NOV/DEC 86 BULK RATE
U.S. Postage VOL. 3 NO. 1 PAID ; Colton, OR 97017 $3.00 Permit No. 51 POSTMASTER:
———
as ia | | eh = | “What's All The a\ea/lvy : AC
— ots Diag yy ) Commotion About?
ITS TDM's
2nd
NIVERSARY ISSUE!"
~
SS . aod oF OF on oe oe on 1S 2 08 OF 06 oe eer
IT’S HERE! !
QL TRIVIA—-GQLUE
HERE IS GREAT NEW COMBINATION GAME! IF YOU LIKED QLUE AND TRIVIA, THEN THIS IS FOR YOU! We HAVE COMBINED THE
SE TWO GREAT THINKING HANS’ GAHES
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Also included, at no extra cost r choice of FOOTBALL FORECASTER or LIFE EXPECTANCY FORECASTER (Specify which you would Like when you order.)
WE THINK YOU’LL LIKE THIS ONE! OUR PRICE? ONLY $19.95 +$2ph
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ANNOUNCING
SOUNDESIGN 2068 A NEW PROGRAMMING UTILITY FOR YOUR 2068!
This little package allows you to design your own sound effects or musical effects for your programs Simply and easily. Completely menu driven, usi only 3 keys, you can design a sound, print out t necessary program line (generated by our program) and insert it into your progran.
The core Will let you test out sounds, change volume & pitch, open or close the sound channels - all with only 3 keys!
Sound simple? IT IS! We want you to be able to use our utilities, and the ie we make them, the easier they are to use and the more likely you will use and recommend then!
This one it NEW from ARROW SOFTWARE, a company we hope to hear a lot from in the months ahead!
AT ONLY $12. 9S5t$1.50ph THIS ONE IS A MUST FOR ALL RS! IT WILL SAVE YOU MORE THAN THAT IN TIME ALONE!
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MAKE CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS OUT TO: RMG ENTERPRISES off? 1/2 7TH STREET GON CITY, OR 97045
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10 AM TILL 1@ PM TUE-SAT
te ere Tee) ee ee eee oe PuteMa2 P88, SE SRP ORR See np x wat Sn a MIR
SEKTOR 29068 FOR THE FD468 USER
bart A full-featured sector editor for use with your 2068 and AERCO FD68 disk system. Very user friendly! Many features that you would not expect at this price!
Some of the features included are!
READ DISK SECTORS - WRITE SECTORS - CORRECT SECTORS DELETE/ERASE FILES - COMPARE BLOCKS - COPY SCREENS TE IBM CLUSTERS - MSDOS (2 VERSIONS) ~ WORKS WITH RP/M AND HORE!
All of this at a price that all FD48 users can afford: ONLY $15. @@t2ph
Available on 5 1/4" disk, 3° disk or cassette. Please add $5 for 3s disk version. Complete with very thorough documentation.
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM: RMG ENTERPRISES
OUR NEW CATALOG IS COMING! WE WANT YOU TO GET YOUR COPY!
OUR NEW CATALOG IS BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER!
WE’VE ADDED NEW PRODUCTS IN ALL OF OUR OLD LINES AND ARE ADDING NEW LINES OF MERCHANDISE.
OUR OLD LINES INCLUDE: TS 2068 & TS 1500 & TS 1000/ZX81 * OL
OUR NEW LINES INCLUDES COMPUTER FORMS & PAPER PRODUCTS * DISK DRIVES DISK DRIVE CASES & POWER SUPPLIES & DISK DRIVE CABLES BLANK DISKS % BLANK VIDEO TAPES & CB RADIOS MUCH MORE TO COME!!
BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER COSTS OF PRODUCING AND MAILING A NEW CATALOG, WE ARE FORCED TO ASK, THAT, IF YOU ARE A SERIOUS CUSTOMER, AND WOULD LIKE TQ RECEIVE ONE OF OUR NEW CATALOGS, YOU ‘Sep US $2.00 TO COVER THESE COSTS.
IN RETURN REGULAR ORDER! THAT WAY YOU DON’T ACTUALLY LOSE ANYTHING AND HAVE A LOT OF SAVINGS TO GAIN!
JUST FILL IN THE INFORMATION BELOW AND SEND THIS FORM ALONG WITH YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $2.00 TO THE ADDRESS BELOW!
AND THAT’S NOT ALL!
IF YOU ENCLOSE 12 LEGAL SIZED S.A.S.E.s WITH THIS FORM YOU WILL BE SURE TO RECEIVE OUR MONTHLY SPECIALS CLOSE-OUTS, NEW PRODUCT NOTICES AND CATALOG UPDATES. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A COUPON GOOD FOR A $5.00 DISCOUNT ON YOUR NEXT CATALOG ORDER!
THAT WAY IT ACTUALLY COSTS YOU NOTHING! DON’T MISS OUT! ORDER TODAY!
NOV/DEC 86
VOL. 3 NO. 1
FOR ALL TIMEX AND SINCLAIR COMPUTERS
TIME DESIGNS MAGAZINE CoO. 29722 Hult Rd.e Colton, Oregon 97017
(503) 624-2658
TIME DESIGNS MAGAZINE is published bi- monthly and is Copyright © 1986 by the Time Designs Magazine Company, Colton, Oregon 97017. All rights reserved.
Editor: Tim Woods Assistant Editor: Stephanie Woods Editorial Assistant/Production: D.L. Woods
Photography: (unless otherwise noted): Thomas Judd Printing by; Toad’! Litho Printing and Comp., Oregon City, Oregon 97045
SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 a year for six issues (US funds only). No extra charge to Canadian subscribers. All other countries please write for information on air mail rates.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Customer satisfaction is our goal. For subscription service problems please write or call TIME DESIGNS.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Write or call to prevent delay of sevice,
Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part by any means without written permission is prohibited by law
“NOTICE: Contributors to TIME DESIGNS are independent of the TIME DESIGNS MAGAZINE CO., and opinions ex- pressed in the contents of the magazine are not necessarily those of the management or its advertisers. Time Designs Magazine Co. will not be held liable for any damage or conse- quences resulting from instructions, assertions of fact, review of products or companies provided in the magazine's content."
GIVE A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO TIME DESIGNS
* You'll Help Spread Interest in sinclair Computers
* We will Supply a FREE CARD
SEND YOUR ORDER BEFORE DECEMBER 15th TO INSURE DELIVERY.
Michael E. Carver
eee
D. Hutchinson
The Folks Who Bring You TIME DESIGNS
a
Tim Woods and Tom Judd, Staff Photographer
Stephanie Woods Assistant Editor
Tim
SEES.
Soe: Mii tinea
Syd Wyncoop Stan Lemke
This being our 2nd Anniversary Issue and the start of our 3rd year of publication, I'm going to pass up the usual column featured here, and introduce you to some folks responsible for putting out TIME DESIGNS six times a year. Most of you know this is a "family" business, which not only employs both my wife and I, but also other family members and friends on a part time basis. TDM really wouldn't be possible without our great contributors...I feel the very best around. Some of them have been with us since Volume One.
Above you will find photo's of some of these people who you have read about, but this time you can tie a picture to a name. It's all in fun, and at the same time gives them some deserving recognition. (I've even in- cluded my own "mug shot" for what it's worth.) There are many others who aren't pictured above, who are also regulars to our pages, such as: Tim Stoddard, Warren Fricke, Bill Ferrebee, Charles E. Goyette, Dick Wagner, Dennis Jurries, Dennis Silvestri, R. Lussier (as well as several others). We'll have to get them next time.
I look forward to working with everyone for the next six issues of TDM, and serving you our readers with the magazine "written by Sinclair enthusiasts---for Sinclair enthusiasts". I also want to wish our writers, their families, as well as our entire readership...
ge Happy Holidays! Tim ds
Earl V. Dunnington
TDM TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Tim Woods has asked me to reminisce about the early days of the Timex Sinclair microcomputers. Ah, nostalgia time! The good ol' days...or were they?
When you think about it, the "good ol' days" of the Timex computers only go back to April 1982. That was when Timex Computer Corporation, a wholly-owned sub- sidiary of the Timex Watch Company, announced to a stunned press that it had made an agreement with Sin- clair Research Ltd. (England) to produce and market the Timex Sinclair 1000, Timex's version of Sinclair's ZX8l1...and it was going to sell at 150,000 Timex North American retail outlets for only $99! That didn't happen, since most stores that sold Timex watches de- cided not to try to sell computers...but it was sure exciting to think about!
But the genesis of the TS 1000 goes somewhat further back to when "Uncle Clive" Sinclair shocked the computer world in early 1980 by announcing the first under-$200 computer, the ZX80. This was an immediate hit in England and came to the U.S., mail-order only, in late 1980. This was followed by the ZxX8l1, which was actually manufactured in Scotland by Timex. It sold for 5150 assembled, or $100 in kit form. The ZX8l quickly became the largest-selling computer in the world.
I got my first ZxX81 in early 1982. I ordered a kit for $100, but they had more assembled units than kits, so they apologized for sending me an assembled unit!
I had already cut my computing teeth on a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I 4k with Level I BASIC, which I had upgraded to 16k with Level II BASIC language. I had written one book for Hayden Publishing ("Programs For Beginners On The TRS-80") and many magazine articles, so the ZX81 was not my first micro...but it quickly got my attention.
It was FUN to program the ZX81 in Sinclair BASIC, which was much more powerful than the TRS-80 Level I BASIC. Because there was only lk of RAM, and much of that was devoted to the screen, there was not much memory left for a program...making the challenge much greater. The graphics were limited, but easy to use.
I started writing articles about the Zx81 and the Timex Sinclair 1000. Since they were identical, except that the TS 1000 had a 2k RAM instead of lk, everything I did with the ZX81 worked on the TS1000. Furthermore, by adding the 16k RAMpack to a ZX8l, it was the same as a TS 1000 with a RAMpack. In fact, I never did get a TS 1000. By the time they were available, I had two ZX8ls with RAMpacks!
I recall the difficulty in getting a printer in the early days, before the Timex Sinclair 2040, Sinclair put one out in England for about $100. I don't even remember what they called it, but it put out so much radio- frequency interference that the FCC banned it in this country. It used an electrostatic process that vaporized a thin aluminum coating to expose the black surface on a carbon-coated paper roll. I ordered one of these little printers from Gladstone Electronics, via Canada. The
“Remember Back When...”
by Fred Blechman
import paperwork, shipping and tariff cost about $35! It was strange, but gave an acceptable 32-column printout that duplicated every dot on the screen. To do that on many of today's micros takes special graphic screen dump programs!
My first ZX/TS-oriented article was in the Sept/Oct 1982 issue of SYNC Magazine. I subsequently wrote 20 other articles covering the 2Zx8l1, TS 1000, TS 1500, TS 2068, Spectrum, and OL for other magazines...Elec- tronic Fun, CES Daily, Microcomputing, TODAY (Compu- Serve), Timex Sinclair User, Computer Shopper, Computers & Electronics, Computer Trader and Modern Electronics. My last "Timex" article was a 7-page hands-on review of the Sinclair QL in the June 1985 issue of Modern Elec- tronics.
Along the way, I wrote the book, "Timex Sinclair 2068 Beginner/Intermediate Guide" for Howard W. Sams. It is now out of print, but available from the E. Arthur Brown Company. They also sell my friend Jeff Mazur's book, "Timex Sinclair 2068 Intermediate/Advanced Guide", also published by Sams, which picks up where mine leaves off. Writing that book was a real challenge, since I didn't have a TS 2068 Personal Color Computer! Dan Ross, the man running Timex Computer at the time, made an arrangement for Jeff and me to each have a Sinclair Spectrum, on which the TS 2068 was based. We also got some advance information, but had to make some educated guesses. Sue Mahoney and George Grimm at Timex were very helpful...thanks, wherever you are today...
The real irony was that my completed book manu- script went to the publisher in early August of 1983... and later that same day Federal Express delivered the first TS 2068 I had ever seen! Luckily, after checking out the actual 2068, I only had to change one paragraph in my manuscript.
As it turned out, the computer had been delayed so long my book hit the streets before the computer...and Timex closed down the computer division just a few months later. What a shame! A great little computer caught in a web of bad engineering and marketing de- cisions.
In their defense, Timex management had a host of problems with the real value of a "home computer" being challenged, and price wars created by the competition forcing profits too low. Add the unreality of trying to effectively sell a device as complex and unfriendly as a computer in drug stores, and the stage was set for re- percussion. Timex was not the only micro manufacturer to fall on bad times. It just seems, however, that if they had “hung in there" about another six months, the superior features of the TS 2068 would have become known.
What have I done since? Well, I've had other computers in my collection...TRS-80 Model III (two of those), TRS-80 Model 4P (two of those), Coleco ADAM, Radio Shack MC-10 Microcolor Computer, Sanyo MBC 555-2, Apple IIc, and just recently got an IBM PC/XT clone.
I've written three more books since my Timex 2068 book, and over 200 computer-related magazine articles. "The ADAM Beginner & Intermediate Guide", a book written for Sams, was cancelled after acceptance and editing, due to the fall of the ADAM. My "Sanyo Beginner & Inter- mediate Guide" and "Apple IIc - An Intelligent Guide"
abandoned the computer book market. I've personally sold ever 1000 copies of the Sanyo book, since like the Timex machines...it has many devoted users.
I hated the Apple IIc, the ADAM was "unspeakable", but I love the Sanyo! It offers the ease and power of programming remindful of the TS 2068, but with two built-in disk drives and 48,000 pixels on the screen (640 x 200), each in any of eight colors! Wow!
Thank goodness I've got my Amway Emerald Direct Distributorship to support my computerholic tendency!
Nowak’s Letter Gets Response
Editor's note: Our mai£ box has been quite full the past two months due to a fetter and request we published in the Sept/Oct '& issue of TDM, on page 3. To paraphrase Mn. Nowak's fetter, he requested a short program or noutine that would by-pass the monitor and dump dinectly to the printer for doing simple computations. While the angwea appears fo be 4impfe, such as the use of the LPRINT command, here 14 what some of our readers came up with, And thanks to everyone who took the time to write.
Dear Tim,
In the Sept/Oct 1986 issue Michael J. Nowak asked for a way to have the 2068 print to the printer instead of the screen. One simple method, which will work in the immediate mode or as a program line, is: OPEN #2, "Pp" The “#2" part refers to PRINT and LIST commands. The “P" refers to the 2040 printer ("S" would mean screen in this syntax). Hence, PRINT or LIST will subsequently go to the printer instead of the screen, LLIST, LPRINT, INPUT, and lower screen messages will still appear on the screen. CLOSE #2 gets things back to normal.
Opening and closing files in this way was not mentioned in the 2068 User Manual (more Timex unfinished business), but it can be a useful feature. Listing #1 is an example in which channel #4 is used to give a screen or printer option for the output. I chose #4 because #1, #2, and #3 are reserved for INPUT, PRINT/LIST, and LPRINT/LLIST commands, respectively. It's worth ex- perimenting with!
Sincerely,
Larry Dietrich Blanca, CO
100 REM EXAMPLE OF DEVICE INDEPENDENT OUTPUT 110 LET GETKEY=1000
120 PRINT “Output to Screen or Printer? or P>***
130 GO SUB GETKEY
‘Press &
140 IF I8<>"S" AND I$<>"s" AND I$<>"P" AND I$<>"p" THEN
GO TO 130
150 OPEN #4,15
200 REM BODY OF PROGRAM
£10 FOR L=1 TO 10
220 PRINT #4; TAB (L<10);L;" squared = "; L&L 230 NEXT L
240 PRINT ‘"DONE": REM THIS PRINTS TO SCREEN 2 30 STOP
1000 REM GETKEY SUB 1 squared = 1 1010 LET IS=INKEYS 2 squared = 4 1020 IF I$=""" THEN GO TO 1010 3 squared = 9
1030 RETURN 4 squared = 16
5 squared = 25
6 squared = 36
< 7 squared = 49
LISTING 1 An par ge
9 squared = 61
10 squared = 100
Also, well over 1000 Amway Product Distributors have purchased my $100 "AMBIZ—PAK" of 10 programs for the IBM PC/Clones, TRS-80 Models III/4/4P/4D, and the Sanyo MBC 550 series.
I'm pretty much out of the Timex environment now, and will not be writing about the QL. However, I can well understand the fascination and dedication many of you hold for the Sinclair and Timex machines. As I recall, at one time Timex used ads with the slogan "The POWER is in your hands!" May the POWER be with you...
-LETTeR Ss
To the Editor,
In response to Mr. Nowak's letter in TDM Sept/Oct ‘86 issue--the enclosed program works well on the 2068 and TS 1000 (using the proper “to the power" symbol). It can be enhanced by putting in an entry counter with C$ and B tabbed to other locations and/or reversing the position of C$ and B. The base program is: 10 INPUT C 20 PRINT C or LPRINT C 30 GOTO 10 The value of C is calculated and printed (Lprinted) as a single value. The entry prompted by an L cursor jis not printed (Lprinted) and is “lost”.
W.B. Gray Jr. West Caldwell, NJ
1 REM seeeesEValvatorS.s.eneer
2 REM ..e.+sLINES 1,2,3,4,51, 100,101 NOT NECESSARY......2.65
3 LPRINT “INPUT, “ANSVER"™
4 LPRINT “eases” ,™ .
20 INPUT Cs
30 IF Cg$="0" THEN GO TO 102
# ee © @ © @
40 LET B=VAL Cs 50 LPRINT C$; TAB 15;"=";B 51 LPRINT
na a a a ee ee iT}
101 LPRINT “a24444444444434444% ESEESESER EEE"
182 STOP
348= ii
Bi56 50 aad shea ato ba a oe Sikes 465-0 SS ee wens 2 oe ee oe,
eS SS SS SS ia i a ee i ie ee
SSS SF SF SF SS SS SS SSS SE SE ee eee ee ee ee ee
To the Editor,
Regarding Mr. Nowak's letter: There is a very simple solution to this, but it has two small drawbacks. After turning on the 2068, type in:
POKE 26692,80 : POKE 26697,80 (Enter)
Now everything that would normally go to the screen will go to the printer. Drawback #1- No program line or im- mediate command can be entered that is longer than 32 characters (the length of the printer buffer). Longer program lines can be loaded from tape, before or after the Poke's, or typed in before the Poke's. Drawback #2- with an immediate command like: PRINT 2+2 (Enter) the answer (4) will overwrite the “P" in the word PRINT in the printer buffer before it is sent to the printer...so type in: PRINT 2+2 and then hold down the space bar to fill the printer buffer. When the printer starts to print, press enter and the answer (4) will print on the next line,
Yours Truly, P. Aylesworth
Bradford, Ontario Canada
ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE T/S 2068
POWERFUL AND INEXPENSIVE BUSINESS SOFTWARE FOR 2X81, T/S1000 and T/S1500 COMPUTERS
ZX-TEXT
CorPYRIGHT ALBERT F,
“RHSUEE BY ENTERING A NUMBER’
A word processor is to a computer user what a typewriter is to a typist, except that the former has more advantages than the latter. £X-Text can operate in 16-64K RAM providing from 1300 to 6500 words per document. It features 6 different options: write, read, edit, print, save and clear text. Text is written on a per-line basis with quick speed and with horizontal back-space and delete capabilities being available. You can also access the editor directly from write mode and vice-versa. Text can be proof-read on a per-line basis allowing for enough time to determine if any editing is needed. The text editor allows a line of text to be deleted, inserted, replaced and listed for editing. You may also change a word or expression within a line, stop or start text while it is scrolling up the screen, begin reading text from the first line of the file, re- enter write mode from the editor, return to the main-menu or create a window so that you can read-edit two files simultaneously. The print option takes text displayed in 30-column format on the screen and outputs to either the ZX/TS printer. (With Memotech's Centronics Parallel interface §80-column and lower/ higher - case output is possible.) Files may be saved on tape cassette with the use of one single Command, or by the same token they can be erased from memory / storage so that the full capacity of the program can be used for other purposes such as composing letters reports, articles, memos, standard forms, instructions, ads, graphs, telephone directory, lists of customers, members, friends...etc. Also copies of files are always less expensive and easier to run than using a photocopier. Other advantages are savings in lime, paper, ink, correcting mistakes and adding afterthoughts more efficiently than doing them through either handwriting or using a typewriter
$16.95
ZX-CALC
ic) a RODRIGUEZ ts #82888 8 FO asta” i BUDGET 7
teeeee JAA 3@8
1]
|
rT | PRL
ne al oe Loe a) = setae
-o oe
TtOPdSe OOOH S RESTS SORE E EERE oF
An electronic spreadsheet calculator is the fundamental basic tool for summarising, reporting and analyzing in matrix form any accounting, mathematical or scientific manipulation of num- bers. 7X-Calc operates in 32-64K RAM andatfords a Maximum of 3360 characters / spreadsheet. The entire matrix consists of 15 columns (letters A-O) and 30 rows (numbers 1-30) with 8 characters / cell. Unlike other popular ESCs, 7X-Calc uses in calculations and within cells all 14 math functions on the ZX-81/TS1000. It offers a unique “SUM function that totals one or more rows/ columns simultaneously. Parenthesis can be used within equations. There is no fixed limit on how many equations may be entered. Formulas may be stored in all 420 cells of the spreadsheet. The display affords 15 rows/colums. Loading of data into more than one cell can occur across /down one or more row/column simultaneously. With vertical windowing you Can arrange a set of col- umns in any order, or practice using fixed-variable- alignment display formats. The menu offers 6 options. enter / erase, move, calculate, print, save and clear the spreadsheet. Enter/erase allows the entering, deletion or data alignment within a cell through the use of a mobile cursor. With the move option you may move around the entire sreadsheet to access any row, column or cell. The calculate option allows you to enter labels, values or formulas into a cell or write and enter equations that will act upon the data already within the spreadsheet. You can also enter bar graphs into a cellinthis option. Absolute / relative replica- tion, down/ across acolumn/row, isalsoallowed by this option. Also this option allows the auto- matic calculation of the entire spreadsheet with one single command. Print allows youto outputto either the ZX / TS printer the entire spreadsheet by column-sets and row-pages through use of the COPY command. The entire spreadsheet may be saved on cassette tape or you may clear all data from it or erase the program from RAM entirely The most salient advantage provided by anESC over specifically vertical applications software is that an ESC provides a reusable framework with which you can compose any specific financial model rather than just belimitedto only one stati- Cally fixed format for storing. displaying and manipulating numerical data
$16.95
ZX-CALENDAR
re M ADE
| DAT! ZO @4-i7 ea
ae." EVAH REFO, CAREER 6.308 A...
SOQUEL ae 2 HOUR LT CACE: J 2358 SALZEDO sT., NO. G., 44-1598
De wt RE, O36 , 8008-7
Time management is an important aspect of any serious business and personal agenda. Planning how to spend our time leaves us better prepared before and while we are spending it and we remain better organized after we finish spending it. ZX-Calendar operates in 16-64K RAM affording 25 appointments in 16K, 100 in 32K or 180 in 48K and 64K. Each appointment record holds a maximum of 220 characters. The main menu includes enter, search/check/sort, change, save, clear and print any and all appointments made on a specific date or with any party. Output to either the ZX/TS printer is permissible. This program will permit you to remember to do something or to be somewhere important by cataloging your answers to six questions that you must account for in order not to waste time when it is scarce: when, with whom, at what time, for how long, where and what are you going to discuss and conclude when you get together with someone else? The program lets you permanently originate, record, classify, search, sort, calculate, modify, summarize, obtain a written report and store your answers to the preceding questions so that you will not forget what you decide to do with your time. This program identifies your time according to when you are going to spend it and with whom you are going to share it. Through these forms of labeling appointments you are able to verify or modify how your time is budgeted without wasting ink, paper or more time trying to remember what you said to yourself or what someone else said to you or where you placed certain written messages that you now can't find. With this program you will know where you can find exactly what you need to know about where you want to and have to be, or where you have been, before you get and after you got there. Thus, ZX- Calendar will let you plan your time so that you will never have to worry about what ts ahead or what came before, for you will always know, by using it, lo never be caught astray by any time-frame.
$16.95
$3. 00 SHIPPING AND HANDLING / ‘PROGRAM
A.F.R. SOFTWARE - - 1605 Pennsylvania Avenue, No. 204 - Miami Beach, Florida 33139 DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME (305) 531-6464 FLORIDIANS ADD SALES TAX L-1 © 1984 a . |
Goyette’s “Ski” and “Cavern” A Hit
Dear Tim,
I found "SKI" (TDM-July/August 86) by Charles €E. Goyette, to be a fantastic game. The only problem was that the person with the highest score for a game was not always listed as being the winner. Changing H$ to S$ in line 500 seems to correct this."
Sincerely,
Kenneth Fracchia Buffalo, NY
Dear Time Designs,
I have enjoyed both "CAVERN" and "SKI" by Charles E. Goyette. They both act and react faster than my fingers can manipulate the keys. I did however, make a slight change in "SKI". I changed the trees that look like "bugs" to trees that look like trees with: g000 DATA 1,128,1,128,3,192,3,19 2,7,a@24,7,224,1,128,1,128 This makes a nice pine tree with the addition of color, “INK 4", in line 1100. For what it's worth,
Sincerely,
Richard B. McMahill Washington, DC
Mathematics Dear Sir,
Readers of TDM might be interested in the following equalities produced by my 2068. Other such relationships can be obtained by use of the program shown on page 232 of Laurie Buxton's book, "Mathematics For Everyone”.
PI - 103993/33102
EXP 1 - 49171/18089
SQR 2 - 66922/47321
SQR 3 - 70226/40545 = SQR 10 - 168717/53353 = 0
-125 - 1/8 = 5.8207661E-11
1.3 - 13/10 = 4.6566129E-10
oe oocea
Sincerely yours, Howard R. Wilkerson
Greenville, SC
Request for LARKEN Help, etc.
Dear Sir,
I am writing in the hopes that you may be able to help me with a few questions. First of all I understand that there is a version of Prologue available for the Spectrum. I have searched all present and back issues of ZX Computing, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User that I own and could find no mention of it. I am hoping that you or one of your readers might know of the program I am talking about.
secondly, I am hoping that someone might be able to help me with some conversion problems. I am trying to convert some of the other languages for the TS 2068 and the Spectrum onto the LARKEN disc drive system. I have Abersoft FORTH, Hi-Soft C, Hi-Soft Pascal and YS Mega- basic which I would like to make full compatable with the Larken system. So far, I have been able to put the main Basic loaders and machine code onto disc, but I do not know how to convert Save-Load routines within each
Sincerely,
David Sdlly OTSUG Librarian Ottawa, Ontario
Editon: I have found no reference to a "Paofogue" pro- gram jor the Spectnaum, but some other ieeceie alti may provide the answer. AS fon your software conversion probfems with the LARKEN disc daive interface, it sounds fike you may have an eanfier version of the LARKEN DOS. I have been in contact with Lanny Kenny (a.k.a.; Larken Efectronics) and he mentioned that a mew 72068 DOS 6 available on disc that has improved LOAD/SAVE commands [Supporting Arrays, Basic Code), and also FORMAT, CAT, ERASE and OPEN® commands. Larry also mentioned that he will begin work on offering the DOS (which 4 Spectaum compatib£e) on a cantnidge, therefore using no computer RAM, Ho£d on to youn seat on this one...4t will have the NMI save feature. This will alfow you to do "snap shot" saves Like that on the John Oliger Dise Interface. I would suggest that anyone requiring information on new LARKEN ampnrovements umite to: Lanken Electronics, RR#2 Navan, Ontario, Canada K4B-1H9.
“Pigskin Picks” Dear Tim,
I am sending my check for another enjoyable year of TOM...the only real connection I have with the TS world, and I always look forward to receiving my TDM. I have enclosed a small football prediction program that I wrote. The program will average about 653 correct over the whole season.
I am also wanting to start a Users Group in the Bee County Area. If I can start one, it will be called "Bee County Timex Sinclair Users Group"- 6.C.1.S., and if it is possible I would like to give the members that don't have computers a ZX81 or TS 1000 for joining. I would like to hear from other TS users for some input on this subject.
Sincerely,
Tom Proffitt 706 Morales St. Beeville, TX 78102
Editor: "Pigskin Picks" was fun, but my team Looked just as bleak as before I keyed in your program (better fuck for me next year, I guess). Hope you get a users group off the ground. A free computer offer 18 hard to beat.
1 REM “BY: eos PROFFITT
AT PLACE: BEEVILLE, TEXAS
e& REM “Pigskin Picks" Can alse o be used for Batketbatt. It wor KS bEett after the fourth game. ‘ Not to be used for gambling if y ou want toa acer aS money!"
~ BORDER 1: P : INK F: € iS : POKE 236095, 7a
18 PRINT TAB &:' ‘PIGCSRIN PICKS"
li PRINT ‘FRSFEEFTSETIAATE EADS FFFFRETILERS™
[0 INPUT “enter 1st. team “;ag
ss wae ENTER OFEENSE-POINTS
130 REM ENTER DEFENSE- POINTS 160 INPUT "“POINTS-A8GAaINST “0 178 INPUT “enter games played "
200 INPUT “enter Ond.team “; fs 255 REM ENTER OFFENSE-POINTS 299 INPUT “POINTS-FOR “;1
oO REN ENTER DEFENSE-POINTS 3209 INPUT “POINTS-AGAINST sll ee | 350 INPUT “enter games played
460 LET t=c re
470 LET ve-d-e
430 LET rai -t
4008 LET s=j +k
SO@2 LPRINT ag; " “"“; IMT (45), S108 LPRINT fs; “; INT (u4 é Se LPRINT
S320 LPRINT
540 GO TO 180
TS COMPUTERFEST II Plans Aired
While May is months away, plans and groundwork for the Second Annual Mid West TS Computerfest continue. The "Main event" this time will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 2nd and 3rd. It is being planned and hosted by nearly all of the representatives of the highly successful TS Computerfest held in Cincinnati last year, including Chairman, Frank Davis of Peru, Indiana.
Time Designs has been in contact with many of the dealers who attended the first show, and the over- whelming response has been "we'll be there again!". In fact several dealers who were unable to attend last year are definetly coming this time. Most preliminary figures estimate that the Indianapolis Computerfest will have double the attendance this time around, with perhaps as many as a thousand, now that the word is getting out.
Interested parties can write to Mr. Davis at: 513 East Main Street, Peru, IN 46970, for further details. Be sure and plan now to leave the first weekend in May open...you won't want to miss the Timex Sinclair “event of the year"!
New SPECTRUM Off To Giant Start American Travelers Abroad Report on PC Show
American Timex Sinclair distributors Rob and Debbie Curry of Curry Computer and John Warburton of Sunset Electronics attended the annual Personal Computer Show in Olympia, Great Britain, the first weekend of Sep- tember. The well-attended showing featured among other things, the premier of the Amstrad/Sinclair Spectrum 128k+2. Many thanks go to Mr. Warburton who thoughtfully picked up an extra brochure, which is pictured to the right, for Time Designs readers. The new Spectrum which replaces the previous 128k computer released six months ago by Sir Clive, offers both a professional full-travel keyboard and an integrated cassette recorder. It also has on-board twin joystick ports that use the Sinclair Interface 2 protocols (non Atari-type). Gone is the traditional black Sinclair look, for a new grey color.
It was curious that Commodore for the most part was absent at the show, while both Amstrad and Atari had huge displays. The Atari section featured many after- market companies, but all were integrated into the main Atari section with corresponding displays and decor... now that's company support! Meanwhile, Amstrad launched the new PC1512, an inexpensive IBM PC clone that is already receiving extremely rave reviews from the press. Watch for this one, it is rumored that it is coming to the U.S.
There were many software companies in attendance including an outlandish display by BEYOND, which rep- licated the bridge of the star ship Enterprise...a gimmick to announce their coming program, "Star Trek". Their were many other Spectrum related booths, and even some for the seemingly ill-fated Sinclair OL, such as the London-based support group, Quanta.
The Curry's stated that software and hardware "deals" struck at the PC Show, will greatly benefit U.S. Sinclair consumers in the coming months.
‘*All The News Fit To Print’’
ARCTAN COMPUTER VENTURES or Northampton, England, is an excellent source of support for the 2X81 or TS 1000 computers. The part software company and 2ZxX8l magazine publishers have a five page brochure available. Arctan Computer Ventures (or A.C.V.), offers over a dozen different software titles, many of which are games (but also some utilities...like a 280 Disassembler). The ARCTAN ZX8l1 Users Club has now published five ex- clusive magazines for ZX8l users. For complete infor- mation and prices, write to: A.C.V., 1 Foxwell Square, southfields, Northhampton NN3 5AT, England.
Many months ago, we reported on the E. Arthur Brown Company of Alexandria, Minnesota, purchasing the ex- clusive U.S. publishing rights to England's popular computer telecommunications book, THE HACKER'S HANDBOOK. Now, Eben Brown (of E. Arthur Brown) reported to Time Designs, that the book is in it's second printing here. Hugo Cornwall, the author of the hacker's guidebook, made a scheduled appearance in San Francisco, California for a lecture at the "Hacker's 2.0 Conference", on the 25 and 26th of October. Mr. Cornwall is a noted in- ternational expert on modem "hacking". For information and prices on "The Hackers Handbook", write to E. Arthur
Brown at: 3404 Pawnee Dr., Alexandria, MN 56308, or call (612) 762-8847.
DUNGEON OF YMIR Version Three is here. The all new high resolution maze game is available now for the 2X81] or TS 1000 that has both a 16k RAM pack and an 8k CMOS (static) RAM board such as the popular "Hunter NVM" board. Incidentally, if you have a copy of "Thrust" by the Weymil Corp., you are already set up to run Dungeon Of Ymir V3. Further details on this mega-game and other fine products for your ZX/TS, write to: Fred Nachbaur [Silicon Mountain Computers], C-12, Mtn. Stn. Group Box, Nelson, B.C. VIL 5Pl.
Improvements on the "tried and true" appears to be the trend this month. In the May/June 86 issue of TDM, a program called “Money Machine" was mentioned for those that like word/thinking type games. We said that it re- sembled the TV game show "Wheel of Fortune". Now, the author has taken the program one more step...and we can now say that MONEY MACHINE II is a Wheel of Fortune clone. This should sell a lot of copies, as the TV show has gained a tremendous following. A lot of detail has been incorporated in this 2068 program, including a Vanna White ("Banna Brite" in the program, to protect author Herb Bowers from any legal implications) sprite that turns the letters. Play is conducted as in the show and up to three players can participate. Libraries of additional puzzles will be released periodically, but the 250 that come with the program should keep you and your friends up all night playing this one. Very good graphics and sound. Price is $15 from ABBA Soft, 2588 Woodshire Cir., Chesapeake, VA 23323.
Banna Brite turns the letters.
We've been impressed with all of the new stuff coming out of RMG Enterprises (1419 1/2 7th St., Oregon City, OR 97045) these days. New software titles include SOUNDESIGN (a utility for easy development of sound
code utility for the 2068 that was inspired by a feature on the Sinclair QL. Interrupts allow the user to witness the actual execution of BASIC programs, as program lines are simultaneously displayed.) RMG also has excellent prices on disk drives, cases and power supplies, and many other items for the computer hobbyist. A new catalog is available for $2 (your $2 is deducted from your first order...so actually you pay nothing for the their catalog). Write for a