Midnite: Is here with me to help answer ALL CBM '?'s that you may have. Thanks to everyone in Nashville…. the past week for being so kind…. Debbie and I had a great time. Don't forget that MARCA is coming…. June 20 and 21….. CES (for you dealers) May 29 30 June 1 2 Also, CBM show in London…. weekend of June 13-15. As many of you might…. have seen, I have had an article… printed in the latest RUN on Hard Drives…. those questions I will try to answer as well. I would also like to welcome Mark Brown , Assc. Editor of INFO Magazine…. He has graciously accepted Bob and my invitation to help you as well.
Questionhow long has commodore been around?
Midnite: Building Computers since June 1977.
Questiondo you know anything about the commen se nse program which comes with the modem/1 200
Midnite: The gentleman that wrote that program is on another service, however, …. what in particular?
QuestionARE the hard drives direct connect?
Midnite: JCT, ICT, CSI are serial connected, XETEC is done thru the cart port. Mark, any comments?
Questionhow do you load the vt100 terminal emula r
Midnite: We need to know what program.
INFO Mark: Just that anything serial will be….. limited in speed, but may have a higher. degree of compatibility.
RBAKER: The XETEC drive uses the SCSI interface, the cartridge provides the interface along with…. the added firmware. ICT has since announced a new Mini Chief, built in a 1571 housing with a 1571 floppy and … a 3.5" hard disk drive for under $700. Details are in the New Prod Info 64/128 board.
Questiondoes the hard drive software wise act as another dive like "9"?
Midnite: Yes, all four drives can be configured,…. as device 9-12, either…. by software, (as in a cbm floppy drive) or by a switch…. such as the CSI drive. All also as a device 8….. XETEC can have their hard drive as #8 and …. have a floppy as #8 as well, it directs traffic.
RBAKER: Checks hard drive first, then floppy if not found.
INFO Mark: That's a nice feature, too. It really simplifies disk access.
Questionthan the hard drive would be transparent to all your existing software?
Midnite: In theory yes, in practice it's different…. I HIGHLY recommend checking with the co. or a dealer on specific software that you use.
QuestionCan a 8" Drive and a Hard Disk Drive be hooked up to the 128 for CP/M use, and can standard CP/M drives be used? I used to use a Mitsubishi 8" quad- density drive on a S-100 system. What standard CP/M hard drives can be used?
RBAKER: It's not all that simple, CBM disk's include a micro controller. The controller supplies all the smarts (DOS), that would normally be controlled by the CPU.
INFO Mark: The old PEDISK is the only 8" drive for the C64 that I know of. That hasn't been available for quite awhile.
Midnite: Mark, do you remember their name?
INFO Mark: Nope. It was early on. Don't even know if it ever shipped, for sure.
Midnite: It did, I had the 5.25" job but forgot their name.
RBAKER: If anyone has questions on the new Amiga systems, I might be able to help….
Midnite: Strasma had the 8" one.
RBAKER: I posted the official Commodore Press releases the night I received them at the NCGA show and …
INFO Mark: They advertised in early COMPUTE!s
RBAKER: they're available in the Amiga board in the New Prod Info section. I've seen live demos of the A500 and A2000 as well.
Midnite: Mark, any comments on new software for 64 or 128? Mark?
INFO Mark: Partner 64 is out from Timeworks…. and might be worth looking at. There are some new games, including SENTRY from Firebird with 3D solid graphics…. There's a lot of new stuff but we expect the flood at summer CES.
QuestionWhat do you think about "the Print Shop"
Midnite: Mark , any comment?
INFO Mark: Good program, especially when it was first introduced….. Some later stuff has more features. Has a great base of PD graphics libraries, tho.
Midnite: I have just received three new disks that ….
INFO Mark: I did think the lawsuit against Print Master was a bit of overkill.
Midnite: have graphics that you can put in to your…. GEOS program. Nice and easy to use. On the subject of GEOS, between the 3 of us here…. we should be able to help with GEOS as well.
RBAKER: Isn't Geos 128 is due out any day?
QuestionWhat is Partner 64?
Midnite: Mark?
INFO Mark: Partner 64 has 'SIDEKICK'-type utilities for the C64 in a cartridge….
Midnite: GEOS 128 is to be released in mid June, or so they say.
INFO Mark: compatible with most other software. You press a button and a menu pops up with memo pad, address book, etc. I thought the C128 version was pretty good.
RBAKER: According to Consumer Electronics Mag, geoPublish, a desktop publishing program is…. coming, with laser printer capability for C64.
QuestionHow is the Advanced TMS Firebird
INFO Mark: Beta GEOS 128 should be available to testers this week according to BSW.
Midnite: Mark, yours again. Yes, 128 version is getting a book on it like 'How to Get the Most Out of GEOS 128'…. catching eh?
INFO Mark: Music System? Pretty good. Advanced version handles MIDI instruments, too.
Midnite: New titles I've seen include…. Ticket to Paris, Ticket to London. Great adventure/educational software.
RBAKER: Anyone with friends looking for Plus/4 products, get them to contact…
QuestionWhat about the new mouse?
Midnite: The 1351 is available now.
RBAKER: R.M.Harris, PO Box 12303, Ft. Wayne, IN 46863, they're inporting a long list of products for C16 and plus 4.
INFO Mark: 1351 is a MUST for GEOS, but probably no for much else, at least not yet.
Midnite: On the subject of importing….. I HIGHLY recommend getting your hands on UK mags that feature CBM software coming…. to our shores via many sources….. CURRY COMPUTERS in Phoenix AZ has a line on them…. and you can order mags such as 'Your Commodore', 'Commodore Int'L' and a few others. Also, ICPUG's newsletter is required reading. You can get their address from Compute's Gazette.. listed in Users groups.
QuestionWhat is best printer 4 MED transcribing?
Midnite: I don't know, Mark or Bob?
INFO Mark: That 8" disk drive for the C64 was the PETDISK II: $1095 for a single 8" drive with interface. It was from CGRS Microtech, which is still in business. 215-757-0284
RBAKER: On the MED printer, what would be needed special for that application?
Midnite: Wow! I knew I could count on you!
QuestionDoes Commodore have an accounting package for home budgeting which could handle 10 checking accounts, 50 creditors, do budgeting by pay period as well as by month, allow user-defined structure of budget categories including arbitrary tree-structured (irregular) to at least 5 levels, and updating of assets and liabilities?
RBAKER: Any ideas Mark?
INFO Mark: Thanks, guys. Accounting is my weak spot. REALLY weak. I'll check the Roundup listings. BRB.
Midnite: I would say either CMS, KFS, or BEST accounting, but Mark might know of others. There is a program available…. from Progressive Perpherals…. that is called Home Accountant but don't know it's limitations.
RBAKER: I worked with the older versions from CMS with great success.
Questionwhat does a commodore 1200 modem go for
Midnite: From Q-Link I think 99.95 on special….
INFO Mark: Yep, Jim is right. None of the home accounting programs is powerful enough..
Midnite: normally about 110-140 thru mail order.
INFO Mark: I'd check out B.E.S.T. or CMS first.
Midnite: KFS is for the 128 ONLY.
Questionjust brought CMS…GREAT! On MED? need 2 add special characters…
INFO Mark: CCI Bottom Liner looks like a good bet, too.
RBAKER: Checks adds in The Mall Classified sections, modem/1200's were selling around $90 (new).
Commentmust be ultra-fast!
Midnite: Any application questions or programming questions?
QuestionCan GEOS print multi copies of document?
Midnite: Yes, but only by specifing the #.
INFO Mark: MED application looks like you need a dot-matrix with downloadable character sets. The Epson FZ-80 and others offer this feature, tho I'd tend to go to some thing other than Epson myself. Oops. That's FX-80.
QuestionWhat is the game "Mail Order Monsters" from Epyx like
RBAKER: I haven't gotten a copy yet myself, any input Mark?
QuestionI just got here…what's going on?
RBAKER: There is a review of the Movie Monster Game in the May '87 issue of Commodore Magazine.
Midnite: Jim Oldfield (of Midnite) Bob Baker (Q-Link etc.) and Mark Brown of INFO Mag…. are answering cbm questions.
INFO Mark: Can't find anything on Mail Order Monsters. Sorry.
QuestionDo they have GEOS strictly for the 128?
Midnite: It's coming…..if the test versions are working…..maybe in June.
QuestionAre any 128 programs with graphics(games etc.) due?
Midnite: Yes, Basic 8.0 will be. Graphic Expander from HoraSoft is available and Compute's Gazette had an. article on hi-res with the 128.
QuestionWhat happened to the Street Sports series?
Midnite: Mark, any comments? I haven't seen them yet.
RBAKER: They're on the way, not in distribution yet.
INFO Mark: 'The Scoop' from Telarium (a graphic adventure) is supposed to be available for the C128 eventually.
Midnite: Bob can you elaborate?
INFO Mark: Just got 'Street Sports Baseball' day before yesterday. Looks like fun.
QuestionIs their strip poker on a commodore 64 game?
Midnite: Yes, from Artworx, 24.95 I believe.
QuestionIs the Basic 8.0 the new 128? or a graph ic expander?
Midnite: Basic 8.0 is from Lou Wallace, here on Q-Link, Graphic Expander…. adds basic commands to draw/fill etc. lines, circles boxes. I always look for a bargain! (Mark)
INFO Mark: It is 'The Walrus'…Goo,Goo, Gajoob!
QuestionSome of the newer games, I've noticed, manage to print on the border. How do they do that?
Midnite: raster interrupt. Bob, how do they do it?
RBAKER: Not sure off the top of my head.
QuestionIs there anyway to run a Commodore 64 program in 128mode, without going to 64 mode?
INFO Mark: Raster interrupt with sprite letters is the only way to REALLY print in the border.
Midnite: Yes, any Basic 2.0 and above (if straight BASIC) will work on any 8 bit CBM computer ….
RBAKER: Except Basic 4.0 from older PET/CBM systems.
INFO Mark: Some games (like Ghostbuster) look like they print in the border but really print at the bottom of the screen on a reversed field that just looks like the border.
Midnite: providing there's enough memory and no pokes to specific memory locations. Yes, Bob, you're right!
QuestionWhat kind of graphic programs(games etc. can the 128 take? like Aliens? Are any games for the 64 going to be con verted to 128?
Midnite: Infocom has, a few others, Mark mentioned a couple?
QuestionWhen games for other computers need 128k why aren't those games for the C-128? Doesn't it hav 128k?
Midnite: Bob and Mark comments!
INFO Mark: Trinity, The Scoop. One other from INFOCOM whose name escapes me.
RBAKER: Back on Basic, Basic 4.0 disk commands appear in Basic 7.0 on C128 but actually have…. different internal token values.
INFO Mark: That's what INFOCOM is doing. Translat- ing Apple 128K adventures for the C128.
RBAKER: I'm sure we'll see more that use the RAM expansion as well.
Midnite: Other new games include WHEEL of FORTUNE, JEPORDY, FAMILY FUED all from Share Data for 9.95 each.
INFO Mark: But most arcade games fit nicely into the C64's memory. The C64/C128 does better graphics/sound in 64K than an Apple II can in 128K.
Midnite: No one has asked about the 1581 3.5" drive tonite!
INFO Mark: It IS SHIPPING to reviewers and developers!
QuestionIs there anyway to load DOS Shell on the 128 without an autoboot file?
Midnite: Bob, do you know? I don't. I have '64's all over the place, 128 at office.
RBAKER: Not other than autoboot or straight load/boot commands. CASE show in Tenn. was recently attended by Jim, any thing happening of interest Jim?
Midnite: Yes, ICT and XETEC were there…. XETEC was showing their multi plexer for multiple computers on one hard drive. ICT showed the 1571 and 20 meg drive in the SAME case for 695 as well.
QuestionWill games that need large memory's be able to be used on the 128 when games come out for the 128, using a RAM expander?
Midnite: Mark?
INFO Mark: I really don't expect to see games for the RAM expander…. The market just won't be there to pay back companies who want to develop for it.
Midnite: I would imagine only databases and wordprocessors (like Pocket Writer II does).
Questionhow do you transfer imformation from cassette to disk and is it hard to do.
Midnite: Bob, did a program to do it! Bob?
RBAKER: If you're talking about straight sequential data files, I have a very short.. utility program in my download library in the software showcase special editions area.
CommentWhat do you mean straight load/boot commands? If I try to bload DOS Shell I get an error. What else can I do?
Midnite: Mark, I can't message you, the answer is 'yes'.
CommentSo all the 128k games have to do is to convert them into Basic 2.0 or 4.0 and then they can be used on the 128?
Questiontell us something about the hard disk drives that are available now are they exspensive? can we afford them and are they reliable
Midnite: All priced from 695 for 20 meg. to 995 for 20 meg…..
RBAKER: You should be able to use a Load with the ,1 option I think.
Midnite: that's hundreds. Reliability is very good for the XETEC as I've had one from FI …. (same drive and controller) for 2 plus years.
RBAKER: The missing link with the hard disks is a good backup mechanism for large quantities of data…. Hopefully Xetec and others will come out with a streaming tape or other backup mechanism.
Midnite: Bob, any last comments on your section of Q-LINK?
RBAKER: The download library in the New Prod Info section is growing slowly but steadily. Look for demos, spec's, documentation and other goodies there. Also, .. More and more info is being reported daily, ICT even phoned in the announcement of the their new Mini Chief the day they announced it — and it was posted here that night!
Midnite: Mark, what's coming from INFO in the near future?
INFO Mark: Well, the latest Product RoundUp is just shipping….. With over 2200 products listed for C64/ C128, and Amiga! 160 Pages of Commodore INFO!
Midnite: Thank you Mark Brown of Info, where can I order INFO?
INFO Mark: INFO, PO Box 2300 Iowa City IA 52244 What's your latest project, Jim?
Midnite: A 128 GEOS book, a company by the name of CONSTELLATION SOFTWARE will be releasing…. new titles from UK and abroad, and HOPEFULLY a Midnite Compendium by mid year. Thanks all for coming and your patience! Good Nite!
INFO Mark: G'Nite!
RBAKER: 'Nite all.