Byte Magazine Volume 10 Number 05 - Multiprocessing

This book was produced in EPUB format by the Internet Archive.

The book pages were scanned and converted to EPUB format automatically. This process relies on optical character recognition, and is somewhat susceptible to errors. The book may not offer the correct reading sequence, and there may be weird characters, non-words, and incorrect guesses at structure. Some page numbers and headers or footers may remain from the scanned page. The process which identifies images might have found stray marks on the page which are not actually images from the book. The hidden page numbering which may be available to your ereader corresponds to the numbered pages in the print edition, but is not an exact match; page numbers will increment at the same rate as the corresponding print edition, but we may have started numbering before the print book's visible page numbers. The Internet Archive is working to improve the scanning process and resulting books, but in the meantime, we hope that this book will be useful to you.

The Internet Archive was founded in 1996 to build an Internet library and to promote universal access to all knowledge. The Archive's purposes include offering permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections that exist in digital format. The Internet Archive includes texts, audio, moving images, and software as well as archived web pages, and provides specialized services for information access for the blind and other persons with disabilities.

Created with abbyy2epub (v.1.7.2)

These are some oi

inTheMac

Microsoft-Word

Word Processing Program

Fot Allele* Macintosh*

MICROSOFT

Murnsnfi' Win/ hilljealure wordprocessor

hr memos /lersoiuilized/irm letters. Mies npnris or

anvprrifi ssit tnal dt k umenl

PROGRAM DISK APPLE MACINTOSH

Thii\kTai\k_ *j£±

The First V ▼

Idea Processor

Copyright 1984 Living Videoiexi. Inc All nghit remvcd

H'uihTiiiih SI2.AiiHaiprocessortonrgaiia "" mimage details, outline ideas andsupport decisions

Dow Jones Straight Talk"

Mai intoshC imputei CBAI374^

Iitui lima Straight Talk" Get up In Ik' minute

iHJiimiatioii jor informed business decisions on stocks,

Ixmiis iiiiil oiiiiiiim/ities.

■r ■■ uaoso

^^M Vit*«P. Inc ^^^ An MSA Cofiurn

Ifeaiitree

Software

'Macintosh™ Ve'Mon Number 1.00

'Macintosh is a trademark Ik enter) lo Apple Computer, Inc

■

1

Hack to Basks' Manage \our hooks uilhaftdl feature general ledger system fir small business

MacProject

\1acProfect~ Create complex 'criticalpatb

flat'charts for production schedules, timelines

ami managing prr/jeds

Microsoft. File

'. I'liilli ■ in. iiiliiv i inl

Fo' ADClfsWacimoshi,

MICROSOFT

Eft* report

r. vjii.i .. •■... rp ■' ,)■ rODlMa

I'h" Report Prepare irnvntory reports, price lists, salary mid payroll analyses mill ■xdes r, pt irts

Microsoft. Multiplan.

Electronic Worksheet Program

For Ajjple; Macintosh.

MICROSOFT

Microsoft' Multiplan' Electronic spreadsheet hr budget fiirecasting. business planning mid what i) analysis.

I

(iiir\ I /:" iihih :t tales truck imvntory. update customer lists mid monitor accounts receivable.

he hairiest workers ltosh Office

MaeTerminal

-L.

m

!

1

■l'<.

laaermmar Talk. In mainframes via'SITU emulation,

as well its information services and other computers.

Lotus~jazzr~ Integrated word processing,

business graphics, database management, data communications and worksheet

Microsoft Chart

MICROSOFT*

PFX': File. Store and retrieve mailing MS client records, collections, schedules and inventories

Microsoft*' Chart -i2 different charts and graphs fir presentations, sales reports and transparencies.

tgajj^ff

Helix Program Disk for Macintosh 12SK.512 Lisa with MacWorks

Theyre fast. They're dependable. And they seldom, if ever, complain.

We're talking, of course, about all the powerful business software that works in The Macintosh™Office. Our family of integrated office products that, we believe, will revolutionize the way business does business.

And apparently, more than a few people agree with us.

Leading software developers have already written more than 350 programs for The Macintosh Q~~ Office. And

Ulcie ale IlUIl" just as Macintosh milk's individuals HrpHs of nthprs mamprvductive, The

uicuo ui uuigib Macintosh Office increasesproductivity

on the way f* myrksri)uPs °fs *> &

But more impressive than the sheer number of programs for The Macintosh Office, is the sheer ease with which you can use them.

Thanks to Macintosh's windows, icons, pull-down menus and mouse technology, every Macintosh program works the same way. Learn one, and you've learned them all.

Which means you'll have a lot more time to do the one thing you've probably been too busy to do:

Your job.

Filet isioti \ murine market trends, organize and track sales and present data in pictures.

Odesta Helix" A relational database

and decision support system for tracking information, resources and ideas.

'Available Spring 1985. © 1985 Apple Computer, Inc. Apple, the Apple logo. Macl'rojecl and MaeTerminal are trademarks ofApple Com puter, Inc. Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer. Inc. For an authorized Apple dealer nearest you call (800) 538-9696. In Canada, call (800) 268-7796 or (800)268-7637.

CONTENT

96

JL

BB

%*.

168

FEATURES

llNTRODUCTION 96

The AT&T UNIX PC by Gregg Williams 98

AT&T integrates computer and telephone and civilizes UNIX for under S6000.

Ciarcias Circuit Cellar: Build the Home Run Control System,

Part 2: The Hardware by Steve Ciarcia 108

Steve gets into the nuts and bolts of his new control system.

Set Extensions with Apple Pascal bg Alfred L. Schumer 128

Expand your set capabilities with the Supersets program.

Build a Talking Clock Speech Synthesizer by Ernest H Piette 143

Have your Commodore 64. VIC-20. or TRS-80 audibly announce the time.

Smalltalk Comes to the Microcomputer World by Bruce Webster 151

Three articles focus on this object-oriented language.

Methods: A Preliminary Look by Bruce Webster and lorn Yonkman 152

Methods attempts to recreate the Smalltalk development environment on the IBM PC and compatibles.

Smalltalk-PC bg Christopher Made 155

You can run Smalltalk on such systems as the Apple II and the IBM PC.

The Smalltalk Programming Language by \im Anderson and Bang Fishman 160

This article presents a brief introduction to object-oriented programming.

THEMES

Introduction 168

Multiprocessing: An Overview by Rich Krajewski 171

One word covers a variety of techniques for increasing computing speed.

Extending Microprocessor Architectures by Gary D. Beak 185

Extended-processing units can significantly broaden instruction sets.

Applying Data Flow in the Real World by William Gerhard Paseman 201

This model for parallel processing is finding its way into commercial applications.

The Transputer by Paul Walker 219

A small computer can serve as a building block for parallel processing.

Data-Movement Primitives by J. Eric Roskos and Ching-Dong Hsieh 239

The authors describe a low-cost, innovative technique for sharing memory.

REVIEWS

Introduction 256

Reviewers Notebook by Glenn Hartwig 259

The Compaq Deskpro by \erry Grady 260

Four models offer "99.9 percent" IBM PC compatibility.

IBM PC AT by Man Finger 270

This PC is geared toward business applications.

True BASIC by G. Michael Vose 279

BASIC'S originators try to bring structure to the realm of "spaghetti code."

BYTE I ISSN 0360-52001 Is published monthly with one extra issue per year by McGraw-Hill Inc Founder lames H McCraw [1860-1948) Executive, editorial, circulation, and advertising offices 70 Main St. Peterborough. NH 03458. phone |603| 924-9281 Office hours Mon-Thur 8 30 AM - 4.30 PM. Friday 8 30 AM - 1:00 PM, Eastern Time Address subscriptions to BYTE Subscriptions. POB 590. Martinsville. Nl 08836 Postmaster: send address changes. USPS Form 3579 undeliverable copies, and fulfillment questions to BYTE Subscriptions. POB 596. Martinsville. N| 08836 Second-class postage paid at Peterborough NH 03458 and additional mailing offices Postage paid at Winnipeg Manitoba Registration number 9321 Subscriptions are S21 for one year. S38 for two years and S55 for three years in the USA and its possessions In Canada and Mexico. S23 for one year. S42 for two years S6I tar three years. S69 for one year air delivery to Europe 17.100 yen for one year surface delivery to Japan S37 surface delivery elsewhere Air delivery to selected areas at additional rates upon request Single copy price is S3.50 in the USA and its possessions. S3 95 in Canada and Mexico. S4 50 in Europe, and S5 elsewhere Foreign subscriptions and sales should be remitted in United States funds drawn on a US bank Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of first issue Printed in the United States of America

2 BYTE- MAY 1985

COVER BY AARON REZNY

BYTE

VOLUME 10, NUMBER 5, 1985

The GTX-IOO Modem by Mark Haas 291

Security functions are built into this smart device.

Review Feedback 299

Readers respond to previous reviews.

KERNEL

Introduction 305

Computing at Chaos Manor: In Search of the Perfect Product

by \erry Pournelle 307

Chaos Manor awards are handed out. and lerry discusses a new type of micro.

Chaos Manor Mail conducted by lerry Pournelle 347

lerry's readers write, and he replies.

BYTE Japan: Megabits and Gigaflops by William M Raike 355

This month Bill looks at IBM lapan's 1-megabit RAM chips and new personal computers from NEC and Fujitsu.

BYTE West Coast: Homebrew Chips

by lohn Markoff. Phillip Robinson, and Donna Osgood 363

Our West Coast editors describe MOSIS and much more.

BYTE U.K.: Parallel Processing by Dick Pountain 385

From London. Dick introduces a machine called ALICE that uses parallel processors and executes a higher-order applicative language called Hope.

Computers and Law: The Sale of Computer Products

by Robert Greene Sterne and Perry |. Saidman 399

Two attorneys look at the legal aspects of buying and selling computers.

Mathematical Recreations: An Exercise in BASIC Bitwise Logic Operation

by Robert T Kurosaka 417

The ancient game of Nim helps teach the use of logical operators.

Circuit Cellar Feedback conducted by Steve Ciarcia 424

Steve answers project-related queries from readers.

Programming Insight: 0.8660254 = vf/2 by Dan Sandberg 429

This program lets you easily find the fractional equivalent of a decimal

Programming Insight: Computing Pi by David I. Crawford 433

Approximate the decimal value of irrational numbers.

Editorial. BYTE's Reader Poll

Microbytes

Letters

Fixes and Updates

6

9

14

33

Whats New 39. 464

Ask BYTE 48

Clubs & Newsletters 58

Book Reviews 65

Event Queue 83

Books Received 442

Unclassified Ads 525

BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box. BOMB Results 526

Reader Service 527

256

305

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 Slates Patent and Trademark Office Where necessary permission is granted by the copyright owner for libraries and others registered with the Copyright Clearance Center iCCCl to photocopy any article herein for the flat fee of SI 50 per copy of the article or any pan thereof Correspc^ence and payment should be sent directly to the CCC 29 Congress St. Salem. MA 01970 Specify ISSN 0360-5280/83 SI 50 Copying done forot'.cr than personal or internal reference use without the permission of McGraw-Hill Inc is prohibited Requests for special permission or bulk orders should be addressed to the publisher BYTF. is available in microform from University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Rd Dept PR Ann Arbor Ml 48106 or !8 Bedford Row Dept PR London WCIR 4E| England Subscription questions or problems should be addressed to BYTE Subscriber Service. POB 328 Hancock. NH 03449

SECTION ART BY MEL FURUKAWA

MAY 1985 'BYTE 3

Inquiry 207 for Dealers. Inquiry 208 for End-Users.

Intercontinental Micro is shipping solutions today for all your S-100 BUS 16-bit and PC network needs.

Our products have always featured Direct Memory Access, Memory Management and Vectored Priority Interrupts to give you the fastest networks possible, bar none.

Of course, we also offer a complete line of 8-bit and interface/controller products as well as the sophisticated TurboDOS™multiuser operating system.

For complete networking solutions and years of experience call Intercontinental Micro today.

CPZ-186

8MHZ 80186, 2 sync or async serial I/O channels 20 parallel I/O lines, 256K RAM expandable to 1 megabyte, onboard floppy disk controller. CPS-186

10MHZ 80186, 4 sync or async serial I/O channels, 20 parallel I/O lines, 256K RAM expandable to 1 megabyte. CPS-1BX

8MHZ 8086, 256K RAM expandable to 1 megabyte, 2 sync or async serial I/O channels, 20 parallel I/O lines. LANPC

Allows IBM PC/XTs,™ PCs or compatibles to integrate into TurboLAN, ARCnet™ and S-100 BUS networks. LANjr-™

Provides cost effective true multiuser PCjr™ networks with simple installation.

_/

PTr„

Intercontinental Micro Systems

4015 leaverton Ct, Anaheim, Ca 92807, (714)630 0964.TELEX 821375SUPPORT UD

TurboDOS is a Trademark of Software 2,000 Inc.

IBM PC, XT S PC|r are Trademarks of International

Business Machines.

TurboLan is a Trademark of Intercontinental

Micro Systems. ARCnet is a Trademark of Datapotnt

BYTE- MAY 1985

BYTE

editor in chief

Philip Lemmons managing editor

Gene Smarte consulting editors

Steve Ciarcia

Ierry Pournelle

senior technical editors

C Michael Vose Themes Gregg Williams technical editors

Thomas R Clune

Ion R. Edwards

Richard Grehan

Glenn Hartwig. Reviews

Richard Kraiewski

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 Iohn Markoff, Senior Technical Editor. Palo Alto Phillip Robinson. Senior Technical Editor. Palo Alto Donna Osgood, Associate Editor San Francisco Brenda McLaughlin. Editorial Assistant, San Erancisco

NEW YORK EDITOR

Richard Malloy. Senior Technical Editor

managing editor.

electronic publishing and communications

George Bond

user news editor, east coast

Anthony I Lockwood. What's New

USER NEWS EDITOR WEST COAST

Mark Welch, Micropu.es

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Dennis Allison, at large

Mark Dahmke. video, operating systems

Mark Haas, at large

Rik Iadrnicek, CAD. graphics, spreadsheets

Mark Klein, communications

Alan Miller languages and engineering

John C Nash, scientific computing

Dick Pountain. U K

William M Raike. Japan

Perry Saidman, computers and law

Robert Sterne, computers and law

Bruce Webster, software

COPY EDITORS

Bud Sadler. Chief Dennis Barker Elizabeth Cooper Anne L. Fischer Nancy Hayes Lynne M. Nadeau Paula Noonan Ioan Vigneau Roy Warren Williamson

assistants

Peggy Dunham Martha Hicks Beverly Iackson Lisa |o Steiner

ART

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

PRODUCTION

David R. Anderson. Production Director Denise Chartrand Michael ). Lonsky |an Muller

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT PUBLISHER

Harry L Brown

PUBLISHER S ASSISTANT

Doris R Gamble

PERSONNEL

Cheryl Hurd. Office 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

Michele Gilmore

Denise Proctor

Wai Chiu Li, Quality Control Director

Iulie Nelson. Adi-ertisina/Produtfion Coordinator

CIRCULATION (800-258-5445)

Gregory Spitzfaden. Director

Andrew Iackson. Subscriptions Manager

Cathy A R. Drew Assistant Manager

Laurie Seamans, Assistant Manager

Susan Boyd

Phil Dechert

Mary Emerson

Louise Menegus

Acnes E. Perry

Jennifer Price

James Bingham. Single-Copy Safes Manager

Linda Ruth. Assislant Manager

Carol Aho

Claudette Carswell

Karen Desroches

marketing communications

Horace T Howland. Director (603-924-34241

Vicki Reynolds, Marketing Production Manager

Priscilla Arnold. Marketing Assistant

Stephanie Warnesky. Martina Art Director

Sharon Price. Assistant Art Director

Doug Webster, Director of Public Relations 1603-924-90271

Wilbur S. Watson, Operations Manager Exhibits

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Michele P Verville. Manuaer

Patricia Akerley, Research Manager

Cynthia Damato Sands Reader Service Coordinator

Faith Kluntz. Copuriaftts Coordinator

MANUFACTURING FINANCE SERVICES

Daniel Rodrigues. Director

ACCOUNTING

Kenneth A King. Assistant Controller

Vicki Weston, Accounting Manager

Linda Short D/P Manager

Edson Ware. Credit

Marie Caggiani

Marilyn Haigh

Diane Henry

Vern Rockwell

IoAnn Walter

typography

Sherry McCarthy, Chief Typographer

Nan Fornal

Len Lorette

Kathy Quist

Donna Sweeney

building services/traffic

Anthony Bennett Building Services Manager

Brian Higgins

Mark Monkton

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 42 5 Battery St. San Francisco. CA 9411 I (415) 362-4600.

McGraw-Hill 1000 Elwell Court Palo Alto, CA 94303. (41 5) 964-0624 New York Office: 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 |2I2| 512-2000

Officers of McGraw-Hill Information Systems Company President Richard B Miller Executive Vice Presidents Frederick P lannott. Construction Information Group. Russell C White, Computers and Communications Information Group: I Thomas Ryan. Marketing and International 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 I McGrath. Construction Group Vice President Peter B McCuen. Comlunications Vice Presidents Fred O lensen. Planning and Development: Margaret L Dagner. Human Resources Officers of McGraw-Hill. Inc Harold W McGraw. |r. 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

m

0UIUPIB0 IW

ITT

UNIX System V, the new standard in mui riuser microcomputer operating systems, gives you high performance features along with the portability and flexibility of a standard.

Cromemcd computers can make UNIX Syst i pi V even better. Because our systems are designed with UNIX in mind First of all, we offer UNIX System V with Berkeley enhancements. Then, our hardware uses advanced features like 64K of onboard cache memory and our high speed STDC controller to speed up disk operations-very important with UNIX

Mora capability and expandability

We have a high-speed, 68000-based CPU that runs at 10 MHz, coupled with a memory manager that uses demand-paging and scatter loading to work uritk UNIX, not for it.

We provide room for expanding RAM to 16 megabytes-with error detection and correction-!' -r running even the most sophisticated and advanced microcomputer programs. And the power to accommodate up to 16 users-all with plenty of memory.

But we give you even more.

A complete eolation

We give you a choice in systems: the System 100 series, expandable up to 4 megabytes of RAM, and the System 300 series, expandable to 16 megabytes. A high speed 50 megabyte hard disk drive is standard on the systems. And you can expand the hard disk capacity up to 1200 megabytes using standard SMD drives. You can add floating point processing. High resolution graphics. Video digitizing and imaging. Communications through

standard protocols. Mainframe interface.

And software support is here to meet your needs We off® major programming languages, database management systems, communications software, including SNA architecture, X25 protocol, and Ethernet; even a program to interface to an IBM PC if you need to. And, of course, access to the broad range of standar UNIX applications programs that, is growing drama ieally every day.

losytooM.

We also make our systems easier to use, because wt install the operating system before we ship your computer. No complicated installation procedures. And the Berkeley enhancements give you the st andard UNIX System V operating system, but with the added convenience of these widely [ improvements.

lemco's System 100 and System 300 be the highest performance ble anywhere, caii or visit one of our UNIX System V em Centers to see for yourself. They'll also give you a copy of our new publication, "What you should know before you buy a UNIX system." I It contact us directly

We'll be glad to show you how to get a better UNIX system.

Corporate Headquarters: Cromemeo, Inc., 280 Bernardo Avenue, P.O. Box 7400* Mountain View, CA 94039. (415) 969-4710. In Europe: ■.^^Sszaewasapf&HiemsSSaS^!,. Cromemeo

GmbH, 6236 Eschborn 1, Frankfurter Str. 33-35, P.O. 5267, Frankfurt Main, Germany.

UNIX is a trademark of Bell Laboratories.

IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corp.

Cromemeo9

Inquiry 112

MAY 1985 'BYTE

EDITORIAL

BYTE'S Reader Poll

Each month, several hundred BYTE readers vote in the reader poll called the BOMB (BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box). We've done little to call attention to the poll but wish to do so now to urge increased participation. We take the BOMB results seriously. Besides awarding modest prizes to the writers whose articles win the most votes, we try to interpret the BOMB results in a way that will help us develop and choose articles that win the applause of BYTE readers.

Admittedly, several hundred votes from a circulation of 400.000 are neither a random sample nor a large one. We want to encourage you to vote on this month's articles to increase both the size and the significance of the BOMB results and to help us keep BYTE attuned to your needs.

The great majority of you have never voted in the BOMB and probably have never noticed the numbered list of articles published at the back of the magazine

between the Unclassified Ads and the Reader Service index. The numbers on the list identify the articles for voting purposes. The ballot itself is one page further along, on the Reader Service card. Beneath the area where you circle Reader Service numbers to obtain information about advertised products, a smaller set of numbers lets you circle numbers to rate this month's articles. The ballot asks you to rate each article as excellent, good, fair, or poor. We assign weights to all these ratings to identify the best-liked articles.

Steve Ciarcia and lerry Pournelle are. of course, frequent winners of the BOMB, as are articles about major new personal computers. We do sometimes have surprises. A survey of statistical software scored very well, as did two articles examining the state of Soviet computers and electronicsRuth Heuertz's look at Soviet microprocessors (April 1984) and Leo

Bores's account of the Soviet Apple clone. AGAT (November 1984). We didn't realize how broad the appeal of statistics would be or how powerful people's curiosity about Soviet products, topics which lack the most important criterion of interest turned up in our reader research—emphasis on new technology.

Results that surprise us might not surprise you. Voting in the BOMB is the best way to keep us abreast of your interests and needs. We urge you to take a minute each month to make your opinion heard. We'll be listening when you do.

The Long-Awaited BYTE Index

Finally. An index to the 1983 and 1984 issues of BYTE is now available. For a hard copy of this 48-page document, please send us $1 and we'll send you a copy postpaid. The index will also be available electronically. We'll release the details as soon as possible.

—Phil Lemmons Editor in Chief

6 BVTt • MAY 1985

ILLUSTRATED BY MACiEK ALBRECHT

maxell

RJOPPYDISK

Maxell Gold

The floppy disk that lets PC AT speed ahead,

makes PC/XT Xtraordinary

and helps IBM.PC

capitalize on its powers.

For your Big Blue, only the Gold Standard will do. Maxell. The floppy disk chosen by many disk drive manufacturers to test their new equipment. Each Gold Standard is backed by a lifetime warranty. And each is a perfect match for your IBM. In fact, there's a Gold Standard for virtually any computer made. Even if it's the new IBM PC AT!

maxell

IT'S WORTH IT

PC AT. PC/XT and PC are trademarks of IBM Corp

Maxell Corporation of America, 60 Oxford Drive, Moonachie, N.J. 07074 Inquiry 256

MAY 1985 -BYTE 7

R NUMERICAL CONCEPT NO OTHER MONITOR CAN COMPREHEND.

As sophisticated as they are, you'd think monitor companies could solve a simple problem: keeping ^^^^™ customers happy

Fortunately Amdek can. With the longest warranty m the industry. Namely two years on all parts and labor. And three years on the CRT

Even simpler, our warranty applies to every monitor we make, from our new Color Senes to our amazingly popular Video Series.

And Amdek's own trained technicians make repairs quick and professional.

So when you're shopping for a monitor, look at the quality Amdek guarantees you, years after you leave the store.

According to our figures, it really adds up.

mn.

MONITORS

Amdek Corp. 2201 hvely Blvd. Elk Grove Village. 2. 60007 312/595-6890. Telex 280803

01985 Amdek Corp

B YTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 24

MICRO-BYTES

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

New Laser Printers May Outperform Canon's Engine

TWo new printers from Konica and NEC may offer some advantages over the Canon LBP-CX engine used in Apple's and Hewlett-Packard's laser printers. The TMC Co., Wayne, PA, the U.S. distributor for Konica's LP-3010, says the newer laser printer is faster, will cost less to operate, and lasts longer than Canon's LBP-CX, but it is priced the same and offers the same 300-dot-per-inch (dpi) resolution.

While Canon suggests that the LBP-CX be used to print up to 3000 pages per month at a speed of 8 pages per minute, TMC says the LP-3010 can handle 10,000 copies per month at 10 pages per minute. The LP-3010 uses a $200 drum/toner cartridge the company says will last for 15,000 pages, while the LBP-CX's $99 cartridge must be replaced after 3000 copies. And while Canon suggests that the LBP-CX be "overhauled" at 100,000 pages, TMC says the LP-3010 will last for 600,000 pages.

TMC says that several OEMs have placed orders for the LP-3010 and will announce products early this summer; pricing for a low-end printer based on Konica's engine should start at about $3500. With more advanced capabilities, including full-page bit-mapped graphics, a Konica-based laser printer would be priced competitively with Apple's $6995 LaserWriter, TMC claims.

NEC Information Systems plans to begin shipping its own 8-page-per-minute, 300-dpi laser-class printer in late summer. NEC's printer uses an LED array rather than a laser. Because it is not based on copier technology, NEC claims the printer will last longer and require less service than laser printers. NEC's offering will feature three built-in fonts: two cartridges can add up to eight more fonts. NEC's 55-pound printer occupies only half the footprint of the heavier Canon-based printers. With a 64K-byte printer buffer and both serial and parallel ports, NEC's LED-array printer will sell for less than $3000. NEC is also considering unveiling one or more laser printers in the fall or winter.

A 300-dpi laser printer from Fujitsu is the basis of an even more advanced combination printer/scanner/copier that Corporate Data Sciences planned to unveil in April. Eight pages per minute can be digitized at 300 dpi. The image can then be stored or manipulated by a personal computer and printed. The unit will also work as a standard copying machine. The printer/scanner/copier will be priced at about $24,000; the 16-page-per-minute laser printer alone will sell for about $15,000. CDS says its laser-printer controller can also address higher-resolution laser printers, up to 1000 dpi, and it plans to offer a printer engine using a 480-dpi laser printer expected next year from Fujitsu.

DEC Revamps Rainbow to Match New PC Strategy

Stating that "stand-alone personal computing in the office is a thing of the past," Digital Equipment Corp. announced the Rainbow 190, designed to operate as a workstation for other DEC computers. With a 10-megabyte hard-disk drive, 640K bytes of memory, MSDOS, and Rainbow Office Workstation software, the Rainbow 190 costs $6495. Also newly available for the Rainbow is the $595 WPS-PLUS word-processing program, already available on the VAX and ALL-1N-1 systems. DEC also announced a $295 DECnet interface for the Rainbow.

Fairchild Unveils First Single-Chip 212A 1200-bps Modem

Fairchild announced a single-chip 1200-bps modem that supports the Bell 212A standard. The Fairchild uA212A modem includes all signal-processing functions on a single chip, unlike previous applications that required several chips. To build a working modem, however, several other devices are required: A general-purpose microprocessor must handle dialing, handshaking protocols, and control functions, while other circuitry must handle RS-232C and telephone interfaces and ring detection. The chip should be available by June for $82.67 in quantities of 100.

(continued) MAY 1985 -BYTE 9

Firms Show Chinese-Language Word Processors

T\vo companies are developing Chinese-language word processors for the 512K-byte IBM PC using a standard American keyboard. Chinese Computer Communications, Lansing, MI, is showing PC 2001, which uses the company's own Pinxxiee input method; the company hasn't yet set a shipping date but hopes to price the software at about $795.

Asiagraphics Corp., Port lefferson, NY, expected to begin shipping its Asiagraphics System in April for $995. This product employs a "descriptor" input method, using one of three Chinese phonetic systems (pinyin, Wade-Giles, or Bopomofo). Asiagraphics also plans Korean and Japanese versions and hopes to allow use of the IBM graphics adapter as well as the Hercules graphics card now supported.

IBM Puts Series/1 on a Chip, in an IBM PC Box

IBM has put its Series/1 computer architecture onto a single proprietary 16-bit microprocessor and announced versions of the IBM PC XT and AT that include the Series/1 chip and related circuits on two IBM PC expansion cards. The Series/1 5170 Model 495 is an IBM PC AT with the Series/1 expansion cards, a monochrome adapter and monitor, a 20-megabyte hard disk, and a 1.2-megabyte floppy-disk drive. It is priced at $9420. The Model 4950, based on the IBM PC XT, includes a 10-megabyte hard disk and one 320K-byte floppy-disk drive for $8130. IBM will stress the new system's usefulness as a file server in a network environment.

Morrow Upgrades Pivot: Fully IBM-Compatible

Morrow Designs has redesigned its Pivot portable computer to add a 25-line display and to make it more compatible with the IBM PC. The new Pivot, which Morrow hoped to begin shipping this month, will feature a backlit 25-line by 80-character liquid-crystal display, serial and parallel ports, two 5'/4-inch disk drives, 256K bytes of RAM (expandable to 640K), rechargeable batteries, MS-DOS, and NewWord. Optional internal expansions will include an RGB/composite video output adapter and a 300/1200-bps modem. An optional expansion chassis is also planned. Morrow plans to price the two-drive machine at about $2995; it had already dropped the price of the 16-line Pivot to $1995 in March.

NANOBYTES

Opt ion ware Inc. introduced OptionWord +, a $100 word-processing template for Lotus 1-2-3.... AT&T introduced its long-expected UNIX personal computer. For details, see page 98... . Intel has sued NEC, charging that NEC's V20 and V30 microprocessors violate Intel's copyright for the microcode used in the 8088 and 8086.... Apple has developed a version of Smalltalk that runs on the Macintosh XL. Because it doesn't run on a standard Macintosh, Apple is selling it only on a limited basis, mostly to universities. . . . Microsoft has released a new version of Multiplan for the IBM PC. Multiplan 2.0 supports keyboard macros and has faster recalculation and a larger virtual spreadsheet (256- by 4096-cell). . . . For the Macintosh, Microsoft announced a run-time Microsoft BASIC interpreter, which software developers can distribute with programs they sell.... Microsoft also announced Excel, a sophisticated spreadsheet for the Macintosh (see page 44)... . Summa Technologies announced a site license-fee program under which buyers can make unlimited copies of a program for use by company employees—including personal use—for as little as $9800. . . . Prometheus, Fremont, CA. now offers a version of its ProModem 300/1200-bps modem for the Macintosh. With ProCom-M telecommunications software and a cable, it's $549. . . . Prometheus also planned to introduce a compact 300-bps modem for the Apple lie for less than $200. The modem will provide an extra serial port and uses the lie's power signal. . . . Manzana, Isla Vista, CA, is selling a double-sided 3'/2-inch disk drive for the IBM PC. The external 720K-byte drive is $625.... Advanced Micro Devices expected to begin shipping samples of the 20-MHz 29PL141 microcode-programmable controller this month.... Nestar Systems Inc. announced a six-port HUB for its baseband LAN system that allows it to interface to a broadband network.... Roger Wagner Publishing, San Diego, CA. is developing a MacWrite-like word processor for the Apple lie and lie. MouseWrite takes advantage of the MouseText ROM included in the He and newer lie models. . . . Intel announced OpenNET. a local-area-network (LAN) product line that incorporates Microsoft's Networks (MS-NET) software.

10 BYTE' MAY 1985

Both letter-quality and draft hard copy

Fastest document throughput in its class

Industry standard serial and parallel I interfaces.

Mt for

a pi.... fm, wi*

Both friction and tractor paper feed

Mtgpgrtl 1 t>» WWW

liee Breezy tot«. i ism- cverJ«rt:,To SaMHi

Better,

more versatile operator controls

Tl reliability

Compatibility with third-party and proprietary software

Better,

more durable easy-access font modules

TheTI 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 TI855 you get the speed of dot matrix draft copy. Plus the precise clarity of the most advanced matrix technology for letterquality print. It's two printers in one — at one low price.

A Great Family Name. Texas Instruments 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 Character 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 letterquality 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 friction and tractor paper feed, to handle all types of word and data processing applications. A quick-change snap-in cartridge ribbon. Raster and mosaic graphics. And intelligent printing which maximizes document throughput — regardless of format.

Get the printer that makes for better information systems. Ror more information visit your nearest TI authorized dealer or write Texas Instruments Incorporated, P.O. Box 402430, Dept. DPF-082BY, ■ . Dallas, TX 75380-9063. Or call J|3L 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

MAY 1985 -BYTE

© 1985, Apricot, Inc.

V@m aboutto d business views the cc

A computer revolution of enormous magnitude is about to take place.

Because Europe's most successful business computer company is now doing business in America. Introducing Apricot. A full line of computers specifically designed for business.

Not adapted to it.

In fact, the facts speak for themselves.

Apricots are elegant and compact 16-bit computers. They employ the MS-DOS operating system, and a minimum of 256K memory. One of our models, the Apricot Xi, boasts an incredible

one Megabyte 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 also have a choice between 9" or 12" b/w or 10" color monitors. All of which

12 BYTE • MAY 1985

ange how American mputer industry

have a higher screen resolution than Apple.

And as if 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 running thousands of business software programs specially written for Apricot on 3'/2 inch disks.

So, if you still think that Apple is a better business computer, look at it from a different perspective.

It's not.

Apricot, Inc., 3375 Scott Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Call 800-227-6703, or in California 800-632-7979.

TheApncocXi IMbR 20Mbharddisk720K floppy diskette MS-DOS. $4495(excluding monitor)

apricot

AWeYe changing how American business does business.

Inquiry 37

MAY 1985 -BYTE

LETTERS

Cryptographic Message Sending

Thank you for Charles Kluepfel's article, "Implementing Cryptographic Algorithms on Microcomputers" (October 1984, page 126). This is an area in which I have an interest and would like to see more articles in the future, especially on the practical aspects of making and using a large-scale (widely used) public-key cryptography (PKC) system.

An assumption that some people make is that the telephone system is a perfect "channel." that is. that all information put into one end will reach its destination and come out the other end. This is not necessarily true. It is definitely not true when a store-and-forward system such as an electronic-mail or electronic bulletin-board system is used. Since many messages sent in a PKC system will be longer than the maximum number of digits that can be encoded, the message will have to be broken into segments, each segment being encoded and sent separately. This raises the possibility of a third party (with or without the telephone company's approval) intercepting and preventing one or more segments from reaching the intended recipient, while letting other segments pass through. Even without the ability to decode the intercepted segments, a third party could do great damage to both the sender and recipient due to the recipient's assuming that the entire message was received, when in fact it was not. Under some conditions, damage could also be done by rearranging the order of the segments, if the recipient was to assume that they were sent in the same order as received. (Admittedly, such situations would be rare.)

The telephone company should not be thought of as a channel." but rather as a third party that can usually be trusted to deliver some of the segments of the message. It is up to the sender and recipient to ensure that all segments arrive and are put into their proper order before taking action on the basis of a message received.

A possible method of achieving this would be to include in each segment a four- or five-character (or more) code, ran

domly chosen and different for each segment within a message. These random characters would be inserted into the plain text before the segment was encoded with the recipient's public key. Then the last segment sent would contain a repetition of all of these codes in their correct order. The recipient could check to make sure each segment had arrived and was in its proper order. Any segments containing codes not repeated in the final segment would be discarded.

Briefly covered in the article was the topic of a sender using his own private key to provide a "signature" to a message. For ordinary messages, only the last segment (containing the repeated random codes from all the other segments) need be signed. However, if an electronic contract is desired, all segments of the message should be encoded with both the sender's private key and the recipient's public one. This is to prevent the recipient from altering a segment (while keeping the same random code) and then claiming his copy to be the true contract. This means that in order to prove a contract, the recipient would have to provide a copy of each segment exactly as it was received from the modem and a copy of each segment after it was completely decoded into plain text. The arbitrator of a contract dispute need only encode the plain-text segment with the recipient's public key and "decode" the "segment as received" with the sender's public key. Comparing the two resulting segments should show them to be exactly alike, thus proving that the segment came from the sender that the recipient claims sent it. The recipient need not disclose his private key to the arbitrator.

Actually, the first segment of every message, ordinary or contract, should be encoded only with the recipient's public key and should contain information of who the sender is. so that the recipient can apply the right key to decode any signed segments. Otherwise, that information would have to be sent in plain text (horror!). Also, in order to prevent the recipient from reusing the sender's signed last segment (containing the repeated random codes) to send a falsely signed message to someone else, the sender should include identification of the intended recip

ient in the plain text of all signed segments. It wouldn't hurt to include the date and time as well.

Paul S. Burney Portland. OR

Charles Kluepfel replies: To protect against nonreception of segments of the message, the scheme need not be as complex as Mr. Burney suggests. The sequence code that he suggests at the beginning of each segment can be merely 00001. 00002. etc.. without the need for a key as the last segment. This insertion is, as he states, before encryption, and the nature of this code prevents the presence of these or any known message contents from making the code breakable. Indeed, as the code used for message sending las opposed to signature formingl is public, anyone trying to intercept code can himself encode 00001, etc. It does not aid the interceptor and thus can be safely used by the legitimate parties.

As for the portion regarding electronic signatures, encoding by the sender's private key is sufficient so that the recipient cannot alter the message. The use of the recipient's public key would not be of any further benefit. The recipient cannot produce a new message that is encoded by the sender's private key, that is, one that is decodable by the sender's public key. What must be guarded against, rather, is that the sender might claim to have sent further segments, modifying the intent of the message. The only way to guard against any disagreement is to have the entire document signed by both parties. Since signing is

{continued)

LETTERS POLICY: To be considered for publication, 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.

BYTE- MAY 1985

LEAVE THE COMPUTE

THE DRIVE!

With Maynard's Transport™— the Original Portable Hard Drive!

Now you can leave that heavy "portable" computer on the desk where it belongs and carry up to 20MB of data between home and office. Transport™ comes with easy-release cable and convenient carrying handle. Call or write today for product specifics.

Your Assurance of Quality:

plated media, double shock-mounted drive extensively tested against rigorous performance standards backed by industryleading 1-year warranty

Available in 10MB or 20MB.

Purchase your Transport"' and receive a carrying case at no cost (limited time offer).

Maynard Elect

Shaping Tomorrow'!

ronics

s Technology

430E SEMORAN BLVD., CASSELBERRY, FL 32707

305/331 -6402

Inquiry 257

M

m

&f FREE OPUS DISKETTE HEAD CLEANER

With Purchase of OPUS "Onfloppable" Floppies

OPCJS has a money saving offer to get you to try our floppies, the most reliable on the market today. Purchase 20 OPGS 5-1/4" diskettes and you can receive a Free UNIVERSAL HEAD CLEANER ($9.95 value), for use on single or dual-side drives.

Purchase OPGS diskettes at your local computer store, send two box tops, a dated sales receipt and coupon and we will send your Free Head Cleaner.

Or — order by mail and receive Head Cleaner with your shipment Or - Call, Toll Free: 1-800-692-6905, Dept. "M," to charge on your VISA or MasterCard.

Now you have a money saving reason to try OPGS diskettes. You will have "NO BAD MEMORIES!"

r

Jft*

NO BAD MEMORIES

SEND TO: OPGS Computer Products

'85 HEAD CLEANER OFFER DepLBYT 585,150 Chicago Street Cary, IL 60013

Name

Address

City

"I

. State _

.Zip.

Phone ( )

□ Proof of Purchase Enclosed OR SHIP ME Boxes of OPUS 5-1/4" Diskettes:

CHECK ONE: □ $19.95 Single-Side 10-pack [ ] $29.95 Dual-Side 10-pack Add $1.50 for shipping & handling (Illinois residents add 6% sales tax.) TOTAL ENCLOSED: $ (Check or Money Order Only)

Charge to my: Lj VISA □ MasterCard

Account Number:

Expiration Date:

L

Signature:

OFFER EXPIRES AUGUST II, 1985

.J

16 MAY 1985 -BYTE

Inquiry 104

LETTERS

encoding by the private key. each party must do encoding by private key of all segments. It can be by each separately encoding the plain text, or by the plain text being encoded by one. and the resulting text further encoded by the recipient's private code. Of course the sender must then get a copy of this further-encoded text to later prove the recipient agreed to it. The sender's private and recipient's public encoding does not assure a contract, only that the sender sent it.

To assure any segment came from the sender, it would have to be encoded in the sender's private key. Including the recipient's name in the one (or fewl signed segmentlsl in no way prevents forgery of unsigned segments.

More on Binary Trees

I quite agree with John Snyder's remark, in his response to Lawrence Leinweber's letter ( 'Binary Trees Explained." September 1984. page 22), that there is no "proper solution"' in software to a given problem.

On the other hand, with regard to his A-trees." I'm sure that he finds them simple. After all. he wrote the article ("Indexing Open-Ended Tree Structures."' May 1984. page 406) Algorithms by definition are simple, once you've successfully implemented them. Otherwise, you would never have gotten that far.

Any given data structure is as simple as its presentation, which brings me to my next point. Mr. Leinweber's C routine for tree searching managed to obscure what ought to be an obvious data structure. It would have been far more effective to present one of D. E. Knuth's diagrams from section 2.3 of The Art of Computer Programming. Volume I: Fundamental Algorithms (Reading. MA: Addison-Wesley 1974).

Frankly, I'm still not sure whether Mr. Leinweber's routines were meant to search a generalized tree implemented as a binary tree or simply a binary tree. I refuse to spend more than five minutes deciphering a five-line text in any language that I supposedly understand.

Finally. Dr. Snyder, since when are binary trees sometimes called B-trees? Binarytree nodes have at most two children (and possibly none) and by no means fulfill the well-defined properties of a B-tree (see the section on trees in Niklaus Wirth's Algorithms Plus Data Structures Equals Programs: Englewood Cliffs, N): Prentice-Hall, 1976). I've always assumed that the "B" stands

[continued)

ProModem 1200... HOT- LI H t

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 Communications 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 software isn't needed. The communications is in the modem, and electronic mail becomes a background function, where it belongs.

7%£j//o£/mL.

•a*"**

ProModem 1200M (Macintosh)

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 memory 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.

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. See us at Comdex, Booth #5046 West Hall

PRODUCTS INCORPORATED

4545 Cushing Pkwy. • Fremont CA 94538

2370

Inquiry 33!

MAY I985 -BYTE

RUN/C":

The C Interpreter

Only $149.9S! i

For both

the beginner and the C professional.

RUN/C: The C Interpretei

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 i

s 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 enjoyable!

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.

offers easy and familiar commands such as LOAD. LIST. SAVE. RUN. etc. A powerful line editor is built right in. RUIM/Cs 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.

J N /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™-DOS 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"

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

LETTERS

RUN/C is a trademark of Age of Reason Co

for "balanced," which is what makes them so popular. They never degenerate into a linear linked list, which is what a binary tree is prone to do under certain input conditions (keys arriving in a well-ordered sequence).

C is a horrible language for clarifying ideas. What's wrong with English or. better still, pictures?

I. Caron

Kibbutz Caash

Israel 60950

The Macintosh Debate Goes On

For years I have wanted a computer of my own; the type of work I do literally demands one. What had kept me from buying one had been a growing awareness of the fact that, while I was previously a slave to the thousands of bits of data I was entering into my file cabinet manually, none of the personal computers I had been considering would do more than put me hopelessly behind because I would be spending all of my time learning how to use the machine. Seven months ago I bought the Apple Macintosh, and my methods for using the information I collect in my work have changed dramatically. Indeed, for the past few months I have been imagining countless ways of using this data in ways I could have never hoped to use it if I did not have the Macintosh.

Which brings me to the essence of this letter So much has been written about the Macintosh in various parts of your January issue that I find it difficult to address just one of the points that have been made. The three letters appearing on pages 26 to 32 seem befitting testimonials to the positivism most Macintosh owners express; Bill Benzon's article on MacPaint as a thought-process tool is, clearly, the most provocative piece I have seen written on any computer/application; and Steve Wozniak's description of his experiences at the University of California at Berkeley, coupled with the naive comments of Jerry Pournelle, serve to solidify my disdain for the conventional wisdom of the computer world. What is even more amusing is that I work for a company that perpetuates this conventional wisdom by choosing to ignore completely the existence of the technology embodied in the Macintosh and deciding to introduce a line of software only for IBM PCs.

I am not saying here that the Macintosh is the perfect machine. Surely, what we have in it is only a promise of what could

{continued)

18 BYTE- MAY 198^

Inquiry 239

4 Out Of 5 PC-AT Expansion Board 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 multifunction board for the PC-AT. And it remains the leader by providing millions of characters of memory capacity, two serial ports, a parallel port and a game port. All in a single expansion 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 technique 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 AT's 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 programs such as IBM's TopView™ or multiuser operating systems such as XENIX™ To handle larger amounts of data, faster. Or for RAM disks.

First In I/O. Here's all the I/O capability 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 peripherals, 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, quality 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 AT's

Advantage!

system memory to 640K

Supports AX 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.

RCSCARCH INC.

Inquiry 4 for Dealers. Inquiry 5 for End-Users.

\rz

A

\

Discover what 50,000

9UBIE' delivers the finest peripheral available in terms of features, reliy and price/performance. That's why corporations like IBM, GM and Exxon buy peripheral equipment from Qubie. and have for years. Check some of your old back issues of PC — we've been satisfying PC owners since 1982.

Select products at low prices, with service and support unparalleled in the microcomputer industry. Our 30 day No Risk Guarantee and 48 Hour Repair Service during the 12 month warranty period is proof our products are first rate. We stand behind what we sell. No "call the manufacturer" responses when you have a question. We also offer our exclusive Preferred Customer Plan*1 with 24 hour repairs and 24 months of coverage.

Our low, money-saving prices are the total prices. No small print telling you to add up for credit card charges or shipping and handling. Our prices include surface UPS charges and insurance. In a hurry? 2-day air UPS service is available.*2

At Qubie', customer satisfaction is one of the cornerstones of our philosophy. Ask your friends, business associates and colleagues about Qubie'. Chances are they are one of our fifty thousand satisfied customers.

5=tti O '

nan

«M

*s fe C

^jjr

- **»OSO

1 •«AfVVo

dflK

3s i—

"*"'*""•-—t.

s

* -7

' roy91* ^

'

7!?^

INTERNAL MODEM

PC212A 1200$299

Auto-dial, Auto-Answer • 300/ 1200 Baud Operation • Runs Hayes Compatible Software Like Crosstalk, Smartcom II, and Sidekick • Two Phone Jacks Allow You To Hook Up Desk Phone • Includes PC

TALK III Software (Complete Communications Package), Modular Phone Cord, User's Manual / Installation Instructions • Optional Serial Port ($40) Allows You To Use Port For Other Peripherals When Modem Is Not Being Used.

STANDBY POWER SUPPLY

SB200 $329 XT300 $429

and BTSpool

(Print Spooling Software) •

Optional Game Port — Chips,

Noise Filtering/Surge Suppression • Powers Your Computer For Up To 30 Minutes In The Event Of A Blackout Or Brownout • SB200 (200 Watt) For Floppy-Based Systems, XT300 (300 Watt) For Hard Disk Based Systems

HIGH RESOLUTION

MONOCHROME

MONITORS

HR39S149 HR 134 $159

Plugs Into The IBM Monochrome or Compatible Adapter Card • 720 x 350 Resolution • 12 Diagonal Screen • Super Crisp Text Capability • High Resolution TTL • Includes Tilt/Swivel Base and Interface Cable • HR 134 (Amber) HR 39 (Green)

\ MULTIFUNCTION CARD BT6Plas(0K)$195

' Memory Sockets For Adding Up To 384K • Parallel Printer Port • Asynchronous Serial Communications Port • Battery-powered Clock/Calendar • BTPak Software - BTDrive (Electronic Disk Emulation)

20 BYTE- MAY 1985

PC owners now know.

Dual Mounting Bracket and Cable ($20) • 64K Memory — Installed and Tested ($25) • Includes Cable. Single Slot Mounting Bracket, Installation Instructions/User's Manual

INTERNAL HARD DISK

SUBSYSTEMS PC 10 $699

PC20S1088

Boot From The Hard Disk - No Software Patches or Drivers To Install • Runs All The Popular Software •

Low Power Consumption • High Reliability And Durability — Specially Plated Drives • Faster Access Time Than XT • Includes ldir "Visual Shell" Software, Cables, Mounting Hardware, Installation Instructions/User's Manual, FullHeight Bezel — Optional Half-Height Bezel ($15) • Auxiliary Power Supply And External Models Are Also Available.

I- 1 I I I I- I I- I- I- KEEDB) G

I-1= 1= I-1,l-1-1-1-1.1• l^tfnFifF-g

iXXW, *,*.i,».','iJ

■W.WiW.fii

flOD

KEYROARD

ff5151 $159

Solid State Capacitive Key Switches • 3-Position Height

Inquiry 339

Adjustment • Keys In Standard Typewriter Positions • Separate Cursor Control and Numeric Keypads • Easy-ToRead Key Legends • LED Indicators On All Lock Keys • Extra-Wide Left-Hand Control Key Adjacent To "A" • Control/ Reset Replaces Awkward Contol/Alt/Delete • Plugs Into IBM PC, PC/XT and Compaq Deskpro

EXTERNAL MODEM

212A 1200ES329

Auto-dial, Auto-Answer • 300/ 1200 Baud Operation • Runs Hayes Compatible Software \ Like Crosstalk, Smartcom II, And Sidekick • Two Phone lacks Allow You To Hook Up I Desk Phone • RS-232C Compatible • Includes 8' Shielded Cable (Specify Male Or Female) • Eight Status Indicator Lamps • External Volume Control Knob

HIGH RESOLUTION COLOR MONITOR

HR31 200S439

14" Diagonal Screen • Black Matrix Picture Tube Reduces Glare And Enhances RGB Color • Plugs Into IBM Color/ Graphics Or Compatible Adapter Card • 640 x 200 Resolution • Includes Interface Cable And Tilt /Swivel Base

*1

*2

PREFERRED

DPS

CUSTOMER

BLUE

FLAN

LAREL

Hard Disks $150.00 $12.00

Modems 50.00 5.00

H5151 35.00 7.50

BT6Plus 50.00 5.00

HR 39 and HR 134.... 50.00 NA

HR31200 95.00 NA

No Risk Guarantee

If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it within 30 days lor a full refund, including the cost to send it back.

The Acid Test

If you can get any dealer or competitor to give you the same No Risk Guarantee, buy both products and return the one you don't like.

For fastest delivery, send cashier's check, money order, or order by Mastercard/Visa.. Personal checks, allow 18 days to clear. Company purchase orders accepted, call for prior authorization. California residents, add 6% sales tax.

Hours: M - F 8 am - 6 pm PTZ

Sat 9 am 1 pm PTZ London (01) 223-4569 Paris (01)321-5316 Sydney (02) 579-3322

VISA

Outside California

1-800-821-4479

Inside California

1-805-987-9741

4809 Calle Alto Camarillo, California 93010

QUBIE'

Order Today, Shipped Tomorrow!™

MAY 1985 'BYTE

LETTERS

be done with the computer if only all of those "me. too" marketers who want a financial ride on IBM's coattails could understand that the merry-go-round has to stop some time. It is, futhermore, an indictment of American business at large of its failure to identify and satisfy its customers' changing needs—a phenomenon that is known in marketing as "Harley-Davidson Syndrome." There isn't a month that goes by that someone somewhere doesn't introduce another word processor for the IBM machine, while over here in the Macintosh world. Microsoft is about to introduce the only alternative to MacWrite.

History has shown us many times what happens to those "madmen" who introduce new concepts. Invariably they were either burned at the stake as heretics or at least exiled to some uncivilized land where their unconventional wisdom could do no detriment. Strangely enough, their tenets have, somehow, managed to pervade our everyday lives. In some senses I often wonder why we don't continue to think of the world as flat.

Steven G. Baird Baton Rouge, LA

Both detractors and defenders of the Macintosh have been surprisingly undiscerning regarding the performance of the Sony microfloppies. Clearly one spends considerable time listening to the Sony play tunes. So Jerry Pournelle concludes the drives are "painfully slow" (August 1984 BYTE, page 316). A guy confesses anonymously to John Dvorak [\nfoWorM. November 26, 1984) that he has changed his mind about the Mac: "The big flaw is clearly the slow, small Sonys and the big overhead on starting and ending use of any serious programs." A Mac defender in your Letters section, Selden Deemer, concedes that the Mac is not without its faults: "Among the worst of these is the perpetuation of a disk-drive controller that lacks direct memory access. . . .The drives are maddeningly slow" (November 1984. page 18). Indeed, the Mac would be fatally crippled if this were true.

In fact, it ain't so. From MBAS1C, the standard BYTE disk benchmark shows the Mac writing the standard 64K-byte sequential file in 25.2 seconds, reading same in 23. In both cases this is twice as quickly as the IBM PC under MS-DOS. By using the FIELD statement to PUT and GET four 16K-byte strings to a relative file, reducing BASIC overhead, one gets even closer to the hardware potential of the Mac/

Sonys: 64K bytes of data are written in 6 seconds, read in 5 seconds. That is faster than the IBM PC XT runs the standard benchmark using the fixed drive (about 8 seconds each way). Finally, using the DiskCopy utility included with the Finder update, one reads 100K bytes in 4 to 5 seconds, writes 100K bytes in 7 to 8 seconds. That is not slow. Hasn't anyone noticed?

Clearly, it is software overhead, not hardware limitations, that accounts for the long waits while the Mac sings.

William Miller Cleveland Hts.. OH

The many arguments in the Macintosh debate, which has become a leitmotiv on your pages, seem to focus not on the niftiness of the Macintosh's special features but rather on their significance. Bill Benzon's article. "The Visual Mind and the Macintosh" (January, page 113), eloquently related the importance of the Macintosh to the role of visual images in creative thinking and persuasive communication.

But why should visual thinking and visual communication suddenly seem so important in the first place? Another perspective on the significance of the Mac is to see it in relation to the increasingly visual nature of all communication in recent history

A middle-class burgher in, say, 17thcentury Amsterdam probably saw three or four hundred artificial images (paintings, drawings, engravings, and so on) in a lifetime. In this world of television, advertising, and personalized T-shirts, we process that many images in a day! The phrase "Age of Information" usually connotes the invention and spread of the computer since World War II, but this period also witnessed the emergence of today's huge graphics and advertising industries. In 1971 (when Alan Kay was designing Smalltalk), there were 697.000 artists in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ten years later, there were 1,055.000 artists, including 223.000 designers and 106.000 photographers. Today even the smallest company has a graphic logo and a "corporate identification" program—a practice almost unheard of 30 years ago.

Articles and books whose subject is the "information age" often make the point that the ever-increasing volume of information generated in the world is inevitable: the real issue, though, is how to give it useful shape and dimension. Visual communications does precisely that: It shapes information, gives it character, and

streamlines it for faster travel to its target audience. Design is the art of taking a message and giving it impact through typography, composition, and both abstract as well as representational drawing and coloring.

As the information environment becomes ever fuller and noisier, the stakes are continually raised for those who want their message to carry above the din, which means new tools and techniques are needed to communicate effectively. In treating all information as visual information and greatly simplifying methods of combining verbal and visual information, the Macintosh is in harmony with the broad lines of evolution in human communication. (I've had mine for two weeks, and already my mouse finger is getting stronger.)

Jim Hoekema Salt Lake City, UT

Support Is Where You Find It

I would like to comment on the letters concerning lack of Apple support ("No Support from Apple." February, page 18) and how I dealt with this problem since purchasing a lie in lune 1984.

The Apple He is being marketed as the somewhat portable version of the lie with over 95 percent of Me software running on the lie. Therefore, any manual covering Applesoft as implemented on the lie should be about 95 percent applicable to the lie. This I quickly found to be true. For assembly-language programming, advanced BASIC programming, and a description of the Apple II family firmware (up to the He), Paul Irwin's Apple Programmer's Handbook (Indianapolis, IN: Howard W, Sams & Co., 1984) is exceptional. Major computer publications have described Apple's ProDOS, summarizing its many DOS 3.3 similarities and new features such as its UNIX-like nested hierarchical directory structure, RAM-disk support for the extra 64 K bytes of memory, etc. The best summaries (nearly 100 percent coverage of features and commands) have appeared in BYTE ("ProDOS" by Rob Moore. February 1984. page 2 52) and Apple Orchard ("Introducing ProDOS" by Morgan P. Caffrey, January 1984. page 12). The former mentions all ProDOS-related publications by Apple. A thorough non-Apple description of ProDOS, combining the best segments of BASIC Programming with ProDOS and the ProDOS Technical Reference Manual, is given in lohn Campbell's Inside Apples ProDOS (Reston, VA: Reston Pub

22 BYTE

MAY 1985

LETTERS

lishing Co., 1984). Although the text is informative, the book has several typographical errors. A small paperback entitled An \ntroduction to the Apple lie documents the serial-port and mouse-port pin outputs, among others, in its appendixes.

All the substitute texts mentioned above served very well until late October 1984. when several New York dealers received the entire complement of Apple documentation. A one-stop source for documentation has been the McGraw-Hill Bookstore, 1221 Avenue of the Americas. New York, NY 10020. Here 1 purchased the Apple \k Reference Manual, ProDOS Technical Reference Manual, and BASIC Programming with ProDOS. Note that the ProDOS Technical Reference Manual is part of the "WorkBench" series of documents in loose-leaf format that can only be purchased separately and whose unusual page size fits best in Apple's "WorkBench" binder ($8). All the substitute texts purchased originally continue to be useful except Mr. Campbell's book, now completely redundant.

Thus, it would seem that the availability of Apple documentation continues to be a problem, but however late, the documentation did appear. The lie Reference and the ProDOS Technical manuals have a few typographical errors that must not be considered lightly, since the text deals mostly with system software. I have programmed in BASIC quite extensively on an IBM PC XT using PC-DOS 2.1 quite frequently. Although IBM manuals have been much more available, they have been consistently difficult to read, and as a physician-in-training with severe time constraints. 1 find that the clarity of Apple's presentation and the structure of ProDOS still puts Apple on top on my list. Its difficulties have mainly been eased by the availability of excellent documentation by third parties, a condition which has always been part of Apple's continued success. Marvin E. Gozum, M.D. Brooklyn, NY

After reading of some problems encountered by your readers in obtaining Apple technical manuals, 1 thought my own experience might be of interest.

After purchasing my lie I wanted to purchase the technical reference manual but was surprised to learn that it was not available from my dealer. I checked around and learned that most dealers in this area did not stock the manual. After some digging, I learned that the dealers do not stock the manuals because they

(continued)

More terminals

without more computer

The advantages are clear. A Bay Tech port contender adds more users to your computer and does it at a price that's far less than expensive hardware or software modifications. A Model 5218B, for example, doubles your users by allowing 12 terminals to contend for 6 ports. Simple to set up and use, with easy-to-understand messages, the port contenders feature protocol conversion; user queue; disconnect by operator, computer or time-out; hardware or X-ON/X-OFF handshaking; and more. io/\/\i c»o i^f\-%

Seven models, $629 to $1,750. (BOO) 523-2702

BayTech

DATA COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS

Bay Technical Associates, Hwy. 603, P.O. Box 387, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39520 (601)467-8231 Telex: 9103331618 (BAYTECH)

Share printers easily and automatically

Instead of adding more printers, get maximum use of the printers you have by adding a BayTech multiport controller. A versatile D-series multiport allows several RS-232C devices to share printers or plotters. No cable-switching, knobs to turn, or software to add. These printer sharers work automatically; just hook them up and they're ready to use. Features include custom power-up default configuration, protocol conversion, buffer, and your choice of hardware or X-ON/X-OFF handshaking. ._... f»-a ~%-tr\->

Seven models, $319 to $629. (800) 523-2702

•►

BayTech

DATA COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS

Bay Technical Associates, Hwy. 603, P.O. Box 387, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39520

(601)467-8231 Telex: 9103331618 (BAYTECH)

Inquiry 49 MAY 1985 -BYTE 23

LETTERS

are considered very low dollar items that are "not worth the bother.' Apple understandably requires dealers to purchase the manuals in lots of five. Evidently, the prevalent feeling among dealers is that the manuals will not be hot-selling items, and they do not want to deal with them. Two dealers told me this directly.

Fortunately. I was able to locate a store that regularly stocks all manuals but oc

casionally runs out due to demand. According to them, they have had no problems or unusual delays in getting the manuals from Apple. I now have BASIC Programming with ProDOS. ProDOS Users Kit. and the Apple We Reference Manual, all supposedly rare books but obtained with very little effort. Right after I purchased BASIC Programming with ProDOS. two dealers told me it was not yet available from Apple,

If you can't share files on PC Network, you're using the wrong file manager.

Be connected. Btrieve."

Networks can solve problems. But running a single-user file manager can create new ones: Lost updates. Garbled data. Trashed files.

Btrieve™/N offers safe multi-user file management that protects your data when sharing files. And eliminates the need to rewrite your application for LANs. Btrieve/N set the file management standard for the industry's most popular networks: Netware, Davong MultiLink, Omninet, PC Net, EtherSeries, Nestar, and NetOne. And now IBM's PC Network.

Fast. Btrieve/N is fast, too. It's written in assembly language especially for the IBM PC. And based on b-tree file indexing, for access speed that won't degrade as your database grows.

Automatic file recovery. Btrieve/N provides automatic file recovery after

Suggested retail prices: Btrieiv, $245; Btrieve/N. S595, Rtrievt/N, $175. Requires PC-DOS or MS-DOS I.X.

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™/N adds report writing capabilities. Xtrieve™/N speeds users through database queries with interactive menus.

For professional programmers. Btrieve/N is the fast, reliable answer for all vour application development in BASIC Pascal, COBOL, C, FORTRAN, and APL. With Btrieve/N, you can develop better network applications. And solve problems, not create new ones.

SoftCraftlnc.

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

Xtrieve, $195; Xtrieve/N, $395; Rtrieve, $85; 2.X, or 3.X.

and one dealer told me it was too much trouble to order.

I have found the manuals to be excellent—among the best I have seen It may not be the same in all areas, but I believe that the problem lies more in the failure of dealers to provide for customer needs rather than insufficient support from Apple

Steve A. Muncy Dallas, TX

I read with interest the three letters under the heading "No Support from Apple" in your February Letters section. Although 1 missed the letter to which they referred, 1 felt 1 had to tell my experience with getting manuals.

The manuals named in the three letters are all manuals that I've wanted, with the exception of the Apple Ik Reference Manual because I have a lie. Anyway. I no more than asked if my local dealer could get these for me and I had them. I waited one week for both the ProDOS Users Kit and the Applesoft manuals, both volumes. I had to wait three weeks for the ProDOS Technical Reference Manual, and it didn't bother me a bit. I'm sure that when the time comes that I want another manual I'll have it in short order.

I have had no problem at all with getting information on the Apple. In fact, when I found out that there was an update for ProDOS. I asked my dealer if he had it. He said he didn't even know there was one, but two days later he called and said he had it. I stopped by and picked up a copy and was on my way in a total time expenditure of 10 minutes. Maybe I'm lucky to have this dealer, but I wanted your readers to know that not everyone has problems getting the information they want.

Brad W. Hansen Apple Valley. MN

A RAM Disk for the Mac

In his letter (under the heading Take Back Your Mac." February, page 22). Don Slaughter pleads for RAM-disk software for the 512 K-byte Macintosh and hopes for a "reasonable price ($50 or less)."

A public-domain RAM disk is available and can be downloaded from CompuServe's MAUG area (you need to be knowledgeable in the use of "BinHex.Hex" to download it and "Rmover" to install it).

Assimilation Process (20833 Stevens Creek Blvd.. Suite 101. Cupertino. CA 95014) has been advertising the

{continued)

24 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 361

If you don't have a

Hercules Graphics Card, you could

end up looking like this:

"I know, because one day it happened to me...

"I was running some routine tests on a non-Hercules monochrome graphics card when I was struck by a severe case of lowresolutionitis. I'm the president of Hercules and that's me exhibiting the symptoms of the disease in its advanced stages. Not a pretty sight, is it?

"What causes low resolutionitis? Experts point to ordinary monochrome graphics cards with coarse, hard-to-read graphics. A bad case of eyestrain may develop if action is not taken immediately.

"Fortunately for me, a Hercules Graphics Card was nearby. A quick change brought soothing 720 x 348 graphics. That's twice the resolution of ordinary 640 x 200 graphics cards.

"Which means better graphics for Lotus™ 1-2-3" Symphony™ Framework" pfs:Graph* Microsoft" Chart and Word, SuperCalc3* AutoCad™ and dozens of other programs.

"Including Microsoft Flight Simulator, now Hercules compatible!

"Oh, and don't forget that a parallel printer port is standard on the Hercules 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 sold more monochrome graphics cards for the IBM* PC,XT" and AT™ than anyone else in the world.

"So... you're convinced that you should buy a Hercules 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: 540-6000 Telex: 754063 Trademark/Owners: Hercules/Hercules Computer Tech; IBM.XT,AT/IBM; Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony/Lotus Development; Framework/Ashton-Tate; Microsoft/Microsoft; pfs:Graph/Software Publishing; SuperCalc3/Sorcim-IUS; AutoCad/AutoDesk.

Inquiry 187

MAY 1985 'BYTE 25

LETTERS

Mac.Memory.Disk for several months in both Ma&Norld and A +. This product sells for $29. I had no trouble getting copies through a local dealer, and it does everything Mr. Slaughter wants and more. The RAM disk can be set anywhere from about 30K to 300K. and any set of files can be automatically copied into it as part of the boot process.

Network Consulting Inc. (110-3700 Gilmore Way. Burnaby. BC V5G 4M1. Canada) has a $29.95 RAM-disk product in the beta-test stage that does a bit more than Mac.Memory.Disk.

Daniel P. B. Smith Norwood. MA

Shortly after mailing my letter I learned that Assimilation Process of Cupertino. California, was planning to release RAMdisk software.

The Mac.Memory.Disk (as it is called) will only open a maximum of a 315K RAM disk on a 512K Mac, though it will open a RAM disk in excess of 700K on a Lisa running MacWorks with 1 megabyte of memory.

My experience in testing the speed of operation quickly showed that to obtain substantial speed gains in loading and exiting applications software on the Mac. the operating system of the Mac must be loaded into the RAM disk. It seems that most applications, on being doubleclicked, must then do extensive accessing of the operating system to load.

But if the operating system is loaded into the RAM disk, this effectively leaves only about 100K left in the RAM disk (using the 512K Mac with 316K RAM disk) for the application software. MacPaint, when copied into such an environment, won't even open a disk file because there isn't enough room left on the disk for one.

MacWrite will create very small data files in that environment. Clearly, such an environment is adequate neither for business nor for software development. But Apple will not offer 1-megabyte caches for its products from now on except in the $4000-plus Macintosh XL (Lisa 2/10 with hard disk) or the $6995 laser printer. The evidence suggests that a relatively inexpensive 1-megabyte Mac (below $3 500)

will not be offered before January of 1986 (perhaps in the guise of using 1-megabit chips on a new main circuit board), if ever. My summary of these facts is that 1 am disappointed, and I think Apple has goofed. Don Slaughter Seattle, WA

Modula-2 Revisited

I would like to correct some readers' misunderstandings and possibly add some fuel to the fire of the Pascal versus Modula-2 debate.

In my article on Modula-2 (An Introduction to Modula-2'1 August 1984. BYTE page 195), 1 use the following example:

IF (oregano IN recipe[1]) THEN IF (thyme IN recipe[1]) THEN WriteString('Use oregano and thyme') END ELSE WriteString('No oregano'); END

{continued)

SLICER-THE SYSTEM THAT GROWS TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

THE SLICER

Real 16 Bit Power on a Single Board —

Featuring the Intel 80186

■ Complete 8 MHz 16-bit microprocessor on a 6" « 12" board

■ 256K RAM, plus up to 64K EPROM

■ SASI port for hard disk controller

■ Two full function RS232C serial ports with individually programmed transmission rates—50 to 38.4K baud

■ Software compatibility with the 8086 and 8088.

■ 8K of EPROM contains drivers for peripherals, commands for hardware checkout and software testing

■ Software supports most types and sizes of disk drives

■ Source for monitor included on disk

■ Bios supports Xebec 1410 and Western Digital WD 1002 SHD controller for hard disks

Fully assembled and tested only $995 Also available in several kit forms

THE SLICER SYSTEM

EXPANSION BOARD

For expanded memory, additional porta,

and real time clock

■ Up to 256K additional dynamic RAM

■ 2 RS232C asychronous ports with baud rates to 38.4K for serial communication

■ 2 additional serial ports for asynchronous RS232C or synchronous communication (Zilog 8530 SCC)

■ Real Time Clock with battery backup for continuous timekeeping

■ Centronics type parallel printer port

Fully assembled and tested only $750 Available in several kit forms also

THE SLICER PC EXPANSION BOARD Gives your Sllcer high performance video capability

■ IBM compatible monochrome video

■ Video memory provides 8 pages of text or special graphics capability

■ 2 IBM type card slots for color video, I/O expansion, etc.

■ IBM type keyboard port

Fully assembled and tested only $600 Available in several kit forms also

Alto available: The ^SLICER 188 $700; 8087 Math Co-Processor Bd. (call); 10 MB Hard Disk $700; W.D. 1002-SHD H.D.C. Bd. $200; Enclosures, Power Supply, and Support Hardware.

Operating systems are CP/M 86 by Digital Research, Inc. ($85), and MS DOS by Microsoft Corporation ($175). MasterCard, Visa, Check, Money Order, or C.O.D. Allow four weeks for delivery. Prices subject to change without notice. The SLICER Bulletin Board at 300/1200 Baud 612/788-5909

SLICER Slicer Computers, Inc.

2543 Marshall St. N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55418 612/788-9481 • Telex 501357 SLICER UD

26 B YTE • MAY I985

Inquiry 3 57

A few smart reasons to buy our smart modem:

Features

Ven-Tel 1200 PLUS

Hayes

1200 and 300 baud, auto-dial, auto-answer

Compatible with "AT" command set

Can be used with CROSSTALK-XVI or Smartcom II software

Regulated DC power pack for cool, reliable operation

Eight indicator lights to display modem status

Speaker to monitor call progress

Attractive, compact aluminum case

Two built-in phone connectors

Compatible with The Source and Dow Jones News Retrieval

Unattended remote test capability

Phone cable included

Availability

Price

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Now

$499

$6

The Ven-Tel 1200 PLUS offers high speed, reliable telecommunications for your personal computer or terminal. Whether you use information services or transfer data from computer to computer, the Ven-Tel 1200 PLUS is the best product around. Available at leading computer dealers and distributors nationwide.

Also from Ven-Tel: internal modems for the IBM and HP-150 Personal Computers with all of the features of the 1200 PLUS.

You choose. The Ven-Tel 1200 PLUSthe smartest choice in modems.

Ven-Tel Inc.

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

Crosstalk is a trademark of Microstuf; Hayes and Smartcom II are trademarks of Hayes Microcomputer Products. Inquiry 406

MAY I985 -BYTE 27

PRINTOUTS T>

Take a close look at Canon's line ot printers. The first thing you'll notice is how good they make you look.

That's because Canon's experience in high-tech optics really shows. For instance, Canon was among the first to make a desktop Laser Beam Printer. At a price that's within any business's reach, the Canon Laser Printer can produce eight pages a minute with a quality that's more in common with a professional print shop than a personal computer.

Canon also developed the ingenious Bubble-Jet Printer technology, finally making it possible for a printer to not only work extremely quickly but also incredibly quietly.

Our Ink-Jet Printer can produce exceptionally sharp, high-resolution graphics in seven colors, even on transparencies. While the Thermal Transfer Printer has three kinds of print modes, including letter quality, at a very competitive price.

And the Canon Impact Matrix Series, for regular and extra-wide column paper, makes printing very fast, very economical.

. saw

1985 Canon US A . Inc

LASER BEAM

IMPACT MATRIX

tf STAHD OUT.

Visit your local computer store and judge the complete line of Canon printers firsthand.

You'll find the print quality is absolutely crisp. The graphics are remarkably clean. And the reasons for buying one are perfectly clear.

For more information, call 1-800-323-1717, ext. 300 (in Illinois, 1-800-942-8881. ext. 300). Or write Canon U.S.A., Inc., Printer ^>^% ^m £\-+W' V

Division, P.O. Box CN 11250, Trenton, NJ 08650.

PRINTERS

Inquiry 63

•M-M <* *<* H

BUBBLE-JET

THERMAL TRANSFER

Inquiry 294

Powerful in circuit emulation, priced well within your grasp. That's NICE.

esting . . ,*it in inn-.

i and versatilnv fur only ic market, hands down.

^ Nicolet

NICE may be only 3" square and '.•" thick, but it hands you full sp^cd, real-time emulation—over SO emulation functions, software breakpoints.', all memory addresses and all l'O ports.

lust plug NICE directly into the target MP socket and any RS2.32 terminal for system development, troubleshooting, debugging or testing . at home, in the lab or in the field.

And NICE hands you all this performance, portability and versatility for 01 S »98"... the best emulator price /performance ratio on the market, hands dow

Call in your order today using your VISA or Mastercard number: (800) NICOLET outside CA. or (4lS) 490-8300 in CA. Or send your check or money order Mto NICE, m Nicolet Paratronics Corporation, 201 Fourier Avenue, Fremont, CA 9453'

Nl<I i»alra"

Paratronio,'

'/Hit is a trademark of /ilog I

PC CARD

HEADSET

PROTECTS IBM PC/XT/AT«AND PERIPHERALS FOR JUST S89!

FREE BOTH HANDS FOR EASY DATA PROCESSING!

QUADRUPLE PROTECTIONS:

■ LOCKS POWER SWITCH, STOP UNAUTHORIZED USERS.

■ MOTION DETECTION CIRCUIT BLASTS 90dB SIREN ON EXTREME MOVEMENT.

■ LOCKS PERIPHERAL CABLE INTO RIGID METAL ENCLOSURE.

■ BLOCKS FROM REMOVAL OF ADD ON BOARDS.

■ SLIDES IN INSTALLATION, NO TOOLS NEED.

UNIQUE FEATURES:

■ LIGHT WEIGHT. ONLY 35 GRAMS ENABLE COMFORTABLE TO WEAR A DAY LONG.

■ SENSITIVE MIKE AND EARPHONE PROVIDE NON DISTORTION COMMUNICATION.

■ ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND AND MIKE FITS EVERY USER.

■ INSTALL IN STANDARD TELEPHONE EQUIPPED WITH MODULAR JACK. NO TOOLS REQUIRED.

COUllllTsll ELECTRIC, INC.

14741 Carmenita Rd. Norwalk. CA 90650 TO ORDER CALL (800) 423 1066. CA (213) 9210933. Telex: 532 427

I NAMF AMOUNT: (CA 6.5% TAX)

ADDRESS:

AMOUNT: (CA 6.5% TAX)

PAYMENT: DVISA DMASTER CARDDCHECK

CITY:

STATE/ZIP TELEPHONE

CARD EXPIRED DATE:

NAME ON CARD:

CARD': 11111

I TtLEPHONE:

I SEND ME FULL LINE CATALOGUE *l

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING

CHARGE |

LETTERS

Edmund Ramm offers this Pascal alternative in his recent letter ('Modula-2: Overrated?" February, page 30):

IF (oregano IN recipe[1])

AND (thyme IN recipe[1]) THEN

WRITELN('Use oregano & thyme') ELSE WRITELN('Use only thyme);

These two program fragments are not. in fact, equivalent: a point I was trying to make. The Modula-2 version is completely unambiguous and requires that one string be printed if both are included, a different string be printed if only thyme is included, and no action whatsoever if oregano is included but thyme is not. This three-case action requires a nested IF statement and can easily be misstated in Pascal, as I demonstrated on page 198 of my article. I hope that this clears up the misunderstanding.

Robert J. Paul Watertown, MA

Icons Are Okay

In her letter regarding icons and the Macintosh. Ann Marchant states that the superiority of an alphabetic system to a pictographic system is "readily apparent" ("Icons Are Arcane," February, page 24), but she provides no evidence. We have recently done some experiments that bear on this issue (Muter and Johns. "Learning Logographies and Alphabetic Codes," Human learning, in press) and we found that, under a reasonably wide range of conditions, pictographic writing systems were easier to learn to read than alphabetic writing systems.

Paul Muter

Psychology Department

University of Toronto

Toronto. Ontario M5S IAI

Canada

An Alternative to Piracy

In a recent issue, one anonymous letter to the editor was attributed to a software pirate ("A Pirate Confesses." February, page 16). The pirate admitted displeasure with pirating software but stated it was necessary to do so.

The writer's central thesis was that software should be tried before it is purchased, since in no other way can the purchaser be sure that the software will perform as advertised or that it will work on

[continued)

30 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 80

Inquiry 369 —►

HOW TO CONTROL THE RISE AND FALL

Your small business computer can give you the power to raise your productivity. But first you have to control the power you give it. Because even the slightest dip or surge of electricity can result in a shocking surprise. An instant loss of important data or misinformation. Even worse, a total power line failure can create department devastation... a total system crash. You can't afford errors, delays and other problems. After all, you've invested in a computer to increase efficiency. But now there's a solution you can afford The Sola SPS. This economical, UL listed Standby Power System is designed to protect personal, micro and mini computers from AC line disturb

OWER.

Ill r~ Ir ances and failures. Sola SPS

»~ ■■■^B provides clean, regulated AC

power to your computer when

your power line experiences irregular voltage. Line

dips or line surges are immediately converted to

proper voltage. When the AC line is present, the

SPS filters power to eliminate electrical noise.

And when the AC line fails, the SPS goes into full

action, providing precise AC power to the load from

its internal battery. So the only noise you'll hear

is the sound of performance. There's no maint

nance. No installation. No kidding. Just

^\ plug it in and turn it on. Why let your

productivity rise and fall with your

power? The solution is as simple

as SPS. The standby

system that Sola

stands behind.

A UNIT OF GENERAL SIGNAL

STANDBY POWER SOURCE

Write for free literature. 1717 Busse Hwy., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 (312) 439-2800

SOLA

LETTERS

a particular hardware configuration.

The pirate then stated that no software vendors offered a guarantee that allowed return of software simply because the customer was dissatisfied. Therefore, such piracy is necessary.

We at TNT Software sell all our software with a 30-day, money-back guarantee. We have done this for nearly two years. Customers can freely open our packaging.

run our programs (not just demo versions), test all functions, and determine if our programs are suitable for their intended use. If the customer is dissatisfied for any reason—even if the program performs as advertised—the entire package may be returned within 30 days for a full refund of the purchase price.

Moreover, our dealers must give anyone who buys one of TNT. Software's pro

Since 1918 we've been quietly designing, manufacturing, and distributing a broad range of products for industry, business, and consumers all over the world. And so we've quietly grown to be a multi-national company with almost a billion in sales from the world's toughest markets. Markets that demand quality, performance, and reliability. Which is why Tatung terminals and monitors have become the choice of important systems designers.

O

Tatung monitors are compatible with virtually all popular computer systems. Each model offers superior resolution and CRT color imagery, along with controls for precise picture "tuning". Tatung terminals offer operational flexibility, compatibility with all popular systems, and day-inday-out reliability. But, no matter which model you choose, no other

terminal or monitor offers as

much...for so little.

U.C.M. COMPUTER PRODUCTS

CANADA LIMITED

7225 Woodbine Ave., Unit 119

Markham, Ontario L3R 1A3

(Canada only) 1-800-387-9678/

1-416-475-1209 Telex: 06-986222

TATUNG

WESTERN MICRO SYSTEMS A Quality Distributor Serving the 13 Western States Western States 1-800-544-0020 In California 1-800-338-1600

For complete information call toll free: 1-800-421-2929. In California, call (213) 979-7055. TATUNG COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC., 2850 El Presidio, Long Beach, California 90810.

grams the same or a better guarantee. That's part of our contract for all our dealers and distributors.

We find it hard to believe the pirate's statement that there are no other software companies or distributors with a policy equivalent to ours.

Yes, we do get some returns. Some types of programs are more prone to returns than others. Overall, our return rate is far less than I percent of sales.

We think our customers are far better served with our liberal return and nonrestrictive licensing policy than by services such as a toll-free phone number. We hope that the pirate and others will buy our software in the future.

Further, our prices are uncommonly low. Our company's success in the software market amply proves that copy protection, restrictive licensing arrangements, and other barbed-wire tactics are both unnecessary and counterproductive. We'd rather give the customer a break and treat the customer like a presumably honest person. Frankly, we wish other companies would adopt our stand, instead of wasting the customer's money by developing ever more tricky and "foolproof" protection schemes.

Bruce W Tonkin

President

TNT. Software Inc.

Round Lake, IL

What Makes Software Expensive

I'm writing on a topic of deep interest to me and many of your readers: software prices.

One thing we've seen in the last year is a tremendous explosion of good software. We've also seen a number of companies go belly-up. Is the market so bad? No. it's never been better. Why are all these outfits in trouble? It's easy to blame it on piracy, interest rates, or investor confidence. It's appropriate to blame it on greed, poor planning, and an inadequate understanding of free-market theory.

When the first application programs for personal computers hit the streets, what were the projected sales? Five thousand? Ten thousand? Who would have expected them to be 2000 percent higher? The original pricing was set with development and promotion costs to be spread over a much smaller number of units than in fact were being sold. Did we see prices being slashed to account for the new economies of production? Or did we see them at[continued on page 458)

}2

BYTE- MAY I9KS

Inquiry 389

FIXES AND UPDATES

Busy, Busy BYTEnet Listings

PDATI

The popularity of BYTEnet Listings has exceeded our wildest expectations. It has been busy virtually all day, every day, with calls to download listings of programs mentioned in BYTE. We have added two more telephone

lines to BYTEnet Listings to ease the congestion. The new number to call is (617) 861-9774. You should find it easier to get through to BYTEnet Listings.

If you find that BYTEnet Listings is busy, please don't call us at the BYTE offices to

find out if the line is bad or if the system is down. It isn't bad or down, it's just busy. (Incidentally. BYTEnet Listings is closed to the public from 4 to 5 a.m. east-coast time every day; it is doing private network business and will reject your calls.)

Sola Makes Uninterruptible Power Supplies

In our lanuary survey of uninterruptible power supplies, we inadvertently neglected to mention the many products available from Sola Electric. (See "Uninterruptible Power Supplies" by William Rynone. page 183.) Sola Electric offers a full line of uninter

ruptible power supplies and power-conditioning equipment for microcomputers and minicomputers. A 20-page illustrated brochure details the electrical and performance specifications of the products. It describes the systems offered, contrasts power-protection alternatives, and ex

plains the operation, design, and selection of uninterruptible power supplies. Request catalog number 696 from Sola Electric. 1717 Busse Rd., Elk Grove Village. IL 60007. (312) 439-2800 (marketing). (312) 228-1393 (technical services), or (312) 228-12 50 (customer service).

Modifications to Printer Buffer

A few modifications to lohn Bonos printer-buffer project recently arrived from Dr. H. A. Tasman of Karlsruhe, West Germany. (See "Build a Printer Buffer." June 1984 BYTE, page 142.)

In figure 3b (page 4 52). the input BUSY flip-flop, IClOa, is set on the leading edge of the input STB, but the input byte is not clocked into the input register until the trailing edge of the input STB. However, in line 60 of listing 1 (page 4 53), OKAY:IN A,(STATUS) places BUSY in bit 0 of the A register and proceeds to IN A.(BYTEIN) if not 0.

"This procedure may work satisfactorily," writes Tasman, "if the host computer's parallel-port driver always produces an

STB pulse that is shorter than the time needed for the instructions AND 01H and JPZ.NOCHAR, which, for a l-MHz clock frequency, amounts to 17 microseconds." Dr. Tasman found this condition to be unsatisfactory when he tried to use the printer buffer with a software parallel-port driver on his 4-MHz Z80 computer. In particular, he found that the STB pulse could surpass the clock-frequency limit when an interrupt occurs. If, for example, a character is read in before the STB is terminated, the input register will still be holding the previous character. If the STB extends beyond the input ACK pulse, the BUSY flip-flop will not reset and the character can be read in repeatedly.

Dr. Tasman suggests that you check the input STB before processing the character. Also, since the tri-state buffer, IC14, can put two more lines on the data bus with the STATUS command, you can connect the input STB (IC9 pin 11 through 1C10 pin 1) to IC14 pin 10 and hook 1C14 pin 9 to D3. To eliminate the STB problem, modify the software around line 60 to

OKAY: IN

A.(STATUS)

BIT

0.A

JR

Z.NOCHAR

BIT

3, A

JR

Z.OKAY

; GET CHARACTER

IN

A,(BYTE1N)

FreeSoft Address

A Bit Too Wide

Additional information about some products mentioned in "Public-Domain Gems" by |ohn Markoff and Ezra Shapiro has come to light. (See the March BYTE, page 207.)

In the discussion about Red Ryder 3.0, a communications program for the Macintosh, the name and address of the author/ distributor was inadvertently omitted. Earlier in the article, during the presentation on the Ultra utilities, the author was

duly credited, but the address was incorrect. Both Red Ryder 3.0 and the Ultra utility programs are available from The FreeSoft Co., 10828 Lacklink, St. Louis, MO 63114.

Also mentioned in the article was Newkey. a program that lets you redefine the IBM PC keyboard. Newkey can be obtained for $39 from FAB Software, POB 12363, Birmingham, Ml 48012.

We regret these errors.

An editing error in the February BYTE U.K. resulted in our creating a dream product rather than describing the real McCoy. (See "Realizing a Dream" by Dick Pountain. page 379.)

In the first and second columns on page 382. we say that "... a 32K-bit processor is necessary to efficiently manipulate objects ..." and that "by employing some tricky design techniques, including a 64K

{continued)

MAY 1985

IYTE 33

Inquiry 278

MidWcst

Micro-Peripherals

Gigc

Epson

PRICE GUARANTEE

We at MidWesl Micro guarantee that we can save you up to 49% of more on your purchase ot new fully warranteed equipment and supplies And we will still give you friendly. courteous service. Call today and Save With Confidence1

LIST $349

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

EPSON

l*-80 3X5 $269

The new EPSON LX-80 prints smoothly and quietly at a speed of 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 . . . List price

Homewriter 10 (100 cps.NLQ Mode 80 Col). . $288 . $CALL$

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

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

FX-80-H160 cps. 80 Col. 2k Buffer) 699 389

FX-100-H160 cps, 136 Col. 2k Buffer) 999 589

LQ-1500 (200 cps. NLQ Mode. 136 Col.) 1395... SCALLS

brother

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

^HR-15XL$379

Tlie H R-15 gives you Oaisywtieel printing and added attractions such as text reprinting, red priming, attachable cut sheet feeder and the exclusive Brother keyboard attachment. Complete BROTHER Line ... yst

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

HR-15 S HR-15XL Keyboard Attachment 200

HR-25 (23 cps. 16.5" carriage. 3k Buffer) 695

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

Brother 2024 (160 cps, 24 pin head, NLQ Mode) 1495

Your Price

$379 . 169

649 . 899

999

Complete 1.6 Mb SUPER SYSTEM

$1399

JUST

Includes:

•Sanyo computer with 2-800k

quad-density floppy disk drives '1 6 Megabytes ot storage '256k Random Access Memory 'Green of Amber Monitor (Your Choee) •Fast, efficient 16 bit 8088 processor 'Convenient, full function, detachable keyboard 'Centronics parallel printer port "High quality color graphics capabilities 'Flexible MS-DOS Operating System 'Flexible MW OuadDOS 4 Operating System for SS/DD. DS/DD, DS/QD 'Business Management Software

Both Wordstar and Easywnter word processing software packages

Calcstar Software for spreadsheets

Filebase database software

And others' 'Completely set-up and run tested

FREE BONUS

6-Plug surge protected power strip

2 Boxes of 10 brand name Quad-Density Diskettes

Prices subject to change and type errors

—~ FREE CARD USE

Call Today!

Information - Ordering

1-800-423-8215

In Ohio 1-800-321-7731

CUSTOMER SERVICE (513) 663-4992

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

MidWvit Mkro-Pvriphvrali

(Division of infolel. Inc ]

135 South Springfield St

St Pans, Ohio 43072

FIXES AND UPDATES

bit-wide memory bus ..." We ask you to ignore the capital Ks as you read those sentences.

Mathematics Mistake

A pair of bugs appeared in listing 1 of Peter Rice's article Arithmetic on Your PC (See March, page 119.) The superscript ones (Is) in lines 13370 and 13380 on page 124 should have been minus signs. We apologize for this error.

Caption in Error

A photo caption appearing in Jon Edwards's review. Atari 800XL." misidentifies the screen display. (See March, page 268.) The photo actually shows a scene from Electronic Arts' Seven Cities of Gold.

Poke the lie's Drive Delays in the Sixth Slot

Corrections for EPROM Programmer

In figure 2 (page 107) of the February Ciarcia Circuit Cellar, four corrections are necessary. (See "Build a Serial EPROM Programmer.' page 104.)

Make a connection between the RESET line (pin 4) of IC8 and the line between pin 11 of IC7 and pin 2 of IC9.

On the lower right-hand corner. IC12 is a 74LS04, not a 74LS02.

The input to IC7. inverter b. should be labeled pin 3, not pin 13 as it was presented.

Finally, Q3 should be a 2N2905 and not a 2N905.

Also, when using 24-pin EPROMs. insert them into the ZIF socket so that the socket's pins 1 and 2 are empty

Owen Sargent from Chicago. Illinois, has come up with a programming solution to the Apple lie's drive shutoff and start-up delay. For the drive controller in slot 6:

POKE 49386,0 POKE 49387.0 POKE 48385.0

POKE 49384.0

assigns drive 1 assigns drive 2 turns assigned

motor on turns assigned

motor off

Please note that any DOS command that causes the motor to switch on will

Computer Art Contest for Kids

shut it down after execution. If you wish to keep your motor running, insert POKE 49385 immediately after the DOS command.

Mr. Sargent came across this solution in Don Worth and Pieter Lechner's Beneath Apple DOS (Quality Software. Chatsworth. CA: 1981. page 6-2) and Apples Reference Manual for the We Only (Cupertino. CA: 1982, page 128).

I have tested this in a read-print loop," says Sargent, and keeping the motor on increases speeds by 2 5 percent."

West Publishing seeks entries for its First Annual Computer Art Contest for Kids, The theme is "Computers and the Imagination, It is hoped that children will use computers both as subjects and tools.

Both computer graphics and traditional art forms are acceptable. Computer graphics can be programmed by a child or created with a graphics tablet. The contest is open to students in kindergarten through high school. Winners will be announced at the World Conference on Computers for Education. July 29 through August 2. in Norfolk. Virginia. Winners will receive prizes from S50 to $300. The Grand and First Prize winners' schools will receive prizes of $300 and $100. The first 500 entrants and the winners will receive a commemorative T-shirt

Contest entries must be postmarked no later than |une 1. 1985, and mailed to Ann

Kellogg, West Publishing Co.. 4th floor. 201 Castro St.. Mountain View. CA 94041. For further information, complete rules, and an official entry blank, call (800) 532-9378: in California. (4151 969-1283

Alternative Address

In the November 1984 Fixes and Updates, we mentioned the services offered by Video Vision Associates, makers of laserdisc software. (See "Laserdiscs Here Today and With Us Tomorrow," page 33.) We supplied a Huntington Beach, California, address for the firm. While this address is correct, interested readers have had some difficulty reaching the office.

If you have encountered such problems, try contacting Video Vision Associates at its home office: 7 Waverly Place. Madison. NJ 07940, (201) 377-0302. ■

34 BY

MAY 1985

Give Us 3 Months,

And We'll Change Your Company's

Way Of Doing Business Forever.

Presenting a superior communications and information delivery system, CompuServe Interchange.

Finally, there's a way for all those computers out there to really increase your company's productivity.

The breakthrough is Interchange, a superior electronic communications and information delivery system from CompuServe—the premier supplier of business information, electronic mail and network services to major financial institutions, government agencies and FORTUNE 500 companies.

Interchange lets you build and maintain your company's information sources and then disseminate this information to any audience: office staff, sales representatives, customers, distributors, suppliers, purchasing agents—in any combination that is right for your business.

Many corporations and associations in a wide range of industries are already

profiting from Interchange and our electronic mail system, InfoPlex? Borg-Warner Chemicals has increased sales significantly with an Interchange system that (1) supplies technical information,

(2) updates changing trade news, and

(3) allows customers to run interactive, industry-oriented programs.

Heinz U.S A uses CompuServe's electronic mail to communicate sales and promotional information to the company's sales personnel. The speed and accuracy of InfoPlex have resulted in improved customer service and effectiveness.

CompuServe Interchange also allows access to a variety of useful information including stock quotes, the AP newswires, USA TODAY Update, and market research databases.

You can organize and disseminate information, provide electronic mail and much more. And we can help you put it together quickly and efficiently.

And in just 3 months, that can change your company's way of doing business forever.

Inquiry 89

CompuServe Interchange

□ Please send me additional information. |'J Please have a CompuServe representative call me.

Name

Title

Company

City

State

Zip

Business Phone .

CompuServe

CompuServe Interchange P.O. 20212

5000 Arlington Centre Blvd. Columbus, Ohio 43220

800-848-8199

In Ohio call 614-457-0802

705

An H&R Block Company

■

Three

oft

•i«

y's

most

popular

computer

accessories,

Tylenoi

mil gut fei"*' "Jp

cmIiwsm W'"

—-Sftj

Tylenol* is a registered trademark of McNEILAB, INC. Visine* and Ben-Gay* are registered trademarks of Lemming Division, Pfizer Inc.

Do you ever get the feeling that computers are treated with more respect than people?

Everyone talks about technology.

But what about the people who have to use it?

Quite clearly, they're having problems.

Industry publications like PC Magazine have written about those problems.

And now, more than twenty states are currently preparing special computer legislation to force some changes.

You are not a machine.

Computers are designed by engineers.

They usually know a lot about technology but very little about people.

Which is why so many computers often are technically impressive yet strangely unnatural to use.

I Computer-induced I The result

] problems (%) | has been a whole

range of computer-induced problems ranging from stress and fatigue to blurred vision. In Sweden, they have an attitude the

Eye strain

Back pain

Headaches

Shoulder

Hand/wrist

Neck pain

(Source: "Ergonomic

Principles in Office

Automation" Pub.

1983 by E.I.S. AB,

Sweden.)

55% 43% 30% 25% 18% 15%

world is just catching up with.

It's this:

That the machine is the servant of man.

Not the other way around.

That excellent ergonomic design isn't a privilege.

It's a right.

That ergonomics isn't just a noble gesture.

It's good business.

Because computers are only as fast and as accurate as the people who operate them.

If they suffer, so does business.

This attitude has made Ericsson No. 1 in Europe twice over:

First, as the giant of European telecommunications.

Then again as Europe's biggest workstation company by far.

(You couldn't ask for a better marriage of technology for the future.)

Here is one example of how Ericsson got there.

It's the first of a range of computers being introduced in the U.S.A.

The Ericsson P C. It's Ergo-Intelligent.™

Ericsson has spent $300 million finding ways to make people and computers work better together.

Here are some of the results.

Ergo-Screen.™

Aspirin gets rid of a headache.

Ergonomics gets rid of the cause.

The Ericsson PC has a nonglare screen with restful amber characters on a specially developed, low-fatigue background color.

Even the shape of the characters was specially developed to allow easier recognition of difficult letters like O and Q.

On the monochrome monitor, the resolution is double that of IBM's, so clarity is remarkable.

You can even have text and graphics on the same screen.

Ergo-Arm.™

Thousands of people get neck and back pain from inadequate screen height and angle adjustment. The Ericsson ErgoArm lets you move your screen exactly where you want it.

Ergo-Touch.™

Ericsson keys are full-size, and the layout is ergonomically planned for greater speed and accuracy.

Yet the keyboard is 20% more compact and less than half the weight of IBM's.

Even the cord is adjustable to suit left- or right-handers.

Ergo-Color.™

Even the color of the case is ergonomically selected to be restful on the eye over many hours.

Ergo-Space.™

The system unit is one-third smaller than IBM's.

It even fits under your desk in a special vertical rack.

So your desktop is your own again.

IBM Compatible.

Many companies claim to be compatible.

Some are. Some are stretching the truth.

The Ericsson PC boasts the highest compatibility rating there is.

It's operationally compatible.

You can take advantage of thousands of PC-compatible programs already available.

In fact, with the best-selling software, program and data disks are interchangeable with those of the IBM PC.

Service. Not excuses.

Ericsson wouldn't give you anything less than on-site or carryin service. The choice is yours.

3 Free Offers.

Ericsson will send you revealing literature on ergonomics.

Also a detailed brochure on the Ericsson PC.

And arrange a hands-on test if you ask for it.

Call toll-free 1-800-FOR-ERGO.

ERICSSON ^

IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corp.

Inquiry 159

MAY 1985 'BYTE 37

Ours

INTRODUCING

NEAR iemR QUALITY ANP THROUGH PUT SPeWS

cmea mmtfis cant

COME NEAR.

The new C.ltoh ProWriter 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.ltoh 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. Reliability 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.ltoh 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.

" ProWriter is a Trademark of C (ton Digital Products, Inc ^Epson is a Registered Trademark of Epson, America. Inc. & 1985 C Itoh Digital Products, Inc.

A>

Theirs

O 1984 News Group Chicago. Inc

C.IT0H

Printers

38 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 60 for Dealers. Inquiry 61 for End-Users.

WHAT'S NEW

Kaypro 2000 Features Detachable Keyboard

The Kaypro 2000 is an 11-pound batterypowered portable computer with a detachable 75-key keyboard. Standard are a single 720K-byte floppy-disk drive, one RS-232C serial port, a real-time clock/ calendar, an 80-character by 2 5-line liquid-crystal display (LCD), bundled software, and 2 56K bytes of memory (expandable to 640K bytes using standard NMOS chips). Optionally, you can add an 8087 chip on the main board. An internal 300/ 1200-bps modem is also available.

Kaypro says that the unit's batteries will last approximately four hours in normal use. Tb conserve power, the unit automatically powers down when no activity occurs in one minute or when the cover is closed (without losing data or programs in RAM), and the disk drives are turned off when not actually reading or writing data. The Kaypro 2000 uses Phoenix's IBM PC-compatible ROM BIOS and can run virtually any program for the IBM Personal Computer. Graphics images are displayed with a resolution of 640 by 200 pixels.

The Kaypro 2000 measures about 12'/2 by 2% by 11 inches when closed. An optional "base unit" for the Kaypro 2000 is planned. The base unit will allow use of additional floppy- and/or hard-disk drives, an external monitor, a parallel printer,

wii^sSBBisimmmmmmmiiii^

The Kaypro 2000s keyboard is detachable.

and other IBM-compatible peripherals.

The Kaypro 2000 should be available in June for SI995. Contact Kaypro Corp., POB N, Del Mar, CA 92014, (619) 481-4300. Inquiry 600.

Mac COBOL Has ANSI 74, Allows Access to Mac ROM

Micro Focus's Mac COBOL is the first version of COBOL for Apple's Macintosh. Mac COBOL includes an editor, a full ANSI 74 compiler, a 68000 objectcode generator, and access to 386 of the Macintosh

ROM routines. Any COBOL program written for Micro Focus's IBM PC compiler will run on the Macintosh without modification, although programmers can add features to take advantage of the Macintosh's user interface.

Micro Focus also plans to give Mac COBOL a debugging tool, a forms generator, a help facility, and access to all 512 of the Macintosh ROM routines. Buyers of Mac COBOL version 1.0 will receive an upgrade to the next version free of charge.

Mac COBOL is priced at $2000. Contact Micro Focus Inc., 2465 East Bayshore Rd.. Palo Alto. CA 94303. (415) 856-4161. Inquiry 601.

Graphics Software for HP Touchscreen and IBM PC

Hewlett-Packard has announced two families of software: one for its Touchscreen Personal Computer (formerly the HP 150) and the other for the IBM PC.

A majority of the programs for the Touchscreen Personal Computer are centered around business graphics and are designed to work with HP's line of plotters, and the InkJet and the Laserlet printers.

The Charting Gallery ($265) lets you make various charts. The Drawing Gallery ($345) is a MacDraw-type drawing program that can use the HP Mouse ($210). The Executive MemoMaker ($24 5) is supplied with a spelling checker, and it lets you incorporate graphics from the Charting and Drawing Galleries into text documents.

Most of the programs unveiled for the IBM PC are versions of programs already available for the Touchscreen PC. Among the releases are the MemoMaker word processor ($160) and the Personal Card File database ($160). Also offered is TextCharts ($200), which lets you create presentation-quality signs and transparencies on HP's plotters and printers.

For further information, contact your local HewlettPackard sales office. Inquiry 602.

{continued)

MAY 1985 'BYTE

39

WHAT'S NEW

Business-Pro Runs AT Software

Texas Instruments' Business-Pro can be configured to run IBM PC AT and TI's Professional Computer software. This 80286-based tool has 5I2K bytes of RAM expandable to 3.5 megabytes without consuming any of its eight full- or six half-size card slots or to 15 megabytes using card slots. Memory speed is 150 nanoseconds.

Storage options are 360Kbyte or 1.2-megabyte floppy drives, a 60-megabyte tape backup, or 21-. 40-. or 72-megabyte hard disks.

The DOS is MS-DOS 3.0 for one person or XENIX for up to eight users. Languages supported are MSBASIC MS-Pascal. MS-FORTRAN. MS- and RM/COBOL. LISP, C, and assembly.

Networking is provided by EtherLink hardware, supported by NetWare/E-Tl software. As a workstation, it'll serve up to 50 micros sharing 144 megabytes of storage, a tape backup, and three printers.

An 80287 coprocessor, a mouse, speech technology, and communications hardware and software are optional.

With a serial/parallel interface and a 1.2-megabyte floppy-disk drive, the base unit is $3995. A 2i-megabyte Winchester drive increases the price to $5795. Other configurations will range from $4440 to $10,785. Network servers will be offered. Contact Texas Instruments Inc.. Data Systems Group. POB 809063. Dallas, TX 753809063, (800) 527-3 500 Inquiry 603

1 ^■■HRHIUSI

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^j

«m»° 1

r

—-— 88 ■

1 s

5if***

;■■ ■■■ 1

- - ■■ »

,J

The H0TMS 3000 series is a system solution for test engineers.

Systems Solution for Test, Measurement, Analysis

Honeywell's HOTMS 3000 Series, a systems solution for the test and measurement environment, is said to be easy to operate, capable of a wide variety of measurements, and able to produce on-site test results with its highperformance architecture and powerful data-analysis software. With an HoTMS 3000, a test engineer works with a complete data-acquisition system designed to manage all aspects of testing, such as the initial design, measurement, data analysis, and communications. The price for a fully configured HOTMS 3000 begins at $20,000: cost varies depending upon your application.

HoTMS 3000 is a modular series built around a multiprocessor-based microcomputer. The computer has a distributed bus architecture that uses four Motorola MC68000 microprocessors. It runs under Regulus, a UNIX-like operating system with real-time extensions. Regulus supports BASIC, Pascal, FORTRAN, and C The six system cards com

municate across a VME bus in a multitasking environment. Three card slots are available for a communications card or for up to 8 megabytes of RAM.

Each HoTMS has a socalled mechanical support structure with a rackmountable, tabletop enclosure and a 17-slot card cage. The card cage has a 9-slot computer card rack and an 8-slot signalconditioning card rack. The signal-conditioning front end can handle a continuous system throughput of up to 160,000 samples per second. A series of analog and digital signal-conditioning cards offering a range of input and output options complements the data-collection bus.

Other features of the main housing are a 9-inch amber monitor and a built-in multifunction keypad. Each comes standard with a 5!4-inch floppy-disk drive and a choice of a second floppy drive and a 36- or 86-megabyte hard-disk drive. The power for all devices in the main unit is supplied by a 640-watt power supply

that comes in a variety of voltages and frequencies. An external VT-200-style keyboard and a 13-inch external color monitor are optional.

Major system functionality is provided by Operator Interface Devices, which are supported by several userinterface programs. These programs provide a consistent set of menu interfaces to the system and a plug-in structure for software modules. The modules are offered as either integral parts of each HOTMS or as upgrade options.

For information on hardware and software options and system configurations, contact Honeywell Inc.. Test Instruments Division, POB 5227, Denver. CO 802175227. Inquiry 604.

GRiDCase Family of Portables

GRiD Systems has introduced three IBM PCcompatible portables: the GRiDCase I. II. and III. Members of this family are nearly identical, differing mainly in display-screen apparatus. The GRiDCase III, for example, has a highclarity gas-plasma display, while the low-end GRiDCase I uses an LCD. The GRiDCase II features an enhanced LCD screen, according to the manufacturer.

GRiD claims that, unlike the Compass, the new GRiDCase models are highly compatible with the IBM PC. The company cites the new line's ability to run Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft's Flight Simulator as proof of compatibility.

Each GRiDCase comes with a 720K-byte floppy-disk drive, an interface for an RGB monitor, and a standard-size typewriter keyboard. Options include

[continued)

40 BYTE- MAY 1985

%

«•/,

**>%

•*^>

They said it couldn't be Borland Did It. Turbo 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 computers 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 16Bit computer and are serious about programming, you might as well get both options right away and save almost $25.

O 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 ot 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 ol 1.0.

The best just got better: Introducing Turbo Pascal 3.0

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 additional 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 runtime library into just 39K bytes of randomaccess memory"

Jerry Poumelle, BYTE: "What I 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.

So, to make your upgrade to the exciting new version of Turbo Pascal 3.0 easy, we will accept your original Turbo Pascal disk (in a bend-proof container) for a trade-in credit of $39.95 and your Turbo87 original disk for $59.95. This trade-in credit may only be applied toward the purchase of Turbo Pascal 3.0 and its additional BCD and 8087 options (trade-in offer is only valid directly through Borland and until June 1st. 1985).

V t \

Aval

lable

neai

rest you

*&&&'

>•»'

.luHv

°e sys'ef,,!

put*

Com^, ^,6D"msdos

I Use <- cP/MWjjSdeie jters My '

omP"'

.■ na"11

e/moc'

orde'

,nt the ;end

$ 6995 $10990

SUM*!! (c,edit Cla""*1 '

yesi i

Please5

Pascal3°

Pascal"'

1

.,24 96f

smpP™' orders ed

\

1

B

BORlPnD

INTERNATIONAL

Softwares Newest Direction

4585 Scotts Valley Drive Scotts Valley. CA 95066 TELEX 172373

Turbo Pascal is a reQisteieo Oa&maiK ol Borland International, inc.

PC Week is a trademark ot Ziff-Davis Pub. Co.

Inquiry 455 for Dealers. Inquiry 456 for End-Users.

WHAT'S NEW

an external 5!4-inch floppydisk drive, an internal 1200-bps modem, and a battery pack that lasts from one to five hours, depending on which model is being used.

Prices range from approximately $3000 for the GRiDCase I to about $4500 for the GRiDCase III. Contact GRiD Systems Corp.. 2535 Garcia Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043. (415) 961-4800. Inquiry 605.

Integrated CAD System for IBM

CADKey. a two- and three-dimensional design and drafting tool for 512K-byte IBM PCs. PC XTs. and PC ATs, is said to be the only IBM PC-based system with true three-dimensional capabilities fully integrated with two-dimensional drafting abilities.

You can use CADKey to draw in three dimensions and to convert those images into two-dimensional drawings that conform to ANSI and ISO standards. Once you create a three-dimensional image, you can automatically view it from any angle. If you modify a design. CADKey automatically updates all views.

CADKey drawings appear as wireframe representations. For a solid appearance, hidden lines can be trimmed. All parts, families of parts, and drawings can be stored, automatically scaled to size, and retrieved from disk within the program. All entities making up an image can be manipulated individually or as a group, and any entity or group of entities can be altered at will. Entities to be transformed may be

Sample screen produced by CADKey.

selected by cursor position, last created, type, level, and windowing, and you can use geometric relationships between entities for selection, construction, transformation, editing, and dimensioning.

Any part, section of a part, or group of parts can be rotated, scaled, or moved along any of three coordinate axes by userselected angle, distance, or factor. Both numerical and interactive methods are supported, and zoom and pan features are provided.

CADKey uses English-language menus. Commands can be tailored to suit your needs. The program supports 640- by 420-dot resolution. 2 56 levels, and 16 colors and accepts input from a digitizer, mouse, function keys, and keyboard. Among its other features are quick selection and repaint, the ability to use disk space as virtual memory, and the ability to accommodate parts exceeding 10.000 entities.

CADKey is $1895. Contact Micro Control Systems Inc., 27 Hartford Turnpike. Vernon. CT 06066, (203) 647-0220. Inquiry 606.

Laser Printer Produces Full-Page, High-Resolution Graphics

Corporate Data Sciences' CDS 2300. a $5695 laser printer, can store and print a full 8'/2- by 11-inch image with a resolution of 90.000 dots per square inch. It uses Canon's LBP-CX standard laser-printer engine, augmented with an 8-MHz 80186 processor, 1.28 megabytes of bit-mapped RAM for images. 128K bytes of system RAM. and I28K bytes of ROM.

In addition to several CDS fonts provided for use in the bit-mapped image mode, the CDS 2300 can emulate a Diablo 630 daisy-wheel printer, a Tektronix 4014 graphics terminal, and the ANSI X3.64 protocol. Once a bit-mapped image is loaded into the printer, copies can be produced at

a rate of eight per minute. Both RS-232C serial and Centronics parallel interfaces are supplied.

CDS also sells a Graphics Display/Processor (GD/P). an intelligent graphics terminal for the IBM PC. The GD/P workstation costs $4995.

Also newly available from CDS is a graphics terminal called Whizzie (an abbreviated form of "what you see is what you get"). This $1995 terminal has a 17-inch display and an interface card for the IBM PC XT or AT, but it does not have the intelligence or the advanced capabilities of the GD/P. Like the GD/R Whizzie displays a 1024- by 1024- pixel image exactly as the laser printer will produce it.

Contact Corporate Data Sciences Inc.. Suite 102. 2 560 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054, (408) 980-9747. Inquiry 607

Cermetek Unveils 3-line. 1200-bps Multiplexer

Cermetek Microelectronics' 3X1200 Multiplexer lets three users communicate at 1200 bps over a single telephone line, reducing phone bills by as much as two-thirds. This statistical multiplexer uses the Hayes AT command set and can serve as a single-user 1200-bps modem. When two 3X1200s are connected by a phone line, users at any of the six RS-232C serial ports can communicate with any other port and share peripherals.

The 3X1200 supports switched multiplexing: Users can opt to communicate with any port at any time instead of being tied to a

{continued}

42 B YTE • MAY 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.

InfoWorld Report Card 19S4 by Popular Computing, htr.. a subsidiary ofCW Cnniniuniratious hie. Reprinted from

InfoWnrld. lOBO Marsh Road,

Menio Park. CA 94025.

Jerry Pournelle, BYTE: "If you use a PC, get SideKick. You'll 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 WordStar'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. .

BDADIAAT\ Software's Newest Direction ■ MV/KUll IU 4S8S s«*ts W* "rive ■

INTERNATIONAL telex mh

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

'Selected by InfoWorld as the most significant software product of the year. Inquiry 457 for Dealers. Inquiry 458 for End-Users.

WHAT'S NEW

single channel. Its system software provides error checking and retransmission of garbled data. System parameters can be reset remotely, even though they are password-protected. The 3X1200 also keeps activity statistics on all ports.

The Cermetek 3X1200 is priced at $1395. Contact Cermetek Microelectronics Inc.. 1308 Borregas Ave. POB 3565. Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3 565, (408) 752-5000. Inquiry 608.

Integrated Software for Macintosh

Microsoft's first integrated package. Excel for the Macintosh, has spreadsheet and graphics capabilities, a spreadsheetoriented database, and a macro facility for storing and recalling commonly used keystrokes. It supports the AppleTalk network and provides two-way file compatibility with Multiplan and Chart for the Macintosh, Lotus 1-2-3 for the IBM PC. and applications that support Microsoft's SYLK format.

The Excel spreadsheet provides you with a 2 56column by 16.384-row work area. You can view and reference multiple spreadsheets, consolidate worksheets, enter multiplevariable problems or situations, and vary the borders, number formats, and font styles and size. You can assign names to cell references, numbers, and mathematical expressions and call four windows into a worksheet. You can produce instant "what if' graphics with Excels charting abilities, which are functionally iden

Excel is Microsoft's first integrated package.

tical to Microsoft's Chart for the Mac. Excel files can be read directly into Chart, and Excel can read Chart files When you alter numbers in a spreadsheet window, charts in separate windows are instantly updated. For data comparisons, you can open more than one chart window for the same or different data. The charting facility also has 42 predesigned charts, the ability to relocate objects on screen, and your choice of font, range, scale, and patterns.

The database is an ancillary function of Excels spreadsheet. With it, you can sort, extract, and display information in a variety of ways. The database lacks form- and report-design capabilities: however. Excels formatting capabilities let you create reports. It does let you remove data for analysis in a different section of your work area.

Excels suggested retail price is $395. It requires 512K bytes of memory and will work with the Macintosh XL. Contact Microsoft. 10700 Northrup Way. Bellevue WA 98009. (206) 828-8080. Inquiry 609.

Test, Measurement Tools

Hewlett-Packard's PC Instruments are peripheral devices that give you the ability to run test or measurement applications from the same computer you use to write reports. Modular tools that work with the HP Touchscreen and IBM's PC, PC XT. and PC AT computers, the PC Instruments line consists of eight units, several software packages, and accessories. A typical micro can support up to eight modules, and additional modules can be engaged with more interface cards.

Current members of the line are a digitizing oscilloscope, a digital multimeter, a function generator, a universal counter, a 16-channel digital I/O. a relay multiplexer, a dual-voltage D/A converter, and a relay actuator. Each is housed in a stackable plastic box with its own external power supply

Key to PC Instruments, says Hewlett-Packard, is its

system software. The software operates with a single HP PC1B interface card inside the computer, provides the user interface and instrument I/O drivers, and gives you control over instrument modules. It has dataconversion utilities and supports three data-conversion formats (BASIC, DIE and stripped ASCII) that order acquired data for use with such programs as Lotus 1-2-3 and Statpak.

In its manual mode, the software displays an instrument's control panel on screen along with multiple windows. The windows let you monitor the status of several instruments, fiddle with instrument settings, and oversee the entire operation. The software supports the Touchscreen, an IBM PC mouse, and cursor keys. Instrument initialization parameters can be stored and recalled

The progam mode lets you exercise control over each instrument through calls to the BASIC subroutine library. A pair of generic commands. Output and Measure, are used to program all the instruments.

Optional data-acquisition software lets you start logging and plotting data immediately. This menu-driven BASIC package has an engineering-graphics utility. Software libraries that permit the Touchscreen and IBMs to control up to 15 PC Instruments in a BASIC environment are available.

PC Instruments are priced between $650 and $1500. The PCIB interface and system software are $500. The optional I/O library is $300 for the Touchscreen and $400 for the IBM PC. Contact your local HewlettPackard dealer. Inquiry 610.

[continued on page 464)

44 BYTE

MAY 1985

, Power, Price. 3orland's Turbo Pascal Family.

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 protessional programmers than any other development environment in the history of microcomputing. And yet. Turbo Pascal is simple and fun to use!

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 29K bytes of random-access memory"

Jerry Pourneile 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!

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

Jeny Pourneile, 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 really 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 lovejhe sections detailing subjects such as "how to use assembly 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 programming you'll ever need

^'ab!!alTrorderWCredlt

Tall (80°) 5S28CA(800)

$6995 $10990

$34.95

Pascal ***>*%£* $ 5495

WW^^ $34.95 Tu*oTO,°^es^ludefn orders

i 1

K:

RORIQftr^ Software's Newest Direction

■* V^n WM ■■» 4585 Scotts Valley Drive

INTERNATIONAL %l?xw%3A95C66

Inquiry 459 for Dealers. Inquiry 460 for End-Users

Turbo Pascal is a registered trademark of Borland Internationa). Inc

Borland Does It Again: SuperKey $69.95

Sure, ProKey™ is a nice little Turbo Pascal and SideKick expect the

program. But when the people who brought you get serious about keyboard enhancers, you can 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"

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 unchanged) 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 exchange 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 wordprocessor-like window where you're allowed to see, edit, delete, save and even attach names to an individual macro or file of macros, and much more.

PRICE

Sony ProKey!

Superb software at reasonable prices!

There is much more to SuperKey. Maybe the best reason to buy SuperKey is that it is a Borland International Product. Each one of our products is the best in its category. We only believe in absolutely superb software at reasonable prices!

An offer you can't refuse.

Whether you are a ProKey user or you've never used a keyboard enhancer before, your boat has come in. You can get your copy of SuperKey at this irresistible price.

Get your PC a SuperKey today!

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

t

BORIAOD

INTERNATIONAL

Software's Newest Direction

4585 Scons Valley Drive Scotts Valley, CA 95066 TELEX 172th

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Macnine Corporation. ProKey is a trademark ol RoseSoft. SuperKey and SdeKlck are trademarks of Borland international. Inc. CompuServe is a trademark ot CompuServe Corp.

Inquiry 461 for Deafens. Inquiry 462 for End-Users.

ASK BYTE

Conducted by Steve Garcia Intelligent Disk Drive

Dear Steve,

How about an intelligent disk drive that will interface through an RS-232C port? It might be useful in solving format incompatibilities.

Russ Shall Key West, FL

An intelligent disk drive with an RS-232C serial port is a good idea, and I will consider it for a future article

Such products are already on the market. One such device, the SEED I from Mariachi Oy (Puutarhakatu 17. SF-20100 Turku 10, Finland), interfaces an RS-232C serial port with an Apple II disk drive. It allows data to be taken or transferred without the need for the computer itself. The disk can then be put into an Apple II system and booted to retrieve the data.

Another unit is the FDS-200 Minifile from Greco Systems (372 Coogan Way El Cajon, CA 92020). It. too, can be interfaced to an RS-232C port and will store data directly on a 5'A-inch floppy disk. It is an intelligent minifloppy-disk system that can store up to 179K bytes per disk.—Steve

Computers and the Disabled

Dear Steve.

I am a student at the University of South Alabama who is working on a project to help a quadriplegic communicate. Here is the nature of the problem. We are hoping to translate jaw pressures to menuselection responses. The menu could consist of words that could be sent to a speech synthesizer. I am using an IBM PC clone (a Columbia) and need suggestions as to what interface and other peripheral devices to acquire for a speech synthesizer. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated

Ron Lindquist Mobile. AL

Helping the disabled is one of the most rewarding areas for microcomputer experimenters. I wish you success.

You can acquire two basic types of speech synthesizers for the Columbia: a plug-in board or one that is connected through a serial or parallel port. The plugin type ties up a slot, so this may be a consideration in your choice. Tecmar makes a speech board for PCs, as does MSI. Add-on types include two models from Votrax Identical units are available assembled from Intex and in kit form from Micromint. Some of these units have speakers built in: others would require you to add your own.

Although you did not mention it specifically in your letter. I assume that your input device will be interfaced through the game adapter port. This would probably be the simplest and cheapest way to go. Simple microswitches could be used to initiate the selection process.

I hope that this is of some help. A lot of planning beforehand is much better than a lot of kludges later! I have listed the addresses of the referenced manufacturers for your convenience

Micromint Inc. 561 Willow Ave. Cedarhurst. NY 11516 (800) 645-3479

Street Electronics 1140 Mark Ave. Carpinteria. CA 93013 (805) 684-4593

Tecmar

6225 Cochran Rd. Solon. OH 44139 1216) 349-0600

—Steve

Stereoscopic Graphics

Dear Steve,

Can you refer me to a source of mathematical formulas for generating trueperspective proportions from elevations and for reducing right-eye images to lefteye offsets for three-dimensional imagery? I have never seen a discussion of the mathematical relationships.

I can take a lead pencil and produce drawings that merge beautifully into threedimensional images, even without a

viewer, but 1 can't explain to my computer how to do it without the mathematical base, and it is crucial to a project I'm working on. Unfortunately, I'm more of an artist than I am a theoretical mathematician.

B. R. Pocue Thatcher. AZ

Creative Computing magazine ran a two-part article. "Stereo Graphics," by John D Fowler in the January and February 1983 issues. It seems to be exactly what you are looking for. The article describes the math briefly and gives a program in TRS-80 Color Computer BASIC to produce some stereo pictures.

Another article, which gets into the math of perspective drawing and rotation, is "Three Dimensional Apple Graphics" by Mark Pelczarski. in the February 1982 issue of Creative Computing.—Steve

Transorbs Better

Dear Steve,

In your article on power-line conditioning (December 1983), you recommended the use of MOVs (metal-oxide varistors) for transient voltage suppression. I believe I have located a better device for this—the Transorb by General Semiconductor.

I learned about this device while designing a burglar alarm, which my company sells, I tried zeners, then MOVs, to eliminate power glitches caused by the cycling of refrigerator motors, incandescent lamps, and the like. The zeners were useless because they didn't clamp with the high-voltage values. The MOVs were a little better, but the clamping voltage for a 15-V-rated device might still rise to 30 or 40 V under actual clamping currents.

1 tried the Transorbs. and they worked perfectly. I now use them exclusively in all my products. They cost about 50 cents apiece, so they're less expensive than MOVs.

Logan Cresap

Square Roots

Dear Steve.

Recently, one of your readers complained that his computer could not deter

{continued)

48 BYTE- MAY 1985

COPYRIGHT © 1985 STEVEN A CIARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WORD PROCESSORS AT THE LEADING EDGE

Ah, the great ones...

They organized their ideas, their intuitions, their idioms They set them down, sorted them out, arranged them and re-arranged them till they came out right.

They used small scraps of paper to record huge hunks of Truth; primitive tools to produce profound prose. But when the words finally went forth, they

made indelible marks on all who read them.

The amazing thing is that these monumental processors of words, did it without the benefit of monumental help.

Like Leading Edge Word Processing: the easiest to use, yet most potent piece of software ever created to take full advantage of all the power inherent, but until now un-tapped, in today's

most sophisticated personal computer (Like the IBM" PC and the even faster and more powerful Leading Edge" PC.)

The heart and soul of it is a 51/4" floppy disk, elegantly logical instruction manual and documentation .. everything. And what you end up with is word processing at the leading edge

LEADING EDGE WORD PROCESSING FROM $100

IBM IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF INTERNATIONAL. BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION LEADING EDGE IS A TRADEMARK OF LEADING EDGE PRODUCTS. INCORPORATED

Inquiry 236

MAY 1985 -BYTE 49

The Silver Fox Trors through Lotus like 1,2,0

The Silver Fox is not IBM-PC DOS compatible yet it runs hundreds of MS-DOS programs including Lotus 1,2,3, dBASE II, Multiplan, and even Flight Simulator.

The Silver Fox does not have IBM compatible expansion slots but you can add printers, serial ports, modems, 10-40 Mb. hard disks, clock calendar cards, RAM, joysticks, an 8087 coprocessor, and more.

MORE HARDWARE

What makes the Silver Fox unique, however, isn't what you can add to it, but what comes with it. Each Silver Fox comes with an 8088 CPU, 2nGK of RAM, four video ports, and a printer port. Plus you get more than twice the storage of a standard PC, 1.6 Megabytes on a dual bVt" floppys, and the Fox will read and write to standard 160K, 320K, and 360K IBM-PC formats.

Standard equipment also includes a better keyboard, and a 12" high-resolution, green monochrome monitor, with a full 25x80 column display.

Because the Silver Fox is born on Sanyo's totally automated line in Japan it is simply more reliable than PC's that are assembled by hand. So we back each Silver Fox with a one year limited warranty, four times the industry standard.

FREE SILVERWARE

Were this not enough, each Fox comes with the best free software bundle in the business including:

MS-DOS 2.11 Wordstar 3.3 FILEBASE

HAGEN-DOS Easy Writer PC File III

Color BASIC Mail Track PD Disk

GW BASIC Spell Datemate

OS Tutor Games & Graphics CalcStar

If you didn't think your

$1397

could buy this much computer, call our machine at

1-800-FOPAFOX

leave your name and address, at the beep, and

we'll rush you a booklet that will tell you how it can.

To order call

Scottsdole Systems, Lrd

617 N Scorrsdole M #0. Scorrsdole Az 85257

EH(602) 941 -5856 S

CoIorFox

$1647

Thf Silver Fox is sold exclusively by Scottsdale Systems Ltd., 617 N. Scottsdale Road #11, Scottsdale. AZ 85257. Trademarks: Silver Fox, HAC.KN-DOS. and Datemate, Scottsdale Systems Ltd.; WordStar and CalcStar, Micropro International; MS-DOS, and Multiplan. Microsoft Corporation: FILEBASK, KWDP 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 suhject to limited supply. We accept purchase orders 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 'i weeks to clear. No COD's or APO's.

ASK BYTE

mine square roots accurately, even for arguments that were perfect squares. You solved his problem by testing each result to see if it was very nearly an integer: IF ABS(R-INT(R+0.5) ) < (small value) THEN (something). This worked more or less well, depending upon (small value) and a particular computer.

It seems I am spoiled because the computer 1 use most, the TI-99/4A. always takes the square roots of perfect squares perfectly. Actually I stopped the test after 1 = 500000 for: IFSQR(1*I)<> I THEN (we are in trouble).

Your solution was slightly bothersome because of the judgment required in selecting the small value. If it is too small, it rejects legitimate square roots: if it is too large, it accepts erroneous roots.

Naturally. I could not test any new ideas on the T1-99/4A. but I also have a Commodore 64 and other family members have other computers. On all of them, the square-root function could be made perfect with

B = SQR(a) B = (B + A/B)/2

The tested domain was small as compared to my test of the TI-99/4A (to a half million).

Later, 1 found a way to cause the T1-99/4A to take poor square roots with

B = EXP(LOG(A)/2)

These could be made perfect with adding

B = (B + A/B)/2

Oddly. B = AT(l/2) gives slightly different results from B - EXP(LOG(A)/2) when one would guess them to be identical.

I did discover a cute way to cure the symptom for any computer with guard digits. The TI-99/4A has 3 guard digits (it shows 10 digits out of 13 or 14), and the C64 has a single guard digit (it shows 9 digits out of 10):

B = SQR(A)

B = VAL(STR$(B))

This scheme is nice because it adjusts itself for a particular computer and for the relative magnitude of A and B.

Webb Simmons San Diego. CA

AIM-65 Peripherals

Dear Steve.

To avoid the expense of a disk drive. I wish to connect a cassette recorder to my AIM-65 computer. Is there a BYTE article that shows how to accomplish this? Also,

is there a circuit that can interface my AIM-65 to a video monitor?

KWAME A|ANAKU

Grand Prairie, TX

A simple means of modifying a standard audio cassette recorder for direct digital recording appeared in the October 1978 BYTE. A Simpler Digital Cassette Tape Interface." by Ralph W. Burhans, describes a simple circuit that should meet your requirements.

The output of a basic AIM-65 cannot be directly interfaced to a video monitor because it doesn't have a video generator. This is a circuit that takes ASCII data from the system bus and converts it to a string of bits to produce the dots that make up the characters on the screen. It also produces the horizontal and vertical sweep sync pulses to synchronize the character bits. Rockwell sells a CRT controller module for the AIM-65. part /RM65-5I02, but if you'd rather build one yourself, read my Circuit Cellar article "Build the Term-Mite ST Smart Terminal" in the January 1984 BYTE. This circuit uses the National Semiconductor NS455A Terminal Management Processor, which provides all the signals necessary to drive a video monitor and produces an 80-column by 25-line display—Steve

VIC-20 Bar-Code Readers

Dear Steve.

Do you know of any bar-code readers for the VIC-20? If not. do you know of any books or magazine articles that explain how to build one?

Colin C Kelley )r. Piedmont, CA

I am not aware of any bar-code readers specifically designed for the VIC-20, but several readers on the market interface with an RS-232C serial port. Such a port can be added to the VIC-20, either through a commercial accessory or via an article in the May 1983 BYTE, "The Enhanced VIC-20, Part 4: Connecting Serial RS-232C Peripherals to the VICs TTL Port" by Joel Swank.

Two bar-code readers that interface to an RS-232C serial port are

The D2 Series Mini Bar Code Reader Skan-a-Matic Corp. POB S, Route 5 West Elbridge, NY 13060 (3151 689-3961

{continued)

50

BVTt • MAY 1985

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

j* - M *Ai *n* *A* mjy- <r*»

r itm

NEVER AGAIN WRITE SOURCE CODE FOR SCREEN DISPLAYS! If you LIKE Turbo Pascal*, you'll LOVE TURBO SCREEN™!

ired of writing line after line of source code just to create effective screen displays and error-proof data handling? hen 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!

TURBO SCREEN

TM

• 100 Fields per screen, and up to 80 screens in your application.

• One screen or eighty, the size of your program doesn't change.

• I/O field 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!"

PflSCOM COMPUTING

23611 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 101 Cleveland, Ohio 44122

heck

loney Order

isa

TURBO SCREEN™ package $49.95 Plus Ship. (UPS) 5.00

Total $54.95

laster Card, ard #

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

; "'"; C& ONLY —Call TOLL-FREE: 1-800-243-1849 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: Disk Format:

Name:

Address:

City: State Zip

xp. Date:

Telephone:

Ohio residents add 6Vi % 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.

FINALLY! MAIL ORDER SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON!

BUSINESS SOFTWARE

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT PLUS RELIABLE PERSONALIZED SERVICE AND WE'LL STILL BEAT MOST PRICES IN THIS MAGAZINE!

WORDSTAR PROPAK

$243

SYMPHONY

$409

SIDEKICK (C.P.)

$35

SUPERCALC 3

WORD PERFECT

LOTUS 1-2-3

$189 $235 $295

AID

Typequick

ALPHA SOFTWARE

Data Base Manager 2

ANDERSON-BELL

Abstat

ASHTON-TATE

DBase II

DBase III

Framework

Friday

ATI

Training Word Star

Training dBase III

BPI

General Ledger

General Accounting

295

395

495 695 695 295

75 75

595 595

BORLAND INTERNATIONAL

Toolbox 54

Turbo Pascal 54

CDEX

Advanced Lotus 1-2-3

CHANG UBS

Rags to Riches Ledger

CONDOR

Condor 3

CONTINENTAL SOFTWARE

Home Accountant Plus 150

DIGITAL MARKETING

Writers Pak

Milestone (PC)

Datebook II

Proofreader

DIGITAL RESEARCH

Concurrent PC DOS

ENERTRONICS

Energraphics

Plotter Option

FOX & GELLER

DGraph

dUtil

Quickcodellor III

FUNK

Sideways 60 39

70

4«

650

250

250

150

50

295

350 100

295

99

295

85

169

267

CALL CALL CALL CALL

45 45

399 399

35 35

45

79

239

89

165

165 98 38

239

259 55

145 58 145

HARVARD SOFTWARE

Harvard Project Mgr

Harvard Total Project Mgr

HUMAN EDGE

Mind Prober

IUS

Easy System II

General Ledger

Accounts Payable

KOALA

Touch Tablet (PC)

MacVision

LEXISOFT

Spellbinder

LIFETREE

Volkswriter Deluxe

LIVING VIDEO TEXT INC.

Think Tank (IBM)

Think Tank (Mac)

MDBS

Knowledgeman

K Paint

KGraph

MECA

Managing Your Money

MICROGRAFX

PC Draw

MICROPRO

WordStar

SpellStar

CorrectStar

MailMerge

InloStar

WordStar 2000

WordStar 2000 Plus

MICRORIM

R Base 4000

Extended Report Writer

Clout

MICROSOFT

Multiplan

Chart (MAC)

Project

395 229

495 299

50 35

395 184

595 295

595 295

150 95

400 249

495 239

295 158

195 109

150 99

500 275

100 65

225 145

199 119

395 289

350 179

99 55

195 98

110 99

MICROSTUFF

Crosstalk

MONOGRAM

Dollars and Sense (IBM) 179

Dollars and Sense (Mac) 149

MULTIMATE INTERNATIONAL

Mullimate 495 253

OASIS

Word Plus

Punctuation and Style

PEACHTREE

Peachtext 5000

Business Graphics System 295

Peachpak 4 395

PETFR NORTON

Norton Utilities (Vers 3.0)100

PRENTICE-HALL

Execuvision 395 299

PRO TEM SOFTWARE

Notebook II

1C>0 150

425

105 95

185 219 199

65

Footnote ROSESOFT Prokey SAMNA Word III SORCIM SuperCalc 2 Super Project

189 99

123

130 79

550 295

295 395

154 219

349

145 99

99 55

250 199 CALL CALL

495 259 150 109 250 135

195 139 125 99 250 179

SOFTWARE PRODUCTS INT L

Open Access 695

SOFTWARE PUBLISHING

PFS File or Write 140 85

SSI

Word Perlect 495 249

TELOS

Filevision (Mac) 195 125

TYLOG

dBase Window 249 155

WARNER SOFTWARE INC.

The Desk Organizer 195 129

WOOLF SYSTEMS

Move It 150 85

Free UPS shipping on orders over $1,000.00

CALL FOR PRODUCTS YOU DON'T SEE HERE! CALL FOR OUR FREE CATALOG

TERMS:

• Call lor shipping charges and support policies

• Full guarantee against manufacturers defects

• Allow 3 weeks for checks to clear

• Prices may change

• Call for availability

• No cash refunds!

Due to our low prices, all sales final.

TO ORDER CALL TOLL-FREE:

(800) 235-3020 (USA)

(800) 235-3021 (CA)

(415) 382-9085

BUSINESS SOFTWARE

448 IGNACIO BLVD., STE. 332 NOVATO, CA 94947

SAME DAY SHIPMENT ON MOST ORDERS Prompt UPS service Authorized purchase orders accepted

Dealer, institutional and quantity discounts available No surcharge for credit card purchases ' VISA & Mastercard accepted COD

ASK BYTE

SRD Corporation Model BCR-170 SRD USA Liaison Office 999 North Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 314

El Segundo. CA 90245 1213) 417-5114 —Steve

32-bit Computer Design

Dear Steve,

I want to design a 32-bit computer using the 32032 processor. 1 am in need of information on high-resolution graphicsboard design, bit-slice and array microprocessors, interfacing 32- and 8-bit buses, high-resolution monitor design, and some good test equipment. Any information would be appreciated.

R. |. ILING

Port Coquitlam. British Columbia. Canada

Data on the 32032 can be obtained from National Semiconductor Corporation. POB 70818. Sunnyvale. CA 94086. This processor is quite new, but the company probably has application notes that will help in designing your system.

Texas Instruments Inc. (POB 401560. Dallas. TX 75240) features a line of bitslice processors, and it also publishes the book Fundamentals of Microcomputer Design. Contact Tl at the above address for information on data sheets and application notes.

Two Motorola application notes. AN-843: "Using the MC68000 and the MC6845 for a Color Graphics System" and AN-851: "Motorola MC6845 CRTC Simplifies Video Display Controllers' (available from Motorola Semiconductor Products Inc.. POB 20912. Phoenix. AZ 850361. provide design details for a graphics-display system. Other videodisplay-controller chips are made by Texas Instruments and several other semiconductor manufacturers. (See my article "High-Resolution Sprite-Oriented Color Graphics" in the August 1982 BYTE.)

Test equipment can be obtained from a number of advertisers in BYTE. You will need at least a digital multimeter, a digital-signal generator, and a good oscilloscope to start— Steve

What Means Compatible?

Dear Steve. Would you please explain the term IBM-compatible"? IBM clones are sprout

[tontinued)

52

BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 165

Aztec 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, portability, 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 information on AZTEC C86/PRO support for XENIX and TOPVIEW.

POWERFUL - AZTEC C86/PRO 3.2 outperforms 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 time and supports fast, high volume I/O.

PORTABLE — MANX Software Systems provides 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 He (NIBBLE - 4 apple rating), TRSDOS (80-MICRO - 5 star rating), and Commodore 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 generation 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 produce MS object)

• Large memory models and sophisticated memory management

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

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

• Symbolic Debugger & Other Utilities

• Full Screen Editor (like Vi)

• CROSS Compilers are available to APPLE //, Macintosh, CP/M-80, TRSDOS, COMMODORE C64, and ROM based 6Sxx, 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

CTREE Database (object) $149

CROSS COMPILERS Cross Compilers for ROM, MS DOS, PC DOS, or CP/M-86 applications.

VAX->8086/80xxx cross $5000

PDP-11 ->8086/80xxx cross $2000

Cross Compilers with PC DOS or CP/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 — tor 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, debugging 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

Mac C-tree database $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 a full floating point C compiler compatible with UNIX C and other MANX AZTEC C compilers, a 6502 relocating assembler, a linkage editor, a library utility, a SHELL development environment, a full screen editor, UNIX I/O and utility subroutines, simple graphics, and screen functions.

AZTEC C65 (Apple DOS 3.3) $199

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

(call for availability)

AZTEC C ll/PRO

— for CP/MB0

The first member of the AZTEC C family was the CP/M-80 AZTEC C compiler. It is "the standard" compiler for development on CP/M-80. The system includes the AZTEC CMC 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

CTREE 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 Development System is the best I've seen." 80-Micro, December, 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.

AZTEC C80 model 3 (no floating point) $149

AZTEC C80 model 4 (full) $199

AZTEC C80/PRO (full for model 3 and 4) $299

To order or for information call:

.11

1-221-0440

(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 SHACK TRS DOS 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 shipment outside the U.S. is by courier and is freight collect.

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

Inquiry 252

MAY I98S -BYTE 53

Inquiry 150

$4995

The Ecosoft Eto-C88 compiler for the 8088 and MS00S is going to set a new standard for price and performance. Consider the evidence:

A FULL C

COMPILER

FOR

Compiler

Eco C88

Urtk.tl)

cum

Setve

13

11

13

Fib

44

58

46

Oeref

13

13

Motrix

21

29

27

Price

M9.95

'500.00

>3?5.0Q

(11 Computer Language, Feb., 1985, pp.73-102. Reprinted by permission. The Eco-C88 compiler is a full K&R C compiler that supports all data types and operators (except bit fields]. Now look at the other features we offer:

* 8087 co-processor support using a single library. If you install an 8087 later, the software will use it without having to recompile.

* A robust standard library with over 150 functions, including transcendental, color, and others.

* OBJ output for linking with the MSD0S linker (LINK).

* Error messages in English - no cryptic numbers to look up. A real plus especially if you're just getting started with C.

* Easy-to-read and complete user's manual,

* Works with all IBM and compatibles running MSD0S 2.0 (or loter).

* Plus many other features.

For $10,00 more, we will include the source code for the C library functions (excluding transcendentals). For an additional S 15.00, we will include our ISAM file handler in OBJ format (as published in the C Programmer's Library, Que Publishing). The discount prices for the library source and ISAM only apply ot the time the compiler is purchased. Please add $4.00 to cover postage and handling. To order, call or write:

Ecosoft Inc.

6413 N. College Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46220 (317) 255-6476

\^m ^S |~ v;jv>. "'

Eco-C Ecosoft.. MS0OS (Microsoft). UNIX (Bell Lab-. CP/M (Digital Research IHC (Zloaj. 8086, 8087. 8088 'Intel i

* With P, define and use up to W24 characters' m a single document

With rf complex expressions

appear on the screen as they will be printed

You enter them m a simple, direct manner which

won't interfere with your train of thought

You can compose scientific manuscripts directly at the keyboard

THE SCIENTIFIC WORD PROCESSING SYSTEM THAT'S EASY TO USE!

TCI SOFTWARE RESEARCH INC

With T^, format text directly on the screen, with line spacing, underline, boldface and italics alt visible

FOB THE IBM PC XT AT AND MANY COMPATIBLES SUPP0BTS DOT MATRIX DAISY WHEEL AND LASEB PBINTEBS. SUPPORTS HEBCULES GBAPHICS CABD

cau us Fori none mroRHUTxm

I ■SOOS74-23S3

IN NEW MEXICO (505)522^1600

TELEX 3)7629

t 190-b fostbi mue us otucBS mw tmuco smi

ASK BYTE

jng up like weeds, and every manufacturer claims that his product is IBM-compatible. Some, though, qualify this statement and state that it does not run all the IBM software. Even you designed a 16-bit machine, and you also claim that it is IBMcompatible.

There is a considerable price difference between the real IBM and the clones, and I am contemplating whether 1 should go IBM or compatible.

Harry Riesbeck Nepean. Ontario. Canada

IBM compatibility is indeed an often misused term. In a general sense, any computer that can run Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft's Flight Simulator is said to be

IBM-compatible.'' since these programs make extensive use of keyboard, memory, and graphics features. Any machine capable of running MS-DOS is considered compatible, since MS-DOS and PC-DOS are compatible. However, to be 100 percent compatible, the ROM BIOS tread-only memory basic input/output system) routines must be identical. Since these routines, which oversee the operation of the hardware, are copyrighted by IBM. the only legal way to get them is to license them or develop them independently.

Many computers are bus-compatible with the IBM PC and will handle most of the accessory boards now on the market. Others have some minor quirks in the graphics routines, keyboard control functions, and use of interrupts.

Some PC clones on the market are 100 percent compatible with the IBM PC, and they do represent a better value. Check product reviews in the major computer magazines—Steve ■

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 Ciarcia

POB 582

Glastonbury. CT 06033 Due to the high volume of inquiries, personal replies cannot be given. All letters and photographs become the property of Steve Ciarcia 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 Stefe, and \eannette Dojan.

54 BYTE- MAY I98S

Inquiry 392

From your fingerprint to your monogram, you are unique. You wear a business suit tailored just for you; now you can get business news tailored just for you. With NewsNet you get vital, in-depth business news. You get expert information on your industry or profession. Through your computer and telephone, you get news on a vast range of subjects from the world's largest retrieval service of business newsletter information.

3,000 New Articles Screened Each Day

You'll get access to more than 250 business newsletters, plus wire services like UPI and PR Newswire. There's news on everything from computers to investments, from taxes to telecommunications. 3000 new articles are added every day and each one is screened specially for you.

Fast, Versatile, Simple

You enter key words, names or phrases. NewsNet stores them and saves every article containing those words. Check in daily, even hourly; scan the headlines or read entire articles, and print out what you want to keep. Change key words when you like. You're free from the worry that you've missed something important— and your topics may turn up in publications you'd never have time to read. If you're onto a new topic, the entire NewsNet database is available for your search. Get special reports on your competition, the inside story on an industry, or press coverage of a company's new product.

Start Saving Now

The average newsletter carried by NewsNet costs $200 per year in print form. That's $50,000 worth of newsletters. Yet with NewsNet you pay as little as $15 per month for access. And NewsNet has no initiation fee. It's a tremendous value. So call today. We'll send everything you need to start saving now.

Welcome

NewsNet

Your Custom News Report is Ready

800-345-1301

(In PA 215-527-8030) 945 Haverford Rd. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Inquiry 293

H

■

i

i

Alloy Computer

And AT&T, Columbia, Compaq, Corona, Eagle, TI Professional, ai QICSTOR-PLUS, PC-DISC, PC-BACKUP PC-CARD, and PC-9 TRAC

Products, Inc.. 100 Pennsylvania Ave., Framingham, Mass. 01701 (617) 875-6100, TWX: 710-346-0394 Eurc

'■"iv^B

mith. With PC-QICTAPE, PC-STOR, PC-SLAVE/16, PC-QICSTOR,

it Alloy's full line of innovative products in action at your local dealer, inquiry 21

oy Computer Products (Europe) Ltd., Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England. Tel: 0285-68709. Tlx: 43340

Computer Products, Inc.

CLUBS & NEWSLETTERS

• BBS FOR MEMBERS

Uploading and downloading are features of the 300-bps BBS called ABACUS-COM. operating 24 hours, 7 days a week at (805) 871-2725. It is for members of A Bakersfield Area Commodore User Society (ABACUS). The group meets on the second Wednesday of every month in Bakersfield. California. Contact Gene Smith. ABACUS. 2316 Sandy Lane. Bakersfield, CA 93306.

• FARMER'S CHOICE

Descriptions of agricultural software packages, electronic information services, and university contact information for farmers is available in a capsule form in the newsletter Agricultural Computing. Contact Doane Publishing. 11701 Borman Dr.. St. Louis. MO 63146. (314) 569-2700.

• TECHNICAL SCHOLASTICS

An independent newsletter from a nonprofit organization about educational computing, Academically Speaking. . . is produced bimonthly for the benefit of computerists, teachers, and manufacturers. Contributions concerning hardware and software developments that affect curriculum and administration in postsecondary education are welcome. Contact William Buchholz, Academically Speaking.... Scholastech Inc., POB 1545. Cambridge, MA 02238.

• A HUNDREDFOLD

A newsletter for the TRS-80 Model 100, Century, contains hardware and software news and reviews, programs, and information that is also ap

plicable to the NEC and Olivetti computers. It is published eight times a year; a subscription is $3 5. Contact Century. Peregrine International. Suite P-22 5. 323 South Franklin. Chicago. IL 60606-7095.

• ENGINEERS REVIEW

Engineering Software Exchange (ESE) is a monthly newsletter that promotes high standards in engineering-applications software. Reviewers critique programs based on the quality of documentation, degree of user-friendliness, interactive features, and the completeness of the software. A subscription is $60 annually. Contact Lidia LoPinto, CAE Consultants Inc., 41 Travers Ave., Yonkers, NY 10705.

• A WELCOMING ASSEMBLY-The Milwaukee Area IBM Personal Computer Users Group meets at 7 p.m. twice a month. Members who use IBM PC and compatible computers can benefit from product demonstrations, instructional sessions, a monthly newsletter, and access to a library of public-domain software. Contact the IBM PC Users Group, POB 2121, Milwaukee, Wl 53203-2121, (414) 679-9075.

• COMPUTERS FOR HOOSIERS-The BBS of the Hoosier Users Group (HUG) is on line 24 hours a day at (317) 631-994A to serve

users of the Texas Instruments 99/4A computer. The monthly newsletter, which is exchanged with other users groups, supplements monthly meetings. The group sponsors classes in BASIC and Extended BASIC. Special-interest groups and a library of public-domain software meet members' specific needs. Contact HUG. POB 2222, Indianapolis, IN 46206-2222.

• TELEWORKS

The Telecommuting Report. a monthly newsletter published by Electronic Services Unlimited, tracks developments in the field of location-independent work. Because corporations are presently running pilot programs and researching the use of computers in homes or at satellite offices, reports of their results can aid small businesses as well as manufacturers. A subscription is $14 5. Contact Electronic Services Unlimited. 142 West 24th St.. New York, NY 10011, (212) 206-8272.

• MAC STREET (OURNAL

The newsmagazine of the New York MacUsers' Group. The Mac Street \ournal. is published monthly by and for the benefit of Mac users. Articles, reviews, and graphics are included as well as an order form for public-domain software and members' evaluations of software. Monthly meetings feature lectures, demonstra

CLUBS & NEWSLETTERS is a forum for letting BYTE readers know what is happening in the microcomputing community. Emphasis is given to electronic 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.

tions, and special-interest group discussions. A bulletin board is maintained. Annual dues are $32. Contact New York MacUsers' Group, POB 6686. Yorkville Station, New York, NY 10128.

• BUG PREMIERS

The First Basis Users Group (1st BUG) meets on line and in New York City every month. Members maintain a BBS and produce a monthly newsletter and a semiannual directory of users of Basis 108. a 6502/Z80-based microcomputer. Contact John Flory 1st BUG, 4 Tower Lane, Morristown, N| 07960.

• FOR AGRICULTURALISTS

Farmers and agri-businesspeople who use computers in their operations can share ideas and public-domain software via a monthly newsletter called The Computer Farmer. Contact Kelly Klaas, Route 1, Box 4133, Twin Falls, ID 83301, (208) 733-4251.

• INDEPENDENT EXPANSION-The Phoenix Chapter of the Independent Computer Consultants Association (ICCA) meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in Phoenix, Arizona. A newsletter is produced monthly; annual subscriptions are $10. ICCA is a nonprofit club for computer consultants and contract programmmers. Contact Mike Diross. ICCA, Phoenix Chapter, POB 32115, Phoenix, AZ 85064, (602) 892-3270.

• THE PUBLICS DOMAIN

A newsletter covering publicdomain and user-supported

[continued)

58

I YT E • MAY 1985

PERSONALITY PROBLEM?

UNIX™ and DOS™ At the Same Time!

DOS

UNIX

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 VENEX/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 VENLX/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 dBasell™

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

Call for complete details.

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

617-49M264

Also available on the PC/XT and compatibles.

UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Tfevhnologie*. Inc. DOS is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc. PC/AT and PC/XT arc trademarks at IBM. The Connector is a trademark of Uniform Software System*. Inc. VENIX/86 implementation by WnturCom. Inc 1-2-3 and LOTUS are trademark* of Lotus Development Corp. dBasell rs a trademark of Ashton-Tatc.

Inquiry 403

Getting UNIX Software Down to Business

MAY 1985 -BYTE 59

Inquiry 430 for Dealers. Inquiry 431 for End-Users

T£NiTH

data systems

THE QUALITY GOES IN BEFORE THE NAME GOES ON

PROFIT FROM ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS Z-150 PC DESKTOP OR Z-160 PC PORTABLE IBM COMPATIBLES!

OWN TOTAL PERFORMANCE

USE ZENITH'S PERSONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS!

■ 4 Open Expansion Slots ■ Full Color*, Green*, or Amber Video ■ Clearly Labeled, Easy to-Use Keyboard ■ Excellent Price/Performance Ratio ■ Zenith Total Service, Technical and Training Support

•Z 150 PC ONLY MONITOR NOT INCLUDED

ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS Z-150 PC DESKTOP SYSTEM

W/ 2 DRVS, 320K RAM. 2P, S. CCB, RAM DISK & PRT SPOOLER. MS DOS, MS WORD*. MSMULTIPLAN* S/W $1,929 SAME AS ABOVE W; 576K RAM $2,058 WITH 320K. 1 FLPY, 10.6Mb H.D. $2,669 WITH 576K, 1 FLPY. 10.6Mb H.D. $2,798 •WHILE SPECIAL OFFER LASTS!

(S00) 52S-313S

ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS Z-160 PC PORTABLE SYSTEM

SAME AS Z150PC W 2 DRVS. 320K RAM, S. P. MS DOS. WORD*, AND MULTI PLAN* SOFTWARE $2,239 SAME AS ABOVE W 10.6Mb H.D. $2,849 •WHILE SPECIAL OFFER LASTS!

SEE PAGE 501

FOR OTHER PRODUCTS

BLANK DISKS

Major Brands • Low Prices

Call ALF first

1-800-321-4668

If you need 50 or more top quality disks, bulk-packed (without expensive labels or fancy packaging), call the toll-free number above for the latest price on your favorite brand. ALF copies thousands of disks each day—so we know which disks will perform best with your system! Inside Colorado call 234-0871.

ALF

ALF Products • Denver, CO

CLUBS & NEWSLETTERS

software for the IBM PC is devoted entirely to new disks, their reviews, and questions and answers concerning their exchange. PCSIC News is produced by the PC Software Interest Group, which has also published Directory of Public Domain [and User-Supported) Software for the IBM Personal Computer. Contact the PC Software Interest Group, Suite 130. 15 56 Halford Ave.. Santa Clara. CA 95051.

• LOGO FOR THE TEACHER— Microquests. a monthly publication available from September through May for teachers of Logo, contains mathematical, scientific, and linguistic problems for children to solve. A subscription is $2 5 a year. Contact MartinBearden Inc., POB 337, Grapevine, TX 76051.

• MEDICS ON LINE

The Atlanta Medical Forum is available at (404) 3 519757 every hour of the day at 300 and 1200 bps. It is a user-supported private BBS for people interested in areas of health care that involve computers. The Bread Board System software allows message exchange and file transfer. A $15 annual donation is requested. Contact Dr. Floyd Garrett, Suite 424, 315 Boulevard NE, Atlanta. GA 30312.

• LONE TEXAN EAGLE The East Texas Eagle Users meet the second Thursday of every month. Interested persons can contact R 1. Dodson. 1809 Bell. Longview. TX 75602, (214) 758-2994.

• A NEW ADDITION

The Adam Users Group (AUG), though independent, benefits from Coleco's input on new products in the bimonthly newsletter, AUCment. The international group has scheduled an AUG BBS

for telecommunications linkups using the Adam. A public-domain library is available to members. Annual dues are $12, Contact AUG. POB P. Lyhbrook. NY 11563.

• GROUP FOR THE VALLEY-The Los Angeles area Valley PC Users Group meets on the second Thursday of each month in North Hollywood. It is a forum for sharing information among users of IBM PCs and compatible computers and provides a public-domain software library. Contact Carlo di Giovanni, 6161 Whitsett, North Hollywood, CA 91606, (818) 762-7566. or Robin Kaplan, The Information Group, 3414 Troy Dr.. Los Angeles. CA 90068, (213) 851-2480.

• MINDSETTERS

The First Mindset Users Group welcomes members across the nation who share an interest in this MS-DOS micro with advanced graphics capabilities. Send an SASE to receive a sample newsletter. An annual subscription costs $15. Local members meet in the Bay Area on the second Monday of each month. Contact David Duberman, 3 55 15th Ave. #5. San Francisco, CA 94118, (415) 668-83 52.

• ATTENTION CANADIANS

RAM (Regroupement des Amateurs de Microordinateurs) contains five user subgroups for the IBM. Apple. TRS-80 Color Computer, Commodore 64, and CP/M-based computers. General and subgroup meetings are held each month. A BBS is maintained. and a newsletter written in French, Organigramme, is produced bimonthly. A publicdomain and freeware library exists for each subgroup. Contact Ronald Leger. RAM. POB 21. St. lean. Quebec 13B 6Z1, Canada. ■

O0

BYTE- MAY I98i

AFTER

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 comprehensive 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 requiring 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* D100, D200, or D400 emulation you need SmarTerm 400.

Don't "scurry" around buying more obsolete terminals. Join the 20,000 users that have chosen SmarTerm. Try it for 30 days, with full refund privileges.

Persoft, Inc. - Madison, Wl (608) 273-6000 - TELEX 759491

smarwrffi

soiarterm it

stnarterm smarlerm

persajf

YOU DO WITH YOUR BSOLETE TERMINAL?

IDEA CREDIT: Anne Hillebrand of Ada, Oklahoma. 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. GERBIL, 2740 Ski Lane, Madison, Wl 53713.

".MAHUHM and PDIP are trademarks ol Person. Inc ' IBM is a registered trademark ol International Business Machines Corp ' DEC, VT and ReGIS are trademarks ol Drgnal Equipment Corp * DASHER rs a registered trademark ol Data General Corp

« Person. Inc 1985 All rights reserved

perso/r

Inquiry 319

SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG SCHTICK.

To lead an audience to your conclusions, you need more than strong words. You've got to show them your line of reasoning, and help them follow it.

You Jo that with strong, clear graphics. The kind you get from just one graphics package. Graphwriter. It's built to allow you to speak softly, while you hammer your message home.

Point by point.

It's got more easy-to-use, easy-to-customize charts than Lotus 1-2-3 or any other software on the market. And with Graphwriter. you can turn out your first chart in 15 minutes.

So. before your next presentation, get your hands on Graphwriter. Speak softly to the people at your local computer store. Or call 617-890-8778.

EVER FOR EXCELLENCE

II ifl

1 1 ■

H

■

g

LOTUS 1-2-3 132 COLUMNS

PC PAINTBRUSH 720x348

SYMPHONY HIGH RESOLUTION

16 COLORS. 320x200

The Edge

:RS;

The Plain Facts:

EVEREX THE EDGE

H

=■ m

a. (o

io X 9

Paradise Modular Graphics

Tecmar

Graphics

Master

1st

O oi

cr>< %

Hercules

Graphics

Card

• IBM Monochrome Compatible, 720x348, High Resolution

iS

S

1/*

s

• Runs Lotus 1-2-3™ and Symphony™ in high resolution monochrome:

iS

S

s

-132 columnsx25 rows

S

^

— 132 columnsx44 rows

s

^

• PC Paintbrush in monochrome

S

\S

X

\S

• 16 shades of green on the IBM monochrome monitor

S

\s

• Runs color software on the IBM monochrome monitor, full screen:

s

s

— Flight Simulator

s

V*

-PC Paintbrush

S

V*

-PC Paint

S

\S

-PC Tutor

s

S

-Pinball

\S

-Without software patch needed

V*

• Automatic Boot-up without software patch needed

\S

\S

\S

\S

\S

• Runs Lotus 1 -2-3™ and Symphony™ in high resolution color:

s

s

-16 colors, 320x200

V*

S

-4 colors, 640x200

V*

S

• Printer port (standard)

\S

V*

V*

S

S

• Software switchable among color, monochrome and 132 columns mode

\S

• Price

$399

$395

$695

$680

$595

$499

Excellence is the standard at Everex—it's in our name, our products, in everything we do. When you look for the best for your computer—you'll find Everex products. 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.

Registered Trademarks: Paradise Modular Graphics Card—Paradise Systems. Inc.; Hercules Graphics Card—Hercules Computer Technology; Lotus 1-2-3-Lotus Development Corporation; PC Paint-Mouse Systems Corporation; Tecmar Graphics Master-Tecmar Inc . Persyst Bob—Persyst Products. Ultra PakTseng Lab., The Edge-Everex Systems Inc . IBM, PC Tutorial—International Business Machines Corporation; Flight Simulator-Microsoft Corporation.

Inquiry lb!

Dealer Hotline: (800) 821-0806. In CA (800) 821-0807

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, 102-8167 Main Street, Vancouver,

British Columbia. V5X 3L2. 604-321 -5690

EVER tor Excellence Address: 47777 Warm Springs Blvd., Fremont. CA 94539 (415) 498-1111.

BOOK REVIEWS

THE APPLE MACINTOSH BOOK Cary Lu Microsoft Press Bellevue. WA: 1984 383 pages. $18.95

FIRE IN THE VALLEY: THE MAKING OF THE PERSONAL COMPUTER Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine Osborne/McGraw-Hill Berkeley. CA: 1984 288 pages. $9.95

BENEATH APPLE PRODOS Don Worth and

Pieter Lechner Quality Software Chatsworth. CA: 1984 295 pages. $19.95

PRODUCTIVE SOFTWARE TEST MANAGEMENT Michael W Evans John Wiley & Sons New York: 1984 232 pages. $32.95

THE APPLE MACINTOSH BOOK Reviewed by Scott L. Norman

Cary Lu. in writing The Apple Macintosh Book, did not fall into the trap of creating an extended version of the Macintosh manuals. Instead, he produced a book that should be of broad interest to present and prospective owners of the Mac. To a lesser extent, it may also appeal to people who are generally interested in the improvement of the personal computer. Although the depth of coverage is occasionally shallow, the book lives up to the author's intention: to anticipate major questions and to furnish the tools for finding solutions rather than attempting to provide up-to-the-minute information on all relevant topics.

Because Lu's book was one of several commissioned by Microsoft Press while the Macintosh was still under development, it emphasizes the initial Microsoft programs: MacWrite. MacPaint, Multiplan. and Chart.

The book shares another, and more pleasing, characteristic with its competitors: the heavy use of graphics, in keeping with the computer's own style. The text is confined to half the width of a page, leaving plenty of room for screen printouts, sketches, and other marginalia. These are generally helpful, especially to people with little exposure to the Mac.

The Apple Macintosh Book is divided into four sections. Two chapters cover the philosophy of the visual interface, some of the strong points and limitations of the Mac, and the process of setting up the machine. Nine chapters emphasize basic machine operations. The chapter "Fundamental Operations'' is where Lu introduces the Mac desktop and the use of the mouse to manipulate windows and icons. It's well done, with plenty of illustrations of screens and menus and a liberal use of color to distinguish instructions to the user from a running commentary on what is happening.

Dealing with Disks

In the 11th chapter, Lu describes the details of dealing with disks: initializing and erasing, copying, moving, renaming files, and so on. Although he is careful to describe how to go about things with a single-drive system. Lu emphasizes that two drives are almost mandatory for serious work. 1 think he's right, and prospective purchasers of the

[continued]

ILLUSTRATED BY IOHN S DYKES

MAY 1985

I YT E 65

Inquiry 59

When Vour Chips Are Down,

'tat'

Bank on BVT€H's

(€)PROM MultiProgrammer System SI 5-G

With Less Restrictions & a FR€€ KeVBOflfiD

For Only $1150.

Stand Alone or Hook Up to your Terminal,

3 Voltage Devices, Simulation Module,

Supports Bipolar, PALs, 40 Pin Chips.

Also Available: S5 Basic ©PROM

Programmer, $690. UV Erasers from $67.

0003(31 COMPUT€R SVST€MS CORPORATION

1021 South Rogers Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33431

CALL TO ORDER (305) 994-3520, Telex 4310073 M6VI3TC Distributor Inquiries Welcome

COMPETITIVE EDGE

P.O. Box 556 — Plymouth, Ml 48170 — 313-451-0665 Compupro\ LOMAS. EARTH, TELETEK, Macrotech

SYSTEMS

CompuPro 286, SSl, I O 4. Disk 1A, Disk 3, 20MB HD. 512K, 15 Slot 5" CCPM Lomas 286, Hazitall. LDP 72, 1024K, 20MB, 1-5" Flp, 4 port, 15 Slot, CCPM Lomas Thunder 186 512K. 4 Slot, 10 MB HD, 4 Serial. CCPM. 1-5" Floppy CompuPro 8085 88, IO 4, Disk 1A, Ram 23. 10 Slot, 2-8' Drives CP M 2.2 CompuPro CPU Z, I/O 4, Disk 1A. Ram 23, 10 Slot, 2-8" Drs, CP'M 2 2 Teletek Systemaster II, 8HMz Z80. 128K, 10 Sloi 2-8" Single Turbodos Teletek Systemaster. 4MHz Z60, 64K, 10 Slot, 2-8" CP/M 2.2 Syslemaster II. 10MB HD. 1-8", 10 Slot, 4 Hi Speed 128K Slaves

S-100 CIRCUIT BOARDS

CompuPro 286 CPU " $695

CompuProSPU Z "8MHZ 261

CompuPro 8085.88'" 327

CompuPro Disk 1A " 459

CompuProDisk3'- 525

CompuPro Ram 22'" 995

CompuPro Ram 23 " 308

CompuPro Ram23 128 555

CompuProCPUZ ■ 215.

CompuProCPU M<8161 250

System Support One " 297.

Teletek HD CTC 525

Teletek Systemaster* 557.

Earth Comput

Lomas 286 Lomas 8086 Lomas Octaport " Lomas LDP " Lomas 256K Dram Lomas 512K Dram Lomas Ram 67 " Lomas Hazilall" Thunder 186" Lomas CCP M'86' CompuPro I/O 4 Teletek SBC i Syslemaster IT

$821. 420 320 206. 446. 821 725. 244.

1095 280. 297 525 899.

Macrotech 286. Z80H Lomas 10MHz 8086 Lomas 4 serial Macrotech 256K Dram Macrotech 512K Dram Macrotech 512K static Macrotech 256K sialic Lomas Color Magic " 16K LomasMSDOS"2 11 CompuPro MDrive H*512K CompuPro I 03 8 port Telelek SBC 1 6MHz 128 Turbodos" for Teletek

4995 4995 3995 2895 2795 2695 2095 4995

$995 520 200. 499 799

1699 995476 225 495 459, 699 650

er TURBO SLAVE I 8MHz 128K $395.

Turbo Slave I runs with Teletek, North Star Horizon, Advanced Digital and Others

CABINETS

Para Dynamics 20 Slot Pronto Para Dynamics Mini Pronto CompuPro Enclosure 2 Desk Cab

$1195. 795 611.

Para Dynamics 2300D Flpy HD CAB Para Dynamics 2200 Rack Drive CAB CompuPro Enclosure 2 Rack

$395. 495 645.

ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND STOCK ON HAND CompuPro is a Registered Trademark or Viasyn. CPU Z, Disk 1A. Disk 3. Interface' 3 imertacer 4,. CPU 266 CPU 6085 86. System Support 1 MDRIVE-H. Ram 22, Ram 23 are trademarks or registered trademarks ol Viasyn CP M 2.2, CCPM. are registered trademarks of Digital Research Inc MSDOS is a registered trademark oi Microsoft Systemaster & Systemaster II are registered trademarks of Teletek Enterprises TurDodos is register

BOOK REVIEWS

Mac would do well to keep this in mind.

Lu dispenses reasonable advice on how to distribute system files, application programs, and data files among disks. The goal, as all Mac users soon learn, is to maximize usable storage space while minimizing the amount of time spent preparing disks for use. The trick is in learning which files must go where.

The chapter on disk handling closes with a discussion of how information can be moved between programs by means of the Mac's Clipboard and Scrapbook files. This discussion is pretty brief, however; at its conclusion the author advises interested readers to jump ahead to the 20th chapter, "Macintosh Software Issues." This interesting section describes a bit of the philosophy behind the design of operating systems and user interfaces and then gets into how Mac application programs store and exchange data.

Lu also briefly discusses the use of alternative operating systems to alleviate the Mac software shortage—a rather desperate measure at the moment. It seems unlikely that the people for whom the book is primarily intended would have much interest in pursuing this topic right away.

The ability to direct files with the mouse. Clipboard, and other tools is one of the Mac's most appealing features, and the consistency of the machine's operation certainly encourages users to move data from one application to another. Lu does a good job of describing the three forms in which the Clipboard and Scrapbook can store information: formatted data files. ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) text files, and picture files for the QuickDraw routine in ROM (read-only memory). He goes on to discuss some of the limitations on data sharing and editing that are likely to arise.

Readers seeking a more general idea of what the Mac is all about should read the chapter on MacPaint. The author devotes subsequent chapters to specific types of software: word processors, spreadsheets, business graphics, and so on. This applications material is followed by 14 brief chapters on how things work. This is where you will find the material on software issues that I have already described. Lu provides some details about the video display, keyboard, mouse, and I/O (input/output) ports, and he offers advice about printers and modems.

In three rather philosophical chapters. Lu speculates about future Mac products and the future development of microcomputers. He provides a comparison of the Mac and the IBM Personal Computer that will make few converts. This section is uneven. The chapters on the screen, keyboard, and mouse contain little material that most readers would care to refer to more than once. The chapter on disks and drives has more substance, and the one on printers contains at least a suggestion of what is needed to use printers other than the lmagewriter.

The final section consists of five chapters, containing material that didn't fit anywhere else. They are as much fun to read as anything in the book: the potpourri includes

[continued)

66 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 84

IHanai

THE BEST MODEM THE MARKET

Other people make modems for telecommunications. But our new Courier 2400™ modem is made for business. This modern modem transmits, over the phone, 240 characters a second, enabling you to upload or download data at twice the speed of a 1200 bps modem. You'll cut phone costs, save precious hours and increase productivity.

iS IMPORTANT.

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. aaB"' Courier 2400 is accomHeipscreens 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 features 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 1200 or 300 bps. And a powerful automatic equalizer assures nearly perfect performance on every call.

Microlink 2400"

At $699, you'll not find more modem for the money. If you prefer an internal slot modem for IBM-PC and compatible computers, 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 402

courier

by U.S. Robotics, Inc.

8100McCormickBlvd. Skokie.IL 60076 Phone:(312)733-0497 Telex: 650-186-3130 Outside Illinois: 1-800-Dlal USR

PP^^^""* -'^^^Ute,

■^0*0&

I'cov^f \

^^^\ CO

0*J^

so ^^g

i^l 1^^^

'"*?■;■■■•■

'

*sPfilS

" ■ \$&y ■

100% FLAWLESS COPIES . . .

. . . FAST!

No need to tie up your valuable computer to duplicate diskettes . . . when VICTORY can provide you with a duplicator that will do the job flawlessly, and much faster. One button operation automatically formats. duplicates and verifies up to 8 diskette copies at the same time.

VICTORY can supply you with literally dozens of standardized formats to match the protocol of virtually any current computer. In addition, built-in utilities enable you to read or devise any format you may require. If that's not enough, VICTORY can help you with unusual or unique formatting, serializing or copy-protecting problems.

VICTORY duplicators are designed to be reliable. Each of the copy drives has a separate controller to increase copying throughput and ensure maximum uptime. VICTORY Duplicators use industry proven drives combined with 100% digital technology . . . there are no analog circuits to slowly drift out of tolerance.

Let us help free you from your disk-duplicating bottleneck at a surprisingly attractive price. Write or call: VICTORY ENTERPRISES TECHNOLOGY, INC., 8910 Research Blvd., Suite B2, Austin, Texas 78758— (512)450-0801.

..■.";:;

£

\fM/ VICTORY

yy ENTERPRISES

^y Technology, Inc.

BOOK REVIEWS

thoughts on graphics, illustrations of the basic Macintosh fonts along with the names of their closest standard equivalents, and hints on moving specific types of files back and forth to popular application programs running on other machines. A 15-page glossary wraps things up.

Cary Lu, currently an editor at High Technology magazine, customarily takes a critical, level-headed approach to computers in his magazine writings; he maintains that approach in this book. It must have been difficult. The Macintosh is one of those high-tech objects that inspires high passions in its devotees and detractors, but Lu manages to keep things in perspective.

Scott L. Norman (8 Doris Rd., Framingham. MA 01701) is department manager of solid-state science at GTE laboratories in VJaltham. Massachusetts.

FIRE IN THE VALLEY:

THE MAKING OF THE PERSONAL COMPUTER

Reviewed by loel Pitt

It's easy to forget that in the not-too-distant past the concept of a personal computer seemed fantastic. Fire in the Valley, by Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine, is a history of the brief revolutionary period during which personal computers became a reality.

Changes in the direction of the computer revolution and in the image of the computer—from remote behemoth to tool of humanity—have been shaped by the personalities and motivations of the people who first dreamed of, and then built, personal computers. "The newborn industry," the authors write, was a movement of "hobbyists fully conscious that they were bringing on a social, not just a technological, revolution."

Freiberger and Swaine have lived in the valley south of San Francisco and watched the industry grow from that vantage point. Both men served as editors at \nfcWorld: Freiberger is now West Coast editor of Popular Computing: Swaine is editor in chief of Dr. Dobb's journal. They don't ignore the contributions of hobbyists and professionals from other parts of the country, however, so their picture of the origin and development of the industry seems balanced and fair.

The chapter entitled "Tinder for the Fire" is a brief, general history of the computer and the transistor technology that permitted its miniaturization. The obligatory recitation of the evolution of the idea of the computer, starting with Charles Babbage's analytical engine, includes much that is old hat: however, the authors also discuss Intel's development of the first CPU (central processing unit) chip, the 4004, which is less well known. A brief account of David Ahl's failed attempt to interest Digital Equipment Corporation in selling computers for personal use underlines the conflict between the individual vision that drove the personal computer movement and the corporate computer world that "passed up the chance to

68 BYTE" MAY 1985

Inquiry 413

Inquiry 50

BOOK REVIEWS

bring computers into the home and onto the desk."

The birth and development of the MITS Altair computer is described in "The Voyage to Altair." We learn that the flashy cover photo on the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics, which served to announce this first successful hobbyist computer kit to the world, was just a "photo of an empty metal box masquerading as a computer." The frantic race to bring the Altair into reality was a cliff-hanger. (What has come to be known as "vaporware—products announced well before they're available—has an ancient and honorable role in the history of the microcomputer movement.) Fortunately. MITS was able to fill those metal boxes quickly enough so that the revolution was not brought to a halt just as it was getting off the ground.

But "The Voyage to Altair" is not only the story of the Altair computer. Many of the people who worked with the Altair went on to play major roles in the future of the personal computer. Freiberger and Swaine let us learn about them as we follow the history of MITS.

The next four chapters focus on the people, personalities, and est-inspired vision that drove IMSAI, the second major microcomputer manufacturer; the hobbyists and visionaries who flocked to and formed the Homebrew and other microcomputer clubs; the software developers who helped to make the microcomputer a usable tool: and the entrepreneurs who brought microcomputers and software to us in retail stores, computer shows, and magazines. We learn about the social vision that drove some people, the marketing vision that drove others, and the sense of discovery, play, and adventure that pervaded the movement. (The book is illustrated with 32 pages of photographs that help to put flesh on the players mentioned.)

The penultimate chapter, "American Pie," is devoted to Apple Computer and its founders, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. And though the first six chapters of Fire in the Valley help refute Apple's occasional claim to have invented the personal computer, this chapter documents Apple's legitimate claim to a unique and critical role in bringing it to the people. The last chapter of the book, "Big Companies," covers the significant, though belated, entry of the major computer companies (which had passed up the opportunity to invent the personal computer) into the microcomputer business.

The story that Freiberger and Swaine have attempted to recount is rich with the excitement of discovery, serendipity, accidental association, businesses made and lost, and remarkable people. Because it is contemporary history, the authors were able to draw much of their information from interviews with many of the people involved. They have relied to a lesser degree on written sources. In the preface there's a long list of acknowledgments of the people they interviewed, but there is no bibliography.

Freiberger and Swaine's reliance on oral sources helps give their book a personal vitality; however, because of their dependence on interviews, the accuracy of their

[continued)

Ldffl^ THE UPS B^ THAT TALKS TO YOUR COMPUTER.

TOTALLY EFFECTIVE POWER PROTECTION

Protects against blackouts, brownouts, spikes, sags, surges, glitches, noise and frequency shifts. Provides computer grade sine wave power.

TRUE NO-BREAK

UNINTERRUPTIBLE

POWER

MICRO-FERRUPS provides true no-break uninterruptible power. (Many UPS on market are really standby systems that break power from 2-10 milliseconds when transferring to battery backup. That's an eternity to your computer and disk drive.)

BATTERY INCLUDED

Sealed no-maintenance, long life battery included. An auxiliary 12 volt battery can be added for longer backup time.

250VA $945 500VA $1345

TALKS TO COMPUTERS

The on-board microprocessor and RS232 port allows MICRO-FERRUPS to interface with computers. Your power can be monitored by the computer so you know what is happening and an orderly shutdown can be made. AC input and output voltages, output current, load VA, Tine frequency, battery voltage and backup time remaining can be displayed on terminal 300 or 1200 selectable baud rate. ASCII.

'Xf&SZ

BEST POWER TECHNOLOGY, INC.

800-356-5794

Wis. 608-565-7200

;P.O. BOX 280. NECEDAH. WISCONSIN 546461

The ! ingle Source Q&r. for Sockets, Alcoswitches, Knobs, Ribbon Cable Products, RDI Terminal Blocks, D-Subs, Edge Cards, Telecon, RS-232 & Co-Axial Cables, Gender Changers, UHF & BNC, Flat Cable, Accessories

19»5

>^«m

1985 Catalogs Available

XM

1985 Catalog features Sockets, Switches, Knobs, Ribbon Cable Products

Data Cable Products Catalog features D-Subs, Edge Cards, Telecon, RS-232 Cables, UHF & BNC, Flat Cable, Accessories 1985 Supplement features RDI Terminal Blocks

RIPER m

^

Call these TOLL FREE numbers for the name of the distributor or sales rep nearest you.

Nationwide (800) 336-3613 / In Mass. (800) 428-5700

P.O. Box 659, 40 Perry Avenue, Attleboro, MA 02703 Service Is Our Business No Order Too Small

Inquiry 43

MAY 1985 • BYTE 69

GUARANTEE

Undeniable.

Deluxe Computer Forms means undeniable quality. Your order must match your requirements — or you won't pay1 That's quality, undeniably. Guaranteed.

Unquestionable.

Our unquestionable guarantee means the forms you select are 100% compatible with your software. Forms Consultants can answer your questions and we'll pay for the call. Tough questions about forms or compatibility — easy answers.

Unbelievable.

Unbelievable 3-day turn around means ... fast service. You save money and time. Most custom forms orders 5-10 day turn around. Believe us, that's service. Fast.

FREE CATALOG!

Call Toll Free to receive your FREE 32 page, color catalog. 1-800-328-5727 Ext 513

In Minnesota 1-800-742-5685

DELUXE

COMPUTER FORMS

A DIVISION OF DELUXE CHECK PRINTERS INC

70 BVTh • MAY I985

7760

BOOK REVIEWS

historical material may be open to question. It's not surprising to find that the intensely creative people who shaped the personal computer movement often had their own ideas about how things should be done and about their own rights and responsibilities. There were, of course, many disputes and. not surprisingly, differing accounts of what happened and why. It seems that the authors have made every attempt to be fair. It's not at all unlikely, however, that some of the many volatile personalities involved in the making of the microcomputer will take exception to a statement here or a date there.

Freiberger and Swaine have pulled together considerable information for Fire in the Valley and given it a sense of human vitality.

}oel Pitt (28 Cedar Ridge Rd.. New Paltz. NY 12561) is a senior consultant with Woodbury Computer Associates and writes about microcomputer applications.

BENEATH APPLE PRODOS Reviewed by Martin Kalman

From lune 1978 to early 1984, the primary disk operating system (DOS) for the Apple II family was Apple DOS. Although early documentation was meager, this operating system was used to create the large body of software that has been an important factor in the popularity of these computers. Early in 1984. Apple Computer Inc. introduced a new operating system called ProDOS (Professional Disk Operating System) to rectify Apple DOS's shortcomings.

As with their earlier book, Beneath Apple DOS, Don Worth and Pieter Lechner attempt to document an operating system, with a particular emphasis on those topics that have been omitted or covered superficially in the Apple manuals. In the beginning, the authors state that Beneath Apple ProDOS is intended to serve as a companion to the manuals provided by Apple. They go on to enumerate the deficiencies of Apple DOS and point out how ProDOS has addressed these and made improvements.

The technical portion of the book begins with a chapter describing how data is stored on a floppy disk using the Apple II drive (or equivalent). The authors point out that this chapter should not be considered a prerequisite for understanding succeeding chapters. For this reason. I think it may have been more appropriate to place this chapter at the end of the book, perhaps as an appendix. The material, much of which is applicable to other Apple operating systems (DOS. Pascal. CP/M), would be of interest only to the advanced programmer who wants to access the disk at the lowest levels.

Hierarchy

One of the most significant improvements provided by ProDOS is its hierarchically organized disk volume. In ad

[conlinued)

Inquiry 127

IT'S ALL IN THE NAME

THE

LEADING EDGE

PERSONAL

COMPUTER

THE BEST PRODUCT: THE BEST PRICE:

The Leading Edge" PC is the only personal computer in the world that can run all the big name software packages 50% faster than an IBM PC, while maintaining the highest level of reliability in the entire industry. And nobody can beat the list of standard features, or the twelve month warranty on all parts and labor.

$2095.

Complete with

Leading Edge "Word Processing

with Spelling Correction

A

L [ A D I NO f DC E«

SUPPORTED BY THE BEST PEOPLE:

For as long as you own your Leading Edge PC, there will be a Technical Support Hotline—a staff of highly skilled, very friendly, hardware and software specialists, available toll free, at the other end of your telephone. No charge, no limits, no kidding.

Inquiry 237

Leading Edge Products, Inc.

Systems and Software Division

225 Turnpike Street, Canton, MA 02021

800-343-6833,(617)828-8150

Leading Edge is a trademark of Leading Edge Products, inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Corp.

MAY I985 -BYTE

71

THE MAINFRAME

When one of twenty Micro Mart Sales Pros answers a call, he's ready at his PC.

Micro Mart's Ten Million Dollar Inventory is on-line with our IBM Mainframe, so answers are fast and accurate.

With PC to Mainframe Inventory, this Micro Mart Salesman verifies his stock, quotes his best price and makes the sale.

HELLO. THIS IS

MICRO MART

MAY I HELP YOU?

Y£SS\R'. yOU WANT 85 OF THEM? I'M CHECKING- OUR INVENTORY. ONE MOMENT PLEASE...

THEY'RE IN STOCK'. CAN I LOCKTHEM

IN FOR YOU? THANKyOU,SlR\ WOULD YOU LIKE THEM TOMORROW?

Computers

CANON Athena PC. Color or Monochrome Systems. AT INTRODUCTORY LOW PRICES LEADING EDGE Complete

systems. FROM $1495

IKE COMPUTE R SPECIAL Or THE MONTH! CALL FOR DETAILS!

Networking / Protocol Conversion

SNA & BISYNC 3780,5251 Mod 12 &

Mod 11,3274,3278

PC TURBO 1B6 by ORCHID. 80186

coprocessor board $799

IBMA Complete line FROM $799

FORTE GRAPH for TRMA, upgrades

TRMA to 3279 S3G graphics

IRMAPRINT Enhances

TRMA graphics

PC Net ORCHID'S, new

complete line FROM $899

TECHLAND SYSTEMS Blue Lynx 5251 Mod 12 & 3276 Emulators and

3270 Keyboards

SANTA CLARA PC Partner &

PC Terminal CALL

pooDL£ ooOLfc

Printers & Plotters

We have thousands in stock. THE PRINTER SPECIAL OF THE MONTH!

CALL FOR DETAILS!

HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS Plotters & Digitizers

Dot Matrix

EPSON FX80 Plus/100 Plus

EPSON 1X80/100

EPSON LQ1S00. _

Hard Discs

EPSON JX80, color printer

COMREX 4S0.400 cps. Epson compatible. $1798

OKTDATA 92<Sf 93. ML84. (200cps.),w/opt. IBM

PROMS, PaeemarJt 2420(350 cps.)

OKXDATA Color printers. Complete line.

CANON Color printers. Complete line

TOSHIBAP-13S1, 1340&P-351. $1295/$799/CALL DATAPRODUCTS P. Series 8050 Color & 8070. _ STAR MICRONICS Complete line..

Micro Mart carries all the major brands. If you don't see it—ask for it.

PEACHTREE PERIPHERALS P-10, 20, 30&50. internal & external. For your PC, XT, AT, AT&T,

COMPAQor others. FROM $698

SYSOEN 10&20Megw/streamertape.

NEW MODELS—CALL!

SYSOEN Image <4? Qulckfile, streamer tape back-up for your IBM XT & AT. _CALL

ADVANTAGE 128K-3Mb, expansion for AT. CALL

QUADRAM QUADBOARD. 64-384X $289

QUAD Jr. Expansion for PCjr..

TECMAR CAPTAIN, 0-384K multifunc..

$199

BERNOULLI TECHNOLOGY Hard Disc

Subsytems.

. FROM $2898

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 855, 865 &• 850XL. FROM $729

DAVONG New line of hard discs. 21 & 32Mb w/tape. Start @ $2498

TECMAR CAPTAIN Jr., Multifunction for Jr

IALLTREE J-RAMU, 0-512K, w/software

TALLTREE J-RAMHX, 0-512K, w/software. _$129 STB RIO GRANDE & QRANDE BYTE,

Expansion for AT, 128K FROM $289

LEGACY Complete line of expansion products for Jr

Graphic Cards

PREVIEW Monochrome graphics. Hercules lookalike for less. CALL

HERCULES Mono Se color graphics cards..

Chips

Letter Quality

NEC Spinwriters S050, 3550, 8850.. JUKI 6100/6300

.$419/$749

C-ITOH Starivriter(40 cps), Printmaster, (55 cps)..

$899/$1299

COMREX CRUE.CRlIISe CRIV.

We carry a full range of form handling options. Call for our unadvertised LQ Printers!!

Floppy Disk Drives

TANDON TM 200-2, DD/DS, 360K.

$149

1 / 2 HEIGHT DISK DRIVES: SHUGART, MITSUBISHI, TEAC. PC, XT & AT comp FROM $119

SPECIAL!Two l/2H.DD.,"Y"eables&brackets. $229

We guarantee the lowest price for chips!! Call us!! INTEL 8087,80287 High speed coproc.. FROM $129

64K RAMCHTPS CALL FOR MARKET PRICE

2S6K RAMCHIPS CALL FOR MARKET PRICE

128K PIGGY-BACK Chips for your AT. CALL FOR MARKET PRICE

Multifunction Boards

We have a complete line of multifunction boards compatible with the Portable, AT, XT, & Jr. THE BOARD SPECIAL OF THE MONTH!

CALL FOR DETAILS

SIX PACK 64-384K, multifunc

MEGAPLUS 64-512K, max. 8 tunc

PLANTRONICS ColorPlus + HiRes color board, par.

port w/software New low price!

TECMAR Graphics Master, HiRes color & mono supports Lotus $489

QUADRAM Quadcolorl&n, color cards..

PARADISE SYSTEM Multi-display or Mod. Graphics Cards, color & mono, par. port FROM $299

Software

ASK ABOUT THE SOFTWARE SPECIAL OF THE MONTH!

Accounting

MPH RAMboards, for PC & PC compatibles. _ CALL I / O MINNIE, I/O shortboard for Portable <fc AT.

SORCIM / IUS Complete line including windows.

FROM $279 / EA.

CYMA Complete business series

MICRO MART HAS OVER 20 STORE LOCATIONS. CALL FOR THE ONE NEAREST YOU.

(404) 449-8089

Prices are subject to change without notice and are similar, but may vary at Micro Mart Retail Stores.

Service & Repairs

• On-Site—We have hundreds of service locations nationally.

• Depot—Our National Service Center is one of the fastest in theU.S.

• We Have—A wide variety of services available. Please call us.

72

( YTE • MAY 1985

orders only

EVENT. 1-800-241-8149.

As the order is processed, each product is thoroughly tested before shipping.

Micro to Mainframe Order Entry and Processing is fast... then we can ship by Federal Express for next day delivery.

The result? Some very satisfied Micro Mart Customers!

82.83.84.85! LET'S SHIP IT!

TO BUTTE AND ZEPHYR HlLLS...REAPyTOGOU

GREAT JOB GETTING THAT PC STUFF, DOCTOR'.

HAYES Smartmodem 300, 1200,1200B&2400. The best stock in the U.S. _ CALL

PROMETHEUS Modems.

ANCHOR AUTOMATION

Signalman Mk XZT. $859

VEN-TEL 1200 BAUD 1/2 Card

for IBM Port. & XT.

POPCOM Popcorn, int. fcext. w/voice and data comm

Miscellaneous

DYSAN DISKETTES, PC, XT, & AT compatible. GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE IN

THE U.S. CALL!

MOUSE SYSTEMS PC Mouse, optical w/ software

MICROSOFT MODSEBuS or serial mechanical mouse w/mouse menu

software

KEYTRONICS 5150 &■ S1S1. PC and Jr. Keyboards..

Spreadsheets & Integrated Packages

Call for our unadvertised spreadsheets!! ASHTONTATE Framework

Graphics & CAD

MICROSOFT MultiPlan, w/templates.. MDBS Knowledge Man. _

Micro Mart carries all the major CAD packages. Call if you don't see it.

Zsoft PC Paint Brush, mouse driven graphics. _ $98 DECISION RESOURCES ChartMaster/ Sign-Masterpkgs..

KENSINGTON MICROWARE

MasterPieoe $119

CURTIS Accessories. Pedestals,

cables,etc.

EDP Best selling line of surge

protectors FROM $35

HAYES Mach U&Mach HTJoysticks.

QUADRAM Microfazer. Printer buffer

8-128K FROM $129

SORCTM/IUS SuperCalc3, vers. 2.0. NEW LOW PRICE!

Enhancements & Utilities

FOX * SELLER Complete line of enhancements for

dBase n, m & Rbase 4000.

NORTON Utilities 3.0

MICROPRO ChartStar.. MICROSOFT Chart.

TRrpPELTTE Back-up power supply. 200-1000

watts, and ISOBABsurge protectors, 4 & 8 plug

RUnSHAUSER Sheet feeders for all major brands.. POLAROID Palette

Communications

MICROSTUF CROSSTALKXVI. Latest version. _ $99 HAYES SMARTCOM U

Monitors and CRT's

PQS MaxlS, Amber, 720h x 350v. Monochrome

PQSSR-12690hx480v,w/dualscancd

PQS HX-12,690 Dot RGB

$69 $89

$35 $55

SOFTS'! XLB Set Fx + and Printworks. Printer control pkgs..

Word Processors

QUADRAM Quadchrome. 690 Dot RGB..

ROSESOFT ProKey 3.0

CENTRAL POINT SOFTWARE Copy UPC. ATI Training. _

SIDEWAYS Inverts printout.. BORLAND SideJucJc.

$45

MULUMATE w/Spelling checker & tutorial. _ $859

SAMNA+ word processor

MICROSOFT Word. New version

LIFETREE Volkswriter Deluxe $169

SSI WordPerfect. New version

QUADRAM Amberchrome. Amber mono. AMDEK Color 300, SOO, 600, 700, 710, 722. Com plete line of color monitors

$489 $189

LIVINO VIDEO TEXT Think Tank..

.$185

Compilers & Language Tools

$899

LATTICE C-Compilers

MICROSOFT Complete line

WORDTECH The dBase compiler

DIGITAL RESEARCH Complete line.

BORLAND Turbo Pascal, Turbo Jbolboxand more. FROM $35 / E A.

Office & Project Planning

HARVARD Tbtal Project Manager.

SORCIM / IUS Super Project

MICROSOFT Project.

$899

Data Base Managers

Call for our unadvertised Data Bases. MICRORTM 4O00or 6000, Report WriterSe Clout

options New low price!

WARNER SOFTWARE The desk organizer $148

ASHTON-IATE dBaseU&m. AT compatible

MICROSTUF Infoscope

AMDEK 300A/300GComposite mon $189/ $119

AMDEK 310A, Amber w/2yr. warranty.. In Stock!! WYSE Terminals, 100,75,50. Entire line in stock. _ TAXAN RGB Color Monitors. Complete line at low, low prices CALL!

©Copyright Micro Mart 1985 Technology Corporate Campus 3159 Campus Drive Norcross, Georgia 30071

VOURPERSONAL BLUE CHIP CARD 1234 567 890 123

Micro Mart has financing options available. Ask for a Micro Mart Blue Chip Credit Card application, today.

America's PC Specialist.

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Inquiry 265

MAY I985

(]

COMPUTERBANC

GET SERIOUS. STOP PAYING HIGH PRICES NOW!

THOUSANDS OF AVAILABLE ITEMS. CALL FOR COMPLETE PRICING.

SYSTEMS IBM PC

256K. Two 360KB Disk Drives, Color Graphics or Monochrome Graphics board, Parallel Printer Port, Monochrome Display (Amber/Green). DOS 2.1. LIST PRICE $2950.00 - ONLY $2099.00

SUPER XT 10 Meg Upgrade $2795.00

IBM AT 5% OFF

IBM SOFTWARE

LOTUS 1-2-3 $289.00

LOTUS Symphony 425.00

MICROPRO Wordstar 249.00

ASCII Express For IBM 125.00

Wordstar Professional 359.00

Intostar 249.00

Multimate 269.00

MICROSOFT Word 229.00

PC Mouse W/Software 139.00

Multiplan 139.00

Project 159.00

ASHT0N TATE Friday 179.00

dBASE II 280.00

dBASE III 369.00

Framework 359.00

LIFETREE SOFTWARE Volkswriter,. 119.00

Volkswriter Deluxe 169.00

FOX & GELLED Quickcode 139.00

dUtil 59,00

dGraph 149.00

MICRORIM Rbase: 4000 295.00

PFS Write 89.00

File 89.00

Report 89.00

Proot 79.00

Access 79.00

ENERGRAPHICS 269.00

IBM HARDWARE

AST Six Pack Plus 64K 259.00

MegaPlus II 269.00

PC Net 1 Starter Kit 830.00

OUADRAM Quadboard 0-K 219.00

Quadcolor 1 or Microtazer 64K 205.00

Quad for PC Jr CALL

MICROSCIENCE

10MB Winchester 679.00

FRANKLIN TELECOM

10 Meg Harddisk 699.00

22 Meg Harddisk CALL

Cartridge backup CALL

HERCULES Mono Graphics 316.00

Color Card 159.00

ORCHID Tgrdo CALL

PC Net Starter Kit CALL

PLANTRONICS Colorplus 389.00

STB Rio plus 64K 245.00

Super Rio 255.00

Graphlx + II NEW 245.00

AT Hardware CALL

TEAC 55B 119.00

55F 169.00

TANOONTM 100-2 179.00

IBM Floppy 1.2 Mag CALL

TALL GRASS 12MB W/Tape 2395.00

IRWIN Tape Drive 539.00

MOUSE SYSTEMS Optical Mouse.. .. 169.00 ALSO - PERSYST. ORCHID, TITAN AND OTHERS

PRINTERS

BROTHER HR-15 369.00

HR-25 619.00

HR-35 859.00

2024L0 915.00

JUKI 6100 429.00

NEC 2030 659.00

2050 799.00

3530 1229.00

3550 1539.00

STAR MICRONICS Gemini 10X 259.00

Gemini 15X 3B9.00

EPSON RX-80 F/T 329.00

FX-80 + 389.00

FX-100 + 595.00

LQ1500 1299.00

OKIDATA 92A 389.00

93A 649.00

PANASONIC 1091 CALL

TOSHIBA 1350-P 1299.00

MONITORS

AMOEX 300 129.00

300A 145.00

310A 169.00

Color I + 269.00

Color II 459.00

TAXAN Composite Amber 119.00

121/122 149.00

420 (RGB) 439.00

415 (RGB) 489.00

PRINCETON GRAPHICS HX-12 469.00

SR-12 625.00

MAX-12 189.00

ZENITH ZVM-122 Amber 95.00

ZVM-123 Green 95.00

NEC 1201 Hi Res Green 115.00

1205 Hi Res Amber 115.00

1260 Green 79.00

JC1215 Composite Color w/audio 215.00 JC1216 Color RGB 329.00

MODEMS

HAYES 1200 395,00

1200B 349.00

300 195.00

Mlcromodem lie 219.00

ANCHOR MarkX 109.00

Mark XII 239.00

Volksmodem 1200 199.00

NOVATION Smart Cat Plus CALL

Access 1-2-3 419.00

Apple Cat II 239.00

PROMETHEUS Promodem 1200 . 308.00

APPLE PRODUCTS

MICRO SCI A2 drives lie 179.00

lit Drive 199.00

TEAC drive 149.00

APPLE Compatible drive 145.00

WESPER Interface 69.00

BUFFERED 16K 139.00

SYSTEMS SAVER Fan 69.00

MICROSOFT Premium lit 279.00

Softcard CP/M 229.00

Multiplan 129.00

MAC Multiple (Macintosh) 129.00

Basic (Macintosh) 109.00

APRICORN Serial Card 69.00

TITAN Accelerator 239.00

ASCIII Express Professional 89.00

DISKETTE S/S or D/S Box 10 . 12.00/19.00

KOALA Touch Tablet 79.00

HAYES Mach III Joystick 39.00

MAC Software CALL

APPLEMOUSEII 129.00

VIDEX Uitraterm 179.00

80 C0LUMN/64K Interface // e only 99.00 APPLEWORKS 215.00

WE SUPPORT THESE FINE SYSTEMS: Apple, Compaq, IBM, and many more.

TELEX #550757/ANSWER BACK - COMPUTERBNK UO

o

"FfT

Orders Only 800/332-BANC

OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA

COMPUTERBANC

16783 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714/841-6160

.PS : .1 IM K X

miiimt t grain luiuM . 5 ' r. '!W i'.o>."s CWfrgm 'MKOMWEMMC »" »<(ni '

™ " «* mm*

BOOK REVIEWS

dition to the main directory on each volume, ProDOS allows subdirectories within the main directory. Each subdirectory can hold files of any type, including further subdirectories. In this manner, a nested structure is created that allows easy file organization and access through individual pathnames. The chapter that follows discusses how ProDOS organizes information on a disk to provide the directory structure just described. Although this discussion assumes the medium is a standard Apple 3 5-track floppy disk, all of the information presented is applicable to other disk sizes and even to a hard disk.

Worth and Lechner then embark on a detailed description of how individual blocks of data (512 bytes) are allocated on the disk, beginning with the initial formatting that creates the volume directory and volume bit-map blocks. They describe the internal layout of different types of files, complete with numerous examples and excellent diagrams that show data organization and storage. These include directory files as well as typical file types such as BASIC programs, binary files, and text files.

At this point we are introduced to the ProDOS assembly-language program itself, which is loaded into RAM (random-access read/write memory) when the disk is booted. It consists of two parts: the ProDOS kernel and the BASIC interpreter. The kernel is made up of subroutines that can be called by any assembly-language program to access the disk, either block by block or file by file. The BASIC interpreter acts as a translator between a BASIC program (or a user's immediate commands) and the kernel. A short chapter shows the memory usage of these two components and explains how they are loaded into the computer during the booting process.

The remaining three chapters, which occupy more than half the book, are intended to aid the assembly-language programmer who wants access to the routines within the ProDOS program. In contrast to Apple DOS, ProDOS provides a set of 20 externally callable subroutines in the kernel. These subroutines, referred to as the machinelanguage interface (MLI), provide a simple method for accessing the operating system's disk, time and date, and interrupt-handling functions. Entry points are well documented, with detailed descriptions of all the required input parameters. A list of MLI error messages includes explanations that would be valuable when debugging.

One of the most interesting and potentially useful aspects of ProDOS is the provision for adding extra userwritten commands to the BASIC interpreter. The chapter entitled "Customizing ProDOS" examines this feature. The authors even include a program in the appendix that installs a "Type" command. You can use this command to display the contents of an input text file on the screen.

In the final chapter of the book, Worth and Lechner describe the ProDOS global pages. These two pages always occupy a fixed position in memory and contain system-status and device-configuration information. Addresses in these pages are of use to the programmer for

[continued)

BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 105

What C did for Programming

Mark Williams has done for C Programming ■

The C Programming System

from Mark Williams K I

MWC86 gets your C programs running faster and uses less memory space than any other compiler on the market. Then csd, Mark Williams' revolutionary C Source Debugger, helps you debug faster. That's The C Programming S tern from Mark Williams Company.

"Of all the compilers reviewed, MWC86 would be my first choice for product development. It compiles quickly, duces superior error messages, and^ ]iaenerates quick, compact object a The library is small and fast and d ly follows the industry standard for C libraries."

MWC86

MWC86 is the most highly optimized C compiler available anywhere for the DOS and 8086 environment.The bench marks prove it! They show MWC86 is unmatched in speed and code density.

MWC86 supports large and small models of compilation, the 8087 math coprocessor and DOS 2.0 pathnames. The compiler features common code elimination, peephole optimization and register variables. It includes the most complete libraries. Unlike its competition, MWC86 supports the full C language including recent extensions such as the Berkeley structure rules, voids, enumerated data types, UNIX* I/O calls and structure assignments.

Quality is why Intel, DEC and Wang chose to distribute MWC86. These industry leaders looked and compared and found Mark Williams to be best.

User Friendly

MWC86 is the easiest to use of all compilers. One command runs all phases from pre-processor to assembler and linker. MWC86 eliminates the need to search for error messages in the back of a manual. All error messages appear on the screen in English.

A recent review of MWC86 in PC World, June, 1984, summed it up:

'Unix is a Trademark of Bell Laboratories.

I writi

zed ket.

le, I softv lch

csd C Source Debugger

ark Williams was not content to write the best C compiler on the marTo advance the state of the art in software development, Mark Williams wrote csd.

csd C Source Debugger serves as a microscope on the program. Any C expression can be entered and evaluated. With csd a programmer can set tracepoints on variables and expressions with full history capability and can single step a program to find bugs. The debugger does not affect either code size or execution time, csd features online help instructions; the ability to walk through the stack; the debugging of graphics programs without disturb

SIEVE

Time in Seconds B Large Model ■ Small Model Size in Bytes □ Large Model H Small Model

1.29

■

I

ill

MWC86 DRI

ing the program under test; and evaluation, source, program and history

indows.

csd eases the most difficult part of development — debugging. Because csd debugs in C, not assembler, a programmer no longer has to rely on oldfashioned assembler tools, but can work as if using a C interpreter — in real time.

The C Programming System from Mark Williams now supports the following libraries:

Library Company

Windows for C Creative Solutions

Halo Media Cybernetics

PHACT PHACT Associates

The Greenleaf Functions Greenteaf Software

Btrieve SoftCraft

The C Programming System from Mark Williams

The C Programming System from Mark Williams delivers not only the best C compiler for the 8086 but also the only C source level debugger. That's why it does for C programming what C did for programming. The Mark Williams C Programming System gives the programmer the MWC86 C compiler and the csd C Source Debugger for only $495. Order today by calling 1-800-MWC-1700. Major credit cards accepted.

Technical support for The Mark Williams C Programming System is provided free of charge by the team that developed it.

Mark Williams Company

1430 W. Wrightwood Ave. Chicago, IL 60614

Inquiry 253

MAY 1985

iYTE 75

64K S100 STATIC RAM

$139°?

NEW!

LOW POWER! 150 NS ADO $10

BLANK PC BOARD WITH DOCUMENTATION $49.95

PRICE CUT!

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:

• U>e> new 2K « 8 (TMM 2016 or MM 6116) RAMa.

• Fully aupporti IEEE 696 24 BIT Extended Addressing.

• 64K draws only approximately 500 MA.

• 200 NS RAMs are standard. (TOSHIBA makes TMM 2016s as last as 100 NS. FOR VOUR HIGH SPEED APPLICATIONS.)

• SUPPORTS PHANTOM (BOTH LOWER 32K AND ENTIRE BOARD).

• 2716 EPROMs may be installed in any ol top 48K.

• Any of the top 8K (E000 H ANO ABOVE) may be disabled to provide windows to eliminate any possible conflicts with your system monitor, disk controller, etc.

• Perfect lor 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 THISBOARD THE "LIGHT-SPEED-100" BECAUSE IT OFFERS AN ASTOUNDING INCREASE IN YOUR COMPUTERS PERFORMANCE WHEN COMPARED TO A MECHANICAL FLOPPY DISK DRIVE.

FEATURES:

* 256K on board, using + 5V 64K DRAMS.

* Uses new Intel 8203-1 LSI Memory Controller

Requires only 4 Dip Switch Selectable I/O Ports. Runs on 8080 or Z80 S100 machines. Up to 8 LS-100 boards can be run together for 2 Meg. of On Line Solid State Disk Storage. Provisions for Battery back-up. Software to mate the LS-100 to your CP/M* 2.2 DOS is supplied. The LS-100 provides an increase in speed of up to 7 to 10 times on Disk Intensive Software. Compare our price! You could pay up to 3 times as mucn for similar boards.

BLANK PCB

(WITH CP/M* 2.2

PATCHES AND INSTALL

PROGRAM ON DISKETTE)

$5995

(8203-1 INTEL $29.95)

$199

00

KLS-100

(FULL 256K KIT)

if - -ji •

THE NEW ZRT-80

CRT TERMINAL BOARD!

A LOW COST Z-80 BASED SINGLE BOARD THAT ONLY NEEDS AN ASCII KEYBOARD, POWER SUPPL Y, AND VIDEO MONITOR TO MAKE A COMPLETE CRT TERMINAL. USE AS A COMPUTER CONSOLE, OR WITH A MODEM FOR USE WITH ANY OF THE PHONE-LINE COMPUTER SERVICES. FEATURES:

* Uses a Z80A and 6845 CRT Controller for powerful video capabilities.

* RS232 at 16 BAUD Rates from 75 to 19,200.

* 24 x 80 standard format (60 Hz).

* Optional formats from 24 x 80 (50 Hz) to 64 lines x 96 characters (60 Hz).

* Higher density formats require up to 3 additional 2K x 8 6116 RAMS.

* Uses NS. INS 8250 BAUD Rate Gen. and USART combo IC.

* 3 Terminal Emulation Modes which are Dip Switch selectable. These include the LSI-ADM3A. the Heath H 19 and the Beehive.

* Composite or Split Video.

* Any polarity of video or sync.

* Inverse Video Capability.

* Small Size: 6.5 x 9 inches.

* Upper & lower case with descenders.

* 7 x 9 Character Matrix.

* Requires Par. ASCII keyboard.

i.i', . » f *;1 ® I

i iifi

BLANK PCB WITH 2716 CHAR. ROM, 2732 MON. ROM

$4995

SOURCE DISKETTE - ADD $10 SET OF 2 CRYSTALS - ADD $7.50

WITH 8 IN.

SOURCE DISK!

(CP/M COMPATIBLE)

$99

95

# ZRT-80

(COMPLETE KIT, 2K VIDEO RAM)

Digital Research Computers

P.O. BOX 461565 • GARLAND, TEXAS 75046 * (214) 225-2309

Call or write for a free catalog on Z-80 or 6809 Single Board Computers, SS-50 Boards, and other S-100 products.

TERMS: Add $3.00 postage. We pay balance. Orders under $15 add 75* handling. No C.O.D. We accept Visa and MasterCard. Texas Res. add 5-1/8% Tax. Foreign orders (except Canada) add 20% P & H. Orders over $50 add 85c for Insurance.

BOOK REVIEWS

such tasks as calling the MLI via the BASIC interpreter or setting vectors to point to user-supplied command routines. The current ProDOS code occupies more than 22K bytes of memory. The authors expect that this code will change in the near future. Consequently, they have decided to describe only the BASIC-interpreter global page and the ProDOS global page. A special supplement is available from the publisher for those readers who wish to obtain a complete description of every piece of code and data within the ProDOS components.

Have the authors achieved their objective of improving upon the documentation provided by Apple? Yes, but I wish they had included even more information.

Martin Kalman (POB 243, Friday Harbor, WA 982 50) has an M.S. from MIT and works as a freelance computer programmer and writer.

PRODUCTIVE SOFTWARE TEST MANAGEMENT Reviewed by Douglas L. Freeman

Very little has been written about the testing of software. Since even the simplest program requires testing, clear-cut guidance is valuable to anyone who develops software. Michael W. Evans has missed the opportunity to provide this guidance because he has written a very complex book that will not appeal to a wide audience. He attempts to reduce most concepts to charts, some of which are fairly complicated, and he has a tendency to use acronyms excessively. Though Productive Software Test Management gets bogged down in details about organization, testing committees, definitions, and phases, some of the topics it raises are worth reviewing.

The Planning Process

Thorough software testing is often overlooked and undervalued. Testing can be easily overshadowed by the other complexities of software development. Evans correctly emphasizes the importance of planning. He begins his book with a story about a failed project and then tells how the disaster could have been avoided. The author points out that developers have a better chance of getting the resources needed for adequate testing if they've planned well for it at the beginning of a project.

Creating a detailed plan of how a system will be developed is a difficult task. In the early stages of a project, information and technical requirements are often vague. Precision is difficult to attain. The prudent systems manager will work hard to produce a strong software-development plan. According to Evans, planning should be done in a hierarchical fashion by first defining the top levels of development requirements (what is to be done) and structure (management and control). The development plan should contain a software test and integration segment. This segment describes the testing structure,

{continued)

76 BYTE

Inquiry 130

THE FORTH SOURCE

TM

$20 $10 $15 $25

$15

MVP-FORTH

Stable - Transportable - Public Domain - Tools

You need two primary features in a software development package a stable operating system and the ability to move programs easily and quickly to a variety of computers. MVP-FORTH gives you both these features and many extras. This public domain product includes an editor, FORTH assembler, tools, utilities and the vocabulary for the best selling book "Starting FORTH". The Programmer's Kit provides a complete FORTH for a variety of computers. Other MVP-FORTH products will simplify the development of your applications.

MVP Books - A Series

D Vol. 1, All about FORTH by Haydon. MVP-FORTH glossary with cross references to fig-FORTH, Starting FORTH, and FORTH-79 Standard. 2"« Ed. $25

D Vol. 2, MVP-FORTH Assembly Source Code. Includes IBM-PC® , CP/M® , and APPLE® listing for kernel

D Vol. 3, Floating Point Glossary by Springer

□ Vol. 4, Expert System with source code by Park

□ Vol. 5, File Management System with interrupt security by Moreton

□ Vol. 6, Expert Tutorial lor Volume 4 by M & L Derick

MVP-FORTH Software - A Transportable FORTH

□ MVP-FORTH Programmer's Kit including disk, documentation, Volumes 1 & 2 of MVP-FORTH Series (All About FORTH, 2"" Ed. & Assembly Source Code), and Starting FORTH. D CP/M, □ CP/M 86, D Z100,

□ APPLE, D STM PC, □ IBM PC/XT/AT, □ PC/MS-DOS, D Osborne, D Kaypro, □ MicroDecisions. □ DEC Rainbow, □ TI-PC,

□ NEC 8201, □ TRS-80/100 $150

D MVP-FORTH Enhancement Package for IBM-PC/XT/AT Program

j£* mer's Kit. Includes full screen editor. MS-DOS file interface, disk,

display and assembler operators. $110

□ MVP-FORTH Floating Point & Matrix Math for IBM PC/XT/AT with 8087 or Apple with Applesoft $85

□ MVP-FORTH Graphics Extension for IBM PC/XT/AT or Apple $65

□ MVP-FORTH Programming Aids for CP/M, IBM or APPLE Programmer's Kit. Extremely useful tool for decompiling, callfinding, translating, and debugging. $200

□ MVP-FORTH Cross Compiler for CP/M Programmer's Kit. Generates headerless code for ROM or target CPU $300

D MVP-FORTH Meta Compiler for CP/M Programmer's kit. Use for applications on CP/M based computer. Includes public domain source. $150

D MVP-FORTH PADS (Professional Application Development System) for IBM PC/XT/AT or PCjr or Apple II, II + or He. An integrated system for customizing your FORTH programs and applications. The editor includes a bi-directional string search and is a word processor specially designed for fast development. PADS has almost triple the compile speed of most FORTH's and provides fast debugging techniques. Minimum size target systems are easy with or without heads. Virtual overlays can be compiled in object code. PADS is a true professional development system. Specify Computer, $500

□ MVP-FORTH MS-DOS file interface for IBM PC PADS $80

$85 $65

□ MVP-FORTH EXPERT-2 System for learning and developing ^ji knowledge based programs. Both IF-THEN procedures and analytical

W subroutines are available. Source code is provided. Specify □ Apple, D IBM. or □ CP/M. Includes MVP Books, Vol. 4 &6 $100

D MVP-FORTH Floating Point & Matrix Math see above D MVP-FORTH Graphics Extension see above

FORTH DISKS

FORTH with editor, assembler, and manual.

□ APPLE by MM, 83 $100 £*D Macintosh by MM, 83 $125

* □ ATARI® valFORTH $60 D CP/M by MM, 83 $100

□ HP-85 by Lange $90 D HP-75 by Cassady $150

□ IBM-PC by LM, 83 $100 £*C IBM-PC by MM, 83 $125

* D ZBOby LM. 83 $100

□ 8086/88 by LM, 83 D 68000 by LM. 83 D VIC FORTH by HES.

VIC20 cartridge

□ C64 by HES Commodore 64 cartridge

□ Timex by HW. cassette D T/S 1000/ZX-81 □ 2068

$100 $250

$20

$40

$25 $30

Enhanced FORTH with: F-Floating Point. G-Graphics. T-Tutorial, S-Stand Alone, M-Math Chip Support, MT-Multi-Tasking, X-Other Extras, 79-FORTH-79. 83-FORTH-83.

□ APPLE by MM,

F, G, &83 $180

□ ATARI by PNS, F,G, & X. $90 D CP/M by MM, F & 83 $140

□ TRS-80/1 or III by MMS

F, X, &79 $130

D C64 by PS MVP, F, G & X $96

Key to vendors:

HW Hawg Wild Software

LM Laboratory Microsystems

MM MIcroMollon

MMS Miller Microcomputer Services

PNS Pink Noise Studio

PS ParSec

□ C64 with EXPERT-2 by PS

□ Extensions for LM Specify IBM, Z80. or 8086

D Software Floating Point

□ 8087 Support (IBM-PC or 8086)

□ 9511 Support (Z80 or 8086)

□ Color Graphics (IBM-PC)

□ Data Base Management

$99

$100 $100 $100

$100 $200

FORTH MANUALS, GUIDES & DOCUMENTS

□ FORTH-Wrlter, A Word Processor for the IBM PC/XT/AT with 256K.

^ MVP-FORTH compatible kernel with Files, Edit and Print systems.

* Includes Disk and Calculator systems and ability to compile additional

FORTH words. $150

D MVP-FORTH Fast Floating Point Includes 9511 math chip on board

with disks, documentation and enhanced virtual MVP-FORTH for Apple

II, II+ , and He. $450

Ordering Information: Check. Money Order (payable to MOUNTAIN VIEW PRESS,

INC.), VISA, MasterCard, American Express COD'S $5 extra. Minimum order $15. No

billing or unpaid PO's. Californ'a residents add sales tax. Shipping costs in US included

in price. Foreign orders, pay in US funds on US bank, include for handling and shipping

£»»□ Thinking FORTH by Leo ' Brodie, author of best selling

"Starting FORTH" $16

□ ALL ABOUT FORTH by Haydon. MVP Glossary $25

O FORTH Encyclopedia by Derick & Baker $25

^D FYS FORTH from the •&' Netherlands

□ User Manual $25

□ Source Listing $25 jiL! FORTH Tools and Applic. by

* Feierbach $19

□ The Complete FORTH byWinfield $16

^D Learning FORTH by

Armstrong $17

D Understanding FORTH

by Reymann $3

□ FORTH Fundamentals,

D Vol. I by McCabe $16

□ Vol. II Glossary $14 ^D Mastering FORTH by

Anderson & Tracy $18

Q Beginning FORTH by

Chirlian $17

□ FORTH Encycl. Pocket Guide $7

□ And So FORTH by Huang. A college level text. $25

□ FORTH Programming by Scanlon $17

Lj Starting FORTH by Brodie. Best instructional manual

$20

$25

D □

available, (soft cover)

□ 68000 fig-Forth with assembler

D FORML Proceedings

□ 1980 □ 1981 Vol 1 ^D 1981 Vol 2 □ 1982

**• Q1983 □ 1984 each $25 D 1981 Rochester Proceedings D1981 LJ1982 D1983 D1984 each $25

Bibliography of FORTH $17 The Journal of FORTH Application & Research

□ Vol. 1/1 □ Vol. 1/2 ^D Vol. 2/1 □ Vol. 2/2

** D Vol. 2/3 each $17

□ METAFORTH by Cassady $30 [] Threaded Interpretive

Languages $25

D Systems Guide to fig-FORTH

by Ting $25

□ Inside F83 Manual by

j0* Ting $25

□ FORTH Notebook by Ting $25 D Invitation to FORTH $20 D PDP-11 User Man. $20 D 6502 User's Manual by

Rockwell Intl. $10

□ FORTH-83 Standard $15 D FORTH-79 Standard $15

D Installation Manual for fig-FORTH

□ Source Listings of fig-FORTH, Specify CPU

$15 $15

by Air: $5 for each item under $25. $10 for each item between $25 and $99 and $20 for each item over $100 Atl prices and products subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Single system and/or single user license agreement required on some products.

MOUNTAIN VIEW PRESS, INC.

PO BOX 4656

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040

(415)961-4103

Inquiry 280

MAY 1985 • BYT E 77

Inquiry 120

COMPUPRO USERS

SMD Acceleration Options

now for Concurrent DOS

SMD SUBSYSTEMS

Controller—Drive—Power Supply—Cables Desktop Cabinet/Concurrent DOS XIOS

BOO MbMll Concurrent DOS XIOS

84 MBYTE 168 MBYTE 300 MBYTE

$3,895.00 $10,98500 $12,9 95.00

«:ested frst i

-trig

DATABANK ACCELERATED COMPUPROS

Ail systems with 5" fi 8" floppy

Concurrent DOS XIOS

130 MBYTE Internal SMD Disk Drive & Controller

Standard Compupro System Specs and Enclosures

SUPER 816CH130 SMD SUPER 816FH130 SMD $15,985.00 $16,885.00

call for quote — any compupro system

WHY SMD? 1.2 MB/SEC x controller-disk transfer rate

20 MSEC

-:k:-special-::--::

130 MYBTE = $7,485.00

Internal retrofit

on your lower enclosure

Prebooking Required Only 48 hrs. at our site

WHY DATABANK?

Authorized Compupro

System Center

Ounn S Bradstreet 05-204-9640

average disk access time

DMABAN<

(805) 962-8489

2Z8 A WEST CARRILLO

SANTA BARBARA. CALIFORNIA 93101

HARMONY VIDEO & COMPUTERS

2357 CONEY ISLAND AVE.. BROOKLYN. NY 11223 800 VIDE084 OR 800-441.1144 OR 7186271000

IW

COMMODORE 64

$149.95 APPLE 2Ew/DRIVE

$819.95

APPLE2C

$889.95

STAR SG 10

$210.95

PRINTER SPECIALS"

Brother HR15 XL Brolher HR35 Brother Keyboard Citizen MSP 10 Cm/cn MSP 15 Coror.a Laser Daisywnler Diablo 620 API DynaxDX 15 XL Epson RX 80 FT * Epson RX 80 Epson RX 100 Epson FX 80 Epson JX80 Epson FX 100 * EpsonLQ 1500 HP Laser jei

219 374 369 546 583 998 2678

Juki6100 T.>ipv„i( o Juki 6300

Mannesman Sp">' 80 Mannesman 160L Mannesman 1BPL NEC 2050 NEC 3550 NEC 7730 NEC 8850 Ne< p3 or n2 Okidata92 Ohidata93 Okimate 10 Olympai Compacl 2 Olympai ro Panasonic KXP 1091 Panasonic KXP 1090

459 629 629

1218 1629 1679 839 349

Panasonic KXP 1092

Panasonic KXP 1093

Panasonic XKP3151

Powertype

Guadiei

Rileman Blue *

SlarSGIO

SlarSG15

SlarSDlO

SlarSD15

Star 5010

StarSR15

StarSBIO

Silver Reed Exp 550

Silver Reed Exp 500

Silver Reed Exp770

Toshiba 1340

379 562 450 278

352 352

WOW! WOW! WOW!

IBM

APPLE

MONITORS

PC vWDnve

CALL

2E w/Disk Drive

819

Amdek 300 Green

114

PC XT

CALL

Macintosh

1365

Amdek 300 Amber

121

PC Portable vwDnve

CALL

Apple 2C

687

310 Amber

142

AST Six Pack

209

Imagewnter

473

Color 300

221

Tallgrass 20 Meg

2274

Addl Drives from 224

Color 500

324

Quad Board

221

Modem 12

429

Color 600

384

Keytronics

129

ATARI

Color 700

441

Hercules Colot

142

800 XL

96

Color 710

509

Hercules Monochrome

294

1027 Printer

224

Taxan210

199

Paradise Graphics

252

1050 Drive

148

PrmctonHX12

419

Paradise Mulli Display

273

Indus. Drive

234

Taxan 122A

139

STB Graphics + 2

246

1025 Printer

156

Taxan 420

394

STB R10-2

Tecmar Graphics

236 439

Rana 1000 Koala Pad

167

SANYO

Tecmar Captain

169

Printer i(F

49

S50D.S

645

Persyst Color Card PersySt Monocard

148 162

MODEMS

535 DS

CRT 70

947 509

Bernouli Box

1953

Hayes 1200

378

MBC 775

1799

10 Meg Onve

659

Haves1200B

314

Joystick

34

Hayes 300

■ rg

COMMODORE

Tandon 100-2

119

Micromodem 2E

206

Commodore64

149

ZENITH

Zenith PC 2150

Access 123

359

1541 Disk Drive

177

1619

Novation j-cal

89

1702 Monitor

189

Zenith PC 15152

Zenith PC 161 52

2057 2204

800-441-1144

M PS 802 Indus Drive

188 259

Items reflec

cashdiscr

unt For your protection we

check fo

stolen credit cards

78 BYTE* MAY I98

5

Inqu

ry 184

BOOK REVIEWS

phases, levels, and organization, it lays the foundation for the entire software-testing process.

Test planning is the central theme throughout the first five chapters. Though Evans almost wears out the subject, he does make several good related points. He cautions the software manager against trading short-term project demands for long-term planning requirements. As a project proceeds, the demands on the manager increase. Time that was intended to be spent on planning disappears. The obvious result is a poorly developed software product and sometimes a failed project.

The author also observes that managers often try to apply techniques that worked for large projects to the development of small projects and vice versa. He advises that the software-development controls must be scaled to the technical and administrative requirements of the individual project. Readers should keep this point clear as they try to implement concepts from this book.

Evans devotes a chapter to the subject of motivating a software-test staff. This chapter is one of the best in the book. It gives the reader good advice about management direction and responsibility. The author counsels the software-test manager to "look and act like a leader" and "present a positive image to staff, customer, and management personnel." He also tells how to motivate three types of personnel: fast trackers, average performers, and poor performers. This advice is useful to managers of all disciplines.

The Real Work of Testing

You have to read more than half of the book before you come to the two chapters that cover test specification and testing methodology. Evans warns that "personnel easily bog down in the morass of technical detail," but he does not follow his own warning. He proceeds to describe software testing in a style that is dense with terminology and definitions. In spite of this, a dedicated reader can still gain an insight into proper testing methods from these chapters.

A Word of Caution

Perhaps the most worthwhile part of the book's second half deals with satisfying the customer requirements of the project. Here Evans stresses the importance of customer participation throughout the software development. He states that customers will be more willing to accept a system if they have participated in the testing process. Productive Software Test Management is not a book for every computer user. It would be of most interest to people involved in managing major software projects at very large development organizations. To other software developers the book would probably be fairly dull, and to casual users of microcomputers it would be close to useless. ■

Douglas L. Freeman (37819 Valley Rd.. Oconomowoc, WI 53066). formerly a software-development consultant, is currently president of Color Corporation of America, Milwaukee.

c^vM^

Sperry introduces Usernet.

Because PCs that talk only to themselves

are a luxury few businesses can afford.

Stand alones shouldn't. Not in an office environment.

Alone, PC's are simply underutilized. But join them in the right kind of network, and their value as business tools increases exponentially. Your PC's can share fewer printers, share common data files, function independently or collectively. Just like people.

The question, then, is which system to choose.

Ours is not the only such system. But it may well be the most intelligently conceived.

It will accept any IBM-compatible PC's you already own. Eagle, Corona, Columbia, Compaq and so on. Even a Sperry.

Usernet begins with as few as four PC's, linked in a common bus with the industry-standard

Inquiry 445

"twisted pair" wiring. Simple and economical to install, service or expand. And expand you can, to as many as 64 PC's, merely by adding them on, without disrupting or replacing any part of the system.

As your Usernet grows, you'll appreciate a security system Stanford University rates as the best in the industry. It keeps your business yours.

But ultimately, any system such as Usernet stands or falls on speed. An information path, like a highway, can choke on its own traffic. So, the faster information moves, the less chance of developing a nasty form of gridlock.

It may surprise you to learn that Usernet speeds information along. In many cases, faster by a factor of 10 than our competition. Or yours.

For a demonstration at a Sperry Productivity Center near you, telephone 1-800-547-8362, or write: Sperry Corporation, P.O. Box 500, Blue Bell, PA 19424-0024.

i Sperry Corporation 19*4

MAY 1985 • BYTE 79

Lotus*'*3

asell

Words***

Symphony

k\Sj|

How do you get

your PC to wear

many different hats

at the same time?

E-z-DOS-n:

Introducing E-Z-DOS-IT Concurrent Processing — for IBM PCs and PC compatibles.

Before today, your IBM PC

(or PC compatible) could wear

only one processing hat at a

time. Now, with E-Z-DOS-IT

Concurrent Processing, your

PC can be an editor, financial analyst, and

artist all at the same time. And you can be a

writer. Or a programmer. In fact, E-Z-DOS-IT

is the only concurrent processing system

that can run effectively on machines with

256K and up.

Switch from one program

to another at the drop of a hat.

With your current system, each time you need to access information on a different disk, you have to save your files, unload and load a program. E-Z-DOS-IT enables you to switch con

veniently from one application to another instandy With this easy referencing capability, you can quickly respond to questions, and finish projects significantly faster.

E-Z to use, E-Z to afford.

^fou'll find it takes only ten minutes to master E-Z-DOS-IT Concurrent Processing. And the suggested retail price is only $199.95—improved productivity was never this affordable.

Improved personal productivity at your fingertips.

E-Z-DOS-IT is the one system software package you can't afford to be without. For more information and the name of the dealer nearest you, call toll-free: 800/228-9602 (in California, call 800/423-5592), ask for Operator 1.

SHAMMER

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

acknowledged: IBM and IBM PC, Internal). Software Publishing, Crosstalk, Microsruff. Inc ; Multi-Plan, Microsoft Corporation.

Inquiry 182

The following registered trademarks are acknowledged IBM and IBM PC, international Business Machines, Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony. Lotus Development Corporation; dBase 11 and Framework, Ashton-Tate; Wordstar, MicroPro International, PFS:File, ; Multi-Plan, Microsoft Corporation.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 81

Super Sperry

Our new Super Sperry system is mode by Mirsubishi. jusr like rhe Leading Edge PC Like rhe Leading Edge it runs 50% fasrer than rhe IBM-PC gives you 5 comporible stors for expansion dual 5V drives serial and parallel porTs. M5-DOS 2 11 GW BASIC ond an auromanc clock/calendar card

Unlike rhe Leading Edge our Super Sperry has a berrer keyboard with LED s on rhe lock keys and a racrile feedback, o more powerful power supply a rock solid green phosphor display and ATI tutorials

What makes our Super Sperrys really super, however is that rhey come with a massive 640K of RAM installed and rested I as standard equipment We urge you to buy rhe best even if ir s the less expensive Super Sperry for:

$1949

.»■> *.-..

IT

* More Free Software *

I went to look or the MBC-550 next day1

ivhar I found mode me an owner rhe Dill Sudbnnk Byre Magazine

Along with all rhe ftee great software you ger with a Sanyo MBC 550 Scorrsdole Systems includes 0 extra disks with CD OS TutotTeaches you everything you need to know about rhe operating system right on your system (2)15 games for rhe Sanyo 550 - a S>29 (retail) value CO) Daremare - an appointment keeper with a perperuol calendar [43 IS Manager Allows you ro change rhe srrucrure of existing InfoSrar files (5) PC File (6j 10 public domom gomes (7) diognosrics ond utilities and (6) Sketch - A graphics/drawing program Tirten in Sanyo Color Graphics BASIC

©Sanyo 555-2's

If you plan ropurchosea5onyo MDC 555-2 or a single drive MDC 550-2 you ve made an excellent choice The Sanyo MBC 550 series is rhe lowest priced 8086 MS-DOS system bor none Plus with rhe smgle-dtive 550-2 systems you receive MS-DOS 2 11 Sanyo Color Graphics BASIC Wordsror 3 3 CokSror ond Easy Writer I.

Wirh the 555-2 systems you also receive yout choice of DoroStar ReporrStar SpellStar and MailMerge: or Easy Writer II Easy Mailer Easy Plonner and Eosy Filer

We hove sold more Sanyo microcomputers than any orher dealer m rhe United Stares Our prices have also been rhe lowest or among rhe lowest m the country ond ore presently too low ro advertise

But we wouldn't hove become the largest 5onyo dealer in rhe country 'f oil we offered was low prices We include more free software than other dealers we can install boards or extra memory for a modest charge ond we srock reference manuals for our customers

Our soles staff knows rhe Sanyo system because rhey use Sanyo computers themselves, and unlike others who sell the Sanyo system we re on authorized Sanyo service center with techs on staff If you plon to buy a Sanyo give us a call we'll offer you a great price and a great deal more

Altos

High-performance Xenix-based mulriuser systems from Alros-world leaders in muln-user sysrems and applications sofrware

As parr of TRWs morkering supporr group we can hove your Alros sysrem nsrolled on your sire (oddirional charge).

Alros sysrems are easy to expand and wirh shared pnnrers ond fiord disks are cosr compenrive wirh multiple single user systems Call for addlnonal pricing ond availability

466-20 -- $4539

566-40 $7249

966-40 .... . . $8829

Alros Acer $2779

PRINTERS

EpsonFX-80+ J5*g"$160off

PX80FT 5*?$100off

Okidoro92 JWi§$125off

Okidaro 93 £X $210 off

Okidoro 84 Coll

5rarSG-10 $239

5rorSR-15 $599

Panasonic 1091 $298

Toshiba 1340 $579

LETTER QUALITY

Powerrype $299

Juki 6100 $399

Juki 6300 $719

Silver Reed 400 $249

Silver Reed 500 .. $299

Silver Reed 550 $409

I Silver Reed 770 $724

Dioblo Coll

NEC Call

Doisywrirer 2000 .. $824

HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS

DMP-29 $1795

DMP-40 $745

DMP-41 . ... $2340 [ , orher models Coll

Columbia's

If you re looking for maximum compatibility I minimum prices and norionwide service you I should consider buying a Columbia from I Scorrsdole Sysrems Each sysrem comes with a I huge software bundle including MS-DOS 2 1 I Bosico Perfect Wtitet Perfect Cole Perfect I Filer Perfect Speller Fosr Graphs Home I Accountant Plus Spoce Commanders. ATI ] Tutorials and T I M IV We have the lowest f prices on all Columbia computers including

rhe new 4220 desktop with 256K 2220 I portable with a built-in 9" monitor Your

I choice

$1698

The Silver Fox Trots Through Lotus Like 1,2,3

The Silver Fox is not IBM-PC DOS compatible yet it runs hundreds of MS-DOS programs including Lotus 1 2 3 dBASE II Multiplan. and even Flight Simulator

The Stlvet Fox does not hove IBM comporible expansion slors but you con odd pnnrers serial pons modems 10-40 Mb hard disks, clock/calendar cards RAM. joysricks on 6067 co-processor ond more

Whot makes rhe Silver Fox unique however isn't what you con odd to it but what comes wirh ir Each Silver Fox comes with on 8066 CPU. 256K of RAM. four video pom. ond a prinrer port Plus you ger more rhon twice the storage of a standard PC 1 6 Megabytes on dual 5 1 /4" floppys ond rhe Fox will read ond wrire ro standotd 160K. 320K and 360K IBM-PC formats

Srondord equipment also includes a better keyboard ond o 12" high resolution green monochrome monitor wirh a full 25x60 display Plus we back each Silver Fox wirh o one year limited warranty

If you didn r rhmk your

$1397

could buy you this much computed call our machine or

1-800-FOIWOX

I leave your name ond address ot the beep and we'll send I you a booklet that will tell you how it con

^^^M. ■■.■

ijAju^gU^jr:

Free 5ilverware

MS-DOS 2.11

WordStar 3.3

HAGEN-DOS

Eosy Writer

Color BASIC

Spell

GW BASIC

Moll Track

OS TUTOR

FILEBASE

15 Gomes

PC FILE III

Cole Star

PD Disk

Sanyo 11 OO's/1200's

Scorrsdole Sysrems uo

617 N. Scorrsdole Rood, Suite B, Scorrsdole, Arizono 85257

~ (602)941-585615:

Coll 8-5 Mon.-Fri. A

JP^^ We participate tn arbitration for business and customers through rhe Derrer Business Bureau of Maricopa County.

SINCE 1980

TELEMARKETING ONLY If you plan ro visir please call first for an appomrment Prices listed are for cosh and include o 3% discount We sell on a Net 30 basis to Fortune 1200 | companies and universities NoC.O.D sor A.P O s. P O sadd 2%. Visa Mastercard odd 3%. Az residents odd 6% Prices subject to change product subject to avoilabiliry Personal/company checks rake 3 weeks to clear All items lisred are new with monufocturers warranty. 0-20% restocking fee for returned merchandise. Shipping exrroproduas are F O B point of shipment Software is nor worranned for suitability Regisrered [ , trademarks Televideo-Televideo Systems. Inc ; Silver FoxTM HAGEN-DOS-Scorrsdole Sysrems. Ltd.; Commuter-Visual Computer Incorporated "

WYSE

50's 75's

$499 $575

1200 BPS Modems

Volksmodem . $199

Password . . . $249

Promerheus $024

l Hayes 000/1200 . . .. $444 A

0 OLYMPIA

To LQ or NLO That is the Question

Whether tis nobler to zip along at 165 CPS in draft mode ond use an incredible 1 7x1 7 NLQ mode for letters, or produce letter perfect ourput Olympia gives you a choice

Compare rhe Olympic NPro rhe popular Epson FX-60 or rhe Okidoro 92 The NP is slightly fastet. noticeably guierer, ond incfudes push-type tractors (ond friction feed) as standotd eguipment Bur the NP's really big feature is its fine script mode which is much superior ro rhe Okidata °2 and even better than an FX-80+ with a $199 NLQ oprion

TaguorePC magazine The (NP) printer is o sure thing if it falls into yout price range -and even if it doesn't, it may be worth considering

If you're looking for rhe besr buy in a ttue lerrer-guaiiry printer dike rhe Silver Reed 550 or rhe Juki 6100) rhe Olympia RO is for you The RO is o 14 CPS. widecomage that comes with both friction and rracror feed serial and parallel porrs ond quality rhor has made Olympio a world leader in typewriters

Before you spend 5100-S200 too much for anorher brand coll us or Scorrsdole Sysrems and ask for additional informonon on these exceptionol values from Olympia To LQ or NLQ is up to you rhe ptice for either the Olympia NP ot the RO with a 10 shielded coble to yout computer is only

$344

EVENT QUEUE

May 1985

• BUSINESS RESEARCH

Applications Seminars, various sites throughout the U.S. and Montreal. Quebec. Canada. A seminar series for those researching business topics. Contact Data Courier, 620 South Fifth St., Louisville. KY 40202, (800) 626-2823: in Kentucky, (502] 582-4111: in Canada, (800) 626-0307. May-lune

• C STUDIED

C-Language Workshops, various sites throughout the U.S. Workshops and seminars on C programming and issues. Contact Plum Hall Inc., 1 Spruce Ave., Cardiff, NJ 08232, (609) 927-3770. May-]une

• CLASSES IN UNIX. C UNIX and C Classes, City University, Bellevue, WA. Four-hour to five-day courses. Fees range from $100 to $750, depending upon course length. Contact Kathy Howard, Specialized Systems Consultants. POB 7. Northgate Station. Seattle, WA 98125, (206) 367-8649. May-]une

• CONFERENCES FOR MANUFACTURERS, USERS Conferences for Manufacturers and Users, various sites throughout the U.S. Planned are Document Processing in Tomorrow's Office'' and "Document-based Optical Memories'' Contact Richard D. Murray, Institute for Graphic Communication Inc., 375 Commonwealth Ave.. Boston, MA 02115, (617) 267-9425. May-\une

• FIX-IT WORKSHOP Computer Repair User Workshops, various sites throughout the U.S. A one

day seminar on repairing computers. The fee ranges from $140 to $175, depending upon location. Contact Cascio School of Computer Technology. Suite BI09-Q. 2 580 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon, CA 94583. (415) 829-5140. May-lune

• HOME, OFFICE

COMPUTING-New Olden Spring and Summer Computer Workshops. New York City. Introductory and advanced workshops on personal, executive, and secretarial computing. Fees range from $4 5 to $400, depending upon duration. Contact The Olden Computer Workshops. 1265 Broadway. New York, NY 10001, (212) 685-1234. May-lune

• 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 Industrial Ave., Chelmsford, MA 01824-3688, 1617) 2 56-1374. May-lune

• NETWORK PROTOCOLS

Network Communication Protocols, various sites throughout the U.S Major topic areas include elements of data communications, data-link control concepts, and bit-oriented protocols. The fee is $695. Contact Center for Advanced Professional Education, Suite 110,

1820 East Garry St.. Santa Ana. CA 92705. (714) 261-0240. May-lune

• SEMINARS AND SYMPOSIA-EDP Seminars and Symposia, various sites throughout the U.S. "Database Management Systems and Fourth Generation Languages for Personal Computers" 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. May-lune

• SUMMER SEMINARS

Summer Seminar Series, Rochester Institute of Technology, NY. A series of oneweek seminars. Titles include "Introduction to Linear Systems and Digital Signal Processing," "Basic 6800/6809," and "Advanced Digital Logic." For details, contact Yvonne Fish. School of Engineering Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, One Lomb Memorial Dr., POB 9887. Rochester, NY 14623, (716) 475-2915. May-lune

• Al, EXPERT SYSTEMS

BRIEFING-Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems: What Users and Suppliers Must Know Today to Deploy These Technologies as Profitable Strategic Corporate Resources Tomorrow. Boston and Framingham, MA. A one-day executive briefing. The fee is $790.

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.

Contact Ms. Lee Burgess, Professional Development Programs, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy Building. Troy NY 121803 590, (518) 266-6589. May-luly

• CONSULTANT TRAINING Learn How to Be a Successful Independent Computer Consultant, various sites throughout the U.S. The risks and rewards of consulting, planning and marketing, legal considerations, and resources are covered. Contact Education Technology Center Inc.. Suite 1042, 485 Fifth Ave.. New York. NY 10017. (212) 505-6148. May-luly

• DATA SWITCHING

Distributed Data Switching Seminar, various sites throughout the U.S. A oneday seminar on the technology and application of distributed data switching in telecommunications. The fee is $395. Contact Timeplex Seminars, 400 Chestnut Ridge Rd.. Woodcliff Lake. NI 07675, (201) 930-4600. May-luly

• SOFTWARE COURSES

Software Short Courses, various sites through out the U.S. Among the courses are "UNIX: A Hands-on Introduction," "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 90045, (800) 421-8166: in California, (800) 352-8251 or (213) 417-8888: in Canada. (800) 228-6799. May-August

{continued)

MAY 1985 -BYTE 83

Inquiry 19

QUALITY PARTS AT DISCOUNT PRICES!

SUB-MINIATURE DTYPE CONNECTOR

SOLDER TYPE SUB MINIATURE CONNECTORS USED FOR COMPUTER HOOK UPS DB-15PLUG $2 75

DB 15 SOCKET $4.00 DB-15HOOD $1.50

DB-25PLUG $2.75

DB 25 SOCKET $3.50 DB-25H00D $1.25

'PARALLEL" PRINTER CONNECTOR

SOLDERSTVLE 36 PIN MALE USED ON ■PARALLEL"

$5.50EACH_DAT"ABLtS

L.E.D.'S

STANDARD JUMBO DIFFUSED

RED 10 FOR $1.50 GREEN 10 FOR $2.00 1EU.OW 10 FOR $2.00 m

fy FLASHER LED

ft5 VOLT OPERATION RED JUMBO SIZE $1 00 EACH Bl POLAR LED 2 FOR $1.70

O^ CRYSTAL CASE STYLE HC33/U n uu7 I COLORBURST * **"* I 3579 545 KC S3.50 EA I $1.00 EACH

2 AMP SOLID STATE RELAY

SIZE- W

W HIGH

CONTROL 36-6VDC

TTL compatible LOAD l20Vac@2amp $2.50 each !0for $23 00

13 VDC RELAY

| CONTACT; SPNC | 10 AMP @ 120 VAC

"energize COIL TO

OPEN CONTACT COIL 13 VDC 650 OHMS SPECIAL $100 EACH

SEND FOR,

NE\

1985

48 PAGE CATALOG FREE!

MINIATURE TOGGLE SWITCHES

ALL ARE RATED

S.P.D.T (on-on)

P C STYLE, |

non-threaded!

BUSHING Cf

7M EACH I

10 FOR $7 00 JTJ

S.P.D.T. (on-off-on) I

NON-THREADED^ BUSHING Cii

P C STYLE ■'* 7S« EACH fy

10 FOR S7 00 *

5 AMPS @ 125 S.P.D.T VAr (on-on)

SOLDER LUG

TERMINALS .11 00 EACH 110 FOR $9 00 J100 FOR $80

S.P.D.T (on-on)

PC LUGS

THREADED , BUSHING J SIM EACH ' 10 FOR $9 00'

100 FOR $60 00

SOLID STATE BUZZER

STAR *SMB-06L

6 VDC TTL

COMPATIBLE

$1.00 EACH

10 FOR $9.00

120V INDICATOR

NEON INDICATOR

RATED 120 V 1/3 W

MOUNTS IN 5/16" HOLE

75« EACH RED LENS.

10 FOR $7 00

100 FOR $65 00

FOR $65 00

ram

ALL CLCCTROfUCS

90S S VERMONT • P.O. BOX 20408 • LOS ANGELES. CA 90006

| TOLL FREE ORDERS «1 -800-826-5432

(IN CALIFORNIA: 1-800-258-6666) AK, HI, OR INFORMATION • (213)380-8000

EDGE CONNECTORS

minimi

22/44 22/44 GOLD F CONTACTS 156 CONTACT SPACING

$2.00 EACH 10 FOR $18.00

SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY

INPUT

14Vac-25.5Vac

OUTPUT:

- 12Vdc@350ma * 5 Vdc @ 1 2 amp

- 5 Vdc @ 200 ma SIZE-,4V * «'> IV." high

$5.00 each

9-TRACK V>" MAINFRAME TAPE SUBSYSTEM FOR THE IBM PC/XT/AT WITH FREE BACK-UP

EVENT QUEUE

• DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS-Professional Development Seminars, various sites around Boston. MA. One- and two-day seminars on computer competence, management, sales, marketing, and finance. Contact Boston University Metropolitan College, 755 Commonwealth Ave.. Boston. MA 02215. (800)

2 5 5-1080: in Massachusetts, |617| 738-5020. May-September

• 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. May-November

• MEDICAL GRAPHICS

Computer Graphics in Medicine and Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Contact Linda Orgel, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 9th Ave., Seattle, WA 98111. (206) 223-6898. May 10

• C CONVOCATION

C85: The First International Conference on the C Programming Language, Ramada Renaissance Hotel, San Francisco, CA. A forum for programmers and developers using or considering the use of the C language Sessions on ANSI X3)ll standard, portability, programming tools, and applications. Contact Lifeboat Associates. 1651 Third Ave. New York. NY 10128. (800) 847-7078; in New York. (212) 860-0300. May 13-15

• EDUCATION IN THE INFORMATION AGE

Delivering Education in the Information Age, RadissonSt, Paul, MN, A focus on the planning and use of alter

native and information-age systems as an educational medium. Contact Conference Coordinator, Minnesota Curriculum Services Center. 3 5 54 White Bear Ave., White Bear Lake. MN 55110. (800) 652-9024; in Minnesota. (612) 770-3943. May 13-15

• ENGINEERING, DRAFTING GRAPHICS-Computer Graphics for Engineering/ Drafting Practice and Computer Graphics Workshop, University of Texas, Austin. Short courses stressing the principles of computer graphics and developing the ability to prescribe graphics equipment for engineering applications. Contact College of Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, (512) 471-3506. May 13-17

• PROFESSIONAL TUTORIALS—Tutorials for

Professional Development. Hyatt Hotel, Los Angeles, CA. A series of all-day seminars on software, logic programming, and communications. Contact Gerry Segal, Association for Computing Machinery, 11 West 42nd St., New York, NY 10036, (212) 869-7440. May 13-17

• COMPUTERS IN

GOLDEN STATE-California Computer Show, Hyatt Hotel, Palo Alto, CA. Computers, software, engineering workstations, peripherals, and CAD/CAM systems. Contact Norm DeNardi Enterprises, Suite 204, 289 South San Antonio Rd.. Los Altos, CA 94022. (415) 941-8440. May 14-15

• TEST. MEASUREMENT EXPO-The 1985 Test & Measurement World Expo. Convention Center. San lose, CA, Conferences and technology exhibits. Contact Meg Bowen, Test & Measurement World Expo, 21 5 Brighton Ave, Boston. MA 02134, (617) 254-1445.

May 14-16

84 BYTE- MAY 198^

Inquiry 394

EVENT QUEUE

• INTERACTIVE VIDEODISCS—Interactive

Videodisc-West. Airport Hilton, Los Angeles, CA. Contact Raymond G. Fox, Society for Applied Learning Technology 50 Culpeper St., Warrenton, VA 22186, (703) 347-005 5. May 15-17

• MODULA-2 ENGINEERING—Software Engineering with Modula-2. Atlanta, GA. A course emphasizing methods for building large-scale software systems in Modula-2. Prerequisite: knowledge of Ada or Pascal. The fee is $495. Contact Elaine Hadden Nicholas, Department of Continuing Education, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 303320385, (404) 894-2 547.

May 15-17

• SOUTHERN CAL SHOW

The Southern California Computer Faire, Convention Center, Los Angeles. CA. Hardware, software, peripherals, and services for the home, office, and development site. Conference program. Contact Computer Faire Inc.. 181 Wells Ave., Newton, MA 02159, (617) 965-8350. May 16-18

• OK SHOW

The Eighth Annual Show & Tell Microcomputer Conference. University of Oklahoma, Norman. Microcomputer fans of all ages and levels of expertise come together to share ideas and to demonstrate applications and hardware. Contact Richard V. Andree, Show & Tell Microcomputer Conference. Mathematics Department, University of Oklahoma. 601 Elm St., Norman, OK 73019. May 18

• TELECOMM SYMPOSIUM—NTT International Symposium '85. Tokyo, Japan. Discussions on worldwide telecommunications policy, management,

and societal and technological changes. Contact Ms. Yuko Ishida, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone, 200 Park Ave.. New York, NY 10166, (212) 867-1511, or Ms. Shizu Munekata, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone. Suite 230, 4962 El Camino Real. Los Altos. CA 94022. (415) 940-1414. May 20-21

• COMPUTERS AND

MEDICINE-AAMSI Congress 1985, Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, CA. Papers, sessions, and demonstrations. Contact American Association for Medical Systems and Informatics. Suite 402, 4405 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 657-4142. May 20-22

• MANAGEMENT

CONGRESS-Update '85, Sheraton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium. A briefing covering technological developments for those in the informationmanagement and micrographic industries. Contact Update '85, International Information Management Congress, POB 34404, Bethesda, MD 20817, (301) 983-0604. May 20-22

• MICROS FOR

ENGINEERS-Microcomputers for Engineers, Washington, DC Two 2-day seminars on the use of microcomputers in engineering applications with a focus on hardware and software evaluation and selection. The fees are $42 5 (government) and $500 (industry). Contact Conference Manager, U.S. Professional Development Institute, 1620 Elton Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20903. (301) 445-4400. May 20-23

• GRAPHICS FOR PRODUCTIVITY-The 1985 Trends and Applications Conference, Sheraton Northwest Washington, Silver

(continued)

High performance to cost ratio...

Programming Chips?

Projects develop profitably with development hardware /software from GTKK.

MODEL 7228 - $599 This model has all the features of Model 7128, plus Intelligent Programming Algorithims. It supports the newest devices available through 512Kbits; programs 6x as fast as standard algorithims. Programs the 2764 in one minute! Supports Intel 2764A & 27128 A chips. Supports Tektronics, Intel, Motorola and other formats.

MODEL 7956

(with RS232 option) .... $1099. MODEL 7956 (stand alone) $ 979.

GTEK's outstanding Gang Programmer with intelligent algorithm can copy 8 EPROMS at a time! This unit is used in a production environment when programming 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 4 PAL

PROGRAMMERS

-These features are standard from GTEK— Compatible with all RS232 serial interface ports • Auto select baud rate • With or without handshaking • Bidirectional XorVXaff • CTS/DTR supported • Read pin caiipatible ROMS • No personality modules • Intel, Motorola, MCS86 Hex formats • Split facility for 16 fait date paths • Read, program, formatted hst commands • Interrupt driven — program and verify real time whue sending data * Program single byte, block, or whole EPROM * Intelligent diagnostics discern bad anoVar erasable EPROM • Verify erasure and compare commands • Busy right • Complete with Textool zero insertion force socket and integral 120 VAC power 1240 VAC/SOHz available) •

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 7316 Pal Programmer $ 599

Programs Series 20 PALs. Built-in PALASM compiler.

DEVICES SUPPORTED

%

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.

by GTEK's EPROM Programmers

NMOS

NMOS

CMOS

EEPROM

MPU'S

27C16

5213 I2816A

8748 8741H

27C16H

5213H I2817A

8748H 8744

27C32H

52B13

8749H 8751

27C64

X2816

8741 68705

27C256

48016

8742H

2758 2764A 2508 68764

2716 27128 2516 8755

2732 27128A 2532 5133

2732A 27256 2564 5143

2764 27512 68766

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 Utility 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 ordering, please specify processor and computer types.

ACCESSORIES

Model 7128-L1, L2. L2A

(OEM Quantity) S259.

Model 7128-24 $329.

Cross Assemblers $200.

PGX Utilities Call for pricing

PALX Call for pricing

Gtek

XASM (for MSDOS) $250.

U/V Eraser DE-4 $ 80.

RS232 Cables $ 30.

8751 Adapter $174.

8755 Adapter $135.

48 Family Adapter $ 98.

68706 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.

Inquiry 180

85

Inquiry 288

ONLY

PUBLIC DOMAIN

SOFTWARE

is uncopynghted, so no license fees to pay to anyone!. Thousands of useful dbase. spreadsheet, word processors, games, utilities and business programs you can copy yourself from our User Group rental libraries. Join hundreds of companies and users enjoying a wealth of inexpensive software!

RENTAL LIBRARIES FOR CP/M SIG/M UG (New Jersey Area Computer Club)

216 Disk Sides $125 00

CP/M UG (New York Area Computer Club)

92 Disk Sides $45 00

PICONET (Bay Area User Group)

34 Disk Sides $25 00

KUG (Charlottesville Kaypro User Group)

25 Disk Sides $25 00

NATIONAL EPSON UG

32 Disk Sides $35 00

PD DIRECTORY CATALOG DISK

SPECIAL SALE—includes CP/M, SIG/M UG & PNET .. $5.00 pp

RENTAL LIBRARIES FOR IBM PC DOS

PC-BLUE (NYACC)

82 Disk Sides $85 00

IBM-PC SIG (Santa Clara Group, others)

230 Disk Sides $250 00

RENTAL LIBRARIES FOR COMMODORE 64

28 Disk Sides $25 00

PD DIRECTORY BOOKLET $12.00 pp

Rental is for 7 days after receipt 3 more days grace for return. Use your

credit card — NO DISK DEPOSIT1 Most formats available —even

Apple! Specifiy. Software also available lor sale, $6.00 per disk full

24 hr., 3 minute info, recording

(619)727-1015

NATIONAL PUBLIC DOMAIN RENTAL CENTER

1533 Avohill Dr., Vista, CA 92083 T&Ecr]

(619)941-0925 Orders

in OEM quantities

64K SBCs..m.$99.

•Sgye^deyejopment time and costs with Megatel Quark' single board computers • Select onjy the features you require • We deliver your first unit in two weeks or less

•6MHzZ80B

> 8088 Co-Processor

• 64K, 128K or 256K RAM

« Alpha/Graphics Video Controller

• Floppy Disk Control

(8", 5V or 3VP) ' Winchester Hard

Disk Control 1 Up to 2 Full Duplex

Serial Ports

• Up to 128K EPROM

• E!PROM Support

• Time of Day Clock

• Up to 4 Parallel

HO Ports

• Peripheral Expansion

Interface

• CP/M' 2.2 or CP/M' 3.0

Operating Systems

• Fully configured board

less than 5800.'

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

To order your first unit call our Toronto sales office today. (416) 745-7214

Or write us: Megatel 1051 Clinton St., Buffalo, NY. 14206

CP/M is o registered trademark ol Digital Research -Quantity one price Z80B is a registered trademark ot Zilog Inc.

80

BYTE • MAY I985

megatel

EVENT QUEUE

Spring. MD. Contact Trends and Applications '85, IEEE Computer Society, POB 639, Silver Spring, MD 20901.

May 21-22

• PARISIAN CONGRESS

Intelligencia. Pare des Expositions. Porte de Versailles, France. An exhibition and congress on expert systems, simulation, graphics, courseware, and services. Contact Society for Computer Simulation, POB 2228. La lolla. CA 92038-2228. (619) 459-3888: in France. AFIAS: Association Francaise d'lntelligence Artificielle et des Systemes de Simulation, 211, Rue StHonore, 75001. Paris, France; tel: (1) 260 3 5 16; Telex: 214 456 F. May 21-24

• CAD TECHNOLOGY

CAD 2001: The Countdown. Dallas, TX. Presentations on the future of computer-aided design. The fee is S900. Contact CAD Seminars inc.. Suite 400. 150 East Riverside. Austin. TX 78704. (512) 445-7342. May 22-24

• SOFTWARE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Computer Software and Human Development Conference, Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Held in conjunction with the Third Annual Software Panorama, this conference will examine the impact of software development on business, education, health, and agriculture. Contact Reuben Lando. The Software Developers Association, Suite 500, 185 Bloor St. E. Toronto, Ontario M4W 1C8. Canada, (416) 922-1153. May 22-24

• SYSTEM INTEGRATION FOR USERS—Managers, Micros, and Mainframes: The 1985 NYU Symposium on Integrating Systems for End Users, New York University. New York City. Contact Matthias larke, Graduate

School of Business Administration, New York University, 7th Floor Merrill, 90 Trinity Place, New York. NY 10006. (212) 285-6120. May 22-24

• DISK-STORAGE EXPO

The 1985 International Videodisc. Optical Disk, and CD-ROM Conference and Exhibition, London West Hotel, London. England. Workshops, presentations, and exhibitions. Contact Angela Suter. Meckler Communications. 11 Ferry Lane W, Westport, CT 06880, (203) 226-6967; in England, Alice Taylor. Meckler Communications, c/o Eurospan, 3 Henrietta St., London WC2E 8LU, England; tel: 01 240-0856. May 29-31

• MANAGE PROGRAMS

Configuration Management of Software Programs, Washington, DC. Methods for controlling the costs of development, maintenance, and operation of software. Contact Stod Cortelyou. Continuing Engineering Education. George Washington University. Washington. DC 20052, (800) 424-9773; in the District of Columbia, (202) 676-8520. May 29-31

• READYING FOR THE AUTOMATED OFFICE-De

veloping a Workable Plan for Office Automation, Washington, DC. Methods of planning for office automation and how to analyze technological developments. The fee is S730. Contact Chip Blouin, Continuing Engineering Education, George Washington University, Washington DC 20052, (800) 4249773; in the District of Columbia, (202) 676-8527, May 29-31

• COMPUTER INTERFACING—Personal Computer and STD Computer Interfacing for Scientific Instrument Automation. Virginia

(continued)

Inquiry 238

THE PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE

Lotus 1-2-3

$299

Lotus Symphony

$419

dBase III I FrameWork MultiMate

$339

$339

$259

WordStar 2000+

$309

Software

$199 (139 $189 $239

$289 S2S9 $ 95 (289

$279

Word Processing Editors

EASYWRITEH II

SYSTEM FANCY FONT FINAL WORD MICROSOFT WORD MICROSOFT WORD

W/MOUSE MULTIMATE PFS: WRITE SAMNA WORD III VOLKSWRITER DELUXE $159 VOLKSWRITER

SCIENTIFIC THE WORD PLUS

(OASIS) $105

WORD PERFECT $239

WORDSTAR $199

WORDSTAR 2000 $269

WORDSTAR 2000* $309

WORDSTAR PRO $259

XYWRITEII- $229

Spreadsheets/ Integrated Packages

ELECTRIC DESK

ENABLE

FRAMEWORK

LOTUS 1-2-3

MULTIPLAN

OPEN ACCESS

SMART SYSTEM

SPREADSHEET AUDITOR

SUPERCALC 3

SYMPHONY

TK! SOLVER

Communications/ Productivity Tools

CROSSTALK PROKEY RELAY SMARTCOM II

Project Management HARVARD PROJECT

MANAGER HARVARD TOTAL

PROJECT MANAGER MICROSOFT

PROJECT SCITOR PROJECT

5000 W/GRAPHICS SUPERPROJECT-NEW TIME LINE

Database Systems ALPHA DATA BASE

MANAGER II $179

CLIPPER SCall

CLOUT V 2.0 $139

CONDOR III $299

CORNERSTONE $329

DBASE II $269

DBASE III $339

INFOSTAR* $319

KNOWLEDGEMAN $269 PFS: FILE/PFS:

REPORT $169

POWERBASE $219

OUICKCODE III $169

OUICKREPORT $169

R BASE 4000 $259

Languages/Utilities

CONCURRENT DOS $189

C86 C COMPILER $299 DIGITAL RESEARCH

C COMPILER $219

DR FORTRAN 77 $219

LATTICE C COMPILER $299 MICROSOFT C

COMPILER $309

MS BASIC COMPILER $249

Graphics/Statistics ABSTAT AUTOCAD BPS BUSINESS

GRAPHICS CHARTMASTER CHARTSTAR DR DRAW ENERGRAPHICS W/

PLOTTER EXECUVISION GRAPHWRITER

COMBO MS CHART OVERHEAD

EXPRESS PC DRAW PC PAINTBRUSH PFS: GRAPH SIGNMASTER STATPRO STATPAK-NWA STATPAC

WALONICK

$279 $1475

$229 $239 $209 $199

$279 $259

$389 $159

$139 $259 $ 89 $ 95 $179 $499 $329

$349

$209

MS FORTRAN

$239

$459

NORTON UTILITIES

$69

$339

TURBO PASCAL

$45

$299 $135

Accounting Modules

BPI

$329

GREAT PLAINS

$479

IUSEASYBUSINESS

$279

MBA

$369

OPEN SYSTEMS

$399

PEACHTREE

$299

$269

REAL WORLD

$469

STATE OF THE ART

$389

STAR ACCOUNTING

PARTNER

$249

$105

STAR ACCOUNTING

$ 89

PARTNER II

$549

$ 99

$109

Professional Development

MANAGEMENT EDGE

$159

SALES EDGE

$159

THINK TANK

$119

Desktop Environments

DESK ORGANIZER $129

GET ORGANIZED $159

SIDEKICK $ 45

SPOTLIGHT $109

Hardware*

Multifunction Boards

AST ADVANTAGE $399

AST 6 PAK PLUS (64K) $259

AST 6 PAK PLUS (384K) $384

AST MEGAPLUS II (64K) $269 OUADBOARD EXP.

(OK) $229 OUADBOARD EXP.

(384K) $384 ORCHID BLOSSOM

(64K) $289

ORCHID PC TURBO $739 PERSYST TIME SPECTRUM

(64K) $259

STB SUPER RIO (64K) $299 TECMAR CAPTAIN

(64K) $279 TECMAR JR CAPTAIN

(128K) $329

TECMAR JR WAVE (64K) $259

TECMAR WAVE (64K) $209

Displays

AMDEK 310A $179

AMDEK COLOR II • $459

PRINCETON HX-12 $469

PRINCETON MAX-12 $179

PRINCETON SR-12 $619 OUADRAM

AMBERCHROME $179

TAXAN 122 AMBER $159 TAXAN 420/440 $399/599

ZENITH 124 AMBER $145

ZENITH 135 COLOR SCall

$159

$289 $199 $269

Home/Personal Finance

DOLLARS AND SENSE $119 HOWARD TAX

PREPARER 85 $195

MICROTAX Scull MANAGING YOUR

MONEY $129

Display Boards EVEREX GRAPHICS

EDGE HERCULES GRAPHICS

CARD HERCULES COLOR

CARD PARAOISE MODULAR

GRAPHICS PARADISE

MULTIDISPLAY CARD PERSYST BOB PLANTRONICS

COLORPLUS PRINCETON SCAN

DOUBLER SIGMA COLOR 400 STB GRAPHICS

PLUS II TECMAR GRAPHICS

MASTER TSENG ULTRA PAK TSENG ULTRA PAK - S

$359

$329

$179

$285

$295 $449

SCall $559

S489 $429 $359

Modems AST REACH 1200 HAYES 1200 HAYES 1200B HAYES 2400 VENTEL 1200 HALF CARD

Input Devices

KEYTRONIC 5151 KOALA

MICROSOFT MOUSE PC MOUSE W PAINT Mass Storage ALLOY PC-BACKUP

20MB ALLOY PC-DISC 20MB IOMEGA 10-10 MB MAYNARD WS-1 10MB SIGMA

SYSGEN IMAGE TALLGRASS

SCall $429 $389

SCall

$399

$189

SCall $139 $159

Printers/Plotters C. ITOH

COMWRITER II 420 DIABLO 620/630 EPSON FX-100EPSON LQ-1500 EPSON JX-80 HP 7475A PLOTTER JUKI 6100 NECP3 NEC 2050 NEC 3550 OKIDATA84P/93P PANASONIC OUME SPRINT 1155 SWEET P 6 PEN

PLOTTER TOSHIBA PI340 TOSHIBA P1351

Emulation Boards ASTPCOX AST 3780 AST SNA/BSC BLUE LYNX CXI 3278/9 IRMA IRMALINE IRMAPRINT QUAD 3278

Networks AST PC NET CORVUS NET ORCHID PC NET 3COM OUADNET IX

SCall SCall SCall SCall SCall SCall SCall $419 $899 $769

$1399

$729/619

SCall

$1569

$899 $779 $1279

$949 $609 $689/529 SCall $950 $869 $999 SCall $949

SCall

SCall SCall SCall SCall

Accessories CURTIS SURGE

PROTECTORS $Call

EPD SURGE

PROTECTORS SCall

DATASHIELD BACKUP

POWER SCall

GILTRONIX A/B SWITCH SCall MICROBUFFER INLINE

(64K) $264

MICROFAZER INLINE

(64K) $219

64K RAM SET $25

256K RAM SET SCall

8087 MATH CHIP $150

Samna Word III

$289

Chart-Master

$239

AST6Pak Plus

$259

Tseng Ultra Pak

$429

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE!!

We will match current

nationally advertised

prices on most products.

Call and compare.

Diskette

Library

Case

with your order '

1-B00-221-1260

In New York State call (718) 438-6057

TERMS:

Checks—allow 14 days to clear Credit processing—add 3%. COD orders—cash, MO 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

MON.-THURS. 9:00AM-8:00PM SUN. & FRI. 9:00AM-4:00PM

Softline Corporation P.O. Box 729, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230 TELEX: 421047 ATLN Ul

MAY 1985 -BYTE

87

'J&V^*

Hard to carry

MB

mmm

Hard to read

COMPAQ* is a registered trademark and COMPAQ PLUS" is a trademark of COMPAQ Computer Corporation. IBM* is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp. © 1985 COMPAQ Computer Corporation

88 BYTE* MAY 1985

Hard to expand

Hard to beat

Feature for feature, it's hard to beat the COMPAQ" Portable and COMPAQ PLUS™. For one simple reason. While others make compromises, COMPAQ makes portable personal computers that can do everything a desktop can. And more.

Compared to the IBM* PC, for instance, COMPAQ Portables run all the same popular business programs, all the same printers, and can expand to more than 30 times the storage. Plus they have a handle.

Compared to briefcase models, COMPAQ offers more again. More memory. More storage. A standard keyboard. Standard diskette drives so you can use industry-standard programs—as they are, without modification. And a brilliant, high-resolution screen that displays text and graphics at one time. Not one you have to play peekaboo with.

Compared to the Mac, COMPAQ lets you add a second diskette drive or even a 10-megabyte fixed disk drive. Inside, not out. Not to mention that we speak the Mother Tongue of Business Computers and Mac doesn't.

With a rugged, full-function COMPAQ, you don't have to compromise capability, compatibility or readability for portability.

comma

It simply works better.

For a free brochure or the location of your nearest Authorized COMPAQ Computer Dealer, call toll-free 1-800-231-0900 and ask for Operator 1.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 89

EVENT QUEUE

Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg. A hands-on workshop with participants wiring and testing interfaces. The fee is S450. Contact Dr. Linda Leffel. C.E.C. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Blacksburg. VA 24061. 17031 961-4848. May 30-Imw 1

\une 1985

• ENGINEERING CONFERENCES—Engineering Summer Conferences. Chrysler Center for Continuing Engineering Education, University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Conferences in such areas as biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and environmental engineering. Contact Engineering Summer Conferences. 200 Chrysler Center. North Campus University of Michigan. Ann Arbor. Ml 48109. (313) 764-8490. \une-August

• INFO MANAGEMENT SEMINARS-NYU Seminars on Information Management, various sites throughout the U.S. On the agenda are Legal Issues in Acquiring and Using Computers" and "Networking Personal Computers" Contact School of Continuing Education. Seminar Center. New York University. 575 Madison Ave.. New York. NY 10022 |2I2| 580-5200. )une-October

• COMPUTER/HAMFEST

The Fifth Annual Columbus Computerfest'Hamfest. Columbus. OH. A flea market featuring computers and electronic and amateur radio equipment highlights this event Admission is S2 in advance or $3 at the door. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Bill Welch. W8LLU. 396 Brevoort Rd„ Columbus. OH 43214. \une 2

• LEARN TO BUILD PROGRAMS—First North American Summer School on Program Construction. Newport. Rl. Methods for the effective construction of software will be taught. Contact Teleprocessing Inc.. 60 State St.. Boston. MA 02109. (617) 367-6227. ]une 3-12

• INTERFACES FOR SCHOOL LABS-lnterfacing for School Laboratories, Miami University. Oxford. OH. A workshop for secondary school and college teachers on the construction and use of interfaces for laboratory instrumentation. Contact Bill Rouse. 301 McGuffey Hall. Miami University. Oxford, OH 45056. (513) 529-2141. ]une 3-14

• COMPUTER MAINTENANCE—Independent Computer Maintenance. Halloran House. New York. NY. Contact Carol Every, Frost & Sullivan Inc.. 106 Fulton St.. New York. NY 10038. (212)

2 3 3-1080. \une 5-6

• OPTICAL STORAGE

First Annual Conference on Optical Storage for Small Systems. Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles. CA. Contact Technology Opportunity Conference. POB 14817, San Francisco, CA 94114-0817 1415) 626-1133, lune 5-7

• COMPUTERS FOR SALE Computer Supermarket Show and Sale. San Mateo County Fairgrounds. San Mateo. CA. Retailers, manufacturers, and distributors will be selling hardware and software. Admission is $7; children. $3. Contact Microshows. Suite 203. 1209 Donnelly Ave.. Burlingame. CA 94010. (415) 340-9113.

)une 8-9

• COMPUTER VISION

Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference. Cathedral Hill Hotel. San Francisco. CA. Submitted

and invited technical papers. Contact Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition. POB 639. Silver Spring. MD 20901. 1301) 589-8142. lune 9-13

• MUMPS MEETING

The Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the MUMPS Users Group. McCormick Center Hotel, Chicago, IL, Tutorials, workshops, site visits, discussions, and exhibits. Contact MUMPS Users Group, Suite 510. 4 321 Hartwick Rd.. College Park, MD 20740, (301) 779-6555. lune 10-14

• UNIX C CONFERENCE

USENIX Conference and Vendor Exhibition. Marriott Hotel. Portland OR USENIX is a nonprofit organization promoting UNIX. UNIX-like systems, and C-Ianguage programming. Contact USENIX Conference Office. POB 385. Sunset Beach. CA 90742. (2131 592-3243. lime 11-14

• NETWORK CONTROL

AND MANAGEMENT-Network Management/Technical Control. Santa Clara Marriott, Santa Clara, CA, Diagnostic and test instruments will be displayed. Contact Louise Myerow, CW Conference Management Group, 37 5 Cochituate Rd,, POB 880. Framingham, MA 01701. (8001 225-4698: in Massachusetts. (617) 879-0700. lune 12-13

• CLINICAL COMPUTING

Computing in Clinical Laboratories; The Fifth International Conference. Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany. Topics include databases, data presentation, and expected developments. Demonstrations and exhibits. Contact PD Dr. Chr. Trendelenburg. Katharinenhospital KG. Kriegsbergstrasse 60, D-7000 Stuttgart I. Federal Republic of Germany: tel:

(07 11) 20 34-4 82. lune 12-14

• COMPUTERS IN CLINICAL LABS-Ginical Laboratory Computers: Symposium 1985. The Towsley Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Contact Dove Margenau. Office of Continuing Medical Education, The Towsley Center. Box 057, The University of Michigan Medical School. Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-0010, (313) 763-1400. lune 12-14

• FORTH CONFERENCE

The 1985 Rochester FORTH Conference. University of Rochester. Rochester. NY. The focus will be on software engineering and management. Contact Ms. Maria Cress. Institute for Applied FORTH Research. 70 Elmwood Ave.. Rochester, NY 14611. (716) 235-0168. lune 12-15

• LOGICAL MACHINES

The Second Annual Conference on Logic. Logic Machines, and Public Education. University of HoustonClear Lake. Houston, TX Formal and informal sessions, symposia, and workshops. Contact the Institute for Logic and Cognitive Studies. University of Houston-Clear Lake. Box 269. Houston, TX 77058. 1713) 488-9274. lune 13-15

• INTERNATIONAL SHOW

The International Computer Show. Trade Fair Center. Cologne. 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: 10221) 821-1 Telex: 8 873 426 mua d, \une 13-16

• BIO RESEARCH RESOURCE—Introduction to

90 B Y T E • MAY IWS

EVENT QUEUE

BIONET A National Computer Resource for Molecular Biology. Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. Workshops on using computers for molecular biology research. Contact Selma Gitterman. Continuing Professional Education, Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University. POB 759. Piscataway. N) 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. \me 17-19

• ENGINEERING

SOFTWARE-Engineering Software: Engsoft 85. The Fourth International Conference and Exhibition, Kensington Exhibition Centre, London. England. Exhibits and sessions. Contact Elaine Taylor, Computational Mechanics Centre, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton S04 2AA, England; tel: (042 129) 3223; Telex: 47388 Attn. COMPMECH. lune 18-20

• DATA COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE-Data Communications: A Complete Overview and Update, Newport Beach, CA. The managerial, operational, and technical aspects of data communications and facilities are covered. Contact Data-Tech Institute, Lakeview Plaza, POB 2429, Clifton, N| 07015, (201) 478-5400.

lime 19-21

• TIPS FOR NET

MANAGERS—Network Management/Technical Control. Convention Center. San Jose, CA. A conference and exposition. Contact CW Conference Management Group. 375 Cochituate Rd., POB 880, Framingham, MA

01701, (800) 225-4698; in Massachusetts, (617) 879-0700. )une 24-27

• WORK WITH A COMPUTER-Using a Personal Computer. Breckenridge 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 Professional Advancement. POB H. East Brunswick. NJ 08816, (201) 238-1600, )une 24-27

• GRAPHICS IN SUNSHINE

Computer Graphics '85 West. Los Angeles, CA. Contact National Computer Graphics Association, 8401 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax. VA 22031. (703) 698-9600. ]une 25-27

• CAD TECHNOLOGY

CAD 2001: The Countdown, Boston, MA. See May 22-24 for details, lune 26-28

• DATA COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE-Data Communications: A Complete Overview and Update. Philadelphia, PA. See June 19-21 for details. \une 26-28

)uly 1985

• COMPUTER TRAINING

Computer Training Programs, Wintergreen Learning Institute, 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-September

• ADVANCED

AUTOMATION-Robot

Manipulators, Computer Vision, and Automated Assembly. Cambridge, MA. Contact Director of the

[continued]

"Switch boxes are sold by many suppliers, but by far the two best values are from MFJ Enterprises.

n

"The MFJ RS 232 Transfer Switch. Buy it before the manufacturer comes to his senses!"

Joe Campbell, The R12.U Soli

Sybex Computer Books

Now you tan have reliable and aJJ'ordahle and unplugging cables. You can easily switi letter-quality printer, modem, terminal - any Transfer Switches includes one to fit Look at these choices; then look at any price! Then ask them for show you, call MFJ.

port expaasion. Don't keep plugging

)ur computer to your high-speed printer,

RS-232 peripheral doice. MFJ's range of

your needs at a price you can afford.

these prices Compare others at

their re\icws. When they won't

When you need to switch between two peripherals or you need to have two

computers sharing the same peripheral... Model 1240/S79-95

Never unplug a cable again Now. with the push of a button you can go from dot matrix to letter uuality printing, or go from your printer to your modem. MFJ's Model 1240 Transfer Switch features a built-in transmit receive switch allowing you two way information flow. LEDs monitor important data lines while a built-in surge protector guards them. The I 240 a also acts as a null modem All this for *•£»■ Her'

|USt

P9.95.No wonder its MFJ's

. 1 :

When you need 1 to 4 computers to share one peripheral or 1 to 4 peripherals to share a common computer... Model 1243/$ 119-9$

The perfect office Transfer Switch. Don't buy multiple printers

or modems Just buy MFJ's Model (243. Then you can connect

one or all your computers to a single

printer or modem. Or let your one

computer share up to Jour peri

pherals. Think of the money you'll

save. LEDs monitor important data lines while a built-in surge

protector guards them. Two-way communication is allowed with

no complicated software to learn: just push a button!

Seven additional models to choose from Each unit's casing is constructed from high-quality aluminum. Printed circuit boards assure maximum reliability by eliminating crosstalk, line interference and any need tor wiring All MFJ switches baiv LEDs ti> monitor data lines and MOV surge protectors. Enhance the investment you've already made in your computer by choosing from the Finest line of Transfer Switches'on the market, including MFJ's IBM & Centronics Parallel Snitches.

You've got a lot of money tied up in your computer. Dont blow it!

Your valuable computer and peripheral equipment can be damaged by electrical surges much smaller than you've been kit to believe. Far more likely to happen is having your important data wijx-d out. These disasters, and others, can be prevented with MFJ's Power Centers. ReUiy latches power off during power dropouts (Model 1 1 OH). Multifilters isolate equipment, eliminate interaction, noise and hash. MOVs suppress spikes and surges. MKJ's Power Centers also have 3 isolated, switched socketpairs, with at least one unswitched socket (so you can add a clock, etc), lighted power switch, fast-acting fuse, 3-wire, 6-foot cords; ISA, 125V, and 1875 watts. Although each model is attractively housed in a protective aluminum casing, these are fwuy-duty, commercial-quality power centers. Watch out for fancy names that cost twice as much, last half as long, and have half the features of MFfs Power Centers

Model 1107 8 sockets,

2 unswitched; $79.95 Model 1108 7 sockets. 1 unswitched: with dropout relay; $99-95 110»9 is like 1107 but intelligent (switch device that's plugged into the control socket ery thing else comes on). $ 129-95

There are other RS-232 Switches, Power Centers, and Computer Peripheral Products available from MFJ. Call and talk with us about all vour computing needs, and when vou do, ask for out latest catalog. Both the call and the catalog are free.

1-800-647-1800

For technical/repair information, or in Mississippi, or outside the Continental t !nited States, please telephone...

1(601)323-5869 r 1

All MFJ products come with a double guarantee we think is unmatched. Order from MFJ and try any product for 30 days. If it doesn't satisfy your needs, just return it for a full refund, less shipping If you keep it you can be assured of continued service with our One Year Unconditional Guarantee.

Oil toll-free 1-800-647-1800 and charge the products you need to your VISA or MasterCard, or send a check or money order, plus $5.00 shipping, and our shipping department will promptly have your computer peripheral on its way to you.

53-4590 MIJSTKV

MFJ Enterprises Inc. 921 Louisville Road Starkville, MS 39759

Inquiry 261

MAY 1985

91

Inquiry 275

MICROTIME

CRflNT RD, TUCSON. RZ 05705

MSD0S2.11 I28K RAM (2J360K DRIVES

PARALLEL PORT ZENITH MONITOR

WORDSTAR EASYWRITER CALCSTAR

EPSON RX-80 WITH CABLE

KITS

YOUR CHOICE: KIT OR ASSEMBLED

CALL FOR PRICES

SANYO

COLOR PORTABLE PORTABLE

OPTIONAL 10 MEGABYTE HARD DISK

CALL FOR PRICES

320K RAM (2J360K DRIVES

GRAPHICS CARD PARALLEL PORT

ZENITH MONITOR THE WORD MULTIPLAN

BROTHER HR-1S WITH CABLE

$5499

320K RAM 360K DRIVE GRAPHICS CARD PARALLEL PORT Z133 COLOR MONITOR

MS DOS 2.11 THE WORD MULTIPLAN 20M BERNOULLI BROTHER 2024/CABLE

IBM-PC

"5

256K RAM (2) 360K DRIVES

AST SIX-PACK WITH 64K

HERCULES CARD ZENITH Z124 MONITOR

EPSON FX-80+ OR BROTHER HR-15

800 642 7684

ST.LOUIS 773-6951 TUCSON 79 I - 9030

Now

Available

— A Complete

Payroll Service Bureau

In One Small Package.

(Not A Franchise)

I Banking Relations ■ Sales Aids

I Customer Relations ■ Advertising Program

I Complete Software Package for Your Equipment

Everything you need to start your independent payroll service bureau... software, manuals, a complete how to package. For more information write /%fa to: WK'FK PAYROLL SVSTCMS, INC.

V*

kL

17280 Newhope Street, Suite Fountain Valley, CA 92708

DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED ■

13

EVENT QUEUE

Summer Session. Room El9-356. MIT. Cambridge. MA 02 l 39 ]uly 8-12

• COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS-The TwentyThird Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics, University of Chicago, IL, Papers, demonstrations, and tutorials. Contact Don Walker (ACL). Bell Communications Research, 44 5 South St., Morristown. N| 07960, (201) 829-4312.

July 8-12

• AWC CONFERENCE

The Fourth Annual National Conference of the Association for Women in Computing, Allerton Hotel, Chicago, IL. Workshops and sessions on technical and careerenhancement topics. Contact Joan Wallbaum. AWCC '85, 407 Hillmore Dr., Silver Spring. MD 20901. July 13-14

• THE NCC

The 1985 National Computer Conference—NCC '85, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. Exhibits, technical sessions, and development seminars. This year's theme is Technology's Expanding Horizons." Contact Helen Mugnier, AF1PS, 1899 Preston White Dr., Reston, VA 22091. (703) 620-8926. lulu 15-18

• COMPUTER WORKSHOPS-Personal

Computer Workshops, Aspen and Colorado Springs, CO. Tutorials, including an introduction to personal computers, word processing, spreadsheets, and database management. Contact Rocky Mountain Institute of Software Engineering, 1670 Bear Mountain Dr.. POB 3 521. Boulder. CO 80303. (303) 499-4782. July 22-26

• SIGGRAPH

S1GGRAPH '85: The Twelfth

Annual Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques. Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA. Contact SIGGRAPH '85. Conference Services Office. Smith, Bucklin and Associates Inc.. 111 East Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60601, (312) 644-6610, July 22-26

• 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. July 22-26

• INTELLIGENT MACHINES

Logic Programming & Expert Systems, The Turing Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland. Lectures, demonstrations, and sessions on programming techniques, system structure, and PROLOG. Contact The Turing Institute, 2 Hope Park Square. Edinburgh, EH8 9NW, Scotland; tel: 031-668-1737. July 24-2 5

• PUBLIC COMPUTING

The Twenty-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) 790-174 5. July 28-Auyust 1

• COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION-The 1985 World Conference on Computers 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, July 29-Auyust 2 ■

92 BYTE • MAY 198^ Inquiry 311 for Dealers. Inquiry 312 for End-Users

r

80 132-Column Printer

Because they're already built-in. The 80/132column printer. The 9-inch, high-resolution display. There's even a built-in 360K disk drive. Which all make the Sr. Partner a com" plete computer as is.

The Sr. Partner is IBM hardware and software compatible so you can run popular business programs immediately. The software bundle currently offered with the Sr. Partner is WordStar, VisiCalc, ^ pfs: Graph, File, Report, MS-DOS 2.11 ) and GW BASIC* r And with its 256K internal memory

m expandable to 512K, the Sr. Partner can J run the new integrated software.

Built-ins also include expansion slots and parallel and serial I/O ports. There's even a built-in RGB monitor port so you can take advantage of the Sr. Partner's color and graphics capability.

If you want 10 megabytes of storage, choose the new hard disk Sr. Partner.

Both the Sr Partner and the hard disk Sr. Partner come with an exceptional Panasonic warranty.* *

For the dealers nearest you, call: 1-800-PIC-8086. The Panasonic Sr. Partner. No peripherals needed It makes the competition look like Jr. Executives.

Panasonic

Industrial Company

Inquiry 3I4

9-Inch High-Resolution Display

Optional 10-Megabyte Hard Disk or Optional Second 360K Disk Drive*

—- 360K Disk Drive Built-in

S(?am

256K RAM

IBM Compatibility

Software bundle offer subject to change or withdrawal at any time without notice and is not available with Hard Disk Sr. Partner. **One-year limited warranty, 9 months on thermal printer head.Carry-in or mail-in service. Sr. Partner is a trademark of Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Ltd; WordStar is the trademark of MicroPro International Corporation; VisiCalc is the registered trademark of VisiCorp; pfs:Graph, File, Report are the registered trademarks of Software Publishing Corporation; GW BASIC, MS-DOS are the trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

FDR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORYOFTHE UNIVERSE, YOU CAN DEVELOPAN INTEGRATED APPLICATION THAT REALLY SINGS.

HERE'S HOW:

FRAMEWORK SOFTWARE

Framework™ is the only integrated software that contains a programming language.This means that you can use the language to create special applications which use all the features of Framework.

For the first time, you'll find it easy to design custom programs which let users outline, write, work with data and create graphs for their own special requirements, and use all Framework functions with a single set of easilylearned commands.

Let's say your customer is using a sales

analysis program you've written using Framework. He loves the ability to draw graphs and use all the other standard Framework features.To his surprise, when the Sales Analysis graph reveals the Southern region is leading, his PC starts playing "Dixie'.'

If you use the Framework programming language, you'll discover the @BEEP command, which lets you select both frequency and duration: @BEEP (440,300) plays a pure "A" for 3 seconds. Not quite long enough to tune an orches

tra, but it's the start of a melody.

Ashton-Tate™has created a whole industry of vertical-market applications with its dBASE IP and dBASE Hint's doing the same with Framework.

Climb aboard the bandwagon. Make your programs take on the beauty of the varied capabilities of Framework.

For a dealer near you call (800) 437-4329, ext. 222. In Colorado (303) 799-4900, ext. 222.

Framework, dBASE III

andAshton-Tate

are trademarks of AshtonTate

dBASE II is a registered

trademark of AshtonTate.

©Ashton-Tate 1985. All rights reserved.

Software from

Inquiry 41

/SHTON -TATE'

Wfell put you in control.

MAY 1985

IYTE 95

BYTE

Features

The AT&T UNIX PC THIS MONTH'S FEATURES lead off with a product description of the AT&T

by Gregg Williams 98 UNIX PC a new machine from AT&T Information Systems. As Gregg Williams,

Ciarcias Circuit Cellar: senior technical editor, points out, with the UNIX PC, AT&T hopes to establish

Build the Home Run Control System, UNIX as a standard in the business world and challenge IBM. Gregg wasn't

Part 2: The Hardware ab]e to spend all the time he wanted with the machine, but he has some

by Steve Clarcia 108 defjnite impressions of its pros and cons

Set Extensions with Apple Pascal Steve ciarcia continues with Part 2 of his Circuit Cellar Home Run Control

by Alfred L. Schumer 128 system explaining more of the details of his home and the system and how

Build a Talking Clock Speech {ney COme together

Synthesizer Next. A\ Schumer discusses "Set Extensions with Apple Pascal." He describes

y ' sets, operators, and logical machine equivalents and presents a fast exten

Smalltalk Comes to the sjon program to Apple Pascal that increases the size of available sets and

Microcomputer World jj ^ ...

by Bruce Webster 151 adds more Set operations.

While "Build a Talking Clock Speech Synthesizer" might sound like a proj

by Br^Wbster and Tom Yonknrn 152 ect that's been done before'this one adds the interesting capability of experimenting with unlimited-vocabulary speech processing. A couple of inexpen

by Christopher Made 155 s've cn'Ps' a few components, and your Commodore 64 or VIC-20 will keep

time and also announce it.

bylm Anderson and Barry Fishman..... 160 PeoPIe remember the August 1981 BYTE because of its Smalltalk theme.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ They also remember that Smalltalk wasn't available for microcomputers then " and wondered when they would get a chance to experiment with this intrigu

ing environment. This month we present a follow-up, what we call our Smalltalk trilogy.

First, contributing editor Bruce Webster and Tom Yonkman evaluate Methods, from Digitalk Inc., a Smalltalk version for the IBM PC and those machines that emulate it. Christopher Macie then describes his restricted version of Smalltalk, Smalltalk-PC for the Apple II and others. And, finally, for those who would like a refresher on Smalltalk-80, Jim Anderson and Barry Fishman of Digitalk give us a brief review and an application that runs under Methods.

—Gene Smarte, Managing Editor

MAY 1985 'BYTE 97

by Gregg Williams

THE AT&T UNIX PC

Editor's note: The following is a BYTE product description. \t is not a review. We provide an advance look at this new product because we feel it is significant.

THE UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM has been heralded as the answer to many of the problems that face computer users, especially those who need multiuser programs or who need to move a large software system from, say, a microcomputer to a mainframe. But. despite its good features, one fault of UNIX makes many people doubt that it can succeed in a commercial environment: UNIX contains many cryptic commands that must be mastered and remembered to make use of its power (for example, mv renames a file, cat prints it out. and Is gives a catalog of files in your current areal.

The AT&T UNIX PC is AT&T Information Systems' attempt to establish UNIX as a standard for the business environment and to challenge IBM's dominance in the office. Its extensive use of windows and a menu-driven "front-end' program called the Office bring most of the power of UNIX to the unskilled user. Its Motorola 68010 processor gives the machine virtual memory capabilities—the system appears to software as if it has 4 megabytes of memory even when it actually has as little as 512K bytes. Its telephone subsystem integrates the computer and the telephone, allowing such functions as computerized logging of phone calls, dialing from a customized directory, and saved, on-screen note taking during calls.

The UNIX PC comes with either a 10- or a 20-megabyte internal hard disk, can support up to two additional users (but without telephone services or multiple windows), and can read IBM PCDOS data and source-code files. Although the machine has both good design features (it can be used equally well with or without its mouse, for examplel and bad ones (windows respond sluggishly to mouse-initiated moves and change-size commands), its base price of $5590 for the 10-megabyte model (and $6590 for the 20-megabyte model) makes it a serious candidate for office use or UNIX program development. Buying the unit, however, forces you to cast your lot with the AT&T/UNIX world—AT&T says it has no plans to offer an add-on board that would allow the UNIX PC to run IBM PC programs.

System Description

The UNIX PC was designed to AT&T specifications by Convergent Technologies of Santa Clara, California: its characteristics are summarized in the In Brief section on page 100. The AT&T mouse (see photo 1) has three buttons. These mimic the Enter, Cmd, Photo l: and Mark keys on the keyboard (see photo 2): you can perform

[continued) The AT&T Gregg Williams is a senior technical editor at BYTE. He can be contacted at POB 372. Hancock. NH 03449. UNIX PC.

98 B Y T h

PHOTOGRAPHED BY AARON RLZNY

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

'"""illlM^

liliiliiiiliiiilliill

r - -'- h \. *, ■■ < *

IN BRIEF

Name

AT&T UNIX PC

Price

$5095 with 10-megabyte hard disk and 512K bytes of memory (UNIX $495 extra, for a total of $5590); $6590 with UNIX, 20-megabyte hard disk, and 1 megabyte of memory (includes 512K-byte expansion card)

Microprocessor

Motorola 68010, a 32-/16-bit microprocessor (32-bit internal data path and registers, 16-bit external data bus), 24-bit address line (maximum address space of 16 megabytes), support for virtual memory

Clock Speed

10 MHz

Main Memory

512K bytes of dynamic RAM with parity bit on motherboard, currently expandable to 2 megabytes via expansion boards; machine's design allows for a maximum of 4 megabytes

Virtual Memory

Custom memory-management hardware and the Winchester disk allow a virtual memory space of 4 megabytes; page size is 4K bytes

ROM

16K bytes of EPROM used as initialization program when power or reset applied

Floppy Disk

Double-sided 51/i-inch floppy-disk drive using 48 tracks per inch; capable of reading IBM PC data and source-code disks; stores 320K bytes per disk AT&T format, 360K bytes per disk MS-DOS format

Hard Disk

10- or 20-megabyte Winchester disk

Mouse

Three-button optomechanical mouse (needs no special surface)

Video Display

12-inch green-on-black display; displays bit-mapped graphics at resolution of 348 by 720 pixels

Keyboard

Detachable 103-key keyboard

Serial Port

Standard RS-232C port configured as DTE (data terminal equipment); maximum transfer rate of 9600 bps (bits per second)

Parallel Port

Centronics-compatible

Telephone Subsystem

Built-in 300/1200-bps 2l2A-compatible modem, modular jacks for two incoming phone lines (one voice, one data), one outgoing line connects voice line to external telephone

Miscellaneous

Three expansion slots, battery-powered clock/calendar

Operating System

Custom version of UNIX System V, revision 2; extensions include demand-paging virtual memory, windows, shared function and source libraries, record locking at the character level; software provides for multiple users (up to three, with limitations) and multiple processes executing simultaneously for each user; only selected "core" functions provided with standard product; the rest of UNIX is available in optional AT&T UNIX Utilities package ($495)

The UNIX PC Office Program

A window- and menu-driven software environment that allows the non-UNIX user access to computer-assisted telephone functions, UNIX functions, and optional application programs

Optional Hardware

512K-byte expansion card, $1195

most operations with either the mouse or the keyboard. The video display is a bit-mapped display of 348 rows of 720 dots each—or 24 rows of 80 characters each (plus five lines of status information). The top line is a status line for the two phone lines, the time and date, and icons for window management and (if present) pending error messages and mail. The bottom two lines show the current functions of the eight function keys on the keyboard.

The UNIX PC is shipped with all its software already on the hard disk. The floppy-disk drive's odd placement (behind the ledge in which the keyboard fits) reflects the designers UNIX orientation: Everything you need is on the hard disk. Still, you will use the floppy-disk drive to back up the contents of the hard disk. to install commercial software onto the hard disk, to format a floppy disk for later use, or to read data or source code from an IBM PC disk for use in the UNIX environment.

This system makes considerable use of windows but only occasional use of icons. Windows represent folders (which can contain files and other folders), but the UNIX PC represents an item inside a folder as a single line of textits name, type, and optionally some other information.

The Office Program

The Office program is the mechanism through which most users will interact with the UNIX PC. It is a menu-driven "front-end" program that translates your selection to the proper UNIX commands and executes them. Once the Office window has been made active, you can execute an item by highlighting it with the cursor keys and hitting the Return key. by pointing to it with the mouse cursor (which highlights it) and pressing the left mouse button (or, equivalently, the Return key), or by typing enough of the item's name for the software to recognize it (this highlights the item) and hitting Return. When the software needs more information, it opens up another window that contains the additional choices.

The Administration item leads, through additional menus, to 24 operations that must be performed to keep the computer and the part of it you control in order. This includes everything from changing your password, to configuring the parallel and serial ports, to backing up the hard disk (see table 1 for a full list). Normally, you would need considerable knowledge about UNIX and the file structure of the machine to perform these functions; for example, it takes four pages of C code to implement the add/change/delete user log-on menu. The Administration item is at the heart of AT&T's attempt to make UNIX palatable to the average user.

The Clipboard item is rarely opened; it stores files and parts of files that are being trans

100

MAN 1985

ferred to a new location.

The Filecabinet item opens to a window that contains all your files and folders; the Filecabinet window is open in photo 1. The Filecabinet window can also contain modem data and RS-232C profiles. A profile contains the information needed to set up the internal modem or the serial port for a given use.

The Floppydisk item expands into a window that displays the contents of the disk currently in the floppy-disk drive. By copying files and folders into the Floppydisk window, you copy them onto the disk itself.

The Preferences item expands into several menus that allow you to change the order and manner of displaying items within windows, change the default window size, and turn on or off the availability of the UNIX window and certain Administration items.

The system automatically puts all material to be printed into a print queue and prints it as a background task. The Printer Queue item expands into a window that lists all items awaiting printing; you can examine the list and, optionally, cancel one or more items.

The UNIX System item expands to a window that acts like a standard UNIX terminal. This item defaults to the Bourne shell (this is a UNIX term that denotes the user interface between you and UNIX); you can access other shells (when they become available) by specifying a shell's name in the Office Preferences window.

When files and folders are deleted, they move to the Wastebasket. Only when they are removed from this window are the files and folders physically deleted from the hard disk.

Windows

Windows in the AT&T UNIX PC behave differently from other windowing systems on personal computers. Different programs control their windows in different ways, and windows often adjust their dimensions to what they think best. The windowing system (called the user agent in the AT&T literature) automatically positions windows so that, if possible, all windows are at least partly visible from the screen. When that is not the case, you can cycle through all the windows by using "next window" and "previous window" function keys, or by opening and choosing from a window that lists all the windows currently open.

A window always has four icons (the ones in the corners) and may have pairs of arrows on the right edge (for up/down scrolling) and the bottom edge (for left/right scrolling); these arrows appear only if the window cannot display its complete contents. The corner icons are. clockwise from upper left, the movewindow, help, grow-window, and close-window icons. The help icon, when clicked on. always gives a window—sometimes several—of explanatory information. The close-window icon,

Photo 2: The UNIX PC keyboard. Many of the dedicated keys allow the computer to be controlled without using the mouse.

when clicked, causes the window to vanish; if it represents a program, closing it exits the program.

The move-window and grow-window icons must be dragged—place pointer on icon, hold down the left button, move the mouse (which drags the icon with it), then release the button. When you press the left button, a "W" in a box appears with a ghost outline of the window: both follow the mouse movement until you release the left button. The UNIX PC displays inferior behavior to its competitors when moving or resizing a window: see the "Problems" section for details.

System V UNIX

The UNIX PC contains a complete implementation of UNIX System V. revision 2. AT&T has added some enhancements including: demand-paging virtual memory, windows implemented as character devices, multiple processes in different windows executing simultaneously. Bass-style record locking at the character level (needed for multiuser business software), shared function libraries (saves space by using only one copy of a routine used by multiple processes), and shared source libraries (has a similar effect on simultaneous compilations). AT&T will not offer the source code for the enhancements to the standard release of System V UNIX.

To execute UNIX functions, you can either open a UNIX window (see photo 3) or, from any window, you can execute any single UNIX command by preceding it with the customary

•I"

sign.

Although the basic system contains the full UNIX operating system, it does not contain many of the utilities associated with a UNIX software developer's workstation. Instead, AT&T has divided the software into the Foundation Set ($495), the UNIX Utilities package ($495), and a UNIX Development Tools pack

[continued]

MAY 1985 -BYTE

101

Table I: Functions handled through the menu-oriented Administration window.

• Change password

• Set date and time

• Run diagnostics from floppy disk

• View system configuration

• User log-ins (add, change, delete)

• Disk backup and restore (full, incremental, single user, by filename)

• Floppy-disk operations (copy disk, format, read MS-DOS disk)

• Hardware setup (RS-232C. serial printer, parallel printer, telephone, drivers)

• Software setup (install, remove, show installed software)

• Mail setup (name this machine, identify other machine)

Table 2: Software announced for the AT&T UNIX PC at the machine's introduction.

SOFTWARE FROM AT&T

• AT&T UNIX PC Word Processor

• AT&T UNIX PC Business Graphics

• AT&T UNIX PC Electronic Mail

• AT&T UNIX PC BASIC Interpreter

• AT&T UNIX PC BASIC Compiler

• AT&T UNIX PC UNIX Utilities (includes C and assembler)

• AT&T UNIX PC Development Tools

• AT&T UNIX PC Business Accounting System General Ledger,

Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Order Entry/Inventory, and Payroll (five packages)

SOFTWARE FROM THIRD-PARTY VENDORS

• Language Processors Inc. Debugger, COBOL, Pascal, C

• Silicon Valley Software Pascal and FORTRAN

• SUPERcomp 20 (spreadsheet)

• Graphic Software Systems Inc. Chart

• CDI Sound Presentations

• Microsoft Word, BASIC, and Multiplan

• AshtonTate dBASE III

• Ryan-McFarland Inc. RM/COBOL and RM/Run Time

Figure I: Mapping logical addresses to physical addresses.

21 BITS =

2 MEGAWORDS

|:l MEGABYTES)

c

LOGICAL ADDRESS (VA1-VA21)

VA10-VA21. SELECTS ONE OF 2I0=1024 VIRTUAL PAGES

PDR(PAGE

DESCRIPTOR

REGISTER!

TABLE

PA10-PA21. PAGE ADDRESS. LOOKED UP FROM PDR TABLE

PHYSICAL ADDRESS IPA1-PA21)

Al-All ACCESS WITHIN 2 K - WORD (= 4K-BYTE) PAGE

age (which includes ISAM-file and sort/merge routines. $395). For example, the Foundation Set contains the standard ed line editor, but the Utilities package contains things like the vi screen editor, the nroff text formatter, and the yacc compiler tool.

Telephone Functions

Though AT&T's adaptation of UNIX is more important, the telephone functions (called telephony in the AT&T literature) most visibly distinguish the UNIX PC from other personal computers. These functions are available by opening the Telephone item in the Office window, which becomes a window of names and phone numbers titled Call Screen. Convenience features include dialing both people and computers by selecting a telephone directory entry, timing a call, redialing the last number, single-keystroke speed dialing, and putting a call on hold.

Other telephone functions go beyond simple convenience and will prove invaluable to people who use telephones a lot. The UNIX PC automatically maintains a log of all incoming and outgoing calls, including the time and duration of the call (plus name and number for outgoing calls). In addition, it gives you a chance to open a "Current Notes" window to take notes in: if you have taken notes during previous calls to the same person, the computer shows them to you (annotated with date, time, and number called) in a separate window. If you have installed the optional Electronic Mail program, you can also send UNIX-style electronic mail through either the Call Screen or the Electronic Mail windows.

Inside the UNIX PC

The UNIX PC consists of removable modules that can be replaced by the user. Once the cover is off, you can see a pan assembly (which houses the floppy-disk drive, the hard disk, and the power supply) and. under it, the motherboard. (The three expansion boards each slide underneath the motherboard from the rear of the machine and connect to each other through a narrow backplane that runs along the front of the machine. The slots have a 21-bit address bus and a 16-bit data bus.)

Photo 4 shows details of the motherboard; photo 5 shows the pan assembly and the motherboard. The on-board memory area contains 512K bytes (with parity) in 4864 64K by 1-bit dynamic RAM (random-access read/write memory) chips; the chips have an access time of 150 nanoseconds and run with no wait states. These chips are pin-compatible with 2 56K by 1-bit dynamic RAM chips; at some later time. AT&T will start using them to get 2 megabytes of RAM on the motherboard. (The system can add up to 2 megabytes of memory via expansion cards, for a maximum of 4

102

megabytes of memory. AT&T plans to use one slot to connect to an external expansion-card box. but expansion memory must be in the internal slots.) The bit-mapped video display requires 32 K bytes of the memory.

The system contains only 16K bytes of EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory)—two 8K by 8-bit 2764s. These contain bootstrap and diagnostic code for powerup. as well as code executed on shutdown that ensures that the attached telephone works when the computer is off.

The 10- and 20-megabyte Winchester hard disks are built by MiniScribe. The 10-megabyte drive, which comes in the basic system, has an 85-millisecond access time and a transfer rate of 5 megabits per second. The UNIX PC uses a novel form of DMA (direct memory access) to move data from the hard disk to memory. Most computers transfer control of the address and data buses to specialized hardware that first moves data from the hard disk to a buffer area: the processor regains control of the buses and moves the data from the buffer to its final destination. The UNIX PC speeds this process by capturing the buses many times, each time only long enough to move a word of data directly to its final destination. By not holding the buses while the hard disk is forming the next word to be transferred, this method also decreases the time the DMA transfer prevents the 68010 processor from doing its work.

Finally, three custom gate arrays (see photo 4) perform complex functions in much less space than they would have taken using discrete logic chips.

Memory Management

One of the main differences between the 68010 processor, used here, and the 68000 processor, used in the Apple Macintosh and other computers, is the former's virtual-memory capability. In a virtual machine, dedicated hardware looks at the memory address being asked for by the processor (the logical address) and translates it to a physical address that the processor can access if the data is currently in physical memory. If it is not (meaning that it is stored instead on the hard disk), the hardware generates a page fault that eventually causes the needed data to be swapped into physical memory before allowing the memory to be accessed. In a 68010-based computer, the page fault is fed to the BERR* (Bus Error) pin on the 68010; the 68010, in turn, suspends the current instruction in midexecution, runs a routine that swaps the needed data into physical memory, performs related housekeeping tasks, and completes the suspended instruction.

Most computers use a dedicated integrated circuit called an MMU (memory-management

HHK Hed Hay 1, 4:24 pa [w]

1 ps ef

U1D PIO HMD C ST1HE TTY HHt ClINMAttl) root 8 B 8 15:23:45 ? 2/: 18 snapper root 1 B 3 15:23:45 ? 8:81 init root 7 B 3 15:23:45 ? B:BH ,>.,.|(-d.u-.im root 3 8 17 15:23:45 ? B:13 Miodaeaon byte 58 1 3 15:48:42 xl 8:19 uj byte 59 58 3 16:12:38 m3 8:82 sh byte 6/ 59 48 16:16:84 m3 8:B1 ps root 36 13 15:48:23 ? 8:88 update

lp 34 13 15:48:23 ? 8:88 lpsched root 38 1 3 15:48:21 nl 8:81 cron root 38 1 3 15:48:2? *4 8:81 ph root 48 13 15:48:38 u* 8:81 aaf? root 42 1 4 15:48:31 u5 8:29 Mir

1

| piecnart i,nart |\,'

® B

>re«i Ctrl D to exit

\

Photo 3: A UNIX window. This window is running the Bourne shell and behaves like a conventional UNIX system.

unit) to translate logical addresses into physical ones and declare page faults. Instead, the designers of the UNIX PC use discrete logic and a table of high-speed static RAM called the PDR (page-descriptor register) table to do the translation (see figure 1). The lower 11 bits of the address are left alone; this gives a page size of 2K words or 4K bytes. (The 68010 does not have an address line A0 as such, but it uses the UDS |upper data strobe| and LDS power data strobe| lines to access byte-sized data.) The PDR table contains 1024 16-bit entries, one for each logical page. Six bits in each entry give status information about the page (including whether or not the page is in memory). If it is. the remaining 10 bits give its physical page number; if not. the logic generates a page fault and the 68010 interrupts itself to run a routine that puts the page into physical memory and updates the PDR table.

Software

AT&T recognizes the need for as much application and system software as possible. Table 2 lists the software announced (at the time that this article was written) as immediately available. Included are several languages and popular application programs like Microsoft Multiplan, BASIC. Word, and AshtonTate's dBASE III. AT&T representatives said Lotus 1-2-3 will not be available; they also denied reports that they were developing an expansion card that would give their machine IBM PC compatibility.

Problems

Although the machine seemed to perform acceptably fast in the short time I had access to it (see "Caveats"), its behavior was definitely inferior to other 8086- and 68000-based windowing computers in its move-window and grow-window operations. In all cases. I measured a delay of between 1 and 1 % seconds

[continued]

MAY 1985 • BVTt

103

Telephone-on-a-chip 512K RAM

hybrid IC T f

2764 EPROMs

Connector to backplane

■wwkw.. iMwwLj.fi

^•Address gate i

797

. y-disk controller

n-n-run-r

Telephone line control

£

;*»> c <t o isoo-ts- a

A5J£ljJD

■

B^H

ci ***>—st^rryi" r

tus

9:

.">?;'•>; 55*

Photo 4: The UNIX PC motherboard; the front of the board is at the bottom of this photograph.

Photo 5: The pan assembly and motherboard. Here, the pan assembly (which holds, left to right, the floppydisk drive, the 10 megabyte hard disk, and the power supply) is hinged upward to allow access to the motherboard.

between the time the left mouse button was pressed and the move or grow operation (indicated by the "W" icon) started. The ghost outline of the window's new dimensions begins at the window's current outline when the "W" icon appears. If the mouse pointer has been dragged to a new location before the "W" appears, the ghost outline may lag the mouse pointer's position by over three-quarters the length and width of the screen, thus limiting the amount the window can change before the pointer reaches the edge of the screen. (The ghost outline of a Macintosh window, in contrast, always stays with the mouse pointer.) Though this does not prevent the use of the UNIX PC, it definitely interrupts the flow of work and mars one's perception of a machine that otherwise seems to be quite fast.

Another thing that disturbs me at first impression is the designers' positioning of the floppy-disk drive, which, given the necessity of periodically using it for hard-disk backups, seems awkward to me. However, the final vote on that should come from the first people who actually use the machine for several months.

Caveats

I wrote this report after two days of conferences with AT&T engineers and officials, a few hours of demonstrations and hands-on experience, and considerable study of six user- and repairoriented manuals. The machine I used was a preproduction model that used discrete logic chips to emulate the three gate arrays. The machine had the 10-megabyte hard disk and ran the finished version of the software: 1 did not see the machine supporting more than one user.

Commentary

Although I would have liked to have had more time to study the machine. I feel confident in describing it as "quietly impressive." No one feature—menu-driven UNIX, true multiprocessing in a windowed environment, telephone functions, virtual memory—really excites me, although each one is an important "first" in the microcomputer world. Its success as a UNIX software-development workstation is assured (although it really needs a megabyte of memory for this), but its fate in the business community is promising but uncertain. Further details will be available in the full product review of this machine, which will appear in a future issue of BYTE. ■

MAY 1985 -BYTE 105

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 megabytesized RAM drives, access

QUADMEG-AT"

Advance to 4 Megabytes

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

greater amounts of information, and process data faster and more efficiently than ever before. Plus, with "split memory mapping" Quadmeg-AT lets you expand the AT's base system memory to 640K without buying a space-wasting 12 8K card.

Add a Second Quadport

Two Quadport-ATs gj'i your AT system a total of 2 parallel ports and 10 serial ports. Add peripheral devices or workstations for the ultimate in PC-AT, performan

m Look for this seal. It's the mark of dependability and performance from the ^Jv leader in microcomputer ;: B enhancements.

IBM PC-AT is a i International Bum

istered trademark of ss Machines Corporal

106 BYTE- MAY 1985

EXPANDABILITY TO THE SMART W\Y.

QLADPORTAT

Quadport-AT combines a parallel printer port and a serial port to give your AT the 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 LAN or growing multiuser, 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.

Featu

res

Quadmeg-AT: RAM expansion from 128K to 2Mbytes. Expandable in 512K increments. Split memory mapping assigns 128K or 384K to base memory.

Total RAM Capacity:

4Mbytes.

Expansion Cards: Two cards available. Each comes ivith 512K or 1Mbyte RAM installed.

QuadMaster-AT Software:

RAM Drives and Spooling for extended memory.

Quadport-AT: Port expansion with 1 Centronics parallel port and 1 RS-232C serial port.

Quadport-AT Expansion Kit:

(optional) 4 RS-2 32C serial ports. Software to access ports.

1 mr~ i

* /

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 [nieilKjeni J^siems Company

Inquiry 334

MAY 1985 -BYTE 107

108 » YT E • MAY 198S

PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAUL AVIS

CIARCIAS CIRCUIT CELLAR

BUILD THE

HOME RUN CONTROL

SYSTEM

PART 2: THE HARDWARE

by Steve Garcia

Energy management, convenience, and security in one package

I live in a large house with irregularly shaped rooms. The center section of the house is hexagonal, with a sunken living room in front of a fireplace. The kitchen is also hexagonally shaped and opens into a greenhouse. From the living room or the kitchen, you can descend to the "control center." The Circuit Cellar is also not your standard-shaped room. Defining a corner as the point at which two walls meet, you will find 13 corners in the Circuit Cellar.

My reason for describing this is not to elicit sympathy but instead to outline one of the reasons I designed the Home Run Control System (HCS). Visitors often comment on how wonderful it must be to live in a contemporary-styled home. Of course, they come from traditional houses with rectangular walls and light switches near the doors. There is no pattern of organization to the lighting in this house, and more than one light must be turned on in the Circuit Cellar and adjacent storage areas just to see around obstacles. If you try to walk around in the dark through some areas in this house, you can find yourself somersaulting over shin-high railings into pits, impaled on glass table corners, stunned on dark-painted Lally columns, or entangled forever in the masses of wires strung between groupings

of electronic equipment. Walking around this house in the dark can be hazardous to your health.

Over the years I've designed control systems that involved automatic lighting including the BSR. Unfortunately, the handheld controller was always some place I wasn't, or the command console was pointed in another direction (and rooms with 13 corners have lots of directions).

While ! could have bought out the local Radio Shack and put controllers and modules everywhere, the problem was one of greater dimension. 1 ultimately wanted a control system that followed prescribed security and environmental procedures when I wasn't there but that could redirect its control functions to provide simple, automatic convenient living when 1 was.

Bumping into things in the dark was merely an inconvenience. I solved it in the interim by just leaving lots of lights on at night. In the long run, however, I've been directing my efforts to building the true home-control system: one that senses presence in rooms and automatically turns lights on, raises the

[continued) Steve Garcia [pronounced "see-ARE-see-ah") is an electronics engineer and computer consuttant with experience in process control, digital design, nuclear instrumentation, 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

MAY 1985 -BYTE 109

CIRCUIT CELLAR

heat or lowers the air conditioning, and follows a variety of prescribed control sequences (as opposed to one) defined by the real-time assessment of the activities of the house's occupants. Finally, it is a reality, and photos 1-3 show some aspects of the system installation at my home.

The BSR by itself does not have the logical decision power to provide this capability. These functions require a computer and a program dedicated to analyzing and reacting to the environment. Home Run is such a dedicated home-control system. It uses BSR X-10 (Sears Home Control. Leviton, and Radio Shack Plug-NPower. among others) remote-controlled receivers as many commercial timer/controllers do, but its concept and capabilities greatly exceed those systems. The Circuit Cellar HCS is a video-based closed-loop control sys

tem. The text box on page 112 outlines Home Run's basic functions.

This month, I will continue the description of the HCS with an indepth analysis of the hardware design. First, since much of the hardware function deals with the BSR remote controllers, I'll start by reviewing their function and the communication codes they use.

BSR X-10 System

Components

When I first wrote about the X-10 in lanuary 1980, the system consisted of five modules: command controller, cordless controller, lamp module, appliance module, and wall-switch module. The line has now been expanded to include a programmable timer, wall-receptacle modules, automatic setback thermostats, and a telephone auto-answer controller. The

HCS can use and control any BSR receivers.

The command controller (or any unit that functions as a command transmitter) is the central element in the system. It sends commands to the receiver modules by coded messages sent through the AC power lines. The cordless controller is a remote extension of the command controller and has a matching keyboard. When pointed at the command controller from up to 30 feet away, any command that is selected on it will be transmitted ultrasonically to the command controller and carried out.

Lamp and wall-switch modules are essentially the same. They are triaccontrolled on/off switches, rated at 300 watts (W), that include dimmers. The lamp module is plugged into a wall outlet in series with the light to be controlled while the wall-switch

Photo I: I'm getting very serious about using the HCS in my home. I installed a 3by 4-foot piece of plywood next to the breaker box and started stringing wires everywhere for closed-loop input control. The HCS board is mounted in the bottom center. Directly above it in the silver box is a Hayes 300-bps auto-answer modem. To the right of that are the rechargeable battery backup and 12-V power supply for the motion detectors and interface boards. Directly above the modem is a custom optoisolated level shifter and AC-to-DC converter interface that connects the Touch Plate, a lowvoltage relay system, and commercially installed alarm-system sensors to the HCS. By the time this series of articles is finished, the rest of the board should be filled.

Photo 2: Much of my application for the HCS deals with its use for security and automatic lighting. Shown is the installation of a typical passive infrared motion detector. Costing in the neighborhood of $140 each, these units detect the movement of objects {like people) that have a different temperature than the surroundings. The units require a 12-V power source. Output is a contact closure: closed is no motion and open is motion detected.

110 BYTE" MAY 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

module replaces a conventional wall switch. For heavier or nonresistive loads, a contact-closure-output appliance module or wall-receptacle module is used. These are rated at 15 amperes (A) (about 1700 W).

At the heart of a BSR command module, as well as of the other system components, are custom LSI lCs (large-scale-integration integrated circuits) manufactured for BSR by General Instrument Corporation. Fully expanded, the BSR system can accommodate 2 56 independently addressable receivers. That is accomplished using 16 sets of addresses called house codes and 16 device codes for each house code. The separate house codes allow next-door neighbors to use X-lOs without interfering with each other. A thumbwheel switch on the bottom of the command controller and the receiver modules sets the 4-bit house code.

In normal operation, the 22-button keypad, which is wired as a 3 by 8 matrix, is scanned at a rate of 3.8 kHz. When a button is pressed, its designated function and the house code (see tables 1 and 2) are combined into a single message. The digital message is directed to the transmitter section, where it generates 120-kHz signals that are used to modulate the AC line with pulse-width modulation.

To synchronize the digitally encoded serial output with the 60-Hz AC line, the circuit includes a zerocrossing detector. The transmitted message is clocked a bit at a time on zero crossing. A command message contains 9 bits of information, consisting of the 4-bit house code and the 5-bit matrix (keyboard-function) code. Each message is transmitted in true and inverted format on successive half cycles of the AC waveform. This is illustrated in figures 1 and 2. A logic 1 bit consists of three 1-millisecond (ms) bursts of 120-kHz signal commencing approximately 200 microseconds (jts) after the zero crossing of the AC line. A logic 0 bit is represented by no signal for that half cycle. To synchronize the receivers with the transmitter, a trigger code consisting of 3 successive logic 1 bits followed

by a logic 0 bit is used. The complete message takes 11 full AC cycles (183 ms) to complete.

Actual attachment to the AC line is accomplished by means of a transformer and capacitor coupler. That combination is necessary both for protection and economics. The effective range of this system is generally all the wiring from the controller to the nearest power company stepdown transformer. Usually, five or six houses are on each transformer; some coordination with respect to the choice of house codes may be necessary. Also, since the version of the X-10 sold in the U.S. is a 117-volt (V) unit, and because most homes derive their 117-V power from both sides of a 220-V line, problems can sometimes occur in obtaining consistent operation when receiver modules are used on both 117-V lines and relatively few

220-V appliances are in operation to act as a communication bridge. Placement of the receivers could require some experimentation, or a capacitor jumper could be added between the sides of the 220-V line.

The receivers are quite sophisticated, considering that each one usually costs less than $17. All receivers (lamp modules, appliance modules, wall-receptacle modules, and wall-switch modules) are essentially the same. Also incorporating a custom LSI IC the receiver section monitors the AC line, waiting for a coded message corresponding to its unique house code (A through P) and unit device code (1 through 16). To turn on channel 10, you simply press 10 and ON. one after the other. When an appliance or wall-receptacle module activates, it energizes a relay.

{continued)

Photo 3: Much of the outside lighting and some of the outlets in my home are already remotely controlled through the Touch Plate. An absolute rat's nest of expensive electrician-installed wire controls 12 specific circuits. The highly reliable latching relays are controlled at various points in the house by illuminated push buttons. Their operation is push-on/push-off single-button control. When the circuit is on. the button is illuminated by a second low-voltage signal. Given the closed-loop nature of Touch Plate. 1 decided to connect some of the circuits to the HCS. The six relays wired in at present required a separate interface board to convert the low-voltage AC Touch Plate to TTL levels and an \8-condudor cable to route the signals. The HCS can now control as well as ascertain the present on/off state of the outside lighting.

MAY 1985

IYTE III

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Home Run Control System: Overview

The Home Run Control System is a single-board computer with the hardware and software needed to control lights and appliances in a home or a specific production process in a small business. The system uses BSR homecontrol modules that are activated by signals superimposed on the house wiring. The system can also directly control processes through hard-wired outputs. The following outline itemizes the features of the computer.

1. Versatility. The HCS can accommodate 48 BSR modules. 16 digital inputs. 8 TTL-compatible outputs, and 16 messages.

2. Self-containment The HCS can use any terminal (or personal computer emulating a terminal) at 75-4800 bps. The HCS also incorporates an integral video-display generator to provide a 24-line by 40-character display either directly to a composite video monitor or television set. A keyboard encoder allows connection of either an Apple ll-compatible parallel-encoded keyboard or an unencoded scannedmatrix keyboard. An additional serial port has been provided to which an auto-answer modem can be attached isuch as the Hayes 300 or 1200). When the modem answers, the HCS allows the remote calling terminal to access and control the HCS.

3. Flexibility. The HCS can schedule to turn outputs on or off based on combinations of the following conditions:

a. time of the week (e.g., Tuesday at 4:32)

b. time of the month (e.g.. 22nd at 11:20)

c. input line going high

d. input line going low

e. turn off after time delay (e.g.. remain on for 15 minutes)

f. one-time action triggered by specific input or time

When you want to create an event, various combinations of inputs and time can be specified. They are as follows:

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

or ON while specified input occurs

5 ON when specified input occurs OFF after period of time

4. Superkeys. The HCS has 16 functionkey inputs called superkeys. which cause a user-defined list of actions to be performed when the appropriate key is entered. This allows a complete sequence of events to be transmitted. The number of commands defined by a superkey is limited only by available RAM.

5. Light dimming. Lights can be dimmed to one of 16 levels. This allows mood control, a night light, or powerconservation operation,

6. Display messages. Text messages of variable size can be scheduled as announcements or reminders.

7. Low power. The HCS can be used to control energy consumption of a house, thus it is designed to be efficient. Power requirements are under 5 watts.

8. Battery backup. The processor and clock will continue to operate during a power failure: scheduled events will still be noted in memory. When AC power is restored, the HCS will restore all modules to the state they would be in if power weren't interrupted.

9. Sunset adjustment. The on time of desired modules, usually lights, will track the sunset. This alleviates having to adjust the schedule many times per year as the sunset changes. There is a command to compensate sunset times for daylight saving.

10. Automatic restore. The HCS can optionally restore the status of all modules every 4 minutes. This is useful in commercial applications where a module may be turned off by a transient or non-HCSgenerated command. Restore can also be triggered by an input line. The HCS always restores all modules after a power loss.

11. Schedule bypass. Modules can be bypassed for a selected interval (up to 44 days). This can be used for vacations or holidays.

12. Hold on input. This allows an input occurrence to lock out specified modules.

13. Accurate clock. The clock accuracy can be adjusted by software to within 1 second per day.

14. List events. The entire event schedule can be listed to the serial port. The speed of the listing can be controlled to allow for printing of the schedule.

The lamp and wall-switch modules use a triac instead and have the capability to brighten or dim in response to control commands.

Home Run Hardware

The Home Run Control System is a complete microcomputer. Functionally block-diagramed in figure 3. it contains RAM (random-access read/write memory) and ROM (read-only mem

ory), serial and parallel I/O (input/output) ports, a keyboard, and a video display. In its fully expanded form, it can communicate with an external terminal or a modem and display the events and status on its own display simultaneously. The HCS is based on the 6802 processor and runs entirely on interrupt. These interrupts update the real-time clock, scan the event tables, read the input lines, set the

outputs, refresh the video display, transmit the BSR codes, and service the communication ports.

Home Run was designed to work in a variety of home and industrial applications. As such, it accommodates both encoded and unencoded keyboards, terminal and integral video display, and BSR and direct I/O. Its software is flexible enough to work

[continued]

112 BYTE' MAY 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Table 1: Security house codes.

STATE

H8

H4

H2

H1

A

0

1

1

0

B

1

1

1

0

C

0

0

1

0

D

1

0

1

0

E

0

0

0

F

1

0

0

G

0

1

0

H 1

1

0

1

!

0

1

J

1

1

1

K

0

0

1

L

1

0

1

M

0

0

0

0

N

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

P

1

1

0

0

Table 2:

AC-line matrix key

codes.

KEY

D8 D4

D2

D1

D16

1

0 1

1

0

0

2

1 1

1

0

0

3

0 0

1

0

0

4

1 0

1

0

0

5

0 0

0

0

6

1 0

0

0

7

0 1

0

0

8

1 1

0

0

9

0 1

1

0

10

1 1

1

0

11

0 0

1

0

12

1 0

1

0

13

0 0

0

0

0

14

1 0

0

0

0

15

0 1

0

0

0

16

1 1

0

0

0

CLEAR

0 0

0

0

ALL

0 0

0

1

ON

0 0

1

0

OFF

0 0

1

1

BR

0 1

0

0

DIM

0 1

0

1

PHASE 1

DATA OUT ENABLE (GO C/S) l_|im, I

SERIAL DATA —'//,

DATA

The transmitted message is synchronous with the AC line, and each bit is clocked on zero crossing. Each message contains 9 bits of information: 4 bits of security code and 5 bits of matrix code. Each message is transmitted in true and inverse form on successive half cycles of the AC-line signal.

A 1 bit is 3 x 1-ms bursts of 120 kHz, commencing approximately 200 /xs after the zero crossing of each phase. A 0 bit is no signal for that half cycle. To synchronize the receivers with the transmitter, a Start Code consisting of 3 successive 1 bits followed by a 0 bit is used. Thus, a complete message takes 11 full cycles of the AC line to complete.

Figure I: BSR transmission protocol and timing.

CIRCUIT CELLAR

-TRIG <t>3 GENERATED AT EACH ZERO CROSSING

Tpl

;p2

C<#>3

MESSAGE REPEATED AT LEAST ONCE

SERIAL DATA

STATE OF 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

TRANSMISSION TIMER

(1)(1)(1)(0)(1) (1) (0) (0) (0) (1) (0) (1) (1)

DDDDDDD D

START HOUSE CODE

H4 H3 H2 H]

OPERATION CODE 4 2 1 16

Figure 2: BSR transmission protocol and timing continued.

with any combination or all of these subsystem peripherals. If you don't have a terminal or an auto-answer modem, you can configure a videobased-only HCS and leave the serial components out. (Because some users may not initially need or be able to afford all the functions supported by the HCS, it is available as a partially populated board. You can add the additional support chips at any time.) Figure 4 is the complete schematic of the Home Run Control System. I will explain it in five sections: processor and memory, timing, serial and parallel I/O (see photo 4), video display, and power supply.

Processor and Memory Section

At the center of the HCS is a Motorola 6802, IC1 (block-diagramed in figure 5). The 6802 is an 8-bit processor that is software-compatible with the standard 6800. It contains the same registers and accumulators as the 6800

plus an internal clock oscillator and driver. In addition, it has 128 bytes of on-chip RAM addressed at hexadecimal locations 0000 through 007F. A 4-MHz crystal is used with 1C1 and results in a 1-MHz system-clock output on pin 37. This clock is divided by counters in the timing section to provide the various interrupt clocks and pulse-signal sources. The processor is reset by pressing PBI, attached to pin 37.

The 16-bit address bus is decoded through a 74LSI38 (IC5) into eight 8Kbyte blocks designated by chip-enable lines Y0 through Y7. RAM occupies the space from 0000 to 3FFF. ROM occupies the range from A000 through FFFF.

The HCS has two 28-pin RAM sockets that can accommodate either 6116 (2K by 8-bit) or 6264 (8K by 8-bit) 3 50-nanosecond (ns) CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) RAM chips. The HCS requires a minimum of 4K bytes of RAM to function.

A jumper that selects/deselects address line Al 1 sets, whether a 2K-byte or 8K-byte RAM is inserted. The software auto-sizes and allocates available memory on power-up (be sure to remove the battery backup when changing or adding any chips). Table 3 designates the various legal RAM configurations.

Three program ROM sockets are designed for 2764-type 8K by 8-bit EPROMs (erasable programmable read-only memories). The HCS program presently resides in 16K bytes and uses 1C11 and IC12. IC19 is an empty socket intended for future program expansion and enhancements. (Eventually. I hope to design an analog I/O expansion board for the HCS. and I decided that it would be a good idea to put in the hooks now. Direct temperature monitoring and HVAC [heating, ventilating, and air conditioning] motor control are a possible consideration.) Portions of

[continued)

114 BYTE- MAY I98S

c

"3

n

o

a.

S'

2 3

73

n

is

8-BIT

PARALLEL OUTPUT

16-BIT PARALLEL INPUT

TERMINAL

BUFFERED OUTPUTS U23. U24

4MHz

4K-16K RAM U9 -U10

Ul

6802

CPU

ADDRESS

■1MHz C_

INPUT PROTECTION

RS-232C U17. U23

PARALLEL INPUT/OUTPUT U14, U15

16K PROGRAM

ROM

Ull, U12

RS-232C U17. U23

SERIAL

INPUT/OUTPUT U2, U4. U16

8K EXPANSION

ROM

U19

10.738MHz

HOH

VIDEODISPLAY PROCESSOR U22

PARALLEL

INPUT/OUTPUT

U21

BATTERY

+ 5V

12V A

AC

POWERLINE

POWER TRANSFORMER

BSR TRANSMITTER COIL

POWER SUPPLY

BSR

POWER DRIVER

-60Hz

-12V - TRANSMIT

SCANNED-MATRIX KEYBOARD ENCODER U18

TTT

CTL

VIDEO OUT TO MONITOR

FUTURE EXPASION I/O SOCKET

16K KB VIDEO MEMORY U25. U26

RF MODULATOR

VIDEO OUT TO TV SET CHANNEL 2. 3

_^

24-LINE BY 40CHARACTER VIDEO DISPLAY

PARALLEL ASCII ENCODED KEYBOARD

CIRCUIT CELLAR

PIEZOELECTRIC BEEPER

f

G2A Y7 Y6 Y5 Yd Y3 Y2 Y] YO

""p 27pF_

OUTPUT ©-MODU

470.il r- WV *■

COMPOSITE (07VIDEO ^

OUTPUT

-&

/77 ?

CHANNEL SELECT

4.7K —^V^

1ZA IC23 A 7407

^ IOjuF

330X1 —^A/^—

33.fl

IC1 6B02

36

=3

:|i £ SIS ■ Iz t/i > lor

'47K i[lN4148

+ 1 o I PI

J 10MF U

CHIP ENABLE ::

IC26

TMS4416 fl3

200nsec A2

RAS

X

IC25

TMS4416 fl3

200nsec A2

04 D3 D2 Dl

RAS

CAS

10 ADO

6

ADl

1 aj?

a

AD3

:;

ADA

12

ADS

13

AD6

la

AO?

A

CLOCK 1MHz

4LS04 .

/~.—

£

COMV| R/W RAS CAS

IC22

9118

r 1' 27pF

60Hz )—

TRANSMIT ^

D

I>

F^

CRYSTAL

10.738MHz

XTAL

<£

IN4148^ A 1N4

4.7K (4) Wv

E 1MHz 1

u

IC3 4024

T_T

IC6 4024

T

4-4

1C4 4024

T

DATE RATE SELECT JP4

Figure 4: The schematic of the home Run Control System.

116 BYTE- MAY 1985

I f f » f » f

.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i_iT"

:

■ PAO

■ Ml

■ PA?

■ PA 3

- PAd

■ PA5 . PA6

- PA 7

■ CA1

PBO PB1 PB2 P83

- .ROA g RST

R/W

CSO A2 CS1 A3

BSO AO RSI Al

i oo

'•• •••—••• #♦•—• • • f-**?

—

> o o

m

w

1

1

3

»;

33

o o

S

»

»

cr

"3

7F

7?

rr

n

n

c

H

n

m

i— r>

72

h

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Fifliirc 4 continued

16-PIN DIP PARALLEL ENCODED KEYBOARD INPUT

^L

ADDRESS

<i <t <t <i <

q o o a a o a

~*

<JTj

*sv

STROBE

RESET

N/C

D5

< < <t <

IC19 ROM 3

lo ccaoooaoo

„

'.

=27

^_

1

15

3

4

13

5

—o

12

11

B

-"

■■

N/C Dl

OPTIONAL SOFTWARE

EXPANSION ROM

READ/ WRITE

CHIP ENABLE:

1

CLOCK 1MHz

RESET

I TTTT

^uui ,ui^i mmm

irisi

CBl CBJ

16-PIN DIP KBD INPUT IC 27 (SEE DETAIL)

IC18 AY-5-2376

._J

I 2 70K I ♦ W.—A

D,

26-PIN FUTURE EXPANSION CONNECTOR

T

J5

SCANNED KBD INPUT

RPATA TDATA

23

ALL DIODES 1N4148 N/C - NO CONNECTION

A" +5V £ l» A' I" . k

JT/C20\ /c2o\ Y /c20\ \4~ J

H2V <4 7K

*L

1 ?

12V f

♦ 12V

J2

7 8 3 2 7

•DC

J?

2 B 6 5 3?

JPl( ^ MODEM DB25P TERMINAL DB25S

^ SERIAL TERMINAL DEFEAT (WHEN INSTALLED)

118 B YTE • MAY 1985

CIRCUIT CELLAR

the I/O are also set aside for expansion.

Timing Logic

Figure 6 outlines the section of the circuit that generates the timing signals. All the clocks are derived from a master 1-MHz clock produced by the processor. The 1 MHz is divided by 13 through a 74LS161 (1C2) to produce 76.923 Hz. This frequency is only 0.16 percent off the 76.800-Hz frequency normally used for communication at 4800 bits per second (bps). The other data-transmission rates (2400. 1200, 600, 300, 150, and 75 bps) are produced by further dividing this frequency through the binary counter, 1C4. One of the seven output frequencies is jumper-selected as the terminal/modem communication rate and directed to the transmit/receive clock input of the serial I/O chip, 1C16. The frequency at the final output of IC4 is 601 Hz. This frequency is used as the master interrupt clock for the HCS. Every 601 times the interrupt is called, the real-time clock is incre

mented 1 second. At various other increments in time, event and input status are checked and output set.

The BSR transmission timing is also controlled through this circuit. The 1-MHz system clock is divided by 8 through 1C3 to produce 12 5 kHz. While slightly off the 121 kHz normally specified for BSR line transmission, it is within tolerance of the receivers. The 12 5 kHz is gated on and off through NOR gate IC7 by an output bit from IC14. An LM311 (1C29) highspeed comparator functions as a zero-crossing detector to let the processor know when to gate the 12 5 kHz onto the AC line.

The 1-ms pulse bursts are timed by IC6. The elapsed time between releasing the reset line of counter IC6, which is clocked at 12 5 kHz, and an output change of state is 976.56 jts, or 1 ms in the real world. The clock period of the output waveform is 1 ms, but changes of logic state occur on the half period, 0.5 ms. By counting three of these changes of state, 1.5 ms, the typical time interval between 12 5-kHz

pulse bursts is also derived.

The BSR driver is functionally part of the power-supply section, and some elements will be explained later. Basically, it is a simple two-transistor power driver attached to the primary side of a tuned transmitter coil. NOR gate IC7 drives the output in 1-ms bursts of 12 5 kHz. The voltage swing is from +12 V to -12 V on the primary side through a high-voltage driver transistor, type NTE288 or equivalent (I, = 300 milliamperes |mA|, V« = 300 V). The secondary side of the transmitter coil is coupled to the AC line through a 0.22-microfarad (j*F) capacitor (400 V). A separate tuned secondary winding increases the transmission amplitude.

Serial and Parallel I/O

Home Run uses three 6821 P1A (peripheral interface adapter) chips and one 6850 ACIA (asynchronous communications interface adapter) chip to connect real-world activities to the processor. Each 6821 has two 8-bit,

{continued)

Photo 4: The Home Run Control System prototype printed-circuit board. Input and output connections are made via screw terminals at the bottom of the board. From bottom left to right, the connections are composite video out. RF video out. eight direct outputs, three ground pins. 16 direct inputs. DB-2 5S terminal connector, and DB-2 5P modem connector. The transformer! transmitter module connects to the board at center right.

MAY 1985 -BYTE

119

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Table

3: RAM configurations.

Memory Size

IC9

6116

IC10

(bytes)

6116

4K

6264

EMPTY

8K

6264

6116

10K

6264

6264

16K

(Note

6116 RAMs

are 24-pin

devices. They are inserted

into the lower 24 pi

ns of the

28-pin

socket.)

bit-programmable, bidirectional parallel ports and four control lines, which serve primarily as interrupt inputs. IC14 is the only 6821 that must be

installed for the HCS to run. Through port A it reads the 60-Hz zero-crossing signal, the 60l-Hz "heartbeat" interrupt, the 1/1.5-ms timers, and sets the beeper output and the BSR transmitter gate. Four extra future-option jumpers are included should I need them when 1 expand the capabilities of the HCS. (If the HCS is fully populated as shown in figure 4. no jumpers need to be installed. If you configure an HCS video version or don't plan on including the serialmodem capability afforded through IC16, then install a jumper at PAOand leave the 6850 out. This tells the processor to ignore serial I/O.)

Port B of IC14 drives eight opencollector output lines that are set or reset by the action of driver number

6 on the main menu. These lines are activated by following the same procedures as for the BSR modules. However, direct outputs such as these are immune from line transients and cannot be reset by errant use of a BSR command controller in another part of the house. Diagramed in figure 7. each output is protected against accidental shorts to a negative-voltage source and excessive current drain. A lOOk-ohm resistor allows the outputs to be read with a meter during testing and will not interfere with normal operation. The 7407 drivers are rated for 30 mA at 30 V.

[CI 5 is entirely dedicated to input data acquisition. Each of the 16 inputs is diode-protected and currentlimited. They will accept standard TTL

A15 AH A13 A12 All A10 A9 A8 25 24 23 22 20 19 18 17

t t t t t t t t

OUTPUT BUFFERS

NONMASKABLE INTERRUPT HALT

VCC = PIN 8. 35 Vss= PIN 1.21

MEMORY READY 3 ENABLE 37

RESET 40 6

INTERRUPT REQUEST 4 EXTAL 39 XTAL 38 ■ BUS AVAILABLE VALID MEMORY ADDRESS

7

5 ■ READ/WRITE 34 •

CLOCK. INSTRUCTION DECODE AND CONTROL

INSTRUCTION REGISTER

DATA BUFFER

A7 A6 A5 A4 A3 A2 Al A0 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9

t t t t t t t t

PROGRAM COUNTER

STACK POINTER

INDEX REGISTER H

TTTTTTTT

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 Dl DO

OUTPUT BUFFERS

RAM CONTROL

I I

32 BYTES 96 BYTES

35 Vcc STANDBY

36 RAM ENABLE

PROGRAM COUNTER

STACK POINTER

INDEX REGISTER L

ACCUMULATOR A

ACCUMULATOR B

CONDITIONCODE REGISTER

u

Figure 5: A 6802 block diagram.

120 BYTE- MAY 198S

CIRCUIT CELLAR

(transistor-transistor logic)-level input signals or any voltage between +9 and -9V. (The range 0 to -9 V is a logic 0. The range 2 to +9 V is a logic 1.) Contact closure should have an external voltage supply and should not rely on an open-circuit input always being a logic 1.

IC21 is dedicated to keyboard input and future expansion. Eight bits and a control line of port A receive ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) input data. This data can come directly from an ASCIIencoded keyboard via a 16-pin DIP (dual-inline package) socket (1C27) or from a scanned-matrix keyboard through a keyboard-encoder chip installed in IC18. The matrix keyboard is plugged into a 22-pin ribbon-cable

header adjacent to IC18.

One or the other keyboard option must be chosen and not both concurrently. If a parallel keyboard is used, no encoder chip should be inserted in IC18. Similarly if IC18 is installed, a parallel keyboard should not be plugged in. (If you are using a terminal with the HCS, neither type of keyboard need be installed and both IC18 and IC21 can be removed.) The parallel-keyboard input socket, IC27, is compatible with the Apple lie.

Port B of IC21 is reserved for future expansion. As previously mentioned, the HCS has an 8K-byte EPROM socket, four jumpers, and an 8-bit I/O port reserved for future expansion.

The HCS's serial I/O is through a 6850, IC16. The serial port is con

nected through separate level shifters. IC17 and IC20, to two connectors. One connector is wired to attach to a modem (DCE), and the other is configured to connect to a terminal (DTE). The communication data rate is set by the data-transmission-rate selection jumpers at IC4.

The HCS screen displays operate at different rates, depending upon whether the system is configured to use the internal video-display generator or an external terminal. If a terminal is attached (JP1 should not be installed), all displays are refreshed at the selected communication rate. (A terminal and a modem should not be trying to communicate at the same time.) When using a terminal, how

[amtinued]

1 MHz C_ Ul-37

DATA RATE <L U16-3.4 601Hz

0

0

INTERRUPT U14-40

PA 6 U14-8

PA 5 U14-7

fl

U2

74LS161

*13

Q«

76923 Hz

III Ml

1111111

Ql Q2 Q3 Q< Q5 Q6 C U4

CD4024 ^128

0

601 Hz

U3

CD4024

■=■8

125 KHz

U

RESET

U6

CD4024

^128

Q?

U7 74LS02

PA7r->_ U14-91

r>

_w0um_

-fj> TRANSMIT

ZERO-CROSSING DETECTOR

60 H:[>

7.5 K

-wv

J1N4148 ▼

r->PA4 '—^U14-6

Figure 6: The timing-generator circuit.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 121

CIRCUIT CELLAR

ever, both the internal display and the terminal refresh at the same datatransmission rate, and status updates appear only once a minute. Physical

control operations still occur as serviced by the interrupts, but. because a terminal could be communicating at 75 bps. the status display is rewritten

+ 5V A

ffi

47fl _vw—

OPEN COLLECTOR -O OUTPUT BIT 30 V @ 30mA

1N4148

6821 PIA

220 SI —wv

-<3] INPUT BIT

ZlN4148

LOGIC 0 0 TO -9V LOGIC 1 +2 TO +9V

Figure 7: The input/output circuit. Substituting a \k-ohm resistor for the 220-ohm resistor expands the voltage range to +15 V.

Photo 5: The power supply for the Home Run Control System contains both the transformer and the high-voltage section of the BSR transmitter. The sealed transformer module with BSR PC board effectively isolates the user from the AC power line. Connection to the circuit board is through a 1-pin DIN connector.

only once per minute. (A status update can be forced at any time on the terminal by entering a carriage return.) When using the internal video display (IP1 installed or a shorting wire connected between pins 7 and 8 of J2), the screen refreshes at full processor speed (it appears to be about 9600 bps), and the status display is updated upon occurrence of any programmed event.

There is an effective compromise when using a modem, with |P1 not installed. With an auto-answer modem such as the Hayes 300 or 1200 attached to the modem input, the HCS will automatically switch communication rates. Using the internal video display and IP1 removed, the HCS updates the screen at high speed Upon sensing a CTS (clear to send) signal from the auto-answer modem, the HCS switches its screen speed to the modem's data rate (set on the data-rate selection switches at IC4) and communicates with the remote terminal or computer. After the modem hangs up. the screen resumes its normal speed. I must mention, however, that screen refresh rate is in no way related to the speed of control operations. Real-time screen updates are necessary only if you require notice of an event in less than the once-per-minute terminal refresh and in fact need to see every output event as it occurs.

Home Run Video Display

Besides accommodating terminal or modem communication, the HCS has its own video-display generator. The display is 24 lines by 40 characters produced with three chips: IC22. IC2 5. and IC26.

Some of you will remember an article I did in the August 1982 BYTE about building a 10-chip E-Z Color graphics display. The TMS9918 videodisplay processor used in that article has been replaced in this design with a TMS9I18 chip. IC22. Functionally the same, the 9118 uses 5-V 64K-byte DRAMs (dynamic RAMs) instead of the older three-supply 4116 types. By using TMS4416 16K by 4-bit DRAMs,

[continued]

122 BYTE- MAY 1985

org

c

00

s

ENCAPSULATED WALL MODULE STYLE TRANSFORMER/TRANSMITTING COIL ASSEMBLY

r

Tl

o

AC

POWER

LINE

115VAC

GRN

BLK

12VAC

RED

*• T2

0.22MF 400V

^^

BLUE

f 1600pF*l ■^■6307 >15K

X

5%

•polystyrene ♦•metalized polyester

Tl 14VCT @ 1A 12VAC® 100mA

T2 120KHZ TUNED COUPLING TRANSFORMER

WHT

AC

BRIDGE RECTIFIER

AC

1N5402

+ 12V

5402 ™« j

PJ • • • WV—• • ■ '

1N5402 W

1N5402

iooa

1/2W

JP7 7.5V ;± NiCd T

il *

-J-4700/iF "^16V

O.l^F

tL 2200uF

" 16V

vw—• •

1N4742A^ 111 L^F 12V A <"

)l 1—I

io^f^L

GND

IN OUT

79 05

EXT. NiCd 1N4002

RED

*M 1

tl_1000/iF ,^1N4742A ^p25V A 12V 100JI J ■ 'W ■

ORG

.10MF

;iomf

|;15£

J220SI

2.2K

1N4148 (4)

BLUE

220 a -wv

MPSU60 (MOTOROLA) NTE288

3.3K

/77

T

lOfl

-12V

-C>60Hj

;iomf

2N3904

-<Z} TRANSMIT

Q TO

n

G H

n

m r r >

7*

CIRCUIT CELLAR

the 16K-byte video memory requires only two chips. (The primary reason for choosing the 9118 was board space and single-supply operation. The HCS is battery-operated on power outages, and 4116s would have been difficult to accommodate. A TMS9918 will not run with 4416s; however, it can still be used in this design if you replace the 4116s with 4164s. It's expensive, but it's 5 V only.)

I will not belabor the point describing how the screens are entered into display memory or what commands are necessary to control the videodisplay processor. Instead, I refer you to the August 1982 Circuit Cellar article. One final note for mad programmers. The video-display memory is I6K bytes, but only about 1 500 bytes is currently being used for the alphanumeric-mode status and menu displays. The TMS9118/9918 is capable of producing a 16-color 2 56- by 192-pixel graphics display in three operating modes. Given a few more man-years of software, 1 could possibly have provided the same pretty graphics as those presented on GE's HomeMinder, but the present emphasis is on control capabilities. Perhaps such features will be included in future peripheral expansion. If you are interested in the graphics potential, look at any ColecoVision or Adam computer. They also use the Tl graphics chip.

The output of the TMS9118 is NTSC (National Television System Committee) composite video that is buffered and available for direct connection to a video monitor. Optionally, an RF (radio frequency) modulator can be installed that will allow a standard television set to be used concurrently or in place of a monitor. In my opinion, displays are much sharper on a video monitor than on a television set.

Power Supply and BSR Driver

The power-supply section of Home Run posed a particular problem and almost scuttled its development. Circuit Cellar projects are designed to be built, not just read. Unfortunately, I

cannot always count on everyone taking the same care and precaution in assembly that I do. The BSR transmitter is connected directly to the AC line through a slug-tuned transmitter coil. While isolated after the transformer coil, most manufacturers take the economical approach and mount this coil and associated components on the same PC (printed circuit) board with the processor. Since the AC line must then be brought to the board and a number of components, it presents a serious hazard. While I could instruct you to pot or otherwise insulate these areas, this was deemed unsatisfactory. I needed to feel that anyone building Home Run either from a kit or scratch would not get electrocuted.

The solution was to combine all the high-voltage components into one sealed module and have only isolated low-voltage wiring exit from it (see photo 5 and figure 8). The hot components in the HCS are the AC-line connected sides of the power transformer and the BSR transmitter coil and series capacitor. Using a wallmodule transformer with an additional circuit board containing the transmitter coil and components, these circuit elements can be isolated. A 7-wire cable exits from the wall module and ends in a 7-pin DIN (Deutsche Industrie Norm) connector. Two wires go to the transmitter coil, and five wires come from the powertransformer secondary windings. This transmitter/power module is more expensive than conventional approaches, but it is much safer.

Figure 8 shows the HCS's regulator circuit. It uses a rather novel approach to produce +5 V, + 12 V, and -12 V.

The + 5-V and +12-V outputs are produced from a 14-V CT (center tap) transformer output. The three 14-V CT output windings are connected to a full-wave bridge and capacitor filter in the traditional manner. Each output, referenced to the center tap, will be about 9.5 V peak. Using a 7905 regulator connected to the negative filter side, - 5 V is easily produced. In this design, however, the output of the 7905 is reversed and connected to the

HCS power ground. The transformer center tap, now referenced to the HCS power ground, will read +5 V!

A zener regulator with a seriesblocking diode is connected to the positive filter output. The ground pin of the circuit, normally connected to the center tap in conventional designs, is connected to the new HCS power ground at the output of the zener. The effect is a -5-V reference applied to the ground lead of the zener. Instead of requiring 14.5 V at its input to produce 12 V it now needs only 9.5 V above the center tap.

The - 12-V supply is a conventional half-wave rectifier configuration. Since it is required only by the RS-232C and BSR drivers, regulation does not have to be precise and a zener diode is adequate.

I chose this particular power-supply configuration to reduce power dissipation. The HCS takes about 0.9 A at 5 V. Conventional linear designs would have suggested using a 22- to 24-V CT transformer winding, resulting in about 8.5 W of power dissipation. In a sealed enclosure, this can make things very warm. With this design, dissipation is reduced to about 4 W. The only alternative would have been to use expensive switching supplies.

Battery Backup

The last area of the power supply is the battery backup. It consists merely of six C-cell nickel-cadmium batteries in series to produce 7.5 V (6 x 1.2 5 V). They are connected between the transformer center tap and the input of the 7905 (note polarity). A 3-A IN5402 diode is inserted in series so that the batteries supply power to the regulator only when none is being provided from the transformer. Another resistor and diode supply a trickle charge to the battery. This trickle charging rate should be about 20-30 mA. A IN5402 blocking diode at the input of the positive regulator prevents the battery from backflowing through the transformer to other components.

During a power outage, only the + 5-V supply is maintained. If you

124

BY 1 E • MAY luxi

Inquiry 289

CIRCUIT CELLAR

have a battery-operated monitor, it will continue to receive status displays, but RS-232C modem, terminal, and BSR functions will be suspended. (When the power returns, the HCS automatically restores all I/O to the proper state.) Direct outputs continue to occur on schedule. In my experience, power outages are either under a few minutes or for many hours. Experiments show that C-cell nickelcadmium batteries last for about 90 minutes.

Experimenters and OEM Users

As always, I try to support the computer experimenter by providing sources for many of the components. The Circuit Cellar Home Run Control System is a single-board design suitable for OEM applications as well. It is available in various configurations that are all ultimately upgradable to the same potential.

If you plan on building the unit from scratch, good luck and take heart. Send me a picture of your board, and I'll send you a 16K-byte hexadecimal dump 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 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 424.

Next Month

I'll describe how the HCS software works specifically, explain each of the menu functions listed in the first article, and demonstrate a simple control application. ■

Special thanks to Bill Summers and Leo Taylor for their software expertise

The following items are available from

The Micromint Inc.

2 5 Terrace Dr.

Vernon. CT 06066

(800) 63 5-335 5 for orders

(203) 871-6170 for information

1. Home Run HCS—Complete assembled system with enclosure and parallel-encoded keyboard HCS01. $589

2. Home Run HCS-Populated PC board. Assembled and tested PC board. No enclosure or keyboard HCS02, S429

3. Home Run HCS—Video-based kit. Includes PC board and all components except enclosure, keyboard, and serial-interface components (IC16. IC17. IC20, and two DB-2 5 connectors) HCSV05, $329

4. Home Run HCS—Terminal-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. $3 5

6. Apple ll-compatible ASCII-encoded keyboard HCS21, $79

7. Wall transformer/transmitter module (available separately) HCS22. $40

8. IBM PC Upload/Download event-schedulestorage software with terminal emulator, written in C provided on IBM PC-DOS 2.0 disk HCS2 5, $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, ICI8—optionally available). All item numbers that list enclosures also include backup battery holder (six C cells), less batteries. Serial-port and video-display-processor upgrades 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.

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 1978. Volume II covers December 1978 through lune 1980. Volume III covers July 1980 through December 1981. Volume IV covers lanuary 1982 through lune 1983.

To receive a complete list of Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar project kits, circle 100 on the reader-service inquiry card at the back of the magazine.

IEEE-488 Interfaces and Bus Extenders For:

IBM PC, PCjr & COMPATIBLES

DEC UNIBUS, Q-BUS & RAINBOW 100

MULTIBUS, VMEbus STD & S-100

Full IEEE-488 functionality, with the most comprehensive language and operating system coverage in the industry. It takes experience to make IEEE-488 systems work with nearly 4000 devices available from more than 500 different manufacturers, and experience is what enables National Instruments to take the GPIB to the second power and beyond.

Q

P

Your personal guarantee of unsurpassed customer support and satisfaction. CALL 1-800-531-GPIB for instant access to 100 + man-years of GPIB experience.

<7 NATIONAL "INSTRUMENTS

12109 Technology Blvd. Austin, TX 78727 1-800-531-5066 512/250-9119 Telex: 756737 NAT INST AUS

IBM and PCjr are trademarks ot International Business Machines, MULTIBUS is a trademark of Intel, DEC. UNIBUS, Q-BUS, and Rainbow 100 are trademarks ot Digital Equipment Corporation

MAY 1985 -BYTE

125

rT^ , Find the

1 hen draw your

Microsoft" Multiplan" and Microsoft Chart. They're crackerjack programs working on their own. But you should see this pair in action together on the Macintosh™

The one, a spreadsheet of dazzling analytical power and graceful simplicity.

The other, a picture perfect charting program that makes rows and columns of numbers graphically clear.

And the beauty is, they were literally made for each other. And for Macintosh.

Multiplan accepts you as you are.

Multiplan takes full advantage of Macs simple, intuitive operating style. So you can work in a way that will come natural to you.

You don't have to memorize any arcane commands. Just point and click the mouse to move mountains of figures and formulas quickly and painlessly.

In addition, Multiplan gives you features that make hard copies gratify- .^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ingly readable. For instance, the enviable '

ability to print sideways. ^mmmmmmm^a^mmm^^^mmmm^^mmmmmmmmmmimmm

So you can't run out of column room. No matter how wide your spreadsheet gets.

Chart makes people see what you mean*

Microsoft Chart gives you lots of ammunition for your arguments: Pie charts, bar charts, line, column, area and scatter charts. Or combinations.

l ^||^^D^^C^^CT ^ck me one mat best iHustrates your point. IVII V^li^^w^^r I® Then translate your numbers into pictures and The High Performance Software™ have them on paper in a matter of moments. Using the mouse, it's a cinch to fine tune the graphs to get exactly what you want. Move any section. Change its size, shape, or highlight it.

Chart can even be linked with Multiplan. So any change on your spreadsheet will show up automatically on the charts.

126 BYTE- MAY 1985

answer, * . own conclusions.

We get the max out of Mac,

It figures that we'd be the ones to make Mac work so well with figures. We've written more Macintosh programs than any other software company. Including Microsoft Word, Microsoft File. And Microsoft BASIC, Mac's first language.

That experience shows in programs which not only exploit all of Mac's unique features, but^make it extraordinarily capable and productive.

In addition, all of Microsoft's Macintosh products can exchange data with each other.

And because our programs work alike, if you learn one, you're

well on your way to learning the rest.

To find the name of your nearest Microsoft dealer, call (800) 426-9400. In Washington State, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada, call (206) 828-8088.

Then check out Multiplan and Microsoft Chart. And watch them perform some nice little numbers.

Microsoft and Multiplan are registered trademarks and The High

Performance Software is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer, Inc.

MAY 1985 'BYTE 127

128 BYTE- MAY 1985

ILLUSTRATED BY MACIEK ALBRECHT

by Alfred L. Schumer

Add useful set

operations to your

programs

Sets offer a powerful and logical construction in Pascal. In conjunction with user-defined types, they can significantly enhance program design, maintenance, speed, and readability. Unfortunately, many programmers shy away from using sets because of their high level of abstraction and a lack of understanding of how to implement sets at the machine level.

In order to promote a greater understanding of set constructions in Pascal. I will describe sets, their operators, and the logical machine equivalents used in relational set operations. Second. I will present a fast extension to Apple Pascal. The maximum set size and the number of set operations vary from implementation to implementation. This Supersets program increases the size of Apple Pascal sets (from 512 to 65.536 elements per set) and adds more set operations. The program is written in 6502 assembly language and is, therefore, reasonably fast.

Pascal Sets

To test for membership of characters in a set you might be tempted to use nested IF. . THEN . . .ELSE state

Set Extensions

with

Apple Pascal

ments. such as IF ch = "a" THEN {execute code inserted here} ELSE IF ch = "b" THEN {execute code} ELSE if ch = "c" THEN {execute code} ELSE {insert code for ch not in set}. A more elegant method uses the set operator IN to test for membership. With it you can reduce these statements to IF ch IN ['a'.'b'.'c'] THEN {insert code for ch in set} ELSE {insert code for ch not in set}.

A set in Pascal is a collection of objects of the same type (called the "base type" of the set). It may be any scalar type; it may not be a structured type. Size limitations on sets are defined by the particular implementation and generally range from 64 to 512 elements. Apple Pascal sets can have up to 512 elements and occupy memory according to the following formula: ((n-1) DIV 16) + 1 words, where n equals the number of elements. Conversely, UCSD Pascal sets may have (at most) 4080 elements and are limited in size to 2 55 words.

With set operators you can perform relational operations on sets of the same base type, such as testing for the inclusion of one set in another or for equality. In addition to the special membership operator IN, four relational operators are typically supported: set equality (=), set inequality (<>), inclusion/contains (>=) and inclusion/contained in (< =). Although these relational operators yield a Boolean result, you can also form sets logically from the union, dif

ference, or intersection of two sets. The union (A + B) results in a set that contains all members of A and all members of B. The difference (A - B) results in a set that contains all members of A that are not members of B. And the intersection (A*B) results in a set of all members of A that are also members of B.

Machine-Level Structure

To illustrate the machine-level structure of sets. I will first define a set (such as TYPE charset = set of characters) and define the variables Set A and Set B as that type. Internally, Apple Pascal allocates an array of 2 56 bits (16 words, each containing 16 bits) representing the 2 56 possible ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) values for characters. Individual elements occupy I bit, indexed by the scalar value of the character into the set. An element is considered to be in the set when its bit is turned on (has a binary value of 1).

To locate the word offset into the array containing a particular element's bit, the scalar value of the element is divided by 16 (or divided by 8 to locate the byte offset). The bit posi

[continued]

Alfred L. Schumer (17 Pearl St., Wakefield, MA 01880) is assistant vice president of Bank of America in Boston. He is responsible for lending activities with newly formed high-technology companies in Hew England. He graduated from Hew York University's Graduate School of Business Administration in 1980.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 129

SET EXTENSIONS

Supersets increases the size of Apple Pascal sets and adds more set operations.

tion within the word is merely the scalar value modulo 16, or the remainder from the division. You can add an element to a set by indexing into a set's array of words and turning the appropriate bit on. Similarly, to remove an element, turn the bit off. To test for an element's membership in a set, you use the same indexing technique to determine the state (off or on) of the appropriate bit.

Logical Operators

The logical operators on sets are somewhat tricky. While they don't require indexing individual elementsentire sets are operands—the Boolean logic of unions, differences, and intersections requires some explaining.

Testing for set equality (=) involves comparing all the words of one set against the other. If any two corresponding words differ (their bit patterns do not match), the sets are not equal. This follows from the logic that different bit patterns within a word indicate either Set A contains a

character not contained in Set B, or

Set A does not contain a particular

character that Set B does.

You can test for the inclusion (< =

or > =) of, for example, Set A in

Set B at the word level by determining if for each bit turned on in Set A,

the equivalent bit (in the equivalent

word) in Set B is also turned on.

However, the converse might not be

true; Set B may contain elements

that are not in Set A. In other words.

Set B may contain Set A while

Set A does not contain Set B

unless the two are equal.

The union, difference, and intersection set operators differ from equality and inclusion in that they do not test bits but set or clear them. The resulting word is stored into the set

assigned as the result. The union (+) of two sets, word for word, produces a new set with the bits turned on if either or both bits in the operand sets are turned on. If both bits are off, the resultant bit in the new set is also off.

The intersection (*) of two sets resembles the union except that both corresponding bits must be on for the resultant word's bit to be turned on. If either bit is off, the resultant bit is also off.

Taking the difference ( -) between two sets is the opposite of finding their union. However, unlike intersection and union, the order in which the sets are specified is important.

(Set A - Set B is not the same as

Set B - Set A unless the sets are

equal.) An element common to both sets is removed—the appropriate bit is turned off—if the corresponding bits in each set are both on. However, if the first set's bit is on while the second set's bit is off, the resultant bit is turned on. If the opposite condition is true—the first set's bit is off while the second set's bit is on—the bit in the result remains off.

If you are an assembly-language programmer, you have probably noticed by now that these logical operators resemble the 6502 machine instructions AND, ORA. and EOR. In fact, the truth tables for each instruction are nearly the same as their counterparts in set operators.

For comparison, table 1 contains the truth tables for the machine instructions and those for relational set operators. If you examine both groups of truth tables, you will find that union is equivalent to ORA, intersection to AND, and equality to NOT EOR. You can build inclusion and difference from a combination of AND and EOR. Inclusion (A> = B) may be constructed as ((A EOR B) AND A), and difference (A - B) as ((A AND B) EOR B). Bear in mind that the order in which you specify the sets as operands is important.

Setting Up Supersets

How can you use this information to expand the set capabilities of the Apple implementation of Pascal? The

Supersets program duplicates the standard Pascal set operators in assembly language with enhanced addressing and provides some procedures and functions to use the expanded set sizes. Because the technique used for indexing into the set uses a 16-bit value, sets can contain up to 65,535 elements. Before going into the specifics of the program, however, some housekeeping items are in order. |Editor's note: The listing for the Supersets program is available for downloading via BYTEnet Listings. The telephone number is (603) 924-9820.|

First, Apple Pascal does not permit the declaration of a set size greater than 512 elements. Therefore, you must use a packed array of type Boolean as the data type declaration—which is what it is internally. For example, if you wish to use a set of 10,000 elements, the declaration must be PACKED ARRAY [0. .9999] OF BOOLEAN. Note that BOOLEAN can be any user-defined type with either a base type of Boolean or scalar that occupies 1 bit. An example is TYPE gender = (male.female).

Second, the set operators that use two operands or sets in the program are quite powerful and, used indiscriminately, can cause a system failure. Assignments or operations on sets of different sizes are not picked up by the compiler or the run-time code and might overwrite other data-storage areas. Even worse, such actions might destroy integral parts of the Pascal interpreter and cause unpredictable results or a system crash. To avoid this, you can assign as a result a set larger than either of the operands, provided you keep in mind that the elements beyond the operand set sizes are meaningless.

Third, your method of using SuperSets' procedures and functions is entirely up to you. If you choose to link the code in after compiling your host program, remember to declare the procedures and functions EXTERNAL. (This option is assumed in the listing.) If you choose to use the Library.Code program that comes on Apple 111 to include the code as a unit

[continued)

130 BYTE' MAY 1985

PCturbo 186

TM

"The PCturbo 186 is a sophisticated product, jam-packed with goodies.. Lightning-like, indeed." —Winn L. Rosch, PC Magazine

~.L -.

"PCturbo 186...speeds up your IBM PC something wonderful...no glitches, no problems, and it's fast, * FAST, FAST':—Jerry Pournelle, BYTE

-tiHjt-

41/VC£00MHz 'CffOP/?OC£SSO,

WSIV/WSOS,

mm

J:: ISiUXE

5tW'«VV!»vwvvi?vV?k

A\w»y^\^\^^,

EXTENDS THE LIFE OF YOUR COMPUTER ■ SPEEDS UP YOUR EXISTING PC ■ FINISHES JOBS FASTER

■ Now from Orchid Technology — PCturbo 186, the most practical solution to upgrading the performance of your existing IBM PC, XT or compatible. Based on the new generation 80186 processor, the PCturbo 186 runs your application programs, such as databases and spreadsheets 200% to 400% faster.

■ Plugged into your PC, the PCturbo works together with the computer power you already own today. Unlike less powerful imitations, the PCturbo works in tandem with the 8088 in your PC. It does not replace it. In this design, the 8088 handles all the peripheral I/O while the PCturbo runs your programs concurrently and more efficiently.

D The PCturbo is a high speed system, with built-in software tools designed to increase all aspects of computer performance. Innovative software allowed Orchid to enhance the PCturbo with many powerful features, such as Mainframe style Disk Caching and high capacity RAM Disks, speeding up the reading and writing of files.

■ To help take advantage of those powerful software tools, the PCturbo allows you to add up to

Inquiry 301

640K of its own RAM on board. With PCturbo you can now have up to 1.28 Megabytes of RAM in one system — double the previous limit of the IBM PC! This frees the extra RAM in your PC to be used for increasing I/O performance. ■ With the PCturbo there are no new Operating System manuals to read, keyboards to learn, or special software versions to buy. When you plug the PCturbo board into your IBM PC or compatible PC, everything works just like it did the day before — only faster! The PCturbo was designed to be easy to install and transparent to the user. Installation does not void the warranty on your PC, as with some other offerings. Just plug it in, turn it on, and speed it up!

□ The PCturbo is a proven product, introduced in 1984. Since then, we've created a custom VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) chip which improves the cost/performance ratio of the board even more. Our exclusive TurboBus Expansion capability allows you to add on new Turbo options such as the Serial Port Daughtercard. Continuing in our tradition, Orchid is first with the most in high performance PC enhancements.

PCturbo 186 is the most practical solution to making your operation more efficient and productive. Now isn't that what you bought a computer for in the first place?

ORCHID

ORCHID TECHNOLOGY 47790 Westinghouse Drive

Fremont, CA 94539 (415) 490-8586 Telex: 709289

PCturbo 1H6 is a trademark of Orchid Technology. IBM and IBM PC are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

MAY 1985 -BYTE

131

Inquiry 229

TOTAL CONTROL

FORTH: FOR Z-80®, 8086, 68000, and IBM® PC

Complies with the New 83-Standard

GRAPHICS. GAMES* COMMUNICATIONS* ROBOTICS

DATA ACQUISITION . PROCESS CONTROL

• FORTH programs are instantly portable across the four most popular microprocessors.

• FORTH is interactive and conversational, but 20 times faster than BASIC.

• FORTH programs are highly structured, modular, easy to maintain.

• FORTH affords direct control over all interrupts, memory locations, and i/o ports.

• FORTH allows full access to DOS files and functions.

• FORTH application programs can be compiled into turnkey COM files and distributed with no license fee.

• FORTH Cross Compilers are available for ROM'ed or disk based applications on most microprocessors.

Trademarks IBM Iniernational Business Machines Corp CP'M Digital Research Inc PC/Forth + and

PC/GEN Laboratory Microsystems Inc

FORTH Application Development Systems

include interpreter/compiler with virtual memory management and multi-tasking, assembler, lull screen editor decompiler utilities and 200 page manual Standard random access files used lor screen storage, extensions provided lor access lo all operaling system functions Z-80 FORTH for CP/M" 2 2 or MP/M II, $100 00. 8080 FORTH for CP/M 2.2 or MP/M II $100 00. 8086 FORTH for CP/M-86 or MS-DOS. $100 00, PC/FORTH for PC-DOS. CP/M-86. or CCPM. $100 00 68000 FORTH for CP/M-68K. $250 00

FORTH + Systems are 32 bit implementations that allow creation of programs as large as 1 megabyte The entire memory address space of fhe 68000 or 8086/88 is supported directly

PC FORTH + $250 00

8086 FORTH + lor CP/M-86 or MS-DOS $250 00 68000 FORTH + lor CP/M-68K $400 00

Extension Packages available include soil ware floating point, cross compilers. INTEL

8087 support, AMD 9511 support, advanced color graphics, custom character sets, symbolic debugger, telecommunications, cross reference utility, B-tree file manager Write lor brochure

Laboratory Microsystems Incorporated r^^^^i

Posf Office Box 10430. Marina del Rey, CA 90295 ffl**ffl

Phone credit card orders to (213) 306-7412

New dimensions in Bible study.

THE WORD

\ processor

The KJV or NIV Bible on disks. Search for any word or phrase,

create personal indexes, print any se. Build your own library of Scripture references. $199.95

E GREEK lsliterator

find the original Greek, with

definition and word roots. For any

3reek word find every translation.

Includes STRONG'S

nAXICE and the KJV

* w Testament.

nly.) $199.95

For Apple, IBM PC, Commodore 64, TRS80, Kaypro, CPM 2.2, MS-DOS.

handling plus tax in Texas.

"Software for personal Bible study"

Bible Research Systems

9415 Burnet, Suite 208

Austin, TX 78758

(512) 835-7981

SET EXTENSIONS

This code should work on all present versions of Apple Pascal, including the Apple Ill's Pascal.

in your System.Library, remember to declare the code at the start of your program by USES SUPERSETS; then call the procedures and functions normally.

Fourth, the procedures and functions in Supersets require an unsigned integer to be the element type WORD. You should declare this as TYPE word = 0. .65535. However, if you anticipate sets less than 32.767, you may declare WORD as type integer. Failure to observe these requirements can cause disastrous results.

Finally, this code should work on all present versions of Apple Pascal, including the Apple Ill's Pascal implementation. Be forewarned that future versions of Apple Pascal might not support these routines.

Procedures and Functions

Supersets includes 11 procedures and functions that can be grouped by the number of sets they take as operands. Membership, Include. Exclude, and Nullify each take a single-set operand, while Union, Difference, Intersection, Equality, Inclusion. Assignment, and Symmetrical all take two.

The single-set operators—with the exception of Nullify—share the subroutine Index set, which performs

the necessary address translation for

the elements within the set. Index

set saves the 3 least significant bits of the element (modulo 8) in the X-Reg for indexing to the desired bit. Then the binary value of the element is divided by 8 (8 bits per byte) and the effective address of the byte within the set is formed from the set address, offset by the Y-Reg.

The value in the X-Reg is used to index into the 8 bytes beginning at

[continued)

132 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 51

BASF QUALIMETRIC FLEXYDlSKS: 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 will be secure and unchanged tomorrow. Key to this extraordinary warranted performance is the BASF Qualimetric standard... a totally new set of criteria against which all other magnetic media will be judged.

You can count on BASF FlexyDisks because the Qualimetric standard reflects a continuing BASF commitment to perfection in magnetic media. One example is the unique two-piece liner in our FlexyDisk jacket. This BASF feature traps damaging debris away from the disk's surface and creates extra space in the head access area for optimum media-head alignment. The result is a guaranteed lifetime of outstanding performance.

For information security that bridges the gap between today and tomorrow, look for the distinctive BASF package with the Qualimetric seal. Call 800-343-4600 for the name of your nearest supplier.

ttASF?

Visit BASF at Comdex/Spring, Booth 650

* Contact BASF for warranty details. Inquiry 48

<£^?/=%ezxy£2isi<

ENTER TOMORROW ON BASF TODAY

1983 BASF Systems Corp., Bedford, MA

HBASF

SET EXTENSIONS

the label Bit masks, which are hexadecimal equivalents for each of the 8 bits per byte. The appropriate value is loaded into the accumulator to be used with the machine op codes ORA and AND. which set or clear the bit, respectively. The function Membership uses the

value in Bit masks with the machine

op code AND to zero out all the bits in the set except the one you're test

ing. If the bit you're testing is on. the result of the AND is nonzero. (Testing for a nonzero result either increments the Boolean result to I indicating true—the element is there—or leaves it 0—it's not there.)

Include, rather than zeroing out all the bits except the one you're interested in, forces the bit on with the machine op code ORA, then stores the byte back into the set. Converse

Table 1: Truth tables for

machine instructions on the left, and their

corresponding relational set operators on the right.

<Union>

ORA | 0 | 1 |

A/B | 0 | 1 |

0 | 0 | 1 |

0 I 0 | 1 |

1 I 1 I 1 I

1 I 1 I 1 I

< Intersection >

AND | 0 | 1 |

A/B | 0 | 1 |

0 | 0 | 0 |

0 | 0 | 0 |

1 I 0 | 1 |

1 I 0 | 1 |

< Inclusion >

A/B | 0 | 1 |

0 I 1 |0 |

1 I 1 I 1 I

< Difference >

A/B | 0 | 1 |

0 | 0 | 0 |

1 I 1 lo |

< Equality >

EOR | 0 | 1 |

A/B | 0 | 1 |

0| 0 | 1 |

0 I 1 I o |

1 I 1 lo I

1 | 0 | 1 |

ly. Exclude forces the bit off; first, however, it must reverse the Bit mask bit

pattern—setting the bit you want to use explicitly off and all the rest on. Then, if you use an AND op code, you won't affect the other bits in the set, but the bit you wish to clear will be turned off. Again, the byte operated on is stored back into the set.

Dual-set operators require a somewhat different process, a sequential processing of each byte in a set, rather than the individual bits. The method used here is described in Bob Sander-Cederlof's article. "How to Move Memory" {Apple Assembly Line. January 1981). Basically, the number of bytes to be moved is broken down into pages of 2 56 bytes and a remaining partial page with a byte count less than 2 56. Whole pages are moved first, then the partial page. The

parameter Set size contains the

number of bytes to be moved (operated on) and should be passed to the procedures using the built-in Pascal function SIZEOFQ applied to your declared PACKED ARRAY[n] OF BOOLEAN.

The Union. Intersection, and Difference procedures scan sequential bytes in each of two set operands, altering the bit patterns according to the truth tables in table I. Union essentially uses the machine op code ORA to set bits on if the bit is on in either of the sets involved. Intersection, on the other hand, uses the machine op code AND to turn bits on only if they are on in both sets. Finally, Difference uses a combination of the machine op codes EOR and AND: it first turns off bits that are common to both sets (EOR). then ANDs this bit pattern with the original operand.

Set A, to clear those bits not

originally part of Set A—those

turned on by EOR. (This becomes easier to understand if you try to work out a couple of examples by hand using table I.)

The function Inclusion ANDs the two sets together, yielding a bit pattern that contains only those bits common to both sets. This pattern is then compared to the bit pattern of

[continued]

134 BYTE • MAY 1985

Draw Your Way to the Top

PC-Draw Will Increase Your Office Productivity. And Upward Mobility.

Imagine. You now have the capability to graphically depict your best ideas, plans, designs and proposals. In color or black & white. Accurately. Completely. Dramatically. Concepts presented so forcefully—yet so simply— that you leave that critical meeting with upper management... totally confident of success.

And you win. Your secret weapon? PC-Draw. A powerful interactive graphics program for the IBM PC or XT™—unlike anything else on the market. Using PC-Draw you create virtually anything that can be drawn with pencil and paper. Quickly. Easily. With far greater detail.

PC-Draw is ideal for presentation graphics, proposals,

10 DAY

TRIAL

PERIOD

systems design, forms, diagrams... and an endless variety of charts, graphs and illustrations. PC-Draw allows you to produce drawings up to 99pages long. Several templates come with PC-Draw including Flowcharting, Electrical Design, Office Layout, and Alternate Text. In addition you create and store your own unlimited supply of user defined symbols.

PC-Draw includes an easy-to-follow interactive tutorial. Requires IBM PC or XT™ or compatible, graphics adapter and graphics monitor. Version for PCjr available. Graphic boards, plotters at competitive prices.

Shhh! Don't tell your office competition about PC-Draw. They'll catch on soon enough. For free brochure or to order call 800/2PC-DRAW. In Texas or for customer service call 214/234-1769. Micrografx, Inc., 1701 N. Greenville Ave., Suite 305, Richardson, Texas 75081.

(Most popular plotters and printers supported.)

MICROGRAFX

The Picture of Success.

Inquiry 270

Inquiry 62

GET SERIOUS!

*** TAX RETURN SPECIAL ***

LOTUS 1-2-3 $279.00

* SYSTEMS *

ITT EXTRA PC-256K

Two 1/2 Ht. 360 Dr's, Monochrome Board, 14" Amber/ Green Monochrome Monitor. Serial & Parallel Port. Wordstar. Multiplan. Advanced Basic. DOS 2.1.

$1,942.00

• Same features in IBM PC $2,624.00

IBM PC-256K

Two TEAC 360K Dr s. Color/Monochrome Graphics

Board. Parallel Printer Port, Taxan Monochrome

Display. DOS 2 1. ONLY $2,145.00

IBM PC-256K

Two TEAC 360K Dr's. Color/Monochrome Graphics Board. AST 6-Pak Plus 64K, PRINCETON HX-12 Color Display. PANASONIC 1091 Printer. LOTUS 1

2-3. DOS 2.1 ONLY $3,320.00

10 Meg Upgrade $680.00

* SOFTWARE *

LOTUS Symphony $429.00

dBASE III 359.00

Wordstar Prof Pack for IBM 299.00

ASCII Express for IBM 109.00

Framework 349.00

MICROSOFT Word 229.00

MICROSOFT Multiplan 129.00

PFS Wnte/File/Report 85.00

* HARDWARE *

AST Six Pack Plus 64K $264.00

STB Rio Plus II 64K 249.00

STB Color/Monochrome Graphics 269.00

STB Monochrome Board 169.00

HERCULES Monochrome Graphics 329.00

HERCULES Color Card 179.00

TEAC 55B '; Height Dr's 129.00

TANDON TM100-2 Dr 169.00

* PRINTERS DOT MATRIX *

PANASONIC 1091 $289.00

PANASONIC 1092 395.00

EPSON FX-80 395.00

EPSON FX-100+ 644.00

OKIDATA 92P 389.00

BROTHER 2024L 995.00

* PRINTERS LETTER QUALITY *

BROTHER HR15 $369.00

BROTHER HR25 609.00

BROTHER HR35 849.00

PANASONIC 3151 495.00

* MONITORS *

TAXAN 121/122 Monochrome $145.00

PRINCETON HX-12 469.00

PRINCETON MAX-12 179.00

ZENITH Amber/Green 85.00

NEC 1260 Green 85.00

NEC 1305 RGB/T V 449.00

• MODEMS *

HAYES 1200B $379.00

HAYES Micromodem lie 219.00

HAYES 300 199.00

ANCHOR Volkwnoden 1200 185.00

PROMETHEUS Promodem 1200 324.00

* APPLE *

80 COLUMN 64K lie only $99.00

80 COLUMN Card II+ only 59.00

VIDEX Ultraterm 179.00

APPLEMOUSE II 125.00

ASCII Express 79.00

Z-80 Card 49.00

APRICORN Serial Card 59.00

MICROSOFT Premium lie 269.00

MICROSOFT Multiplan 129.00

MAC MICROSOFT Multiplan 125.00

MAC MICROSOFT Basic 105.00

16K Card 49.00

Many items available. Please call for complete pricing

mi 714/840-2406 -ssr

(3i^B So Habla Etpanol a^^MT

CALIFORNIA MICRO HOUSE

16835 Algonquin St.. Huntington Beach. CA 92649

Corporals account* welcomed, purchase order* accepted with nel 30 day termt subject to credit approval. All price* represent ca*h price* All items (hipped next day In factory »ealed package* We guarantee all Hem* lor 30 day* California resident* please add 6% sale* fai Price* subject to change without notice

SET EXTENSIONS

the set you wish to test for inclusion

(Set B). If the patterns match, you

know that all bits common to both

sets are contained in Set B. If not.

the loop is exited to the code located at local label $4. which decrements the Boolean result to 0 (false) and returns to the caller.

The Assignment and Nullify procedures are fairly straightforward. Assignment copies the bytes from one set to another, while Nullify moves 0s—all bits off. thus no elements—to the operand set.

What would an extension to a language be without some new feature thrown in for good measure? How about a set operator from Modula-2. Niklaus Wirth's latest language? Titled Symmetrical, this dual-set operator is expressed as A/B (versus A-B for difference] and forms a new set with elements from either set, but not both. For example, element IN (A/B) is the same as NOT ((element IN A) AND (element IN B)). At the machine level, the op code used is EOR, which turns bits common to both sets off and turns on those bits not common to both. (Dyed-in-the-wool Pascal programmers should have some fun with this one.)

Execution Speed

As usual, there are trade-offs between the size of the code and its execution speed. Since the single-set operators

require one access into a set, it seems reasonable that they share the necessary overhead. However, because the dual-set operators must make several accesses, they should use their own code exclusively. If the dual-set operators were to share a main loop for accessing memory, the overhead of both testing for the operator desired and JUMPing to it would slow execution by at least a factor of two.

How fast does this make Supersets compared to Apple Pascal? Table 2 lists the procedures and functions of Supersets, their equivalent Apple Pascal statements, and the relative execution times of each. In order to get a meaningful comparison, I used a set of 512 elements to compare Apple Pascal and Supersets. The third column gives the results for a set of 1024 elements using Supersets only.

As table 2 indicates. Supersets' procedures are about twice as fast as their counterparts in Apple Pascal. Equally important, Supersets' ability to handle sets of an increased sizesuch as 1024 elements—does not significantly slow execution. One reason for the performance increase is that Apple Pascal cannot add or subtract single elements from sets but must use an entire set for each operand. Also. Apple Pascal compiles to pcode, which must then be interpreted at run time.

(continued)

Table 2: Supersets' procedures and functions with their equivalent Apple Pascal

statements and the relative execution times of each.

Supersets

Apple Pascal

Apple Set

Superset

Superset

Procedure

Statement

of 512

of 512

of 1024

Membership

element IN set A

1.000

0.688

0.688

Include

set A

= set A + [element]

1.000

0.274

0.274

Exclude

set A

= set A - [element]

1.000

0.270

0.270

Union

set C

= set A + set B

1.000

0.265

0.415

Intersection

set_C

= set A * set B

1.000

0.531

0.810

Difference

set_C

= set A - set B

1.000

0.578

0.931

Equality

set A = set B

1.000

0.629

0.947

Inclusion

set A > = set B

1.000

0.640

1.005

Assignment

set_B

= set A

1.000

0 823

1.240

Nullify

set A

= 11

1.000

0.721

1.031

Symmetrical

set_C

= set A / set B

1.000

0.278

0.430

Average Relative Execution Times

1.000

0.518

0.731

136 B YTE • MAY 1985

ntroducing the Most Powerful Business Software Ever!

TRS-80T" (Model I, II, III, or 16) • APPLE" • IBM" • OSBORNE" • CP/M™ • XEROX™

rir«-«l ft r«;"r

GENERAL LEDGER?

f VERSA | J LEDGER j

>c>* i» v»# i r \ .

^.<. ^^ ..->-■ w. X* Tk.

CAW flt mKII

fe ^

Kk.

VtRSAUOGtP. MAS BUH CKtfiii:. WITH XMt OUST n«F COMPU:'

*#*

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

VERSA RECEIVABLES1" 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 accounts. VERSA RECEIVABLES" prints all necessary statements, invoices, and summary reports and can be linked with VersaLedger 11™ and VERSA Inventory™.

VERSAPAYABLES™ $99.95

Versa Payables™ 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. VERSA PAYABLES™ maintains a complete record on each vendor, prints checks, check registers, vouchers, transaction reports, aged payables reports, vendor reports, and more. With VERSA PAYABLES™, 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, automatically, 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 VERSALEDGER IT" system.

VERSAINVENTORY™ $99.95

VERSA ftVENTORY™ is a complete inventory control system that gives you instant access to data on any item. Versa INVENTORY™ 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 the Versa Receivables™ system. VersaInventory™ prints all needed inventory listings, reports of items below reorder point, inventory value reports, period and year-to-date sales reports, price lists, inventory checklists, etc.

•CQIYIPLTTRQNXCS!

50 N. PASCACK ROAD, SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. 10977

VersaLedger it- $149.95

VersaLedger IT" is a complete accounting system that grows as your business grows. VERSALEDGER ir* 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 IIt" 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 IT" comes with a professionally-written 160 page manual designed for first-time users. The VERSALEDGER II™ manual will help you become quickly familiar with VersaLedger II™, using complete sample data files supplied on diskette and more than 50 pages of sample printouts.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!

Every VERSA BUSINESS™ module is guaranteed to outperform all other competitive systems, and at a fraction of their cost If you are not satisfied with any VERSABUSINESS™ 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 1-2818 (N.Y.S. residents call 914-425-1535)

* acid $3 lor shipping in UPS areas * add $5 to CANADA or MEXICO

* add $4 for C.O.D. or non UPS areas ^^-j * a<^ Pr°peT postage elsewhere

Inquiry 181 ^^^

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME

All prices and specifications subject to change / Delivery subject to availability

* TRS-80 is a trademark of the Radio Shack Division of Tandy Corp. *APPLE is a trademark of Apple Corp. - 'IBM is a trademark of IBM Corp.

*CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research *XEROX is a trademark of Xerox Corp.

•OSBORNE is a trademark of Osborne Corp

Inquiry 251

&£?rf£&fe

$$^

a^9 f'*^* GO'9 ^ "****P

#>>>•*•'

^

.tf

*£

"World's largest chain of independently owned and operated hotels, motor inns, and resorts"

©1985 Best Western International

SET EXTENSIONS

Supersets permits set sizes significantly larger without much degradation in execution speed.

Applications

You might keep in mind that Supersets operates on packed arrays of type Boolean. Therefore, you can use Supersets in Pascal applications that might not require abstraction at the set construct level—for example, bit-mapped graphics.

In addition to applications requiring larger set sizes, you can use Supersets to formulate relational database requests that use large Boolean arrays, indexed by the record number. to construct subsets of the data. For example, several such subsets could represent an individual's gender, income, and whether he or she subscribes to a particular periodical.

By using the Union. Difference, and Intersection set operators, the database request can return those records where the individual is, for example, male and/or has a certain income and/or subscribes to a particular periodical. You can also use Supersets in scientific sampling to operate on arrays of Boolean observations over time—the scalar index—to construct particular relationships among several such sets of observations.

You might find the equivalent machine op code for particular operators handy with graphics animation or bitmapped character sets. Rather than redraw several sequences of an animation scene, you can use the operators to alter the bit pattern of the bit array and write it out to the graphics screen using the DrawBlock intrinsic provided with Turtle Graphics.

Conclusion

Sets are indeed powerful constructs in Pascal; take advantage of their ease of use. speed, and logical operators. In addition, knowledge of how sets work at the machine level can open new avenues of applications in areas other than the set construct. 1 hope Supersets will expand your Pascal toolkit and enhance your program design. ■

138 BYTE ■ MAY 1985

K'

COLOR GRAP

On Any System... In Any Language...

At Applied Data Systems, Inc we know that everyone requires a different level of graphics capability. That's why we've produced a line of graphics products tailored to fit anyone from novice to expert — on any system from a personal computer to a large-scale mainframe.

All products in the Vector Scan product line feature:

512 X 480 X 4 bit Frame Buffer On board processor and firmware

Uses no host RAM address space Color and Monochrome Map Registers

Color and Monochrome outputs User programmable Shape Table

For ENGINEERS AND SYSTEMS INTEGRATORS: The

VectorScan 512 is a "black box" type peripheral that brings color graphic capability to any host computer or controller. The VectorScan provides:

• Application software that is transportable between minis, mainframes, and micros

• Up to 4 independent overlay planes

• An easy to use ASCII command structure

• An internal character generator

• Four graphic and text overlays, selective erasure, and graphic page switching

• A language and operating system independent device Our approach greatly simplifies graphics integration into industrial process control, R&D applications and business reporting.

For THE IBM-PC AND COMPATIBLES: The VectorScan PC512 plug-in board brings "Black Box" graphics to the small computer user. This approach to high resolution graphics is important to the small computer user since processor speed and memory address space is at a premium. The PC512 provides:

• An on-board Z80B processor (6 Mhz).

• Firmware for graphic primitive execution and video memory addressing

• Operations transparent to the PC processor

• A fast, easy-to-use graphics peripheral

• A language and operating system independent device

VectorScan PC512 VectorScan 512/IEEE Vector Scan 512

IBM-PC or compatible

plug in board. 4096 Color Pallet S695/Assembled 5450/Kit

Aluminum Case and

power supply. IEEE-488 Interface S 1975/with IEEE-488 interface

Aluminum Case and

power supply. RS-232 Interface Hardcopy output S975

Applied Data systems, inc. 9811 Mallard Drive, Suite 213 • Laurel, Maryland 20708 • (301) 953-9326

Inquiry 34

Three more firsts from the people who invented the wheel.

XEROX

From day one, Xerox and Diablo have been known as the two best names in daisywheel printers. And now there are three more in the Xerox line to choose from.

The Xerox Advantage D-25 Diablo printer turns out letter quality documents quickly and quietly. And it does all that for the price of a dot matrix printer. ^ At 80

c.p.s., the D-80IF is the fastest daisywheel printer ever made by Xerox. It has a built-in double bin sheet feeder. As well as the capacity to handle up to 16 computers at once.

And the D-36 spells reliability. It averages 4,000 hours of printing between maintenance calls.

But Xerox didn't stop there. Each of these new machines is compatible with most computers on the market, including the IBM-PC. And they're .A all easy to use.

They're also a part of Team Xerox, so they can be serviced by the national Xerox service force and

authorized service locations across the country.

So if you're looking for the latest in daisywheel printing technology, go with the people who've been in the business the longest Call 1-800-833-2323, ext. 25, your local Xerox office, an authorized Diablo or Xerox dealer or send your business card to Xerox Corporation, Dept 25192, PQ Box 24; Rochester, NY 14692.

For more information from Xerox. Circle 424 on the Reader Service card.

'

XEROX®, Diablo" and Ihc identifying numbers herein arc trademarks of XEROX CORPORATION. IBM" is h registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation,

Move From General Ledger.

Directly Into Order Entry.

ragjg&TOP^

To Accounts Receivable.

To Inventory Control.

To Accounts Payable..

r^ ■ J

■ m mmw. cwr*»:i» «i«-.-. *« 1

<S llr. rrt'il. !•»

I'-wr %*p .mr II .,', Irs u ^H

IIM «ai»r to IMJ wraiB w

.»_ .«>,■>!!

on » n> ■

k m«rwm was •aas I

Mu turn* «.■■» m.m« mmn

"—-■

MuuMki

To Spreadsheet.

WITH EASY BUSINESS SYSTEMS. THERE'S NO TELLING HOW FAR YOUR BUSINESS CAN GO.

When you add Easy Business" Systems accounting software to your business, you'll be able to do far more than keep track of your company's time and money.

You'll get the information you need to take your company places.

First of all, EasyBusiness Systems is a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use integrated accounting system.

One that's recommended by accountants from independent CPAs all the way to the Big 8.

In fact, PC Magazine's Price Waterhouse Report has called EasyBusiness Systems "... an excellent set of accounting packages." and "... among the best on the market today."*

And now with the EasyPlus'" windowing system, you can integrate all our accounting and productivity software on one screen.

Integration that no other software company can offer.

Which even includes leading spreadsheets like SuperCalc* 3 Release 2 and Lotus 1-2-3.'" Databases like dBASE'" II. And word processing programs like EasyWriter" II and WordStar™

So you'll be able to see. your business in ways you never could before.

EasyBusiness Systems is powerful and flexible enough for any size business. Yet surprisingly easy to learn.

And should you have any problems in your first six months, free expert technical support is only a phone call away.

To find out more about EasyBusiness Systems, ask your accountant. Or see your authorized Sorcim/IUS dealer.

You'll never look at your business the same way again.

SORCIM/IUS o

MICRO SOFTWARE

'V Computer Associates International, hit Easy Business. EasyPlus and EasyWriter are trademarks, and SuperCalc a registered trademark of Computer Associates International, hu Lotus and 1-2-3 are Iradeniarks ol Lotus Development Corp dBASE is a trademark of AshtonTate WordStar is a trademark ol MicroPro Corp. "PC Magazine 5/1/84

Inquiry 372

To Word Processing.

To Customized Reports.

By Ernest H. Piette

Build a Talking Clock Speech Synthesizer

This talking clock chip circuit also allows experimentation with an unlimited-vocabulary speech processor.

Low-cost speech synthesis is now available for the computer hobbyist. Radio Shack has two speech-synthesis products (each selling for $12.95) and both can be interfaced to the Commodore 64, V1C-20. and the TRS-80 computer. One product is the General Instrument Talking Clock chip set, and the other is the General Instrument SP02 56-AL2 Allophone Speech Processor. I'll explain how to interface these chips to the above-mentioned computers and describe a program for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20 that will keep time and give a vocal

announcement of the time with the touch of a key.

Included in the General Instrument Talking Clock chip set are the SP02 56017 Speech Processor and the SPR016-117 Speech ROM (read-only memory). A fixed vocabulary stored on the Speech Processor and the ROM contains 33 words and 3 melo

[conlinued] Ernest H. Piette is an off-site engineer in aerospace avionics presently working in the Republic of Korea for the Fairchild Republic Co. His interests include computers, and robotics. He may be contacted at PSC Box 905, APO, San Francisco. CA 96461-0006.

ILLUSTRATED BY MACIEK ALBRECHT

MAY 1985 -BYTE

143

TALKING CLOCK

dies appropriate for a talking clock. The speech produced is highly intelligible and sounds natural.

The General Instrument SP02 56AL2 Allophone Speech Processor is capable of unlimited vocabulary speech using the allophone-synthesis technique. Stated simply, allophones are the basic sound components of any spoken English word. Radio Shack includes with the chip a data booklet that lists the guidelines for combining allophones to create words. (For a further discussion of allophones, see the text box "Speech and Voice Synthesis" by Tom Clune, September 1984 BYTE, page 340.)

Amazingly, a single circuit can be

used to interface either the Talking Clock chip set or the Allophone Speech Processor to your computer. Figure 1 shows a diagram of such a circuit that you can connect to a wide variety of microcomputers. The circuit is small, composed entirely of inexpensive parts, and can be connected to the user port on the Commodore 64 and VIC-20, the printer port on the TRS-80, or any computer with a Centronics printer port.

Circuit layout is not very critical: the SP02 56-017 seems rather forgiving in this regard. However, use good construction techniques to keep AC (alternating current) hum and noise pickup to a minimum. Also, you

should use IC (integrated circuit) sockets for the Speech Processor and ROM chips.

You will notice that the circuit diagram shows the Talking Clock chip set in place. No physical modifications are necessary to switch to the Allophone Speech Processor; simply remove the SPO2 56-017 Speech Processor and the SPR016-117 ROM and plug the Allophone chip into the Speech Processor's socket (the ROM socket remains empty). Always be certain that there is no power going to the circuit before doing this.

I've written two BASIC programs that you can use for experimentation

[continued)

9

17

H

U

21

L

8

15

K

7

13

J

6

11

H

5

9

F

4

7

E

3

5

D

2

3

C

2

2

N

+ 5V

0,1/tF

J^

n>

o

20

o

o

/77 A?

23

VD1 SE Vn

SBYRST

DIG OUT

RESET

LRQ

ALD

A6

A 5

A4

A3

A2

Al

A8

A7

0SC1 SPO256-017

CI C2 C3

SER

OUT

SER

IN

ROM CLK 'SS TEST

rh

+ 5V

24 33K

v^v

47pF

X

Z

-)h

lO^F 33K *

~"T—""^"T—lr~l

,-p0.022^F ^p0022MF

-31

47pF

rh

0.1 ^F

r*i

10MF

100MF

k

SPR016-117 CI C2 C3

SER IN SER OUT ROM EN

ROM CLK

VSS CS2

.0.1/iF

Figure I: The Talking Clock circuit for Commodore 64, VIC-20, TRS-80. or any microcomputer with a Centronics port. {The TRS-80 Mode! I requires an Expansion Interface.) The two 0.022-^F capacitors should be high quality, such as Radio Shack part number 272-1066, for best results. Use the \Ok-ohm variable resistor for volume control. Although the manufacturer recommends a 3.12-MHz crystal. I found that a TV colorburst works well [Radio Shack part number 272-1310). Also, if you are using a TRS-80 or Centronics interface, you will have to supply an external +5-V power source.

144 BYTE- MAY 1985

Opening a Branch Office...

You're only a modem away from your DISCOVERY computer!

Effective communicafion is today's business. Whether your requirements are real time data acquisition and retrieval, process control, or simply running your business from ten thousand miles away, the DISCOVERY Multiprocessor will meet your communication needs. No multi-tasking, single-processor computer can match the

■ The Ultimate Solution, h^bb^^h

DISCOVERY'S responsiveness to your requests. No Local Area Network (LANs) can offer you the remote, global communications capability of the DISCOVERY System.

Take Action Today! Call Toll Free: 1-800-821-6596. (In California, it's 1-818-351-5451.)

_ See us at COMDEX

The Multiprocessing Company Booth B2M

Atlanta Apparel Mart

Corporate Headquarters: Action Computer Enterprise, 430 N. Halstead St., Pasadena, CA 91107 USA TWX 910-588-1201 ACTION PSD

In Europe: ACE (Europe), B.V.. Paradijslaan 42, 5611 KP Eindhoven, The Netherlands Tel (004) 045-2658 TLX: 51767 ACE E NL

In Australia: Archives Computers Australia Pty Ltd., 64 Clarendon Street. South Melbourne. Victoria 3205. Australia Tel. (03) 699-8377 TLX: 39388 ARCAUS AA

In Asia: ACE (Asia), G/F, Lee Wah Mansion, 171-177 Hollywood Road. Hong Kong Tel. 5-441692 or 5-442310 TLX: 75332 PACIC HX

In Thailand: Action Computers (Thailand), Ltd.. 5/26 Saladaeng Road, Silom, Bangkok, Thailand. Tel. 233-5274 TLX: 82792 ADAMINT TH

In Singapore: Action Computers Pte Ltd . 111 North Bridge Road, #05-01 04, Peninsula Plaza, Singapore 0617 Tel 3390244 TLX: 37215 FIGTRA RS

Serviced nationwide by Bell & Howell Company DISCOVERYisatrademarkof ActionComputerEnterprises.lnc.

Inquiry 10 for Dealers. Inquiry II for End-Users. MAY I985 -BYTE 145

Inquiry 129

TOUGH PRINTER NETWORK PROBLEM^

"How do I get my computers to share three different printers

and a plotter.. .without getting all tangled up in cables,

switches, protocols and programming?"

SIMPLE SOLUTION PrintDirector

PrintDirector — an automatic switch, buffer, and network controller product family — allows you to network your computers and printers.. .expandable from two to 35 of any mix of models and makes. Just plug it in. No worrying about protocols and baud rates. No cable changing or switch flipping. No modifications to your hardware or software. No problem. For information on the proven PrintDirector product family — and a configurator to tell you which particular PrintDirector can solve your tough printer network problem in a computer or PC center, or local work cluster — call or write:

PrintDirector

Digital Products Inc. • The Simple Network Solution Company

600 Pleasant Street, Watertown. MA 02172

(617) 924-1680 • Outside Mass., call 1-800-243-2333.

And check out our 30-day trial evaluation.

• Multiple color, high-resolution raster & bit image PrisnVgraphics.

• 200 cps data processing mode.

• 110 cps text quality mode. I 35 cps letter quality mode. 110 ips graphics print speed.

• Serial and parallel interfaces.

• 5000-byte buffer.

Color your graphics with the Dataproducts 8050. For sale, lease or rent from MTI.

The Dataproducts Model 8050 printer is one of the most economical yet highly versatile color printers available for use in today's professional microcomputer applications environment.

Whether you buy, rent or lease, MTI is the one source for all computer printers. And our prices are hard to beat. Call MTI and save.

mti

systems

A SUBSIDIARY OF DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

Computer & Data Communications Equipment Sales / Leasing / Service / Systems Integration

Digital Equipment Corp., Intel, Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Paekard*yume, Dataproducts, Diablo, Epson, Lear Siegler, Esprit, Wyse, Link, C.Itoh, PCI, Racal-Vadic, MICOM,Ven-TeL. Develcon, U.S. Design, Digital Engineering.

New York: New Jersey: Ohio: Kentucky:

212/226-2337 518/449-5959 201/227-5552 216/46-4-6688 502/426-1497 718/767-0677 Pennsylvania: 800/521-0167 California:

516/621-6200 412/931-9351 513/891-7050 818/883-7633

•In MTI areas only.

All other areas 800/645-6530

TALKING CLOCK

with this circuit. The first, named TCLOCK.BAS. creates a Talking Digital Clock on your Commodore 64 or V1C-20. (Use it with the Talking Clock chip set in place.) Run the program, enter the correct time in response to the initial prompt, and watch the digital display begin ticking away. Press any key for a verbal announcement of the time. (Be sure to read all REM statements before running the program; they will indicate any code that is machine-dependent.)

The second program uses the Allophone Speech Processor and will say "Hello" on the Commodore 64. This program is named HELL064.BAS. | Editor's note: The source-code listings for TCLOCK.BAS and HELL064.BAS are available for downloading via BYTEnet Listings. The telephone number is (603) 924-9820.|

Although I haven't mentioned any uses for the talking clock program, I'm sure you have ideas that you might like to try. A subroutine could be included to input an alarm time that would wake you in the morning. For commercial applications, the circuit could be integrated into a workstation, notifying an employee of the time when a particular job should be started, etc. It could even be included in a punch-clock station.

Talking games, spelling programs, math programs, etc., are just a few applications for the Allophone speech synthesizer. In any case, the SP02 56 series of speech processors offers an extremely low cost introduction to speech synthesis.

The items to follow are available from Microtalk Inc., 39 Raymond St., Providence, Rl 02908. For $18, the TT-1 Partial Kit includes an etched and drilled PC board, assembly instructions, and edge connector or ribbon cable (depending on computer: be sure to specify Commodore 64, VIC-20, or TRS-80). The SP02 56-AL2 kit comes with the Allophone processor chip and the Allophone synthesis user's guide for only $16. Include $2 for shipping and handling in the continental United States, $5 elsewhere. Residents of Rhode Island should include 6 percent sales tax. ■

Inquiry 281

CONTROL

DATA

Premium Series 5.25-inch Flexible Disks 100% Certified

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

Inquiry 109

MAY 1985 -BYTE 147

IBM's

best efforts are

now going into

Macintosh.

Macintosh and IBM PC software. Compatible at last, thanks to MacCharlie, a rather innovative coprocessing system.

And imagine the consequences.

Nearly 10.000 IBM PC software programs designed for general business and specific applications in real estate, insurance, law, medicine, banking, etcetera, can now join forces with Macintosh's own popular programs.

And, the myriad of IBM PCcompatible software adopts Macintosh's many beloved features, including desktop utilities such as the clipboard and the calculator.

In addition, MacCharlie allows

IBM PC and Macintosh data files to be exchanged. Talk about flexibility.

But the good news gets better.

You see, MacCharlie delivers hardware compatibility, as well. For example, IBM letter-quality printers can be easily used with Macintosh.

Furthermore, MacCharlie

now allows Macintosh to perform virtually any networking an IBM PC can perform. Even to the extent of tying in with IBM mainframes.

In other words, your networking capability goes beyond the Apple family.

The Macintosh keyboard slides right into MacCharlie s keyboard About as easy as slipping a letter in an envelope

Macintosh sets snugly beside MacCharlie, on a custom-fit pedestal

Once you plug in MacCharlie's power and keyboard cords, you're ready to enjoy a very happy marriage

How does it happen? As easily as slipping on penny loafers.

In mere moments, MacCharlie combines the best features of the world's premier personal computers.

And despite the fact that it

turns one computer into two, MacCharlie adds but a handful of square inches to Macintosh's physique.

In short, one of life's most perplexing decisions—whether to buy a Macintosh or an IBM PC—

can now be made with the greatest of ease.

Ask for MacCharlie at your local computer store. Or, for more information, call Operator 14 tollfree, 1-800-531-0600. (In Utah, call 801-531-0600).

MacCharlie offers 256K RAM. with optional upgrade to 640K RAM: 360KB disk drive, and optional second dtsk drive

MacChailie

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

MacCharlie is a product of Dayna Communications.

50 S. Main. Salt Lake City, Utah 84144

Inquiry 126

Apple is a trademark of Apple Computer. Inc. Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer. Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

The Dream,Knee top PC with APL Productivity

Etwor

-.)

tA

A

I I jm

AMPERE Wsl

You have never seen a personal computer like the WS-1. This beauty introduces a whole new world of knee-top PC productivity. It combines the unheard of capability of APL programming with a host of 32-bit architecture desktop functions, a rugged keyboard and full-size LCD, plus the person-to-person convenience of an intelligent telephone— all in a smartly designed, portable package you can use anywhere!

Battery operation * 8 MHz 68000 CPU • Up to 448K bytes of RAM 128K bytes of ROM • 25 X 80 character LCD • Bit-mapped graphics Multiple windowing •Multijob, multitask OS for powerful networking Coherent DB-WP-CALC-Craphic software •Intelligent phone function i Microcassette voice/data storage

150 B YTE • MAY 1985

FOR DISTR I BUTORSHIP INFORMATION AND PRODUCT DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT

Bmpene

INCORPORATED

Asahi Bldg., 5-20, 7-chome N i shi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Phone: 03-365-0825, Telefax: 03-365-0999, Telex: J33I01 AMPERE

IP Sharp Mail Box Code: AMP (Group Code APLWS)

U.S. Representative Office;

WORKSPACE

COMPUTER INC.

3848 Carson st. Suite 301 Torrance, California 90503, U.S.A. Phone: 213-540-1553, Telex: 322800 WORK SPACE

Inquiry 29

SMALLTALK

Comes to the

Microcomputer World

he August 1981 issue of BYTE focused on Smalltalk, a highly unusual programming language. The Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) designed Smalltalk to be a complete development environment. The language is somewhat esoteric; it uses unfamiliar terms such as "methods," "classes," and "objects," instead of more conventional jargon. And, while most languages deal with algorithms, Smalltalk focuses on data structures (objects) and their interrelationships. Smalltalk's lack of "modes" is also unconventional; it has no edit, compile, link, or execute mode. Instead, Smalltalk allows you to do virtually anything, anytime. The Smalltalk environment pioneered the concept of displaying different tasks in multiple windows on the screen, an idea that, at the time, represented a radical departure from punched cards and 80-column by 24-line ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) CRTs (cathode-ray tubes). Using a mouse for screen interaction is another Smalltalk innovation.

When BYTE introduced its readers to this fascinating language, many of them expectantly awaited Smalltalk's appearance on microcomputers. They waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Then they began to complain. "Why," they asked BYTE, "did you devote an entire issue to a language we can't use? When are we actually going to see a version of Smalltalk?" The BYTE staff grew weary of the complaints, especially because they were justified.

Therefore, it is with great interest and relief that we print this series of articles. First. Tom Yonkman and I evaluate Methods (page 152), developed by Digitalk Inc. of Los Angeles, California, which brings SmaIltalk-80 to the IBM Personal Computer (PC) and compatibles.

Then Christopher Macie discusses Smalltalk-PC, a restricted Smalltalk implementation he's developing for the Apple II and other computers (page 155).

Finally, for those of you who don't have the August 1981 BYTE handy, "The Smalltalk Programming Language" by Jim Anderson and Barry Fishman of Digitalk (page 160) gives a brief review of Smalltalk-80, complete with an application that runs under Methods.

A review of the August 1981 issue shows how heavily the Xerox PARC Smalltalk project has influenced modern software, most notably that for the Lisa/Macintosh. However, development languages like BASIC, C FORTH, and Pascal remain largely unaffected. Perhaps now that some "real" Smalltalk implementations are reaching the microcomputer market, the object-oriented approach to software development will get its first true test.

—Bruce Webster

MAY 1985 -BYTE 151

METHODS: A PRELIMINARY LOOK

Part 1: Methods is object-oriented.

by Bruce Webster

he influence of Smalltalk-80. particularly the Xerox PARC implementation, on the microcomputer world has become just about legendary. Windows, mice, and pop-up/pulldown menus now appear on everything from small portables with LCDs (liquid-crystal displays) to expensive terminals hooked up to even more expensive minicomputers and mainframes. Ironically, however, most of the emulation is of the appearance and not of the substance of Smalltalk—and with good reason. Most people have agreed that expensive hardware is required for an acceptable implementation of the Xerox standard. For example. Tektronix recently announced their 4404 Artificial Intelligence System, a marvelous single-user development system running Smalltalk-80. It has a Motorola

68010 processor, 1 megabyte of RAM (random-access read/write memory), and a 20-megabyte hard disk. But its $15,000 cost will do little to bring Smalltalk to the masses. Yet, as the many articles in the August 1981 BYTE suggest, Smalltalk is a language from which the masses, from children on up, can profit.

A few years ago. two software engineers working on several large projects were frustrated with their development tools. Specifically. Jim Anderson and George Bosworth wanted a development environment that would help, rather than hinder, in producing solutions. They read the BYTE Smalltalk issue and found that many of the articles presented ideas similar to their own:

IN BRIEF

Name

Methods, version 1.0

Manufacturer

Digitalk Inc.

5200 West Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 (213) 645-1082

Type

Object-oriented program-development system, based on Smalltalk-80

Environment

Text-based windowing system with cursor-pad "mouse" and pop-up menus

Price

$250

Computer

IBM PC and compatibles with two 360K-byte disk drives (or a hard disk), at least 512K-bytes of RAM, a monochrome or graphics card, and either MS-DOS or PC-DOS

Documentation

Program-development-environment reference manual, Smalltalk language reference manual

Audience

Software developers and interested programmers

• Small personalized systems provide much more creative leverage for the user than large-scale standardized systems. (They had been using an extended Pascal under UNIX 4.2.)

• Complexity dilutes power. The UNIX systems certainly have power, but their complexities detract from their ability to harness it.

• A small number of concepts uniformly applied results in a powerful and understandable system.

• Self-organizing systems are the goal of the future.

Anderson and Bosworth decided that Smalltalk—or something like it—was their answer.

They wanted a commercially viable product, something that others could and would use. Initially, they approached

Bruce Webster is a BYTE contributing editor as well as a PMS commando. He works with several programming languages and is seldom afraid to tackle a new one. He can be reached at 6215 Thorn St.. San Diego, CA 92115.

152 BYTE • MAY 1985

Xerox but decided that the hardware demands and licensing fees of Smalltalk-80 were too great. So, not knowing that it was "impossible" to bring up Smalltalk on the current generation of microcomputers, they agreed to implement Smalltalk on an Olivetti computer, retaining the right to market the results for other microcomputers. They picked the IBM Personal Computer as their target machine, assuming that would give them the largest possible market, and they formed Digitalk Inc. with Barbara Noparstak and Alberto Delia Ripa. The result, two years later, is Methods, version 1.0.

Methods attempts to recreate the Smalltalk development environment on an IBM PC (and compatibles) running under MS-DOS. You don't need a hard disk-two 360Kbyte floppy disks are sufficient—but you do need 512K bytes of memory. Nonetheless, most IBM PCs and compatibles now come with at least 2 56K bytes of RAM, and expansion cards with another 2 56K bytes are readily available.

Using Methods

Methods uses two disks. One contains SOURCES.SML, a 300K-byte ASCII file containing the source code for all methods in the system. The other has IMAGE.EXE, a RAM image of the Methods system, and CHANGE.LOG, an ASCII file containing the source code for all changed methods and for expressions executed with the dolt and printlt menu commands.

It takes about a minute to load IMAGE.EXE, your development environment, into RAM. You can save new objects and methods to disk using one of the pop-up menus. Then, when you reload the image, you come up in the same environment you last saved, including all windows and their contents (definitions, commands, output).

Digitalk's biggest challenge was implementing the Smalltalk user interface. Windows, pop-up menus, and a free-roaming cursor are fundamental aspects of Xerox's Smalltalk systems, but not all IBM PCs or compatibles have graphics capability, and few support a mouse. Therefore Digitalk used a character-based windowing system and what they call the "right-hand-drive mouse."

The character-based windows, which use the IBM PC's extended character set and character attributes (bold, inverse, etc.), work well. Windows can overlap, move around, and change size. They can collapse down to their title, which can then be set off in a corner of the screen, or they can be removed altogether. They can hold more text than they show, and they support both vertical and horizontal scrolling. Furthermore, a given window can be divided into "panes," each with the same capabilities as windows. Two functions keys select the current window and pane: F9 cycles through the windows on the screen, activating each in turn by putting it "on top" of all others; F10 cycles through the different panes (if any) within the currently active window. Alternatively, placing the cursor

in a window or pane makes it active. With a color-graphics card, the windows are still text-based, but you gain the ability to select the background and text colors for each window.

Text-based windows have three main advantages. They lessen the need for a graphics card, reduce memory requirements (because text information is more compact than bit-map information), and increase system speed (because text can be manipulated more rapidly than bit maps). The disadvantage, of course, is that some of the fancier features often associated with Smalltalk—different text fonts, graphics images, and the like—aren't possible.

The right-hand-drive mouse uses the cursor keypad to perform most of the functions of a mouse, including moving the cursor, scrolling windows, popping up menus, and selecting text. The arrow keys move the cursor around; if you use them with the shift key, the cursor moves in larger increments. The Home and End keys let you scroll text left and right within the active window/pane; similarly, the Pg Up and Pg Dn keys let you scroll up and down. The Ins and Del keys pop up menus for the the active window and pane, respectively. The + key selects a menu item or a location; the - key extends that selection over several lines.

Some Observations

It was easy to evaluate Methods' user interface; it was more difficult to assess the language itself, especially to compare it with Smalltalk-80. Since I had little experience with Smalltalk (or, for that matter, any other objectoriented language), I asked someone with more experience and knowledge to perform that task. Tom Yonkman, who has developed object-oriented software applications for several years, graciously consented to write the second part of this article. I will share my own observations as a professional software engineer with a strong background in more traditional computer languages (Pascal, FORTH, FORTRAN, assembly). Keep in mind, however, that I worked with a prerelease version with no real documentation.

At first, I was very excited about Methods. I spent a few hours at the Digitalk offices watching the staff demonstrate the product. I was impressed with the user interface and amazed at how quickly they could create new applications and modify existing ones. I was anxious to start using it myself.

My initial sessions with Methods were frustrating. What seemed effortless and clear at Digitalk now seemed difficult and obscure. 1 had no problems with the user interface, but the language itself was challenging. In fact, I was probably a victim of my own training and experience, all geared towards "traditional" programming languages and techniques.

After a few days of playing around, I began to get results.

[continued]

MAY 1985

153

I started to define some data structures and the methods needed to store and retrieve their information. The more I worked, the more potential I saw. Indeed, some of my long-term projects dealing with modeling large systems may be better implemented in Methods/Smalltalk than in any other languages with which I'm familiar.

My main difficulty with Methods was getting it to do something quickly. This was not an inherent problem with Methods; I had three handicaps: lack of documentation, lack of graphics and real numbers in my prerelease version (most of the examples in Smalltalk-80 books involve one or the other), and, of course, my own lack of familiarity

with object-oriented languages. None of these handicaps should remain when Methods is commercially released (probably by the time you read this).

The bottom line is that Methods is a legitimate objectoriented development system, running on widely available, standard hardware. Since it is a departure from traditional programming environments, you will need complete, clear documentation to avoid frustration. How Digitalk addresses that issue remains to be seen. A more complete evaluation will have to await the release of the final product; nonetheless, anyone with an interest in object-oriented languages should take a close look at Methods.

Part 2: . . . but is it Smalltalk?

m

by Tom Yonkman

• ethods is a complete software-development system, with an editor, compiler, executor, and debugger all in a multiwindow environment. Methods does not require a linker or a loader.

The language is similar to Smalltalk-80 (see Smalltalk-80: The Language and Us Implementation by Adele Goldberg and David Robson, Addison-Wesley, 1983). The syntaxes of the languages are identical except for characters that don't exist in the IBM PC character set. On the basis of limited testing, the semantics of Methods (what the functions do) also seem identical to those in Smalltalk-80. The user interface is similar to that of Smalltalk-80; differences owe to the space limitations of the 80-column by 2 5-line character screen and to the memory limitations of the IBM PC.

Methods provides the standard System Transcript, Workspace, Class Hierarchy Browser, Class Browser, Inspector, and Walkback (Backtrace) windows. Multiple instances of each window ("views" in Methods and Smalltalk jargon) can appear on the screen. The Walkback window traces the sequence of operations that led to an error state. The System Transcript window displays messages for the user. Workspace is a general utility window for editing text and sending messages to objects (i.e., executing programs).

The Browsers look at the existing hierarchy of classes, the message names of existing classes, and the definitions of existing methods. You can add or delete classes, edit a class's definition, protocol, or redefine its methods. The Browsers can access the Methods system in its entirety. You can see how the system developers do certain operations, and you can copy any statements you like, paste them into your own methods, or modify them. The Inspector allows you to view or change the current values of inTorn Yonkman is a member of the technical staff of VERAC Inc.. San Diego. CA. He has been developing object-oriented software applications using Flavors for several years. He can be reached at 4182 Camino \slay. San Diego. CA 92122.

stance variables. Menu commands are provided so you can find all the senders and implementors of a specified method. These are very useful, given the inheritance mechanism of Methods.

You use Methods by sending messages to objects that perform some operation and return the result. If there is no class of objects with the capabilities you need, you can define new classes and associated protocols (message names and methods). Or you can edit existing methods or add new methods to existing classes. In any case, you are always interacting with the Methods system—a similarity this language shares with BASIC, LISP, and FORTH, among other highly interactive systems. Methods does not provide a System Workspace with templates for commonly used expressions, which would be a useful feature for users not yet familiar with the program.

The process of developing capabilities will involve testing your new methods. You do this by creating a new instance of your class, sending it a message, observing the response, and fixing the method if the response is incorrect. To fix the method, you select a Class Browser window, edit and recompile, select the Workspace where the message was sent, resend the message, etc.

While I know that I used a prerelease version of methods, I do have a "wish list" for the language. For example, it would be nice if more data were kept in memory at one time, so that browsing back and forth didn't require reloading the same source code as often. The designers may have traded memory for speed. I would also have preferred easier selection among panes of a window and among all windows. For example, a function key could cycle among the two most recently selected panes/windows or among the n most recently selected.

Despite the limitations of Methods, someone who becomes proficient with it should have no trouble with a "real" Smalltalk-80 system (like the Tektronix 4404). Best of all, you don't need to pay $15,000 to use Methods. ■

154

: YT E • MAY 1085

SMALLTALK-PC

by Christopher Macie

Objected-oriented software on the Apple II

S

malltalk bridges the gap between human and computer problem-solving logic. Essentially, programming is the process of creating a model of an activity or thought process. In traditional programming languages a small change in a problem can require a large change in the program code (owing to the languages' firm bases in machine representation). And many languages involve special, often particularistic, sets of skills. Higher-level programming languages are simply higher-level abstractions from machine logic.

Smalltalk, on the other hand, starts with an object-oriented model of problem-solving logic and deals with the machine logic internally and automatically. Where other languages need guiding constructs like "structured programming" to help control the complexity of machine representation, Smalltalk proceeds along more natural intuitive lines. And, as the needs of the Smalltalk user change, applications are easy to modify and maintain.

When 1 first saw Adele Goldberg demonstrate Smalltalk-72 at Xerox PARC in 1976, other programming languages and environments suddenly seemed obsolete. Between 1976 and 1981, I studied Smalltalk, applying its principles in new projects, and I decided that a full implementation would never work on the minicomputers then available.

But then the Apple II came along, with extendable architecture and a memory-mapped screen. When BYTE published the Smalltalk issue in August 1981, memory-extension cards were becoming available, and various gamepaddle devices could simulate the functions of a mouse. The Apple II had become a candidate for Smalltalk experimentation. Smalltalk-80, the Xerox standard, had advanced and refined the Smalltalk concepts, but it seemed out of reach for the Apple 11. Nonetheless, I began my own Smalltalk implementation on the basis of reverse engineering (see references 1 and 2).

Smalltalk for Low-Cost Personal Computers

I developed Smalltalk-PC to provide users with access to object-oriented programming on hardware systems like the Apple II and IBM PC. The language is intended for system designers and applications programmers who want a head start in object-oriented programming and for sophisticated users and programmers, especially those working with highly dynamic applications involving frequent reprogramming. Although Smalltalk-PC differs in several respects from Smalltalk-80, the general flexibility of the Smalltalk language will facilitate communication between the two.

Smalltalk-80 is written to such a deep level that it requires extraordinary processor power to perform adequately. Smalltalk-PC simplifies the hardware requirements by placing the entire system (which can be extended) in about 60K bytes of RAM (random-access read/write memory), using mass storage

(continued) Christopher Macie (1255 Post St. #625, Box 138, San Francisco. CA 94109) is a softwaresystems designer. He has a B.A. in music and humanities from Stanford University and an M.A. in music history from the University of California at Berkeley. His interest in Smalltalk evolved from his efforts with the classical pipe organ and then with electronic music.

MAY 1985 -BYTE

155

VIRTUAL MACHINE

1

INITIAL IMAGE

VIRTUAL

m

AGE

USER EXTENSIONS

Figure 1: The overall structure of the SmalltalkPC system. The virtual image drives the virtual machine. The initial image implements the dictionary, user interface, and language systems.

PRIMITIVES {VIRTUAL MACHINE)

OBJECT-MODULES (OBJECTS)

COMPILED-METHODS lORJECTS)

METH

)D-ID '

METHOD TABLE

SE

tD- CLASS

XNO SELECT

OR

Figure 2: Unified message sending to the different method-implementation types. Message sends are handled as lookup keys into the method table, which determines the implementation type and the path to the method code.

for file I/O (input/output) and image storage but not for swapping. In Smalltalk-PC, therefore, the virtual machine (the lower level written in assembly code) is much larger than in Smalltalk-80, limiting modifiability at the lower systems' levels (such as object and class behavior, the system-level classes, including collections, and much of the user interface), but optimizing performance on the slower processors. Still, Smalltalk-PC preserves the flexibility of Smalltalk at its higher levels, those of interest to most personal computer and applications programmers. Smalltalk-PC embodies "open system" principles but also allows programmers to protect applications and their users from the pitfalls of fully open access.

ment. including the dictionary, user interface, and language systems. It also contains some toolkit extensions for applications programming.

Methods can be redefined in the fundamental classes, as illustrated by the arrow leading from the virtual machine back to the virtual image. Smalltalk-PC thus preserves the essential flexibility of Smalltalk, although its speed suffers relative to the default-machine-coded versions when such methods are interpreted.

The package of modules has entry points for message sends (with arguments in an active context) and for message calls (with arguments in registers and internal global cells). Although the arrows in figure 3 go directly to modules, all message sends are in fact routed through the Virtual Environment (VE) module.

As you can see in figure 2. message sends are handled uniformly as lookup keys into the method table, yielding a method-ID (identification) whose encoding determines the implementation type and the path to the method code. The state of the system—all the data stored and retrieved as the virtual image—is structured as in figure 4.

The Smalltalk-PC Language

The language system compiles Smalltalk-PC code into intermediate code in compiled methods, interprets it, and provides support for debugging and error handling. The language syntax is a modified form of Smalltalk-80 syntax (see reference 3).

There are three types of language tokens, each distinguished by their typography. Those beginning with lowercase letters represent selectors and context-dependent variables. Those beginning in uppercase letters but containing at least one lowercase letter signify global variables. Tokens that are completely in uppercase represent reserved words and are used for identifiers such as NIL, TRUE, FALSE, the pseudovariables SELF, SUPER, etc., and certain control-selectors that are treated as primitives.

The reserved-word syntax is also used to express an escape mechanism for encapsulating other "languages" in method code. This is used, for instance, for symbolic and hexadecimal representations of Smalltalk-PC intermediate code. Escape syntax is also used to specify a variety of modes affecting method compilation and execution. For instance, visibility layering and error handling are regulated by class- or method-level run-time modes.

System Structures

Figure 1 shows the overall structure of the Smalltalk-PC system. The hardware is interfaced by the virtual machine or kernel system (see figure 3), which implements the class/ object and message-passing machine. The virtual machine is in turn driven by the virtual image—the fundamental system classes and objects that implement the objectoriented modeling environment. The initial image, delivered with the system, implements the basic environ

The Class System

The Smalltalk-PC class system is structured in a hierarchical tree from the root class Object and resembles the basic parts of the Smalltalk-80 class tree. The metaclasses of Smalltalk-80, however, are not used in Smalltalk-PC where class and instance behavior are both accessed through the class Class.

The class Collection has subclasses for RandomCollections (Bag, Set. Dictionary) and IndexableCollections, in

156 BYTE- MAY 1985

eluding Arrays (Strings. Symbols) and Ordered- or SortedCollections. The class Matrix is a subclass of IndexableCollections. There are further subclasses for ByteMatrix (for WYSIWYG text) and PointerMatrix. These classes allow for large regular structures without proliferating subobjects.

In creating IndexableCollections, there is an optional virtual dynamic-size control that uses an internally maintained current end marker. The feature reduces the amount of allocation/deallocation of objects, which often change in size.

Other fundamental classes include Undefined (NIL). Boolean (TRUE, FALSE) and Measure. Measure is similar to Magnitude in Smalltalk-80 and has subclasses for Character, SearchKey, and Number (which includes Integers and Float). Floating-point numbers are implemented in BCD (binary-coded decimal) format, with a 7-bit signed exponent, sign bit, and a 6-byte mantissa (12-digit precision).

The user interface contains classes representing the devices (Screen. Mouse, and Keyboard), their configurations, and a variety of window types and components. At the elemental level are WindowDimensions and WindowFrames and their components—TitleBars, ScrollBars, MenuBars. and Corners. Panes include TextPanes. ListPanes, and LabelValuePanes. PopUpMenus are a variety of ListPanes.

Complex forms are built by combining panes and dimensions or frames. Scanners are combinations of ListPanes used to scan through hierarchical structures like categorized dictionaries. Examiners are pairs of coordinated ListPanes used to examine or edit the state of any object. PropertyLists, arrays of LabelValuePanes. display labeled data or switches.

Windows combine frames and panes with the Director function to assume the behavior of processes that can be independently scheduled user tasks that reside in screens and present data that can be transferred between windows. TextWindows contain workspaces and documents: they are used in combination with dictionaries (ListWindows and Scanners) to build information trees or plexes.

ClassEditor is a more complex window that combines LabelValuePanes, ListPanes, and TextPanes for the display, generation, and modification of class definitions and methods.

Multitasking and Multiple Processors

Smalltalk-PC provides run-time scheduling and multitasking, allowing multiple active processes to compute simultaneously. The basic system classes furnish multilevel scheduling, queue handling, and semaphores for synchronization.

A variant of Smalltalk-PC called Smalltalk-Mate, will run on multiple-processor hardware systems, including the Apple II and IBM PC with added processor cards, as well

as newer machines with multiple processors on the motherboard. Smalltalk-Mate furnishes an interface to support multiple processing on a single-object memory or synchronization between different images and even between Smalltalk and other language systems. This capability allows Smalltalk-PC to run coresident with the p-System and MS-DOS, among others. Users can therefore take advantage of both preexisting software and the special strengths of Smalltalk.

Running Smalltalk-PC

The Smalltalk-PC boot disk contains the virtual-machine program and a prerun configuration routine that allows

{continued)

Figure 3: The structure of the virtual machine. The Virtual Environment (VE) module interfaces devices and memory, implements classes and message passing, and handles access to

HARDWARE

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

STRUCTURAL PRIMITIVES

USER- INTERFACE PRIMITIVES

LANGUAGE SYSTEM

?<

\

MESSAGE ENTRIES

CALL ENTRIES

T

T

objects and their fields. The Structural Primitives module contains various primitive methods. The User-Interface module carries out the primitive functions for screens and windows, while the language System module contains the compiler, interpreter, and debugging subsystems.

INTERNAL GLOBALS

CONFIGURATIONS DEVICE STATES •SYSTEM ROOTS INTERPRETER STATE*

ACTIVE PROCESS

FIXED OBJECTS

RAM-SEGMENT TABLE OBJECT TABLE CLASS TABLE METHOD TABLES

OBJECT MEMORY

ACTIVE CONTEXT

I/1

Figure 4: The Virtual Image Structure. Internal globals and fixed objects are stored in areas directly accessed by the virtual machine, although many of their elements are interfaced to the higher-level environment as bona fide objects. The state of execution is rooted in internal globals {used as registers) but largely contained in the objects of the active context. The running system makes no distinction between the initial image and user extensions.

157

the user to specify the current hardware configurationmouse, screen, extended-memory types, and slots. A set configuration can be saved for future booting. A second disk loads the initial virtual image, which requires a minimum of 2 56K bytes of RAM. It is possible to configure additional RAM from within the system, but saving and loading extended virtual images may require multiple disks.

The initial image (see photo 1) displays the system screen, a logo, and elementary instructions. The system screen provides entry to the rest of the system through a pop-up menu that accesses a dictionary of system-task windows and the user-project screens.

The User Interface

In the default user-interface configuration, the middle mouse button (or the one on the right on a two-button mouse) invokes a pop-up menu. Moving the mouse through the menu with the button depressed changes entries to inverse video. Releasing the button at a dictionary entry schedules and runs the process associated with that entry. Usually a framed window then appears. Data elements or ranges in a window or its frame are selected by clicking or dragging the button on the left. Pop-up menus, usually in combination with a data selection, invoke actions. Pop-up menus at the frame of a window offer the functions common to all windows—closing, positioning, and growing. Pop-up menus within the frame contain functions specific to the type of the window.

A project screen is a window that fills the whole screen, has no frame, and behaves much like the system screen, but contains a user-defined environment.

The fundamental pane and window types include options to configure the user interface according to personal preferences. For example, action selection can appear in PopUpMenus (as in later Xerox Smalltalks). in MenuBars at the top of the screen (as in the Lisa or Macintosh), or at the bottom (as in Visi On); TitleBars can appear at the top or bottom; ScrollBars can appear at the top, bottom, left, or right.

The user can configure the mouse to deliver the select, pop-up, execute (or do-it), and help functions from any choice of buttons (1, 2, 3, or simultaneous combinations).

The user can also configure key assignments for cursor and button control and assign up to 10 special-function keys as either soft interrupts that result in running processes or as pollable switches.

System Features

The task windows residing in the system screen provide interactive settings for dealing with system resources. One task window, for example, permits the reconfiguration of hardware and software features.

You can use Scanner windows to look around in hierarchically categorized dictionaries, and you can use an Examiner window to investigate the state of any object. For example, by nesting Scanner and Examiner windows, virtually anything in the system can be reached and viewed

•W

n]n»m ttintM «!

Or«i in liftfms tc ultct !irt ::»

■ittim Ua Hmm>

<E*VtM tfc ttfttt)

Stm u Mitel m M rtiaa.

<EnUrlM U* S*t»;

Photo I; The Smalltalk-PC initial screen. This picture shows a text window with which instructions displayed on the screen can be modified. The selected text {inverse) is about to be captured for copying by means of the edit pop-up menu.

Photo 2: A sampling of Smalltalk-PC windows. There is a scanner in the upper left showing class categories (left pane) and their classes (right pane). There is a form of class editor in the lower right. \n the lower left is a text window, and in the upper right is a list, out of which the scanner was called. The two-line inverse window in top center is the pop-up menu of the screen (mouse button 2 is being held).

158 BYTE- MAY Wi

Loolkits are used in Smalltalk-PC to implement word processing, database processing, and spreadsheets.

in detail (the open-system concept).

A special window form supports the viewing, modifying, and adding of classes. Together with general-purpose workspaces and tracing and error windows, this special window form constitutes the programming environment. Photo 2 shows a screen full of typical windows.

You can create a project screen, which can be filled with task windows usually related by some application concept. Project screens use the same general tools as the system screen, including class programming, and you can install tools developed in a project screen in the system screen.

At almost any time, you can invoke a system task to save the current state of the virtual image on disk or to replace the current image by reading another. Alternatively, invoking automatic saving could periodically back up the system. An internal file and directory system provides file storage and retrieval on a special Smalltalk-PC disk format. Smalltalk-PC supports reading and writing of files in other formats. like Apple DOS, CP/M, MS-DOS, and the p-System.

For applications that do not need the full flexibility of the Smalttalk-PC environment, project screens can lock in specific tasks in much the same way as standard applications packages. Moreover, a feature called "visibility layering" can lock dictionaries at specific levels to prevent access beyond the scope of an application, and a special error-report control feature with a similarly layered structure can inhibit error messages from advanced system levels. These features are provided to protect application models from accidental disruption, but programmers could also use them to offer a degree of user programmability appropriate to the application, without requiring the user to master the full Smalltalk environment.

Smalltalk-PC Toolkits

"Toolkits" are generalized, modular functions that support a family of application-oriented tasks. They are the best approach to applications programming in Smalltalk. In principle, they are extendable to other tasks, and they are used in Smalltalk-PC to implement word processing, database processing, and spreadsheets.

The word-processing toolkit has document windows providing page, margin, header, and other formatting controls. The database-processing toolkit has extensions to interface relational database functions to hard-disk- and network-based information systems.

Spreadsheet representation uses Smalltalk's object orientation to allow creation and maintenance of complex document forms whose elements are produced by arbitrarily complex processes. The capability called Active

Data Modeling" services documents (text, charts, tables, etc.) whose contents are produced by information structures that can be viewed and manipulated at various levels of abstraction.

This spreadsheet format is free-form rather than a matrix of cells, and the order of evaluation is determined freely rather than by rows or columns. Data elements represented in the final document are not copied literally but remain linked to their source objects or processes. The data models therefore remain "active" in that they dynamically reflect changes from anywhere in the underlying structure.

Implementation Aspects

Methods implemented in machine code are important for the development of efficient application toolkits. These "object modules" can be compiled from a high-level language (for portability) and are installed into the virtual image as objects.

The coding of object modules uses table-pointed name strings to refer to system objects, both externally (other objects) and internally (the module itself and its entry points). An automatic installation procedure changes the string pointers to object identifiers of Smalltalk-PC symbols, binding the module into the virtual image. With this feature, interpreted Smalltalk code can be used for development, flexibility, and high-level control, and use of optimized machine code at strategic points can improve performance.

Smalltalk-PC does not run under a host operating system but drives the hardware directly from the virtual machine (VM). about 95 percent of which is portable across systems with the same microprocessor. The other 5 percent consists of the screen, keyboard, mouse, and virtual-memory management tailored to each host system. The system image (including user extensions and applications) is. in principle, portable across any system.

The memory system is fully object-oriented and supports up to 2 54 classes and 30K-byte objects in up to 4 megabytes of resident RAM. (IBS in West Germany and Legend Industries build 1-megabyte single-slot cards for the Apple II.) The object-memory system is largely derived from the OOZE system (see reference 4) but abandons those aspects directed at optimizing object swapping from disk. Reference counting is used to manage virtual memory, which is treated in 64K-byte segments to make scattered free space compact.

Object identifiers are used as direct indexes into a table containing virtual addresses and flags. Message lookup

[continued)

MAY 1985 -BYTE

159

is done by hashing the class code and message selector into another large table

The VM routines are optimized and shared to conserve space in main memory. Both the data-structure (collection) primitives and many of the user-interface primitives have a range of types and options specially encoded in their object structures, providing flexibility while conserving resources like space and classes.

Given the VM support for matrices as a form of collection, another technique to conserve object identifiers and to facilitate exploitation of the large virtual memory is to encourage the use of larger objects with complex but regular structures. The implementation of a matrix can then be a single object rather than an array containing additional array objects for each row. Otherwise, it would be possible to use up the object identifiers with a large portion of memory unused.

Hardware

I am implementing the Smalltalk-PC virtual machine for the 6502. 8088/8086, and 68000 microprocessors. The first version runs on Apple ll-type systems (Apple II+ , He, and compatible systems) with at least 80-column capability, an uppercase and lowercase keyboard, a 48K-byte motherboard RAM. one floppy-disk drive, and 256K bytes of memory on RAM card(s). (The Basis Computer BAS RAM. Legend Industries' S'Card, the Synetix Flashcard, the BAM-128 from Mikrotek, the Saturn/Titan card, and

the RAM cards from IBS are supported.)

The 8088/8086 versions (IBM-class systems) require one floppy-disk drive and 2 56K bytes of memory. The 68000 version is currently installed on a new system from the German manufacturer, Triumph-Adler.

Apple II graphics resolution is inadequate for 80-column text displays, so my first version of Smalltalk-PC used a memory-mapped 24-line by 80-column alphanumeric format rather than bit-mapped graphics. The choice helps performance (bit-mapped graphics are known to consume up to 50 percent of raw processing power), and adequately supports windowing, menus, and mouse control.

A medium-resolution mouse with at least two (preferably three) buttons is a necessity (Smalltalk-PC currently supports DePraz. Logitech, Mouse-House, Rikei Oku-MS mice with parallel interfaces, and the MSC serial mouse), although the pointing function is available through the keyboard. The minimum hardware configuration for the Apple 11+ would include a Legend S'Card. a PIA-card for the mouse, and an 80-column card. ■

REFERENCES

1. Goldberg, Adele. and Alan Kay. eds. Smalltalk-72 Instruction Manual. Xerox PARC SSL 76-6. Palo Alto, CA: Xerox PARC. 1976.

2. BYTE. August 1981.

3. Goldberg. Adele. and David Robson. eds. Smalltalk-80: The language and Us Implementation. Reading. MA: Addison-Wesley, 1983.

4. Kaehler, Ted. "Virtual Memory for an Object-Oriented Language." In |3|, pages 378-387.

THE SMALLTALK PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

by Jim Anderson and Barry Fishman

An introduction to object-oriented programming

uring the past year, we have used Smalltalk for application prototyping and system-software development. For us, Smalltalk simplifies programming and is fun. On the other hand, Smalltalk's new terminology and concepts generally complicate learning of the language, especially for experienced programmers (including ourselves). In this article we have attempted to demystify Smalltalk by relating it to other languages and by solving a moderately difficult problem in what we think is a straightforward and readable way.

Most people perceive Smalltalk as a "Macintosh-like' user interface with windows, mice, and bit-mapped graphics, but the Smalltalk group at Xerox PARC actually pioneered and blended together several technologies, including raster graphics, integrated environments, and object-oriented programming.

160 BYTE- MAY 1985

The last of these is our main concern.

Like FORTH, Smalltalk's core is small but its vocabulary can be extended. Like LISP, it has automatic memory management and capabilities for manipulating arbitrary data structures. Like Modula-2 and Ada, it encapsulates abstract data types (in objects).

The Smalltalk developers solved several interesting problems in graphics, text processing, simulation, and concurrency. Therefore, simply by reading Smalltalk programs, you may improve your programming ability in other languages. Fred Masterson has suggested that simplicity, power, compatibility, and cognitive richness are key attributes in a programming language (see reference 1). Except for Smalltalk, we don't know of a language that has all of these attributes while also being a practical tool for solving a wide range of problem types.

Smalltalk is well suited to rapid prototyping, the construction of software models that explore both the problem and its solution. This is especially important in interactive applications where perceptions of the problem can change after seeing a prototype solution (see reference 2). (Of course, a good programming environment is a big help here, too.)

A Closer Look at Objects

The Smalltalk-80 programming language (see references 3 and 4) is object-oriented in that all data is contained in record structures called objects. For translations of Smalltalk terminology, see table 1. The individually accessible components of an object (i.e., the fields of the record) are called instance variables, which either contain integer values in the range 0 to 2 55 or contain object identifiers. Instance variables can be both named and indexed. For example,

1. An object of class Point has named instance variables x and y, which identify the coordinates of the point. A point has no indexed instance variables.

2. An object of class Array contains only indexed instance variables. These are identified with the integers 1 through the number of instance variables in the array.

3. An object of class Set has indexed instance variables and a single named instance variable tally, which totals the number of indexed instance variables that are not nil (the name for the special undefined object).

Objects are simpler than Pascal record structures in that either they contain all integer values or they contain all identifier values. Objects with integer instance variables define elementary data values like numbers and strings. Objects with identifier instance variables consist of pointers to other objects. The pointers organize the universe of all objects into a single directed-graph structure. Like a pointer value in Pascal, an identifier distinguishes each object.

Objects are "self-describing." They include information

Table 1: Some Smalltalk terminology translations.

Method _ Message

Protocol.

Object

Instance Variable. Class

a function definition

the invocation of a method, i.e.,

a function call

the specification of how a message

is sent to a method,

including the method name

and parameters

a record of fields

a field of a record

a record type and all the functions

that may be applied to the

record type

defining their size (number of instance variables) and the class to which they belong. Computing in Smalltalk involves changing the instance variables of existing objects, creating new objects, and destroying objects (turning them into "garbage") by removing them from the graph structure. (See the text box on page 162 for a summary of Smalltalk statements.) The Smalltalk system automatically reclaims space for garbage objects.

Classes are the program modules of Smalltalk. Like the "abstract data types" provided by the modules of Modula-2 and the packages of Ada, a class specifies the instance variables contained in the objects of the class and the methods (functions) that operate on the objects. The internal details of an object are not visible from methods outside its class; therefore you cannot directly access its instance variables. Instead, you send a message to (invoke a function on) the object requesting the desired information.

Smalltalk classes are organized into a hierarchy with the class Object at the top. Superclasses are more generic; subclasses are more specialized. A class inherits the named instance variables and methods of its superclasses. Consider, for example, part of the Smalltalk hierarchy for class Magnitude:

Magnitude Character Date Time Number

Float

Fraction

Integer

[continued)

Jim Anderson is president of Digitalk (5200 West Century Blvd., bos Angeles, CA 90045), a firm specializing in high-technology software products and consulting.

Barry Fishman (POB 626, Venice. CA 90291) is a software consultant specializing in the design and development of new products.

MAY 1985 -BYTE

161

The generic class Magnitude contains methods for computing maximums and minimums in terms of comparison operators. The subclasses define more specialized functions, like doing the comparisons. Inheritance is a powerful abstraction technique that allows software to be reusable (see reference 5).

Inheritance is supported by "run-time binding," the dynamic determination (based on the class of the receiver, the object to which the message is sent) of which method responds to a message. Consider the method, implemented in class Magnitude, for taking the maximum of two magnitudes:

max: aMagnitude self < aMagnitude ifTrue: ["aMagnitude] if False: ["self]

This generic method works for operands of any subclass of Magnitude if the subclass implements the "less-than"

(<) method. The class of self (the receiver of less-than) determines the choice of which less-than method to use. Thus we can take the maximum of two dates or two fractions, even though the max: method is not defined in either the date or fraction classes. Therefore the code works for operands that exhibit a generic behavior (here, comparing less-than), regardless of the details of the calculation.

Smalltalk Syntax and Semantics

The syntax of Smalltalk methods has three parts: the message pattern, temporary variables, and statements. The message pattern defines the method name, method arguments, and the syntax for invoking the method with a message. Temporary variables are the method's local variables. Instance variables, method arguments, and global variables are the other variables accessible within a method. Global variables begin with uppercase letters. The others begin with lowercase letters.

A Summary of Smalltalk Statements

a Smalltalk statement either assigns a value to a variable. exits a method and specifies the result, sends a message to an object, or does some combination of the three.

The following are three examples of assigning values to a variable:

a : = true In this example, the identifier of the object true is assigned to the variable a.

answer : = index

Here, the identifier contained in the variable index is assigned to the variable answer.

i:- j:= 0

In this expression, the identifier of the object for the integer 0 is assigned to i and j.

To exit a method, Smalltalk uses the following syntax:

" answer

In this example, the object whose identifier is contained in answer is returned as the result of the method.

"January'

In this expression, the identifier for String January' is returned as the result of the method.

To send a message, there are several possibilities:

a size

This is the syntax for a unary message. The message size is sent to the object in variable a.

count + 1

This is a binary message. The message + is sent to count with argument 1.

a at: index

This is a keyword message. The message at: is sent to a with argument index.

a at: index put: count

In this muitiargument message, the message at:put: is sent to a with arguments index and count.

There are several combinations of the above statements:

"count + 1

in this expression, the result of the message count + 1 is returned as the result of the method.

x : = a at: index

Here, the result of the message a at: index is assigned to the variable x.

"(a := b max: c + 1)

This statement is evaluated in the following steps. First. + is sent to C with argument 1. Second, max: is sent to b with the result of the c + 1 message as the argument. Third, the result of max: is assigned to a. Finally, the value assigned to a is returned as the result of the method.

162 BYTE' MAY 1985

t

<he syntax of Smalltalk methods has three parts: the message pattern, temporary variables, and statements.

A block, the part of a method enclosed in square brackets, is an object even though it represents executable code. Therefore, it is possible to assign a block to a variable or pass it as a message argument. The following example uses a block argument in a message to implement control structures:

[inputStream atEnd] whileFalse: [outputStream nextPut: input Stream next]

The message whileFalse: is sent to the first block: the second block is an argument that will execute repeatedly until the first block returns true. If inputStream is of class ReadStream and outputStream is of class WriteStream. all the characters in inputStream will be copied to outputStream. (See references 3 and 4 for a complete description of control structures and blocks.)

Smalltalk System Classes

The Smalltalk language is a simple expandable core. The system is the core extended with several classes, including Collection, Stream, Magnitude, DisplayObject, Point, and Rectangle. (For a full discussion, see reference 4.)

Collection classes implement arrays, sets, dictionaries, and linked lists using common protocols for data-structure access. Stream classes implement external files as a sequence of randomly addressable bytes and, again with common protocols, streaming over arbitrary collections of internal objects. The Magnitude classes provide extensive facilities for date, time, and numeric calculations. The DisplayObject classes implement the representation and manipulation of graphical images (which are supported by classes Point and Rectangle, used respectively for representing graphical positions and areas).

In our example (which follows), we use system classes Set, Dictionary, and FileStream. Class Collection, of which Set is a subclass, allows its subclasses to create new collections, to add and delete collection elements, and to iterate over the elements of a collection while a block executes for each element. Instances of Set are efficiently searchable containers of unordered elements, which may not be duplicated.

Dictionary, a subclass of class Set, looks up values based on keys. An instance of class Dictionary associates pairs of keys and related values. Keys in a dictionary are unique.

The class Dictionary method at: aKey ifAbsent: aBlock returns the associated value if there is an entry in the dictionary with key equal to argument aKey. Otherwise the argument aBlock executes and determines the result of the at:ifAbsent: message. Consider

employees at: employeeNumber ifAbsent: [nil]

If employees contains a dictionary where each key is a number representing an employee's number and each value is an object representing all employee data, then the example message returns nil if the employee is not in the dictionary. Otherwise the employee object is returned.

The class Dictionary method at: aKey put: aValue places an entry for the pair aKey, aValue into the dictionary. This message always returns aValue as the result. For example, the message

employees at: employeeNumber put: employeeData

adds a value employeeData for the key employeeNumber to the dictionary employees.

The class Dictionary method do: aOneArgumentBlock iterates over the elements in the dictionary. The argument block is evaluated once for the value part of every key/ value pair in the dictionary. In the next example,

employees do: [:employee | employee site = localSite ifTrue: [localEmployees add: employee]]

the message do: is sent to the dictionary employees with the block as argument. The block is executed once for each employee and builds a collection of local employees.

A Smalltalk Example

A Document Retrieval System

Our Smalltalk example, which will run under Methods (see "Methods: A Preliminary Look" by Bruce Webster and Tom Yonkman, page 152) is a new class Wordlndex, a simple document-retrieval system. An instance of Wordlndex allows the retrieval of a list of all documents that contain a group of words. For example it could request a list of candidates whose resumes contain the words UNIX, 68000, and C

Our system maintains documents as ASCII files, one file per document. Queries that supply a list of words get back the names of all the documents that contain all the words. An instance of class Wordlndex contains the document database for one application or category of documents. We have used classes Collection and Stream and their subclasses. Class Wordlndex has instance variables documents, words, and noiseWords.

Instance variable documents contains a set of strings that identify the documents by their file pathnames. Instance variable words contains a dictionary representing the words in all documents. Each key is a word repre

(continued)

MAY 1985 • BYTE

163

sented as a string; the associated value is a set of all the documents that contain the word. Instance variable noiseWords contains a set of noise words, which reduce the size of the database. A word will not be entered in the words dictionary if it is included in the set of noise words.

The message addDocument: adds a document to the database by scanning the document as an instance of class FileStream. The message nextWord is sent repeatedly to the file stream to extract the next word as a string. Each word is entered into the words dictionary with the associated document included in the set of documents for the word.

The locateDocuments: message performs database queries with a collection of words as an argument. Each word is looked up in the words dictionary. The query returns a sorted collection of all documents appearing with all words.

The complete implementation of class Wordlndex contains the following eight methods.

The method initialize initializes an instance of Wordlndex by assigning empty sets to instance variables documents and noiseWords and an empty dictionary to instance variable words.

initialize

"Initialize the instance variables

of the Wordlndex" documents: = Set new. words : = Dictionary new. noiseWords : = Set new

(Note: The symbol ": =" replaces the "«-". the conventional Smalltalk-80 notation.)

The addDocument: aDocument method adds the words in aDocument to the receiver word index. The method first tests if aDocument, the file pathname of the document, is already in the set of documents. If so, removeDocument: deletes the old version of the document. Directory Disk then opens the file, and a file stream on the file is assigned to temporary variable wordStream. The document name is added to the set of documents (instance variable documents). The while loop does the major work of the method. The next word, obtained as a string from the file stream, is converted to lowercase and added to the dictionary with the message addWord:for:.

addDocument: aDocument

"Add all words in aDocument to word Dictionary" | aWord wordStream | (documents includes: aDocument)

ifTrue: [self removeDocument: aDocument], wordStream : = Disk file: aDocument. documents add: aDocument. [(aWord := wordStream nextWord) == nil]

whileFalse: [ self addWord: aWord asLowerCase for: aDocument]. wordStream close

The addWord: aWord for: aDocument method records aWord if it appears in aDocument unless aWord is a noise word. If the word is not in the dictionary, the word and an empty set are entered. Finally, aDocument is added to the set of documents for the word. Note that we are able to deal simply with exceptional conditions by supplying a block of code in the at:ifAbsent: message.

addWord: aWord for: aDocument

"Add aWord to aDocument if it is

not a noise word" (noiseWords includes: aWord) ifTrue: ["nil], (words at: aWord ifAbsent: [words at: aWord put: (Set new)])

add: aDocument]

The locateDocuments: aWordList method queries the database. Given a collection of words in aWordList, it returns a sorted collection of all the documents that contain all the words. Note that aWordList can be any kind of collection, e.g.. Array, Bag, LinkedList. The select: message described earlier under Sets continually removes documents that do not contain all words in aWordlist from a temporary variable, answer, which starts as the set of all documents.

locateDocuments: aWordList

"Answer a SortedCollection of all documents containing all words in aWordList" | answer |

answer : = documents. "start with all documents" aWordList do: [:aWord| "iterate over words" answer : = answer select: [:aDoc| (words at: aWord asLowerCase ifAbsent: [#()]) includes: aDoc]]. "answer asSortedCollection

The string addNoiseWord: aWord method adds aWord to the set of noise words.

addNoiseWord: aWord

"Add aWord string to noise words" noiseWords add: aWord

The removeNoiseWord: aWord method removes aWord from the set of noise words. If aWord is not a noise word, nothing happens.

removeNoiseWord: aWord

"Remove aWord string from noise words" noiseWords remove: aWord ifAbsent: []

The removeDocument: aDocument method scans the words dictionary to remove from every set all occurrences of aDocument. (Note that a set can have only a single occurrence of a document. This code also works for bags.

164 B YTE • MAY \9»5

which can have multiple occurrences.) Finally, the message removeUnusedWords is sent to the word index to remove dictionary words with empty document sets.

removeDocument: aDocument

"Remove aDocument from all words that contain it. If a word has no documents, remove it" words do: [:docs| "docs is Set or Bag of documents" (docs occurrencesOf: aDocument) timesRepeat: [ docs remove: aDocument]]. self removeUnusedWords

The removeUnusedWords method replaces the words dictionary with a new dictionary containing only those entries in words that have nonempty document sets.

removeUnusedWords

"Remove all words that have empty document collection" | newWords |

newWords : = Dictionary new. words associationsDo: [:anAssoc | an Assoc value isEmpty ifFalse: [newWords add: anAssoc]]. words : = newWords

For an example of class Wordlndex, we have treated the sections of this paper (the article itself, the table, the text box, and the list of references) as separate documents. First we make the index:

Articlelndex : = Wordlndex new initialize.

Then we add the figures to it:

#('article' table' textbox' 'reflist) do: [:section | Articlelndex addDocument: section]

The query

Articlelndex locateDocuments: # ('Smalltalk' 'argument)

returns the list

article textbox

Smalltalk is powerful, simple, and fun. Because objectoriented programming may be new to you, it may not seem simple at first. We hope this article helps to show that it is. Now that Smalltalk is available for popular microcomputers, a lot more of us can experience the fun. ■

REFERENCES

1. Masterson, Fred A. "Languages for Students." BYTE, [une 1984, page 233.

2. Martin, James. Application Development Without Programmers. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1982.

3. BYTE, August 1981.

4. Goldberg. Adele. and David Robson. Smalltalk-80: The Language and Its Implementation. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1983.

5. Wegner, Peter. "Perspectives on Capital-Intensive Software Technology." IEEE Software, July 1984.

Inquiry 190 for Dealers. Inquiry 191 for End-Users.

Our complete line says it all: Touchdown'" Keylop Expanders lit over existing keys on IBM PC and most PC lookalikes. Adhesive provided insures easy removal without damage to keyboard. Touchdown" Key Overlays re-assign, clarify or blank-out PC keytop commands: durable, non-glare surface looks and feels like original keytops.

P. 0. Box 201, Depl. B. Cornville. AZ 86325

DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED—Add these unique items to your software line and reap immediate profits Write us today or phone 602-634-7517 tor complete details.

'KEYTOP EXPANDERS n Blk DGrey Qty

I Qty

IBM PC. PC/XT. PC Port (12 keys] IBM 5291 Display Station (13 keys)

□ Grey Price* $2195 2195

_Compaq. Columbia (10 keys) .Corona. Eagle Spirit. Qubie. Keytronic (10 keys)

Price" ■ $2195 |

2195 I

I KEY OVERLAYS 5250/5251 (48 keytops/lronis) $21 95

5520 (101 keytops) 29.95

DisplayWrite 2 (40 keytops) 21.95

Dvorak (43 keytops) 26.95

Wordstar (29 keytops) 26.95

Control Key English (5 keytops) 6 95

Blank Overlays (99 keytops) 21.95

| □ Visa □ MasterCard Exp. Date

' Card #

| Visa or MC orders phone 602-634-7517

Company Name

_Do-it-yoursell Kit (200 + pieces) _MultiMate (44 keytops)

_Visicalc 24.95a.

_EasyWriter II (29 kytp/fronls/Handy Card) 2995|

$29 95. 29 951

.Lotus 1-2-3 (24 keytops/Handy Card) .WordPerfect (32 keytops/Handy Card) „Volkswriter (18 keytops/Handy Card) _AppleWriter II

'All prices include postage TOTAL $_ Arizona residents add 5% tax

29.9529 951 2995

TOTAL ENCLOSED $_

I

wienuon.

■" Address. I City

Custom Overlay, Other Software Kits. _ Write for information,1

_Zip_

BlENDl." COMPUTES!

FRIENDLY SERVICE AT A FRIENDLY PRICE

Friendly Computer Center, Inc.

1381 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn. New York 11230

C.ITOH PROWRITER ALL AVAILABLE w/I.B.M. ROM

7500 105C.PS 219.00

8510 120C PS 289 00

1550 120 C P S -15" 449.00

8600 180 C PS 569.00

STARWRITER

F-10-40P 849 00

A-10-20 479.03

Compare our Service and Price.

Any product not listed?

If you don't see it in our

ad, call us.

1-800-258-5805

This Month's Special Kensington Masterpiece '99.00

DISK DRIVES-FOR IBM

Teac "i hi. DS/D0 149

Rana 2000 IBM 149

ADD ON BOARDS

FOR IBM

AST Six Pack Plus 64K 24900 Quadram Expanded Ouadboard

W/64K 259 00

Hercules Graphics Board 319.00 Hercules Color Card w/Parallel

Port 179.00

koala Speed Key System 149 00 Mouse Systems Mouse w/Mouse w/P C Paint and Menue 15OO0 Hayden Saragon III Chess. 34,90 Microsotl Flight Simulator 1137JO Hayden Saragon III for Mac 39 90 De Base III 349.00

Framework 379.00

SYMPHONY CALL

Slar Acounting Partner 2 . 74000 Wordstar 2000 24000

PRINTERS SPECIAL!

OKIDATA

Microline84-200 C PS 669 00 Microline 82-120 C PS . .22500

Microline 92 359.00

Microline 92 w/Mac

Compatible 459 00

Microline 93 589 00

— SUPER SPECIALS! —

TOSHIBA

New Toshiba-1340 ...... 009.00

Toshiba-1351 1240.00

Juki

Juki-6100 379.00

Juki-6300 nil

Juki Tractor 6100 109.00

New Gemin SG Series

CHI

MODEMS

Hayes 1200B IBM . Hayes 1200 RS232 Hayes 300 RS232 Micromoden HE HAYES 300 - lor tic New Hayes 2400

235.00 239 DO CAII

PRENTICE POPCOM

1200 External 349O0

120 Internal 329O0

CompuServe Starter Kit ... 28.95 The Source Starter Kit ... CALL Grappler Buffers Plus 16K w/cable 149.00

LETTER QUALITY PRINTERS

ONE TIME SPECIAL! limited ouaniity CIT0H- Leading Edge25cps 15" Daisy Wheel ,aa„ >«►».

$449

C ITOH Tractor

12900

Peripheral! by Apple

Apple Drive lie 1289 Apple He Mouse with

paint IN

Apple He Mouse with

paint SI 39

Apple 1200/300 Baud

Modem S389

APPLEWORKS lor lie or

He 1219

Apple He Professional System

• Apple He 128K Computer

• Apple Dual Disk Drive w/controller card

• Apple Extended 80 column Display Card.

• Apple Monitor II -12" tilt'green

• Pro-Dos Operating System

Special 11439 Apple lie with Monitor and Stand Mac -Mania Special S975 00 Macintosh 512K with Imagewnler

Special S2649

MONITORS

Princeton HX-12 Graphics New Amdek Color 300. Amdek 310A

459.00 269 00 175.00

TAX AN

T115 12" Green

T116 12" Amber

T127 12" Green I B M ...

11900 129.00 14900

T122 12 Amber IBM 15000

210 RGB. Color 25900

FOR MAIL OHMRS: Send Money Order. Certified Check. Mastercard. VISA gladly accepted Add estimated price for

shipping, handling and insurance WE WILL SHIP ORDERS AT THE ADVERTISED PRICES GUARANTEED UNTIL APRIL10 K

Apple It a regielerad trademark or Apple Computer, inc IBM la a regletarea trademark ol International Buaineaa Machinee .

Jra«5£5"" I (718) 252-9737

Friendly Computer Center, Inc. «

Inquiry 172

id Avenue Brooklyn. New Yorh 11230

MAY I985

165

B17

ESS* „ i

THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER MAIL ORDER FIRM

§

TELEX 910 380 3980 ALL MAIL: 12060 SW Garden Place. Portland, OR 97223 )

FOR YOUR APPLE

COMPUTERS

FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

MACINTOSH BUSINESS SOFTWARE UTILITIES SOFTWARE

m 2

LIST

CONR0Y

4ICRO-SCI, A2 Disk Drive. 143K

S 345

$ 195

A2 Controller Card

S 100

$ 60

Half Height Drive for He

$ 269

$ 195

Half Height Drive tor lie

S 299

$ 209

1ANA, Elite 1, 163K, 40 Track

S 299

$ 199

Elite II, 326K, 80 Track

$ 499

S 369

Elite Controller

$ 145

$ 79

TEAC. T40 Half Ht. Drive, 163K, Direct $ 249

$ 169

Controller Card tor T40 by ComX

$ 79

$ 45

T80 Hall Ht Drive. 326K, Double

$ 399

$ 299

Controller Card tor T80 by Teac

$ 85

$ 59

LIST $ 129

HARD DISKS

{QUARK, QC10 tor Hc/lle/lll/MAC

OTHER HARDWARE

|CCS, 7711 or 7710-A Interlace, ea. t 115 t 85

|cPS/EASTSIDE,WildCardll(copier,ll + /lle) $ 140 $ 99

|COMX. 80 Col. + 64K RAM Card (lie) S 199 $ 99

16K RAM Card (II + ). 1 yr ltd wty E 119 $ 29

IHAYES. Mach ll/lll Joystick (ll + /lle) CALL

j KENSINGTON. System Saver Fan $ 90 $ 65

I KEY TRONIC. KB200 Keyboard $ 298 $ 188

KOALA, Muppet Keys $ 80 $ 49

Touch Tablet w/Micro Illustrator (lle/llc) $ 125 $ 75

I KRAFT. Joystick (II/II + /lie) $ 65 $ 49

Game Paddles (II/II + /lie) $ 50 $ 39

JMICROSOFT, Z80 Premium Softcard (lie) $ 395 $ 275

(ORANGE MICRO, Grappler Plus (II +/He) $ 149 S 99

Serial Grappler $ 119 $ 79

16K Buffer Board for Grappler Plus $ 99 $ 59

Suffered Grappler Plus. 16K S 239 $ 159

IPCPI, Applicard, 6 MHz, 14 features $ 375 S 250

IRH ELECT, Super Fan II w/surge protector $ 69 $ 59

|TITAN, Accelerator lie $ 319 $ 219

126K RAM Card (II + ) $ 269 $ 189

■ TRACKHOUSE, Numeric Key Pad (II +/lie) $ 149 $ 94 |TG. Select-a-Port $ 40 $ 26

Joystick or Game Paddles, each S 35 $ 22

(VlDEX. UltraTerm (lU/lle) S 379 $ 229

VideoTerm 80 Col. Card (ll + /He) $ 279 $ 175

PSIO Interface Card $ 229 $ 145

■ WICO, Smartcard (spec ll/ll + /lle) $ 199 $ 159

ASSIMILATION PROC, Turbo Touch

Mac to Epson Connection $ 89

BLUECHIP, Millionaire, Barron. Tycoon, ea $ 50 CENTRAL POINT, Copy II Mac or MacTools. ea. $ 40 CONROY-LA POINTE, Diskettes. 10 pak $ 65

50 pak Diskettes S 325

CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant $ 100 CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. MacForth Level I S 149 CREIGHTON, Home Pak or Mac Office, ea S

Mac Spell + DESKTOP, 1st Base DOW JONES, Market Manager Plus EXPERTELLIGENCE. ExperLogo FIRST BYTE, Smooth Talker FORETHOUGHT. Fact Finder HAYDEN. Sargon III $ 50

HUMAN EDGE, Sales or Mgmt Edge, ea $ 250

Mind Prober $ 50

INFOCOM. Hitchhiker's Guide INNOVATIVE. Flip-n-File, 40 KENSINGTON, Disk Case, 36 KOALA, Mac Vision LIVING VIDEOTEXT, Think Tank LOTUS, Jazz

MAIN STREET. Filer or Writer, each MEGAHAUS, Megatiler

Megaworks or Megamerge, each MICROSOFT, Business Pak NEW $ 595

Mulfiplan. Word, or File, each $ 195

MILES, Mac the Knife, v, 1 S 39

MONOGRAM, Dollars & Sense $ 150

NOVATION, Smartcal Plus Modem w/Software $ 499 ODESTA. Helix $ 395

PENGUIN, Graphics Magician S 50

PROVUE, Overvue $ 295

SIMON & SCHUSTER, Typing Tutor III $ 50 SOFTW. PUBL., PFS: File or Report, ea $ 125

PFS: File & Report Combo $ 195 SOFTWARE ARTS, T/K Solver $ 249 STATE OF THE ART. Electronic Checkbook $ 80 STONEWARE, DB Master $ 195 TELOS, File Vision $ 195 WARNER, Desk Organizer $ 149

$ 99

S 195 S 249

$ 150 $ 150

$ 30 $ 30 $ 400 $ 145 $ 595 $ 199 $ 195 $ 125

95

95

31

159

32

25

19

22

S 229

$ 85

$ 395

$ 125

$ 125

$ 79

$ 395

$ 129

$ 25

$ 95

S 349

S 265

LIST

ALS. Word or Lisl Handler, ea S 80

Handler Pak (Word/List/Spell) $ 170

APPLIED SOFT TECH., VersaForm $ 289

ASHTON-TATE. dBase II (Reg CP/M 80) S 495

BPI, Job Cost S 595

AR, AP. PR or INV, each S 395

BROOERBUND, Print Shop $ 50

Print Shop Graphics Library $ 25

Bank St. Writer or Speller, ea

(specify ll + /lle/llc) $ 70

Bank St. Combo (Writer S Speller) $ 140

CONTINENTAL. GL, AR. AP or PR. ea S 250

CDEX. lor Visicalc, Multiplan. Apple lie, ea. $ 60

DOW JONES, Market Manager Plus $ 249

Market Analyzer or Microscope, ea. $ 349

HAYDEN, Pie Writer (v2 2) $ 150

HOWARD SOFT, Tax Preparer lor 84 taxes $ 250

Kit for California $ 95

HUMAN EDGE, Sales or Mgmt Edge, ea S 250

LIVING VIDEOTEXT, Think Tank $ 145

MECA, Managing Your Money S 200

MEGAHAUS, Megawriter $ 100

Megaworks S 125

MICRO PRO, WordStar $ 350

WordStar w/ Starcard $ 495

WordStar Professional, 4 Pak $ 495

MaiiMerge, SpellStar, or Starlndex. es $ 99

InfoStar and StarCard Combo $ 595

MICROSOFT,

Multi-Plan (Ap DOS) $ 95

QUARK, Word Juggler & Lexicheck (lle/llc) $ 189

SENSIBLE. Sensible Speller $ 125

SIERRA/ON-LINE. Homeword $ 50

General Manager II S 230

Screen Writer II, 2 Pak w/Dictionary $ 130

SOFTWARE PUBL, (specify II + or He for all)

PFS:File or Write, each $ 125

PFS;Graph or Report, each $ 125

STONEWARE. DB Master, v 4 $ 350

C0NROY $ 36 $ 73 $ 179 $ 269 S 365 $ 240 $ 29 $ 18

C0NR0Y PRICE S 951 S 7[ $ 40 $ 65 CALL 1 $ 701

EINSTEIN/ALISON, Compiler

EPSON, Graphics Dump I FUNK, Sideways

HAYES, Terminal Prog, for Smartmodem I MICROSOFT, Full Line in Stock

OMEGA. Locksmith J

PENGUIN, Complete Graphics System II '

Graphics Magician I

PHOENIX, Zoom Grafix I

QUALITY, Bag of Tricks I

UNITED SWI, ASCII Express-The Pro I

UTILICO, Essential Data Duplicator Ml I

a HOME & EDUCATIONAL

BEAGLE BROS.. Full line IN STOCK BRODERBUND, Print Shop $

CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant $ DOW JONES, Home Budget $

KOALA, Full line IN STOCK MICROSOFT, Typing Tutor II £

MONOGRAM. Dollars & $ense or SAM. ea S

Dollars & Sense for lie $ '

SCARBOROUGH. Mastenype S

Your Personal Net Worth S

SIERRA/ON-LINE, Homeword S

SIMON & SCHUSTER, Typing Tutor III S

S 295

S 62 S 129 $ 79 $ 45 $ 155 S 89

S 79 $ 79 $ 225

UTILITIES SOFTWARE

BEAGLE, GPLE, Alpha Plot or B.Basic, ea S 50 $ 27

PromoDOS,DiskOuKk, Ap Mecti orlO.SHver ea $ 30 S 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

Filer. Utility & Apple DOS 3 3 $ 20 S 15

PLUS: BARRONS, CBS. DAVIDSON, EDU-WARE, HARCOURT, LEARNING CO., TERRAPIN

RECREATIONAL SOFTWARE

BLUECHIP, Millionaire, Squire, Barron, ea $ DATASOFT, Aztec or Zaxxon, each ELECTRONIC ARTS, Sky Fox

Pinball or Music Construction, ea. HAYDEN. Sargon III (Chess) INFOCOM, Zork I. II, or III. ea ORIGIN, Ultima Ml PENGUIN. Transylvania PROFESSIONAL, Trivia Fever SIERRA/ON-LINE, Ultima II SIR-TECH, Wizardry SUB LOGIC, Flight Simulator II

PLUS: BRODERBUND, OATAMOST, MUSE, SIR-TECH, SPINNAKER

s

BO

s

32

s

40

s

21

$

40

s

n

$

40

s

29

t

50

s

30

J

10

s

26

$

Br

s

37

$

35

s

24

s

40

s

2b

s

Bt

s

3/

$

5P

$

30

$

50

s

31)

DISKETTES

+ CONROY-LAPOINTE" DISKETTES *

J W* guaraniM these top quality products with our name | 5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY Discounts on orders vwb labels

lOea.SS/SD. (Apple, etc) 35 Trk, W/FLIP BOX S 12

100 ea SS/SD, (Apple, etc) 35 Trk S 99

11000 ea SS/SD, (Apple, etc ) 35 Trk S 840

10 sa DS/DD, (IBM. H/P) 48 Trk, W/FLIP BOX $ 15

100 ea DS/DD, (IBM, H/P) 45 Trk $119

11000 ea. DS/DD, (IBM, H/P) 48 Trk $ 859

10 ea. DS/DD, 3'A" (MAC, H/P), W/FLIP BOX S 29

50 ea DS/DD, 3W (MAC. H/P) $140

100 ea. DS/DD, V/l" (MAC, H/P) $ 270

* CONROY-LAPOINTE" *

IBM PREFORMATTED

10 ea, DS/DD. 48 Trk W/FLIP BOX $ 19

tOOea. DS/DD, 48 Trk $ 149

11000 ea. DS/DD. 48 Trk $959

SINGLE-SIDED. DOUBLE DENSITY

LIST CONH0Y

|CDC, 10ea,SS/DD, 40 Trk (Apple, etc) $ 55 $ 19

100 ea, SS/DD, 40 Trk (Apple, etc) $ 550 $ 195 IDYSAN, 10 ea. SS/DD. (Apple, etc) S 40$ 27

IMAXELL, 10 ea. SS/DD, MD1 (Apple) J 55 $ 19

^VERBATIM, 10ea.SS/DD,MD515O1.(Apple) $ 49 $ 25

DOUBLE-SIDED, DOUBLE DENSITY

|CDC, 10 ea. DS/DD, 40 Trk (IBM, H/P) S 75 $

100 ea. DS/DD. 40 Trk (IBM. H/P) S 750 $

IDYSAN, 10 ea. DS/DD, (IBM. H/P) $ 69 $

■ MAXELL, 10 ea. DS/DD. MD2 (IBM) S 75 $ | VERBATIM 10 ea. DS/DD, MD34 (IBM) $ 84 $

3V4" MICRO DISKETTES

ICONROY-LAPOINTE.IOea. DS/ODIMAC, H/P) $

■ MAXELL, 10 ea, SS/DD (MAC. H/P) $ 60 $ • MEMOREX. 10 ea SS/DD (MAC. H/P) S 60$

■ VERBATIM. 10 ee. SS/DD (MAC. H/P) S 65 $

HIGH DENSITY DISKETTES FOR IBM AT

■ MAXELL. 10 ea DS/OD (IBMAT) S 77 $ 49

IMEMOREX. 10 ea DS/QD (IBM-AT) $ 84 $ 54

* GENERIK DISKETTES *

Top quality, w/|BCkets. no labels Quantity discounts 90 day -No hassle, money beck guarantee " 1100 ea SS/DD, 35 Track (Apple, etc) $ 80

1250 ea, SS/DD 35 Track (Apple, etc) $ 199

1100 ea, DS/DD. 48 Track. (IBM, H/P) $ 95

1250 ee. DS/DD 46 Track (IBM H/PI $ 229

MODEMS

ANCHOR, Signalman Mark XII (IBM) S 399

HAYES, 2400B External Modem (IBM) $ 899 Smartmodem 1200B (IBM) $ 5*9

Smartcom II Software (IBM) $ 149

Stack Chronograph (RS-232) $ 249

Stack Smartmodem 300 (RS-232) $ 289 Smartmodem 1200 (AP or IBM) S 599

Micromodem He w/Smartcom (AP) $ 329

KENSINGTON. Portable Modem, 300 Baud (MAC) S 140

NOVATION, J-Cat, 300 Baud Modem % 149 ACCESS 1-2-31200B Modem •> Crosstalk (IBM) S 595 Apple Cat II 300 Baud (AP) S 389

212 Apple Cat. 1200 Baud (AP) $ 725

SmartCat Plus w/software (MAC) $ 499

PROMETHEUS. 1200 Standalone Modem $ 495 ProModem 1200 w/software (MAC) $ 549 ProModem 1200A (AP) $ 449

ProModem 1200B (IBM) $ 399

QUADRAM. Quad modem. Internal (IBM) S 595 Ouadmodem. External, (IBM) $ 695

VENTEL, PC Halt Card (IBM) $ 549

1200 Plus, External (IBM) S 499

PC 1200 Internal ['IBM' S 499

MONITORS

AMDEK, Color 300 Comp/Audio $ 349

Color 500 Comp/VCR/RGB/Audio S 525

Color 600 Hi Res. RGB/Audio $ 599

Color 700 Ultra Hi Res, RGB $ 749

Color 710 Ultra Hi Res, Phos S 799

300G, 12" Green S 179

300A, 12" Amber $ 199

310A. 12" Amber. (IBM) S 230

PRINCETON, HX-12. Hi Res. RGB S 795

SR-12. Hi Res, RGB S 799

Scan Doubler tor SR-12 S 249

MAX-12. Amber (monochrome) S 249

OUADRAM, Amberchrome. 12" Amber $ 250

Quadchrome 12" RGB Color $ 695

Quadchrome II. 14" RGB Color $ 650 Quadscreen 17" 968x512 w/caole. Hi Res $1995

ZENITH, ZVM122. 12" Amber S 159

ZMV123, 12" Green $ 149

ZMV124. 12" Amber S 200

ZMV135, 12" Color $ 599

259

699

389

107

189

219

4^9

239

109

104

369

219

419

349

$ 345

$ 429

$ 349

$ 289

$ 425

$ 495

$ 389

$ 429

S 379

$ 249 $ 385 $ 459 $ 549 $ 599 $ 129 $ 149 $ 159 % 495 $ 599 $ 179

PRINTERS

DOT MATRIX:

PRINTER INTERFACES AND BUFFERS

S 165 S 495 $ 450 $1595 S 95 $ 89 S 139 S 499

LIST

EPSON. HX80-100 cps/quiel mode/128 types! S 269 $ 369

S 569 $ 849 $ 799

S 269 S 798 $1098 , Hi Res S 268 S 349 $ 749 $ 999 $ 499 $ 799

RX80+ F/T - trict or tractor RX100-100 cps/136 col/pin & fr FX80+ - 160 cps/80 col. FX10O+ - 160 cps/136 col JX80-Color Printer. 160 cps. LQ1500-200 CpS DQ & 67 cps LQ $1395 Tractor Feed tor LQ 1500 $ 70

MANNESMANN-TALLY. Spirit-80 • 80 cps/80 col. MT160 ■ 160 cps/80 col. MT180 - 160 cps/t32 col.

OKIDATA, Okimate 20-Coloi 82A - 120 cps/80 col/para 83A -120 cps/132 col/para. 84 -200 cps/136 cps/para 92-160 cps/80 col/para. 93 - 160 cps/136 col/para. 2410P - Pacemark/350 cps/para. S2995

QUADRAM, Quadjet-lrtkiet Color Printer $ 895

STAR MICRO. SG10 -120 cps DO, 30 cps NL0 NEW $ 299 SG15 - 120 cps DQ, 30 cps NLQ, 16K NEW $ 499 SD10 - 160 cps DQ. 40 cps NLQ NEW S 449 SD15 - 160 cps DQ, 40 cps NLQ. 16K NEW $ 599 SR10 - 200 cps DQ. 50 cps NLQ NEW $ 649 SR15 ■ 200 cps DQ, 50 cps NLQ, I6K NEW $ 799

TOSHIBA, Prop spacing & hi res graphics:

1351-192 cps (DQ) & 100 Cps (LQ) $1895 1340-144 cps (DQ) S 54 cps (LQ) $ 995 Bi-directional Tractor Feed $ 195

LETTER-QUALITY:

JUKI, 6300-40cps/para. $ 995

6100-18 cps/para/3 pitch $ 599

TOSHIBA, Prop, spacing & hi-res graphics

1351-192 cps (DQ) &100 cps (LQ) $1895 1340-144 cps (DQ) S 54 cps (LQ) S 995

TTX, 1014-13 cps, para/ser. p & fr, 3p $ 499 1114-same as 1014 w/T&F, 2c & prop. $ 599

PLOTTERS:

AMDEK. Amplot II-6 pen. 10x14 S 899

PRINTER SUPPLIES:

Paper. Ribbons. Daisy Wheels

C0NB0Y CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL

$ 219 $ 568 $ 778 $ 208 $ 319 $ 599 $ 729 $ 399 $ 639 $1975 $ 795 $ 249 $ 419 $ 379 $ 509 $ 549 5 679

$1375 $ 750 $ 175

$ 795 $ 439

$1375 $ 795 $ 365 $ 439

LIST

CONPOV

ARBO, IBM-PC to Para Printer Cable $

60

$

31

ASSIM PROC, Mac to Epson Conn l/F $

89

s

t><:

EPSON, Parallel Interlace for LQ1500 $

IOC

s

n

Serial Interlace Board $

130

s

105

MPC, Apple II l/F & Cable for Epson & Gemini $

95

s

5£

OKIDATA, Plug 'n Play. Tractors. Okigraph, ea. $

50

s

42

ORANGE MICRO, Grappler Plus for Apple $

149

s

9t

Serial Grappler $

119

s

re

Buffered Grappler Plus. 16K $

,J:!Y

$

1M

QUADRAM, Microfazers. full line IN STOCK

CALL

Microfazers 8K, P-P, w/copy $

189

$

139

CABLES

ARBO, IBM-PC to Modem Cable S

29

s

19

IBM-PC to Para Printer Cable $

ac.

s

:«:

ASTAR, RF Modulator for TV (Apple) $

35

s

2t

CURTIS, Monitor Extension Cable (IBM) $

50

s

3b

3'-9' Keyboard Extens Cable (IBM) $

40

s

3t

RCA, Monitor Cable S

15

s

g

ACCESSORIES

Emerald , 6 outlets. 6' cord

Ruby, 6 outlets. 6' cord, fiite

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) $ KENSINGTON, Masterpiece (IBM) $

System Saver Fan (Apple) S

Printer Stand NEW $

NETWORX, Wiretree. 4 outlet, w'filt & surge $

S 100

$ 60

30

70

Wiretree Plus $ 100

PERFECT DATA, Head Cleaning Kit $ 16 PROD TECH INTL, Unintermptable Power Supply 200 Watts. PC200 for IBM-PC $ 359

300 Watts, XT300 for IBM-XT $ 499

800 Watts, AT800 for IBM-AT, 72 lbs.

35 52 46 29 45 60 39 15 99 65 20 39 59 12|

S 229 $ 379

CALL

CONROYLAPOINTE CREDIT CARD

Swxl me a Conrrjy-LaPointe credit application form so I can get cash discount prices with credit card convenience $400 Minimum initial purchase

CITY STATE t\9 J

MAIL TO: 12060 SW Garden Place. Portland. OR 97223]

ADhCTDIMr1 Uirr\ D TCDMC* MAIL T0: lM6° sw 6ani9n P!ac*> Portland, OR 97323 - Include your telephone number; wrtUI-fflllMVI iPlrw OL I CfilVIO. doubte check your Hsures tor pipping. Insurance and Handfing (StH>. A« ilems usually in stoc*.

NO C-0-D- Cashiers checks, money orders, Fortune 1000 checks and government checks honored immediately. Personal and other company chscka-ailow 20 days to dear. Pricw reflect 3% cash & Conroy-UPolnte Credit Card discount, bo ADD 3% to above prices for VISA/MasterCard/American express. Your cards NOT charged tii we sfeip. Add SIH CHAROES: U.S. Mainland, 3% ($5 minimum) for standard UPS ground; UPS Biue, 6% ($10 min), ftw U.S. Postal APO or FP0, 6% {$10 min) Alaska-Postal. Canada. 12% ($15 min). Foreign orders except Canada, 10% ($26 min}. Monitors by Postal or to fotetgn countries, 30% ($50 min). Orders received win insufficient SJH charges wf be refunded. Ail prices, availability and specifications subject to errors or change without notice, eo call to verity. All goods are new, include warranty and are guaranteed to work Due lo our low prices and our assurance thai you wfll get new, unused products-AU SALES ARE PINAL We do not guarantee compatibility. Cali before returning goods tor repair or replacement- Oflttfi DESK HOURS-6AM to «PH PST. Monday through Friday, Saturday 10 to 4. (6AM here is 9AM in New Vork.) EconoRAH*, Faunk*, and Generik' are trademarks of ComX Corporation.

Inquiry 441 for Apple Inquiry 442 (or IBM Peripherals Inquiry 443 for all others

1/ lSM

ORDER NOW (800) 547-1289 )

INC.

&&2

FOR YOUR mr-PC, XT, AT or JR

COMPUTER SYSTEMS OTHER HARDWARE OTHER HARDWARE

— Call tor Details — 256K IBM - PC

360K

Disk Drives

by CDC

comma nmh

?56K, 2 360K Disk Drives

% SANYOI

256K.2 320KDiskDnves

j^gim

Z150.

2S6K 2 320K Disk Drives,

MS DOS2 1,8088Crip, 2S/P

LIST

PRICE

conhov

PRICE

» BUM

► s/w

S259

i 395 $ 4(5 S 39

S 495 $ 375

S1090 $ 790

S 695 $ 365

CALL

HARD DISKS & TAPE BACKUP

KAMERMAN, Internal 10 meg kit (Megafcghl 100) $ 895 $ 749

External 10 meg kit $1295 $1095

MF-10710. H Disk, tape back, cont, power $2295 $1795

MAYNARD. Internal 10 meg kit w/cont . (WS1) S1595 $1150

MICRO SCIENCE, 10 meg w/controller % 895 $ 695

QUADRAM, QuaddiSks Int. w/cont roller. IN STOCK

RANA. External 10 meg w/controller Si495 $1095

Internal 10 meg w/controller $ 995 $ 795

TALLGRASS, 12 meg disk, 20 meg tape, intt $3044 $2124

25 mea disk 55 mea taoe intf $3660 $3160

FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

CDC, Limited 30 day warranty; Call for quantity prices

FULL HEIGHT, $149

HALF HEIGHT, $129

IBM, Disk Drive Controller Card $ 195 $ 125

MAYNARD, Controller Card w/para port $ 300 % 185

Controller Card w/serial port S 310 S 195

Sandstar Cont Card {accepts 3 modules) S 265 f 205

PERFECT DATA, Heao Cleaning Kit $ '6 $ 12

AST,

SixPak Plus, 64K

SixPak Plus, 256K. S/P/CC SixPak Plus. 384K, S/P/CC Game Port (or SixPak

Preview" Graphics Card w/para, 64K S 399 $ 299 Advantage1* Multil Bd. for AT, 128K $ 595 $ 445 I/O Plus II. S/P/CC $ 215 $ 150

I/O Plus II, S/P/CC/G I 265 I 185

I/O Plus II, 2S/P/CC/G $ 315 $ 215

Port Kits - ser, para, or game, ea. S 50 $ 39 MonoGraphPlus" P/CC (for Lotus) PCNet, Starter Kit. PC002 PCNet, Circuit Board, PC001 MegaPlus Products IN STOCK COMX, NEW

EconoRAM™ Plus. 384K to u meg „

board. S/P/CC/G Fastrak & Spooler $265

EconoRAM'- full 384K board S 295 $ 195

CURTIS, UNi-i Monitor tilt/swivel base S 50 $ 39

3-9 foot Keyboard Extension Cable I 40 $ 30

HAUPPAGE (HCW), 8087 Chip $ 175 $ 149

8067 Math Pak (Chip & softw ) S 295 $ 235

8067 Software Pak S 180 $ 138

HAYES, Mach II Joystick $ 45 1 29

Mach III (PC or Jr.) S 55 $ 35

HERCULES. Color Card w/para S 245 $ 169

Mono Graphics Card $ 499 $ 329

IBM, Disk Drive Controller Card $ 195 $ 125 KENSINGTON, Masterpiece" S 140

PC Saver" Line Cord w/Filter $ SO

KEY TRONIC. KB5151. Sid Keyboard S 255

KB5150, Std Keyboard $ 209

KOALA, Speed Key System S 100

Speed Key Tables w/sortware S 200

Koala Pad w/PC Design S 150

MAYNARD, SAND STAR SERIES

Multifunction (6) Card $ 69 $ 79

Memory Card no RAM $ 199 $ 169

Memory Card 256K $ 495 $ 395

LIST CONROY

PRICE PRICE

S 195 $ 135

S 195 S 135

S 395 $ 275

$ 625 $ 450

MICROSOFT, Mouse (for PC) Serial Mouse System Card. 64K System Card. 256K

MOUSE SYSTEMS. PC Mouse & Paint S 295 $ 189

PARADISE, Modular Graphics Card S 395 $ 285

Parallel or Serial Port, ea. $ 95 $ 65

PERSYST,NEW

PC/Mono Board, w/para port S 250 $ 195

PC/Color Graphics Bd w/light pen & l/F $ 244 1 176

BOB Board Color Adapter, hi res $ 595 S 465

PLANTRONICS,

Color Bd & Coiormagic. 16 color w/para S 559 $ 395

Color Bd & Draftsman. 16 color w/para $ 559 $ 395

OUADRAM,

Quadboard 64K. to simk, s/p/cc/g $245

Quadboard. no RAM, expand to 384K $ 295 $ 225

Quadboard 256K, to 384K. S/P/CC S 395 $ 295

Quadboard. 384K (full), S/P/CC/G $ 795 $ 495

Quadboard II. no RAM, to 256K S 295 S 215

Quadboard II. 64K. to 256K. 2S/CC S 395 $ 265

S 595 $ 395

$ 325 $ 245

S 550 $ 399

S 895 $ 625

$ 295 $ 195

S m t 199

5> 345 $ 269

Quadboard II. 256K. 2S/CC

Quad 512 • 64K w/serial port

Quad 512 + 256K w/senal port

Quad 512 t 512K w/serial port

Quadcolor I. board. 4 colors

Upgrade Quadcolor l to II kit

Ouadvue. board. Mono. S/P/CC

Quadchrome Monitor. 12" RGB Cotor S 695 $ 495

Quadchrome II Monitor. 14-RGB Color $ 65C $ 450

Amberchrome Monitor. 12" Amber $ 250 $ 165

Quad 3278

Quadnet VI

Quadnet IX

Quadlink

Quadsprlnt TG PRODUCTS, Joystick WICO. Smartboard Kevboard

FORYOURPCJR * *

$1195 $1050

S229: $1545

S1995 $1745

$ 495 $ 385

$ 645 $ 495

* 256K • CHIP KIT

$99

9 Each. 4256 chips 150 ns

$13 ea

4256 chip. 150 ns

• 64K • CHIP KIT

$19

9 Each. 4164 chips

90 Day Warranty by us

Floppy Cont. Card (accepts 3 modules) $ 265 S 205

$ 499 $ 399

$ 30 $ 27

$ 95 $ 79

S 59 $ 49

S 49 $ 43

$ 122 $ 99

$ 422 $ 357

Hard Disk l/F Module

Hard Disk Cable

Serial Port Module

Para or Clock Cal Module, ea

Game Adapter Module

Memory Module. OK

Memory Module 256K

iQ meg Hard Disk Kit & Con; Ca^d Si595 $1150

LIST

CONROY $ 195 $ 75

KEY TRONIC, KB5151 Jr Keyboard S 255 KOALA, Touch Tablet for Jr. S 125

MICROSOFT, Booster 128K w/Mouse S 495 $ 339

Serial Mouse $ 195 $ 135

MOUSE SYSTEMS. Mouse (for Jr) $ 195 S 125

QUADRAM, Expansion Chassis S 695 $ 540

Memory Expansion Board (128K. P/CC) $ 275 $ 215

TECMAR. Jr Capiat S 395 S 325

Call for Larger Quantity Prices

• ComX EconoRAM Plus

$265

3S4K Multifunction RAM Board expandable to 1.5 Megabyte

Works hke AST SaP*Pl£"'wrth

capacity lo* up to 1 5 meg. game port.

Fastiak'" RAM Drsk and Spooler Software

EconoRAM" 384K

Single Function Board

$195

With Fastrak'" and Spooler

Fully Compatible. 1 Year limited Warranty

Works on 00S 1 1 2 0 or 2 1

Prices and availability subject to change Call

SOFTWARE FOR YOUR IBM-PC, XT, AT or JR

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

LIST PRICE $ 695 S 695 $ 495 J 200

ASHTON-TATE. Framework dBase III

dBase II, (req. PC-DOS & 128K)

Upgrade II & III

ATI. Training Programs—Large Inventory $

BPI, Job Cost Accounting or Inventory, ea. S 795

General Acctg AR. AP. or PR. each S 595

BRODERBUND. Bank St Writer (PC or Jr) $ 80

CDEX, Training Programs-Large Inventory S 70

CONTINENTAL. Ultralile (PC) S 195

Tax Advantage (PC or Jr.) $ 70

FCM (Filing. Cataloging, MailingRPC) S 125

Property Management (PC) S 495

DATA TRANS.. Fontnx NEW S 125

DOW JONES. Investment E valuator $ 149

Market Manager Plus S 249

Market Analyzer or Market Microscope S 349

Spread Sheet Link i 249

FOX & GELLER. Oulckcode III S 295

Quickcode or dGraph. each $ 295

dUttl (DOS or CP/M86) t 99

HARVARD, Total Project Manager $ 495

Harvard Project Manager s 395

HAYDEN, Pie Writer S 200

Pie Speller S 50

HOWARDSOFT. Tax Preparer '85 S 295

Kit lor California $ 125

HUMAN EDGE. Mind Prober (PC or Jr.) $ 50

Communications Edge (PC) $ 195

Sales Edge $ 250

Management Edge $ 250

Negotiation Edge S 295

IUS, EasyWnter II System $ 350

EasySpeller II $ 85

GL. AR. AP. OE or INV. each S 595

KENSINGTON. Easy Link Mail Manager $ 95

LIFETREE. Volkswrrter Deluxe S 295

LIVING VIDEOTEXT. Think Tank S 195

LOTUS, 1-2-3 $ 495

Symphony S 695

CONHOt PRICE t 349 t 359 ft 289 $ 119 $ 50 * 495

365 49 45

115

40 75 295 75 99 S 219 $ 219 $ 159 $ 185 $ 185 S 59 S 295 $ 225

LIST PRICE

MOBS. Knowledgeman $ 500

MECA, Managing Your Money (PC) S 195 Managing Your Money Cartridge (Jr) S 199 MICROPRO, WordStar (PC) $ 350

WordStar (Jr) S 195

WordStar 2000 S 495

WordStar 2000 Plus $ 595

WordStar Professional Plus S 695

WordStar Professional. 4 Pak $ 495

MailMerge, SpellStar or Starlndex, ea $

ProOptions Pak (MM/SS/SI)

IntoStar Plus (+ Starburst)

Correct Star MICRORIM, RBase Series 4000

Extended Report Writer

RBase Clout MICROSOFT, Spell

Muftiplan (PC or Jr)

Chart or Project, each

Word MONOGRAM, Dollars & Sense w/Forecast $ MULTIMATE, Mull.male Ver 4 0 S 495

OPEN SYS, GL, AR, AP, PR. INV, or PO, ea. S 695

S 195 S 595 S 145 S 495 S 150 S 195

S 250 S 375

PEACHTREE, Back to Basics GL

Peach Pak (GL/AR/AP)

Peach Text 5000 QUADRAM, Tax Strategy

Investment Strategy QUE, Using 1-2-3

1-2-3 for Business

Using Symphony SAMNA. Word Plus

Word III SATELLITE, WordPerfect (PC)

WordPerfect (Jr) SOFTW. ARTS, Visicalc

Spotlight

TK Solver (specify DOS) SOFTWARE INTL, Open Access

J 295 S 395 $ 295 S 395 S 395

S 20 S 295 S 550 $ 495 S 69 S 179 S 150 S 399 5 695

CuNHOT PRICE $ 300 $ 125 $ 179 $ 189 $ 115 $ 295 S 325 $ 395 $ 265 S 54 $ 105 $ 315 S 77 S 259 $ 95 $ 125 $ 32 $ 125 $ 159 $ 235 S 99 $ 295 S 420 $ 175 $ 225 $ 179 S 295 S 295 $ 12 S 12 S 15 S 185 S 279 $ 335 $ 45 i 109 J 95 S 269 S 379

SOFTWARE PUBL. PFSRepon

PFS:File

PFS:Write

PFS:Graph

PFS:Plan

PFS:Proot or PFSAccess, each SORCIM, SuperCalc III STONEWARE, Advanced DB Master THORN EMI. Perfect Pak (Jr) (WfflerSpefifTresaums) VISICORP, VisiCalc 4 WARNER. Desk Oroanizer (PC or Jr)

UTILITIES

LIST PRICE $ 125 S 140 $ 140 $ 140 * 140 $ 95 $ 395 S 595 S 139 $ 250 S 195

BORLAND, Sidekick (PC or Jr) s 55

Sidekick (Copiabie (PC or Jr) $ 85

Turbo Pascal (PC or Jr) HEW VERSION S 70

Toolbox (PC) $ 50

3 Pak (Pascal. Turbo Tut. Toolbox) s 105

CENTRAL POINT. Copy II PC HEW VERSION S 40

COMX, Fastrak*. RAM/Disk emulator & printer spooler

For any PC/DOS or RAM Card Menu Driven S 100

DIGITAL RES.. CP/M-86- (PC/XT) S 100

CBASIC 66- (CP/M-86) S 200

C8ASIC Compiler (CP/M-86 or PCDOS. ea) $ 600

Concurrent CP/M-86*" w/windows $ 350

PL/1 (PCDOS) $ 750

Speed Prog. Pkg (CP/M-86) $ 200

DR LOGO-86 (CP/M-86) $ 150

EPYX, In Stock

FUNK SOFTWARE, Sideways $ 60

IBM BASIC Cartridge (Jr) $ 75

HAYES, Smartcom II (Data Comm.) t 149

LIFEBOAT. Lattice C $ 500

MICROSOFT, Macro Assembler S 100

BASIC Compiler S 395

Business BASIC Compiler S 450

C Compiler S 500

COBOL Compiler S 700

FORTRAN Compiler $ 350

PASCAL Compiler S 300

CONROY PRICE $ 79 S 89 S 89 $ 89 $ 89 S 59 $ 245 $ 375 $ 89 $ 159 S 125

S 50

CALL S 32 $ 65 S 23

$ 59 $ 64 S 135 $ 395 S 225 $ 495 $ 135 S 99 CALL $ 40 S 69 $ 99 S 295 S 69 J 259 $ 300 S 259 S 459 $ 229 $ 199

UTILITIES

u

1ST

CONROY

PRICE

PRICE

MICROSTUF, Crosstalk XVI (PC or Jr) $

•9f>

$ 129

MOUSE SYSTEMS, PC Paint $

99

$ 69

NORTON, Utilities 114 [jrqmsj NEW VERSION $

100

$ 65

OPEN SYSTEMS, BASIC Interpreter S

195

$ 130

ROSESOFT, Prokey $

130

$ 79

WESTERN UNION, Easy Link Mail Mngr S

95

$ 59

s

?7

$

63

%

59

s

90

$

92

s

2b

s

110

$

2f,

s

63

s

33

HOME & EDUCATIONAL

ARMONK Executive Suite S 40

BPf, Personal Accounting S 99

CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant (Jr) S 75

Home Accountant Plus (PC) $ 150

DOW JONES. Home Budget $ 139

KOALA, Graphics Exhibitor (Jr) S 40

MONOGRAM, Dollars S Sense w/forecast $ 1S0 SCARBOROUGH, MasterType (PC or Jr) $ 40

Your Personal Net Worth S 100

SIMON & SCHUSTER. Typing Tutor III S 50

PLUS. BPI, CBS, COMPREHENSIVE. DAVIDSON. HARCOURT. PBL CORP.

RECREATIONAL

BLUECHIP, Millionaire, Barron, Tycoon, ea $ 60 $ 39

BRODERBUND. Large Inventory In Stock CALL

ELECTRONIC ARTS, Large Inventory In Stock CALL

HAVDEN, Sargon III (Chess) S 50 $ 34

INFOCOM, Large Inventory In Stock CALL

Hitchhiker's Guide $ 40 $ 25

Zork I. II. or III. ea S 40 $ 25

MICROSOFT, Flight Simulator (PC or Jr) $ 50 $ 33

ORIGIN, Ultima III (PC or Jr) $ 60 § 39

PROFESSIONAL, Tnwa Fever (PC or Jr) $ 40 $ 25

SIERRA/ON-LINE. Utima M (PC or Jr.) S 60 $ 49

Frogger $ 35 $ 23

SPECTRUM HOLOBYTE. Gato S 40 $ 25

SPINNAKER, President's Choice. Amazon

Fahrenheit. Rendezvous, Dragon, each S 40 $ 25

CASH-n-CARRY COMPUTER STORES, INC.

Retail Sales only. Store prices may vary. SAN FRANCISCO — 550 Washington Street (at Montgomery, opposite the Pyramid). Interstate 80. to Highway 480; take Washington Street Exit. CALl (415) 982-6212. PORTLAND. OREGON - At Park 217. Tigard at intersection of Highways 217 and 99W. CALl (503) 620-5595. SEATTLE, WASH. — 3540 128th Ave. SE. Bellevue 98006. In Loehmdnn's Plaza near Facloria Square, SE ol Highway 40S & 90 and at SE 36th and Richards. CALL 641-4736.

OUR REFERENCES:

We have been in computers and electronics since 1958, a computer dealer since 1978 and in computer mail order since 1980. Banks: 1st Interstate Bank, (503) 643-4878. Wjb belong to the Chamber of Commerce (503) 228-9411, and Direct Marketifig Association, or call Dunn and Bradstreet H you are a subscriber. Recipient of OREGON BUSINESS MAGAZINE'S 1984 Enterprise Award.

NO SALES TAX

CALL

(800)547-1289

In Oregon (800)451-5151 TELEX 910 380 3980

Foreign &

Portland

Residents Call

(503)620-9877

QUESTIONS

onyouj order |503)620-9678

WEEKDAYS ONLY

ORDER DESK HOURS Mon-Frl—6AM Id 8PM PST

S*ntoy— 10AM to 4PM PST

(6AH here is 9AM In New Yort;

s=S2

:im

D

o

0

■

\

BYTE

Multiprocessing: An Overview

by Rich Krajewski 171

Extending Microprocessor Architectures

by Gary D. Beats 185

Applying Data Flow in the Real World

by William Gerhard Paseman 201

The Transputer

by Paul Walker 219

Data-Movement Primitives

by I. Eric Roskos and Ching-Dong Hsieh . . 239

Multiprocessing

"The machine can be brought into play so as to give several results at the same time, which will greatly abridge the whole amount of processes. "—General Menabrea, 1842

THESE WORDS BY NINETEENTH-CENTURY military engineer Luigi F. Menabrea concerning Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine may well have constituted the first recorded proposal of automated multiprocessing in history. Multiprocessing, the processing of more than one computer instruction or item of data at once, is the underpinning of much of the new development in computers. Without the ability to process several tasks at once, the usefulness of computers cannot grow for long. Most of the big, glamorous advances in computing, such as artificial intelligence, speech recognition, and image processing, will depend on the speed granted by multiprocessing.

In this issue, we examine some of the concepts of multiprocessing, beginning with my article, "Multiprocessing: An Overview." We also examine some ideas that, strictly speaking, aren't part of multiprocessing but are thought to be by the public—for example, coprocessors. Coprocessors are specialized processors that perform certain tasks for the master microprocessor, such as floating-point operations or string comparisons. The master processor will wait for the result rather than continue to operate, so the arrangement is not strictly within our definition of multiprocessing. Gary Beals explores coprocessors in "Extending Microprocessor Architectures" to nail down the difference between multiprocessors and coprocessors.

William Paseman's article, "Applying Data Flow in the Real World," is a look at one kind of true multiprocessor, the data-flow parallel processor. This is the area where much of the money is riding in the race to increase computer speed.

The best architecture for parallel processors is still being sought, but a convenient means to achieving that architecture may be the Transputer, a microprocessor that was designed for parallel processing. Paul Walker gives a closer look at this device than we have had before in these pages.

Finally. "Data-Movement Primitives" by I. Eric Roskos and Ching-Dong Hsieh demonstrates a method of sharing data on a $450 three-processor system. This is a system that we hope will inspire some of our readers to experiment in this important area.

I wish we could have published more articles about multiprocessing in this issue, but unfortunately we ran out of space. However, we plan to do more about multiprocessing in the future. Let us know what you'd like to see.

-Rich Krajewski. Technical Editor

MAY 1985 -BYTE

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 informationprocessing problems with languages designed mainly for number crunching. // 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 humanlike. When you use ('* iMMON 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'," 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 software 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.

*§r

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 applications development.

ORDER GCLiSP TODAY using the coupon below. Or call our Sales Department at:

617-492-2071

Golden Common Lisp: The Complete Lisp Environment

The Golden Common Lisp package includes:

• the GC Lisp 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.

| Gold Hill Computers 163 Harvard Street Cambridge, MA 021 59

m

"s"H

Name

Title

Department

Organization

Address

Phone

Today's Date

Type of computer

D Enclosed is a check to Gold Hill

Computers lor GC Lisp. □ Please bill mvD MasterCard □ VISA i

ard.

i ard #

Expiration Date

Signature Quantity

Description

t nit Price

Total Price

Golden

Common Lisp

S495

MA residents add s"<

Subtotal

Sales Tax

Total Amount

We welcome inquiries about volume dis counts, dealer discounts, and educational discounts for university affiliated purchasers. I □ Please send me more information.

sj L u

HILL

COM

U

R S

163 Harvard Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts ()213c>

Inquiry 177

Gi ili >en Cc immon Lisp and GC Lisp are trademarks of Gold H ill Computers. The San Marco Lisp Explorer is a trademark of San Marco Associates.

Lisp is copyrighted by Addison Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. The Commox Lisp Reference Manual is copyrighted by Digital Equipment

Corporation. IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, and PC DOS are trademarks of International Business Machines.

MULTIPROCESSING

MULTIPROCESSING: AN OVERVIEW

by Rich Krajewski

A brief look at the latest quest for computer speed

MICROPROCESSORS HAVE MADE the development of multiprocessing possible by providing cheap, compact processing power. When electronic computers were first developed, single-processor architecture was inevitable because of the enormous cost and unreliability of the processing unit. Even into the 1960s and early 1970s, computers were too costly to easily combine on any massive scale Now multiprocessors containing several thousand processing units are not unheard of.

Multiprocessing is a frustrating word because it can mean several things. To one person it may mean two independent Z80 computers sharing only the same hard disk; to another, it may mean two million 68000s sharing everything from resources to the same program. This causes confusion, especially when inventors and manufacturers use the same term to describe wildly different machines. To compound the misunderstanding, many of the celebrated benefits of multiprocessing are misstated, or at least not well explained. A manufacturer might tell you that multiprocessor x has one-tenth the power of a Cray-1 for one-hundredth the price,

which is exciting, until you realize that the measurement applies only to a limited class of programs. In fact, with programs that can't readily be written as parallel processes, multiprocessor x may perform worse than your average desktop computer.

To remove some of the confusion, I'll try to define multiprocessing and classify its different forms. I'll save the discussion of actual multiprocessor computers for another time, when we can devote an entire article or review to them.

What Is Multiprocessing?

Multiprocessing can be broadly defined as the use of several microprocessors to perform a single task or several tasks, usually at the same time. The typical desktop computer fits into this definition if you call its CRT (cathode-ray tube) controller, disk controller, and peripheral interface all specialized processors. These specialized processors make your computer run faster by freeing the microprocessor from housekeeping chores and giving it more time to work on your program.

On the more obvious and less debatable side, a computer with a

million microprocessors all working on the same problem is also a multiprocessor. It's plain to see that, since such a wide range of machines fall under the category of multiprocessing, we need some method of subdividing the category.

What It Is Not

Before we go into the classes of multiprocessing, we ought to decide what it is not. A few folks have the idea that all multitasking and multiuser systems are multiprocessing systems. But as I see it, the emphasis in a multiprocessing system is on the number of processors rather than on the number of processes or users. Besides, high numbers of processes would choke a single microprocessor, so we won't consider single-processor multiuser or multitasking systems.

Classifying Multiprocessors

There are almost too many ways to classify multiprocessors. Some of the classifications we'll consider are those of structure, communications, and

(continued) Rich Krajewski is a BYTE technical editor. He can be contacted at POB 372, Hancock. NH 03449.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 171

OVERVIEW

data and instruction streams.

The classifications of multiprocessor structure are pipeline, coprocessor, array processor, and parallel processor.

Pipeline Processors

Most processors, micro or otherwise, perform several tasks in the execution of an instruction. For instance, in multiplying decimal numbers (say 340 and 2.6), imagine that the computer represents the numbers in scientific

notation (3.4 x 102 and 2.6 x 10°). The computer then multiplies the mantissas (3.4 x 2.6 = 8.84) and adds the exponents (2 + 0 = 2). The scientific representation of the number (8.84 x 102) is then "normalized" so that the power of 10 is removed and the decimal point is placed in its proper position (884.0).

Three circuits could perform the three tasks—multiply mantissas, add exponents, and normalize the result. Rather than let the mantissa and ex

The Z80000 Pipeline

by Robert Andrews

The instruction cycle of the Z80000 is divided into six stages. Each of these stages is subdivided into two minor cycles according to the following breakdown:

1. Instruction Fetch:

Cycle 1: Increment the program counter.

Cycle 2: Compare cache tags and initiate the instruction fetch.

2. Instruction Decode:

Cycle 1: Instruction is available (assume

cache hit).

Cycle 2: Generate microword.

3. Address Calculation:

Cycle 1: Calculate effective address of

operands.

Cycle 2: Compare logical address with

TLB tags for physical address.

4. Operand Fetch:

Cycle 1: Read the physical address from TLB (assuming TLB hit) and compare it with cache tag for operand. Cycle 2: Operand is available into temporary register (assuming a cache hit).

5 Execution (may have multiple cycles):

Cycle 1: Read from register and start

execution.

Cycle 2: Write to register and set flags.

6 Operand Store:

Cycle 1: Check the results and write to

memory.

Cycle 2: Write to cache.

Consider a sequence of instructions as shown below:

LDL

RR0,@RR2

ADDL

RR0,FP[INDEXB]

SUBL

RR0,FP[INDEXC]

CPL

RR0,FP[INDEXD]

JR

RR0,FP[INDEXD]

Dl

FP[INDEXD],RR1

Assuming instructions and operands are in cache figure A shows the flow of instructions in several stages of the pipeline.

The result is faster throughput in the microprocessor than if the instructions were executed sequentially.

O.W.

EXE.

O.F.

A.C.

I.D.

I F

LD

ADD

SUB

CP

JR

LD

LD

ADD

SUB

CP

JR

LD

LD

ADD

SUB

CP

JR

LD

i LD

ADD

SUB

CP

JR

LD

LDI ADD

SUB

CP

JR

LD

LD

2 3 4 5 6

Time -»

10 11

Figure A: Instruction flow in the Z80000 pipeline.

ponent circuits do nothing while normalizing is going on. we can give those two circuits another set of numbers to work on. Now, twice as many floating-point operations are taking place as before.

This is pipelining, the simultaneous execution of different parts of different instructions in an assembly-line fashion. One of the first examples of pipelining was the look-ahead, or prefetch. In this arrangement, the processor begins execution of one instruction while simultaneously obtaining the next instruction. The text box "The Z80000 Pipeline" describes a modern microprocessor pipeline.

Coprocessors

Many microcomputers have multiprocessing in the form of specialized slave processors, or coprocessors. These coprocessors, such as floatingpoint processors or string comparators, help speed execution time by handling certain complex instructions that the central microprocessor can't handle or can't handle well. Most microcomputer coprocessors, however, don't operate simultaneously with the central microprocessor, so calling the arrangement multiprocessing may be stretching things. Steve Ciarcia's Trump Card is an example of a processor that makes the IBM PC's microprocessor into a slave I/O (input/ output) processor (see "Trump Card, Part I: Hardware," May 1984 BYTE, page 40, and "Trump Card, Part II: Software," June 1984 BYTE, page 115).

Array Processors

Array processing takes place when a collection of processors performs the same instruction simultaneously on an array of data. Sometimes the processors themselves are arranged in an array, but sometimes they are pipeline processors.

Parallel Processors

Parallel processors are collections of independent processors that work together. They can run different but related programs. There are several types of parallel processors (Charles

[continued)

172 BYTE" MAY 1985

Inquiry 117 ■

Resource Technology — What's it all about?

80286

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

...and Time is relative. In business, time is profitability!

OPT, 80287

Z-80H CCT-286Z

CCT-M512

512K-6164 STATIC RAM

A

I

0tip.li lime, an end result of tlie desired qu l> may be" finally attained - (see natural examples). business, however, the bottom line is directly proportional to the quality of. and the time consumed by, the tools employed - (sec digital examples).

: .

1

CCT teams up with MACROTECH to bringtheseultimatespeed and powertooi$to the' serious business/scientific market. State-of-theart processors, svith super high-speed/highdensity memon boards, form the basis for CCT machines with bottom-line computing power, PCs can't touch.

CCT Implements Tomorrows Technology Toda„

.loin some of the serious CCT clientele: l.S. Dept. of Male. I ninnal. Miles labs. I'niv. of Massacbusets. L'CLA. Teled>ne Semiconductor, I'C Berkeley I'.S. EPA, Proctor & Gamble. MIT. Lockheed, t orp, ot I nyineers. I.S. Na>y. US. Coast Guard. Jet Propulsion Labs. Hallmark. McGraw-Edison. Sperry International Paper, 3M, Beech Aircraft, LSI. Eastman-kodak. Western Electric. Nat'l. Bureau of Standards, I .'SC Cornell I niversity. British Cable and Wireless. I SAF, 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

Photoerapr

anions Red Rock Crossing, taken with Nikon FE-2 and Nikkor 35-105mm lens, at 40mm. at fll-l 60th. with special Kodak 5294 movie t'ilm-ASA 320.

OVERVIEW

Thoughts on Parallel Processing

by Vipin Kumar

Parallel processing is important for several reasons. There is an insatiable demand for faster and cheaper computers. Sequential computers have been becoming faster due to the advances in hardware technology, but there are indications that limits imposed by solid-state physics may soon come in the way, and the only way out might be parallel processing. With the emergence of VLSI (very large scale integration) technology, it is becoming easier and cheaper to construct large parallel-processing systems as long as they are made of fairly regular patterns of simple processing elements, and thus parallel processors should become cost-effective. Many applications have real-time constraints, e.g., real-time speech understanding, warning systems, navigation, etc. For these tasks, high-speed requirements should be met at any cost. A warning system would not be of much use. for example, if it warned of a nuclear attack after the missiles had exploded.

Parallel processing may be especially necessary for artificial intelligence (Al). Very little success has been achieved in Al in representing and using large bodies of knowledge and in dealing with recognition problems. The human brain can perform these tasks remarkably well using a large number of slow neurons in parallel. This suggests that conventional architectures may be ill suited for these tasks and some kind of parallel architecture may be needed. You could argue that the conventional architectures are theoretically as powerful as any parallel machine (i.e., any task that can be done by a parallel machine can also be done by a conventional machine, although slowly). But architectures can significantly influence the way we program them, and perhaps if we had the right kind of architecture, programming it for perception and knowledge representation would be easy and natural.

In the last several decades many parallel variations of the von Neumann architecture have been developed. The idea behind them has been to take

several processing units and memory modules and connect them in some network configuration. One prominent example of such systems is Cmmp. a multiprocessor system developed at Carnegie-Mellon University. Cmmp consists of 16 processors connected to 16 memory modules via a crossbar switch. The crossbar switch permits communication between any memory modules and any processor. The existence of common memory permits close coupling between processors and thus reduces communication costs. But the complexity of the crossbar switch grows quite rapidly with the number of processors and memory modules involved, making it difficult to build these systems for more than 20 or 30 processors. In some systems each processor is allowed to have private memory, and these processor/ memory pairs are connected to each other via a common bus. These systems are easy to build for hundreds of processors. But the processes can talk to each other only by sending messages over a common bus, which makes interprocess communication very expensive. Hence, these systems cannot effectively exploit fine-grain parallelism in an application. TRAC, the Texas Reconfigurable Array Computer, developed at the University of Texas at Austin, provides a middle ground. TRAC connects a number of processors to a number of memory elements via a Banyan network, which is far less complex than the crossbar switch but provides reduced connectivity (as compared to the crossbar switch) between processors and memory elements.

The biggest problem with all these machines is that to exploit parallelism it has to be explicitly specified, something that has turned out very hard to do in practice. Furthermore, parallelism achieved using these machines has been quite limited, rarely reported above 10. Hence it seems hopeless to believe that these machines could be used to get speedups of thousands or even hundreds. Due to limited success with these kinds of parallel processors

and to some inherent problems with the traditional von Neumann model of computing, many researchers have started investigating data-driven and demand-driven architectures, as opposed to von Neumann architectures, which are control-driven.

In a data-driven (e.g.. data-flow) system, an instruction can be executed as soon as the input data it requires is available. After the instruction is executed, its result is made available to the successive instructions. In a demand-driven (e.g.. reduction) system, an instruction is triggered when the results it produced are demanded by other instructions. These demands cause further demands for operands unless the operands are locally available, in which case the instruction is executed and the results are sent back. The advantage of a demand-driven system over a data-driven system is that only instructions whose results are needed are executed. The disadvantage is in those computations in which every instruction always contributes to the final result; propagating demands from top to bottom is a wasted effort.

In both of these systems, as a result of data- or demand-activated instruction execution, many instructions can become available for execution at once, and it is possible to exploit all of the parallelism in the program. Furthermore, parallelism does not have to be explicitly specified; it is automatically extracted as long as the program is written in an applicative language (e.g., pure LISP). It is expected that these architectures can efficiently exploit concurrency of computation on a very large scale.

A number of such systems are being developed around the world. Most notably, the Japanese have chosen data flow as the underlying architecture for the fifth-generation machines. Dataflow and reduction architectures hold great promise, but there are some important problems to be solved before they can be used effectively to provide large-scale parallelism.

The realization that the human brain performs many difficult cognitive tasks

174 BYTE

OVERVIEW

effortlessly using neurons, which are quite slow in comparison to today's microelectronic devices, has led researchers to look into massively parallel architectures. The earliest computational models along these lines were inspired by neurophysiology. Most well known of these is "perceptron," developed by Frank Rosenblatt in the late 1950s. A pattern-recognition system that is able to learn from experience, perceptrons basic building block is an element that is intended to be a model of a neuron. The element accepts a number of inputs, takes their weighted sum, and produces an output of 0 or 1 depending on whether or not the sum exceeds a threshold value associated with the element. Inputs to the element are features extracted from the patterns to be recognized. A perceptron can be used to distinguish between two given sets of patterns, and its design involves adjusting the weights and the thresholds of its elements. Rosenblatt gave a procedure for training perceptrons, by which a perceptron can automatically adjust its weights to cause correct classification of patterns. Initial success of perceptrons started a flurry of activity in this area, but the excitement waned when the models based upon neuroscience were found to be too simple for most problems of interest. In particular. Marvin Minsky and Seymour Papert proved that perceptrons have serious limitations and can be used to recognize only very simple kinds of patterns. NETL, developed by Scott Fahlman at Carnegie-Mellon University, represents a different approach to building a massively parallel machine. NETL represents real-world knowledge in the form of a hardware semantic network. It consists of nodes that are used to represent concepts and links that are used to represent the relationship between the concepts. Each node can store a few distinct marker bits, and a link can propagate these markers from node to node in parallel. Nodes and links are connected via a common bus to a central computer that controls the marker propagation. By moving

markers from node to node in parallel, NETL can perform certain deductions and searches (e.g., property inheritance) very quickly. On a uniprocessor these operations can take a long time.

The biggest problem with NETL is its actual hardware implementation. It is easy, with the current hardware technology, to put thousands of nodes and links on a chip. But the problem is in forming connections between nodes and links as new knowledge is added. These connections must be private lines between nodes and links; otherwise, all of the parallelism will be lost. Fahlman has recently proposed a solution to this using a hashnet scheme and has sketched a design for a millionelement machine.

Another problem with NETL is locality. A concept is represented by only a node, and if this node is damaged, it will be hard to reconstruct the associated information. The Boltzmann machine being developed by Geoffrey Hinton (see "Learning in Parallel Networks" by Geoffrey E. Hinton, April BYTE, page 265) and many other researchers attempts to solve this problem. In the Boltzmann machine, a concept is represented by a pattern of activity in a large number of units. Each unit is a probabilistic processing element. The failure of a unit has little effect because each piece of information is distributed throughout the network of units. Preliminary simulation results of the Boltzmann architecture are encouraging, but there is a lot to learn about its limits and capabilities.

We've looked at only a few of the dozens of parallel architectures that various researchers have proposed. Many of them are being tested via simulation or actual implementations. Most of the work is primarily exploratory in nature and is meant to find out which architectures might be suited for which problems. Parallelism holds great promise for Al not only in terms of cheaper and faster computers but also as a novel way of viewing computation. "What form will it take?" is a question that can be answered only with time.

Babbage's contemporaries talked about making one in 1842 out of several of his Analytical Engines], but we'll discuss only data-flow machines. (See the "Thoughts on Parallel Processing" text box for a discussion of other kinds of parallel processors.)

Traditional methods of processing execute a program by calling the instructions one by one with a program counter. The instructions then call the data they need from memory. But data flow has the data calling for instructions when the data needs them.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the Manchester University data-flow architecture. The "data packet" you see in the diagram contains a data value and a control field. (The control field, or message, tells the computer which instruction is to act upon the data.) This data packet is matched—by the packet matcher, of course—with another data packet that has the same control field. These two packets become one "datadata" packet (which sounds like something from a 1950s rock-and-roll song). The new packet goes to the instruction fetcher, which retrieves the instruction that the packet needs by using the address supplied in the control field. We now have a "data-datainstruction" packet. But that's not all. The fetcher's last duty is to check its data-flow graph to see to which new operation the result of the current operation should go. This address is added to the packet, and away it goes to the processing units, where the packet is assigned to a free processor. The processor produces a result packet, which is just a data packet. The new data packet goes to the packet matcher to start the process all over again.

In this system, many processors are working at the same time, and many packets are circulating through the system. There is no need in this arrangement to worry about one processor communicating with another, so high task-execution speeds should be possible.

Notice that there is no program counter here, as in a von Neumann computer. Instructions are not called

{continued)

MAY 1985 'BYTE

175

Inquiry 78

%e^

-n*&

e»

**

Or*

«»■

%1

sf»

e»

lS*

S*

,-■0%^^

!&£>

$

e»

OVERVIEW

first and data next. lust the opposite happens.

The advantage of working this way is that we can more easily see the data dependencies between processes, so it is easier to program parallel routines. Figure 2 shows a data-flow graph of the simple calculations

A = B + C - F

D = B . C - F E = A - D

In the data-flow graph, we show the input data (the data with no dependencies on other data) first, as many times as necessary, depending on how many different operations require the data. Then they are combined as the calculations specify, and the new values, which are dependent

on the original values, are combined again until all data items are combined.

With this kind of system, the dependencies of one value on another are obvious, and the parallelisms stand out. Of course, the drawback here is that the data values have to be repeated several times in data-packet memory, each time with a different control field. For instance, there are two B data packets, but one specifies a multiplication operation and the other specifies an addition operation.

Figure 3 shows how these calculations might be first specified on an ordinary computer. Here, we start simply with the first calculation rather than with all the initial data. Instructions call data rather than the other way around, so data need only be

PARALLEL -PROCESSING UNITS

CONTROLLER

PACKET MATCHER

PACKET STORE

f CONTROL V FIELD

DATA-DATA PACKET

INSTRUCTION DATA -DATA PACKET

INSTRUCTION FETCHER

INSTRUCTION-STORE

AND

DATA-FLOW GRAPH

Figure 1: The Manchester data-flow architecture. How packets are allocated to processors is not shown.

176 BYTE • MAY 1985

OVERVIEW

listed once in memory and called as needed. But the data dependencies are not obvious, and finding ways to execute instructions concurrently becomes more difficult. It can be done, but perhaps not as well.

Communication Methods

Another classification of multiprocessors is their communication method. This is a crucial issue in multiprocessors because as the number of processors increases, so does the communication problem.

We will examine three communication methods: bus, circuit switch, and packet switch.

BUS

Figure 4 shows a bus-connected parallel processor. In the diagram, all communications are broadcast on the bus. Unfortunately, with a large number of processors, even high-speed buses can't handle all of the communications traffic.

Because all communications between processors are handled sequentially on the bus, it becomes a bottleneck as the number of processors grows, since only one transfer of information can occur at any one time. The answer is to have several buses or another communication technique.

Circuit Switch

Circuit switching is the direct connection of one processor to any other processor through a switch (see the "Crossbar Circuit Switch" text box on page 180 for a discussion of a type of circuit switch). Your phone company's central office uses a circuit switcher to switch your calls.

This method has problems at high volume and high speeds. In a parallel processor, with perhaps millions of processors, a single circuit switcher would be hard-pressed to keep up. Perhaps the answer will be to use several switchers.

Packet Switch

In a packet-switched system of parallel processors, the processors not only process their own programs but relay

programs and data to other processors. Figure 5 shows a system like this. There are two kinds of packets in this system: instruction and data packets. A packet consists of an address, its contents, and a checksum or some other error-checking mechanism.

The instruction packets are addressed to specific processors if there is a central controller processor to keep track of processor usage. If the

packet is unaddressed. it is taken up by the first available processor that receives it. Data packets may be addressed to specific processors or to the processes, depending on how processes are assigned to processors. When a process or processor receives a packet, it must tell the sender that the message was properly received. This requirement doubles the traffic that the system must handle.

[continued]

B C F

B C f

1 » * -.

1 »

^ « 1

o

m - «

m - <

0

Q

E

Figure 2: The data-flow graph. Notice the duplication of input data.

1

START

o

0 .

0

0

F = B = C =

A= B + C-F

D=B»C-F

E = A-D

END

Figure 3: Am ordinary flow chart. Notice that, without the parallelism of data flow, the number of execution steps is greater.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 177

OVERVIEW

In the figure, processors are connected to their nearest neighbors in three dimensions, for a total of six connections. How much of a processor's time is devoted to relaying information? It has to be enormous, when you realize that the processor is not only receiving and transmitting but checking the address of the packet to see if it should be acted on rather than retransmitted. And which direction should the processor send the packet, if it should be sent? If the addresses are to a specific processor, then the direction can be computed. But if the address is to a process on some unknown processor, the direction must be random. It's conceivable that a packet can wander forever in a network, looking for its process.

Communications will of course be a large problem in large parallel processors. I believe bus technology will be ruled out; how is a single bus go

ing to carry the load of a million processors when the communications must be sequential? There will be a lot of idle processors in a system like that. And what kind of circuit switcher will be able to handle the millions of processor connections at once? Moreover, if processors are really independent of processes, how will a packet-switched message quickly find its target process in a vast net of processors? I can imagine the packet playing hide-and-seek with its target process forever.

Data and Instruction Streams

Classes of processors arranged according to "streams'' follow a convention called Flynn's taxonomy, where a stream is a flow of either instructions or data. This taxonomy consists of SISD. SIMD. MISD. and MIMD. SISD stands for single-instruction, single

PROCESSOR

PROCESSOR

PROCESSOR

BUS

Figure 4: A bus-connected parallel processor.

Figure 5: A section of a packet-switched parallel processor. Packets of instructions and data are passed from one processor to the next.

data stream computer, which is a von Neumann machine. SIMD stands for single-instruction, multiple-data stream, which is an array processor. MISD stands for multiple-instruction, single-data stream, which is a pipelined processor. MIMD stands for multiple-instruction, multiple-data stream, which is a parallel processor. Some people prefer a convention called Shore's taxonomy because it subdivides the Flynn's array processor class.

Software

The real problem in parallel processing is not the hardware but the software. The problem in software, to my mind, will not be partitioning applications programs into independent modules but scheduling those modules onto available processors and providing communication between the modules. These tasks are part of the job of an operating system, which is responsible for managing the resources of the computer.

The software problem raises a sticky point in the whole philosophy of multiprocessing. From the beginning in multiprocessing, the driving motivation has been that if one processor can do a certain amount of work, then two can do twice as much, and so on. The situation is analogous to building a house. If you were to build a house by yourself in one year, then the job should take two people half a year and three people one-third of a year. And every so often you hear about a team of hundreds putting up a house in an afternoon. Multiplicity of effort is the idea behind some of civilization's great achievements. So, the reasoning goes, why not require computers and microprocessors to work in similar harmony?

Unfortunately, as the software shows, there's a problem with this idea. First of all, more doesn't always mean better, lust as too much medicine can harm you. so can too many processors actually slow down the processing of information. Communication between processors can become a bottleneck, as can all of the

{continued)

178 BYTE- MAY 1985

Compare the Hercules Color Card

to IBMk

Five reasons why the Hercules Color Card is better.

1. Compatibility

IBM Color Adapter $244

Runs hundreds of graphics programs.

2. Printer port. None.

3. Size.

4. Flexibility.

5. Warranty.

13.25 inches. Limited to long slots.

Can't always work with a Hercules Graphics Card.

90 days.

Hercules Color Card $245

Runs the same hundreds of graphics programs. "The Hercules Color Card is so nearly identical to the IBM Color/ Graphics Card that it's almost uncanny." PC Mag.

Standard. Our parallel port allows you to hook up to any IBM compatible printer.

5.25 inches. Fits in a long or short slot in a PC, XT, AT or Portable.

Always works with a Hercules Graphics Card by means of a 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 applications, it's just that easy." PC Magazine.

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

Hercules.

We're strong on graphics.

Address: Hercules, 2550 Ninth St. Berkeley, CA 94710 Ph: 415 540-6000 Telex: 754063 Trademarks /Owners: Hercules/Hercules Computer Technology; IBM/IBM.

Inquiry 188

OVERVIEW

Crossbar Circuit Switch

The interconnection problem, in one form or another, is a vital part of every parallel-processing design. It is not enough to postulate the existence of "n processors" and explain how they will divide up the work on some task. The actual interconnection scheme used must also be carefully laid out. The failure of most parallel-processing algorithms to scale well up to implementations involving more than a few processors is usually attributed to a glut of communications overhead. That is another way of saying that the interconnection scheme did not work as planned.

Spatial Solutions to Interconnection

Historically, the "« by n Space Switch" was the first solution to the interconnection problem. This solution was used for decades, in many forms, in the telephone industry to interconnect callers. Because this method is closely related to the "crossbar switch." we will discuss them both. Neither is used in large data-switching installations because the complexity of such an implementation grows as the square of the number of devices interconnected. For instance, doubling the number of devices served would necessitate quadrupling the total hardware involved in the interconnection process, as we will see later.

The basic tenet of the n by n space switch method is that if you could run a separate wire from each source to every destination and then somehow switch on only the wires corresponding to the connection pattern desired at a given point in time, the problem would be solved.

Here are three equivalent forms of this basic idea:

1. There is a separate wire leading from each source to every sink. Each source continuously transmits all of its data onto all wires leading from that source. At each sink, there is a large switch to select only the wire leading to the desired source.

2. There is a separate wire leading

by Howard W. Johnson

from each source to every sink. At each data source, place a large switch, which will send the output of that data source onto one and only one of the wires leading from that source. At every sink, tie together all of the wires leading to that sink in a wired-OR fashion. This solution is the opposite of the first solution.

3. Start with a regular square grid of n wires running horizontally and n wires running vertically (see figure B). At each juncture, place a switch that can either be open or closed. Start out with all the switches open. Next, permanently connect the first source to the first horizontal wire, the second source to the second wire, and so forth, until all the sources have been connected. Then connect the sinks one at a time to vertical wires, starting with the first sink on the left-hand side and

working to the right. This arrangement has traditionally been called the n by n space switch. Closing the switch at the juncture of the first column and first row will connect source I to sink 1.

All three methods accomplish virtually the same thing. One exception worth noting is that in methods 1 and 3 one source may be broadcast to several sinks, while in method 2 this is impossible unless the switch is designed to permit multiple simultaneous closures. I have seen many small computer installations that successfully use either method 1 or method 2 for interconnecting terminals to a limited variety of computers.

In all methods, the number of switching junctures required is proportional to the number of sinks times the number of sources. Therefore, for large problems it is generally not acceptable.

,J ,3

,J> J

SJ

SJ

SJ

1 7

1 T

7

SJ

SJ

SJ

r

1 7

D 3

x

SJ

SJ

sU

r

SINK 2 SINK 3

Figure B: Part of an n by n space switch. This architecture can connect any pattern of input to outputs.

180 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 300

OVERVIEW

For instance, a 200 by 200 processor array would require, for full flexibility. 40.000 individual switches, or 200 switch boxes with 200 switch settings each.

The network can be pared down somewhat to limit its complexity, but at the expense of a loss in generality. A direct method is to assess which sources might ever need to be connected to which sinks and wire only those data paths that might ever be used. The problem with this approach is that one never knows with certainty how a particular network will be used. so it is difficult to predict which connections to eliminate.

In the crossbar method, it is assumed that although there are n sources and n sinks, only t percentage of them will be active at any given moment. This is the same sort of traffic-limiting assumption used in local-area network design. The crossbar method uses a cascade of two space switches to achieve any interconnection pattern involving less than n » n total connections. The first space switch connects the n sources onto a total of n * t intermediate wires. The intermediate wires are then run into a second space switch, which can connect its n • t inputs to any of the n sinks. As long as there is an intermediate wire available, the first section can switch a source on to it and the second section will forward that data on to the appropriate sink. The total interconnection hardware is proportional to the sum of the two sections. The first section has n inputs and n • (outputs, and the second has n « (inputs and n outputs, making a total of 2 » H • n • t switches. This may be compared to the n » n switches required for a one-stage design. If t is less than Vi. then the crossbar design is preferable. In office telephone applications, ! is on the order of y6. so crossbar switches were used successfully for many years. Space switches may be used in small parallel processors, but as the number of processors increases, so must the complexity of the switching network, until it becomes impractical to build such a large space switch.

other resource-allocating tasks of the operating system.

Hardware Problems

In large memory banks, the failure of a single bit in the memory can be detected easily. However, how easy will it be to detect a malfunctioning processor in a bank of a million parallel processors? This disadvantage of multiprocessing hasn't been fully addressed yet because computers of sufficient complexity haven't been built yet. The operating system of the parallel processing computer, if you can call many independent simultaneously operating programs a single operating system, will have to be able to tell if its neighbors are acting all right. This, of course, adds overhead that takes away from the applications program.

Controversies

How do you measure the increase in speed of the multiprocessor? A computer with 10 processsors may execute 10 times as many instructions as a computer with a single processor. But if 50 percent of those instructions are overhead—housekeeping and communications instructions—the real increase is less than 10 times.

There is also controversy over how to justify the design of multiprocessors. If, for instance, a new and faster design requires difficult and slower programming time, is the efficiency in execution outweighed by the higher cost in programming? Interested parties such as the military are willing to pay the cost of programming because the goal is worth the additional cost.

Conclusion

There's not much use for a millionprocessor computer in running the kind of programs we microcomputer users are most familiar with. After all, how many processors do you need to move a paragraph? But if the million processors edit the paragraph as well as move it, then what you have is not a faster way to do old things but a new way to do new things. And that is the promise of multiprocessing, if only we should live so long. ■

C0WVTIM • WDM

ran info qui ',212) 725-1!

6/Ft

PH0IMMVMC • ELKTMNICS FOR MM M

%\am 221-3160

/SOFTWARE VIBNk

/ & C0MPAT. \ ibm ion* cm, O

Framwotk or dBase III 3»1«»

PC wMriw: monitor 1595

IIM PC *l2S6k (2) 360 drives, key board, monitor & monitor adDtrCall IIM PC As Above */RGB Color

Monitor 2411

IIM PC XT wl2b6» UN

IIM AT Enhanced Cell

PC JR «n28k Ml

Alhera Call

IDGE PC *7l?8k (?) 360 disc drives, monitor & adapter, basic

D0S2.n MM

LEADING EDOE PC *P56k as above but RGB Color IMS

LEADING EDOE PC w/256k (I) 360

& (1) tOMb hard disc RGB Color. Adapter. DOS 211 & Basic...2715 ZENITH ZF 15152 MB] 369k Disc Drives. 320k RAM. IBM Compatible. w/Free Microsoft Word & Free Mcroson Muftplan & Cokj Granges Ready 2019

COMPM) PORTABLE w!256k, (2) 360

disc drives. DOS, basic 21M

COMPM PLUS Call

COMPM Desk Pro Call

LAP C0MUTERS HP 110 wf272k RAM. Lotus 12a 80

Col Display. 93Lbs 2295

MORROW wl(2) 260k. 13Lbs. Disc Drives. 256k. IBM Compatible Call SANYO 550 2 SANYO 5552 171

COMPUTERS \

APPLE lie wMnve

APPLE lie

APPLE Macintosh

APPLE lie Professtonal System wi

128k. (2) Duo Disc Drives & 80 Col.

Card 1421

APPLE Image Writer w'Printer & Specify

0ARDS FOR IBM

AMDEKMIA 319

AIT 6 Pak Plus 211

AIT mega Plus 219

AtT 1/0 Plus 139

Game port adapter

HERCULES color card 179

HERCULES graphic card lor TTL

mono monitor 324

KOLA game controller 44

PERSYST mono board 174

PERSYST color in

STB GRAPIX Plus II Ml

0UAS0ARD w(S4k 269

f

/PRINTERS

& PLOTTERS

EPSON:

RX80 234 L01500

JUKI:

6100 399 6300....

HP: Laser Printer

HP: Plotter

Siveel Pea Plotter

m

1069

799 2795 Call ..Call

NEC: 3550 1369

0KIDATA: 82 259

92 355 84 171

93 575 2410 Call

OLYMPIA: R0 339

SILVER REED:

400 249 500 219

550 449 770 759

TOSHIBA:

1340 591 1351 1239

b- /.ANON copiersN ,PC10 479 PCM H9\ lpr.« aao Copier Stand..99

Lotus 123 ..2M Symphony .419

Flight Simulator 39

Word Star..1M WordStar Pro2H

Word Star 2000 219

MuBimate 241

Word ./Spell 221

Turbo Pascal.

SideKick 32 Master Type .M

PC Paintbrush »(Mouse 141

NORTON unities 30 SI

Copywrite....4l Sideways 59

Sargon III....39 Zork 2*

R Base 4000 2M

Managing tour Money 119

Typing Tutor III M

Master Type.M Print Works .51

Desk Organizer 129

Electric Desk 199

HcwardSott Tax Preparer 171

XY Write II Plus 211

Quick Code III 149

Word Penecl 40 Ml

PeachTree Decision Manager ...319 TKi Solver .249 Think Tank. 129

\

/ MONITORS

AMDEK 310A 159

GORILLA Green. LEADING EDOE RGB Color ..399 TTL Green. 131 TTL Amber 149 PRINCETON GRAPHICS:

NX 12 459 Max 12 149

SR12 wrScan Doubter

SANYO CfMO 99

CRT36 129 CRT70 Ml

TAXAN 410 IBM RGB Ml

TAXAN 420 Hi Res RGB I/IBM41I XTRON 1000 Lines Hi Res Amber

t/lBM TTL 141

ZENITH:

122 N 123

124 IBM Compatible 1a)

135 RGB 399

136 Hi Res RGB 741

r

\

MODEMS

HAYEI:3002M 1200 441

1200B w/Smartcom II 3S9

SMARTC0M II 99

2400 Call

Micro Modem lie 241

NOVATION SMARTCAT

Internal Ml Extn Ml

01 ROBOTICS: Password 1200MI

/"

\

Q |4 Black Cartridges 199

ibm pc m

W/64k (1) 360 Disc Drive JTH!!

S Keyboard 1499

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

Edge Monitor

Keyboard. Monttoi 44 no

S Printer Adapter 1499

•a ZENITH ZF 15152

aTMP W/(2) 360k

COMPUTER ACCESS.

Disc Bank holds 50 14

HEAD disc drive cleaner 13

VERBATIM IBM drive analyzer ..29 SURGE PROTECTORS:

Network cube w/RF filter 29

Network 4 outlet wfRF filter 59

Gemini outlet wfRF litter 59

■DISKETTES \

SS/DD 0S7DD,

Verbatim Data Lite (10)21 21

FUJI (10) II 24

MAXELL (10) II 21

BASF (10| 17 23

IBM (10) 22 29

FAMOUS MAKE . 13 11

SPECIAL I TDK

Quantities of tOO/ea 136 ea 1.55

i

/TYPEWRITERS

'CANON Typeslar 5

CANON Typeslar 6 255

BROTHER CF 58 4M

OLYMPIA Compact II 399

SMITH CORONA 350M '311

'JUIef Myiutaciuiw's Retute

0

o

S

a o o c o o o o

•

o o

0 3 3 3 3 3 3 D 3 3 3 3 3

3 3

O

a a c o

D O

o

SANYO 550-2

Now Runs Lotus 123'

IBM PC Compatible

36» Disc Drive.

126k RAM. Wr-ni Star,

Calc Star & Easy Writer

RGB VIDEO CARD 189

b— RAM, Microsoft Word. _ Mutlipian. Keyboard. & —-__ I 90 Day On Siqhl Service, 20991

1265 Broadway at 32nd St., New York, 10001

OLYMPIA RO

Daisy Wheel ,

Letter Quality,

14 Cps w/Parallel &

Serial Ports w/Builtln

Tractor Feed ■ oono*

3 Pitch ONLY' dJa"

COMPAQ

Portable W-(2} 360k

Disc Drives. 00S & "oiOI

Basic Keyboard XI9 3 t

COMPAQ

Plus W/Hard Disc In Stock g

COflPQrWt ACCOUNTS WLCOMI TELU P#JM8ffl 47B82SPWUI Visa MtttoCad vVelcDrne Some Pikk Mai Order Only

Minim,;'' SOpfunQ Order S50 V 50 Service CtoiQe tor Orders

Uk* JS0 Mmmum ShTOntj U% I

We Aie Noi ResoonsjOle For Typos Or Manufacturers Pikes Crianqes ,

PrKes ErrrciM Jtne 1.1985 Jury 1.1905

»r>.HWQ.OQ,Q.Q_Q.QQ.Q_P

WHO MAKES

THE HIGHEST

QUALITY

35" DISK?

ASK SONY.

WE INVENTED IT.

Long before there was a market for 3.5" disks, in fact, four years before, there was Sony.

And while every single 3.5" disk manufacturer has duplicated the Sony design, there's one thing they haven't been able to duplicate. Sony quality.

Such error-suppressing materials as VIVAX™ magnetic particles (the very core of the disk itself) have been developed by Sony. As is the case for our manufacturing process. It includes a burnishing technique that eliminates projections as small as 1/1,000,000 of a millimeter from the disk's surface.

The result? Every time you use a Sony 3.5" disk you're assured you're using the best magnetic medium you can buy.

With somebody else's, you can only guess.

my Tape Sales Company. A division of Sony CorpOf alion of America, Sony Drive. Park Ridge. New Jersey 07656 Sony is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation Vtvax is a trademark of Sony Corporation,

Inquiry 371 MAY 1985 -BYTE 18

Imagine dBASEIW

The time

Q - . 4 * '

Clipper introduces you to tlie time of your life.

Time is your most valuable commodity Because how you spend your time, is how

At Nantucket, we believe you should live life to the fullest

Clipper, the first true

a time, every time you run a program. With Clipper, once you've debugged your source code, it's compiled into more efficient machine code. Your program runs without the timeconsuming overhead of

Developing a com piler (or dBASE III was just a matter of time. Call your dealer or our toll free 800 number and ask for Clipper.

Then go make the most of your life time.

compiler for dBASE

redundant translation.

III,'* is a timely exam

Clipper compiles all

ple. Now, dBASE com

your existing and future

piled by Clipper runs 2

dBASE III programs

to 20 times faster than

dBASE with its stan

dard interpreter

A dBASE interpreter

painstakingly checks

and executes your source code one line at

Nantucket

20456 Pacific Coast Hwy

Malibu Ca 90265 (800)!

3561234 ext 225 I dBASt i

n California (800) 4412345 exl 22! II is a registered trademark ol Ashlnn la

MULTIPROCESSING

EXTENDING

MICROPROCESSOR

ARCHITECTURES

by Gary D. Beals

Extended-processing units can significantly broaden a microprocessor's instruction set

BECAUSE MOST microprocessors are designed to meet the widest possible range of applications, they use a very general purpose set of instructions. Unfortunately, microprocessors are also limited by the size of the silicon wafer used to make them. Every instruction takes up "silicon real estate" on the chip and must be justified. Much time and effort goes into selecting the best possible instruction set that uses the least amount of silicon.

Additional instructions are expensive in terms of the space used to implement them because the cost of building the central processing unit (CPU) is directly linked to the size of the chip. The more CPU chips on a single silicon wafer, the cheaper CPUs will be to manufacture.

In order to avoid limiting the instruction set and still conserve silicon, many of the more advanced microprocessor designs incorporate custom instructions that the user can modify.

Most coprocessors were designed to extend the processor instruction set by using a separate chip, or extended-processing unit (EPU). The

CPU uses its custom instructions to pass information to and from the EPU as if it existed on the same chip. This means that if specialized instructions are not implemented on the CPU but are required in a design, an EPU can be built to execute those instructions. A good example is floating-point mathematics instructions, which are not required by all microprocessor designs but are critical for some. Floating-point instructions also tend to be very costly in terms of silicon space.

Intel, Motorola, National Semiconductor, and Zilog have implemented extended-processing architectures (EPAs) on their more advanced CPU chips. The devices used to extend the CPU are called coprocessors, slave processors, and sometimes numeric data processors. I will refer to them as EPUs.

I will focus on four different extended-processing architectures and discuss their similarities and differences.

Instruction Templates

All of the extended-processing architectures in this article use an instruc

tion "template" to implement custom instructions. This is usually a set of reserved op codes identified by the CPU as a particular bit pattern at a particular location. In the example in figure 1, an F-line code, or a word that begins with all Is in the most significant bits, is used to decode a template instruction.

The CPU recognizes four Is in bits 15 though 12 as an EPU instruction and allows the user to use the remaining bits for custom instructions. Of course, the extended-processing architecture for each manufacturer specifies how the rest of the bits should be structured. In some architectures, this includes specifying an ID code to identify which specific EPU should decode the template. This allows for multiple EPUs. In figure I, the 3-bit ID field allows up to eight separate EPUs.

Once a template instruction has been detected by the CPU, it must be detected and decoded by the specif

(continued) Gary D. Beals is a senior field applications engineer at Zilog Inc. (Suite 23, 2885 Aurora Ave,, Boulder, CO 80303).

«— Inquiry 286 for Dealers. Inquiry 287 for End-Users.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 185

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

ically identified EPU. The most popular method is to have the EPU directly connected to the address and data bus of the CPU and watch for the template itself. The EPU takes advantage of whatever status information and timing signals the CPU has to offer to allow the EPU to detect the template op code at the proper time. This tightly coupled system requires little or no extra decoding logic. The EPU performs all the decoding.

Another method produces a particular status code when a template instruction is executed and uses external hardware to decode a separate EPU address space. This requires additional hardware but does not require the EPU to do the decoding. Either way. the template instruction is decoded as an EPU instruction and the information is passed to or from the EPU.

The actual information transfer differs from one architecture to another. but it generally takes one of two forms. In the first, the CPU provides all the addressing and the EPU takes the data and manipulates it in an appropriate manner. In the second, the EPU gets an address from the CPU, then takes control of the CPU bus and directly accesses memory.

All of the architectures support the first method, some better than others. The second method, direct memory

access (DMA), is supported by the CPU itself and is not generally included in an extended-processing architecture. DMA transfers can be useful for some applications but cause the CPU to lose control of the bus. This is contrary to the architectureextension idea and can cause some problems.

In short, all of the CPUs mentioned here support DMA transfers, although DMA transfers may not be part of a particular CPU extended-processing architecture.

Software Emulation

Another requirement for an extended-processing architecture is the ability to emulate the EPU in software if the hardware chip is not present in the CPU.

The EPU trap is a bit in a CPU control register that is set if the EPU chip hardware is in the system or reset if it is not. Any time the CPU uses an extended instruction when the bit is reset, a software trap is activated. This means that the CPU will jump to a specific address where software routines are located that will emulate the EPU instructions.

The hardware and software are interchangeable, so they can be used to debug each other in the initial design or replace each other in the final system, depending on the requirements.

If there is no provision for a software trap, the designer must know before code is compiled or assembled if an EPU is not in the system. A jump instruction replaces each EPU instruction, and the software routines are placed at the end of the jump. If this is not done, the EPU instructions become NOPs, or no-operations, and do not execute.

Concurrent Operation

There are a couple of buzzwords associated with EPUs. They are nonconcurrent, or synchronous, mode, and concurrent, or asynchronous, mode of operation in an EPU.

Nonconcurrent mode means that the CPU will always wait for the EPU before it begins another instruction. This could also be called serial execution. Concurrent mode, or parallel execution, means that the CPU and EPU can be processing simultaneously. This has an obvious performance advantage over nonconcurrent mode. However, if the CPU modifies memory before the EPU has a chance to read it, or if the EPU modifies memory without informing the CPU, synchronization problems can occur. If the CPU is always in control of the bus, this does not happen. However, if the EPU requires DMA in order to modify memory, provisions must be made to synchronize the EPU and CPU or pre

Figure 1: A sample template for an EPU instruction. The CPU will recognize the pattern of four \s in the high bits as an indicator of an EPU instruction (called an "V-line" since a binary 1111 equals F in base 16). The ID field can be used to select among eight EPUs. and the remaining bits are available to the EPU designer for custom instructions.

b15

bO

1

1

0

1

1

esc

ape cc

ide

M(

)D

R/M

Figure 2: The format of an Intel 8086/8088 EPU instruction.

186 BYTE' MAY 1985

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

vent one or the other from using invalid data. Forcing temporary nonconcurrent operation in software is one way of solving the problem.

As mentioned, by not allowing DMA in concurrent mode, synchronization problems are avoided. Another requirement for concurrent mode is a method of determining if the EPU has finished execution. This is done with either a hardware EPU BUSY line or a software register. If a register is used, some precautions in software must be followed to prevent problems.

The following sections give more detailed information on each manufacturer's extended-processing architecture. They are listed in the order in which they were first implemented on a chip.

Intel 8086 Coprocessor Interface

The Intel 8086 Coprocessor Interface is implemented in the 8086/8088 and 80186/80188 microprocessors, although there are slight hardware differences between the implementations. The two coprocessors designed for this interface are the 8087 numeric data coprocessor and the 8089 I/O processor. The 80286 has its own coprocessor interface and a numeric data coprocessor, the 80287. designed for it.

In the Intel system, the EPU is tied directly to the address/data bus, the CPU status lines, and the queue status lines. It uses the same clock as the CPU and also sends busy and interrupt signals to the CPU. Because the 8086 has an internal instruction queue, the EPU must use the CPU and queue status lines to track this queue internally in order to decode an EPU instruction.

The 8086 has two prioritized lines, rq/gtO and rq/gtl, called request/grant lines. These allow two EPUs to request the CPU address/data bus. (The number is not limited to two, but additional hardware is needed to resolve EPU priority.) The 8087 and 8089 have a daisy-chain priority scheme that allows them to pass bus control to an EPU tied to their request/grant (rq/gtl) line.

Table 1

: Am example of synchronization using 8087 instructions.

Unsynchronized

Synchronized

case 1

FISP I

FISTP I

MOV AX, I

FWAIT

MOV AX, I

case 2

FILD I

FILD I

MOV 1,5

FWAIT MOV 1,5

To execute an EPU instruction, the architecture uses an escape code, HOll, in the most significant bits of the instruction. The format for the instruction is shown in figure 2. There are 64 memory-reference op codes and 5I2 nonmemory-reference op codes available. The 8087 uses 57 of the memory-reference and 406 of the nonmemory-reference op codes. If there is a requirement for both a custom EPU and an 8087, the designer should not use any of the 8087 op codes for the custom device.

The escape code identifies the escape (ESC) instruction, and the MOD and R/M bits determine the addressing mode used by the 8086. The rest of the bits are available for EPU instructions.

If the EPU only needs to read memory values of 16 bits or less, the host CPU performs all of the necessary addressing. The EPU simply latches the data value as it appears on the bus during the CPU-generated memory read cycle.

To write to memory or read values of data greater than 16 bits, the EPU must latch the 20-bit address placed on the address/data bus during the Tl clock cycle. It then becomes bus master through the request/grant line and operates as a DMA device, accessing the memory on its own.

Because the CPU and EPU can operate concurrently, when the EPU uses direct memory access there is a synchronization problem. In other words, the EPU can modify memory without informing the CPU. This means that, with some instructions, the CPU must wait to be sure that the EPU is finished and that the final value has been transferred to or from

memory.

The reverse is also true if the CPU is loading a value into the EPU that is larger than 16 bits. The CPU could modify memory before the EPU had a chance to read it. To prevent this, the WAIT instruction is used. WAIT causes the CPU to monitor the EPU Busy line and will not allow the CPU to continue until the EPU is finished processing and accessing memory.

Intel's numeric data processor application note (reference 1) gives several examples of how to avoid synchronization problems. Synchronization can be done explicitly by the programmer, or the compiler can be written to add necessary code automatically. In the latter case. WAIT instructions are automatically inserted after every ESC instruction.

Table 1 is an example of synchronization using 8087 instructions. In the unsynchronized case 1, the CPU might move the value of I before the EPU could modify it. The FWAIT instruction forces the CPU to wait until the EPU is done with the value I. In case 2, the CPU could replace the value of I with 5 before the EPU could read the original value.

One more problem in the 8086 associated with synchronization is known as deadlock. This occurs when the CPU is executing a WAIT instruction and the interrupt path from the CPU to the 8087 is broken. If the 8087 needs to interrupt the CPU for the current instruction, it cannot, and both the CPU and the 8087 sit and wait for each other. Intel's application note on the numeric data processor details ways to avoid deadlock.

There are some special control in

(continued)

MAY 1985 'BYTE

187

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

The CPU performs all transfers to and from the EPU.

structions in the 8087 that do not require synchronization. The 8087 takes exclusive control of the memory bus and prevents the host CPU from interfering with the data values. These instructions do not require a WAIT instruction and cannot cause a deadlock.

The Intel implementation of concurrent processing has some drawbacks, but they can generally be taken care of by the compiler or assembler. The user can either implement concurrency for improved performance or remove it by adding a WAIT after every EPU instruction. Concurrency's major advantage is its inherent performance improvement when both the CPU and the EPU operate in parallel.

If there is no EPU in the system, the host will execute an ESC instruction as if it were an NOP. Although an address is output, the data returned is ignored. This ensures that the CPU will continue to execute the program if the EPU is not there. It also means that the EPU instructions will be ignored.

Because there is no trap mechanism in the EPU architecture for the 8086/ 8088 and 80186/80188, a decision must be made at compile or assembly time whether to use a hardware EPU or to emulate the function in software. Emulation software for the 8087 is available from Intel. The 80286 does implement an EPU software trap.

Zilog Extended-Processing Architecture

The Zilog extended-processing architecture is supported on the Z8000, the Z800, and the Z80000 CPUs. Zilog has implemented an extended-processing architecture with templates for the custom instructions and a software trap available in case the EPU hardware is not in the system. The first

Zilog EPU is the Z8070 arithmetic processing unit (APU).

The Zilog architecture does not consider memory management an EPU function. The Z8000 implemented memory management is in a separate privileged I/O space, and the Z800 and Z80000 have memory management on chip. Some of the memorymanagement provisions and exception handling of other architectures are therefore not required.

The general instruction template format is illustrated in figure 3. The first word of the instruction contains a code that identifies it as an EPU instruction and mode information about the data-transfer direction. It also has a 2-bit field defining which of four EPUs will decode the instruction. The blank areas in the template are available for custom EPU instructions. The n- 1 value means that up to 16m words or bytes of data will be transferred. The transfers can take advantage of the 32-bit bus of the Z80000 by transferring two 16-bit words at a time.

Templates include EPU to memory, memory to EPU, EPU to CPU, CPU to EPU, FCW (flag and control word) to EPU, FCW from EPU, and EPU internal operation.

The templates include all of the transfers shown above. This allows the designer to implement memory transfers, EPU to CPU communications, flag test and branch instructions, and internal EPU calculations. Figure 4 shows some sample Z8070 APU instructions. Note that they follow the templates exactly and that only the blank area of the template is used specifically for the custom instruction.

The EPU operates by sitting on the address/data bus and watching the instruction stream. When it sees a bit pattern that it recognizes as an EPU instruction, it will decode it and act accordingly. The EPU uses the CPU status lines in order to determine when to look for its instruction templates.

To allow concurrent operation, the EPU does not do any addressing or data passing on its own. The CPU is in control of the bus and provides all

of the address information to the memory and EPU. This means that within this extended-processing architecture, the EPU cannot operate on its own. It also means that the CPU can respond to interrupts and bus requests and continue to execute other instructions while the EPU is operating on the data. As long as the CPU does not request data from the EPU before it is ready, the CPU continues to operate normally.

If the CPU tries to use an EPU that is busy, in most cases the EPU will respond by temporarily halting the CPU until it finishes its current tasks. This is taken care of by a line coming from the EPU called EPUBUSY. On the Z8000, the CPU STOP pin is connected to EPUBUSY, and the processor can continue only when the EPU comes free or a CPU reset occurs. The Z800 has a PAUSE pin that should be connected to EPUBUSY. A PAUSEd Z800 can continue to respond to refresh requests, bus requests, and CPU resets.

The Z80000 CPU samples the EPUBUSY line, and although it cannot execute instructions, it can accept bus requests and interrupts. If an interrupt or bus request occurs, the CPU saves the address of the extended instruction. The Z80000 also has an EPU Overlap Mode Bit, which can be set or reset by software to enable or disable concurrent operation. This is useful for debugging.

Because the CPU performs all transfers to and from the EPU. all transactions are done at the maximum CPU memory bus speeds. The EPU can also take advantage of any special transfer modes in the CPU. such as "burst mode.'' Burst mode means that if a single burst memory location is addressed, several data transfers can be made from consecutive addresses. For example, the CPU could send one address to the memory, and the memory would transfer back several consecutive words of data, as opposed to one word of data, for each address. This requires added intelligence in the memory and is taken advantage of by the Z80000 and Z800.

{continued)

188 BYTE- MAY IQ81

THE LARGEST CAPACITY DISK EMULATOR YOU HAVE EVER SEEN.

You know about disk emulators. They're fast semiconductor disk drives. Very fast. But until now, the most disk storage you could get on a single board was 1Mbyte. (That was from us, too.) Now we have news that'll really blow your socks off... 2 Megabytes on a single board. Available NOW. That's not a pie-in-the-sky promise.

That's enough storage for dozens of large programs and hundreds of kilobytes of data files. Enough for almost anything you want to do with a disk drive. But that's not all. With SemiSpool, our CP/M print spooler, you can implement a print buffer hundreds of kilobytes long in seconds. All in software. At no extra cost.

Another thing about disk emulators. Unless they're from SemiDisk Systems, they're probably afraid of the dark: Lose power or turn the computer off, and your valuable data goes to that big backup disk in the sky. But our Battery Backup Units keep SemiDisk data flying high while your computer is off, and up to 10 hours during a complete blackout.

So remember this: SemiDisk Systems has been building dedicated microcomputer disk emulators longer than anyone. And larger. And faster. And at a much lower cost. And that's not a lot of hot air.

AT A PRICE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D SEE

512K

1Mbyte

2Mbyte

SemiDisk I, S-100

$995

$1795

SemiDisk II, S-100

11295

$2095

$2549

IBM PC, XT, AT

$945

11795

$2499

QX-10.QX-16

$799

$2499

TRS-8011,12,16

$995

$1795

$2499

Battery Backup Unit

M50

ft

SemiDisk Systems, Inc.

P.O. Box GG, Beaverton, Oregon 97075

503-642-3100

Call 503 646-5510 for CBBS/NW, 503-775-4838 for CBBS/PCS. and 503 649-8327 for CBBS/Aloha. all SemiDisk equipped compuier bulletin boards (300/1200 baud) SemiDisk. SemiSpool trademarks of SemiDisk Systems CP/M trademark of Digital Research.

Inquiry 355

MAY 1985 -BYTE

189

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

W5

bO

mode

+

blank

type dependent

blank

mode

ID

-h

n-1

one or two words of address j ! ! i I

Figure 3: The format of a Zilog EPU instruction. ID selects among four EPUs, n-l specifies number of words or bytes loaded, and *** contains source or destination information.

bl5

bO

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

i Rs

1

1

i

ID I

n

I

-1

i

b15

bO

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

i ID

n

-1

16-bit

addre

ss

I

lb.

b15

bO

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

R

s

1

1

i

ID I

1

0

0

0

0

Fs

0

0

0

0

n

I

-1

i

b15

bO

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

ID

1

0

0

0

0

Fs

0

0

0

0

n

-1

16-bit

i address

i i

I

Figure 4: [a] A Zilog EPU-to-memoru transfer instruction template for indirect register |IR| addressing mode (above) and direct addressing (DA| mode (below). Rs is the CPU register used in the IR addressing mode. \b) Actual Z8070 instructions using the templates in la). This is a floating-point number load (FLD) instruction. Fs is the EPU register loaded: n-l indicates the floatingpoint number's precision—single, double, or double-extended.

The Z8070 APU will have some speed advantages of its own. It will have two simultaneous clock speeds, one for its bus interface and one for its internal operation. This means that the APU will operate internally at its maximum speed while transferring data at a speed that the CPU and

memory can handle. It also will allow the CPU to load data while the APU is executing instructions. This feature is very handy for matrix calculations and speeds up the total execution time.

The Z8070 also will have four separate interfaces, which are select

able by two input lines. These include the Z8000. Z80000. and Z800 as well as a universal interface. The universal interface makes the Z8070 look like a peripheral on the CPU bus. The Z8070 is not yet available, although it should be out in 1985.

{continued)

190

BYTE- MAY I985

Princeton Graphic Systems

and Sigma Designs team up to

give you a brighter, sharper display.

SR-12 and Color 400. A brilliant combination for super-high reso lution graphics and a crisp character display. For a brighter, sharper display with all your IBM PCcompatible software here's a team that can't be beat. The SR-12 superhigh resolution RGB monitor from Princeton Graphic Systems and Color 400, the advanced color graphics adapter card from Sigma Designs.

Snap in Color 400. Begin by snapping Color 400 in to your IBM PC, XT, or AT. No switches to set. No cables to confuse. Color 400 gives you a razor sharp 640 x 400 display. It

automatically doubles the

number of lines on standard 200 gH*' |ine software. Watch your J[_ J AjM 1 graphics come to life. Enjoy fully ^■^1 H M formed, monochrome-quality m\t0 ^tr characters in text mode. Just turn on your PC and tune in a whole new world of vibrant color.

Turn on SR-12 for the impressive results. The SR-12 displays your Color 400 image with unmatched clarity and brilliant color. Because the SR-12 combines a .31 mm dot pitch tube and a nonglare screen with an incredible 640 x 400 noninterlaced resolution, you get a flickerless image that's as crisp and clean as a personal computer can produce.

See how impressive this state-of-the art image can be on your own PC system. Visit your local retailer today and ask about this new color graphics team. Princeton Graphic System's SR-12 and Sigma Designs' Color 400. An unmatched, brilliant combination.

Color 400

77// Wl \ \7.\6 t OAfiffA I I fO/\

^=W DESIGNS

SIGMA DESIGNS. INC., 2023 OToole Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131 (408) 943-9480 Telex: 171240

PRINCETON

GRAPHIC SYSTEMS

AIM INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS COMPANY

Princeton Graphic Systems, 601 Ewing Street, Bldg. A, Princeton, N.J. 08540 (609) 683-1660, Telex: 821402 PGS PRIN, (800) 221-1490 Ext. 204

Graphic Screens courtesy Mouse Systems. Inc. and Forthright Systems, Inc IBM PC, PC XT, and PC AT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines, Inc.

Inquiry 324

MAY I985 'BYTE 191

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

The Z8000. Z800. and Z80000 all have this extended-processing architecture implemented in their instruction sets. Except as noted on the Z80000. they are very similar. Although the Z8070 APU for floatingpoint math will be the first EPU from Zilog. almost any custom chip can be designed to work with the EPU architecture.

In addition, the EPU interface can be used for non-EPU applications.

The interface can be used to provide a separate workspace outside of memory or I/O space and implement multiple stacks, slave buffers, or a high-speed block-transfer mechanism. (See reference 14.)

National Semiconductor s Slave Processor Interface

National Semiconductor has implemented an extended-processing architecture for the Series 32000 micro

processor family. It is designed to support floating-point operations, memory management, and custom processors. In addition, it will allow compatibility with a later version device, which will integrate some or all of the functions on one chip when the technology is feasible.

National refers to its EPU as a "slave" processor because the host CPU performs all addressing and data trans

\coMmued)

FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $100

Solutions Books HP-12C Training Guide HP-15C Advunced Functions

10 SERIES

Scientific

HP-11C . . . S 55.95

HP-15C S 87 95

Financial

HP-12C S 87.95

Computer Science HP-16C S 87.95

S 1500 S 20 00

GUti*

w

\V;

CALCULATORS

Scientific

TI-35II S17 95

TI-55II $42 95

Financial

TI-BA35 Business Analyst $18.95

TI-BA-II Business Analyst II $34.95

TI-5310 Printing Financial $99.95

jg^Diablo

| 630/API Daisywheel 630/ESC Daisywheel

D-25 Daisywheel

D-80 Daisywheel

C-150 Color Inkjet

$1459 $1615 $ 599 $2395 $ 985

»

w

82161A 82162A 9114A 82143A 92192A 82164A

ADDITIONAL \

ITEMS

Cassette Drive

$423.00 I

Thermal Printer

$349.50

HP-IL Disc Drive

$625.00 1

Printer

$295.00 1

DS/DD Discs . . .

$ 55.20 |

IURS-232 Inter!

$227.15 1

pffe

Capital -micro—

Washington, DC Z09I2

(800) 544-4442

Western U.S. and Maryland

Call Collect

(301) 565-3595

TERMS:

'Free Shipping on orders over S100.

" NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE for credit cards ■

*MD residents add 5% sales fax

'Credit references required for open account.

'Allow 2 weeks for personal checks

Rfe

c

O

R*5

$ 750

The Convex IV is a low-price, reliable. 36 cps Daisywheel printer manufactured by Brother and distributed by Epson (MidAtlantic).

Brother is o trademark of Brother International Epson is a trademark of Epson America inc

£<>.

EPSON

RX80 Dot Matrix $ 229

RX80-FT Dot Matrix $ 289

RX100 Dot Matrix $ 389

FX80 Dot Matrix $ 409

FX100 Dot Matrix $ 569

LQ1500 NLQ $1099

1X80 Dot Matrix CALL

LX100 Dot Matrix CALL

OKIDATA

92 Dot Matrix $ 365

84 Dot Matrix $ 679

BROTHER

HR-15XL Daisywheel $ 349

HR-35 Daisywheel $ 799

2024 NLQ $ 899

192 BYTE' MAY I98S

Inquiry 65

RamTape-PC.

Because backups

should do more

than just ■

take/take,take.

NORTH ATLANTIC / QANTEX PRESENTS

RAHTAPE PC - FEATURES

FILE OR INAGE BACKUP FAST ACCESS RAM DISK

32 DISKETTES ON TAPE

•M||

, , .

■

I*

W

The trouble with conventional hard disk backups is that backing up is all they do. They take and store information-and can take a lot of time and effort doing it-but they don't help you use that information.

RamTape-PC is a complete data storage peripheral that does more than just take data from your PC; it gives you new and advanced capabilities.

It gives you: Electronic disk-a RamTape-PC exclusive. Load data into its 360 Kbyte RAM. without reducing user's memory. Breeze through file editing and spread sheets. With an access

time measured in nano-seconds, the electronic disk speeds every function.

It gives you: A floppy library capability-another RamTape exclusive. Store the contents of 32 double-sided floppies on one cartridge: if s more manageable, less expensive. And you access files up to 50 times faster.

It gives you: A choice of hard disk backup, either file or image oriented. A complete 10MB file by file backup requires less than 15 minutes, with no user intervention. Image backup is even faster. The file mode of backup allows great flexibility providing for backup and restoration of specific files

which meet selected criteria.

Even with its exclusive features, RamTape-PC costs no more than ordinary backups. So why settle for a system that only takes, when the RamTape-PC gives, gives, gives?

For details contact Qantex, 60 Plant Ave, Hauppauge, NY 11788. Call toll-free 800-645-5292; in NY State 516-582-6060.

^ north ntliintic

Qantex

Inquiry 332

MAY I985 'BYTE 193

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

b23

b8

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

operations word i I i I I > ; i I I I I I I I

b7

bO

ID byte

i i format i i

1

0

1

1

0

Figure 5: The format of a National Semiconductor Series 32000 microprocessor EPU instruction.

Table 2:

The National EPA protocol.

Step

Status

Action

1 2 3 4

1111 1101 1101

CPU sends ID byte CPU sends operation word CPU sends required operands EPU starts execution; CPU

5 6

1110

prefetches EPU pulses AT/SPC low CPU reads status word

7

1101

CPU reads results, if any

fers. The EPU sits on the address/data bus and watches for the ID byte that identifies an EPU instruction, the operand word format, and (in case of a multi-EPU system) which EPU will manipulate the data. The host CPU routes the data to the specified EPU, and the EPU then performs whatever action the instruction specified. Each instruction consists of 24 bits—the ID byte and an operation word that specifies size and number of operands, addressing modes, and the type of operation (see figure 5).

The 32032 CPU contains 3 bits in its configuration (CFG) register that correspond to custom (C), memory-management (M), and floating-point (F) EPUs. The bits are set on initialization of the CPU, using the SETCFG command. If EPU hardware is in the system, the appropriate bit should be set and the EPU instructions will execute. If the bit is reset, an EPU instruction will trap to a software routine

In order to maintain software compatibility with a future device, which could integrate memory-management and floating-point math functions on a single chip, National has specified both floating-point and memory-management operation codes in its in

struction set. These instructions each have separate ID byte codes.

National also specifies a set of custom EPU instructions, including those to calculate, move, compare, convert, and load and store status registers. Three privileged instructions can be executed only in supervisor mode: test, and custom register load and store. The designer can specify the op codes and data types for these instructions in the operand word. Operand transfers can use any of the addressing modes.

The actual EPA protocol uses the host CPU status lines and a line called slave processor control (AT/SPC). Four status codes are used for the protocol:

Send ID IlIl

Xfer operand l I0l

Read status l 110

Waiting for EPU 001 I

The AT/SPC line is bidirectional and pulsed low for transactions.

The EPA protocol shown in table 2 is documented in reference 8. In step 1, the CPU starts to execute an EPU instruction and outputs the ID byte on the address/data bus and status 1111 on the status lines. The EPUs decode

the ID and only the appropriate EPU continues to talk to the CPU. In step 2. the CPU outputs the operand word, with 1101 on the status lines.

At this point, both the CPU and the EPU have decoded the operand word, and the CPU transfers as many operands as were specified, with 1101 on the status lines. Once all the operands are transferred, the EPU begins execution, signaling this by pulsing the AT/SPC line.

The CPU can continue to fetch instructions into the 8-byte prefetch until it is filled. At that point, the CPU waits for the EPU to finish and places 0011 (waiting for EPU) on the status lines. The CPU and EPU do not execute concurrently.

When the EPU is finished or wants to communicate with the CPU, it will pulse the AT/SPC line and the CPU will read a status word in the EPU by placing 1110 on the status lines. The status word contains a number of flags set depending on the results of the EPU's operations, including a Q flag that indicates an error detected by the EPU

In the last step of the protocol, the CPU transfers any results from the EPU to their destinations and places 1101 on the status lines. There are two exceptions to this protocol: the loadmemory-management-register (LMR) and the load-custom-register (UCR) instructions. These are direct transfer instructions and do not require any acknowledgment or status information from the EPU.

Motorola Coprocessor Interface

The Motorola Coprocessor Interface is implemented in the recently re

icontinued)

194 BYTE" MAY 1985

NOW THAT THE PC FAD IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

Like hordes of locusts, the PC swept the business community. Corporations bought them like electronic calculators by the thousands to improve the productivity of their executives. Portables were carried home from the office every evening and on trips. Computerization was even affordable to the small business tor the first time. Programmers put their unique genius to work to develop some of the best software ever written. Productivity tools like word processing, electronic spread sheets, data base management and accounting was placed into the hands of new computer users. Productivity improved for everyone. From the CEO ... to his staff... to the salesman ... to his secretary. Forecasts for continued PC growth were nothing but highly optimistic. One at every desk. One in every home. What happened?

"Networking won't solve the multiuser problem either economically or functionally''

Like the first crust of any marketplace it saturated quickly. Those that are the first to buy almost anything new and promising, bought. There are no more computer hackers and hobbyists to sell to. They all have one. Applications for the home that made any sense didn't develop. Corporations found that they needed PCs to "talk" to each other. That solution is distant because networking won't solve the problem either economically or functionally. Most available networking does nothing more than messenger floppies around. The small business found that as soon as its first PC was operational and productive, a second one was needed to satisfy demand usage. The PC, with all its promises, turned out to be a dead end for the business environment. The PC and clones just haven't been the godsend for business that was predicted. Why?

The PC is a personal computer. Just that. Not a business computer. That's because PCs are single user computers with single user software. Good for one person but not good enough for a whole company. Even if the company is two people.

Every computerized business has someone entering information while someone else is looking up information.

That's two users. And every business has more than two users who need access to the computer. That's a multiuser computer environment.

"The small business needs a second PC as soon as the first one is working!'

It's now hard to justify PCs in a business environment. A multiuser computer capable of supporting up to five users is available for the price of a single IBM PC XT. It has more storage and a business oriented operating system. Supermicros are available that have the power of minicomputers without the accompanying price tag. Ten unconnected PCs, sitting around worth about 550,000, doesn't make sense when for much less you can get a lot more computing power in a supermicro that accommodates 20 or more users. But don't let even that price tag scare you. On a per user basis, multiuser computers cost about SI500 less than a PC. New users can be added for less than S600 with a dumb terminal. And they're upgradable.

"A six port multiuser computer is now available for the price of a single IBM PC XT. , . microcomputer systems cost $1500 less per user than multiple PCs!'

Multiuser computers communicate with each other. They share the same data base, software and peripherals. They have sophisticated business features such as record locking, user accounting privilege levels and system security. They are business oriented and priced well within the reach of the first time computer user.

But what about all the PCs already in place? Don't ask the PC manufacturer for a solution. They're concentrating on selling more single user systems. The real solution is to get started with a true multiuser computer in the first place. With multiuser business computers now in the same price range as a PC, it doesn't cost any more to make the first step the right step.

The PC has seeded the next wave. It's here now. Supermicro multiuser computers that can support up to 32

users. If you don't believe it just look at the new product introductions from IBM, DEC and AT&T, let alone the smaller companies like Altos, Plexus and IBC. Big system features for every end user. Software for every conceivable specialized business application. That's not the end of it. New challenges are there for everyone. Opportunities abound. Software companies are already applying their talents to multiuser operating systems, disk conversion and even more powerful and productive software. Companies are shifting their emphasis to provide multiuser system enhancements as they did for the PC. Value added resellers and specialist dealers will give the end user the support that's been terribly lacking from department store retailers. It's a great day for someone who needs a multiuser computer. And everyone does.

"Multiuser computers share everything . . . they have business features such as record locking, user accounting, privilege levels and system security."

Thanks PC! You've whetted the appetite of a large new business environment for computerization. One that is bigger, more demanding, and more sophisticated than we've ever seen before. There's no turning back now. You were a fad, but now it's time to get down to business . . . multiuser business.

Randy L. Rogers President and CEO IBC/Integrated Business Computers Manufacturer of Multiuser Computers Chatsworth, California.

Inquiry 194 for Dealers. Inquiry 195 for End-Users.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 195

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

W5

bO

1

1

1

1

i i ID

i i

i i

type

i i

i i i i i

type dependent i i i i i

V

F-line

Figure 6: The format of a Motorola EPU instruction for the 68020 microprocessor. "Type" and "type dependent" are defined for each specific instruction.

Table 3:

The 11

registers in the Motorola EPU architecture register space.

Register

Description

Response

16-bit. used by the EPU to request action

Control

16-bit, used to acknowledge or abort an EPU instruction

Save

16-bit, used to initiate save operation

Restore

16-bit, used to initiate restore operation

Operation

16-bit, saves EPU operation word

Command

16-bit, used for general instructions

Condition

16-bit, used for branch and conditional instructions

Operand

32-bit, passes data operands

Register

optional, used for register primitives

Instruction

optional, instruction address

Operand Address

optional operand address

leased 68020 3 2-bit microprocessor. It is not implemented in the 68010, 680I2. 68000. or 68008. but a software trap is available in those processors to allow software emulation of the coprocessor instructions.

In the Motorola system, the EPU is a peripheral on the bus but operates in the CPU address space. An EPU instruction will automatically access this address space by producing the status code 111 on the processor status lines. Decoding logic is required to recognize the status 111 and differentiate among up to eight EPUs. Two of the eight EPU identity codes are reserved for user-definition: one specifies the 688 51 Paged MemoryManagement Unit, and one is for the 68881 Floating Point Coprocessor. The remaining four are reserved by Motorola. The EPU must also decode address lines A4 through A0 to specify the register set.

Externally, the 32 bits of address are as follows:

A31-A20 xxx Don't care AI9-A16 0010 EPU operation A15-A13 ID EPU identity

A12-A5 0..0 Operation as an

EPU A4-A0 R EPU register

In addition to the status lines indicating a CPU space access, address bits A19-AI6 define an EPU operation. Bits Al 5-Al 3 define which EPU, and A4 through A0 tell which register (specified in the EPU architecture). The first 16 bits of each instruction are shown in figure 6.

The CPU recognizes an EPU instruction in the microcode and will go to supervisor, or privileged, mode. The 68020 will then produce the status code 111 and expect to receive a data transfer and size acknowledge signal (DSACKx) if there is an EPU resident in the system. If no acknowledgment is received a bus error occurs. The CPU then generates a software trap and jumps to a specific address where the EPU function can be emulated in software. This trap is completely automatic and does not require any system-initialization software.

The EPU instruction set is defined by the "type" code in the EPU instruction. This 3-bit code defines eight dif

ferent instruction formats, including the following:

• general instructions that are used for passing EPU specific commands in a template format

• conditional and branch instructions, including word and long word branches, set conditional and decrementand-branch conditional, and trap conditional instructions

• save and restore instructions to save and restore the internal state frame of the EPU. a variable size block of status, or other information in the EPU on demand (see reference 9 for further information!

The EPU architecture specifies 11 registers in the register space. 8 of which are required by the EPU instructions. Table 3 lists the 11 registers.

There are also 18 EPU primitives, or responses and commands, passed from the EPU to the CPU. These include exception handling, synchronization, instruction stream manipulation, and operand and register transfer. These primitives use the response register to talk to the CPU.

The transfer of operands to and from memory and between the CPU and EPU is made using the operand register. CPU and EPU transfers simply read and write to the operand register. Memory and EPU transfers require that the operand pass through a temporary register in the CPU and use the CPU to EPU transfer. If the EPU has DMA capability, it can transfer data directly to and from memory after first taking control of the memory bus.

In addition, the instruction stream manipulation primitive allows a kind of block move: up to 2 56 bytes can be transferred to and from memory

{continued]

196 BYTE • MAY 1985

1

r

COLOR MAGIC: IBM-PC compatible S100 BUS graphics board.

Gives your 16 bit SI00 BUS system IBM-PC compatibility. ■ RGB and composite outputs ■ IBM PC keyboard port ■ All IBM-PC display modes plus two higher resolution modes PRICE 16K - $595.00 32K - $695.00

LIGHTNING ONE: The standard by which other 16 bit boards are judged.

The LIGHTNING ONE offers math processing capabilities only available on large mainframes previously ■ Up to 10MHz operation ■ 8MHz 8087 option ■ Optional 8089 coprocessor PRICES start at $425.00 8086/87 (8MHz) $900.00 8086 (10MHz) $625.00

V4*

MEG ARAM: High performance high density Dynamic RAM.

Offers cost effective memory expansion in 16 bit systems. ■ No wait states with 8086's up to 10MHz ■ Only one wait state with 6MHz 80286 ■ Up to two MegaBytes of memory

PRICE 256K - $595.00 512K - $1095.00

1024K - $1995.00 . 2048K - $3295.00

THUNDER 186: Single board 16 bit microprocessor offers 10MHz 8086 performance.

THUNDER requires no other support boards.

■ 256K RAM ■ FDC controller ■ 2 Serial ports

■ Parallel printer port ■ Concurrent DOS is included

PRICE $1595.00

ISKflF

LIGHTNING 286: Highest performance processor available on the SI00 BUS.

This 6MHz 80286 offers performance equivalent to a 14 MHz 8086. ■ 5 times IBM-PC performance ■ 16 Mbyte physical memory space ■ 1 Giga byte virtual address space PRICE 30286 - $1095.00 80286/287 - $1649.00

Computer Systems . . .

LOMAS DATA PRODUCTS offers a full line of single and multi-user computer systems, including systems compatible with the IBM-PC and PC-AT. If you have a requirement for a high performance 16 bit computer system and require IBM-PC compatibility call LOMAS DATA PRODUCTS, the only supplier of SI00 BUS PC compatibles.

ss and specifications are sublet

•CP/M-86. MP/U-86 and CONCURRENT D <S in trademarks ol Digital :

■■ idemark 0/ Mia

NEW PRODUCTS!

WINCHESTER/FLOPPY CONTROLLER

Controls both floppy drive and Winchester drives from one board Save slots and money. Features include: error correction, 16 head control, mixed 5'/«and 8" floppy drives. The price is less than one popular manufacturer charges for a floppy only controller. PRICE $649.00

■

I MEMORY DISK

I/O mapped memory drive expandable to 16 Mbytes by cascading boards. Each board may contain up to 2 Mbytes and may be battery protected. Parity is included to insure corrupted data does not go undetected. The board is entirely COMPUPRO software compatible.

PRICE 2 MBYTES $2595.00

Dealer inquiries invited.

■ ■■■

BR

LOMAS DATA PRODUCTS, INC.

66 Hopkinton Road, Westboro, MA 01581 Tel: (617) 366-6434 □ Telex: 4996272

For orders outside the U.S.. contact our dealers: P Australia - LAMRON PTY. LTD., (02 808-3666 England - FULCRUM 0621828763; RATIONAL SYSTEMS 0908-613209 or 0908-611349.

Inquiry 24 7

MICRO ARCHITECTURES

with a single instruction.

The architecture is designed to support nonconcurrent operation and does not address the synchronization problems of a concurrent system. However, some concurrent extensions are provided. For example, although there is no hardware "busy" line from the EPU. the CPU can monitor the response register to determine if the EPU has finished executing. Of course, this requires some provisions in software for full implementation.

The architecture also covers exception handling of protocol violations. illegal instructions, bus errors, reset, and trace instruction execution on the main processor. These are generally handled by using the DSACKx signals and the trap mechanism of the 68020.

Conclusion

It is only fair to note that the architecture that has the most problems was also the first implementation. The Intel 8086/8088 architecture is the most primitive and the least general purpose. It does support some concurrent operation, but not easily. However, some of the problems have been addressed on the 80286. including a software-trap provision.

The Zilog architecture is general purpose enough for custom applications but also tightly coupled to allow high performance. Placing the EPU on the address/data bus with its own decoding capability allows a very transparent operation, with a minimum of external hardware. This does

require that any custom EPUs have some intelligence. In addition, it is the only architecture that supports true concurrent processing transparently.

The National implementation was designed to allow later integration of its EPUs on the same chip with the CPU without requiring software modification. It specifies three separate sets of EPU instructions, including floating-point, memory-management, and custom. The design, which is also tightly coupled with the CPU bus, requires fairly intelligent EPUs. The architecture does not support concurrent operation.

Motorola has the most elaborate set of instructions, including compare and branch instructions and a generalpurpose instruction. It is probably also the most general purpose of the four architectures, because it uses a separate address space and does not place many requirements on the EPU. It is not as tightly coupled with the CPU and lacks hardware definitions. Introduced on the 68020, it is not implemented on any other CPU. although Motorola notes that it can be emulated in software. It does not directly support concurrent operation.

Extended-processing architectures, in their various forms, serve to extend a general-purpose processor instruction set for specialized applications. Many newer EPAs offer both transparency and concurrency; strong trends toward these features can be expected in future development. ■

REFERENCES

1. Mel Microsystem Components Handbook, Vol.

1. Santa Clara, CA: Intel Corporation, 1984.

2. Mel iAPX 86/88. 186/188 Users Manual. programmer's reference. Santa Clara. CA: Intel Corporation. 1983.

3 Zilog 1983/84 Components Data Book. Campbell, CA: Zilog Inc.. 1983.

4. Zilog Z8000 CPU Technical Manual. Campbell. CA: Zilog Inc. lanuary 1983.

5. Zilog Z80.000 CPU Preliminary Technical Manual. Campbell. CA: Zilog Inc., September 1984.

6. Zilog Z8070 Z8000 Floating-Point Emulation Package, user's manual. Campbell, CA: Zilog Inc., March 1983.

7. NS16000 Databook. Santa Clara, CA: National Semiconductor Corporation. 1983.

8. NS32032-6. NS32032-10 High-Performance Microprocessors, preliminary product specification. Santa Clara. CA: National Semiconductor Corporation. February 1984.

9. Motorola MC68020 32-bit Microprocessor User's Manual. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1984.

10. Groepler, Paul F, and lames Kennedy. "The MC68020 32-bit Microprocessor." BYTE, November 1984, page 159.

11. Simington, R. B. "The Intel 8087 Numerics Processor Extension." BYTE, April 1983. page 154

12. MacGregor. Doug. Dave Mothersole. and Bill Moyer. "The Motorola MC68020" IEEE Micro. Volume 4, No 4. August 1984. page 101.

13. Huntsman. Clayton, and Duane Cawthron. "The MC68881 Floating-Point Coprocessor." IEEE Micro. Volume 3, No. 6, December 1983, page 44.

14. McMahon, Steve. "Extended Processing Units Expand Microprocessor Computing Power." EDN. Volume 24, issue 24. November 29. 1984, page 139.

THE

$2395 DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

ION Universal Development Laboratory

matit*

Turns any personal computer into a complete microcomputer 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.

198

Up to 128K bytes of EMULATION ROM (8K standard) allows you to make program patches instantly. Since the target ROM socket connects data and address lines to both the analyzer and the emulator, no expensive adaptors or personality modules are needed.

I4S CHANNEL BUS STATl

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, 1802, 8088/80188, 8086/80186, R65 and 68000.

nmuinmw

PROM PROGRAMMER also doubles as a STIMULUS GENERATOR.

For further information, call or write:

_._.._„ 702 Marshall St., Suite 614

Redwood City, CA 94064

Instruments

(415) 361-8883

MAY 1985

Inquiry 303

INTRODUCING ANTHROCART.

WORKSPACE FOR THE HUMAN RACE.

AnthroCart is a serious workstation Designed specifically with your uses in mind, the AnthroCart takes up little space, yet expands to grow right along with you and your system AdjustaPle shelves, swing-out Paskets and other modular components give you the flexibility you need

AnthroCart is also a real beast of burden, tough enough to support up to 150 IPs., yet mobile enough to roll next door or down the street And its durable steel-base construction stands up to both human and machine (so much so, we offer a five-year, unconditional guarantee!)

To order your AnthroCart, or to get more information, call toll free:

1-800-547-4000, Dept. 501

In Oregon, call (503) 684-3000. Dept. 501. VAR and dealer inquiries welcome

AnthroCart shown with printer basket option

Basic AnthroCart list price $495

Also available in Oak Finish

\\\V

ANThRO

A subsidiary of TEKTRONfX, INC

Anlhro Corporation 3221 NWYeon Street Portland. OR 97210

TWX (710) 533 6481

TIE IT ALL TOGETHER

WITH THE ANY-PORT-TO-ANY-PORT

SMART SWITCH J1895.

PROTOCOL CONVERTER MATRIX PRINTER w^m^^^a. PI OTTFR

MUX ^ k ^ . fLUllhK

CRT ▼^■^■■^ ^■JTS^SSn* ^^^ta^-rf CRT

DAISY WHEEL >- LASER PRINTER

PRINTER PERSONAL COMPUTER

Here's an affordable way to switch up to sixteen RS-232 ports in any interconnection. If s called die Smart Switch™ controller.

The SS-16 accommodates any peripheral: terminals, printers, CPUs and modems. Any port can select any other port. With up to eight pairs of ports communicating at the same time.

Create your own local network. The SS-16 is ideal for computer port expansion, computer snaring, engineering work clusters, and much more.

Each port has its own spooling buffer. So any baud rate can

communicate with any other baud rate. Anywhere in the system.

You can name your ports. Like "PRINTER;' "MODEM',' or whatever. Or give multiple ports the same name, like "CPU',' and the SS-16 will connect you to the first "CPU" port available.

A battery backup system ensures your system configuration and port names are maintained anytime the system is shut off.

A special supervisory port lets you monitor any other port. Connect ports together. Broadcast messages. Or designate the same supervisory power to other ports. You 11 also find the SS-16

W]^

user-friendly. It tells you when your selected port is busy Sends a "port available" message if you choose to wait. And optionally times-out ports not in use. There's even a HELP command.

And for quick and easy installation, a push button defines each port for either DTE or DCE.

So if you need an intelligent, affordable way to link your RS-232 system, you're ready for WTI's Smart Switch.

For more information on the SS-16, or our other RS-232 switches, call Western Telematic toll-free at (800) 854-7226. In California call (714) 979-0363. Or write WTI, 2435 South Anne Street, Santa Ana, California 92704. Or telex 467741.

□ western

iU telematic inc.

200 BYTE' MAY 1985

Inquiry 418

MULTIPROCESSING

APPLYING DATA FLOW IN THE REAL WORLD

by William Gerhard Paseman

This model for parallel processing is finding its way into commercial applications

VON NEUMANN MACHINES support a paradigm, a way of thought, that has been used successfully for 3 5 years. (See the text box entitled "The Von Neumann Paradigm" on page 214.) In a world in which thousands of PCs are sold in a month, the von Neumann computational model is not going to be replaced by an alternate model any time soon. However, valid reasons exist for using architectures based on alternatives to the von Neumann model of computation.

One reason is that many algorithms perform better and more inexpensively on other architectures than on von Neumann machines. It is not simply raw horsepower that produces this performance increase; it is horsepower that is tailored to the operations that the algorithm uses. Algorithms that can be expressed easily and coherently using the set of operations that the architecture provides usually perform better than those that cannot.

When algorithms and architectures mesh well together, we say that the architecture supports the algorithm. When an architecture makes imple

mentation of the algorithm feasible, but not convenient, we say that the architecture weakly supports the algorithm. The better the mesh between the two. the better the price/performance ratio of the combination will be.

The von Neumann paradigm supports many algorithms well and weakly supports others. In this article, we will briefly review the relationship between several non-von Neumann paradigms then examine one non-von Neumann paradigm, data flow, in detail. Finally, we will look at some commercial architectures that support this model.

Why We Should Care About Parallelism

There are many ways to decrease the time an algorithm takes to complete on a given processor. If the processor is a general-purpose computer, one good way is to put the part of the algorithm that takes the most time into hardware. This is called functional specialization. An example of this is the Z80 IX.IY register instruction set. The instructions in this group were added

to support procedure parameter passing.

Another method of speeding things up is to break the algorithm into parts and devote a separate processor to each part. This type of parallelism is called junctional decomposition. It works well only if the processors have the work divided evenly among them. If the work is not divided evenly, one processor will become a bottleneck.

Finally, you can break the algorithm's input data into parts and have a set of identical processors handle each part. This type of parallelism will not work on all algorithms.

Of course, all these methods potentially can be used at the same time. Functional specialization usually provides the greatest speedup, however, that speedup usually is very specialized. Parallelism provides less speedup, but it is applicable to a broader range of problems.

Computer architectures that effec

(continued) William Gerhard Paseman is a software manager at Daisy Systems. He can be reached at 330 Sierra Vista. Apt. #3. Mountain View. CA 94043.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 201

APPLYING DATA FLOW

tively use processor parallelism possess linear price/performance curves over a wide performance range. For example, if a given algorithm takes 4 minutes to complete with $1000 worth of fifth-generation hardware, then it should take 2 minutes to complete with $2000 worth of hardware and 1 minute to complete with $4000 worth of hardware (See the text box entitled "Linear Price/Performance and Incremental Performance." page 212). Conventional (von Neumann) computer architectures do not have linear price/performance curves over a wide performance range. In order to make a conventional computer perform general algorithms faster, you don't simply add more components. Instead, you make its individual components faster. (There are some special cases in which you can improve performance by adding components; for example, adding more memory to a demand-paging environment.) Another way of saying this is that von Neumann architectures are

not designed to be scaled over a wide range with respect to performance.

The price/performance relationship between the two approaches is illustrated in figure I. The graph indicates that von Neumann computer architectures will experience a performance cutoff at some point. This point will occur when all the components reach the theoretical performance limit of the technology upon which they are based.

Parallel architectures will also experience a performace cutoff at some point. This point will occur when the cost of coordinating two pieces of work between two components exceeds the cost of having one component do both pieces of work. In the general case, this point must eventually occur regardless of the size or speed of the components, regardless of the speed of communication, and regardless of the complexity of the work that the components must do.

Until they reach the von Neumann cutoff, von Neumann machines probably will perform better than their

MIPS

■•— 5th-GENERATION CUTOFF

(ADD MIPS BY ADDING HARDWARE )

SHADED AREA SHOWS ADVANTAGE OF PARALLEL ARCHITECTURES

(ADD MIPS BY SPEEDING UP HARDWARE ) ■« VON NEUMANN CUTOFF

• " *

+ - PARALLEL (5th-GENERATION ) MACHINES • -SERIAL (VON NEUMANN) MACHINES

SHADED AREA SHOWS PENALTY DUE TO COMMUNICATION OVERHEAD

PRICE

DOLLARS

Figure I: A comparison of the price/performance aspects of serial and parallel comvutina architectures.

parallel counterparts. This is because parallel architectures usually have a communication overhead that von Neumann architectures lack.

Models of Computation That Support Parallelism

There are several paradigms for which it is currently popular to design parallel machines. The oldest is the controlflow paradigm.

The control-flow paradigm assumes that two or more processors share common memory. A control-flow architect usually views algorithmic parallelization and processor synchronization as being the programmer's problem. The architect supports the programmer by providing machine instructions that allow the programmer to do explicit processor synchronization in his code. Due to the wide interface between processes (i.e., the common memory), it is easy to write poor code that uses the interface in an undisciplined way. As a result, such systems have gotten bad press from many in the research community.

Most of the other paradigms are based around a weaker, more theoretically tractable concept in which, conceptually, memory sharing is not required. This concept is called message passing. Message-passing architectures allow programmers to structure their programs into islands of computation. These islands process asynchronously and communicate by passing messages to one another.

The data-flow paradigm is a message-passing model in which each island of computation is very small and usually performs the same operation repetitively on streams of values. Data-flow computation is data-driven, which means that each island starts processing whenever all data necessary to its computation is available.

The reduction paradigm is similar to the data-flow paradigm, except that a strong separation is made between the spawning of a computation and the computation itself. Here, computation is demand-driven, which

{continued)

202 BYTE- MAY 1985

MICRO CAP and MICRO LOGIC

on line...

/Vfc'XT/

How many long unproductive hours have you spent "in line" for your simulation? Well, no more. MICROCAP and MICROLOGIC can put you on line by turning your PC into a productive and cost-effective engineering workstation.

Both of these sophisticated engineering tools provide you with quick and efficient solutions to your simulation problems. And here's how.

MICROCAP:

Your Analog Solution

MICROCAP is an interactive analog circuit drawing and simulation system. It allows you to sketch a circuit diagram right on the CRT screen, then run an AC, DC, or Transient analysis. While providing you with libraries for defined models of bipolar and MOS devices, Opamps, transformers, diodes, and much more, MICROCAP also includes features not even found in SPICE.

MICROCAP II lets you be even more productive. As an advanced version, it employs sparse matrix techniques for faster simulation speed and larger net

Typical MICROCAP Transient Analysis"

works. In addition, you get even more advanced device models, worst case capabilities, temperature stepping, Fourier analysis, and macro capability.

MICROLOGIC: Your Digital Solution

MICROLOGIC provides you with a similar interactive drawing and analysis environment for digital work. Using standard PC hardware, you can create logic diagrams of up to 9 pages with each containing up to 200 gates. The system automatically creates the netlist required for a timing simulation and will handle networks of up to 1800 gates. It provides you with libraries for 36 user-defined basic gate types, 36 data channels of 256 bits each, 10 user-defined clock waveforms, and up to 50 macros in each network. MICROLOGIC produces high-resolution timing diagrams showing selected waveforms and associated delays, glitches, and spikes—just like the real thing.

"Typical MICROLOGIC Diagram'

Reviewers Love These Solutions

Regarding MICROCAP ... "A highly recommended analog design program" (PC Tech Journal 3/84). "A valuable tool for circuit designers" (Personal Software Magazine 11/83).

Regarding MICROLOGIC ... "An efficient design system that does what it is supposed to do at a reasonable price" (Byte 4/84).

MICROCAP and MICROLOGIC are

available for the Apple II (64k). IBM PC (128k). and HP-ISO computers and priced at J47S and J450 respectively Demo versions are available for 175.

MICROCAP II is available for the Macintosh. IBM PC (256k). and HP-150 systems and is priced at $895 Demo versions are available for S100

Demo prices are credited to the purchase price of the actual system

Now, to get on line, call or write today!

Spectrum Software

1021 S.Wolfe Road, DeptB Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (408)738-4387 Inquiry 374

APPLYING DATA FLOW

means that the requirement for a result triggers the island that will generate it.

The Data-flow Paradigm

The basic concepts of data flow were originally developed in the 1960s by compiler writers. Compiler writers used data-flow graphs to do performance optimization on standard serial programs. A data-flow graph is a directed graph in which the nodes represent primitive functions such as addition and subtraction, and the arcs represent data dependencies between functions. It was realized in the early 1970s that if data-flow graphs were executed directly, the architectures that executed them could be

massively parallel.

A picture of a data-flow graph for the function 3 * {y + F(x)) is shown in figure 2. In this model, nodes are viewed as stations in an assembly line. The stations are connected by conveyor belts (called arcs). The conveyor belts carry containers (tokens) that hold contents (values). At each node is a person (processor) who operates the station's function. When the first token hits the F node, the processor takes its value, operates on it. and passes a new token with the result to the + node. As F was processing the first value, + could do nothing, since it required two tokens in order to operate and had only one available. Now, however, + has two values: 1

THESE ARE TOKENS"-- o " x3" / o "x2'

TOKENS LIE ON "ARCS" -►

TOKENS HAVE "VALUES

NODES PROCESS "VALUES"

ARCS ENTER "NODES" ARCS EXIT "NODES"

NODES CONTAIN "FUNCTIONS"

Figure 2: A simple data-flow graph of the function z = 3 * (y + F(x)).

/„

o " x 3

©

b'

5"

b

-ASSIGN PROCESSOR I HERE INITIALLY

ASSIGN

PROCESSOR II HERE INITIALLY

ASSIGN THE FIRST FREE PROCESSOR HERE

Figure 3: A data-flow graph of the function z = 3 * [y + F(x)) illustrating static processor allocation: processors are assigned to nodes at compile time.

from F and 9 from y, so it adds them together and passes a token with the result to *. As + was operating on its first set of tokens, F was operating on its second token. Thus, parallel operation is achieved by pipelining values through nodes that execute fixed functions.

Data-flow Execution models

Normally, a data-flow graph has many more nodes than processors. Therefore, an execution model, a method of allocating nodes to processors, is needed. We will briefly describe two models, the static and dynamic models of execution.

Figure 3 depicts the static model, in which the processors run to the nodes, where all input tokens are present and no tokens are on the output arcs.

However, this method leads to situations like that mentioned above, where the + node was bottlenecked by the F operation. In order to rectify this problem, the dynamic model was invented. In the dynamic model, instead of waiting idle, the processor at the + node would help the F processor by processing its second token for it. Figure 4 depicts the dynamic model.

Data-Flow Architecture

It is still unclear exactly how to construct expandable hardware to support any of the above execution models.

One common data-flow architecture is shown in figure 5. Here, the dataflow machine consists of three stages—a matching unit, a fetch/update unit, and a processing unit (perhaps more than one). Let's see how these parts interact on the previous example. Let's refer to the nodes by symbolic name. We will call the + node PLUS and the * node MUL. At some point in the calculation, the matching unit has two tokens passed to it by the processing units. The first token indicates that the left (L) arc of the PLUS node has been set to 10 (a). Later, it receives a token indicating that the right (R) arc of the

(continued)

204 BYTE- MAY I98S

COMPUTERS

IBM SYSTEM SPECIALS

256K. 2 Drives SCill

256K. 2 Drives. Color Graphics. Printer

Adapter & PGS HX-12 Monitor . S2459

256K 1 Drive & 10 MB Hard Olsk SCall

TWO USER SYSTEM (hoi 10 MB Hard Disk.

Advanced Digital PC Board & Terminal SCall

COLUMBIA

MPC4220(256K,2 0rives) S1899

PROFESSIONAL (Hard Disk w/Tape backup) SCall VP 2220 (Portable W/256K) S1899

CORONA All Models

SCall

FUJITSU Micro 16s (8086/Z80A)

SI 995

LEADING EDGE PC Mono & Color

SCall

MORROW DESIGNS Pivot/MD2/M03/

MD5/MD11

SCall

NEC APC III PACKAGES

APC-III w/2 Dr. Wordstar Pro Px. 2050

S2299

above with 3550 printer

S2859

APC III W/364K Multiplan.BPS Graphics.

and P313 Pinwriter (15" carriage)

S2799

APC-III w/1 Dr. 10 MB, & Mono CRT. . . .

S2159

above with Color CRT

S2379

APC-III w/plotter digitizers AutoCAD . .

SCall

SANYO MBC 555-2 (8066. 2 DSDD. sftw)

SI 099

SEEOUA Chameleon/Plus (8088/280)

SCall

SWP Micro Computer Products

Co-Power-86 Board (8088 W/256K. 1 MB)

SCall

• ■ Kaypro 2. 4& 10

SCall

TELEVIDEO

1605/TPC-ll (8068 256K)

SCall

ZENITH

ZF -151 -52 (8086. 2 Dr.) w/Zenith CRT .

SI 899

ZF 151 -21 w/1 Dr. 10 MB Hard Disk

S2399

ZFA-161-52 (Portable. 2 Or. 320K) ....

S1929

FOR IBM PC/AT/JR & COMPAQ

AOVANCED DIGITAL Multi User Bo (8066) SCall AST RESEARCH INC.

ADVANTAGE'(Multi FtnBd lor AT) SCall

MEGA PLUS II (64K. Ser & Clk) $279

SIX PACK PLUS (64k. Ser/Par, Clk) S245

irCOMBO (e«p to 512K. Pat. Clk) SCall

OUADRAM

EXPANDED OUADBOARD (Ser/Par/Game. Clk)

64K S249 384K $429

QUAD 512* (Serial Port. Exp to 512K)

64K S229 256K . S349

QUADCOLOR I (Video Board) $199

HERCULES Graphics Card (720x384) . $339

Color Card (RGB. Composite. Parallel) $169

INTEL 8087/80287 Math Co-Processor. SCall

KEVTRONIC 5151 Keyboard $199

MICROLOG Baby Blue II (Z80B. 64K. Parallel &

Serial Ports. Clock/Calendar) $519

ORCHID PC Turbo (80186. 8 MHz) $829

PANASONIC JA 551 -2 (DSDD Thinline Drive) $119

PARAOISE SYSTEMS Multi-Oisplay Card S285

Modular Graphics Card $275

Module A/B S75/S179

PLANTRONICS ColorPlus SCall

SIGMA DESIGNS Color 400 w/Mouse SCall

STB SYSTEMS Graphix Plus II S275

Super Rio w/64K S285

TANDONTM 100-2 (DSDD Disk Drive) . ... $149

TEACFO-55B (DSDD Thinline Drive) $125

TECMAR Graphics Master (640x400 RGB) $465

The Captain w/OK (Par/Ser/Clk/Cal) $239

irCaptain(128K, Parallel Port) $309

TSENG LABS Ultra Pak $489

Inquiry 175

GenTech

HARD DISK

APPLE MACINTOSH HARD DISKS NOW AVAILABLEI CORVUS, OAVONG & TECMAR ... CALL FOR PRICESI

AMPEX 20 MB w/25 MB Tape Backup ... SCall MICROSCiENCE Internal 10 MB for IBM . $679 CORVUS

11.1 MB Omnidrive Starter Kit $1649

45 MB Omnidrive $4149

DAVONG

Datasystemsw/24 MB Tape Backup . SCall

IOMEGA Bernoulli/Plus

MAVNARD ELECTRONICS 10/20/30 MB

PEGASUS-GREAT LAKES

23 MB External w/Controller SCall

SVSGEN

10/20 MB w/Tape Backup S2295/S2849

Image/Qic-File S799/S1199

TALLGRASS

TG -5025 (25 MB w/60 MB Tape Backup) S2B99

TG -6180 (80 MB w/60 MB Tape Backup) S6399

TECMAR

Remev. Cartridge Winchester in PC (5 MB) S1479

10 MB w/5 MB Cartridge in Chassis S2459

XCOMP 16 MB External (for IBM) SI749

DOT MATRIX PRINTERS

C-ITOHPrownlerl 8510 AP $325

Pfowriler 2 1550 P (15 ". 120 CPS) $569

CITIZEN

MSP-10 $329 MSP-15 ... $489

MSP-20 SCall MSP-25 SCall

EPSON JX-80 Color $585

10.-1500 $1109 RX-100 SCall

RX-60/60F/T SCall FX80W100* SCall

MPI Sprinter/SX (Portable. 300 CPS) SCall NEC

P2/P3 Pinwriter (180 CPS) S525/S735

P2/P3 Color Pinwriters SCall

OKIDATA

ML 92/93 SCall ML 84 (P) . . SCall

Okimate 20 SCall Pacemark. . . SCall

PANASONIC KX-P109I/1093 SCall

STAR MICRONICS

Gemini 1QX S249 SG-10/15 SCall

SO-tO/15 SCall SR -10/15 SCall TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

850/855/860/665 SCall

TOSHIBA

P1340 $719 P1351 $1289

LETTER QUALITY PRINTERS

ABATI(L0-20 (18 CPS. 15" Carriage) S359

AMDEK 5040 (40 CPS) S1299

BROTHER/OVNAX

HR-15 XL (20CPS. OiabloCompat.) S369

HR-25/HR-35 $Call/$869

HEWLETT-PACKARD Laser Printer SCall

DIABLO

620 API S779 630 ECS/IBM $1799

JUKI 6100 (18 CPS. Diablo. Compat.). .... SCall

6300 (40 CPS, Diablo Compat. 3K But) .. SCall

NEC

ELF 360 SCall 2030 S659

3550 . . . SCall 8850 S1829

OLYMPIA Compact RO/2 S349/S419

OUME Letterpro 20 SCall

Sprint 1140/1155 S1299/S1479

SILVER-REED EXP 500 (parallel er serial) $369

EXP 550 (p or s. 15" Carriage) $449

STAR MICRONICS Power Type (18 CPS) $339

TRANSTART120/T130 S409/S569

PLOTTERS & DIGITIZERS

POLAROID PALETTE $1175

ENTER COMPUTER

Sweet-P SCall Six Shooter. . . $785 EPSON HI-80 Color Plotter $429

HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS

PC-595 $465 PC-695 . $549

DMP-29 $1799 DMP-41/42 . S2349

DMP-51/52 S3529 DMP-51/52MP SCall

DM1 Digitizer (I Button Cursor) $679

DM14 Digitizer (4 Button Cursor) $739

NEC Britewnter SCall

ROLAND DXY 101/ 800/880 $529/699/949

SUMMAGRAPHICS SummaSketch SCall

l-'-WIW;U

AMDEK

Video 300/300A/310A . $135/145/165 Color 300 $249 Color 500. $379

Color 600 ... $429 Color 710 . S579

DYNAX Fortis FC10 (13" RGB) SCall

PRINCETON GRAPHICS HX-12

SR-12 (690x480)

Max-12(12"AmberTTL) . . OUAORAM Amberchrome .

Ouadchrome II

ROLAND

$469 $609 $179 $155

$435

MB-121G CB-141

St35 MB-122G $269 CC-141 . .

$155 $559

TAXAN

Model 115. 420/L . . . ZENITH ZVM-123A ZVM-135

$119 Model 116 . . SCall 440(720x400)

$79 $439

ZVM-122A ZVM-136

S129 SCall

$85 SCall

TERMINALS

ESPRIT

Esprit I SCall Esprit II $479

Esprit III . SCall ESP-6310 . . S559

OUME 102/102A S449/S469

103/108/109 SCall

TELEVIDEO 914/924 S575/S699

950/970 SCell

Personal Terminal . $419

w/300 Baud Modem $528

VISUAL All Models SCall

WYSE

WY-50 S519

WY-100 SCall

ZENITH

Z-29 $649

ZTX-10 $329

WY-75 WY-300.

Z-49 ZTX-11

$609 S8I9

SCall S389

COMMUNICATIONS FOR IBM

BLUE LYNX 3278 SCall

DCA Irma/lrmaline/lrmaKey SCall

IDEAcomm 3278 SCall

ANCHOR

Volksmodem 1200 SCall Mark XII $249 HAYES

Smartmodem 1200/2400 SCall

Smartmodem 12008 w/Smartcom II SCall

NOVATION

Smart Cat Plus 300/1200 w/Mite $329

PRENTICE POPCOM C100/X100 S289/S299

OUADRAM Quadmodem $445

TRANSEND PC Modem Card 1200 $419

VEN-TEL 300/1200 Halt Card S409

SOFTWARE

ASHTONTATE dBase Ill/Framework SCall

AUTODESK INC. AutoCAD SCall

CENTRAL POINT Copy II PC/Plus $29

DEC. RESOURCES Chart/Signmaster S239/S185 LOTUS 1-2-3/Symphony $319/5429

MICROPRO WordStar Pro Pack/2000 . . SCall

MICRORIM R Base 4000/Clout SCall

PRENTICE HALL VCN ExecuVision . SCall

REAL WORLD MBSI Accounting SCall

SAMNA Word Ill/Plus SCall

SATELLITE SOFTWARE WordPerfect S265

FOR APPLE If/lie

AISCP/M Plus Card S299

Smarterm II (80 Column Card) . $129

AST RESEARCH INC. Multi I/O Card SCall DIGITAL RESEARCH CP/M Gold Card

W/64K $269

FOURTH DIMENSION 16K RAM Card $55

80 Column Card S55

HAVES

Micromodem Hb w/Smartcoml $239

Smartmodem 300/1200 SCall

INTERACT.STRU.PKASO Universal $125

MICROSOFT Premium Soltcard (lie) SCall

Sottcardll (loril/lle) S339

MICROTEK Dumpling GX S69

NOVATION

J -Cat (Autp Ong/Answei. 300 Baud) $99

Apple Cat II (300 Baud) $209

212 Apple Cat II (1200 Baud) S389

ORANGE MICRO Grapple'- S109

Buffered Grappler. (I6K) $169

Grappler Interface for ImageWnter SCall

PCPI Applicant 6 MH2 $249

RANA Elite l/ll/lll SCall

TRANSENO ASIO $125

Modemcard w/Source S239

MISCELLANEOUS

RAM CHIPS 64K SET

S20 256K SET

DOUBLE-SIDED DISKETTES

3M S30 Dysan

Maxell S30 Wabash

PRINT BUFFERS

OUADRAM Microlazer

Parallel/ Parallel

16K . S139 64K S185 128K

Serial/Serial. Ser/Par, Par/Ser

8K S145 16K $155 64K

INTERACT STRUCT ShuffleBuffer 32K. . PRACTICAL PERIPHERALS Microbuller 32K SURGE PROTECTORS

EPD/CURTIS All models

NETWORX Wire Tree/Plus

ULTIMA SF-600

EMERGENCY POWER SYSTEMS

TnppLite BC200-10 (battery incl.) . .

TnppLite BC425-FC (425 Watts) SWITCHBOXES

CABLECO 3 Way Centronics

3 Way Serial

COMPUTER ACCESSORIES

Data Directors (All Medels)

SCall

S31

S20

S239

S209

S269

. S209

SCall

S45/S60

S39

S270 $415

SCall SCall

SCall

CUSTOMER SERVICE

401-781-0020

ORDERS ONLY

800-843-4302

150 Broadway. Suite 2212. NY.. NY 10038

HOURS 9-8 EST. MONDAY-SATURDAY

Personal Ck (2 Weeks To Clear) Cashier s Ck. Money Order

APO Orders Add 6- (minimum S7). Add 3'- For Net Terms

All Returned Non-Oetective Merchandise Are Subject To A

20% Restocking Charge

GenTech Reserves the Right to Change Advertised Prices

[amiuka-i 1

; MaittwCord

MAY 1985 • B YTL 205

APPLYING DATA FLOW

PLUS node has been set to 7 (b). The match unit knows that PLUS has only two inputs, so at this point it sends a token set to the fetch/update unit for processing (c). The fetch/update unit knows that PLUS performs the + function and that it fans out to MUL's arc L, so it sends this information to an arbitrary processing unit (d). The

processing unit performs the addition and sends the result to the match unit (e).

If the system allows more than one instantiation of an instruction to be active at a time (this would occur if the machine were executing the same instruction for the i and 1+1 instantiations of a loop simultaneously), then

/„

,° x3"

© ©

ASSIGN PROCESSOR II HERE

Figure 4: A data-flow graph of the function z = 3 * |y + F(x)) illustrating dynamic processor allocation; processors are assigned to nodes at run time.

(DATA TOKENS)

PROC. UNITS Pl-Pn

MATCH UNIT

( EXECUTABLE INSTRUCTIONS )

FETCH

UPDATE

UNIT

(SET OF TOKENS )

MEMORY UNIT

(o) NODE ARC VALUE

(b)

PLUS

L

10

PLUS

R

7

NODE

L R

PLUS

10

7

d i

"UNC

L

R

FANOUT

" + "

10

7

MUL

L

(e)

NODE ARC VALUE

MUL

L

17

Figure 5: An example of data-flow architecture, with packet communication and token matching.

the descriptors must also be tagged with a process ID. This is done in a dynamic data-flow system.

Properties of the Data-flow Paradigm

The data-flow model makes many assumptions about the nature of the algorithms it runs. Some are:

• All information needed to execute the algorithm must be contained in its data-flow graph. That is. the paradigm does not use any structures other than the data-flow graph in order to execute the algorithm that the graph represents. The graph is the data-flow machine's "machine language" for the algorithm. The machine takes advantage of the graphical nature of the program in order to produce the speedup.

• The algorithm should not have a single locus of control. That is, the data-flow graph should allow more than one node on the graph to be executed at a time. If the algorithm has a single locus of control, it will run slower on a data-flow machine than on a von Neumann machine (due to the communications overhead).

• The data-flow graph must have a high degree of granularity. In other words, the graph nodes must contain things like + primitives and not "sort" primitives. One reason this is important is that graphs with granular primitives contain the potential for more parallelism. Note that this implies that the time for a "context switch," which is the time for a processor to switch from processing one node to processing another, must be small.

• The data-flow graph must have locality of effect. This means that the nodes do not' fan out to a large number of other nodes. This is important, since nonlocality would stress the communication network of the data-flow machine.

These assumptions can be used to judge whether or not an algorithm matches well with the data-flow paradigm. If the algorithm to be executed does not have the above

(continued]

206

BYTE- MAY I9HS

▲

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 information—rendering it totally unintelligible without the proper access code.

DES2000

DATA ENCRYPTION SYSTEM

The code—one of 72-quadhllion possible 16-digit key combinations—is required at all 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 Systemcall (818)991-8200 or Toll Free outside California 1 (800) 6410814.

rom mmPRACTICAL mPERIPHERALS

31245 La Baya Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362 • (818) 991-8200 • TWX 910-336-5431

Inquiry 323

MAY I985 -BYTE 207

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

Maria's liquid cover

O

1

Tacky white tape

Lunchcounter ketchup

Cracker crumbs

Dust (cough-cough)

One scoop of ice cream

208 BYTE' MAY 1985

Sudsy soap bubbles

Chocolate fingerprints

d,your dog-eared, your mistreated:

Dry martini, one olive

Boss's cigar ashes

Spilled milk

Dog - eared jacket

Sunny side up

Waterbased ink spots

English breakfast tea

* Eraser bits

If its a Polaroid diskettewe'll 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

Quality Diskette, we can help recover your data. only Polaroid offers a free data recovery service.

(And most other accidents,too.) Call 800-241-4403 Because accidents happen.

•olaroid"' of Polaroid Corp. 'erfect Data"™ ot Perfect Data Corp.

Inquiry 447

i Polaroid

PerfectData

THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY DISKETTE IN THE GRAY BOX

c 1985 Polaroid Corp. MAY 1985 'BYTE 209

One Board... One Family

At the heart of every Stride 400 Series microcomputer, 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 unavailable on other microcomputers:

□ 68000 microprocessor 110 MHz with no wait statesl

□ VMEbus

□ 256K bytes RAM

□ 5T640K byte floppy

□ Battery-backed real time clock 0 4KCMOS RAM

□ Four RS-232C serial ports Stride multiuser BIOS)

D Centronics bi-directional parallel port □ Omninet Local Area Network! Liaison LAN softwarel

With this basic design. Stride is able to explore the full range of 68000 applications 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 (Eurocardl cage □ Low cost, high speed graphics D NOD™cursor control □ 12M bytes of RAM □ 448M bytes of hard disk storage □ 22 serial ports □ Floating point processor INSI608I)

□ Cartridge streaming tape backup □ Memory Management Unit

CBASIC

Modula-2

Pascal FORTRAN

USD

UNIX SystemV

p-System

CWMBSK

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 Sdge Computer

For more information on Stride or the location of the nearest Stride Dealer call or write us today We II also send you a free copy of our 32 page product catalog Corporate Offices: 4905 Energy Way Reno. NV 89502 17021322-6868 Regional Offices: Boston 16171 229-6868 Dallas I2I4I392-707O

APPLYING DATA FLOW

properties, then the data-flow model is not the one to use to execute it.

Commercial Possibilities of Data FlowTexas Instruments

Texas Instruments was one of the first companies to investigate the viability of data flow all the way to the hardware prototype stage. Tl's research was done between 1975 and 1980. The company's architecture consisted of four "simple processors'' and a host, connected in a ring architecture. Tl has not yet released a commercial product based on this research.

Tl's hardware/software effort was called a Data Flow Testbed. The testbed could accept a program written in a conventional programming language, compile it. link it, and automatically partition it to run on any number of processors. The people at Tl did this in a relatively straightforward way. They took an existing commercial compiler/linker that generated data-flow graphs in its optimization phase. If the resulting graph completely described the algorithm, they could automatically partition the graph onto a number of processors and run it.

Tl recognized that it is currently very difficult (i.e., commercially impractical) to generate data-dependence graphs for most real programs written in standard languages. The company knew this meant that "pure" data-flow processors cannot run standard software. Therefore, Tl's system used a mixture of data-flow and classical control-flow techniques. That is, the computer was not a "pure" dataflow machine but rather used dataflow constructs where appropriate.

Tl's primary interest was the application of data-flow concepts to largescale machines running standard (unmodified) high-level language programs. The company investigated whether compilers could extract enough of the latent parallelism in standard programs to produce significant speedup in a data-flow architecture. One of Tl's most interesting results was that the average amount

(continued)

210 BYTE

Inquiry 377

"... innovation, not compatibility is what we think microcomputers are all about'

[This is one of a series of design philosophy discussions with Rod Coleman President of Stride Micro [formerly Sage Computed!

RC: When the 68000 microprocessor was first introduced, many saw it as a minicomputer replacement. They rolled up

a disk drive unit, plugged in a bunch of terminals and ported a mainframe operating system like UNIX™ At Stride we had a completely different perspective. We saw the 68000 at the center of a dream MICROcomputer: we envisioned I pardon the expression I a turbocharged Apple™

Q: What s the real difference between the two approaches?

RC: It's reflected in both our product mix and our design To begin with price has always been a key point. The pioneers in the micro world were simply not ready to jump from a S2 000 machine to a S25000 system overnight leaving behind everything they d come to admire about micros. That's why the price/performance ratio plays such a major role in every design decision we make

Q: Such as?

RC: When we evaluated local area networks for the new Stride 400 Series we looked at everything available. From reading the press clips. Ethernet™ and ARCNET™ looked like the sure bets. Upon closer examination, we found that OMNINET™was at least comparable, and sometimes superior in actual performance But when we figured in the factor of cost, it was suddenly no contest. OMNINET uses twisted pair cabling instead of expensive coax, and the per node cost was so low that we could offer the transport hardware on every system as a standard feature. With other LANs, this runs S700 to S3000 per station! So when you talk price/ performance. OMNINET clearly emerges as a better solution for microcomputer folks.

Q: Does the same philosophy apply to software?

RC: You bet. I mentioned UNIX above as a standard multiuser solution for 68000-based systems. We agree that UNIX will certainly be one of the prominent multiuser applications, but not for everyone. UNIX was designed on systems with fast disks and slow processors: that's the opposite of what micros are all about. Our approach to multiuser is somewhat unique. We sought a way to use the traditional single user microcomputer operating systems in a multiuser mode. Our solution was to create a MU.BIOS (multiuser basic input/output systeml that resides below the operating system.Thus the user continues to use familiar software but can also take advantage of the multiuser benefits of hardware cost-efficiency and software features such as shared data.

Q: Can you give mean example?

RC: Sure. Advanced DB Master™ from Stoneware is a leading single user DBMS package that

is popular on a number of systems including the IBM™ PC. On the Sage and Stride 400 Series machines, this database is also a true multiuser solution with complete file and record locking. Better yet. the MU.BIOS even allows you to combine these

.. we sought a way to

use the traditional

single user

microcomputer

operating systems in a

multiuser mode"

users on a single terminal. That means you could have different users residing in foreground/ background accessing each with a keystroke. The effect is concurrent multitasking.This even works with different operating systems in residence at the same time. For example you could have your favorite CP/M-68K editor in the foreground while a p-System compiler is cranking away at low priority in the background. The same holds true in the office environment where you can switch from a standard word processor to a spreadsheet instantaneously. The user has the

ability to set priorities, time slicing, access, etc.

Q: So why are traditional multiuser operating systems like RM/COS™and UNIX and Idris™ on your price list?

RC: Actually that's another of the key ingredients in being a leader in microcomputers: flexibility. There's no doubt that UNIX, or the UNIX-like Idris. will be right for many users. And RM/COS. for instance, is an excellent solution for serious business and COBOL customers. We actively support these and 10 other operating systems, adding some of our advantages of performance and price to each one But we're also convinced that the ultimate operating system is still years in the future, and that's why we continue to encourage research and development in new environments such as Modula-2. LISP and APL. Innovation, not compatibility, is what we think microcomputers are all about. That's why when we switched our name from Sage to Stride, we made sure there was no doubt as to our roots: Sage Computer became Stride Micro

Formerly Sage Computer

For more information on Stride or the location of the nearest Stride Dealer call or write us today We II also send you a free copy of our 32 page product catalog Corporate Offices: 4905 Energy Way Reno NV 89502 17021322-6868 Regional Offices: Boston. 16171229-6868 Dallas 1214:392-7070

Inquiry 378

MAY 1985 -BYTE 211

Inquiry 45

Prize

winning software from

AWARD

Keep Your Computer Fit With CROSS-CHEX™

Cross-Chex is the complete menudriven system of hardware diagnostics. It analyzes performance levels of Winchester and floppy disk drives, video display, RAM memory, video memory, ROM character generator and keyboard. Includes (1) Diagnostic Diskette (1) Cross-Chex Program Diskette (1) Users Manual. Let Cross-Chex keep your computer fit, ensure the performance of your computer, maximize your uptime and maintain the integrity of your data all for the low price of S99.00.

Convert any CP/M to DOS with CROSS DATA*

Crossdata is the low-cost utility software that converts data/text file formats from CP/M to MS/PCDOS and back again on any IBM PC/XT or clone. It is a self-contained program, ready to run, that reads/writes CP/M and MS/PC DOS Diskettes using MS/PC-DOS 2.0, 2.1 or 3.0 and comes with 28 formats—plus you can add your own! Solve your computer incompatibility problems fast with Crossdata, the proven conversion package, by ordering one today for only $99.00.

Backup/Restore for Winchester under PC/MS-DOS, CP/M86 and CCPM with CROSSAVE™

Now you can back-up large data base files from a Winchester to a floppy for files that exceed the diskette capacity.

Crossave will save and/or restore a file or a selected group of files that have been updated. It also backs up and restores all of the files on the Winchester. It uses compression to reduce storage space requirements on the floppy and expands the file upon restoration. Requires IBM PC/XT or clone. Reasonably priced at $99.00.

No risk 10-day money back

guarantee on all products

Don't delay. Call us today: (408)395-2773 or write:

AWARD im SOFTWARE. ^ INC.

236 North Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030 All major credit cards accepted

APPLYING DATA FLOW

NEC's chip is

oriented toward image processing.

of parallelism available in standard FORTRAN programs was between 5 and 20. This meant that the maximum theoretical speedup TI could achieve (using "off the shelf" hardware) in these cases was 5 to 20 times. (Data flow can take advantage of parallelism only where it exists. If the programmer writes an algorithm so that no parallelism can be extracted from it. then a data-flow version of the algorithm will run no faster than a von Neumann version of the algorithm.) Currently, using high-performance hardware in a von Neumann machine affords a much greater speedup.

Nippon Electric Corporation

Of the three companies discussed here, NEC's approach comes closest to the pure data-flow paradigm. The company's approach is based on a single chip that can contain up to 64

nodes and 128 arcs. Systems can incorporate up to 14 of these chips by connecting them into a ring in a very straightforward way. (It is possible to extend the limit beyond 14 chips, but the arrangement is much more complex.) A complete standard system, then, could run up to 896 two-input nodes distributed across 14 processors.

NEC's chip is oriented toward image processing. In the company's own words, "Because the majority of application programs for image processing execute iterative operations for large volumes of data, image-processing programs are relatively small compared to general data-processing programs." Although NEC's machine has a relatively small number of arcs and nodes in its system, each node can execute a high-performance operation.

NEC's initial focus is not on running existing high-level language programs but rather on running small, easy-torewrite programs that require high performance. That is not to say that NEC does not address these issues; rather, that the company is first entering the market where data flow's

{continued}

Linear

Price/Performance and

Incremental Performance

Suppose a salesman sells you a processor for $1000 and tells you that it will run your favorite program in just eight hours. He then tells you that due to the marvels of fifthgeneration computing technology, you can bolt in another processor for another $1000 and your program will run twice as fast. It will now take only four hours to complete. You happily buy two processors. Still, four hours is a long time, so you call your salesman and tell him that you want to halve the time to two hours. The salesman now sells you not one but two more processors in order to do this. You realize

that for each processor you buy, you incrementally increase performance by (P+l)/P. For one processor, this is (1 + 1)/1 - 2x. or a 100 percent speedup. For two processors, this is (1 +2)/2 =1.5x, or a 50 percent speedup. For three processors, this is (l+3)/3 = 1.33x. or a 33 percent speedup.

This is an extremely attractive situation for the salesman, of course, since he gets an order of magnitude increase in commissions every time you want to get an order of magnitude increase in performance. It is, of course, not a very good situation for you.

212 BYTE

MAY 198S

i

'&:

3k jM

\

P^E^COMPATIBLE MODEM,

INCOMPATIBLE PRICE!

*SJT

HAYES "AT" COT&MAND xG^MPATTBLE

Comrnun»eJ8M<>ns software incrao&sd

1200/300/110 btsS% per second

Bell212Aand 103 compatible

Auto-dial, Auto-answer

Auto-speed, Auto-parity Built-in speaker

Volume control

Dual phone jack

Wtom

^AYES INFOSMART- MATE MODEM 1200 TPC 1200 B

Hayes is a registered trademark of Hayes Microcomputer Products. Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp.

LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE!

APPLYING DATA FLOW

benefits are the strongest. In fact, NEC is now working on an integrated system in which to embed its chips. How the company approaches system-level problems (language definition, translation, and debugging) remains to be seen.

In summary, NEC was able to use the data-flow model by applying it to a domain in which

• The algorithms are easily expressed in terms of a data-flow graph.

• The algorithms contain a great deal of inherent parallelism.

• The architecture can run small, easyto-program algorithms.

• There is a great need for fast execution. (Image processing is computerbound.)

Daisy Systems Corporation

Daisy Systems started selling a commercial data-flow architecture in the first quarter of 1984. The company's approach is based on a set of boardlevel processors connected in a ring. The basic configuration consists of three or four processing units plus a host processor. The units are capable of processing 65.000 to 1,000,000 nodes, depending on the level of modeling. Each node can have up to 2 56 inputs.

Daisy Systems' data-flow architecture is the first to respond to the customer's need for high-speed discrete logic simulation. In essence, a discrete logic simulator runs an algorithmic description of a piece of hardware. By their very nature, these algorithms are expressed in terms of graphs in which each node is a simple operation.

The hardware designer of these algorithms consciously works to make his design exhibit a high degree of parallelism. Therefore, Daisy did not have to worry about the algorithm "running out of parallelism" of which to take advantage. Even better, the parallelism is very great at the machine-instruction level.

Like Tl, Daisy recognized that the "pure" data-flow paradigm did not completely address all of simulation's problems satisfactorily. For example, the "pure" data-flow model has no way of handling stored state (side effects). Daisy addressed this and other similar problems by extending the paradigm.

At the programming level, Daisy recognized that the programming task in advanced architectures is difficult and error-prone. In many approaches, the user must adapt to a paradigm that is unfamiliar, unintuitive, and dif

Daisy Systems'

The Von Neumann Paradigm

Mathematicians have been proposing computational paradigms, or "models of computation.' since the time of Charles Babbage (witness Turing machines. Makov productions, and Church's Lambda calculus). However, the most well known paradigm was pioneered by |ohn von Neumann. Von Neumann's model is based on the concept of a single central processing unit that accesses a linear array of fixed-size memory cells. These cells can contain either instructions or data. Instructions are relatively low-level. They perform simple operations on elementary

operands. In the von Neumann model, program control is sequential and centralized. It is upon this paradigm that most commercial computer architectures are based.

Strictly speaking, a non-von Neumann paradigm is one that departs from any of these concepts. For example, a machine that keeps its data and memory in two separate banks is not a von Neumann machine. Recently, however, "non-von Neumann" has come to mean a paradigm that differs primarily in the last of the above properties, that of sequential, centralized program control.

data-flow architecture is the first to respond to the customer's need for highspeed discrete logic simulation.

ficult to use. Daisy overcame this problem by allowing users to communicate in the languages that they have always used: graphics, Boolean expressions, and a standard behavioral language. Daisy was able to do this well because the primitives that the designer uses map easily to the primitives that Daisy's architecture supports. The mapping process (compilation, linking, and code generation) is totally automatic.

Daisy was able to use data flow by applying it to a domain in which

• The algorithms are naturally expressed in terms of a data-flow-like graph.

• The algorithms contain a great deal of inherent instruction-level parallelism.

• There is a great need for fast execution. (Logic simulators implemented on von Neumann machines may take days to run big simulations.) Daisy's machine runs approximately 100 times faster than most software simulators.

Summary

NEC and Daisy have successfully used data flow to solve two different commercial problems in an appropriate manner. Both problems are easily expressed using data-flow graphs, have a great deal of instruction-level parallelism, and require scalable execution and high performance.

As more companies discover problems for which data flow is the best solution, the repertoire of practical parallel algorithms using the data-flow model will grow. ■

214 BYTE- MAY I9RS

"^r"--..1-1 • ««*

! TOW

Iflfll 1

UNFil

May Catch up with The way

CompuServes Electronic Mall

Lets You Shop Today.

Presenting the computer shopping service that delivers 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, 7 days a week. And it offers a wide range 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, Financial Mart, Leisure Center, Merchandise

Mart, Newsstand, On-line Connection, Personal Computer Store, Record Emporium, 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 shopping 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 almost any computer and modem, terminal or communicating word processor.

To buy a CompuServe Subscription Kit, see your nearest computer dealer. To receive our informative brochure, or to order direct, call or write:

CompuServe

Information Services. P.O Box 20212.

5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.. Columbus. OH 43220

800-848-8199

In Ohio call 614-457-0802

The Electronic Mall* is a service of CompuServe Inc and L M. Berry & Company. Inquiry 90

An H & R Block Company

MAY 198 5

•BYTE 215

j

^fT

, I

>£

-t»-

^b

Step beyond the limits of personal computing, and into the action on Wall Street.

Or right through the doors of the world's finest stores. Browse, buy, sell or trade. Stocks,

information, Maine lobster, airline tickets. Without leaving your chair.

With an Avatex" modem, your personal computer can take you wherever you want to go, on your schedule. As far, as fast, as often as you like, at a price that won't stop you in your tracks.

Avatex gives you the power, speed and intelligence of a serious piece of communications equipment, streamlined so anyone can use it easily and productively. Immediately.

So with Avatex the possibilities are astronomical, but the price of owning one is not: Avatex 300-$64.95,* Avatex 600- $99.95* Avatex 1200-$299.95.*

For the name of the Avatex dealer nearest you, call 800-4-AVATEX.

Avatex Modems

The next step in personal computing.

Avails" is a iralfmark of E ■ E iteuTomm UL CSA A FCCI*ar1I!>andt>8a|>pnivf4l IVifiynght IMWVhy Bi EltauCnmm 'SuKReMfd r-utl pm ■■

Inquiry 145

MAY 1985 'BYTE 217

Speeds Up Everything ...Especially 1-2-3 !

The MicroWay NUMBER SMASHER triples the speed of all cpu bound software while doubling the speed of 8087 bound software. When combined with MicroWay's FASTBREAK" it results in an increase in the speed of 1-2-3" of up to 80 to 1! If you're tired of WAITing, the SMASHER is the card for you!

The heart of the NUMBER SMASHER is a 9.54 mhz 8086 working with a matched high speed 8087. The card comes standard with 512K of 16 bit RAM and can be expanded to 640K. It triples the throughput of your original 8088 by doubling the system clock speed and quadrupling the data bus bandwidth.

Software compatibility is guaranteed by the nature of our card. It does not augment the 8088, but replaces it with a special 8086 that runs as a true 16-bit processor in the first 640K of ram and as an 8-bit processor everywhere else.

Examples of software which show dramatic speed-ups include AUTOCAD. 1 -2-3 " worksheets which depend heavily on financial or transcendental functions, and multi-user operating systems. Any program written with an MS-DOS compiler that supports the 8087, such as MS-FORTRAN or 87BASIC. will run on the NUMBER SMASHER at least a factor of 2.5 times faster! Software that comes with the card also increases the throughput of I/O bound programs and includes a disk cache routine, ram disk and print spooler

The NUMBER SMASHER is an upgrade product for 8088 based PCs and compatibles. It works on the IBMPC and XT, the COMPAQ and compatibles manufactured to the IBM-PC hardware standard. Contact MicroWay or your local MicroWay Installation Center for technical specifications and supporting benchmarks.

The World Leader in 8087 Support

PO. Box 79. Kingston, Mass. 02364 USA (617) 746-7341

NUMBER SMASHER and FASTBREAK are trademarks of MicroWay. Inc LOTUS an

MULTIPROCESSING

THE

TRANSPUTER

by Paul Walker

A building block for parallel processing

THE TRANSPUTER is a small but complete computer that can be used as a building block with other Transputers to construct extremely high performance computing networks. A BYTE article by Dick Pountain (see reference 1) introduced the idea of the Transputer and its programming language, Occam. (Occam is a trademark of the INMOS group of companies.) In this article we'll take a look at Transputers and how they can meet the computing requirements of the future.

A rough yardstick of performance is given by the more recent personal computers, which run at around a million instructions per second (MIPS). By contrast, supercomputers offer the equivalent of around a thousand MIPS. Tomorrow's applications, such as the lapanese Fifth Generation Project, require up to a million MIPS. The needs of home and personal computers are more modest. But as the performance requirements in lowend systems evolve, the price/performance benefits of small clusters of Transputers will begin to attract smallsystem designers.

Advances in semiconductor technology are improving performance. But it takes 10 years for technology

to improve the processing power of current architectures by an order of magnitude. At that rate, it will be well into the 21st century before the current architectures provide the performance required. But the applications need the performance now. A different architecture is needed to provide .the performance with today's technology.

The Evolution

of Computer Architectures

and Languages

One of the first architectures of a general-purpose computer was the von Neumann architecture, in which a single central processor is connected by a single data bus to memory. This has been adapted in various ways over the years, but even today almost all computers conform to the basic von Neumann architecture; they have merely added processing power and memory. As the processing power and memory of the computer are increased, however, the bus becomes a bottleneck. And when processing power is further increased by the utilization of multiple processors and DMA (direct memory access) controllers sharing the bus, the

effect of the bottleneck is even more pronounced.

Along with the evolution of computer architectures, computer programming languages have evolved to make programming more reliable and cost-effective. The languages, however, have been constrained by the computer architecture. Computers obey instructions in sequence and can do only one job at once, and this is reflected in the languages. The real world, however, has many activities, or "processes," happening concurrently, and programming languages should be capable of modeling the behavior of these concurrent processes.

The Transputer Architecture and Occam

Although the von Neumann architecture is limited by its bus, it is an excellent architecture for a small, singleprocessor computer. A Transputer is a small but complete von Neumann computer (figure la). The difference between a Transputer and an ordinary

{continued) Paul Walker is a member of the Transputer development team at INMOS Limited (Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol BS1 2NP, England).

«— Inquiry 276

MAY 1985 -BYTE 219

THE TRANSPUTER

Am Occam process is a black box that works with its own local information.

microcomputer is that Transputers can readily be built into networks and arrays (figure lb). Each Transputer works on its own job. using its own local memory A system with many Transputers has as many buses as it has Transputers, so the bus throughput is multiplied by the number of Transputers in the system. Another gain in bus throughput is achieved by putting the processor and memory on the same chip.

The Transputers in a system need to communicate with each other so that they can cooperate. Transputer chips therefore have four link interfaces, each with an input signal and an output signal. The output signal of a link interface on one Transputer is connected to the input signal of a link interface on another Transputer, and vice versa. The two-wire, point-topoint connections between two Transputers (figure 21 are described as "links."

The programming language Occam (see reference 2) is designed to handle the mixed sequential and concurrent nature of real-world processes. Such processes are modeled as Occam processes, each of which can be regarded as a black box that works with its own local information. A process cooperates with other processes using point-to-point communication channels. A collection of Occam processes is itself a process, so a hierarchy of processes can be built up to reflect the structure of the real-world process.

The Occam model is suitable for mapping onto an array of computers, each of which has its own local memory and communicates with other computers via point-to-point links. It is particularly appropriate, therefore, for a network of Transputers.

The Transputer Chip

The Transputer, then, is a single-chip computer with a processor, local memory, link interfaces for linking to other Transputers, and all the necessary system services such as reset and clock.

When Transputers are programmed in Occam, each Transputer implements an Occam process and each link implements an Occam channel in each direction between two Transputers.

Particular examples of Transputers are the IMS T424 (see reference 3)

(a)

(b)

1

1

t

1 1

i i

;♦

i

rh

rh

PROCESSOR

1

*

■

i

H

•—•

M

—

1

MEMORY

t

t

ti

i i

i i

—

i

r"i

nh

1

t

I

and the IMS T222. which are 32-bit and 16-bit Transputers, respectively. Both devices have four links and 4K bytes of on-chip RAM (random-access read/write memory). In addition, they have interfaces to external memory for applications in which 4K bytes are not enough; T424 addresses up to 4 gigabytes, T222 up to 64K bytes. Both have high-performance processors, achieving 5 to 10 MIPS.

To fit a processor, link interfaces, and RAM onto a single chip, the processor must be small. The Transputer processor (see reference 4) is indeed small, occupying about a quarter of the chip. Being small, in some ways like a reduced instruction set computer IRISC). it is fast. Unlike some of the RISCs. however, the Transputer processor has short. 8-bit instructions and uses an evaluation stack of three registers rather than a register file. Both of these improve performance. The short instruction format efficiently encodes the most frequently accessed instructions and data. Infrequent instructions, large constants, and nonlocal variables are accessed by short sequences of 8-bit instructions. The use of an evaluation stack means that instructions do not have to specify the registers for operands: the instructions always work on the top of the stack.

The performance of the processor is shown by the Occam assignment

{continued}

TRANSPUTER

TRANSPUTER

Figure 1: |a) A Transputer is a von Neumann computer with link interfaces. \b) Transputers can be readily built into networks and arrays.

Figure 2: A link consists of two wires, one in each direction, between two Transputers.

220 BYTE • MAY 1985

POWERFUL CBW SOFTWARE

anual fc«^#

NEVADA

FORTRAN

DISKETTE & MANUAL

Nevada FORTRAN is based upon 1 <fr^fr^% Q^fc the ANSI-66 standards I '*** ^t^& m^&'%J

(FORTRAN IV) with some N, S

1977 level features. Advanced features include: IF.. .THEN ... ELSE statement; COPY (Include); CHAINing with COMMON; and TRACE debugging. Package includes a diskette, 214-page manual and 5 sample programs. Included also is an 8080 assembler. Requires 48K RAM.

NEVADA "

BASIC

DISKETTE & MANUAL

I $29.95

With the built-in, full-screen

text editor, you can easily

develop programs for 1 /10 the cost

of a comparable BASIC interpreter. What's more, Nevada BASIC has

full Matrix operations, Single- and Multi-Line functions, and BCD

math (no round-off errors). You get a diskette and a 220-page manual.

Requires 48K RAM.

NEVADA

PILOT

DISKETTE & MANUAL

I $29.95

Nevada PILOT, written by Prof. John Starkweather, the language's creator, meets and exceeds all PILOT-73 standards. See the review in January 1983 MICROCOMPUTING. This package includes a diskette, 131-page manual, and 10 useful sample programs.

WHY WAIT? ORDER YOURS TODAY!

Satisfaction guaranteed—or your money back. If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, just return the package—in good condition—with the sealed diskette unopened, within 15 days and we'll refund your money.

Checks must be in U.S. Dollars

and drawn on a U.S. Bank.

California deliveries add 6% or

6.5% sales tax.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING FEES: Add $4.00 for the first package or manual and $2.00 each additional. OVERSEAS: Add $15.00 for the first package or manual and $5.00 each additional. COD's: Add $4.00.

o

WE WELCOME C.O.D.'s

Since 1977

ELLIS COMPUTING

(415)753-0186

ELLIS COMPUTING, INC. 3917 Noriega Street San Francisco, CA 94122

NEVADA

COBOL

DISKETTE & MANUAL

1 $29.95

Nevada COBOL, based upon the

ANSI-74 standards, has all the

popular features. Powerful level 2

features include: compound conditionals and full CALL CANCEL.

This software package includes a diskette, 165-page manual, plenty

of examples and 16 complete COBOL source code programs.

NEVADA

PASCAL

DISKETTE & MANUAL

1 $29.95

Advanced features include:

14-Digit precision; BCD math (no

round-off errors); Floating point

+ 63-64; TRACE debugging; Arrays up to 8 dimensions; 64K strings;

External procedures; and Dynamic Module loading. You get a

diskette and a 184-page manual. Requires 60K RAM and one disk

drive with at least 90K storage.

~" NEVADA ~~~

EDIT

DISKETTE & MANUAL

1 $29.95

Nevada EDIT, a full-screen, video-display text editor, is designed specifically for computer program text preparation. Nevada EDIT is completely user-changeable, can be configured to almost any terminal and takes up only 12K of disk space. This package includes a diskette and 59-page manual. ALSO AVAILABLE:

* EXTRA MANUALS $14.95

* COBOL Application Packages, Book 1 $ 9.95

* BIG PRINT-Diskette $19.95

The CP/M Operating System, an 8080, 8085, or Z-80 (8-Bit) microprocessor, and 32K RAM are required, unless otherwise stated above.

WHEN YOU ORDER, PLEASE SPECIFY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DISKETTE FORMATS:

D 8" SSSD (Standard CP/M IBM 3740) S'A" Diskettes for:

Access/Actrix Apple CP/M DEC VT180

Q 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) D Micropolis Mod II

□ NEC PC 8001

Q North Star Double Density Q North Star Single Density D Osborne Single Density D Sanyo 1000,1050 D SuperbrainDDDOS3.X

(512 byte sec) D Televideo

□ TRS-80 Model 1 (Base O Mapper)

□ Xerox 820 Single Density

CP/M is a registered trademark ot Digital Research. Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. TRS-80 is a registered trademark ot Tandy Corp Apple II is a trademark ot Apple Computer, Inc Osborne is a registered trademark of Osborne Computer Corp. Xerox 820 is a trademark of Xerox Corp Kaypro rs a trademark of Non-linear Sys. Heath/Zenith is a trademark of Heath Corp. ISM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Corp Nevada BASIC, Nevada COBOL. Nevada FORTRAN. Nevada PILOT, Nevada EDIT Nevada PASCAL, and Ellis Computing are trademarks ot Ellis Computing, Inc. & 1984 Eltis Computing, Inc.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 221

THE TRANSPUTER

A hardware kernel implements Occam processes and communication.

x : = y + 10. This compiles into the instructions

load local y

load constant 10

add

store local x

Each of these instructions is a single byte, and all the instructions except load local are executed in a single processor cycle. The load local instruction takes two processor cycles, one to calculate the address and the other to access the data. The instruction fetch is overlapped with those processor cycles that do not access memory. The above assignment statement takes a total of five processor cycles. The T424-20. with a 20-MHz processor cycling in 50 nanoseconds (ns), takes 2 50 ns for the statement. Executing four instructions in 2 50 ns is equivalent to 16 MIPS. The quoted figure of 10 MIPS allows for larger constants, nonlocal accesses, and more complex instructions. The language used for the assignment statement in this example is Occam, but similar statements can be written in many other languages. The high performance, therefore, is not limited to

Occam but is available to languages such as C, Pascal, and FORTRAN as well.

The processor includes a small hardware kernel to implement Occam processes and communication between them. Communication is handled directly by instructions, which pass the messages and schedule or deschedule the processes as appropriate. The kernel includes two levels of priority, the higher of which provides minimal latency for response to external events or for routing messages between Transputers that are not linked directly. A timer implements the Occam handling of time.

Use of multiple processes, communication, scheduling, and the handling of time is shown by the Occam program in listing 1. It describes two processes—one outputs a thousand messages and the other inputs a thousand messages. The timer records how long it takes to transfer the thousand messages.

Using on-chip RAM, the program in listing 1 performs approximately 12 5,000 message passes per second on a T42 4-10 with a 100-ns processor cycle and 2 50,000 message passes per second on a T424-20 with a 50-ns processor cycle.

The links are also fast, with a data rate of 10 megabits/second. Communication can occur at this speed simultaneously on all links and in both directions. With the four link interfaces on T424 and T222, this results in a throughput on each Transputer equal to eight full-speed Ethernets,

Listing 1

A simple

input/output

program in Occam.

Message passes per second

CHAN c:

VAR MPPS

, StartTime,

EndTime, ElapsedTime:

SEQ

TIME ? StartTime

PAR

SEQ i

= [0 FOR

1000] c ! 0

VAR x

SEQ i

= [0 FOR

1000] c ? x

TIME ?

EndTime

ElapsedTime : = EndTime - StartTime

MPPS : =

= (1000000/ElapsedTime

- 1000

The link interfaces are autonomous. When a process in one Transputer has output to a link and a process on another Transputer has input from the same link, the link interfaces of the two Transputers transfer data across the link. The data is accessed from each Transputer's memory by a DMA controller within each link interface. While the transfer is taking place, the two communicating processes are descheduled, allowing the processor to execute other processes that are not waiting for communication. When the transfer is completed, the processes are scheduled, without the processor having to poll for transfer completion. If either process has high priority, it is run as soon as the transfer completes. A low-priority process takes its turn with other processes that are ready and able to run.

Communication between processes on a single Transputer is programmed in exactly the same way as communication through links. The only difference is that the channel associated with the link is allocated to a particular link interface. The same instructions are used for internal communication as for external communication, the only difference being the address of the channel.

Both the processor and the link interfaces use very high frequency clocks—up to 80 MHz. It is difficult to supply such a clock to one chip; to distribute high-frequency clocks around a large system is next to impossible. Therefore, the Transputer uses a low-frequency (5-MHz) external clock and generates all the high frequencies internally. Even with a low-frequency clock, it is impossible to ensure that all Transputers "see" a clock edge at the same time. The Transputer, therefore, has been designed so that the only important parameter of the input clock is its frequency, which can be tightly controlled by a crystal.

Similarly, it is difficult to synchronize the clock with the data on the links. So the data reception of the links is asynchronous, as is the case with RS-232C But unlike RS-232C connec

[continued]

222 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 400—►

RANSTECTOR Has A Better Way lo Eliminate Computer Malfunctions

x

^

\JF

Computer foul-ups are enough to bring out the beast in even the most patient of individuals. But when random logic errors, memory loss, software damage or component failures have driven you to the brink, don't resort to wielding a sledgehammer. Fight back with TRANSTECTOR SYSTEMS.

TRANSTECTOR is the world's leading manufacturer of transient overvoltage protection systems for sensitive electronics. In fact, many FORTUNE 500 companies, such as NCR, General Electric Medical Systems and Johnson Controls, have chosen TRANSTECTOR to safeguard equipment they sell.

Now, that same famous technology is available to you.

Ask your dealer for details on how TRANSTECTOR

^. protectors can save you money—not to mention

your mental health.

'

ML

WW

I

10701 Airport Dr. Haydcn lake. 10 83835

(208) 772-8515

IRAN'S II (I OR SVMI MS authorized dealer nearest vou,

cull rgfl-l'ree:

800-635-2537

THE TRANSPUTER

tions. the links are fast. They also have a protocol that matches the Occam model of communication between processes.

The on-chip RAM provides local memory that cycles at the same speed as the processor. External

memory cycles more slowly: The T222's memory interface cycles in two processor cycles, the T424's in a minimum of three processor cycles. T424 uses a multiplexed 32-bit address/data bus and is optimized for accessing dynamic RAM. A simple

configuration is shown in figure 3. Here the T424 is connected to four 8K by 8-bit (such as the IMS 2630) or 32K by 8-bit dynamic RAMs with no interfacing "glue" logic. The T424 generates all the required refresh addresses and cycles. It also generates

Ray Tracing with an Array of Transputers

The ray-tracing algorithm that generated the pictures in photos A and B takes a long time to draw them. For example, the Sage IV takes three hours to draw the 500 by 500 pixels in photo B The algorithm calculates each pixel independently, so it is eminently suitable for parallel processing by sharing the pixels among a number of Transputers

We first developed the program as a number of concurrent processes running on a single computer. The Sage, simulating concurrency, takes five hours to draw the picture when the pixels are shared among 64 processes. Photo A shows the picture when it is half complete.

The debugged program can then be mapped on to a network of Transputers. Figure A can be regarded as a block diagram of either the processes or the Transputer network. A Transputer implementing the ray-tracing process can even be regarded as a hardware ray-tracing machine.

The network of 64 (plus one screen driver) Transputers shown in figure A will draw the picture in about half a minute.

As well as calculating their own share of pixels, each of the 64 Transputers routes pixels along the pipeline toward the screen driver Transputer. A diagram of the processes and

channels on each Transputer is shown in figure B. An Occam program to describe these processes is

CHAN LocalChannel:

PRI PAR

. . . Routing process . . Pixel calculator

The routing process expands to:

SEQ k = [0 FOR (NumberOfPixelsRoutedByThisProcess)] VAR Pixel: ALT Linkln ? Pixel

LinkOut ! Pixel LocalChannel ? Pixel LinkOut ! Pixel

The expression (NumberOfPixelsRoutedByThisProcess) depends on where the Transputer is in the pipeline. The processes assume that the pixel sent through the pipeline of Transputers includes both the value of the pixel and an iden

Photo A: The ray tracing is half done.

Photo B: The completed ray-tracing output.

224 BYTE" MAY 1985

THE TRANSPUTER

a number of configurable strobes, which can be used to generate the control signals for dynamic RAMs.

Transputer Systems

A system can be built with a single Transputer; some ROM (read-only

memory) and perhaps some peripherals can be put on the memory interface—the Transputer then behaves as a high-performance microprocessor. This single Transputer system can be enhanced by adding another Transputer, programmed to do a spe

cialized job and linked to the first Transputer as a coprocessor. The text box shows a number of Transputers connected in pipelines. Figure lb shows a number of Transputers linked together in an array.

[continued)

tifier to enable the screen driver Transputer to determine which pixel it is receiving.

Sixteen Transputers are programmed as a pipeline with this program:

CHAN PixelPipeline [0 FOR TransputersDeep+1]: PAR i = [0 FOR TransputersDeep]

. . . Pixel calculating and routing Transputer

Four of these pipelines hooked up to the screen-driver Transputer are described by the program

DEF PixelsWide = 512:

DEF PixelsDeep = 512:

DEF TransputersDeep = 16:

DEF TransputersWide = 4:

CHAN PixelPipeline [(TransputersDeep +1)'TransputersWide]:

PAR

. . . Screen Driver Transputer

PAR j = [0 FOR TransputersWide] PAR i = [0 FOR TransputersDeep]

. . . Pixel calculating and routing Transputer

Figure A: Arrangement of 64 Transputers {plus one screen driver) {or ray tracing.

This program corresponds directly to figure A.

In this example, extensive use has been made of the ". . ." comment facility used by the Occam programming system to hide unwanted detail and help structure the program. The technique, known as "folding," allows quick and efficient navigation through a large program.

It is interesting to consider the communication overhead of the pipeline in this application. Each Transputer linked directly to the screen driver passes along data for 64.000 pixels. The routing process takes about 10 microseconds per pixel, which makes for an overhead of 0.64 second out of 30 seconds—about 2 percent. Grouping the pixels together and sending them in blocks of 32 pixels would reduce this to less than 0.1 percent overhead. The remaining 99.9 percent of each Transputer's processing power can be used for calculating pixels.

The number of Transputers used is defined as a set of constants at the start of the program. Reconfiguring for a different number of Transputers requires no more than changing these definitions. Writing the program this way makes it particularly easy to choose a number of Transputers to provide the appropriate cost/performance for the application.

^<a.

LINKIN

PIXEL

CALCULATOR

PROCESS

LOCALCHANNEL

ROUTING PROCESS

LINKOUT

M/

Figure B: Processes in each of the 64 Transputers shown in figure A.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 225

X Turbo Board™ :

On-Board 8088-2 Processor Optional Configuration of 8087 Numeric Processor i On-Board Maximum RAM Capacity of 640K Extended Rom Capability of 8K BIOS and 40K for Basic or other programs

Peripheral Support Circuits as

on PC

Configuration Switches as on

PC

• Eight PC Compatible I/O Interface SLOTS

Standard Key-Board Interface Speaker/Audio Port Two LED Ports for Turbo and power level indication PC Compatible Power Connectors

. All features — including board size — same as PC

THE MOST ADVANCE SYSTEM AVAILABLE

X Turbo Board + 7 Plus

= The Most Advanced System

IBM XT COMPATIBLE

7 PIiiq™ •

When you use X Turbo Board" with the 7 Plus" multifunction card it makes up the most advanced *._ . and compact system available. Seven Reasons for the 7 Plus" : | *-~.

• To leave as many of your expansion slots as possible free for future use.

To minimize your componen cost in completing your syste

• To reduce your installation tim

• To maximize your computer productivity. wG^--...

• To keep your system'sfefnpe.rj-■-.""• ature down.. V ',:.., *['• ("'••>„ u

• All thejunctions thatfhe-ideal y.f': PC-Sh.QuTd:pqssess.. "'•••..., Andltnallyour desire to set an 'Uf- f*»»^ industry alt-ih-one-Stdfidatd f...

The Most Adv( System:

The advantages of using Turbo Board in conjunction witr 7 Plus are many. It contains all the functions you need in one system — the X Turbo System.

• 640K on board

• 2 Serial Port

^U

' ur(f

- >Wi

'- yVv*»

Ifc

•■

■*'/

OEM, Distributor and Dealer Inquiries Welcome!

AMERICAN RESEARCH CORPORATION

2001 W. Chestnut St., Room 103 Alhambra, CA 91803 Telex: 265653

(848) 289-8742

KM and IBM PC/XT am trademarks of IBM Corp

THE TRANSPUTER

There is no limit to the size, function, or shape of a network of Transputers.

Other networks can be built. A functionally distributed network might have random interconnections between Transputers (figure 4). An array could have its ends connected toroidally (figure 5) to simulate an infinite network in a similar way to the Bagel developed by Shapiro (reference 5). Systolic arrays developed by H. T. Kung (reference 6) and wavefront processors developed by S. Y. Kung (reference 7) map naturally onto networks of Transputers. (Incidentally, the systolic and wavefront architectures are easy to model in Occam, even if the final implementation is intended to be special-purpose hardware, as shown by Fujitsu in reference 8.)

There is no design limit to the size, function, or shape of a network of Transputers. Further, provided the network of Transputers is programmed so that they cooperate—rather than one Transputer waiting for another that waits for another, and so on—the performance of a network is directly proportional to the size of the network. For example, the ray tracing described in the text box shows a negligible 0.1 percent overhead of communication between Transputers.

Building Blocks

Because Transputers can be built into systems of arbitrary size, function, or shape, they can be thought of as building blocks. Making a link between two Transputers is as simple as joining together the lug and hole on two Lego bricks; both are standardized connections.

Another respect in which the analogy holds is that a network of

(continued)

Inquiry 27 for Dealers. ••—Inquiry 28 for End-Users.

Call tor pricing on other Sperry Computers

Authorized Sperry Distributor Dealer Inquiries Invited.

SPERRY PC COMPUTERS

Mono Desktop 256K, 2 Drives, Serial Port, Par. Port,

Clock, MSDOS 2.11, GWBasic plus Other Software $1650

Portable Computer 256K 2 Drives Full IBM Compatibility $1650

DATA BASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Fox and Geller Quickcode $125

Knowledgeman $225

Condor III $289

NWA Statpak $265

Tim IV $219

DBase Manager II $165

FRIDAY $159

Personal Pearl $215

PFS File $78

Nutshell $65

RBaso 4000 $240

CLOUT 2 $129

Power Base $219

WORD PROCESSING

Wordstar Pro Pack $240

Samna III $265

Wordstar 2000 for IBM PC $238

Wordstar 2000 + $285

Leading Edge Word

Processor/Merge $95

Microsoft Word $225

Word Perfect $219

Volkswriter for the IBM PC $110

Volkswriter DeLuxe $149

Random House Spell Checker $36

PFS Write $78

Multimate $255

Peachtext 5000 $185

SPREADSHEETS

Supercalc II $145

Supercalc III $159

Microsoft Multiplan $119

!TK Solver $239

Lotus 123 $294

Symphony $415

ACCOUNTING

TCS. Big Four equivalent of Peachtree Series 4 - Specially augmented and customized for your IBM PC Terminal and Printer - GL, AR, PA, AP, CP/M-80, CP/M-86 for PC XT, DOS 1.1, 2.0. Each Module . . . $65 For All Four $249

CYMA Call

Dollars & $ence $95

MBSI Accounting (Real World) $350

Tobias Managing Your Money $99

TRANSFER PROGRAMS

Hayes Smartcom $85

Move-it $79

Microstuff Crosstalk $95

BEST PRICE IN U.S. FOR IBM PC OR CLONES

Multifunction Board - Includes Async Adapter, Parallel Adapter, Clock with battery back-up and Software, 64K memory expandable to 384K. 1 year warranty $235

LANGUAGES

Lifeboat Lattice C Compiler $265

Lattice C Interpreter $100

Microsoft C Compiler $299

Microsoft Pascal Compiler $180

Microsoft Basic Compiler $235

Microsoft Basic Language $225

FOR PC DOS

PC Paint Brush $85

Norton Utilities $54

Copy II PC $24

Prokey V3.0 $69

Harvard Project Manager $199

Microsoft Flight Simulator $32

Think Tank $98

HARDWARE

ABC Printer Switch $85

Micro Fazer Parallel 64K $185

Hayes 1200 Modem $395

Hayes 1200b Modem for IBM PC .. $349

64K RAM Chips (9) 150 NSEC $18

Anchor Signalman

1200 baud Modem $245

lOmega Bernoulli 20 Megabyte ... $2495

Princeton RGB Monitor $459

Taxan RGB Vision 425 $399

Diskette Super Special!

10 D/S D/D (Qty 100) $12.95

COMPUTERS

IBM Computer Call

BOARDS FOR THE IBM PC OR LOOKALIKES

Hercules Color Board with Par. Port.$149

AST Six Pack $249

384K Board with 256K $220

Quadcolor I $185

STB Graphics II Board $245

Paradise Graphics Board $275

New Quadram Multifunction Board . $225 PRINTERS

FREE! PRINTER SET SOFTWARE

Purchase an Okidata, Epson or Gemini printer and receive at no charge a menu driven program to set print characteristics or to make your computer function as a correcting typewriter. Retail value $35. Available for most disk formats.

Gemini SG/10 Call

Gemini SG/15 Call

Okidata 82A, 83A, 93P Call

Okidata 93P $569

Okidata 84P $650

Juki 6100 $389

Juki 6300 $689

Call on all Epson Models

Silver-Reed EXP 400 $235

Silver-Reed EXP 550 $395

Toshiba 1351 $1164

NEC, Diablo Call

TERMS: Prices include 3% cash discount. Add 3% for charge orders. Shipping on most items S5.00. AZ orders +6% Sales Tax. Personal check, allow ten (10) days to clear. Prices subject to change.

Se habla Esparibi

Call for programs not listed

wAREHOUS

DATA PRODUCTS

WAREHOUSE DATA PRODUCTS

2701 West Glendale Ave., Suite 6, Phoenix, Arizona 85021

Technical & Other Information (602) 246-2222

TOLL FREE ORDER LINE 1-800-421-3135

MAY 1985 -BYTE 227

Inquiry 217

ELECTRONICS

^■■M*.1

ELECTRONICS

1

Commodore" Accessories ProModem 1200 and Options Apple" Accessories

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. Complete 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

P|u9"l?in

JE520CM

JE520AP

• Over 250 word vocabulary-affixes allow the formation of more than 500 words • Built-in amplifier, speaker, volume control, and audio jack • Recreates a clear, natural male voice • Plug-in user ready with documentation and sample software • Case size: 7VL x 3VW x 1-3/8"H

APPLICATIONS; • Security Warning • Telecommunication

• Teaching • Handicap Aid

• Instrumentation • Games

Pari No. Description Price

JE520CM For Commodore 64 & VIC-20 $114.95

JE520AP For Apple ii II. and//e $149.95

Computer Memory Expansion Kits

IBM PC, PC XT and Compatibles

Most ol Ihe popular Memory Boards (eg Quaatam" Expansion Boards) allow you 10 add an additional 64K. 128K 192K or 256K The IBM64K Kit will populate ihese boards in 64K byte increments The Kit is simple to installjust insert the 9- 64K RAM chips in Ihe provided sockets and set the 2 groups ot switches Complete conversion documentation included

IBM64K (Nine 200ns 64K RAMs) $33.49

IBM PC AT

Each ktt comes complete with nine 128K dynamic RAMs and documentation tor conversion

IBM128K (Nine 250ns 128K RAMs) $199.95

APPLE lie

Extended 80-Column/64K RAM Card Expands memory by 64K togive 128K when used with programs like VisiCalc"" Fully assembled and tested

JE864 $99.95

TRS-80 MODEL I, III

Each Kit comes complete with eight MM5290 IUPD416/4116| 16K Dynamic RAMs and documentation lor conversion Model 1 16K equipped with Expansion Interface can be expanded to 4BK with 2 Kits Model III Can be expanded Irom 16K to 48K using 2 Kits Each Kil 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 to install Kit comes complete with 8 ea 4164N-20 (200ns) 64K Dynamic RAMs and conversion documentalion Converts TRS-80 Model IV computers Irom 16K to 64K Also expands Model 4P Irom 64K to 12BK

TRS-64K-2 $29.95

(Converts the Model IV horn 16K to 64K or will expand the Model 4P from 64Kto 128K)

TRS-64K2PAL (Model IV only) $49.95

(8 - 11 64 s with PAL Chip 1o expand from 64K to 126K)

TRS-80 COLOR AND COLOR II

Easy to install Kit comes complete with 8 each 4164N-20 (200ns| 64K Dynamic RAMs and documentalion tor conversion Converts TRS-80 Color Computers with D. E. ET, F and NC circuit boards to 32K Also converts TRS-80 Color Computer II lo 64K Flex DOS or OS-9 required to utilize lull 64K RAM on all computers

TRS-64K-2 $29.95

^mMF protect yourself...

S^^ , DATASHIELD

^•y> #4 Surge Protector

^k / gV Eliminates wiitage yiikes and EMi-HFI noise before il

Models, -'W ~ can tlHinage your aqu ;nt or cause data loss. 6-mo

1nn ^ warranty Power dlssioation (100 microseconds)

100 \^ 2.000.00C watts

PART WO DESCRIPTION PRICE

MODEL 75 4 Sockets. On/Otf Switch $49.95

MODEL 85 6 Sock . Super Filters. On/Oh" Switch $59.95

MODEL 100 6 Sock.. Super Filters, Low Volt. Alarm. .. $69.95

MODEL 110AMS 6 Sockets. Super Filters.

Aulo Master Switch $99.95

DATASHIELD ,i Back-Up Power Source

Protect your computer Irom macK-ouis. Drown.ours, power surges and line noise PTI's PC200 is designed tor PCs . — with (loppy disk memory, Ihe XT300 tor hard disk memory ■I andlheATBOOIor multi-user syslems Atypical compatible PC tor each ol these standby* will be supported lor 15 to 2b minutes atler power is lost Weight (PC200 24 lbs I ixr300 37 5 lbs l - IAT500 83 IDs I - (ATB00 83 lbs I

PC200 (200 Watt Rating) S299.95

XT300 (300 Wat! Rating) $399.95

AT500 (500 Watt Rating) $699.95

AT800 (800 Watt Rating) $799.95

$£ Intelligent 300/1200 Baud Prometheus Telephone Modem with Real Time Clock/Calendar

The ProModem" is a Bell 212A (300/1200 baud) intelligent 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/ialphanumeric display option. Part No. Description Price

PM1200 RS-232 Stand Alone Unit $349.95

PM1200A Apple II, II+ and lie Internal Unit $369.95

PM1200B IBM PC and Compatible Internal Unit $269.95

PM1200BS IBM PC & Comp. Int. Unit w/ProCom Software $319.95

MAC PAC Macintosh Package $399.95

(Includes PM1200. Cable, & ProCom 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) $10.95

PMO-32K (Options Processor Memory - 32K) $20.95

PMO-64K (Options Processor Memory - 64K) $39.95

PM-ALP (Alphanumeric Display) $79.95

PM-Special (Includes Options Processor, 64K Memory

and Alphanumeric Display) $189.95

KEYBOARDS

5V«" APPLE v

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 Controller & ACC-1 Controller • The drive comes complete with connector and cable - just plug into your disk controller card -Size: 6"L x 3VW x 8-9/16"D • Weight: V* lbs.

ADD-514 (Disk Drive) $169.95

ACC-1 (Controller Card) $ 49.95

More Apple Compatible Add-Ons...

APF-1 iCoofing Fan with surge protection). . . . $39.95

KHP4007 (Switching Power Supply) $59.95

JE614 (Numeric/Aux. Keypad tor lie) $59.95

KB-A68 (Keyboard w/Keypad tor II & II + ) $79.95

MON-12G (12" Green Monitor w/swive! sland,. . . . $99.95

JE864 (80 Col +64K RAM for fle) $99.95

ADD-12 (5V Halt-Height Disk Drive) $179.95

JNBflk* ADDITIONAL APPLE ^JjpH^ ADD-ONS AVAILABLE

ARC-1 6K(16K RAM Card lor Apple II & II + ) $39.95

AEB-2 (EPROM Burner for Apple II, IK & lie) . .$69.95

Allows copy ot standard EPROMS

2708,2716,2732,2764 ASSC-P (Super Serial Card for Apple ll. II+ & lie). .$99.95 ADD-IIC (5V Hall-Hl. Disk Drive tor Apple WO $1 89.95

13VLx4VWx VH

SPECIAL FUNCTIONS!

Description

Mitsumi 54-Key Unencoded All-Purpose Keyboard

• SPST keyswitches • 20 pin ribbon cable connection • Low profile keys • Features: cursor controls, control, caps (lock), function, enter and shift keys

• Color (keycaps); grey ■ Wt.; 1 lb. • Pinout included

KB54 $14.95

DISK DRIVES

82-Key ASCII Cherry Keyboard

• 7-bil parallel ASCII • 11 -key numeric keypad

• Cursor keypad • SPST mechanical keyswitches ■ 4 illuminated keys • 26-pin header connector Color: white -Size: 18"L x 6WV x 1 VH -Spec included

KB8201.

. 0700 avail.). . . . $29.95

Apple Keyboard and Case for Apple II and II»

Keyboard ■ 68 keys ■ 15-key keypad • Direct connection with 16-pin ribbon connector • 26 special functions • Size: 14VL x 5VWx 1 VH Case Accommodales KB-A68 ■ Pop-op lid for easy access • Fits power supply and motherboard too • Size 15VWx 18"Dx4V'H price

Documentation^- i ^m\\\m^^' a.esf Included ^vaS**^ ">*•'

MPI5IS (MPI 5V SS full-ht.) $ 89.95

RFD480 (Remex 5V DS full-ht.) $109.95

TM100-2 (Tandon 5V DS full-ht). . . . $159.95

FD55B (Teac 5*" DS half-ht.) $149.95

SA455 (Shugart 5V DS half-ht).... $159.95

FDD100-8 (Siemens 8" SS full-ht.) $119.95

PCK-5 (5V Power Cable Kit) $2.95

PCK-8 (8* Power Cable Kit) $3.95

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

Power/Mate Corp. REGULATED POWER SUPPLY

• Input: 105-125/210-250 VAC at 47-63 Hz • Line regulation: -0 05% - Three mounling surfaces • Overvoltage protection • UL recognized • CSA cenitied fttlNo. Output Size Weiglil Prtc

8 Chips - 21 Minutes |

[ 1 Chip - 15 Minut.es

^~^m~

Itei

•Mr/

m

EMA5/6B

EMA5/6C

5V@3A/6V@2 5A 4VL x 4"W x 2VH 2 lbs. 5V®6A/6V@5A 5VL x 4VW x 2VH 4 lbs

$29.95 $39.95

Erases all EPROMs. Erases up to 8 chips within 21 minutes t1 chip in 15 minutes) Maintains constant exposure distance of one 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 for 8 chips

DE-4 UV-EPROM Eraser $74.95

UVS-11 EL Replacement Bulb $16.95

KEPCO/TDK 4-OUTPUT SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY • Ideal for disk drive needs of CRT terminals, microcomputers and

video games • Input 115/230VAC. 50760Hz • Output t 5V @ 5 Amp, * 12V fl 1.8 Amp. +12V @ 2 Amp, -12V @ 0.5 Amp ■ UL recognized -CSA certified ■ Size: 7W*L x 6-3/16"Wx1VH- Weight: 2 lbs. C59 95 each Or

MRM 174KF 2* for $99.95

Switching Power Supply for APPLE II, II+ & We™

■ 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. +12V@ 1.5A, -5V 0 ,5A. -12V @ .5A

■ Direct plug-in power cord included ■ Size: 9VL x 3VW x 2VH

• 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, 47-440Hz • Output: +5VDC ® 5A, -5VDC® 1 A; +t2VDC®1A,-12VDC@1A-Line regulations: "0.2%- Ripple: 30mV p-p ■ Load regulation: ' 1% ■ Overcurrent protection ■ Adj: 5V main output +10% -Size: 6WL x 1VWx 4-15/16"H -Weight: Vk lbs.

FCS-604A $69.95

IBM PCXT EQUIVALENT 130 WATT POWER SUPPLY UPGRADE YOUR PC!

•Input: 100V-130V/20QV-260V selectable @ 47 to 63Hz -Output +5VDC fl 15A, -5VDC @ 0.5A. +12VDC @ 4.2A. -12VDC 6 0.5A • Plug compatible connectors • Fits into IBM PC ■ Weight: 6 lbs.

IBM-PS $169.95

l^.-tlJj;M.',l^;r«W;yj.'.l.'.IJ;l

See Our Now IBM Communications Program!

24 & 28 PIN PACKAGES

$1D Minimum Order - US Funds Only CA Rssidenis Add b' ■;% SalM Tax Sp«c ShMt* - 30c Mch

Shipping: Add 5% plus St.50 Insurance Send St Postage tor FREE 1985 J*mmx> Catalog Price* Subject to Change

Styrtd stamped, self-addressed en vmlope to rvcaiva J Monthly Sales Flyer - FREE!

J a ■=n=M.ii'i:i:»a

1355 SHOREWAY ROAD, BELMONT, CA 94002 5/85 PHONE ORDERS WELCOME - (415) 592-8097 - Telex: 176043

REQUIRES NO ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS FOR OPERATION

Programs and validates EPROMs -Checks lor properly erased EPROMs ■ Emulates PROMs or EPROMs ■ Loads data in RAM by keyboard - Changes data in RAM by keyboard - Loads RAM Irom an EPROM - 661 RAMs can be used lor external microprocessor development • Compares EPROMs tor content differences- Copies EPROMs -Input 115VAC * 60Hi - Assembled andlested-Size ibVL * 8VD - Vi H ■ Wl b'<- lbs- 2716Moduleincluded

JE664-A EPROM Programmer $995.00

JE665-RS232C INTERFACE OPTION — This option implements computer access to the JE664s RAM, allowing computer to man.pulale, store, and transfer EPROM data lo and Irom ihe JE664 Sample program listing is supplied In MBASIC tor CP'M computers ■ Documentation provided lo adapt the software to other computers wilh 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/JE665 Option $1195.00

JE664-ARS COMMUNICATION PROGRAM For IBM-PC or XT and Compatibles

• Fast compiled BASIC program ■ Easy to uae, menu-driven • Print hardcopiea of EPROM data • view data in HEX and ASCII NEW!

The JE664-ARS Communicalion Program was written lor quick interfacing between the JE664-ARS EPROM Programmer and trie IBM-PC computer and compatibles Menu-driven program allows user to Load and Saw" EPROM data to and Irom the computer or floppy disk Data entered by the computer can be viewed in Hex 4 ASCII formats Printed hard-copies are also displayed in both formats. Program is ideal for keeping archives ol master EPROMs on disk The program is compatible tor all EPROMs listed with the JE664. Computer requirements IBM-PC. XT [or eq | with at least 128K RAM and one serial port Optional One parallel port for printer

JE664-ARS-CP $49.95

JE664-ARS Communications Program (SV Disk and User's Instructions)

JE664-CP CABLE $29.95

Cable for IBM-PC to JE664-ARS Program (5 Shielded Cable Assembly)

JUMPER (Personality) MODULES - Jumper (Personality) Modules for 8K, 16K, 32K, and 64K EPROMs 'Please specify EPROM and manufacturer JUMPER (Personality) MODULE ' . S14.9S I

SshJ

Inquiry 217

MAY 1985 -BYTE 229

Inquiry 30

Little Board™ $349'

•UNDER $200 IN OEM QUANTITIES

4-MHz Z80A CPU, 64K RAM, Z80A CTC, and

2732 Boot ROM

Mini/Micro Floppy controller (1-4 Drives,

Single/Double Density, 1-2 sided, 40/80 track)

Only 5-75 x 7.75 inches, mounts directly to a

5 1/4" floppy drive

Two R5232C Serial Ports (75-9600 baud

and 75-38,400 baud), 1 Centronics Printer Port

Power Requirements »5VDC at 0.75A, + 12VDC

at 0.05A/On-board -12V Converter

CP/M 2.2 BDOS • ZCPR3CCP

Enhanced A/\PRO BIOS

AMPRO Utilities included

• Read/write to more than two dozen other formats (Kaypro, Televideo, IBMCP/M86...)

• Format disks for more than a dozen other computers

• Menu-based system customization BIOS and Utilities Source Code available

BOOKSHELF

AS LOW AS 5635 IN OEM OTV

MODEL QTy 1 PRICE

121 1 400K DSDD Drive S 895 00

122 2 400K DSDD Drives 995 00 142 2 800K DSQD Drives 1,095 00

™ SetUi roo

an

I

• Little Board CPU

• Runs thousands of CP/M programs

• Enhanced Operating System including ZCPR3 CCPand FRIENDLy'" Integrated Operating Environment

• Word Processing, Electronic Spreadsheet, Database Management, Spelling Checker all included (complete T/maker Pkg )

• 10 MB hard disk version available

• 6'V'high, 7'Vwide, 10Vdeep, 121ilbs

SCSI/PLUS™ Adapter

Compatible with most Z80 Systems (send $10 for complete specifications)

• Mounts directly to Little Board

• Multi-Master high-speed parallel bus *°°

• SASI-SCSI compatible QT/ 1

• General purpose I/O expansion bus

• Supports up to 64 bus devices

• Allows multi-Little Board Systems and resource sharing

• Little Board hard disk software/source $79 QTY 1

DISTRIBUTORS

Argentina-Factorial, S.A 1 41-0018

Australia-ASP Microcomputers ... - 613-500-0628 Belgium-Centre Electronigue Lempereur 041-23-45-41 Canada-Electronic Sales Assoc ... (604)986-5447

Denmark-Danbit 03-66-20-20

England-Quant Systems 01-534-3158

Finland-Symmetric OY 358-0-585-322

France-EGAL+ 1-502-1800

Israel-Alpha Terminals 03-491695

Spam-Xenios Informatica 3-593-0822

Sweden-AB AKTA 08-54-20-20

USA CALL AMPRO

Z80A is a resistered trademark of Zilog, Inc CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research

COMPUTERS INCORPORATED

67 East Evelyn Ave. • Mountain View, CA 94041

(415) 962-0230 • TELEX 4940302

THE TRANSPUTER

Transputers has the same interface as a single Transputer in much the same way as an assembly of Lego bricks has the same interface (lugs and holes) as a single brick. A big Transputer can be built out of four Transputers, as shown in figure 6a. This Transputer can in turn be used as a building block to make a bigger Transputer (figure 6b), and so on. These big and bigger Transputers present the user with exactly the same four link interfaces as did the original Transputer. A further analogy with Lego bricks is that they come in different shapes and sizes and with different numbers of lugs and holes. Transputers will

have different word lengths, different processor speeds, and different memory interfaces, but they will all use the same links, run off the standard 5-MHz input clock, and be programmable in Occam.

The analogy holds just as well with Occam processes as it does with Transputers.

One respect in which the analogy with Lego bricks does not hold is that Lego bricks are constrained to connect to their immediate neighbors. In many Transputer networks, most of the connections will also be between adjacent Transputers, but the links do

[continued]

IMS T424

-notWbyte3

-notWbyte2

notWbytel

notWbyteO-notG = /OE

7*>

<w>

-/WE

VCC

E>VS DYN RAW /RFSH

-notS0=/CE

0

8K X 8 OR 32K X 8

jAMK,

T<7

7^

Figure 3: Four byte-wide RAMs connected to a T424.

Hi

Figure 4: A random, possibly functionally distributed, network.

Figure 5: A toroidally connected array.

230 BYTE- MAY 198S

ork isn't

The right

a matter of choice. Its a

matter of feet

Fact: You can't buy smarter than an OMNINET™ Network.

Whether you have 2 microcomputers or 200, you bought them to handle information. If each micro has to handle it separately both your equipment and your people are working inefficiently.

Because they could network with OMNINET. Sharing information — as well as the printing and data storage equipment that really puts information to work.

Add CORVUS' SNA Gateway, and you can link your entire network directly to your mainframe.

The price? At under $500 per hookup, OMNINET is the most cost effective network you can install. Or expand.

Fact: This network was designed for microcomputers.

Micros get moved. Businesses expand.

Your network should be able to grow and change just as fast as your business does.

That's why an OMNINET Network uses simple, telephone-type line. Even relocating the system to a whole new building is just a move. Instead of a construction project.

Fact: OMNINET Networks offer

unmatched compatibility.

From Apples to Zeniths, OMNINET handles more varieties of computers than any other network. So keep the DEC's in Data Processing and the PC's in Purchasing. OMNINET will keep them all on speaking terms.

Fact: The experts network with OMNINET.

Over 30 of the major computer companies have licensed OMNINET for networking their micros. So you don't have to worry about support tomorrow for the system you pick today.

And OMNINET already has the most software options around — over 500 programs to choose from, according to your people's needs. Not their network's limitations.

Fact: The facts have made us *1.

CORVUS pioneered local area networking for microcomputers, and we've never stopped working on ways to improve it.

Just give us a ring at 800 -4 -CORVUS to find out more.

Because while calling ourselves the best is a matter of opinion, telling you that 3 out of every 5 locally networked micros work on a CORVUS network is something else*

It's a matter of fact.

Gorvus

The Networking Company

"59% of all locally-networked micros operate in a corvi is network, according to /n/o<^£coRviis,THENETVtt)RKlNG company, omninet.omnidrive and c^^ IBM PC is a trademark of International Business Machines, apple is a trademark of apple compi iter inc dec is a trademark of digital equipment corr)RATIon. Zenith is a trademark of Zenith Corporation.

Inquiry 111

MAY 1985 -BYTE 231

Inquiry 91

f fill 4(?e no*/ )

, maw !

I >AYCONTHOL.J

THERE'S

WAY TO

CONTROL

YOUR

ADAPTA PRINT SOFTWARE

FAST AND EASY FINGERTIP CONTROL OF YOUR PRINTER

• Adapta-Print's pop-up menu lets you use your printer to its fullest capability—without having to exit whatever program you're working on That includes full control of form layout, type style, and genera) printer functions

• For non-IBM compatible printers, a built-in translator makes your printer compatible with the IBM printer, allowing it to generate pictures using Lotus 1-2-3* and most other software

• There's an option available called TURN that gives Adapta-Prmt the capability to print sideways

• A built-in spooler allows your printer to print one |Ob while you work on another,

• Available for many brands of dot matrix printers, including Epson, Okidata, Hewlett-Packard, NEC, Toshiba, Mannesmann, Tally, C. Itoh, Datasouth, and most other dot matrix printers

PURCHASE ADAPTS PRINT FOR ONLY $65.

P^s $2 sfippi^g anc handling

(TURN option is $24 additional)

Call 615-966-1399 with your Visa or MasterCard number. Operators are on duty weekdays until 900 EST Or send your cheok or money order to the address below

Computational Systems Incorporated

Dept, BY

One Energy Center

Pellissippi Parkway

Knoxville, Tennessee 37922

'Lotua and 1-2-3 are trademark, of Lotua Development Corporation.

THE TRANSPUTER

not force this constraint, as the toroidal network, in figure 5 shows.

Using Transputers

For the small computer, a simple base product might contain one to four Transputers, probably in a functionally distributed network with one Transputer handling file I/O (input/output) and another handling the screen. More performance could be achieved with add-on boards: it would be possible to add Transputers and memory in much the same way that memory add-on boards are used now.

If the add-on board has four Transputers, each with four 32K by 8-bit

RAMs, as in figure 3, the board would have a processing power of 20 to 40 MIPS and a memory of V-i megabyte. Four boards would produce 80 to 160 MIPS and 2 megabytes. An alternative, densely packed add-on board might have two Transputers, each with thirty-two 2 56K by 1-bit dynamic RAMs. Four of these boards would produce 40 to 80 MIPS and 8 megabytes. Four of either add-on board produces a machine that could fairly be described as a "personal supercomputer."

Transputer-based add-on boards could alternatively be used with an

[continued!

(a)

(b)

__r&^

r

1

L ^T-^ _l

H

s

'tf

fi

p

. ft

~ ■ i

L

J

! rVT1 rS i

tm~

Figure 6: [a] A big Transputer built from four Transputers, (b) A bigger Transputer built from four big Transputers.

(b)

I960

105 10 • 103 102

10' 10°

- MIPS. ALSO

BUS THROUGHPUT. LINK THROUGHPUT. AND MEMORY

NUMBER OF TRANSPUTERS IN SYSTEM

10° 101 102 103 10*

Figure 7: [a) Conventional system throughput {in MIPS) by year [very approximate), (b) Transputer system throughput as a function of the number of Transputers in the system.

232 BYTE

"It's easy to spot the difference between our IBM PC-based frame grabber and the others'.'

High performance and affordable cost, just $1495 for a single plug-in board.

Unlike other video I/O systems, the new DT2803 provides real-time image capture capabilities, digitizing a 6-bit video field every 1/30 second. An on-board, memory-mapped, dual-ported frame store memory (256 x 256 x 8) makes it ideal for the IBM PC's 64K buffer size. And for real number crunching,

SPECIFICATIONS: DT2803

A/D Input RS-170 (CCIRR), 6-bits at 5MHz

Frame Grab 1/30 (1/25) second per field

LUT's 8,64 x 8 input; 4,256 x 12 output

D/A Output 64 colors x 64 intensities, R-G-B; 64 grey levels, monochrome

Frame Memory 256 x 256 x 8 (2-bits for graphic overlays)

the DT2803's external ports interface to high speed co-processors.

With our software package, VIDEOLAB," the DT2803 is easy to use for image operations like averages, histograms, and convolutions.

So, if your application is manufacturing/automatic inspection, robotics, or medical research, our new high performance video I/O board will really open your eyes-at an unbeatable price.

Call (617) 481-3700

Call for our new 576 pg. catalog/ handbook or see it in Gold Book 1985.

DATATRANSLATION

World Headquarters: Data Translation, Inc., 100 Locke Dr., Marlboro, MA 01752 (617) 481 3700 Tlx951 646.

European Headquarters: Data Translation, Ltd., 13 The Business Centre, Molly Millars Lane, Wokingham Berks, RG112QZ, England Tlx: 851849862 ( #D)

In Canada: (416)625-1907. IBM PC is a registered trademark of IBM. VIDEOLAB is a registered trademark of Data Translation, Inc.

Inquiry 123

MAY 1985 'BYTE 233

2400 bps modems: Do you Really need another speed?

• Is the shift from 300 to 1200 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 212A 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 rackmounted 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 /1200 / 300 bps modem is just a plain good investment. Why not let the MultiModem224 provide your communications for both today and tomorrow?

Inquiry 282

MultiTee #

Systems ^Qf

82 Second Ave S.E., New Brighton, MN5511

The right answer every time.

1 (612)631-3550 TWX 910-563-3610

Mutti {St

Systems ^0r

l@9i luSi idSI

MuKiModem 224

2400/1200/300 BPS Intelligent Modem

151

■ i i i |j(EEi

1200 Ans

| 300 !'

THE TRANSPUTER

Performance is

a function of the number of Transputers.

existing computer, similar to Steve Ciarcia's TYump Card (reference 9).

The linear increase in performance with the number of Transputers used makes the lapanese Fifth Generation targets achievable as a function of the number of Transputers rather than as a function of years (figure 7). ■

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1 would like to acknowledge the help of colleagues in Bristol. England, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the preparation of this article. Particular thanks to Phil Atkin and Owen Ransen, who developed the ray-tracing program used in the panel.

REFERENCES

1. Pountain, Dick. "Microprocessor Design." BYTE, August 1984, page 361.

2. INMOS Limited. Occam Programming Manual. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice/Hall, 1984.

3. INMOS Limited. IMS T424 Transputer Reference Manual. 1984.

4. May. David, and Roger Shepherd. "The Transputer Implementation of Occam." Proceedings of the international Conference on Fifth Generation Computer Systems 1984. November 6-9. Tokyo, page 533. Published by ICOT.

5. Shapiro, Ehud. "Systolic Programming: A Paradigm for Parallel Processing." Proceedings of the international Conference on Fifth Generation Computer Systems 1984. November 6-9. Tokyo, page 458. Published by ICOT.

6. Kung. H. T "Why Systolic Architectures?" IEEE Computer. 15(1), page 37. 1982.

7. Kung, S. Y., et al. "Wavefront Array Processor: Language. Architecture and Applications." IEEE Transactions on Computers (Special issue on parallel and distributed computers). C-31 (11) November 1982. page 1054.

8. Maruyama. Fumihiro, et al. "PrologBased Expert System for Logic Design." Proceedings of the international Conference on Fifth Generation Computer Systems 1984. November 6-9. Tokyo, page 563. Published by ICOT.

9. Ciarcia, Steve. "Thjmp Card." BYTE, May 1984, page 40.

10. INMOS Limited. "Occam Programming Manual." (lapanese edition) KEI GAKU Publishing Co. Ltd.. lapan. 1984.

The Brand NEW printed this ad on an Epson FX printer

to J'cmou. J,<ynt'lB Fonts are available

Letter Quality

Say goodbye to correspondence quality and hello

high-resolution, proportionally spaced, letter quality.

in sizes from 6 to 72 points; styles include Roman, Bold, Italic. Script. Old

English, and more. All this on low-cost dot-matrix printers. J'anc^ j'ord

is an easy-to-use software package, developed by SoftCraft, Inc., for IBM

PC compatible systems and CP/M systems; no special hardware or

installation is required.

New Features Now Available in Version 2

The latest version of J'cuncu, J*&nt takes advantage of the phenomenal resolution of the Epson FX and RX printers to achieve laser printer quality. High resolution versions for the Toshiba 1350, 1351, 1340 and the Epson LQ-1500 will soon be available.

This version boasts a greatly expanded set of formatting commands, including word-wrap. Special typesetting features such as kerning and automatic ligature formation are provided by an optional utility.

As part of our library of fonts and utilities we have packages that make 3cuncu, fywnl directly compatible with Microsoft Word, Wordstar and Valdocs; if you know how to use any of these word processors then you already know how to use ^ancu, S'ont. Alternatively, you can still use almost any word processor to create a text file to be printed with 3ancu, J'oni.

Numerous Applications

S'cuncu. 3*<yni customers are constantly Business and personal letters Mailing labels from databases Custom forms, invoices, signs Foreign Languages Mathematical Notation, Greek Super- and Sub-scripts View Graphs

discovering new applications.

. Custom Letterheads

• Name tags, badges

• Articles for publication

• Newsletters, brochures

• Complete manuals

• Advertisements

• Resumes, invitations

Create Your Own Characters

Hundreds of fonts are available in our font library, and furthermore, you can create any new characters or logos you like, up to 1 inch by 1 inch. A database of over 1500 characters is included that makes it possible to print foreign languages and mathematical notations.

Font Style Samples

Bold Italic

.miii JL CL JL sL viz

Sans Serif J'c^ifU ©liiEngltsty

$*naB66fl3K±-^^HB§fl6ojtbA4,Q

Trademark.: Fancj Pont (SoftCraft), WordlUr (Mkropro), CP/M (Digital Rsaaarch), Valdocs (RMkf St*/). Microsoft, IBM

Jht, aucuUu. o£ tvrimt if* Mcceilvnt and Uul, wmwu.

of- tuAo. 14uM/A (MlAM/r-. Pit McK.mii.,

C/V C4X/TI/

Info.orW 5/2/ai

Order NOW - (800) 351-0500 - M/C Visa 1

MSDOS ud CP/M versions are available for the following printers: Epaon MX FX RX, IBM Graphics, Star Gemini 10X Radix Delta, TI 860 865, Inforunner. MSDOS versions

only are available or will soon be available for Toshiba 1360 1361 1340, Epson LQ-1500, C.Itoh Prowriter, NEC 8023. Specify printer when ordering.

ISoftCraft, Inc., 222 State St. #400, Madison, WI 63703 order* (800)861-06001

from Wlac: (808) 267-33001

1180

•10

6.591 or b%

•10 or 12

i (We've moved from California)

JFancy Pont System

IFaney Font Demo Disk

ICalif. and Wise, residents add sales tax

lOutside US add 110 postage (only (2 for demo)

JDiekette Format: (IBM PC, Epson QX10, Osborne DD,

Kaypro, 8' CP/M, Apple CP/M, Victor)

jPrinten (Epaon FX, Epson MX, etc.; see box at left)

117.50 of demo cost is applicable towards Fancy Font purchase.

ICP/M requires MY.. MSDOS 128K memory.

IFully transparent 8—bit printer interface required on Apple and CP/M.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 235

Super assemblers

plus the world's

largest selection of

cross assemblers!

All 2500 AD Assemblers and Cross Assemblers support the following features:

POWERFUL LINKER

—Links up to 128 files

—Allows files to be used just for

external reference resolution —Separate code and data space —Unlimited global and external

symbols —10 significant characters per

symbol, no limit to length —Submit or batch mode as well as

command invocation, for easier

linking of a large number of files

ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVES

Storage Control:

■ORG. ORIGIN END

■DB. DEFB. BYTE. STRING <DW. DEFW. WORD ■ LWORD. LONGW ■ASCII

■DS. DEFS. BLKB •BLKW

Definition Control:

EQU. EQUAL

VAR. DEFL

MACRO

ENDM.MACEND

MACEXIT

EXTERN.EXTERNAL

GLOBAL. PUBLIC

ASK

Assembly Mode:

RADIX

DATA

CODE

MOD32 0N&OFF

COMMENT

INCLUDE

DRIVES

Conditional Assembly:

IFZ. IFNZ. COND IFTRUE. IFFALSE IFDEF. IFNDEF IFSAME. IFDIFF IFEXT IFNEXT IFABS. IFREL IFMA. IFNMA ELSE

ENDC. ENDIFT IFCLEAR

Listing Control:

LIST ON OFF MACLISTON OFF CONDLISTON OFF PASS1 ON OFF PAGE. EJECT TITLE. HEADING SUBTITLE PW PL TOP

Additional Motorola Directives: • FCC

•SET. SETDP ■PAG •NAM •STTL •XDEF •XREF

■FCB, FDB. RMB •LONG

Run time commands (invoked while assembly is in progress): "S—Alternately start and stop

assembly "C—Terminate assembly "T—Display output at terminal "P—Display output at printer "D—Send output to disk "B—Both terminal and printer

or disk "N—Turn off output display

1 Year of free support and updates now included!

You will receive a special support phone number on all products purchased after 3 1 85 allowing free updates and a full 12 months of

support, included in the purchase price.

Features unique to these 2500 AD products:

6800 FAMILY—"S'-record output option, special directives for dealing with page zero, absolute or relocatable modes.

68000—'S"record output option, S-19. S-28andS-37.

65XX FAMILY—Special directives for dealing with page zero. Z-8—Register naming supported. TEK HEX output format.

8748—Register naming supported, INTEL HEX output. 8051 44—Register naming supported, INTEL HEX output.

8096—Register naming supported, INTEL HEX output, works for the 8097 as well. "Generic" calls and jumps allow assembler to determine long or short jumps.

Z-8000—Includes 8080 Z-80to Z-8000 source code translator, uses the 2500AD syntax, not source compatible with Zilog. Includes powerful segmented linker.

Z-80—Includes an Intel 8080 to Zilog Z-80 source code converter. Includes the 2500AD linker, not compatible with Microsoft at the link level.

8086/88 & 80186—Includes an 8080 Z-80 to 8086 source code translator that will convert 8080 Z-80 source code to 8086/88

source code. Includes linker, not link compatible with Microsoft. Code. Data. Stack, and Extra segments supported.

236 BYTE • MAY I985

ZILOG

OLIVETTI

Z80 SYST IBM PC

IBM PC

M-20

CP/MR

UNIX

MSDOS

CP/M86

PCOS

! Z8000™

$299.50

$750.00

$299.50

$299.50

$299.50

; Z80

99.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! Z8

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

■ 8086/88

199.50

750.00

99.50

99.50

199.50

! 80186

199.50

750.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 8748

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

| 8400/84C00

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 83C351

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

' 8044/51

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

i 8080

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 8085

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 8096

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 68020

399.50

750.00

399.50

399.50

399.50

[ 68000,08,10

299.50

750.00

299.50

299.50

299.50

■ 6800,02,08

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 6801,03

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 6804

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 6805

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

J 6809

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

; 68C11 new

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

< 32000

399.50

750.00

399.50

399.50

399.50

! COPS400

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! NSC800

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

| 6301

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

| 62801 new

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

■ 6501/11

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 6502

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

! 65C02

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

I 1802

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

J F8/3870

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

; NEC7500

199.50

500.00

199.50

199.50

199.50

i NCR/32

399.50

750.00

399.50

399.50

.399.50

Subtotal $

$

$

$ $

i Name

TO ORDER. Simply circle the product or

i Company

products you want

in the price columns

and add

! Address

up your order.

Total $

! City

State 7ip

Check one:

Shipping UPS Blue

i Phnne

□ 8" Single

Label no charge,

i Make and model of computer

□ Osborne

□ IBM PC

$20.00 shipping for International per unit

i system

[ J Cartridge tape

$

; □ COD (2500AD pays COD charges)

□ Apple (Softcard)

• □ VISA or MasterCard

□ Kaypro DSDD

Total Order S

Number

other formats available, please call!

Expiration Date

1 5V

YVir

W

Signature

">cn/i

/1DCIN

221

,r !

i ^V.

Box 4957, Englewood

, CO 80155, (303) 790-2588 TELEX 752659 AD

\L* j

Inquiry 437

INTRODUCING THE MODULA-2 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

The first complete programming environment brings the industry to

an all-time low.

EDIT

Modula-2 has been hailed as the programming language of the future. Its modular design and built-in error-control features make programming more efficient than ever.

And now there's a system that makes programming more affordable than ever. Interface Technologies' Modula-2 Software Development System (M2SDS).

EASY TO LEARN. EFFICIENT TO USE.

M2SDS features a "syntax-directed"

editor that makes programming easy

for beginners to learn. And faster for

professionals to use. With our editor you can enter full

statements with a single keystroke.

And save up to 90% on typing time. It

also gives on-line help in correcting

undefined variables and syntax errors

even more time.

Multiple editor windows let you refer to one file

while you edit another. That's one more way M2SDS adds hours of more creative, more productive time to your day.

TURN "WAIT TIME" INTO "WORK TIME." When there's no time like real-time, you can count on the M2SDS compiler. Up to 100 lines of Modula-2 text can be turned into native machine code in less than five seconds. To create programs using your computer's full capacity, there are 18 library modules. And unlike

$80.88

-which saves

Work faster and easier with multiple editor windows.

other low-priced compilers, M2SDS has a linker that assembles the components of your program. Automatically.

BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY.

BREAKTHROUGH PRICE. M2SDS works with IBM®

PC, XT, AT or any other 100% compatible computer.

Any programs you develop, you own. And M2SDS is non-copy protected.

For just $80.88, M2SDS is the complete programming environment. Including editor, compiler, linker, library modules, 8087 support and more.

Or choose the expanded, fully upgradeable SDS-XP for just $249. Later you can add a debugger, foreign object import module and tool box for even more programming capability. And efficiency. So whether you're a professional looking for a

faster way to program, or a novice looking for an

easier way to learn, there's a Modula-2 Software

Development System just for you.

Call us today for more information or to order

your M2SDS. Find out how our new low in system

pricing can put your programming efficiency at an

all-time high.

WE ACCEPT CHECKS, MASTERCARD, VISA AND AMERICAN EXPRESS. Price does not include shipping and handling. Texas residents add 6.125% Sales Tax. International orders add $30.

It not only has a faster compiler, it also saves time by compiling while you edit.

a,

INTERFACE TECHNOLOGIES

3336 Richmond. Suite 200, Houston, TX 77098

GET MORE PROGRAMMING EFFICIENCY IN A SYSTEM THAT COSTS LESS. IN TEXAS, CALL (713) 523-8422.

CALL 1-800-922-9049

238 B YTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 211

MULTIPROCESSING

DATA-MOVEMENT PRIMITIVES

by J. Eric Roskos and Ching-Dong Hsieh

A low-cost implementation of an innovative technique

for sharing memory

THE MOST COMMON digital-computer architectures use primary memory having two access primitives. These primitives are the lowest-level operations in the system. Typically the read operation nondestructively copies a value stored in a memory location to a location in the central processing unit (CPU) known as a register. The write operation writes over an existing value in primary memory with a value from the processor's registers.

In single-process systems, and in multiprocess systems that do not use shared memory, these operations are generally sufficient for the manipulation of data. Although a time lapse occurs between the reading and rewriting of data, no problems will result since only one process is accessing the data.

In multiprocess systems accessing shared data, this is not the case. Two processes that execute a statement on a common variable in overlapping time will both read the same value, increment it. and rewrite it; the second process writes over the value produced by the first process without taking that value into account.

Other problems exist in multipro

cess data sharing. In producer/consumer process pairs, for example, one process produces a data stream that the other process consumes. Problems include preventing the consumer from accessing memory locations that have not been filled by the producer and the producer from writing over data in the shared buffer before the consumer has acquired the previously written data.

To solve these problems, we have defined data-movement primitives, which are concerned with the movement of data between the central processor(s) and main memory. These primitives actually remove data from a location upon reading it. Thereafter, if a second process tries to read at that location, an interrupt is generated—the process has to wait until data is present to continue. Similarly, if a location already has data and a second process attempts to write over it, an interrupt is generated. We have defined the data-movement primitives as get and put.

To demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a multiprocessor system using data-movement primitives, our research team built a three-CPU multiprocessor based on the Motorola

6800 microprocessor. On September 27, 1984. this system successfully executed its first concurrent program, an implementation of Per Brinch Hansen's "incorrect" program (see reference 1). Such a system is not only feasible, it is inexpensive; the cost of the entire multiprocessor system was around $450. The project also demonstrated the effectiveness of the data-movement primitives by successfully executing a program that would not have functioned correctly on a conventional machine.

Selection of Hardware

Planning for a multiprocessor system began in late summer of 1983. We examined several implementation methods. The first of these involved the use of 6502-based Apple II CPU boards. These had two significant advantages: a "set overflow" (SO) pin could be used to set a condition code indicat

icontinued) }. Eric Roskos (2486 Sand lake Rd.. Orlando. FL 3 2 809) is a senior member of the technical staff of Perkin-Elmer Corporations Southern Development Center. Ching-Dong Hsieh is a graduate student at Vanderbilt University [Computer Science Depl.. Box 1679, Station B, Nashville. TN 37235).

MAY 1985

1YTE 239

PRIMITIVES

ing the no-data-present condition, and no debugging of the CPU hardware itself would be necessary. The boards were also available at low cost. We discarded this option, however, because no test equipment for 6502s was available to us.

We next examined the use of an IBM CS9000 system, which is based

on the Motorola 68000, with additional 68000s for the added CPUs. Unfortunately, time constraints and other difficulties made this implementation impossible.

We decided finally on the use of Motorola 6800s. Such a design had several disadvantages. The 6800 is an old-technology microprocessor. You

PROMPRO-XP™:

The sweet way to program PROMs.

Whatever memory devices you need to program, the compact, versatile PROMPRO-XP Universal Programmer makes sweet work of them.

It programs, verifies and tests most CMOS and bipolar PROMs, EEPROMs, EPROMs, PALs, HPLs and IFLs. And it supports Motorola SI, S2, S3 and Intel hex extended formats (8,16 and 32-bit files).

Its internal RAM buffer 32K x 16 (512K bit) can simultaneously program two EPROMs with different data — and expand to 64K x 8.

You'll like its fast, intelligent algorithms and its great features. Like a serial RS-232 port and parallel printer port for simple connection to any micro, mainframe, terminal or printer. Range oriented commands. Optional in-circuit 16-bit emulator. Built-in UV eraser. And non-volatile memory.

All at a very sweet price.

Logical Devices also provides a family of low-cost dedicated EPROM and PAL programmers and a wide range of UV EPROM erasers.

PAL is a registered trademark of MM1. HPL is a trademark of Harris Corporation.

It's only Logical.

LOGICAL DEVICES, INC.

1321 N.W. 65th Place • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 (305) 974-0975 • toll-free 1-800-EE1-PROM • TELEX: 383142

cannot stop the instruction-execution sequence for more than a few milliseconds once an instruction has begun execution; thus we could not implement the primitive wait at the hardware level as we could have with the 68000 processor. Also, the 6800 does not have an SO pin as the 6502 does. Thus, interrupts would have to be used to signal the exception condition, with software simulating the wait primitive. The 6800 also has no support for multiprocessor operation; it has no test-and-set instruction. This meant that we would not be able to obtain empirical results comparing the traditional synchronization primitives with the data-movement primitives, without the use of indirect simulation methods.

On the other hand, we had considerable resources in the form of test equipment lent to us by Vanderbilt's electrical engineering department, which uses the 6800 in its microprocessor course. Furthermore, we could implement the machine easily and at low cost, thanks to the low price of 6800s and our prior experience with 6800 system design. The graduate school was also willing to provide funding for such a project.

We selected an IBM Personal Computer, based on the Intel 8088. to serve as the host processor for the system. Again, this choice was largely practical in nature: an IBM PC was available, and Eric Roskos had very extensive experience with the machine, having previously constructed peripheral control interfaces for it and written a 6800 cross-assembler for use with it.

System Design

We designed the system with three 6800 microprocessors, each with its own private memory, and a memory shared by all three CPUs, supporting the data-movement primitives. The IBM PC would serve as a host machine, on which we could quickly edit, assemble, and download programs to the multiprocessor.

Each CPU's private memory was shared with the IBM PC and would be

[continued)

240 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 245

Pick the Media Mate up by the selflatching handle, and take it with you

MEDIA MATE. NO OTHER DISKETTE FILE

COMES UP TO ITS STANDARDS

AND DOWN TO ITS PRICE.

For organizing and protecting your diskettes, the Amaray Media Mate™ is the best tile you can own. And you can buy it tor just $15.95*

So be sure you don't settle tor less. Or pay more.

The Media Mate trom Amaray. Available in two sizes to hold up to titty 534" diskettes, or thirty 3y2" diskettes. Ask for it anywhere floppy disks are sold. Or call 800-4-AMARAY for the dealer nearest you. Amaray International Corporation, 14935 N.E. 95th Street, Redmond, WA 98052.

*$15.95 suggested retail price, Media Mate 5; $14.95 suggested retail price, Media Mate 3.

AMARAY

Makers of Media Mate

Inquiry 22

Here's organization that really stacks up. And solid construction that keeps dust out.

—ii&ii.

Whether you use 3y2" or 5%" diskettes, there's a Media Mate that's right for you.

These ridges keep the dividers in place and your disks in order

The Media Mate stands firm, thanks to its non-skid feet.

PRIMITIVES

accessible to the IBM PC only when its CPU was halted; we made this design decision to simplify design of the interface for the private memories. We designed the multiprocessor with no read-only memory (ROM) whatsoever. While most people considered this a somewhat radical design decision, it was a carefully

planned one. No real justification exists for putting ROM on a system of this sort. The ROM is needed to start execution of one CPU in the system, but this role was already filled by the ROM in the IBM PC. On the other hand, the use of ROM would have caused considerable time delays in loading test programs and debugging

■■

Graphics Takes A Quantum Leap Forward!

i

3

«■■! THE INOVION PERSONAL

I GRAPHICS SYSTEM FEATURES:

Mill * Tne most advanced color mapping

(£ capabilities available.

ttll * 250,000 simultaneously displayable

^m colors.

MHI • A palette of 2.1 million colors.

5hI * Frame Grabber/Digitizer to capture

■ ■ TV, VCR or Video Camera pictures.

I • Quality three-dimensional texture

HJF capabilities.

Ml»| • Built-in Icon/Menu software.

MCl 'Completely Mouse/Trackball driven.

■■■I * Fonts. Brushes, Microscope, Patterns, and Rotations

a;

• A complete stand alone system.

• A 19" enhanced color monitor.

• 780K Graphics Memory

• 512 x 480 pixel display with 24 bits per pixel.

• RS232C port allows access to all system functions and memory.

• NTSC composite video and NTSC RGB signal.

• 1-year warranty on graphics generator and 90-day warranty on enhanced monitor.

• Special introductory 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

• Complete system for $4,495

■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 1^

.fi riikiiM ■ ■■■ >9fcAi vJJIAS^lUBI

_ IBHittPnK?R!m!T7!»MH

SSSSSSSSliiiiiSSSSi

software (which requires erasing old ROMs and reprogramming new ones) and would have placed physical stresses on the CPU boards due to repeated removal and insertion of ROMs. Also, the use of ROM requires an unnecessary design trade-off: Code in ROM is immediately available at power-up, but you cannot modify it without physically replacing the ROM. We expected that we would need the ability to modify a test system such as this, and we were right. Instead of ROM, we used the 2Kbyte private memories to contain programs. We also incorporated a "halt register" and a "reset register," which are simple latches and with which we could individually halt or reset each of the three CPUs. When initially powered up, the halt register halted the multiprocessor's CPUs, the IBM PC loaded the program (including the RESET vector used at start-up) via the private memories, and the reset register then started the CPUs. To simplify implementation, we did not include a register to indicate whether a CPU had halted via the programmed halt instruction—although this would have been beneficial. This information is available on the processor's "bus available" (BA) pin.

Implementation Details

The implementation for the multiprocessor system is shown in figure 1. The IBM PC is interfaced to the halt and reset registers via the PC's I/O (input/output) instructions, and the addresses of the registers are in the I/O address space of the PC at addresses 300 and 301 (hexadecimal). The IBM PC also interfaces to 3 three-state controllers. These controllers connect the private memories to the PC's bus— during reads or writes to their respective addresses—only if the corresponding CPU is halted via the halt register. The private memories start at the PC's memory addresses C0000, C0800, and CI000 for Processor 0, Processor 1, and Processor 2, respectively. Each memory is a 2K-byte Hitachi 6116 static RAM (randomaccess read/write memory), which is

{continued)

Inquiry 427

HOW TO BUY SOFTWARE

WHEN ALL THE ADS

LOOK THE SAME.

We know it's hard to choose a software house. All the ads say the same thing—"Lowest prices," "fastest delivery," "best support," "biggest inventory."

Trouble is, although the claims are the same, the companies are very different. Which is why we want you to know some important facts about us:

800-SOFTWARE is one of the oldest and most repu

1.

table firms in the industry. Our customers include Coca-Cola, GE, Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, AT&T, and thousands of other satisfied buyers.

2 Our National Accounts Pro• gram offers volume discounts and valuable services to large software users. We offer incredibly low prices on large bids!

3 We have a giant, $1,000,000 • inventory. Which means we can offer next-day delivery if needed.

4 With every product you get • friendly, expert technical support. Have a question? You'll be glad you bought from 800-SOFTWARE!

5 We'll match our com• petitors' prices on most products. We never cut service.

6 We never charge extra for • credit card purchases, nor do we process for payment until the product is shipped. (Our competitors don't make this claim!)

7 You'll automatically receive • our Technical Support Newsletter—a great way to stay up-to-date.

8 We are members of the • Better Business Bureau and the Direct Marketing Association.

9 We want your business. • And your repeat business. Which is why we work so hard to keep you happy. Give us a call and let us prove it!

CHECK OUT ALL OUR INCREDIBLE PRICES:

Lotus 1-2-3

dBase ll/lll

Framework

WordStar 2000/2000 Plus

$295

CAll

CAll

CAll

lotus Symphony

Crosstalk $95

PFS File/Graph/Write

IUS Accounting $299/mod.

SOFTWARE

MICROPRO"

Super Project

$209

ASHTONTATE'

WordStar

$209

All Other Products

CALL

dBase II III

CALL

WordStar 2000/2000 PI

is CALL

HARDWARE, ETC

Framework

CALL

WordStar Pro Package P.

'. Plus S259/S359

AMDEK" Monitors

CALL

BORLAND SOFTWARE"

InfoStar

CALL

AST "Products

CALL

Sidekick

CALL

All Other Products

CALL

ATI™ 8. CDEX'" TRAINING

CALL

Turbo Pascal 808 /

39/$79

MICRORIM'"RBase4000

$259

CODE A PHONE Tel A Modem

$479

BOURBAKriDir

$ 79

MICROSOFT"*

EPSON "PRINTERS

DECISION RESOURCES"

Multiplan

$125

FX 80 FX 100 & II) l!i 110

CALL

Chartmasler

$249

Fortran

$269

HAVES'"

Signmaster

$189

All Other Products

CALL

Smartmodems1200/1200B

CALL

DIGITAL RESEARCH"

CALL

MICROSTUF" Crosstalk

$ 95

HERCULES"

FOXSGELLER"

CALL

MULTIMATE"

$255

Color Card

$199

FUNK SOFTWARE "Sideways

S 49

NORTON UTILITIES "

$ 74

Graphic Card

$325

HARVARD SOFTWARE"

R0SES0FT"ProKey

$ 99

MAXELL " 8 MEMOREX " DISKETTES

CALL

Harvard Project Manager

$289

SOFTWARE PUBLISHERS

MEM0RV CHIPS

CALL

IMSI' PC Paintbrush

$ 99

PFS File Graph Writ.

$ 84

0KI0ATA- PRINTERS

LIFEBOAT'• LATTICE C COMPILER

S359

PFS Report

$ 75

92 IBM

$389

LIFETREE'VolkswriterOeluie

$179

S0RCIM.IUS

93 IBM

$629

L0TUS"

SuperCalc 2/3

$159/$195

PRINCETON GRAPHICS " MONITORS

CALL

123

$295

Easy Writer II System

$185

QUADRAM"

CALL

Symphony

$425

US Easy Business Accou

nting S299lmorJ.

WESTERN UNION EASY LINK

FREE

WE ALSO CARRY HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE IBM-PC

,^^—i

800-SOFTWARE. INC. 940 Dwight Way Berkeley, CA 94710

8 Copyright 1985, SOO-Software, Inc. Inquiry 3

AND COMPATIBLES, MACINTOSH®, APPLE II® AND CP/M !

^800-SOFTWARE)

To order call toll-free: 800-227-4587 or 4is-644-36ii

Dealer inquiries welcome. Quantity discounts available through our National Accounts Program. Purchase orders accepted. Please call us in advance.

Call for shipping charges. Overnight delivery available.

We do not add surcharge for credit card purchases.

Prices may change. Above prices are for IBM-PC and compatibles. International orders welcome: TELEX#751743800SOFTWARE II).

MAY 1985 • BYTE 243

PRIMITIVES

pin-compatible with 4116 EPROMs (erasable programmable read-only memories).

Each processor is interfaced directly to its respective private memory. Since the 6800s bus interface is in the high-impedance state whenever it is halted, and since the IBM PC interface's three-state controllers are only

enabled when the corresponding CPU is halted, this guarantees mutually exclusive access to the private memory. The IBM PC can. in the worst case, attempt to access the private memory when the attached CPU is running; but since the three-state controller will be disabled, data written will not be passed through to the private mem

C Productivity Series—

The Professional's Edge

Blaise Computing has a range of programming aids for the most popular C compilers in the IBM environment that no serious system developer should be without. These packages help you to easily access advanced capabilities of the hardware and operating system, and to finish your projects with a substantial saving of time and effort. With software development costs and pressures as great as they are, can you afford not to take advantage of the finest tools available?

♦ C TOOLS" puts advanced string handling functions at your disposal and provides a high-level interface to all BIOS functions from your C program. Complete screen handling, graphics primitives, and a substantial group of useful, general-purpose functions are also featured. $125

♦ C TOOLS 2" lets your program perform all the advanced DOS 2.0 services. Program chaining, software interrupt handling, and dynamic memory allocation are all done "right." Buffer and file handling functions are provided, as well as a general DOS gate. $100

♦ C VIEW MANAGER "is

our display screen management system that makes screen development and documentation much faster. It comes with a complete library of C functions which use the screens you have developed to recall and display information, capture and validate field data entry, and provide context-relevant help files. $275

♦ ASYNCH MANAGER "is a library of interrupt-driven routines providing a general interface to both COM ports for your asynchronous communications applications. Introductory price of $175 includes all source.

All of these products may be used by developers with no royalty payments to Blaise Computing. Source code either comes with the package, or is available. We support Lattice, Computer Innovations, and Microsoft C compilers. To expedite your order or to obtain fur ther information, call or write us directlv.

Blaise Computing s Programmer Productivity senes is also available in versions for the Pascal language

BLAISE COMPUTING INC.

2034 Blake Street Berkeley. CA 94704 (415) 540-5441

ory, and reads will return meaningless data since nothing will be driving the bus during the read—no damage to the system will occur.

The interface between the CPUs and the shared memory is considerably more complex. Each CPU is interfaced through a three-state controller that switches both address and data lines onto the shared-memory bus. When a CPU outputs an address in the address space occupied by shared memory (which starts at address 3000 Ihexadecimal] for all three processors), the address is immediately decoded by the address-decode logic (which appears to the right of each CPU in figure 1) and asserts request line Rm. where n is the number of the CPU making the request. This line transmits the request to the arbitration logic, described in detail below, which asserts grant line On if and only if Processor n is currently allowed to access shared memory. If a request line is asserted but the arbitrator does not assert the corresponding grant line, the processor's clock is immediately halted, suspending instruction execution until the grant line is asserted. (This is not shown on the diagram in figure 1, which does not include the processor clock logic. The clock-halting function is controlled by a Motorola 6875 clock generator, which has a Memory Ready control pin designed for this purpose. We specifically chose the 6875 clock generator for this feature.) The threestate controller assures that a CPU that has not been granted access to the shared memory will not output data onto the shared-memory bus.

Entering Arbitration

The arbitrator guarantees all CPUs equal access to the shared memory. We designed and implemented our memory arbitrator using a National Semiconductor PAL (Programmable Array Logic), a trademarked PLA (programmable logic array) having only one programmable-gate plane. The other plane normally found in PLAs is replaced by a fixed set of gates, with different PALs available for dif

\amtlmted]

244 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 53

PRIMITIVES

4K

SHARED MEMORY

SI SO

ARBITRATION RO Rl R2 G2 Gl GO

THREE-STATE CONTROLLER

DATA

THREE-STATE CONTROLLER

THREE-STATE CONTROLLER

MC6800 PROCESSOR 0

2K STATIC MEMORY E

COOOO-C07FF

CD-11 CL>!

E THREE-STATE CONTROLLER

MC68O0 PROCESSOR 1

-MCO •MRO

2K STATIC MEMORY E

C080O-C0FFF

<J^

cb-ii cb-E

E THREE-STATE CONTROLLER

HALT REGISTER (300)

ADDRESS(ll)

DATA(8)

i I r

MC6800 PROCESSOR 2

— MCI

— MR1

DECODE

2K STATIC MEMORY E

C1000-C17FF

E THREE-STATE CONTROLLER

RESET REGISTER (301)

MCO MCI MC2

t t 1

ADDRESS DECODER

IBM PC BUS

Figure I: A block diagram of the multiprocessor, built around three MC6800 microprocessors and controlled bu an IBM PC.

MAY 1985 • BYTE 245

Inquiry 262

Why WAIT fOR ANSWERS f ROM yOUR

ibivi pc/at/xt

NOW THERE'S

MEGA-MATH

Engineers, scientists and statisticians are discovering the time saving capability of of Mega Math. A library of over 40 assembly language sub-routines for fast numeric calculations, up to 11 times faster than your present compiler.

The pretested routines use the 8087 or 80287 coprocessor for optimum performance. They reduce development time, code size, and testing time.

Mega Math library includes:

Matrix Operations

Vector Operations

Vector Scalar Operations

Statistical Operations

Fast Fourier Transform

Convolution

Solution of Linear Equations

Callable from IBM or Microsoft:

Fortran Basic Pascal

Assembler C

Please specify compiler when ordering. $9900 for your first language library, only $4900 for each additional library.

ELECTRONICS LTD.

(403) 250-1437

Bay 1, 4001 A- 19 Street N.E. Calgary, Alberta Canada T2E 6X8

TM • (IBMPC/AT/XT) IBM, (8087-80287) Intel,

(Microsoft) Microsoft Corp. (MEGA MATH) Micray

PRIMITIVES

ferent gate configurations.

Our arbitrator implements the finitestate machine whose transition table is shown in table 1. Such finite-state machines are quite common in the control logic of CPUs, and this design, the Mealy Finite-State Transducer, was suggested by Mead and Conway's In

troduction to VLSI Systems (reference 2], whose chapter "Data and Control Flow in Systematic Structures" provides a very thorough discussion of the principles used here.

The arbitrator's current state (denoted by Si, S0) reflects which CPU

[continued)

Table I: The memory-arbitration state table for the multiprocessor, based upon the Mealy Finite-State Transducer. Depending on the current state [which CPU was last granted access to the shared memory) and which CPUs are now requesting access to memory (R0 to R2), the arbitrator grants access to shared memory, via output lines G0 to G,.

Input

Output

Currrent State

Access Requests

Access Granted

Next State

S, S„

R0 R, R2

G„ G, G2

Ot Oo

Note:

1. S,,S0 —

2. R„ — R, — R2 —

don't care condition

state

request from Processor 0 request from Processor 1 request from Processor 2

Equation

Go = R0*S,*So + Ro*Ri*R2 + So Ro R2

Gi = R2*R|*R0 + So Ri + Si Ri Ro

G2 = S| R2 + So R2 R] + R2 Ri Ro

So = So*Ro*Ri + So*Ri*R2 + Si "So Ro'Ri + St Ro R, R2

+ Si*Ro*Ri*R2 + S,*Ro*Ri*R2 S, = So"Ro*R, + S„'R,*R2 + S,*R,"R2 + S,*Ro*R,*R2 + S[*S0*R2*Ri"Ro + Si*R0*R2

246 BYTE

Inquiry 209 for Dealers. Inquiry 210 for End-Users.

Look to the Leader

I2 has been delivering low-cost storage products since 1978

For affordable, expanded storage for your IBM PC or PC compatible,

look to the leader—I2 Interface, Inc. With la Interface Winchester DiskSystems/ you can have levels of storage typically associated with larger, more expensive computer systems. Our DiskSystems are available with formatted storage capacities of 10. 15, 22. 33, 55, 87 and 119 megabytes. These DiskSystems are bootable from the Winchester

on some PCs. Plus. I-' Interface has more to offer: ~~ Internalmounted Internal Winchester DlskSystem

Winchester system with 10 megabytes

■ Removable cartridge DiskSystem with 10 megabytes

■ Cartridge TapeSystems i with 10 to 60 megabytes Cartridge TapeSystem See your d€

■ Plus an array of other peripheral affordable me products pabilities of yc Simple and fully compatible [■' DiskSystems and TapeSystems are simple to install and have proven reliability. All are FCC Class B approved and undergo an extensive 48 hour test period prior to

Removable Cartridge DiskSystem

shipment. All are backed by a 90-day warranty that covers parts and labor with an extended one-year warranty available. I2 Interface products are compatible with IBM PC, XT and portable models, plus other popular PC com- patible computers. See your dealer today to get the affordable means to expand the capabilities of your IBM PC and PC compatible. Look to the leaders — look to [■' Interface.

See us at

Comdex Atlanta

Booth #4355

I

21101 Osborne Street

IntertaCe, mC. Canoga Park. CA 91304

(818)341-7914 Telex 662949 CNPK

IBM is a registered trademark ol IBM Corporation

DiskSystems and TapeSystems are copyrights of I Interlace. Inc

i I984 i Interlace, Inc AM rights reserved

AUSTRALIA: Dick Smith Electronics (02) 888 3200

CANADA: Sandford Electronics (604) 589-4454

Inquiry 428

More data, less dollars.

Introducing affordable tape backup and hard disk for IBM PCs.

MicroSystems MT25 high-capacity cartridge tape subsystem gives you the secure and easy-to-use file-oriented disk backup you need. And the MicroSystems MD20 and MD52 offer complete, full-featured, ready to boot hard disks. All three fine products come complete with software. Just plug and play. So expand your system, not your budget. Call MicroSystems International today.

iMicroSystems International Corporation An allov company

100 Pennsylvania Ave., Framingham, MA 01701 (617) 875-9700 TWX 710-346-0394

Brainy

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, lust 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 Enhancements" 18732 142nd Ave N.E Woodiiwille. WA 98072

Suggested retail price: $385.

PRIMITIVES

was last granted access to shared memory. The arbitrator's input indicates the shared-memory requests currently outstanding (R0 to R2), and its output on each transition (G0 to G2) indicates which CPU is allowed to proceed with the memory access.

An arbitrator of this complexity was made necessary for two reasons: first, simple fairness: second, and more seriously the 6800 processor can only be halted for a few milliseconds via the 687 5's Memory Ready pin, after which the contents of the processor's internal registers disappear. The processor's registers are implemented via simple MOS circulatingdata registers, which require continuous clocking to keep the data circulating and refreshing the registers. When the clock is stopped, refreshing stops, and the charge representing the data in the registers leaks off over a period of several milliseconds, until the data values are no longer detectable when the clock is restarted. Thus, the arbitrator has to guarantee that a CPU will never be halted for more than the allowed period: the arbitrator does this by not allowing any CPU to have two consecutive accesses until all other CPUs simultaneously requesting access have been granted their turns.

The 4K-byte shared memory to which the arbitrator controls access includes 8 bits of data for each address and a "present" bit indicating whether a data object is present or absent at each address. The present bit is gated with the memory read/ write line to produce an interrupt when a CPU attempts to read data at an address with no data object present or write data when a data object is already present. The present bit is also updated to indicate "no data present" following a successful read, or to indicate "data present" following a successful write. Because of the way the 6800 microprocessor operates, the interrupt occurs following completion of the read or write operation. In either case, no access to shared memory actually occurs when an interrupt is generated: With data

{continued)

248 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 183

Resolution That Blows You Away

Being #1 has its advantages! Our Model 440 (720 by 400) Ultra High-Res monitor is the Worlds standard for excellence. Its capabilities will out-rank

those of our competitors for a long time. We won't Stop producing the finest!

You can't!

Not when you're Number One!

MODEL 440

12 inch Ultra High-Res RGB Color Monitor Designed for up-grading display of IBM PC 720 x 400 line resolution in non-interlaced mode 4000 character display capability

Switchable to green character display

MODEL 42S

12 inch Super High-Res RGB Color Monitor Fully compatible with IBM PC and PC Compatibles. 640 x 262 line resolution Switchable to green character display Built in audio

T&XAIXI

MODEL 420L

12 inch Super High-Res RGB

Color Monitor

Long Persistance Phosphor

Tube

Fully compatible with IBM

and most other personal

computers.

640 x 262 line resolution in

non-interlaced mode

640 x 525 line resolution in

interlaced mode

Unlimited colors available

through analog video circuit

The Smart Choice.

MODEL 411

12 inch High-Res RGB Color Monitor

Fully compatible with IBM PC and PC Compatibles. 510 x 262 line resolution Switchable to green character display Built in audio

MODEL 122

12 Inch Super High-Res /\mber Dsplay Fully Compatible with IBI TTL Monochrome Display Horizontal scan. Rate 8.432 Khz Optional Tilt/Swivel Base available (Model 110-12) Green phosphor available (Model 121|

»1B7 Spring '85

See you at Comdex Booth #4342

Inquiry 390 for Dealers. Inquiry 391 for End-Users.

18005 Cortney Ct. Ciry of Industry CA 91748 (818)810-1291 ■ ms taxan capo*™

*IBM Is a registered trademaifc of International Business Machines, Inc.

PRIMITIVES

already present, the CPU attempting to write data will discard that data; with no data present, the CPU attempting to read data gets back meaningless data.

Implementation Results

Implementation of the multiprocessor was successful; we demonstrated this by executing a test program based on Hansen's "incorrect" program (listing 1). (Editor's note: A complete listing of the test program is available for downloading via BYTEnet Listings. The number is (603) 924-9820.|

The test program consists of three concurrent parts, each running on a distinct CPU. The first, simulating the input device, simply produces a sequence of data objects in the form of consecutive integers, which it writes into location 3000 (hexadecimal) of the shared memory. Once the first object is written, the next write will not suc

Listing 1: A high-level outline of the test program described in the article.

program pbh: shared

t,s: integer; var

eof: boolean; f,g: file of integer; begin

while not eof do oobegin t ;= s; output(g.t); input(f,s.eof); coend; end.

ceed until the first object has been removed. The removal is accomplished by the second concurrent part (running on the second CPU), which reads from location 3000 and writes the object it read into location 3001. Here, the read will not succeed until a data

object has been written into location 3000, and the subsequent write will not succeed until the previous data object has been removed from location 3001. Finally, the third concurrent part, running on the third CPU and simulating the output device, reads the object from location 3001 and writes it into a circular buffer in its private memory. Once again, the read from location 3001 will not proceed until a data object is present there. To ensure that the other two CPUs will have to wait, the third CPU executes a delay loop between each access to shared memory to slow it down.

We verified successful operation of the multiprocessor by first checking that the circular buffer of the third CPU contained data other than consecutive integers, starting the program for a time, then stopping it and verifying that the circular buffer did then

{continued)

Products for the Expanding Universe

Schedule and time commands, printer setup, disk utility (DU-like: unerase, view, change, etc.), write to terminals, electronic mail and others for CompuPro Concurrent CP/M systems.

Text ControJSystem

Multiple versions of text files—source code, letters, spread sheets, contracts, any text. Keeps record of changes allowing any version to be recovered. Twenty revisions normally only require three times the disk storage space. [CP/M-80. 83; MP/M 816; CCP/M-816; PCDOS/MSDOS. Macintosh, Lisa)

Bibliographic Data Base^

Maintain, search and format bibliographies. Compatible with most word processors. [CP/M-80.83: MP/ M & CCP/M-816; PCDOS/MSDOS]

Dynamic Screen Debugger

Symbolic, full screen program debugger for assembly languge, BDS C, etc. programs. Dynamically displays instructions, registers, memory, and stack areas. 8080, 8085 and Z80 compatible. [CP/M-80, 83; MP/M-816; CCP/M-816]

Price

125.00

UNIX-like Commands for CP/M

Fast command (submit) files, I/O redirection, command line editing, auto disk and user searches. (Usable under CCP/M). [CP/M-80]

UNIX-like Utilities 150.00

Sorting, searching, print formatting, file differences, vertical cut/paste, etc. [CP/M-80, 83; MP/M-816; CCP/ M-816]

Named Directory Areas 99 00

Hierarchical file directories and utilities. Permits named directory areas under CP/M, MP/M 816 with: change/make/list/remove directories, rehame, copy and show directory tree. [CP/M-80. 83; CP/M-86; MP/M-816; CCP/M-816; CP/M-68K]

Multiuser Utilities 99.00

99.00

250.00

New

GeNeRaxioiM

»— 5V5-r@ivyi5 —i

1800 Michael Faraday Drive. Suite 206, Reston. VA 22090

(703) 471-5598 Order Line (800) 368-3359

Telex: 750417 NEW GEN SYS UD

Fast Hard Disk Backup

(16 bit version 30-100% fasterthan PIP), handles random files, files larger than a floppy disk, backup only changed files (86 version only), selective restore. [CP/ M-80. 83; MP/M-816; CCP/M-816]

Learn C on your PC

Complete, comprehensive introductory course in C with a C interpreter to run your programs as you write and change them. [PCDOS 2.0]

Full 16-bit C Compiler

Computer Innovations' fast, optimized, 16-bit full C compiler. With source code for all library functions, 8087, small/big model support, comprehensive manual. We use it for all 16-bit programs; it's great!

The Original—Still Fastest!

Price

195.00

95.00

349.00

140.00

Ultrafast C compiler for CP/M-80 with symbolic debugger, full library and run time source code. Large public domain library of programs available.

Multiuser Modem Program 300.00

Both AMCALL and MCALL-II specially configured for CompuPro 816, CompuPro 10, or Gifford MP/M, CCP/M or MC-DOS Multiuser systems. Supports 7 file transfer protocols with the Hayes 300/1200 Smart-Modem. Baud rates to 19,200. Single-user AMCALL 150.00 / MCALL-II 125.00

A Disk Maker System for Your Needs

Moves programs, data, any files among over 200 different fioppy disk formats. Can format, read, write and duplicate 3Vi>", 48/96 tpi 5Va", IBM PCAT. and 8" diskettes (with appropriate drive options). Available options include 10, 15, 20Mb hard disks, 8086 Coprocessor, Word Processing/Typesetting Disk Maker I: For existing S-100 computers From 1695.00

Disk Maker II: Standalone Disk Maker From 3695.00

250 BYTE- MAY I985

Inquiry 292

NEW

A powerful multifile database with a programming language

for only

VFersaform's new XL database isn't just promises—it's here now! And it offers—YES, FOR ONLY $99—all the features you'd expect in a database costing 4 times as much. Accounting applications are XL's strength. Invoicing, purchasing, receivables, and shipping almost create themselves as you design the forms— and XL transfers data between them. There's an Invoicing, A/R and Inventory application—source code included—in the package that shows how it's done. The power's there. And unlike packaged accounting programs, you can do them YOUR way.

VersaForm XL dBASE MI

PRICE

STRUCTURED

LANGUAGE Y

MULTI-FILE , ¥

COLUMNS WITHIN

DATA RECORD Y

DATA ENTRY CHECKING BU

ON-SCREEN CALC BU

FORMS OUTPUT BU

DATE ARITHMETIC Y

DATA TYPES DY

COLUMN TOTAL OPERATOR Y

QUERY BY EXAMPLE Y

MAX FILE SIZE 4 !■

MAX RECORD SIZE 401

MUST WRITE PROGRAM BUILT-IN

MUST WRITE PROGRAM MUST WRITE PROGRAM

MUST WRITE PROGRAM MUST WRITE PROGRAM

stered trademark ol Ashton-Tate. R BASE 4000 is

ademark of Microrim. Inc.

XL's structured language can access multiple files. 48 built-in functions give control of file access, printing, and user dialogues. You'll develop transaction-based applications with an ease you've never experienced before. And all at this unheard-of low price. 1 VersaForm XL's unique form-oriented data structures let you easily set up forms and ledgers—even those with columns! Application development is FAST, FAST, FAST. And since forms are the way that businesses already store their data, the transition is smooth. That's why VersaForm XL is so easy to operate even for high-turnover clerical people—it starts from where they are now.

Automatic data entry checking and on-screen calculation make transactions error-free. Stored print formats make output formatting a snap—you can quickly match existing paper forms. VersaForm XL's report generator is clear and intuitive. Designers can pre-install reports,

Inquiry 36

users can set up their own. • Query-by-forms (at no extra cost) lets users go right to the data they need. No query language to learn—forms are the natural language of business.

Ironclad Money-Back Guarantee

Try VersaForm XL for 30 days. If you're not fully satisfied, return it. We'll

gladly refund your money.

Order now, and have the pleasure of using the right tool at the right price.

You can't lose!

VersaForm XL runs on IBM PC, XT, AT and compatibles. Requires 192K,

two 360KB drives, DOS 2.0 or later. Hard disk recommended.

Standard VersaForm (single file, no language) available for 64K, 2-drive

Apple II or 128K IBM PC. $69.

VersaForm

Applied Software Technology, Dept 585,1350 Dell Ave., Suite 206, Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 370-2662

Yes! Rush me Versaform XL for the IBM PC ($99)

Standard Versaform (Single file, no language) for the IBM PC ($69)

Apple II (+,E,C) ($69)

Credit card members can order by phone.

Toil-Free: 1-800-824-8145

In California

Toil-Free: 1-800-854-4448

Enclose check or money order with coupon. Include $4.50 for U.S. Shipping and handling. $7.00 for COD. California residents add 6.5% tax.

My check or money order is enclosed Send COD.

Charge my MasterCard Visa

Account No. Expires

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Name

Address

City

Phone

585

_State_

-Zip

Signature^

MAY I985 -BYTE 251

FORTRAN, C Language and BASICA

Scientific Subroutine Libraries

From Wiley Professional Software

You are a serious programmer. You need to quickly generate dependable, accurate and error-free code. Whether you are programming in FORTRAN, C, or BASIC... Wiley Professional Software has a powerful Scientific Subroutine Library that can save you considerable programming time and development money.

Each Library consists of 114, (C Language 112) pretested and precompiled mathematical and statistical subroutines, supplied on disk as a linkable library and as source code. The subroutines cover formulas for:

General statistics

Probability

Analysis of variance

Regressions

Matrices

Interpolations

Fourier analysis

Cross tabulations

Differential equations

Roots of biquadratic equations

Function evaluations

Systems of equations

Solution of equations

Time series analysis and more.

Each package includes 400-plus pages of documentation, providing you with extensive reference material, a listing of the subroutine's source code, complete test programs and the results of running each test.

LIBRARY

PRICE REQUIREMENTS

FORTRAN Library $175 Microsoft FORTRAN ver. 3.13 or later or IBM 2.0

C Language Library $175 Lattice C Compiler ver. 2.12 or later BASICA Library $125 BASICA

Developed by Peerless Engineering Service

TO ORDER OR FOR FREE LITERATURE CALL 212-850-6788

Or write:

Leslie Bixel

Wilev Professional Software

60S Third Avenue . « _I5|

New York, NY 10158

A division of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

6-0031

PRIMITIVES

contain consecutive integers.

Each CPU's program part contains an identical interrupt procedure to simulate the primitive wait. This interrupt procedure simply decrements the interrupt return address on the stack to retry the unsuccessful read or write and then returns from the interrupt. This causes the CPU to repeatedly execute the memory access until it succeeds.

The multiprocessor successfully executed the test program on September 27, 1984, after several months of debugging. Almost all of this debugging time involved debugging the memory arbitrator and synchronization of shared memory access with the arbitration logic and not debugging the data-movement primitives. The implementation of the datamovement primitives is quite elegant; this elegance is reflected in the fact that, although many PALs were used to reduce the parts count of the multiprocessor (which otherwise would have been very large), no PALs were needed for the portion of the circuit implementing the data-movement primitives.

Conclusions

This project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a multiprocessor system with datamovement primitives using off-theshelf hardware. We have demonstrated the success of the data-movement primitives by using them to correctly execute a concurrent program, without using the software-synchronization primitives that would be required otherwise. Furthermore, the cost of implementing this machine ($450) shows that such an implementation is affordable; the large portion of this cost was for the CPUs, interface hardware, and conventional memory components. ■

REFERENCES

1. Hansen. Per Brinch. "Structured Multiprogramming." Communications of the ACM, 15(7), 1972, page 574.

2. Mead, C, and L. Conway. Introduction to VLSI Systems. Reading, MA: AddisonWesley. 1980.

252 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 222

Obsolete technology —

it's not just a hardware problem!

You wouldn't dream of wiring your state-of-the-art modem to turn-of-the-century technology. Why strangle your computer with an antique communications program?

NightOwl Software believes your modem should open a window on the world — but without slamming a door on the power of your IBM-PC or compatible. That's why we designed our MEX-PC communications package to allow you complete access to your operating system, utilities and software while connected to a remote system.

Other communications programs limit your on-line options to a small set of built-in commands. Not MEX-PC. Our SHELL feature lets you run your spreadsheet, word processor, database management system, or any other program, from within MEXPC while you're on-line — and without loss of text or data.

That's a claim no other communications software can make — and it's just one of many reasons MEX-PC is setting new standards for power, flexibility and performance in the world of telecomputing.

Consider the features:

• A powerful command processor allows fully automated dialing, log-ons, uploads, downloads and log-offs.

• A built-in HELP program explains all aspects of the software, on-line or off. A complete status screen immediately lists all current settings.

• Command driven. No need to wade through level after level of menus in a time-consuming search for the commands you want to enter or the features you need to change.

• Fully documented. Includes a typeset, ring-bound, 180-page user's manual and complete tutorial, fully indexed.

• Wide range of protocols, including Christensen XMODEM with both CRC and Checksum error correction.

$59.95*

Why spend more for a lot less power?

Write or call to request our free brochure. Credit card orders welcome.

Give us a toll-free call at 1 -800-NITEOWL (In Wisconsin, call 1 -414-563-4013)

■ Plus $5 shipping. Wisconsin residents add 5 percent sales tax NkjhtOwl Software, Route 1, Box 7. Fort Atkinson, Wl 53538

NightOwl

soft ware, inc.

Inquiry 295

MAY 1985 • BYTE 253

We don't have all the answers you need, but we'll do all we can to find them!

IBM PC SOFTWARE

Alpha Software

Data BaseMgr II $179

Electric Desk (Jr) 199

Anderson Bell

Abstat $289

Arrays, Inc

Home Acct. + $ 90

Home Acct. w/ Tax Advntg $139

PC

PROGRAMMERS

CORNER

Borland

Turbo Pascal $ 37

CompuView

Vedit $130

Vedit+ 179

Digital Research

Access Mgr $229

C Basic Comp

(CB-86) 339

CP/M-86 45

Concurrent CP/M

w/Windows 119

Concurrent DOS.... 179

Display Mgr 279

DR Assem & Tools .. 129

DR Graph 119

Fortran 77-DOS

or CP/M 279

Pascal MT+ 339

Personal Basic 99

Emerging Technology

Edix (editor) $139

Heritage

Smartkey 11+ $ 75

Microsoft

C Compiler $319

Pascal Comp 199

Basic Comp 249

Morgan Computing

Prof Basic $ 79

Trace 86 99

Peter Norton

Norton Util 3.0 $ 69

Supersoft

Fortran $299

Lifeboat

Lattice C $419

Lattice Windows.... 249

Run-C 99

Dr Halo (Graphics). 79 PMate 189

Ashton-Tate

dBase II Call

dBase III (v. 1.1) Call

Framework (v. 1.1) Call

Friday Call

Central Point

Copy II PC $ 34

CompuView

V-Print $ 99

V-Spell 99

Connecticut Software Printer Boss w/ Letter Boss & SidelineSl 19 Dow Jones

Market Analyzer $229

Market Manager 189

Spreadsheet Link 179

Ecosoft, Inc.

Microstat $239

Enertronics

Energraphics $219

w/Plotter Option 279

Fastware Thor $245

Financier, Inc

Financier II $119

Tax Series 105

Fox & Geller

Grafox $159

dGraph 159

Quickcode (III or II).... 159

Quick Report 159

dUtil (III or II) 58

FYI

Superfile $139

FYI 3000 259

Sort Facility 99

Harvard Software

Project Manager S249

Lifetree

Volkswriter Deluxe $155

Volkswriter Scientific. 359

Living Videotext

Think Tank (256K) $119

MDBS

Knowledge Man $275

Menlo Corp.

In Search $279

Micropro

Wordstar ProPak $255

Wordstar 2000 289

ProPak Plus (WS, CS, MM, SI, TM) $369

Microrim

R-base4000 $265

R-base Clout (V 2.0)... 139

R-Writer 95

Prog Interface 259

Microsoft

Flight Simulator II $ 39

Project 1.01 169

Word 1.15 229

MuMath/MuSimp 179

Microstuf

Crosstalk $ 99

Multimate (V 3.3) $289

Northwest Analytical

Statpak $365

Open Systems Acct'g Programs .. ea $399 Buy 3 or more ....ea 379 Peter Norton Computing Norton Utilities (3.0)...$ 69 Peachtree Series 8 Accounting Modules $359

Samna Corp.

Samna Word III 349

Satellite Software Word Perfect w/Sp... $255 Sensible Designs

d Programmer $199

Software Arts

Spotlight $109

Software Publishing (PC Jr. Compatible) PFS: File, Graph

Write, Plan ea $ 89

PFS: Report 79

PFS: Access, Proof.ea 59 Sorcim

Supercalc III $249

Star Software Systems

Acct'g Partner $219

Acct'g Partner II 599

Warner Software (PC Jr. Compatible)

Desk Organizer $129

Westminster Software

Pertmaster Call

and many more!

APPLE SOFTWARE

Alpha Software

Apple-IBM

Connection $169

Typefaces 69

Arrays, Inc

Home Acct $ 59

FCM 79

Ashton-Tate Call

BPI Call

Broderbund

Bank Street Writer ....$ 45

Bank Street Speller.... 45

Cdex

All Trng Progs eo $ 49

Dow Jones

Market Analyzer $229

Market Manager 189

Spreadsheet Link 179

Eduware Call

Living Videotext

Think Tank $ 99

Micropro

Pro Pak $349

Microsoft Call

Peachtree

Back to Basics $149

PeachPak

Series 40 or 80 $229

Penguin Software... Call Software Publishing PFS: File, Graph,

Report ea$ 79

Spinnaker Call

Xerox Education

Sticky Bear Series..ea $ 35

CP/M SOFTWARE

All prices below are for

8" standard.

ATI

All Trng Progs ea $ 52

Ashton-Tate

dBase Call

CompuView Call

Digital Research

DR Assem & Tools 86. $119

C Basic Comp (CB-80) 289

SPP (86) 149

Display Mgr 80 239

Display Mgr 86 279

Pascal MT+80 199

Pascal MT+86 349

PL/186 399

Access Mgr 86 239

Fortran 77 86 199

Infocom

All Games Call

Micro Pro

WordStar $250

InfoStar 265

ProPak (WS,

MM, SI, SS) $359

All Others Call

Microsoft Call

Microstuf

Crosstalk $ 99

Northwest Analytical

Statpak $365

Oasis

Word Plus $110

Punctuation & Style.... 99

Supersoft

Disk Doctor $ 74

MACINTOSH CORNER

SOFTWARE ATI

MacCoach $ 50

Arrays, Inc

Home Acct $ 69

Creative Solutions

MacForth $ 99

MacForth II 169

Hayden Software

Sargon III $ 39

daVinci: Bldgs,Landscapes,lnteriors. ea 39 Human Edge Software Sales,Mgmt Edgeea $159

Commun. Edge 139

Infocom Call

Living Videotext

Think Tank $ 89

Microsoft

Basic Interp $ 99

Chart 79

File 139

Multiplan 139

Word 139

Main Street Software

Main St. Filer $ 99

Monogram

Dollars & Sense $ 99

Penguin Software Pensate, Transylvania, Quest... ea $ 32 Scarborough Systems

Mastertype $ 37

Simon/Schuster

Typing Tutor III $ 45

Sierra On-Line

Frogger $ 32

Software Publishing PFS: File &

Report Combo $119

Telos Software

Filevision $109

T/Maker

Click Art $ 39

HARDWARE Davong

Disk Drives Call

Intermatrix

MacPhone $149

Kensington Microware

Surge Supressor $ 45

Modem $399

Memorex

3H" Diskettes $ 49

Quadram Call

Tecmar

Disk Drives Call

APPLE/

FRANKLIN

BOARDS

ALS

CP/MCard $269

Smarterm II 119

Z-Engine 139

CCS

7711 Asynch Serial $ 99

Microsoft

Softcard + $449

Prem Softcard (IIE) 295

Microtek

Printer l/F $ 75

Dumpling-16K 169

Dumpling-GX 89

Orange Micro

Grappler + w/ buffer. $175

Prometheus

Versacard $159

Videx

Videoterm VT-602 $249

Ultraterm 249

IBM/PC

AST Research

Six Pale + 64K (exp384K, S/P, Clk)..$265

MegaPlus 64K, (Cl/Cal, S Port, 512K cap w/ Megapak) $269

Megapak 256K upgrade for Megaplus. Call

BYAD, Inc Call

Maynard Electronics

Floppy Drive Cntrlr.... $119

w/Par Port 169

w/SerPort 179

Sandstar Call

Memory Chips Call

Orange Micro

Mr. Chips Call

Orchid Technology

"Orchid Blossom" Call

Quadram

Quadboard 64K, fexp

384K, Clk/Col, S&P

Ports, Software) $269

Microfazer Stack Printer -P/P8K (exp 512K).... $139

-S/P 8K (exp 64K) 149

-S/S 8K (exp 64K) 149

Quadram (continued) Quadlink64K Mem... 469 Other Products Call

Tecmar

Captain's Bd w/64K ... $299

1st Mate 259

2nd Mate 250

3rd Mate 379

Xedex/Microlog

Baby Blue $325

Baby Blue II 525

': ' •

DISPLAY CARDS

Fredericks/Plan

tronics Colorplus.

.$399

Hercules

Graphics Board...

.$339

Color Board

. 199

MA Systems

PC Peacock

Color Board

.$249

Paradise

Display Card

(clr/monochrome

.$349

Modular/Display..

. 309

Quadram

Quadcolor 1

.$199

Quadcolor II

. 389

Tecmar

Graphics Master..

.$479

MODEMS

Hayes

Smartmodem 300 $195

Smartmodem 1200.... 429 Smartmodem 1200B... 369 Prometheus

Promodem $399

Quadram

Quadmodem $529

US Robotics

Auto-Dial 300/1200... $459

S-100 Modem 349

Password 325

Zoom Telephonies Networker w/o SW ... $109

PRINTERS

C. Itoh Electronics, Inc.

Starwriter

F10-40P (40cps) $999

A10-20S (20cps) 529

Diablo

630 ECS Call

Epson Coll

NEC Call

Okidata 82-93 Call

Quadram

Quadjet Call

Star Micronics Call

TeletexTlOU $399

... and much more.

DISKETTES

3M, Maxell, Verbatim Ultra Magnetics Call

MONITORS

Amdek

300A Amber $149

310A 199

300 Clr 265

500 Clr RGB 385

600 Clr HR 455

700 Clr Ultra HR 535

NEC

JB1260-12" Green ....$119

JC1216RGB 429

PGS

HX12 RGB Clr $489

MAX 12 189

SRI2 (690x480 Res)... 639

DoublerCard 175

Quadram

Quadchrome $489

Quadchrome II 429

Amberchrome 175

Quadscreen HiRes 1449

Sanyo

8112 12" HR Green.... $169

Taxan

440 $679

420L 499

425 w/video 499

Zenith 135(RGBorcomp)....$499

136 669

Others Call

DISK DRIVES

CDC 1800 Call

Corvus Hd Call

Davong Hd Call

l-Omega

Bernoulli Box Call

Mountain, Inc.

FileSafe Combo

Disk/Tape Pack for

the IBM PC or XT

For more info Call

Tall Grass

For Wisconsin customers Call

Tandon TM-100-2 Call

PLOTTERS

Amdek

DXY-100 $599

Amplotll 899

Enter

Sweet P Six Shooter... Call

Houston Instruments Call

Panasonic

VP6801P Plotter $1375

MISC.

Alpha-Delta MACC 8 Surge Protector $ 69

Computer Accessories

Power Directors

P2MtrBase $109

P12IBMPC 145

P22 Stand Alone.. 75

Electronic Protection Devices

Lemon/EC I $ 38

Lime /EC II 55

Orange/EC IV 75

Hauppage

8087 w/o software ....$149

8087 w/ software 255

80287 AT Chip w/o.... 289

Other Products Call

Kensington

Masterpiece $109

Keytronic

KB 5150 $169

KB 5151 175

KB 5151 Dvorak 175

Mouse Systems

PC Mouse $159

Touchtone Technology Touchtone II

(PC Keypad) $169

Versa Computing

VersaWriter $239

WICO

Joysticks (Ap) $ 39

For assistance in determining your needs use our technical line? We will be happy to provide full support.

POLICY:

► Wisconsin residents add 5% for sales tax.

► Minimum $4.00 for shipping, handling and insurance for orders to $200.

► For orders over $200, add 2/:% for shipping, handling and insurance.

► For cash prepayment of orders $200 or more, add ONLY 7% for shipping, handling and insurance.

► Foreign — either add 15% handling & shipping (Int'l money order) or inquire.

► Prices are subject to market fluctuations.

► All items subject to availability.

WE WELCOME!

► Visa, MasterCharge and American Express. (No charge for credit cards.)

► Corporate, government or educational volume purchases, please ask for special accounts desk for additional discount. (1-715-848-1374)

► COD (Add $2.00 per box/parcel. Cash or certified check required.)

► Checks. (Allow 1-2 weeks for clearing.)

WORKING HOURS!

Monday-Friday 8:30-6:00 • Saturday 10:00-2:00 (Ordering Lines only) • Central Time For tech. support, order status and customer service, call (715) 848-1374 (M-F, 8 am to 5 pm)

BYAD 0585

Inquiry 304 for Hardware. Inquiry 305 for Software. Inquiry 306 for May Specials.

ORYX SYSTEMS, INC.

CRAFTSMEN OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

1 800 826-1589

jg 1 800 472-3535

425 First Street • PO. Box 1961

Wausau, Wisconsin 54401

INT'L TELEX: 260181 ORYX SYS WAU

BOTE

Reviews

Reviewers Notebook

by Glenn Hartwig 259

The Compaq Deskpro

by \erry Grady 260

IBM PC AT

by Alan Finger 270

True BASIC

by G. Michael Vose 279

The CTX-IOO Modem

by Mark Haas 291

Review Feedback 299

THE DESKPRO LINE of computers (there are four models) from Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, Texas, all come with an extra boost in the form of a dual-speed processor. Starting from this common base, each successive model builds on its predecessor with more memory, bigger power supplies, additional drives, and a hard disk. The culminating unit, the Model 4, has everything that's built into the other three units plus a 10-megabyte tape-cartridge drive for hard-disk backup. It also carries a $7195 price tag. In our first review, Jerry Grady takes a close look at the Model 4 and presents his findings. There's much to like about the Model 4, in Mr. Grady's view, and the breadth of the product line helps a lot if you like the basic technology but can't spring for, or don't need, all the bells and whistles.

Next, Alan Finger takes us through the IBM PC AT. Here, the ability to expand is limited to a basic unit and an enhanced unit. The major benefits of the enhanced unit are a 20-megabyte hard-disk drive. 2 56K bytes of additional memory, and a serial/parallel interface adapter. While it doesn't give you the option of two clock speeds like the Compaq, its Intel 80286 is quite fast enough for most applications, all by itself. The too-often-politely-ignored point about the IBM PC AT, however, is the fact that it's IBM's top-of-the-line personal computer. Is it worth all the hoo-ha it has inspired? Is it really fair to use the initials AT to signify Advanced Technology? Mr. Finger's analysis is just what you need if you're trying to figure out what's going on.

The BASIC programming language has more idiosyncratic versions than just about any other. Each version attempts to be just a little better (and just a little different) than all of the others for either technical or commercial reasons. The result, of course, is a Babel-like situation. With so many "dialects" running around it's hard to know which features are applicable across product lines and, in the end, which are really BASIC and which are just using the name. BASIC'S creators, John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz, set out to rectify this confused situation. With associates, they set up their own company called True BASIC Inc. and brought out a version of BASIC for microcomputers that conforms to the standard proposed by the American National Standards Institute's subcommittee X3J2. Called True BASIC, this version is a major departure from previous microcomputer BASICS. Michael Vose, a BYTE senior technical editor, shows you exactly how, where, and why to look for a fresh approach from True BASIC.

Finally, Mark Haas reviews the GTX-100 from Lockheed-GETEX. It's an intelligent dual-speed modem that includes four levels of protection for your computer. Some of the interesting features of this modem have more to do with its intelligence than its security-providing aspects. For example, Mr. Haas points out that the modem's software lets you select the data rate, dial the phone automatically, dial the phone manually, re-dial the last number, and select the desired level of security. This modem has quite a large number of special features—with just one of these being the ways it lets you control access to your computer.

—Glenn Hartwig, Technical Editor, Reviews

35 • BYTE 257

Sometimes the best way to get ahead is to go sideways.

£ ;:: is :

The problem with spreadsheets is they rt 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^"

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 Apple9II, and over a dozen different printers, including Epsonf Okidata, IBM; Applef C. Itoh and Mannesmann Tally. Ask for Sideways at your local ComputerLand" Entre, or other computer store. Or mail a $60 check to Funk Software, P.O. Box 1290, Cambridge, MA 02238. Or call 617-497-6339. MC/Visa accepted.

SIDEWAYS

SIDEWAYS PRINTS SPREADSHEETS SIDEWAYS.

258 BYTE' MAY 1985

Inquiry 173

REVIEWER'S NOTEBOOK

Two portable computers, both previously described in BYTE, have now come back for full scrutiny in the Review department. In different ways each has aroused a good deal of speculation. First, the HewlettPackard Integral is just so different from a laptop computer that it deserves attention. A UNIX-based system with an electroluminescent screen, built-in printer, 3 /2-inch disks, a mouse, and a silhouette more like a sewing machine than a briefcase, it gives the definite impression that it is self-consciously incompatible with anything IBM would ever dream of producing.

All well and good. You really do get points for independence of spirit—but it still has to work.

So far. trying to use the Integral has resulted in a curious blend of appreciation and irritation. It doesn't come with much in the way of bundled software for things like word processing or communications. On the other hand, it hadn't been here a week before we got a copy of Multiplan designed especially for it. HewlettPackard apparently intends to support the Integral with its own considerable resources. Watching this one develop ought to be interesting. A full review is in the works and will probably be printed here in the near future.

Going almost entirely the other way from the Hewlett-Packard Integral is the Data General/One, first featured in BYTE as a product description last November (see page 102). In case you missed it. this one arrived amid great expectations. It's touted as having a high degree of compatibility with IBM's Personal Computer (PC), especially when used with the 5^-inch external disk drives. And people I know have been very impressed with its capabilities.

The main source of discontent, both in the BYTE preview and elsewhere, has been the poor quality of the screen design. LCD (liquid-crystal display) screens suffer from lack of definition to begin with. When one is also saddled with a fixed viewing angle, the problem of seeing what you're writing goes beyond a reasonable level. Attempting to respond to criticism. Data General brought out what it hopes will be a better screen and is said to be retrofitting (for $3 50) all those sold. Our review unit is equipped with one of these newly designed screens; the upcoming review ought to show how well the company has succeeded in answering its critics.

Aside from that, the DG/One, as I said, generally has been met with warm words for its high degree of compatibility with most IBM PCoriented software. Whether this is enough to endear it to a reviewer remains to be seen.

Perhaps more intriguing than what our reviewers think of these machines is the question of which one is more representative of what the user expects from a true portable computer. Is the portable's major function that of a drone for a desktop unit—and thus useful only if compatibility is very high? Or is the user of a small portable looking for something different enough from a desktop unit that questions of compatibility are irrelevant? These questions really go beyond the scope of reviews, but they do set the stage on which these machines will be more broadly judged.

Another subject for upcoming review is a very curious printer/ plotter/typewriter combination from Panasonic. Instead of a dot-matrix or daisy-wheel-type print head, this unit comes equipped with four colored pens. By moving the print head/penholder back and forth while the platen moves the paper up and down, the unit draws each character—a typewriter that actually writes. Besides writing text, it draws an assortment of graphs and connects serially to a computer. It has direct, line-by-line, and block printing modes; a full-line preview window to show your text before you commit it to paper; a 4Kbyte memory; word-search capability; two switch-selectable keyboards plus an extended character set; and the ability to print wide characters, tall characters, italics, underlining, and top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top vertical lines. At about five pounds and about $3 50, this one made a lot of friends right out of the box.

An editor's note about an IBM PCcompatible operating-system patch for the NEC APC III appeared with John Lingers review in March (see page 338) and has generated a lot of interest. Just to keep you updated, we're still running tests and have found that it works in some cases—and in some it doesn't.

We'll be running the code as part of a feature article in an upcoming issue. You'll undoubtedly run across programs that we either don't have or haven't yet had the time to test. Either way, when the time comes, let us know how you make out. This approach may also work with other close-but-no-cigar compatibles. We'd like to hear about any experiments you make with those as well.

—Glenn Hartwig, Technical Editor, Reviews

MAY 1985 -BYTE 259

SYSTEM REVIEW

The Compaq Deskpro

A faster

processor

optional tape

backup

system

by Jerry Grady

How is Compaq Computer Corporation of Houston, Texas, establishing itself as more than just another JBM PC-clone company? By introducing a and an desktop that is yet another IBM PC workalike, plus a little extra.

The new desktop is called the Deskpro (see photo 1), and it comes in four new versions that are labeled models 1, 2, 3, and 4. The little extra is an Intel 8086 processor with dual clock speeds on all models and a tape-cartridge backup system on the Model 4. A status light to the left of the disk drives indicates the operating speed: red if you are in PC-compatible common mode (4.77 MHz) and green if the processor is in "fast" mode (7.14 MHz). The switchable clock speed lets the Deskpro maintain what Compaq calls 99.9 percent IBM PC compatibility while providing the option of better performance. The availability of a 10megabyte tape cartridge to back up the hard disk fills the need for a fast, economical, hard-disk backup system.

Hardware

All models in the Deskpro line are configured from the same basic unit, the Model 1. This is an important point for users who want to build their systems gradually.

Compaq considers the Deskpro Model 1 its smallest business system. The machine has 128K bytes of RAM (random-access read/write memory), one half-height 514inch disk drive (360K-byte capacity), a parallel printer interface, the Compaq dualmode monochrome-text/color-graphics display adapter board, and six IBM PC-compatible expansion slots. It has a current list price—without a monitor—of about $2240. The monitor sells for $2 5 5.

The Deskpro Model 2 is the system that Compaq expects to be most popular. This computer is similar to the Model 1 except that it has 2 56K bytes of memory and two floppy-disk drives. Weighing in at a little over 30 pounds, the Model 2 system unit is heavier than the IBM PC This might be

\erry Grady (10911 East Mercer lane. Scoltsdale. AZ 85259) is the president and owner of The Grady Works, a company that specializes in microcomputer systems consulting and services. He has a B.S. in computer science from Northern Arizona University and an M.S. in the same field from the University of Arizona

due to its steel casing and heftier power supply. With a monitor, it lists for $2995.

The Model 3 is the IBM PC XT work-alike with its 10-megabyte hard-disk drive. The Model 3 also has 2 56K bytes of RAM. one floppy-disk drive, an on-board parallel printer interface, a hard-disk controller capable of supporting the tape cartridge, a halfsize card with a serial port and clock, and four IBM PC- or XT-compatible expansion slots. With a monitor, it costs $4995.

Finally, the top-of-the-line Model 4 includes everything the Model 3 has plus a 10-megabyte tape-cartridge drive for harddisk backup and the maximum of 640K bytes of RAM on the motherboard. It sells for $7195 with a monitor. See "The Deskpro Model 4" text box on page 264.

As options, Compaq offers a 12-inch, highresolution, amber- or green-phosphor monitor; a tilt/swivel mount for the monitor ($50): an option labeled the Desk-Saver, a small platform that raises the base unit off the work surface for enough clearance to store the keyboard; 128K-byte and 5!2K-byte memory upgrades; and a second disk drive for Models 1, 3, and 4.

MS-DOS 2.11 for the Compaq is not included with any model; it costs an additional $60. This customized version of MSDOS recognizes the Deskpro's dual processor speed and battery-operated clock (if present) at boot time. BYTE's standard configuration of a monitor, two floppy-disk drives, 2 56K bytes, serial port, parallel port, MS-DOS, and BASIC costs $3205.

Monitor

If you purchase the optional Compaq monitor, you can choose a green or amber display. The monitor is a 12-inch version of the Compaq Portable Computer's 9-inch display. The character display is sharp and the display contrast is good due to the monitor's etched screen. A single knob on the left adjusts brightness and contrast.

The monitor's case is angled at 10 degrees, so the display is at a comfortable

260 BYTE- MAY 1985

viewing angle if it is resting on the system unit. The casing is plastic and about the same size as the IBM monochrome monitor.

Two cables connect the display to the system unit. The power cable uses an unusual three-pin DIN circular connector, not the usual three-prong AC-style connector. Perhaps this is to ensure that you will not plug a Compaq monitor into your IBM PC. The second cable is a nine-pin connector that plugs into the RGB (red-green-blue) connector of the system unit's display card. Like the Compaq Portable and unlike the IBM PC the Deskpro display adapter can display shades of green or amber on a monochrome display as well as colors on an RGB display (see photo 2).

Another good feature taken from the Compaq Portable is the Deskpro's two display modes. The monochrome-text mode is very similar to the IBM monochrome monitor. It can display high-resolution text and graphics characters, but not colors or bit-mapped graphics. You can display this mode only on the Compaq monochrome monitor. You can display the color-graphics mode on any IBM PC-compatible RGB monitor, as well as on the Compaq monochrome monitor. This mode displays up to 16 colors or shades of green or amber and bit-mapped graphics.

Both modes use character sets almost the same as the IBM's equivalent character sets, including the graphics characters (see photo 3). The high-resolution monochrome character set occupies a 9- by 14-dot matrix. Most characters occupy an 8- by 12-dot area inside this matrix; the exceptions are special and graphics characters.

The color-graphics character set is much coarser but matches the IBM PC colorgraphics set. Each character occupies a 7by 7-dot area inside an 8- by 8-dot matrix.

It is easy to switch modes on the Deskpro. As with the Compaq Portable, you can toggle the display mode to color-graphics mode from the keyboard by pressing the Ctrl, Alt, and < keys simultaneously. To

return to the monochrome mode, press Ctrl-Alt- >. In color-graphics mode, you can use high-resolution graphics (640 by 200 pixels by two colors) or medium-resolution graphics (320 by 200 pixels by four colors), just as you can with the IBM PC.

In addition, the display-adapter card has an output for a composite monitor and an RF (radio frequency) modulator to attach to your color television. 1 connected a short stereo patch cord from the RCA jack on the display adapter to my television and was rewarded with color graphics, though the actual display left something to be desired.

Keyboard

The keyboard, which is enclosed in plastic, is extremely light: IVi pounds. This is nice

{continued]

Photo I: The Compaq Deskpro Model 4 with \0-megabyte hard-disk drive. \0-megabyte tape-cartridge system, optional second floppy-disk drive, and optional \2-inch green monitor. Note the clock-speed indicator light and keyboard plug to the left of the disk drives.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 261

REVIEW: DESKPRO

if you like to position the keyboard in your lap, especially since the keyboard's six-foot coiled cord plugs into the unit's front. But for those who prefer a more solid feel to the key

board, this lightweight device can be disconcerting. Also, the Deskpro keyboard lacks crispness. 1 find it mushy and hard to use. It seems I must press harder to make the keys register.

Photo 2: A display of the graphics capability of the color-graphics mode on the Compaq Deskpro. Shown is the display from Microsoft's Flight Simulator.

Tie Ornw &«kp«

••■rjzi'')«,-./8U345fc7S9:;';/?Sifi3r.IIEFeH!JXU1»(CPt!fiSnM«Y2[\i'_'4k:(iefgkijkl»Kip «^t«vw*>^(!)"&r->Jeaaaaseeeiu6&uftoboiiuyflUC£¥£^ L

< = >?SfiBCDEFGH

<i uS t i t I i \ b h n H '- ■ L r ■,%% i t

»iitl*lfii6«»8!!£r-,ij)si«i (||J{|.. lTf-fH,l»t|-#1*Tt,lril*J rl.l 1*«

9 1 i • * t n -- t > < f J • : • ■ i * * I.

Photo 3: A display of the high-resolution, monochrome-text-mode character set on the Compaq Deskpro.

The Deskpro system speaker emits a small click when you press a key. You control the volume of this click by pressing the Ctrl, Alt, and gray minus key to lower the volume and the Ctrl, Alt. and gray plus key to raise it.

The keyboard has a 16-character buffer that causes a beeping from the speaker when it is full. Unlike the other clear sounds that issue from the speaker, this beep sounds as though the speaker is cracked. This is caused by the keyboard click competing with the buffer overflow warning, each at different frequencies.

This keyboard, manufactured by Advanced Input Devices, complies with the IBM PC's nonstandard standard keyboard layout (see photo 4). The 10 function keys to the left, the numeric keypad to the right, and the undersize Enter and Shift keys all say clone. About the only noticeable visual difference is the LED (light-emitting diode) indicators on the Num Lock and Caps Lock keys. Unfortunately, these indicators do not always reflect the state of the computer. Occasionally 1 noticed that the Caps Lock LED was lit to indicate uppercase mode, but the input was in lowercase. After some investigation, 1 discovered that if you press the Shift and Caps Lock keys simultaneously, this reverses the current state of the indicator light.

Processor and Memory

At the heart of the Deskpro is the Intel 8086 microprocessor. The processor has a top clock speed of 7.14 MHz, but to maintain compatibility with its portable systems and the IBM PC, Compaq built a switchable clock speed into this system. Pressing the Ctrl, Alt, and \ keys toggles the Deskpro between common mode (4.77 MHz) and fast mode (7.14 MHz).

To emulate the IBM PC 8088 microprocessor, the 8086 must be slowed down to the IBM's 4.77-MHz clock speed. Not only is the 8088 clock speed slower, but its internal instruction cache is smaller. This instruction cache is a series of internal registers on the 8088 and 8086 processor chips that hold a queue of instructions retrieved from memory. On the

262 BYTE' MAY 1985

REVIEW: DESKPRO

8088, the length of this queue is four instructions; the 8086 can hold six instructions, lb make the 8086 match the performance of the 8088. Compaq had to slow the clock rate and buffer the instructions so the 8086 did not exceed the four-instruction cache.

The 8086 is a true 16-bit processor with 16 address lines and 16 data lines (as compared to the 8088s 8 data lines). This means that data is retrieved from memory 2 bytes at a time and that memory upgrades must be performed in 16-bit-wide banks. With 64K-bit chips, this means you must add 128K bytes or 512K bytes (with 2 56K-bit chips) at a time on the motherboard.

The Deskpro Model 1 has a standard 128K bytes of RAM in two rows of nine chips soldered on the motherboard (in each row, eight of the chips hold the data and the ninth chip is for parity check). Models 2 and 3 add 18 more 64K-bit chips into sockets to give 256K bytes as standard. The Deskpro Model 4 comes standard with 640K bytes of memory on the motherboard. To accomplish this, Compaq fills the two rows of sockets (18 sockets) with 2 56K-bit chips. All the models can be upgraded to 640K bytes on the motherboard. On the Model 1, this means installing the 18 2 56K-bit chips in the open sockets. On Models 2 and 3, you must remove 128K bytes of 64K-bit chips, then install 512 K bytes of the 2 56K-bit chips. This arrangement means you can have only 128K, 2 56K, or 640K bytes of RAM on the motherboard—nothing in between.

As an option, you can install a 7.14-MHz 8087 math coprocessor in the socket on the motherboard. This chip is more expensive than its 4.77MHz counterpart. Since this chip was not available at the time of this review, I could not test whether the switchable clock rate also works with the 8087.

Power Supply and Expansion Slots

The Deskpro offers a large 200-watt power supply. This is probably sufficient to handle about any expansion

board (or combination thereof) added to the computer. The fan is quiet, more so than that on the IBM PC or Compaq Portable.

The Deskpro has eight expansion slots on the motherboard, although either two or four of them might already be occupied. Compaq has engineered the data bus to let you add third-party memory-expansion boards but warns that these might decrease the Deskpro's performance by slowing the memory accesses. Memory accesses on the motherboard are done 16 bits at a time, but to ensure that all optional expansion boards compatible with the IBM PC (and the Compaq Portable) will work, access to the expansion slots is done 8 bits at a time.

On all four models, a floppy-disk controller card occupies slot 7. This controller also provides the electronics for the parallel printer interface. Slot 5 is occupied by the monochrome-text/color-graphics video-display board.

On Models 3 and 4, the hard-disk controller board occupies slot 6. This controller also supports Compaq's tape cartridge. Slot 8 holds the short board that contains the serial port and clock. This board contains a battery to power the clock when main power is off; the battery recharges when the power is on. This is a nice convenience for anyone who has ever had to change the battery on a clock board.

The half-height floppy-disk drives in the base unit are manufactured by Mitsubishi. These are double-sided double-density drives capable of handling both single-sided and doublesided disks. Formatted capacities of disks are 160K, 320K, or 360K bytes. The operation of the drives is smooth and quiet. In fact, except for the rasping of the disk in its plastic jacket, there is no noise at all. Each floppydisk drive occupies one of four identical half-height compartments in the chassis, so you can reposition the drives to fit your personal preference.

Software

Compaq offers the MS-DOS 2.11 operating system, but it is not included in the unit's cost. Compaq has matched IBM's PC-DOS with all the Microsoft utilities or lack thereof. The major command processor (COMMAND.COM) has been modified to recognize some of the special Deskpro hardware. The dual-speed processor is recognized upon booting and the clock rate is set to fast mode. If the Compaq asynchronous communications/clock board (or any other clock using the National Semiconductor MM58167A chip) is present, the time and date are automatically read and the clock is set. Setting the time or date with the TIME and DATE MSDOS commands resets the stored time or date value for use the next time you boot the Deskpro.

{continued)

mxuxtt

I. . --4. ■■■- 1 -_ T 1 L- L

Photo 4: The Compaq Deskpro keyboard. Note the LED indicators on the Caps lock and Num Lock keys.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 263

REVIEW: DESKPRO

Ti4E Deskpro Model 4

by Rich Malloy

The Compaq Deskpro Model 2, with its two floppy-disk drives, fast processor, and dual-mode display, represents an impressive value in desktop systems. But the real power of the Deskpro series is embodied in the topof-the-line Model 4, with its 10-megabyte hard-disk drive. 10-megabyte tapecartridge backup system, and 640K bytes of memory. At BYTE I had a chance to use one of these systems. In fact, it even had an optional second floppy-disk drive, which gave me a large array of storage options.

The Model 4's most noteworthy feature is its tape-cartridge backup system. As of this writing. Compaq is still the only major microcomputer manufacturer that I know of to offer such a device. Admittedly, a tape backup system is not high on everyone's shopping list. But after a hard disk suddenly loses about nine months of data (an event that is not highly unlikely), the extra $1000 for a tape backup system

seems less of an extravagance.

The Model 4 works quite well. Table A compares the Deskpro hard-disk drive with that of the IBM PC XT. The tape seems slow by disk standards, but usable. It took about 7 minutes to back up the 4.6 megabytes of data we had on our hard disk. A full 10 megabytes should take about 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, you cannot use the tape drive as an extra disk drive. Nor can you back up selected individual files. (These features are advertised by some third-party tape-drive manufacturers.)

Another nice feature of the Deskpro Model 4 is its ability to accommodate a second floppy-disk drive. This makes it easy to copy floppies and to run copy-protected programs.

Although somewhat expensive, the Model 4 is a good alternative to the IBM PC XT and AT. It might be even better with its recently announced 30-megabyte hard-disk drive ($2995).

Table A: A comparison of the hard-disk drive perfomance of the Compaq Deskpro Model 4 with that of the IBM PC XT. The Deskpro's 8086 processor was tested in both fast (7.14 MHz) and common mode (4.77 MHz). The Deskpro used MS-DOS 2.11; the IBM PC XT, PC-DOS 2.0.

Hard-Disk

Times (seconds)

Benchmark Test

Compaq Deskpro 7.14 MHz 4.77 MHz

IBM PC XT

BASIC Hard-Disk Write Hard-Disk Read

19.0 16.4

33.8 29.4

43 28

System Utilities 40K File Copy

2.4

2.6

2.8

Spreadsheet Load

2.1

3.5

3.8

With the purchase of Deskpro, Compaq supplies a hardware diagnostics test disk with a single program, TEST.EXE. This set of diagnostics is complete, testing everything from the keyboard through memory and massstorage devices. The diagnostics will

even test a light pen and other thirdparty options. Unfortunately, you cannot run the diagnostics without purchasing MS-DOS.

Other than the demonstration programs, the only difference in the MSDOS software is the BASICA inter

preter. Unlike IBM, Compaq puts all the BASICA code in RAM. This interpreter lacks no IBM BASICA features and actually gives you about 1000 bytes of extra memory space for your programs. I have seen Compaq's BASICA interpreter used on other manufacturers' PC-compatibles when their own interpreters didn't live up to the required PC compatibility.

Documentation

The Deskpro comes with a thick, spiral-bound operations guide and a pocket-size quick-reference guide. The contents of the operations guide are organized and clear. The information covers installing and setting up, installing options, running diagnostics, and programming in BASIC.

The only typographical error I noticed in the operations guide is the diagram for the switch settings for memory size on the motherboard. Two of the three displayed settings for switches 3 and 4 do not correspond to the table on the previous page.

The operations guide indicates that a flat-bladed screwdriver or Phillips screwdriver will be the only tools required for installing internal options. This is not true because Compaq uses Torx head screws. These require a special screwdriver with a star-shaped end.

In addition to the operations guide, each piece of hardware has its own installation guide. The installation guides are a nice touch but are awkward because you cannot insert them into the operations guide's binder.

The MS-DOS and BASIC manuals are definitely for reference and not intended to teach you how to use MSDOS or how to program in BASIC. Though fairly complete, the MS-DOS reference manual is missing the appendix on DOS function calls.

Compatibility

The name of the game for Compaq is IBM PC compatibility. With the Deskpro, Compaq has maintained the high level of compatibility demonstrated with its Portable Computer. The Deskpro will read and write all

[continued]

264 B 1' 1 t

MAY

AT A GLANCE

Name

Compaq Deskpro, Models 1, 2, 3, and 4

Manufacturer

Compaq Computer Corp. 12330 Perry Rd. Houston, TX 77070 (713) 370-7040

Size

System unit: 5 by 19 by 16 inches; 40 pounds for a Model 4

Components

Processor: 8086, 4.77 MHz or 7.14 MHz (switchable) Memory: 128K, 256K, or 640K bytes

Display: Dual-mode display adapter, monochrome-text/ graphics (switchable); IBM PC-compatible in both modes Keyboard: IBM PC-compatible 83-key layout, two LED indicators

Mass storage: Model 1: One or two 360K-byte, doublesided, half-height, 51/i-inch, floppy-disk drives Interfaces: Parallel printer Expansion: Four to six IBM PC-compatible expansion slots

Optional Hardware

128K bytes RAM $170

512K bytes RAM $1295

Monochrome display $255

8087 coprocessor $375

Floppy-disk drive $430 10-megabyte hard-disk

drive $2280 10-megabyte tape-cartridge

backup $1075 30-megabyte hard-disk

drive $2995

Serial port/clock board $150

Optional Software

MS-DOS 2.11/BASIC 2 $60

Documentation

Operations guide

Price (standard configuration with monitor)

Model 1 $2495

Model 2 $2995

Model 3 $4995

Model 4 $7195

_

M-'~' ' * * »-.'_,_f

MEMORY SIZE (K BYTES) DISK STORAGE (K BYTES)

0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 400 800 1200 1600 2000

4*

II

4

11

BUNDLED SOFTWARE PACKAGES 0 2 4 6

PRICE ($ 1000) 10 0 2 4 6

DESKPRO |] IBM PC

APPLE TIE

The Memory Size graph shows the standard and optional memory available for the computers under comparison. The Disk Storage graph shows the highest capacity of one and two floppy-disk drives for each system. The Deskpro can also support a 10- or 30-megabyte hard-disk drive. The Bundled Software 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), the standard operating systems for the computers under comparison, and the standard BASIC interpreter for each system.

MAY 1985 'BYTE 265

Compaq Deskpro with the serial/clock card in slot 1, the floppydisk-controller/parallel-printer interface in slot 2, and the dualmode display adapter in slot 4.

DISK ACCESS IN BASIC (SEC) 250

Inside the Compaq Deskpro Model 4 with 640K bytes of RAM installed.

100

e:

57 56

BASIC PERFORMANCE (SEC 250

150

SIEVE

CALCULATIONS

SYSTEM UTILITIES (SEC 50

SPREADSHEET (SEC) 25

40K FORMAT/DISK COPY 40K FILE COPY LOAD

Q DESKPRO (7.14MHz) J\ DESKPRO (4.77MHz) ]~] IBM PC

RECALCULATE APPLE HE

The graphs for Disk Access in BASIC show how long it takes to write and to read a 64K-byte sequential text file to a blank formatted floppy disk. (For the program listings, see "The Chameleon Plus" by Rich Krajewski, June 1984 BYTE, page 327, and October 1984, page 33.) The Sieve columns in the BASIC Performance graph show how long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes primenumber 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 it takes to format and to copy a 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 Deskpro used MS-DOS 2.11 and BASIC 2.10. Tests for the Apple lie were done with the ProDOS operating system except for the spreadsheet test, which was done with DOS 3.3. The IBM PC was tested running under PC-DOS 2.0.

266 BYTE- MAY I985

REVIEW: DESKPRO

levels of IBM PC disks, except the new AT 1200K-byte disks. The hardware options I tried, including memoryexpansion and multifunction boards, all work properly in common mode. Almost all of them work in fast mode. The Iomega Bernoulli Box (10-megabyte disk-cartridge system) works well in common mode, but it will generate occasional read or write errors in fast mode. This is due to the use of software loops in the device handler. The problem has been corrected in the latest version of Iomega's device handler.

Software compatibility is equally high. None of the software packages I tested show any operational deficiencies. Turbo Pascal. WordStar, dBASE II and III, Microsoft's Flight Simulator, and Microsoft's compilers for C and Pascal all work without modification. WordStar and Turbo Pascal perform much better in the fast mode because of the faster screen refresh and memory access. dBASE 11 and III show marginal improvement due to the disk-intensive nature of their operation.

Comparing the Deskpro's benchmark results with the IBM PC shows a somewhat better performance by the Deskpro (see the "At a Glance" box). Hard-disk input and output for the Deskpro is appreciably faster, while the floppy disk is usually slightly slower. For pure calculation speed, the Deskpro is faster than the IBM PC in common mode as well as in highspeed mode due to the 16-bit memory accesses that the Deskpro performs. When combined with other processing (memory access, instruction fetching), the Deskpro is not quite twice as fast as the IBM PC.

In WordStar (see table 1) or Multiplan, the display screen repaints about twice as fast in the high-speed mode. Overall the Deskpro common mode is compatible with the IBM PC. while fast mode averages an improvement of about 90 percent.

Limitations

The Deskpro's limitations are few and relatively minor in comparison to its features. Aside from those already

Table I: A comparison of the Compaq Deskpro with the IBM PC and the Apple lie using WordStar and dBASE II. The word-processing tests involved a 4000-word document (2IK bytes). The load and Save tests measure how long it takes to load and then save the document. The Search and Scroll tests measure, respectively, how long it takes to find the last word in the document and to scroll through the document line by line as fast as possible. The database tests measure how long it takes to sort a 2000-record data file (200K bytes) and to retrieve the last record using a nonindexed data field. These tests used an IBM PC with PC-DOS 2.0. 512K bytes of memory, a monochrome display. WordStar 3.3, dBASE II, and an Apple Ue with Microsoft's Softcard and WordStar 3.3. The Deskpro tests used a Deskpro Model 2 with MS-DOS 2.11 and WordStar 3.3.

Apple lie

10.3

32.3

6.6

46.4

N/A N/A

Test

Compaq Deskpro

IBM

7.14 MHz

4.77 MHz

Word Processing

Document Load

5.8

6.7

9.9

Document Save

17.9

18.7

24.2

Search

69

8.8

10.5

Scroll

7.7

10.6

41.2

Database

Sort

702

798

765

Record Access

44.2

44.2

43

mentioned, the only problem I found is with a chassis brace on the inside of the Deskpro chassis. This brace is directly above slot 1 and interferes with insertion or removal of any option board.

The Deskpro is also priced somewhat high in comparison to its competitors. The Deskpro Model 2 with two disk drives and 256K bytes of memory can cost several hundred dollars more than a comparably equipped IBM PC. Although the Deskpro is being sold by over 500 retail outlets, it is just becoming available through discount houses, so it is often costly in comparison to discounted compatibles.

Although the 8086s faster processing in high-speed mode is nice, it only slightly improves the performance of any system limited by floppy-disk accesses.

One reason for the IBM PC's success (and the birth of the Compaq Portable) was the availability of the IBM PC's technical reference manual. Compaq does not produce a comparable document for the general public. Because of the internal differences between the Deskpro and the IBM PC,

Compaq should make its own technical reference manual available.

Summary

Service for the Deskpro is provided by the retail outlets where you purchase the computer or by any authorized Compaq dealer. The Compaq service program is similar to the IBM program for training technicians of the authorized dealers. Compaq does not use a third-party maintenance organization for service.

Anyone who heavily uses spreadsheets, word processors, or monochrome graphics should buy the Deskpro. The improved performance of the 8086 in fast mode can increase your productivity if you use a spreadsheet for numerous calculations. It also improves the throughput of word processors and other applications that display a lot of text. Compaq's dual-mode display adapter lets you use applications requiring graphics without additional hardware or cost.

Would I buy the Compaq Deskpro? Yes, I would and did. And 1 recommend the Deskpro to others. It is a well-engineered and well-manufactured product. ■

MAY 1985 -BYTE 267

Presenting four fine, upstanding Citizens who'll give you service and value above and beyond the call of duty for

3&

many years to come. Citizen™ dot matrix printers, precisionengineered by the people who've become a wristhold word in fine, precision-engineered watches.

Trie Citizens are very sleek, very quiet, and 3j{^ J& .reliable as the day is long. They're also ex51 ■*hNn£) ceptionaily easy to use, thanks to a unique new push-feed paper loading system. What's more, the Citizens are

very versatile. They're IBM- and Epson-compatible. Can print graphics. And give you output speeds of 160 cps (40 cps correspondence-quality) or a blazing 200 cps (50 cps correspondence-quality).

The Citizen MSP-10 and 15, and MSP-20 and 25. Precision-engineered printers at a price precision-engineered to put a smile on your face.

Stop by one of our dealers today and watch what the Citizens can do for you.

For more information, call 1-800-556-1234, Ext. 34. I In Califomra, 1-800-441-2345, ^pjrr«¥71^" Ext. 34. Or write Citizen ^F v/111 ^ Jl -N

America Corporation, 2425 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

© 1984 Citizen America Corporation

Citizen and the Citizen logo are trademarks of Citizen America Corporation IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Epson is a registered trademark of Epson Corporation

Inquiry 74

MAY 1985 -BYTE 269

SYSTEM REVIEW

The PC gets down to business

by Alan Finger

IBM PC AT

Alan finger is a vice president of

Comprehensive Computer

Consultants (270 Littleton Rd.

Bmldina 14. Westford. MA

018861

The IBM PC AT comes in two basic configurations. The basic model ($3995) comes with 2 56K bytes of RAM (random-access read/write memory), one of IBM's new high-capacity 1.2-megabyte disk drives, and a combination floppydisk/hard-disk controller card. Available for an additional $1800, the enhanced model adds 2 56K bytes of memory, a 20-megabyte hard-disk drive, and a serial/parallel interface adapter (see photo 1). Both systems are based on Intel's 80286 processor and have eight I/O (input/output) expansion slots and a battery-backed clock/calendar.

The AT comes with IBM's usual voluminous documentation. It includes a setup guide, an operations guide, and a BASIC manual, all in IBM's standard boxed looseleaf format. An unwelcome addition is a variety of small pamphlets packed in each box. While these are intended to be helpful quick guides, they are easy to misplace and might confuse as much as inform.

By the way, the BASIC manual is now complete. You don't have to send in a coupon and replace pages to get up-to-date documentation.

Power Supply and Keyboard

The power supply is 190 watts, as opposed to the 63 watts in the PC and 130 watts in the XT. This much power is needed. The PC is underpowered, causing many users to have hard-to-trace problems when adding to their systems. The XT's supply is much better but would be inadequate for the AT's two hard-disk drives. Since what goes in as electricity always comes out as heat, IBM has incorporated an innovative variablespeed fan that runs faster (and louder) as the internal temperature rises. Since my system was lightly loaded, the noise level never became obtrusive. A notable addition to the AT is a line-voltage select switch that lets it run on European 220-volt power.

The AT's keyboard and interface are more sophisticated than those on the PC and they

are not compatible. You cannot use an AT keyboard on a PC. A single-chip microcomputer on the system board manages the keyboard and related functions. Any PC software that goes directly to the keyboard interface hardware, some key-translation programs, and many games will not work on the AT.

The keyboard layout is similar to that used on an IBM Selectric typewriter (see photo 2). The Shift, Control, Enter, and backspace keys have all been enlarged. Some of the less frequently used keys, such as backslash, grave accent. Print Screen, and Escape, have been moved to peripheral portions of the keyboard.

Three status lights have been added to the Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, and Num Lock keys—this is a welcome feature. The only new key, Sys Req, causes the keyboardhandling software that's in ROM (read-only memory) to generate a software interrupt whenever the key is pressed or released. This lets the user signal the operating system for attention. PC-DOS currently ignores Sys Req.

To go with its international power supply. IBM provides six different versions of the AT's keyboard for foreign languages. The layout and internal scan codes are all identical, but some of the key legends are different to permit use of symbols peculiar to specific languages. The standard display adapters can display these characters, and DOS 3.0 has a set of utilities to adapt itself to the specific keyboard type.

On the output side, the AT uses the standard PC display cards and so is completely compatible. Graphics generation is much faster than it is on the PC.

Much has been said about the inclusion of a key switch that disables the keyboard and locks the cover in place. It seems to me that this feature is of limited usefulness. You would have to secure the entire system and external wiring to prevent someone with malicious intent from interfering with a running program. A program can test the state

270

of the keylock and override its function to selectively get input from the keyboard.

The System Board

The system board itself is a completely new design. Instead of the 8088 processor found in the PC, Intel's high-performance

80286 provides the horsepower. An empty socket is provided for the companion

80287 numeric coprocessor. The board contains a number of familiar components and many new ones.

At start-up. the 80286 is operating in what is referred to as the "real address mode' and has an architecture identical to that of the 8088 used in the PC and XT. Like the 8088. it uses a segmented addressing scheme to access up to 1 megabyte of memory. It has the same instruction set with a few extensions and incompatibilities (see BYTE's product description "The IBM PC AT." October 1984. page 108).

The most important difference is that the 80286 runs faster; it uses a faster clock (6 MHz versus 4.77 MHz) and has a 16-bit data bus instead of an 8-bit data bus. The bulk of the speed increase, however, comes from internal improvements that let it execute most instructions in about half the number of clock cycles that the 8088 requires. The net effect is a two to three times increase in speed over a PC or XT when running computation-intensive programs.

Things get more interesting when the 80286 enters its "protected address mode." Although it still executes the same basic instruction set, its operation more closely resembles that of a large minicomputer or mainframe and is specifically geared toward multitasking and multiuser applications. (For an introduction to 80286 operation in the protected mode, see "The 80286 Microprocessor" by Paul Wells. November 1984 BYTE, page 231.)

While the 80286 packs quite a wallop in its 68-pin package, it is not the ultimate processor. It is very good at performing certain types of functions, such as cost

effective virtual memory and fast task switching for real-time applications, but it does have disadvantages. Like the 8088, the 80286's major problem centers around the use of segmentation. Since a segment has a size limit of 64K bytes, dealing with large arrays such as those found in graphics and signal processing becomes cumbersome. For these applications, a processor with a large linear address space, such as Motorola's 68000. is generally more efficient.

Software compatibility is another problem. Programs written for real mode will not usually run in protected mode and vice versa. For applications programs the changes required are small (generally just

{continued)

Photo 1: The IBM PC AT with a 20-megabyte hard-disk drive, \ .2-megabyte floppy-disk drive, and 360K-byte floppy-disk drive.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 271

REVIEW: IBM PC AT

a recompilation), but you cannot plug your existing software into a protected mode 80286 and expect it to work. System software is more tightly tied to the processor architecture. PC-DOS works only in real mode. Even IBM's own ROM BIOS (basic input/output system) becomes unusable once you enter the protected mode. Microsoft's XENIX is the only announced operating system that claims to use the power of protected-mode operation, but it was not available for trie AT at the time of this review.

The AT supports the 80287 numeric coprocessor as a $37 5 option. While the changes required are not especially great, the 80287 is not totally software-compatible with the 8087 used in the PC, so programs written to use the 8087 might not work in the AT. As with the 8087. the actual increase in performance you can expect depends on the application.

The system board has room for 512K bytes of parity-checked RAM. The basic AT has 2 56K bytes, while the enhanced model has 512K bytes. You can get 128K-byte modules that consist of two special 64K-byte RAM packages soldered together in piggyback fashion; they have Mostek part number MK4128N-15. IBM has never been the least expensive source for PC memory, and expanding the basic model to 512K bytes with IBM RAMs

costs $495. I called the Mostek local sales office to find out if these parts were available from its distributors. The answer I got was "They used to be, but not anymore.''

On the system board are eight fulllength I/O slots; these give you more expansion capability than the XT's six full and two short slots. Also, the floppy- and hard-disk functions are combined on one card to free up an additional connector.

Each slot is equipped with the usual 62-pin connector. These connectors carry the same signals as those on a PC, although the timing is not identical. Six of these slots have an additional 36-pin connector intended for AT-specific cards and contain the extended address lines (A20-A23) to let you place up to 16 megabytes of memory in the system. The upper 8 bits of the data bus are here, too. To accommodate existing 8-bit I/O cards, hardware on the system board automatically converts each processor-initiated 16-bit data or I/O transfer to two 8-bit transfers. Any card that can support 16-bit transfers can send a signal back through this connector to disable the translation.

An interesting signal. Master, lets a processor on an I/O card temporarily take control of the system and access any memory or peripheral device. This capability opens up new possi

E

t I: I: I. I I. I; I: i, t I t FT

WWW

iillllllll

ill ill i ill

msmn ■ i rir ----

Photo 2: Close-up of the IBM PC AT keyboard shows the repositioning of the grave accent. Print Screen, Escape, and backslash keys.

bilities for intelligent peripherals and coprocessor cards.

Compatibility with PC I/O cards is good, but not 100 percent. The higher clock rate and timing differences render many cards inoperative in the AT. None of the PC memory-expansion and multifunction boards are likely to work. On the other hand, the AT's added memory and clock features make the boards somewhat superfluous, and new memory boards for expansion above 1 megabyte are available from IBM and other vendors. Table 1 lists which expansion options IBM supports.

A few cards, such as IBM's colorgraphics adapter, won't fit in the double-connector slots because they extend below the connector top. These cards must be placed in one of the two available single-connector slots. Since the chassis is higher than the PC's, cards designed for the AT can be about an inch taller.

Mass Storage

The AT is the first major personal computer to use the new generation of high-capacity floppy-disk drives. These drives are capable of placing 1.2 megabytes on a special 5'/4-inch disk. The data is stored on 160 tracks (80 per side) with fifteen 512K-byte sectors on each track. At 500K bps, the data-transfer rate is twice as great as for a standard disk. Rotation speed is greater too: 360 instead of 300 revolutions per minute.

To get this kind of density, you have to use special "high-coercivity" disks. Because the bits are crammed so closely together, as much as 10.000 per inch, the magnetic field used to write the data tends to spill over onto adjacent bits. The high-coercivity recording media requires a more intense magnetic field to set or "coerce' a bit. It ignores the less intense stray fields and is only affected by the strong field directly under the recording head.

To handle these drives, IBM developed a new disk-adapter card. They also threw in the standard floppy- and hard-disk controller. Unlike the old

{continued)

272 BYTE- MAY 1985

AT A GLANCE

Name

IBM Personal Computer AT

Manufacturer

IBM Corporation Entry Systems Division POB 1328 Boca Raton, FL 33432

Processor

Intel 80286

Memory

256K bytes (basic); 512K bytes (enhanced) Up to 16 megabytes supported by hardware

Display

Uses standard IBM PC display adapters

Keyboard

84 keys, Selectric layout, 10 function keys

Disk Storage

Floppy: standard 360K bytes; high-capacity 1.2 megabytes Hard disk: 20 megabytes (enhanced system)

Expansion

Eight I/O slots

Software

BASIC in ROM, disk, tutorial

diagnostic

Price

Basic system Enhanced system

Software Options

PC-DOS 3.0 operating

$3995 $5795

system $65

XENIX operating system $395 XENIX software-development system $455 XENIX text-formatting system $145

Documentation

Guide to operations included Installation and setup included Technical reference manual $30

PC-DOS technical reference $40

Maintenance and service manual $295

Audience

Business and scientific users

MEMORY SIZE (K BYTES) DISK STORAGE (K BYTES)

0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 400 800 1200 1600 2000

^^

m

3128

M

2400

I

^ %

%

I

BUNDLED SOFTWARE PACKAGES 0 2 4 6

PRICE ($ 1000)

0 2 4

■

w

IBM PC AT

IBM PC Y///A APPLE HE

The Memory Size graph shows the standard and optional memory available for the computers under comparison. The Disk Storage graph shows the highest capacity for one and two floppy-disk drives. The Bundled Software 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 colordisplay adapter a printer port and a serial port, 256K bytes of memory (64K bytes for 8-bit systems), the standard operating system for the computers under comparison, and the standard BASIC interpreter.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 273

A rear view of the IBM PC AT.

DISK ACCESS IN BASIC (SEC) 250

160

SYSTEM UTILITIES (SEC)

40K FORMAT/ DISK COPY

40K FILE COPY B IBM PC AT

The graph for Disk Access in BASIC shows how long it takes to write and read a 64K-byte sequential text file to a blank formatted floppy disk. (For the program listings, see 'The Chameleon Plus" by Rich Krajewski, June 1984 BYTE, page 327, and October BYTE, page 33.) The Sieve column in the BASIC Performance graph shows how long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes primenumber 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' Format/Disk Copy graph shows how long it takes to format and copy a standard text file to disk (adjusted time for 40K bytes of disk data). The File Copy

1

Inside the IBM PC AT. The expansion bus is at the right, harddisk drive is top center, and power supply is bottom left.

BASIC PERFORMANCE (SEC 250

200

SIEVE

CALCULATIONS

SPREADSHEET (SEC) 2

LOAD IBM PC V//A APPLE HE

RECALCULATE

column shows how long it takes to copy a 40K-byte file using the system utility programs. The File Copy test on the AT copied from the hard-disk drive to the floppy-disk drive. The Systems Utilities graph does not include format/disk copy on the IBM PC AT because the review unit had one hard- and only one floppy-disk drive. The Spreadsheet graph shows how long it takes to load and recalculate a 25by 25-cell Microsoft Multiplan spreadsheet where each cell equals 1.001 times the cell to its left. The IBM PC AT used PC-DOS 3.0 and BASICA. The Apple Me used ProDOS, except for the spreadsheet test, which was done with DOS 3.3. The IBM PC used BASICA running under PC-DOS 2.0.

274 BYTE

MAY I48r)

REVIEW: IBM PC AT

disk adapter, this new card can handle only two floppy-disk drives. However, you can use two controllers if you can find operating software and a place to put the drives.

Since no software is currently available in the high-capacity format, the high-capacity drive and controller can read standard disks. You can also write on them, but you probably won't be able to read that disk on a standard drive due to the much narrower track that is recorded. This means that the AT owner who needs to transfer data to PCs will be forced to either sacrifice a high-capacity drive for a standard drive or use a serial-communication hookup.

In my experience with the highcapacity drive, I never saw any data errors or even retries using the special IBM disks that came with the system.

The ROM BIOS automatically determines the drive/format combination after a drive reset; this makes the actual controller mechanics transparent to a program. It also makes many copy-protection schemes incompatible. One exasperating attribute of the disk system is the one-eighth-second minimum motor-start delay that the BIOS imposes. It makes each initial disk access take longer than it would on a PC. I realize that the half-height drives take longer to start, but 1 still wish this parameter had remained variable.

If you need hard disks, the enhanced AT comes with a 20-megabyte, full-height, hard-disk drive tucked inside the cabinet (for benchmark times comparing three hard-disk systems, see table 2). You can add a second drive in the spot where a second floppy would go.

THE ROM BIOS

The ROM contains a cassette-BASIC interpreter (the AT does not have a cassette interface), a power-up selftest (POST] program, and the BIOS functions in four 16K by 8-bit devices. If you moved a jumper, a pair of 32K by 8-bit ROMs could do the same job and leave two sockets open for expansion. As with the PC, expansion ROMs can be recognized by the ROM BIOS

and incorporated into its functions.

The AT has a new version of the BIOS that provides a number of new features. The most notable is the addition of support for multitasking operating systems. Quite a few PC operating systems currently available can run more than one program at a time. Digital Research's Concurrent DOS and the multitude of UNIXbased packages are the best known. In all cases, these operating systems must supply their own BIOS because the one in the PC is single-threaded. Once you call it to initiate an operation (accessing the disk, for example), you cannot do anything else until the BIOS is finished—even if the processor is going to spend most of its time waiting. This is why your keyboard input seems to come to a grinding halt periodically while the PC-DOS print spooler is in operation and a disk access is necessary.

However, the AT BIOS functions can return to the caller with a flag that says "This will take a while." The operating system then runs another program while the hardware does the work. When the operation is done, the

BIOS sets another flag saying "I'm ready to finish up" and the software can go back to the original program.

While this feature is helpful, it (and the ROM BIOS in general) is only available in real-memory mode. With the possible exception of the multitasking facility built into IBM's TopView, new multitasking or multiuser systems are likely to operate in virtual mode and include their own BIOS.

Other new features are designed to isolate programs from the hardware for back and future compatibility. These include joystick support and a short-interval (microseconds) timer.

One potentially useful new function has some hidden problems. Since PCDOS supports only the first 640K bytes of memory, IBM built a function into the BIOS to allow block transfers between standard and extended memory including a device driver to use this memory as a virtual disk.

The way the BIOS Move Block function operates is simple: You put the processor into protected mode, make the transfer, and go back to real mode again. The one problem is that the

{continued)

Table 1: IBM PC hardware compatibility with the AT.

Supported

Not Supported

IBM monochrome display adapter

IBM asynchronous communications

IBM color display adapter

adapter

IBM SDLC communications adapter

IBM printer adapter

IBM binary synchronous

IBM expansion unit

communications adapter

IBM compact printer

IBM cluster network adapter

Other memory-expansion options

IBM PC network adapter

Other keyboards

IBM graphics printer

Other disk and tixed-disk drives

IBM color printer

Table 2: Some benchmark times in

seconds for the AT with

a hard-disk drive.

Test

IBM PC AT

IBM PC XT

Apple Me (Profile)

BASIC Hard-disk Write Hard-disk Read

17 12

43

28

22

13

System Utilities 40K File Copy

12

28

20

Spreadsheet Load

1.7

3.8

N/A

MAY 1985 -BYTE 275

REVIEW: IBM PC AT

only way to get back to real mode from protected is to literally reset the processor. But first a flag is set in the battery-backed configuration RAM signaling that the reset is for this particular reason. Near the beginning of the initialization routine, the flag is detected and the program returns to Move Block again for cleanup.

There are two key failings to this method. First, the entire operation, taking as much as 4 or 5 milliseconds, must be done with all interrupts shut off. This can delay interrupt-intensive operations to the point where critical events might be missed. You could lose characters coming in on a 9600-bps serial port, for example. The second problem is even more serious. If the power or the system fails in the small time-window during which the flag is set, each time the system is powered up or reset it will think it is coming back from a Move Block and

lose control. The only way to get the system working again is to open it up and disconnect the battery for a moment to kill the flag. You will also have to reset the clock and rerun the configuration program. You are better off to stick to the hard disk for fast storage. It's less expensive and more reliable.

A NEW PC-DOS?

A new version of PC-DOS accompanies the AT. The release of DOS 3.0 serves two purposes. First, it provides the internal changes necessary to run on the AT. It also serves as an interim release to let programmers begin to interface their software with the filesharing facilities required to operate in the local-area-network environment that IBM announced with the AT.

File sharing is required in multiuser or networked systems to ensure that only one user can change a file or

record at a time. Otherwise, a change or update might not be recorded properly Although local-area networks for the PC have been around for some time, they each had different sharing mechanisms. Software developers tended to ignore the issue rather than build separate versions for each brand of network. Although the actual network software will not be available until DOS 3.1 appears, DOS 3.0 standardizes the software interface for developers.

DOS 3.0 fixes a few minor bugs in DOS 2.1 and also adds some new commands. The ones I am particularly pleased to see fixed are the ability to use a pathname before a command and correction of the FOR batch command that previously could not deal with sets longer than 64 characters. Functions of the new commands include supporting foreign-language keyboards, making files read-only, and

Last year the experts tested

the top-of-the-line

Toshiba 3-in-One printer.

Here's what they said.

■■When Toshiba America called to see if there were problems testing their printers, I responded, You bet—I can't get the P1351 off Bill Machrone's desk long enough to get

its picture taken1' It's that good. JW

'Dill K A i-~t,-\ V~< r/ M-ir\ ir- fhi/--i

(Bill Machrone is the editor of PC Magazine

PC Magazine November 21,1984

■■ it is settir ig now standards for quality and performance in the dot matrix arena.**

Computers & E leclronics Magazine November 1984

276 BYTE

REVIEW: IBM PC AT

changing the volume label on a disk.

A major internal change lets PCDOS handle up to 65.526 allocation blocks on disk, up from 4086. This allows much more efficient use of disk space on larger hard-disk drives.

BASICA has also been enhanced, but the changes are really to the documentation. A number of keywords that were reserved but undefined, such as SHELL, ENVIRONS, and IOCTL, have finally been included in the manual as commands and functions. Most of these existed in previous versions, albeit with some bugs. This release simply acknowledges them.

Minor changes to some of the system calls can cause problems for programs that don't play by the rules. One such change is the use of all 8 bits in filename characters to support the foreign character sets. This made my version of Digital Research's GSX

Table 3: IBM PC/PC AT software

compatibility.

Compatible

Not Compatible

PMATE Editor

Flight Simulator

C1-C86 C compiler

J-Bird

Lotus 1-2-3

Frogger

WordStar

Burgertime

MultiMate

PC-Man

XyWrite

CP/M-86

Multiplan

Concurrent CP/M

SuperCalc2

DR's GSX

PeachText

ASCOM

dBASE II

graphics extension unusable on the AT and the PC. I understand that DR's latest release fixes the problem.

Summary

All the programs I tried, except the

games, stand-alone programs, and GSX, ran perfectly. Table 3 lists what worked and what didn't. IBM supplies a pamphlet with the AT telling you which programs the company knows won't run and mentioning any special considerations for supported software. Mostly this consists of instructions on how to copy a program to a high-density disk.

IBM states that a number of programs won't run on these disks because of copy-protection techniques or assumptions the program makes about disk layout. You have to run these on a standard drive.

To sum this all up, the IBM PC AT is a powerful machine that you can use in place of a PC or XT system for a two or three times increase in performance and storage. As a small, cost-effective, multiuser business system? I'll just have to wait and see what XENIX looks like. ■

U

W

Imagine what they will say

it its successor.

z • •

The New Toshiba P351 3-in-One printer. They could say that inside the sleek new Toshiba P351 you'll find the ultimate 3-m-One printer. Because it offers a combination of:

Letter-quality printing. Perfectly translated graphics. And speed. (100 cps letter And draft speed improved to 288 cps.)

They could say you'll appreciate the 24-pin dot matrix head that gives the P351 its exemplary letter and graphic quality

They could say the new P351 gives you an almost unlimited number of ways to express yourself. With both downloadable software fonts and new plug-in font cartridges.

And they could say the new P351 is not only the best looking printer in the $1,000 to $2,000 range But also the most reliable.

Of course, we're not putting words in their mouths. Just the ultimate 3-m-One printer in their hands. And yours.

For complete information call 1-800-457-7777 Operator 32.

In Touch with Tomorrow

TOSHIBA

TOSHIBA AMERICA, INC Information Systems Division

Inquiry 398

MAY 1985 'BYTE 277

Why Would Anyone Pay More?

Highest Quality at the Lowest Price.

1W

:C^

r ^ .

*mL

$57500

Hard Disk Drive

10 MB internal subsystem Half-height with controller XT compatible Low power usage Software and cables included Inquire about 20MB drives

$19900

Multifunction Card

0-384K memory

• One parallel port

• One serial port One game port One clock calendar RAM disk Print spooler Clock utilities

$119oo

Floppy Disk Drive

• Half-height

• IBM compatible

• 360K, 48 TPI

• Double sided/double density

$26500

300/1200 baud Modem

• Auto speed detection

• Hayes and Bell 103/212 compatible

• Auto dial/auto answer

• On-board speaker

• Software volume control

• Internal plug-in or external

• FCC certified

$72500 Floppy Tape/ Streaming Cassette Tape

• Half-height internal subsystem

• Quick back-up system

• Low power usage

• Software and cables included

• Image or file by file back-up

Inquire about our graphics controller!

Shipping charges are I

more.

lEPEN

In USA call: (714) 545-8108

In Canada call: (416) 549-2303

1318 W. Sepulveda Blvd. Harbor City, CA 90710

912 Barton Street East Suite 26

Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8L 3C2

278 BY'

M

SOFTWARE REVIEW

Bringing

structure

to the realm

of "spaghetti

code"

by G. Michael Vose

True BASIC

G. Michael Vose is a BYTE senior

technical editor. He can be reached

at POB 372. Hancock, NH

03449.

Eighteen months ago, BASIC'S originators, John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz, informed the world they planned to port their creation to microcomputers. The intention of Kemeny, Kurtz, and associates Chris Walker, Brig Elliot, and Dave Pearson at True BASIC Inc. focused on cleaning up "Street BASIC." their name for the widespread but limited versions of BASIC that dominated the microcomputer world. These men view Street BASIC as a weak sister to the substantially evolved Dartmouth BASIC. Calling Street BASIC "a horrible dialect of a beautiful language," they bemoan its hardware specificity and lack of modern structure.

Secondarily, they were keen to create a BASIC that conformed to a standard. They wanted it to be widely disseminated and, therefore, wanted it to be uniform for textbooks and other educational materials that need program listings. The standard to emulate, in their estimation, was the embattled American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X3)2 subcommittee's proposed standard (see the text box "ANSI Standard BASIC" on page 288). Kurtz had served as chairman of the subcommittee for 10 years.

The result is True BASIC, a compiled ANSI standard BASIC distributed by textbook publisher Addison-Wesley of Reading, Massachusetts. In this review, I look at the first implementation of True BASIC, the IBM Personal Computer (PC) version. It requires MSDOS 1.1, 2.0. 2.1, or 3.0 and 128K bytes of memory, plus a disk drive. The PC version's price is $149.90.

A version for the Apple Macintosh is slated for late spring, and a PCjr version reportedly will be ready by the time you read this. All versions of True BASIC are intended to be identical at the source-code level, but the Macintosh version proposes to exploit the machine's iconVmouseoriented user interface at the command level.

The unique features of True BASIC, and those that will be closely examined here, in

clude its user interface, use of external subroutines and libraries, floating-point math package, graphics and sound capability, debugging tools, and availability of access to the machine. (Table 1 offers a comparison of True BASIC. PC-BASIC BetterBASIC and Turbo Pascal.)

A major departure from previous microcomputer BASICS, True BASIC is compiled instead of interpreted. The compiler produces an intermediate code. A pseudomicroprocessor interprets this code at run time and uses the resulting interpretation to generate machine code for the IBM PC's 8088 CPU (central processing unit). This compilation technique enhances programexecution speed and permits execution of programs from within the True BASIC editor, using the familiar BASIC command RUN. All activity in True BASIC happens within the numerous windows of the system's editor.

Users view the True BASIC world through the editor's three windows—the source window, the command (or history) window, and the graphics window. The True BASIC editor functions as a screen editor within a window; movement is controlled by the cursor keys. The first two windows dominate the screen display during a programming session.

The source and command windows share the screen and can be adjusted by the user. On the IBM PC, you move between windows using function keys Fl and F2. You use the Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys to move through a file within a window.

The source window is for entering and modifying source code. The PC's Insert and Delete keys function within this window to aid the editing process.

The command window lets you issue commands (like RUN and SAVE), and it displays all nongraphic program output. In addition, the command window preserves all the command-line activity during a programming session. With the cursor keys, you

(continued)

MAY 1985 -BYTE 279

Inquiry 64

An IEEE-488 interface for all IBM-PC's and COMPATIBLES

VERSATILE

Easy-to-use commands for all IEEE-488 (GP-IB, HP-IB) functions.

Resident firmware supports BASIC, Pascal, C, and FORTRAN.

Emulates Hewlett-Packard controller functions and graphics language statements.

Supports Tektronix" Standard Codes and Formats.

Print listings, plot graphs, and use Lotus 123" with IEEE-488 peripherals.

FAST

Direct memory transfer rates to 800K bytes/second.

PROFESSIONAL

Clear and concise documentation includes a complete tutorial, programming examples, and application programs.

$395.00 complete. There are no additional software charges.

Find out why PC&488 is the first choice of over 500 companies.

cec

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT CORP

10 Evergreen Avenue

Burlington, MA. 01803

(617) 273-1818

IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corp

Lotus 123 is a trademark of Lotus Development.

Tektronix is a trademark of Tektronix, Inc

REVIEW: TRUE BASIC

can move back through all commandwindow activity to look at any sequence of actions. Within this window, the PC function key F9 enters the

F7 key

The F10

RUN command, and the recalls the last line entered, key is the help key. Since you both enter and execute

Table 1: A comparison of features and capabilities.

True BASIC

PC-BASIC

BetterBASIC Turbo Pascal

Hexadecimal numbers

no

yes

yes

yes

8087 support

yes

no

yes

yes

Maximum string length (bytes)

32K

255

32K

256

Bmary-coded-decimal math

no

no

yes

no

Byte

no

no

yes

yes

Windows

yes

no

yes

yes

DOS call

P.O

no

yes

yes

DOS 2.0 files

yes

no

yes

no

Chaining

yes

/es

yes

yes

Overlays

yes

yes

no

yes

Libraries (modules)

yes

no

yes

yes

Procedures

yes

no

ves

yes

Functions

yes

yes

ves

yes

DO loops

ves

no

yes

yes

ELSEIF/ENDIF

yes

no

no

no

CASE

yes

no

no

yes

Scoped variables

yes

no

yes

yes

Recursion

yes

no

ves

yes

PEEK/POKE

yes

yes

ves

no

Number of open files

10

2

5

15

Array dimensions

10

255

unlimited

255

Option base

declarable

0 or 1

Oor 1

declarable

(default =1)

(default = 0)

(default = 0)

Table 2: The largest number for which the respective languages can calculate the factorial, followed by the factorial.

Factorial Calculations

Largest Nu

mber Factorial Computed

True BASIC BetterBASIC PC-BASIC Turbo Pascal

170 145 33 33

725742E + 306 8 0479272E + 251 8.6833176187E + 36 8.683317E + 36

Listing I: The factorial program coded in True BASIC.

10 ! Program to Calculate and Print Factorials

20 ! Requires the Input of a Base Number

30 PRINT "Type a Number :";

35 INPUT number

40 LET dummy = number

50 IF number< 2 then LET fact = 1

60 LET dummy = dummy - 1

70 LET number = number'dummy

80 IF dummy< >1 then GOTO 60

90 PRINT 'The Factorial is '.number

95 GOTO 30

100 END

280 BYTE • MAY NHS

REVIEW: TRUE BASIC

programs from within the editor, True BASIC spots and reports errors as it encounters them during the compilation of the source program. The RUN command initiates the compiler, and there is a noticeable delay from when you enter the RUN command until True BASIC successfully completes the compile cycle. Errors make the compiler stop, display an error message in the command window, and move the cursor to the beginning of the line containing the error in the source window. Often, the cursor moves to an improperly placed keyword or punctuation character.

Another interesting component of the True BASIC user interface is that it lets you execute DO files. A DO file is a filter program or utility. For example, the True BASIC program disk contains a DO file called FORMAT that produces a formatted ("prettyprint") listing of the program file in the source window. Renumbering True BASIC'S optional line numbers is accomplished with another DO file called RENUM.

DO files written in True BASIC are coded as external subroutines and compiled to object files using the command COMPILE. The resulting object file can then be saved on disk, where it resides until called by the DO filename command.

The final component of the user interface is the on-screen help facility. Engaged by pressing F10 or typing HELP, the on-screen assistance is not context-sensitive. To get help on a specific topic, like saving source files, you must enter HELP SAVE.

External Subroutines and Libraries

Most BASIC programmers use subroutines, sections of code within a program that perform often-repeated functions. True BASIC similarly provides for subroutines, although you call them by name and they permit parameter passing. But the language also includes a mechanism for calling routines that reside outside a program—external subroutines and libraries. A library is merely a collection of

external subroutines grouped within a file. External subroutines allow parameter passing and look identical to internal subroutines, except that they stand alone or occur after a program END statement. The keyword EXTERNAL identifies a subroutine or group of subroutines and functions as a LIBRARY. External subroutines can reside independently on disk. To call a library, use a LIBRARY filename header at the beginning of the source program that calls the external subroutines.

Variables within True BASIC'S external subroutines are local to that program unit; they are unknown to other external subroutines or to programs. But within any subroutine or program, all variables are global in scope. Subroutines, internal or external, may have any number of arguments, but the arguments passed must match the data type (string or numeric) of the arguments as originally declared.

Functions in True BASIC can also be external, in which case they use local variables.

True BASIC has several libraries on its program disk. A graphics library provides routines to draw an K-sided polygon, a filled-in circle, or six other shapes. The four mathematical libraries offer hyperbolic functions, trigonometric functions in either radians or degrees, and such functions as n factorial or binomial coefficients. A menu library contains five subroutines that let you use menus within programs. By invoking them you can open a window for a menu, display the menu, get a reply, clear the menu, and return to the working program window.

Floating-Point Math

To test the dynamic range of True BASIC, I ran the short factorial program shown in listing 1. Table 2 shows the largest number for which this algorithm can calculate the factorial for a variety of languages on an IBM PC. The dynamic range claimed for the PC version of True BASIC is 1.I12 54E308 to 3.59539E+308, a claim verified by this test. True BASIC Inc. says that the minimum dynamic range

[continued)

WAREHOUSE

EXPRESS

BEST

SAYINGS

ORDER TOLL FREE

1-800-428-7979

"LAST CALL FOR SAVINGS" . FREE $20 PRINT WHEEL*

NEW OMNIREADER (OPTICAL READER) $399

PRINTERS • PLOTTERS us. Sale

C. ItOh (Riteman Epson Exacts) Call

Epson (All Models) LOW

Enter (Sweet-P 6 Pen Plotter. HP) $1095 $739

Sweet-P 6 Pen Plotter. HP CLOSEOUT

Juki

6100 Letter Quality Daisywheel $599 $383

6300 L Q Daisywheel 40CPS 995 679

Legend (Square Dot, Epson Compatible)

880 100CPS $279 f 1SS

1080 120CPS 339 239

1380 160CPS (IBM) 359 27»

1385 160CPS (IBM) 15" wide 449 Low

CPVII 180CPS 7-Color 15" wide (IBM) 1195 79»

Silver Reed (Free Print Wheel-Ltd. Qty.)

EXP400 L O Daisywheel $399 Low

EXP500 LQ 499 S2S7

EXP550 L O 649 389

EXP770 L Q 36CPS 1295 687

Toshiba (3 in 1 Printers. 1340, 1351) Low

Siemens (ink Jet PT-S8, PT-89) Call

MODEMS • MONITORS • DRIVES

Anchor Automation (Modems)

Volksmodem 12 (1200 Baud) $300 $17»

Mark XII 1200 Baud 400 229

Express 1200 (Hayes Exaci) 439 Call

Hayes (1200. 1200B) Calf

Novation (Hayes Compatible)

Smart Cal - 2400 Baud (IBM. MAC) $795 S549

Smart Cat ■ 1200 w/Mite (IBM. MAC) 499 299

Access 1-2-3 1200 w/Crosstalk (IBM) SPECIAL CHEAP

Encryption (Be Safe!)

DES 2000 (Data Encryption System) $460 Call

Taxan (Monitors)

116 Amber $180 $115

122 Amber (IBM) 230 131

420 RGB (IBM) HI-RES w/Cable 580 389

425 RGB (IBM) HI-RES 609 409

440 RGB (IBM) ULTRA HI-RES 800 Call

Drives (E-Z Install)

10 Megabyte In. H.D. w/Cnti Card (IBM) $699

20 Megabyte Int H.D. w/Cntf Card (IBM) 999

Kodak 3.3 MEG M H.T.Disk Int. 1103 $945 698

Panasonic (Drives)

5% Halt Height DS DO (IBM) $109

Controller Card (w/Drive Only) 69

COMPUTERS • CARDS • CHIPS

IBM (PC-AT Systems) Call

Leading Edge Call

Macintosh Call

NEC (LAP Computers & Accessories) Low

Panasonic (Sr Partner-PC & HHC) Call

Zenith (PC's) Call

Paradise (Cards)

Modular Graphics Card $395 $269

Fivepack 229 1S5

Maxpack (MGC - A1 • A2) 725 489

Six Pack (Card-IBM) Call

Ram (64K Chips (9) 150 NSEC) $27

SOFTWARE • DISKETTES

Auto Cad (Software. Digitizers. Plotters) Call

CPA+ (For Lotus 1-2-3) GL. AR AR. PR $695 Call

Enable $595 Call

Lotus 1-2-3 & Symphony Call

Micropro

WordStar $350 $172

WordStar Professional 495 Low

WordStar 2000 495 Low

WordStar 2000- 595 Low

Maxell (100 Oly ) IBM. MAC. HP Chaap

Fuji (100 Qty.) IBM, MAC, HP Cheap

MINORITY HI-TECH INDUSTRIES

5021 N. 20th Street, #10261 Phoenix, Arizona 85064

Other Information: (602) 890-0596

• WE BUY • SURPLUS GOODS

-sad

Prices reflect 3-5% Cash Discount- Shipping on most items I $8.00. Prices and availability subject to change without [ notice. Send cashiers check or money order - . . All I other checks delay shipping 2 weeks. ADD #185 |

281

REVIEW: TRUE BASIC

for True BASIC, regardless of the computer, is 1.0E-99 to 1.0E + 99.

The numeric precision of True BASIC is 14 digits of accuracy on the PC, except for the built-in transcendentals. where the accuracy is 10 digits. The external format for True BASIC numbers conforms to the IEEE 754 floating-point standard. The lan

guage's implementors sacrificed some of the standard's precision to obtain greater speed and produced a math package with better speed and precision than most languages offer (see the "Benchmarks" section). In accordance with the ANSI standard, only 6 digits of a number are displayed unless you invoke special format corn

Listing 2: The BYTE calculations benchmark coded in True BASIC. Note that line numbers are optional.

LET startime = time LET nr = 5000 LET a = 2.71828 LET b = 3.14159 LETc = 1 FOR i=1 to nr

LET c = c*a

LETc = c*b

LET c = c/a

LET c = c/b NEXT i

PRINT "Done" LET finishtime = time PRINT "Error = ";c-1 PRINT finishtime-startime;" seconds" END

Listing 3: The standard BYTE calculations benchmark.

5 REM: THE CALCULATIONS BENCHMARK

10 NR = 5000

20 DEFSNG A-Z

30 A = 2.71828

40 B = 3.14159

50 C= 1

60 FOR 1 = 1 TO NR

70 C = C-A

80 C = C*B

90 C = C/A

100 C = C/B

110 NEXT I

120 PRINT "done"

130 PRINT "error = ";C-1

mands, like PRINT USING. (Other True BASIC limits include a maximum string length of 32,767 and a maximum of 2 55 array dimensions.)

The traditional BYTE calculations benchmark, rewritten in True BASIC and shown in listing 2 (the standard BYTE calculations benchmark is shown in listing 3 for comparison), reveals that True BASIC'S round-off error is substantially lower than that of the PC-BASIC interpreter (see table 3 and the graphs on the "At a Glance" page). True BASIC also automatically senses, and uses, the Intel 8087 coprocessor when installed. The 8087 further enhances the speed and accuracy of floating-point math, fully conforming to the IEEE 754 standard.

Graphics and Sound

True BASIC places a substantial emphasis on graphics. Most of the sample programs on the distribution disk generate graphics output. The design goals of the graphics command set were portability and elimination of pixel calculations.

To eliminate pixel math, True BASIC performs x. u coordinate graphics using statements like PLOT, BOX, and DRAW. You can plot lines, points, or areas to create simple shapes. The only concern is the character of the graphic, such as the length of the sides of a triangle, and not pixel positioning on the screen. The graphics statements make all the pixel calculations. BOX statements let you draw and redraw graphics fast enough to create animated displays.

The PICTURE construct allows more sophisticated graphics. PICTURES are special graphics subroutines called with the DRAW state

Uontinued)

Table 3: The BYTE benchmarks for several languages. Times are in seconds.

True BASIC PC-BASIC BetterBASIC

Turbo Pascal

Sieve 21.2 190.7 31.4

15.4

Calculations 19.7 69.2 91.3

82.6

(Error) -4.5830006457E-13 - 1.788139E-07 0 (uses binary-coded-decimal

- 1.3384124031 E-08

notation)

282 BYTE" MAY 1985

Potent Pascal*

MicrosoftR Pascal may be the most powerful software development environment available for the MS-DOS system. It combines the programming advantages of a structured high-level language with the fast execution speed of native code compilation.

And it exceeds the proposed ISO and ANSI standards with logical extensions that make the language more powerful and versatile. For example, programming capabilities even allow you to manipulate data at the system and machine level.

It gives you single and double

MICROSOFT. Precision IEEE

The High Performance Software liOatmg pOint

arithmetic. Numeric operations take advantage of the 8087. Or automatic software emulation is

provided if the coprocessor is not installed.

Support for long heap allocation and separate module compilation gives you the flexibility to create large programs up to one megabyte.

And the standard linking interface makes it easy to combine Microsoft FORTRAN or assembly language subroutines.

Call 800-426-9400 to order the potent Pascal $300*

In Washington State, call 206828-8088. Ask for operator A5, who will rush you your order, send you more information, or give you the name of your nearest dealer to see Microsoft Pascal in action.

*Price exclusive of handling and Washington State sales tax Microsoft is a registered trademark and MS is a trademark oi Microsoft Corporation

AT A GLANCE

Name

True BASIC

Manufacturer

True BASIC Inc. 39 South Main St. Hanover, NH 03755

Distributor

Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. Reading, MA 01867 (617) 944-3700

Price

$149.90

Computer

IBM PC with 128K RAM and a disk drive

Features

An ANSI standard BASIC language compiler with a window-oriented user interface, characterized primarily by its outstanding math package

Documentation

A reference manual and a user's guide plus on-screen help

SIEVE OF ERATOSTHENES (SEC) 100

80

E

20

191

21

31

m

CALCULATIONS (SEC) 100

TRUE BASIC PC-BASIC i BETTERBASIC

m

TURBO PASCAL

The benchmark for the Sieve of Eratosthenes measures (in seconds) how long it takes for each of the tested languages to run one iteration of a program that determines all of the prime numbers up to 7000. The Calculations graph shows how long it takes to do 10,000 multiplica

tion and 10,000 division operations using singleprecision numbers. Listings 2, 3, 4, and 5 show the standard BYTE benchmarks for calculations and the Sieve—as well as how they were modified to accommodate True BASIC'S slightly different syntax.

merit. Since a PICTURE emulates a regular True BASIC subroutine, it can be called with parameters. For example, a PICTURE that draws a square can be called with an argument that determines the length of the square's side.

Sophistication in picture graphics is made possible by what True BASIC calls transformations. These transformations include the ability to rotate a picture, shift a picture right or left on the screen, change the size of a picture, or even shear the picture (tilt all its vertical lines forward by a specific number of radians or degrees).

Like regular True BASIC subroutines and functions. PICTURES can be either internal to the program or external. They may even reside with other PICTURES in a library.

The graphics functions of TYue BASIC also include the ability to combine text and graphics (using the

PLOT TEXT statement) and the use of adjustable windows. To enhance output within the system graphics window, you can open separate windows of any size and divide the output among them any way you like. The windows in True BASIC do not overlap.

Jo create music or sound in the language, you use common keywords like PLAY. SOUND, and PAUSE. On the IBM PC. you can play music in either foreground or background mode so your programs can provide music along with other activity. Background music is limited to a string of 32 notes or pauses, played repeatedly until the program's end.

Chaining and Debugging

The CHAIN statement in True BASIC functions like a subroutine call. Program flow can pass to another program and then return to the original program when the second program

completes execution. CHAINed programs can even accept arguments.

You can write and call assembly-language subroutines from within True BASIC programs, and you can perform traditional BASIC memory examination and assignment operations using PEEK and POKE. On the IBM PC, True BASIC'S memory addresses do not use the Intel 8086 conventions of segment and offset. Instead, they use a simple decimal address. Programmers will have to calculate this address, using the formula segment* 16 + offset = address, before performing PEEKs and POKEs.

This version of BASIC treats assembly-language routines the same way it treats libraries. Therefore, assembly-language subroutines need preface bytes identical to those in a library file. Assembly-language routines can accept arguments. Once created, assembled, linked, and

{continued)

284 BYTE- MAY 1985

^

4»

<d

&

Mighty Macro Assembler*

The new Microsoft'8 Macro Assembler package. A complete development environment that makes you a more productive programmer Whether you're using Macro Assembler or any Microsoft high level language.

A common calling convention lets you easily call assembly language routines from any high level Microsoft language to add an extra burst of blinding speed.

Better Debugging*

The new Symbolic Debug Utility lets you stay close to the source. Now you can step through your assembled or compiled code by name rather than by address. Source level display for Microsoft Pascal, FORTRAN, and C allows you to view both your original source and the resulting code.

And we stuffed our package with a full set of the most useful utilities around. So that you can link, maintain and organize your programs like never before.

Who else but Microsoft could build so much into one package for $150?

For the name of your nearest Microsoft dealer call (800) 426-9400. In

Washington State, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada, call (206) 828-8088. And if you're already MICROSOFT

USing JVllCrOSOrt The High Performance Software1"

or IBM® Macro Assembler, ask us how you can upgrade to the mightiest Macro of them all.

Microsoft Macro Assembler Package:

Macro Assembler

♦For the 8086/8087/8088 and now the 186/286/287.

♦ Define macros.

♦ Conditional Assembly.

♦ Case sensitivity for symbols.

New Interactive Symbolic Debug Utility

♦ Controlled testing environment for debugging.

♦ Source line display of Microsoft FORTRAN, Pascal and C Programs.

♦Set breakpoints on line numbers and symbols.

♦ Single step to follow program execution.

♦ Disassemble object code.

♦ Display values.

♦ Make minor changes without reassembling. New Program Maintenance Utility

♦ Rebuilds your applications after your source files have been changed.

♦Similar to UNIX™Make utility.

Library Manager

♦Create, organize and maintain your object module

libraries created with Microsoft Languages.

♦ Set page size (default of 16 bytes). Object Code Linker

♦ Simple overlaying linker combines relocatable object modules created using Microsoft Languages into a single program.

♦ Load Map generation.

♦ Specify from 1 to 1024 segments.

Cross Reference Utility for the Macro Assembler

♦ Creates a cross-reference listing of the definitions and locations of all symbols used in an assembly language program.

Microsoft is a registered trademark and The High

Performance Software is a tfademark of Microsoft

Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of

International Business Machines UNIX is a trademark

of Bell Laboratories

REVIEW: TRUE BASIC

filtered by EXE2BIN, an assembly-language subroutine is treated just like any True BASIC library routine.

Bit manipulation is not provided in True BASIC other than that allowable by PEEK and POKE routines and the bit-packing routines, PACKB and UNPACKB. The logical operators AND, OR, and NOT are relational, not Boolean. You can use them on expressions but not on variables, meaning that you can't use them to mask all

but certain bits of a byte. PACKB and UN PACKB place integers into strings and retrieve integers from strings, respectively. This allows storing numbers between 0 and 2 55 more economically.

True BASIC provides no special debugging aids. The manual suggests using BREAK to set breakpoints and CONTINUE to resume program execution after a breakpoint-defined halt. The editor provides a global

Listing 4: BYTE's Sieve benchmark in True BASIC.

10 let startime = time

20 let size = 7001

30 dim flags(7002)

40 print "Start One Iteration"

50 let count = 0

60 for i = 1 to size

70 let flags(i) = 1

80 next i

90 for i = 1 to size

100 if flags(i) = 0 then goto 180

110 let prime = i + i + 3

120 let k = i +prime

130 if k>size then goto 170

140 let flags(k) = 0

150 let k=k +prime

160 goto 130

170 let count = count + 1

180 next i

190 print "Done: ";count;" Primes Found"

200 let finishtime = time

210 print finishtime-startime; " seconds"

220 end

Listing 5: The standard BYTE Sieve benchmark.

5 REM: THE SIEVE BENCHMARK

10 SIZE = 7000

20 DIM FLAGS(7001)

30 PRINT "start one iteration"

40 COUNT = 0

50 FOR I = 0 TO SIZE

60 FLAGS(I) = 1

70 NEXT I

80 FOR l = 0 TO SIZE

90 IF FLAGS(l) = 0 THEN 170

100 PRIME -I + I+3

110 K = I + PRIME

120 IF K > SIZE THEN 160

130 FLAGS(K) = 0

140 K = K +PRIME

150 GOTO 120

160 COUNT = COUNT +1

170 NEXT I

180 PRINT "done: ";COUNT;" primes found"

search-and-replace command called CHANGE.

Benchmarks

Table 3 and the graphs on the "At a Glance" page show benchmark results for several languages on the IBM PC. The benchmarks indicate that True BASIC is an average of 6.4 times faster than interpreted PC-BASIC 3 times faster than BetterBASIC and twice as fast as Turbo Pascal. True BASIC performs particularly well on the calculations benchmark. Listing 4 shows the Sieve benchmark program coded in True BASIC. Compare this with the standard BYTE benchmark for the Sieve in listing 5.

Conclusions

The True BASIC compiler conforms closely to the ANSI standard for BASIC but is not identical to the standard. It is likely, due to hardware anomalies, that there will never be a compiler that is 100 percent compatible. Even compilers for C, held up to the world as the most portable of languages, show variation from compiler to compiler; even C compilers from the same vendor can differ on different machines.

The principal advantage of ANSI compatibility is portability. In educational institutions, where there are as many different hardware brands as there are pencils, portability is crucial to BASIC'S continued usage. Secondarily, ANSI BASIC conforms more closely to the structured programming precepts that computer scientists see as essential to learning effective programming.

The disadvantage of ANSI compatibility is its nonconformity to the massive existing BASIC software base. Laborious recoding will be necessary to port existing programs to new BASICS like True BASIC.

Another, more subtle, disadvantage is aesthetics. I do not like the use of LET statements, for example, to assign values to variables. Though aesthetic considerations may seem arbitrary, they are important to a product's acceptance. People resist iearn

{conlinued)

286 BYTE- MAY 1985

Ferocious

FORTRAN.

Microsoft® FORTRAN crunches numbers with a vengeance!

It combines fast and efficient native code compilation with built-in 8087 coprocessor support. The result? Mini and mainframe performance from your MS™ DOS micro.

Based on the 77 standard, Microsoft FORTRAN supports extensive statements and data types—including complex numbers and IEEE single and doubleprecision floating point accuracy.

Support for large arrays (greater than 64K bytes), separate module MICROSOFT compilation,

The High Performance Software and OVerlayS,

allow you to create very large programs—up to one megabyte, with access to more than 65 thousand records in a file as large as four gigabytes.

How do programmers feel about Microsoft FORTRAN?

"The first FORTRAN compiler

that takes advantage of the full

addressing capability of the 8088

and the power of the 8087'.' —Jack Wilschke, Softalk

"We decided to use the Microsoft FORTRAN Compiler for its INTEGER 4 capability and the flexibility of its 8087

implementation'.'

— Charlie Huizena &. Chip Barnaky, PC World

Call 800-426-9400 to order the ferocious FORTRAN.

$350*

In Washington State, call 206828-8088. Ask for operator A4, who will rush you your order, send you more information, or give you the name of your nearest dealer to see Microsoft FORTRAN in action.

*Price exclusive of handling and Washington State sales tax. Microsoft is a registered trademark and MS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation

REVIEW: TRUE BASIC

ing new syntax that they find inelegant. Since the ANSI standard requires only that a conforming language correctly process LET statements. True BASIC should make them optional.

Minor syntax variations can also cause headaches. For example, TYue BASIC uses semicolons to separate multiple statements on a line, in a manner similar to Pascal. Microsoft BASIC and C use semicolons for completely different functions (for screen formatting and ending lines, respectively), these subtle differences will probably frustrate first-time users of True BASIC.

In keeping with the goal of aiming True BASIC at education, the refer

The company reportedly has a run-time

development that

ence manual and user's guide are written for the learner. But they do not condescend or oversimplify, presumably because they will be used in conjunction with a textbook or a class in programming. The documentation package Under

will be suitable for use outside of _

schools as well. The manuals are

above average in content, style, and

presentation. They avoid cute graph- #JJ —~ 7.

ics and convey a sense of academic Will eventually

authority without being dull.

Surprisingly, True BASIC stacks up Vermlt the

well as a software-development tool. •_

Its structure allows the writing of easily maintainable programs, and its modularity—with external subrou

tines, libraries, and chaining capa- eXBCUtdVle pW0ramS. bility—makes it suitable in team

distribution of

ANSI Standard BASIC

Expected to be formally adopted this year, the ANSI standard for BASIC calls for a broad and powerful set of control and command structures (see references 1. 2. and 3). In addition to a language core, the standards document specifies extensions for graphics, sophisticated file structures, real-time control, fixed decimal arithmetic, and editing. Unfortunately, conformity to the ANSI standard produces headaches for people using an existing BASIC, since its syntax almost certainly won't conform to the standard. Transporting existing programs to the new ANSI environment necessitates substantial rewriting of code. For example, all assignment statements, such as a= 1. must process the word LET (for example, LET a = 1) in ANSI BASIC.

The thrust of the proposed standard is to add structure to microcomputer BASIC, which has long been criticized as the language of "spaghetti code" with multiple conditional and unconditional branches, plus no satisfactory method of naming and labeling functioning blocks of code. The de facto industry standard, Microsoft BASIC, also suffers from limited variable names and a bewildering variety of keywords from machine to machine.

ANSI BASIC provides a full comple

ment of advanced control structures, named subroutines, long variable names, and array-manipulation statements. Array manipulation statements use the keyword suffix MAT. an abbreviation for matrix. With the MAT suffix, you can read data into arrays, put data into arrays, add or subtract or multiply arrays, and print arrays. In most microcomputer BASICs, these operations require looping, using the loop index as the array subscript.

Because ANSI BASIC attempts to make the GOTO and GOSUB statements unnecessary (although it does include them), it replaces the ON . . GOTO/GOSUB construct with the SELECT/CASE structure. Similar to Pascal's CASE statement. ANSI BASIC'S SELECT/CASE allows multiple path branches according to evaluated expressions. TTue BASIC even allows ranges within the CASE evaluation, as in CASE 0 TO 9.

Control structures in ANSI BASIC include DO loops, using both WHILE and UNTIL modifiers at either the beginning or the end of the loop block, as well as the common FOR/NEXT loop. In addition to older IF/THEN decision structures, ANSI BASIC adds multiway decision coding using the ELSEIF/ENDIF construct.

programming situations. The programs execute a speeds that are comparable to those of other compiled BASICs. The company reportedly has a run-time package under development that will eventually permit the distribution of executable True BASIC programs.

The lack of a screen display during the compile process is a substantial error. Many people will get nervous during long program compilations, which could be several minutes, when the machine appears to be hung, doing nothing. A simple PROGRAM NOW COMPILING message might alleviate this tension.

The ultimate conclusion l draw about True BASIC is that it is superior to Microsoft BASIC as a programming language. Its strengths are its modularity, portability, graphics, and highquality math package. Its weakness is its lack of compatibility with existing BASICS. ■

REFERENCES

1. Kurtz, Thomas E. "On the Way to Standard BASIC." BYTE, lune 1982, page 182.

2. Anderson, Ronald. "The Proposed ANSI BASIC Standard." BYTE. February 1983, page 194.

3. ANSI X3I2. "Draft Proposed-ANS for BASIC." X3I2 Report 84-10. 1984.

4. Stewart, George. "TTue BASIC." Popular Computing. November 1984, page 95.

5. Wadlow, Tom. "Turbo Pascal." BYTE, July 1984, page 267.

288 BYTE- MAY IWi

Enter Computer's

Sweet-P Model (SP600)

A six-pen graphics plotter that's more compatible ... uses more software.

's^toeefip'

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 SuperCalc™ technical software like AutoCAD™ PC AD Robographics™ and dedicated business graphics software such as Micro-soft Chart, ChartStar™ Energraphics™ Chartmaster™ 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 cables that 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 Charter sets.

U.S. DISTRIBUTORS

Arizona

First Source Distributing

(602) 263-1950

California

Zenith Data Systems • (415) 621-8545

Softsel Computer Products, Inc.

(213) 412-1700 • (800) 645-7777 Toll Free Colorado

Ares Distributing • (303) 752-2972

Georgia

Pryor Corporation • (404) 987-0300

Illinois

PC Distributing • (312) 356-4812 Zenith Data Systems • (312) 562-7300 Pryor Corporation • (312) 736-0855 (309) 688-9585

Inland Computer • (913) 492-9100

Maryland

Federal Data • (301) 986-0800

Pryor Corporation • (301) 992-0040

NIclSScXChllSBttS

IMF Sales Associates • (617) 245-8900

Missouri

Computime, Inc. • (314) 991-2991

North Carolina

Allison-Erwin • (704) 334-8621

Ngw T©rs©v

Pryor Corporation • (201) 935-2525

Ohio

Pryor Corporation • (614) 436-8281

Pennsylvania

Peirce Phelps, Inc. • (215) 879-7068 Pryor Corporation • (412) 741-2920 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

Wisconsin

Pryor Corporation • (414) 778-3865

Canada

Altel Data • (403) 259-7814 Interworld Electronics Inc. (604) 984-4171 The Prmgle Group (416) 449-5640

Enter Computer Inc. 6867 Nancy Ridge Dr. San Diego, CA 92121

^

619-450-0601 California-800-227-4371 800-227-4375 • TELEX-181740 Come see us at Comdex Spring/ Atlanta, GA, May 6-9, Booth 2636

Trademarks Sweet-P Six Shooter. Personal Plotter, SPGL. Enter Computer. Inc . HPGL. Hewlett-Packard; Lotus. Lotus Development Corp, Framework. AshtonTate. Super- Calc. Sorcim, Inc.; AutoCAD. Autodesk, PCAD Robographics, Chessell-Robocom. Inc., Chart Star, Micro-Pro lnt'l Corp.; Energraphics, Enertronics Research, Inc.. pfs Graph. Software publishing Corp.. Chart-Master, Decision Resources. Centronics, Centronics Corp.

Source noles 'Yankee Group, The Technical Office Vol III 1983 "Wharton School Study, September 1981

Inquiry 155 for Dealers. Inquiry 156 for End-Users.

And, if your needs y begin to exceed the '4 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

^M0[ w 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.

^^^V^^f wwH [^^ 47853 Warm Springs Blvd., K^_^ JL- LJVJJ-il ^ Fremont. CA. 94539

NCORPORATED (415) 490-6770 Telex 4990843

Trademarks: Sysgen, DISK I/O—Sysgen, Inc., AT—International Business Machine* Corporation Registered trademarks: IBM—International Business Machines Corporation.

290 BYTE' MAY 1985

HARDWARE REVIEW

The GTX-100 Modem

An intelligent device with

functions

by Mark Haas

The GTX-100 is an intelligent 300/ 1200-bps (bits per second) modem that claims to provide four levels of security for the computer to which it is atDUilt'in tached. Until recently, Lockheed-GETEX.

; makers of the GTX-100. called it the Data

Security Sentry and advertised it as "so secure even Mata Hari couldn't hack it."

The GTX-100 contains a Z80 microprocessor that controls all of the modem's functions. CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) memory with battery backup stores the data the security functions are based on. The unit measures 8/2 inches wide, 10 inches deep, and 2 inches high; it's constructed of good-quality plastic.

The GTX-100's front panel contains eight LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that indicate the modem's status (off hook, carrier detect, etc.). Also on the front panel are three rocker switches. The first is an Answer/ Originate switch that you use to set these protocols when connecting without dialing, as when using a leased line. The center position of this switch permits voice operation with a telephone connected to one of the jacks on the rear panel. The Test switch puts the modem into an analog loop so that what the connected terminal sends is echoed back. After a while this function automatically times out and puts the modem back into normal operation. The Remote/Local switch controls an optional power-on device and does not control the modem's remote and local modes.

The rear panel contains two RJ11C jacks for connection to the phone line and the telephone; a DB-2 5 connector; a four-position miniature switch that sets the data format, parity, carrier-detect/data-terminalready signal activation, and mode of operation (English responses or single-character codes); and a voltage regulator mounted on a heatsink.

Connecting the modem to my office computer was fairly straightforward, and the manual provided good directions. An RS-232C cable (not supplied) connects the

Mark Haas is technical director for

OsbomelMcGraw-Hill (2600 Tenth

St.. Berkeley. CA 94710)

rear-panel jack to the computer's RS-232C port. Tapping a few keys on the keyboard while my communications software was in Terminal mode confirmed proper operation.

Modem Smarts

When you first turn the GTX-100 on, it runs a diagnostic on itself and then awaits a carriage return from the terminal (or computer) connected to it. This allows the modem to determine the proper data rate (300 or 1200 bps) automatically.

You are then ready to enter commands. The GTX-100 contains what could be called its own minicommunications package. From its Help menu, the modem's software lets you select the data rate, dial the phone automatically (speed dialing), dial the phone manually by entering a number, dial again the number last dialed, and go to the Security menu.

Speed dialing lets you store up to ten 62-character telephone numbers, including special dialing characters that direct the GTX-100 to pause 5 seconds, wait for a dial tone, or use tone or pulse dialing. Another character lets you link multiple numbers as one entry, causing the modem to dial each number in turn until it detects a carrier. An F in front of a number (or linked list of numbers) tells the modem to dial the number "forever," and the pause between repeated dialings can be set for 20 to 180 seconds. You can also enter remarks to help identify phone numbers or use the special characters just mentioned while dialing manually. Entering, changing, and erasing numbers is easy.

The GTX-100 can detect several line conditions—dial tone, busy signal, ringing, dead line, and excessive noise—and report these conditions to the operator in English or single-letter codes, as determined by a switch on the rear panel. The modem contains no speaker, but indicators make up for this.

(continued)

MAY 1985 -BYTE 291

Inquiry 93

DeSmet C

8086/8088

Development SlflQ

Package IU«f

FULL DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE

Full K&R C Compiler

Assembler, Linker & Librarian

Full-Screen Editor

Execution Profiler

Complete STDIO Library (>120 Func)

Automatic DOS 1.X/2.X SUPPORT

BOTH 8087 AND S/W FLOATING POINT

OVERLAYS

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE

■ First and Second in AUG '83 BYTE benchmarks

SYMBOLIC DEBUGGER

s50

Examine & change variables by

name using C expressions

Flip between debug and display

screen

Display C source during execution

Set multiple breakpoints by function

or line number

DOS LINK SUPPORT

$35

Uses DOS OBJ Format

LINKs with DOS ASM

Uses Lattice® naming conventions

Check:

SHIP TO

□ Dev. Pkg (109)

□ Debugger (50)

□ DOS Link Supt (35)

C

WAR

CORPORATION

P.O. BOX C

Sunnyvale, CA 94087

(408) 720-9696

All orders shipped UPS surface on IBM format disks Shipping included in price California residents add sales tax Canada shipping add SS, elsewhere add $15 Checks must be on US Bank and in US Dollars. Call 9 am. - 1 p.m to CHARGE by VISA/MC/AMEX Street Address: 505 W. Olive. #767, (940861

REVIEW: GTX-100

AT A GLANCE

Name

GTX-100

Manufacturer

Lockheed-GETEX 1100 Circle 75 Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339 (404) 951-0878

Type

Intelligent modem with security features

Size

8V2 by 10 by 2 inches

Equipment Needed

Terminal, or computer with simple communications software and an RS-232C

port

Features

300/1200-bps operation, automatic detection of data-transmission rate, automatic dialing and answering, battery backup of memory (protects all menus and tables), force answer/originate mode for leased-line operation, analog loop test with automatic time-out, pulse or tone dialing

Options

Remote-ON power regulation to turn computer on or off remotely

Documentation

48-page manual

Price

$795

Warranty

1 year, limited

The Modem menu lets you set a variety of modem functions. You can set the modem's hang-up command code, dialing speed (slow or fast only), and local echo, and you can set the modem to answer on a specific ring. You can suppress the status reports from the modem to avoid interference with some communications packages, and you can suppress hang-up upon loss of carrier, thus allowing a mix of voice and data during the same call. The commands the GTX-100 accepts are not compatible with the Hayes Smartmodem.

Note that you can enter commands only from the host terminal. This means no one can "bump" the modem into command mode from a remote terminal and access your files.

Security

What sets this modem apart from other intelligent modems (such as the Hayes Smartmodem) is its built-in security measures. The GTX-100 has four levels of security: call back from list, call back any number, password without call back, and modem only.

In modem-only mode there is no added security and the GTX-100 acts like any other modem. The three remaining levels of security all involve the use of passwords. You can store up to sixteen 20-character passwords in the modem. Entering any one of the passwords is sufficient to gain access to the system. The modem also keeps a log of the last 16 numbers called back and the last 16 passwords entered (whether valid or not). These logs are useful in tracking potential breaches of security.

The highest level of security is the call-back-from-list mode. In this mode, the remote caller dials the modem's number. Upon connection, the modem requests from the caller a phone number it can call back. The modem checks the number entered against a table of authorized call-back numbers. Assuming the number checks out okay the modem hangs up and then proceeds to dial the callback number. Once connection is reestablished, the modem asks for a

[continued)

292 BYTE- MAY 1985

Sord Computer Sales Info Hotline

Professional Word

Processor/Electronic

Mail Portable

Computer System

15-11C

• Large 80 x 25 character LCD display

• 80K RAM memory (max. 80KB)

• Notebook size

• Weight 7 lbs.

• Electronic notebook/desk organizer software for busy executives

• Built-in RS232C interface and modem

• Calendar/clock, calculator functions

• Optional Microsoft-compatible BASIC cartridge for software development

• IBM PC data transferability

• Built-in microcassette tape drive

• Optional 3.5 inch floppy disk drive, bar code reader, portable printer, ten-key data-entry pad, 64K CMOS RAM pack with backup battery, spread sheet program

Advanced Word Processing Power

The IS-11C features one of the best word processors available in its class. Full-sized display screen of 80 x 25 lines, multi-windows, storage capacity of over 600 lines of text. Expand, underline, and center text functions.

Sophisticated Electronic Mail System

Link the various offices of your company with the IS-1 lC's electronic mail capability. Edit text with the word processor, then use the built-in modem and communications software to speed data to its destination thousands of miles away. Connects to any of the popular electronic mail or data base services such as Infonet, CompuServe, OAG, Dow Jones, and the Source.

Software Development Made Easy

Software can be developed for the IS-11C using Microsoft-upwards-compatible BASIC (with multi-windows and communications) or assembler. Plug-in ROM cartridges can be created for instant access to custom application packages.

Phone SORD toll-free on 1-800-223-1796 for:

• Special price for evaluation units

• Special price for journalists

• Student group prices

• Other special discounts to meet your needs (specify quantity, purpose, location to be used)

Mail This Coupon for More Information

Please rush me full information on the top-selling IS-11C.

Name:

Address:

City:

State:

__Zip:_

Computer innovator

SORD COMPUTER CORPORATION

New York Office: Olympic Tower 6F, 645 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Tel (212) 759-0140 Los Angeles Office: 723 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Tel (213) 622-0244 Chicago Office: OS 169 Church Street, Winfield, E. 60190. Tel (312) 690-8019

Inquiry 373 MAY 1985 -BYTE 293

*FREE 3M Flip V File Offer...

One less thing to worry about"

Lifetime Warranty

5V. QTY 20

SS-DD ., ., DS-UD

•B"* ^9btpi—► •a**-*}

•aBB -• 3-5"SS-135TPI

-::-With FREE 3M Flip W File

If it's worth remembering, it's worth Scotch. Factory fresh and prepacked with 10-5V4" 3M diskettes in 3M Flip 'n' File. Includes Tyvek envelopes, reinforced hubs, user ID labels and write-protect tabs.

Special Bonus Offer

As an introductory offer,

for every other box of

3M-5%" diskettes you

order you get FREE, 3M's

new Flip V File™ 50%

more storage capacity,

sturdy and with compact (

design that swings open to |

an easel-type work station '

in one quick motion. A

moveable front panel and see-through window

in front and back feature index cards. Holds

very comfortably 15-5Vi" diskettes. From a

tradition of excellence—now comes disk

storage. A $10.00 value is offered free of

charge while supply lasts.

3M Headcleaning Kit

Without disassembly or mess, without abrasion worries. 3M Headcleaning Kit has everything you need for 10 B"T headcleaning operations.. M

Disk Storage

Amarav Media Mate 50 (Holds 50-5W diskettes)

■9"

Disk Minder II-75 (Holds over 75

5 V." diskettes) »11 ss

Micro Disk Minder 36

(Holds 36-31/."

micro diskettes)... "8

PRINTER RIBBONS EA. DZ.

Epson MX-70/80 •3M *4Q

Epson MX-100 M90 *55

Okidata-80/82/83/92 .... M48 »17

Okidata-84 •3B0 »41

Price Promise

We will better any lower delivered price on the same products and quantities advertised nationally!

TERMS: FREE USE OF VISA & MASTERCARD. American Express also accepted. COD orders add $3.00 handling charge. Shipping: Add S3 00 per 100 diskettes or fraction thereof. Other Items: Add $2.00 for disk storage or headcleaning kit or each multiple of 8 ribbons. P.O accepted Utah residents add 53/a°lo sales tax. Minimum order a $30.00, S

TOLL FREE ORDER LIME: j

1-800-233-2477 M BOO AFFAIRS] \

INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES:

1-801 942-6717 I

HOURS: 9AM - 5 PM M-F(MT. STATE TIME)«

2028 E FT Ul

omputer sai i la** ci iff«*irs, inc. cal i i boo af

REVIEW: GTX-lOO

password. If the caller enters a correct password (one of the 16 possible), access is permitted.

The call-back-from-list mode provides several security measures. Even if someone steals a password, the modem will call back only numbers contained in the list of authorized numbers. Any intrusion would have to originate from one of these numbers. Assuming the perpetrator is calling from one of the authorized numbers, he will gain access only after entering a correct password. You can control the number of incorrect attempts at entering the password, and if an intruder exceeds that number, his phone number is placed in a "not allowed" list. Any numbers appearing on the list will not be called back, even if they are also on the list of authorized numbers.

The main drawback to this level of security is the limited number of callback numbers. Since the system can contain only 16 numbers on the authorized list, users can access the system from, at most, 16 locations. If any user needs to have access from more than one location, then each possible call-back number would have to be listed, cutting down the space remaining for other users (unless your phone has automatic call-forwarding and you remember to set it).

Breaking this level of security would not be an easy task, probably impossible for the average person. Any break-in would probably have to be an "inside job." The next level of security, call-back-any-number mode, is another story.

In call-back-any-number mode, users can call from anywhere: the modem calls back any number not on the not-allowed list. Again, if the number of attempts to enter a correct password exceeds the limit, the modem enters that phone number into the not-allowed list. Unfortunately, there is a simple way around this security measure, but I will not describe it here. Suffice to say that you don't have to be Mata Hari to figure it out.

This mode enables you to provide a unique service, however, by paying

the phone bill for most of the time the caller is on the line. The caller pays only for the first call to the modem, usually no more than one minute.

In the password-without-call-back mode the modem merely asks for a password. The list of authorized passwords may contain 16 passwords, and you can limit the number of tries that a user gets with each call.

All the features of the secure modes are controlled from the Security menu, which is password-protected itself. From this menu you can choose the mode of security, enter allowable call-back numbers and passwords, and set the limit on the number of password attempts. You can change the password for entry into the Security menu. This menu also gives you access to the call-back-number and password logs.

Research has shown that the best way to secure a computer system is through the use of passwords and by changing the passwords regularly. The GTX-lOO allows up to 20-character passwords, which should keep any potential intruder busy for a while. The question is, Do you need to spend $795 for a modem just to get password protection?

Conclusions

The GTX-lOO is a high-quality 300/ 1200-bps intelligent modem offering varying levels of security. Overall I found its performance to be excellent. Security in the call-back-from-list mode is very good but has its limitations. Security at the next level, callback-any-number mode, is no better than password-without-call-back mode. It may be useful, however, as a service to the caller, who usually has to pay only for the first minute of the original call to the modem.

I doubt most personal computer users will need the highest level of security or the call-back feature. You could build these features into your application software and use a lessexpensive intelligent modem. However, commercial users requiring these security features could probably benefit from purchasing the GTX-lOO modem. ■

294 BYTE- MAY 1985

Here's The Sawy-est True Dual Trace 10 MHz Digital Storage Scope You Ever Saw ... At The Saving-est Price. Only $59

LogicScope

UPPER TRACE

LOWER TRACE

HOY UNC 1 1 10 US MS SEC I -*MS1 SLOW* iimi.ai

TRIGGER

TIME BASE AMD SAMPLE RATE

i\^n r\>it »* i v i_j-r

■

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 instrumentation for you. It combines many of the features and capabilities 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 conventional 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 compared (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.

Inquiry 322

Consider its Engineering & Field Service Applications:

■ On microprocessor-based systems, check the timing relationship of various parameters relative to the system clock and other key events. Its storage capability allows visual and logical comparison of non-repetitive waveforms to known reference 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 convenient 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

POCCEC CEO-nOLOGV, IRC.

7320 Parkway Drive, Hanover, MD 21076 U.S.A. 301-796-3300 TELEX 908207 Division of Renaissance Technology Corp.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 295

TheTIPro where no

Now you can have true CAD at an affordable price. Plus an out'of-this'World PC package for your unique computing needs.

High quality computer-aided design has usually meant working with highly expensive mainframes.

But now, with the TI Professional Computer and AutoCAD ™ 2 software from Autodesk, Inc., you can put real CAD on your desk for under $10,000. And you'll have a superior PC system for other computing needs -available in a package of hardware, service, training and support no other PC offers.

TI and AutoCAD 2 let you explore the outer limits of your imagination.

AutoCAD 2 gives you mainframe capabilities like multilayering and precise dimensioning, plus isometric design and piece part takeoff attributes. You can create your own symbol and parts libraries. Use bi-directional zoom to go from a full building elevation to the smallest bolt with trillion-to-one precision. And move, copy, rotate or delete any part of your drawing.

"You can use your imagination

more and come

up with much

better designs

much faster."

.-Lansing Pugh, ^g_Architect, Austin, Texas.

The perfect match of CAD and machine.

Running AutoCAD 2 on the TI Professional Computer can yield spectacular results. High resolution graphics (720 x 300 pixels) give you crisp characters, lines and curves. Unlike many PCs, TI shows up to 8

fessional Computer takes CAD PC CAD has gone before*

colors simultaneously. And lets you mix and display text and graphics at once.

The TI Professional Computer is part of a complete system that gives you better performance from the bestselling software for other applications, too. It's an uncommonly expandable system that works with a vast range of peripherals. It can all be configured to your own individual needs. And grow as you grow.

We also offer optional service and support packages unobtainable anywhere else. Like a 24-hour customer support line. Extended 1- or 5-year service and support programs. And regional training seminars to get you started.

Is this the right CAD system for you? TI has the answers.

You have your own special way of working, your own unique needs. If the answers below apply to you, the TI/AutoCAD 2 system is your best choice.

\^»Are your drawings dimensioned?

x"\.»If they are, our system automatically computes them with a choice of linear, angular, aligned, circular and leader options.

>^£»Do you often modify existing drawings?

x\»We make it fast and simple, with a revised, plotted drawing that looks as good as the original. So, your productivity will be greatly improved.

\ MAIN BRJ

TO

CDMMAND MODULC"

t;*\ 1

PHASER

#

Beam down from the big picture to the smallest detail.

y^»What size drawings do you use?

x\»Our system works with a wide variety of leading plotters for drawings from A-size (8K2" x H")toE-size(36"x48").

♦Do you have other needs?

xV»The TI Professional Computer isn't just a dedicated CAD workstation. It runs over 1000 popular software programs for word processing, spreadsheets, accounting or other business needs.

V^»Is expandability important?

A.

Q

TI supports many expansion options, from communications to larger disks, printers, even to speech recognition, to improve your productivity.

♦Are overlays useful to you?

xx^If so, you can store information in unlimited, named layers, and turn them on or off for display or plotting in any color combination.

^^♦Do you use standard symbols or parts?

xx^ AutoCAD 2 offers optional symbol libraries and lets you create

your own

Move, rotate, copy or edit at will.

AutoCAD is a trademark of Autodesk, Inc.

"Star Trek" elements used with permission of

Paramount Pictures Corp., the Copyright Owner.

O 1985 TI

Explore the possibilities.

Draw your own conclusions.

For more details, or to arrange a demonstration at your nearest TI dealer, mail this coupon or call us at 1-800-527-3500. In Canada (416) 884-9181.

Name

Company

Address

City State Zip

Phone

Mail to: Texas Instruments Incorporated, EG Box 809063,

Dept. DCC052BY, Dallas, TX 75380-9063.

Texas ^^ Instruments

Creating useful products and services for you.

cflSHcam

Stand Alone or Multi-User

POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS

mum ti in u

iiiiifii H m u

,

IBM PC/XT

CAN FUNCTION AS THE SYSTEM'S MASTER

AS A COMPUTER

• The stand alone system can be upgraded into a multiuser system to meet growing business needs.

• Uses CP/M or MS-DOS (multi-user system only) to run thousands of dedicated software packages available to users.

• Displays transactions on a 9" CRT utilizing large characters for easy customer viewing.

• Utilizes two way data communications allowing quick and accurate price changes, order processing and file updates.

• Can be programmed using familiar languages for easy customization of vertical markets.

• Utilizes a database management system to produce meaningful reports on demand.

• Can be configured with floppies or Winchester drives (storage capacity-640KB to 80MB).

/Jdvanced

Business

Computer

Systems International, Inc.

Inquiry 13

AS A CASH REGISTER

• Its flexibility in function use exceeds industry standards for E.C.R.'s.

• Uses a programmable, buffered keyboard.

IT IS CAPABLE OF:

• error correct, void, return, refund, entire ticket voiding, manual discount by $ or %, mark down, mark up, coupons, food stamps.

• payment by cash, cheques or credit cards.

• charge and payment posting to in-house accounts

• H.A.LO./L.A.LO. protect on open departments anc discounts.

• black list and credit authorization.

• electronic funds transfer.

In Canada:

4088 Sandwich Street. Windsor, Ontario N9C 1C4 (519) 255-9199

In USA:

P.O. Box 32524. Detroit. Michigan 48232 (313) 961-3406

REVIEW FEEDBACK

Tandy 2000 Upgrade

The review "The Tandy Model 2000" by Mark S. lennings (December 1984 BYTE, page 239) states, as does literature from Radio Shack, that maximum RAM (random-access read/write memory) capacity is 768K bytes. The service manual for the 2000 (page 2 52) states that RAM capacity of 896K bytes is attainable by using all three available slots for upgrade RAM boards and kits.

A string in the last line of a 338K-byte file was located by the Find command in 18 seconds. When I added a RAM-disk utility, the same string was picked up in 3 seconds.

As your review indicates. RAM upgrade cost is high indeed. The cost for adding 512K bytes of RAM to the 256K bytes of RAM that came with my hard-disk model is $1596.1 am not aware of any other computer that costs as much for a RAM upgrade.

Apart from this one complaint, I am delighted with my 2000 and with the cooperation 1 have received from the Tandy/ Radio Shack home office.

Gregory Grover Los Angeles. CA

The HI 50 Kit

In the text box "Building the H-l 50 Computer Kit" (December 1984. page 2 58). Henry B. Cohen might have done a disservice to kit builders, especially novices, with some of his advice. I have constructed many kits, printed-circuit (PC) boards, and other electronics projects, so I speak from experience.

Mr. Cohen recommends working around parts that you can't locate immediately and then putting them on when they turn up. This is a poor practice, especially for novices. Often the order in which parts go on PC boards is important for ease of installation and because a certain sequence might be required if you are to install the part at all. Always install parts in the order specified in the instructions.

Mr. Cohen's suggestion that you should solder for integrity first and then go back and solder for appearance is also not a good practice. Each connection should be

soldered only once. Reheating a solder connection on a PC board to improve appearance is unnecessary and could damage the part, increase the probability of solder bridges, and degrade the integrity of the traces on the board (particularly on multilevel boards). Soldering integrity is the only consideration.

Mr. Cohen is incorrect when he states that a VOM or multitester is necessary to build the Heath H-l 50. I constructed the H-l60 (the transportable model) and did not need test instruments. With these computers, Heath supplies a tester that you must also solder together. All the testing described in the Heath construction manuals refers to this tester, which uses a generated tone for test measurements. In fact, you would have to refer to other technical data to use another type of tester (to get voltage levels and to understand what the tests accomplish).

Other advice offered by Mr. Cohen was very good, and 1 would like to confirm that the PC-compatible H-l 50/160 is a fine computer. You get additional technical documentation with Heathkit products that can prove extremely valuable when you run into problems in the future.

Loren D. Martindale Yuma, AZ

WordPerfect

1 was happy to read Ricardo Birmele's enthusiastic review of WordPerfect (December 1984, page 277). This program is by far the best of the dozen word processors I have sampled. 1 believe that several of the problems Mr. Birmele acknowledges are easily solved or are not WordPerfect's fault.

Mr. Birmele states, "Any characters underlined on a monochrome monitor will appear in blue on a color monitor; if fed by a color video drive board, they will appear in reverse video on the monochrome monitor." My experience with WordPerfect on the IBM PC suggests that it is the computer's fault that underlining is not available on a color monitor. When you run WordPerfect with the IS option (by typing WP/S from MS-DOS) and exercise the "Set Colors for Color Monitor" option, the program prompts for the color it should use

to represent underlined words. You can select whatever color you like from the IBM repertoire; underlined words will be displayed in that color, or in reverse if you select this option. 1 believe that Mr. Birmele will find that a document's underlined words will appear as such on a monochrome monitor driven by the IBM monochrome card, while on another machine with a color-display card the same words will be in color or reversed. Finally, it is not technically possible to successfully drive the IBM monochrome display with the color card.

Mr. Birmele is correct in mentioning that setting tabs is not convenient. But WordPerfect already provides tabs at even intervals; setting a tab at the current cursor position entails remembering the column number before pressing the Set Format key and selecting Tabs, then typing the number of the column where you want a tab. The WordPerfect manual explains this procedure.

It is also an injustice to imply that WordPerfect runs only on the IBM PC, Victor 9000, DEC Rainbow, Tandy 2000, and Zenith Z-100: indeed, there are customized versions of WordPerfect for nearly any MS DOS computer in existence, and it is compatible with a wide variety of computers including the Victor, the Tl Professional, the Data General/One, and others.

Joe Clark Halifax. Nova Scotia. Canada

Toshiba PI340

In Ken Sheldon's review "The Epson LQ-1500" (December 1984. page 293). I believe that the author makes a misleading comparison. He compares a properly operating LQ-1500 with an improperly operating Toshiba PI 340. As a happy owner of a Toshiba PI 340.1 know that it is capable of producing much higher quality output than is shown in the sample.

From the sample, it looks like at least three of the pins in the unit are failing to drive. My guess is pins 8, 12, and 18. It might be that this PI 340 is simply in need of its regular print-head cleaning, as specified in Section 5 of the owner's manual. A toothpick will remove the paper and rib

[continued]

MAY 1985 -BYTE 299

Inquiry 342

C Programmers:

Program three times faster

with Instant-C™

Instant-C" is an optimizing interpreter for the C language that can make programming in C three or more times faster than using old-fashioned compilers and loaders. The interpreter environment makes C as easy to use as Basic. Yet Instant-C™ is 20 to 50 times faster than interpreted Basic. This new interactive development environment gives you:

Instant Editing. The full-screen editor is built into Instant-C" for immediate use. You don't wait for a separate editor program to start up.

Instant Error Correction. You can

check syntax in the editor. Each error message is displayed on the screen with the cursor set to the trouble spot, ready for your correction. Errors are reported clearly, by the editor, and only one at a time.

Instant Execution. Instant-C'u uses no assembler or loader. You can execute your program as soon as you finish editing.

Instant Testing. You can immediately execute any C statement or function, set variables, or evaluate expressions. Your results are displayed automatically.

Instant Symbolic Debugging. Watch execution by single statement stepping. Debugging features are built-in; you don't need to recompile or reload using special options.

Instant Loading. Directly generates EXE or CMD files at your request to create stand-alone versions of your programs.

Instant Floating Point. Uses 8087* coprocessor if present. Instant Compatibility. Follows K & R standards. Comprehensive standard library provided, with source code.

Instant Satisfaction. Guaranteed, or your money back. Instant-C" is available now, and works under PC-DOS, MS-DOS*, andCP/M-86*

Find out how Instant-C" is changing the wav that programming is done. Instant-C^ is S495. Call or write for more information.

Rational

Systems, Inc.

(617) 653-61% P.O. Box 480

Natick, Mass. 01760

lr:u!i*tn;irk* MS IK)S [Mumsoft Corp ). SIW" (Intel Corp I (P/\1«(> (DiKiutt KfM-artll Iik t Instani-C (Rational Systems. Im )

REVIEW FEEDBACK

Table A: Benchmark results for the Altec. Eco-C, and OS-9 compilers. The code sizes are reported in bytes.

Compiler

Comp.

Assem.

Link

Size

Execution

Aztec

0:25

0:20

0:45

9096

2:06

Eco-C

1:08

0:24

0:52

7280

1:41

OS-9

2:13

1:18

0:59

5805

1:19

bon debris that can cause the pins to stick

Maxim G. Smith

Natick, MA

C Benchmarks

Review Feedback (December 1984, page 301) contains another benchmark program for C compilers (listing 1. page 302). According to author David C Clark, the program is designed "to examine the quality of the implementation of long integers among various versions of C" Mr. Clark gives results for two fully implemented C compilers running on a 4-MHz Z80 system (table 1).

Curious to see what would happen, I ran the same test on a Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer with the OS-9 C compiler (no flags set). I won't guarantee the clock times closer than a second either way, but as you can see (table A), a few seconds make no difference at all.

My question is: What would a full-featured Gimix system with a 2-MHz clock make of this?

R. W. Odlin Sedrv-Woolley. WA

ALF 8088 Coprocessor

David Morganstein's review "ALF's 8088 Coprocessor for Your Apple" (in the Guide to the Apple Personal Computers. December 1984 BYTE, page A38) gives an objective and fair assessment of this coprocessor for the Apple II. However, when speaking of reading IBM PC-compatible disks, Mr. Morganstein mentions the Rana 8086 coprocessor system, which includes IBM PCcompatible disk drives. I cannot understand why he does not mention ALF s own IBM PC-compatible Apple II disk-drive system, which has been available for the better part of a year to support ALF's coprocessor.

Mr. Morganstein was unable to get his Videx 80-column board working on the

ALF board. This is, in fact, the only bug I have found in the product, and 1 believe it is an outcome of ALF developing the product-support software on Franklins rather than Apples. 1 finally got my 80-column board running under CP/M-86 by using two different drivers.

I originally bought my ALF 8088 coprocessor because of its support of the 8087 math coprocessor. Mr. Morganstein reports only a modest improvement in processing speeds using the FTL program. However, anyone doing large numbers of trigonometric and log functions in Applesoft using ALF's FTL87 8087 Applesoft support will have a pleasant surprise—a hundred-or-more-fold speed increase.

Mr. Morganstein points out that you need to take care, when running the ALF coprocessor under MS-DOS or CP/M-86, to ensure that software written for an IBMtype personal computer will run in the Apple environment. However, it is not necessary to purchase software that is not copy-protected in Apple-compatible format, since commercial services are readily available to perform this conversion.

The ALF 8088 coprocessor is not for everyone. But for those who can integrate it into their Apple system, it can be a useful addition. I have found the ALF technical-support people helpful, supportive, and knowledgable The hardware and software are reliable and perform as ALF says they do. I have had my ALF board two years and have had no problems with it. Dwight William Johnson San Diego, CA

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. Name and address must be on all letters.

300 BYTE' MAY 1985

As a programmer, you're already respected.

He* Client InfcHwtim List

Ctqwu: ngSf'-lltaiT

frte'i kto:

Billing Rit».

Zip: Ma

■

Referred By: ■■■■■

Nmi tecmM » N>: I

,,..,- —

With better-looking screens, you could be loved.

You write wonderful programs.

Their logic is elegant. Their organization is solid. They work like a charm.

But how do they look?

Maybe appearance shouldn't count, but it does. Because not only is a well-designed screen impressive to look at—it also makes the program easier to work with. And that makes you look good, too.

It takes you days, perhaps weeks of effort to make a program right. Isn't it worth a few minutes to make it beautiful?

A few minutes. That's all it takes for you and Screen Sculptor to create a glorious-looking screen. And once it's done, Screen Sculptor automatically writes the program—in IBM Basic, IBM Pascal, or Turbo Pascal—to display the screen and allow the user to enter data.

SOFTWARE BDTTLinG

campflnv

There's no limit to what you can do with Screen Sculptor. Design a screen you like and rearrange it whenever you like. Select colors from a mouthwatering 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. 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 320K disc drive and any 80-column display.

Screen Sculptor does more than design screens. For $ 125, it will enhance your creative reputation and thoroughly impress your users.

Because people don't expect a beautiful screen.

But they sure do appreciate it when they see it.

Try it FREE for 30 days!

We're so sure you'll find Screen Sculptor indispensable that we make you this no-risk offer: Order now and you'll also receive a full demo disk. Use it and the manual for 30 days. Then, if you can bear to give it up, 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 or write: The Software Bottling Company of New York, 29-14 23rd Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11105.

(718) 728-2200. Ifwe're shipping to a NYS address, please add 8'/4% sales tax.

Inquiry 363

MAY 1985 -BYTE 301

BuylOflc

stopworryin

Free Flip 'n' File™/! 5 ($10 Retail Value)

ppiesand aboutdust

storms, lint

attacksor the bends

The Flip 'n' File™/15 are more reliable, is an island of calm and With this kind of proorder in the savage envi- tection, all you have to ronment of the modem worry about now is office. when this limited

It's also free, when you special offer sells out.

. . J. l j ^ Offer available from participating distributors.

DUy 3 Specially marked ^^^^ personal computer dealers and office supply dealers.

package of 10 double or ^^^^^^ Which, if you don't

single sided, double density ^Hi* ^^^ hum, could be before the

3M diskettes. They're the ,^^ R^. r JP^^ next major coffee spill, certified 100% error-free ^k ■fl$! kL^ ^ ^^k. ^_ i

^ IvMy.Jk One less thingto

diskettes; no flopp.es ^ ?/*&A ^ WOITyabOUt

Inquiry 397

MAY 1985 -BYTE 303

The PC Plotter:

It will change the way

business looks at graphics.

The lowest-priced professional plotter on the market today is Houston Instrument's new fourpen PC Plotter. It is designed to produce the crisp graphics you need to compete — and communicate — in business. Just what makes this plotter so competitive? Let's take a look:

Price — A multi-pen, compact, single-sheet plotter at $595* isn't just a low price — it's an unbelievably low price. What an affordable way to link the power of graphics communication to your personal computer.

Performance — Yours and Ours — Until the PC Plotter was born, it was too expensive to let the pictures do the talking. Now that's no longer true. So, the next time the boss walks into the office needing some "nice charts and graphs," you can guickly fill the reguest with clean, colorful, wonderful graphics. Who knows, you might even get a raise!

As to our performance, we're the only plotter manufacturer offering you hundreds of graphics software packages which are

compatible with the PC Plotter.That means you can produce any type of drawing you reguire.

Flexibility — Depending on your needs, you can select from two PC Plotter models. One (PC Plotter Model 595 for $595.00*) allows you to produce graphics or overhead transparencies on 8'/2" x 11" paper or film; the other (PC Plotter Model 695 for $695.00*) permits either 8'/2" x 11" or 11" x 17" graphics. And we didn't forget the OEM. Houston Instrument will work with you to configure a plotter that's perfect for your particular application.

For the name of your closest PC Plotter distributor or dealer, contact Houston Instrument, P.O. Box 15720, Austin, Texas, 78761 or call (512)835-0900. Outside Texas call 800-531-5205. In Europe, contact Houston Instrument, Belgium NV., Rochesterlaan 6, 8240 Gistel, Belgium. Tel. 059-27-74-45, Tlx. 846-81399.

Kernel

IN SPITE OF A FLU BUG, Jerry Pournelle was up to picking his favorite products of the year for 1984. As he says. "Purely subjective."

Bill Raike reports on IBM Japan Ltd.'s test production of 1-megabit RAM chips and takes a look at some new microcomputers.

The BYTE West Coast editors describe an economical approach to custom chip manufacturing and give us their impressions of some new software.

Dick Pountain deals with this month's theme as he acquaints us with ALICE and Hope, two components of a parallel-processing approach in the U.K.

In Computers and Law, Robert Sterne and Perry Saidman shed some legal light on buying and selling computer products.

Bob Kurosaka uses the game of Nim in an exercise in BASIC bitwise logic operation in this month's Mathematical Recreations.

And Steve Ciarcia replies to readers who have built his Circuit Cellar projects.

Computing at Chaos Manor: In Search of the Perfect Product

by ]erry Pournelle 307

Chaos Manor Mail conducted by \erry Pournelle 347

BYTE Japan: Megabits and Gigaflops by William M. Raike 355

BYTE West Coast: Homebrew Chips

by }ohn Markoff, Phillip Robinson, and Donna Osgood 363

BYTE U.K.: Parallel Processing by Dick Pountain 385

Computers and Law: The Sale of Computer Products

Robert Greene Sterne and Perry ). Saidman 399

Mathematical Recreations:

An Exercise in BASIC Bitwise Logic Operation

by Robert T. Kurosaka 417

Circuit Cellar Feedback conducted by Steve Ciarcia 424

Your antidote to the rising epidemic of computer crime

Here ... for the first lime ... is an inside look at America's underground hacking culture ...by "The Cracker' the 19-year-old systems hacker apprehended by the FBI.

Set against the fascinating backdrop ol The Cracker's" infamous capers witli his Inner Circle" band ot hacking wizards. Out ot the Inner

Circle /.s packed with vital information to protect your data from unwanted intruders.

To best protect your system, you must penetrate the hacker mentality: How does a hacker think? What is he really after? What are his favored methods ot hacking., and how do you guard against them? How vulnerable is your system? What are tlie tell-tale signs of a computer break-in? How do you catch a hacker? What in the world do you do with one once you've caught him?

You II find it all in Out of the Inner Circle, along with a security checklist that details the points ot vulnerability in today's popular mini- and mainframe operating systems.

$9.95. soltcover S19.95. hardcover

Wherever books and software are sold

Microsoft 1'iess 10700 Northup Way Bellevue, WA %004

I i

I

A HACKER'S GUIDE TO

COMPUTER SECURITY

BY "THE CRACKER

BILL LANDRETH

THE TEENAGE COMPUTER WIZARD'

mBBBirmn *

COMPUTING

AT CHAOS MANOR

In Search

of the Perfect Product

LaserJet

The Tweek Cure

Tutsim

Universe

Professional BASIC

The Companion

A+ Mouse

MTBASIC

Expert-Ease

Encore 1200B

SemiDisk

Tunesmith

Fontrix

by Jerry Pournelle

Jerry Pournelle holds a doctorate In

psychology and is a science-fiction

writer who also earns a comfortable

living writing about computers

present and future.

The good news is that this is the last of the one-every-three-weeks columns. The bad news is that it's just past the New Year and I've spent the past three weeks nursing a flu bug that won't go away and leave me alone. Between that and the holidays, 1 have done less with computers than I intended. 1 have seen more television than I've watched for the past three years, and I'm now in a position to state for the record that even with the 20 channels we get in Los Angeles, there's little worth watching. You need mush for brains to watch the tube for long—or you'll get mush for brains if you do.

Even with flu, holidays, and TV, there's a fair amount to cover.

Chaos Manors Products of the Year

Many magazines have special product-ofthe-year features this month. I'm a mite late with mine. Of course, my rules are a bit different from other people's. I pick the products I like best. Purely subjective. And "year" doesn't necessarily mean it came out in 1984, only that I acquired it then. With those ground rules, here goes.

LaserJet

First choice, hands down, is the HewlettPackard HP 2686A LaserJet printer. That sucker has changed my life. It replaces the big and noisy Diablo 1620. The Diablo has served me well in the past eight years, and it's still in good shape, but I'll probably donate it to a prospace organization because I'll never go back to it.

The LaserJet runs off Zeke II, the Viasyn CompuPro Z80 I'm writing this on. It's quiet. The main printer used to be the NEC 7710 Spinwriter, which runs off the CompuPro 8/16 workhorse we use for everything except writing. For the past week, the 7710 has been loaded with fanfold checks because nobody bothered to feed it normal paper; it's so much easier to use the Laserlet for everything except checks.

It's easy to feed single sheets of letterhead to the LaserJet. It's not much harder to put a stack of letterhead in; or a mix of letterhead and second sheets. The LaserJet will feed sheets from its magazine or accept single sheets as you insert them.

The Laserlet is quiet. Whisper quiet. So quiet that it's uncanny; the noisiest thing about it is the schlap when it feeds a sheet of paper. And it's fast. Eight pages a minute, just like clockwork. It eats characters at 9600 bits per second (bps), and while it can't keep up with WRITE (my word-processing software), it almost does. Because the LaserJet is so fast, there's no pressing need for a printer buffer. In contrast, we feed data to the NEC Spinwriter through a dandy little Applied Creative Technology Printer Optimizer. The Optimizer is a box full of memory that the computer thinks is a really fast printer, and I'd name it as a product of the year except that I've had it more than a year. I suppose one day I'll get around to hooking the LaserJet to the Optimizer, but there's no hurry.

The LaserJet is smart, too. We've never had a paper jam, although my friend Tony managed one with his. The LaserJet will print both sides of a sheet, but it's a heat and dry powder process, meaning that you want to be careful about loading and stacking paper already printed on one side. Tony was recycling paper and put some in carelessly. A sheet jammed. He cleared it. The LaserJet automatically repeated the page—from the top. complete with header and proper page number.

LaserJet, I love you.

TWEEK IT

The second product of the year goes by the unlikely name of Tweek, which advertises itself as a "contact enhancer." It's a clear liquid you dab onto places where you suspect you're getting bad contact: IC sockets, edge connectors, RS-232C plugs, that sort of thing. It comes in a kind of

(continued)

MAY 1985 • BYTE 307

Inquiry 327

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMER'S BULLETIN:

Be Productive, Be

The Programmer's Editor

BRIEF'S power and flexibility provide dramatic increases in programming productivity. BRIEF'S economically designed human interface becomes a natural extension of your mind, allowing you to eliminate tedium and concentrate on creativity.

• WINDOWS

• Full UNDO (N Times)

• Compile within BRIEF

• Keystroke Macros

• Exit to DOS inside BRIEF

• Programmable Macro Language

BRIEF is a trademark ot UnderWare.

Solution Systems,s a trademark nl Solution St

Multiple files, unlimited size

"Regular Expression' search

Reconfigure keyboard

Language sensitive user controllable features (such as Auto-Indent for C)

AVAILABLE FOR PC-DOS. IBM-AT. AND COMPATIBLE SYSTEMS

ONLY $195.

DEMO AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $10 (applicable to future purchase)

CALL TOLL FREE 800-821-2492

for "Technical Description" or to order

-Solution .Systems

335-B Washington St., Norwell. MA 02061 617-659-1571

"I'M

PROLOG-86

Become Familiar in One Evening

Thorough tutorials are designed to help learn the PROLOG language quickly. The interactive PROLOG-86 Interpreter gives immediate feedback. In a few hours you will 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:

■ an EXPERT SYSTEM

■ 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 for what 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 machines. We provide most formats. The price of PROLOG-86 is only $125.

Full refund if not satisfied during

first 30 days.

800-821-2492

-Solution Systems

335-B Washington St., Norwell, Mass. 02061 617-659-1571

CHAOS MANOR

hypodermic syringe with a thin flexible tube instead of a needle, making it easy to get it into hard-to-reach places.

My first use was on a sticky Reset button. I didn't bother to turn off the machine, just pulled the top off the button and squirted in the merest drop. Voila!

Last week my telephone started to make horrible static noises, which could be cured by violently shaking the instrument, only they'd come back. I took it apart, took off the plastic cover over the little relay contacts activated by hanging up the phone, and squirted. The noise went away. Faulty TV remote controller: squirt. Noise in an audio system: squirt. So far, Tweek has cured about a dozen annoying problems. A little bit of the stuff goes a long way. Get some. You'll love it.

Fixing Up a PC

Four products of the year for the IBM PC. First, the outstanding Wico Smartline Smartboard keyboard, which is very nearly everything I ever wanted a keyboard to be.

My other three choices of outstanding PC products are: Orchid Technology's PCturbo 186 board, which makes the PC at least as fast as a PC AT and gives you RAM (randomaccess read/write memory) disk capability in the bargain: Borland International's SideKick, which lets you take notes, send messages, fix your calendar, and look up phone numbers anytime you have your PC turned on and no matter what you're doing with it; and Living Videotext's ThinkTank. Writers who use a PC and don't use ThinkTank are working too hard. Believe me.

TUTSIM

It's not exactly a product of the year, but one of the most improved programs I've seen lately is Tutsim. If you have any interest at all in mathematical modeling, the short form of Tutsim for $29.95 is a pretty good deal if you want to know something about analog block-structure models.

[continued)

308 B YTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 328

yniifum:hifvu:itm,-B,Y,(i)u

helps compare, evaluate, find products. Straight answers for serious programmers.

SERVICES

• Programmer! Referral List ■ Dealer's Inquire

• Compare Products • Newsletter

• Hell find I Publisher • Rush Order

• Evaluation Literature tree • Over 700 products

• BULLETIN BOARD-7 PM to 7 AM 617-I26-4SM

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

EXSYS - Expert System building tool. Full RAM, Probability, Why, Intriguing, serious. PCDOS $275

GC LISP - 'COMMON LISP", Help, tutorial, co-routines, compiled functions, thorough. PCDOS $455

IQ LISP - MACLISP & INTERLISP. Full RAM. Liked. PCDOS $155

TLC LISP - "LISP-machine"-like, all RAM, classes, turtle graphics 8087. CP/M-86, MSDOS $235

INSIGHT 1 - Expert Sys. Dev't, decent PCDOS $95

PROLOG-86 - Learn fast, Standard, tutorials, samples of Natural Language, Exp. Sys. MSDOS $125

Expert System front-ends for PROLOG: APES ($275), ES/P ($895)

Other solid alternatives include: MuLISP-86 ($189), WALTZ LISP for CPM ($159), MicroPROLOG ($275)

EDITORS FOR PROGRAMMING

BRIEF Programmer's Editor - undo, windows, reconfigurable, macro programs, powerful. PCDOS $195

VEDIT - well liked, macros, buffers, CPM-80-86, MSDOS, PCDOS $119

Free Literature - Compare Products

Evaluate products Compare competitors Learn about new alternatives One free call brings information on just about any programming need Ask for any "Packet" or Addon Packet D ADA. Modula □ "Al OBASIC D"C □ COBOL □ Editors □ FORTH DFORTRAN DPASCAL QUNIX/PCorDDebuggers. Linkers.etc

RECENT DISCOVERIES

FASTER C - Lattice users eliminate Link step Normal 27 seconds, Faster C in 13 sees. MSDOS $95

I'iM.™

We evaluate, carry every available programmers product. Ask.

CLANGUAGE

INSTANT C - Interactive development - Edit, Source Debug, run. Edit to Run-3 Sees. MSDOS $495

"INTRODUCING C" - Interactive C to learn fast. 500 page tutorial, examples, graphics. PCDOS $95

MEGAMAX C - native Macintosh has fast compile, tight code, K&R. toolkit, .OBJ, DisASM MAC $275

Audio-based C tutorials.

Overview $95. Full $295

C LIBRARIES

COMMUNICATIONS by Greenleaf ($159) or Software horizons ($139) includes Modem7, interrupts, etc. Source. Ask for Greenleaf demo.

C SHARP Realtime Toolkit - well supported, thorough, portable, objects, state sys. Source MANY $600

APPLICATION TOOLKIT by Shaw Complete: ISAM, Screen, Overlay mgnt, report gen, Strings, String math. Source. CPM, MSDOS $495

ROMPack - special $Main .EXE editor, source, tech support, 8086. $185

DEBUGGERS

PERISCOPE DEBUGGER - load after "bombs", symbolic, "Reset box", 2 Screen, own 16K. PCDOS $279

SOURCE PROBE by Atron for Lattice, MS C, Pascal. Windows single step, 2 screen, log file. $395

FORTRAN LANGUAGE

MacFORTRAN - full 77, '66 option, toolbox, debugger, 128K or 512K, ASM-out option MAC $375

DR/Fortran-77 - full ANSI 77,8087, overlay, full RAM, big arrays, complex NUMS., CPM86, MSDOS $249

Ask about Microsoft, Supersoft, others.

OTHER LANGUAGES

ASSEMBLER - ask about FASM-86 ($95), ED/ASM ($100) - both are

fast, compatible, or MASM

($125), improvements.

BetterBASIC all RAM, modules, structure. BASICA - like $185

HS/FORTH - '79 & '83 Standards, full RAM, ASM, BIOS, interrupts, graph, multi-task, optimizer MSDOS $250

MBP COBOL has screen control, strong doc,'74interm.,fast. MSDOS $680

SUPPORTPRODUCTS

BASIC DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM (BDS) for BASICA; Adds Renum, crossref, compress. PCDOS $115

PLINK-86 for Overlays, most lang., segment control. MSDOS $325

Pro YAM Communications Package All a programmer'd want. TTY, VT 100,3101, MODEM7, BBS. Remote, macros, windows MSDOS $139 CODESMITH - visual, interactive debugger. Symbolize, modify code $129

C LANGUAGE

OUR PRICE call

495 call 279 call 175

EDITORS Programming | | LANGUAGE LIBRARIES

EJHEEia

MSDOS: C86-8087. reliable

InstantC- Inter .fast, full

Lattice 2 1 - improved

McrosoftC2x

Williams, debugger, fast

C Systems & debugger CPM80: EcoPlus C • faster. SLR 275

BDS C- solid value 125

MACINTOSH Sottworks 365

Megamax-obiect. full 275

Consulair's MAC C 275

Compare, evaluate, consider other Cs

OUR

RUNS ON PRICE

BRIEF-Intuitive, flexible PCDOS 195

C Screen with source 86/80 75

Epsilon ■ like EMACS PCDOS 195

FINAL WORD-for manuals 86/80 215

MINCE-like EMACS PC 80 149

PMATE-powerful 8086 185

VEDIT-full, liked 86/80 119

Active Trace-debug BASCOM-86-Microsoft BASIC Dev't System Betten3ASIC-640K CB-86-DRI Prof BASIC Compiler Databurst - screens SCREEN SCULPTOR

RUNS ON 8680 8086 PCDOS PCDOS CPM86 PCDOS MSDOS PCDOS

75

2/9 115 185 419 89 215 115

COHERENT - for "C" users PCIike 475 COHERENT-NCI-Realtime PCIike call XENIX-plusCto MSDOS PC 1275

Ask about run-times, applications. DOS compatibility, other alternatives. UNIX is a trademark of Bell Labs

GRAPHICS: GraphiC-source in C GRAPHMATIC-3D FTN. PAS HALO-last, lull-all lang

FILE MGNT BTneve-all lang Clndex < -source, no royal CTree-source, no royal. dBC ISAM by Lattice dB VISTA-"Network "Structure PHACT-up under UNIX, addons

OTHER CUtil by Essential Greenleaf-200 t CSharp - Real-Time PORTABLE Cto PC, Mac, II SOFT Horizons - Blocks I

SCREEN CURSES by Lattice CView - input, validate MetaWINDOW-icons, clip PANEL-many lang, term ProScreen - windows, source

Windows for C

MSDOS 219

PCO0S 125

PCDOS 139

MSDOS 215

86'80 369

ALL 369

8086 229

MSDOS 465

MSDOS 225

MSDOS 129

MSDOS 159

MSDOS 600

Many 125

PCDOS 139

PCDOS 125

PCDOS 195

PCDOS 139

MSDOS 249

PCDOS 415

MSDOS 175

OUR RUNS ON PRICE

MS F0RTRAN-86 - Impr. MSDOS $ 239

DRFortran-86-full"77" 8086 249

PolyFORTRAN-XREF, Xtract PCDOS 165

A<* about ISAM other addons tor BASIC

EME3

ALL PRODUCTS - We carry 700 products for MSDOS. CPM 86, CP M 80. Macintosh and key products lor other micros

Call for a catalog, literature, and solid value

800-421-8006

THE PROGRAMMERS SHOP™

128-BRockland Street, Hanover, MA 02339 Visa Mass 800-442-8070 Of 617-826-7531 MasterCard 8517

OTHER PRODUCTS!

Assembler & Tools - DRI

8086

159

Atron Debugger for Lattice cEnglish - dBase to C

PCDOS

395

MSDOS

m

C Helper DIFF, xref, more

86/80

135

C0DESMITH-86-debug

PCDOS

125

MacASM-full, fast, tools

MAC

11b

MBP Cobol-86-fast

8086

680

Modula 2 for MAC

PCDOS

90

Micro SubMATH-FORTRAN full

86 80

250

Microsoft MASM-86

MSDOS

125

MSD Debugger

PCDOS

119

Multilmk - Multitasking

PCDOS

2b5

PC FORTH ) -well liked

MSDOS

219

PFIX-86 Debugger

MSDOS

169

PL 1-86

8086

49b

Polylibranan - thorough

MSDOS

95

PolyMAKE

°CD0S

95

PROFILER by DWB - flexible

MSDOS

109

Prolog-86-Learn, Experiment

MSDOS

12b

SLK F - Copy Protection

PCDOS

145

SYMD debugger-symbols

PCDOS

119

TRACE86 debugger ASM

MS00S

11b

Note All prices subject to change without notice

Mention this ad Some prices are specials

Ask about COD and POs. All formats available

Inquiry 329

MAY 1985 -BYTE 309

,*<*«>$&*

Coro?^

SopP*

When the going gets tough, Optimizing C86 comes through time and time again. C86 is a highly dependable C compiler that has been optimized through the years to provide the best combination of reliability, speed, and performance.

FAST. IN-LINE 8087/80287 SUPPORT

Now you can take full advantage of 8087/80287 capabilities, allowing your programs to run many times faster than possible with other C compilers. Plus the source code to all routines is included, so you have complete control over all functions.

MORE OF THE FEATURES YOU WANT

• SOURCE is provided to all libraries for total programming control. The source includes a set of standard UNIX routines plus many DOS specific functions.

• SPECIAL IBM-PC LIBRARY including communication, screen, and keyboard handling functions.

-s COMPUTER

INNOVATIONS, INC.

980 Shrewsbury Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724

© 1984 Computer Innovations, Inc

• COMPATIBLE WITH WIDELY AVAILABLE LIBRARIES such as HALO screen graphics and many, many others (call for list).

• TOPVIEW SUPPORT LIBRARY provides win dowmg capabilities.

• SPEED OPTIMIZATION — there's always room to tighten your code, and Computer Innovations has the tools to help. For example, PROFILER-86 helps identify key areas for optimization.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT, NOBODY DOES IT BETTER

Computer Innovations has earned a reputation for providing customer support that is unequalled in the industry. This includes a user's group, an on-line bulletin board, and a user's newsletter.

JOIN THE THOUSANDS OF PROGRAMMERS WHO TRUST AND RELY ON C86

For Further Information Call 800-922-0169.

Technical Assistance Call (201) 542-5920. Computer Innovations features a full line of C products including C-to-dBase (dBase development tool) and Introducing C (C Interpreter Language Learning System). Call or write for a product profile.

For Further Information Call

800-922-0169

Technical Assistance Call (201) 542-5920

Inquiry I0I

Inquiry 343

CHAOS MANOR

TUtsim is a rather odd program that turns your digital computer into a whole mess of op-amp (operationalamplifier) analog amplifiers. If you don't know what that means, you'll have a bit of work puzzling out how to use the program. If you haven't had elementary calculus, it's unlikely you'd want TUtsim, but you might. One of my boys is in precalculus in high school, and it's interesting to watch him play with dynamic models.

The last time I mentioned TUtsim, I said, "It ain't easy to use, and the manual's lousy." Since then the people at Applied i have added examples, rewritten the manual, and provided help files. Even if you've never done block-structure simulation, if you read the whole manual about five times you'll begin to get the idea. A couple of hours of mucking around with TUtsim taught me more about simulation than I'd have thought I could learn in a week.

It's simple enough to use TUtsim once you cotton on to how to do simulations with blocks. There are clock-function blocks, Booleans, integrators, delays, random-noise-generator blocks, etc.; certainly a rich enough variety to build some pretty complex models of things changing over time. Those with experience in this sort of modeling will find TUtsim a delight. Those who haven't done opamp modeling can learn about it and have fun at the same time.

There are versions of TUtsim for CP/M-80, the Apple II, and the IBM PC. There is an IBM PC version making use of the 8087 and another to support the Hercules high-resolution graphics board; there's no install program, but the IBM PC review copy I received had both the regular and the 8087 versions on it.

The demonstration or short form of the program is limited to 15-bIock models, which is big enough to allow you to learn the principles of simulation. The professional version lets you build models up to 999 blocks, but Applied i wants $495 for it. That seems a bit steep to me. I suppose if you need this kind of thing it might be worth the price, but I'd be sur

prised if they sold many of them.

TUtsim is not copy-protected, and it works like a bomb with the Orchid PCturbo 186 board; it also runs fine on the Z-l 50 and Z-160 PClones. The CP/M-80 version works with a Z-l00. I recommend TUtsim for anyone teaching calculus or engineering, and if you have any interest in math, you ought to be able to get as much fun out of the $29.95 short form as you would get from a game at the same price.

Universe

Speaking of games, an outfit called Omnitrend Software has come up with the most complicated game I ever did see. It's called Universe, and it runs on an IBM PC (color only) or the Z-l00; the version I have can figure out which machine it's running on, which is pretty clever. It will also run on the Z-160 without a color screen. There are versions for Apple and Atari, but I've never seen them.

Universe has some of the features of the Imperial Trader game I've been writing off and on for a year now. In fact, it has some of the features of nearly every game I ever heard of. It takes time; it took me nearly five hours to take out a mortgage loan, buy and equip a ship, and get started loading cargo and passengers; that, however, was before I got the manual updates.

Once I get financing and choose a ship and equipment, I can make some trading runs. There are a lot of options. I may try my hand at piracy but not just yet. since I couldn't afford to buy any weapons for my ship, and the bank will want its payments in a few short years. First task is to pick up some profits carrying passengers.

Universe comes on two disks with an enormous manual. The first version 1 got didn't have enough examples, so that it was pretty hard to figure out what to do. I complained, and Omnitrend added a scenario getting you through the early purchase and jump-off.

There are about a zillion decisions to make. I confess that the silly game has got me interested; even with the

{continued)

BOY! did we GOOF!

s

V

We made ReadiWriter™

so terrific. we're losing money! We'll honor the old $125. price unil May 31, 1985. After that, the pricegoes up to $395.

ReadiWriter"

the ONLY choice

for formatting

Large Documents

• ReadiWriter is a word processor utilizing imbedded 'Tags." It comes with a full screen editor and 3 indexed manuals.

• Precision control over document layout—reformats and renumbers after changes—automatic Table of Contents —Indexing rebuilt automatically.

• Footnotes—bottom of page; end of chapter; automatic numbering; auto flow to next page.

• Rich set of features—Lists; Figures; Macros; Fonts; Proportional spacing.

Remember! Order now at the original price of $125.

IBM/PC and Compatibles, 128K, 2 Drives

$395.

ReadiWriter and Manuals $395.00 Manuals and Demo Disc 35.00

Shipping and Handling 3.00

Visa, Mastercard or M0. Ml & CT residents add sales tax. At your Computer Store or order direct: (616) 327-9172

ReadiWare Systems, Inc.

P.O. Box 515, Portage, Ml 49081

MAY 1985 -BYTE 311

CHAOS MANOR

flu, I found myself working on shipdesign trade-offs and the like. There are a lot of choices. It's all logically structured and pretty realistic.

Universe is copy-protected, which is acceptable for a game. If you have a two-drive system, you can put the player data on your own disk. The player files are copyable, so you can start from any saved point if you don't like the way things turned out.

There's one "feature" I don't much care for. The game manual is enormous and fairly well organized (although the index leaves a lot to be desired). The manual includes a partial list of the products that you, the trader, can deal in—and an offer to sell you the complete list for about 15 bucks. Omnitrend claims you don't need the complete list, and you could make a good case that it's more realistic not to have it; but in my first play of the game I found it useful, and

it seems a bit unreasonable to charge that much money for five sheets of paper.

Another feature that's going to drive me nuts is the control system. Universe is largely menu-driven, and to select items on the menu you can't just put in the item number. You have to move a cursor arrow up and down a menu (with as many as 3 5 items)— but the arrow keys won't always do that. Generally, you must use the Select, Start, and Option keys. Of course, the IBM PC doesn't have those keys—the manual was evidently written for the Atari version—so you must use Fl, F2, and F3. Alas, while Select and Start may have intuitive meanings, Fl and F2 don't, and they don't always do what you expect them to do. I found myself wasting a lot of time giving inappropriate commands, lust how much trouble would it be to implement the arrow keys?

Quibbles aside, there's a lot of good planning in this game, and I'm impressed. Ordinarily I wouldn't review a game until I'd played it all the way through—but with Universe that's likely to take quite a long time. If you like complicated games, you might like this one.

Later: Aaarrrgghhh!!! I have managed to make an enormous profit, but I seem to be stranded in space. I quit in disgust, but after all, 1 did save the game at many stages, so I won't have to backtrack too far. The worst of it is, I expect 1 will have another shot at it. I did, too. And more after that . . .

Professional BASIC and

TRACE86

Another greatly improved program is Morgan Computing's Professional BASIC for the IBM PC. Alas, it won't work with SideKick. It doesn't work

THE SPORTS HOTEL.

GOOD HEALTH IS GOOD BUSINESS.

CHAOS MANOR

with Magic Keyboard either, but that doesn't bother me now that I have the Wico Smartline Smartboard. Professional BASIC is a complete interactive debugging system that makes it considerably easier to write large and complex BASIC programs. Morgan has recently dropped the price to $99.

Morgan also markets a program called Trace86. This was written by Dr. Neil Bennet, author of Professional BASIC. It's somewhat similar to the MS-DOS Debug utility, but it gives more information and is a bit easier to use. I haven't had extensive experience with it. but I did use it to see if it would be useful in writing demons to defeat copy protection. It is, but some copy-protected programs are also "Trace-protected,1' meaning that extra code has been put in to make the programs unrunnable under Trace utilities. This also makes the programs

fragile and hard to debug, but many publishers seem to think they need protection more than customers. Trace86 is not copy-protected and has a reasonable license policy.

The Trace86 manual is as good as Digital Research's DDT and SID manuals were; if you're familiar with debugging tools, you'll have no problem with this one. If you're not, you'll have to learn the theory elsewhere; this will teach you how to use Trace86, but not why you need it.

Computer Companion

Back in the seventies when I first got Ezekial, my friend who happened to be a Z80 computer, the big problem was systems integration. When you bought a computer, you got several boxes of parts, and even if you bought everything "assembled and tested," you had problems getting the computer to talk to the outside world.

Professional BASIC makes it considerably easier to write large and complex BASIC programs.

Zeke used a memory-mapped video board and separate keyboard, mostly because in those days the best text editor I'd ever seen was Electric Pencil, and Pencil didn't know how to work with a terminal. Also, in those days it wasn't so easy to hook up to a terminal.

Then came Adam Osborne with the first low-cost all-up computer; you

[continued]

■ 1985 Holiday Inns, Inc.

.s the world's hotel leader, we have a commitment to your good health. And it shows.

Over 900 of our hotels offer facilities for sports enthusiasts, like tennis courts and running courses. In our 200 Holidome* indoor recreation centers, you can swim in an enclosed pool, use a whirlpool or sauna... or just relax and think about it all.

Helping you keep fit is one reason Holiday Inn" hotels are the number one choice of America's business travelers. And we're working to keep it that way... to give you one more good reason to call 1-800-HOLIDAY for all your travel reservations.

HOLIDAY INN." A BETTER PLACE TO BE."

MAY 1985

IYTE 313

CHAOS MANOR

took it home, plugged it in, and it ran. It set the style for what a computer should look like: two built-in disk drives, a screen, and a keyboard. Pretty soon most of us decided those were the minimum requirements for a real computer, as opposed to toys.

It made sense. Real computers do important work. Important work needs backup copies. Making backup copies requires two disk drives, because if you don't have two disk drives, you won't make the copies. Nobody wants to sit there swapping disks back and forth. As for keyboard and screen, it was true that some systems didn't have them built in, but that was advanced equipment, suitable for experts who knew about smart and dumb terminals, and datatransmission rates, and complicated stuff like that. Computers for the rest of us came with everything.

It was easy enough to fall into the

habit of thinking that way. Comes now the Companion to challenge that notion.

The Companion is about as simple as a computer system can get. It consists of a smooth gray metal box 1 Vh inches long by 6V* inches high by 3/2 inches wide. It weighs maybe eight pounds. There's one 5!4-inch disk drive; an on/off switch: a Reset button: two RS-232C jacks: one parallel out1put jack: an edge connector: a handle: and a power cord. Packed in with it is one floppy disk and a 50-page manual.

That's it. No keyboard, no screen, no mice. The manual tells me the Companion is a 4-MHz Z80A. The disk drive formats floppies in the Morrow single-sided double-density format. According to the manual, the disk drive knows how to read and write to IBM. Kaypro. and Osborne disks, although it won't format them.

ULTIMATE PLACE FOR YOUR COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND COMPONENTS

LOOK WHO WE SELL TO

Hughes Aircraft

Northrop

Rockwell International

IBM

Price Waterhouse

TRW

Plus Many More . . . Call today for our quote —

TOLL FREE OUTSIDE CAUF.

§1 1-800-423-6326

AND WHAT WE SELL

Lotus 1-2-3

dBASE III

Hayes 1200B

Microsoft

Epson

Okidata

Anchor

Orchid Technology

Paradise

Plus Many More . . .

You'll be glad you did!

IN CALIFORNIA

(213} 827-1851

SOFTWARE GALORE, INC.

4079 GLENCOE AVENUE • MARINA DEL REY. CAUFORNIA 90292

The manual doesn't say it, but the disk drive won't read double-density Osborne disks or Osborne Executive disks. There is apparently a model of the Companion that accepts doublesided disks, but mine doesn't.

In other words, the Companion is strictly a no-frills job—but within those limits it's quite a lot of machine.

The Companion actually has three disk drives. Drive C: is the regular floppy. Drive B: is a small ROM (read-only memory) drive that boots the Companion with CP/M 2.2. The ROM also contains a general utility program with Copy and Format commands and a terminal-emulation program.

Drive A: is a l90K-byte RAM disk. That makes a lot of sense. Except for power failures, a RAM disk is more reliable than a floppy and certainly faster. The Copy routine lets you copy from the RAM disk to the floppy and vice versa. The theory is that you do most of your work on the superspeedy drive A: and from time to time save the results onto the floppy. That works, too. since copying is pretty fast. My first thought was that 190K bytes (186K on the floppy) isn't really enough disk space, but then I recalled that my first machine's 8-inch drives didn't hold but 240K bytes and were noisy to boot, and I thought Zeke was wonderful. Zeke and I did a lot of writing, kept my accounts, did my taxes, and managed my files. Zeke's old iCOM drives were slower than the Companion's floppy, and Zeke never ran faster than 2 MHz.

That got me to thinking. I'd have been thrilled to have the Companion back when I first started. With a good terminal and the WRITE text editor I use, the Companion would be one heck of a writer's engine; and depending on which terminal and printer were selected, the cost could be kept low. Up to now I've tended to recommend the Kaypro to colleagues asking for low-cost entry-level equipment; but some of them don't like the keyboard and/or the small screen. The Companion might just be the ideal first computer for a writer.

One problem, though: how hard

[continued)

314 B YTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 364 for Dealers. Inquiry 365 for End-Users.

A COMPUTER

PROGRAM

THAT SPEAKS

YOUR LANGUAGE

\*AA»»»*+»*)/******» a wmm

The Computer Chronicles, a halfhour weekly television series brings you news and information from Silicon Valley andaround the world. Correspondent Stewart Cheifet and Gary Kildall, creator of CP/M cover today's headlines and the stories behind them. Find out what is, what was and what will be, with the only computer program you're ever going to need. The Computer Chronicles, every week on a public television station near you.

(Check local listings for time and channel.)

Dim POPULAR

Produced by KCSM, San Mateo. CA and with. Harrisburg, PA with funding from McGraw-Hill'sBV I [and COMPUTING magazines.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 315

J. .?. M.T l.BW M.I 4.391 •• * 4,91a 71.S M.3M «-,*«• 41 '

a a.a jj Ji* • ...s.a a s-s * • • s-a _

'1.4 B3.4T* aa.7 sl.ai

M.a »s.*».

r W if.* 1.* t4* 1.1 M ■ 1.1 B73

• B37 1.3 •»* l.» Ml 6 •"■'

t. * 41*1 3.4

I.S Ml 1.1

I. * B33 •.' 1

3t* l.« B33 l.f I!B1 1.1 IH1 «IM 1.* (114

BT3 I.S • • i.s •■■» I.T ITM Ml i. a bm

I.HI IN.) 3.41

i.l si i.S u t.

< « SB 3-4 " 4

1.3 >• 3. 3 19 3,

• *. 3TS ST. 3 3 M 1.9

BT44 ». 1.3 37

•«* ■ n • * r

>■ - l* • i ■•

•113 IT a.? s*

mat* sr.s j..« ».s *.sia **.a s,*aa ts.s mn sr.s 3.3*3 M.a 4.3*1 st-a •.ax **.a ***i.m st.s *.»ti «, <• ..«m aa.a s.im itaVa mi,h> mm.at sr.a ».*?• m.« 3.«m M.a t.tu i7« ix. a

*.- Ml ».a 3*3 U.C 3*1 iS.4 .77 ».« M7 »,i "».M1

■■ ■ -•- ia.i •[> ■ » *a» a.a *i« i.a •*.*•» a.* _ aau is.s *aa »* _bss a.a *s» a. a .*^..y

X* > *SS

> «» 73.9

aa.a *.as7 m.« a,**4 ts-t i,im 'i.a

>. **« i.mt ii.s i.aa* aawr i.sw aa.a

!.**• 1.*** BJ.3 1. *M 44* • ,*4* M.*

iwt> II B-i <»l -•-* '»■ -a. I

•i.sss n. > *}.**

i.sbt at.i ai.aaa ai.i **.•-•• ai.

ai.i m.mt at.) »s.iii at.i aa.JM ai.i m.h* «s,ut ai.i as,***

z.« . -■ a.« »is* i.* *iu j.* ai.M* •■>» s.« «i'*

i.a m ua an ui mi i.a btsb m i.i mi

1.9 *M 1.9 BM 1.9 BBT 1.1 INI UN lis 4137

- 9» bm

•Si i.a *9i

..» iM.a *,«•* iM.a a,m iM.a i,m iM.a

33 1.9 H 1.9 .1 1.9 M 1.9

is a.3 ia * - ta •■

i« i i*i

9»« is.z

._••• _ *** ■■3 __,,,

a. t at

]. lai u.a i.aai

i.a bits

s.a bm le.s *m ia. • 9*7 *. * ta* *. * •*, j.

».a sai ia.i 9>* a.a -j ■ ■ * sit T.a «e.* ■ ■■ mb ia.» 3*s a.» 9jt a. 9 m» a. i w.a1

1. B*9 B3. 9

• 1*9 ^9 119) 1^9 B131

. h* iM.a 7.4*1 iaa.a a. an

■ ** 1.9 117 I.S IK

as a. i »7 a. 3 *•

t, *«a aa. a 9, *33 7*. * s, 7a

>.*•* 4B.1 S.444 M.a s,ia

ra.a •*, 73* ti.«

I «•.,*•• 7B.B

a* a. * •** *.+ bm a.a bim

m i.i w* t'.i »•- i.a- mt •#■ ..» an i.* *t* i.a *u

i a*,*** ai.

iim i.a *i3a

OPI IVM war SK B7» *. • 9T3

a.a aac a. * saa • » •*• a.*

i.a ui c.s ••* a.a bm a.a

* » ai>* a.a *>*i i.a bim 3.a

a.* Ml I.* a*> ■ • SM i.a

a.r bim i. * BtJt a. • aiM

1.3 M9 l.« *44 i.a BM

■!i *iai u* atM >.* am US »m M

I.a 971 I.S •?* I.S «bj t.S MT I.S Mil ■*■ i.a •*• l.B •!■: i.s >■*

t.a •»« i.a ass i.a sim i.a biss *.* ai.na *ita i.a bim i.a bim i.a ais

• .* ••* a.* bm a.a »m • * mi i.t mt« bu b. * aaa> •.* an *.* a»

i.a sm Li iim a.s fin i ■ tni a.T ei.its

i.a iiu i. a am i a aia* it

I.t

I.S

I.S

•-3 >3

113 T.a

I.I M.4M

1.7 i,ei9 as.s i.t ' tgi -ala

aa,aas 3.MT

*■• • *

316 B YTE • MAY 1985

1N.I11 91.1 •

i iin i.a

i ••.-.'?• at.i m.in *i.

(.9 **M 3.1

1.0 ITS 1.9

-..,■-. n.m

t,tTS T1.4

r.*4S *.< ■■■

j ' »,Wi

•99 1.9 •»»

MM ■—-• T.*»9

IM 1.1 111

•* 9.4 *9

-- 9.T 31

1.3 IM 1.9 :•'

I tJ,™ 7*. ■ *3. G

t.m «uv ^!» •!;

«.• •!«

9T9 9.9

9.9 99* 9.9

If you use an Apple* II Plus, He or lie, now there's a spreadsheet that won't invade your space.

FlashCalc; from Paladin?

It allows you to finally expand your spreadsheet powers beyond 128K. At 256K, FlashCalc provides nearly twice the model size of VlsiCalc" or AppleWorks! And five times the capacity, when memory is increased to 512K.

It's also more than 3 times faster than VlsiCalc. Or AppleWorks.

lb further prove our case, consider FlashCalc's extra features. Like variable column widths, so you won't have to abbreviate Interdepartmental Amortization Analysis. (You'll also have room for the total total.)

More ready-to-use financial functions, which you'll appreciate when you depreciate.

More printer options, so you can easily adjust the size of your printed spreadsheet.

In fact, FlashCalc gives you lots of features not available on most spreadsheets. At a price not available on most spreadsheets—$99?

A built-in conversion program even allows VlsiCalc owners to easily transfer files and formulas.

And, of course, FlashCalc also runs on the entire IBM' PC family, including PC jr.

So call 800-4-PALADIN for the name of the FlashCalc dealer nearest you. They'll give you all the details. WeVe just run out of space.

FlashCalc

HjhW

s?

♦>T

i Paladin

Paladin

VISICORP-PALADIN

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. VisiCalc is a registered trademark of Software Arts. Apple and AppleWbrks are registered trademarks of Apple Computet Inc. "Suggested retail price.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 317

Inquiry 228

IB

for ELECTRONIC * COMPUTER

RS-232 DATA LINE MONITOR A miniature Data Line Monitor determines the status of the seven key signals of the RS-232 J^^ data path. AH 25 pins wired through, and ^C^*^,.-'*'''*' dedicated red LED's repon th-j status of Transmit Data, Receive Data. Request to Send, Clear Send, Data Set Ready. Data Carrier Detect. Data Termir Ready, LED's glow at 3 Volts.

MODEL GENDER 1-9

DLMS M-F Shielded 37.35

flpP*V Deluxe Monitor now available v

EmV green LEDs to indicate a hi low

condition. Metal shield.

DLMS-2 M-F Shielded 46 95

10-24 33.99

Kith red/ or open

42 72

DATA LINE GENDER CHANGERS

Needed when connectors won't mate. Choice (££. of shielded, unshielded, or Centronics ^5 RS-232 Gender Changers

3^

DG-25F (F-F) Unshielded 16.95 DG-25M (M-M) Unshielded 16.95 DGS-25F (F-F) Shielded 18.65 DGS-25M (M-M) Shielded 18.65

1542 15.42 16.97 16.97

Centronlc Gender Changers

DGS-36F (F-F) Unshielded 36 95

DGS-25M (M-M) Shielded 36.95

33.62 3362

22.70

RS-232 DATA JUMPER BOX ADAPTER

Used to customize RS-232 interfaces. All 25 pins terminate to 25 solder pads. The PC board <s£ is already wired to the D-Subs Includes 25™ stripped leads for custom wiring. Many interfaces could be built. Null Modems, Pin Reversers, etc. Metal snap-on covers, hardware supplied DJBS (M-F) Shielded 21.95

DJBS-M (M-M) Shielded 21.95

DJBS-F (F-F) Shielded 21.95

RS-232 DO IT YOURSELF KIT Allows the creation of many RS-232 variations The following components are included in the . assortment: two 25-pin D-Sub Connectors, two metal Snap-on half covers, 1 set Hardware DIYS (M-F) Shielded 12.95

DIYS-M (M-M) Shielded 12.95

DIYS-F (F-F) Shielded 12.95

RS-232/CENTRONICS ADAPTER BOX Used to customize printer adapters The DB-25 has 25 flying leads, ready to be soldered to any of the 36 pin female Centronics. DJBA (M-F) Shielded 24.95

RS-232 SURGE PROTECTOR Guard against voltage spikes entering your RS-232 ports. Metal vanstors on lines 2, 3 & 7 a **%• , clamp surges above 25 volts without affecting <^=^%;£ >^ normal operation This compact protector ^"^^^J mounts in series. All 25 lines are wired through. DSP (Male-Female) 24.95 22.70

TOLL FREE ORDERING • ADD $4.50 Ship. * Hand.

800-343-1455 : 5$ MA & Technical Calls

m CS 617-682-6936 DATA TRANSFER SWITCH BOXES

• Sturdy Aluminum Cases

• RFI Safety Proof

• Light Tan Color gjifi

• High Grade Rotary Switch ^

• Size: 2.25" x 7.25" x 5" "*^

• 6 LED Hi-Lo Monitor (Optional) RS-232 12 Lines Switched DT2512 2 2 Way (1in-2out) DT2512-3 3 Way (1in-3out) Switches-Lines: 2-6, 8, 15. 17, 20, 24. 25 RS-232 All 25 Lines Switched DT2525-2 2 Way (1in-2out) 115.00 DT2525-3 3 Way (1in-2out) 130.00

Optional 6 LED (Hi-Lo) MonitorAdd $30.00 Centronics 25 Lines Switched DT3625 2 2 Way (1in-2out) 155 00

DT3625-3 3 Way (1m-2out) 175.00

Switches: 1-16, 18, 31-36, 19-30

DATA TRANSFER SWITCH BOXES

• Sturdy Steel Cases

• RFI Safety Proof

• Dark Tan Color

• Molded Rotary Switch

• Size: 3.2" x 6" x 5.9"

• Unconditionally Guaranteed RS-232 12J.ines Switched DB2512-2V '" 2 Way (1in-2out) DB2512-3V 3 Way (1in-3out) DB2512-4V 4 Way (1in-4out) DB2512 X Crossover Switches: 2-6,^ 15. 17, 20, 22, 24. & 25 RS-232 All 25 Lines Switched DB2525-2V 2 Way (1m-2out) DB2525 3V 3 Way (1in-3out) DB25254V 4 Way (1in-4out) DB2525X Crossover Centronics 25 Lines Switched CN3625 2V 2 Way (1in-2out) CN3625-3V 3 Way (1in-3out) CN3625-4V 4 Way (1m-4out) CN3625X Crossover Switches 116, 18. 31-36, 19-30 Centronics All 36 Lines Switched CN3625-2V " 2 Way (1in-2out) CN36253V 3 Way (1in-3oul) CN3625-4V 4 Way (1m-4out) CN3625X Crossover

99 00 115 00

5-9_ 94.05

109.25

109 25 123 50

147 25

166.25

99.00

94.05

115.00

109 25

135 00

12825

120 00

114 00

120.00

114.00

140 00

133 00

165.00

156.75

150 00

14250

155.00

147.25

175.00

166 25

195 00

185.25

180 00

171.00

170.00

161.50"

195.00

185 25

225.00

213.75

205 00

194.75

!^>:iij

DATA PRODUCTS

1755 Osgood St. Rte 125 No. Andover MA 01845

CHAOS MANOR

would it be to set up? One reason we used memory-mapped video instead of terminals in the old days was the difficulty of hooking up a terminal. RS-232C connections are anything but standard, and how do you explain data-transmission rates and the like to a beginning writer?

Setting Up

I got the Companion running while i was talking on the telephone about something else. The only hard part was finding an RS-232C cable with which to hook up to the terminal. Then I remembered one I'd bought and never used: Priority One's "Shielded RS232 Serial Cable Pin l THRU 8 and Pin 20 Male to Male." There was a lot more than I needed— the cable was 2 5 feet long—but that would be a good test, too, since some systems can't handle long cables due to excessive noise pickup (the cable acts as an antenna). I took the Companion out of its box and plugged it in; plugged the RS-232C cable into the plainly marked Terminal Port on the Companion: and plugged the other end of the cable into the TeleVideo 950 that my CompuPro 8/16 normally talks through at 19,200 bps. Then 1 turned on the Companion and hit Return on the terminal. According to the manual, the Companion was smart enough to figure out the datatransmission rate for itself.

It did, too. I'd left the Companion's drive door open, so it booted off the ROM just as it's supposed to. It comes up in a little utility shell program that offers you the alternative of typing 0 through 5; 0 puts you into CP/M, I will copy a disk, and so forth. Since I could read the messages, it was obvious that the terminal was properly set up—data-transmission rate, data and stop bits, and so forth; and sure enough, pressing the 0 put me into standard CP/M.

Next the acid test. 1 let the Companion format a disk for me, put that into the CompuPro 8/16 (I had to switch the terminal from the Companion to the CompuPro, of course, but that was no problem), used the CompuPro's Newmedia program to tell it we were

going to work with the single-sided double-density Morrow format, and used PIP to transfer WRITE.COM from the 8/16 to the Companion's disk. Brought the floppy back to the Companion, fired up WRITE—

Bingo. Worked fine.

By gollies, 1 thought, this just very well may be the entry machine for writers. But I'd better make sure. . .

Glitches

Alas, there are glitches. One is serious. I'll get to it in a minute. The others are irritants that common sense will cure. Of course, 1 don't know how much common sense a new user will have.

For example: the floppy-disk drive is mounted vertically. There's no indication of which side is "up." I happen to know that drive doors generally close from the top, but does everyone? If you put the disk in upside down and try to access the disk, the drive motor goes on and the disk's little LED (light-emitting diode) lights up—and that's the way things will stay until doomsday. Reset will cure the problem. Turning the machine off will do it, too, but that's not a wise idea, since it's possible for a disk drive to write garbage during power-down.

CP/M 2.2 requires you to do a Control-C every time you change disks. WRITE is set up to do the equivalent of Control-C each time you do disk accesses; this is so that you can change disks without exiting WRITE. When we designed WRITE I insisted on this feature, because it lets me make intermediate backup copies of my work and physically remove them from the machine. Also, if I overfill a disk, I can still save the work simply by putting in a disk with more room on it. Once in a great while WRITE will still get confused when we not only change disks but change disk formats by switching from single to double density, but even then WRITE will recover from the error: at worst you have to log onto the new disk.

It doesn't quite work that way with the Companion. Somehow the Companion's interrupt-driven BIOS (basic input/output system) defeats all of

[continued)

318 BYTE • MAY 1985

I T" J

\

YOUR IBM PC PERSONAL PRINTERS

What your IBM Personal Computer* commands, the new Facit 4511 and Facit 4512 Serial Matrix Printers will reproduce in quality letters and graphics.

All perfect, at a speed of 160 CPS. Twice as fast as the IBM PC printers.

The combination of high throughput with Facit quality and reliability in printing

performance keep pace with professional p,.jn|p,. PC developments. ' ' ! M { '

Your printout possibilities are completed by:

□ printing in 9 x 9 matrix

□ 10 or 17 pitch printing

□ fan-fold tractor feed, single sheet with friction feed

□ 80 or 132 column paper width (4511 or 4512 versions)

Take pride in your printouts with Facit 4511

Perfect

•

and Facit 4512.

At a price every PC-owner can afford.

'IBM PC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Inquiry 166

Head Office: Facit AB. S-17291 Sundbyberg. Sweden. Phone: (8) 7643000. USA: Facit Inc. P.O. Box 334, Merrimack. NH 03054. Phone: (603) 424-8000

A USTRAL1A • E AI Electronics Associates Pry Ltd.. 427-3322. AUSTRIA: Ericsson Information Systems GmbH. 0222-43 95 01. BELGIUM: Ericsson S.A., 02-243 8211. CANADA: Facit Canada Inc.. 416-821-9400. CYPRUS: LBM (Lillytos) Ltd. DENMARK: Facit A/S, 02-92 2400. FINLAND:OY Facit, 90-77001. FRANCE: Facit S.A.. 1-780 7117. GREATBRITAIN'.Facit, 0634-4017 21. G«E£C£.Computer Application Co., Ltd., 01-67197 22. HONGKONG .Oilman & Co. Ltd., 5-790 95 55./C£I,4JVD:Gisli J. Johnsen HE 354-17 3111. INDIA.- Forbes Forbes Campbell & Co. Ltd., 22-26 80 81. IRELAND: Memory Ireland Computers Ltd., 1-98 97 33. ITALY: Facit Data Products S.pA, 0039-63 63 31. JAPAN: Electrolux (Japan) Ltd., 03-479-3411. THE NETHERLANDS. Ericsson Information Systems BY., 03480-70911. NEW ZEALAND: McLean Information Technology Ltd.. 501-801,501-219. NORWAY: Ericsson Information Systems A/S. 02-35 58 20. PORTUGAL: Regisconta Sari, 1-56 00 91. SINGAPORE: Far East Office Eqpts Pte Ltd., 745 82 88. SPAIN: Facit 91-4571111. SWEDEN: Ericsson Information Systems Sverige AB, 08-29 00 20. SIWrZ££Z.A/VD.Ericsson Information Systems AG, 01-3919711. USA: Facit Inc., 603-424-8000. WEST GERMANY: Ericsson Information Systems GmbH, 0211-7993 31.

CHAOS MANOR

WRITE's safeguards. The result is that I can, within WRITE, save a file onto the C: disk; change disks; log onto the A: disk; log back onto the C: disk; but when I get the C: directory, I get the directory of the previous disk! I can force it to log onto the current disk by attempting to load a file that existed on the previous disk but not

on this one; the computer goes through a read operation and loads garbage into the text buffer, but after that has the proper bit map. I haven't managed to really mess up a disk by save or load operations, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. If this is a bit disquieting for me. I can just imagine how a beginner would feel.

Learn the C Language

C LANGUAGE TRAINING SOFTWARE IBM PC-DOS 2.0 +

INTRODUCING C is a C language interpreter and learning guide that teaches the fundamentals of C programming. You'll learn program structure, syntax, and all about libraries - QUICKLY and EASILY. Join the C revolution with INTRODUCING C - from Computer Innovations. Introductory price $95. For further information or to order call 800-922-0169.

[|

COMPUTER -: INNOVATIONS, INC.

980 Shrewsbury Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 • (201) 542-5920

"As Fast As You Can Learn BASIC

There are other small problems. For example: if you accidentally (forgetting that the Companion uses singlesided disks) try to format a disk as double-sided, the disk spins, the Select LED lights up—and you can sit there until you reset or starve. Okay, that's not too bad. You reset, invoke the Format program again, and tell it to format that disk as single-sided. The same thing happens! Reset again. When you reset, you come up in the little utility program that offers you the opportunity to format a disk; just for the hell of it, 1 exited to CP/M, then instantly went back into the utility program and told it to format the disk as single-sided. This time it worked fine. No big problem, but guaranteed to confuse hell out of a beginner.

Then I used the CompuPro Newmedia program (Newmedia comes with the updated TMX BIOS for the CompuPro Disk 1-A Controller, and it can read, write, and format about 40 different 514-inch disk formats] to format a disk as double-sided Morrow and put some files on it. Remove from CompuPro and put into Companion. Do Control-C Try to read the disk. What I get is garbage. It pretends there's a directory on there, but with weird filenames like blank.blank and ©.blank. Just for the hell of it, I used the Copy utility; worked fine, copying the garbage onto the A: RAM disk. None of it was readable, of course. No harm done. Now to invoke the Format program and reformat that disk so I can use itDrives spin. LED comes on. Wait a while. Reset. Fool around, exit Format, do Control-C, go back to Format. Same result. It will not format that disk. Finally, I took a small magnet to the disk. That took care of the problem. It formatted fine. Okay, I knew to do that. Would a beginner? Incidentally, as part of the Format process the Companion writes CP/M onto the floppy's system tracks, although the manual nowhere tells you that.

Documents

The Companion comes with a 50-page manual. It's an interesting at

(continued)

320 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 99

Actual size: 21" x 28"

What is beauty?

'Beauty is truth, truth beauty.

That is all ye know on earth,

and all ye need know."

John Keats

ORCHID TECHNOLOGY is among the innovative leaders in

PC productivity enhancements. From Local Area Networks

to high performance expansion products such as PCturbo,

Orchid is applying cutting edge technology to meet

the needs of personal computer users.

That is our Truth.

Inquiry 302

If you would like a 21" x 28" orchid poster, suitable for framing (depicted above), send five dollars which includes postage and handling to ORCHID POSTER at Orchid Technology.

ORCHID TECHNOLOGY

^~\D f~'T_J jr^\ 47790 Westinghouse Drive • Fremont, CA 94539 wl \L^ 111L/ (415) 490-8586 • Telex 709289

MAY 1985

IYTE 321

CHAOS MANOR

tempt to pack in a short course on CP/M. some beginner's instructions, and all the necessary technical data about the Companion. In trying to do them all, it doesn't do any of them.

Even so, in some respects it's the best short computer manual I have ever seen—but it's written for someone with at least my level of understanding. They recommend that the new computer owner get a decent CP/M book. Since the usual CP/M 2.2 documents (which aren't very useful anyway) aren't furnished, the beginner will certainly need one of the myriad introductions to using CP/M; the Companion's manual explains just enough to get a completely naive user confused and into trouble. There's a onepage "Command Reference" for DDT, and another for ED.COM, and sandwiched in between those two pages is a very cryptic one-page "explanation" of DIR, LOAD.COM, and a program called XDIR.COM that was not, in fact, on the disk furnished with the Companion.

On the other hand, there's a very complete listing of the pin-outs for the three communications ports, an I/O Port Address Table, an Interrupt Vector Table, and lots of other information that should be available to buyers. There are a whole bunch of

references to the BIOS, given in a way that makes it look as if they intended to furnish the BIOS source code; but there wasn't any source code on the disk that came with the Companion I received.

It also explains how to reconfigure your keyboard and how to do a number of other interesting things.

The Insurmountable Problem

General Curtis LeMay, commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command many years ago, used to insist that all his subordinates think positively. One day a colonel ran into General LeMay's office and shouted, "General, we have an insurmountable problem!"

LeMay banged his fist on the desk. "Colonel, in this command we don't have problems! We have opportunities!"

The colonel saluted. "Yes, sir. General, we have an insurmountable opportunity."

At the moment the Companion has an insurmountable problem. If I had the BIOS code, I might have treated it as an opportunity to get my hands dirty; I haven't hacked a BIOS in a couple of years. I didn't have the BIOS, though, and so 1 never did get a printer hooked up.

The Companion normally sends

output to be printed to the parallel port. This is documented, after which the manual explains how to connect a serial printer to the second RS-232C output port. It tells you that you have to do

d:STAT LSI = TTY:[RTN]

which is not really a very clear instruction for a beginner; if you treat that like a cookbook and type the d:, it not only isn't going to work (since there is no d: disk drive), but you will get an endless series of messages saying, "Not ready error."

Note that you do not get a BDOS (basic disk operating system) error. The Companion's BIOS has been jiggered around to defeat CP/M's BDOS errors. The Companion's manual doesn't tell me that, of course: in fact, it never mentions error messages at all. Note that the new user has been instructed to get a book on CP/M. That's going to tell him to expect the infamous BDOS errors. It isn't going to tell him what to do about a "Not ready error" on a nonexistent disk.

Incidentally, if you try to access a nonexistent drive other than D: or E:, you do get the message: "BDOS Err on K: Select," and neither Return, nor Escape, nor Control-C will get you out

[continued]

You can pay more, but you can't find better

• Complete CPU Board with 256K Memory and up to 640K on board, serial and parallel ports. Runs MS-DOS and CP/M-86. Complete documentation included $399

• Floppy Drive Controller $ 89

• Winchester Hard Disk Subsystem for IBM PQ 20MB $850

• Monochrome Card $139

• Color Graphics Card $155

• IBM Compatible Keyboard $ 89

• Multifunction Board (64K) $210

(384K) $350

• Memory Expansion Board (64K) $125

(384K) $300

• Serial Card (2 ports) $ 50

One-year warranty for all add-on cards!

CALL TOLL FREE TO ORDER 1800) 630-1542

In California call (400) 730-1795 Technical Support Service (408) 773-8400

195 West El Camino Real Sunnyvale, California 94087

US. SERVEX

322 BYTE- MAY I98S

Inquiry 283

(CATIONS BREAKTHROUGH!

I THAT TAKES CARE OF ITSELF . . .

IN THE BACKGROUND

dstar, Lotus, a compiler or whatever.)

son enough to own a modern."

With HOMEBASE, /tail arrives, automatically, while you're

working in another piece ot software. Up in the corner of your screen, a signal flashes to tell you when thereto incoming mail. You can choose to read It as It arrives, or you can ignore it, and your mail will automatically file itself... to be read at your leisure.

AMBER'S HOMEBASE-CHECK THE DIFFERENCE IN VALUE!

'STANT DATABASES ... BECAUSE THAT'S

>F US NEED INFORMATION ... INSTANTLY!

Homebase provides you instant access to your owrv.jSftratfi universe of databases. Just hit the hotkey to freeze wfit software you're working In, and you're ready to find, insert or manipulate data. Hit it again, and you're back working tn your original software, without skipping a beat.

DOS SERVICES

Need to shift a file up a directory while you're working in Wordstar? It's just a keystroke away with Homebase. You can open multiple directories and sub-directories onscreen, move, copy, view and even edit files from within this powerful Homebase feature.

AND A VERY FULL TOOLCHEST

Tools that will save you time and help you organize information, schedule, calculate, file and notate. You can even set up your own reference pages for instant recall.

ORDER YOURCOPY OF HOT/

HOMEBASE1" Motopad j£&f

|Rkick™

POLY WINDOWS™

SPOTLIGHT1"

■Notepad

Notepad

Notepad

Autodialer

Keyboard Macros

Calendar

IfliUlB^BHMpr'

Calendar

Calendar

DOS Services

Calculator

Calculator

Calculator

DOS Services

ASCII Table

Game

Phone Directory

Databases

Phone Directory

Alarm

Card Printer

Auto Dialer

Cord Printer

File Cards

File Cards

Alarm

Phone Directory

Card Printer Tables ft Pages

$49.95

$49.95

$<49.95

Template Maker

Data Transfer

Cut ft Paste

Programmable Hotkey

Phone Message Pad

Time ft Expense Diary

To-do List

Electronic Mall

Oulckterm Terminal

Mailing Label Printer

$49,951

SldefclckisaTrodernatkc4Borlandlnterriatlonallnc. FWWlrxlcrwsisaTroctemorkrfPorytroriCorp. SDOtHght is a Trademark of Software Arts OBase(liar<jin)isatiQclemQrko'Asntor) late Lotus(l-2^)lsotroae<TX»kc<LoTusLTevelcprnenfCoip. VWOiastalsaiTcx)emcrtc*MtaoPro

For Visa and MasterCard Orders Call Toll Free: 800-538-6157 Ext. 824

Call Mon.-Fri. 6 AM. to 12 P.M., Sat. & Sun. 6 AM. to 8 P.M. (P.S.T.) In CA 800-672-3470 Ext. 824 Or fill in this ORDER FORM and enclose a check, money order or your VISA or MasterCard number. Homebase is available for the IBM PC, XT and True Compatibles — $49.95 + $5 for shipping and handling*

YES! Site licenses are available for; companies... large and small. If! you would like to order a single j copy, now, to examine and show ; around your company, its cost', can be deducted, later on, from ! your site license.

For further information on site ; licenses call 408-996-1883.

Inquiry 2 3

TITLE

COMPANY NAME .

ADDRESS

CITY

HOME PHONE (

)

. WORK PHONE (

)■

C CHECK D MONEY ORDER D VISA D MASTERCARD Card # Exp. date

30 day money-back Xalltomlaresiaentsddd6%salestax.OutsldeU.S.pleaseadd$15.Checksmust

guarantee! q be on a U.S. bank and In U.S. dollars Sorry, no C.O.D. or purchase orders.

AMBER'S HOMEBASE

tAQ OR andSS tor shipping yl7,73 and handling

SEND TO:

/IW3EI2

Amber Systems, Inc.

AMBER SYSTEMS, INC.

1171 S. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road

San Jose. CA 95129

For dealer and stte license Information, call 408 WM883

The fastest micro in the world

No micro in its right mind would want a showdown with Pinnacle.

Its awesome fire power is provided by the superb Motorola 68000 charging along at 12MHZ with no wait states (giving about 3MIPS).

And Pinnacle's ammo belt is just bristling with high powered options to give rapid fire to all seven users.

P-System, Unix® CP/M-68K,® Mosys, BOS, Mirage, Tripos all obey instantly - along with their armies of applications.

££

Up to 8 Megabytes of directly addressable RAM and 110 Megabytes of Winchester storage dance when Pinnacle barks its sharp orders.

And that's just for starters. There's also the Pinnacle IX with TWO 68000's, DMA, and Memory Management hardware. Ideal for disk intensive operating systems like Unix"" and Pick

And a Pinnacle LX expansion chassis allowing nine 68000 processors to network 56 users.

A micro's gotta do what a micro's gotta do.

And starting at under $4000 Pinnacle's just the fastest there is.

PINNACLE

The accessible peak of performance

US DISTRIBUTORS Pinnade Systems Inc. 10410 Martinson Road, Dallas, Texas 75238. Tel. (214)340-4941. Telex 88-8442

ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING/SERVICE Lamtech Electronics Corporation, 620 Easy Street, Garland, Texas. Tel. (214) 272-3504

international systems GROUP ISG Pinnade, Dallas, Texas. Tel. (214) 340-4941. (Distributor enquiries invited).

vertical market systems VMS Pinnacle, Dallas, Texas. Tel (214) 340-4941.

EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTORS TDI Pinnade Ltd, 29 Alma Vale Road, Bristol BS8 2HL, England. Tel. (0272) 742796. Telex 444653.

UNIX is a Registered Trade Mark olBell Labs CP/M-68K is a Registered Trade Mark of Digital Research.

Inquiry 320

CHAOS MANOR

of it. Like the "Not ready error," the only remedy is to reset. That BIOS needs work.

It's when you get past the d: error that the trouble really starts. The manual tells you to set your printer to no parity. 8 data bits. 1 stop bit. and full duplex. So far, so good. Now the instructions on data-transmission rate: "Set the same as your terminal."

That's ridiculous. Damned few printers run faster than 1200 bps-but a writer trying to use a computer talking to a terminal at 1200 bps might as well go back to a quill pen. lust for the hell of it, I tried to connect the Companion up to my NEC Spinwriter, using the Printer Optimizer as an interface since that runs at 9600 bps. I left the terminal set for 19.200; after all. the Companion figured out how to talk to the TeleVideo terminal, and maybe, just maybe, the manual meant to say that the data-transmission rate is set in the same way as with the terminal.

Nope Actually, the result was weird: the Companion never did manage to talk to either the printer or the Optimizer, but attempting to make it do it would lock up the terminal. Locked it up good, too: not even Reset would get me out of that pickle. I had to disconnect the RS-232C line from the printer port, then turn both the Companion and the TeleVideo completely off, count to 20, and turn them back on again. No permanent harm was done, but I'd sure hate for that to have happened when I was first starting.

1 suppose that if I were to muck about with the Companion and my printer I would, eventually, get them to talk to each other. There's nothing simple about setting up serial communications under the best of conditions. Even with a breakout box and a lot of luck you have to hold your mouth right.

On the other hand, the manual tells me that the Companion has two kinds of handshaking protocols, neither of which I normally use. My system is set up to do ETX/ACK, which my books tell me is pretty standard. We also use XON/XOFF protocol. According to the

{continued) I

How Do I Choose the

Right Personal

Computer

Monitor?

MAY 1985 "BYTE 325

SOLVE PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS THE WA* YOU THINK.

PURE AND SYMBOL.

APL*PLUS®/PC IS THE ANSWER.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But unfortunately, that's not the case in programming.

Most languages require you to go through an enormous number of steps before an idea becomes reality.

That's why the APL* PLUS/PC System is such a dramatic and exciting software tool for serious PC programmers and application developers.

Instead of requiring you to learn—and write—long-winded and complicated programs, APL is based on your instinctive ability to deal in symbols. And once you begin using APL's quick notations, you'll find it the ideal programming

environment for all your application needs.

The incredible shortcuts you'll get with APL not only make you more productive, but make programming enjoyable. Intricate calculations and modeling on PC's are a snap. You'll spend less time on drudgery, and more time creating.

Only with APL* PLUS/PC, do you get:

• full-screen editing

• a built-in terminal emulator

• communications •graphics primitives

• and report formatting. Writing time-consuming

programs like sorting, matrix inversions, and string searching is eliminated. APL's concise notation

already provides these.. .and more.

No wonder a PC Magazine reviewer enthusiastically reacted to our APL*PLUS/PC System with "awe and delight."

So will you. The complete package price is $595 and major credit cards are accepted.

Act now and we'll send you a free Convincer Kit. Contact your local dealer, or call 800-592-0050 (in Maryland, call 301-984-5123) to order your system, or for more information about our other APL PLUS*WARE™ products

from our UNIX™ version

to our new streamlined

Pocket APL™ You'll see how symbol

they are to use, the very first

time you use them.

Problem-solving at the speed of thought.

APL * PLUS/PC System requires 192K. A soft character set can be used for computers with IBM compatible graphics board. A character generator ROM or software is included for the IBM PC or selected compatibles. aconteicompany PLUS* WARE and POCKET APL are trademarks of STSC, Inc. APL * PLUS is a registered service mark and trademark of STSC, Inc. UNIX is a trademark ot AT&T Bell Laboratories.

326 B YTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 379

CHAOS MANOR

manual, the Companion uses ENQ/ ACK, which I've never heard of. The excellent little manual that comes with the Printer Optimizer knows about a dozen handshaking routines, including ETX/ACK. but not ENQ/ACK. There's nothing about it in the Spinwriter manual.

It's enough for me. If I had the BIOS source I might make another stab at it, but I don't.

Sigh ..

In some ways the Companion falls between the cracks. It has some great features that might make it a good second machine for hobbyists and hackers, but there are also enough irritants to set a hacker's teeth on edge. Hackers don't need to have BDOS error messages removed, especially since the error trap doesn't allow the system to recover anyway. Given the BIOS source code (and the rest of the CP/M utilities such as SYSGEN and MOVCP/M). most of the problems should be fixable. You'd have to boot from a floppy rather than the ROM. but so what? But since there is no BIOS source, and no circuit diagrams. I don't think too many hackers will buy it.

On the other hand, the Companion has the potential to be a really great entry-level system, especially for writers who put a lot of importance on a good keyboard and screen. A beginner could shop around for just the right terminal. The Companion is inexpensive enough that you could buy a really good terminal, wordprocessing software, and a decent printer, and still have less invested than you'd spend on some of the allup systems with a less aesthetic keyboard and display. Unfortunately, the manual wasn't written for beginners, and there are all those unexplained glitches. It badly needs an expanded, hand-holding manual if it's to be a beginner's machine.

That leaves me with a dilemma. For all its problems. I like this little machine. Partly it's aesthetics: I really would rather have this little machine and a good terminal than one of the

{continued)

Will It Work with My PC?

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.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 327

SAN FRANGISGO JULY 22-26

$ ll O

B A

H

The combined efforts of many disciplines — academia, industry, science and art — are brought together in ^pi€ conference.

SIGGRAPH '85 PRESENTS-fHE STATE OF THE ART IN COMPUTER GRAPHICS.

® TECHNICAL papers

v^original research results, formally i

PANELS

® course:

. ites, introductory and advanced

® FILM AND VIDEO SHOW

— computer animation for the connoisseur

synergy of art and technology

® ART

i

J EXHIBITION

— the state of the art in hardware and software tools

® PLUS

— technical proceedings, birds-of-a-feather groups, continuous animation screenings and social events at the Exploratorium and the Academy of Science.

All this, Silicon Valley and San Francisco too!

Register early for substantial savings and to ensure full participation./

TWELFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION ON COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND INTERACTIVE TECHNIQUES.

SIGGRAPH '85

111 East Wacker Drive # 600

Chicago, IL 60601

(312)644-6610

Inquiry 438

SIGGRAPH '85 is sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics in cooperation with Eurographics and the IEEE Technical Committee on Computer Graphics.

Please send a copy of the SIGGRAPH '85 advance program to: Name

Company.

Address

City

-Zip

State/Country

Telephone Number ( )

Members of ACM SIGGRAPH will automatically receive these materials in the mail in April and need NOT return this coupon. ♦♦«♦♦♦

CHAOS MANOR

"luggable" computers with a small screen. It runs the TeleVideo at 19.200 bps just fine, so that it scrolls faster than most luggables can manage.

Except for the weird business with terminal lockup. I never got into any trouble that Reset wouldn't cure, and since Reset does not wipe out the RAM disk, the only thing to really be afraid of would be a power failure. According to the manual, the Companion has a whole bunch of terminal programs to let it work with the TRS-80 Model 100 (and therefore the NEC counterpart to the Model 100); and the Companion is small and light. That suggests a number of interesting possibilities, including carrying the Companion along with a lapboard when I go on trips.

The bottom line is that I can't really recommend the Companion to naive users. If you don't get confused easily; have patience and a sense of humor and won't get irritated when the machine hangs up; are reasonably careful: won't panic; and are willing to put in some time learning CP/M and general computer vagaries, that's another story. There are some good points about this machine. The right user would like it a lot.

What I really wish is that Companion Computers would (1) release the BIOS. (2) support a users group, and (3) then sell a lot of these little machines. A good users group hacking on that BIOS could turn this into a really dandy little machine that would not only be an entry-level computer for writers but a good second machine for hobbyists and everyone else. The potential is there.

I have since found that the BIOS source is available—but it's written in FORTH. For some hackers I suppose that's a feature.

MacMouse

One problem with mice—at least one of my problems—is that I can never find any clear space on my desk. The Macintosh sits near my desk—1 confess I'm fond enough of it that I haven't packed it away—but it isn't my primary system. As a result, the space

{continued)

Does It 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 image 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 . . .

MAY I985 -BYTE 329

Circuit-Board-Design Without the Tedium

smARTWORK™ lets the design

engineer create and revise

printed-circuit-board artwork

on the IBM Personal Computer.

Forget tape. Forget ruling. Forget waiting tor a technician, draftsman, or the CAD department to get to your project. smARTWORK™ software turns your IBM Personal Computer into a professional, high-quality drafting tool. It gives you complete control over your circuit-board artwork —from start to finish.

smARTWORk™ transforms your IBM PC into a CAD system for printed-circuit-board artwork. Display modes include both single-layer black and white and dual-layer color.

What makes smARTWORK™ so smart is that it understands electrical connections. Conductor spacing is always correct, lines don't become too narrow, and connecting lines do not intersect other conductors. smARTWORK™ can automatically find and draw the shortest route between two conductors. Or you can specify the route.

smARTWORK™ is the only lowcost printed-circuit-board artwork editor with all these important advantages:

□ Complete interactive control over placement and routing

D Quick correction and revision

□ Production-quality 2X artwork from pen-and-ink plotter

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

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

□ Single-sided and doublesided printed-circuit boards up to 10 x 16 inches

□ Multicolor or black-andwhite display

□ 32 user selectable color combinations; coincident

points can be displayed in contrasting colors.

3 Can use optional Microsoft Mouse as pointing device

Twice scale hardcopy of your artwork is produced using the Epson dot-matrix printers or the Houston Instrument DMP-41 penand-ink plotter. Quick 1X check plot is also available from Epson printers.

Dual-layer color display of a 2" by 4" section of a 10" by 16" circuit board

The Smart Buy

At $895, smARTWORK™ is an exceptional value, particularly when compared to conventional engineering workstation costs.

Call or write us for more information on smARTWORK™ We'll be glad to tell you how smARTWORK™ helps us design our own circuit boards and what it can do for your business.

Send a purchase order, or major credit card number, and smARTWORK™ can be working for you next week.

System Requirements

D IBM PC or XT with 192k RAM, 2 disk drives and DOS Version 2.0

□ IBM Color/Graphics Adapter with RGB color or b&w monitor

D Epson MX-80/MX-100 or FX-80/ FX-100 dot-matrix printer

□ Houston Instrument DMP-41 pen-and-ink plotter (optional)

□ Microsoft Mouse (optional)

* - OT^RW.

"smARtWORK" and "Wintek" are trademarks of Wintek Corporation.

WINTEK CORPORATION, 1801 South St.. Lafayette, IN 47904-2993, Phone: (317) 742-8428, Telex: 70-9079 (WINTEK CORP UD)

330 BYTE • MAY I985 Inquiry 4I9

CHAOS MANOR

around the Mac is soon filled with papers, software, coffee cups, staplers, letter openers, and general mess. I have trouble even finding the mouse, much less finding a place to use it.

Mouse Systems A+ optical mouse offers one solution to that problem: simply pull out the little etched mouse pad (if you can find itl) and put it on top of the mess. The optical mouse is a wee bit more precise than the mechanical mouse that comes with the Macintosh; 1 find I have better control. When I first set it up, the A+ mouse cord had a tendency to stick against the optical pad on the "up" strokes, but that seems to have cured itself.

The A+ has a slightly thinner cord, and you need a small screwdriver to permanently attach it to the Mac; it doesn't have the big screw-knobs that are standard on the plugs that Apple provides. 1 don't know that I'd have bothered to replace the mouse that came with the Mac if Mouse Systems hadn't sent me one, but I do prefer it enough that I haven't put the mechanical mouse back into action. It's purely aesthetics, though, and I'd be hard put to explain the preference.

The Mouse Systems A+ mouse also works with the Apple lie and Lisa computers.

MTBASIC

This is one of those programs that I got fascinated with even though I can't think of anything I'd use it for. MTBASIC is a compiling, recursive, multitasking BASIC that runs under CP/M on a Z80. An IBM PC and PCjr version was supposed to be out in March.

Z80 programs that require a terminal are a bit of a problem here. It isn't that we don't have Z80 machines and terminals, but they aren't set up. lust at the moment I'm surrounded by: the Lilith; the Macintosh; Lucy Van Pelt, the fussbudget IBM PC; a Zenith Z-160; and the two permanent machines, Zeke II the Z80 and the CompuPro 8/16. Zeke II uses memorymapped video. The 8/16 uses a terminal. For all my mutterings about the

{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 standards, backed by a full one-year warranty 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.

MAY 1985 'BYTE 331

CHAOS MANOR

Some of these

expert systems are really very good.

TeleVideo 950 terminal, I went back to it in preference to the Qume, and I'm now ready to confess that 1 like the Telewidget. But while the 8/16 uses a terminal, it doesn't have a Z80 chip.

I had the Macrotech 80286/Z80 board in the 8/16 for a couple of months, but just now we're testing some new hardware and software; until that's done I'm using the standard CompuPro 8/16 processor. (Well, nearly standard: mine has lim Hudson's piggyback 8087 support board.) Another alternative would be the Shirley (CompuPro 10). which has multiple Z80 processors, but until the new office construction is done she's in the back room. MTBASIC looked interesting enough that I tried getting it to run on the Companion, but that doesn't work either; there's something very odd about the Companion's BIOS.

Thus, a firsthand account of using MTBASIC will have to wait until the contractors finish building the new library, office, and workshop suite upstairs. When that's done I'll have room to keep several more test systems set up and running. Meanwhile, I know from other reports that MTBASIC does run, and that it's one of the more interesting language ideas. I still don't know what I'll do with it, but I expect anyone with hacker tendencies might be interested in it. A true multitasking BASIC (task control can be through hardware interrupt or through an automatically installed software timer built into MTBASIC) that supports windows and recursion has all sorts of potential. There are even built-in commands for saving and reloading windows, meaning that you can generate pop-up menus and that sort of thing.

Using MTBASIC is a bit like using CBASIC, but easier, because it's partly interactive. You can create a pro

gram using your own editor. Since line numbers are needed, you can use the Microsoft BASIC editor, provided, of course, that you save the result as an ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) file. Programs can be merged simply by loading them; lines with the same line number will be overlaid. The whole program has to be in memory, which restricts its size a bit. Once there, you tell it to run and the program is first compiled at a rapid clip, then executed. When debugging is done, you can compile into a more or less standalone COM file.

There are some limits. There are no string arrays, and strings are handled more in the manner of Pascal than BASIC. Variable names can be seven characters long, but there can't be more than 2 5 5 variables in any given program. A lot of the BASIC statements we're used to don't exist. On the other hand, there are some lowlevel commands for handling hardware interrupts that don't exist in any other BASIC, and of course there is tasking: that is, you give the machine several tasks, and it works on them all more or less simultaneously. Since there's only one processor, obviously it can't really do more than one thing at a time; but it can work on one task for a while, then switch to another, and so forth, many hundreds of times a second. It can also be doing other things while waiting for input.

Given my immediate problem of putting together a Z80 with a terminal, I'll probably wait for the IBM PC version before I do a definitive report. On the other hand, MTBASIC would be useful for controlling dedicated machines; I've already thought of a Z80-based security/control system I might use it for. We'll see. Meanwhile, if you like playing about with unusual and different languages, you might look into MTBASIC

Expert-Ease

The artificial-intelligence community has done a number of wonderful things, but most of its practical contributions are yet to come. One exception to that is expert systems. An ex

pert system is a program that "understands" some limited subject field, such as particular kinds of cancers, missile-checkout procedures, and the like. Some of these expert systems are really very good. The best will ask questions, reach conclusions, and explain the reasoning behind them.

A recent article in the Wall Street )ournal quotes one major research firm's prediction that expert-system software sales—already more than $34 million in 1984—will continue to rise, becoming a mass market by the nineties. They also report on a program called Puff (Pulmonary Function), which assists a San Francisco lung specialist in diagnosis and prescription. My October 1983 column featured another medical program, Dr. Larry Weed's ProblemKnowledge Coupler.

There are not many micro-based expert systems because building the programs is not easy. Comes now Expert-Ease, which does that job.

Expert-Ease is a program that comes from Scotland. You sure can tell it. too. Not only is my copy decorated with a detail from Raeburn's painting "The Rev. Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch," but it also has, in huge red letters, the words "SAMPLE Not For Resale" stamped about 50 times randomly throughout the manual. The program is copyprotected and sells for 2000 bucksplus $50 for shipping and handling. The disclaimer specifically states that it's not fit for any particular purpose but contains trade secrets. My grandfather Maclnnie would have been delighted.

Whether the program is worth that much depends on how badly you need an expert system. Expert-Ease is based on some advanced Al research done at the University of Edinburgh, and it does seem to work. The manual is short on theory, but it's certainly adequate to let you run the program. Apparently they expect anyone who has paid $2000 for an expert-system generator to have a pretty good idea of what he wants to do with it.

[continued)

332 BYTE' MAY 198s

Meet The Princeton Graphics Systems femily

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 interface 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 Professional Graphics Adapter - Nonglare screen -$999

SR-12. Super-high resolution RGB • monitor -690 x 480 lines noninterlaced

-.31 mm dot pitch tube - Nonglare screen - 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, performance, 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 ISM Enhanced Graphics Adapter, and I8M Professional Graphics Adapter are trademarks ol international Business Machines, inc Compaq is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corp Corona is a trademark ol Corona Data Systems. Inc Apple is a trademark ol Apple Computer Corp PC World is a trademark ol CW Communications Inc

GRAPHIC SYSTEMS

IBENT BVSTEMB C O M F> A N \

Inquiry 32 5

MAY 1985 -BYTE 333

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 t*ne 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,

S 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-Sofl. The Chauffeur trademark of STB Systems, Inc.

Avoid The Crazy Drivers In The Graphics Jam With STB's Chauffeur

Right Simulator'"

Finally you can buy the most popular IBM color/graphics software with no worries about hardware compatibility. STB's Chauffeur video board produces monochrome display without preboot software or those crazy drivers.

PC Paintbrush

Write For A Free Info Pack Today. inquiry 446

STB Systems, Inc., 601 North Glenville, Richardson, Texas 75081

STB Systems, Inc.

from Microcomputer Accessories, Inc.

EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE.

Our Tilt n Turn CRT stand lets you move your monitor any which way you want. It fits large CRT's with feet separation up to 12" x 12" The low silhouette design elevates your CRT for increased comfort. It's fully adjustable while in use, with a stable 25° tilt and 360° turn. Anti-skid feet. Cures neck pain, eye strain. Go ahead. It'll make your day.

u: _i

5721 Buckingham Parkway P.O. Box 3725

Culver City, California 90231 Telephone 213/641-1800

In Europe:

N.V. Microcomputer Accessories Europe S.A.

Rue de Florence 37

1050 Bruxelles, Belgique

Telephone 02/538.61.73

These and other fine products are available at Computerland, Businessland, IBM Product Centers and other computer/software retail

locations. Inquiry 268 for Dealers.

Inquiry 269 for End-Users.

CHAOS MANOR

It works this way. First, you figure out what criteria you want the system to use to reach decisions. Then you give the program a bunch of examples in a matrix where the columns are the criteria and the rows are cases. The final column in the matrix is the recommendation an expert would make in each case. For example, you could take one of those tables of data from BYTE that give all the attributes of a computer, or a printer, or whatever; add your requirements and recommendations; and generate an "expert" system that would in theory make the same recommendations you would. Now anyone could use it to enter data about a new machine and see what you would say about it.

You don't have to enter all the cases you know about. When you think you have enough cases, you tell the machine to go to work. It trundles for a while and comes up with a decision rule. There's no "explanation" as such, but the rule is tree-structured, and you can examine it to see what the machine has done. If there aren't enough cases, the program will tell you by making "null" recommendations in the rule tree. This shows where new examples are needed.

If there are contradictory examples, the program will tell you. Contradictions usually mean you don't have enough criteria to establish an actual rule.

So far, so good.

Unfortunately, the program doesn't know how to handle incomplete data or probabilities. It wants absolute certainty with no ambiguities. Worse, you can't weight the criteria. In fact, the program weights them for you according to their position in the matrix, with the left-hand criterion getting the greatest weight. New criteria (called attributes) can be inserted at any column position, so you can get the effect of weights by the placement of criteria. I tried to simulate probabilities, after a fashion, by adding an integer variable with a range of 0 to 100; but that didn't work well for me.

The manual is clear, and there are examples. The program is reasonably easy to understand but not so easy to

use because the editing capabilities are abysmal; the worst spreadsheet 1 know of has better editing functions. You can get the job done, but if it's a big job. you'll curse the program before you're done.

I'd think a Bayesian decisionanalysis program, which asks for criteria and weights and includes probabilities, could be altered to produce something considerably more powerful than Expert-Ease. Several single-decision Bayesian-theory programs were published in computer magazines back in the seventies, and at least one was sold for less than $100. Having said that, I confess that I'm not ready to sit down and write such a program. Expert-Ease does work, and if you need to generate an expert system from a large mass of cases and variables (up to 32 attributes, each with up to 32 values for logical variables, and a range of

-32,766 to +32,767 for integer values), I don't know of anything else that would do the job.

My copy of Expert-Ease came from Export Software International Ltd. of Edinburgh, but I understand that the program is marketed in the U.S. exclusively by Human Edge. This is the outfit that advertised the "expert" program called Mind Prober by promising, "We'll get you into her mind: the rest is up to you," until a number of magazines refused the advertisement. Human Edge also publishes Sales Edge, Negotiation Edge, Management Edge, and Communications Edge, all "expert-system" programs based on your responses to a series of questions very similar to the questions on a standard psychological test. The programs work fine, as programs, but I have serious reservations about the theory on which they're based: that's

[continued)

TRAPID PACE r DATABASE.

The rapid pace of business today demands data storage solutions that can keep pace with

fte dynamics of today's computing solutions.

Jhe Bernoulli Box " does just that-by creating, expanding, storing and backing up data

bases on handy 10-megabyte cartridges (5 megabytes on the single-drive Macintosh" box).

Its transfer rates and access times outperform hard disk devices. And when rapid pace

aieans getting somewhere fast, your cartridge-contained data bases go with you.

The Bernoulli Box. Available for the IBM PC, XT, AT, most compatibles, the Tl Pro and

Apple's Macintosh.

For die dealer nearest you, call 1-800-556-1234 ext. 215. In California call

1-800-441-2345 ext. 215.

THE

L-Jti=GA

IOMEGA CORPORATION 182! West 4000 South Roy. Utah 84067

BERNOULLI

BOX~

Inquiry 212

MAY 1985 -BYTE 337

A FEW NMT THINGS

YOU CAN DO WITH

KODAKS CAT QUICK

INSTANT SLIDE-MAKERS

Kodak

Instagraphic" UJ color film _,

Slide

Print

MOBBSi ^^zrrscr

"Make your slides

one by one,

save on film

and have some fun!

Correct mistakes,

add new facts,

give a show

the punch it lacks.

"Take CRT data

off the screen,

editfreely

in between.

"Mountyour slides

fast and clean—

project bright hues

on the screen.

Meet tight deadlines,

do a whole show,

win new clients,

hear bravo.'

"Waste no money,

waste no time,

get results that are

sublime."

"If you can't do without these cat-quick instant slide-makers another minute,

contact your dealer in Kodak audiovisual products, listed in the Yellow Pages under 'AV Equipment and Supplies.'

Or, phone 1 800 44KODAK, Ext 293 (1 800 445 6325, Ext 293).

Tell em Slide Cat sent you!"

The system includes KODAK INSTAGRAPHIC Copy Stand, KODAK INSTAGRAPHIC CRT Slide Imager and CRT Adapters, KODAK INSTAGRAPHIC Color Slide Film, and KODAK INSTAGRAPHIC Slide Mounter and Mounts,

© Eastman Kodak Company, 1985 338 BYTE • MAY 1985 Inquiry 148

CHAOS MANOR

a large enough subject that I'll get to it another time.

OmniTel Encore and Crosstalk

We have 1200-bps capability at last. Actually. 1 bought a U.S. Robotics 1200-bps modem nearly a year ago, but Alex took it to San Diego before I ever got it hooked up. He says it works fine, too. One day I'll get it back . . .

Anyway, we recently received an OmniTel Encore 1200B, which we installed in the Zenith Z-160. It went into that particular machine because the IBM PC has no open slots—1 really should get an expansion box—and the Zenith Z-150 is still under Mrs. Poumelle's control. Installation was simple. The Encore can be addressed to ports COM3 or COM4 as well as the standard COM1 and COM2. This means that if you already have two serial ports, as the Zenith machines and the Columbia PC do, there's still no problem putting in an internal modem.

The Encore came with Crosstalk XVI, so that's what we used. Crosstalk is a perfectly adequate communications program. I prefer Mycroft Laboratories' MITE, because I find it easier to use; but I've been using MITE for years, too, so there's a familiarity factor there. I certainly didn't have any problems using Crosstalk, and 1 appreciated the terminalemulation capability built into the program, since I was able to log onto the ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) without changing the initialization file that tells MIT I'm using a Telewidget terminal.

There isn't a lot you can say about a modem. The Encore was simple to install, the price looks good, and it has worked just fine nearly every night for the past two weeks. I'm sending to Mycroft for a MITE program geared up for it. The Encore is compatible with the Hayes Smartmodem—much more so than the U.S. Robotics modem, has a built-in speaker that lets you hear what's going on (phone tones, dial tones, busy signals, etc.), and works just fine with Crosstalk.

OmniTel also makes 300-bps integral modems for Apple and PCjr and both 300- and 1200-bps stand-alones.

SemiDisk

We've had the SemiDisk RAM disk in the Epson QX-IO for some time now. Works fine, but, alas, only under CP/M; it can't hook into Valdocs 1.8. which is the Epson system that really needs a RAM disk. In fooling around with the SemiDisk. we learned that its implementation takes up 3328 bytes of the temporary program area (TPA), which can be significant on a big assembly or load. However, all you have to do is type

SEMIDISK R [cr]

and the memory is recovered. Getting the RAM disk implemented is just as simple.

The SemiDisk comes with instructions on how to use part of its mem

ory as a printer buffer. Installation is simple, but you should read the manual a couple of times. They also have an automatic way to patch their COM file to include a whole bunch (about four pages!) of customization options you can install.

If you run an Epson OX-10 as a CP/M system, the SemiDisk will speed things up considerably.

Last-minute good news for Epson owners: SemiDisk now has software to let you use the RAM disk with Valdocs 1.9.

MUSIC

Mrs. Pournelle teaches music, sings opera, and directs musicals at her school. She's thus very interested in music programs.

Tunesmith came about two hours ago. Alas. It's copy-protected. You can make backups, but you have to have

[continued]

JHSL BRIEFCASE DATA BASE.

Your business needs more data base versatility than you get from hard disk systems,

versatility to help your people work more productively, wherever they are, or go.

Your business needs The Bernoulli Box," a storage system that lets you build and

backup individualized data bases-for payroll, accounting, marketing-on rugged,

interchangeable 5- and 10-megabyte cartridges.

It works more reliably, quickly, and flexibly than hard disk alternatives-without

head crashes. And it works on the IBM PC, XT, AT, compatibles, the Tl Pro and Apple's

Macintosh."

For the dealer nearest you, call 1-800-556-1234 ext. 215. In California

call 1-800-441-2345 ext. 215.

H

o

BCK"

Inquiry 213

MAY 1985 -BYTE 339

THE HIGH PERFORMANCE RANDOM ACCESS TAPE RACK-UP!

THE NEXT GENERATION OF TAPE DRIVES.

DATASAFE STAND ALONE UNIT

■ C/W cable (chains off DB-37 connector on rear of computer)

■ Has its own booster power supply

■ Is easy to install

DATASAFE INTERNALLY MOUNTED UNIT

■ Is daisy chained off the existing floppy controller

■ Requires IBM plug compatible bus and internally select 4 channel select floppy disk controller

■ No additional slots needed

For IBM XT's and compatibles ■ Incorporates main frame micro reel technology Random access ■ Use of PC DOS and MS DOS commands (tree, path, etc.) ■ MTBF - 20,000 hrs.

I Reliable (150,000 load and unload failsafe tested by an independent laboratory) C/W software device drivers ■ C/W cable ■ Extremely fast back-ups ■ 10 meg available only ~ Priced less than 50% less than the nearest rival ■ ONE YEAR WARRANTY

See us at Canadian Government Stand

at Comdex, May 6-9

Atlanta, Georgia

The DATASAFE uses industry standard 'A" tape on a self threading 2.2" spool

1050 Clinton St.

Buffalo, New York

14206

Tel.: (716) 694 5366 Telex: 916428

^^ _____^_^_- 762 Gordon Baker Rd.

^M ML ■■■■ill # Willowdale. Ontario

^m I ^mmm CanadaM2H3B4

^^M WWL Tel: (416) 4970531 or toll free

1 800 268 5412 Telex: 06 986133

Business Machines Inc.

:R DISTRIBUTOR TERRITORIES AVAILABLE. OEM CALLS INVITED.

CHAOS MANOR

the original system disk to put into drive A:, not merely the first time you use the program in a session, but every time you want to play a tune. Naturally I didn't make any backups.

Doesn't seem to have harmed the disk to run off it. The program plays a passable rendition of "Malaguena," a pretty bad one (according to rock/ jazz enthusiast lohn F. Carr) of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." Every time 1 play a tune and want to hear another—there are about 18 on the disk, including "Clair de Lune," Fucik's "Entry of the Gladiators." etc.—I must (1) insert a disk with the Command files on it; (2) insert the original system disk.

I don't feel good enough to do that.

While the program is playing, it shows a display of the notes played. They are not, alas, in standard musical notation, but consist of strings of data statements (complete with the word "DATA" and the quotation marks) that the cursor runs through, resting briefly on each note (ABEF etc.) as it is played. There are also numbers and on the right side of the screen a standard musical notation shows one— and only one—note as it is played.

I can see how it would be a lot of fun, but I am determined not to get addicted to copy-protected programs. Alas.

Fonts!

Now one that is not copy-protected. Fontrix, which works only on PCs with a color monitor. Since Lucy Van Pelt, our fussbudget IBM PC, has only the high-resolution green screen, we can't tell if Fontrix will work with the Orchid Technology PCturbo 186 board.

Fontrix works fine with the Z-l 50, which has a color screen. After you've bought Fontrix, you can get a whole mess of very nice fonts, from Arabic to Russian to a bunch of electronics symbols, for $20 a disk. The program allows you to modify existing fonts or create, name, and save your own.

It's supposed to print, and there's a menu of printers, including the really high-resolution Toshiba. The printer connected to our Z-l 50 is an MP1 Sprinter dot-matrix, not listed on the

Fontrix driver list; I'm sure the MPI emulates one of the many that are on there, but it's too late to call MPI tonight. More next time.

Meanwhile. Peter has had an hour to play with it and wants to get a copy for the Hewlett-Packard Touchscreen; connect that to the HP LaserJet printer and you'd have some really nice fonts, graphics, designs, and all kinds of stuff.

1 think we're going to like it. but this is an early report.

Winding Down

I've decided that if 1 have products of the year I should also have a folly of the year.

It was awfully close; in fact, a tie. The Chaos Manor Folly of the Year Award for 1984 is shared. Winner number one is W. Krag Brotby. chairman of the Vault Corporation, for his threat to market Killer Prolok, a copy-protection

scheme that will "create a variety of nasty effects" for people who use unauthorized copies. The effects would include planting software worms that would cause the computer to malfunction at random times and under random tasks.

Winner number two is Craig McClure, vice president of Defendisk of Denver, who also threatens programs that insert worms into your operating system. They wouldn't necessarily surface for quite a long time. Mr. McClure says, "Our booby traps will make Vietnam look like a birthday party."

I understand that whole teams of lawyers are anxiously awaiting the appearance of these products. I'm sure Defendisk and Vault will take lots of precautions to see that the original copies of software they protect won't hurt your system. What could go

{continued)

DATABASE.

Businesses today need more than just more data capacity from mass storage devices. They need more data dynamics. And that means backup as well as primary storage. The Bernoulli Box," with its removable storage system, delivers both. Not only can you create individual data bases on handy 10-megabyte cartridges (5 megabytes on the single-drive Macintosh " box), you can backup files-in minutes, not hours. The compact cartridges are easily stored. And with the lowest available cost-per-megabyte, you not only save your data,

_^_^_r_r_,, , but money and time as well.

■v—'r—r~^r~T~TTl ■ The Bernoulli Box. Available

; for the IBM PC, XT, AT, most compatibles, the TI Pro and -, Apple's Macintosh.

For the dealer nearest you, call 1-800-556-1234 ext. 215. In California call 1-800-441-2345 ext. 215.

IOMEGA CORPORATION 1821 West 4000 South Roy, Utah 840(7

ENOULU

lllllllllll

-* BCK"

Inquiry 214

MAY 1985 • BYTE 341

CHAOS MANOR

Items Discussed

A+ Mouse

S150

SideKick

$49.95

Mouse Systems Corporation

Borland International

2336 H Walsh Ave.

4807 Scotts Valley Dr.

Santa Clara, CA 95051

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

(408) 988-0211

(408) 438-8400

Companion Computer

$995

Smartline Smartboard .

$399

Companion Computers

Wico

P.O. Drawer CC

6400 Gross Point Rd.

Apex, NC 27502

Niles, IL 60648

(919) 362-6655

(312) 647-7500

Encore I200B

$499

ThinkTank

OmniTel

3090 Oakmead Village Dr.

Apple II

$150

Macintosh

$145

Santa Clara, CA 95051

IBM PC

$195

(408) 986-8236

Living Videotext

Expert-Ease

$2050

2432 Charleston Rd. Mountain View. CA 94043

Human Edge Software Corp.

244 5 Faber Place

(415) 964-6300

Palo Alto. CA 94303

(415) 493-1593

TRACE86

$125

Professional BASIC

$99

FONTRIX

Morgan Computing

Apple

$95

10400 North Central Expressway

IBM

$155

Suite 210 Dallas, TX 75231

Data Transforms Inc.

616 Washington St.

(214) 739-5895

Suite 106

Denver, CO 80203

Tunesmith

$49.95

(303) 832-1501

Blackhawk Data Corp. 307 North Michigan Ave.

LaserJet

$3495

Chicago, IL 60601

Hewlett-Packard

(312) 236-8476

19447 Pruneridge Ave.

Cupertino, CA 95014

Tutsim

(800) 367-4777

demonstration disk

$29.95

IBM PC version

$495

MTBASIC $49 95 +

$3.50

Applied i

Softaid Inc. postage & handling

200 California Ave., #214

POB 2412

Palo Alto, CA 94306

Columbia, MD 2104 5-1412

(415) 32 5-4800

(301) 792-8096

Tweek

$18

PCturbo 186

Topology

128K bytes

$1095

POB 13038

2 56K bytes

$1245

Oakland, CA 94661

Orchid Technology

(707) 833-2348

47790 Westinghouse Dr.

Fremont. CA 94 539

Universe

(415) 490-8586

Atari

$89.95

Apple, IBM PC

$98.50

SemiDisk

Omnitrend Software

512K bytes

$799

POB 3

2 megabytes

$2499

West Simsbury, CT 06092

SemiDisk Systems

(203) 658-6917

POB GG

Beaverton. OR 97075

(503) 642-3100

wrong? But just to be safe, 1 think I'll take the precaution of not using them at all.

The book of the month is Pascal for BASIC Programmers by Charles Seiter and Robert Weiss (Addison-Wesley Microbooks, 1984). I wish I'd had this one years ago. It's clearly written, well organized, and has good examples, and one of the best discussions of pointers I've seen anywhere. If you're into noncomputer reading, I recommend In Search of Schrodinger's Cat by British science writer lohn Gribbin (Bantam New Age, 1984). It's a layman's-level discourse on modern physics and quantum mechanics. The cat in question is in a sealed box, and it will be killed if a particular atom emits a particle of radiation, but will be alive otherwise. It turns out that until the box is opened there may be two cats, one alive and one dead.

Coming up is a look at the HewlettPackard Touchscreen and Thinklet inksprayer printer. The Touchscreen is a nice computer all by itself; and used as a high-resolution terminal in connection with the CompuPro Shirley, it allows us to run SCADA, a professional-level computer-assisted-design program that rivals some of the best available on big minicomputers. More on that another time.

Meanwhile, Tony has my copy of the CompuPro PC Video Board that lets an 8/16 S-100 computer run IBM PC software, and they swear I'll have it Real Soon Now; the contractors have poured the foundations for the new office addition and partly filled up the moat where the grapefruit tree used to be; the software stack has grown another foot; and there seems to be no end to the marvels the computer revolution pours forth. I love it. ■

\erry Pournelle welcomes readers' comments and opinions. Send a selfaddressed, stamped envelope to \erry Pournelle do BYTE Publications. 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.

342 BYTE- MAY I08S

£very option you'll ever need.

You're looking at ULTRAFRAME™ i powerful 8/16 bit multiprocessor /ou can configure to handle any ipplication.

It's the one system that can tackle /our toughest jobs today with the :apacity to grow up to 32 users or asks — within the same chassis.

Get 5" & 8" Winchester drives from L0-120MB (formatted). Also, 14" ■nodels from 145MB to 1,160MB. And backup systems appropriate to any ;ystem you design.

Mow run both MS-DOS md CP/M software.

Our system lets you network IBM ^C's, compatibles or other popular 'C's into a serious multiuser business system. Tie PC's into the speed of an

S-100 buss with inexpensive boards and a coaxial cable.

Each PC can tap network resources including hard disks (10-300MB) and system printers with spooling.

The PC's gain the proven network

FRONT

LWCK

management capabilities of TurboDOS™. Run MS-DOS™ and CP/M 86 software plus true multiuser accounting and data base applications.

The industry's longest warranty.

We've built the ULTRAFRAME to last — and backed it with a full three year warranty. Plus, we give a level of old-fashioned factory support you won't get from anyone else. And onsite maintenance is available nationwide through 45 service centers.

ULTRAFRAME

EErr | INDEPENDENT BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Call collect (415) 443-3131 TWX 910-386-6003 IBSNET 5915 Graham Court. Livermore, CA 94550

The multiuser system

that also networks

IBM PCs.

■ MAINFRAME-LIKE CHASSIS & POWER SUPPLY ENGINEERING.

Continuous-duty cooling capacity. Solid state power supply circuitry for max. reliability.

■ FAST, HIGH CAPACITY HARD DISKS. Full range of 5", 8" and 14" Winchester models from 10 to 1160 MB, including new high-capacity 5" drives.

■ UP TO 32 USERS N PARALLEL. Add 8 or .6 bit SLAVENET™ proessor boards — each a :ompleteZ80 or 80186 omputer — to maintain ast, multi-user performince. Both 12 and 20 slot j-100 models available.

■ LOW COST PER JSER. Higher performince and lower cost per iser than any micro net vork. True multi-user, nultitasking operation ilus shared resources.

urboDOS™ is a registered trademark of Software 000.

W ■ CHOICE OF BACKUP

SYSTEMS. Integral 5" or 8" floppies to 1.2 MB. BACKSTOP™ video archiving; BACKSTOP II™

■ FAST, MULTIPRO- S'art/S'°P tape

CESSOR OPERATING

SYSTEMS. IBS P-NET™

and TurboDOS — access

to all UCSD Pascal™ and

CP/M™ software.

IBM PC is a registered trademark of IBM. ULTRAFRAME is a registered trademark of IBS, Inc.

CP/M and CP/M 86 are registered trademarks of Digital MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Digital Research. Research.

NETWORK

BUY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE AT WHOLESALE + 8%, AND GET 14-30 DAY SOFTWARE RENTALS*...

In just the last few months, The NETWORK has Listed below are just a few of the over 20,000 products available saved its members more than $24,000,000 and at our EVERYDAY LOW PRICES! All software below is priced in processed over 100,000 orders. IBM-PC format.

The nation's largest corporations depend on PC NETWORK!

On our corporate roster are some of the nation's largest financial industrial and professional concerns including some of the most important names in the computer industry:

General Motors Gillette

Hewlett Packard Hughes Aircraft IBM ITT Kodak Multimate United Nations Yale University Veteran's Administration plus thousands of satisfied consulting firms, small businesses, user groups, municipalities, government agencies and valuewise individuals ACROSS THE NATION! Their buyers know that purchasing or renting from PC NETWORK saves them time, money and trouble. They also count on us for product evaluation, professional consultation and the broadest spectrum of products and brands around.

AT&T

Barclays Bank

Bell & Howell

Citibank

Columbia University

Data General

Exxon

Farm Bureau Insurance

Frontier Airlines

General Mills

General Electric

t

CALL TOLL FREE 1 -800-621 -S-A-V-E

In Illinois call (312) 280-0002 Your Membership Validation Number: B355

You can validate your membership number and. if you wish, place your first money-saving order over the phone by using your VISA. MASTERCARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS Our knowledgeable service consultants are on duty Mon-Fn 8 AM to 7 PM. SAT 9 AM to 5 PM CST

. PERSONAL COMPUTER NETWORK ,1 320 West Ohio

Chicago, Illinois 60610 Call now . . . Join the PC NETWORK and start saving today!

PC NETWORK • MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

YES! Please enroll me as a member in the PC NETWORK " and rush my catalog featuring thousands of computer products, all at just 8% above DEALER WHOLESALE PRICES. I will also periodically receive "THE PRINTOUT', a special up-date on merchandise at prices BELOW even those in my wholesale catalog, and all the other exclusive, money-saving services available to Members.

355 L

I am under no obligation to buy anything My complete satisfaction is guaranteed Please check (*•*) all boxes that apply:

Basic Membership I One-year membership for $8 Two-year membership for $15(SAVE$1) ; Business Software Rental Library for $25 add I per year—with 14 day rentals □ Games Software Rental Library for $10 add I per year

Special V.I.P. Membership* H One-year membership for $15 □ Two-year membership for $25

(SAVE $5) Z BOTH Business and Game Software Rental Libraries for $30 add I per year—with 30 day rentals *VIP members receive advance notice on limited quantity merchandise specials

Z Bill my credit card I i VISA I J MasterCard □ American Express

Account Number

Exp.

mo, year

□ Check or money order enclosed for $ _

Name

Address

City State

_ Apt. NoZip

Telephone ( ) __

My computer(s) is: I IBM PC □ IBM-XT O IBM-AT D Apple II I ] Macintosh □ Other

Signature . . _

(Signature required to validate membership) Copyright © 1984. PC NETWORK. INC

344 BYTE- MAY 1985

GAMES & EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE

(PkNW add Si shipping and handling for each title ordered from below.)

Wholesale

Wholesale

Biueburah Chess (Your Toughest Opponent

S 34 00'

Screenplay Asylum (works with mono card too)

5.50*

Bluechlp MiihonaireiOU Baron or Tycoon

34.00*

Sierra On-Une Frogger

21.00*

Broderbund Lode Runner

19.75*

Sierra On-Une Crossfire

18.00*

CBS Goren-BrtOge Made Easy CBS Mastering the SAT

48.00'

Sublogtc Night Mission Pmball Spinnaker Alphabet Zoo

24.00*

81.00*

15.97*

Epyv Temple ol Apshai

21 .97*

Spinnaker Delta Drawing

24.97*

infocom Zork 1 or Witness

21.50*

Spinnaker Face Maker

15.97*

tnfocom Dead/me. or Suspended

27.00*

Spinnaker Hey Diddle Diddle

15.97*

Microsoft Flight Simulator

27.00*

Spinnaker Kinder Comp

15.97*

Moum Systems PC Paint- Turn your

59.95*

Spinnaker Rhymes & Riddles

15.97*

PC into A Color Macintosh'

Spinnaker Story Machine

15.97*

Orton JBird (QBert Look Alike)

22.00*

Spinnaker Most Amazing Thing Virtual Combinatlca Micro Cookbook

20.77*

Scarborough Mastertype

27.00*

21.00'

BUSINESS SOFTWARE

(Ptaasa add S2.50 ahlpplng and handling tor each title order from below.)

ATI How (o use Multimate

S 42.00*

Lotus Development Symphony

CALL

ATI How to use Microsoft Word

42.00'

MIcroRIm RBase 4000

6230.00*

ATI How to use Lotus 1 -2-3

42.00'

Microsoft C Compiler

275.00*

► Ashton-Tate

3

s 00*

► Microsoft ,

205.00

■» Ashton-Tate

3

B OB*

Microsoft Multiplan

105.00*

AshtonTate Friday'

151.00*

Monogram Dollars & Sense

CALL

Borland Side Kick (Protected)

26.00*

r> Multimate M

2

9 00*

■* Central Point

3 (Hi

Oasis The Word Plus

90.00*

Conceptual Instruments Desk organizer

157.00*

Open Systems P>0 Sales A'R INV G'L AlP Team Mqi 370.00' ea.

Digital Research CPlM-86

33.00'

Real World GIL AlP A'R P'R or OE/INV

387.50'

Otgrtal Research DR Logo

57.00*

Roseaoft Prokey Version 3

74.00'

Digital nsiaarch PL I Compiler

399.00'

Ryan McFariand AM COBOL (Dev System)

Otgrtal Research Concurrent CP/M— Windows 195.97*

Samoa Samna III Word Processor

325.00*

Funk Software Sideways

36.00'

Sateltte Software WordPerfect

215.00*

Harvard Harvard Project Manager

166.00*

Softer aft Fancy Fonts

125.00'

Howardaoft Tax Preparer 1985

177.00*

Softstyle SET-FX

35.00*

8 DO

Software Publishing PFS F,ie

72.00'

Human Edge The Management Edge

145.00*

Software Publishing PFS Report

64.00

Human Edge The Sales Edge

145.00*

Software PuWIahlng PFS Write

72.00*

Human Edge Mmd Prober Lattice C Compiler

28.45'

Software Publishing PFS Graph

72.00*

310.00*

TCS Tola- Ledger

440.00*

I* Lotus Development

5 CM"

Verbatim Desk Drive Analyzer

25.00*

HARDWARE

(Please add shipping and

handling charges found In italics next to price.)

COMPLETE SYSTEMS

MULTIFUNCTION CARDS

Apple Macintosh Base System

CALL

Apparat 256K Memory Board with 64K

$ 81.00*

(* 75)

Apple Apple lie

CALL

Apparat Combo II wmeripadgamei

115.00*

12 48)

Apple Apple He

Columbia Desktop & Portable Systems

CALL

clock! stwr

CALL

Apparat A T Ram Expansion card AST Six-Pack Plus wth 64K

136.00'

(2 50)

a- COMPAQ

2,735 00*

229.00*

(2 50)

AST 10 Plus II

120.00*

(2 50)

DATA General DG ONE

1,999.00*

(43 20)

AST Advantage lor A T

CALL

128K11 Drive 'The Real Portable

*■ EVEREX Magic Card 64K

160.00

Eagle Desktop PC and Spirit Portables ► IBM

CALL

1.495.02'

' "..'." .'

■> IBM

T. 962.52'

t»> ORCHID BLOSSOM W64K

200.00*

(2 50)

Compaq All Models IBM PC AT All Contigs

CALL

Ouadram Improved Ouadboard w:0K

199.00*

(2 50)

CALL

Tecmar Captain Multifunction Card O/K

195.00*

(2 50)

Sayno MBC 550 Lowest Cost Compatible

620.00*

(13 39)

r» Sayno '■'

1 -^5 00'

PRINTERS

Texas Instruments Professional

CALL

C. Itoh F10V40 Starwttter 40 CPS LQ

875.00*

(1890i

C. Not) Prownter 8510 AP

285.00*

16 16'

DISK DRIVES & CONTROLLE

Comrex CR420 420 CPS DP'LQ Printer

1,533.00*

(33 12)

►> PC Network V '.*--'.- S

545 00'

From the Epson Organization **■ Epson

225.00'

►• MMl / wmb low wwer Winchester

615.00*

(13 50)

a- Epson *» 8C

365 00

Mounts Ljfce Halt Height Dme

t* Epson ■

520.00'

Maxtor 140MB External Auto Booting

1.900.00* •

EMM LQ'500

CALL

Drive with Controller for PC

Epeon iBM-to-EPSON Parallel Cable r#> NEC 2030 20CPS LQ Parallel

21.00*

<• 00)

Maxtor 140MB External Auto Booting

1.600.00- •

615.00*

(1350)

Drive for AT

*■ NEC i

615.00

Maynard Floppy Disk Controller Maynard WS 1 10MB Internal Hard Disk

92.00*

(2 50)

►• NEC 3530 33CPS LQ Parallel

1.150.00'

(24 84)

770.00*

(18 15)

t* NEC

1,222.00

Maynard WS-2 same as WS-1 but with Sandstar Floppy Controller (uses 1 slot)

930.00'

(20 30)

*»• NEC ■ . . m '.' ft

1.590.00

Maynard Floppy Controller/Serial Port *■ Penaeonlc Half Height DSDD Drive Pair

145.00*

(2 50)

> Okidata'.' . CPSflQ

200.00'

160.00*

(3 W)

a- PC Network

145 00*

►■ Okidata'/;.'. ■ 20B0CPS/100-> Colors 109.00*

..'.•'■■'.'

69.00

a- Tendon TM 100-2 Full Height DSDD Drive

102.00*

(2 20)

Talkjrass 25MB External Hard Disk

2,445,00*

(46 44)

► Okidata ML84P 2Q0CPS 132 Col

620.00*

(13 40)

with 60MB Tape Backup

a- Okidata ML92P 160CPS 80 Col Printer

350.00*

(7 56)

Tee* FD 55-S Hall Height DSDD Drive Pair

225.00'

(5 29)

*■ Okidata ML93P 160 CPS Wide Platen

550.00*

(11 88)

MEMORY CHIPS

*■ Okidata 241OP Pacemaker 350CPS

1.640.00*

(35 42)

a> Okidata iBM-to-Okioata Parallel Cable

20.75*

(100)

Ail chips ouaranteed for life

Oume Sprint 11140 40CPS Letter Quality

1.155.00*

(24 00)

a- 64K Memory Upgrade Kits S a- 64K Dynamic Ram Chips

15.21*

Qurne Sprint 11190 90CPS Letter Quality

CALL

1 69"

New' Fastest Darsywheei Out'

a- 2S6K Dynamic Ram Chips •> 128K AT Mother Board Chips

13.00*

Oume IBM Cable and Interface (required)

72.00*

1100)

16.00*

a- Silver Reed

230 00*

MODEMS Anchor Mark XII LOWEST PRICE l200BPSt HAYES COMPATIBLE EXTERNAL MODEM Anchor VotksmoOem 300

► Silver Reed - ■ ■ 500 '8CPS Letter Quanh

280 00*

230.00* 47.00*

(5 00) (100)

Texaa Instruments 855 DP'LQ w/Tractor T<*NbmP-1340 80 Cot Version of P-1351 ToahibeP f35f IGOHOOCPSDrattlLQ LQ Printer

716.00* 696.00*

1.200.00

(15 50) (15 03) (25 92)

Have* Smartmodem 1200B with new Smartcom II VTtOO Emulator

325.92*

(2 50)

Prometheus Promodem 1200

279.00*

(6 00)

VIDEO CARDS

External 100% Hayes Compatible

Hercules Color Card wiParallel Port

S 148.00*

(3.20)

U.S. Robotics Password (Compact

240.00*

(5 60)

*> Hercules Monochrome Graphics Cards

273.00'

(2 50)

12008PS External)

Paradlaa New Modular Multidisplay Card

Perayat Sob Card Ultra High Res Color

Card with Mono Quality Text in Color

255.00'

(2 50)

365.00*

(2 50)

MONITORS

Amdek Video 300G Composite Green $

110.00*

(3 00)

> STB Graphix Plus It NEW

235.00*

(5 00)

Amdek Video 300A Composite Amber

120.00*

(3 00)

(simultaneous Mono Graphics & Color)

Amdek Video 3 WA IBM Type Amber Amdek Color 300 (NEW) Composite Amdek Color 600 (NEW') High Res RGB

130.00*

(3 00)

215.00* 395.00*

(4 64) (8 53)

ACCESSORIES AND SUPPLIES

Amdek Color 700(NEW) Ultra High Res Amdek Color 710 (NEW) TOOwlNon

455.00'

(983)

»* Brand Name 0SDD Diskettes

S 14 00

485.00*

(10 48)

Glare'Long Phosphor

CurtJea PC Pedesta' it

32.50*

(2 50)

Princeton HX-12 RGB Monitor

CALL

a- PC Network Replacement 130 Walt IBM-PC 165.00*

(3 56)

Princeton MAX 12IGB Mono

CALL

Power Supply— Gives your PC (Old or New) the same

Princeton SR-12 Ultra High Res RGB

CALL

capacity as an XT Good tor add m tape drives (without need

370.00

tor a piggyback unit) and large capacity

rjis* dnves

SMA PC Documate Keyboard Templates tor ft\»t*

POO)

■

Lotu&DBASEiMuit'mate and others (Each)

► Samsung

89.50*

WP Printer Paper 2600 S/ieeis

17.00*

(WOO)

.

Microfine Perfs (invisible when torn)

Texan 420 Super High Res RGB Monitor Taxan 440 Htghest Res RGB (720x400)

380.00*

<B21)

525.00*

(1134)

*PC NETWORK Members pay just SS above 1

Currently Available Works With Persyst Bob Card

price, plus shipping. Ail prices reflect a 3°

o cash discount

Zenith ZVM-123 Green High Res

78.00*

(2 50)

Mmimum shipping S2 SO pef o'Oe' Personal checks Diease

(Consumer Reports Rated Best Buy')

alto* 10 working Oays 10 clear

tRENT BEFORE YOU BUY — Members are eligible to join The NETWORK'S Business and Game Software Rental Libraries and evaluate products for a full 14 (Regular) or 30 (VIP) days to see if it meets your needs. And The NETWORK'S rental charges are far less than other software rental services—JUST 20% OF THE MEMBER WHOLESALE PRICE. We feature over 1.000 available titles in IBM Apple MAC and CPM Formats Hardware prices highlited by •■*» reflect recent major price reductions

COMPLETETk

IBM PC BASE SYSTEM IBM PC W/256K

PC SYSTEMS

NETWORK

$1,495.02*

(32.55)

ug^s)

ifessionai situation The 10Mt

Floppy Drive Controller

2 Double Sided Double Density 320I360K Disk Drives The Base System is your lowest cost starting point for configuring the exact system of your choice Combine it with any of the monitors, video cards, multifunction cards and accessories listed in this ad. and prove the Network can t be beat as your system source

IBM PC PROFESSIONAL A _ __ __

HARD DISK SYSTEM $1,962.52* (42.87)

IBM PC W/256K

Floppy Drive Controller

1 Double Sided Double Density 320/360K Disk Drive w Half Height Disk Subsystem

Hall Height 10MB Drive Allows Room for Addition of Tape Backup in F

IV times taster than XT

Automatic Hard Disk Boot Feature This system increases productivity in any business or professional situation The 10Mb hard disk eliminates cumbersome floppy disk changes, simplifies operations and dramatically speeds program execution time The NETWORK s buying power provides you with better than XT performance at a price lower than you d expect to pay for a standard PC

"PC Network Members pay just 8% above this wholesale price plus shipping. These prices have been prepared in February, 1985 and may have been changed with new product announcements. Call for latest prices.

COfftPAll™ HARD DISK SYSTEM (+ )—

PROFESSIONAL PORTABLE HARD DISK SYSTEM

COMPAQ W/256K <tO TOK nn*

Floppy Drive & Controller p£,fOO.UU (59.08)

Integral dual mode monitor Shock Mounted 3' 10MB Auto Booting Hard Disk

PC Network goes the COMPAQ + one better building a newer technology 7. height low power consumption hard disk into the standard COMPAQ Mounted with a '/:< height floppy drive in the space of 1 Conventional full height unit, you have expansion available lo add up to 2 additional hard disk, tape or floppy drives in your portable, |ust like the Desk Pro All for about what you would pay for the standard 2 floppy portable

FEATURED PRODUCTS!

[> 64K MEMORY EXPANSION KITS $ 15.21*

Set of 9 chips Guaranteed for Life.

[> LOTUS1-2-3 265.00*

New Best Price!

[> INTERNAL PC 10MB HARD DISK from 545.00*

Low Power Automatic Boot works on standard PC s. Includes drive'controller cables/mounting hardware & instructions Full one year warranty! We use our clout with Brand Name suppliers like COGITO MMI Tandon Fujitsu Miniscribe Shugart and others to bring you the best products at the Lowest Price in the Business! Call on the brand of your choice.

^> V» HEIGHT DS/DD DISK DRIVES per pair from 145.00* (pr)

2 drives wimounting hardware & complete instructions

Just like our hard disks featured above. The Network buy's direct and makes fantastic deals with manufacturers like MPI Tandon CDC Shugart Qume TEAC and others to bring you fantastic prices and Name Brand drives for . your PC/AT/XT or Jr/or Compatible. Yes, this price is for two drives!!

> OKIDATA NEW PERSONAL PRINTERS

' Microline 182 120CPS IBM Graphics LQ Mode & More! + More! 200.00*

Okimate Color 20 80CPS 100 + Colors/IBM Graphics/

LQ Mode + More! (Needs Interface) 109.00*

TANDON TM100-2 OR CDC FULL HEIGHT DRIVE 102.00*

EVEREX MAGIC CARD/64K 160.00*

Full six Pack Features Game Port included Extra Software — Fantastic Price'!! . AMDEKV310A IBM TTL AMBER 130.00*

> STB GRAPHIX PLUS II 235.00

Both Mono and Color Card w/piinter port Run either Monitor type or both at once' Gives 16 Colors wiLotus

\ HERCULES COLOR CARD w Printer Port 148.00*

^ HAYES 1200B with new Smartcom II/VT100 Emulator 325.92*

^> BRAND NAME DISKETTES 14.00*

\ DS/DD Box of 10 Guaranteed for Life Not Generic

'NETWORK members pay just 8% above these wholesale prices plus shipping

CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-621 -SAVE (—1^1

» only * In Illinois call (312) 280-0002 validation code B355

IBM and COMPAQ are registered trademarks of IBM and COMPAQ corporations.

...WITH THESE 15 UNIQUE BENEFITS

1COST + 8% PRICING —The NETWORK purchases millions of dollars in merchandise each month. You benefit in receiving the lowest price available and all at just 8% above published dealer wholesale price.

2 OUR 600 PAGE WHOLESALE CATALOG—Members receive our 600 page wholesale catalog containing over 20,000 hardware and software products for the IBM PC, APPLE and over 50 other popular computer systems. THE NETWORK'S CATALOG IS THE LARGEST SINGLE COMPILATION OF PERSONAL COMPUTER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TODAY. NOW UPDATED QUARTERLY!

3 IN-STOCK INSURED FAST HOME DELIVERY—The NETWORK maintains a giant multi-million dollar inventory of most popular products, allowing us to ship many orders from stock. Non-stock items are typically maintained in local warehouses just days away from The NETWORK and YOU. We pay all insurance expenses on your shipment. EMERGENCY OVERNIGHT SERVICE IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

4 10 DAY RETURN POLICY — If you are not satisfied, for any reason with any hardware component purchased from The NETWORK within 10 days of receipt, we will refund your entire purchase (less shipping) with no questions asked.

5 MEMBERSHIP SATISFACTION GUARANTEE —it tor any reason you are not satisfied with your membership within 30 days, we will refund your dues IN FULL.

6 EXPERIENCED CONSULTANTS—The NETWORK hires consultants, not order takers, to aid you in product selection. Our consulting staff possesses in excess of 150 man years of personal computer product experience. We back our consultants with our money back guarantee: IF ANY PRODUCT RECOMMENDED BY OUR CONSULTING STAFF FAILS TO PERFORM AS PROMISED —WE WILL TAKE IT BACK AT OUR EXPENSE FOR A 100% REFUND.

7 FREE TECHNICAL SUPPORT—The NETWORK supports every product it sells. Our qualified TECH-SUPPORT staff will help you assemble your system, interpret vendor documentation and get your software and hardware to work. WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE HELP YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT —FREE!

*8

bers can join our BUSINESS RENTAL LIBRARY featuring over 1000 available titles for just $25 PER YEAR above the base membership fee This entitles you to rent business software AT JUST 20% of the DISCOUNT PRICE FOR A 14 DAY PERIOD. If you decide to keep the software, the entire rental fee is deducted from the purchase price. VIP MEMBERS GET A FULL 30 DAYS for just $30 above the V.I.P. base fee. This also includes the game library privileges for a $5 combination savings.

tQ OPTIONAL GAME SOFTWARE RENTAL LIBRARY —

57 The Game Rental library is available to members for just $10 PER YEAR and permits evaluation (or just enjoyment) of any game or educational software product as above.

1f| SPECIAL SAVINGS BULLETINS—THE PRINTOUT \J — Issued Quarterly at no charge to Network members only! The Printout contains all the New Product listings and price changes you need to keep your Catalog up to dale Also, we buy excess dealer inventories, and store bankruptcy closeouts, which we turn around and make available to our members at fantastic savings via THE PRINTOUT.

1H DISCOUNT BOOK LIBRARY—Working with numerous I publishers and distributors, The NETWORK has assembled a library of over 1000 computer related books and manuals at savings of up to 75% from the normal store price.

1Q MEMBERSHIP REFERRAL BONUS—Our most valu£ able source of new members is you! To date almost 40% of our members have been referred by word of mouth from other satisfied members. For those of you who refer new members. The NETWORK will credit a cash bonus to your account applicable to any future purchase.

IO CORPORATE ACCOUNT PROGRAM—Almost 50% of O The NETWORK'S members are corporate buyers and users (see opposite page left). The NETWORK can establish open account status and assign designated account managers to expedite orders, and coordinate multiple location shipments.

1A QUANTITY DISCOUNTS—For large corporations, clubs, t and repeat or quantity buyers The NETWORK can extend additional single order discounts, when available to us from our manufacturers and distributors.

1C PRICE PROTECTION—The PC Industry is crazy!! Prices «s change not yearly or monthly or even weekly but often day by day! These changes are sometimes up but are mostly down!!! THE NETWORK GUARANTEES THAT IN THE EVENT OF A PRODUCT PRICE REDUCTION, BETWEEN THE TIME YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER AND THE TIME THE PRODUCT SHIPS YOU WILL ONLY PAY THE LOWER AMOUNTI!

Inquiry 309

w ,

WordPerfect is

just that

At SSI, we face a monumental challenge; living up to the name we gave our word processing software. After all with a name like WordPerfect, the product had better measure up. Obviously if s doing just that For good reason.

Simplicity.

Most WordPerfect functions require only one keystroke, a simple press of a finger. And comprehensive, well-written documentation

'-"'to,

ever,

text No matter how fast you type, WordPerfect won't slow you down.

PC World

,tiit

Features.

There is very ttttfc this program WordPerfect

cant

do.

InfoWorld

In addition to standard word ~f processing functions, WordPerfect includes several comprehensive, useful features not found on many word processors. Like a 100,000word phonetic dictionary; .„Wo multi-page foot

'ginner

makes learning a breeze

Speed.

With WordPerfect's document orientation, you never have to wait between pages of

346 BYTE- MAY 1985

d'ftcU/f^c^/S-osf

as

noting capability; table of contents and index generPC World ~~" ation; automatic

outlining and paragraph numbering; and a network version of WordPerfect

Get the word processor

that s living up to its name. WordPerfect. 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

loftware

Reaching for perfection.

Inquiry 353

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

New Software

Dear Jerry,

Enclosed is a complimentary copy of our new product, CLUBware Diskette #1. I am sending it to you for a couple of reasons.

First. I would like to thank you for your many humorous and useful insights into the microcomputer industry. I, as do many of my acquaintances, always open BYTE to your column first.

Second, 1 hope you will find both our CLUBware concept and the first product intriguing enough to write about.

This release of CLUBware is an attempt to unbust the IBM PC's BASIC. (Guess what newsletter we have been reading.) That is. Microsoft made some poor design decisions in implementing the screen I/O of its BASIC. It is understandable, if for no other reason than that it was under considerable time pressure from Big Blue. We have essentially reverse-engineered the product and can dynamically apply a fix that accelerates screen output.

At any rate, please take an opportunity

to run CLUBware on some IBM PC BASIC

applications. I think you will discover that

even a poor little IBM PC can really shine.

Joe Rayhawk

Rayhawk Automation, N W, Inc.

11600 Southwest Barnes Rd.

Suite 230

Portland. OR 97225

Great routines. If you put that good of a stuff on all your disks, you ought to get a lot of subscribers. Thanks.— Jerry

Scientific Computing

Dear Jerry,

After reading the letter by Steve Maas in the August 1984 BYTE, which is the second letter in recent months trying to convince you that FORTRAN is the one and only language for scientists and engineers, past, present, and future, I decided that I finally had to overcome my laziness and write an opposing letter. I too am a scientist, and I have worked for 24 years in research for one of the largest corporations. However. I am not a member of the Moral FORTRAN Majority but belong to the Immoral Pascal Minority because I had

the benefit of starting with ALGOlv-60 as my first computer language, back in the early sixties on a Burroughs B-5500. Later, I too had to convert to FORTRAN, and still later 1 learned BASIC because these languages were all that were available on the computers I was using. When I finally graduated to a CompuPro microcomputer and had my own choice of languages. I ran, not walked, to get a Pascal compiler. Comparing these four languages, I know from experience that Pascal is by far the best choice for science and engineering, for all the well-known reasons that you already have pointed out.

I submit that the dominance of FORTRAN in science and engineering is by no means an indication that it is the best language, or even a good language, but came about only by historical development. The FORTRAN myth is based on a vicious cycle: In the IBM-dominated world of mainframe computers, all that was available to scientists and engineers was FORTRAN. Therefore, in the past, the universities taught them to program in FORTRAN. Therefore, large libraries of existing programs, all written in FORTRAN, were built up. Therefore, in order to avoid duplication, all scientists and engineers are using FORTRAN. FORTRAN forever! No progress possible!

Well, not all is lost yet! This vicious cycle is being broken now. The universities seem to be teaching mainly Pascal, and with the microcomputer revolution, Pascal is available to everybody. For the first time, individual programmers can make their own choice.

However, FORTRAN cannot be simply ignored: There is, after all, this large mass of existing programs and subroutines. Ways must be found to integrate FORTRAN modules into modern languages, such as Pascal, Modula-2, Ada, and C, so that FORTRAN can be used for existing programs. All new programs can, and should, be written in one of the modern languages. For this purpose, the design of Ada includes a language pragma, i.e., a compiler directive telling the Ada compiler to compile FORTRAN source code within an Ada program. The implementation of this pragma, however, seems to be in the future or, as you would express it, in the

Real Soon Now category. What is available right now are the "common back-end" compilers by Microsoft and, more recently, by Digital Research. These compilers are designed so that only the first pass is different for each language, while the second pass is the same for all languages supported. Thus, modules written in different languages can be linked together into one executable program.

All developers of Ada, Modula-2, Pascal, and C compilers should include a facility that allows you to link in compiled FORTRAN modules, folllowing the example given by Microsoft. Most of these systems do provide for linking in assembly-language modules.

I was using Digital Research's Pascal MT+86, but 1 switched to Microsoft's MSPascal partially because of its interlinkability with MS-FORTRAN77 and partially because it allows using the full address space of the 8086. Both compilers are written in MS-Pascal, and both produce object modules that can be linked together by the MS-DOS linker. The main program can be either in Pascal or in FORTRAN. Both languages support separate compilation of modules. The Pascal part supports modules (like Pascal MT+86) as well as units (like UCSD Pascal). Procedures in the modules or units can be external and can be in FORTRAN or assembly language. Thus, I write the main program and all new work in Pascal and use the FORTRAN compiler for existing scientific subroutines that are made part of a Pascal unit as separately compiled external procedures. This works very well. The MS-FORTRAN77 compiler compiled a large FORTRAN IV program, ported from a mainframe, essentially without changes—no complaints at all!

In order to run MS-Pascal and MSFORTRAN, I had to switch my CompuPro 8/16 system from CP/M to MS-DOS, and 1 do not want to miss this opportunity to point out to you and all other CompuPro enthusiasts the availability of MS-DOS and, more recently, IBM PC-DOS on CompuPro systems from Computer House in San Rafael, California, under the trade names MS-PRO and PC-PRO. Both systems are simply wonderful, and 1 hope that you

MAY 1985 -BYTE 347

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

will review them in your column when time and space permit. You can boot up either MS-DOS IMS-PRO) or PC-DOS (PC-PRO) on any standard CompuPro 8/16 system without losing your CP/M-80 or CP/M-86 capability.

Please keep up your support of Pascal. Modula-2, and Ada and tell all your letter writers from the scientific and engineering community that, yes, FORTRAN and

BASIC programs are difficult to read, difficult to debug, and difficult to maintain, and let them know that they don't know what they are missing if they do not try something that is new to them. After all, science is the search for new frontiers, which would also include computer programming.

GUNTHER E. MOLAU

Clayton, CA

0) s

in ~

m

in

C"

At

~~

CN

m

LJ

uj

F

5

CD

0>

^

O

X

o

cc

cc

x:

««a ,

* 14

Thank you for a very thoughtful letter. Your point is well made.

I hadn't known about MS-PRO and PCPRO: the difficulty we've always had running PC-DOS is teaching the machine to talk to whatever terminal we had running at the time. Now. though. I have Concurrent DOS. which does have MS-DOS as well as allowing me to run CP/M 8/16. giving me the best of both worlds. I'll try to get MS-PRO and compare.

Best— lerry

U.S. Contacts

Dear lerry,

I hope you will be able to help me. I represent a small group of French computer and data-network (not hackers, of course) enthusiasts.

We are looking for contacts with American fans, and we could give them access to a French electronic mailbox (free of charge!) on our national computerized data network (0208075040371 or 0208075040864).

Pascal Lacadic

Residence Cornouaille

28. Bd Bougainville

F.29II0 Concarneau.

France

Anyone out there interested? Please keep me posted—Jerry

Writing and Editing

Dear jerry,

1 am half of an information-center support group responsible for microcomputers at a power company. The staff consists of two groups: mainframe support and microcomputer support. We provide a monthly newsletter to all corporate users of either mainframes or microcomputers. Presently, we are creating and editing this letter on our IBM mainframe using a fullscreen editing product (1SPF). As you have said often, any form of word processing, even a very crude one, is better than a typewriter.

What would you recommend to streamline the writing and editing process? We have access to several IBM PCs and compatible computers. Some members of our group use various word-processing programs (WordStar, WordPerfect, EasyWriter). and I have convinced the rest that we could produce a better newsletter on a PC with less effort. To add to the problem, many of our users submit articles. They submit them in a printed format, but most are generated on some type of microcom

348 BYTE- MAY I0X=>

Inquiry 6

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

puter. The articles could come off of noncompatible machines. Do you know a word-processing program that would allow all our writers to use any program they want and still make it fairly easy to bring it all together for formatting, spelling checking, indexing, etc.? I believe this would also be useful to the company's PC Club, which is open to members with any kind of computer. Our company has 5000 employees, so you can imagine the cross section of machines and programs we could be looking at.

Thanks for your time and keep up the great work!

Kevin Wandtke Milwaukee, Wl

My guess is that your common denominator is going to be WordStar. What you need is a series of filters that will turn foreign files into something that WordStar can eat.

Those are not difficult to come by. I wrote my own for the Z80 (in assembly language, yet; just use the "Copy" program example in DR's MAC document as a base and start adding features). It shouldn't be hard to write 8088 filters: use Turbo Pascal or Logitech's Modula-2. After you've done a couple of filters you 11 find the rest are easy.

The filter should take text from one editorial format and write a new file with the text in WordStar format. From there it's easy.

Best—lerry

CP/M-80 and 8-bit Machines

Dear Jerry,

What is the future of CP/M-80 and the 8-bit machine? 1 have been following software developments very closely for the past eight months, and it appears that aside from KAMAS, Turbo Pascal, and the three C compilers covered in the |une 1984 BYTE, there has not been a new software product introduced for CP/M-80 in two years. Even the latest public-domain software packages have 1982 dates in the copyright notices, NSWP206 excluded, of course.

Is CP/M-80 on the way out. or is it alive and well, hiding behind an impenetrable barrier of high-hype 16-bit advertisements? What do you see CP/M-80 being used for in the future?

Finally, one more question: Has the supply of new CP/M-80 software dried up for good?

Allen Stanbury Barrie. Ontario. Canada

Clad you asked.

Some of the best bargains in computing are 8-bit CP/M machines, new or used.

Their advantages: they're plenty good enough for a lot of really interesting work. 1 managed my affairs for years with Ezekial, my friend who happened to be a Z80, and you can get a better machine than he was (sorry, old friend) for a lot

less than I paid for him.

There is a lot of software out there for 8-bit CP/M machines; particularly for those with a Z80 processor (which most now have). Most of that software is lowcost, and much of it is free or nearly so. You can even get ZCPR-3. which revamps the operating system into something a heck of a lot nicer than MS-DOS. There's

(continued)

<

i<

ill

CD M %

gr to Cj £

^^-^

r<^

o co o S

Ejse -. c3

CM IT)

239

369 39 1

IT) CO

^

■

CO

5

cc

EC

al

;i

,''i

<

•

ID CO

k ■:

!|

W

ci ec

LU

1

C/3 03

CC

i

M

/RX80FT

0/LQ150 Color

2 ~

^.

1 • T

i

i

E ° £

<t

£ S ° ■

§§

'x

en

X

|

t/D

«3C

00

in cn en cni cm —

•*+

r—

CN

cn

Z ■

C)

cc

<

</>

LU

n

LU

< <

CD

Q.

M

■S

cm in to

M CM ^

I I

! *

I *- 3

I*

la

I 3

.I^SSSS

< s: «■

a. x -o

-soa^miDoiflcnin ^^uicti'Jr!?'

CM CNI

Bw-'

5 g

22;

Si

cSifcS.-l g's 5 §>c/5

cn m b m o to P- ^ w to

* M N (V N ■ • « * V) . . . to Cj Co Co

• Si I

£ -5 «,

Sncoi

<5<3g«3<3

z o- " . « e-u

Si

I"

■B g £ c= CO £E

S3

CD . ^

<3 => ;= 3 x:

w z " M&

SY

lu 1 Ji

t-o

CM J

r--> h

r-CC CM

CVjLU 1*.

h'

00CC CM

i*4

IflLU £(

i

t-5 to

■

cmq 10

<f- ~

c=)

CD

—O

it*!

■■a

111! |

I3 ■

immiiiimq

^

"II lo

"illo

1 s

- cV £

1 * J! g 2 £ a

! iioell

1 I.H'i

1 £ ° e •' '- ~

« 4 I bSS|

1 ° |* I i: ■

-»r?sIi j

■ =;!:si i

1 sliiHl

j!*ess; ■

5 * 11 •

. °- 1% s tt S 1

1 - 5 II »tl .

a I I « ■ fllfff 1

1 Sllifl

1 <-i!B e ?i '

1 « "llil" ■

- B-S So j-p |

■s; * 1 i u

! ts'ilii 1

^^ = III ■

ihsfcil

1 s * - x - * * ~ ■

lli

Inquiry 7

MAY 1985 "BYTE 349

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

a lot more software that was published by companies that no longer support it and that has effectively fallen into the public domain: no one will give permission for swapping it. but no one cares much either And. of course, most 8-bit machines come bundled with some really good programs.

Finally: when you do upgrade, you can go the 8/16 route: machines like the Z-100 and the CompuPro line immediately come to mind. These will run all your old familiar software: I'm writing this with an 8-bit text-editor program called WRITE that I prefer to anything else I've seen.

Disadvantages: you won't upgrade easily, and probably not at all. Theres little new commercial software being written for 8-bit CP/M machines: that means you'll have to join user groups and scrounge about: and even so. as time passes you'll see more and more about the newest programs with fancy features that your 8-bit system just won't handle

Theres not a lot of support for either software or hardware. You II have to learn a bit more of what you're doing. CP/M

takes a couple of days study before you can do much with it and a couple of weeks use before it becomes automatic Most of the 8-bit software was written in times when computer users were expected to put some effort into learning about computers.

Should you get an 8-bit machine? Like most questions, the answer is That depends.'' If you're one of those people who has to have the latest and best, no: but if you just want to get some jobs done while holding down costs, you'll think hard about 8-bit CP/M systems. They'll be around for years yet— (erry

Miscellanea

Dear Jerry.

1 enjoy your observations on the industry, your user viewpoint, and the generally good advice on products and systems. I am now involved in the computerization of a law office for my father Because of your column. I have looked at the Zenith Z-l 50 plus network (four workstations) and the CompuPro System 10

Either system will be built around a 40megabyte hard disk. The Zenith would run under Concurrent DOS. We have not made up our minds yet. My dad's office is less than 20 miles from the Heath factory that makes the units.

In the December volume of the ACM Sigplan Notices on Programming Languages. David V. Moffat of North Carolina State University wrote a paper on Modula-2. As you have been writing about how great a programming environment Modula-2 is, I wonder if you feel Mr. Moffat's concerns have any merit.

When you discuss text editors you have not mentioned WordPerfect by Satellite Software. Have you used this package?

I think that Borland should get a company-of-the-year award for its fine products. My System Engineer wife has gone exclusively to Turbo when programming in Pascal. Turbo is very popular with the computer science students at Old Dominion University.

Robert Adams

Norfolk. VA

[continued]

SuperFast Software Development Tools

INCREASE YOUR PROGRAMMING EFFICIENCY

with high-performance software development products from SLR Systems.

No other tools approach the speed or flexibility of the SLR Systems line.

"Z80ASM is an extraordinary product...",

Robert Blum. Sept 84 DDJ

•ASSEMBLERS

RMAC/M80 macros Nested INCLUDES* conditionals 16 char, labels on externals Built in crossreference Optional case significance Phase/dephase

Math on external

words and bytes

Define symbols from

console

Generate COM, HEX.

SLR-REL. or Micro

soft-REL files

Time & Date in listing

Over 30 configure

options

Z80ASM -full Zilog Z80 $125

NEW! Z80ASM+ -all tables virtual $195

NEW! SLRMAC -full Intel 8080. with

Z80.LIB extensions internal $125

NEW! SLRMAC+ -all tables virtual $195

CP/M compatible. 32K TPA required

ZSOASM.a breath of fresh air...",

Computer Language. Feb. 85

Z80 CPU. Inquiry 358

VISA

MBi C.O.D., Check or Money Order Accepted

.In two words, I'd say speed & flexibility",

Edward Joyce. Nov 84 Microcomputing

LINKERS

• Links SLR & M80 format files

• Output HEX or COM file

SLRNK+ includes:

Three separate address spaces Load map and SID/ZSID SYM file

All tables overflow to disk

HEX files do not fill unused space Intermodule crossreference EIGHT separate address spaces

Works with

FORTRAN & BASIC

Generate PRL&SPR

files

Supports manual

overlays

Full 64K output

SLRNK -fastest memory based $125

NEW! SLRNK+ -full featured virtual $195

Combo Paks available from $199. - $299. For additional Information contact SLR Systems

1-800-833-3061, in PA (412) 282-0864

1622 N. Main St.. Butler. PA 16001 • Telex 559215

S" L R Systems.

TeleVideo is the multiuser system

for companies

Growing companies need a computer system that will grow right along with them. Simply and economically

A computer system that lets people communicate and share resources. Even work on the same file simultaneously.

The TeleVideo* Personal Mini" Family is that system.

Runs PC, mini and multiuser software.

With the TeleVideo Personal Mini, users of IBM* or TeleVideo PCs, XTs, and portable computers can share data, as well as expensive peripherals, like printers and plotters.

The Personal Mini dramatically increases computing power. So it not

The TeleVideo Personal Mini Family

only runs PC software, but also hundreds of popular, fast minicomputer and multiuser programs. Without destroying your established PC environment.

And, unlike less advanced networks, the Personal Mini never sacrifices performance or speed regardless of how many workstations are on line.

Build on your original PC investment.

Even our system expansion costs are substantially less than what you'd pay to add new IBM PCs. And your original investment in hardware, software and personal computer education is never lost.

Your TeleVideo dealer has the Personal Mini. Arrange to see it today by calling toll free, 800-521-4897. In California, call 800-821-3774. Ask for operator 10.

The TeleVideo Personal Mini.

The growing business computer.

Regional Sales Offices; Northwest (408) 971-0255, Southwest (714) 476-0244, Southcentral (214) 258-6776, Midwest (312) 397-5400, Southeast (404) 447-1231, Mid-Atlantic (703) 556-7764, Northeast (617) 890-3282, East (516) 496-4777, Rocky Mountain (714) 476-0244.

»TeV^v^°

Systems

*,BTeleVScleo Systems, Inc.

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines

MAY 1985 "BYTE 351

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

Alas, I haven't seen WordPerfect.

Thank you for including Professor Moffat's paper on Modula-2. I can share some of his unhappiness about the lack of I/O within the Modula-2 language itself Id like it better if there were richer I/O functions built in, or, failing that, if there were a defined standard I/O library Iset of I/O definition modules) every compiler publisher had to implement.

Of course, what Moffat does here is to reject Wirth s most basic philosophy of keeping compilers small and simple. Perhaps he's right. I don't think so.

In my early days with this column, I explicitly refused to examine languages per se and confined my attention to particular implementations that I could run on my own machines. This got me into considerable trouble with the Pascal lovers. When Modula-2 came around I changed my rule: I liked what I saw of Modula-2 from the first instant. I was influenced in that by the ease with which you can translate programs from Pascal to Modula-2.

I did not care for the lack of I/O within

Modula-2, but I was assured that there would be, with any implementation, a library of I/O procedures adaptable to the particular machines land I/O devices!) the compiler would support. Alas. Moffat has a point: there seems to have been little standardization of the libraries. I expect that to change: if it doesnt. Modula-2 will not become the language of the future for microcomputers.

It may not anyway. In the three years since I gave Modula-2 my support, small computers have changed radically. They are faster, have more memory, and can access much larger files. As a result, we have got better and better versions of BASIC, with debugging tools and compilers: and while no one will ever write an operating system in BASIC, it has also taken longer than I would have bet to get the Modula-2 operating system implemented on anything I can run it on.

Part of Moffat's objections regarding portability seem founded on an insufficient understanding of the difference between definition and implementation modules. His ad hominem arguments—

the only Modula-2 enthusiasts are those who will somehow profit from its success—are untrue and not worth commenting on.

His final observation, that there is no "final' computer language, is probably true: but it fails to answer the question, "What should the user learn after BASIC?" For Moffat to tell us that SNOBOL and APL handle many problems perfectly is probably not much use to the general public.

For now, my advice to readers is to learn some BASIC, then get Borland's Turbo Pascal and a good introductory Pascal text. Follow that up by getting some books with Pascal source code and examine how good programs are written. Even if you never write any major programs in Pascal, learning the language will teach you a lot about program structure.

We also have good Modula-2 implementations now. I already have review copies of professional programs written in Logitech Modula-2 for the IBM PC.

Best regards.—lerry ■

TERMINAL EMULATION SOFTWARE SYSTEM

Trademarks: VT100 is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. 4010 is a trademark of Tektronix Corp.

VTIGS^OIO

• FREE SOFTWARE UPDATES

• Double height / double width, VT102 support

• ANSI / ISO color command support

• Convenient helpscreens ASCII file transfers

IBM / EPSON graphics printer support HERCULES, HAYES and KEYTRONICS support

• Monitor mode for data stream debugging

• "Smart" key assignments

• Extensive setup support

Enhance through-put of your IBM PC, XT, AT or portable by using TESS^.-.the first Terminal Emulation Software System developed and optimized by a leading graphics terminal house. Unparalleled user productivity...2 to 10 times faster than other emulators...data buffering from host while doing local processing...and much more.

ORDER TESS' NOW...CALL1-800-633-2252, Ext. 680

Satisfaction guaranteed or return within 30 days for full refund. Visa, Mastercard or COD. accepted and we pay shipping.

ID SYSTEMS*

ff m*r CORPORATION

6175-W Shamrock Court • Dublin, Ohio 43017

352 BYTE- MAY

Inquiry I96

Make Any Computer Do Exactly What You Want With McGraw-HUVs

Contemporary Programming & Soft ware ^Design Series

from Writing Your Own Programs to Modifying Existing Software, Here's the New, Easy, and Low Cost Way to Unlock the Secrets of Your Computer

Whether you use computers for business, for personal applications, or for fun, off-the-shelf programs will never do everything you want them to do for you. That's because they were written by programmers to satisfy what they perceived as the needs of the greatest number of potential users—often missing some or many of your specific needs.

That's why McGraw-Hill's new Contemporary Programming and Software Design Series teaches you how to create your own software . . . either from scratch or by making key modifications to existing programs.

There is nothing magical about it. You learn the process of building a computer program step-by-step with McGraw-Hill Concept Modules sent to you one at a time, once a month. Each of the ten modules in the Series takes you through an important step in the development of the structure and detailed logic of a program, including testing, debugging, and documentation.

any one language or machine. Why? Because 95% of the programming process is carried out using design techniques that are independent of a specific language or machine. Nevertheless, we include enough training in BASIC and machine language to get you started. You'll find that the whole process of learning new languages will be greatly accelerated once you complete the Series.

Create a Complete, Customized

Family Financial Package As You Learn

The sample programs you work with throughout the Series are excellent learning tools. But they're more than that. By combining the sample programs onto one master disk, you'll create your own family financial package that will help you balance your budget, figure loan amortization, and much more. And — of course — you'll be able to further modify your financial package to fit your own specific needs!

15-Day No-Risk Trial

To order your first module without risk, send the postage-paid card today. Examine the first module for 15 days and see how the Series will

help you make any computer do exactly what you want it to do!

Unique Interactive Hands-On Instruction

Each module includes an easy-to-understand guide PLUS a 5lA" floppy disk containing typical programs and interactive instruction that you can run on any IBM or IBM-compatible computer for hands-on experience.

In the first Module, for example, when your sample program (Declining Interest Loans) appears on your screen, youll find errors on certain program lines. You'll also see that the program is only three-quarters completed.

Now comes the fun part. Youll discover how this program is built, and in the process you'll learn how to identify and correct errors. And by the end of Module 1, youll actually have completed this program yourself.

But there's more. Special graphics on your screen work in conjunction with the accompanying guide to amplify, illustrate, and deepen your understanding of software design principles.

Learn the Foundation of All Computer Languages

Although the Series teaches you programming procedures, it is not aimed at

If someone has beaten you to the card, write to us for ordering information about the Contemporary Programming and Software Design Series.

McGraw-Hill

Continuing Education Center

3939 Wisconsin Avenue Washington. DC 20016

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. Inc

MAY 1985 • B

m

353

IMSI Presents PC Paintbrush

With PC Paintbrush, you'll now be able to do things that you once only dreamed about.

Because, like your dreams, you'll be working with a palette of up to 256 vibrant colors and shades, depending on your color card.

And, as you'll notice, you'll also have drawing tools, drop-down menus, and a range of brush widths and shapes. Plus your choice of mouse or joystick.

In addition to freeform drawing, you'll be able to draw precise triangles, rectangles, boxes, circles and ellipses.

You'll be able to cut, paste, and move things around. Even enhance graphs, text, and images from other programs like Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Word, and SuperCalc 3.

But don't stop with painting. PC Paintbrush also gives you an electronic type shop to work with. Several fonts, from Olde English to Computer. Each in seven styles (boldface, italics, underline, etc.) and seven sizes.

354 BYTE • MAY I985

All of which makes it great for designing everything from fliers and report covers to greeting cards and birthday banners. (For a wall-sized work of art, just print sideways.)

The possibilities are endless. But the best way to see for yourself is to see for yourself. Get a demonstration at your nearest computer store.

Then, draw your own conclusions.

n

to*t

ARI PUBLISHERS

INTERNATIONAL MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE, INC 633 Fifth Avenue • San Rafael, CA 94901 • 415/454-7101

RUNS ON: IBM PC/compatibles, and Corona PC, 192K RAM. IBM PCjr., and Mindset, 256K RAM. HP 150, 320K RAM. All require DOS 2.0 and up and 1 drive.

MICE: Summagraphics, Mouse

Systems. Microsoft.

JOYSTICKS: Any IBM compatible.

GRAPHICS Amdek, Hercules, IBM, CARDS: PCjr., Quadram, Scion,

Tecmar, STB, Paradise.

MONITOR: Color or black and white.

OUTPUT: Printers: IBM/Epson graphics, Epson FX-80 and 100. MX 80 and 100. IDS Non-Color, IDS Prism Color. NEC 8023, C-ltoh 8510, Okidata 8X or 9X series, Radio Shack CGP-220, Xerox 1770, PrintaColor TC1040, Quadram Quadjet, Transtar Color, Diablo C150, Tektronix 4695, HP Thinkjet, Star Micronics, Epson JX-80, Data Products 8050, IBM Color printer. Plotters: HP 7475A and 7470A.

PC Paintbrush is a registered trademark ol ZSOFT CORP

Inquiry 202

jUb

BYTE JAPAN

Megabits and Gigaflops

New RAM chips and computers

by William M. Raike

William M. Raike. who holds a

Ph.D. in applied mathematics from

Northwestern University, has taught

operations 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 the United States, in

1980. he went to \apan looking for

MK-bit RAIMs. He has been there

ever since as a technical translator

and software developer

For about a week, lapan was closed for business. But that's not as strange as it sounds; the week was January 1-7, and virtually all stores, restaurants, and other businesses here close for the New Year holidays. After a frantic few weeks of bonenkcti (literally, "forgetthe-year parties"), Tokyo's crowds vanish, with many people going off to visit relatives in rural areas.

After my customary New Year's Eve visit to a neighborhood shrine, listening to the drums heralding the new year and sipping sake from a traditional little square wooden box. there was plenty of peace and quiet for writing columns, and even time to get around to some long-delayed software chores.

Before the holidays, though, there were a number of computer-related developments in the news. In addition to announcements of a new supercomputer and of the test production of I-megabit memory chips, both NEC and Fujitsu introduced new personal computers.

Megabit RAM Chips from IBM Japan

The latest round in the ongoing competition for large-scale memory chips was the start of IBM lapan Ltd.'s test production of 1-megabit dynamic RAM (random-access read/write memory) chips. Quantity production is still probably at least a year away: the entire output is destined for in-house consumption, with the chips to be installed in computers manufactured by IBM lapan. The plant, located in Shiga Prefecture in western lapan, has produced both 64K-bit and 2 56K-bit dynamic RAM chips for the past year or so.

New Supercomputer

Fujitsu Ltd. is the second-largest manufacturer of personal computers in lapan (well behind NEC); however, the company is the largest manufacturer of mainframes. It now claims to be the fastest, too, after having just

announced a new supercomputer. The new behemoth is called the VP-400, and Fujitsu claims that it is capable of computing at the rate of 1 gigaflop (one billion floating-point operations) per second. Like the Hitachi S-810 supercomputer I talked about in BYTE lapan last month (see "The Fifth Generation in lapan.'' page 401). that is a peak rate, dependent on taking the greatest possible advantage of the pipeline structure of the hardware. The actual processing rate for the Hitachi machine can be as much as six times slower than the peak rate, depending both on the specific application and on how finely the software is tuned. Fujitsu is undoubtedly just as adept at playing the specifications game as Hitachi is. From the viewpoint of peak processing speeds it may look as if lapan's supercomputer manufacturers are in a position to compete with the U.S.'s Cray Research Corp., but unless their software (and documentation) improves soon, the impact of lapanese supercomputers outside lapan is unlikely to be economically substantial.

No NEC-Compatible from IBM?

IBM Personal Computers (PCs) are downright rare in lapan. for reasons that include relative technical inferiority, inability to support the lapanese language, high prices, poor distribution, and high-priced maintenance. The |X computer introduced by IBM lapan late last year has not been enthusiastically accepted for some of the same reasons. In addition to the MSX standard for very low priced computers, there is a de facto standard in Japan for powerful, multipurpose personal computers: it's the NEC 16-bit personal computer family, the PC-9801 series. In the 16-bit personal computer market here in lapan, the PC-9801E and PC-9801 F command more than a 70 percent share of the market. (NEC's APC III. introduced last year in the U.S., is similar to the PC-9801 F2 except for the floppy-disk capacity and the hardware features that

[continued]

MAY 1985 • BYT

355

BYTE JAPAN

NEC has trumped its own ace with the PC-9801M2.

support the Japanese language.)

When new software or peripheral equipment is introduced in Japan, the versions for the PC-9801 are invariably the first to hit the market; if you go to a computer show, most of the software and peripherals vendors demonstrate their wares on a PC-9801F2. (The F2 designation indicates the model with two built-in floppy-disk drives. There are also Fl and F3 models; the F3 has one floppy disk and one 10-megabyte hard disk built in.)

So dominant is the position of this machine that I've only half-jokingly suggested that IBM lapan, instead of bringing out the JX, should have borrowed a trick from the IBM PC's imitators and introduced a machine of its own that was fully NEC PC-9801compatible.

The Latest and Greatest NEC Machine

In the past month, NEC has apparently trumped its own ace by introducing the PC-9801M2. It's not really a new machine, but it represents several technical refinements over the F2 model, along with a substantial price reduction.

The two biggest differences are that the floppy-disk drives in the M2 hold 1 megabyte each instead of 640K bytes as in the F2, and the basic price (the list price is equivalent to about $1650) now includes a standard 2 56K bytes of memory instead of the F2's 128K bytes. A mouse interface is included with the M2; it was optional in the F2. Since adding 128K bytes of memory to the F2 costs about $160 and takes up one expansion slot, the extra memory on the main board of the M2 is a real advantage. And my own experience with the 1-megabyte disk drives in my Fujitsu computer has been very satisfying; it's a great relief

not having to swap disks or remember which program is in which drive during an edit-compile-debug cycle.

The central processing unit of the PC-9801M2 is an 8086-2 running at 8 MHz, although you can switch to a 5-MHz clock rate for compatibility with earlier versions of the PC-9801 computer. NEC offers an optional 8087-2 numeric coprocessor (there's a socket for it on the main board) that runs at 8 MHz, but the price for the chip is a hefty $32 5.

Main memory is expandable to 640K bytes. That may seem like a lot, but I'm spoiled; my Fujitsu can handle up to a megabyte (it has 768K bytes installed now), and I use 512 K bytes of that as a RAM disk. Fujitsu's version of the CP/M-86 operating system "knows" that drive M; is the RAM disk, so I normally load any necessary files onto drive M: when I boot up the computer; then 1 just forget about waiting for disk I/O (input/output). The trouble with NEC's limit of 640K bytes is that many programs need at least 2 56K bytes to run in. That leaves only 384K bytes free for a RAM disk, which is squeezing things a bit if you want to load something like Digital Research's C compiler and its associated linker and library files, in addition to an editor and various utilities.

In addition to the standard 96K bytes of ROM (read-only memory) containing the BASIC interpreter, the PC-9801M2 comes with a kanji ROM board with the 2965-character IIS (Japan Industrial Standard) No. 1 kanjicharacter set; the IIS No. 2 set of 3384 additional characters is available as an option for less than $50. lapanese characters are displayed on the screen in a 16- by 16-dot font, with 40 characters per line. As is common with personal computers in Japan at this price level, the operating system supports the full Japanese language; the basic price does not include an operating system, but both Japaneselanguage CP/M-86 and MS-DOS are available as options for about $40. You can also buy the PC-UX operating system, which is essentially a UNIX System III; it costs about $1200 and requires at least 384K bytes of mem

ory and a 10-megabyte hard disk. (The hard disk costs an extra $1775.)

The rest of the PC-9801 M2 is unchanged from the F2 version; 192K bytes of graphics video RAM is standard—graphics are in eight colors with 640- by 400-dot resolution. An 8-bit parallel printer interface is, of course, standard, as is an RS-232C serial interface and a calendar/clock with battery backup. There are three expansion slots.

NEC offers a wide selection of display monitors and printers. For example, there's a 14-inch high-resolution (640- by 400-dot) monochrome display that lists for about $2 30, while a 14-inch high-resolution color display goes for about $670. The PR-101 printer is a very high quality 24-pin dot-matrix printer that prints 80 characters per line and lists for about $950 (it also prints beautiful kanji characters), while the new PR-201CL is a 24-pin dot-matrix printer that prints 136 characters per line in eight colors and lists for about $1300. (The printers use conventional 8-bit parallel interfaces and print either alphanumeric or kana/kanji characters.)

Fujitsu s Beta

You'd think that one FM-16 would be like another FM-16. It's not necessarily so. Fujitsu's new FM-16/3, known as the Beta, bears little resemblance to the FM-16s that's sold in the U.S. This new computer is Fujitsu's answer to the NEC PC-9801M2, and it's quite a machine. If I hadn't just bought my FM-1 IBS, I'd want to own the FM-16/3. To begin with, the Beta uses Intel's 80186 microprocessor. The basic architecture of the 80186 is similar to the 8086, and it can run all 8086 software, but the 80186 has some features that make it quite a bit faster than the 8086. For example, the reduced number of instructionexecution cycles lets it perform integer multiplication and division about three times as fast as the 8086. From the hardware engineer's standpoint, the on-chip interrupt controller, timer, clock generator, and DMA (direct memory access) channel let

[continued]

356

I Y T E • MAY 1985

HowTo Solve

The Problems

PCs Create

In Two Words.

Back-Up™

It's all you have to say when one of your PCs goes down. We speciali2e in servicing business PCs. Particularly IBM-PCs. We also service your mixed brands of peripherals, too. Our service is fast, flexible and economical. We use a range [of service options to design a program that's right for your company. Fixed fee. Per-call. And our unique flexible fee, which can save you up to 70% over traditional maintenance contracts.

But no matter which options you choose, Back-Up gives 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. Wherever you are. Whenever you need us.

CONTRpL DATA

5045 Copyright © 1985 Control Data Corporation

IBM-PC and IBM are registered trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation.

Inquiry 110

MAY 1985 -BYTE 357

BYTE JAPAN

the 80186 chip perform functions all by itself that otherwise would require additional chips. Finally, the 80186 offers some additional machine instructions, called stack-frame instructions, that could potentially improve the efficiency of programs written in highlevel languages. This last advantage is largely an illusion, though; at this writing I don't know of any compilers that take advantage of this feature.

In addition to the 80186, the Beta incorporates an MBL68B09 coprocessor running at 2 MHz to manage the display, graphics functions, and keyboard, relieving the main processor of these burdens. All of the functions handled by the coprocessor are accessible from application programs via BIOS (basic input/output system) function calls.

You get as much standard RAM with this computer as with any other personal computer 1 know—half a mega

byte (512K bytes). Main memory is expandable to a full megabyte, and additional 2 56K-byte RAM boards cost only about $240 each. Since the machine has four expansion slots (three in the hard-disk version), expanding the system up to the maximum memory capacity doesn't use up all the slots, as is unfortunately the case with the NEC PC-9801M2. Kanjicharacter support is excellent; both the IIS No. 1 and No. 2 standard character sets are supported from standard ROM, giving a total of over 6800 characters in addition to the full alphanumeric and kana character sets. The standard operating system is lapanese-language CP/M-86, which offers full kanji support at the operatingsystem level. It also includes RAMdisk support; just as in my FM-11BS, you can reserve up to 512K bytes of main memory for use as a RAM disk. In addition to all the other memory,

INSTANT FINANCIAL PICTURE!

Corporate Financial Simulation Model on your IBM PC, XT or AT with Lotus 1-2-3, Multiplan, SuperCalc, VisiCalc or PeachCalc. Also available on most PC/M & all Apple systems. A $6,000 value for $295.

BottoirHing 7

A Financial Decision Support System - budgeting,

planning, analysis, and five-year forecasting.

Now used nationwide by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.

("Big 8" accounting firm).

Fill out this card and mail for complete details, or call 1-800-828-7257, CA only 1-800-523-7201, or 714-476-2842 for UPS COD delivery.

D Send more information

□ My check for $10 is enclosed. Please send me a (circle one) black and white/color Demo for my IBM PC.

□ Please send me Bottomline V for

on the

for shipping and handling is enclosed.

Spreadsheet

. computer. My check for $295 plus $5

Name

Company Street

.Title _ .Phone

State

Zip

Mail to: ILAR Systems, Inc. • 1300 Dove St., Suite 105 • Newport Beach, CA 92660 Inquiry 195 for Dealers. Inquiry 196 for End-Users.

2660 I

you get 192K bytes of graphics video RAM. Custom LSIs are used to speed up graphics functions like drawing lines and circles, too. Besides the printer and RS-232C interfaces, the Beta includes mouse and light-pen interfaces. Finally, it gives you a calendar/clock with battery backup, a feature that's missing from my FM-1 IBS.

The Beta comes in two models: one includes two built-in 1-megabyte floppy-disk drives, while the other has one floppy-disk drive and one 10megabyte hard disk. You can partition the hard disk between two different operating systems if you're so inclined (Japanese-language MS-DOS is available as an option), but I'd rather be drawn and quartered than run a computer under two operating systems.

For a new computer, especially in lapan, the Beta is well supported by software from independent vendors. In addition to all the CP/M-86 and MSDOS public-domain software, over 3 50 major software packages are available from over 60 different cooperating vendors. They include business software, languages, utilities, English- and Japanese-language word processors, database managers, spreadsheets, communications programs, and graphics packages. A large percentage provide full Japanese-language interaction with the user. Unfortunately, the prices for the language processors imported from the U.S. (Japanese-language manuals are usually available) are very high, often double or triple the cost of the same software in the U.S. This situation is tantamount to an open invitation to piracy; 1 haven't yet been able to find out whether tariffs, greedy (but shortsighted) distributors, or some other factors are at the root of the problem.

Considering its power, the FM-16/3 is a bargain. The list price for the version with two floppy-disk drives is just under $1700; the hard disk version goes for just under $3000. In view of the stiff competition from the new NEC machine, discounts are prevalent; the typical 20 percent discount on computer equipment here in the Tokyo area is bound to extend to the FM-16(3 very soon. ■

358 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 200 for Dealers. Inquiry 201 for End-Users.

Gifford's

Multiuser Concurrent DOS.

The net that works!

Gifford has the network solution. It's simple, fast, secure, complete, and it works. Multiuser Concurrent DOS is based on Digital Research's Concurrent DOS, the only major microcomputer operating system specifically designed for networking.

Users can share disks and printers transparently, and can also take advantage of true mul tiuser features like file and record lockout. And Gifford has added a bundle of features that makes Multiuser Concurrent DOS easy to install and use. It lets you get right to work.

OurnetisARCNET.

Multiuser Concurrent DOS utilizes Datapoint's ARCNET, the most popular network hardware in the industry. It's reliable, economical, and fast — sq, you can add users without overloading the network.

You can network up to 255 single and multiuser systems. You can connect single or multiuser Gifford or CompuPro* systems as well as IBM PC-XTs* Dual processor Gifford and CompuPro systems can nan thousands of 8 or 16 bit CP/M or MP/M applications. PC-XTs can run 16 bit CP/M and MP/M programs as well as most popular MS-DOS applications, such as Lotus 1-2-3!"

Gifford adds to your net worth.

Our enhancements of Concurrent DOS make it possible to get more and better work done in less time. Networkwide features include electronic mail, event calendar, inter-terminal communication, user time accounting and usage report generation, telecommunications user expandable HELP facility,

reminder messages, message of the day, automatic startup and shutdown procedures, and easily prepared files for initializing terminals, printers, and network nodes.

Gifford's Virtual Terminals™ increase productivity

by offering fullscreen concurrency; you can run up to four

programs simultaneously from one

physical terminal.

The safety net.

Multiple users can mean | multiple security problems. Gifford's security enhancements include

login account names and encrypted passwords to control access to the system. Users can be further restricted to specified .^^^ferminals,

user areas, programs, or nodes on the "network. You're also safe from excessive down time, since the modular network architecture gives you immunity from single point failure.

Gifford nets a big one: Simplicity.

If you've gone through the ordeal of typing as many as seven commands just to get on and off a network,

Gifford has your number. A single, menudriven network command handles all your network options. I Everything you "~ need is right in front of you. The net effect is simplicity — and sanity.

If you'd like to see how Gifford's Multiuser Concurrent DOS can Psolve your networking problems, or r you'd like to know about Gifford's selection of multiuser systems and software options, call (415) 895-0798. Or write us at the address below. We'll send you a free networking k brochure and give you the name of

the nearest dealer.

Multiuser Concurrent DOS is a trademark of Clifford Computer Systems. Concurrent DOStsa trademark of Digital Research, hie. ARCNET is a trademark of Dalapoinl Corporation. IBM PC-XT is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation. CompuPro is a registered trademark of CompuPro Corporation. Lotus 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Dez'clapinenl Corp. Virtual Terminals is a trademark of Gifford Computer Systems.

($ GIFFORD

V»*/ COMPUTER SYSTEMS

A subsidiary of Zitel Corporation

2446 Verna Court San Leandro, CA 94577 (415) 895-0798 TELEX: 704521 Houston. TXI713) 680-1944

THE MULTIUSER COMPANY

Inquiry 176

MAY 198 5

lYTE 359

^1

«*V

O* a*

^o*<V

.#>

fi\*.

6®

^

They Ve earned their stripes.

The supplies that wear the IBM stripes must first prove themselves worthy of the distinction.

Before they can join the ranks of all those IBM supplies that have gone on to serve IBM customers so well, they have to meet some stiff standards.

Our IBM supplies have to pass a series of rigorous inspections and battle their way through a barrage of quality controls.

This means every time you buy IBM word processing or data processing supplies, you're assured of getting a supply product that's designed with the same advanced technology as IBM hardware.

Take our latest line of IBM Quietr Supplies developed for the IBM Quietwriter 'Typewriter and Quietwriter8 Printer. The "Quiet" electronic fonts,

360 BYTE • MAY 1985

^i

«&<*&

rt

&

s&

^4 .

iim

printheads and thermal-transfer ribbons were developed and engineered together with the hardware to work as a team. The result is a unique print technology that "paints" ink onto the page.

We've made it our business to make supplies that inspire confidence day after day. So, the next time you're in the market for supplies, choose the ones that have earned the right to wear the IBM stripes.

More convenient ways to buy. To get the IBM supplies you need, contact an IBM supplies representative or visit an IBM Product Center or IBM supplies dealer. For the store location nearest you, or to place an order by phone, call IBM Direct 1800 IBM-2468, Ext. 104.

Inquiry 198

MAY 1985 'BYTE 361

TM

Combine VISION with PC Graphics

Captures Anything You Can See.

1MIGIT adds iconselected Graphic Functions, text, and textures with a full pallette of vibrant colors.

Together You Enjoy

Unparalleled Economy

and Applications

Flexibility.

For $695.00 you get the PC-EYE™ video digitizer board and IMIGIT™ graphics software. PC-EYE allows you to capture real-life images with an ordinary video camera or VCR and produce them on your personal computer. IMIGIT is an iconoriented graphics software package which allows you to modify the camera image by adding text, patterns, colors, lines and shapes. By using cut and paste features with multiple video images, you can store images for later retrieval and print images from the screen.

You get this Exciting Tool for integrating video images with graphics created by other software packages like Lotus 1-2-3*; Graftalk*; CAD and business presentation packages. Imagine combining a real-life camera image, text and a pie chart generated by Lotus into one picture. It's really as easy as 1, 2, 3.

IMIGIT Supports...

High Resolution - up to 640 x 512 pixels with 16 colors or gray scale (64 with 6-bit PC-EYE). Flexibility to support the most popular graphics cards and printers for convenient display and hardcopy output. Speed - less than 2/10 of a second to capture an image in the IBM-compatible 320 x 200 mode. All in all, a powerful but easy-to-use package that allows you to develop sophisticated and dramatic graphic presentations.

The illustration incorporates line art, photos, text, textures and color elements. You can do the same with this icon-driven, userfriendly system.

CHORUS is the Single Source for

your graphics and imaging needs. Complete solutions in both hardware and software. Call us for other low cost/ high performance imaging products such as Dr. Halo* and Halo* graphics software; video cameras and accessories; and graphic adapter cards. You can expect prompt delivery, technical support and complete OEM design assistance.

CALL 1-800 OCHORUS or 603-424-2900.

PC-EYE and IMIGIT are trademarks of Chorus Data Systems, Inc.

*Dr. Halo and Halo are trademarks of Media Cybernetics, Inc.

Graftalk is a trademark of Redding Group, Inc. Lotus 1 -2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation.

Inquiry 72

CHORUS

Chorus Data Systems, Inc., 6 Continental Blvd., P.O. Box 370, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054

BYTE WEST COAST

Homebrew Chips

MOSIS, two

packages for the

Mac, Turtle Talk,

and Concurrent

DOS-286

by John Markoff,

Phillip Robinson,

and Donna Osgood

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. 42 5 Battery St.. San

Francisco. CA 94111.

Have you ever wanted to make your own VLSI (very large scale integration) chip? Do you think you have a foolproof design for an IBM PC AT compatible on a chip, but no one will take you seriously until you show them a working sample? Maybe you're in luck. The Syracuse Al coprocessor chip was actually fabricated through MOSIS (MOS Implementation System), a brokerage that connects chip and board designers with chip and board fabricators. MOSIS is an outgrowth of both the Arpanet and an idea from Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). If you follow the MOSIS rules and can afford the prices, your chip could be sitting on your desk just a few months from today.

Before VLSI was more than a twinkle in anyone's eye, the defense department's ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) set up ARPANET, a computer network that connected a number of universities and defense contractors. Later, ARPA changed to DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), but the network retained its original name.

In 1980, Xerox PARC offered to organize VLSI fabrication services for the ARPANET community. The PARC researchers knew that university engineering and computer science departments were getting shut out of much of the microelectronics revolution because they couldn't afford the equipment necessary to manufacture silicon chips. Even those universities that could afford some equipment could never keep up with the rapidly advancing state of the art. VLSI students and professors had been reduced to designing chips on paper and then seeing those designs languish in libraries.

At the same time, many chip manufacturers in Silicon Valley were fretting over their unused manufacturing capabilities. The best way to pay off millions of dollars of wafer-fabrication equipment is to run it as much as possible and the manufacturers had more idle machine time than they wanted.

While a single batch of wafers is too expensive for a university to buy, the engineers at Xerox PARC figured that if enough designs could be gathered together and made on a single wafer-fabrication run. the price per design would be affordable. Besides, while designers would be delighted to see their creations become hardware, the manufacturers would be thrilled to make some extra money with their equipment. Another advantage for the chip makers was that students would graduate with some hands-on chip-design experience.

So Xerox PARC invited the DARPA community to send in chip designs that Xerox would then organize into wafer runs. The first run was a bunch of student designs from a VLSI course taught by Lynn Conway in 1978 at MIT. The first masks were made by Micro Mask and the first run was fabricated at Hewlett-Packard's Deer Creek Road facility. The service was immediately successful and DARPA wanted to see it continue, but Xerox didn't want permanent responsibility. The Information Processing Techniques division of DARPA had a VLSI design research program and was an ARPANET node. DARPA let ISI (Information Sciences Institute) take over from Xerox and called the new service MOSIS. Although chip designs were initially only accepted from the DARPA community, other groups were gradually added to the fold. First the NSF (National Science Foundation), then any government organization with DARPA permission, and finally, practically anyone was permitted to submit VLSI designs.

MOSIS puts out a schedule of the waferfabrication runs for six months into the future. Those scheduled runs will be made even if too few designs show up to fill the wafers (the extra space will be devoted to test structures). That commitment assures designers that they can plan around fabrication dates and allows wafer-fabrication factories to schedule equipment time. However, demand has been so great that the

{continued)

MAY 1985 -BYTE 363

BYTE WEST COAST

wafers have always been full of actual chips.

You can choose from NMOS (negative-channel metal-oxide semiconductor) 3- or 4-micron. CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) 3-micron, and CMOS-SOS (silicon-on-sapphire) 4-micron processes. A new, experimental CMOS 1.2-micron process should be in limited use by the spring of 1985. MOSIS will provide you with the design rules, process specifications, and device specifications for the process you choose.

MOSIS has masks made from your design and then gives the masks to any of 11 different Silicon Valley chip fabricators. The finished wafers are accepted on the basis of test-structure specifications. If those meet agreedupon levels—indicating that the process was properly executed—the wafers are accepted, whether or not

the customers' chips actually work. MOSIS also extracts Spice (a low-level circuit-simulation language) parameters from each and every run so there is a database of actual device parameters from which designers can take cues.

While many chips are made on share-the-silicon wafer runs, some runs have only a few or even a single type of chip. Some MOSIS customers only need a few chips to verify a design. Others need more to stuff a prototype board or a prototype system. Finally, some customers need to get a small production run of the chips.

Chip fabricators used to be stuck with judging whether to take on a new, small customer. It was hard for them to gear up for a small run, but they didn't want to miss out on a small firm that might grow into a major account. Now, if a chip fabricator works with

"INSIGHT is essentially the equivalent or better than any other tool available for the personal computer."

Turn your PC into an expert.

Give it Insight, or give it Insight 2.

Both let you create knowledge base systems using any PC-compatible text editor.

Insight not only simplifies access to lots of information, it analyzes and offers solutions. For entry-level operators it's a perfect procedural training package to help build and implement knowledge base software.

Level Five Research, Inc.

Insight 2 is more than just an "expert." It's a knowledge base engineering tool with application capabilities. It can call up Pascal programs, read and write dBASE II® files, and its decision-making process can tie in directly to your existing databases. Run-only versions also can be developed and distributed.

Two unique packages from the same expert idea.

Insight '* ($95) and Insight 2 '" ($485) run on the IBM "PC. DEC " Rainbow, and Victor* 9000.

4980 South A-l-A Melbourne Beach. Florida 32951

(305) 729-9046

MOSIS, it doesn't have to deal with small outfits: MOSIS handles that for them. "We save them time and money," says Dr. George Lewicki of ISI. Plus, the manufacturer doesn't have to worry about competition from MOSIS. According to Lewicki, "We are a broker, nothing more than a broker."

As Dr. Oldfield of the Syracuse SUM (Syracuse Unification Machine) team told us, "It's becoming easier for universities to think of building experimental systems. It's an interesting historical point. If you go back to the 1950s and 1960s, a number of universities built machines. But the complexity overwhelmed them. Now, thanks to these custom CAD |computer-aided design| aids, it's feasible, though still very difficult, for a university to think about designing a real system without having an army of technicians to put it together."

So you want to make some chips? How many? MOSIS will make two or more if you send them your design in either CIF (Caltech Intermediate Format) or Calma-GDS 2-stream format. In 4 to 12 weeks, the packaged chips will be delivered to you. The turnaround time depends on which process you choose and how well the economy is doing. Choose 4-micron NMOS and you'll get your chips sooner than if you choose 1.2-micron CMOS. Even so, if the chip fabricators have long production queues, you'll have to wait longer.

As for the price—your chips will probably cost less than you think. For the DARPA, NSF and DOD (Department of Defense) communities, the service is free. DARPA pays the whole freight for those lucky customers. For the rest of us, MOSIS has a price schedule. Remember, however, that MOSIS is a nonprofit service. All you have to pay is your proportional share of the run's cost (there are about 900 chips in a run). Dr. Lewicki estimates that a batch of 20 chips would cost about $5000. If your chip is so successful that you need "zillions," MOSIS encourages you to deal directly with the chip manufacturer.

MOSIS is an impressive example of

{continued)

364 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 238

NNhat's Nen^ at »n» &**»-***

AMERICAN DESIGN COMPONENTS? £5EZES",components

We warehouse 60.000 items at American Design Components— exepensive, often hard-to-find components for sale at a fraction of their original cost!

You'll find every part you need—either brand new, or removed from equipment (RFE) in excellent condition. But quantities are limited. Order from this ad, or visit our retail showroom and find exactly what you need from the thousands of items on display. Open Mon.-Sat., 9-5.

THERE'S NO RISK.

With our full 90-day warranty, any purchase can be returned for any reason for full credit or refund.

APPLE 2c DISC DRIVE

Original equipment drive, compatible with Apple 2e, 2 + and 2C.

$139.50 RFE

115 CFM MUFFIN FAN

iu 19" COLOR X-Y "■■ DISPLAY

Originally designed for use in Atari coinoperated games. Contains a 19VLUP22 3-gun color tube, focus and brightness controls. Has electromagnetic deflection and solid state circuitry with three "Z" amp inputs (red, green, blue). Ideal for arcade replacement or, with the addition of external circuitry, for color graphics display. Manual included.

$129.00 NEW

Metal frame with 5 high-impact plastic blades. For cooling Hi Fi, electronic equipment, computers, etc. Mounts for intake or exhaust. 11 5 VAC, 60 Hz., Dim.: 4'Vi# " « 1%"D.

$7.95 RFE With adjustable speed control

$10.95

5V4" TAIMDOIM DISC DRIVES

B.

54 Ht. 96 T.P.I. TM55-4 DS/Quad

$99.00

K.

AUDIO & VIDEO MODULATOR

Made for Texas Instruments. Lets you use your TV set as a monitor for video and audio signals produced by home computers, surveillance cameras, video games, etc. Complete with 8', 5-pin din cord, hook-up diagram.

$7.95 NEW

Full Ht.

C. TM100-1SS/DD $ 99.50

D. TM100-2DS/DD 159.00

F. TM100 4DS/Quad 179.00

G. TM101 4DS/Quad 199.00

H.

TIMEX 48 KEY KEYBOARD

Replace the membrane keyboard on your Timex/Sinclair Z-81 /1000 with this brand new "big computer" keyboard from Texas Instruments. Simple to install — complete instructions and schematic included.

$5.95 NEW

COMPUTER DISC DRIVE SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES

L

+ 24V <S)2.2A -12V(5).17A + 5V <S)3A Dim.: 7V x 67." INPUT: 1 1 5/230V, 50/60 Hz $19.95 NEW

M

+ 12V@ 350A

+ 5V (3 1.2A

-5V @ .12A

Dim: 4VB" x 4%"

Input: 1 1 5 VAC when used

with AC wall transformer

(supplied) $6.95 NEW

HARD DISC DRIVE

*20 Mb (formatted)

For IBM PC and compatibles.

Can be used for external or internal

applications.

Mfr. Disctron #526

XT& AT

Power Requirements:

+ 1 2VDC + / - 10% 1.3 amps (running) 3.3 amps (start up) + 5VDC + / - 5% 1.5 amps (running)

$599.00 NEW

Factory Warranty

D NICAD BATTERY ' & CHARGER

13.2 V @ 1.6E AH

Contains 1 1 C Cells.

Portable computer battery

back-up.

Mfr. GE #41B035BB00101

with 1 7 Volt Battery Charger

$29.95 (set)

PUMPS - COMPRESSORS- BLOWERS - MOTORS - POTENTIOMETERS - COUNTERS TIMERS-RELAYS-VOLTAGE REGULATORS-POWER SUPPLIES

STEPPING MOTORS

^

f%

7 ^—eJjK

V

"f8

Step Voltage Stall Torque Angle DC oz/in Type

Dimensions 11 Body 2) Shaft

Price

Fig

Manufacturer & Part No.

11 1.875x 1.75 x 1.OH 2) .5 x .125

8 N.A. Phillips A82310-M2

$ 9.95 $14.95

11

2)

2 Sigma 20-4247TD-200F1.3

34.50 59.50

PM4 0

1) 23/,,Lx 2s/,, dia.

2) »/. dia. x 1 L

1 Superior Electric M091FD-6009

34.50 59.50

1.8

1.8

PM20 D2V,.Lx2V,.dia. rNliV 2) V. dia. x % L

1 Superior Electric M061FF 6201 B 19.95 37.50

1) 1'/i Lx2V,dia. 21 ■/,. L x % dia.

6 AirpaxA82816

8.95 16.95

11 13/,.Lx 2% dia. 21 % dia. x '/: L

6 N.A. Phillips B8291 6

9.95 17.95

11 1 Lx 2% dia. 2) % dia, x % I.'

3 N.A. Phillips A82733M2-3

9.95 17.95

11 1.97LX 1.39W* 2) .375 x .125

AirpaxK82201-P2

5.95

9.95

28

VR

_2!

Size 1 5

7 Rapid Syn. 15R-01X

29.95 49.50

PM4 0 1! Size 15

7 Rapid Syn. 15P 03X

34.50 59.50

Shaft with J5 diameter

8 threads/inch t w/worm drive

Q, 24 VDC MUFFIN FAN

11 5 CFM, 11 Watt Metal frame with 5 high-impact plastic blades. For cooling Hi Fi, electronic & computer equipment. Mounts for intake or exhaust.

Centaur CNDC24K4-601

$14.95 RFE

Mfr.

For all phone orders, call

TOLL-FREE (800) 524-0809

In New Jersey, call (201) 939-2710

American Design Components

62 Joseph St., Moonachie, NJ 07074 (201)939-2710

Inquiry 26

MAY I985

YTE 365

BYTE WEST COAST

a new, information-age public utility. It brings together people with complementary needs. So what's keeping you? Get some time on a VAX (or a personal computer) with the right CAD tools, scrape together the $5000. read "Introduction to VLSI Systems" by Carver Mead and Lynn Conway (Addison-Wesley, 1979), and join the VLSI age.

PC Board Drafting System on the Macintosh

Now that a flood of mainstream Macintosh software has arrived, it is worth taking a look at some of the less-obvious programs being written to take advantage of the Macintosh graphics interface.

We recently visited the San Leandro factory of Douglas Electronics. If you've ever done any printed-circuit (PC) prototyping or breadboarding you may be familiar with Douglas. For 20 years they have supplied designers with circuit prototyping and interfacing products and manufactured custom PC boards. Douglas also manufactures the Ap'seed, a modular dedicated microcomputer system based on the Apple II.

At Wescon last year Douglas introduced a PC-board-design software package called QuikCircuit for the

128K-byte Macintosh. The new CAD package will make it possible for a designer to create a prototype board on the Macintosh, save it on a 3'/2-inch floppy disk, mail the disk to Douglas, and then receive a finished prototype board in return. Douglas president Chad Pennebaker estimated that the Macintosh design system will cut the time involved in the design cycle by half and yield a significant savings in board cost because Douglas will be able to manufacture directly from the floppy disk by using Macintoshes to drive their equipment. Currently, plans call for Bishop Graphics in Westlake Village, California, to market the CAD program and shortly other PC board houses around the country and internationally will also be able to manufacture directly from disk.

The design system makes extensive use of the Macintosh user interface and builds on many of the features found in generic drawing programs like MacPaint and MacDraw. Referred to by Douglas as a printed-circuitboard layout and manufacturing system, QuikCircuit allows the user to specify the type of PC board he or she wishes to design from a range of options including the Apple II, IBM Personal Computer, Digital Q-bus. VME (virtual machine environment),

and a variety of special Douglas breadboard designs. It is also possible to design your own custom board shape and edge connector.

After selecting the proper board outline, the designer can place pads and patterns anywhere on the board with the aid of a grid that constrains movement. A variety of common pads and patterns are available from a menu of options or it is possible to design custom options. A MacDrawlike feature permits specifying a common feature such as a RAM (randomaccess read/write memory) IC (integrated circuit) pattern and then quickly replicating it many times on the board. Many of the MacPaint-style editing features are included in the program, so it is possible to continously alter the PC board layout. Edit commands let you select an item or a group of items, cut and paste, and they include a special pattern editor.

Once pads have been placed, the user selects a trace width and then routes the trace. All traces are automatically constrained to vertical, horizontal, or 45-degree placement. To go through the board and continue a trace on the other side, the user presses a keyboard command and the

[continued]

100,000 software developers can't be wrong.*

UNIX is the chosen operating system for more than 100,000 software developers because it has the power they need. But

UNIXMM

POWER

UniPlus + includes all the standard UNIX System V features PLUS performance enhancements found only in UniPlus +. These features increase the portability, flexibility, and per

developers aren't the only people who need computing power. Any

business that wants multi-users to access the same files at the same

time or wants to simultaneously run multi-task operations ... needs

UNIX. At Dynacomp, we offer UniPlus + " System V by Unisoft Corp.

For $1495. U.S. dollars you can run UNIX on the CompuPro" System

816/E™ ... a powerful 68K S-100 bus computer system that pn#\ §. »

maximizes its memory for multi-user multi-task operations f ^\ ^f |y|

210 W. Broadway

Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 3W2

(604) 872-7737

formance of UNIX, allowing an affordable operating system for program development, text preparation, and general office use.

If it's time for you to upgrade to UNIX, call your local Full Service CompuPro System Center in the United States or call Dynacomp in Canada for complete details.

UNIX is a trademark of Bell Laboratories, inc. CompuPro is a registered trademark and System 816<E is a trademark ol Viasyn Corp. CompuPro UniPlus + is a registered trademark of Unisoft Corp AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T information Systems.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD

46-6535 Mill Creek Dr. Mississauga, Ont. L5N 2M2 (416) 826-8002

"AT&T" estimates that there are more than 100,000 people currently developing software under UNIX. Dynacomp serves all of Canada and parts of Asia and the Pacific Rim. Call us for details and information on our full product line including Plexus, Macrotecft and Ampro, Dealer inquiries invited

366 B YTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 143

introducing the world's first autonomous personal robot...

fAJ

UCIIIIIII

To Remote Communication Computer

NAVIGATION

Head Sonars (3)

IR Door Edge Detector

IR Room Beacon Detector

Motion Detector

USER INTERFACES

Function Keys 40x8 Adjustable LCD Display

Tape or Disk Drive Keyboard (Detachable Cord

or Cordless) Convenient Joystick^ l«

COLLISION AVOIDANC

Body Sonars (5) Bumpers (4).

PORTS

RS232 Dual Parallel Centronics Printer

Light Sensor

Microphones (3) Smoke Detector Dual Speakers Power Distribution Board

Sonar, Sensor and Stepper

Motor Controller Signal Conditioning (Voice, Sound, Motion, Temperature, Smoke, Barometer, Batteries)

56K RAM/ROM Card

COMPUTERS

Voice I/O & Sound Propulsion Main

PROPULSION 4-Wheel Drive Two DC Motors Three 12-Volt 6.5

AMP-Hour

Batteries

Your new robot will find its way around your home and office, perform preassigned tasks, charge its own batteries, talk to you and obey your spoken commands.

This remarkable life-sized robot is controlled by three on-board computers, an unprecedented 108K bytes of built-in software and a sophisticated array of electronic sensors all integrated together to give it life-imitating artificial intelligence.

You'll know the moment you power up GEMINI that you have a real robot. One that performs a self check of its hardware while verbally and visually informing you of the results. One that will keep itself alive while always monitoring its multiple inputs for your commands.

Ready made, easy-to-use software will allow you to demonstrate most functions of the robot with single keystrokes. Missions for the robot to accomplish at future times can be assigned by anyone. No programming experience required. Important missions, too, such as periodic reminders, wake-up calls, storytelling for the kids, remote control of appliances and more.

An enhanced floating-point BASIC language will give you complete control of the robot. Commands like SPEAK, GOHOME, MOVETO, RANGE, etc., provide you with a means to develop complex programs, fast. Machine language level programs provide you with many debugging tools that you would expect to find on a real robot.

A high-level voice command language provides voice access for up to three users. And the voice I/O and sound

ARCTEC SYSTEMS™ is a member of the ARCTEC GROUP, INC., United States and Canada.

computer can store up to 256 words or phrases, and dynamically update these as you converse with the robot. Highly accurate text-to-speech software and music programs with vocals are built-in.

GEMINI is ready for you now. Buy assembled or in modular, learn-as-you-go form. Either way, don't miss out on the chance to participate in the exciting new world of machine intelligence.

u

9104 Red Branch Road • Columbia, MD 21045

(301) 730-1237

CA (619) 746-5511 • Canada (613) 592-2830

□ Please send details on GEMINI.

□ Please send dealer information.

□ Interested in Club Demonstration.

Mail to: ARCTEC SYSTEMS, INC. 9104 Red Branch Road Columbia, MO 21045

Name

Address. City

State.

-Zip

Phone,

Inquiry 39

MAY I985

I Y T E 367

WE UNLEASH THE WORLD'S

MOST POWERFUL GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGY.

To look at Infocom stories, you'd say they're all prose. No graphics. Ah, but there's more than meets your eyes.

We draw our graphics from the limitless imagery of your imagination—a technology so powerful, it makes computer screen pictures look like

graffiti by comparison.

And no one

knows how to unleash your imagination like Infocom. With thrilling plots. Unpredictable situations. And original puzzles calculated to drive you out of your skull.

Step up to Infocom. All words. No graffiti. The secret | reaches of your imagination are beckoning.

It's time to open your mind's eye.

NlFOCOm

INTERACTIVE FICTION SOFTWARE

Infocom's interactive fiction is available for a wide variety of personal computers. Inquiry 203

I

BYTE WEST COAST

board is flipped on the screen, letting the trace continue on the other side. This command places a special feedthrough pad at that point. Traces on the current side of the board are displayed in black, while traces on the reverse side appear in a lighter gray shade. It is possible to select a variety of background grids ranging from 0.001 inch to 0.156 inch.

In addition to being able to flip the board from solder side to component side, it is possible to change the scale of the view, zooming in and out to focus on various portions or view the entire board. At any time it is also possible to view a special x-y locator in the bottom left corner of the screen. This locator can be zeroed.

Currently it is only possible to get hard copy from the Macintosh Imagewriter printer. The quality is not high enough for many professional applications. Plans call for the develop

ment of a driver for the program to enable the Macintosh to produce a finished-quality pen plot.

Pennebaker acknowledges that the Douglas Macintosh design system is missing some of the bells and whistles of the most sophisticated CAD tools but points out that the system costs only a fraction of the cheapest systems now available.

"This is a drawing program," he says. "It's actually electronic drafting." He contrasts this against systems where the designer enters information and then the computer routes traces automatically (but not in real time). Frequently a system like that will fall in the $100,000 range, he adds.

When the program was first introduced at Wescon it was priced at just $10, on the assumption that Douglas would make its profit from PC boards manufactured from disks that designers sent to the company. Now that

Bishop Graphics has taken over the commercial marketing, the price has risen to $895. However, Martin Salvin, president of Bishop Graphics, said that his company plans on selling special Macintosh systems that include the Macintosh machine. Imagewriter, and pen plotter for performing checkplots for "under $5000." Bishop Graphics is also preparing to manufacture photoplotting and drilling systems that are compatible with QuikCircuit for PC board manufacturers. Salvin says they will cost about one-third of the price of equivalent commercial systems. In the future, plans call for a network of manufacturers around the country offering what Salvin says is the PC-board equivalent of "one-hour photo service" based around the QuikCircuit and the Macintosh design system. One of the program's most unique

{continued)

This shape is worth saving.

REASON 1: Because next month's Byte will fill you in on a lot of savings. It will offer all volks quality and dependability at reasonable prices: on the entire CompuPro* 816 family— our powerful multi-user systems. On our versatile 286 system based on Intel's 80286 microprocessor. % a>M£l f\ Jf^ Plus all the operating system support you need. ^r^jmkt^^wt I

Don't miss next month's Byte insert with values J~ . ^^ # • •

all volks will appreciate! The CompuPro People

Where Computers Grow

3506 Breakwater Court, Hayward, CA 94545 • Call 800/VIASYN-l • In CA, 415/786-0909

CompuPro is a registered trademark of Viasyn Corporation.

Inquiry 408

MAY 1985 'BYTE 369

Now your IBM PC and AT can read

Ik iW! BUMS

(VI.

„.

Wt»l»ll«Mfi rtw Irvt RrUrr m

lm» ttiirJ ml*

.f.: ■ '■■:., li

■til in rln inbm

mil

.1 >

ihr v 1.t fcr*tm

■ u

. <W W. KTiHI ••>

;nm .A3 no* «.w« nkig *ur«Ki) Mjosmi mm,

With the Oberon OMNI-READER'" — the first optical character reader designed and priced for small computers.

Now you can transfer material directly from the typed page to the screen of your computer, without ever touching the keyboard — using specially designed interface software that allows input direcdy into your spreadsheet, database and word processing applications program.

And because the OMNI-READER uses a standard RS232 serial port hookup, it interfaces easily with your computer.

The technology is revolutionary. But what is most revolutionary is the price — under $500. IBM interface software, $50.

Find out more about the Oberon OMNIREADER. Dial 800-2-OBERON. In Texas, (214) 446-9567.

IBM is a registered trademark of Internationa] Business Machines Inquiry 298

OMNHBADBt

OBERON

INTERNATIONAL

BYTE WEST COAST

features is the ability for the user to get an automatic price quote on the cost of a PC board from Douglas over the telephone, yet without a modem. It works like this: First the user calls up the PC board manufacturer, then the user places the mouthpiece of the telephone handset near the Macintosh speaker. When a special command is given, the program transmits information on the complexity of the board directly to the manufacturer's computer, which then estimates the cost. An employee can then give an accurate price quote to the designer in a few moments.

Desktop Publishing with the Macintosh

The introduction of the Apple LaserWriter laser printer has paved the way for "desktop publishing'' on the Macintosh. According to Paul Brainerd. president of the Seattle

based Aldus Corporation, the combination of relatively low cost laser printers and graphics-oriented personal computers will make it possible for small companies or corporate work groups to produce productionquality multipage documents without doing mechanical pasteup or resorting to outside typesetting and printing services.

In lanuary, Apple announced the LaserWriter, and Aldus also introduced Pagef taker for the 512K-byte Macintosh. PageMaker is a full-page composition software program for the Macintosh that allows the user to blend text and graphical documents on an "electronic layout board" displayed on the Macintosh. It is intended for professional publishing of small jobs such as newsletters, data sheets, price lists, training manuals, etc. Priced at $495 and scheduled for release during the second quarter of

1985. the Aldus system will permit Macintosh users to integrate diverse documents from MacWrite, MacPaint, MacDraw, Microsoft Word, or virtually any program whose data can be stored in the Macintosh Clipboard, a special system buffer used for passing information between programs.

PageMaker is intended to serve the same market as electronic composition systems now being marketed by corporations like Interleaf and Compugraphic. PageMaker is priced significantly lower than these systems, however. A complete system consisting of the newly introduced Macintosh XL (formerly the Lisa 2/10), PageMaker software, and the LaserWriter will be priced at approximately SI 1.500.

Aldus is currently writing its own drivers to take advantage of the Postscript device-independent page-description language that Apple has

[continued]

This shape is worth saving.

REASON 2: Because economy plus quality is the only way to go. Expect this combination in a long list of CPU boards. In quality boards that let you mix or match 8-bit and 16-bit software. Boards compatible with IEEE 696/S-100 specs, including DMA devices. Motherboards, too, along with strong enclosures. And there's a great choice of CPU support. All make next month's insert the most appetizing Byte of the year. The CompuPro People

Where Computers Grow

3506 Breakwater Court, Hayward, CA 94545 • Call 800/VIASYN-l • In CA, 415/786-0909

CompuPro is a registered trademark of Viasyn Corporation.

V/ASVTT

Inquiry 409

MAY 1985 -BYTE 371

Systems Programmers and Programmer/Analysts: EDS Wants to Challenge Your Talents.

The EDS And GM Alliance

Has Created A

Technical Arena That Other

Companies Can Only Envy.

The alliance of Elecronic Data Systems ( EDS) and General Motors Ls creating major career opportunities. As a SYSTEMS PROGRAMMER or PROGRAMMER/ ANALYST, your skills and abilities will be challenged.

EDS Ls offering you IMMEDIATE opportunities to enjoy hands-on experience with truly state-of-the-art hardware and software This state-of-theart experience will ensure that your skills are kept as current as possible Also, EDS offers training programs that have become models for the industry and are geared to prepare you for the performance that ensures success. As one of IBM's largest customers and one of the nation's largest hardware users, EDS Ls creating one of the most automated work environments in the business world today. This is your once-in-a-career opportunity to become involved in the leading edge of technology.

EDS AND GM ARE PIONEERING TECHNOLOGY. AND SO CAN YOU.

EDS and GM are world-renowned leaders in technology. EDS ensures tfus leadership by continually upgrading our facilities with the most advanced hardware and software available. And since we employ components that accommodate change, our operating

systems are never limited by technology of the past You benefit as a professional since you will never be hindered by outof-date equipment. The best technology of tomorrow Ls built on the best technology of today And that's all you find at EDS

SYSTEMS PROGRAMMERS AND PROGRAMMER/ANALYSTS: OUTSTANDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

We have IMMEDIATE career opportunities for professionals who are interested in moving the industry onward. If you are a SYSTEMS PROGRAMMER with two years experience in an IBM, IBM-compatible or DEC/VAX environment with a solid working knowledge erf ALC or ASSEMBLER we have challenges in the areas of VTAM. VM. IMS, IDMS, and MVS If you are a Programmer/Analyst with two years experience in an IBM or IBMcompatible environment with a solid working knowledge of COBOL, PL/1 or ALC, EDS has the ideal environment to challenge your skills.

YOUR CAREER GROWTH:

AT EDS, WE DON'T

TAKE YOUR TALENT

FOR GRANTED

WE CHALLENGE IT,

WE RESPECT IT

AND WE NURTURE IT.

EDS knows that new ideas and new technology are only as good as the people who create them. That's why developing the potential of our employees is a continuing priority. We believe our strength Ls enhanced when our employees develop new skills and accept greater responsibilities. Therefore, we have created an environment that lets you build your future by the knowledge and skills you acquire — not by rank or seniority. At EDS, you control your own future.

Act now, advance the industry while experiencing the technological challenges and advantages EDS can offer you. Send your resume in confidence to:

ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS

CORPORATION

755 W Big Beaver

Suite 310. Dept. 08-0585-03

Trov. MI 48084

Electronic Data Systems Corporation

An Equal (>pportuniry Kmpltn«er

372 BYTE* MAY 1985

Inquiry 15 2

BYTE WEST COAST

placed in the half megabyte of ROM (read-only memory) in the Apple LaserWriter printer. Postscript was developed by Adobe Systems in Palo Alto, California, and has recently been adopted by a variety of hardware manufacturers and software publishers in the personal computer industry. Initially, PageMaker will work with the Imagewriter dot-matrix printer, the LaserWriter, and also with at least two commercially available typesetting machines, Allied and Mergenthaler Linotype. This will make it possible for users to proof and review pages on the LaserWriter and then get finished copy output from a commercial typesetter.

PageMaker uses the Macintosh user interface to present an image of an 8'/2- by 11-inch page surrounded by a layout board area for temporarily setting text and graphic elements while working on page design. The program

uses the Macintosh mouse for positioning elements of the page design. It is possible, for example, to open a window on the display, select headlines, text, or graphics stored in files on disk, and then position them on the page with accuracy. Each selected item is represented by a special icon. The cursor can be represented by a small paintbrush within a halfrectangle when a MacPaint document is selected, or it is represented by a text icon when a MacWrite file is selected. PageMaker permits the designer to set custom column guides and then "flow" text from a MacWrite document directly onto the page layout area. A special positioning indicator permits proper alignment of text at the bottom and top of each column, and the text flow can be continued in new columns or pages or interrupted for the insertion of graphics or charts. "Window shades" allow

the user to adjust each separate text block. A " + " sign indicates that the text continues. A "#" icon indicates the end of a document.

To aid in positioning on the screen, both the column guides and up to 10 adjustable rules have a "snap-to" feature that causes a text block or graphic that is moved close to a boundary to automatically align itself with that edge. For precise alignment PageMaker also permits the page to be displayed in five different scales. The largest scale is magnified 200 percent, while the greatest reduction permits the user to view the entire page. At most levels of magnification, text is easily visible. The user can also pop up a set of horizontal and vertical rulers that will display in inches, centimeters, or picas and points.

PageMaker will also provide limited text-editing tools to alter copy while

[continued]

This shape is worth saving

REASON 3: Because of the reliability that's built into our memory boards, disk controllers and interface boards. You'll see them all lined up with the best prices in memory. RAM boards in popular configurations. Disk controllers for floppies and Winchesters. Plus, a drive that can increase operating speeds to 3500%! (Look for our MDRIVEVH.) Everything you need to make your I/O superproductive. Count on next month's Byte insert to come through for you! ^ The ComPuP^ Pe°P|e

Where Computers Grow

V/ASVTT

3506 Breakwater Court, Hayward, CA 94545 • Call 800/VIASYN-l • In CA, 415/786-0909

CompuPro and MDRIVE are registered trademarks of Viasyn Corporation.

Inquiry 410

MAY 1985

IYTE 373

Take control of your computer.

I i o 11 i s

The Backups

Backup power for peace of mind and memory. Backup Power Source 1

• delivers up to 225 watts @ 120V.AC

• 40 minutes of power at 50% load

• visual and audible power interrupt alarm

• fast automatic switching

f Within 6 milliseconds of peak voltage detection)

• 2 Outlets

• AC surge suppressor

• 3 stage noise filter

• thermal output protection

• IEC power connector

• attractive metal enclosure

• 3y4" high, 16" wide, 11" deep

Backup Power Source 2

All the features of Power Source 1 plus:

• 6 outlets controlled by front switches

• switchable visual and audible alarm

• 10 amp master switch circuit breaker

• cross suppression between all 6 outlets

• optional 2 hour auxiliary power pack

$499"'complete'

Auxiliary Power Pack

• 2 hours of power at full load

• plugs directly into either of our backup units

• includes 6 rechargable 12V power cells

• backup units keep power cells at full charge

• heavy duty power cable

• 3y4" high, 16" wide, 11" deep

$29T complete*

"agg""

QSQflBO

The Expanders

Control power and expand with floppy or hard disks. Power Expansion 1

• 1 stage noise filter

• AC surge suppression

• IEC power connector

• attractive metal enclosure

• 3W high, 16" wide, 11" deep

• optional internal power supply

• optional floppy and hard disk drives Power Expansion 1 41AQ95*

w/Internal Power Supply $21995*

w/Power Supply, DS/DD Drive, All Cables

and Instructions. Expands XT

or Compatible $'•4499'',

w/Power Supply, Half Height 10M Hard Disk Drive, All Cables and Instructions. Expands PC or Compatible ••■4114Q9<i*

20M Drive S14499''*

Power Expansion 2

All the features of Power Expansion 1 plus:

• 6 outlets controlled by front switches

• 10 amp master switch circuit breaker

• LED ground and line indicators

• 3 stage noise filter

• cross suppression between all 6 outlets

• optional internal power supply

• optional floppy and hard disk drives Power Expansion 2 $1999S*

w/Internal Power Supply $269'''*

w/Power Supply, DS/DD Drive, All Cables

and Instructions. Expands XT

or Compatible $-?999S*

w/Power Supply, Half Height 10M Hard Disk Drive, All Cables and Instructions. Expands PC or Compatible •■•411QQ95'

20M Drive $l4999,i*

5 individual sioitches

give you control over*

peripherals

Master switch,

turns computer and

all peripherals on or off

at the same time

Our most

powerful AC line

filter system keeps'

spikes, surges and

glitches under control

The Controllers

Control power, peripherals, spikes, and glitches. Power Control 1

• 4 outlets control computer and 3 peripherals

• AC surge suppressor

• attractive metal enclosure

• \lA" high, 16" wide, 10" deep

$6995'complete*

Power Control 2

All the features of Power Control 1 plus:

• 10 amp master switch circuit breaker

• 1 stage noise filter

• IEC power connector

$89"complete*

Power Control 3

All the features of Power Control 1 & 2 plus:

• illuminated switches

• 3 stage noise filter

• cross suppression between all 4 outlets

$1299' complete*

• All prices suggested retail

Available at fine computer stores everywhere, or by mail or phone. MasterCard and Visa accepted. Dealer inquiries invited

Relax Technology

The company that works

so you can relax

and get down to business.

3101 Whipple Rd. #25 Union City, CA 94587 415/471-6112

Power indicator

L.E.D. ground and line indicators

Optional 10M hard disk or optional DS/DD floppy

'Organizes power wires 6 cords in — 1 cord out

374 BYTE- MAY

Inquiry 344

BYTE WEST COAST

it is being "pasted up." A small movable toolbox window offers a textediting cursor, a cropping tool, and box-, circle- and line-drawing functions. There is also a set of line and shade menus on the menu bar across the top of the display that permit the user to define and fill areas and shade behind text and graphics.

Icons in the lower left corner of the display represent up to 16 different pages and it is possible to alter the numbering scheme for even larger documents. Two special page icons permit the user to lay out page information that will appear on all pages, similar to running headers and footers, but more extensive.

Brainerd says that he expects to see the development of commercial electronic printing centers that can directly receive PageMaker files and return either finished laser-printer or typeset copy.

Aldus says that it also has plans to develop PageMaker for the IBM PC AT with the enhanced graphics display at some time in the future.

Turtle Talk

From a teacher in Berkeley, California, we learned that Logo has become the language of the playground. A Logo version of "Simon Says" has evolved among the children in her school: One child calls commands and the others are the "turtles." As in other children's games, the rules are fluid and are passed from child to child, in a sort of playground folklore, without interference or coaching from adults. All right everybody. REPEAT 4 IFORWARD 10, RIGHT 90|!

Concurrent DOS-286 Challenges UNIX

In January, Digital Research (of CP/M fame) unwrapped the latest product

in its Concurrent DOS line of multitasking operating systems. Concurrent DOS-286 is a multitasking, real-time, network-compatible operating system for single- or multiuser, 80286-microprocessor-based systems and is written in the C language. With that mouthful of attributes, Concurrent DOS is plainly in line to compete with the new microcomputer versions of UNIX. While ROM implementations of UNIX (see "The HP Integral Personal Computer" by Phillip Robinson, February BYTE, page 98) and new programs that allow UNIX to run PCDOS programs (see BYTE West Coast, lanuary, page 415) are moving that powerful minicomputer operating system down into the microcomputer world, Concurrent DOS-286 is moving microcomputers up into the world of multitasking and passwords. Concurrent DOS-286 is not just a

{continued!

This shape is worth saving.

REASON 4: Because next month's Byte can make all smart volks satisfied owners. Owners of advanced communication boards. Operators of multi-tasking systems who profit from peripheral sharing and networking. And viewers of the sharpest PC Video Board that highlights spectacular values — from systems to full system support. Reasons enough to recall this shape and head for our insert, the minute you get next month's Byte. The CompuPro People

v/Asvn

Where Computers Grow

Inquiry 411

3506 Breakwater Court, Hayward, CA 94545 • Call 800/VIASYN-l • In CA, 415/786-0909

CompuPro is a registered trademark of Viasyn Corporation.

MAY 1985 -BYTE 375

BYTE WEST COAST

revision of the earlier Concurrent operating systems; it has an entirely new architecture. Specifically, it is built around advanced hardware features of the Intel 80286 (also known as the JAPX286) microprocessor. Those features—descriptor tables, call gates, and protection levels (see "The 80286 Microprocessor" by Paul Wells, November 1984 BYTE, page 231)— allow speedy context switching as well as protection of files and programs.

Compatibility

Concurrent DOS-286 provides a migration path for PC-DOS or CP/M-86 users who need more power; it can run both CP/M and PC-DOS applications. Gary Gysin of Digital Research explained to us that "To start. . ., our strategy is one of following what IBM does. So, if they come out with PC-DOS 2, PC-DOS 3. PCDOS 3.1, whatever it is, our operatingsystem strategy is to embody whatever they're doing and at minimum to be compatible with [it]." An example of that strategy is Digital Research's new hierarchical file system: CP/M files have been left behind. The file system, all the system calls, and all of the

utilities are a superset of those in PCDOS 3.0. Because of this change, if you want to run CP/M applications, you have to transfer them to PC-DOS disks (the native media of Concurrent DOS-286). Concurrent DOS is compatible with PC-DOS 3.0; with the PCDOS front end it will run PC-DOS 1.1, 2.0, 2.1, and 3.0 applications.

Although more will be available in the future, the two most important front ends, one for CP/M-86 users and one for PC-DOS users, will be available immediately. This lets you run applications from those operating systems on Concurrent DOS-286. However, as Gysin further explained, "Theoretically, if we wanted to add some other front end to the operating system, be it UNIX, XENIX-whatever might become an industry-standard operating-system front end—then that possibility is there," because of the modular design of Concurrent DOS-286.

Cross-compilers and cross-assemblers for the VAX are not available, but the source code we're told can easily be moved to a VAX. All Digital . Research languages will be available for Concurrent DOS-286. Also, if you

PROGRAM

SYSTEM

PHYSICAL

FRONT ENDS

SUPERVISOR

RESOURCE MANAGERS

DRIVERS

UTILITIES APPLICATIONS

USER PROGRAMS

USER

INTERFACES

WINDOW MANAGEMENT

RUNTIME LIBRARY

PC-DOS FRONT ENDS

SUPERVISOR

DISK

DISKS

CONSOLE

t

KEYBOARD

SCREEN

MOUSE

NETWORK

NETWORK

FUTURE FRONT ENDS

MISCELLANEOUS

PRINTER

PLOTTER

GSX

COMMUNICATIONS

SPECIAL OEM

CP/M FRONT ENDS

PIPE

KERNEL

TIMER MMU

Figure 1: A diagram of the three functional units, program, system, and physical, and two primal interfaces of Concurrent DOS-286.

know CP/M, you may be interested to know that ED is gone. Digital Research had a funeral for the text editor that is now replaced by DR EDIX—a function-key-driven editor.

Architecture

As shown in figure 1, Concurrent DOS286 has three functional units and two primal interfaces. The functional units are termed program, system, and physical hardware. The system receives requests from the programs and translates them into instructions for the physical hardware. Optional front ends let the operating system run PCDOS or CP/M applications. The supervisor portion of the system controls the flow of services to the underlying resource managers, which in turn control the actual physical peripherals.

Concurrent DOS-286 can run multiple applications using virtual consoles on each physical console, handle asynchronous events and softwareinterrupt handling, and deal with interprocess communications and synchronization. Storage depends on a hierarchical, shared-disk-file system with record and file locking. File ownership is controlled through user and group IDs requiring log-on with passwords.

The console is a standard VT52 interface with character and bit-mapped screen interfaces. The keyboard interface uses both standard 16- and 8-bit codes including function keys, numeric keypads, and multikeyed characters. Also, Concurrent DOS-286 supports windows, mice, graphics (raster and vector), and networks as well as file sharing, file locking, record locking within a file, locking a specified number of bytes within a file, and even overlapping locks.

Concurrent DOS-286 with floppyand hard-disk drivers, charactermapped and bit-mapped consoles, and a printer driver requires about 160K bytes of RAM. The minimum suggested system configuration has 512 K bytes of RAM. The operating system is ROMable.

The kernel is based on an eventdriven dispatcher. Time slicing by a

{continued)

376 B YTE • MAY I98S

LM*l

Solutions

When corporate America needs a solution to information management, it turns to DATAEA5E

A major bank uses DATAEA5E to link the record keeping of their trade officers worldwide A leading insurance company uses it to provide their agents access to mainframe data from which they create their own micro information systems Thousands of businesses, both large and small, use DATAEA5E to solve their productivity needs.

DATAEA5E, with its ideal combination of power and ease-of use, allows you to gather, link, calculate and report information key to decision making, to interchange data with mainframes and other software, to create accounting, production, inventory and personnel reports all from one database All without the need for programming skills

Find your solution tomorrow. Ask your dealer for ,i DATAEA'dE demonstration Or contact us directly by returning the coupon

DATAEA5E

imc ii iicii ina liuii i idiiaycnii

for Corporations Worldwide.

Come see us at COMDEX Booth 3802

BYT 5/85

hame: _ Phone: . Street:. City:

\EA5E Demonst

Check one: □ IBM PC |

Li Check attached for $10. Send demo

and information package. J 5end information package only.

c Software Solutions, Inc., 305 Bic Drive, Milford, CI 06460 For information or the dealer nearest you call: 800-2*1 3-5 Xi

Scandinavia

West Soft A/5, Alesund. Morway; (47) 71-41141

South Africa

Dataflex. Craighill; 117246353

Switzerland, Prance

Softsource, SA A 1222 Ucscna. .

United Kingdom Sapphire Systems, Esse

Why your competitors want one of these.

They want the Merlin™ Communications System from AT&T, because it can give the competitive edge to any small business.

The Merlin System's more than a telephone. It's a conference caller, an intercom, a speed-dialer. It lets you call your banker, call a meeting, screen a call or recall a call, with just one touch. In short, it helps you organize all your office communications.

So you can get down to business.

Plus the Merlin System is modular. Which means you can program any of its phones with any of its features. And you can expand the system as your small business grows.

One more thing: you can get the Merlin System from AT&T's unique Small Business Connection. They'll help you design the system that best suits your business.

No matter what calling you're in, get the edge by calling the Small Business Connection. 1800 247-7000, Ext. 12. AT&T Information Systems. When you've got to be right.

AT&T

©1985 AT&T Information Systems

Inquiry 42

BYTE WEST COAST

timer event occurs once per tick (16 to 20 milliseconds), and scheduling of equal-priority processes is based on a round-robin scheme. Process communication and synchronization are done through named pipes that pass messages from one process to another or synchronize processes by acting as semaphores. The 80286 chips have a protection mechanism based on address manipulations. Onchip calculations handle the translation of virtual and physical addresses. Certain segments of memory can be marked as exception areas for particular users or programs. Whenever a program tries to address an exception area, the central processor is interrupted, a trap is generated, and processing is forced to another routine.

Stopping the Operating System Bypass

Trapping is a vital element in Concurrent DOS-286's ability to handle poorly behaved programs. Programs that employ operating-system routines to handle the computer hardware are termed well behaved. Programs that bypass operating-system routines and make direct calls to hardware—for instance, to the screen—are poorly behaved. While bypassing the operating system sometimes improves a program's execution speed, it hurts program portability. A program written around the operating system works on any computer running that operating system. A program tailored to a specific computer by means of direct hardware calls only runs on that computer and its nearly identical copiespoorly behaved programs are the Waterloo of clone-makers. Concurrent DOS-286, however, can trap the calls made directly to the physical hardware and route them to virtual hardware. For example, Lotus 1-2-3 is a poorly behaved program that assumes it owns the entire computer display screen. Gysin pointed out that if you tried to run both Lotus 1-2-3 and WordStar concurrently on a system that couldn't trap hardware calls, "you'd have trash all over the screen." Lotus 1-2-3 wouldn't let WordStar have

a window. In Concurrent DOS-286, however, whenever a program tries to control the screen, the operating system traps the call and sends it to a window instead. The program thinks it is running on a full IBM Personal Computer, but instead it is running on a virtual console manager—a part of the Concurrent DOS-286 system. This is another advantage for computer companies that want to sell IBMcompatible personal computers. As Gysin tells competitors, "Go ahead and build whatever kind of screen you want, go ahead and build whatever kind of super-duper machine you can, we can still guarantee you we'll run PC-DOS applications, given that you've got a 286 chip."

The 80286 provides you with both compatibility and practical concurrency. All the fancy trapping could be done entirely by software, but it would take much longer than the

The 80286 provides both compatibility and concurrency.

hardware trapping. Trapping and rerouting signals could slow programs down to the point that they don't work properly. Because all of the trapping chores are handled within a single chip (the 80286), Concurrent DOS-286 doesn't have that problem. According to Gysin, Digital Research's quest to have applications run as fast under Concurrent DOS-286 as they do under PC-DOS has been successful. He claims, "We've gotten there, there's no difference."

Context switching—changing the active program by suspending one pro

[tontinued]

ipTo^0'

^•W**'

oit&

->£»°°

-oo

wsw

,^1.;; V'

j^1

$3&°

due*

-ss»

0rde<

\\oe

4A6A

p*gS5*»

340A

Inquiry 113

MAY 1985 • BYTE 379

BYTE WEST COAST

gram, saving the registers, restoring the registers, and then restarting another program—is now done in software. Digital Research estimates that each software context switch takes between 200 and 400 microseconds. Digital Research plans to take advantage of the 80286s on-chip context-switching hardware that can handle the switch in only 20 microseconds.

Dynamic Drivers

Another big change in Concurrent DOS-286 is that the device drivers are dynamic. In previous incarnations of CP/M and Concurrent DOS, all the drivers were in a single section of code called BIOS (basic input/output system) or XIOS (extended input/output system). You had to load the drivers into the operating system before starting up. Dynamic loading means that you can add or modify device drivers while the operating system is running.

User Interface

Digital Research is also presenting a new user interface for Concurrent

DOS-286 and Concurrent PC-DOS. It is essentially a menu system and a file manager that allows you to control all system utilities and all running applications with the function keys. "What we're trying to do is take away the A> prompt," says Gysin. But if you prefer the standard CP/M-style prompts, just press the Escape key to get back onto familiar ground.

TopView, GEM, and GSX

What Digital Research calls "desktop primitives." which support such application environments as Microsoft Windows, Visi On, TopView, or "unannounced products from Digital Research" (Gysin's words), are built into Concurrent DOS-286. Gysin adds, "Whatever becomes standard, that is something that we'll map to our operating system. If some other bit-map graphics type of interface is the standard, then we'll also support that one." Digital Research's new GEM (Graphics Environment Manager) is a Macintoshlike interface that fits that bill.

Digital Research's GXS (Graphics System Extension) software is also supplied with Concurrent DOS-286.

Companies Mentioned

Hewlett-Packard

Bishop Graphics

3495 Deer Creek Rd.

5388 Sterling Center Dr.

Palo Alto, CA 94304

Westlake Village, CA 913 59

(818). 991-2600

MOSIS

USC/iSI

Care of Kathy Fry 4676 Admiralty Way Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Aldus Corporation

616 1st Ave.. Suite 400 Seattle. WA 98104 (206) 467-8165

[213) 822-1511 ext. 230

Adobe Systems

Apple Computer

2052 5 Mariani Ave. Cupertino. CA 95014

Embarcadero, Suite 100 Palo Alto, CA 94303 (415) 852-0271

(800) 538-9696

in Canada, (800) 268-7796 or

(800) 268-7637

Digital Research

60 Garden Court POB DRI

Monterey, CA 93942

Douglas Electronics

(800) 772-3545

718 Marina Blvd.

ext. 400 in California

San Leandro, CA 94577

(800) 227-1617

(415) 483-8770

ext. 400 elsewhere

This graphics operating system lets you write to a standard set of graphics calls so you don't need to know at programming time which specific peripherals you will have.

INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS

Concurrent DOS-286 has three features that should delight software engineers outside the United States: All the system messages are kept in a separate pool, the user tables have a country code, and the keyboard interface supports 16-bit character I/O (which is required for kanji, for example). Those design tidbits are understandable when you realize that 40 percent of Digital Research's business is done overseas.

Summary

What's new with Concurrent DOS-286? The architecture has changed. Previous versions of Concurrent DOS provided support for PCDOS 1.1 and CP/M-86 applications. Concurrent DOS-286 provides support for PC-DOS 1.1. 2.0, and 3.0 applications as well as memory protection, log-on and log-off, dynamic local device drivers, a hierarchical file system, completely modular design, pipes, I/O redirection, and an addressexception mechanism. In essence, Concurrent DOS-286 is intended to release you from needing IBM hardware or a clone to run IBM Personal Computer programs such as Lotus 1-2-3. Now, any system that can run Concurrent DOS-286 can run IBM Personal Computer programs.

How well does Concurrent DOS-286 work? We don't know. The descriptions in this article are based on discussion with Digital Research and Intel technical experts, not on a review of the operating system itself. When we do get into testing Concurrent DOS-286, our first consideration will probably be its use of memory. Although Concurrent DOS-286 is supposed to run as many programs concurrently as the hardware can handle, BYTE staff members have had problems with the voracious memory appetite of previous versions of Concurrent DOS. ■

380 BYTE- MAY 1985

Would you hire an entire band when all you need is one instrument? Of course not.

So why use a whole orchestra of computers when all you need is one to develop software for virtually any type of micro-processor?

The secret? Avocet's family of cross-assemblers. With Avocet cross-assemblers you can develop software for practically every kind of processor — without having to switch to another development system along the way!

Cross-Assemblers to Beat the Band!

Development Tools That Work

Avocet cross-assemblers are fast, reliable and user-proven in over 4 years of actual use. Ask NASA, IBM, Xerox or the hundreds of other organizations that use them. Every time you see a new microprocessor-based product, there's a good chance it was developed with Avocet cross-assemblers.

Avocet cross-assemblers are easy to use. They run on almost any personal computer and process assembly language for the most popular microprocessor families.

Your Computer Can Be A Complete Development System

Avocet has the tools you need to enter and assemble your soft-ware and finally cast it in EPROM:

VEDIT Text Editor makes source code entry a snap. Full- screen editing plus a TECO-like command mode for advanced tasks. Easy installation - INSTALL program supports over 40 terminals and personal computers. Customizable keyboard layout. CP/M-80, CP/M-86, MSDOS,PCDOS $150

EPROM Programmers let you pro gram, verify, compare, read, display EPROMS but cost less because they communicate through your personal computer or terminal. No personality modules! On-board intelligence provides menu-based setup for 34 different EPROMS, EEPROMS and MPUs (40-pin devices require socket adaptors). Selfcontained unit with internal power supply, RS-232 interface, Textool ZIF socket. Driver software (sold separately) gives you access to all programmer features through your computer, lets you download cross-assembler output files, copy EPROM to disk.

Model 7228 Advanced Programmer

— Supports all PROM types listed. Superfast "adaptive" programming algorithm programs 2764 in 1.1 minutes.

Model 7128 Standard Programmer —

Lower-cost version of 7228. Supports all PROM types except "A" versions of 2764 and 27128. Standard programming algorithm programs 2764 in 6.8 minutes.

Avocet

Target

CP/M-86

Cross-assembler

Microprocessor

CP/M-80

IBM PC, MSDOS**

XASM04

NEW

6804

$ 250.00

$ 250.00

XASM05

6805

200.00

250.00

XASM09

6809

200.00

250.00

XASM18

1802/1805

200.00

250.00

XASM48

8048/8041

200.00

250.00

XASM51

8051

200.00

250.00

XASM65

6502/65C02

200.00

250.00

XASM68

6800/01, 6301

200.00

250.00

XASM75

NEC 7500

500.00

500.00

XASM85

8085

250.00

250.00

XASM400

COP400

300.00

300.00

XASMF8

F8/3870

300.00

300.00

XASMZ8

Z8

200.00

250.00

XASMZ80

Z80

250.00

250.00

XMAC682

NEW

68200

595.00

595.00

XMAC68K

NEW

68000/68010

595.00

595.00

Model 7956 and 7956-SA Gang Programmers — Similar features to 7228. but program as many as 8 EPROMS at once. 7956-SA stand-alone version copies from a master EPROM. 7956 lab version has all features of stand-alone plus RS232 interface.

EPROM: 2758, 2716, 2732, 2732A, 2764, 2764A, 27128,27128A.27256,2508,2516,2532,2564,68764, 68766, 5133, 5143. CMOS: 27C16, 27C32, 27C64, MC6716. EEPROM: 5213, X2816A, 48016, I2816A, 5213H. MPU (w/adaptor): 8748, 8748H, 8749, 8749H, 8741, 8742, 8751, 8755.

7228 Advanced Programmer $ 599

7128 Standard Programmer 429

7956 Laboratory Gang Programmer 1099 7956-SA Stand-Alone Gang Programmer 979 GDX Driver Software 95

481 8748 Family Socket Adaptor 98

511 8751 Socket Adaptor 174

755 8755 Socket Adaptor 135

CABLE RS-232 Cable (specify gender) 30

HEXTRAN Universal HEX File Converter — Convert assembler output to other formats for downloading to development systems and target boards. Also useful for examining object file, changing load addresses, extracting parts of files. Converts to and from Intel, Motorola, MOS, RCA, Fairchild, Tektronix, TI, Binary and HEX/ASCII Dump formats. For CP/M, CP/M-86, MSDOS, PCDOS $250

Ask about UNIX.

68000 CROSS-ASSEMBLER - With exhaustive field testing completed, our 68000 assembler is available for immediate shipment. XMAC68K supports Motorola standard assembly language for the 68000 and 68010. Macros, crossreference, structured assembly statements, instruction optimization and more. Linker and librarian included. Comprehensive, well-written manual.

To find out more, call us toll-free.

1-800-448-8500

(in the U.S. Except Alaska and Hawaii)

VISA und Mcist,T..ird accepted. All popular disc lormats now available please specify. Priri'sdnnot mdudrshippm'j. and handling i allforexai i quotes OEM INQUIRIES INVITED

"Trademark ol I ligjtal Research **Trad*mark <>i Microsoft

AVOCET /X SYSTEMS INC.

Sales and Development:

10 Summer Street

P.O. Box 490. Dept. 585-B

Rockport, Maine 04856

(207) 236-9055 Telex: 467210 AVOCET CI

Corporate Offices: 804 South State Street Dover, Delaware 19901

Inquiry 44

MAY 1985 -BYTE 381

■■ "■ , ■■■»■ ——^^^w^

"LOWS*, PC-DCS: D/ZOSSWENtX* ... HOW DO YOU OBT/TALL

to work TotemeR?" y;

.o

I

4tH

t

;1' 'ttMfcffV ''

P^-AJJ:'--- -tg'1

© Lanier, 1985

Lotus is a registered trademark of Ixrtus IXvelopment (lorporation. I'(: IX)S and l)IS< )SS are trademarks of

International Business Machines Corporation XKNIX is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

For Concept III. The networking family of multifunctional integrated

systems. Interconnects to IBM mainframes, remote data files, other

vendors' equipment. A new Perspective on office automation that lets you

add processing power as you grow.

Lanier customer training and service

are second to none. And we're

backed by Harris, a world leader in

Information Technology. Call for a

demonstration. 800-241 -1706.*

Or send the coupon. Today.

LANIER, A HARRIS COMPANY

1700 Chantilly Drive, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324

Name. Firm_

.Title.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE'RE NOW PART OF HARRIS.

'In Georgia, call 4<)4-.321-12-M collect.

Harris/Lanier, Electronic Office Systems Div.

SEE LANIER. For a new Perspective on office automation

Address. County_ City

(2 HARRIS

May '85, Byte 4 75 H E5

_ Phone

. State Zip _

Engineering Excellence

1

/

VX

¥z~

~Iwe,£we= OpTlict Act In Data ^ommonicatiokis goprrwACE=.

"S*X.i

CROSSTALK IS A TRADEMARK OF MICROSTUF. INC . ATLANTA, GEORGIA

CROSSTALK IS AVAILABLE FOR MOST SMALL BUSINESS COMPUTERS

BYTE U.K.

••••• :%. •• •

Parallel Processing

A look

at the ALICE

language

by Dick Pountain

In the August 1984 BYTE U.K. (page 361), I mentioned a team at London's Imperial College that was working on a , , parallel-processing computer that would

Hardware run fifth-generation functional languages. ~j ~ Since this month's theme is multipro

anCl HOpe cessing, this is a good time to make proper acquaintance with that machine—ALICE.

The name ALICE is an acronym that stands for Applicative Language Idealized Computing Engine. The machine uses a number of processors working in parallel to execute functional and logic languages like Hope, LISP, and Prolog efficiently. Such languages, which are of great importance to current computer science research, tend to be inefficient when run on conventional sequential computers, a fact that has prevented their widespread use and has already led to the development of custom hardware such as the LISP Machine (which uses a microcoded instruction set optimized for LISP).

ALICE is a modular design, with possible configurations ranging from a single-user workstation up to a multiuser mainframe. The first machine will be an experimental vehicle using 64 processors to test the principles involved. The performance goal is to have a single-user ALICE workstation run applicative languages at speeds comparable to that of Pascal on a VAX-11/750. and with a very favorable cost/performance ratio.

Performance may be increased simply by adding more processor modules. The processor elements will be INMOS Transputers. two of which together with 2 56K bytes of RAM (random-access read/write memory) make a unit, and two units are installed on a single-board module. The intention is that a future design phase will further integrate these processor/memory/network modules onto single VLSI (very large scale integration) chips, which should allow performance to be increased substantially. In 1983, INMOS published encouraging performance projections of a two-dimensional ar

Dick Pountain is a technical author

and software consultant living in

London. England. He can be

contacted do BYTE, POB 372.

Hancock. NH 03449.

ray of Transputers. The projected price/performance ratio of the initial design is already claimed to be 30 times better than current mainframes and superminicomputers.

The ALICE team is headed by Dr. |ohn Darlington and is funded by the U.K. Science and Engineering Research Council. The prototype machine should be nearing completion at about the time this article is published.

Applicative Programming

I can't explain how ALICE works without first discussing what applicative languages are and how they work. In the December 1984 BYTE U.K. (page 355), I touched on the importance of declarative languages using the example of Prolog. In a nutshell, such languages try to replace the traditional programmer's activity of telling the computer what to do with the more productive activity of describing one's problem in a formal way that also happens to be an executable computer program. Prolog is representative of one family of declarative languages (relational or logic languages) in which predicate logic is the formalism used.

There is, however, another family called applicative or functional languages, of which LISP is a well-known, though not pure, example. In such languages, the only activity permitted is the definition, application, and combination of functions (hence the alternate names).

In particular, a strict applicative language does not allow the use of variables or assignment to variables, and the only control structure that is permitted is recursion. Many programmers' first thought will be that it's not possible to write programs without using variables; however, this is not so. It means that all data must be passed as arguments to functions or returned as results from functions, without being stored permanently; in other words, data is produced and consumed "on the fly." To com

(conlinued)

Inquiry 274

MAY 1985 -BYTE 385

BYTE U.K.

pute the hypotenuse of a triangle from sides X and Y we would say

PRINT( SQRT( SUM( SQUARE(X), SQUARE(Y) ) ) ) ;

rather than

Z := SQRT( X"2 + Y~2) ; PRINT Z ;

Those of you who know LISP will recognize that it tends in this direction, but most modern dialects allow assignment (using SET and SETQ) and iterative loops.

It's possible to get some of the flavor of functional programming by getting your Pascal compiler out and trying to write programs using only function {not procedure) declarations and using recursion instead of while ... do, repeat . . . until, etc. You won't find it particularly useful though, for Pascal restricts the types of objects that can be passed to or

returned by a function.

Why bother with functional programming then, since it seems so restrictive? It turns out that purely applicative programs have some interesting properties. Because they don't use variables or assignment, they are free of side effects (the alteration of a program's environment by parts of the program). In a sense, applicative programs don't do anything, they merely return values. This makes it possible to reason about the correctness of such programs, and in particular, it opens up the possibility that we could use the computer to check programs for correctness, to modify them, and even to write them.

Since debugging and program maintenance now account for most of the time and money spent worldwide on computing, such developments would be of the greatest significance.

Of equal importance is the fact that

the absence of side effects renders each part of a functional program independent of every other and of the order in which they are evaluated, which means that these parts can be evaluated in parallel. Conventional procedural languages (like BASIC and Pascal) don't lend themselves to parallel processing; because routines typically depend on one another, most of the code ends up being devoted to making routines wait for the others or stopping them from fighting each other for resources.

Parallel processing is now widely held to be the way forward in computer performance; we can't just keep making faster sequential von Neumann machines forever, because we'll soon be running up against physical obstacles like the speed of light and the melting point of the conductors. Even from what puny infor

(conlinued)

The biggest news in printers since Herr Gutenberg, and a lot less expensive.

Introducing the Sumicom 1120. At $495 it's the least expensive letter-quality printer ever, with features you'd expect to cost hundreds more.

The 1120 is as fast as any letterquality printer under §900, and faster than most: 18 characters per second. It's universally standard, with Qume printwheels and ribbons and an 8-bit parallel Centronics interface; it works with IBM, Apple, Commodore and many other PCs.

The 1120 is quiet (only 60 dBA), features proportional spacing and takes paper up to 13 inches wide. Options include serial interface, forms tractor and cut sheet feeder. The dependability is standard: a 120-day warranty, a month longer than other manufacturers.

For fast delivery, call 800/556-1234, ext 167 (California 800/441-2345, ext. 167). Letter quality, and many other qualities, all for 1495; give us a call.

S^fe^^i

Sum*

Sl'MFTRONICS INC., A Su of Sumitomo Corporation 17862 E. 17th St.,Tustin, CA 92680

386 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 449 for Dealers. Inquiry 450 for End-Users.

4

Save

Savo

Save 25% Save 2S% Save »•Save 25% Save 25%

COMPUTERS

NEC

PC-8201 Computer $315

PC-8201A-9O Battery Pock $15

PC-8206A 32K Rom $215

PC-827IA 01 AC Adopter $16

PC-8271A-02 AC Adopter $16

PC 828 1A Recorder $89

Sanyo MBC-775fortoble Save

MBC-550 System Save

MBC-555 System Save

MBC 550-2 System Save

MBC-555-2 System Save

mbc aes Save

Televideo

803 $1915

804 $3429 1605D $1909 1605C $2299

1405H $3459

1605CH $3549

TPC-l $795

TPC-2 Srngle Dr.ve S1509

TPC-2 Dual Dr.ve $1749

Wyse

Wyse pc Duot ........

Wyse pc 10 Meg

Zenith

Z 150 Single Drive

Z-150 Dual Drive

Z 150 W/10 Megabyte

Z 160 Single Drive

Z 160 Dual Drive

DISK DRIVES

Alpha Omega Turbo 10 S689

Turbo 20 $1019

Turbo 30 $1379

Haba<•■■■■■-■ •.■■■ ■ ■ - ■■ $329

Iomega Bernoulli Box for IBM

lOMegabyte $1799

20 Megabyte $2499

20 Megabyte Plus $2660

5 Megabyte for Macintosh $1459

Rana $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 $119

BOARDS

AST Six Fbck Plus $259

Hercules color card $145

Graphic Card $295

Parad.SeModularGrophk06-l $259

FivePak $159

QuadramouadboordExok $219

E-Ram 80 , $89

Quodlink $329

Tec Mar

Graphics Master $449

126K Dynamic Memory $225

256K Dynamic Memory $299

Captain 128K Captain 256K

$299 $399

SILICON SP€CmLTI€S

SI 089 $2039 S2179

MONITORS

Amdek All Monitors

Princeton Graphic hx 12

SanyocRT36

Taxan

121 Green

122 Amber 420 RGB 425 RGB/Green

Zenith

ZVM-122 Amber $95

ZVM-123 Green

ZVM-124 $129

ZVM-130 Savo

ZVM 133 Color/RGB $410

ZVM-135 Color/RGB W/Audio $459

PRINTERS

Anadex

9625B

WP6000

DP6500

Brother

DX-15XI $365

HR-25 $649

HR-35 $875

C-ltoh

A-10-30

F-10 Parallel or Serial

55 CPS Serial or Parallel

8510 Parallel (Prowriter)

B510SP

8510 SCP

8510 BPI

Citizen

MSP-10 MSP-15 MSP-20 MSP-2 5

Com rex

CR-2E CR-4 420

Datasouth

DS180 DS220 DS-PPS1 DS-PPS2

Diablo

D-25

630 API

630 ECS

630 ECS/IBM

D-36

80 IF

P12CQI

P32COI

S32COI

P38

$38

C150

EpSOn All Printer Models

Inforunner

Riteman w/Troctor

Riteman 15

Ritemon Blue w/Troctoi

Juki

5500 6100 6300

NEC

2010, 2015. 2030

2050

3510,3515,3530

3550

8810, 8815,8830

8850

P2, P3 .

Okidata All Printer Models

Panasonic

1091 1092 1093 (CXP3151

Siemens

PT/88 InkJet PT/69 InkJet

Star MicrOnJCS All Printer Models

Silver Reed

EXP400 Parallel EXP500 Parallel or Ser>al EXP550 ParaM or Serial EXP770 Parallel or Serial

TOS h i DO P1340 Porollel or Serial P351 Parallel or Serial

VIDEO TERMINALS

Altos

Qume

$449

$469

Televideo

$1225

$979

$425

$559

$449

$755

$639

$699

$599

$565

Zenith z 22

$469 /

$599 f

2-49

DISKETTES

Maxell MD-iioty 100)

MD-2(Oty 100]

$149 $189

KEYBOARDS

Keytronicssisi $179

5151 Jr. $179

MODEMS

Anchor Automation

Anchor E xpress Mark XII

HayeS Smartmodem 300 Baud Smartmodem 1200 Baud

Smortmodem 1200B(IBM)

Smortmodem 2*00 Boud Mrcromodem HE (Apple)

NOVatlOn Smart Cat Plus

PrometheU$ All Models

Racal-Vadic All Models

US RobotiCS Password 1200

$359

Savo $219

Prices reflect 3% to 5% cash discount. Product shipped in factory cartons with manufacturer's warranty. Please add $9.00 per order for UPS shipping. Prices & availability subject to change without notice. Send cashier's check or money order... ail other checks will delay shipping two weeks.

BYTE U.K.

Hope is a strongly typed, pure, higher-order applicative language. It doesn't allow assignment and is side-effect-free.

mation we have at present about the human brain, it seems clear that it couldn't achieve its staggering performance without its millions of neurons working in parallel.

Hope

Let's now take a look at a particular functional language called Hope,

which will be run on ALICE, Hope is a strongly typed, pure, higher-order applicative language. All this means is that it has data "types" as in Pascal. The data types must be declared and are checked by the compiler; the language doesn't allow assignment and is side-effect-free; it allows functions to be passed as arguments to other functions or to be returned as results.

Hope was designed at Edinburgh University by Burstall, McQueen, and Sannella. Burstall also developed the language POP-2 (see the October 1984 BYTE U.K., page 381). McQueen now works at Bell Laboratories in the U.S. I should stress that Hope is a purely experimental language right now. and it lacks some of the features required for production programming.

Unlike LISP and Prolog. Hope source code looks quite familiar to

programmers with a knowledge of, for instance, Pascal, Some of this familiarity is illusory, however, as the symbols don't mean what you'd expect from experience of a procedural language. As an example, take the factorial program

dec fact ; num - > num ;

— fact( 0) < = 1 ;

— fact( succ( n)) < =

( succ( n) x fact( n)) ;

The first line declares a function called fact, which takes an argument of type num and returns a result of type num. The next two lines are equations that define the function's value for all possible cases (type num represents positive integers so the negative case doesn't arise). In the case that its argument is 0, then it returns the value I. In any other case the factorial of one-more-than-n is

[continued]

Classy Chassis

3315

5" Floppy/Winchester 7 Cards $417*

3310

5" Floppy/Winchester 4 Cards $387*

3002T

5" Floppy/Winchester 10 Cards $565*

3307

Floppy/5" Winchester 7 Cards $494*

FROM

yiy MAIN/FRAMES & DISC ENCLOSURES $^| QQ

LASER 3000 DISC COVERS (not shown)

* 1 piece, prices lower in quantity

HI? li^r: j »;

3916F 3915 ■

5" Floppy $100* 2 ea 5" Winchester $199* \m

RESEARCH CORPORATION (Disk drives not included) 8620 Roosevelt Ave .Visalia, CA 93291 209 651-1203

AMPRO

"Little Board3

MAIN/FRAMES

6 Models from $125

§1 50 (1 piece*)

MODEL 2800

Includes power supply & fan

(Disk Drives and Little Board not included) AMPRO & Little Board are TM AMPRO computers

RESEARCH CORPORATION

8620 Roosevelt Ave./Visalia, CA 93291

209/651-1203

388 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 205

SAVE YOUR MEMORY

EDC IS FOR EVERYBODY!

ERROR DETECTION AND CORRECTION MEMORY

FOR QBUS and MULTIBUS

2MB ONLY $1935

• Lowest Pricing

• Fastest Delivery

. Fastest Access

• 24 Hour Repair

Chrislin knows that faulty memory for a computer serving business or science is unacceptable. That is why, ERROR DETECTION AND CORRECTION (EDC) ON A MEMORY IS NECESSARY.

EDC provides a computer system with unbeatable performance and reliability. Without EDC implemented, an error could occur in a matter of days. But with EDC implemented, the likelihood of an error would be a matter of years. And that's not all! Each board has a 5 year warranty, 24 hour repair, and each QBUS memory comes with a software support program for onsight repair or service. Add reliability to your computer memory and take a step forward by placing your order today.

Also try our QBUS compatible Systems and Subsystems.

€

Inquiry 73

■•OFFERING QUALITY WITH AFFORDABLE PRICING"

Chrislin Industries. Inc.

31352 Via Colinas . Westlake Village, CA 91362 y Telephone (818)991-2254 .TWX 910-494-1253 CHRISLIN WKVG

AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS: Mississauga, Canada—Transduction Ltd (416) 625-1907;

France—SNGA/Auctel (1)736.87.00. Peru—General Trading Corporation (51)-14-222506

QBUS is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation

MULTIBUS is a trademark of Intel Corporation See US at NCC '85

Booths #6278 & #6279

BYTE U.K.

Strong typing in Hope is called polymorphic typing and is of a different and more flexible sort than that in Pascal and Modula-2.

one-more-than-n times the factorial of n.

The function succ (for "successor' |. which returns a number one more than its argument, is called a "constructor'' function; in particular it is a constructor function for the positive

integers. Every data type in Hope is built by its own constructor function(s). When we write a constant like 3, we are, in fact, evaluating a function called 3 whose value is. not surprisingly, 3. but that 3 is shorthand for the expression succ(succ(succ(0))).

The identifier n doesn't refer to a variable in the traditional sense but is a formal parameter that refers to the argument passed to the function at run time and has meaning only for the duration of the function application.

Two other things are important to note. The < = symbol does not refer to anything being assigned to anything but means "is defined as," "could be replaced by," or "could be rewritten as." Such program lines, introduced by . are called "recursion equations." The second point is that the order is quite unimportant; I could as easily write

dec fact : num - > num ;

— fact( succ( n)) < =

(succ( n) x fact( n)) ;

— fact( 0) < = 1 ;

with the same effect.

Strong typing in Hope is of a different, more flexible sort than that in Pascal and Modula-2. It's called "polymorphic" typing, which means that you can write functions that will work on any type, while still controlling the relation between argument and result type. This is accomplished by using type variables in place of actual types in the declaration. For example,

typevar any;

dec member : any X list (any) - > truval :

— member ( x,nil)< =

false ;

member ( x, y::z) < =

true if x = y else member ( x, z);

{continued)

BM FULL HT 360 KB $159

20 MB FOR AT $1109

CAD SYSTEM

PRINTERS

TAPE BACKUPS CALL

2D, 3D — CALL

Plotters, Digitizers, Software

CABLE $17

HARDWARE

OKI DATA 92P/93P $350/575

EPSON (ALL PRINTERS) very low

COMPUTERS

HERCULES COLOR/MONO $179/315

BROTHER 15/25/35 $375/595/795

STAR SG & SD SERIES CALL

DTC 480Z 45 CPS $1299

□ ivi rw atr\ i un. . , WU.L AST 6 PACK + 64 K $24S

IBM PC 256K 2V2 HT DP, $1535 TECMAR GRAPHIC MASTER $450 IBM PC 256K 2V2 HT DR + 10 MB.$2275 AST ADVANTAGE $450 IBM PC 256K 2V2 HT DR + 20 MB.$2459 8087/80287 $149/375

SANYO COMPUTERS CALL S|GMA PRODUCTS CALL

IBM XT $3395 QUADRAM CALL

IBM AT (AVAILABLE) CALL PARADISE . CALL

NEC CALL

TOSHIBA CALL

DIABLO CALL

PANASONIC CALL

JUKI 6100/6300/2200 CALL

MODEMS

SOFTWARE

WILL SHIP C.O.D. WITHIN U.S.A.

HAYES 1200/1200B $450/359

BIZCOMP $349

ALL IBM SOFTWARE AVAILABLE CALL

DISKETTES

MONITORS

VERBATIM DS/DD & SS/DD $21.95/14.95 MAYELL DS/DD $22.0C

Call us to check

PGS MAX 12/HX 12 $189/460

3UIMAX MONO/COLOR $165/450

AMDEK 310A/600 $165/399

current prices

POLO COLOR $335

LEASING ARRANGED UP TO $1 MILLION OUU"DZ I "UOOt X SUO

SAMSUNG AMBER $145

AT LOW RATES, CAN INTRODUCE YOUR nnn *-J* MAC fralif f\nl\l\

NEW PRODUCTS TO MARKETS. UPGRADE 0UU"Z / Z'UUtO (LvdllT. OlUyJ

YOUR PRESENT COMPUTERS WITH 10 MB Qnn gni rOC7

PLUS HARD DRIVES. COMPANY P.O. 0\}\J-O£.l*mD£.D 1

WELCOME. MC/VISA + 3% CASH PRICES Talaw CMnmnnnlG Pnmn

SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND. OPEN 7 I ClCA 0 I U I UUUU I 0 UUIIIL).

DAYS.

DISK DRIVES

10 MB INTERNAL $695

20 MB INTERNAL $995

TEAC Vi HT 360 KB $125

ADVANCED COMPUTER SYSTEMS & SS3L SSih

■■»■■" »w™» ww«ii w ■ —■ ■ w ■ W • hibiw San Jose N. 1st St. (408)293-7860

390 B Y

Inquiry I 5

Viasyn's inspiration for the CompuPro 816 family.

Durability.

The Army battle tank is probably the epitome of ruggedness and reliability. It has to be. A lot depends on its survival under a variety of extreme conditions.

So it is with Viasyn's CompuPro 816 computer. A multi-user family with dependability that outlasts the competition, regardless of the field conditions. Not to mention superior cost-effectiveness, flexibility, a one- or two-year warranty, and expandability that lets you network up to 255 systems.

You can see the 816 in action at your local Full Service CompuPro* System Center. Call us toll-free for the location nearest you. And talk to trained specialists interested in understanding your needs, and providing the optimum system to satisfy them.

And find out how it can help your business win the war against unproductivity.

v/Asyn

The CompuPro People

Where Computers Grow

Inquiry 412

3506 Breakwater Court, Hayward, CA 94545 • Call 800/VIASYN-l • In CA, 415/786-0909

CompuPro is a registered trademark of Viasyn Corporation.

MAY 1985 'BYTE

391

BYTE U.K.

yields a function that tests whether its first argument x is a member of the list that is its second argument. The type declaration says that member must receive as arguments an object of type any. and a list of the same type of objects, and it returns a result of type truval (the Hope equivalent of Boolean). For instance.

member(2,[1,2,3]); true : truval

is the same as saying

member ('b',"aardvark"); false : truval

and any will be replaced at run time by type num or type char, respectively (notice that strings are lists of char). The constructor function :: is for lists ( y::z means "the list whose head is y and tail is z") and is itself polymorphic, as is nil. the empty list constructor. You use :: like an infix operator rather than a function ::(y,z)—this privilege can be extended to any userdefined function in Hope.

There is much more to Hope than this brief glimpse. Unlike Pascal, it enables you to pass structured data types to functions and return them as results. Data types of any complexity can be defined by the user, and they can be made polymorphic. So you could define a type tree(alpha)—a binary tree of objects of arbitrary type—and then write functions that operate on such trees regardless of the type of objects they contain. It also supports proper mathematical sets in addition to lists.

There is not room here to go any further, but I have discussed enough here to give you some understanding of how ALICE works.

Reduction

You'll notice that in all the preceding examples the left-hand side of the equation is merely an application of the function being defined to some pattern describing a possible form of its arguments; for example, member (x, y::z) says "the first argument can be anything at all. but the second must be a list with at least one element." The equation's right-hand side

identifier

function

arg list

status

signal list

ref count

Figure I

: Packet structure.

describes an expression that can be substituted for a call of this sort (i.e., one whose actual arguments match the pattern).

The execution of a program proceeds by progressively rewriting expressions, using the appropriate recursion equation as a rewrite rule. Let's see how it works on member ('a',"bat").

1. member('a',"bat") doesn't match member(x.nil) because "bat" isn't nil. Try another.

2. member('a',"bat") does match member(x,y::z) if x is 'a', y is 'b,' and z is "at". The equation says we can therefore rewrite it as true if 'a' = 'b' (which it doesn't) or else as member('a',"at"). Do the latter.

In this process we have successfully reduced member('a',"bat") to the simpler member('a',"at"). If you perform a second reduction of this expression, you'll end up with true, which can't be reduced any further because it doesn't involve the application of a reducible function that has rewrite rules. Constructor functions are the equivalent of constants in Hope and are not reducible—true is a constructor for type truval.

This process of reduction of expressions permits parallel evaluation because, in a side-effect-free language, subexpressions on the righthand side of an equation can be evaluated (i.e., reduced) independently of one another.

The ALICE Implementation

In ALICE, expressions are stored as packets, which are fixed-size blocks of data each divided into a number of fields. The overall structure of a packet is shown in figure 1.

A pool of these packets is maintained in RAM. and the processing agents sit around this pool fishing for

packets. A processor pulls a packet out of the pool and checks what function is referred to in its function field. If it is a reducible function, the processor will try to reduce it and then throw it back into the pool. As long as there is work for them to do, all the processors can operate at once.

Of course it isn't quite that simple. For one thing, reduction of a packet often creates several packets (the joke among the ALICE team is that it's called reduction because it makes things bigger). In fact, this is necessary to exploit parallel processing.

Let's see how fact(3) gets evaluated in terms of packets. (This is not exactly as ALICE would do it; I've simplified the schema in some details to increase clarity.) The reductions involved are

# of packets fact(3)

3 ;

3

* fact(2) 0

5 :- 3 *'

2 * fact(1)

0

7 :- 3 *'

2

1 * fact(O)

0

7 :- 3 *'

2

*■' 1 *'" 1

answer 6

The packet representing fact(3) gets rewritten to contain * instead of fact, and it spawns two new packets whose identifiers are put on its argument list. These contain 3 and fact(2) and are created from two empty packets grabbed from the pool. There are now three packets. The one for fact(2) then is rewritten and spawns two more offspring, making five, and so on until seven packets exist.

The packets containing the integers 3, 2. and 1 are not reducible and the * packets can't be reduced further while one of their arguments is still

(continued)

392 BYTE- MAY I985

Kimtron

MULTI-USER SOLUTION for IBM PC, XT, AT

Compare

The Multi-User Solution of the future is now available.

Convert your IBM PC, XT, AT or Compatibles to a true multi-user system while maintaining display, keyboard and software compatibility.

Since the KT-7/PC display is the same as your PC monochrome monitor, with its look-alike keyboard, operators will feel they're using an IBM PC and can also use the same software manual. Kimtron's multi-user solution includes file and record locking, shared data access, and communication between users. It is the intelligent alternative.

The KT-7/PC supports Time Sharing, Enhanced Time Sharing

and Multi-Processor implementation under PC DOS, MS DOS, UNIX, XENIX, CPM 86, Multilink, Concurrent PC DOS, and other compatible multi-user operating systems.

Kimtron's multi-user solution may be tailored for cost effectiveness; as low as $1095 for an additional user, and for speeds more than ten times faster than LAN. You can add one or as many as 31 additional users per PC. Kimtron delivers the future now by allowing an everwidening network of multi-user PC's.

The KT-7/PC may be complemented with one (or more) I/O Card, Memory Card, 8086 Speed

NOTE: IBM PC, XT, AT, PC DOS. MS DOS, UNIX, XENIX, CPM 86, Multi-Link, Concurrent PC DOS are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corp., Bell Labs., Digital Research Inc., Software Link Inc. respectively.

Inquiry 226

Enhancer Card, 80286 AT Card, 8088 Multi-Processor Card, 80186 Speed Enhancer Card, 68C00 Card, and related software.

For more information about Kimtron's Multi-User Solution, or general video data terminals for other mini or micro multi-user systems, call your local computer dealers, distributors or Kimtron Corporation Today!

(408) 727-1510

See us at Comdex. Booth #4636

_£ 1705 Junction Court

= Building #160 =||f San Jose, CA 95112

^ ^ Kimtron

DM20, The Heavy Duty Professional

At last, letter quality for the president, spreadsheets for accounting and graphs for marketing. All from one printer... the new technology DM20 dot matrix.

Refinement of the print head design reduced the diameter of the wire pins. This produced sharper and crisper characters in the letter quality mode. Both the letter and draft modes offer a number of type styles, all software selectable.

A unique set of front panel controls for setting characters per inch and line spacing helps place this multi-purpose printer abo\e the competition.

DEAR CUSTOMER:

Research indicate! translates into a

This work-horse comes standard with

both parallel and serial interfaces making

it compatible with all popular computers.

It emulates Epson* and IBM* printer

control codes. A tractor for

long print jobs is standard.

See the DM20 at your dealer. Look at the quality. One look and \ on II agree, this is the one I printer for all your needs.

Dynax,lnc.

FORTIS

hi»"t i><. im.

>-*.* «>l mi. r

See us at Comdex, Booth #W5036

DYNAX, INC. OFFICES

"" HEADQUARTERS 6070 R.cKeriDacker Rd . Commerce CA 90040 • (213) 727-1227

NEW JERSEY One M:.':,<,or. Si Easl Rutherford, NJ 07073 • (201) 471-0100 ■ TEXAS 6012 Campus Cttcle. Suite 2S0 lr»ino fX~75062 •1214)257-1700

BYTE U.K.

ALICE'S network allows packet-pool segments and any pair of processing agents to communicate and operates at 200 megabits per second.

not an integer. In this situation, the thwarted parent packet puts its name on the signal list of the offending offspring packet, which means "let me know as soon as you have a value," and goes to sleep. When the final fact(0) packet is rewritten to 1, these signals are sent out and all the * packets know their arguments are ready, at which point they flag themselves as being reducible and are snapped up by the next free processor.

This program doesn't exploit parallelism as well as it might, because at each generation there is only one immediately rewritable packet created, thus providing work for only one processor during the middle part of the evaluation.

The function factlist, which returns a list of the factorials of a list of numbers, will perform better.

dec factlist: list(num) - >

list(num); — factlist(nil) < = nil; factlist(x::y) < =

fact(x)::factlist(y);

When this program is run, two rewritable packets are created (one for fact and one for factlist) at each generation

fact(2)

0 etc.

factlist([2,3,4])

0

factlist([3,4])

0 etc.

and these can be reduced in parallel

in turn creating work for more processors. You'll see that the full benefit of parallelism is only obtained by writing programs with the maximum possible number of recursive subexpressions.

There are other more complex considerations, which cannot be fully dealt with here, relating to this evaluation mechanism. Sometimes it's necessary that subexpressions on the right-hand side of an equation be evaluated sequentially. For instance, in the expression 0 if x = 0 else 1/x, a divide-by-zero error would occur if both parts were always evaluated, so the test must be done first. Similarly, during I/O (input/output), it's necessary to print things in sequence, not all at the same time.

ALICE provides an alternative mode of evaluation (which is flagged by the programmer in the source code) that suspends execution of a subexpression. This also makes "lazy evaluation" possible; data structures with an infinite number of elements can be defined, but only those elements that are needed are ever generated.

Hardware

ALICE is conceptually composed of just a packet pool and a gang of processors, but the real hardware is organized into four types of functional units; a number of processing agents and packet-pool segments, an interconnection network, and a distribution system.

Processing agents and packet-pool segments are implemented by the same hardware unit consisting of two Transputers (see "The Transputer" by Paul Walker on page 219) and 2 56K bytes of RAM; the memory segments are therefore "intelligent." Two such units are mounted on a single board. Which role a unit will play is determined by Occam programs loaded into its Transputers at initialization.

The packet pool is thus not a contiguous memory block but is distributed throughout the system in discrete 2 56K-byte segments. This is preferable to the alternative that would require the RAM to be multiported as many times as there are

processors. Instead a network is used to allow the segments and processors to communicate.

Designing this network was one of the big challenges of the project, as its performance crucially affects system throughput. The final design is a delta network whose building block is a four-by-four crossbar switch, implemented as a custom chip in ECL (emitter-coupled logic). This network allows any pair of processing agents and packet-pool segments to communicate and operates at 200 megabits per second.

The distribution system is a multichannel system bus upon which the identifiers of both processible and empty packets are circulated (as separate streams). Any processing agent can grab the next packet that comes along and start to process it, communicating over the network to find the packets containing its arguments and the rewrite rules. Once reduced, the packet is put back onto the bus (as are any newly created packets), to be picked up and processed further elsewhere.

Garbage collection is performed by reference counting; a field (ref count) in each packet records the number of other packets that refer to it. When this count falls to zero, the packet can be put on the "empty" stream. Garbage collection is thus happening all the time, concurrently with processing, and all through the system.

ALICE doesn't actually execute Hope directly but uses an "assembly language" called CTL (compiler target language).

Compilers have been written to compile Hope, Prolog. Parlog (parallel Prolog), and LISP into ALICE CTL. The ALICE hardware has a special mode that permits direct assignment to packets and, together with suspended evaluation for sequencing, this enables conventional procedural languages like Pascal to be supported if required. In this case, the multiple processors could be used (given a suitable operating system) to serve multiple users, as they would not otherwise provide any performance benefit. ■

«— Inquiry 144

MAY 1985 'BYTE 395

HE BEST PRICES! We will meet or beat any qualified price you find.

v Next day shipping on all in stock items.

^ Free easy access order inquiry.

>-- Orders from outside

Pennsylvania and Nevada save state sales tax.

^ Free technicial support with our factory trained technical staff.

v There is no limit and no deposit on COD. orders.

>- There's no extra charge for using your credit card. Your card is not charged until we ship.

^ We accept purchase orders from qualified corporations. Subject to approval.

^ Educational discounts available to qualified institutions.

* FREE CATALOG MEMBERSHIP

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 subject to a restocking fee.

1-800-268-4559

Other Provinces

1-416-828-0866

In Toronto

TELEX: 06-218960

2505 Dunwin Drive,

Mississauga, Ontario

Canada L5L1T1

All prices shown are for U.S.A.

orders.

Call The Canadian Office for

Canadian prices.

APPLE

APPLE lie CALL

APPLE lie CALL

MaclNTOSH CALL

lie LCD Display CALL

A ATARI

65XE (64K) -<|

130XE (128K) c>Va

130ST (128K) *?C*-*

520ST (512K) **

600XL ft SOOXL CALL WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

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 VlsiCalc $59.99

CX30 Paddles $11.99

CX40 Joystick $7.99

4011 Star Raiders $1299

4022 PacMan $16.99

BOARDS FOR ATARI

Axlon 32K $39.99

Axlon 48K $69.99

Axlon 128K $269.99

Microbits 64K (600) $109.00

Bit 3 Full View 80 $239.00

f 5 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^ $59.99

pfs:

File (64) $59.99

Report (64) $59.99

Precision Software

Superbase 64 $54.99

BATn=ntesfc§|»*:LUDeD

PaperClip w/Spell Pack $79.99

The Consultant DBMS $69.99

Bus Card II $139.00

80 Col Display $139.00

f E commodore

CBM 8032 $639 00

CBM 4032 $599.00

2031 LP Disk Drive $299 00

8050 Disk Drive $999.00

8250 Disk Drive $124900

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 Pio $179.00

Administrator $399 00

Power $69 99

(VI

.OMPUTER

HEWLETT PACKARD

41CV $189.99

41CX $249.99

HP 71B $419.99

HP 11C $62.99

HP 12C $89.99

HP 15C $89.99

HP 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

NEC

PC-8401 $749.00

PC-8201 Portable Computer ..$299 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 ALLOY

PC Stor CALL

PC-Disc CALL

PC QlC-Stor CALL

PC Back-Up CALL

EVEREX

Hard Drives CALL

Tape Back Up CALL

IDrAssOCiiUES

5 meg Removable/Internal $1399.00

10 meg Fixed/Internal $1249.00

15 meg 5 Removable/10 Fixed$2149.00 25 meg 5 Removable/20 Flxed$2499.00

I'MSBA

10 meg Bernoulli Box $2149 00

20 meg Bernoulli Box $2799 00

Kflana

10 meg Internal $699.00

fTALLGRASS TECHNOLOGIES COMMITTED TO MEMOS*

20. 30. 80 meg (PC) Irom $2399.00

FLOPPY

Apple GT $209 00

Atari GT $249.00

C-64 GT $259.00

EE3

A1.5 Apple $199.00

A2 Apple $199.00

wSUe-Jm

SD1 C-64 Single $269 00

SD2 C-64 Dual $469.00

■P RansSystems

Rana 1000 (Atari) $199.00

Elite 1 (Apple) $189.00

landon

320K 5V (PC) $12900

aWNCHOR

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

tD Hayes

Smartmodem 300 $199.00

Smartmodem 1200 $389 00

Smartmodem 1200B $359.00

Smartmodem 2400 $699 00

Micromodem lie $249.00

Smart Com II $89.99

Chronograph $199 00

/isr

Reach 1200 Baud Half Card.. $399 00

mPpmiCROBITS

MPP-1000E AD/AA (Atari). . $109.00 MPP-1064 AD/AA (C-64) $69.00

Novation [S

Smart Cat Plus $329.00

J-Cat $99.99

Smart Cat 103 $179.00

Smart Cat 103/212 $399.00

AutoCat $219.00

212 AutoCat $549.00

Apple Cat II $249 00

212 Apple Cat $449.00

Apple Cat 212 Upgrade $259 00

Macmodem 1200B $339.00

TELELEARNING

C64 300 Baud $49.99

ZT-1 $339 00

ZT-10 $309.00

ZT-11 $369 00

DISKETTES

maxEll

5V4" MD-1 $17.99

5%" MD-2 $23.99

8" FD-1 $39.99

8" FD-2 $49.99

vk Verbatim.

5%" SS/DD $21.99

5'A" DS/DD $29.99

E32

514" Disk Head Cleaner $14.99

1 . i ,,ll

Elephant 5'A" SS/SD $14,99

Elephant 5Vi" SS/DD $16.99

Elephant 5%" DS/DD $19.99

Elephant EMSP 5V« $24,99

DISK HOLDERS

INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS

Flip-in-File 10 $3.99

Flip-in-File 50 $17.99

Flip-in-File 50 w/lock $24.99

Flip-in-File (400/800 ROM) $17.99

AMARAY

50 Disk Tub $9 99

<^?r1oala

Atari Zr..."."""." $39.99

C-64 $59.99

IBM $89.99

Apple/Franklin $79.99

Super Sketch Pad (C-64) $39 99

Super Sketch Pad (Atari) $39.99

■Polaroid

Palette $1399 00

=

^m

Amcjek

300 Green $129.00

300 Amber $14900

300 Color/Audio $259 00

310 Amber IBM-Plug $16900

Color 500 Composite/RGB $389 00

Color 600 Hi-Res (640x240) $439.00

Color 700 Hi-Res (720x240) $499.00

Color 710 Long Phosphor $579 00

()bmc

9191U Color $199.00

12" Amber $69.99

12" Amber/Green TTL (ea.)$119 00

NEC

JB 1260 Green $99 99

JB 1201 Green $13900

JB 1205 Amber $13900

JB 1215 Color $229.00

JC 1216 RGB $37900

JC 1460 Color $269.00

JC 1410 RGB $66900

prin PRINCETON cs

MAX-12 Amber $189.00

HX-12 RGB $469.00

SR-12 RGB $629.00

Sakata

SC-100 Color $249.00

SG-1000 Green $129.00

SA-1000 Amber $139 00

• U\X,W

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 $319.00

415 Hi-Res RGB $399.00

420 Hi-Res RGB (IBM) $429.00

440 Ultra Hi-Res RGB $589.00

8400 Quadchrome $479.00

8410 Quadchrome II $469.00

8420 Amberchrome $179 00

Jpmrm

ZVM 122 Amber $89.99

ZVM 123 Green $89.99

ZVM 124 IBM Amber $14900

ZVM 131 Color $299.00

ZVM 133 RGB $429.00

ZVM 135 RGB/Color $459 00

ZVM 136 RGB/Color $629.00

mMPRACllCAL

Graphcard $79.99

Seriall Card $99 99

Microbuffer II + $169 00

Microbuffer 32K $189 00

QUADfWl^

Microlazer from $139.00

Efazer (Epson) from $79.99

§£Orcinge micro

Grappler CD (C64) $99.99

Grappler + (Apple) $109.00

Grappler 16K+ (Apple) $189 00

DIGITAL DEVICES

Ape Face (Alan) $49.99

Upnnt (Atari) $59.99

Uprint (C-64) $59.99

Primer Buffer P-16 $79.99

m» 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 $18900

GP-700 Atari Color Primer $489 00

GP-550 Parallel Printer $269 00

l*>

I BMC

BX-80 Dot Matrix $229.00

#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

citoh

Prownter 7500 $219.00

Prowriter 8510P $299.00

Prownter 1550P $469.00

Son of Starwriter A10P $459.00

Hot Dot Matrix $459.00

F10-40P Starwriter $899.00

F10-55 Printmaster $1049.00

■K«'7,*,K:

ComWriterll Letter Quality $399.00

DIABLO

620 Letter Quality $749.00

630 API Letter Quality $1549.00

d*sywriter

2000 $899 00

EPSON

RX-80. FX-80+. LX-80. JX-80 CALL

FX-100 + . RX-100, LQ1500 CALL

Homewriter 10 CALL

juxr

6100 $399.00

6300 $749.00

MANNESMANN TALLY

Spirit 80 $239.00

160L $539.00

180L $699.00

iV£C

8027 Transportable $319.00

2010/15/30/50 $699.00

3510/15/30 $1299.00

3550 IBM $1369.00

8810/15/30 $1699.00

8850 IBM $1749.00

OklDATA

82. 83. 84. 92. 93. 182,

2350. 2410. Okimate-20 CALL

Okimate (Specify C64 or Atari).$199.00

OLYMPIA

Needlepoint Dot Matrix $339 00

Compact RO $399 00

Compact 2 $439 00

Panasonic

KX1090 $199.00

KX1091 $279 00

KX1092 $409 00

KX1093 $599.00

QMADRAM^ Quadjet T^V $749 00

400 Letter Quality $279.00

500 Letter Quality $329.00

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

TOSHIBA

1340 (80 column) $599.00

1351 (132 column) $1259.00

PC-150 Desktop CALL

PC-160 Portable CALL

iv;"i"n /■■

2220 Dual Portable $1999.00

4220 Dual Desktop $1999.00

®SANYO

MBC 550-2 Single Drive $749.00

MBC 555-2 Dual Drive $1099 00

MBC 775 Portable CALL

AT*T

Safari CALL

6300 CALL

corona

PPC22 Dual Portable $1599.00

PPCXTA 10 meg Portable $2799.00

PC40022 Dual Desktop $2199.00

SEC

PC-8800 8/16 Bit $1299.00

• Lotus

Symphony $429.00

1-2-3 $299.00

Hayes

Please (Data Base) $199.00

PeachPack (GL/AP/AR) $199.00

III MicroPro

WordStar 2000 $239.00

WordStar 2000 + $299.00

RBase 4000 $249.00

Clout 2.0 $129.00

MultiMate

Multi Mate $249.00

Crosstalk $89.99

MICROSOFT.

Flight Simulator $39.99

MultiPlan..

$129.00

ASHTON-TATEB

Framework $349.00

dBASE II $299 00

dBASE III $369.00

Professional Software

PC Plus/The Boss $249 00

File Manager.

synapse

$49 99

■■^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

BDORIAHO INrEMUTIMUt

Turbo Pascal $39.99

Sidekick $39.99

SPI

Open Access $379 00

# Harvard Software Inc.

Harvard Project Manager $209.00

Total Project Manager $269.00

vfa

IBM/APPLE

Access (NEW) $79.99

Write $79.99

Graph $79.99

Report $74 99

File $79.99

Plan $79.99

Proof $59.99

Mac Software CALL

Human Edge

m

Communication Edge $119.00

Management Edge $14900

Negotiation Edge $179.00

Sales Edge $149 00

IBM PC SYSTEMS Configured to your

specifications. Call for Best Price!

/4fN/|TJEK

MAI

$24900

ABT

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 CALL

5251 $579 00

3780 $639 00

BSC $499 00

IRMA 3270 .'....'..' $899 00

IRMA Print $999 00

E3GLE

Color .

..$199.00

EVEREX

Color Card (Graphics Edge) $299 00

Magic Card $199.00

Graphics. .SM~y*S5 $319.00

Color $169.00

HL

Associates

IDEAmax - ZPR. 64K. C. S. P $229 00

IDEAmini - YPR. C. S. P $189.00

IDEAminimax - MPR 128K $22900

IDEAshare Software $219.00

IDES 5251 $649.00

PARADISF

Modular Graphics Card $279.00

Multi Display Card $299.00

Five Pack C. S $169.00

PLANTRONICS

Color Plus $369 00

II

Captain - 64 $239.00

Captain Jr. 128K $339 00

Graphics Master $469 00

QUAL2RAM^

Quadboard II T*Tt!... $229.00

Expanded Quadboard $239.00

Quad 512 + $24900

Quad 2 Meg $879 00

Memory Board $229.00

QuadJr Exp. Chassis $539.00

QuadJr Exp. Memory S219 00

QuadMemJr $229.00

Chronograph $89.99

Parallel Card $69.99

Quadcolor I $219.C

Quadgraph $379.C

KEYBOARDS

Keytronics Keyboards 5150. 5151,

5151 Jr, 5149 Jr CALL

MEMORY CHIPS

4164 RAM Chips (ea.) $2 99

TOLL FREE

ORDERS ONLY! 800'631 '0962

(California) 800S21'6162

Customer Service HOTLINE

(408) 559-6555

GUARANTEED^LOWESTl

OUR PRICE GUARANTEE-It's Simple! We'll beat any ad in this magazine - same terms - call TOLL FREE for details!

DGt>

DISCOUNT COMPUTER CENTERS

OUR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: It for any reason your DCC purchase fails to meet manufacturers specifications within 30 days of purchase, please return it to us for a full refund or exchange of your choice! Sorry, software excluded due to copyright laws.

ISM^cnT—-*=—- --J

5««l(lr5S« W*«"

PC with 2 dmeMSSK '3S5

XTwirh2*4™MGK »»

Ca" 'or details - Com™*, : 3*7$

Sasaspa

310A...'

COLOR (£".'

'£, ArnOe, ...

420 RGB

PHwcETOrVHx^;;; •

MAX-12'

<24 MONO 1 IBM

'3SRG8COMP

... 249

569

135

145

165

419

515

114

..... 117

439

459

649

168

93

93

fSss55SJ

mfSSP* =5*

%:::: ::=:::::.^

'5-X ... 23fl

Special

PINB4U

WTHBUSTER '

FP0GGER ■

ULTIMA M.;

«XXON

G"° SUB SIMULATOR '

«LrAiowi5

HAVES 300 '200..

«CHORMARKxiE:;

SIX PAKVus

HR-25...

•Bap*' :—■:

JUKI 6300

WABLO620' .;;

2»«ywis~: ::;::^;

NEC all models

QUME a/I models

JCm

1395 1695

.359 .... 599 .799 .389

■ 724

■ 829 1276

!?M 360 KB

""'SPECIAI

win

■ '""wei

FRIDAV ■"""|y special.. «,

MULTIMATE

WORD w MOIKr

dBASEl,"'IBMWT*"BASE

dBASEI/l

PFS FILE

CONDOR ijj

B-BASE4000

"•BASE CLOUT".'.'.'

SIDEKICK "'IBM'««SCV"

COPy 1/ pc'

TH/NKTANK.'.'

S°*EV3.0.

gu?=z

!2?^m>srzzz::£

^HTS,M^WS;" "

■— - 34

249

• 84

249

269

159

84

-284

355

84

... 249 ...279 • 129

MEGAPLUS**4*

EVEREXGRAPHKEogj

*tt CONTROLLER

IBM Monochrome «9

P«AO.SECf3wflS.M*Sre''

.305 ■ 165 .249 259 309 379 299 199

0^K°^iR

.113

■■ 139 .189 ...48 ...59 ..49

375 ...475 .279

»

■ 129 79

■ 245 ... 45 ...55

■ 79

/ '""SPEClAI •••

--"■ "'"ULATOR

•A/'ww-easytouse windows"

• Footnotes

• Sped Checker

' J*^ much more

"!259j

MKH*« CHIPS 200ns

HSSSmw?" ";: ■"-.::»

«VTR0NICS5I5)NEWV '«

MICRO-SOFT m^t ■" 159

^SnCKS-KRAFTWES -- «

f niuu^j s/s, Cj^-tn

* PC Paint *|24)

S£*% SALE ... ^ -■•■ •*•"! SSI* Ss DO diskeST 35

attM^P :.'2|

Ww*S8WaSC "

•"— - JCall

V_ ATABlC-f*£fSE9Bfe, tow"

(i309

DISCOUNT COMPUTER CENTERS

an established mail order/retail distribution network

BUYER FRIENDLY TERMS! • DELIVERY We ship immediately' Most orders delivered within 5 days! Add 3% pff" mm) for UPS shipping, handling, insurance Calif residents add 6 5% sales tax 2"" day UPS available at extra charge •PAYMENT Visa, MC, cashiers checks, money orders, personal checks accepted (Allow 10 business days for personal company checks to clear). WE NEVER CHARGE EXTRA FOR CREDIT CARDS! CO D.'s welcome (20% p p deposit) with cash, certified check or money order • WARRANTY All items shipped are new include FACTORY WARRANTY and are GUARANTEED TO WORK. DCC is an AUTHORIZED DEALER and SERVICE CENTER for most major brands • RETURNS Must be accompanied by RMA number (supplied by DEALER) and may be subiect to a 20% restocking fee Prices and availability subject to change without notice All items limited to stock on hand • MAIL ORDER PRICES NOT VALID AT RETAIL OUTLETS DUE TO REGIONAL PRICING RESTRICTIONS. Minimum order <50*.

(free-visa/mcT)

398

BYTE

MAY 1985

1707 S. BASCOM AVE • CAMPBELL, CA 95008 • (408) 559-6555 1243 W. EL CAMINO • SUNNYVALE, CA 94087 • (415) 965-4494 1341 FULTON AVE • SACRAMENTO, CA 95825 • (916) 971-3503

( VISIT OUR DISCOUNT SHOWROOMS! )

A self-help

guide for

buyers and

sellers

by Robert Greene

Sterne and

Perry I. Saidman

COMPUTERS AND LAW

The Sale

of Computer Products

Robert Greene Sterne and Perry |. Saidman are attorneys with Saidman. Sterne. Kessler. & Goldstein in Washington. DC. They are also contributing editors for BYTE- They can be contacted do BYTE. POB 372. Hancock. NH 03449.

In this column we will discuss the legal aspects of buying and selling computer products, an important concern because each stage of the distribution network is involved. We'll deal with computer products—microcomputers of all types, offthe-shelf software packages, printers, floppy disks, computer furniture, and the likebut not services—customization of software, service calls, and so on—since services are treated somewhat differently. We hope you find this a concise self-help guide to be retained and consulted when buying or selling computer products.

We'll examine both pre-sale activities and the sale itself. We'll attempt to present as balanced a view as possible, one that is neither pro-buyer nor pro-seller. However, the subject is, by nature, very buyeroriented, since sellers in many respects have forced the marketplace to be sellerbiased. For clarity we will cast you, the reader, in the role of buyer.

The buyer being discussed is the individual person or business buying for personal or business use. The seller can be in the business of selling computer products—a local store, a mail-order house, a hardware manufacturer, or software publisher—or an individual or business selling computer products on a one-shot basis. This second group is growing exponentially as older products are being supplanted.

The Law of Computer Sales

The legal aspects of computer sales involve a hybrid of federal and state laws. One part is in the form of statutory rules as interpreted by actual court cases. And another part is judge-made laws that have evolved over the centuries and trace their ancestry back to England. When you apply this patchwork quilt of legal rules to a given sales situation, you must examine the facts carefully, since it is not uncommon for a single fact to radically alter the end result.

The primary source of federal law is the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Rules and

Regulations relating to mail-order sales and to warranties. At the state level, it is Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) that makes up the bulk of sales law. In certain states, additional laws govern deceptive trade practices. In each state, judgemade laws control those areas not addressed by federal law, the UCC, or the deceptive trade practice laws (if present).

The Buyer s Responsibilities

As a buyer, your first rule is to check out the product you intend to buy and the various sellers from whom you could buy it. Buyer advocates stress that much pain and aggravation can be avoided if you observe this simple rule.

Take the time to read reputable and indepth reviews of the product, preferably from a nonpartisan journal. Some buyer advocates recommend that you avoid products that have just been released unless you have the wherewithal to deal with the product shakedown risks.

Find a way to use the product—examine the manual, try to run some functions, and determine if it will operate in its intended environment. You should try to talk to a person currently using the product; reputable sellers will put you in touch with such users.

Check out possible sellers. Price and product availability usually are not the only factors to be considered. Local stores are attractive, since they offer the advantages of product inspection and evaluation, support, and service as well as off-the-shelf delivery. But you should determine whether the product requires support or service. Obviously, a printer does and a floppy disk does not. If support and/or service are important, then you should evaluate the local store's capability to provide them. How well established is the store? What kind of staff does it have and how experienced are they? What reputation do the store and staff have? Do they stand behind the products they sell? Local stores constantly complain

{continued)

MAY 1985 "BYTE 399

COMPUTERS & LAW

to us that they do all the pre-sale work for mail-order houses, hardware manufacturer, and software publishers who get the sale due to their lower pre-sale overhead. If you intend to use the computer products in a business context where downtime is costly, you should be sensitive to this. You should try to determine if the

local store will be loyal to you if you are loyal to it. As a buyer, you should remember the time-tested adage of being penny-wise and pound-foolish. Mail-order houses are the real wild cards in the seller's game. As a buyer, you should take a minute to look at magazine advertising. Any computer product imaginable can be purchased

"C

8 "/'///,„„

How Do Ybu*>^i Measure A C Compiler?

CODE SPEED & SIZE

The Lattice C Compiler "generates code that is quite compact and last running" Peter Norton, PC Magazine

CONSISTENT RELIABILITY

"The Lattice Compiler has performed reliably and predictably." R. Phraner, Byte Magazine

COMPILE TIME

"Lattice is a real performer." Houston, Brodrick, Kent, Byte Magazine

THIRD-PARTY UBRARIES

More than 40 library products are currently available for Lattice

UNIX V COMPATIBILITY

The Lattice Library is UNIX V-compatible

DEBUGGER SUPPORT

The Lattice C-SPRITE Debugger is now available

DOCUMENTATION

Lattice "is thorough and excellent." D. Clapp. PC Magazine

UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories

UPDATE POLICIES

Lattice provides free bugfix updates lor 90 days

COOPERATING PRODUCTS

New LMK Utility, dBC Library, CVUE Screen Text Editor, CURSES Screen Library and GSS Graphics are available from Lattice

VENDOR REPUTATION

Lattice is used in more commercial products than any other C Compiler. No runtime license is required.

ALL MEMORY MODELS

Lattice C has 7 memory models available to allow the best solution for the task at hand

AVAILABILITY OF CROSS COMPILERS

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!

Ask About Our "Trade Up To Lattice C" Policy

P LATTICE

Lattice", Inc. P.O. Box 3072 Glen Ellyn, IL 60138 (312) 858-7950 TWX 910-291-2190

International Sales Offices Belgium: Softshop. Phone: (32) 53-664875. England: Round Hills. Phone: (0672) 54675. Japan: Lifeboat Japan. Phone: (03) 293-23U.

by mail order. And look at those low, low prices. They are often from 10 to 40 percent lower than those available from other sellers. But the support and service are not available, according to many buyer advocates and some seller attorneys. And even more importantly, you should be aware that there is a significantly higher risk that you may get a late delivery or no delivery at all.

Mail-order houses argue that they are the force that keeps the marketplace truly competitive, resulting in the amazing gains in the performance/ price curve that the microcomputer industry has enjoyed in its 10-year life span. Without them, they argue, the local stores would conspire with manufacturers and publishers and artificially raise prices in the name of support and service. Apple Computer has been on the receiving end of such allegations in the lawsuits spawned by Apple's termination of dealers engaged in so-called transshipping—sales through the mail or by phone by sellers who provide little or no preor post-sale support or service.

Hardware manufacturers and software publishers make up the third group of regular sellers. They will be glad to talk to you about selling you their products. You should call them up, ask to talk to their sales departments, and get price and delivery quotes. Dealing with the manufacturers offers several advantages. Often they are the ultimate sources of support and service. In other words, the local stores are really fronting for them. You also stand a greater chance of getting the latest version of a product directly from the manufacturer. This is particularly true with small manufacturers and publishers who may not have the dealer network that warrants using a local store. Larger manufacturers may operate company stores in your local area.

Suppose you are about to buy or sell a computer product and the person you are negotiating with is not yet 18 years old. As any experienced seller knows, this is one of the danger points in the law of computer sales.

{continued)

400 BYTE' MAY 1985

inquiry 234

Double your IBM PC's processing speed for under $650:

AT speed for your IBM PC, with QuadSprint by Quadram.

Quadram introduces a rapid advancement in IBM PC performance. QuadSprint. The innovative expansion board that doubles the processing speed of your personal computer. Just plug the totally transparent QuadSprint into your system and watch all your PC programs (Lotus 1-2-3. dBASE III, Wordstar, and more*) run faster and more efficiently than ever before... without special commands or interface software.

But best of all, you can pick up QuadSprint without running up a huge bill. At less than $650, QuadSprint is about half the price of other accelerator (turbo) cards and turns your PC into a machine that's virtually as fast as the new PC AT.

So make your own rapid advancement. To the Quadram dealer closest to you. And see how to double the processing speed of your IBM PC. With QuadSprint by Quadram.

QUAQ^*^

QUADRAM

J An Intelligent Systems Company

4355 International Blvd./Norcross, Ga. 30093

(404) 923-6666/TWX 810-766-4915 (QUADRAM NCRS)

Inquiry 335

IBM1' PC. PC AT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.' 1-2-3 isa 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.

STOP GETTING YOUR WIRES CROSSED;

One mix up, and a whole project can get thrown off. Which can mean costly delays. With Post-it™ Notes, you can put important notes or directions right where they'll be seen. The unique, repositionable adhesive means they'll stay put.Then come off as easily as they went on. And the bright

color means your message is sure to get noticed.

Call 1-800-328-1684 for a free sample. Then get more from your office manager, local stationer or art supply dealer.

With Post-it Notes, you'll never have problems making connections.

COMPUTERS & LAW

And with the rapidly expanding usedproduct market, there is a significant possibility that you may find yourself buying a product from a minor The rule here is that you should always make sure that an adult (a person 18 years or older) signs the written sales contract for the minor. The reason is that a minor is not allowed by law to contract. In effect, a minor could buy or sell a computer product and then void the sale and get his money or product back even though he has made full use of the money or product for a considerable period of time. This rule traces its lineage back to the days when the law sought to protect minors from unscrupulous adults and from themselves. Minors today seldom repudiate their deals, but when big-ticket product purchases are involved, it's prudent to be on the safe side and make sure an adult signs the sales agreement.

The Sales Agreement

Whether you are the buyer or the seller, you should always use a written sales agreement—a must if the transaction is for more than $500. And you should always get the other party to sign it or initial it. Sometimes, one party to a sale of over $500 will try to get the other party to sign the agreement but will try not to sign it himself. A section of the UCC says that a contract for more than $500 must be in writing and signed by the party that is on the receiving end of an enforcement action. Thus, if one party does not sign, that party can enforce the contract against the other party but can prevent it from being enforced against himself.

A sales agreement can be as simple as an itemized note or sales slip or as elaborate as the multisheet printed form with carbon paper that has become commonplace. If you are a buyer, it is imperative to get everything in writing to be able to prove those items that have been agreed upon. On the other hand, if you are the seller, only put in writing that which you intend to provide and nothing more. The reason for this is that the UCC explicitly states that all

discussions that lead up to a written contract are deemed to be contained in the written contract, unless otherwise stated. Most printed agreements, however, contain an integration or entire-agreement clause. This clause is part of the boldface, capitalized verbiage usually found on the front of a form contract near the price or near

where the buyer's signature goes. This clause states in effect that the paper being signed is the entire agreement, understanding, and representation between the buyer and seller and supersedes all previous discussions, promises, and understandings. In other words, if it's not in the written

[continued]

You already own a computer that can talk.

Now let it.

Now you can upgrade almost any personal computer and make it more powerful than ever, by giving it the power of speech.

The Votrax Personal Speech System is the least expensive sophisticated voice synthesizer available today. The PSS's text-to-speech vocabulary is virtually unlimrted, and you can define an exception word table and customize your translations. So the PSS can say just about anything!

It's a speech and sound specialist.

The PSS can also mix speech and sound effects or speech and music. It contains its own speaker a programmable master clock, 256 programmable frequencies, a programmable speech rate for a more natural rhythm, and 16 programmable amplitude levels for incredible control of word emphasis. You can control the volume. Plus, rt doesn't use any of your computer's valuable memory

It's computer friendly.

The PSS is unbelievably easy to use. It doesn't need an interface card for most computers. It comes with standard serial and parallel ports. Speech, music, and sound effects are as simple as printing out a document.

What do you do with a talking computer?

There are countless practical applications. Businesses may want the PSS for spoken transmission of information, narration of displays, and product demonstrations. It makes verification of data input possible for the blind. It can be part of a burglar alarm system. Children can use the PSS as a study -»—aid. And it helps games come alive, speaking while you play

Whatever your computer can do, the PSS can help it do it better at a cost that makes it all worthwhile: only $395* Call (313) 583-9884 to hear an actual voice demonstration of the PSS.

There's also the Type 'N Talk.

If you want a less sophisticated unit and want to spend a little less, consider the Votrax Type 'N Talk (TNT). Its vocabulary is also limited only by what you can type. It doesn't use any computer memory it's compatible with most computers, and it's only $249* Just plug it in to your own speaker and go!

For more information about the Persona! Speech System or the Type 'N Talk, see your local computer retailer call toll-free or write:

1394 Rankin

Troy Michigan 48083

1-800-521-1350

(In Michigan, call collect

313-588-0341)

Inquiry 4 15

MAY 1985

I Y T E

403

COMPUTERS & LAW

Ike seller should let you read and understand the boilerplate before you sign the contract.

contract, it's not part of the deal.

If you are the buyer, you cannot always trust the salesperson to adequately document the deal, so take these simple precautions. It is perfectly reasonable to require that the salesperson let you read and understand the boilerplate of the contract and to have all of the particulars of your deal

GIVEMJRPC THE GIFT OF SIGHT.

Until now, your PC was telling only half the storv. Because no matter how you look at it, words and numbers are simply that: words and numbers.

But the Datacopy 700 changes all that TURN YOUR WORD PROCESSOR

INTO AN IMAGE PROCESSOR.

This remarkable peripheral enables you to combine photos, diagrams, even 3-D objects with word processing, data base, CAD and communications applications using standard software.

All you need to get the picture is an IBM XT, AT, or compatible. Our friendly, yet powerful, Word Image Processing System™ software is included in your purchase.

Once installed, our electronic digitizing scanner allows you to capture images in high resolution. These can then be manipulated, stored, retrieved, and even printed.

But what's truly amazing is the range of applications for the Datacopy 700. Such as generating complex documents including text, drawings and pictures. Technical manuals. Catalogs. Personnel or document files. Or what ever you decide. The result is a visionary achievement: the power to give words and numbers far more meaning. To publish information, not just data. And to extend the possibilities of your PC. All for a surprisingly low cost.

For more details, call toll-free 1-800821-2898 or in California 415-965-7900. Or write to Datacopy Corporation, 1215 Terra Bella Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043. Telex: 701994 DATACOPY UD.

DATACOPY

The Eye of the Computer

entered on the contract before you sign it, pay any money, or take possession of the computer products. If a printed form contract is used, make sure all deletions and additions are initialed and dated by the seller in the margin beside the change on all of the copies. Also make sure that the contract is signed by an agent of the seller who has the authority to sign contracts.

Prudent sellers should pay great attention to making sure they have legally strong, well-drafted, and plainEnglish standard contracts and that their sales personnel are diligent in completing them and having them executed in each computer-product sale. This cannot be overemphasized. In the event of a dispute with a disgruntled buyer, a seller, particularly if selling is the seller's regular business, will be at a great disadvantage if he doesn't have such a written agreement. Furthermore, if a buyer tries to cheat the seller out of money owed, the buyer must have a written contract. And if a seller should be unfortunate and become involved in a defective-computer lawsuit where the buyer may quite legitimately claim consequential and punitive damages in the millions of dollars, a written contract can be the seller's main shield against such liability.

Buyers often tell us that sellers will not change their standard contracts. This is a negotiation as much as a legal issue. If a seller will not document the terms of your deal—the computer products involved, price, delivery date, the name and address of the buyer and seller, any special terms, and the like—then you should probably find a different seller. However, if boilerplate language is the problem, then the issue is much more difficult. Many sellers just won't deviate from their standard agreement, particularly on single-system deals, because they are afraid that if they give in to one, they will have to give in to all future buyers. One way to get around this impasse may be to create a side letter that specifically incorporates the standard agreement but states that the modifications con

[contmued]

404 B Y T E • MAY 1985

Inquiry 124

I

n the quiet city of Metropolis, SuperSoft Software is turning ordinary business people into

tfllMMMMAJ]

Scratchpad Plus

When faced with the perilous threat of data overflow, this Spreadsheet will NEVER let you run Out Of Memory

Scratchpad Plus is the no-nonsense financial planning spreadsheet suitable for every business Superhero.

• HAMDLE HUGESPREADSHEETS192K memory is all you'll ever need, it runs in much less. Use W up to 9,999 rows or columns. Fill up to 25,000 cells simultaneously. Mever see "Out of Memory-' again.

• CONSOLIDATE LIKE CRAZY-Take as many spreadsheets as you would like and consolidate them into one. Get totals or averages of all entries.

• ENTER DATA WITH BLINDING SPEED —Enter columns and rows of data with only one hand.

• LEAP TALL PROJECTS IN A SINGLE BOUND—Automatic pagination, format options, data transfer capabilities, windowing, built-in functions, formula display, precise error reporting, and help screens are just some of the time-saving features of Scratchpad Plus.

Scratchpad Plus

(for all PC DOS, MS DOS, CP/M-86, and CP/M-80 systems): $195 Demo available: $19.95

Stats-graph

Create Super Graphs Without Graphics Hardware

Bring excitement and immediacy to your reports and presentations. Create PIE GRAPHS, SCATTER PLOTS, and BAR CHARTS that can be output to any screen, printer, or text file. No matter what kind of system you have —color or black and white, graphics or no graphics, printer or no printer—Stats-graph will create great looking graphs. You can also produce statistics such as regression analysis and standard deviation. And Stats-graph works alone or with Scratchpad Plus, PDB, or any other program which outputs DIE files.

Stats-graph

(for all PC DOS, MS DOS, CP/M-86, and CP/M-80 systems): $195 Demo available: $19.95

Inquiry 383

PDB

The Superhero's Business Filing System

When up against a villainous quagmire of disorganized data, Superhero PDB puts you in control. File it, sort it, search it, format it, enter it, delete it, reorganize it, merge it, convert it, subdivide it, print it, report it...

PDB is the high-powered business filing system that even the INCREDIBLE HULK would find easy to use. Get PDB, PDQ.

PDB (for PC DOS and selected MS DOS systems): $195

Diagnostics II

Take care of your microcomputer before it takes care of you.

Protect yourself from time-robbing system failure. Pinpoint costly hardware problems before they cause serious trouble.

NCR, XEROX, MORROW DESIGNS, and SONY all use this software to take care of their systems. Diagnostics II is the finest set of system diagnostics available for microcomputers. It thoroughly checks memory, CPU, terminal, printer, and disk drivesisolating many problems to the chip level. It checks both standard and non-standard components, including non-IBM add-ons. So get a copy of Diagnostics II for yourself—and keep your system in great shape.

Diagnostics II

(for all PC DOS, MS DOS, CP/M-86,

and CP/M-80 systems): $125

Special Promotional Offer

Mention this ad when ordering from SuperSoft and get the following outstanding discounts on any of these products.

BUY ONE PRODUCT, GET $25 OFF-BUY TWO PRODUCTS, GET $60 OFF- BUY AMY THREE, GET $100 OFF-BUY ALL FOUR AND GET $150 OFF This offer is available for a limited time only.

HOW TO ORDER

CALL 8007626629

(in Illinois call 217-359-2112

or SEND YOUR CHECK OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION TO THE ADDRESS BELOW. Add $3 shipping U.S., $6 Canada, $20 all other areas. Please specify your computer and operating system. (C.O.D. orders also accepted)

SuperS ft

SuperSoft, Inc. P.O. Box 1628, Champaign, IL 61820 Telex: 270365 SUP ACI CHM

MAY 1985 -BYTE 405

COMPUTERS & LAW

tained in the letter supersede comparable terms in the standard agreement. The letter should be dated the same day as the standard agreement and should also be signed by the seller.

Advertising

Another problem that causes anguish for both buyer and seller involves ad

vertisements. The seller is not obligated to provide an unlimited number of buyers with a particular product at an advertised price. The law recognizes that product supplies are not limitless. To be on the safe side, sellers should make sure that their advertisements specify the number of products that will be available at a

Wre inGoodCompany

WhenMxi Program

in BetterBASIC

All of these companies rely on BetterBASIC to write their software programs. They have found that BetterBASIC combines the features they need from BASIC, Pascal, C and Forth in one familiar environment. Some of these features include the following. 640K Now you can use the full memory of vour PC to develop large programs. STRUCTURED Create well organized programs using procedures and functions that are easily identified and understood and completely reusable in future programs. MODULAR Use procedures and functions grouped together to form "library modules." 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 of the program is compiled as it is entered

into the computer's memory rather than interpreted at runtime. The optional Runtime System generates KXE. files. BetterBASIC Runs on IBM PC, IBM PC/XT and compatibles. CALL 1-800-225-5800 Order Better BASIC now, or write Summit Software Technology, Inc.™. P.O. Box 99. Babson Park, Wellesley, MA 02157 Prices are listed below. BetterBASIC: $199 Runtime System: $250 8087 Math Module: $99

Still not convinced? Order the BetterBASIC sample disk which includes a demo, a tutorial, compatibility issues, 50 lines of BetterBASIC and more. Only $10.

MasterCard, VISA. P.O. Checks. Money Order. C.O.D. accepted

BetterBASIC is a registered trademark of Summit Software Technology. Inc.

IBM PC and IBM PC/XT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corp. Illustrated above are registered trademarks of the following companies: Mobil Oil Corp., AT&T; General Electric Co : Westinghouse Electric Corp ; TRW. Inc.

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE TANDY 2000, 1200 AND 1000

sale price or state minimally that "quantities are limited."

Rain Checks

What happens when the seller issues a rain check to the buyer? Must he sell the product to the buyer at a later date? Seller lawyers argue that there is no obligation under state law, since the rain check is considered merely an offer, revocable by the seller prior to the actual purchase. Buyer advocates disagree but have little legal precedent on which to rely. To be on the safe side, buyer advocates suggest that you either purchase the products in full and await delivery or put down a partial payment and get a written rain check. The partial payment turns that written rain check into a binding contract.

Mail Order

Many buyers are scared of dealing with mail-order houses. They are afraid of being burned. Buyer advocates suggest the following strategy to minimize this. First, always deal with a seller whose business is located out of state to avoid paying sales tax. Second, call the seller, negotiate the terms mentioned below, and follow up with a letter documenting the oral agreement. One important term is the exact description of the product being purchased (model or version number, etc.). Another is the price, including handling and shipping. Make sure the product is shipped "FOB your address" (so risk of loss only passes to you upon delivery). If the seller insists on "FOB shipping point," make sure he gets sufficient insurance. Specify the delivery date required and include the magic words "time is of the essence." Also state that the seller is not to deviate from the terms in the letter without your prior written permission. Third, always keep a copy of your letter along with your notes and all correspondence received from the seller.

The FTC has rules requiring a mailorder seller, after receiving a complete sales order, to deliver the product either within the time specified in

[continued)

406 BYTE" MAY 1985

Inquiry 380

Now Showing In Black And White

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 colorsblack and white. That's right! The MB-142 gives you black characters on a paper-white backgroundjust like people have been reading for centuries. You can also have white characters on a black background 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, combined with its ultra-high 720 x 350 resolution, can display characters that are larger and more legible than what you can get with ordinary monochrome monitors. Another great plus is that the MB-142 plugs directly into the monochrome board of your IBM or compatible—just like your present monochrome monitor, with nothing more to buy.

Because of the MB-142's advanced electronic circuitry, you even have the ability to mix graphics and text on the same display when using graphics and text boards from leading manufacturers such as Persyst, STB, Paradise, Hercules, AST and many others. What makes it all possible? The same sophisticated technology used in color monitors.

the MB-142 supports all the winning cards

usha

button for instant reverse screen

for business, black and white makes more sense than green and black

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, Energraphics, Chart-Master, AutoCAD, CADDraft and VersaCAD, in ultra-high resolution black and white. Also, take full advantage of your program'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 computer 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 Development Corp.; VersaCAD, T&W Systems, Inc.

Roland DG

Inquiry 345

MAY 1985 -BYTE 407

COMPUTERS & LAW

the advertisement or within 30 days if no time is specified. The FTC rule is superseded when you specify a delivery date. But what happens if the delivery date is missed? First, if the delivery date was specified along with "time is of the essence," the order becomes null and void. The seller must make a refund within seven busi

ness days (or within one billing cycle for a credit card) after the contract cancellation. If you did not specify a delivery date, then the FTC rule requires that the seller notify you of the delay. If the seller says shipment will occur within 30 days, then you have the option to cancel and get a refund. If you fail to respond to the seller's

Change your diskette to fit the IBM PC

THE FILE CONNECTION

8 DISKETTE SYSTEM FOR THE IBM PC

Our TILE CONNECTION programs provide 8" diskette file exchange between the IBM PC and most Micro-Mini-Main Frame computer systems.

Our WORD CONNECTION programs provide 8 diskette text docu ment exchange between the IBM PC and many word processing systems.

Our DISPLAYWRITER CONNECTION programs transform documents from Textpack, Wordstar, Multimate, etc. to the new DisplayWrite 2 format.

In addition to our hardware and program products, we also provide a conversion service for customer supplied diskettes. Please contact us for information about the hundreds of 5'A and 8 diskette formats and systems which we currently support.

FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING / P.O. Box 1970 / Flagstaff, AZ 86002 Telephone 602-774-5188 / Telex 705609 FLAGENG UD

notice, the new delivery date takes effect. However, if the seller says shipment will occur in more than 30 days, you are off the hook automatically unless you agree otherwise. Furthermore, the seller must refund your money within the 30-day period.

Forms of Payment

Buyer advocates argue that the payment mechanism is one of the most effective ways for guaranteeing that a seller delivers the desired computer product. They rank payment mechanisms from most to least attractive for the buyer as follows: credit card; cash on delivery (COD) (without deposit and with payment by personal check); personal check; other instruments, such as certified or cashiers' checks or postal or private money orders; wire transfer; and, as a last resort, cold hard cash. In descending order, each offers you less in control and protection.

By comparison, a seller prefers cash because it is immediate payment with no strings attached. A wire transfer, where your bank electronically sends the money to the seller's bank account, is practically cash since you cannot stop payment. Because you also cannot stop payment on certified or cashiers' checks or money orders, they are the next most attractive to the seller. On the other hand, many sellers will not accept personal checks, and those that do typically require that the check clear—two weeks is common—before the product is shipped. This is because sellers fear that you could stop payment on a personal check or might have insufficient funds to cover it. In a COD transaction, you pay for the product when it is delivered. When United Parcel Service (UPS) is the carrier, the seller can specify the mode of payment, such as cash or certified check as opposed to personal check.

Credit cards are attractive to sellers since the credit-card company is on the hook unless you (the buyer) successfully protest some aspect of the transaction. Furthermore, some marketing people believe that through

(continued)

408 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 167 for Dealers. Inquiry 168 for End-Users.

What every Apple owner should know about

WORD

juggler:

X

*

>

If you own an Apple He or He—or you're planning to uy one—here are a few things you should know about Quark's Word Juggler word processor.

First of all, Word Juggler is the only word processor that gives you a powerful spelling checker and a built-in telecommunications feature. So you can create a document—check it for spelling errors—and then send it via electronic mail. All with just one program.

I

Plus, Word Juggler is the most easy-to-use, professional word processor you can buy for your Apple. Even complicated "cut-and-paste" tasks can be accomplished with just a few keystrokes.

There's nothing to memorize, either. Because Word Juggler comes with replacement keycaps—and a special keyboard template—which identify principal editing and formatting commands. So you can focus your efforts on using the program, not learning it.

Fact is, no other word processor for your Apple He or He gives you this unique combination of power, functionality

I and ease of use. And if all these advantages aren't compelling enough, check the price. Suggested retail is only $189. So visit your favorite dealer today. Ask for a complete demonstration—and for a copy of our brochure, "What Every Apple Owner Should Know About Word Juggler." If

■you don't have a favorite dealer, but would like one, just call I (800) 543-7711. We'll fix you up.

**

Quark

Wmtmmmmmmmca*r<mKTWD

2525 West Evans, Suite 220 Denver CO 80219

Inquiry 338

Quark and Word Juggler are trademarks of Quark Incorporated. Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Ask about our specially-priced educational version.

Copyright 1985. Quark Incorporated

Photography by Barbara Kasten

The Micromint Collection

^

TERM MITE ST

SMART TERMINAL BOARD

TERM MITE is a completely I

display controller.

Hf-contained video

All you need to build a Smart Video Terminal equivalent to the types advertised (or $1000 or more is a Term-Mite ST circuit board, scanned or parallel keyboard, video monitor and power supply

Uses brand new Nat'l Semi NS405 Terminal

Processor.

24 lines by 80 characters, 25th reverse-video

status.

Upper & lowercase. Line (block) graphics.

Selectable data rate, parity & display options.

Reverse video, half intensity, double height &

width, underline, blinking and/or blank character.

Separate sync or composite video output. Self Test.

TERM-MITE ST Video Display Terminal Board

BCC22 Assembled & Tested $284.

BCC23 Complete Kit $244.

MPX 16 MICROCOMPUTER IBM PC COMPATIBLE

As featured on the cover of BYTE Magazine. Also featured in Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar November, December 1982 & January 1983

The Computer with a Split Personality

- Use it as an IBM PC look alike that directly boots PC DOS 2.0 and accepts all expansion boards designed for the IBM PC.

- Use it as a powerful 8088 single board computer for all your OEM applications. Just add serial terminal disk drive and power supply. Directly boots CP/M-86.

Buy the MPX-16 in the form that best meets your

needs or budget. As a bare board, as a wave soldered

board that contains all components less ICs, as an

assembled and tested circuit board or as a complete

system.

• Directly boots PC DOS 2.0 and CP/M-86.

Most IBM PC software executes with no

modifications.

- IBM PC bus compatible +9 expansion slots. Intel 8088 16-bit microprocessor.

- Optional Intel 8087 math cocprocessor.

■ 256K bytes on board memory.

Up to one megabyte of system memory. Up to 64K bytes of system ROM/EPROM 2 RS-232C Serial & 3 Parallel I/O ports.

■ Disk controller for 5H" or 8" drives.

- Sixteen levels of vectored interrupts.

MPX-16 Circuit Board Assembled

w/64K RAM $1,200.

DEM 100 quantity price 840.

MPX-16 Circuit Board Assembled

w/256K RAM 1.400.

MPX-16 Semi-Kit (wave soldered circuit

board w/all components) Less ICs 596.

Complete Kit of ICs w/2S6K RAM 596.

MPX 16 Unpopulated (bare) PC Board .... 300.

CP/M-86 Operating System + Manuals 80.

MPX-16 Switching Power Supply 300.

MPX-16 Technical Reference Manual SO.

MPX-16 Metal Enclosure with Fan 225.

Tandon TM 100-2 Double Sided/Density

Drive 300.

IBM/PC Keyboard Interface Adapter 100.

Shipping and handling additional on MPX-16 orders.

Z8 COMPUTER SYSTEM

BASIC System Controller

The Z8 Basic System Controller is an updated version of our popular BCC01. The price has been reduced and features added. The entire computer is 4" by 414" and includes a tiny BASIC interpreter, up to 6K bytes of RAM and EPROM, one RS 232C serial port with switchable baud rates and two parallel ports. BASIC or machine language programming is accomplished simply by connecting a CRT terminal. Programs can be transferred to 2732 EPROMs with an optional EPROM programmer for auto start applications Addi tional Z8 peripheral boards include memory expan sion, serial and parallel 1/0, real time clock, an A/D Converter and an EPROM programmer.

- Uses Zilog Z8 single chip microprocessor.

- Data and address buses available for complete

peripheral expansion Can be battery operated

- Cross assemblers for various computers. New BCC11 Assembled ft Tested $149. Low Price

FORTH Language Version

Iftth the new Z8 with on board 4K FORTH you can .irogram high speed control functions in a few simple high level language commands. Perfect for data reduction, process control and high speed control applications.

BCC20 Z8F FORTH Microprocessor chip . $150. BCC21 Z8F FORTH System Controller (This board rs a BCC11 with a BCC20 installed) Auemhted & Tested . . 280.

Memory, I/O Expansion Cassette Interface

8K bytes of additional RAM or EPROM Three additional 8 bit parallel ports. Cassette interface - 300 baud K.C. Standard

- Software real time clock.

BCC33 w/0K RAM Assembled 8. Tested . .. $150.

BCC34 w/6K RAM Assembled & Tested . .. $180.

Eprom Programmer

Transfer BASIC or Assembly Language application programs from RAM to 2716 or 2732 EPROM. Comes with programming & utility routines on EPROM.

Requires Z8 I/O Expansion Board for operation. BCC07 Assembled & Tested $145.

Analog to Digital Converter

Uses Analog Devices 7581 IC, 8-channel 8-bit. Adds process control capability to the Z8 system Over 1,000 conversions per channel per second.

■ Monitors 8 analog signals in one of two lOv Ranges.

BCC13 Assembled & Tested $140.

Serial Expansion Board

Adds additional RS 232C and opto isolated 20 ma. current loop serial port to the Z8 System. Runs at 75 to 19,200 baud in all protocols. Comes with listings of sample serial I/O routines. BCC08 Assembled & Tested $160.

16K Memory Expansion Board

Add up to 16K of additional memory, RAM or EPROM, to your Z8 System Controller in any multiple.

Accepts 2016, 6116, 2716, or 2732 memory types. Four 16K cards may be installed on the Z8 System bringing the total memory to 64K. BCC14 Assembled & Tested w/4K RAM . $120.

IBM PC is a trademark of International Business Machines Inc. CP/M-86 is a trademark of Digital Research Inc. Z8 is a trademark of Zilog Inc.

Cross Assemblers

From Micro Resources

IBM PC. APPLE. 6502 Systems 5X".

CP/M 2.2 B" S'S.

From Allen Ashley

TRS-80 Model I. III. Nonhsur IK" 75.

CP/M2.2 I" 150.

Five Slot Mother Board

Expand your Z8 BASIC System with minimum

effort. ■ Contains five slots complete w/44 pin connectors. MB02 Assembled 8> Tested $89.

Triple Voltage Power Supplies

*5V e 300 mi. */■ 12V S 25 m..

UPS01 Assembled & Tested S35.

UPS02 Complete Kit 27.

+5V ») 1 Amp. +12V e? .5 Amp. 12V e 50 me.

UPS03 Assembled & Tesled 60.

UPS04 Complete Kit 50.

SPEECH PRODUCTS

Lis'ner 1000 Voice

Recognition Board

Uses the new, high performance SP1000 voice recognition chip.

The LIS' NER 1000 provides voice input capability for your computer. The unit functions in the same manner as your keyboard, serving as a data entry device for application programs or the normal operation of the computer.

The LIS' NER 1000 recognition system works by analyzing human speech and extracting the most important features. These impressions of words are compacted into "templates" which can be stored and later compared to someone talking to the recognition unit. The LIS' NER 1000 supports a 64 word vocabulary in speaker dependent, discrete utterance mode. The recognition accuracy is greater than 98%. Each unit comes with a professional quality headband style electret microphone to assure accuracy, software on diskette and a user's manual. The APPLE II LIS' NER board has provision for an SSI 263 phonetic speech synthesizer chip with textto-speech algorithm. This addition provides all the features described (or the Sweet Talker M as well as speech recognition. APPLE II LIS'NER 1000 with SP1000 recognition/synthesis components only

VR01 Assembled * Tested $189.

VR02 Complete Kit $149.

APPLE II LIS' NER 1000 with SPiOOO recognition/synthesis components and SSI 263 phoneme synthesizer chip with text to speech algorithm.

VR03 Assembled and Tested $259.

VR04 Complete Kit $219.

COMMODORE 64 LIS' NER 1000 with SPIOOO recognition/synthesis components

VR10 Assembled & Tested $149.

VR11 Complete Kit $119.

Sweet Talker II Textto-Speech Synthesizer

Speech Synthesizer ICs

SWEET TALKER II, a 3rd generation speech synthesizer, is based on the SSI 263. SWEET TALKER II directly drives a speaker to provide music, sound effects and continuous speech of unlimited vocabulary at data rates as low as 50 70 bps.

SSI 263 based Apple II compatible speech

speech synthesis board

Comes with text-to-speech algorithm on

disk (DOS 3.3)

Appropriate control inputs for mapping with

several buses

On board 1 watt amplifier with volume control

Measures 3" x 3%"

Operates on -<-5 and +12v ST22SWEET TALKER II Apple II compatible speech synthesizer with text-to-speech algorithm on disk $104.

Microvox Textto-Speech Synthesizer

Microvox is a professional voice quality text- to speech synthesizer that is easily interfaced to any computer, modem, RS-232C serial or parallel output device and provides speech of unbelievable clarity. Unlimited vocabulary.

- 64 programmable inflection levels.

- 6K text-to-speech algorithm.

- Full ASCII character set recognition and echo. RS232C and parallel input.

1000 Character buffer, 3000 optional.

Adjustable baud rates (75-9600).

Spelling output mode.

7 octave music and sound effects.

On board audio amplifier & power supply.

X-On/X-Off handshaking.

MV01 Assembled with 1K butter $349.

MV02 Complete Kit with IK butter $269.

Add $15.00 for 3K butter option.

The SC-01A Speech Synthesizer is a completely selfcontained solid state device that phonetically synthesizes continuous speech of unlimited vocabulary. SCOIAOuantity 1-99 $32.

100+ $24.

1000+ call

The Silicon Systems SSI 263 Speech Synthesizer Chip is a third generation speech synthesizer chip that produces even more intelligible speech than did older devices. The SSI 263 has improved into nation, inflection and filtration. SSI 263 Quantity 1-9 $42. ea.

10-99 $34. ea.

100 $30. ea.

The Micromint is stocking thousands of SP1000 voice recognition chips. Call us for a quote.

MICRO D-CAM DIGITAL TV CAMERA

Give your computer the dimension of sight.

- Interprets, enhances and stores images.

- 256 x 128 digital image sensor.

- Plug-in boards for the IBM-PC, APPLE II ore.

- Software includes utilities for auto exposure. multi-level greyscale, screen dump and image enhancement.

■ Includes interface card, 4 foot extension cable camera assembly, manual, and software on diskette.

DC01 IBM PC Assembled & Tested $299.

DC02 IBM PC Complete Kit $264.

DC03 APPLE 11 Assembled & Tested .... $299.

DC04 APPLE II Complete Kit $264.

Kit is an updated and higher functioning version of the Polaroid SX-70 Camera sonar ranging circuit used in the original Polaroid Ultrasonic Ranging System Designer's Kit. There are similar performance characteristics but this unit requires far less support circuitry and interface hardware.

The Tl ranging module can function between 4.5 and 6.8v. With a 5v supply, the ranging module 1/0 isTTL compatible and can be connected directly to most computers with one input and one output bit.

The Sonar Ranging Experimenter's Kit includes one SN28827 ranging module, one Polaroid 50 KHz electrostatic transducer, and user's manual with data sheets. TI01 Sonar Ranging Experimenters Kit. . . $60.

300 BAUD ANSWER/ ORIGINATE MODEM KIT

Micromint's latest 300 Baud Modem Kit is crystal controlled, uses the Tl TMS99532 IC, contains just 25 parts and requires no calibration or adjustments. Use with acoustic coupler or in direct connect mode.

MD04 Complete Kit as shown $60.

MO 05 Transformer for Direct Connect Mode $9. AC01 Acoustic Coupler Kit $20.

MICROMINT INC. 561 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 To Order: Call Toll Free 1-800-645-3479 For Information Call: 1-516-374-6793 Call: Monday-Friday, 9-5 PM

410 BYTE- MAY 1985

COMPUTERS & LAW

credit-card transactions, larger sales occur because you can withhold payment—a buyer advantage—if you feel a delivered product is defective or does not meet your intended purpose. If you dispute the transaction, the credit-card company withholds that money from the seller. Regardless of whether you ultimately prevail, the cash-flow loss hurts the seller.

Taking Delivery

Typically, you receive computer products in sealed containers. This effectively prevents you from inspecting the products at the store or before the deliveryman leaves. Because some sales agreements say that you have accepted the products merely by taking possession of them, buyer advocates warn that you should make sure such language is stricken from any sales agreement in order to allow reasonable inspection prior to accep

tance. Where a written contract does not contain such language or there is no written contract, you are allowed a reasonable amount of time to perform a reasonable inspection before accepting the products. This includes, for example, operating hardware or running software to demonstrate that it fulfills the terms of the agreement. Where the terms are not fulfilled, you have the right to reject the products. Buyer advocates caution that such rejection should be done as soon as possible by telephoning the seller and following up with an explanatory letter. Buyer advocates also recommend that the goods be returned, especially when they have been purchased by credit card. Sellers are protected from unreasonable buyer rejection where you accept the products knowing that they do not conform to your agreement, where you don't inspect them within a rea

sonable amount of time, or where you use the products beyond the acceptance period or modify them. When you have accepted the products, you can only revoke your acceptance where the product defect was difficult or impossible to discover through reasonable inspection or short-term use.

A Practical Application

Let's apply all these rules to a typical situation as if we had an expert system for the law of computer sales. Doc is a computer hobbyist who plays the stock market. After careful research, he decides to buy a new computer system from a mail-order house. Doc orders by phone and pays by certified check to get immediate shipment. Five weeks go by and he has neither heard nor received anything. Doc calls and is told by the

{continued)

Come visit us in our Long Island Showroom

226 Sherwood Ave. Farmingdale, NY 11735

Se Habla Espahol 1-800-331-3341 Cable:COMSYSTEC NEWYORK

Telex: CSTNY 429418

OUR SPECIALTY: IBM COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS, GRAPHICS, DATABASE, 68000 UNIX, EXPORT

IBM PC II ADD-ONS

IBM AT BOARDS, DRIVES, ETC. AT COMPATIBLES

BUSSBOARDS—MULTIFUNCTIONS ALL IN ONE SLOT AS A to D,

D to A, I/O, RAM, CLOCK, FLOPPYHD, MONITOR, INTERFACES

MORE RELIABLE DRIVE FOR PC

360K, 1.2MB, 1.6MB ALL FROM

ONE DRIVE.

BETTER THAN IBM!!

COMPUTERS

Zenith, IBM, Sanyo, Apple, Cromemco, Dual, Dec

Prices subject to change. American Express, Visa/Mastercard add 3%. F.O.B. point of shipment. 20% restocking fee for returned merchandise. Personal checks take 3 weeks to clear. COD on certified check only. NY residents add sales tax. Manufacturers' warranty only. International customers, please confirm price before order. Accept P.O. from Fortune 500, schools and gov't.

Computer Channel TELEX:

226 Sherwood Ave. 429418

Farmingdale, NY 11735 CSTNY

For information CALL (516) 420-0142 To order CALL 1-800-331-3341

AN AFFORDABLE CAD SYSTEM FOR ENGINEERS & DESIGNERS

$5,800.00

Package with IBM PC/XT also available

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

We assemble systems at special prices, including software, special operating systems, shells etc. Call us for business systems, CAD systems, networking, LANS, graphics, mainframe links, interfacing, application integration.

PLEASE ASK US FOR QUOTES! FORTUNE 1500 COMPANIESLET US SOLVE YOUR SYSTEM NEEDS!

NEW UNDER $4000 COMPLETE

CASH REGISTER—COMPUTER—POINT OF SALE—COMBINATION SYSTEM—CALL!

ALSO — SYSTEMS FOR MULTI-USER ACCOUNTING, LEGAL, MEDICAL, DENTAL, PHARMACY, CHIROPRACTIC, WHOLESALERS, RETAILERS, WAREHOUSES, BUSINESS, DATABASES, COMMUNICATION, NETWORKS

PRINTERS

EPSON. OKIDATA

EPSON LQ1500 24 wire, excellent

Hewlett Packard ThinkJet $450

LaserJet 3,300

Toshiba P1340 80 col., 160 cps 799

Dataproduct 8010 180 cps 545

***Letter Quality***

Star Power Tvpe 18 cps parallel/serial 375

NEC 2050 20 cps for IBM PC 760

3550 35 cps for IBM PC 1,520

CItoh F-10 50 cps 1,350

Juki 6100 18 cps 459

Qiime 11/40 w/IBM interface 1,420

Diablo 630 ECS/IBM ext. char, set 2,100

Dynax HR35 33 cps 910

Comrex Comwriter III 740

Iranstai 315 graphic, color 479

Zenith

ESPRIT EXEC 10/102 QUME 102

103

211GX

VISUAL 55

102

550 WYSE 50

75

TERMINALS

Z29 CALL

Z49 880

6310 14" 580

emul. VT102 850

14" 499

emul. VT100 875

emul. TEK4010 1,050

760

14" emul. VT102 920

emul. TEK 4010 2,050

14" 80/132 col 559

ANSI X3.64 625

Inquiry 94

MAY 1985

COMPUTERS & LAW

seller that the computer is out of stock for the "foreseeable future" and that the price has gone up. Reluctantly. Doc pays the higher price and receives the machine six weeks later. The machine arrives four days before he goes on a one-month vacation. When Doc returns, he unpacks the machine, only to discover that it does not work. What should he have done differently?

First, Doc should have called several sellers and negotiated not only the best price but the most favorable payment and delivery terms. He should have paid by credit card and sent a confirmatory letter setting forth all the terms of the deal. The letter should have explicitly stated the magic phrase "time is of the essence.'' After not hearing from the seller for two weeks, Doc should have called to confirm that shipment had taken place. Having learned that it had not. Doc

had the option of canceling or demanding immediate shipment. In either case, he should have confirmed his decision in writing. If he had foolishly waited more than 30 days, he could have canceled under the FTC mail-order rule.

Second. Doc did not have to pay the higher price since the seller cashed his original check implying acceptance of the order for that price. Had he paid by credit card, he could have protested the change in price from the original agreement. Unfortunately, Doc accepted the computer by failing to inspect it within a reasonable time after receipt. He cannot revoke his acceptance since the defect was obvious. His vacation does not serve as a valid excuse for his failure to inspect the product, which he should have inspected immediately upon receipt. Then he could have rejected the defective goods and demanded

a working replacement. Such rejection should have been made immediately by telephone and followed up in writing. The defective computer should then have been returned. If the seller did not provide a working replacement within a reasonable amount of time. Doc could demand that the credit-card company issue him a credit, thereby canceling the transaction.

In Conclusion

This column has addressed the rights and responsibilities of both buyers and sellers of computer products. Most buyers and sellers are honest and most transactions go smoothly. The law of computer sales, however, must provide a set of rules that operate when transactions don't go smoothly. We will deal with the legal ramifications of an unsatisfactory transaction in a future column. ■

ACCESS THIS DATABASE FOR FREE

No sign-up charges. No connect charges. No long distance calling charges. And it's the handiest, most useful database you'll ever dial up. Need a particular product or service? This base can take you through all fifty states on a search for the best available. Let your fingers do the talking (on your keyboard of course). Sign on through our toll-free numbers today.

The following phone #s are for computer use

only:

(Ohio) (800)223-5541 (24hrs.)

(National) (800)231-3158 (24hrs.)

For more information, etc., call our voice line:

(216) 327-1623 (9 AM - 5 PM EST) Mon.-Fri.

Or write:

j^/ii TelCpr

America

P. O. Box 40206 Cleveland, Ohio 44140

The TelCor America Classified Directory USE IT LIKE THE YELLOW PAGES. . ONLY BETTER.

HARMONY VIDEO & COMPUTERS

2357 CONEY ISLAND AVE.. BROOKLYN. NY 11223 800-VIDEO84 OR 800-441-1144 OR 718-627-1000

COMMODORE64

APPLE2C

$149.95

$889.95

■***^^+

APPI

STARSG 10

«-o

$819.95

$210.95

Bromoi hri5 xl

Brother HR35 Brother Keyboard CmrenMSP 10

49

77 29

14

"PRINTER SPECIALS"

JuM6i00 '<"■ .'.!■ i !*63 Juki 6300 C?9 Mannesman Spin'HO 178 Mannesman 160L 459

Panasonic KXP 1092 Panasonic KXP 1093 PanasonicXKP3i51 Powertype

3<*9

4vC 278

CmzerMSP 15

Corona Laser 2

79 68

Mannesman 180L NEC 2050

:■.•"■<

629

Rileman Blue +

195

Daisywmer

35

NEC 3550 1

218

Diablo620API

59

NEC 7730 1

529

Dyna< DX 15XL

42

NEC8850 1679

Epson RX 80 FT ♦ Efr^nri nxso

85 ig

Nn p3 .,r p2

Qkidata92

349

SlarSRIO

461

Epson RX 100

Epson FX80

EpsonJX80 f

EpsonFX 100+ I

Epson LQ 1500 S

74

69 46 83 96

Okida1a93 Okimale 10 Olympai Compact 2 OlymL.airo Panason.c KXP 1091

Si"-.'.

27

J49

104 52

Star SB10 Silver Reed Exp 550 Silver Reed Exp 500 Silver Reed Exp 770

678 369

263 659

HP LaserJet 2i

78

Panasonic KXP 1090

F9

WOW! WOW! WOW!

PCwDnve (

PC XT (

PC PonaDle w'Dnve ( AST Six Pack Taiigrass20 Meg Quad Board Keytronics Hercules Color Hercules Monochrome Paradise Graphics Paradise Muiti Display STB Graphics +2 ST8R10-2 Tecmar Graphics Tecmar Capiain Persysl Color Card Persyst Monocard BemouliBox 10 Meg Onve Joystick Tandon 100?

1953 659 3d

ZENITH

ith PC2150 1619

nn PC 15152 2057

ith PC161 52 2204

Macintosh Apple 2C I mage writer

Add! Drives ire

Modem 12

ATARI

800 XL 1027 Printer 1050 Drive Indus Drive 1025 Printer Rana 1000 Koala Pad Printer l/F

MODEMS

Hayes 1200 Hayes 1200B Hayes 300 Micromodem2E Access 123 Novation J cai

800-441-1144

ir your protection v>

MONITORS

Amdek 300 Green

Amdek 300 Amber 3i0Amr>er Color 300 Color 500 Color 600 Color 700 Color 710 Taxan2l0 PrinctonHX12 Taxan 122A Taxan 420

SANYO

550 DS

555 D S CRT 70 MBC 775

COMMODORE

Commodore 64

1541 Disk Drive

1702 Monitor

MPS 802 Indus Drive

645 947 509

412 BYTE- MAY 1985

Inquiry 185

MICROWAY'S 8087 RUNS 1-2-3!

MicroWay is the world's leading retailer of 8087s and high performance PC upgrades We stock a complete selection of 8087s that run at 5 and 8mhz. All of our coprocessors are shipped with a diagnostic disk and the best warranty in the business- 180 days! We also offer daughterboards for socketless computers such as the NEC PC and PCjr, and a board which increases the clock speed of the 80287 in the PC AT. Our new NUMBER SMASHER" includes 512K ram. It will run the IBM PC at clock speeds up to 9.5mhz and achieves a throughput of .1 megaflops

87FFT" performs Forward and Inverse FFTs on real and complex arrays which occupy up to 512 K bytes of RAM. Also does convolutions, auto correlations, hamming, complex vector multiplication, and complex to radial conversions. Callable from MS Fortran or 87BASIC/INLINE $150

87FFT-2 performs two-dimensional FFTs. Ideal for image processing Requires87 FFT...S75

MATRIXPAK™ manages a MEGABYTE! Written in assembly language, our runtime package accurately manipulates large matrices at very fast speeds Includes matrix inversion and the solution of simultaneous linear equations Callable from MS Fortran 3.2, 87 MACRO, 87BASIC/INLINE, and RTOS each $150

GRAPHICS PACKAGES

Energraphics (stand alone) 295

Grafmatic for MS Fortran or Pascal 125

Plotmatic for Grafmatic 125

Halo for Basic C or Fortran each 150

OTHER TOOLS

Alpha Software ESP 500

Borland Sidekick, Toolbox or Graphics 35

SuperKey 70

COSMOS Revelation 850

smARTWORK 895

SPSS/PC 695

MAYNSTREAM 1695

DFixer

A disk utility which thoroughly checks PC or AT hard disks for bad sectors and updates the MS DOS file allocation table accordingly $149

87DEBUG™ - a professional debugger with 8087 support a sophisticated screen-oriented macro command processor, and trace features which include the ability to skip tracing through branches to calls and software and hardware interrupts Breakpoints can be set in code or on guarded addresses in RAM $150

HARDSCOPE " includes a version of 87DEBUG which interfaces a Breaker Box which makes it possible to reset your PC and break program execution independent of DOS... 249

Micro Way

P.O. Box 79 Kingston, Mass 02364 USA 617) 746-7341

with87BASIC/INLINE Intel Fortran, or Microsoft Fortran. Software reviewers consistently cite MicroWay software as the best in the industry! Our customers frequently write to thank us for recommending the correct software and hardware to meet their specific needs They also thank us for oursame day shipping! In addition to our own products which support the 8087 and 80287, we stock the largest supply of specialized software available anywhere. For information call us at

617-746-7341

FASTBREAK"

MicroWays daughterboard turns on your 8087 during 1-2-3™ execution and extends DOS functionality. Recalculations run up to 33 times faster. Includes an 8087 chip. When used with the NUMBER SMASHER" it can provide a total increase in 1-2-3'" execution speed of up to 80 to 1.

FASTBREAK™ 5mhz $339

FASTBREAK™ 8mhz $479

FASTBREAK™

for NUMBER SMASHER $239 FASTBREAK™ BOX Option $60

Micro

Way

8087S*

0 010

>rt

For the IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT and Compatibles.

87 BASIC/IN LI NE " converts the output of the IBM Basic Compiler into optimized 8087 inline code which executes up to seven times faster than 87BASIC. Supports separately compiled inline subroutines which are located in their own segments and can contain up to64K bytes of code. This allows programs greater than 128K! Requires the IBM Basic Compiler and Macro Assembler. Includes 87BASIC $200

87 BASIC" includes patches to the IBM Basic Compiler and both runtime libraries for USER TRANSPARENT 8087 support Provides super fast performance for all numeric operations including trigonometries transcendentals, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division $150

87MACRO" - our complete 8087 software development package. It contains a "Preprocessor," source code for a set of 8087 macros and an object library of numeric functions including transcendentals, trigonometries, hyperbolics, encoding decoding and conversions For the IBM Macro Assembler, Version 1.0 or 2.0 $150

OBJ —ASM™ - a multipass object module translator and disassembler. Produces assembly language listings which include public symbols external symbols, and labels commented with cross references Ideal for understanding and patching object modules and libraries for which source is not available $200

RTOS - REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEM

RTOS is a multi-user, multi-tasking real time operating system. It includes a configured version of IntersiRMX-86, LINK-86, LOC-86, LIB-86,OH-86, and MicroWays 87DEBUG. Runs on the IBM-PC, XT, PC-AT and COMPAQ $400

INTEL COMPILERS1

FORTRAN-86

PASCAL-86

PL/M-86

87C (LATTICE/MICROWAY)

ASM-86

750 750 500 .750 200

'Requires RTOS or iRMX-86. All Intel compiler names and iRMX-86 TM Intel Corp

You Can TalkToUs!

HARDWARE AND LANGUAGES

8087 5mhz $129

Including DIAGNOSTICS and 180-day warranty For IBM PC and compatibles

8087-2 8mhz $275

For Wana AT&T. DeskPro, NEC, Leading Edge

80287-3 5mhz $275

For the IBM PC AT

64K RAM Set $15

256K RAM Set $89

128K RAM Set pc at $169 NUMBER SMASHER" 1590

9.5mhz 8087 coprocessor board with 512K

FORTRAN and UTILITIES

Microsoft Fortran 3.2 229

IBM Professional Fortran 545

Intel Fortran-86' 750

FORLIB+ 65

STRINGS and THINGS 65

C and UTILITIES

Lattice C 299

Microsoft C V 3.0 CALL

C86 299

C TOOLS 85

C Trigs and Trans 150

BASIC and UTILITIES

IBM Basic Compiler 270

87BASIC/INLINE 200

Summit BetterBASIC" 175

Summit 8087 Module 87

MACRO ASSEMBLERS

IBM Assembler with Librarian 155

87MACRO 150

Microsoft Assembler V 3.0 125

PASCAL

Microsoft Pascal 3.2 199

Borland Turbo Pascal 45

Turbo with 8087 Support 85

APL

STSC APL*PLUS/PC 475

Pocket APL 85

FASTBREAK and NUMBERSMASHERare trademarks of MicroWay, Inc Lotus and 1-2-3 are trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation.

Inquiry 277

MAY 1985 • B Y T E 413

™* poc'

eM

Colour Type '""

Bed Green , yellow

^l\\ Oi»n9e [L4291 Red

TL»2H Velio" U«53 0,anae TL42ri Beu ^321% Green

- |C's

CaiNo

LIGHT

TV42?1

235S

uneab

TV.

s»^

3m'11 3fnm

,4o'm§c''$^

74079 J|C 26c

z4Anlt;2°C VaC' Z"4.nR7 i2C

l*°& IOC

'.4093 ,.409 =

30C

26C

25<

price price ^QuP

Desd"

,pt>°°

Ea 70

35

36c ea

Ge^>Pu82P.40C^_aeimen,o„

Cat

-rvpe

J116 4164

16^

64K

1 dvna' 41 dv ~

«-$&

Pr,ce A0 OP «a e*~ 90 6.96

COMPUTER CONNECTORS

9 pin plug - solder tail

P-2684Sf.25 10 up $1.10 ea 9 pin jack - solder tail P-2685SJ.75 10 up $1.00 ea

9 pin hood

P-2686 .OOC 10 up . 75C ea 15 pin plug - solder tail .. P-2687 S1.00 10 up $1.45 ea /f'QlS pin jack- solder tail

P-2688 S2.20 10 up S2.0O ea J

15 pin hood

P-2689 91.00 10 up .05C eo

25 pin plug - solder tail

P-2690 81.95 10 up 81.00 ea

25 pin jack - solder tail

P-2691 82.80 10 up $2.40 ea

25 pin hood

P-2692 81.25 10 up .»5C ea

Centronics Connectors 36 pin "D' type plug - solder tail , P-2680 92.05 10 up 82.50 ea ontf JJJgJ* 36 way D' type jack - solder tail P-2681 85.95 10 up 85.50 ea

IDC- NO SOLDERING cg

25 pin D' type plug ntalG _***i

P-2693 35.48 10 up 84.80 ea

25 pin D' type jack P-2694 55.05 10 up 55.40 ea

IDC FLA T RIBBON CABLE

26 way Cat W-2750 ,46C/ft 34 way Cat W-2752 ,60C/ft 40 way CatW-2754 .72C/ft 50 way Cat W-2756

c*eloss

of v°"'

00" ".'^W"*^

critical "*v-351Z

- '^Z data M ■ornp nae has !

jr — TheTlrde*' a"« u«';

o'^^srP^Sral'

iW3

jS**'

1TA( ( / / ^ DICK SMITH

{BLASTS

SILICON

ITH . 1. ^ *

DEDICATED SERVICE BY ENTHUSIASTS UNBEATABLE VALUE J> THOUSANDS OF INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

ti

^w^

1 sma1?.

..dedxf* l0dP»*%5

-80»60x8n

MINI „,

of 5 connected .T^0^ P,e« board w„h 58 .ccnne,,^ « « "** and 4 bus r'

1 also has self adhes,

groups nes of 25

6 L«nfl«b«S,iM &•'

nit"

concePi

by

and era' nlo B>*^' „,nO

HlGHUS"™- _ Using «

thai si

^ ,oPRONf>Dt

fouc

OWP^1

jWVVff'

b| splr. into 3 parts' s^rtar to T "W "h'cbcan l0f2|^™^0'^PnnSte™&lfet! but has

o»'?

^:

5 $995 10 i

S8.»5|

4o'

Sine^^niV^*^

• ^SS^SSSS^

■«o°!' uminoW

**£***• r

tow '

Code

^S3&»KSS

Memory Totn,„g u"=Nlakm9lmP'.

M»n™ Sa«ord.J' ,oWIS "° „0BPv'°°°, applicalions "^rcial SJ"2S|

Lookm9

T°f,orn ^Uf PL'5e_

«*2!^i

Testclips 3 Leads

. Pairof remand SSS feKSTi" B« a probes and p,UQs. Tru.^.lJ'SS^SSIi 9=

1« Pin IC Test Clips '526s»-9°

Makes connection of DIL I

o^>?. r,oouv «*S3i*p!;

»^e^2?r«5

, >«>e

ouua

dot

0.ceV0^0-uc^-.^

nolDe

the

,flieis

ost s° '

SSnarv

n9apprs7.9s

tech"1

,co>

SP

ieCmcoV>o^:. s.ng(e

cos« i

7505 cW

**«a5SS£ssft

30d°'

52b".

iKe«e'

40

.Se

■clots

iiolio'1

SP'

»«?A5i.!!2S^.«S--*2:

msec

oerisW Secioi IP"1 •

48 tp< 256 •

COP(

pcilY

HOC*

Access

lime

, soulce

Wl"

i'r

exPL

VOLTAGE REGULATORS ,T

"'/JO^/A/^fc

fuse.

°»*~£8rt*

EXPLOSIVE ^m SAVINGS

Ca< S-4206

--9^rre-eP[s

reqoired.

Type No 7805

Description

3 terminal 5 volt 1 A positive regulator 3 terminal 12 V 1A positive regulator 3 terminal 1 5V 1A positive regulator 3 terminal 5V 1 A negative regulator 3 terminal 12V 1A negative regulator 3 terminal 15V 1A negative regulator

90$

each

PRICES BL

- _ Cat T-2560

Solder (Sucker

ugged all metal construction solder ' sucker complete with Tetlon tip and a | nozzle sweeper as well Light thumb r release mechanism tor the removal of j solder from the board Don't pay twice the ^ price - a top quality import from Dick Spare Teflon Tip to suit^ Cat T-2565 hrs1s

<&«

e«/ft c

will be Be/ft

SP*

Cos

*ial

Cable

roll S4.

r°rUSp

oyrst H

'9ef^Ln?V'«ed

'he hobb Cof fg„ _ ,

°'°' Col M

325

'OC/n

rolls i Regular price will be 1 2C ft

"-S5,

■IC//,

ra"ge W-IHf Ok si — *r/ purp|e

325

ue^-2i30r ey W-223, ■•rearn 'Oil for o

Inquiry 128

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!!

By simply filling in the coupon and either mailing it to our mail order center or dropping it into our new showroom in Redwood City, YOU have the chance to WIN A TRIP TO THE LAND DOWNUNDA FOR TWO FLYING QANTAS. In addition to this we will automatically create your own personal file which opens the doors to great benefits such as special mail order only offers, priority on your mail orders and receive details on our latest products. HURRY- DON'T MISS OUT!

'Void where prohibited by low

Name

City State.

Zip.

MAIL TO: Dick Smith Electronics, Inc.

P.O. Box2249 Redwood City CA94063

^.

\ li/W

ELECTRONICS INTO ) L ™*

At last! 'No leak" Rechargeable 1 ?'°»rowE„ST**************

■ o%# o A Ah I E^e„°,tr9'ass^«a"f MAGN,n£*s

SeeourW-sot^w,

12V 2.6 Ah ^ Gel Cell

VALLEYJ^Sb.

• 90 DAY WARRANTY V

• FAST RELIABLE MAIL ORDER SERVICE

• SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

• VAST INTERNATIONAL BUYING EXPERIENCE

■circuitstf>»^ 'opped up to. ose

kv*

SION

spec

|AI-S

/ CatS-331512V12Ah Will be $9.95 Special $7.95 10 up $6.95 ea FcatS-3320 12V26Ah J Will be $17.95 Special $13.95 MO up $12.95 ea

rWCADS

rFULLRANpE ^

HOT JUST AA « C

N, Cads work °u'™°formDKk Smith Electronics

'""""'""■■i,, «*»„ . 4U - - ***

or$f-49 ea fOup

SM^

fDickS»r,,'th

SPEEDS BOXESj

«r" limine s

all-round deeP ' , me one usea w emJine Speedy box l"^.1*^ Ca. H-2755

AN UNBELIEVABLY

LOW PRICE TO PAY

FOR THE ULTIMATE

IN TECHNOLOGY

>'*"%&&*%

HBoi'^^"

I Cat H-2752

/ ONIY $f49

SCHOOLS/RESELLERS ASK ABOUT OUR WHOLESALE PRICES I A O* THE FANTASTIC

Car

i**K&te*tj*

■2000

'?j&0*Bfwj&,

6 HSTaS "»"» ™Twoil»i» com spins apan J>i53«™S"SKw SSw«2,iSw versatileJgj'"ft,

type

IC SOCKETS & PLUGS

Why endanger valuable IC s by spidering them directly into circuit7 Take the safe approach: use an IC socket! It makes seivice and repair of your project much, much easier too. There's an IC socket to suit almost all common IC'S.

14 Pin DIL Socket 16C

CatP-4140 10up„14e

16 Pin DIL Socket 18c

CatP-4160 10up„,16<

18 Pin DIL Socket 25«

CatP-4180 10up„23<

20 Pin DIL Socket 30c

CatP-4200 10up„25C

22 Pin DIL Socket 31«

CatP-4220 10up„2o«

24 Pin DIL Socket 33«

Cat P-4240 10up„28(

28 Pin DIL Socket 40c

CatP-4245 10up.,35«

40 Pin DIL Socket 45c

CatP-4250 10up„40<

WIRE WRAP 14 Plnw/wrapDILSkt 75C CatP-4260 10 up 65C

16Plnw/wrapSkt 79*

CatP-4262 10 up.» 65<

20Plnw/wrapDILSkt $1.22 CatP-4264 10up«4l.00

24Plnw/wmpDILSkt $1.50 Cat P-4268 10

= Ptoce<0,

^t^SL

$495

sc,B" dtr rTW>ur«'"y "\ L,,.1C tot «<«r 1

m*4&EE*

i

iiftw» t;

Si&SSS39s9»Zl<aa«^

""'"""gZr^'iia,

Ct„ Mtned !ttca"^oVen

BSJ2«S««^

\ubt"

•'«■»

*"««*>

""»«»,

Solid State Buzzer

Sf.SOe.o

10for$10

* Compact - 32mm » 14 5i

* Rich, clear tone - 450Hi

* Wide operatmg voltage range 4 - 15V DC

* Low operating current - 15mA @ 9V

* High output level 70dB min @ 1M CM

NEVER NEARD OF DICK SMITH ELEC TRONICS???

DICK SMITH ELECTRONICS was founded Downunda 17 years ago

by electronics enthusiasts and has grown to over 60 stores and

^ more than 300 retail outlets in Australasia by insisting on the idea

=■ ol SERVICE FOR ELECTRONICS ENTHUSIASTS BY ELECTRONICS EN

f THUSIASTS.

^ We reckoned Americans would like the same type of service so 5 here we are - mail your order today or come on down to 390

/Convention Way Redwood City and be served by someone who understands your requirements. 0000000000000000000000 f WIN A TRIP TO THE LAND f DOWNUNDA for 2 people M flying QANTAS

.Send in the coupon opposite and we'll also put your name in the draw for the airfare for two people to Sydney, Australia and *i) return. The draw will be made on June 30. 1985

Note Dick Smith Electronics Inc mattes this offer freely ond without requirement lot VOU lo buy butyout freedom lo lake port will be governed by fne lows ol vour home slate vo<a where prohibited by law

JSSS»SaSSSSS5S!SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS^

Mini Multimeter

A great littlu multimelei tut .u.yone starting out in electronics . . or tot anyone who is likely lo knock their multimeter around a lot and cannot lustily the higher pfice/higher spec meters.

For less than $8 you get an 11 range. 2000 ohm/volt pocket size meter that's ideal lor most ol the general purpose test work we all do — power points and light sockets in the home, work on the cat. basic circuit testing. etc It's rugged and reliable

*#

-OS\„»ec»\.SSi«lor ,eOO»

ewsftsits

OUtO0

^ou.

Giant Handbook of Electrical Circuits

Raymond A Collins-880 pages Giant isn't the word: its a whopping 880 pages! With 60 chapters covering everything from crystal sets to computer circuitry, you're sure to find what you want

r!ieo.i7tin Regular price will be 519.95 JM

•iHIHG SPECIAL SI4.S5 < /.

Cat Q-1010

RANGES:

AC & DC Volts: 10. 50, 250 and 1.000 DC Current: 0.5. 100mA Resistance: x1 k (4.28k center scale)

Throw one in the toot-box. just m casei

e 2000 ohms per volt

e 11 ranges Case lo suit will be $2 95

e Very simple to operate Opening special S1.95

CatO-1011

SHOWROOM: 390 Convention Way, Redwood City, CA 94063

Telephone: (415) 368 8844 Telex: 160488 TJICKS USA Fax: 1(415)368 0140 MAIL ORDER CENTER: 390 Convention Way, Redwood City, CA 94063 P.O. Box 2249, Redwood City, CA 94063 Telephone: (415) 368 1066 n_

Mail Order Customers: Please write Cat no., product description and price on your order £j-L\ ^OW^^A H ^iiiWIe^H'iill^. ^aHL^ A. HB^Il^k.aa4&

Shipping and Handling ^©sJS'^Ei Ev I Uv^l^llr^^C

Within USA. 5% of total order (mm 1 50) This includes all handling of youi order "2? 'OStf-iJl-H ^P^ AW I inJIlll^a^ Optional Insurance: $2 00 pei S100 ol oider Tax: Califomian residents add 6 5% ^7/1yv\r kttVlltallV^il^ I1 B^L^Bl^B ^■^■^F^V Outside USA: 20% of total order (mm $5 00) Optional Insurance: $3 00 per $100 ol IS 1/ Ni ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^

order Payment: VISA Mastercard or bank draft (in US Dollars) T * INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Inquiry 128 These specials finish June 30, 1985

EVERYTHING FOR THE ELECTRONICS ENTHUSIAST

hBNIb;--'*''-"""

Statpro Professionals.

■ People who want to spend their time analyzing results, not just crunching numbers.

Statpro" data analysis software was specifically created to give professionals of all kinds the analytical tools they need on the job.

It's for corporate planners and marketing specialists, engineers and lab technicians, scientists and educators. In fact, Statpro is for every professional who does data analysis but can't afford to waste time.

Mainframe statistics

on your PC.

As a practical tool for professionals, Statpro was specially designed for the personal computer. It's not a scaled-down mainframe program or one of those packages that can only handle a few basic analyses. Instead, it brings a full repertoire of statistical techniques to your IBM PC or PC/XT. From basic descriptive statistics and linear regressions to unequal size ANOVA and discriminant function analysis.

And despite its impressive power, Statpro is easy to use. You just respond to simple menus and screen prompts with single keystrokes. No ^g^pu,

programmers,

Statpro to work.

complex commands or long lines come between you and the job.

A powerful database.

Because you'll want to set up your analyses according to your needs, we've equipped Statpro with a remarkably flexible database. You can range check, verify data entries and keep track of missing data. Analyze any subset of your database. Transform variables according to virtually any formula. And add, edit, delete, sort or move data wherever you want. Chances are you'll also be using data from other sources. So Statpro is designed to allow you to easily exchange information with other popular programs and file formats, such as 1-2-3? dBase II," ASCII, DIP™ and SYLK.1"

Lots of graphics.

Nothing makes complex data clearer and easier to present than pictures. So Statpro lets you create graphics and charts in the best format for each job, from pie charts, scatter and regression plots to bar, box and

1 graphics make complex i easy to understand.

Statpro exchanges data with many popular programs.

416 BYTE" MAY 1985

multivariate vector plots. What's more, Statpro graphics can be customized—with scaling, labels and colors—to emphasize important aspects of your analyses.

Call for a demo.

Statpro Professionals get more

done, faster. But don't take our

word for it. Call and

ask about our demonstration package, or

order Statpro for

only $795. Don't wait!

Become a Statpro

Professional today.

800-322-2208

In Massachusetts, call (617) 423-0420. Call us for the dealer nearest you.

iWadsworth

' Professional Software

Statpro is a trademark of Wadsworth Professional Software, Inc. dBase II is a registered trademark of Ashton-Tate. D1F is a trademark of Software Arts, Inc. 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. SYLK is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.

Inquiry 416

The game of

Nim is used

to teach the

use of the

logical AND,

OR, and NOT

by Robert T Kurosm<a

MATHEMATICAL RECREATIONS

An Exercise in BASIC Bitwise Logic Operation

Robert I Kurosaka teaches

mathematics in the Massachusetts

State College system. He invites

your correspondence [do BYTE

POB 372, Hancock. NH 03449).

The April artificial intelligence (Al) theme got me thinking about Nim, one of the first strategy games that programmers tried to teach computers to play. Nim is one of the oldest two-person games and is believed to have originated in China. Objects such as matches or coins are placed in rows before the two players, who take turns removing objects until none remain. The winner is the player who takes the last object. The rules are simple: You must not skip a turn, and you may take as many objects from any one row as you wish, up to, and including, the entire row. The number of rows is arbitrary (but less than three is trivial), and the number of objects in a row is up to you (but letting all rows have the same number is also trivial).

Some strategies become obvious within the first few games. If you can reduce the board to an even number of equal rows, you will win. If your opponent faces a board like the one shown in table 1, he or she cannot win if you simply echo his or her move in the other row. Other winning patterns become apparent: the 1-2-3 and 1-4-5. In table 2, you have just created the 1-2-3 pattern. No matter how your opponent plays, you can make two equal rows. If he takes one from row one, you take one from row three; if he takes one from row two, you take all of row three, and so on.

In the 1-4-5 pattern, no matter how your opponent plays, you can always make two equal rows or the 1-2-3 pattern. Similarly, with a 1-6-7 pattern, you can make two equal rows, the 1-4-5 pattern, or the 1-2-3 pattern on your move.

It is tempting to think that the 1-7-8 must also be a winning pattern. But your opponent will take two objects from the last row, leaving you to face a 1-7-6 pattern.

With more rows and objects, the winning patterns become far too numerous to learn. Instead, of course, we prefer to learn the winning strategy.

The elegant strategy was first proved in 1901 by Charles Leonard Bouton. then as

sociate professor of mathematics at Harvard University. He also gave the game its present name, "Nim."

Every position can be considered to be "safe" or "unsafe" to the player facing it on his turn. If you can create a safe position and continue to do so, you will win. Every unsafe position can be made safe by a single move. Every safe position will be made unsafe by any move. Therefore, once you make a safe position, your opponent cannot help but make it unsafe with his move; you can make it safe with your next move, and so on.

Binary Analysis

The analysis of the patterns is as follows: The number of objects in the rows are written in binary notation and stacked vertically, as if preparing for addition. Reading down the columns, if every column has an even number of Is, the position is safe. We will denote an even-parity column with a 0, and an odd-parity column with a 1.

This procedure is simpler than it sounds. Consider the number 13. The largest power of two contained in 13 is 8: think "one 8." The remaining 5 contains one 4, no 2s, and one 1 (don't forget 2 to the 0 power). Hence, 13 = 8 + 4 + 0+1, or in binary, 1101.

Now consider table 3, where the pattern is 13-12-4. The numbers have been converted to binary and stacked. Reading down the columns, the first (leftmost) column has an even number of 8s, so its parity designation is 0, and so on. The column-parity pattern is 0101. For a safe position, all columnparities must be even. That is, a safe position will have a column-parity value of 0000. Thus, the table 3 position is unsafe, and may be made safe by one move. How do we find this move?

Find the leftmost odd-parity column. In our example, it is the 4's column. We must remove one of the 4s to make that column even parity. We have three choices of 4s. If we remove the 4 from the first row, we must

{continued)

MAY 1985 -BYTE

BITWISE LOGIC

also remove the 1 from its last column to make the last column of even parity. The move would be row I. take 5." The resulting board is shown in table 4. All the column parities are even: the position is safe.

Alternatively, we could choose to remove the 4 from the second row in the table 3 position. In that case, we would have to replace 1 in order to make the last column even parity. The move would be "row 2. take 3" and the resulting board would be that of table 5. Once again, the position is safe.

To familiarize yourself with the strategy, play solitaire fashion, making small random moves for your oppo

nent and using precise binary analysis for your own moves

Now, it may appear that the analysis used in playing from row 1 was different than the analysis used when we played from row 2. In the first case, we only removed column bits and in the second we had to replace some column bits. Actually, we can perform both operations with one procedure. Here's how. Take row 1 and the column-parity number in table 3 and create a new number by comparing the parity of the row 1 number and the columnparity number. That is, write a 1 for the 8's column because there is an odd parity between the 13 and the column-parity number in that column.

TABLE 1

row 1

/////

row 2

/////

TABLE 2

row 1:

/

row 2.

//

row 3:

///

TABLE 3

8 4 2 1

row 1

/////////////

13 = 1 1 0 1

row 2

////////////

12 = 1 1 0 0

row 3

llll

4 = 0100 column-panties = 0101

TABLE 4

8 4 2 1

row 1:

ilium

8 = 10 0 0

row 2

minium

12 = 1 1 0 0

row 3:

llll

4^0100 column-panties = 0000

TABLE 5

row 1:

mimiiiiii

8 4 2 1

13 = 1 1 0 1

row 2.

iiiimii

9 = 10 0 1

row 3:

mi

4 = 0100 column-parities = 0000

BASIC has three kinds of bitwise logical operators: AND, OR, and NOT.

Write 0s for all the other columns because they have even parity. The resulting number is 1000, or 8 in base ten. Notice that this is the number we wanted to end up with in row 1 to make the position safe. Try the same procedure with the 12 in row 2 and the column-parity number of table 3. You end up with 1001, or 9. This is the number we should leave in row 2 if we play there.

What we have done with the row and column-parity number is a kind of bitwise logic operation known as an exclusive-OR (XOR to assemblylanguage programmers). An exclusiveOR operates on two arguments and returns a 0 for each column in which both binary representations have the same value (either both 0s or both Is) and returns a 1 for each column in which one number has a I and the other number has a 0. Unfortunately. BASIC does not have an exclusive-OR operation in it.

However, BASIC does have three kinds of bitwise logical operators. The first is NOT, which operates on a single argument and returns a 1 for each column that contains a 0 and returns a 0 for each column that contains a 1. Try having your computer PRINT NOT a bunch of numbers. You will find that - 1 is NOT 0. Why? Computers use a kind of binary representation called two's complement. For the sake of simplicity, assume that your computer uses one byte to represent a number. Zero would be stored as 00000000. NOT 0 is then 11111111. This is called the one's complement of 0 and looks like 2 55. However, computers need to be able to represent negative numbers as well as positive numbers. So any integer that has a 1 in the most significant bit

[continued)

418 BYTE- MAY 1985

Genicom would like to get personal with you, On a professional level, of course.

m^»

Personal computers have become a valuable asset in business. The problem is that most personal computer systems are originally sold with personal printers'!..printers built for home use, not for heavier business work.

These personal printers" are too slow for many business needs. They can tie-up your computer for extended periods of time...time you could be using to do other work.

Another problem is durability. In business, you need a printer that can produce high volume output over a long duty cycle. The common personal printer" will often just quit under such continuous operation.

That's why Genicom has created the 3014, 3024, 3304and 3404...professional printers built for personal computers.

Price/performance matched for small business systems, the Genicom 3000 PC printers are designed to increase productivity and maximize the value of your personal computer.

The 3000 PC printers provide 160-400 cps draft, 80-200 cpsmemo, and 32-100 cps NLQ printing...performance for both high productivity and high quality printing.

The 3014/3024 models print 132 columns. The 3304 and 3404

Inquiry 444

GENICOM

The New Printer Company.

For the solution to your printing needs call

TOLL FREE 1-800-437-7468

In Virginia, call 1-703-949-1170.

Epson MX with GRAFTRAX-PLUS is a trademark of Epson America, Inc Okidata Microline 84 Step 2 is a trademark of Okidata Corporation

models give you a full 136 column width, and offer color printing as well.

Each printer is easy to use, lightweight, functionally styled and attractive. And you can choose options from pedestals and paper racks to document inserters, sheet feeders and 8K character buffer expansion, plus more.

Genicom 3000 PC printers feature switch selectable hardware, dual connectors and dual parallel or serial interfaces. Plus the 3014 and 3024 emulate popular protocols for both Epson MX with GRAFTRAX-PLUS™ and Okidata Microline 84 Step 2", while the 3304 and 3404 emulate popular protocols for Epson MX with GRAFTRAX-PLUS". So your current system is most likely already capable of working with these Genicom printers without modification.

Most important, the Genicom 3000 PC printers are quality-built, highly durable printers designed for rapid, continuous duty cycle printing. So take some personal advice. Get a Genicom professional printer for your personal computer today.

Genicom Corporation, One General Electric Drive, Dept. C421, Waynesboro,VA 22980. In Virginia, call 1-703-949-1170.

See Us At

Comdex/Spring

Booth #3124

BITWISE LOGIC

A computer uses the same circuitry to add and subtract.

(MSB) is defined to be a negative number. The MSB simply represents the sign of the number. So why isn't 11111111 = -127 then? It is cheaper to make a computer that uses the same circuitry to add and subtract than one that requires a different set of circuits for each operation. You can use addition to subtract if you take the one's complement of a number you want to subtract, add 1 to it (it is now called the two's complement), and add it to the number you wanted to take the original number from. Let's go through the steps to subtract 1 from 2. First, change 00000001 into its one's complement: 11111110. Now add I: 11111111. Now add it to 2 (00000010). You get 00000001, carry the 1. Throw away the carry and 2 - 1 is 1. As you experiment with NOT, you will discover that NOT 1 is -2. NOT 2 is -3. etc.

The second BASIC logic operator is OR. OR operates on two arguments and returns a I if there is a I in the corresponding column of one or both of the arguments, and a 0 if both arguments have a 0 in that column. Try experimenting with PRINT arguments I

OR argument 2 until you are comfortable with this operation.

The final operation we will discuss is AND. AND operates on two arguments and. reasonably enough, returns a l just in case both the arguments have a I in the corresponding column. In any other case, it returns a 0 for that column. Again, familiarize yourself with this operation using PRINT argument_J AND argument 2.

So what good do these operations do us? We need an exclusive-OR operator. We can make an exclusive-OR out of NOT. OR, and AND in the following way (assume that our two numerical arguments are stored in variables A and B):

NIM BY BOB KUROSAKA

Listing I: The Nim program.

10 "•••*•••••«**•*•"• 20 '• 30 '*

50 CLS

60 DEFINT A-Z:VICTORY$ = "NO"

70 REM DEFINE INITIAL BOARD CONDITIONS

80 INPUT "ENTER THE NUMBER OF ROWS (3< = ROWS< = 18)";ROWS

90 IF ROWS<3 OR ROWS>18 THEN PRINT "MUST BE BETWEEN 3 AND

18'.GOTO 80 100 DIM ROW(ROWS) 110 FOR I = 1 TO ROWS

120 PRINT "ENTER NUMBER OF OBJECTS (1 TO 59) IN ROW ",l 130 INPUT ROW(I) 140 IF ROW(l)<1 OR ROW(l)>59 THEN PRINT "NUMBER MUST BE

BETWEEN 1 AND 59": GOTO 120 150 NEXT I

160 GOSUB 540:REM DRAW THE BOARD

170 INPUT "ENTER 1 TO MOVE FIRST. 2 TO MOVE SECOND",MOVE 180 IF MOVE<1 OR MOVE>2 THEN 170 190 ON MOVE GOTO 210.340 200 REM

210 REM PLAYER'S MOVE SEQUENCE 220 REM

230 PLAYER$="YOU" 240 INPUT "ROW";ROW

250 IF ROW<1 OR ROW>ROWS THEN PRINT "INVALID ROW":GOTO 230 260 INPUT "REMOVE";REMOVE 270 IF REMOVE>ROW(ROW) OR REMOVE<1 THEN PRINT "INVALID":GOTO

240 280 ROW(ROW) = ROW(ROW) - REMOVE 290 GOSUB 540:REM REDRAW BOARD 300 IF VICTORYS = "YES" THEN 500 310 REM PAUSE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THE BOARD 320 FOR 1 = 1 TO 5000:NEXT 330 REM

340 REM COMPUTER'S MOVE SEQUENCE 350 REM

360 PLAYER$="I"

370 REM DETERMINE PARITY OF THE BOARD 380 PARITY = ROW(1) 390 FOR I = 2 TO ROWS

400 PARITY = (PARITY OR ROW(I)) AND (NOT(PARITY AND ROW(I))) 410 NEXT I 420 REM CHOOSE MOVE-SELECTION ROUTINE DEPENDING ON BOARD

SAFETY 430 IF PARITY = 0 THEN GOSUB 690 ELSE GOSUB 790 440 REM DRAW THE NEW BOARD 450 GOSUB 540

460 REM ANNOUNCE COMPUTER MOVE

470 PRINT "I HAVE REMOVED ":REMOVE;" PIECES FROM ROW ";ROW 480 REM LOOP FOR NEXT MOVE SEQUENCE 490 IF VICTORYS = "NO" THEN 210 500 END

510 REM END OF MAIN PROCEDURE 520 REM BEGINNING OF SUBROUTINES 530 REM

540 REM BOARD-DRAWING ROUTINE 550 REM 560 CLS

420 BYTE- MAY IQKS

BITWISE LOGIC

WON":VICTORY$ = "YES"

570 STATUS = 0 'HOW MANY ROWS ARE EMPTY?

580 FOR I = 1 TO ROWS

590 PRINT "ROW ";I;"(";ROW(I);")";TAB(20);

600 IF ROW(I) = 0 THEN STATUS = STATUS + 1 :GOTO 640

610 FOR J-1 TO ROW(I)

620 PRINT "/";

630 NEXT J

640 PRINT

650 NEXT I

660 IF STATUS = ROWS THEN PRINT PLAYERS;'

670 RETURN

680 REM

690 REM NO GOOD MOVES ROUTINE

700 REM

710 REMOVE = 0:ROW = 0

720 WHILE REMOVE = 0

730 ROW = ROW+1

740 IF ROW(ROW)>0 THEN REMOVE ■ 1

750 WEND

760 ROW(ROW) = ROW(ROW) - REMOVE

770 RETURN

780 REM

790 REM FIND THE GOOD MOVE ROUTINE

800 REM

810 REMOVE = 0:ROW = 0

820 WHILE REMOVE = 0

830 ROW = ROW+1

840 RETAIN = (ROW(ROW) OR PARITY) AND (NOT(ROW(ROW) AND PARITY))

850 IF RETAIN < ROW(ROW) THEN REMOVE = ROW(ROW) - RETAIN

860 WEND

870 ROW(ROW) = ROW(ROW) - REMOVE

880 RETURN

TABLE 6

8 4 2 1

row 1: row 2: row 3:

//////////// //////////// //

12 = 1 1 0 0

12 = 1 1 0 0

2 = 0010

column-parities = 0010

A XOR B -def (A OR B) AND (NOT(A AND B)).

In simple language, what this says is that A excIusive-OR B is by definition the same as A or B (there is a 1 in the appropriate column of A, or B, or both) except that XOR isn't true for the both A and B case. More formally, A XOR B is true if and only if A OR B is true and A AND B is false.

Notice that we can make use of the exclusive-OR for determining the parity of the Nim board as well as for

plotting our best move. Successive applications of the XOR with the parity results for preceding rows will end up producing the parity of the entire board. Lines 380 to 410 of listing 1 show this procedure. (Editor's note: The listing is available for downloading via BYTEnet Listings. The telephone number is (603) 924-9820.|

Our procedure for implementing our strategy has one flaw. Consider table 6. If we XOR the 12 in row 1 with the parity value, we find that the number we want to leave in row 1 is

14. While that would make the board safe, it would also violate the rules of the game. The only sound move that makes the board in table 6 safe is to remove row 3. Thus, we must check to see that the value returned by the operation is a number less than the original number of objects in the row. The full unflawed strategy for a position that can be made safe is contained in the subroutine starting at line 790 of the listing. If we can't make the board safe, we just remove one object from the first row we can and hope that the opponent makes a mistake. (The subroutine beginning at line 690 includes everything but our hopes.)

Before leaving the program, look at line 320. Why is it there? After the player enters his move, the new board is redrawn and then the computer moves. Bitwise logic is what computers were born to do, so the computer will find the best move and redraw the position including its new move at approximately the rate that your computer can redraw a screen. You won't have time to see what the board looks like after your move if you don't slow the computer down. It's very irritating to people to be beaten by a machine that doesn't even appear to pause and think about the clever traps that they have devised. So I like to add a pause to make people feel better.

Now that you know the winning strategy to Nim, you might like to experiment with variations on the game. For example, you might limit the number of objects that can be removed from a row. What would be the optimal strategy for a game like that in table 3 if you could remove only 1 or 2 objects per turn? Alternatively, you might consider a three-person game. Would the ternary (base-3) number system hold the key to optimal strategy for the three-person game? Is there a winning strategy at all with a three-person game? I'd enjoy hearing your answers to any of these questions. Write me c/o BYTE, POB 372, Hancock, NH 03449. If I get some particularly clever responses, I'll report on them in a future column. ■

MAY 1985 -BYTE 421

422 BYTE • MAY I98">

•

•

INTRODUCING NEW KODAK DISKETTES.

For as long as anyone can remember, the world has trusted Kodak film to capture its memories. Now the world can trust legendary Kodak quality to capture its computer data

Introducing Kodak diskettes. And the beginning of a new legend.

We know you expect nothing less than extraordinary performance from a Kodak product. We didn't disappoint you.

These remarkable new diskettes are so thoroughly test d . re cer tified error-free.

Every Kodak diskette has a highly burnished head surface for optimum read-write accuracy. And every s I rd

kette is made to

in Kodak Cor Inquiry 149

withstand 41/: million passes before significant wear occurs.

With accuracy and durability like that, we can offer this no-questions-asked replacement policy:

This KODAK Diskette will be free from manufacturing defects, or we will replace it.

Kodak diskettes for home and business PC use are available in standard 8- and 5l4-inch formats, high-density 514-inch diskettes, and 3!/2-inch micro diskettes in our HD 600 Series.

New Kodak diskettes. Because the only thing that can follow a legend is another legend.

KODAK.

The name says it all.

MAY 1985 ' 6 V T E 423

CIRCUIT CELLAR FEEDBACK

Conducted by Steve Garcia

A Word from Steve

Dear Circuit Cellar Project Builders.

In my November 1984 article on the Lis'ner 1000 voice-recognition board, I offered the software separately to Circuit Cellar project builders for $17 through March I, 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 properly evaluate the project and respond, I am extending the availability of the software through August I, 1985.

Thanks for your support—Steve

Multitasking Timex

Dear Steve,

I'm one of them hackers, and I wonder if I can get a superhacker to consider a little problem of mine and point me in the right direction.

I have completed building a system using a Timex 1000 circuit board. I'd like to experiment with adding another Timex 1000 board to create a multitasking system. Any ideas you can offer I'll appreciate.

Bill [ones Panama City, FL

A multitasking system usually contains system resources such as input and output devices that are used by all master and slave processors. Therefore, you will need some method of preventing more than one processor from accessing the same system resources at the same time.

There are several ways of avoiding this type of system clash. Two of the more common methods are to use an interrupt-driven system and to use a technique called temporary master access (TMA).

In an interrupt-driven system, an interrupt is initiated by a slave processor to the master processor when it requests use of the system resources. When the request is received by the master processor, it enters an interrupt mode and allows the slave processor the use of the system resources, depending on the priority of the requesting processor relative to any other processors making

simultaneous requests. When the interrupt request is completed, the control of the system's resources is again returned to the master processor.

In a TMA system, the slave processor requests use of the system resources by sending a signal to a temporary master access control ITMACj circuit. Again, depending on the priority of the request, the TMAC circuit will take control of the system resources from the master processor and allocate them to the requesting processor. The difference between a TMA system and an interrupt-driven system is that, during the TMA operation, the TMAC circuit becomes the system resource master.

These techniques are covered in detail in a book called Interfacing to S-100 IEEE 696 Microcomputers by Sol Libes and Mark Garetz. If you intend to build a master/slave-type system, you should be familiar with the concepts offered in this book.—Steve

Speedy RAM Disk

Dear Steve,

I enjoy your columns in BYTE, especially your responses to readers' questions. Your responses certainly educate. I hope my own inquiry can provoke a response of similar general utility.

A few months ago I purchased a Morrow MD-3. with which I am contented. The problem is that the thing is slow. For instance, it takes several minutes to back up two 20K-byte files using the public-domain "squeeze" utility. I'd like to install a RAM disk in my Morrow to speed it up, but I don't know how. Can it be done easily, perhaps as a Circuit Cellar project? Chandos Brown Cambridge, MA

A RAM disk will speed up your operation considerably when you are saving and recalling data from the RAM disk. However, it will not increase your speed when you finally save or back up your data to the physical disk since the same software that you are presently using will still have to be used for that operation. Several minutes to back up two 20K-byte files does seem a little long,

and it may be the "squeeze" utility that is causing the time increase.

I do agree that a RAM disk is a valuable feature. I use the RAM-disk feature available in my Trump Card (May and June 1984) for most of my word processing.

Building a low-cost RAM disk would be a good Circuit Cellar project, and I will keep it in mind. However, the problems with this kind of project are twofold. The first is the software. The software would by necessity be specific to a particular operating system, for example, CP/M 3.0, MS-DOS, etc., which would limit the appeal of such a project to some extent. The second problem is that a RAM disk has a lot of RAM on it. With today's prices, 256K bytes of RAM and the associated DIP sockets will cost about $150. Add to that the prices of the other components and a circuit board, and the low-cost RAM disk soon becomes a medium-cost RAM disk.—Steve

Z8 Valve Control

Dear Steve,

I am attempting to interface a computer to some solenoid switching valves. Would the Z8 System Controller be a good interface? I want to connect the Z8's serial port to the computer and its parallel port to the valves. The Z8 will decide which of 40 valves, up to 7, are to be actuated according to the commands of the computer, so that while the controller is acting upon the valves, the computer can do something else. The controller's program should run about 16K bytes. Does the Z8 have the memory to handle a program this size?

Jeff Schneider San Francisco, CA

The Z8 System Controller would be an excellent choice for an application such as you described. A Z8 BASIC System Controller and a Z8 Memory I/O Expansion Board would give you five 8-bit ports that could control the 40 valves that you mention. The two boards would also give you up to I4K bytes of memory space for your program. If you

(continued)

424 B YTE • MAY 1985

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

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 literally, a very impressive machine.

The DaisyWheel 36 is quick, with a top speed of 36 cps. It's more capable than any other daisywheel in its class, with superscriptsf SUDSCripts, boldfacing, underlining, 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

south

PERFORMANC

PRINTERS

Datasouth Computer Corporation

Box 240947 • Charlotte, NC 28224

704/523-8500 • Telex 6843018 DASOU UW

Inquiry 125

CIARCIA FEEDBACK

still need additional capability, more I/O boards could be added to the system by adding them to the motherboard offered for the Z8 system.

You should also read my article in the December 1984 BYTE, "Build the Power I/O System," which describes methods of connecting peripherals in the real world. —Steve

Power Monitor

Dear Steve,

In your September 1984 Circuit Cellar project, "Build the AC Power Monitor," you have the differential amplifier ICla hooked to a current-sensing resistor, Rs, which is connected directly to the hot side of the power line. This results in an input voltage to the IC of more than 100 volts, which exceeds the ICs input-voltage rating. How were you able to keep this IC from self-destructing—or is there something 1 don't understand? 1 would think it would be preferable to have the current-sensing resistor on the return or neutral side of the load. Your answer will be appreciated. Lawrence Swanson Colorado Springs, CO

The differential amplifier shown in figure I of that article measures the voltage difference developed across Rs when current is flowing in the AC line. This voltage difference is the product of the current in the AC line times the value of Rs. The large AC voltage on the line is not detected by the differential amplifier because the ground systems of the AC line and the differential amplifier are isolated from each other by the l20-V-to-l2.6-V power-supply transformer.

By using the isolation transformer, the measuring circuit and the AC line don't know electrically that each other exists. All the measuring circuit "knows" is that a voltage is applied between the input terminals of the differential amplifier and only this voltage difference is amplified in the circuit—Steve

Aids for the Blind

Dear Steve,

I have noted with interest your suggestion, mentioned in the October 1984 BYTE, of using acoustic ranging as an aid to the blind. Having had a personal experience with this type of electronic aid, I feel I must comment.

In the middle sixties I had a blind friend. During a trip to England in 1967 I became

aware of a commercially available acoustic aid for the blind. A group of us ultimately purchased this for my friend, financed from a bloated laboratory coffee fund that we periodically dumped for good causes. The manufacturer was a British firm. Ultra Electronics, if I remember correctly. The acoustic transmitter/receiver was housed in a flashlight-like case powered by nickel-cadmium batteries, and the output was an audio signal via an earpiece. Frequency varied with distance, enabling the user to "see" with his ears. The experiment with my friend failed for some very practical reasons.

In working with my friend. 1 learned many surprising things about simple devices that perhaps explains their existence in the blind community. The white cane serves many more functions than 1 ever imagined. It senses distance from an object. It is useful in following a line, i.e., a hallway, a curb, or the border between a sidewalk and grass. It senses texture. It senses steps and other dangerous forms of surface texture. It warns other people of the blind person's presence.

While the acoustic device could sense distance quite accurately in some situations, the nature of the surface returning the signal tended to muddy the interpretation. Soft things, drapery walls, and people were difficult to interpret. Hard surfaces could be "seen" quite accurately.

Slant-range measurement (perhaps interpretation is a better word) was difficult. The device could be used to follow a line, the demarcation between sidewalk and grass boulevard, for example, but the return was substantially different if this was a concrete/snow demarcation. Patchy snow was exceedingly difficult to deal with.

The device just didn't see steps: another slant-range problem.

It was hard to see people, and they couldn't be aware of his problem since he was only carrying a "flashlight" in the daytime. Embarrassing collisions resulted.

After a diligent learning effort, my friend abandoned the electronic aid for his cane. He did not lack interest or ingenuity. He was in his third year of an electrical engineering education when blinded, and he later developed his own test instrumentation to enable him to advance into better and better jobs with a nationally known instrumentation company. The last I heard of him, he was working in the computer field with a municipal government. I believe it would

have been difficult to find a more ideal subject for such an experiment.

In all fairness to the manufacturer, my friend did not take the training course that was required of all purchasers of the device. Because this was a British firm the travel cost was prohibitive, and I managed to twist one of the devices away from them with tears and wringing of the hands. The training course may have made a difference, but I doubt it; the difficulties are quite fundamental when given a bit of thought. My friend thought the device could have been of some assistance if it could have been incorporated into the cane. The cane, however, remained the primary system.

Finally, the blind are not really a big market, and most firms are not interested in helping with these types of products. Any serious development involves a high degree of altruism and must depend on the bright Ciarcias of the world.

Richard J. Reilly St. Paul, MN

Assembled Whimsi-Bell

Dear Steve,

I liked your July 1984 article about the Whimsi-Bell. I work in an office that could use such a device, and although 1 could build your design, I wonder if there isn't another such product on the market that's already built?

Eric VanDerveer Los Alamos. NM

The only unit comparable to my Whimsi-Bell is made by Heath. The company sells a kit that performs a similar function but with only four tunes to choose from. It isn't offered in assembled form either. I haven't seen any assembled units advertised. However, I still believe that other products must be available.

The Whimsi-Bell is an easy-to-assemble kit that represents a low-cost solution to your problem—Steve ■

Over the years 1 have presented many different 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 projects or how you may have been influenced by the basic ideas. Write me at Circuit Cellar Feedback. POB 582. Glastonbury. CT 06033, and fill me in on your applications. All letters and photographs become the property of Steve Ciarcia and cannot be returned.

426 BYTE • MAY 1985

For IBM-PC Add-On Users

In A Pinch? Give QIC The Inch)_

Measure Us By The Standards We Set!

We Set The Standard On Price!

OIC-Ol Internal Hard Disk Subsystem

The price of our QIC-01 10 MB internal hard disk is too low to list, but we can whisper it to you when you call. Comes complete with controller, cables, drive, easy instructions. Fits inside your floppy slot. Compatible with DOS 2.0, 2.1, and 3.0 without any patches. 20 MB half-height, $966" (call) ... 40 MB full-height, $t*99" (call)... 20 MB Drive for the PC AT, $96©a(call). These are all priced so low you won't believe it!

We set The Standard In Quality!

QIC-03 300/1200 Baud Modems

Our modems are fully Hayes compatible with features such as low heat dissipation, low power consumption, software volume control for the speaker, and largescale-integration "Modem on a chip" for high reliability. It also comes with communications software which lets you emulate VT100 or IBM 3101. Both external and internal models are available.

We Set The Standard On Reliability!

QIC-05 Five-Function Card

It gives you more than just added memory. It gives you reliable memory expansion (up to 384K), a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, and a battery back-up clock calendar. Includes RAM disk, print spooler, and clock utilities. (The 64K RAM set is only $27.)

We Set The Standard On Performance!

QIC-02 Floppy Tape Drive

We Set The Standard On Innovation!

QIC-04 Halt-Height Floppy Disk Drive

How's this for Performance? It backs up your 10 MB disk in only 5 minutes and performs both image and file-by-file back-up. This halfheight drive will fit inside your floppy disk and connect to your floppy controller. (No need for an additional controller card.) ... All for a truly amazing low price.

Presenting the QIC-04, the quietest drive on the market. It draws the least amount of current, is compatible with your PC's floppy controller card, and is doublesided, double-density. Also compatible with IBM AT.

...And We Guarantee Satisfaction!

No Risk. All our products are guaranteed for one year. And remember, if for any reason, you are not completely satisfied within 30 days, you can return it for a full refund.

Call Us Today! (408) 942-8086

"We Set The Standards"

RESEARCH

INCORPORATED

489 Valley Way Milpitas, Ca 95035

Inquiry 333

MasterCard. Visa. American Express sales add 3% to prices.

IBM PC/XT Compatibility AT Performance OEM Price

Nn§

High Speec

4.7 or 8 MH2

8088-2 Processo With 8087-2 Optior

: " . ' ! (

IBM PC/XT Form, Fit & Functioi

Highly Integratec

Built-in Disk Controller!

• Up To 4 Floppie;

• SASI Hard Disk Interface

1 Megabyte On-Board Memon

Parallel Por

2 Serial Port;

Time of Day Clod

54K User Definable ROIV

.IZE CONTROL OF YOUR HARDWARE DESTII

' ' it" "

SLJ '■!

The switchable 4.7 or 8 u? speed of the ACS-1000 Computer coupled with vytional 8087-2 number runcher provide AT-like periirmance without sacrificing 'C/XT compatibility ... or

F your company is using level microcomputers as a irt of your own product, you i increase profits and improve liability by using the ,c 1000 single board Computer.

["he ACS-1000 is compatile with both software and ardware designed for the IB" C/XT. It even has the sam lounting holes and the san power supply connections.' difference is that the ACS-1 offers a much higher level ot ■arion andin OEM q

Disk controllers, and extensive memory ready built-in, simplifying production and freeing the 6 expansion slots to take on the specialized work of your process control, CAD/CAM or office automation applications. There's even a special port for a low cost piggyback modem.

A 128K evaluation board is available to qualified OEM's for $595. Power supplies, packaging, keyboards and other system support available on request. To order, call or write:

ACS International, Inc. 105 Luna Rd. Suite 330 arrollton, Texas 75006

14-247-5151

In Canada: Soltech Industries 9274 194th St. Surrey, B.C V2T4W2

88-2606

ADVANCED COMPUTER SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

PROGRAMMING INSIGHT

0.8660254

V3/2

by Dan Sandberg

Aft algorithm that converts decimals to fractions

IF YOU NEEDED the solution of 11/17 + 13/19 - 139/323 - 37/15 + 47/21 in fractional form, finding the lowest common denominator might be difficult. Instead, you can plug the decimal equivalent. 0.672357364, into the following program and obtain a solution of 7601/11305.

The program can help you factor 133133/1101373 to 11/91 or verify that sin 60° = Vf/2.

Listing 1, which returns a fraction for every decimal input, uses a short algorithm. First, the program inverts the decimal to obtain a number greater than 1. The routine saves the integer and again inverts the decimal remainder. So it continues, until the algorithm finds a denominator that supports an integer numerator.

To find the denominator, the program uses the algorithm x„ x a„., + «*-2 = a„. where n equals the number of inversions and x„ equals the saved integers. Figure 1 uses 0.562 5 as an example. Using listing 1, you will obtain exact fractions only if the total number of digits in the fraction is less than the number of digits in the computer's precision. For example, if the calculating precision is 12 digits, the computer can construct a fraction like

135791/97531. But if the numerator or denominator contained one more digit, the computer would generate, unless you increased the calculating precision, only an almost exact solution. Try running the program in single and double precision.

If you want fractions printed in mixed form, add

35 IF INT(A)>0 THEN PRINT INT(A);" + ";C*(A- INT(A));'7";C

Listing 2 is shorter and faster, but it may require higher calculating precision. It never returns an inexact (even if close) fraction; it returns an error if you input insufficient precision.

Like listing 1, the program inverts the incoming number with a special algorithm until it finds the denominator. If the fraction is too difficult (i.e., requiring greater precision), an overflow error will occur. If you enter too few decimal digits, the program, which does not round A*B to an integer, will warn you by writing a decimal numerator that is close to an integer. With a precision of 12 digits, 0.333333333333 will generate the answer 1/3. However, 0.3333333333 will yield 0.9999999999/3. On the other hand, 0.333 gives the answer

333/1000, a useful feature for those needing precise fractions. Others might round A*B to the nearest integer. The constant. 0.00001. in line 11(J is suitable for 12-digit calculating precision. Try constants like 0.0001 and 0.000001 to produce the best possible conversion capability. For mixed output, you can add

130 PRINT INT(A);" + ";(AINT(A))*B;"/";B

Listing 3 detects constants like x, V2. and V3: enter the sin 60° (0.86602 54) and get V3/2. The program divides and multiplies the incoming decimals by the constants, one at a time, and uses a slightly modified version of listing 2 as a subroutine to determine whether the constants form part of the fraction. The decimal equivalent of arctan (- I), -0.7853983, gives the answer -tt/4. arcsin - I returns -ir/2. You need not struggle with tables.

Note that the program always places the square root in the numerator. Therefore, 1/V3 will appear as

[continued) Dan Sandberg {Tdppgatan 32, S-151 33 Sodertdlje, Sweden) is a medical student at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

*— Inquiry 9

MAY I985 -BYTE 429

merican Semiconductor

Computers, Components. Hardware and Software /-""" **^

4164-Hit. (1.3T 41256-Fuji(5£)9j

Niw! Ot»k Orlvaa Full Height*

DSDD

89.

*S IBM-PC 13501

R— P.C.-10mbHaHH*lghtWtn«hMt*r729^ AT -aomb wmohiun 887 ! 8087 129 j

j^A8T-B P.ok+ 289 |

D BASE / EVEREX / HAYE8 HERCULES / EPSON / OKIDATA

800-237-5758

Sales Ext. 261

Vendor Ljna Visa M.C

813-949-3193 Add 3H [

Inquiry 463

Call For

DEALERS ADVANTAGE

Add-on Products for IBM PC®

10 Mb Ham Disk Kit (with conlrollerl S550 00

20 Mb Hard Disk Kit (with controller) $650 00

Floppy Controller Card S50 00

Hard Disk Controller Card $170 00

Color Graphics Card I RGB and NTSC Comp ) $95 00

Monochrome Graphics Card $100 00

Memory Card With 256K $150 00

MINIMUM OF TEN BOARDS

■ IBM is a registered trademark ol International Business Machines Inc

CRANE Associates, Inc

3928 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 12

Culver City. CA 90230

(213) 390-9840

Inquiry 465

CBASIC CB80-86

New Development Utilities

Writing complei code with data input and verification ? MicroScreen does all data input and verification with a single line of code, reducing your development time and costs by up to

60* Masked input provides the utmost flexabilily

, V Highly transportable code

bilitv

mcl

Many 6/S's 8 Terms, supported.

-Easy to use

-Current programs easily convertible

-No accidental program eiits

-free utility software:

Screen ft Menu makers

MicroScreen Tutorial

Rush $69 96 + $2 50 SftM (CK or MO)

for this introductory offer to:

MicroScope

14 7 St Joseph Blvd Lodi. NJ 07644 (201)473-6442 Dealer inqunes

Inquiry 464

0.8660254 = V3/2

N Decimal

1 0.5625

2 0.7777

3 0.2857

4 0.5

Inversion

1/0.5625

1/0.7777

1/0.2857

1/0.5

Integer(X) 1

1 3 2

Remainder

0.7777 0.2857 0.5 0

The following equation determines the denominator:

n = 0 n=^ n = 2 n = 3

x.

1

1 3 2

Once we know the denominator, the numerator is simple to find, since N = Q " D. Here, N = 0.5625 * 16 = 9. Therefore, 0.5625 equals 9/16. (Note that, in the first equation, a„., and a„.2 are always set to 1 and 0 respectively.)

Figure I: Ad illustration of the algorithm in listing l. The entry. 0.562 5. is inverted. The routine saves the integer. I, and inverts the result, 0.7777. Continuing the routine produces four integers: 1, 1, 3. and 2. The expression C = INT(E)*C + B in line 30 of listing 1 searches, as in the figure, for a denominator that supports an integer numerator.

Listing 1: This short program returns a fraction for every decimal input. Figure 1 helps to explain the algorithm.

10 INPUT A:B = 0:C = 1:

D = ABS(A-INT(A)) 20 IF D = 0 THEN 40 30 E = 1/D:F = C:C = INT(E)*C + B:B = F:

D = E-INT(E):IF A*ColNT(A*C)

THEN 30 40 PRINT A*C;7":C:GOTO 10

Listing 2: A shorter and faster version of listing l, which returns only exact fractions. You can adjust the constant in line 110 for different conversion capabilities.

100 INPUT A: C = ABS(A):B = 1 110 B = B/C:C = (1/C)-INT(1/C):IF

C>0.00001 THEN 110 120 B = INT(B): PRINT A*B;7";B:

GOTO 100

Listing 3: Triis program uses a slightly modified version of listing 2 as a subroutine to determine whether constants like ir and V2 form part of the fraction.

10 K$ = "":L$="":INPUT H:A=H:GOSUB 100

20 K$ = "sqr 2":A = H/SQR(2):GOSUB 100

30 K$ = "sqr 3":A = H/SQR(3):GOSUB 100

40 K$ = 'sqr 5":A = H/SQR(5):GOSUB 100

45 Pl = 3141592653589793#

50 K$ = "PI": A = H/PI:GOSUB 100

60 K$ = "PI exp 2":A = H/PI/PI:GOSUB 100

70 K$ = " ":L$ = "PI":A = H*PI:GOSUB 100

80 L$ = "PI exp 2":A = H"PI"PI:GOSUB 100

100 C = ABS(A):B = 1

110 B = B/C:C = (1/C)-INT(1/C):IF B>10000 THEN RETURN

120 IF C>0.00001 THEN 110

130 B = INT(B): PRINT A*B:K$;7";B;L$:END

SQR 3/3. To eliminate this, simply add

125 B = INT(B):IF SQR(B)= H/A THEN L$ = K$:K$ = "":A=:A*B:B=1

I am sure that the third listing will be a useful subroutine for a variety of tasks. You could easily add other constants for the program to search. ■

PE BACKUI

I

TH€ WOftlD OF PC UPGRRDCS

10 Mbyte Micro Tape Backup "add it to your XT"

Micro Tape Backup and 1 /2 High Floppy "add it to your XT

10 Mbyte Hard Disk with Controller

10 Mbyte Removable Hard Disk/Controller

20 Mbyte Hard Disk with Controller

33 Mbyte Hard Disk/Controller Si Power Supply

$895

$795

$1295

$1095

$1995

$295

$465

$185

ISPS Power Supply "Internal" (140 watts) $295

CC01 Floppy/Hard Disk/Controller Card (1.6 Meg floppy Compatible) $465

when included in any of above Hard Disk Systems add $185

NOT€: The above pricing is for internal units, external units are available. Micro Design International has been serving the Computer Industry for over 8 years and all our products carry a one year warranty with a 30-day money back guarantee.

MflGNCnC AA€MORV PRODUCTS FOR TH€ IBM XT/PC FIND FROM

COMPfmBl€S...

ffi€€

UmHTH€

OFBNV HARD DISK

CftCW

(DOS manual on disk) ireviewed in RCUteek

ASSIST W9.95

(for foster disk access)

..OS I

COU€CT (305) 677-8333 J/Visa/Check/or Mon

Micro Design International Inc.

6566 University Blvd., Winter Park, Florida 32792

(305) 677-8333

Inquiry 264

See what you think

Go ahead.

Put your two cents worth onto ThinkTank^ And watch it grow into a million-dollar idea.

Because ThinkTank is the first software designed to process ideas on the IBM PC, XT and compatibles, the Apple II family and Macintosh.

ThinkTank's flexible outline format lets you clearly see your idea from all angles. So you can sharpen up an inspired thought, weed out a weak one, set priorities, weigh alternatives.

Its like a spreadsheet for ideas.

While all this structuring helps your brainchild take shape, it won't inhibit the natural flow of creative juices. Because entering an idea onto ThinkTank is as easy as scribbling it on a cocktail napkin. All you need is simple English.

Just let your thoughts flow—from "pie in the sky" concepts to the "nuts and bolts" details. And build more professional proposals, marketing plans, legal

Inspiration is fleeting, so just let your thoughts flow. The flexible format makes it easy to rearrange them later into headings and a basic outline

I !se as many headings and as much text as you need to develop the outline fully Thinklank's processing pouvr can mot v it 'hole sections of text u itb a single keystroke - something no word processor can do.

When you want to scope tlx> Big Picture, a simple command drops out et vn thing hut the mam headings. Subheads and detailed text are stored for recall later

briefs, case reports, engineering specifications, research notes, action items, hot lists and to-do lists.

Call 1-800556-1234 Ext. 213 (in Calif., 1-800-4412345 Ext. 213) for the store nearest you. And see what's really on your mind.

The First Idea Processor.

ThinkTank ' and The hirst Idea Processor■"are trademarks ofLiiinf; Videotex!, lite © Cufnnfibt 1>)H4. UnngVideotext. Inc. 2432 Charleston Roiut. Mountain View, CA 9404.1.1415) 964-6300

432 BYTE" MAY 198^

Inquiry 243

PROGRAMMING INSIGHT

COMPUTING

PI

by David J. Crawford

Using infinite series to compute mathematical functions

THE ANCIENT GREEKS, who had an almost religious obsession with geometry, were well aware that the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter is a constant. However, they had little success in measuring the value of the constant, which we now symbolize with the lowercase Greek letter 'V (pi). Even Archimedes, regarded as one of the three greatest mathematicians of all time, could do rio better than estimate ■k somewhere between 3J/7 and 3%. There were two reasons for this.

First, the numbering system of the Greeks did not allow easy arithmetic computations. Second, and most important, they had no algebraic method to compute it; instead, they summed the perimeter of a manysided polygon.

In fact, mathematicians had no method for approximating the decimal value of 7r and other irrational numbers until the arrival of calculus in the late seventeenth century. The new tool was the infinite series, especially the technique now known as Taylor series expansion.

Like many other calculus operations named after individuals, full credit for discovery of the Taylor series should

not belong to one person. In 1712. Brook Taylor (1685-1731). a mathematician at Cambridge, generalized the series and put it on a sound theoretical footing. Even before his birth, however, other mathematicians had discovered the "magical" properties of the infinite series.

By 1671, the Scottish mathematician lames Gregory knew that the function arctangent x (meaning "the angle whose tangent is x") equaled the sum of the series

x-K3(x3) + !/5(x5)-!/7(x7)+.. • for values of x between - 1 and + 1. This series, actually derived using a geometric rather than a Taylor series, provided a method for computing it because arctangent 1 equals WA in the radian measure of angles used in the calculus. Therefore, 4 times arctangent 1 is the exact value of ir and is expressed as the series

Listing 1 sums the terms in this series. |Editor's note: The listings for the programs in this article are available for downloading via BYTEnet Listings. The telephone number is (603) 924-9820.] Line 190 declares the variables as

double-precision. Line 210 prints a heading for each set of 10 terms. Lines 220-230 add another term to the sum. Lines 240-270 print a line of formatted output. Lines 280-300 update the variables in preparation for computing the next term in the series. Line 310 jumps back to do the next term. The program will run indefinitely.

Table 1 presents the output of listing 1 for the first 10 terms of the series.

The cumulative sum in the righthand column is alternately greater than and less than the actual value of ir. As more terms are added, the sum will continue to oscillate back and forth, but closer and closer to the true value of x.

Mathematicians have referred to this series as an elegant method for computing ir because it is a clear and very simple formulation; however, a mathematician would be the first to admit that in practical terms the

(continued)

David J. Crawford (702 5 Garden Grove Ave.. Reseda. CA 91335) is completing a B.S. in applied mathematics and works as a consultant in the Computer Center at California State University. Northridge. His other interests include electronics and hiking.

MAY 1985 'BYTE 433

COMPUTING PI

method is virtually useless. To illustrate the impracticality of the series, it is only necessary to let the program run for a few minutes. Table 2 presents the output after 1000 terms.

The total is beginning to look more like x, but we have added 1000 terms without resolving the third decimal place. Considering the amount of number crunching that has been done, this is not a satisfactory result.

lohn Machin found the answer to the problem in 1706. Another Scotsman and one of Taylor's instructors at Cambridge, Machin was able to show through the use of trigonometric identities that "arc

tangent 1" is exactly equal to "4 arctangent !/5 - arctangent %39'.' This rather bizarre-looking equality has considerable significance because, when computed as an infinite series, it will converge much more rapidly. The infinite series for computing -k raises x to higher and higher powers. In listing 1, x= 1 and remains equal to 1 when raised to higher powers. If, however, x is a fraction of 1, as it is in Machin's identity, higher powers of x will become smaller and smaller, speeding the convergence.

To use the new identity to compute ■k. we again multiply by 4 and expand two different series. First, we compute

Listing I: Summing the series 4 times arctangent

PI1.BAS

THIS PROGRAM COMPUTES PI USING THE INFINITE-SERIES EXPANSION OF 4 ARCTANGENT 1.

1

100 REM 110 REM 120 REM 130 REM 140 REM 150 REM 160 REM 170 REM 180 REM

190 DEFDBL A-D.P 200A = 4:B=1:C=1:E 210 IF RIGHT$(STR$(E),1) = "1 "DECIMAL",,"PI TOTAL" 220 D = C*A/B 230 PI = PI + D 240 PRINT E,

250 IF SGN(C)=1 THEN PRINT 260 PRINT STR$(A);" /";STR$(B) 270 PRINT TAB(29);D;TAB(56);PI 280 C= -C 290 B = B + 2 300 E = E + 1 310 GOTO 210

PI = 0

THEN PRINT

TERM #","RATIO"

ELSE PRINT

Table 1

: The first 10 terms derived from listing 1.

Term #

Ratio

Decimal

Pi Total

1

+ 4/1

4

4

2

-4/3

-1.333333333333333

2.666666666666667

3

+ 4/5

0.8

3.466666666666667

4

-4/7

-0.5714285714285714

2.895238095238095

5

+ 4/9

0.4444444444444444

3.33968253968254

6

-4/11

-0.3636363636363636

2.976046176046176

7

+ 4/13

0.3076923076923077

3.283738483738484

8

-4/15

-0.2666666666666667

3.017071817071817

9

+ 4/17

0.2352941176470588

3.252365934718876

10

-4/19

-0.2105263157894737

3.041839618929402

the sum of the series for "16 arctangent K" as follows:

16(H)-,6/3(K)3 + l6/5(K)5-. ..

Then we calculate "4 arctangent [/2w" with the series

4(!/239)-4/3(/239)3 + W239)5-. . .

and subtract the second sum from the first. The result will again equal -w but will require much less computation.

To see just how quickly these new series converge, we use listing 2, which incorporates the first program as a subroutine for summing a given number of terms of the arctangent series.

Line 190 declares the variables as double-precision. Line 200 sets up the parameters for the first call of the arctangent-series subroutine in line 210. Line 220 temporarily stores the returned sum. Line 230 sets up the second subroutine call in line 240. Lines 2 50-260 print the final answer. Table 3 is the complete output of the program.

Note how quickly the magnitude of the denominators in the second column increases for both series. The result, given in the lower right-hand corner of the output, is the value of x correct to 15 decimal places. The advantages of this method are obvious; it required only 12 terms of the first series and 4 of the second.

There is no point in adding any more terms to either series because for both the last term has an absolute value less than 10~16; the first 15 decimal places would not subsequently change. In fact, adding only a few more terms to the second series might cause an overflow error because most microcomputer programming languages are not equipped to handle numbers whose base-10 exponents exceed + or -39.

The value of -w computed above is the most accurate that Microsoft BASIC can derive in its doubleprecision mode. More accuracy would require special routines to handle decimal numbers with more than 16 significant figures. Of course, this has already been done. One of the first

{continued)

434 BYTE- MAY 1985

TEK

2213/V2215A/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-toread, 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. Separate intensity controls reduce blooming in alternate sweep mode. Focus tracking minimizes control adjustment and BEAM FIND eliminates confusion.

Vertical system 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 measurements accurately and easily. Both sweeps can be displayed alternately making differential measurements easy and accurate (1%). An interlocking SEC/DIV control simplifies set-up.

Stable hands-off triggering. P-P

AUTO detects signal peaks, then sets the trigger level for you. Display asynchronous signals using VERT MODE triggering. Independent TV field and line selection.

Front panel laid out by function for ease of use.

Color coding aids the user in operation. Functions and modes are placed logically. All nomenclature is clearly labeled, and protected behind a scratchless 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 2215A and the 100 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 2213A, $1525 for the 2215A, $1750 for the 2235T 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 families. 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. Technical personnel, expert in scope applications, will answer your questions and expedite delivery. Direct orders include comprehensive 3-year warranty*, operator's

manual, two 10X probes, 15-day return policy and worldwide service 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

Tektronix

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Copyright • 1985, Tektronix. Inc All righls reserved #TTA-439-3 t Price FOB Beaverton. OR. *3-year warranty includes CRT

MAY I985 'BYTE 435

Inquiry 45 I

QUICKCODE III

dBASE Program Generator

• Create CMD files automatically

• Data entry screens

• Data input error checking

• Computed fields & totals

• Link up to 8 databases!

Why write programs yourself? Let QUICKCODE III do itl

COMPUTING PI

tasks given to digital computers at the dawn of the computer age was to calculate the value of it to an absurd number of decimal places. In 1949, at the Army Ballistic Research Center in Aberdeen. Maryland, the original

ENIAC, a vacuum-tube computer, computed w to 2037 decimal places. Over the next 20 years, the accuracy increased many times, until in Paris in 1967, a Control Data 6600 calculated

{continued)

Table 2:

Later output from

listing I.

Term #

Ratio

Decimal

Pi Total

1001

+ 4 / 2001

1.999000499750125D-03

3.142591654339554

1002

- 4 / 2003

- 1.99700449326011D-03

3.140594649846294

1003

+ 4 / 2005

1.99501246882793D-03

3.142589662315122

1004

- 4 / 2007

- 1.993024414549078D-03

3.140596637900573

1005

+ 4 / 2009

1.991040318566451 D-03

3.14258767821914

1006

- 4/2011

- 1.989060169070114D-03

3.14059861805007

1007

+ 4 /2013

1 987083954297069D-03

3.142585702004367

1008

- 4 / 2015

- 1.985111662531017D-03

3.140600590341836

1009

+ 4/2017

1.983143282102132D-03

3.142583733623938

1010

- 4 / 2019

-1.981178801386825D-03

3.140602554822551

Listing 2: Summing Machiris series.

PI2.BAS

THIS PROGRAM COMPUTES PI USING THE INFINITE-SERIES EXPANSION OF "16 ARCTANGENT 1/5 - 4 ARCTANGENT 1/239."

100 REM

110 REM

120 REM

130 REM

140 REM

150 REM

160 REM

170 REM

180 REM

190 DEFDBL B-G.P

200 A=12 : B-16 : C = 5

210 GOSUB 280

220 P1 =P

230 A = 4 : B = 4 : C = 239

240 GOSUB 280

250 PRINT "16 ARCTAN 1/5

260 PRINT P1.P.P1 -P

270 STOP

* THIS SUBROUTINE SUMS "A" TERMS OF THE INFINITE SERIES FOR "B" TIMES THE ANGLE WHOSE TANGENT IS (1/"C") AND RETURNS THE SUM AS "P."

INFINITE SERIES FOR";B;"ARCTAN( 1 /";C;")"

;TAB(38);"DECIMAL";TAB(61);

4 ARCTAN y239

PI

TERM #";TAB(10);"RATIO'

280 REM * 290 REM 300 REM 310 PRINT 320 PRINT

"SUBTOTAL" 330D=1:E = 1:F = C:P = 0 340 FOR X = 1 TO A 350 G = E*F 360 P=P + D*B/G 370 PRINT X;TAB(8)

380 IF SGN(D)=1 THEN PRINT " + "; ELSE PRINT "-"; 390 PRINT STR$(B);" /";STR$(G);TAB(37);D"B/G;TAB(60);P 400 F = F*C*C 410 E = E + 2 420 D = - D 430 NEXT X 440 PRINT , RETURN

436 BYTE

Inquiry 375 —►

>C«sw

Vfe

^v

Statistics, reports and plots happen magically with SPSS/PC -the Statistical Package for IBM PC/XTs*

SPSS/PC is the most comprehensive statistical package for performing simple or complex tasks, regardless of data size. It maintains feature and language compatibility with mainframe SPSS, while optimizing for the PC environment.

Statistics range from simple descriptive to complex multivariate, including Multiple Regression. ANOVA, Factor and Cluster analysis. Loglinear and nonparametric procedures are also included.

Simple facilities allow transfer of files between

SPSS/PC and programs like Lotus 1-2-3. dBase II and SAS. A complete Report Writer. Plotting facilities and a Communications program for mainframes round out a fully integrated product.

For more information, contact our Marketing Department without further ado. And see what a little stat magic can do for you.

SPSS Inc., 444 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312/329-3500.

In Europe: SPSS Benelux B.V., P.O. Box 115, 4200 AC Gorinchem, The Netherlands, Phone: +31183036711 TWX: 21019.

VISA, MasterCard and American Express accepted.

<#•*>*'

—»-»**-*"

PRODUCTIVITY RAISED TO THE HIGHEST POWER

'SPSS/PC runs on the IBM PC/XT or AT with 320K memory and a hard disk. An 8087 co-processor is recommended. Contact SPSS Inc. for other compatible computers. IBM PC/XT and AT are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. dBase II is a trademark of AshtonTate 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. SAS is a registered trademark of SAS Institute, Inc. SPSS and SPSS/PC are trademarks of SPSS Inc. for its proprietary computer software. I Copyright 1985. SPSS inc.

COMPUTING PI

Table 3

: The complete output of listing 2.

Infinite series for 16 arctan( 1 / 5 )

Term #

Ratio

Decimal

Subtotal

1

+ 16/5

3.2

3.2

2

- 16/375

-0.04266666666666667

3.157333333333333

3

+ 16 / 15625

0.001024

3.158357333333333

4

- 16 / 546875

- 2.925714285714286D-05

3.158328076190476

5

+ 16 / 17578125

9.102222222222222D-07

3.158328986412699

6

- 16 / 537109375

- 2.978909090909091 D-08

3.158328956623608

7

+ 16/ 15869140625

1.008246153846154D-09

3.158328957631854

8

- 16/457763671875

- 3.495253333333333D-11

3.158328957596901

9

+ 16 / 12969970703125

1.233618823529412D-12

3.158328957598135

10

- 16 / 362396240234375

-4.415056842105263D-14

3.158328957598091

11

+ 16/1.001358032226563D+16

1.597830095238095D-15

3.158328957598092

12

- 16/2.741813659667969D+17

- 5.835553391304348D-17

3.158328957598092

Infinite series for 4 arctan( 1 / 239 )

Term #

Ratio

Decimal

Subtotal

1

+ 4/239

0.01673640167364017

0.01673640167364017

2

- 4 / 40955757

- 9.766636714833522D-08

0.01673630400727302

3

+ 4 / 3899056325995

1.025889257698589D-12

0.01673630400829891

4

- 4/3.118051949560246D+17

-1.282852263113878D-17

0.0167363040082989

16 arctan 1/5 - 4 arctan 1/239

= Pi

3.158328957598092 0.0167363040082989

3.141592653589793

■k to a half-million decimal places!

We should not underestimate the importance of infinite series to computer science. Novice computer users often imagine that computers, for trigonometric and exponential functions, contain immense lookup tables like those found in the appendixes of mathematics textbooks. Obviously, this is not the case; the storage space required for such tables is prohibitive.

When a computer or hand calculator requires the sine of a given angle, it calculates the value on the spot with a method similar to the Taylor series. Mathematical tricks that allow more rapid convergence of infinite series, like the one just demonstrated, are absolutely necessary to reduce computation time. Indeed, without employing special techniques, the series for finding the logarithm of a number

will converge slowly—if at all.

And for those who fear that 15 decimal places of ir are not enough for their purposes, consider the following: if you had a circle the size of the earth's equator and you knew its diameter with the same degree of accuracy, you could use this value of ■k to calculate the circumference to within a few hundredths of a micron! ■

GRAPHS WITHOUT GRAPHICS?

No need for color monitor or graphics board. Make graphs on dot matrix printers.

Printers 23. AX

Computers 19.i

Easy to Use. No Programming.

CP/M 2.2, 3. 80, or 86, MS-DOS or PC-DOS.

Excellent Manual. Most disk formats.

Dataplotter™

Line Graphs & Scatterplots. .. .$69

Bar Graphs & Pie Charts $69

Both for $99

SALES

Lark*

Software*

131 N. LeverettRd. Uverett, MA 01054

(Prices include manual)

Add $3 shipping.

$8 outside US and Canada.

Specify type of Printer.

(413) 773-8687 v

ILL 1 5 E I

438 BYTE' MAY 1985

Inquiry 448

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 features 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 inventory 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 sophisticated, 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

accounting 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 software package. Now he's offering the next step, another breakthrough: 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 pnce.

'CP/M-80 and MP/M-80 are registered trademarks of Digital Research, Inc . IBM PC is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation; The Sensible Solution trademark rights are claimed by O'Hanlon Computer Systems.

Inquiry 58

MAY 1985 'BYTE 439

Little Tramp character licensed by Bubbles Inc., s.a.

Simple answers to your questions about IBM Personal Computers.

440 B YTE • MAY 1985

If you're personally interested in personal computers, but want to know more, these definitions, descriptions and details should help.

"Just what is a personal computer, and how can I use it?"

An IBM Personal Computer is a computer

designed for a person. It's a tool to help accomplish just about anything a person needs to do with information. It can help you start a small enterprise at home just as surely as it can help a corporate planner solve complex problems.

"Suppose I've never had my hands on a computer. How 'easy' will it be?"

As with any new tool, you'll want to get comfortable with your IBM Personal Computer before getting down to f~~ work. The nice thing is that the \

computer is on your side, inter- | acting with you as you learn. Then you're running programs and feeling good with the results. It becomes clear that you've made a good investment, and you'll probably be telling your friends why they should get one.

'Are IBM Personal Computers simple or sophisticated?"

Both. Our systems have many advanced design features; they are there to make your computer —— simple to operate and to help make you more productive. As with a well-designed car, the computer is designed around you, the user.

"What kind of software programs do you have to help me?"

Perhaps the world's largest and most up-to-date library of business programs has been written specifically for the IBM PC family. And among the best

of this software is IBM's Personal Computer Software. A great deal of it is compatible from one system to another or from office to home. You might be interested in help with your writing, filing, graphing, planning or /§^> reporting. And if you want to get all

— your ducks in a row, line them up I with the IBM Assistant Series.

r You can work with each program

i individually, or together as a

\ x^s team. There is also software to help you with accounting, inventory and payroll—practically anything, including communications packages to connect you to a company mainframe or outside information services.

"How expensive are they? And what if my needs change?"

With all the quality, power and performance built into IBM Personal Computers (including their extraordinary expansion capabilities), you'll find they're surprisingly affordable. But the value doesn't end there, because if your needs change you can always expand or upgrade within the IBM PC family. It's a very extensive, very compatible family of products that can help you protect your initial investment.

"If I want a demonstration, where do I go and who will show it to me?"

Go to any Authorized IBM Personal Computer Dealer or IBM Product Center, or contact your IBM marketing representative. All have received special training and you should find them quite helpful.

Ask to see the software programs that interest you most, and get your hands on the system yourself. Then you'll begin to see what this tool for modern times can do for you.

For a store near you, call 1-800-447-4700, Dept. HC. In Alaska or Hawaii, 1-800-447-0890. ^=== = •

Inquiry 197

MAY 1985 -BYTE 44]

BOOKS REOEIVED

THE ABC'S OF 1-2-3. Chris Gilbert and Laurie Williams. Berkeley, CA: Sybex. 1985, 242 pages. 17.5 by 22.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-89588-168-3. S14.95.

Ada: Language, Compilers and Bibliography. M. W. Rogers, ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1984: 300 pages, 15.5 by 2 3 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-52126464-2. S17.95.

Analog Integrated Circuits. Sidney Soclof. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1985: 526 pages. 18.5 by 24 cm, hardcover, ISBN 0-13-032772-7, S39.95.

Apple Access: Users' Guide to Apple Computer-related Periodical Literature. Volume I. Michael McAffee, ed. Petaluma, CA: Stony Point Publications. 1985: 256 pages, 18 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-931293-01-04, $19.95.

The Apple Computer Clubs' Activities Handbook, Samuel K. Miller and Michael E. Caley. Englewood Cliffs. N|: PrenticeHall. 1984: 205 pages. 215 by 27,5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13039454-8. $14.95.

Apple logo: A Complete Illustrated Handbook, Drew Berentes. Blue Ridge Summit. PA: Tab Books. 1984: 390 pages. 13 by 21 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8306-1751-5. $13.95.

Atari XL User's Handbook. staff of Weber Systems. Cleveland, OH: Weber Systems, 1984: 352 pages. 15 by 22.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-93886208-1. $1495.

The Bank Street Writer Book, Don Beil. Reston, VA: Reston Publishing, 1985: 266 pages, 21.5 by 28 cm, spiral-bound, ISBN 0-8359-0361-3. $1995.

Basic Adventure and Strategy Game Design for the TRS-80. lim Menick. New York: Facts on

File Publications. 1984: 272 pages, 15 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-87196-977-7. $9.95.

BASIC & FORTH in Parallel. S.). Wainwright. London: Bernard Babani Ltd.. 1984: 119 pages. 11 by 17.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-85934-113-5, £1,95,

BASIC in action, Stanislav Dvorak and Anthony Musset. Stoneham, MA: Butterworth Publishers, 1984: 304 pages, 15.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-408-01395-8. $29.95.

BASICally Kaypro: Programming the 2, 4 and 10, loseph K. Rensin and Larry loel Goldstein. Bowie, MD: Brady Communications. 1985: 288 pages, 17,5 by 23.5 cm. softcover, ISBN O-89303-36O-X, $16.95.

Bowker's 1985 Complete Sourcebook of Personal Computing, R. R, Bowker. New York: R. R. Bowker Co.. 1985: 2020 pages. 15 by 22.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8352-1931-3. $19.95.

Brain Games for Kids & Adults Using the Apple 11/ 1Ie/I1c, lohn W. Stephenson and Robert L. Randell. Bowie. MD: Brady Communications, 1985: 2 54 pages, 17.5 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-89303-362-6. $13.95.

Business and Home Applications for the Macintosh: Using Microsoft BASIC, Stan Schatt. Bowie, MD: Brady Communications, 1985: 224 pages, 17.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-89303-403-7, $14.95.

Business Mini/Micro Software Directory. Information Sources Inc. New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1984: 824 pages, 21.5 by 28 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-83 52-1970-4. $75.

Business Programming on Your BBC Micro, Peter Jackson. North Pomfret. VT David & Charles Inc.. 1985: 158 pages. 15.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-9465-7620-3, $14.95.

Business Programming on Your Commodore, Peter lackson. North Pomfret. VT David & Charles Inc.. 1985: 158 pages. 15.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-9465-7619-X. $14.95.

Charles Babbage: Pioneer of the Computer. Anthony Hyman. Princeton. NJ: Princeton University Press. 1982: 306 pages, 15 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-691-02377-8. $9.95.

COBOL with an Emphasis on Structured Program Design. D. F. Galletta. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1985: 368 pages. 21 by 28 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-13-139858-X, $21.95.

The Commodore Disk and Printer Handbook, David Bridges and Helen Naylor, North Pomfret. VT David & Charles Inc., 1984: 212 pages, 15.5 by 23 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-9465-7623-8. $14.95.

Commodore Logo. Harold Bailey. Kathleen Brautigam, and Trudy Doran. Bowie, MD: Brady Communications, 1984: 320 pages. 17.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-89303-376-6. $14.95.

Commodore 64: Tutor for Home and School, Julie Knott and Dave Prochnow. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Co., 1985: 220 pages, 19.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-673-/ 18074-3. $15.95.

Communicating with Databases in Natural Language.

THIS IS A LIST of books received at BYTE Publications-1( 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

Mark Wallace. New York: lohn Wiley & Sons, 1984: 172 pages, 17 by 24.5 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-470-20105-3. $29.95

Compaq Portable Computer: Use, Applications, and BASIC, William Arnold. New York: Holt. Rinehart and Winston, 1984: 240 pages. 17 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-03-064119-5. $18.45

The Complete Guide for the Commodore 64. Spencer Bateson. North Pomfret. VT David & Charles Inc.. 1984: 334 pages, 13.5 by 21.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-9465-7621-1. $18.95.

The Computer Freelancer's Handbook, Ardy Friedberg, New York: New American Library, 1984: 160 pages, 15 by 22.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-452-25562-7. $10.95.

Computer Programming for the Compleat Idiot, Donald McCunn. San Francisco, CA: Design Enterprises of San Francisco, 1984: 208 pages. 21 by 27.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-932 538-14-2, $10.95.

Computer Programming in FORTRAN the Easy Way, Lawrence S. Leff and Arlene Podos. Woodbury, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 1985: 326 pages, 19,5 by 27.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8120-2800-7. $7.95.

CP/M Software Directory. Xerox Corporation, New York: R. R. Bowker Co.. 1984: 768 pages, 21.5 by 28 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8352-1973-9. $24.95.

Creative Computer Graphics. Annabel lankel and Rocky Morton. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1984: 150 pages, 30 by 30.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-521-26251-8, $29,95,

Database and File Management Systems for the Micro[continued)

442 BYTE- MAY 1985

We've Puta^^ Local Area Network on a Disk

Corporate Information Sharing. It's been described as the key to Increasing a company's productivity. It's also why large networks of PC's are becoming more and more common in the workplace...in spite of the fact that they're costly, difficult to install, and Incompat ibie with much existing software.

Finally, there's a solution to this corporate dilemm Its name Is LANLink™

9t

A Software-Driven LAN That Uses Standard, RS-232 Ports. A major breakthrough in local area networks, LANLink™ uses your computers' existing serial ports and runs under PC-DOS.

Because all of the intelligence the network requires is on the server and satellite diskettes, expensive network interface boards aren't required.

A Powerful Network That's Cost-Conscious. If

you've been pricing board-driven LAN's, you already know that they can cost over $1,000 per workstation.

LANLink™ is different.

Boasting a data transfer rate in excess of 100,000 BPS, LANLink™ is compatible with a wide range of programs. And because special boards aren't required, installation costs are one-third that of a traditional network.

A Network Designed the Way Business Works. With LANLink™ you're able to customize your network along departmental lines using a data-sharing hierarchy and password-protected access.

Get Started With LANLink™ TODAY. Call The Software Link TODAY for complete details and the authorized dealer nearest you. The LANLink™ Starter Kit, priced at $495, comes complete with network software for both a server and a satellite computer. For a limited time 50 feet of RS-232 cable will be included free of charge.

LANLink™ is Immediately available and comes with a money-back guarantee. VISA, MC AMEX accepted.

LAIYL

THE SOFTWARE LINK, INC.

Developers of MultiLink™ and MultiLink Advanced™

8601 Dunwoody Place, Suite 336, Atlanta, QA 30338 Telex 4996147 SWLINK

CALL: 404/998-0700

Dealer Inquiries Invited

MultiLink, MultiLink Advanced & LANLink are trademarks of The Software Link, Inc. PC-DOS is a trademark of IBM Corp.

Inquiry 366

WIRED?

WIRELESS FILE TRANSFER.

.' . Best _, "1984 ,

r

f:di ioks choicf

av^rd APPLE TURNOVER™

A "wireless file transfer" package for the IBM PC" to Apple II and back, and back again. Apple turnover is a firmware board which fits into any slot in the IBM PC" or compatible, and software running under MS-DOS" No modems, no serial links, no hassles, no problems. APPLE TURNOVER'" will format Apple CP/M' and Apple DOS 3.3 disks. Leave your ism and Apple computers where they are. Simply bring your Apple disk to work and transfer your file to a PC-DOS disk Allows for modifications to text and data files, it's a simple, inexpensive, fast high performance alternative to complicated serial links and modems.

XENO-COPY PLUS™

(NO LONGER COPY PROTECTED)

A "wireless file transfer" software program for your IBM PC and most PC look-a-likes. XENO-COPV PLUS'" formats, writes to and copies from over 100 different disk formats including 40 and 80 track 5Vt inch CP/M disk formats, as well as TurboDOS, TRS-DOS, p-System and NEC-DOS formats An uncomplicated and inexpensive way to transfer text and ddta files Also, allows for modifications to text and data files XENO-COPY PLUS" can be upgraded to XENO-DISK" for the price difference

XENO DISK

(NO LONGER COPY PROTECTED)

The high performance model of XENO-COPY PLUS" XENO-DISK'" also formats, writes to, and copies from over 100 different disk formats including 40 and 80 track 5V disks. XENO-DISK" contains a powerful table driven text translator. "Text-Tran," For low volume disk production, XENO-DISK" includes a track-by-track disk duplicator (which is faster than file by file duplication) Gives you the option to input disk format parameters which allows you to utilize uncommon disk formats.

80Mate

Simulates CP/M-80 in your MS-DOS computers After programs have been transferred onto PC/MS DOS■ disks with XENO-COPY PLUS". XENO-DISK", or APPLE TURNOVER". SOMate" lets you simulate most CP/M" 80 systems on your MS-DOS" computer Includes all internal CP/M" commands and many available functions. 80Mate" includes a terminal emulator for 7 predefined terminals including APPLE CP/M"1 You can also input parameters for other terminals that need to be emulated

systems inc.

See your dealer or Call for information:

(213)938-0857 Innovation In microcomputer products

6Q22 W. Pico Blvd., LosAng«l«i, CA9QQ35

APPLE TURNOVER, XENO-COPV PLUS. XENO DISK and 80Mate are registered trademarks ot vertex Systems. Inc • IBM PC & PC DOS are registered trademarks o» International Business Machines

Corporation • TurboDOS is a trademark of Software 2000. Inc IRS-DOS is a registered trademark ot Tandy-Radio Shack • p System is a trademark of SofTech Microsystems. Inc • APPLE is a registered trademark of APPLE Computers Inc • CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research Inc • MS-DOS is a registered trademark ot Microsoft Corp

BOOKS RECEIVED

computer. Nelson T. Dinerstein Glenview, 1L: Scott. Foresman and Co., 1985; 128 pages. 19 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-67318088-3. $15.95.

Databases: Role and Structure, P. M. Stocker, P. M. D Gray, and M. P. Atkinson, eds. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1984; 416 pages, 15.5 by 23.5 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-52125430-2. $39.50.

DBASE II & DBASE 111: An Introduction for Information Services. Roger C Palmer. Studio City, CA: Pacific Information, 1984; 102 pages, 21.5 by 28 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-913203-09-2. S2 5.

Diagramming Techniques for Analysts and Programmers, lames Martin and Carma McClure. Englewood Cliffs. N|: Prentice-Hall, 1985; 414 pages. 18 by 24.5 cm, hardcover, ISBN 0-13-208794-4, S40.

Digital and Microprocessor Engineering, S. I. Cahill. New York: ]ohn Wiley & Sons, 1984; 514 pages, 15 by 22.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-470-27301-1, $34.95,

Electronics the Easy Way. Rex Miller. Woodbury. NY: Barron's Educational Series. 1984; 336 pages, 19,5 by 27.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8120-2709-4, $8,95.

Electronics Ready Reference Manual, E. Pasahow. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1985: 588 pages, 10.5 by 14.5 cm, hardcover, ISBN 0-07-048723-5, $24.50.

The Endless Apple. Charles Rubin. Bellevue, WA: Microsoft Press, 1984; 286 pages, 19 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-914845-27-6. $15.95.

Epson Printer User's Handbook, the staff of Weber Systems. New York: Ballantine Books. 1984; 310 pages. 14 by 22 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-34531842-0, $9.95,

The Everyone Can Build a Robot Book, Kendra Bonnett, Gene Oldfield, and the editors of DIGIT Magazine. New York: Simon & Schuster. 1984; 86 pages, 19 by 23,5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-671-53059-3, $8.95.

Expanding Your IBM PC, Bil. Alvernaz, Bowie, MD: Brady Communications, 1985; 254 pages. 18 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-89303-445-2. $16.95.

Expert Systems. Richard Forsyth, ed. New York: Chapman and Hall. 1984; 248 pages. 15 by 23.5 pages, softcover, ISBN 0-412-26280-0. $19.95.

Exploring Careers as a Computer Technician, Jean W. Spencer. New York: Rosen Publishing Group. 1985; 128 pages. 14.5 by 22 cm. hardcover, ISBN 0-8239-0626-4, $8.97,

Fancy Programming in IBM PC BASIC, Gabriel Cuellar. Reston, VA: Reston Publishing. 1984; 278 pages, 15 by 22.5 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-83 59-1860-2, $19,95.

The Fifth Generation, Artificial Intelligence and Iapan's Computer Challenge to the World. Edward A. Feigenbaum and Pamela McCorduck. New York: New American Library. 1984; 354 pages. 10.5 by 18 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-451-13153-3. $3.95.

Financial Planning Software Tool Kit, Robert T. LeClair. Glenview. 1L: Scott. Foresman and Co.. 1985: 80 pages. 19 by 23 cm, spiral-bound. ISBN 0-673-15974-4. $44.95. Includes floppy disk.

Fundamentals of HumanComputer Interaction. Andrew Monk. ed. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, 1984; 312 pages. 16 by 23.5. hardcover, ISBN 0-12-504580-8, $26.50.

Fundamentals of Robotics, Larry Heath. Reston, VA: Reston Publishing, 1985: 432 pages, 18 by 24 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-83 59-2189-1, $32.95.

Getting What You Want from the TRS-80 Model 100. E. Paul Cone. New York: Harper & Row, 1984; 2 56 pages, 18.5 by 23 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-06669022-6, $14,95.

The Graphic Macintosh Book, Richard Maran, Toronto, Ontario: Holt, Rinehart & Winston of Canada Ltd., 1984:

{continued)

444 BYTE- MAY I98S

Inquiry 407

\1AMTi

SPS-1000

POWtH 8

than

NOTH l SAFT'SNEW:

SYSTEM

Pull your con drops or power pi theSAF

The System* the line c leaps inti the cost

I STAND UP TO JPER PROTECT!*

the high cost of pr< ry against sudde

s. Get the fastest n the market tc

fan do everything; .cost a lot of mon ^s, the new SAFI Second or less. Bt LoftheUPSpric

_iAir

AU computer networks, are right the SPS-1000VA. 1 power, which is both? urrent limited.

Best of all, the S; e hottest name in I 200VAand400V/ ve how extraor each comes with For complete inf< -1000VA, and 20C A 602-894-6 Systems Tempe, 1

YOU.

[T and AT

[fits of rave

Iby SAFT, ISoare Items. To really

ly super fSAFT at J Electronic fhSt,

Inquiry 352

Inquiry 107

THE

COMPITER SYSTEM:

NOVA basic system 64K entry model

(Expandable to 256K) $645

Includes: 1 drive controller, ] 64K mother board. 1 hitec keyboard, 1 130W power supply.

NOVA PC 256K system J1295

Includes: i hitec keyboard, 1 130W power supply, 2 360KB lloppy drives, 1 Ast 6 pack compatible multifunction board, 1 color graphic card, 4-drive controller

NOVA XT 256K system $1935

Includes: 1 hitec keyboard. 1 130W power supply. 2 360KB floppy drives, 4-drive controller, 1 10MB hard disk drive, 1 CTC hard disk controller card, 1 Ast 6 pack compatible multifunction board, 1 color graphic card

NOVA PfJH BARE BOARD wMANUAl.... $79.00

DISK DRIVE:

SHIGART SA455 It drive $90.00

Teac 55B 'A floppy drive $115.00

Miniscribe 10MB h.d. w/controller

card and CABLE $650.00

Miniscribe 20MB Hard Disk Drive $695.00 Miniscribe 30MB-60MB hart disk for AT (30ms seeking time, close loop) CALL

UPGRADE KITS FOR IBM/AT

IBM/AT compatible CASE $165.00

IBM/AT compatible POWER SUPPLY (195W)

$225.00

IBM/AT compatible KEYBOARD CALL

#4128 pigiback ram $22.00

TOP OF THE LINE IBM COMPATIBLE SUMMER SPECIALS

HARDWARE:

The best quality 130W power supply (110/220) same dimension as IBM

$130.00

Multifunction card $195.00

Case for PC/XT $90.00

Hitec Keyboard $130.00

Color graphic card $150.00

Hercules compatible

monochrome card $185.00

Floppy disk controller card

with cable $100.00

STREAM TAPE:

Irwin 10MB stream tape for backup

(Use standard floppy controller) $625.00

MONITOR:

Amdek 300 color monitor $245.00

Amdek 310A $143.00

Amdek RGB 600 color monitor $445.00

Amdek RGB 700 color monitor $495.00

Amdek 710 double scan $545.00

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME. - MVA PC/XT KITS AVAILABLE COMPUTRADE COMPANY (in Roll Commercial Center)

780 Trimble Road, Suite 605, San Jose, CA 95131 Tel. (408) 946-2442, Telex: 171605

Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

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

BOOKS RECEIVED

48 pages. 21.5 by 28 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-03-928875-7. $9.95.

THE Graphic PC-DOS Book. Richard Maran. Toronto. Ontario: Holt, Rinehart & Winston of Canada Ltd.. 1984: 30 pages. 21.5 by 28 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-03-928876-5, $9.95.

A Guide to Apple Writer II/IIe. lohn A. Allen and Alex Ayres. Reston, VA: Reston Publishing. 1984: 352 pages. 15 by 23 cm, softcover ISBN 0-8359-2613-3, $18.95.

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution. Steven Levy. Garden City. NY: Anchor Press/ Doubleday. 1984: 480 pages. 14.5 by 21.5 cm, hardcover. ISBN 0-385-19195-2. $17.95.

Here Come the Clones! Melody Newrock. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1984: 206 pages. 15 by 23 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-07-046458-8. $18.95.

A Hobbyist's Guide to Computer Experimentation, lohn D. Lenk. Englewood Cliffs, N|: Prentice-Hall, 1985: 304 pages. 15.5 by 23.5 cm, hardcover, ISBN 0-13-392473-4. $25.95.

Home Accountant Plus, Leslie Lauderdale. Reston, VA: Reston Publishing, 1985: 192 pages. 17.5 by 23.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-83 59-2846-2, $16.95.

How To Build Programs on Your Commodore 64, Lou Goldstein. Bowie. MD: Brady Communications, 1985: 256 pages. 17.5 by 23.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-89303-522-X. $13.95.

How To Excel on Your Atari 600XL and 800XL. Timothy O. Knight. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1985: 144 pages. 14 by 20.5 cm. spiral-bound. ISBN 0-07035104-X, $9.95.

How To Make Money with Your Micro. Herman Holtz. New York: lohn Wiley & Sons, 1984: 336 pages, 15 by 22.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-47188455-3, $14.95.

How lb Multiply Matrices Faster, Victor Pan. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

#179. New York: Springer-Verlag. 1984: 224 pages. 16.5 by 24 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-38713866-8. $11,

How To Start and Run Your Own Word-Processing Business, Gary S. Belkin. New York: lohn Wiley & Sons. 1984: 216 pages, 13.5 by 21 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-471-88396-4. $9.95.

Human Factors and Interactive Computer Systems, Yannis Vassiliou. ed. Norwood. N|: Ablex Publishing Corp.. 1984: 304 pages, 15.5 by 23.5 cm, hardcover. ISBN 0-89391182-8, $35.

IBM PC Graphics. John Clark Craig and leff Bretz. Blue Ridge Summit. PA: Tab Books. 1984: 268 pages, 18.5 by 23.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-8306-1860-0, $13.95.

The IBM PCir for Students: User's Handbook, staff of Weber Systems. Cleveland. OH: Weber Systems. 1984: 564 pages, 15 by 23 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-938862-2 5-1. $17.95

The Individual Investor's Microcomputer Resource Guide, Norm Nicholson. Chicago, IL: Investment Information Services Press, 1984: 204 pages. 15.5 by 22.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-930369-01-7. $11.95.

Information Payoff: The Transformation of Work in the Electronic Age. Paul A. Strassmann. New York: The Free Press. 1985: 320 pages, 16 by 24 cm. hardcover, ISBN 0-02931720-7. $20.75.

Interactive FORTRAN 77, Ian Chivers and Malcolm Clark. New York: lohn Wiley & Sons, 1984: 232 pages, 17 by 24.5 cm. hardcover, ISBN 0-470-20101-0, $29.95.

Introduction to IntegratedCircuit Layout, Brian Spinks. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: PrenticeHall. 1985: 190 pages. 21 by 28 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13485400-4, $19.95.

An Introduction to Programming the Sinclair QL. R. A. and I. W. Penfold. London: Bernard Babani Ltd.. 1984: 112

(continued)

446 BYTE- MAY 1985

MULTI-USER REQUEST:

THE DBMS THAT MAKES GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE.

Now there's multi-user software to go with your multi-user hardware— including the new IBM PC/AT.®

Now there's reQuest.

reQuest is the database management system that can support just one PC, or an entire Local Area Network.

It gives your top managers the individual computing power to build high-performance applications. Plus the networking power to share their thoughts with your company's other great minds.

No executive is an island. Think of the possibilities:

When everyone shares the same database, decision-making becomes more consistent, company-wide.

Sales can keep in touch with Production.

Property can compare notes with Finance.

Reports will be more accurate.

Strategies will be more cohesive.

And you'll finally realize the full potential of your executive PCs. Proven, guaranteed performance. reQuest has been proven in hundreds of major government and business applications.

It works with a wide variety of hardware, including IBM PC® and PC compatibles, Bunoughs, A. B. Dick, NCR, Hewlett-Packard, and many others.

It has the capacity to download information from your mainframe, process it, and send it back. And the versatility to serve as the foundation for dozens of popular programs, including LOTUS 1-2-3'," Multiplan® and WordStar.®

Yet, its menu-driven format is so easy that even the most computershy managers can quickly build and operate their own applications. And reQuest is backed by full moneyback satisfaction guarantee. Request reQuest, today.

Call or write now for a free brochure or our $9.95 sample diskette:

1-800-321-DBMS.

You'll see how much more your company can do when you connect with reQuest.

reQuest'

POWER TO SHARE

System Automation Software, Inc.

8555 Sixteenth Street, Silver SprinK, MD 20910

301-565-9400 ,nquiry 385

Trademark Acknowledgements:

IBM. PC, and PC/AT: international Business Machines Corp., A.B. Dick: A.B. Dick Company. Burroughs: Burroughs Corporariun, Hewlett-Packard: Hewk-tr-PackardCo.. NCR: NCR Corp.. Lotus and 1-2-3: L>tusDeveit»pnient G>rp.. Multiplan: Microsoft >rp., WordStar: MicroproG>rp. reQuest is a trademark of System

.utomation Gwporatkm.

© 1984 System Automation Software, Inc.

BOOKS RECEIVED

pages, II by 17.5 cm. softcover ISBN 0-85934-125-9. £1.95.

An Introduction to 6502 Machine Code. R. A. and J. W. Penfold. London: Bernard Babani Ltd.. 1984. 112 pages. 11 by 17.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-85934-122-4. £1.95.

An Introduction to Z80 Machine Code. R. A. and J. W. Penfold. London: Bernard Babani Ltd., 1984: 144 pages. 11 by 17.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-85934-127-5. £2.25.

Ken Uston's Illustrated Guide to the Apple Me, Ken Uston. Englewood Cliffs. N|: PrenticeHall, 1984: 288 pages. 17.5 by 23 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-13514688-7, $9.95.

Ken Uston's Illustrated Guide to the Commodore 64, Ken Uston. Englewood Cliffs, N|: Prentice-Hall, 1984: 272 pages. 17.5 by 2 3 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-13-514621-6, $9.95.

Keyboard Challenge with Commodore 64. David D. Busch. Bowie, MD: Brady Communications, 1985: 204 pages. 17.5 by 2 3.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-89303-601-3, $12.95.

Local Area Networks, James Harry Green. Glenview. IL: Scott. Foresman and Co.. 1985. 288 pages. 16 by 23.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-673-18065-4, $17.95.

Magic Writing, lohn Stratton with Dorothy Stratton. New York: New American Library, 1984: 368 pages. 13.5 by 20 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-45225563-5. $12.95.

Makinc Money with Your Home Computer. Dana K. Cassell. New York: Dodd. Mead & Co.. 1984: 160 pages. 13.5 by 21 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-39608448-6, $5.95.

Making Music with Microprocessors. Bonaventura Antony

Paturzo. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books, 1984: 294 pages. 13 by 21 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-8306-1729-9, $11.95.

Manager's Guide to Small Computers, Charles W. Bradley. New York: Holt. Rinehart and Winston. 1984: 366 pages. 17.5 by 23. softcover, ISBN 0-03059538-X, $20.45.

The Master Handbook of High-Level Microcomputer Languages. Charles F. Taylor. Blue Ridge Summit. PA: Tab Books. 1984: 366 pages. 18.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-8306-1733-7. $15.50.

Mastering the 8088 Microprocessor. L. V. Dao. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books, 1984: 336 pages, 13 by 21 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-8306-1888-0, $15.95.

Mastering FORTH. Anita Anderson and Martin Tracy. Bowie, MD: Brady Communications. 1984: 224 pages, 17.5 by

23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-89303-660-9. $19.95.

Mastering Symphony, Douglas Cobb. Berkeley, CA: Sybex, 1984: 800 pages, 17.5 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-89588244-2. $24.95.

Micro Interfacing Circuits, Book 2. R. A. Penfold. London: Bernard Babani Ltd.. 1984: 96 pages, II by 17 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-85934-106-2, £2.25.

Microcomputer Assembly Language Programming, Gary Elfring. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1984: 314 pages, 15.5 by 22.5 cm. hardcover, ISBN 0-442-22261-0, $29.95.

Microcomputer Buyer's Guide, 3rd ed, Tony Webster. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1984: 360 pages, 21 by 27.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-07-068963-6, $19.95.

Microsoft BASIC for the

{continued)

Dysan diskettes are the ultimate in quality flexible recording media for flexible disk drives. Thev are certified to be 100% error free on-track and between tracks. Diskettes are tested on-track as well as between tracks for missing pulse, extra pulse, and modulation. Quality is built into each diskette from the inside out. The ultra smooth disc surface is burnished on both sides to promote longer media life, longer head and load pad life, as well as better recording and playback performance. And to help introduce you to the Dysan quality standard we're running a special on their diskette product line.

PLUS! If you call, write, or utilize reader service in response to this ad—well send you our full-range catalog of computer supplies with special Offers good for further savings on Dysan diskettes and many other quality products.

LYBEN COMPUTER SYSTEMS

1250-e Rankin Dr. • Troy, Ml 48083 • Phone (313) 589-3440

Simply #1 in service & Reliability

Dysan. The Finest Quality Diskettes Available.

RS-422

CONVERTER

TO/FROM RS-232

• Up to 100 kilobaud at 4000 feet

• Up to 3 miles at 1200 baud

• Supports eight signals

• Doubles as a high speed short haul modem

• All handshake signals and clock

• Write or call to order or for more information

TELESVTE

A PUBLIC COMPANY

Remark Division • Telebyte Technology, Inc. • 270 E. Pulaski Rd.

Greenlawn, NY 11740 • (516) 423-3232 800-835-3298

448 BYTE' MAY I985

Inquiry 249

Inquiry 395

With NRI training at home, you can...

Move up to a high paying career servicing computers

~*rS$?

And you can start by actually building NRI's 16-bit IBM-compatible computer.

You can create your own bright, high paying future as an NRI trained computer service technician. The biggest growth in jobs between now and 1995, according to Department of Labor predictions, will occur in computer service and repair, where demand for trained technicians will double. There is still plenty of room for you to get in on the action—if you get the proper training now.

Total computer systems training, only from NRI

To learn how to work on computers, you have to get inside one. And only NRI takes you inside a computer, with total systems training that gives you hands-on experience with computers, peripherals, and software. As part of your training, you'll build a Sanyo MBC-550-2, which experts have hailed as the "most intriguing" of all the new IBM-compatibles. The Sanyo even surpasses the IBM PC in computing speed and graphics quality.

Even if you've never had any previous training in electronics, you can succeed with NRI training. You'll start with the basics, rapidly building on the fundamentals of electronics until you master advanced concepts like digital logic, microprocessor design and computer memory. You'll probe into electronic circuits, using the exclusive

NRI Discovery Lab® and professional Digital Multimeter, that you keep.

You'll assemble Sanyo's intelligent keyboard, install the power supply and disk drive, and attach the high resolution monitor—all the while performing hands-on experiments and demonstrations that reinforce your skills.

Learn to service today's computers

As you complete your Sanyo, you grasp the "secrets" that qualify you for a new career. You'll learn to program in BASIC and machine language. You'll use utility programs to check out the operation of the Sanyo's 8088 microprocessor (the same chip used in the IBM PC). And you also get over $1,000 worth of software, including WordStar and CalcStar.

Most importantly, you'll understand the principles common to all computers. Only a person who fully understands all the fundamentals can hope to be able to tackle all computers. NRI makes sure that you'll gain the knowledge and skills to maintain, troubleshoot and service computers.

Learn at home in spare time

With NRI training, you'll learn at home on your own time. That means your preparation for a new career or part-time job doesn't have to interfere

with your current job. You'll learn at your own pace, in the comfort and convenience of your own home. No classroom pressures, no rigid night school schedules. You're always backed up by the NRI staff and your instructor, who will answer questions, give you guidance and be available for special help if you need it.

Let others worry about computers taking their jobs. With NRI training, you'll soon have computers making good paying jobs for you.

Send for Free NRI Catalog

Send the post-paid reply card today for NRI's 100-page catalog, with all the facts about computer training plus career training in Robotics, Data Communications, TV/Video Servicing and many other fields. If some other ambitious person beat you to the card, write to NRI at the address below.

SCHOOLS

McGraw-Hill Continuing Education Center 3939 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington. DC 20016

We'll Give You Tomorrow.

IBM is a Registered Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

MAY 1985 • BYTE 449

TOGETHER, STOPPING

YOU

450 BYTE- MAY 1985

RUNTIME VERSION AVAILABLE

THERE'S NO

KnowledgeMan™ and You. The possibilities are endless.

To succeed in business, you need a partner that's fast, flexible, intelligent and easy to work with. A partner that can help turn your big ideas into well-conceived reality. One that gives you the support you need to make critical decisions confidently.

No partner can give you more of what you need than KnowledgeMan, the knowledge management software from MDBS.

A powerful partner.

KnowledgeMan helps you manage more knowledge, in more ways, than ordinary software. It can help you make better decisions on just about everything from production scheduling to financial planning to market

forecasting. KnowledgeMan and its optional components offer data management, spreadsheet analysis, statistical analysis, text processing, forms management, business graphics, programming and more.

The key to KnowledgeMan's versatility is its exclusive synergistic integration, allowing you to accomplish your computing needs within one program. Unlike other software, theres no need to exit one function before entering another. The result: different kinds of processing can be intermingled. Quickly and easily.

A partner that speaks your language.

For all of its power and sophistication, KnowledgeMan is remarkably simple to understand. Even a beginner can start putting KnowledgeMan to work in minutes. With a single query, you can obtain related data from unlimited multiple tables. \bu can even teach KnowledgeMan to understand your own jargon.

A partner that helps you along.

The on-line HELP facility allows you to draw on 6800 lines of helpful information organized into 380 screens. If you have a problem or question, KnowledgeMan allows you to access the pertinent HELP screen immediately. Each screen is carefully designed to provide a quick reference guide to KnowledgeMan commands.

A partner that gives you room to grow. Ordinary software packages can be frustratingly easy to outgrow. Not KnowledgeMan. Each KnowledgeMan component has more power than you'll probably ever need—far more than conventional integrated programs. With KnowledgeMan, you don't sacrifice capability, capacity or convenience. So with KnowledgeMan, you spend your time solving problems— not trying to overcome software limitations.

A partner that protects your interests.

KnowledgeMan offers sophisticated security features. Unauthorized access to data is next to impossible, thanks to password checking, thousands of access code combinations and data encryption.

So your secrets are safe with KnowledgeMan.

A partner you can build on.

To add yet another dimension to KnowledgeMan's capabilities, you can get fully-integrated options like K-Graph, an extensive business graphics facility that

lets you plot information in a variety of colorful graphs, charts and diagrams. For text processing, the K-Text option lets you incorporate data into written documents quickly and easily. Or, create highly-polished, full-color customized forms with K-Paint, our forms painting option. To short-cut the keyboard, put the K-Mouse option to work.

A partner you should get to know better.

To see KnowledgeMan in action, visit your dealer. Or contact Micro Data Base Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 248, Lafayette, IN 47902, (317) 463-2581, Telex: 209147ISE UR. It may be the beginning of a long, successful partnership.

Current version is 1.07 as of9/10/84. KnowledgeMan. K-Graph. K-Painl. K-Text. and K-Mouse are trademarks of Micro Data Base Systems. Inc. MDBS is a registered trademark of Micro Data Base Systems. Inc.

KNOWLEDGE

man

The Knowledge Management Software from MDBS

Operating Systems PCDOS. MSDOS. CP/MS6. Minimum RAM required: 192K. K-Graph: PCDOS only. Inquiry 263

MAY 1985 -BYTE 451

Inquiry 360

Fifth Conference on

Microcomputers in Education and Training

DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE INTERACTIVE INSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Pentagon Quality Inn

Arlington, Virginia

June 19-21, 1985

Presentations cover:

Creative Development

Computer-based Authoring Systems Videodisc Creative Systems Design for Interactivity CD'ROM Potential (Compact Disc/Read Only Memory)

Technological Implementation

Effectiveness Criteria Implementation Capability Generic Programs

Pre-conference tutorials are scheduled for June 18

For further information contact:

Society for Applied Learning Technology SOCulpcpcrSt . Dept. B Warrenton. VA 22186 (703) 347-0055

BEFORE YOU BUY^k

CABLE ASSEMBLIES,

Heavy guage

underhood

shield

Gold plated pins

22AWG

twisted conductors

2mm PVC cower

CHECK UNDER THE HOOD!

DATA SPEC" cable assemblies are the very best. Each cable is fully shielded to exceed FCC EMI/RFI emission requirements. The unique P.D.T. technique, introduced by DATA SPEC" and employed beneath the hood shield, insures maximum integrity under the most adverse conditions. DATA SPEC" has interface cables for all your requirements: Printers, Modems, Monitors, Disk Drives, and much more. And all DATA SPEC" cable assemblies carry a lifetime warranty. Insist on DATA SPEC" cables in the bright orange package. Available at better computer dealers everywhere. For more information, call or write:

A Division ot Alliance Research Corporation

20120 Plummer Street • Chatsworth. CA 91311 • (818) 993-1202

Copyright © 1964 by Alliance Ftesearch Corporation Paten! PND

BOOKS RECEIVED

Macintosh, Larry Joel Goldstein and David I, Schneider. Bowie. MD: Brady Communications. 1985: 576 pages. 17.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-89303662-5. $19.95.

Microsoft Word Made Easy. Paul Hoffman Berkeley. CA Osborne/McGraw-Hill. 1985: 258 pages. 18.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-88134-144-4. $14.95.

The Mind and the Machine. Steve Torrance, ed. New York: lohn Wiley & Sons, 1984; 220 pages. 17 by 2 5 cm, hardcover, ISBN 0-470-20104-5. S29.95.

More from Your Micro. Charles Piatt. New York: Avon Books. 1985: 192 pages, 10.5 by 17.5 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-38089529-3. $2 50.

My Personal Computer and Other Family Crises. Ben Ross Schneider |r, New York: Macmillan Publishing. 1985: 254 pages. 14.5 by 22 cm, hardcover, ISBN 0-02-949610-1. $1595

1985 Computer Buying Guide. the editors of Consumer Guide. New York: New American Library. 1984, 384 pages. 10.5 by 17.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-451-1.3-244-0. $4.50.

Office Technology for the Nontechnical Manager. Phyllis I. Peck and Gilbert |. Konkel. Stamford, CT Office Publications. 1984: 226 pages. 15 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-911054-07-3. $13 95

100 Programs for the Commodore 64. John Gordon and Ian McLean Englewood Cliffs. N|: Prentice-Hall. 1984: 3 52 pages. 14.5 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13-634650-2. $14 95.

Owning Your Home Computer. Robert L. Perry. New York: Dodd. Mead & Co.. 1984; 2 56 pages. 21.5 by 28 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-396-082 50-5. $13.95.

Pascal Programming for the IBM PC and XT. W. M Fuori. L. Gioia. S. Gaughran L. Aufiero. and M. Fuori Reston. VA: Reston Publishing, 1985; 270 pages, 17.5 by 23 5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8359-54354-8. $19.95.

PC Programming Techniques, AC Elliott. Bowie. MD: Brady Communications. 1985; 174 pages. 17.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-89303-755-9, $14,95

Personal Computers and the Disabled. Peter A. McWilliams. Garden City. NY: Quantum/ Doubleday. 1984: 416 pages, 15 by 23 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-385-19685-7. $995

Personal Graphics. Michael P. Barnett and Graham K. Barnett. Boston. MA: Little, Brown and Co., 1984; 332 pages. 21 by 27.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-31608220-1. $14.50.

The Physics Disk. Sheridan Simon. Englewood Cliffs. N|: Prentice-Hall. 1985; 82 pages 17.5 by 23.5 cm. spiral-bound. ISBN 0-13-672387-X. $29.95. Includes floppy disk.

The Power Of: Professional Tax Planning Using Lotus 1-2-3. Mitchell H. lacobs and Robert B. Rice. Englewood Cliffs. N|: Prentice-Hall, 1984; 224 pages. 21 by 27.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13-688276-5, $29.95.

The Power Of: Professional Tax Planning Using Multiplan. Mitchell H. lacobs and Robert B. Rice. Englewood Cliffs. NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1984; 218 pages. 21 by 27.5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-13-688250-1, $29.95.

A Practical Guide to Computer Communications and Networking, 2nd ed.. Richard Deasington. New York: lohn Wiley & Sons. 1984; 126 pages. 17 by 24 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-470-20078-2. $24.95.

A Practical Guide to Machine Language Programming on the Timex/Sinclair 1500 and 1000 (and ZX81). David B. Wood. Lexington. MA: SiriusWare, 1985: 252 pages. 15 by 23 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-926848-00-3, $14.95.

Procedural Elements for Computer Graphics. David F Rogers. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1985; 448 pages. 16.5 by 23 5 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-07053534-5. $24 95

ProDOS Quick and Simple for the Apple II Family lohn G.

[continued)

452 BYTE

Inquiry 439 for Dealers. Inquiry 440 for End-Users.

Mirrored Hardware

\

\ *

•\

YtL'irZ^-* —s^^-Ji •—•*>—!—■"•i'l' > %

',riT^ i Iki \ hi} i \

^ ilJJtr

\\ ^W""

\

w

/

/

%

UssMJ-,

m'

O

is

1 I Jm0^

i«,

4\y

Unmatched System Reliability

A mirrored image of your data. Just what you need to assure yourself of reliable data reliably transmitted and reliably received. NESTAR's engineers ensure the reliability of your system—and your data—by designing into its products such features as tape backup for hard disk files, automatic checksums on transmitted data, full duplexing, and mirroring of file servers.

Banks trade and transfer billions of dollars every day. They demand a network that stores, transfers, and retrieves data reliably. Banks trade and transfer their billions of dollars every day over NESTAR networks.

Call or write for your copy of: "Executive Briefing" 2585 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 • (415) 493-2223

If

Local Area Networks For Large Organizations

AESZW

Inquiry 291

MAY 1985 -BYTE 453

BOOKS RECEIVED

Burdick and Peter B. Weiser. Glenview. IL: Scott. Foresman and Co.. 1985: 256 pages. 19 by 23 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-67318077-8. S19.95.

Programmers Guide to MS-DOS for the IBM PC. Dennis N. lump. Reston. VA: Reston Publishing. 1984; 266 pages, 17.5 by 23.5 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-8359-5655-5, $16.95.

Programming HALO Graphics in C, Robert |. Traister. Englewood Cliffs. N|: Prentice-Hall. 1985: 192 pages, 17.5 by 23 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-13-729310-0, $17.95.

Programming Languages: A Grand Tour. 2nd ed.. Ellis Horowitz, ed. Rockville. MD: Computer Science Press. 1985; 768 pages. 22.5 by 28.5 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-88175-073-5. $39.95.

Ready. Run. Fun: IBM PC Edi

tion, loan Targ and Jeff Levinsky. Englewood Cliffs. N|: Prentice-Hall. 1985: 208 pages. 21.5 by 28 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-13-762220-1. $14.95.

Robotics, lames W. Masterson. Elmer C Poe, and Stephen W. Fardo. Reston, VA: Reston Publishing, 1985: 272 pages, 18 by 24 cm. hardcover, ISBN 0-83 59-6692-5, $27.95.

Running Your Best Race Programs for Improving Speed and Distance, Joe Henderson. Dubuque, IA: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1984; 208 pages, 19 by 23 cm, spiralbound, ISBN 0-697-00459-7, $18.95. Includes floppy disk.

Silicon Valley Guide, Daniel Remer, Paul Remer, and Robert Dunaway. Bellevue, WA: Microsoft Press. 1984: 320 pages. 18.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-914845-09-8. $19.95.

5i Disks

D-DEN. IB^9

SSIDE

2895

DSIDE ooqc

96TPI J04V

HIGH DEN.

5195

8" Disks HK2WS 3&23B SSS2JS

maxell

5iDisks SS£14tf

D'SIDEIQQi; D-DEN. lUu-y

H^249_5

3S30S *hd'egnh399_5 3i"Disks

SSIDE 2895 D-SDE 429_5

8 Disks sside oeqc

D-DEN. t3vLJ

^2895

BONUS

Disks -10 pk

$91

DD

\feibatim.

Kits 49-5 Refills 89-£

Media Mate

89.5ea »2W Shipping

100 Disk Bulk Pack

8900

112

s-:

DD

00

DD

2495

5k Disks oS.1495

D-SIDE1QQC DDEN. I3?-J

SSIDE 96TPI

3!Sf3W5

3|Disks

SSIDE 2895

8 Disks

IS 1995

§1!edn249_5

DsiDEoqqc

DDEN tO0^

\ferbatim Datalife

5i Datalife

D-siDEinqc dden. la'ty

96TPlZ4»t?

D^309_5

3? Datalife

SSIDE2795

8 Datalife

1:^1995

SSIDE ooqc D-DEN.LC'V

Sd,edn.269_5

Diskette^*

1 800-621-6221

RO. Box 1213 Boulder City. NV 89005

Connection" isoo 654-4058 iz&i

73008

TERMS'- Minimum 20 disks or $35°*> VISA or MasterCard accepted

COD, orders add 2* for special handling SHIPPING1 3\ s 5% Diskettes. Add 3°-° for every 100 Diskettes or any fraction thereof. 8"Diskettes; Add 4<*> for every 100 Diskettes or any fraction thereof. We ship UPS: orders requiring other delivery methods add shipping, plus 2% of total order.

16-bit Microprocessors: Architecture, Software, and Interface Techniques, Walter A. Triebel and Avtar Singh. Englewood Cliffs. N|: Prentice-Hall. I985: 400 pages. 18 by 24 cm. hardcover. ISBN 0-13-811407-2. $29.95.

16/32-bit Microcomputer System Components. Technical Information Center. Phoenix, AZ: Motorola Semiconductor Products. 1984: 230 pages, 17.5 by 23 cm. softcover. DL127, $2.05.

The Software Catalog: Microcomputers, Winter 1985, Menu/International Software Database. New York: Elsevier Science Publishing. 1985; 1688 pages. 21 by 27.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-444-OO883-7, $75.

The Software Handbook. Dimitris N. Chorafas. Princeton. N|: Petrocelli Books. 1984: 472 pages. 16 by 24 cm. hardcover ISBN 0-89433-248-1. $49.95.

Thinking Small: The Buyer's Guide to Portable Computers, Charles Rubin and Michael McCarthy. Reading. MA: Addison-Wesley. 1984; 302 pages. 16 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-201-05793-X, $12.95.

A Tourist's Guide to Computers. Dave Morice. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1984; 192 pages. 15.5 by 23.5 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-671-50200-X, $7.95.

The Under $800 Computer Buyer's Guide. Anthony T. Easton and Tony Seton. Reading. MA: Addison-Wesley. 1984: 272 pages. 16 by 23 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-201-04191-X. $12.95.

User Friendly Guide to Lap Portables. Sam Redman and Michael Stanford. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1985: 270 pages. 15 by 22.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-07-051388-0. $16.95.

Using Computers to Learn . .. About Computers. I. L. Lawrence. Princeton. Ni: Petrocelli Books. 1984; 292 pages, 17.5 by 2 5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-89433-254-6, $24.95.

Using the Eagle PC and 1600 Series, Kenniston W. Lord |r.

New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1984: 352 pages. 15 by 22.8 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-442-2603 5-0. $16.95.

Using the IBM PC: MultiMate, C I. Puotinen. New York: Holt. Rinehart and Winston, 1984; 350 pages, 17.5 by 23.3 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-03-071411-7, $20.45.

Using the IBM PC: Organization and Assembly Language Programming, Mark Franklin, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1984; 384 pages, 17.5 by 23.3 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-03-062862-8. $20.45.

Using Lotus 1-2-3 to Solve Your Business Problems, George Gershefski. Tbtowa. N|: Rowman & Allanheld. 1984; 160 pages. 18 by 2 5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-8476-7346-4, $19.95.

Using the Wang for Business; The Technician's Perspective. Volume 1. Bert Dumpe. New York: Harper & Row. 1984: 368 pages. 21 by 27.8 cm, softcover. ISBN 0-06-041801-X. $22.95.

Wang Word Processing Companion. Debra I. Tait. Bowie. MD: Brady Communications. 1985; 2 56 pages. 18.5 by 23.5 cm. spiral-bound. ISBN 089303-945-4. $17.95.

Whole Earth Software Catalog. Stewart Brand, ed. New York: Quantum Press/ Doubleday, 1984: 208 pages. 21 by 27.5 cm, softcover, ISBN 0-385-19166-9, $17.50.

The Word Processor Buyer's Survival Manual, Ralph Roberts. Blue Ridge Summit. PA: Tab Books. 1984; 320 pages. 13 by 21 cm. softcover, ISBN 0-8306-1642-X. $10.95.

WordStar with Style on the DEC Rainbow, Roger B. White |r. Reston. VA: Reston Publishing. 1984; 252 pages. 15.5 by 23 cm, spiral-bound. ISBN 0-8359-8808-2. $18.95.

Your Tl Professional Computer: Use. Applications, and BASIC. Thomas W. Madron and C Neal Tate. New York: Holt. Rinehart and Winston, 1984: 222 pages. 17.5 by 23.5 cm. softcover. ISBN 0-03-071921-6, $18,45. ■

454 BYTE

Inquiry 132

COMPUTER HUT

COMPARE

OUR

SERVICE & PRICE!

SPECIAL OF THE MONTH

IBM-PC, XT & AT CALL FOR /_ PRICE

COmPACL call

DISK DRIVES

landon IM100-2 US/UU MATSUSHITA JA 551 TEAC FD-55B Slimline

$159 $139 $139

HARD DISKS/TAPE

MAYNARD

WSI $849 WS2

IOMEGA

Bernoulli Box 20 Meg

EVEREX, SYSGEN

$1049

$2695 CALL

'.MAYNARD ELECTRONICS

Floppy Disk Controller $129

FDC w/Par. Port or Ser Port $179/189

ADD-ON BOARDS

QUADRAM

Quadboard 64K exp. to 384K. . . $269

Ouadcolor I & II CALL

Quad 512+ 64K $239

MODEMS

©Hayes

Smartmodem 1200 . .

Smartmodem 1200B.

Smartmodem 2400. .

BIZCOMP

PC Intellimodem ....

NOVATION

SmartCat

$429 $389 $649

$359 CALL $349

PRINTERS

EPSON

FX-80+ ... FX-100+

RX-80 BEST RX-100..

JX-80 DEAL LQ-1500 .

1X80

brother

HR-15 XL

HR 35

DYNAX/FORTS

DX-15Par

DM40 NLQ

C-ITOH

PROWRITER STARWRITER F-10P

OK'DATA

182P

84P BEST 84S

gP PRICES 92S

93P 93S

BEST DEAL

$399 $839

$399 CALL

CALL $995

RESEARCH

SixPak Plus 64K $269

MegaPlus II 64K $279

l/OPIus II $729

Advantage CALL

MICROLOG

Baby Blue II 64K $489

TECMAR

Graphics Master $489

MAESTRO CALL

HERCULES

Hi Res Mono Graphics $335

Color Graphics w/Par Port $789

PARADISE

Modular Graphics $285

5-PACK CALL

EAST COAST

COMPUTER HUT

OF NEW ENGLAND INC. 101 Elm St. Nashua, NH 03060

SEC

Spinwriter 2050. . .

3550 $7449

Pinwriter P2 $589

TOSHIBA

P1351 .... $7299

DAISYWRITER

2000 W/48K Buffer.

DATAPRODUCTS. .

8850. P3...

BEST PRICES

$699

$7949

$795

P7340 $649

$849 CALL

ASK ABOUT OUR

TRAINING & REPAIR

SERVICES.

For Orders Only — (800) 525 5012

CANADA

MICROCONTEXT

AUTHORIZED DEALER

4847 Ave Du Pare Montreal Que H2V4E7.

(514) 279-4595

MONITORS

AMDEK

Video 300G . . . $735 300A . . . $745 Video 310A $779

PGS

HX12 Hi Res RGB monitor. MAX-12 Hi Res Mono. SR-12 Super Hi Res RGB

. BEST PRICES

SOFTWARE

WORDPROCESSING

MS Word $239 Multimate $269

Volkswriter Deluxe $759

PFS: Write $89 PFS: Proof $69 WordPerfect $269 WordStar CALL

DATABASE/INTEGRATED

dBase III CALL Quickcode III $179

RBase 4000 $279 Clout 2.0 $769

LOTUS 1-2-3 & Symphony CALL

Framework CALL

UTILITIES/COMPILERS Crosstalk $109 Smartcom II $109 Sideways $49 Norton Utilities$59 Sidekick $45 Turbo Pascal $45

LIFEBOAT Lattice C $299

MS Basic $259 MS Fortran $239

BUSINESS

MICROSOFT Project $159 Chart $159 STAR Acct. Partner I & II CALL

BPI SYSTEMS CALL

PFS: File $89 PFS: Graph $89 PFS: Plan $89 Multiplan $139

OTHER

Mastertype $35 Typing Tutor III $39

Math Blaster $39

Flight Simulator $39

Managing your money $735

AND LOTS MORE

ANY PRODUCT NOT LISTED? CALL

MIDWEST

COMPUTER HUT»c

524 S. Hunter Wichita, Kansas 67207

(316) 681-2111

For Orders Only — (800) 572 3333

All products usually in stock lor immediate shipment and carry full manufacturers' warranty. Price subject to change — this ad prepared two months in advance. You get the lowest price. We honor personal checks — allow 10 days to clear. COD up to $300 add 2% Visa, MasterCard add 2%. For shipping & insurance add 2% or $6.00 min. for small items and $12. min. for monitors, printers, etc. We accept company checks and PC's from Fortune 1000 Companies.

IBM is a trademark of IBM Corp.

Return authorization and order status call information line inquiry 98

45

When it comes to your investment

Flipping a coin is a harmless way to help you make simple decisions: "Heads we go to the movies, tails we play Scrabble®"

But being flip with your investments could have harmfuleven drastic-results.

Like having no coins left to flip.

Now, with a little help from your personal computer and Dow Jones Investment Software, you can start making more informed decisions-instead of playing hunches.

Whatever type of investor you are, Dow Jones can help you stay ahead of the odds.

Oil Stocks: To Buy or Not?

You're working out at the gym. The guy straining his biceps gives you a tip: "Oil stocks. They're undervalued right now."

Buy or not? How do you find out?

The Dow Jones Investor's Workshop™ can help. First you connect to Dow Jones News/Retrievalf the # 1 online resource for business and financial information. At the touch of a few keys, you can construct price and volume charts on the oil stocks that interest you. Two stocks are lower than they've been all year.

Dow Jones offers a comprehensive line of Investment Software

that gives you the information and analytical tools you need

to make smart investment decisions.

Investor's Workshop™ Market Manager PLUS™ Market Analyzer™ Market Microscope™

Portfolio Management

Technical Analysis

Fundamental Analysis

You can select the software program designed to meet your investment needswhether you 're a private investor or a sophisticated professional.

Now you move to financial and investment information. Analysts estimate low P/E ratios for two of the stocks. Another interesting sign.

In News/Retrieval's exclusive up-to-date file of The Wall Street Journal stories, you find that one of the companies has just acquired substantial interest in a highly profitable plastics manufacturer-a good move. You decide to buy.

Your Portfolio and Your Taxes.

The market says it's a good time to sell your high technology stocks. But is it the right time from the point of view of your taxes?

The Dow Jones Market Manager PLUS™ can help. Using News/Retrieval to update your portfolio throughout the year, the program tracks by tax lot your security transactions. Now, it's easy to calculate whether your profits from a sell will be taxed as income or capital gains. And what that will mean to your entire investment portfolio.

It's clear. If you wait two weeks to sell, you'll save 20% on taxes.

Dow Jones Software. For informed decisions.

decisions, 50-50 isn't good enough.

Dow Jones Investment Software:

Helping You Make Informed Decisions.

The Investor's Workshop and the Market Manager PLUS are from Dow Jones, publisher of Barron's and The Wall Street Journal, the standard in reliable and timely business and financial information.

So instead of playing your hunches or flipping coins, invest in Dow Jones Software. It could be the best investment you make this year.

To obtain a free brochure and information on where you can conveniently purchase Dow Jones Investment Software, fill out the coupon or call:

1-800-345-8500

Extension 240

(Alaska. Hawaii and foreign call 1-215-789-7008 ext. 240)

Fill out this coupon and mail to:

A. Callahan, Dow Jones and Company.

R0. Box 300, Princeton, N.J. 08540

□ Please send me a free brochure on Dow Jones Investment Software

□ Please call me between. with more information

Name

and.

Company _

Address

City

State.

.Zip.

Phone _

1_.

DowJones

Software

*j

"-Heads X buy. lih f sill."

Dow Jones Software, Investors Workshop, Market Manager PLUS, Market Analyzer and Market Microscope are trademarks of Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Dow Jones News' Retrieval is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company. Inc. Scrabble is a registered trademark of Selchow & Righter Company.

Copyright (1985 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Inquiry 140

MAY 1985 * BYTE 457

LETTERS

{continued from page 32)

tempt to maintain their prices with more

promotion and advertising?

Economic theory says that when excess profits are being made (excess profits being profits higher than would be expected given the risk of the investment), then new competitors will enter the market to grab some of these high profits. This new competition will push prices down. As a hot new market with only a few suppliers changes into one with a much larger number of suppliers and a much wider customer base (a classic free market), the pricing should change to reflect the new realities. Unfortunately, a large number of companies were founded with the idea that these juicy profits would go on forever, that the products' pricing would never have to relate to the costs of production. These companies developed without understanding the organic nature of a free market, that they themselves were the new entrants whose role was to bring prices down to mature market levels.

I don't believe that the software market has approached anything like its potential sales levels, but this won't change until prices come down. The recent integrated packages (Symphony. Framework. Enable) have all aimed themselves at the corporate market. They figure that their products are the perfect productivity packages for a personal computer, except that prices would have to be lowered to appeal to the private owner. Would Borlands SideKick. elegant piece of work that it is, have nearly the impact if it was $199? I'd rather have a car without a radio than a PC without SideKick, but part of its success is its utility-class price.

When we see prices for the full-featured integrated packages come down to the S300 to $400 range, the market will react with the same excitement created by those breakthrough spreadsheets, VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3

Zave Shapiro Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Sign-Language Software Wanted

I would greatly appreciate the assistance of BYTE readers in my research project I am attempting to identify public-domain and proprietary microcomputer software packages that teach sign language. I am defining sign language as any system of hand gestures used for communicating with the hearing-impaired. If you have such information, please contact me at POB 19142. Washington, DC 20036, or

leave a message at (202) 475-4939 and I will return your call. All responses will be acknowledged.

Ellen L. Bouwkamp Washington, DC

Toward a Less Structured Approach

So much hype has been published about the wonders of structured programming, and so much of the criticism of it has been from petulant programming wizards worried about being accountable to their supervisors, that a more dispassionate voice is called for. Every benefit has its cost, and structuring is no exception,

A key problem of the structured approach is strikingly illustrated by the index in Niklaus Wirth's book. Programming in Modula-2, reviewed by David D. Clark in the August 1984 BYTE. Consider for a moment two programs to print an index whose entries are in the array INDEX of dimension N. an even number (I'll use vanilla BASIC here to reach the widest audience; granted, both programs could be improved in many ways by applying structured techniques in another language, but it's the difference between the programs that's important here):

10 FOR 1 = 1 TO N STEP 2: LPRINT INDEX(I); TAB(40); INDEX(I + 1) : NEXTI

and:

10 PL = 60: FOR 1 = 1 TO N STEP 2: IF (I + PL < = N) LPRINT INDEX(I); TAB(40); INDEX(I + PL): ELSE LPRINT INDEX(I)

20 NEXT I

By every structured standard, the first program wins: It has fewer lines, fewer statements, fewer variables, it's easier to read and understand at a glance, etc. There's only one problem. The first program produces the sort of index that's in Wirth's book: the second entry opposite the first, the third back under the first, the fourth under the second, and so on. It's a royal pain to use.

Thus one of the costs of structure is insensitivity to the end user. Structured programmers typically take the condescending attitude that users are ill-served by programs that have bugs: therefore, they shouldn't quibble about inconveniences they may have to put up with to get bugfree programs. This attitude may pass in the academic world, but the software

market today demands programs (and documentation) that are bug-free AND convenient to use.

The best the structure gurus have to offer here is pious exhortations to keep the user in mind, the equivalent of saying.

Hey! Let's be careful out there!'' This is a cop-out. This is like the attitude of the computer pioneers who regard program bugs as character flaws: their approach to debugging it to sniff that, with proper conscientiousness, there would be no bugs. This is just the attitude that structured techniques are touted as rebutting. With so much of the programmer's mind focused on the mechanics of structured programming, concentration on how the final product will look to the user is bound to suffer, and kludges like Wirth's index must be expected.

Don't misunderstand me. Structured programming is a fine thing in a production-type environment, when the programmers thoroughly understand the system they're working with (what it can't do. and how to make it do what it can do) and the programs they're trying to write (because they're writing their zillionth database application, process-control routine, etc.). But when programmers are exploring new systems and developing new kinds of programs, they need the flexibility of a less structured approach. Debugging can come later.

Erwin S. Strauss Fairfax, VA

Bargain Computing in Japan

After living in Japan for over a year, I picked up some recent issues of BYTE and was surprised by the current state of the art in personal computers being sold in the United States. It seems that many advertisers in the U.S. offer systems that just do not come close to what we can get here in Tokyo. I was taken aback by this, because I thought that, if in anything. American technology was leading in the personal computer field.

For example, a few weeks ago I purchased a Fujitsu FM-16 Beta, which is not available in the United States. This computer's standard features include:

Hardware

512K bytes of main RAM (expandable to 1 megabyte), two 5!4-inch 1-megabyte floppies. DMA access. 192K bytes of video RAM. 52K bytes of ROM. 80186 16-/16-bit main microprocessor, MBL68B09E (8-bit) subprocessor (2

{continued)

Lyco Computer Marketing & Consultants

^^ 1 SAVE — PRINTERS I £^>

AXION

GP 550 AT (Atari) 249

GP 550 CD (C-64) 249

GP 550 PC (IBM) 239

GP 550 AP (Apple) 279

GP 700 AT (Afari) 459

GP 700 AP (Apple) 459

Elite 5CD (C-64) 329

BLUE CHIPS

M12010

M12010 C-64

$275 1275

C. ITOH

Prownter 8510 AP 279

8510 BC2 389

8510 BP1 319

8510 SP 379

8510 SB 429

8510 SCP 459

8510 SCR 479

7500 AP 205

7500 AP 245

1550 P 449

1550 BCD 489

A-10-20-P 459

F 10 40 PU or RDU 888

F10 SSPU or RDU 1069

CARDCO

LQ1 369

LQ3 279

CITIZEN

MSP-10 329

MSP-15 499

MSP-20 479

MSP-25 649

COMREX

CR-II-EC Comnter HE Parallel 359

CR-ll-ES Comnter II E Parallel 379

CR-IV-C Comnter IV Parallel 689

CR-IV-S Comnter IV Serial 689

Corona

LP300 Laser Primer . 2699 200361 Toner Cartridge 89

DIGITAL DEVICES

16K printer butler 32K printer butter 64K printer butter

99 75 11975 169 95

EPSON

RX-80 225

RX-80 FT- 279

FX100> 579

JX 80 529

LO 1500 P 1089

LQ 1500 S 1149

HI-80 Color Plotter 399

JUKI

Juki 6100 379

RS 232 Serial Board 55

Tractor 119

Sheet Feeder 209

Juki 6300 769

LEGEND

880 219

1080 239

1200 249

if PRINTER *

INTERFACING

Available

MANNESMANN TALLY

Spirit 80 255

MTL-160L 549

MTL-180L 739

NEC

NEC 8025 $699

NEC 8027 $359

OKIDATA

Okimate 10 179

82A 295

84 645

92 349

93 565

92 Imagewnter 425

92 IBM Version 349

OLIVETTI

DY 250 Parallel 739

DY 250 Serial 729

DY 450 Parallel 1099

DY 450 Serial 1079

PANASONIC

1090 189

1091 259

1092 395

1093 589

3151 459

Smith Corona

Fasteit 80 189 00

D10O 219 00

0200 39900

0300 51900

LIOOO 339 00

STARMICRONICS

SG-10 219

SG-15 379

SD-10 339

SD-15 445

SR-10 489

SR-15 585

Powertype 309

Gemini 10X CALL

Gemini 15X CALL

SB-10 CALL

MONITORS

AMDEK

300 Green 125

300 Amber 139

310 Amber IBM 155

Color 300 Audio 245

Color 500 Composite 369

Color 600 429

Color 700 495

Color 710 569

GORILLA

12' Green 78

2" Amber 84

NEC

JB-1260 Green 95

JB-1201 Green 135

JC 1215 Color 235

JC 1216 RGB 375

JC1460 Color 265

JB-1205 Amber 139

PANASONIC

DT 1300 RG1 composite . 329

PRINCETON GRAPHICS

MAX-12 Amber .. 189

HX-12 RGB 475

SR-12 RGB 599

SAKATA

SC-100 Color 219

STS1 Stand 29

SG 1000 Green 99

SA 1000 Amber 109

TAX AN

210 Color RBG 249

115 Green 119

116 Amber 125

400 Color RGB 275

410 Color RGB 339

420 Color IBM 429

121 Green IBM 139

122 Amber IBM 145

X-TRON

Comcolor 1 CompoMte Green.199

ZENITH

ZVM 122A Amber 84

ZVM 123G Green 75

ZVM 124 Amber IBM 129

ZVM 131 Color 275

ZVM 133 RGB 389

ZVM 135 Composite 449

ZVM 136 Hi Res Color .589

DISKETTES

MAXELL

b 5V4" md-1 16.99 mmmrnmm

mm 5V4" MD-2 23.75

SKC " ELEPHANT

(Box 10) (Box 10)

SKC-SSSD 10.99 5V," SSSD 13.99

SKC-SSDD 13.99 5%" SSDD 15.99

SKC-DSDD 15.99 51/4" DSDD 19.99

MODEMS

^^^MICROBITS

■ MPP 1000 E (Alan) 99 00

L

HAYES

Smartmodem 300 ..... 189

Smartmoden 1200 459

Smartmoden 1200B 389

Micromodem ME 249

Micromodem 100 289

Chronoaraph 179

Smart Com II 75

TELE LEARNING

CM-250 (C-64) 65.00

AP-250 (Apple) 109 95

IB-250 (feM) 109.95

CARDCO MOD-1 (C-64) . CALL

NESTRIDGE (C-64) CALL

MITEY MO (C-64) . . CALL 1660 AUTO MODEM (C-64) 85 COMPUSERVE 23.95

DISK DRIVES

IBM-PC COMPATABLE

CORONA

PPC 22A

Portable 256K-Amber PPC 22G

Portable 256-K-Green PPCXTA

Portable 256K lOMeg CORI 28K 128K HAW

».„■«. 'LOTUS

Zenith Lotus 1-2-3 309 00

1P99 Z-150 Cell Symphony 439 00

1699 Leading Edge * MICROPROSE

2899 PC Competable Call Wordstar 2000 289 00

'599 Wordstar 2000 + 375.00

TOLL FREE 1-800-233-8760

s^SiW TO ORDER

CALL TOLL FREE or send order to

800-233-8760 po°bTZT

Customer Service 1-717-327-1825 Jersey Shore PA 1 7740

RISK FREE POLICY

In-stock item shipped within 24 hours of order No deposit on COD orders Free shipping on prepaid cash orders within the Continental US PA residents add sales tax APO, FPO, and International orders add $5 00 plus 3% tor priority mzil service Advertised prices show 4% discount for cash, add 4% for Master Card or Visa Personal checks require 4 weeks clearance before shipping All items subject to change without notice For your protection, we check for stolen credit cards.

LETTERS

MHz) (for graphics and I/O support) full 102-key keyboard with everything. 640 by 400 (by 4) graphics (partitionable to different pages). 80 by 2 5 roman character lines (16 by 16 dots/character), (apanese character ROM, RS-232C (transmission rate. etc.. softwarecontrollablel, all cables, connectors, and interfaces for printer, mouse, light pen, and voice synthesizer

Software

lapanese Foreign Language Extension (Japanese writing ability). Graphics Extension (GSX. Digital Research). Terminal software, CP/M-86, FBASIC86 V2.0 (with graphics support: windows, viewports, etc. mouse, light pen, and voice-synthesizer functions, etc.)

All for only about $1200. which is what I paid at Akihabara, the big electronics neighborhood in Tokyo.

It seems, from looking at recent issues of BYTE, that the current 16-bit American systems usually come with only about 128K bytes or 2 56K bytes of RAM and that minifloppies are way behind the commonly used dual 1-megabyte floppies that are built in to current computers here in lapan. And the prices! It seems that for these substandard systems you have to pay more than twice what you pay here, $2 500 to $3000 or more! Why is that?

Anyway, to complete my system. I bought an RGB high-resolution monitor and a Kanji printer (24 x 24 dot) and the entire system, everything, came to less than $2000! Can they beat that in the U.S. yet?

1 am now happily running my system, using the included FBASIC and assembler as well as Optimizing C and the very nice screen editor that comes with Turbo Pascal (it seems to handle the lapanese conversions very nicely).

By the way. I spent the last year here working for the Toyo Links Corporation of Tokyo, a computer-graphics company. We created a computer-graphics movie for the Fujitsu Pavilion at the Science and Technology World's Fair (Expo 85), which opens this March. The film is quite exciting: completely computer-generated and projected on a specially-built Omnimax dome, in stereo.

I hope that many American readers of BYTE can visit the fair, which will run for six months, and drop by the pavilion. If anybody would like more information about the fair or movie, drop me a line and 1 will be glad to pass your name and address onto the fair committee and you'll get some literature from lapan. I would

also welcome hearing from people who just want to write and talk about computers here in lapan and elsewhere.

Doug Lerner

Ota Ku Nishi Kamata 8-24-6-302

Tokyo, 144, japan

Language Considerations

The entertaining and informative dispute among champions and critics of rival computer programming languages should consider the following:

I. language size. To compare languages without considering their sizes, which may vary by one or two orders of magnitude, is disinformative.

2 External size constraints. Today's 8K-byte to 16K-byte BASICS are constrained by the allotted ROM room, not by the nature of the language itself. A 64K BASIC interpreter is the obvious and natural size for a microprocessor, which, like the 6509/ 6510 or 8088/8086. organizes a memory in 64K pages. Will a language that sounds great compared to an 8K Procrustean BASIC still sound great compared to a 64 K full-page BASIC?

3. Factional interests. Interpretation vs. compilation represents the real power struggle between do-it-yourself computer users and the caste of professional priests and scribes (systems programmers and applications programmers) attempting to insinuate itself between the computer and its end users. Logo versus BASIC versus Pascal represents the power struggle among elementary, secondary, and higher education. There's always the simple bias of salesmen "pushing" their own wares and "knocking the competition." Important personal, social, economical, and political fortunes ride on the outcomes of language competitions, and it would be hopelessly naive to imagine otherwise.

4. Personal sentiments. Some language criticism reveals more of the critic than of the language criticized. Scratch a critic of line numbers, find an unconfessed mathophobe. FORTH's arcane magic attracts a personality radically different from those attracted to Pascal and Modula-2. Sentiments should be addressed explicitly, not glossed over by coats of pseudorational. pseudotechnical varnish.

5. Language essentials. Features that can be optionally added to or deleted from a language don't distinguish it from other languages. Logo's supposedly distinctive "turtle graphics" and some of Pascal's supposedly distinctive "powerful structuredprogramming constructs" have been absorbed by some BASICS. APLs matrix

operators could be added to Modula-2, C's advanced assembly-language commands could be added to COBOL, and whitewall tires could be added to any car without effecting any fundamental change. So what are the essential differences among languages that merit discussion? Do any exist? I don't know.

But I do know that some purported feature advantages are mythical. Pascal fans argue that invoking procedures by semidescriptive names like ERRMSG. for display an error message, and FIXERR, for fix the error condition, enable you to scan a listing and grasp its flow. But to grasp a BASIC line like

500 IF X = 0 THEN GOSUB 2500: GOTO 5720

you've go to look up lines 2 500 and 5720. Surprise! Microsoft BASIC on the Commodore PCs I recently checked has an undocumented feature that gives the best of both approaches. You can write:

500 IF X = 0 THEN GOSUB 2500 ERRMSG: GOTO 5720 FIXERR

While scanning the program you can ignore the line numbers and grab the semidescriptive names. But when you do want to find ERRMSG and FIXERR. the line numbers tell you exactly where to look in a long listing. Will this revelation cause wholesale defections from the Pascal camp? I doubt it, though I'm sure it will provoke some giggling among BASIC fans. More generally, I do hope that future critiques and comparisons of languages will shed more light on the five general issues I've mentioned.

). G. Krol Anaheim, CA

FUBAR Again

As one of the 10 million Americans overseas during World War II, I can surely recall FUBAR and its friends ("The Origin of FOO.BAR.' " February, page 420).

There were three of them: SNAFU. TARFU, and FUBAR. All fared well because there was a nonvulgar word, "fouled." that could be substituted for the original. SNAFU means Situation Normal—All Fouled Up, TARFU means Things Are Really Fouled Up, and FUBAR means Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition, as you indicated.

These three survived, I believe, partly because they showed a slight ring of culture and restraint, even in the otherwise unbearable military.

Noel ). Thompson Warren, OR M

460

BYTE' MAY 1985

DISK DRIVES

we will Beat all competitors Pricing

Teac 55B

• 360K Half Height

• 1 Year warranty

$95

Tandon TM100-2

• 360K Full Height

• The "IBM" Drive

$119

MPI B-52

• 360K Full Height • PC Compatible

$80

10 Meg Hard Disk

• For IBM • W/Hard Disk Controller

$675

Apple Compatible Drives

OUANTITY

1 2 10 Micro Sci

A-2orA-20FullHT S170 5170 5160

Controller 65 60 50

Rana Systems

Ehtel S195 S195 S190

Elite II, Dbl .Head 335 330 325

Elite III. Ouad Density 380 380 375

ControllerControlsdDnves 75 75 70

ecu Half Height .

FD525AShmlinew/cable $140 5135 S130

FD525Cforllc 169 169 169

ecu Full Height

FD555Aw/cable 5160 S150 S140

Hard Disk

lOMegw/controller S675 S675 S650

ecu

YOUR LARGEST

DISK DRIVE

SUPPLIER

YE Data

• YD 580 360K, AT Drive

$225

Shugart SA455

• Full PC Compatible * 360KDbl. Side/Dbl. Den.

$89

51 a" Disk Drives

8" Disk Drives

OUANTITY

OUANTITY

1

2

10

1

2 10

Teac

Siemens

FD55A,160K

$100

5100

S100

FDD-100-8 S129

$120 S111

FD55B.360K

95

95

95

FDD-200-8 180

170 160

FD55F. Ouad Density

159

150

140

Shugart

All Teac s are Half Heights

801R.Sgl.Dbl. S160

S150 S140

851R,Dbl./Dbl. 480

470 460

Tandon

Tandon

TM100-1.160K

5150

S140

S130

TM848-1E.Sgl./Dbl.ViHt. S270

$265 5260

TM100-2. 360K

119

119

119

TM848-2E,Dbl./Dbl. ViHt. 370

360 350

TM101-4, Ouad Density

280

2/0

260

Mitsubishi

TM65-2,360K'; Height

195

|<X)

185

M2894-63,Dbl./Dbl. S400

$390 S380

MPI

B-52,360K PC compatible

n/rage-eSObl./Dbl.1 ; Ht. 400

390 380

S 80

S 80

S 80

5Va" & 8"

Power Supply & cabinets

Shugart

OUANTITY

SA400,160K

5190

S180

S170

1

2 10

SA455, 360K< ? Height

89

89

89

JMR SVt"

SA465, Quad Den. W Height

200

1MI)

180

SingleCablnetw/pwr S 70

$ 60 S 50

DualThinlineCabw/pwr 80

70 60

Mitsubishi

Dual Cabinet & Power 80

70 60

4851, v2 Height

S159

S149

S139

All have 6 month Warranty

4853, Quad Den Vi Height

169

159

140

JMR 8"

Control Data Corp.

Sgl. Cabinet w<pwr& fan S220 Dualw/pwrfor2thinlines 230

S210 $200 220 210

CDC 9409. 360K

S190

S180

S170

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 Giliform.i

(213) 618-0*77

PRINTERS

we will Beat all competitor's Pricing

Epson LX-80

• 100 cps • Friction Feed

• Letter Quality Mode • IBM & Apple Roms • 91 IP

$275

PRINTERS Epson

LX-80

RX-8CM120CPS) RX-80FT RX-100 + FX-80 + FX-100LO1500 JX-80

We are an Authorized Dealer

Save

At Least

S150

we will Beat ALL Pricing

Okidata

OK1182 S 229

OKI83A 535

OKI 84P 669

OKI84S 749

OKI92P 349

OKI93P 585

Call for other Models FREE Plug n Play Roms w/92 & 93

JUKI

6100,18 cps Ltr. Quality S 398

6300, 40 cps New' w/3K Buffer LetterQuality 795

Brother Dist. by Dynax

HR15XL,12cps S 389

HR25,25cps 625

HR35,36CPS 835

Panasonic

1091,120cpsw/tractor S 289

C. ITOH

8510AP S 305

F10,40CPS 919

PrintmasterFi055pu 1050

Toshiba

P1351.192CPS $1219

PRINTER INTERFACES

Fourth Dimension

Card&Cable S 45

Microtek

DumplingCX(CrapplerCompatible) S 75

Dumpling GXexpto64K 145

DumplingCX16Kw/16Kexpto64K 160 foreachadditionaH6K 10

Okidata Options

Tractorfor82&92 S 55

Serial interface 85

Orange Micro

Grappler + S 84

Crappler + W/16K 174

Star or Epson

Epson Serial interface S 119

StarSerialinterfacew/2Kbuffer, 55

BMC 9191

• Color Composite * 13" works w/Apple & IBM

$165

MONITORS

MONITORS Amdek

300C, Hi-Res Green S 125

300A, Hi-ResAmber 134

310A, Monochrome Amber 158

300Hi-ResColorComp 275

500 RGB Composite 399

DVM Board for Apple RGB 119

Taxan

425 Color RGB

440 Ultra Hi-Res

389 539

Princton Craphics

MAX12, Monochrome Amber S 169

HX12, RGB Color 449

SR-12w/DoublerBoard 775

IBM

Monochrome Green S 219

ColorHi-Res 559

zenith

ZVM122 S 95

ZVM123 95

BMC

12AUW S 59

9191 165

MODEMS

Express by Anchor

• 1200 Baud/RS 232

• Stand alone

• Hayes 1200 CompatiPle

$269

MODEMS

Hayes

Micro Modem he S 229

300Baud 195

1200B internal 355

1200 385

2400 Baud 635

Anchor Automation

MarkForTl S 59

Mark VI300 Baud IBM 79

Markxn, l200Baud 219

Mark x, 300 Baud Stand alone 149

Express 1200 Baud 269

Prometheus

Promodem S 329

Prol200AAppleintw/sw 329

Pro1200BIBMIntW/SW 299

ProMacw/cable&sw 329

No.CCable 12

Alpha Disp 89

Options Proc 89

U.S. Robotics

Password S 239

Computer Components Unlimited

no Surcharge for Credit Cards

AH Prices Reflect a Cash,

Pre-Paid Discount

A California Corporation

Customer Service & Technical (21S) 618-0487

Sales Desk

(800)847-1718

Outside California

(21S) 618-0477

inside California

SYSTEMS

IBM PC System

• 256K Memory • Two 360K Disk Drives

Call (800) 847-1718

For Lowest Quote

Apple

HE CPU S 790

Macintosh 1895

lie Portable 899

Compaq

Portable (PC Compatible) 2, 360K Drives

256K of Memory S1975

Compaq + w/iOMeg 3700

Deskproi 1675

Deskpro2 2250

Deskpro3 3900

Deskpro4 Call

Compaq

• Two Drives • 256K Portable

$1995

Sanyo

MBC 550-2 S 799

MBC 555-2 1089

Optional Serial Port 69

Optional 360K Drive 159

Kaypro

kavrpoil Call

Kaypro4 Call

KavprolO Call

KayproilX Call

IBM PC System

• 256K, Two 360K Drives • Clr. Graphics Card

• Hi-Res Green Monitor • Epson LX-80 Printer /cable & Letter Quality

$2242

IBM

PC 256K, NO Drives S1250

PC256K, 1 Drive 1399

PC256K,2Drives 1599

XTw/10Meg,256K 3495

Additional Memory 64K 12

ATStandardConfig Call

ATw/20meg Call

Tava

PCCompatiblew/Monitor $1100

IBM & APPLE ACCY'S

we will Not Be Beat

On 64K upgrade Prices

• Nine 4164, 200ns

• 1 Year warranty

$11

APPLE EXTRAS

ALS

ZEngine S 119

CPM3.0Card 240

ecu

rf Modulator S 9

Fanw/Surge 34

ecu

16K Mem. Card 1 yr war S 45

Kraft

Joystick S 44

Macro

Joystick S 29

Micro Max

Viewmax80,80col. card S 135

Viewmax80E(FforllE)64K 120

Micro Soft

Mouse S 139

Premium Soft Card he 369

Multiplan 149

Soft Card (Z80)W/64k 279

Micro Tek

Serial interface S 89

Flip Tub

• 5V4" Disk Holder

• Holds 60 Disks

• Smoked Plexiglass

2 for

$10

IBM EXTRAS Ast Research

Six Pack + NEW S 269

Mega + 265

Add on Ports 49

Hercules

ColorCard S 185

Graphics Card 325

Hard Disk

10 Meg. External w/power supply $1195

IBM

Monochrome Adapter S 219

ColorCard 225 Paradise Systems

Multi-display Card S 329

MewModularCard 299

ModuleA 88

Module B 240

5 Pack Multifunction 275

Quadram

Quad ColorCard S 199

Ouadlink 349

64K upgrade

64K of Memory S 11

AT upgrade Upgrade200ns S 99

PC Products

PCPeacockColorCardw/Par.Port S 175 Ports

Parallel S 79

Serial 79

ecu

ColorCraphicsCard S 139

51/V' DISKETTES

ecu

Sgl/Dbl reinforced hub. $16 ioofori40

Dbl/Dbl reinforced hub 19 I00fon70

Not Bulk Packed

Dysan

Sgl/Dbl S33 100for300

Dbl/Dbl 39 100for370

verbatim

Sgl/Dbl S26 100for240

Dbl/Dbl 36 100fOr340

8 DISKETTES Dysan

Sgl/Sgl S34 I00for320

Dbl/Dbl 53 100fOr480

verbatim

Sgl/Sgl S30 I00for280

Dbl/Dbl 40 100 for 360

DISK ACCESSORIES

verbatim

8 or 5'A Head Cleaning Kit S 9

Flip Tub

5V« Holds 70 disks, plexiglass S 17

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

Retail Hours:

10 a.m. • 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

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 Si SO first s pounds Tax. California Res Only add 611% sales tax. ah returns subject to 15% restocking charge Advertised prices for Mail Order only Retail prices slightly higher

Prices Subject to Change

Customer service Hours:

10 a.m. -4pm. 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

(Outside California; inside California)

WHAT'S NEW

NEW SYSTEMS

Total Talk PC Aids Visually Impaired

Maryland Computer Services' Total Talk PC is a talking computer based on Hewlett-Packard's HP 150. The system includes a speech-synthesis board, voice-generation firmware, software, and a speechcontrol pad that turns any group of characters into a spoken word.

With Total Talk PC. a blind or visually impaired user can hear data entered through the keyboard or appearing on the screen. The user can control pitch, volume, and the rate of speech (from 45 to 720 words per minute). The user can also choose to listen to information either a single word, a sentence, or a paragraph at a time. Another feature is user-definition of words that don't follow standard rules of pronunciation, such as abbreviations and mnemonics.

The Search String and Programmable Key functions let the user locate a word or phrase and combine several routinely used keystrokes into one key. The Enunciator Key announces functions before the system performs them.

Also, more than 50 speech functions are built into the Total Talk PC and controlled through its modified numeric keypad. The system connects to most computers from micros to mainframes. It uses MS-DOS and includes a built-in Talking Information Manager for keeping track of addresses, phone numbers, and dates.

Total Talk PC is available in two versions. The standard configuration has dual 3!/2-inch double-sided double-density disk drives

The Total Talk PC system based on the HP 150. along with some optional peripherals.

and sells for S7995.95. The second model uses a 15-megabyte Winchester hard-disk drive and costs $10,995.95. Contact Maryland Computer Services. 2010 Rock Spring Rd.. Forest Hill, MD 21050, (301) 879-3366. Inquiry 615.

The TER1 16-bit Microcomputer

The TER1 is an integrated unit that contains a CRT. 80-cps dot-matrix printer, two double-sided double-density disk drives, clock and calendar, modem, and Telex capabilities. The screen collapses into the main unit to form a low profile, and the footprint is slightly larger than that of a typewriter. A remote unit is also available.

The TERI uses Intel's 8086 chip and is IBM softwarecompatible. The basic system contains those features mentioned above, a case in three color choices, 192K bytes of memory expandable to 768K bytes, an 80-character 12-inch built-in

screen, graphics capabilities in color and monochrome, a remote CRT hookup, five expansion slots, an RS-232C port, a security-card activator, and such software as MS-DOS. Some available options are a color monitor, hard-disk drive, and remote monitor with keyboard.

The system's basic unit is selling at $3600. Contact Israel Strategic Computers Ltd.. 19 Nachon St.. Yemin Moshe. lerusalem. Israel, tel: 02 247-681/243-368; Telex 35770 COIN IL TER. Inquiry 616.

Expert 32

Multiprocessor

Computer

Elite Computer Systems' Expert 32 is a 32-bit multiprocessor computer that supports four true 32-bit processor card sets. However, the system is designed to support more

processors, with quantity dependent on application. The E82/CPU2 processor card is based on the 32032 processor from National Semiconductor. It includes the floating-point processor, memory-management unit, real-time clock/calendar, and 32K bytes of cache memory.

The system has a 16-slot double-width VME bus backplane and comes standard with a processor board set. Other features include 512K bytes of main memory expandable to 16 megabytes: a peripheral-interface card with DMA SCSI disk interface. 4 intelligent RS-232C serial channels expandable to 20; a Centronics-compatible parallel printer interface; a 500-watt power supply; and 5'4-inch cartridge hard-disk drives with 5 megabytes of removable storage and 5 megabytes of fixed storage. You can expand the Expert 32 to accommodate up to 140 megabytes of storage.

The Expert 32 uses ECS PVS. a portable virtualstorage operating system that supports real-time and [continued)

464 B YTE • MAY I SB'S

fomPUTCR WAREHOUSE

CALL TOLL

PRINTERS

Anadex

9625B S1089

WP6000 S2039

DP6500 S2179

Brother

DX-15XL S365

HR-25 $649

HR-35 S875

C-ltoh

A-10-30 $469

F-10 Parallel or Serial $869

55 CPS Serial or Parallel $1035

8510 Parallel (Prowriter) S295

8510 SP $385

8510 SCP S465

8510 BPI S315

Citizen

MSP-10 S329

MSP-15 S509

MSP-20 S469

MSP-25 S639

Convex

CR-2E S364

CR-4 Call

420 Call

Datasouth

DS180 $1089

DS220 SI 315

DS-PP#1 S449

DS-PP#2 $635

Diablo

D-25 S609

630API S1484

630 ECS $1669

630 ECS/IBM $1669

D-36 Call

80 IF $2649

P12CQI S529

P32COI S759

S32CQI S839

P38 $1639

S38 $1719

C150 S999

EpSOII All Printer Models Call

Inforunner

Riteman w/Traclor $244

Riteman 15 S499

Riteman Blue w/Tractor $299

Juki

5500 Call

6100 Call

6300 Call

NEC

2010, 2015, 2030 S639

2060 $654

3510,3515.3530 S1215

3550 $1359

8810,8815,8830 S1665

8850 S1779

P2. P3 Call

Okidata All Printer Models Call

Panasonic

1091 $265

1092 $349

1093 SS19

KXP3151 S459

Siemens

PT/88 InkJet Call

PT/89 InkJet Call

Star MicronicsAn Printer Models can Silver Reed

EXP400 Parallel S235

EXP500 Parallel or Serial S379

EXP550 Parallel or Serial S399

EXP770 Parallel or Serial S699

Toshiba P1340 Parallel or Serial $549

P351 Parallel or Serial S 1 1 65

BOARDS

ASTsix Pack Plus $259

HerCUleSColorCard $145

Graphic Card $295

ParadiSe Modular Graphic 06-1 $259

FivePak $159

QuadraitlOuadboardEXOk $219

E-Ram 80 S89

Quadlink $329

Tec Mar

Graphics Master $449

126K Dynamic Memory S225

256K Dynamic Memory $299

Captain 128K S299

Captain 256K S399

** YOUR WYSE CHOICES*

WYSEpc

IBM-COMPATIBLE PERSONAL COMPUTER

Dual Drive

• 256K • MS DOS

• GW Basic

Single Drive-10 Megabyte

• 256K • MS DOS

• GW Basic

Wy-S00 Green Monitor • Wy-600 Color Monitor • Wyse 50 • Wyse 75

SAVE UP TO 30%

1054

Canon

PERSONAL COPIERS

Canon PC-10

Compact. Convenient. .= Personal. With the exclusive ^" Canon cartridge copying

system for easy ^g j a maintenance. Ow 1 9

Canon PC-25

Reduction and enlargement comes to Personal Cartridge copying. Make copies up to legal size from originals as big as 10 *: 14"!

Canon PC-20

Compact, yet efficient for any business. With the exclusive Canon cartridge copying system. Plus automatic paper feeding. Make 8 ^ « m f\ copies a minute. O m "#5j

VIDEO TERMINALS

AltOS SmartII S769

Qume

QVT 102 Green S449

QVT 102 Amber $469

Televideo

800 $1225

800A $979

910 S425

910+ $559

921 S449

922 - S755

924 S639

925 S699

925E S599

Wyseso Call

75 S565

Wyse 85 Call

Zenith z-22 S469

Z-29 S599

z-49 - - Call

KEYBOARDS

Keytronicssisi $179

5151 Jr. S179

MODEMS

Anchor Automation

Anchor Express Call

Mark XII S239

HayeS Smartmodem 300 Baud SI 89

Smartmodem 1200 Baud $379

Smartmodem 1200B (IBM) $359

Smartmodem 2400 Baud Call

Micromodem HE (Apple) S219

NOVatiOn Smart Cat Plus S315

Prometheus aii Models can

RaCalVadiC All Models Call

US RobOtiCSPassword 1200 $209

COMPUTERS

NEC

PC-8201 Computer

PC-8201A-90 Battery Pack PC-8206A 32K Ram PC-8271A-01 AC Adapter

S315 S15

S215 $16

PC-8271A-02 AC Adapter S16

PC-8281A Recorder S89

SanyO MBC-775 Portable Call

MBC-550System Call

MBC-555 System Call

MBC-550-2 System Call

MBC-555-2 System Call

MBC-885 Call

Televideo

803 $1915

804 S3429

1605D $1909

1605C $2299

1605H S3459

1605CH $3549

TPC-1 S795

TPC-2 Single Drive $1509

TPC-2 Dual Drive $1749

Wyse

Wyse pc Dual Call

Wyse pc 10 Meg Call

Zenith

Z-150 Single Drive Save 25%

z-150 Dual Drive Save 25%

Z-150W/10 Megabyte Save 25%

z-160 Single Drive Save 25%

z-160 Dual Drive Save 25%

PLOTTERS

Enter Sweet-P600 S780

Epson HI-80 Call

DISKETTES

MONITORS

Amdek All Monitors

Princeton Graphic hx 12

SanyocRT36

Taxan

Maxell - (Qty 100)

MD-2(Qty100)

S149 $189

121 Green

122 Amber

420 RGB

425 RGB/Green

Zenith

ZVM-122 Amber

ZVM-123 Green

ZVM-124

ZVM-130

ZVM-133 Color/RGB ZVM-135 Color/RGB W/Audio ZVM136

DISK DRIVES

Alpha Omega Turbo 10

Turbo 20

Turbo 30

ridDa Habadisk tor Macintosh

Iomega Bernoulli Box lor IBM

10 Megabyte

20 Megabyte

20 Megabyte Plus

5 Megabyte for Macintosh

Rana

Elite II

Elite III

Elite 10H/Apple

Controller (W/Drive Only)

1000 W/DOS for Atari

TallgrassTG-3020

TG-3135

TG-4060

Controller

Call S479 S149

S125 S134 S399 S410

S95 S89 S129 Call $410 S459 S575

$689 $1019 S1379

S329

S1799 S2499 S2660 S1459

S179 S339 S405 S1080 S69 S175

$2289

S36B9

S1469

S119

COmPUTER WAREHOUSE

Order Processing & Order Line: 1-800-528-1054 Other Information: 602-954-6109

2222 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Store Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5:30 Saturday 9-1 Order Line Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 Saturday 9-1

i-i':A I^P^M

Prices reflect 3% to 5% cash discount Product shipped in factory cartons with manufacturer's warranty. Please add $9.00 per order for UPS shipping. Prices & availability subject to change without notice. Send cashiers check or money order... all other checks will delay shipping two weeks.

WHAT'S NEW

NEW SYSTE

MNC International's MCAD workstations for computer-aided design.

multiple-processor environments. ECS PVS also supplies demand-paged virtual memory, multiuser and multitasking operation, mountable file systems, and dynamically installed device drivers. UNIX will soon be supported on the Expert 32. Elite provides additional software support with compilers for FORTRAN. Pascal, C, Modula-2, LISP, and SMPL.

Quantity-one prices for the Expert 32 start at $17,700. Additional E82/CPU2 processor sets are $3850. Contact Elite Computer Systems, 4129 May St., Wichita, KS 67209. (3161 942-6619. Inquiry 617.

Multifunction CAD Workstations

MNC International created the MCAD family of workstations specifically for computer

aided design. The workstations are based on MNC's IBM PC-compatible computers and come complete with hardware and software.

The first three available models. MCAD 1000, MCAD 2000, and MCAD 3000, integrate the AutoCAD 2 software with three levels of hardware. All members of the MCAD family use an IBM PC-compatible processor and an 8087 coprocessor.

MCAD 1000 comes standard with a 10-megabyte hard-disk drive and 2 56K bytes of RAM. The monochrome graphics adapter provides 720- by 348-dot resolution. AutoCAD 2 basic design software and an integral mouse come with the package.

MCAD 2000 has the same processor configuration as MCAD 1000 but uses two monitors: a monochrome display functions as the system console, and the graphics design console is a

medium-resolution color display. This display combined with an Artist II graphics adapter from Control Systems gives you up to 16 simultaneous colors with a 640- by 400-dot resolution. Control is through the keyboard or an optical mouse.

The top-of-the-line MCAD 3000 also uses two monitors, including a highresolution color-graphics monitor that supplies 1024by 768-dot resolution with 16 simultaneous colors. MCAD 3000 disk memory is 22 megabytes, half of which is a removable cartridge. It comes standard with 512K bytes of RAM.

Options include plotters, printers, extended memory to 640K bytes, and software extensions. Several Tektronix emulation packages are also available.

Prices for the packages include software. MCAD 1000 is $4850. MCAD 2000 is $6995. and MCAD 3000 is $11,995. IBM PC owners can purchase add-on kits to make their systems equivalent to any MCAD model. Contact MNC International. 2817 Anthony Lane S, Minneapolis, MN 55418, (612) 788-1099. Inquiry 618.

Spirit 68 32-bit Microcomputer System

Spirit 68 from First Computer Corporation is a 32-bit system that runs with UNIX System V. Spirit 68 can handle up to 12 users and addresses up to 4 megabytes of parity MOS memory while offering full processor functionality. The system also supports localarea networks and remote communications.

The basic Spirit 68 contains 40 megabytes of online disk storage that comprises a 20-megabyte removable disk cartridge and 20 megabytes of fixed storage. It also has a 22-bit addressing capability.

The system is available in two styles: a clamshell, pedestal-type cabinet that opens along the full length of the unit and a standard rack-mount version. Both styles accept three models of field-installable expansion modules that increase disk storage with 40 megabytes of combination fixed/removable storage and either 72 or 142 megabytes of fixed storage.

Basic Spirit 68 system pricing ranges from $16,200 to $19,500. Contact First Computer Corp., 645 Blackhawk Dr., Westmont. 1L 605 59. (312) 920-1050 Inquiry 619.

{continued)

466 BYTE- MAY I985

It doesn't take much to make your programs run up to 20 times faster.

$49.95 to be exact.

If you've been writing programs for your Commodore 64, Apple He or Apple lie in BASIC you can take , a giant step forward in speed of execution and in programming productivity for just $49.95.

You can get program performance that you only thought possible from machine language programs. While still using a powerful, understandable highlevel language. A language that's similar to Pascal, but much easier to learn and use

You can create programs with our advanced, full-screen editor-much Q

like you would on a word processor, and it even locates your compilation errors

And when you com pile your programs, you have a fast onepass compiler, a recursive descent compiler that can compile a 100-line source program in 10 seconds or less.

PROMAL™ also gives you an elegant operating system "Executive" which includes powerful file, program and memory management commands and even I/O redirection.

You get all of that with PROMAL-improved programming productivity, faster compile and run time and power that you may never have thought possible. PROMAL - for the beginning or advanced programmer.

Whether you are just beginning to write or are an experienced programmer, you can be more ,-;>

productive with PROMAL (PROgrammer's Micro Application Language). It's easier to learn than Pascal, C or Forth. It provides you with a full range of powerful structured statements like IF-ELSE, WHILE, REPEAT, FOR and CHOOSE. And, because indentation is part of the language's syntax, it helps you write programs neatly and logically. There are no line numbers to worry about, and since comments don't take up memory space, you can document your programs completely.

documentation and PROMAL system diskette including sample programs) for just $49.95. There's a 15-day, no-risk moneyback guarantee. And the entire $49.95 may be credited against later purchase of the "Developer's Version" The "Developer's Version"-all the components of the "End User" system plus the "run time" object module generation capability, additional documentation and an unlimited right to sell or distribute PROMAL applications-is only $99.95.

Or-for only $10.00 plus $2.50 postage and handling you can get the PM-100 demo system. It includes a 32-page manual and all the

capabilities of the PM-200 except the ability to print or save files to disk. It's a very inexpensive way to explore the wonders of PROMAL.

Our Guarantee: Try PROMAL for 15 days. If you are not completely satisfied, return it to us undamaged and we'll refund your money. No questions asked. Dealer inquiries invited.

For quicker response on credit card orders,

caiiTdiF^ 1-800-762-7874

In NC: 919-787-7703.

COMMODORE 64 BENCHMARK

(Sieve ofE

ratosthenes)

PROMAL

BASIC

COMAL

FORTH

PASCAL

Execution Time (sees.)

30

630

490

51

55

Object Code Size (bytes)

128

255

329

181

415

Program Load Time (sees.

3.2

3.8

6.3

11.2

23.5

Compile Time (sees.)

8.5

3.9

108

Systems Management Associates 3700 Computer Drive, Dept. PB-3 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

PROMAL-a language especially for small systems.

Unlike languages developed for larger systems and squeezed into small systems environments, PROMAL was conceived and developed specifically for the small system. With PROMAL there's finally a language created for the environment in which you work.

Speed up your programs and step up your programming productivity.

You get all of that speed and productivity-with the PROMAL PM-200 "End-User" system (220 pages of

Order Form Please send me my copy of PROMAL

My system is (check one): □ Commodore 64 □ Apple lie □ Apple He PROMAL Package Desired (checkone):

□ PM-200 (for systems listed above) $49.95 plus $5.00 lor shipping and handling at a total cost of $54.95. Satisfaction Guaranteed.

D PM-300 Developer's Version $99.95 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling for a total cost of $104,95. Satisfaction Guaranteed.

□ PM-100 demo diskette $10.00 for the diskette plus $2.50 for postage and handling for a total cost of $12.50. (Non-refundable.)

□ My check is enclosed. D Please charge my purchase to my □ Visa □ Mastercard

Card Number

Expiration Date

Signature

City, State, Zip

North Carolina Residents add 4-1/2% sales tax. Foreign orders add $15.00 additional shipping and handling.

Inquiry 386

MAY 1985 'BYTE 467

WHAT'S NEW

A D D - ! N S

Model 256D1S EPROM Programmer

The Model 2 56DIS is a single EPROM programmer from Softalk, a subsidiary of Dynatec International. It can program any EPROM from a 2716 to a 27512. including "A" version and CMOS EPROMs. This programmer does not require additional modules or adapters.

Softaik's Model 2 56D1S programs one EPROM at a time. You can enter data from the programmer's own keyboard or from a development system through a standard RS-232C port. The programmer can also load from a master PROM into its 64K bytes of memory for programming a copy. The system uses a two-digit device code to set up the appropriate pin configuration and algorithms for the device being programmed.

The Model 2 56DIS costs S895. Contact Softalk Inc., 3 594 West 1820 S, Salt Lake City. UT 84104. (800) 722-7425; in Utah, (801) 973-9500. Inquiry 620.

The Apple in Color

An RGB color module for the Apple lie is available from Telemax. The Peacock Model CM2C is an outboard module that comes with two cables and connectors. One short cable plugs into the 15-pin video output connector at the rear of the lie. The other 3-foot cable plugs into your RGB monitor.

With the Peacock, you can select text and background colors from 14 color combinations. The Peacock Model CM2C sells for SI99.

Another Telemax product, the Kaleidoscope II, is an RGB color board for the

ROMDISK PC card for the IBM PC.

Apple II, He, and II + , and the Franklin ACE 100, 1000, and 1200. The board has a two-page memory operating system for programming both foreground and background colors. You can set each line of text to one of eight foreground and background colors.

The Kaleidoscope II plugs into slot 7. It lets you use your 80-column card or any other card that provides 80 columns and extended memory in slot 0 of the Apple lie. For the Apple 11 + and II and the Franklin series, you can use the Model VSP-80 switchplate option to interface 80-column boards to the Kaleidoscope II.

Apple versions of the Kaleidoscope II sell for $199; Franklin models are $219. The VSP-80 is $30, and the monitor connector is $15. Contact Telemax Inc., 780 Lorraine Dr., POB 339, Warrington, PA 18976, (215) 343-3000. Inquiry 621.

Universal Programmer

Logical Devices' PROMPRO-XP is a 16-bit MOS EPROM programmer that will support software

for the IBM PC as well as for other systems. This unit can program MOS EEPROMs, MOS EPROMs, CMOS EPROMs, bipolar PROMs. programmable logic devices, and microprocessors with on-board EPROMs.

PROMPRO-XP has a base system that handles I/O. internal memory, control, and power functions. It can program MOS or CMOS EEPROMs and EPROMs without the aid of plug-in adapters. Adapters are available to handle devices with widely different technologies, such as bipolar PROMS and programmable logic devices.

This universal programmer directs I/O communications through a serial RS-2 32C port or a detachable keypad with an alphanumeric display. It can send data to a printer or be remotely operated.

You can organize a 512Kbyte internal RAM buffer in 64K-byte by 8 or 32K-byte by 16 arrays so that two EPROMs with different data can be programmed simultaneously. An In-CircuitEmulation option lets you download a 16-bit file in memory and run a 68000 or 8086 program from the PROMPRO-XP's memory. Other features include a built-in eraser, range command, and complete selfdiagnosis.

The PROMPRO-XP base unit is $1995; bipolar and PAL adapters are $495 each. Contact Logical Devices Inc., 1321 Northwest 65th Place, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. (800] 331-7766; in Florida, (305) 974-0975. Inquiry 622.

ROMDISK PC Accessory Card

ROMDISK PC for the IBM PC and compatibles consists of a ROM and circuitry that emulates a writeprotected disk and disk-drive controller. This full-size card fits into an accessory slot inside the microcomputer case.

ROMDISK PC works with PC-DOS. MS-DOS, and equivalent DOSes. A utility program copies a userselected DOS, programs, or program files from disk into the ROM, thus converting the software to firmware. You can use DOS commands to auto-boot or selectively load software into RAM from ROMDISK PC.

The microcomputer's power supply supports ROMDISK PC. You can erase the EPROMs with an ultraviolet eraser without removing them from the printedcircuit board, then load new programs into ROM. Dataaccess time is 100 microseconds; program characteristics and the DOS determine overall speed improvements.

ROMDISK PC-0, a half-size board with 180K bytes of storage, sells for $599. ROMDISK PC-1, a full-size board with 180K bytes of storage upgradable to 360K bytes, is also $599. ROMDISK PC-2 is a full-size

[continued]

468 BYTE

Lifeboat.

C is the language. Lifeboat" is the source.

_ TM

Productivity Tools from the Leading Publisher of C Programs.

The Lattice® C Compiler

The cornerstone of a program is its compiler; it can make the difference between a good program and a great one. The Lattice C compiler features:

• Full compatibility with Kernighan and Ritchie's standards

• Four memory model options for control and versatility

• Automatic sensing and use of the 8087 math chip

• Choose from the widest selection of add-on options

• Renowned for speed and code quality

• Superior quality documentation

"Lattice C produces remarkable code. . .the documentation sets such a high standard that others don't even come close. . . in the top category for its quick compilation and execution time and consistent reliability."

Ralph A. Phraner, Byte Magazine

Lattice Library source code also available.

Language Utilities

Pfix 86/Pfix 86 Plus — dynamic and symbolic debuggers respectively, these provide multiple-window debugging with breakpointing capability.

Plink 86 — a two-pass overlay linkage editor that helps solve memory problems. Text Management Utilities — includes GREP (searches files for patterns), DIFF (differential text file comparator), and more. LMK (UNIX "make") — automates the construction of large multi-module products. Curses — lets you write programs with full screen output transportable among all UNIX, XENIX and PC-DOS systems without changing vour source code.

BASTOC — translates MBASIC or CBAS1C source code directly to Lattice C source code. C Cross Reference Generator — examines vour

C source modules and produces a listing of each symbol and where it is referenced.

Editors

Pmate — a customizable full screen text editor

featuring its own powerful macro command

language.

ES/P for C — C program entry with automatic

syntax checking and formatting.

VEDIT — an easv-to-use word processor for

use with V-PRINT.

V-PRINT — a print formatting companion for

vi ph.

CVUE — a full-screen editor that offers an

easy way to use command structure.

EMACS — a full screen multi window text

editor.

Fast/C — speeds up the cycle of edit-compile

debug-edit-recompile.

Graphics and Screen Design

HALO — one of the industry's standard graphics development packages. Over 150 graphics commands including line, arc, box, circle and ellipse primitives. The 10 Fontpack is also available.

Panel — a screen formatter and data entry aid. Lattice Window — a library of subroutines allowing design of windows.

Functions

C-Food Smorgasbord — a tasty selection of utility functions for Lattice C programmers; includes a binary coded decimal arithmetic package, level 0 I/O functions, a Terminal Independence 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 system 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 i nicro and mini environments we provide advanced crosscompilers 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, 68K7UNIX-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 breakpoint capability.

Call LIFEBOAT: 1-800-847-7078. In NY, 1-212-860-0300.

r,

YES.' Please rush me the latest FREE Lifeboat'" catalog of Cproducts. Name Title

I Company Name_ I Address

Business Phone

Please check one of the following categories: O Dealer/Distributor O End User

Other

Return Coupon to: Lifeboat'" Associates 1651 Third Avenue, New York, NY10128

19$5 Lifeboat Am

BY

WHAT'S NEW

PERIPHERALS

FTWARE • APP

Mac Private Eye video digitizer

cartridge when you finish working to help decrease the incidence of damaged or erased data.

The cartridge drive fits into the B slot on the IBM PC AT. It has lO'/z megabytes of formatted storage per cartridge. Track-to-track access time is 22.5 milliseconds and an average access time, including head-settling time, is 98 milliseconds. The drive has a 5-megabit-persecond data-transfer rate.

The removable cartridge for the PC AT, model IWDMAIO, sells for $1695. A PC version, model PDMAIO. is $2295. Contact Interface Inc., 21101 Osborne St., Canoga Park, CA 91304, (818) 341-7914. Inquiry 629

Mac Private Eye Video Digitizer

Mac Private Eye is a video digitizer that converts video signals into images on an Apple Macintosh. Reproduction quality is reportedly good enough for professional use. The system accepts images from any standard NTSC video source, such as a black-and-white or

color television camera, television monitor, or videocassette recorder.

The subject does not have to be stationary because Mac Private Eye works with moving video images. It captures a complete video frame in real time. Each video frame is converted into a 512- by 512-pixel image that you can see on the Macintosh with a movable window.

You can also manipulate images with MacPaint and store them in MacPaint files. The digitizer uses a random dot-pattern generator that creates images with continuous shades of gray.

You can make television camera adjustments by viewing the image on the Mac, so you do not need a television monitor. Also, you can transfer the image using a modem to the users Mac, another Mac Private Eye user, and directly from Mac to Mac.

Suggested retail price for Mac Private Eye is $595. Also available is a blackand-white television camera for $22 5 or both units for $799. Contact I/O Video Inc.. 222 Third St., Cambridge, MA 02142. (617) 547-4141. Inquiry 630

Speed Up the 512K Macintosh

TurboCharger quickens floppy-disk access on the 512K-byte Macintosh by keeping critical areas of disk in RAM. According to Nevins Microsystems, disk performance is often doubled or tripled, with reported peak performance more than 500 percent faster. (The company cited a test using pfs:File to search a database of 132 5 forms. With TurboCharger, the test took 11 seconds; without TurboCharger, it took 60.5 seconds.)

Once installed on a Mac start-up disk, TurboCharger works automatically. The program analyzes disk usage, buffering critical areas of disk in RAM. As little as 32K bytes of RAM can be used for buffering.

TurboCharger works with copy-protected software and can be used with almost every package written for the Mac. including MacWrite and MacPaint, Multiplan. Word, and Jazz. The price is $95. Contact Nevins Microsystems Inc.. 210 Fifth Ave. New York. NY 10010, (212) 563-1910. Inquiry 631.

Ensemble: Integrated Software for the Macintosh

Hayden Software's Ensemble is an integrated software package that runs on Apple's Macintosh. This package contains wordprocessing, spreadsheet, graphics, and list-management applications, and it will work on either a 128K- or a 512K-byte Macintosh. Ensemble lets you use the

Macintosh's mouse and pulldown menus when using the word processor or when entering data into the spreadsheet. The word processor is said to be functionally similar to MacWrite. You can generate 10 types of graphs, including bar, pie, and line charts, from spreadsheet data, and you can use the list manager to merge addresses and letters.

Ensemble is available for $299.95. Contact Hayden Software Co. Inc.. 600 Suffolk St.. Lowell, MA 01854, (617) 937-0200. Inquiry 632.

Applesoft Screen Routines

Magic Screen, a set of Applesoft screenhandling routines, consists of a screen-generator program for designing screens and a screen processor that contains a set of input and output routines. These routines can be called with ampersand (£•) statements in an Applesoft BASIC program to handle full-screen data entry, reports, menus, and help screens.

With the screen generator, you can specify the protected and unprotected fields along with the attributes for data-entry fields. A data field can be defined as numeric, alphanumeric, or as a question field.

The screen processor, which becomes part of the Applesoft program, contains 18 screen routines, including & WINDOW, & MOVE, and & WAIT.

Magic Screen retails for $30 and can be copied. Contact Graphware Inc., POB 373. Middletown. OH 45042, (513) 424-6733.

Inquiry 633.

(continued)

472 BYTE" MAY IWS

NORTHROP

e/4

Where 21st Century Technology thrives in an 18th Century Setting

Annapolis, Maryland, is a place of history in America's proud past. Today it is also a place of the future. The newest element of Northrop Defense Systems Division will move to the ANNAPOLIS SCIENCE CENTER this summer. Defense Security Systems offers the kind of challenges, environment, and commitment to excellence that you can build a future on. Career professionals are offered a work environment that includes:

• A new VAX 11/780 computer facility with IBM PC systems

• $1,000,000 digital/analog signal analysis laboratory

• An advanced systems engineering laboratory

• Microprocessor-based development system

• Comprehensive U.S./foreign technical library

Every assignment represents a KEY POSITION in our organization for professionals with BS or equivalent, MS/PhD desirable who are experienced in one of the following disciplines:

Systems Engineering

Experience in design/implementation of hardware/software systems in support of signal data collection and processing efforts. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING MANAGER, PROJECT MANAGER, and TEAM LEADER positions available.

Signal Science

Experience with IR&D studies in signal technologies, high speed digital signal processing, acoustc-optics, advanced antennas, and modern modulation techniques preferred. Performance of predictive foreign capabilities analysis and deliverable systems development will be required.

Digital Engineering

Background in digital communications circuit design/analysis; hardware/software development; hardware testing; assembly language programming and microprocessor design. TEAM LEADER positions available.

Software Systems Analysis

Experience in defining user/system requirements and software development. Knowledge of VAX 11/780 systems and FORTRAN language helpful. TEAM LEADER positions available.

Software Engineering

Experience/technical mastery of key software development areas (structured systems design/modular programming, algorithms analysis, microprocessor software development, data base management).

Other positions also available:

• DIGITAL/ANALOG SIGNAL ANALYSTS

• INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS

• OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYSTS

For immediate consideration, send resume to: Ms. Joyce Hicks, Professional Employment Dept. 012. NORTHROP CORPORATION, Defense Systems Division, Defense Security Systems, 1901 N. Beauregard Street, Ste. 208, Alexandria, VA 22311.

New Annapolis Address: 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Equal opportunity employer M/F/V/H. U.S. Citizenship Required.

NORTHROP

Defense Systems Division

Electronics Systems Group

MAY 1985 'BYTE 473

WHAT'S NEW

Graphic Communications

A communications package for the Macintosh, Telescape features an integrated communications directory, intelligent macros, universal terminal emulation, error-checking file transfer, and unattended message

service. But according to the vendor, the package's most innovative feature is its graphics capability.

Telescape uses charactercoded messages to produce graphics shapes as well as text of various sizes and styles. You can send messages by electronic mail or place them on any infor

mation utility. Business uses include transmission of charts and graphs. You can also create and send simple animated messages.

The program can be set to emulate any terminal. Definitions for TTY VT52. VT100/VT102, Teleray. and TeleVideo are provided. Protoco! selections include

ASCII and XMODEM at 300, 1200, or 2400 bps.

Telescape works with any Mac or Lisa running under MacWorks. Suggested retail price is SI25. Contact Mainstay, 2861 IB Canwood St., Agoura Hills, CA 91301, (818) 991-6540. Inquiry 634.

FTWARE • CP/M/MS-DOS

Program Analyzer for C

A superset of the UNIX LINT utility. Pre-C is designed to increase programmer productivity by quickly identifying program statement errors, including interface inconsistencies that require cross-file checking. The developer claims that a single execution of Pre-C spots many errors difficult to isolate when tracing a program with a debugger.

Producing a collection of diagnostic messages, the analyzer is said to identify incorrect subroutine calls and other problems up to 100 times faster than a programmer using a debugger. Pre-C can complement a debugging tool, because debuggers find dynamic errors (such as incorrect data values) that Pre-C cannot find. Pre-C makes approximately 1000 instruction checks per minute.

Pre-C is neither machinenor screen-dependent. It will run on any MS-DOS or PCDOS machine running versions 2.0, 2.1. or 3.0 and supports many popular C compilers, including Mark Williams' C Computer In

novations' C86. and Lattice C. The price is $395. Contact Phoenix Computer Products Corp., 1416 Providence Highway Norwood, MA 02062, (617) 762-5030. Inquiry 635.

UNIX-like Tools for MS-DOS

A collection of 19 tools adapted from UNIX. QTools is intended to provide a concise way to specify complex file manipulations, formats, and views. The toolbox operates under MS-DOS or PC-DOS on IBM PCs and compatibles.

QTools supports I/O redirection and pipes, wild cards, environment variables, command-line options (all parameters are passed to the utilities on the command line so that they can be used in automated batch processing), and on-line help.

The utilities fall into three general classes: file listing: file maintenance: and pattern search, substitution, and translation,

QTools costs $49.95. Contact QCAD Systems Inc.. 1164 Hyde Ave.. San lose. CA 95129. (800) 538-9787: in California. (4081 255-5574. Inquiry 636.

Electronic-Circuit Analysis

ACNAP is a generalpurpose. AC network analysis program for active and passive electronic circuits consisting of resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, and operational amplifiers. You can examine circuits with up to 200 components and 30 nodes in a single pass.

The program has a circuit editor that supports addition, deletion, and changes of components, tolerances, and node connections. ACNAP automatically computes the magnitude and phase at any node in the circuit and includes Monte Carlo, worst-case, noise equivalent bandwidth, and sensitivity analyses. Logarithmic or linear frequency sweeps may be specified.

ACNAP costs $72.95 and is available for systems running MS-DOS. PC-DOS. or CP/M-80. Contact BV Engineering, Suite 207, 2200 Business Way, Riverside, CA 92501, (714) 781-0252. Inquiry 637.

Ensure Unreadability of Deleted Data

Erasesure is an MSDOS/PC-DOS utility that reportedly makes erased or deleted files completely unreadable. The utility's developer noted that files thought to be deleted are often left on disk until DOS needs the space: only then is the data overwritten. That data can still be read, using a disk-reading utility or the DOS utility Debug.

Erasesure first prepares the data for removal and then deletes it according to DOS conventions. Instead of Delete or Erase, you use the program's Sure command and the filename. The software is not copy-protected, so it can be transferred to hard-disk systems. Erasesure costs $30 and is available from MPPi Ltd.. 2200 Lehigh Ave. Glenview, IL 6002 5, (312) 998-8401. Inquiry 638.

WordStar

from Any Directory

Hard-disk WordStar users can run from any directory or subdirectory, including the floppy-disk drive, with a utility called SmartPath Until now, the vendor said, hard-disk users had to keep multiple copies of the

474 BYTE- MAY 1985

WHAT'S NEW

& kj r i w ft i\ n

• CP/M/MS-D

SOFTWARE • IBM PC

Datem's dDCM810 Bitbus support package.

word processor on disk because WordStar didn't recognize directories or subdirectories.

With SmartPath. you can run any program that uses overlays from any directory. With only one copy of WordStar on the hard disk, you can group letters, documents, and programs into separate directories.

SmartPath is priced at $29.95 and runs under PCDOS 2.0. 2.1, 3.0. and 3.1. Contact Software Research Technologies Inc.. Suite 211. 3757 Wilshire Blvd.. Los Angeles. CA 90010. (21 31 384-4120. Inquiry 639.

Support

for the Bitbus

Datem's dDCM810 package provides applications programmers with a high-level interface between MS-DOS computers and the

Bitbus distributed control network. The software runs on any IBM PC-compatible machine equipped with a Datem dDCM800 Bitbus interface adapter.

Facilities within the support package include message packet management, named device interfaces, full message protocol, and userspecified flow control. Datem offers utilities to let you manipulate the RAMresident dDCM810 operating environment. The software provides an interface for users who want to develop real-time, hierarchical distributed control systems for data acquisition, process control, and robotics.

In addition to userspecified flow control. dDCM8IO manages the routing of sporadic response messages. The software also provides automatic response-connection generation when operating the host PC as a slave node.

The application support package costs $415 (U.S. currency!. Contact Datem Ltd.. 148 Colonnade Rd., Nepean. Ontario K2E 7R4. Canada, (613) 225-5919. Inquiry 640

Volkswriter for Scientists

A word-processing package for scientists and academics, Volkswriter Scientific features more than 400 bit-mapped science and math characters. Roman and Greek alphabets, and multiple type styles and sizes. According to Lifetree Software, the package heightens the quality of dot-matrix output because it drives each pin rather than using the native character set of the printer.

The program offers userdefinable and recallable composite symbols and macros, five text levels for each line, on-screen tutorials, and nine help menus. It's a page-oriented word processor with hyphenation and underlining as you edit.

Lifetree stresses that Volkswriter Scientific, priced at $495, is not an upgrade of Volkswriter Deluxe. The program runs on the IBM PC and close compatibles, including the Compaq, Corona. Chameleon, and Hyperion, and requires 2 56K bytes, two disk drives, a color monitor, and colorgraphics adapter. Contact Lifetree Software. 411 Pacific St., Monterey, CA 93940, (408) 373-4718. Inquiry 642.

FORTH for XENIX and UNIX

Ubiquitous Systems has introduced a FORTHlanguage software-development system tailored specifically for XENIX and UNIX. u4th is a portable, standard FORTH that is source-transportable to any

other environment that has a standard C compiler with a UNIX-compatible library.

u4th's features include access to UNIX system calls. the capability to incorporate new primitives written in C, the capability to compile high-level FORTH words into the load image, a directthreaded interpreter, and an object-oriented extension word set. The system is largely compliant, the vendor said, with the FORTH-83 standard (word size of 32 bits may be used where applicable, and lowercase characters are standard).

The object-oriented FORTH extensions provide a set of system-building tools suitable for Al research and other complex tasks, yet they can drop into "normal'' FORTH when necessary. u4th has several object classes, including memory managers, lists, and tagged data objects.

The price of u4th for the IBM PC XT and PC AT is $395. Contact Ubiquitous Systems Inc.. 13333 Bel-Red Rd. NE. Bellevue. WA 98005. (206) 641-8030. Inquiry 641.

TelePaint Includes Paint Software, Can Enhance Any Graph

LCS/Telegraphics' TelePaint software lets you capture, edit, enlarge, and enhance graphs generated by such programs as Lotus 1-2-3. With TelePaint, you can reposition charts, add new text or graphics, and change, add, or highlight colors and patterns. Added text can use any of 16 fonts and can range from simple labels and captions to full paragraphs. Entire graphs or parts of graphs can be stored to disk or printed in color or black and white.

[continued]

MAY 1985

IYTE 475

WHAT'S NEW

SOFTWARE

I B M P C

You can use TelePaint as a standard paint program, similar to Apple's MacPaint for the Macintosh. It's fully mouse-driven and uses pulldown and pop-up menus. TelePaint runs on the IBM PC. XT, AT. and compatibles. It requires 2 56K bytes of RAM. one double-sided disk drive, an IBM color-display adapter, and a Microsoftcompatible mouse.

TelePaint is available for $149. Contact LCS/Telegraphics, 261 Vassar St., Cambridge. MA 02139. (617) 547-4738. Inquiry 646

Program Development from Mainframe to Microcomputer

You can off-load program-development work done on a mainframe computer to an IBM PC with VS COBOL Workbench. Designed to provide uninterrupted development, testing, and maintenance of programs downloaded to a PC, the Workbench supports many features of COBOL as implemented in IBM's OS/VS COBOL and VS COBOL II. OS/VS COBOL and VS COBOL II syntax can be used separately or coexist in a single program. You can convert OS/VS COBOL programs to VS COBOL II using flags that report errors in code compiled from one syntax to the other.

Support of CALLs and EXEC statements enables you to edit, debug, and test applications that use IBM host interfaces such as IMS/VS. CICS/VS, DL/1. and SQL/DS. A Session Controller facility records keystrokes of testing and debugging sessions.

The syntax-check compo

STATA statistical program for the IBM PC.

nent examines the COBOL source code and generates executable intermediate code. It also flags code that is not ANSI-74 standard. VS COBOL Workbench. which costs $4000, supports the IBM PC, PC XT. PC AT. and Portable PC. Contact Micro Focus Inc., 2465 East Bayshore Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303. (4151 856-4161. Inquiry 643.

Statistics and Data Analysis

STATA. a program designed to help you manage, display, and analyze data, has features in

common with spreadsheet, database-management, and statistical packages. The program lets you ask "what if" questions. Like a database manager. STATA enables you to create complex data sets, transform them, and locate pieces of information. The package can calculate the standard univariate statistics, correlations and covariances, and chi-square tests for independence in two-way tables. STATA runs on an IBM PC. PC XT. or PC AT with at least 2 56K bytes of RAM and one double-sided disk drive. The package will use, but does not require, the 8087 math coprocessor. The Professional System costs

WHERE DO NEW PRODUCT ITEMS COME FROM7 The new products listed in this section oj 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. If you want your product to be considered for publication [at no charge], send full information 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.

$395; the Student Version. sold only to college bookstores, costs $30. Contact Computing Resource Center. 10801 National Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064, (213) 470-4341, Inquiry 644.

Error Checker for Lotus 1-2-3

A tool for validating Lotus 1-2-3 models, the Cambridge Spreadsheet Analyst permits automatic location of all circular reference errors. This CIRC feature reportedly eliminates hours spent tracking down interlocking formulas.

A complete package for spotting errors and scrutinizing a model's logic, the Analyst will scan a worksheet for more than a dozen conditions likely to indicate problems. Two interactive features let you examine the assumptions behind a 1-2-3 model. The cross-reference function shows where and how a given cell, range, or 1-2-3 function is used. The interactive probe capability lets you explore the cells that affect a formula.

The Analyst works directly with 1-2-3 spreadsheet files and. where possible, reflects the command conventions of the Lotus software, A help screen is available at every decision point.

The Cambridge Spreadsheet Analyst costs $95, runs on the PC family, and requires at least 192K bytes of RAM, two disk drives, and PC-DOS 1.1 or higher. Contact The Cambridge Software Collaborative, 56 Garden St., Cambridge. MA 02138, (800) 343-0663 ext. 4200: in Massachusetts, (800) 322-1238 ext, 4200. Inquiry 645

476 BYTE" MAY 198i

Contact us for other low prices on hardware and software

Next Day Air Extra

FREE SHIPPING. NO SURCHARGE FOR

Call for latest prices.

comPAa

com pah

256K, 1/360K drive, 10 Meg Internal

$2695

Functional equivalent to a Compaq Plus.™

Now using 3! 1" shock-mounted Winchester drives.

The same as used in the Compaq Plus, n

Also available with I half-height drives and 10 MEG HD—13195.

Or upgrade your Compaq to a Compaq Plus-" equivalent with our $Vi " shock-mounted Winchester disk kit. Includes Hard Disk, Controller. Cables, Manual, .Software, and Mounting Hardware. One year warranty. A * ft m

TAPE BACKUP SYSTEM

$595

* Half Height • 10.35 Meg

* Low Power Formatted Capacity

* Uses Floppy • Used in Compaq Controller Card Deskpro ™

/(simply works better.

a

.

Functional equivalent to Compaq Deskpro'" Model 4.

Includes Monitor ^LJ. — -■«-■ )

640K, One 360K Drive, One 10 Meg Internal Hard Drive, Tape Backup Unit.

XT™ POWER 135W

Solve your power problem. Fully XT" compatible. One Year Warranty. Directly Replaces Power Supply in PC"

$119

10, 20, 33 AND 42 MEG INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HARD DISK SYSTEMS

With Hard Disk by

• * • AAii rose iencp

• • Inli-r ii.iiion.il

* • * Corporation ®

Half-Height 10 Meg Internal

$549

20 MEG

33 MEG

42 MEG

MfcftMCfettf

RiKlimr

■»*.

Internal

$695

$1395

$1595

External

$895

$1495

$1695

Externals mounted with independent power supply and fan. Fully DOS 2.1 or 3.0 compatible. Both Internals and Externals boot from Hard Disk. 33 and 42 Meg Internal Disks Include extender power supply. The system comes complete and ready to Install with the Hard Disk, Controller, Cables, Manual, Software, and Mounting Hardware. One Year Warranty.

MITSUBISHI

Japan* Best) f-Heighl, Dsi

$99

1 Japan - Best) Half-Height, DS/DD

Control Duni

$129

IMC

""$99°"'" PANASONIC

"in"""

-"-»• * * *» # * # 0

64KRAM $16

Quantities of 1-49 KU ^T ™^7

Set Of 9 CltipS, 200 Of ,«,<> Nanoseconds Quantities of Quantities of SO- U9 sets I SO sets or more

ylnr ;i . yl2 ■

256K RAM

$69

HARDWARE

Persyst Time Spectrum w/0K-$189 w/384K-$285

AST SixPaL Plus w/384K S329

AST Si*Pak w/64K 124-9

Hcrtuk-s Color Card *I7S

Hercules Graphics (ard w'Parallel 1149

Paradise Modular Graphics Card IJ9S

Paradise Module A Parallel Port I 69

Paradise Module B64 256K/(.lock (209

Persyst Monochrome < aril w/Parallel H7S

POSHX 12 5479

PGS MAX-12 1179

Epson t'MJL

Juki 6100 M99

Okidata 92/9.VH4 1569/1)69/1719

Tl H« J7I9

Hayes Smanmodem 1200 1149

Hayes Smartmodcm I2O0B »H<9

Keytronic ^1 SI Keyboard 1189

Framework or dBase III—$349

Copy II PC... Copywrite Disk Explorer . Zero Disk .... Prokey3.0... Sideways .... Thinktank....

..124 .CALL .CALL .CALL ..$79 ..$39 .$119

SOFTWARE

BBOMtno* INTERNATIONAL

Sidekick Superkey Turbo Toolbox

Non-Copy Protected Sidekick Turbo Tutor

Turbo Pascal 2.0 or 3.0 Borland Gift Pack

Turbo Pascal w/80872.0or3.0 Borland Gilt Pack w /808T

CALL FOR PRICES!

lOur prices are so Ion. thev made us

Norton Utilities—

ViTMon i.u, l)ii. '84 Rclat

-$59

Wordstar 2000 $269

Wordstar 2000+ $319

Crosstalk XVI $119

Multimate $269

Lotus 1-2-3 $309

Lotus Symphony $429

«fMD

,„,,

rto.prtm«W.

«th« 1

.Tn"."

udhc

IcehDull mpprir

"for

Ink)

■Ml

inbtr on ill (JIM

Hirer

Ml nun uibrcc

nttKkli

'rrpjid the ell. »

thirjt 1

rAmt

Ham HfWll

enwirnce International (orpoi ijneiky TtAt. COMPAQ. Panaio Itubitbi. Borland Initrnaiional r iradrnarki nf their reipectite

PC'S LIMITED

OUTSIDE TEXAS, ORDERS ONLY, CALL 1-800-IBM7801 N. Lamar, #E-200, Austin, Texas 78752 All calls for technical support and inside Texas, call (512) 452-0323.

Telex No. 9103808386 PC LTD

5150

Ad number 405

Inquiry 317

MAY 1985 -BYTE 477

Inquiry 582

SU NTRONICS CO., IIW

12621 Crenshaw Blvd.. Hawthorne. CA 90250

E =^. E== XT Compatible Products

CPU Board (w128K) $350.00

Computer Cabinet $69.00

83 Key Full-Function Keyboard $85.00

Monochrome Graphic Card lw parallel printer port) $190.00

130 Watt Power Supply $125.00

135 Watt Power Supply $129.00

150 Watt Power Supply $135.00

Color Graphic Card $139.00

FDD Controller Card $85.00

Parallel Printer Card $59.00

ASYNC & RS232 Card $75.00

360KB DSDD (Slimline) Disk Drive $109.00

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 B4K RAM) 5499.00

IBM Up-Grade Kit (4164-150NS) 14.50 per kit

10MB Hard Disk lw Controller) S675.00

IBM PC Mouse S147.00

Quad Board II 5249.00

Quad 512 (w/64K RAM) 5259.00

Koala Graphics Table (w Software) S105.00

Keyboard Extension Cable S9.00

Multi-Function r-;,, Ik.v6-ia ham I SeHalSParailellC.iocKC.aiendai' $179.00

1-800-421-5775 (Order Only) (213) 644-1140 (CA Order & Info )

STORE HOURS Mon -Fri 9 am to 6 p m

Sat 10am to 5 p m

TERMS: VISA MASTERCARD COD (Casri or Certified Chech Required) Checti (Allow 2-3 Weeks for Clearing! Shipping a H C S3 00 tor 3 IDs plus 50c lor each add I LO Caul residenisaddCalit Sales TaxSiO 00 Minimum Order IBM and Apple are regisiered trade marks ot IBM & Apple

Compatible Products

Sun Z80 Card (w o Software APPLE II & II - only) S49.00

Sun 80 Column Card (w Soft Switch) S85.00

Power Supply (5 Amp) S59.95

Cooling Fan S42.00

Floppy Disk Controller S42.00

16K RAM Card S49.00

128K RAM Card S159.00

Parallel Printer Card S49.00

Serial Printer Card S89.00

RS232 Card for Modem S99.00

EPROM Programmer (271B 32 64) S75.00

Apple Disk Drive (Full height) S159.00

Apparat EPROM Blaster S119.00

Grappier $75.00

S-100 Single Board Computer (Z80A) Kit S99.00 B/B S49.00

S-100 Universal Floppy Disk Controller ... Kit S125.00 B'B S49.00

S-100 Clock Calendar Kit S89.00 B/B S42.00

S-100 64K Static Memory Board (wo RAM). Kit S89.00 B/B S49.00

S-100 Prototype Board (Sun-721) S9.95

12 Amber TTL Hi-Res Monitor (20mHz) S135.00

12 Green TTL Hi-Res Monitor l20mHz) S129.00

12 Green Composite Hi-Res Monitor (22mHz) S99.00

SKC DSDD 5% Diskette $14.95 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:

S3579.00

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:

$3380.00

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!

IBM MONO PRINTER ADAPTER PERSYST COLOR ADAPTER

aimpk- inn

$135 no

PRS HY-1?

$475.00

PRi! MAY-12

$190 00

prte; <5R-12

$R25 no

TAYAM nRPFN Pr-|MPn<?ITF

$125 00

T4VAM AMRFfl rtOMPDRITF

$135 00

TAYAM fiRFFN W/TTI PI 1 IS

$14900

TAXAN AMBER W/TTL PLUS

$159.00

IBM MONOCHROME DISPLAY

$260.00

iBiirni r-iR nispi av

$590.00

PRINTERS

EPSON FX80

$425 no

EPSON FX 100

$fi?s no

FPsntu ry sn

$245 on

FPSnN RY ROFT

$295 no

OKir-IATA R2A

$299 00

$569.00

OKIDATA 92P

twos nn

DKinATA 93P

$R25 nn

OKinATA R4P

$759.00

OKIDATA 2410P

$1959.00

TDSHIRA P1W1

$1295 00

NEC SPINWRITER 3550

$1595.00

npp pinwritfr An r.m

$699.00

NFr-. PINWRITFR 13fi T.OI

$R99 on

RRI-1THFR HR-25

$69900

RRDTHFR HR-35

$9?5 nn

(Accessories on NEC & OKIDATA printers

available)

DRIVES

TANnON TM-mn-9

si7ann

SLIMLINE - TOSHIBA

$155.00

SLIMLINE- TEAC55B

$155 00

MULTIFUNCTION BOARDS

AST 1/0+1 SER & 1 PAR

$17Q00

AST SIX PACK 64K 1 SER & 1 PAR

$269.00

OUADBOARD 64K

$269.00

IBM COI OR GRAPHIC ADAPTFR

$225 nn

PERSYST MONO PRINTER ADAPTER .

HERCULES GRAPHIC ADAPTER

HERCULES COLOR CARD

STB GRAPHIX PLUS II

. $230.00 .$190.00 . $210.00 . $349.00 .$210.00 . $375.00

MODEMS

HAYES SMART MODEM 1200 HAYES SMART MODEM 300 _ HAYES 1200B PLUG IN CARD

QUBIE PC 212A/1200 INT

QUBIE PC 212E/1200 EXT

. $469.00 . $209.00 . $429.00 .$275.00 . $299.00

HARD DISKS

10MB SUB SYSTEM INT

$Rsn nn

10MB SUB SYSTEM EXT

$m25 nn

mUR TAPF RAHK IIP

$599 nn

GENERAL

CONTROL DATA DISKETTES

$25 nO/hnx

KCVTBOMir. KR5151

$1R9 0n

PARAI I Fl HARI FS

$25 nn

64K RAM UPGRADE KIT

128K RAM UPGRADE KIT (For AT) _ IBM PC POWER SUPPLY (Original) 63.5 WattsIBM KEYBOARD FOR PC (Original)

. $50.00 . $199 00

(714) 838-7530

2640 Walnut Avenue, Unit K, Tustin, California 92680

(Prices & availability subject to change without noticeIBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.)

478 BYTE" MAY I985

Inquiry 272

Now, the lowest prices ever on

3M Scotch

7 DISKETTES

LIFETIME WARRANTY!

$149" $199

I Qty 50 s*- DSDD I Qty 50

ADD 3% FOR ORDERS UNDER 50'

HMS;

514- SSDD-96TPI -> $2.29 ea 5V DSD0-96TPI -* S2.85 ea SOFT SECTOR ONLY! MINIMUM ORDER: 20 DISKETTES

FLIP'« FILE 15 » 10 DISKETTES (Ell Thru 5/30/15)

These are factory-fresh 3M diskettes packed in boxes of 10 with Tyvek sleeves, reinforced hubs, identification labels and writeprotect tabs. *A „„

3.5" MICRO-DISKETTES—SS-135 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. Illlnos 60611

U | O K Authorized Distributor

information Processing

WORLD! "^

FANTASTIC LOW PRICES ON

BASF ^

$ QUALIMETRIC fo) DISKETTES!

LIFETIME WARRANTY!

V I fc" IsDD Q |*ISI

I Qty 20 DSDD | Qty 20

5V4" SSDD-96TPI _ $1.46 ea. 5%" DSDD-96TPI — $1.75 ea. PACKED IN CARDBOARD CASES! BASF QUALIMETRIC DISKETTES have a LIFETIME WARRANTY 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 5V,"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!

RISK Authorized Reseller

LMOrv Information Processing ■ DACC

WORLD! "*■

Incredible value!

Nashua Diskettes

p |UO 5U SSDD S |15

I Qty. SO 5V»"DSDD I Qty 50

These are poly-bagged diskettes packaged with Tyvek sleeves, 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, llhnos 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 Avatex Modem

300 Baud Avatex Modem

$189.95 ea ^^^ $59.95 ea.

Avatex Modems have everything. They're inexpensive. 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 net included.)

for orders only: information i

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 OUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street» Chicago, llhnos 60611

DISK WORLD!

Authorized Distributor

AVATEX

DISKETTE STORAGE CASES

AMARAY MEDIA-MATE 50: A REVOLUTION ^* IN DISKETTE STORAGE

^^P_ Every once in a while, someone takes the

^pPt^*- simple and makes it elegant1 This unit holds

B) 50 5'-*" diskettes, has grooves for easy

^^ F stacking, inside nipples to keep diskettes

from slipping and severa1 other features. We

like*! fr-in QC $200

O IU.3U ea Shpng

DISKETTE 70 STORAGE: STILL A GREAT BUY.

^^gt Dust-free storage for 70 5V diskettes

^■Pl Six dividers included An excellent value

■B-kRk " VDISK CADDIES 511-95 Shprxj r ^k. ^ The original flip-up holder lor 10 W - <KS ^^diskettes Beige or grey only «• -t CC

•■■r ■ 20CSnrx>g

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 OUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806.30 East Huron Street ♦ Chicago, llhnos 60611

DISK WORLD!

The value leader in Computer supplies And accessories.

DISK WORLD!

Ordering & Shipping Instructions

Shipping: 5V & 3.5- DISKETTES—Add $3.00 per each 100 or fewer diskettes Other Items: Add shipping charges as shown in addition to other shipping charges. Payment: VISA and MASTERCARD accepted COD Orders: Add additional $300 Special Handling charge AP0. FPO. 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 suhiect 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 THE SAME PRODUCTS AND OUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago, I

inos 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.. S3.66 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 OUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago. Illinos 60611

DISK WORLD!

ATHANA

DISKETTES The great unknown!

QQ o - $-|09

WW01*50 5*. DSDD-I °»"

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 OUANTITIES!

DISK WORLD!, Inc.

Suite 4806 • 30 East Huron Street • Chicago. Illinos 60611

DISK WORLD!

ATHANA Authorized Distributor MAGNETIC MEDIA

Nail down great prices on

MEMOREX diskettes!

LIFETIME WARRANTY!

S128L „$170"

| Qty 20 DSDD | Qty 20

MEMOREX DISKETTES come with heavy, lintless paper sleeves, reinforced hubs, write-protect tabs and user ID labels 3 5" MICRO FLOPPIES ..,. -,rTnD nul v, 5VDSDD-H0

SSDD-13STPI SOFT SECTOR ONLY! rOR IBM PC-AT

S2.44ea MINIMUM ORDER 20 DISKETTES W.»9ea INFORMATION & INQUIRIES: 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, Illinos 60611

DISK WORLD!

Inquiry 134

MAY 1985 -BYTE 479

ti^ ^*m^

"COMPUTER ENGINEERING" -July 1977 Byte Cover

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 I have included $2.00 for shipping and handling.

Qty.

Size

_ Adult—Extra Large

_ Adult— Large

_ Adult—Medium

_ Adult—Small

_ Child—(sizes 10-12) Shipping and Handling (Overseas add $3.00)

Amount

$_

$

$

$

$

$2 00

$

TOTAL $

j I have enclosed check or money order □ VISA D MasterCard Q Send Dealer Info

Card*:

Exp. Date:

Ship my T-Shirt(s) to:

Name:

(Business): , . ,

Address:

City:

State:

Mail this coupon to:

Robert Tinney Graphics

1864 North Pamela Dr. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815

-Zip:

480 BYTE • MAY 1985

FORTRON CORPORATION

FC 135-40 Features

•Full Replacement to your regular IBM® PC 65 W. Power Supply ■4 Disk Drives Connectors •Built-in High Air Flow High Quality Cooling Fan

• (yj)File #E82453 •Schematics included •One year Warranty •+5V/15A. +12V/4.2-8.5A

(peak)

-12V/1A. -5V/1A, (max.

outputs)

• 110-230 VAC Convertible

Power Supply Professional 3797 YALE WAY, FREMONT, CA 94538 INFORMATION & CALIF. RES. [415] 490-8171

ORDER TOLL FREE: [800] 821-9771

Quality That You Can Trust

140 W.(max) Power Switcher

#FC 135-40

only N(g

175.°°

[Assembled S. Fully Tested in USA]

IDEAL FOR: •Upgrade IBM® PC •OEM Manufacturer •Do it yourself an IBM® PCXT Compatible

Please do not confuse this high quality product with the cheap imported units sold by others because of same outlook.

Dealers/OEMs are Invited

For "Build Your Own Computer" and OEM's Convenience, we also carry:

FC 427 Keyboard

•For IBM* PC or its compatible products •20 Million Time

Life Cycle •Light on Num and

Caps Lock Keys

109.

FC 630A-2 Cabinet

•IBM identical

•Use FORTRON FC 135-40 power supply

•7 & 8 slots rear QQ OO

panels, good for 3SJ.

0.75" or 1" apart

slot connectors.

MS.J II

HSC 130-40 130 Watt Switching Power Supply

•Good For Faraday, DTC Mega- IRQ OO

board, Colby Computer and Other ail HaTBtm lOBi Compatible Level CPU boards

•Backside On-Off Switch

•Use Cabinet FC-630

•110-230 VAC Convertible

FC-330 Hard Disk Controller

•Up to 2 Hard Disk 0 0000

Drives e""'

•Fully Buffered I/O Bus

•Built-in ECC

•Accepts 5 to 20 MB Hard Disk

FC-630 Cabinet

•On-off switch to be on back side •Use FORTRON HSC-130-40 power

supply a a o<

•Good for Faraday u "*

and other compatible level CPU boards.

99.

Monochrome/Graphic/Printer Card CT-6040

•80 x 25 Text Mode (Default)

•720x348 Graphic Mode

•Can Run Lotus 1-2-3

•64K Graphic Display Memory

•18 KHz Monitor and Printer Interface

FC-230 Floppy Disk Controller

•Drives 4 X 5V." FDD 99.°

•IBM fully compatible

FC-530 Monochrome Card

•8 x 25 Screen •9 X 14 Characte: •7x9 Character •TTL Level of, output

159.

FC-730 Multifunction Card, Expandable to 384K

•From 64 to 384K 4Q.Q OO

•1 RS-232C, 1 Cen- J.? r Jl

Ironies Printer (64K °° C"d)

Ports

FC 830 512K RAM Card

•From 64K to 512K •Boundary and Total Memory

169.°°

(64K on Board)

Ml:

FC-930 RS232/Parallel Printer Port Card

Fully IBM Compatible

99.

FC-940 RS232C/Clock Calendar Card

•One RS-232C Port, One Clock Calendar, Battery Back-up

Color/Graphic/Printer Card CT-6020

•RGB Color Port and Parallel

Port For Printer •Light Pen Interface •Graphic Mode:

320 Dots x 200 Lines Color

640 Dots x 200 Lines B/W •Text Mode:

40 Columns X 25 Rows Color / B/W 1QQ OO

80 Columns x 25 Rows Color / B/W ■•»*».

99.

OO

Hard Disk Drives 599.°°

(with cable & controller) mjj MB)

Half Height, Top Brands, 10-32 MB Available

64K DRAM

19.°°/9 pes.

2764 EPROM

4.95/pcs.

8237A-5

8284A

8284C

MC1489

74LS245

6.50 2.90 1.50 0.29 0.65

Check with us for PC/AT Power Supply

SALES 1. Shipping & Handling charge $6.00 mini

TERMS mum. Check with us for actual charges

2. CA add 6.5% tax

3. Restocking charge 15%

4. RMA $ is required for all return merchandise

5. Prices subject to change without notice

Inquiry 169 for Dealers, inquiry 170 for End-Users,

MAY 1985

481

Inquiry I If

aWBl ^^HBl JB OVOTEIIJI The latest CCT imPlementati0n 0f the new

■ ■■■^r Mm NTNI F. IVI generation Intel 16-Bit Processor technology.

K S B ^mATm ^ _ _^ _ _ -^ This means extreme speed, unequaled power,

■^■H^H !'■■ CC D E v and the ultimate in reliability, and of course, the

^^ ^^ H ■ vtrllLv innovators at CCT behind it.

This series in the CCT line exploits the speed and power of the Intel 80286 and Zilog Z-80H (8MHz), on the 286Z CPU board. This combination, along with CompuPro DMA controllers 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 CompuPro: Enclosure 2 Desk (21 slotMF), Disk 1A, System Support 1, Interfaced, the CCT-2.4 floppy drive system, and CP/M 80 and CP/M 86, and with SF-200 surge suppressor system $5,599.00

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 $4,499.00

(Example: CCT-4B Mainframe with CCT-10/1 = $6,548.00) Plus cost of selec,ed 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 instead of Interfacer 4; SF-400 instead of SF-200, plus Concur. DOS 8-16 O.S. (6 user system) $6,199.00

^, (Example: CCT-4C Mainframe with CCT-40/1 = $9,248.00) Plus costof selected drive subsystem

C>l\^VM& Limited Time Offer - FREE Supercalc 86 with any CCT-4

v^* ^>Q^ 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

}QSK WAVE MATE BRINGS MUSCLE TO YOUR IBM PC/XT WITH IT'S 80286 MOTHERBOARD

BULLET 286 makes the XT perform with greater power and speed than the IBM PC/AT

It's the new BULLET-286 motherboard for the IBM PC XT marketplace. This advanced-technology product utilizes the Intel microprocessor 80286 while maintaining both hardware and software compatibility with the IBM PC/XT By simply replacing the existing XT board with our new BULLET-286, you get greater power and speed than the IBM PC-AT Thus, existing PC/XT users can preserve their investment in hardware and software while moving a guantum leap beyond PC-AT performance.

The BULLET-286 contains a 6 megahertz no wait state 80286 microprocessor in place of the XT's 4.77 MHz 8088. There is an 80287 math co-processor option, 8 IBM expansion slots, and enhanced ROM BIOS. The BULLET-286 is equipped with 256K bytes of

memory, expandable to 1 megabyte on-board.

The BULLET-286 is compatible with the IBM PC/XT to a degree far beyond the IBM PC-AT product. Applicar tion programs and operating systems (PC-DOS, CP/ M, UCSD Pascal, Pick, Oasis, Unix-derivitives) available for the XT, can run without incompatibilities on the BULLET-286.

You can order now. The BULLET-286 is available with 256K . RAM. with options to 1 full mega

byte. Prices start at $1,995.

Quantity discounts available. OEM and dealer inquiries welcome.

APOLLO MARKETING

(a division ol Cal Digital)

22048 Sherman Way #316

Canoga Park. CA 91303

Tel: (818) 883-8390 Telex: 194369

In Europe call: Brussels 649-1070

Telex 61828

482 BYTE- MAY I985

Inquiry 32

TOLL-FREE

ORDERING:

800-222-8686

FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT/

SERVICE / IN ARIZONA:

602-282-6299

CCT

®

CUSTOM COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

1 CCT PLAZA — P.O. BOX 4160 — SEDONA, ARIZONA 86340

Purchase your Hardware and Software directly from an OEM / Systems Integrator. Take advantage of our buying power! We stock a full line of Board Level Components, Software and Peripherals. Call for your needs. We'll give you the Lowest Prices, and the Technical Support and Know-How we are guickly 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 •

CCT

©

ompuPro

80286 NOW!

D CCT-286Z is our model designation for the MI-286 dual processor board fromMacrotech. It features the super high speed combination of Z-80H and 80286, with provision for the 80287 math chip. Directly replaces 8085/88 and 8086CPUs running CP/M, MP/M Concurrent DOS, and MS-DOS, at throughput increases of 3X to 5X! SPECIAL PRICE $995 80287 Option - Installed - $395

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 accepts PC & compatable boards and directly connects to your S-100 system, running PC-DOS or Concurrent DOS. Hercules™ Graphics System—Coming this May! !! 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

INDUSTRIAL GRADE SUPERIOR QUALITY

$ PRICE REDUCTION $

CCT DISK DRIVE SYSTEMS

ROLLS R0YCES OF THE INDUSTRY

S-100 HARD DISK SUBSYSTEMS

Professionally engineered ST-506 type systems for the business market S-100 Computer user. Includes industry top quality drives, CompuPro Disk 3 DMA controller, all cabling, A&T, formatted, bumed-in. Provisionsfor up to two 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-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-10/1 $2049

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.Dual8"DSDD FL0PPYSYSTEMS CCT-5.5V4" 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 or floppy. All cabling, A&T,

fastest system available: $1229 Bumed-in. Perfect for our PC-DOS Package ... $399

CCT-8/5 • FULL IBM C0MPATABILITY

One Mitsubishi 8" DSDD (1.2 Meg)/One 544" DSDD (360K) IBM Drive

Both 3ms step rate — For Concurrent DOS and PC DOS $1029

• SUPER PRICES • COMPUPRO COMPONENTS • IN STOCK *

CPU-Z-S229 • Disk 1A-$399 • Disk 1A w/CP/M - $499 • CPU 8086/10 - $349 • SPU-Z-?

CPU 8085/88-$229 • CPU 8086 - $559/10Mhz - $599 • CPU 68K - $519/10Mhz - $639

PC Graphics - $399 • Disk 3-$459 • RAM 22 (256K) - $1179 • RAM23/64K-$309/128K-$599

NEW - M-Drive/H - 512K - $599 / 2 Meg - $2099

Enclosure 2 Desk - $649/Rack - $699 • Intertacer 3 - $499 • Interfacer 4 - $349 • System Support 1 - $329

Concurrent DOS 8-16 (CCTCMX)-$309 • CP/M 80 (CCTHMX) - $125 • CP/M 86 (CCTTMX) - $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 $759 □ CP/M 8-16 - Kit - $783

CCT-1 - ENTRY LEVEL S-100 BUSINESS SYSTEM

• Enclosure 2-Desk-21 Slot Mainframe • CPU 8085/88 - 6Mhz 8085/8Mhz 8088 •

• Disk 1A - DMA Floppy Disk Controller <

• RAM 23 - 64K Static RAM - 12Mhz •

• Interfacer 4 - 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

$3,375

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 well 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 Computer Technology

Inquiry II9

MAY 1985

IYTE 483

Inquiry 206

LOOK NO FURTHER

WEIL BEAT ANY PRICE IN THIS MAGAZINE OR ANY OTHER

64K RAM

SETOF9$-|700

2764-200 $400

27128 S780

2732-200 $350

41256-150

sgoo

8087-3 $17500

27256

S4995

6264LP-15

$1150

27C64 $925

6116P-3

$275

8000

8031 AH

8035

8039

8085AP

8086P

8088

8155

8216

8237A5

8251A

8253C

8255A

750

2" 300

341)

10<5

1000

2?o

Vs

8'«

2?o

270 270

8257P-5 2™ 8259AC-2 2™

8274

8284A

8288

8755

8748

8749

750

295

810 1200

1100

1350

Z-80

Z80BCPU 405 Z80BCTC 4" Z80B-PIU 4"

LINEAR

LM312H 1»o

LM318CN 1"

LM319N 1'0

MCC1330 1"

MCC1349 1™

MCC1350 105

MCC1358 150

MCC1372 6"

CA3023 2"

CA3059 260

CA3060 2«o

CA3081 1"

CA3082 150 74490

230

7400

74S00

74S570 74S571

2?o

270

4516

1'o

7443

7444

7489

7497

74100

74142

74143

74144

74390

74393

|M

24 7 1"

2"

445

2" 1"

12!

74S124 74S132 74S133 74S194 74S195 74S251 74S253 74S280 74S287 74S288

250

pa

1"

,35

1" 1™

170

CMOS

74LS00

4034 4035 4094 4098 4099 4507 4508 4514 4515

1"

76

270 225 175

1"

V5

I"

1 60

74LS145 74LS147 74LS148 74LS154 74LS166 74LS181 74LS189 74LS348 74LS364 74LS674

105

220

1"

165 170 190

800

225

170 860

74HC00

74HC85 1"

74HC154 2"

74HC166 2"

74HC299 4M

74HCT00

74HCT85 1" 74HCT154 2" 74HCT166 2'0 74HCT299 4"

Interactive Components

4401 Atlantic Ave. #219 Long Beach, California 90807 • 213-423-6644 • TELEX 592022

CALL COLLECT.'!/

$100.00 Min. Order—U.S. Funds. California residents add 61/2°/o. Shipping—5% plus $1.50 Insurance. Visa, MC, M.O., Cashier Checks, Preapproved Company Checks. We reserve right to substitute manufacturers. We are not responsible for typographical errors.

HIGH REL

SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES * low cost

SW40W

SW70W

S3&S4

R1 & Ria

ITEM

W x D x H in.

TERMINALS

PRICE

SW40W TERM. & 2 ALPS DRIVES 2.5A - 2/2.5A pk.

SW70W APPLE III". IBM PC-I, II- 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.

SW150 PC WITH HARD DRIVES 12A 3A 4/5A pk.

2.5A

3A 3A ,3A 1.0A 5A

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 10.4 x 5 x 2.5

MOLEX 5051

MOLEX 126-P1

MOLEX 2139

MOLEX. AMP

TERM. BLOCK

$ 54.95

64.95

74.95

129.95

139.95

S3

S4

R1 Ria

c64

SPECS. OF ABOVE SWITCHERS: 117/220 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 $105.95

FOR S-100. 6 SLOTS 4A 1A * 4/5A pk. 8A 2 5A 8 4x5x4.8 SOLDER POST 89.95

2 FLOPPY DRIVES 3A 5A * 3/4A pk. 8 x 4 x 3 4 SOLDER POST 44.95

APPLE II PC 3A 5A 3/4A pk. 5A 8x4x3.4 SOLDER POST 46.95

COMPATIBLE TO COMMODORE C64 (OR C+4)« POWER SUPPLY: +5V/1.7A. 9 VAC/1A & 117 VAC IN. POTTED. U/L & CSA. 19.95

: -24V 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

OEM WELCOME

C64

UNINTERRUPTIBLE A. C. POWER SUPPLY: ups-9ow

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: BATTERY 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 12V 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

1 $330.00 & UPS-200W @ $475.00 EA.

SHIPPING $16.00 EA SIZE 4H x 6W x 9L w

Oft

id

UPS-90W

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.

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

SHIPPING ADDRESS: 22129Vz S. VERMONT AVE. TORRANCE, CA 90502

484 BY'

MAY 1985

Inquiry 38!

Buy your

PC products

direct.

Buy direct from PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS and you'll discover that low prices together with a knowledgeable sales staff can make a surprising difference.

You'll be shocked by the lucrative prices PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS can offer on one of the largest selections of PC products anywhere. But you won't be surprised by our limitless supply of expert advice, support, service and information. After all, you expect these services from your computer supplier.

But did you expect same day insured shipping, complete product warranties (some up to 5 years), and no surcharge on most credit cards? All this combined with over 25,000 square feet of computerized warehouse space assures you prompt and efficient service. Look Us Over and Compare.

Send for PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS Free catalog. You'll find that our catalog prices are discounted even lower than our advertised prices in national magazines. Once you start receiving our FREE catalog, you'll be entitled to free product literature and reviews by prominent industry sources at your request, as well as our monthly PRICE HOT LIST.

MAIL in your coupon TODAY to start receiving PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS monthly PRICE HOT LIST immediately. ORDER TODAY if you're ready to cash in on the savings right away. Call TOLL FREE 1-800-446-7995 for a quote on any of the thousands of PC products you need.

PROGRESSIVE

BY5 ;

\ PROGRESSIVE B^

MICRO

| MICRO

DISTRIBUTORS

I DISTRIBUTORS

□ Please send me your FREE

catalog. |

j □ Please send me your FREE catalog. ]

□ Please send your monthly PRICE HOT LIST.

| □ Please send your monthly PRICE HOT LIST. |

□ Please send me information

on the following: .

i □ Please send me information on the following:

I am a D new-user

□ experienced-user

j lama D new-user □ experienced-user

I am a □ business-user

□ home-user ,

. lama D business-user □ home-user j

Name

■ Name i

Address

1 Address 1

rity State

7ip |

| Hity State 7ip |

j Please clip and mail to:

Please clip and mail to:

7000 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross, GA 30071 j

i 7000 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross, GA 30071 I

Inquiry 330

MAY 1985 -BYTE 485

IS*-*"

I ADVANCED COMPUTER

PRODUCTS, I

1985

MAIL OROER PRICING ONLY

NOW LIQUIDATING GAVILAN COMPUTER CALL FOR GAVILAN 8/16 LINE COMPUTERS) See Below • GAVILAN SPECIALS

• T RAM

. :-. ■ RAM 64K HAM SET

APPLE COMPATIBLE PERIPHERALS

ALS CP7M 3 0 PIUS CARD 5299 00

COE* 16K RAM CARD SALE 39 95

COCX PAR PRINTER CARD -/CABLE 49 95 COEX 60 CCX E'T 64K CARD SALE 99 95 IS PKASO "O ill IM) 139 95

KENNSINGTON SYSTEM SAVER 69 95

KENNSINGTON PC SAVER 39 95

KRAFT JOYSTICK 36 95

MCT SPEED DEMON 24995

MICROSOFT Z-eO SOFTCARD 247 95

GRAPPlER PLUS 9995

EUJFFERED GRAPPLE R GRAPPLER SUPER SERIAL SALE VIDEO 7 RGB IK: lO APPLE IK SERIAL CABLE APPLE lie KEYBOARD apple iwie power Supply APPLE lime OISk CONTROLLER APPLE lt/lte COOLING FAN SYSTEM STREET ECHO II SPEECH SYSTEM TtTAN ACCELERATOR II CARD

M -

49 95 56 95

«9 ■.-.

-. :-p: a

COLUMN C

FARADAY IBM PC

J64K MS DOS Camp,

$299.95

cpu eos'd <

ROCKWELL AIM

■502 Single Bo»'d Compute

$249.00

ast comboplus 64k Sigma majumizer 64k sigma disk controller hard disk controller 10 mb internal hard disk 10 mb external hard disk 15 mb internal hard disk 15 mb external hard disk 60 watt booster supply 130 watt ibm supply pc compatible keyboard ibm pc chassis plantronics colorplus 10 mo int tape streamer persyst mono card paradise mono/color hercules mono card

249 95

695 00 869 00

■■.: . ■■■ 1049 00

99 00 129 95 369 95 1150 00 199 00 409 96

0 GO

ESEMEnmMim

i.'jti-j' ■

ISB310' Z80 Umw CPU B085 CPU 16K CMOS RAM 16K SUM. RAM 16K CMOS RAM ZBO PtO ID m»l,ng

ISB3216 ISB3218 ISB3220 1583330 ISB333I ISB3340 ISB3400

IS8J7O0 ISS3711

IS83720

Un.ye-1* PIO Ocio P"» "*«! Fiopo* Conlfonet SASI iOMAi WIN; In!, TtttC

Oplo lio kipu! SPST Rder OPOT Relay

| ■■■■ u ■ ■ .■■--^, Sync/Async

Unli S.rvAs.r.

REMOACS

12 &t A/0

•a .•--■

■ is K

';. H

-:i ■■■

IB BB

■ ■-, ..... Bfi M -■■• M

149 95

■'i M

■'■■■•

\m ■-.

269 95

AMDEK 300G (GREENj S139 95

AMDEK 300* lAMBERi 149 95

AMDEK 3I0A1I8M AMBER. ' *j *

CALL FOR COLOR I ■ NEW MOOELS

PGS MX 12 IIBM COLORi 469 95

PGSSR 12 IHIRESi 599 95

PGS MAX 12 I IBM GREENi 190 95

PGS OOUBLER BOARD 227 00

TAXAN 420 (HI RES IBM) 399 00

ZENITH 122A'123Q 89 96

ZENITH ZVM13U135 Cell

SANYO 6500 (MEO-HESI 279 00

SANYO 7500 (HI RESl 379 00 SANYO ILOOKALIKEl 12 AMBER SALE 74 95

BIZCOMP PC INTELLIMOOEM IIN1

HAYES 3M4H1M i[.£M '.' C -<"

MAYES SMARTMODEM 12008 HINT|

HAYES SMARTMODEM 300 (EXTl

MICROMOOEM APPLE He

PROMETHEUS I200M (MACINTOSH!

PROMETHEUS 1200 (PC EXT]

NOVATION ACCESS 1-2 3 389 95

CAT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 41995

APPLE COMP LOW COST MODEM (300|499S

S349 95

399 95 209 95 249 95 469 95

■;n.i.i-»'.:n

SEAGATE ST506 5Mb S

SEAGATE ST419 H5Md

SEAGATE (tOMbi ST212

CMI 10. IB, 22Mb

RODIME 10 15 22Mb

SHUGART SA604 |5Mbj

SYOUEST RE MOVE ABLE

CALL FOR QUOTE ON HIGHER CAPACITY HARD DRIVES'

SUPER SAVER

SHUGART SA604 HARD

5Mbsi29D9ssK

MH:i.1:ll'J*l

TEAC55B

MITSUBISHI 4B'_ ■ SHUGART 455 TANDON TMifK 2

■■' DISK DRIVES SHUGART 601R SIEMENS FD0100-S SIEMENS FD02fiO 6 DSOD Mi IS M2894 MITSM2B96 kM TANDON 848E :«' QUME 242 .h.

*. • 95 149 95 124 95

'69 95

$269 95 129 95

439 95 439 95

BB-HHaEEESaM

SV CASE POWER SUPPLY S60 95

6'4 DUAL ',ht w(POWER SUPPLY 79 95

8 DUAL CASE -/POWER SUPPLY 278 95

8 THINLINE DUAL -(POWER SUPPLY 199 95

5'A HARD 01S" * POWER SUPPLY 199 96

5". v, HIGH HARD DiS* 199 95

fijjn.in:rm?m

APPLE 'Idle COMPATIBLE

APPLE ll/lle COMPATIBLE Vt HIGH

MICROSCI APPLE lie DRIVE

APPLE lie ADAPTOR

SI 74 95 164 96 219 95

KEYTHONIC 5150/51 15800/19900

MOUSE SYSTEMS MOUSE W/SW 149 96

OUAOBOARD W/64K 263 00

TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER 499 00

TECMAR CAPTAIN 64K 319 00

CURTIS PC PEDESTAL 39 00

PGS or QUADCHROME ADAPTOR 9 00

TILT and SWIVEL STAND 21 00

SYSTEM STAND 21 00

EXTENSION CABLE IBM MONO 38 00

KEYBOARD EXTENSION CABLE 28 00 SURGE SUPPRESSORS

DIAMOND (LEMONI 39 00

EMERALD (LIMEl 49 00

SAPPHIRE IPEACHI 59 00

RUBY (ORANGE 69 00

COE* 384K MUL TICARU «<OK 169 00

64K STATIC RAMCARO S199.95

WHILE SUPPLY LASTS ALL NEW WITH DOCUMENTATION

• TUART BOARD SALE 99 96

• FRONT PANEL BD IIMSAII SALE 79 95

• 8080 MPU BOARD SALE 49 95

• 8 FLOPPY CONTROLLER (Mo"0*l 149 95

• S 100 EXTENDER CARD 24 95

ELE2H-EJ

».n:nni.uii.imn

PNZ222J

PN2369A

PN918

2N2216A

2N221M

2N2905 2N2907 2N3G55 2N3565

2N3638 2N3772

'i

DO

-■■

00

4"

45

=

24

s*

.

00

-:•

IMBQf

TIP29A TIP30A TIP31A TIP32A

1N75I

MCT

MCT-66 MCA25S

4N26 •:'., ' 4N26

MPQ2232

mammm

i 59 -N33 1 39 4N35 65 4N37

4N38

I^J'.V.Iil

■ »AMli:L',l[:mil];H

,P(Maiei Hood 51 25

SlFenwiei P (Male,

iDC 36 'OC 36 lOMei

2 40 2 MTg HW S 99

55 95 S6

5 25 5 Mig HW S 99

56 9S S8

IMale> 6 00 5

HMD S3 25 Mtg H/W S 99

(OTHER STYLES IN CATALOG. CENTRONICS

se

Piri Fem4ie 9

36Ptn MM 7

36 Pm FemWe 8 iCALL TOLL FREE FOR IDC'l)

RTAH t 99 1

8 PinST/LP S 13 S

MACHINED

HIGH

RELIABILITY

SOCKET

SALE

CALL FOR

I SPECIAL

RATES

18 P" ST/LP 20 Pw ST/LP 22 Pm ST1P

24 P." ST/LP 28 Pin ST/LP 36 Pin ST/LP 40 Pin ST/LP 64 Pin ST/LP

WIREWRAP (GOL0|

.48 95

6810

S 2 85

6850

% 3 25

69 95

6620

3 7S

6652

5 65

290

8621

Z H

6860

'90

r ra

8628

1450

0876

a re

'8 95

6840

12 75

stag

ELK

'450

6845

1495

6502 S4 50

8502A 6 90 I 6507

65028 9 50 I 6520

8086 24 SO

■ -- ;icc

bibs

■:,:■. B203 92XK

8216

1 95

8271

8224

220

6275

>n, i ■:-.

1 85

8279

astB

340

8262

Bi ■■

14 75

8283

8237 5

18 96

8284

azaa

4 25

82B6

B243

6287

azeo

to SO

8288

B251

8289

8251A

6 95

8292

8253

6 75

6741

8255

4 25

8746

8255A

8 96

6749

B287

5 75

8756A

■ ■■■ a rt

■ .-■ a 28 a ao

■: 48

12 96

. ' '-■■

H If!

H N

.'4 H

nn:m:tiiHiMa

..P0765S24 95

i ?93 ?6 50

IBS | 8275 (2850 I TMS9918

'95 7220 39 95 8350

50 5027 (7 95 B545

;75 I 5037 2195 I 8O02

■ IIH MlllliM

i702limSi 2 708 l450»Sl 2758 (6V) 2"6 l*50nSl 2716 l350nSi 2516 (5Vi TMS2716 TMS2532 2732 (450nSi 2732 l250nSl 2732 (200nSl

CMOS

3.01

2732A 4 J450fiSt

% gU

set

2732A l250nSi

B :.-.

BBC

2732A 2 <200nS>

13 90

3 7'.

2764 (460nSl

B 90

5 50

276* (250r.Si

7 50

5 il

2764 i20Oi>Si

17 50

7 50

TMS2564 (45CYISI

13 as

•■

MCM68764 i4SOnS

^ M

480

MCM68766 l350nS

v, ..

a 23

27128 3(3O0nSl

, at

27128 (250nSi

.'.■ at

BBBana

2101 (450nSl 21L02 l450nSi 2102-1 (450nSl 21L02 2 (250nSj 2111|450nS| 2112 (450nSI 2114 l450nSI 2114L-4 [450n| 1 2M4L-3 I3COM 1 2114L2 I200n| 1 2147(55nSI 4044 4 (450nSl 4044-3 l300r>SI 4044-2 |200nSl UPD410 IIQOnSI 5101 (CMOSl

i,-- nn,- mi 79 8/13 30 ., ,» 1 •

MK4t'B 54 9'

TMM20162 (200nSl4 II TMM2016 15 H50nj4 9' TMM2016 1 HOOnSIA 11 HM6116P4 [200nS|4 7' HM6116P3 H60nS)49! HM6116P-2 ()20nS)8 8! HM6116LP-4 [LP) 5 91 HM8I1BLP3 1LP1 H 7: HM6116LP 2 ILPl 99: Z«132l300nSl 32 9:

HM6264P 15 HS0I33 9 HM6264LP 15 ILPl 36 9! 74Sl69(36r>Sj 1 8:

93425 iSOnS] 3 B<

■•HiMiMHiWi'.H

12? (250nSi 51 29

03 !300nSl 79

I6N-2 (l50nSi 1 80 8''3 95 t6N-3(200nSi l 65 8"2 50 16N4 (250nSi 1 *6 8/10 60 64N-150 (I50ni5 95 9/29 95 64N 200 <20On|4 95 9'24 96 6«N-i20(120nSl 8 49

MS4164 H50nSl 5 95

TMS44 16 (160nSl 59 T\

41256 150 M50ni 17 9

41256 200(200") 15 9'

TMS4O50 OOOnSl 1 ft

TMS4060 OOOnSl 1 ft

MM5280 (30OnS) 1 8'

UPD41 1 i3O0nSi 1 ft

MM529B '250n5> 1 8'

GAVILAN SPECIALS

8 w 16 LINE COMPUTERS 16 LINE By 80 LCD DISPLAY 8 LINE BY 80 LCD DISPLAY THERMAL PRINTER MEO GAVILAN/1BM KEYBOARDS 8W 1 II THERMAL PAPER 1500 s PASCAL SOFTWARE WMANUAL 12V N.-CAD BATTERY PACK 20 MHj CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR

SUPER SAVER

IBM PC

s899

HI-TECH SPECIALS

AMD7910

s299

I.TWWMIIHHM'l

ADC0B00 514 9 A0C0804 3 4 DACO806 ' 9 ADC0809 4 4 4DC0816 14 2

DAC0808 2 85 DAC100

DAC1020 7 95 DAC06

DAC1022 5 85 I DAC01

LF353N 1 99 LF13201N

Corporate Buyers ... Call For Volume Quotes!

lM'OBAh

S3 95

NE590

S2 45

LM3909

LM300H

99

NE592

2 70

LM3914

LM30IN

38

LM70BN

58

LM39I5

LM304H

' --.

LM709H

1 90

LM3916

LM305H

;■=.

LM710

68

MC402*

LM306H

4 75

LM711

75

MC4044

LM307N

40

LM715

395

RC4131

LM306CN

65

LM723N

55

RC4136

LM310CN

' ^

LM723H

75

RC4151

LM3HCN

63

LM733

■-

CA3023

LM312H

■ ?*

LM739

)86

CA3039

LM318CN

1 45

LM741CN

CA3046

LM318H

■ SS

LM741H

40

CA3059

LM319N

LM741N

29

CA3060

LM320 (M

VRsi

LM747

CA3066

LM324N

55

LM748

H

CA30B0

LM339N

95

LM1014

1 15

CA308I

LM34C ise.

vflsj

LM1303

- .-,.■

CA3082

LM348N

95

LM1310

1 45

CA3083

LM358CN

66

MCI 330

■ as

CA30B6

LM3S9

1 75

MCI 349

- -..

CA3069

LM360N

,. as

MCI 350

1 15

CA3096

LM370N

MC13S8

- H

CA3130

LM373N

395

MC1372

6 75

CA3140

LM376N

375

LM1414

CA314B

LM377N

' BO

LM1558H

3 M

CA3180

LM380CN

85

LM1800

235

LM 13080

LM380N

■ QS

LM18I2

8 10

LM 13600

LM361N

LMI630

3 40

LM 13700

LM382N

■ K

LM1871

5 45

LF347

LM383N

1 95

LM1872

5 45

LF351

LM364N

LM1877

"> 2L

LF353

LM386N

LM1889

1 90

LF355

LM387N

LM1896

1 70

LF356

LM389N

■ •-,

ULN2001

1 95

LF357

LM392N

69

ULN2003

1 49

TL071CP

LM723N

48

XR2206

3 75

TL072CP

LM723H

55

XR2207

. ■!■

TL074CN

NE531

2 85

"H2208

2 40

TL081CP

NE555

35

XR22I1

3 75

TL084CN

NE5S6

65

LM2877P

i M

TL4B4

NE5S8

1 49

LM2878P

TL496

NE561

23 50

LM2900

S3

TL497

NE564

2 85

LM2901

-.

MC3423

LM565

95

LM2903

■■>

MC3453

LM566

1 45

LM2907

2 45

MC3456

LMS67

85

LM2917

2 85

MC3459

N( S "

3 85

LM3900

55

MC3469

nex n

. ■-.'■

• M3905

MC3470

KESmMSSSSSESa

69

8 12 15 24

12 16 24V

7BL05 12 15V

85

79L05 12 '5

?8M06C

89

LM309K

78MG/79MG

1 49

LM317H/K

78H05KC

a 75

LM323K

7B05K Also

1

29

LM337K

12 15 24V

LM338K

1.39

79 :■:-;:.

MMWM»aii:ia.M»wiiia.-i

MCI44U Sii 60

BR1941 1160

34702 12 50

5016 14 95

8"6 1050

5307 10 50

MC4D24 3 75

8C3B 3 75

B MO 1 --.

58167 12 25

SP10O0 Speetn

58174 S

6832

AY52376

AY536O0

2513-001U

25 1 3002L

UP07201

3341

HC90

KM P8477

-. |8i 76489 AY38910 AY36912 SSi 263

Otg.H*ef LM13600N 5V UART

S 9 25 3 75

i n 1 ra

36 95

. .

34 95

DISKETTES

IBM PC

DS/DD HuD Rings Tyvac Cover Major Mfgr

$1 .1 9ea/t000 $1 .35ea/2S0 $1 .55ea/25

5%" DISKETTES

VERBATIM c,2"i0i SS/DD

verbatim =51,01 ds/do maxell md i ss/dd maxell mo 2 ds/dd dysan 104,10 ss/dd dysan 104/2d ds/dd generic ss/ss generic ds/dd 3'/, diskettes (mac 8»" head cleaning i 8 head Cleaning kit oymec ibm pc diagnostic apple ii diagnostic disk macintosh diskette holder v. diskette holder 150)

■LamMd.'li'.HiU-liM 64K UPGRADE [SB of 9 $24.95 256K RAMS 256K<i $15.95 W.MI*gW4*W.l=l1*«

IBM PARALLEL

IBM SERIAL iSnieWWi

KEYBOARD EXTENSION

S29 95 24 96 995

SPECIALS OF THE MONTH

8087 - 80287 SALE

Call

AB PRINTER SWITCHBOX (Parallell S69 95

TELEDATA MODEM VIC 20/64

42 95

APPLE lie KEYBOARD

49 95

IBM COMPATIBLE KEYBOARD

99 95

POTTER POWERUNE MODULE

599

CALL FOR DEC RAINBOW BLOW-OUT

NEC8201 PORTABLE

369 95

NEC8027 PORTABLE PRINTER

369 95

ZENITH Z151PC COMPUTERSALE

199500

IBM PC. 256K 2 w/DRIVES

1795 00

IBM PORTABLE

1850 00

COMPAQ PORTABLE

2195 00

800-854-8230

TWX

910-595-1565

74123$ 45

74125

42

Will •

7418a

4~

7413!

u

F41 N

ra

74141

>!"

74142

-■ I'

74143

3 ra

74144

2 M

74145

BO

74147

- 4 .

74148

■ 19

74150

• r*.

74151

aa

'4 ie g

67

74153

■>-)

74154

' '

~4'T;

89

74166

aa

74157

■:■.

1*4158

■ /)

.-4-?.J

1 B8

74160

■'■

74161

•V

'J'r .

■■•

74163

■■■■

r418M

89

ta tea

aa

74166

aa

74167

. "

74170

74172

4 75

74173

74174

.,-.

74175

<,:<

74LSOO i

74LS01

74LS02

74LS03

74LS04

74LS05

74LS08

74LS09

74LS10

74LS11

74LS12

74LSI3

74LS14

74LS15

74LS20

74LS2I

74LS22

74LS26

74LS27

74LS28

74LS30

74LS32

74LS33

74LS3T

74LS38

74LS40

74LS42

74LS47

74LS48

74LS51

74LS54

74LS55

74LS73

74LS74

74LS75

74LS76

74LS78

74LS83

74LS85

74LS66

74LS90

74LS92

74LS93

74LS95

74LS96

74LS107

74LS109

74LS112

4007

.: ■/>. ,1 .■ ,

74LS113 74LS114 74LS122 74LS123 74LS124 74LS125 74LS126 74LS132 74LS136 74LS136 74LS139 74LS145 74LS148 74LS151 74LS153 74LS1S4 74LS155 74LS156 74LS157 74LS168 74LS160 74LS161 74LS162 74LSI63 74LS164 74LS165 74LS166 74LS168 74LS169 74LS170 74LS173 74LS174 74LS175 74LS18' 74LS190 74LS191 74LS192 74LS193 74LS194 74LS195 74LS196 74LS197 74LS221 74LS240 74LS242 74LS243 74LS244 74LS245

4018

40%

J . ' I0ZJ

wa ■

8024

wee

4027

4032 4034 4035 4037

■\ .1.

4043 85

4044 69

4046 80

4047 89

4048 99

4049 35

4050 34

4051 75

4052 75

4053 75 4055 3 95 4066 2 95

4059 S

7 90

j soa

4060

nn

4506

.1 ,:.■>

4507

4069

,"

4508

4070

35

4510

4071

BR

4611

4072

28

4512

-■■■: ■

28

4514

4075

?B

4515

4076

n

•sie

4077

36

4516

4 .'-.

35

4520

4081

ZO

4082

n

4556

4 -■

95

4-.. ■

4088

95

80C95

4 •_ ■- ;

46

60C97

4094

2 95

MCI4408

^ -

■ *:

MC14409

4 - .

1 85

MC14410

4501

as

MC1441I

it,::

95

MC14412

4503

49

MC14419

1295 i: BQ

995

CALL FOB 74HC

tM-:-riJiH,',ni

74SOOS35

74S74 $55

74S02

•'

74S85

'

74S03

■a',

74S86

-:"

74S04

46

74S112

-

74S06

74SH3

56

74S06

>■■

74S114

1

74S09

v.

74S1242 69

74*10

'-.

74S132

:.,

74811

15

74S133

4-:

74S15

38

74S134

=.u

74S20

36

74S135

'■■

74S22

35

74SI36

ih

r49""".

n

74S138

-u

74S32

46

74S139

qq

74S38

-

74S140

ru

74S40

39

74S151

-

74S81

m

74S153

^

74S64

74S1S7

...

74S8S

as

74S158

S>"

74S180

: 4^

74S161

■ aa

74S174

* Ifl

74SI75

1 IB

74S188'

74S194

* 4^

74S196

• .:

74S196

■ j--,

74S240

| BB

74S241

1 -11

74S242

■ -,..

74S243

74S244

■ ,:

74S251

■ tg

74S253

■ 10

74S257

■ 1^

74S258

1 19

74S260S' 74S2B0 ' 74S2B7- '

74S288'

745373 i

745374 ; 74S387745471-i 74S472-. 74S473-. 74S474*74S4/5-■ 74S570*; 74S571-: 74S572-. 74S573'■

745940 :

745941 :

74C0013S

74C02

n

74C04

74C08

M

74C10

30

CALL FOR 74HC

74C74 S65 I 74C161S1 15 t 74C373S2 36 74C85 1 89 74C175 1 15 74C374 2 35 74C90 1 IS 74C240 1 69 74C901 59 74C93 115 1 74C244 I 69 I 74C922 4 45 MORE 74C IN STOCK - ALSO IN CATALOG

Mail Older: P.O. Bra 17329 Irvine. CA 92713

Retail: 1310B E. Edinger. Santa Ana, CA 9270S

(714) 558-8813

D s over S500 require JO", depnsil Willi oidei idling tor UPS We oiler, uineday snipinvnt witdout nonce We icserve \tv ngni !o subare 110I responsibk: Iqi typograpfiirji enors Retail Sale Price* Ma» Vanj

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 rate of greater than 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 advertising, snazzier packaging or simply higher profits.

But the extra 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 5V 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 manufacture 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 5%" 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'A" diskettes Beige or Grey only.

$1.65 ea. + .20 Shpng.

DISKETTE 70 STORAGE

Dust-free storage for 70 5V<" diskettes. Six dividers included An excellent value . $11.95 ea. ■ $3.00 Shpng.

HOURS:

Human: 8AM-6PM Central Time, Monday through Friday

Answering Machine: 6PM-8AM, All Times

MCI MAIL: 24 hours a day.

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 for years.. .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 advertising 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, computer manufacturers and other folks who (in turn) put their name on them. ..and sell them for much higher prices to you!

After all, when a software publisher or computer manufacturer 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 copyprotecting 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 OISKWORLD. It's a FREE MCI MAIL letter. No charge to you. (Situation permitting, we'll ship these orders in 24 hours or less.)

SHIPPING: 514* & 3'A" DISKETTES—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 COO ORDERS: 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 snip only to United States addresses, except for those listed above. TAXES: Illinois residents, add 8%

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 PagoPago 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 or two or more of Super Star diskettes 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. -i- $2.00 Shpng.

The Super Star LIFETIME WARRANTY!

Super Star Diskettes are unconditionally warranted against defects in original material and workmanship so long as owned by the original purchaser. Returns are simple: just send the defective diskettes with proof of purchase, postage-paid by you with a short explanation of the problem, and we'll send you the replacements. (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 I35

MAY 1985 -BYTE 487

"BASF

DISKETTES

BASF Diskettes at competitive price. Call TOLL FREE (800) 235-4137 for prices and information. Visa and Master Card accepted.

PACIFIC EXCHANGES

Kill Foothill Bkd San Luis Obispo CA <M4<>1 [InCal call (HOSi 543-1037 I

Inquiry 310

INVENTORY REDUCTION

COLOR TERMINALS INTECOLOR 2405

• 8 COLORS THIN LINE GRAPHICS

• ANSI 3.64 PROTOCOL

• PROGRAMMABLE FUNCTION KEYS

NEW IN CARTONS WITH MANUALS LIST $1695 NOW $995

Includes Installation Instructions For Use With Wordstar § & Newword s

INTEX M1CR0V0X TEXT-TO-SPEECH

SYNTHESIZER LIST $349

NOW $299

THE COMPUTER GROUP

12156 LACKLAND ROAD ST. LOUIS, MO. 63146

M PC/XT USERS!

#

COGTREE Utilities by

Cogitate

SI29.95

a

LYNC by Norton-Lamber. . .

S199.95

§

DATAFLEX by Data Access.

Varies

#

RM/COBOL by Ryan/

McFarland

Varies

M

Universe by Omnitrend. . .

S 98.50

#

Blue Mad by Cogitate. . . .

S599.00

#

CadPower + by Trilex

$995.00

#

Softext Teaching Aids

S 95.00

M

PnntSet by Cogitate

S 79.95

M

CogiTAPE by Cogitate

CALL!!

1

Anti-Static Products

Varies

1

Uninterruptible Power

Backups

Varies

r

TeleVideo Software

EEfNE

CALL!!

A Higher Form of Softwa

re"

24000 Telegraph Road

Soi.thfleld. Ml 48034

(313) 3S2-2345/Telex 386581

VISA/MASTERCARD ACCEPTED

Dealer Inquiries Welcomed

Inquiry 77

NEW BUS

FOR DATA ACQUISITION & CONTROL

tor IBM PC.

XT. AT &

Apple II. -.- a^V; * fiT,*in Stf'VJl*

The Local Applications Bus. LAB40. is a versatile computer to peripheral interface and a product development system. It is optimized for connecting directly to micro-processor compatible I.C.s & hybrids. Applications: data acquisition, robotics, instrumentation, control, conventional peripherals Capabilities: access up to 64 sixteen bit ports, 8 interrupts. DMA speeds, more. Presently available Applications modules include 8 & 12 bit high speed A/D w/programmable gain Prices for the LAB 40 developers kit (circuit, software & manual) start at $200.

(omputer, ^ ontinuum

Daly City. CA 9401 5 (4151755-1978

16 USERS ON YOUR IBM PC.

TurboSlave- P.C.

8 MHZ Z-BOH

•

FASTEST CPM

12BK RAM

COPROCESSOR

2 ftS 232 PORTS

•

16 TuilfloSlAVES PER PC

MULTIPROCESSOR

•

CPM-RO COMPATIBLE

ARCHITECTURE

•

TRUE MULTI-USER

PC. COMPATIBLE

.

10* COST- 1495 RETAIL

TurboSlave p.c turns your i.b.m into a multi-user multiprocessor SUPER MICRO ONE TuRBOSlAVE CAN BE USED AS A SIMPLE CPM COPROCESSOR BY ADDING THE TuRBoDOS OPERATING SYSTEM. UP TO 16 TuRBoSlAVE PCS CAN BE ADDED, EACH SUPPORTING ONE USER ON A STANDARD TERMINAL ALL CPM 2.2 PROGRAMS AND MOST MULTI-USER MPM APPLICATIONS CAN BE RUN

under Turbo DOS. true record locking and print spooling

ARE FULLY SUPPORTED

EARTH COMPUTERS

' BuiKtmg Blocks For me Supm Mico

TELEX 9109976120 EARTH FV

PO BOX 6067 • FOUNTAIN VALLEY CA 927?8

OIL |7I»| 111-5714

* FULL LINE OF S-100 TURBODOS PRODUCTS AVAILABLE *

REGISTERED TRADEMARKS Z80H 7IL0G INC TURBODOS SOFTWARE 2000 INC

Inquiry 146

u/TAPE WORLD

1-800-245-6000

I Dyson

maxell.

II s Worth II

M0 1 SV.SSOD 159 104/1D 5'.' SSOD 189

MD-! 5'., DSDD 219 104/20 5'. . DSOD 2 69

FD-1 8". SSDD 2.69 3740/1D 8". SSDD 2 69

FD 2 8". DSDO 3.29 3740/2D 8". DSDD 3 29

MF 1 3>/>". MICRO 2.99 MfMflRF*

MD2-HD 5V.DSHD ,99 „, .J™0™ ,„

BASF 5M" DSDD 1 99

5'. SSDD 134 SCOTCH

5', DSDD 154 5,..SSDD

VERBATIM 5. dsdd 199

sm ssdd 169 ELEPHANT

5', DSDD 2 39 ^.^ , „

5-.' DSDD 2 19

WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE BY 3%

Factory Sealed Shipping 3.75 any size order.

Pre-paid. COD. or credit card. COD add 1.95

SCHOOLS & GOVT. ON PO.

Also. TDK. and Maxell audio and video cassettes.

220 SPRING ST. BOX 361 BUTLER, PA 16001

412-283-8621 M-Fri. 8:30-5:00

Inquiry 97

Inquiry 387

One-of-A-kind Data Management Program Developed Especially

for You. ^$175.00

STOP thinking about any othet progtams STOP worrying about custom programming START saving lime and money START being your own MASTER

Californi

(800)423-0320

ou.slcie(800)482-DATA

C.D.A. INTERNATIONAL SOFTWARE CORP.

(818) 986-3233 Telex: 215666

M" PC XT AT Compatible

pizpipeunei]

31 I I "O

4164-120 150 200 l29l

■128K-150 200torAT 995

256K-150 599

'Teac halt-height for AT 119°°

'20 Mb Hard disk tor AT 695°o

8087-3 119°°

Apple Drives — half heights 124oo

Tandon/CDC full height drives 109oo

'CDC^Teac half height drives 109°o

Micro Science 20 Mb kit for PC/XT 839°o

10 Mb Hard Disk System 649oo

20-100 Mb Hard Disk Drives Lowest Prices/Call Everex Magic Card 0-384 expansion . 179oo Everex Magic Card w 384K RAM populated 25900 'Everex Graphic Edge Color Cards 33900

'Drive Installation Kits Call

Add $3 95 sr-pomg to all oners • Pr ces soD.eci lo orange • PC s on apD'ovai 'COD OK • All new no surplus nc seconds QUANTITY DISCOUNTS • Corporate accounts .nuleo 3310 West Main St Tampa. FL 33607 In FL and tor into call 813-875-0299 FOR ORDERS ONLY, 800-237-8910

TELEX 330690 FAX LINE: 813-876-7194

^SLS) ■_•_

Super Tools by Paragon Courseware

Tools for Turbo PascatTM on the IBMTM pc

Window Management ~ menus, help files .

• Unlimited windows • Window overlay & recall

• Cursor save & jump • Access all colors & chars

• Window Compiler/Librarian manages window files Graphics Drawing - HiRes plotting power!

• Ellipses, polygons, etc. • Region fill and clear String Formula Evaluator = easy calculation

• 22 functions with nesting and implicit multiplication

• Won't bomb on overflow or division by zero System Check and Control - max flexibility!

• Time & date access • Get disk types & room

• Get & set default drive • 1/0 information

All this for only $39.95* . . Incredible! You get 321K of source code on a double-sided disk and a 35 page manual. For single-sided drives add $2 Works with DOS 2.0, Turbo 2.0. 'Please include $2 for postage and handling ($4 if outside of USA). Cahfornians add 6°c MCA/ISA

Paragon Courseware

4954 Sun Valley Road

Del Mar. CA 92014

(619)481-1477

Super Tools is a trademark of Paragon Courseware

Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International

IBM is a trademark of the IBM Corporation

Inquiry 67

Inquiry 316

Inquiry 3I5

• PRICE WAR • cub LAST

PRINTERS

EPSON FX-80 + $399 FX-100+ $599 LQ-1500 Parallel $1099 Serial $1199

JX-80 160 cps, rJot-matrix/7 color graphics $569

HI-80 4 Pen Plotter $469

LX-80 draft (100 cps) & NLQ modes $299

OKIDATA 92P/92-IBM $359

93-P/93-IBM $569 84-P/84-IBM $679

OKIMATE 20-IBM Parallel with Plug & Print $219

182-IBM Parallel Personal Printer $239

92 Tractor $70 84 Sheet Feeder $390

TOSHIBA 1340P (80 column) $599

TOSHIBA 1351P (132 column) $1169

Tractor $170 Font Disk for 13S1 $50

JUKI 6100 (18 cps), 13" wide $379

JUKI 6300 (40 cps), 16" wide $699

Tractor 6100/6300 $130/$140

BROTHER HR-1S XL (20 CPS) $359

HR-15 Tractor/Keyboard/Sheet Fdr . $110/$160/$190 HR-25 (23 CPS) .. $589 HR-35 (36 CPS) $789

Tractor/Sheet Feeder for HR-25/35 $120/$200

M-1009 Dot Matrix • 9 pin, 50 cps $199

2024L LQ/Grophics - 24 pin, 160/80 cps $999

2024L Cutsheet Feeders - Narrow $220 Wide $290

C. ITOH8S10-BPI $319 8510-SEP $389

8S10-SCEP $449 15S0-EP $439

1550-P $449 15S0-SEP $539

Y10-20-P $429 A10-30-P $479

F-10-40-P $869 F-10-S5-P $1069

QUME LETTERPRO 20P 20 cps $429

20P Tractor/Sheet Feeder $140/$380

SPRINT 1140 + $1299 SPRINT 1155+ $1499 INTERFACE MODULES Centronics/Serial/IBM Par $80 SPRINT Tractor/Sheet Feeder $ 210/$690

PANASONIC KX-P1090 KX-P1091 $279 KX-P1092 $4

$229

19 KX-P1093 $649

STARMICRONICSNEW 10" & 15" MODELS

SG-10/15 120CPS $249/$409

SD-10/1S 160CPS $369/$489

SR-10/15 200 CPS $529/$649

NECP-2 $649 P-3 $899

NEW ELF 360 (19 CPS) $449

2050 $669 3550 .. $1299 8850 $1699 Spinwriter Tractor/Sheet Feeder $190/$790

DIABLO 630 EG/IBM $ 1799 630 API $ 1599 Advantage D-25 $549 620 API $729

DATA PRODUCTS Makers of IBM color printer

SPG 8051 (Same as IBM Color Printer) $1399

SPG 8071 (Same as 8051 at twice the speed) $1799

DISPLAY CARDS

EVEREX Graphics Edge Best Price Ever

AST Monograph Plus w/clock, Par & Ser Ports $399

PERSYSTBoB Board $449

Short-Port Color $169 Mini-Mono CALL

Color Combo: Multifunction & Color Adapter from $349

Mono Combo: Multifunction & Mono Adapter . from $349

MYLEX Chairman

$439

PARADISE Modular Brd $269 Modules CALL

INTELLIGENT B-450 Mono/Color/printer

$249

TECMAR Graphics Master w/PC Paintbrush $459

HERCULES MonoGraphics $299 Color $159

GENOA Spectrum

CALL

IBM Color Card $229 Generic

$129

QU ADRAM QuadColor I or II $ 199 Both $390

COMPU

EXCLUSIVELY FOR IBM PC

CALL FOR LATEST SYSTEM PRICES

FLOPPY/HARD DISKS

TEAC Half Ht FD 55B - DSDD $109

(Warranteed for IBM PC only) 10+ $105

TANDON 100-2 Full Ht-DSDD

$119

IBM Full Ht-DSDD

$159

HARD DISKS/BACKUP for IBM PC

10 MB HD Int $599 10 MB HD Ext $799

20 MB HD Int $999 20 MB HD Ext $1199 10 MB Tape Backup $599 Larger Backup CALL

TALL GRASS NEW PC/T FORMAT DRIVES/BACKUP 25 MB w/60 MB ... $2799 35 MB w/45 MB ... $3599 50 MB w/60 MB $4399 80 MB w/60 MB $5999 Controller $140 Cortridge(60 MB) $35

QUBIE 10/20 MB Internal or External CALL

All Oubie Hard Drives include 1 Dir software

MA YN ARD1 OMB/WS-l $899 10MB/WS-2$1069 20MB/WS-1 $1149 20MB/WS-2 $1319

30MB/WS-1 $1899 30MB/WS-2 $2079

GeminiWS-1 $1029 GeminiWS-2 $1169

The "Gemini" includes 10M8 Hard Disk & Half Ht. floppy MaynStream - System 27 $1299 Cartridge 450 $35 MaynStream System 60 $ 1349 Cartridge 600 $50

EVEREX 10MB Int $649 20 MB Int $999

EXCEL 4500-PC Internal 45MB Tape Backup $949

EXCEL 4500 External 45MB Tape Backup $999

IRWIN MAGNETICS

10 MB Internal Tape Backup $569

10 MB External Tape Backup CALL

• SUPER SPECIALS*

E

OOO + SINGH ORDER ENTITLES YOU TO THESE SPECIAL PRICES

EPSONFX-80+ $389 FX-100+ $579

OKIDATA 92P/93P/84P

. $349/$559/$669

BROTHER HR-15/25/35

PGSHX-12

$349/$569/$769 $439

HAYES 120OB w/sft .. $349 1200 Ext . $379

PROMETHEUS PROMODEM 1200 Ext

$279

NOVATION SmartCat w/sft - Int or Ext $359

WITH YOUR BEST QUOTES

MODEMS

MICROCOM ERA-2 Int. w/sft

.$339

HAYES 1200 B Internal w/software

1200 Standalone w/o software

NEW 2400 Baud Ext

$359 $389 CALL

POPCOMC-lOO/X-100

. Special Low Prices

PROMETHEUS PROMODEM 1200 Ext PROMODEM 1200 B Internal w/software

$289 $259

NOVATION SmartCat w/sft Int or Ext

$369

ANCHOR Signalman MK XII

$229

Ven-Tel Half Card w/Crosstalk XVI 1200 Plus External w/o software

$359 $329

MONITORS

PGSMAX-12E SR-12

CALL $599

HX-12 $449

HX-12E CALL

TAX AN COMPOSIT 115 Green/116 Amber $139

MONO 121 Green/122 Amber (1000x360) $159

COLOR 411 (510x260) $349 425 (640x262) $449

COLOR 440 (720x400) $549 W/Persvst BoB Brd $969

S AK AT A SG 1000 Green Composit $ 119

COLOR MONITORS CALL

AMDEK 300G/300A/310A (M) $ 139/$ 149/CALL COLOR600(640x240) $429 710(720x480) $539

QU ADRAM AMBERCHROME (720x350) CALL QUADCHROMEII (640x240) Color Graphics & Text $429

SAMSUNG Mono-Green/Amber

$129

ROLANDMB-142 14 "MonoB/W. CALL

MULTI-FUNCTION CARDS

ASTSIXPAKw/64k . . $249 Exp to 384k

$379

QUADBOARDO-k $219 Exp to 384k $369

ORCHID Blossom 0-k $189 Exp to 384k $339

BT 6 PLUS w/64k $219 Exp to 384k

$349

IDSB-512 0-k $199 Exp to 512k $389

P/S/G/ Ports, Clock/Col, disk emulation & Sockets for 512k

PARADISE 5 Pock 0 k $159 Exp to 384k $309

TECMAR Captain 0-k $199 Exp to 384k $349

TALLTREEJRAMO-k $129 Expto512k $319

MISC. ADD ONS

64KRAMSet $20 10+ Sets $18 50+ $17

8087-3 Math Chip for IBM PC

CALL

ORCHID PCrurbo 186 (128k to 640k)

Best Prices

ANCHOR SianalmanMK XII

$219

TECMAR Graphics Master w/PC Paintbrush $449

HERCULESMonoGraphks $289 Color ..$149

COMPANY POLICY: Mm order $100. Prices & availability subject to change. We ship UPS only. Shipping/handling charges vary. COD requires cashiers check. All returns must be authorized in 10 days & are subject to 20% restocking fee (Mm $50). Defective merchandise covered under ODpropriote warranty. Non-detective items returned as defective subject to 10% service charge (Mki. $50). No refunds, only Compumotl credit issued. Not responsible for hardware or software compatibility of any product. Call for return rxrrhorization # for repairs/returns. No open aoct. PO's or foreign orders. For advance payment (personal/company checks take 3 weeks to dear) or PICKUP Please call first for workoraV #.

AMERICAN EXPRESS

NO SURCHARGE ON COD, VISA or MC

QU ADRAM QUADsprint

$499

CABLE Parallel, 6 ft Keyboard Extension, 6 ft.

$20 Parallel, 10 ft. $10 Serial, 6 ft.

$25 $25

MAXELL MD-1SSDD Box (10 per box) MD-2 DSDD Box

$20 10+ Boxes $17 $25 10+ Boxes $22

IBM Floppy Controller $119 Generic $79

IBM's original PC Keyboard CALL

QUBIE Keyboard 5150 $119 5151

$149

KEYTRONIC Deluxe Keyboard KB 5151 $159

QUADRAM Microfazer 8k to 384k

CALL

COMPUTER ACCESSORIES P2 (5) $109 POWER DIRECTOR P22 (4) $79 PI 2 (6) .... $149

KENSINOTON Master Piece (5 Outlets) $109

PC Keyboard Storage Drawer $89

STANDBY PWR SUPPLY w/surge protection

200 Watts $299 300 Watts $399 800 Watts $799

KOALA Touch Tablet w/softwore $89

EPD Surge Protectors

CALL

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 #B797

MAY 198 5

t Y T E 489

n..v.M...rrr.? i it irjMii fin iin -iniu

For the IBM PC. XT AT PC|r 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 ol customersincluding GE. Dow Raytheon Westmghouse and Stanford University —prefer our products

• Complete keyboard and screen emulation w/lme graphics [optional 132-columns]

• Guaranteed compatibility with all DEC applications including EOT. WORD-11, ALL-IN-ONE DEC-CALC. UNIX vi

• New DOS shell key ten programmable SOttkeys plus full DOS 2 X-3 X path nam.

1

*6440 Flying Cloud Dr BWIWHBJ

Minneapolis. MN 55344 (612) 9440593

dBASE II USERS

INCREASE DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTIVITY AND PROCESSING THROUGHPUT WITH

dTOOLKIT

CONTAINING MANY dBASE III and MORE

FACILITIES

(LIBRARY OBJECT CODE ROUTINES

ARRAYS EXTRA 256 MEMORY VARIABLES DBASE III DATE

FACILITIES AMOUNT IN WORDS. DOS TYPE SOUNDEX CODES

CHECK DIGITS RANDOM NUMBERS SORT TOLOWER

CAPITALIZE ISALPHA. ENCRYPTION COMPRESSION

and MANY MORE rJBASIC FUNCTIONS

PROCESS DBASE II DATA AND INDEX FILES USING CB800R CB86

COMPILED BASIC dFIX ■ UTILITY

FIX CORRUPTED DATA FILES dCRYPT UTILITY

ENCRYPT AND DECRYPT DATA FILES DMENU - dBASE RUNTIME MENU SYSTEM

MAINTENANCE ROUTINES, MENU HIERARCHY, SECURITY

ORDERING DETAILS

OZISOFT, PO. BOX 2360. flOSEVILLE. CA 95746 S90 or S20 DEMO DISK

CP/M-80. CP/M-86 MS-DOS, PC-DOS, 8" or 5" IBM FORMAT CHECKS MONEY ORDERS TAX 6* (CALIF ONLYI

HSame Day Shipping)

DISKETTES

LIFETIME WARRANTY

$

H 00 Ba $1

I Soft Sector l

00 e

Soft Sector B%" SS/DD

OJi Soft Sector 5 V." DS/DD

VISA

PLUS MANY OTHER TOP NAME BRAND DISKETTES

• DYSAN • MAXELL BASF

• 3M • NASHUA Free Catalogue: Our Satisfaction money-back guarantee. .

• Certified 100% error tree

• Non-metallic write protect tab

• Reinforced hub rings

• Tyvec Sleeve

• Plus Packaged in a hard library case (optional) (CORPORATE ACCOUNTS WELCOME) HOURS: 8 AM 5 PM Mountain Time Monday Friday For Order Only: Information & Inquiries: 1800 621-8385 E.l 148 1-303-758-6134

SOFTWARE PLUS

3095-D South Peoria Street Aurora, CO 80014

Inquiry 174

Inquiry 307

Inquiry 367

SUPERCOPY FOR IBM PC

Powerful utility copier, it allows making of backups of any diskette for IBM PC and compatibles.

Very compact, it replaces the Diskcopy without virtually losing any space. Its menu offers easy access to functions such as protection against copies from a diskette; analysis diagnosis; parameter modification and erasing of the target diskette.

Available in English, French and Spanish with instructions included in the diskette.

Frequently updated, its price is S30 each or $15 for orders of ten or more. This product is provided for the purpose of enabling you to make archival copies only.

Send check or money order to:

Yetiware

P.O. Box 1368

New York, NY 10025

212-222-6682

IBM PC is a trademark of IBM Corporation

WE WANT DEALERS.

IC

PROMPT DELIVERY!!! |

S SAME DAY SHIPPING (USUALLY)

OUTSIDE OKLAHOMA: NO SALES TAX

DYNAMIC RAM

256K

256KX1 150 ns

$ 5.77

64K

64Kxi 120 ns

2.30

64K

64KX1 150 ns

1.69

64K

64Kxi 200 ns EPROM

1.87

27C256

32Kx8 250 ns

$21.25

27256

32Kx8 250 ns

$18.75

27128

i6Kx8 250 ns

9.37

27C64

6Kx8 200 ns

8.75

2764

8Kx8 250 ns

397

2732A

4Kx8 250 ns

4.69

2716

2Kx8 450 ns STATIC RAM

3.21

6264LP-15 8Kx8 150 ns

$10.50

6116LP-3 2Kx6 150 ns

2.67

OPEN 6'/z DAYS: WE CAN SHIP VIA FED-EX ON SAT.

MasterCard VISA or UPS CASH COD n

Factory New, Prime Parts juKoo

MICROPROCESSORS UNLIMITED

24,000 S. Peona Ave . BEGGS OK 74421 (918) 267-4961 Prices shown above are for March 26, 1965

Ptaonn call tor current poces Press subject to cnarnjo Please enpect higher or lower prices o" jome pals due to supply | demand and our changing cogib Shipping 3 insurance e«ira Cas^ discount puces shown Orders recerved by 6 PM CST can usually be delivered to you by Ihe next morning, via Federal Eipreei Standard Air « M00. Priority t b S1t SO'

IN STOCK

MODEMS

All modems listed are Hayes

compatible with Free Communications Software

RACAL-VADIC MAXWELL

300PC 300. PC Internal w/soft $ 219

300 V 300. RS232C External $218

1200 PC 300/1200. PC Internal w/sott $ 337

1200 V 300/1200, RS232C External $ 369

2400 V 2400 Baud, RS232C External $ 519

George Communications Software $ 79

HAYES 1200 SMARTMODEM External (399

2400 $ 645

U.S. ROBOTICS Password (235

PROMETHEUS

Promodem 1200 $ 334

DIRECT CONNECT DEVICES

651 Chorro Ste 6, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

call for aaaaaai afjA call to free VISA CESLjSI order CATALOG li»»»»»"i '^■^PF (805) 543-6308 PO/COD/Vlu M( 'Check - Many Items Not Listed

Inquiry 425

Inquiry 27I

Inquiry I3I

maxell

PERSONAL COMPUTER PRODUCTS

The floppy disks that meet or exceed every standard of quality.

MD1-D 5tt"i™$1^ MD2-D 51A" =iii • $2~

SOLD IN BOXES OF TEN ONLV

tremendous selection of software books, accessories and supplies

UP rO 50% OFF'

Software for IBM PC

dBase III 349 Multimate 269

Framework 349 Symphony . . 419

Home Acct. Plus 89 Wordstar 2000 279

w/Ultrafile 149 Wordstar Pro Pac 249

ABC data products

3311 ADAMS AVE, SAN OIEGO. CA 92116

519-283-5488 *Q 800-854-1555

IBM Compatible

Case

S 65.00

Motherboard (256 K RAM space,

RAM not included)

280.00

Color Graphic Adapter

150.00

Floppy Disk Driver Controller Card

75.00

Plotter 14 colors)

495.00

Computer (2 DD Driver Color Graphic Adapter,

256 K RAM, Case, Keyboard and

!35 W Power Supply)

1,500.00

Keyboard

100.00

APPLE Compatible

Z SO Card

iOM

80 Column Card

50.00

J.C. Tester

125.00

Prom 8200 Programmer (Fast Universal Type

Lprom b Prom Programmer) For lprom: 2716-27512, 2516-25512; (Ho Adapter Net

Ml

For Prom: 63xx, 74Srx, MSxi. ISSxx, 24S)X 28Sxx,

8ISxx, 875)3,

Include RS232 Interface

CALL NOW (312) 280-7610

Telex 280208 HFFMN INT CGP

DIST. WANTED

HOFFMAN INT'L

600 N McClurg CT. STE. 309A

Chicago, Illinois 60611

CD

lt:

CD CD

CD CD ^Z7

PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS FOR IBM PC or Compatible

Encrypt Global Replace

Hexdump Compress

Scan Batch Builder

D1FF and many more

$24.95 plus $5 Shipping &. Handling MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

14081 749-1331

505 W. Olive, #300, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Inquiry 8

Inquiry I89

Inquiry 40I

Sav-On Computers 800-345-7100

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

TEAC 55B

V2 HIGH DRIVE

$109.00

55A 55F

169.00 CALL

DISK DRIVES

IBM CONTROLLER

HANDLES 4 DRIVES

$69.00

MANY MORE CALL

IBM

PORTABLE $2195.00

W / 2 DR & 256K

COMPUTERS

SANYO 555-2

W/MON. & SOFTWARE

$1099.00

SANYO PARTS AVAIL.

MODEMS

HAYES 1200B

INTERNAL W/S.W.

$345.00

ALL HAYES AVAILABLE

PRINTERS

OKIDATA

FOR IBM

$345.00

HARD DISK

CAL PEK

10 MEG HARD DRIVE

W/CONTROLLER 120 DAY WARRANTY

$729.00

DISK DRIVES

TANDON 100-2

FULL HEIGHT FOR PC

$109.00

101-4 CALL

DISK DRIVES

OTHER

DRIVES

AVAILABLE

CALL

IBM

TO PRINTER

$19.95

OTHER CABLES AVAILABLE CALL

COMPUTERS

COMPAQ PORT.

2 DRIVES & 256K

$2095.00

wow

MODEMS

ANCHOR MARK XII

$219.00

ALL ANCHOR AVAILABLE

PRINTERS

JUKI

6100 (18cps)

$379.00

MONITORS

AMDEK

310A MONOCHROME

$165.00

DISK DRIVES

MPI

FULL HEIGHT FOR PC

$89.00

Va HIGH CALL

MEMORY 64K $15.95 128K $30.00

DEALERS CALL

IBM

MONO CARD

$219.00

CALL FOR MONITORS NOT LISTED BELOW

COMPUTERS

APPLE PRO SYSTEM

$1349.00

WHILE THEY LAST

MODEMS

VOLKS MODEM

$199.00

WHILE THEY LAST

PRINTERS

EPSON

FX80T

$379.00

MONITORS

PRINCETON

HX12

$439.00

DISK DRIVES

MICRO SCI

A2 FOR APPLE

$179.00

OTHERS CALL

IBM PC

CALL FOR BEST PRICE

WE WILL

BEAT ANY

IBM PRICE

CALL!

COMPUTERS

APPLE MAC

1 DRIVE & 256K

$2095.00

FATMAC AVAILABLE

SOFTWARE

LOTUS 1-2-3

$299.00

WHILE THEY LAST

PRINTERS

GEMINI

SG AVAILABLE

CALL

COLOR CARD

HERCULES

W/PARALLEL PORT

$179.00

DISK DRIVES

RANA

DRIVE CONTROLLER

$85.00

RANA DRIVES CALL

IBM XT

$3195.00

w/10 MEG HD

COMPUTERS

COMPAQ DESK PRO 2

$2379.00

WITH MONITOR

COMPUTERS

CALL

FOR

OTHER

CPU's

SOFTWARE

SYMPHONY

$409.00

WHILE THEY LAST

PRINTERS

BROTHER

HR15XL

$389.00

EXPANSION CARD

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 61/2% sales tax to order. Prices are subject to change without notice. Not resposible for typographical errors.

Inquiry 354

Sav-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

MAY 1985 -BYTE 491

Your I.C. Connection (213)516-7018

DYNAMIC RAMS

4164-150NS

2.45

STATIC RAMS

2016P-1 (100NS)

4.45

6116P-3(150NS|

3.75

EPROMS

2716-450NS

3.00

2532-450NS

4.50

MANY OTHERS IN STOCK CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICES

• Low low prices

• Top Quality Parts

• Wide Selection

• Fast Delivery

EXIM

INTERNATIONAL

13760 Grammercy Place Gardena. CA 90249 TLX: 664747 HYEXIM FAX: (213) 2170363

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 STOCK

2 DAY

SHIP

fP ALLIED MICRO DEVICES

2809 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor, Ml 48104

(313) 996-1282:TX 2907707 AMEL

'Manufactured by SANYO

-£

SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH LOW COST PI-SWITCH BOXES.

1 g Starting at $59.95 !-•',, _ I

•Quickly shares your computer among multiple terminals, printers, moderns, etc. with just a Hick ot the wrist.

•Compact black & beige aluminum enclosure features a high quality rotary switch with rear mounted connectors.

•Serial RS-232 Models have tern. 25-Pin Conn (Lines 1 7 & 20)

PI-02S switches 2 to 1 $59.95

PI-03-S switches 3 to 1 79.95

PU6-S switches 5 to 1 109.95

• Parallel models have fern. 36-Pin cent conn

PI-02P 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 CfjK /~| 7301 NW 41 St.

(305) 592-6092

r/'linif MIAMI, FL 33166

Inquiry 163

Inquiry 20

Inquiry 350

Over 135,000

GAS STATIONS

Need Specialized

Bookkeeping Software

STATION MASTERS

(ompktc integrated system with quick, eas) data cntn to automatically create daily accounting Reports shift checkout, TBA. profit & margins lias lull inventon control. AR. Payroll. I* I. many other features MS DOS & CH ,\t versions, fully working demo available

B Small Business \S§ Computer Systems. I nc.

313 Llewellyn RrJ.. Ambler. PA 19002 215-542-9639

wabash

When it comes to

Flexible Disks, nobody

does it better than

Wabash.

MasterCard. Visa Accepted Call Free: (800)235-4137

PACIFIC EXCHANGES

100 Foothill Blvd San Luis Obispo CA 93401 (InCal call (805) 54:1-1037 |

3M Diskettes Lifetime Warranty

Think you're getting the best price on 3M Diskettes?

You're right . . . BUT ONLY IF . . .

You're buying from

NORTH HILLS CORP.

We will beat any nationally advertised price* or give you a 15 disk library case FREE!

Call us last—TOLL FREE—for our best shot every time.

1-800-328-3472 Formatted and hard sectored disks in stock.

Dealer inquiries invited COD's and charge cards accepted. All orders shipped from stock within 2A hours Why wait 10 days to be shipped7

AM w

North Hills Corporation

1564 Roiling V.ew Dr White Bear Lake MN 55110 MN Call Collect 1 612 770 048'. enliable: same product same quantities

Inquiry 359

Inquiry 310

Inquiry 296

NEW!

_®a&SidnL

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.

MERR1TT Computer Products, Inc.

2925 LBJ, *180 / Dallas, Texas 75234

(214)942-1142

h

ST IN 1IME

30 - 60% SAVINGS on

Computers

Word Processors

Peripherals

EX5Ek

OFFICE EQUIPMENT BROKERS

800-624-2001 NY (716) 325-5530

«**><££

DATA

SEC

FiXT ends boot hassles, stops data thieves—

DATA MAC, DAVONG,

GREAT LAKES, IOMEGA,

XEBEC, ZOBEX, others.

No-Stot Installation for

IBM PC, COMPAQ, COLUMBIA

$70 - $95 + tax/shpg

GOLDEN BOW

SYSTEMS

Box 3039

San Diego

CA 92103

619/298-9349

Inquiry 259

Inquiry 162

Inquiry 178

KRUEGER

Technology, Inc.

offers you an

attractive

alternative

on the purchase

of guaranteed ICs.

COMPARE OUR PRICES!

100% GUARANTEED ICs

EXTRA SPECIAL FEATURE

♦

4164 DRAM 41256 DRAM 9 for 13.95 8.95 each net

GROUP SPECIALS

74 Series

74XX 741XX 742XX 743XX

.25 .35 .49 .49

74LS Series

74LSXX .25

74LS1XX .35

74LS2XX .49

74LS3XX .49

74S Series

74SXX .35

74S1XX .45

74S2XX .59

74S3XX .59

OUR POLICY

Delivery: Orders normally shipped within 2 business days Add $3 for UPS ground-5# & under Add $4 tor UPS blue (air), 2# & under, for each additional air pound add $1 Arizona residents add 6% sales tax

Payment: Visa. MC, cashiers check, certified check, money order, personal check accepted (Allow 10 days for personal checks to clear) No surcharge on credit card orders CODs welcome with cash, certified check, cashiers check or money order Add $3 COD handling charge.

Pricing: Minimum order $20 30% discount on orders over $500 Prices subject to change without notice All items limited to stock on hand

COMPARE

2764 200NS

3.95

EPROMS

1702

2K

2.63

2708

8k

2.37

68708

8K

7,50

2716 300-450NS

16K

2.63

2716 500-650NS

16K

1 88

2532. 2732 200NS

32k

4.20

2532. 2732 250NS

32K

3.75

2763

64K

3.20

68766 (24 PIN)

64K

11.86

2564. 2764 300NS

64k

3.95

27128 250NS

128k

7.45

27128 300NS

128k

695

27128 450NS

128k

5 95

COMPARE

TMS4416

1.75

DYNAMIC RAMS

4164150NS

64k

9/13.96

4164150NS

64K

1.75

TMS4416

64K

1.75

4164 250NS

64K

1.25

2620

64K

1.75

4332

32K

3.00

2118

16K

1 50

4116150NS

16K

89

4116 200NS

16K

.59

4116 250NS

16K

39

4027

4k

4

COMPARE

6264P-12

14.40

STATIC RAMS

10415

1Kx1

6.26

2115

1Kx1

1 13

2125

1Kx1

1 50

93415

1Kx1

3.38

93425

IKxl

3.38

2510

1Kx1

3.38

2511

1Kx1

3.38

2148

1Kx4

3.92

2149

1Kx4

3.92

10474

1kx4

3.00

2114 200NS

1Kx4

70

2114 450NS

lkx4

50

4801 70NS

1kx8

338

4118 250NS

1Kx8

2.93

6116 200NS

2Kx8

368

6116 250NS

2kx8

2.93

10470

4Kx1

10.44

2141

4kx1

1 05

2147

4kx1

3.38

TMS4044 200NS

4kx1

1.05

TMS4044 300NS

4kx1

.90

1420

4kx4

4.50

2168

4Kx4

450

2167

16Kx1

450

"L" Series s

ightly hi

gher.

COMPARE II COMPARE

Z80CPU 1.13

6500/6800 MICROPROCESSORS

6502 6503 6504 6512 6522 6532 6545 6800 6802 6803 6809 6810 6820 6821 6844 6850 6852 6860 6875

1.50 1.50 2.75 1.25 2.75 3.75 800 1.75 3.25 750 500 75 1.50 1.25 10 50 1.50 2.25 3.25 275

COMPARE

8080A 1.95

8000 Series

8155

8741

8748

8202

8205

8212

8214

8216

8224

8226

8228

8237

8237-5

8238

900 3.75 375

2 25

3 75 750

12.00 11.25

2.85 12.00 12.00 13.50

2.25

1 00 2.25 1.00 1.50 1.25

2 25 6.75 "50 300

8243

8251

8253

8253-5

8255

8255-5

8257

8257-5

8259

8259-5

8272

8274

8276

8279

8279-5

8284

8286

8287

8288

8289

8292

5 00 3 25 3.50 4.00 325

3 75 350

4 00 3 50 4.00

12.50 12.00 17.50 4.00 5.00 4.00 4.50 4.50 10 00 1800 5.00

COMPARE

TMS9918 22.50

MISCELLANEOUS

TMS9901 1 50

TMS9904 1.50

TMS9914 3.00

TMS9980 13.26

TMS9900 3.00

9602 1.10

96L02 2.25

96LS02 375

Z80 Series

2.5 MHZ

CPU

CTC

DART

DMA

PIO

SIO (Any)

4 0MHZIZ80A)

CPU 1 88

CTC 1.88

DART 450

DMA 4.50

PIO 1.88

SIO (Any) 4 50

COMPARE

ADC0809 2.48

DATA ACQUISITION

COMPARE

D765 11.25

FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLERS

COMPARE

6845 5.00

CRT CONTROLLERS

COMPARE

AY5-1013A 2.00

NOTE: This is just a sampling of our 6 million IC Inventory.

KRUEGER Technology, Inc

nO-IO C/Mi(h /tQth Cfrn^l»TAmnn A7QKOQO *^^

2219 South 48th Street • Tempe, AZ 85282

800-245-2235

In Arizona 602-438-1570

HOURS: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

(MOUNTAIN TIME)

Monday Thru Friday

Inquiry 22 7

MAY 1985 'BYTE 49J

PRINTER RIBBONS

PRICE PER PER RIBBON DOZEN

ANAOEX 9500 10.50 109.80

APPLE OMP 5.50 58.80

BROTHER HR-15/25 MS 5.95 68.40

C. ITOH 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 MICR0PRISMJI80 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

OKIDATA 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

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:

M M STARBUCK w w

TT * DATA COMPANY T T

225 Crescent St., Waltftam, MA 02154

CONVERSES COMPUTER

Created al MIT in 1966 ELIZA has become the world smosl celebrated artificial intelligence demonslrahon program ELIZA is a non-directrve osyc ho therapist who analyzes each statement as you type it in and th responds wilh her own comment or question —and her remarks i otlen amazingly appropriate'

Designed to run on a large mainframe, ELIZA has never before been available to personal computer users except in greatly stripped down . lacking the sophistication which made the original program so

last

iting

Now. our new microcomputer version possessing the FULL power and range of expression ol the original is being offered at the introductory price of only 125 And il you want to find out how she does it tor teach her to do more), we will include the complete SOURCE PROGRAM lor only S20 additional

Order your copy ol ELIZA today and you II never again wonder how to respond when you hear someone say Okay lets see whal this computer ol yours can actually do1

ELIZA IS AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING FORMATS

1 5X inch disk for the 48K Apple II. II Plus lie or He

S25 lor Protected Version—S45 for Applesoft Source Version

2 5% inch disk tor the 64K IBM Personal Computer

125 lor Protecled Version-J45 for IBM Disk BASIC Source Version

Men)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH GROUP

,^f^w 921 North La Jolla Avenue Oepi B ^Vl^l Los An9^les. CA 90046

*j2£* 12131656-7368 (213)654-2214

^^^^^™ MC VISA and checks accepted

Inquiry 141

Inquiry 376

Inquiry 40

Sure US insured?

SAFEWARE Insurance provides full

replacement of hardware, media and

purchased software. As little as $35/yr covers:

• Fire • Theft • Power Surges • Earthquake • Water Damage • Auto Accident

For information or immediate coverage call:

1-800-848-3469

In Ohio call (614) 262-0559

SAr'KWAKE. THE INSURANCE AGENCY INC

BLUE BOOK

Prices shown for thousands of computers, software, and peripherals.

Each listing includes suggested list, avg. retail, wholesale, and used prices for all the geographical regions of the United States.

Send $12.95 + $.50 postage to:

NCDA

National Computer Dealers Association

5420 Hwy. 6 North

Houston, Texas 77084

ICenTecIi PREMIUM COLOR DISKETTES

LOWEST PRICE EVER

SSDD DSDD

65 SOI 5-

1

5-1 4" QTY 20

S230.;;.

-96 TPI

■Discounts Starting At Quantity 50 fi Above DEFINITELY COLOR-CODED DISKETTES ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MFTHOD FOR ORGANIZING YOUR DISKETTE FILES Available in Red, Blue, Green. Yellow, Orange and many other colors IQO'Vr error-free and backed by TIMELESS WARRANTY Factory fresh and boxed m 10's with Tyvek sleeves reinforced hubs, wnte-protect tabs and labels SHIPPING: And S3 00 per 100 diskettes or fracl<on thereof Same day dispatcri VISA and Mastercard accepted COD orders only add S3 00 handling charges Utah residents add 5*'i''- sales tax

WE vVILL BETTER ANY PRICE ON THE SAME PRODUCT

AND QUANTITIES ADVERTISED NATIONALLY

TOLL FREE ORDER LINE ONLY:

1 BOO-S33-S477

INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES

- 1B01-942-6717

HOURS 9AM-6PM M-F fMT STATE TIMEI

VISA

«©

2028 E FT UNION BLVD OmpUter SALT LAKE CITY UTAH e

""airs, inc. call i-booaffairs

Inquiry 351

Inquiry i

Inquiry 92

Serial ^MiUWliM^ Parallel

1 K SWf -"

Convert What You Have To What You Want!

* RS232 Serial ' Centronics Parallel

* 8 Baud Rates " Handshake SiQnais

* Lafched Outputs " Compact 3v, x A\ x V„

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 m 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!

on,yJ89.96

JiflErfrnnits

2734-C Johnson Dr

Post Office Box 3717

Ventura. California 93006

CALL (805) 658-7466 or 658-7467 H For FAST Delivery *

maxell disks

LIFETIME WARRANTY

Think you're getting the best price on Maxell Diskettes? You're right . . . BUT ONLY IF .. . You're buying from NORTH HILLS CORP. We will beat any nationally advertised price* or give you a 15 disk library case FREE!

Call us last—TOLL FREE—for our best shot every time.

1-800-328-3472 Formatted and hard sectored disks in stock.

Dealer inquiries invited CUD'S and charge cards accepted All orders shipped Irom stock within 24 hours Why wait 10 days to be shipped?

jUkj ^

North Hills Corporation

3564 Rolling View Dr

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

MN Call Collect 1 612 770 0485

able s.ime product, same quantities

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

RO. Box 246. Morris Plains, NJ 07950

ELEXOR

Inquiry 154

Inquiry 297

Inquiry 153

m

'icro

"products ifnternational

LI 714/898-0840

rT£Am

Flower Specials

New Hayes SmartModem Compatible! JEAfmB

fjfj>^

Finally a price braakthrough on a Hayes compatible, external 300/1200

baud modem This tow price is without

dnver software, but if you need it add $25.00

Call for a 26 page catalog of our special deals

Look <n this spot every month for Hot. New items

sure to catch your interest

^Ip^^J^'BM PC-XT SELECTRIC KEYBOARDS

Our volume purchase ot these excellent Selectnc type keyboards will bring the

;*.-?

• Huns me popular Hayes communtcations software

• FCC apprvd for direct RJ-11 connection1

• All cables & power supply included for this onetowpnce COTQ f\f\

MOD-810O-00 >^/y.UU

\4ltO

>&%%

features you nave Deen wanting down to a pnce you can t resist So many features love it" • Single Key reset m^a^ai^m^mWm^aWBWe^a^a^a^

• Separate numenc keypad

• Separate Arrow" keypad Dimple marked "5". F. & J keys

^KEY-1051 -00 Selectnc $129.00

KEY-1050-00 Standard 89.00

IBM STYLE MOTHERBOARD

Micro Products announces a powerful new IBM XT type motherboard. 4 layers for superior reliability & speed. Turbo mode allows 75% higher thru-put by increasing ".,~i\~ system clock to 7.0MHz under softwarecontrol. Designed to use new 256K RAM chips or 64K chips. WOK memory expansion does not require useof valuable card slots. Many outstanding features combined with our new 7 PAK Multifunction board make previously expensive options standard features at a LOW LOW Cost. BOA-6068-00 Supplied with OK $349.00

ADD-ON POWER SUPPLY

Power Supply with Fan and Power

Filter Uses 140 watts runs Hard

Disk J Tape Back-Up

IBM Replacement type for Hard Disk

New High Velocity Fan!

New Low Price!

POW-1040-00 $99.00

SUPER 12 PAK MULTIFUNCTION

This one is really loaded! Features: One Parallel Port, One RS232-C Serial Port, One Game Port, Real-Time Clock /Calendar with Battery Back-up, Expandable to 384Kof Parity-checked Memory, Supplied OK Memory, all cables, PrintSpooler and RAM Disk Software.

BOA-6335-00 $199.95

"Additional (9) 64K Memory Chips KIT-8000-00 $ 15.00

Do it Yourself!

I think of this System as a "Do it Yourself" System. Start by choosing

ir 8 Slots. Some of the standard Features: • 64K RAM expandable

256K • 4 DMA Channels • Runs MS-DOS™ and CP/M-86™

iftware not included) * Multi-function Keyboard & Cable

-lard Disk Ready Power Supply • And MORE'

S-8000-00 Only $525*/695 ,

Features!

ml RAM DisK BJGame Port BJ640K cpcty WPrintSpooler I'Turbo mode! 4.77MHz to 7.00MHz!

mSer,Par mciock

OEMs1245-Singles1495

System! XPC Turbo! NEW

Add-On H.D. A Tape

1 type Case only

Slot CAB-3065-00 $65*/99

Slot CAB-3068-00 $65*/99

This is OUR Junior!

i ths Vmeless workstation tor low-cost Networking, nuns; • 4-slol IBM'" compatible Motherboard 2SK Standard Memory • 8088,8087 Math Co-proisor • Optional Roppy Drive with Controllers 5-8100-00 $475*/675

I System w Keyboard, Mono Monitor video Display •d, 128K RAM 1 Drive SYS-8725-00 $895 */950

~'«

*OEM Qty 12-h

10 Meg H.D.

Complete System!

M99500*

20 Meg Color

Complete System!

*255000*

40 Meg w/Tape

Complete System!

k *303500* Software

• XWORD

• XBASIC

• XBASE

• XCALC

• XCOM

10 Meg $1295 20 Meg $1395 26 Meg $1595

10 Megabyte Irwin on the top, your choice of Hard Disk on the bottom. Super appearance! Requires one slot in your PC for SASI interface and an extension connector on the floppy card. Everything 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 is cheaper because it does not need a P S 4 Chassis The same P. S1 Chassis can be used tor a 10 Meg Tape Back-up on your XT!

10 Megabyte

•595 imV'895 ext

20 Megabyte

*795int/'1095ext 26 Megabyte

•995.nl/M295ew

40 Megabyte '1295lnt/*1595ext

105 Megabyte •3795 im7'3995 ext

140 Megabyte ■4395 lnt/'4695 ext

Check These Standard Features:

• Full-Size, Feather-Touch, Capacitance Keyboard. 10 Function Keys. Calculator-Type Numeric Keypad ■

• Parallel & Serial I/O • Real Time Clock • Game Port • 2-Slimline 5'-.' DS.D0 48 TPI360K Drives •

• 8 IBM expansion slots "RAM Disk •PrintSpooler 't DMA S3 Timer channels*

• Full 640K capacity on-board • 808816-bit CPU • Monochrome Video Card •

• Up to 32K ot EPROM (full 8K supplied) • Supports PC-DOS ■ MS-DOS - CP/M-86 •

• Power Supply Hard-Disk-Ready, no need to add-on additional power ■

• Hioh resolution 12" Monitor Green Screen 22 MHz bandwidth*

Add-On 10 Meg Tape

if your IBM-XT needs a little help in the Back-up category. you won t be able to beat this price1 Cables, software and

everything'

SUB-8300-00 ■

S495*/695

Not enough room here - Call for Catalog

MITS?/

ultiMedia Interactive raining Systems

INTERACTIVE

Video or Audio Tape Training! That's Right!

Learn at home - at your own pace Lotus 1-2-3™ Framework™ WordStar™ IBM-PC DOS™ dBase II™ Symphony™

SuperCalc™ BustnessMaster™

it last! An inexpensive, convenient means of learilng how to use a Computer and Software. With his System you sit comfortably in front of your :omputer. watch a demonstration, and then, the "ape system (Audio or Video) actually IN'ERACTS with you! Telling you what keys to trike. waiting for you to do the exercises at your wn rate. As much practice time as You want. A •ace that you set. Some classes 10 hours in length! antastic detail and tips! Call us for more informaion and practical demonstrations. Nothing like it nywhere else!

* following we registered trademarks and their Companies 1-2-3 Symphony Lotus OevetopsntCompany MS-DOS. PC DOS Fkgm Simulator Microsoft dBase II Ashton-Tale. WordStar AcroProInternahonalCorp SuperCalc-Sorcimlnc VtaCafc VifuCorp. Inc CP'M-88-Digital jsearch Inc IBM IBM-PC. IBM-PC XT - International Business Machines

POWER BACK-UP

Protect your Data! DatashieW* is a battery operated fbwer Generator w

stantly supplies even, uninterrupted AC

Rawer to a Microprocessor in the event of

a Power Drop or Outage. Also provides

Surge Protection, which filters and

eliminates voltage spikes (surges) above

140 VAC.

200 watts POW-2000-00 $299.00

300 watts POW-205C-0C $399.00

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS

Micro Products is ready to serve your needs in several countries. Each Office has Sales Literature Local Pricing. Inventory and Technical Service available to support your needs. There are no problems with U.S. Export Forms

HEAD OFFICE Darryl R. Green

15392 Assembly Lane. Unit A Huntington Beach. CA 92649 Phone: 714 '8984840 Telex: 887841XORDATA HTBH AMSTERDAM OFFICE Cynthia Clark Building 70,4lh Floor 1117ZHSchiphol-East Amsterdam, The Nethertends Phone:(020)452650 Telex: 18306

AUSTRALIAN OFFICE 8 Irwin Street, Bellevue W.Australia 6056 Phone: 274-3701

TAIPEI OFFICE William Wang

Suite 605, Worldwide House 685 Mm Sheng E Rd Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Tel: (02) 712-8877 Tlx: 21405 MARACAIBO OFFICE Jim Stavans Av. 3F Esq. Calle 81 Centro Com. Maelga - Local #5 Maracaibo, Venezuela 4001-A Phone: 061-913328 Telex: 62344 PEMIN CANADIAN OFFICE

- PENDING

PROM LASER

This i the 0ml Out PROM Burner allows reading, storing-to-disk, recalling, and burning. Hi-speed algorithmes burns 2764 in 45 seconds! Also handles 2716,2732. 27128.27256. Features: Zero insertion force sockets: 0n-ooard Voltage Generator No Interference with normal computer operalkins. BOA-8640-00 $199.00

M S GELLANEOUS $$$ SAVERS

7 PAK Multifunction Floppy. RTC. 2 Serial. 1 Parallel. Game. RAM Disk

BOA-6250-00 $189.00

64K Memory Chips i9i NEC for BM « T6000-OC S 15.00

256K DRAM Memory Chips (9) - 256K KIT-9000-00 $ 81.00

AddOn Memory, (up to 512K) supplied OK BOA-635000 $ 99.00

Floppy Controller. Controls up to four drives, 5%' 48196 TPI

BOA-6100-00 $ 95.00

Monochrome Graphics Card, (Hercules typel '-2-3 compatible) 720h x 348v

BOA-6150-00 $175.00

Color Graphics Cird, 320 x 200 Res. Color, 640 x 200 Monochrome

BOA-6200-00 $145.00

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 8 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-1700-00 Amber/Comp 104.00 MON-1775-00Green/TTL . 104.00 MON-1750-00Amber/TTL .. 109.00

Inquiry 266

Micro Products

15392 Assembly Lane

Huntington Beach, CA 92649

714/898-0840

i:iMJ;li:kU;H

2050

$ 655 $1315 $1685

$ 625

$1185

$1625

$ 399

$ 490

$ 690 [IGHT!!

9230

3550

8850

2010/15/30

3510/15/30

8810/15/30

Elf 360,370

Pinwriter P-2

(w/lnterface & Tractor) Pinwriter P-3

(w/lnterface & Tractor)

Terms: PREPAID - FREE FRI

QUALITY PRINTERS 8415 Cement City Rd Brooklyn. Michigan A Phone: 517-592-3749

""""Heath Users

Double Your 5'i" 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'<j" drives, for example, expands memory capacity from 256 bytes to 512 bytes per sector.

And it handles single and doublesided, single and double-density. 8" and 5'4" drives — simultaneously.

OI

C.D.R. Systems Inc.

Controlled D»t» Recording Systems Inc. 7210 CUirmont Mesi Blvd., Sui Diego, CA 92111

(619) 560-1272

$99 SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER / CONTROLLER

MODEL MCG-85 FEATURES

8085A CPU

2K System Monitor ROM

256 Bytes of RAM

RS232 Port

Parallel & Serial 0

* Two 8 Bit Prog Ports

• One 6 Bit Prog Port 4VS » 6'i PCB

Automatic Baud Rate

- 5 Interrupts

14 Bit Counter/Timer Onboard Prototyping 6 144 MHz Crystal

- Onooard Expansion

• 4K ROM &oi

• 4K RAM or CMOS RAM

STOCK $99 KIT $135 ASSEMBLED & TESTED.

A D, Parallel I'O. Memory & Mother Cards Avail.

STD Product Line also available.

Visa. M.C.. Amex & COD Add $5.00 Shipping

CUSTOM DESIGNS & DEVELOPMENT

OUR SPECIALTY

SYNALTA SYSTEMS

31-14 Broadway

Astoria. New York 11106

(718) 728-6700

Inquiry 336

Inquiry 68

Inquiry 384

FoxBASE™

Interpreter/Compiler

I dBASE II" source compatible

I Runs 3-20 times faster than

dBASE 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

as dBASE II

FOX SOFTWARE INC.

13330 Bishop Road, P.O. Box 269. Bowling Green, OH 43402 419-354-3981

Inquiry 171

DOUBLE

THE OPTION CAPAC

OF YOUR IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER

PC-XTRA

• DIRECT EXTENSION OF IBM PC BUS

• NO SOFTWARE CHANGES

• NO HARDWARE MODIFICATION

• STYLING CONSISTENT WITH IBM MgslltnosssoeC'B od wsnting witnoui >*o"> plug->" ana bac* Dane'

DEALER INOI

S549"~ FOB SANTA ANA •CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ADO S>» SALES TAX

P C HORIZONS, INC.

1701 E. Edinger. Ste. A6, Santa Ana. CA 92680 (714) 953-5396

VT100 or D200

on your

PC, jr, XT, AT

or compatible

ZSTEMpc-VTIOO 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 36.4KB. High Throughput

ZSTEMpc-VT100 S150 ZSTEMpc-D200 $125.

30 day money back guarantee. MC VISA

ZSTEM Communications Division

KEA SYSTEMS LTD.

4 12 2150 w Broadway

Vancouver. B.C. CANADA V6K 4L9

Support (604) 732-7411

Orders (800) 663-8702

Inquiry 42d

The Statistician

CPM IBM-PC TRS-DOS XENIX

Multiple Regression

Stepwise

Ridge

All Subsets

Backward Elimination Time Series Analysis Descriptive Statistics Transformations

" Survey Research

■ Nonparametncs • X-Y Plots

■ ANOVA

' Random Samples ' Data Base " Search & sort ' Hypothesis tests

Please call TOLL FREE 1-800-334-0854 (Ext. 814)

Q

for more information

or write:

Quant Systems

Box 628

Charleston, SC 29402

VISA-M/C Accepted

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) 2374535 Box 739, State College, PA 16804

Inquiry 69

Maxell Floppy Disks

The Mini-Disks with maximum quality.

Dealer inquiries invited. CO.D's accepted. Call FREE (800) 235-4137

PACIFIC EXCHANGES

100 Foothill Blvd. San Luis San Luis Obispo. CA 93401 In Cal. call (800) 592-5935 or (805)543-1037

c -^*

Inquiry 308

Inquiry 337

Inquiry 310

SINCE W7\

T\

Computer Discount Products

Monthly Mail-Order Listing For Apple, IBM & Macintosh Users

Retail Showrooms In California: San Jose • San Mateo • San Francisco

INFOCOM

Apple, IBM 1 Macintosh CUTTHROATS/ENCHANTER 6625.9

DEADUNE'SUSPECT INFIDEL SORCERER HITCHHIKE R/SEASTALKER WITNESS ZORKI ZORK IIZORK III

682999

6828.99 682(99 6627 99 662999

MOCKINGBOARD

Sound Board 79.99

Speech Chips 79.99

Sound AND Speech lie 145.99

Sound AND Speech lie 145 9s

ENTERTAINMENT

Ap

---4 ^p

Ap

Ap

IBM

IBM

IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

BEAGLE 1.0 Silver -NEW

KAU

DECATHLON

23.99

SIRTECH Knight of Diamond

34.99

WIZPLUS

23.99

GATO

29.99

MASTERTYPE

32.99

SIR TECH Wizardry

44.99

CHAMP LOOERUNNER

24.99

ELECTRONIC ARTS Archon

29.99

MusCPinoall Const.

6629.99

One On One/Sky Fox

6*29.99

FLIGHT SIMULATOR

35.99

SARGON III

31.99

TRiaiUM Amazon/Rama

6627.99

Fahrenheit 451 Shadow

6127.99

WINDHAM Below The Root

18.99

Swiss Family Robinson

18.99

APPLICATION Home & Business

Ap

Ap

Ap

Ap

Ap

Ap

Ap

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

IBM

Ap/IBM

Ap/IBM

ASCII Express 99.99

CONTINENTAL Hm Acct 44.99

Home Accountant MAC 75.99

Tax Advantage 39.99

MONOGRAM DollarsSense lie 69.99 Forecast 49.99

PFSRept, File. Graph. Wnte 6879.99 .99

ASCII Express Pro 13!

ASHTONTATE dBase II 289.99

dBase III 389.99

Framework 389.99

CONTINENTAL FCM 71.99

Home Accountant + 84.99

Tax Advantage 45.99

CROSSTALK 105.99

LOTUS 1-2-3 299.99

MICROPRO Telmerge 119.99

MONOGRAM Dollars S Sense 109.99

PFSRept.File.Graph.Write 6889.99

MICRO COOKBOOK 32.99

MICROSOFT MULTIPLAN 169.99

WORD PROCESSING

Ap

Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap IBM IBM IBM IBM IBM

MODEMS

HAYES 300 Baud

1200 Baud

- .-0OB 'or IBM

Micromodem lie NOVATION Applecat II300 Bd

Expansion Module

J Cat

BANK STREET Wnte Spell

ea43.99

KENSINGTON Format II

99.99

MICROPRO Wordstar

189.99

Wordstar Pro wCP-M

265.99

SENSIBLE SPELLER

79.99

SIERRA Screenwnter II

89.99

BANK STREET Writer

49.99

LIFETREE Volkswnter Deluxe

159.99

MICROSOFT Word w Mouse

289.99

MICROPRO Wordstar 2000

259.99

Wordstar 2000 Plus

325.99

209.99 474.99 359.99 239.99 198.99 29.99 104.99

EDUCATIONAL

DLM

Ap

Alien Addition/Minus Mission

6821.99

Ap

Alligator Mix Dragon Mix

6121.99

Ap

Division Multiplication

6821.99

LEARNING COMPANY

*P

Bumble Games/Plot

6825.99

*P

Gertrudes Puzzte/Secret

6127.99

Ap

Rockys Boot/Robot Odyssey

8*31.99

Ap/IBM

Aooiton Magician/Word Spinner 27.99

Ap/IBM Magic Spell/Number Stump.

6625.99

Ap/IBM Moplown Hotel Reaoer Rabb

6125.99

PEACHTREE ALGEBRA l-IV 6825.99 ALGEBRA V 4 VI 6832.99

SPINNAKER

Ap Grandmas House/KkJwnter Ap KidsOnKeys Ap Sum Ducks/Trams Ap/IBM Facemaker/Fraction Fever Ap/IBM Diddle Diddle Kindercomp

Ap/IBM Presidents Choice Ap/IBM Snooper Troops I or II

COLLEGE BOUND Ap BARONS SAT Ap CBS Mastering SAT Ap PEACHTREE SAT'PSAT CROSSWORD MAGIC

6619.99 19.99 6824.99 6819.99 6819.99 25.99 6128.99

59.99

94.99

6834.99

39.99

*

%

JSL

m

«•!/>.

***

T'/

Ap

Ap

Ap

Ap

Ac

Ap

Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap IBM

CDP16K Ram Card

Parallel Interface w Cable DAN PAYMAR Lower Case 1

Lower Case 2. Rev 7 EXTENDED 80 Col. Card-lie JOYSTICK Kraft or TG KENSINGTON System Saver KOALA Touch Pad MICRO-SCIA-2 Drive ORANGE MICRO Grappler *

Buffered Grappler THUNDERCLOCK TITAN Accelerator lie

Neptune 64K AST Six Pack Plus 64K

HARDWARE

39.99 IBM

39.99 IBM

25.99 IBM

19.99 IBM

129.99 IBM

39.99 IBM

65.00 IBM

75.99 IBM

195.99 IBM

99.99 IBM

159.99

109.99 Ap

219.99 Ap

199.99 Ap

245.99 Ap

KENSINGTON PC Saver KOALA Touch Pad PLANTRONICSCotor* Board QUADRAM512 » 64K

ERamSO

Microfazer 8K-AII Confkj

Ouadboardlorll-NoK

Quadcotor I

Quadcotor Upgrade to II TEACVi Height Drive #55B

VIDEO 7 RGB 80 64 lie Slot 7 RGB Card II + e RGB Adapter lie Mappter Connector

29.99^

99

375.

229.

129.99

139.99

219.99

195.99

199.99

159.99

189.99 109.99 149.99 39.99

UTILITIES & ENHANCEMENTS

Ap

Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap Ap

IBM

IBM

BM

BM

IBM

IBM

AplBM

AplBM

AplBM

BEAGLE DGode-AJFH/.'

Beagle Graphes

Dos Boss

Fat Cat

GPLE

Tnple Dump BRODERBUND Dazzle Draw

Graphics Library

Pnnt Shop COPY II + Program EASTSIDE Wildcard II FONTRIX

FINGERPRINT For Epson MERLIN PENGUIN Complete Graphics

Graphics Magician COPY II Program FONTRIX GET ORGANIZED NORTON UTILITIES SIDEKICK SIDEWAYS TURBO PASCAL

Toolbox

Tutor

29.99 35.99 15.99 21.99 29.99 27.99 44.99 19.99 31.99 25.99

111.99 49.99 44.99 44.99 49.99 37.99 25.99 99.99

149.99 55.99 35.99 44.99 35.99 29.99 29.99

APPLE PRE-BOOTS

Apple Writer 14.99

Apple Writer lor Ultralerm 23.99

Visicalc 39.99

Expansion 66.99

Visicalc lor Ultraterm 54.99

VIDEX-Apple

ENHANCER II

FUNCTION STRIP

HARDSWITCH

PSIO

SOFTSWITCH

ULTRATERM

VIDEOTERMwSoltsw

99.99 31.99 14.99 145.99 25.99 23999 179.99

MAXELL5'/«SS 10/100 MEMOREX 3% SS107100 MEMOREX 5'/. SS10/100 FLIP-FILE HoWs 50-5% MEDIA MATE Holds 30-3'/i

19.99/189.

34.99/339.

18.99/179. 14.99 11.99

MACINTOSH

BRODERBUND Loderunner

27.99

COPY II MAC

24.99

HOME ACCOUNTANT

63.99

MAC FUN

32.99

MAC VEGAS

34.99

MAC VISION

399.99

MEDIA MATE Holds 30-3 V

9.99

MEMOREX 3¥ Diskettes

34.99

MICROSOFT Basic

94.99

Chart

74.99

File Multipian

68129.99

MONOGRAM Dollars & Sense

94.99

Forecast

59.99

PFS File/Report

6879.99

INFOCOM FOR MACI-See Separate Box1

Printers A Monitors

EPSON FX80

RX80 PRINCETON HX-12 RGB

Max-12 Amber TAXAN#11612-Amb-Ap

#12212'Amber-IBM

#420 RGB Color-IBM OKI DATA 92 w/Plug'n Play USIPi4-Amb

499.99 329.99 459.99 179.99 129.99 159.99 389.99 459.99 99.99

)RDER

* B-5

VQ

'^

Computer Discount Products

860 So. Winchester Bl., San Jose, CA 95128 (408) 985-0400 from sam pst

U.S. Mail —$10 Minimum Chg. • Hardware Shipping —SCALL

Purchase Order Prices Differ — Call First • Prices Subject To Change • Software Sales Final PLEASE ALLOW TIME FOR PERSONAL CHECKS TO CLEAR

w«>

>*

NI

We reserve the right to charge for freight on orders less than $100

S3SS3-

■sgSSsSBSS

48ip. and/oi TOW c0(Je

^M)u SUPPORT «G-Ma"Ua' S99

. SYSTEM SUPPD" ab|es $99

•ESssss- "S

60069 • 13">M' _« U A

»i«(srifi

DUST COVERS

For Personal Computers and Small Business Systems, Peripherals, Game Units - Protective, Long-Lasting Vinyl Resists Both Dust and Liquids

- CHOICE OF COLORS

Amdek

Franklin Ace

Apple

IBM

Atari

Kaypro

BMC

Okidata

Columbia

Rana Systems

Commodore Star Micronics

Corona Televideo

Eagle Texas Instruments

Epson PLUS OTHERS

GROUP/VOLUME DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

FOR FREE BROCHURE WRITE:

ENCHANTED FOREST

P.O. Box 5261, Newport Beach, CA 92662

(118 Onyx)

Dealer Inquiries Invited

PAL EPROM

& UV ERASERS from $49.95

LOGICAL DEVICES INC.

ft/4e*e (leluduhtf and

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 240

QEQOQQQ

ORDER TOLL FREE

1-800-EE1-PROM

0-800-331 -7766)

Inquiry 133

Inquiry 246

OK-WRITER

LETTER QUALITY

Enhancement for

Okidata ML82A/83A

Dot Matrix Printers

• Easy to install

• Plug-in module

• Letter Quality: 30cps

• Draft Quality: 120cps

• 10, 12, 17cpi

• Full dot addressable graphics

• Front panel access to all features

• Proportional spacing, bold, double width, underlining, self-test, etc.

• Serial and parallel interfaces retained

• HELP mode; Diagnostic HEX dump

• And many other features

o

RAIN BOW TECHNOLOGIES. INC

17971 -E Skypark Circle, Irvine, CA 92714

(714) 261-0228 Telex 386078 UK Distributor: X-DATA (0753) 72331

Inquiry 341

PC EXPANSIONS

Qume 142A

$189

Teac FD55B

$129

Tandon TM100-2

$129

TandonTMIOI 4

$239

CDC 9409

$129 I

Maynard Disk Controller

$114

Sandstar Series

$call

Internal 10MB HDsystems WSI

$769

WS2

$929

MaynStream tape backup

$1229

Quadboard|64K)

$254

Quadboard |384K)

$349

$199

AST SixPakPluS(64K)

$259

SixPakPlus (384K) . ..

$354

MegaPlus(64K)

$269 J

Advantage . .

$419

$129

PCnet ■ starter kit

$809

HERCULES graphics board

$339

Color Card with PP

$169

HAYES Modems 300

$199

Smartmodem 1200

$429

Smartmodem 1200B

$389

Set ol 9 chips 164 Kl .

$19

256K chips (each)

$6

8087 chip

$139

Verbatim Daiahle disks (20)

$49

VLM Computer Electronics

10 Park Place • Mornstown, NJ 07960

(201) 267-3268 Visa, MC. Check

or COD

mi mflRYmflc industries ,nc

800-231-3680

Radio Shack TRS-80 % 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 Katy Fwy. Katy (Houston) Texas 77450 (713) 392-0747 Telex 774132

Inquiry 254

FLOWCHARTER

EasyFlow-PLUS is a program that helps you to produce neat, accurate flowcharts. You describe the chart using simple flowchart description commands; EasyFlow-PLUS then produces a complete flowchart for output to the printer or a disk file.

• automatic line routing • automatic text centering within shapes • charts up to 16 shapes wide by 16 shapes high • organization charts • standard flowcharting shapes included • user defined shapes easily added

• wide charts can be printed in strips • text blocks can be placed anywhere in the chart • arbitrary lines can be drawn anywhere in the chart • fast: 12 seconds typical • 140 page manual " works with all printers • minimum memory MSDOS/PCDOS128K; CP-M/80 (requires Z80) 64 K

$89.95 + $2.00 s&h. Check, VISA or MO.

HavenTree Software Limited P.O. Box 1093-A

Thousand Island Park, NY 13692 (613) 542-7270 Extension 80

IBM™/APPLE™/COMMODORE™ BARECOM™ MODEM

ADD-ON MODEM FOR PERSONAL COMPUTER

• BELL 103 AND/OR 212 COMPATIBLE

• CCITT V21 AND/OR V 23 COMPATIBLE

• AUTO DIAL/ANSWER/DISCONNECTION

• FREE OF CHARGE COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE

DEALERS AND DISTRIBUTER INVITED.

OEM DESIGN/MANUFACTURE

WELCOMED

S COMPOWER

TECHNOLOGY CORP. Made in Taiwan, but not Copied.

P.O. BOX 58144 TAIPEI, TAIWAN. ROC

TELEX: 20370 COMPOWER

TEL: (02) 3937976, 3213060

Inquiry 87

AFFORDABLE M 68000 COMPUTER SYSTEM

M68KCPU 6- 10 MHz CPU. 20K static RAM. 16K EPROM, on board monitor, two R5-232

serial ports. 16-bit parallel port, 5 timer/counters expansion bus.

Bare board » 99.95

Complete Kit 6595.00

MD512K 128 512K static RAM. floppy disk controller

Chard disk interface Bare board $ 99.95

Complete Kit (128K> S725.O0

M68KE Enclosure with power supply, fan, filter, 4 slot

card cage

S249.00

M68K ASM M68000 Macro Cross Assembler for CP/M80, IBM PC. TRS-80 and Apple II computers

» 199.00

UPS shippings handling » 4.00

COD orders add 9 3.00

Foreign orders add S20.O0

California residents add 6.5% tax

E?A>fC Educational

UlTlO Microcomputer (714) 854-8545 Sytem»

P.O. Box 161 15 • Irvine. CA 92713

Inquiry 414

inquiry 151

COASTLINE COMPUTERS

CALL COLLECT-FREE 213-329-4828 213-324-8087

1956 W. 153 St., Gardena, CA 90247

WHY GO OFFSHORE WHEN YOU CAN SAVE MORE ON THE COASTLINE!

IBM PC

• 2 55B Teac Vz High Drives

• 256K, BMC 13" Amb Mon.

• Monitor Interface

$1729 IBM

EXCECUTIVE SYSTEM

• IBM PC w/256K

• 2 Half High Drives

• 8087-3 Math Coprocessor

• Monochrome Monitor

• Mono Card w/Par Port

• DOS 2.1 Operating System

• Okidata 92P Dot Matrix Printer (160cps)

$2399

IBM PC

The Great Deal! Coastline Color Sys •

2 Drives 256K Memory • Color Card w/Par. Port • HX12 Color Monitor

$2395

IBM PC

2 Full Height MPI Drives Keyboard & Dr Controller 256K Memory

$1549 IBM PRO

EXECUTIVE SYSTEM

IBM PC w/256K 2 360K Vz High Dr w/Cont 10 Meg Internal Hard Disk Monochrome Monitor Mono Card w/Par Port DOS 2.1 Operating System Juki 6100 Letter Quality Printer (18cps)

$3495

CALL FOR DAILY SPECIALS!!!

INTEL Math Coprocessor

8087-3

(FOR IBM PC AND COMPATIBLES)

$119.00

Call for 8087 for IBM AT

AST SIXPAC +

Comes with 384K

Expandable

Clock Calendar, Par/Ser Port

Plus Software

$359.00

IBM Memory Upgrade

For IBM & Compatibles

9 - 4164

64K Upgrade $19.95

128K Upgrade $40.95

IBM CABLE

Computer to Par Printer 6 Foot Long

$14.50

BMC

1 3 Amber Mnnid »i

$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

HERCULES GRAPHICS CARD

Monochrome w/Par Port For IBM & Compatibles

$319.00

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>OZ7«3«vJvJ 120 day warranty)

OKIDATA 92P

With Plug and Play

$339.00

CALL FOR NEW PRICING ON . .

STAR MICRONIC

GEMINI'S

Mail Orders To: 1956 W. 153 St., Gardena, CA 90247. Terms: Visa, Mastercard, COD;s and Wire Transfers. No surcharge for credit cards. UPS, Federal and Emery shipping available. Calif, residents add 6Vz% sales tax. Prices subject to change without notice. Not responsible for typos.

Inquiry 76

MAY 1985 -BYTE 499

41

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 package soon. ADDMASTER CORP 416 Junipero Serra Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776 " 213/285-1121.

CHIPS 'n DIPS

QUANTITY ONE PRICES

8087-3 I

(129.00

8088

29.00

256K ORAM

12.00

64K DRAM 150 ns

2.20

64 K DRAM 200 ns

2.18

128KDRAM

Mostek 1 50 ns

18.00

SW 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 2517 . The Mall Duxbury, MA 02331

617-934-2414

6809

Single Board Computer

itfo MP0. i s*lat pU ^fptiroisttodffcj-\ RAM. EPROM. real-time clock, watchdog timer, 44-pin 4.5 • 6.5 PCB EXPANSION MODULK: 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.

Lafayette. IN 47904 I 317-742-M28

Inquiry 12

Inquiry 71

Inquiry 420

3M &

diskettes

51/4"

Specify soft. 10 or 16 sector

Minimum Order 20

Single sided double density

1.49e

1.99e

Double sided double density

Certified Check - Money Order - Personal Check Allow up to 2 weeks for personal checks to clear Add S3 00 per 100 or part to each order for U PS. shipping charges NJ Residents add 6% sales tax.

eX~C4-04NEe. INC 178 Route 206 South, P.O. Box 993 Department C Somerville, N.J. 08876 • (201) 874-5050

15-BIT A/D CONVERTER for IBM® PC

+ /-5 V011 INPUT RANGE. FULLY DIFFERENTIAL

0 025% ACCURACY. 4 CHANNELS

7SAMPLES/SEC0ND

6 CHANNEL THERMOCOUPLE THERMOMETER

FULLY DIFFERENTIAL 64 CHANNEL DATA LOGGING SOFTWARE

VOLTAGE. CURRENT OR THERMOCOUPLES

16 CHANNEL STRIP CHART INCLUDED

POWERFUL AND EASY TO USE

$2b

$175

S'vt

FOR APPLE II®

BROAD LINE OF DATA ACQUISITION AND CONTROL

PRODUCTS INCLUDING 8-. 12-. AND 13-BIT A/D CONVERTERS SAMPLING RATES UP TO 111 000/SECOND THERMOMETRY, DIGITAL I/O DATA LOGGING SOFTWARE CUSTOM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REASONABLE PRICES

LAWSON LABS, INC.

5700 RAISE ROAD

COLUMBIA FALLS. MT 59912 406-387 5355

RAM -RAM -RAM

64 K 150 NS64KX 1 $2.00

256K 150ns256kh $10.50

* PARTS IN STOCK

* FACTORY NEW, PRIME PARTS

* WILL MEET MOST ADVERTISED PRICES *

* NEXT DAY SHIPMENT*

EC. I.

P.O. BOX 8067

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92728 TELEX: 910 997 6120 EARTH FV CALL (714) 964-5784

Inquiry 121

Inquiry 235

Inquiry 147

WRITE

For creative and report writing. Includes many features missing from WordStar, such as alphabetized directory listings, fast scrolling, and trial printing to the screen Write is $239

Software Essentials

This package contains a word processor, printer program, database programs, and more for $124 For all MS-DOS and IBM PC compatibles

Workman Associates

&

112 Marion Avenue Pasadena, CA 91106

(818) 796-4401

Please request our new catalog

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. S395.00

Tatum Labs P.O. Box 698 Sandy Hook, CT 06482 (203) 426-2184

-_ FOR THE BEST OF US __

"»• THE CYPHER «"■

A COMPLETE 68000 & Z 80 SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH ULTRAHIGH-RES GRAPHICS!!

Inquiry 421

Inquiry 388

Inquiry 279

ESTABLISHED 1977

YfNirH | data

systems

Z-1 50 PC THE MOST COMPATIBLE PC W MSDOS 2 1 MS WORD. MS MULTIPLAN 320K RAM DUAL 5V." DS DD DRIVES $1,929

Z-150 PC W/106MD H.D. $2,450

Z-160 PC PORTABLE w gold 9

SCREEN. 320K RAM DUAL SW DSDD "»» 10Mb HARD DISK & ALL SOFTWARE $2,849

SMC 20O DUAL DRV. SMD IF CTRL BO DGC-100CTRL BD./6V4" H.D.. ST 506 I F

•BOO »325

5V«" HARD DISK SUBSYSTEMS

W/CONTROLLER. ALL CABLES. CABINET. P/S . FAN AND SOFTWARE DRIVERS

SI

27M b

90mSEC S1.525

42M b

45mSEC $1,995

S2M b

30mSEC $2,350 S2

85M b

30mSEC S2.995 S2

105M b

30mSEC S3.695 S3

140M b

30mSEC $4,395 $4

DOUBLE SHOCK MO

12M b INSIDER

.295

,795

095

725

695

495 UNT $639

RQDIME

ounmum

MICROPOL1S Mqp^or

RQDIME

CALL FOR IBM-PC/AT SUBSYSTEMS

(onnpuPro

WE STOCK, SUPPORT, AND AGGRESSIVELY SELL ALL COMPUPRO PRODUCTS CALL OUR EXPERT SALES DEPT FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALUES AMONG THESE ARE

SYSTEM 816/C H40 W/ BV4" 8. 8" FLPY $7,777 SYSTEM 816/10-H40 $5,595

CPU286 CSCW/80287 CO-PROCESSOR$1,449 CPU32016 WITH MMU $699

HUDSON 8087 PIGGY BACK FOR 8085/88 $435 RAM22 A8.T 256K STATIC RAM $939

RAM23 A&T 128K STATIC RAM $479

MDRIVE/H 512K $625

MDRIVE/H 2Mb $1,839

FUJITSU 2302B 23 2Mb 8" ADD ON H.D $1,995 DISK 2 8" H D CTRL SET FOR ABOVE $495

MORROW

PIVOT PORT W/DUAL 5'/4" DRVS„ BATT .

640K. MODEM. MSDOS. NEWWORD CALL

MD3 W TERMINALS BROTHER HR15XL $1,645 MD2 WITH MDT 70 AND

HR 10 PRINTER SI.449

MD5 W/ TERMINAL 81 BROTHER HR I 5 XL $2,025 MD11 W/ TERM & BROTHER HR35-XL $2,979

Vectrix

THE COMPUTER GRAPHICS COMPANY

TODAYS 672X480 HI-RES GRAPHICS SOLUTION FOR YOUR MICRO COMPUTER W/9 BIT PLANES. 512 COLORS PIXEL FROM PALETTE OF 16.800.000 COLORS. 384K GRAPHICS RAM STAND ALONE RS232 VX384A $3,395

VX/PC 2 BOARD SET WITH 4096

COLOR PALETTE S2.195

VXMA 13" HI-RES COLOR MONITOR $1,395

IBM PC INTERFACE CABLE S150

VX/PC PAINT PROGRAM S400

^STANDARD PAINT PROGRAM S72B

S-100 DIV./696 CORP.

14455 NORTH 79TH ST.

SCOTTSOALE, AZ 85260

r^ ProModem 1200 from.

PRO MODEM 1200 hayes compat

WITH BUILT-IN POWER SUPPLY $298

1 200A APPLE CARD MODEM $297

1 200B IBM PC CARD MODEM W MITE $265 1200 M MAC MODEM W CABLE 8. MITE$365

CO-PROCESSOR $79

ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY $79

U.S. ROBOTICS, INC.

PASSWORD 1200 AUTO ANS /DIAL $249

S-100 BD. 300/1200 MODEM "NEW $295

IBM PERSONAL MODEM W TELPAC $289

IBM PERSONAL MULTIFUNC. MODEM 64K $465

TELPAC FOR MSDOS $59

COURIER 2400 $525

SOFTWARE

SALES 800-528-3138

CUST. SERVICE/TECH. 602-991-7870 TELEX 9103806778 SONEHUND

ij^inll'ii Amcodyne

THIS IS THE FINEST HARD DISK

SYSTEM YOU CAN BUY!

it s speed (35mSEC AVG. ACCESS) and

efficiency (BACK-UP 20Mb IN 10 MIN.)

ARE SUPERB FOR MULTI-USER AND/OR NETWORKING CONFIGURATIONS.

ARAPAHOE 7110 SUBSYSTEM w/

CONTROLLER. CAB . P/S, FAN, CABLES, SFTWARE DRIVERS,8" 25Mb FIXED

AND 25Mb REMOVABLE

TURBODOS. COMPUPRO CONCURRENT DOS & CP/M816. AND MSDOS FOR IBM-PC. ETC. SUPPORTED S4.795

8" SS SD OR AS SPECIFIED SOFTWARE IS NOT RETURNABLE

BDS "C" COMPILERS BIT S99

COMPUTER INNOVATIONS C88 "C" S299

COMPUVIEW VEDIT 86 ■ »156 MS DOS S120

DATAFLEX M ULTI- USER DATA BASE CALL NEW WORD WORD PROCESSOR WITH

30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE $169

LATTICE C (CP/M86 8, MS/PC-DOS) $299

LOTUS 1-2-3 $299

CLOSE-OUT 60% OFF EXISTING INVENTORY

STARSOFT'S ACCOUNTING PARTNER

CP/M80 8" $239

dBASE II 8" CP/M 808.86 $295

MicroPro

H DIGITAL RESEARCH

CALL FOR SUPER LOW PRICES ON LATEST VERSIONS

"C" LANGUAGE COMPILER-86 $229

terminals:

LIBERTY TERMINALS

WYSE-50 14" 132 COLUMN

CALL

$499

MONITORS

! TATUNG

AMDEK 710 HI-RES RGB COLOR $595

PRINCETON GRAPHICS HX 12 S449 CM-1322 13" RGB-TTL

640X400 $395 $395

TAXAN RGB VISION 420 $439

ZENITH ZVM 122A AMBER NON-GLARE $89

ZENITH ZVM 123A GREEN NON-GLARE $89 ZENITH ZVM 136 13" RGB 640 X 480 LONG

PERSIST PHOSPHORS FOR INTERLACE $595

printers:

BROTHER DAISYWHEEL

HR-15XL SER OR PAR 17 CPS (366

HR-2S SER. OR PAR. 23 CPS $626

HR- 36 SER. OR PAR. 36 CPS »849

BROTHER DOT MATRIX

2024L 24 PIN HEAD. GRAPHICS $935

BROTHER M1009 60 CPS 6LBS. *196

EPSON ALL MODELS Si ACCESSORIES CALL OKIDATA ALL MODELS & ACCESSORIES CALL

drives:

WE SERVICE 5V4"OR 8" $45

FLOPPY DRIVES

r PARTS + SHIPPING

MITSUBISHI ELECTRONICS

A 4851 Vi HT 5'/4" 48TPI 4853 ViHT 5V." 96TPI M2894 STD 8" DSDD M2896 V, HI 8" DSDD SANYO 5V." VjHT FLPY $109

$125 $139 $369 $389

(5) ujongtek'

PC-36 60Mb TAPE BACK UP FOR IBM-PC 5Mb MIN PC-INTERNAL SUBSYSTEM $1,525

PC-EXTERNAL SUBSYSTEM $1,595

■="=-=— — PC W/266K. FLPY 8. i^i?|" 10Mb H.D. 82,330

9 CHIPS/SET:

64K RAM 4164-150 NS $16 95

256K RAMS @ 150nS $79.00

8087-3 MATH CO-PROCES. $139

MUSCLE-150XT ibm-pc i so watt

REPLACEMENT P/S W/ ALL CABLES $125

m^m m ^vni

SUPER RES 400 UP TO 64K DISPLAY

BUFFER D UAL PORTED. 640 X 400.

25KHz, UP TO 16 COLORS GRAPHIX PLUS II RGB MONO

COMP OR TTL RIO PLUS II 384K 2S. P. G PORTS SUPER I/O II W/ALL CABLES

S. P Ij G PORTS QUARTER BYTE 256K FOR SHORT SLOT SUPER RIO 256K W ' S, P. G PORTS BIG BYTE 384K MEMORY BOARD GRANDE BYTE 2.5Mb FOR IBM-AT RIO GRANDE 1.5Mb. 2S. P. G PORTS

TEGM/M?

DYNAMIC MEMORY 64K GRAPHICS MASTER - HIGH RES COLOR LAB MASTER W TM40PGL AND LABPAC SOFTWARE

■--' ADVANCED DIGITAL

PC-SLA VE/16-256K bmhz

2 SERIAL PORTS - TURN YOUR

PC INTO A HIGH SPEED MULTI-USER

MACHINE W/ TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY

SUPER SIX 128 6MH;

SUPER SLAVE 128 6MH;

SUPER 186/256K MSTR. SLAVE-4 USERS

CP/M 3.0

TURBODOS VER. 14 8 BIT MULTI-USER

$269 S369

$149 $229 $349 $269 $1,419 $1,065

$139

$459

$750 $695 $525 S1.295 $300 $450

/

Mf Intercontinental W± Micro Systems

a* ~ —'

CPZ 48006 6Mht MASTER $739

256K MB MEMORY BOARD $709

CPZ 186 256 K $1,275

CPS■ 1 6 266K 8MHz 8086 SLV »989

CPS-B4D 64K RAM SLAVE 4MHz $389

CPS-B6A 128K RAM SLAVE 6MHz «629

MUTD-E Z80 MULTI TURBODOS *666 TURBODOS CONFIG. "I" Z80 OR 80186 MASTER.

Z80 OR 8086 SLAVES 8, PC NETWORK $939^

FULL DEALER SUPPORT VISIT OUR SHOWROOM Hrt. 8:30AM - 5:00PM M-F

lnquiry<134for Dealers. lnquiry435for End-Users

All marehandise new. Wa accept MC, Visa. Wires, COO (*5 mm fee) \ Cashiers Check MO. PO's from qualified firms APO accepted. Shipping minimum 84 first 3 Lbs Tax A2 Res Only add 6% sales tax. All returns subject to 20% restocking fee Advertised prices for Mail Order Only Retail prices slightly higher Phces subject to change.

BUILD YOUR IDEAS WITH TUTSIMji^

Design a real system model by simulation! TUTSIM allows you the' power to model, con- / duct experiments, eval/ uate strategies and much more. TUTSIM models:

■ Control and Servo Systems

■ Robotics

■ Fluid Dynamics

■ Batch Chemical Processes

■ Biological Processes

■ Thermodynamics

Write or call for more information For the IBM PC's and other microsShort form $29.^

200 California Ave., #214 Palo Alto, CA 94106

(41r»t Ui-4H00

Real-Time Multitasking Executive

■ ROMable ( 3K)

■ No royalties

■ Source code included

■ Language interfaces

■ Low interrupt overhead

■ Inter-task messages Options

•C. Pascal, PL/M, Fortran Interlaces

■ CP/M-80 BDOS interlace ■IBM PC DOS interface

• Extended memory (■ 64K) •Configuration Builder

Utility

• Resource Manager •Buffer Manager

■ Integer Math Library

■ Real-Time C Library

AMX Hot 8080) $800 US

(for6809) $950US

(for 8086) $950 U.S.

Manual only $ 75 US

(specify processor)

D

jM

^

AMX. AMX86. Real-Time C areTl

KAOAK Products Ltd Z80isTMolZilogCorD CP'M-80 isTM of Digital Resear IBM PC OOS aie TM of IBM Cor

KADAK Products Ltd.

U

V6J1Y5

Telephone (604) 734-2796

Telex 04-55670

Inquiry 255

Inquiry 35

Inquiry 225

I..OW OOST E C E > t> KOM

UN T V ERK A I.

I - u ex; i* a mm i-: iv

~i-fT>*t

» SUPPORTS: ■KPHOHS) 2516 THRU 64, 2716 THRU 512, 27C16 THRU IZH, 6H732 THRU 66 (EEPROMS) 52B13 THRU 33, 2816A THRU 64A (MICROS) 8741 THRU 49H

* NO PKRSONAIITY MODULES, ONBOARD POWER SUPPLY

* RSZ32C INTERFACE. X0N X0FE, RTS, CTS, DTR

* ACCEPTS KEYBOARD KNTHY WITH LINE EDITING

* ACCKPTS ASCII. INTEL. AND MOTOROLA FORMATS » USER FRIENDLY MONITOR FOR I/O DEBUGGING

* FAST PROGRAMMING SUPPORTED: 2764 UNDER 3 M!N.

* LOW/HIGH BYTE PROGRAMMING FOR 16 BIT DATA PATH

* BYTE. BLOCK, OH CHIP ERASE (EEPROMS ONLY)

* LIST IN INTEL OH MOTOROLA HEX FORMAT

* VERIFY PROGRAM AND VERIFY BLANK COMMANDS

* 1409-01. 4K FIRMWARE. PCH, XFORMER, DOC $90.00

* 1409-02: 1409 01 * F'ULL SET OF PAHTS $200.00 » 1409-OX ASSEMBLED AND TESTED UNIT $300.00 « 140911: 8K FIRMWARE, PCH, XFORMER, DOC $125.00

* 1409-12: 1409 II * FULL SET OF PARTS $250.00 « 1409-13: ASSEMBLED AND TESTED UNIT $350.00 « COMMUNICATION DRIVERS FOR MOST PC'S $35.00

B8cC M I CHOSYSTEMS

6322 M0JAVE DR, SAN JOSE, CA 95120

Tel.(408)997-7685. TWX 4995363

SPECIAL DISKETTE OFFER

verbatim Datalife Disks have 6 datashielding improvements for greater disk durability and longer data life. PLUS! if you call, write, or utilize reader service in response to this ad—well send you our full-range catalog of computer supplies with Special Offers good for further savings on verbatim diskettes and many other quality products.

Call or write for our discount catalog.

LYBEN COMPUTER SYSTEMS

1250-E Rankin Dr., Troy, Ml 48083 Phone: (3131 589-3440

DATALIFE • THE NAME IS THE PROMISE THE WABHANTY IS THE PROOF

Get the Proportional Printing Program which Really Works!

Get type-set quality true proportional spaced printing from unmodified WordStar and NewWord document files. PropStar prints on most daisy-wheel printers with ps type-wheels including Diablo, Qume, NEC, Brother, Juki, S-R, C.Itoh and many others.

PropStar is a stand-alone program, not a patch to your w.p. program, it maintains correct letter spacing, never crowds capitals (even on short lines), gives higher quality print than modified WordStar. PropStar supports most of the common WordStar and NewWord print enhancements. No installation patching required. For CP/M-80 systems on 8" and 5-1/4" media, also for MS-DOS systems on 5-1/4" PC media. Only $ 49.95, Visa & M/C o.k. Specify computer and printer. Dealers wanted.

CIVIL

COMPUTING

CORPORATION

■arch Drive Suite i California 94550 14 I ''I 4S*j-8D86

Inquiry 248

Inquiry 75

EIA RS 232

Quality cables with immediate delivery and low prices.

Conductor

Price

1-4

1 1 50 + 15/ft

5-7

12 00 + .22/ft.

8-12

13.00 + 30/ft.

13-16

14 00 + 40/ft.

17-25

1 6.00 + 50/ft.

Specify Male or female connectors, length of cable and pins to be connected. Extended Distance. Centronics (Parallel). Coaxial (RG59U. 62A/U). Dual Wang, Twin-axial. Ribbon. IBM, DEC Compatible cables and AB Switches also available We supply connector parts, bulk cable, tools and hardware (wall plates), for those who prefer to build their own cables

Communication Cable Company

PO Box 600-U Wayne, PA 19087 V^ 215-964-9404 J

Osborne

As available only! Very limited quantity.

Important Always call to check availa bllity before ordering.

To fix yourself, or for parts. Complete, but known not working.

Guarante days. Ma or leturb ding on Exch/ Repair

?d for 30 1 be new . depenrvail.

Ouuighl

Mam Board OS-1

$49

$79

$159

Main Board Exec.

Si 59

$139

$299

Battery Pack, 40 Watt

—

$49

Double Density Kit ** " Includes board, cabl

, docume

nation &

$79

disk

5" CRT (Grn/White)

$9.95

$19

$29

7" CRT (Amber)

$19

$49

$99

15" CRT, no case

$85

Drive Analog Card

$9.95

$29

$59

Drive Mechanism

S2b

$59

$29

Power Supply

$4.95

$24

Keyboard (No enclos.)

$19

—

S99

Shipping charged on all orders

Computer Parts Mart 415-493-5930 200 Park Blvd * Palo Alto * CA 94306

28 PIN PROM BLASTER

WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY*

Plugs into your

IBM PC, XT or PPC and

programs most 28 pin

EPROMS. Includes the

following features:

* Menu Driven ■ Edit function for the data buffer* Moves systems memory data bufiiT < i*erforms a check sum • Reads EPR0M into data buffer i program the following EPROMS: • 2764 • 2712X • 272S6 • 2764A • 27128*

OTHER APPARAT ADD-ONS: 2^ Pin Prom Blaster, AT Wb Combo Card, ^i2K RAM Card, J84K RAM/Clock. Hard Disk Subsystem, .Add-on Disk Drive. Clock t jkiKlar, 2%K RAM Card. Parallel Serial Card for PPC. ! 2K S84K Short Slot RAM Card for the PPC and more

ApparatJnc.

ADD ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON

•H01 So. Tamarac Parkwa\ Denwr, 00 80237 > 303/741-1778

ORDERING AND DEALER INFORMATION

800/525-7674

Stores in Denver & Chicago "On all cards sold after June !, 1<W4

Inquiry 81

Inquiry 103

Inquiry 33

1DM PC Compatible Hard Disk Subsystems

As Low As:

$599

Internal

External

$599* BQPRIPCSUB10I

10Mbyte

$799* BQPRIPCSUBIOX

$999* BQPRIPCSUB20I

20Mbyte

$ I 1 99 BQPMPCSUB20X

S1595 BQPRIPCSUB33I

30Mbyte

Si 795 BgPRIPCSUB33X

'Half-height drive Shipping charges Internal $5 00 ' External S900

t High-speed drift. 30m access aid high-speec are perfect far netwarkhig systems'

2ji( precision

'*\\

100MHz

Dual Trace

Dual Time-Br \1Z

Base KrbmrX

W^S^ pROBES INCLUDED!

BQBKP1580

List Price: $1595.00

\

VIDEO MONITORS

IBM-PC" COMPAT1DU MONITORS

TAXAN 12' grew screen tor IBM l&bs BQTAX121 S 159

TAXAN t2" amber screen tor IBM I8lta B0TAX122 5 169

TAXAN 1? color flGB w/catte 2BtS BQTAXRGB420 J 469

GENERAL USE

SANYO 12MH2 12" Amber 18 lbs SANYO 1BMH* 12" Green 24 lbs SANYO 18MH; 12" Amber 24 lbs TAXAN iflMHj 12" Green 18 lbs TAXAN 1BMNI 12' Amber IB tos SANYO '3 RGB cow 7MM: 30 Bs TAXAN 12 RGB color 6Mm 50 lbs

STD CARDS

Super RIO (64K) Super 1/0 II BIO PLUS H (MK) Graphic PLUS II QUARTER BYTE GRAND BYTE RIO GRANDE

BOSY0OM22I2

B0SY00M8112CX

BQSY0DM8212CX

60TAX115

60TAX116

BOSY00M75O0

BOTAX220

(2 lbs each)

BQSTBSRIO

BOSTBSIO

60STBRI0P1S

BOSTBGRPLS2

BQSTBOB

BQSTBGB128

BOSTBRGB128

S 79 S 129 $ 129

s m

% 379 S 319

5 319 $ 199 S 2S9 S 395 S 219

s m

t 449

TECMAR BOARDS

The CAPTAIN- Mutli board 64K BQTECCAPTAIN $ 259

GRAPHICS MASTER* BQTECGRMSTR S 499

EXPANSION CHASSIS lor IBM PC" BstttBGTECEXPCHS S 749

HERCULES GRAPHIC CARDS

High res monochrome card

BOHECGC

S 339

Color card wrth printer pott

B0HECC0L0R

S 179

QUADRAM CARDS

EXPANDED 0UA0B0ARD (0 K|

BQOOROOBRDXPO

S 239

0UA060AR0 II

BQODRQDBROllO

S 229

QUADCOLOH P

BGQDRQOCLRi

S 199

QUADCOLOR 1"

BOOORODCLRII

S 449

QUAD 512 (64K instated)

BQG0R00512+

$ 259

OUAOUNK

B000RQ0LINK

S 539

QUAD VUE

800DRQVUE

S 299

QUAD SPRINT

BDOOROSPfllNT

S 549

Serial int card 1-RS232

BQODRRS232

S 89

Parallel card

BQODRIPIC

$ 89

KEYTRONICS

IBM PC~ replacement keytjrrj 5 fcs BQKETKB5151 SI99

IBM PC?" replacement keyWS BGKEYK8515UR $199

PCfr- Numeric Oata Entry Pad 3 lbs B0KEYKB5149JR s 89

PARADISE

5 Pack MulWuncln card 384K Muiu Display Card Modular Grapncs Card

64K eioanswi tor above exp io 384K

Parallel port lor above

Serial port lor above

B0PAR5PACK384 S249

BOPARMDC S349

BQPARMGC $295

BQPARM0DA384 $169

BOPARMOOBQAR $ 79

BOPARMOOBSER $ 79

IDM-PC Power Supply

180W Drop-In Replacemeni B0TEATP409B

WYSE 50

Liberty Freedom 50

TERMINALS

32 IbS BQWYS5C 34 IbS 60LIBF50

Surge Suppressor Noise Filter

BQWBRDG115S list $49 95

iSh wt 2 Ibs I

MODEMS

HAYES

2400 Dps Smanrrwdem 4 hs 1200 Baud Smanmodem 4 trs 1200 Baud lor IBM-PC- w/sottware 300 Baud Smanmodem Micomodem il lor Apple

BODCH2400

BQDCH0400P 80DCH1200B BOOCH0200P BQDCH701400

$ 595 $ 429 $ 429 $ 249 $ 249

PROMETHEUS

1200 baud auto draians 4 lbs BPPRMPM1200 $ 299

ProModem IBM-PC* card w/sothwre ProModem Apple II card w/software ProModem lor Macmtosri w/cable & sortwwe AlphaAium display for ProModem Oplnns processor lor ProModem 64K Memory «D lt» optnns processor

BPPRMPM1200B $ 289

BPPRMPM1200A $ 349

BQPRMPM1200M S 399

80PRMDISPLAY $ 79

BOPRM0PTPR0 S 79

BOPDBQRMEXPW $ 19

64K&256K Memory Expansion Sets

64K Expansion Contains BQPDBIBMMEM9 9 64Kx t 150nSRAMs fSI-M':>l 256K Expansion Contains BQP0BIBMMEM36 36 64KX 1 150nS RAMs I-ffr*fM 256K Expansion Contains BQPDB256MEM9 9 256K x 1 RAMs f-^/Of'T']

PRINTERS & DUFFERS

S-100 CPU HOARDS

Srappinrj wagrit on all S-100 War* 2ffis earj>

DISK DRIVES d" DRIVES

SIEMENS Stngle side dW/density I8lbs BOSIEFDD1008 S 125

2 to 5 Drives $110 each/6 or more Drrves $99 eacti WORLD DISK DRIVES Double srie BOWD02008P $ 219

dot/density 18 lbs 2 10 5 Drives $199 each

6 or more Dnves $1B9 each MITSUBISHI dH srte <M dens Ml B0MITM289463B S 375 TANOON H rwgnt sgl si*, dbl dens 9*s BQTNDTMB481E $ 319 TANDON ft rwght dbi srJe dpi dens M 8QTNDTM8482E $ 389

5V<" DRIVES

SHUGART 40trk ft height, dot side 3lbs B0SHUSA455 $ 99

SHUGART 40 Irk Vht dbi Ode SttS BOSHUSA465 S 99

TANOON 100-2 40trk lull heigh! BOTN0TM1002 $ 149 dot side 4t>s.

5 V*" HARD DISK

SHUGART SA712 12 Mbyte BOSHUSA7T2 $399

SHUGART SA604 5Mbyte 6QSHU604 $ 99

Seagale ST225 M r»gn 25Mbyte 5fts B0SEAST225 $ 695

Seag3le ST225 Formatted lor IBM PC BOSEAST225F $ 749

QUANTUM 42Mbyle Hard disk 9lbs BOQTM0540 $1395

82A w/tractor leed 25 lbs 83A * tractor leed 35 lbs 84A - parallel 35 lbs B4A - serai 35 bs 92A - parallel 25 lbs 92A - serial 25 lbs 93A - parallel 35 lbs 93A - serial 35 lbs

OKIDATA

B00RIDAT82AT $ 349

BO0KIOAT83AT $ 589

BQ0KIDATB4AP S 895

B00KIDAT84AS S 979

B0.0KIUAT92AP $ 469

B00KI0AT92AS $ 610

BO0KIOAT93AP $ 699

BO0KIDAT93AS $ 925

CompuPro 8085/88 dual processor

CompuPro CPiJ-7. SMHz

CompuPro 8085/88 6V8MrU

CompuPro CPU-8086 10MH;

CompuPro CPU-80286

CompuPro CPU-286 w/80287 chip

CompuPro CPU-68K 10MHz

CompuPro CPU-68K w.-Mem Mg> 10MH;

CompuPro CWj-32016 6MHj

SOS S9C-300 4MH;

SDS SBC-300 6MHI

ADVANCED DIGITAL SuperSi* wmoppy

controller 128K RAM

ADVANCED 0IGITAL 4MHI SBC. 5V."

Itoppy controller 64K RAM

ADVANCED DIGITAL 4MHz SBC 8

Ibppy controler. &4K RAM

BOGBTA041

BOGBTA537

BQG8TA04'

BQG6TA044

B0GBTA494

BDGBTAD48

BQGBTA340

B0GBTA341

BOGBTA054

B0SDS38095

BQSDS36092

BQADCSUP6128

8QADCSBCI5

BQADCSBCta

$ 259 $ 249 $ 249

s m

S 895

$1195 $ 395 $ 695 S 795 i ;-? S 699 $ 699

$ 595

S-100 RAM DOARDS

MANNESMANN TALLY

MT160L 80 col 21 6s BQTALMT160L $ 575

MT180L 132 col 28 Ibs BOTALMT180L S 799

PRACTICAL PERIPHERALS

64K Mrcrobuller iseriall 2lbs B0PRPMB1S64 $ 249

&4K Mtcrobutfer >parallelt 2rbs B0PRPMB1P64 $ 249

MicroButler 11+ tor Apple (ser 4 pari 2 6s8QPflPMB2Pt.usi6 $ 159

EPSON & STAR IN STOCK!

Call For Our LOWEST PRICE!

CompuPro RAM23 / 64k CompuPro RAM 23/I J8K SDS ExpandoRAM 111/696 SDS ExpandoRAM IV MACROTECH 1 Megabyte CompuPro RAM 22 ' 256K

BDGBTA316

B0GBTA3I9

BOSDS38097

BOSDS3B088

BOMACMAXM

BOGBTA070

S 349 S 599

$ 499 $ 825 S2195 $1099

S-100 RAM DISK DOARDS

CompuPro M-Drrvem* 512K SDS RAM disk 256K

BOGBTA072 BDSDS38082

$ 599 S 649

S-100 I/O DOARDS

vector interfacet ii CompuPro imertacer 3 CompuPro imertacer 4 CompuPro Sysiem Support i SOS 4 port Async serial SDS 8 pott Async senai SOS 8 port 4-Async 4-sync CompuPro PC VKfco S-100 Card

BOVCT80OGF2B $ 259

BOGBTA076 $ 449

BOGBTA060

BQGBTA103

B0SDS38096

BQSGS3B093

B0SDS38094

BOGBTA356

s m

s m

$ 449 S 529 $ 649

1" DOUble Sided Nashua

Double Density Diskettes ^skettes

LJa «S f .20 MCH in P«K« 0.50

BQ50S2SO IS1 00 X2"^^ ^ ^ . 050 EftCH in Cartons ol 1000

— . M?^noo-t^50.0O/tlrt•n)lS^wl3()lbs,l

T, r.c.l» -— 1—I" ■■*"■ "' ""

S-100 CONTROLLER DOARDS

FOR FLOPPY DISKS

B CHSKU DMA B0G8TA0U S 449

FOR HARD DISK CotpuPto DISKS Seagate ST500 senes BOGBTA0fl7 s S49

ADVANCED DIGITAL Seagate 500

compatiwe

BOADCHOC100I5 S 399

DISK DRIVE ENCLOSURES

6 ENCLOSURES

ParaOynamcs dual desktop 35lbs ParaDynamics dual rack mount 35ICS JMR Dual Oeskiop 30lbs

BQPDN2200D S 479 B0PDN2200R $ 499 BQJMR2C8 S 229

5V4" ENCLOSURES

JMR Snow Sits

JMR Dual Wi hetgnt gius

JMR Dual lull height w/niernat uaia

eaMdajB

JMR Dual hall hagnt vert mouni 7lbs JMR Single hard disk enclosure iGlbs JMR Dual hard disk enclosure 20lbs

BOJMR1C5 BOJMK2C5

BOJMR2C5C

BQJMR2SV5 B0JMRHOC51 BQJMRHOC52

S 199 S 299

PRIORITY

9161 Dsering Ave

i^-naTswc

ELECTRONICS

CA 91311-^x387

Inquiry 326

ORDER TOLL FREE (600) 423-5922, Local: (616) 709-5111

MINIMUM PREPAID ORDER $25.00 Terms US VISA, MC.BAC. Check. Money Order. US Funds ONLY CA residents add 6"2% Sales Tax IncludeMINIMUM SHIPPING & HANDLING of S3 00 for the first 3 lbs., plus 40C for each additional pound (20c if within California) PLUS 25tt per $100 00 value of your order lor Insurance Orders over 70 lbs sent freight collect Just in case, include your phone number Prices subject to change without notice We will do our best to maintain prices through May, 1985 Credit card orders will be charged appropriate freight We are not responsible for typographical errors

Oi

>

(OI

I mi

I.OJ

O Q>

ho M

!<M i

lol

I ORDER TOLL FREE (600) 423-5922 (NOW IN CALIFORNIA, TOO!)

|*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 protec 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,

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 l"U*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.

|*U*CO™:

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 wasnt 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 wasnl 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 for the elimination of bugs which shouldn't 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

But when the workers organized, they got lot of power.

Even automobile owners learned the lesson a long time ago. Back when the early drive got tired of dirt roads, they organized tr American Automobile Association...an that's part of the reason the United States is laced with an incomparable highway am street system today.

Needless to say, the computer indust knows the value of organization as well.

Computer manufacturers, softwan publishers and others eager to get as mu< as they can from you have formed varioi associations to acheive such lofty goals ; making sure that they can' be he responsible when their products don't work

everyone was trying to help each other learn * t**™* vou ,rom "Py"* ,he software y<

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.

"licensed" from them...so they can sell you a back-up disk.

In short, everyone seems to have learm the benefits of getting organized and gainii power.

Except the personal computer owner a user.

And that's why there has to be an I'U'CO1

504 BYTE • MAY 1985

I'U'CO™ Is designed to be what 'ery collective organization Is: a eans to protect the special terests of its own members)

^nd, in this case, the members are the :tims...the people who own and use rsonal computers.

The people who until now have been o w e r I e s s . First of all, |*U*CO™ means low prices. he first benefit an I'U'CO™ member gets is i opportunity to save money, .ots of it.

While certain manufacturers of software, ripherals and hardware are trying hard to ick down on what they call the "grey irket" (thus keeping prices higher than iy should be), I'U'CO™ will maintain a tabase of every mail-order advertisement it appears in the major national computer igaazines. A similar database will also be 3t for selected major retail markets, so j can take advantage of special sales and he like.

Vhen you want the lowest price on "nothing, just (electronically) mail your jpping list to I'U'CO™. fithin a day, you'll get the three lowest and ist recently quoted prices...and, quite ssibly, special prices that haven't been mortised anywhere!

l*U*CO™ protects you.

>f course, buying by mail or from a supplier j don't know can get you more than low ces.

: can get you problems in delivery, service i general dissatisfaction with the product j bought.

k>, along with the low price quotations, you o get l*U*CO™ member evaluations of the >duct and the vendor and a bibliography of 'iews, letters to the editor, articles and ler information that just might convince j not to spend the money in the first place. (Remember, most sellers are pretty itrictive about returns, particularly oftware returns. )

So, as an l*U*CO™ member, you get: 1. The lowest possible 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 prodducts sound better in their advertising than they are in reality. Thats why so 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 l*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 I'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 512K 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 didn't tell anyone about for 18 months!)

In none of these instances did the manufacturer tell the consumer.

As an l*U*CO™ 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 I'U'CO™ has been saved for last.

Yes, I'U'CO™ 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 I'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 l*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.)

|*U*CO™ will fight for you!

l*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.donl pay much attention to one person.

But when a special group like I'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 I'U'CO™ membership and we'll include FREE a guide /our legal rights (and obligations) as a personal computer owner.

This synopsis, written by an attorney who also happens to be an electrical engineer will e you helpful information on questions such as using copy programs for making your own :k-up copies, how to complain effectively and other issues which affect you as a sonal computer owner.

its a slim volume, to be sure, because unless you 're both rich and tough ng to learn that you havent got all that many rights.

youre

International Union of Computer 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 I'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 429

MAY 1985 'BYTE 505

DoKa

74LSOO

COMPUTER PRODUCTS. Inc. ORDER TOLL FREE

(800) 538-8800

(CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

(800) 848-8008

I MasterCard]

STATIC RAMS

2101

258

4 j450ul

1.00

11(1

268

4 |480u| |Mll|

3.10

2102-1

1024

1 (450..1

79

21021-4

1024

1 |4(0n| |LP|

89

21021-2

1024

i i250ui an

121

2111

280

4 |460ul

2.29

2112

256

4 |450..|

2.29

2IM

1024

4 |4S0ul

.99

2114-25

1024

4 l250.ll

1.10

2I14L-4

1024

4 |150.il ((PI

1.20

21141-3

1024

4 i3ooui an

1.30

21141-2

1024

4 zoom an

1.40

2147

4000

1 |S6n|

3.95

TKS4044-4

4090

1 4-i0.il

2.95

TKS4044-3

4006

1 3(i0ul

3.45

TMS4044-2

4090

1 I200.il

3.95

MK4III

1024

1 I250u|

8.95

TMM20I6-20

2041

1 i200.il

3.95

TMM2016-I5

2041

I Il50.il

445

TMM2016-10

2041

1 (lOOill

5.95

NMIIIt-4

2041

! (200.il Icnil

440

HUB 116-3

2041

1 I50m|[cmiI

4.90

HH6118-2

2041

1 Il20n|lcail|

5.90

HM6I161P-4

2041

8 I200M1 IcmiIILPI

4.90

HM811BLP-3

2041

8 HlOnllcwillLPI

590

HMB116LP-2

2041

8 |I20hI|emM|LPI

790

7-61 32

4008

8 1300m (Octet)

29.95

IW6284P-I5

1112

8 |I50U||C«|)

19.96

HM6264LP-I5

1112

6 1150.iM[».ll ILPI

22.95

HM02B4LM2

1102

8 I120.ll ImnlKPI

24.05

LP = Low Power Qstat = Quasi-Static

DYNAMIC RAMS

TKS4027

UPD4II

MH5280

MM 108

MH5298

4116-20

4116-15

4116-12

2111

4164-25

4164-20

4164-15

41256-20

41256-15

4096 I I 4096 i 1 4096 i I 8102 I I 8102 i 1 16384 I 1 10304 i 1 10384 i I 10384 i I 85536 lI 65536 i I 65536 i I 282144 i1 282144.1

I2S0.1I

|300ul

I300.ll

I200.il

I250.il

I200.ll

II50..I

II20..I

(I50.il |5.l

1250k) |5i|

|200ll) |5>|

ii sum i5.i

1200m II50U)

5« = Single 5 Volt Supply

EPROMS

1102

2708

2758

2710

27IB-I

TM825I6

TM827I6

TMS2532

2732

2732 A-4

2732 4-35

2732*

2732 4-2

2704

2704-25

2784-20

TMS2564

MCK08704

MCMB8766

27128-48

27126-30

27121-25

27256-28

266. 8 1024 i 0 1024 I 0 2048 I 8 2048 I 8 2048 I 8 2048 i8 4016 i 1 4000 i 1 4008 i 6 4006 l 8 4006 i 8 4006 i 6 8102 i 8 8102 I I 8112 ll 1112 i I 1112 i I 1192 i I 18384 i 6 16384 i 8 18314 i I 32788 i 8

ll.il

1450.11 1450.1) |450lll 15.1 I350..I I5l| I450.ll 15.1 ■4i0.ll I450.ll |S.| |450ul 15.1 |450u| 121.1 1350m) 12 111 1250.1) 121II I200UII2I.I I450u| 15.1 |250u| |5)l I200.ll |5l| 1450m (5)1 I450U| I5)| |24-*i| I350.il |5)| 121 Ml I250«l |5)| I300..I I5i| 1250m) |6)| '253.11 (14))

I 45

195

I 15

49

11

79

19

141

3 95

200

2.22

250

12.95

15.95

395 2.49 5.90 2.95 3.95 3.95 696 3.95 3.95 3.95 3.95 5.95 195 4.95 5 95 995 995 17.15 10.06 14.05 10.05 10.15 7995

5) = Single 5 Volt Supply

56

54

145

3.30

48

1.95

68

It

18

98

01

1.70

345

170

115

liS

1.30

190

46

48

.44

44

1.35

1.35

1 35

1.13

1.30

IBS

44

MS

I 15

1 15 145

2 00 35

100

3 95 IIS 215 1.65 1.85 146 0.60 315 3.15 3.15 3.15 2.36 9.1 S

23.05 145 1.45 1.45 1.45 2.75 4.20

CRT CONTROLLERS

1(45 11.95 1275 2195

6(145 IMS 7220 38 95

HD46S051, ... 11.95 C(TS027 1895

(947 0.95 CRT503 7 2I.9S

741(00

23

7418125

48

741.(260

74LI01

24

'4UI26

48

74U2U

741802

.24

7411112

56

74U273

741.(03

24

74U113

59

74U27S

74LS04

23

74U13(

38

141(219

74LI0S

24

74UI37

08

741(2(0

741808

.27

418138

.54

741.(293

74LM9

20

74L8I30

.54

74U290

74U10

24

74UI46

1.15

74U293

74LI11

34

7418147

245

'4LS295

74L9II

34

74KI48

1.30

'41(298

741113

44

74L8I6I

54

"18299

74LII4

51

7418153

.54

7411(23

74LIIS

34

74U164

165

74UI24

741.920

24

74UISS

68

741(352

741821

28

74L8I56

68

741.(353

741822

24

74L8157

64

74LS363

74LI2S

29

7418158

56

741(9(4

74LS27

20

74U110

86

'41836b

74I.J2B

34

74LS161

.84

74U1II

741(30

24

74UK2

68

74UM7

741(32

29

74UI63

84

74U3K

74U33

54

74UI64

66

74U371

74L837

34

74L8I65

(4

741.(374

74:838

.34

'4(8166

190

74U377

741840

24

7 4UI68

170

74(8378

74L842

48

74L8169

170

7418376

74L847

74

74U170

1.46

7418385

741848

74

74U173

68

'4L8386

741.(49

74

74L8I74

54

74(8360

74L851

.24

741(175

54

74U9I9

74US4

28

741(1(1

210

74(8305

74LS56

28

ML8189

8 90

74LS399

741883

120

74UI90

98

74K424

741.(73

.38

74UI91

81

74L1447

74LS74

34

741(1(2

.79

74U490

74LS75

38

74U193

79

'4(8624

74U70

38

74U194

68

74UM0

74L(7(

41

74L3I95

08

74UMS

741.(83

59

74UK0

7(

'4(866!

74(865

68

74U197

76

74(8669

74UM

39

74U22I

88

74LM70

74LS90

54

74U240

.94

741(674

741(91

88

74LS241

98

74UU2

741892

.54

741(242

98

74(5663

741893

.54

74U243

98

'4(8684

74LS95

.74

7418244

125

74(8885

74(896

81

74U24S

145

74((688

7418107

38

74U247

.74

'4(8689

7418109

38

74LS24J

98

74(8783

7418112

36

74L8249

98

91 UK

7418113

38

74L925I

58

9IUN

74L8114

.36

741(253

58

8K897

74LS122

44

74U257

58

81(898

7418123

It

74L825S

58

25(8252:

741(124 2 15

74(8258

2.79

25(82569

MC1372 6.(0

19047 21.18

7*899164 0P8350 .

3695 4(95

DISC CONTROLLERS

1771 ...

.... 14.9S

2797 ....

... 54.15

1791 ...

.... 21.9S

1143 ....

.. 33.15

1799 ...

.... 25.95

1272 ....

... 11.15

1795 ...

... 21.15

UP07SS ..

... 11.95

1797 ...

.... 21.9S

M11(76

. 23.95

2791 ...

,... 49.95

(111877

. . . 25.95

2799 ...

... 49.95

1601 ....

... 1.95

279S ..

... 54.95

2143 ....

. 6.95

UV ERASERS

QUV-T8/1 $49.95

ECONOMY Model

• Erases 15 EPROMS In 20 minutes e Plastic Enclosure

6500 1 MHZ 2 MHz

65022 4.90 1502* 5.19

6504 1.10 65204 (.11

6505 1.10 6522A 9.90

(607 9.90 65324

6520 1522 1532 1545 1(51

4.30 6545* 4.90 1551* 1.90

990

10.90 12.90 10.90

3 MHz

9.90 05021 7.10

6800

1 MHz

1102

1103 .

6101 . 6609E

6809 .

111! .

1120 .

1121 . 1121 . 1140 .

1143 .

1144 .

1145 . 6147 . 6650 . (652 . 11(0 . 11(2 . 1176 . 1110 . 1113

2.90 7.90 17.(0 12.90 1.10 1.10 2.10 4.30 2.90 19.90 11.(0 33.(0 24.(0 11.10 10.90 2.90 5.90 7.90 10.90 6 90 1.90 21.90

68B0O 2 MHz

58800 (((02 . (((09 . 68609E 69(10 . (((21 . 66640 . 66845 66850

0.(0 11.90 11.90 11.90

5.90

5.90 18,90 i(.90

5.(0

680OO

68000-6

((047

68488

66652

((((I

((7(4

66766

34.00 23.(0 '8.80 14.(0 (.00 17.06 I (.(5

8000

(031 14 90

1035 5.90

1099 (.90

IN8-8060 11.90

1(6-8073 29.

(0(0*

■Oil

6085* 2

6086

1017-9 (5 »m 1017-2 l!»Hd

1011

8081

3 90 . 4.(0 . 11.(0 . 24.00 .159.90 279.90 . 19.90 . 5990

(253 (.(0

(253-5 7.(0

(255 4.41

(255-5 4.(0

(257 7.(0

(257-5 (.(0

8100

(131 2.(0

(155 (.10

(155-2 7.(0

(151 0.10

1115 21.00

(1(5-2 38 90

8200

(259.

6259-5 8271... 8272... 8274... 8275... 6270... 8279-5 9292... 9293. (2(4... 8286 (2(7... (2(8... 8289.. 8292...

8300

8202 ...

.... 29.(0

8203 ....

.... 38 90

6205 ....

.... 2.N

8212

.... 1.71

0214 ....

.... 9.71

0216 ....

.... 1.75

8224 ...

.... 2.20

6226 ...

.... 1.75

8228 ...

.... 9.41

8237 ....

.... 12.00

6903 6304 8307 6306 6310 8311

2.10 1.00 2.00 2.10

3.90 3.(0

(237-5 14.(0

(238 (243 (250 (2(1 . (251*

445 4.45 9.90 3.90 4.45

8700

9741 28.90

6748 10.00

8749 28.90

(75S 23.(0

80000

80186-8 ((.(0

801(6 69.(0

2 MHz

Z-80

ZS0-CPU .. Z(0-CTC .. Z(0-0*IT .

280- DM* ..

zoo-pio

Z80-8I0/0 Z80-8IO/1 Z80-6I0/2 . Z(0-(l0/(

195 195 (95 7.95 195 895 8 95 895 6.95

Z((t-(l0/0 .

Z(0*-(l0/l . Z80»-SI0/2 .

780*810/9 .

9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95

6 MHz

4 MHz

z(0»-cru ..

Z(0»-CTC . ZS0»-0»RT . Z60A-D6U.. Z60*-fl0

2.45 2.45 795 8.95 2.45

Z80B-CPU .. ZS0I-CTC Z60B-PIO ZI0I-DMT . Z80B (10/0 Z(0 810/2

7.(6 895 (.(( 18.95 29.95 29.95

ZILOG

Z6I32.

78671 .

29.95 39.95

MEMORY EXPANSION KIT

4164 200ns 9 for $19.98

DIP SWITCHES

4 POSITION 7

5 position J

6 POSITION I

7 POSITION (

( POSITION I

ZIF SOCKETS

14 pie ZIF 4.

16 811 ZIF 4.

24 pta ZIF 8.

28 ll. ZIF 8.

40 |l» ZIF |.

ZIF = TEXTOOL (Zero Insertion Fore

IC SOCKETS

(1 to 99)

lei ST 12

14 pi. ST 14

15 pie ST 11

18 pie ST II

21 MS IT 28

22 III ST 29

24 Hi ST 29

28|*. ST M

40 pa (T .41

ST = Soldertsll

8 pi. WW :4 pi. WW 16 ill WW 18 |li WW

21 pta WW

22 pta WW 24 pta WW 21 pta WW 41 pta WW

WW

I.' 1.1 Ii

Wlrawra

CRYSTAL CLOCK OSCILLATORS

PA1T NO. FREQUENCY

1.000 1.0000 MHl

1.143 1.1432 NHz

2.000 2.0000 MHz

4.000 4.0000 MHz

8.000 8.0000 NHz

10.000 10.0000 NHz

16.000 16.0000 NHz

18.432 18.4320 MHz

10.0(0 19.6608 NHz

20.000 20.0000 NHz

32.000 32.0000 NHz

CRYSTALS

1.0000 NHz . 1.8432 MHz 2.0000 MHz . 2.0972 MHz 2.4576 MHz . 3.2768 MHz . 3.(711 MHz . 4.0000 MHz . 4.1049 NHz . 4.9110 NHz . 5.0000 NHz . 5.0111 MHz . 5.1850 MHz 5.2429 MHz . 5.7149 NHz . 6.0000 NHz . 6.1440 MHz 6.4000 MHz . 6.5596 NHz .

.2.68 .2.11

195

1.95 . 1.15

195 .1.11

1.95 . 1.06 .1.16 .1.(6 .1.(1 .1.(1

195 .1.01 .1.95 . 1.95 .1.95 . 1.96

8.0000 NHz.. 10.0000 MHl 10.7386 MHz . 12.0000 MHl 14.3102 MHl. 15.0000 MHz. . 16.0000 NHz.. 17.4300 NHz. 18.0000 N Hz. 16.4320 MHz.. 19.6608 MHz. 20.0000 MHz 22.11(4 MHz. 32.0000 MHz 36.0000 MHz 48.0000 MHz 49.4350 MHz. 49.6900 MHl .

1.1

6.S 6! 6.1 6.! 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.! 6.1 6.1

32.766 KHz II

VOLTAGE REGULATOR!

7I01T 74

78N06C 14

7(0(7 74

7(12T 74

7(1ST 74

7I24T 74

7I01K 134

7812* 134

7815K 1.34

7824K 1.34

71105 B8

78112 Jl

78(15 Jl

78H05K S 90

7IHI2K 1.10

7II5T... 7I0IT... 7112T... 7(157... 71247... 7005K. .

mil...

7IIIK... 7I24K... 7IL05... 79LI2...

7(116. . LM329K.. 0*78(40

C,T = TO-220 K = TO-3 L = TO-92

506 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 139

ROBOT KITS!

PIPER-MOUSE

Controlled by sound sensor and 1 -channel electronic circuit. Use the whistle in this kit and Piper-Mouse follows your commands, turning left or right, stopping and starting. Uses 2 AA and 1 9V battery (not included).

MV-915 $44.95

RIBBON CABLE

SK6LE COLOR

COLO* COOED

CONTACTS

V

10'

r

10"

10

.46

4.30

7«

7.20

16

.60

4.70

.05

1.70

20

.60

6.60

1.15

10.00

25

.70

8.50

1.2?

11.50

26

.70

650

1.27

11.60

34

.03

1.50

1.56

14.40

40

i.n

11.50

1.12

16.70

SO

1.20

12.00

2.40

21.00

RESISTORS

V* WATT 5% CARBON FILM

ALL STANDARD VALUES FROM1 OHM-10MEGOHM

50 PCS 1.25

100 PCS 2.00

1,000 PCS 15.00

Checkmate

Technology,

Inc.

\PPLE Me Special

Extended 80-Col.

VIDEO CARD

$6g 95

• 64Kto128K*

1ULTIVIEW 80/160 249.00

0-160 columns with any monitor!

> Screens: 80x24, 80x32, 80x48, 96x24,132x24,132x30,180x24

> On-screen BOLD and Underline i Reverse scrolling

' Easy-to-read Wide-angle mode

> Apple II and lie compatible ■ Prompt lines

' Upper & lowercase letters

APPLE & IBM ACCESSORIES

80 Column Apple 11+ ... 149.95 80 Column Apple HE ... 119.95

Z80 Apple II+ 89.00

Z80 Apple HE 89.00

16KCord 39.95

Cooling Fan 38.95

Power Supply 74.95

Joystick 29.95

RF Modulator 13.95

Disk Drive 169.95

Controller Card 59.95

Paddles 7.95

♦

INNOVATORS IN MICROCOMPUTER TECHNOLOCV

VIEWMAX-80 M9.95

80-Column card for Apple II series

• Video Soft Switch

e Inverse Video

e VIDEX's Vldeoterm compatible

VIEWMAX-80e 119.95

80-Column extended video card for Apple He

e 64K RAM, expandable to 128K e Double High-resolution circuit e Compatible with Pascal & CP/M

PRINTMAX 59.95

Parallel printer card, Apple II series

• Centronics compatible

• Variable print widths

e Up to 5000 characters/second

APPLE & IBM Compatible DISK DRIVES

• Shugart mechanism, made in U S.A

• Directly replaces Apple Disk II

• Fully compatible with Apple Controller or other Apple compatible controllers

• One Year Warranty

FULL or %-Height

16K RAM Card - Apple 11+

• 2-Year Warranty

39.95

APPLE or IBM JOYSTICK 95

$29

Compatible for either: APPLE II and APPLE lie

OR

IBM-PC, JR., & IBM-XT

MULTIFUNCTION CARD

• 64K to 384K RAM e Clock Calendar

• Parallel Part e Software included

• Serial Pert • 1 -Year Warranty

$249.95 MEMORY CARD

• Expandable to 512K

• Folly compatible with IBM software

• Fully compatible w/IBM diagnostic utilities

• Serial Pert Unliable

• I-rear Warranty

$199.95

MEMORY EXPANSION KIT

Assembled & Tested

4164 200ns 9 for $19.98

DISKETTES

5W'

ATHANA: ( w/hub rinb )

25 per package

SS/DD 29.75 or 1.19 m.

DS/DD 34.75 or 1.39 ei.

LIFETIME WARRANTY ON ALL ATHANA DISKETTES

Bk.BS> e Ann » SOFT SECTOR »

NO LABEL:( w/hub rinb )

25 per package

SS/DD 24.75 or .99 n.

DS/DD 29.75 or 1.19 oi.

2-YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL BULK DISKETTES

ROBOT KITS!

PEPPY

2-way sensor detects noise or solid objects in its path. When front sensor contacts an obstacle or hears a loud noise (hand-clap), Peppy automatically turns to the left. Uses 2 AA and 1 9V battery (not included).

MV-916

$24.95

Reg. Power Supply

Model 4A/PS (99/4) 3 DC Outputs:

12V @ .4A,+5V@ 1.1 A -5V @ .2A Highly Filtered

6.95

KEYBOARD (99/4)

48kevs4"x10" 6.95

TERMS: Minimum order $10.00 For shipping and handling, include S2 50 for UPS ground or $3.50 for UPS Blue (air) For each additional air pound, add $1 for UPS Blue shipping and handling California residents must include 6% sales tax. Bay area and LA residents include 6'.°c sales tax Prices are subiect to change without notice We are not responsible for typographical errors We reserve the right to limit quantities and to substitute manufacturers All merchandise subject to prior sale

I CALL for VOLUME Quotes

HOURS: Mon. - Fri 7:30 to 5:00 Saturdays 10 00 to 3.00

VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE

2100 De La Cruz Blvd

Santa Clara. CA 95050

(408) 988-0697

ALL MERCHANDISE IS

100% GUARANTEED

DoKoT"

Inquiry 139

MAY 1985 -BY'

SPRING CLEANING

Call Toll Free Now!

PERSONAL SYSTEMS

APPLE

Apple Professional System incl: Apple ME. 128K, Tilt

Monitor.Duo Disk. 80col.card $1375

Mac 128K w/Drive. Mac Write, Mac Paint and

mage Writer 2425

FatMac512K,sameasabove 2995

Apple lie 989

Apple He w/Monitor & Stand 1059

IBM

IBMPCBarew/Cont.&64K $1345"

IBMPC64K, 1 Drive 1475"

IBM PC64K, 2 Drives 1575'

IBM PC 128K, 1 Drive 1495'

IBM PC 256K. 2 Drives 1599"

IBM XT. 10 Meg. Floppy &128K 3295"

IBM AT Base Call

IBM AT Enhanced Call

* Call For Current IBM Prices

KAYPRO

Kaypro II Call

KayprollX For

Kaypro 4 Current

Kaypro 4/88 Price

Kaypro 10 And

Kaypro 16 Stock

SANYO

MBC 550-2 w/1 320K Drive & sftwr $ 895

MBC 555-2 w/2 320K Drives &

more software 1065

Serial Port for Sanyo 79

Sanyo Video Board 165

TAVA

TAVA PC1 Par & 1 Ser. Ports. 128K. 2-320K Drives.

Color Card & Monitor $1499

TAVAXTsameasaboveincUOmegHdDisk . . $2495

COMPAQ

256K. w/2-320K Drives $1945

Desk Top Model 1 1650

Desk Top Model 2 1999

Desk Top Model 3 3795

DeskTopModel4 4995

SOFTWARE

LOTUS DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Lotus 1-2-3 $ 289

Symphony 434

ASHTON TATE

DBase II $329

DBase III 389

PRINTER SWITCHBOX

SRS-2 Serial $ 65

SRS-4Serial 89

SCN-2 Parallel 79

SCN-4 Parallel 98

Run 2 to 4 Printers off 1 Computer

20% to 40% OFF LIST ALWAYS

PRINTERS

OKIDATA

ML182A. Replaces 82A New" $ 279

ML83A. 15" Para. & Ser 539

ML92P. 160 cps.Corr. Quality 349

ML92IBMGraphicsComp 349

ML92S. 160cps.Corr. Quality 465

ML92 Apple Mac. 2K Graphics 475

ML93P.160cps.Corr.Quality 579

ML93IBMGraphicsComp 579

ML93S, 160cps.Corr. Quality 659

ML84P,200cps 679

ML84IBMGraphicsComp 679

ML84S.200cps 779

Okimate20 139

lnterfaceModuleforOKI20 79

RITEMAN

RitemanPlus120cpsw/Tractor $ 257

Riteman Blue Plus 140 cps IBM 342

Ritemanll 160cps.8Kmem. w/Trac 369

Riteman 15.160cps. 15"carr 549

QUME

Letterpro20P Prop. Spc. Enh Prnt $ 399

Sprint 1140+. 2K, 40 cps.

132col. width 1229

STAR MICRONICS

SG10Ft.120cps.corr.qual $ 239

SG15Ft.120cps.corr.qual 399

SDIOFt, 160cps, corr. qual 359

SD15Ft, 160cps,corr.qual 475

SR10Ft.200cps.corr.qual 499

SR15Ft,200cps,corr.qual 629

SB10Draft,144cps,NLQ60cps 795

Powertype. 18 cps Bi Di 359

C. ITOH

Prowriter8510 AP. 120 cps, Parallel $ 299

Prowriter8510BC2.120cps.Serial 399

Prowriter8510SP, 180cps, Parallel 399

8510 BPI (IBM Compatible). 120cps 335

Prowriterll 1550 P. 15" 120 cps. Parallel 445

Prownter II1550BCD. 15" 120 cps. Serial 499

1550EP(IBMCompatible). 120cps 445

1550 SP. 180 cps 549

StarwriterF10-40PU,40cps 869

Starwriter A10,205P,29cps 499

PnntmaslerF10-55PU,55cps 1069

BROTHER

HR25,25cps $ 629

HR35,36cps 839

DYNAX

DX15XLByBrother,20cps $ 379

JUKI

6100. LQ. 18cpsw/proporlionalspc $ 389

6300.40cps 689

TOSHIBA

P1351 Dot Matrix. 192 cps. letter quality 100 cps. does

graphics. 3 in 1 printer $1195

Pt340sameasabovebut 10"carr 585

PANASONIC

1091 w/Tractor. 120cps. 1 yr. war $269

1092,10" car, 180 cps 439

1093,15" car. 160 cps 669

LEGEND

880.80 cps. FT 4 Graphics $ 229

1080. 120cps.FT&Graphics 275

CLEARANCE

COMPAQ

Desktop 1

RGB Comp. & Para.

APPLE

Professional System $1375

IBM PC

2 Drives, 256K

Color Card w/Para.

51845

ORANGE MICRO Grappler +

PARADISE 5 PACK •175

INTEL 8087 S115

PRINTER ACCESSORIES

ORANGE MICRO

Grappler + $ 85

Buffered Grappler + . 16K exp. 64K 159

TOSHIBA

Bi-Directional Tractor $ 149

FontDiskforDownloadingP1351 48

MICROTEK

DumptingGX(sameasGrappler +) $ 69

DumphngGXw/16Kbuffer 145

Dumpling GX W/32K bulfer 12

Additional Buffering 16K 16

FOURTH DIMENSION

Par. Card & Cable for Apple $ 45

OKIDATA

Plug and Play for IBM $ 49

Okigraph I for82A 49

Okigraph I for83A 49

Traclorfor82A&92 49

JUKI

Bi-Directional Tractor. 6100/6300 $ 145

Serial Interface 65

BROTHER

TractorforDx-15 $ 99

Tractor forHR25 129

Tractor for HR35 129

CulSheetFeederforDXi5 175

Cut Sheet Feeder for HR25/35 199

Keyboard for DX15 165

STAR MICRONICS

Graphstar. Apple Interface $ 69

Universal Atari 79

Universal Commadore 59

Serial Interface Card 59

CABLES

IBM PC to Parallel Printer $ 18

SerialCable 18

Cent toCent.M/MorM/F 18

IF YOU SEE IT ADVERTISED FOR LESS,

CALL COMPUTER CONNECTION FIRST

FOR LOWEST QUOTE!

GIVE US A CHANCE TO BEAT THE COMPETITION'S ADVERTISED PRICE.

NO SURCHARGE TTT^T

FOR CREDfT CARDS VISA

We accept VISA. MasterCard, COD [w/deposit]. Certified Checks or Wire Transfers. Minimum Shipping Charge $4.00. Some items sub|ect to back order. California Res. add 6V496 Sales Tax. All returns are sub|ect to a 15 % restocking charge and must be authorized by store manager within 10 days. Prices subiect to change without notice. This Ad supersedes all others.

CLEARANCE SALE

[800] 732-0304

SPECIALS

PRINTER BOX

A-B Para/Serial

S79 / $65

STAR MICROIMICS

SG-10Ft S239

PARADISE

5 Pack, Serial,

Clock, Cal. 0-384K

S175

PANASONIC

KXP 1091

S269

TOSHIBA P351 S1295

MPI FOR IBM S75

TEAC 55B S97

APPLE & FRANKLIN ACCESSORIES

ACCESSORIES

Kensington System Saver $ 69

Fan for Apple II & HEw/surge 45

APPLE

Super Serial Card $ 139

Cont. Card w/Pro Dos 80

Monitor II 159

80 Col Card 65

ASTAR

RF Modulator $ 17

MICRO-SCI

64K. 80 Col Card $ 85

ADVANCED LOGIC SYSTEMS

Z Engine 2.2

CPM/3.0

115 245

MICROMAX

Viewmax 80e. 128K extended 80 col. card

lorApplellE $124

Viewmax80.80Col.CardforApplell&ll+ 139

DISKETTES

PC DISKETTES

Sgl./Dbl. (Box ol 10). . . Dbl./Dbl IBoxof 101.

16 18

COMPUTER CONNECTION

Sgl./Dbl.(Boxof 10) $ 14

Dbl;Dbl.(Boxof 10) 16

Sgl./Dbl w/DiskCon1ainer(10) 20

Dbl./Dbl. w/DiskConlainer(10) 22

Bulk 50 & Up — Sgl./Dbl 1.25ea.

Bulk50& Up — Dbl./Dbl 1.35ea.

All Diskettes come w/5 Year Warranty

IBM PC ACCESSORIES

IBM

IBM Mono Card w/Printer Port $ 245

IBM Mono Monitor 225

IBM DOS2.1 59

IBM Dos3.0 69

IBM Tech Ref. for PC 85

AST RESEARCH

Six Pak + vy/64K $ 255

Mega Plus II 265

Monograph + 329

PARADISE

Modular GraphicsCard $ 265

Module A Paralell or Serial 75

Module B 189

5 Pack 175

PC PEACOCK

Color Graphics Card w/Par. Printer Port, Compat. w/AII IBM Software. 2 yr. war $ 199

64K MEMORY UPGRADE

64K(9 chips) 200 ns, 90day war $ 16

QUADRAM

Quad Color 1 Board $ 199

Exp. Ouadboard W/64K & Game Porf 249

Quadlink 3000 Run Apple sttwr on IBM 359

VUTEK

Vutek - CPS Board. RGB & Composite w/Par. & Ser.

Ports. 2 Yr. War $ 239

Color Card (Here, comp.) 175

Monographic Card (Here, comp.) 275

TECHMAR

Graphics Master $ 459

PERSYST BOARD

Bob Hi-Res Display Adp $ 375

KEYTRONICS

KB5151 $185

HERCULES

Monochrome Graphics Card $ 345

Color Card w/Printer Port 185

ORCHID

Blossom, like Six Pak + w/Network capabilities $ 245

DATA PLUS

384KMem. Board w/OK $ 115

XT Short Card, 384K Mem 183

Multiplus, same as Six Pak 199

MICROTEK

Monochrome Text Card Par & Ser $ 185

Color GraphicsCard 165

MODEMS

ANCHOR

Mark XII $ 225

Volksmodem XII. 5 yr warranty 185

Express 1200 Call

HAYES MICRO

300 Baud Smart Modem $ 205

1200 Baud Smart Modem 399

1200 B for IBM PC 379

2400 Baud Modem 645

Micro Modem ME 259

Chronograph 189

BIZCOMP

Intelli Modem ST $ 299

Intelh Modem XL w/Voice 339

Intelli Modem XT Short Modem 369

DISK DRIVES

TANDON

TM100-2forlBMPC $ 119

TALL GRASS TECHNOLOGIES

25 Meg. HDw/lntegral55 Meg. Tape Backup $2795

ALPHA OMEGA

10MegHDforlBM13MonthWarranty $699

TEAC

55B Double Sided 360K $ 97

Quad Density 169

IBM

IBM Logo Disk Drive $ 160

MPI

B-52forlBM $ 75

Drives For Apple & Franklin RANA SYSTEMS

Elitel $199

Elite II 339

Elite III 389

Controller add 85

MICRO-SCI

A-2 $174

A.5C for lie w/cable 185

A.5 V, height for HE 199

Controller Add 59

DISPLAY MONITORS

QUADRAM

Amber chrome IBM compatible $ 175

AMDEK

V300G $ 129

V300A 139

V310AforlBMPC 159

Color300 249

Color600 416

Color 710 545

TAXAN

Composite#115. Green $ 120

Composite#116. Amber 125

IBMGreenMonochrome#121 139

IBM AmberMonochrome#122 145

RGB IBM w/Cable #420 389

RGBSuper Hi-Res. #415 393

RGB Super Hi-Res. #440 529

RGB/Comp Med. Res. #220 245

PRINCETON GRAPHICS

HX-12 for use with IBM PC $ 455

Max12AmberforlBM 175

SR12SuperHi-Res 595

Scan Doubler 185

ACCESSORIES

8087 Malh Chip $ 115

COMPUSERVE

Starter Kit Includes; Infoplex. Electronic Conferencing, Professional ForumsandMuch More $ 39 Executive 55y

MOST ORDERS

SHIPPED

SAME DAY

MAIL ORDER & WAREHOUSE:

17121 South Central, Unit L Carson, California 90746

CUSTOMER SERVICE: [213] 635-5065

Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Inquiry 95

ORDER LINE (800) 732-0304

[Outside California)

(213) 635-2809

[Inside California]

Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

'IBM and IBM PC are trademarks of International Business Machines

510 BYTE • MAY 1985

1984 Display Telecommunications Corporation

CHOICE OF MAJOR OEM MANUFACTURERS, UNIVERSITIES,

RESEARCH LABS ETC A THOROUGHLY FIELD PROVEN DESIGN. "" ^ i-«do t \*. H|QH VOLUME PRODUCTION ENGINEERED.

FULL IBM PC-XT* COMPATIBILITY! FULL MEGA-BYTE RAM CAPACITY ON MOTHERBOARD!

DEALERS AND OEM MANUFACTURERS QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

Eight Compatible I/O Interface Connectors

(Full PC compatible) (compatible with all IBM-PC* plug-in cards)

THOUSANDS

SOLD WORLD WIDE!

Hardware Reset

. (Overcomes reset flaw in PC)

Power Connector

(Full IBM* pinout compatible)

8088 Processor

(Same as PC)

Special J1 Interface

(Allows horizontal mounting of compatible expansion cards for easy bus expansion and custom configuring) (Board has 62 pin gold plated compat ible connector)

8087 Numeric Processor

(Same as PC)

Peripheral Support Circuits

(Same as PC)

Extended ROM Capability

(Runs all compatible PC ROMS) (Jumper programmable 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)

Configuration Switches

(Same as PC)

Speaker/Audio Port

(Same as PC)

Wire Wrap Area

To facilitate special custom applications!

Triple-tested, fully socketed and assembled with IC's.

Full Mega-Byte Ram Capacity! On board!

(With parity)

□ 256K Bytes using 64K chips

□ 1 Mega Bytes using 256K chips

Includes highest quality PC board with gold plating, silk screen, solder mask

Board Size io.s inch x 13.5 inch

□ MEGA-BOARD™ — XT

BBARE 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

FREE! Displaytel™

Exclusive.

Our Commitment to

Microcomputer

Education!

FREE Intel 8088 Data Book with each Mega-Board™ Order!

ORDER NOW!!! Fast. friend|yservice

CALL 214-991-1644

L^IGB

Immediate shipment! Most instock items shipped same or next day!

10 Day money back guarantee if not completely satisfied!

DISPLAY

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CORPORATION

4100 SPRING VALLEY ROAD TERMS: We accept cash, checks

qi iitp Ann money orders, or purchase orders from

bUI Ih 400 qualified firms and institutions. Prices

DALLAS. TX 75234 and availability subiect to change without

(214)991-1644

notice Shipping and handling charges extra.

*IBM and IBM PC are trademarks of International Business Machines Inquiry 137

©1984 Display Telecommunications Corporation

MAY 1985 -BYTE 511

California Digital

17700 Figueroa Street # Carson, California 90248

SEC RGB,^-*

color fyCQ

MONITOR

The NEC JC-1401D is a 13' medium/high resolution RGB monitor suitable tor use with the Sanyo MBC-550/555 or (he IBM/PC. The monitor features a resolution ol 400 dots by 240 lines. Colors available 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 tor use in their Office of the Future equipment A change in Monroe s marketing strategy has made these units excess inventory which were sold to California Digital We are offering these prime new" RGB monitors at a fraction of then original cost Sanyo compatible NEC-1401 'S. IBM/PC Computer compatible NEC-1401/PC

MONITORS

BMC 12A green phosphor ' b MHz composit video

BMC 12 h,gn resolution 20MHz

Amdek 300C- 12 green phosphor

Amdek 300A 12 amber phos Mi->eso*oi>on

Amdek 310A designed to-IBM PC amber

Zeni!hZVMt22 Amber Phosphor 12 40 BO column switch

Zenith ZVM123 green pnosphor 12 40-BO column switch

' rn phosphor 'ft MHz composit video

merna arade comDOSil

12v supply

COLOft

NEC JC1401DMedium.High 13 RGB

BMC AU9191U Color composn video with sound

BMC 9191M RGB designed 'or use with the IBM compute'

NEC JC1203DM. RGB color monitor

NEC JC 1215 color composit

Zenith ZVM135 RGB & composite suitable id IBM PC

Amdek Color I 13 composit video

Amdek Color II - 13 RGB hi resolution

Amdek Color III- 13 RGB medium resolution

PnncelonHX-t2 RGB IBM PC compatible

BMC i2A BMC -12 EN UW WOG

AMK-jOOA

AMK-310A

ZTH-122

ZTH-ZI23

NEC JB1201

NEC JB12C ■

CON-BW9

NEC-J401. X

BMC9191

BMC-9t9tM

NEC-1203

NEC JC12I5

ZTH-Z135

AMK-100

AMK-3O0 PRN HX12

n ■•■:■ IS K

...,. „

3S I-.. 156 ■■■

BS K

■-':',■ X I19O0

59 DC

259 U0

238 95 379 0O 699 00 339 00 47S00 299 00 419 95 359 95 4 78 95

PRINTERS

MATRIX PRINTERS

Slat Gemini 10X120 char/sec STR-GtOX

Star Gemini 15X 100 char sec 15 paper STR-G15X

Slat Gemini Delta 10, 160 Char sec STR-D10

ToshibaP1351 192char/sec letter quality TOS-1351

Okidaia 62A serial & parallel 9", paper OKI-62A

Okidaia 92A parallel miertace, 160 chare sec OKI-92A

Okidaia 83A& parallel i5 paper OKI-83A

Okidaia B4A4.parall6l 15 paper OKI-B4A

Epson RX-80 10" 120Char/sec EPS-RX80

Epson RX-aO/FT (fictions tractor EPS-RX80FT

Epson FX80FT. 10" 160 char; sec withgraphtrax EPS-FX80

Epson FX100FT 15 160 char .-sec with graphtra* EPSFX100

EpsonLQ1500. 15 corespondence quality EPS.LQ1500

Epson JX80 Color pnnler EPSJX80

Prownter 8510 parallel 9* -' paper PRO-8510P

Prowrner II patallel 15 paper graphics PRO-2P

Dataproducts B-60XK3 oand printer 600 LPM DPS-B600

Pnntronix P300 high speed printer 300 lines per minute PTX-P300

Pnntrom* P60O ultra high speed 600 lines per minute PTX-P600

WORD PROCESSING PRINTERS

SlarwhierF" 10 parallel JO char sec PRO FlOP

NEC861O 55 char second senal interlace NEC-881O

NEC8830 55 chat. sec. par I interface NEC-8830

NEC35S0 populat printer designed tor the iBM'PC NEC 3550

NEC2060 des<gned lor IBM. PC 20 ctiaf sec pan NEC-2050

Silver Reed EXP500 14 char sec par I interlace SRD-EXP500

Silver Reed EXP550 17 Char sec par 1 interface SRD-EXP550

Diablo 630 40 cha' sec senal DBL-630

Diat>lo620 proportional spacing no'i i ven tap 20cps DBL-620

Juki 6100 18 char.'sec JUK-61OO

Juki 63O0 40 char sec tti!i'V^i.n

Com»eitCR2 5k Duffer proportion* spacing, par l CRX-CR2P

TERMINALS

249 00 365 00 359 00, 1495 00 299 00 379 00 '::ty IX)

<i;."irio 239 00 ;■ "1 in) :v.iy no 599 tin (079 00 579 00 329 00 599 00 6965 00 3995 00 5795 00

499 00 1659 00 1659 00 1599 00 689 00 319 00 429 1■ ---.: 3 ...i 769 00 39900 699 00 395 00

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 812 by 120 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 $219.

Also available is a support package which includes demonstration software, interface cable, amulticolor pen assortment and a variety of paper and transparency material.

1200 BAUD

MODEM

The Team 212A offers all the features of the Hayes1 Smart Modem 1200 tor a fraction of the price Now is your opportunity to purchase a 1200 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 1200 baud modem. TEM-SM1200

Freedom lOO split screen detatchaple keyboard

Qume 102 green phosphor terminal

Ampex Dialogue 125 green screen

Ampei DialOuge 17S amber screen twopage tunc keys

Wyse SO 14 green phosphcn

Wyse 300. Eight color dtspiay split screen

Zemlh 29 terminal VT52 compatible delated Die keyboard

Televideo 910 Plus block mode

Televideo 925. detachable keyboard 22 funchon keys

Televideo 950. graphic char .split screen, 22 tunc

Televideo970. 14 green. 132 column, European

LIB-F100

QUM-102

APX-DI2SG

APXOI7SA

WYS-50

WYS 300

ZTH-Z29

TVI-910P

TV I-925

TVI-950

TVI 970

495 0O 539 00 6 '■ X) 719 00 595 00

1159 00 765 00 575 00 759 00 950 00

1095 00

PROMETHEUS

ProModem 1200

*—*319

The Prometheus Promodem 1200 is besi 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 Help commands, real time clock and internal speaker add to the ease ol use of this unit. An optional processor accessory allows battery back up. extra memory space tor storing additional pbone numbers, messages received and can act as a transfer butler when exchanging programs The Alphanumeric display option allows messages saved lo be displayed when Ihey were received, diagnostic test results numbers in the directory, as well as modem status

Team 1200 Hayes Compatible TEM SM1200

CTS 212AH 1200 baud auto dial CTS-212AH

Te-mmai software tor CTS 212AH CTS-212SFT

Prometheus 1200 super features PRM P1200

Prometheus 120OB internal PC PRM PI2006

Signalman Mam 12 1200oaud. Hayes compatible SGL-MK12

Signalman Mark t direct connect with Terminal cable SGL-MK1

Hayes Smart Modem'200baud autoanswer autoriai HYS-212AD

Hayes 1200B tor use with trie IBM. PC 1200baud HYS-12008 Hayes Smarwnodem 300 baud only autoanswer aulod«ai HYS-103AD

Hayes Micromodem II 103 Apple direct connect HVS MM?

Hayes Chionograph. time & date HYS-CHR232

US Hobotics212A300 1200baud autocrat answer USA 212A

Pennt 300 1200 mdustnal quality PEN 12AU

Universal Data I03LP. line power answer & ongmate UDS I03LP

Universal Data 202. t200baud. halt duplei onty UDS-202LP

Universal Data 212LP lull 1200 baud duple ■ l>ne power UOS-212LP

319 00 279 00 239 00 75 00 429 00 399 0O 229 00

278 :■"

■ ■•■< ,

: ■■- .-: 495 00 169 00

jle IIE/2 Computer features a 12" non-glare green phosphor CRT. typewriter style keyboard with separate numeric cluster. This unit provides two 5 1/4" drives for a combined storage capacity of 780 K/Byte The computer contains a 4Mh2 Z-80A, DMA disk interlace, two RS-232C serial ports. Centronics printer interface, along with an auxiliary parallel port

Software included consists of ULTRACALC electronic spread sheet. SPELLBINDER word processor, CBASIC2. CP/M 2 2, and an exclusive Eagle menu driven utility package. These units are all 'factory new ' and are being ottered far below their suggested price of S2495 This is your opportunity to purchase a complete CP/M system for only $895.

Return of a i Smash Hit Sellout

DRAGON

99

Compatible with most Radio Shack Color Computer software The world famous Dragon computer is now available in the United Slates Manufactured by the Tano Corp under license of the British Broadcasting Company The Dragon comes complete with 64K Byte of memory, senal modem port along with a Centronics printer interface This unique microcomputer 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 in 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 EasyLink or any other time share service.

TOLL FREE ORDER LINE

(800)421-5041

TECHNICAL & CALIFORNIA

(213)217-0500

512 B YTE • MAY 1985

California Digital

17700 Figueroa Street • Carson, California 90248

C.ITOH F10 STARWRITER

LETTER

QUALITY

PRINTER

C. Itoh's STARWRITER F-10 is the answer for the perfect daisy wheel printer. The F-10 produces letter quality printing at 40 characters per second. Auto installs with Wordstar and Perfect Writter. Features extensive built-in word processing functions that allow easy adaptability and reduced software complexity. Industry standard Centronics interface provides instant compatibility with all computers equiped with a parallel printer port.The Starwriter F-10 ac

cepts paper up to 15 inches in width.

These printers were originally priced to sell at over $1400. 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 recently purchased several thousand 10 Megabyte Winchester disk drives. The manufacturer has asked us not to advertise their name. Please telephone for details

MEMORY

DYNAMIC MEMORY

4164 150ns. 64K 128 refresh ICM-41641SO

41256 150ns. 256K ICM-41256150

4116 150ns I6K ICM-4116150

4116200nS.16K ICI4-41162GO

4128 for IBM. AT ICM-4128150

DP8409 dynamic controller ICT-64D9

STATIC MEMORY

211.02 200ns. IK static 21L02 450ns IK static 2112450ns. 2K static 211430Ons.1K i i 4044TMS 450ns 4K > 1 5257 300ns. 4K x 1 6116 P4 200ns. 2Kx8 6116 P3 150ns 2Kx 8

2708 450ns. IK i 8 2716 450ns. 2K i 8 2716TMS4S0ns.Tri2732 450na. 4K x 8

2764350ns BK » 8

27128 350ns. 16Kxi

ICM-21 L02200 ICM-21L02450 ICM-2112450 ICM-2114300 ICM-40444SO ICM-5257300 ICM-6116200 ICM-61t6150

EPROMS

1CE-2708

fCE-2716

ICE-2716TMS

ICE-2732

ICE-2764

ICE-2 71 25

1-31 8.95

3.49 2-50 3 "5 456

1.45

835 29.00

325 235

ug

4 35

3 97

7.25 3.55

6 25 6.95

Shusiart

I

'l These""6.7 Megabyte drives B •- I are new units recently re

i 'fe " ■ leased by the Shugart division

1 iPSSdS^' »M of Xerox' Tne Shugart 604 is s^ameeiSL^ jm fuj|y 506 industry compatible.

Each drive is tested before shipment and is supplied with a 90 day warranty. SHU-604

ive Inch Winchester Hard Disk Drives

FUJITSU M2235AS 27 Meg. 899 859

RODIME RO-208 53 Meg. 1589 1493

MAXTOR XT10140 140 Meg. 3895 3785

SHUGART 712 1 3 Meg. ' 2 Ht 495 465

SHUGART 604 6.7 Meg. 99 89

TANDON 502 10 Meg. 419 395

TAHDON 503 19 Meg. 695 675

SEAGATE 225 25 Meg. 695 625

I ■ f%W48TPl-96TPI

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 SA465'2 Ht.96TPI 119 115 109 TANDON 100-2 full height 149 145 139

TANDON 101-4 96TPI full ht. 299 289 279 MITSUBISHI 4851 half height 139 135 129 MITSUBISHI 4853 96/TPIV2Ht. 155 149 139 MITSUBISHI 4854 8" elec. 295 285 275 GUME 142 half height 219 205 199

Eight Inch Single Sided Drives SHUGART801R 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

GUME 842 "GUME TRACK 8" 319 319 313 TANDON 848E-2 Half Height 459 447 435 REMEX RFD-4000 219 219 209

MITSUBISHI M2896-63 V: 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 6'/2% sales tax. • COD'S discouraged. Open accounts extended to state supported educational institutions and companies with a strong "Dun & Bradstreet" rating.

California Digital

17700 Figueroa Street m Carson, California 90248

IBM COMPATIBLE

OPERATES MS/DOS & CPM86 Monitor and Disk Drives included.

A

99S

The Olympia Computer is a current technology. IBM/PC compatible computer complete with two quad density disk drives. 128K/byte of user memory (expandable to 512K) and a 12 inch high resolution monitor. This unit features a 8086 CPU, a true 16 bit microprocessor, built in RS-232 serial port and a Centronics parallel printer port. The Olympia includes a dual operating system and both MS/DOS 2.1 and CP/M 86 are provided. The computer will also support Concurrent CP/M. And will operate Lotus 1 -2-3 as well as Flight Simulator. The Olympia uses Digital Research's GSX/86 graphics extension system which allows application programs to use the full capabilities of screen graphics.

The original suggested list price on the Olympia Computer was $3,595 but California Digital offering these units, while supplies last, at only $995.

WINCHESTER

SUBSYSTEM jti

For r*

IBM/PC

The California Digital Winchester subsystem provides over 10 megabytes ot 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 m a hard disk system.

TELETYPE I

ANCHOR AUTOMATION

MODEM

The Anchor Automation Mark VI is direct connect modem that plus into any slot ofyour IBM/PC This modem supports auto answer and auto dial capabilities. Other features include telephone number storage, send / receive tex! files, single key-stroke dialing along with many other functions provided on disk. The Mark VLafls originally priced at over $300.

FREE

Plastic library case supplied

with all diskettes purchased from

California Digital.

Each box 10 Boxes 100 Boxes

Spleen

FIVE INCH DOUBLE SIDED DOUBLE DENSITY

MMM>74SiD MMM-745 10 MMM-745/16

VRB-5SO 01

nun io

VR8-550M6

Mr. ■ ■■'

19.95 29.95 29.95

CAL DIGITAL v SCOTCH VERBATIM MAXELL/HD DYSAN

DVS 204/2D

DYSAN/96 K 49.95 47.95 45.75

Other diskettes available include 3W and

all 8" formats. Please phone for prices.

18.75| 17.85 27.95 24.75 27.95i23.75 CALL

DVS.104 2D

DUALTEAC

SUBSYSTEM

t

m

The dual Teac 55F subsysiem features two 96 track per inch 5' 4 double sided disk drives. Also supplied within the subsystem is 50 watt power supply and a four foot shielded signal cable

m

BAR CODE READER For IBM/PC.

S9S

The Teletype Model 40 printer is continuous heavy duty communication equipment that have recently come off lease from a Cado Computer customer It is seldom that California Digital becomes involved in the marketing ol reconditioned equipment but we felt that this printer represented such an exceptional value that we had to offer this equipment to our customers. The full character chain printer is capable of printing text m 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-pan printouts at speeds that can not be attained by dot matrix printers.

This unit also has a four channel vertical lorms leed 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 for setting baud rates to 9600 An optional RS-232 senal interface is available

\\%**

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 bar code products available

DIGIGRAPHICS f

MULTIFUNCTION

179

The Digigraphic 384M multifunction card is 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 pod. and

game port as standard equipment making this card an outstanding value

Software is also provided for clock/calendar functions. RAM-Disk up to 360K.

print spooler for up to 3 printers, as well as diagnostic memory tests.

Si 79.00 no memory DGC-384/0. S219.00 64K/byie memory DGC-384/64.

western union EasyLink

EasyLmk gives any personal computer access to over 1 5 million Western Unions World Wide termimals With EasyLmk 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 Tetex is about $1.75 and a Mailgram has an adverage cost of S2 50 Western Union does require a minimum usage of 525 per month Call California Digital to receive your EasyLink subscriber number

CONNECTORS

DB25P

S-100Gold

RIBBON CONNECTORS

-30360" . . 57-303601 maV 20 pii eoge 20 p." socket 26 | - edgi 26 pin socke! 34 pin edge

50 p>n edge 50pmsocke!

CNC r36P CNC -36S CNI-DE20 CNI-DS20 CNl-DE2b CNI-DS26 CM DE3J CNI-DS3-J CNIDES0 CNIDS50

5 65 5 25

5 95 5 59 ■

- ..,= f --•

795 6 75 :

4 35 3 30 ;

2 75 1 86

4 95 3 50 ;

350 240 :

4 95 4 50 :

4 SO 3 95 :

5 95 5 60 ■ 4 95 4 60 :

AMPHENOL/CENTRONICS TYPE

57 30360 36 P CNC-36P 7 95 6 35 3 97 IEEE468 C dor CND-24P 7 95 6 35 5 35

0 TYPE

DE9P male Tr-S ■•:--;:DEhood DAtSPmale DA 15S female DAI 5 hoot) DB25P male D825S female DB25bood OC37P male DC37S lemale DC37hood DD50P male DD50riood Hardware 2' se

caUlog

CND-9P CND-9S CND-9H CND-15P CND-I5S CND-15H CND-25P CND-25S CND25H CND-37P CND-37S CND-37H CN0-50P CND-50H CND-2HS

etch 10-99 i»+

160 I 40 '30

225 200 1 30

1 SO 1 35 1 20

235 2 10 1 90

3 25 3 10 290 1 60 1 35 130

1 95 1 75 1.35

2 95 2 55 1 65 135 1 15 77

4 20 3 95 3 65

5 95 5 75 5 50 2 25 1 95 t 65 5 50 5 10 4 75 2 60 2 40 2 10

89 69 42

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 institutions and companies with a strong "Dun & Bradstreet" rating.

TOLL FREE ORDER LINE

(800)421-5041

TECHNICAL & CALIFORNIA

(213)217-0500

inQI LTIiyperon cQJoftware

Specialising 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 witn a screen oriented submode Command window Price - $29 95

Order from

HYPERON SOFTWARE

P.O. Box 3349 Costa Mesa. CA 92628

Enclose check or money order California

residents add 6°'c

2532 Orange Ave Costa Mesa, CA

DISKS

AS

LOW

AS

77*

SS/DD

BULK

Highest quality disks, coaplet* with labels and sleeves. 6tt*r *» teed 1001 error ^fee. Full one year realace*ent warranty' Call for voluae pricing and private labeling. tUDID SS/DD +SLEEVE & LABEL ■UD1N SS/DD NO SLEEVE/LABEL MJD2D DS/DD +SLEEVE & LABEL •UD2N DS/DD NO SLEEVE/LABEL

10/*8.80 500/M20 !'"-'i . 1000/*770

'■ i : 100/(119

RFS ICS

2114 2716

2732

2764

4116 .34

4164-130 1.88 3.00 8253 3.50

3.50 8748 18.50

Pay by nc/Visa/A*ev, COD, or send check with order. Ue charge standard UPS/Postal shipping, ith no handling charge. In the USA, we ship only

Money-back 30 day guarantee'

500)343-0472 .sffic

jl,20B HURLEY ST CAMBRIDGE, MA 02141

Send for FREE CATALOG listing 1000's of MEMS!

Monitor Mover Gives Back the Desk

$159.95

• Models to fit most CRT's

• Rotates 360° on base

• Adjustable height

• Support tray swivels and tilts

• Holds up to 50 lbs

• Clamp, screw and wall mountings

LirffekWlllli

P.O. Box 8056

Grand Rapids, Ml 49508

(616) 241-4040

Inquiry I93

Inquiry 404

Inquiry 242

Macintosh'

512K

$1995

Call for prices on other Macintosh products.

I PC'S LIMITED

SIDI TEXAS, OKDEftS ONLY, CALL 1-800-426-5150 7101 N. Unwr, f 1-100, Ami*, Tex., T07S1.

■ AM cbHi i« tie* Teiai end afl n—-irter bqvlri», ]"__■ B Ml (312| 452-0323. BJJJJ l_L'_,

T*l«iNa.«1ft3.0llMKl» ■BE ■«

NEW LOW-COST EPROM PROGRAMMER

Programs MOS EPROMs and EEPROMs to 256k for only $1,450 (U.S. list price). Full-stroke keyboard • Large alpha display • Full editing • Intelligent algorithms • RS 232C • Remote control.

Call (800) 547-4000. Dept. 123** for more information.

"In Oregon 1-603 684 3000

DATA I/O

10525 Willows Road N E . PO Box 97046 Redmond, WA 98073 9746

NEW

Paper Catcher

Stocks printed pages neotly on top of your computer ptinter!

• Rests on top of most Epson and Okidata 80 col. and similar printers

• Saves space

• Eliminates paper stacking problems

• Low $49.95 suggested retail price

See Paper Catcher ot o dealer near you,

Ot contact: Buddy Products

1350 S. Leavitt Street Chicago, II 60608 (312)733-6400

Inquiry 318

Inquiry 452

DSDD-S1 39

IBM PREFORMATTED (360K) $1 55

QUALITY MEDIA-ANY QUANTITY

LIFETIME REPLACEMENT

GUARANTEE

HUB RINGS-TYVEC ENVELOPES

Because we buy in huge volume to

supply software manufacturers.

our prices can't be beat

BlACKSHIP

COMPUTER SUPPLY

PO Box 883362 • San Francisco, CA 94188 (415) 550-0512

Add $3.00 shipping and handling (CA residents add 6.5% ) VISA/MC/COD

Guard Your RS-232 Ports Against Costly Damage

Caused By Lightning*Voltage Peaks

RS-232 SURGE PROTECTOR

Only $34.95 Model 232SP.

Suppresses voltage above 26 volts without affecting normal RS-232 voltage levels. Protects pins 2, 3, & 7. ORDER NOW! Only $34.95 All cash orders postpaid (IL res add 6% sales tax). MC, Visa accepted. FREE: New illustrated catalog of RS-232 Interface and Monitoring Equipment. Phone: (815)-434-0846

electrnnics

P 0. Box 1008B. OTTAWA, IL 61350

NOW C HERE!

CROSS SOFTWARE for the NS32000

Also Available for IBM PC INCLUDES:

* Cross Assembler * * Cross Linker *

* Debugger *

* N.S. ISE Support •

* Librarian *

« Pascal Cross Compiler ♦ » C Cross Compiler *

L'.S. prices start at S500

SOLUTIONWARE

1283 ML View Alviso Rd.

Suite B

Sunnyvale, Calif. 94089

408/745-7818 • TLX 4994264

Inquiry 52

Inquiry 47

Inquiry 370

45 Megabyte

Streaming

Tape System

j ak mr half-hiqh streaming tape drive,

tt^^-fiT'M and

software. Just plug-in and run. ,,BM PC XT, AT compatible

.AuoTatc error checking*, correct** .ZZe year factory «arran<y^ ^

11385 M095*

internal 45 MB lor XT . - "» ^145,

internal 45 MB lor PC - 1*» „,

External 45 MB system _ iw» ^ f

Ixtra 45 MB tape cartndge

New! from JADE

IBM Multifunction Card

Up to 384K. parallel printer port. RS-232 serial por serial cable, clock/calendar, RAM disk/spooler an diagnostic software package.

LIST JADE

OK s349 '198.95

64K s449 '229.95

256K '549 »329.95

384K '649 '399.95

AST for IBM PC

Six Pak Plus 64K Six Pak Plus 256K Six Pak Plus 384K Mega Plus 64K _ Mega Plus 256K Mega Plus 512K _

I/O Plus

Preview

LIST

'395 '695 '945 '395 '665 '1095 '165 '399

JADE 269.95 '399.95

'469.«

>26915 >379.95 •699.« •119 » •309.95

64K RAM Upgrade Kits

for Your $1795

IBM PC "I /

High speed RAM upgrade kit with FREE! parity (error detection) and one year warranty. We ship thousands of these kits to satisfied customers every week.

LIST JAOE

128K RAM Chip Kit lor AT s359 '129.95

OC«V QAM rHIn Ui* SAQC, iPR 95

FREE CATALOG!

To Get Yours, Just Circle Reader Service #215

On Page 529.

GET YOUR IBM PC-AT THE

AST Advantage

. Up to 3 Megabytes of RAM

. Uses standard 64K or 256J< chips

. Has PAL lor split-addressing . low power./bW nigh speed bus . One parallel & one serial port .2nd serial or game port optional

128K, 1 serial, 1 parallel s595

512K, 1 serial, 1 paralle 13»

1.5 MB, 1 serial, parallel 95

3.0 MB, 1 serial, 1 parallel

Expansion Boards for Your IBM-AT

JADE AT-Expando Plus

AT-Memory Master plus

AST Advantage-AT

STB Rio Grande 128K to 1.5M STB Grande Byte 128K to 2.5M Quadport-AT 1S, 1P _ 4 Serial port kit

Quadmeg-AT 1 MEG

Quadmeg-AT 2 MEG

Quadmeg-AT 4 MEG

128K Upgrade Kit

20 Megabyte Hard Disk

IBM Video Boards

Hercules Color

Hercules Graphic

Plantronics Color Plus AST Preview

LIST

_ '495

. '495

_ '595

_ '495

_ '395

_ '154

_ '195

'2465

'3495

'7490

_ '395

'1790

AST Monograph Plus

Tecmar Graphics Master

Quadcolor I

Quadcolor II

PC Peacock

Paradise Graphics Card

Paradise Module A

Paradise Module B

Fvorav Opnhirc Frinp

LIST

'245 '499 '549 '399 '595 s699 '295 '275 '299 '395 _ '95 '275 '599

JADE '479 95 >67995 '989.95 '1689.95

JAOE '395.95 •429.95 •479.95 '359.95 '299,95 '139.95

'179.95

'1995.95

'2995.95

CALL

•129.95

•895.95

JADE •189.95 '339.95 •379.95 '309.95 '449.95 •499.95 '209.95 '209.95 •239.95 •319.95

■87.95

•239.95 •349.95

New PToductslo^ Expand Your PCjr.

AST 512K jrCombo w 128K 512K Multifunc. Card w OK External 360KB Disk Drive

Parallel Printer Port

8087 Co-Processor Card _ Light Pen System

Simultaneous Disk/KeyboanTZ

AST-PCnet lljr LAN

TECMAR CAPTAINjr. w'128K TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER

- s395 '299.I

- '295 '229.! '499 '369.S

. M20 '94.9 M99 '149.9 s299 >229.9

- '59 '44.9 '495 '399.9 '499 '349.9! s699 '499.9!

JADE 1200 BAUD MODEM

Hayes Smartmodem compatible. 1200 BAUD modem at a fraction of the price. FCC approved. JADE 1200 BAUD MODEM $399 '!

10 Megabyte Hard Disk for Your IBM PC s68995

Plug-n-run, ready to go. complete with controller card, data cable, and mounting hardware, totally PC/XT compatible, faster than XT, handles 4 different operating systems, streamer tape back-up available. External model includes cabinet & power supply Full one year manufacturers warranty.

10 MEGABYTE Internal

10 MEGABYTE External

15 MEGABYTE Internal

15 MEGABYTE External

20 MEGABYTE Internal

20 MEGABYTE External

33 MEGABYTE Internal

33 MEGABYTE External

10 MEGABYTE Hall-High Tape 20 MB Disk with 10 MB Tape

LIST

'1350 '1585 '1765 '1897 '1800 '2060 '3298 '3388 '1000 '2980

JADE

'689.95

'849.95

•879.95

•1049.95

'999.95

'1249.95

'1569.95

•1999.95

•579.95

'1799.95

KEYTR0NICS Keyboards

5150 5151

LIST JADE

'209 '159.95 '299 '199.95

Hayes Smartmodem

2400 BAUD IN STOCK!

(At press time we had lOOSmartmodem 2400's in stock and more on their way to us )

SAVE*21000

List Price s895 Sale Price s6799s

HAYES Smartmodems

Sophisticated direct-connect aut dial modem, touch tone or pulse interface programmable

HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES HAYES

Smartmodem 2400 Smartmodem 1200 1200B w/o Smartcom I 1200B for IBM PC Smartmodem 300

Chronograph

Micromodem 100

Micromodem lie

Smartmodem lie

PLEASE Software _ Smartcom II

PB0M0DEMS from PROMETHEUS

o-answer/auto

dialing

RS232

LIST

JADE

'899

'679.95

s699

'469.95

'539

'369.95

'599

'399.95

'289

•199.95

'249

•199.95

•399

'299.95

'299

'239.95

-399

•249.95

'395

•299.95

•149

'99.95

1200B ProModem for IBM PC 1200 RS-232 ProModem

1200A ProModem for Apple 1200 ProModem lor Macintosh

Alpha/num Display Option

Options Processor

64K Mem Expansion for Above

LIST

'399

'495

'449

'495

_ '99

. '99

. '99

JADE '289.95 '349.95 '349.95 •399.95

•79.95

'79.95

•59.95

^.TTI^lira^lllKI^MH^KM.MIHM.M.HlfiTaiH/.IJh

ISO-BAR

APPLE Accessories

PC MOUSE with Pop-ups PC MOUSE with Paint

FIELD MOUSE (male or female) PC PAINT Software

MOUSE WINDOW Software POP-UP MENU Software

LIST

s195

s220

'175

- '99

'150

. '50

QUADRAM for IBM PC

Quadboard No RAM

Ouadboard 64K

Quadboard 128K

Ouadboard 2S6K

Quadboard 384K

Quadlink

Quad 512 Plus 64K Quad 512 Plus 256K Quad 512 Plus 512K

Quadcolor I

Quadcolor II

LIST

_ s269 _ '395 _ '495 _ '595 _ '795 _ '680 _ '325 _ s550 - '895 _ '295 _ s275 . M195 '1995

JADE '139" '159.95 '129.95

'69.95 '109.35

'39.95

JADE •234.95 '275.95 •319.95 •399.95 •469.95 '449.95 '239.95 •359.95 '549.95 '209.95 '209.95 •995.95 '1695.95

Quad 2 MEG W/512K

Quad 2 MEG w/1 MByte

20 MEGABYTE TAPE

Low power, half-height tape drive that uses standard audio/data cassettes. Unique flexable software choice of file-by-file or complete mirror-image backup and retrieval. IBM PC, XT, AT compatible. 20 MB Cassette BacK-up '995 '64995

55BC SQQ!

360K ****

Disk Drive for IBM PC

$9995

Double-sided, double density

TANDON 100-2 TEAC 55B

LIST '299 '249 '279 '299

JADE

'129.95

•99.95

•139.95

•149.«5

CDC 1/2 Height CDC Full Height

SHUGART 8" Disk Drives

SHUGART SA 801A SS/DD (Limited Supply) LIST '502 '399.95 ea. 2 for '389.95 ea.

SHUGART SA-851R DS/DD

LIST '605 '459.95 ea. 2 for '454.95 ea.

Mouse with Word

Microsoft Word

Mouse a la carte _

LIST

'495 '249 '199

JADE '319.95

•339.95

'129.95

BERNOULLI Boxes from IOMEGA

5 Mbyte system Macintosh 10 Mbyte system IBM PC 20 Mbyte system IBM PC Extra 10 Mbyte Cartridge

LIST jade

'1895 '1695 95

'2695 '2289 95

'3895 >2989 95

MOO >79 95

High-Resolution Monitors

Amdek 300G

Amdek 300A

Amdek 310A

Amdek Color 300 Amdek Color 500 Amdek Color 600 Amdek Color 710 PGS MAX-12

PGS HX-12 640x240

PGS SR-12 720x480

PGS Scan-Doubler

14 inch Quadchrome II

Taxan 440 Ultra Hi-res RGB

Taxan 210 RGB/Composite

Taxan TV Tuner for RGB Monitor

PERSYST Boards

Mono display adapter

Mono display adapter w/parallel BoB Hi-res display adapter

LIST

'179 '199 '230 '349 '525 •650 '799 >269 '699 '799 '299 '599 '799 '349 99

JADE '139.95 '149.95 •179.95

'269.95 '399.95 '449.95 '589.95 '189.95 •469.95 '629.95 •199.95 •499.95 •599.95 •289.95

•89.95

LIST

JADE

'225

'189.95

'250

'199.95

'595

'469.95

'395

'299.95

Time Spectrum SB 384 W/64K

High Speed 8087 APU

LIST PRICE '293 SALE PRICE '179.95

Place Orders Toll Free!

These industrial quality ISO-BARs look like a standard multi-outlet power strip but contain surge suppression circuitry and built-in noisefilters plusa 15 amp circuit breaker.

LIST JADE

4 Receptacle Iso-Bar '89 '59.95

8 Receptacle Iso-Bar '99 '69.95

UNINTERRUPTABLE POWER SUPPLY

Emergency back-up power to save your computer system and your valuable data. A must for every computer system

200 Watt UPS 425 Watt UPS 1000 Walt UPS

. '359

_ '539

s1179

'279.95 '459.95 •995.95

Full Height Disk Drive

Half Height Disk Drive Disk Drive for Apple lie

Dual Disk Controller

CP/M 3.0 Card with 64K

ALS Z Engine

16K RAM Card

Best 80 Column Card Printer Card & Cable

Fan with Surge Protection

Koala Pad

Grappler Plus

64K Buffered Grappler w/16K 10 Megabyte Hard Disk

LIST

'299

. '249

'249

'100

'399

. '299

_ '99

. '219

'109

- '99

. '125

. '175

'275

'1495

JADE '139.95

'149.95

'159.95 '79.95

•269.95

'145.95

•39.95

•139.95

•49.95

•59.95

'89.95

'99.95

'149.95

•995.95

JADEXPC *1295

Ife" rTm, Two 360K Dl»k Drive,, & Pie* Controller

JADE XPC IBM PC

► 256K of RAM Expands to 640K on Main Board

► 140 Watt Power Supply

► 4.77 or 7 MHz Clock

► 8 Expansion Slots

► Deluxe Keyboard

► 90 Day Warranty

► 256K of RAM Maximum on Main Board

► 63 Watt Power Supply

► 4.77 MHz Clock

► 5 Expansion Slots

► IBM Keyboard

► 90 Day Warranty

OPTION #1

256K of RAM Two 360K Drives Hercules Card Amdek 300

IBM PC $1995

JADE XPC -M695

OPTION #2

256K of RAM Two 360K Drives Hercules Card PGS HX-12 Monitor

IBM PC $2395

JADE XPC _$2095

OPTION #3

256K Expands to 640K 10 Megabyte Hard Disk One 360K Drive 130 Watts of Power Multifunction Card Hercules Card Amdek 300

IBM PC $2995

JADE XPC _$2695

Continental U.S.A. Inside California Los Angeles Area (800)421-5500(800)262-1710(213)973-7707

NEW! EPSON LX-80

EPSON P501 45 cps Thermal EPSON LX-80 100 cps. NLO EPSON RX-100F/Tt 100 cps EPSON JX-80- (60 cps. Color EPSON FX-80FT I 160 cps EPSON FX-100Fm 160 cps EPSON LQ-1500 200 cps. NLO SP^S EPSON HI-80 4 Pen Plotter S>

EPSON/COMREX 420 cps _ 2K Serial Board for RX/FX _ NLQ Board for RX/FX LetterWriter NLO Kit for FX

LX-80 Tractor

FX-80 Tractor

LQ-1500 Tractor

LQ-1500 Sheet Feeder

J&

#»

<V

'2495 _ '149 _ '219 _ '75 _ '59 _ '59 _ '89 . '499

'1995.95

'99.95 '179.95 '59.95 '29.95 '39.95

'49.95 '399.95

NEW! OKIDATA PRINTER MICROLINE „fci_k_^-_

192 *38995

160 CPS. Near Letter Quality. & Graphics

OKIMATE 20 Color printer PLUG-N-PRINT tor OKI 20 . OKI 182 120 cps. graphics OKI 192 160 cps. graphics OKI 193 160 cps. 15" paper

OKI 92 /60 cps. graphics

OKI 93 T60 cps. 15" paper .

OKI 84 200 cps. parallel

OKI 84 200 cps. serial _ Tractor lor OKI 192 _ Tractor for OKI 92 2K Serial Board tor 192/193 2K serial Board for 92/93 _ Extra Ribbon

LIST

_ '150

'75

_ '299 _ '499 _ '699 _ '599 _ '995 _ '1399 _ '1499 _ '50 '89 '99 '120 _ '9

JADE '139.95

'69.95 '259.95 '389.95 '549.95 '359.95 '599.95 '799.95 '949.95

'44.95 '54.95

■69 »

'99.95 '4.95

I

Ultra-Violet EPR0M Erasers

LIST

JADE

99

'69.95

139

'94.95

Spectronics with out Timer Spectronics with Timer

A-B Printer Switch

Fully bi-directional switch allows your computer to run either of two printers, or allows two computers to share one printer, standard parallel switch box.

LIST JADE

Printer Switch '149 '89.95

Extra Cable '40 '29.95

Continental U.S. 800-421-5500

Inside California. 800-262-1710

For Technical Inquires or Customer Service call:

213-973-7707

CITIZEN Printers

Best Near-Letter-Quality printers for under $1000

in

CITIZEN MSP-10 FT 160 cps CITIZEN MSP-15 FT 760 cps CITIZEN MSP-20 FT 200 cps CITIZEN MSP-25 FT 200 cps CITIZEN Serial Option

LIST

'499 '749 '699 '949 '60

JADE '349.95 '529.95 '489.95 '669.95

'49.95

Printer Accessories

IBM PC style cable

Standard parallel cable Dual Printer Switch Box

Apple Card & cable

RS-232C serial cable

Ribbons

Apple lie cable

LIST . '54 _ '40

'149

'109

_ '30

_ as low as'4.99

'39 '19.95

JADE '19.9S '19.95 '89.95 '49.95 '24.95

SUPER DISKETTE SPECIAL Perfect for IBM, Apple, Kaypro, etc.

Ultra-high qualitydiskettesfrom a premium U S manufacturer, certif.ed to be absolutely error free for one full year. Buy a box of ten this month and we will include a plastic storage/library box

rntc!

Single-sided, double-density Double-sided, double-density Double-sided, 1.2 MB for AT

3%" Single-sided for Mac

3%" Double-sided for DG/1 ~ulk Diskettes as low as

LIST '34 '42 '69

'69 '89

JADE '16.50 •19.50

'49.50

'39.50

'49.50

90C

MANUFACTURED BY C. ITOH

STARWMTERF-10

40 CPS LETTER QUALITY DAISYWHE

LIST

PRICE

$1199

QUANTITY LIMITED

$499

95

C. ITOH Printers

C. Itoh's best-selling ProWriter and StarWriter printers are now available with parallel interfacesfor Apple & IBM, or a serial interface for Apple lie, Macintosh, Data General, etc Full one year manufacturers warranty

ProWriter 7500 FT ProWriter 8510 FT

705 cps , 720 cps

ProWriter II 1550 FT 720 cps

StarWriter Y10-20 20 cps

StarWriter A10-30 29 cps

StarWriter F10-40 40 cps

StarWriter F10-55 58 cps

StarWriter F10 Tractor

StarWriter A10 Tractor

LIST

_ '289 _ '429 _ '619 _ '489 _ '669 '1199 •1449 _ '249 _ '199

Letter Quality Printers On Sale!

Diablo 630 40 CPS Tractor lor 630 Comrex CR-lle 20 CPS

Tractor for CR-lle

Keyboard for CR-lle

Sheet Feeder for CR-lle

Juki 6100 78 CPS

Juki 6300 40 CPS

Tractor for 6100

NEC 3550 33 CPS

Tractor for 3550

Toshiba P1340 780 CPS. par. _ Toshiba P1340 780 CPS. serial

Toshiba P1351 796 CPS

Tractor for P1351

Sheet Feeder for P1351

LIST

'2340 _ '250 _ '599 _ '120 _ '199 _ '259 _ '599 _ '995 _ '149

'2250 _ '265 _ '995 _ '995

^1895 _ '195

51095

JADE '209.95 '299.9S '439.95 '359.95 '479.95 '899.95 '1089.95 '159.95

'139.95

JADE '1569.95

'219.95

'399.95

'99.95 '179.95 '199.95

'399.95 '849.95

'124.95

'1399.95 '229.95 '649.95 '649.95

'1289.95

'174.95

'899.95

The LITTLE BOARD with FREE! CP/M 2.2

Miniature single board CP/M computer designed to mount directly on top of a 5%" floppy disk drive (7.75" x 5,75"). Contains Z80A, CPU, 64K RAM, Boot EPROM, terminal port, modem port, parallel printer port, floppy disk controller, and CP/M 2,2 included FREE'

LIST Little Board with CP/M _ '400

Support Package '59

Serial Cable . '13 Diskless Monitor Eprom '30

SCSI/Plus I/O Adapter

_ s99

JADE

339.95

'48.95

■11.95

'24.95 '89.95

QUADRAM MICR0FAZER Buffers

Expandable to 64K (parallel model expands

8K Parallel in/Parallel out '169

32K Parallel in Parallel out '225

128K Parallel in/Parallel out . _ '445

8K Serial in/Parallel out '199

32K Serial in/Parallel out '260

8K Parallel in/Serial out s199

32K Parallel mlSerial out _ _ '260

8K Serial in/Serial out - '199

32K Serial in/Serial out '260

to512K)

'139.95

'164.95 '269.95

'169.95

•199.95 '169.95

'199.95 •169.95 '199.95

PRACTICAL PERIPHERAL MICR0BUFFERS

Stand alone Microbuffers for Printers 8. Modems

32K Parallel in/Parallel out 64K Parallel in/Parallel out 32K Serial in/Serial out 64K Serial in/Serial out 64K Add-on Board

LIST

JADE

out

'299

'229.95

out

'349

'269.95

'

'299

'229.95

f

S349

'269.95

'179

'149.95

We accept cash, checks, credit cards, or purchase orders from qualified firms and institutions Minimum prepaid order $15.00 California residents add 6%% tax. Export customers outside the US or Canada please add 10% to all prices. Prices and availibility subject to change without notice. Shipping and handling charges via UPS Ground 50«/lb. UPS Air $1.00/lb minimum charge $3.00

Computer Products

NDARD PRINTER 'CONNECTOR

MW-100 I3I-C SERIAL TO CENTRONICS 599

PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE FOR ALL MAJOR CENTRONICS PRINTERS

INTERFACES THE APPLE IIC, EPSON PX8. AND HX20 TO STANDARD PARALLEL PRINTERS

MW-200 UNIVERSAL INPUT-OUTPUT BOARD BOARD FOR IBM PC

16 EIGHT BIT ANALOG INPUTS

14 HI VOLTAGE/CURRENT OUTPUTS/

BASIC DEMO PROGRAM INCLUDED

I ANALOG OUTPUT •- PROTOTYPING AREA

10 PROGRAMMABLE DISCRETE INPUTS/OUTPUTS

MW-I01 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 - 6511Q AUTO BAUD RATE SEEKING - AUTO DATA LOGGING

Micro World Electronix, Inc.

3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd. #005

Lakcwood, CO. 80227

(303) 987-9431 or 987-2671

#%

TwoDoJIars

SALE*

The Great Book of Games

4G games, 144 pages

Order No.182was S 9,95 now S 2.

More on the Sutyfour

Machine Language Programs for the

advanced user.

Order No. 183 was $ 9.95 now S 2.

Machine Language Programming on

theC-64

Order No 1S4 was S 12.95

now S 2.<< Commodore-64 Tune-up Hardware expansions. I/O programming, A/D conversion Order-No. 1B5 was S 12.95

I Programs f.Ihe C 64

SUPER BOOK FOR THE APPLE II

The APPLE in your Hand

Advanced BASIC programs, introduction into machine language. FORTH, Tips & Tricks (220 pages). OrderNo 178 was S 12.95

BOOKS FOR ATARI 800 XL

Games for the ATARI

112 pages full of super games.

Order No. 162 was S 7.95now

ATARI Machine Language

Programming

OrderNo. 169 was 8 9.95 nowS 2.

Hackerbook for the ATARI

Order-No 172 was 8 9.95 now 8 2

The programs from the books are also available on disk Each disk is 2 9.95.

ELCOMP PUBLISHING INC.

Z174 Wat Foothill Blvd., Unit E

Upland. C A SI 786

Phon*. (714) 985-4477 Jin 2S Ml 91

V^7

WESOME

TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Poor Man's TopView'" "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

i E) All of the above available NOW Multiple Choice is only $64 and runs on IBM PC/XT/AT/clones For Information. Call (408) 646-1384

AWESOME TECHNOLOGY, INC.

177 Webster St. Ste. A-416

Monterey, CA 93940

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

Inquiry 267

Inquiry 454

Inquiry 46

Erases Most Eproms in 3 Minutes «•

m

■ %^

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

WILLING CO.

$2 50

AZ RESIDENTS

ADD 6% TAX

4401 S JUNIPER»TEMPE.AZ85282«(602|838-1277

EPROM

PROGRAMMER

Inquiry 4I7

APPROTEK 1000

$249.95

II7AC POWER RS232

6 BAUD RATES - HANDSHAKE TO HOST

ALLOWS READ, WRITE, VERIFY & COPY

Comes complete with CPM & BASIC Driver Program Listings for most small micros

Full 1 Year Warranty

Programs the following 5 Volt 24 or 28 pin devices 27xx series through 27256, 25«x series, 68766 plus others Specify Personality Module desired with order Additional Personality Modules only $ 1 5 00 ea TO ORDER CALL OR WRITE

APROPOS TECHNOLOGY

1071-A AVENIDA ACASO Add

CAMARILLO. CA 93010 »4.00 Shipping USA (BOS) 482-3604 VISA or MC Add 3%

Inquiry 38

IVROSE DATA SWITCHES

iT^ ELECTRONICS „., . D_

SHARE computers, printers, any parallel or serial device ELIMINATE cable swapping INEXPENSIVE way to network COMPATIBLE with all computers.

Businesses. Schools. Homes WE ALSO OFFER: Data Buffers. Line Drivers, Modems. Protocol Converters. Parallel - Serial Converters. Cables. Computers. Printers. Disk Drives, and more. AUTOMATIC - CARETAKER is ideal for a business or school lo share a printer or modem among many computers. Operation is fully automatic with no software required. Parallel or Serial 4 channels - $295 8 channels - $395 MANUAL - HARDSWITCH is operated with the flip of a switch 2:2 and 2:4 models allow simultaneous communication

Serial 1:2-559 1 4 - $ 99 2:2 - $109 2:4 - $169

Parallel 1:2-$99 1:4-$159 2:2-$189 2 4 - $279 LED and spike protection on serial models add $20 CODE ACTIVATED - PORTER connects one computer to multiple peripherals. A software code selects the peripheral. Parallel or Serial 4 channels - $295 8 channels - $395 Buffer option 64K - $100 256K • $250 REMOTE - TELEPATH connects multiple computers to multiple peripherals A selector at each computer or terminal chooses up to 4 peripherals and displays busy staius. 4:4 - $495 4:8 - $795 selector - $39.

(five a iR rvw (a if&tx tottfiutfi i

ROSE ELECTRONICS (713)240-7673

P.O. BOX 742571 MC & VISA Accepted

HOUSTON, TX 77274 Dealer Inquiries Invited

CALL US FOR ALL YOUR INTERFACE NEEDS

Inquiry 453

Your IBM Model 50, 60, 65, 75, 85, 95 or WHEELWRITER Typewriter can be a computer printer or terminal using our interface modules: Model 5060 RS232 Serial Model 5060-CP Centronics Parallel

Both Versions Wc ^'

can be easily installed and require NO modifications to the typewriter. A 2K buffer is standard, 8K optional.

CALIFORNIA MICRO COMPUTER

9323 Warbler Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (714) 964-9301

MEMOREX

FLEXIBLE DISCS

WE WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD!! Call Free (800)235-4137

for prices and information. Dealer inquiries invited and CO.D.'s accepted

PACIFIC EXCHANGES

100 Foothill Blvd. San Luis Obispo. CA 93401. InCal. call (800)592-5935 or (805)543-1037

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 310

Inquiry 260

Wm

4164 MK28SSM,C9/19.95

41256

256K DYNAMIC

8.95

STATIC RAMS

2101

256x4

(450ns)

1 95

5101

256x4

|450nsKcmos)

3.95

2102-1

1024x4

(450ns)

89

2102L-4

1024x1

(450ns,fLP)

99

2102L-2

1024x1

(250n3HLP)

1 45

2125

1024x1

(45ns)

1 95

2111

256x4

(450ns)

2 49

2111L

256x4

(450ns) (LP)

295

2112

256x4

(450ns)

2 99

2114

1024x4

(450ns)

8 9.95

2114-25

1024x4

(250ns)

8 10.95

2114L^*

1024x4

(450ns)(LP)

8 12 95

2114L-3

1024x4

(300ns)(LP)

8 13.45

2114L-2

1024x4

■200ns ML Pi

8 13 95

2114L15

1024x4

(ISOnsMLP)

8 19 95

TC5514

1024x4

(650ns) |c mo* J

4.95

2141

4096x1

(200ns)

2.95

2147

4096x1

(55ns)

■S 95

2148

1024x4

(70ns)

4 95

1 TMS4044-4

4096x1

(450ns)

:i 49

TMS4044-3

4096x1

(300ns)

^ 99

TMS4044-2

4096x1

(200ns)

4.49

TMS40L44-2

4096x1

(200ns)(LP)

4.95

UPO410

4096x1

|100ns)

3.95

MK4118

1024x8

(250ns)

B 95

TMM 2016-200

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

HM6116LP4

2048x8

(200nsMcmos)(LP)

! 95

HM6116LP-3

2048x8

(150ns)(cmos)<LPI

4.25

HM6116LP2

2048x8

|120ns)(cmos)(LP)

6.95

TC5516

2048x8

(250ns)(cmos)

9.95

TMS4016

2048x8

(200ns)

6.95

Z-6132

4096x8

(300ns)(Qstat)

34.95

HM6264P-15

8192x8

(150ns)(cmos)

10.25

HM6264LP-15

8192x8

(150ns)(cmos)(LP)

10.96

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

TMS40S0

4096x1

(300ml

1 95

UPD411

4096x1

(300ns)

1 95

TMS4060

4096x1

(300ns)

1 95

MK4108

8192x1

(20Ons)

49

MM5298

8192x1

(250ns)

49

4116 300

16384x1

(300ns)

8 6 95

4116 250

16384x1

(250ns)

8 6.95

4116-200

16384x1

(200ns)

8 8 95

4116 150

16384x1

(150ns)

8 10.95

4116 120

16384x1

(120ns|

8 1295

2118

16384x1

(150ns|(5v)

4.95

MK4332

32768x1

(200ns)

9 95

4164 200

65536x1

(200ns)(5v)

9 1995

4164 150

65536x1

(150ns|(5v)

9 21 95

4164 120

65536x1

(120ns|(5v)

4 95

MCM6665

65536x1

(200ns|(Sv)

■1 95

TMS4164 20

65536x1

(200ns)(5V)

•1 25

TMS4164 15

65536x1

(150ns)[5v)

4 95

4164 REFRESI

65536x1

1150ns)(5V)(REFRESH) 8 95

TMS4416 20

16384x4

(200ns)(5V)

895

TMS4416 15

16384x4

(150ns)(5v)

I 95

41256-200

262144x1

(20Ons)(5v)

8.95

41256 150

262144x1

(150ns)(5v)

9.95

5v-Single 5 Volt Supply

REFRESH=Pin1

Refresh

EPROMS

CRYSTALS

1702 2708 2758 2716-6 2716 2716-1 TMS2516 TMS2716 TMS2532 2732 2732A-4 2732A-35 2732A 2732A-2 2764 2764 250 2764 200 TMS2564 MCM68764 MCM68766 27128-45 27126-30 27128 27256 5V Single

256x8 1024x8 1024x8 2048x8 2048x8 2048x8 2048x8 2048x8 4096x8 4096x8 4096x8 4096x8 4096x8 4096x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 16384x8 16384x8 16384x8 32768x8

5 Volt Supply

(1us) (450ns) (450ns)(5V| (650ns) (450ns|(5V) (350ns)(5V) (450ns)(5V) (450ns) |450ns)(5VI |450ns)(5V) (450ns)(5V)|21V PGM) (3S0ns)(5V)(21V PGM) (250ns)(5V)(21VPGM) (200nsM5V)(21V PGM) (4S0ns)(5V) (250ns)(5V) (200ns)l5V) [ 450ns) (5V) (450ns)(5V)(24pin) (350ns)(5V)(24pin| (450ns)|5V) (300ns)(5V) (250ns)(5V) (250ns)(5V) 21V PGM Program at 21 V

• •••HIGH-TECH**** 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****

ORDER TOLL FREE

800-538-5000 800-662-6279

(CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

Z-80 2.5 MHz

Z80 CPU Z80-CTC Z80-DART Z80 DMA Z80PIO 280 SIO 0 Z80-SIO 1 Z80-SIO 2 Z80-SIO 9

9.95

9.95 9.95

4.0 MHz

Z80A CPU 2.95

Z80A CTC 3.95

Z80A DART 8.95

Z80A DMA 9.95

Z80A PIO 3.95

Z80A-SIO 0 1095

Z80A SIO 1 10.95

Z80A SIO 2 10.95

Z80A SIO 9 10.95

6.0 MHz

Z80B CPU 8.95

Z80B-CTC 995

Z80B PIO 9.95

Z80B DART 1995

Z80B SIO 0 29 95

Z80B SIO 2 2995

ZILOG

132 34 95

>71 39 95 ,

r 6500

1.0 MHz

6502

4.95

65C02(CMOSH2.95

6504

6.95

6505

8.95

6507

9.95

6520

2.95

6522

5.49

6532

9.95

6545

9.95

6551

9.95

2.0 MHz

6 502 A

5 95

6520A

5.95

6522A

9.95

6532A

11.95

6545A

12.95

6551 A

11.95

3.0 MHz

L6502B

8.95

UARTS

AY5 1013 AY3-101S PT1472 TR1602 2350 2651 IM6402 IM6403 UPD7201 ,INS8250

r 6800

68000-8

39 95

6800

2.95

6802

7.95

6803

1995

6808

13.90

6809

8.95

6809E

895

6810

2.95

6820

435

6821

2 95

6828

14.95

6840

12.95

6843

34.95

6844

25.95

6845

12.95

6847

11 95

6850

325

6852

5 75

6860

7.95

6875

695

6880

225

6883

22.95

68047

2495

68488

19 95

6800=

MHz

68B00

1095

I 68B02

11.95

68B09E

11.95

68B09

11 95

68B10

5.95

| 68B21

595

68B40

19.95

68B45

1995

68850

5.95

1 68B0O

2 MHz

" 8000

8031

29 95

8035

595

8039

5.95

INS 8060

17.95

INS-8073

49.95

8080

3.95

8085

4.95

8085A2

11.95

8086

24.95

8087 3

129.00

8087 6

119.00

8088

19.95

8089

69.95

8155

695

8155 2

7.95

8156

6.95

8185

29.95

81852

39 95

8741

29 95

8748

2495

8749

39 95

.8755

24.95

r MISC

TMS99531

9.95

TMS99532

29.95

ULN2003

1 29

3242

7 95

3341

■1 95

MC3470

4 95

MC3480

9.00

MC3487

2.95

11C90

13 95

95H90

7.95

2513 001 up

9 95

.2513 002 low

9.95

r 8200

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

1095

8251

3.95

8251A

4.49

8253

6 95

8253 5

7.95

8255

4.49

8255-5

S 25

8257

795

8257-5

895

8259

6.90

8259 5

750

8271

7995

8272

1995

8274

3995

8275

29 95

8279

6 95

82795

; 95

8282

650

8283

6.50

8284

5.50

8286

6 50

8287

6.50

8288

14.95

8289

49 95

.8292

1495

32.768 KHz VOMHz 1 8432 2.0

2097152 24576 32768 3579545 4.0

4 032 5.0 5.0688

5 185 5.7143 6.0 6.144 65536 8.0

10.0

10738635

14.31818

15.0

16.0

17.430

18.0

18.432 I 20 0 i 22.1184

24.0 .32.0

'GENERATORS BIT RATE

MC14411

BR1941

4702

COM5016 1 COM8116 , MM5307

11.95 11.95 12.95 16.95 10.95 1095

FUNCTION

KEYBOARD CHIPS

I AV5 2376 11.95

AYS 3600 STO 11.95

I AY5 3600 PRO 1195i

CLOCK CIRCUITS

MM5314 1 MM5369

MM5369 EST I MM537S ! MM58167

MM58174 . MSM5832

r CRYSTAL

OSCILLATORS

1 OMHi 7.95

8.0

7.95

1.8432 7 95

100

7 95

2.0 7.95

12.0

795

24576 795

15 0

7.95

25 7.95

16.0

7.95

4.0 795

18 432

7.95

5.0688 795

20 0

795

6.0 795

24.0

7.95

6144 7.95

/

)

k

T*=

—nr

\

-5V

OUT

NCU

Ugnd J

r CRT

CONTROLLERS

6845

12.95

68B45

19 95

6847

11.95

68047

2495

HD46505SP

15 95

MCI 372

695

8275

2995

7220

39 95

CRT5027

19-95

CRT5037

34 95

TMS9918A

39 95

DP83S0

49 95

r DISK

CONTROLLER

1771

15 95

1791

2395

1793

2395

1795

2395

1797

23 95

2791

39 95

2793

39 95

2795

39 95

2797

39 95

6843

3495

8272

19 95

UPD765

1995

MB8876

29 95

MB8877

3495

1691

7.95

2143

7,95

74LS00

74LS00

24

74LS189

8.95

74LS01

.25

74LS190

.89

74LS02

25

74LS191

.89

74LS03

.25

74LS192

.79

74LS04

24

74LS193

.79

74LS05

.25

74LS194

.69

74LS08

28

74LS195

.69

74LS09

29

74LS196

.79

74LS10

25

74LS197

.79

74LS11

35

74LS221

.89

74LS12

35

74LS240

.95

74LS13

45

74LS241

.99

74LS14

.59

74LS242

.99

74LS15

.36

74LS243

.99

74LS20

25

74LS244

1.29

74LS21

.29

74LS245

1.49

74LS22

25

74LS247

.75

74LS26

.29

74LS248

99

74LS27

29

74LS249

99

74LS28

.35

74LS251

.59

74LS30

25

74LS253

.59

74LS32

29

74LS257

59

74LS33

55

74LS258

.59

74LS37

35

74LS259

2.75

74LS38

35

74LS260

59

74LS40

2b

74LS261

2.25

74LS42

49

74LS266

.55

74LS47

75

74LS273

1.49

74LS48

75

74LS275

3.35

74LS49

75

74LS279

.49

74LS51

.25

74LS280

1.98

74LS54

29

74LS283

69

74LS55

29

74LS290

.89

74LS63

1 25

74LS293

.89

74LS73

39

74LS295

99

74LS74

35

74LS298

89

74LS75

39

74LS299

1.75

74LS76

39

74LS322

5.95

74LS78

49

74LS323

3 50

74LS83

60

74LS324

175

74LS85

69

74LS348

2.50

74LS86

39

74LS352

1.29

74LS90

.55

74LS353

1.29

74LS91

89

74LS363

1 35

74LS92

.55

74LS364

1.95

74LS93

55

74LS365

49

74LS95

75

74LS366

49

74LS96

89

74LS367

45

74LS107

.39

74LS368

45

74LS109

39

74LS373

1.39

74LS112

39

74LS374

1 39

74LS113

39

74LS375

.95

74LS114

39

74LS377

1.39

74LS122

45

74LS378

1 18

74LS123

.79

74LS379

1.35

74LS124

2.90

74LS385

3.90

74LS125

49

74LS386

.45

74LS126

49

74LS390

1.19

74LS132

.59

74LS393

1.19

74LS133

.59

74LS395

1.19

74LS136

39

74LS396

1.89

74LS137

99

74LS399

149

74LS138

55

74LS424

3 95

74LS139

.55

74LS447

95

74LS145

1 20

74LS490

195

74LS147

2 49

74LS540

1.95

74LS148

1 35

74LS541

195

74LS151

.55

74LS624

3.99

74LS153

.55

74LS640

2.20

74LS154

1 90

74LS645

2.20

74LS155

69

74LS668

169

74LS156

.69

74LS669

1.89

74LS157

.65

74LS670

1.49

74LS158

.59

74LS674 14.95 |

74LS160

69

74LS682

3.20

74LS161

65

74LS683

3.20

74LS162

69

74LS684

3.20

74LS163

65

74LS68S

3.20

74LS164

69

74LS688

2.40

74LS165

.95

74LS689

3.20

74LS166

1 95

81LS95

1.49

74LS168

1.75

81LS96

1.49

74LS169

1 75

25LS2518 4 13 |

74LS170

1 49

25LS2521

280

74LS173

69

25LS2S38 3 74 1

74LS174

55

25LS2569 280 ,

74LSI 75

55

26LS31

2.19

74LS181

2.15

26LS32

2 19 J

EfbjDR 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 Microtia'

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 tor UPS Ground and $3.50 tor UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and foreign orders may require additional shipping charges - please contact our sales department tor the amount. CA residents must include 6% sales Ian. Bay Area and LA residents include 6v//o. All merchandise is warranted tor 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.

520 BYTE" MAY I985

Inquiry 2I8

HM6264P-15 eKiP 10.25 SSI263

SPEECH OQQC SYNTHESIZER «3«f.OU

74S00

74S02

74S03

7-1SO-1

74S05

74S08

74S09

74S10

74S11

74S15

74S20

74S22

74S30

74S32

74S37

74S38

74S40

74S51

74S64

74S65

74S74

74S8S

74S86

74S112

74S113

74S114

74S124

74S132

74S133

74S134

74S00

74S135 .89

745138 .85

745139 85

745140 .55 74S151 .95 74S153 74S157 74S158 74S161 74S162 74S163 74S168 74S169 74S174 74S175

745180 11.95

745181 395

745182 2.95 74S185 1695 74S188 195 74S189 74S194 74S195 74S196 74S197 74S201 74S225 74S226 74S240 74S241

CMOS

.95

1.95 1 95 1.95 395 395 .95 .95

695 1.49

1 49 1.49 1.49 695 795 399 2.20

2 20

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

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

695

245

2.45

7.95

1 95

2.95

2.98

6.95

4 95

4.95

4.95

2.95

2.95

9.95

1625

16.95

7400

7400

19

7483

50

74172

595

7401

19

7485

59

74173

.75

7402

19

7486

35

74174

89

7403

19

7489

215

74175

89

7404

19

7490

35

74176

89

7405

25

7491

40

74177

.75

7406

29

7492

50

74178

1.15

7407

29

7493

35

74179

1 75

7408

24

7494

65

74180

.75

7409

19

7495

55

74181

2.25

7410

19

7496

.70

74182

.75

7411

25

7497

2 75

74184

200

7412

30

74100

1 75

74185

2 00

7413

35

74105

1.14

74189

2.99

7414

49

74107

.30

74190

1.15

7416

25

74109

45

74191

1.15

7417

25

74110

45

74192

.79

7420

19

74111

55

74193

.79

7421

35

74116

1.55

74194

85

7422

35

74120

1 20

74195

.85

7423

29

74121

29

74196

79

7425

29

74122

45

74197

.75

7426

29

74123

49

74198

1.35

7427

29

74125

45

74199

1.35

7428

45

74126

45

74221

1.35

7430

19

74128

.55

74246

1 35

7432

29

74132

45

74247

1 25

7433

45

74136

50

74248

1.85

7437

29

74141

.65

74249

1.95

7438

29

74142

2.95

74251

75

7439

79

74143

495

74259

2.25

7440

19

74144

295

74265

1.35

7442

49

74145

60

74273

1.95

7443

65

74147

1.75

74276

1.25

7444

69

74148

1 20

74278

3.11

7445

69

74150

1.35

74279

.75

7446

69

74151

.55

74283

200

7447

69

74152

65

74284

3.75

7448

69

74153

55

74285

3.75

7450

19

74154

1 25

74290

95

7451

23

74155

75

74293

75

7453

23

74156

.65

74298

85

7454

.23

74157

.55

74351

2.25

7460

23

74159

1 65

74365

65

7470

35

74160

.85

74366

65

7472

29

74161

69

74367

65

7473

34

74162

.85

74368

65

7474

33

74163

69

74376

2.20

7475

45

74164

85

74390

1.75

7476

35

74165

85

74393

1.35

7480

59

74166

1.00

74425

3.15

7481 1

10

74167

2 96

74426

.85

.7482

95

74170

1.65

74490

255

4000

.29

4531

4001

25

4532

4002

.25

4538

4006

.89

4539

4007

.29

4541

4008

.95

4543

4009

.39

4553

4010

.45

4555

4011

.25

4556

4012

.25

4558

4013

38

4560

4014

79

4569

4015

39

4581

4016

.39

4582

4017

.69

4564

4018

.79

4585

4019

.39

45151

4020

.75

4702

4021

.79

4724

4022

79

74C00

4023

.29

74C02

4024

.65

74C04

4025

29

74C08

4026

1.65

74C10

4027

.45

74C14

4028

.69

74C20

4029

.79

74C30

4030

.39

74C32

4034

1.95

74C42

4035

.85

74C48

4040

.75

74C73

4041

75

74C74

4042

69

74C76

4043

.85

74C83

4044

.79

74C85

4046

.85

74C86

4047

.95

74C89

4048

.69

74C90

4049

35

74C93

4050

35

74C95

4051

.79

74C150

4052

1.99

74C151

4053

79

74C154

4060

89

74C157

4066

.39

74C160

4068

39

74C161

4069

.29

74C162

4070

.35

74C163

4071

29

74C164

4072

.29

74C165

4073

.29

74C173

4075

.29

74C174

4076

.79

74C175

4077

59

74C192

4078

29

74C193

4081

29

74C195

4082

.29

74C200

4085

.95

74C221

4086

95

74C244

4093

.49

74C373

4094

2.99

74C374

4098

249

74C901

4099

1 95

74C902

14409

12.95

74C903

14410

12.95

74C905

14411

11.95

74C906

14412

12.95

74C907

14419

7.95

74C908

14433

14.95

74C909

14490

4.95

74C910

4502

.95

74C911

4503

65

74C912

4507

1.25

74C914

4508

1 95

74C915

4510

85

74C918

4511

.85

74C920

4512

.85

74C921

4514

1 25

74C922

4515

1.79

74C923

4516

1.55

74C925

4518

.89

74C926

4519

39

74C927

4520

.79

74C928

4521

4.99

74C929

4522

1.25

74C930

4526

1.25

80C95

4527

1.95

80C96

4528

1.19

80C97

4529

295

80C98

95 1.95

1 95 1.95

2 64 1.19 579

95

95

2.45

4.25

3.49

1.95

1 95

.75

75

12 95

1295

1.50

35

.35

35

39 1.29 1.99

.39 450 1 19 1 75

99 5.75 2.25 3.25 1 75 1.19 1 19 1.19 1 19 1.39 2.00

.79 1.19 1 19 1.49 1.49 1.39 5.75 1.75 225 245 245

39

.85

85 10.95

95 1 00 200 275 995 895 8.95 1.95 1 19 2.75 17.95 1595 4.49 4.95 5.95 795 795 795 1995 495

85

HIGH SPEED CMOS

A new family of high speed CMOS logic featuring the speed o' low power Schonky (Bns typical gate prop agation delay), combined wrth the advantages of CMOS very low power consumption, supenor noise immunity, and improved output drive

74HC00

74HC: Operate at CMOS logic levels and are ideal for new. all-CMOS desigi 74HC00

74HC02

74HC04

74HC08

74HC10

74HC11

74HC14

74HC20

74HC27

74HC30

74HC32

74HC51

74HC74

74HC75

74HC85

74HCB6

74HC93

74HC125

74HC132

74HC138

74HC1 39

74HC151

74HC153

74HC154

74HC157

74HC161

74HC164

74HC166

74HC174

59

69

.85 1 35

69 1 19 1.19 1 19

.89 2.49 89 1.15 1 25 2.95

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

74HCT00

74HCT: Direct, drop-in repli can be intermixed with 74LS ■ 74HCT00 .69

74HCT02 .69

74HCT04 .69

74HCT08 .69

74HCT10 .69

74HCT11 .69

74HCT14 .89

74HCT20 .69

74HCT27 .69

74HCT30 .69

74HCT32 .79

74HCT51 .69

74HCT74 85

74HCT75 74HCT85 74HCT86 74HCT93 74HCT125 74HCT132 74HCT138 74HCT139 74HCT151 74HCT153 74HCT154 74HCT157 74HCT161 74HCT164 74HCT166 74HCT174

cements for LS TTL and the same circuit.

.95

1.49 .79 1.29 1.29 1.29 1.15 1.15 1.05 1.05 2.99 .99 1.29 1.39 305 1 09

74HCT175

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

1.09 1.39 1.19 1.29 1.49 2.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 219 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

99

1.49

2.69

2 59

Transistors

2N918

50

2N3772

85

MPS918

25

2N3903

.25

2N2102

75

2N3904

.10

2N2218

50

2N3906

.10

2N2218A

.50

2N4122

25

2N2219

50

2N4123

25

2N2219A

.50

2N4249

.25

2N2222

.25

2N4304

.75

PN2222

10

2N4401

25

MPS2369

25

2N4402

25

2N2484

.25

2N4403

25

2N2905

.50

2N4857

.00

2N2907

.25

PN4916

25

PN2907

.13

2N5086

25

2IM3055

.79

PN5129

25

3055T

69

PN5139

.26

2N3393

30

2N5209

.26

2N3414

25

2N6028

.35

2N3563

40

2N6043

.75

2 N 3565

.40

2N6045

75

PN3565

.25

MPS AGS

.25

MPS3638

.25

MPS A06

.25

MPS3640

.25

MPS-A13

.40

PN3643

.25

MPS-A55

25

PN3644

.25

MPU-131

.99

MPS3704

15

TIP29

65

MPS3706

.15

TIP31

75

TIP32

.79

IC

SOCKETS

1

-99 100

8 PIN ST

.13 .11

14 PIN ST

15 12

16 PIN ST

.17 13

IB PIN ST

20 18

20 PIN ST

-29 27

22 PIN ST

30 27

24 PIN ST

30 .27

28 PIN ST

.40 .32

40 PIN ST

.49 .39

64 PIN ST 4.25CALL

STSOIDERTAI1

8 PIN WW

.59 .49

14 PIN WW

.69 .52

16 PIN WW

69 .58

18 PIN WW

.99 .90

20 PIN WW 1 09 98

22 PtN WW 1.39 1.28

24 PIN WW 1.49 1.35

28 PtN WW 1.69 1.49

40 PIN WW 1.99 1.80

. WWWIREWRAP

INTERFACE

8T26

1.59

8T28

1 98

8T95

.89

8T96

.89

8T97

89

8T98

89

DM8131

2.95

DP8304

2.29

DS8833

2.25

DS8835

1.99

DS8836

99

DS8837

1.65

DS8838

1.30

INTERSIL

ICL7106

9.95

ICL7107

12.95

ICL7660

2.95

1018038

3.95

ICM7207A

5.59

ICM7208

15 95

BSPECTRONICS CORPORATION EPROM ERASERS

Capacity Intensity

Timer Chip |tiW> Cm*) PE-14 9 8.000 S83.00

PE-14T x 9 8,000 S119.00

PE 24T x 12 9.600 $175.00

PL-265T k 30 9.600 S255.00

PR-125T » 25 17.000 $349.00

. PR 320T x 42 17,000 $595 00 „

SOUND CHIPS

rDATA ACQ^

ADC08O0

1555

ADC0804

3 49

ADC0809

4 49

ADC0816

14.95

ADC0817

9 95

ADC0831

8 95

DAC0800

4 49

DAC0806

1 95

DAC0808

2 95

DAC1020

8 25

DAC1021

795

DAC1022

595

MC1408L6

1 95

MC1408L8

2 95

EXAR

XR2206

3.75

XR2207

3.75

XR2208

3.75 i

XR2211

5.25

I XR2240

325,

r 9000 i

9304 .95

9316 100

9328 1

49

9334 2

50

9368 3

95

9401 9

95

9601

75

9602 1

5(1

9637 2

95

.96S02 1

95 .

OPTO-ISOLATORS

4N26 4N27 4N28 4N33 4N35 4N37 MCT-2 . MCT 6

69 1.75 1.25 1 25 1.00 1 50

MCA-7 MCA 255 IL-1 ILA-30 ILQ 74 H11C5 TIL 111 TIL 113

425

1.75 1.25 1.25 2 75 1 25 1 00 1 75 i

I have hadnothingbut 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 £. Uaje

Copyright 1985 JDR Mlcrod«wlc«i

VOLTAGE REGULATORS

TO 220 CASE PACKAGE

7805T .75 7905T 85

7808T 75 7908T 85

7812T .75 7912T 85

7815T .75 7915T 85

7824T .75 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 79L0S .79

78L12 .69 79L12 .79

78L15 69 79L15 .79

OTHER VOLTAGE REGS

78M0SC 5voii " .■amp TO 220 .35 LM323K 5volt 3amp TO 3 4.95 LM338K Adj. 5amp TO-3 3.95 78H05K 5voh Samp TO 3 9.95

78H12K 12vottSamp TO 3 9.95 78P05K 5voh 10amp TO-3 14.95 UA78S40 FAIRCHILD DIP 1.95,

LINEAR

LM301

.34

NE570

3.95

LM301H

.79

NE571

2.95

LM307

.45

NE590

2.50

LM308

.69

NE592

.98

LM308H

1.15

LNI709

.59

LM309H

1.95

LM710

■75

LM309K

1 25

LM711

.79

LM310

1.75

LM723

.49

LM311

64

LM723H

.55

LM311H

.89

LM733

98

LM312H

1.75

UW741

35

LM317K

3.95

LM741N 14 35

LM317T

1.19

LM741H

.40

LM318

1.49

LM747

.69

LM318H

1 59

LM748

.59

LM319H

1.90

LM1014

1.19

LM319

1 25

LM1303

1-95

LM320 see7900

LM1310

1.49

LM322

1 65

MC1330

1.69

LM323K

4.95

MCI 341

1.89

LM324

59

MC1350

1.19

LM329

65

MC1358

1.69

LM331

3.95

MCI 372

695

LM334

119

LM1414

1.59

LM335

1 40

LM1458

.59

LM336

1.75

LM1488

.69

LM337T

1.95

LM1489

.69

LM337K

3.95

UM1496

.85

LM338K

3.95

LM1558H

3.10

LM339

.99

LM1800

2.37

LM340 soe7800

LM1812

8.25

LM348

.99

LM1830

3.50

LM350K

4.95

UW1871

5.49

LM350T

4.60

LM1872

5.49

LM358

.69

UW1877

3.52

LM359

1.79

LM1889

1.95

LM376

3.75

LM1896

1.75

LM377

1.95

ULN2003

1.29

LM378

2.50

XR2206

3.75

LM379

450

LM2877

2.05

LM380

89

LM2878

2.25

LM380N-8 1.10

LM2900

.85

LM381

1 60

LM2901

100

LM382

1.60

MPQ2907

1-95

LM383

1 96

LM2917

2.95

LM384

1.95

MC3487

2.95

LM386

.89

LM3900

.59

LM387

1.40

LKI3905

1.25

LM389

1.35

LM3909

.98

LM390

1.95

LM3911

2.25

LM392

.69

LM3914

3.95

LM393

1 29

UV13915

3.95

LM394H

4.60

LM3916

3.95

LM399H

5.00

MC4024

3.95

NE531

2.95

MC4044

4.50

NE55S

.34

RC4136

1 25

NE556

.65

RC4151

3.95

NE558

1.50

LM4250

1.75

NE564

295

LM4500

3.25

LM565

.99

RC455S

.69

LM566

1 49

LM13600

1.49

LM567

.89

LM13700

1.45

H TO 5 CAN. K

TO-3. T=TO 220

RCA

CA3023

2.75

CA3083

1.55

CA3039

1 29

CA3086

.80

CA3046

1.25

CA3089

2.99

CA3059

2.90

CA3096

3.49

CA3060

2.90

CA3130

1 30

CA3065

1.75

CA3140

1.15

CA3080

1.10

CA3146

1.85

CA3081

1 65

CA3160

1.19

CA3082

1.65

CA3183

.99

Tl

TL494

420

75365

1.95

TL496

1.65

75450

.59

TL497

325

75451

.39

75107

1.49

75452

.39

75108

1.49

75453

.39

75110

1.95

75454

.39

75150

1.95

75477

1.29

75154

1.95

75491

.79

75160

4.95

75492

.79

75188

1 25

75493

89

75189

1 25

75494

89

Bl FET

TL066

.99

LF347

2.14

TL071

.79

LF351

.60

TL072

1 19

LF353

1.00

TL074

2.19

LF355

1.10

TL081

.79

LF356

1.10

TL082

1.19

LF357

1.40

TL083

1.19

LF411

1.29

TL084

2 19

LF412

1 99 J

Inquiry 218

MAY 1985 -BYTE- 521

\hrXVl

FEMALE SOLDER CUP

BARGAIM HUNTERS CORNER

SPECIAL PURCHASE! TAXAN RGB VISION III $299.95

SUPER HIRES RGB MONITOR ORIGINALLY MADE FOR ACORN COMPUTE R

12" SCREEN - 18 MHz BANDWIDTH

640 x 262 PIXELS • 25 UNES x 80 COL.

.38mm DOT PITCH WITH BLACK MATRIX FOR A SHARP IMAGE AND HIGH CONTRAST.

NO COD ORDERS PLEASE!

ACCESSORIES

COLOR DISPLAY ADAPTOR FOR IBM PC XT $129.00 RGB CABLE FOR IBM $16 95

SPECIALS ENDS 6/30/85

RF MODULATOR

(ASTECUM1082)

QUANTITIES LIMITED

■ PRESET TOCHANNEL3 - USE TO BUILD TVCOMPUTER INTERFACE • »5 VOLT OPERATION

$6.95

EMI FILTER

- MAJOR MANUFACTURER

• LOW COST ^^

"^

' FITS LC-HP BELOW tfts

fcfV

S4.95 \*J

y

LINE CORDS

LC-2 2 CONDUCTOR 6 ft

.39

LC-3 3 CONDUCTOR 6 ft

99

LC-HP 3 CONDUCTOR WITH STANDARD

FEMALE SOCKET 6 ft

1.49

LC-CIR CIGARETTE LIGHTER

PLUG WITH 6 FOOT CORD

2.95

MUFFIN FANS

4.68" SQUARE

14.95

3"SQUARE

14.95

HARD TO FIND

"SNAPABLE" HEADERS

! Can easily be snapped apart to make ! any si2e header, all with .1" centers 1x40 STRAIGHT LEAD .99

1x40 RIGHT ANGLE 1.49

I 2x40 STRAIGHT LEAD 2.49

| 2x40 RIGHT ANGLE 2.99

SHORTING BLOCKS

___ SPACED AT .1" CENTERS

i " $%& IDEAL F0R D|SK DRIVES

yy. OR ANY 1" HEADER

^J8* 5/1.00,

DIP SWITCHES

I 4 POSITION 8!

| 5 POSITION 9<

| 6 POSITION 91

7 POSITION 9!

| 8 POSITION .9!

. 10 POSITION 1.29 .

VIDEO RFOUT

EDGECARD CONNECTORS

S-100 ST S 100

S 100 WW S 100 72 PIN ST 72 PIN WW 62 PIN ST IBM PC 50 PIN ST APPLE 44 PIN ST .44 PIN WW

3.95

4.95 6.95 7.95 4.95 4.95 2.95 4.95 t

36 PIN CENTRONICS

IDCEN36 IDCEN36 . CEN36

RIBBON CABLE MALE RIBBON CABLE FEMALE SOLDER CUP MALE

8.95 8.95

7.95

DIP CONNECTORS

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

8

11

1fi

18

20

22

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 RELIABILITY TOOLED WW IC SOCKETS

AUGATxxWW

1.30

1.80

2.10

240

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

D-SUBMINIATURE

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

9

15

25

37

50

SOLDER CUP

MALE

DBxxP

1.19

1.59

1.90

285

4.25

FEMALE

DBxxS

1.50

1.85

2.25

3.90

5.25

RIGHT ANGLE PC SOLDER

MALE

DBxxPR

1.65

2.20

300

4.83

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

IDC RIBBON CABLE

MALE

IDBxxP

2.95

390

4.75

6.95

FEMALE

IDBxxS

3.25

4.29

5.25

7 95

BLACK

HOOD-B

— j .99

GREY

HOOD**

89

.99 j .99

1.09 1.19

MOUNTING HARDWARE S 1.00

fOfl ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS SEE IDC CONNECTORS BELOW

RS232 1 Qfl

MALE SOLDER CUP l.tJU

CAPACITORS

RESISTORS

■« 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

BYPASS CAPS

1 .01

,yf DISC

10C

$6.00 1

1 .01

tt\ MONOLITHIC

100

$12.00 I

I .1 fA DISC

IOC

$8.00 I

I 1 tA MONOLITHIC

100/

SI 5.00 J

DIODES

1N751

5.1 VOLT ZENER

25

1N759

120 VOLT ZENER

.25

1N4148

|1N914)SWITCHING 25

1.00

1N4001

50PIV 1A 12

1.00

1N4004

400PIV RECTIFIER 10

1.00

1N5402

200PIV 3A

.25

KBP02

200P1V 1.5A BRIDGE

49

KBP04

400PIV 1.5A BRIDGE

.55

MDA801

50PIV 12A BRIDGE

1.39

MDA980-1

50PIV 12A BRIDGE

1.95

MDA980^2

100PIV 12A BRIDGE

2.25

. VM48

DIP BRIDGE

.35 J

TO 220 TO-220 TO 3 TO 220 TO 3

HEAT SINKS

SCREW ON CLIP ON SCREW ON INSULATOR INSULATOR

10 1 00 10 1.00

SWITCHES

SPOT MINI TOGGLE ON-ON DPDT MINI-TOGGLE ON ON DPDT MINI TOGGLE ON OFF ON SPST MINI PUSHBUTTON NO. SPST MINI-PUSHBUTTON N.C. , BCD OUT 10 POSITION 6 PIN DIP

1.25 1 50 1.75

1.0//I I 6.8

TANTALUM

15V .40 15V .70 15V .80 15V 1.35 35V .40

35V 1.0 35V

2.2 35V

4.7 35V

10 35V 1

50V 50V 50V 90V 50V 50V 50V 50V 50V 50V 50V

DISC

05 560

05 680

05 820

05 .00M

05 .0015

05 .0022

05 .005

05 .01

05 .02

50V

50V 50V 50V 50V 50V 50V 50V 50 V 50V 12V

MONOLITHIC

50V .14 .VI 50V 18

50V .15 .47//f 50V .25

ELECTROLYTIC

RADIAL

AXIAL

•tfil 25V .14

M

50V

.14

2.2 35V .15

4 7

1ft V

.14

4.7 50V .15

10

16V

14

10 50V .15

10

50V

16

47 35V .18

22

16V

.14

100 16V 18

47

ROV

.20

220 35V 20

100

15V

20

470 25V .30

100

19V

.25

2200 16V .60

220

25V

30

COMPUTER

330

500

16V

1RV

40 .42

GRADE

1000 2200

16V 16V

60 70

44,000<;f 30V 3.95

6000

16V

.85

LED DISPLAYS

HP5082-7760 CC

.43"

1.29

MAN 72 CA

.3

99

MAN-74 CC

.3

99

FND-3571359) CC

.375"

1 25

FND-500(503) CC

.5

1.49

FND-507(510) CA

.5

1.49

TIL-311 4x7 HEX W LOGIC

.270"

9.95

DIFFUSED LEDS

99

100-up

JUMBO RED

1

W

Id

09

JUMBO GREEN

T

3/«

18

15

JUMBO YELLOW

T

U

18

15

MOUNTING HDW

T

V,

10

09

MINI RED

T

10

09

VliMI GREEN

T

18

15

MINI YELLOW

T

18

15

RECT RED 2*

5rr

25

22

RECT GREEN 2*

5mm

30

27

RECT YELLOW 2.

5mm

30

27

TEXTOOLZERO INSERTION FORCE SOCKETS AND RECEPTACLES

~^=r"\, r~S '•"i;5?i

SCREWDRIVER CLAMP ECONOZIF

LEVER CLAMP ZIF SOCKET

WW RECEPTACLES ZIF RECEPTACLE

TYPE

CONTACTS

14

,6

24

28

40

ECONOZIF

4.95

6.75

7 75

9.95

ZIF SOCKET

4.95

4.95

5.95

6.95

9.95

iZIF Hf CFPTACLE

8.25

8.75

9.75

16.50

12 75

IDC CONNECTORS

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

10

20

26

3 4

40

50

SOLDER HEADER

IDHxxS

82

1 29

1.68

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

4.50

5 28

6.63

RIGHT ANGLE WW HEADER

IDKxxWR

2.05

3.28

4.22

4.45

4.80

7.56

RIBBON HEADER SOCKET

IDSxx

79

.99

1.39

1.59

1.99

226

RIBBON HEADER

IDMxx

5.50

6.25

7.06

756

8 50

RIBBON EDGE CARD

IDExx

1.75

2.25

2.65

275

3 80

3.95

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

V

101

r

10'

10

.18

1.60

.83

7.30

16

2H

2 50

1 00

a 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

SffcjDR 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

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 tor 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 right to limit quantities and to substitute manufacturer. AN merchandise subject to prior sale.

Copyright 1985 JDR Mlcrodcvlcai

522 BYTE • MAY 1985

Inquiry 219

IBM PC PROTOTYPE CARD

WITH DECODING CIRCUITRY

$29.95

WIRE WRAP PROTOTYPE CARDS

FR-4 EPOXY GLASS LAMINATE WITH GOLD-PLATED EDGE-CARD FINGERS

,8MPR2 IBM

BOTH CARDS HAVE SILK SCREENED LEGENDS

AND INCLUDES MOUNTING BRACKET

IBM PR 1 WITH *SV AND GROUND PLANE .... $27.95

IBM PR2 AS ABOVE WITH DECODING LAYOUT S29.95

S-100

] PI00 1 BARE - NO FOIL PADS $15.15

P100 2 HORIZONTAL BUS S21.80

P100 3 VERTICAL BUS S21.80

P100 4 SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HOLE S22.75

APPLE

P500 1 BARE NO FOIL PADS S15.15

P500-3 HORIZONTAL BUS $22.75

P500 4 SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HOLE S21.80

] 7060-45 FOR APPLE lie AUX SLOT $30.00

GENERAL PURPOSE

22/44 PIN EDGE-CARD ( T56" SPACING)

P441-1 BARE - NO FOIL PADS 4.5" x 6.0" S9.45

P441 3 VERTICAL BUS 4.5" x 6.0" SI3.95

| P441-4 SINGLE FOIL PADS 4 5" « 6.0" S14.20

P442 1 BARE NO FOIL PADS 4.5" x 9.0" .... S10.40

P442 3 VERTICAL BUS 4.5" x 9.0" $14.20

P442 4 SINGLE FOIL PADS 4.5" x 9.0" S13.50

36.'72 PIN EDGE-CARD { 1" SPACING)

I P721-1 BARE NO FOIL PADS4.5" x 6.0" $9.45

| P721-3 VERTICAL BUS 4.5" x 6.0" S13.25

P721-4 SINGLE FOIL PADS 4.5" x 6.0" $14.20

1 P722-1 BARE NO FOIL PADS 4.5" x 9.0" .... $10.40

P722-3 VERTICAL BUS 4.5" x 9.0" S14.20

| P722 4 SINGLE FOIL PADS 4 5" x 9.0" S15 15

BARE GLASS BOARDS EXTENDER

NO EDGE-CARD FINGERS OR FOIL CARDS

P25x45 2 5" x 4.5" S2.40 IBM $45 00

] P45x65 4.5" x 6.5" S4 70 APPLE S45.00

| P45x85 4.5" x 8.5" S6.20 MULTIBUS S86.00

P45x170 4.5" x 17.0" S11.35

, P85x170 8.5" x 17.0" $18.95

TM 100-1 5' TM 100-2 5

MPI-B52 b

DISK DRIVES

TANDON

(FOR IBM) SS DD (FOR IBM) DS DO

MP I

S139.95 $159.95

S109.95

S119.95 S139.95

S199.95 S199.95

'(FOR IBM) DS DD

TEAC

FD-55B ' > HEIGHT DS DD FD-55F ! i HEIGHT OS QUAD

SHUGART

SAaOOLS'^'dOTRACKlSS DD SA 460 5 V (80 TRACK) DS QUAD

8" DISK DRIVES

FD100-8 BY SIEMENS. SHUGART 801 EQUIV

SS DD $129.00

FD200-8 BY SIEMENS. SHUGART 851 EQUIV

DS DD S180.00

JFORMAT-2 $49.95

SUPPORT FOR QUAD DENSITY DRIVES FROM TALL TREE SYSTEMS

TEAC FD-55B

TANDON TM100-2

PLEASE INCLUDE SUFFICENT AMOUNT FOR SHIPPING ON ABOVE ITEMS

DISK DRIVE CABINETS

$29.95

"disk drive

$79.00

CABINET #1

• Fits one full height 5'

• Color matches Appte

CABINET #2

• Fits one full height 5' Vdrsk drive

• Complete with power supply, switch, line cord, fuse and standard power connector

• Please specify Grey or Tan

CABINET #3 S89.95

• Fits two half height 5' Vdisk 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

tf£

■ FOR IBM PC-XT COMPATIBLE

■ 130 WATTS

■ -5V @ 15A, 12V @ 4.2A -SV(3 .5A, 12V fa ,5A

■ ONE YEAR WARRANTY

PS A

$49.95

• USE TO POWER APPLE TYPE SYSTEMS

• t-5V(S 4A, <12V @ 2.5A ■5V<a .5A, -12V (a .5A

• APPLE POWER CONNECTOR

PS-3

$39.95

• AS USED IN APPLE III

• -5Vii 4A, -12V IS 2.5A

- 5V '■' -25A, 12V ft .30A,

• 15.5" x 4.5" x2", .884 LBS.

PS-ASTEC

$19.95

FDDS

WIRE WRAP WIRE

PRECUT AND STRIPPED

Note: 1 t

ich of ins

ulation is st

ipped on

each end

A3.5 *w.

e has only 1.5" of insu

LENGTH

OUANTITY

(INCHES) 100

500

1000

25

1.60

4,70

8.20

3

1.60

4.70

8.20

3.5

1.65

500

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

685

12 50

6.5

2 30

780

14 30

7

2.40

8 20

15.05

7 5

250

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

S4.30

250 feet

S7.25

500 feet

113.25

1000 feet

S21.95

Please specify color:

Bl

ue. Black.

Yellow or Red

TRANSFORMERS FRAME STYLE

12.6V AC 2 AMP 4.95

12.6V AC CT 2 AMP 5.95

12.6V AC CT 4 AMP 7.95

12.6V AC CT SAMP 10.95

25.2V AC CT 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 5

• -5Vri 2.5A, -12V (.< 2A

12V (l 1A

• -5V<" 5AIF '12V IS NOT USED

• 6 3" x4.0" x 1.9"

MICROCOMPUTER

HARDWARE

HANDBOOK

FROM ELCOMP $14.95

Over 800 pages of manufacturer's data sheets on the most commonly

• TTL- 74. 74LS & 74F

• CMOS

• Voltage regulators

• Memory RAM, ROM. EPROM

• CPU'S 6800. 6500. Z80, 8080, 8085 & 8086 8

■ MPU Support 8. Interface. 6800. 6500. 280, 8200, etc

OK INDUSTRIES

EX-1 IC EXTRACTION TOOL

■ ONE PIECE METAL CONSTRUCTION

• EASILY EXTRACTS 8-24 PIN DEVICES

• LOW COST S2.19

EX-2 IC EXTRACTION TOOL

• EXTRACTS 24-40 PIN DEVICES

- HEAVY DUTY METAL CONSTRUCTION

■ GROUND LUGS FOR MOS EXTRACTIONS

• EASY ONE HAND OPERATION S12.74

IC INSERTION TOOLS

INS 1416 for 14-16 pin IC s S5.15

MOS-1416 for 14 16 pin ICs S10.92

MOS-2428 for 24-28 pin ICs $10.92

MOS-40 for 40 pin ICs S12.43

MOS series insertion tools have metal constuction and include grounding lug lor CMOS applications.

BW-630 WIRE WRAP GUN

• BATTERY POWERED USES 2 Ml CAD C CELLSINOT INCLUDED)

S41.55

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

WWT-1 SLOTTED 25 S7.06

WWT-2 SINGLE SIDED 25 $4.25

' WWT-3 IC SOCKET 25 $7.06

WWT-4 DOUBLE SIDED 25 2.80

INS 1 INSERTION TOOL S3.64

WIRE DISPENSER

• WITH 50' ROLL OF 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

w

WSU-30 30M

SOCKET-WRAP I.D

TM

ORDER TOLL FREE

(CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

■ SLIPS OVER WIRE WRAP PINS

■ IDENTIFIES PIN NUMBERS ON WRAP SIDE OF BOARD

■ CAN WRITE ON PLASTIC; SUCH AS IC * PINS PARI --■ PCK. OF PRICI

8 IDWRAP 08 10 1.95

14 IDWRAP 14 10 1.95

16 IDWRAP 16 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

28 IDWRAP 28 5 1.95

40 IDWRAP 40 5 1.95

PLEASE ORDER BY NUMBER OF PACKAGES (PCK. OF)

1

GE NICKEL CADMIUM RECHARGABLE BATTERIES

Nl CAD CHARGER PACKAGE

20 MHz DUALTRACE OSCILLOSCOPE

AAA CELLS

QTY 2

S11.71

AA CELLS

QTY 2

$11.71

C CELLS

QTY 2

S13.21

D CELLS

QTY 2

$13.21

9 VOLT

QTY 1

S13.21

BATTERIES ONLY

AAA CELLS

PKG.2

S6.07 pr

AA CELLS

PKG 1

$3 03 ea

C CELLS

PKG 1

S3.78 en.

D CELLS

PKG 1

$3.78 e»

9 VOLT

PKG 1

S7.57 ea.

UNSURPASSED QUALITY AT AN UNBEATABLE PRICE

• BAND WIDTH- DC DC TO 20MHz ( 3db)

AC: 10Hz TO 20MHz <-3db)

• SWEEP TIME- .2//SEC TO 5 SEC DIV ON 20 RANGES

• VERT. HORZ. DEFLECTION: 5mV TO 20V DIV ON 20 RANGES

• COMPLETE MANUAL AND HIGH QUALITY HOOK ON PROBES INCLUDED

• INPUT IMPEDANCE: 1 MEG OHM

• TV VIDEO SYNC FILTER

• X. Y AND Z AXIS OPERATION

• 110 220 VOLT 50 60Hz OPERATION

• COMPONENT TESTER

• LP CONSUMPTION 19WATTS

• BUILT IN CALIBRATOR

• AUTOMATIC OR TRIGGERED TIMEBASE

$399.95

WITH PROBES

FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY

MULTIMETER PEN

AUTO RANGING, POLARITY & DECIMAL!

• LARGE 3' i DIGIT DISPLAY

• DATA HOLD SWITCH FREEZES READING

• FAST, AUDIBLE CONTINUITY TEST

• LOW BATTERY INDICATOR ffcU I V - OVERLOAD PROTECTION U IM L Y

• ONLY1'i"x6'«"xH" A*** * —

• DC VOLTS 1mV-500V $49 95

• AC VOLTS ImV 500V

• .1 OHM-20 MEG OHMS

• WEIGHS ONLY 2.3 OUNCES

• LOW PARTS COUNT CUSTOM 80 PIN LSI INSURES RELIABILITY

• INCLUDES MANUAL. BATTERIES. SOFT CASE. 2 PROBE TIPS AND ALLIGATOR CLIP

Copyright 1985 JOR Mlcrod*vl

Inquiry 2I9

MAY 198 5

lYTE 523

TEAC-FD55B°Fso»119.95

MPI-B52DS/.KT 109.95

EPROM PROGRAMMER

FOR APPLE COMPUTERS

RP525

$79.95

l

LOW COST!

DUPLICATE OR BURN ANY

STANDARD 27xx SERIES EPROM

EASY TO 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

16K RAM CARD $39.95

BARE PC CARD AND INSTRUCTIONS S9.95 • 2 YEAR WARRANTY EXPAND YOUR 48K APPLE TO 64K USE IN PLACE OF APPLE LANGUAGE CARD

DISK DRIVES

FOR APPLE COMPUTERS

OD

BAL-525 $139.95

Vi HEIGHT ALPS MECHANISM 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE FULL 1 YEAR WARRANTY

-uaB^i BAL-500 "n_IPTi $169.95

TEAC MECHANISM- DIRECT DRIVE 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE-35 TRACK 40 TRACK WHEN USED WITH OPTIONAL CONTROLLER

m

MITAG

AD-1

$179.95

* FULL HEIGHT SHUGART

MECHANISM « DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR APPLE

DISK II

DISK DRIVE ACCESSORIES

DISK CONTROLLER CARD S49.95 APPLE lie ADAPTOR CABLE $19.95

NOW FOR APPLE lie

DISK DRIVES FOR IBM

TEAC 4

FD55B if

$119.95 I

TANDON

TM100-2

$159.95 MPI

MODELB52

$109.95

DISKETTE FILE

IF PURCHASED WITH 50 DISKETTES OR MORE

$9.95 IF PURCHASED ALONE

HOLDS 70 5V4" DISKETTES, WITH ROOM TO SPARE

ia.

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

<+ BMC MONITOR STAND

MODEL PA-900

TILTS AND SWIVELS TO PROVIDE OPTIMUM VIEWING ANGLE. REDUCES OPERATORFATIGUE

NASHUA DISKETTES

51/4" SOFT SECTOR DS/DD WITH 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.

QTY 250 QTY 100 QTY 50

NASHUA DISKETTES WERE JUDGED TO HAVE

THE HIGHEST POLISH AND RECORDED

AMPLITUDE OF ANY DISKETTES TESTED

ISEE COMPARING FLOPPY DISKS . BYTE 9 84I

FACTORY SPECIAL $14.95^VERBATIM DATALIFE diskettes^

ORDER TOLL FREE

SS/DD SS DD DS DD

SOFT SECTOR S29.95

10 SECTOR HARD S29.95 SOFT SECTOR S34.95

;IiIiflrtI:fli1iIiTi

800-662-6279.

I* BMC BK-80 PRINTER

80 CPS DOT MATRIX PRINTER

$199.95

BI-DIRECTIONAL SUPERB GRAPHICS CENTRONICS INTERFACE

CLOSE-OUT SPECIAL. QUANTITIES LIMITED

APPLE ACCESSORIES

VIEWMAX-80 VIEWMAX-80e GRAPHMAX THUNDERCLOCK KRAFT JOYSTICK POWER SUPPLY

$159.95 $129.95 $129.95 $129.95 $39.95 $49.95

IBM COMPATIBLE POWER SUPPLIES

130 WATT «► $159.95 n

KT COMPATIBLE if •»**

-5V (.' 15A, 12 (ii 4.2A "V

5 (ii .5A, -12 in .5A UPGRADE YOUR PC. POWERS HARD I POWER CABLES FOR 4 FDDs ONE YEAR WARRANTY SWITCH ON SIDE (FITS IBM CASEI

100 WATT $99.95

SWITCH ON REAR FOR USE IN OTHER IBM TYPE MACHINES AVAILABLE IN 1 00W OR 130W VERSIONS 90 DAY WARRANTY

130 WATT MODEL

IV

SJfSJDR 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 Microdevlce*

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 tor the amount. CA. residents must include G% 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 sale.

APPLE IS A TRADEMARK OF APPLE COMPUTER CO.

524 BYTE • MAY I98S

Inquiry 220

UNCLASSIFIED ADS

WANTED: United Cerebral Palsy seeks tax-deductible donation of six IBM PCs with printers for vocational training program. UCP. Suite 204. 1904 Franklin St., Oakland. CA 94612. (415) 832-7430

WANTED: Nonprofit agency needs donation of microcomputer and printer to help low-income veterans, youth, handicapped individuals, exoffenders, and unemployment recipients attain training and employment. Will pay shipping. Bill Slovick. Project I.O.V.E. Inc.. Suite 2K, 272 5 Congress St.. San Diego. CA 92110. (6I9| 238-3826.

WANTED: Small nonprofit YMCA seeks taxdeductible donation of computer system with disk drives and printer. Need word-processing capabilities, network-information management, inventory, and office management. Will pay shipping, loy lackson. Kosciusko Community YMCA, 1401 East Smith St.. Warsaw, IN 45680. (219) 269-9622.

WANTED: Private educational organization seeks taxdeductible donation of any disk-based microcomputer with printer for educational and administrative purposes. Will pay shipping. Duane D. Hartman Lords Mission, POB 1005. Whitefish. MT 59937, (406) 721-2347,

WANTED: Nonprofit educational institution welcomes tax-deductible contributions of computer equipment for classroom instruction, especially Apple, TRS-80. and IBM-compatible. R M. Edwards, California Lutheran University, 60 West Olsen Rd.. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. (805) 492-2411. ext 464.

WANTED: Missionary seeks donation of IBM PC or Compaq with word-processing capabilities for aid to Bible translators. Will issue tax-deductible receipt Reverend Steve Hopkins. Evangel Bible Translators. 39 Maple St, Centerville, OH 45459

WANTED: Psychology lab needs a reliable terminal and S-IOO bus interface cards Instructor will pay shipping and provide letter for tax purposes. Barry W. Godolphin. PhD. Psychology Department, Sonoma State University. Rohnert Park, CA 94928

WANTED: Nonprofit club needs microcomputers, even used, such as C-64. Apple. TRS-80. or IBM PC. plus peripherals and public-domain programs. M. Peleg. Mofet-Club, POB 3252. Haifa 31032. Israel.

WANTED: Contact with Altair user group or individuals for mutual support Walter Gordon, 10 Bonnie Brook Dr.. Shelton. CT 06484

WANTED: Contacts worldwide for exchange of ideas and individual or public-domain software for Apple lie. |. Paulino Ferreira, Apartado 37, Cortegaca. 3882 Ovar Codex, Portugal.

TRADE: Want to trade a copy of Tannenbaum & Augenstein's Data Structures Using Pascal for the PL/I version of the same book. R. C Pierce. 404 Summit Dr.. Corte Madera, CA 9492 5,

FOR SALE: Victor 9000 hard-disk system with quaddensity floppy drive, monitor. 18 months old: S2200 or best offer. American Philosophical Association, University of Delaware. Newark. DE 19716. (3021 451-1112.

FOR SALE: HP CRT. model 1332A hi-res 7-inch flatface electrostatic XYZ CRT HP 1984 price S2730: clean and working with manual: S200 plus shipping. Mating camera with Polaroid back: S60 plus shipping. Mark Goldstein. POB 82 5, Tempe. AZ 85281. (602) 437-1767.

FOR SALE: Apple I. number 37 of the first 175 manufactured Historical value, excellent condition, runs. Keyboard, cassette interface, power supply. Full 8K memory. Make an offer. lohn Victor. 24 Sawmill Lane. Greenwich. CT 06830, (203) 869-4479.

FOR SALE: NEC APC H03 computer reset button: SI 5. Howard D Roney. 4840 Andrea Dr. NW Salem. OR 97304

FOR SALE: Commodore color monitor, model 1702: S160 or trade for hi-res amber monitor plus S60 MPI 514-inch DS/DD 40-track drive, model B-52 with case and power supply: SI60 or trade for bare halfheight 5'/«-inch DS/DD 40-track drive. Evan Arnerich. 1366 Marie Court. Santa Maria. CA 93454. (805) 922-0102

FOR SALE: IBM PC XT 768K. 20 megabytes, AST SixPack. Tecmar 1st Mate. Hercules, Plantronics. 8087, Z80. I200B, second hard disk and floppy, IBM mono and color monitors, game I/O. mouse, Okidata 93. HP 7475A. Qume 11/40. 64K buffer, and more: S6750. Bert Baker, 724W 1720N #109. Provo. UT

84604. (8011 377-7343.

WANTED: Public-domain software for IBM PC on astrology and cosmogram construction. Hanspeter Graub. POB 141. 4125 Riehen. Switzerland.

FOR TRADE: IBM PC public-domain software. Send name and address. Marc David Seidel. 149 Carol St.. Danbury. CT 06810, (2031 798-1375.

FOR SALE: Commodore 64, modem, datasette recorder, phone. All about one year old. original packages, reasonable. David Haaland. POB 1704. Minot, ND 58702. (7011 852-5463.

FOR SALE: Hayes Smartmodem I200B. like new Does not conform to Spanish standards: asking $32 5. F. Tusell. Avenida Tblosa. 95. 2B 20009 San Sebastian. Spain.

FOR SALE: Morrow S-100 system. MPZ-80, 64K static RAM, DI2D/B, two DS/DD 8-inch drives, 5-megabyte Winchester. HDCDMA. Multi I/O board, ADM-20 terminal, and more. Best offer May part out. Dave Edick. 15938 Gramercy, San Leandro, CA 94578.

FOR SALE: Complete BYTE issues in excellent condition: 1975 (4 issues): SI5: 1976 to 1978 for S30/year: 1979 for S35. Complete Kilobaud. 1977 to 1978: S25/year: 1979 for S30, Postage included. Sold in annual blocks only. Ricky Peterson, 206 Pine Valley Dr.. Wamer Robins. GA 31093. (912) 922-1196.

FOR SALE: S-100 boards with documentation. 8080 CPU: S35: Vector Graphic I6K static RAM: S60: Ithaca Audio 8K static RAM: S30: Micro Applications 4K static RAM: SI 5: Ithaca Audio I6K ROM: S75: solid-state music video interface VB1-B: $30, and others. Neil Schmidt. 2201 San Miguel Dr.. Walnut Creek. CA 94596. (415) 939-5342

FOR SALE: IBM PC with 128K, 360K disk. IBM 10-megabyte hard disk, 130-watt power supply, monochrome and printer adapter. Key Tronic 5150 keyboard. Asking 60 percent of current IBM price. Will sell hard disk and adapter card separately. |oe Gunter, RR2, Box 823. Lot 125. Pompano Beach, FL 33067. (305) 421-6301. days 7-11 p.m.

FOR SALE: Three Shugart 850 1.2-megabyte 8-inch floppy drives Brand new, double-sided: SI 50 each. Ray Turner. 3026 Reece Way. San lose. CA 95133, (408) 74 5-1440. ext. 270.

FOR SALE: Logic analyzer. Paratronics IOOA/10. Displays truth table on oscilloscope. 3 bytes by 16 words deep. Intensified trigger word 8 to 24 bits wide. 8-MHz data-collection rate. 200-page manual. $300 plus UPS. Perfect for micro development, test, repair. Ron Dalpiaz, 308 High St.. POB 573. Tuscarawas, OH 44682. (614) 922-9446 after 7 p.m.

WANTED: BYTE issue volume 5, number II, November 1980. Will pay top dollar. Call collect, lames Baldwin, (812) 422-3348.

FOR SALE: Lear Siegler ADM 3A+ monitor, hardly used: S2 50 firm for quick sale: you pay shipping. Patrick Gleeson. 3470 19th St.. San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 864-1967.

FOR SALE: Hewlett-Packard 86B. 12-inch monitor, dual 3W-inch drives. RS-232C interface, two 128K memory modules, modem, ROMs, cables, and more. Retail S6598: asking S3 300, Also printer (82906A)andplotter|747 5A). Retail S2890: asking $1450. Shannon W. Davis. POB 813. Corvallis. OR 97339. (503) 758-1432.

FOR SALE: Two Radio Shack Modem lis. 300 bps, auto-dial/auto-answer, direct connect, programmable, good condition, complete with manual. SI 2 5 each (retail S200). Gary Turkel. 141 Lafayette Ave., Suffern, NY 10901. (914) 357-5183.

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 organimtions. Programs to be exchanged must be written bu the individual or be in the public domain. Ads must be typed double-spaced, contain 50 words or less, and include full name and address. This is a free service: ads are printed as space permits. 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: Shugart SA460, SA800-2, 5'/«-inch power supply and case, and Atari 850 interface. Excellent condition or new. Best offer Lee Fischman. 1332 East 100th St.. Brooklyn. NY 11236.1718)251-2321

FOR SALE: S-100 complete board set from Vector Graphic including CPU. disk controller. I/O board, 64K RAM, PROM/RAM board. Flashwriter 80-column board, and two extra boards: SI 199. A. Tan, 5749 South Nepal Way. Aurora. CO 80015

WANTED: Architecture student seeks used graphics computer terminal (at least 1024 by 1024 addressable points) with memory, light pen. manuals, and RS-232C or RS-422 interface. Massimo Stefani. via Lazzaretto II. 20124 Milano. Italy.

WANTED: I would like to know how to convert educational programs from C-64 to IBM PC. G. Sawabini |r„ POB 524, Dearborn, Ml 48121.

FOR SALE: Remex 8-inch DS/DD drives, two units: SI 50 each or trade for S-50 bus equipment. I. W. Wilson, 400 North Pierce St.. Lansdale. PA 19446. (215) 855-0102.

WANTED: Nibble Magazine, volume 3. number 2 and volume 3. number 1. Also volume 2. number 7 and earlier issues if the price is right. Send prices to Michael Ching. 2118 Kula St., Honolulu, HI 96817

WANTED: Inexpensive, bare S-100 mainframe and 8-inch floppy-disk enclosures. Dale Kashuba. S.-7 C.-I0 RR#1, Vernon. British Columbia VIT 6L4 Canada.

FOR SALE: Two Tandon TM 100-1 SS/'DD IBM PC disk drives. Excellent condition. S175 each new: will sell for $125 each, $200 for both. Will pay shipping. Mike Molohon. 305 ludy Lane 186, Copperas Cove. TX 76522. (817) 547-5579.

FOR SALE: 64 K North Star Horizon-2. FPB-A board, extra 16K IMS static RAM board. Matrox ALT-256 video board, full documentation plus books on CP/M and Z80 assembly language. Make an offer R. A. lacobson, 9 Shadewood Lane. Hilton Head Island. SC 29928.

TRADE: Computer Learning Center public-domain software for the Apple II for your CLC disks. Send SASE for list. Dale Flatow. 7684 South Logan Ave. Oak Creek. Wl 53154.

WANTED: Hardware, parts, accessories, information for the Exidy Sorcerer computer. Particularly need disk controller. BASIC compiler, EPROM burner, utilities, cassette-to-disk converter, etc. Gary Pewitt 3039 West 4375 S. Roy, UT 84067.

WANTED: IBM PC two floppy drives, graphics paper plotter, 2 56K. etc.. to design double-sided layout PC boards, CAD system. Steven Abraiti, M.QS. Inc.. 90 East 212th St., Cleveland. OH 44123.

FOR SALE: Texas Instruments 99/4A technical reference manual: $20. Two Teac SS/DD half-height disk drives from Sanyo MBC 555: $75 each. All in excellent condition. Michael |. Vargo, 2999 Lutheran Rd.. Gilbertsville, PA 1952 5.

FOR SALE: VT-100 terminal with AVO, Sierra Data Sciences Z80 single-board computer, two Qume DS/DD DataTrak 8-inch disk drives, Q.T 12-slot S-100 mainframe with power has room for drives. Any reasonable offer accepted. Mark Fowler. 2740 San Carlos Lane. Costa Mesa. CA 92626. (714) 754-1708.

FOR SALE: IBM-compatible board for TRS-80 Model 111/4 with I28K RAM. RS-232C serial I/O port. Centronics parallel port, power supply, and enclosure: S500 8088 microprocessor: $20 8031 microprocessor: $40. Tandon TM 100-1. 160K disk drive: $100. Other equipment available. Dave Engelbert. 1625 Lake Dr.. Haslett. Ml 48840. 1517) 339-1771.

WANTED: Correspondence with other computerists in English or Italian. Magnaterra Alessandro. Via Tomba 1. 47040 Santarcangelo di Romagna. Forll, Italy.

FOR SALE: Apple Lisa 2/10. 10 megabytes: S4500. IBM PC Portable, two disk drives: S1950. Apple lie: S800 Apple lie, one drive, and monitor $900 Osborne I single density S3 50. Atari 800XL. disk drive, and printer: S600. Apple II+: S800. Betty Weber. POB 413. Gates Mills. OH 44040. 12161 729-2808

WANTED: Used EPROM eraser for 2716s. etc. Andrew F. Siska. 331 South Grant. Westmont. IL 60559. (312) 960-2176. evenings.

WANTED: Engineering student needs Xerox 820 CPU board or Heath H-8. any condition. Curtis L. Martin, POB 341. Fayette City. PA 15438, (412) 326-8759

MAY 1985 'BYTE 525

BOMB

ARTICLE*

PAGI

1

48

2

^

3

108

4

: 2 8

5

143

6

152

7

155

8

160

9

171

10

185

II

201

12

219

13

239

1 1

260

15

270

16

279

17

291

18

307

19

355

JO

$63

21

385

22

399

23

24 25

417

429 433

BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box

ARTICLE AUTHORISl

Ask BYTE Ciarcia

The AT&T UNIX PC Williams

Ciarcia s Circuit Cellar:

Build the Home Run Control System.

Part 2: The Hardware Ciarcia

Set Extensions with Apple Pascal Schumer

Build a Talking Clock Speech Synthesizer Piette Methods: A Preliminary Look Webster.

Yonkman

Smalltalk-PC Made

The Smalltalk Programming Language . Anderson.

Fishman

Multiprocessing: An Overview Krajewski

Extending Microprocessor Architectures . Beals Applying Data Flow in the Real World Paseman

The Transputer Walker

Data-Movement Primitives Roskos.

Hsieh

The Compaq Deskpro Grady

IBM PC AT Finger

True BASIC Vose

The GTX-100 Modem Haas

Computing at Chaos Manor:

In Search of the Perfect Product Pournelle

BYTE Japan: Megabits and Gigaflops Raike

BYTE West Coast: Homebrew Chips Markoff.

Robinson.

Osgood BYTE U.K.: Parallel Processing Pountain

Computers and Law: The Sale of Computer Products Sterne.

Saidman Mathematical Recreations: An Exercise in BASIC Bitwise Logic Operation Kurosaka

Programming Insight: 0 8660254 = v3/2 . Sandberg Programming Insight: Computing Pi Crawford

THE FEBRUARY SEVEN

Build a Serial EPROM Programmer." an essential hacker's tool designed in Ciarcias Circuit Cellar, won the blue ribbon in February. In second place is Phillip Robinsons Product Preview on The HP Integral Personal Computer.' a system that makes UNIX portable And "Troubles" didn t prevent lerry Pournelle's column. Computing at Chaos Manor, from placing third.

Copying Mass-Marketed Software." the subject and debut of Computers and Law, won fourth place. Robert Greene Sterne and Perry I. Saidman will coauthor this new column scheduled to appear quarterly. The discussion with lames H. Wilkinson on the design process of Turing's Universal machine placed fifth. That interview entitled "The Birth of a Computer." was conducted by lohn C Nash.

Because the first five articles are written by BYTE technical or contributing editors, the articles that placed next in line are eligible for the prize money. Eric Aubanel and Keith Oldhams "Fourier Smoothing Without the Fast Fourier Transform" won sixth place: these coauthors will split the S100 bonus. In seventh place and the winner of the S50 bonus is leffrey Star for his "Introduction to Image Processing Hearty congratulations to all.

BYTE ADVERTISING SALES STAFF:

J. Peter Huestis, Advertising

Sales Manager. 70 Main Street,

Peterborough, NH 03458, teL

603) 924-9281

NEW ENGLAND

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN

NORTH PACIFIC

ME NH VT. MA Rl

NC SC. GA, FL AL TN

UT CO WY OK TX, AR MS. LA

HI WA OR. ID, MT, NORTHERN CA

Paul McPherson ll (6171 262-1160

Maggie M Dorvee 14041 252-0626

Dennis Riley (2141 458-2400

NV (except LAS VEGASI. W CANADA

McGraw-Hill Publications

McGraw-Hill Publications

McGraw-Hill Publications

David lern (4|5| 362-4600

575 Boylston Street

4 170 Ashford-Dunwoody Road

Prestonwood Tower—Suite 907

McGraw-Hill Publications

Boston MA 021 16

Suite 420

5151 Beltline

425 Battery Street

ATLANTIC

Atlanta GA 30319

Dallas. TX 75240

San Francisco, CA 94 111

NY NYC CT Nl INORTHI

MIDWEST

SOUTH PACIFIC

Bill McAlee 14151 964-0624

Dick McGurk (2121 512-3588

IL MO KS IA. ND SD. MN Wl NB IN

SOUTHERN CA, AZ NM LAS VEGAS

McGraw-Hill Publications

Leah Goldman (2121 512-2096

Bob Denmead 13121 751-3740

lack Anderson 17141 557-6292

1000 Elweil Court-Suite 22 5

McGraw-Hill Publications

McGraw-Hill Publications

McGraw-Hill Publications

Palo Alto CA 94303

1 22 1 Avenue ot the Americas—

Blair Building

3001 Red Hill Ave

30th Floor

645 North Michigan Ave

Building #1-Suite 222

WEST COAST SURPLUS

New York. NY 10020

Chicago IL 6061 1

Costa Mesa CA 92626

AND RETAIL ACCOUNTS

Tom Hatvey 18051 964-8577

EAST

GREAT LAKES OHIO REGION

Karen Niles 12131 480-5243. 487-1 160

3463 State Street-Suite 256

PA IEASTI N| ISOUTHl

Ml OH PA lALLEGHENYl KY

McGraw-Hill Publications

Santa Barbara. CA 93105

MD VA WVA DE D C

EASTERN CANADA

3333 Wilshire Boulevard #407

Daniel Ferro 12151 496-3833

Mike Kisseberth 13131 352-9760

Los Angeles C A 90010

Post Card Mailings National

McGraw-Hill Publications

McGraw-Hill Publications

Three Parkway

4000 Town Center—Suite 770

Bradley Browne (6031 924-6166

Philadelphia PA :9I02

Southfield Ml 48075

BYTE Publications 70 Main Street

International Advertising Sales Representatives:

Peterborough NH 03458

Mr Hans Csokor

Mrs Maria Sarmiento

Mr Arthur Scheffer

Seavex Ltd.

Publimedia

Pedro Teixeira 8 Off 320

McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.

503 Wilson House

Reisnerstrasse 61

Iberia Mart 1

34 Dover St

19-27 Wyndham St

A-1037 Vienna Austria

Madrid 4 Spain

London W1X 3RA

Central Hong Kong

222 75 76 84

1 45 52 891

England 01 493 1451

Tel: 5-260149

Telex 60904 SEVEX HX

Mrs Gurit Gepner

Mr Andrew Karnig

Mt Savio Pesavento

McGraw-Hill Publishing Co

Andrew Karnig & Associates

McGraw-Hill Publishing Co

Hiro Morita

PO Box 2156

Finnbodavagen

Via Flavio Baracchini 1

McGraw-Hill Publishing Co

Bat Yam. 59121 Israel

S-I3I 31 Nacka Sweden

20123 Milan. Italy

Overseas Corp

3 866 501 321 39

8-44 0005

01 1 86 90 656

Room 1528

Mr Fritz Krusebecker

Mr lean Christian Acis

Seavex Ltd.

Kasumigaseki Bldg 3-2-5 Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-Ku Tokyo 100 lapan 3 581 9811

McGraw-Hill Publishing Co

McGraw-Hill Publishing Co,

400 Orchard Road #IO0l

Liebigstrasse 19

1 7 rue Georges Bizet

Singapore 0923

D-6000 Frankfurt/Main 1

F 75116 Paris

Republic of Singapore

West Germany

France

Tel 734-9790

69 72 01 81

1 720 33 42

Telex RS35539 SEAVEX

526 BYTE" MAY 1985

READER SERVICE

Inquiry No. Page No.

437 2500 AD SOFTWARE 236.237

2 3-M COMMERCIAL OFFICE SUPPLY DIV. 402

3 800 SOFTWARE 243

4 AST. RESEARCH 19

5 AST RESEARCH 19

6 AB COMPUTERS 348. 349

7 AB COMPUTERS 348. 349

8 ABC DATA PRODUCTS 490

438 ACM SICGRAPH '85 328

9 ACS INTL. INC 428

10 ACTION COMPUTER 145

11 ACTION COMPUTER 145

12 ADDMASTER CORP. 500

13 ADV BUSINESS COMP SYS. ... 298

14 ADV. COMP PROD. 486

15 ADV COMPUTER SYSTEMS ... 390

18 AFTEK BUSN.MACHINES 340

" ALF PRODUCTS. INC 60

19 ALL ELECTRONICS CORP. 84

20 ALLIED MICRO DEVICES 492

21 ALLOY COMPUTER PROD . 56. 57 428 ALLOY COMPUTER PROD 248

22 AMARAY CORP. 241

23 AMBER SYSTEMS 323

24 AMDEK CORP. 8

26 AMERICAN DESIGN COMPNTS. 365

27 AMERICAN RESEARCH 226

28 AMERICAN RESEARCH 226

463 AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR 430

29 AMPERE INC 150

30 AMPRO COMPUTERS INC 230

31 ANTHRO CORP 199

32 APOLLO MARKETING 482

33 APPARAT INC 502

• APPLE COMPUTER INC Cll, I

34 APPLIED DATA SYSTEMS 139

35 APPLIED I 502

36 APPLIED SOFTWARE TECH. ... 251

37 APRICOT INC 12. 13

38 APROPOS TECHNOLOGY 519

39 ARCTEC SYSTEMS 367

40 ARTIFICIAL INTL.RESRCH.GRR . 494

41 ASHTONTATE 94. 95

42 AT&T GENERAL BUSN. SYS. ... 378

43 AUGAT PACKAGED PROD 69

145 AVATEX MODEMS 216. 217

44 AVOCET 381

45 AWARD SOFTWARE. INC 212

46 AWESOME TECHNOLOGY. INC . 519

47 B&B ELECTRONICS 515

• B&C MICROSYSTEMS 502

48 BASF SYSTEMS 133

49 BAY TECHNICAL ASSOC 23

50 BEST POWER TECHNOLOGY 69

• BEST WESTERN INTL 138

51 BIBLE RESEARCH SYSTEMS ... 132

52 BLACKSHIP COMP SUPPLIES . . 515

53 BLAISE COMPUTING INC 244

455 BORLAND INTL 41

456 BORLAND INTL 41

457 BORLAND INTL 43

458 BORLAND INTL 43

459 BORLAND INT L 45

460 BORLAND INTL 45

461 BORLAND INTL 46. 47

462 BORLAND INTL 46. 47

452 BUDDY PRODUCTS 515

58 BUSINESS TOOLS INC 439

• BYTE PUBL.INC 446

59 BYTEK COMP SYS. CORP 66

• C WARE 292

60 C ITOH DIGITAL PRODUCTS 38

61 C ITOH DIGITAL PRODUCTS 38

• CALIF. DIGITAL 512. 513

• CALIF. DIGITAL 514

• CALIF. MICRO COMPUTER 519

62 CALIF. MICRO HOUSE 136

63 CANON USA 28. 29

64 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT CORP. .280

65 CAPITAL MICRO 192

67 CDA INTL SOFTWARE 488

68 CDR SYSTEMS 496

69 CENTROID CORP. 496

71 CHIPS N DIPS 500

72 CHORUS DATA SYSTEMS 362

Inquiry No.

Page No.

73 74 75 76 77 78 80 81 82 83

84 87

89 90 91 92 93 94

96 97 98 99 101 102 103

105 107 441 442 443 109 110 111 465 112 113 117 118 119 120 121

439 440

123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131

132 133

134 135 137 139 140 141 143 144 146 147 148 149 150 151 454 152

CHRISLIN IND INC 389

CITIZEN AMERICA 268, 269

CIVIL COMPUTING CORP 502

COASTLINE COMPUTER 499

COGITATE 488

COMARK INC 176

COMMTEK ELECTRIC INC 30

COMMUNICATION CABLE CO. . 502

COMP. COMPNTS. UNLTD. 461

COMP COMPNTS. UNLTD. 462. 463 COMPAQ COMPUTER CORP .88. 89

COMPETITIVE EDGE 66

COMPOWER TECH. CORP. 498

COMPUMAIL 489

COMPUSERVE 35

COMPUSERVE 215

COMPUTATIONAL SYS. INC. ... 232

COMPUTER AFFAIRS INC 494

COMPUTER AFFAIRS INC 294

COMPUTER CHANNEL 411

COMPUTER CHRONICLES 315

COMPUTER CONNECT. INC 508. 509

COMPUTER CONTINUUM 488

COMPUTER DISCOUNT PROD. 497

COMPUTER GROUP THE 488

COMPUTER HUT OF N.E 455

COMPUTER INNOVATIONS .... 320

COMPUTER INNOVATIONS 310

COMPUTER MAIL ORDER 396. 397

COMPUTER PARTS MART 502

COMPUTER WAREHOUSE 465

COMPUTERBANC 74

COMPUTRADE 446

CONROY-LAPOINTE 166. 167

CONROY-LAPOINTE 166. 167

CONROY-LAPOINTE 166. 167

CONTROL DATA 147

CONTROL DATA MICRO SERV. . 357

CORVUS SYS. INC 231

CRANE ASSOC. INC 430

CROMEMCO 5

CUESTA SYSTEMS 379

CUSTOM COMP. TECH 173

CUSTOM COMP. TECH 482

CUSTOM COMP. TECH 483

DATA BANK 78

DATA EXCHANGE 500

DATA I/O INC 515

DATA SPEC 452

DATA SPEC 452

DATA TRANSLATION INC 233

DATACOPY CORP. 404

DATASOUTH COMP CORP. 425

DAYNA COMM 148. 149

DELUXE COMP. FORMS 70

DICK SMITH ELECTRON1CS414. 415

DIGITAL PRODUCTS INC 146

DIGITAL RESEARCH COMP 76

DIRECT-CONNECT DEVICES .490 DISCOUNT COMPUTER CENTERS 398

DISKETTE CONNECTION 454

DISKS PLUS 498

DISKWORLD!. INC 479

DISKWORLD!, INC 487

DISPLAY TELECOMMNTNS. 510. 511 DOKAY COMP PROD INC.. 506. 507 DOW IONES SOFTWARE. .456. 457

DWIGHT CO., INC 494

DYNACOMP COMPUTER SYS.. . 366

DYNAX. INC 394

EARTH COMPUTERS 488

EARTH COMPUTERS 500

EASTMAN KODAK CO. 338

EASTMAN KODAK CO. . . . 422, 423

ECOSOFT 54

EDUCATIONAL MICROCOMP . . 498

ELCOMP 519

ELECTRONIC DATA SYS 372

Inquiry No.

Page No.

153

155

156 159 161 163 165 162 166 167 168 169 170 451 171 172 173 174 175 444 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 232

187 188 189

190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 200 201 202

203 427 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 429

212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 225 226 227 228 229

ELEXOR INC 494

ELLIS COMPUTING INC 221

ENCHANTED FOREST 498

ENTER COMPUTER 289

ENTER COMPUTER 289

ERICSSON COMPUTER CO. . 36, 37

EVEREX SYSTEMS 64

EXIM INTERNATIONAL 492

EXPRESS BUSINESS SOFTWARE . 52

EXSEL INC 492

FACIT AB 319

FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING .... 408

FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING 408

FORTRON. INC 481

FORTRON. INC 481

FOX AND GELLER 436

FOX SOFTWARE INC 496

FRIENDLY COMPUTER 165

FUNK SOFTWARE 258

GENERAL MICRO SYSTEMS .490

GENERAL TECHNOLOGY 205

GENICOM CORP. 419

GIFFORD COMP SYS 359

GOLD HILL COMPUTERS 170

GOLDEN BOW SYSTEMS 492

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS62. 63

GTEK INC 85

H&E COMPUTRONICS 137

HAMMER COMPUTER SYSTEMS80. 81

HANZON DATA INC 248

HARMONY VIDEO 6 COMP .... 78 HARMONY VIDEO & COMP. ... 412 HARRIS/LANIER EOS DIV. 382. 383 HAVENTREE SOFTWARE LTD.. . 498 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. . . 25 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. . 179

HOFFMAN INTL 490

HOLIDAY INNS. INC 312. 313

HOOLEON COMPANY 165

HOOLEON COMPANY 165

HOUSTON INSTR/BAUSCH&LOMB304

HYPERON SOFTWARE 515

I.B.C 195

I.B.C 195

I.DSYSTEMS 352

IBM CORP. 440, 441

IBM NDD SYS. SUPP. 360, 361

ILAR SYSTEMS. INC 358

ILAR SYSTEMS, INC 358

IMSI 354

INDEPENDENT BUSN.SYS.INC. . 343

INFOCOM 368

INOVION CORP. 242

INTEGRAND 388

INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS . . 484

INTERCONTN. MICRO SYS 4

INTERCONTN. MICRO SYS 4

INTERFACE INC.' 247

INTERFACE INC 247

INTERFACE TECH. CORP. 238

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF COMPUTER OWNERS INC. 504. 505

IOMEGA 337

IOMEGA 339

IOMEGA 341

IADE COMP. PROD. 516, 517

IADE COMP PROD. 518

IAMECO ELECTRONICS . . 228. 229 IDR MICRODEVICES INC. . 520, 521 IDR MICRODEVICES INC . 522, 523

IDR MICRODEVICES INC 524

IEDEN 278

IOHN WILEY & SONS 252

KADAK PRODUCTS 502

KIMTRON CORP. 393

KRUEGER TECHNOLOGY INC. . 493

LCOM INC 318

LABORATORY MICROSYS 132

TO GET FURTHER information on the pick up your touch-tone telephone a> or fill out the reader service card. I vided following this reader service i tional service by the publisher. wh< omissions. 'Correspond directly w

aroducts advertised in BYTE, either J use TIPS (if you are a subscriber), ther way full instructions are prodex which is provided as an addiassumes no liability for errors or t company.

Inquiry No.

Page No.

448 234 235 236 237 238 239 241 242 243 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257

258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270

271 464 272

274 275 276 277 278

279 280 281 282 286 287 288 289 88 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297

298

300 104 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310

311

LARK SOFTWARE 438

LATTICE. INC 400

LAWSON LABS. INC 500

LEADING EDGE PROD 49

LEADING EDGE PROD. 71

LEVEL 5 RESEARCH 364

LIFEBOAT ASSOCIATES 18

LIFEBOAT ASSOCIATES 469

LINTEK INC 515

LIVING VIDEOTEX 432

LOGICAL DEVICES 240

LOGICAL DEVICES 498

LOMAS DATA PRODUCTS 197

LYBEN COMP. SYS 502

LYBEN COMP SYS 448

LYCO COMPUTER 459

MANAGEMENT INFO SOURCE . 138

MANX SOFTWARE SYS 53

MARK WILLIAMS CO 75

MARYMAC INDUSTRIES INC . . 498 MASTERBYTE COMP OF NY. . . 502

MAXELL DATA PRODUCTS 7

MAYNARD ELECTRONIX 15

MCGRAW-HILL CEC 353

MEGATEL COMPUTER TECH. ... 86 MERRITT COMP. PRODUCTS ... 492

METALINK CORP. 519

MFI ENTERPRISES INC 91

M1CRAY ELECTRONIX 246

MICRO DATA BASE SYS. . . 450. 451

MICRO DESIGN INTL 431

MICRO MART. INC 72, 73

MICRO PRODUCTS, INC 495

MICRO WORLD ELECTRONIX . . 519 MICROCOMPUTER ACCESSORIES . 336 MICROCOMPUTER ACCESSORIES . 336

MICROGRAFX 135

M1CROMINT INC 410

MICROPROCESSORS UNLTD. .490

MICROSCOPE 430

MICROSHOP 478

MICROSOFT CORP 126. 127

MICROSOFT CORP 283

MICROSOFT CORP. 285

MICROSOFT CORP 287

MICROSOFT CORP PRESS 306

MICROSTUF. INC 384

MICROTIME 92

MICROWAY 218

MICROWAY 413

MIDWEST MICRO-PERIPHERALS . . 34 MINORITY HI-TECH INDUSTRIES . 281

MOTEL COMPUTERS LTD 500

MOUNTAIN VIEW PRESS 77

MTI SYSTEMS CORP. 146

MULTI-TECH SYSTEMS 234

NANTUCKET 184

NANTUCKET 184

NATL PUBUC DOMAIN SFTW ... 86

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 125

NCDA 494

NEC HOME INFORMATION SYS. CHI

NESTAR SYSTEMS INC 453

NEW GENERATION SYS 250

NEWSNET INC 55

NICOLET PARATRONICS 30

NIGHTOWL SOFTWARE 253

NORTH HILLS CORP. 492

NORTH HILLS CORP. 494

NORTHROP 473

NRI SCHOOLS ELECTR. DIV , . . 449 OBERON INTERNATIONAL ... 370

OLDEN 181

OPUS COMP PROD 16

ORCHID TECHNOLOGY 131

ORCHID TECHNOLOGY 321

ORION INSTRUMENTS 198

ORYX SYSTEMS 254. 255

ORYX SYSTEMS 254, 255

ORYX SYSTEMS 254, 255

OZISOFT 490

PC. HORIZONS. INC 496

PC NETWORK 344. 345

PACIFIC EXCHANGES

488. 492. 496. 519

PACIFIC PAYROLL SYSTEMS 92

MAY 1985 -BYTE 527

READER SERVICE

Inquiry No Page No

312 PACIFIC PAYROLL SYSTEMS . . 92

• PALADIN SOFTWARE 316. J17 114 PANASONIC SENIOR PARTNER 93

315 PARAGON COURSEWARE 488

• PASCOM COMPUTING 51

316 PC PIPELINE 488

317 PC S LIMITED 477

318 PCS LIMITED 515

319 PERSOFT INC 61

320 PINNACLE SYSTEMS. INC 324

322 POCKET TECHNOLOGY 295

447 POLAROID CORP 208 209

323 PRACTICAL PERIPHERALS .... 207

324 PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS 191

325 PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS

325. 327. 329. 331. 333

326 PRIORITY ONE 503

329 PROGRAMMERS SHOP 309

330 PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTR 485

331 PROMETHEUS PRODUCTS 17

332 OANTEX DIV 193

333 QIC RESEARCH 427

334 QUADRAM CORP 106. 107

335 OUADRAM CORP 401

336 QUALITY PRINTERS 496

337 QUANT SYSTEMS 496

338 QUARK INCORPORATED 409

339 OUBIE 20.21

340 RADIO SHACK CIV

341 RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES. . 498

342 RATIONAL SYSTEMS 300

343 READIWARE SYSTEMS INC. . 311

344 RELAX TECHNOLOGY 374

345 ROLAND CORP 407

453 ROSE ELECTRONICS 519

430 S-100 DIV 696 CORP 60

431 S-100 DIV 696 CORP 60

Inquiry No. Page No

434 S-100 DIV. 696 CORP 501

435 S-100 DIV 696 CORP 501

350 SAB-LINK. INC 492

351 SAFEWARE 494

352 SAFT AMERICA INC 445

353 SATELLITE SOFTWARE 346

354 SAVON COMPUTERS 491

• SCOTTSDALE SYSTEMS 82

355 SEMIDISK SYSTEMS 189

• SILICON SPECIALTIES 387

• SILVER FOX 50

357 SLICER COMPUTERS 26

358 SLR SYSTEMS 350

359 SMALL BUSINESS COMP SYS. . 492

360 SOCIETY-APPLIED LRNG.TECH. . 452

361 SOFTCRAFT INC |TX) 24

• SOFTCRAFT INC. (Wl) 235

• SOFTLINE CORP. 87

363 SOFTWARE BOTTLING 301

364 SOFTWARE GALORE 314

365 SOFTWARE GALORE 314

366 SOFTWARE LINK, THE 443

367 SOFTWARE PLUS 490

368 SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS INC . 377

369 SOLA ELECTRIC 31

327 SOLUTION SYSTEMS 308

328 SOLUTION SYSTEMS 308

370 SOLUT10NWARE CORP 515

371 SONY CORP OF AMERICA 182. 183

372 SORCIM 142

373 SORD COMPUTER OF AMERICA293

374 SPECTRUM SOFTWARE 203

445 SPERRY CORP 79

375 SPSS 437

376 STARBUCK DATA CO . 494

446 STB SYSTEMS 334. 335

377 STRIDE MICRO 210

Inquiry No. Page No.

378 STRIDE MICRO 211

379 STSC INC 326

449 SUMICON 386

450 SUMICON 386

380 SUMMIT SOFTWARE TECHN. INC 406

381 SUNNY INT L 484

" SUNNYVALE COMM. CO. 213

382 SUNTRONICS CO. INC 478

383 SUPERSOFT 405

384 SYNALTA SYSTEMS 496

• SYSGEN INC 290

385 SYSTEMS AUTOMATION CORP . 447

386 SYSTEMS MANAGMNT ASSOC .467

387 TAPE WORLD 488

388 TATUM LABS 500

389 TATUNG 32

390 TAXAN CORP 249

391 TAXAN CORP 249

392 TCI SOFTWARE RESEARCH 54

393 TDK ELECTRONICS 471

• TEKTRONIX INC 435

• TELCOR AMERICA 412

394 TELEBYTE TECHNOLOGY INC. . 84

395 TELEBYTE TECHNOLOGY INC. 448

• TELEVIDEO SYSTEMS 351

• TEXAS INSTRUMENTS II

' TEXAS INSTRUMENTS . 296. 297

397 THREE M COMPANY ... 302. 303 154 TIGERTRONICS 494

• TINNEY. ROBERT GRAPHICS. 480

398 TOSHIBA AMERICA INC.. . 276. 277

400 TRANSTECTOR SYSTEMS. INC. . 223

401 TRIFOX 490

402 US. ROBOTICS 67

283 U.S. SERVEX 322

403 UN1SOURCE 59

404 UNITECH 515

Page No. 27

Inquiry No.

406 VEN-TEL INC

407 VERTEX SYSTEMS 444

408 VIASYN 369

409 VIASYN 371

410 VIASYN 373

411 VIASYN 375

412 VIASYN 391

413 VICTORY ENT TECHNOLOGY 68

414 VLM COMPUTER ELECTR . . 498 413 VCTRAX. INC 403

416 WADSWORTH PROFESSNAL SFTW4I6

417 WALLING COMPANY 519

• WAREHOUSE DATA PRODUCTS 227

418 WESTERN TELEMATIC INC 200

419 WINTEK CORP 330

420 WINTEK CORP 500

421 WORKMAN & ASSOCIATES. .500

424 XEROX CORP 140, 141

425 YET1WARE 490

426 ZSTEM COMMUNICATIONS DIV 496

• Correspond directly with company

INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING SECTION

500 AMERICAN BUYING & EXPORT288B

• BYTE 288D. 288|. 288K

501 CASIO COMPUTER CO. 288C

504 DYADIC SYSTEMS LTD. 288F

505 ENTER COMPUTER 288L

506 ENTER COMPUTER 288L

503 GREY MATTER 288F

502 HELIX EXPERT SYSTEMS .... 288E

• MICROMINT 288H

512 MULTITECH INDUSTRIAL CORP288C

522 MULTITECH INDUSTRIAL CORP 2881

No domestic inauines ptease.

TIPS

SEND FOR YOUR 1) SUBSCRIBER I.D. CARD

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY!*

Use BYTE's Telephone Inquiry Pixtcessing System

Using TIPS can bring product information as much as 10 days earlier.

If you are a new subscriber or have lost your I.D. card, circle #1 on the Reader Service Card; attach mailer label. We will immediately send your personal TIPS subscriber card.

GET PREPARED

2) Write your Subscriber Number, as printed on your Subscriber I.D. Card, in boxes in Step 5 below. (Do not add O's to fill in blank boxes)

3) Write numbers for information desired in boxes in Step 7b below. (Do not add O's to fill in blank boxes.)

CALL TIPS

4) Now, on a Touch-Tone telephone dial: (413) 442-2668 and wait for voice commands.

ENTER YOUR SUBSCRIBER AND

ISSUE NUMBERS

5) When TIPS says: "Enter Subscriber Number"

(Enter by pushing the numbers and symbols [# or * enclosed in the boxes] on telephone pad

ignoring blank boxes)

Enter DDDDDDDDIi

6) When TIPS says "Enter magazine code & issue code" Enter CD X IS H IS IE

ENTER YOUR INQUIRIES

7a) When TIPS says "Enter (next) Inquiry Number"

Enter one inquiry selection from below (ignore blank boxes)

b) Repeat 7a as needed (maximum 17 inquiry numbers)

0 10. □□□US] 14. D D D 3 11. DO DSBll 15.DDD

1 12.DDGil 16. D D D ] 13. □□□HB] 17. □□□

1.

DDDil

6.

DDD

2.

DDDfflffl

7.

□ DD

3.

DDDII1

8.

GGG

4.

DDD1I1

9.

DDD

5.

DDDil

END SESSION

8) End session by entering E E BE LI IB BE

9) Hang up after hearing final message

If you are a subscriber and need assistance, call (603) 924-9281.

If you are not a subscriber fill out the subscription card found in this issue or, call BYTE Circulation 800-258-5485. •Domestic and Canadian Subscribers Only! 528 BYTE- MAY 1985

ONLY PINWRITER DOT MATRIX PRINTERS CAN SAY All THIS.

44

Pmwriter printers are available m black & while and color models

u

The reason most people buy a dot matrix printer is for versatility.

And that's exactly why you should buy an NEC Pinwriter™ printer.

Pinwriters 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

unbelievably clear graphics. In black and vtt 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

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 ANY PROGRAMMABLE TYPEFACE

The Pinwriter prints in 8 different typefaces at the touch ol a button

The quick brown fox The quicker broun fox

The quickest brown to

Three printing speeds cover all you' needs

With Pmvur ■:■ i . .

jjgES use NEC f°rms

and speed with One finger

handlers.

And to make things even easier, Pinwriter printers work with the most popular PCs and software packages.

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 refreshing 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 ^ tY^S*

information, call l^y M4 # 1-800-343-4418 V f M2d* (in MA call 617264-8635). And find out why more and more PC owners are saying, "NEC and me'.'

w

ff

AND ME

Pinwriter is a trademark of NEC Corp

NEC Information Systems, Inc.

1414 Massachusetts Ave. Department 1610 Boxborough. MA 01719

Inquiry 290

A STAR IS BORN

Out of Radio Shack's Famed Model 100 Evolves the Advanced Technology Tandy 200

Our new Advanced Technology Tandy 200 portable computer does what no other computer could.

It takes our amazing Model 100 one step further.

Get Much More Power

-. A new 40character by 16-line flip-up — screen gives the Tandy 200 improved text and graphics. The 24K memory (expandable to 72K) is great for data

storage and other big jobs, and the built-in Multiplan software makes the Tandy 200 a portable spreadsheet analysis tool.

Five other "instant-on" programs include an improved version of the Model 100 word processor, a telecommunications program, a personal calendar and a telephone and appointment file. You can even write your own programs in BASIC. And the Tandy 200's tone-dialing feature lets you use long-distance phone services.

See It Today

Get a hands-on demonstration of the Tandy 200 (26-3860, $999) at any Radio Shack Computer Center or participating Radio Shack store or dealer.

Radio/hack

The Technology Store

A DIVISION OF TANDY CORPORATION

Prices apply at Radio Shack Computer Centers and at participating stores and dealers

Inquiry 340