, etc.), and insertion of
graphics images into text. A separate
Print program prints your document.
If your printer is not one of the stan-
dard ones supported, PSI supplies a
utility to help you create the neces-
sary printer-configuration file.

The Idea Processor lacked a

graphics editor, and so does Ex-
ecutive Writer, but the manual tells
how to save screen images from other
programs. Idea Ware publishes one
called The Graphics Idea, which in-
cludes the SlideShow facility. The
manual provides examples of others
such as Lotus 1-2-3, VisiPlot, and
dGRAPH II. The file format is the
same used by the BSAVE command
in BASIC. A SAVESCREEN utility lets
you save the graphics images for ac-
cess from the editor or cardfile. File
operations, invoked with Alt and the
function keys, let you save all or part
of a document. After saving a docu-
ment, The Idea Processor required
you to leave the editor and reload the
document to resume work on it. Ex-
ecutive Writer has an Update feature
that avoids this extra step. Once a
document is loaded, you can insert
text from other files and from cards
in the cardfile.

In the cardfile, provided by Ex-
ecutive Filer, you can peruse your in-
dexed ideas for just the right one to
insert in your document. Or you can
take a highlighted block of text from
the main document to store on a card
for later use. You won't have a split
screen or windows to keep your docu-
ment in view while you examine cards,
but switching between editor and
cardfile screens is nearly instanta-
neous.

Instead of function keys the cardfile
uses menus to help you organize
cards. The first thing you do when ac-
cessing the cardfile is make or unlock
a cabinet. Each cabinet holds up to
eight drawers, which in turn hold
thousands of cards (depending on the
space available on your disk). Each
card in the cardfile holds up to 8000
characters. You edit the card with the
full set of commands used to edit

[continued]

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Inquiry 288

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 341

ANEW

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New Kodak diskettes. Because the only
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The namesays it all.

Inquiry 161

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

documents in Executive Writer. After
creating the card, you specify which
drawer it's to be stored in and enter
a list of keywords to use in retrieval.

You can fetch a card or set of cards
by specifying a keyword or pressing
the tilde (~) as a wild card to fetch
them all. Then you can browse
through them one at a time. Once a
card is displayed, you can modify the
selection criteria by specifying
Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)
that combine the current list of key-
words with others. With only these
search mechanisms, Executive Filer
lacks power as a database manager.
But the keyword retrieval scheme is
effective and simple and should meet
most people's needs.

In addition to Executive Filer's ob-
vious text-classification uses, the
package can be useful to program-
mers. With wordwrap off and no
boldface or underlined characters,
files are standard ASCII (American
Standard Code for Information Inter-
change) text files that can be read by
compilers and interpreters. You can
use the cards to organize and store
subroutines.

The two 'extensive demonstration
disks that came with The Idea Pro-
cessor are not included with Ex-
ecutive Writer/Executive Filer. The
new version does have a file illus-
trating a simple application. The new
manuals have "quick courses" to get
you started, and the Executive Filer
manual has an "expert" section with
tips on various ways to use the
package. The new software requires
you to have the master disk inserted
when you start the program. After you
register, you can get an unprotected
copy for $10.

Although it lacks Thinkfank's out-
lining and sorting capabilities, Ex-
ecutive Writer is a better word pro-
cessor. Executive Filer's retrieval
features are also more flexible than
ThinkH&nk's, though limited in com-
parison with most database mana-
gers. It appears well suited to large
writing projects that require the
assembling and indexing of much in-
formation. The program would also
be useful to reporters or authors who

want to keep a disk library of material
for reference. _

THOR

If you want a program that puts com-
mands on the screen in color and
gives you total control over the color
and intensity of your text as you type,
this one from Fastware is for you.
THOR stands for "thought organizer."
According to the manual, it "com-
bines the free format facility of a word
processor with the power of a data-
base manager." Unfortunately, it
doesn't perform either function very
well. Commands are inconsistent with
common sense, and the text editor is
awkward to use.

For retrieval of text blocks, THOR
works more like a conventional file-
management program than Executive
Filer, which provides search capability
on up to 10 keywords for each record.
THOR stores a block of text, which it

calls a "thought." with up to 5
categories or fields plus the date you
entered the information. The total
number of categories in a database
of thoughts can be as many as 2 55,
but any given thought can use only
5 of them.

Retrieval by category can occur at
two levels. You can search your
thoughts to find the ones that mere-
ly have a category or a set of categor-
ies. Or you can be more specific and
search the contents of those categor-
ies. You can thus mix several types of
records in the same database and still
find what you want.

TWo other selection criteria are avail-
able. You can search for thoughts
created within a specified range of
dates, and you can search for
thoughts containing any of three
specified strings of text. If you want
to use combinations of the three

[continued]

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Inquiry 289

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 343

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

types of selection criteria, they are
automatically connected with AND
operators— that is, a thought must
meet all the criteria specified in order
to be selected. Selection of thoughts
is thus rather inflexible.

If I seem to be dwelling on the data-
base aspects of this program, it is
because the program authors have
dwelled on them. The tutorial does
not show how to classify and organize
blocks of amorphous text, brimming
with intertwining ideas. A real
"thought organizer" should do that.
Rather, the tutorial illustrates in detail
how to work with a database of
restaurants in New York City and
select the French ones in midtown
that serve duck (see photo 2).

The most annoying feature of THOR
is not its limited capability but its ter-
minology. As I've noted, a block of
text is called a thought. This leads to
the terms "thought maintenance,"
which you and I know as text editing;
"thought categorization," which en-
tails entering database fields and their
values; and "thought review," which
we normally call record selection. And
it goes downhill from there.

Let's turn now to thought mainte-

nance (text editing). There are two
editors— a "field editor" for fields and
a "screen editor" for larger blocks of
text. They work differently. The field
editor works only with capital letters.
No matter how you type them in, they
appear as capitals. I suppose this is
to facilitate "BRAINscanning" (retriev-
ing records). The Delete key erases an
entire field, not a single character as
it does in the screen editor. However,
fields are limited to 12 characters, so
you won't have much to retype.

In the screen editor, the up and
down arrows take you to the previous
or next line. In the field editor, it all
depends. If you have not made any
changes to the field yet, these arrows
take you to the previous or next field,
respectively. Be careful using the up
arrow, however; the manual warns,
"Sometimes to insure data integrity,
THOR will not allow you to do this
and will tell you so with a beep." Using
the down arrow in this situation, the
manual states, "is similar to using the
RETURN key except on some screens
the down arrow key will jump over a
group of subsequent fields." If you
have made changes to the field, press-
ing either the up or the down arrow-

Photo 2: THOR is pretty and colorful but it lacks power in both its file-management
and text-editing operations.

or the Esc key— replaces the changes
with the original default value and
moves the cursor to the beginning of
the field.

Now that you have mastered the
field editor, we can move to the
screen editor. Unlike Executive Writer/
Executive Filer, THOR does not focus
on a single main document that can
be assembled by the screen editor
from smaller blocks of text. The only
unit of organization for a THOR data-
base is the thought. THORs thoughts,
however, can hold more than Ex-
ecutive Filer's cards. Fastware claims
that thoughts can be as large as
40,000 characters, depending on your
machine's amount of RAM.

THOR's screen editor has cut-and-
paste commands, but they're not like
the ones in most word processors. Cut
breaks the current line into two lines
at the cursor position. Paste reformats
a paragraph from the cursor position,
like Ctrl-B in WordStar or F2 in Ex-
ecutive Writer. There are no block
move or copy commands, but you can
save a block of text to a file and load
it in again. The screen editor does not
have a destructive backspace, but it
has a typeover mode, called Edit
mode.

Although I am not fond of this
editor, it does have a feature not
found in most word processors. In the
upper right corner of the screen is the
current attribute character, which
shows the color, intensity, and other
characteristics (like underlining,
flashing, and reverse video) of the
characters to be typed. By pressing
the Alt key in combination with
others, you can affect the way each
character in your block of text will be
displayed. The graphics attributes
work only within THOR and cannot be
saved with text files for use in other
programs.

THOR provides limited on-screen
formatting in the form of margin and
tab settings. Print-formatting com-
mands must be inserted into text and
are confined primarily to page-length
settings. The INCLUDE formatting
command lets you string thoughts
together as they are printed.

Like Executive Writer/Executive

344 B YTE • JUNE 1985

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

Filer, THOR can save and load straight
ASCII text files. The jobs that THOR
claims to handle best are some of the
same ones cited by PSI for Executive
Filer. THOR's manual was 44 pages of
poorly written dot-matrix printout in
a loose-leaf binder. Fastware claims to
have improved the documentation. It
still has no index.

Framework

The real champion of idea processing
is Framework. The top level is an out-
line organizer in the manner of Think-
l£nk but with more power and flex-
ibility. It also offers screen-formatted
word processing, a database manager
that you can use as a cardfile, spread-
sheets, graphics, and telecommunica-
tions with Macintosh-like pull-down
menus and consistent, easy-to-use
commands. Naturally, it's the most ex-
pensive offering, and it requires lots
of memory (25 6K bytes minimum).

Framework's applications and capa-
bilities extend far beyond those of the
other programs in this review. The
outline is the web that ties together
all applications. As tempting as it is
to dig into all of Framework's features,
I will focus here only on the parts of
Framework that are similar to other
idea processors. (For more informa-
tion, see the product preview of
Framework in the August 1 984 BYTE,
page 121.)

Just as Thinkfank can create head-
lines with subordinate subheadings
and paragraphs, Framework can
create an outline with many levels.
Commands for expanding and col-
lapsing work on any part of the out-
line in much the same way they do in
Thinkfank. Each line in the outline
represents a "frame." A frame can re-
main empty or contain text, a data-
base, a spreadsheet, a graph, or other
frames.

To understand what Framework can
do to help you process ideas, it is first
important to understand how frames
work. A frame is a box that you can
resize and relocate anywhere on the
screen. Frames overlay each other as
you use them, but you can put them
away at any time. The only limit to the
number of active frames is the

amount of memory in your IBM PC.

There are five types of frames. Your
title for each one goes into its border
at the upper left. You can have a "con-
tainer frame" that merely holds other
frames. Each application also has its
own type of frame: word processing,
spreadsheet, database, and presenta-
tion graphics. The manual claims that
a sixth type is the outline frame, but
that's not quite right. Outlines are
merely container frames displayed in
"outline view."

When you decide to make an
"empty/word" frame into a container
frame, you can put only other frames
into it. You cannot use it to store
blocks of text unless they are inside
other frames.

If the screen weren't green, you'd
swear that Framework was running on
a Macintosh. The pull-down menus
appear quickly. The function keys
have a single set of actions and

operate consistently throughout all
applications.

The top of the screen has a line of
nine menus. You will need most of
them for idea processing. The Disk
menu loads and saves files and gives
you access to DOS and other pro-
grams. (When you are done, you
return to Framework with a frame full
of whatever DOS put on the screen.
I even ran ThinkT^nk from within
Framework to compare some features
of the two programs.)

The Create menu makes empty
frames. Creating an outline frame is
the logical first step in beginning a
project. The resulting container frame
has empty section headings (each
representing a frame) in a pre-
determined format. After you learn
Framework, you'll probably prefer to
create your own container frame with
your desired outline format. The Edit

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IUNE 1985 * BYTE 345

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

Framework outlines
have a triangle
in front of frames
with subframes.

menu lets you choose Insert or 'type-
over mode and has an Undo com-
mand. The Locate command is for
searching and replacing strings; it also
has ascending and descending sort
commands that sort sections in an
outline as well as fields and columns
in databases and spreadsheets.

The Frames menu has a number of
commands unique to Framework (see
photo 3). Normally when you add
frames to an outline, the program
puts one below another in "column"
format. An alternative in the Frames
menu is referred to as 'Allow Free
Dragging." A better term would be
"allow vertical dragging" because you
can always move frames horizontally
on the screen. Only when you have
allowed free dragging can you drag
frames vertically.

Free dragging can come in handy

Ik to?

when polishing writing. If you have
two alternative paragraphs you need
to compare for the best wording of an
idea, you can put them in frames and
put the frames side by side. They will
appear on the printed page in that ar-
rangement until you decide which
one to delete. This is also a great way
to print multiple columns of text on
a single page or print blocks of text
scattered haphazardly over the page.

Although Thinkl&nk numbers the
sections of your document and gen-
erates a table of contents with page
numbers, these features are available
only on the printed output. Frame-
work lets you view them on the screen
as you work. When you add a new
frame to your outline, the section
numbers are automatically adjusted
to accommodate it. Both programs
use a hierarchical numbering scheme
(for example, 1, 1.3, 2.4.1, etc.).

Framework outlines have a triangle
in front of frames with subframes. You
have the option to "Reveal 'type" for
each frame. Frame types are empty/
container, word, database, spread-
sheet, and graph.

If you are writing a document with
a block of text in each subframe of
your outline, it is easy to see how well

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Photo 3 : Framework's pull-down menus are fast and easy to use.

you are progressing. Just check the
number of frames marked (W), for
word frame, against the ones still
marked (E), for empty/container frame.

'I\vo especially useful keys with
Framework are F9 (Zoom) and F10
(View). When used with a typical
document consisting of an outline
and word frames, they can provide
four different ways of looking at the
document. The use of these keys can
be confusing at first because where
they take you depends on where
you've been. I tend to stick with F9
most of the time to zoom back and
forth between outline and full-screen
views of text. The view accessible via
F10 shows a nested set of frames with
part of the text visible inside each
one.

For linear narrative, in which one
idea flows logically to the next, you
may find the frames view unneces-
sary; the outline provides a better
overview, with the full-document view
providing the detail. The frames view
lets you be very creative in using
Framework's display to show logical
or dependent relationships between
frames of text. Framework can be a
two-dimensional tool for writers, just
as spreadsheet programs are for
number crunchers.

Framework uses margin settings
within frames so you can see roughly
how your text will appear on paper.
You can scroll horizontally to 2 5 5 col-
umns, and paragraph reformatting is
automatic when you insert new text
into the middle of a paragraph. The
Words menu at the top of the screen
has a few key attributes to control
margin, justification, and tab settings.
It also has switches for boldface,
underline, and italic attributes. You
can also select combinations of these
styles, and the type on the screen
reflects your choice. For other format-
ting features, however, Framework
uses formulas that you load into the
frame border. These control paging,
headers, footers, and the like.

The biggest formatting deficiency is
the lack of page-break lines on the
screen. Because a finished document
is likely to be produced from a series

[continued)

346 B YTE • IUNE 1985

.

Money Center

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Issue Itatu Price Change B-POUND 1.1838 +8.8128 1.1845 1.8968

3-ttO 5-16 8.19-15 +.82 D-MARK 8.3873 +8.8838 8.3875 8.3859

8-15 8.27-23

SU-FRMC 8.7385 +8,8144 8.7328 8.7288

CTH 3913 +65 3916 3892 g

Hjjj| TICK CHART 84:22P

HI=183.65 L0=181.28 181.85St -1.88

I 1

182.88

181.68

I 181.28

* 188 158 288 258

•16 85:19P Economist advises near-tern caution in fixed- income Markets
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Inquiry 40

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The right choice.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 347

REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

of frames, page-break lines would be
understandably hard to implement.
You can, however, use the "widow or-
phan tolerance" parameter in Frame-

work's configuration file to set the
minimum number of lines allowed
stranded as a widow or orphan when
a paragraph is broken. You also can

iiscjLijr*""

fa:num*,m

Good afternoon. Please type in pup naae.

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*f#f Mvf do you think sou' re feeling a bit tired?

isitet fell, 1'if kffi traveling a lot, and avay fro* hone,

for leil in about pup famlg.

Ue fop Research Paper. fates Bees: 1V14

Photo 4: You can look at a Framework database in "forms view',' which lets you set
up a database as a cardfile system to manage blocks of text. Every field in every record
is a frame.

■ T "

■ ■ T •"■ r f

[■ ~

h^MHTllf

IMMZ

>tti

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i Addison Heslejj.1984
izenbauaW. H . Freewan, 1976

natural langu

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L2SBBI

Photo 5 : An alternate view of the Framework cardfile database in photo 4 shows the
first several words in each field and lets you scan through and sort your cards.

preview a document before printing
by saving the formatted 'version into
a DOS text file and then loading that
file as a new frame. Your printer-con-
trol codes will show up as IBM screen-
graphics characters, which can be a
big help in debugging printer-format-
ting problems. The spooling feature
is nice, too. When you print your
document, Framework writes it to a
temporary disk file and prints it from
there, so you can get back to work
right away.

Framework far surpasses all the
other idea processors for straight
word processing. Cursor movements
are clean, flexible, and fast. Selection
of blocks for moving, copying, and
deleting is simple and consistent with
those operations in other Framework
applications. When compared with
other full-service word processors it
stands up very well, and at the time
of this writing it is the only one with
outlining and other organizational
capabilities.

As I stated earlier, Framework can
help you organize text in the form of
an outline much as Thinkfank does.
But it can also be used as a cardfile
system. The key lies in Framework's
database capabilities. Each field in
each record of a Framework database
is a frame. This means, of course, that
you can fill it with as much text as you
like (up to the 32,000-character frame
limit). The forms view of a database
displays all field values of a given
record inside their frames (see photo
4). You can arrange them on the
screen however you like.

By constructing a database with
fields for categories (like title, author,
and keywords), plus a large frame for
text, you can have a cardfile system
with powerful retrieval capabilities.
You can readily copy text from the
text frames of your cards into larger
documents that reside in non-data-
base frames. You can also view a data-
base in a table format that shows one
line for each record. Here, you can see
the keyword fields plus the first few
words of each text block (see photo
5). (THOR provides a similar feature,
but Executive Filer does not.) You can

[continued)

348 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 377-

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REVIEW: IDEA PROCESSORS

quickly sort all your cards or a subset
of them on any category and scroll
through them to get ideas.

Framework comes with well-written
tutorial and reference manuals and
was easy to learn despite all its power.
It also has five disks, two of which are
needed to start the program and run
it. (The second drive remains free for

a data disk.) There is a backup copy
of disk 1 , the only one with copy pro-
tection. The two remaining disks con-
tain a tutorial and utilities. As with
Thinkl&nk, you can copy the program
files onto your own disks. But you
must have a system disk 1 in any drive
for the program to start. A new copy-
protection scheme should be ship-

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ping with Framework by the time you
read this. It will enable PC XT owners
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disks and boot the program without
the floppy system disk.

Framework's critics point out the
program's thirst for memory. You must
have 256K bytes, and 384K bytes if
you install the telecommunications
package. You will probably want more.
Spreadsheets, especially, take a lot of
RAM. And everything you do has to
reside in memory. Framework has no
automatic spooling of memory con-
tents to disk files as WordStar and
dBASE do. As a Framework docu-
ment, the original manuscript of this
review occupied about 9 5 K bytes. As
a straight ASCII text file, it reduced to
about 56K bytes.

Conclusions

If you need a tool to organize blocks
of text, whether for a doctoral disser-
tation or a collection of subroutines,
one of the idea processors presented
here could help you. Framework is by
far the most capable; it gets my vote
for most valuable program. It does
everything the other three programs
can do and more.

Think^nk and Executive Writer/Ex-
ecutive Filer offer slightly different
solutions to the problem of manag-
ing textual information. As an outline
processor, Think^nk presents a bet-
ter way of organizing ideas into a
structure for writing. Executive Filer
has with its cardfile a more flexible
retrieval system for large volumes of
information, and Executive Writer is
a more powerful word processor.

THOR offers some capabilities for
organizing blocks of text, but its limi-
tations and awkward implementation
should eliminate it from serious con-
sideration.

We obviously have not heard the
end from developers of idea pro-
cessors. As information continues to
overwhelm us, we will have to use
more tools like these to keep it all
straight. Thinlflknk, like VisiCalc, may
have really started something by
coming up with an easy way to do
something for which pencil and paper
are inadequate. ■

350 BYTE • 1UNE 1985

Inquiry 54

Now Showing
In Black And While

If you own an IBM-PC
or PC work-alike,
Roland's new MB-142
monitor lets you show off
your text and graphics in
today's hottest colors-
black and white. That's
right! The MB-142 gives
you black characters on a
paper-white background-
just like people have been
reading for centuries. You
can also have white char-
acters on a black back-
ground with just the touch
of a button.

Both of these black and
white display formats are
easier on the eyes and
less fatiguing than the green
or amber phosphor used in
standard monochrome
monitors. The MB-142's
large 14-inch screen, com-
bined with its ultra-high
720 x 350 resolution,
can display characters
that are larger and
more legible than what
you can get with ordi-
nary monochrome
monitors. Another
great plus is that the
MB-142 plugs directly
into the monochrome
board of your IBM or com-
patible—just like your pres-
ent monochrome monitor,
with nothing more to buy.

Because of the MB-142's
advanced electronic cir-
cuitry, you even have the
ability to mix graphics and
text on the same display
when using graphics and text
boards from leading manu-
facturers such as Persyst,
STB, Paradise, Hercules, AST
and many others. What makes
it all possible? The same
sophisticated technology
used in color monitors.

the big difference is
» that the MB-142
monitor does the job for
significantly less money.
The MB-142 is designed
to interface economically,
too. Imagine seeing your
favorite business graphics
or CAD/CAM packages,
such as Lotus 1-2-3, Ener-
graphics, Chart-Master,
AutoCAD, CADDraft and
VersaCAD, in ultra-high
resolution black and
white. Also, take full
advantage of your pro-
gram's windowing
capability using the large
14-inch screen.
Take a good look at the
differences that set the
MB-142 apart from the rest.
No other monochrome
monitor gives you the
fatigue-free black and
white viewing, text and
graphics capabilities
and easy interface.
Naturally enough,
the MB-142 is from
Roland DG-the
new computer
peripherals company
that's pointing the way
to the future. Look for
this and other Roland
products at fine com-
puter dealers
everywhere.
For more information,
contact: Roland DG,
7200 Dominion Circle, Los
Angeles, CA 90040.
(213) 685-5141.

The software programs listed are trademarks
of the following companies: AutoCAD,
AUTODESK, Inc.; CADDraft, Personal CAD
Systems, Inc.; Chart-Master, Decision
Resources, Inc.; Energraphics, Enertronic
Research, Inc.; Lotus 1-2-3, Lotus Develop-
ment Corp.; VersaCAD, T&W Systems, Inc.

Roland D

Inquiry 447

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 351

Put your blue box
out to pasture.

Genesis Has Better Choices for
Superior 8086 Designs.

Genesis development tools turn your
IBM PC or compatible computer into the
most flexible, comprehensive development
system made for 8086-f amily designs.
Genesis offers the widest choice of proven
languages, superior debugging tools, and
even in-circuit emulators. It all starts with
ACCESS, the superior Genesis operating
environment that allows Intel's 8086 devel-
opment software to run under MS-DOS. And
not only do we sell ACCESS and all the Intel
languages for 8086 and 80186 designs —
we also offer an ACCESS system for 8-bit
designs as well.

Genesis Is Faster.

You get performance as well as flexibility
with Genesis. For example, in our tests the
ASM 86 assembler running under ACCESS on
an IBM PC AT runs 4.7 times as fast as the
assembler on a hard-disk based Series III
and an incredible eleven times faster than a

floppy-disk based Intel system. The ASM 86
assembler we tested under ACCESS even
ran 1.53 times faster than aVAX 11/782
running competing cross-software.

Genesis Is Easier to Use.

Of course, Genesis offers more than speed
of execution. The GeneScope family of sym-
bolic debuggers and in-circuit emulators
share the most powerful and easiest to use
human interface available today. GeneScope
offers high-level macro facilities, an on-line
symbolic assembler, alphanumeric and
graphic support, and many more features
that make Genesis tools a better solution
than other systems.

Genesis Costs Less.

With Genesis you get all the flexibility of
a personal computer and all the power of
expensive dedicated development systems.
You can get your products to market faster,
at a fraction of the cost.

Is there really any reason to keep using
obsolete, expensive equipment— when you
can have Genesis instead? Quit chewing
your cud— give us a call and find out how
Genesis toots i; ,. f -^-~~
can make
your life
easier.

Genesis Has a Better Solution.

Microsystems

Genesis Microsystems Corporation

196 Castro Street

Mountain View, California 94041

Phone: (415) 964-9001

Telex: 4998093 GENMSUI

Inquiry 194

andGcmvSf . ., . - >tw»^ (>np. IBM. is ii tvgisterttl u;dcnwrk aiul )&^n(iAfj»l(#a^ifeuarks u! i > nnfimulB '.Cftrp Intel i- a a,'iM< r><! u ul nurk^nntSCorp,,

J !($jgjrtered trademark of Di#i * ,

SOFTWARE REVIEW

Convenience Software

TflP IstPSt Editor's note: Bellsoft claims that Pop-Up and Pop-

Dps are trademarks of Bellsoft Inc. \n this article

the author uses the lowercase term pop-up to refer
to any memory-resident program that can be invoked
prOgFcimS at any time, including Spotlight and SideKick. Pop-
Dp refers to Bellsoft' s specific programs.

in pop-up

by Mark J. Welch

Mark I. Welcft is a staff writer for
BYTE. He can be reached at
McGraw-Hill Publications. 42 5 Bat-
tery St.. San Francisco. CA 94111.

Until recently, microcomputers
usually handled spreadsheets,
word processors, and database
programs one at a time. Now that memory
is relatively inexpensive, a number of pro-
grammers have developed software that lets
the computer run more than one program
concurrently or switch activities instantly
Some integrated software packages and
operating systems let you load and run two
or more standard applications at once.
However, integrated programs are general-
ly expensive in terms of money and
memory.

Lately, several companies have introduced
relatively i nexpensi ve memory-resident
pop-up programs that let you interrupt your
current program to calculate, write notes,
check an appointment calendar, look up a
phone number and dial it, or execute DOS
(disk operating system) functions.

Borland International's SideKick includes
a programmer's calculator, a WordStar-com-
patible notepad, an appointment calendar,
an auto-dialer, and an ASCII (American
Standard Code for Information Interchange)
table.

Software Arts, creator of the VisiCalc
spreadsheet program, has introduced Spot-
light, which includes an appointment book/
alarm, a DOS filer utility, a phone book, a
notepad, a calculator, and an index-card file.
Bellsoft's Pop-Ups are 10 programs in
eight packages, including an alarm clock, an
appointment calendar, a calculator, a clip-
board, a notepad, a DOS filer, an auto-
dialer, a computer-use log, and a telecom-
munications program. Because the pro-
grams are sold separately, they are in-
dividually less expensive than SideKick or
Spotlight and reserve less memory.

No two people have the same needs or
preferences. In microcomputing, this has
led to a wide variety of word processors,
spreadsheets, and operating systems. The
same applies to memory-resident pop-up
programs. I began looking at the programs
because I needed a pop-up phone direc-
tory. You might find a pop-up notepad more
important. Others might think that no pop-
up program is useful unless it includes a
spreadsheet, a feature I haven't yet found.

I'll try to identify my personal preferences
and distinguish them from more general
performance problems. I'll also suggest
what uses might be best for each program
module. Rather than review each program
separately, I'll give an overview of each,
summarize major issues, and compare
similar modules of each package.

SideKick

SideKick is the oldest and, in my opinion,
the simplest of the programs. SideKick costs
$50, which is less than comparable pro-
grams. It appears to be designed for pro-
grammers. The manual is good and includes
an index and a "Quick Starter" chapter.

SideKick's ASCII table is a programming
feature that isn't included in any other pop-
up program. It is valuable for programming,
but it isn't helpful in any other application.

Spotlight

Spotlight is easily the slickest, best-pack-
aged program, and it features the best—
and least necessary— manual. I found Spot-
light to be the most intuitive program to use
and the most attractive on screen. Its phone
book and index-card file can each handle
up to 36 directories with up to 500 entries
each (disk space permitting).

Spotlight costs $1 50, but it includes fea-
tures SideKick doesn't have.

POP-UPS

Bellsoft chose not to bundle its programs
together and instead sells eight separate

[continued]

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 353

REVIEW: CONVENIENCE

Pop-Up packages for $19.95 to
$149.95 each. (Pop-Up Alarm Clock is
available for $5 shipping and handling
and is bundled with each of the other
programs.)

PopDOS ($39.95) is a DOS utility.
Pop-Up Notepad ($39.95) includes
separate notepad and clipboard pro-
grams (see photo 1). Pop-Up Tele-
Comm ($79.95) includes Modem, a

telecommunications program, and
Voice, an auto-dialer. Pop-Up Calen-
dar ($19.95) and Pop-Up Calculator
($39.95) are separate packages.

While SideKick and Spotlight fea-
ture professional, typeset manuals,
the Pop-Up programs include shorter,
typescript manuals. Also included
with each program is a quick-refer-
ence card that duplicates its on-line

Table 1:

Memory allocation for pop-up programs.

Product

Programs

Memory Requirements

Spotlight

Full system

75K bytes (minimum)
Users can reserve more
(128K bytes is enough to have
all applications on screen)

SideKick

Full system

60K bytes

No calendar

51 K bytes

No notepad

40K bytes

Only calendar

and ASCII table

23K bytes

Pop-Ups

DeskSet Plus

155K bytes

Notepad

20K bytes

Clipboard

1 5K bytes

Calendar

24K bytes

Calculator

1 8K bytes

Alarm Clock

13K bytes

Modem

28K bytes

Voice

1 5K bytes

PopDOS

23K bytes

hit m
$ n i u \

; I I 1

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' 29 21 « 23 U
2? 281! 38 31

IMs is an exaapU of tk Pop-Op
Hotepad, Calculator and Calendar
ail displaced siailtanwusls. „

I Henth=E2 File

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Photo I : Rellsoft's Pop-Up programs are typical of the convenience software available.

help function. All three programs had
fairly good on-line help.

Memory Usage

Money isn't the only price you pay for
pop-up programs. You must also sacri-
fice part of your RAM (random-access
read/write memory). If you use a 64K-
byte IBM PC or compatible, beware:
Few of the pop-up programs will func-
tion with another program running.
While the programs can run in a 128K-
byte machine, few applications will
run simultaneously unless you have
I92K or 2 56K bytes of RAM. A few
programs might have problems even
then. I used a 2 56K-byte IBM PC with
two floppy-disk drives.

You can use more or less memory
with each program, depending on
your needs and available memory.
Spotlight lets you reserve from 75K to
128K bytes; 75K bytes is the minimum
necessary to run the program and
with 128K bytes you can load all the
Spotlight windows on screen simulta-
neously

You can load SideKick in one of four
versions: the full system (60K bytes),
everything except the notepad (51 K
bytes), everything except the calcu-
lator (40K bytes), or just the calculator
and ASCII table (2 3 K bytes).

You load the Pop-Up programs sep-
arately. Each one uses up from 13K
to 28K bytes. If you load all of them
at once, 1 5 5K bytes are reserved (see
table I for each program's memory
allocation).

Other Factors

All three systems are designed for the
IBM PC but will run on some compati-
bles. I tested all the software on my
Seequa Chameleon and all the pro-
grams ran. However, Spotlight's copy-
installation program didn't work, and
scrolling fuzzy lines appeared when-
ever I invoked a Spotlight window.
Software Arts says it is developing ver-
sions that will work properly on
compatibles.

SideKick is copy-protected, lb make
backup copies or to install it on a hard
disk, you must buy the unprotected
version for $79.95. Spotlight is also
copy-protected, but the program lets

354 B YTE • JUNE 1985

SideKick

Spotlight

AT A GLANCE

Name

Pop-Up Programs

Manufacturer

Bellsoft Inc.

Borland International

Software Arts

2820 Northup Way

4113 Scotts Valley Dr.

27 Mica Lane

Bellevue, WA 98004

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Wellesley, MA 02181

(206) 828-7282

(408) 438-8400

(617) 431-6500

(800) 862-6262

(800) 255-8008

Features

Programs available separately

Calculator, notepad,
auto-dialer, ASCII table,
appointment calendar

Appointment book, DOS filer
utility, phone book, notepad,
index-card file, calculator

Computer

IBM PC or compatible with

IBM PC or compatible with 128K

IBM PC or compatible with 128K

64K bytes of memory, monitor,

bytes of memory, one disk drive,

bytes of memory, one disk drive,

and one disk drive

and monitor; IBM PCjr, Seequa
Chameleon, and BytecComterm
Hyperion owners must buy
unprotected version

and monitor

Price

Pop-Up Alarm Clock $5

(or bundled with

all programs)

Pop-Up Calendar $19.95

Pop-Up PopDOS $39.95

Pop-Up Notepad $39.95

(includes Pop-Up

Clipboard)
Pop-Up Calculator $39.95
Pop-Up TeleComm $79.95

(includes PopModem,

PopVoice, Simplicity

Modem, and Simplicity

Voice)
TaxLog plus Pop-Up $39.95

Calendar
Pop-Up DeskSet $59.95

(includes Calendar;

Notepad, Calculator,

PopDOS, and Alarm

Clock)
Pop-Up DeskSet Plus $129.95

(includes all of above

plus TeleComm)

Copy-protected version $49.95
Unprotected version $79.95

$150

you make up to three working copies
from the master on either floppy or
hard disks. Spotlight also lets you
"uninstall" in case you want to re-
format a hard disk or add a hard disk
to a machine. The Pop-Up programs
from Bellsoft are not copy-protected.

Calculators

All three packages are supplied with
standard four-function memory calcu-
lators. I found Bellsoft's Pop-Up Cal-
culator to be the best for office work
because it features a scrolling "paper
tape" that you can echo to the printer.
It also includes a lOnumber memory;
SideKick and Spotlight have a stan-

dard 1-number memory. Pop-Up Cal-
culator also has a dollar mode; if you
enter 4567 in this mode, the screen
displays $45.67.

For programmers, SideKick's calcu-
lator includes decimal, binary, and
hexadecimal modes and can perform
conversions and logical functions
(XOR, AND, OR). It also lets you use
parentheses to specify the order of
calculations. SideKick's calculator keys
are located all over the keyboard. For
example, the C key clears all entries,
E clears the last entry, and the bottom
six function keys (F5 to F10) are for
hexadecimal numbers A through F
(the keyboard letters A through F

won't work as hexadecimal numbers).
Spotlight and Pop-Up Calculator let
you paste (or feed) numbers into an
application program. SideKick is a bit
more obscure; it lets you program
keys that insert the calculated value
when hit. With SideKick's method,
you can reposition the cursor and
program multiple keys with values, but
a key is unusable until depro-
grammed.

Alarm Clock/
Appointment Book

The price of the Pop-Up Alarm Clock
is certainly the best; it's available for

[continued]

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 355

* S AHH. it S LONELY NT THE TO

t ~"~:t~t- ~~ :-*. :;-^r .:■■:,, .

356 BYTE • IUNE 1985

TWAs FIRST CLASS SLEEPER-SEAT- TO EUROPE
AND THE AMERICAN EXPRESS* CAR© PUT YOU
COM^RFABLY AHEAD OFTHE CROWD.

Success has its rewards. And TWAs First Class and
the American Express Card are two rather impressive
examples.

In TWAs First Class you can select feorfi a menu
that includes caviar and champagne. Entrees like
Chateaubriand. And vintage wines like Puligny-
Montrachet.

Then stretch out comfortably in a Sleeper-Seat,
and sleep the flight away.

And as a First Class passenger, you'll be treated
accordingly from the moment you first reach the air-
port With a separate check-in desk for your con-
venience. And a special invitation to relax in TWAs
Ambassadors Club" lounge before your flight.

And when you take the American Express Card
along, you have an ideal travelling companion. Because
it's known and welcomed all over the world.

So you can use it to pay for your TWA tickets, your
hotel, rental car, meals -
or just about anything else
that strikes your fancy along
the way.

And of course, when you
carry the American Express
Card, you carry all the
cachet that comes with it. Don t leave home without it.* ;

And do take TWAs First Class on your next
trip to Europe. It's in a class by itself,

\*3k&w'-aj&x-2i/Zr;srr.&JG;ft. :>-/>"Y. :

&mM3fi3££& i^spQiaaa'

I 3112 34fib1B-;H500b

56

LEADINGTHE WffiTWA.

REVIEW: CONVENIENCE

$5 shipping and handling from Bell-
soft as a sort of "free sample." The
program is quite limited; it only lets
you program alarms for one day at a
time, it's also not easy to figure out;
even with the on-line help, I had to
refer to the manual. TWo problems:
The alarm message is too short, and
it is erased after the alarm rings and
the window is put away.

Bellsoft also sells a separate Calen-
dar program that lets you enter ap-
pointment information. The Calendar
program is extremely difficult to
understand and use. I quickly aban-
doned it because it has such limited
message space per day. The separa-
tion of the daily alarm and the long-
term calendar also reduced each pro-
gram's usefulness.

The Alarm Clock includes an option
to feed the current date and time to
an application. It can also generate a
"timed feed," which passes a series of
keystrokes to an application at a cer-
tain time.

SideKick's calendar is much better;
you can list appointments for each
half hour. However, the message line
is very short, and the daily calendar
runs only from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The
program does not have an alarm fea-
ture.

Spotlight's appointment book is my
favorite. It contains an alarm option
so Spotlight beeps 10 minutes before
an appointment. It lets you set ap-
pointments far in advance. A weekly
event (a staff meeting, for example)
only needs to be programmed once.
You can set the calendar to display
appointments only or to show all ap-
pointments and every hour, half hour,
or quarter hour. A vertical bar shows
how long an appointment will last;
bars also graphically show when more
than one appointment is scheduled
for the same time.

When a Spotlight alarm occurs, the
program generates a unique tone (not
too irritating) but doesn't display the
appointment information. You have to
invoke the appointment window to
find out what caused the alarm. If an
alarm sounds when you're not
around, everyone else in the office

(continued]

How Do I
Choose the

Right Personal
Lbmputer
Monitor?

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 357

Introducing the Most Powerful
Business Software Ever!

TRS-80™ (Model I, II, III, or 16) • APPLE™ • IBM™ • OSBORNE™ • CP/M™ • XEROX™

TfV. rf Of rg»jr

| VERSA
LEDGER

■■ ■>■■ -

•- ■ • ' *

r£BSAL£Q6£8 HAS BMW CHFJSTfS

Hf F«p5T TIME COMPUFfft U5£R (N MIKQ

The VersaBusiness" Series

Each VERSABUSINESS module can be purchased and used independently,
or can be linked in any combination to form a complete, coordinated business system.

VERSARECEIVABLES™ $99.95

VersaRecejv/ABLES t " is a complete menu-driven accounts receivable, invoicing, and
monthly statement-generating system. It keeps track of all information related to who
owes you or your company money, and can provide automatic billing for past due ac-
counts. VERSARECEIVABLES™ prints all necessary statements, invoices, and summary
reports and can be linked with VERSALEDGER IP" and VersaInvenT0RY t ".

VERSAPAYABLES™ $99.95

VERSAPAYABLES™ is designed to keep track of current and aged payables, keeping you
in touch with all information regarding how much money your company owes, and to
whom. VERSAPAYABLES'" maintains a complete record on each vendor, prints checks,
check registers, vouchers, transaction reports, aged payables reports, vendor reports,
and more. With VERSAPAYABLES™. you can even let your computer automatically select
which vouchers are to be paid.

VERSAPAYROLL™ $99.95

VersaPayroll™ is a powerful and sophisticated, but easy to use payroll system that
keeps track of all government-required payroll information. Complete employee records
are maintained, and all necessary payroll calculations are performed automatically, with
totals displayed on screen for operator approval. A payroll can be run totally, automati-
cally, or the operator can intervene to prevent a check from being printed, or to alter
information on it. If desired, totals may be posted to the VERSAl.EDGER 11*" system.

VERSAlNVENTORY™ $99.95

VERSA INVENTORY™ is a complete inventory control system that gives you instant access
to data on any item. VERSA INVENTOR Y™ keeps track of all information related to what
items are in stock, out of stock, on backorder, etc., stores sales and pricing data, alerts
you when an item falls below a preset reorder point, and allows you to enter and print
invoices directly or to link with theVERSARECElVABLES™ system. VERSAlNVENTORY™ prints
all needed inventory listings, reports of items below reorder point, inventory value re-
ports, period and year-to-date sales reports, price lists, inventory checklists, etc.

•CQMPLURQNICSi

50 N. PASCACK ROAD, SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. 10977

* TRS-80 is a trademark of the Radio Shack Division of Tandy Corp. - *APPLE is a trademark of

*CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research

VERSALEDGER II™ $149.95

VersaI-EDGER IF" is a complete accounting system that grows as your business
grows. VersaLedger IP" can be used as a simple personal checkbook register,
expanded to a small business bookkeeping system or developed into a large
corporate general ledger system without any additional software.

• VersaLedger II™ gives you almost unlimited storage capacity

(300 to 10,000 entries per month, depending on the system),

• stores all check and general ledger information forever,

• prints tractor-feed checks,

• handles multiple checkbooks and general ledgers,

• prints 17 customized accounting reports including check registers,
balance sheets, income statements, transaction reports, account
listings, etc.

VersaLedger II™ comes with a professionally-written 160 page manual de-
signed for first-time users. The VersaLedger ir M manual will help you become
quickly familiar with VERSAl-EDGER IP", using complete sample data files
supplied on diskette and more than 50 pages of sample printouts.

rge

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!

Every VERSABUSINESS'" module is guaranteed to outperformallothercompetitive systems,
and at a fraction of their cost. If you are not satisfied with any VERSA BUSINESS" module, you
may return it within 30 days for a refund. Manuals for any VERSABUSINESS'" module may be
purchased for $25 each, credited toward a later purchase of that module.

To Order:

Write or call Toll-free (800) 43 1-28 18

(N. Y.S. residents call 9 14-425- 1535)

* add $3 for shipping in UPS areas * add S5 to CANADA or MEXICO

* add $4 for COD. or non-UPS areas ^^ * add proper postage elsewhere
Inquiry 202 wv^ <S5^l

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME fglSS

All prices and specifications subject to change / Delivery subject to availability.

Apple Corp. ■ *IBM is a trademark of IBM Corp. - *OSBORNE is a trademark of Osborne Corp.
• *XEROX is a trademark of Xerox Corp.

REVIEW: CONVENIENCE

must suffer through the noise without
knowing where it's coming from.
When Bellsoft's Pop-Up Alarm Clock
sounds, it also pops up its window
and highlights the current alarm, an
approach I much prefer.

Telephone Options

I must confess a bias; I can't live with-
out Spotlight's phone directory. To
find a number, I can locate a card
alphabetically or search all cards for
specific information (Joe Smith or
(212) 5 5 5-1 2 12), so I don't have to ad-
mit to callers that I don't remember
them. The phone cards are the size
and shape of Rolodex cards; I wish
they were larger, perhaps even a full
page. It would also be nice to have
distinct fields so searching would be
faster.

SideKick's auto-dialer is similar but
it's designed with a very small single-
line format, and you can edit informa-
tion in the directory only by using the
separate notepad. Of course, SideKick
can auto-dial the number as well,
something Spotlight can't do. Side-
Kick's notepad lets you sort entries so
the auto-dialer phone list can be in
order. I prefer Spotlight's automatic
alphabetizing and editing from within
the phone book.

SideKick can include pauses in num-
bers. This is useful if you have a PBX
or long-distance service and have to
wait for a dial tone before continuing
to dial. SideKick also required that I
reset my modem DIP (dual in-line
package) switches. More irritating, I
had to "install" a modem on SideKick.
This involves selecting the COM I; or
COM2: ports. I think SideKick should
use COM1: as the default port for a
modem.

SideKick's documentation indicates
that when you invoke the auto-dialer
it reads a phone number at the cur-
sor and can auto-dial it. I could not
get this function to work.

Bellsoft's PopVoice, included in the
Pop-Up TeleComm package, is a lim-
ited auto-dialer. When invoked, it dials
a phone number located at the cur-
sor; it also stores three most frequent-
ly dialed numbers. The limit of only

[continued)

Will It Wori<
withNtyPC?

Before you can experience the full
capabilities a high performance
monitor offers, it has to work with
your personal computer. That's why
Princeton Graphic Systems makes
high resolution monitors compatible
with most popular brands of personal
computers, IBM, Compaq, Corona,
Apple and more. But we go one step
further. By paying close attention to
ergonomic detail, we make Princeton
Graphic Systems monitors compatible
with you, the computer system user.

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 359

tiBli

e year 2000,the world
May Catch Up With The Way
CompuServes Electronic mall
Lets You Shop Today.

Presenting the computer
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discount prices, name-brand
merchandise, and in-depth
product information.

To make your computer even more
useful, join CompuServe and shop in
our Electronic Mall. Easy enough for
beginners, it's open 24 hours a day,
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of goods and services from nationally
known stores and businesses including
Bloomingdale's, Waldenbooks, American
Express and Commodore.

CompuServe's Electronic Mall™ lets
you shop at your convenience in all
these departments:

The Auto Shop, Book Bazaar, Finan-
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Mart, Newsstand, On-line Connection, Per-
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Specialty Boutique and Travel Agency.

Take the CompuServe Electronic
Mall 15-Minute Comparison Test.

What you can do in 15 minutes
shopping the Electronic Mall way.

• Access descriptions of the latest in
computer printers, for instance.

• Pick one and enter the order
command.

• Check complete descriptions of
places to stay on your next vacation.

• Pick several and request travel
brochures.

• Access a department store catalog
and pick out a wine rack, tools,
toys... anything!

• Place your order.

What you can do in 15 minutes shop-
ping the old way

• Round up the family and get in
the car.

The Electronic Mall — A Valuable
Addition to the Vast World of
CompuServe.

CompuServe Information Services
bring you information, entertainment,
personal communications and more.

You can access CompuServe with
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To buy a CompuServe Subscription
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To receive our informative brochure, or
to order direct, call or write:

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The Electronic Mall™ is a service of CompuServe Inc. and L M. Beny & Company.
360 B YTE • JUNE I985

An H & R Block Company

Inquiry 97

REVIEW: CONVENIENCE

A pop-up notepad
lets me save my ideas
and continue
without losing
my train of thought.

three numbers is intolerable. Also in-
cluded with TeleComm is Simplicity
Voice, a stand-alone auto-dialer. It
allows longer phone lists, but it isn't
a pop-up program.

PopModem, also part of the Ifele-
Comm package, is a pop-up telecom-
munications program. It has one
problem: Normally the Escape key
stops PopModem's dialing, but not if
other keys are stored in the keyboard
buffer. Also, when PopModem gets
no answer, it hangs up without any
screen message.

I can't anticipate needing telecom-
munications from within another task,
given the amount of time most on-line
sessions take. Usually I find myself
wanting a notepad when I'm on line,
not the other way around.

Spotlight also includes an index-
card program that is identical to the
phone directory. I used it to keep a
second address list from the Spotlight
phone book. While you can select any
of 26 separate lists for each of the two
programs, I prefer to use the default
file.

Notepad/Clipboard

When I'm using an application pro-
gram such as a word processor, ideas
often pop into my head completely
unrelated to what I'm doing. A pop-
up notepad lets me save my ideas and
continue without losing my train of
thought. In a similar vein, when tele-
computing I often want to save some-
thing I see. I can use features in my
telecommunications software to cap-
ture incoming text, or I can use a pop-
up clipboard feature to "clip" informa-
tion from a screen.

(continued)

Does ft Give
MeABright,
Sharp Image?

Take a close-up look at the display.
Bright, crisp characters and sharp,
colorful graphics mean you're getting
a high-quality image. The kind of im-
age that comes with every Princeton
Graphic Systems' monitor. Because
Princeton Graphic Systems combines
flicker-free technology, a fine dot
pitch, and a nonglare screen to give
you an image that PC World's World
Class Survey rates number 1 . . .

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 361

#5

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Inquiry 9

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REVIEW: CONVENIENCE

Spotlight features a simple eight-
page notepad. I find the page size too
small but still use it fairly regularly,
even from within a word processor.
Spotlight can print or save either one
page or the entire notepad. It doesn't
have any way to paste or feed infor-
mation into an application or to cap-
ture it from a screen.

Bellsoft's Pop-Up Notepad is quite
similar. It doesn't break its contents
into pages; instead, it scrolls through
a hundred 3 5-character lines. It can
also print or save the information,
though not a page at a time.

Also included in the Pop-Up Note-
pad package is Pop-Up Clipboard,
which I find quite useful. Clipboard
can capture any part of a text screen
for editing and paste it back into an
application. Clipboard can't save the
text to disk or print it out, but the pro-
gram can paste information into the
Notepad to be saved or printed. The
flaw in this approach is the 35-char-
acter line length in the notepad.

If you're including a list of numbers
in a document, you can even use the
Clipboard to feed the numbers into
the Calculator, using plus signs to end
each line, and then feed the Calcu-
lator's result back into the word pro-
cessor. One problem with the Clip-
board is that it can feed information
to another application very quickly so
it overloaded my word processor.
However, when you load Clipboard,
you can select the feed rate.

SideKick's notepad can also capture
information from a screen, but it can't
paste or feed information into an ap-
plication. It can save information, but
it has no print feature, which is quite
frustrating. You can vary SideKick's
notepad size to fill the whole screen
or any part of it. SideKick's is more
powerful than the notepads in Spot-
light or Pop-Up Notepad, and it in-
cludes many WordStar features. It
uses the WordStar command struc-
ture, which would be helpful to Word-
Star (or TUrbo Pascal) users.

DOS Filer/Utility Window

Spotlight includes a DOS filer that you
can use to view text files or sorted

[continued]

How About
Dependability?

You rely on your personal computer
system to help get your work done.
That's why it's important to choose a
monitor built for reliability. Princeton
Graphic Systems monitors are built
under the highest quality control stan-
dards, backed by a full one-year war-
ranty and supported by a nationwide
service network* The result: monitors
that perform when you need them,
day in and day out . . .

*Bell & Howell, Xerox, MAI Sorbus Service and
Princeton Graphic Systems.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 363

REVIEW: CONVENIENCE

A problem might be
the location
of a pop-up window
on your screen.

directories; to erase, copy, or rename
files; to format a disk; or to change
the current directory. It can also paste
a selected filename, with drive and
path information, into an application.
I found the filer useful in checking files
before uploading them and deleting
files to make room on a disk during
word processing.

PopDOS performs most of the same
functions. When displaying a file,
Spotlight pauses as the window fills
each time; PopDOS requires that you
use Control-S to pause. PopDOS adds

the ability to print a file, a time-saving
feature I used several times. You can
also use PopDOS to send control
codes to the printer. If you have an
IBM graphics printer, the program can
select the typeface.

SideKick doesn't include a DOS utili-
ty, but it can view directories from
within the notepad.

Some Considerations

The pop-up programs must be user-
invoked. Spotlight uses Shift-Alternate
and a mnemonic key command. The
Pop-Up programs use Alternate and
a key. SideKick uses Control- Alternate
to invoke its main menu. If for some
reason your program is looking for
these keystrokes (and I don't know of
any that do), the invocation won't
work.

Bellsoft's Pop-Ups use an Alternate-
key combination (Alternate-N for
Notepad, for example). This can

create problems, so Bellsoft lets you
type the Alternate-key sequence
twice. Then the Pop-Up program
feeds the Alternate-key to the applica-
tion program.

SideKick normally requires a two-
step process to invoke a program.
First, you must press Control-
Alternate to bring up the SideKick
menu. Pressing a particular letter key
brings up a program, and the Escape
key puts the program away. If you use
one program a great deal, you can put
it away with the Control-Alternate se-
quence; when you next type Control-
Alternate, SideKick immediately re-
stores the pop-up program you last
used.

Another problem might be the loca-
tion of a pop-up window on your
screen. All the programs let you move
the windows around the screen, but
you can locate Bellsoft's Pop-Upsonly

[continued]

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364 BYTE • JUNE I985

Inquiry 308

Meet The Princeton
Graphic Systems family

The right monitor at the right price. Princeton Graphic Systems offers you a complete family of high
performance personal computer monitors. Monitors that deliver the compatibility, resolution, and reliability
you need for any application and any budget: from word processing to sophisticated business graphics.

HX-12E. High resolution RGB
monitor -Compatible with IBM
Enhanced Graphics Adapter
-Nonglare screen -$785

HX-12. High resolution RGB
monitor -690 x 240 lines
noninterlaced -.31 mm dot pitch
tube-Nonglare screen -$695

HX-9/9E. Nine inch, high
resolution RGB monitor -.28mm
dot pitch tube - 9E compatible with
IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter
-Nonglare screen -Green/amber
switch -Apple/ IBM colors - Etched
dark glass screen -$650/$750 (9E)

MAX- 12. Amber monochrome
-720 x 350 lines -Enhanced to in-
terface with IBM color or
monochrome adapter card
-Nonglare screen -Can display 16
shades of amber -$249

SR-12P. PGS's top of the line
RGB monitor - Analog input
allows for the display of
4,096 possible colors -
Compatible with IBM Pro-
fessional Graphics Adapter
- Nonglare screen -$999

SR-1 2. Super-high resolution RGB
monitor -690 x 480 lines noninterlaced
-.31 mm dot pitch tube - Nonglare screen
w - Requires interface card -$799

Princeton Graphic Systems. The only real choice.

For office or home use, Princeton Graphic Systems has a monitor that's right for you. Inquire
at your local computer store about our complete line of high resolution color and monochrome
monitors; monitors that live up to the Princeton Graphic Systems 'tradition of quality, perfor-
mance, and value. Princeton Graphic Systems. 601 Ewing Street, Bldg. A, Princeton, N.J.
08540. (609) 683-1660 Telex: 821402PGSPRIN (800) 221-1490. Ext. 504

Princeton accessory product line.

Undergraduate tilt/swivel monitor base,

ColorView card, Green/Amber switch, RGB-80 card

and Scan Doubler card.

PRINCETON

IBM IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter, and IBM Professional Graphics Adapter are trademarks
of International Business Machines. Inc. Compaq is a trademark ot Compaq Computer Corp
Corona is a trademark of Corona Data Systems. Inc. Apple is a trademark ol Apple Computer
Corp. PC World is a trademark ol CW Communications Inc.

GRAPHIC SYSTEMS

AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS COMPANY

Inquiry 335

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 365

REVIEW: CONVENIENCE

in a limited number of locations. Spot-
light loses track of your preferred
location when you put a window
away; the next time you invoke it, it
appears in its original place.

Spotlight's disk must be present in
the system at all times, since its pro-
grams and some data are stored on
disk. SideKick also accesses the disk
for data files. The Pop-Up programs
never access the disk once loaded ex-
cept to load or save a file at your re-
quest. The Pop-Up programs also pop
up or go away more quickly. Spotlight
can be installed on a hard-disk sys-
tem, as can the Pop-Up programs;
however, hard-disk users need to buy

an unprotected version of SideKick.

In my opinion, Spotlight's programs
use the best mnemonics, since each
matches an abbreviation. SideKick in-
cludes both a calculator and a calen-
dar; rather than calling the calendar
an "appointment book" as Spotlight
does, SideKick uses the letter L
(caLendar). Bellsoft chose the letter B
for clipBoard, but I often tried
Alternate-C and got the Calculator.
Bellsoft calls its Calendar a Dates pro-
gram, so the command is Alternate-D.

You might decide you like some fea-
tures of one program and other fea-
tures of a different program. It is
possible to have Spotlight, SideKick,

New Versions

Since BYTE originally received the
software covered in this review,
new products and improved versions
of older products have appeared.
Here's the latest information I have as
this review was written.

Pop-Ups

Bellsoft has combined all its programs
into the Pop-Up DeskSet and the Desk-
Set Plus (see the "At a Glance" page
for a list of all the programs included).
Another new package is IkxLog plus
Pop-Up Calendar. Thel&xLog program,
resident on your work disk but not in
RAM. lets you keep a daily log of your
computer use.

Spotlight 1.1

Software Arts has released version 1 . 1
of Spotlight. Its major enhancement is
the addition of an auto-dialer to the
phone-book accessory program. Other
changes include user-selectable colors
for each accessory and support for MS-
DOS 3.0 (including formatting IBM PC
AT 1.2-megabyte disks) from the filer
accessory. The company said it would
send a free copy of the new program
to every registered user of Spotlight
1 .0. 1 had not yet received Spotlight 1 . 1
when I wrote this review.

PCWINDOW

PCwindow is a less sophisticated
memory-resident program, but its price

makes it quite attractive: it's free. Its
authors are distributing it using the
"user-supported software" approach.
You can copy the program freely, and
the authors only ask that users send
them a check for what they think
PCwindow is worth ($10 is suggested).
Going a step beyond the usual user-
supported software approach, the pro-
gram's authors also offer a copy of the
source code for $30.

PCwindow is less sophisticated than
the other programs reviewed. It has
three components: a one-page note-
pad, an ASCII (American Standard
Code for Information Interchange) table,
and a clock/timer/alarm. The notepad
lets you edit messages on a single 78-
character by 1 2 -line page. You can read
notes from or save them to disk files
(you print by "saving" to the MS-DOS
file/device prn). The clock/timer/alarm
includes an alarm that rings once at the
designated time and a timer accurate
to one second (if your PC keeps poor
time, so will this program).

By the time you read this, PCwindow
should be available through many
users groups and other sources of
public-domain and user-supported
software. You can also get a copy of
the program by sending a self-ad-
dressed, stamped, disk-mailing
envelope and a formatted 5 !4-inch disk
to Creative Freeware Unlimited, POB
10047, Columbia, MO 65205.

and some Pop-Up programs resident
at the same time. However, Spotlight
can be interrupted by SideKick, but
not by some Pop-Up programs. Side-
Kick permits either Spotlight or a Pop-
Up to interrupt it. The Pop-Up pro-
grams won't permit any other pro-
gram to interrupt them. It was im-
possible to install all the pop-up pro-
grams simultaneously in a 2 56K-byte
machine— they won't fit.

Summary

Each of these programs has good fea-
tures (for an update, see the text box
"New Versions" at left). A program-
mer looking for an ASCII table or a
calculator with hexadecimal and
binary capabilities will want SideKick.
If you want to keep track of your cal-
culations, you'll prefer the Pop-Up Cal-
culator's tape feature.

If you want a sophisticated phone
directory, you will probably find Spot-
light the most helpful of the three
programs.

Users who need to be able to cut
information from an application won't
consider Spotlight. If they also need
to paste the information back, they'll
forget about SideKick in favor of Pop-
Up Clipboard. I wish one pop-up pro-
gram combined the Pop-Up Clipboard
features with the ability to print and
save to disk.

I've settled on a combination of
Spotlight and Pop-Up Clipboard. My
preference for Spotlight is based sole-
ly on its phone-book feature, which I
need for work. At home, I prefer the
Pop-Ups and SideKick, since I do pro-
gramming in addition to activities
where the Clipboard would come in
handy.

Someone suggested to me that
some of these programs shouldn't be
necessary. The DOS utilities, for exam-
ple, merely compensate for programs
that can't take advantage of MS-DOS
features. The calculator shouldn't be
necessary within a word processor,
since word processors would be bet-
ter if they included a calculator op-
tion. But since everyone can't afford
to own ideal software— even if it
exists— it's good to be able to pop up
a compromise. ■

366 BYTE • IUNE 1985

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Inquiry 23 7

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 367

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Inquiry 36 IUNE 1985 -BYTE 369

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370 BYTE • JUNE I985

Inquiry 440

A knowledge-
engineering
tool for the
IBM PC

by Bruce D'Ambrosio

SOFTWARE REVIEW

Building Expert
Systems with M.l

Bruce D'Ambrosio (555 lUlsa St..

San \Dremo. CA 94580) is

studying for his Ph.D. in computer

science at the University of

California at Berkeley.

Would anyone of sound mind and
body pay $12,500 for an IBM
Personal Computer (PC) pro-
gram? An individual no— but a company,
maybe. If the program helped to design and
build expert systems, maybe becomes might.
If the program also included a training
course in knowledge engineering, might
becomes probably. ^knowledge, a start-up
artificial-intelligence (AI) company boasting
that its founders constitute "one-third of the
entire world's knowledge engineering ex-
pertise," hopes to convince companies anx-
ious to explore knowledge engineering that
its new product, called M.l, is worth such
a hefty investment.

M.l is not just a program but a carefully
crafted product that provides companies
with a moderately priced alternative (com-
pared to hiring an AI professional and buy-
ing a LISP machine) for exploring knowl-
edge engineering. It consists of a one-week
training course, an extensive set of training
materials, and the M.l program itself. No
one of these three items can be considered
in isolation because the strength of the
product comes from the design and integra-
tion of the entire package.

M.I clearly shows Teknowledge's exper-
tise in all aspects of both knowledge engi-
neering and the technology-transfer prob-
lem. At the same time, there are some dis-
turbing flaws in the execution of the prod-
uct, flaws that would be understandable in
a $200-$300 package but are as out of
place here as a door that won't close on a
new Rolls Royce.

M.l— The Concept

Knowledge engineering is an outgrowth of
a technology developed in AI labs in the
late 1970s known as "expert systems." This
technology's basic goal is to free the expert
for other tasks or to transfer an expert's
problem-solving skill to a computer-based
knowledge system for easy application
when the expert is unavailable. One prob-
lem with this approach is that building ex-

pert systems requires an extensive time
commitment from an expert, typically six
months to two full years.

The '^knowledge approach recommends
that rather than attempt to build expert sys-
tems, knowledge engineers concentrate on
"knowledge systems," systems that contain
less rare, but no less useful, knowledge.

M.l is intended for what Teknowledge
describes as a "structured selection" prob-
lem, one of the best-understood problems
in AI. The signs of a structured selection
problem, as described in the M.l course,
are that it can be solved in a 20-minute
phone consultation with an expert, it does
not involve the use of diagrams or plans
(such as circuit schematics), and the recom-
mended solution is chosen from a small
number of options (a few dozen at most).
A goal of the course is to bring the knowl-
edge-engineer trainee to the point where
he understands this characterization of
M.l's intended applicability well enough to
recognize problems within his own com-
pany that meet these criteria. In this the
course succeeds well. Indeed, the course
is at its best when discussing the subtle
issues of problem selection and design, and
it shows '^knowledge's broad experience in
this area.

But is this enough? Or is this so limited
an area of applicability as to render M.I
useful only for trivial problems? Here,
'^knowledge's ambiguity regarding M.l is
apparent. When asked directly whether or
not M.l is capable of supporting knowledge
systems complex enough to be worth field-
ing, the official Ifeknowledge answer seems
to be "Yes, sort of, well, maybe. . . ."
Teknowledge can't really seem to decide
whether M.l is a demonstration system in-
tended for training and evaluation of the
technology or a really useful tool in itself.

M.l is designed for the junior to mid-level
technical professional, typically with at least
one or two years of programming experi-
ence. There is another aspect to the ideal

[continued)

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 371

REVIEW: M.

AT A GLANCE

Name

M.1

Type

Expert-system toolkit

Manufacturer

Teknowledge Inc.
525 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Format

4 1 /2-day course, three
documentation volumes, one
5 1 /4-inph floppy disk

Computer

IBM PC, PC XT, and PC AT or
compatible

Features

Inference engine, debugging
tools, and sample knowledge
bases

Documentation

Reference manual, training
manual, descriptions of
sample knowledge systems

Price

$10,000 for M.1 software and
materials plus $2500 for
course

Audience

Companies interested in
exploring expert-systems
technology and rapid
prototyping of expert systems

M.1 trainee. M.1 can be thought of as
a programming language, but with
reservations. In programming-lan-
guage terms, M.1 supports a non-
procedural language. Teknowledge em-
phasizes that M.1 knowledge bases
have declarative, as well as pro-
cedural, semantics and must be con-
sistent from both perspectives. Each
statement must make sense by itself
and express some "fact" that you
could say to someone when teaching
that person about the problem area.
What all this means in terms of choos-
ing candidates for the M.1 training is
that an extensive but narrow data-
processing background may in fact be
an impediment to learning some of
the concepts embodied in M.1. A
good, solid exposure to computer
programming and computer science
concepts, together with a general
"liberal education," would be better.
In particular, some exposure to the
basics of mathematical reasoning and
logic would be beneficial. M.1 shows
the best preparation for the future
may not be a crash course in the cur-
rent technology (for example, the
"computer literacy" craze) but rather
a sound education in the old-
fashioned "basics."

M.1— The Course

The course I attended (I actually at-
tended only for a total of 12 hours)
ran from Monday to Friday. It was
about half lecture and half "hands-on"
laboratory experience, with the lec-
ture portion a mix of knowledge-engi-
neering principles and M.I mechanics.
The pacing was quite relaxed, and I
rarely felt that I had less time than
needed to complete the laboratory
sections of the course. There were
three trainers for the six attendees;
the architect of M.1, Steve Hardy of
^knowledge, was the primary lec-
turer, and the two main programmers
on the M.I development team served
as laboratory assistants, guiding us
through the exercises and answering
any questions. Hardy has all the at-
tributes to make a superb lecturer:
flair for teaching, enthusiasm for his
subject, and absolute command of his
subject matter, both M.1 in particular

and knowledge engineering in
general. It was not clear that he would
continue teaching the course (the ses-
sion I attended was only the second
time the course had been given), and
I think it would be a loss should he
delegate that task to others.

Each attendee had exclusive use of
an IBM PC for the laboratory exer-
cises. The course starts with a general
discussion of M.1, what it is and what
it can do, and then proceeds along
two interwoven tracks. Lectures and
exercises introduce increasingly com-
plex features of M.1, and the re-
mainder of the course covers various
aspects of knowledge engineering,
both theoretical fundamentals and
practical wisdom. Both parts of the
course are excellent.

The instructional component of the
M.1 product is by far its strongest. The
material is organized and presented
superbly, and there are many gems of
wisdom scattered through every lec-
ture. Anyone attending this course
should take careful notes, or perhaps
use a tape recorder (Teknowledge
permitting), because the documenta-
tion for M.1 does not meet these
same standards.

The course clearly communicates
the essence of knowledge engineer-
ing in a way I have seen no book do.

M.1— The Documentation

The M.1 documentation comes in
three 3-ring binders. The first contains
the transparencies used during the
lectures (about 2 50 slides) plus some
discussion material. The second con-
tains listings of five sample knowledge
bases that are part of the M.1 pack-
age. The third is the M.1 reference
manual. While the volumes are nice-
ly bound, reproduction quality is poor
(but not bad enough to seriously
threaten the readability of the text).
The volume containing the slides
serves as an outline to organize your
notes around. It also provides a way
to effectively reduce the cost of M.1.
Once a trainee has completed the
three-month training program, he can
in turn train others. The slides provide
a detailed record of topics and the
order in which they were covered, and

372 B YTE • JUNE 1985

REVIEW: M.

the text of the exercises does a good
job not only in describing each assign-
ment but also in making clear what
the student is supposed to be getting
out of it.

The volume containing the five in-
creasingly complex sample knowl-
edge bases is also well done. This
volume includes text describing each
of the laboratory exercises done using
the sample systems as well as a com-
plete listing of each sample knowl-
edge base.

The first is called Wine and is a sim-
ple wine advisor, criticized in prior
reviews of M.l. The point of this sys-
tem, however, is not sophistication
but simplicity. It is the simplest pos-
sible system that could be written in
M.l to serve as an introduction. TWo
variations of Wine follow, Vine and
Cwine. They differ from Wine solely
in their use of increasingly sophisti-
cated features of M.I; they encode
more or less the same knowledge
about wine.

Next is a knowledge base called
Banker. Banker represents the level of
complexity the trainee is expected to
be competent at upon completion of
the three-month M.I program. It con-
tains about 1 50 rules and facts and
advises clients on banking services.
At the end of a consultation, Banker
recommends a combination of ac-
counts most suitable for the particular
client (for example, regular checking
plus money-market savings).

The final sample system is an ex-
cerpt from Sacon, an early, landmark
expert system. The most complicated
of the sample systems, it serves as a
benchmark demonstrating use of the
most complex features of M.I.

These samples are crucial for under-
standing knowledge engineering and
M.l, and they should be studied care- .
fully. Effective utilization of M. I relies
on the user developing an intuitive
feel for proper style; some of the
issues remain unclear until you actual-
ly encounter them in attempting to
construct a system of your own. At
that time it is invaluable to have a set
of samples to refer to.

The M.l reference manual is ade-
quate. One reason I suggest careful

note-taking is that not all features
described in the course are clearly
documented in the manual. Were M.I
a $500 product, I would praise the
manual as quite adequate. However,
as the price rises, so do expectations,
and this manual does not meet them.

M. 1 —The Software

The software, while only one compo-
nent of the total M.I product, is the
most crucial. | Editor's note: A second ver-
sion of M.I, called MAa, costs $2000 and
is a scaled-down version of the program: it's
suitable for developing prototype M.l applica-
tions. MAa cannot interface to other software
and is not suitable for developing complex
systems] Overall, the software is solid
in concept. Again and again this prod-
uct demonstrates Ifeknowledge's clear
understanding of practical knowledge
engineering. However, its execution
has many minor flaws, as I will explain.
In concept, it clearly owes much to
EMYCIN, developed by the Heuristic
Programming Project at Stanford

University and the first "productized"
knowledge-engineering system. How-
ever, M.l incorporates many dif-
ferences, and it certainly is not mere-
ly a straightforward implementation of
EMYCIN for the IBM PC.

The major architectural components
of M.l are a knowledge base, an in-
ference engine, and a cache (see
figure 1). The knowledge base is built
by the knowledge engineer and con-
tains the facts and rules needed for
the specific application. The inference
engine is the software that "reasons"
using the facts and rules provided in
the knowledge base. The cache is a
memory-resident database in which
conclusions are stored as they occur.

The knowledge representation (lan-
guage for expressing rules and facts)
in M.l is based on a subset of
predicate logic. While this is hidden
from the knowledge engineer by an
easy-to-understand syntax, there are
several consequences nonetheless.

[continued)

ARCHITECTURE OF M.l

Figure I: Block diagram of the components of M.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 373

Inquiry 74

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REVIEW: M.

Logic-based representations are
known for completeness and rapid
prototyping rather than speed of ex-
ecution. M.l, true to this tradition, is
slow: It can evaluate about one logical
inference every 2 seconds (by my very
crude estimates). But this is adequate
for a typical consultation-style system;
in the sample systems, I spent much
more time thinking about answers to
questions than I did waiting for pro-
gram execution.

Another consequence of the logic
basis of M.l is that knowledge struc-
ture is implicit rather than explicit.
While this is a rather technical point,
an important result is limitation of the
system's ability to provide any knowl-
edge-base construction tools to aid
the knowledge engineer. This does
not seem to concern Ifeknowledge,
however. The company has made no
attempt to provide construction tools
of any kind (as I'll explain).

A very interesting feature of M.l is
that the rule language has been ex-
tended to be a complete symbolic
programming language. You never
have to use any other language in
building a knowledge base with M.l.
Most rule-based systems (EMYCIN,
for example) provide "hooks" to the

underlying language (LISP in the case
of EMYCIN) so that you can code
directly in that language any functions
and tests that cannot be easily ex-
pressed in the rule language. This is
unnecessary in M.l. Any internal com-
putation that can be expressed in any
programming language can be ex-
pressed directly in M.l's rule lan-
guage.

M.l's rule language provides cer-
tainty factors using a modification of
the "bounded sum" evidence-
combination technique used in
EMYCIN. Certainty factors are a stan-
dard technique for representing par-
tial information within an expert
system. (Here's an example. I usually
prefer sweet wines, but I sometimes
prefer a medium-dry wine. This could
be expressed in M.l as: Sweet CF 75,
Medium CF 30). One distinction be-
tween rule-based systems and more
traditional methodologies, such as
decision trees, is this ability to reason
with partial or uncertain information.
M.l's implementation of certainty-
factor calculations is fairly straightfor-
ward and intuitive. One potential
problem is the handling of negation
(if the client does not like sweet wine,
then. . .). Negation is handled in a

Photo 1: The windowed screen display of M.l.

374 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 239

REVIEW: M.

way that generates discontinuous
results and is likely to produce con-
clusions unexpected by the knowl-
edge engineer.

M.I has a set of debugging tools in-
cluding an "instrument panel," a set
of four windows that appears at the
top of the screen (see photo I ) and
displays the current activity of the
system. One window shows the goal
the system is currently trying to
achieve, a second shows the rule cur-
rently being considered, a third shows
the conclusions the system has
reached, and a fourth shows the legal
responses that can be made to the
current question. The instrument
panel is a wonderful idea, but it's
somewhat limited in its utility by the
small size of the windows. Teknowl-
edge strongly recommends use of a
color display, and the panels do look
nice in color, but they also work '
perfectly well on the monochrome
screen of my Corona PC. In addition
to the instrument panel, a set of in-
quiry commands is available once a
rule base is loaded into M.l. The WHY
command displays the rules leading
to a conclusion, the SHOW command
interrogates the cache (the place
where conclusions are stored), the
USES command displays all rules that
reference a particular fact, and the
LIST command lists entries in the rule
base. There are some minor incon-
sistencies in the arguments these
commands take and when they can
be used, but nonetheless they are
quite handy. Also, you can save the
current state of a consultation on disk
and retrieve it later, helpful in inter-
rupted debugging sessions as well as
in saving test cases.

You can make small changes to the
rule base using a simple add/delete/
replace facility within M.l. However,
the utility of this facility is limited by
two things. First, only entire rules can
be added, deleted, or replaced. M.I
sample systems contain many rules of
5 to 15 lines in length, an awkward
amount to key in simply to make a
minor change. But even worse, these
changes are made only to the copy
of the rule base in memory. The only
way to update the file copy of a rule

base is to exit from M.l, start up your
text editor, and edit the file. In
defense of M.l, it would be almost im-
possible to write a knowledge-base
editor that more than two people
would like. Nevertheless, the lack of
effort in this area seems to be a major
weakness of M.l.

Another deficiency I find in M.I is
not being able to add any documen-
tation that can appear during a con-
sultation. Rules are displayed in the
form in which they were entered by
the knowledge engineer, '"feknowledge
claims the rule syntax is so flexible
that self-documenting rules can be
written. (The same claim was once
made for COBOL.) Similarly, you can
ask why a question is being asked (and
see the rule that is being considered),
but there is no mechanism for pro-
viding you with more information
about what is being asked. (For exam-
ple, M.I asks for the client's
preference in wine "body." What if the
client doesn't know what body is?)

[Editor's note: The latest version of MA pro-
vides an OPTIONS command that prompts
the user with a list of acceptable answers to
a question. This version also provides a method
to call M.l from high-level languages like C
so that knowledge bases can be integrated with
existing applications to add intelligence to
databases or spreadsheets. M.l's most recent
version also can generate executable knowledge
systems for distribution]

Conclusion

M.I is a fascinating product. The
course, the sample systems, and the
software combine to form an ex-
cellent introduction to the capabilities
of rule-based systems. For those with
the money to spend, M.I provides
guidance to ensure that the knowl-
edge-engineer trainee does not spend
months or even years in a blind alley
due to a misunderstanding of the
nature or purpose of rule-based
systems. Nonetheless, serious defi-
ciencies in the current software lead
me to conclude that M.l, at least in
its present state, is best considered an
evaluation and training tool and not
a product for developing knowledge-
based systems that can be put in the
hands of naive users. ■

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A miniature Data Line Monitor determines the ^a^TNl
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I Transmit Data, Receive Data, Request to Send, Clear to
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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 375

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•.

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Inquiry 158

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 377

WordPerfect is

just that

At SSI, we face a monu-
mental challenge; living up to
the name we gave our word
processing software. After all,
with a name like WordPerfect,
the product had better mea-
sure up. Obviously if s doing
just that For good reasoa

Simplicity.

Most WordPerfect functions
require only one keystroke, a
simple press of
a finger. And e ven

comprehensive, master to^* er c *n~i
well-written diffi,

documentation

text No matter how fast you
type, WordPerfect won't slow
you down.

PC World

Features.

77, ver7 little this

can

t do.

InfoWorld

a be

WordPt

In addition to
standard word *S
processing functions,
WordPerfect includes several
comprehensive, useful features
not found on many word
processors. Like a 100,000-
word phonetic dictionary;
multi-page foot-

- l1 ^^

cu ^n

erfe C f

cti 0n

makes learning a breeze.

^ *;r u ^ such

s oon
most

as

Speed.

With WordPerfect's document
orientation, you never have to
wait between pages of

noting capabil-
ity; table of
contents and
index gener-
ation; automatic
outlining and
paragraph numbering; and a
network version of
WordPerfect.

PC World

Get the word processor

that s living up
to its name.
WordPerfect.
j For more
/ information, see
your dealer.
Or call or write:
SSI Software
288 West Center Street
Orem, Utah 84057
Information: (801) 224-4000
Order Desk 1-800-321-4566,
Toll-free ,

SSlSoftware

Reaching for perfection.

378 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 364

An accurate

and versatile

graphics

machine

by Rich Malloy

HARDWARE REVIEW

Hewlett-Packard's
HP 747 5 A Plotter

Rich Malloy is a senior technical

editor for BYTE. He can be

contacted at BYTE. 43rd Floor,

1221 hvenue of the Americas.

New York. NY 10020.

Hewlett-Packard's six-pen plotter,
the HP 747 5 A, can plot not only
on the familiar 8/2- by 11-inch
paper but also on 1 1- by 17-inch paper. The
7475 A has a suggested list price of $1895
(the original price of its two-pen pre-
decessor, the HP 7470A, which now has a
suggested price of $1095). It's about the
same size as a wide-carriage dot-matrix
printer and is somewhat lighter. Paper is
driven in and out of the plotter by special
rollers having a high-friction surface. This
paper movement in and out of the plotter
forms one dimension of pen movement.
Moving the pen across a track above the
paper surface forms the second dimension.

The plotter is available with either of two
interfaces. The one we received has an
RS-232C serial interface with a DB-2 5 con-
nector that's very easy to reach. Right next
to the connector is a group of eight tiny
switches used to control the serial
parameters and some of the plotter
defaults. The HP 747 5 A is also available
with a connector for the HP Interface Bus
(HP-IB) for direct connection to other HP
computers and devices. The model with this
connector costs the same as the serial
version.

On the right side of the plotter is a series
of push buttons to control the plotter.
Several of these buttons are used to move
the pen position. Others change paper size
and move the pen up or down manually.
Ttoo indicator lights signal error conditions.
On the left side of the plotter is the pen
carousel a spool-like unit that has slots for
six pens, which are loaded in much the
same way as bullets into an old Colt .45
revolver. The carousel gets its name
because it rotates to place a new pen into
the moving pen holder.

Each pen slot has a rubber pen cover to
keep the ink from drying out. You can easily
remove the carousel to make quick pen
changes. And you can buy extra carousels
and load them up with pens of other colors.

Speaking of pens, Hewlett-Packard sent us

two types. Both types had felt tips. One kind
was fairly fine (0.4 mm) and came in a varie-
ty of colors (black, red, green, blue, violet,
etc.). The other kind was broader (0.7 mm)
and came only in black.

Plotting

The HP 747 5A is controlled by a series of
commands in the Hewlett-Packard Graphics
Language (HP-GL). All HP plotters use this
control language, although the low-end
units may not be able to execute all of the
commands.

An HP-GL command consists of a two-
letter verb usually followed by a numeric
argument or two. For example, the se-
quence

PA 100,300

PD

PA 400,700

PU

draws a line from point 100,300 to point
400,700. PA stands for "move to absolute
point," and PD and PU mean 'pen down"
and "pen up," respectively.

The coordinate system is very large and
easy to use. On an 8 1 /?- by 1 1-inch page, you
can access any point within a 10,080 by
7520 matrix. In addition, you can scale
these points to match your requirements.
For example, instead of a coordinate system
of 10,080 by 7 520, you can set up a matrix
of 640 by 200 to match your computer's
video screen. Also, you can use relative
coordinates.

The HP-GL commands can be generated
fairly easily on your computer with simple
BASIC commands. After a little experimen-
tation, you can draw circles, arcs, dotted
lines, and boxes filled with various textures
(see figure 1).

Performance

Watching the HP 747 5 A draw a picture is
just short of fascinating. The pen is fast, and

[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 379

REVIEW: HP 7475A

AT A GLANCE

Name

HP 7475A Plotter

Manufacturer

Hewlett-Packard
9606 Aero Dr.
San Diego, CA 92123
(619) 279-3200

Size

5 by 22.4 by 14.5 inches; 16 pounds

Price

$1895

Computer Needed

Any computer with serial or HP- IB interface

Features

Six pens, fast pen speed, high-quality
character set

Paper Sizes

8V2 by 11 inches; 11 by 17 inches

pen changes are made quickly and ac-
curately. A moderately complex graph
takes about I to 3 minutes.

There are a few things I would im-
prove on the HP 747 5 A, however. It
can be quite noisy even when it's not
doing anything. Also, I would like a
key for aborting a bad plot. For exam-
ple, suppose you forgot to put the
right color pens in the carousel; you
could probably stop your graphics
software, but the plotter would con-
tinue until it emptied its input data
buffer.

Text

With a plotter, of course, you can draw
any text character you want, but this
requires a bit of programming. To
make things easy, most low-cost plot-
ters (including the two-pen HP 74 70 A)
are programmed to be able to pro-
duce the standard ASCII (American
Standard Code for Information Inter-
change) characters. Unfortunately, to
save memory space, most of these
characters look fairly crude; for exam-
ple, the numeral may look like an
octagon.

One of the nice features of the HP
747 5 A is its high-quality character set

GRAPHICS IMPROVES COMMUNICATION

SALES REVENUE DISTRIBUTION

ADMIN. '.)%

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MANh . • AH%

DIVIDEND HISTORY

1992 1983 1904 19B!3

Figure I: Graphs and text produced by the HP 7475A. This test plot is automatically
produced by a ROM (read-only memory) chip in the plotter.

(see figure 1). These characters can be
drawn at any height, width, or inter-
character spacing.

If I had more time with this plotter
I would write a BASIC program that
prints text characters in a flowing
script font. This would let me print a
handwritten note— or a close facsimile
thereof. Well, I didn't have enough
time to program all the characters in
a script font, but I did create a short
program using the preprogrammed
characters. This program, in effect,
turned the plotter into one of the
slowest printers around (about 3
characters per second). But the quali-
ty of the characters was very close to
that of a daisy-wheel printer, and I
could print them any size I wanted.

Compatible Software

In the very likely event that you do not
have enough time to write your own
software, you need not despair. A
large amount of software should be
available to drive the HP 7 475 A.
Because of the popularity of the older
HP 7 4 70 A plotter, almost every
graphics program written for micro-
computers comes with a driver for it.
Since the 747 5A is compatible with
the 7470A, it too can use this soft-
ware (of course, this software cannot
take advantage of the 74 7 5 As extra
capabilities). Hewlett-Packard, how-
ever, has been very successful in get-
ting the major graphics-software
houses to write drivers especially for
the 7475A.

Other Features

Although I did not get to try this, the
HP 747 5A can be used as a digitizer
of sorts. Instead of holding a pen, the
pen holder can grip a set of cross
hairs equipped with a magnifier. You
can then insert a map, for example,
into the plotter and, using the arrow
keys on the control panel of the plot-
ter, move the pen holder to a specific
point of interest. If you have your
computer set up to give the plotter a
certain command, it will respond with
the coordinates of that point.

Another feature I have not tried is
the ability to use a wide variety of
pens. The HP felt-tip pens are fairly

380 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 98

REVIEW: HP 7475A

Photo 1: Hewlett-Packard's six-pen plotter, the HP 747 5 A.

good but they do not produce a line
of sufficient quality to be used in a
magazine, for example. HP claims,
however, that certain art stores sell
adapters that enable you to attach
technical pens to the pen holder.
These pens are the same as those
used by graphic artists, and when
used at a slow speed on the plotter,
they should produce high-quality
lines.

Interfacing

The HP 747 5 A comes in two versions:
one with an RS-232C serial interface
and one with an HP-IB daisy-chain-
type interface. I didn't use the HP-IB
version of the plotter, but I tested the
serial version with the IBM Personal
Computer and the 'I&ndy Model 100.
It worked fairly well with both systems.
For the IBM, there's a special null
modem cable that switches pins 2 and
3 and 6 and 20. The plotter uses pin
6 to signal when its input buffer is full
(which happens very quickly).

Unfortunately, the Model 100
doesn't read pin 6 or 20 and keeps
right on sending information to the
plotter even when the buffer is full,
causing some strange-looking plots.
The only way I could get the plot to
come out right was to slow down my
homegrown graphics program with

frequent pauses. According to the
plotter's documentation, it can use
the XON/XOFF protocol to signal
when its buffer is full, but I couldn't
get this to work.

Documentation

By computer standards, the HP
7475A's documentation is good. It
covers all aspects of the plotter, its
organization is coherent and logical,
and the presentation is professional.
My only complaint has to do with the
chapters on interfacing. A few more
examples and some simplified phras-
ing would have helped immensely.

The documentation includes in-
structions for interfacing the plotter
with all the major personal computers
(except the 'I&ndy Model 100).

Conclusions

The HP 747 5 A six-pen plotter is a
powerful accurate, versatile, and af-
fordable graphics machine. It is well
designed and well built. Its perfor-
mance is practically flawless, and it
seems to be expandable.

I wish the plotter had a key for
aborting a bad plot. Another nice ad-
dition would be an automatic paper
feeder— but for that you'll have to buy
the new HP 7 5 50A plotter for a signif-
icantly higher price, about $3900. ■

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620.00*

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CALL

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SMA PC Documate; Keyooard Templates tor 9.99* (1 00)

Lotus/DBASEIMultimate and others (Each)
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Microfine Perfs (invisible when torn)

'PC NETWORK Members pay juat 8% above the wholesale
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fRENT BEFORE YOU BUY— Members are eligible to join The NETWORK'S Business and Game Software
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And The NETWORK'S rental charges are far less than other software rental seivices — JUST 20% OF THE
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*PC Network Members pay just 8% above this wholesale price plus shipping.
These prices have been prepared in April, 1985 and may have been changed
with new product announcements. Call for latest prices.

r-CO/nPAtl ™ HARD DISK SYSTEM ( + )

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Inquiry 322

Here's The Sawy-est True Dual Trace 10 MHz

Digital Storage Scope You Ever Saw

... At The Saving-est Price. Only $595.

LogicScope

UPPER
TRACE

LOWER
TRACE

TRIGGER

JJS MS SEC I «*FAST

TIME BASE AND SAMPLE RATE

AUTO-SEEK

UNCAL

_J

SLOW*

J

m >mmmmm\mmmmmmwmm\mm\m<\ +\ ji

TTJ=llC3«3Ei=l

= rviCDi=»>'

WRITE

RECALL

MEM

UNK

The Handy New LogicScope™ 136

True Dual Trace • 10 MHz Real Time Bandwidth • 3 Input Channels • I/O Port

Digital Waveform Storage • Boolean Waveform Operations • Audio Functions

8.0 (L) x 4.5 (D) x 1.75 (H) Inches • 1.25 Pounds • 9 Volt Battery/AC Operation

Consider the LogicScope 136

■ The LogicScope 136 is the next logical step in test instru-
mentation for you. It combines many of the features and capa-
bilities of sophisticated logic analyzers and oscilloscopes . . .
and it fits in your hand. Never before has so much technology
been available in so small an instrument, at such a low price.

■ The pocket-sized LogicScope 136 is made possible by a
patented breakthrough in display technology. The conven-
tional CRT has been replaced by a unique array of 400 LED's
that permits simultaneous display of two digital waveforms.

■ The 136 can be used for viewing single shot events, or
repetitive waveforms. It can be operated in real time mode, or
in memory mode which permits acquisition and storage of up to
50-100 bit waveforms. These can be recalled, logically com-
pared (AND, OR, EXCLUSIVE OR) to other input waveforms,
or output to an external device via an I/O port. This I/O port
will also accept future add-on 136 Modules.

■ Its very low cost, convenience and ease-of-use make the
LogicScope the ideal instrument, for designing, troubleshooting
or repairing digital systems. Made in U.S.A.

384 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Consider its Engineering & Field Service Applications:

■ On microprocessor-based systems, check the timing rela-
tionship of various parameters relative to the system clock and
other key events. Its storage capability allows visual and logi-
cal comparison of non-repetitive waveforms to known refer-
ence signals. Output in the start-up of the digital device can be
compared to reference signals to determine the operating state
of the device. Questionable waveforms can be stored for analysis.

■ Its light weight and small size make the LogicScope conven-
ient to take on every service call. The 136 provides much more
information for trouble shooting a digital system or peripheral
than a logic probe or digital counter without having to lug an
oscilloscope or logic analyzer along.

Contact us for the name of your local distributor

POCtEi lEChnOLOGV, InC.

7320 Parkway Drive, Hanover, MD 21076 U.S.A.
301-796-3300 TELEX 908207
Division of Renaissance Technology Corp.

Inquiry 329

HARDWARE REVIEW

The IBM
Quietwriter Printer

Quietly

elegant

by Jon R. Edwards

}on R. Edwards is a technical editor
for BYTE. He can be contacted at
POB 372, Hancock. NH 03449.

Most letter-quality printers I have
used are slow, loud, and expen-
sive. IBM's new Quietwriter
printer (see photo I ) is not inexpensive at
OUtpUt $139 5, but it is neither slow nor loud.

The unidirectional printer uses an in-
novative thermal-transfer process to
simulate letter-quality printing while main-
taining excellent font flexibility, acceptable
speed, and a conspicuously quiet perfor-
mance that justifies its name. For some
users, the printer's most important feature
will be the cartridge-based fonts, each of
which can generate letter-quality output of
the entire IBM character set.

Description

The IBM Quietwriter is large, solid, and well
constructed. It measures 21 by 6 by 141/5
inches and weighs 22 pounds without the
, optional pinwheel form feeder. The housing
is an off-white, high-impact plastic. The front
of the unit includes five membrane keys, five
LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to indicate the
status of the printer, and 10- 12- and 15-
character-per-inch (cpi) rulers. The on/off
lever is on the top left. To the right are the
paper-release lever and the paper bail.

The Quietwriter, which comes with a stan-
dard Centronics-compatible parallel inter-
face, uses unidirectional printing with fric-
tion paper feed and a special IBM Quiet
noncorrecting ribbon. The maximum print-
ing width is 13 inches. The Quietwriter has
no option for a serial interface.

Unlike other thermal-transfer printers with
print heads that apply heat to the ribbon,
the Quietwriter applies an electrical current
to the ribbon, which heats internally. The
technique, which IBM calls a resistive-ribbon
thermal transfer, apparently speeds the
printing because the print head does not
need to cool between characters.

The print head contains 40 vertical circuits
that form characters in a dense matrix as
the carrier assembly moves across the page
(see photo 2). In 10 pitch, the matrix is 36
by 40; in 12 pitch, it is 30 by 40; and in 1 5

pitch, it is 2 4 by 40. The print head presses
against the ribbon, selectively forcing the
four-layer ribbon to release ink in response
to pinpoints of current. A polymer material
heats up in the pinpointed areas. A metallic
conducting layer then melts a third layer
(another polymer), which releases the
fourth layer, the film of ink. The technology
allows for correcting ribbons, although the
age of word processing does not require
them.

The printing process is amazingly quiet.
Carriage returns are the loudest part of the
operation, save for the three warning beeps
that occur when the printer runs out of rib-
bon, runs out of paper, or cannot sense the
font. The beeps effectively gain the user's
attention, but I'd prefer a quieter warning
more in keeping with the printer's name.

The five membrane keys on the front of
the printer are easy to read and use. The
Stop and Start buttons control on-line and
off-line status. The other front buttons
(Paper Up, Paper Down, and Form Feed)
function when the printer is off line. Also,
when the printer is off line, the Stop but-
ton becomes a Code button that provides
a second, related function when used in
conjunction with the other buttons; Paper
Up and Paper Down work incrementally
(rather than continuously), and Form Feed
becomes Form Feed Set.

All the keys work properly and easily.
However, the only way to clear the buffer,
which holds about a page of text, is to turn
the printer off and then on again.

Ifechnically, the Quietwriter is a dot-matrix
printer but its characters appear as clear
and clean as most letter-quality output (see
figure 1). All the characters are well formed;
the dense matrix permits pleasant fonts
with impressive curved detail on many char-
acters.

Currently, IBM offers four fonts for the
Quietwriter: Prestige (15-cpi), Prestige
Elite (12-cpi), Courier (10-cpi), and Bold-
face (12-cpi), which provides proportional

[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 385

REVIEW: QUIETWRITER

spacing. It's simple to insert the fonts,
which come in matchbox-size car-
tridge form, and you can switch be-
tween two installed fonts with a com-
mand from the computer. The printer
has two font holders; even when not
- in use, the second font holder pro-
vides handy storage. The printer gives
visual and audible warnings if fonts
are improperly installed.

Printing speed depends upon the
font. Benchmark tests, which involved
printing 4000 characters (50 lines of
80 As each; see "The Art of Bench-
marking Printers" by Sergio Mello-
Grand, February 1984 BYTE, page
193), gave results of 2 5.2 characters
per second (cps) for the 10-pitch font,
29.4 cps for the 12-pitch font, and
33.7 cps for the 1 5-pitch font. The
times are well below press announce-
ments of 40 to 60 cps, but the speeds
are acceptable.

When you need to change the rib-

bon or if there are problems in the rib-
bon mechanism, the printer again
gives audiovisual warnings, goes off
line, and gives you a chance to change
or fix the ribbon. The $12 ribbons are
encased in sturdy plastic.

At first I had some small problems
with the ribbon, which tended to form
a crease at the top and occasionally
cut off the tops of letters. I quickly
became proficient in loading the rib-
bon properly and keeping it taut dur-
ing installation, but I noted that the
creased ribbon did not activate the
ribbon warning. Changing the ribbon,
at first a chore, now is quick and
simple.

The paper bail rolls the paper into
the printer quickly and easily, but I
miss having a roller knob to give me
more direct control over the platen.
The addition of the optional pinwheel
form feeder would obviate the need
to load paper before every use.

This is the COURIER font (10 pitch)
This is the PRESTIGE ELITE font (12 pitch)
This is the PRESTIGE font (15 pitch)

This is the BOLDFACE font (12 pitch)

Figure I: Samples of printout from the IBM Quietwriter using the four available
cartridge fonts.

Photo I: The IBM Quietwriter with the optional pinwheel form feeder attached.

The printer offers a contrast control
switch with three settings to allow for
changes in paper, ribbons, or climate
(see photo 3). I got the best results
with the contrast control set in the
highest position. In the lower posi-
tions, using standard white printer
paper, characters were unevenly thin
or thick, and parts of some characters
occasionally did not print. In the
highest setting, I experienced the
same problems but quite rarely. The
final output was always very good.
Note that different contrast settings
have no effect on the benchmark
times for each font.

IBM claims that print-head life is op-
timized on the lower contrast settings,
and that the higher position causes
the print head to wear out sooner.
The latter might be the price users
have to pay for acceptable printer out-
put. New print heads cost $20. IBM
recommends using its Quiet cleaning
cartridge to preserve the head's life,
which IBM rates in excess of
4,000,000 impressions.

Through the use of printer control
codes, the printer allows switching
between fonts, superscripting and
subscripting, setting and clearing of
horizontal and vertical margins and
tab stops, and variable line feeding.
I had no difficulty subscripting, super-
scripting, or underlining using PC-
Write. To print in boldface, you have
to use the appropriate control code
to switch to the separate boldface
font (available only in 12 pitch).

Without the optional pinwheel form
feeder, printing multipage documents
is likely to require the auto-stop func-
tion, which stops the printing at the
end of every page. You only order the
function once; it remains active until
the computer resets the printer or you
turn it off.

Options

Serious office use will require the
Quietwriter's optional pinwheel form
feeder ($75), which supports forms
with widths between 3 and 1 5 inches.
The form feeder is easy to install and
use. It locks directly onto the platen
shaft and has a cable that plugs into

(continued)

386 BYTE « JUNE 1985

AT A GLANCE

Name

IBM Quietwriter printer

Manufacturer

IBM National Distribution

Division

1000 Westchester Ave.

White Plains, NY 10604

(800) 426-2468

Type

Dot-matrix printer with letter-
quality output

Size

21 by 6 by 14 1 /2 inches

Weight

22 pounds

Computer

IBM Personal Computer or
compatible with a Centronics-
type parallel interface

Features

The printer buffer holds 1800
characters. All four cartridge
fonts, including Courier (10
pitch), Prestige Elite (12 pitch),
Prestige (15 pitch), and
Boldface (12 pitch) print the
entire IBM character set.
Ribbons have an approximate
capacity of 160,000 characters
depending on pitch used.
Supports underlining,
subscripting, and
superscripting

Documentation

120-page guide to operations

Price

$1395

Options

Pinwheel form feeder $75
Additional fonts $50 each
Additional ribbons $12 each
Additional print heads $20
each

PRINT SPEED (CHARACTERS/SEC)
12 24 36

LIST PRICE
6

($100)

+

\

W%W%/,

IBM QUIETWRITER

Tl MODEL 855

TOSHIBA P1340

This is the

IBM QUIETWRITER printer.

This is the

Texas Instruments Omni 800/

This is the

Toshiba P1340 in high-quality

A comparison of the Quietwriter printer with the
Texas Instruments Omni 800/Model 855 printer
(see January BYTE, page 345 for review) and
the Toshiba P1340 printer; both in letter-quality
mode. The pitch for all the printers is 10
characters per inch. The print speeds were

determined by timing how long it took the
printers to print 50 lines of 80 As each. The
prices shown are list prices. The price for the
Quietwriter does not include the optional pin-
wheel form feeder;

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 387

REVIEW: QUIETWRITER

Photo 2: A close-up of the IBM Ouietwriter print head: 40 circuits press against the
ribbon to form a dense matrix as the carrier assembly moves across the page.

Photo 3: The inside of the IBM Ouietwriter. The fonts are at the lower right.
The contrast control and DIP switches are in the middle.

a connector on the rear of the printer.

You must use the Paper Up key and
not the paper bail to move paper with
the form feeder, but there are easy-
to-follow instructions for inserting
paper. It is important to follow the in-
structions carefully For example, if the
paper-release bail remains shut,
paper will gradually pull and tear off
of the pinwheels. The manual, how-
ever, contains proper cautions. IBM
says it will provide a cut-sheet feeder
for the printer in the second quarter
of 1985. Its estimated cost is $3 50.

With the optional pinwheel form
feeder attached, a light warning
comes on when the printer senses the
end of continuous form paper. The
printer beeps loudly, goes off line, and
waits for more paper.

The documentation is adequate,
with simple, well-illustrated instruc-
tions for unpacking and assembling
the printer. There are adequate sec-
tions on most aspects of printer
operation. A "Problem Determination
Procedures" section helps you diag-
nose problems. An appendix lists all
the printer control codes, the escape
codes used by word processors to
engage the printer's functions. To
engage these functions from a BASIC
program, use LPRINT with the re-
quired escape character codes.

There are easy instructions for
changing the DIP-switch settings to ac-
commodate, for example, paper
length and width. The switches are
conspicuously located left of the font
holders, but I would prefer a larger
switch to regulate paper width. The
printer's self-test, in addition to print-
ing the entire font, prints out the DIP-
switch settings— a useful feature.

Conclusions

The Quietwriter's main strength is its
combination of acceptable letter-
quality print, reasonable speed, and
merciful quiet. Undoubtedly many of-
fices could not sacrifice one of the
three. Others might welcome letter-
quality output of the entire IBM char-
acter set. Those who require letter-
quality printouts of program listings
might find an answer in the IBM Quiet-
writer. ■

388 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Able to leap tall buildings . . .

Standard unit:

Microprocessor
User memory
System expansion
Floppy disk drive
Hard disk drive
Serial ports
Parallel ports
Keyboard

List price

A Leading Brand

Intel 6 MHz 80286

512 Kb RAM [enhanced model]

8 I/O/ slots

1.2 Mb [read only 360 Kb]

20 Mb [enhanced model]

1

2

84 keys

$5795

Options:

128 Kb RAM
Monochrome/printer adapter

text/graphics [720 x 348]
Monitor [12" green]
Tilt/swivel base
MS-DOS Software

Total price

Basic Time AT Enhancements

BT70 (70 Mb) internal hard disk
BT60 Streamer (60 Mb) tape backup
Color/graphics adapter card.
AT 4X4 Plus Multifunction Board

$350

250

275

69

65

$6804

Basic Time BT/AT

Intel 6 MHz 80286

640 Kb RAM

8 I/O slots

1.2Mb[read/wYite360Kb]

44 Mb

2

2

84 keys

$4495

included

included
included
included
included

$4495

basic Lime

Inquiry 349

Dealer/Reseller Hotline

Inside California

(800) 841-2474

Outside California 335 ° SCOTT BLVD • bldg 52 . santa clara • ca 95054

(800) ■■■^^^^^^■■■■H

(408) 727-0877

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 389

t»

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When Australians say 'Fair DinkunrY
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Cat Y-2000

For the technically minded

8 bit microcomputer, custom designed, built-in 2K ROM and V2K of RAM

for storing and operating of programs, plus16Kof ROM and V2K of ROM,

for speech processor.

MOTORCYCLE INTERCOM^

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This intercom fits snuggly under your helmet and

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Tells you all you need to
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PHOTOSENSITIVE ALUMIUM SHEET
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Red Cat H-5692 $6.95 per sheet
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Inquiry 1 37

CORVUS INTRODUCES

SHARED STORAGE.

FOR THERESTOFTHE OFFICE.

:□ :

I-

EI IDE] CD

1 " !

■1

|

1 ' 'I, _ ' I

Wt

rithout mass storage that every
Macintosh can access, your net-
worked office won't have a prayer.

Because you'll still have to
share data by swapping floppies.

And just consider
how fast a floppy
disk fills up with an
entire workgroup
compiling data.
Tb share information,
you have to get those
floppies neatly
stacked, sorted and
cataloged.

Something
your computer
should do for you.

Which is
why we've introduced
OmniTklk software. It
lets you network your Mac-
intosh Office and LaserWriter
printer with an Omni-
Drivehard disk. So you
can store all your files
in one place. And share
information whenever you want,
with whomever you want.

Without turning your
floppies into little frisbees. Several
people can even access the same
information at once— something

Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer, Inc.

LaserWriter is a trademarkof Apple Computer, IncOmniDrive and OmniTalk are trademarks ufCoi

392 B YTE • JUNE 1985

a floppy could never do. With Omni-
Drive and OmniTklkjyour Macintosh
Office has faster access to
software and data, greater
storage capacity, even
easier back-up

capability Plus, you get
three levels of protec-
tion to keep your files safe.
And with the Corvus 126MB
hard disk,it all costs less per
megabyte than any other
system.You see, Corvus has
more experience net-
working than anyone
else. No one offers
^/ more, because no
one can.
So take it from us.
If you're going to add people
to your new Macintosh
Office, add the mass storage
system that every-
one can use.
OmniDrive
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Then your
Macintoshes
can really
start talkin 1
business.
For more
information, call
(800)4-CORVUS.

Gorvus

Inquiry 119

SOFTWARE REVIEW

The Word Plus

An

easy-to-use
spelling

checker

by George Sheldon

George Sheldon is a freelance
writer whose interests include
country music and personal com-
puters. He can be reached at POB
228. Hershey. PA 17033.

A spelling-checker program cannot
replace a stern spelling teacher.
But The Word Plus, from Oasis Sys-
tems, is the next best thing. This program,
which sells for $1 50, contains a 4 5, 000- word
dictionary. It is one of the older spelling
checkers on the market. The Word Plus is
available for most CP/M, CP/M-86, and MS-
DOS computers in both 5^-inch and 8-inch
disk formats, and it is compatible with
WordStar and most other major word pro-
cessors. For this review I used it on my
Kaypro 2.

The very idea of a spelling checker may
seem to some people to be an unnecessary
option. Most people who use a word pro-
cessor are satisfied enough with the for-
matted text and easy editing their chosen
software offers. For them, adding an elec-
tronic dictionary is like extra icing on a cake.
But owning a word processor and not
using a spelling checker is like buying a
brand new automobile without shock ab-
sorbers: You can use the car to get where
you want to go, but getting there could be
a whole lot smoother.

Two Types of Spelling Errors

All electronic dictionaries, including the one
incorporated in The Word Plus, have their
limitations. This is caused by the fact that
there are two types of spelling errors.

First, a word is simply misspelled because
either the writer did not know how to cor-
rectly spell the word or the word was mis-
typed. With the determination of a blood-
hound on a fox hunt. The Word Plus will
search out and locate these kinds of errors.

Second, a word may be misused. This oc-
curs with words like there and their. Both are
spelled correctly but are misspelled when
used in the wrong context. Unfortunately,
a spelling checker cannot help with these
types of errors. The reason is obvious: The
word, according to the electronic dictionary,
is spelled correctly. You are on your own to
locate and correct these types of errors.

The Word Plus measures up to what is ex-

pected of a spelling checker. Not only does
it find spelling errors, it helps to correct
them. It works fast, and unlike other dic-
tionaries, it checks spelling in one sweep of
the document. This feature is what puts The
Word Plus ahead of many other spelling
checkers.

Four Components

The package's strongest point is its modular
design. Instead of being one large spelling
checker. The Word Plus is made of four
separate tools: Spell. Review. MarkFix, and
TW.

Spell finds spelling errors. Review shows
them to you and helps you correct them
(more on this in a moment). MarkFix makes
the corrections within the document. TW is
similar to a batch program; Oasis Systems
describes it as the "orchestra leader." It
directs the other three programs to do the
work. TW is a real time-saver, and you
seldom run the programs individually.

Learning to use The Word Plus is as easy
as operating it. The user's guide is 48 pages
and fairly well organized, though it could
be clearer. The instructions are complete
enough so that a novice computer user
could quickly operate the program.

Within seconds after you enter the pro-
gram it asks the name of the file to check.
It then begins the task of checking your
document file against the contents of its
master dictionary and also any special dic-
tionary you may have created.

The Word Plus does seem to take a long
time to check spelling, but in reality it is fair-
ly fast. On my Kaypro 2, The Word Plus
checked a 22-page, 5 500-word chapter in
3 minutes 1 5 seconds. 1 doubt even a spell-
ing teacher could work that fast.

As soon as Spell has completed its
scrutiny of your document, TW brings the
Review program onto your screen. Review
presents each misspelled word along with
a 10-option menu. Selections include the
following: show the misspelled word in the

[continued) '

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 393

REVIEW: WORD PLUS

AT A GLANCE

Name

The Word Plus (version 1.22)

Type

Spelling checker

Manufacturer

Oasis Systems
7907 Ostrow St., Suite 5F
San Diego, CA 92111
(619) 279-5711

Computer

Kaypro 2 and most CP/M,
CP/M-86, and MS-DOS
computers

Software Compatibility

WordStar; PeachText, Electric
Pencil, Perfect Writer, and
others

Disk Format

5V4- or 8-inch, copy- protected

Price

$150

Audience

Users of compatible word
processors

context it was used; add the word to
the updated dictionary or a special
dictionary; mark the word for further
consideration; move to the previous
or next word; or correct the word.

But the most remarkable feature of
Review is its look-up function. When
a misspelled word is presented on the
screen and you do not know how to
properly spell it, you can choose the
look-up function; it will search the dic-
tionary for similar words and present
a list of possible choices.

Review also assigns a number to
each word in the list of possible alter-
natives. When you locate the correct
spelling in the list, you can then cor-
rect the word by typing C (for correct)
and the number. r I\vo keystrokes for a
1 2 -letter word is a real time-saver, and
it also insures against a second mis-
spelling.

When Review is finished, MarkFix
takes over. It quickly makes correc-
tions to your document. If a corrected
word is longer than the one it's replac-
ing, the right margin of your docu-
ment may no longer be justified, and
MarkFix will remind you to reformat
your document.

Many proper names, specialized
words, and technical or medical terms
may have to be added to any spell-
ing checker. Adding words to The

Word Plus is done quickly with a
single keystroke. The Word Plus will
remember these words whenever it
searches a document.

The Word Plus has a lot of other fea-
tures, including a word counter— great
for writers and students who have to
submit material of a specified length.
Called Wordcount, this utility can
count all of your words within 15
seconds. For people who like word
puzzles, The Word Plus can help here,
too. A program called Anagram un-
scrambles any word. It's great for solv-
ing the "Jumble" game found in many
newspapers. A program called Find
can help you locate words containing
certain letters. For example, if you
entered FIND 7?OD, the program
would print a list of all four-letter
words ending in od. Unfortunately,
with a dictionary of only 4 5,000 words
(Webster's Collegiate Dictionary has about
1 10,000), you may still have problems
with the unusual words that seem to
crop up only in crossword puzzles.

If you have a habit of overusing cer-
tain words in your writing, the Word-
Freq program can help. It lists the
number of words in your document
and then tells you how many times
you used each word.

You can build customized diction-

[continued)

Quality PC Products from Multitech

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Runs MS-DOS and CP/M-86. Including floppy controller, BIOS, and complete documentation

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• IBM Compatible Keyboard $ 89

• Multifunction Board (64K) $180

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• Serial Card (2 ports) $ 50

One-year warranty for all add-on cards!

CALL TOLL FREE TO ORDER (800) 538-1542

In California call (408) 730-1795 Technical Support Sarvtca (408) 773-8400

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U.S. SERVEX

394 B YTE • JUNE I985

Inquiry 30!

RIEFCASE
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And that, more and njore, is what your business needs today.
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The Bernoulli Box's cartridge capacity, portability, and absolute
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*

—THE

.

REVIEW: WORD PLUS

Often The Word Plus
sent me scrambling
to the dictionary to
check plural forms
I thought were correct
and found they were.

aries, including one that has a limited
vocabulary. This is ideal for a writer
working on books for juveniles, where
only a certain grade-level of words
can be used.

Problems

There are. however, several things
about The Word Plus that I do not like.

Its dictionary of a mere 45,000 words
is small in comparison with other
spelling checkers. I dislike the way the
dictionary does not know the plural
forms of some words. Often the pro-
gram sent me scrambling to Webster's
Collegiate to check plural forms I
thought were correct and found that
they were.

Also, there is a homonym helper
that does not seem very useful. First
you have to review a long list of
homonyms: words like to. two, too:
capital capitol: waiver, waver. You then
delete those words you know how to
spell and use correctly. The program
will then search your text and mark
those words that cause confusion. Un-
fortunately, by the time you delete all
the homonyms you know how to use,
there are so few words on the list that
running the program is useless. And,
if you are having that much trouble
with a certain homonym, you will

either learn how to use the word cor-
rectly or avoid it in your writing.

Conclusion

The Word Plus is compatible with
several word-processing packages, in-
cluding WordStar, PeachText, Word
Master, Electric Pencil, and Perfect
Writer. It operates on almost any
8080-, Z80-, or 8086-based computer
and runs under MS-DOS or CP/M, as
well as most variations of CP/M.

Although I've never admitted it, the
real reason I bought my computer
was for the spelling checker. I like The
Word Plus. It's easy to use and easy
to learn, and it does catch spelling
errors. For a serious word-processer
user, it will become as important as
the word-processing software itself.
For anyone who wants to make a fin-
ished document as perfect as possi-
ble, The Word Plus is worth the invest-
ment. ■

TERMINAL EMULATION SOFTWARE SYSTEM

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Extensive setup support

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396 B YTE • JUNE I985

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All for one...

Little Tramp character licensed by Bubbles Inc . s.a.

or one for all.

Presenting the
IBM PC Network.

Now there's a way to tie your IBM PCs, PC/XTs,
Portable PCs and IBM Personal Computer ATs
together. So that everyone in the office can share
information and hardware resources like printers
and disk storage devices. Or simply send a message.
To one or to all.

It's an economical solution.

And it's from IBM.

The pleasure of networking.

The IBM PC Network can support a wide variety
of powerful programs. Better still, it can save both
time and money.

It can cut down trips to the file room because the
files are now electronic and on-line.

It can save time waiting for the copier or the
interoffice mail, because messages can be sent
from PC to PC.

It means you won't have to buy a printer or fixed
disk storage device for every PC.

It's a good investment in a more efficient office.

The do-it-yourself
connection.

It's an easy solution, too. Because the IBM PC
Network comes in kits.

The kit you buy depends on how many IBM
Personal Computers you want to connect (2 to 72)
and how far apart they are. The cable in this local
area network is the broadband type, virtually
identical to that used for cable television.

So you don't have to be a technician to install the
IBM PC Network. No fancy tools, no special
experience needed.

And best of all...

As you grow,
so grows your network.

Make your decision now.

And grow.

As your business expands and more people need
to share information, you can add cable and con-
nectors as you add more PCs to the network.

IBM PC Network Specifications

Adapter

16-bit 80188 microprocessor
16-bit 82586 controller
2 megabit RF transmission speed
CSM A/CD access protocol

5 kilometers maximum distance
to translator unit

1000-station maximum network
16 active aliases per station
32 active sessions per station

6 MHz transmit/receive channels
40 KB ROM, 16 KB RAM
Translator

Connection for 8 IBM PCs
Expansion capability
Supports 72 stations within a 1000
foot radius of translator

with IBM cabling
Supports 256 stations within a

1000-foot radius of translator

with custom cabling
Cabling Components
75-ohm coaxial cable
1000 feet from translator unit

maximum
4 cable segments: 25 feet, 50 feet,

100 feet, and 200 feet
Supports connection of up to 64

additional IBM PCs
Operating System
DOS 3.1 required
User Interface
IBM PC Network Program
SNA 3270 emulation

You can even set up the IBM PC Network to
communicate with an IBM mainframe, using your
PCs as terminals.

To start building your network, see your
Authorized IBM PC Dealer, IBM Product Center or
IBM marketing representative.

For more information on where to see the IBM
PC Network, call 1-800-447-4700. In Alaska and
Hawaii, call 1-800-447-0890. ==%= =•

Inquiry 436

THE

That's right. A StorageMaster® diskette is the
one you can count on again and again for
consistent performance. Because it's made
beyond the standards by one of the world's
largest manufacturers of storage media
So if you won't settle for anything

5018 Copyright © 1985 Control Data Corporation.

less than extraordinary performance
every time, reach for the flopless one.
Reach for a StorageMaster diskette. For
the location of your nearest distributor,
see your local Yellow Pages or call
toll-free 1-800-232-6789 ext. 370.

CONTRpL
DATA

400 BYTE • iUNE [985

Inquiry 116

REVIEW FEEDBACK

Support for Symphony

J enjoyed reading a review as thorough
and fair as the one written by Dick Poun-
tain on Lotus's Symphony (January, page
317). With products of this complexity, a
few inaccuracies creep in that might leave
false impressions on the reader. I would
like to point these out.

The Search/Replace functions of the
word-processing window are case-
sensitive only when you enter uppercase
characters in the search string. Thus, the
user has the choice. The user also can
disable automatic rejustification.

Indented numbered or lettered sub-
paragraphs are handled such that Sym-
phony recognizes the characters (like a) b)
c) or 1 . 2. 3.) automatically and puts them
to the left of the margin setting provided
there is enough space. This is a very handy
feature, and the user can always overrun
and control it by using hard spaces.

While it is true that a number of features
usually found in word-processing pro-
grams (like hyphenation) are missing,
other features (like speed search with the
End key or when selecting a block of text)
were incorporated that make working with
Symphony's word-processing windows
very pleasant.

You cannot enter all Extended ASCII
characters. Instead, Symphony uses its
own extended character set called LICS
(Lotus International Character Set). LICS
does not contain the IBM PC's graphics
characters, but it contains many characters
found in different foreign languages. Sym-
phony goes a long way to establish the
correct telephone-book collating se-
quence and to materialize the characters
on screen and paper. If necessary it even
switches character sets between two char-
acters on a dot-matrix printer.

The inability to display color graphs and
high-resolution text on the same screen
lies entirely within the Color Graphics
Adapter. (Lotus recently hinted that it will
provide a driver for the new IBM En-
hanced Graphics Adapter.)

The communication function does pro-
vide a mainframe protocol. Symphony
emulates an ANSI-compatible terminal so
a PC running Symphony acts like a VT-100
or similar terminal. Thus, it is easy to in-

terface to a host providing ANSI signals
(e.g.. DEC mainframes or any other host
with a suitable protocol converter) while
at the same time filing transfers in both
directions without the need to install any
special software.

Symphony does use a rectangular "ac-
tive area" beginning at the upper left cell
AI. Whenever you enter something into
the spreadsheet outside this area it
automatically and invisibly expands to
cover the newly used cell. When you erase
such cells, the active area does not shrink.
However, the spreadsheet is shrunk to its
minimum required size whenever you save
it to disk. It is not normally necessary to
use XTRACT.

Be aware that even an erased cell can
keep your active area expanded if it con-
tains formatting information or an allow-
changes setting. (To find the lower right
corner of your active area, press the End
and Home keys.)

While 'sparse matrix" storage methods
would certainly save some memory under
certain circumstances. Lotus's method
contributes to the program's speed. Note
that it outruns nearly all its competitors,
often by a factor of three or more.

Hans-Georg Michna
Munich, West Germany

HP's ThinkJet

Your article on the HP ThinkJet printer by
Mark Haas (January, page 337), while well
done, left out some information a pro-
spective buyer should know. I've owned
one and used it heavily for four months.

Mr. Haas perhaps misleads your readers
about the paper required by the ThinkJet.
saying "the ink will bleed on paper that
is too absorbent— roughly equivalent to
writing with a fountain pen on tissue
paper." This implies that the special HP
paper isn't very absorbent. The exact op-
posite is true. If you write on HP paper
with a medium- or wide-line pen, you can
see the ink bleed through. The back of the
HP paper should be, but isn't, treated to
resist such wicking.

The Thinklet cannot print acceptably on
any paper that is not highly absorbent.
From trials. I conclude that the tiny glob-
ules of ink expelled by the ThinkJet must

spread by absorption to form a legible
character. If the globules come to rest on
a relatively impermeable surface, they re-
main at original size— much too tiny to
form characters of acceptable width.

1 agree with Mr. Haas that the ink car-
tridge is reliable even if not used for a
week or more. HP apparently employs eth-
ylene glycol to keep its ink from evapo-
rating. Unfortunately, the glycol creates a
serious problem: The ink is not fast and
it remains forever water-soluble.

Next. I cannot print mailing labels suc-
cessfully. All commercial labels are treated
to resist staining from handling so they are
not absorbent. Labels printed with normal
output are faint and illegible. Those in
boldface smear either going through the
printer or when handled.

Because the ThinkJet has no platen, you
cannot use paper less than 7/2 inches
wide (the two friction rollers that substitute
for a platen are set this distance apart).
Therefore, you cannot print postcards,
notes, or any small form unless it is made
up in special absorbent paper and is
several forms wide. No such forms are
now commercially available.

The paper-loading arrangement in the
ThinkJet is cumbersome. I don't mind this
when loading the first sheet of fanfold. but
I gave up on loading cut paper. It takes
longer to load a sheet than to print it.

Last, my ThinkJet has a paper-feed prob-
lem. After fanfold paper sits overnight, the
top of the sheet takes on a permanent
curve. The next document then catches on
the paper separator, folds into a V, and
arches the middle of print lines upward.
Although a simple modification to the
paper guide prevents this. HP should have
caught it on the prototype.

In sum, the ThinkJet does a fast, reliable
job for quick drafts. It definitely isn't a
general-purpose printer. If your readers
want one printer to handle everything. I'd
advise they look elsewhere.

Dick Barnes
Hatteras, NC

BASIC String Variables

I write in response to Robert S. Hunter's
query on page 3 56 of Review Feedback

[continued)

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 401

REVIEW FEEDBACK

(January) about how to use the OPEN
statement in BASIC with a string variable
for the filename.

In any BASIC program it is possible to
substitute a variable for a string when it
is not acceptable to the BASIC interpreters
by leaving blank spaces within the quota-
tion marks that need the string, then
POKEing the string variable into the
blanks character by character. This works
in any variation of any BASIC.

Most BASICS store keywords like OPEN,
CLOSE, and GOTO as a 1-byte token in-

stead of correctly spelling the keyword,
This saves memory and speeds searches
for the correct routine to execute the com-
mand. Some versions of Microsoft BASIC
use 153 as the token for OPEN. The
numbers are usually above the highest
printing ASCII codes (above 127) and ap-
pear as graphics characters if you PEEK
into the spot where the OPEN token is
stored. If you loop through the computer's
memory looking for the OPEN com-
mand's token, you will locate the line of
code that needs to have the variable

Listing I : Program to POKE FL$ into a filename.

105: GOSUB200

110: OPEN"0"#1," /DAT"

PRINT#1,"SOME DATA"

CLOSE#1

RETURN

FOR A= BST TO BEND

REM BST & BEND ARE START AND END OF BASIC BUFFER

IF PEEK(A) = (TOKEN FOR "OPEN") THEN 250

REM LINE 210 BRANCHES AT THE OPEN TOKEN

NEXT A:RETURN

IF PEEK(A+1) = 34THEN 280

REM LINE 250 CHECKS CHARACTER AFTER OPEN

REM AND BRANCHES AT CHR$(34) OR " SIGN

NEXT A:RETURN

IF PEEK(A + 2) = ASC("0') THEN 310

REM LINE 280 IS SECOND REDUNDANCY CHECK

NEXT A:RETURN

FL = 8:IF LEN(FL$)< >8 THEN GOSUB 500

REM LINE 310 BRANCHES TO PADDING ROUTINE TO
325: REM BRING LENGTH OF FL$ TO 8 CHARACTERS
330: C = 0:FOR B = A + 9TOA + 9 + FL

C = C+1:POKE B,ASC(MID$(FL$ ( C,1))

NEXT B:NEXT A:RETURN

IF LEN(FL$)>8THEN 550

FOR PAD = LEN(FL$)T0 7

FL$ = FL$+" "

NEXT PAD:RETURN

FL$= LEFT$(FL$,8):RETURN

120:
130:
140:
200:
205:
210:
215:
220;
250:
260:
265:
270:
280:
290;
300:
310:
320:

340:
350:
500:
510:
520:
530:
550:-

Listing 2: Program to find the start address of the BASIC buffer and the token
for OPEN.

rem xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
o'pen"0",#i;dummy"

CLOSE#1

FOR X = TO 65536

IF PEEK(X) = ASC("X") THEN 100

NEXT X:END

FOR Y = X TO X+16
110: IF PEEK(Y)< >ASC("X") THEN 60
120: NEXT Y:PRINT'START ADDRESS OF BASIC IS";X-8

FOR Y = XTOX + 25

IF PEEK(Y) = 34THEN 200

NEXT Y

PRINTTOKEN FOR OPEN COMMAND IS";PEEK(Y- 1)

10:
20:
30:
40:
50:
60:
100:

130:
140;
150:
200;

POKEd into the blanks between the
quotation marks, In other words, you tell
the computer to look through its memory
starting at the beginning of your program
and find the line you need by searching
for OPEN.

You need to look at a memory map of
your computer to find out the address of
the pointer that stores the address of the
start of a BASIC program. The BST vari-
able in line 200 of listing I is the address
that points to the start of the BASIC pro-
gram area, sometimes referred to as the
BASIC buffer. BEND is the variable found
by PEEKing the address of the start of the
variables found in the pointer table. Some
BASICS do not use a pointer to the end
of your program; the end is simply defined
by a series of zeros when the program is
entered. You should find both BST and
BEND before running the subroutine by
PEEKing at the table of pointers and using
the appropriate math. You can find them
during program execution if you know the
pointers for sure.

If you do not have a memory map and
do not know what the token for OPEN is,
loop through the entire memory looking
for a dummy line of text, then branch out
of the loop and get the address where the
dummy text was found (see listing 2).

Listing I POKEs FL$ into the filename
after OPEN in line 1 10. This whole section
is treated as a subroutine and is exited
after the CLOSE statement in line 130.
More string manipulation could be done
to check for a filename extension in FL$
instead of truncating FL$ when it is too
long and forcing the extension to DAT.
BST. BEND, and FL$ must be initialized
before entering the subroutine.

After you run this program, get a listing
and see how line 1 10 is changed with FL$
in place of the blank spaces.

Listing 2 should be run independently
of the first program and run several times
using different characters in the remark
statement in line 10. and in lines 50 and
110 to be certain there isn't a felonious
group of Xs. After finding the start of
BASIC, you find the end by adding the
available memory in an empty buffer to
the start address.

Jerome P. Cigna
Rochester, NY

NewWord

I must take you to task for John Heilborn
and Nanci Reel's review of NewWord
(February, page 291). The reviewers make
it sound as though the installation pro-
cedure is a terribly long process. To me.

402 B YTE • IUNE 1985

REVIEW FEEDBACK

this is the strength of the program. Ver-
sions of WordStar prior to the 3.3 release
allowed little flexibility— they didn't even
let you set the help level until you were
into the file on which you were working.

Further, the price of NewWord is about
half that of WordStar and includes Mail-
Merge. NewWord's powerful printing driv-
ers are especially useful in an office en-
vironment with several different printers.

The support offered by Rocky Mountain
Software is excellent. If one must find fault,
one should complain that NewWord will
not support the Random House Thesaurus
program, or that there should be a way
to delete the printing drivers one doesn't
require from the working copy to make ad-
ditional disk space.

NewWord's few shortcomings are minor
compared with its power, flexibility, and
price. I feel your reviewers should have
given far more plaudits to this outstanding
and relatively inexpensive program.

Hal Remmes
Hyde Park, MA

The MT 160

In the review by Mark J. Welch of the
Mannesmann Tally MT 160 printer
(February, page 32 5), there is one impor-
tant bit of misinformation.

Mannesmann Tally does not provide
end-user support. Service-department
personnel insist that you direct your ques-
tion only to your dealer. My dealer was
incredulous about this policy and refused
to call for an answer to my question about
how to configure WordStar with this
printer.

My question was how to obtain super-
scripts. The answer (which I was forced to
discover on my own) might be of interest
to others. Using WordStar's Install pro-
gram, select the Epson MX-80 printer op-
tion; you can then change the printer
name to Mannesmann Tally if you care to.
Enter 1B, 53, 00 (hexadecimal) for A PT.
Enter 1B, 53, 01 (hexadecimal) for ~PV.
Finally, enter 1B, 54 for * PR. If you type

the last time. ~PT1~PT~PR

in WordStar, a superscript I will follow the
word time.

The printer has been reliable and the
print quality in correspondence mode is
better than that of most other printers in
a similar mode (although the quality of
print in draft mode is below average).
What 1 especially like is that the characters
are of normal typewriter size. However, the
lack of user support makes the printer un-
suitable for anyone inexperienced in con-

figuring software and printers.

Richard Wagner
Tallahassee, FL

CORRECTION

We have been informed that the $7.95
price paid by Mr. Dobson (November
Review Feedback, page 352) for a Juki
daisy wheel was erroneous. We apologize

for any inconvenience this may have
caused our readers. ■

REVIEW FEEDBACK is a column of readers
letters. We welcome responses that support or
challenge BYTE reviews. Send letters to Review
Feedback. BYTE Publications, POB 372.
Hancock, NH 03449. Hame and address must
be on all letters.

Here are 70 reasons
to buy at Elek-Tek,
not to mention the
fastest delivery
anywhere.

PRINTER ACCESSORIES

1. FR 192

Epson 80 col. ribbon ... $ 3.50

2. FR 193

Epson 132 coi. ribbon . . . .5.00

3. FR 153A

OKI & Gemini Ribbon . . . .2.50

4. FF7353

80 col. printer stand

(metal) 15.00

5. FF7354

132 col. printer stand

(metal) 18.00

6. CB5609

IBM PC to Epson cable,

8 ft 20.00

IBM PRODUCTS

24. Amdek31QA

Amber Monitor $ 160

Save 30% to 43%

off Manufacturer Suggested Ret. prices on

EPSON • Okidata • Gemini • NEC
• TOSHIBA • C0MREX • TTX

27.

29,

30.

31

32

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39

40.

41.

.CALL
CALL

265

270

.125

210

270

Other Amdek Monitors
Sakata Monitors
AST Six Pak +

Multifunction Board, 64K .

AST Megaplus II

Multifunction Board, 64K
28. AST I/O Plus II

Multifunction Board, OK .

Quadram Quadboard

Multifunction Board. OK .

Quadram Quadboard

Multifunction Board, 64K

Quadcolor I

Graphic Board 210

Paradise

Modular Graphics Card . . 290
33. Hercules

Monochrome Card 329

Hercules Color

Color Graphic Card 170

Novation 4905911

Modem w/software 320

Novation 4905921

Internal Modem w/software . 320

Hayes 1200B

Internal modem w/software . 389

Hayes 1200

External modem 425

Anderson- Jacobson121 2-2C01

Internal modem w/crosstalk . 360

Anderson- Jacobson1212-2C02

Modem w/crosstalk,

2nd ser. port 400

TEAC FD55B

V? ht. DSDD Disk Drive 129

42. Swltchcraft Keyboard

13 prog. keys, heavy duty . . 175

EPSON®

7. RX 80/RX 80 FT .

CALL

8. RX 100 $ 350

9. FX 80 + 345

10. LX80 CALL

11. FX100 550

12. LQ 1500 par 1090

13. Comrex tl Comriter 360

Stiff

14. SG10 CALL

15. SD 10/15 CALL

16. SR 10/15 . .CALL

OKIDATA

17. Oki 84 CALL

18. Oki 92 CALL

19. Oki 93 CALL

OTHER PRINTERS

20. TTX 1014 S 360

21. SCM D200 350

22. Toshiba P1351 1290

23. Toshiba P1340 730

DISKETTES

Call for Quantity pricing for 10 boxes or more.

rnaxell box*™

43. MF1

3V 2 " SSDD $27

44. MF2

3V 2 "DSDD 37

45. MD1

5'/4"SSDD 16.50

46. MD2

5V4"DSDD 21.50

47. MD2DD
5V4"DSDD/96TPI 35

48. MD2HD

5V4"DSDD/IBM AT 45

49. FD1

8" SSDD 32

50. FD2

8" DSDD 37

3M

51. 3M3SS

3V'2" SSDD 34

52. 3M3DS

3'/2" DSDD CALL

53. 3M5SSDD

5 1 /4" SSDD 16.50

54. 3M5DSDD

5V4" DSDD 21.50

55. 3M5DSDD96
5V4"DSDD/96TPI 31

56. 3M8SSDD

8" SSDD 21

57. 3M8DSDD

8" DSDD 29

Dysgn

58. Dys 12

5'/4" SSDD 19

59. Dys 22

5V4" DSDD 25

60. Dys 33

5'/4 " DSDD/96 TPI 45

61. Dys 24

5'/4 " DSDD/IBMAT 50

62. Dys 8128

8" SSDD 27

63. Dys 8228

8" DSDD 32

wabash

64. WAB 1111

5V4 " SSSD 11

65. WAB 1212

5V4" SSDD 12

66. WAB 2222

5V4 " DSDD 13

DISKETTE ACCESSORIES

67. RSI 600 5'A" Head Cleaning Kit (30 Cleanings) $ 6

68. F 320 3'/2" Head Cleaning Kit (20 cleanings) 25

69. MM 5 Media Mate-Holds 50 S'/i" disks 10

70. MM 3 Media Mate-Holds 30 3V' 2 " 9

CALL TOLL FREE 800-6214269 EXCEPT Illinois, Alaska, Hawaii Inquiry 165

IE

! Mff 6557 IM. Lincoln Aui
4 inC (312)6317aO0

, Chicago, II 60645
{312] 677 7660

Finally A Video Board That Leaves The Confusion Behind*

On an IBM™ monochrome monitor
(or equivalent), STB's Chauffeur
displays color/graphics software in
full-screen format and no software
modifications are necessary.
Of course, we built the Chauffeur
to work with the family of IBM PCs
and compatibles. Our new video
board is software compatible
with the IBM Color/Graphics
Adapter, as well as hardware and
software compatible with the IBM
Monochrome/Printer Adapter.

No More Confusion

No more mixing and matching
hardware with software. The

Chauffeur converts graphics
display into a format compatible
with the IBM monochrome monitor.
For you, that means no more
worries about preboot software.
Best of all, you don't have to deal
with those drivers anymore.

Follow The Leader

STB's Chauffeur is clearly the
leader in video boards. It converts
colors to a 16 level grey scale, and
gives you a graphics display that
fills a monochrome screen.
For graphics, the Chauffeur
supports the same resolutions as
the IBM Color/Graphics Adapter.

For text, our board produces
a high quality monochrome
character set.

STB's Chauffeur includes a
parallel port, an optional clock/
calendar and our exclusive PC
Accelerator™, for print spooling
and high speed disk emulation.
You also get our one year warranty
and an illustrated manual with
thorough instructions.

Relax And Enjoy The View

Buy the Chauffeur now. Put it in
your system and enjoy watching
graphics on your monochrome
monitor.

STB Systems, Inc.

© 1985 STB Systems, Inc.

IBM registered trademark of International Business
Machines Corp. PC Accelerator trademark of ResiCorp.
Flight Simulator trademark of Microsoft. PC Paintbrush
trademark of Z-Soft. The Chauffeur trademark of STB
Systems, Inc.

F]kQ%

503F

Avoid The Crazy Drivers
In The Graphics Jam
With STB's Chauffeur

Right Simulator™

Finally you can buy the most popular IBM color/graphics
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STB's Chauffeur video board produces monochrome display
without preboot software or those crazy drivers.

PC Paintbrush

Write For A Free Info Pack Today. i nquiry 3 89

STB Systems, Inc., 601 North Glenville, Richardson, Texas 75081

STB Systems, Inc.

/

Wk-.)

BYTE

Kernel

Computing at Chaos Manor: CHAOS MANOR'S RENOVATION continues and likewise do Jerry Pournelle's

from the Living Room impressions of sundry hardware and software products. First, though, he

by lerry Poumelle 409 dj SCO vers w ^y reliable ol' Zeke at last needed some attention, then proceeds

Chaos manor mail with this month's offerings. Finally, as usual, he finds time to answer some

conducted by )erry Poumelle 435 of his mail

byte U.K.: Telephone Computers From London, BYTE U.K.'s Dick Pountain takes a look at International Com-

by Dick Pountain 439 puters Ltd.'s One Per Desk telecomputer. This interesting piece of equipment

byte japan: is built around the Sinclair QL and uses a real multitasking operating system

new necs and a Cartridge Disk to expand computing and communicating capabilities.

by William m. Raike 451 Bill Raike muses about the continuing introduction of interesting new corn-
BYTE West Coast: a gem Seminar puter products in BYTE Japan. In this installment, he takes a look at three

by \ohn Markoff and Phillip Kobinson 455 significant upgrades to NEC computers, an impressive hard-disk-cartridge

Circuit Cellar Feedback system, and the escalating use of PCs as tour guides.

conducted by Steve Garcia 461 The troops at our BYTE West Coast outpost spent some of their time this

bytelines month at a Digital Research seminar on GEM, a Macintosh-like environment

conducted by Sol ubes 468 available for non-Macs. Our intrepid editors also comment on a Macintosh

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ disassembler and technological advances in disk controllers.

In Circuit Cellar Feedback, Steve Ciarcia also finds time to share some of
his correspondence with readers who have built his projects.

Longtime BYTE readers will notice that Sol Libes's BYTELINES has returned.
Sol offers us his perspective on the happenings in the personal computing
world with news and speculation on a wide variety of topics.

— Gene Stnarte, Managing Editor

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 407

MACROTECH-STILL THE S-100

PERFORMANCE
PACESETTER

MI-286. Our 80286/Z80H Dual CPU Board is at least twice
as fast as Compupro's 8085/88 and it's a direct replacement.
-286 has already become the standard by which other 80286

based systems are measured. Ask us for a complimentary

Benchmark Report.

ADIT. There's nothing else like it on the market. It's an Intelligent I/O

Board with its own real time firmware that lets you control up

to 16 different terminals, modems or printers all from a

single slot. ADIT is the performance standard in

environments such as Alpha Micro where I/O

speed is critical.

MSR. High performance and
reliability in a memory so fast
you won't believe it's a dynamic
ram product. Compatible with all
popular S-100 environments, the
MSR's low power consumption
and 120 nanosecond ram
devices set a new stan-
dard for dynamic memory
products. The MSR is avail-
able in quarter, half, one
and two megabyte configurations
at the lowest prices in the industry,

Dealers:

Gifford Computer Systems (41 5) 895-0798
Custom Cumputer Technology (800) 222-8686
Priority One Electronics (800) 423-5922

John D. Owens & Associates (212)448-6298

In England; Fulcrum (Europe) Ltd. (0621) 828763

Macrotech dealers also include most Compupro Svstems Centers, Heathkit
Electronic Centers and Alpha Micro Dealers.

408 BYTE • IUNE 1985

V-RAM. High performance
Static CMOS system mem-
ory/virtual disk in either
quarter or half megabyte
configurations. With its on-
board battery and power-fail
logic, the V- RAM sets a new per-
formance standard at conventional
static memory prices. When
accessed through I/O port
channels, the half megabyte
V-RAM becomes M Drive
compatible with true
non-volatile solid-
state disk
capability.

MACROTECH International Corp.

9551 Irondale Ave.

Chatsworth, CA 91311

(800) 824-3181 • in Calif. (818) 700-1501

Telex: 9109970653

Inquiry 26!

COMPUTING

AT CHAOS MANOR

From the Living Room

Reconstruction

Cleaning Zeke II

Z-100 Video Memory

Dysan's Interrogator

Zenith Z-160

HP LaserJet Fonts

Macrotech and Gifford

SPUZ

Mini/Micro Show

Hercules Color Board

More on Mac

More on Valdocs

Eagle

by Jerry Pournelle

\erry Pournelle holds a doctorate in

psychology and is a science- fiction

writer who also earns a comfortable

living writing about computers

present and future.

Readers sometimes ask if Chaos
Manor is really as disorganized as
all that. They wouldn't if they'd
been here this last month. Just today the
contractors got a roof on my house; for the
past week we have been naked to the stars.
I am at present writing this in the living
room because my office has no ceiling. The
stairway to the new upstairs suite goes
through the old office— and although the
upstairs now has a roof, it has no walls.

It's February, and even in Los Angeles it
gets cold at night. I can put on enough
sweaters and vests to make it nearly en-
durable, but it's impossible to write with
gloves on, so after two nights of stiff fingers
I gave up. I've promised Mrs. Pournelle that
the computers will be out of her living room
Real Soon Now. . .

Cleanup

Zeke II, the Viasyn CompuPro Z80 I do
nearly all my writing on, hasn't been
opened for two years. If it ain't broke, don't
fix it; but without a ceiling my office is ef-
fectively broke, so we had to move Zeke. I
brought him out to the living room, set him
up, and turned him on.

There was a sharp click as he tried to ac-
cess the disk, then blooey: a screen full of
garbage. Resetting didn't help. Zeke just
wasn't communicating.

I have a lot of computers, and I'm not
usually nervous about opening them up;
but one reason for my nonchalance is that
no matter what might happen to any of the
other machines, I could always go back to
good old superreliable Zeke to get my work
done. Now, with all my other machines
covered with plastic, my office two inches
deep in sawdust and powdered plaster, and
nearly everything I own packed away in
boxes, Zeke wasn't working.

"Don't panic." I told myself that several
times, then opened the cover.

Zeke was full of dust and dirt. Dog hair,
dust balls, you name it. The dust filter had
obviously died years ago. First thing, then,

was to use the vacuum cleaner. He still
didn't work, so next I removed all the
boards, flexed them a bit, pushed the chips
into their sockets, and put them back. This
time he booted up fine, and I was able to
get some work done. Next day, though,
when I tried to connect up the printer, we
got more garbage.

Up to then I'd hoped to solve the problem
myself, but I had no more time. What with
the new construction, plus a trip to New
York to promote my new book, plus the
Mini/Micro show in Anaheim this week,
Stride Faire this coming weekend, and a trip
to 'Ifexas Instruments next week— I'm sched-
uled to go directly from Reno to Dallas Sun-
day without ever coming home— there was
no way to lose any more time and still meet
the deadline for the column. Nothing for it:
I called Tony Pietsch, who built Zeke.

"Dust," he said. "Dust and dirt."

"But it worked fine— '

"While it was just sitting there. Moving it
moved the dirt. These machines aren't
maintenance-free, you know."

"Tell me what to do—

"Just stay there. I'll come over. You watch."

Just Routine...

He had a box of solvents. The most impor-
tant one is called DE-OX-IDE. There was
also a standard tuner cleaner, a bottle of
alcohol, a can of compressed air, and a can
of Instant FD Zero Residue Cleaner, which
contains mostly trichlorotrifluoroethane.
Some computer stores carry these, but
most don't; a big electronics supply house
is a more reliable source.

What Tony calls routine maintenance con-
sists of using common sense and solvents.
Tony knows what he's doing, but if I were
working alone, I'd start by making a chart
of every cable and board; it's amazing how
easily you can forget which way things are
hooked up. Then disconnect everything
that's easy to disconnect, remove all boards,
and start in, using compressed air, solvents,

[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 409

Inquiry 50

Pop-Ups

take the

Sidekick

idea
one step

further.

//

-Info World
January 14, 1985

Independent review-
ers everywhere agree.
When it comes to a
showdown on capa-
bilities and ease of use,
the winner is Bellsof t's
Pop-Up DeskSet™

That's because DeskSet gives you more.
Like standard and financial calculators.
A clip-board for "cutting and pasting"
information from one program to
another. An alarm clock that displays
the time of day. On screen. In any pro-
gram. And instant access to DOS com-
mands for checking directories and
copying or deleting files.

Not to mention a 120 year calendar. A
handy notepad. And Pop-Up Anything
that lets you turn your word processor,
spreadsheet or application program into
an instant, on screen Pop-Up.

DeskSet is everything Sidekick could
have been.

But isn't.

All at a price that puts the competition
to shame. Only $69.95? and it's non-
copy protected. (Or $129.95* for Desk-
Set Plus that includes our powerful
telecommunications software.)

Buying Pop-Up DeskSet is as easy as it
is to use. It's at the best software retail-
ers nationwide. Or you can order
DeskSet directly from Bellsoft by
calling:

1-800-44-Pop-Up
(1-800-447-6787)

BELLSOFT

2820 Northup Way
Bellevue,WA 98004
(206) 828-7282

Pop-Ups run great on the IBM PC, XT, AT, PCjr,
3270PC and compatibles. Pop-Up, Pop-Ups and
DeskSet are trademarks of Bellsoft, Inc. Sidekick
is a trademark of Borland International.
*PIus $5.00 shipping and handling.

CHAOS MANOR

paper towels, and tissue paper. Be
sure to clean all cable connectors,
board connectors, sockets, and any-
thing else that comes apart easily and
makes electrical connection. First use
solvent, then the DE-OX-IDE.

You probably want to open a win-
dow when you do, unless your office
happens to have no roof like mine.

Before replacing the boards, lay
them down on a flat surface and care-
fully push each socketed chip firmly
in place. Then put the boards in as
they were, replace the cables—

We did all that to Zeke. Tony, being
confident that there was nothing ac-
tually wrong with the machine, put the
cover back on before testing it. The
universe generally punishes me for
such arrogance, but it works for Tony.
We fired up the machine and every-
thing ran. Indeed, the letters on my
screen seem somehow steadier and
crisper, although that may be over-
enthusiastic imagination.

Jazzing up Zorro

I'm told those with late-model Z-100
machines don't need to do this.

Zorro, our Z-100, was one of the first
that Zenith made. The Z-100 comes
with a color board. The early model
used 3 2 K-bit memory chips. A 3 2 K-bit
chip is really a 64K-bit chip with prob-
lems on one side of it. When 64K-bit
chips first came out, the yields were
low and the chips were expensive. It
made sense to use the partly defec-
tive ones. The result was acceptable
color resolution, but only half of what
the machine was capable of.

There are two ways to find out if you
have the older model with 3 2 K-bit
chips. The complicated way is to dis-
assemble the Z-100 and look at the
jumper on the video board. (The
video board is the small upper up-
side-down board you see after you
remove the disk drives.) The jumper
has three positions: 3 2 K-bit upper
bank, 3 2 K-bit lower bank, and 64K-bit.
If it's set for 64 K-bit, you have a newer
machine.

You can also find out by running
one of the tests built into the Z-100
ROM (read-only memory); just boot
the machine without a disk, and when

you get the "hand prompt" device
error message, type H for help, and
on the menu that follows, type S for
system information. The machine will
tell you what kind of video it has.
[Editor's note: Early versions of the Z-100
ROMs do not have this feature]

Ours had the 3 2 K-bit variety. Omni-
trend's Universe game is designed to
work with an IBM PC color board or
a full 64K-bit Z-100 color system. I
blush to say that after three years of
putting up with the 3 2 K-bit video, the
Universe game was what finally in-
duced me to buy enough chips— 24
of them— to bring Zorro up to full
video strength. We used 4164-type
1 50-nanosecond parts. Replacing the
3 2 K-bit chips and changing the
jumper takes about a half hour.

We had problems afterward, but it
wasn't Zorro's fault. One wants to be
careful when putting the Z-100 back
together; it's fairly easy to crimp a
keyboard cable or jam one of the keys
so that it binds on the case. The key-
board simply sits on foam in the case,
so it's not surprising that it happens.
The result isn't a disaster, but it
seemed like one until we opened the
machine and reassembled it with a bit
more care.

Alas, after all that I discovered that
I don't yet have Z-DOS II for the ZrlOO,
so I still haven't seen how Universe
looks on Zorro. I have Zenith disks
marked "MS-DOS 2.0 for the Z-100
PC"; it seemed reasonable to suppose
that would work with Zorro, but
"Z-100 PC" refers only to Z-150 and
Z-160 machines.

Dysan s Interrogator

One way to be sure your machine is
in good shape is to run diagnostic
programs. You generally get a set of
them with a DOS (disk operating sys-
tem), but to really check out disk
drives you can't beat the Dysan diag-
nostics programs. The Dysan Inter-
rogator comes in both Z-100 (includ-
ing Z-l 10 and Z-120) and IBM PC ver-
sions. The IBM PC variety will work
with the IBM PC and the Zenith Z-l 50
and Z-160 machines; I presume it
works with other PCompatibles. The

[continued)

410 B YTE • )UNE 1985

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CHAOS MANOR

only reason it wouldn't would be if the
computer used a disk controller
radically different from what the PC
uses, and anything that does that isn't
likely to be PCompatible.

The Interrogator comes in two disks:
the Interrogator disk, which you boot
up, and the Digital Diagnostic disk
(DDD). The DDD is a very precisely for-

matted disk. You want to be careful
to protect it. If it gets lunched, the
replacement costs 50 bucks. The disk
isn't copy-protected, but copying it is
a waste of time, since what you're pay-
ing for is the precision formatting.

You can get DDDs for 40- and 80-
track 5 '4-inch drives and also for
8-inch drives. Running the program is

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extremely simple: boot the Inter-
rogator disk, and when prompted,
remove the Interrogator and put in
the DDD. The test program is self-
documented with on-screen help. If
you want to test for write-error prob-
lems, you'll need scratch disks; the
program will tell you when to insert
them.

Dysan also makes an Analog Diag-
nostic disk (ADD), which, used with an
oscilloscope, allows drive realign-
ment. In my opinion, realigning disk
drives is a black art best left to ex-
perts, but I'm told that anyone with
the proper tools can do it with
enough patience. I'm unlikely ever to
find out.

The software agreement that comes
with the program says that you may
use it on one and only one computer,
and if you transfer the program to
anyone else, your license is termi-
nated. One supposes that the person
you give or sell it to thereby acquires
some kind of license to use it; and
since the program can't possibly be
used on more than one computer at
a time— as I said above, copying it is
an exercise in futility— I can't see what
would prevent a club from buying a
copy, selling it to a member, and re-
purchasing it after the member is
finished. The Dysan Interrogator is a
tool you won't need often, but when
you do need it there's no real sub-
stitute.

Have a Care...

Just after they removed my roof, I
(sensibly, I thought) took Mrs.
Pournelle to New York. The ostensi-
ble reason for the trip was to tape
some promotional materials for the
latest Niven and Pournelle novel (Foot-
fall Ballantine Books), but Roberta
knew better. The real reason we went
was to get away from the hammering
and sawing, and besides, the Metro-
politan Opera was in season. (We saw
Ariadne auf Naxos. which was good only
if you like mountainous sopranos and
superegotistical tenors, and Tales of
Hoffmann, which was just plain
wonderful no matter what you like.)
Of course I worried: it doesn't often

(continued)

412 B YTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 105

HEN FROM WUJLT:

THE LOADING PRO

Vault Corporation introduces the Proloader*
Automatic Diskloading Machine, an engineering
breakthrough. Vault is the
worldwide market leader in
computer security disk
technology and is the
developer and producer of
Prolok™ software protection, Filelok"
data security and Telelok™ telecom-
munication security.

1

The first of its kind, Proloader

is designed equally for office

and factory environments both

functionally and aesthetically. It has

an attractive, sturdy, high quality outer shell with

an easy to read and operate control panel and a

footprint of only 23" X 7 7 / 8 ", small enough for

the desktop next to your PC.
Proloader works in
conjunction with any
IBM 8 PC 2.00 or later,
or compatible micro-
computer with a
minimum of 256K.

Proloader will
process 150 5 W
diskettes unattended
accommodating any
I jacket weight, with
an audible alarm for
jams. It automatically verifies each disk
upon completion and rejects disks with bad sectors.

Proloader provides instant in-house disk loading,
processing, formatting and duplicating,
as well as providing software protection
and data security options.

Proloader is built with high quality v
components, time-tested fully internal
pneumatic disk handling and modular
construction for easy service and
replacement. It is fully automatic leaving
you and your staff free to attend to
other duties.

Using Prolok software protection diskettes and
Proloker software from Vault, you can protect your

software as you duplicate

the disks. Most other

protection schemes are

compatible with

Proloader as well.

Proloader is the least expensive
and most efficient office size automatic diskloading
machine on the market. The complete Proloader
package consists of Proloader, the
Proloker Master Diskette, a supply
of Prolok or blank diskettes,
according to preference,
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9

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Price is in U.S. Currency, F.O.B. Factory. Made in U.S.A.
Proloader™, Prolok™, Filelok™andTelelok™are trademarks of Vault Corporation.

VLA-85U

Inquiry 414

CHAOS MANOR

rain in Los Angeles, but anything can
happen in February. Sure enough,
during one of Roberta's calls to check
up on the kids, I heard what I'd feared:
it was raining, the contractors hadn't
got the plastic covering put up in time,
and the office ceiling was dripping.
Fortunately, nothing was spoiled ex-
cept the newest versipn of Cygnus's
Star Fleet I, and I have backup copies.

Alas, that wasn't the entire story.
The disk had been thoroughly wetted.
The boys driec^ it out. When it was dry,
not knowing where the backup copy
was, they put it into the IBM PC. The
result was a real disaster: media came
off the disk, and no amount of clean-
ing would restore the disk drive. We've
had to replace it. It may be repairable,
but I have my doubts.

The moral of the story is clear: if the
disk is ruined, it's ruined, laying to
salvage a $2 disk can be pretty expen-
sive. Don't. For that matter, it doesn't

hurt to look at disks once in a while;
if they look like they have crud on
them, you want to think hard about
using them.

Color and Cables and
luggability

We're becoming increasingly fond of
the Zenith Z-160. It's as PCompatible
as the Z-l 50, has the same great key-
board, contains the same wonderful
ROM-based diagnostics as the Z-l 50,
has four totally empty slots, and, while
not portable, it's luggable. The disk
drives pop down, the keyboard snaps
into place, and there's a handle. You
won't quite get a sprained back from
carrying it; indeed, when we had our
big Space Conference at Larry Niven's
house, we discovered just how easily
moved the Z-160 could be. Everyone
liked it.

Do understand what we mean by
movable: it weighs about the same as

) 19S5 host Western liucti

World Wide Reservations
1-800-528-1234

Make reservations at any Best Western,
see your travel agent, or call

1-800-528-1234.

"World's largest chain of independently owned and
operated hotels, motor inns, and resorts"

a PC, but it does fold up, has no sharp
corners, and has a handle. A nice big
handle. There are also some funky lit-
tle compartments into which you stuff
keyboard and power cables. They're
covered with little sliding doors.
Rachel Klau, one of the Zenith soft-
ware gurus, claims they're for
toast. . .

The amber screen is a bit small for
me, but it's 9 inches, as big as any por-
table, and it will do. I managed to
write 10 pages or so with it and play
Universe for days. Universe requires
a color system for your IBM, and I
don't have color in Lucy Van Pelt, our
fussbudget genuine IBM PC. The
Z-160 doesn't care. Colors are shown
as shades on the amber screen.

There are also composite and RGB
(red-green-blue) color outputs on the
back of the Z-l 60. When we first tried
to hook up the color, it didn't work,
even though we were using Zenith
monitors. I couldn't figure that one
out. I should have: we also have an
STB color board for the PC and we
couldn't get that to work with the
Zenith monitor. I didn't figure it out,
though, and asked Zenith's technical
gurus for help. They didn't quite laugh
at me.

As it happens, it's no wonder we
couldn't get the monitors to work: we
were trying to hook up the Z-160 (and
the IBM PC) with a Z-l 00 monitor
cable. The Z-l 00 and PCompatible
cables have exactly the same connec-
tors, but the Z-l 00 uses different pin-
outs from the Z-l 50 and Z-160. This
is presumably because the Z-100 was
designed before the IBM PC came
out, and the Z-l 50 and Z-l 60 were in-
tended to be as PCompatible as pos-
sible. I can't think Zenith enjoys having
to stock two identical-appearing video
cables. Anyway, if you use the wrong
cable, you get video, but the vertical
won't lock and the horizontal is in the
wrong place. Alex thinks you could
probably reset the Z-100 pin-outs— the
Zenith technical documents set new
standards for what we mean by
complete— but I'd think that more work
than it's worth. The cables appear
identical, but they do have different

[continued)

414 BYTE • JUNE 1985

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Inquiry 337

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 415

CHAOS MANOR

names marked on the connector
ends. Do beware of the fact that to
Zenith a Z-100 is not a "Z-100 series
PC"

The only complaint I have about the
Z-160 is that the disks pop up out of
the top at an angle that makes it very
difficult to figure out where to put an
external monitor. I'm having the car-

penters make a gizmo that's open in
front to give access to the disk drives
and sits above them so that the Zenith
ZM-135 color monitor is level when
put above the machine. I suspect that
anyone who gets a Z-160 will need
something like that, and it's a pity that
Zenith doesn't furnish a neat plastic
thing made for the purpose.

PICTURE THIS.

j_j.

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But Datacopy's new graphic scanners
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The Eye of the Computer 1

Other than that, the Z-160 is a com-
pact and luggable version of the
Z-l 50. If you're in the market for a PC
or PCompatible, I recommend either
of these Zenith machines in prefer-
ence to the genuine IBM PC.

FONTS

Unless this is the first time you've en-
countered this column, you have to
know that I love the Hewlett-Packard
LaserJet printer. Last month it got
even better: HP sent me four different
font cartridges. You plug the cartridge
in, send the printer a hideously com-
plex sequence of codes preceded by
the escape character, and voila! With
proper controls you can make the
LaserJet print on legal-size paper,
print sideways— that is, across the long
dimension of the paper— do italics and
boldface, change from Gothic to
Helvetic typeface, etc.

There is a catch. You have to figure
out the HP documentation for the
fonts. I couldn't. When the HP people
called me to discuss the new fonts, I
read them their own documents and
asked what they meant. The result
was interesting: an engineer who
already knew how to do everything
got confused when I read him the in-
structions. He had to forget what I'd
read him before he could recall how
you really do it.

They claim they're going to rewrite
the instruction sheets that come with
the fonts. I hope so. I've also sug-
gested that they come up with a new
font cartridge that contains a com-
plete font set: normal uppercase and
lowercase, boldface, italic, small
capitals, a symbol set, and the other
stuff that you find in a standard case
of type. The LaserJet isn't really up to
book standards. It is, however, more
than good enough for newsletters,
manuals, manuscripts, and correspon-
dence; it looks better than anything
the Diablo or NEC Spinwriter ever
produced.

Tony Pietsch has borrowed my new
type fonts; within a week or so he'll
bring them back, along with a new
version of WRITE (my favorite text
editor) that makes use of them. I'll

[continued)

416 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 131

V

four
Career
Is Our

Business- >
Catch Our

Magazine

»rab the brass ring through
McGraw-Hill's COMPUTER CAREEi

cGraw-Hill's COMPUTER CAREERS magazine will be published in
lay 1985. This McGraw-Hill publication, focusing on career
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dge areas such as computer graphics, communications and robotics,
3 well as mainstream design and application of computer technology.

ou are only eligible to receive a free subscription if you
raduated between 1978-1985 with a:

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Engineering major with computer related curriculum,
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d receive this free subscription to COMPUTER CAREERS, fill in l..
f the attached postcards which will trigger an application form ton ou
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IrnravA/.Hill'c POMPI ITPR PARFFRC MrPravA/.Hill Pnhliratinnc *H|.

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IcGraw-Hill's COMPUTER CAREERS, McGraw-Hill Publications
ompany, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020,

A

<\

nTTi

OMPUTER CAREERS editorial content will focus on interests and concerns of
i e computer science/engineering specialist. Articles will sift through the maze of
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M

iquiry 1 99

Computer

CHAOS MANOR

then be able to send in book manu-
scripts that greatly resemble the final
printed work.

Resolved. . .

The new Apple printer has 300 dots/
inch resolution. That means 90,000
dots per square inch. Multiply that by
the 8/2 x II inches of a standard
sheet of paper, and you'll see why
Apple needed so much memory in its
new printer. The HP LaserJet is char-
acter-oriented. It needs more memory
if it's going to do graphics. I'm sure
HP will do something about that.

Real typesetters consider 300 dots/
inch to be far too little; but give the
micro world a couple more years and
nearly anyone will be able to typeset
a book.

Macrotech and Gifford

In my review of the Macrotech 80286/
Z80 board for S-100 systems, I said

that the CompuPro people have been
concerned about using the "B-step"
revision of Intel's 80286 chip for multi-
user systems because the B-step has
known bugs. On the other hand,
Macrotech's engineers believe they
have compensated for the chip's
problems. Certainly I never had a
problem while using the Macrotech
board in my otherwise all-CompuPro
system with CompuPro single-user
software.

The Macrotech board was designed
to drop into an existing CompuPro
8/16 system, replacing the processor
but leaving the CompuPro Disk Con-
troller, Hard Disk, System Support
Board, memory boards, and commu-
nications equipment intact; and the
Macrotech system ran on 8/16 soft-
ware as obtained from CompuPro.
When CompuPro (well, Viasyn; I'll get
used to using the new name one day)
began changing over to Concurrent

DOS and the SPUZ concept (see
below), they made significant changes
in their software. Their latest stuff
won't work with the Macrotech board.
I'm a CompuPro test site, and what
with all the construction here I didn't
have room to set up two S-100 sys-
tems, so in order to test the new Com-
puPro software I switched back from
the Macrotech board to my older
CompuPro 8085/8088 processor. I
wasn't too happy with the change; the
Macrotech was significantly faster.

I've now heard from the people at
Gifford Engineering. They have multi-
user software for the Macrotech
board, and they say they have never
had any problems with what they're
shipping; they don't hesitate to rec-
ommend the Macrotech system to
customers. Gifford has done a lot of
work with CompuPro equipment and
software and has a deservedly high

[continued]

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418 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 99

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Inquiry 1 04

CHAOS MANOR

reputation for delivering quality
systems. They will continue to provide
software support for the Macrotech
board.

I'm no great fan of multiuser sys-
tems. I continue to believe that "one
user, at least one processor" is the
motto to follow. The multiuser system
I use is the CompuPro C-10, better
known here as Shirley Each user has
a Z80 board and a block of memory,
with yet another processor to network
them together and do traffic manage-
ment for access to common files and
common equipment like the hard disk
and printer. However, in my opposi-
tion to timesharing I may be bucking
a trend: the IBM PC AT is supposed
to offer multiuser capabilities (al-
though the last I heard there have
been some problems), and Gifford
reports good success with multiple
users on the Macrotech 80286/Z80
board.

Anyway, I want to make it clear that
I liked the Macrotech board a lot; I
never had any problems with their
final version; and I haven't heard from
anyone who did have problems. I've
still got mine, and when things settle
down here I intend to set up two
S-100 8/16 systems— one based on the
Macrotech, the other on Viasyn's
latest 80286 plus Z80H SPUZ-and
flog the daylights out of them.

The SPUZ Is Here

While 1 was down at the Mini/Micro
show my new 80286 and Z80H
boards arrived from Viasyn. Alas, 1
have to go to the Stride Faire tomor-
row morning, and this has to get out
tonight; Tony came over for an hour
to set things up. It didn't take him
more than about 5 minutes; Viasyn's
documentation and installation in-
structions are steadily improving,
partly in response to my carping.

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Anyway. I was able to use the new
system for spelling checking and
sending this to New Hampshire on
BYTEnet, but I haven't had time to do
more extensive testing. On the other
hand, Tony has been running his Com-
puPro 80286 and Z80 for nearly three
months, so no one anticipates any
problems— but we'll see. I often find
glitches no one else does, which is
one reason that Viasyn uses me as a
test site.

Unlike the Macrotech 80286/Z80
board, the new CompuPro 816/286
system uses two different boards. The
8-MHz Z80H board is a SPUZ, which
is CompuPro shorthand for Slave Pro-
cessor Unit Z80. (There will be other
SPU boards, such as an 80186.) The
80286 processor boasts the newest
"C-step" revision 80286 chip from
Intel. Together, they make up a super-
fast system with true concurrent oper-
ations: the Z80 SPUZ can be doing
one job while the 80286 is doing
another.

In fact, you don't need the 80286
board to run the Z80 as a SPUZ.
Before we installed the new 80286
processor, we dropped the SPUZ into
my existing 8085/8088 system and in-
stalled the new Switch! (that's gener-
ally pronounced "switch-bang!") soft-
ware that comes with the SPUZ, after
which all my 8-bit software (such as
WRITE) ran on the newer and faster
Z80H. The 8085 aboard the 8085/
8088 Dual Processor board is
awakened on power-up, then im-
mediately told to go to sleep; after
that, the SPUZ handles all 8-bit opera-
tions. So long as you stick to 8-bit
stuff, the system is just as fast with a
Dual Processor and SPUZ as it is with
the 80286 processor; meaning that
you can upgrade a Dual Processor in
stages, if you don't want to pop for
everything at once.

The 80286 runs 16-bit operations,
like directory sorts, and PIP, and as-
semblies, and disk accesses, at sur-
prisingly noticeable higher speeds. I
haven't tested the CompuPro 80286
against the Macrotech. They're both
fast.

The SPUZ without the 80286

[continued]

420 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 247

What every Apple 11+ and He

user shoula ask before

buying the "Sider" 10 MB hard disk:

When a company offers a superior qual-
ity 10 megabyte Winchester hard disk
for only $695, it's bound to raise a few
eyebrows ... and a lot of questions. The
fact is, you're probably already wonder-
ing "Can I really get a 10 megabyte hard
disk that's reliable for only $695?" The
answer is: ABSOLUTELY. . .when you
choose the Sider from First Class
Peripherals.

What's so great about the Sider?

For starters, the Sider lets you boot your
Apple 11+ or He directly off the hard
disk— unlike some other Winchester
subsystems. Rebooting is also trouble-
free. And the disk is partitionable,
allowing you to allocate space to four
operating systems on the same disk.
The Sider supports: Apple DOS 33; Pro
DOS™; Apple Pascal; andCP/M®

What's more, a small "footprint"
lets you incorporate the compact Sider into
your existing computer set-up with ease.

In addition, with the Sider, you not
only pay far less for the subsystem, you also
save money on installation. Because, unlike
other 10 MB systems that require the
purchase of expensive "extras," the Sider
is plug and play. Everything you need is
provided, including cables, host adaptor,
installation software and manual.

What makes it so reliable?

To start, the Sider is manufactured, and
sold exclusively, by First Class Peripherals,
an innovative computer company which is
backed by Xebec. The computer industry's
leading manufacturer of disk controllers,
Xebec has over a decade of experience
serving customers like IBM, Toshiba, Texas
Instruments and Hewlett Packard. It's this
kind of expertise that helps assure the
Sider's performance.

Special design features further en-
hance reliability. The Sider's controller is
the field-proven, industry standard Xebec
S1410A. And Xebec's 3200 drive tester, the

Apple and Pro DOS are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research, Inc.

"Onfym?"

toughest in the industry, ensures that the
Sider will operate reliably One more assur-
ance of the $695 Sider's quality: it's UL
Approved and FCC Class B rated.

But why is it only $695?

You pay less for the Sider than for other 10
MB hard disks simply because you're pay-
ing for the superior quality components
inside the unit, not for a lot of retail over-
head costs. Since First Class Peripherals
sells direct, you avoid dealer and dis-

tribution expenses, and pay only for
the product.

What about a guarantee?

Like many experienced Apple users, you
may be reluctant to buy a hard disk
priced at only $695 without first seeing
for yourself how it performs. That's why
First Class Peripherals offers you a re-
assuring, money-back guarantee that
eliminates any risk on your part. Simply
order the Sider and use it for 15 days.
Then, if you're not entirely satisfied,
return it and receive a full refund— no
questions asked.

The Sider also comes with a full
one-year limited warranty. Plus, there's
a convenient, toll-free hotline you can
call anytime you have a technical or
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Don't delay.
Order the Sider now.

To receive the Sider 10 megabyte Win-
chester hard disk subsystem for only $695,
simply order using the coupon below. For
faster service, order by phone and charge
to your VISA, MasterCard or American
Express. (You can also call us if you have
any questions or technical concerns about
the Sider. We'll see you get the help you
need.) Call toll-free:

1 800 538-1307

Extension 205

□ Yes,

Name

j) please send me the Sider, including half-height 10 megabyte Winchester hard disk drive,
Apple adaptor hoard, cable, complete installation software and documentation.

I prefer to pay as follows:

□ I 've enclosed my check or money order for
$695* + $15 shipping and handling, payable
to First Class Peripherals.

□ Please bill the following credit card account
for $695* + $15 shipping and handling:

□ VISA □ MasterCard □ American Express

Address

City

State

Zip

Card*

Ex J). Date

Signature

* Residents of CA, NV and PA, please add appropriate sales tax.

Telephone (area code)

Mail to:

^^"F I R S T

^^B PERIPHERALS

^■CLASS

o579 Highway 50 East

Carson City, NV 89701

205

Inquiry 180

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 421

CHAOS MANOR

I saw little of

interest at this year's
Mini/Micro show.
All the exhibits
were in two large
rooms of the
Disneyland Hilton.

speeds up 8-bit operations something
wonderful. WRITE blazes along; in-
deed, the system drives the TeleVideo
950 (connected up at 19,200 bits/sec-
ond) almost as fast as Zeke II works
with memory-mapped video. I guess
it won't be long before I abandon my
ancient VDM (video-display module)
memory-map board. That will sever
my last link with Zeke I, my friend who
happened to be a Z80 computer. The
VDM board we use at present is not
the same one that we had in Zeke I,
but the character-generator chips in
the board are.

Waiting. . .

What we're waiting for is the first pro-
duction run of the CompuPro PC-
Video board. You drop that into an
S-100 system and connect up either
a color or a high-resolution mono-
chrome monitor (both are combined
on the PC-Video board), after which
your 80286/SPUZ, Dual Processor, or
8086 system can be made to think it's
an IBM PC AT Tony designed the PC-
Video board to work with any PCom-
patible keyboard, so I'll use the Wico
Smartline Smartboard. My system will
then run under Concurrent DOS:
meaning that I'll have available, on
one computer system, the whole
world of 8-bit CP/M software (such as
WRITE, The Word Plus, and Calendar/
1); all of my CP/M-86 16-bit software,
including all the 8-bit stuff I wrote in
CBASIC and recompiled with CBASIC-
86; and about 98 percent of the IBM
PC software, including SideKick, Lotus

1-2-3, Thinktenk, Flight Simulator, and
WordStar 2000. Moreover, I'll be able
to run 8-bit programs, such as WRITE,
simultaneously with 16-bit, such as
long compilations.

I'd hoped to get Concurrent DOS
running tonight, but it turns out that
the version I have is intended for use
with a Dual Processor. Due to my
bouts with flu and our construction
orgy it never got installed, and now
we've retired the 8085/8088 Dual Pro-
cessor board, hopefully forever. (Ac-
tually, of course, that board, along with
Jim Hudson's 8087 board, will go to an
educational nonprofit organization,
such as a school or the L5 Society.
That's what happens to all equipment
that doesn't get returned to the sup-
plier. We try not to let anything stay
idle for long.)

I'd hoped to change to Concurrent
DOS because I wanted to send this at
1200 baud. (I know, I know; the
modern convention is to say "bits/sec-
ond" rather than baud, and technical-
ly that's a bit more accurate; but I
learned the older terminology, and
"baud" is much simpler and shorter
to write. After all, we say "hertz"
rather than "cycles per second.") Alas,
this goes off at 300 baud. A story
goes with that.

I'm writing this column on Zeke II,
a plain vanilla Z80 system. When I get
done, I transfer the text (with a
1 -megabyte 8-inch floppy disk) to the
new 80286/SPUZ machine for spelling
checking. (I've got to find out that
machine's name; 80286/SPUZ is
clumsy.) After that, it gets transmitted
to New Hampshire via BYTEnet. What
I'd hoped to do was use Concurrent
DOS to output the text onto a 5 V* -inch
disk in IBM PC-DOS format. I could
then take that disk over to the Zenith
Z-160, which has our OmniTel Encore
1200-baud modem, and squirt the
files off at 1200 baud. Alas, the only
modem I had for the Dual Processor
(and thus the only one I have for his
successor, the 80286/SPUZ) is an an-
cient PMMI (Potomac Micro Magic
Inc.) 300-baud system; it works fine,
but I never knew how slow it was until
I started fooling around with the
Omni'fel Encore at 1200. Now, though,

I'm anxiously awaiting Concurrent
DOS, because even with all that
monkey motion it would be worth the
extra effort to communicate at 1200.
Of course, I could break down and
get another modem. Tony tells me he
no longer recommends an internal
modem for S-100 systems. Fortunate-
ly, the people at OmniTel have sent
me their Hayes-compatible external
300/1200 modem. That will run MITE
just fine.

How Fallen Are the Mighty

The Mini/Micro show used to be com-
bined with WESCON. I remember it
as large and exciting. I first saw the
Zenith Z-100 at a Mini/Micro. The DEC
Rainbow was introduced at another
Mini/Micro. I first saw Modula-2 in ac-
tion, and got Modula-2 and a Sage II
to run it on, at a Mini/Micro show.

This year there was nothing. At the
last Mini/Micro in Anaheim, WESCON
filled the Anaheim Convention Center,
and Mini/Micro completely filled two
floors of exhibit space at the Disney-
land Hilton. This year, all of the
Mini/Micro exhibits were contained in
two large rooms of the Disneyland
Hilton. One of those rooms was the
ballroom in which we held the ice-
cream social, Meet the Pro's, at last
year's World Science Fiction Conven-
tion; and indeed, the World Con had
considerably higher attendance than
Mini/Micro.

I saw little of interest at Mini/Micro.
There were about 20 booths exhibit-
ing VME and Multibus stuff, which
may or may not be a portent of the
future. I saw for the first time a
Motorola 68000 computer intended
as a development system for 68000
software; it has some of the finest
high-resolution color graphics I've
ever seen. Otherwise, nothing new,
and little to grab my attention.

Price Gouging?

One thing I was looking for at Mini/
Micro was an expansion box for our
IBM PC. Lucy Van Pelt is full and we
have lots of new boards for her, in-
cluding two Hercules boards (see
below), modem boards, hard disk (we

[continued]

422 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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IUNE 1985 • BYTE 423

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CHAOS MANOR

A lot of software,
including many
spreadsheet programs,
has special code

to make use of the
graphics capabilities
of the Hercules board.

still have the bubble-memory hard-
disk emulator), and such like. There
was only one manufacturer of PC ex-
pansion boxes at Mini/Micro (or at
least I saw only one, and I was look-
ing). They want about $850 for a 6-slot
box with power supply. This seems
unreasonable.

After all, I can get a CompuPro
2l-slot S-100 box with the splendid
CompuPro boat-anchor power supply
(that power is so well regulated that
we've actually had the power cord un-
plugged by the kitten and got it
plugged back in in time to avoid any
glitches; I don't recommend you do
that, but it did happen to us)— I can
get that system for considerably less
than $8 50. What is there about the PC
bus and power supply that makes it
worth so much?

Anyway, I'm still looking for an ex-
pansion box. One day I suppose I'll
gulp hard and pay the money, but I
sure hate to.

Hercules Board

One thing I want to install in the PC
is the Hercules color board. The other
day, quite out of the blue, there ar-
rived two Hercules boards: the color
board and the high-resolution graph-
ics monochrome board. The mono-
chrome board installs in place of the
IBM high-resolution monochrome
board, so we put that one in almost
instantly. For some software the PC
doesn't know the difference, and
neither will you: text and such like are
crisp and steady, but then they were

with the IBM board, too.

However, a lot of software, including
many spreadsheet programs, has spe-
cial code to make use of the graphics
capabilities of the Hercules board.
The result is a dramatic improvement.

The Orchid r fechnology PCturbo 186
board we're so fond of can also take
advantage of the Hercules board.
Alas, I've mislaid my PCturbo 1 86
manual. It isn't lost; I'm sure it has
been packed in one of the innumer-
able boxes that fill the office exten-
sion. After all, I've mislaid almost
everything else I own . . .

More on the Hercules boards next
month; so far I like them.

A MacWarning

This comes from the ARPANET Mac-
Enthusiasts.

The Macintosh Reset button (also
called the "Programmer's button")
does not reset memory, nor does it
cause the system to reboot. If used to
bail out of certain kinds of system
crashes, it can cause the Macintosh to
trash disks.

The safest thing to do is to turn the
machine off and make it reboot. Don't
use the Programmer's button unless
you really know what you're doing.
Because it doesn't cause the system
to reboot, it can, of course, save time;
but the cost can be high. I was taught
always to open the disk-drive doors
before doing anything as radical as
turning the machine off, or even reset-
ting it, but of course you can't do that
with the Macintosh, since there's no
simple mechanical way to make it
eject disks: either you must plead with
the Macintosh to get it to give your
disks back or use a hairpin on the
drive mechanism. As long as the disk
is in the Macintosh it can be written
on, and the Mac writes on disks a lot.
The present Finder is pretty dumb
and doesn't check the disk directory
before writing on the disk; the Reset
operation can get the Finder pretty
thoroughly confused. It's safer all
around simply to turn the machine
off, count five, and turn it back on
again. | Editor's note: A hardware engineer
at Apple reports that the Reset button does

[continued)

424 B YTE • JUNE 1985

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426 BYTE • JUNE I985

CHAOS MANOR

in fact connect to the 68000's RESET pin
and will cause the system to reboot]

Launch a Thousand Slips. . .

I reported in March on Mike Lehman's
Fast Finder, which substitutes for the
regular Finder program in the Macin-
tosh operating system. We still like it,
and anyone who writes programs for
the Mac would be well advised to get
it. It is, however, pretty well a hacker's
tool. There are very few built-in safe-
guards.

It also uses Macintosh hacker ter-
minology, in particular, there's the
term launch.

So far as 1 know, launch is a term
peculiar to the Macintosh and
perhaps the Lisa. The Macintosh
operating system allows you to access
programs that aren't really programs;
that is, if you "double-click" a text file
created with MacWrite, the Finder is
smart enough to know that what you

really want is to load (launch) Mac-
Write and have MacWrite read in the
text file so you can edit it.

Lehman's Fast Finder program gives
you another alternative. Fast Finder
will ask you if you want to launch your
text file. The first time I was asked that,
I thought, "Well, of course I want to,"
and said yes; whereupon Fast Finder
dutifully tried to run the text file as if
it were a command file. The result
wasn't pretty, and I could recover only
by turning the machine off. It turns
out that launch is a MacTechnical term
meaning "run independent of any-
thing else." To launch a file means to
treat it as a command file. If it isn't
one— if it's a MacPaint file or a docu-
ment file— the result is unlikely to be
what you wanted.

Fast Finder is a really convenient
program, but it does give you the op-
portunity to really screw things up.
Fortunately, there's always a way out:

Fast Finder is

pretty well a

hacker's tool

one option under Fast Finder is to
launch the old Finder program.

Sick Jokes

Another bit of information I got from
the ARPANET: be careful what you
put into your machine. There is out
there making the rounds of the
remote bulletin boards a program
called VDIR.COM. It's a little hard to
tell what the program is supposed to
do.

What it actually does is trash your
system. It writes garbage onto any
disk it can find, including hard disks,

{continued)

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 427

CHAOS MANOR

and flashes up various messages tell-
ing you what it's doing. It's a time
bomb: once run, you can't be sure
what will happen next because it
doesn't always do anything immedi-
ately At a later time, though, it can
crash your system. Does this remind
you of some of the imbecilic copy-
protection schemes threatened by
companies such as Vault and Defen-
disk? Anyway, you'd do well to avoid
VDIR.COM. I expect there are a cou-
ple of harmless— perhaps even use-
ful—public-domain programs floating

about with the name VDIR; and. of
course, anyone warped enough to
launch this kind of trap once can do
it again. Be careful about untested
"free" software.

EEEEEK!

One more tip, which comes from, alas,
practical experience: when you load
a telephone number into a modem
disk file, double-check the number. I
gave Alex the local ARPANET access
number to record for the 1200-baud
modem and inadvertently transposed

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two numbers. Alex dutifully put it into
the system. Then we tested it. Each
time we'd see the number come up,
hear it ring, be answered, hear our
own carrier— then no communica-
tions. Nothing.

Eventually I listened on an exten-
sion. To my horror I heard an ex-
asperated lady answer the telephone.
Naturally all she would hear would be
the high-pitched whine of our carrier.
Since we'd "tested" the number five
times (at 0300. alas!), she was rapidly
losing patience. I can't blame her.
Since then I've checked all the
modem access number files three
times.

Valdocs 2.0

Just before going to Mini/Micro I had
a talk with Jim Bell of SemiDisk, the
people who make RAM-disk hardware
for S-100, IBM PC. and Epson com-
puters. Jim tells me he has been talk-
ing to Roger Amidon of Rising Star,
the outfit that is supposed to be sup-
plying the Valdocs operating system
for the Epson QX-10 computer line.
Amidon says that Rising Star is work-
ing on SemiDisk drivers for Valdocs
1.19, which is, I guess, the currently
supplied version of Valdocs. (The last
one I have is 1.18, and I suspect that
I don't really have 1.18. That, however,
is another story.)

Anyway, Rising Star promises that
you'll be able to use SemiDisk with
Valdocs 1.19 'within a week," which,
given the track record of Rising Star,
translates to Real Soon Now.

Rising Star also assures SemiDisk
that the drivers to make use of Semi-
Disk are already built into Valdocs 2 .0.
Alas, SemiDisk doesn't yet have a
copy of 2.0, nor, to the best of my
knowledge, does anyone else.

Interestingly enough, there was an
Epson America dealer at Mini/Micro;
he had large posters proclaiming the
virtues of Valdocs 2.0.

"When will it be done?" I asked.

"It's done now."

"You mean I can buy it?"

"Yes."

"Can I take a copy home with me?"

"No, we're quoting 60 to 90 days

[continued)

428 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Lifeboat

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Functions

C-Food Smorgasbord — a tasty selection of
utility functions for Lattice C programmers;
includes a binary coded decimal arithmetic
package, level I/O functions, a Terminal In-
dependence Package, and more.
Float-87 — supports the 8087 math chip to
boost the speed of floating-point calculations.
The Greenleaf Functions — a comprehensive
library of over 200 routines.
The Greenleaf Comm Library — an easy-to-

use asynchronous communications library.
C Power Packs — sets of functions useful for a
wide variety of applications.
BASIC C — This library is a simple bridge
from IBM BASIC to C.

Database Record
Managers

Phact — a database record manager library of C
language functions, used in the creation and
manipulation of large and small databases.
Btrieve — a sophisticated file management sys-
tem designed for developing applications under
PC-DOS. Data can be instantly retrieved by key
value.

FABS — a Fast Access Btree Structure function
library designed for rapid, keyed access to
data files using multipath structures.
Autosort — a fast sort/merge utility.
Lattice dB-C ISAM — a library of C functions
that enables you to create and access dBase
format database files.

Cross-Compilers

For programmers active in both j nicro and mini
environments we provide advanced cross-
compilers which product Intel 8086 object
modules. All were developed to be as functional
— and reliable — as the native compilers. They
are available for the following systems:
VAX/VMS, VAX/UNIX, 68K/UNIX-S,
68K/UNIX-L
Also, we have available:
Z80 Cross-Compiler for MS- and PC-DOS —
produces Z80 object modules in the Microsoft
relocatable format.

New Products

Run/C — finally, a C interpreter for all levels of
C Programmers.

C Sprite — a symbolic debugger with break-
point capability.

Inquiry 249

Call LIFEBOAT: 1-800-847-7078. In NY, 1-212-860-0300

r,

YES! Please rush me the latest FREE Lifeboat™ catalog of C products.
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Terms: PREPAID - FREE FREIGHT!!

QUALITY PRINTERS
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Phone: 517-592-3749

Inquiry 345

/^7

WESOME

TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Poor Man's Top View"
"MULTIPLE CHOICE" Provides:

A) Screen switching under DOS

B) Up to 8 programs in memory

C) Efficient memory use - run 123
with WordStar in 256K

D) Data transfer screen snapshot
v/E) All of the above available NOW

Multiple Choice is only S64 and runs on IBM

PC/XT/AT/clones

For Information, Call (408) 646-1384

AWESOME TECHNOLOGY, INC.

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Order Toll Free (VISA/MC)

Outside CA (800) 548-2255 Ext 803

Inside CA (800) 624-2644 Ext 803

TopView is a trademark of IBM Corporation

CHAOS MANOR

Inquiry 44

delivery time."

"Wait," says I. "You mean I can order
it now, but it will be 60 to 90 days
before you'll deliver it to me?"

"Yes."

In other words, Valdocs 2.0 will be
available Real Soon Now. I sure
wouldn't hold my breath. If they ever
get things set up to use Semi Disk with
Valdocs in any form whatever, I advise
all Valdocs users to take advantage of
the opportunity. Valdocs with a RAM
disk would be both simple to learn
and conveniently fast; I'm amazed
that Rising Star hasn't done some-
thing about the situation already.

Eagle Flies?

They didn't have an exhibit, but I did
meet Gary Kappenman, CEO of the
newly reorganized Eagle Computer, at
Mini/Micro. Eagle went through some
hard times. As a result, they offered
reviewers the opportunity to buy their
review machines at good discounts. I
bought both of mine, the Eagle 1600
(a very fast 8086 machine) and the
Spirit XL, an IBM PC XT work-alike
that's about 99 percent PCompatible.

Alex promptly borrowed the Spirit
XL. The Spirit runs PC-DOS 2 .0, which
allows tree-structured disk directories.
Working late at night Alex managed
to erase an entire disk directory. He
makes backup copies, of course, but
he'd made the last backup just before
his most productive hour of the week.
When he realized he'd erased every-
thing, he left the machine running and
locked up the room so no one would
touch it. The next morning he called
Eagle and explained his problem.

"Norton Utilities," the Eagle people
said. "Go buy them."

He went out and got Norton Utilities
3.0; the program took care of his
problem. Alex says the Norton Utili-
ties are self-prompting, very easy to
use, and let him completely recover
from his blunder.

We're still fond of the Eagle Spirit
XL. I am told I will get Eagle's newest
machine, the TUrbo, within a week or
so. I'm looking forward to it; I've heard
good things about the machine.

Eagle always did have excellent
hardware. The problem was that their

software was never complete and
their documentation was wretched.
Gary Kappenman tells me they had
too many bright people; before they
would get one development com-
pletely finished, the hackers would
rush off to invent yet another marvel.

"As technology improvement that
was a great way to go," Kappenman
says. "As a way to generate market-
able products it wasn't such hot
procedure."

According to Kappenman, Eagle has
stacks and stacks of excellent new
technology on the shelf; they've cut
way back on personnel and expenses;
and they intend to concentrate on
bringing their on-shelf technology to
market, one finished product at a time.

I always did like their hardware and
their protechnology attitude. I wish
them well.

Winding Down

It's 0200, and I have to catch a plane
to Reno at 1000. The guest of honor
at the Stride Faire this year is Niklaus
Wirth, and I confess I'm greatly look-
ing forward to meeting him. Stride
Micro also promises a remarkable
new human/computer interface sys-
tem based on cursor control through
eye and head movement. It sounded
like a good idea when they told me
about it last year; and people I
respect at Stride Micro are en-
thusiastic, so that's something else 1
want to see.

After Reno I go to Dallas to see
some late developments at TI. My
Chrysler LeBaron convertible talks to
me through a TI Speech Synthesizer
chip; I confess that one thing I'd like
to get from TI is a way to program my
car so that it will say outrageous
things at the touch of a hidden but-
ton. Things like "Beep Beep Beep;
Your passenger is stupid," or "Beep
Beep Beep; Passenger should prepare
for extreme lateral acceleration," or
even "Beep Beep Beep; Ejection seat
is armed." I'd also like to have a way
to connect the voice to the security
system so that it might say "Warning;
Lethal gas now being released into
driving compartment." 1 don't sup-

[continued]

People who can't wait for the
future have Microware
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Right now, many of the biggest names in the
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Operating systems and programming languages
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on almost any size system — from inexpensive
personal computers all the way up to large
multiuser systems.

Microware also has outstanding versions of the
most popular programming languages. For
example, Microware's extended, structured Basic
is friendlier than an interpreter, yet it runs as
fast as a compiler. And it's so smart that it
actually reports bugs as programs are typed in.
Or consider Microware's full-feature C Compiler.
It can recompile almost any Unix application
program to be much smaller and faster than
the Unix equivalent. You can also choose
Fortran and Pascal compilers of equal calibre.

68000 and 6809 microprocessor families.
Microware works in close cooperation with the
people who actually design the systems and
silicon in order to achieve maximum integration
and performance. That's why Microware
software has already made a big impact within
the scientific, engineering, and industrial
communities.

Affordable, powerful personal computers with
Microware software are available now at most
Tandy/Radio Shack retail locations, and through
Fujitsu and Hitachi in Japan. Plus over a
hundred innovative manufacturers worldwide
offer a veritable banquet of professional
systems and software for VME, Multibus, STD,
and most other popular standard bus
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can even get a reasonably priced Microware
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68000 system.

Some things change, others can't. Will Unix
ever become affordable and understandable
enough for you? How long can MS-DOS keep
up with new technology? You can wait and
find out, or you can step into the future today.
Contact us today and we'll send you complete
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MICROWARE®

If

Software like this doesn't happen by accident.
Microware software is specifically designed to
unleash the full potential of the extraordinary

Inquiry 292

MICROWARE SYSTEMS CORPORATION

1866 N.W. 114th Street • Des Moines, Iowa 50322

Phone 515-224-1929 • Telex 910-520-2535

MICROWARE JAPAN, LTD.

41-19 Honcho 4-Chome, Funabashi City • Chiba 273,

Japan • Phone 0474-22-1747 • Telex 298-3472

OS-9 is a trademark of Microware and Motorola. Unix is a trademark of Befl
Laboratories. VAX is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation. Multibus
is a trademark of Intel Corporation,

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 431

Inquiry 448

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMER'S BULLETIN:

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BRIEF'S power and flexibility provide
dramatic increases in programming
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human interface becomes a natural extension
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WINDOWS

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BRIEF

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Exit to DOS inside
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Become Familiar in One Evening

Thorough tutorials are designed to help learn the PROLOG language quickly. The in-
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begin to feel comfortable with it. In a few days you are likely to know enough to
modify some of the more sophisticated sample programs.

Sample Programs are Included like:

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■ a NATURAL LANGUAGE INTERFACE

(it generates a dBASEII "DISPLAY" command)

■ a GAME (it takes less than 1 page of PROLOG-86)

PROTOTYPE Ideas and Applications QUICKLY

1 or 2 pages of PROLOG is often equivalent to 10 or 15 pages in "C" or PASCAL. It is a
different way of thinking.

Describe the FACTS and RULES without concern forwhat the computer will have to
do. Maybe you will rewrite in another programming language when you are done.
Programming Experience is not required but a logical mind is. PROLOG-86 supports
the de facto STANDARD — in "Programming in Prolog" by Clocksin & Mellish.

AVAILABILITY: PROLOG-86 runs on MSDOS, PCDOS or CPM-86
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^solution
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617-659-1571

CHAOS MANOR

pose I'll really be able to do that, but
I can dream.

The game of the month is U niverse
by Omnitrend. I've put far too much
time into it, despite the fact that the
game is completely menu-driven,
which makes it very easy to learn and
very hard to use; I long to write a long
command string, then go have coffee
while the machine executes each
command in turn. The fact that I'm
still playing despite the tedious menu
command system should say volumes
about the game's complexity and in-
herent interest factor.

The book of the month is by
Michael Crichton (author of The
Andromeda Strain), Electronic life (Ballan-
tine, 1984, $3.95). Dr. Crichton has
managed to pack a great deal of use-
ful information, philosophy, and com-
mon sense into 2 50+ pages. Recom-
mended for almost anyone; even ex-
perienced hackers will find parts in-
teresting and can then keep the book
around to lend to beginners.

Next month I should have Concur-
rent DOS and the PC-Video board.
Tony ought to have the software to
make use of all the new type fonts for
the LaserJet. I also have a Hewlett-
Packard 150 computer, which hasn't
even been uncrated; alas, I do not
think my upstairs suite will be
finished, so I may not have a place to
set it up. There's a strong possibility
that I'll have the new HP portable as
well; I'm looking for a good portable
to carry about on trips. I'll also have
more on the Hercules boards.

Seneca once said of relocating that
'two removes are equal to one fire."
I find that rebuilding requires shifting
things about like Chinese checkers, so
that we get the equivalent of three
removes. 1 make no doubt it will all be
wonderful when it's finished. It's a
great life if you don't weaken. ■

jerry Pournelle welcomes readers comments
and opinions. Send a self-addressed, stamped
envelope to ]erry Pournelle, do BYTE Publica-
tions, POB 372, Hancock, NH 03449.
Please put your address on the letter as well
as on the envelope. Due to the high volume
of letters, \erry cannot guarantee a personal
reply.

432 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 449

i

Kl

An estimated $3 billion plus annually.

What's more, there's practically no risk.
Computer data thieves rarely get caught. And
when they do, inadequate laws and the fear
of publicity keep most victims from taking
legal action.

Don't assume that just because you're not
involved in anything top-secret, nobody's
interested in your data files.

Computer thieves know that someone's
always willing to pay a handsome price to
get confidential corporate and professional
information. Or pay to get it back.

AND THEY KNOW JUST WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

ACCOUNTING RECORDS
PRODUCT DESIGN DATA
RESEARCH DATA
MARKETING PLANS
CUSTOMER LISTS
PRIVILEGED CLIENT DATA
BANK FILES
CREDIT INFORMATION

Clearly, it's you vs. them. And the time to
do something about it is now.

The Federal Government has spelled out
the solution in no uncertain terms. It's
called the Data Encryption Standard. And it's
the basis for the DES 2000™ computer
security system.

MAXIMUM PROTECTION WITH THE DES 2000

The DES 2000 protects your data files by
encrypting transmitted and/or stored infor-
mation—rendering it totally unintelligible
without the proper access code.

DES 2000

DATA ENCRYPTION SYSTEM

The code— one of 72-quadrillion possible
16-digit key combinations— is required atall
times to command the DES 2000 to decipher
the encrypted data.

So whether there's an intrusion from the
outside via modem or phone line tap.. .or from
the inside through a terminal or by outright
disk theft. ..no key, no information.

You can't buy better protection than that.

ALSO THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION

Equally important, the DES 2000 for the
first time makes this level of security truly
cost-effective. Priced under $500, it offers the
same protection, the same reliability as
systems now in use by banking institutions
and costing upwards of $15,000.

Considering how well computer crime
pays off these days, the DES 2000 is the
most effective way to make sure your
company's data doesn't become someone
else's profit.

For more information on computer crime
and the DES 2000 Data Encryption System-
call (818)991-8200 or Toll Free outside
California 1 -(800) 641-0814.

rem mmPRACTICAL
^PERIPHERALS

31245 La Baya Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362 • (818) 991-8200 • TWX 910-336-5431

Inquiry 333

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 433

•5

£

o<^>'

#

9

COMPUTERS

NEC

PC-8201 Computer $315

PG8401A $ave

8201 & 8401 Accessories .

Save

SanyO MBC-775 Portable $aue

MBC-5 55 Series.

MBG885 Save

Wyse

Wyse pc Dual , $ave

Wyse pc lOMeg $ave

Zenith

Z-150 Single Drive Save 25%

Z-150 Dual Drive Sane 25%

Z-150 W/10 Megabyte Save 25%

Z-160 Single Drive Save 25%

Z-160 Dual Drive Save 25%

DISK DRIVES

Alpha Omega Turbo 10 5689

Turbo 20 $1019

Turbo 30 $1379

Haba HobodiskforMoclntosh $329

Iomega Bernoulli Box for IBM

lOMegabyte . $1799

20 Megabyte $2499

20 Megabyte Plus $2660

5 Megabyte for Moclntosh $1459

Rana Elite i. $179

Elite II $339

Elite III .$405

Elite lOH/Apple $1080

Controller (W/Drive Only) $69

1000 W/DOS for Atari,. $175

TallgrassTG-3020 $2289

TG-3135 $3689

TG-4060 $1469

Controller $ 11 9

BOARDS

AST Six Pock Plus $259

Hercules color cord $145

Graphic Cord $295

Paradise ModularGraphic 06-1 $259

FivePak $159

Quad ram Quadboard ex ok $219

E-Rom80. $89

Quodlink $329

Tec Mar

Graphics Master $449

126K Dynamic Memory $225

256K Dynamic Memory . $299

Captain 128K $299

Captain 256K $399

SILICON
SP€CIAITI€S

. Save

PRINTERS

Anadex

9625B $1089

WP6000 $2039

DP6500 $2179

Brother

HR-15XL $345

HR-25 $649

HR-35 $875

Canon

LBP-8A1 Call

C-ltoh

A-10-30 $469

F-10 Parallel or Serial $869

55 CPS Serial or Parallel $1035

8510Parallel(Prowriler) $295

8510SP $385

8510 SCP $465

8510 BPI $315

Citizen

MSP-10 $329

MSP-15 $509

MSP- 20 $469

MSP-25 . $639

Com rex

CR-2E $364

CR-4 $awe

420 $ave

DaisyLaser

PR101

Data south

DS180 $1089

DS220 $1315

DS-PP#1 $449

DS-PP82 $635

Diablo

D-25 $609

630API $1484

630 ECS $1669

630 ECS/IBM $1 669

Other Printer Models $ave

EpSOn All PrinterModels $ave

Inforunner

Ritemon w/Troctor $244

Ritemon 15 $499

Riteman Blue w/Troctor . . $299

Juki

5500 $ave

6000 $199

6100 $ave

6300 $ave

NEC

2010, 2015, 2030, 2050 $629

3510, 3515, 3530, 3550 . $1009

8810,8815,8830,8850 $1349

P2, P3 Save

Okidata All Printer Models $awo

Panasonic

1091 $265

1092 $349

1093 $519

KXP3151 . $459

Siemens

PT/88 InkJet $ave

PT/89 InkJet $aue

Star MicrOnicS All Printer Models $ave

Silver Reed

EXP400 Parallel $235

EXP500 Parallel or Serial S379

EXP550 Parallel or Serial $399

EXP770 Parallel or Serial $699

Toshiba P1340 Parallel or Serial $549

P351 Parallel or Serial $ 1 1 65

DISKETTES

Maxell md-1 (Qt y ioo) $149

MD-2 (Qty 100) $ 1 89

Nashua

S/SD/D(Qty 100) $125

D/S D/D (Qty 100) $135

KEYBOARDS

Keytronicssisi $179

5151 Jr. $179

MONITORS

Amdek AllMonitors Save

Princeton Graphic hx 12 $479

Sanyo crt36 $149

Taxan

121 Green $125

122 Amber $134

420RGB $399

425 RGB/Green $410

440 $549

Zenith

ZVM-122 Amber $95

ZVM-123 Green $89

ZVM-124 $ 1 29

ZVM-130 $awe

ZVM-133 Color/RGB $410

ZVM-135 Color/RGB W/Audio . . ... $459

ZVM136

PLOTTERS

Enter Sweet P600 $780^

Epson Hi 80 $awe j

VIDEO TERMINALS

Altos

Smart II $769

Qume

QVT 102Green $449

QVT 102 Amber ... $469

Wyse 50 $awe

75 $565

Wyse 85 Save

Zenith z-22 $469

Z-29 $599

Z-49 Save

MODEMS

Anchor Automation

Anchor Express $ave

Mark XII $239

HayeS Smortmodem 300 Baud $ 1 89

Smorlmodem 1200 Baud $379

Smortmodem 1200B(IBM) $359

Smortmodem 2400 Baud $ave

Micromodem HE (Apple) $219

Novation Smart Cat Plus $315

PrometheUS All Models $awe

Racal-Vadic All Models Save

US Robotics Password 1200 $209

A.

Inquiry 369 for MS DOS Products. Inquiry 370 for all others.

/■■■ k ^^S^^^ AMERICAN]

Prices reflect 396 to 5% cosh discount. Product shipped in factory cartons with manufacturer's warranty. Please odd $9.00 per order for UPS ground shipping. Orders 10 lbs. and
under you pay for ground service, receive air service ot no extra charge. Available on orders 11-20 lbs. $15 for air service. Orders 21-30 lbs. $20 for air service. Prices&
ovoilobility subject to change without notice. Send cashier's check or money order. . .oil other checks will delay shipping two weeks.

*r t ?&

# r

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

German Queries

Dear jerry,

As I sit here blinking at the screen of my
computer, the screen is blinking right
back. There was a time when I had no
such problem, but then I had a voltage-
regulating gizmo. It was about the size of
a husky paperback novel and had two
sockets. It set me back some, but it was
worth it, I guess. When Uncle Sam sent me
to Germany, I left the voltage regulator in
the States— the juice here, after all, is
220 V: 1 figured I would get one in a local
computer store.

But that has not been easy. Do you know
anyone back there who sells a small,
lightweight one for 220 V?

Another question. My thinking machine
is an Actrix with CP/M. It cost me a for-
tune, but 1 am a linguist, and a computer
is the ideal thing for translations and for
memorizing vocabulary. Unfortunately, all
the languages I speak use diacritical
marks, and Russian uses an entirely dif-
ferent alphabet. The questions: Is there a
word-processing program available in Rus-
sian? German? Italian? Is there a program
I can hook into (with BASIC or Pascal) that
will display foreign characters on the
monitor?

Thanks.

Peter A. Kiss

18th Ml Bn

APO NY 09108

Alas, this sounds like a job for Super
Garcia!

As to part two, 1 can't help, but perhaps
one of the readers can— Jerry

Lead Time

Dear Jerry,

I must agree with Mr. Penner (Chaos
Manor Mail, September 1984) that the six-
month lead time for your wonderful col-
umn is outrageous. In your response to
his letter, you itemized the ordeal a BYTE
article undergoes. It seems to me that the
editors of a magazine like BYTE could
devise a more high-tech method for han-
dling the column.

First, you could submit the column elec-
tronically over the phone. The technical
editor and copy editor could edit the copy

on their terminals and transmit it back to
you for corrections and approval. Once
finalized, it could be proofread and type-
set by computer. Meanwhile, the layout
people can reserve a fixed space for the
column in each issue and paste it in as
soon as it is typeset. The entire process
above could be done in a week, it seems.
I am by far no expert in publishing, but
what I suggest seems completely possi-
ble. I believe BYTE could halve the lead
time by making fuller use of the tech-
nology they describe so well each month.
What say you?

Claus Buchholz
New York, NY

P.S. I hope to find out what the lead time
is for a letter to Chaos Manor Mail.

We are reducing the time. We can't use
telephones, because the phone lines to
New Hampshire are, uh, interesting even
in good weather; but we can send disks
Federal Express.

A week is too short a cycle time; but
we are getting it down to about six weeks,
which is pretty good for a magazine this
size!

As to the letter cycle times, that
depends on the phase of the moon . . .
— Jerry

Editor's note: We hope to have an integrated elec-
tronic-publishing system installed before the end of
1985. The money is budgeted. The only question
is how soon the vendor can deliver what we need.
—Phil Lemmons

Chinese Matters

Dear Jerry.

I am writing to you concerning a small
inaccuracy on page 3 50 of your column
in February. It concerns your incorrect
dating for Confucius. You said, "The / Ching
or Book of Changes has been around a long
time; Confucius thought it was old at the
time of Christ. It is supposed to have been
composed about the time of the Irojan
War." While I found the syntax of your
sentence about Confucius and Christ a lit-
tle perplexing, I assume you mean that
Confucius lived around or after the time
of Christ. This is not true. While dates for

Confucius are not accurate, he is gener-
ally thought (by sinologists) to have lived
from 551 to 479 B.C. Dates for the / Ching
are also not very accurate, but sinologists
generally accept that the book dates from
at least 1123 B.C-the beginning of the
Chou dynasty (the book's other name is
the Chou f).

It was a book of divination. Confucius
is supposed to have done some editing
work on the book, writing the 10 wings,
or appendixes, to it, but his authorship has
been disputed by Chinese scholars since
the Sung dynasty (960-1123, 1125-1279
A.D.), especially in the works of Ou-yang
Hsiu. Most Chinese classics were
destroyed in a massive book-burning and
censorship campaign carried out by the
first Ch'in emperor, Ch'in shih-huang-ti, in
2 1 3 B.C. The / Ching was one of the few
books to have survived intact, and its line
of transmission from the pre-Ch'in era has
been documented in at least one source.

I know that the above is probably more
than you need or want to know, but my
scholarly training and perhaps a bit of lec-
turitis compels me to run off at the key-
board.

Thank you for your kind attention. 1 thor-
oughly enjoy your columns and opinions;
it is one of the reasons I get BYTE.

Ronald Gans
New York, NY

I'm no sinologist, but the En-
cyclopaedia Britannica gives the same
dates for Confucius as you do. Perhaps
1 meant old before the time of Christ?
The Trojan War is traditionally supposed
to have happened about 1150 B.C., so
that part was right.

1 gather there is considerable dispute
regarding the proper use of the I Ching;
divination can mean "prediction,'' but it
can also mean "determine the godly
thing to do," which is the way many peo-
ple use the book. Thank you for the
details on the I Ching's history.— Jerry

Copy-Protection Solution

Dear jerry,

For some time you and your readers
have been frustrated by software copy

[continued)

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 435

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

protection. I gather numerous software
producers believe they will lose their in-
vestment without it. Some time ago you
said you did not know a solution. I think
I might have one. As a user, you should
continue to have access to the program
once you have bought it, unless you will-
fully destroy or lose your disk. How can
we accomplish this and still protect the
software producer?

My suggestion is simplicity itself. The
terms of the sale should include duplicate
disks of the software, each protected if the
producer wishes. It should also include a
guarantee by the producer to replicate the
protected program on either of these disks
if their magnetic program becomes un-
workable. In this way, both interests should
remain protected.

There are. of course, operational details.
The program would be replaced on an
identifiable disk originally supplied by the
software producer. The postage (if
needed) might be borne by the buyer, the
cost of duplication by the producer or his
agent. It seems gratuitous to fix the max-
imum number of duplicates unless this
proves necessary. It should surely be 10
or more to that unlucky user.

I get the impression that a similar pro-
cedure is already followed by some com-
panies, which update their software either
free or for some fixed fee. Obviously,
replacement would not automatically en-
title one to an update, but then some
users might be tempted to update at the
time of duplication if the price is right.
There should be no obligation to do so.
Francis Marburg
Falls Church, VA

Your plan certainly seems viable. My
colleague John Dvorak argues that any
kind of copy protection is economically
counterproductive: most software can't
take off unless it is adopted by a lot of
old-time users, and the old-timeis already
have software that they're reasonably
happy with. They won't buy expensive
new packages unless they're really good.
However, if they try a free copy of some-
thing new and like it enough, they will not
only buy that but influence a lot ofotheis
to do likewise.

I think 1 agree with him.—]eny

Technical-Support Solution

Dear lerry,

Your December 1984 column discussed
the support problem. I have a suggestion
that may solve the problem, and I have
my own story to relate.

A year ago I decided to buy a computer.
My dad and I have shared a TRS-80 Model
I since 1978, and I had pretty much out-
grown it. I had to get a new machine in
a hurry— my parents were moving—
because I wanted to transfer all my source
files by an RS-232C interface, and I did not
want to type all the files in again.

I chose an Advanced Digital Super 6
single-board computer. It is S-100-based.
has all the I/O I need for now, and sup-
ports CP/M 3.0. Priority One's price for the
computer was steep, about $1000. I
figured that before I sent away for a com-
puter that I knew little about, I should at
least send away for the manual. (The ads
looked great, but I wondered what kind
of nightmare I would find when I actually
fired the thing up.) I visited a local dealer
who gave a price of $1 100. My first reac-
tion was, "That's okay because if I need
any help in bringing it up they could at
least help and make sure the board
worked." I asked about the high price,
compared to Priority One, and they said
they might cut it to $1000. However, the
bottom line on support was that I could
get it only if I spent $3500 on a complete
system from them! The complete system
was a 12-slot mainframe and supply, two
8-inch drives, and the processor card. This
I could not handle.

I ended up buying the board from
American Square Computers for $555 and
CP/M 3.0 for $3 50. My total outlay for the
processor, software, an 8-inch drive, a
mainframe, and a Qume terminal was less
than $2400.

All 1 wanted was that the dealer sell me
CP/M and the board and make sure it
would boot on a Shugart 801. I could get
no answer from the manager as to what
the cost of this onetime support would be.
I was willing to pay $100 for it, figuring
that's a cheap way to find out if all the
hardware is going to work.

I had to sweat a few details. The manual
on the disk drive did not match the drive
that Priority One sent— all the jumpers
were different when they made a printed-
circuit-board change for a semicustom
VLSI chip. The drive would not fit in the
mainframe without a slight amount of
metalworking in the cabinet. The Super 6
manual had a few errors, too.

The fact is. I got it all going in plenty of
time, and I am very happy with the
machine. The only software that I pur-
chased at the time was lUrbo Pascal, on
your recommendation, and I am truly
impressed.

What should the computer stores do?
The one I went to lost a sale because they

could not handle the case of the knowl-
edgeable customer who did not want to
blindly buy their package. I was not will-
ing to spend an additional $1000 for a sys-
tem integration, which they had done hun-
dreds of times before.

The computer store should determine
what kinds of support they can provide,
to whom they will provide it, and what it
will cost. Then tell their prospective
customers. The companies that do the
mail-order business should state the same
in their ads. The computer-buying public
will likely follow the lead if they know that
a discount house will have limited service
and that a full-service computer dealer will
service only its legitimate customers.

Clyde R. Shappee
Walpole, MA

Priority One would have sent you the
proper manual if you'd asked; at least
they tell me they would, and 1 believe
them.

You do know what you're doing.

Best.— Jerry

Newmedia

Dear lerry,

Why did you describe the Newmedia
program in the February issue ("Small
Disks!," page 3 52) and then list it as "not
available" in the "Items Discussed" box?
I have a Cromemco Z80 system with no
software support and need a program like
that.

Bill Pinkerton
Palm Bay FL

When 1 put together the information
for the "Items Discussed" box 1 try to in-
clude prices and telephone numbers, but
1 don't always have them. In those cases
our intrepid and hardworking BYTE
editors have a go. They're usually suc-
cessful. Sometimes, though, they simply
can't find anyone who'll answer the ques-
tion, or a company won't have a firm
price at press time; in which case you'll
find "not available" in the slot where
you'd hope to see the price.

In the case of Newmedia, alas, the pro-
gram is available only as part of the Com-
puPro 8/16 software-support package. 1
doubt that it would run on your Cro-
memco. My first computer was a Cro-
memco Z-2, so 1 have considerable sym-
pathy for you, but 1 fear there's little we
can do: Newmedia was written especially
to run on a CompuPro 8/16 using a Com-
puPro Disk Controller.

Wish 1 could be more help.— Jerry ■

436 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Back,

by popular

demand.

Just a few years ago, illegal hunting
and encroaching civilization had all but
destroyed the alligator population in the
south. They were added to the official
list of endangered species in the United
States.

Mow alligators have made a
comeback.

M

Conservationists
intent on preserving this
legendary reptile helped the
alligator get back on its feet.
Once again some southern
swamps and marshes are
teeming with alligators.

With wise
conservation policies,
other endangered
species have also made
comebacks . . . the
cougar, gray whale,
Pacific walrus, wood
duck, to name a few.

\f you want to help
save our endangered
species, join the National
Wildlife Federation,
Department 106, 1412
^MJ!fe ! 6th Street, MW,
^Pggrit Washington, DC

SUPPORT

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Inquiry 453

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Inquiry 299

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 437

We \wrkinThe Macintosh" Office

Control Room

This office is real. You can order it now*

It is brought to you by Odesta Helix.

The data-based system solution for people who take care of business.

What is Odesta Helix™?

Helix is a data-based information man-
agement & decision support system. It
provides a data-based "pool" into which
you may put aJJ kinds of information
—text, numbers, pictures, or ASCII data-
communications (via MacTerminal™)
—without having to know a programming
language or battle with command codes,
modes, or imposed structure.

A System Solution -Once & For All.

Once information is entered, it is then
just as easy to examine from any angle,
and use in any application. From reports,
lists, and mail merge letters to analyses
and interactive searches. All within Helix.
And all without having to learn a query
language, spread-sheet formulae, report
formatting or data-base algebra.

Bridging the Gap & Closing the Circle.

If you manage resources or informa-
tion, you are probably already asking the
next question:

"Since Helix lets us build applications
on top of a flexible data-based foundation,
can we share that inf ormation within our
business or department?"

Yes. Now you can have direct access
to the real operational pulse of your
organization— its contracts, orders, ship-
ments, research or inventory. Information
that you can easily query and evaluate
with visual tools so innovative that they
should be seen rather than described. That
let you schedule projects and allocate
resources based on historical data— and
then re- formulate tactics and plans as
conditions change.

And that let you close the circle by
embedding your own flags in the system
to give direction to others, and to manage
by exception rather than rule.

Control Room

| Odesta Corp.
3186 DooNttle Dr., Northbrook, IL 60062

| D Please send me your Control Room Brochure,
j D Please have a Salesperson call.

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%

March II, 1985

, M

(Avt.r.ljn)
Chang* (5)

.Study found signifies

conceptual demand! of wotk function :

Curverale with redesigned interface. F

One of the acclaimed innovations of Helix
is the may you can visually manipulate
powerful concepts and calculations almost
as easily a,s you can say them A manager
truiy now build or sfxxify applications using
his orhcroum expertise — instead of having
to learn programming or rely on a
fwogrammtf.

Since numbers, words, and pictures
communicate more meaning when seen in
context, Helix lets you work with them in
any combination. Illustrated price lists,
fjcrsonnel documentation, training
materials, com fwti tire analysis research...

j Phonf _

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Visit a dealer who can demo Helix and The Macintosh™
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coupon to get a free copy of our "Control Room" brochure,
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♦ Available at any Businessland™ Center or Moore Business
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<f) l l >SS Odcsui Corp. Odesta Helix is ;i trademark of Oclcslu Corporation. Ilic Apple logo.
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Room With a View

Ask someone about Helix who is using
it, and you will understand why it has
been a best selling business program since
it began shipping January II, 1985. Then
combine its dynamic flexibility and personal
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Interior Design

As a manager, you practice the art of
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your aim depends on knowing where you
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unresponsive, inflexible, or limited to
provide you with the hour to hour, day by
day answers you require. And since these
two types of systems are so different, and
serve such different sets of needs, we
suggest that parallel installations will
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Knobs & Buttons

D Odesta Helix drives the LaserWriter
with many Macintoshes at once, producing
publication-ready reports, documents with
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irresistible mail-merge letters. With the
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uses shared mass storage and supports
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data entry completely independent of
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data-communication for remote Helix file
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Load to other programs and machines.
Helix supports the Macintosh XL (and
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GOESSJ9

Inquiry 310

BYTE U.K.

Telephone Computers

A look

at the One

telecomputer

by Dick Pountain

Of the areas in which nontechnical
people use personal computers,
telecommunications has the most
potential for expansion and improvement.
Per Desk In the industrialized countries at least more
people own telephones than computers.

For the person with a computer at home,
teleshopping, telebanking, and remote
database access seem more productive
than filing the stamp collection or storing
recipes.

Telecommunications can be advanta-
geous for businesspeople in the same way.
So much of the business day is spent on
the phone that much time can be saved by
simplifying the processes of establishing
contact and transferring information.

The quality of telecommunications facili-
ties on general-purpose microcomputers
still falls somewhere between highly tech-
nical and positively hair-raising. Even with
an auto-dial modem, you are exposed to
more of the nasty details of the RS-232C in-
terface than is necessary or wise. Mindful
of these facts, a number of manufacturers
have recently turned their attention to pro-
ducing dedicated "telephone computers-
personal computers with built-in telephone
hardware, tightly integrated telecommunica-
tions software, and general-purpose desk-
top computer facilities.

TWo such machines have just been intro-
duced in the U.S. by Rolm Corporation. One
of the machines is a peripheral for the
IBM Personal Computer (PC). Perhaps a
harbinger of the growing importance of this
technology, IBM has bought the company
outright.

International Computers Ltd. (ICL), the
U.K.'s largest national mainframe computer
company, has just produced an interesting
and innovative telecomputer called the One
Per Desk (OPD). The name is suggestive of
ICLs marketing strategy, namely, to get one
of these machines onto every executive's
desk in the large corporations that ICL cur-
rently services.

ICL, like many mainframe companies,

Dick Pountain is a technical author

and software consultant living in

London. England. He can be

contacted do BYTE. POB 372,

Hancock. NH 03449.

came fairly late into the personal computer
arena and then made its entrance by
"badge engineering" products from estab-
lished U.K. personal computer firms using
industry-standard software. (Badge engi-
neering means buying a product and re-
labeling it with your own "badge" for
resale.) The first ICL offerings were 8-bit
multiuser systems running MP/M; more
recently, 8088- and 8086-based IBM com-
patibles have been added.

The OPD, however, represents quite a new
departure. It was largely designed in-house
by ICL, though it uses the processor board,
microdrives, and custom gate arrays from
the Sinclair QL, which is based around the
Motorola 68008 8-/3 2-bit central pro-
cessor. ICL has written its own truly multi-
tasking operating system for the OPD that
permits telecommunication to take place
while running business-application pro-
grams. Such an investment of corporate
energy suggests that the OPD is closer to
what ICL thinks businesspeople need on
their desks than a conventional personal
computer; the purchase of Rolm by IBM
suggests that at least one other large com-
puter corporation may agree.

The OPD differs, however, from the Rolm
offerings in an important way. It's cheap by
business computer standards (starting price
£1200, approximately $1450 atthe current
exchange rate), and it works on ordinary
phone lines, not special PBX (private branch
exchange) systems. In other words, it comes
close to what you need for a domestic tele-
computer.

Functions

The OPD is capable of acting as a sophisti-
cated automatic telephone and as quite a
powerful desktop computer and calculator.
It also contains a battery-backed clock and
calendar.

In its role as a telephone, it allows direct
dialing of calls, storage and retrieval of
telephone numbers for automatic dialing,

[continued)

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 439

BYTE U.K.

monitoring of the cost of phone calls,
and a limited form of automatic
answering. It also contains a twin-
standard modem (300 bits per second
|bps] and the 1200/75 bps used for
Viewdata systems in the U.K.) that can
access remote computers using all the
above automatic facilities.

When making ordinary phone calls,
you can switch on an internal loud-
speaker to monitor the progress of
your call, but there is no internal
microphone. Therefore, upon connec-
tion, you must revert to the telephone
handset. The OPD remembers the last
10 numbers dialed and allows single-
key redialing by selecting one of them
from the screen.

A built-in voice synthesizer acts as
a simple answering machine. You can
choose two different messages for ap-
propriate times of day (e.g., hours
spent in and out of the office), but the
OPD can't record messages from
callers.

When using the OPD as a terminal
for data communications, you can
create a directory of frequently used
services and have them automatically
dialed, complete with appropriate log-
on procedures. In addition, the OPD
can auto-answer a data call.

ICL is also developing an optional

message system, a ROM (read-only
memory)-based application that
allows electronic mail to be sent be-
tween OPDs with full auto-answer
capability. It wasn't ready at the time
of this test.

Since an OPD can control two
phone lines (plugging straight into the
wall sockets), you can make a voice
call simultaneously with a data trans-
mission. In general, you can always
make or receive a voice phone call,
regardless of whatever else you are
doing on the OPD, and then when you
hang up, return to where you left off.

The Hardware

The OPD bears no external resem-
blance whatever to the Sinclair QL. It's
packaged as two units: a console unit
containing the keyboard, telephone
receiver, central processor, and two
microdrives; and a VDU (visual-
display unit), which contains the
power supply as well as a 9-inch high-
definition black-and-white monitor
(see photo 1).

The VDU is small and neat, only
slightly larger than that of the Apple
He. It has only two controls, a slider
to adjust the contrast and the main
power switch. The black-and-white-
monitor tube is of very high definition

Photo 1: The One Per Desk from International Computers Ltd.

and has two display modes: 26 lines
by 80 characters and 26 lines by 40
characters. It can display a gray scale,
with two shades of gray in 80-column
mode and six shades in 40-column
mode, which lets you create nice
screen designs.

The OPD can support internally all
the colors and font sizes of the
Sinclair QL, and ICL does offer an op-
tional color monitor; however, it is
much larger than the black-and-white
unit, and the company feels that most
business users will prefer the lower
cost and smaller size of the latter.

The bottom two lines of the screen
are dedicated to the notice-board, a
status area where various messages—
as well as date and time— are dis-
played. And when you dial a phone
number— either manually or automat-
ically—the digits of the number ap-
pear in this area as they are dialed.

The console unit has a removable
sloping cover over the microdrives,
which you must remove to install the
dry-cell backup battery The rear of
the case contains huge slots to
receive the ROM mounting module
and the telephony module, which are
supplied separately. The advantage of
this arrangement is that you can sub-
stitute a new telephony module when
the OPD is sold in different national
markets; it contains the modem as
well as the connectors for two tele-
phone lines.

The keyboard has typewriter-style
keys of normal pitch and feel and is
quite suitable for word processing.
The separate numeric keypad differs
in function from that on an ordinary
computer; rather than being a mere
supplement to the top-row numeric
keys, it is a telephone-dialing pad.
Special keys surrounding the pad per-
form functions like last-number-redial
and select-the-internal-loudspeaker.

The telephone handset sits to the
left of the main keyboard in a cradle
with a conventional receiver-rest
switch. Lifting the receiver interrupts
the computer and prompts you to dial
a number; the call is disconnected by
replacing the receiver or through
software.

[continued)

440 BYTE • IUNE 1985

At last — an expert system
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Now you can explore the world of expert systems,
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Expert systems — programs that can make logical infer-
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Here for the first time is a full, open expert system at a
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Among its many useful features . . .

• it provides a complete expert system with rule-
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• it contains complete source codes and descrip-
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• it allows you to include calls to Pascal proce-
dures within rules

• it lets you trace inferences, find out why any
given inference was made

• it letsyou find out how questions are asked and
how any given inference was made

An invaluable affordable aid to every professional who
must solve problems in situations where there are a lot of
possibilities, the MICRO EXPERT package includes a 64-
page guide with detailed instructions on everything from
starting the system to developing and writing rule bases.

M

Machine Specifications:

Apple II (all models) , 64K RAM, one or more disk

drives, printer optional

IBM PC, 128K RAM, one or more disk drives,

printer optional

Apple Macintosh, 128K RAM, one or more disk

drives, printer optional

MICRO EXPERT

by Beverly and William Thompson

MasterGard and Visa holders,

call 1-800-628-0004

(In New York call 212-512-2999)

Or use this handy coupon . . .

McGraw-Hill Book Company

P.O. Box 400, Hightstown, NJ 08520
YES, I want to order MICRO EXPERT, the unique new computer
program that provides a complete expert system at an easily
affordable price.

□ APPLE II (852110-6) $49.95

□ IBM PC (852109-2) $49.95

□ APPLE MACINTOSH (852139-4) $49.95
(availableAugust 1985)

D Mycheck(includinglocalsalestax) is enclosed

□ Charge my order to: D VISA D MasterCard

Card # .

. MCBank#.

Expiration Date _

Signature ,

Orders must include payment. Make checks payable to
McGraw-Hill Book Company. Disks are not returnable. Order
subject to acceptance by McGraw-Hill.

Name_
Firm_

Address .
City

(No P.O. box. please)

State

. Zip_

liiCiiiiiicla.iiViiilahlclrtMii McGraw-Hill Ryirrson. Ltd.. Ml) Progress Ave
Scarlxirough. Ontario M 11* 2Z5. Prices slightly higher outside the U.S.

23-D238-1000-3

Inquiry 269

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 441

,wic magazine-

our DCC purchase
please return^ ^ "s

IBM PC & XT See special above!!!

PC with 1 drive/64K , 1395

PC with 2 drives/256K 1650

XT with 10 mg HD/128K 3350

XT with 2 drives/10MG 3475

Call for details - Compatible brand
portables and desktops

[ NOW IN STO CK

( MONITORS ^

IBM MONOCHROME .

COLOR

AMDEK 30OG

300A

31 0A

COLOR 600 ..

COLOR 710 NEW

TAXAN 12" Green

12" Amber

420 RGB

PRINCETON HX-1 2

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12" A

124 MONO -IBM

135 RGB/COMP

POLO 16 COLOR RGB!! ..

..135
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( MODEMS )

HAYES 300 195

1200 459

1200B IBM INTERNAL 389

MICROMODEM II E 209

ANCHOR MARK XII 244

r PRINTERS )

"'"DOT MATRIX"*"

EPSON RX 80 100 cps 235

RX 80 FR 100 cps 279

RX 100 100 cps, 132 col ...399

FX 80 or JX 80 , best price

FX 100 160 cps, 132 col in

LQ 1500 200 cps NEW! magazine

OKIDATA 82A/83/84 Save

92P ....AH

93P , Models

2410 Drastically Reduced!!

GEMINI 10-X 239

15-X 349

DELTA 10 or 15 Special

RADIX 10 or 15 JCall

"'"DAISY WHEEL""'

PRIMAGE I 55 cps, SER/PARR 1395

w/Cut Sheet Feeder 1695

BROTHER DAISY WHEEL

HR-15XL 359

HR-25 599

HR-35 (36 cps) 799

JUKI 6100 . 389

JUKI 6300 724

DIABLO 620 829

36 1276

630 1689

DYNAX DX-15 359

NEC all models SCall

QUME all models SCall

C

DRIVES

D

IBM 360 KB

TANDON 100-2 360KB .
APPLE DRIVES Sate ....

..219
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TEAC '/; HI-360 KB

SHUGART Vi HI-360 KB

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( IBM SOFTWARE

)

"'"SPREADSHEET""'

FRAMEWORK Monthly Special

FRIDAY

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SUPERCALC 3

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MULTIPLAN

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'"IBM WORDPROCESSORS
WORDSTAR PRO PACK

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PFS WRrTE

84

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WORD W/MOUSE

269

VOLKSWRrTER DELUXE

PFS PROOF

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84

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dBASE II

. 284

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CONDOR III

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R-BASE 4000

R-BASE CLOUT

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279

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39

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PROKEY 3.0

79

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55

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47

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34

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ULTIMA III

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( IBM -BOARDS )

HERCULES GRAPHICS 305

HERCULES COLOR New! 165

AST SIX PAK W/64K 249

MEGAPLUS 259

STB GRAPHIX PLUS 309

EVEREX GRAPHIC EDGE 379

H.D. CONTROLLER 299

MAGIC CARD 199

QUADRAM QUADBOARD W/64K 269

QUADLINK 449

IBM MONOCHROME 249

COLOR GRAPHICS 219

PLANTRONICS COLOR PLUS 375

TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER 475

PARADISE COLOR 279

( IBM ACCESSORIES)

( APPLE -BOARDS )

ORANGE MICRO GRAPPLER + 113

BUFFERED w 64K 168

MICROMAX GRAPHMAX 99

VIEWMAX 80 139

VIEWMAX 80E W/64K 189

MAC DISKETTES 48

lie PRINTER INTERFACE 59

SUPER COOLING FAN 49

C

ACCESSORIES

3

64K RAM CHIPS 200ns ..
150ns ..
IBM KEYBOARDS ......

PRINTER RIBBONS all makes ...... Low!!!

64K RAM chips SALE 35

VERBATIM SS/DD diskettes 21

DS/DD diskettes 27

DYSAN SS/DD diskettes 26

DS/DD diskettes 34

DISK MINDER-PLEXI (75) 19

DISK MINDER W/KEY (100) 24

SURGE PROTECTOR Compugard 59

PTI POWER BACK-UP 200 w 275

300 w 355

FINGERPRINTS- EPSON all models.. 48

PRINTER DUST COVER all models 10

MONI-BASE Monitor Stands 19

COMPUTER PAPER all makes Low!!!

PRINTER STANDS Plexiglass 29/39

SURGE PROTECTORS $Call

KEYTRONICS 5151 NEW! 179

5150 159

MICRO-SOFT MOUSE 129

MOUSE SYSTEM-MOUSE 124

KOALA PAD 85

JOYSTICKS - KRAFT/HAYES 45

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ACCESSORIES low, low CALL!!

C-64 CARDCO +G 79

ATARI MP115G 94

APE FACE 69

GRAPPLER CD COMMODORE 99

AST $229

SIX PAK PLUS

W/64K
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$249

10 MG *v* $665
HARD DISK

'""SPECIAL""*

w/controlier card and cables!!!

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WORDSTAR

All new-easy to use
"Windows"
Footnotes
Spell Checker
Much, much
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$259

mouse systems'
w/PC PAINT

$124

MOUSE

$129

HP

>// $165

HERCULES

$309

<r#

442 BYTE • JUNE 1985

BYTE U.K.

If you should hear a modem whis-
tling at the other end of the line when
you pick up the receiver, the Auto but-
ton will switch that line over to data
auto-answer, while the Hold key holds
a voice or data call and switches you
to the other line.

The OPD is principally a ROM- and
RAM (random-access read/write
memory)-based computer, with the
tape-cartridge microdrives serving
only as backup devices. The machine
should be left connected permanently
to a main power supply and not
switched off at the end of the day. To
save wear and tear on the VDU, the
screen blanks itself when not used for
10 minutes and is restored either by
an incoming call or by pressing any
key. There's no power switch on the
console unit; the one on the VDU lets
you switch the monitor off (over week-
ends or holidays) but leaves the con-
sole energized.

The machine comes with 128K
bytes of RAM and an expansion box
at the rear of the console that accepts
ROM capsules containing the operat-
ing system and optional application
programs. Telephone numbers and
other data used in telephone com-
munication are stored in RAM most
of the time. Obviously, it's essential to
make a microdrive backup to guard
against power failure. (An internal bat-
tery ensures that the telephone part
of the OPD will function even in the
event of a power failure.) Some ap-
plications require more data than

RAM can hold (word processing, for
instance), and you can store less fre-
quently used telephone directories on
the microdrives to save RAM space.

ICLs idea is that the average user
does not want to be involved with
operating systems, files, and mass-
storage devices, and it's a sound idea.
Most of the time the OPD behaves like
a telephone that remembers things;
in other words, it behaves like a con-
sumer appliance rather than a com-
puter. When the microdrives must be
used, the filing system is of a fairly
rudimentary and obvious sort that
merely dumps a memory image to
tape, driven by menu selections.

Apart from considerations of opera-
tional simplicity, this RAM-based way
of working overcomes most of the ob-
jections to the Sinclair QL micro-
drives; namely, their relatively slow ac-
cess speed and questionable long-
term reliability. (ICL has made some
internal modifications that it claims
have improved reliability.) In normal
use you might only use the micro-
drives once or twice a day.

You can also connect a serial printer
to the OPD. Pressing the Print key
prints the current screen contents;
continuous print is available when you
are using the word processor or moni-
toring a remote computer session.

System Software

The ROM-based operating software of
the OPD is controlled by a combina-
tion of screen menus and dedicated

keys. Its design looks rather staid in
these days of overlapping windows
and icons, but it is nevertheless well
thought out and easy to use with few
exceptions.

The three fundamental control
keys— Start, Resume, and Review—are
situated on the main keyboard. Press-
ing Start brings up the top-level menu,
which is the starting point for all
activities.

The OPD operating system is fully
multitasking and distinguishes two
types of applications called transient or
extended, respectively. Itensient ap-
plications stop dead when you press
the Start key and can only be rerun
by selecting them again from a menu.

Extended applications, on the other
hand, will, if possible, go into the
background when you press Start and
continue running there. For example,
if you were connected to a remote
database and downloading data to
the OPD, this activity would continue
even if you pressed Start to do some-
thing else. Some extended applica-
tions (e.g., a word processor or
spreadsheet) require the use of the
keyboard and screen, however. These
are suspended rather than put into the
background and can be restarted
where they left off by pressing the
Resume key. If there are several sus-
pended applications, Resume pre-
sents a screen menu of them so you
can choose which one to restart.

The top-level menu provides access

(continued)

GRAPHS WITHOUT GRAPHICS?

Disk Drives 11.97.

^fo need for color monitor or graphics board.
Make graphs on dot matrix printers.

Computers 19. BY.

Software 15. 97.

BALES IN

Easy to Use. No Programming.

CP/M 2.2, 3, 80, or 86, MS-DOS or PC-DOS.

Excellent Manual. Most disk formats.

Modems 27.07.

Dataplotter

Line Graphs & Scatterplots. . . .$69 *

Bar Graphs & Pie Charts $69 ;

Both for $99 ;

(Prices include manual 7
_ tTW Add $'.] shipping.

L/GTk/* $8 outside US and Canada.

Software n M s if t of Prjnter

131 N. LeverettRd.

Leverett, MA 01054 (413) 773" 8687 Visa, M/C

THEORETICAL

MILLISECONDS

Inquiry 244

IUNE 1985 • BYTE 443

BYTE U.K.

to the telephone directory, BASIC, a
desk calculator, and submenus that
control voice and data automated-call
facilities, the microdrive utilities, and
ROM applications software.

The telephone directory is a built-
in database that acts as an electronic
phone book. In addition to the name,
phone numbers (both voice and data,
and extension numbers for PABX
Iprivate-area branch exchange]), and
a descriptive comment for each per-
son or firm, you may store a shortcode
and a telephone charge band. The short-
code is a three-letter abbreviation
used for ultraquick dialing, while the
charge band permits the OPD to cal-
culate the cost of calls made to this
number.

You can display the directory on the
screen as a list of single-line entries.
A keypress expands these to give
more information (e.g., the identifying
comment) or to retrieve a whole

record for amendment. You can dial
a number by selecting it from this list
in one of two ways, either by moving
a block cursor to the appropriate en-
try or by using a search command
that can match words or parts of
words anywhere in a record.

To dial numbers using a shortcode,
lift the receiver and type the code;
you don't have to access the directory
at all.

The telephone-control submenu
permits you to set up voice auto-
answer messages and to inspect the
total cost of calls made in all the dif-
ferent charge bands. You can set the
attributes call-timing and auto-answer
on or off for a particular telephone
line with this menu.

The voice synthesizer integrates
nicely into the system. Answer mes-
sages are named and stored in a
library. You can create a new one with
an editor that offers a screen display

of all the words available. (The words
will more than fill the screen, so it can
be scrolled.) You compose your mes-
sage from this vocabulary by typing
it on the input lines at the foot of the
screen. Once it's entered, a single
press of the key makes the OPD speak
the message so you can see how it
sounds and edit it immediately. The
vocabulary contains most of the
words you need to compose polite
business-type messages, plus all the
letters of the alphabet, the digits, the
numbers up to 59, the suffixes "ing"
and "s" (hard and soft), and "breath"
pauses. The speech quality is clear
and intelligible but somewhat expres-
sionless.

You may select a message from the
library and assign it to a telephone
line. By specifying a start and finish
time, it's possible to allocate two dif-
ferent messages for different times of

[continued)

RAM BOARDS, DISK DRIVES,
FILTERS and MONITORS

QUALITY PRODUCTS AT LOW PRICES . . .
1 YR. WARRANTIES, SHIPPED WITHIN 48 HOURS!

Short-Slot Ram Expansion (Memory) Boards for IBM-PC and
PC-Compatibles

64K (Expandable to 256K) $149.00

256K (Expandable to 1MEG). 245.00

RAM (1st Quality, Name Brand, Factory Direct, 150NS)

64K (9 PCS) 17.95

256K(9 PCS) 79.95

SVa" Disk Drives for IBM-PC and PC-Compatibles

TEC FB-503, 1 / 2 Height, 360K (DS/DD) 99.00

Line Filters (Filters Out Line Surges and Spikes)

Filter FS-1 (Single Outlet) 49.00

Filter FL-6 (6 Outlets) 69.00

Monitors

Panasonic Computer Display, Non-Glare 1 29.00

(Model TR-120M1PA, P-31 Green Phosphor)

Twix Victor JVC Computer Display, Non-Glare 139.00

(Model MIC-120EU1C. P-31 Green, Tilt and Swivel)

Twix Victor JVC Computer Display, Non-Glare 149.00

(Model MIC-120JU1C, Orange, Tilt and Swivel)

We accept American Express, Master Charge, Visa, Certified Checks, Money Orders, COD (w/deposit), and
Wire Transfers. All ordersshipped within 48 hrs., most next day. We ship UPS, Federal Express, and Emery.
Minimum shipping charge S3.50. All prices are subject to change w/o notice. Some items may be subject to
back-order. All returns must be authorized within 10 days of purchase (Please call for R/A No.) and are
subject to a 15% restocking charge. Texas residents please add 6% sales tax.

CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE (214) 341-4886
TOLL FREE ORDER LINE (800) 437-6677

SWiSTEC

SWISTEC COMPUTER

9555 Crestedge Drive • Dallas, TX 75238

444 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 437

a message to
our subscribers

From time to time we make the BYTE subscriber list
available to other companies who wish to send our
subscribers material about their products. We take great
care to screen these companies, choosing only those
who are reputable, and whose products, services, or
information we feel would be of interest to you. Direct
mail is an efficient medium for presenting the latest
personal computer goods and services to our
subscribers.

Many BYTE subscribers appreciate this controlled use
of our mailing list, and look forward to finding
information of interest to them in the mail. Used are
our subscribers' names and addresses only [no other
information we may have is ever given).

While we believe the distribution of this information
is of benefit to our subscribers, we firmly respect the
wishes of any subscriber who does not want to receive
such promotional literature. Should you wish to restrict
the use of your name, simply send your request to the
following address.

BYTE Publications Inc.

Attn: Circulation Department,

70 Main St., Peterborough, NH 03458

Inquiry 454

Subscription
Problems?

USMAlLj^

We want to help!

// you have a problem with your BYTE

subscription, write us with the details.

We'll do our best to set it right. But we

must have the name, address, and zip of

the subscription (new and old address, if

it's a change of address). If the problem

invoJves a payment, be sure to include

copies of the credit card statement, or

front and back of cancelled checks.

Include a 'business hours" phone number

if possible . We '11 respond A.S.A.P.

BYTE
Subscriber Service

P.O. Box 328
Hancock, NH 03458

Brainv Buff er.

Do you press "print" and wait?
And wait? And wait?

HanZon's 64K Universal Data
Buffer is the only self-configuring
intelligent device that gives you
uninterrupted use of your
personal computer.

With four standard interface
ports, now you can share output
devices with two micro systems.
Just plug them in and you're
ready to go. And it's expandable
up to 256K.

Call HanZon today for more
information and the name of your
nearest dealer: 206-487-1717.

"Computer Enhancement"
18732 U2nd Ave. N.E.
Woodinville.WA 98072

Suggested retail price: $385.

DV ■ L-back issues f

or saie

1976

1977

1978

1979

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1982

1983

1984

1985

Prices include postage in the US. Please add
$.50 per copy for Canada and Mexico; and $2.00
per copy to foreign countries [surface delivery).

□ Check enclosed

Payments from foreign countries must be made
in US funds payable at a US bank.

□ VISA □ MasterCard
Card #

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Feb.

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$3.70

$3.70

$4.25

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March

S2.75

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$4.25

$4.25

April

S2.75

$2.75

$3.25

$3.25

$3.70

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$4.25

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May

S2.00

$2.75

$2.75

$3.25

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$3.70

$4.25

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June

S2.00

S2.75

$2.75

$3.25

$3.70

$3.70

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July

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Fxp

Signature ;

Please allow 4 weeks for domestic delivery and
1 2 weeks for foreign delivery.

NAME

Aug.

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Sept.

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$4.2 5

Oct.

$2.75

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Nov.

$3.25

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Dec.

S2.75

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Special BYTE Guide to IBM PC's - S4.75

Circle and send requests with payments to: ADDRESS

BYTE Back Issues CITY

P.O. Box 328 STATE ZIP

Hancock, NH 03449

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 445

BYTE U.K.

day, e.g., hours you are in and out of
your office.

The computer-access submenu con-
tains another database similar to the
telephone directory, to hold phone
numbers of remote computer ser-
vices. An entry is much like a tele-
phone-directory entry except that it
contains a field for the profile, a

named file of communications param-
eters (parity, stop bits, etc.) and log-
on information. The system provides
two skeleton profiles, one for a
300-bps "glass Teletype" and one for
a Viewdata terminal to the U.K. Prestel
standard; other types will become
available later as ROM capsules. By
editing these skeletons, you can

FOX&GELLER

POWER TOOLS

QUICKREPORT

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powerful/ QUICKCODE-III

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IN NJ (201) 794-8883
VISA, MASTER CARD accepted

ier man aDrtoc

dBASE™ AshtonTate Quickreport and QuickCode™ of Fox & Geller

create and store profiles for specific
sources; you can apply a single pro-
file to more than one source.

Data captured from a remote source
can be stored in the page store, which
is yet another database holding
numbered, screen-size pages of data.
It can store up to 99 pages for later
inspection or printing.

Logging on to a remote source is
not quite fully automatic. The OPD
dials the number automatically, but
you must manually press a function
key to send the log-on sequence
stored in its profile once connection
is established— hardly an onerous
task.

The last option on the top-level
menu is Housekeeping, which covers
all the utilities, such as setting the date
and time, saving and loading memory
images to the microdrives, and view-
ing a directory of the RAM contents.
This latter option shows how many
512-byte blocks each memory file oc-
cupies and allows manual deletion of
files to free up space.

The OPD As a Computer

In the rare moments when you are not
using the OPD as a telephone, it can
serve as a desktop calculator and
computer.

You access the calculator from the
top-level menu; it has a full-screen dis-
play that emulates a printing desk cal-
culator whose printout shows the last
16 results, complete with memory
operations.

BASIC, also accessible from the top-
level menu, is Sinclair's SuperBASIC,
a superior but rather slow structured
dialect, which 1 examined in some
detail in my September 1984 BYTE
U.K. column (page 415).

Although the OPD derives some of
its components (especially the custom
gate arrays that handle analog control
of the microdrives) from the Sinclair
QL, it uses a completely different
operating system and therefore, in
general, it cannot run QL software. By
choosing to implement SuperBASIC
in full, ICL hopes to provide a high-
level language bridge to QL compati-
bility; BASIC programs written for the

[continued)

446 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 185

J

tomPUTER WAREHOUSE

™- 1 -800-528-1054

CALL TOLL

PRINTERS

Anadex

9625B $1089

WP6000 $2039

0P6500 $2179

Brother

HR-15XL , S345

HR-25 S599

HR-35 S809

Canon

LBP-8A1 Call

C-ltoh

A-10-30 S469

F-10 Parallel or Serial S869

55 CPS Serial or Parallel $1035

8510 Parallel (Prowriter) $295

8510 SP S385

8510SCP S465

8510 BPI S315

Citizen

MSP-10 S329

MSP-15 S509

MSP-20 S469

MSP-25 S639

Comrex

CR-2E $364

CR-4 Call

420 Call

DaisyLaser

PR101 Call

Datasouth

DS180 $1089

DS220 S1315

DS-PP*1 S449

DS-PP&2 S635

Diablo

D-25 S555

630API $1484

630 ECS $1669

630 ECS/IBM $1 669

Other Printer Models Call

EpSOn All Printer Models Call

Inforunner

Riteman w/Tractor $244

Riteman 15 $499

Riteman Blue w/Tractor $299

Juki

5500 Call

6000... S199

6100 , Call

6300 Call

NEC

2010.2015. 2030. 2050 S629

3510,3515. 3530,3550 $1 009

8810.8815.8830,8850 $1349

P2. P3 Call

Okidata All Printer Models Call

Panasonic

1091 S259

1092 S349

1093 S519

KXP3151 S459

Siemens

PT/88 InkJet Call

PT/89 InkJet Call

Star MJCrOniCSAII Printer Models. . Call

Silver Reed

EXP400 Parallel S235

EXP500 Parallel or Serial S279

EXP550 Parallel or Serial S399

EXP770 Parallel or Serial $699

TOShiba P1340 Parallel or Serial S549

P351 Parallel or Serial $ 1 1 65

MONITORS

Amdek All Monitors Call

Princeton Graphic Hx-12 S479

SanyocRT-36 S149

Taxan

121 Green S1 25

A22 Amber S134

420RGB S399

425 RGB/Green S410

440 S549

Zenith

ZVM-122 Amber S95

ZVM-123Green S89

ZVM-124 S129

ZVM-130 Call

ZVM-133 Color/RGB S41

ZVM-135 Color/RGB W/Audio S459

ZVM136 ; . . . S575

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1 ^ SOFTWARE ^ 1

W + IBM PC and 100% Compatibles ^*

Crosstalls 16 $95

DBase III Call

Enable $265

Framework Call

Multimate 3.3 $239

Smart System $449

Super Calc 3 (ver. 2) $1 59

Word Perfect 4.0 $209

Wordstar 2000 $239

Wordstar Professional. .$239

We do not guarantee computer compatability.

MODEMS

Anchor Automation

Anchor Express S274

Mark XII S239

HayeS Smartmodem 300 Baud SI 89

Smartmodem 1200 Baud S379

Smartmodem 1200B (IBM) S359

Smartmodem 2400 Baud S609

Micromodem HE (Apple) S219

Novation Smart Cat Plus S315

Prometheus aii Models can

Racal- VadiCAIl Models Call

US RobOtiCS Password 1200 S209

BOARDS

AST Six Pack Plus S259

HerCUleS Color Card S145

Graphic Card $295

Paradise Modular Graphic 06-1 S259

FivePak S159

QuadraniQuadboardEXOk S219

E-Ram 80 S89

Quadlink S329

Tec Mar

Graphics Master $449

126K Dynamic Memory $225

256K Dynamic Memory $299

Captain 128K S299

Captain 256K S399

COMPUTERS

NEC

PC-8201 Computer S315

PC-8401A Call

8201 &8401 Accessories Call

SanyO MBC-775 Portable S1 859

MBC-555Series Call

MBC-885 Call

Wyse

Wyse pc Dual Call

Wyse pc 10 Meg Call

Zenith

Z-150 Single Drive Save 25%

2-150 Dual Drive Save 25%

Z-150W/10 Megabyte Save 25%

Z-160 Single Drive Save 25%

Z-160 Dual Drive Save 25%

KEYBOARDS

Keytronicssisi S179

5151 Jr S179

VIDEO TERMINALS

AltOS Smart ll S769

Qume

QVT 102 Green $449

QVT 102 Amber S469

Wyse so S429

75 $565

Wyse85 Call

Zenith z 22 S469

Z-29 $599

Z-49 - . . . Call

DISKETTES

Maxell MD-1 (Qty 100) S149

MD-2 (Qty 100) S1 89

Nashua

S/S D/D (Qty 100) $125

D/S D/D (Qty 100) S135

PLOTTERS

Enter Sweet-P600 $780

EpSOn Hl-80 Call

DISK DRIVES

Alpha Omega Turbo 10 S689

Turbo20 S1019

Turbo 30 $1 379

Haba Habadisk for Macintosh S329

Iomega Bernoulli Box for IBM

10 Megabyte S 1 799

20 Megabyte S2499

20 Megabyte Plus fc S2660

5 Megabyte for Macintosh S 1 335

Ranaaitei '.... S179

Elite II S339

Elite III S405

Elite 10H/Apple S1080

Controller (W/Drive Only) , $69

1000W/DOS for Atari S1 75

TallgrassTG 3020 S2289

TG-3135 $3689

TG-4060 $1469

Controller S 1 1 9

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Inquiry 176

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BYTE U.K.

latter should run, although I was
unable to get hold of any samples to
test this.

The OPD can be optionally supplied
with Psion's Xchange suite of applica-
tions in ROM. This is based on the
four-program suite supplied with the
Sinclair QL, but is, in fact, a later ver-
sion that is more integrated and fea-
tures a limited form of multitasking (in
addition to that provided by the OPD
operating system).

The QL versions are bedeviled by
slowness caused by their heavy use
of overlays from the microdrives; run-
ning from ROM on the OPD renders
a significant improvement, though the
screen updating in Quill (its word pro-
cessor) is still irritatingly slow.

The four component programs,
Quill, Archive (database manager),
Abacus (spreadsheet), and Easel
(business graphics), are run from an
executive program called Xchange,
which allows you to create named
tasks. For example, you could have
two Quill tasks in existence at once
with different names. These tasks are,
strictly speaking, interruptible rather
than truly multitasking; a single key-
press suspends the current task and
returns you to Xchange, from which
you can enter another task. Xchange
also facilitates the exchange of data
between different applications, e.g.,
from a spreadsheet to the word pro-
cessor.

Xchange applications can use files
that reside either in memory or on the
microdrives. However, the program
isn't fully integrated with the OPD
operating system, in the sense that its
applications can use only Xchange-
created files and cannot access the
memory files used by, for instance, the
telephone directory or the page store.

Overview

Having to revert to a boring ordinary
telephone after several weeks with the
OPD came as somewhat of a shock
to me. It seems so right that my tele-
phone should be part of my com-
puter, or vice versa. Certainly it's
possible to buy fancy phones that do
last-number-redial and store a few
numbers, but to call up a remote data-

base with a single keystroke and then
return immediately to where you left
off typing a document is something
else.

ICL has aimed the OPD at the busi-
ness market, where its small size—
don't forget it can replace two tele-
phone receivers as well as a personal
computer— could make it an attractive
purchase for managers and execu-
tives whose desks have begun to
resemble a TV studio floor.

There are some things that the OPD
lacks that I would eventually like to
see in such a product. In particular,
I should like to download documents
from a remote source and incorporate
them directly into a word-processing
document, which requires a text
editor that is more fully integrated
into the system. Also, given that its
RAM-based way of working is very ef-
fective, it could use more RAM.

The lack of an industry-standard
operating system could be perceived
as a weakness, but ICL is adamant
that the OPD is not aimed at com-
puter buffs, nor at those with sophis-
ticated computing requirements; the
supplied ROM software should pro-
vide all that's needed in its intended
market.

Such doubts apart, playing with the
OPD has convinced me that it's as
much of a milestone in personal com-
puting in its own way as the Macin-
tosh. It's hard to imagine how a future
personal computer can avoid having
integral telephone facilities; plug-in
modems and acoustic couplers sud-
denly seem very clumsy.

With post-Macintosh user interfaces
and possibly video as well as voice
channels, the personal computers of
the future could at last become truly
useful in the home as well as the of-
fice. Remote banking and shopping
are already with us in a limited way.
Downloading books and pictures
(maybe movies, too?) from the world's
libraries could soon follow, as could
wholly electronic mail (with photo-
graphs as well as text).

The OPD will be available in the
U.S.— with a suitable U.S. telephony
module— probably in the latter half of
this year. ■

448 BYTE- JUNE I985

Byte BookClub

POWERFUL TOOLS!
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CONSTRUCTION OF DATA
PROCESSING SOFTWARE By

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582953-3 $22.95

ADA: AN ADVANCED IN-
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LANGUAGE By N. Gehani
583037-XB $28.95

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BUSINESS INFORMATION
PROCESSING WITH BASIC By G.

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582360-8 $17.95

BOWKER'S 1985 COMPLETE
SOURCEBOOK OF PER-
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APPLIED CONCEPTS IN MI-
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By B. Art wick

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USING dBASE II By C. Town-
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583038-8 $18.95

ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE
PROGRAMMING FOR THE

IBM PCByD. J. Bradley
583050-7 $19.95

PASCAL FOR FORTRAN
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& D. Allison
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COMPUTER IMAGE GENER-
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583065-5B $29.95

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MICROCOMPUTER GRAPHICS
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582585-6B $27.50

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THE C PRIMER By L. Hancock
259/81X $17.95

THE MCGRAW-HILL COM-
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279/721A $84.50

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INTRODUCING THE UNIX
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450/013 $19.95

PROGRAMMING ASSEM-
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TROUBLESHOOTING AND
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582890-1 $21.95

HANDS-ON BASIC: For the
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By H. Peckham

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Introducing The MACINTOSH

By C. Duff

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GUIDE TO THE IBM PER-
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THE MASTER HANDBOOK
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583096-5 $21.95

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# Convenience! 14-16 times a year (about once every 3-4 weeks) you
receive the Club Bulletin FREE. It fully describes the Main Selection

and alternate selections. A dated Reply Card is included. If you want
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chased the three additional books.

M

Fill out the card and mail today! If the card is missing, write to:

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JUNE 1985 -BYTE 449

THKB

PROTECTION.

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Inquiry 371

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In NJ (609) 456-5400

Nobody does it better. Nobody can.

PO8801 Mk II SR

Mr. PC

PO6001

Tomas drives

Shoppers' guides

Readers' queries

by William M. Raike

William M. Raike. who has a PhD.
in applied mathematics from North-
western University, has taught opera-
tions research and computer science
in Austin, Texas, and Monterey.
California. He holds a patent on a
voice scrambler and was formerly an
officer of Cryptext Corporation in
\fa U.S. \n 1980. he went to lapan
looking for 64K-6it RAMs. He has
been there ever since as a technical
translator and a software developer.

BYTE JAPAN

New NECs

and a Cartridge Disk

I'm always impressed by the pace of in-
troductions of new computer products
here; not a month goes by without at
least one noteworthy new computer or
peripheral device appearing under exhibi-
tion spotlights or on dealers' shelves. This
month's newcomers include three substan-
tial upgrades of NEC computers and an im-
pressive new cartridge hard-disk system
from Tomas. In this month's BYTE Japan I'll
also comment on a growing application
area here: computers as neighborhood
guides.

New Trio from NEC

Japan's leading personal computer manu-
facturer, NEC recently introduced, of all
things, three 8-bit personal computers. The
first is an upgrade of its PC-8801 Mk II,
based on NECs version of the Z80 micro-
processor and now more than a year old.
The older version of the PC-8801 Mk II is
still selling well at the major computer
outlets in Tokyo's madhouse Akihabara
electronics district, with discount prices in
the under-$800 range.

The new version is called the PC-8801 Mk
II SR. It's a mystery why NEC didn't simply
call it the Mk III; I'm not even sure I want
to know what the "SR" stands for.

Like its predecessor, the SR comes in
three versions (with zero, one, or two floppy-
disk drives) and has 64K bytes of user RAM
(random-access read/write memory), plus
an extra 48K bytes of graphics video RAM.
The SR also has the same multiple per-
sonality as the earlier PC-8801 systems,
which allows it to maintain compatibility
with its ancestors all the way back to the
PC-8001 computer that first appeared
almost six years ago. In addition to its 64K
bytes of N88-BASIC ROM (read-only mem-
ory), the SR also has the older N-BASIC
ROM; you select one bank of ROM or the
other by an external DIP (dual-inline pack-
age) switch.

The SR isn't identical to the plain old Mk
II model, though. For one thing, it offers a

3000-plus-character kanji ROM as standard.
This feature is currently almost universal;
even the low-priced MSX machines (now in
the $100 to $350 range) offer some kanji
support. The SR also has a switch that lets
you select between two different versions
of N88-BASIC

The SR handles graphics several times
faster than the old Mk II and supports ad-
ditional color graphics features. In either the
640- by 200-dot (low-resolution) or 640- by
400-dot (high-resolution) mode, each dot
can assume any of eight colors. You can
select the eight colors on a charac-
ter-by-character basis from a total of 5 1 2 col-
ors. Finally, the computer includes a pro-
grammable sound synthesizer with an eight-
octave range, offering piano, brass, and per-
cussion effects along with insect sounds,
bird calls, and others.

There's very little software to run on the
SR, except for the Japanese-language word-
processing packages from outside vendors
that also run on the older versions of the
PC-8801 with optional kanji boards in-
stalled. I can't imagine anywhere except
Japan where hardware of this caliber would
be sold completely unsupported by corre-
sponding graphics software (except for
BASIC), leaving it up to the hobbyists to
figure out whether they can do anything
useful with their $1000 new computer. Judg-
ing from the rapid turnover in used com-
puters, many users discover that they're
limited to buying commercial games or key-
ing in thousands of lines of BASIC coding
for public-domain games that appear in
computer magazines every month. (There's
only one magazine here that's published on
disk as well as paper.)

It's revealing that, with all the hype sur-
rounding the graphics and sound-synthe-
sizer features of this computer, including ex-
tensive magazine advertising, there is ab-
solutely no mention of an operating system.
Having owned an earlier PC-8801, I know
it can run CP/M, but there's not much in the

[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 451

BYTE JAPAN

The Tomas drives are
quieter, offer more
capacity than a
floppy-disk drive, and
provide a reasonable
way to maintain
backup storage.

way of vendor support for users who
want access to that software base.

Mr. PC

Another NEC entry is apparently de-
signed to attract people who want a
system one step above the low-priced
MSX machines. It's called the Mr. PC
and advertising for the machine is
directed toward young people; maga-
zine ads and brochures feature peo-
ple dressed in the latest teen-age
fashions and bill the Mr. PC as the
Roppongi pasocom (personal computer),
a reference to one of the more bus-
tling disco and nightlife districts of cen-
tral Tokyo. The computer comes in
either red or black. A major feature is
its cordless keyboard, doubtless also
designed for people who want to
dance with the keyboard. The list price
is just under $600, although 20 or even
30 percent discounts are almost uni-
versal at most of the major Akihabara
computer department stores.

The Mr. PC is an enhancement of
the NEC PC-6601 computer I talked
about in the September 1984 BYTE
lapan ("Show Time," page 407). It
comes with one 320K-byte 3!/2-inch
microfloppy-disk drive and 64K bytes
of RAM as standard; you can add an-
other drive for about $150 extra.
There are five banks of ROM. includ-
ing two versions of BASIC a ROM for
the sound synthesizer (which isn't
quite as elaborate as the one in the
PC-880I Mk II SR), and a 1024-char-
acter kanji ROM. Even without any
separate graphics video RAM, the

color graphics capabilities are ade-
quate: 320 by 200 dots, with a
1 5-color palette.

The main processor is a ^PD780C
equivalent to a Z80, and runs at 3. 58
MHz. The Mr. PC also uses three sub-
processors: one 8049 for controlling
cassette and RS-232C serial I/O (input/
output) (the RS-232C board is a $2 5
option), one 80C49 for a timer and
television controller (a video super-
impose feature is standard), and
another 80C49 used as a keyboard
controller.

This machine's software situation is
only marginally better than that of the
PC-880I Mk II SR; the Mr. PC comes
with a Japanese-language word pro-
cessor, a music software package
called Musicwriter, and a game. The
computer stores are jammed with
games for the PC-6601, all of which
run on the Mr. PC.

PC-6001 Upgraded

Although NEC doesn't have an entry
in the MSX market (there are over two
dozen competing MSX machines
now), it recently upgraded its slow-
selling PC-6001 computer; the result
is the PC-6001 Mk II SR. Similar to the
Mr. PC but without a disk drive, it of-
fers 80-column display capability and
accepts almost all of the Mr. PC pe-
ripherals and options. It costs about
$3 50, the same price as the top-of-
the-line MSX computers. Since it
doesn't accept MSX software car-
tridges, though, it's hard to imagine
this machine finding much ac-
ceptance.

Cartridge Hard-Disk System

A new disk system from a small com-
pany called Tomas Electronics has
really big potential. The Tomas car-
tridge-disk system incorporates the
best features of floppy-disk systems
and hard disks. Most floppy disks are
limited to about a megabyte (although
the new Hitachi 6.5-megabyte 5^-inch
floppy-disk drives I talked about in the
February BYTE Japan pDisks and
Printers," page 367| should start ap-
pearing before long); as density in-
creases, manufacturing quality control
and the sensitivity of the disk to dust

contamination and wear become in-
creasingly serious problems. And the
idea of keeping a box or more of flop-
py disks as backup for a hard-disk sys-
tem deserves to become obsolete.

Besides being quieter and offering
more capacity than a floppy-disk
drive, the Tomas drives offer a reason-
able way to maintain backup storage.
The Tomas disk cartridges consist of
a 3.9-inch Winchester-type hard disk
enclosed in a protective cartridge; the
cartridges are about Vi inch thick and
about AVi inches square. The rigidity
of the cartridge allows the drives to
use a fast rotational speed (just over
3 500 revolutions per minute) and a
high recording density (12,000 bits
per inch). The cartridge also protects
the sensitive magnetic surface from
contamination or careless handling.

The individual cartridges plug into
the front of the Tomas drives (single-
and dual-cartridge drives are avail-
able), giving the same flexibility and
ease of backup as floppy-disk drives.
Each cartridge holds 5 megabytes
when formatted; the average time to
access a track is only 90 milliseconds,
and the high rotational speed and
high recording density combine to
give a data-transfer rate of 5 megabits
per second. According to Tomas, a
carbon-coating technique and im-
proved manufacturing facilities con-
tribute to making the system highly
reliable.

The price of the system is compar-
able to the price of a hard-disk sys-
tem of similar capacity; the list prices
for the single- and dual-drive versions
(the RX-0600 and RX-0606) are about
$17 50 and $2450, respectively. An in-
dividual 5-megabyte cartridge, called
a Q-Pak, sells for about $80; that's
more than floppy disks on a per-byte
basis, but Tomas claims the life of a
Q-Pak is several times longer than the
life of a floppy disk, and the speed ad-
vantage more than offsets the price
difference.

The drives have built-in controllers;
from the computer's point of view,
they work just like conventional hard-
disk units. According to Tomas, you
can connect either the single- or dual-
disk drive to an IBM Personal Com-

452 BYTE • JUNE 1985

BYTE JAPAN

puter (PC) or PC XT with a hard-disk
interface, as well as to the NEC
PC-9800 series computers (running
under CP/M or MS-DOS), the IBM
5550, the Oki if 800 series, and the
DEC LSI-I1 (running under the RT-11
operating system). The company says
a Fujitsu version will be out soon; I'd
welcome the chance to try one on my
own system.

On the Street

As still another sign of the diffusion
of personal computers into everyday
life in Japan, video-display units are
starting to appear on Tokyo sidewalks,
used as directories and guides to local
services and businesses. They are
usually found in relatively sheltered
locations near subway stations or
major shopping districts. The hard-
ware, based on standard personal
computer technology, is usually
housed in protective plexiglass, and
the weather has dictated the use of
sealed membrane-type keyboards or
touchpads. Other than that, the sys-
tems have no particular anti-
vandalism or security precautions.
The software is all menu-driven; it
allows you to select from categories
such as "restaurants," "shopping."
"services," "entertainment," etc., and
then to request more detailed infor-
mation about particular listings. Color
graphics are both eye-catching and in-
formative, and the systems usually
provide maps to guide the user to in-
dividual establishments, an essential
feature in view of Tokyo's sometimes
chaotic street addresses. Some sys-
tems are free, others are coin-oper-
ated; I don't know what it costs an
establishment to be included in the
directory.

These high-tech directories aren't
limited to Tokyo; for example, I saw
a particularly handy system in Mat-
sumoto, a scenic city in north central
Japan. Installed next to the main
downtown train station, the system
didn't have a video display; instead,
a menu with a hundred or so three-
digit codes was posted on a large
board, similar to the type of building
directory used in most large office
buildings. When 1 keyed in my desired

code, the system produced a one-
page information brochure, including
maps and other graphics. It was
printed on a high-speed 24-pin dot-
matrix kanji printer. This particular
service was free, and I noticed that
over a period of 20 minutes or so
many of the system's users were
children, some obviously in the pro-
cess of showing their parents how to
use the directory.

Answers

I get a number of questions from
BYTE readers, but it's impossible for
me to answer all of them personally.
One question that comes up re-
peatedly is whether you can get a
board for the IBM PC that will let it
handle Japanese characters. Accord-
ing to the president of the local IBM
PC users group, the answer is no, al-
though it is rumored that Chinese-
language systems exist in r foiwan. The

language gap is not surprising in view
of the many technologically superior
Japanese personal computers that sell
for a fraction of the price of the IBM
PC and the computers sold by IBM
Japan Ltd. that have Japanese-lan-
guage capability. As I've mentioned
before, the IBM PC and compatibles
are not in widespread use in Japan.
If you have a question about the
Japanese personal computer world, or
comments or suggestions about past
and future topics for the BYTE Japan
column, you can write to me do BYTE,
POB 372, Hancock, NH 03449. I'll try
to reply to as many queries as pos-
sible here in the column.

Next Month

In the July BYTE Japan I'll tell you
about the new Silver-Reed EB50. a
battery-powered, lap-size, four-color
printer/plotter/typewriter, the ongoing
battle of memory chips, and more. ■

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Inquiry 179

JUNE 1985 'BYTE 453

A COMPUTER

PROGRAM

THAT SPEAKS

YOUR LANGUAGE

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The Computer
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Correspondent
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Gary Kildall, creator of
CP/M cover today's
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stories behind them.
Find out what is, what
was and what will be,
with the only
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Produced by KCSM, San Mateo, Ch and WITF. Harrisburg, PA with funding from McGraw-Hill's El Y 1 1 and COM PUTI IN(i magazines.

M

454 BYTE • JUNE 1985

BYTE WEST COAST

A GEM Seminar

Also, a Mac
disassembler
and advances
in disk-
controller
technology

by John Markoff

and Phillip

Robinson

BYTE West Coast is prepared

monthly by BYTE's editors and staff

in San Francisco and Palo Alto.

Correspondence should be addressed

to BYTE West Coast. BYTE

Magazine, 425 Battery St.. San

Vrancisco. CA 94111.

In the March BYTE West Coast (page
355) we mentioned GEM (Graphics En-
vironment Manager), a new program
from Digital Research (DR) that gives a com-
puter a Macintosh-like face of icons, win-
dows, multiple fonts, and pull-down menus.
In February we attended the GEM Seminar
in Monterey, California, where DR began
teaching programmers to adapt their soft-
ware to the GEM environment. What began
as an interesting and impressive technical
presentation gave way to a marketing
brouhaha, which in turn led to a demonstra-
tion of DR's flexibility.

Why is GEM so important? DR's John
Hiles claims that personal computers with
GEM will not only reach the people who
read PC, Ma&Norld, and Scientific American but
also will reach those who read Time and TV
Guide. Those people will be more at ease
with GEM than with standard operating-sys-
tem interfaces. DR, the company that once
ruled the microcomputer roost with its
CP/M operating system for 8-bit microcom-
puters, hopes to set a new standard with
GEM. The Digital Research folks want to
provide the advantages of the Mac (and
more, such as color displays) to people with
other computers. Although the new Atari
Inc. under Jack TYamiel (former head of
Commodore) is the only company that has
committed itself to building GEM into its
computers. DR is clearly hoping to
penetrate the . software-rich, business-
standard world of the IBM Personal Com-
puter (PC).

To do this. DR has to do two things. First,
it must convince people to use GEM, to
build it into hardware and to adapt software
to it. Second. DR must teach hardware and
software developers how to do those things.
Programs will not automatically run on a
computer that is equipped with GEM; spe-
cial files must be added, icons must be
designed, and program connections must
be developed. (By the way, the bindings for
GEM are written in C. though Pascal will be
added later. If you want to work with GEM,

you certainly should learn C.)

DR decided to begin its education effort
with seminars. The one we attended in
Monterey was followed by one in London.
The seminars had three goals: to continue
to pitch GEM. to demonstrate some of the
fundamentals of GEM programming (and
hand out a software toolkit full of program-
ming utilities and sample code), and to
show doubters that GEM is real. That last
goal may seem unnecessary, but the fate of
Desq. Visi On. and Windows seems to show
that such software environments have been
jinxed. Visi On disappeared and almost
took one of yesterday's largest microcom-
puter software firms (VisiCorp) with it. Desq
has lapsed into limbo, and Microsoft Win-
dows, from one of today's largest software
companies, has been repeatedly delayed.
In fact, because GEM competes with Win-
dows as much as it does with the Macin-
tosh. DR was clearly happy to be handing
out kits and discussing a real product when
Microsoft was still months away from its
planned summer release of Windows.

To stress the importance of the seminar.
DR handed out a list of the attending com-
panies. These were broken into three
groups: software houses, original equip-
ment manufacturers (OEMs), and the press.
In all, more than 200 people from 30 OEMs
and 105 people representing various soft-
ware firms were there. However, not every-
one came with firm intentions to adapt to
GEM. In fact, many would only admit com-
ing to have a look at it or check it out. The
list of firm commitments is short but
substantial. Atari. ACT (makers of the
Apricot computers). Commodore, Northern
Telecom, and Ifexas Instruments have all
bought licenses to use GEM. Atari has
already employed the license to put GEM
in its new ST series of computers. We've
heard rumors that Atari isn't alone. The soft-
ware companies— known at the seminar as
ISVs (independent software vendors)— who
have announced that they will write to GEM

[continued]

IUNE 1985 • BYTE 455

BYTE WEST COAST

MacNosy is a

sophisticated

disassembler written

by veteran

compiler designer

Steve ]asik.

are Blue Chip, Chang Labs, Hayden,
Lifetree, Matrix/Systems Group, Pro
Vue, Quadratron Systems, Schoen-
burg and Hoxie, Software Products,
Spinnaker, and Thorn EMI.

Most of the two-day seminar was
devoted to explaining GEM architec-
ture and to walking through GEM pro-
gram code. Throughout the sessions,
the DR team demonstrated GEM run-
ning on a variety of IBM machines in-
cluding a PC AT, a PC XT, and an IBM
PC with two floppy-disk drives and
2 56K bytes of memory. (The PC AT
used IBM's advanced graphics
adapter with the 640- by 200-pixel
resolution.)

A description of GEM's VDI (virtual
device interface), which allows pro-
grams to think they have control of
the terminal when they are in fact be-
ing handled by GEM, was followed by
a short discussion of fonts. As Lee
Lorenzen, senior software engineer
for DR, explained, DR is only pro-
viding a sans-serif font called Swiss
(which looks like Helvetica) and a serif
font (which looks like Times-Roman)
but is encouraging third-party fonts.
In fact, the folks from DR started refer-
ring to IFVs (independent font
vendors).

Tom Rolander of DR explained
some of the tough technical stuff,
walking through the code of a sam-
ple GEM application he had written
(a simple paint program). Then DR's
Tim Oren began a detailed overview
of the RCS (resource construction set).
On Friday morning we completed the
RCS overview and then quickly
learned how to use the Icon Editor

from Greg Morris of DR (he wrote the
editor). Rolander returned to walk us
through some more C listings for a
simple desk accessory.

Friday afternoon's discussion of
marketing set off a small explosion.
Have you ever seen a room loaded
with loud, hostile, and sometimes pro-
fane programmers? Except in soft-
ware project-status meetings, of
course. We witnessed one after the
DR marketing team presented the
licensing facts about GEM. Basically,
we were told that there will be two
ways for software developers to work
with GEM. They can develop GEM-
compatible applications and sell them
to people who already have GEM on
their computers. That's no market at
all right now: No one has GEM. Or
they can pay DR a license fee that will
allow them to sell the application and
GEM in a bundle. This license costs
$1000 per product per year (with no
guarantee that it won't rise)— so far,
not so bad. But then DR mentioned
that GEM would only run on IBM (PC
PC AT. and PC XT) equipment. It
wouldn't even run on compatibles like
the Compaq. Why? Because DR didn't
want it to. DR deliberately wrote
GEM— crippled it— so it wouldn't run
on clones. Again, why? Because DR
wanted hardware manufacturers to
pay OEM license fees to have GEM
run on their computers. All OEMs ex-
cept IBM, that is.

DR didn't mention this until the final
hours of the seminar. In fact the DR
marketing people didn't hand out the
sheets detailing licensing until just
before this session. Did they an-
ticipate the attendees' reactions? The
software developers certainly didn't
anticipate having to support different
GEM versions of their applications for
every compatible and clone. What
had seemed up until then a crowd of
programmers willing to give GEM a
shot quickly changed. While not
everyone objected to the IBM con-
straint, there were a number of hostile
questions from the audience. In fact,
when one person asked how many
thought GEM's inability to run on the
Compaq was a serious limitation, 50
to 60 percent of the attendees raised

their hand. DR responded that it has
to make some money on the product
and OEM fees are a place to do so.
While some developers felt this was
reasonable, many others seemed to
think they'd been bushwhacked.

Gary Kildall, the president and
founder of DR, tried to calm the at-
tendees. Discussions after the con-
ference centered on the marketing
plans and what a pain they were.
Things looked black for GEM.

Then DR changed its mind. In late
February, the folks in Monterey de-
cided to change the code in GEM that
checks for machine type. Now, GEM
will run on IBM compatibles and
clones. Imagine, a sizable software
company that really pays attention to
its developers and makes major
changes because of what it hears.

We were impressed by GEM, as
were a number of the developers at
the seminar. Everyone went home
with two big binders full of some
useful information and some fluff, a
lot of C code, an invitation to a Com-
puServe GEM support group, a toolkit
disk, and a list of toolkit bugs. While
GEM had been in beta test for a cou-
ple of months, the toolkit had just
reached the beta-test stage and had
a number of bugs. For instance, in a
certain circumstance, if you tried to
drag something out of a menu and
then accidentally dropped it on a
divider line, the entire computer sys-
tem would hang and have to be reset.

GEM lets you have the same kind
of fun as working with a Macintosh
and yet lets you step back into the
IBM PC world with a quick exit instruc-
tion. GEM even has a limited multi-
tasking facility (it can handle some
background processes). It is reason-
ably quick and thorough, but it does
have limitations. For example, it has
some arbitrary limits, such as a maxi-
mum of four open windows at a time
and no more than six desk accesso-
ries (and a memory-limit size for
those).

At press time DR was planning to
release its own GEM applications, in-
cluding GEM Draw (April), GEM Write
and GEM Paint (June), and GEM
Graph and GEM Wordchart (July).

456 BYTE • JUNE 1985

BYTE WEST COAST

How will GEM impact the micro-
computer world? Right now that
depends mainly on DR, Atari, and
Apple. Can DR convince developers
to work in a GEM world? Will Atari be
able to produce huge numbers of in-
expensive GEM machines, as TYamiel
claims? And finally, how will Apple
respond? If people can have the
Macintosh juice in a cheaper com-
puter, or on an IBM PC-compatible,
will they continue to buy Macs? Does
Apple have the next evolution or
revolution (like a cheaper or more
powerful Mac) up its sleeve? If so, the
Cupertino Corps may well find that
GEM's imitation has confirmed Mac
ideas and put Apple out in front of
the microcomputer race. If Apple isn't
ready to take the next step, it may be
run over by a horde of "Macalikes"
egged on by a smiling DR.

MacNosy: "A Disassembler
for the Rest of Us"

Better software-development tools
have become available for the Macin-
tosh during the past half year. Cur-
rently there are a number of C pro-
gramming languages, several assem-
blers, several BASICS, LISP, Logo,
FORTH, Modula-2, and an interpretive
Pascal to name just a few. Add a
licensed version of Xerox Small-
talk-80, which Apple is rumored to
have in the works for release soon,
and the Macintosh becomes a reason-
able programming environment.

For those who want to go further,
programming editors and a variety of
debugging tools are now readily avail-
able. Possibly one of the ultimate
Macintosh "exploring" tools is Mac-
Nosy, a sophisticated disassembler
written by veteran compiler designer
Steve Jasik.

lasik has written compilers for Con-
trol Data Corporation for a number of
years and is best known for his work
developing a global optimizing FOR-
TRAN compiler for the Control Data
Cyber 170 system. While attempting
to gain a clearer understanding of the
Motorola 68000 and the Macintosh
operating system, he grew frustrated
with the poor quality of the documen-
tation and the general lack of source

Companies
Mentioned

Digital Research Inc.
POB DRI
60 Garden Court
Monterey, CA 93942
(408) 649-3896

Jasik Designs
343 TVenton Way
Menlo Park, CA 9402 5
(415) 322-1386

Sunol Systems
1187 Quarry Lane
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(415) 484-3322

listings. So he decided to write
MacNosy.

Jasik considers his program to be as
much a "decompiler" as a disassem-
bler. MacNosy, which consists of more
than 7000 lines of Pascal code and
about 300 lines of assembly-language
code, contains many features asso-
ciated with compilers including a
table manager, symbol-table enter/
lookup routines, a reference map, and
global flow analysis.

MacNosy runs on either a 512K-byte
Macintosh or a 1 -megabyte Lisa
under the Workshop operating system
or the MacWorks environment. It is
capable of disassembling the
resource fork of an application, ROM
(read-only memory), or various
resource types in the system file
(DRVR, PACK, 1NIT. CDEE WDEF, etc.).

A partial list of MacNosy features
also includes symbol dictionaries of
the ROM names and global symbols
(0 to hexadecimal BOO) with value-to-
symbol substitution, selective listing
of procedures in a file by procedure
name or substring,, the ability to
search a program file for references
to selected addresses, ROM calls,
resource-type references, constant or
string references, a full or selective
listing of the resources in a file in a
format similar to that of the Macin-

tosh Resource Mover, and the ability
to translate the segment-relative ad-
dress of an instruction to the disk-file
relative address for code-patching
purposes. MacNosy also records its
input on a text format .j'rnl file for later
playback. A future program addition
will be a built-in mini-editor for view-
ing and modifying files while in
MacNosy.

Jasik claims that MacNosy is set
apart from other disassemblers
because it treats a program as a tree
of procedures. It begins at the main
entry point and does a tree walk to
mark the program areas that are pro-
cedures. Areas not included are con-
sidered data. Currently the program
doesn't reconstruct enough informa-
tion about data areas that are actual-
ly code (procedures passed as ad-
dresses), and programmer interven-
tion is needed to decode these areas.

In addition to its use as an educa-
tional tool and as a tool for devel-
opers who want to examine the
Macintosh ROM to find out what the
ROM routines are doing and for those
who want to learn advanced 68000/
Macintosh programming techniques
by examining others' code, MacNosy
has a more controversial use. Ad-
vanced programmers can use it to
remove copy-protection schemes
from commercial software. Jasik takes
the position that he is not opposed
to copy protection as long as it is not
"obnoxious" in the sense that it pro-
hibits the user from booting an ap-
plication from a hard disk without
having to insert a key disk each time.
He is also critical of Apple's decision
not to make more information about
its ROM-based operating system avail-
able for the Macintosh.

Faster and Fatter
Winchesters

Personal computer hardware de-
signers are constantly confronted with
the task of squeezing increased per-
formance from limiting standards. Par-
ticularly in the area of mass storage,
personal computers are bumping up
against I/O (input/output) bottlenecks
imposed by existing floppy-disk and

[continued)

JUNE 1985

IYTE 457

BYTE WEST COAST

Am RRL data-encoding
technique improves on
traditional techniques
because it represents
a given bit stream
using significantly
fewer flux reversals.

Winchester fixed-disk technology.

To at least partially get around these
restrictions it is possible to design
new disk controllers that extract more
performance out of current-genera-
tion Winchester disks. Large perfor-
mance gains will soon be made by a
new generation of disk controllers
that offer higher data-transfer rates
and greater storage capacity based in
part on new data-encoding tech-
niques.

One interesting example of this
trend is a new two-chip mass-storage
controller set recently announced by
Sunol Systems of Pleasanton, Califor-
nia. The DC 1 00 1 disk-controller chip
plus the RBI 002 RAM (random-
access read/write memory) buffer
support chip are based on CMOS
(complementary metal-oxide semi-
conductor) custom gate-array tech-
nology and can be designed into a

single controller card that will handle
a hard-disk drive, a floppy-disk drive,
and even a file-addressable tape back-
up system. Because it is fabricated in
CMOS technology, the chip set will
consume far less power than other
commercial controllers. Each chip
consumes just 100 megawatts when
operated from a 5-volt power supply.

The chip set implements the ST506
5 /4-inch, the ST412 buffered-seek, and
the ST412HP high-performance hard-
disk interfaces, the SA 5!4-inch,
SA800, and SA850 8-inch floppy-disk
interfaces, as well as the ESDI (en-
hanced small-disk interface) file-
addressable tape, and the QIC 36
streaming-tape interface.

The new controller set is address-
able in a fashion similar to other
popular controllers such as the NEC
^PD765. It is simply necessary to
send a byte sequence through a host
central processor or a local control
microprocessor.

The key feature that lets the Sunol
controller set achieve increased
capacity and faster transfer rates than
standard Winchester and floppy-disk
controllers is the use of an RLL (run-
length limited) data-encoding tech-
nique that offers significant advan-
tages over traditional MFM (modified
frequency modulation) or FM (fre-
quency modulation) methods.

RLL improves on traditional tech-
niques because it represents a given
bit stream using significantly fewer
flux reversals. According to Dr. Robert
McCullough, Sunol's founder, RLL

permits recording up to 60 percent
more bits than MFM and can transfer
data 50 percent faster.

FM is a self-clocking encoding tech-
nique that is used to record bit-serial
data on magnetic media. Clocking is
done by first writing a flux reversal to
define the leading edge of a bit cell.
If the value of the cell is I, a second
flux change will occur midway
through the cell; however, if the value
of the cell is 0, a second flux reversal
will not take place until the leading
edge of the next bit cell.

MFM keeps the flux reversals for Is
but removes the clock bits except
those between two consecutive logic
0s. Rather, the MFM bit cell is defined
by an external phase-locked oscillator
synchronized with the data-bit stream.

In contrast, in RLL encoding there
is nothing that can be identified
separately as a "clock bit" or a "data
bit." Instead there are only data pat-
terns and corresponding code pat-
terns. Each binary data string can be
represented as an RLL encoded data
pattern. A minimum and maximum
number of 0s are inserted between
flux transitions. McCullough claims
that RLL offers the best trade-off avail-
able between flux-reversal density
and bit density.

Ultimately, this will translate into
significant performance increases.
When used as part of a newer high-
performance interface standard such
as the ST412HR for example, RLL en-
coding can permit a 1 5-megabit-per-
second data throughput. ■

THE

$2995 DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

Turns any personal computer into a complete micro-
computer DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM. Our integrated
control/display program runs under MS-DOS, CP/M,
ISIS, or Apple and controls the UDL via an RS-232 port.

Up to 128K bytes of EMULATION ROM
(8K standard) allows you to make pro-
gram patches instantly. Since the target
ROM socket connects data and address
lines to both the analyzer and the emula-
tor, no expensive adaptors or personality
modules are needed.

The powerful BUS STATE ANALYZER
features four-step sequential triggering,
selective trace, and pass and delay
counters. Symbolic trace disassemblers
and debuggers are available for Z-80,
8048, 6500, 6800, 8031 , 8085, Z-8, 1 802,
8088/80188, 8086/80186, R65 and 68000.

PROM PROGRAMMER also doubles
as a STIMULUS GENERATOR.

For further information, call or write:

702 Marshall St., Suite 614
Redwood City, CA 94064

(415) 361-8883

Instruments

458 BYTE • JUNE I985

Inquiry 3I5

Structural Analysis
Software for Micros

A book/disk pkg that shows how to write
structural analysis software. Uses the
'direct stiffness' method of analysis with
Gauss Jordan sol'n of eqn's. Eleven pro-
grams show how to plot 3D structures,
rotate in 3D, store on disk, analyze with
force and moment loads. Handles linear
and non-linear structures (plastic mat'ls,
large displacements} via incremental solu-
tion strategy. Can be used for professional
analysis of small structures. Book with
theory, operating instructions. Disk with
BASIC source code.

□ IBM version S96

D Apple version $96

D Z-100 version $96

S/SAM

3D truss and frame analysis with graphics.
Easy method of describing structure via
keyboard input, store structure on disk,
recall and modify. Loadings include forces
and moments at nodes, prescribed node
displacements and rotations, thermal loads.
S/SAM gives node translations and rota-
tions, member forces and moments in
global and member coordinate systems.
Handles up to 150 degrees of freedom.
Graphics shows original structure in 3
dimensions with deflected shape superim-
posed in color (dotted lines is b&w), scale
deflections up or down, rotate in 3D.
Features stress post-processor which
does accurate stress analysis on
members, material properties and beam
cross section disk catalogs, multiple load
case analysis. Source code in BASIC on
disk. Manual. Demo kit available.

□ IBM S/SAM $385

□ Apple S/SAM $385

D Z-100 S/SAM $385

□ IBM dem kit $35

□ Apple demo kit $35

D Z-100 demo kit $35

Designer 30

A 3-dimensional CAD program. Interactive-
ly create 3D drawings on screen via
keyboard commands. Position points, con-
nect by lines, fit curves through points with
B-spline routine, scale, rotate in 3D,
translate, view in perspective, store on
disk, recall up to 5 drawing simultaneous-
ly. Move each independently. Move a point
and all lines, curves move with it. Input data
is in tenns of real physical dimensions such
as inches or millimeters. Drawings
automaticallly scaled to fit on screen. At-
tach physical data to drawing elements
such as weight, resistance, etc. Use disk
files as input to your own applications soft-
ware. ..inexpensive, versatile, a very
powerful design package., can do
things Autocad can't..-Boatbuilder
Magazine. Programs on disk in BASIC ful-
ly documented. Manual.

□ IBM version $85

D Apple version. $85

D Z-100 version $85

CAD-BASIC

A professional quality CAD program with
source code in BASIC fully documented.
Use keyboard commands to create any 2D
drawing, store on disk, recall, store stan-
dard shapes, scale, rotate, automatic curve
fitting, semi-automatic dimensioning.
Perfect low-cost CAD system for profes-
sionals, software hobbyists, educators.
Screen dump or plotter versions available.

D Screen Dump CAD-BASIC. $120

□ For Houston Instruments Plotter. . .$120
D For Hewlett-Packard Plotter $120

BASIC Aircraft
Performance

A system of 8 programs to estimate the
performance of aircraft on prescribed mis-
sions and in maneuvering flight at prescrib-
ed conditions. Features state-of-the-art
drag prediction program, thrust/fuel input
and evaluation program, simple method of
describing complex missions. This system
will take you from a 3 -view drawing of an
aircraft to a completed performance
envelope and a mission performance
description. Use of thrust/fuel flow tables
permit any engine type - turboprop, turbo-
jet, etc. All programs in BASIC, source
code on disk, 240 pg manual with theory,
operating instructions.

D IBM version $120

□ Apple version $120

D Z-100 version $120

Engineering Software
for Micros

A collection of programs for engineering
applications of micros. CAD graphics,
mechanisms, Fourier Series, Fourier
Transforms, Guass Jordan sol'n of eqn's,
Monte-Carlo optimization. Emphasis on
graphics. BASIC source code on disk.

D IBM version $50

□ Apple version $50

D Z-100 version $50

Visual Vibrations

Solves 1 and 1 degree of freedom damped
oscillator problems with emphasis on
graphics. Response to applied harmonic
force, foundation motion, impulse and step
loading, response spectra, log plots, com-
plete description of system including
natural frequencies, time constants, dam-
ping factors, etc. Book reviews theory with
operating instructions. BASIC source code
on disk.

D IBM version $75

D Apple version $75

D Z-100 version $75

Visual Statistics

Statistical analysis with emphasis on
graphics. Create data files interactively thru
keyboard. See x,y data points on screen
as entered. Add, delete, move points,
store on disk, recall and merge data files.
Customize plots - define axes, flash point
numbers, define grids, connect point with
lines, bar charts, soit, percent between
limits, running average, x-mean, y-mean,
weighted x-mean, standard deviation, Z-
values, correlation coeff, coeff of deter-
mination, linear regression thru specified
point. BASIC source code on disk. Manual.

D IBM version $65

D Apple version $65

D Z-100 version $65

Statistics Software
for Micros

19 programs for statistical analysis: sum-
mary statistics, binomial and normal pro-
pabilities, chi-square test, 1 and 2 sample
hypothesis testing and confidence inter-
vals, multi-factor ANOVA, comparison pro-
cedures, latin squares, cross-over designs,
repeated measures design, simple and
multi-linear regression, regression thru
origin, logistic response analysis, graphics
with profile of means, scatter plots, residual
plots, histograms. Numerous'example pro-
blems. 320 pg manual, BASIC source
code on disk.

D IBM version $62

D Apple version $62

D Z-100 version $62

Graphics for the
IBMpc, Apple, Z-100

64 programs that show how to write
graphics software. They advance from
elementary graphics to advanced concepts
in small steps. Shows how to create 2D
and 3D shapes, rotate, translate, scale,
stretch, store on disk, view in perspective,
clip, window, remove hidden lines. Applica-
tions to CAD/CAM, business, games. Nam-
ed 'the best book on microcomputer
graphics' -Creative Computing
Magazine.. Book with BASIC source code
on disk.

D IBM version $50

D Apple version $50

D Z-100 version $50

Sections

Calculates properties of composite or
uniform beam cross-sections. They can
have any shape, regions of different
material properties, reinforcing rods and
holes. Properties calculated: area, wgt/unit
length, centroid coord's, bending and polar
inertias, principal angle, inertias about prin-
cipal axes, axial stiffness, bending stiff-
ness, torsional stiffness, distance to outer-
most fibers. Create shapes via keyboard
input using real physical dimensions, plot
section on screen with principal axes,
outermost fiber shown in color or b&w,
store on disk, recall and modify. BASIC
source code on disk. Manual.

D IBM version. .
D Apple version.
Q Z-100 version.

.$65
.$65
$65

r\rmm
Stress & Strain

Solves 2 and 3 dimensional combined
stress problems. In 2D case, specify
stresses, program draws stress element
with Mohr's circle. Rotate element, new
stresses are calculated, Mohr's circle is
redrawn, stress vectors drawn to scale on
rotated element. Also get principal
stresses, strains, principal angle, max
shear. 3D case issimilarbut no Mohr'scir-
cle. Principal stresses found via matrix
iteration. BASIC source code on disk.
Manual.
D IBM version $85

□ Apple version $85

□ Z-100 version $85

C Graphics

A collection of programs that show how to
write graphics software in C on an IBMpc.
Learn how to turn on the graphics mode
and place a point on the screen at x,y coor-
dinates with assembly language, then
develop SCREEN, PSET and LINE func-
tions in C. Develop C functions to create
2D and 3D shapes, rotate, scale, translate
in 3D, store drawings on disk. Build your
own graphics language. Book with C and
BASIC source code plus compiled modules
on disk.

D IBM version.

.$66

KERN

INTERNATIONAL, INC

433 Washington Street, Po Box 1029
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_Exp Date_

Inquiry 235

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 459

OUR MODULA-2 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
TURNS "WAIT TIME" INTO "WORK TIME."

When Modula-2 was introduced as
the programming language of the
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There are also multiple editor windows that let you refer
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460 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 225

CIRCUIT CELLAR FEEDBACK

Conducted by Steve Garcia

Offer Extended

Dear Circuit Cellar Project Builders,

In my November 1984 article on the
Lis'ner 1000 voice-recognition board, 1 of-
fered the software separately to Circuit
Cellar project builders for $17 through
March 1, 1985. Requests have poured in
throughout the offering period, but the
majority of foreign mail has just started
to arrive. To give everyone time to prop-
erly evaluate the project and respond, 1
am extending the availability of the soft-
ware through August 1, 1985. Thanks for
your support —Steve

Trump Card Questions

Dear Steve,

I recently read your articles in BYTE
about the Trump Card and I am consider-
ing the purchase of the board. However,
I have several questions I would like to
have answered before I make such an
investment.

You mentioned that there are a few
minor differences between IBM BASIC A
and TBASIC. What are these differences?
Does TBASIC support the 8087 math co-
processor? How long can I expect Trump
Card to take to compile very large and
complicated programs? Our IBM PC sys-
tem has an expansion unit. Can Trump
Card be placed in the expansion unit or
must it be put in the system unit as is the
case with the monochrome monitor
adapter and some other cards? Is it pos-
sible that some IBM software will not run
properly when Trump Card is in the sys-
tem? Is it possible that some of the other
cards we have in our system will interfere
with Trump Card?

Grieg A. Olson
Titcson, AZ

The Trump Card manual supplies a list-
ing of the IBM BASIC statements, func-
tions, variables, and commands that are
either fully supported, supported with
some differences, or not supported by
TBASIC. The items not supported by
TBASIC generally comprise the special
PC BASIC commands associated with in-
put/output control. For example, some of
the items not supported by TBASIC are
DEFUSR, DELETE, KEY, LLIST, MERGE,
MOTOR, PEN, STICK, TRON, and

TROFF. In some cases, the item is not
supported because it is handled in a dif-
ferent manner by TBASIC For example,
items like DELETE, LLIST, and MERGE
are handled by the built-in EE editor that
comes with TBASIC and are not needed
by the TBASIC compiler. A chapter on
the EE editor is included in the TBASIC
manual.

TBASIC does not support the 8087
math coprocessor. However, the increase
in speed acquired by using TBASIC is
remarkable without the 8087 co-
processor.

The compilation time for large pro-
grams is still quite fast. A 25K-byte BASIC
program will compile in about 8 seconds.

The D'ump Card should be able to be
placed in an expansion unit, since the
memory associated with the Trump Card
is on the Trump Card itself.

The Trump Card should not affect the
operation of any IBM software packages,
and the Trump Card should not interfere
with any of the other cards in your
system. At least, it has never interfered
with any of my hardware or software.
-Steve

British Sweet Talker II

Dear Steve,

I thoroughly enjoyed the article that you
wrote in the March 1984 BYTE regarding
the new Sweet Talker II.

I am a beginning computer enthusiast,
and I have just ordered this board to begin
experimenting with a number of projects.

One of the more involved projects is to
create a computer-generated British voice.
While I will be experimenting with the
Sweet Talker 11 to learn a lot of the basics
and further understand that the chip can
be best utilized by programming it with
an assembly language to take advantage
of its many features. I am wondering
whether it will be possible to get a British
accent out of its synthesized voice.

George E. Handley
Shawnee Mission, KS

It may be possible to obtain a British
accent from the Sweet Talker 11, but 1
have not tried to do so. The Apple 11 text-
to-speech algorithm generates some
words that have a distinct (though un-

intentional) Irish brogue, and some
phoneme changes might produce the
British accent. It would be strictly a trial-
and-error approach, however.

Each of the methods of speech syn-
thesis is a compromise. The phoneme ap-
proach allows an unlimited vocabulary at
the expense of accuracy. The linear-
predictive-coding (LPC) method offets ac-
curate speech reproduction, but the
vocabulary is limited, since the coding for
each word must be computed. The adap-
tive differential pulse-code modulation
(ADPCM) method, described in my June
1983 Circuit Cellar article, may represent
an acceptable solution, but it uses large
amounts of memory. As the 256K- and
1024K-byte memory chips become avail-
able in quantities to drive the price down,
this may be a cost-effective approach to
your application— Steve

Audio Down-Converter

Dear Steve,

I am an avid reader of your articles in
BYTE, although I'm not quite a project
builder. Your recent articles on "talkers"
and "listeners" prompted me to write to
you regarding my friend's hearing prob-
lem. It has seemed to me that her hear-
ing could be enhanced by some of the
technology that goes into your projects.

Her problem is that she hears only
sounds below 700 cycles. It seems to me
(quite possibly because of my lack of
knowledge) that it might be possible to
build a device that would take in all noise
and shift it to a frequency where she can
hear. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks.

Ralph M. Carlson
Poulsbo. WA

Though the Lis'ner 1000 (November
1984, page 110) has the capability to ex-
tract filter coefficients from speech in real
time and also synthesize speech, the
routines required to lower the frequen-
cy spectrum make it impossible to do in
real time. The speech would have to be
received, analyzed, and synthesized in
chunks. Also, it would not be very por-
table.

A technique that might work was

[continued)

COPYRIGHT© 1985 STEVEN A. CIARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 461

CIARCIA FEEDBACK

described in "Listen to a New World of
Sounds with an Ultrasonic Detector" in
the July 1978 issue of Popular Electronics.
Though the circuit described would not
work for your particular frequencies, the
technique of heterodyning might be ap-
plied. If you have had any trigonometry,
you have seen this identity: (sin x)(sin y)
= V2 cos(x-y) - V2 cos(x-hy). Multiplying
a signal of constant frequency (y) by a
signal of varying frequency (x) produces
two signals having a frequency equal to
the sum and difference of the input
signals. If you choose 1000 Hz as fre-
quency y all frequencies in the signal x
would be increased and decreased by
1000 Hz. The component that is in-
creased in frequency would be rejected
by your friend's ears, leaving only the
lower frequencies.

The resulting signal would not be the
same as playing a record at half speed,
because that process divides all frequen-
cies by two. In fact, the resulting signal
may be less intelligible than the original.
By changing the frequency and filtering
the results, some intelligible signal may
be produced.

Books on operational-amplifier circuits
are available from advertisers in BYTE.
One such book. Design of Op-Amp Cir-
cuits, with Experiments by Howard M.
Berlin (Howard W. Sams & Co., 1978),
gives a circuit for multiplying two signals
together using two logarithmic amplifiers,
a summing amplifier, and an antiloga-
rithmic amplifier. A hitch in using the cir-
cuit is that a DC offset must be added
to the two signals before they can be
multiplied, since you can't take the log
of a negative number It is easy to add
the offset, but the resulting signal will
have components of x, y, and x+y left,
which may need to be filtered out.
-Steve

Whither Signals?

Dear Steve,

I enjoyed your article about the TVump
Card (May and June 1984). Your system in-
terests me because it improves BASIC ex-
ecution time, supports CP/M-80, and pro-
vides development tools. It also is a direct
demonstration of how to build quality
hardware.

I am interested in using the Trump Card
to run real-time data analysis in electro-
physiology. But before I can I need to
know several things. First, what is the exact
meaning of the connecting symbols in the
schematic? Second, I had trouble follow-
ing the signals in the schematic. Can you
tell me their origins and destinations? The

signals are HOLD, HOLDPC, LAI - LA 11,
MRF SH, R/W , Z, AD8-ADI5. BIOR, CAS,
INC, IN TOP. SPIO, MREQ, MUX, and
RESET.

F. Marion
Paris, France

The connecting symbol notation used
in my articles is as follows:

An arrow with a line emitting from its
point means that a connection to that
point comes from some other point in
the schematic.

An arrow with a line entering the flat
side means that signal goes somewhere
else in the schematic.

An arrow with a number in it means the
connection comes from or goes to an ex-
ternal connector.

A double-pointed arrow denotes an in-
tersheet connection.

Now that the connecting notation is ex-
plained, let's address your list of Trump
Card signals.

The HOLD line that goes to 1C24, 1C31,
and 1C10 is generated at pin 3 of 1C10 and
is sho wn on pa ge 48.

The HOLDPC line is generated at pin
8 of IC35 and goes to pin 2 of 1C10 on
page 48.

The LAI through LA11 signals are
gener ated by 1C5 and 1C6 on page 45.

The MRFSH signal is generated atlCII
pin 6. It does not come from another
source, as indicated on page 46. Also, the
line shown between pins 10 and 12 of
1C20 sh ould not be there, and the
MRFSH signal should also be connected
to pin IO_of IC20.

The R/W signal is generated at pin 30
of 1C1 and connects to pin 1 of 1C23.

The Z signal is generated at pin 10 of
ICI3 and connects to pin 9 of 1C31 and
to pin 3 of IC32.

The AD8 through AD15 lines are the
upper data lines of the Trump Card and
connect to all locations with the same
labels on pages 45 and 47.

The BIOR line is not used in the Irump
Card. _

The CAS signal is generated at pin 3 of
IC33 and connects to pin 4 of ICI5 and
pin 4 oflC16 (the arrows on ICs 15 and
16 are reversed}.

The TNC, INTOP, and SPIO lines are not
used.

The MREO line is used only as shown
on page 46. It does not go anywhere else
in the circuit.

The arrow on pin 1 of 1C1 7 should be
reversed. The MUX line is generated at
pin 5 oflC19 .

The RESET signal is generated at pin

13 of 1C9 on page 49.

Ihope these comments will make con-
structing your Trump Card a little easier.

-Steve

Trump Card Users Group

Dear Steve,

As one of the original users of the Irump
Card, I'd like to take this opportunity to
bring you up to date on current
developments.

We have a TYump Card Users Group
(TRUG) in San lose, California, and we are
in the early stages of setting up a Irump
Card software exchange on my BBS. I have
chosen what I believe is the best BBS soft-
ware, lorn Jennings's Fido system. The BBS
is Fido #13. With the support of Sweet
Micro Systems, much of the software that
comes with the Trump Card is available for
downloading. Also, one of the charter
members of TRUG, Lloyd Zusman of
Master Byte Software, has written some
nice C utilities and enhancements to the
C library that you can download as well.

Currently, we are running version 1.6 of
Zoom, the operating system that comes
with Irump Card. It supports context
switching on the Trump Card itself, but as
of this writing, it doesn't yet support con-
current processing between the Z8000
and the 8088. We are slowly working on
that capability and we hope to have it in
the near future.

We'd like to invite any and all Irump Card
users to call in and download what we
have. Also, we'd like to invite any of you
who are interested to help us develop a
nice repertoire of software for this nice
processor. We are ultimately looking for
a bunch of UNIX-like utilities to make the
Zoom system appear closer to UNIX, but
feel free to upload anything you'd like.

Call Fido #13 at (408) 923-5565.

300/1200 bps, 8 bit, 1 stop, no parity. Or

you can drop a line to TRUG, 3152

Penitencia Creek RcL San lose. CA 95132.

Vernon Crawford

San Jose, CA ■

Over the years I have presented many dif-
ferent projects in BYTE. I know many of you
have built them and are making use of them
in many ways.

I am interested in hearing from any of you
telling me what you've done with these proj-
ects or how you may have been influenced by
the basic ideas. Write me at Circuit Cellar Feed-
back, POB 582, Glastonbury, CT 06033,
and fill me in on your applications. All letters
and photographs become the property of Steve
Garcia and cannot be returned.

462 BYTE- |UNE 1985

^tjk Lyco Computer Marketing & Consultants,

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Rockwell International

OUR GROWTH CONTINUES!

Rockwell International's
Switching Systems Division is

entering into a phase of rapid
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Market acceptance of our
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As a recognized leader in the
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The following new positions
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CAD/CAM

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Experience

•TM Bell Labs
464 BYTE • JUNE 1985

System Engineers

• BSEE/MSEE, BSCS/MSCS

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Professionals

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Equivalent

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Rockwell International

employees benefit from exciting
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rewards. We offer an excellent
salary and complete benefits
package including company-paid
life, medical and dental insurance
for employee and dependents.
We also offer a choice of 2 HMO's
as an alternative to our medical
insurance. In addition, the
program includes 100% tuition
reimbursement (including IIT/V
on-site courses), 1 2 paid holidays
and a generous vacation plan.
Also provided is a company-paid
pension program and a 75%
matching savings plan and stock
ownership plan.

We encourage you to
use our toll free number

1-800-835-5567

between 9am — 4pm (CST) for
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If you are interested in any of
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please send resume in
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1431 Opus Place, Downers
Grove, Illinois 60515. Equal
Opportunity Employer M/F.

Inquiry 355

BOOKS RECEIVED

THE ABCs of Lotus 1-2-3. Bill
Kling. Glenview, IL: Scott.
Foresman and Co.. 1985; 432
pages. 21 by 23 cm. spiral-
bound. ISBN 0-673-15996-5.
$18.95.

Ada Software Tools Inter-
faces, Peter J. L. Wallis. ed. Lec-
ture Notes in Computer Science
#180. New York: Springer-Verlag.
1984; 168 pages. 16.5 by 24 cm.
softcover. ISBN 0-387-13878-1.
$13.

Apple Software for Pennies.
Bertram Gader and Manuel V.
Nodar. New York: Warner Books.
1985; 320 pages. 13.5 by 20.5
cm. softcover. ISBN 0-446-
38206-X. $9.95.

Apple He. Vincent Kassab.
Englewood Cliffs. NJ: Prentice-
Hall. 1985: 238 pages. 17.5 by
23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13-
039421-1. $16.95.

Applied Calc Result, Erik
Fagerland. Mount Laurel. NJ:
handic Software, 1984; 176
pages. 17 by 23 cm. softcover.
ISBN 9I-7880-OOI-5. $19.95.

Applied Programming Tech-
niques in C. Terry A. Ward.
Glenview. IL: Scott. Foresman
and Co.. 1985: 368 pages. 19 by
23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-673-
18050-6. $19.95.

Artificial Intelligence: How
Machines THink, F. David Peat,
New York: Baen Enterprises.
1985: 384 pages. 13 by 21 cm.
softcover. ISBN 0-671-55933-8.
$8.95.

Basic BASIC Programs for the
Adam, Timothy Orr Knight and
Darren La Batt. Blue Ridge Sum-
mit. PA: Tab Books. 1984; 124
pages. 18.5 by 2 3.5 cm, soft-
cover, ISBN 0-8306-0716-1.
$8.2 5.

Basic Statistics: An Introduc-
tion to Problem Solving with
Your Personal Computer,
lerry W. O'Dell. Blue Ridge
Summit. PA: 'lab Books. 1984;

462 pages, 13 by 21 cm, soft-
cover. ISBN 0-8306-1759-0.
$15.95.

Before You Buy Word Pro-
cessing Software. Dona Z.
Meilach. New York: Crown
Publishers. 1984; 208 pages. 15
by 22.5 cm. softcover. ISBN
0-517-55340-6. $8.95.

Business Applications for the
Apple II & He Under CP/M.
Steven Zimmerman. Leo
Conrad, and Donald Smith.
Bowie. MD: Brady Communica-
tions. 1985; 272 pages.
17.5 by 2 3.5 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-89303-354-5. $15.95.

C: An Advanced Introduction,
Narain Gehani. Rockville. MD:
Computer Science Press, 1985;
352 pages, 15.5 by 23.5 cm.
hardcover. ISBN 0-88175-053-0.
$29.95.

Children's Programs for the
Commodore 64, Susan Sutphin,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-
Hall. 1985; 190 pages. 17.5 by
23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13-
132499-3. $12.95.

COCO LOCO FOR THE TRS-80

Color Computer, Dale Peter-
son. Don lnman. and Ramon
Zamora. New York: John Wiley
& Sons. 1985; 136 pages. 21 by
28 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-471-
87921-5. $12.95.

The Complete Investment
Book, Richard Bookstaber. Glen-
view. IL: Scott. Foresman and
Co.. 1984: 416 pages. 19.5 by
23.5 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-673-
15952-3. $19.95.

Computation and Proof
THeory, M. M. Richter, E. Borger.
W. Obershelp. B. Schinzel, and
W. Thomas, eds. Lecture Notes
in Mathematics #1104. New
York: Springer-Verlag. 1984; 488

pages, 16.5 by 24 cm, softcover,
ISBN 0-387-1 3901-X. $22.50.

Computer and Microcomputer
Systems for Small Businesses,
Russell E. Wilcox. Phoenix, AZ:
Oryx Press, 1984; 2 56 pages,
15.5 by 23.5 cm, hardcover,
ISBN 0-89774-131-5. $27.50.

Computer Culture: THe Scien-
tific Intellectual, and Social
Impact of the Computer, Heinz
R. Pagels, ed. Annals of the
New York Academy of Sciences.
Volume 426. New York: The
New York Academy of Sciences,
1984; 300 pages. 15 by 23 cm.
softcover. ISBN 0-89766-245-8.
$66,

Computer Software, Scientific
American. New York: W. H.
Freeman and Co., 1985; 132
pages, 21 by 28 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-7167-1712-3. $13.95.

Cracking the "Peanut": Your
IBM PCir Companion, Hank
Mishkoff. Piano TX: Wordware
Publishing. 1984; 248 pages.
19 by 2 3.5 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-13-188319-4. $16.95.

Data Administration, William
R. Durell. New York: McGraw-
Hill, 1984; 222 pages. 16 by
23.5 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-07-
018391-0. $32.95.

Data and Computer Communi-
cations, William Stallings. New
York: Macmillan Publishing.
1985; 608 pages. 18.5 by 26
cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-02-
415440-7. $38.50.

Data Communications: A
User's Guide, 2nd ed.. Kenneth
Sherman. Reston. VA: Reston
Publishing. 1985; 464 pages.
18.5 by 24 cm. hardcover.
ISBN 0-8359-1226-1. $32.95.

Database for the IBM PC.

THIS IS A LIST of books received at BYTE Publications. \t is not meant to be exhaustive:
its purpose is to acquaint BYTE readers with recently published titles in computer science
and related fields. We regret that we cannot review all the books we receive: instead, this
list is meant to be a monthly acknowledgment of these books and the publishers who sent them.

Sandra L. Emerson and Marcy
Darnovsky. Reading. MA:
Addison-Wesley, 1984; 336
pages. 19 by 23.5 cm, softcover.
ISBN 0-201-10483-0. $14.95.

Digital Logic Design:
tutorials and laboratory
Exercises, John F. Passafiume
and Michael Douglas. New York:
Harper & Row. 1985; 128 pages.
21 by 28 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-06-045028-2. $17.50.

Effective Design of CODASYL
Data Base. George T. Fadok.
New York: Macmillan Publishing.
1985; 160 pages. 16 by 24 cm.
hardcover. ISBN 0-02-949530-X.
$29.95.

7He FFT Fundamentals and
Concepts, Robert W. Ramirez.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-
Hall. 1985; 192 pages. 18 by 24
cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-13-
314386-4. $26.95.

First Nibbles of the Apple
Computer, Melba Bennett.
Bowie. MD: Brady Communica-
tions. 1985; 288 pages. 21.5 by
28 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-89303-
456-8. $17.95.

'THE FORTRAN Cookbook, 2nd
ed.. Thomas P. Dence. Blue
Ridge Summit, PA: lab Books.
1984; 238 pages. 18.5 by 23.5
cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8306-
1737-X. $11.95.

From BASIC to FORTRAN.
Alfred J. Bruey. Blue Ridge Sum-
mit. PA: Tab Books. 1984; 144
pages, 18.5 by 23.5 cm, soft-
cover. ISBN 0-8306-17 53-1.
$9.95.

Fundamentals of Operating
Systems, 3rd ed.. A. M. Lister.
New York: Springer-Verlag. 1984;
176 pages, 15 by 23 cm, soft-
cover, ISBN 0-387-912 51-7,
$13.95.

Getting Started with
Microsoft Word. Janet Rampa.
Bellevue. WA: Microsoft Press.
1984; 312 pages. 19 by 23.5 cm,
[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 465

r

Votrax Announces*

VOTALKERIB&AP

New Industry Standards For Talking
Personal Computers. Exclusively
for IBM PC and XT, Apple II, and
Compatibles. From Votrax, The
Pioneer in Synthetic Speech Systems.

Until Votalker IB and AP, synthetic speech
systems for personal computers were like a
piano with 50 keys, an eagle with a broken
wing, and a singer with a two-octave range.
When Votrax developed the SC02 speech
synthesis chip, it was the classic case of
advanced technology in need of support
systems to unlock its dormant powers. Now,
Votalker introduces a revolutionary family of
text-to-speech translators — the key to the
lock. First members of the family arethe
Votalker IB for IBM PC and XT and the
Votalker AP for Apple II, Apple lie, and
Apple Plus. With Votalker these units play
the piano with all 88 keys. Soar through
unlimited vocabulary, using 32 inflections
and 4,100 pitch settings. Sing in five octaves,
and generate sound effects in 16 amplitudes.

A Newly Designed Circuit Board includes:

• SC02chip • speaker • audio amplifier

• volume control • external speaker jack.
The board operates in the host computer
slot, eliminating the need for serial ports and
cable hookups. Internal editing and smoothing
ensure clarity and integrity of speech.

The Text-To-Speech Translator sets Votalker
above all other synthetic voice products.
Text is generated through programs or
keyboard and translated directly into spoken
language. The sophisticated software on a
diskette offers: • unlimited vocabulary

• little use of system memory • exception
table that stores and accurately pronounces
difficult words.

Other Votrax Products — the stand-alone
Personal Speech System and Type 'N Talk —
are currently used in thousands of
applications.

Votalker Prices Begin at $179

Call Votrax at (800) 521-1350*

VOTRAX, INC.

1394 Rankin

Troy, Michigan 48083

(313) 588-2050

*ln Michigan, Call Collect
(313)588-0341

V

BOOKS RECEIVED

softcover. ISBN 0-914845-13-6.
$16.95.

A Handbook of Software
Development and Operating
Procedures for Microcom-
puters, Paul Holliday. New York:
Macmillan Publishing. 1985; 208
pages. 16 by 24 cm, hardcover,
ISBN 0-02-949510-5. $24.95.

ThE Hewlett-Packard Soft-
ware Catalog, Summer 1984,
Hewlett-Packard. New York: John
Wiley & Sons. 1984; 384 pages.
17.5 by 23 cm, softcover.
ISBN 0-471-81912-3. $9.95.

TVie Human Factor in Com-
puter Crime, Julia Van Duyn.
Princeton. NJ: Petrocelli Books,
1985; 168 pages. 16 by 24 cm.
hardcover. ISBN 0-89433-2 56-2.
$24.95.

THE Illustrated MS/PC-DOS
Book. Russell A. Stultz. Dallas.
TX: Wordware Publishing. 1985:
224 pages. 19 by 23.5 cm. soft-
cover. ISBN 0-915381-53-2.
$15.95.

Inc. Magazine's Databasics:
Your Guide to Online
Business Information, Doran
Howitt and Marvin I. Wein-
berger. New York: Garland
Publishing, 1984; 638 pages,
15.5 by 23 cm, softcover,
ISBN 0-8240-7287-1. $16.95.

Interactive Media, Diane
Gayeski and David Williams.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-
Hall. 1985; 240 pages. 17.5 by
23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13-
469131-8. $12.95.

Interfacing Your Microcom-
puter to Virtually Anything,
Joseph J. Carr. Blue Ridge Sum-
mit. PA: Tab Books. 1984; 336
pages. 13 by 21 cm, softcover,
ISBN 0-8306-1890-2. $13.95.

Introduction to Computer
Engineering, Franco P.
Preparata. New York: Harper &
Row. 1985; 336 pages. 16 by 24
cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-06-
045271-4. $37.95.

Introduction to Logic Pro-
gramming, Christopher John
Hogger. APJC Studies in Data
Processing #21. Orlando. FL:
Academic Press. 1984; 296
pages. 15.5 by 23.5 cm. hard-
cover, ISBN 0-12-352090-8.
$46.

Introduction to Robotics: A
Systems Approach, lames Rehg.
Englewood Cliffs. NJ: Prentice-
Hall. 1985; 240 pages. 18 by 24
cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-13-
495581-1, $29.95.

Introduction to Simulation
and SLAM II. 2nd ed. A. Alan
B. Pritsker. New York: John
Wiley &Sons. 1984; 638 pages.
19.5 by 24 cm. hardcover,
ISBN 0-480-20087-1. $29.50.

Introductory Theory of
Computer Science, E. V.
Krishnamurthy. New York:
Springer-Verlag. 1985; 224
pages, 15.5 by 23.5 cm, soft-
cover. ISBN 0-387-91 2 5 5-X. $15.

The Kaypro Plain & Simple,
William Houze and David
Lenfest. Blue Ridge Summit. PA:
Tab Books. 1984; 208 pages.
18.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-8306-1802-3. $12.95.

Learning BASIC on the IBM
PCjr. Thomas C Bartee. New
York: Harper & Row. 1985; 384
pages. 18.5 by 23 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-06-040521 -X. $14.95.

Loco Fun. Pat Parker and
Teresa Kennedy. New York:
Scholastic. 1985; 118 pages.
20.5 by 27.5 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-590-33243-0. $5.95.

Mac Multiplan, David Lenfest
and Linda K. Woods. Blue Ridge
Summit. PA: Tab Books. 1984;
272 pages. 18.5 by 23.5 cm.
softcover. ISBN 0-8306-1851-1.
$16.95.

Making MS-DOS & PC-DOS
Work for You. The Human
Connection. Blue Ridge Summit,
PA: Tab Books. 1984; 222 pages.
18.5 by 23.5 cm, softcover,
ISBN 0-8306-1848-1, $13.95.

Mastering the Commodore 64.
Mark Greenshields. Englewood
Cliffs. NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1984;
208 pages. 15 by 22.5 cm. soft-
cover. ISBN 0-13-559535-5.
$12.95.

Mastering Your Macintosh,
William Skyvington. Englewood
Cliffs. NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1984;
272 pages, 17 by 23 cm. soft-
cover. ISBN 0-13-559527-4.
$15.95.

Microcomputer Programming
in BASIC with Business Ap-

466 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 450

BOOKS RECEIVED

plications. 2nd e<±. George
Tsu-Der Chou. New York: Harper
& Row. 1985: 316 pages. 18.5 by
23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-06-
041298-4. $18.95.

Microcomputers in Education
Conference; Literacy Plus+,
Ruth A. Camuse. ed. Computer
Science Press. 1984; 480 pages.
15.5 by 2 3.5 cm. hardcover.
ISBN 0-88175-077-8. $3 5.

More from Your Micro
Charles Piatt. New York; Avon
Books. 1985; 192 pages. 10.5 by
17.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-380-
89529-3. $2.50.

New Computer Architectures,
J. Tiberghien. ed. International
Lecture Series in Computer
Science. Orlando. FL: Academic
Press, 1984; 304 pages 15 by
23.5 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-12-
690980-6. $28.50.

Omni Complete Catalog of
Computer Hardware and Ac-
cessories, Owen Davies. ed.
New York: Macmillan Publishing.
1984; 352 pages. 21 by 28 cm.
softcover. ISBN 0-02-008300-9,
$13.95.

Omni Online Database Direc-
tory 1985, Owen Davies and
Mike Edelhart. New York:
Macmillan Publishing. 1984;
336 pages. 21 by 27.5 cm. soft-
cover. ISBN 0-02-079920-9.
$14.95.

1001 Things to Do with Your
Apple, Mark R. Sawusch and
Ian A. Summers. Blue Ridge
Summit, PA: lab Books. 1984;
256 pages. 18.5 by 23.5 cm.
softcover. ISBN 0-8306-1816-3,
$9.95.

1001 Things to Do with Your
Macintosh. Mark R. Sawusch
and Tan A. Summers. Blue
Ridge Summit. PA: lab Books,
1984; 250 pages. 18.5 by 23.5
cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8306-
1846-5. $9.95.

PC Telemart/VAN LOVES IBM
Software Directory, Xerox
Corporation. New York: R. R.
Bowker Co.. 1984; 966 pages.
21.5 by 27.5 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-8352-1969-0. $24.95.

Powerful Projects with Your
Dmex/Sinclair. fim Stephens.
Glenview. IL: Scott, Foresman
and Co. 1985; 238 pages. 19 by

23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-673-
18038-7. $12.95.

Practical Programming in
Pascal, Kent Porter. New York:
New American Library, 1984:
272 pages. 18.5 by 23.5 cm,
softcover. ISBN 0-452-2 5568-6.
$14.95.

Problem Solving with
FORTRAN. Richard W. Dillman.
New York: Holt. Rinehart and
Winston. 1985: 368 pages.
16 by 23.5 cm, softcover.
ISBN 0-03-063734-1, $22.95.

Ready to Run Accounting
with Lotus 1-2-3 & Symphony
William Urschel. Sherman Oaks.
CA: Alfred Publishing Co.. 1984;
226 pages. 21.5 by 27.5 cm.
softcover, ISBN 0-88284-330-3.
$39.95. Includes floppy disk.

Resumes for Computer Pro-
fessionals. Arthur R. Pell and
George Sadek. New York: Simon
& Schuster. 1984; 128 pages, 21
by 28 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-671-
50338-3, $7.95.

Robotics and Artificial
Intelligence, M. Brady. L. A.
Gerhardt. and H. F Davidson,
eds. New York: Springer-Verlag.
1984; 722 pages. 17 by 24.5
cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-387-
12888-3, $62.50.

School & Home Guide to the
IBM PCjr. E. Murdock and S.
Sudbury. Englewood Cliffs. N|:
Prentice-Hall. 1985; 208 pages.
18 by 24 cm. hardcover. ISBN
0-13-793654-0. $21.95.

Software Lifecycle Manage-
ment: The Incremental
Method. William C. Cave and
Gilbert W. Maymon. New York:
Macmillan Publishing, 1984: 192
pages. 16 by 24 cm. hardcover.
ISBN 0-02-949210-6. $27.95.

Solving Elliptic Problems
Using ELLPACK. John R. Rice
and Ronald F Boisvert. New
York: Springer-Verlag. 1985; 512
pages, 16 by 2 4 cm, hardcover.
ISBN 0-387-90910-9. $46.50.

Technioues of EDP Project
Management: A Book of
Readings, Alan E. Brill, ed. New
York: Yourdon Press. 1984; 312
pages. 17.5 by 2 5.5 cm. soft-
cover. ISBN 0-917072-42-1. $29.

Tim HartnelLs Executive

Games for the IBM PC & XT,
Tim Hartnell. New York:
Ballantine Books, 1984; 312
pages. 15 by 22.5 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-345-31940-0. $9.95.

Using and Programming the
Adam. Timothy Orr Knight. Blue
Ridge Summit. PA: Tab Books.
1984: 128 pages, 18.5 by 23.5
cm, softcover. ISBN 0-8306-
1706-X. $7.95.

Using Small Computers to
Make Your Business Strategy
Work, Richard M. Koff. New
York: John Wiley & Sons. 1985:
408 pages. 15 by 23 cm. soft-
cover, ISBN 0-471-87502-3.
$19.95.

VisiCalc Made Simple, Thomas
M. O'Donovan. New York: lohn
Wiley &Sons. 1984; 168 pages,
16.5 by 24.5 cm. softcover,
ISBN 0-471-90457-0. $18.95.

The Wiley Science Calendar,
1985. New York; John Wiley &
Sons, 1985; 168 pages. 20.5 by

26 cm. hardcover, ISBN 0-471-
87849-9. $16.95.

Word Processing on the IBM
Displaywriter. ). M. Williford.
New York: John Wiley & Sons.
1984; 144 pages, 21 by 28 cm.
softcover. ISBN 0-471-882 56-9.
$14.95.

Word Processing on Wang
Systems, I. M. Williford. New
York: John Wiley & Sons. 1984;
130 pages. 21 by 28 cm. soft-
cover, ISBN 0-471-882 58-5,
$14.95.

Word Processing on the
Xerox 860, j. M. Williford. New
York: John Wiley & Sons. 1984:
112 pages. 21 by 28 cm. soft-
cover. ISBN 0-471-88257-7.
$14.95.

Working with 1-2-3 on the
IBM PC and Compatibles,
Richard Startz. New York:
Harper & Row. 1985; 144 pages.
18.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover.
ISBN 0-06-046426-7. $14.95. ■

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Inquiry I45

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 467

BYTELINES

Conducted by Sol Libes

Watch out Commodore and Atari. IBM is
rumored to be working on a low-end con-
sumer computer to be sold as a mass-
market machine. It is believed to be
Z80-based; employ the Microsoft MSX
operating system; and include ROM ap-
plication packages, a built-in disk drive,
and a port for a read-only laser-disk unit.
IBM is reportedly aiming at a $300 list
price. . . . Ashton-late is reported to be
working on a Macintosh version of its
Framework integrated software package,
which might be out by the time you read
this .... Zenith is said to be negotiating
with Morrow Inc. to distribute the portable
Pivot IBM PC-compatible computer under
its own name. . . . Expect IBM to bring
out a System/36 board for the PC AT and
call the system the AT/36. The System/36
is IBM's lowest-cost office minicomputer
system. The pricing of the AT/36 is ex-
pected to be in the $10-15.000 area

Intel is expected to finally start shipping
"samples" of its 80386 32-bit micropro-
cessor in August, more than a year behind
Motorola (68020) and National Semicon-
ductor (32000).... The 64K-bit RAM
chips, which were selling in the $3 range,
now cost less than $2 in quantity as IBM
canceled orders for more than 1. 5 million
chips. . . . Zilog has pushed back intro-
duction of its Z800 microprocessor (an up-
graded Z80) to this summer. The company
had announced the unit about three years
ago. Hurry up, the window is closing fast!
And don't expect Zilog's Z80000 32-bit
microprocessor to be released until the
fall, at the earliest .... Boeing is reported-
ly testing pilot-voice command recogni-
tion, instead of switches, for the 747 ....
Digital Equipment Corporation is rumored
to be testing the desktop Microvax III, an
eight-chip version of the VAX-1 1/780 (its
big system) for introduction next year. . . .
Prices of 1 200-bps modems are dropping
as the market reaches the saturation point
and 2400-bps units begin arriving. Many
purchasers are holding off, waiting to see
if the 2400-bps units take hold .... Texas
Instruments and Radio Shack are reported
to be getting ready to implement Digital
Research's GEM (Graphics Environment
Manager) on systems they will be an-
nouncing soon. Atari and ACT have al-
ready declared their intention to use it on

new systems. GEM creates a color Mac-
intosh-like environment.

Osborne and Franklin
Exit Chapter 1 1

Hurrah! With the way IBM and Apple have
been pushing competitors out of the busi-
ness, it is terrific to see two companies
return from bankruptcy proceedings.
Osborne and Franklin were both reor-
ganized, have straightened out their
operations, worked out arrangements with
their creditors, and got some financing.
Both are now active and in there com-
peting again. Give them three cheers and
some support.

Osborne has released two new systems,
which reportedly are selling well, primarily
overseas. Franklin is promising to release
a new system shortly.

It Was a Very Good Year

For many manufacturers, 1984 was a very
good year. Future Computing, a Texas-
based market research firm, reports the
following sales for the 1 5 industry leaders
(reported in millions of dollars):

IBM

$2750

Apple

710

landy

420

Compaq

300

Hewlett-Packard

260

Wang

2 50

DEC

240

Zenith

210

Kaypro

110

Sperry

90

Altos

90

'feleVideo

90

lexas Instruments

90

Corona

80

Epson

80

If someone had told me five years ago that
in 1984 one company would do $2.75
billion in personal computer sales, I would
have said they didn't know what they were
talking about. Boy, would I have been
wrong.

IBM Update

IBM has begun cracking down on dealers
who resell PCs to nonauthorized dealers—
the so-called "gray market." In an effort to
control this practice, IBM canceled 40 of

its value-added retailers and instituted a
policy of prohibiting lateral shipping
among dealers without its approval. The
net effect will no doubt be a decrease in
selling of systems at discount prices by
non-IBM dealers.

IBM was blamed for stimulating the gray
market by forcing dealers to order large
volumes of machines with lead times that
many dealers call ridiculous.

IBM is expected to reduce the prices of
the IBM PC and IBM PC XT once again as
some reports indicate that IBM has ware-
houses full of these products. In the mean-
time, an enhanced version of the PC AT
is expected in the late summer. IBM has
begun shipping XENIX (UNIX System III),
which turns the PC AT into a three-user
timesharing system. Several companies
are introducing plug-in cards that allow
XENIX with a 40-megabyte disk to han-
dle up to 16 users.

Computers for
Vision-Impaired Users

Maryland Computer Services, Forest Hill,
MD, reports that it has taken a Hewlett-
Packard HP 1 50 and enhanced it for use
by blind computer users. The computer
now speaks any information appearing on
its screen, allowing blind users to create
and manipulate material. The system was
created with the aid of several blind
engineers and programmers. A separate
keypad enables the user to review material
a word, line, or screen at a time; change
the speech rate; and even announce
screen enhancements such as underlining
and boldface. An optional braille printer
and software for blind users are also
available.

NEC has also introduced a version of its
personal computer in Japan that operates
as a Japanese-language word processor
with braille output. (This computer is dis-
tributed by the Y.D.K. Co. and the Voca-
tional Development Center for the Blind
in Tokyo.)

Apple Bytes and Pits

Word is that sales of the Macintosh have
flattened out and that even Apple's offer-
ing to lend a Mac overnight to prospec-
tive purchasers was not a tremendous suc-
cess. Looks like people are waiting for the

468 B YTE • JUNE 1985

software that will take advantage of the
Mac's hardware and operating system. At
the end of 1 984, Apple claimed that there
were some 300 Mac software packages,
but many of these existed only in demo
form, as far as I can tell.

Apple shipped about 275,000 Macs in
its first year, less than was promised, but
more than IBM shipped in the first year
of the PC (fewer than 100,000). But by the
end of IBM's first year with the PC several
hundred software packages were avail-
able. This was due mainly to the fact that
IBM had three different operating systems
for the PC (PC-DOS, CP/M-86, and the
p-System) that already had application
software available or that could be easily
translated from 8-bit versions of the oper-
ating systems.

The Mac being such a radical departure
from preceding products and its being a
very powerful and sophisticated program-
ming environment have delayed software
developers. Apple's promised stand-alone
development software is still not available,
and the 3!/2-inch 800K-byte double-sided
floppy disk announced last year has still
not appeared.

The street price of the Mac has already
dropped to less than $ 1 400 for 1 2 8 K bytes
and less than $ 1 900 for 5 1 2 K bytes. More
price cuts are expected shortly.

Also, reports have surfaced of interface
problems encountered by outside vendors
attempting to connect hard-disk drives to
the Mac. The problem appears to be in
the Mac's ROM, and there is talk of a new
version of the ROM for systems using
hard-disk drives.

There are rumors of the "SuperMac" in
development, based on the 68020,
Motorola's true 32-bit chip. It should have
true DMA capability, multitasking ability,
a color screen, and a bus for plug-in com-
ponents. There are also rumors of the
TlatMac," a portable Mac using a CMOS
68000 chip, flat display, 3 !/2-inch drive, and
internal battery. Expect at least one of
these products to be announced at the
next Apple stockholders meeting in
January. Apple is known to be evaluating
a new 5-megabyte 3!/2-inch Sony floppy-
disk drive for use on the Mac that can also
read and write the present 400K-byte disk
format.

The Apple He is also due for an upgrade
to use the same internal circuitry as the
lie with 128K bytes (expandable to 512 K
bytes) of RAM. This will soup up its opera-
tion. An 8-/ 16-bit microprocessor chip is
expected as an option. The case should
remain essentially the same. Expect it to
be promoted as an office machine, and

the cost of the He and lie machines should
be cut.

Almost a year after Apple announced
and demonstrated the flat display for the
lie, it began shipping the unit. This display,
in effect, converts the lie into a portable
machine, if you also buy the carrying case,
just one problem— Apple does not have
battery power for the lie. However, you
can buy battery units for the lie from the
following two companies: Power Systems,
Wayzata, MN, and Discwasher of Colum-
bia, MO.

While on the subject of the Apple, it is
reported that it sold 430,000 lis in the first
quarter of fiscal 1985 and that the II ac-
counts for nearly 85 percent of Apple's
hardware sales. Also, some rumors say
that Apple will change to 3 /2-inch drives
on the II later this year. The company is
expected to offer both single- and double-
sided quad-density drives storing up to
800K bytes per drive. Apple hopes that
this will put the II in a "business product"
class.

is the pc window
Really Open?

Windowing software for the IBM PC is
available, but acceptance in the market-
place still appears to be far off because
of a lack of application software to utilize
windows. The problem is that software
developers are unsure of which way to go
and a huge investment in time and money
to develop windowing versions of their
software is required. IBM's 'Ibpview is out
but of limited capability, and rumors say
that Topview-Il is just around the corner.
Digital Research has decided not to direct-
ly market its powerful Macintosh-like GEM
package but will rather sell it to OEMs.
GEM software-development packages
were delivered to software developers in
February. Microsoft has been demonstrat-
ing Windows for nearly two years and has
also shipped software-development
packages. The final product is expected
to be out this month.

Once software developers make a deci-
sion on how to proceed, it generally takes
them a year to create a product, debug
it, and get it to the marketplace. Since 'Ibp-
view, GEM, and Windows are all different
from the software developers' point of
view, many are sitting on the fence waiting
to see which product will succeed. By this
time next year, we should all know the
answer.

THE HOUSEKEEPING COMPUTER

Mitsubishi and General Electric will shortly
introduce home-management computers.

The Mitsubishi machine, using a pro-
prietary bus, will link sensors, appliances,
telephone alarm, temperature control,
and entertainment systems to a distributed
programmable microprocessor control
system. The Mitsubishi home-manage-
ment system is already being sold in japan
and is expected to reach our shores next
year.

GE will soon introduce a system based
on the BSR X-10 wireless system (which
has been out since 1979, sans computer).
Although not as powerful as the Mit-
subishi system, it will control lights, ap-
pliances, heating, and cooling. GE has
added graphics software and circuitry to
use a television as a monitor and a hand-
held remote-control unit to control
devices.

BSR already sells a software package to
enable the Radio Shack Color Computer
to communicate with the X-10 system.
PCjr, Apple lie, and Commodore 64 pack-
ages are expected to appear within a short
period of time.

And the Electronics Industry Association
has a committee working on the develop-
ment of a consumer electronics bus (CEB),
with participation from approximately 50
companies.

Random Bits

The Commerce Department recently
released a competitive impact study on
the world software market that found the
U.S. in very good shape vis-a-vis foreign
competition. They found that the U.S. held
about 70 percent of the world's software
market with a dollar volume 10 times
greater than either japan or France, its
nearest competitors. . . . Future Com-
puting contends that 50 percent of all per-
sonal computer software has been pirated
(unauthorized use of backup copies). This
is based on 4 5,000 responses from a mail-
ing to 70,000 households AT&T is

promising initial shipments of 1-megabit
memory chips early next year. IBM,
Toshiba, NEC, and Fujitsu are also work-
ing on 1-megabit devices with production
promised for 1987. ■

BYTELINES, news and speculation about personal
computing, is conducted by Sol Libes. the author
of numerous books and articles on computers. He
is the founder of the Amateur Computer Group
of New \ersey and a coorganizer of the Trenton
Computer Fair. He edits and publishes Micro/
Systems journal, a bimonthly publication for
system programmers and integrators. He can be con-
tacted do BYTE. POB 372, Hancock, NH
03449.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 469

WHAT'S NEW

NEW SYSTEMS

The FD-1000 kit for building an IBM PC XT-compatible computer.

PC XTCompatible
in a Kit

PC Designs' FD-1000 kit
lets you build a com-
puter that is compatible
with the IBM PC XT. The
FD-1000 uses an 8088-2
microprocessor with a 4.77-
or 8-MHz clock speed. It
features up to I megabyte
of on-board RAM, one
parallel and two serial ports,
a clock/calendar with battery
backup, a hardware reset
button, Princeton Graphic
Systems' amber mono-
chrome monitor, and all
necessary cables. Two 360K-
byte floppy-disk drives and
a built-in floppy-disk con-
troller are standard.

The FD-1000 supports PC-
DOS, MS-DOS, CP/M-86,
Concurrent DOS, and an op-
tional 8087-2 math copro-

cessor. It also has five ex-
pansion slots and 52K bytes
of user-definable ROM for
custom applications. Avail-
able enhancements include
a 10-megabyte low-power in-
ternal Winchester disk drive,
the internal tape backup for
the hard disk, and a color
monitor.

The FD-1000 costs $1650
in its standard configuration
and $22 50 with an internal
10-megabyte Winchester
drive. Contact PC Designs, r
8238 South Gary, TUlsa, OK
74137, (918) 481-1734.
Inquiry 615.

Kay pro's 16

Kaypro recently intro-
duced the IBM PC XT-
compatible model 16. The
Kaypro 16 uses an 8088
processor. It comes with
2 56K bytes of RAM (ex-
pandable to 640K bytes), a
10-megabyte hard-disk drive,
a 360K-byte floppy-disk
drive, and a green-phosphor
monitor.

Several software packages
come bundled with the
Kaypro 16, including Word-
Star, MailMerge, InfoStar+,
CalcStar, MITE telecommuni-
cations, MS-DOS with utili-
ties, and GW-BASIC.

The Kaypro 16 is priced at
$3295. Contact Kaypro
Corp., POB N. Del Mar, CA
92014, (619) 481-4300.
Inquiry 616.

Multiuser 16
Computer System

Inner Access Corporation's
MultiUser-16 has time-
sharing and multitasking
capabilities. It uses the
Motorola 68000 processor
running at a clock speed of
8 MHz; the 68010 processor
is also available as an op-
tion. The system supports 8
users but expands to

accommodate 64 users. '

The MultiUser-16 has 2.76
megabytes of floppy-disk
storage and Vi megabyte of
memory expandable to 16
megabytes. You can expand
the standard 40 megabytes
of hard-disk storage with
voice-coil seek to I giga-
byte. The motherboard has
eight slots. Included with the
system is the Mirage multi-
user, multitasking operating
system.

Suggested retail price for
the MultiUser-16 is $13,495.
Contact Inner Access Corp.,
517K Marine View, Belmont,
CA 94002, (415) 591-8295.
Inquiry 617.

DEC Offers
Rainbow 190

Digital Equipment Cor-
poration's Rainbow 190
is compatible with the rest
of the Rainbow family. It in-
cludes a 10-megabyte hard-
disk drive, 640K bytes of
memory, a monochrome
monitor, and a DEC Gold
Key keyboard. The 190's
technical character set ROMs
contain 96 letters and sym-
bols for scientists and
engineers.

Three software packages
come with the Rainbow 190:
MS-DOS2.il, WPS-Plus/Rain-
bow, and Rainbow Office
Workstation. WPS-Plus/Rain-
bow is compatible with the
word processors offered on
DECmate and VAX systems.
Rainbow Office Workstation
integrates Rainbow functions
with VAX and All-in-1 en-
vironments.

Single-quantity price for
the Rainbow 1 90 system is
$6495. The manufacturer ex-
pects the system to be avail-
able in July. Contact Digital
Equipment Corp., Maynard,
MA 01754, (800) 344-482 5.
Inquiry 618.

470 B YTE • JUNE 1985

WHAT'S NEW

NEW S Y S T E MS

KTX-1350N Videotex
Workstation

The KTX-1350N from
Sony lets you interface
with NAPLPS and ASCII
databases. In addition,
you can use the unit to
display composite-video
signals such as output from
video cameras, videodisc
players, and videocassette
recorders, as well as
high-quality RGB signals
from computer graphics
systems.

This videotex system fea-
tures a built-in NAPLPS
decoder, a 13-inch diagonal
Irinitron color monitor, two
standard RS-232C communi-
cation ports, Centronics and
Video/Graphic Printer ports,
dual 3!/2-inch microfloppy-
disk drives, and a full-size

Sony's KTX-1350N videotex system.

detachable keyboard. The
KTX-13 50N'ssetup and
operation are menu-driven.

You can select a system
communication rate from 75
to 19,200 bps.

Graphics on the worksta-
tion are 2 56 by 210 pixels.
The display can use up to
16 colors simultaneously
from a 2048-color palette.
You can also choose a split-
screen display feature.

MS-DOS and a 2 5-pin con-
nector for RGB superimpose
capability come with the
KTX-1350N. CP/M-86 is an
option. The KTX-1350N is
designed to work with
Sony's MDM-1200 'telephone
Modem and UP- 103 Video/
Graphic Printer.

Suggested list price for the
KTX-13 50N Videotex Work-
station is $3750. Contact
Sony Communications Prod-
ucts Co., Sony Corp. of
America, Sony Dr., Park
Ridge, NI 07656, (201)
930-6432.
Inquiry 619.

■

PERIPHERALS

UDS Series of
FasTalk Modems

Universal Data Systems
has bundled SignOn
communications software
with its line of Faslalk
modems. The models avail-
able include Faslalk 300, a
stand-alone 300-bps
modem; Faslalk 1 200, a
stand-alone 300/1200-bps
modem; and FaSIalk 1200PC
a 300/1200-bps plug-in card
modem for the IBM PC and
compatibles.

All models are Hayes-com-
patible. The modems feature
auto-dial/auto-answer, auto-
matic selection of pulse- or
tone-dialing modes, a talk/
data toggle, a built-in audio
speaker, and true call-
progress detection.

The list price for Faslalk
300 is $345; FasTalk 1200
and Faslalk 1200PC are
$525 each. Contact Univer-

sal Data Systems, 5000
Bradford Dr., Huntsville, AL
35805-1953, (205) 837-8100.
Inquiry 620.

Priam Hard Disk
for the AT

InnerSpace is a 5!4-inch
add-in disk-drive kit that
enhances the IBM PC AT's
storage capacity. The kit in-
cludes hardware, cables, in-
stallation software, instruc-
tion manual, and reference
guide. InnerSpace is avail-
able in the ID40-AT version,
a 43-megabyte drive, and
the ID60-AT version, a
60-megabyte drive. Both
models access data at about
30 milliseconds.

InnerSpace protects data
by providing automatic
defect management and
guards against data loss
with a dedicated head-
landing zone, shock mounts,
and spindle and head locks.

The ID40-AT is priced at

$2195. and the ID60-AT
costs $2595. Contact Priam
Corp., 20 West Montague
Expressway, San lose, CA
95134, (408) 946-4600.
Inquiry 621.

IEEE-488 Interface
for the Macintosh

IOtech's Mac488A can
communicate at up to
57,600 bps. It lets you inter-
face more than 4000 dif-
ferent instruments to the
Macintosh. The unit is com-
patible with all languages
that can access the Mac's
serial port.

Bus commands and pro-
tocol for the Mac488A are
the same as those used by
Hewlett-Packard computers.
High-level commands are
sent from the Macintosh
serial port to the Mac488A.

The interface unit's micro-
processor interprets the
commands and controls the
bus.

With the power supply,
manual, and 12-foot cable,
the Mac488A costs $595.
Contact IOtech Inc., POB
21204, Cleveland, OH 44121,
(216) 831-8646.
Inquiry 622.

HP-Compatible Series
8000 Disk
Subsystems

Bering Industries' Series
8000 line of hard disks
comprises 12 models with
storage capacities from 10.4
to 70.4 megabytes. A
3 /2-inch double-sided
floppy-disk drive with a for-
matted capacity of 788K
bytes is available as a built-
in option.

The Series 8000's Opt. 7xx
multiport configurations let
two or three computers ac-
cess a common disk drive

[continued)

JUNE 1985 • BYTE 471

WHAT'S NEW

P E R I PHERALS.

and share files. A dedicated
and a shared disk area at
each port support the basic
features of a local-area net-
work. The configuration is
set up by using standard
HP-IB/GPIB cables in a
cluster.

This disk subsystem imple-
ments HP's CS/80 and
Subset/80 disk-drive com-
mand sets. It works with HP
technical and business com-
puters, development sys-
tems, and personal com-
puters such as the Touch-
screen, Portable, and
Integral.

Prices for the Series 8000
range from $1790 for a
10-megabyte subsystem to
$6090 for a 70-megabyte
subsystem. The floppy-disk
option costs $300. A two-
port disk-sharing option is
$980 and a three-port op-
tion is $1280. Contact Bering
Industries Inc., 1400 Fulton
Place, Fremont, CA 94539,
(415) 651-3300.
Inquiry 623.

MicroTouch Screen
with Glass Sensor

MicroTouch Systems
uses a solid glass
sensor as the basis for its
continuous touchscreen. The
MicroTouch Screen has a
resistive coating bonded to
the surface of its glass
overlay. The glass surface
allows transmission of up to
85 percent of the display
light.

The MicroTouch Screen
has a resolution of 2 56 by
2 56 touch points. An in-
telligent controller transmits
touch data over an RS-232C
serial line to the host
computer.

The manufacturer pro-
duces the screen in 12-, 13-,
and 19-inch sizes. Single-
quantity cost for the 13-inch
size is $995. Contact Micro-
Touch Systems Inc., 400

The MicroTouch Screen.

West Cummings Park,
Woburn, MA 01801, (617)
93 5-0080.
Inquiry 624.

Thndy 1000 Hard-
Disk Upgrades

Osicom has introduced a
line of hard-disk up-
grade products for the
Tandy 1000. Fixed-disk
drives for internal installa-
tion come in 10- and
20-megabyte configurations.
External drives are available
with 10- 20- and 30-mega-
byte capacities.

Each upgrade package
contains the drive hardware,
a controller card, cables,
and the manual. After in-

stallation, your 1000 will
boot directly from the hard-
disk drive once you load
DOS from a floppy disk.

Suggested list price for the
internal drives is $999 for
10 megabytes of storage
and $1199 for 20 megabytes.
The external drives cost
$1009 for the 10-megabyte
version, $1229 for 20
megabytes, and $2239 for
30 megabytes. Contact
Osicom Inc., Suite 300, 18
Bank St., Morristown, NJ
07960, (800) 922-0881; in
New Jersey, (201) 540-0144.
Inquiry 625.

40-Megabyte
Hard Disk for
AT&T UNIX PC

40-megabyte hard-disk drive
for AT&T's UNIX PC system.
The B40 fits inside with no
modifications. It has an
average access time of 85
milliseconds.

Users can trade in their
existing drives for a $300 re-
fund for 10-megabyte units
and $500 for 20-megabyte
units. The B40 sells for
$2995. Contact Bell Tech-
nologies Inc., POB 8323,
Fremont, CA 94537. (415)
792-3646.
Inquiry 626.

Multi-User Disk
Server for IBMs
and Apples

The Multi-User Disk
Server from Space
Coast Systems lets Apple
II + , lie, and III, IBM PC and
PC XT users share the same
hard-disk subsystem. With
this unit, eight computers
can use a 10- to 84-mega-
byte Space Coast Systems
Storage Module. An ex-
tender unit allows connec-
tion of eight more
computers.

The Multi-User Disk Server
requires no communications
software and is compatible
with several multiuser soft-
ware packages, including
Great Plains accounting soft-
ware, WOSbase database,
Omnius 1-2-3, and SunData
bulletin-board communica-
tions systems.

Retail pricing for the Multi-
User Disk Server is under
$2000. Contact Space Coast
Systems Inc.. 301 South
Washington Ave., PO Drawer
2767, Titusville, FL
32781-2767, (305) 268-0872.
Inquiry 627.

B

ell Technologies has
developed the B40, a

472 BYTE • JUNE 1985

WHAT'S NEW

B

ADD-1NS

Solderless
Breadboard

The HB-7215 Titan
solderless breadboard
from Handy Products has
enough space for you to
build a complete computer.
It features a 63 14-pin IC
capacity of 48 distribution
strips and 5680 plug-in tie
points.

When your paper design
is complete, you don't need
soldering to insert ICs.
diodes, transistors, DIP
switches, LED/LCD displays,
capacitors, resistors, and
other components. Board
markings code the compo-
nent positions. You intercon-
nect components with
#22-24 AWG solid hookup
wire and you can test the
board by plugging in your
oscilloscope, power supply
frequency meter, signal
generators, and so on.

The HB-7215 Titan is avail-
able for $129.95. Contact
Handy Products, 7 Business
Park Dr., POB 699, Branford,
CT 06405, (800) 344-2639.
Inquiry 628.

ATH000

AT-Compatible

Motherboard

ATtonics International's
ATI- 1000 motherboard
is compatible with the IBM
PC AT. It has up to 640K
bytes of main memory ex-
pandable to 16 megabytes;
1 megabyte of on-board
memory is optional. Its 64K
bytes of system ROM/
EPROM is expandable to
128K bytes.

Other hardware features
include the Intel 80286 pro-
cessor (the 80287 is op-
tional), eight I/O slots, three
programmable timers, a 6-
to 8-MHz clock, seven-
channel direct memory ac-
cess, an on-board battery,
and a speaker attachment.

The HB-7215 Titan solderless breadboard.

Suggested retail price for
the ATI-1000 is $1995. Con-
tact ATronics International
Inc., POB 296. Mount Eden,
CA 94557-0296. (415)
538-2844.
Inquiry 629.

Multifunction
Memory Card for
T5andy 1000

The 4NI-I000 card from
Micro Mainframe lets
you add up to 512K bytes
of memory to your Tandy
1000, provides DMA capa-
bility, and includes an
RS-232C serial card. The
4 N 1-1000 also accepts op-
tional real-time clock and
mouse modules. This multi-
function card uses only one
of the Tandy IOOO's expan-
sion slots.

You can purchase the
basic 4NI -1000 with OK
bytes for $259.95, with 128K
bytes for $309.95, with 256K
bytes for $469.95, or with
5I2K bytes of RAM for
$649.95. Contact Micro
Mainframe, 11285-E Sunrise
Gold Circle, Rancho Cor-
dova. CA 95670. (916)
635-3997.
Inquiry 630.

3 Megabytes of RAM
on the IBM PC AT

Emulex's Mega Memory
board provides up to 3
megabytes of RAM for the
IBM PC AT. It fits into any of
the AT's 16-bit slots. The
board has a total of six
banks, representing 12 rows,
that you can populate with
64K- or 256K-byte chips de-
pending on your AT's
configuration.

Mega Memory comes
standard with two software
packages: Wait-Less Printing,
a print spooler, and Insta-
Drive, a RAM-disk emulator.
List price for Mega Mem-
ory ranges from $395 for OK
bytes of RAM to $5495 for
3 megabytes. Contact
Emulex Corp., 3 54 5 Harbor
Blvd., POB 672 5, Costa
Mesa. CA 92626. (714)
662-5600.
Inquiry 631.

Controller for Floppy-
and Hard-Disk Drives

The Xebec SI220 single-
board controller elim-
inates the need for separate
floppy- and hard-disk con-
trollers. It plugs into a full-
length I/O slot in the IBM
PC, XT, and compatibles.

The unit will support up to
two 514-inch floppy-disk
drives or two 514-inch fixed-
disk drives. It has a drive
transfer rate of 5 megabits
per second.

The SI220 has a micropro-
cessor-based architecture,
full-sector buffer, and auto-
matic seek and position
verification. Its program-
mable features include sec-
tor interleave, sector size,
and auto-initialize on power-
up or restart for floppy and
hard drives.

The SI 2 20 Integrated
Hard/Floppy Disk Controller
costs $295. Contact Xebec,
3 579 Highway 50 E, Carson
City. NV 89701, (800)
982-3232.
Inquiry 632.

Color Computer Data-
Acquisition System

The Data Gatherer from
Green Mountain Micro
is a 16-channel, 12-bit data-
acquisition system with an
on-board clock/calendar and
parallel printer port. The
system is designed for use
with Tandy's TRS-80 Color
Computer, TDP-100, or Color
Computer 2.

A ROM-based operating
system lets you program in
Extended Color BASIC. The
Data Gatherer is intended
for economical testing and
measurement, sensing,
monitoring, robotics,
laboratory control, and
music synthesis.

The Data Gatherer sells for
$330 assembled and $220
in kit form. The manual is
available separately for $15.
Complete with 64K-byte
computer, the system costs
$550. Contact Green Moun-
tain Micro, Bathory Rd.. Rox-
bury. VT 05669, (802)
485-6112.
Inquiry 633.

[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 473

WHAT'S NEW

SOFTWARE • A P P L E

Graph Numeric Data
on the Macintosh

With Engineering Tool
Kit (ETK), you can use
a Macintosh to record
numeric engineering data,
translate this data into
graphics forms, and
generate statistical reports.
The types of graphs you can
make include trend charts,
scatter plots, and histograms
(with optional best-fit
curves). You can plot a max-
imum of 200 points and
print out the statistics that
go with those graphs.

Functions provided are
multiple linear regression
and analysis of variation
reports (correlation coeffi-
cients, standard error of
estimate, F-ratio, degrees of
freedom, standard deviation,
and other statistics). ETK
also has a scientific cal-
culator with logarithmic,
'arithmetic, and trigonometric
computation capabilities.

The Engineering Tool Kit
runs on either the I28K or
5I2K Mac with single or
dual drives. Microsoft BASIC
2.0 is required. List price is
$99. An Apple II version
lists at $59. Contact Sof-
Tools, POB 8751, Boise, ID
83702, (208) 343-1437.
Inquiry 634.

LISP Development
Environment for Mac

Available as a complete
workstation or a stand-
alone software package,
ExperLisp brings a LISP en-
vironment to the Macintosh
512K. The program, a com-
plete implementation of
LISP, provides access to the
Mac toolbox, compiles
directly to MC68000
machine code, and has
three-dimensional and
spherical graphics capa-
bilities.

An ExperLisp Workstation
includes the software and a
Macintosh XL with up to 4
megabytes of RAM and a
10-megabyte hard-disk drive.
Workstations configured with
2 megabytes of RAM cost
less than $7000.

The software alone costs
$495. You need an external
disk drive to run it. Contact
Expet'Ielligence Inc., 5 59 San
Ysidro Rd., Santa Barbara,
CA 93108, (805) 969-7874.
Inquiry 635.

Demographics
on a Disk

What's the ratio of
women to men in
Baltimore? How many Viet-
nam veterans live in New
Hampshire? How many peo-
ple voted against the winner
of the 1980 Presidential
election?

Answers to these ques-
tions, as well as other
demographic data, are
available from People in
Places, an information pro-
gram for the Macintosh. The
package contains figures
from the 1 980 U.S. Census
relating to population, in-
come, employment, housing,
businesses, and vital
statistics. You can have infor-
mation listed or displayed
on maps or graphs. Data is
presented for each state and
region, urban counties and
rural areas, and the Census
Bureau's metropolitan
statistical areas. Some sub-
jects have comparative data
from 1 970 and 1 960.

People in Places sells for
$3 5. Contact Data & Infor-
mation Software Co., Suite
1633, 235 Montgomery St.,
San Francisco, CA 94104,
(415) 391-7670.
Inquiry 636.

Talking Apple II

For less than $40, you
can give voice to your
BASIC programs on an
Apple II. Speak Up is a
voice-synthesizer package
that requires no additional
hardware and packs a text-
to-speech converter into 7K
bytes. You can embed the
utility into your programs or
use it alone to pronounce
the text you type.

Speak Up has a suggested
retail price of $39.95. For
details, contact Educational
Micro Inc., 1926 Hollywood
Blvd., Hollywood, FL 33020-
4524, (305) 920-2222 ext.
620.
Inquiry 637.

Mac Communications
Package

Dow Jones Information
Services and Prentice
Corporation have developed
a complete communications
package for the Macintosh.
Called MI 2 5, the package
includes Straight Talk, a
POPCOM XI 00 modem,
phone cables, and a
modem-to-Mac cable.

Straight Talk communicates
with Macs and provides ac-
cess to Dow Jones News/
Retrieval, The Source, Com-
puServe, and other services.
It also supports MacWrite,
MacPaint, and other Mac
conventions.

The POPCOM modem has
a feature that automatically
sets modem switches, deter-
mines which cables to use,
and locates the proper
phone network. The modem
also has an auto-voice
feature.

MI25 retails for $495. For
more information, contact
Prentice Corp., 266 Caspian
Dr., POB 3 544, Sunnyvale,
CA 94088-3 544.
Inquiry 638.

Mac Cross-Compiler

Pterodactyl Software's
PCMacBASIC cross-com-
piler creates Macintosh pro-
grams from BASIC source
code using the Pascal Work-
shop and Mac Supplement
on a Lisa. The programs run
on a Mac or Mac XL. Two
configuration tables in the
Resource file, one for each
machine type, control mem-
ory allocation and screen
parameters. They can adjust
for screen and memory size
and compensate for rec-
tangular pixels.

Features include multiple
windows that update auto-
matically, Dialog and Alert
boxes configured in the
Resource file, sequential or
random disk files, and an
extended CALL statement
that accesses Pascal pro-
cedures and functions.

PCMacBASIC includes a
run-time license and sells for
$1000.

Pterodactyl has also re-
leased PC BASIC Compiler,
which has a syntax compati-
ble with BASIC A on the IBM
PC but also includes exten-
sions. It generates assembly
language and an EXEC file
to automatically assemble
and link. You can call Pascal,
assembly-language, and
Quickdraw subroutines from
BASIC. The compiler is avail-
able for the Lisa in several
versions. A protected com-
piler (unprotected run time
for one machine) is $2 50.
With a run-time license, the
price is $750. A cross-
compiler that runs on the
Lisa and creates programs
for the Mac costs $1000, in-
cluding a run-time license.

Contact Pterodactyl Soft-
ware, 200 Bolinas Rd. #27,
POB 538, Fairfax. CA 94930,
(415) 485-0714.
Inquiry 639.

474 BYTE • JUNE 1985

WHAT'S NEW

S O FT W ARE

APPLE

Mockingboard
Enhancements

Sweet Micro Systems has
released three packages
for its Mockingboard syn-
thesizers. These programs
let Mockingboard users
create customized speech,
speak in three European
languages, and access these
capabilities through BASIC.
Speech Development Sys-
tem (SDS) lets you add or
delete phonemes and ma-
nipulate the six variables
associated with each
phoneme. These variables

include inflection, rate of
speech, amplitude, filter fre-
quency, rate of articulation
transition, and rate of inflec-
tion transition. SDS costs
$39.95.

Foreign Language Rule
lables (FLRT) provides the
basis for converting text into
speech. The vendor has
developed a set of rules
that, when used with the
Text to Speech Algorithm,
enables the computer to
speak in French, German, or
British English. You can use
these rules alone or incor-
porate them into programs

that teach foreign languages
or are used for translation
purposes. FLRT which can
be used in conjunction with
SDS, retails for $24.95.

Developers' Ibolkit con-
tains utility programs to
facilitate development of
music, sound, and speech
software. Rule Editor lets
you print the rule table on
any printer. It works with
Mockingboards B, C, and D.
A new version of the Text to
Speech Algorithm accesses
a rule table located above
the normal 48K-byte mem-
ory, giving you more room

in which to place other pro-
gram code. It also works
with Mockingboards B
through D. Ampermock is
an ampersand utility de-
signed to simplify incorpora-
tion of sound and speech in
BASIC programs. It works
with Mockingboards A
through D. The toolkit,
which retails for $29.95,
contains five other
programs.

Contact Sweet Micro Sys-
tems Inc., 50 Freeway Dr.,
Cranston, RI 02920, (401)
461-0530.
Inquiry 640.

SO'F T WAR E • C P / M / M S - D O S

Program for
Programmers

FABS (Fast Access B-tree
Structure) Plus is an as-
sembly-language program
module designed to main-
tain key files for quick data
retrieval in large files. The
package has an auxiliary
program that lets you con-
struct tightly packed index
files directly from a data
file; the program extracts
keys from the nondeleted
records, sorts them, and
packs them into the B-tree.

FABS Plus does not sup-
po t paths to files when
using MS-DOS 2.0. Files to
be accessed must be in the
current directory. The pro-
gram reportedly has special
commands that permit its
use in a network or multi-
user environment. Features
include generic searches,
multilevel sequencing, and
support of duplicate keys (as
well as ASCII or integer key
types).

The vendor claims access
times of less than 1 second
on a floppy disk and less
than Vi second on a hard
disk.

Suggested retail price is
$195. Contact Computer
Control Systems Inc., 298
21st Terrace SE. Largo, FL
33541, (813) 586-1886.
Inquiry 641.

Development System
Under RM/COBOL

C /Script II is designed to
automate applications
development under Ryan-
McFarland's COBOL environ-
ment. You can use the
system to specify all data,
screen descriptions, and
program-specific informa-
tion. RM/COBOL source-
code programs are pro-
duced through the use of
maintainable skeleton files, a
data dictionary and three
source-code generators.

You can access applica-
tions produced with C/Script
II through the Variable Menu
System. Menu options are
arranged in a logical, hier-
archical structure. A security

system interactively monitors
all terminals and allows
reporting of operator activi-
ties. The package reportedly
lets you enter an unlimited
amount of code to cus-
tomize generated programs.
C/Script II runs on all IBM
PCs and compatibles and
other MS-DOS or UNIX
machines supporting
RM/COBOL version 2. Prices
range from $1540 to $5385.
depending on environment.
Contact C. S. Laboratories
Inc., 459 North Dean Rd.,
Auburn, AL 36830, (800)
626-0381; in Alabama, (205)
821-1133.
Inquiry 642.

PIP Utility

A system utility for inter-
facing to microcom-
puter operating systems,
XPIP combines functions of
many operating-system com-
mands with additional capa-
bilities. Once you've
selected a command and
options, XPIP displays the
correct command-line syntax
before executing the
command.

XPIP lets you display
directories with file at-
tributes, file size, and crea-
tion date and time sorted
by name, extension, or size;
search a set of files for the
occurrence of a string; per-
form arithmetic in any base
from 2 through 16; and ex-
ecute a list of XPIP com-
mands in a text file. You can
have any file displayed, 128
bytes at a time, in hexa-
decimal and ASCII. XPIP
uses English messages.

XPIP for MS-DOS or PC-
DOS 1.1 or later requires
128K bytes of memory and
at least one disk drive. XPIP
for CP/M requires version
2.2 or later and at least
44K. Both versions cost
$29.95. Contact System
Facilities Inc.. POB 7079,
Charlottesville, VA 22906,
(804) 977-5245.
Inquiry 643.

[continued)

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 475

WHAT'S NEW

so

F T W ARE • IB MFC

Local Network
on a Disk

LANLink is a software-
driven local-area net-
work (LAN) for IBM PCs- and
compatibles. Instead of re-
quiring you to install net-
work interface boards in
your computer, LANLink
uses RS-232C ports for all
network communications.
The logic that normally
resides on boards is on
LANLink's server and
satellite disks.

The Software Link ex-
plained that it has pro-
grammed the 82 50 universal
asynchronous receiver/
transmitter (UART) chip,
standard on serial ports, to
handle the same tasks as-
signed to controller chips on
network boards. Using these
ports, the company has
realized a data-transfer rate
of more than 1 1 5,000 bps.

The program is capable of
linking multiple servers for
hard-disk backup. It also
provides R-LAN, a remote-
access feature that lets you
interact with the network
through a modem in real
time to work with files, pro-
grams, and peripherals.

LANLink runs on all PC-
DOS machines and some
MS-DOS compatibles. A
starter kit that includes
modules for both a server
and a satellite is $495. Addi-
tional satellite modules cost
$195. Contact The Software
Link Inc., Suite 336, 8601
Dunwoody Place, Atlanta,
GA 30338, (404) 998-0700.
Inquiry 644.

Expert-Systems Shell

An AI package designed
for commercial users,
TESS (The Expert System
Shell) lets you build expert
systems on an IBM PC or

compatible. You don't need
to know Prolog or LISP to
create a TESS system; what
you need are facts, rules,
and probabilities.

TESS is a Bayesian-in-
ference shell that can also
offer some Prolog features.
You can load large batches
of rules into the shell from
sequential files. The package
is written in C.

The program includes
modifiable windows and
help facilities and comes
with tutorials and descrip-
tions of techniques used to
make expert systems. Mini-
mum hardware configuration
is a PC with monochrome
display, two 360K-byte disk
drives, and 2 56K bytes of
memory. TESS sells for
£650. Contact Helix Expert
Systems Ltd., 1 1 Ludgate
Circus, London EC4M 7LQ,
England; tel: 01-248 1734;
'felex: 296119.

In North America, the
package is marketed as Ex-
pert Edge and costs $795.
Contact Human Edge Soft-
ware Corp., 2445 Faber
Place. Palo Alto, CA 94303,
(415) 493-1593.
Inquiry 645.

GPIB Utility

Tektronix has developed
a toolkit designed to
simplify integration of an
IBM PC into a GPIB instru-
ment system. Called GURU
(GPIB Users Resource Utili-
ty), the package consists of

a GPIB interface board with
self-test and diagnostics, a
shielded GPIB cable, and a
tutorial manual.

GURU'S support software
includes a tool that lets you
generate a program for ex-
ecuting a prescribed test se-
quence without writing any
code. You can call and use
interactively a BASIC library
of 16 subroutines for instru-
ment selection and setup,
range and tolerance tests,
waveform acquisition and
storage, and waveform
graphs and statistics.

'fektronix plans to estab-
lish an application program
library for GURU users.

GURU costs $600. Contact
Tektronix Inc., Marketing
Communications Dept., POB
1700, Beaverton, OR 97005,
(800) 547-1512; in Oregon,
(800) 452-1877.
Inquiry 646.

Debug dBASE

A utility program de-
signed to help dBASE
programmers debug code
by locating control-statement
errors, dFLOW graphically
illustrates program loops,
IF . . . ELSE conditionals, and
case constructs. The
package produces correctly
indented listings for in-
dividual files and for entire
applications systems. dFLOW
also cross-references all
modules in a full system and
compiles a variable
concordance.

WHERE DO NEW PRODUCT ITEMS COME FROM?
The new products listed in this section of BYTE are chosen from the thousands
of press releases, letters, and telephone calls we receive each month from
manufacturers, distributors, designers, and readers. The basic criteria for selection
for publication are: (a) does a product match our readers' interests? and (b)
is it new or is it simply a reintroduction of an old item? Because of the volume
of submissions we must sort through every month, the items we publish are
based on vendors' statements and are not individually verified. 1/ you want
your product to be considered for publication (at no charge), send full infor-
mation about it, including its price and an address and telephone number
where a reader can get further information, to New Products Editor, BYTE,
POB 372, Hancock, NH 03449.

dFLOW works with dBASE
11 and III on an IBM PC, PC
XT PC AT, and most com-
patibles. Suggested retail
price is $129. Contact
WallSoft Systems Inc., Suite
869, 233 Broadway, New
York, NY 10279, (212)
406-7026.
Inquiry 647.

ATLAS Helper

Developed to help train
engineers and techni-
cians in the generation of
ATLAS (Abbreviated lest
Language for All Systems)
code, ATLAS TUtor elim-
inates the need for a test
station or compile facility.
The menu-driven program-
generation tool produces
code that's in accordance
with IEEE Standard 716.

The tutor leads you step-
by-step through the state-
ment-generation process.
Each ATLAS statement you
construct is stored in a user-
defined file so that the
statements are linked into a
test program. Proper punc-
tuation is inserted auto-
matically

Examples in the user's
manual are organized by
ATLAS verbs. The manual in-
cludes references to com-
ments about the verbs and
references to other structure
elements.

ATLAS lutor runs on an
IBM PC or compatible with
two disk drives (360K bytes
per disk) or one floppy-disk
drive and one hard-disk
drive. The price is $400,
which gets you the program
and manual and a copy of
the document "IEEE
Standard 716 C/ATLAS r fest
Language." Contact Dubert
International Inc., 8858
Glenhaven St., San Diego,
CA 92123, (619) 277-4700.
Inquiry 648.

476 BYTE • JUNE 1985

ft

icro

products
nternational

tlli 4/898-0840

."JitiM*

Flower Specials

'MhB New Hayes SmartModem Compatible! MiM

Finally a price breakthrough on a Hayes compatible, external 300/1200
baud modem. This low price is without
driver software, but if you need it add $25.00.
Call for a 26 page catalog of our special deals.
Look in this spot every month for Hot, New items h—EH
sure to catch your interest.

\%lA

• Huns me popular
Hayes communications software ^ ^J^

• FCC apprvd for direct RJ-1 1 connection

• All cables & power supply included for this
one low price. <to-7Q nn

MOD-8100-00 $Z79.UU

%>

IBM PC-XT SELECTRIC KEYBOARDS

volume purchase of these excellent Selectric type keyboards will bring the
"features you nave been wanting down to a price you can't resist. So many features
you'll love it!! • Single Key reset

• Separate numeric keypad . . . . . . ....... ,. ,,

• Separate "Arrow" keypad •';'■ ■ , . , ■' P ',
• Dimple marked "5", F, & J keys lP; '.'•. =

KEY- 1051 -00 Selectric $129.00 ' - "--i

KEY-1 050-00 Standard 89.00

IBM STYLE MOTHERBOARD

MJcroProducts announces a powerful new IBMXT type motherboard. 4 layers for superior reliability
& speed. Turbomodeallows 75%higherthru-put by increasing
system clock to 7.0MHz under sof twarecontrol. Designed to use
new 256K RAM chips or64K chips. 640Kmemoiy expansion does
not require useof valuable card slots. Many outstanding features
combined with our new 7 PAK Multifunction board make previous-
ly expensive options standard features at a LOW LOW Cost.
BOA-6068-00 Supplied with OK $349.00

;'y

'V*

«a

ADD-ON POWER SUPPLY

Power Supply with Fan and Power

Filter. Uses 140 watts, runs Hard

Disk & Tape Back-Up.

IBM Replacement type for Hard Disk.

New High Velocity Fan!

New Low Price!

POW-1 040-00 $99.00

Vb *>,

«

SUPER 12 PAK MULTI-FUNCTION

This one is really loaded! Features: One Parallel Port, One RS232-C
Serial Port, One Game Port, Real-Time Clock /Calendar with Bat-
tery Back-up, Expandable to 384Kof Parity-checked Memory, Sup-
plied OK Memory, all cables, PrintSpooler
and RAM Disk Software.

BOA-6335-00 $1 99.95

'Additional (9) 64K Memory Chips
KIT-8000-00 $ 1 5.00

V

Do it Yourself!

ink cf this System as a "Do it Yourself" System. Start by choosing

I Slots. Some of the standard Features: • 64K RAM expandable

3K • 4DMA Channels • Runs MS-DOS™ and CP/M-86™

fare not included) • Multi-function Keyboard & Cable

d Disk Ready Power Supply • And MORE!

3000-00 Only $525*/695

OEM*i245-Single*i495 Add-On H.D. & Tape

pe Case only

ol CAB-3065-00 $65*/99

at CAB-3068-00 $65*/99

h is is OUR Junior!

is "C/iVe/ess "workstation for low-cost Networking.
res: • 4-slot IBM™ compatible Motherboard
SK Standard Memory • 8088,8087 Math Co-pro-
r • Optional Floppy Drive with Controllers.

J100-00 $475*/675

System w/Keyboard, Mono Monitor, Video Display
128KRAM 1 Drive .. SYS-8725-OQ$895*/950

Complete
System!

NEW

Features!

MRAM Disk
MGame Port
1640K cpcty
PrintSpooler
Turbo mode!

XPC Tiirbo!

4.77 MHz to
7.00MHz!

mSer,Par

mClock

*OEM

Qty 1 2 %J

10 Meg H.D.

Complete System!

*1995 00 *

20 Meg Color

Complete System!

*2550 00 *

40 Meg w/Tape

Complete System!

v *3035 00 *
Software

• XWORD

• XBASIC

• XBASE

• XCALC

• XCOM

10 Meg
20 Meg
26 Meg

10 Megabyte Irwin on the

top, your choice of Hard Disk
on the bottom. Super ap-
pearance! Requires one slot
in your PC for SASI interface
and an extension connector
on the floppy card. Every-
thing else is supplied by us.

40 Meg $1995
105 Meg $4395
140 Meg $4995

Add-On Hard Disk

Two ways to go. The Internal system s cheaper because it does |
not need a P/S & Chassis. The same P/S & Chassis can be us-
ed for a 1 Meg Tape Back-up on your XTI

A

10 Megabyte
$ 595lnt/ $ 895ext

20 Megabyte
$ 795 int/M 095 ext

26 Megabyte
$ 995int/ $ 1295ext

40 Megabyte
$ 1295lnt/ $ 1595ext

105 Megabyte
$ 3795 lnt/ J 3995 ext

140 Megabyte
$ 4395lnt/ $ 4695ext

Check These Standard Features:

• Full-Size, Feather-Touch. Capacitance Keyboard, 10 Function Keys, Calculator-Type Numeric Keypad ■

• Parallel & Serial I/O • RealTime Clock • Game Port • 2-Slimline 5% " DS/DD 48 TPi 360K Drives •

•8 IBM expansion slots • RAM Disk • Print Spooler • 4 DMA &3Timerchannels •

• Full 640K capacity on-board • 8088 16-bit CPU • Monochrome Video Card •

• Up to 32K of EPROM (f ull8K supplied) • Supports PC-DOS • MS-DOS • CP/M-86 •

• Power Supply Hard-Disk-Ready, no need to add-on additional power •

• High resolution 12" Monitor. Green Screen, 22 MHz bandwidth •

Add-On 10 Meg Tape

SUB-8300-00 -

If your IBM-XT needs a little |
help in the Back-up category,

you wont be able to beat tfiis I

price! Cables, software and )
everything!

S495*/695 I

Not enough room here - Call for Catalog

f^ JT^^J MultiMedia Interactive
I/V\lM I <J Training Systems

INTERACTIVE

Video or Audio Tape Training!
That's Right!

Learn at home - at your own pace -
^otus 1 -2-3™ Framework™ WordStar™
BM-PC DOS™ dBase II™ Symphony™

SuperCalc™ BusinessMaster™

tlast! An inexpensive, convenient means of lear-
ng how to use a Computer and Software. With
is System you sit comfortably in front of your
jmputer. watch a demonstration, and then, the
ipe system (Audio or Video) actually IN-
FRACTS with you! Telling you what keys to
-ike, waiting for you to do the exercises at your
•n rate. As much practice time as You want. A
ice that you set. Some classes 10 hours in length!
intastic detail and tips! Call us for more informa-
Dn and practical demonstrations. Nothing like it
lywhere else!

I Wowing are registered Trademarks and their Companies: 1-2-3, Symphony - Lotus Oevelop-
it Company: MS-DOS. PC-DOS, Flight Simulator - Microsoft; dBase II • Ashton-Tate; WordStar
croPro International Corp , SuperCaic- Sorcim. Inc . ViaCaic • VisiCorp, Inc , CP/M-86 - Digital
.earch Inc IBM. IBM-PC. IBM-PC XT - International Business Machines.

Inquiry 278

Micro Products

POWER BACK-UP

Protect your Data! Datashield* is a battery operated Fbwer Generator which in-
stantly supplies even, uninterrupted AC ^^ratra^^M^
Power to a Microprocessor in the event of • .- -„

a Power Drop or Outage. Also provides
Surge Protection, which filters and I 32* e *'&x!y *

eliminates voltage spikes (surges) above

140 VAC.

200 watts POW-2000-00

300 watts POW-2050-00

. S299.00
.$399.00

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS

Micro Products is ready to serve your needs in several countries. EachOfficehas
Sales Literature, Local Pricing, Inventory and Technical Service available to sup-
port your needs. Thereare no problems with U.S. Export Forms.

HEAD OFFICE
Darryl R. Green

15392 AssemblyLane, Unit A
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Phone: 714/ 8980840
Telex; 887841 XORDATA HTBH
AMSTERDAM OFFICE
Cynthia Clark
Building 70, 4th Floor
1117 ZH Schiphol-East
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Phone: (020) 45 26 50
Telex: 18306

AUSTRALIAN OFFICE
8 Irwin Street, Bellevue
W.Australia 6056
Phone: 274-3701

TAIPEI OFFICE
William Wang

Suite 605, Worldwide House
685 Min Sheng E. Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: (02) 712-8877 Tlx: 21405
MARACAIBO OFFICE
Jim Stevens
Av.3FEsq.CalIe81
CentroCom. Maelga ■ Local 85
Maracaibo, Venezuela 4001-A
Phone: 061-913328
Telex: 62344 PEMIN
CANADIAN OFFICE

- -PENDING --

PROM LASER

This jsthS One! Our PROM Burnerallows reading, storing-to-disk, recalling, and
burning. Hi-speedalgorithmesburns 2764
in 45 seconds'.AIsohandles 2716, 2732,
27128, 27256. Features: Zero insertion
force sockets; On-board Voltage Generator;
No Interference with normal computer
operations.
BOA-8640-00 $199.00

MISCELLANEOUS $$$ SAVERS

7PAK Multifunction Floppy, RTC, 2 Serial, 1 Parallel, Game, RAM Disk

BOA-6250-00 $1 89.00

64K Memory Chips (9) NECf or IBM KIT-8000-00 $ 1 5.00

256K DRAM Memory Chips(9) = 256K KIT-9000-00 $ 81.00

Add-On Memory, (up to 512K) supplied OK BOA-6350-00 $ 99.00

Floppy Controller, Controls up to four drives, 5Vi " 48/96 TPI

BOA-6100-00 $ 95.00

Monochrome Graphics Card, (Hercules type}(1-2-3 compatible) 720h x 348v

BOA-6150-00 $1 75.00

Color Graphics Card, 320x200 Res. Color,640x200Monochrome

BOA-6200-00 $1 45.00

Clock Calendar Board, fits in "short slot" w/battery Back-up

BOA-6375-00 $ 55.00

Hard Disk Controller, standard ST-506 interface for DOS 1.1 & 2.0

BOA-8050-00 $245.00

300 / 1200 Baud Modem Internal w/PC Talk III Communications Software

BOA-8725-00 $239.00

Monochrome Monitor, 22MHz bandwidth, composite input or TTL
MON-1725-00Green/Comp 99.00 MON-1700-00Amber/Comp 104.00
MON-1775-00Green/TTL . 104.00 MON-1750-00Amber/TTL .. 109.00

Huntington Beach, CA 92649

714/898-0840

Inquiry 394

SUNTRONiCS C0..3NC.

12621 Crenshaw Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250

§€ ™E XT Compatible Products

CPU Board (w/128K) $350.00

Computer Cabinet $69.00

83 Key Full-Function Keyboard $85.00

Monochrome Graphic Card (w/parallel printer port) . $175.00

135 Watt Power Supply $129.00

150 Watt Power Supply $135.00

Color Graphic Card $129.00

FDD Controller Card $179.00

Parallel Printer Card $49.00

ASYIUC & RS232 Card $69.00

360KB DSDD (Slimline)Disk Drive, TEAC $99.00

IBM Parallel Cable S19.00

IBM Prototype Board S9.00

Apparat EPROM Blaster S129.00

MicroLog Z-80B Baby Blue II Co-Processor, Multi-Function

(Run CP/M Software, Require 64K RAM] $499.00

IBM Up-Grade Kit (41 64-1 50NS) 12.50 per kit

IBM Up-Grade Kit (41 256-1 50NS). . . . $65.00 per kit

10MB Hard Disk (w/Controller) $595.00

Hard Disk Drive Controller (1 M B & 20MB) . . . $229.00

IBM PC Mouse 5147.00

Koala Graphics Table (w/Software) 5105.00

Keyboard Extension Cable 59.00

Multi-Function(384Kw/64KRAM.1 Serial&Parallel.ClockCalendar. . . $169.00
Multi-Function (FDC, Serial & Parallel, Clock Calendar, Game Port) . . . $199.00

l -800-421 -5775 (Order Only)
(213) 644-1 140 (CA Order & Info )

STORE HOURS
Mon -Fn 9am to 6 p m

Sal 10 a m to 5 p m

TERMS VISA MASTEF1CAAD COD iCasr.OiCerW.e3
Check Required) Chech iAiiovm 2-3 Weeks (or Oeanngi
Shipping 4 H C S3 00 tor 3 LOS plus 50c lof each add Lb
Calit residents add CaM Sales Ta»S'0 00 Minimum Order
ISM and Apple are registered irade rnarxs 0! IBM & Apple

KippkZ Compatible

Products

Sun Z80 Card (w/o Software APPLE II & 11+ only] 549.00

Sun 80 Column Card (w/Soft Switch! 585.00

Power Supply (5 Amp] . 559.95

Cooling Fan 542.00

Floppy Disk Controller 542.00

1BK RAM Card 549.00

128K RAM Card 5159.00

Parallel Printer Card 549.00

Serial Printer Card 589.00

RS232 Card for Modem 599.00

EPROM Programmer (2716.32.64) 575.00

Apple Disk Drive (Full height) 5159.00

Apparat EPROM Blaster 5119.00

Grappler $75.00

SPECIAL SALE ITEMS

S-100 Single Board Computer (Z8QA) b/b $49.oo

S-100 Clock Calendar b/b $42.00

S-100 64K Static Memory Board (w/o RAM) b/b $49.00

S-100 Prototype Board (Sun-721) 59.95

12" Amber TTL Hi-Res Monitor (20m Hz) (for IBM). .. $115.00
12" Green TTL Hi-Res Monitor (20mHz) (for IBM) . . . $109.00
12" Green Composite Hi-Res Monitor(22mHz)(iBM&Appie) . . . $85.00

14" Super Color Monitor (RGB 654(H) x 490(V) $385.00

SKC DS/DD 5W Diskette $13.95 per 10

IBM PC, 256 K, One Half Height 320 K Disk Drive DS/DD,
Persyst Color Card, Taxan Green Monitor, DOS 2.1
PLUS a 10MB Hard Disk Sub System all for:

$2690.00

IBM PC, 256 K, Two Half Height Drives DS/DD, Persyst
Color Card, Taxan Green Monitor, DOS 2.1. 130 Watt
Power Suply PLUS a 10MB Hard Disk Sub System all for:

$2980.00

IBM PC, 256 K, Two Half Height Drives DS/DD, Persyst
Color Card, Taxan Green Monitor, DOS 2.1, 130 Watt
Power Supply, 10MB Hard Disk Sub System, PLUS
10MB Tape Back Up System all for:

$3579.00

IBM PC, 256 K, Two Half Height Drives DS/DD, Persyst
Color Card, Taxan Green Monitor, DOS 2.1, 130 Watt
Power Supply, 20MB Hard Disk Sub System all for:

$3360.00

IBM PC, 256 K, Two Half Height Drives DS/DD, Persyst
Color Card, Taxan Green Monitor, DOS 2.1, 130 Watt
Power Supply, 20MB Hard Disk Sub System PLUS 10MB
Tape Back Up System all for:

$3979.00

(We configure and test the system for you at no extra
cost.)

SOMEBODY Has To Have The Lowest Prices!

MONITORS

AMDEK 300

$135 nn

pns hy-19

$475 nn

pns MAX-1?

$ignnn

PGS SR-1?

$625 00

IBM MONO PRINTER ADAPTER .
PERSYST COLOR ADAPTER

PERSYST MONO PRINTER ADAPTER.

HERCULES GRAPHIC ADAPTER

HERCULES COLOR CARD

STB GRAPHIX PLUS II

TAXAN GREEN COMPOSITE _
TAXAN AMBER COMPOSITE _

TAXAN GREEN W/TTLPLUS

TAXAN AMBER W/TTLPLUS _
IBM MONOCHROME DISPLAY.
IBM COLOR DISPLAY

.$125.00
.$135.00
.$149.00
.$159.00
. $260.00
. $590.00

MODEMS

PRINTERS

HAYES SMART MODEM 1200 _
HAYES SMART MODEM 300 _
HAYES 1200B PLUG IN CARD .

QUBIE PC 212A/1200 INT

QUBIE PC 212E/1200 EXT

EPSON FX80

EPSON FX 100 _

EPSON RX 80

EPSON RX 80FT_

OKIDATA82A

OKIDATA83A

OKIDATA92P

OKIDATA93P

OKIDATA84P

OKIDATA 2410P

TOSHIBA P1351

NEC SPINWRITER 3550_
NEC PINWRITER 80 COL .
NEC PINWRITER 136 COL

BROTHER HR-25

BROTHER HR-35

_ $425.00
_ $625.00
_ $245.00
_ $295.00
_^ $299.00
_ $569.00
_ $399.00
_ $625.00
_ $759.00
. $1959.00
.$1295.00
-$1595.00
_ $699.00
_ $899.00
. $699.00
- $925.00

CONTROL DATA DISKETTES.

KEYTRONIC KB5151

PARALLEL CABLES

64K RAM UPGRADE KIT_

128K RAM UPGRADE KIT (For AT) _
IBM PC POWER SUPPLY (Original)
63.5 Watts -

(Accessories on NEC & OKIDATA printers available)

. $230.00
.$190.00
.$210.00
. $349.00
. $210.00
. $375.00

. $469.00
. $209.00
. $429.00
. $275.00
- $299.00

HARD DISKS

mMRSIIR SYSTFM INT

$R.sn nn

1DMR SDR SYSTFM FYT

$m9snn

1DMRTAPF RAHK I IP

*rqq nn

GENERAL

_$25.00/box

$189.00

$25.00

$50.00

$199.00

TANDONTM-100-2
SLIMLINE -TOSHIBA
SLIMLINE- TEAC 55B

MULTIFUNCTION BOARDS

(714)838-7530

AST 1/0+1 SER & 1 PAR

AST SIX PACK 64K, 1 SER & 1 PAR .
QUADBOARD64K.

IBM COLOR GRAPHIC ADAPTER _

.$179.00
. $269.00
. $269.00
_ $225.00

2640 Walnut Avenue, Unit K,
Tustin, California 92680

(Prices & availability subject to change without notice-
IBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.)

478 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 44I

What the world really needs

is a 99 cent

Double Sided, Double Density Diskette

with a LIFETIME WARRANTY!

And DISK WORLD! has it.

Introducing Super Star Diskettes:

the high quality diskette with

the lowest price

and the best LIFETIME WARRANTY!

In the course of selling more than a million diskettes
every month, we've learned something: higher prices don't
necessarily mean higher quality.

In fact, we've found that a good diskette manufacturer
simply manufactures a good diskette... no matter what
they charge for it. (By way of example, consider that none
of the brands that we carry has a return rateof greaterthan
1/1,000th of 1 percent!)

In other words, when people buy a more expensive
diskette, they aren't necessarily buying higher quality.

The extra money might be going toward flashier adver-
tising, snazzier packaging or simply higher profits.

But theextra money in a higher price isn't buying better
quality.

All of the good manufacturers put out a good diskette.

Period.

How to cut diskette prices
. . .without cutting quality.

Now this discovery posed a dilemma: how to cut the
price of diskettes without lowering the quality.

There are about 85 companies claiming to be "diskette"
manufacturers.

Trouble is, most of them aren't manufacturers.

Rather they are fabricators or marketers, taking other
company's components, possibly doing one or more steps
of the processing themselves and pasting their labels on
the finished product.

The new Eastman Kodak diskettes, for example, are one
of these. So are IBM 5W diskettes. Same for DYSAN,
Polaroid and many, many other familiar diskette brand
names. Each of these diskettes is manufactured in whole
or in part by another company!

So, we decided to act just like the big guys. That's how
we would cut diskette prices... without lowering the
quality.

We would go out and find smaller companies to manu-
facture a diskette to our specifications... specifications
which are higher than most... and simply create our own
"name brand" diskette.

Name brand diskettes that offered high quality at low
prices.

DISKETTE STORAGE
CASES

PERFECTDATA DIAL 'N FILE

Terrific! Holds 10 5V4" diskettes. Just flip
the lever and they all slide up for easy access
and identification. Grey with smoked plastic
front.

$2.75 Ea. + .35 Shpng.

DISK CADDIES

The original flip-up holder for 10 5 1 /i"
diskettes. Beige or Grey only.

$1.65 ea. + .20 Shpng.

DISKETTE 70 STORAGE

Dust-free storage for 70 5W diskettes.
Six dividers included. An excellent value.
. $11.95 ea. + $3.00 Shpng.

HOURS:

Human: 8AM-6PM CentralTime, Monday through Friday

Answering Machine: 6PM-8AM, All Times

MCI MAIL: 24 hours a day.

1 SUPER

STAR ■
■ DISKETTES ■

5Vk" 1

W 5W

SSDD

DSDD

.91 ea.

1 .99 ea.

Qty.50

1 Qty.50

Super Star diskettes are sold in multiples of 50 only. Diskettes are
shipped with white Tyvec sleeves, reinforced hubs, user ID labels
and write-protect tabs.

Boy, did we get lucky. Our Super Star

Diskettes are the same ones you've been

using foryears. . .without knowing it.

In our search for the low priced, high quality diskette of
our dreams, we found something even more interesting.

We found that there are several manufacturers who
don't give a hoot about the consumer market for their
diskettes. They don't spend millions of dollars in advertis-
ing trying to get you, the computer user, to use their
diskettes.

Instead, they concentrate their efforts on turning out the
highest quality diskettes they can,.. because they sell
them to the software publishers.computermanufacturers
and other folks who (in turn) put their name on them. ,, and
sell them for much higher prices to you!

After all, when asoftware publisher or computer manu-
facturer or diskette marketer puts their name on a diskette,
they want it to work time after time, everytime. (Especially
software publishers who have the nasty habit of copy-
protecting their originals!)

HOW TO ORDER:

ORDERS ONLY:

1-800-621-6827

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788)

INQUIRIES:

1-312-944-2788
FOR FASTEST SERVICE, USE NO-COST MCI MAIL:
Our address is DISKWORLD. It's a FREE MCI MAIL
letter. No charge to you. (Situation permitting, we'll
ship these orders in 24 hours or less.)

SHIPPING: 5U" & 3W OISKETTES— Add $3.00 per each
100 or fewer diskettes. OTHER ITEMS: Add shipping charges
as shown in addition to other shipping charges. PAYMENT:
VISA, MASTERCARD and Prepaid orders accepted. COD OR-
DERS: Add additional $3.00 special handling charge. APO,
FPO, AK, HI & PR ORDERS: Include shipping charges as
shown and additional 5% of total order amount to cover PAL
and insurance. We ship only to United States addresses, except
for those listed above. TAXES: Illinois residents, add 8%
sales tax.

MINIMUM ORDER: $35.00 or 20 diskettes. /

Super Star Diskettes. You already know

how good they are. Now you can buy

them... cheap.

Well, that's the story.

Super Star diskettes don't roll off the boat from Pago-
Pago or emerge from a basement plant just east of
Nowhere.

Super Star diskettes have been around for years. . .and
you've used them for years as copy-protected software
originals, unprotected originals. Sometimes, depending
on which computer you own, the system master may have
been on a Super Star diskette. And maybe more than once,
you've bought a box ortwo or more of SuperStardiskettes
without knowing it. They just had some "big" company's
name on them.

Super Star Diskettes are good. So good that a lot of
major software publishers, computer manufacturers and
other diskette marketers buy them in the tens or hundreds
of thousands.

We buy them in the millions.

And than we sell them to you.

Cheap.

When every little bit counts,
it's Super Star Diskettes.

You've used them a hundred times... under different
names.

Now, you can buy the real McCoy, the same diskette that
major software publishers, computer manufacturers and
diskette marketers buy... and call their own.

We simply charge less.

Super Special!

Order 50 Super Star Diskettes
and we'll be happy to sell you an
Amaray Media-Mate 50 for only
$8.75, shipping included. ..a lot
less than the suggested retail price
of $15.95.

#*

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Regular DISK WORLD! price: $10.95 ea.
+ $2.00 Shpng.

The Super Star
LIFETIME WARRANTY!

Super Star Diskettesare unconditionally warranted
against defects in original material and workmanship
so long as owned by the original purchaser. Returns
are simple: just send the defectivediskettes with proof
of purchase, postage-paid by you with a short expla-
nation of the problem, and we'll send you the replace-
ments. (Incidentally, coffee stained diskettes and
diskettes with staples 'driven through them don't
qualify as "defective".)

WE WILL MEET OR BEAT ANY NATIONALLY

ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES

SUBJECT TO THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

Suite 4806

30 East Huron Street

Chicago, Illinois 60611

Inquiry 1 47

JUNE I985 -BYTE 479

IDEAL FOR OEM MANUFACTURERS, UNIVERSITIES,
RESEARCH LABS ETC.

THE ULTIMATE PC COMPATIBLE ENCLOSURE

IDEAL FOR MEGA-BOARD™ XT OR ANY IBM-PC PC-XT
COMPATIBLE BOARDS

OEM AND DEALER
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

EASYACCESSU

FLIP-TOP-CASE™
OPENS FOR EASY
ACCESS TO INSIDE!!

Bus Expansion Slot

Allows External
Access To PC Bus

Blank Label Inset
For Your Company Or
University Name Here

EXCLUSIVE
FLIP-TOP-CASE™

Overcomes Problems
With PC Case

POWER SUPPLY

Mounts Standard
Half or Full Height

Floppy Disk
or Hard Disk Drives

Rugged Heavy Gauge Steel Construction

ONLY

$9995

ADVANCED KEYBOARD

COMPLETE

Full PC Compatibility

FEATURES: • Horizontal Return Key
• Caps Lock and
Num. Lock Indicators

Enter Key for Numeric Keypad

ONLY

$14995

Fully Assembled and Tested with One Year
Limited Warranty

DISPLAY

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
.CORPORATION ■v ,

. _J 400
DALLAS, TX 75234

(214)991-1644

TERMS: We accept cash, checks,

qualified firms and institutions. Prices
and availability subject to change without
notice. Shipping and handling charges
extra.

*IBM and IBM PC are trademarks of International Business Machines

480 BYTE • JUNE 1985

©1984 Display Telecommunications Corporation

Inquiry 149

CHOICE OF MAJOR OEM MANUFACTURERS, UNIVERSITIES,

RESEARCH LABS ETC. A THOROUGHLY FIELD proven design.
n._oi_«r,v.,i ._»»<, t. w. H|GH V0| _ UME PRODUCTION ENGINEERED.

• FULL /B/W PC-XT* COMPATIBILITY!

• FULL MEGA-BYTE RAM CAPACITY

ON MOTHERBOARD!

DEALERS AND OEM MANUFACTURERS
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

Standard Key-
board Interface

(Full PC compatible)

THOUSANDS

SOLD
WORLD WIDE!

Eight Compatible
I/O Interface
Connectors

(Full PC compatible)
(compatible with all
IBM-PC* plug-in cards)

_T

Special J1
Interface

(Allows horizontal mount-
ing of compatible expan-
sion cards for easy bus
expansion and custom
configuring) (Board has
62 pin gold plated compat-
ible connector)

X

Extended ROM
Capability

(Runs all compatible PC
ROMS) (Jumper program-
mable to accommodate all
popular 8K, 16K, 32K and
64K ROM chips and NEW
EE ROMS! VPP power pin
available for EP ROM
burning!) (External
VPP voltage required)

B.

G MEGA-BOARD™ — XT

BARE BOARD KIT $ 99.95

ASSEMBLED AND TESTED

SOCKETKIT $199.95

(LESS IC'S) (FULLY SOCKETED)
□ ASSEMBLED AND TESTED —

COMPLETE $499.95

(INCLUDES USERS MANUAL
AND MEGA-BIOS ROM) .

□ USERS MANUAL WITH THEORY OF

OPERATION, SCHEMATICS, BLOCK

DIAGRAM, APPLICATION

NOTES ' $ 19.95

□ MEGA-BIOS™ ROM (2764) FULLY XT

COMPATIBLE, MS-DOS,

PC DOS $ 29.95

□ HARD TO GET PARTS CALL

Hardware Reset

(Overcomes reset flaw
in PC)

Power Connector

(Full IBM* pinout
compatible)

8088 Processor

{Same as PC)

8087 Numeric
Processor

(Same as PC)

Peripheral
Support Circuits

(Same as PC)

Configuration
Switches

(Same as PC)

Speaker/Audio
Port

(Same as PC)

Wire Wrap Area

To facilitate special custom
applications!

Full Mega-Byte Ram Capacity!
On board!

(With parity)

□ 256K Bytes using 64K chips

D 1 Mega Bytes using 256K chips

Triple-tested, fully
socketed and assembled
with IC's.

Includes highest quality PC board
with gold plating, silk screen,
solder mask

Board Size 10.5 inch x 13.5 inch

FREE! Displaytel™

Exclusive.

Our Commitment to

Microcomputer

Education!

FREE Intel 8088
Data Book with each
Mega-Board™Order!

ORDER NOW!!! Fast friendly

f service

CALL 214-991-1644

EURO
CARD

Immediate shipment!
Most instock items shipped
same or next day!

10 Day money back guarantee
if not completely satisfied!

DISPLAY

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CORPORATION

££f ^ NG VALLEY R ° AD mon" S oVd^sTp P ircrase C ord^from

SUITE 400 qualified firms and institutions. Prices

DALLAS, TX 75234 and availability subject to change without

(214) 991-1644 notice. Shipping and handling charges

v ; extra.

*IBM and IBM PC are trademarks of International Business Machines

Inquiry I49

©1984 Display Telecommunications Corporation

JUNE I985 •BYTE 481

I nquiry 124

^■^ ^/^M ■ ^B ftlfllTPmi The latest CCT implementation of the new

^T^^f^n mm NYNI tlVI 9 eneration ,ntel 16-Bit Processor technology.

I H : l^#» » — gm, ■ — .Ti. This means extreme speed, unequaled power,

■ ■Ib l^'H^H ^FR I F^ and the ultimate in reliability, and of course, the

^0 ^0 M ■ vLlllLv innovators at CCT behind it.

This series in the CCT line exploits the speed and power of the I ntel 80286 and Zilog Z-80H (8MHz), on the 286Z CPU
board. This combination, along with CompuPro DM Acontrollers and I/O boards, yields a dramatic improvement in system
throughput speeds, from basic CP/M operation, up to large powerful multi-user/multi-tasking machines. The CCT-4
represents the most advanced hardware presently available in a microcomputer to run the thousands of CP/M type
software programs on the market, and with CONCURRENT DOS 8-16 and the CompuPro PC Graphics board (when
available), all software written for the IBM PC machines. This series is for the serious business/scientific user.

CCT-4A State-of-the-art power in it's basic form. Consists of CCT-286Z CPU board and CCT-M256 (256K), along with Com-
puPro: Enclosure 2 Desk (21 slot MF), Disk 1A, System Support 1, Interfacer 4, the CCT-2.4 floppy drive system, and
CP/M 80 and CP/M 86, and with SF-200 surge suppressor system $5,495.00

CCT-4B Single-user/hard disk power. As the 4A, except priced without the CCT-2.4, to add in your choice of CCT hard/floppy

combination drive subsystem, at the published pricing $4,375.00

(Example: CCT-4B Mainframe with CCT-10/1 = $6,548.00) Plus cost of selected drive subsystem

CCT-4C Multi-user/hard disk power. As the 4B, with the CCT-M512 (512K static RAM board) instead of M256; Interfacer 3 in-
stead of Interfacer 4; SF-400 instead of SF-200, plus Concur. DOS 8-16 O.S (6 user system) $6,075.00

(Example: CCT-4C Mainframe with CCT-40/1 = $9, 248.00) Plus cost of selected drive subs v stem

Y^C© Limited Time Offer - FREE Supercalc 86 with any CCT-4

V$%&^ The above systems include all necessary cabling, assembly, testing, minimum 20 hour burn-in,
^ ^ and the CCT unconditional 12 month direct warranty.

CCT-M512 CCT introduces it's 512K static RAM board. IEEE Standard 12MHz. 512K in one slot! Introductory Price: $1 ,899
CCT-M256 256K version of M512 upgradeable to full 512K. Perfect 256K RAM board for any CompuPro system $979

CUSTOM COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY / BOX 4160 / SED0NA, ARIZONA 86340

TOLL FREE ORDERING: 800-222-8686 / For technical support / service: 602-282-6299

WE LOCALLY DEVELOP
& MANUFACTURE

SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES

WITH ONE YEAR WARRANTY
& PROMPT LOCAL SERVICE

SW70W

SW138 (XT200W)

SW150

$3& S4

CONN

R1 & R 1A

ITEM

FOR

+5V -5V

-12V

+ 12V

-12V

+ 24V

+8V ±16V WxDxHin.

TERMINALS

PRICE

SW40W TERM. & 2 ALPS DRIVES 2.5A - 2/2.5A pk.

SW70W APPLE II s , l!+ 7A .3A 2.5/3.5A pk.

SW80W PC WITH SOFT DRIVES 8A .3A 3/4A pk.

SW138 IBM PC-XT* P/S RPLCMNT 15A 1.0A 4/6A pk.

XT200W XT W/2 HARD DISKS 20A 1.0A 7/9A pk.

.3A

.3A
.3A
1.0A
1.0A

6.3 x 3.9 x 1.9
9.6 x 4 x 2.4

7.4 x 4.5 x 2.3

9.5 x 5.6 x 4.6
SAME AS SW138

MOLEX 5051
MOLEX 126-P1
MOLEX 2139
MOLEX, AMP.
MOLEX, AMR

$ 49.95

59.95

74.95

129.95

189.95

S 3
S 4

R1

R1A
c 64

SPECS. OF ABOVE SWITCHERS: 1 17/220 VAC SELECTABLE, INPUT 90-132 VAC/180-275 VAC, EFFIC. 75% TYPICAL, LINE REGUL. 0.3%, LOAD
REGUL. 1% ON +5V, 5% ON OTHER VOLTAGES, 6.2 OVP SETTING ON +5V, OVERLOAD & SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECT, LOW OUTPUT RIPPLE &
NOISE, 1% MAX, 50,000 HRS. MTBF RELIABILITY, UL, FCC & VDE SAFETY & NOISE STANDARDS.

FOR S- 100, 10 SLOTS 5A 1A * - - 5/7A pk. 12A 3A 10x6x5 SOLDER POST

FOR S- 100, 6 SLOTS 4A 1A * - - 4/5A pk. 8A 2.5A 8.4x5x4.8 SOLDER POST

2 FLOPPY DRIVES 3A .5A * - 3/4A pk. - - 8 x 4 x 3.4 SOLDER POST

APPLE II PC® 3A .5A 3/4Apk. - .5A - - - 8x4x3.4 SOLDER POST

COMPATIBLE TO COMMODORE C64 (OR C+4)* POWER SUPPLY: +5V/1.7A, 9 VAC/1A & 117 VAC IN, POTTED, U/L & CSA.

$105.95
89.95
44.95
46.95
19.95

•: +24 V CAN BE CHANGED TO + 12V BY FACTORY, PLEASE SPECIFY WHEN YOU ORDER.

THE ABOVE 5 LINEAR P/S ARE WITH 3% LOAD REGUL., OVP ON +5V, FUSED: INPUT & OUTPUTS.

UNINTERRUPTIBLE A. C. POWER SUPPLY: ups- 9 ow @ $299.95 & ups- 2 oow @ $399.95 ea. «&>>

qa\/pq vni 1 PPnM 1 oqim^ nATA niiniwri a r pouupp i imp

SAVES YOU FROM LOSING DATA DURING A.C. POWER LINE
FAILURES OR TRANSIENT OVER VOLTAGES CAUSED BY OFFICE
EQUIPMENT, HOME APPLIANCES, LIGHTNING, ETC., SPECS:
CUT-IN VOLTAGE, 102V; TRANSFER BACK TO LINE, 106V; BAT-
TERY BACKUP IN 4 MS TYPICAL, OUTPUT VOLTAGE 102- 132V
STEPPED SINE WAVEFORM, BATTERY OPERATING PERIOD; 5
MIN. AT FULL LOAD & 15 MIN. AT HALF LOAD, EXTERNAL 12 V
BATTERY TERMINALS, ALARM ALERT, FULL PROTECTIONS
ONE-YEAR WARRANTY. UPS-90W IDEAL FOR APPLE'S PC WITH
MONITOR; UPS 200W IDEAL FOR IBM PC/XT/ AT WITH MONITOR.

SHIPPING $16.00 EA.
SIZE: 4H x 6W x 9L

SHIPPING:

FOR EA. POWER SUPPLY: $6.00 IN CALIF.;
$8.00 IN OTHER STATES; $18.00 IN CANADA.
FOR EA. TRANSFORMER: $6.00 IN ALL
STATES; $12.00 IN CANADA. CALIF.
RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX.

UPS-90W UPS-200W

IBM PC/PC-XT* APPLE ll/lll* & COMMODORE C64/C+4® ARE TRADEMARKS OF IBM CORP., APPLE COMPUTER INC. & COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES, RESPECTIVELY.

MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. BOX 4296
TORRANCE, CA 90510

TELEX: 182558

SUNNY INTERNATIONAL
IN BUSINESS SINCE 1975
(213)328-2425 MON-FRI 8:30-5:30 L

482 B YTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 393

CCT

CUSTOM COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY

TOLL-FREE

ORDERING:

800-222-8686

FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT/ 1 CCT PLAZA — P.O. BOX 4160 — SEDONA, ARIZONA 86340

SERVICE / IN ARIZONA.' Purchase your Hardware and Software directly from an OEM / Systems Integrator. Take advantage of our buying power! We stock a

conn full line of Board Level Components, Software and Peripherals. Call for your needs. We'll give you the Lowest Prices, and the Technical

602-282-6299 Support and Know-How we are quickly becoming well-known for Satisfied Customers Nationwide. The Nation's Custom Systems House
for Business, Education and Science. Call for a system quote. CCT implements tomorrow's technology today!

• FOREMOST QUALITY • ADVANCED SUPPORT • REASONABLE COST •

- HP

CCT

©

ompuPro

80286 NOW!

□ CCT-286Z is our model designation
for the MI-286 dual processor board
fromMacrotech.ltfeaturesthesuper
high speed combination of Z-80H and
80286, with provision for the 80287
math chip. Directly replaces 8085/88
and 8086 CPUs running CP/M, MP/M
Concurrent DOS, and MS-DOS, at
throughput increases of 3X to 5X!
SPECIAL PRICE -$995
80287 Option -Installed -$250

SEE THE CCT-4 SERIES

USING THIS BOARD

DETAILED ON THE FACING PAGE

NEW-TRUE

IBM PC INTERFACE

ULTRA HI-RES GRAPHICS!

CCT S-100/PC is a break-through for the
Science/ Business user. Mini-enclosure ac-
cepts PC & compatable boards and direct-
ly connects to your S-100 system, running
PC-DOS or Concurrent DOS. Hercules™
Graphics System— Coming this May!
II THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!!

LIBERTY TERMINALS

• Superior Reliability •
110-14" GREEN-80/132 Column .... $499

110-14" AMBER $519

200-14" GREEN-80/132 Super Deluxe $569
200-14" AMBER $589

OKIDATA PRINTERS - Top Quality

82 -80 Col... $329 83 -132 Col... $619
92 -80 Col... $429 93 -132 Col... $659
84 - 132 Col/200cps-Top of the Line . $799
For Serial Interfaces - Add $100

TOSHIBA P351 - 288 CPS/24 PIN - $1499

DIABLO — Letter Quality Series
Model 620 . . $969 Model 630 . . $1799

WE HAVE ALL SOFTWARE-CALL

$ ACROSS THE BOARD PRICE REDUCTIONS $

INDUSTRIAL GRAOE
SUPERIOR QUALITY

CCT DISK DRIVE SYSTEMS

S-100 HARD DISK SUBSYSTEMS

ROLLS ROYCES OF
THE INDUSTRY

Professionally engineered ST-506 type systems for the business market S-100 Computer user. In-
cludes industry top quality drives, CompuPro Disk 3 DMA controller, all cabling, A&T, formatted,
burned-in. Provisions for uptotwo hard disks in each system. We include operating system update.
CP/M 80, CP/M 86, CP/M 8-16, MP/M 8-16, CP/M 68K. (/1 Systems are CCT innovated hard/floppy
combinations, with Mitsubishi DSDD 8" drive.) 12 month warranty.
CCT-10(11 + MEG) . . . : $1499 CCT-10/1 $2049

CCT-20(22 + MEG) $2019

CCT-40(36+ MEG) $2499

CCT-60 (58 + MEG) (New) $3699

CCT-90(87 + MEG) (New) $4909

CCT-125(123 + MEG)(New) $6099

NEW

CCT-20/1 $2569

CCT-40/1 $3049

CCT-60/1 $4249

CCT-90/1 $5459

CCT-125/1 $6649

10 MEG REMOVABLE CARTRIDGE DRIVE SYSTEM

for hard disk back-up — DMA using Disk 3 controller.
Super fast/Ultra reliable — Available April

CCT-2.4 • Dual 8" DSDD FL0PPY SYSTEMS C CT-5 • 514" DSDD

Mitusbishi 2. 4 Megabyte in Extra Heavy horizontal enclosure, IBM Compatible Tandon 320K. Extra Heavy Cabinet
removeable filter air system, all cabling, A&T, Burned in. The accommodates two drives, hard orf loppy. All cabling, A&T,

fastest system available: $1229 Burned-in. Perfect for our PC-DOS Package .... $399

CCT-8/5 • FULL IBM COMPATABILITY

One Mitsubishi 8" DSDD (1 .2 Meg)/One 5-V4 " DSDD (360K) IBM Drive

Both 3mssteprate — For Concurrent DOS and PC DOS $1029

• SUPER PRICES * COMPUPRO COMPONENTS* IN STOCK *

CPU-Z-$229 • Disk 1A- $399 • Disk 1A w/CP/M - $499 • CPU 8086/10 - $359 • SPU-Z-?

CPU 8085/88 -$229 • CPU 286 -$849 • CPU 68K - 10Mhz - $359

PC Graphics -$399 • Disk 3 -$459 • RAM 22 (256K) - $1179 • RAM 23/64K - $309/128K - $579

NEW - M-Drive/H - 512K - $599 / 2 Meg - $2099

Enclosure 2 Desk -$699/Rack- $749 • Interfaced -$409 • Interfaced -$289 • System Support 1 - $299

Concurrent DOS 8-16 (CCTCMX) - $309 • CP/M 80 (CCTHMX) - $125 • CP/M 86 (CCFTMX) - $175

CP/M 8-16 (CCTTMX)- $199 • CP/M 68K (CCTCX) - $279 • Operating System Updates/Remakes -$30

16 Bit Upgrade Kit: CP/M 86, RAM 23, System Support 1, Cable $729 D CP/M 8-16 • Kit - $753

CCT-1 - ENTRY LEVEL S-100 BUSINESS SYSTEM

• Enclosure 2-Desk-21 Slot Mainframe «
CPU 8085/88 - 6Mhz 8085/8Mhz8088 •

• Disk 1A - DMA Floppy Disk Controller <

• RAM 23 - 64K Static RAM - 12Mhz •

• Interfaced -3 Serial/2 Parallel I/O •

• CCT-2.4-Dual 8" Mitsubishi
DSDD Drive System - 2.4 Megabytes •

• CP/M 80- 2.2 HMX- CCT Modified •

• All Cabling, Complete CCT Assembly,
Testing, and Minimum 20 Hour Burn-in •

SPECIAL PRICE

$3^75

RUNS ALL STANDARD 8" CP/M SOFTWARE - INCLUDES OUR EXCLUSIVE 12 MONTH DIRECT WARRANTY

Prices & availability subject to change. All products new, and carry full manufacturer's warranties. Call for catalog. Free technical help to anyone. All products we sell are CCT individually tested
and set up for your system - Plug-In & Go! Arizona residents add sales tax. CCT® Trademark — Custom Computer Technology; MS-DOS® Trademark — Microsoft; IBM® Trademark —
International Business Machines; CompuPro® Trademark — W.J. Godbout; CP/M® MP/M® Trademarks — Digital Research; HERCULES™ Trademark — Hercules ComputerTechnology

Inquiry I25

IUNE 1985 -BYTE 483

100% GUARANTEED ICs - MONEY BACK!

1-800-245-2235

SPECIALS*

14164 250ns .75

(4164 200ns

9/11.50

41256 150ns

7.50

MISCELLANEOUS

DS0026
AY5-1013

AY3-1015

MCI408

PR! 472

MC1488

MC1489

TR1602

WD1691

FD1771

FDI791

FD1795

FD1797

BR1941

W02143

SY2158

XR22XX

INS2651

COM2661

CA3XXX

D3232

D3242

MC3470

MC4024

MC4044

LF412

CRT5027

CRT5037

TMS5501

IM6402

D7201

SN754XX

SN76477

SN76489

D765

Z8001

8031

8035

8039

8050

8060

8080A

8085

8086

8087-3

8088

COM8116

DM8131

DM8136

1.50

1.50

1.50

1.00

2.00

.50

.50

2.00

5.25

6.50

10.00

10.00

10.00

2:50

525

i:75

1.00
4.00
4.00
.50
1.00
4.00
1.50
2.00
2.00
3.00
5.00
5.00

12.00
2.00
4.50
.25
2.00
3.50
4.00
7.50
5 00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
1.50
2.00
4.00

99.00
7.50
5.00
2.25
4.00

8155

81C55

8185

8202

8216

8224

8228

8237

8238

8243

«25Q

8251

8253

8254

8255

8257

8259

8272

8273

8274

8275

8276

8279

8281

8283

8284

8288

8291

8292

DP8303

8304

MC850 1 !

MC8504

DM8556

8741

8748

8755:

88XX

8TXX

8X300

AY3-8910

AY3-8912

AY5-9200

FDC9229

9517

9602

96L02

96LS02

96S02

■' 2.00
3.25
7.00

14.00
1.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
2.50
1.50
4.00
2.00
2.00
6.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
4.00

10.00
9.00
9.00

15.00
3.50
7.50
550
2.00
4.00

20.00

21.00
3.00
1.75

15.00
2.00
3.00

10.00

10.00

19.00

50

.50

6.00

2.00

2.00

2.75

4.00

3.00

.75

1.50

1.50

1.50

ADC/DAC

ADC08XX

DAC08XX

DAC08

DAC80

1408

3.50
1.50
1.00
8.00
1.50

That's rlghtl . . . 100% money-back guaranteed ICs a t prices never
before posslblel Kmeger Technology's unique patented IC removal pro-
cess Is the key to our ability to sell so low. The fact Is, It costs less to
retrieve and refurbish an IC from an obsolete PC board than manufac-
ture a new one. Since we maintain an Inventory In excess of six million
ICs and process over 100,000 ICs per day (over thirty million In the past
ten years) we can supply you with most, If not all of your IC needs.

Until this year our vast Inventory of ICs was available to only
manufacturers and distributors. The phenomenal growth of the
catalog market has allowed us to open our Inventory to you. You can
now buy direct and cut out all middlemen.

Call today and discover what seven of the ten largest computer
manufacturers already know . . . 'The Krueger Alternative", don't
forget you get an additional 30% discount on orders over S500I

DYNAMIC RAMS

64K

150ns

1.50

64K

200ns

1.35

32K

(4332)

3.00

16K

120ns

1.00

16K

150ns

.75

16K

200ns

.50

16K

250ns

.35

STATIC RAMS

64K

(64Kxl, 16Kx4, 8Kx8) 6.00
16K

(16Kxl,4Kx4, 2Kx8) 2.00

8K 2.00

2147,2148,2149 2.00

2114,4044,5257 .50

ECLRAMS,93XXX 3.00

ALL OTHERS 1.00

3/\0/L DISCOUNT ON
DVJ /O $500 ORDERS

EPROMS

27121

J 300ns

2712*

\ 250ns

2764

450ns

2764

300ns

2764

250ns

6876(

6876'

X

2732

450ns

2732

300ns

2732

250ns

2716

650ns

2716

450ns

2716

350n$

2708

68701

3pf

CMOS

ANY 4000 SERIES
ANY 4500 SERIES

ANY 10K LOGIC
ANY 100K LOGIC

6.00*

7.00*

2.50

3.00

3.50

6.00

6,00

2.50

3.00

3.50

1.35

2.00

2.25

2.00

4.00

.25
.50

1.00
5.00

SPECIALS*

27128 450ns 5.001
IZ80ASI0/0 3.75
FDC1793 5.00

68000G8 18.00

74 SERIES

Z80 SERIES

2.5 MHZ

CPU, CTC, PIO 1.00

DMA, DART, SIO 3.00

4.0 MHZ (A)

CPU, CTC, PIO 2.00

DMA, DART, SIO 4 50

6.0 MHZ (B)

CPU, CTC, PIO 3.00

DMA, DART, SIO 9.00

TMS 9900 SERIES

9901 1.50
9918 20.00
9980 10.00

ALL OTHER 99XX
3.00

30% Discount does not apply

74XX .25

741XX .35

742XX .50

743XX -50

74LSXX .25

74LS1XX .35

74LS2XX .50

74LS3XX -50

74FXX .35

74F1XX .45

74F2XX .60

74F3XX .60

74SXX .35

74S1XX .45

74S2XX .60

74S3XX .60

74ALSXX .35

74ALS1XX .45

74ALS2XX .60

74ALS3XX 60

74HCXX .35

74HC1XX .45

74HC2XX .60

74HC3XX .60

74HCTXX .35

74HCT1XX .45

74HCT2XX .60

74HCT3XX .60

6500/6800 SERIES

ANY65XX 2.00

ANY65XXA 2.50

ANY65XXB 3.00

ANY 68XX 2.00

ANY68AXX 2.50

ANY68BXX 3.00

6810 .75

OUR POLICY

Delivery; Orders normally shipped within
2 business days. Add S3 for UPS grounds #
& under. Add $4 for UPS blue (airj; 2# &
under; for ..each additional air pound add
SI. Arizona residents add 6% sale'sxax.

Payment Visa, MC, cashiers check, cer-
tified check,:, money order, personal check
accepted. {Allow 10 days for personal
checks to clear.) No surcharge on credit
card orders. CODs welcome with cash, cer-
tified check, cashiers check or money order.
Add S3 COD handling charge.

Pricing; Minimum order $20. 30% dis-
count on orders over $500. Prices-' -subject
to change without notice All items limited
to stock on hand.

We reserve the right to limit quantities

KRUEGER Technology, Inc.

2219 South 48th Street • Tempe, AZ 85282

800-245-2235

In Arizona 602438-1570

HOURS: 7a.m.-5*.30p.m.
(MOUNTAIN TIME)

Monday Thru Friday

484 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 238

ESTABLISHED 1977
Computer Systems

Please call w/ your System Requirements so that we may
quote the configuration that best fits your needs.
ADVANCED DIGITAL Call for Custom Configurations
COMPUPRO 816/C-H40 wl 5W x 8" FLPY'S $8,795
COMPUPRO 816/10-H40 wl Two &U" FLPY'S $5,395
CALL FOR OTHER SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS
CROMEMCO 10MHz 68000 UNIX-5 Systems
CS-100H50X20E 2Mb ECC RAM 50Mb H.D. $13,849
CS-300H50X20E 2Mb ECC RAM 50Mb H.D.-Can
Expand To 16 Users wl 16Mb ECC RAM $18,295
INTERCONTINENTAL MICRO SYSTEMS 12 User Hi-
Speed 16 Bit System. Includes 1Mb Automatic Cache
Buffer, Dual 8" Floppies, 25Mb Fixed and 25Mb
Removable Hard Disk (Complete Back-Up in 5-10 Min.)
256K Ram Per User, Turbodos 1.41, NewWord Word
Processor, w/ Spelling Checker & Merge Print $19,095
MORROW PIVOT 256K RAM, PC-Compatible, Back-Lit
Screen, Dual 5V4" DSDD DRVS., Modem, MS-DOS,
NewWord, Etc. Etc. CALL
MORROW PIVOT 640K RAM CALL
MORROW MD3, MDT70 Terminal & HR15-XL Printer
and all Bundled Software $1,845
MORROW MD5, MDT70 Terminal & HR15-XL Printer
and all Bundled Software $2,025
MORROW MD11, MDT70 Terminal & HR35-XL Printer
and all Bundled Software $2,979
MOTOROLA 16 User MEGAFRAME with Parallel
Processing, UNIX System 5 & VAX 750 PWR. CALL
ZENITH 150-PC COMPATIBLE SEE PAGE 29J

S-100 Bus Boards

If you purchased before calling us, you probably paid
foomuc/7/WestocKACKERMANDIGITAL, ADVANCED
DIGITAL, CCS, COMPUPRO/VIASYN, CROMEMCO,
ELECTROLOGICS, HUDSON, INTERCONTINENTAL
MICRO SYSTEM, KONAN, MORROW, MULLEN
COMPUTER, NORTH STAR, PICKLES A TROUT,
SYNTECH DATA, TARBELL TECMAR, TRANSEND
A Few Of This Month's SPECIALS Are:
COMPUPRO/VIASYN RAM 23, 128K STATIC $495
COMPUPRO/VIASYN RAM 22, 256K STATIC $1,090
COMPUPRO/VIASYN PC-VIDEO BOARD $395

ELECTROLOGIC 64K CMOS STATIC RAM BD. $175
ELECTROLOGIC QUASI-DISK 2Mb RAM-DISK $995
SYNTECH DATA SYS. XRAM-IV EDC 256K $1,295

PC-Slave Boards

ADVANCED DIGITAL PC-SLAVE W/256K, 8 MHz 8088
CPU, 2 S Ports, RTNX S/W-For Multi-User PC $750

PC-Multlfunctlon Boards

We Have a Good Selection of Multifunction and Memory
Boards for PC, XT, AT, JR, AT&T, and PC Portables.
STB RIO PLUS ll/PC & XT 384K $389

STB BIG BYTE 384K $269

STB GRANDE BYTE/PC-A T 2.5Mb $1,419

STB RIO GRANDE IPC- AT 1.5Mb, 2 S, P, & G $1,095
TECMAR CAPTAIN 384K w/Treasure Chest $259

TECMAR JR. CAPTAIN 128K w/Treasure Chest $269
TECMAR RGB Long Persist Phos. 640x480 $525

TECMAR WA VE 256K Fits XT-Short Slot $219

TECMAR MAESTRO 2.5Mb $875

TECMAR EXP A NSION CHASSIS W/8 Slots $649

TECMAR DYNAMIC MEMORY 256K $99

PC-Vldeo/Graphlcs Boards

STB GRAPHICS PLUS II w/ Paral. PRT Port $269

STB MONO PLUS II w/ Paral. PRT. Port $189

STB SUPER RES 400 16 Color Hi-Res $399

TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER 16 Color Hi-Res $439
TECMAR GRAPHICS TENDER RGB/PRT. PORT $195

PC-Sclentlflc/lndustrlal Boards

TECMAR IEEE-488 Board $259

TECMAR DADIO D to A Up to 24 Devices $259

TECMAR VIDEO VAN GOGH with Software to Digitize
TV Images $275

TECMAR E+EEPROM PROGRAMMER/READER $309
TECMAR E+EEPROM EXPANSION 192K Ext. $375
TECMAR E+EEPROM SOFTWARE $59

TECMAR BASE BOARD 96 Digital I/O Lines $225

TECMAR LABM ASTER w/ TM40 Option $685

PC-Data Security

WESTERN DIGITAL WD200 w/ Incrypt-Decrypt S/W -
Absolute Security For Stored or Transmitted Files. Can
Be User Transparent & Automatic. $139

S-100 DJV./696 CORP.

14455 NORTH 79th ST.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260

Inquiry 359 for End-Users.
Inquiry 360 for DEALERS ONLY.

Floppy Disc Drives

TANDON 100-2A $125

SANYO BF5-540D $99.95

TEAC FD55B & MITSUBISHI 4851 $99.95

MITSUBISHI 2896, QUME 242, TANDON 842-E $389
MITSUBISHI 2894 & QUME 842 STD. 8" $395

Hard Disc Subsystems

Using AMCODYNE, MAXTOR, MITSUBISHI,
QUANTUM & RODIME Drives. SEE PAGE §S

SALES 800-528*31 38

CUST. SERVICE/TECH. 602-991-7870
TELEX 9103806778 SONEHUND

Networking & Switch Boxes

Chips

We Have Some of the LOWEST PRICES in the Nation!!
INTEL 8087, 80287 MATH CO-PROC. CALL

84K and 256K RAM CHIPS CALL

Modems

PROMETHEUS PROMODEM 1200 Hayes Compatible
w/ Built-in PWR Supply-RS232 Stand Alone Unit $295
OPtlONS FOR PROMODEM 1200 ARE:
OPTION: PROCESSOR $75

OPTION: 64K MEMORY $35

OPTION: A LPHANUMERIC DISPLAY $79

PROMETHEUS 1200A Apple II, II+, He Card w/Terminal
Software in ROM $295

PROMETHEUS 1200B Card for PC Compatibles with
Procom Software $265

PROMETHEUS 1200M Stand Alone MAC Modem with
Cable and Communications Software $348

U.S. ROBOTICS PASSWORD 1200 $235

U.S. ROBOTICS AUTO DIAL 21 2 A CALL

U.S. ROBOTICS S-100 BOARD 300/1200 $295

U.S. ROBOTICS PC MODEM W/Telpac Software $249
U.S. ROBOTICS PC MULTIFUNCTION MODEM with
Clock-Cal Battery Back-Up, Printer Port, 64K-256K
RAM, Telpac Software $459

U.S. ROBOTICS COURIER 2400 Baud Modem $499
HAYES SMART MODEM 1200, RS-232 $449

HAYES SMA R T MODEM 2400, Un iversal $669

Monitors & Terminals

AMDEK 300G/300A $129/$139

AMDEK 310 AMBER For PC w/ 3 Yr. Warranty $159
AMDEK 710 Ultra Hi-Res RGB Color $595

TATUNG CM-1322 640X400 RGB Monitor - SAME AS
THEY MAKE FOR IBM $395

TATUNG CM-1360 RGB w/ GRN./AMB Switch $419
TATUNG CM-1370 720X480 31.5KHz Scan RGB
Monitor with Green Switch $499

TAXAN MONITORS Cal for Low Prices

TECMAR 640X480 RGB w/ Green Switch $519

ZENITH ZVM122A AMBER Non-Glare $89

ZENITH ZVM123A GREEN Non-Glare $85

ZENITH ZVM135 HI-RES RGB w/ Green Switch $459
LIBERTY TERMINALS w/Variable Scrolling, Green,
Amber, 14", DEC Compatibility Extra Pages of Memory,
and Graphics Options in Stock at Unbeatable Prices
TATUNG TVT-7210 Terminal 14"GRN. EMUL. TVI924 &
LSI ADM31 w/ Prog.Keys & ERGO Design $569

TATUNG TVT-7220 Same Features But DEC VT220, 100
& 50 Compatible $599

WYSE 50 / 75 TERMINALS In Stock $489/$649

ZENITH Z29/Z49 TERMINALS $849/$895

Printers & Plotters

EPSON LX80. RX100+, FX80+, FX100+, LQ1500 CALL

OKIDATA New 182 Quiet 120 CPS & 60CPS $249
We Also Stock OKIDATA 92, 93 & Accessories

COMREX 425 420 CPS DATA to 107CPS NLQ CALL

BROTHER HR-15-XL 17CPS Daisy wheel S or P $385

BROTHER HR-35 36 CPS Daisywheet S or P $849

BROTHER HR-10 12CPS Daisy w/ TRAC, S&P $299

BROTHER 2024L 24 PIN TOSHIBA TYPE PRT. $935

BROTHER M1009 50CPS Dot Matrix 6.6 Lbs. $195

BROTHER Tractor & Cut-Sheet Feeders CALL

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 800 SERIES CALL
NEC DATASOUTH DIABLO Available Upon Request

HOUSTON INST. PLOTTERS & DIGITIZERS CALL

Printer Buffers

JOHNATHON FREEMAN UPB 64K FORMERLY TTX
in and/or Out Serial and/or Parallel $189

PRACTICAL PERIPH. MICROBUFFER 64K CALL

Testing Devices & Software

DATACOM TRI-STATE RS232 V.24 Breakout $175
RID-DYMEK FLPY DRV DIAGNOSTIC DISKETTE $25
FLUKE 77 DVM w/ Holster $119

STANDARD DATA STANDARD NET LAN for PC's
Includes Manual 10' Cable & Board $598 ea.

INTERCONT. MICRO SYS LAN-PC w/o RAM $489
INTERCONT. MICRO SYSTEMS LANS-100 $359

COMPUPRO/VIASYN NET 11 For 816/10 Sys. $425
COMPUPRO/VIASYN NET 101-96 For S-100 Bus $425
GILTRONIX MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC SWITCHING
UNITS to Fit all of Your SHARED Printer, Terminal,
Modem and Other Peripheral Needs. From $79

Software

We Have Access to all Well Known Brands - ORDER
CORRECTLY - SOFTWARE IS NOT RETURNABLE!

Accounting

REAL WORLD GL, AP, AR, PR, OE, INV, SA
STAR SOFT'S Accounting Partner CP/M80

$425
$235

Spreadsheets & Integrated Pkgs.

ASHTON-TATE Framework CALL

MICROSOFT Multiplan $129

MOBS Knowledgeman $319

SORCIM Supercalc-3 Better Than 1-2-3!!! $209

Operating Systems & Utilities

DIGITAL RESEARCH Complete Line up to 35% Off
COMPUPRO/VIASYN CPM at Affordable Prices
CENTRAL POINT SOFTWA RE Copy II PC $35

CROMEMCO COMPLETE LINEat GOOD ECONOMIES

Languages And Tools

DIGITAL RESEARCH Most Products in Stock CALL
MICROSOFT Complete Line CALL

BD SOFTWARE "C" Compter 8" SS SD $95

LATTICE "C" Compiler (Ask About Options) $ 9
COMPUTER INNOVATIONS C-86 "C Compiler $299
COMPUVIEW Vedit-86/Vedit-MSDOS $150/$120

Data Base Managers

DATA ACCESS Dataflex Multi-User .
ASHTON-TATE dBase II & III

Graphics And CAD

..BEST PRICE
$275/$385

VECTRIX Graphics Systems Utilize 9 Bit Planes and
have 3B4K RAM\o Operate Independently of Host Video
Controller and RAM Memory

VECTRIX VXIPCA BD. SET - 512 Colors $1,995

VECTRIX VX384A Stand Alone RS232 Co-proc. $3,395
VECTRIX VX1301 13" RGB Analog Monitor $1,295
VECTRIX VX/PCB 512 $2,595

VECTRIX VXTB 11"Xir Graphics Tablet $895

DIGITAL RESEARCH DR. GRAPH AND DRA W $189
MICROPRO CHARTSTAR CALL

Communications

MYCROFTLABS MITE AND MITE PLUS From $79
MICROSTUF CROSS TALK XVI $98

Word Processors

NEWSTAR NEWWORD w/ Money Back G uar. $95
MICROPRO PROPAK 8" CP/M86 $239

OASIS THE WORD PLUS Spelling Checker $49

Power Solutions

SOLA MINI UPS 750 Watt Sine Wave HIGH INRUSH
(4500 Watt) CALL

TRIPPLITE LC-1800 Conditioner/Stabilizer $215

TRIPPLITE BC-425-FC 425 Watts 1!>-20 Minutes $449
TRIPPLITE SB-400 Watt w/ 30 Min. Back-Up $459

TRIPPLITE ISOBAR Line Suppressor-Filters from $40

Mainframe & Drive Enclosures

INTEGRAND 2915 - 2 5V«" Winchester DRVS $144

INTEGRAND 1 100 7 Slots and 2 X 8" Drives $475

PARA DYNAMICS 2810 MINI-PRONTO $798

PARA DYNAMICS 3820S PRONTO $1,150

PARA DYNAMICS 4500D To 4 Sequenced H.D. $875

MESA POWER SYSTEMS 5401 5'/<" Hard Disk $209

MICRO WARE 511001 Dual Hor. V* Ht. 5V<" FIPY $75

Diskettes & Cartridges

DYSAN Hard Disk Cartridges 5V*" & 8" $99/$145

DYSAN DISKETTES Low Prices From $19.50

FUJI FILM FLOPPY DISKS Low Prices From $18.50

3M TAPE CARTRIDGES 300XL & 600A in Stock $29.95

FULL DEALER SUPPORT

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

HRS. 8:30 AM - 5:00 PMNI-F

All merchandise new. Advertised prices are cash prepaid only. MC, Visa &
P.O's from qualified firms - add 3%. Wires, COD's ($5 min. tec) with
Cashiers Check/MO, & APO's accepted. Shipping; minimum $4 first 3 lbs.
Tax: AZ RES ONLY add 8% safes tax. Ail returns subject to 20% restocking
fee. Retail prices slightly higher.

'COMPUTER ENGINEERING" - July 1977 Byte Bwer

One of the truly classic Byte covers
— and boy, does it look great on a
T-shirt! The vivid colors really jump
out, But don't mistake this for one of
those rubbery patches that crack
and peel off after a few washings.
This is true four-color process: the
inks are silk-screened into the fabric
of the shirt, resulting in a beautiful,
full-color image that lasts.

You'll also appreciate the shirt itself:
a real heavyweight made of 50%
cotton, 50% polyester. You'll enjoy
cotton comfort in a tough shirt that
keeps its crisp, fresh look through
many washings— with almost no
shrinking! The price for each Byte
Classic T-Shirt is only $9.50 ($8.50
each for 3 or more). Your order will
be shipped within a week.

Please send me;; the following T-shirt(s) at
$9.50 each, or $8.50 each for 3 or more. \ have
included $2.00 for shipping and handling.

Qty.

Adult-
Adult-
Aduit-
Adult-
Child-

Size

-Extra Large
-Large
-Medium
-Small
-{sizes 10-12)

Amount

$ —

$.

Shipping and Handling
(Overseas add $3.00)

■$— -
$2.00

$— - -_

TOTAL $.

Q I have enclosed check or money order.

O VISA Q MasterCard Q Send Dealer Info.

Card #: , ,

Exp. Date: , .

Ship my T-Shirt(s) to:

Name: _ ,

(Business):

Address: » ._ .

City: : --.f ••■"■"•■ ■ ' •• •• ' - - : ■ '-■

State: _____

Mail this coupon to:

Robert Tinney Graphics

1864 North Pamela Dr.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
70815

-Zip:

486 BYTE ♦ JUNE 1985

SINCE 1977\

\

Computer Discount Products

Monthly Mail-Order Listing
For Apple, IBM & Macintosh Users

Retail Showrooms In California:
San Jose • San Mateo • San Francisco

UTILITIES &
ENHANCEMENTS

Ap BEAGLE D/Code/GPLE ea29.S

Ap DosBoss 15.9

Ap Fat Cat 21.9

Ap EASTSIDE Wildcard 2 111.9

Ap VIDEX Enhancer II 99.9

Ap Function Strip 31.9

Ap Ha/dswilcn 14.9

Ap PSIO 145.S

Ap Soft Video Switch 25.S

Ap Ultraterm 229.9

Ap VkJeotermw/Softsw. 175.9

IBM GET ORGANIZED 149.9

IBM NORTON UTILITIES 55.9

IBM SIDEKICK 35.S

IBM SIDEWAYS 39.9

IBM QUADRAMQuadlink 399.S

IBM PCjr Expans. Chassis 549.9

IBM Quadsptint 499.S

IBM Quadvue Monochrome 299.9

Ap/IBM BORLANDTurboPascal 35.9

Ap/IBM Toolbox/Tutor ea29.9
Copy II t /PC/MAC 25.99

GRAPHICS

Ap BEAGLE Graphics 35.9

Ap Triple Dump 27.9
Ap BRODERBUND Dazzle Draw 44.S

Ap Graphics Library 18.9

Ap Print Shop 29.9

Ap FONTRIX 59.9
Ap PENGUIN CompleteGraphics 49.S

Ap Graphics Magician 37.S
IBM FONTRIX

THE NEWSROOM -Ap 39.99

APPLE PREBOOTS

Apple Writer

Apple Writer for Ultraterm

Visicalc

Expansion

Visicalc for Ultratenn

*'^«HHalraBHB&Hi

Home & Business
SOFTWARE

Ap ASCII Express 84.99

Ap CONTINENTAL HmAcct. 44.99

Ap Tax Advantage 39.99

Ap FINANCIAL COOKBOOK 39.99
Ap MONOGRAM Dollars/Sense He 69.99

Ap Forecast 49.99

Ap PFS Rept, File. Graph, Write ea79.99

IBM ASCII ExpressPro 139.99

IBM ASHTON-TATE dBase II 289.99

IBM dBase Ill/Framework 389.99

IBM CONTINENTAL FCM 71.99

IBM Home Accountant + 84.99

IBM Tax Advantage 45.99

IBM LOTUS 1-2-3 299.99

IBM MONOGRAM Dollars & Sense 109.99

IBM PFS Rept, File, Graph, Write ea89.99

Ap/IBM MICROSOFT MULTIPLAN 169.99

Mac CONTINENTAL Hm.Acct. 63.99

Mac FILE VISION 139.99

Mac MICROSOFT Basic 94.99

Mac Chart 74.99
Mac File/Multuplan ea129.99

Mac MONOGRAM Dollars & Sense 94.99

Mac Forecast 59.99

Mac PFS File or Report ea79.99

Mac File AND RepoM 155.99

Mac THINKTANK 128K 115.99

WORD PROCESSING

Ap BANK STREET Write/Spell ea43.99

KENSINGTON Format II 99.99
MICROPRO Wordstar

Wordstar Pro w/CP-M
SENSIBLE SPELLER
SIERRA HomeWbrd

Screenwriter 1 1
BANK STREET Writer

LIFETREE Vblkswriter Deluxe 159.99

MICROSOFT Word w/Mouse 289.99

MICROPRO Wordstar 2000 259.99

Wordstar 2000 Plus 325.99

Wordstar PCjr 149.99

,&%*

*S&$

Q*

PRINTERS & MONITORS

TAXAN

#115 Green 12" -Apple
#116 Amber 12" -Apple
#121 Green 12" - IBM
#122Amber12"-IBM
#220 Color Composite
#420Hi-ResRGB12"
#425 RGB With Audio 12"
#440 Ultra Hi-Res 12"
#555 RGB Card For #440

with

399.99
459.99
599.99
299.99

OKIDATA 92 m 459.99

EPSON

FX-80+160CPS

FX-100+ 160CPS-WideCaniage

LX-80 100 CPS - Near Letter Quality
FINGERPRINTfor EPSON

PGS

HX-12 Hi-Res RGB 12" 4

MAX-12E Amber 12" 1

SR-12 Super Hi-Res RGB 12" 5

Scan Doubler 2

USI Pi 4 A^ e r 99.99

375.99
559.99
249.99
44.99

L— — -„

EDUCATIONAL

BARONS SAT 59.99

CBS SAT 94.99

DLM Alien Add/Minus Mis. ea21.99

Alligator/Dragon Mix ea21.99

HLS Crossword Magic 39.99

LEARNING CO. Rocky Boots 31.99

Robot Odyssey 31.99

SPINNAKER Grandma 19.99

KidsOnKeys/Kidwriter ea19.99

Sum Ducks/Trains ea24.99

IBM LEARNING CO. Add. Magic. 27.99

IBM Magic Spell/Number Stump 25.99

IBM Moptown/Reader Rabbit ea25.99

IBM SPINNAKER Facemaker 19.99

IBM Presidents Choice 25.99

IBM Snooper Troops 28.99

159.99
109.99
219.99
199.99
245.99
29.99
100.00

^5v

<*£&&

HARDWARE

Ap CDP16K Ram Card 39.99

Ap Parallel Interface w/Cabte 39.99

Ap DAN PAYMAR Lower Case 1 25.99

Ap Lower Case 2, Rev 7 19.99

Ap EXTENDED 8OC0I. Card-lie 129.99

Ap JOYSTICK Kraft or TG 39.99

Ap KENSINGTON System Saver 65.00

Ap KOALA Touch Pad 75.99

Ap MICRO-SCIA-2 Drive 195.99

Ap MOCKINGBOARD Sound 79.99

Ap Speech Chips 79.99

Ap Sound AND Speech - lie 145.99

Ap Sound AND Speech -lie 145.99

Ap ORANGE MICRO Grappler +

Ap Buffered Grappler

Ap THUNDERCLOCK

Ap TITAN Accelerator He

Ap Neptune 64K

IBM ASTSix Pack Plus 64K

IBM KENSINGTON PC Saver

IBM Masterpiece

IBM KOALA Touch Pad

IBM PLANTRONICS Color + Board

IBM QUADRAM 512 + 64K

IBM ERam80

IBM Microfazer8K-AIIConfiig.

IBM Quadboardlorll-NoK

IBM Quadcolorl

IBM Quadcolor Upgrade to I

IBM TEAC 14 Height Drive #55B

VIDEO 7

RGB 80/64 He
Slot7RGBCardll+/e
RGB Adapter He
Mappler Connector

MODEMS

HAYES 300 Baud

1200 Baud

1200BforlBM

Micromodem He
NOVATION Applecat II 300 Bd.

Expansion Module

J Cat

ORDER

# B-6

Computer Discount Products

;w«j

•M V/TiTh lukWJil:]

(408) 985-0400 from bam pst

Purchase Order Prices Differ -Call First* Prices Subject To Change • Software Sales Final
Please Allow Time For Personal Checks To Clear-* We Reserve The Right To Charge For Freight On Orders Less Than $100
^^ U.S. Mail - $10 Minimum Chg. • Hardware Shipping - $CALL

I

IBM AT 3Mb
COMBO CARD

WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY*

The AT Multifunction Card that can givey ou up to
3Mb of added memory plus added I/O features.

Expandable from 128K to 3Mb. Add memory as you need it. •lBMATCompat-
ible • Parallel Pot • Serial Poit • Spooler • Supports IBM VIISK • User
Upgradable • Paiitv Checking Standard • Split Memoiy Addressing.

Complete with 128K RAM. Serial and Parallel Port $449

AT RAM Fjqxinsion Card <0K) $129

Additional RAM available at our lew prices. OTHER ADD ONS 384K
RAW Clock, 512K RAM Card, Spoolers. RAM Cards for PPCs and moie.

JB^ApparoUnc.

ADO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON

4401 So. lamarac Parkway / Denver, CO 80237 / 303/741-1778

ORDERING AND DFALER FORMATION

800/525-7674

Stores in Denver & Chicago / *0n all cards sold after June I, 1984

"KING OF THE ELECTRONICS JUNGLE"

LEO ELECTRONICS, INC.

P.O. Box 11307

Torrance, CA 90510-1307

Tel: 213/212-6133 800/421-9565

TLX: 291 985 LEO UR

FAX: 213/212-6106

MEMORY EXPANSION CHIPS

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY

PRICE EACH SET OF 8 SET OF 9

} 64K

4164- 150ns
4164.200ns '
4128150ns (1BM/A1)
41256-150ns}256K
HM6116P-3

1.90
1.80
13.65
7.50
3.50

$14.40
$15.20

$60.00
$26.00

$ 16.20
$ 17.10
$122.85
$ 67.50

EPROMS

2716

2732

2764

27128

27256

PRICE
$ 2.60
$ 3.50
$ 4.50
$ 7.00
$15.00

WE NOW CARRY:

Disk drives, Power supplies.
384K Multifunction boards.
Color/graphic boards, and
more. . „
CALL FOR BROCHURE

DISKS

AS

LOW

AS

72*

SS/DD
BULK

Made by top USA makers, not "low-end" or "cut-rate".

Our suppliers won't allow us to reveal their names,

but when you receive the* you'll recognize thea as

disks that sell for nuch. such more! Certified.

guaranteed 100% error free. HOHEY BACK SATISfACTIOH

BUARAHTEE' Full one year replacement warranty!

•UD1D SS/DD +SLEEVES+LABEL 10/84<ea, 5O0/79*ea

•UD1N SS/DD NO SLEEVE/LABEL 100/7B<ea, 1000/72i!ea

•UD2D DS/DD ♦SLEEVE+LABEL 10/$1.0Sea,500/99rfea

»UD2N DS/DD NO SLEEVE/LABEL 100/99<ea t 1000/95<!ea

4164-150 1.44

B251 2.50

8255 2.50

50256 9.99

RFS
ICS

Z0OA

.99

2114

.50

ZBOA-PIO

1.50

270B

.77

UPD765

9.99

2716 C5V)

.99

2107

.50

4116-200

.34

Pay by MC/Visa/Amex, COD, or send check with order.
We charge std UPS/Postal shipping, no handling
charge. On ALL orders, include daytime phone number
and STREET address. Minimum order *15.

Money-back 30 day satisfaction guarantee!

300)343-0472

IN MASS:
[617J-UNI-TECH"

ft20B HURLEY ST.. CAMBRIDGE, MA 02141

Send for FREE CATALOG listing lOOO's of items!

Inquiry 31

Inquiry 246

Inquiry 412

SV4' FLOPPY
MOTORS

NowBuehlerOEM replace-
ment spindle motors for all
major 5 1 /4-inch, full-height
floppy disk drives are
available for fast delivery.
Built to exact OEM size, per-
formance and quality stan-
dards. Pulleys included.

For details and prices,
contact:

Buehler Services, Inc.
P.O. Box A, Hwy 70-E
Kinston, NC 28501
Phone: 919/522-4300

RAM
Memory Expansion Kit

4264/4164 Compatible
Fits Major PC Brands

FACTORY DIRECT
HIGHEST QUALITY!

MICRON DRAMs

LIST

OUR PRICE!

9 64K DRAMs
9 128K DRAMs
9 256K DRAMs

S 25.
S359.
$369.

$ 20.
$125.
$149.

150 ns Access Time

MICRON

■ technology, inc.

Marketing Department
2805 E. Columbia Rd.
Boise, Idaho 83706

(208) 386-3900 TWX 901-970-5973
IMMEDIATE SHIPPING!

VISA, MasterCard, Certified Check,
COD & Money Orders

Sure
itb insured?

SAFEWARE® Insurance provides full
replacement of hardware, media and

purchased software. As little as $39/yr. covers:
• Fire • Theft • Power Surges

• Earthquake • Water Damage • Auto Accident

For information or immediate coverage call:

1-800-848-3469

In Ohio call 1-614-262-0559

SAFEWARE. The Insurance Agency Inc.

Inquiry 282

Inquiry 362

^/TAPE WORLD

H3

1-800-245-6000

maxell.

It's Worth It

MD-I 5%" r SSDD ...1.39

MD-2 514". DSDD . .1.99

FD-1 8", SSDD ....2.69

FD-2 8". DSDD ...3.29

MF-1 .... 3^". MICRO ... 2.99
MD2-HD..5'//\DSHD 4.99

BASF

5VVSSDD 1.34

5Vi" DSDD 1.54

VERBATIM

5WSSDD 1.69

5WDSDD 2.39

104/1D ...5'/.", SSDD ...1.89
104/2D .5%". DSDD ... 2.69
3740/1D . . . .8", SSDD .... 2.69
3740/2D ... 8". DSDD ... 3.29

MEMOREX

5WSSDD 1.69

5 1 /," DSDD 1.99

SCOTCH

5WSSDD 1.49

5'/."DSDD 1.99

ELEPHANT

5 1 /." SSDD 1.59

5WDSDD 2.19

WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE BY 3%

Factory Sealed. Shipping 375 any size order.

Pre-paid, COD, or credit card. COD add 1.95

SCHOOLS & GOVT. ON P0.

Also, TDK, and Maxell audio and video cassettes.

220 SPRING ST.
412-283-8621

BOX 361 BUTLER, PA 16001
M-Fri. 8:30-5:00

Microprocessor

Software Development

on VAX or PDP-11.

You can develop software
for Z80, 8080, 8085, NCS800, and
8086 using native mode compilers and assemblers.

Use low-cost cross tools for other micropro-
cessors. Interface in-circuit emulators perfectly. You
can run Intel development tools under ISIS or UDI.

Our plug-in processor cards let you run CP/M-80,
CP/M-86, or MS-DOS from any terminal on your
VAX or PDP-11 system.

Prices start at just $1295. Ask for our FREE
catalog of 350 development and cross development
tools.

Z)

3375 Scott Blvd., Suite 236
Santa Clara, CA 95054

P®(g(nn)©1?C©(rD (4os) 98o-i67s

Rrftsli-fi'd iMdrlllJlk* VAX, I'D i i>i|«ir.ilnin. Cl'/M.KD.W, Digilal

Rcwurh. MS OOS Ml. ilS; UP? Inl.'l

Weafc not connected wilh Digital Equipment Corporal

^l\ferbatim<

Data Life Diskettes

Lifetime Warranty

Catalog #

Box of 10

5V<"

SSDD 18158

$15.50

5'/«"

DSDD 18188

$19.95

5V«"

DSQD 18239

$28.50

Minimum Quantity 100

Disk Drives

5V<" '/? heights

TEAC 55B

$119

Panasonic/Shugart

$109

y/i" SS Shugart SA 300 $110 limited quantity

Himtron

KT-7- Terminal

Compatible to Televideo* 925 $545
Also carry complete line of computer products

MICROSCRIBE, INC.

3350 Scott Blvd., Bldg. 15 Santa Clara, C A95054
Call M-F 8:00 - 5:00 (408) 748-1333

Inquiry 400

Inquiry I35

Inquiry 284

$av-On Computers 800-345-71

in

ORDERS INSIDE CALIF - 213-675-2115

CUSTOMER SERVICE & TECHNICAL HELP - 213-675-2382

WE HAVE THE LOWEST PRICES IN BYTE - WE HAVE MOST ITEMS IN STOCK
AND WE WILL BEAT ANY ADVERTISED PRICE ON THE SAME TERMS!

DISK DRIVES DISK DRIVES DISK DRIVES DISK DRIVES DISK DRIVES j

TEAC 55B

V 2 HIGH DRIVE

$95.00

TAN DON 100-2

FULL HEIGHT FOR PC

$109.00

MPI

FULL HEIGHT FOR PC

$75.00

MICRO SCI

A2 FOR APPLE

$179.00

OTHERS CALL

RANA

DRIVE CONTROLLER

$85.00

55A 169.00
55F CALL

101-4 CALL

V 2 HIGH CALL

RANA DRIVES CALL

DISK DRIVES DISK DRIVES IBM IBM IBM

IBM CONTROLLER

HANDLES 4 DRIVES

$69.00

OTHER

DRIVES

AVAILABLE

CALL

MEMORY
64K $12.00
128K $20.00

DEALERS CALL

IBM PC

CALL FOR
BEST PRICE

IBM XT

$2095.00

BARE BONE

MANY MORE CALL

IBM IBM IBM IBM COMPUTERS

IBM

IBM PC
$1549.00

W / 2 DR & 256K

IBM

TO PRINTER

$15.95

OTHER CABLES
AVAILABLE CALL

IBM

MONO CARD

$219.00

CALL FOR MONITORS
NOT LISTED BELOW

IBM PC

2 DRIVES & 256K

SAVON COLOR CARD
AND AMBER MONITOR

$1699.00

COMPAQ
DESK PRO 2

$2295.00

WITH MONITOR

COMPUTERS COMPUTERS COMPUTERS COMPUTERS COMPUTERS

SANYO 555-2

W/MON. & SOFTWARE

$1099.00

SANYO PARTS AVAIL.

COMPAQ PORT.

2 DRIVES & 256K

$1995.00

WOW

APPLE
PRO SYSTEM

$1249.00

WHILE THEY LAST

APPLE MAC

1 DRIVE & 256K

$2095.00

FATMAC AVAILABLE

CALL

FOR

OTHER

CPU's

MODEMS MODEMS MODEMS SOFTWARE SOFTWARE

HAYES 1200B

INTERNAL W/S.W.

$345.00

ALL HAYES AVAILABLE

ANCHOR
MARK XII

$219.00

VOLKS MODEM

$199.00

WHILE THEY LAST

LOTUS
1-2-3

$299.00

WHILE THEY LAST

SYMPHONY

$399.00

WHILE THEY LAST

ALL ANCHOR AVAILABLE

I PRINTERS PRINTERS PRINTERS PRINTERS PRINTERS I

OKIDATA

FOR IBM

i $345.00

JUKI

6100 (18cps)

$379.00

CALL FOR 6300
AND TRACTORS

EPSON

FX80T

$379.00

CALL FOR LQ-80
LOW LOW PRICE

GEMINI
SG-10 $229.00
SG-15 $379.00

BROTHER

HR15XL

$389.00

HARD DISK MONITORS MONITORS COLOR CARD EXPANSION CARD

CAL PEK

10 MEG HARD DRIVE

W/CONTROLLER
120 DAY WARRANTY

$729.00

AMDEK

310A MONOCHROME

$165.00

PRINCETON

HX12

$439.00

SR-12/SCAN DOUBLER
MAX-12 ALL AVAILABLE

HERCULES

COLOR
W/PARALLEL PORT

$179.00

MONO CARD $315.00

DATA PLUS

256K EXP CARD

FOR PC / COMPATIBLES

$169.00

FINANCING AVAILABLE— with approved credit
DEALERS: Open Accounts available, call for applications
TERMS: We accept VISA, MASTERCARD, COD's, and Wire
Transfers. UPS, Federal Express and Emery shipping available.
California residents please add 6 1 /2% sales tax to order. Prices
are subject to change without notice. Not resposible for
typographical errors.

Inquiry 365

$av-On Computers, inc.

12595 Crenshaw Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250

OPEI\l:7:30am till 6:00pm Monday-Friday and 9:00am till 2:00pm Saturday

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 489

IC

PROMPT DELIVERY!!!

S SAME DAY SHIPPING (USUALLY)

OUTSIDE OKLAHOMA: NO SALES TAX

DYNAMIC RAM

256K

256Kxi 150 ns

$ 5.00

128K

i28Kxi 150 ns

10.99

64K

64Kxi 120 ns

2.10

64K

64Kxi 150 ns
EPROM

1.40

27C256

32Kx8 250 ns

$20.99

27256

32Kx8 250 ns

13.95

27128

i6Kx8 250 ns

4.48

27C64

BKxB 200 ns

7.85

2764

BKxB 250 ns

3.45

2732A

4Kx8 250 ns

3.95

2716

2Kx8 450 ns
STATIC RAM

2.95

6264LP-15 BKxB 150 ns

$8.15

6116LP-3 2Kx8 150 ns

2.50

OPEN BVi DAYS: WE CAN SHIP VIA FED-EX ON SAT.

MasierCard'VISA or UPS CASH COO

Factory New, Prime Parts juPoo

MICROPROCESSORS UNLIMITED
ISoT^r (918) 267-4961

Prices shown above are for April 29, 1985

Pwas« can kwcurtenl pre es Prccs subieci lo cfianqe Please eif>ectri!grte«oi *»er fxeesem
sonm pals due (oiuppiyiOemandaoO our ci\ang.ngco5is Sn^w^A "Surance e»tra Casr>
ftsoooni pnees irewn OOO'i t«ewe<J Dy PM CST can usually bo deuced lo you by the
r»«t morning, t(i Fedatal Eipress Standard Air m $6.00, or Priority One <>• S11.50!

DOS UTILITIES

Attrib* - set/reset file attributes

Crypt - file encryption

DSort - sort directory files

Find* - find strings in files

Log - log computer usage for IRS

Move* - rename across directories

Tree - disk/file usage statistics
* supports DOS wildcards

SEE - Full screen editor:

supports optional microsoft mouse;
block pick, put, cut, paste; search
1000 wps; single & global replace;
multiple windows & files; center,
justify; spell check, correct 300 wps
from supplied + user dictionary;
32000 lines/file, 32000 chars/line;
Instruction course included.

$49 for all 8 programs

$79 unprotected
Visa/MC - CA add 6% sales tax

California Scientific Software

25642 Hazelnut, El Toro, CA 92630
(714) 581-7654

controls up

to 4 motors

from any CRT

terminal or

computer

STEPPING
MOTOR
CONTROLLER

• powerful 5 amps/ • acceleration
winding deceleration

• RS232 interface • 1-4 axis moves
Standard Version with BASIC $985
16K BASIC with Battery Backup $1335
CNC VERSION $1950
Stepping Motor Tips Cookbook $8
CNC Manual $12

CENTROID (814) 237-4535
Box 739, State College, PA 16804

Inquiry 283

Inquiry 69

Inquiry 79

MMIBMPC/VT100

EM100 for IBM PC, XT, AT, JR.

• ^7702 emulation
■ File Transfer

• 132 Column modes

• Color Support

■ EM100-4010

• Tektronix 4010 emulation

• V7102 emulation

• Picture files

• High resolution hardcopy

• Supports IBM, IBM Enhanced,

• Hercules and Tec mar
graphics cards.

Multicopy discounts

m

Diversified Computer
Systems, Inc.

100 Arapahoe, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-9251

Trademarks: VTIOO - Digital Equipment: IBM PC XT- IBM Corji.
Hercules — Hercules Computer Technology

Inquiry 150

NOW C HERE!

CROSS SOFTWARE
for the NS32000

Also Available for IBM PC
INCIAJDES:

* Cross Assembler *
* Cross Linker *

* Debugger *

* N.S. ISE Support *

* Librarian *

* Pascal Cross Compiler *

* C Cross Compiler *

U.S. prices start at S500

SOLUTIONWARE

1283 ML View-AJviso Rd.

Suite B

Sunnyvale, Calif. 94089

408/745-7818 * TLX 4994204

Inquiry 381

VT100orD200

on your

PC, jr, XT, AT
or compatible

ZSTEMpc-VT1 00 Smart Terminal Emulator

132-col. by windowing - no addit. hardware

Double High Double Wide Characters

Full VT100 line graphics. Smooth scrolling

2-way file transfers incl. XMODEM

Full keyboard softkeys/MACROS

Speeds to 38.4KB. High Throughput

NOW both Color/graphics and Monochrome Support

ZSTEMpc-VT100 $150. ZSTEMpc-D200 $125.

30 day money back guarantee. MC/VISA.

KEA SYSTEMS LTD.

#41 2 - 2150 W. Broadway

Vancouver, B.C. CANADA V6K 4L9

Support (604) 732-7411

Orders (800) 663-8702

Zstem

by

ICEA

mm®

Inquiry 427

AFFORDABLE M- 68000
COMPUTER SYSTEM

M68KCPCI6 10 MHz CPU. 20K static RAM, 16K
EPROM, on board monitor, two RS-232

serial ports. 1 6-bit parallel port, 5 timer/-
counters expansion bus.

Bare board.... $ 99.95

Complete Kit 9595.00

MD512K 128-512K static RAM. floppy disk controller

& hard disk interface Bare board $ 99.95

Complete Kit ( 128K) $725.00

M68KE Enclosure with power supply, fan, filter, 4 slot
card cage

$249.00

M68KASM M68000 Macro Cross Assembler for CP/M80.
IBM PC, TRS-80 and Apple II computers

$199.00

UPS shipping & handling $ 4.00

COD orders add S 3.00

Foreignordersadd $20.00

California residents add 6.5% tax

EMS SUSSS&lMr (714)854-8545

Sytenu x '

P.O. Box 161 15 • Irvine, CA 927 13

DMA,

> Multi-user Database!
» Powerful!

> Multiple Operating
System Compatibility!

> Attractive Dealer
Pricing!

> Full Dealer Support!

Dataflex is a trademark of Data Access

Dealer Inquiries Invited

24000 Telegraph Road

Sourhfield. M/chigan 48034 USA

(313] 352-2345

Inquiry 163

Inquiry 88

Inquiry 28

SUPER SUMMER
CLEARANCE SALE

PRINTERS

OKIDATA

MLl82P120cps 229

ML182 IBM Graphics Comp 229

ML182SlO"Carriage 279

ML83A, 15" Para. & Ser 545

ML192P, 160 cps 375

ML192IBM Graphics Comp 375

ML192S, 160cps 449

ML193P,160cps 559

ML193 IBM Graphics Comp 559

ML193S, 160cps 599

ML84P,200cps 669

ML84IBM 669

ML84S,200cps 769

STAR MICRDNICS

SG-10,120cps,2Kbuffer $ 249

SG-15, 1 20 cps, 2K buffer 399

SD-10, 160 cps, 10" carriage 369

SD-15, l60cps,Corr.Qual 479

SB-10 Draft &NLQ 24 wire printhead 799
C. ITOH
7500APw/tract.(betterthanRX80). .$ 225

Prowriter8510 AP + , 120 cps 335

Prowriter8510 BC2, 120cps 389

Prowriter8510SP, 180cps 399

8510 BPI (IBM Compatible) 335

Prowriterll1550P, 15"120cps 449

Prowriter II 1550BCD, 1 5" 1 20 cps . . 499

1550EP(IBM Compatible) 445

1550SP,180cps 525

StarwriterF10-40PU,40 cps 949

StarwriterA10-30 499

PrintmasterF10-55PU,55cps 1029

BROTHER

HR25,25cps $ 669

HR35,36cps 839

DYNAX

DX15XL, 20 cps By Brother $ 379

JUKI

6100,L.Q. 18 cps w/proportional spc.S 399

6300 699

TOSHIBA

P1340P $ 595

P1340S 595

P351 P, Fasterthan 1351 1229

P351 PIS, Faster and More Versatile 1299

PANASONIC

1091 w/Tractor, 120 cps, 1 yr. war. ..$ 279

1092 439

1093 669

LEGEND

880, 80 cps, FT & Graphics $ 229

1080, 120 cps, FT & Graphics 275

DISK DRIVES

TANDON

TM100-2 for IBM PC $ 114

ALPHA OMEGA

10Megw/ControllerCard $ 699

20Megw/ControllerCard Call

33Megw/ControllerCard Call

TEAC

55B Double Sided 360K $ 99

Quad Density 169

MPI

55SDbl/DblforlBM $ 80

Drives For Apple & Franklin
RAMA SYSTEMS

Elite I $ 199

Elite II 339

Elite III 389

SControlleradd 75

MICRO-SCI

A-2 $169

A.5Cforllcw/cable 189

A.5V2 height tor ME 199

SController Add 59

PRINTER
ACCESSORIES

ORANGE MICRO

Grappler + $ 89

Buffered Grappler + , 16Kexp.64K . 155
TOSHIBA

Bi-DirectionalTractor $ 149

Font Disk for Down loading P1351 . . 50

MICROTEK

DumplingGX(sameas Grappler +) $ 69

Dumpling GXw/16K buffer 135

Dumpling GX w/32K buffer 147

Additional Buffering 16K 12

FOURTH DIMENSION

Par. Card&Cablefor Apple $ 47

OKIDATA

Plug and Play for IBM $ 49

Okigraph I for82A/83A 49

Tractor for 82A& 92 49

JUKI

Bi-Direc.Tractorfor6100/6300 $ 125/135

Serial Interface 65

CABLES

IBMPCtoParallelPrinter $ 18

SerialCable 18

DISPLAY MONITORS

QUADRAM

Amberchrome IBM compatible . . . .$ 165
AMDEK

V300G $ 1 25

V300A 135

V310AforlBMPC 159

Color500 Color Composite 339

Color600 RGB Hi-Res 429

Color 710 Super Hi-Res 545

TAXAN

IBM Green Monochrome #121 $ 139

IBM Amber Monochrome#122 . ... . 145

RGBIBMw/Cable#420 419

RGBSuper Hi-Res. #415 393

RGB Super Hi-Res. #440 499

RGB/Comp. Med. Res. #210 259

PRINCETON GRAPHICS

HX-12forusewithlBMPC $ 455

Max12EAmberforlBM 179

SR 12SuperHi-Res 565

ScanDoubler 185

X TRON

AG-12, 1000x450Hi-Resw/tlt.swvl..$ 130

AA-12; 1000 x 450 Hi-Res w/tlt. swvl. . 135

SIZZLING SPECIALS!!

IBM PC

2 Drives, 256K

S1639

CC MULTIFUNCTION
CARD

Par., Ser., C/C w/38flK

S249

CC COLOR

GRAPHICS CARD

S139

CC MONO

GRAPHICS CARD

S179

135 WATT

POWER SUPPLY

S139

APPLE PROF.

SYSTEM

S1345

ML192P
S379

TOSHIBA 351
S1229

MICRO-SCI A2
100% Apple Comp.

IBM PC

IBM

IBM Dos3.0 S

IBMTechRef.forPC

PARADISE

Modular Graphics Card $

ModuleA

Module B

5-Pak

64K MEMORY UPGRADE

64K(9chips)200ns $

PERSYST BOARD

Bob Hi-Res Display Adaptor $

QUADRAM

Quad Color 1 Board $

Exp. Quadboard w/64K & Game Port
Quadlink 3000 Run Apple sft on IBM

ACCESSORIES

VUTEK (2 yr. war.)
69 Vutek - CPS Board, RGB & Composite

85 w/Par.&Ser.Ports,2Yr.War $ 239

Color Card (Here, comp.) 175

269 Monographic Card (Here, comp.) .. . 275
79 AST RESEARCH

120 Six Pak + w/64K $ 239

175 Preview Call

KEYTRONICS

17 KB5151 $ 189

MICROTEK

399 MonochromeText Par. & Ser $ 195

Color Graphics Card 165

199 DATA PLUS

239 384K Mem. Board w/OK $ 119

359 XTShort Card, 384K Mem 185

APPLE & FRANKLIN ACCESSORIES

ACCESSORIES

Kensington System Saver $ 69

Fan for Apple II & HE w/surge ...... 37

MICROMAX

Viewmax 128Kextended80 col. card

for Apple IIEw/64K $ 124

80col.cardforApplell&ll-f 139

ADVANCED LOGIC SYSTEMS

ZEngine2.2 .$ 119

APPLE

Super Serial Card $ 135

ASTAR

RFModulator $ 17

MICRO-SCI

64K, 80 Col. Card $ 85

PERSONAL SYSTEMS"

APPLE

Professional Sys. inch Apple ME W/128K & j
80 col., tilt mon., duo disk w/con't kit .$1345 j

Apple lie Lightweight Portable Call \

IBM

IBM PC Barew/cont.& keyboard ...$1370 ■

IBM PC 64 K, 1 Drive '...:'.: V;'Tl'4 ; 99

IBM PC64K, 2 Drives 1599

IBM PC, 2 Drives W/256K 1639

IBM XT, 10 Meg., 360K Dr. w/256 .... 3195

IBM AT Base pall

IBM AT Enhanced '---,:. >P al1

Call About All "AT" Systems :■''

SANYO

MBC 550-2 w/1320KDrive&sftwr. . .$ 895 "
MBC 555-2 w/2 320K Drives & i

more software 999 .<

Portable Call *

Serial Port for Sanyo 79 .

TAVA

TAVA PC1 Par. & 1 Ser. Ports, 128K.2-320K

Drives, Color Card & Monitor $1499 •

COMPAQ

256K, w/2- 320K Drives $1945

DeskTop Model 1 1725

Desk Top Model 2 2150

DeskTop Model3 Call

DeskTop Model4 4495

SOFTWARE

LOTUS DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Lotus 1-2-3 $295

Symphony 437 ;

ASHTON TATE

D Base II $ 329

DBase III 419 ■

PRINTER SWITCH BOX

EXPONENT

CentronicsTwoSwitch „$- J 84 *

CentronicsFourSwitch 110 ..j

SerialTwoSwitch 75 *

Serial FourSwitch 99 ,

MODEMS

ANCHOR

MarkXIl ..m$iA2l9 ~

Volksmodem XII 185

Anchor Express Call

HAYES MICRO

300Baud Smart Modem $ 189

1200 Baud Smart Modem ' 389

1200 B for IBM PC 379 '•

2400 Baud Modem . -. ; . T 4*645 '

Micro Modem HE 259 '

Chronograph 189

300For Apple He w/Sftwr Call .

DISKETTES

PC DISKETTES

Sgl./Dbl. (Box of 10) :' . . $ 16 '

Dbl./Dbl.(Boxof10) 18

COMPUTER CONNECTION j

Dbl./Dbl.(Boxof 10) $ 16 , .

Sgl./Dbl. w/DiskContainer(10) 20 :

Dbl./Dbl.w/Disk Container 20

Bulk50&Up— Dbl./Dbl 1.35ea.

5 yr. warranty

GIVE US A CHANCE TO BEAT THE
COMPETITION'S ADVERTISED PRICE.

IF YOU SEE IT ADVERTISED FOR LESS, CALL
COMPUTER CONNECTION FIRST FOR LOWEST QUOTE

We accept VISA, MasterCard, COO
[w/deposit], Certified Checks or
WireTi

MAILORDER:

1 71 21 S. Central Avenue, Unit L
Carson, California 90746

NO SURCHARGE FOR CREDIT CARDS

ransfers. Minimum Shipping
Charge S4.00. Some items subject
to back order. California Res. add
6Vz% Sales Tax. Ail returns are
subject toa 15% restocking charge
and must be authorized by store
manager within 10 days. Prices
subject to change without notice.
This Ad supersedes all others.

ORDER LINE
(800] 732-0304

(Outside California]

[213] B35-2B09

(inside California!

Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:
[213] B35-5QB5
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Inquiry 428

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 491

maxell

PERSONAL COMPUTER PRODUCTS

The floppy disks that meet or
exceed every standard of quality.

MD1-D 5 1 A
MD2-D 5V«

ff SINGLE SIDE

DOUBLE DENSITY
SOFT SECTOR

// DOUBLE SIOE

DOUBLE DENSITY
SOFT SECT OH

$-|59

S2Qi

SOLD IN BOXES OF TEN ONLY

tremendous selection of software
books, accessories and supplies

UP TO 50% OFF'

dBase III .349

Framework 349

HomeAcct.Plus 89

" w/Ultralile 149

Software for IBM PC_

Multimate 269

Symphony .419

Wordstar 2000 279

Wordstar Pro Pac . .249

shipping and handling 12.00. Cahl
s subject 1o changewilhout nohc

sidents add 6% sales la

ABC data products

3311 ADAMS AVE. SAN DIEGO. CA 92116

619-283-5488 Q 800-854-1555

6809

Single Board Computer

MM IvIPfJ, 2 serial pbrts, 41 par QMer.po> f$\ \
RAM, EPfcOM, real-time clock, watchdog .
timer, 44-pin 4.5" * 6.5" PCS
EXPANSION MODULES: RAM, EPROM, CMOS
RAM/battery, analog I/O, serial I/O,
parallel I/O, counter/timer, IEEE-488,
EPROM programmer, floppy disks,
cassette, breadboard, keyboard/display.

WintekCorp.

IV I V T 17 If I 1 a01 South S1reet
11 I A I ■ j Ik lafavette. IN 4790d

Lafayette. IN 47904
31 7-742-6428

PRINTER RIBBONS

PRICE PER PER
RIBBON DOZEN

AWADEX 9500 10.50 109.80

APPLE DMP 5.50 58.80

BROTHER HR-15/25 MS 5.95 68.40

C. IT0H PROWRITER 5.50 58.80

COMMODORE MPS-801 8.00 90.00

EPSON MX-FX 70/80 5.00 48.00

EPSON MX-FX 100 6.95 75.00

EPSON LQ-1500 9.75 111.00

GEMINI 10-10X-15-15X 2.50 23.40

IBM/IDS 4-C0L0R 15.75 180.00

IDS MICROPRISM-480 5.75 58.80

NEC -3500 M/S Non Flip 6.25 69.00

NEC -3500 NYLON 9.00 96.00

NEC - 8023A 5.50 58.80

OKI DATA 80/82/83/92 2.50 23.40

RADIO SHACK DMP-2100 7.50 87.00

RADIO SHACK LP VI & VIII .... 5.75 58.80

RITEMAN 8.50 96.00

SILVER REED EX 550 M/S 8.50 90.00

SILVER REED EX 550 NYLON .... 6.95 75.00

TALLY SPIRIT - 80 M/S 7.50 84.00

TALLY - MT-160 8.00 90.00

TALLY - MT-180 8.50 96.00

TOSHIBA - 1350/1351 7.50 87.00

Add $3.00 Ship. & Hand. — To Order Call

Toll Free 1-800-742-1122

In Ml (313) 569-3218 or Write for our Catalog

DWIGHT COMPANY, INC.

15565 Northland Drive - West Tower
Southfield, Michigan 48075-6496

Inquiry 8

Inquiry 424

Inquiry 156

APPLE HC
SERIAL PORT

STANDARD

PRINTER
' CONNECTOR

MW-100 232-C SERIAL TO CENTRONICS
PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE
FOR ALL MAJOR CENTRONICS PRINTERS

INTERFACES THE APPLE 11C, EPSON PX8,
AND HX20 TO STANDARD PARALLEL PRINTERS

$99

MW-200 UNIVERSAL INPUT-OUTPUT BOARD

BOARD FOR IBM PC
16 EIGHT BIT ANALOG INPUTS
14 HI VOLTAGE/CURRENT OUTPUTS/
BASIC DEMO PROGRAM INCLUDED
1 ANALOG OUTPUT -- PROTOTYPING AREA
10 PROGRAMMABLE DISCRETE INPUTS/OUTPUTS

MW-201 UNIVERSAL SERIAL I/O BOARD

WITH RS-232 INTERFACE
16 EIGHT BIT ANALOG INPUTS
14 HI VOLTAGE/CURRENT OUTPUTS
ONE ANALOG OUTPUT
APPLE-IBM-KAYPRO- COMPATIBLE
TALKS TO ANY SERIAL RS-232 PORT
MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED - 651 IQ
AUTO BAUD RATE SEEKING - AUTO DATA LOGGING

Micro World Electron!*, Inc.

3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd. #C105,

Lakewood, CO. 80227

(303) 987-9^31 or 987-2671

#%

"Heath
Users

Double Your
5 l / 4 " disk storage
capacity without adding a drive.

Get twice as much from your H88 or
H89 microcomputer. Our FDC-880H
floppy disk controller, in conjunction
with your 5^" drives, for example,
expands memory capacity from 256
bytes to 512 bytes per sector.

And it handles single and double-
sided, single and double-density, 8" and
5)/ 4 " drives — simultaneously.

Ol

C.D.R. Systems Inc.
Controlled Data Recording Systems Inc.
7210 Qairmont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 921 1 1
(619) 560-1272

3M Diskettes
Lifetime Warranty

TIRED OF WAITING
FOR SERVICE AND PRICE?

9 out of 10 SURVEYED
DISK BUYERS PREFERRED

NORTH HILLS

#1 IN SERVICE AND PRICE

1-800-328-3472

Formatted and hard sectored disks
in stock-Dealer inquiries invited.

COD, VISA, MASTERCARD
All orders shipped within 24 hrs.

NORTH HILLS CORP.
INTERNATIONAL

3564 Rolling View Dr.
White Bear Lake, MN. 55110

MN. call collect-612-770-0485

Inquiry 279

Inquiry 77

Scotch* Diskettes

Rely on Scotch* diskettes to keep your valu-
able data safe. Dependable Scotch diskettes
are tested and guaranteed error-tree. The low
abrasivity saves your read/write heads.
They're compatible with most d iskette drives.

(800)235-4137

Dealer Inquiries
invited

PACIFIC
EXCHANGES
KM) FixuMI BL-d
ban Lu.i (X»ip<j CA
4.'i4(U In Gil call
iW)t>iVJ2-V)tS ..i
iHOSiS4 t-UHT

The Statistician

CPM IBM-PC
TRS-DOS XENIX

Multiple Regression

Stepwise

Ridge

All Subsets

Backward Elimination
Time Series Analysis
Descriptive Statistics
Transformations

* Survey Research

* Nonparametrics

* X-Y Plots

* ANOVA

* Random Samples

* Data Base

* Search & sort

* Hypothesis tests

Please call TOLL FREE
1-800-334-0854 (Ext. 814)

a

for more information

or write:

Quant Systems

Box 62B

Charleston, SC 29402

VISA-M/C Accepted

**"g5S

DATA

SEC<

FiXT ends
boot hassles,
stops data
thieves —

DATAMAC, DAVONG,

GREAT LAKES, IOMEGA,

XEBEC, ZOBEX, others.

No-Slot Installation for

IBM PC, COMPAQ, COLUMBIA

$70 - $95 + tax/shpg

GOLDEN BO W

SYSTEMS

Box 3039

San Diego

CA 92103

619/298-9349

Inquiry 3)9

Inquiry 346

Inquiry 198

PRIORITY

ELECTRONICS

9161 Deering Ave., Chat<^orth, CA 91311-5887
WHY SHOULD YOU BUY FROM A DIRECT MAIL MERCHANT?

Special trips to hole-in-the-wall stores in quest of
shallow promises? Limited brand choices within each
product category? Shelves sparingly stocked? Sales
clerks who make you wait while they finish their game of
space invaders — and then make you wish they'd go back
to their game because they know less about the products
than you do!

Are any of these reminiscent of your last shopping trip
to a local computer store? Deciding which computer
component you want to buy is complicated enough
without the added frustrations you often face when
shopping in a store.

Maybe, its time you tried a better way to shop. It's
nothing new — millions do it every day with surprising
satisfaction. It's called direct merchandising, catalog
selling, or simply shopping by mail order.

Direct mail retailers allow you to shop from the
convenience of your home or office, and more often, can
provide products faster than if you had ventured out to
hunt them down by yourself. Shopping by mail (or better
still by phone) saves you gas, parking fees, and most
important — your valuable time. In addition, you'll have
access to thousands of items you may never find in your
local store.

Priority One Electronics did not invent this method of
selling, but we have invested over $1,000,000.00 refin-
ing it to better serve you. The efficiencies of our direct
mail marketing are passed along to you in the form of
better service, more support, and lower prices.

How much can you save? Plenty! Our unequalled
purchasing power assures you of the lowest possible
price. Also, you don't have to pay the 1 0% franchising fee
that is passed along by your local chain store.

Our customers range from companies, like IBM
purchasing the latest, state-of-the-art disk drives; to
individuals buying add-ons for their own IBM-PCs. We
have earned the confidence of our customers by thor-
oughly testing and evaluating each new product before it
is added to our line. If we wouldn't use it ourselves, then
we're not going to try and sell it to you!

We publish a colorful, 'Catalog of Values 1 every six
weeks. Each new Flyer, resembling a 30 or 40 page
newspaper, is certainly not 'junk mail'. Our hundreds of
thousands of satisfied customers look forward to receiv-
ing the next edition — and then take the time to read it
carefully. It is your direct link to our new products, special
promotions, and sale items. If you are receiving these
mailings, take the time to review each page. Or you may
miss the 'deal of the year'!

If you're among those who haven't yet discovered how
easy and secure it can be to buy by phone or mail — give
us a chance to prove ourselves to you. Just fill out the
coupon below and we'll mail you our next Sales Flyer.

Better still, give us that chance today. If you are about
to make a purchase of any computer related product, call
us now — Toll Free (800) 423-5922 — and ask one of
our courteous, well trained, sales professionals for a price
quotation. We are here to serve you.

The Sensible Way To Shop In Today's World

PRIORITY ONE ELECTRONICS
INDUSTRIAL SALES: (800) 423-5922 • (81 8) 709-5111

In Los Angeles:

9161 Deering Ave., Chatsworth

(818) 709-5464

In Orange County:

18241 McDurmott, Irvine

(714)660-1411

In Silicon Valley:

542 W. Trimble Rd., San Jose

(408) 946-7010

Inquiry 336
Fill out the coupon below and mail it to PRIORITY ONE ELECTRONICS, 9161 Deering Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311

YES! I would like to join thousands of satisfied customers and receive your "Catalog of Values" flyer

Name

Address .

City.

State.

Zip-

Phone Number (Daytime:)

(Please Print Clearly)

(Evening:)

"IBM® PC/XT/AT Compatible

[fpcpR^eunell

C n ■ I ^>

M164-1 20/150/200 I 2

*128K-150/200forAT 995

*256K-150 599

*Teac half-height for AT 119 00

*20 Mb Hard disk for AT 695oo

8087-3 H9 00

Apple Drives — half heights 124oo

*Tandon/CDC full height drives 109oo

*CDC/Teac half height drives 109oo

♦Micro Science 20 Mb kit for PC/XT 839oo

*10 Mb Hard Disk System 649oo

*20-100 Mb Hard Disk Drives Lowest Prices/Call

*Everex Magic Card 0-384 expansion 179°°

*Everex Magic Card W/384K RAM populated 259oo

*Everex Graphic Edge Color Cards 339°o

*Drive Installation Kits Call

Add $ 3 9 5 shipping 1 o a 1 1 orders • Prices subjecl t o change • P s
on approval -COD OK • All new. no surplus, no seconds
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS • Corporale accounts invited
3310 West Main St.. Tampa. FL 33607
In FL and lor info, call 813-875-0299
FOR ORDERS ONLY, 800-237-8910

mm TELEX 330690

*■ FAX LINE: 813-876-7194

\ferbatim

flexible disks

Call Free (800) 235-4137 for

prices and information. Dealer
inquiries invited. C.O.D. and
charge cards accepted.

VISA'

PACIFIC
EXCHANGES

100 Foothill Blvd.
San Luis Obispo, CA
93401. In Cal. call
(800) 592-5935 or
(805) 543-1037.

Inquiry 121

Inquiry 323

inquiry 319

Erases Most Eproms
in 3 Minutes ^

Solid State 2-8 Min.

Timer Version $54,95

For all 24 or 28 pin devices— 2 at a time.

90 DAY WARRANTEE SHIPPING & HANDLING
DEALERS WELCOME Az „»»„„

. .^.— » — ^ ADD 6% TAX

W4LLING CO.

4401 S. JUNIPER • TEMPE, AZ 85282 • {602) 838-1 277

DOUBLE

THE OPTION CAPACITY

OF YOUR mm PERSONAL COMPUTER

PC-XTRA

• DIBECT EXTENSION OF
IBM PC BUS

• NO SOFTWARE CHANGES

• NO HARDWARE MODIFICATION

• STYLING CONSISTENT WITH IBI
Add all those special options thai you've been
wanting without worrying about filling your
plug-In and back panel space

DEALER INQI

$549 oo* F B SANTA ANA

CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ADD 6^ SALES TAX

P C HORIZONS, INC.

1701 E. Edinger, Ste. A6, Santa Ana, CA 92680
(714) 953-5396

niTmnRYmnc industries .Me

800-231-3680

Radio Shack TRS-80's
Epson Printers

People you Trust to give you the very best!

• Lowest
Discount
Prices

• Reliable
Service

• Quality
Products

"Worlds largest volume TRS-80 dealer."

22511 Katv fwv., Katy (Houston) Texas 77450
(713) 392-0747 Telex 774132

inquiry 420

Inquiry 317

Inquiry 264

Serial 4 llim111 ^ Parallel

Convert What You Have
To What You Want!

* RS232 Serial ' Centronics Parallel

* 8 Baud Rates " Handshake Signals

' Latched Outputs * Compact 3'/, x 4Y, x t%

No longer will your peripheral choices be limited by the type
of port you have available! Our new High Performance 700
Series Converters provide the missing link. Based on the
latest in CMOS technology, these units feature full baud
rate selection to 19.2K, with handshake signals to maximize
transfer efficiency. Detailed documentation allows
simplified installation. Order the Model 770 (Ser/Par) or
Model 775 (Par/Ser) Today!

I

ImErtranks

S 89. 9E

2734-C Johnson Dr.

Posl Olftce Box 3717

Ventura. California 93006

Connector Option J10.00
CA Residents 6'/, lax
UPSShipRina S3 00

CALL (805) 658-7466 or 658-7467
For FAST Delivery .

Inquiry 169

FoxBASE™

Interpreter/Compiler

IdBASEII® source compatible

I Runs 3-20 times faster than

d BASE II
I 8087 coprocessor support
I 14 digit precision
I Up to 48 fields per record
I Full type-ahead capabilities
I Provides compact object code

and program security
I Twice as many memory variables

asdBASEII

FOX SOFTWARE INC.

13330 Bishop Road, P.O. Box 269.
Bowling Green, OH 43402
419-354-3981

Inquiry 186

T^V wabash r | *

DataTech

Lifetime Warranty-1 00% Certified

FREE 1 DELIVERY

5V4" $105

siuriif npktsirv ' each

5W' $125

SINGLE SIDE • ■ .

mm/.: i nrnwTf ■ each

5V4" $165

DOUBLE DENSITY ■ BaCH

BULK
SSSD

89!

BULK
SSDD

$107

■ each

BULK $140

DSDD Viy.

iwvcun ■ each

24 Hour Order Desk

NAT'L.

1-800-634-2248

Visa. MasterCard, Cert, chk., M/O. C.O.D. cash.

Get immediate shipment. Schools & govt, on P O. s.

Personal or company checks held 14 days.

APO. FPO. Can and other non-UPS delivered, add S5

•Free delivery on minimum orders ol ISO or moro Oinersadd S? lor S& h

Software Services

Fargo N0S8103

-701-2800121

inquiry 3 78

"SS?

ADVANCED
COMPUTER

PRODUCTS, IN

SINCE 1976

AT RAM $22,95

256K RAM 15.95

64KRAMSET 24.95

IJddW.LMJAihMddill-J

ALS CP/M 3 PLUS CARD 5299 00

COEX 16K RAM CARD . SALE 39 95

COEX PAR PRINTER CARD w/CABLE .49.95
COEX 80 COL EXT 64K CARD . SALE 99.95
IS PKASO I/O (ll.lle) 1 39 95

KENNSINGTON SYSTEM SAVER
KEMNS/NGTON PC SAVER
KRAFT JOYSTICK
MCT SPEED DEMON
MICROSOFT Z-80 SOFTCARO. . .
GRAPPLER PLUS

69 95
. . 39 95
.3695
.249.95
.247.95
. 99.95

1985

MAIL ORDER PRICING ONLY

NOW LIQUIDATING GAVILAN COMPUTER
CALL FOR GAVILAN 8/16 LINE COMPUTERS!
See Below - GAVILAN SPECIALS

oi*: 1

BUFFERED GRAPPLER
GRAPPLER SUPER SERIAL

VIDEO 7 RGB lie I/O

APPLE lie SERIAL CABLE

APPLE He KEYBOARD

APPLE ll/lle POWER SUPPLY.
APPLE IIJHe DISK CONTROLLER.
APPLE ll/lle COOLING FAN SYSTEM
STREET ECHO II SPEECH SYSTEM.
TITAN ACCELERATOR II CARD

.36.95

.59.95
49,95
49 95
.99 95
449 95

WIZARD 80 COLUMN CARD. . .SALE 99.00

FARADAy IBM PC®

ROCKWELL AIM

CPU Board «/fi4K MS DOS Compatible

6502 Single Board Compute

$299.95

$249.00

AST "COMBOPLUS" 64K .

. SI 99 00

KEYTRONIC 5150/51 ... , 158 00/199 00

SIGMA MAXIMI2ER" 64K

. .249.95

MOUSE SYSTEMS MOUSE W/SW

149.95

SIGMA DISK CONTROLLER ,

.. .169.95

OUADBOAHD W/64K

263 00

HARD DISK CONTROLLER

. ...249 95

TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER

499 00

10 Mb INTERNAL HARD DISK.

695 00

TECMAR CAPTAIN 64K

319.00

10 Mb EXTERNAL HARD DISK

. 869 00

CURTIS PC PEDESTAL

39 00

1S Mb INTERNAL HARD DISK

... 84900

PGS Of OUADCHROME ADAPTOR .

.9 00

15 Mb EXTERNAL HARD DISK

104900

TILT and SWIVEL STAND

. 2100

80 WATT BOOSTER SUPPLY

. . .'. .14995

SYSTEM STAND

. .21.00

130 WATT IBM SUPPLY

159 95

EXTENSION CABLE IBM MONO

.38.00

PC COMPATIBLE KEYBOARD

99 00

KEYBOARD EXTENSION CABLE

2800

IBM PC CHASSIS

129 95

SURGE SUPPRESSORS

PLANTRONICS "COLOHPLUS"

389 95

DIAMOND (LEMON)

3900

10 Mb INT TAPE STREAMER

. .. 1 1 50 00

EMERALD (LIME)

4900

SAPPHIRE (PEACH)

RUBY (ORANGE)

59.00
69 00

PARADISE MONO/COLOR

409 95

HERCULES MONO CARD

369 OC

COEX 3B4K MULTICARO w/OK

169.00

ACP

$69.95
69 95
79 95
99 95
39 95

119 95
49 95
49 95

11995
7995
9995
99 95

119 95
69 95
8995

149 95
79.95
69 95
6995

14995

269 95

ISB3100 Z80CPU S200

ISB3101 Z80 Univ. CPU 200

ISB3110 8086 CPU 200

ISB3216 16K CMOS RAM 610

ISB32 1 8 16K Sialic RAM 200

ISB3220 16K CMOS RAM 750

15B3330 Z80 PIO (D mating) 210

ISB3331 Unfversal PIO 210

ISB3340 Opto Para Incut 300

1583400 Floppy Coniroller 2t5
ISB34I0 SASllOMA) WIM Inlor 255

ISB3500 Tfiac 215

ISB3510 Opto Fso Inpul 270

ISB3520 SPST Relay 150

IS83521 OPOT Relay 190

ISB3600 Arithmetic 375

1SB3610 EPROM Programer 260

IS83700 Sync/Async 245

ISB3711 Univ Sync/Async 245

ISB3720 REMDACS 315

ISB3830 12B.IA/D 720

sanaai

AMDEK 300G (GREEN) S13995

AMDEK 300A (AMBER) 14905

AMDEK 310A (IBM AMBER) 16995

CALL FOR COLOR I ft NEW MODELS

PGS HX-12 (IBM COLOR) 469 95

PGS SR-12 (HIRES) 599 95

PGS MAX- 12 (IBM GREEN) 198 95

PGS DOUBLER BOARD 227 00

TAXAN 420 (HIRES IBM) 399 00

ZENITH 122A/123G 89,95

ZENITH ZVM131/135 Call

SANYO 6500 (MEORES) 279.00

SANYO 7500 IHI-RES) 379 00
SANYO (LOOK ALIKE) 12 ' AMBER SALE 74 95

8IZCOMP 'PC INTELLIMODEM-' {(NT) $349 95

MAYES SMARTMOOEM 1200 (EXT, 469.95

HAYES SMARTMOOEM 120OB (INT) 399 95

HAYES SMARTMOOEM 300 (EXT) 209.95

MICROMODEM APPLE lie 249.95

PROMETHEUS 1200M (MACINTOSH! 469 95

PROMETHEUS 1200 (PC EXT| 359 95

NOVATION ACCESS 1-2-3 389 95

CAT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 419 95
APPLE COMP LOW COST MODEM (300)49.95

■ !M:M.IH!«

SEAGATE ST506 5Mb
SEAGATE ST419 (15Mb|
SEAGATE (!0Mb|ST212
CM! 10, 15. 22Mb
flOOIME 10. 15. 22Mb
SHUGART SA604 (5Mb)
SYQUEST REMOVEABLE

CALL FOR QUOTE ON HIGHER
CAPACITY HARD DRIVES!

S269 00
449 00
449 00

SUPER SAVER

SHUGART SA604 HARD

5Mb $129.95

ebsemm

TEAC 55B
MITSUBISHI 4851
SHUGART 455

tandon tm 100-2

8" disk drives
shugart 801r
Siemens fodioo-s
siemens fdd20o-8 ds/dd

MITS M2894
Mirs M2896 ViHI
TAN DON B46E V,HI
QUME 242 VjHl

S 129 95
149 95
124 95

195 00
433 05
439.95
369 95

■ M i l l I II I 11 ■ ■

5%' CASE POWER SUPPLY $69 95

■' DUAL '/jHt w/POWER SUPPLY 79 95

DUAL CASE w/POWER SUPPLY 279 95

8' TH1NLINE DUAL w/POWER SUPPLY 199 95

Hi" HARD DISK w/POWER SUPPLY 199.95

SV," ft HIGH HARD DISK 199 95

.MESBB3B332B1MI

APPLE IMIe COMPATIBLE 5174 95

APPLE It/He COMPATIBLE ft HIGH 164 95

MICROSCI APPLE lit DRIVE 219.95

APPLE II to APPLE lie ADAPTOR 19 95

NOTICE TO DEALERS — We Will Pay

TOP Dollar P"' Vnnr P.™« ln UM l«,u

64K STATIC RAMCARO $199.95

PLUS MAJOR OEM PURCHASE

WHILE SUPPLY LASTS

ALL NEW. WITH DOCUMENTATION

• TUART BOARD SALE 99 95

• FRONT PANEL BD (IMSA1) SALE 79 95

• 8080 MPU BOARD SALE 49 95

• 8" FLOPPY CONTROLLER (Morrow) 14995

• S-100 EXTENDER CARD 24 95

■•fi,jffliii'iiHi

.OIuF DISC BYPASS CAPACITOR 100/S5 50

1 uF DISC BYPASS CAPACITOR 100/6,50

OIuF MONOLITHIC CAPACITOR 100/11 25

1 uF MONOLITHIC CAPACITOR 100/14,25

PN2222A

PN2369A

PN918

2N2218A

2N2219A

2N2905

2N2907

2N3055

2N3565

2N3638

2N3772

7/S1 00
5/1 00
3/1 00

2N3904

2N3906

TIP29A

TIP30A

TIP31A

TIP32A

1N4148

1N751

1N4002

1N4004

MP02232

I! /Si 00
11/1 00
2/1 00
2/1 00
2/1 25
2/1 25
25/1 00
5/1 00
12/1 00
10/1 00
1 49

H3EE2HEia

MCT-2

MCT-6

MCT-66

MCA-255

4N26

4N27

4N28

4N33
4N3S
4N37

E3SEH3

D825S (Female
D825P IMale)

Hood SI 25
DE37S (Female)
DE37P IMale)

Hood SI. 75
D050S iFemale)
0050P (Mate)

Hood S3.25

1-24

S3 10
2 40
MigH/WS 99
S595
5 25
Mlg H/W S 99
SB 95
6.00
Mlg H/W S 99
(OTHER STYLES IN CATALOG)
CENTRONICS
IDC36 Pin Male
IDC 36 Pin Female
Solder 36 Pin Male
Solder 36 Pin Female

(CALL TOLL FREE FOR IDC's)

wit?iii5aB

SOLOERTAIL 1-99

8 Pin ST/LP S 13

14 Pin ST/LP 15

16 Pin ST/LP 17

18 Pin ST/LP 20

20 Pin ST/LP 28

22 PmST/LP 29

24 Pin ST/LP 29

28 Pin ST/LP 39

36 Pin ST/LP 45

40 Pin ST/LP 48
64 Pin ST/LP

MACHINED

HIGH

RELIABILITY

SOCKET

SALE

CALL FOR
SPECIAL
RATES

395
1-99

WIREWRAP (GOLD)

8 Pin WW/3L S .49 $

14 Pin WW/3L 62

16 Pin WW/3L 65

1 8 Pin WW/3L 88

20 Pin WW/3L 99

22 Pin WW/3L 1.19

24 Pin WW/3L 125

28 Pin WW/3L 1 .49

40 Pin WW/3L 1 89
TEXTOOL/ZIF ZERO INSERTION

in S6.75 24 Pin S7.85 28 Pin S
(We Stack All Types of Sockets)

$4895

6810

S 285

6850

69.95

6820

3 75

6852

2.90

6821

2 90

6860

7 75

6828

14 50

6875

1895

6840

12 75

6880

14 50

6845

1495

6B000L10
6800

6802
8803

6502 $4.50 I 6504
6502A 690 6507

6502B 9 50 I 6520

8035 $ 5 75
8039 5 75

8080A 2 95
8085A 4 90
80C85A 9 95
8086 2450
12995
2950
8895
6 75
675
2695
23 95
3795
325

$ 3.25
5.65
7.90
6 75
2 20

6522 $675

6532 9.50

tt 50

8155
8156
8185
8202
8203

195

8214

S 3 75

8259

S 6 75

8216

1.95

8271

6995

8224

2 20

8275

2695

8226

195

8279

8 75

8228

3.40

6262

6 25

8237

1475

8283

6 25

8237-5

18 95

8284

5 50

8238

425

8286

6 45

8243

3 95

8287

645

8250

10 50

8286

14 95

8251

425

8289

4495

8251A

6.95

8292

1295

8253

6 75

8741

2795

8255

4 25

8748

2450

8255A

695

8749

2450

8257

5 75

8755A

3495

MHZ

*A"4 0MHi ■'B"

6 0MHz

Z80-CPU

Z80-CTC

Z80-0ART

Z80-0MA

Z80-PIO

Z80-SID/0

Z80-S1O/1

Z80-S1O/2

Z80-S1O/9

1295
295
11 25

1225
12 75
1275
1275

■»iH.i*ir.i , iW^=fig

24 95

1797

S29 95

15 95

2791

4995

24 75

2793

4995

2650

2795

4995

26 50

27g7

29,95

8643
8272
1691
2143
9216

I»kh,l»M;W: r » 1 U=(:fcl

6845 S14 95
68B45 17 95
6847 11 50
46505 14 75
68047 24 50

8275 S2850 I TMS9918
7220 3995 8350
5027 1795 6545
5037 21 95 I 8002
NEC7220 Graphics

S39 50
3995
14 95
19 95
36 95

1602B S3 95 I 2350 S 8.95 I IM6403 S 8 75

1013 A 395 8250 10 50 TMS5501 14 95
1015A 6 75 I IM6402 7 75 I 2651 8 95

1702 (ImS)
2708 (450nS)
2758 (5V)
2716 (450nS|
2716 (350nS|
2516 (5V)
TMS2716
TMS2532
2732 (450nS|
2732 (250nS)
2732 (200nS)

S 3 90
3 65
5 50
3 75
5 50
5 50
7 50
560

S12 95 I

2732A-4 (450nS)

S 6 50

2732A(250nS)

895

2732A-2|200nS|

12 50

2764 (450nSl

6 50

2764 (250nSI

7 50

2764 (200nS|

17 50

TMS2564(450r ; S)

12 95

MCM68764 (450nS

34 95

MCM68766 (350nS

39 95

27128-3 (300nS)

21 50

27128 (250r,S|

2295

27C32

S1695

27C64

18 95

2101 (450nS) S2 29

21L02 (450nS) .99

2102-1 (450nS| .79

21L02-2 (250riS) 1 39

2111 (450nS) 2 75

2112(450nS) 2 75

2114(450nS) 1.45 8/9 50

2114L-4 (450n) 1.698/1250

2114L-3 (300(1) 179 8/1330

2114L-2(200n) 1 89 8/13 90

214 7 <55nS) 4 50

4044-4 (450nS) 3 25

4044 3 (300nS) 3 75

4044-2 (200nS| 4 35

UPD410(100nS| 3 75

5101 (CMOS) 3 50

MK4118 S495

TMM2016-2 l200nS|4 10
TMM2016-15O50n)4 95
TMM2016-1 M00nS)6 10
HM61 16P-4 (200nS) 4.75
HM6116P-3 (150nS)4.95
HM6116P-2 (120nS)8.65
HM6116LP-4(LP) 590
HM6116LP-3(LP| 6 75
HM61 16LP-2 (LP) 9.95
Z6132 OOOnS) 3295
HM6264P-15 {1501 32.95
HM6264LP-15(LP|36 95
74S189 (35nS| 1 85

93415 (50nS) 395

93425 (50nS) 395

iiH.MM,r.Vi«

4027 (250nS) SI. 29

1 103 (300nSj 79

4116N-2(150nS) 160 8/1395
41 16N-3 (200nS) 1.65 8/12.50
4116N-4 (250nSI 1 45 8/10 50
4164N-150 (150n)5 95 9/29 95
4164N-200 |200n)4 95 9/24 95
4164N-120 (120nS) 8 49

TMS4164 (150nS| 5.95

TMS4416 (150nS) S9 75

41256-150 (I50n) 17 95

41256-200 (200n) 15 95

TMS4050 (300nS) 185

TMS4060 OOOnS) I 85

MM5260 OOOnS) 1 85

UP041 1 (300nS) 1 85

MM5298(250nS) 185

GAVILAN SPECIALS

8 or 16 LINE COMPUTERS

16 LINE BY 80 LCD DISPLAY

8 LINE BY 80 LCD DISPLAY

THERMAL PRINTER MECHANISM

GAVILAN/IBM KEYBOAROS

BVj x 11 THERMAL PAPER (500 Shi)

PASCAL SOFTWARE w/MANUAL

12V Ni-CAD BATTERY PACK

20 MH2 CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR

S79 95
3995
2495
14 95

2 99
99 00
1695

3 95

SUPER SAVER

IBM PC®

Comp DS/QD Disk Drive

s 89 9

HI-TECH SPECIALS

AMD7910

300 BAUD MODEM IC

5 29 9

|.E»:W:MHHHM.'I

ADC0800S14 95 AOC0817S9.75 1406L6 $195

ADC0804 3.45
DAC0806 1 .90
ADC0809 4.45
ADC0816 14 25
AD7523JN 1 99

DAC0600

DAC080B 2.85

DAC1020 7.95

DAC1022 5.85

LF353N 1 99

140BLB 2.85
DAC100 7.95
DAC08 7 95

DAC01 6 95

LF13201N 1 99

Corporate Buyers ...
Call For Volume Quotes!

tflMi

i" ' z\WiH4^r~^ ~^z^i

LM108AH

$395

NE590

S2 45

LM3909

LM300H

99

NE592

2.70

LM3914

LM301N

35

LM709N

55

LM3915

LM304H

1.89

LM709H

1,90

LM3916

LM305H

95

LM710

68

MC4024

LM308H

4 75

LM711

75

MC4044

LM307N

40

LM715

3 95

RC4131

LM308CN

65

LM723N

55

RC4136

LM310CN

1 65

LM723H

75

RC4151

LM31ICN

.62

LM733

98

CA3023

LM312H

1 75

LM739

1 85

CA3039

LM318CN

1 45

LM741CN

33

CA3046

LM318H

155

LM741H

40

CA3059

LM319N

1 19

LM741N

29

CA3060

LM320(se

B VRs)

LM747

65

CA3065

LM324N

55

LM748

55

CA3080

LM339N

95

LM1014

1 15

CA30B1

LM340 (see VRsI

LM1303

1 90

CA30B2

LM348N

95

LM1310

1 45

CA3083

LM358CN

65

MC1330

1 65

CA3088

LM359

1.75

MC1349

1 85

CA3089

LM360N

295

MC1350

1 15

CA3096

LM370N

4 95

MC1358

1 65

CA3130

LM373N

3.95

MC1372

8 75

CA3140

LM376N

3 75

LM1414

1 55

CA3146

LM377N

190

LM155BH

2 99

CA3160

LM380CN

85

LM1800

235

LM13080

LM380N

1.05

LM1B12

8 10

LM13600

LM381N

159

LM1830

340

LM13700

LM362N

1 35

LM1871

545

LF347

LM383N

1.95

LM1872

545

LF351

LM384N

175

LM1B77

3 20

LF353

LM386N

89

LM1BB9

190

LF355

LM387N

1 29

LM1696

1 70

LF356

LM389N

1 15

ULN2001

195

LF357

LM392N

69

ULN2003

1. 49

TL071CP

LM723N

.48

XR2206

3 75

TL072CP

LM723H

55

XR2207

2 90

TL074CN

NE531

285

XR220B

2 40

TLD81CP

NE555

35

XR2211

3 75

TL064CM

NE556

65

LM2877P

200

TL494

NE558

1 49

LM2B7BP

2 25

TL496

NE561

23 50

LM2900

83

TL497

NE564

2 85

LM2901

99

MC3423

LM565

95

LM2903

69

MC3453

LM566

1 45

LM2907

2 45

MC3456

LM567

85

LM2917

2 85

MC3459

NE570

385

LM3900

55

MC3469

NE571

290

LM3905

1 15

MC3470

295
3 45
129

3 75
5 25
795

cgraa-BagffiEa

7605T Also cn

a. 12. 15. 24v .by

76L05. 12. 15V . .65

78M06C 89

7BMG/79MG 1 49
78H05KC .
7805K Also

12. 15. 24V

7905T Also -,-.

8. 12. 15. 24V . f\3

8,75

1.29

790SK Also
12. 15. 24V

1.39

79L05. 12. 15V

75

LM309K

.1 25

LM317H/K

1 25/3 85

LM323K

4 85

LM337K,

3 75

LM338K

6 75

LM350T

4 55

LM350K

4 75

HjmrjmifrHHH.iiiJ-1

MC14411

8R1941

34702

5016

8116

5307

MC4024

8038

5369

58167

10 50
10 50
3 75
3 75
350
1225

58174 $

11 25

5632

3 75

AY52376

11 50

AY53600

11 50

2513001U

950

2513-002L

9 50

UPD7201

2795

3341

4 50

11C90

13 25

MCI 5906

2.95

95H90

76477

76468

76469

AY38910

AY38912

SSI-263

Dig.lalker

S 9 25

3 75
5 75
8 75

36 95
39 95
34 95

SP1000 Speech 995 TR1863 5

DISKETTES

•'IBM PC®'* C1 1Q ,* nnn

DS/DD $1.19ea/1000

Hub Rings $1 ,35ea/2S0

Tyvac Cover .

Major Mfgr. $ I .OOea/25

5V*" DISKETTES

VERBATIM 525-01 SS/DD
VERBATIM 550-01 DS/DD
MAXELL MO-1 SS/OO
MAXELL MD-2 DS/DD
DYSAN 104/10 SS/DD
DYSAN 104/2D 05/DD
GENERIC SS/SS
GENERIC DS/OD
3V," DISKETTES (MAC. etc)
5W " HEAD CLEANING KIT
8" HEAD CLEANING KIT
OYMEC IBM PC DIAGNOSTIC
APPLE II DIAGNOSTIC DISK
MACINTOSH DISKETTE HOLDER
5'/5" DISKETTE HOLDER (50)

64K UPGRADE <set of 9>$24.95
256K RAMS(256kxd $15.95

MSHSMESmMm

IBM PARALLEL (Shielded) S29 95

IBM SERIAL (Shielded) 24.95

KEYBOARD EXTENSION 9.95

RS232 GENDER CHANGER Male-Male 14 95

RS232 GENDER CHANGER Female-Female 14 95

NULL MOOEM ADAPTOR 14 9L

SPECIALS OF THE MONTH

8087 -80287 SALE

Call

AB PRINTER SWITCHBOX (Parallel) S69.95

TELEDATA MODEM VIC 20/64

42.95

APPLE lie KEYBOARD

49.95

IBM COMPATIBLE KEYBOARD

99.95

POTTER POWERLINE MODULE

5.99

CALL FOR DEC RAINBOW BLOW-OUT

NEC8201 PORTABLE

369.95

NEC8027 PORTABLE PRINTER

369.95

ZENITH Z151 PC COMPUTERSALE

1995.00

IBM PC, 256K 2 w/DRlVES

1795.00

IBM PORTABLE

1850.00

COMPAQ PORTABLE

2195.00

800-854-8230

Mail Order: P.O. Box 17329 Irvine, CA 92713

Retail: 1310B E. Edinger, Santa Ana, CA 92705

(714)558-8813

TWX

910-595-1565

74123 S .45

74125

.42

74126

74128

49

74132

.45

74136

75

74141

85

74142

2 95

74143

3 70

74144

295

74145

59

74147

1 49

74148

1 19

74150

109

74151

.55

74152

67

74153

53

74154

1 19

74155

69

74156

.59

74157

59

74158

165

74159

1 58

74160

79

74161

69

74162

69

74163

69

74164

69

74165

69

74166

85

74167

2 75

74170

1.25

74172

4 75

74173

69

74174

69

74175

69

74176 S 69

74177 69

74179 1.34

74180 .75

74181

I 75

74182 1.15

74184 2.25

74185 225

74190 .67

74191 67

74192 87

74193 67

74194 87

74195 67

74196 75

74197 86

74198 1 15

74199 1.15
74221 1.19
74251 75
74273 1 65
74276 189
74279 75

74283 1.40

74284 290

74285 2 90
74290 1 49
74298 1 49

74365 55

74366 55

74367 .55

74368 55
74390 1.45
74393 133
74490 2.25

74LS00 S

74LS01

74LS02

74LS03

74LS04

74LS05

74LS08

74LS09

74LS10

74LS11

74LS12

74LS13

74LS14

74LS15

74LS20

74LS21

74LS22

74LS26

74LS27

74LS2B

74LS30

74LS32

74LS33

74LS37

74LS38

74LS40

74LS42

74LS47

74LS46

74LS51

74LS54

74LS55

74LS73

74LS74

74LS75

74LS76

74LS78

74LSB3

74LSB5

74LS86

74LS90

74L592

74LS93

74LS95

74LS96

74LS107

74LS109

74LS112

74LS113
74LSN4
74LS122
74LS123
74LS124
74LS125
74LS126
74LS132
74LS136
74LS138
74LS139
74LS145
74LS14B
74LS151
74LS153
74LS154
74LS155
74LS156
74LS157
74LS15B
74LS160
74LS161
74LS162
74LS163
74LS164
74LS165
74LS166
74LS16B
74LS169
74LS170
74LS173
74LS174
74LS175
74LS181
74LS190
74LS191
74LS192
74LS193
74LS194
74LS195
74LS196
74LS197
74LS221
74LS240
74LS242
74LS243
74LS244
74LS245

4000$

29

4028 S 65

4059S7.90

4001

24

4029

.75

4060

85

4002

24

4030

39

4086

39

4006

79

4031

3 25

4069

26

4007

25

4032

2 15

4070

35

4008

95

4034

1 91

4071

28

4009

39

4035

79

4072

28

4010

39

4037

1.95

4073

2B

4011

24

4040

75

4075

28

4012

24

4041

75

4076

75

4013

.35

4042

65

4077

.35

4014

75

4043

85

4078

.35

4015

39

4044

69

4081

.29

4016

35

4046

80

4082

29

4017

65

4047

69

4085

95

4018

79

4048

99

4066

95

4019

39

4049

35

4023

45

4020

69

4050

34

4094

2 95

4021

69

4051

75

4098

190

4022

69

4052

75

4099

185

4023

25

4053

75

4501

69

4024

59

4055

3 95

4502

95

4025

.25

4056

2.95

4503

49

4027

45

CALLFOR?^

74LS247

74LS248

74LS249

74LS251

74LS253

74LS257

74LS25B

74LS259

74LS260

74LS261

74LS266

74LS273

74LS275

74LS279

74LS283

74LS290

74LS293

74LS295

74LS296

74LS324

74LS347

74LS34B

74LS352

74LS353

74LS363

74LS365

74LS366

74LS367

74LS368

74LS373

74LS374

741.S375

74LS377

74LS3B5

74LS386

74LS390

74LS393

74LS395

74LS399

74LS424

74LS66B

74LS670

B1LS95

B1LS96

61LS97

B1LS9B

25LS2521

25LS2569

4506

4507

4508

4510

4511

4512

4514

4515

4516

4518

4520

4555

4556

4566

80C95

80C97

MC1440B

MC14409

MC14410

MC14411 '

MC14412 '

■rZM,!.Hd:Mflfeli

74S00S35

74502 .35

74503 35

74504 .45

74505 .45

74508 39

74509 .39

74510 35

74511 35
74S15 .35
74S20 35
74S22 35
74S30 .35
74S32 45
74S3B 89
74S40 ,39
74S51 35

74564 39

74565 39

74S74 S.55

74S85

69

74586

55

74S 1 1 2

55

74S113

55

74S114

55

74S1242.69

74S132

.39

74S133

.45

74S134

50

74S135

69

74S136

39

74S138

.69

74S139

89

74S140

55

74S151

99

74S153

99

74S157

99

74S15B $.99

74S180 2.49

74S1B1 1 89

745174 1 19

745175 1 19
74S188 - 1 49

745194 1,49

745195 1 49

745196 1 49

745240 1 99

745241 1.99

745242 1,99

745243 1,99

745244 1.99
74S251 1,19
74S253 1 19

745257 1.19

745258 1.19
CALL FOR 74HC

1419

74S260S1.1!
74S280 1.9
74S2B7* 1.9
74S288' 19

745373 2

745374 2
74S387* 1.9
74S471*5 9
74S472* 4 9
74S473* 4.9
74S474-4.9
74S475" 4.9
74S570* 2.9
745571* 2.9
74S572* 4 9
74SS73" 4 9

745940 2.4

745941 2.4

74C00S.35
74C02 .35
74C04 ,29
74C0B 35
74C10 35

74C74 S 65 I 74C181 SI. 15 I 74C373S2.35
74C85 1.89 74C175 1.15 74C374 2,35
74C90 1.15 74C240 1.89 74C901 59
74C93 1.15 I 74C244 1.89 I 74C922 4 45
MORE 74C IN STOCK — ALSO IN CATALOG

Inquiry 13

TERMS: Wc accepi VISA MC MO Cas-Meis and Personal checks.
School and Company PO s We do not charge your cj/d until we ship
Personal checks requiredtivers license andcred I card # N o Surcharge
AddedonVISAorMC COD'soverS500 require 20'=deposit winorder
Add 3°o shipping and dandling tor UPS We oiler sameday srwmeni
Prices suhtcci lo cliange without nonce Wc teseive Hie ilglilto sub-
slilute manufacturer Wc are not responsible lor typographical errors
Mln. Order $10.00 Retail Sale Prices Way Vary

Now, the lowest
prices ever on

3M Scotch

V7 DISKETTES

f / LIFETIME WARRANTY!

$-149 $199

Qty. 50 5 W DSDD Qty. 50

5%" SSDD-96TPI -» $2.29 ea. 5 'A" DSDD-96TPI -» $2.85 ea.
SOFT SECTOR ONLY! MINIMUM ORDER: 20 DISKETTES
ADD 3% FOR ORDERS M»]dd| FUP "N RLE w
nnnppRPi ■■1331 w 10 DISKETTES

UNDER 50! IBl lH^I jeh. Thru 5/30/85)

These are factory-fresh 3M diskettes packed in boxes of 10 with
Tyvek sleeves, reinforced hubs, identification labels and write-
protecttabs. mm nr%

3.5" MICRO-DISKETTES- SS-1 35 TPI -* $2.89 ea.
LIFETIME WARRANTY ON ALL 3M SCOTCH DISKETTES!

HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time, Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago. Minos 60611

DISK Authorized Distributor

Information Processing

WORLD! Predueu

& BASF 1

SfS QUALIMETRIC fe
DISKETTES!

LIFETIME WARRANTY!

p i^yisDD 5/4 v |4y

| Qty. 20 DSDD | Qty. 20

S'A" SSDD-96TPI _ $1.46 ea. 5'A" DSDD-96TPI — $1.75 ea.
PACKED IN CARDBOARD CASES!
BASF QUALIMETRIC DISKETTES have a LIFETIME WAR-
RANTY with Tyvek sleeves, reinforced hubs, user identification
labels and write-protect tabs.
SOFT SECTOR ONLY! MINIMUM ORDER: 20 DISKETTES
BASF 3.5" MICRO-FLOPPIES BASF 5'/<"HIGH DENSITY

FOR IBM PC-AT
SSDD-135 TPI — $2.50 ea. DSDD-HD — $4.91 ea.

for orders only: information &

1-800-621-6827 inquiries:

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788) 1-312-944-2788

HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time, Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

MInK Authorized Reseller

V I U l\ Information Processing !■ R ASF

WORLD! Media

Incredible value!

Nashua
Diskettes

51

LIFETIME WARRANTY!

5WSSDD Q I 15

Qty- 50 5V4-DSDD I Qty. 50

05

ea.

These are poly-bagged diskettes packaged withTyveksleeves,
reinforced hubs, user identification labels and write-protect tabs.

NASHUA Corporation is a half-billion dollar corporation and a
recognized leader in magnetic media.

SOFT SECTOR ONLY! Sold in multiples of 50 only!

for orders only: information &

1-800-621-6827 inquiries;

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788) 1-312-944-2788

HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time, Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago, Minos 60611

DISK
WORLD!

NASHUA
Authorized Distributor MAGNETIC
MEDIA

BETTER MODEMS

AT LOWER PRICES!

.. .and get 24-hour shipping

on your DISK WORLD! orders

1200/300 Baud 300 Baud

Avatex Modem ^^ Avatex Modem

$189.95 ea. '^^ $59.95 ea.

Avatex Modems have everything. They're inexpen-
sive, Hayes-compatible, Auto Dial, Auto Answer and
high quality (backed by a one-year warranty).

Best of all, our combination includes a One-Year FREE
subscription to MCI MAIL and special communications
software for placing TOLL-FREE orders with DISK
WORLD!.

Orders received via MCI MAIL are shipped within
24-hours (subject to product availability).

(Cables are not included.)

FOR ORDERS ONLY: INFORMATION &

1-800-621-6827 inquiries:

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788) 1-312-944-2788

HOURS. 8 AM-5PM Central Time, Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806* 30 East Huron Street • Chicago, lllinos 60611

DISK

Authorized Distributor

AVATEX

DISKETTE
STORAGE CASES

AMARAY MEDIA-MATE 50: A REVOLUTION
^m IN DISKETTE STORAGE

^P^ Every once in a while, someone takes the

NU^. simple and makes it elegant' This unit holds

■k 50 SVi" diskettes, has grooves lor easy

.._/' stacking, inside nipples to keep diskettes

from slipping and severa 1 other features. We

like it! Clfl Q5 * $200

$ IU.jJ ea. Shpng.

DISKETTE 70 STORAGE: STILL A GREAT BUY.

^£Rf Dust-free storage for 70 5 '4" diskettes,

^■P| Six dividers included. An excellent value.

W-Jm * VDISK CADDIES $H-95 ^9°

^_^k^# The original flip-up holder for 10 5'/<"
- *fZ% " diskettes. Beige or grey only. J -j CC

•■r - 20C Shpng.

for orders only: information &

1-800-821-6827 inquiries:

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788) 1-312-944-2788

HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time, Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

1 4R0fi - 30 Fast H.trnn street • Chicago, lllinos 60611

DISK
WORLD!

DISK WORLD!

Ordering & Shipping
Instructions

Shipping: 5Vi" & 3.5" DISKETTES— Add $3.00 per each 100 or
fewer diskettes. Other Items: Add shipping charges as shown in
addition toother shipping charges. Payment: VISAand MASTER-
CARD accepted. COD Orders: Add additional S3.00 Special Han-
dling charge. AP0, FP0, AK, HI & PR Orders: Include shipping
charges as shown and additional 5% of total order amount to
cover PAL and insurance. Taxes: Illinois residents only, add 8%
sales tax.

Prices subject to change without notice.
This ad supercedes all other ads.

Not responsible for typographical errors.
MINIMUM TOTAL ORDER: $35.00

FOR ORDERS ONLY:

1-800-621-6827

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788)

INFORMATION &
INQUIRIES:

1-312-944-2788

HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time

Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THESAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 * 30 East Huron Street * Chicago, lllinos 60611

PRINTER
RIBBONS:

at

extraordinary
prices!

Brand new ribbons, manufactured to Original Equipment
Manufacturer's specifications, in housings. {Not re-inked or
spools only.)

LIFETIME WARRANTY!

Epson MX-70/80 . . $3.58 ea. + 25C Shpng.
Epson MX-100 .... $4.95 ea. + 25C Shpng.
Okidata Micro83 . . $1.48 ea. + 25c Shpng.
Okidata Micro84 . . $3.66 ea. + 25C Shpng.

FOR ORDERS ONLY: INFORMATION &

1-800-621-6827 inquiries:

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788) 1-312-944-2788

HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time, Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago, lllinos 60611

The value leader in I UlwK
Computer supplies I ..,_„_,
And accessories. I lA/QRI Q!

ATHANA

DISKETTES
The great unknown!

99

-5WSSDD

Qty.50

$109

5 W DSDD - | Qt y- 50

You've used these diskettes hundreds of
times... as copy-protected originals on some of
the most popular software packages. They're
packed in poly-bags of 25 with Tyvek sleeves,
reinforced hubs, user identification labels and
write-protect tabs.

LIFETIME WARRANTY!

SOFT SECTOR ONLY! Sold in multiples
of 50 only.
for orders only: information &

1-800-621-6827 inquiries:

(In Illinois: 1-312-944-2788) 1-312-944-2788

HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time. Monday-Friday

WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE

ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago, lllinos 60611

DISK
WORLD!

ATHANA
Authorized DhMbutor MAGNETIC

Nail down
great prices on

MEMOREX

diskettes!

LIFETIME WARRANTYI

$128L s ,$170-

| Qty. 20 DSDD | Qt V- 20

MEMOREX DISKETTES come with
heavy, lintless paper sleeves, reinforced
hubs,' write-protect tabs and user ID
fabels.
3 .5" MICRO-FLOPPIES oner ccrrno nu.vt 5*' DSDD-HD

SSOD-135TPI SOFT SECTOR ONLY! FOR IBM PC-AT

$2.44 ea. MINIMUM ORDER: 20 DISKETTES $3.89 ea
INFORMATION & INQUIRIES:
1-312-944-2788
HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time
Monday-Friday
WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE
ON THE SAMEPR0DUCTS AND QUANTITIES!
DISK WORLD!, Inc.
Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago, lllinos 60611

DISK
WORLD!

496 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 1 48

TLTL

Contact us for other low prices on hardware and software,

Next Day Air Extra

FREE SHIPPING.

JHffl B.B |

Call for latest prices.

10, 20, 33 AND 42 MEG INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HARD DISK SYSTEMS

• • • Microscience
• • • International

• •• Corporation^

10 MEG

20 MEG

33 MEG

44 MEG

Bnindof Hard Disk

Microscience
(Half Height}

Microscience
(Hainirightl

Rudimr

Rodiroc

Internal

$529/
/$519

$679/
/$669

$1195/

/$1095

$1495/
/$1395

External

$729/

$879/
/$869

$1295/ $1595/
/$1195 /$1495

RpDIME

Externals mounted with independent power supply and fan. Fully DOS 2,1 or ,\A\ compatible. Both Internals and l-xternals boot from
Hard Disk. 33 and i-t Meg Internal Disks Include extender power supply. The system comes coniplttt 1 and ready to install with the Hard
Disk, Controller, Cables, Manual, Software, and Mounting Hardware. One Year Warranty .

10, 20, and 33 Meg Hard Disks are available with combined Floppy/Hard Disk Controller Card for additional $75.

comma'

$2595

256K, 1/360 K drive
10 Meg Internal

Now using 3'/t" shock-mounted Winchester drives. The
same as used in the Compaq Plus". Also available with
2 half -height drives and 10 MEG HD-$2795.

Quantities of 10 or more $2395 each
Or upgrade your Compaq to a Compaq Plus'" equivalent
with our 3'/2" shock-mounted Winchester disk kit. In-
cludes Hard Disk, Controller, Cables, Manual, software,
and Mounting Hardware. One year warranty.

Quantities of 10 or more $545 each

$595

camPAa

It .-j/rip/y wivk.* f«r«

o >M

640K, One 360K Drive,

One 10 Meg Internal Hard Drive

Tape Backup Unit.

$3495

Includes Monitor

With 20 Meg Internal Hard Drive--$3641
With 33Meg Internal Hard Drive»S41 41
With 44 Meg Internal Hard Drive--$4541

IBM AT" jpe B Ar

CALL

IBM PC

UMlia Iradtnark aMIMCarp.

Call us for competitive prices on larger quantities of RAM chips.

** * + * 4t + f ?

64KRAM

Set Of 9 ChipS, 200 or 150 Nwot*Js

$14

Will*

$12,

4Tb"

256KRAM 1a9sets $69per$et
Set of 9 chips 50 or mere sets $49 per set

AST SixPok Plus™

PC'S LIMITED
Six Function Card

w/64K $249
w/384K $319

One Year Warrant)

• fpuradablr li) SH-tK

• Clock/Cakndir

• .Software included

w/OK$149
w/384K$233

1* i) Year Warranty

• Parallel Pori

• Serial Port

• Optional (iamr Port. US

55-B,

<f§§ft DISK DRIVES
MITSUBISHI

(Japans Best)
fEAC Half-Height, DS/DD

Half Height, DS/DD A #fc ^%

10 or more $79

$99

INTEL 8087
Math Co-processor

10 or more chips
$89 each

SOLVE YOUR POWER PROBLEM.

XT POWER 135W

r^fflp $95

Fully XT'' compatible.

One Year Warranty.

Directly Replaces Power Supply in PC".

10 or more $85

IBM PC AT"
PRODUCTS

^t

n

128KRAM $89

20 MEG Internal Hard Disk $649
32 MEG Internal Hard Disk $995

Fully compatible w/IBM ft AT' Disk tiinirullcr. DOS .<.<> nr f„

These arc high-performance disk drives.

well-suited for the AT™.

laMloU-idtnuckollBMtorp

Term.:Owt»

uf law price* >«da*t »hdccU»i

illaerebudl

tliac«,UBiiitdproditci,i]Jsitci

in flul. Cill Kchoicil tupport lor retura

nuihoriuilon

number on all wirnaiyre pilr*.

Prepitd check*, ooocy order*,

VISA, MSKII

y parehlw nideniirJcccpttd.

KawnJUTjc for VIM orMjuttOrd 3%»ur-

cbargefarAiDcHciaEipfrti.

PC'S LIMITED

10 or mora $495 each

• Uses floppy Controller Card ■ Hair Height

• I0J5 Meg Formatted Capacity ■ Low Power

• Used in Compaq DrakpTO.

Compaq, Microscience, Rodime,

TEAC, IBM, Irwin, Intel, and

Mitsubishi are trademarks of their respective

companies. All brand names are registered

trademarks.

OUTSIDE TEXAS, ORDERS ONLY, CALL 1 -800-IBM-5150
7801 N. Lamar, #E-200, Austin, Texas 78752
All calls for technical support and inside Texas, }

call (512) 452-0323.

Telex No. 9103808386 PC LTD

Ad number 406

Inquiry 324

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 497

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Inquiry 227

£0

(0 i.

Q«< W

IUNE 1985 • BY'

oE

^ « >» E

03 9 CO CO

500 BYTE • IUNE 1985

Apple II + Paper Tape I/O Is This Easy

10101011010001010:.:.:.:.::.::.:.:.::.:.:
01010101010010100 .:.:.:.:.::.:..:.::.:.:
One minute you're without, the next you're
up and running! Just plug into your APPLE
II PLUS. A neat and complete package.

• Model 600-1 Punch — 50cps, rugged

• Model 605 Reader — 150cps

• Parallel Interface Board/Cable

• Data Handling Program

Code conversion available. TRS-80 pack-
age soon. ADDMASTER CORP. 416 Juni-
pero Serra Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776 *
213/285-1121.

SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH
LOW COST PI-SWITCH BOXES.

I j |-r"l Starting at $59.95 FT^

•Quickly shares your computer among
multiple terminals, printers, moderns, etc.
with just a flick of the wrist.

•Compact black & beige aluminum
enclosure features a high quality rotary
switch with rear mounted connectors.

•Serial RS-232 Models have fern. 25-Pin Conn.
(Lines 1-7 & 20)

PI-02-S switches 2to 1 $59.95

PI-03-S switches 3 to 1 79.95

PI-05-S switches 5 to 1 109.95

• Parallel models have fern. 36-Pin cent. conn.

PI-02-P switches 2 to 1 94.95

PI-04-P switches 4 to 1 154.95

•Dealers, schools & custom inquiries welcome.

•One Year Warrantee, COD. VISA, M/C

•Shipping UPS $2.00/ea. AIR $4.00/ea.

\f\b /~l 7301 NW 41 Stl
MIAMI, FL 33166
(305) 592-6092

Electronic

Circuit

Analysis

• New release

• Transient, AC, DC analysis

• Full nonlinear

• Over 200 nodes

• Full editing

• Macro circuits

• Worst case, Monte-Carlo

• Temperature effects

• Frequency dependent parts

• Time dependent parts

For MS-DOS. 128k minimum.
$395.00

Tatum Labs
P.O. Box 698
Sandy Hook, CT 06482
(203) 426-2184

Inquiry 12

Inquiry 361

Inquiry 401

PC EXPANSIONS

Qume 142A $189

TeacFD55B $129

Tandon TM100-2 $129

Tandon TM101-4 .. $239

CDC 9409 $129

Maynard Disk Controller $114

Sandstar Series ... Scall

Internal 10MB HD systems: WS1 .. $769

WS2 $929

MaynStream tape backup $1229

Quadboard (64 K) $254

Quadboard (384 K) $349

Quadcolor I $199

ASTSixPakPlus(64K) $259

SixPakPlus (384K) $354

MegaPlus(64K) $269

Advantage $419

I/O Plus $129

PCnet • starter kit $809

HERCULES graphics board . . .$339

Color Card wilh PP $169

HAYES Modems: 300 $199

Smartmodem 1 200 $429

Smartmodem 1 200 B $389

Set of 9 chips (64 K) $19

256K chips (each) $6

8087 chip $139

Verbatim Datatife disks (20) $49

VLM Computer Electronics

10 Park Place • Mornstown. NJ 07960
(201) 267-3268 Visa, MC, Check or COD.

WHY YOUR
FLOPPY DISK
SHOULD BE A
BASF FLEXY DISK

• Lifetime warranty.

• Certified 100% error-free.

• Special self-cleaning jacket and unique
two-piece liner,

• Center hole more accurate than industry
standard.

• Bi-axially oriented polyester substrate.

• Cross-linked oxide coating.

• Double lubrication.

plus BASF special Offer

Call, write, or utilize reader service — we'll
send you our full-range catalog of computer
supplies with a special offer enclosed.

LYBEN COMPUTER SYSTEMS

1250-E Rankin Dr., Troy, Ml 48083

Phone: (313) 589-3440

Simply #1 in Service & Reliability

Inquiry 419

Authorized Reseller
Information Processing Media

Inquiry 258

BASF

NEW I/O BUS

FOR DATA ACQUISITION & CONTROL

The Local Applications Bus,
LAB 40, is a versatile computer
to peripheral interface and a
product development system. It
is optimized for connecting
directly to micro-processor com-
patible I.C.s & hybrids. Applica-
tions: dataacquisition, robotics,
instrumentation, control, conven-
tional peripherals. Capabilities: access up to
64 sixteen bit ports, 8 interrupts, DMA speeds,
more. Presently available Applications modules
include 8 & 1 2 bit high speed A/D w/program-
mable gain. Prices for the LAB 40 developers
kit (circuit, software & manual) start at S200.

(omputer ^ontinuum

75 Southgate Ave.. Suite 6

Daly City. CA 94015 (415) 755-1978

\QQ/ LTLiyperon ^/oftware

Specializing in innovative programming
tools.

■ Complete documentation and
C-source provided (presently DOS
only).

■ Reasonable prices.

■ High quality and good
performance.

Products currently available:

C Preprocessor. Features include

variables and expressions, loops.

and full macros. Price — S39.95
General purpose editor Line oriented

commands with a screen oriented

submode. Command window Price

- S29 95
Order from:

HYPERON SOFTWARE

P.O. Box 3349
Costa Mesa, CA 92628
Enclose check or money order. California
residents add 6%
2532 Orange Ave Costa Mesa. CA

maxell disks

LIFETIME WARRANTY

TIRED OF WAITING
FOR SERVICE AND PRICE?

9 out of 10 SURVEYED
DISK BUYERS PREFERRED

NORTH HILLS

#1 IN SERVICE AND PRICE

1-800-328-3472

Formatted and hard sectored disks
in stock-Dealer inquiries invited.

COD, VISA, MASTERCARD
All orders shipped within 24 hrs.

AM

AH

NORTH HILLS CORP.
INTERNATIONAL

3564 Rolling View Dr.
White Bear Lake, MN. 55110
MN. call collect— 612-770-0485

DATA ACQUISITION TO GO

INTERFACE FOR ANY COMPUTER

Connects via RS-232. Built-in BASIC.
Stand alone capability. Expandable.
Battery Option. Basic system: 16 ch.
12 bit A/D, 2 ch. D/A, 32 bit Digital I/O.
Expansion boards available. Direct
Bus units for many computers.

SPECIALISTS IN PORTABLE APPLICATIONS

(201) 299-1615

P.O. Box 246, Morris Plains, NJ 07950

ELEXOR

Inquiry 2 14

Inquiry 166

l*U*CO™ is the best thing to happen

to personal computing

since the invention

of the personal computer!

l*U*CO is an idea whose time has come.

l*U*CO is the International Union of Computer Owners, an organization designed to protect
the interests of personal computer owners and users against those who would take their

money...and then deliver less than they promised.

Here's an overview of some of the vital services l*U*CO provides:

1. Access to the lowest priced, reputable vendor for
nearly every computer related need; and,

2. Protection from the rip-off artists, vaporware
specialists, false advertisers and other creepy, crawly
creatures who have been attracted to the computer
industry by the scent of your money; and,

3. Constantly updated information on software,

|*U*CO™:

hardware and peripheral releases, upgrades, bug
reports, bug fixes, reviews, letters to the editor and
other data individually tailored to your needs through
the exclusive HJ*CO COMPUTER REGISTRY™; and,
4. Finally, a chance to get even with those characters
out there who promised a lot, took your money.. .and
than delivered less than they promised.

a lynch mob
with a purpose.

Every computer owner has been ripped off
at least once.

Or maybe a dozen times or more might be a
more appropriate number.

In any event, we've all been victimized by
the computer industry.

And It wasnl accidental.

Today"s computer industry is filled with
hypesters, rip-off artists, vaporware
specialists and other s whose sole function
in life is to part you from your money by
delivering a little less than you bargained
for.. .or by charging you more than you would
otherwise have to pay.

The rip-off might have been a computer that
wasn't quite as "compatible" as advertised.
Or it could have been a well-known computer
that was to be delivered at the same time that
"hundreds" of programs would be available

with it if you consider the same time to be a

year-and-a-half later.

Or the rip-off might be in the form of
measures taken by certain manufacturers
and software publishers to limit sales of their
products through "authorized" dealers only.

This is, of course, designed (they say) to
get you better service.

But it's also a neat way to keep prices

artificially high by restricting competitive
forces in the market place.
The number of ways you're being ripped off
grow everyday, as greed becomes the major
motivating factor in the computer
marketplace.

Possibly, you've been had by a software
manufacturer who continuously upgrades
their software... charging you a pretty penny street system today,
for the elimination of bugs which shouldn't Needless to say, the

But when the workers organized, they got a
lot of power.

Even automobile owners learned the lesson
a long time ago. Back when the early drivers
got tired of dirt roads, they organized the
American Automobile Association.. .and
that's part of the reason the United States is
laced with an incomparable highway and

have been there in the first place!

In a few cases, it's nothing more complex
than a vendor who takes your money and
simply takes their time in delivering.
If they ever get around to delivering at all.
In any event, the computer industry just
isn't the friendly place it used to be, when
everyone was trying to help each other learn
about their machines.

Today's computer market has been an
invitation to be ripped off.

Until now, that is.
l*U*CO
means protection.
|*U*CO™ subscribes to some very ancient
wisdom: there's strength in numbers.
Labor unions learned the lesson a long time
ago.
The individual worker had no clout.

computer industry
knows the value of organization as well.

Computer manufacturers, software
publishers and others eager to get as much
as they can from you have formed various
associations to acheive such lofty goals as
making sure that they can' be held
responsible when their products don't work or
to prevent you from copying the software you
"licensed" from them. ..so they can sell you a
back-up disk.

In short, everyone seems to have learned
the benefits of getting organized and gaining
power.

Except the personal computer owner and
user.

And that's why there has to be an l*U*CO™.

502 BYTE • JUNE 1985

I*U*C0™ Is designed to be what
very collective organization Is: a
teans to protect the special
iterests of Its own membersl

And, in this case, the members are the
ictims...the people who own and use
srsonal computers.

The people who until now have been
o w e r I e s s
First of all,
l*U*CO™
means low prices.
The first benefit an 1*11*00™ member gets is
le opportunity to save money.
Lots of it.

While certain manufacturers of software,
Bripherals and hardware are trying hard to
ack down on what they call the "grey
larket" (thus keeping prices higher than
ley should be), riTCO™ will maintain a
atabase of every mail-order advertisement
tat appears in the major national computer
lagaazines. A similar database will also be
apt for selected major retail markets, so
o'j can take advantage of special sales and
he like.

When you want the lowest price on
omething, just (electronically) mail your
hopping list to riTCO™.
Within a day, you'll get the three lowest and
nost recently quoted prices... and, quite
lossibly, special prices that haven't been
dvertised anywhere!

I*U*C0™ protects you.

Of course, buying by mail or from a supplier
ou don't know can get you more than low
irices.

It can get you problems in delivery, service
md genera] dissatisfaction with the product
ou bought.

So, along with the low price quotations, you
Iso get 1*11*00'™ member evaluations of the
►roduct and the vendor and a bibliography of
eviews, letters to the editor, articles and
rther information that just might convince
'ou not to spend the money in the first place.

(Remember, most sellers are pretty
estrictive about returns, particularly

oftware returns. )

So, as an l*U*CO™ member, you get:
1 . The lowest posssible prices.

2. An assessment of both the product
and the vendor.

3. Information on the actual use value
of the product. (An awful lot of prod-
ducts sound better in their advertis-
ing than they are in reality. Thafs
why s o few companies offer a
money-back guaranty.)

Continuing protection

from l*U*CO™:

the Computer Registry™.

As an l*U*CO™ member, you can also
become part of our exclusive Computer
Registry™.

You simply register the appropriate
information about all the hardware, software
and peripherals you own with I*U*CO™.

Then, as updates are announced, bugs
discovered or fixed and so on, you
automatically get this information as part of a
customized and individualized monthly
bulletin.

No more finding out a year after the fact
that you're still using Version 1.00 and
everyone else has Version 9.4! Or, you
might find out that the problem you thought
was yours alone is actually widespread.

(As a personal note, you'll find that this
|*U*CO™ service is invaluable.

In the past few weeks, I found out that a)
the ROMS in my Anadex printer have been
upgraded, b) there's at least one
undocumented bug in running MacPaint with
the 51 2K upgrade, c) the ROMS in my
IOMEGA Bernoulli Box were upgraded, and
d) [best of all] MicroPro knew of a bug in
Infostar 1.6 which they didnt tell anyone
about for 18 months!)

In none of these instances did the
manufacturer tell the consumer.

As an 1*11*00™ member, you could get
this information on a customized and
individualized basis, each and every month
for every piece of hardware, software and
peripheral equioment you own or acquire.

|*U*CO™:
the Iron fist.

The best part of 1*11*00™ has been saved
for last.

Yes, 1*11*00™ will help you get the lowest
prices on everything you want to buy for your
computer.

And l*U*CO™ will give you solid
information on the integrity of products and
vendors.

Finally, if you choose to become a part of
l*U*CO's™ exclusive Computer Registry™,
you can also stay current with the products
you own or acquire.

But with l*U*CO™,
you also get power!

But, more importantly, your membership in
|*U*CO™ gives you the power of belonging
to a community.. .a community of personal
computer owners and users who need to
protect their rights.

For instance, a group of software
publishers managed to get the Louisiana
legislature to pass a law legalizing" the
non-warranties they provide with their
software. (You know, "this software is sold
without any guaranty that it will work." Just
pay your money and take your chances.)

rirco™

will fight for you!

|*u*CO™ will fight that kind of nonsense by
lobbying against it, organizing PAC's and, in
general, by doing what every other special
interest group does: fight for its own special
needs and interests.

As one person, there is little you can do
when you're ripped off by a vendor. The
powers that be. ..such as the FTC. ..don't pay
much attention to one person.

But when a special group like l*U*CO™ has
a lot of members which can be translated
into publicity and political pressure, you'd be
surprised what can be done.

There's a lot more to the l*U*CO™ story.
More than we can afford to tell here.
Complete information costs only $ 1 .00.
So, fill in the coupon below.

Free!

A guide to your legal rights as a

personal computer owner!

Send a dollar for more information on l*U*CO™ membership and we'll include FREE a guide
3 your legal rights (and obligations) as a personal computer owner.

This synopsis, written by an attorney who also happens to be an electrical engineer will
ive you helpful information on questions such as using copy programs for making your own
tack-up copies, how to complain effectively and other issues which affect you as a
>ersonal computer owner.

It's a slim volume, to be sure, because unless you 're both rich and tough, you're
foing to learn that you haven't got all that many rights.

International Union of Com uter Owners, Inc.
30 East Huron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611

YES, I'm tired of being ripped off. Enclosed Is
$ 1.00 . Please send Information on l*U*CO™
I understand that I am under no obligation to
enroll as a member.

Please print all Information!

Name

Company

Address

City.

State ZIP

Make of computer:.

Inquiry 224

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 503

COMPUTER
PRODUCTS.
Inc.
ORDER TOLL FREE

(800)
538-8800

(CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

(800)
848-8008

P^

STATIC RAMS

2101

256x4

450ns

1.90

2102

1 K x 1

450ns

79

21021-4

IK x 1

450ns

B9

2102L-2

IK x 1

250ns

1.29

2111

256x4

450ns

229

2112

256x4

450ns

2.29

2114

IK x 4

450ns

.99

2114-25

IK i 4

250ns

1.10

2114L-4

IK x 4

450ns

1.20

21141-3

IK x 4

300ns

1.30

2114L-2

IKx4

200ns

1.40

2147

4Kxl

55ns

3.95

5101

256x4

450ns

CMOS

3.90

TMS4044-4

4K i 1

450ns

2.95

TMS4044-3

4Kx 1

300ns

3.45

TMS4044-2

4K x 1

200ns

3.95

MK41I8

ik x a

250ns

B.95

TMM2016-20

2KxB

200ns

2.49

TMM2016-I5

2KxB

150ns

2.99

TMM2016-I0

2KxB

100ns

4.49

HM6116-4

ZKxB

200ns

CMOS

2.49

HM6116-3

2KxB

150ns

CMOS

2.99

HM6116-2

ZKxB

120ns

CMOS

5.49

HM6116LP-4

2KxB

200ns

CMOS

2.99

HM61I6LP-3

2KxB

150ns

CMOS

3.49

HM6116LP-2

2KxB

120ns

CMOS

6.49

Z-B132

4KxB

300ns

29.95

HM6264P-15

BKxB

150ns

CMOS

7 95

HM6264LP-I5

BKxB

150ns

CMOS

B.95

HM6264LP-I2

BKxB

120ns

CMOS

10.95

DYNAMIC RAMS

TMS40Z7

4K x I

250ns

1.45

UPD4 1 1

4Kx!

300ns

1.95

MM5280

4Kx 1

300ns

1.95

KM106

BKxl

200ns

.49

MM5298

BKxl

250ns

.49

4116-20

16Kxl

200ns

.79

4116-15

16Kx1

150ns

.99

4116-12

1 6 K x 1

120ns

1,49

2118

1 6K x 1

150ns

5v

3.95

4164-25

B4K x 1

250ns

5v

150

4164-20

64Kx1

200ns

5v

1.75

4164-15

64Kx1

150ns

5v

2.00

41256-20

256x1

200ns

7.95

41256-15

256x1

150ns

B.95

EPROMS

1702

256 xfl

1 us

3.95

2708

IK x B

450ns

2.49

2758

IK xB

450ns

5.90

2716

2KxB

450ns

5v

2.95

2716-1

2KxB

350ns

5»

3.95

TMS2516

2KxB

450ns

5v

3.95

TMS2716

2KxB

450ns

695

TMS2532

4KxB

450ns

5v

3.95

2732

4KxB

450ns

5v

395

2732 A-4

4KxB

450ns

21v

3.95

2732 A-35

4KxB

350ns

2lv

3.95

2732 A

4KxB

250ns

2lv

5.95

2732 A-2

4KxB

200rs

Zlv

B.95

2764

BKxB

450ns

5v

4.25

2764-25

BKxB

250ns

5v

4.95

2764-20

BKx 1

200ns

5*

7.95

TMS2564

BKxB

450ns

5v

9.95

MCM6B764

BKxB

450ns

5v

17.95

MCM6B766

BKxB

350ns

5v

19.95

27128-45

16KxB

250ns

5v

B.95

27128-30

16KxB

300ns

5v

9.95

2712B-25

I6K x a

250ns

5v

10.95

27256-25

32KxB

250ns

!4v

24.95

74LS00

1 74LS00

.23

74LS125

.48

74LS260

.58

I 74LS01

.24

74LS126

.46

74LS266

.54

11 74LS02

.24

74LS132

.58

74LS273

1.45

■ 74LS03

.24

74LS133

.58

74LS275

3.30

■ 74LS04

.23
.24

74LS136
74LS137

.38
.96

74LS279
74LS2B0

.48
1.95

1 74LS05

■ 74LS08

.27

74LSI3B

.54

74LS2B3

.68

1 74LS09

.28

74LS139

.54

74LS290

.88

1 74LS10

.24

74LS145

1.15

74LS293

.88

I 74LS11

.34

74LS147

2.45

74LS295

.98

I 74LS12

.34

74LS14B

1.30

74LS29B

.88

1 74LSI3

.44

74LS151

.54

74LS299

1.70

I 74LS14

.56

74LS153

.54

74LS323

3.45

1 74LS15

.34

74LS154

1.85

74LS324

1.70

I 74LS20

.24

74LS155

.66

74LS352

1.25

1 74LS21

.28

74LS156

.68

74LS353

1.25

1 74LS22

.24

74LS157

.64

74LS363

1.30

1 74LS26

.28

74LS158

.58

74LS364

1.90

1 74LS27

.28

74LS160

.68

74LS365

.48

1 74LS2B

.34

74LSI61

.64

74LS366

.48

1 74LS30

.24

74LS162

.68

74LS367

.44

■ 74LS32

.28

74LS163

.64

74LS36B

.44

■ 74LS33

.54

74LS164

.68

74LS373

1.35

■ 74LS37

.34

74LS165

.94

74LS374

1.35

1 74LS3B

.34

74LS166

1.90

74LS377

1.35

1 74LS40

.24

74LS16B

1.70

74LS37B

1.13

1 74LS42

.48

74LS169

1.70

74LS37B

1.30

J 74LS47

.74

74LS170

1.45

74LS385

1.85

1 74LS4B

.74

74LS173

.68

74LS386

.44

1 74LS49

.74

74LS174

.54

74LS390

1.15

1 74LS51

.24

74LS175

.54

74LS393

1.15

■ 74LS54

.28

74LS1B1

2.10

74LS395

1.15

1 74LS55

.28

74LS1B9

8.90

74LS399

1.45

1 74LS63

1.20
.38

74LS190
74LS191

.88
.88

74LS424
74LS447

2.90
.36

| 74LS74

.34

74LS192

.78

74LS490

1.90

1 74LS75

.38

74LS193

.78

74LS624

3.95

1 74LS76

.38

74LS194

.66

74LS640

2.15

74LS7B

.48

74LS195

.68

74LS645

2.15

74LSB3

.59

74LS196

.78

74LS668

1.65

74LSB5

.68

74LS197

.78

74LS669

1.85

74LS86

.38

74LS221

.86

74LS670

1.45

74LS90

.54

74LS240

.94

74LS674

9.60

74LS91

.86

74LS241

.98

74LS682

3.15

74LS92

.54

74LS242

.98

74LS683

3.15

74LS93

.54

74LS243

.98

74LS684

3.15

74LS95

.74

74LS244

1.25

74LS685

3.15

74LS96

88

74LS245

1.45

74LS68B

2.35

74LS107

.38

74LS247

.74

74LS689

3.15

74LS109

.36

74LS24B

.98

74LS7B3

23.95

74LS112

.38

74LS249

.98

B1LS95

1.45

74LS113

.38

74LS251

.58

B1LS96

1.45

74LS114

.38

74LS253

.58

B1LS97

1.45

74LS122

.44

74LS257

.58

B1LS9B

1.45

74LS123

.78

74LS25B

.58

25LS2521

2.75

74LS124 2.B5

74LS259

2.70

25LS2569

4.20

We will try to BEAT
All Competitor's Prices

CALL for Quote!

DISC CONTROLLERS

1691
1771
1791
1793
1795
1797
2143
2791
2793

. 6.90
14.90
22.90
22.90
22.90
22.90
6.90
38.90
38.90

2795 38.90

2797 38.90

6843 33.90

6272 19.90

M88876 22.90

MBBB77 22.90

MC3470 4.90

UP0765 19.90

CRT CONTROLLERS

6845

11.90 CHT5027 .

18

6847 10.90

68047 23.90

68845 18.90

7220 38.90

CRT5037 28.90

0P8350 38.90

H046505 11.90

HC1372 6.90

8275

28.90 TMS9918A .... 38.90

UV ERASERS

QUV-T8/1 $49.95

ECONOMY Model

*»&&

• Erases 15 EPROMS in 20 minutes

• Plastic Enclosure

6500
6500 6500 A

6502 4.90 6502A 5.90

6504 6.90 6520A... 5.90

6505 8.90 6522A 9.90

6507 9.90 6532A 10.90

4.30 6545A 12.90

4.90 6551A 10.90

6520
6522
6532
6545
6551

9.90
9.90

6500 B

1

MHz

6800 ..

2.90

6802 ..

7.90

6803 ..

17.90

6808 ..

12.90

6809E.

8.90

6809 ..

8.90

6810 ..

2.90

6820 ..

4.30

6821 ..

2.90

6828 . .

...... 13.90

6840 ..

11.90

6843 ..

33.90

6844 ..

24.90

6845 ..

11.90

6847 ,.

10.90

6850 ..

2.90

6852 ..

5.90

6860 ..

7.90

6862 ..

10.90

6875 ..

6.90

6880 ..

1.90

6883 ..

21.90

9.90 65028 7.90

6800

68B00
2 MHz

68800 9.90

68802 11.90

68809 11.90

68809E 11.90

68810 5.90

68821 5.90

68840 18.90

68845 18.90

68850 ....... 5.90

68000

68000-8 34.90

68047 23.90

68488 18.90

68652 14.90

68661 8.90

68764 17.95

68766 19.95

8000

8031 14.90

8035 5.90

8039 5.90

INS-8060 16.90

INS-B073 29.90

8080A 3.90

8085 4.90

8085A-2 11.90

8086 24.90

8087-3 15 MHz) 159.90
8087-2 18MHz) . .'279.90

8088 19.90

8089 59.90

8100

8131 ..

8155 ..
8155-2 .

8156 ..
1185

2.90
6.90
7.90
6.90
28.90

8185-2 38.90

8200

8202 23.90

8203 36.90

8205 2.90

8212 1.75

6214 3.75

8216 1.75

8224 2.20

8226 1.75

8228 3.45

6237 12.90

8237-5 14.90

6238 4.45

6243 4.45

8250 9.90

6251 3.90

8251A 4.45

6253 6.90

8253-5 7.90

6255 4.45

8255-5 4.90

6257.... 7.90

8257-5 8.90

6259 5.90

8259-5 6.90

8271 69.90

8272 19.90

6274 28.90

8275 28.90

8279 6.90

8279-5 7.90

8282 6.45

8283 6.45

8284 4,90

8286 6.45

8267 6.45

8288 12.90

8289 44.90

8292 12.90

8300

6303 2.90

8304 1.90

6307 2.90

8308 2.90

8310 3.90

6311 3.90

8700

8741 28.90

8748 19.90

6749 28.90

8755 23.90

80000

80186-6 99.90

80188 89.90

Z-80
Z-80

ZB0-CPU 1.95 ZBOA-OHA 8.95

ZB0-CTC 1.95 ZBOA-PIO 2.45

ZB0-0ART 6.95 Z80A-SI0/0 9.95

ZB0-0MA 7.95 ZB0A-SI0/1 9.95

ZB0-PI0 1.95 ZB0A-SI0/2 9.95

ZBD-SI0/0 B.95 ZB0A-SI0/9 9.95

ZB0-SI0/1 B.95

ZB0-SI0/2 B.95 Z-80 B

ZB0-SI0/9 B.95 Z80B-CPU 7 95

-f o^ a ZBOB-CTC 8.95

Z-80 A ZB0B-PI0 8.95

Z80A-CPU 2.45 ZBOB-QAflT 18.95

ZflOA-CTC 2.45 Z80B SI 0/0 .... 26.95

ZBOA-DART 7.95 ZB0 S10/Z 28.95

MEMORY
EXPANSION KIT

4164 200ns
9 for $15.75

4 POSITION 7

5 POSITION 8

6 POSITION 8

7 POSITION 8

8 POSITION 8

ZIF SOCKETS

14 pin ZIF 4.8

16 pin ZIF 4.8

24 pin ZIF 5.8

28 pin ZIF 6.8

40 pin ZIF 9.6

ZIF= (Zero Insertion Force)

IC SOCKETS

(1 to 99)

8 pin ST 12

14 pin ST 14

16 pin ST 16

18 pin ST 19

20 pin ST 28

22 pin ST 29

24 pin ST 29

28 pin ST 39

40 pin ST...... . .48

ST = Soldertail

8 pin WW 51

14 pin WW 6

16 pin WW 6

18 pin WW 9

20 pin WW 1.0'

22 pin WW 13-

24 pin WW 1.4*

28 pin WW 1.6<

40 pin WW 1.9

WW = Wlrewrai

CRYSTAL CLOCK
OSCILLATORS

PAHT NO.

1.000

1.843

2.000

4.000

8.000
10.000
16.000
18.432
19.660
20.000
32.000

FREQUENCY

1.0000 MHz
1.8432 MHz
2.0000 MHz
4.0000 MHz
8.0000 MHz
10.0000 MHz
16.0000 MHz
18.4320 MHz
19.6608 MHz
20.0000 MHz
32.0000 MHz

PHiCI
6.9$
6.9E
6 9?

6.9!
6.9!
6.9!
6.9!
6.9!
6.9!

CRYSTALS

1.0000 MHz

.... 2.69

8.0000 MHz. . .

..1.1

1.8432 MHz

.... 2.69

10.0000 MHz...

, .1.1

2.0000 MHz

.... 1.95

10.7386 MHz...

..1.1

2.0972 MHz

....1.95

12.0000 MHz...

IP

2.4576 MHz

.... 1,95

14.3182 MHz...

l<

3.2768 MHz

.... 1.95

15.0000 MHz...

H

3.5795 MHz
4.0000 MHz
4.1943 MHz
4.9160 MHz .

....1.95
.... 1.95
.,..1.95
.... 1.95

16.0000 MHz. . .
17.4300 MHz...
18.0000 MHz...

..1.9"
.. 1.9
..1.9

5.0000 MHz

.... 1.95

18.4320 MHz...

.. i.y

5.0688 MHz

....1.95

19.6608 MHz...

..1.8

5.1850 MHz.

....1.95

20.0000 MHz. . .

..M

5.2429 MHz .

...1.95

22.1184 MHz...

..1.9

5.7143 MHz

.... 1.95

32.0000 MHz...

..l.£

6.0000 MHz .

.... 1.95

36.0000 MHz. . .

.. 1.5

6.1440 MHz .

,...1.95

48.0000 MHz...

..1.8

6.4000 MHz .

.... 1.95

49.4350 MHz. . .

.. I.S

6.5536 MHz .

.... 1.95

49.8900 MHz. . .

.. 1.9

32.768 KHz.

99

VOLTAGE REGULATORS

78M05UC ...

34

7B24K

. 1 3<

7B05T

74

7905K

. ii

7B08T

74

7912K

. 1.4'

7B12T

74

7915K

. UJ

7B15T

74

7942K

. 1.4

7B24T

74

7BL05

.. .6

7905T

84

78L12

.. .6

790BT

84

7BL15

.. .6

791ZT ......

84

79L05

.. J

7915T

84

79L12

.. .7

7924T

84

79L15

.. .7

7B05K

... 1.34

7BH05K

. 9.9

7B12K

... 1.34

78H12K

. 9.9

7B15K

... 1.34

UA8S40

. 1.9

UC.T = TO-220 K=T0-3 L = T0-92

ROBOT KITS!

PEPPY

?-way sensor detects noise or solid objects
n its path When front sensor contacts an
>bstacle or hears a loud noise (hand-clap),
'eppy automatically turns to the left.
Jses 2 AA and 1 9V battery (not included).

WV-916 $24.95

RESISTORS

3ARBON FILM Va WATT 5%
ALL STANDARD VALUES

25 PCS 75

50 PCS 1.25

100 PCS 2.00

1,000 PCS 15.00

RIBBON CABLE

'■■■

;

ifpr

V

Solid Color

Color Coded

Size

1 ft.

10 ft.

1 ft.

10ft.

10

.17

1.55

.78

7.20

16

.27

2.45

.95

8.70

20

.35

3.15

1.15

10.90

25

.45

4.00

1.22

11.50

26

45

4.00

1.27

11.50

34

.60

5.35

1.55

14.40

10

.70

6.35

1.82

16.70

50

.88

7.40

2.40

21.90

?4jI

Checkmate

H

Technology

3

^— sk

Inc

.

JVPPLE Me Special

Extended 80-Col.
VIDEO CARD

$ 69. 95

* 64Kto 128K •

AULTIVIEW BO/160 249. 00

JO-160 columns with any monitor!

■ Screens: 80x24, 80x32, 80x48,
96x24, 132x24, 132x30, 160x24
> On-screen BOLD and Underline
» Reverse scrolling
» Easy-to-read Wide-angle mode
* Apple II and Me compatible
» Prompt lines
» Upper & lowercase letters

APPLE & IBM
ACCESSORIES

APPLE ACCESSORIES

Parallel Printer Card 49.95

80-Col. card for Apple H+. .. 149.95
80-Col. card for Apple lie. . . 1 29.95
Checkmate 80-Column Card. . . 69.95
Serial Card (communication) . . . 69.95

Clock Calendar card 79.95

Cooling Fan 38.95

Power Supply 69.95

Joystick 29.95

Joystick Adapter Apple lie — 1 4.95

RF Modulator 13.95

Disk Drive Full Height 169.95

Disk Drlve'/z Height 1 69.95

Controller Card 49.95

Apple Paddles 5.95

16K Card 39.95

16K Bare Board 13.95

Extend-A-Slot... 34.95

Paddle Adapple 29.95

Koala Touch Pad 99.00

Magic Touch Pad w/ Joystick... 79.95

Keytronic Keyboard 21 9.00

Apple Keyboard (Taiwan). . 149.95
— ^

INNOVATORS IN MICRO COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

VIEWMAX-80 149.95

The right 80-column card for your
Apple II+

• Soft video switch

• Built-in inverse video

• Shift key support

• 2 year parts & labor warranty

VIEWMAX-80e 129. 95

Most advanced 80-column

extended video card for

Apple lie

• Expands memory up to 1 92K

• Double high resolution

• 2 year parts & labor warranty

DISK DRIVES

Apple and IBM

compatible

Apple full height 159.95

Apple halt height 129.95

Teac 55B 115.95

TandonTM 100-2 149.95

APPLE or IBM JOYSTICK

$29. 95

Compatible for either:
APPLE II and APPLE Me

OR
IBM-PC, JR., & IBM-XT

MULTIFUNCTION CARD

Aj

■

• 64K to 384K RAM • Clock Calendar

• Parallel Port • Software Included

• Serial Port • 1 -Year Warranty

$ 1 99,00
MEMORY CARD

• Expandable to 512K

• Fully compatible with IBM software

• Fully compatible w/IBM diagnostic utilities

• Serial Port Available

• 1-Year Warranty

$ 149.00

MEMORY
EXPANSION KIT

4164 200ns
9 for $15.75

DISKETTES

5V4

3?

a-i-iiakia # SOFT SECTOR x

ATHANA: (w/hubhing)

25 per package

SS/DD...... 29.75 or 1. 19 ea.

DS/DD 34.75 or 1.39 ea.

LIFETIME WARRANTY
ON ALL ATHANA DISKETTES

NOLABEL:(wThU E r. t n°g r )

25 per package

SS/DD 24.75 or .99 ea.

DS/DD 29.75 or 1.19 ea.

2-YEAR WARRANTY
ON ALL BULK DISKETTES

*SR!-~-3>

■ **

a

IBM SWITCHING
POWER SUPPLIES

130 Watt IBM PC XT 139.95

200 Watt IBM PC AT 179.95

Reg. Power Supply

Model 4A/PS (99/4)
3 DC Outputs:

12V @ .4A, +5V @ 1.1 A
-5V @ .2A Highly Filtered

6.95

sKS

KEYBOARD (99/4)

H 1 J-

48 keys 4" x 10" 6.95

TERMS: Minimum order $10.00
For shipping and handling include
$2.50 for U

air pound, add $1.00. California
residents must include 6% sales
tax; LA., S.F., S. Cruz & S. Mateo
counties include 6.5% sales tax
t and Santa Clara include 7% sales
tax. All items subject to availability
and prices are subject to change.
Typographical errors are not our
responsibility.

No additional charge for Master-
card or Visa. We reserve the right
to substitute manufacturers and
to limit quantities.

CALL for VOLUME Quotes

NEW HOURS: M - F 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE

2100 De La Cruz Blvd.

Santa Clara, CA 95050

(408) 988-0697

ALL MERCHANDISE IS
100% GUARANTEED

Telex: 756440

COASTLINE COMPUTERS

800-2284615

Please call collect if 800 number not in service.

213-329-4828
213-324-8087

1956 W. 153 St., Gardena, CA 90247

COASTLINE COMPUTERS GUARANTEES THE BEST OF SERVICE WITH
EXPERIENCED SALES PEOPLE, LOWEST PRICES AND FAST DELIVERY!

IBM PC

• 2 Vz High Drives, 256K

• 10 Meg Hard Disk

• Mono Card & Monitor

$2499

IBM PC

IBM PC w/256K
2 Half High Drives
256K Memory
Coastline Computer Color
Card w/Parallel Port
12" Green Monitor

$1699

IBM XT

1 Drives 128K Memory
10 Meg Hard Disk

$3295

IBM PC

• 2 Full Height MPI Drives

• 512K, Okidata 192P

• Monitor & Interface

$2499
IBM PC

• IBM PC w/256K

• 2 Teac 55B Vz High Drives

• 256K Memory

• AST SixPac Plus with 64K
bringing system up to 320K

• Gemini SG 15 Printer

Price Too Low - Call

WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE (same terms)

HI

COMPAQ
PORTABLE

2 Drives & 256K

$1995.00

AST SIXPAC +

Comes with 384K

Expandable

Clock Calendar, Par/Ser Port

Plus Software

$359.00

PRINCETON
GRAPHICS

HX 12 Color Monitor
$439.00

IBM CABLE

Computer to Par Printer
6 Foot Long

$14.50

BMC

13" Amber Monitor

$89.00

IBM DOS 2.1

IBM PC & XT
Operating System :

$54.99

QUANTITY ORDERS

Call for Bigger Discounts

Corporate & School Accts

Call for Information
Dealer Programs Avail - P.O.s Expedited

Star Micronics

GEMINI

SG-10 Printer

Lowest Price - Call

Other Product Lines
Available from Coastline

Amdek • Princeton Graphics • Techmar • Teac
Hercules • Compaq • Tandon • NEC • Intel
Okidata • Quadram • Hayes • Alpha Omega

Anchor • Bizzcomp • Juki • Epson • Plus More!

CAL DEK 10 Meg
INTERNAL HARD DISK

For PC or Compatible
Comes w/Drive Controller

4> O y O • U U (120 day warranty)

OKIDATA
192P

160 cps for IBM PC

$369.00

CALL FOR
NEW PRICING ON . .

STAR MICRONIC

GEMINI'S

Mail Orders To: 1956 W. 153 St., Gardena, C A 90247. Terms: Visa, Mastercard, COD;s and Wire Transfers. No surcharge for credit cards.
UPS, Federal and Emery shipping available. Calif, residents add 6 J /2% sales tax. Prices subject to change without notice. Not responsible for typos.

506 B YTE • IUNE 1985

Inquiry 86

BLOW OUT SPECIALS YOU WONT BELIEVE

HAYES MODEM

1200 Baud Internal Modem
w/SmartCom 1 Software

$339.00 $639.00

ANCHOR MODEM

Mark 12
External 1200 Baud Modem

$219.00

ANCHOR MODEM

Volksmodem 12
300 - 1200 Baud Modem

$189.00

AMDEK MONITOR

Color 710
Superior RGB Resolution

$559.00

AMDEK MONITOR

3 10 A Monochrome

$159.00

PRINCETON GRAPHICS

HX-12 (Hi Res Color) $439.00
MAX-12 (Mononchrome) $169.00
SR-12 & Scandouble Call

BMC MONITOR

Color Monitor

$189.00

TAXAN MONITOR

Model 122

$139.00

GORILLA MONITOR

Green Monitor

$89.00

DRIVES (IBM Compatible)
TEAC 55B $99.00
MPI B-52 $89.00
TANDON 100-2 $139.00

DISKETTES

DYSAN DS/DD $29.95
COASTLINE DS/DD $19.95

DISK CLEANERS
HEAD CLEANERS

CALL

OKIDATA PRINTER

192P (160cps)
Streamline, Near Letter Quality

$369.00

GEMINI PRINTER

SG 15 (lOOcps)

$389.00

JUKI PRINTER

6100 (18cps) i

$389.00 J t; 2 T 9 r . a oT r

MEMORY UPGRADES

64K $10.00
128K $20.00

DEALERS NOTE

1000 pes 4164 $ .95 ea.
5000 pes 4164 $ .90 ea.

HERCULES

Color Card w/Par. Port $169.00
Monocard $309.00

INTERFACE

Techmar Graphics Master $449.00
Quadram $199.00

AST SIXPAC

Par./Ser. Port Exp to 384K

$239.00

QUADBOARD

with Game and 64K

$249.00

MATH COPROCESSOR

Intel 8087-3

$119.00

VOLT GUARD

Surge Protector

$39.00

LOTUS 1-2-3

$289.00

IBM PC's

Quantity Orders Welcome

CALL

IBM PC's

Barebone Available

CALL

CALL FOR LATEST
PRICE CHANGES

The Only Friend You need When Buying a New PC
Is Coastline Computers. Call Today!

J 800-2284615

v \ ,0 v U Please call collect if 800 number not in service.

213-329-4828
213-324-8087

COASTLINE COMPUTERS

Inquiry 86

1956 W. 153 St. r Gardena, CA 90247

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 507

if I lUL/ rlall IW llll

For the IBM PC, XT, AT, PCjr, and Compatibles

PC102 precisely emulates DEC VT102.
101 , 100. and VT52 terminals.

PC4010 includes all PC102 features
plus Tektronix 4010 graphics.

A few reasons why thousands of customers-
including GE, Dow, Raytheon. Weslinghouse,
and Stanford University- prefer our products

• Complete keyboard and screen emulation
w/line graphics (optional 132-columns]

• ANSI color, local printer, bidirectional file
transfer support

• Guaranteed compatibility with all DEC
applications including EDT. WORD-1 1.
ALL-IN-ONE, DEC-CALC. UNIXvi

• New DOS shell key. ten programmable
softkeys. plus full DOS 2 X-3 X path names

• Written in C" and ASM: up to 38.4 KB

30-DAY

money back
guarantee!

Jp^6440 Flying Cloud Dr
Suite 205
Minneapolis, MN 55344 (612J 944-0593

JB-II

<5!

MEMOREX

FLEXIBLE DISCS

WE WILL NOT BE UNDER-
SOLD!! Call Free (800)235-4137

for prices and information. Dealer
inquiries invited and C.O.D/s
accepted

PACIFIC
EXCHANGES

100 Foothill Blvd.
San Luis Obispo, CA
93401. In Cat call
(800)592-5935 or

1805)543-1037

DISK DRIVES

Half Height
IBM Compatible

ONE YEAR
WARRANTY

40 tr. DS/DD $115.00

80 tr. DS/DD $139.00

1.2 meg. floppy .... CALL

Enclosures and mounting kits
Special bracketed pair pricing

IN ^ 2 DAY
STOCK * SHIP

IP ALLIED MICRO DEVICES

2809 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor, Ml 48 1 04

(313) 996-1 282:TX 2907707 AMEL

*Manuf actured by SANYO

Inquiry 192

Inquiry 319

Inquiry 19

EPROM

PROGRAMMER

APPROTEK 1000

$249.95

■■■', COMPLETE WITH
PERSONALITY
MODULE
1 1 7 AC POWER-RS232
-6 BAUDRATES -HANDSHAKE TO HOST
ALLOWS READ, WRITE. VERIFY & COPY
Comes complete with CPM & BASIC Driver
Program Listings for most small micros

Full 1 Year Warranty

mg: 5 Volt 24 or 28 pm
devices: 27xx series through. 27256.
25xx series, 68766 plus others
Specify Personality Module desired with order .
Additional Personality Modules only $ 1 5.00 ea.

APROPOS TECHNOLOGY

1 07 1 -A AVENIDA ACASO Add

CAMARILLO, CA 930 1 $4.00 Shipping USA
1805) 482-3604 VISA or MC Add 3%

SVessorkJ ; ctc

w und/o'B D P ...--.■•■••■-■•."ource code
. SYSTEM SU ppDH J j, cables .-;■•■•■ 599
•SCSlP LU D S "no? 8 lpiVaM* We ''--- S1B9

. IHTEGRftMO wsi cabtes ...... ■ ■ wBD

. TER»-» HE 7, u a ° w '•■• SCALE

. MJPROSEWtl a ,ct>e«s

|V1

Quelo"

68O3OO

Software

Development

Tools

68000/68010 Assembler Package

Assembler, linker, object librarian and extensive indexed
typeset manuals.

Conforms to Motorola structured assembler, publication
M68KMASM[4]. Macros, cross reference and superb load
map, 31 character symbols.

Optimized lor CP/M-80, -86, -68K, MS-DOS, PC-DOS . . $595

PortableSourcewrittenin'C" $t495

Complete 68000 Development Package
for MS-DOS

Lattice 68000 "C" Compiler and

Quelo 68000 Assembler Package $1095

68200 Assembler Package

Assembler and linker for Mostek MK68200.

Optimized for CP/M-80, MS-DOS, PC-DOS .$ 595

For more information contact

COD, Visa, MasterCard

Quelo Inc.

2464 33rd W. Suite #173

Seattle, WA 98199

Phone (206) 285-2528

telex II (TWX) 9103338171

CP/M. TM DRI. MS-DOS TM Microsoft. PC-DOS TM IBM.

Inquiry 34

Inquiry 146

Inquiry 350

DATA ACQUISITION

and control for ANY computer

The Model 1232 communicates via RS-232,
and has 8 analog inputs (±4 VDC; 12 bits),
8 digital inputs and outputs, and a 2000
point buffer. Suitable for field data logging
or lab use, the 1232 costs only $690. The
8-bit system (0-5 VDC) is $490. Detailed
manual, $6. Phone our applications
engineer at 617-899-8629 or write:

w M STARBUCK w w

^ "T" DATA COMPANY "T "T"

225 Crescent St., Waltham, MA 02154

Inquiry 388

OH -> WINDOWS (for C) |

OH— ^WINDOWS is a complete programl
I library of window presentation and manipu-l
llation functions for use in C programs. \

| • Over 60 powerful primitives available to create, I
Mil, move, save and print windows with single |.
calls as simple as using Printf and Scanf

|« Full color control and conversion for B&W|
displays
65 windows on four pages

I* Detailed manual which fully describes all of the I
available functions (examples provided)
Runs on IBM. PC. XT, AT and all Compaq|
models under DOS. 1.1, 2.X, and 3.0
Minimum system overhead (4K-10K bytes)
Works with Microsoft. Lattice, and C86 C|
compilers.

$74.95 (Visa. MC accepted)
Demo available $5.00

Call or Write SofTron. Inc.
109 E. ScenicDr.
PassChristian. MS 39571
(800)824-3609

Developed by

CAB Concepts

Macintosh"

Call for prices on other Macintosh products.

PC'S LIMITED

OUTSIDETEXAS, ORDERS ONLY, CALL 1-800-426-5150.
7801 N. Low, #E-200, Austin, Testis 78752

All coltifo* frtWtol support and snide Texmi,
mil (ST2) 4 52-0323.

JH Call Itchnicil III
[f repairs. Any un

fiftorl for

Ad number 406A

, restocking Jet. [ I

Inquiry 375

Inquiry 451

DISK DRIVES

we will Beat all Competitor's pricing

Teac 55B

• 360K Half Height

• 1 Year Warranty

$93

Tandon TM100-2

• 360K Full Height

• The "IBM" Drive

• Tested

$100

MPI B-52

• 360K Full Height
• PC Compatible

$70

10 Meg Hard Disk

• For IBM
• W/Hard Disk Controller

$590

Apple Compatible Drives

OUANTITY

1 2 10
Micro Sci

A-2orA-20FullHT S160 5155 $150

controller 65 60 50

Rana Systems

Elitel 5195 S195 S190

Elite II, Dbl. Head 335 330 325

Elite III, Quad Density 380 380 375

ControllerControls4 Drives ... . 75 75 70

ecu Half Height

FD525ASIimlinew/cable $140 $135 $130

FD525CfOrllC 140 135 130

ecu Full Height

FD555Aw/cable $130 $125 $120

Hard Disk

10Megw/controller $590 $580 $570

ecu

YOUR LARGEST

DISK DRIVE

SUPPLIER

Apple Full Height

• Drive w/Cable
• Ready to go

$130

5 1 /V f Disk Drives

OUANTITY

1 2 10
Teac

FD55A.160K $100 $100 $100

FD$5B,360K 93 93 93

FD55F, Quad Density 130 125 120

All Teacs areHalf Heights

Tandon

TM100-1.160K $150 $140 $130

TM100-2, 360K 100 100 100

TM101-4, Quad Density 280 270 260

TM65-2.360KV2 Height 185 180 175

MPI

B-52, 360K PC Compatible $ 70 $ 70 $ 70

Shugart

SA400, 160K $190 $180 $170

5A455.360KV2 Height 89 89 89

SA465, Quad Den. 1 / 2 Height 200 190 180

Mitsubishi

4851, Vi Height $130 $130 $130

4853, Quad Den. 1 / 2 Height 140 140 140

Control Data Corp.

CDC9409.360K $170 $16$ S160

Drive for Apple

• y 2 Height for II or lie

$140

8" Disk Drives

OUANTITY

1 2 10
Siemens

FDD-100-8 $129 $120 $111

FDD-200-8 180 170 160

Shugart

801R,$gl./Dbl $3$0 $340 $330

8$1R,Dbl./Dbl 480 470 460

Tandon

TM848-1E ) 5gl./Dbl. 1 / 2 Ht $270 $265 $260

TM848-2E,DbL/Db!.V 2 Ht 370 360 350

Mitsubishi

M2894-63, Dbl./ Dbl $400 $390 $380

M2896-63, Dbl./ Dbl. V 2 Ht 400 390 380

5 1 /V' & 8"
Power Supply & Cabinets

OUANTITY

1 2 10

JMR 5Va"

SingleCabinetw/pwr $ 70 $ 60 $ 50

DualThinlineCabw/pwr 80 70 60

Dual Cabinet & Power 80 70 60

All have 6 month warranty

JMR 8"

5gl. Cabinet w/pwr& fan $220 $210 $200

Dualw/pwrfor2thinlines 230 220 210

Dual w/pwr& fan 270 260 250

CALL TOLL FREE

(800)847-1718

Unlimited

A California Corporation

RETAIL STORES:

11976 Aviation Blvd.
inglewood, CA 90304

16129 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite E
Lawndale, CA 90260

MAIL ORDER:

P.O. BOX 1936
Hawthorne, CA 90250

Customer service & Technical

(213)618-0487

Sales Desk

(800) 847-1718

Outside California

(213) 618-0477

inside California

PRINTERS

we will Beat ALL Competitor's Pricing

Epson Fx-80

• 160 cps • Friction Feed

• Letter Quality Mode

• IBM & Apple Rdrris

$349

PRINTERS
Epson

LX-80

RX-80(120cps)

RX-80FT

RX-100 +

FX-80 + We Will

FX-100 + Beat ALL Pricing

LQ1500

JX-80

We are an Authorized Dealer

Okidata

OKI182 $ 229

OKI83A 535

OKI84P 669

OKI84S 749

OKM92 349

OKI193 585

OKI MATE20 Color Printer 129

Call for other Models
FREE Plug 'n Play Roms w/ 92 & 93

JUKI

6100, 18 cps Ltr. Quality $ 398

6300, 40 cps "New" w/3K Buffer

LetterQualitv 795

Brother Dist. by Dynax

HR15XL,12CPS .S 359

HR25,25cps 625

HR35, 36cps 835

Panasonic

1091, I20cpsw/tractor $ 259

1092,180cps 429

C. ITOH

8510AP S 299

F10,40cps 895

PrintmasterF1055pu 1050

Toshiba

P1351,196cps S1219

P1340,180cps 639

A B SWITCHBOX

Par.orser $ 69

PRINTER INTERFACES

Fourth Dimension

Card &Cable (For Apple) S 45

Microtek

Dumpling ex (GrapplerCompatible) S 75

Dumpling ex expto64K 145

DumplingGXl6Kw/l6Kexpto64K . 160

Okidata Options

Tractorf or 82 & 92 S 55

Serial interface 85

Orange Micro

Crappler + $ 84

Crappler + W/16K 174

Epson Accessories

Epson Serial interface S 99

Letter writer NCQ Kit 59

Lx-80 or Fx-80 Tractor 39

Taxan 425

* RGB Hi-Res Color or Green
• pgshxi 2 compatible

$399

MONITORS

MONITORS

Amdek

300G, Hi-Res Green $ 125

300A, Hi-Res Amber 134

310A, Monochrome Amber 158

300Hi-ResColorComp 275

500 RGB Composite 399

DVM Board for Apple RGB 119

Taxan

425ColorRGB S 399

440 Ultra Hi-Res 539

stand

Tilt & Turn Stand $ 19

Princton Graphics

MAX12, Monochrome Amber $ 169

HX12, RGB Color 449

SR-l2w/DoublerBoard 775

IBM

Monochrome Green S 219

ColorHi-Res 559

Zenith

ZVM122 S 95

ZVM123 95

BMC

12AUW Hi-Res Green $ 79

9191 ColorComposite 199

BiLy

MODEMS

U.S. Robotics

• 1200 Baud
• Hayes Compatible

$219

MODEMS

Hayes

Micro Modem HE $ 229

300Baud 195

1200B internal 359

1200 385

2400Baud 639

Anchor Automation

MarkForTl S 59

MarkVl 300 Baud IBM 79

Mark Xll, 1200 Baud 219

MarkX, 300 Baud Stand alone 149

Express 1200 Baud 269

Computer
Components
Unlimited

Prometheus

Promodem s 289

Pro1200AApplelntw/sw 329

Pro1200BIBMIntw/sw 299

Pro Mac w/ cable &sw 329

No.ccable 12

Alpha Disp 89

Options Proc 89

U.S. Robotics

Password $ 219

Customer Service & Technical
(211)618-0487

A California Corporation

No Surcharge for Credit Cards

All Prices Reflect a cash,

pre-paid Discount

This Ad Supersedes All Others

Sales Desk

(800) 847-1718

Outside California

(213)618-0477

inside California

SYSTEMS

IBM PC system

• 256K Memory
• Two 360K Disk Drives

$1499

Add $50 for configuration &
testing

Apple

IIECPU $ 790

Macintosh 1895

He Portable 899

Compaq

Portable (PC Compatible) 2, 360K Drives

256Kof Memory $1950

Compaq + w/lOMeg 3700

Deskprol 1640

Deskpro2 2250

Deskpro3 3900

Deskpro4 Call

ir J

^° IBM XT

^ • w/l0Meg
• 360K Drive

$2895

Sanyo

MBC 550-2 $ 699

MBC 555-2 999

Optional Serial Port 69

Optional 360K Drive 129

Kaypro

Kayrpoii Call

Kaypro4 (in Retail Call

Kaypro 10 ... stores Only) £a

Kaypro ux call

IBM PC System

* 256K, Two 360K Drives

* Hercules Clr. Graphics Card

• Taxan Hi-Res Cr. Monitor
• Epson LX-80 Printer

/cable &NLQ Mode

$2127

IBM

PC256K f 2Drives 1499

XTW/10 Meg, 256K 2895

Additional Memory64K ......... 10 50

ATStandardConfig Call

ATw/20meg Call

Add $50 for Configurations & Testing

Tava

PCCompatiblew/Monitor $1100

& APPLE ACCY'S

we will Not Be Beat
On 64K upgrade prices

• Nine 4164, 200hs

• 1 Year Warranty

130

$10 2

APPLE EXTRAS

ALS

ZEngine $ 119

CPM3.0Card 240

ecu

RF Modulator $ 9

Fanw/Surge 34

ecu

16K Mem. Card lyr war $ 45

Micro Max

Viewmax80,80col.card $ 135

Viewmax80E(FforllE)64K 120

Micro Soft

Mouse $ 1 39

Premium Soft Card HE 369

Multiplan 149

softCard(Z80)w/64K 279

Micro Tek

Serial interface $ 89

Inquiry 93

RETAIL STORES:

11976 Aviation Blvd.
inglewood, CA 90304

16129 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite E
Lawndale, CA 90260

MAILORDER:

P.O. BOX 1936
Hawthorne, CA 90250

IBM EXTRAS
Ast Research

Six Pack + W/384K $ 299

Mega+ 265

Add on Ports 49

Hercules

ColorCard $ 149

CraphicsCard 304

Hard Disk

10 Meg. External w/powersupply. . .$999

IBM

Monochrome Adapter $ 219

ColorCard 225

Paradise Systems

Multi-displayCard $ 329

NewModularCard 260

ModuleA 74

ModuleB 175

5 Pack Multifunction 160

Quadram

Quad Color Card $ 199

Quadlink 349

64K upgrade

64K of Memory $ io 50

AT upgrade

Upgrade 200 ns .$ 89

PC Products

PC Peacock Color Card w/ Par. Port .$ 175

Ports

Parallel $ 79

Serial 79

ecu

Color CraphicsCard $ 119

Retail Hours:

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mon.-Fh.

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sat.

All merchandise new. we accept MC, Visa, Wire
Transfer, COD Call, Certified Check, P.O.'s from
qualified firms, APO accepted. Shipping: Minimum
S4.50 first 5 pounds. Tax: California Res. Only add
6 1 /2% sales tax. All returns subject to 15% restock-
ing charge. Advertised prices for Mail Order only.
Retail prices slightly higher.

Prices Subject to Change.

CCU Multifunction Card

Par. & ser. Ports w/64K cxp 384K
Clock Calendars

Softwares Manuals .$ 160

W/384K 220

Everex

CraphicsEdge $ 329

8087-2 8087 ' S S 149

8087-3 104

8087-6 95

5Va" DISKETTES

CCU

Sgl/Dbl reinforced hub . . $11 lOOforlOO

Dbl/Dbl reinforced hub . 13 lOOforHO

Not Bulk Packed

Dysan

Sgl/Dbl $33 100for300

Dbl/Dbl 39 100for370

verbatim

Sgl/Dbl $26 100for240

Dbl/Dbl 36 100for340

8" DISKETTES

Dysan

Sgl/Sgl ... .$34 I00for320

Dbl/Dbl 53 100for480

verbatim

Sgl/Sgl $30 100for280

Dbl/Dbl 40 100for360

DISK ACCESSORIES
verbatim

8" or 5V«" Head Cleaning Kit S 9

Flip Tub

5Y<rHolds60disks,plexiglass $ 6

Customer Service Hours:

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

John Aurentz

(213)618-0487

Mail Order Hours:

8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

10 a.m. -3 p.m. Sat.

(800)847-1718 (213)618-0477

(OutsideCalifornia) (Insidecalifornia)

64K & 256K

DRAMS

8087-3

8087-2

B I T T N € R

aecTRONics

1287 CLIFF DRIVE

SUITE ONE

LAGUNA BEACH, CA 92651

(714)497-4910

BAR CODE READER

. IBM PC/XT COMPATIBLE (AND MOST CLONES)

. CONNECTS BETWEEN KEYBOARD AND THE PC

. NO CARD SLOT REQUIRED/SIMPLE INTERCONNECT

. NO CUSTOM SOFTWARE DRIVERS REQUIRED

. HIGH FIRST READ RATE

. READS DOT MATRIX & PRINTED BAR CODE LABELS

• CODE 3 OF 9, INTERLEAVED 2 OF 5, UPC

. AUTOMATIC BAR CODE SELECTION

. AUDIO AND VISUAL INDICATORS

. READS HIGH, MED, AND LOW DENSITY LABELS

. SWITCH SELECTABLE OPTIONS &m £% m

. SELF-TEST DIAGNOSTICS g"jjfg ea.

AMERICAN MICROSYSTEMS

P.O. BOX 830551, RICHARDSON, TX. 75080

(817) 834-9659 Mgfl
MASTERCARD AND VISA ACCEPTED L__ I

PAL, EPR0M
PROGRAMMERS
& UV ERASERS

from $49.95

LOGICAL DEVICES INC.

Wk&ve, (lelialMj, and
ti, o^ utm&dt 9mpxrttatvc&

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 24

mwm

ORDE R TOL L FREE

1-800-EE1-PROM

(1-800-331-7766)

Inquiry 53

Inquiry 27

Inquiry 255

rrrnLTiiii

II FREE !i

FLOATinG-POIIlT FORTH

Interested In having a FORTH-83

implementation with a video editor

and an assembler.

that will do floating-point arithmetic?

now you can have such a system for your
IBm PC or Z80 CP/m computer for f reel

Look for the public domain UniFORTH Sampleron
your local BBS. or send us just S35 for the latest, disk
version in your format, The Sampler is a subset of
our more powerful Professional Series (available
for most, processor/operating system combinations)

It. won'tcost you a penny to try UniFORTH and see
for yourself the power of the FORTH languagelf

Call or write for our free ZO-page catalog.

UniFlED SOFTWARE SYSTEIT1S

P O Box 2644. flew Carrollton, mD 207Q4
(30 I ) 557.-9590

NOW MAKE SOLID

CONNECTIONS . . .

Male or Female

RS-232 GENDER REVERSERS

$18 95

each

American
Made

Order either two male or
two female connectors
with all 25 pins intercon-
nected. Order Now. Only
$18.95. All cash orders
postpaid {IL res. add 6%
sales tax). MC, Visa ac-
cepted.

Ask for Free Catalog ^
Phone: (815) 434-0846.

electronics

MANUFACTURING COMPANY

P.O. Box 1008B, OTTAWA, IL 61350

_. FOR THE BEST OF US. . . ^

■5 THECVPH8T ■"-

A COMPLETE 68000 & Z80A
SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM
WITH ULTRA-HIGH-RES GRAPHICS!!

MOTOROLA III INTEL

" MOTELCOMFVTERS LIMITED

1T4BETTVANN ORIVE, WILLOWDALE.
TORONTO. ONTARIO. CANADA M2N 1X6
(418)221-2340

Inquiry 410

Inquiry 45

Inquiry 298

I.B.M. Compatible

Case $ 65.00
Motherboard (256K RAM space,

RAM not included) 280.00

Color Graphic Adapter 150.00

Flopp}} Dtsk Driver Controller Card 75.00

Plotter (4 colon) 495.00
Computer [2 DD Drivers, Color Graphic Adapter,

256K RAM Case, Keyboard and 135 W Power Supply) IJM.00

Aboard 100.00

APPLE Compatible
Z 80 Card 40.00

80 Column Card 50J0O

LC. Tester 125.00

Pal Writer Card 299.00

Graphic Pad Card (includes graphic program) 220.00

Prom 8200 Programmer (Fast Universal Type

Iprom & Prom Programmer)
For Iprom: 2716-27512; 2516-25512; (No Adapter Heeded)
For Prom: 63n, XSn, 14Sn, ISSxx, 24Sn, 28Sn,

82Sxx, 675ir,
Include RS232 Interpce

CALL NOW (312) 280-7610

Telex 280208 HFFMN INT CGO

DIST. WANTED

HOFFMAN INT'L

600 N McClura Ct. Ste. 309A
Chicago, Illinois 60611

CHIPS 'n DIPS

QUANTITY ONE PRICES

8087-3

$99.00

8088

29.00

256K DRAM

6.00

64K DRAM 150 ns

1.35

64K DRAM 200ns

1.35

1 28 K DRAM

Mostek 150 ns

18.00

5 1 A" Diskettes

1 .75

FREE UPS SHIPPING

All parts in stock, first quality.

No seconds or surplus.

Same day shipping!

CHIPS 'n DIPS

P.O. Box 251 7 • The Mall
Duxbury, MA 02331

617-934-2414

MetalCE-31

Powerful Real Time 8031 Emulator

That Runs on your IBM PC

The MetalCE series of emulators provide
full speed, real time, transparent in-circuit
emulation capability for either the 8031,
8032 or 8344. Many unique features are
provided including over 16,000 hardware
breakpoints. MetalCE emulators simply
connect to your IBM PC or compatible
through an RS232C interface. Each
MetalCE emulator includes an advanced
menu driven host interface. Prices start at
under $1,500.00. A Demostration Package
is available for $35.00. Call toll free for more
information: 1-800-METAICE.

MetaLink Corp.

33 W. Boxelder Place

Chandler, AZ 85224

1-800-METAICE In AZ (602) 926-0797

Inquiry 2 12

Inquiry 81

Inquiry 272

California Digital

f 7700 Figueroa Street • Carson, California 90248

□ Fully IBM/PC Compatible?
_ YC-DriY

XEROX

When the June Issue of Byte went to press we were in the process of

negotiating for the purchase of 5000 Xerox Computers. The units were

manufactured by Toshiba and were to be marketed under the Xerox

Label. At press time we had not received sample units and consequently

was unable to have an actural photograph of the computer.

The Xerox Computer is purported as being 100 per cent IBM/PC

Compatible. Obviously without having an actual unit to test, California

Digital is unable to substantiate this fact. The Computer is supplied with

two double sided disk drives and 256K of memory.

Also available, are about 1000 of the same machine which include a 10

Megabyte Winchester hard disk and a floppy drive.

By the time this Issue reaches your desk we should have the Xerox

Computers in our warehouse and be able to provide more information.

Please telephone for additional details.

WINCHESTER

SUBSYSTEM ft

The California Digital Winchester subsystem provides over 10 megabytes of
memory for only $519. This low cost external hard disk systems is supplied
with controller card and operating software.

Everything you need to install this Winchester on your IBM/PC is included with
the subsystem kit. And at only $519, this is by far the best value that has ever
been offered in a hard disk system.

TELETYPE A

ANCHOR
AUTOMATION

MODEM

The Anchor Automation Mark VI is direct connect modem that plus into any
slot of your IBM/ PC. This modem supports auto answer and auto dial capabil-
ities. Other leatures include telephone number storage, send / receive text
files, single key-stroke dialing along with many other functions provided on
disk. The Mark V I was originally priced at over $300

FREE

Plastic library
case supplied

with all diskettes
purchased from

California Digital.

Each box 10 Boxes 100 Boxes
FIVE INCH DOUBLE SIDED DOUBLE DENSITY

17.85
24.75
23.75

19.95 18.75

MMM-745/0 OQ Qe

MMM.745/10 ^57.570

MMM- 745/16

VRB. 550/01

VRB-550/10

VRB- 550/16

MXL-MD2/96

CALL

29.95

27.95
27.95

SCOTCH
VERBATIM
MAXELL /HD
DYSAN

DVS204/2D

DYSAN/ 96 n£ 49.95 1

Other diskettes available include 3W and
all 8" formats. Please phone for prices.

DYS.105/2D
DYS- 204/20

BIS 49.95l47.95l45.75

DUAL TE AC

SUBSYSTEM

t

m

The dual Teac 55F subsystem features two 96 track per inch 5W double sided
disk drives. Also supplied within the subsystem is 50 watt power supply and a
four foot shielded signal cable.

Fujitsu 1935D

2400

<519

nnnnndn;

An exciting new modem from the telecommunication experts at Fujitsu Reli-
able 2400 BPS communication over public phone lines. Automatically selects
2400 or 1200 baud depending incoming terminal speed. Integral speaker
allows monitoring call progress. Will work in full and half duplex as well as
simplex modes, both Synchronous and Asynchronous communication pro-
tocols are available. Switch selectable test modes available for digital loop-
back, analog loopback. as well as remote loopback. Four microprocessor
design assures reliable operation over noisy phone lines at both 1200 and
2400 baud. Switch selectable Bell 212A or CCITT V.22 compatible. Sleep
mode can be enabled through the use of the DTR line. This effectively turns the
modem o ff between calls. The Fujitsu 1 935D is an excellent choice for upgrad-
ing bulletin boards to the higher speed operation. MEX overlays are currently
being written and will be available shortly.

w

BAR CODE READER
For IBM/PC,

m

The Teletype Model 40 printer is continuous heavy duty communication equip-
ment that have recently come off lease from a Cado Computer customer. It is
seldom that California Digital becomes involved in the marketing of recon-
ditioned equipment but we felt that this printer represented such an excep-
tional value that we had to offer this equipment to our customers.
The full character chain printer is capable of printing text in excess of 300 lines
per minute. This printer, long used in high speed mini-computer applications,
will provide the small business user with good quality multi-part printouts at
speeds that can not be attained by dot matrix printers.
This unit also has a four channel vertical forms feed controller that allows for
quick change of various form lenghts. The Teletype Model 40 printer has a
proprietary serial Teletype SSI interface and DIP switches are provided lor
setting baud rates to 9600. An optional RS-232 serial inter-face is available
please phone for details.

western union
EasyLink

EasyLink gives any personal computer access to over 1 .5 million Western
Unions World Wide terminials. With EasyLink service you can send Telexs.
Telegrams and Mailgrams from your own computer. Through the use of the
"Mailbox" messages can be received even when your computer is turned off,
and "picked up" at your convenience.

Joining the World of Western Union's EasyLink is FREE of charge and there is
no monthly service fee. Sending a domestic Tefex is about $1.75 and a
Mailgram has an adverage cost of S2.50. Western Union does require a
minimum usage of S25 per month. Call California Digital to receive your
EasyLink subscriber number.

The DataLogic bar code reader plugs directly between the keyboard and the
mainframe of your IBM/PC. All instructions are supplied in firmware built into
the reader device. By the flip of a dip switch this bar code reader is capable of
reading eight different formats of code including UPC. 2/5 and many more.
Bar code is suitable for inventory control, freight and invoice records, personal
records and other application limited only by imagination.
Other DataLogic bar code readers are designed for the Apple II and RS-232
serial terminals. Please phone for list of other barcode products available.

DIGIGRAPHICS f

MULTIFUNCTION

179

The Digigraphic 384M multifunction card b a work-a-like to the over priced
AST Sixpack Plus but at a much more attractive price.
Memory is expandible to 384K/byte. battery backed up clock/calendar, fully
programmable RS-232 communication port. Centronics parallel port, and
game port as standard equipm ent makingthis card an outstanding value.
Software is also provided for clock/calendar functions. RAM -Disk up to360K,
print spooler for up to 3 printers, as well as diagnostic memory tests.
$179.00 no memory DGC-384/0; $219.00 64K/byte memory DGC-384/64.

CONNECTORS

DB25P

p£

S-100Gold <nnrm

^&:

RIBBON CONNECTORS
DB25Pma!e CND-r25P 5 65 5 25
DB25S female CND-r25S 5 95 5 59
57-30360male CNC-r36P
57-303601 maleCNC-r36S
20 pin edge CNI-DE20
- CNI-DS20

20 pm socket
26 pin edge
26pm socket
34 pm edge
34 pm socket
50 pin edge
50 pin socket

7 95 6 75 5 90

7 95 6 75 5 90

4 35 3 30 2 50

2 75 1 85 1 60

CNI-DE26 4 95 3 50 2 70

CNI-DS26 3 50 2 40 2.15

M 4 95 4i60 3 50

CNI-DS34 4 50 3 95 3 15

CNI-DE50 5 95 5 60 4,90

S5fl 4 95 4 60 3 80

AMPHENOL / CENTRONICS TYPE

57-30360 36 ■■ P CMC-3GP 7 95 6 35 3 97
lEEE488.CdorCND-2.lP 7 95 6 35 5 35

catalog

CND-9P

CND-9S

CND-9H

CND-15P

•■□•■TYPE
OE9P male
D£9S female
DE hood
DAi5Pmale

OAi5S female CND-15S
DAl5hood CND-55H
DB25P male CND-25P
DB25S female CND-25S
DB25hood CND25H
DC37Pmale CND-37P
OC37Sfemale CND-37S
DC37 hood CND-37H
DDSOPmale CND-50P
DD50 hood CND-50H
Hardware 2/set CND-2HS

each 10-99 100+

1.60 140 130

2 25 2 00 1 30
1 50 1 35 1 20
2.35 2.10 1 90

3 25 3 10 2 90

1 60 1.35 1 30
195 1.75 135

2 95 2 55 165
135 1.15 .77
420 3.95 365
595 5.75 550
225 1 95 1 65
5 50 5 10 4 75
2 60 2.40 2 10

89 69 42

IF masier charge]

Shipping: First five pounds $3.00, each additional pound $.50.
Foreign orders: 10% shipping, excess will be refunded.
California residents add 6 1 / 2 % sales tax. • COD's discouraged.
Open accounts extended to state supported educational institu-
tions and companies with a strong "Dun & Bradstreet" rating.

TOLL FREE ORDER LINE

(800)421-5041

TECHNICAL & CALIFORNIA

(213)217-0500

California Digital

17700 Figueroa Street • Carson, California 90248

NEC RGB. A

color *2s9

MONITOR

The NEC JC-1401D is a 13" medium/high resolution RGB monitor
suitable for use with the Sanyo MBC-550/555 or the IBM/ PC. The
monitor features a resolution of 400 dots by 240 lines. Colorsavailable
are Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Cyan. Magenta, Black and White.
These monitors are currently being used in applications far more
critical than microcomputers.

The NEC monitor carries the Litton-Monroe label and was originally
scheduled for use rn their Office ol the Future" equipment. A change
in Monroe s marketing strategy has made these units excess inven-
tory which were sold to California Digital. We are offering these prime
new" RGB monitors at a fraction of their original cost. Sanyo com-
patible NEC-1401 /S: IBM/P/C Computer compatible NEC-140 1/PC

MONITORS

BMC-12A

BMC-12EN

AMK-300G

AMK-300A

AMK-310A

ZTH-122

ZTH-Z123

NEC-J61201

NEC-JB1260

CON-BW9

7895
11900
12895
13895
15895

R0.95

6995
15900
119 00

5900

NEC-T401/X

25900

BMC-9191

238 95

BMC-9191M

37900

NEC-1203

69900

NEC-JC1215

33900

ZTH-Z135

475 00

AMK-100

299 00

AMK-200

41995

AMK-300

35995

PRN-HX12

47895

BMC 12 A green phosphor 15 MHz composn video

BMC 12 high resolution. 20MHj

Amdek 300G 12 green phosphor

Amdek 300A 1 2 amber phos . hi-resokition

Amdek 31 0A designed lor IBM/PC, amber

Zenith ZVM122 Amber Phosphor 12 40/80 column swiich

Zenilh ZVM123 green phosphor 12" 40/80 column swiich.

NEC J8 1201 fjriicn phosphor 18 Mtfz composil video

NEC JB 1260 cominorc id grade composil

Conrac9' open frame requires horz sync & 12v supply

COLOR
NECJCl401DMedium,High 13" RGB
BMC AU9191U Color composilvideowith sound
BMC 9 1 9 1 M RGB designed lor use with the IBM computer
NEC JC1203DM. RGB color monilor
NEC J C 1 2 1 5 color composit

Zenilh ZVM135 RGB & composite suitable lor IBM PC
Amdek Color I, 13 composit video
Amdek Color II *. 13 RGB hi/resolulion
Amdek Color 111 . . t3 RGB. medium resolutiion
Pnncelon HX-12 RGB IBM/PC compatible

PRINTERS

MATRIX PRINTERS

StarGemini-lOX 120 char/sec

StarGemim-l5X. 100 char/sec 15' paper

Star Gemini Delta 10. 160 Char/sec

Toshiba P1 351. 192 char/sec lelter quality

Okidala 82A serial & parallel 9V2' paper

Okidata 92A parallel interlace, 160 char/sec

Okidata83A& parallel 1 5 paper

Okidata 84 A & parallel 15" paper

Epson RX-80 1 1 20 Char/sec

Epson RX-80/FT Inction & Iractor

Epson FX80FT, 10' 160 char /sec with graphtrax

Epson FX 100FT 1 5" 160 cfiar /sec with graphtrax

Epson L01 500. 15 corespondence quality

Epson JX80 Color pnnler

Prownter 8510 parallel 9' z" paper

Prowmer II. parallel 15 paper, graphics

Dataproducls B-600-3. band printer 600 LPM

Prmlronix P300 high speed printer 300 lines per minute

Pnnlroriix P600ultrahigh speed 600 lines per minute

WORD PROCESSING PRINTERS

Siarwnler F10 parallel. 40 char/sec PRO-F10P -199 00

NEC8810 55 char/second, serial interface NEC-881O 1659 00

NEC8830 55 char/ sea par I interlace NEC-8830 1659 00

NEC3550 popular primer designed (or Ihe IBM/PC NEC-3550 1599 00

NEC2050 desiqned lor IBM/PC 20 char/sec pari. NEC-2050 689 00

Stiver Reed EXP500. 14 diar/sec.par'l interlace SRD-EXP500 31900

Silver Reed EXP550 17 Char/sec pari interlace. SRD-EXP550 429.00

Diablo 63040 char/sec serial DBL-630 1569.00

Diablo620. propornonal spacing, horz & vert tab 20 cps DBL-620 769 00

Juki 6100. 18 char /sec JUK-6100 399 00

Juki 6300. 40 char /sec JUK-6300 699 00

Comrex CR2, 5k bulter. proportional spacing, par I CRX-CR2P 395 00

TERMINALS

Freedom 100. split screen, detachable keyboard LIB-F100 495.00

Oume 102 green phosphor terminal OUM-102 539 00

Ampex Dialogue 125 green screen. APX-D125G 675.00

Ampex Dialouge 175 amber screen, two page, tunc keys APX-D175A 719 00

Wyse 50. 14" green phosphor WYS-50 595.00

Wyse 300. Eight color display, split screen WYS-300 1159 00

Zenith 29 terminal. VT52 compatible detatch ble keyboard. ZTH-Z29 765 00

Televideo 910 Plus, block mode TV1-910P 575 00

Televideo 925. detachable keyboard. 22 function keys TVl-925 759 00

Televideo 950. graphic char.split screen. 22func. TVI-950 95000

Televideo 970, 14" green. t32 column. European TVI-970 1095 00

STR-GlOX

249.00

STR-G15X

:jh!.CO

STR-D10

359 00

TOS-1351

1495.00

OKI-82A

299 00

OKI-92A

379 00

OKI-83A

549 00

OKI-84A

929 00

EPS-RX80

EPS-RX80FT

279 00

EPS-FX80

390 00

EPS-FX100

593 no

EPS-LO1500

1070 00

EPS-JX80

573 00

PRO-8510P

i:»(f)tj

PRO-2P

593 00

DPS-B600

6985 00

PTX-P300

3995 00

PTX-P600

5795 00

COMPUTER PLOTTER

The Comrex Comscriber I is the ideal solution to make

short work of translating financial and numeric data into

a graphic presentation.

Many ready to run programs such as Lotus 1-2-3,

Visi-on and Apple business graphics already support

this plotter.

The Comscriber I features programmable paper sizes

up to 8V2 by 1 20 inches, 6 inch per second plot speed

and 0.004" step size.

Easy to implement Centronics interface allows the

Comscriber I immediate use with the printer port of

most personal computers.

The Comscriber I is manufactured for Comrex by the
Enter Computer Corporation. The plotter is marketed
by Heath Kit and also sold under Enters own "Sweet P"
Label. This is your opportunity to purchase a graphic
plotter which was originally priced at $795 for only
S219.

Also available is a support package which includes
demonstration software, interface cable, amulticolor
pen assortment and a variety of paper and transpa-
rency material.

1200 BAUD

• /#

The Team 212A offers all the features of the Hayes 1
Smart Modem 1 200 for a fraction of the price. Now is
your opportunity to purchase a 1 200 baud modem at
the price of a 300 baud modem.
California Digital is so confident of your complete
satisfaction that we will allow the return the Team
212A and apply the full credit towards the purchase
of any other 1 200 baud modem. TEM-SM1 200

PROMETHEUS

ProModem 1200

The Prometheus Promodem 1 200 is best value that we have seen in a
300/1200 baud modem. This Hayes compatible modem features
completely unattended operation, auto answer/auto dial and even
includes "redial number when busy". Internal diagnostics makes the
Promodem 1200 an easy modem to install. Helpcommands, real time
clock and internal speaker add to the ease of use of this unit.
An optional processor accessory allows battery back up, extra mem-
ory space for storing additional phone numbers, messages received,
and can act as a transfer buffer when exchanging programs.
The Alphanumeric display option allows messages saved to be dis-
played when they were received, diagnostic test results, numbers in
the directoiy, as well as modem status.

MODEMS

Team 1 200 H;i T es Compatible TEM-SM120

CTS 212AH 1200 baud, auto dial CTS-212AH

Terminal sotlw;)re lor CTS 212 AH CTS-212SFT

Promelheus 1200 super features PRM-P1 200

Promeineus 1200B internal PC PRM-P1 200B

Signalman Mark 12, 1200 baud. Hayescompanble SGL-MK12

Signalman Mark I . directconnectwith termmaicable SGL-MK1

Hayes Smon Modem 1 200 baud, auto answer, auto dial HYS-2 1 2AD

Hayes 1200B lor use wuh me IBM/PC, i200oaud HYS-1200B
Hayes Smartmodem. 300baudon1y. autoanswer autodial HYS-103AO

Hayes Micromodem 11.103 Apple direct connect HYS-MM2

Hayes Chronograph time&dale HYS-CHR232

U.S Robolics2)2A300t200baud. autodial/answer USR-212A

Pen/il 300/ 12CD in dusinal quality PEN-12AD

Universal DolalOGLP. Imepower. answer & originate UDS-iOXP

Universal Data202. I200baud,halfduplexonly UDS-202LP

Universal Data 212LP. full 1200 baud duplex, line power UDS-212LP

Novation J Cat. direct connect, auto answer NOV-JCAT ,

223 00
299 00

35 00
319 00
279 00
23900

7500
42300
39900
229 00
27900
19900
43900
•195 00
169 00
219 00
359 00
115 00

The Eagle IIE/2 Computer features a \2 non-glare green phosphor CRT. typewriter style
keyboard with separate numeric cluster. This unit provides two 5 1/4 drives tor a
combined storage capacity of 780 K/Byte The computer contains a 4Mhz Z-80A, DMA
disk interface, two RS-232C serial ports. Centronics printer interface, along with an
auxillaiy parallel port.

Software included consists of ULTRACALC electronic spreadsheet. SPELLBINDERword
processor. CBASIC2, CP/M 2.2. and an exclusive Eagle menu driven utility package.
These units are all "factory new" and are being olfered far below their suggested price of
S2495. This is your opportunity to purchase a complete CP/M system for only $395.

Return of a \
Smash Hit Sellout

DRAGON

99

Compatible with most Radio Shack Color Computer software. The world famous Dragon
computer is now available in the United States. Manufactured by the Tano Corp under
license of the British Broadcasting Company. The Dragon comes complete with 64K Byte ol
memory, senal modem port along with a Centronics printer interface. This unique micro-
computer features Motorola's advanced 6809E microprocessor and comes standard with
Microsoft Color Basic, data base manager, and a complete word processing package. The
computer outputs color composite video along with R.F. video that allows the unit to be used
m conjunction with any color television. This is the Ideal low cost computer to be used with
any diaj up information system such as the Source. Western Union's Easyljnk or any other
time share service.

TOLL FREE ORDER LINE

(800) 421-5041

514 BYTE • JUNE 198

TECHNICAL & CALIFORNIA

(213)217-0500

California Digital

17700 Figueroa Street • Carson, Calif ornia 90248

F10 DAISY WHEEL PRINTER

LETTER
QUALITY

1

The TEC F-10 Daisy Wheel printer is the perfect answer to a rea-
sonably priced 40 character word processing printer. While this
printer is " extremely" similar to C.ltoh's F-10/40 Starwriter printer.
Legal counsel for the C.ltoh Company have advised us that we
should refrain from referring to the TEC printer as a Starwriter.
This 40 character per second printer auto installs with Wordstar and
Perfect Writer. Features extensive built-in word processing func-
tions that allow easy adaptability and reduced software complexity.
Industry standard Centronics interface provides instant compatibil-

ity with all computers equiped with a parallel printer port. The TEC

F-1 accepts paper up to 1 5 inches in width.

These printerswereoriginally priced to sell atover $1 400. Through a

special arrangment California Digital has purchase these units from

a major computer manufacturer and is offering these printers at a

fraction of their original cost.

Options available include tractor feed, buffered memory and an

assortment of printer cables for a variety of computers.

10 MEGABYTE
WINCHESTER

SPECIAL

California Digital has re-
cently purchased several
thousand 10 Megabyte
Winchester disk drives.
The manufacturer has
asked us not to advertise
their name. Please tele-
phone for details

MEMORY

DYNAMIC 1 5Qns

Quantity
100

DYNAMIC MEMORY

4164 150ns. 64K 128 refresh ICM-4164150

41256150ns.256K ICM-41256150

4116150ns. 16K ICM-4116150

4116 200ns.16K ICM-41 16200

4128 for IBM/AT ICM-4128150

DP8409 dynamic controller ICT-8409

STATIC MEMORY

21L02 200ns. 1 K static ICM-21 LD2200

21 L02450ns. IK static ICM-21 L02450

2112 450ns. 2K static ICM-2112450

2114300ns. IK x 4 ICM-21 14300

4044TMS 450ns. 4K x 1 ICM-4044450

5257300ns.4K x 1 ICM-5257300

6116 P4 200ns. 2Kx 8 ICM-6116200

6116P3150ns.2Kx8 ICM-6116150

EPROMS

1-31

2.29
8.95

2708 450ns. IK* 8

2716 450ns. 2K * 6

271 6TMS 450ns. Tri-voitage

2732 450ns. 4K x 8

2764 350ns. 8K x 8

27128 350ns. 16K x 8

1CE-2703
ICE-2716
ICE-2716TMS

ICE-2732
ICE-2764
ICE-27128

4.95
4.50
7. 35
4.50
5.95
7.95

3.25
2.25
3.85

4,75
4.25

7.65
3.75
5.75
7.35

4.55

3.97
7.2S
3.55
6? 5
6,95

Shusiart

4 WINCHESTER

1 1 jj S These^S. 7 Megabyte drives

.. are new units recently re

V; !•■ leased by the Shugart division

1 || ..;•,.;. ,. I}! of Xerox. The Shugart 604 is

fully 506 industry compatible.

Each drive is tested before

shipment and is supplied with

a 90 day warranty. SHU-604

Five Inch Winchester Hard Disk Drives

FUJITSU M2235AS 27 Meg. 899 859

RODIME RO-208 53 Meg. 1589 1493

MAXTOR XT10140 140Meg. 3895 3785

SHUGART 712 13Meg. 1 /2Ht 495 465

SHUGART 604 6.7 Meg. 99 89

TANDON 502 10 Meg. 419 395

TANDON 503 19 Meg. 695 675

SEAGATE 225 25 Meg. 695 625

TEAC

Your Choice
>B 55F
48TPI96TPI

One Two Ten

Five Inch Double Sided Drives

TEAC FD55B half height 119 115 109

TEAC FD55F 96 TPI, half ht. 119 115 109

CONTROL DATA 9409 PC 169 159 155

SHUGART SA455 Half Height 119 115 109

SHUGART SA465 V 2 Ht. 96TPI 119 115 109

TANDON 100-2 full height 149 145 139

TAN DON 1 01 -4 96TPI full ht. 299 289 279

MITSUBISHI 4851 half height 139 135 129
MITSUBISHI 4853 96/TPI V 2 Ht. 155 149 139

MITSUBISHI 4854 8" elec. 295 285 275

QUME 142 half height 219 205 199

Eight Inch Single Sided Drives
SHUGART 801 R 159 159 154

SIEMENS FDD 100-8 119 115 109

TANDON 848E-1 Half Height 369 359 349

Eight Inch Double Sided Drives

SHUGART SA851R 495 485 475

QUME 842 "QUME TRACK 8" 319 319 313

TANDON 848E-2 Half Height 459 447 435

REMEX RFD-4000 219 219 209

MITSUBISHI M2896-63 V 2 Ht. 459 449 409

Shipping: First five pounds $3.00, each additional pound $.50.
; Foreign orders: 10% shipping, excess will be refunded.
California residents add 6V2% sales tax. • COD's discouraged.
Open accounts extended to state supported educational institu-
tions and companies with a strong "Dun & Bradstreet" rating,

IUNE I985 -BYTE 515

* PRICE WAR • callus LAST

PRINTERS

EPSON FX-80 + ...$349 FX-100+ ...$479

LQ-1500 Parallel $939 Serial $989

JX-80 1 60 cps, dot-matrix/7 color graphics $479

HI-80 4 Pen Plotter $369

LX-80 draft (100 cps) & NLQ modes $239

OKIDATA 92P/92-IBM $339

93-P/93-IBM $549 84-P/84-IBM . . . . $649

OKIMATE 20-IBM Parallel with Plug & Print $219

1 82-IBM Parallel Personal Printer $239

92 Tractor $70 84 Sheet Feeder $390

TOSHIBA 1 340P (80 column) $549

TOSHIBA351 P (132 column) $1 149

Tractor $170 Sheet Feeder $799

EXCLUSIVELY FOR IBM PC

JUKI 6100 (18 cps), 13" wide
JUKI 6300 (40 cps) ,16" wide
Tractor 61 00/6300

$379

$699

.$130/$140

BROTHER HR-1 5 XL (20 CPS)
HR-15 Tractor/Keyboard/Sheet Fdr.
HR-25 (23 CPS) ....$559 HR-35
Tractor/Sheet Feeder for HR-25/35

TWINRITER5

2024L LQ/Graphics - 24 pin, 160/80
2024L Cutsheet Feeders - Narrow

.£339 M*r

..$110/$160/$190
(36 CPS) ....$769

$120/$200

CALL

cps $999

$220 Wide ..$290

C. ITOH 8510-BPI. . . $299 8510-SEP. . $369

8510-SCEP $429 1550-EP $419

1550-P $429 1550-SEP $509

Y10-20-P $409 A10-30-P $459

F-10-40-P $849 F-10-55-P $999

QUME LETTERPRO 20P - 20 cps $399

20P Tractor/Sheet Feeder $140/$380

SPRINT 1140 -h . $1299 SPRINT 1 1 55 -h ..$1419

INTERFACE MODULE IBM Parallel $80

SPRINT Tractor/Sheet Feeder $210/$690

PANASONIC KX-P31 51 LQ 22 cps $479

KX-P1090/91/92/93 $199/$269/$399/$589

STAR MICRONICS NEW 10"' & 15" MODELS

SG-10/15 120 CPS $229/$379

SD-10/15 160 CPS $339/$449

SR-10/15 200 CPS $489/$599

NECP-2 $499 P-3 $699

NEW ELF 360 (19 CPS) $449

2050 $649 3550 $999 8850 $1399

Spinwriter Tractor/Sheet Feeder $190/$790

DIABLO 630 ECS/IBM . .$1699 630 API . $1529
Advantage D-25 $549 Series 36 $1 199

DATA PRODUCTS Makers of IBM color printer

SPG 8051 (Same as IBM Color Printer) $1349

SPG 8071 (Same as 8051 at twice the speed) ... .$1699

DISPLAY CARDS

EVEREX Graphics Edge Best Price Ever

AST Monograph Plus w/clock, Par & Ser Ports .... $399

PERSYST BoB Board CALL. . ^Pfcfc

Short-Port Color ... $1 59 Mini-Mono CALL

Color Combo: Multifunction & Color Adapter .... from $349
Mono Combo: Multifunction & Mono Adapter . . . from $349

MYLEX Chairman

.$429

PARADISE Modular Brd ..$259 Modules ..CALL

INTELLIGENT B-450 Mono/Color/printer . . . $249

TECMAR Graphics Master w/PC Paintbrush .... $449

HERCULES MonoGraphics . . . $289 Color ... $149

GENOA Spectrum Multi Display Card CALL

IBM Color Card

.$229 Generic $129

QU ADRAM QuadCoIor I or II $ 1 99 Both . . $390

WITH YOUR BEST QUOTES

MODEMS

K:

MICROCOM ERA-2 Int. w/sft

.$339

HAYES 1 200 B Internal w/software $345

1 200 Standalone w/o software $375

NEW 2400 Baud Ext CALL

POPCOM C-1 OO/X-1 00 Special Low Prices

PROMETHEUS PROMODEM 1200 Let . $285
PROMODEM 1 200 B Internal w/softwore $255

NOVATION SmartCat w/sft - Int or Ext $365

QUBIE Standalone $309 Internal $279

Ven-Tel Half Card w/Crosstalk XVI $359

1200 Plus External w/o software $329

CALL FOR LATEST SYSTEM PRICES

FLOPPY/HARD DISKS

MONITORS

PGSMAX-12E.
SR-12

.$169

.$599

HX-12 $429

ScanDblr CALL

TEAC Half Ht FD 55B - DSDD REpUe.EP. .*$%" TA_XAN COMPOSIT 1 1 5 Green/ 1 1 6 Amber
(WarranteedforlBMPConly) 10+ CAUU ..r$96"
TANDON 100-2 Full Ht- DSDD ~$ gfl M&~

IBM Full Ht- DSDD $129

HARD DISKS/BACKUP for IBM PC _^

10 MB HD Int w/Controller .£*$48?

20 MB HD Int w/Controller . 7% ££%/.££$ J3£&
Call for larger size Hard Disk/Backup QALU

TALL GRASS NEW PC/T FORMAT DRIVES/BACKUP
25 MB w/60 MB . . . $2699 35 MB w/45 MB . . . $3499
50 MB w/60 MB . . . $4399 80 MB w/60 MB . . . $5599
Controller .$140 Cartridge(60 MB) .... $35

$129
MON0121 Green/122 Amber (1000x360) . $139
COLOR 41 1 (51 0x260) . . $349 425 (640x262) . . $449 .
COLOR 440 (720x400) . $529 W/Persyst BoB Brd .m4/

S AK AT A SG 1 000 Green Composit $ 11 9

COLOR MONITORS CALL

AMDEK 300G/300A/31 OA (M) . $ 1 39/$ 1 49/CALL
COLOR 600 (640x240) . . $429 710 (720x480) , .$539

QUADRAM AMBERCHROME (720x350) . . .CALL
QUADCHROME II (640x240) Color Graphics & Text $429

TECMAR Color Monitor

.$529

QUBIE 10/20 MB Internal or External CALL

All Qubie Hard Drives include 1 Dir software

ROLAND MB- 142 14" Mono B/W CALL

MULTI-FUNCTION CARDS

MAYNARD10MR/WS-1$799 1 0MB/WS-2 $899

20MB/WS-I $1099 20MB/WS-2 $1199

30MB/WS-I $1699 3QMB/WS-2 $1779

Gemini WS-1 ....$1019 Gemini WS-2 ....$1129
The "Gemini" includes 10MB Hard Disk & Half Ht. floppy
MaynStream System 20 $999 Data Cassette 20 $30
May nStream System 60 $ 1 299 Cartridge 600 . $50

EVEREX 10MB Int ...$599 20 MB Int ...$799

EXCEL 4500-PC Internal 45MB Tope Backup $949

EXCEL 4500 External 45MB Tape Backup $999

ASTSIXPAKw/64k ■$239 Exp to 384k

.$329

QUADBOARDO-k $209 Exp to 384k . $313

ORCHID Blossom 0-k $175 Exp to 384k .. $279

BT6PLUSw/64k $199 Exp to 384k.

.$289

IDS B-51 2 0-k $1 99 Exp to 51 2k $339

P/S/G/ Ports, Clock/Cal, disk emulation & Sockets for 512k

PARADISES Pack Ok $149 Exp to 384k $253

TECMAR Captain 0-k ... $169 Exp to 384k . . . $273

IRWIN MAGNETICS

1 MB Internal Tape Backup $569

10 MB External Tape Backup CALL

• SUPER SPECIALS*

$1000 + SINGLE ORDER ENTITLES
YOU TO THESE SPECIAL PRICES

PERSYST Display & Multifunction Brds . . from $349

MISC. ADD OIMS

64KRAMSet .$14 10+ Sets .$13 50+ $12

8087-3/8087-6

.$125/$95

ORCHID PCturbo w/1 28k $699 640k .... $999

JUKI 6100/6300 $369/$679

OKIDATA 92P/93P/84P

.$329/$535/$635

BROTHER HR-1 5/25/35

,$329/$539/$749.

PGSMAX-12E

$159 HX-12 $399

HAYES 1200B w/sft

$335 1200 Ext ....$365

PROMETHEUS 1200B/1 200 Ext .

$249/$279

TECMAR Graphics Master w/PC Paintbrush .... $429

AST SIXPAK 384k . . $309 QUADBOARD 384k . . $293

ORCHID Blossom 384K . $259 BT 6 Plus 384k . $269

PARADISE 5-Pk 384K $233 TECMAR Captain 384k .$253

COMPANY POLICY: Win. onfef $100. Prices & availability subject to
change. We ship UPS only. Shipping/handling charges vary. COD requires cashiers
check. All merchandise sold is new and all sales are final. Products shipped in factory
cartons come with manufocturef's wonunty. For others, including IBM PC, call lech,
support for return outh.# for warranty repair. Non-defective items returned as
detective subject lo 10% service charge [Min, $50). Not responsible for hardware or
software compatibility of any product. No open acct. PO's or foreign orders. No
showroom, demonstrations or walk-in sales. For advance payment (personot/company
checks take 3 weeks to clear) or PICKUP: Please coll firs! for workorder #.

AMERICAN
EXPRESS

COD NO SURCHARGE: VISA & MC 3%, AMEX 5%

QUADRAM QUADsprint.

.$499

CABLE Parallel, 6 ft..
Keyboard Extension, 6 ft.

.$20 Parallel, 8 ft $25

...$10 Serial, 6 ft. ...$25

MAXELL MD-1SSDD Box.. $20 10+ Boxes. .$17
( 1 per box) MD-2 DSDD Box ... $25 1 +. Boxes . . . $22

IBM Floppy Controller $115 Generic $75

PC Mouse & Micro Systems Mouse CALL

QUBIE Keyboard 5150.

.$119 5151 $149

KEYTRONIC Deluxe Keyboard KB 51 51 $165

QUADRAM Microfazer 8k to 384k .

CALL

COMPUTER ACCESSORIES P2 (5) $99

POWER DIRECTOR P22 (4) $75 PI 2 (6) $139

KENSINGTON Master Piece (5 Outlets) .

.$89

PC Keyboard Storage Drawer $89

STANDBY PWR SUPPLY w/surge protection

200 Watts $279 300 Watts $379 800 Watts $779

KOALA Touch Tablet w/software $79

KENSINGTON Universal Stand

.$20

CURTIS Surge Protectors & Accessories CALL

TILT/SWIVEL Monitor Pedestal

.$30

406-C CONSTITUTION AVE., CAMARILLO, CA 93010

805-987-7015

WHEN ORDERING PLEASE REFER TO AD #B799

516 B YTE • JUNE 1985

Maxell Floppy Disks

The Mini-Disks
with maximum quality.

Dealer inquiries
invited. CO.D's
accepted. Call
FREE (800) 235-4137.

/2>

PACIFIC EXCHANGES

100 Foothill Blvd.. San Luis
San Luis Obispo. CA 93401.
In Catcall (800) 592-5935 or
(805)543-1037.

KEYBOARD PROTECTOR

Remains in place during keyboard use.
Prevents damage from liquid spills, dust,
ashes, etc. Fits like a second skin, excellent
feel. Homerow and numeric locators.
Available for: IBM-PC, Apple lie, Radio
Shack Model 100, Commodore 64.
Send $29.95, check or M.O., Visa & MC
include exp. date. Specify computer type.
Dealer inquires invited. Free brochure
available.

MERRITT Computer Products, Inc.

2925LBJ, #180 / Dallas, Texas 75234

(214)942-1142

Monitor Mover
ives Back the Desk

• Models to fit most CRT's

• Rotates 360° on base

• Adjustable height

• Support tray swivels and tflts

• Holds up to 50 lbs

• Clamp, screw and wall mountings

Lirffekllllllll

P.O. Box 8056

Grand Rapids, Ml 49508

(616)241-4040

Inquiry 31 9

Inquiry 271

Inquiry 250

A New Text Editor

for the DEC® Rainbow®
and IBM® PC

• Edit many files at once

• Memory mapped video display

• Buffered input

• Context sensitive help

• Undo deletions

• Create, edit & save scratch buffers

• Powerful buffer operations

• Keystroke macros

• Easily reconfigurable

• Fast, Small for its power (38K)

• Utilizes all memory available

• Not copy protected

• Much more

Also included: A speller with a 25000+ word

expandable dictionary, and a text formatter

redefmable to familial commands.

DEC: Both MS-DOS*' & CP/M*>, manual

IBM & compatibles: MS-DOS version, manual

$49.95 M/C. Visa accepted

Plus $3 shipping. IA res add 4% sales tax.

Orders: 1-800-227-2400 ext 975

1-800-772-2666 ext 975 (within CA)

College Software • 911 Clark Avenue

Ames, IA 5001 • (51S)233-4023

MffNMASrtK

One-of-A-kind Data
Management Program
Developed Especially
for You.
$175.00

STOP thinking about any other programs
STOP worrying about custom programming
START saving time and money
START being your own MASTER

California (800) 423-0320

outside (800) 482-DATA .

C.D.A. INTERNATIONAL SOFTWARE CORP.

(818) 986-3233 Telex: 215666

Inquiry 89

Inquiry 52

Inquiry 76

DATA ACQUISITION

• • • RS 232C VOLTMETER FOR YOUR PC • • •

8 channel. 4 1 /a digit AC/DC voltmeter fi. controller.
SENSATROL talks your computer's language! Sen-
sors hook up easily to differential inputs providing 15
bits of 1DDuV. Special tri-state serial output allows
networking. Includes seven binary control outputs.
Uses simple PRINT and INPUT with BASIC. Detailed
manual starts amateurs in sensor hookup S. applica-
tions S385 COMPLETE!

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME.

603-588-3746

BOX 33, FRANCESTOWN, NH 03043

DATA WORLD PRODUCTS

Two Do
SALE

The Great Book of Games
46 games, 144 pages
Order-No.182wasS9.95 now S 2. -

More onthe Sixtyfour

Machine Language Programs forthe

advanced user.

Order-No. 183 wasS9.95nowS 2.

Machine Language Programming on

theC-64

Order-No. 184 was S 12.95

now S 2-
Commodore-64 Tune-up
Hardware expansions, I/O program-
ming, A/D conversion.
Order-No. 185 was 2 12.95

SUPER BOOK FOR THE APPLE II

The APPLE in your Hand
Advanced BASIC programs, intro-
duction into machine language,
FORTH, Tips& Tricks (220pages).
Order-No. 178 wasS 12.95

now S 2.--

BOOKS FOR ATARI 800 XL

Games fortheATARI

1 1 2 pages full of supergames.

Order-No. 162 wasS 7.95now S 2.-

ATARI Machine Language

Programming

Order-No. 169 was $ 9.95nowS 2.-

The programs from the books are alio available on disk. Each disk is S 9.9

ELCOMP PUBLISHING, INC.

2174 W»»t Foothill Blvd., Unit E

Upl«nd.CA917B6

Phona: (7141 965-4477 Jilt.: 29 81 91

If USA: • ddt JO 00 toriiilpplng

Inquiry 130

Inquiry 164

Inquiry 265

Lotus™ User?

Free Mail Order Catalog for Lotus
Software users, includes:

■ Lotus Programs

■ Lotus Enhancement Software

■ Books and Training Aids

■ Hardware and Utilities

We are a unique mail order company
specializing in Lotus related products.

4-5-6 WORLD

Dept. A -108

PO. Box 22657

Santa Barbara, C A 93121

(800) 524-5678 Toll Free

(805) 564-2424 In California

Your definitive Lotus enhancement source

FORTRAN

PROGRAMMERS

Discover why

you should be using

F77L

the complete implementation

of the ANSI FORTRAN 77
Standard for the IBM PC and

compatibles.

If you are serious about your

FORTRAN programming, you

should be using F77L.

$477

Lahey Computer
Systems, Inc.

31244 Palos Vercles Drive West, Suite 243
Rancho Palos Verdes, California 90274

(213) 541-1200

Serving the FORTRAN community

since 7969

Computer
System Sale

Lowest Price Computer
System in the U.S.A.

$ 449°°

Includes Atari 800XL 88K Computer,
127K Disk Drive, 20 CPS Letter Quality
Printer, Beginners Basic Book, and
more. List $852.90.

All for only $449°°
1 52K System $499°°

312/ 382 5050

• Over 1000 programs available • free cotalog

COMPUTER DIRECT

22292 N. Pepper Rd., Borrington, IL 60010

Wc Love Our Customers

Inquiry 2

Inquiry 241

Inquiry 341

8051
SIMULATOR

for the IBM-PC $400

or Z80 CP/M uC ITT

SIM51 is a screen oriented program that
simulates the Intel 8051 family of single
chip microcomputers. It accepts Intel .HEX
files (produced by most cross assemblers)
and features both a menu and a com-
mand driven user interface,
Call today for complete information.

Lalffir@@[}D I^QDD[proQ®[raG

©@[T[p)®[r@fcua)

9560 Black Mountain Road
San Diego, CA 92126

For Immediate Action Call:
(619) 566-1892

TH E WORLD'S FASTEST
S-100 Z-80 SLAVE PROCESSOR

TurboSlave I

• 8 Mhz 2-80H

• Data translers to 1
mbyte/second

• S- 1 00 IEEE 696 compatible

■ 4k Monitor rom

■ Low parts counl

• No paddle boards

■ I 28k Ram with parity

• 2 RS-232 Ports'

50-38 k baud

• K I F O communications

• On board diagnostics

• Low power consumpnon

■ TurbrjOOS compatible

INTRODUCTORY PRICE $495

Includes TurboDOS drivers (a S100 valuel and
TurboSlave I with 128k ram

EARTH COMPUTERS

P.O. Box 8067, Fountain Valley, CA 92728
TELEX: 910 997 6120 EARTH FV

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND QUANTITY DISCOUNTS
CALL: (714) 964-5784

Registered trademarks Z80H. Zilog inc.: TurboDOS Software 2000. inc.
"■ IBM PC VERSION COMING SOON —

PERCON® E-Z READER™
BAR CODE READERS

$595

QUANTITY ONE

QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, PRICE

IBM* PC/XT KEYBOARD COMPATIBLE VERSION

Works with mosi compatibles

Hooks up tn seconds without changing soiiwate

—OR— RS 232C SERIAL VERSION

READS UPC A/E. CODE 39. CODABAR. ABC I 2 OF 5
DECODES BOTH DOT MATRIX & HIGH
DENSITY PRINTED LABELS ACCURATELY

MS/PC DOS Bar Code Printing Software $99

503/344-1189
2190 W. 11th St.
PERCON Eugene. OR 97402
1 Year Limited Warrantee Units in Slock VISA. rvWC orCOD

Inquiry 211

Inquiry 160

Inquiry 325

SL-MICRO

STATISTICAL LANGUAGE
for MICROCOMPUTERS

features
FREQUENCIES FULL LABELING

CROSSTABS TRANSFORMATIONS
PEARSON CORR ' DATA EDITOR
REGRESSION CONDESCRIPTIVE
• ANOVA ' BREAKDOWN

' = new

Only $250. Manual $15

Available for IBM PC. CP/M,

MS-DOS or CP/M-86.

QSC BOX 778

E. LANSING, Ml 48823
(517) 641-4428

GDC Clearance Sale
New Modems

i

208 Micro-

5888*5? $500-00

201C *„**™

2000 or 2400 bps $429.00

212A 1200 bps full duplex

synch, or asynch.

300 bps asynch. $299.00

9600 Point-to-Point $1395.00

Various other models also available.

Call Toll Free 1-800-842-3672

Connecticut residents call
203-758-1811 ext. 7535

General DataComm

Middlebury, CT 06762-1299

Add $5.00 shipping and handling. Conn. res. add sales tax.

HAYES 1200 $399

HAYES 1200B $379

VOLKSMODEM 1200 $189

ANCHOR MARK XII $225

MARK X 300 $ 99

PASSWORD 1200 $229

COURIER 2400 U479

CERMETEK 1200 S439

CERMETEK 1200PC S349

CERMETEK 2400 S489

CERMETEK SECURITY . . . $599

3535 Roundbottom Rd. Cinti., OH 45244

Inquiry 351

Inquiry 191

Inquiry 174

MODEM $69«5

FOR APPLE OR IBM

INCLUDES ASCII PRO-EZtm MENU DRIVEN SOFTWARE
(AT LEAST A $100 VALUE IN ITSELF!)

• FCC APPROVED

• BELL SYSTEM 103 COMPATIBLE

• 300 BAUD

• AUTO-DIAL/AUTO-ANSWER

• DIRECT CONNECT

• INCLUDES AC ADAPTOR

SPECIFY IBM OR APPLE WHEN ORDERING

TAXAN MODEL 415

VISION III
MONITOR

ORIGINALLY
MADE FOR
ACORN COMPUTER
SAME SPECS AS
THE TAXAN 420

• 18 Mhz BANDWIDTH

• 640 x 262 PIXEL RESOLUTION

• 16 COLORS

WITH INTENSITY CONTROL

• 12" BLACK MATRIX

• IBM AND LOTUS COMPATIBLE

$299

95

COMPATIBLE

INTERFACE CARDS

MADE IN THE USA BY INTERSIL SYSTEMS

COLOR/GRAPHICS

• SUPPORTS COMPOSITE
OR RGB MONITOR

* OPERATES IN ALPHANUMERIC
OR ALL-POINTS-ADDRESSABLE
GRAPHICS MODE

• SUPPORTS 16 COLORS

* CONTAINS LIGHT PEN INTERFACE

$129 95

MONOCHROME

DISPLAY
ADAPTOR

RGB MONITOR CABLE FOR IBM

$15.95

• 720 x 350 PIXEL SCREEN

(80 CHARACTERS x 25 LINES)

• CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES:
BLINK, UNDERLINE, REVERSE
VIDEO, INTENSIFIED

• STANDARD TTL OUTPUT

$14995

IB 1224 S. Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
800-538-5000 •800-662-6279 (CA) • (408) 995-5430
FAX (408) 275-8415 • Telex 171-110

RETAIL STORE - 1256 S. BASCOM AVENUE
HOURS: M-W-F, 9-5 TU-TH, 9-9 SAT, 10-3

PLEASE USE YOUR CUSTOMER NUMBER WHEN ORDERING

TEAMS: Minimum order $10.00. For shipping and handling include
$2.50 for UPS Ground and $3.50 for UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and
foreign orders may require additional shipping charges - please
contact our sales department for the amount. CA. residents must
include 6% sales tax, Bay Area and LA residents include 6W». All
merchandise is warranted for 90 days unless otherwise stated. Prices
are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for
typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit quantities and to
substitute manufacturer. All merchandise subject to prior sate.

> Copyright 1985 JDR Mlcrodevlces

Inquiry 229

JUNE 1985 ♦ BYTE 519

4164 M W MIC 9/14.95

41256

256K DYNAMIC

5.95

STATIC RAMS

2101

256x4

(450ns)

1.95

5101

256x4

(450ns)(cmos)

3.95

2102-1

1024x4

(450ns)

.89

2102L-4

1024x1

(450ns)(LP)

.99

2102L-2

1024x1

(250ns)(LP)

1.45

2125

1024x1

(45ns)

2.95

2111

256x4

(450ns)

2.49

2111L

256x4

(450ns)(LP)

2.95

2112

256x4

(450ns)

2.99

2114

1 024x4

(450ns)

8/9.95

2114-25

1024x4

(250ns)

8/10.95

2114L-4

1024x4

(450ns)(LP)

8/12.95

2114L-3

1024x4

(300ns)(LP)

8/13.45

2114L-2

1024x4

(200ns)(LP)

8/13.95

2114L-15

1024x4

(150ns)(LP)

8/19.95

TC5514

1024x4

(650ns)(cmos)

4.95

2141

4096x1

(200ns)

2.95

2147

4096x1

(55ns)

4.95

2148

1024x4

(70ns)

4.95

TMS4044-4

4096x1

(450ns)

3.49

TMS4044-3

4096x1

(300ns)

3.99

TMS4044-2

4096x1

(200ns)

4.49

TMS40L44-2

4096x1

(200ns)(LP)

4.95

UPD410

4096x1

(100ns)

3.95

MK4118

1024x8

(250ns)

9.95

TMM201 6-200

2048x8

(200ns)

3.25

TMM2016-150

2048x8

(150ns)

3.75

TMM2016-100

2048x8

(100ns)

4.75

HM6116-4

2048x8

(200ns)(cmos)

3.69

HM6116-3

2048x8

(150ns)(cmos)

3.95

HM6116-2

2048x8

(120ns)(cmos)

5.95

HM6116LP-4

2048x8

(200ns)(cmos)(LP)

3.95

HM6116LP-3

2048x8

(150ns)(cmos)(LP)

4.25

HM6116LP-2

2048x8

(120ns)(cmos)(LP)

6.95

TC5516

2048x8

(250ns)(cmos)

9.95

TMS401 6

2048x8

(200ns)

6.95

Z-6132

4096x8

(300ns)(Qstat)

34.95

HM6264P-15

8192x8

(150ns)(cmo8)

10.25

HM6264LP-15

8192x8

(150ns)(cmos)(LP)

10.95

HM6264LP-12

8192x8

(120ns)(cmos)(LP)

12.95

LP=Low power

Qstat= Quasi-Static

DYNAMIC RAMS

TMS4027

4096x1

(250ns)

1.99

2107

4096x1

(200ns)

1.95

MM5280

4096x1

(300ns)

1.95

TMS4050

4096x1

(300ns)

1.95

UPD411

4096x1

(300ns)

1.95

TMS4060

4096x1

(300ns)

1.95

MK4108

8192x1

(200ns)

.49

MM5298

8192x1

(250ns)

.49

4116-300

1 6384x1

(300ns)

8/6.95

4116-250

1 6384x1

(250ns)

8/6.95

4116-200

16384x1

(200ns)

8/8.95

4116-150

16384x1

(150ns)

8/10.95

4116-120

16384x1

(120ns)

8/12.95

2118

16384x1

(150ns)(5v)

4.95

MK4332

32768x1

(200ns)

9.95

41 64-200

65536x1

(200ns)(5v)

9/14.95

4164-150

65536x1

(150ns)(5v)

9/16.95

4164-120

65536x1

(120ns)(5v)

3.95

MCM6665

65536x1

(200ns)(5v)

4.95

TMS4 164-20

65536x1

(200ns)(5V)

4.25

TMS4164-15

65536x1

(150ns)(5v)

4.95

EPROMS

1702

256x8

(lus)

4.50

2708

1024x8

(450ns)

3.95

2758

1024x8

(450ns)(5V)

5.95

2716-6

2048x8

(650ns)

2.95

2716

2048x8

(450ns)(5V)

3.95

2716-1

2048x8

(350ns)(5V)

4.95

TMS2516

2048x8

(450ns)(5V)

4.95

7MS2716

2048x8

(450ns)

7.95

TMS2532

4096x8

(450ns)(5V)

4.95

2732

4096x8

(450ns)(5V)

4.25

2732A-4

4096x8

(450ns)(5V)(21V PGM)

4.95

2732A-35

4096x8

(350ns)(5V)(21V PGM)

4.95

2732A

4096x8

(250ns)(5V)(21V PGM)

6.95

2732A-2

4096x8

(200ns)(5V)(21V PGM)

10.95

2764

8192x8

(450ns)(5V)

4.95

2764-250

8192x8

(250ns)(5V)

5.25

2764-200

8192x8

(200ns)(5V)

8.95

7MS2564

8192x8

(450ns)(5V)

10.95

MCM68764

8192x8

(450ns)(5V)(24pin)

24.95

MCM68766

8192x8

(350ns)(5V)(24pin)

42.95

27128-45

16384x8

(450ns)(5V)

7.50

27128-30

16384x8

(300ns)(5V)

7.75

27128

16384x8

(250ns)(5V)

7.95

27256

32768x8

(250ns)(5V)

19.95

5V=Srngle 5 Volt Supply 21V PGM Program at 21 Volts

• •••HIGH-TEI

8087-6

$119.00

• 4.87 MHz VERSION OF 8087

MATH COPROCESSOR

• IBM-PC COMPATIBLE

• RUNS TURBO PROGRAMS AS

MUCH AS 100 TIMES FASTER THAN

8088 ALONE

• •••SPOTLIGHT****,

4164-REFRESH 65536x1
TMS4416-20 16384x4

TMS4416-15 16384x4

41128-150 131072x1

41256-200 262144x1

41256-150 262144x1

5v=Single 5 Volt Supply

(150ns)(5V)(REFRESH) 8.95
(200ns)(5V) 8.95

(150ns)(5v) 9.95

(150ns)(5v) 13.95

(200ns)(5v) 5.95

(150ns)(5v) 6.45

REFRESH=Pin 1 Refresh

ORDER TOLL FREE

800-538-5000
800-662-6279

(CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

Z-80
2.5 MHz

I Z80-CPU 2.49

Z80-CTC 2.95

Z80-DART 7.95

Z80-DMA 8.95

Z80-PIO 2.95 |

Z80-SIO/0 9.95

Z80-S1O/1 9.95

Z80-SICV2 9.95 I

| Z80-S1O/9 9.95 |

4.0 MHz

6500
1.0 MHz

6502 4.95
65C02(CMOS) 12.95

6504 6.95

6505 8.95
6507 9.95
6520 2.95
6522 5.49
6532 9.95
6545 9.95

1 6551 9.95

2.0 MHz

Z80A-CPU

Z80A-CTC

Z80A-DART

Z80A-DMA

Z80A-PIO

Z80A-SIO/0

Z80A-SIO/1

Z80A-SIO/2

Z80A-SIO/9

2.95

3.95

8.95

9.95

3.95
10.95 |
10.95
10.95
10.95

6502A
6520A
6522A
6532A
6545A
6551A

5.95
5.95
9.95
11.95
12.95
11.95

6.0 MHz

Z80B-CPU 8.95

Z80B-CTC 9.95

Z80B-PIO 9.95

ZS0B-DART 19.95

Z80B-SIO/0 29.95

| Z80B-SIO/2 29.95

ZILOG

Z6132
L Z8671

34.95
39.95 .

3.0 MHz

L6502B 8.95,

UARTS

I AY5-1013 3.95

| AY3-1015 6.95

PT1472 9.95

| TR1602 3.95

2350 9.95

| 2651 8.95

IM6402 7.95

IM6403 8.95

UPD7201 19.95

, INS8250 10.95 .

6800

68000-8

39.95

6800

2.95

6802

7.95

6803

19.95

6808

13.90

6809

8.95

6809E

8.95

6810

2.95

6820

4.35

6821

2.95

6828

14.95

6840

12.95

6843

34.95

6844

25.95

6845

12.95

6847

11.95

6850

3.25

6852

5.75

6860

7.95

6875

6.95

6880

2.25

6883

22.95

68047

24.95

68488

19.95

6800=1 MHz

68B0O

10.95

68B02

11.95

68B09E

11.95

68B09

11.95

68B10

5.95

68B21

5.95

68B40

19.95

68B45

19.95

68B50

5.95

L 68B0O=2 MHz

8000

8031

29.95

8035

5.95

8039

5.95

INS-8060

17.95

INS-8073

49.95

8080

3.95

8085

4.95

8085A-2

11.95

8086

24.95

8087-2

199.00

8087-3

129.00

8087-6

119.00

8088

19.95

8089

69.95

8155

6.95

8155-2

7.95

8156

6.95

8185

29.95

8185-2

39.95

8741

29.95

8748

24.95

8749

39.95

[8755

24.95 J

8200

MISC.

TMS99531
TMS99532
ULN2003
3242
3341
MC3470
MC3480
MC3487
11C90
95H90
2513-001 up
I 2513-002 low

9.95
29.95
1.29
7.95
4.95
4.95
9.00
2.95
13.95
7.95
9.95
9.95 J

8202

24.95

8203

39.95

8205

3.50

8212

1.80

8214

3.85

8216

1.75

8224

2.25

8226

1.80

8228

3.49

8237

13.95

8237-5

15.95

8238

4.49

8243

4.45

8250

10.95

8251

3.95

8251 A

4.49

8253

6.95

8253-5

7.95

8255

4.49

8255-5

5.25

8257

7.95

8257-5

8.95

8259

6.90

8259-5

7.50

8271

79.95

8272

19.95

8274

39.95

8275

29.95

8279

6.95

8279-5

7.95

8282

6.50

8283

6.50

8284

5.50

8286

6.50

8287

6.50

8288

14.95

8289

49.95

8292

14.95

CRYSTALS

| 32.768 KHz 1.95

1.0 MHz 3.95

1.8432 3.95

2.0 2.95

2.097152 2.95

2.4576 2.95

3.2768 2.95

3.579545 2.95

4.0 2.95

4.032 2.95

5.0 2.95

5.0688 2.95

5.185 2.95

5.7143 2.95

6.0 2.95

6.144 2.95

6.5536 2.95

8.0 2.95

I 10.0 2.95

10.738635 2.95

14.31818 2.95

15.0 2.95

16.0 2.95

17.430 2.95

18.0 2.95

18.432 2.95

20.0 2.95

22-1184 2.95

24.0 2.95

I 32.0 2.95 J

[GENERATORS!
BIT RATE

MC14411

BR1941

4702

COM5016

COM8116

MM5307

11.95

11.95

12.95 |

16.95

10.95

10.95

FUNCTION

MC4024
LM566
XR2206
I 8038

3.95
1.49
3.75
3.95 .

CRT
| CONTROLLERS I

6845 12.95

68B45 19.95

6847 11.95

68047 24.95

HD46505SP 15.95

MC1372 6.95

8275 29.95

7220 39.95

CRT5027 19.95

I CRT5037 34.95

I TMS9918A 39.95 I

IDP8350 49.95 J

DISK

CONTROLLERS

1771

1791

1793
I 1795
J 1797

2791

2793

2795

2797

6843

8272

UPD765

MB8876

MB8877

1691
I 2143

15.95
23.95
23.95
23.95
23.95
39.95
39.95
39.95
39.95
34.95
19.95
19.95
29.95
34.95
7.95
7.95 .

KEYBOARD
CHIPS

I AY5-2376 11.95

AY5-3600STD 11.95

I AY5-3600PRO 11.95 .

CLOCK
CIRCUITS

I MM5314 4.95

MNI5369 1.95
MM5369-EST 1.95

MM5375 4.95

MM58167 8.95

MM58174 11.95

I MSM5832 3.95 ,

CRYSTAL

OSCILLATORS

1.0MHz 7.95

8.0

7.95

1.8432 7.95

10.0

7.95

2.0 7.95

12.0

7.95

2.4576 7.95

15.0

7.95

2.5 7.95

16.0

7.95

4.0 7.95

18.432

7.95

5.0688 7.95

20.0

7.95

6.0 7.95

24.0

7.95

6.144 7.95

^^

*5V

74LS00

74LS00
74LS01
74LS02
74LS03
74LS04
74LS05
74LS08
74LS09
74LS10
74LS11
74LS12
74LS13
74LS14
74LS15
74LS20
74LS21
| 74LS22
74LS26
74LS27
74LS28
74LS30
74LS32
74LS33
74LS37
74LS38
74LS40
74LS42
74LS47
74LS48
74LS49
74LS51
74LS54
74LS55
74LS63
74LS73
74LS74
74LS75
74LS76
74LS78
74LS83
74LS85
74LS86
74LS90
74LS91
74LS92
74LS93
74LS95
74LS96
74LS107
74LS109
74LS112
74LS113
74LS114
74LS122
74LS123
74LS124
74LS125
I 74LS126
| 74LS132
i 74LS133
, 74LS136
74LS137
74LS138
74LS139
74LS145
74LS147
74LS148
74LS151
74LS153
74LS154
74LS155
74LS156
74LS157
74LS158
74LS160
74LS161
74LS162
74LS163
I 74LS164
74LS165
74LS166
74LS168
74LS169
74LS170
| 74LS173
74LS174
I 74LS175
L74LS181

.35
.45
.59
.35
.25

.29
.35
.25
.29
.55
.35
.35
.25
.49
.75
.75
.75
.25
.29
.29
1.25
39
.35
.39
.39
.49
.60

.39

.39

.39

39

.45

.79

2.90

.49

.49

.59

59

.39

.99

.55

.55

1.20

2.49

1.35

.55

.55

1.90

.69

.69

.65

.59

.69

.65

69

.65

.69

.95

1.95

1.75

1.75

1.49

69

.55

.55

2.15

74LS189 8.95

74LS190 .89

74LS191 .89

74LS192 .79

74LS193 .79

74LS194 .69

74LS195 .69

74LS196 .79

74LS197 .79

74LS221 .89

74LS240 .95

74LS241 .99

74LS242 .99

74LS243 .99

74LS244 1.29

74LS245 1.49

74LS247 .75

74LS248 .99

74LS249 .99

74LS251 .59

74LS253 .59

74LS257 .59

74LS258 .59

74LS259 2.75

74LS260 .59

74LS261 2.25

74LS266 .55

74LS273 1.49

74LS275 3.35

74LS279 .49

74LS280 1.98

74LS283 .69

74LS290 .89

74LS293 .89

74LS295 .99

74LS298 .89

74LS299 1.75

74LS322 5.95

74LS323 3.50

74LS324 1.75

74LS348 2.50

74LS352 1.29

74LS353 1.29

74LS363 1.35

74LS364 1.95

74LS365 .49

74LS366 .49

74LS367 .45

74LS368 .45

74LS373 1.39

74LS374 1.39

74LS375 .95

74LS377 1.39

74LS378 1.18

74LS379 1.35

74LS385 3.90

74LS386 .45

74LS390 1.19

74LS393 1.19

74LS395 1.19

74LS396 1.89

74LS399 1.49

74LS424 3.95

74LS447 .95

74LS490 1.95

74LS540 1.95

74LS541 1.95

74LS624 3.99

74LS640 2.20

74LS645 2.20

74LS668 1.69

74LS669 1.89

74LS670 1.49
74LS674 14.95

74LS682 3.20

74LS683 3.20

74LS684 3.20

74LS685 3.20

74LS688 2.40

74LS689 3.20

81LS95 1.49

81LS96 1.49
25LS2518 4.13
25LS2521 2.80
25LS2538 3.74
25LS2569 2.80

26LS31 2.19

26LS32 2.19 ,

IB 1224 S. Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
800-538-5000 • 800-662-6279 (CA) • (408) 995-5430
FAX (408) 275-8415 • Telex 171-110

fSMl li lM

■ Copyright 1985 JDR Mlcrodevlc<

RETAIL STORE - 1256 S. BASCOM AVENUE
HOURS: M-W-F, 9-5 TU-TH, 9-9 SAT, 10-3

PLEASE USE YOUR CUSTOMER NUMBER WHEN ORDERING
TERMS: Minimum order $10.00. Fi

$2.50 for UPS Grnunri and S3 sn fi

foreign orders rr

contact our sales

include 6% sales tax, Bay Area and LA residents include 6V 3 %. All

merchandise is warranted for 90 days unless otherwise stated. Prices

are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for

typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit quantities and to

substitute manufacturer. AH merchandise subject to prior sale.

MmMfflM

520 BYTE • IUNE I985

HM6264P-15 8 %r c 10.25 SSI263

SYNTHESIZER 39.95

74S00

74S00
74S02
74S03
74S04
74S05
74S08
74S09

1 74S10
74S11
74S15
74S20
74S22
74S30
74S32
74S37
74S38
74S40
74S51
74S64
74S65
74S74
74S85
74S86
74S112

j 74S113
74S114

! 74S124
74S132

I 74S133
74S134

7400
7401
7402
7403
7404
7405
7406
7407
7408
7409
7410
7411
7412
7413
7414
7416
7417
7420
7421
7422
7423
7425
7426
7427
7428
7430
7432
7433
7437
7438
7439
7440
7442
7443
7444
I 7445
7446
7447
7448
7450
7451
7453
7454
t 7460
7470
7472
7473
1 7474
I 7475
1 7476
I 7480
7481
L 7482

.32
.35
.35
.35
.35
.35
.40
.35
.35
.3S
.35
.35
.35
.40
.88
.85
.35
.35
.40
.40
.50
1.99
.50
.50
.50
.55
2.75
1.24
.45
.50

.19
.19
.19
.19
.19
.25
.29
29
.24
.19
.19
.25
.30
.35
.49
.25
.25
.19
.35
.35
.29
.29
.29
.29
.45
.19

.29
.79
.19
.49
.65
.69
.69
.69

.19
.23.
.23
.23
.23

.33
.45
.35
.59
1.10
.95

74S135
74S138
74S139
74S140
74S151
74S153
74S157
74S158
74S161
74S162
74S163
74S168
74S169
74S174
74S175

745180 11.95

745181 3.95

745182 2.95
74S185 16.95

745188 1.95

745189 6.95
74S194
74S195
74S196
74S197
74S201

745225 7.95

745226 3.99
74S240
74S241

.89

.85

.85

.55

.95

.95

.95

.95

1.95

1.95

1.95

3.95

3.95

.95

.95

1.49
1.49
1.49
1.49
6.95

2.20
2.20

7400

7483

7485

7486

7489

7490

7491

7492

7493

7494

7495

7496

7497

74100

74105

74107

74109

74110

74111

74116

74120

74121

74122

74123

74125

74126

74128

74132

74136

74141

74142

74143

74144

74145

74147

74148

74150

74151

74152

74153

74154

74155

74156

74157

74159

74160

74161

74162

74163

74164

74165

74166

74167

74170

.50

.59

.35

2.15

.35

.40

.50

.35

.65

.55

.70

2.75

1.75

1.14

.30

.45

.45

.55

1.55

1.20

.29

.45

.49

.45

.45

.55

.45

.50

.65

2.95

4.95

2.95

.60

1.75

1.20

1.35

.55

.65

.55

1.25

.75

.65

.55

1.65

.85

.69

.85

.69

.85

.85

1.00

2.96

1.65

TRANSISTORS

| 2N918
MPS918
2N2102
2N2218
2N2218A .50
2N2219 .50
2N2219A .50

1 2N2222 .25
PN2222 .10
MPS2369 .25
2N2484 .25

I 2N2905

I 2N2907
PN2907
2N3055
3055T
2N3393
2N3414
2N3563
2N3565
PN3565
MPS3638 .25
MPS3640 .25
PN3643 .25
PN3644 .25
MPS3704 .15

i MPS3706 .15

.50
.25
.75
.50

.50
.25
.13
.79
.69
.30
.25
.40
.40
.25

1.85
.25
.10
.10
.25
.25
.25
.75
.25
.25
.25
1.00
.25
.25
.25
.25
.25
.35
1.75
1.75
.25

MPS-A06 .25
MPS-A13 .40
MPS-A55 .25
MPU-131 .99
TIP29 .65

TIP31 .75

TIP32 .79

2N3772
2N3903
2N3904
2N3906
2N4122
2N4123
2N4249
2N4304
2N4401
2N4402
2N4403
2N4857
PN4916
2N5086
PN5129
PN5139
2N5209
2N6028
2N6043
2N6045
MPS-A05

74S244
74S251
74S253
74S257
74S258
74S260
74S273
74S274
74S275
74S280
74S283
74S287
74S288
74S289
74S299
74S301
74S373
74S374
74S381
74S387
74S399
74S412
74S470
74S471
74S472
74S474
74S570
74S571
74S573
87S181
87S185

74172
74173
74174
74175
74176
74177
74178
74179
74180
74181
74182
74184
74185
74189
74190
74191
74192
74193
74194
74195
74196
74197
74198
74199
74221
74246
74247
74248
74249
74251
74259
74265
74273
74276
74278
74279
74283
74284
74285
74290
74293
74298
74351
74365
74366
74367
74368
74376
74390
74393
74425
74426
74490

2.20

.95

.95

.95

.95

.79

2.45

19.95

19.95

1.95

3.29

1.90

1.90

6.98

7.35

6.95

2.45

2.45

7.95

1.95

2.95

2.98

6.95

4.95

4.95

4.95

2.95

2.95

9.95

16.25

16.95,

5.95

.75

• .89

.89

.89

.75

1.15

1.75

.75

2.25

.75

2.00

2.00

2.99

1.15

1.15

.79

.79

.85

.85

.79

.75

1.35

1.35

1.35

1.35

1.25

1.85

1.9S

.75

2.25

1.35

1.95

1.25

3.11

.75

2.00

3.75

3.75

.95

.75

.85

2.25

.65

.65

.65

.65

2.20

1.75

1.35

3.15

.85

2.55

CMOS

4000

4001

4002

4006

4007

4008

4009

4010

4011

4012

4013

4014

4015

4016

4017

4018

4019

4020

4021

4022

4023

4024

4025

4026

4027

4028

4029

4030

4034

4035

4040

4041

4042

4043

4044

4046

4047

4048

4049

4050

4051

4052

4053

4060

4066

4068

4069

4070

4071

4072

4073

4075

4076

4077

4078

4081

4082

4085

4086

4093

4094

4098

4099

14409

14410

14411

14412

14419

14433

14490

4502

4503

4507

4508

4510

4511

4512

4514

4515

4516

4518

4519

4520

4521

4522

4526

4527

4528

4529

.29
.25
.25
.89
.29
.95
.39
.45

.39
.69
.79
.39
.75

.65
.29

1.65
.45
.69
.79
.39

1.95
.85
.75
.75
.69
.85
.79
.85

.35

.79

1.99

.79

.89

.39

.39

.29

.35

.29

.29

.29

.29

.79

.59

.29

.29

.29

.95

.95

.49

2.99

2.49

1.95

12.95

12.95

11.95

12.95

7.95

14.95

4.9S

.95

.65

1.25

1.95

.85

.85

.85

1.25

1.79

1.55

.89

.39

.79

4.99

1.25

1.25

1.95

1.19

2.95

4531

4532

4538

4539

4541

4543

4553

4555

4556

4558

4560

4569

4581

4582

4584

4585

45151

4702

4724

74C00

74C02

74C04

74C08

74C10

74C14

74C20

74C30

74C32

74C42

74C48

74C73

74C74

74C76

74C83

74C85

74C86

74C89

74C90

74C93

74C95

.95

1.95

1.95

1.95

2.64

1.19

5.79

.95

95

2.45

4.25

3.49

1.95

1.95

.75

.75

12.95

12.95

1.50

.35

.35

.35

.35

.35

.59

.35

.35

.39

1.29

1.99

.65
.65
.80
1.95
1.95
.39
4.50
1.19
1.75
.99

74C150 5.75
74C151 2.25
74C154 3.25
74C157 1.75
74C160 1.19
74C161 1.19
74C162 1.19
74C163 1.19
74C164 1.39
74C165 2.00
74C173 .79
74C174 1.19
74C175 1.19
74C192 1.49
74C193 1.49
74C195 1.39
74C200 5.75
74C221 1.75
74C244 2.25
74C373 2.45
74C374 2.45
74C901
74C902
74C903
74C905 10.95
74C906 .95
74C907 1.00
74C908 2.00
74C909 2.75
74C910 9.95
74C911 8.95
74C912 8.95
74C914 1.95
74C915 1.19
74C918 2.75
74C920 17.95
74C921 15.95
74C922 4.49
74C923 4.95
74C925 5.95
74C926 7.95
74C927 7.95
74C928 7.95
74C929 19.95
74C930 4.95
80C95 .85
80C96 .95
80C97 .95
80C98 1.20

.85

HIGH SPEED CMOS

A new family of high speed CMOS logic featuring
the speed of low power Schottky (8ns typical gate prop-
agation delay), combined with the advantages of C M O S :
very low power consumption, superior noise immunity,
and improved output drive.

74HC00

74HC: Operate at CMOS logic levels and are ideal
for new. all-CMOS designs.

74HC00

74HC02

74HC04

74HC08

74HC10

74HC11

74HC14

74HC20

74HC27

74HC30

74HC32

74HC51

74HC74

74HC75

74HC85

74HC86

74HC93

74HC125

74HC132

74HC138

74HC139

74HC1S1

74HC153

74HC154

74HC157

74HC161

74HC164

74HC166

74HC174

.59
.59
.59
.59
.59
.59
.79
.59

.59
.75
.85
1.35
.69
1.19
1.19
1.19
.99
.99

2.49
.89
1.15
1.25
2.95
.99

74HC175

74HC193

74HC194

74HC195

74HC238

74HC240

74HC241

74HC242

74HC243

74HC244

74HC245

74HC251

74HC257

74HC259

74HC273

74HC299

74HC367

74HC373

74HC374

74HC393

74HC4017

74HC4020

74HC4024

74HC4040

74HC4049

74HC4050

74HC4060

74HC4511

74HC4538

.99
1.25
1.04
1.09
1.35
1.89
1.89
1.89
1.89
1.89
1.89
.89
.85
1.39
1.89
4.99
.99
2.29
2.29
1.39
1.99
1.39
1.59
1.39
.89
.89
1.29
2.39
2.29

74HCT: Direct, drop-
can be intermixed with
74HCT00 .69

74HCT02 .69

74HCT04 .69

74HCT08 .69

74HCT10 .69

74HCT1 1 .69

74HCT14
74HCT20
74HCT27
74HCT30
74HCT32
74HCT51
74HCT74
74HCT75
74HCT85
74HCT86
74HCT93
74HCT125
74HCT132
74HCT138
74HCT139
74HCT151
74HCT153
74HCT154
74HCT157
74HCT161
74HCT164
74HCT166
74HCT174

74HCT00

.89

.69

.69

.69

.79

.69

.85

.95

1.49

.79

1.29

1.29

1.29

1.15

1.15

1.05

1.05

2.99

.99

1.29

1.39

3.05

1.09

in replacements for LS TTL and
74LS in the same circuit.

74HCT175 1.09

74HCT193

74HCT194

74HCT195

74HCT238

74HCT240

74HCT241

74HCT242

74HCT243

74HCT244

74HCT245

74HCT251

74HCT257

74HCT259

74HCT273

74HCT299

74HCT367

74HCT373

74HCT374

74HCT393

74HCT4017

74HCT4020

74HCT4024

74HCT4040

74HCT4049

74HCT4050

74HCT4060

74HCT4511

74HCT4538

1.39
1.19
1.29
1.49
2.19
2.19
2.19
2.19
2.19
2.19
1.09

.99
1.59
2.09
5.25
1.09
2.49
2.49
1.59
2.19
1.59
1.79
1.59

.99

1.49
2.69
2.59

VOLTAGE
REGULATORS

TO-220 CASE PACKAGE

BSPECTRONICS
CORPORATION

EPROM ERASERS

Capacity Intensity

Timer Chip (uW/Cm 2 )

PE-14 9 8,000 $83.00

PE-14T x 9 8,000 $119.00

PE-24T x 12 9,600 $175.00

PL-265T x 30 9.600 $255.00

PR-125T x 25 17.000 $349.00

L PR-320T x 42 17.000 $595.00 A

IC
SOCKETS

8 PIN
14 PIN
16 PIN
18 PIN
20 PIN
22 PIN
24 PIN
28 PIN
40 PIN
64 PIN ST 4.25CALL

ST=SOLDERTAIL

I ST
I ST
I ST
I ST
I ST
I ST
I ST
I ST

.30 .27

.30 .27

.40 .32

.49 .39

8 PIN
14 PIN
16 PIN
18 PIN
20 PIN
22 PIN
24 PIN
28 PIN
40 PIN

WW .59 .49
WW .69 .52
WW .69 .58
WW .99 .90
WW 1.09 .98
WW 1.39 1.28
WW 1.49 1.35
WW 1.69 1.49
WW 1.99 1.80

InterfaceI

r DATAACCT

8T26

1.59 ■

ADC0800 15.55

8T28

1.98 ■

ADC0804 3.49

8T95

.89 ■

ADC0809 4.49

8T96

.89 ■

ADC0816 14.95

8T97

.89 ■

ADC0817 9.95

8T98

.89 ■

ADC0831 8.95

• M8131

2.95 ■

DAC0800 4.49

•P8304

2.29 ■

DAC0806 1.95

•S8833

2.25 ■

DAC0808 2.95

DS8835

1.99 ■

DAC1020 8.25

DS8836

.99 ■

DAC1021 7.95

DS8837

1.65 ■

DAC1022 5.95

DS8838

1.30 ■

MC1408L6 1.95

INTERSIL I

MC1408L8 2.95

ICL7106

9.95 1

EXAR

ICL7107

12.95 ■

XR2206 3.75

ICL7660

2.95 ■

XR2207 3.75

ICL8038

3.95 ■

XR2208 3.75

ICM7207A

5.59 ■

XR2211 5.25

ICM7208

15.95 J

L XR2240 3.25

9304
9316

.95
1.00

9328 1.49
9334 2.50
3.95
9.95
.75

9401
9601
9602 1.50
9637 2.95
L96S02 1.95

SOUND
CHIPS

I 76477 3.95

76488 5.95

76489 8.95
SSI 263 39.95
AY3-8910 12.95

| AY3-891212.95

MC3340 1.49

LSP1000 39.00,

4N26
4N27
4N28

| 4N33
4N35
4N37
MCT-2

L MCT-6

OPTO-ISOLATORS

1 .00 MCA-7 4.25

1.10 MCA-255 1.75

.69 IL-1 1.25

ILA-30 1.25

ILQ-74 2.75

1.75
1.25
1.25
1.00
1.50

H11C5
TIL-111
TIL-113

1.25
1.00
1.75 ,

WW=WIREWRAP

Mssm

I have had nothing but good experiences
with JDR and look foward to more of the
same .It's not often a company is willing
to help customers to the extent JDR has .

- Stephen!. Dap

s Copyright 1985 JDR Mlcrodevlcei

7805T
7808T
7812T
7815T
7824T

.75
.75

.75
.75

7905T .85

7908T .85

7912T .85

7915T .85

7924T .85

TO-3 CASE PACKAGE

7805K 1.39 7905K 1.49

7812K 1.39 7912K 1.49

7815K 1.39 7915K 1.49

7824K 1.39 7924K 1.49

TO-92 CASE PACKAGE
78L05 .69 79L05 .79

78L12 .69 79L12 .79

78L15 . .69 79L15 .79

OTHER VOLTAGE REGS
78M05C 5volt ^amp TO-220 .35
LM323K 5volt 3amp TO-3 4.95
LM338K Adj. 5amp TO-3
78H05K 5volt 5amp TO-3
78H12K 12volt5amp TO-3
78P05K 5volt 10ampTO-3
UA78S40 FAIRCHILD DIP

LM301

.34

LM301H

.79

LM307

.45

LM308

.69

LM308H

1.15

LM309H

1.95

LM309K

1.25

LM310

1.75

LM311

.64

LM311H

.89

LM312H

1.75

LM317K

3.95

LM317T

1.19

LM318

1.49

LM318H

1.59

LM319H

1.90

LM319

1.25

LM320 see7900

LM322

1.65

LM323K

4.95

LM324

.59

LM329

.65

LM331

3.95

LM334

1.19

LM335

1.40

LM336

1.75

LM337T

1.95

LM337K

3.95

LM338K

3.95

LM339

.99

LM340 see7800

LM348

.99

LM350K

4.95

LM350T

4.60

LM358

.69

LM359

1.79

LM376

3.75

LM377

1.95

LM378

2.50

LM379

4.50

LM380

.89

LINEAR

NE570

NE571

NE590

NE592

LM709

LM710

LM711

LM723

LM723H

LM733

LM741

3.95

2.95

2.50

.98

.59
.75
.79
.49
.55
.98
.35

LM741N-14 .35
.40

LM380N-8 1.10

LM381

LM382

LM383

LM384

LM386

I.M387

LM389

LM390

LM392

LM393

LM394H

LM399H

NE531

NE555

NE556

NE558

NE564

LM565

LM566

LM567

1.60
1.60
1.95
1.95

.89
1.40
1.35
1.95

.69
1.29
4.60
5.00
2.95

.34

.65
1.50
2.95

.99
1.49

.89

LM741H

LM747

LM748

LM1014

LM1303

LM1310

MC1330

MC1349

MC1350

MC1358

MC1372

LM1414

LM1458

LM1488

LM1489

LM1496

LM1558H

LM1800

LM1812

LM1830

LM1871

LM1872

LM1877

LM1889

LM1896

ULN2003

XR2206

LM2877

LM2878

LM2900

LM2901

MPQ2907 1.95

LM2917 2.95

MC3487

LM3900

LM3905

LM3909

LM3911

LM3914

LM3915

LM3916

MC4024

MC4044

RC4136

RC4151

LM4250

LM4500

RC4558

LM13600

LM13700

.59
1.19
1.95
1.49
1.69
1.89
1.19
1.69
6.95
1.59-
.59
.69
.69
.85
3.10
2.37
8.25
3.50
5.49
5.49
3.52
1.95
1.75
1.29
3.75
2.05
2.25
.85
1.00

2.95
.59
1.25
.98
2.25
3.95
3.95
3.95
3.95
4.50
1.25
3.95
1.75
3.25
.69
1.49
1.45

H=TO-5 CAN, K=TO-3. T=TO-220

RCA

2.75 CA3083

CA3023
CA3039
CA3046
CA3059
CA3060
CA3065
CA3080
CA3081
CA3082

TL494
TL496
TL497
75107
75108
75110
75150
75154
75160
75188
75189

TL066
TL071
TL072
TL074
TL081
TL082
TL083
L TL084

1.29
1.25
2.90
2.90
1.75
1.10
1.65
1.65

CA3086
CA3089
CA3096
CA3130
CA3140
CA3146
CA3160
CA3183

4.20
1.65
3.25
1.49
1.49
1.95
1.95
1.9S
4.95
1.25
1.2S

Tl

75365
75450
75451
75452
75453
75454
75477
75491
75492
75493
75494

1.55
.80
2.99
3.49
1.30
1.15
1.85
1.19

1.95
.59
.39
.39
.39
.39

1.29
.79
.79
.89
.89

Bl FET

LF347

.79
1.19
2.19

.79
1.19
1.19
2.19

LF351
LF353
LF355
LF356
LF357
LF411
LF412

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 521

DB25S FEMALE SoloER CUP 2.25

DB25P MALE SOLDER CUP

BARGAIN HUNTERS CORNER

DYNAMIC RAMS

4164 200ns $.99

100 PIECE MINIMUM

41256i5on S $5.99

27 PIECE MINIMUM

SPECIALS END 7/31/85

ea.

ea.

HARD TO FIND
'SNAP ABLE" H EADERS

I Can easily be snapped apart to make |
| any size header, all with .1" centers

1x40 STRAIGHT LEAD .99

, 1x40 RIGHT ANGLE 1.49

2x40 STRAIGHT LEAD 2.49

I 2x40 RIGHT ANGLE 2.99 [

SHORTING BLOCKS

_ SPACED AT .1" CENTERS |

fSf ~~~\ IDEAL FOR DISK DRIVES I

LU \ OR ANY .1" HEADER

DIP
SWITCHES

4 POSITION

5 POSITION

6 POSITION

7 POSITION

8 POSITION
L 10 POSITION 1.29 j

.85
.90
.90
.95

RF
MODULATOR

(ASTECUM1082)

QUANTITIES LIMITED

♦ PRESETTOCHANNEL3

* USE TO BUILD TV-
COMPUTER INTERFACE

*+5VOLTOPERATION

$6.95

--GROUND

EDGECARD
CONNECTORS

I S-100ST S-100 3.95

S-100WW S-100 4.95

72 PIN ST 6.95

72 PIN WW 7.95

62 PIN ST IBM PC 4.95

50 PIN ST APPLE 4.95

I 44 PIN ST 2.95

L 44 PIN WW 4.95

36 PIN CENTRONICS

IDCEN36 RIBBON CABLE MALE 8.95

IDCEN36/F RIBBON CABLE FEMALE 8.95

k CEN36 SOLDER CUP MALE 7.95

DIP CONNECTORS

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

g

14

16

18

20

??

24

28

40

HIGH RELIABILITY TOOLED
ST IC SOCKETS

AUGATxxST

.99

.99

.99

1.69

1.89

1.89

1.99

2.49

2.99

HIGH RELIABI ITV TOOLED
WW IC SOCKETS

AUGATxxWW

1.30

1.80

2.10

2.40

2.50

2.90

3.15

3.70

5.40

COMPONENT CARRIES
(DIP HEADERS)

ICCxx

.49

.59

.69

.99

.99

.99

.99

1.09

1.49

RIBBON CABLE
DIP PLUGS (IDC)

IDPxx

-

.95

.95

™

1.75

~

2.95

FOR ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS SEE IDC CONNECTORS BELOW

EMI FILTER

► MAJOR MANUFACTURER

► LOW COST

► FITS LC-HP BELOW

$4.95

LINE CORDS

LC-2 2 CONDUCTOR 6 ft .39

LC-3 3 CONDUCTOR 6 ft .99
LC-HP 3CONDUCTOR WITH STANDARD

FEMALE SOCKET 6 ft 1.49
LC-CIR CIGARE1TE LIGHTER

PLUG WITH 6 FOOT CORD 2.95

MUFFIN FANS

4.68" SQUARE
3" SQUARE

14.95
14.95

CAPACITORS

TANTALUM

I.Opf 15V .40 .47jyf 35 V .50

6.8 15V .70 1.0 35V .45

10 15V .80 2.2 35V .65

22 15V 1.35 4.7 35V .85

.22 35V .40 10 35V 1.00

RESISTORS

V« WATT 5% CARBON FILM

ALL STANDARD VALUES

FROM 1 OHM TO 10 MEG OHM

50 PIECES SAME VALUE .025

100 PIECES SAME VALUE .02

. 1000 PIECES SAME VALUE .015

1N751

1N759

1N4148

1N4001

1N4004

| 1N5402
KBP02
KBP04

| MDA801
MDA980-1
MDA980-2

L VM48

DIODES

5.1 VOLT ZENER
12.0 VOLT ZENER
(1N914JSWITCHING
50PIV 1A
400PIV RECTIFIER
200PIV 3A
200PIV 1.5A BRIDGE
400PIV 1.5A BRIDGE
50PIV 12A BRIDGE
50PIV 12A BRIDGE
100PIV 12 A BRIDGE
DIP-BRIDGE

.25
.25

25/1.00
12/1.00
10/1.00
.25

.45 I

10pf

22

25

27

33

47

56

68

82

100

220

| TO-220
TO-220
TO-3
TO-220
TO-3

HEAT SINKS

SCREW ON
CLIP ON
SCREW ON
INSULATOR
INSULATOR

.35

.35

.95

10/1.00

10/1.00

SWITCHES

| SPDT MINI-TOGGLE ON-ON
OPDT MINI-TOGGLE ON-ON
DPDT MINI-TOGGLE ON-OFF-ON

J SPST MINI-PUSHBUTTON NO.

| SPST MINI-PUSHBUTTON N.C.

L BCD OUT 10 POSITION 6 PIN DIP

50V
50V
50V
50V
50V
50V
50V
50V
50V
50V
50V

DISC

.05 560
.05 680
820

.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.05

50V
50V
50V
.001^( 50V
.0015 50V

.0022

.005

.01

.02

.05

50V
50V
50V
50V
50V
12V

MONOLITHIC

.01/if 50V .14 .1/if 50V

.047jyf 50 V .15 .47/jf 50V

ELECTROLYTIC

2.2

4.7

10

47

100

220

470

2200

25V .14
35V .15

50V
50V
35V
16V
35V

25V .30
16V .60

COMPUTER
GRADE

44,000/if 30V 3.95

1pf

4.7

10

10

22

47

100

100

220

330

500

1000

2200

6000

AXIAL
50V
16V
16V
50V
16V
50V
15V
35V
25V
16V
16V
16V
16V
16V

.05
.05
.05
.05
.05
.07
.07
.07
.10

.18
.25

.14
.16
.14

,20
.20

.42
.60

LED DISPLAYS

HP5082-7760

CC

.43"

1.29

MAN-72

CA

.3"

.99

MAN-74

CC

.3"

.99

FND-357(359)

CC

.375"

1.25

FND-500(503)

CC

.5"

1.49

FND-507(510)

CA

.5"

1.49

TIL-311 4x7HEX W/LOGIC

.270"

9.95

DIFFUSED LEDS

JUMBO RED
JUMBO GREEN
JUMBO YELLOW

T1V«
T1V,
T1V«

MOUNTING HDW T1V4

MINI RED T1

I GREEN T1

MINI YELLOW T1

1-99
.10
.18
.18
.10

.10
.18
.18

100 -up
.09

.15
.15
.09

.09
.15

RECT RED 2x5mm .25

RECT GREEN 2x5mm .30

t RECT YELLOW 2x5mm .30

D-SUBMINIATURE

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

9

15

25

37

50

SOLDER CUP

MALE

DBxxP

1.19

1.59

1.90

2.85

4.25

FEMALE

DBxxS

1.50

1.85

2.25

3.90

5.25

RIGHT ANGLE
PC SOLDER

MALE

DBxxPR

1.65

2.20

3.00

4.83

...

r FEMALE

DBxxSR

2.18

3.03

3.00

6.19

—

WIRE WRAP

Male

DBxxPWW

1.69

2.56

3.89

5.60

FEMALE

DBxxSWW

2.76

4.27

6.84

9.95

MALE

IDBxxP

2.95

3.90

4.75

695

IDC RIBBON CABLE

FEMALE

IDBxxS

3.25

4.29

5.25

7.95

—

HOODS

BLACK

HOOD-B

_.

.99

...

GREY

HOODxx

.89

.99

.99

1.09

1.19

MOUNTING HARDWARE-$1.00

FOR ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS SEE IDC CONNECTORS BELOW

TEXTOOLZERO INSERTION FORCE
SOCKETS AND RECEPTACLES

SCREWDRIVER CLAMP
ECONO Z1F

LEVER CLAMP
ZIF SOCKET

WW RECEPTACLES
ZIF RECEPTACLE

TYPE

CONTACTS

14

16

24

28

40

ECONO ZIF

4.95

675

7.75

9.95

ZIF SOCKET

4.95

4.95

5.95

6.95

9.95

ZIF RECEPTACLE

8.25

8.75

9.75

10.50

12.75

IDC CONNECTORS

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

10

20

26 | 34

40

50

SOLDER HEADER

IDHxxS

.82

1.29

1.68 I 2.20

2.58

3.24

RIGHT ANGLE SOLDER HEADER

IDHxxSR

.85

1.35

1.76 | 2.31

2.72

3.39

WW HEADER

IDHxxW

1.86

2.98

3.84 I 4.50

5.28

6.63

RIGHT ANGLE WW HEADER

IDHxxWR

2.05

3.28

4.22 | 4.45

4.80

7.36

RIBBON HEADER SOCKET

IDSxx

.79

.99

1.39 | 1.59

1.99

2.25

RIBBON HEADER

IDMxx

5.50

6.25 | 7.00

7.56

5.50

RIBBON EDGE CARD

IDExx

1.75

2.25

2.65 1 2.7$

3.80

195

ORDERING INSTUCTIONS: INSERT THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS IN THE POSITION MARKED "xx" OF THE
■ORDER BY" PART NUMBER LISTED. EXAMPLE: A 10 PIN RIGHT ANGLE HOLDER STYLE WOULD BE IDH10SR

RIBBON CABLE

CONTACTS

SINGLE COLOR

COLOR CODED

1'

10'

V

10*

10

.18

1.60

.83

7.30

16

.28

2.50

1.00

8.80

20

.36

3.20

1.25

11.00

25

.45

4.00

1.32

11.60

26

.46

4.10

1.32

11.60

34

.61

5.40

1.65

14.50

40

.72

6.40

1.92

16.80

50

.89

7.50

2.50

22.00

II 1224 S. Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
800-538-5000 • 800-662-6279 (CA) • (408) 995-5430
FAX (408) 275-8415 • Telex 171-110

RETAIL STORE - 1256 S. BASCOM AVENUE
HOURS: M-W-F, 9-5 TU-TH, 9-9 SAT, 10-3

PLEASE USE YOUR CUSTOMER NUMBER WHEN ORDERING

TERMS: Minimum order S 10.00. For shipping and handling include
$2.50 for UPS Ground and $3.50 for UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and
foreign orders may require additional shipping charges - please
contact our sales department for the amount. CA. residents must
include 6% sates tax. Bay Area and LA residents include 6 Wo., All
merchandise is warranted for 90 days unless otherwise stated. Prices
are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for
typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit quantities and to
substitute manufacturer. All merchandise subject to prior sale.

! Copyright 1985 JDR Mlcrodevlcet

522 BYTE • JUNE 1985

IBM PC PROTOTYPE CARD

WITH DECODING CIRCUITRY

WIRE WRAP
PROTOTYPE CARDS

FR-4 EPOXY GLASS LAMINATE
WITH GOLD-PLATED EDGE-CARD FINGERS

IBM PR2

IBM

BOTH CARDS HAVE SILK SCREENED LEGENDS

AND INCLUDES MOUNTING BRACKET

I IBM-PR1 WITH +5V AND GROUND PLANE .... S27.95

1BM-PR2 AS ABOVE WITH DECODING LAYOUT $29.95

S-100

P100-1
P100-2

BARE - NO FOIL PADS

HORIZONTAL BUS

$15.15
$21.80

P100-3

VERTICAL BUS

$21.80

P100-4

SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HOLE

APPLE

$22.75

P500-1

BARE - NO FOIL PADS

$15.15

P500-3
P500-4

HORIZONTAL BUS

SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HOLE

FOR APPLE Ite AUX SLOT

$22.75
$21.80
$30 00

GENERAL PURPOSE

22/44 PIN EDGE-CARD (.156" SPACING)

P441-1

BARE - NO FOIL PADS 4.5" x 6.0" . . .
VERTICAL BUS 4 5" x 6 0"

. . $9.45
$13 95

P441-4
P442-1
P442-3
P442-4

SINGLE FOIL PADS4.5"x 6.0"

BARE - NO FOIL PADS 4.5" x 9.0" . . .

VERTICAL BUS 4.5" x 9.0"

SINGLE FOIL PADS 4.5" x 9.0"

36/72 PIN EDGE-CARD (.1" SPACING)

. $14.20
$10.40
$14.20
$13.50

P721-1
P721-3
P721-4
P722-1
P722-3
P722-4

BARE - NO FOIL PADS 4.5" x 6.0" . . .

VERTICAL BUS 4.5" x 6.0"

SINGLE FOIL PADS 4.5" x 6.0"

BARE - NO FOIL PADS 4.5" x 9.0" . . .

VERTICAL BUS 4.5" x 9.0"

SINGLE FOIL PADS 4.5" x 9.0"

. . $9.45
. $13.25
. $14.20
. $10.40
. $14.20
. $15.15

BARE GLASS BOARDS EXTENDER

NO EDGE- CARD FINGERS OR FOIL CARDS

P25x45

P45x65

P45x85

P45x170

P85x170

2.5" x 4.5" $2.40 IBM
4.5" x 6.5" $4.70 APPLE
4.5" x 8.5" $6.20 MULTIBUS
4.5" x 17.0" $11.35
8.5" x 17.0" $18.95

$45.00
$45.00
$86.00

DISK DRIVES

TANDON

I TM 100-1 5V4 "(FOR IBM) SS/DD $139.95

TM 1 00-2 5V'4" (FOR IBM) DS/DD $1 59.95

MPI

| MPI-B52 5 1 /." (FOR IBM) DS/DD $109.95

TEAC

FD-55B Vz HEIGHT DS/DD $ 1 1 9.95

FD-55F V 2 HEIGHT DS/QUAD $139.95

SHUGART

SA 400L 5VV (40 TRACK) SS/DD $1 99.95

SA 460 5 V*" (80 TRACK) DS/QUAD $ 1 99.95

8" DISK DRIVES

FD100-8 BY SIEMENS. SHUGART 801 EQU1V.

SS/DD $129.00

FD200-8 BY SIEMENS. SHUGART 851 EQUIV.

DS/DD $180.00

JFORMAT-2 $49.95

SUPPORT FOR QUAD DENSITY DRIVES
FROM TALL TREE SYSTEMS

TANDON TM1 00-2

PLEASE INCLUDE SUFFICENT AMOUNT FOR SHIPPING ON ABOVE ITEMS

DISK DRIVE

CABINETS

CABINET #1 $29.95

* Fits one full height 5Y«"disk drive

* Color matches Apple

CABINET #2 $79.00

* Fits one full height SVV'disk drive

* Complete with power supply, switch,
line cord, fuse and standard power
connector

* Please specify Grey or Tan

CABINET #3 $89.95

* Fits two half height 5W'disk drives

* Complete with power supply, switch,
line cord, fuse and standard power
connectors

8" DISK DRIVE CABINETS
ALSO AVAILABLE-PLEASE CALL

PLEASE INCLUDE SUFFICIENT
AMOUNT FOR SHIPPING ON ABOVE ITEMS

SWITCHING
POWER SUPPLIES

PS-IBM $159.95

* FOR IBM PC-XT COMPATIBLE

* 130 WATTS

* +5V @ 1 5A, +12 V @ 4.2A
-5V@.5A, -12V@.5A

* ONE YEAR WARRANTY

PSA

$49.95

USE TO POWER APPLE TYPE

SYSTEMS

+5V @ 4A, +12V @ 2.5A

-5V @ .5A. -12V @ .5A

APPLE POWER CONNECTOR

PS-3

$39.95

* AS USED IN APPLE III
+5V @ 4A, +12V @ 2.5A
-5V @ .25A, -12V @ .30A,
15.5" x 4.5" x 2", .884 LBS.

PS-ASTEC

$19.95

WIRE WRAP WIRE

PRECUT AND STRIPPED

I Note: 1 inch of insulation is stripped on
eachend. A3. 5" wire hasonly 1.5" of insu-
lation.

LENGTH QUANTITY

(INCHES) 100 500 1000

2.5

1.60

4.70

8.20

3

1.60

4.70

8.20

3.5

1.65

5.00

8.90

4

1.75

5.40

9.60

4.5

1.80

5.75

10.30

5

1.85

6.10

11.00

5.5

1.90

6.50

11.75

6

2.00

6.85

12.50

6.5

2.30

7.80

14.30

7

2.40

8.20

15.05

7.5

2.50

8.55

15.85

8

2.60

8.95

16.60

8.5

2.65

9.30

17.40

9

2.70

9.80

18.15

9.5

2.80

10.00

18.95

10

2.90

10.50

19.70

PRECUT ASSORTMENT

IN ASSORTED COLORS

S27.50

100ea:5.5"

6". 6.5", 7

250ea:2.5

". 4.5". 5"

500ea:.3

', 3.5", 4"

SPOOLS

100 feet

$4.30

250 feet

$7.25

500 feet

S 13.25

1000 feet

$21.95

Please specify color:

Blue, Black, Yellow or Red

TRANSFORMERS
FRAME STYLE

12.6VAC 2 AMP 4.95

12.6V AC CT 2 AMP 5.95

12.6VACCT 4 AMP 7.95

12.6VACCT 8 AMP 10.95

25.2VACCT 2 AMP 7.95

PLUG CASE STYLE

12V AC 250ma 3.95

12V AC 500ma 4.95

12V AC 1 AMP 5.95

12V AC 2 AMP 6.95

DC ADAPTER

6, 9, 12V DC SELECTABLE WITH
UNIVERAL ADAPTER 8.95 .

CAN POWER TWO 5Va" FDDS
+5V @ 2.5A. +12V @ 2A
-12V @ .1A

+5V @ 5A IF +12VIS NOTUSED
6.3" x 4.0" x 1.9"

MICROCOMPUTER

HARDWARE

HANDBOOK

FROMELCOMP $14.95

I Over 800 pages of manufacturer's
I datasheets on the most commonly
| used IC's
*TTL-74.74LS&74F

* CMOS

* Voltage regulators

* Memory- RAM, ROM, EPROM

* CPU'S - 6800, 6500, Z80,
8080, 8085 & 8086/8

* MPU Support & Interface,
6800, 6500, Z80, 8200, etc.

(i

ICJ

OK INDUSTRIES

EX "I IC EXTRACTION TOOL

* ONE PIECE METAL CONSTRUCTION

* EASILY EXTRACTS 8-24 PIN DEVICES

* LOWCOST $2.19

EX-2 IC EXTRACTION TOOL

* EXTRACTS 24-40 PIN DEVICES

* HEAVY DUTY METAL CONSTRUCTION

* GROUND LUGS FOR MOS EXTRACTIONS

* EASY ONE HAND OPERATION $12.74

IC INSERTION TOOLS

INS-1416 for 14-16 pin IC's $5.15

MOS-1416 for 14-16 pin IC's $10.92
MOS-2428 for 24-28 pin IC's $10.92
MOS-40 for 40 pin IC's $12.43

MOS series insertion tools have metal constuction
and include grounding lug for CMOS applications.

BW-630 WIRE WRAP GUN

* BATTERY POWERED USES 2 NI-CAD
C CELLS(NOT INCLUDED)

* POSITIVE INDEXING

* ANTI-OVERWRAP DEVICE $41.55

WSU-30 WIRE WRAP TOOLS

* WRAPS. STRIPS. AND UNWRAPS

* WSU-30M WRAPS AN EXTRA TURN OF

INSULATION

WSU-30 $8.84/WSU-30M $10.14
WIRE WRAP TERMINALS

1

y a

INS-1416 INS-2428

WWT-1
WWT-2
WWT-3
| WWT-4
INS-1

SLOTTED
SINGLE SIDED
IC SOCKET
DOUBLE SIDED
INSERTION TOOL

25/S7.06

25/S4.25

25/S7.06

25/2.80

$3.64

GE NICKEL-CADMIUM
RECHARGABLE BATTERIES

NI-CAD CHARGER PACKAGE

AAA CELLS

QTY.2

$11.71

AACELLS

QTY.2

$11.71

CCELLS

QTY.2

$13.21

D CELLS

QTY.2

$13.21

9 VOLT

QTY. 1

$13.21

BATTERIES ONLY

AAA CELLS

PKG. 2

S6.07 pr.

AA CELLS

PKG. 1

$3.03 ea.

C CELLS

PKG. 1

$3.78 ea.

O CELLS

PKG. 1

$3.78 ea.

.9 VOLT

PKG.1

S7.57 ea.

ORDER TOLL FREE

I

III

(CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

20 MHz DUAL TRACE
OSCILLOSCOPE

UNSURPASSED QUALITY AT AN UNBEATABLE PRICE

► BAND WIDTH- DC: DC TO 20MHz(-3db)

AC: 10HzTO 20MHz (-3db)

* SWEEP TIME- .2pSECTO .5 SEC/DIV ON 20 RANGES

► VERT./HORZ. DEFLECTION: 5mVTO 20V/DIV ON 20 RANGES
t COMPLETE MANUALAND HIGH QUALITY

HOOK-ON PROBES INCLUDED aqqq qp

* INPUT IMPEDANCE: 1 MEGOHM PJ^CJ.^O

► TVVIDEO SYNC FILTER 1(WITU BDnDCe
» X, Y AND Z AXIS OPERATION WITH PROBES

* 1 1 0/220 VOLT 50/60Hz OPERATION
*COMPONENTTESTER _ B „ - -,_,- »,,-«„

* LP CONSUMPTION-19 WATTS FULL ONE YEAR
. BUILT IN CALIBRATOR WARRANTY

* AUTOMATIC OR TRIGGERED TIMEBASE

WIRE DISPENSER

* WITH 50' ROLLOF WIRE

* BUILT IN PLUNGER CUTS WIRE

* BUILT IN STRIPPER STRIPES 1"

* REFILLABLE

WD-30 $6.50 WD-30TRI $9.50

Specify Blue, white. With 50' of each:
Yellow or Red Red, Blue and White

SOCKET- WRAP ID.™

* SLIPS OVER WIRE WRAP PINS

* IDENTIFIES PIN NUMBERS ON WRAP
SIDE OF BOARD

* CAN WRITE ON PLASTIC: SUCH AS IC U

WSU-30/30M

s=d(^

>INS

PART#

PCK. OF

PRICE

8

IDWRAP08

10

1.95

14

IDWRAP14

10

1.95

16

IDWRAP16

10

1.95

18

IDWRAP 18

5

1.95

20

IDWRAP 20

5

1.95

22

IDWRAP 22

5

1.95

24

IDWRAP 24

5

1.95

?8

IDWRAP 28

5

1.95

40

IDWRAP 40

5

1.95

PLEASE ORDER BY NUMBER OF
PACKAGES (PCK. OF)

-1

= « Si

,-g > z d

MULTIMETER PEN

AUTO RANGING, POLARITY & DECIMAL!

* LARGE 3% DIGIT DISPLAY

* DATA HOLD SWITCH FREEZES READING

* FAST. AUDIBLE CONTINUITY TEST

* LOW BATTERY INDICATOR

* OVERLOAD PROTECTION

* ONLY 1V4" x 6V4" x V«"

* DC VOLTS .1 mV-500V

* AC VOLTS 1 mV-500V

* .1 OHM 20 MEG OHMS

* WEIGHS ONLY2.30UNCES

* LOW PARTS COUNT-CUSTOM 80 PIN LSI INSURF.S RELIABILITY

* INCLUDES MANUAL, BATTERIES, SOFT CASE, 2 PROBE TIPS.
AND ALLIGATOR CLIP

ONLY
$49.95

Copyright 1985 JDR MIc

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 523

TEAC-FD55B Well 9.95

MPI-B52%% H1 109.95

EPROM PROGRAMMER

FOR APPLE COMPUTERS

- •■ ■ ::-''■ •■'}£?

RP525
$79.95

* DUPLICATE OR BURN ANY STANDARD
27xx SERIES EPROM

* EASYTO USE MENU-DRIVEN SOFTWARE
INCLUDED

* MENU SELECTION FOR 2716, 2732, 2732A,
2764 & 27128

* HIGH SPEED WRITE ALGORITHM

* LED INDICATORS FOR ACTIVITY

* NO EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY REQUIRED

DISK DRIVES

FOR APPLE COMPUTERS

BAL-525
$139.95

* 1 /2 HEIGHT-ALPS MECHANISM

* 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE

* FULL 1 YEAR WARRANTY

BAL-500
$159.95

* TEAC MECHANISM- DIRECT DRIVE

* 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE

* FULL 1 YEAR WARRANTY

MITAG

AD-1

$149.95

• FULL HT. SHUGART MECHANISM

• DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR APPLE
DISK II

• SIX MONTH WARRANTY

DISK DRIVE ACCESSORIES

DISK CONTROLLER CARD
k APPLE lie ADAPTOR CABLE

$49.95
$19.95

NEW FOR APPLE lie

MITAG

AD-3C

$139.95

• 100% APPLE lie COMPATIBLE,
READY TO PLUG IN W/ SHIELDED
CABLE & MOLDED 19 PIN CONNECTOR

• FAST, RELIABLE SLIMLINE
DIRECT DRIVE

• SIX MONTH WARRANTY

fHM

DISK DRIVES FOR IDM

TEAC

FD55B

$119.95

TANDON

TM100-2

$159.95
MPI

MODEL B52

$109.95

IBM ACCESSORIES

MAXIMIZER $259.95

SIGMA MULTIFUNCTION CARD

HAYES SMARTMODEM $419.95

1200B FOR IBM

PRINTER CABLE $19.95

PARALLEL 6' SHIELDED CABLE

KRAFT JOYSTICK $39.95 J

I* BMC MONITOR STAND

MODEL PA-900

[ TILTS AND SWIVELS
TO PROVIDE
OPTIMUM VIEWING
ANGLE, REDUCES
OPERATOR FATIGUE

DISKETTE FILE

$8.95

IF PURCHASED

WITH 50 DISKETTES

OR MORE

$9.95 IF PURCHASED ALONE

HOLDS 70 5Va"
DISKETTES,
WITH ROOM
TO SPARE

f

NASHUA DISKETTES

5 1 /4" SOFT SECTOR
DS/DDWITH HUB RINGS

BULK PACKAGED IN FACTORY SEALED BAGS
OF 50. INCLUDES DISKETTE SLEEVES AND
WRITE PROTECTTABS. IDEALFOR SCHOOLS,
CLUBS, AND USERS GROUPS. THIS IS A
SPECIAL PURCHASE. SO QUANTITIES ARE
LIMITED. THERE IS A 5 YEAR WARRANTY.

$1.39ea. $1.49ea. $1.59ea.

QTY250

QTY 100

QTY50

NASHUA DISKETTES WERE JUDGED TO HAVE

THE HIGHEST POLISH AND RECORDED

AMPLITUDE OF ANY DISKETTES TESTED.

(SEE "COMPARING FLOPPY DISKS", BYTE 9 84)

FACTORY SPECIAL $14.95 J] VERBATIM DATALIFE diskettes

ORDER TOLL FREE

; i III* ;Mi 1 1

800-862-6279!

16K RAM CARD $39.95

BARE PC CARD AND INSTRUCTIONS $9.

• 2 YEAR WARRANTY

* EXPAND YOUR 48K APPLE TO 64K
USE IN PLACE OF APPLE LANGUAGE
CARD

SS/DD SOFT SECTOR $29.95

SS/DD 10 SECTOR HARD $29.95
DS/DD SOFT SECTOR $34.95

IBM COMPATIBLE
POWER SUPPLIES

130 WATT
$159.95

^■-<m>\

*

APPLE ACCESSORIES

VIEWMAX-80
VIEWMAX-80e
GRAPHMAX
THUIMDERCLOCK
KRAFT JOYSTICK
POWER SUPPLY

$159.95
$129.95
$129.95
$129.95
$39.95
$49.95

XT COMPATIBLE

* +5V @ 15A, + 12 (S3 4.2A
-5 @ ,5A, -12 @ .5A

* UPGRADE YOUR PC, POWERS HARD

* POWER CABLES FOR 4 FDDs

* ONE YEAR WARRANTY

* SWITCH ON SIDE (FITS IBM CASE)

100 WATT
$99.95

* SWITCH ON REAR

* FOR USE IN OTHER
IBM TYPE MACHINES

* AVAILABLE IN 100W
OR 130W VERSIONS

* 90 DAY WARRANTY

130 WATT MODEL

~~1

$129.95,

SffSJDR Microdevices

■■ 1224 S. Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
800-538-5000 • 800-662-6279 (CA) • (408) 995-5430
FAX (408) 275-8415 • Telex 171-110

■■ Copyright 1985 JDR Microdevices

RETAIL STORE - 1256 S. BASCOM AVENUE
HOURS: M-W-F, 9-5 TU-TH, 9-9 SAT, 10-3

PLEASE USE YOUR CUSTOMER NUMBER WHEN ORDERING

TERMS: Minimum order $10.00. For shipping and handling include
$2.50 for UPS Ground and $3.50 for UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and
foreign orders may require additional shipping charges - please
contact our; sales department for the amount CA. residents must
include 6% 'sales tax. Bay Area and LA residents include 6Vi%. All
merchandise is warranted for 90 days unless otherwise stated. Prices
are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for
typographical errors. We reserve the tight to limit quantities and to
substitute manufacturer. All merchandise subject to prior sale.

APPLE IS A TRADEMARK OF APPLE COMPUTER CO.

524 BYTE • JUNE 1985

Inquiry 232

UNCLASSIFIED ADS

WANTED: Apple lie public-domain software or infor-
mation on programs to help teach non-English-
speaking six-year-old Korean boy English, math, or
any basic learning material. David Harbour. Route
4. Box 49. Ava. MO 65608. (417) 683-5201.

WANTED: Inner-city school needs donation of IBM,
Apple or compatibles plus peripherals in exchange
for tax-deductible donation verification. Donation
will enable students to receive hands-on experience
otherwise not available. Rama Lahori. Chicago Voca-
tional High School, 2100 East 87th St.. Chicago. IL
60617. (312) 978-1600.

WANTED: Nonprofit agency needs word-processing
equipment to expose Austrian older youth to the
media and develop employable skills. 'lax-deduc-
tible. The Institute for Cultural Affairs, Lilienbrunn-
gasse 1 5/8. Wien. Austria, tel: (433-222) 24-69-234.

WANTED: College computer club looking for tax-
deductible donation of computer with word-pro-
cessing. Florence V. Ward. John Jay College Com-
puter Club. 445 West 59th St., New York. NY 10019.

WANTED: Donation of disk-based computer system
(IBM PC IBM-compatible, or CP/M) with program-
ming tools (assembler, compiler, etc.) for effort to
help blind people understand programming and to
develop learning tools for them. Piotr Bednarski, ul.
Ryemonta 10m92. 01-842, Warsaw. Poland.

NEEDED: Hardware reference manual and operator's
manual for Intel's Intellec 8/MOD 80 system (no
longer available). Will pay postage. R. Hu, 1467 Bor-
tolotti Crescent. Gloucester. Ontario K1B 5 CI,
Canada.

NEEDED: Information, schematics, etc., for Infoton
1-100 terminal manufactured about 1979. Also same
for Vector Graphic S-100 Z80 Rev. 3 board, Jim Wolfe.
POB 6601. Torrance. CA 90504, (213) 376-2931.

WANTED: I f you have had problems (corrected or
not) with your Pixel computer or if your service con-
tract has not been honored, send details to S. E.
Rudlin, 4600 Grove Ave.. Richmond. VA 23226.

FOR SALE: Columbia VP portable, amber screen,
128K to 512K. extras: $1600. Also. TRS-80 Model
100. 24K. brand new, modem, cable, AC adapter:
$500. Dan Gammon. (301) 946-7370.

FOR SALE: 8K RAM module for Radio Shack PC-2
or Sharp PC-1500 pocket computer: asking $50.
Need 16K RAM module with battery backup for the
Radio Shack PC-2 or Sharp PC-1 500. Also, would like
to form users group for pocket computers. Robert
Lerner. 23 Mayed Dr.. Suffern, NY 10901.

WANTED: One AIM 65 micro, two (or more) MTU 32 K
Banker boards, one MTU card cage (or backplane
only), one MMS Inc. Mach-9 6809 adapter for AIM.
and one 2031 (or 4040) Commodore IEEE disk
drive. Don Lewis, 606 Hazel Ave, Folsom. PA 19033.
(215) 622-5495 or 586-5212.

FOR SALE: BYTE, all volume 3; volume 2, numbers
2, 5, 6. 7, 9-12; volume 4, numbers 1-4. 6, and 9;
and issue 14 (October 1976). Also Commodore PET
8K with original keyboard and ROM. Best offer.
Prefer local buyer. Shigeki Misawa, 3 7 Penwood Dr..
New Providence. NJ- 07974. (201) 464-13 59.

FOR SALE: 1979 through 1984 of BYTE. Creative Com-
puting. Microcomputing, \nterface Age, and Personal Com-
puting. Will sell volumes or single copies. Wanted:
BYTE. October and November 1977 issues. |im
Reeb, 8392 East Inspiration Dr., Parker, CO 80134.

FOR SALE: Sweet Talker computer speech syn-
thesizer, cabinet, built-in speaker, power supply, and
ribbon cable for parallel interface, plus schematics
and documentation: $95. Mike Hagerman, 1704
Mars Ave, Loves Park, IL 61111. (815) 633-3382.

WANTED: Help in finding a BBS public-domain or in-
dividually written program for an Atari 800 with
Microperipheral modem, model UM-1, one disk
drive, and 820 printer. |im Klein. 48 102nd Ave. NW,
Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

WANTED: Schematics and parts list for an Ithaca
Audio (Intersystems), EPROM burner board, part
number IA-1200. Need same information for the
front-panel board. Paul Detzel. 22635 Southwest
65th Way, Boca Raton, FL 33428. (305) 487-4222.

FOR SALE: Hewlett-Packard 86A with 12-inch
monitor. 5!4-inch disk drive, auto-dial modem,
82905B printer. I/O, ADV, and more. All manuals.
Retail value $4900. Best offer. Winston Chung, 702
Harvey Rd.. Claymont. DE 19703. (302) 792-2921.

WANTED: International computer hobbyists to cor-
respond with in English, French, and German. Ex-
change information on microcomputer applications,
engineering, robotics. R/C electric model planes,
travel, national cultures, etc. Bob Saxer, 704 East
Cedar Ave.. St. Charles. IL 60174.

FOR SALE: CompuPro IEEE-696 CP/M system.
Enclosure power supply and 21 -slot motherboard.
6-MHz Z80. AMD 9 511 floating-point board, dual
Qume 842 disk drives and power supply, and more:
$1800. leleVideo 910+ terminal: $300. David A.
Danello. POB 784, Dahlgren. VA 22448, (703)
775-4915 or (814) 643-3387.

WANTED: New Zealand University student would like
to correspond with others who have an interest in
Apple II computers and the expansions and lan-
guages available for them. Sean Fennell, 1 5 Buckley
Rd, Epsom, Aukland 3, New Zealand.

FOR SALE: IBM film ribbons, stock number 1 136108.
for Selectric typewriters. Clear spool, not gray car-
tridge. Expired in 1976-1977; all 24 only $20. Fred
Robinson. 7580 Honeysuckle, Orchard Lake. Ml
48033.

FOR SALE: SD Systems RAM Disk- 2 5 6, never used:
$500. D. Boone. POB 330. Valley Mills. TX 76689.

FOR SALE: Never used 1983 Cromemco System HD3,
DPU. 256K bytes of RAM, 20-megabyte hard disk.
TU-Art, Cromix 68000, C-language compiler:
$10,000 or best offer. Dr. Jeppesen. POB 270. Oak
View, CA 93022.

FOR SALE: Fidelity Electronics Elite A/S Chess
Challenger. USCF rating 1850. upgradable to latest
model, like new: $300. Also, Novag Constellation
chess computer. USCF rating 1800+. perfect con-
dition: $150, lohn A. Henderson, 526 South Divi-
sion St. #9. Ann Arbor. MI 48194. (313) 995-4106.

FOR SALE: CompuPro 85/88 S-100 system, complete
and working. Includes 15-slot Integrand chassis,
128K-byte RAM, PMMI modem. twoShugart 851s.
Wyse 100 terminal, and more. Asking $3000. David
langmann, 2900 Connecticut Ave. NW. Washington,
DC 20008. (202) 232-7999.

WANTED: High-school student seeks correspondence
with people interested in computer graphics and
simulation in Pascal, C. and assembly language.
Mariusz larzebowski. al. Wilanowska 364 m 81.
02-655, Warsaw, Poland.

FOR SALE: Computer Continuum A/D, D/A board
with box. Timex computer, various Z80 and Timex
books: $1 50 or best offer. Rob Forbes. POB 4826.
Boulder, CO 80306.

FOR SALE: IBM 160K-byte disk drive (TMI00-1): $95.
BIOS ROM and 8088 from IBM PC: $45. JoeGunter.
RR 2. Box 823. Lot 125. Pompano Beach. FL 33067.
(305) 421-6301.

WANTED: Manual for IMSAI S-100 board. Will pay
all copy and mail expenses. Steven McClain, 10428
Mull Ave.. Riverside, CA 92505. (714) 354-6979.

WANTED: California Computer Systems boards for
an S-100 bus as follows: Z80 processor board
2820-00001 and floppy-disk controller board
241 1-0001 rev. B. Lee D Miller. 932 North Lakeshore
Dr.. Lincoln. NE 68528, (402) 435-3864.

FOR SALE: Sanyo 12-inch green monitor, new: $85.
Smith-Corona TP-1 daisy-wheel printer (like new)
with serial interface, two extra ribbons: $2 50. Net-
work hardware to connect up to eight Commodore
64s to single disk and printer: $125. Other equip-
ment available. Mike Schary. 1 10 Bel Air Lane, Fair-
field. CT 06430. (203) 333-6034.

UNCLASSIFIED ADS MUST be noncommercial from
readers who have computer equipment to buy. sell, or trade
on a onetime basis. All requests for donated computer
equipment must be from nonprofit organizations. Programs
to be exchanged must be written by the individual or be
in the public domain. Ads must be typed double-spaced,
contain 50 words or less, and include full name and ad-
dress. This is a free service: ads are printed as space per-
mits. BYTE reserves the right to reject any unclassified
ad that does not meet these criteria. When you submit
your ad (BYTE. Unclassified Ads. POB 372. Hancock.
NH 03449), allow at least four months for it to appear.

FOR SALE: Micromint MPX-16 single-board computer
system. MPX-17 IBM keyboard interface, and MPX-30
BIOS EPROM set for PC-DOS/hardware, unused in
box: $900. Lee W. Sorensen. 6555 Lawndale Lane,
Maple Grove. MN 5 5369, (612) 420-2425.

FOR SALE: Apple 11+ with GE good resolution
12-inch TV/RF modulator, shift modification, 64K
RAM total. Apple disk drive, working well. Price: 60
percent of cost. Newt Steers, (301) 320-5820.

FOR SALE: New Apple-compatible disk drives, leac
(red) half-height, direct drive, one-year warranty:
$ 19 5 or best offer. Saturn 32K card: $7 5 or best of-
fer. Hayes Micromodem II: $175 or best offer. Also,
need inexpensive Apple lie W. Ostlund. 140 Oak-
view. Pittsburgh. PA 15218. (412) 242-5688.

FOR SALE: Xebec model 51410 hard-disk controller
with manual, new. never powered up: $295. Philip
Nunn, 201 Netherfield, Comstock Park, Ml 49321,
(616) 784-5732.

FOR SALE: Atari 800 with 48K, 850 interface module,
cassette player, paddles, joysticks. Analog and Antic
magazines, over 2 5 books. Send SASE for complete
list. Robin lapins. POB 472. Olathe KS 66061-0472.

FOR SALE: OSM ZEuS-4 multiuser computer with
6.3-megabyte hard disk and 8-inch floppy-disk drive.
Heath terminal, manuals, and more: $4 500. R. P.
Perkins. M.D., OB/GYN. 2211 Lomas Blvd. NE. Albu-
querque, NM 87106. (505) 277-4158.

FOR SALE: North Star Horizon 18-megabyte hard
disk, complete with North Star and Soroc terminals:
$4200 or best offer. B. Tooley. (806) 655-7121.

FOR SALE: LA34 terminal, tractor option included,
mint condition: $400. Robert Lund, 34 Lorna Dr.,
Auburn, MA 01501, (617) 832-2611.

WANTED: Apple 1 1 + , lie, or lie computer. Include list
of peripherals and cards. Indicate age, condition,
asking price. Ken Hamel. Route 5. Box 162. Water-
town. Wl 53094.

FOR SALE: Hewlett-Packard HP 85a computer with
32 K bytes of RAM, I/O ROM. case, and more. Must
sell, make offer. lohn M. Uber. 1154 North Howard
St.. Akron. OH 44310. (216) 923-2074.

FOR SALE: Seattle Computer RAM+ expansion
board for the IBM PC: $100 (RS-232. 256K maxi-
mum, no memory included). Dane Laun. 14052
Southwest Stampher Rd.. Lake Oswego, OR 97034.

FOR SALE: Netronics 64 K S-100 memory board with
16K: $100. One Vector 1 l-s!ot S-100 motherboard:
$100. One solid-state music I/O board, two paral-
lel/two serial, partially populated: $50. Ron Rogers,
Apt. 2028, 652 5 South Gessner. Houston. TX
77036. (713) 541-3208.

FOR SALE: DEC PDP-8A-500 classic configuration.
Dual 8-inch single-density floppy drives with con-
troller, CPU card. MM card, two 8K core boards,
DKC8A option card, serial card, plotter controller
card. VT50AA terminal, manuals, and more. Work-
ing. $600 plus shipping or best offer for part or all.
Don Taylor. 1 2 2 70 Southwest Center St. #63. Beaver-
ton. OR 97005. (503) 627-0231.

WANTED: BYTE issues I through 12. and pre- 1984
issues of Microsystems. Send list with prices. Barney
Flusche. 98-82 5A Iho Place. Aiea. HI 96701. (808)
488-32 59. evenings.

WANTED: Anyone wishing to trade public-domain
software for the Apple II series. Send name, address,
and a list of programs. Enclose SASE. Jason Pilnock,
5930 South 5th St., Pocatello, ID 83204.

WANTED: Computer science student seeks informa-
tion for project concerning computer music syn-
thesis and computer/synthesizer interfacing. Also,
looking for others interested in starting a computer
music group, Jeffrey Ring, 519 Shook. San Antonio.
TX 78212. (512) 737-2387, evenings and weekends.

WANTED: Spectravideo owner seeks correspondence
with other SV owners. R. Fortune, 46 West 1 7 St.,
New York. NY 10011.

FOR SALE: Cromemco C-10 SP with two 390K disk
drives, Novation J-CAT, and more: $1000. Ronald
Gans, 3 50 West 55th St. #2-E, New York, NY 10019.
(212) 957-8361.

FOR SALE: Tl TM990 board-level computer. 16-bit
9900-based, 8-slot card cage. IOOMand I0IMACPU
boards. 64 K memory, 303 floppy controller, much
digital and analog I/O. manuals, and more. Will
sacrifice. Dwight Aussieker. Varna. IL 61375, (309)
463-2318.

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 525

BOMB

BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box

ARTICLED PAGE ARTICLE

AUTHOR(S)

ARTICLED PAGE ARTICLE

AUTHOR(S)

9

39. 470

48

65

108

7

147

8

169

9

185

10

205

II

221

12

228

13

235

14

243

15

253

Microbytes staff

What's New staff

Ask BYTE Ciarcia

Book Reviews Martinez, Avila.

Hinshaw,
Lowans,
Campbell,
Alexander
Interactive Audio

in a Videodisc System Lawler,

Hairsine, Miller
Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar:
Build the Home Run Control

System, Part 3: The Software Ciarcia

SALT Fenster. Ford

The SUM: An Al Coprocessor Robinson

Inside AppleTalk Ushijima

The Expert Mechanic Fichtelman

Switch Grunbaum

Two's-Complement

Numbers Revisited Bronson. Lyon

Choosing a Programming

Language Elfring

Structuring BASIC Huston

Subroutine Libraries

in Pascal Webster

16

17
18
19
20
21
22
23

24

25
26
27

28

29

30

267 Using Data Flow

for Application Development Stevens

279 Debugging Techniques Williams

295 6502 Tricks and Traps Holt

307 Software-ICs Ledbetter. Cox

324 The Mindset Personal Computer. . .Wadlow

337 Idea Processors Hershey

353 Convenience Software Welch

371 Building Expert Systems

with M.l D'Ambrosio

379 Hewlett-Packard's

HP 7475 A Plotter Malloy

385 The IBM Quietwriter Printer Edwards

393 The Word Plus Sheldon

409 Computing at Chaos Manor:

From the Living Room Pournelle

439 BYTE U.K.:

Telephone Computers Pountain

451 BYTE Japan:

New NECs and a

Cartridge Disk Raike

455 BYTE West Coast:

A GEM Seminar Markoff.

Robinson
468 BYTELINES Libes

March BOMB Results

THE BEST BARGAINS

Steve Ciarcia wins first place in the March issue for the first of several
home-control projects from Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar. Aptly entitled "Build
the Touch-Tone Interactive Message System." this article tells you how
your answering machine can do a whole lot more. In second place is
Computing at Chaos Manor; and this month Jerry Pournelle composed
it while "On the Road: Hackercon and COMDEX." John Markoff and Ezra

Shapiro's "Public-Domain Gems" wins third in the lineup. Fourth place
goes to Richard S. Shuford, author of "Two Flat-Display Technologies."
And winner of the $100 prize is Laine Stump, for his fifth-place theme
article. "The Kit Solution." His was the first nonstaff-written article to
appear in the BOMB. So Peter Rice, whose article "Arithmetic on Your
PC" placed sixth, wins the second-place bonus of $50. Congratulations.

BYTE ADVERTISING SALES STAFF:

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Telex: RS3 5539 SEAVEX

526 BYTE ■ JUNE 1985

READER SERVICE

Inquiry No. Page No.

429 1ST PLACE SYSTEMS 313

2 4-5-6 WORLD 518

3 800 SOFTWARE 286

4 A.S.T RESEARCH 19

5 AST. RESEARCH 19

6 AB COMPUTERS 172

7 AB COMPUTERS 173

8 ABC DATA PRODUCTS 492

9 ACM SIGGRAPH '85 362

11 ADDISON-WESLEY PUB. CO. . . . 262

12 ADDMASTER CORP. 501

13 ADV. COMP. PROD 495

15 ADVANCED LOGIC RESEARCH . . 26

16 ADVANCED LOGIC RESEARCH . . 26

17 ADVANCED LOGIC SYSTEMS ... 55

18 ALF PRODUCTS. INC 60

19 ALLIED MICRO DEVICES 508

20 ALLOY COMPUTER PROD 95

21 ALLOY COMPUTER PROD 190

22 AMARAY CORP 156. 157

24 AMBER SYSTEMS 207

27 AMERICAN MICROSYSTEMS ... 512

28 AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR . 490

29 AMPERE INC 52

30 AMPRO COMPUTERS INC 309

31 APPARAT INC 488

• APPLE COMPUTER INC CII. 1

32 APPLIED SOFrWARE TECH 165

33 APRICOriNC 202.203

34 APROPOS TECHNOLOGY 508

• APROTEK 97

' ARK ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS 368

36 ARK ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS 369

37 ARTISOFr 164

38 ARTISOFT 164

39 ASHTONTATE 227

40 AT&T GENERAL 347

41 AT&T INFORMATION SYS 49

158 AVATEX MODEMS 376, 377

42 AVOCET 171

43 AWARD SOFTWARE. INC 276

44 AWESOME TECHNOLOGY, INC. 430

45 B&B ELECTRONICS 512

• B&C MICROSYSTEMS 430

46 BASF SYSTEMS 120

349 BASIC TIME 389

47 BAY TECHNICAL ASSOC 23

48 BDT PRODUCTS 71

49 BDT PRODUCTS 71

50 BELLSOFT INC 410

5 1 BEST POWER TECHNOLOGY .... 68
' BEST WESTERN INTL 414

52 BINARY TECHNOLOGY 517

53 BITTNER ELECTRONICS 512

54 BLAISE COMPUTING INC 350

55 BORLAND INTL 41

56 BORLAND INTL. . 41

57 BORLAND INTL 43

58 BORLAND INTL 43

59 BORLAND INTL 45

60 BORLAND INTL 45

61 BORLAND INTL 46, 47

62 BORLAND INTL 46. 47

' BUEHLER SERVICES 488

65 BUSINESS TOOLS INC 83

• BYTE BK CLUBS/MCGRAW-HILL . 449

• BYTE BACK ISSUES 445

' BYTE SUBSCRIBER MESSAGE . . 444

' BYTE SUBSCRIBER SERVICE ... 445

66 BYTEK COMP SYS. CORP. 68

• C WARE/DESMET C 206

67 C ITOH DIGITAL PRODUCTS .... 38

68 C. ITOH DIGITAL PRODUCTS .... 38

• CALIF. DIGITAL 513,514,515

71 CALIF. MICRO HOUSE 139

69 CALIF. SCIENTIFIC SOFTW 490

72 CANON U.SA 179

74 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT CORP. ... 374

76 CDA INTL. SOFTWARE 517

77 CDR SYSTEMS 492

78 CENNA TECHNOLOGY. INC. ... 103

79 CENTROID CORP 490

80 CHINA EXTERNAL TRADE 30

81 CHIPS N DIPS 512

82 CHORUS DATA SYSTEMS. ..... 263

83 CITIZEN AMERICA 242

Inquiry No.

Page No.

84 CLEVELAND INSTiT. OF ELECT . 257

86 COASTLINE COMPUTER . . 506, 507

* CODEX CORPORATION 297

87 COEFFICIENT SYS. CORP 278

88 COGITATE 490

89 COLLEGE SOFTWARE 517 "

90 COMARK INC 138

92 COMP. COMPNTS. UN LTD. 509

93 COMP. COMPNTS. UNLTD.. 510, 511

94 COMPETITIVE EDGE 94

95 COMPLETE MANAGEMENT SYS . 96

96 COMPLETE MANAGEMENT SYS. 96

* COMPUMAIL 516

97 COMPUSERVE 360

98 COMPUTER AFFAIRS INC 381

199 COMPUTER CAREERS 417

99 COMPUTER CHANNEL 418

* COMPUTER CHRONICLES 454

428 COMPUTER CONNECTION .... 491

* COMPUTER CONTINUUM 501

341 COMPUTER DIRECT 518

101 COMPUTER DISCOUNT PROD . 487

102 COMPUTER FRIENDS 208

103 COMPUTER HUT OF N.E 277

104 COMPUTER INNOVATIONS .... 419

105 COMPUTER INNOVATIONS .... 412

106 COMPUTER MAIL ORDER . . 92, 93

107 COMPUTER SOFFW. DESIGN 36, 37

109 COMPUTER WAREHOUSE 447

110 COMPUTER WAREHOUSE 447

111 COMPUTERBANC 66

112 COMPUTRADE 78

113 CONROY-LAPOINTE 182, 183

114 CONROY-LAPOINTE 182, 183

1 1 5 CONROY-LAPOINTE 182, 183

116 CONTROL DATA 400

117 CONTROL DATA MICRO SERV. . 294

119 CORVUS SYS. INC 392

120 COSMOS 423

121 CRANE ASSOCIATES 494

122 CUESTA SYSTEMS 163

123 CUSTOM COMP. TECH 322

124 CUSTOM COMP. TECH 482

125 CUSTOM COMP. TECH 483

126 CYGNET TECHNOLOGIES . 228, 229

127 DAC SOFTWARE INC 303

128 DATA BANK 301

174 DATA BROKERS 518

129 DATA TRANSLATION INC 284

130 DATA WORLD PRODUCTS 517

131 DATACOPY CORP. 416

132 DATASOUTH COMP. CORP. 22

133 DAYNA COMMUNICATIONS . 80, 81

134 DECISION RESOURCES 146

135 DECMATION 488

136 DELUXE COMP. FORMS 76

137 DICK SMITH ELECTRONICS390. 391

1 38 DIGITAL PRODUCTS INC 262

139 DIGITAL RESEARCH 101

141 DIGITAL RESEARCH . 217, 218, 219

142 DIGITAL RESEARCH COMP 74

143 DIGITALK 287

' DISCOUNT COMPUTER CENTERS 442

145 DISKETTE CONNECTION 467

118 DISK JOCKEY 100

146 DISKS PLUS 508

147 DISKWORLD!. INC 479

148 DISKWORLD!. INC 496

149 DISPLAY TELECOMMNTNS. 480, 481

1 50 DIVERSIFIED COMPUTER SYS. . 490

151 DOKAY COMP. PROD INC. . 504, 505

152 DOW JONES NEWS RETRIEVAL 317

153 DUPONT COMPANY 281

154 DUPONT COMPANY 283

155 DUPONT COMPANY 285

1 56 DWIGHT CO., INC 492

157 DYNATECH 210,211

160 EARTH COMPUTERS 518

Inquiry No.

Page No.

161 EASTMAN KODAK CO 342

162 ECOSOFT 163

163 EDUCATIONAL MICROCOMP. . . 490

164 ELCOMP 517

165 ELEKTEK 403

166 ELEXOR INC 501

' ELLIS COMPUTING INC 189

167 ENERTRONICS 334, 335

170 ENTER COMPUTER 61

171 ENTER COMPUTER 61

173 EVEREX SYSTEMS 64

175 EXPRESS BUSINESS SOFTWARE .112

176 EXSELINC 448

177 FACIT AB 411

178 FALCON SAFETY PROD 222

179 FIDELITY-FIE 453

180 FIRST CLASS PERIPHERALS ... 421

181 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING .... 275

182 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING .... 275

185 FOX & GELLER INC 446

186 FOX SOFTWARE INC 494

189 FUNK SOFTWARE 215

190 G&LCOMPANY 315

191 GENERAL DATA COMM 518

192 GENERAL MICRO SYSTEMS ... 508

193 GENERAL TECHNOLOGY 180

194 GENESIS MICROSYSTEMS 352

195 GENICOM CORP. 162

196 GIFFORD COMP. SYS 5

197 GOLD HILL COMPUTERS 234

198 GOLDEN BOW SYSTEMS 492

200 GREYWOLF MARKETING 98

201 GTEK INC 70

202 H&E COMPUTRONICS 358

203 HAMMER COMP. SYSrEMS 118, 119
454 HANZON DATA INC 445

204 HARMONY VIDEO & COMP ... 102
242 HARRIS/LANIER EOS DIV. . 166. 167

205 HAYES MICROCOMP. PROD . 56. 57

207 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. . 247

208 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. . 249

209 HEWLETT-PACKARD 199

210 HEWLETI-PACKARD 201

211 HITECH EQUIP CORP. 518

212 HOFFMAN INTL 512

214 HYPERON SOFTWARE 501

215 l-BUS 212

216 I.D.SYSTEMS 396

217 IBM-(ISG) SERVICES 175

218 IBM CORP. 62, 63

• IBM CORP. 397

436 IBM CORP 398, 399

434 IBS CORP . 88

435 IBS CORP 88

220 ILAR SYSTEMS. INC 190

221 ILAR SYSTEMS. INC 190

222 INMAC 54

223 INOVION CORP. 194

225 INTERFACE TECH CORP 460

224 INTERNATIONAL UNION OF
COMPUTER OWNERS INC. 502. 503

226 IOMEGA 395

227 IADE COMP. PROD . 498, 499. 500
433 JAMECO ELECTRONICS . . 292, 293

229 JDR MICRODEVICES INC 519

230 IDR MICRODEVICES INC. . 520, 521

231 IDR MICRODEVICES INC. . 522, 523

232 JDR MICRODEVICES INC 524

233 IUKI INDUSTRY OF AMERICA . . 282

234 KADAK PRODUCTS 142

427 KEA SYSTEMS LTD 490

235 KERN PUBLICATIONS 459

236 KEY TRONIC CORP. 177

237 KIMTRONCORR 367

238 KRUEGER TECHNOLOGY INC. . 484

239 L-COM INC 375

240 LABORATORY MICROSYS 200

241 LAHE Y COMPUTER SYSTEMS ..518

TO GET FURTHER information on the products advertised in BYTE, either
pick up your touch-tone telephone and use TIPS (if you are a subscriber),
or fill out the reader service card. Either way full instructions are pro-
vided following this reader service index which is provided as an addi-
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Inquiry No. Page No.

* L ANGLE Y-STC LAIR 260

244 LARK SOFTWARE. .. 443

245 LATTICE. INC 198

246 LEO ELECTRONICS 488

247 LEVEL 5 RESEARCH 420

248 LIFEBOAT ASSOCIATES 18

249 LIFEBOAT ASSOCIATES 429

250 LINTEK INC 517

444 LIVING SOFTWARE 143

251 LIONHEART PRESS 82

252 LOCKHEED-GETEX 91

253 LOGIC PROGRAMMING ASSOC. 102

254 LOGICAL DEVICES 24

255 LOGICAL DEVICES 512

256 LOMAS DATA PRODUCTS 237

257 LYBEN COMP. SYS 298

258 LYBEN COMP. SYS 501

259 LYCO COMPUTER 463

260 MACMILLAN SOFTWARE 245

261 MACROrECH INT'L 408

262 MANX SOFTWARE SYS 53

263 MARK WILLIAMS CO 75

264 MARYMAC INDUSTRIES INC. . . 494

265 MASTERBYTE COMP. OF NY. . . 517

266 MAXELL DATA PRODUCTS 7

267 MAXI-SWI1CH COMPANY 301

268 MAYNARD ELECTRONICS 15

269 MCGRAW-HILL BOOK CO 441

270 MEGATEL COMPUTER TECH. ...96

* MERCEDES-BENZ OF NA 248

271 MERRI1T COMP. PRODUCTS ... 517

272 METALINKCORP 512

273 MF| ENTERPRISES INC 77

297 M.H.I 424

274 MICRAY ELECTRONICS 316

318 MICRO CITY 52

275 MICRO DATA BASE SYS 161

276 MICRO DESIGN INTL 331

277 MICRO MART. INC 72,73

278 MICRO PRODUCTS, INC 477

279 MICRO WORLD ELECTRONIX . . 492

438 MICROCOMPUTER ACCESSORIES . 159

439 MICROCOMPUTER ACCESSORIES . 159

281 MICROGRAFX 59

* MICROMINT INC 426

403 MICROTERM 300

282 MICRON TECH NOLOGY 488

283 MICROPROCESSORS UNLTD. ... 490

284 MICROSCRIBE 488

441 MICROSHOP 478

442 MICROSHOP 184

443 MICROSHOP 184

* MICROSOFT CORP. LANG 151

* MICROSOFF CORP. LANG 153

* MICROSOFT CORP LANG 155

* MICROSOFT CORP. 79

* MICROSOFT CORP 241

' MICROSOFT CORP. 333

288 MICROSTUF. INC 341

289 MICROSTUF. INC 343

290 MICROSTUF. INC 345

291 MICROTIME 100

292 MICROWARE SYSTEMS CORP. . . 431

293 MICROWAY 94

294 MICROWAY 259

295 MICROWAY 336

172 MIDWEST COMPUTER &VIDE0226

296 MIDWEST MICRO-PERIPHERALS . . 34

* MIX SOFTWARE 425

298 MOTEL COMPUTERS LTD. 512

299 MTI SYSTEMS CORP. 437

300 MULTI-TECH SYSTEMS 266

303 MYTECH DATA AB 98

304 NATL. PUBLIC DOMAIN SFFW . . 142

305 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 137

306 NEC INFORMATION SYS Clll

307 NESTAR SYSTEMS INC 299

308 NEW GENERATION SYS 364

309 NEWSNET INC 168

455 NICOLET PARATRONICS 200

* NORTH HILLS CORP. 492

* NORTH HILLS CORP 501

310 ODESTA PUBLISHING 438

320 OKIDATA 318. 319

311 OLDEN 50

312 OPID-22 220

JUNE 1985 -BYTE 527

READER SERVICE

Inquiry No.

Page No.

313
314
315
430
431
432
317
319

321
322
323
324
451
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
333
334
335

336
337
340
342
351
343
344
345
346
347
348

OPfO-22 .220

ORCHID TECHNOLOGY 255

ORION INSTRUMENTS 458

ORYX SYSTEMS 252

ORYX SYSTEMS 252

ORYX SYSTEMS 252

PC. HORIZONS, INC 494

PACIFIC EXCHANGES

492, 494. 508. 517

PASCOM COMPUTING 51

PC DESIGNS. INC 258

PC NETWORK 382, 383

PC PIPELINE 494

PCS LIMITED 497

PCS LIMITED 508

PERCON 518

PERSOFT INC 8

PINNACLE SYSTEMS. INC 191

PLUM HALL INC 90

POCKET TECHNOLOGY 384

POLAROID CORP. 28. 29

POLAROID CORP. 264, 265

PRACTICAL PERIPHERALS .... 433
PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS. .... 273

PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS

357, 359, 361, 363, 365

PRIORITY ONE 493

PROGRAMMERS SHOP 415

PROMETHEUS PRODUCTS 17

OIC RESEARCH ..306

QSC 518

OUADRAM CORP. 239

OUADRAM CORP. 12, 13

QUALITY PRINTERS 430

QUANT SYSTEMS 492

QUBIE' 104, 105

QUBIE' 195

Inquiry No. Page No.

350 OUELO 508

* RACAIrVADIC 250

• RACALVADIC 251

352 RADIO SHACK CIV

353 RATIONAL SYSTEMS 240

354 RING KING VIS1BLES. INC 32

* ROBERT TINNEY 486.

355 ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL . . 464
447 ROLAND CORP. 351

356 ROGERS LABS 54

357 S-100 DIV. 696 CORP 60

358 S-100 DIV. 696 CORP. 298

359 S-100 DIV. 696 CORP. 485

360 S-100 DIV. 696 CORP. .485

361 SAB-LINK, INC 501

362 SAFEWARE 488

445 SAFT AMERICA INC 225

446 SAFT AMERICA INC 225

364 SATELLITE SOFTWARE 378

365 SAVON COMPUTERS 489

♦ SCOTTSDALE SYSTEMS 89

366 SEMIDISK SYSTEMS 274

367 SENTINEL TECHNOLOGIES 30

368 SHERREX SYSTEMS LTD 88

369 SILICON SPECIALTIES 434

370 SILICON SPECIALTIES 434

• SILVER FOX 4

371 SL WABER 450

372 SLR SYSTEMS 427

* SOFTCRAFT. INC .158

374 SOFTCRAFT INC (TX) 16

• SOFTLINE CORP. . 87

375 SOFTRON INC 508

376 SOFTWARE BOTTLING 69

377 SOFTWARE LINK. THE 349

378 SOFTWARE SERVICES 494

379 SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS INC. . . 269

Inquiry No. Page No.

380 SOLA ELECTRIC 31

448 SOLUTION SYSTEMS 432

449 SOLUTION SYSTEMS 432

381 SOLUTIONWARE CORP. 490

382 SORCIM 144. 145

384 SPECrRUM SOFTWARE 261

385 SPRUCE TECHNOLOGY CORP. . 268

386 SPSS 149

387 STAR MICRONICS 84, 85

388 STARBUCK DATA CO 508

453 STARSHINE 437

389 STB SYSTEMS 404, 405

390 STRIDE MICRO 290

391 STRIDE MICRO 291

392 SUMMIT SOFTWARE TECHN. INC.256

393 SUNNY INTERNATIONAL 482

394 SUNTRONICS CO. INC 478

397 SUPERSOFT 181

437 SWISTEC 444

* SYSGEN INC 204

4 SYSTEMS STRATEGIES 238

399 TALLGRASS TECH 20, 21

400 TAPE WORLD 488

401 TATUM LABS 501

* TEKTRONIX INC 99

404 TELEBYTE TECHNOLOGY INC. . . 78

405 TELETEK ENTERPRISES. INC. . . 213
' TELEVIDEO SYSTEMS ........ 193

* TEXAS INSTRUMENTS II

* TEXAS INSTRUMENTS . . . 304, 305
169 TIGERTRONICS 494

* TINNEY. ROBERT. GRAPHICS . . 486

* TOSHIBA AMERICA INC 196

407 'TOSHIBA AMERICA INC 197

* TRANS WORLD AIRLINES 356

408 TURBO POWER SOFTWARE. . .214

409 U.S. ROBOriCS 67

Inquiry No. Page No.

301 U.S. SERVEX 394

410 UNIFIED SOFTWARE SYS 512

411 UNISOURCE 25

412 UNITECH 488

413 VARITRONIC SYSTEMS 289

414 VAULT CORP 413

415 VENTEL INC 27

416 VERTEX SYSTEMS 260

417 VERTEX SYSTEMS 260

• VIASYN/COMPUPRO 1NSERT32 A-H

419 VLM COMPUTER ELECTR 501

450 VOTRAX, INC 466

420 WALLING COMPANY 494

421 WALONICK ASSOCIATES 82

422 WAREHOUSE DATA PRODUCTS 188

423 WATCOM PRODUCTS INC 209

424 WINTEK CORP 492

425 WINTEK CORP. 35

440 WORDTECH SYSTEMS 370

426 WRITING CONSULTING 300

* Correspond directly with company.

INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING SECTION

505 ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL

MARKETING 352B

500 AMERICAN BUYING & EXPORT352E
' BYTE 352A, 352F, 352G

501 CASIO 352C

502 CASIO 352H

504 GREY MATTER 352B

503 MULTITECH INDUSTRIAL CORP.352D

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ONLY PINWRITER DOT MATRIX
PRINTERS CAN SAY Ail THIS.

M

Pinwnter printers are
available m black & white
and color models

The reason most people buy a dot matrix
printer is for versatility.

And that's exactly why you should buy
an NEC Pin writer™ printer.

Pin writers are the final word in
versatility.

The Pinwriter lets you do more than any

other dot matrix

printer. Three different

speeds cover all your

needs— 300, 900 or

1800 words per minute.

Pinwriter printers
also let you create

I CAN PRINT PICA HIGH SPEED.
OR PICA CORRESPONDENCE QUALITY
OR PICA NEAR LETTER QUALITY
OR ELITE CORRESPONDENCE QUALITY
OR ELITE HEAR LETTER QUALITY

OR PROPORTIONALLY SPACED CORRESPONDENCE
OR PROPORTIONALLY SPACED NEAR LETTER QUALITY

OR CONDENSED

OR ANY PROGRAMMABLE TYPEFACE

46

The quick brown fox
The quicker broun fox
quickest brown fox

The

Three printing speeds cover all your needs

unbelievably clear
graphics. In black and
white. Or in seven
crisp colors.
But that's not all.
Every Pinwriter gives you
a choice of 8 different
type styles. Plus, you can
choose from a wide
range of easy-to-

And to make things even easier,
Pinwriter printers work with the most
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All the controls at your fingertips.

The Pinwriter is also much easier to use

than any

other dot

matrix

printer.

Press a
button and
you can
change
typefaces.
Or speeds.
Even spacing

and pitch selection. And that's a refresh-
ing change.

Of course, you can do it through your
software, too.

See your dealer
for a quote.

For all this versatility,
you might expect to
pay a bundle for a

Pinwriter printer. Not so. Pinwriter

prices are also easy to handle.
For more ^ KrvXt

NEC

ff

The Pinwriter prints in 8 different typefaces
at the touch of a button

ff

With Pinwriter. you — _-

£ Sr use NEC forms

and speed with
one finger

handlers.

information, call
1-800-343-4418
(in MA call 617-
264-8635). And
find out why
more and more
PC owners are
saying, "NEC
and me'.'

AND
ME

Pinwnter is a trademark of NEC Corp.

NEC Information
Systems, Inc.

1414 Massachusetts Ave.
Department 1610
Boxborough, MA 01719

Inquiry 306

OUR IBM® PC XT "MIRROR IMAGE
HAS JUST BEEN CUT $ 1000

The Tandy 1200 HD is now only s 1999

Get PC XT Power for
a Fraction of the Cost

How would you like a sys-
tem that does everything an
IBM PC XT does— but costs
thousands less? Now the
Tandy 1200 HD is only
$1999 (was $2999 in Gat.
RSC-14). That's $2396 less
than the XT!

Expand Affordably

If you're already using an
IBM PC, the Tandy 1200 HD
lets you expand for less—
and you can continue using
the same software designed
for the PC. The Tandy 1200
HD is compatible with ex-
pansion boards designed for
the PC, too.

The Features You

Demand

The Tandy 1200 HD (25-
3000) comes with 256K
RAM, a built-in 360K floppy
drive and an internal 10-
megabyte hard disk. That
means you get the same per-
formance, expandability and
features as the IBM PC XT
. . . but for a lot less.

Stop by your local Radio
Shack Computer Center to-
day. We invite comparison.
The Tandy 1200 HD is
Clearly Superior!

Available at over 1200

Radio Shack Computer Centers and at

participating Radio Shack stores and dealers.

Radio /haek

COMPUTER CENTERS

A DIVISION OF TANDY CORPORATION

Tandy 1200 HD prices apply at Radio Shack Computer Centers and at
participating stores and dealers. IBM/ TM International Business Ma-
chines Corp. Savings based on manufacturer's pricing as of 3/1/85.

Inquiry 352