Commodore 64
is available at your authorised COMMODORE dealer - RIGHT NOW! (or he'll get it for you fast).
JUMPMAN (EPYX)
FROGGF.R (SIERRA ON I INI!)
JAW BREAKER (SIERRA ON-I INF)
FAST EDDIE (SIRIUS)
REPTON (SIRIUS)
SQUISH "EM (SIRIUS)
SWORD OF FARGOAI. (EPYX)
6502 DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM (HES)
TEMPLE OF APSHAI (EPYX)
UPPER REACHES <1 PYX>
CURSE OF RAtEPYX)
MOTOR MANIA (UMI>
CRUSH CRUMBLE & CHOMP (EI'YX)
TURTLE GRAPHICS (HES)
SPACE KESCUE-BENJI (HES)
SNAKE BYTE (SIRIUS)
HES WRITER (HES)
PROGRAMMING Kll NO. I (TIMEWORKS) WALL STREET «TIMEWORKS)
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (TIMEWORKS) ROHBERS OF THE LOST TOM» (TIMEWORKS) DUNGEON OF THE ALGEBRA DRAGON (TIMEWORKS) TURMOIL (SIR I US)
MASTER TYPE (LIGHTING SOFTWARE) DEADLINE (INTOCOM) ZORK I. IE Ill (INFOCOM) STARCROSS (INFOCOM) CANDY BANDIT <T & F SOFTWARE) SPEED RACER (T& F SOFTWARE) SPACE SENTILE <T & F SOFTWARE) PERSONAL FINANCE (SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE) VISAWRITER (SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE) BUSIWRI PER «SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE) CREDITORS (SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE) DEBTORS (SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE) GENERAL I EDGER (SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE) BUSICALC (SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE:) IJUSIMAILER (SOUTH PACIFIC SOFTWARE) PAINT PIC (KIWISOFT)
Ipine Computing Lid.
P.O. Box 33-865 TAKAPUNA
Vivian House, 18 Northcroft St, Takapuna, Auckland 9 Ph. 493.889
ÍWVAWM'/ /avava is an optional extra), graphics tablet and speaker (with volume control). Price lor basic unit, 2 disk drives, green screen and disk controller card: $3495.
Kaypro II
The Kaypro is a portable computer, with a keyboard. 9in screen, two disk drives and processor in a metal case. It is about the size of a sewing machine. The screen displays a full 24 lines by 80 characters, and has a green phosphor. The detachable keyboard includes a numeric keypad and cursor movement keys. The two drives each provide 200K bytes of storage on 5.25 inch disks. Standard memory is 64K of RAM, which is the usual amount to run the CP/M operating system, version 2.2. Standard interfaces provided are a serial port, modem connection, and a parallel printer interface. The Kaypro comes with a lot of standard software: a word-processing program (with spelling checker), a database system, a spreadsheet, two versions of BASIC, investment analysis, the operating system, of course, and even an unspecified number of games. There are quite a number of software packages listed, and of course CP/M makes a lot more available. There seems to be no graphics capability. Included in portables review, Bits & Bytes, November 1983. Price (including software): $4377.
Dulmont Magnum
The Magnum is a very recent arrival, from Australia. It is a 16-bit portable, about the size of a telephone book, with a fold-up screen, and aimed at the professional who has to travel, visit clients, or work in the field. It is battery-powered, with a liquid-crystal display of eight lines. An external monitor may be used, giving 24 lines of 80 characters. The memory is surprising: 128K ROM. with 64K RAM. expandable to 256K! Of course the RAM is CMOS, which means that turning the machine off doesn't wipe out the memory contents the internal batteries keep everything as it was. Application software may bo made available in plug-in cartridges. The huge amount of ROM contains a word p'ocessor. a spreadsheet program, an electronic diary, and the BASIC programming language. Two serial and one parallel input/output two disk drives, and ports allow for expansion. Expansion options which a e advertised include cual disk drives. monitors, printers, and even hard disks. However, rather than take this route, many will prefer to interface it to an IBM PC, with which the Magnum is compatible. Price Ibasic unit): $4495.
Morrow Micro Decision MD2
Morrow produces a line of small business computers, running the CP/M operating system, and bundled with quite a bit of software. The smallest of these, the MD2. is a dual disk system, with a separate terminal and keyboard. The detachable keyboard sports a
The first round-up numeric keypad, with function, editing, and word processing keys, attached to the screen unit by a "curly cord". All keys automatically repeat. The screen unit is designed to sit on top of the computer box itself, but may be placed elsewhere. The drives and mini-floppies, with 200K storage each (formatted). Up to four drives ¿re supported. Text on the screen may be inverse, half-intensity, blirking or underlined. Interfaces include two serial (RS-232) ports, one of which will be used for the terminal and a parallel printer port. The MD2 comes with the following software included: CP/M operating system, Wordstar word processor, a spelling checker, an electronic spreadsheet, Microsoft BASIC, a data-base management system, and the BaZic language interpreter, to handle Northstar BASIC. The MD2 can read Osborne. IBM and Xerox format disks, allowing for data interchange. Price: $4600.
Osborne 1
Rumours abound the Osborne Corporation ir the United Stales filed for reorgansation because of financial difficulties caused, paradoxically, by the overwhelming success of its products. Anyway, the Osborne is still being sold and supported in New Zealand at the time of writing. This was the first of the portable computers. It looks like a sewing machine, which opens up to reveal a keyboard, small screen.
Awty^y i assorted connectors. Strictly a business machine (watch somebody prove me wrong!), the Osborne runs the CP/M operating system, which is more or less the standard lor 8-bit business machines. The interfaces included are a serial IRS 2321. a connector for an external display, an IEEE 488 interface, for connection to test instruments etc.
The small (5ir.) screen gives a 52 character window on a 128-character line, and this scrolls horizontally automatically. The screen is 24 lines deep. The Osborne can be run from a battery pack, can have hard disk drives fitted, up to 15 megabytes. In view of its price, perhaps the most startling thing about this machine is the amount of "free" software which is bundled with it. This comprises the CP/M operating system, CBASIC and MBASIC languages, Wordstar for wordprocessing, # Mailmerge for mailing . lists and form letters, and Supercalc, an electronic spreadsheet. There are a lot of programs available, mostly of course for business use. Reviewed in Bits & Bytes, November 1983. Price: (with double-density disks) $3815; battery pack $600.
The Osborne Executive will bo included in the second part of the guide.
Panasonic JR-800U
A book-size, briefcase computer, the JR-800U has a built-in LCD display, 8 lines by 32 columns, which functions as a window on a larger "virtual" screen. The screen also functions as a graphics display, each dot being individually addressable. There are also 30 or so pre-defined graphics characters on the keyboard. The computer has one of the largest calculation capacities this write« has over seen: exponents up to 153 are permitted. The ROM contains the usual BASIC language, cassette and printer interfaces are standard, along with built-in clock and calendar, and a music "synthesiser". Multiple (up to 8) program files may be worked on at once. The keyboard is multifunction — each key represents a letter, a graphics character, and a keyword. There are 10 programmable function keys, and a numeric Keypad. The unit may bo powered from battery or mains, via an adaptor. Battery life in standby mode, i.e. keeping the contents of memory, is 70 hours. A low-battery indication is given, and if left alone for more than six minutes.
22 D«comlw. I993.:.l.i i.i.iry. 198*» H TS & BYTES
V VAV/.W/AV^/.'MV.W.'.V.V/A AWYAV.W.V/.WAY YAW «< v^ /Sssy-*'. sssvs. MM ^„.v.^
the machine will power itself down. Memory is expandable, by plug-in cartridges, to 24K RAM and 32K ROM. Price: CPU with keyboard and built in screen: $ 1 195.
Pied Piper
The Pied Piper, also called the Communicator overseas, is a portable computer, comprising a keyboard and a single disk drive. The Pied Piper, with its cover in place and its carrying handle looks rather like a large portable radio. A large keyboard, built into the sloping front, with a disk drive at the right side. Interfaces and all connectors are round at the rear: TV and monitor output, connector for a second drive, and an expansion bus. Options include RS 232 interfaces and a hard drive. The name, Communicator, is explained by the built-in modem. There is no screen add your own monitor or TV set. The in-built disk drive has 784K (formatted} capacity. The Pied Piper runs the CP-'M operating system, and comes with included utilities and other software. Reviewed in Bits & Bytes, November 1983. Price: $3750.
TRS80 Color Computer
The Color Computer <CoCo> is now Tandy's main entry in the home computer stakes. It followed the pioneering Model I, and the Model III. providing high-resolution colour, and expansion capability to match any. A wide variety of hardware and software is available from Tandy, and outside organisations. There are specialist magazines, and it gets good coverage in the general magazines. All sorts of software is available, from games to editors and assemblers. Initially intended for use with tape, and program cartridges, but disk drive* are available, and connect via the cartridge port. CoCo is one of the very few micros which can run the Flex operating system (after simple iiodilicationl, which gives access to a wide variety of software, including languages. Most users, howeve-, will stick with the original Color BASIC, or Extended Color BASIC, which costs extra, but gives a lot more features. All manner of peripherals can be had. Reviewed in Bits A Bytes, December 1982. Price: (16K RAMI $1195. Extended BASIC around $200.
Televideo Portable
The Televideo Portable is a full featured computer, very similar to the Televideo 803, but in portable form. Judge portability for yourself: dimensions 46 x 38 x 20cm, weight 11.3kg. It is a business machine, running CP/M as operating system, with specialised software also available for business-type things. The standard package has a 9in green screen, and two mini floppy drives, both double-sided, double density, with a capacity (formatted) of 368.6K bytes per drive. Addition of an RS-422 interface board allows communication to other computers. User RAM is 64K 128K, with 32l< of screen RAM in addition. With this much screen RAM, it is obvious that graphics support is there, and indeed it is, with a GSX-80 extension to CP/M, to allow the use of "business graphics". Text characters may he half or full intensity, reverse video, blinking, underlined. or any combination. The keyboard is detachable, with 10 dual-purpose programmable function keys, a numeric keypad, cursor movement keys, etc. A serial modem port, a
Sanyo MBC 1100/1150
A compact, small, business computer, in two versions. The 1100 version has one built in mini disk drive, the 1150 version has two. The disk drives are vertical units, built in to the monitor stand, which tilts and rotates. The keyboard Is detachable, with a numerical keypad, and 15 programmable function keys. The use of dual processors (both Z80A) at ¿MHz and a separate processor for keyboard control should give a reasonable burst of speed. Each drive has a formatted capacity of 320K bytes. Tho built in monitor is a 30cm, green type. Characters on the screen can be blinking or in reverse video. Other interfaces included are serial (RS-232) and a parallel printer port. The unit runs under the CP'M operating system, (version 2.2), which means that there are, potentially any way, lots of programs around' If you do need to write your own, BASIC, COBOL. Pascal and machine code are all supported. Price: $4332 with one drive (1 100!; $4798 with two {11 50). Hard disks, 5 and 10 megabyte, also available.
Other, similar Sanyo computers will be included in Part two of the buyer's guide, in Bits & Bytes, early next year.
no box 20t>7 VSV.iifVjl.-o Tel 735 735 PO ft:* 2H3H Auckland Tnl: <;H!> 9/!i PO Br,» I48H Chnslcfu-rh toi: 7'JB 2G3
Post a comment