RJScott: Following is a list of events scheduled in the Q-Link Auditorium for the period ending 8/20. Remember, all events are held at EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME here on Q-Link. 8/15:LATE:Guided:Tour:1:30am 8/15:World:Of:Computers:10pm 8/15:Curse:Of:Kyftha:Midnite 8/16:Q-Match:Show:7:30pm 8/17:Dr.T:Software:10pm 8/18:Guided:Tour:9:30pm 8/19:BUTTERFIELD:Forum:10pm 8/20:DAN:GUTMAN:Forum:10pm The Q-Link Auditorium can accommodate up to 200 guests, however only YOUR name and the names of the SPEAKERS (up to a total of 4 names) can be seen on your screen. In order to see how many guests are present, press F7 and select "Leave The Auditorium" — at that point simply list the public rooms. In the event we have over 99 guests, the listing will only show 99 guests present. "Talking", as in other PEOPLE CONNECTION rooms is disabled in the Auditorium in order to provide a proper environment for our speakers. If you wish to ask a question or make a comment, press F7 and use ASK A QUESTION. At the end of the line press once to continue typing or twice to "send" your question or comment. All questions/comments are received in the order sent. A speaker may choose not to "broadcast" certain items. Duplicates are commonly discarded, as well as any items that are received incomplete or unintelligible. We ask that you keep the questions/comments pertinent to the topic of the Forum, rather than digress from same. Thanks for your cooperation!
Midnite: no.
RJScott: Good evening from a pleasant East Coast. Welcome to the Midnite Forum! Feel free to ask your Commodore hardware or software questions and know that you'll get the right answers from our team of experts who include Jim Oldfield, or "Midnite" and "RBAKER" who is Robert Baker. Welcome gentlemen!
Midnite: Hello and welcome to MIDNITE ….. also known as INFO, Mark Brown should be coming in alittle later….. who is Editor in Chief of said magazine….. Also, Robert Baker, New Products SYSOP as well as all around CBM guy….. is here to help bail me out of the tough '?'s!!
Questionwhat do we talk about here?
Midnite: You will get answers here on screen. Network trouble…..please stand by….
QuestionWho's decision was it to come out with the 64C and package it with GEOS?
Midnite: It was a joint effort of committees at cbm…. to figure a way to extend the life of the C-64, even cbm didn't …. expect the C-64 to last this long in the marketplace.
QuestionDo I get the answer on the screen or through EMAIL?
Midnite: Commodore computers had a life cycle of just over a year before…..
RBAKER: You'll get answers to your questions on screen, just be patient, they're queued!
Midnite: they came out with another one to replace it. ….. As for GEOS, Brian D. had a great idea…. to add to c-64's operating system and to do as Apple did with Appleworks and help…. come out with an enchanced C-64 computer. I think he did a great job.
QuestionWhat plans does Commodore have for the 128 line in the future?
RBAKER: The C128D just started shipping. Beyond that I don't know of anything new in development.
QuestionAre there any future plans for the 128 line of computers?
Midnite: The 128D is an example…… memory expanders, mouses, modems, and great third party productivity software do keep coming.
Questioni have a 1526 commodore printer an geos wont work on it
Midnite: Have you tried going to the GEOS Forum here and checking the printer drivers?
Questionhow long will a 1541 disk drive last?
Midnite: That's a good question….. it depends on the usage…..
RBAKER: Plus care and environment!
Midnite: it was designed with a normal usage of about 4 to 6 hrs a day….. how long after warranty? ….. It depends on your individual needs of computing power….. You should know that the earliest 1540's and converted 1541's (circa 1983-4) were very prone to heat problems. But the alignment and heat problems have cleared up tremendously.
QuestionWill Commodore ever do something like the 64C/GEOS package again?
Midnite: We are seeing them doing it again with the A500, A2000, and C-128 here in the states now. Europe CBM package more software with the systems.
QuestionWas the 1571 built with the same life/ usage expectancy as the 1541 ?
INFO Mag: y
Midnite: I can tell you that the 1571 will stay in alignment MUCH longer!
Questionwhat if you run a 24hr. bbs
INFO Mag: Hi all.
Midnite: I've run one like that, and a few users here…. in Champaign also do it with SYNTECH BBS systems…..
RJScott: Ah! We have "Mark" from Info 64 Magazine with us! Hello Mark!
Midnite: with little trouble. Again, the 1541 wasn't MEANT to stay on for years.
INFO Mag: THanks for the intro, RJ. BUt we dropped the "64" a year ago! 🙂
Questionare there any programs that store sprite data in a program in datd statements where you can add the basic stuff?
Midnite: Bob, or Mark any help?
INFO Mag: I think SpriteMaster does that. Also some of the pd and magazine sprite editors.
RBAKER: Also, there are some programs that can change saved data files to Basic pgms… so if you have a C128 that can do the BSAVE, it can be done in steps.
Questionare commodore sales declining?
INFO Mag: You might want to check out the download section here for SPrite editors. CBM sales are booming!
Midnite: I've heard otherwise on the A500, the 64C continues to sell and the C-128 is slacking only alitte
INFO Mag: The A500 sold more units in two months in Europe than the A1000 did in the previous year.
Midnite: A rumor: CBM sold 40000 A500 in Europe and 15000 in US.
INFO Mag: Now that its available in the U.S., it should zoom!
QuestionCan the typical overheating of the 1541 drive permanently harm any component?
Midnite: Only the PC board inside the drive, but again, the SX 64's drive runs hotter than the 1541 with little notice.
INFO Mag: Will sticking a 1541 in the oven hurt it? ANY heat doesn't go well with silicon chips!
RBAKER: In the older drives, the flywheel could get loose and even fall off.
Questiondoes a 1200 baud hurt your c64 like a non-commodore modem
Midnite: No. 1200 BAUD with most all modems will not harm the 64.
QuestionHow far in the future is voice commaneds
INFO Mag: Give it good ventilation and it should be okay. If you run a 1541 full-bore much of the time, add a fan.
Midnite: A new game from ACCESS Software will have something to do with that…… COVOX is an excellent example of…. voice commands using it with an X-10 controller to play lites out with your house.
INFO Mag: Can you imagine a whole office full of people TALKING to their computers? It will have some application, but…. I don't know if we'll see totally voice- controlled computing for everyday applications.
Midnite: Much has been done in the area of handicapped computerists…. SCOPE group in Texas has done alot of work.
QuestionWhy has Commodore seemed to go off in so many directions.. i.e. Amiga, PC10, C64/128 all being so different?
Midnite: As in business the word is 'DEVERSIFY'.
QuestionCan either of the newer Amiga's sign on to Qlink?
RBAKER: Currently only the C64, C64C, C128 and C128D can logon. Amiga support is coming but no idea….. it will be available.
Midnite: But still, cbm has ALWAYS wanted to be in the forefront of technology for the consumer.
RBAKER: (when it will be avail.)
QuestionI have a 64, are there any PD sprite- editor programs that changes sprite data into data statements? Also, what is the A500?
Midnite: The second part of the question is A500 equals Amiga 500.
QuestionDoes the C128D have the 64k 80 col chip and RAM?
RBAKER: YES- but just the RAM, the graphics chip is the same and older C128's can be upgraded.
Questioncan the 1700 be used with Basic8?
Midnite: I haven't tried that, Mark or Bob?
INFO Mag: Definitely!
RBAKER: Supposedly it should be supported per Lou.
QuestionDoes the chip use all 64K?
Midnite: ?
RBAKER: I think that refers to the C128D Yes, it can with correct programming.
INFO Mag: In fact, BASIC 8.0 supports the expanded RAM 1700 or 1750, as well as the 64K video RAM of the 128D.
QuestionIf not then what good is it? I know you could use 48K of it as a RAM disk can 80-column mode be used w/out monitor
Midnite: Not that I'm aware of. M or B?
INFO Mag: GEOS will also support the 1700/1750 on a C128 in 64 mode (or with the new C128 GEOS) as a ramdisk.
Midnite: Big news in the publishing world. The Midnite Software Gazette/The Paper will now be published by and within Info Magazine operated by Benn Dennington and Marc Brown. All subscriptions will be fulfilled by them. I will continue to contribute editorially along with some other Midnite regulars. J. Oldfield
QuestionHow do I format a disk to download a program such as Child Find? Then how do I download?
RBAKER: Format your disk as usual then go to the desired board and display the description of the file,
Midnite: Big news in the publishing world. The Midnite Software Gazette/The Paper will now be published by and within Info Magazine operated by Benn Dennington and Marc Brown. All subscriptions will be fulfilled by them. I will continue to contribute editorially along with some other Midnite regulars. J. Oldfield
RBAKER: Press F7 for menu and F1 to download.
INFO Mag: You can put 80 columns on a TV, but you can't read it! 🙂
QuestionHow do you TAB "left" on the A500?
RBAKER: Haven't been ignoring this one, just trying to get more info! There is no key to support this….
Midnite: Sorry guys, cleaned out my 'closet' 🙂
RBAKER: an application program provides the function.
QuestionAlways wondered do you guys know who ask s the questions?
INFO Mag: You could use one of the PD or commercial Function key programs to make a macro that would emulate back-tabs on the A500.
Midnite: Very simply, Your id is next to the question.
INFO Mag: We KNOW WHO YOU ARE!! 🙂
QuestionC128 can operate in 80 col in 2mhz mode with the screen on?
Midnite: In 40 col. no. But….. I think I tried that once and it didn't work, but that was a LONG time ago. Mark, Bob any comments?
INFO Mag: 80 column works fine in 2mhz.
RBAKER: Whener we get time, have news on 1581 and others!
INFO Mag: 40 column becomes garbage.
Midnite: I was LEARNING at the time. 🙂 Bob, any news from Commodore or other sources …. about NEW products or services?
RBAKER: Yes, have been on the phone constantly over the past few weeks concerning the 1581 drives…. Apparently there was a production quality problem with a few runs of the 1581 drives, 500 to a few thousand drives of the first 40,000 may hve problems. We've been working thru the new prod info msg boards passing info back and forth with Commodore to isolate the problems.
Midnite: ONLY a few thousand?
RBAKER: So far looks like solder problems.
Midnite: 🙂
RBAKER: CP/M disk for 1581 is ready to ship next week. So far CBM has only received about 100 postcards so send yours in if interested. Commodore is ready with a new utility disk for the RAM expansion units – to include C64 and C128 support on one disk. Will be distributed via BBS's and QL when ready besides being packed with new units. I have more info on 1581 that I'll post in new prod info C64/128 msg board later!
Midnite: Has anyone seen any more new games? I have Into the Eagle from Mindscape which is great as well..
RBAKER: If anyone has problems with a 1581 drive, let me know as much details as possible via New Prod Info msg boards. I'll pass it on to CBM.
Midnite: as California Games from EPYX. Mark any good software for C-64 or C-128?
INFO Mag: Got a demo of a great new TANK game from microillusions for TWO Amigas over the modem! IT's great! Demos coming soon of Wizardry for the C64…. the FANTASTIC classic apple game.
RBAKER: Just received demo of Firebird/Rainbird's Guild of Thieves, the Pawn sequel!
INFO Mag: Also some CLASSIFIED stuff that will be in our NOV/DEC issue! 🙂
Midnite: Printed along with MY article and Robert Baker's wisdom.
INFO Mag: True! 🙂
Midnite: Plug, plug.
Questionare there any serious desktop publishing packages for c64/128 that will support ram expanders and digitized images?
INFO Mag: Wait for geoPublish from Berkeley…
Midnite: So far, GEOPUBLISH, GEOS 64, GEOS 128, …
INFO Mag: and Timeworks Publisher. Both look excellent.
Midnite: and the one Mark said.
INFO Mag: Both will be out "SOON"! 🙂
Midnite: Amiga products of such are starting to really multiply as well.
QuestionUh oh! My C128D is on it's way thats why I have all the ???
Midnite: I hope we helped.
Questionon the 1581 subdirectory system…can I have the same file name in several s subdirectories?
Midnite: Bob?
RBAKER: I haven't been able to get my disk as yet, but I beleive you can. It's legal in other directory tree type systems…
INFO Mag: The 1581 treats each subdirectory as a separate disk.
RBAKER: like Amiga and IBM MS-DOS.
INFO Mag: You CAN have the same name in each sub- directory.
RBAKER: Just be sure you know where you are when using this scheme! By the way, there are two subtle bugs in the 1581 that have been reported so far…
INFO Mag: Right! Just NEWing a subdirectory to initialize it is a scary process! 🙂
RBAKER: Both shouldn't cause any problems during normal use. Stay away from NEWing a disk and using the UJ command in the same Basic program line. Also you shouldn't open a direct command channel and then do a burst command, it'll close the direct command channel for you. These normally only show up with C64 users with 1581's on their system.
QuestionHow disastrous have the problems been with the 1581's?
INFO Mag: Discovery has a new SECRET game for the Amiga. They say it's 3D and HOT!
QuestionCan you get a fast load on a disk that works on protected?
RBAKER: They are supposedly only limited to a few production runs and cause directory corruption type… problems
INFO Mag: 360 (a new game company) is very close to shipping DARK CASTLE, the arcade hit, for the C64.
Midnite: Yes, you can but it can't be exotic.
INFO Mag: We already have Top Fuel Eliminator for the C64 from Activision…
Midnite: 360 is a company spin off of Accolade which is a spin from Activision which is spun….
INFO Mag: with The Last Ninja coming soon! Bad news: Dragon's Lair for the C64 from Electronic Arts is hung up in licensing problems!
Midnite: RJScott, a question….
QuestionIt would be real nice to be able to see the status of our questions. why isnt there an option to see how long it will be before you answer our questions?
RJScott: Well, it's like this…..
INFO Mag: Wrath of Denessenor is coming from Sierra online for C64.
RJScott: Often times the questions come in prior to the start of an event…the other night we had over
INFO Mag: (Can you tell I found my notes on new games???) 🙂
RJScott: 300 questions pending and there's NO way of knowing….when YOU sent YOUR question…. We can give a PROGRESS report..and the NUMBER of questions pending can give you a clue as to where in the QUEUE yours is… But we have no way of knowing JUST when it'll come up for broadcasting.
Midnite: You also have auditorium masters with fumble fingers! 🙂
QuestionAny games planned for the 128?
Midnite: Mark, anything in your NOTES?
INFO Mag: It doesn't look promising…. An occasional INFOCOM game…
QuestionRbaker, the sticker on my 1581 board is white, not blue. any difference?
INFO Mag: Maybe a C128 expanded version of a C64 title, tho we haven't seen any yet!
RBAKER: Not that I'm aware of. Just let me know the serial number if you're having problems. They were supposed to be blue serial number stickers on the PC boards, but apparently there were a batch of white stickers too.
Midnite: Well, time is growing short….Mark how can people subscribe to your magazine….INFO? Thanks Mark, don't forget, Bob Baker and I look forward to our deadlines! Bob, what's NEW with NEW PRODUCTS INFO?
RBAKER: The ton of 1581 dialogue as mentioned previously, plus bits an pieces of new Amiga news.
QuestionAre they going to make a Print Shop for the 128??
RBAKER: Everything has been rather slow during the summer vacation months, but should be picking up this fall as we get closer to the upcoming shows.
Midnite: One last one, Mark? I don't think so, but wait till you see GEOPUBLISH!
RBAKER: Watch for more download files in the New Prod Library area — there's special designer notes on RUSSIA!
INFO Mag: No C128 Print Shop is in the works that I know of.
Midnite: I almost forgot! The trade shows that I will be at is AURORA ILL with Jim Butterfield….. Lou Sanders et al on August 23, Sunday….. also Toronto in december….. Mark where are you going to speak at soon?
INFO Mag: And I'll be speaking at the Commodore Show in Anaheim, CA, the first weekend in October, Jim.
Midnite: Thanks Mark (turning green). 🙂 Thank you all for showing up for the forum, thanks to Mark Brown…. Editor of INFO MAG….. and my good friend ….. Robert Baker of Commodore fame!
RBAKER: Thanks Jim and Mark, and 'nite everyone!
RJScott: Our thanks to our team of Commodore experts beginning with "Info Mag" who is really Mark Brown of Info Magazine. "RBAKER" is Rob Baker. Check his column in the Commodore Information Network, and last but not least, "Midnite" who is Jim Oldfield, Editor-In-Chief of Midnite Gazette, your COMMODORE resource. Thanks gentlemen, and good night!