I fi THE SMALL SYSTEMS JOURNAL ROBOTICS JANUARY 1986 VOL. 11, NO. 1 $3.50 IN UNITED STATES $4.25 IN CANADA / £2.10 IN U.K. A McGRAW-HILL PUBLICATION 0360-5280 T?OBER- 65 UNNEY $95.00 You get both our terrific new Turbos, and pay only $47.50 each. Sold separately, they're $69.95 each. "rbo Editor Toolbox 1 TURBO HO 125.00 At about a 30% savings, you get our sti holiday special. ase Toolbox* All this for only $125.00. See the order form at right Tliriv> Pascal and "nirbo Uiior are rcgisu p red trademarks and TUrbo DataBase Turbo (iraphtx Toolbox. Turbo Editor Toolbox, Turlx) GameVferks, and MicroStar are trademarks of Borland International. Inc. WordStar is a trademark of MicroPro International Corp Mulli Male is a trademark of Mul timate International Corp Microsoft is a registered trademark and Word Is .* trademark of Microsoft Corp WordPerfect is a trademark of Satellite Sofa ImemauonaJ. SAVE OVER 30% ON OUR GIFT PACKS! Announcing Borland's New Tuibo Editor Toolbox" $69.95 IT'S ALL YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR OWN WORD PROCESSOR FOR ONLY $69.95! You get all the modules you need to build your own word processor. • You get ready-to-compile source code. • You get a full-featured word processor that looks and acts like WordStar™; we call it MicroStar™ • You get a 200-page manual that tells you how to integrate the editor proce- dures and functions into your programs. You can use Turbo Editor Toolbox "as is" or modify it any way you want. And you don't get a bill for Royalties. Because Borland doesn't believe you should pay for something more than once. All this and more for only $69-95. And until March 1, 1986 you can get Bor- land's new Turbo Editor Toolbox for even less! (Only $47.50 when you buy the special Turbo New Pack.) m YOU CAN HAVE MANY WINDOWS ON THE WORLD. The new Turbo Editor Toolbox features windowing, a technique that lets you see several documents — or several parts of the same document — at once. You know best what your needs are. Turbo Editor Toolbox lets you open the windows you want And to make those windows part of your program. WITH TURBO EDITOR TOOLBOX YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST OF ALL WORD PROCESSORS IN YOUR WORD PRO- CESSOR. You can make WordStar behave like Multi-Mate. Support windows just like Microsoft's® Word™ And do it as fast as WordPerfect does it. Incorporate your new "hybrids" into your programs to achieve incredible control and power. Turbo Editor Toolbox. It's the kind of tool that almost everyone needs — and we're the kind of company to give it to you at a reasona- ble price, without any compromise on quality. (We're so sure you'll be satisfied that we offer a 60-day money-back guarantee — something no one else does.) ci>- J * C THE CRITICS' CHOICE "Turbo Pascal has got to be the best value in lan- guages on the market today— and Borland Interna- tional, by delivering excellent products at reasona- ble costs, is leading the software industry where it has to go Turbo Pascal is more than just a good program at a low cost It's also a low-cost, well- conceived programming language making it possi- ble for lots of people to produce good programs." Jerry Pournelle, BYTE '"litis compiler, produced by Borland International, is one of the best programming tools presently available for the PC." V^_^-^--«ik Michael Covington, PC Tech Journal "Language deal of the century... Turbo Pascal." Jeff Duntemann, PC Magazine B BORIAHD ))) INTERNATIONAL Three Special Gift Packs 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE Introducing Borland's New Turbo GameWorks ' $69.95 THE GAMES YOU CAN PLAY, REPLAY, REVISE AND REWRITE BUT CANNOT RESIST. (Turbo Pascal Source Code included!) TURBO HOLIDAY JUMBO PACK $245.00 We give you the source code, the manual, the diskettes, the 60-day guarantee and the competitive edge. Let the games begin. Chess. Bridge. Go-Moku. State-of-the art games that let you be player, referee, and rules committee — because you have the Turbo Pascal source code. Which means that you can play a game or create a game, any time and any way you want Borland's new Turbo GameWorks lets you combine gamesmanship with craftsmanship. Discover the secret techniques and moves used by the Old Masters. Learn exactly how state-of- the-art computer games are made — so you can go off and make your own. Since you have the source code, you can always change the game. Or rig the game, if no one's looking. Pure Magic. That's Turbo GameWorks. And part of the "sourcery" — Turbo GameWorks is only $69.95. When combined with our new Turbo Editor Toolbox in the Turbo New Pack, it's only $47.50. SHORTCUTS, SECRETS AND STRATEGIES. The Turbo GameWorks man- ual takes you step-by-step through all the games. How to play them. How to modify them. How to use the power of Turbo Pascal to write new games. You'll learn general problem analysis, how to identify all possible moves, "rule of thumb" strategies, procedures for testing strategies* and ways to rate options. You'll also be introduced to "top down" program design, the develop- ment of basic algorithms, the use of constants and data structures and ways to design short am with incremental updating. On top of all that, you'll have a lot of fun (if you want to). So go to play (and work) with Borland's new Turbo GameWorks, It's unique, W s fasci- nating. And it's brand-new. Be first with the latest and greatest— order your Turbo Game- Works today. 4585 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley GA 95066 Phone (408) 438-8400 Telex 172373 inquiry 38 for End-Users. Inquiry 39 for DEALERS ONLY. With Dazzling Discounts! BORLAND'S TURBO GAMEWORKS AND SOME OF ITS MASTER PIECES Chess, the ultimate strategic game. A game so old that no one knows its exact origins. Turbo GameWorks lets you play chess at six dif- ferent levels from the beginner to the sophisti- cated user. And you have many ways of playing with your Turbo GameWorks. Let the computer solve checkmate problems. Set the time limit for each game. And there's more. Decide whether you or the computer "goes first." Trade places with the computer at any point in the game. It's all possible with Game- Works. Go-Moku, also known as "Five-in-Line," is a very old Japanese game played on a board of squares. The first player to get five game pieces in a row — either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — wins the game. It's an intriguing game. But you're not limited to playing it one way. With Turbo GameWorks, you can modify it your way. Bridge. Play bridge with a friend or team up against the program — you decide which hands the computer plays. You can even decide to let the program cheat! The program automatically bids and plays its own hands. And, since you can tinker with the source code, you can make "your" Bridge unlike any other. Now you get the whole Turbo Pascal family, including its newest members, at an incredible price. combines an integrated programming environment with the fastest Pascal compiler in the galaxy. teaches you step-by-step how to tlie Turbo Pascal development environ- mem. With commented source code for all program examples on diskette. ^^^^^^^m gives you all the tools you need to sort and search your data and build powerful database applications. ^^^^^E|S3 g ives y° u a com_ plete library of Pascal procedures to build applications using high resolution graphics and graphics window management fen&S) —Chess, Bridge, Go-Moku. rets and strategies of state-of-the-art com- puter games are revealed with complete 'ce code. — the Pascal modules that let you build your own word processor. A full-featured WordStar-like program, Micro- Star™, is included on your disk. You're getting everything at only $40 each. And if you already own one or several members of the Turbo family, be creative — nothing can stop you from buying the jumbo Pack, picking out the ones you already have and giving them as holiday gifts for family or friends. At these pri- ces you can afford to give to others and to yourself. State: Telephone: NOTE- Turbo EdijjrTooj^^d true- ■^BSBo^^na, CONTENTS 82 158 FEATURES Introduction 82 Product Description: The Atari 520ST by )on R. Edwards. Phillip Robinson, and Brenda Mclaughlin 84 The company's latest venture is a competitive 68000 system. Ciarcias Circuit Cellar: Build an Analog-to-Digital Converter by Steve Ciarcia 104 Steve returns to this topic with a state-of-the-art converter. Product Preview: Q&A by }on R. Edwards 120 This software package combines word processing and file management with a full macro facility and an effective natural-language interface. Programming Project: A SIMPL Compiler, Part 2: Procedures and Functions by Jonathan Amsterdam 130 Procedures and functions are useful but can be difficult to compile. Creating Reusable Modules by Namir Clement Shammas 145 You can lower programming costs and increase reliability with the strategy described. Programming Insight: Easy 3-D Graphics by Henning Mittelbach 153 Develop three-dimensional graphics on the IBM Personal Computer, the Macintosh, and the Apple II family. THEMES Introduction 158 Machine Vision by Phil Dunbar 161 Despite various obstacles, vision-system hardware continues to develop. Robotic Tactile Sensing by Kirk E. Pennywitt 177 For robots to achieve widespread use. they must be equipped with sophisticated sensory capabilities Multiple Robotic Manipulators by I. Scott Hawker. R. N. Nagel Richard Roberts, and Nicholas G. Odrey 203 Coordinating two robots isn't as easy as it sounds. Autonomous Robot Navigation by Charles )orgensen. William Hamel. and Charles VJeisbin 223 Three robotics researchers discuss the art of teaching robots to look before they leap. AI in Computer Vision by }ohn L. Cuadrado and Clara Y. Cuadrado 237 A simple system demonstrates the role artificial intelligence may play in advanced computer-vision systems. Automation in Organic Synthesis by Gary W. Kramer and Philip L. Fuchs 263 If automation is to come to organic chemistry, it must be flexible enough to allow facile reconfigurations. REVIEWS Introduction 288 Reviewer's Notebook by Glenn Hartwig 291 BYTE IISSN 0360-52801 is published monthly with one extra issue per year by McGraw-Hill Inc Founder James H. McCraw (1860-1948) Executive, editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: 70 Main St.. Peterborough. NH 034 58. 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. Nl 08836. Second-class postage paid at Peterborough. NH 03458 and additional mailing offices. Postage paid at Winnipeg. Manitoba. Registration number 9321. Subscriptions are S2! for one year. S38 for two years, and S55 for three years in the USA and its possessions !n Canada and Mexico. S23 for one year, S42 for two years. S61 for 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 U.S. bank. Please a ow six to eight weeks for delivery of first issue. Printed in the United States of America BYTE • JANUARY 1986 COVER PAINTING BY ROBERT TINNEY anuan VOLUME 11, NUMBER I, 1986 Canon's A-200 by Peter V. Callamaras . 293 It's compatible with IBM's PC, and it has room to grow. Color Fox by )ohn D. Unger 301 Scottsdale Systems soups up a Sanyo. Eco-C88 C Compiler by David D. Clark 307 An inexpensive package for MS-DOS machines. Inside The Sider by Douglas E. Hall 319 A hard disk for the Apple \\+ and lie. Advantage! for the AT by TJ Byers 327 One way to add memory and I/O ports. Enable by Steve King 331 Integrated software for IBM PCs. Review Feedback 344 Readers respond to previous reviews. KERNEL Introduction 346 Computing at Chaos Manor: One Minor Problem by \erry Pournelle 349 Hey what's one minor problem? Time in and find out. Chaos Manor Mail conducted by jerry Pournelle 366 jerry's readers write, and he replies. According to Webster: Benchmarking by Bruce Webster 371 Finding himself settled in Utah. Bruce talks about benchmarks and makes some predictions. BYTE Japan-. Favoring Kanji by William M. Raike 381 Bill reports on the NEC computers, a Japanese version of the Macintosh, and the new Fujitsu lap-size portable. BYTE U.K.: The Acorn RISC Machine by Dick Pountain 387 Our U.K. correspondent reports on a commercial RISC processor. Mathematical Recreations: Euclid's Algorithm by Robert T. Kurosaka 397 Learn how to convert repeating decimals to fractions. Circuit Cellar Feedback conducted by Steve Garcia 403 Steve answers project-related queries from readers. Editorial: A Threat to Future Software 6 Microbytes 9 Letters 14 Fixes and Updates 33 Whats New 37, 408 Ask BYTE 44 Clubs and Newsletters 54 Book Reviews 57 Event Queue 78 New Services 404 Unclassified Ads 461 BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box. BOMB Results 462 Reader Service 463 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 © 1986 by McGraw-Hill Inc. All rights reserved. Trademark registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Where necessary, permission is granted by the copyright owner for libraries and others registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) to photocopy any article herein for the flat fee of Si. 50 per copy of the article or any part thereof. Correspondence and payment should be sent directly to the CCC 29 Congress St . Salem. MA 01970 Specify ISSN 0360-5280/83 SI. 50. Copying done for other than personal or internal reference use without the permis- sion of McGraw-Hill Inc. is prohibited. Requests for special permission or bulk orders should be addressed to the publisher BYTE is available In microform from University Microfilms International. 300 North Zeeb Rd.. Dept PR. Ann Arbor. MI 48106 or 18 Bedford Row. Dept. PR. Ijondon WC1R 4EI England Subscription questions or problems should be addressed to: BYTE Subscriber Service. POB 328. Hancock. NH 03449 288 346 section art by rob colvin JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 3 Inquiry 343 The Electric Sponge: EnGarde™ EnGarde™ is the only surge sup- pressor with the added protection of an anti-static touch pad that safely absorbs harmful static charges from your body. It protects com- puter memory and data from dis- ruptions, while shielding your system from static charges that degrade delicate microcircuitry. A multi-peripheral master switch and an LED grounded outlet indi- cator are also built into the total protection of EnGarde?" EnGarde™also protects your computer from power surges caused by changes in electrical loads and other electrical disturbances. It includes a limited five-year warranty. EnGarde™ is a product of Sys- tems Control, manufacturer of power protection systems for the nation's utility companies. Ask your dealer for the total pro- tection of EnGarde™ Or call toll free 1-800-451-6866 to order (in Michigan call collect 906/774-0440). If unsatisfied, return EnGarde™ within 30 days for a full refund. hnGarde A pnxbct of Sys&ms Control, a division of M.J. Electric, inc. BYTE EDITOR IN CHJEF Philip Lemmons managing editor. print Gene Smarte managing editor, electronic publishing and communications George Bond consulting editors Steve Ciarcia Jerry Pournelle Bruce Webster senior technical editors G. Michael Vose. Themes Gregg Williams TECHNICAL EDITORS Thomas R. Clune )on R. Edwards Richard Grehan Glenn Hartwig. Reviews Ken Sheldon Jane Morrill Tazelaar Tom Thompson Charles D. Weston Eva White Stanley Wszola Margaret Cook Gurney, Associate Donna Osgood, Associate, San Francisco Alan Easton. Drafting NEWS AND TECHNOLOGY Ezra Shapiro. Bureau Chief. San Francisco Rich Malloy. Senior Technical Editor. New Yorfe Phillip Robinson. Senior Technical Editor. Palo Alto Tony Lockwood. Senior News Editor. Peterborough ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS Dennis Barker, Peterborough Brenda McLaughlin. San Francisco Lynne M. Nadeau, Peterborough CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jonathan Amsterdam, programming projects David Betz, programming Mark Haas, at large Rik Iadrnicek, CAD. graphics, spreadsheets Robert T. Kurosaka. mathematical recreations Alastair ). W. Mayer, software Alan Miller, languages and engineering Dick Pountain. U.K. William M. Raike. \apan Perry Saidman, computers and law Robert Sterne, computers and law COPY EDITORS Bud Sadler, Chief Dennis Barker Elizabeth Cooper Anne L. Fischer Nancy Hayes Lynne M. Nadeau Paula Noonan Joan Vigneau Roy Warren Williamson ASSISTANTS Peggy Dunham, Office Manager Martha Hicks Cathy Kingery June N. Sheldon ART Rosslyn A. Frick, Arl Director Nancy Rice. Associate Art Director PRODUCTION David R. Anderson. Production Director Denise Chartrand Michael !. Lonsky Ian Muller SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Harry L Brown PUBLISHER'S ASSISTANT Beverly Iackson PERSONNEL Cheryl Hurd. 0//ice Manager Patricia Burke. Personnel Coordinator TYPOGRAPHY Sherry McCarthy, Chief Typographer Len Lorette Donna Sweeney advertising sales Dennis 1. Riley, Director of Sales and Marketing Sandra Foster, Administrative Assistant ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION (603-924-6448) Lisa Wozmak, Supervisor Robert D. Hannings. Senior Account Coordinator Marion Carlson Karen Cilley Lyda Clark Michele Iackson Denise Proctor Wai Chiu Li. Quality Control Manager Julie Nelson, Advertising/Production Coordinator CIRCULATION (800-258-5485) Gregory Spitzfaden. Director Andrew Jackson, Subscriptions Manager Cathy A. Rutherford. Assistant Manager Laurie Seamans, Assistant Manager Susan Boyd Phil Dechert Mary Emerson Louise Menegus Agnes E. Perry Jennifer Price James Bingham. Sinafe-Copy Safes Manager Claudette Carswell Karen Desroches MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Horace T. Howland, Director (603-924-3424) Vicki Reynolds. Marketing Production Manager Lisa Io Steiner. Marketing Assistant Stephanie Warnesky. Marketing Art Director Sharon Price, Assistant Art Director Doug Webster, Director of Public Relations (603-924-9027) Wilbur S. Watson, Operations Manager. Exhibits PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT Michele P. Verville. Manager Patricia Akerley. Research Manager Cynthia Damato Sands. Rfader Service Coordinator Faith Kluntz, Copyria/ils Coordinator ACCOUNTING Kenneth A, King. Assistant Controller Vicki Wesion. Accounting Manager Linda Short. D/P Ma>iaaer Edson Ware, Credit Marilyn Haigh Diane Henry VERN ROCKWELL JoAnn Walter 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 03458. (603) 924-9281. West Coast Offices: McGraw-Hill, 42 5 Battery St.. San Francisco. CA 94) I I. (41 5) 362-4600. McGraw-Hill. 1000 Elwell Court. Palo Alto. CA 94303. (415) 964-0624. New York Editorial Office: 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 (2 12) 5I2-20OO. Officers of McGraw-Hill Information Systems Company: President: Richard B Miller Executive Vice Presidents: Frederick P. lannou. Con- struction Information Group; Russell C. White. Computers and Communications Information Group; I. Thomas Ryan. Marketing and Interna- tional. Senior Vice Presidents: Francis A. Shinal, Controller; Robert C. Violette. Manufacturing and Technology. Senior Vice Presidents and Publishers: Laurence Altman. Electronics Week; Harry L. Brown. BYTE and Popular Computing: David I. McGrath. Construction Publications Group Vice President: Peter B. McCuen. Communications Information. Vice President: Fred O. lensen. Planning and Development. Officers of McGraw-Hill, Inc.: Harold W. McGraw. Jr.. Chairman; Joseph L. Dionne. President and Chief Executive Officer; Robert N. Landes. Executive Vice President and Secretary: Walter D. Serwatka, Executive Vice President. Publishing Services: Shel F. Asen. Senior Vice President. Manufacturing. Ralph R. Schulz. Senior Vice President. Editorial; George R, Elsinger. Vice President. Circulation: Ralph 1. Webb. Vice President and Treasurer. m 4 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Circuit-Board-Artwork Software m for the Design Engineer ■SKi^ in a Hurry H^s^i For only $895, smARTWORK® lets the design engineer create and revise printed-circuit-board art- work on the IBM Personal Com- puter. You keep complete control over your circuit-board artwork — from start to finish. Forget the tedium of taping it yourself or waiting for a tech- nician, draftsman, or the CAD department to get to your project. smARTWORK® is the only low- cost printed-circuit-board artwork editor with all these advantages: □ Complete interactive control over placement and routing □ Quick correction and revision □ Production-quality 2X artwork from a pen-and-ink plotter □ Prototype-quality 2X artwork from a dot-matrix printer □ Easy to learn and operate, yet capable of sophisticated layouts □ Single-sided and double-sided printed circuit boards up to 10 x 16 inches □ Multicolor or black-and-white display System Requirements: □ IBM Personal Computer, XT, or AT with 256K RAM, 2 disk drives, and DOS Version 2.0 or later □ IBM Color/Graphics Adapter with RGB color or black-and- white monitor □ IBM Graphics Printer or Epson FX/MX/RX series dot-matrix printer □ Houston Instrument DMP-41 pen-and-ink plotter □ Optional Microsoft Mouse The Smart Buy At $895, smARTWORK® is proven, convenient, fast, and a sound value. Call us today. And put it to work for yourself next week. mm mm \.JyJ ljlA-j L J i ± J. JL A Wintek Corporation inquiry 384 1801 South Street Lafayette, IN 47904-2993 Telephone: (317) 742-8428 Telex: 70-9079 WINTEK CORP UD In Europe contact: RIVA Terminals Limited, Woking, Surrey GU21 5JY ENGLAND, Telephone: 04862-71001, Telex: 859502 "smARTWORK',' "Wintek" and the Wintek logo are registered trademarks of Wintek Corporation. EDITORIAL A Threat to Future Software Last October Digital Research Inc. yielded to pressure from Apple and agreed to change its GEM software to decrease its resemblance to Apple Macintosh soft- ware. (GEM is an operating environment for several MS-DOS- and PC-DOS-based computers that allows a user to interact with a computer via windows and icons rather than the usual text-only commands.) Let's ignore, for the moment, the uncer- tain worth of a "visual copyright" (the legal term for Apple's copyrighting of the over- all "look" of Macintosh software). Let's also ignore the ethics of Apple's actions. The point to focus on, instead, is that Apple's ac- tions are to no one's benefit: Both the micro- computer industry and Apple itself will suffer from their effects. Apple's actions will slow the growth of the microcomputer industry, which will hurt Apple by shrinking the potential microcomputer audience. Already, several small companies are worried that some project they're working on (and, often, they with it) will be cut down because it is "too Mac-like." In addition, the success of Apple's tactics may encourage other companies to try similar actions, thus in- creasing the paralysis and anxiety in the industry. These actions will stifle the incremental evolution that is at the root of any signifi- cant growth in our industry. By "incre- mental evolution" I mean the process of gradual improvement of a product type that eventually leads to a more robust, useful product. For example, Ashton- late's Framework did not spring full-blown from the heads of the programming team at Forefront. It had its roots in Dan Bricklin's and Bob Franston's VisiCalc spreadsheet, Sorcim's Supercalc (which added functions and sold to a market not supported by VisiCalc), Mitch Kapor's VisiPlot (which gave the distinctive high- lighted menu bar now used in so many pro- grams), the software integration of Lotus 1-2-3, and the icons, windows, and pull- down menus of— well, you get the point. If companies are afraid to go to market with what they think are incremental— but distinct— improvements on a basic design, we will become a stagnant industry bounded by the usual and comfortable. According to Irving Rappaport. Apple's associate general counsel, Apple's intent is to prevent other companies from creating products that are easy to use because of their similarity to the Macin- tosh. "If people look at it and say, 'Gee. that's like the Mac— I can operate that,' when that's the result you get, it's over the line" of infringement of Apple's copyrights. The effect of this intent is to fragment the industry in the face of what was becom- ing a de facto standard for human-com- puter interaction. This lack of standardiza- tion will cause many people to stay un- interested in computers because they will have to relearn basic skills with each brand of computer they encounter. (Imagine how many people would drive cars if car manu- facturers used different controls for every function in the car.) Apple might argue that, by claiming a larger slice of a smaller pie, it will still come out ahead. We believe that it will be hurt directly by its actions and will end up with a smaller piece of a pie that is itself smaller. Apple will, in effect, build a wall around its ghetto of Macintosh products, thus limiting its own growth and encourag- ing people to "live" elsewhere. Texas Instruments' TI-99/4A provides a good example. TI announced that it in- tended to directly profit from all software written for its machine by forcing third- party software developers to publish their products through TI. When a brave. few brought out 99/4 cartridges on their own. TI added a proprietary chip to their car- tridges that the computer required before it would run the enclosed software. Need- less to say, the few developers working on 99/4 software wisely turned to support other computers. The same may happen to Apple. IBM already sells over half the business com- puters bought today, and IBM PC-compat- ibles account for a fairly large slice of what's left. If Apple has been slowing the erosion of its market share to IBM with the Macintosh line (and I think it has), its cur- rent moves will alienate software and hard- ware developers, who will begin to lavish their creativity upon the more congenial IBM PC-compatible marketplace. And where innovation goes, the market will follow. Consider: IBM made its software and hardware architectures open. It allowed the development of innumerable hard- ware clones, many far more similar to IBM products than GEM is to the Macintosh desktop; consequently, the IBM PC-com- patible market far outdistanced its com- bined competitors in less than two years. On the other hand, Apple is actively dis- couraging not only copying but also bor- rowing from its software design. It claims the sole right to benefit from a set of ideas that Apple itself has borrowed and im- proved on (the most direct borrowing was from work done at Xerox PARC). Given these two opposing directions, what do you think will happen? A Call to Action We at BYTE call on Apple to recognize the long-term implications of its actions and limit itself to prosecuting cases where the alleged theft is not of "looks" but of ac- tual program code. Barring that, we call on Apple to license its allegedly copyright- able interface to markets that do not directly compete with its current or planned product line— if the licensing fees are reasonable, everyone will profit. If neither of these things happen, we call on the judicial system to hand down rul- ings that reflect a strict interpretation of the visual copyright laws— that is. that a product is at fault only if it shows no dis- tinguishing characteristics in appearance or operation from the alleged original; this would protect products that show incre- mental evolution. We also call on the in- dustry to do two things. The first is to stand up to Apple and see the case de- cided on its legal merits. The second is to develop an alternative graphic interface and allow its wide adoption throughout the non-Apple computer community; in this way. the rest of us can get on with the business of making computers— in general— good enough that everyone will want to use them. [Editor's note: Apple maintains that the agree- ment covers "only three specific products',' but one of them is GEM Desktop, which defines the overall GEM environment. Also, according to Kathleen Dixon of Apple, the agreement includes any custom work DRI has done, including the modified GEM software that Atari uses in its 520ST computer] ■ —Gregg Williams, Senior Technical Editor BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Maxell Corp. of America, 60 Oxford Drive, Moonachie, NJ 07074 W 1 1 TIB J r p~~-~ — ^ L V fc. MiMP I Mil ■&•*» FLOPPY DISKS THE GOLD STANDARD Inquiry 228 SmarTerm 220 software makes DEC terminals obsolete! You don't need a DEC terminal to access DEC's new generation host software. Now you can use your IBM PC and SmarTerm 220 terminal emulation software to access All in One, A to Z, and other popular mainframe software. SmarTerm 220 gives you sophisticated, accurate DEC VT220, VT100, VT102 and VT52 emulation, and includes TTY mode to link you to popular services like The Source, CompuServe, Dow Jones, EASYLINK, and Tymnet. As you've learned to expect from Persoft, the industry leader in software terminal emulation, SmarTerm 220 continues the tradition of offering "smart" software solutions where IBM PC hardware limitations prevent exact duplication of DEC terminal features. For example, we give you horizontal scrolling for 132-column text display, and also support popular 132-column video display boards. And we provide "convenience" features not found in other terminal emulation packages like: "Branch to DOS" hot key, automatic installation, color support, multiple setups, "smart" softkeys, remappable keyboard layouts, and online help screens detailing PC and AT keyboard mappings. Our unique support for DEC's popular EDT editor includes convenient keyboard mapping of the "GOLD" and PF function keys, as well as an EDT specific on-line help screen, and keytop chart. International business people take note: SmarTerm 220 fully supports European versions of the DOS operating system, 8 bit mode, the VT220 multinational character sets, and the compose key. SmarTerm 220 is a powerful communi- cations package as well, allowing text and binary file transfer at speeds up to 19,200 baud. In addition to the popular XMODEM "error-free" protocol, we include our own PDIP protocol and supply you with free BASIC and FORTRAN programs which implement the protocol on VAX/VMS systems. "Farm out" your obsolete DEC terminal, and join the satisfied users who "reap" the benefits of SmarTerm! The SmarTerm family: SmarTerm 220-DEC VT220 SmarTerm 100-DEC VT100 SmarTerm 125-DEC VT125 SmarTerm 400— Data General Dasher D400 SmarTerm 4014— Tektronix 4014 And now the new SmarTerm 240— DEC VT240 PUT YOUR DEC TERI OUT TO PASTURE! After SmarTerm, what do you do with your obsolete terminal? IDEA CREDIT: Ann Garner Riddle of Winston-Salem, N.C. "SmarTerm is a registered trademark ol Persoti. Inc. "POIPisa trademark of Persofi. Inc. 'DEC. VT.ReGlS, A to Z and All in One are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corp. 'DASHER is a registered trademark ol Oaia General Corp. "Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix. Inc. © Persofi, Inc. 1985. All rights reserved. Persoft, Inc - 2740 Ski Lane - Madison, Wl 53713 (608) 273-6000 - Telex 759491 8 BYTE • JANUARY 1 986 persa/r Inquiry 430 for End-Users. Inquiry 431 for DEALERS ONLY MICROBYTES Staff -written highlights of late developments in the microcomputer industry. Epson, Toshiba Announce Color LCDs Toshiba has developed an active-matrix, eight-color, 640- by 480-pixel, 10-inch-diagonal liquid-crystal display (LCD) that nearly matches the brightness of a standard color TV. No pricing or availability information was given. Epson announced a backlit high-contrast, 5.13-inch-diagonal color LCD with a resolution of 480 by 440 pixels (one-third of which are red, green, or blue). Epson says the display's contrast ratio is more than 10 times that of a standard reflective LCD and has a viewing angle greater than 60 degrees. Epson also unveiled a high-contrast, 9-inch-diagonal monochrome LCD with a resolution of 640 by 400 pixels. Samples of both displays will be available during the first half of 1986; prices should be approximately twice as much as standard reflective LCDs. Epson also announced two 10-inch-diagonal monochrome displays using ferroelectric smectic-C crystals. The 640- by 400-pixel and 640- by 200-pixel displays are said to have high contrast ratios, low power consumption, and moderate cost; samples may be available late this year. Optical-Disk Developments: Write-Once Drives, Partnership Optimem, which currently makes 12-inch write-once optical-disk drives, showed a prototype multifunction 5 , /2-inch optical-disk drive at COMDEX. The drive will work with read-only, write-once, and erasable disks produced by 3M. Optimem had not yet finalized specifica- tions for the drive but expects to begin shipments in 1986. Sony announced a new line of write-once optical-disk drives. The WDD-2000 uses a 20-cm (8-inch) optical disk that can store I gigabyte of formatted data; a single drive with a con- troller will have a list price of $16,000. The WDD-3000 uses a 30-cm (12-inch) optical disk to store 2.1 or 3.2 gigabytes of formatted data, depending on the disk used; a single drive with a controller will have a list price of $19,000. Sony also unveiled a jukebox-style device capable of holding 50 of the 12-inch disks. AGA Inc., New York, NY, introduced an optical-disk system for the IBM PC based on a 12-inch write-once drive from Alcatel-Thomson Gigadisk. AGA says its Discus 1000 stores up to 3 gigabytes of text data or up to 50 gigabytes of graphics images on a I -gigabyte disk, using a proprietary data-compression technique. The drive alone is available for $21,500; with the data-compression facility, it's $31,000. Du Pont and N. V. Philips revealed a joint venture to produce optical disks, including 4.7-inch CD-ROM and CD audio disks, a 12-inch write-once disk, and an unspecified erasable disk. The joint venture hopes to produce 200 million disks annually by 1990, half for data storage. New Developments in 3 2 -bit Chips Signetics, Sunnyvale, CA, unveiled the 68070, a microprocessor that is compatible with Motorola's 68000 but also includes on-chip memory management and direct memory ac- cess. Samples of the 68070 should be available from Signetics and parent company Philips next summer, with production quantities available in late 1986. National Semiconductor began shipping samples of its 32332 microprocessor, which pro- vides more on-chip functions and memory-addressing capability than the 32032. New on- chip features include dynamic bus-sizing (8-, 16-, or 32-bit data buses), burst-mode memory addressing, a barrel shifter, an expanded instruction queue, and support for external cache memories. The 32332 expands the 3 203 2 's 16-megabyte address space to 4 gigabytes by adding a full 32-bit address register. While the 32032 was available only in 6-, 8-, and 1 0-MHz versions, the 32332 will instead run at 10, 12, or 15 MHz. Weitek Corporation will interface its two-chip, 64-bit, floating-point math coprocessor to the 32332. The Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, Malvern, England, is developing the Viper, a (continued) JANUARY 1986 "BYTE 9 new 32-bit RISC (reduced instruction set computer) microprocessor design. Because RSRE wanted a reliable chip for use in weapons and nuclear power plants, the design team used mathematical-correctness techniques that compare a formal specification of the chip with the logical implementation, which they hope will guarantee an error-free architecture and in- struction set. Also in England, a fingerprint-matching computer based on an array of 100 1NMOS Transputers is being developed for the Home Office. When finished, the experimental system should run 25 times faster and cost one-fifth as much as the current system, which uses a minicomputer and vector processors. Vitesse, GigaBit Logic Announce LSI Gallium-Arsenide ICs Vitesse Electronics will develop gallium-arsenide (GaAs) versions of some Advanced Micro Devices 2900-series devices, which include microprocessors, controllers, and signal-process- ing chips. AMD currently produces the high-speed parts using silicon bipolar technology; Vitesse expects that the use of LSI GaAs could enhance performance four to six times. Samples of the first components are expected in mid-1986, with full production starting late next year. Separately, GigaBit Logic announced GaAs multiplexer and demultiplexer (mux/demux) cir- cuits that it says allow fiber-optic data transmission at up to 1.5 gigabits per second (gps), or three times the current limits of silicon. Eight standard 135-megabit-per-second transmis- sions can be combined in a single I.l-gps signal. While the mux/demux circuits use about 200 gates per chip, both GigaBit Logic and Vitesse plan to produce GaAs chips with more than 1000 gates in the spring. Kodak Proposes Tiny Magnetic Disk for Photographs Eastman Kodak, Rochester. NY, has lined up more than 30 companies— including Sony, Hitachi, and Fuji— to support its 47-mm (1.85-inch) floppy disk for storage of electronic still images. The 800K-byte disk can store up to 50 images of 240-line NTSC video. Eventually, the disk is intended for use in cameras; for now, Kodak is working on a 35-mm film-to-disk transfer station for use in developing labs and a still-video player/recorder for the disks. Nanobytes To back up the newer 3 /2-inch hard disks, Data Electronics Inc. and 3M agreed on a smaller tape-cartridge format that will permit tape backup systems to fit in the same space as a 3 '/2-inch disk drive; drives using earlier /4-inch tapes required more room. DEI and 3M agreed on two formats: a 120-inch-per-second (ips) 24-track /Hnch tape that stores 40 megabytes and a 90-ips I2-track tape 0.15 inch wide that stores 20 megabytes. . . . TDI Software Ltd. has released a full Modula-2 compiler for Atari's 520ST computer. In England, the compiler is priced at £195 . . . . VMark Computer, Natick, MA, announced a database-management/application development system that can convert source programs for the Pick operating system to run under AT&T's UNIX System V. . . . Tall Tree Systems, Palo Alto, CA, announced the Jlaserprinter, a $400 laser-printer interface for its JRAM-3 memory board for the IBM PC. The Jlaserprinter uses the |RAM-3's expanded memory to allow laser printers like Hewlett-Packard's LaserJet to print high-resolution graphics quick- ly. .. . Micron Technology of Boise, ID, is offering 256K-bit error-correcting DRAM chips. Configured as 64K by 8 bits, the chips cost approximately $6 in quantities of 100. . . . Novell Inc., Orem, UT, announced System Fault Tolerant NetWare software for IBM AT-based LAN file servers, providing three distinct levels of protection from hardware faults. . . . AST announced the Snared Resources Network, a new 5-megabit-per-second LAN, which can be made compatible with IBM's PC Network by using AST's NETBIOS software. Each $495 net- work adapter card comes with a removable ROM chip that allows diskless IBM PCs to be connected to the network. . . . Integrated Device Technology, Santa Clara, CA, announced plug-in replacements for Advanced Micro Devices 2900 bit-slice processor chips; the Microslice-family chips use from one-third to one-fifth of the power of the AMD chips. . . . Cermetek Microelectronics, Sunnyvale, CA, is offering the CH18I2A, a DAA component that provides a direct interface to both leased and dial-up phone lines. The DAA conforms to both FCC and Canadian DOC rules and is priced at $18.95 in 1000-piece quantities. . . . Motorola's new 68824 Token Bus Controller (TBC) chip fully implements the ISO Open Systems Interconnect data-link layer for networks; it also conforms to General Motors Manufacturing Automation Protocol specifications. . . . LSI Logic, Milpitas, CA. announced a CMOS gate array with 50,000 gates made of more than 500,000 transistors. BYTE- JANUARY 1986 Co Portable with cordless printing and disk drive power when you travel* Imagine a full-featured, battery- powered computer system — complete with disk drive and printer — that fits in your suitcase on trips. Now you can make your Tandy 200 or Model 100 more powerful than ever. Don't Travel Without Your Files The Tandv 200/Model 100 Portable Disk Drive (26-3808, $199.95) gives you fast access to 100K of data on 3 ] /2" floppy diskettes. That means you don't have to leave your impor- tant documents, reports, spread- sheets, statistics and other vital data back home. This portable drive may be small, but it's not a toy Menu-driven opera- tion makes it easy to use. Tt features these powerful operating svstem functions: FORMAT, SAVE, LOAD, KILL, RENAME and BACKUP. See a list of files anytime. And you can choose battery operation, or attach an optional adapter to use AC power. Get Automatic Hardcopy in Your Hotel Room Like the Portable Disk Drive, the TRP 100 Thermal Ribbon Printer is made to be used anywhere — with batteries or AC power. Sitting in your hotel room before an important meeting, you can produce a printout of a report you composed on the plane. Or, with your 200/1 00\s direct-connect mo- dem, you can tap into your home of- fice's computer for the latest data to update your spreadsheet. The TRP 100 (26-1275, $299.95) uses plain 8' Iz" paper and a thermal ribbon for high-contrast characters. Or you can use thermal roll paper without the ribbon for direct transfer. It even produces bit-image graphics. True Portable Power Take off with Tmdy 200/100 pe- ripherals today. And don't forget our selection of software. Tandy is Clearly Superior! Radio /hack The Technology Store r 1 i i 1 1 1 1 1 1 New 1986 Computer Catalog! Send Me a Copy. Mail To: Radio Shack-, Depl. 8B-A-895 300 One Tandv Center Fort Worth. Texas 76102 Company „ Address . City State I'hone . Zip_ 1 I i I _ - Z - I I Prices apply at Radio Shack Computer Centers and at participating stores and dealers. Batteries extra. Inquiry 304 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE The database used nowbe used Introducing dBASEIIf PLUS. The PLUS stands for all the improvements weVe made to the world's number one selling database management software. Jp 1 Create MHTtEHs Position Ret: 1 1 Database file Format Uiew Query Report Label Tlie Assistant helps beginning users accomplish day-to-day data management tasksmthoutprogramming. Mind you, dBASE III PLUS still has the powerful dBASE programming language, dot prompt, and all the features that have made dBASE III the standard of the industry. WeVe simply raised the standard. And just as dBASE III introduced more power to the people, our new dBASE III PLUS introduces more people to the power: People who aren't all that crazy about programming, for example. The Assistant feature in dBASE III PLUS now provides them with new easy-to-use pull-down menus for creating, using and modifying multiple databases. So now anyone who can manage a simple cursor can manage day-to-day data management tasks. Without programming. And by using our new Screen Painter, anyone can create custom screens. Without programming. Or using View, access related information in several databases at one time. Without programming. With Advanced Query System, another new non-programming feature, any user can build complex queries just by selecting from the dBASE III PLUS pull-down menus. For rapidly creating entire programs, there's even a new Applications Generator And for all those who wish to learn to program, the Assistant can be of further assistance. By teachingyou programming commands as you go along. Without disrupting your work flow These are only a few of the dBASE III PLUS features that can help new users quickly get up to speed. And experienced users quickly increase their speed. (Sorting, for example, is up to two times faster and indexing up to ten times faster than dBASE III.) Field Name STATE Operator Matches Constant/Expression "KV" No combination Combine with .AND. Combine with .AND.. NOT. Combine with .OR. .NOT. Line Field Operator 1 ( STATE 2 | STATE 3 < PJ»OD_DESC ORDER DATE Matches Matches Matches More than or equal Constant/Expression Connect "NY" | OR. "DE" ) .AND. "LM Bass Lures" | .AND. 11/81/85 ) IIBfflIB \ Set Fi Iter Nw Select a logical connector for the filter condition. j Aivmwd Query System letsym set up a?2d answer complex queries without programming. 12 BYTE • JANUARY !986 py more people can by more people. And it's the fastest way to network those To obtain a free dBASE III PLUS demo disk. users, too. Because now, local area networking call 800-4374329, Extension 0282* for the capabilities are built right in. authorized Ashton-TateMealernearestyou" dBASE III PLUS can also help put developers And get your hands on dBASE III PLUS, in the fast lane. With a new Data Catalog and It's the software more people can look more than 50 new commands and functions, forward to using, Plus code encryption and linking, improved debugging aids, assembly language calls and much more. Inquiry 26 In Colorado call (303) 799-4900, Extension 0282. * 'Upgrades are available to all dBASE HI owners. Requires IBM* PC or 100% compatible.Trademarks/owners: Ashton-Tkte, dBASE HI/ Ashton-I&te; IBM/International Business Machines Corporation. ©1985 Ashton-'Rite. All rights reserved. Ashton Tate dBASE III PLUS The data rnanagement standard. LETTERS The Mac and the DSI Sieve Benchmark As I read the benchmarks in "The DSI-32 Coprocessor Board, Part I: The Hardware" (August 1985, page 120), I noticed a miss- ing system in the comparisons, the Apple Macintosh. Being a MacUser. I found this disappointing, so I set up and ran the benchmarks on my 512K-byte Mac. My only significant change tothe benchmarks used by DSI is the use of a base (pointer) register rather than a global variable for the arrays used. This change allows use of the Mac's ROM memory manager and does not represent a radical change to the routines. The DSI Sieve benchmark is not fully representative of a machine's Boolean and integer capabilities, calling for only three register variables and using no pointers. Applications written by advanced pro- grammers take better advantage of these tools. Accordingly I used three versions of Sieve, calling them Sieve (same as the DSI Sieve), RSieve (using more registers), and PSieve (using registers and pointers). The performance of these roughly repre- sents the performance of inexperienced, intermediate, and advanced programmers' code. The Float and FLT benchmarks are transliterations of FORTRAN into C with some assumed register optimizations. See table I. All three forms of Sieve beat the IBM PC AT for n = 40,000 (and the AT could not run n = 80.000). This is due to the much higher costs for 32-bit integer/ad- dressing arithmetic on the AT, needed for addressing large amounts of data and for most applications except games and graphics. Thirty-two-bit integers are stan- dard on the Mac with the SoftWorks com- piler. The single-precision Float bench- mark for the AT with the 80287 floating- point coprocessor is less than five times faster than the software floating-point coprocessor of the Mac, a surprising result. The hardware advantage of the AT did show up in the FLT benchmark, how- ever. In 64-bit floating-point, the AT's hard- ware was 12 times faster than the Mac's software. A quick note on the VAX timings. The VAX C compiler that I am familiar with automatically pointerizes loops such as the Sieve benchmark. PSieve is therefore the equivalent benchmark, and the Mac's speed in this benchmark is near that of Table 1: Reader Hembree's benchmark results for the Macintosh. n Sieve RSieve PSieve 8191 4.23 3.37 2.80 20000 10.50 8.37 6.93 30000 15.87 12.53 10.47 40000 21.25 16.97 14.00 80000 43.00 34.33 28.32 Float (40000) 78.90 FLT (256000) 1759.85 Table 2: Definicon benchmark results. n Sieve RSieve PSieve (corrected) # of Primes 8191 1.75 1.58 1.43 1899 20000 4.45 4.23 3.51 4202 30000 6.70 6.36 • 5.33 6056 40000 8.95 8.51 7.08 7836 80000 17.90 16.81 13.95 14,683 Float (40000) 0.71 FLT (256000) 16.45 the VAX- 11/7 50. particularly impressive since the 7 50 costs more than 30 times as much. I would like to see the perfor- mance of more machines using the multi- ple Sieve benchmarks since they test a wider spectrum of CPU architectures rather than reducing all to a common denominator. I have one complaint about the DSI ar- ticle. It seems to have been written by Definicon Systems Inc.. and page 134 reads like a full-page ad for DSI. While the designers may understand the hardware better. I would like to also see an indepen- dent review of the system by BYTE. William L. Hembree Las Cruces, NM Definicon Systems replies: We did not think it was fair to include the Mac in the benchmark comparisons because it did not have a hardware floating-point accelerator. Mr. Hembree's own data shows that the Mac is 100 times slower than the DSI in floating-point ex- ecution (Float and FLT benchmarks}. Floating-point arithmetic is present in vir- tually all application software, from sim- ple spreadsheets to complex statistical packages. The Sieve benchmark we used was taken from BYTE. In order to evaluate Mr. Hembree's newer versions, we compiled and ran them. To our surprise, the PSieve version reported an incorrect number of primes. We traced the problem to a dou- ble increment of i in the second FOR loop. Without the fix, Mr. Hembree's pointerized version ran in 1.05 seconds on the DSI-32. When the problem was corrected, it took 1.43 seconds. 1 have [continued) LETTERS POLICY: To be considered for publica- tion, 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. 14 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 This little Fda Means Business. The Mouse by Maynard Electronics makes your favorite programs faster, wsammm easier, and smarter! BY MAYNARD ELECTRONICS At last, an Intelligent" mouse! Now you can add command power to your programs, when you want, the way you want — instantly! The Mouse by Maynard Electronics comes with our CustomKey™ software which lets you assign and reassign commands while using your favorite programs — even those without mouse utilities. Fly through programs like Symphony? Lotus 1 -2-3? Framework? Multi- Mate? and others with undreamed of speed! And of course, it's fully compatible with all programs written for a mouse, too. Teach The Mouse To Type. A single Mouse click will instantly produce the character, sentence, paragraph, or anything else you've selected. Click: you call up the CustomKey menu. Click: your file is saved. Click: a com- monly used paragraph appears in place. No other mouse gives you such power and versatility. A Tale Of Three Mice . Compare our Mouse with the others running around and you'll see, there's no comparison! Here are just a few features across the board: 'Symphony and Lotus 1-2-3 are trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation. Framework is a trademark of Ashton-Tate. MultiMate is a trademark of SoftWord Sys- tems Inc. Telepaint is a trademark of LCS/Telegraphics. "S£ Maynaid FEATURES >%£g* # of Button Combinations 7 Button Auto Repeat Yes Diagnostics Yes Dynamic Scaling Yes Cursor Overshoot Control Yes Adjustable Cursor Speed/Up, Dn (while running application) Yes Adjustable Cursor Speed/Rt, Lft (while runningapplication) Yes Buttons-Definable (while running application) Yes Macros-Definable (while running application) Yes User-Definable Alternate Cursor Movement Yes Micro- soft 3 No No No No No No No No No Mouse Systems 5 No Yes No No No No No No Free Drawing! Purchase The Mouse now and receive the popular paint program Telepaint* at no additional cost — a $149 value! C^iH Shaping tomorrow's technology. 460 E. Semoran, Casselberry, FL 32707* 305/331 -6402 Available at the finest computer stores. Contact your local dealer or write to us today for product information. inquiry 2 29 JANUARY 1 986 ■ BYTE 15 / Why you should ignore 95% of the news Because NewsNet automatically fintls the 5% you need. From our database of authori- tative, up-to-date business news, you get just the stories you want, delivered instantly to your microcomputer. You choose your own, unique keywords, and NewsNet saves — just for you — every new article containing those words. Or, \ you can find that critical 5 % on your own, jij> with NewsNet's powerful keyword search- ing and text scanning. Just what's in NewsNet's database? The full text of over 300 valuable business newsletters. In- depth news, written by experts, filled with analysis and interpretation. News from 34 dif- ferent industries and professions — everything from Computers to Investments, from Manage- ment to Telecommunications. Plus extras such as wire services, online stock quotes, air fares, and business credit reports. Computer News: Your Specialty is our Specialty. Here are just a few of the 25 Electronics and Computers newsletters on NewsNet: The Artificial Intelligence Report The Business Computer The Computer Cookbook Consumer Electronics Data Base Informer Electronic Mail News Outlook on IBM Japan High Tech Review Micro Moonlighter Mini/Micro Bulletin Personal Computers Today Robotronics Age Newsletter Semiconductor Industry & Business Survey The Seybold Report on Professional Computing Stanley Klein Newsletter on Computer Graphics ONLINE BUSINESS NEWS V tot Call Today! We'll send all you need to subscribe. (800) 345-1301 (in FA 2 15-527-8030) XfwsNc[ Inc. 945 Havcrford Road. Ilryri Mawr. PA 19010 LETTERS not, as Mr. Hembree did, removed the calls to M ALLOC or PRINTF from the times reported for execution. Table 2 shows the data for the DSI-32 corresponding to Mr. Hembree's bench- marks. 1 disagree strongly with the concept that any benchmark or combination of benchmarks can do anything other than show that a particular architecture is competitive with another For instance, programmer productivity is rarely quan- tified. We have found, for example, that a 400-line C program takes 15 seconds to compile on the DSI-32, 5 minutes on an Atari 520ST, and 4.3 minutes on a Mac. Why shouldn't this data be relevant when considering a computer's perfor- mance? If the VAX compiler automati- cally pointer izes code and thus makes it run fasten is this not a valid measure of productivity enhancement? Our compiler automatically registers variables. This saves the programmer the task of keep- ing track of which variables are most ef- ficiently registered. Is this not an impor- tant factor in overall productivity? It really should not matter whether a computer uses a microprocessor from XYZ company or ABC company or whether it performs a sieve in 1.43 seconds or 1.85 seconds. What should be important is what the machine can do for you and how long it takes you to get the machine to do what you want it to. It is a travesty of objectivity that simplistic benchmarks have become the most widely accepted method for per- formance evaluation. The DSI-32 project has so far taken four worker-years to bring to fruition. If BYTE magazine had not become in- volved, it would be yet another closed- architecture computer accessible only to the inveterate hacker. The technology of 3 2 -bit microcomputer design would still be locked within corporate vaults. BYTE provided a forum for Definicon to pro- mulgate its technology while recognizing that projects such as these will only be made available to the hobbyist while adequate financial return for the development cycle can be maintained. Finally, there was a misprint in the benchmark data published in the A ugust issue. The time for a VAX-1 1/780 to per- form an 8191 Sieve should be 1.09 seconds, not 1.90, as printed. BYTE replies: Publishing hardware-construction articles presents us with a dilemma. If the author {continued) Introducing Iri'dVision Complex Drawing Made-Easy We created In-a-Vision just for you. The engineer who needs more productive drafting support. The designer who needs ver- satility for alter- nate ideas or quick revisions. The architect who needs to manage a variety of working- drawings. And the businessman who needs first-class presentation mate- rials as well as detailed flow charts and organization charts. Point. Click. Draw. Now all you do to create com- plex technical drawings, systems designs, blueprints, diagrams, illus- trations, and proposals is point, In-a-Vision's mouse support, windowing, icons, and pull-down menus, you produce drawings more quick- ly, accurately and effi- ciently than ever before. In-a-Vision's advanced tech- nology includes many features not found on comparable systems cost- ing thousands more. For example, (Most popular graphics cards, plotters and printers supported.) Microsoft Windows compatible. Call for specific operating environment requirements. Unlike more expensive CAD systems, In-a- Vision is easy to install and use. Even the com- puter novice can be productive in less than a day. And In-a-Vision is not copy- Ten Day Trial Period. We're so sure In-a-Vision will you can pan around in a user-de- finable drawing space up to 68" x 68" and zoom in on specific areas for greater de- tail. Scale, rotate and dimension symbols, fill an area with your choices of predefined colors and patterns, as well as draw lines with multiple styles and widths. Other features include overlays, predefined and user- definable page sizes, rulers, grids, and symbol libraries. Multi-tasking in a PC-based CAD system. In-a-Vision uses multi-tasking to enable you to continue drawing while printing hard copies as well as edit multiple drawings simultaneously. MICROGRAFX The Picture of Success. Inquiry 241 make you more pro- ductive, we'll give you ten days to prove it to yourself. If In-a-Vision doesn't improve your productivity, return it within ten days for a full refund. In-a-Vision will make your complex drawing tasks sim- ple and make you more productive. Satisfaction guar- anteed. Dial 800-272-3729 to order or for a free brochure. In Texas or for customer support, call (214)234-1769. MICROGRAFX, Inc., 1820 North Greenville Ave- nue, Richardson, Texas 75081. In-a-Vision and MICROGRAFX arc trademarks ol" MICROGRAFX. Inc. Windows and Microsoft arc trademarks of Microsoft. Inc. '/■< /////, ^cuncu kTotw Social Inrntations R allinranhi ^^ *(*) ib-i P m m i^ffS Fancy Font t Dot Matrix^ Printing Made Beautiful This entire ad, from top to bottom, was printed on an inexpensive dot matrix printer with Fancy Font,® a unique program that works with almost any word processor to produce high resolution, proportionally spaced, letter quality printing. No special hardware or installation is required, so you'll be using Fancy Font as soon as you get it Fonts, including Roman, Sans Serif, Bold, Italic, tforiJhJL, (fBlolErajlislf and more, from 8 to 24 points come standard with Fancy Font FLEXIBLE. Fancy Font comes with a complete set of over 1500 mathematical, foreign language and other special symbols. Hundreds of additional fonts in sizes from 6 to 72 points are available, at a nominal additional charge, from our growing font library. You can edit any character and also create your own characters or logos, up to 1 inch by 1 inch. Powerful formatting features let you center, justify, wordwrap and type flush left or right, with or without running headers and footers — even with different fonts and sizes on the same line. le HP LaserJet, ^ nd sizes of >Al IMPACT YOUR LASER, Combine the high quality of the HP LaserJet, LaserJet+ or Canon Laser printer with the font styles and i Fancy Font for the ultimate in visual impact You can mix internal printer fonts, cartridge fonts and Fancy Font letters on the same line to create materials with typographic impact COCT EFFECTIVE. You can buy Fancy Font from your local dealer or direct from Sof tCraft for only $180. You'll get near typeset quality at a small fraction of the time and cost of using art or typesetting services. You'll be turning out beautiful reports, newsletters, presentations, letters, mathematical texts, overheads, invitations and more after getting your copy of Fancy Font The applications are limited only by your imagination. Fancy Font runs on PC : DOS, MS-DOS and CP/M systems with Epson, Toshiba and compatible dot matrix printers and laser printers. Call or write now to order Fancy Font or ask for complete information including actual samples and independent reviews. CALL TODAY 1-800-351-0500 MasterCharge and Visa accepted Sq/^Craft, Iric. 222 State Street, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 257-3300 LETTERS doesn't support the project by arranging for key parts to be available from one source at reasonable prices and by answering questions of all those readers who build the project, then readers become frustrated an and angry. Readers have to go through all the trouble of buy- ing every part in quantity one and at high prices. If the assembled project doesn't work properly, readers rightly want help diagnosing the problem. Supporting 400 readers who have built a project requires time and effort on the part of the designer. Usually the demands fa r ex- ceed what any individual author is will- ing to undertake. On the other hand, when we make cer- tain that a project is backed by the resources of a firm with an adequate staff and that parts and support are easily available, some readers believe that the article is intended to force them to buy a commercial product This is not the case. Unfortunately, there is never likely to be a charitable foundation that sup- ports hardware-construction projects with design and support engineers, a purchasing manager, clerical help, and all the other resources that go into produc- ing a complex electronic project Based on years of experience, we believe that arrangements such as our continuing one with Steve Garcia and the DS1-32 agreement with Definicon serve our readers much better than publishing schematics and leaving.the reader with no hope of support. Readers who prefer can always work from the schematics and ignore the support firm. BYTE has no financial interest in any of these projects. Because our readers' greatest interest is in new technology, we are determined to do hardware-construction articles based on new and advanced chips. Gar- cia 's project based. on the 64180 and Definicon's based on the 32032 are ex- cellent examples. They afford readers an opportunity to work with systems based on advanced chips without having to buy a large development system from a semiconductor manufacturer. We would like to do more articles based on ad- vanced chips, but we are usually unable to convince anyone to undertake the financial risk and the burden of support. Such articles require purchasing hun- dreds of parts with no certainty as to how many people will build the project and buy the parts. There are sometimes supply problems with the new parts as well. We're now trying to make arrange- [continued) 18 B YTE ■ JANUARY 1986 For those times when 640K memory just doesn't seemto be enough. AST introduces RAMpage!™ with up to 2 Mb of PC RAM. Feed your byte-gobbling appli- cations with the expanded memory of RAMpage! And stop wasting valuable time with frustrating "Memory Full" messages. Breaking The 640K Barrier. RAMpage! breaks through the PC's 640K- byte barrier delivering up to 2 megabytes of parity checked memory for expanded memory applications. Up to 4 RAMpage! boards can be used in a single PC for a full 8 Mb of memory per system. EMS Compatibility. RAMpage! is fully compatible with all applications developed for use with the Lotus® Expanded Memory Speci- fication (EMS). It's also supported by Enhanced EMS software -offering more versatility for even greater value and performance. New software updates of popu- lar applications like Symphony,™ Framework™and l-2-3rdesigned specifically for use with EMS boards, are now becoming avail- able. And a wide variety of other packages, including win- dowing, spreadsheet, database and CAD applications, will soon follow. A Super Bonus. RAMpage! includes AST's new SuperPak™ utility software. Designed specifically to operate in expanded memory environments, it allows you to spool print jobs and create multiple RAM disks for added performance. Don't let your valuable byte- hungry applications starve. Get RAMpage! today. For more information call our Customer Information Center (714) 863-1333. Or write, AST Research, Inc., 2121 Alton Avenue, Irvine, California 92714 TWX: 753699 ASTR UR. Specifications • For use with IBM 5 PC PC-XT, 3270 PC and compatibles. • Up to 2.0 Mb expanded memory per board— 8.0 Mb total per system, • Socketed and user upgradeable with 256K DRAMS. • Fully compatible with Lotus EMS 3.0. • Enhanced EMS design for greater per- formance with enhanced EMS software. • AST Expanded Memory Manager software standard. • Neiv SuperPak m utility software standard. RcscnncH inc. RAMpage! and SuperPak trademarks nf AST Research. Inc. Lotus and 1-2-3 registered trademarks and Symphony trademark of Lotus Development Corp. Framework trademark of Ashton-Tttte. IBM registered trade- mark of International Business Machines Cor]}. '-fettil Inquiry 4 for End-Users. Inquiry 5 for DEALERS ONLY. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 19 DATA INDEPENDENCE MUCH SMALL The Age of Data Independence ru dawned about two years ago when IOMEGA introduced a revolutionary mass storage device called The Bernoulli Box® Featuring a unique technology that uses rugged, removable 10-megabyte cartridges, it freed companies to work more productively and economically-and was soon recognized as the decade's biggest step forward in business data storage. Today, IOMEGA has taken another giant step. With the addition of the compact 20-megabyte-per-cartridge Bernoulli Boxes, in single- and dual-drive versions, the Data Independ- ence family gets simultaneously bigger and smaller. The new Bernoulli Boxes double on-line capacity to up to 40 megabytes and cut the space required to carry and store data cartridges. They also boast a footprint that is literally half that of the pre- vious version, freeing just that much more valuable desk space. But what makes the new Bernoulli Box so exciting are the same features that made it the new standard in data management to begin with. TRANSPORTABILITY The Bernoulli Box cartridges are completely interchangeable. You're free to take the cartridge from one and use it in another with complete confidence. Take it across the hall or mail it across the continent EXPANDABILITY Free yourself from the limitations of system capacity. If you need more, you expand by buying slim, inexpensive cartridges, not bulky and costly hardware. RELIABILITY Incredible resistance to shock and vibration combined with a rugged cartridge format frees you from concerns about equipment failure, head crash, or data loss. T 20 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 B VI more giant steps. ;r footprints. mmm PERFORMANCE. The amazing speed of The Bernoulli Box- with access times and transfer rates that rival and often surpass the best hard disk drives - translates into the best freedom of all: the freedom of time. And now The Bernoulli Box offers users the option of booting from The Bernoulli Box cartridge with any of the IBM PC or compatible computers. E SECURITY Free your sensitive files, such as payroll and personnel, from unauthorized scrutiny and free yourself from unnecessary anxiety. Put them on a Bernoulli Box cartridge, and put the cartridge where you know it will be safe. Check out the latest Bernoulli Box family members today. More giant steps towards the complete data independence of businesses using the IBM PC, XT, AT, most compatibles, and the Macintosh? ™ Giant steps with very small footprints. For the dealer nearest you, call 1-800-556-1234, exL 215. In California, call 1-800-441-2345, exL 215. *The Bernoulli Boxfor Macintosh is available in a 5-megabyte single-drive version and a 20-megabyte dual-drive version for AppleTalk." The Bernoulli Box is a registered trademark of IOMEGA Corporation. Data Independence is a trademark of IOMEGA Corporation. Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer, Inc. AppleTalk is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. JJLU L'lVIEGA IOMEGA Corporation 1821 West 4000 South Roy, Utah 84067 Inquiry 175 K" JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 21 Plotter graphii boardroom boredom 1 I 1 I 1 //& i —^ «■ 'Ullll "W Crisp, clean, hardcopy graphics make dramatic im- pressions. Now, with Houston Instrument's PC Plotter, you have an affordable way to link the power of graphics to your personal computer. The PC Plotter produces quality graphics at a price you won't mind paying. It allows you to produce vibrant line, bar, and pie charts using eight different colors on either paper or overhead transparencies. And you can create either &A" x 1 1" or 1 1" x 17" graphics. Whether you're a computer wizard or novice, the PC Plotter is simple to operate and can be used with virtually any computer on the market today. Plus, your graphics software choices are unlimited. Houston Instrument products are supported by a versatile collection of more than 250 graphics software packages. For example, just take a look at the above photo and you'll see plots created by PFS:® Graph, Lotus® l-2-3, iM Peachtree Business Graphics System, " : Design Intelligence, IM Energraphics, rM and Smart Spreadsheet with Graphics. Make the most out of owning an IBM,® Apple® or other personal computer. Give it a PC Plotter. . .and give your presentations the visual advantage you need to win in business. Visit your authorized Houston Instrument dealer or local computer store today and ask for a demonstra- tion of the PC Plotter. For more information, call us at 800-531-5205. Texas residents may phone (512) 835-0900. Houston Instrument products are designed, marketed, and manufactured in Austin, Texas. instrument Inquiry 406 4P019 LETTERS ments for hardware projects based on three different 32-bit processors: the INMOS Transputer, the Acorn RISC Machine, and the Motorola 68020. Anyone interested should contact Phil Lemmons. We didn't publish the DSI-32 article without assuring ourselves that the board would work. Phillip Robinson of our West Coast staff saw the DS1-32 assembled and working before we published the ar- ticle on it. Definicon also shipped us a DSI-32 board that functioned properly in an IBM PC here in our main office. Our technical staff edited the article. An independent review of the DSI-32 is a good suggestion. We'd prefer to do that as a collaboration among as many DSI-32 users as possible. Those inter- ested should contact Glenn Hartwig. Compressing Data On page 392 of the October 1985 BYTE (Letters), readers found an interesting "printing experiment" that surely could use more explanation. Although it's called a "high-density bar code" in its caption, the sample has little resemblance to a con- ventional bar code image; rather, it ap- pears to be a direct binary high-density representation of bits framed by an error detection/correction and timing format. A format like the sample printed has good prospects for delivery of machine- readable data. I count about 64 informa- tion bits in width (excluding error detec- tion and framing information), with a den- sity estimated to be 128 bits per inch. The same 128-bpi density seems to be used in the vertical direction, with a length of 7,5 inches. Multiplying the numbers, we can estimate that the test patch repre- sented some 61.440 bits, or about 7.5K bytes. Multiply that by 10 or so columns, and we have an apparent page capacity in excess of 75K bytes. For source code of programs, you'd probably want to use a token-compression scheme. In some ex- periments I did in 1981 with token-com- pression techniques, I was able to achieve almost 3:1 compression for large Pascal source programs. Thus, as a means of rep- resenting a high-level language program with comments, your 7.5K-byte sample in October could represent the equivalent of over 20K bytes of uncompressed Pascal source text. A 20K-byte source program, while not large, is a significant chunk. There was another fundamental prob- lem with the bar code formats we printed a long time ago in BYTE. Those bar code formats were ugly to look at. The sample (continued) The most flexible printer'sharing device you can buy is from BayTech ^ printer )m puter printers Or any combination in -betwe en Introducing the new Model 528DB multiport controller, it will let eight users automatically share one printer, or in multiple printer applications, let users code-select a specific printer or contend for the first available printer. Flexible, user- selectable features include: the number of printers versus the number of computers, printer select code, CTS DTR or XON-XOFF handshaking, operating mode, form-feed mode, header-page message, disconnect time-out, and baud rates. To set up, simply connect the mulfiport between your computers and printers. It interfaces easily with any RS-232C serial device. Mode! 528DB with 9 ports, $659. Larger models also available. BAY TECHNICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. DATA COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS 800-523-2702 Highway 603, P.O. Box 387, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39520 Phone: 601-467-8231 Telex: 910-333-1618 (BAYTECH) Inquiry 34 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 23 LETTERS printed in the October 1985 BYTE has in- formation, but at a small enough scale to look reasonably good to the human eye's wonderful power of averaging. The use of this density represents a sig- nificant advance, probably enough to justify purchase of a specialized reader de- signed like no bar code reader presently on the market. I conjecture that a line- image CCD (charge-coupled device) video sensor could span the width of the image with 128 or 2 56 pixels relatively inexpen- sively A brute-force capture device could be made to take advantage of this format provided that it addressed the problem of maintaining alignment during the scan. Rough alignment of the scan with the ver- tical direction of the page can be provided by the "gutter" of the magazine or a ruler. Vertical timing is obtained from the edges . ADP.F OEM $ . 80286 ^^^^0^ 6/8 MHz U \ .Standard IBM AT ^^S^Ss ManuaUOprt E GA Bl °.o£ CONTRACT (Available) PC/XT BIOS CONTJt b/os New Product: EGA aoaiu >% corporation ll,i " ul 2700 E. imperial H*y. Bldg. A Brea, CA 92621 nu\ 579-0680, 579-0691 (7U) 579-0692, 579-0693 TLX: 753197 24 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 408 for End-Users. Inquiry 409 for DEALERS ONLY. of the pattern as printed. Enough'memory to allow processing of several conceptual horizontal lines would allow for a small amount of skew on the part of the line sen- sor. Averaging adjacent pixels and using a digital threshold test would allow cap- ture of the smallest dots in the format. Ver- tical timing information present in the for- mat as printed would calibrate the pattern to the actual velocity variations of the per- son using the device, reducing the need for sampling of the image. Scanning ought to be possible in a few seconds for each chunk of 7. 5K bytes or so. If this technology works. BYTE, its adver- tisers, and its readers finally have a way of printing recoverable data for source/ob- ject code of significant programs, a capaci- ty that was not possible in our earlier ex- periments with bar code formats. (See my editorial in the April 1980 issue, which summarized BYTE's bar code experiments from 1976 through 1980.) Now, whoever is responsible for this experiment must still answer the entrepreneurial problems: Who will build the bar code readers, and at what cost to the end user? Which comes first, the widespread printing of in- formation or the availability of the readers? By presenting a regular fare of significant programs in source form using this format, BYTE could spawn a whole new marketplace for machine-readable keyless data entry from print. Carl Helmers Peterborough, NH BYTE replies: The printed software strip on page 392 of the October 1985 BYTE is called a Cauzin Softstrip. The strip was designed by Cauzin Systems Inc. of Water bury, Connecticut, and was unveiled at COM- DEX last November along with the com- pany's $200 Cauzin Softstrip Reader. Cauzin is promoting the device, which will first be available for the Apple Macintosh and IBM Personal Computers, as a new way of reproducing and distributing pro- grams and data. Robert L. Brass, presi- dent of the company, explained the tech- nology behind the Softstrip to me. The Softstrip can be printed in low- medium- or high-density formats. The strip that appeared in BYTE was in medium density and contained about 3000 bytes of information. The standard Softstrip is a bit longer— 9.5 inches— and holds approximately 3500 bytes. (High- and low-density strips of the standard size hold 5500 and 500 bytes, re- spectively.) {continued) Inquiry 181 — ► THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.. $389 MODEL 2000 20MHz DUAL TRACE $ 549 MODEL 3500 35MHz DUAL TRACE DELAYED SWEEP AT A DOWN TO EARTH PRICE At fast! Truly affordable test equipment with no compromise in design, and features you would expect to find only on oscilloscopes costing hundreds of dollars more! JDR Instruments presents two, new, high-performance models backed by a two year warranty and technical support which is only a phone call away. Perfect for the technician or advanced hobbyist, both models feature Dual Trace capability and a variety of operating and triggering modes, including CH-B Subtract and X-Y operation. MODEL 2000 has a 20 MHz I MH MODEL 3500 features a 35 bandwidth and 20 calibrated ^V^fp^l^^^H MHz bandwidth and exceptional sweeps ranging from .2s to. 2jms. W^fl&ftfm \ 1mV / DIV sensitivity. Delayed A convenient built-in component | EXi mm I sweep and variable holdoff allow tester provides additional IBBBlBB^MB stable viewing of complex diagnostic power. ggQHHHl | waveforms. ORDER TOLL FREE 800-538-5000 800-662-6279 ( ca) JDR INSTRUMENTS 1224 South Bascom Avenue San Jose, California 95128 (408) 995-5430 COPYRIGHT 1985 JDR INSTRUMENTS. EARTH PHOTO COURTESY OF NASA. THE JDR INSTRUMENTS LOGO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF JDR MICRODEVICES. JDR INSTRUMENTS IS A TRADEMARK OF JDR MICRODEVICES. LETTERS Cauzin's use of a near-infrared sensor in its reader gives the Softstrip some in- teresting properties. The sensor emits a near-infrared beam of light, which heats the carbon used in black ink and photo- copier toner; the receptor portion of the sensor measures the slight heat increase of a dark area. With this method of sens- ing, you can write with colored inks (or spill coffee, tea, or cola) on a Softstrip and not impair its ability to be read. How- ever, writing across a Softstrip or print- ing it on multicolored paper is an effec- tive way of copy-protecting it— any at- tempt to photocopy it will result in extra photocopy toner deposits that will render the Softstrip unreadable. The Softstrip format was designed to be reliably readable, even in less than ideal conditions. In its medium-density mode, each line of the Softstrip (past the obvious header information at the top) represents 4 bytes (32 bits) of data. Each bit of data is encoded as what Cauzin calls a dibit— a white square followed by a black represents a 1 bit, and the op- posite represents a bit (Because of this, 4 bytes of data are represented as a line of 64 black and white squares.) Two pari- ty bits are on either end of a line of Soft- strip data. A clever scheme of using one bit for parity of the even bits and the other for parity of the odd bits— plus a checksum on each line and the method of scanning (discussed below)— gives the Softstrip Reader a 1 in 10 billion chance, according to Cauzin, of making an un- detected error. With an effective accuracy of 0.0000 1 inch, the scanner scans in increments of 0.0025 inch. In a medium-resolution Soft- strip, each line of data is 0.001 inch high; this means that each data line is scanned four times, each in a slightly different place. The sensor integrates the density of each half of the dibit and decides the bit's status based on the multiple ver- sions of this information. Cauzin claims that this method is much more immune to errors than a system that would sim- ply watch for the density transition in the middle of a dibit. The Cauzin system does not do any data compression, but there are numerous public-domain programs that compress and restore arbitrary files. As Mr. Helmers points out, such compres- sion could effectively double or triple the amount of data that a Softstrip could en- code. It is conceivable that a single Soft- strip (9.5 by 0.625 inches) holding com- pressed data could encode as many as five pages of high-level language source code! Cauzin hopes that its product will become widely accepted and that Soft- strips will become a common form of low-cost software storage. We are en- thusiastic about the product and wish the company well. We look forward to the day when the Softstrip format is in wide enough use to merit its inclusion in BYTE listings. Intels Benchmarking Strategy There has been a lot of discussion lately (particularly on the UNIX Usenet news net- work) concerning Intel's recent advertis- ing campaign comparing the Intel 80286 (continued) PC LIGHT PEN W HEI ino. Victoria, MN 55386 • 612-443-2500 III] Speed up data entry with HEI's "Fast-Point"™ light pen for IBM* PC computers and compatibles. Ideal for cursor control, menu and icon picking, interactive graphics, and other data entry tasks. "Fast-Point" plugs into the IBM PC color graphics board light pen port, or monochrome graphics board light pen port where applicable. It's compatible with standard IBM BASIC light pen statements and functions, HEI light pens are sold with technical documentation, and implementation software on diskette. HEI is a leading supplier of high- performance light pens for computer graphics, CAD, CAI and other applica- tions with over35,000 devices in the field. Put an HEI "Fast-Point" pen to work on your PC. (From $140 to $195) (HEI is a major supplier of OEM graphics terminal light pens. Call or write for information.) •Registered Trademark of International Business Machines. 26 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 1 50 )■ ih; West territory were \ 1 ? 1 j t i ' . 4:48 PM. Everything on screen is looking good. You Ve ready to print. Open Clock to confirm time. That's right, it's tight. Choose the Print command and send the document off to the printer. Open Reversi for a quick game while you wait. While you beat the clock you can try beating the computer. 5:00 PM. Report printed impeccably. Turn it in and shut down for the day. After all, you were in fifteen minutes early. standard DOS applications, it's ready to handle any job you need to do today. But Windows also represents a foundation for the future. The Windows interface establishes a common set of command conventions, drop-down menus, dialog boxes, and icons to standardize operations for all forthcoming Windows appli- cations. Which means once you've learned one Windows application, learning the next one will be deja vu, not start from scratch. Windows Write and Windows Paint are the first examples of programs that embrace the standard. In- a -Vision, an impressive computer-aided design program by Micrografx,Inc, is another example. Many more are now being written. And because Windows runs standard DOS applications, you can look forward to the future. But you don't have to wait for it. The first reviews are in. Here's what they see in Windows, Prominent reviewers and industry experts have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Microsoft Windows. Now they've had a good look. And we're pleased to record their responses to what they saw. "I'll bet on Microsoft Windows!' Jonathan Sacks, West Coast editor of Popular Computing magazine. "You've got a clear winner. . '.' Stewart Alsop, editor and publisher of PC. Letter. ". . .Windows looks very good . . !' Peter Norton, in his column in PC Week 9/24/85. Of course, all this is going to cost you: $99. A price that makes Windows the most startling value ever offered in software. A comparable collection of programs— a switching program, a graphic interface, desktop applications, a word processor, a drawing pro- gram—could easily cost hundreds of dollars more. Windows will instantly deliver you a more productive present. And a leap into the future. A future which, frankly, we have no interest in keeping exclusive. At this price, it looks to be arriving in a rush. Integration features: ♦ Work with multiple applications and switch between them. ♦ Run more applications than fit in memory at one time. ♦ Consolidate information from standard DOS and Windows applications. Applications included: ♦MS-DOS Executive — DOS file management program. Run programs; format disks; copy, rename, delete files. ♦Calendar— Set appointments with optional alarm reminders; daily or monthly view. ♦ Cardfile— Filing program; cards can include text or graphics, autodial capability." ♦ Notepad —Text scratch pad/editor; time/date stamp option. ♦Terminal— Telecommunications program; copy session data to other programs or capture to file; autodial capability* ♦Calculator— Common arithmetic operations, plus square root, percent, and memory ♦Clock— Can be displayed anywhere on the screen. ♦Reversi — Strategy game; four levels of play. ♦ Control Panel — Set time, date, communication ports, colors, add/delete printers. ♦ Program Information File (PIF) Editor— Create or edit PIF files for standard applications. ♦ Print Spooler— Print files from Windows applications while running other programs. ♦Clipboard— View information copied from applications. ♦ RAMDrive — Setup memory expansion cards as a RAM disk. Introductory offer also includes: ♦ Windows Write — Graphics based word processor. ♦ Windows Paint— A full-featured drawing program. '•'requires a Hayes compatible modem Windows will open your eyes* We invite you to visit your Microsoft Dealer and get a screenful of Microsoft Windows. We think you'll agree Windows is clearly a winner. Microsoft Corporation Bellevue, Washington USA Microsoft GmbH Munich DEUTSCHLAND Microsoft Pty Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA Microsoft Ltd Berks ENGLAND Microsoft Canada Inc Ontario CANADA Microsoft AB Sollentuna SWEDEN Microsoft SARL Paris FRANCE ONIX Microsoft Seoul KOREA Microsoft Far East Tokyo JAPAN Mcrosoff Windows The High Performance Software™ Microsoft, Multiplan and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and The High Performance Software is a trademark of Microsoft Cor- poration. The names of the people and companies used in this piece are fic- titious. Any resemblance to actual people or companies is purely coincidental and unintentional. FIXES AND UPDATES BYTE'S BUGS Mac C Updated, QSORT Repaired Sorry, hal Consulair Corporation wrote regarding Tim Field's review of five C compilers for the Macintosh (see the November 1985 BYTE, page 275). One of the compilers he evaluated was Consulair's Mac C version 1.7. The company pointed out that Mac C version 4.0 came out in August 1985. Consulair also noted an error in the QSORT benchmark (listing 7. page 292). Using its own version of a quicksort pro- gram, with 16-bit integers. Consulair benchmarked version 4.0. the results of which are shown below (times in seconds). The source code for Consulair's quicksort version is available on BYTEnet Listings; telephone (617) 861-9764. Normal Register File Size FRAME 0.10 0.07 13056 POINTER 26.57 15.17 13056 INTMATH 5.05 2.68 13568 SIEVE 6.33 4.40 13056 QSORT 9.47 8.68 13312 FLOAT 289.90 1 55.90 (extended) 1 3568 FIB 29.93 13056 Steve Ciarcia built a computer into a Frag- gle Rock lunchbox (see the October 1985 Circuit Cellar, page 86). Fraggle Rock is part of the world of Muppets. Mr. Ciarcia's staff dutifully contacted Henson Associ- ates (whose letterhead reads "ha!"), rightful owners of all Muppet likenesses and concepts, and asked for permission to use a photo of said lunchbox. The mavens of Muppetry graciously granted permission. However, we failed to acknowledge hal's granting of permission. We apologize to Henson Associates for this oversight. (Now will you please call off those large nappy creatures we've seen lurking menacingly around the offices?) Benchmark Bug Project Not Bug-Free Several bugs wiggled into Jonathan Amsterdam's "Context-Free Parsing of Arithmetic Expressions" (August 1985 BYTE, page 138). Antonio Salvadori. as- sociate professor of computing and infor- mation science at the University of Guelph in Ontario, sent us the following cor- rections. On page 142. in the line that begins UNTIL c < >. there should be only one space inside the single quotation marks. Fourteen lines below that, a closing paren- thesis is missing from the comment state- ment. The variable savedChar should be ini- tialized by savedChar : = chr(empty); at the beginning of the main program. We go back a ways with this one. An error has been found in the Tlirbo Pascal bench- marks (July 1984 BYTE, page 267). The problem occurs in the Puzzle program (page 274), in a line near the bottom of the second column. The line reads pieceMax[1] := 1+d*+d*d*3; To correct it. insert between the first asterisk and the plus sign. A Paper-Tape Kind of Guy BYTE'S BITS Roberto Denis, a BYTE charter subscriber in Plantation. Florida, decoded some of the punched paper tape running across the page tops of our 10th anniversary issue (September 1985). The message reads: HOPE TO HERE \sic\ FROM YOU HARD CORE PAPER TAPE PEOPLE ALL THIS TYPING BETTER BE WORTH IT. Mr. Denis challenges readers who have copies of BYTE's early letterhead, which had paper tape running across the top. to decipher the message. If there is one. San Francisco's Exploratorlum Comes to New York The staff of the Exploratorium in San Fran- cisco is packing up more than 80 interac- tive exhibits and heading east, where they'll set up shop at the IBM Gallery of Science and Art in New York City The ex- hibition is designed to help people in- crease their understanding of light, visual perception, and other phenomena of the physical world. Among the wonders are the "Distorted Room." where people appear to shrink and grow in this room with no right angles, and the "Duck Into Kaleidoscope." which appears to create a crowd when only a few people are actually present. The exhibit runs from January 31 through April 26. The IBM Gallery of Art and Science is located at 590 Madison Ave., New York. NY 10022. (212) 407-6100. How To Access and Use BYTEnet Listings To access BYTEnet Listings, call (617) 861-9764. When you get the carrier tone, enter two or three carriage returns so that our software can deter- mine your operating parameters. Optimum modem settings are 8 bits. I stop bit. and no parity at full duplex, or 7 bits. I stop bit. and even parity at half duplex. Acceptable operating speeds are 300 or 1 200 bps. At this time. BYTEnet Listings does not sup- port 2400-bps transmissions. The BYTEnet Listings software itself is menu-driven. Programs may be downloaded using ASCII. Kermit. Tele- Link, and XMODEM protocols. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 33 How to Save Money 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I1M PC SYSTEMS i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i ii i i Same System with 20 MB Hard Disk $2085 MAINSTREET ENHANCED PC $1965 with 10 MB Disk 360kb Tandon Floppy 10 MEG ADEPT Hard Disk 256K RAM All Controllers, Cables, Manual 1 Year Warranty Monitor Not Included Many Options Available I I I M I I I 1 I I I I I I 1 I I I 1 Ill HM PC/AT i i i i i i i i i i i n i i i i i i i i i i i ■■■■■■ n A 1 PLUS $3860 20MB System Includes: □ 1.2 MB Floppy □ 360 KB Floppy □ 512K RAM □ 20 MB Hard Disk □ Serial/Clock n All Cables, Controllers, Manual Monitor Not Included Same System with 32 mb $4071 MORE IBM PC SYSTEMS FROM MAINSTREET <]SUPER PC ► 256KRAM ► 360K Floppy ► 10 MEG • 640K RAM USURER PC+ * 2F1( w • 20 MEG HARD • Tape Backup • Tape Drive • 135 Watt • 640K RAM • AST 6 PAK • 135 Watt Power 635 10 MB Combination Systems HARD DRIVE PRICE 10 MEG 20 MEG 20 M EG .12 MEG 10 MEG S1225 20 MEG S1430 60 MEG SI 705 60MEG $1915 I II 1 1 1 1 1 III I II 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 f 800 426-6246 ORDERS 512 321-4406 Technical Assistance Mainstreet Computer 1025 Main St. Bastrop, TX 78602 Hours: Mon-Fri: 9 am-6 pm Texas Residents, Inquiries Saturday: 9 am- 3 pm i i i i i i i i i i i t i i i i i ii it i i i i I i i i r SOFT WARE— Many titles available 800 426-6246 Call for Latest Version and Price Examples- Borland Superkey $35 Copy II PC $25 Multimate $238 Norton Utilities $49 hi a t 'nn |\i | We've Earned The Right To Be #1 By Being First So Often When it comes to being FIRST with technology-leading products Advanced Digital wears its #1 button with pride. We were FIRST to introduce an 8-Bit, single board S-100 computer . . . We were FIRSTto introd uce a 6MHz, 1 28KByte single board computer. . . We were FIRST to introduce a 6MHz, 128KByte Slave Processor board. Our record of FIRSTS continues with . . . • The introduction of MULTI SLAVE -a 3 USER, 8MHz SLAVEcard forthe S-100 Bus systems running Turbo- Dos™ or NETWORK/OS.™ • The introduction of HDC-2001, the all new hard disk controller for the S-100 BUS. • The introduction of SUPER 16, a 16-Bit, S-100 Slave card for use with Turbo-Dos or NETWORK O/S. • The introduction of our new SUPER 186 -the FIRST 16-Bit, single board S-100 computerthat performs at twice the speed of older technologies. Loaded with features such as on-board floppy disk controller and up to 1MByte of RAM, the SUPER 186 is designed to function as a bus Slave or Master. Advanced Digital's SUPER 186 permits you to take advantage of vast libraries of sophisticated applications software. Again, we were #t with . . - • The introduction of PC-SLAVE, an IBM PC Multiuse card with 8088 (8MHz) CPU and 256-768K RAM on board. When it comes to selecting your S-100 boards, go with Advanced Digital -the recognized industry leader. See your local computer dealer or contact Advanced Digital today for more information on the new PC-SLAVE, and the complete line of S-100 single board computers and multiuser systems. * ADVANCED J/ Leading the Microcomputer ^^^BH: Technology Advanced Digital • 5432 Production Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649 • Tel. (714) 891-4004 • Telex 183210 ADVANCED HTBH Advanced Digital U.K. Ltd. • 27 Princes St., Hanover Square* London WIR8NQ« United Kingdom • (01)409-0077 •(01)409-3351 ©Telex 265840 FINEST Toll Free (1-800) 251-1801 (Outside California) Itiitnmt • i] ATLANTA COMDEX z ♦ Nftjw nrk Q/S is afrademark o7c?8IS , *' ; *CP/M. is a ttedigsWkjprf Digital 8%earch -*.-. *TurboDOS is-a tratfefiWkjtf; Software 2000 WHAT'S NEW HP Computer Compatible with IBM PC AT The Vectra PC from Hewlett-Packard is an 80286-based computer com- patible with the IBM PC AT. The Vectra's processor runs at 8 MHz, as opposed to 6 MHz for the AT A soc- ket is provided for an op- tional 80287 numeric coprocessor. The base unit measures 16.7 by 15.4 by 6.3 inches, for a footprint approximate- ly 30 percent smaller than that of the IBM PC AT. In- side, the Vectra PC has five full-size and two half-size ex- pansion slots and room for three stacked disk drives. Drives from either HP or other manufacturers fit into plastic carriers that snap into the chassis, allowing for a wide assortment of mass- storage devices, including 3 /2-inch and 5^-inch floppy- disk drives, 20- and 40-megabyte hard disks, and tape backup. The keyboard has a bank of 10 function keys at the side for use with IBM PC- compatible software; a row of 8 additional function keys across the top provides compatibility with programs for earlier HP personal com- puters. Theoretically all 18 keys could be used by a program. The keyboard is connected through the HP- HIL (Hewlett-Packard Human Interface Loop), which allows for multiple input devices without wasting either ports or expansion slots. Both a touchscreen bezel and a mouse are available. The three basic configura- tions of the Vectra PC are Hewlett-Packard's Vectra PC. the Model 2 5, with 256K bytes of RAM and one 360K-byte floppy-disk drive for $3199; the Model 3 5, with 2 56K bytes of RAM and a 1.2-megabyte drive for $3399; and the Model 45, with 640K bytes of RAM and a 1.2-megabyte drive for $3 599. A floppy-disk con- troller is built into the system electronics. Prices include a color-graphics adapter but not a monitor. Prices do not cover MS-DOS 3.1, but if you buy the operating system, you also get HP's Personal Applica- tions Manager. For further information, contact Hewlett- Packard Co., 1801 Embar- cadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94304, (800) 367-4772. Inquiry 550. Memory-Resident Utilities for CP/M Spectre Technologies' Presto! is a memory- resident pop-up utility pro- gram providing notepad, calendar, calculator, print- screen, and cut-and-paste functions for CP/M com- puters. Depending on the modules used, Presto! oc- cupies from 6K to 12K bytes of RAM. The notepad module creates an 11-line by 80-character window for editing or viewing files; to conserve memory, only the current 1 1 lines are stored in memory, with the rest of the file stored on disk. The notepad uses standard WordStar commands. The calculator emulates a standard four-function mem- ory calculator. To those capabilities it adds Boolean operators and support for binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal math as well as a character mode. A time pad provides a calendar and, on machines with a real-time clock, an alarm and timer. You can print the current text screen to a printer or a file in ASCII format, or you can save a graphics image to a file for later processing with Spectre's Rembrandt graphics program, which is available separately Presto! is initially available for the Osborne I. Ex- ecutive, and Vixen, and all Kaypro CP/M computers. Spectre plans to release ver- sions for other popular CP/M computers soon. List price of Presto! is $39.95. Contact Spectre Technologies, 22458 Ventura Blvd., Suite E, Woodland Hills, CA 91364, (818) 716-1655. Inquiry 551. Animation Generator for 64K Machines Fantavision is a special effects/animation genera- tor designed to help you create animated sequences with 64K-byte Apple lis. Br0derbund says that with the software, you can pro- duce studio-quality work. Fantavision incorporates computer animation tech- niques such as tweening (the machine creates fluid- looking motion by instantly generating as many as 64 in- termediate positions be- tween objects) and trans- formation (an object in one frame can be transformed into a different object in the {continued) Inquiry 10 for End-Users. *— Inquiry 1 1 for DEALERS ONLY. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 37 WHAT'S NEW subsequent frame). You can superimpose special effects onto high-resolution back- grounds available on the program disk or taken from other Apple graphics soft- ware. Sequences can be stored on disk. Fantavision costs $49.95. Contact Br0derbund Soft- ware, 17 Paul Dr., San Rafael, CA 94903, (415) 479-1170. Inquiry 552. Add 320K to IBM PC The IPC 320 RAM board gives you 320K bytes of CMOS RAM with battery backup on a standard IBM PC expansion card. You can divide the 320K bytes into bank-selectable 64K-byte blocks or address the extra memory as 320K bytes of contiguous storage space. You can install as many as four boards in one IBM PC If the card is used as a non- volatile RAM disk, the PC can still address a full 640K bytes of main memory in addition to the 320K-byte RAM disk. The IPC 320 is priced at $795. which includes RAM- disk software. Contact Diver- sified 'Technology Inc.. POB 748, Ridgeland. MS 39158, (601) 856-4121. Inquiry 553. Mouse Needs No External Power Supply Logitech's Logimouse C7 is a CMOS mouse that uses a maximum of 5 mA of electric current. This low power requirement means the mouse does not need an external power supply: instead it runs on power from the RTS and DTR con- trol lines of the host system's serial port. It has a Logitech's logimouse C7. Robotic Computing Kit from Parsec Research. voltage tolerance of 6 to 15 volts, so it can be used with most computer systems. The standard C7 comes with a resolution of 200 dots per inch (a 320-dpi ver- sion is also available) and a programmable data-transmis- sion rate of up to 9600 bps. You can buy it with either a 25-pin RS-232C connector for the IBM PC. XT. and compatibles or a 9-pin serial connector compatible with the IBM PC AT. Logitech will also customize connectors. Logitech says the Logi- mouse C7 is protocol- compatible with all existing serial mice and will run with most software packages. It costs $99. Contact Logitech Inc.. 805 Veterans Blvd.. Redwood City. CA 94063. (415) 365-9852. Inquiry 554. PortaFile Puts Handle on 20 Megabytes The PortaFile 20 incor- porates a 20-megabyte external hard disk and power supply shock- mounted in a portable case with a carry handle. Pack- aged with the drive is an IBM PC hard-disk-controller expansion card (which can work with one internal hard disk as well as the PortaFile) and cable. The PortaFile 20 is scheduled to be available in February for $1295. For ad- ditional information, contact Western Digital. 244 5 McCabe Way. Irvine, CA 92714. (714) 863-0102. Inquiry 555. Robotic Computing Kit Parsec Research has taken a robot construc- tion kit made by fischer- technik of Germany and equipped it with a FORTH- based control language called PaRCL (pronounced "parkul"). The kit contains 10 projects designed to teach you the fundamentals of robotics while you build a plotter, sorting system, or other automated devices. The fischertechnik package (249 pieces in all) comes with two motors, two gears, one electromagnet, three lamps, eight pushbuttons, and two potentiometers. The computer interface has four outputs for connection of motors and other com- ponents, eight digital inputs, two analog inputs, and a program disk. PaRCL is modeled after advanced industrial and laboratory standards. Parsec said the language uses no complex codes; commands are written in English. The routines reportedly run much faster than BASIC equivalents. After you've constructed your device, you can control it with an Apple II. Com- modore VIC-20, or Com- modore 64. Besides a plot- ter and sorting system, other projects in the kit let you build a materials lift, an aerial rotor, a graphics panel, and a teachable robot. The Robotic Computing Kit sells for $199. The plastic pieces snap together, so assembly requires just a screwdriver. To power the models, you need a 6- to 10-volt DC supply with a minimum of 500 milliamps. Contact Parsec Research. Drawer 1766, Fremont. CA 94 538, (800) 633-633 5; in California. (415) 651-3160. Inquiry 556. {continued) 38 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 NEW FROM BORLAND Borland Introduces Reflex, The Greatest Analytical Tool Since The Couch INTRODUCING REFLEX, THE ANALYST. If you use Lotus 1-2-3™, dBASE® or PFS File™, you need Reflex™ — because it's a totally new way to look at your data. It shows you patterns, relationships and interrelationships you didn't know were there, because they were hidden in data and numbers. Reflex is the first database that separates the trees from the forest. The first database that understands that what you see depends on how you look at it. The first database that probes relationships— then shows them to you in various graphic forms— scatter, line, bar, stacked bar and pie charts. The first database to break the bonds of traditional DBMS (Data Base Management Systems) and give a dramatic visual turn to data analysis. Reflex makes graphic leaps far beyond 1-2- 3- With Reflex, when you look, you see. HOW THE CRITICS REACT TO REFLEX "The next generation of software has officially arrived." Peter Norton, PC Week "Reflex is one of the most powerfiiJ database programs on the market; its multiple views; 'interactive windows and graphics, great report writer, pull-down menus and cross tabulation make this one of the best programs we have seen in a long time... The program is easy to use and not intimidating to the novice...Reflex not only handles the usual database functions such as sorting and searching, but also "what-if" and statistical analysis... it can create interactive graphics with the graphics module. The separate report module is one of the best we've ever seen." Marc Stem, IntoWorld "What you see, then, is an interesting hybrid of a database and a spreadsheet that is ideal for analyzing tabular data." Adam B. Green, IntoWorld "More flexible than spreadsheets, this easy-to-use database analysis package presents information with visual clarity... Reflex is for you. The flexibility of switching between different views of the data lets you see relationships you may have previously overlooked... Without "what-if' analysis, key variables— such as cost of goods sold or travel expenses— may be out of hand but unnoticed. The type of analysis to uncover such a foible is awkward to do on a spreadsheet; yet, it may mean the difference between success and failure in a competitive situation." IraH. Krakow, Business Computer Systems ^^ INTERNATIONAL 4585 Scoits Valley Drive, Scotts Valley CA 95066 Phone (408) 438-8400 Telex 172373 Tiademarks: Reflex is a trademark of BORMND/Anal)tica Inc. Lotus is a registered trademark and Lotus 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. dBASE Is a registered trademark of Ashton-Tate. PFS is a registered trademark and PFS File Is a trademark of Software Publishing Corporation. IBM PC, XT, AT, PC-DOS and IBM Color Graphics Adapter are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Hercules Monochrome Graphics Card is a trademark of Hercules CompiiterTcchnology. Inquiry 40 for End-Users. Inquiry 41 for DEALERS ONLY. REFLEX OPENS MULTIPLE WINDOWS WITH NEW VIEWS AND GRAPHIC INSIGHTS. You use Reflex's Form View to build your database; the List View lets you put data in tabular List form; the Graph View gives you instant interactive graphic representations; the CrossTab View gives you amazing "cross-referenced" pictures of the links and relationships hidden in your data. Report View allows you to import and export data to and from Reflex, 1-2-3, dBASE, PFS File and other applications and prints out information in the formats you want. In fact, Report View is probably the best 1-2-3 report generator you can buy today. It's also the cheapest— and you're getting all the other features free. The commands for all five Views are consistent — so you're not stuck learning five different ways to get something done. And because Reflex uses advanced windowing techniques, you can see several views on the screen at the same time — without having to switch back and forth. You get the picture— and the pictures— all at once— if that's the way you want to look at things. Modify a number and all your Views — List, Form and Graph— are immediately updated, on-screen. Changing a number changes the picture— which is mighty handy when you're analyzing (let's say) sales figures by salesperson; or you're in "What- If?" country asking yourself "What if we could add 2.5% in January sales?" "Show me." "Give me the picture." "Show me what happens when we shift 11% of Nebraska's inventory to the new store in Hawaii." "Show me how many Gizmo 28's we have in every store in every state as of midnight last night and what happens to our East Coast stocks if the shipping strike lasts more than a week." "Show me." So Reflex shows you. Instant answers. Instant pictures. Instant analysis. Instant understanding. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN BORLAND SELL A PHENOMENAL PRODUCT LIKE REFLEX FOR ONLY $99.95? At $495.00, Analytical original price, Reflex was a bargain. Acclaimed by critics and praised by users, Reflex also got our attention at Borland International. We were so impressed by Reflex that we bought the company! To celebrate that, we're making business software history by offering Reflex — FOR A LIMITED TIME— for ONLY $99.95! (Offer good through March 31, 1986). That's $395.05 off the original price— which is a pretty good return on your toll- free phone call. We think Reflex should be an "automatic product," a "standard" that every PC owner should own. That's why we priced it at $99.95. Naturally we've added our 60-day money-back guarantee and Borland's Reflex is not copy-protected. I I I .-SSS-^* 8 ^ YE S!Rush Heflex to me. Send me . — . copies. ft®* 6 ■MOME^f'2 Subt0ta '-^7 6 tax per copy) - ( CA res. add $6 tax p Amount End0Se / d sA "^ BankDraft Payment /__ Card B Telephone ■ cot ■ Out «**-»5sr fflSESS*-^ WILL NOT be acMP ^ paya ble — «* 1 1 1 1 I R15 H ■o *tt*^ BortWdW ' n ■national BM020A WHAT'S NEW 32-bit Floating-Point Processor Advanced Micro Devices has developed a single- chip floating-point processor (FPP) that can perform 32-bit floating-point addi- tion, subtraction, or multi- plication within a single 1 50-nanosecond clock cycle. The Am29325 FPP has a flow-through architecture that features two 32-bit input buses and one 32-bit output bus. This FPP is the first member of the planned Am29300 family of 32-bit bipolar microprocessors. It can perform a single- precision floating-point operation within 1 50 ns in the flow-through mode or 135 ns in the clocked mode. The chip can be employed in systems based on other microprocessors. The Am29325 can perform arithmetic using either the IEEE floating-point standard P754 or the DEC single- precision floating-point for- mat. It can also convert numbers between the IEEE and DEC formats and be- tween 3 2 -bit integer and floating-point formats. In addition to the standard I/O configuration already described, the Am29325 can be selected for a 3 2 -bit. two-bus architecture or a 16-bit, three-bus structure for use with 16-bit micro- processors. The input and output registers can be made transparent so the system designer can use ex- ternal registers with no system speed penalty. The Am2932 5 FPP comes in a 144-pin pin-grid-array package and is priced at $695 each in 100-unit quan- tities. Contact Advanced Micro Devices Inc.. 901 Thompson Place. POB 3453. Sunnyvale, CA 94088, (408) 732-2400. Inquiry 557. The Am293 25 floating-point processor from Advanced Micro Devices. Low-Cost Word Processor DAC Software's DAC Easy Word runs on the IBM Personal Computer and compatible machines. Com- mands are entered either by selecting options presented in a series of nested menus or by typing mnemonic Alt- key combinations. The program can maintain up to four windows at a time, can import and export ASCII text, and has mail- merge capabilities. It sup- ports margins up to 127 characters and can scroll horizontally. Other features include automatic hyphena- tion with a dictionary of more than 3000 cases, a 60-line buffer from which deleted text can be re- trieved, access to DOS com- mands, word counting, and a spelling checker with a 70,000-word expandable dictionary. DAC Easy Word requires at least 256K bytes of RAM and DOS 2.0 or higher. With 2 56K bytes of memory, the program can handle about 70 pages of text. It costs $49.95. Contact DAC Soft- ware Inc., 4801 Spring Valley Rd.. Building HOB. Dallas. TX 75244, (214) 458-60038. Inquiry 558. CAD Software for the IBM PC Generic CADD from Generic Software is a $99.95 program for com- puter-aided design and drafting with the IBM PC. You can use it to design and draft in two dimensions on the computer screen using multiple layers, multiple line types, rubber-banding of lines and windows, user- definable video and digitizer menus, and component libraries. You draw with a mouse, digitizer, or keystroke commands. The program features ab- solute or relative coordinate input, floating-point-based data, and unlimited picture size. The number of entities in a single drawing is limited only by memory size (640K bytes of RAM will allow ap- proximately 40K lines). You can choose from point, straight-line, rectangle, regular-polygon, circle, arc, ellipse, and curve (B-spline) drawing entities. You can select 256 layers. 2 56 colors, and 2 56 line types. The pro- gram provides for measure- ment of lengths, angles, and areas. Text placed in draw- ings can be scaled or rotated; multiple fonts are available. Component libraries in Generic CADD can hold up to 256 different components for a single drawing. Such components can be in- cluded on menus and can be rotated, scaled, stretched, shrunk, or mirrored. Generic CADD requires an IBM PC or compatible with at least 2 56K bytes of RAM. a video graphics board, an 8087 coprocessor (or an 80287 for an IBM AT), two floppy-disk drives, and DOS 2.0 or above. The recom- mended system configura- tion is a PC with 51 2K bytes or more of RAM. a medium- resolution video graphics board (720 by 350 mono- chrome or 640 by 400 color), a 10-megabyte hard- disk drive, a 12- by 12-inch digitizer, and a plotter. Generic CADD is priced at $99.95 with a 60-day uncon- ditional money-back guarantee. Contact Generic Software Inc., 6 Lake Bellevue #203. Bellevue. WA 98005. (206) 462-1944. Inquiry 559. Macintosh Telecommunications MicroPhone is a Macin- tosh telecommunica- tions program written by Dennis Brothers, author of the public-domain program MacTEP. MicroPhone can emulate DEC VT100. VT-52. and TTY-type terminals and provides ASCII and XMODEM file-transfer capa- bilities. Apple's Switcher is packaged with MicroPhone so that other applications [continued] 40 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 NEW FROM BORLAND! Borland introduces Tazbo Lightning™ the fastest, most amazing information system since your brain You can now find out everything in a flash. With instant access to electronic versions of the 83,000 word Tlirbo Lightning™ Random House® Speller & Word List; the 50,000-word Tiirbo Lightning Random House Thesaurus™ and the soon-to-be-released Tiirbo Lightning Encyclopedia™ — and to an astonishing array of electronic reference books which form Borland's new Tiirbo Lightning Library™. Hitting one key on your IBM® personal computer — taps you into this new electronic age of instant information. You get the right word, the right spelling, the right name, the right address, right now. What we've done has been called "Artificial Intelligence," we simply call it " Tiirbo Lightning." This information revolution — driven by Tiirbo Lightning— - means that the way you look things up is definitely looking up. No matter what program you're running, Turbo Lightning instantly checks your Spelling as you type. You could be running WordStar®, MultiMate™, SideKick®, Microsoft® Word, MCI Mail®, CompuServe®, or whatever, because as you work> as you write, Tiirbo Lightning is waiting in the wings, watching how you spell every word, but not getting in the way of what you're doing, So how does it work? Let's say the word you meant to type was "RIGHT; ■ but you accidentally typed 'RIHGT," which is wrong. What happens then? You immediately hear a '6eep/ so you know there was a boo-boo. You instantly see a window, that doesn't list "RIHGT" but it does list 'RIGHT' and its sound-alike words. So your screen looks like this-. rihgt : Sound Alike Words : B: rights C: righted D: rightly E: relight F: Tighter G. Add word to auxiliary dictionary PgUp or PgDn for more words So you move your cursor to "A," which is the right "right;* hit Return and the spelling mistake is Instantly fixed. And (he program you were working on has continued to run while you did a little spelling sidetrn ho Lightning: {if -you'd radm not remember your Spellm. h iol the Iteep might make you nuts, but you can choose the "whole page" option. which means that when you finish writing the entire page, any . tkes will be highlighted You go in and straighten tilings out straight away): Lightning never goes away, is 100% concurrent, reliable, accurate and cannot, does not, will not 'crash & bum; Your document; letter, report, spreadsheet is word perfect and no one ever knows that you can't spell for teens.: J$illik Turbo Lightning does a lot more than spell "right" right, it also gives you instant Synonyms, Because you also have Tiirbo Lightning's Random House Thesaurus at your fingertips, you can really get to know your 'rights.' So back to the word "Right," but this time in the thesaurus. Type in "Right" and what you see in the on-screen window is: So you instantly know more than one way to say, "The Boss is always right," which Is handy if you get cornered and have to lie like that Introduce yourself to Turbo Lightning and it will never ever forget your name, its conceivable, if unfair, mat your name is not in the dictionary already, but you can instantly teach Thrbo Lightning your name and all the other names and words it needs to know to help run your business or personal life. Once you've taught Thrbo Lightning what it needs to know, you'll never blow it with a letter to the Joint Cheek of Staff, the Raygan White Howse or mess something up on your 1MB' PC, (1MB !'C is nor a tni I <•- >■• ■■ Ifucrnalional Business Machine Con. !) Not $500, not $400, not $300, not $200, not $100, just $99.95 for this instant electronic miracle. Our success is pretty simple. We're not greedy. We believe that it is better to sell hundreds of thousands of software programs at a reasonable price — instead of a few at prices that would make Jesse James blush. Just $99-95 gets you into the Tiirbo Lightning Library — which is an incredible deal when you look at what you're getting. You're getting the 'access system' — 7I/r6o Lightning — which is the "engine" that powers the whole Tiirbo Lightning Library. You're getting the "engine" plus the 83,000-word Tiirbo Lightning Random House Speller and Word List; the 50,000-word Tiirbo Lightning Random House Thesaurus, And you're getting all that for an incredible $99.95! ■If you ever write a word, think a word or say a word, you heed Tirrto lightning. We give you a 60-day money-back guarantee and of course there's no copy protection. $99-95 isn't much to pay for a mistake-free life. Not to mention an education. No matter who you are or what you do, you need Tiirbo Lightning. That $9995 will be the best $99-95 you ever spent on yourself or your company. Do yourself, your assistants, your secretary, your boss, your readers, your audience and your career a favor, get Tiirbo Lightning today! 4585 SC0TTS VALLEY DRIVE: SCOTTS VALLEY; ca 95066 . phone (408) m-wo telex i 12373 TurixiUgliH'irt^. T-.id:*:. bghmi;-;;* i.-'m.-yv!' •r<:\\':.\. unUTurixJ Lightning library arc ffaJeniarKs;intiSideJ i i tonal, "tnc Ru«.i. .n 1 ! r ,w ■, ,: i , -. • r . . :> ■, 1 1 ni.v.- in- , IBM IRM f\ . AT, arid XT are w not Ma Flirti < Cap MutiiMaic i*. j iraikfiui i 1 •..'!-•-. .1 iraUtrtrevk of MicroPro Inn ' u n:>;:Mi;ii.:J luJ^ninxkof MiovwjftCorp ML! MjiI is ! • uns < irp CompuServe 5.S .1 f t-grsw-TttJ Wi ,-(>>rn. Inquiry 42 lor End-Users. Inquiry 43 for DEALERS ONLY. WHAT'S NEW can be coresident with the program. With MicroPhone, the Macintosh can automatically log on to a remote system, send and receive mail, transfer files, and log off, all without human intervention. Simpler macros can be ac- tivated with a single key- stroke. Macros can be created using Microphone's "Watch Me" mode— in which the program observes prompts and keystrokes— or by using the program's Script window menus, or a combination of the two. MicroPhone has a list price of $74.95. For more information, contact Soft- ware Ventures Corp., 2907 Claremont Ave., Suite 220, Berkeley, CA 94705, (800) 336-6477; in California, (800) 336-6478; in Canada, (800) 336-6479. Inquiry 560. Equity II and Equity III Epson has released the Equity II, an IBM PC- compatible, and the Equity III, which is compatible with the PC AT. The Equity II is based on NEC's 8086-compatible V30 microprocessor. While the Equity II normally operates at 7.16 MHz, it can also run timing-critical software at the same 4.77-MHz clock speed as the IBM PC. The Equity II includes a keyboard similar to the one shipped with IBM's PC AT but without LEDs. For operator conve- nience, the power switch, volume control, and all DIP switches are located behind a drop-down front panel. A combined monochrome/ color-graphics controller, floppy-disk controller, serial and parallel ports, and 640K bytes of RAM are on the main system board. A 100-watt power supply five Epson's Equity II [right] and Equity III. open expansion slots, and space for up to two half- height disk drives allow for additional hardware. The system power can be turned on with the front-panel power switch or optionally by a preset timer or when- ever the serial port detects a ring-detect signal. Power can be turned off manually or through a software command. Like the PC AT the Equity HI includes eight expansion slots, a single 1.2-megabyte disk drive, serial and parallel ports, and room for up to four internal half-height disk drives. A hard-disk controller and 640K-byte RAM are also standard. The Equity II with one 360K-byte disk drive will retail for under $1900. The Equity III with one 1.2-mega- byte drive will be priced under $3 500. Contact Epson America, Computer Products Division, 2780 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505, (213) 539-9140. Inquiry 561. Data-Compression Units Multiply Modem Speed Adaptive Computer Tech- nologies now offers the ACT- 12 00 A and the ACT- 2400A, data-compression units for use with 1200- and 2400-bps full-duplex modems. These devices are stand-alone boxes that inter- face not only to modems but to terminals and com- puters through an RS-232C cable. They can be used for modem file transfer, trans- mission to a printer, or general, interactive terminal- to-computer work. To com- press data, you need to have an ACT unit at each end of the line. However, the units do have a trans- parent mode that does not compress data but simply passes it along. The ACT compression units analyze transmitted data and use statistical characteristics about that data to select a compression scheme. The units can stay with built-in tables, or they can invoke a dynamic history feature and agree to work with a new table based on the last few thousand characters. Because the units will derive the same new table, one doesn't have to send the entire table to the other; a short message suffices. Repetitive strings are com- pressed using variable bit- length encoding. The com- pression ratio is not directly related to the type of file: Database files and text files will see the same sorts of compression. Compression factors range as high as 5:1, but 2:1 or 3:1 is typical. En- coding and decoding also incorporate a full CRC-16 error-correction process. A series of menus lets you set certain compatibility and transmission options, which are then stored in non- volatile memory inside the unit. You can modify the handshaking that alerts the units to the presence or absence of another com- pressor at the other end of the line. The ACT-1200A costs $595. The ACT-2400A costs $795. Contact Adaptive Computer 'technologies, 97 Boston Ave., Suite 103, San lose, CA 95128, (408) 279-3993. Inquiry 562. Synthesizer Attaches to Parallel Port Rayna Systems has developed a high- performance music syn- thesizer that can attach to almost any computer through a parallel printer port. The synthesizer has 59 oscillators, all of which have programmable frequency volume, and waveform. These oscillators can be combined to produce a varied collection of sounds. In addition, output can be channeled into any of four output jacks to provide quadraphonic sound. A sam- ple BASIC program shows how the synthesizer can be set up. For CP/M systems, additional software is avail- able, including a $150 pro- gram that allows you to edit musical note sequences and instrument characteristics in real time. The price of the Rayna Synth-in-a-Box is $850. As an S-100 board, the product costs $650. Contact Rayna Systems, 460 9th St., Brooklyn. NY 11215, (718) 499-8457. Inquiry 563. [continued on page 408) 42 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 126 for End-Users. Inquiry 127 for DEALERS ONLY. FOR Ttl£ f IRST TIHf ... flIGfl PFRfORMflHCf BACKUP AT fl f LOPPY TflPf PRICf WtIO NEf D lIWs PY TAPE !! The Everex EXCEL STREAM-20 Cassette Backup System • No extra expansion slot needed ed-up to 10MB in just 2 1 [ftU|2jM iming pre-foi 20MB backup capac Same price as 40MB flo ojj- : e system W^HMBHI^MWiHHHI^BMMMaMBMHWMM Floppy Sysgen EVEREX EXCEL STOAM-20 20MB Tape Image Capacity 10MB 10MB No extra slot needed • • Backup time for 10MB 2min. 16mln. 4mln. Automatic Verification • • Automatic formatting • • Flle-by-File Restore from Image Backup • Infernal Model • • Replace your floppy disk controller with Everex's combination cassette AND floppy disk controller— no extra cost, no extra slot needed. Data is automatically verified/corrected and the tape is pre-formatted during backup— saving you the 30 minutes you waste to format and verify with a floppy tape system. The STREAM-20 includes the most advanced backup/restore software. The choice is simple— the Everex EXCEL STREAM-20 Cassette backup system— High Performance backup at a floppy tape price. Visit your local Everex Dealer today and ask to see the STREAM-20 in action. For the name of your nearest Everex Dealer, please call 415-498-1111. Address: 47777 Warm Springs Blvd.. Fremont, CA 94539 TELEX: 5101000590 EVEREX FAX: 415-651-0728 Dealer Hotline: (800) 821-0806 In CA (800) 821-0807 EXCEL STREAM-20 is a trademark of Everex Systems Inc. 4!BrB ASK BYTE Conducted by Steve Ciarcia RAM for Apple Dear Steve, I have a 294K-byte RAM card made by "Syntex, Redmond" for the Apple II. Ap- parently, the company was originally located in the state of Washington and merged with another company. I need information on installation and use of the product. Any help you could give me would be appreciated. Stan Reed Eagle River, AK There was a company called Syntex In Redmond, Washington, that made a RAM card for the Apple called Flashcard. That company, however, is no longer in busi- ness. An Apple Pascal 1.2 driver to con- figure the Flashcard as a soft disk drive is available from A.RRL.E. Co-op 290 Southwest 43rd St. Renton, WA 98055 ProDOS drivers are available from Microseeds 20 Goodell Rd. Stafford Springs, CT 06076 —Steve 6502 Math Dear Steve, Do you know of a book that explains 6502 math utilities? I need something that develops the algorithms for floating point, random numbers, rounding errors, trigo- nometric functions, logarithms, powers, roots, and so on. I'm in prison here in Texas, and I work in the electronics shop. I use an Apple lie and would like to write my own math func- tions, but I've been hampered by the lack of proper algorithms. I managed to figure out a floating-point format using a 64-bit mantissa, a 1 5-bit characteristic, and a sign bit. After that, the only algorithm I could find was a laylor power series in a calcu- lator book. It is very frustrating to order computer books by mail without any recommenda- tions. I don't have any reference library ex- cept the one I have put together myself. Michael Sanders Huntsville, TX Three good sources of the kind of in- formation you are seeking are Ahl, David H. Computers in Mathematics: A Sourcebook of Ideas (Creative Com- puting Press) Bennett, William. Scientific and Engineer- ing Problem-Solving with the Computer (Prentice-Hall) Knuth, Donald E. The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 2: Semi-Numerical Algorithms (Addison-Wesley) Current prices and relevant ordering in- formation can be obtained by writing directly to the publishers—Steve Just One Minor Question Dear Steve, Could you advise me on how to learn more about microcomputers? I do have some computer background: I've taken graduate physics courses in micros and courses in FORTRAN, assembly language, and the use of BASIC and machine lan- guage. I've also used RCA and DEC main- frame computers. I am looking for a way to make an Atari run Commodore and Apple programs, since they all use the 6502 processor. Can you use tristate buffers to switch to dif- ferent operating-system ROMs, I/O ports, etc.? This leads me to ask about emula- tion—is it an advanced program lookup table (what is a lookup table?) that makes the processor think it is in a different machine? Or does it just translate the pro- gram to the other machine's require- ments? Can an emulation ROM be bank- switched in to translate the program? I've read that an operating system has been written in the C programming lan- guage. How? I've looked at a couple of operating-system programs, but I admit 1 don't know much about the subject. I couldn't write my own, and 1 have only a vague concept of the BIOS. How can I learn lots more? How does the Commodore C-128 tie together the 6502 and the Z80? Using a coprocessor? (What is a coprocessor?) How does the Heath/Zenith H-89 use one Z80 to control a second Z80 in a pro- cessor/slave arrangement? Where can I learn how to use a Z80 or a 6502 to con- trol a 68000? How does the operating sys- tem control parallel processors, such as an 8086 with an 8087? I'm not sure I understand the DMA con- cept or how a cache memory works. How are programs (and the operating system) written to handle a RAM disk? A bubble memory? Can dynamic memory be used in the RAM disk? How is refreshing handled? MSX is being promoted as an 8-bit operating-system standard. Where can I find out more? Can I convert an old Radio Shack computer to use MSX? How? Where can I find an operating-system ROM? I think I know some basics about micros, but where do I go for an intermediate edu- cation? I do try to read BYTE regularly— especially your articles— but sometimes I have more questions than understanding. Merle Rummel Liberty, IN Mr. Rummel, you ask a lotta questions. Your letter is filled with questions rang- ing from basics to advanced hardware/ software techniques. As a beginning, the best way to learn a subject is to read and experiment. You should have some com- puter-related textbooks left over from col- lege that would provide a good start. In addition, a trip to your library and a well- stocked bookstore will provide a wealth of computer-related information. You can select books that furnish information at a level you can understand. Making a series of computers that utilize the same microprocessor chip (and therefore the same instruction set) is not as simple as changing an operating-sys- tem ROM. The address locations of the I/O ports on one machine are usually dif- ferent from those on another. This means that you have to change one machine's operating system's port addresses to fit the new machine. Device addresses, memory addresses, etc., are set by hard- ware, not software. Consequently, a pro- gram that runs on an Apple will not load and run successfully on a Commodore or Atari computer, even though they all share the same microprocessor. An operating system can be written in [continued) 44 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 COPYRIGHT © 1986 STEVEN A. CIARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. '"H';--,*,,. ■ -i i / ergwe satiAb&m users more t ime to dome we. ur Less. Clipper™ allows you With Clipper, once the Harvard Physics You'll spend less to run ail dBASE ill™ you've debugged your Department. For the time running dBASE III programs 2 to 20 times source code, it's com- State of Arizona and more time running faster than they do piled into more effi- and TRW. the rest of your life. with the standard cient machine code. And that's just a few dBASE interpreter. And Clipper com- of the installations That frees up extra piles all your dBASE III worldwide. From time you're wasting if programs. The ones Greece to Venezuela you're running dBASE III you have today. The to Canada to Europe. programs without ones you'll have So stop wasting time. v Clipper. tomorrow. But don't Call our toll-free 800 Extra time to think. wait until tomorrow number and get Clipper. To create. To produce. to order Clipper. To use as you choose. Today, Clipper has You see, Clipper is already been pur- the first true compiler chased to speed up for dBASE III. Clipper dBASE run time at 3M eliminates the time- and Touche Ross. At consuming translation Exxon and NASA. In which the dBASE inter- preter performs line 1 after line whenever a ^ XTQTY H ir'vfxt program is run. k INctll UJCJxCl Inquiry 259 for End-Users, inquiry 260 for DEALERS ONLY. 5995 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 (800)251-8438 In California (213)390-7923 ASK BYTE C FORTRAN, COBOL, Pascal, etc. An operating system tells the micropro- cessor how to talk to a computer system s various components, like disk drives, printers, terminals, parallel ports, serial ports, etc. This can be done in any lan- guage, provided it is eventually compiled into the machine instructions required by a particular microprocessor. A coprocessor is used to assist the main processor or to perform a task more efficiently than the main processor can. An example is the 8087 math copro- cessor used with the 8088/86 series of microprocessors. The 8087 performs mathematical computations many times faster than the 8088/86. Since a copro- cessor usually shares the same data and address bus as the main processor, special hardware is required to assure that only one processor has control of the bus at any given time. DMA (direct memory access) is a method by which a device reads and writes directly to RAM without interven- tion or help from the main processor. This allows high-speed data transfer and is usually provided by a dedicated DMA controller chip or a separate processor. A RAM disk is a program that sets aside a portion of memory for use as a disk drive. It does this by fooling the operat- ing system into "thinking" that this RAM is a physical drive. Dynamic RAM can be used as a RAM disk, a scan bubble mem- ory and static RAM. The operating sys- tem and RAM-disk program don't care if the memory is dynamic, bubble, or static; these are ail handled by hardware. Since dynamic memory is based on charge-storage i n capacitors, rather than [continued) A PROTOTYPE FOR YOUR PROTOTYPES METHODS BY DIGITALK. A SMALLTALK PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE IBM PC. AN OBJECT-ORIENTED SPEED DEMON. AN EXCITING WAY TO PROGRAM. Think about your problem. Browse the Methods Smalltalk source code. Select some building blocks like pop-up menus, windows, text-editors and dictionaries. Put them together. Try it. Oops, Methods tells you something is missing. No problem. Continue thinking, changing and trying. Now you're prototyping! Try out new ideas. Redefine your problem. And you don't have to throw this prototype away. Refine it until you like the finished product. Methods by Digitalk. A new way to develop software for the PC. Use it for windowing, simulation and artificial intelligence applications. Use it by prototyping. Methods is Smalltalk-80™ language compatible. It includes its own Smalltalk source code. You can extend it in Smalltalk and assembly language. Methods operates on IBM PCs with 51 2K bytes RAM using MS-DOS or PC-DOS. Color and monochrome monitors are supported. No mouse is required. A Smalltalk language manual and an environment guide are included. Smalltalk-8(T is a trademark of Xerox Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. MS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Available from Digitalk for $250. Outside U.S. add $15.00 for shipping and handling. California residents add 6% sales tax. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Educational and Dealer Discounts Available, DIGITALK, INC. 5200 West Century Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90045 (213)645-1082 46 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 104 The C for Microcomputers PC-DOS, MS-DOS, CP/M-86, Macintosh, Amiga, Apple II, CP/M-80, Radio Shack, Commodore, XENIX, ROM, and Cross Development systems MS-DOS, PC-DOS, CP/M-86, XENIX, 8086/80x86 ROM Manx Aztec C86 "A compiler that has many strengths . . . quite valuable for serious work" Computer Language review, February 1985 Great Code: Manx Aztec C86 generates fast executing compact code. The benchmark results below are from a study conducted by Manx. The Dhrystone benchmark (CACM 10/84 27:10 pl018) measures performance for a systems software instruction mix. The results are with- out register variables. With register variables, Manx, Microsoft, and Mark Williams run proportionately faster, Lattice and Computer Innovations show no improve- ment. Execution Code Compile/ Time Size Link Time Dhrystone Benchmark Manx Aztec C86 3.3 34 sees 5,760 93 sees Microsoft C 3.0 34 sees 7,146 119 sees Optimized C86 2.20J 53 sees 11,009 172 sees Mark Williams 2.0 56 sees 12,980 113 sees Lattice 2.14 89 sees 20,404 117 sees Great Features: Manx Aztec C86 is bundled with a powerful array of well documented productivity tools, library routines and features. Optimized C compiler Symbolic Debugger AS86 Macro Assembler LN86 Overlay Linker 80186/80286 Support Librarian 8087/80287 Sensing Lib Profiler Extensive UNIX Librae DOS, Screen, & Graphics Lib Large Memory Model Intel Object Option Z (vi) Source Editor -c CP/M-86 Library -c ROM Support Package -c INTEL HEX Utility -c Libraiy Source Code -c Mixed memory models -c MAKE, DIFF, and GREP -c Source Debugger -c One year of updates -c CP/M-86 Library -c Manx offers two commercial development systems, Aztec C86-c and Aztec C86-d. Items marked -c are special features of the Aztec C86-c system. Aztec C86-c Commercial System $499 Aztec C86-d Developer's System $299 Aztec C86-p Personal System $199 Aztec C86-a Apprentice System $49 All systems are upgradable by paying the difference in price plus $10. Third Party Software: There are a number of high qual- ity support packages for Manx Aztec C86 for screen management, graphics, database management, and soft- ware development. C-tree $395 Greenleaf $185 PHACT $250 PC-lint $98 HALO $250 Amber Windows $59 PRE-C $395 Windows for C $195 WindScreen $149 FirsTime $295 SunScreen $99 C Util Lib $185 PANEL $295 Plink-86 $395 MACINTOSH, AMIGA, XENIX, CP/M-68K, 68k ROM Manx Aztec C68k "Library handling is very flexible . . . documentation is excellent ... the shell a pleasure to work in . . . blows away the competition for pure compile speed ...an ex- cellent effort:' Computer Language review, April 1985 Aztec C68k is the most widely used commercial C com- piler for the Macintosh. Its quality, performance, and completeness place Manx Aztec C68k in a position be- yond comparison. It is available in several upgradable versions. Optimized C Creates Clickable Applications Macro Assembler Mouse Enhanced SHELL Overlay Linker Easy Access to Mac Toolbox Resource Compiler UNIX Library Functions Debuggers Terminal Emulator (Source) Librarian Clear Detailed Documentation Source Editor C-Stuff Library MacRam Disk -c UniTools (vi,make,diff,grep) -c Library Source -c One Year of Updates -c Items marked -c are available only in the Manx Aztec C86-c system. Other features are in both the Aztec C86-d and Aztec C86-c systems. Aztec C68k-c Commercial System $499 Aztec C68d-d Developer's System $299 Aztec C68k-p Personal System $199 C-tree database (source) $399 AMIGA, CP/M-68k, 68k UNIX call Apple n, Commodore, 65xx, 65C02 ROM Manx Aztec C65 "The AZTEC C system is one of the finest software packages I have seen" NIBBLE review, July 1984 A vast amount of business, consumer, and educational software is implemented in Manx Aztec C65. The quality and comprehensiveness of this system is competitive with 16 bit C systems. The system includes a full optim- ized C compiler, 6502 assembler, linkage editor, UNIX library, screen and graphics libraries, shell, and much more. The Apple II version runs under DOS 3.3, and ProDOS, Cross versions are available. The Aztec C65-c/128 Commodore system runs under the C128 CP/M environment and generates programs for the C64, C128, and CP/M environments. Call for prices and availability of Apprentice, Personal and Developer versions for the Commodore 64 and 128 machines. Aztec C65-c ProDOS & DOS 3.3 $399 Aztec C65-d Apple DOS 3.3 $199 Aztec C65-p Apple Personal system $99 Aztec C65-a for learning C $49 Aztec C65-c/128 C64, C128, CP/M $399 Distribution of Manx Aztec C In the USA, Manx Software Systems is the sole and ex- clusive distributor of Aztec C. Any telephone or mail order sales other than through Manx are unauthorized. Manx Cross Development Systems Cross developed programs are edited, compiled, assem- bled, and linked on one machine (the HOST) and trans- ferred to another machine (the TARGET) for execution. This method is useful where the target machine is slower or more limited than the HOST, Manx cross compilers are used heavily to develop software for business, consumer, scientific, industrial, research, and education- al applications. HOSTS: VAX UNIX ($3000), PDP-11 UNIX ($2000), MS- DOS ($750), CP/M ($750), MACINTOSH ($750), CP/M-68k ($750), XENIX ($750). TARGETS: MS-DOS, CP/M-86, Macintosh, CP/M-68k, CP/M-80, TRS-80 3 & 4, Apple II, Commodore C64, 8086/80x86 ROM, 68xxx ROM, 8080/8085/Z80 ROM, 65xx ROM. The first TARGET is included in the price of the HOST system. Additional TARGETS are $300 to $500 (non VAX) or $1000 (VAX). Call Manx for information on cross development to the 68000, 65816, Amiga, C128, CP/M-68K, VRTX, and others. CP/M, Radio Shack, 8080/8085/Z80 ROM Manx Aztec CII "I've had a lot of experience with different C compilers, but the Aztec C80 Compiler and Professional Develop- ment System is the best I've seen." 80-Micro, December, 1984, John B. Harrell III Aztec C n-c (CP/M & ROM) $349 Aztec Cll-d (CP/M) $199 C-tree database (source) $399 Aztec C80-c (TRS-80 3 & 4) $299 Aztec C80-d (TRS-80 3 & 4) $199 How lb Become an Aztec C User To become an Aztec C user call 1-800-221-0440 or call 1-800-832-9273 (800-TEC WARE). In NJ or outside the USA call 201-530-7997. Orders can also be telexed to 4995812. Payment can be by check, COD, American Express, VISA, Master Card, or Net 30 to qualified customers. Orders can also be mailed to Manx Software Systems, Box 55, Shrewsbury, NJ 07701. How lb Get More Information lb get more information on Manx Aztec C and related products, call 1-800-221-0440, or 201-530-7997, or write to Manx Software Systems. 30 Day Guarantee Any Manx Aztec C development system can be return- ed within 30 days for a refund if it fails to meet your needs. The only restrictions are that the original pur- chase must be directly from Manx, shipped within the USA, and the package must be in resalable condition. Returned items must be received by Manx within 30 days. A small restocking fee may be required. Discounts There are special discounts available to professors, students, and consultants. A discount is also available on a "trade in" basis for users of competing systems. Call for information. Inquiry 222 To order or for information call; 800-221-0440 Which Master Would Your Slaves Recommend? OurNewCPZ-186 Has It All Intercontinental Micro Systems, the leader in the 8-bit single board computer world, has done It again. The CPZ-1 86, based on the 80186 CPU with integrated 2 channel Direct Memory Access Controller, has a 4-drive floppy controller, 2 serial I/O ports, Th parallel I/O ports, Mem- ory Management Unit, Interrupt Con- troller, up to 1 Megabyte of Dynamic RAM, and up to 8K EPROM, all on a single IEEE S-100 Bus Board. Talk about speed and flexibility. The CPZ-1 86 runs at 8 MHz and can be used for single user systems or in powerful multi-user applications. As a Network Master (File Server), the CPZ-186 can network 8-bit and 16-bit S-100 Bus Slaves as well as PC's using Intercontinental com- plete line of hardware and software networking products. Find out what support really is. Everyone talks about support, but at I ntercontinental you deal directly with our hardware and software design team. Who else could know more about solving your problems? Best of all, we're delivering now, and our price allows building cost effective systems and networks. Circle the bingo number below or contact us directly and ask about our complete line of S-100 Bus and Local Area Networking Boards. _/ ^^^ \lntercontinental W^=JMicro Systems (/-^ 4015 Leaverton Ct„ Anaheim, Co 92807, (714) 630-0964/TELEX: 821375 SUPPORT UD Inquiry 1 72 for End-Users. Inquiry 173 for DEALERS ONLY. ASK BYTE a flip-flop circuit (as in static memory), dynamic RAM requires a periodic refresh pulse to offset the effects of the capacitor's leakage. This refresh pulse is provided either by the processor (such as the Z80's refresh pin) or some other timed- pulse generating circuitry. As far as converting a Radio Shack computer to run an operating system other than what it was designed for, I sug- gest you visit your local Radio Shack com- puter store and discuss the details of this with them. Steve VERSACARD Dear Steve, I have a problem with my Prometheus VERSAcard in my Apple II. I've sent several letters to the manufacturer with no reply. When I use my Signalman Mark XII modem at 1200 bps. the VERSAcard drops between five and eight characters following each carriage return. This occurs in either a 40- or 80-column display. I've tried four terminal programs with the same result. I've also tried the modem on two other computers with no problem. Do you have any ideas? Steve Nelson Euless, TX This type of problem is frequently due to incompatible or inadequate handshak- ing signals: The VERSAcard and the modem may not know who's going to do what, and when. I would suspect the DTR (data terminal ready) signal, pin 20, on the standard DB-25 connector. On the VERSAcard, this line is tied permanent- ly high. The Signalman modem, in its default configuration, uses this line to determine when the VERSAcard is ready for more data. As characters are received through the modem and serial card, the terminal pro- gram stores them in a buffer (frequently, the Apple's keyboard-input buffer is used for this purpose). When a carriage-return character is received, the terminal pro- gram signals the modem to stop send- ing data and processes this buffer. If the modem doesn't receive this signal, it will continue sending characters and the ter- minal program will miss some characters. If the DTR signal is the cause of your problem, the solution is probably at- tained most easily in software. You should configure your modem to ignore the DTR line, then implement a suitable software handshaking protocol, like the XON/ XOFF protocol. The terminal program you are using will determine which soft- ware protocols you can use. Two terminal programs that work well with the VERSA- card /Signal man combination are ASCII Express, from United Software, and Modem Magician, available from A.P.P.L.E. Co-op, 290 Southwest 43rd St., Renton, WA 98055,-Steve Music, Music, Music Dear Steve. Some friends and I are developing soft- ware for producing printed output in musical notation from data input by a musical keyboard. At the moment, we are using a Wersi organ because it delivers logical MIDI (musical instrument digital in- terface) data in physical RS-232C format. This organ is very expensive, and we would like to use a much cheaper MIDI keyboard. Since the computer we are using has only an RS-232C serial interface, we will need a MIDI-to-RS-232C converter. Do you know of any such converter? Erich Neuwirth Vienna, Austria Ferro Productions (228 Washington Ave., Belleville, N J 07109, (201) 751-6238) has written several tutorials on the MIDI and music synthesis. According to a com- pany source, they will be releasing a new MIDI course in the next few months. In addition, a book will be available that also covers this subject. Contact the com- pany for information concerning the course. The book, MIDI and Related Interfaces, will be available through Cherry Lane Music POB 430 Port Chester, NY 10573 (914) 937-8601 You should also check into MIDI boards that plug directly into most personal computers. Cherry Lane Music carries such hardware, as does Syntech Corporation 23958 Craftsman Rd. Calabasas, CA 91302 (818) 704-8509 —Steve Hardware Education Dear Steve, I have been in the computer field for about six years and have done mostly software work. My only hardware project was building an S-100 system for my own use. [continued) 48 B YTE ■ JANUARY 1986 PC Paintbrush". Because life is too short for monochrome pie charts. Fun is the best thing to have. With PC Paintbrush, you can add color, flair, dimension and creativity to a chart, a pre- sentation, or an otherwise dull day. From charts and graphs to serious computer art, our newest generation 3.0 PC Paintbrush will cheer you on with features no other graphics package can match. Best of all, it's easy to use. You don't have to learn up to sixty commands, like you do with some products. If you can understand icons as simple as scissors, paintbrush, spray can and paint roller, you're ready to start using PC Paintbrush. The pen is mightier than the keyboard. None of history's great artists drew with a keyboard, and you shouldn't have to either. So PC Paintbrush is now available with a cordless Pen Mouse, to give you complete freedom of expression. Of course, it also supports regular mice, joysticks, graphics tablets, and is compatible with most graphics cards. PC Paintbrush also has a beautiful way with words. The text icon lets you write in any of eleven fonts, in nine sizes, with italics, outline, shadow and boldface variations. What's more, with the new 3.0 PC Paintbrush, you can draw rounded boxes, rubber band curves and circles, and edit pictures many times larger than the screen. Are we making fun of 1-2-3®? Why not? For Lotus™ users, PC Paintbrush's new PIC Go on, live a little. interpreter loads 1-2-3™ and Symphony™ charts and graphs at your equipment's best resolution, from an IBM EGA™ (640 X 350 X 16 colors) to a Number Nine Revolution™ (512 X 512 X 256 colors). With our FRIEZE™ frame grabber you can pull graphics created by any program right off the screen into PC Paintbrush. So you can take your Paintbrush and pallette anywhere, improving the looks of things as you go. And having a lot of fun on the way. In addition, our optional presentation package, PC PRESENTATION, allows you to program your graphics into a first class presentation with fades, zooms, quick cuts and animation. PC Paintbrush supports 19 videographics cards and 30 printers and plotters. For more information on PC Paintbrush, call or write us at the address below, or ask your computer dealer for a demonstration. Z-SOFT PC Paintbrush Corporate Headquarters: ZSof t Corporation, 1 950 Spectrum Circle, Suite A 495, Marietta, GA 30067, 404/980-1 950 West Const Soles Office* 160 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA 94960, 415/456-0955 PC Paintbrush i s a trademark of ZSoft Corporation. Lotus, 1-2-3, and Symphony are registered trademarks o f Lotus Development Corporation. IBM and Enhance GraphicsAdapterare registered trademarks of International Business Machines,Corp. Number Nine Revolution is a trodemark of Number Nine ComputerCorp. Inquiry 401 for End-Users. Inquiry 402 for DEALERS ONLY. ; JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 49 THE DIGITAL SOUND SENSATION MUSIC The fascination behind music is man's triumph upon mastering it. WERSI's new DMS Instruments, with their live recorded sounds of acoustical instruments and com- plexity of an entire symphonic or- chestra, now open new ways of actively making music for everybody. KIT BUILDING WERSI's unique modular system offers expandability, updateability and great savings. The wide variety of products— from digital keyboards to rhythm devices to full size digital organs and pianos — all have two things in common: they are avail- able in kit form, as well as fully fac- tory assembled, and they all are capable of communicating perfectly with home computers. COMPUTERS How about buying floppy disks in- stead of record albums? Use your computer with a DMS device or in- strument hookup to turn digital information into record quality music. Or how about composing, recording and printing out sheet music using your computer equip- ment? Inquiry 380 €>2i@aa] Call 1-800-233-3865 Today! (In PA call 717-299-4327) or send in the coupon to WERSI addresses below. Sold worldwide in over 50 countries FREE ~CAT ALOG~ COUPON Our fascinating 60 page color catalog will tell you everything about a break- through in music technology and exciting new ways to use your computer. Name. City _ Address State Zip EAST: P. 0. Box 5318 Lancaster, PA 17601 Call 1-800-233-3865 (In PA 717-299-4327) WEST: 14104 E. Firestone Blvd., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670. Call 1-800-221-9590 (Outside CA: 213-802-2891) CANADA: 252 Railway Ave.Jreherne, Manitoba Canada R06-2V0 Call 204-723-2366 ASK BYTE I am writing for some advice on how I can learn about hardware, enough so that I will be able to troubleshoot and repair microprocessor systems. If you could recommend some books or courses. I would greatly appreciate it. Leonard Simon Kenvil, Nf A good way to learn a subject is to familiarize yourself with the selection of books at your local library on the topic of interest. This is also an inexpensive ap- proach since you don't have to purchase books that are either too technical or too basic for you. In addition, authors and publishers of a book that is useful for a particular subject generally publish related works, a handy source for con- tacts. You can also stop by a well-stocked bookstore and browse through its selec- tion of electronics and computer-related publications. 1 have found many interest- ing books this way. Howard W. Sams publishes a set of five books called Basic Electricity and Elec- tronics. Each book sells for $10.95. A few more useful books from Sams are Digital Logic Circuits: Tests and Analysis by Robert G. Middleton ($16.95) and Micro- processor Circuits by Edward M. Noll ($9.95 for each of two volumes). All these books can be obtained from the pub- lisher or from the following company: Hughes-Peters Inc. 481 East Eleventh Ave. Columbus, OH 43211 (614) 294-5351 The use of home-study courses and technical schools provides for the best training. You are offered assistance when required and receive feedback as to your progress and knowledge in the form of grades.— 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 Garcia 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 Garcia and cannot be returned. Be sure to include "Ask BYTE" in the address. The Ask BYTE staff includes manager Harv Weiner and researchers Yarry Bregoli. Bill Curlew. \eannette Do Jan. ]on Elson. Roger ]ames. Frank Kuechmann. Dick Sawyer. Andy Siska. and Robert Stek. MICROSOFT LANGUAGES NEWSLETTER Vol. 1-1 News about the Microsoft Language Family Faster Macro Assembler 4*00 release developed in Microsoft C By porting the new Macro Assembler 4.00 release to Microsoft C, it assembles programs from 2 to 3 times faster than the previous Microsoft 3.00 and IBM® 2.00 releases. The mixed language and memory model support unique to Microsoft C allowed the new assembler to be written as a small model program using the more efficient Pascal calling conversions for all internal functions. Macro text, symbol names and file buffers were moved out of the 64K "near" workspace into "far" memory allowing much larger programs to be assembled. Additional performance tuning was possible in C by using register variables throughout the assembler. Final profiling identified a few critical small routines to write in assembly language. The source symbolic debugger, SYMDEB, has been enhanced to include screen swapping, stack backtracing, DOS command execution, better source display and debugging features making this the ideal tool for debugging programs. The 25% faster LINK and the EXEPACK utility can compress executable files by removing common sequences and optimizing the relocation tables. The MAKE utility now supports macros and inference rules. We are committed to making the complete Macro Assembler product the best value in PC development tools. News for Microsoft and IBM COBOL users The new Microsoft® COBOL 2.1 release for MS-DOS® and XENIX® features faster execution and support for the new COBOL Tools package which contains VIEWCOB, COBREF, Menu Handler, and CBMOUSE (MS-DOS only). VIEWCOB is an interactive symbolic debugger with an easy-to- learn, menu-driven user interface which supports on-line help and up to 10 windows on your source text, variables, memory, and procedi re traces. The COBOL trace mode highlights each statement as it is executed. COBREF is an advanced COBOL cross reference generator mat displays lists of files/variables with types, and procedures. Menu Handler and CBMOUSE allow the COBOL programmer to create menu-driven applications to interface to the Microsoft Mouse. Microsoft C Selected for the IBM personal computer C compiler The IBM C compiler is a repackaging of the Microsoft C Compiler with a few utilities from the Microsoft Macro Assembler product. A XENIX version of the same compiler is part of Microsoft's XENIX system V release. IBM also distributes Microsoft BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, and Pascal compilers, BASIC interpreter and Macro Assembler under its own logo. Microsoft offers special ' upgrade pricing to owners of certain Microsoft languages purchased through IBM. Call us for more information. Write to: MICROSOFT Languages Newsletter 10700 Northup Way Box 97200 Bellevue, WA 98009 for product update and information. Or phone: (800) 426-9400. In Washington State and Alaska, (206) 828-8088. In Canada, call (416) 673-7638. Microsoft, XENIX and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Latest DOS Versions: C 3.00 COBOL 2.10 FORTRAN 3.31 Macro Assembler 4.00 Pascal 3.31 QuickBASIC 1.00 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 51 THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER MAIL ORDER FIRM #B33 EXCtSS kttW' # TELEX 970 380 3980 (ALL MAIL: 12060 SW Garden Place, Portland, OR 97223) FOR YOUR APPLE COMPUTERS BUSINESS SOFTWARE UTILITIES SOFTWARE ^pppkz lie, lie, Mac IN STOCK, CALL LIST CONROY PRICE PRICE LIST CONROY AEGIS, Challenger or Pyramid, ea. $ 50 $ 37 ASSIMILATION, Numeric Turbo $ 149 $ 109 Mac Port Adaptor $ 79 $ 59 BLUECHIP, Millionaire, Barron, Tycoon, ea. S 60 $ 38 BORLAND, Sidekick (copiable) $ 65 $ 45 CENTRAL POINT, Copy II Mac $ 40 $ 22 CONROY-LA POINTE, Diskettes SEE BELOW CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant $ 100 $ 65 CREIGHTON, Home Pak or Mac Office, ea. $ 39 $ 33 Mac Spell + $ 99 $ 61 DOW JONES, Market Manager Plus $ 249 $ 159 EXPERTELLIGENCE, ExperLogo $ 150 $ 95 FIRST BYTE, Smooth Talker $ 100 $ 63 FORETHOUGHT, Fact Finder $ 150 $ 95 HABA, 400K Ext. Disk Drive $ 449 $ 339 800K DS/DD Ext. Drive $ 599 $ 489 HAYDEN, Sargon III $ 50 $ 31 HUMAN EDGE, Mind Prober $ 50 $ 29 INFOCOM, Hitchhiker's Guide $ 40 $ 25 KOALA, Mac Vision $ 400 $ 229 LIVING VIDEOTEXT, Think Tank $145$ 92 LOTUS, Jazz S 595 $ 389 MANHATTAN, ReadySetGo $ 125 $ 69 MEGAHAUS, Megaform S 295 $ 189 MICROSOFT, Business Pak $ 595 $ 399 Excel $ 395 $ 248 Multiplan, Word, or File, each $ 195 $ 129 Fortran $ 295 $ 199 MILES, Mac the Knife, v. 1 $ 39 $ 25 MONOGRAM, Dollars & Sense $ 150 $ 89 NOVATION, Smartest Plus Modem w/Software $ 499 $ 349 ODESTA, Helix S 395 S 249 PROVUE, Overvue $ 295 $ 195 SIMON & SCHUSTER, Typing Tutor 111 $ 60 $ 39 SOFTW. PUBL..PFS: File & Report Combo $ 175 $ 105 STATE OF THE ART, Electronic Checkbook $ 80 $ 50 STONEWARE, DB Master $ 195 S 125 TELOS, File Vision $ 195 $ 119 VIDEX, MacCalendar $ 89 $ 49 WARNER, Desk Organizer $ 149 $ 99 FLOPPY DISK DRIVES LIST CONROY MICRO-SCI, A2 Disk Drive, 143K $ 269 $ 159 A2 Controller Card $ 100 $ 59 Half Height Drive for II +/lle f 269 $ 159 Half Height Drive for lie $ 299 $ 169 TEAC, T40 Half Ht, 163K, Direct $ 249 $ 149 Controller Card for T40 by ComX $ 79 $ 45 ALS, Word or List Handler, ea. Handler Pak (Word/List/Spell) APPLE, Appleworks ASHTON-TATE, dBase II (Req CP/M 8 BPI, AR, AP, PR or INV, each DATA TRANS, Fontrix DOW JONES, Market Analyzer HOWARD SOFT, '86 Tax Preparer $ 80 $ 170 $ 250 IS 495 S 395 $ 95 $ 349 $ 295 HARD DISKS IOMEGA, 5 meg Bernoulli Box f/Mac $1995 $1595 QUARK, QC10 for llc/lle/lll/MAC $1995 $1175 OTHER HARDWARE APPLE, Mouse for lie $ 150 CALL CCS, 7711 or 771 0-A Interface, ea. $ 115 $ 95 CPS/EASTSIDE, Wild Card II (copier, +/e) $ 140 $ 79 COMX, 16K RAM Card {II +),1yr ltd wty $ 119 $ 39 HAYES, Mach II, III Joysticks (II + /lie) CALL KENSINGTON, System Saver Fan $ 90 $ 65 KEY TRONIC, KB200 Keyboard ( + ) $ 398 $ 248 KOALA, Muppet Keys $ 80 $ 44 Touch Tablet w/Micro Illustrator (+/e) $ 130 $ 75 KRAFT, Joystick (lle/llc) $ 50 $ 25 MICRO-SCI, 80 Col. Card + 64K RAM Card (lie) $ 1 79 $ 89 MICROSOFT, Z80 Softcard II, 64K $ 425 $ 269 ORANGE MICRO, Buffered GrapplerPlus. 16K S 209 $ 145 16K Buffer Board for Grappler Plus $ 99 $ 59 Hot Link, S-P cable for lie $ 70 $ 44 TITAN, Accelerator lie $ 319 $ 229 128KRAMCard{ll + ) $ 329 $ 149 TRACKHOUSE, Numeric Key Pad (lie) $ 100 $ 87 VIDEO 7, V Color 7 RGB Card $ 150 $ 129 V Color lie $ 130 $ 89 V Color lie $ 250 $ 169 VIDEX, UltraTerm 132 Col. (II + /lie) $ 299 $ 189 VideoTerm 80 Col. Card (II + /lie) $ 279 $ 175 WICO, Smartcard (spec. Il/ll + /lle) S 199 $ 159 HUMAN EDGE, Sales or Mgmt Edge, ea. $ 250 LIVING VIDEOTEXT, Think Tank $ 145 MEGAHAUS, Megaworks $ 125 MICRO PRO, WordStar (req. CP/M) $ 350 WordStar w/ Starcard $ 495 WordStar Professional, 4 Pak $ 495 MICROSOFT, Multi-Plan (Ap DOS) $ 95 QUARK, Word Juggler & Lexicheck (lle/llc) $ 99 SATELLITE, Word Perfect $ 179 SENSIBLE, Sensible Speller $ 125 SIERRA/ON-LINE, Screen Writer II $ 130 SOFTWARE PUBL, PFS:File or Write, each $ 125 PFS:Graph or Report, each $ 125 PFS:Access $ 70 First Success (F/R/W) $225 SPRINGBOARD, Newsroom $ 50 STONEWARE, DB Master, v. 4 + S 350 $ 36 $ 73 $ 225 $ 289 $ 240 $ 63 $ 219 $ 199 $ 139 $ 89 $ 79 $ 189 $ 265 S 265 S 65 $ 79 $ 115 $ 79 $ 89 $ 79 $ 79 $ 43 $ 145 $ 32 $ 189 LIST COKR0Y PRICE PRICE PENGUIN, Graphics Magician $ 60 S 41 QUALITY, Bag of Tricks $ 40 $ 29 UNITED SWI, ASCII Express-Pro DOS $ 130 $ 82 UTILICO, Essential Data Duplicator III S 80 S 49 HOME & EDUCATIONAL UTILITIES SOFTWARE BEAGLE, GPLE or Alpha Plot, ea $ 50 $ 27 Pronto DOS or Disk Quick, ea $ 30 $ 19 Apple Mechanic or I.O. Silver $ 30 $ 19 BORLAND, Turbo Pascal (req. CP/M) $ 70 S 36 Turbo Toolbox S 55 S 30 CENTRAL POINT Copy II Plus (bit copier) $ 40 $ 22 EPSON, Graphics Dump $ 15 $ 7 FUNK, Sideways $ 60 $ 37 HAYES, Terminal Prog, for Smartmodem $ 99 S 65 MICROSOFT, Full Line IN STOCK CALL MICROSTUF, Crosstalk $ 195 $ 109 OMEGA, Locksmith $ 100 $ 73 PENGUIN, Complete Graphics System II $ 80 $ 49 BARRONS, Study for SAT $ 90 S 60 BEAGLE BROS., Full Line IN STOCK CALL BRODERBUND, Print Shop $ 50 $ 31 Print Shop & Refill $ 65 S 39 Bank St. Mailer or Filer, ea. $ 70 $ 45 Bank St. Writer or Speller, ea $ 70 $ 45 Bank St. Combo (Writer & Speller) $ 140 $ 85 CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant $ 75 $ 43 HARCOURT, Computer SAT $ 80 $ 51 KOALA, Full Line IN STOCK CALL MICROSOFT, Typing Tulor II S 25 $ 17 MINDSCAPE, Crossword Magic $ 50 $ 35 MONOGRAM, Dollars & Sense (11 + /lie) $ 100 $ 59 Dollars & Sense (llc/lle 128K) $ 120 $ 69 Forecast S 60 S 38 SCARBOROUGH, Mastertype | 40 S 25 Your Personal Net Worth $ 80 $ 50 SIERRA/ON-LINE, Homeword $ 70 $ 45 SIMON & SCHUSTER, Typing Tutor HI S 50 $ 33 RECREATIONAL SOFTWARE BLUECHIP, Millionaire or Barron, ee . $ 50 S 35 ELECTRONIC ARTS, Bard's Tale $ 45 $ 35 Sky Fox & others, ea. S 40 S 29 Movie Maker S 40 S 30 Deluxe Music Construction S 50 S 37 Dr. J & Larry Bird $ 40 S 30 HAYDEN, Sargon III (Chess) S 50 S 30 INFOCOM, Zork I, II, or III, ea S 40 S 29 MICROPROSE, Strike Eagle S 35 S 23 ORIGIN, Ultima III $ 60 S 39 Ultima IV S 64 $ 44 PENGUIN, Transylvania S 35 $ 24 SPECTRUM HOLOBYTE, Gato (128K) S 40 $ 25 SPINNAKER, Full Line IN STOCK CALL SUB LOGIC, Flight Simulator II S 50 S 30 DISKETTES • CONROY-LAPOINTE" DISKETTES • We guarantee these top quality products with our name. 5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. 10ea.SS/SD, (Apple, etc) 35 Trk,W7FLIP BOX $ 13 100 ea./1000 ea. SS/SD, 35 Trk $99/ $669 10 ea. SS/DD,3V2"(MAC.H/P).W/FLIPBOX $ 25 50 ea./100 ea. SS/DD, 3W $115/ $235 10ea.DS/DD,(IBM,H/P)40Trk.W/FLIPBOX $ 16 100 ea./1000 ea. DS/DD, 4 Trk $119/ $799 10 ea. DS/HD, (IBM-AT) 96 TPI W/FLIP BOX $ 29 100 ea. DS/HD, (IBM-AT) 96 TPI $ 269 IBM PREFORMATTED 10 ea.. DS/DD, 40 Trk W/FLIP BOX $ 20 100 ea./1000 ea.. DS/DD, 40 Trk $149/ $959 SINGLE-SIDED, DOUBLE DENSITY list CONROY CDC, 10 ea, SS/DD, 40 Trk (Apple, etc) $ 45 $ 19 DYSAN, 10 ea. SS/DD. (Apple, etc.) $ 40 $ 24 MAXELL, 10 ea. SS/DD. MD1 (Apple) $ 47 $ 19 VERBATIM, 1 ea, SS/DD. MD515-01, (Apple) $ 4 9 $ 17 DOUBLE-SIDED, DOUBLE DENSITY CDC, 10 ea. DS/DD. 40Trk(IBM, H/P) $ 59 $ 23 DYSAN, 10 ea, DS/DD, (IBM, H/P) $ 69 $ 27 MAXELL, 10 ea, DS/DD. MD2 (IBM) $ 65 $ 21 VERBATIM, 10ea,DS/DD,MD34(IBM)$ 75$ 21 3Yi" MICRO DISKETTES MAXELL, 10 ea. SS/DD (MAC. H/P) $ 55 $ 28 MEMOREX, 10 ea. SS/DD (MAC. H/P) $ 60 $ 33 VERBATIM, 10 ea, SS/DD (MAC, H/P) $ 65 $ 32 HIGH DENSITY DISKETTES FOR IBM-AT MAXELL, 10 ea. DS/HD (IBM-AT) $ 75 $ 49 MEMOREX, 10 ea. DS/HD (IBM-AT) $ 84 $ 49 • GENERIK DISKETTES • Top quality, w/jackets, no labels. Quantity discounts. 90 day "No hassle, money back guarantee." 100 ea. SS/SD, 35 Track (Apple, etc) $ 75 100 ea, DS/DD, 40 Track, (IBM, H/P) $ 79 10 ea. DS/HD. (IBM-AT) 96 TPI $ 27 100 ea. DS/HD. (IBM-AT) 96 TPI $ 249 MODEMS LIST C0KR0Y HAYES, 2400 External Modem $ 899 $ 619 Smartmodem 1200B (IBM) $ 549 Smartcom II Software (IBM or MAC) $ 149 Smartmodem 1200 (External) $ 599 Micromodem lie w/Smartcom (AP) $ 199 Transet 1000 - 128K $ 399 Transet 1000 Access Paks AP/IBM/MAC $ 40 NOVATION, Apple Cat II 300 Baud (AP) $ 389 2400 External $ 795 212 Apple Cat, 1200 Baud (AP) $ 595 SmartCat Plus w/software (MAC) $ 499 $ PROMETHEUS, 1200 Standalone Modem $ 495 $ ProModem 1200 w/software (MAC) $ 549 $ 399 ProModem 1200A (AP) $ 449 $ 329 ProModem 300C (AP lie) $ 199 $ 149 ProModem 1200B (IBM) $ 399 $ 289 VENTEL. PC Halfcard (IBM) $ 549 $ 389 379 107 419 149 309 35 $ 219 $ 595 $ 409 349 349 MONITORS AMDEK, 300G, 12" Green/Comp $ 179 $ 119 300A. 12" Amber/Comp $ 199 $ 129 310A, 12" Amber/IBM $ 230 $ 159 Color 300, Comp/Audio $ 349 $ 239 Color 500, Comp or RGB/ Audio $ 525 $ 299 Color 600, Hi Res RGB/Audio $ 599 $ 399 PRINCETON, MAX-12, Amber (IBM) $ 249 $ 179 HX-12. Hi Res/RGB $ 795 $ 445 HX-12e, Hi Res/RGB/for IBM-EGA $ 785 $ 559 SR-12. Hi Res/RGB $ 799 $ 599 OUADRAM, Amberchrome, 12" $ 250 $ 149 ZENITH, ZVM-1220. 12" Amber/Comp $ 159 $ 109 ZVM-1230. 12" Green/Comp $ 159 $ 109 ZVM-1240 & ZVM-135 15-25% OFF CABLES arbo, IdM-po to Modem oaoie 5 31 5 19 ASTAR, RF Modulator forT.V. (Apple) $ 35 $ 20 COMPUCABLE, Mac/Hayes Smartmodem Cable $ 32$ 18 CURTIS, Monitor Extension Cable (IBM) $ 50 $ 32 3'-9' Keyboard Extens. Cable (IBM) $ 40 S 26 RCA, Monitor Cable $ 15 $ 6 PRINTERS DOT MATRIX: LIST C onroy EPSON, FX85- 160 cps DO/32 cps NLQ/10"$ 499 $ 389 FX185 - 160 cps DQ/32 cps NLQ/15" $ 699 $ 539 LX80 - 100 cps DQ/16 cps NLQ $ 299 $ 249 LQ1500 - 200 cps DQ/67 cps LQ $1295 $ 995 Tractor feed for LX80 $ 40 $ 33 Tractor feed for LQ1500 $ 70 $ 55 Tractor feed for FX85 $ 45 $ 35 HEWLETT-PACKARD, Laserjet $3495 CALL Thinkjet - 150 cps Inkjet $ 495 CALL OKIDATA, Okimate 20. 182, 84 LOW PRICES 92. 192. 193. 2410 Pacemark IN STOCK PANASONIC, P1092 - 180 cps/10" $ 599 $ 399 1093 $ 699 $ 469 QUADRAM, Quadjet-lnkjet Color $ 895 $ 395 STAR MICRO, SG10 - 120 cps DQ/30 cps NLQ $ 299 $ 249 SD10 - 160 cps DQ, 40 cps NLQ $ 449 $ 379 SR15 - 200 cps DQ, 50 cps NLQ, 16K $ 799 $ 679 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS,855-150cps$ 995 $ 689 TOSHIBA, 351 - 288 cps $1695 $1195 LETTER-QUALITY: JUKI, 6300 - 40cps/para. $ 895 S 699 6100 - 18 cps/para/3 pitch $ 599 $ 409 Sheet Feeder for 6300 (single) 5 275 $ 225 PANASONIC, P3151 - 22 Cps/15Va" S 659 $ 439 TOSHIBA, Prop, spacing &hi-res graphics: 1340 - 144 cps DQ & 54 cps LQ $ 799 $ 519 Bi-direction Tractor Feed $ 195 $ 175 PLOTTERS: EPSON, 4 Pen Plotter $ 599 CALL HEWLETT-PACKARD, 8 Pen Plotter $3900 CALL PRINTER SUPPLIES: CONROY LAPOINTE, Colored Paper Pack (250 sheets) $ 13 S 8 PAPER: White, Colored. Laser Cut, etc. RIBBONS, DAISYWHEELS IN STOCK PRINTER INTERFACES AND BUFFERS LIST CONROY PRICE PRICE ARBO, IBM-PC to Para Printer Cable $ 36 $ 25 Switchbox, TS-0902 $ 95 $ 59 ASSIMILATION, Mac to Epson Conn l/F S 89 $ 69 Daisywheel Connection $ 99 $ 80 EPSON, Parallel Interface for LQ1500 $ 100 $ 79 Serial Interface Board $ 130 $ 110 OKIDATA, Plug ' n Play, Tractors, Okigraph CALL ORANGE MICRO, Grappler Plus for Apple $ 145 $ 95 Serial Grappler $ 119 $ 79 Buffered Grappler Plus, 16K $ 209 $ 145 Hot Link, S-P cable for lie $70$ 44 Grappler C $ 119 $ 75 QUADRAM, Microfazers, Full Line IN STOCK CALL Microfazers 8K, P-P, w/copy $ 189 $ 139 SMT, Apple II l/F & Cable $ 89 $ 39 STAR MICRO, Mac/Star Interface $ 100 $ 89 ACCESSORIES CURTIS, Diamond. 6 outlets, switched $ 50 $ 60 $ 90 $ 80 $ 45 $ 70 $ S 100 $ $ 60 $ Emerald . 6 outlets, 6' cord Ruby, 6 outlets. 6' cord, filter Sapphire, 3 outlets, w/filter EPD, Lemon, 6 outlets/wall Lime, 6 outlets/cord Orange, 6 outlets/cord/filter Peach, 3 outlets/wall/filter INNOVATIVE, Datacase 50 (disk holder) $ 15 $ KENSINGTON, Printer Stand $ 30 $ NET WORX, Wiretree, 4 outlet/filter/surge $70$ Wiretree Plus, 6 outlets/filter/surge $ 100 $ PROD TECH INTL, Uninterruptable Power Supply 200 Watts, PC200 for IBM-PC $ 359 $ 289 300 Watts, XT300 for IBM-XT $ 499 $ 399 800 Watts, AT600 for IBM-AT, 72 lbs. $ 899 $ 789 r CONROY- n LAPOINTE S - CREDIT CARD * Send me a ConroyLaPoinle - credit application form, so I can get cash discount prices L with credit card convenience. 5400 Minimum initial purchase. CITY STATE ZIP MAIL TO: 12060 SW Garden Place, Portland, OR 97223 CREDIT DEPT: (503) 6B4-1232 HDnCDIMP IMC ft TCDMC- MAIL TO: 12060 SW Garden Place, Portland, OR 97223 -Include telephone number. Check VjnUDnlNvjMMrUw I U rl IVI O . your figures for Shipping, Insurance and Handling (SIH). All items usually in stock. NO C0.D. Cashiers checks, money orders, Fortune 1000 checks and government checks honored immediately. Personal and other companychecks- allow 20 days to clear. Prices reflect 3% cash &Conroy-LaPointe Credit Card discount, so ADD 3% to a bove p rices lor VISA/MasterCaid /America n Express . Your card NOT charged til we shp. Gift Certificates available in any amount. We ship Federal Express Standard Air. US. & Puerto Rico, add 3% ($5 minimum). Canada, add 12% ($15 min). Foreign, add 18% ($25 min). APO, FP0, & other U.S. territories shipped postal, so add 6% ($10 min.). Orders received with insufficient SIH will be held for balance due. All prices, availability and specifications subject to errors or change without notice, so call to verify. All goods are new, include warranty and are guaranteed to work. Due to our low prices and our assurance that you will get new, unused products-ALL SALES ARE FINAL. We do not guarantee compatibility. Call before returning | goods for repair or replacement. ORDER DESK HOURS -6AM to 6PM PST, Monday through Friday, Saturday 8 to 4. PC Mastercard'*, EconoRAM*, Fastrak"". and Generic are trademarks ol Magnum Computer, I nc. Inquiry 88 for Apple, Inquiry 89 for IBM Peripherals. Inquiry 90 for all others. #B33 <& 1984, 1985 by Conroy-LaPointe. frjc. AH Rights Reserved LOW PRICES TO PROFESSIONALS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY WANT AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT! ( TO ORDER, CALL (800) 547-12891 } FOR YOUR IBM-PC, XT, AT or JR COMPUTER SYSTEMS OTHER HARDWARE OTHER HARDWARE MEMORY 256K KIT $32 gift wrapping available. Just ask! A A JA$M(/M , - r JiiJrB l 5M 8088-2 PC/XT-2 jjwjggi^ $995 640K, Two 360K Drives Plus: MS-DOS 2.11, Parallel Port, 2 Serial Ports (RS 232C), Clock/Calendar, Floppy Drive & Tape Backup Controller, 5 slots, 135 Watt Power Supply, 8087-2 optional, Selectric PC/AT Style Keyboard. w/1 Floppy & 10 meg Hard Drive $1 595 Please call for other configurations Above prices do not include video card or monitor IBM-pc 256K, 2 360K Disk Drives IN STOCK LIST AST, SixPak Plus, 64K S 395 SixPak Plus, 256K, S/P/CC + S/W $695 SixPak Plus, 384K, S/P/CC + S/W $ 895 Preview" 1 Graphics Card w/para, 64K $ 399 Advantage" Multif. Bd. for AT, 128K $ 595 I/O Plus II, S/P/CC $ 215 I/O Plus II, S/P/CC/G $265 Port Kits - ser, para, or game, ea. $ 50 CENTRAL POINT, PC Option Board $ 95 COMX, 130 Wart Power Supply $ 179 Selectric PC/AT Style Keyboard $ 195 CURTIS, Command Center $ 180 EVEREX, The Edge, Color/Mono Brd $ 399 HAUPPAGE (HCW), 8087 Chip $ 175 8087 Math Pak (Chip & softw.) $ 295 80287, Fast-5 $ 295 HAYES, Mach II Joystick $ 45 Mach Ell (PC or Jr.) $ 55 HERCULES, Color Card w/para. $ 245 Mono Graphics Card $ 499 IMSI, Mouse with Paintbrush $ 220 KENSINGTON, Masterpiece" $ 140 Masterpiece Plus $ 180 KEY TRONIC, KB5151, Std Keyboard $ 255 KB 5153 Keyboard w/Touch Tab $ 400 KOALA, Speed Key Software $ 100 Speed Key System (Tab w/ softw) $ 200 C0NR0Y $ 239 $ 259 $ 269 $ 249 $ 445 $ 169 $ 225 35 $ 81 $ 93 $ 95 $ 119 $ 269 $ 125 $ 219 $ 239 $ 29 S 35 $ 159 $ 309 $ 129 $ 92 $ 137 $ 189 $ 325 $ 63 $ 115 FLOPPY, HARD & TAPE DRIVES UUU, (39 msec, access time) Internal 20 meg kit FOR AT $1695 $1 1 95 CORE INTL, (39 msec, access time) ATplus 20 meg kit FOR AT $1395 $1095 ATplus 30 meg kit FOR AT $1595 $1245 IRWIN, UST C0NR0V 10 meg tape backup system $ 795 $ 449 1 m e g tape cartridges (by 3M) $ 2 5 $ 19 KAMERMAN, 10 meg kit w/controller $ 895 $ 579 20 meg kit w/controller $ 995 $ 695 Masterflight 10 meg w/tape $2295 $1795 SEAGATE, 10 meg w/controller $ 745 $ 459 20 meg w/controller $ 895 $ 489 TALLGRASS, , 24 meg disk, 10 meg tape $3495 $2490 LIST C0NR0Y PRICE PRICE KOALA, Koala Pad w/PC Design $ 150 $ 85 MAYNARD, SAND STAR SERIES IN STOCK CALL Multifunction (6) Card $ 89 $ 79 Memory Card no RAM $ 199 $ 139 Serial Port Module $ 95 $ 79 Para or Clock Cal. Module, ea. $ 59 $ 49 MICROSOFT, Mouse (for PC) $ 195 $ 129 Serial Mouse $ 195 $ 145 MOUSE SYSTEMS, PC Mouse & Paint $220 $ 145 PARADISE, Modular Graphics Card $ 395 $ 295 Parallel or Serial Poit, ea. $ 95 $ 66 256K Module w/clock $ 195 $ 165 PERSYST, PC/Mono Board, w/para $ 250 $ 159 PC/Color Graphics Board $ 244 $ 176 QUADRAM,Quadboard,noRAM,to384K$ 295 $ 195 Quadboard 64K,to 384K, S/P/CC/G $395$ 239 Quadboard 256K, to 384K, S/P/CC $ 675 $ 269 Quadboard. 384K (full), S/P/CC/G $ 795 $ 279 Quadboard II, no RAM, to 256K $ 295 $ 215 Quadboard II, 256K, 2S/CC $ 595 $ 395 Quad 512 + 64K w/serial poil $ 325 $ 245 Quadcolor I, board, 4 colors $ 295 $ 175 Upgrade Quadcolor I to II kit $ 275 $ 149 QuadnetVI $1995 $1045 Quadlink $ 495 $ 375 Quadsprint $ 645 $ 495 TALLTREE, J RAM II Board $ 219 $ 159 JRAM II Modules IN STOCK JRAM III, 256K Board $ 399 $ 309 TECMAR, Maestro, 128Kto3MB, S/Pfor AT $ 589 $ 459 Graphics Master $ 695 $ 519 TITAN, 128K PC Accelerator $ 795 $ 595 VIDEO 7, Mono Graphics Card $ 250 $ 179 MGCw/ Parallel Port $ 300 $ 215 VEGA Board (EGA Compatible) $ 599 $ 429 WICO, Smartboard Keyboard $ 400 $ 279 • * FOR YOUR PCJR * * KEY TRONIC, KB5151 Jr. Keyboard $ 255 $ 189 Numeric Keypad $ 69 $ 52 KOALA, Touch Tablet for Jr. $ 125 $ 75 MOUSE SYSTEMS, Mouse w/software $ 220 $ 138 QUADRAM, Expansion Chassis $ 695 $ 540 Memory Expansion Board 128K $ 275 $ 215 RACORE, Expansion Chassis $ 675 $ 449 128K Expansion Board $ 275 $ 189 TECMAR, Jr. Captain $ 395 $ 309 64K KIT $7 128K KIT $39 90 Day Warranty £ by us CALL FOR QUANTITY PRICES A JAQNVM EconoRAM™ 384K Single Function Board LIST Oi7 With Fastrak", RAMdisk and Print Spooler. Requires 256K of memory already installed. PC MASTERCARD ™ The Only Multifunction RAM Card Expandable to 1.5 MB LIST CONROY "0"KB $169 $139 384KB $199 $179 1.5MB $399 $349 Works like AST SixPak™ except includes game port Also has serial port, parallel port, clock/calendar, 1.5 MB RAMdisk, 1.5 MB print spooler. 1.5 MB bank switching development and utility software: Silicon Bullet" 1 Year Limited Warranty. SOFTWARE FOR YOUR IBM-PC, XT, AT or JR BUSINESS BUSINESS BUSINESS UTILITIES list CONROY PRICE PRICE ASHTON-TATE, Framework II $ 695 dBase Ml S 695 dBase II, (req. PC-DOS &128K) $495 BORLAND, Reflex: The Analyst $ 99 BPI, General Acctg. AR, AP, or PR, ea $ 595 BREAKTHROUGH, Timeline $ 495 BRODERBUND, Bank St. Writer (PC orJr.} $ 80 CDEX, Advanced Training lorLotus 1-2-3 $ 70 CONTINENTAL, Ultrafile $ 195 Tax Advantage $ 70 Property Management $ 495 DATA TRANS., Fontrix $ 155 Font Packs, each $ 20 DOW JONES, Market Manager Plus $ 249 Market Analyzer $ 349 Spread Sheet Link $ 249 FOX & GELLER, Quickcode III $ 295 HARVARD, Total Project Manager $ 495 HOWARD SOFT, '86 Tax Preparer $ 295 HUMAN EDGE, Mind Prober (PC or Jr.) $ 50 Sales Edgeor Management Edge, ea. $ 250 Negotiation Edge $ 295 INFOCOM, Cornerstone $ 495 LIFETREE, Volkswriter Deluxe $ 295 LIVING VIDEOTEXT, Think Tank $195 LOTUS, 1-2-3 NEW VERSION! $ 495 Symphony $ 695 MOBS, Knowledgeman II $ 595 MECA, Managing Your Money (PC) $ 199 MICROPRO, Easy NEW $ 150 WordStar (PC) $ 350 WordStar Professional, 4 Pak $ 495 $ 415 $ 395 $ 289 $ 59 $ 365 $ 295 $ 51 $ 45 $ 115 $ 40 $ 295 $ 99 $ 19 $ 159 $ 229 159 185 295 199 29 139 165 $ 309 $ 159 $ 109 $ 329 $ 449 $ 395 $ 105 $ 99 $ 189 $ 265 MICROPRO, WordStar 2000 (copiable) $ WordStar 2000 Plus (copiable) WordStar Professional, 4 Pak MICROR1M, R:Base Series 5000 R:Base 4000 R:Base Clout Extended Report Writer MICROSOFT, Multiplan (PC or Jr) Chart Project Word MOSAIC, Twin MULTIMATE, Multimate Ver. 3.3 PALADIN, FlashCalc PEACHTREE, Back to Basics Peach Pak (GUAR/AP) PRENTICE HALL, Inside the IBM, by P. Norton $ QUE, Using 1-2-3 (book) 1-2-3 for Business (book) $ Using Symphony (book) $ SAMNA, Word III $ SATELLITE, WordPerfect (PC) $ WordPerfect (Jr) $ SOFTW. ARTS, Spotlight $ SOFTWARE GROUP, Enable $ SOFTWARE PUBL. PFS:Report $ PFS:Write, File or Graph, each $ PFS:Plan or Access, each S PFS:Proof $ SOFTWARE PUBL., First Success (F/R/W) $ Best Sellers Combo $ SORCIM, SuperCalc III S Superwriter S LIST CONROY PRICE PRICE 495 $ 265 595 $ 295 495 $ 265 695 $ 385 495 $ 259 249 $ 133 150 $ 92 195 $ 129 300 $ 199 395 $ 265 375 $ 239 145 $ 89 495 $ 229 129 $ 86 395 $ 229 395 $ 219 22 $ 17 18 $ 14 17 $ 13 20 $ 15 550 $ 295 495 $ 219 69 $ 46 150 $ 95 695 $ 385 125 $ 75 140 $ 84 140 $ 84 95 $ 57 350 $ 299 350 $ 225 395 S 229 295 $ 195 LIST PRICE PRICE SPRINGBOARD, Newsroom $ 50 $ THORN EMI, Perfect Pak (Jr) (WriiefSpellrThesaurus) $ 1 39 $ UNISON, Print Master $ 60 $ WARNER, Desk Organizer (PC or Jr) $ 99 $ XANARO, Ability $ 495 $ 319 UTILITIES BORLAND, Turbo Editor Toolbox $ Turbo GameWorks $ Turbo New Pack $ Turbo Jumbo Pack $ Superkey/Sidekick Pkg. $ Turbo Holiday Pack $ BOURBAKI, Onedir $ CENTRAL POINT, Copy II PC $ PC Tools $ DIGITAL RES., Gem Draw $ Gem Collection $ Gem Desktop $ CP/M-86™ (PC/XT) $ FUNK SOFTWARE, Sideways $ LIFEBOAT, Lattice C $ Dr. Halo $ MAGNUM, Fastrak™, RAM/Disk & spooler $ MICROSOFT, Macro Assembler $ QuickBASIC $ Access $ BASIC Compiler $ C Compiler $ Business BASIC Compiler $ COBOL Compiler $ FORTRAN Compiler $ PASCAL Compiler $ LIST PRICE MICROSOFT, Windows $ 95 MICROSTUF, Crosstalk XVI (PC or Jr) $ 195 Remote $ 195 MOUSE SYSTEMS, PC Paint $ 99 NORTON, Utilities (14 prgms) v 3.0 $ 100 POLYTRON, Polywindows (copiable) $ 85 ROSESOFT, Prokey (New Version) $ 130 WESTERN UNION, Easy Link Mail Mgr $ 95 CONROY PRICE $ 69 $ 110 $ 125 65 $ 40 70 $ 40 95 $ 50 245 $ 130 125 $ 65 125 $ 69 95 $ 62 40 $ 22 40 $ 22 150 S 95 199 $ 125 50 $ 32 100 $ 64 60 $ 37 495 $ 279 100 $ 59 50 $ 39 150 $ 99 99 $ 69 250 $ 169 395 $ 269 500 $ 339 450 $ 299 700 $ 475 350 S 235 300 $ 199 HOME & EDUCATIONAL BPI, Personal Accounting $ 99 S 63 BRODERBUND, Print Shop $ 60 $ 36 CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant (Jr) $ 75 $ 45 Home Accountant Plus (PC) $ 150 $ 90 DAVIDSON, Spell It $ 50 $ 30 MINDSCAPE, Crossword Magic $ 50 $ 35 MON OGRAM, Dollars & Sense w/forecast $ 180 $ 100 SCARBOROUGH, MasterType (PC or Jr) $ 40 $ 25 Your Personal Net Worth $ 100 $ 63 SIMON & SCHUSTER, Typing Tutor III $ 50 $ 33 RECREATIONAL BLUECI-HP, Millionaire, Barron, Tycoon, ea. $ 60 5 35 BRODERBUND, Large Inventory In Stock CALL ELECTRONIC ARTS, Large inventory In Stock CALL HAYDEN, Sargon III (Chess) $ 50 $ 34 INFOCOM, Hitchhiker's Guide $ 40 $ 25 Zork I, II or III, each $ 40 $ 29 MICROPROSE, Strike Eagle $ 35 $ 23 MICROSOFT, Flight Simulator (PC or Jr) $ 50 $ 33 ORIGIN, Ultima III (PC or Jr) $ 60 $ 39 SIERRA/ON-LINE, Ultima II (PC or Jr.) S 60 $ 43 SPECTRUM HOLOBYTE, GatO $ 40 $ 25 SPINNAKER, Amazon, Dragon, each $ 40 $ 25 SUBLOG1C, Jet $ 50 $ 32 CONROY-LAPOINTE 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. — NEW LOCATION! 1105 Bellevue Way N.E. In Belgate Plaza, 2 blocks north of Bellevue Square. CALL (206) 641-4736. tmwm •USWtSS AWAfW WM 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 Inter- state Bank, (503) 643-4678. We belong to the Chamber of Commerce (503) 228-9411, and Direct Marketing Association; call Dun and Bradstreet if you are a subscriber. Recipient of OREGON BUSINESS MAGAZINE'S 1984 Enterprise Award. [MailerCardj WSj NO SALES TAX CALL (800) 547-1289 In Oregon: (BOO) 451-5151 QUESTIONS (503) 620-9878 8.00 AM ■ 5:00 PM (PST) Weekdays Only Foreign & Portland Residents Call (503)620-9877 ORDER DESK HOURS Mon-Fri 6am to 6pm (PST) Saturday 8am to 4pm (PST) (6 am here is 9 am in New York) Inquiry 138 At last, the breakthrough you've been seeking in a database management system. FoxBASE" 1 is more than just a relational database management system. Because it's written in C, FoxBASE is a highly portable, sophisticated interpreter/ compiler that's ultraquick. Very economical. And dBASE II® source compatible (including full macro usage). FoxBASE emits compact object code and makes automatic use of an 8087 or 80287 chip to let you develop and run applications with unsurpassed speed. And for as little as $10 per license, you can distribute FoxBASE with your applications. FoxBASE even comes with a 30-day moneyback guarantee. MS-DOS $395. AOS/VS $995. UNIX"" (priced according to host). Don't be outfoxed by the others. Call or write Fox Software today. dBASE II is a registered trademark of AshtonTate. ^^ FOX SOFTWARE, INC. 27475 Holiday Lane, Perrysburg, OH; 43551 419-874-0162 CLUBS AND NEWSLETTERS IHe American Medical Student Asso- ciation (AMSA) Computers in Medicine Task Force (C1MTF), James Hornig-Rohan. Box 189-APH, Medical College of Penn- sylvania, 3300 Henry Ave., Philadelphia. PA 19129. (215) 732-1845. Newsletter and access to medical software. Annual fee: $3.50, AMSA members; $6, nonmembers. IHe Guelph PC Users Group. Michael McKinnie, 47 Woodborough Rd., Guelph, Ontario NIG 3L7, Canada, (519) 836-9006. Monthly meetings and newsletter, public- domain software. P. E Flyer, George Stewart, Program Fac- tory, POB 137, Hancock, NH 03449. Newsletter with programs listed or on disk. Annual subscription: $16. IHe National Amiga Users Group (NAMUG), POB 151, Oakland Gardens. NY 1 1364. Newsletter, more services to come. Membership: $20. Hewlett-Packard Washington Desktop Users Club. Bruce Baxter, IRS D:R:R:M, 1 1 1 1 Constitution Ave. NW. Washington, DC 20224, (202) 566-3252. Meetings in Rockville, MD, seminars, library, BBS. Amiga Users Group (AUG), 10668 Ellen St.. El Monte, C A 9 1 7 3 1 . Monthly newslet- ter, public-domain software to come. Kaypro Users of Toronto and En- virons (KUTE). Box 66, Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W IA2, Canada. Newsletter, library, SIGs, BBS. Silver State Computer Users Group, POB 81075. Las Vegas, NV 89180. For users of IBM PC, compatibles, and Com- modore. Meetings, newsletter, public- domain library. Dues: $4 per month. Geneva Mac Club. CP 13, 1211 Geneva 12. Switzerland. Monthly meetings and returnable disks. Annual fee: 100 Swiss francs or about $40. MicroPro Users Group of America (MUGA). 140 Riverside Dr.. New York. NY 10024. (212) 595-4811. Monthly newslet- ter, program coverage. Annual dues: $20. Apple Enthusiasts Society of Oak Park (AESOP). Patt Chase, POB 4 1 1 1 . Oak Park, IL 60303, (312) 366-7864. Monthly meet- ings, Mac SIG, support. Annual dues: $24. Atari Computer Association of Orange County (ACAOC), POB 9419, Fountain Valley. CA 92708. Monthly newsletter, BBS at (714) 731-6523. Annual dues: $24. Sacramento Microcomputer User's Group (SMUG). POB 161 513, Sacramen- to, CA 95816. Monthly newsletter and meetings, public-domain software. Annual dues: $12. Bulletin Board Systems. Meckler Publishing, 1 1 Ferry Lane W, Westport, CT 06880, (203) 226-6967. Formerly called Plumb. 8 issues: $26. Modem Dmes. Pikes Peak Macintosh Group, 15 North 14th St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904. (303) 471-2126. An on- line arts magazine for the Mac. Annual membership: $18. NationServ, RR #5. POB 391, Fairfield, IL 62837-0391. (618) 847-2381. Multipurpose 24-hour BBS at 300 or 1200 bps at (618) 847-2291. Annual fee: $10. Ihe National Loco Exchange, Tom Lough, POB 5341. Charlottesville. VA 22905. Logo reference material for teachers. 9 issues: $2 5; $30, foreign. TViE SPE (Society of Petroleum Engi- neers) Microcomputer User Group, Wes Eckles. 9424 Hunters Creek, Dallas, TX 75234. Produces bimonthly publica- tion for professionals in energy resources. Denver Area TI Users' Group, 2760 South Havana, POB 14056, Aurora, CO 80014. Monthly meetings, BBS, newsletter. Annual membership: $24. ■ CLUBS AND NEWSLETTERS is an acknowledgment of new clubs and newsletters received at BYTE. Please allow at least four months for your club's mention to appear. Send information to BYTE, Clubs and Newsletters. POB 372. Hancock. NH 03449. 54 BYTE ■ JANUARY 1986 The IBM upgrade path. , ^ 1 1, & W ,:;-' m :>% T V It's still a great system— in perfect condition. But now you're ready to make a deal on your IBM PC or XT. Maybe your business needs have grown, or your new appli- cation package iims too slow. Don't dump your present IBM system. Red River Technology has a better offer— Alias— a single-board plug-in package that transforms £g your IBM PC or XT into a super- All Alias isn't a semi compatible plug-in card, but completely trans- forms your PC or PC XT into a 100% IBM PC AT compatible system. Consider these features: • 8 or 10 Mhz 80286 CPU. 50-100% more perfor- mance than IBM's PC AT (switch selectable— 6, 8, or 10 Mhz) • IEEE 802.3 standard LAN option on the base board (your choice, StarLAN or Ethernet) • IBM compatible serial port • IBM compatible parallel port • 512K memory standard, expandable to 1.0 megabyte without using precious 10 expansion slots • Three 8-bit slots, use more of your existing add-in boards • Five CMOS VLSI gate arrays eliminate over 60 chips to lower power consumption and improve reliability • CAD based design, highest quality multi-layer board • Installs in 10 minutes with nothing but a ^regular screwdriver. Red River 'Ilech- nology has defined state-of-the-art in board- level computers. So don't take someone else's best offer for your IBM PC orXT Red RiverTtechnology believes an upgrade path should not be a dead end. For more information on the AlTas single-board computers, call us today, at 817-571-5714. Assembled and tested board: $1295 (8 Mhz CPU) $2395 (10 Mhz CPU) (Specify PC or XT version) Kit form (includes board, 5 gate arrays, 8 Mhz 80286) $595 (8 Mhz CPU) Complete Kit Complete System CALL 817*571-5714 $ 795 CALL Quantity discounts available. Dealer and OEM inquiries welcome. Other unique 8088 and 80186 boards also available. Write for details. TERMS; VISA. MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, CHECK, MONEY ORDER. $5 SHIPPING AND HANDLING PER ORDER. TEXAS RESIDENTS ADD 6% SAI.ESTAX. Red River Technology, Inc. Red River l\»ohnology. Inc., DFW West, 4001 W Airport F\vy., Suite 500, Bedford. Ifcxas 76021 Inquiry 306 IBM is a i'ttgls(.er<*] trademark ol'International Business Machines Corporation. ATlas is a trademark of Red Riverltechnology. Inc. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 55 Amdek challenges you to read between the lines. Not all monitors are created equal. And no monitor in this price range can equal the new Amdek Color 722. What makes the 722 RGB monitor so distinctive? For one, a dual frequency output that is capable of supporting IBM's Enhanced Graphics Adaptor. The result is 350 lines of resolution, assuring you of a sharper, crisper image that makes your graphs and charts look more like a work of art, and less like a rough sketch. For another, the fact that the 722 is made by Amdek — where monitors are our only line, not just a sideline. The high performance 722 features an etched glass, non-glare screen that's easy on the eyes, plus front- mounted controls that are easy on the operator. This means less eye fatigue and greater productivity. MaC| j ^vt t^tn What's more, the 3-position text J J \J v/L C/lllt switch enables you to choose green, amber or full-color type — up to 80 characters in width x 25 lines of text. There's even an optional tilt/swivel stand that allows you to select a viewing angle that's most comfortable for you. It all adds up to more monitor for the money, and is backed by more warranty for your peace of mind. Amdek's warranty protects your investment for three full years on the CRT, and two years on all other parts and labor. No other monitor warranty offers you more. For high resolution performance, see the new Amdek Color 722. We know you'll be impressed. After all, everytime an Amdek monitor is sold, we know that we are putting our image on the line. Inquiry 15 Clearly the finest in monitors. IBM i.s;i rejjisirrril trademark at lnicTn.iiion.il fUisincs* Machine Corp. 2201 Lively Boulevard. Elk Grovq Village. IL (i()()(>7. Phone: H12/364-1180. TLX: 280-803 BOOK REVIEWS INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS Arthur J. Critchlow Macmillan Publishing Co. New York: 1985 528 pages, $3 5 THE MICROCOMPUTER IN CELL AND NEUROBIOLOGY RESEARCH R. Ranney Mize, editor Elsevier Science Publishing New York: 1985 498 pages, $49.50 DATA BASE MANAGEMENT Fred R. McFadden and Jeffrey A. Hoffer Benjamin/Cummings Menlo Park. CA: 1985 558 pages, $36.95 INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS Reviewed by Larry Clark The history behind the development of robots, their operational characteristics, and the benefits of their use are the focus of Introduction to Robotics. Arthur J. Critch- low prepared the chapters so that the first portion of each can be read casually; there's not an extreme amount of technical detail. An introductory course could even be gleaned from these parts of the book. He then closes the chapters with valuable technical matter for advanced readers. Although some repetition is evident the dual level of presentation would have been impossible without it. The book is designed so that readers who did not major in robotics can still understand the subject. Critchlow recognized that the field of robotics attracts and involves people from a variety of disciplines and wrote to the whole audience. Nearly any engi- neering major would find the section on analysis of robot arm links interesting and lucid, even though it uses advanced analysis tools like Denavit-Harten- berg matrices. In my estimation, the book was written for the junior and senior levels of college and is for those people who want to fami- liarize themselves with robotics or those who in- tend to become involved in robot applications. Critch- low explains robots from a design standpoint so that the reader can understand why robots exhibit certain characteristics. He explains features that researchers are currently developing and what needs these fea- tures will serve. For in- stance, a factory of the future will have robots that are programmed "off line" directly from CAD (com- puter-aided design) data so that programming does not take up valuable production time. For off-line programming to become practical, hurdles (collisions, for example) must be overcome. The author describes these problems in detail. Critchlow reviews research efforts by corporations and universities. The results describe an exciting array of mobile robots, advanced controls and sensors, and lan- guage developments that include artificial intelligence. The references at the end of all chapters indicate that each section is based on extensive research. A reader could use this book as a complete reference resource to locate original papers on robotics topics (such as works of Denavit and Hartenberg), even those that were written early in the robotics era and may now be hard to get. Ex- tensive excerpts or summaries are taken from the refer- [continued) ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID GOTHARD JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 57 A NEW WAY TO SPELL PERFORMANCE WESTERN AT TURBO tm THE ULTIMATE COMPUTING MACHINE WITH IBM COMPATABIUTY NOW WITH OPTIONAL: • 6MHz-8MHz switching capability giving 33% faster operation than IBM PC/AT • 2 MB ram onboard capability with a built-in parallel printer port $2595.00 • 80286 or 80286-8 CPU with optional 80287 co-processor • 8 expansion slots • On board battery- backed clock calen- dar • Optional 20/33/80 MB Winchester disk memory • Op- tional multifunction card with total 4 MB RAM and 4 serial ports, 1 parallel port and game port capability. WESTERN PC TURBO ($1495.00 - 256K, 2x360K floppy drives. CC/MC mono monitor 1 printer port) Now with: 8 expansion slots • Dual clock speed of 8MHz — 4.77 giving 50% faster operation • Up to 1 MB RAM on mother board — optional ram disk software to address above 704 K • 1 parallel port • Optional floppy controller & drive 1.2 MB floppy drive with serial parallel ports • 10/20/33 MB Winchester disk capability. Western Computer WARNER CORPORATE PARK 1381 WARNER AVE., SUITE B, TUSTIN, CA 92680 (714) 259-7755 TELEX 756731 ANSWERBACK WESTERN COMP. EUROPEAN HEAD OFFICE BELECTRONIC SA, RUE CENTRALE 43 CH-1880-BEX, SWITZERLAND PHONE (025)631250 TELEX 456 168 ASWERBACK BELE CH. BOOK REVIEWS ences and more than support the author's statements. Many of the illustrations are also taken from these refer- ences. Critchlow's unusual and refreshing introduction to robotics begins with European mechanical developments in the 1700s and mentions Karel Capek's coining the word 1 robot" in 1921. By doing this, Critchlow shows that many basic ideas used in robotics, like mechanical-cam program- ming, existed for hundreds of years before the word "robot" came into existence. The author discusses kinematic analysis using homo- geneous matrices and, as an exception to the purpose of an introduction, goes on to give numerical examples of their use that are excellent. A reader will immediately see the complexity involved and how maximum performance is demanded from a control computer. Compliant end ef- fectors and end-of-arm tooling schemes are described (compliant tooling offers several advantages despite the added complexity). Mechanical power-drive mechanisms are explained in terms of how they are specially suited to the rigorous needs of robots. Hydraulic, pneumatic, and electric drives are detailed. Microprocessors are introduced briefly using the 8080 as an example. The reader is given definitions of some of the terminology; fortunately. Critchlow reviews logic gates before moving on to describe microprocessor pro- gramming and architecture. Software capabilities are detailed for several commer- cial robots. I have seldom seen this much data on the char- acteristics of robot programming. A total of 14 language systems are reviewed, including VAL, a structured lan- guage. Sensors are evaluated in terms of the signals they pro- duce, how they operate, and the best uses to which they can be put. Vision sensing is introduced in an especially thorough manner in a chapter of its own. Critchlow pro- vides extensive examples of elementary mathematical- analysis methods. You can see for yourself how lines and edges are identified in an image and how their slope and intercept values are determined. Because vision algo- rithms are complex and quickly exceed the scope of an introduction, the reader is sent to the references that ap- pear at the end of each chapter for more information. But by this time you will know what you want to learn more about and where to find further information. Vision, un- doubtedly one of the more important sensing methods, remains largely undeveloped. The reader is shown what vision systems are capable of doing now and what capa- bilities remain to be developed. Errors The book contains several errors that you should be prepared to recognize and ignore. 1 will describe two so that you can sense their nature. (Other small errors such as incorrect references to figures were obvious and not significant.) Though the errors described here do not [continued) 58 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 381 for End-Users. Inquiry 382 for DEALERS ONLY. Those who insist on C compiler performance are very big on Mark Williams. And the compiler is just part of our total C Programming System. Mark Williams' C compiler has earned a place in some very big companies for some very good reasons: it proves the benchmarks right with the speed, code density, consistent performance and expert support required in professional development environments. But a total development tool shouldn't stop with compiling. Or go on and on with extras that add up and up. Only Mark Williams' C Programming Systems includes the csd C Source Debugger with true source level debugging to speed your programming job. And only Mark Williams' new 30 version includes utilities like "make" to make quick work of even the largest projects. From source code to final product, only one takes you all the way: Mark Williams' C Programming System. All for only $495. Ask about our 30-day money back guarantee when you call 1-800-692-1700 to order today* flfill Mark You'll be big on the total jl Williams C Programming System from %A# Company Mark Williams, too. spJsFX These and other powerful £f^/ utilities now included in the C ^y^ Programming System: 4^/ ' make: compiles only what's necessary from multiple modules, a powerful pro- gramming discipline • diff: identifies differences between two files • m4: macroprocessor expression editing and substitution • egrep: extended pattern search • MicroEMACS: full screen editor with source COMPILER FEATURES • Runs under MS-DOS • Full Kernighan & Ritchie C with recent extensions including void and enum • Register variables for fast, compact code • Full UNIX™ compatibility and complete libraries • Large and small memory models • MS-DOS linker compatibility • 8087 Support • One-step compiling • English error messages • ROMable code • Linker, assembler, archiver • Extensive third party library support csd C SOURCE DEBUGGER • Debugs at C source level without assembly language • Separate evaluation, source, program and history windows • Can execute any C expression • Capabilities of a C interpreter, but runs in real time • Set trace points on any statement or variable © 1985 Mark Williams Company UNIX is a registered trademark of Bell Labs. Inquiry 223 *]n Illinois call 312-472-6659- 1430 West Wrightwood Chicago, Illinois 60614 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 59 Give your DOT printer letter-quality performance. And we'll give you a top-notch word processing program. StyleWriter™ is a unique device with a 64K data buffer and multiple type styles and sizes that upgrades your dot matrix printer to letter quality. So versatile it even allows double underlining, proportional spac- ____ ing, reverse characters, bold fPPfK " 1 face and much more. i^M^n mf And StyleWriter works with " ~^^^m any software program, any computer and any dot matrix printer. Order StyleWriter now and receive MicroPro's new EASY absolutely free. Now, word processing is easier than ever to use. Because Easy has the best WordStar® features in a new, simplified format. Easy includes a fully integrated Spelling Corrector making it the perfect word processor for executives and all first-time computer users. Unconditional money back guarantee Call now to order StyleWriter for $249 and your free software selection. If you're not completely satisfied, return both undamaged within 30 days for a full refund. Major bank cards and C.O.D. accepted. And ask about our unique speech input system, Pronounce™ 1-800-325-9206 Microphonics Technology Corporation 234 S.W. 43rd Street, Renton,WA 98057 Mfcrophonics BOOK REVIEWS destroy the book's value, they limit its audience to those who wouldn't be misled by them. The chapter on controls analysis contains a significant error that would certainly confuse the uninitiated. Begin- ning engineering students would be confused by reading that feedback forces the output of a closed control loop to be equal to its input (that is, their ratio is unity), then seeing the classic development of the closed-loop transfer function. The transfer function, G(s)/(l +G(s)H(s)), equation #4 on page 168. is correctly given as the ratio of output to input and is clearly not equal to unity as stated earlier. If the author has an explanation for the differences this literal interpretation of his writing brings to light, he does not say. I can imagine the number of questions a group of students would have about this discrepancy. I found another error in an extensive description of the General Motors Consight vision system. The Consight sys- tem, as described on page 374, was said to be able to accurately measure the height of a part on a conveyor belt even though only a linear diode array camera was being used. Further, the system was described as a two-dimen- sional system that could provide both a part's height and location on a conveyor belt. I checked the original reference and found that the Con- sight system did provide 2-D silhouettes but did not pro- vide height data; it only detected height in finding the outline of the part. I learned enough from Critchlow's writing about solid-state cameras to find this anomaly. In fact I found it worthwhile to look beyond the errors to appreciate the wide range of information offered in this book on advanced robot controls, software, sensors (espe- cially vision), and applications. The author's work repre- sents a worthy effort, though the errors are annoying. The book offers a good overall view of the robotics field for someone who wants either a light introduction or a starting point that gives detailed references to original works in robotics and related fields. To me, the most in- teresting portions of the book are its sections on kinematics and analysis of vision problems. Although errors are significant, they would affect only a fraction of the book's potential audience. Larry Clark (8103 Thomewood Dr., Uixson, TN 37343) is involved in robotics applications development and teaches robotics after-hours as an adjunct professor at Chattanooga State Technical Community College. His hobbies include building microcomputers and working with a FORTH compiler he wrote. THE MICROCOMPUTER IN CELL AND NEUROBIOLOGY RESEARCH Reviewed by David A. Price The Microcomputer in Cell and Neurobiology Research presents advice for biologists who want to use microcomputers to control experiments and analyze the results. Although {continued) 60 BYTE - JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 242 Now the biggest name in C compilers comes in a size everybody can afford. Let's C: Introducing Mark Williams' $75 C compiler. Want to explore C programming for the irst time? Or just on your own time? Now you can do it in a big way without spending that way. With Let's C. This is no little beginner's model. Let's C is a powerful programming tool, packed with all the essentials of the famous Mark Williams C Programming System. The one chosen by Intel, DEC, Wang and thousands of professional programmers. The one that wins the benchmarks and the reviewers' praise: "(This compiler) has the most professional feel of any package we tested. . ."—BYTE "Of all the compilers reviewed, (it) would be my first choice for product development" -David W. Smith, PC WORLD And now for more big news. Get our revolutionary csd C Source Debugger for just $75, too. Use this coupon or diarge by calling toll-free: ^ u can breeze through 1-800-MWC-1700. In 111. call 312-472-6659. , , ++\ r* debugging at the C source level ignoring clunky assembler code. Affordable, powerful, debuggable. Mark Williams Let's C is the big name C compiler at a price you can handle. Get your hands on it now. Mark Williams Lets C • For the IBM-PC and MS-DOS • Fast compact code plus register variables • Full Kernighan & Ritchie C and extensions • Full UNIX" compatibility and complete libraries • Small memory model • Many powerful utilities including linker, assembler, archiver, cc one-step compiling, egrep, pr, tail, wc • MicroEMACS full screen editor with source • Supported by dozens of third party libraries • Upgradeable to C Programming System for large scale applications development Let's C Benchmark Done on an IBM-PC/XT, no 8087. Program: Floating Point from BYTE, August, 1983- Exec Time in Seconds Let's C 134.20 MS 3.0 347.45 Mark Williams Let's C $75 ['lease send me: copies of Let's C and copies of csd ( C Source Debugger) at 575 each. (III. residents add 7% sales tax.) □ Check □ Money Order □ Visa, MasterCard or American Express Name- City- Zip. Card #_ Kxp. Date- Signature. Mark Williams Company 1430 West Wrightwood Chicago, Illinois 60614 Inquiry 224 © 19K5 Mark Williams UNIX is a trademark nflkll Lib*. :<• TOTALCONT with LMI FORTH PORTH For Programming Professionals: an expanding family of compatible, high-performance, Forth-83 Standard compilers for microcomputers For Development: Interactive Forth-83 Interpreter/Compilers • 16-bit and 32-bit implementations • Full screen editor and assembler • Uses standard operating system files • 400 page manual written in plain English • Options include software floating point, arithmetic coprocessor support, symbolic debugger, native code compilers, and graphics support For Applications: Forth-83 Metacompiler • Unique table-driven multi-pass Forth compiler • Compiles compact ROMable or disk-based applications • Excellent error handling • Produces headerless code, compiles from intermediate states, and performs conditional compilation • Cross-compiles to 8080, Z-80, 8086, 68000, and 6502 • No license fee or royalty for compiled applications Support Services for registered users: • Technical Assistance Hotline • Periodic newsletters and low-cost updates • Bulletin Board System Call or write for detailed product Information and prices. Consulting and Educational Services available by special arrangement. Ml Laboratory Microsystems Incorporated Post Office Box 10430, Marina del Rey, CA 90295 Phone credit card orders to: (213) 306-7412 Overseas Distributors. Germany: Forth-Systeme Angelika Flesch, D-7820 Titisee-Neustadt UK: System Science Ltd., London EC1A 9JX France: Micro-Sigma S.A.R.L., 75008 Paris Japan: Southern Pacific Ltd., Yokohama 220 Australia: Wave-onic Associates, 6107 Wilson, W.A. BOOK REVIEWS biologists have long used minicomputers and mainframes for these purposes, the advent of microcomputers and lab-oriented microcomputer peripherals (such as high- speed analog-to-digital converters and video "frame grab- bers") has made laboratory automation less costly and more convenient. R. Ranney Mize, the editor, selected a diverse range of application areas, with chapters written by researchers who have implemented microcomputer systems for their own labs. They have practical knowledge to share, but their contributions vary widely in quality. The application areas covered include light and electron microscopy, morphometry (measuring the sizes and shapes of cells and organelles), serial section reconstruc- tion (drawing the original three-dimensional form of an object based on a series of two-dimensional tissue slices), image analysis, and electrophysiology (recording electrical activity in the nervous system). In each of these areas, the potential contribution of lab computers is inestimable. Morphometric analysis, for example, is highly tedious work if the researcher must rely on manual methods. One typical approach is to trace a picture of a cell, cut it out, and weigh the cutout— an approach that one of the authors describes as "exhausting." With a video display or a digitizing tablet, the researcher can partly automate the process, thereby making morphometric information not only less costly but also more accurate. Researchers using autoradiography (that is, tracing blood flow and other activity using radioactive solutions in animal bloodstreams) have benefited from image-analysis systems. (An autoradiograph is a photographic print of a slice of tissue, with varying levels of gray for varying con- centrations of radioactive solution.) After using a video camera or a scanning densitometer to put an autoradio- graph into a computer, a researcher can make the gray levels easier to distinguish by having the computer assign "false colors" to each of the gray levels and then display- ing the autoradiograph on a color monitor. The researcher can then compare different autoradiographs either visually or with precise, computer-generated statistics. Researchers Writing for Researchers Because a large number of researchers contributed to the book, it does not focus exclusively on a particular machine; systems described in the book are based on the Apple II, the IBM Personal Computer, the DEC LSI-1 1, and many other microcomputers. The choice of languages, similarly, includes assembly, BASIC, FORTRAN, FORTH, and C. Most of the contributors describe in precise detail the hardware and software they used to build their sys- tems, as well as the considerations that led them to choose as they did. The fact that the authors are researchers writing for other researchers has both good and bad effects. A good ef- fect is that their point of view differs sharply from a com- puter specialist's: The authors place a higher value on simplicity and practicality than on impressive specs. (Some [continued] 62 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 198 F R SORE E Y E THOMSON To those of you who stare and stare— and stare at computers, blessed relief has arrived. Thomson™ monitors. We promise clearer, crisper resolution, remarkable colors and print-like text. Thomson builds a full line of monitors, from basic monochrome to high- resolution color models. All are designed to fulfill your needs today, and sophisticated enough to fulfill your needs in the future. Thomson monitors are designed and built by Thomson, a $6 billion international corporation. They're going to change the way America looks at computers. Ask your local computer dealer for aThomson monitor, or call 1-213-821-2995, ext. 34, for the Thomson dealer nearest you. Then take a stare at aThomson monitor. It's a sight for sore eyes™ Telex 3720"233. Thomson is a trademark of Thomson S.A. S — !■«"" mm m^* Model CM 313I1SL 12'diagonal. .31mm dot pilch RGBI color monitor with text switch and non-glare tinted screen. THOMSON O © 1985 Thomson Consumer Products Corporation Inquiry 352 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 63 jjii <*^£l*#* Confidence Game. It's knowing that the friendly voice at the other end of the line understands what you're saying. Can answer your techni- cal questions, verify prices and shipping schedules. Or make good suggestions. Join the Micro Mart Confidence Game. Trust Micro Mart for immediate infor- mation and advice on almost any micro- computer product. Our 15 million dollar inventory is on-line to our mainframe so we can verify, order, deliver and service. Without delay. Call us with confidence. COMPUTERS AT&T Color and Mono Systems in stock Start at $1795 MULTIFUNCTION BOARDS We have a complete line of Multi- function Boards compatible with the Portable, XT/AT. SIX PAK 64-384K, multifunc. I/O MINNIE I/O shortboard for Portable & AT New Low Price! ADVANTAGE 128K-3Mb, expansion for AT QUADRAM Quadboard Loaded, 384K $269 QUADRAM Goldboard, 384K $459 TECMAR Captain 0-384K, multifunc. $175 TALLTREE J-RAM II New Low Price! GRAPHIC CARDS HERCULES Mono & Color Graphics cards _ New Low Price! TECMAR Graphics Master, HiRes Color & Mono supports Lotus $449 QUADRAM Quadcolor I & II color cards PARADISE Multi-display or modular graphics cards From $199 STB Chauffeur & Colorific $289 & $189 SIGMA Color 400 for PGSSR-12_ New Low Price! FLOPPY DISK DRIVES TANDON TM 100-2, DD/DS, 360K New low, low price! 1/2 HEIGHT Disk Drives from Shugart, Mitsubishi, TEAC and Toshiba. PC, XT & AT Compatible. From $99 BEST SUPPLY ON EAST COAST HARD DISCS IRWIN/TANDBERG Tape back-up systems From $495 SEAGATE Fast 10, 20, 30 and 75 Meg. for PC & AT From $495 SYSGEN Complete line Call for our special Sysgen pricing! BERNOULLI TECHNOLOGY Hard disc Subsystems From $2595 PRIAM Superfast 40 & 60 Meg. for AT Call! Best availability of voice coil and stepper motor hard drives with high quality controllers From $495 Inquiry 23 7 SOFTWARE ACCOUNTING SPREADSHEETS & INTEGRATED PACKAGES SORCIM/IUS Complete line in- cluding Windows.From $289/each SORCIM SuperCalc 3, vers. 2.0_ New Low Price! ENHANCEMENTS & UTILITIES FOX & GELLER Complete line for dBase ll/lll, RBase 4000 NORTON Utilities 3.0 $69 $89 R0SES0FTProKey3.0_ CENTRAL POINT SOFTWARE Copy II PC $35 SOFTSTYLE Set FX+ and Printworks, printer control. SIDEWAYS Inverts printout $35 BORLAND SideKick and SuperKey From $40 COMPILERS & LANGUAGE TOOLS LATTICE C-Compilers $279 MICROSOFT Complete line MICROSOFT QuickBasic New Low Price! BORLAND Turbo Pascal, Turbo Toolbox & more_From $35/each GRAPHICS Z-SOFT PC Paintbrush, mouse graphics $95 DECISION RESOURCES ChartMaster_Latest Version $239 MICROSOFT Chart $169 COMMUNICATIONS MICROSTUF Crosstalk XVI, Latest version $99 HAYES Smartcom II $85 WORD PROCESSING MULTIMATE w/spelling checker & tutorial New Low Price! SAMNA+ $350 MICROSOFT Word. New version _ New Low Price! LIFETREE Volkswriter Deluxe $169 SSI WordPerfect, version 4.1 $249 MICROPRO WordStar Professional series New Low Price! OFFICE & PROJECT PLANNING HARVARD Total Project Manager. $299 SORCIM/IUS Super Project_$199 MICROSOFT Project $175 DATA BASE MANAGERS Call for unadvertised Data Base Managers. MICRORIM 5000, Report Writer & Clout New Low Price! WARNER SOFTWARE The Desk Organizer $145 MICROSTUF Infoscope $99 NETWORKING/ PROTOCOL CONVERSION SNA & BISYNC 3780, 5251. Mod 11 & 12, 3274, 3278 MISCELLANEOUS $25 PC TURBO 186/187 board, 128K, 8087 Serial Board attached_$875 IRMA Complete line From $849 TECHLAND Blue Lynx. Complete line Call! PRINTERS We have thousands in stock. DOT MATRIX EPSON FX85/185 NEW! EPSON LX80/LQ1500 OKIDATA 192 & 193, ML84, Pacemark 2410 TOSHIBA P-341, P-351 & 1340 New Low Prices! NEC New P-5 Introductory Low Price! LETTER QUALITY NEC Spinwriters 2050, 3550, 8850 New Low Prices! EPSON DX10, DX20, & DX35_ New Letter Quality Printers! We carry a full range of form handling options. chips All our chips are tested and priced for quick sale. Call us! INTEL 8087, 80287, high speed coproc. From $119 64K-256K RAMCHIPS Call for Market Price. 128K Piggy-back chips for your AT Call for Market Price. MODEMS HAYES Smartmodem 300, 1200, 1200B & 2400. We have the best stock in the USA Call! VEN-TEL 1200 Baud Half Card w/Crosstalk $399 PEACHTREE TECHNOLOGIES P-1200 ext. with Crosstalk $319 MAXELL Diskettes. DYSAN Diskettes at the lowest price in the USA Call! MOUSE SYSTEMS PC Mouse, optical w/software $139 MICROSOFT Mouse, bus or serial mechanical. New Model In Stock! KEYTRONICS 5151 keyboards $149 KENSINGTON MICROWARE MasterPiece $99 CURTIS Accessories, Pedestals, cables, etc. . GRAVIS Joysticks. _$45 QUADRAM Microfazer print buffer 8-128K From $129 TRIPPELITE ISOBAR surge protectors, 4 & 8 plug_From $49 POLAROID Palette $1245 MONITORS AND CRTS PGS Max12 (E), HX12, HX12(E), & SR-12 New Low Prices! QUADRAM Quadchrome, 690 dot RGB $429 AMDEK Color 600 $379 AMDEK 722, New alternative to IBM enhanced monitor $569 AMDEK 300A/300G/310A $129/$119/$165 ©Copyright 1985, Micro Mart, Inc Technology Corporate Campus 3159 Campus Drive Norcross, Georgia 30071 Prices are subject to change without notice and are similar, but may vary at over 20 Micro Mart Retail Stores. Leasing and financing options are available. MasterCard/VISA or ask for Micro Mart Blue Chip Credit. BT 1-86 YOUR PERSOKAL BLUE CHIP CARD 1234 567 890 123 (404) 449-8089 Orders only 1-800-241-8149 America's PC Specialist JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 65 Turbo, who? Do you have to give up power and advanced potential to get ease of use and affordability? Not anymore. Because now, you can have UCSD Pascal for only $79.95! If you're making your move into programming, there's no better way to go than Pascal. And starting now, you dont have to settle for a stripped-down version of Pascal in order to get a price thafs right. Instead, you can choose UCSD Pascal -the recognized Pascal programming standard in colleges and uni- versities throughout the country -at the incredibly low introductory price of $79.95 for your PC-DOS, MS-DOS, or other popular computer. Start with the standard With an entry-level system, you spend a lot of valuable time learning a non-standard form of Pascal. And you don't get all the capabilities a true Pascal system is supposed to deliver- unless you buy a lot of add-on utilities— which can send the cost of your system sky-high! Worst of all, when you're ready to tackle anything more than short, simple programs-you have no choice but to move up to a more sophisticated system (like UCSD Pascal). And at that point, you also have to relearn standard Pascal. UCSD Pascal has everything you need With UCSD Pascal, you get a full-featured, professional programming tool thafs being used right now in the development of major scientific and business applications. The system comes with an outstanding text editor, a complete on-line tutorial, 8087 math coprocessor support and BCD (decimal arithmetic) included in the package at no extra cost. In fact, UCSD Pascal contains virtually everything you need -as standard f u equipment- for devel- oping the simplest to the most sophisticated programs. UCSD Pascal is available for MS-DOS, PC-DOS, UNIX, VMS, MSX and many other operating systems. You can use UCSD Pascal to write programs of any size on virtually any computer, and port them to any other computer. And if speed is what you're after, the latest native code version of UCSD Pascal actually benchmarks favorably with Turbo Pascal® in execution time! ^ * Programming that's easy . . . and fun! At Pecan Software Systems, we strongly believe programming should be as easy as possible. JJCSD Pascal was originally designed for teaching programming skills, so if s extremely easy to learn and to use. With UCSD Pascal, you'll be developing programs right from the start that are easy to write, easy to understand, and easy to maintain. We also believe that programming should be fun. So we've made UCSD Pascal as enjoyable to use as it is powerful. The right tool at the right price When the fun gets serious, you'll have a comprehensive programming system right at your fingertips with UCSD Pascal- a system that will help you develop those big-league programs you may eventually want to write -at a price you can readily afford. Put UCSD Pascal programming power on your PC now for only $79.95! Order by mail today or phone now 1-800-63-PECAN. UCSD Pascal -the original standard of Pascal pro- gramming excellence. The new leader in Pascal price/ performance. ^P^^l The UCSD Pascal Company Pecan Software Systems, Inc. 1410 39th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218 718-851-3100 : -■' is a trade- ■ — mark of 1 Commodore 1 Electronics \ \ APPLE 4 m MACiNTOSHare * trademarks of 4 Apple Computer. \ M ATAHI 520 is a * trademark of Ata/i * Corporation. M RAINBOW is a '; * . trademark of Dtojtal A Equipment Corporation. « TANDY (s a trade- * mart of Radio Snack tf Turbo Pascal is a 1 registered trademark of Borland International 60 -d»V rt»o< x&i' Sf® #0* \<\C vjcso &*$0i* sjfcjS!*' JS?** *SkJSS^U« IB** 6" o^ ■\$$ fflptf . an o' 4 ?- ^•SSfc i«« o^\* e s i?A K He* 1 W* Stafc 1 66 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 278 BOOK REVIEWS exceptions stand out, though; a handful of the writers are obviously dazzled by fine technical differences of ques- tionable importance.) Another good effect is that each author provides an extensive bibliography to which readers can refer for further information about algorithms, lab techniques, and equipment. A bad effect is that the text, like most scientific writing, has many awkward moments; the passive voice reigns supreme. The topics covered are especially well chosen because they not only relate to a variety of applications but also present a variety of engineering problems. The chapters on microscopy and morphometry describe some challeng- ing problems of pattern recognition. The parts covering serial section reconstruction show how some program- mers have tackled the representation, manipulation, and display of three-dimensional line drawings. The chapters on autoradiographic image analysis discuss various ways to digitize an image and enhance it. Sections on electro- physiology focus on numerical and graphic analyses of electrical signals. Others provide helpful descriptions of algorithms, and one chapter even includes a lengthy BASIC listing. Many of the contributions are excellent. The chapter by Sing and Salin, for example, provides a clear overview of popular computer languages and the issues involved in choosing a language for lab use. The chapter on hardware selection by Poler, Akeson, and Flaming includes a useful discussion of technical support; it gives a much-needed warning of the fact that computer dealers are generally unfamiliar with the special requirements of laboratories. The chapters on autoradiographic image analysis are con- sistently first-rate, as is the chapter by Park on neuro- physiological recording. Flaws Some of the contributions, however, fall short. The first chapter, intended as an introduction to microcomputer hardware, says little of importance to researchers. Giving short shrift to the vital topic of interfacing, it consists main- ly of a daunting discussion of bus and processor architec- tures. Some contributors present long and boring recitals of technical data ("The 9845B has dual 16-bit NMOS-II microprocessors, 187 KB of RAM memory, a medium- resolution graphics screen . . .") as a substitute for insight and analysis. A more serious difficulty is that several of the con- tributors wrote article-length advertisements, in essence, for products in which they appear to have a proprietary interest. Although the developers of a product are, of course, suited to describe it for interested users, the possibility for abuse is obvious. First, the writer (or editor) does not alert the reader to the pertinent facts. Unless you read the material carefully, you might not realize that the author who is lauding system X also happens to own the company that sells it. When an author has a commer- cial interest in a product, he or she should say so forth- {continued) IBM PC XT Compatible Computer runs DOS 2.1, 3.1, Lotus, Wordstar, dBase 111, and any known software. XT-Plus has eight Slots, 640KB memory on Mother Board. m0& Limited time special offer: 640KB CPU, Floppy Controller, Keyboard, Parallel Port, Serial Port, Game Port, Clock, two 360 KB Disk Drives all for $799 (Suggested Retail Price $1399.) AMERICAN MICRO TECHNOLOGY (714) 972-2945 TWX 5106003265 IBM PC, XT AT & COMPATIBLES at Wholesale Prices A Mf an IBM PC AT Compatible Computer ^'2 = / 640K on Board, 1.2MB Disk Drive, ^§v 20 MB Disk Drive, Keyboard s 1995 ^-^J""'"" 1 Retai | Rrjce $3995) 640K Ram each .45 128K Ram each 3.50 256K Ram each 2.50 Toshiba Drive 360KB 79.00 1.2MB Disk Drive for AT 129.00 20MB Hard Drive w/Controller and Cables . . . 449.00 10MB Tape Back Up Drive for XT 299.00 10MB Tape B/U Drive for AT 375.00 135 watt Power Supply 79.00 195 watt Power Supply 125.00 FDC with P/P, S/P, Clock & Game Port . . . . 99.00 AT Mother Board 799.00 XT Mother Board 125.00 Floppy/HD Controller for AT 219.00 AMT (714) 972-2945 TWX 5106003265 ** °T Vn. Inquiry 17 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 67 THE PRICE LEADERS!!! BUILD YOUR OWN PC! # $■ & & c o, % «* *h *r> r fy IBM PC-XT TYPE CASE $ 49.00 150 WATT POWER SUPPLY $ 95.00 51 50 IBM-TYPE KEY BOARD $ 59.00 MOTHER BOARD EXPANDABLE TO 640K WITH 128K INSTALLED $165.00 MONOCHROME GRAPHIC PRINTER BOARD $ 89.00 FLOPPY CONTROLLER BOARD $ 39.00 2-FLOPPY DISC DRIVES @$85 EACH $170.00 12" TTL HIGH RESOLUTION MONITOR $123.00 COMPLETE WITH INSTRUCTION & ASSEMBLY MANUALS. ^=^= YOUR COST $789.00 OPTIONAL: ASSEMBLED & TESTED WITH MS DOS & GW BASIC $145.00 RAM CHIPS TO EXPAND TO 640K $ 55.00 Any of these components may be purchased separately. $989.00 All boards guaranteed for 1 year. IBM. PC/XT m IradBmarks ol Inlimilional Business Machines. Inc. SmarTeam Modem 103/212A- Operates at 300 Baud & 1200 Baud • Hayes Compatible • Auto Answer. Dial & Redial Uses RS 232-C Connector #91990 S175.00 w Brother® Printer Dot Matrix Printer #DM5 $99.00 -) Mura Modem i MM -100 -sends & I receives at 300 Baud. '" • Direct Connect to Phone Compatible with all computers having RS 232 Port #10005 SI8.00 1 Key Boards ■IM$ai^ , » mm 5151 IBM Type Key Board Caps and Num Lock #5151 $95.95 5060 AT IBM Type Key Board Over size shift and return key. #5060 AT $89.95 ADD ON BOARDS IBM COMPATIBLE Monochrome Graphic Printer Board • Built in Parallel Printer Port • Text: 25 line x 80 column • Graphics: 720 x 348 resolution • TTL High Resolution Output #92270 $89.00 Multifunction Board • Expandable to 384 K RAM • Serial Port. Game Port • Parallel Printer Port • Clock Calendar w/ Battery Backup • Software. Manuals and Cables #92290 $99.00 Color Graphics Board • RGB and Composite Port • Light Pen Interlace • Graphics: 320 x 200(color); 640 x200(BW) • Text: 25 x 80 #92280 $80.00 Plus A Huge Selection 384K RAM Expansion Board • Fully buffered #92305 $50.00 512K RAM Expansion Board • Fully buffered #92300 $59.00 RS 232 Serial Board • 1 Serial Port • 2nd Port optional #92310 $35.00 Parallel Printer Card Also may be used as I/O Port #32700 $29.00 Floppy Disk Controller • Drives 2 internal drives • Includes cable • IBM PC compatible #92260 $39.00 of Cebles & Accessories! THE WHOLESALE OUTLET ' / / / / Dept. BY. 1 Interstate Avenue. Albany, NY 12205. To order call 1 1 1 1 1-800-344-4387 (Non-NYS Res.) or 518-459-7883 (NYS Res.) ' Personal and company checks accepted (on mail-in orders. ) Customer pays freights handling FOB Albany, NY. Non-credit card order shipped UPS. C.O.D. Minimum order $25. Dealer and large quantity orders call 51 8-459-7883 . Ask for Computer Dept . BOOK REVIEWS rightly. Even if the writer is candid about the shortcom- ings of the product, a reader deserves to know about the potential conflict of interest. Second, the problem is worse because the offending authors in this book give one-sided, congratulatory views of their products. Their chapters are sprinkled with such adjectives as "powerful," "user-friendly," and "ideal." One author, after describing a system based on a severely dated and now almost unknown microcomputer and on a nonstandard operating system, informs the reader unblinkingly that the system "defies obsolescence." The book is also marred by some unfortunate omissions of important topics. It gives little attention to managerial issues— for example, deciding whether to write one's own lab software, hire a programmer, or buy a canned package. It omits any discussion of software testing, which is vital in a laboratory because mistakes are costly and often hard to detect. These flaws aside, The Microcomputer in Cell and Neurobiology Research is a worthwhile source of information for re- searchers with an interest in bringing microcomputers in- to their laboratories. For researchers considering so substantial an investment, every source of information should be welcome. David A. Price (57 Roseland St. #2, Somerville, MA 02143), formerly a programmer in physiology and neurobiology laboratories, is a third-year law student at Harvard University. DATA BASE MANAGEMENT Reviewed by loseph A. Benderavage Databases grow slowly, often over a period of years. Plan one to meet the needs of your organization, for both today and the next decade. This is the underly- ing principle of Data Base Management as seen by the authors, Fred R. McFadden and Jeffrey A. Hoffer. They describe very complete, detailed design rules that are easy to follow. They cite methodology for top-down planning developed by IBM, and they frequently refer to that company. Database Design Lack of standardization for semantic controls (commands), among other reasons, led to a conference that laid down guidelines for designing network databases. The Data Base l^sk Group (DBTG) of the Conference of Data System Lan- guages (CODASYL) formulated the principles listed in the book. All manufacturers, with the exception of IBM, tried to meet CODASYLs specifications. Relational databases, on the other hand, lack uniform index-maintenance pro- cedures and process data one file at a time, not one record at a time. The startling admission that the authors do not know how a relational database implements relationships surfaces amid an ocean of specific and precise definition. {continued) 68 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 383 dPOWER without dPRICE Until now, there were only two kinds of databases on the market. Powerful databases with powerful prices. And file man- agers that cost very little— and gave you very little in return. Now you can get the power you want at the price you want to pay. With PractiBase! The first inexpen- sive database that truly compares with any base at any price-especially at its introductory price of $69.95. Skeptical? We don't blame you. But consider some of PractiBase's features: • A powerful relational database man- agement system, including memo writer, forms generator, entry forms and page report generator • Advanced dBase IP-compatible programming language-including JOIN, UPDATE and TOTAL commands • Reads and writes dBase II files • Runs dBase II programs! (.PRG and .FMT files) • Sorts on multiple keys in a single operation • Handles up to three data files at one time • Menu- or command-driven (you never have to stare at a dot!) • Includes time-saving abbreviation macros ©1985 PractiCorp International Inc. • Context-sensitive, multi-level HELP • Includes 200-page manual, case study and command summary card • NOT copy-protected • For the IBM PC, XT, AT* and com- patibles • Requires 256K minimum (hard disk optional) Whether you're a first-time user or a power user, we believe you'll find PractiBase the equal of databases cost- ing up to ten times its price. You can buy PractiBase alone. Or save even more by buying it with PractiWord*-our full-featured word processor that gives you all the power of WordStar*-for a combined price of only $99.95. Either way, you'll get dPower you need. Without dStroying your budget. ^©PRACTICORP No-Nonsense Software™ The Silk Mill, 44 Oak Street, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02164 (617) 965-9870 The following are registered trademarks of the respective companies indicated: dBase and dBase II, Ashton-Tate; WordStar, Micro-Pro International; IBM, PC, XT and AT, International Business Machines Corp. PractiCorp, PractiBase and PractiWord are registered trademarks of PractiCorp International Inc. su^>^- — 1 SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER! LIMITED TIME ONLY! To order by mail: Complete this coupon and return to PractiCorp International, The Silk Mill, 44 Oak Street, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02164 To order by phone: Call TOLL FREE 1-800-858-2727 or call 617-965-9870 Yes! Rush PractiBase to me: Quantity Price PractiBase (& $69.95 each $ PractiWord (& $69.95 each PractiBase/ PractiWord bundle @ $99.95 each .... Subtotal MA residents add 5% sales tax Shipping and handling $5.00 TOTAL $ Payment: □ Check □ Visa □ MasterCard Card No._ Expiration Date- Signature Name Shipping address- City .Zip- Phone no. Allow four weeks for delivery. Outside U.S.A.. add $10 and make payment by bank draft in U.S. dollars only. L — _ . . _ , . . — — _ — - . — « B i2 6 J Inquiry 284 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 69 Inquiry 407 UPGRADE YOUR X-ASSEMBLER and save $200! Does your present PC cross assembler include the following functions: 1 Powerful macro facility 1 Relocatable code generation 1 Long symbol names (255 char) 1 Symbol maps • Multiple output formats sebe^ 1 Cross reference lists 1 Universal linker 1 Universal librarian If not, upgrade to IAR Series! To get all these functions and more, order a set of 3 or 5 different assemblers (choose 8048/51, 6801/05/09, Z8/Z80 and more), send us your old cross assembler and get $200 off our list prices: Set of any 3 assemblers: $640— $200 = $440 Set of any 5 assemblers: $940— $200 = $740 For more information or order: I Ener Enertec inc. wjenkinsave., LAN DSD ALE, PA 19446 USA Phone:(215)362-0966 Excellent Tactile Feeling PC/XT/AT COMPATIBLE KEYBOARD STAFF-K8 • 66-key keyboard • Special "FAST REPEAT" function key for Spreadsheet. Common Features: • Both PC XT & AT compatible encoded • Low profile design, DIN standard • Excellent tactile feeling, mechanical keyswitch • Double-shot, step sculpture keytops • Various languages available: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish • IBM XT/AT is registered trademark of IBM corp. STAFF-K9 • 105-key keyboard • Independent cursor control pad • Practical function key: Key-ln-lock, Key Beep, Fast Repeat, Line-Feed, Pause, Break, Previous word, Next word, Clear Screen, Reset • DEC VT-220 TERMINAL COMPATIBLE KEYBOARD AVAILABLE. A^- MONTEREY International Corp. 5FI., No 40, Deh Hwei Street Taipei Taiwan R.O.C. Phone (02)591-7138 Cable: "MONTEREY" Taipei Telex: 25171 MONTEREY Dealer and Retail Store are welcome BOOK REVIEWS Many of the rules in this book are for designing data- bases, yet there is a reference to using software programs to accomplish this. The authors go to great lengths to iden- tify the symbols and data input for the Data Designer pro- gram. They also include a list of costs and benefits that would be useful in the investigative phase of systems analysis and design. The choice of software for management of data is of paramount importance to design. Although a database management system (DBMS) requires many more steps than a conventional file-processing system to perform a simple task, and although input/output (I/O) operations are slower, McFadden and Hoff er assert that general produc- tivity will be higher. Usually a DBMS has a control system and a storage system, and it interfaces with user programs, compiled representations of data (called schemas), and access methods. This complexity is revealed in an intricate illustration that describes the loading of management- system components connected by a linkage editor into the main memory of a computer. It also shows the com- munication that occurs between a user program and its schema and, consequently, its data definitions. The authors explain the central role of the data dictionary/ directory and its link with schema at length. Many exam- ple schemas are mapped out; so too are subschemas, which give customized views of a database and are in- dependent of application programs. File Design McFadden and H offer's helpful rule of thumb for designers suggests that an index referencing more than 10 percent of the records in a file will not work as efficiently as a com- plete sequential file scan. A compact table, impressive in its coverage and scope, presents guidelines for identify- ing secondary and primary keys to further assist in file design. The authors' explanation of random access to ISAM (indexed sequential access method) files is very lucid, as is that for hashing algorithms and hashed file designs. I discovered that the access-speed hashing algo- rithm was 80 percent of maximum access speed, a factor certain to influence your choice of access method. The chapter on data models (hierarchical, relational and network, and the hybrids) clearly demonstrates the reduc- tion of complex user views to a set of small data struc- tures. This is the strongest part of the book. Normaliza- tion is extensively documented and lists the criteria for first, second, and third normal forms and beyond. A useful tip I gleaned is the 80-20 rule, which declares that 20 percent of all data items accounts for 80 percent of I/O operations. The authors make few concrete analogies. 1 appreciated one that introduced the grouping of intrarecord data struc- tures with a folk saying: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Another analogy compares inverted lists with the task of consulting a library file catalogue. McFadden and Hoffer refer to the concept of virtual [continued] 70 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 252 THE PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE "Lotus 1-2-3 $319 -^ Lotus Symphony $439 $369 $369 $219 Perfect 4-1 $809 Software Word Processing Editors FANCY FONT $139 FINAL WORD $179 MICROSOFT WORD $219 MULTIMATE $219 MULTIMATE ADVANTAGE $269 OFFICE WRITER/ SPELLER $239 PFS: WRITE $ 89 SAMNA WORD III $259 VOLKSWRITER DELUXE $159 VOLKSWRITER SCIENTIFIC $269 WORD PERFECT 4.1 $209 WORDSTAR $189 WORDSTAR 2000 $249 WORDSTAR 2000+ $289 WORDSTAR PRO $259 XYWRITEII+ $189. Database Systems ALPHA DATA BASE MANAGER II CLIPPER CLOUT V 2.0 CONDOR III CORNERSTONE DBASE III KNOWLEDGEMAN2 PARADOX PC FOCUS PFS: FILE/PFS: REPORT POWERBASE QUICKCODE III QUICKREPORT R BASE 5000 REFLEX REVELATION Spreadsheets/ Integrated Packages ELECTRIC DESK ENABLE FRAMEWORK II JAZZ LOTUS 1-2-3 MULTIPLAN OPEN ACCESS SMART SYSTEM SPREADSHEET AUDITOR SUPERCALC 3 SYMPHONY $179 $389 $139 $329 $279 $369 $329 $Call $1139 $169 $219 $159 $159 $359 $79 $629 Graphics BPS BUSINESS GRAPHICS $229 CHARTMASTER $219 CHARTSTAR $169 DIAGRAM MASTER $215 EXECUVISION $249 ENERGRAPHICS $189 FREELANCE $239 GEM DRAW $ 95 GRAPHWRITER COMBO v $339 IN-A-VISION $319 MS CHART -NEW , $189 OVERHEAD EXPRESS $109 PC DRAW $249 PC PAINTBRUSH *. $ 89 PFS: GRAPH $ 89 SIGNMASTER . $159 Project Management HARVARD TOTAL PROJECT MANAGER $279 MICROSOFT PROJECT-NEW $249 PROJECT SCHEDULER NETWORK $339 SUPERPROJECT $209 TIMELINE 2.0 $289 Desktop Environments DESK ORGANIZER $ 69 GEM DESKTOP $39 SIDEKICK $ 39 Communications/ Productivity Tools CROSSTALK $ 99 CROSSTALK MKIV $149 PROKEY $ 89 KEYWORKS $59 RELAY GOLD $Cal1 REMOTE $119 SMARTERM $Call SMARTCOM II $ 99 SUPERKEY ' .$ 55 Statistics SPSS/PC $695 STATPAK-NWA $329 STATPAC- WALONICK $349 SYSTAT $419 Professional Development LIGHTYEAR ■ $319 THINK TANK $109 Languages/Utilities CONCURRENT DOS $189 C86 C COMPILER $299 DR FORTRAN 77 $219 FASTBACK $119 LATTICE C COMPILER $289 MARK WILLIAMS C $319 MICROSOFT C COMPILER $249 MS BASIC COMPILER $249 MS FORTRAN $229 NORTON UTILITIES $ 59 QUICK BASIC $ 79 TURBO PASCAL $ 49 XENIX $Call Accounting BPI $299 GREAT PLAINS $479 IUS EASYBUSINESS $319 ONE WRITE PLUS $179 OPEN SYSTEMS $359 PEACHTREE $289 REAL WORLD $369 STAR ACCOUNTING PARTNER $249 STAR ACCOUNTING PARTNER II $529 Hardware' Display Boards AST PREVIEW EVEREX EDGE EVEREX GRAPHICS EDGE GENDA SPECTRUM HERCULES GRAPHICS CARD HERCULES COLOR CARD PARADISE MODULAR GRAPHICS PARADISE MULTIDISPLAY CARD SIGMA COLOR 400 STB CHAUFFER TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER TSENG ULTRA PAK TSENG ULTRA PAK-S $279 $309 $319 $Cal1 $299 $159 $275 $285 $489 $279 $459 $429 $369 Multifunction Boards AST ADVANTAGE $389 AST 6 PAK PLUS (64K) $229 AST 6 PAK PLUS (384K) $249 GOLD QUADBOARO (OK) $419 ORCHID BLOSSOM (OK) $199 ORCHID BLOSSOM (384K) $249 ORCHID PC TURBO (256K) ^699 PERSYST TIME SPECTRUM (OK) $199 PERSYST TIME SPECTRUM (384K) $249 QUADBOARD (OK) $189 OUADBOARD (384K) $219 SILVER QUADBOARD (OK) $219 TECMAR CAPTAIN (OK) $189 TECMAR CAPTAIN (384K) $229 TECMAR JR CAPTAIN (128K) $289 TECMAR WAVE (64K) $209 Emulation Boards AST 5251-11 $599 AST5251-12 $549 AST BSC $489 AST SNA $599 CXI 3278/9 Plus $959 IRMA $799 IRMALINE $999 Networks AST PC NET $Call CORVUS NET $Cal( ORCHID PC NET $Cati 3 COM $Call Mass Storage/Backup EXCEL STREAM 60 TAPE (INT) $899 IOMEGA BERNOULLI BOX-NEW! $2445 IRWIN 310A 10MB TAPE (EXT) $850 IRWIN 110O 10MB TAPE (INT) $499 MAYNSTREAM 60MB TAPE (INT) $1199 MOUNTAIN DRIVECARD 10MB $789 TALLGRASS $C«il TECMAR QIC-60ATTAPE (INT) $1199 Monitors AMDEK 310A $169 AMDEK 300/500 AMDEK 600/710 $249/349 $449/469 PRINCETON HX-12 $459 PRINCETON MAX-12E $179 PRINCETON SR-12 $579 PRINCETON HX-12E $559 PRINCETON HX-9 $529 TAXAN 122 AMBER $159 TAXAN 630/640 $469/539 Modems AST REACH 1200 $389 HAYES 1200 $389 HAYES 1200B $349 HAYES 2400 $579 TRANSNET 1000 $299 VENTEL 1200 HALF CARD $389 WATSON $489 Printers/Plotters BROTHER TWINWRITER $939 DIABLO $CaH EPSON FX-85 $369 EPSON FX-185 $499 EPSON LQ-1500 $999 $Ca» HP 7475A JUKI 8300 $699 $439 NEC ELF 350 NEC 3550 $1139 OKIDATA 193 $539 QUME SPRINT 1155 $1569 SWEET P 600 $799 TI855 TOSHIBA P351 $1129 Input Devices KEYTRONIC 5151 $179 KOALA $109 MICROSOFT MOUSE $129 PC MOUSE W PAINTBRUSH $129 Accessories CURTIS SURGE PROTECTORS $Call DATASHIELD BACKUP POWER $Cafl GILTRONIX SWITCHES $Call MASTERPIECE PLUS $135 MICROFAZER INLINE (64K) $219 TRIPPLITE BACKUP POWER $CaH 258K RAM SET $ 39 8087 MATH CHIP $135 Helcules Mountain Graphics Card I Drivecard 10 *399 $789 *CALL FOR SHIPPING COSTS LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE!! We will match current nationally advertised prices on most products. Call and compare. free. Diskette Library Case with your order TERMS: Checks— allow 14 days to clear. Credit processing— add 3%. COD orders— cash, MO or certified check— add $5.00. Shipping and handling UPS surface— add $3.00 per item (UPS Blue$8.00 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 1-800-221-1260 In New York State call (718) 438-6057 mssm Softline Corporation P.O. Box 729, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230 TELEX: 421 047 ATLNUI FAX: 718-972-8346 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 71 For thousands of years, man used personal computers without decent tape backup HgKHin • HM ■ Personal computers have come a long way. Unfortunately, tape back- up systems have not. Their functions are primitive, they're frightening to install and truculent to use. Genoa's Galaxy™ Systems are more highly evolved. So not only do they outperform competitive sys- tems, but using them is actually some- thing that can be done by an ordinary human. The simpler* The better* Our software is what makes the difference between our systems and everybody else's. And it's de- signed to help you use the system easily in either of two modes. Namely, menu- driven or batch file. The menu mode operates true to its name, with menus showing all the commands you have to choose from. Plus, there are multiple window displays that show execution status, on-line help with examples and how- to s, even an editor just in case you make a mistake in selecting a com- mand. And there isn't a thing you cant do from the menu mode because it's comprehensive. You'll want to use the batch mode for routine operations though, because it allows you to create a "file" to contain those operations and run them automatically, just by hitting a few keys. You can create your batch files easily, too, using the same com- mands as the menu mode. But probably the best example of just how downright civil the Galaxy systems can be is our auto backup. You just preset the time and the de- sired function, and the system does the rest. Automatically. Enough, No other tape backup systems, by the way, operate this simply. In fact, if you saw what passes for "user- friendly" these days, you'd be horrified. The features all tape backups should have* But don't Beginning with our ease of installation. Before you make your first back- up—which is the right time to do this— our installation software checks your disk configuration to make sure your tape drive will run at top speed. And it checks the entire system to guarantee it will perform as promised. Elapsed time? About 7 minutes. No competi- tive system offers anything like it. Another thing you can do is abort any command at any time. So you don't have to sit through a 20-minute file-by-file restore just because you hit the wrong key. Something else not everybody can do. You can also do a file-by-file restore from an image backup. Now you'd think everybody could do this, but no. It's important though, because if you've made an image backup (as most people do since it's so fast), you want to be able to get back the one file you need rather than all the files you don't. Hence, file-by-file restore from an image backup. But whether it's a couple of files or a complete image, you'll be pleased The JBM®compatible Genoa Galaxies are available as internal or external versions of l A streaming tape or cassette models. (External cassette not shown). to know you can restore to any storage device, thanks to Galaxy's inter- changeability feature. Multiple backups on the same tape— even from multiple sources like a floppy or another hard disk— aren't a problem either. The system simply starts recording where the last back- up ended. Or you can use multiple tapes to back up very large files. The system will just let you know when it needs a new tape. And as long as you have enough tape, you can backup as much as you like. We also per- form crc error check- ing constantly. We can back up a 20Mb disk in just over 4 minutes. And we're network compatible. Some of our com- petitors can do some of these things, some of the time. What price progress? Surprisingly, the Galaxies cost somewhat less than tape backup systems that offer less. Which includes all of them. For the Genoa Galaxy dealer near you or complete specs, call 408- 945-9720. Or write Genoa Systems Corporation, 73 E.Trimble Road, San Jose, C A 95131. The Genoa Galaxy SystemsThe most civilized tape backup in history. Galaxy is ;i trademark of Genoa Systems Corp. © 1985 Genoa Systems Corporation. Inquiry 144 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 73 The Same Only%tter The PC AT layout for the PC LEDsforall locklunctions Large, fullsurface keycaps Both symbols & legends Key Solutions Has improved on the familiar PC layout. ■ Available in both Conductive Elastomer and Mechanical Switch styles ■ Optional output for standard ASCII and Position encoding ■ Optional baud rates up to 9600 Introductory special only $99 Normally priced at $125 Call for volume discounts • Dealers inquiries invited Call 1-612.884-7375 KEY muMMum" ~ An SMK Compony 10800 Normandale Boulevard ["fg" Minneapolis, MN 55437 mmm PC and PC ATare trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. BOOK REVIEWS storage frequently, but they explain it rather cursorily mainly with diagrams. Program Languages and Illustrations Why not program in English? Excessive overhead and ab- sent update facilities in network-database processing con- stitute the predominant reasons for not doing so. Non- professionals currently interacting with a database may use codified query languages, but they still must know syn- tax and vocabulary. The authors use pseudocode in a great numberof sample programs, while they use a variety of languages for the algorithms throughout the latter part of the book, especially programs for the hierarchical data- base systems IMS, DL/l, and System 2000/80. However, the authors affirm a trend toward natural languages. Each chapter includes an introduction, narrative, sum- mary, exercises, and a review filled with stimulating prob- lems and questions. A lengthy bibliography closes each chapter, while a cumbrous index completes the book. Highly visible symbols in the margin of the text keynote case examples. A supplementary classroom package avail- able to instructors contains answers, teaching suggestions, questions, and transparencies. Another supplement con- tains case studies for course projects. Reference Tool Must textbooks always be dull and tedious? While parts of this book read easily, much of it is slow .and dry. Never- theless, the style is smooth, even-tempered, unequivocal, and consistently serious (except for a startlingly funny simile likening a data model diagram to an explosion at a spaghetti factory). -\ The authors tested this book in an introductory course on database management and in manag e ment programs. Generally, they pro vide reasons for their teaching method; they itemize, prioritize, and categorize the logic of doing things their way. The text is chock-full of definitions, with new terms conspicuous in boldface print. They define buzzwords, Latin phrases, and ambiguous terms in paren- theses and often use outline formats. Examples and "what if" situations abound, including a definition of "real world" as one of the realms of abstraction. They list many ad- vantages of the personal computer and ascribe a positive outlook to it in data-management strategy. Data Base Management begins on a dense, abstract, and theoretical level. If you are in tune with the authors' idiom, you will derive the full worth of the book. While it is a textbook for upper-division university and graduate students as well as data-processing managers, system de- signers will find the tome a valuable tool that contains numerous relevant cross-references. It incorporates sound advice and practical -suggestions for consultants, too. ■ Joseph A. Benderavage (POB 1974, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7X7, Canada), a member of the Royal Astronomical Society, is a freelance book reviewer published frequently in Canadian computer magazines. _•.<•; 74 BYTE • JANUARY I986 Inquiry I92 for End-Users. Inquiry 193 for DEALERS ONLY. CW\ «M 0<^>' ^

HEC 353033CPSLO Parallel S ►NEC 3550 33CPS Letter OuaMy Printer ►NEC 8850 55CPSPrmler 1 ► N EC Pm writer 2 New' Color Dot Matrix Okidala ML 182New 120CPSILO Model FncllBM Graphics + more Okidata ML 192 New Sleek Design! 160CPSILO Mode/Fric/IBM Graphics Okidata Color20 80CPS1 100 + CotorslLOModellBM Graphics! + More (Requires Interlace) Okidata IBM Interlace lor Okimate Color 20 Okidata ML84P 200CPS 132COL Okidata ML93P 160CPS Wide Platen Okidata 2410PPacemark 350COL QumeSpnnl 11/40 40CPS LetterOuality 1 Star Micronics Power type IBCPS Letter Quality Toshiba P!340 80COLI 144CPS Toshiba P35 1 New' 288CPSH32COL 888.00* (19 18) 920.00* ('987/ .330.00* (28 73/ 599.00* (12 94/ CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL ,155.00- (24 00) 300.00* (648) 450.00* (9 72) 975.00* (21.00) PC NETWORK • MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION YES! Please enroll me as a member in the PC NETWORK™ and send 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. I am under no obligation to buy anything. My complete satisfaction is guaranteed. Please check (*^) all boxes that apply: • Basic Membership With 14 Day Rentals □ One-year membership for $8 □ Two-year membership for $15 (SAVE $1) D Business Software Rental Library for $25 add'l. per year — members only □ Games Software Rental Library for $10 add'l. per year — members only □ Bill my credit card: □ VISA D MasterCard 316 • Special V.I. P. Membership With 30 Day Rentals D One-year membership for $15 □ Two-year membership for $25 (SAVE $5) □ BOTH Business and Game Software Rental Libraries for $30 add'l. peryear — V.I. P. members only D American Express Account Number; D Check or money order enclosed for $. Name Address City Exp. Date. mo. year . State . .Apt. No. 2ip_ Telephone ( ) My computer(s) is: D IBM PC □ IBM-XT □ IBM-AT D Apple II D Macintosh □ Other Signature V* (Signature required to validate membership) Copyright © 1985, PC NETWORK INC. PC NETWORK • MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION YES! Please enroll me as a member in the PC NETWORK™ and send 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. I am under no obligation to buy anything. My complete satisfaction is guaranteed. Please check (i^) all boxes that apply: • Basic Membership With 14 Day Rentals □ One-year membership for $8 □ Two-year membership for $15 (SAVE $1) D Business Software Rental Library for $25 add'l. per year — members only D Games Software Rental Library for $10 add'l. peryear — members only 316 □ Bill my credit card: □ VISA D MasterCard □ Amer ican Express Account Number: Special V.I. P. Membership With 30 Day Rentals One-year membership for $15 Two-year membership for $25 (SAVE $5) BOTH Business and Game Software Rental Libraries for $30 add'l. peryear — V.I. P. members only Exp. Date. □ Check or money order enclosed for $ _ Name Address City mo. year . State . . Apt. No. . Zip_ Telephone ( ) My computer(s) is: □ IBM PC D IBM-XT □ IBM-AT □ Apple II U Macintosh D Other Signature i^ (Signature required to validate membership) Copyright © 1985, PC NETWORK INC. BUSINESS REPLY CARD First Class Permit No. 14823 Chicago, IL POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE PC NETWORK 320 West Ohio Chicago, Illinois 60610 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY CARD First Class Permit No. 14823 Chicago, IL POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE PC NETWORK 320 West Ohio Chicago, Illinois 60610 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES COMPLETE SYSTL ' ni local warranty service available in most major me\ IBM PC BASE SYSTEM IBMPCw/256K Floppy Drive Controller 2 Double Sided Double Density Disk Drives Mix and Match with your Favorite Monitor and Printer! $1,425.00* IBM PC HARD DISK SYSTEM IBMPCw/256K Floppy Drive Controller 1 Double Sided Double Density Disk Drive Half Height 10MB Disk Subsystem CALL FOR LArESTIBM ANNOUNCEMENTS ■"// ' m $i,709.o(r CUSTOM CONFIGURATIONS WELCOME PORTABLE HARD DISK SYSTEM W256K/1 Floppy/ 10MB Hard Disk compAa W/10MB $2,235.00* $2,369. 00* W/20MB APPLE lie TM DESKPRO SYSTEM WITH TAPE BACKUP 640K CPU/1 Floppy/10MB Hard Disk 10MB Tape Drive/ Monitor $2,951 .94*w/iomb $3,1 51 ,94*w/20MB APPLE lie MACINTOSH » SYSTEMS 64K IBM PC MEMORY EXPANSION KITS Quantity Discounts Available. Guaranteed for Life! anteed for Lite! ^^ jam> # + * ^ Quantity of 100 Sets $3.96* per set Set of 9 Chips $5.40* DISKETTES Guaranteed for Life! Brand name diskettes available in boxes of 10 orinbulkpacksof50 5VDS/DD $8.95 BX.10 'ea. SWSS/DD $7.95* Bx, 10 yfx. 50 47* a . 3 1 / 2 "SS/DD Bx.10 $21.95* Free Rip a File Case 1/2 HEIGHT DS/DD DISK DRIVES The Network buys direct and makes fantastic deals with manufacturers like MPI/ Tandon/CDC/Shugart/Qume/ TEACand othersto bring you fantastic prices on Name Brand drives for your PC/AT/ XT/jr/or Compatible. $59.00* Quantity Discounts Available o Lotus $285.00* Recent Price Increase- by Lotus INTERNAL PC HARD DISK Low Power/Automatic Boot. Works on standard PCs and Compatibles. Includes drive/controller/cables/ mounting hardware and instructions. Full one year warranty! 10MB $330.00* 20MB $420.00* Quantity Discount Available WordPerfect $190.00* MultiMate 'Members pay 8% above this wholesale price plus shipping. CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-621-S-A-V-E („££»&) In Illinois call (312) 280-0002 Validation code: B316 TM&R-Registered trademark of IBM/COMPAQ/ APPLE Inquiry 273 NETWORK GET THE NETWORK ADVANTAGE!!! SEE WHY OVER 100,000 HAVE JOINED MAKING US THE NATION'S #1 SOURCE FOR EVERYTHING IN COMPUTING... • Our 600 Page Wholesale Catalog Over 30,000 products priced at Wholesale + 8°/o. Anything you will ever need at a Consistent low price . . . • Quarterly Catalog Updates Your Catalog is never obsolete! Keep on top of the newest products and latest price changes. • The Printout Our newsletter gives you fantastic specials along with unbiased analysis of new products and industry trends. • 10 Day Returns on any Hardware!! If you don't like any hardware product-for any reason —return it for a refund. • 1000+ Title Rental Library 14 to 30 day rentals on over 1000 different titles. Try before you buy!! • Size-Strength and Stability The Network has over 100 employees, 40,000 square feet of office and warehouse, inventory valued in excess of $15,000,000 and is ranked the largest computer product supplier in the Nation!! Our commitment is to serve our customers and our 90% repeat business rate is proof!! CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-621-S-A-V-E In Illinois call (312) 280-0002 Your Membership Validation Number B316 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.-Fri V 7:30 AM to 9 PM, SAT. 9AM to 7 PMCST. V PERSONAL COMPUTER NETWORK 320 West Ohio |1 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. i 1 316 LJ I am under no obligation to buy anything. My complete satisfaction is guaranteed. Please check (*^) all boxes that apply: Basic Membership With 14 Days Rantal D One-year membership for $8 □ Two-year membership for $15(SAVE$1) □ Business Software Rental Library for $25 add'l. per year-with 14 day rentals □ Games Software Rental Library for $10 add'l. per year D Bill my credit card: □ VISA Special V.I.P. Membership* With 30 Days Rantal. □ One-year membership for $15 □ Two-year membership for $25 (SAVE$5) □ BOTH Business and Game Software Rental Libraries for$30 add'l. per year— with 30 day rentals "VIP members receive advance notice on limited quantity merchandise specials □ MasterCard D American Express Account Number: Exp. Date. :i:i:i:d D Check or money order enclosed for$_ Name Address City _ State _ _Apt. No. _ Zip _ Telephone ( ) Mycomputer(s)is:n IBM PC D IBM-XT □ IBM-AT □ Apple II D Macintosh D Other Signature (Signature required to validate membership) Copyright ©1985, PC NETWORK INC. BYTE Features Product Descriphon: The Atari 520ST THREE BYTE STAFF MEMBERS, Ion Edwards, Phillip Robinson, and Brenda by )on R. Edwards, Phillip Robinson, and McLaughlin, have put together a preliminary but detailed evaluation of the Brenda Mclaughlin 84 Atari 52 OST. They summarize the hardware of the 520ST as "the 68000 un- Oarcia's Circuit Cellar: bounded." Among the features they were impressed with are the quality of Build an Analog-to-Digital Converter video output (though you must choose between monochrome and color), the by Steve Garcia 104 speec | of { ^ e ^sk i/o, and the variety of ports. An unfinished operating system Product Preview: Q&a anc j minimal application software did not dampen their overall impression. by )on R. Edwards 120 The sub j ect of analog-to-digital conversion is one that Steve Ciarcia returns a^impTT^ PR0,EC p ~ to every few years. He does this largely so that new readers can learn the n ^ r ., ^° MP,L c!*,' .J^I J basics. For readers who have been around for a while, he also includes the Procedures and Functions , , , , by Jonathan Amsterdam .130 latest conversion interface. This month's column is no exception. Steve - „ nr . ,. .- ,. discusses the basics and then describes a 16-channel 12-bit high-speed A/D Creating Reusable Modules ° r by Namir Clement Shammas 145 converter. "Q&A" is a product preview about an integrated software package that com- Programming Insight: , . , ■ j r-i * -*.u * n * -i-*. ^ Easy 3-D Graphics bines word processing and file management with a full macro facility and an by Henning Mittelbach 153 effective natural-language interface— your Intelligent Assistant. By entering nor- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ mal English phrases and sentences, you can carry on a conversation with your Assistant and get a lot of information into and out of your database. Jon Edwards provides a sample session in "Q&A," discusses some of its drawbacks, and compares it with other natural-language database products. Last month, lonathan Amsterdam began a three-part article on a compiler for his high-level language called SIMPL. This month, he describes the part of the compiler that handles procedures and functions, also known as routines. The routines of SIMPL are similar to those of Pascal, and like most routines, they're useful for programmers but difficult to compile. Large software projects can be undertaken by simply reusing the same modules of code in different programs. Modula-2 imposes some restrictions to this method, and Namir Clement Shammas, author of "Create Reusable Modules," offers a program strategy as a solution. The strategy involves the creation of capsule editors, the advantages of which include customization of programs, lowered costs, and increased reliability. Creating three-dimensional graphics on microcomputers has been a popular subject with both BYTE readers and authors. In "Budget 3-D Graphics" (March 1985), author Tom Clune looked at the program SURF, which includes such advantages as hidden-line removal and the ability to rotate the plot around three axes. This month we have "Easy 3-D Graphics" by Henning Mittelbach. The author has written a low-cost, three-dimensional graphics program for the IBM Personal Computer, the Apple Macintosh, and the Apple II family. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 83 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION The Atari 520ST The 68000 unbounded Editor's note: The following is a BYTE prod- uct description. It is not a review— for several reasons. Some of the equipment we received, such as the hard-disk drive, were prototypes, and at the time of this writing, software is scarce. Atari has not yet completed its BASIC interpreter, and the operating system. TOS, remains unfinished. Nonetheless, we are as in- tensely interested as our readership in new technology, and we feel we have learned enough to share some of the results of our in- vestigations. We began our work on this de- scription as soon as we were able to get a sys- tem from Atari. A full review will follow in a subsequent issue. For many years the public has equated the Atari name with arcade games and joysticks. In truth, the Atari 400/800/XL computer line is technically at least comparable if not better than other 8-bit machines, so it should not be a surprise that the company's latest venture, the 520ST (see photo 1), is a competitive 68000 system. Indeed, we are most im- pressed with the clarity of the graph- ics, with the speed of the disk I/O (input/output), and with the 520ST's value. The system is not without its prob- lems. The desktop is less effective than the Macintosh's, the keyboard has an awkward feel, and the current operating system makes it impossible to switch between high-resolution monochrome and low- or medium- resolution color without installing the other monitor and rebooting. None- theless, we are left with a very favorable impression; several soft- ware-development languages are al- ready available, including FORTH, Modula-2, and C. With them, you can tap the power of the 68000 at a most reasonable price. System Description The Atari 520ST is a keyboard com- puter. Like the Commodore 64 and the Atari 400/800, the 520ST key- board unit contains the microproces- sor, the memory, the video and sound circuitry, and so on. The power sup- ply disk drives, and monitor are ex- ternal devices. The 520ST has a vari- ety of ports, but there are no internal expansion slots. The In Brief box on page 90 sum- marizes the features of the Atari 520ST. For $799, you get the CPU, a 12-inch diagonal monochrome moni- tor, and one external single-sided double-density floppy-disk drive. For $999, you get the same system with a 12-inch RGB analog monitor in place of the monochrome monitor (see photo I). Both systems provide 51 2 K bytes of RAM (random-access read/ write memory), a Motorola 68000 microprocessor, MIDI ports with a transfer rate of 31,2 50 bps (bits per second), a DMA (direct memory ac- cess) port with a transfer rate of 10 megabits per second for a hard disk or CD-ROM (compact-disk read-only memory), and much, much more. To be sure, owners will make some sacri- fices. The unit does not have an RF (radio frequency) modulator for tele- vision output, every peripheral has a separate power supply (wire haters beware), and the operating system currently rests in RAM, stealing over 200K bytes from your workspace. We have summarized other problems below, but almost all are insignificant when you consider what you do get for the money. And rest assured, the system works. Our first system, like most of the first production units, had to have several chips reseated. It now functions properly, and we have not heard of any similar quality-control problems on the latest 520S'fe. The Hardware Design The heart of the 520ST is the MC68000, with its 1 6-bit data bus and 24-bit address bus, running at 8 MHz (see figure 1). The rest of the system was designed to stay out of the 68000's way. (See the 520ST mother- board in photo 2.) The Atari design team began work on the 520ST in May 1984. From the start, they had several specific goals in mind. The first was to choose a fast microprocessor and do everything to let it run effectively at full speed. To the Atari team, that meant maximiz- ing bus bandwidth and relegating as [continued) ]on R. Edwards is a technical editor. Phillip Robinson is a senior technical editor, and Brenda McLaughlin is an associate news editor for BYTE. They can be contacted at BYTE, POB 372, Hancock. NH 03449. 84 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 by Jon R. Edwards, Phillip Robinson, and Brenda McLaughlin . g& b) (c) «tt ■ «i | ill ■ lil | m i wti i ,# | iHi| tfi ■ *» ■ „ Hi tui iM ■ Hin ^N Photo 1: The Atari 520SX shown here with the color monitor and two single-sided double-density disk drives, (a) On the right side of the keyboard unit are two joystick/ mouse ports, (b) On the left is the \28K-byte ROM cartridge port, (c) The rear of the disk drives has specific ports for I/O in and I/O out. PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAUL AVIS JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 85 ATARI 520ST many mundane tasks as possible from the microprocessor to other chips. Second, according to Shiraz Shivji, Atari's vice president for research and development, "We didn't want to rein- vent the wheel . . . things that were available that could offload the pro- cessor—we wanted to use." A direct result of that goal was the use of several standard chips (such as the Western Digital WD1772 for floppy- disk-drive control) and use of custom CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) chips for perfor- mance, reliability, and manufac- turability. All four custom chips— Glue, the Memory Controller, the Video Shifter, and the DMA chip— share many of the 520ST's duties. Third, the 520ST had to provide high- quality color displays. Finally, the design team wanted to give the 520ST ex- cellent I/O capabilities. That goal is re- flected in both the variety of ports that MC68000 MPU -=-Ji 192K- BYTE ROM CONTROLLER 128K- OR 512K- BYTE RAM MC6850 AC1A VIDEO SHIFTER 1 KEYBOARD PORT MC6850 ACIA |C — X P=> ' MIDI PORTS 1^^* RGB MONOCHROME 1KBD OUT/THRU IN MK68901 MFP RS-232C m port ■M PARALLEL M| PRINTER AY-3-8910 PSG WD1772 FDC PORT SOUND CHANNELS FLOPPY- DISK PORT DMA CONTROLLER HARD-DISK PORT FLOPPY ' DRIVE ► HARD DRIVE Figure I: The system block diagram for the Atari 520ST. surround the 520ST and in the high speed of the DMA (hard-disk) port. Memory The 520ST currently includes 51 2K bytes of RAM and 16K bytes of ROM. The RAM consists of sixteen 256K-bit dynamic RAM chips that are rated at 1 50 ns (nanoseconds). Atari is already talking about 1-megabyte and 2-megabyte (RAM) versions of this same computer. The 68000 CPU (cen- tral processing unit) can directly ad- dress up to 16 megabytes of ROM and RAM, but the present Memory Controller chip can only work with 4 megabytes. The circuit board has room, but it will need a slight redesign to use the 1 -megabit dynamic RAMs when they become available. (The 1 -megabit chips have two more pins than the 16-pin 2 56K-bit chips they would replace and also would have some of the signals on different pins. This change would require a small modification in manufacturing.) Memory is configured as five 64K- byte sets of ROM and one configur- able bank of 128K bytes, 512K bytes, or 2 megabytes of RAM. (Early in 1985, Atari mentioned a possible 128K-byte RAM version of the ST.) Software determines the ROM con- figuration. A shadow-test algorithm that loads a Memory Configuration register determines the RAM con- figuration. When the computer is turned on, this algorithm tries to write to and read from memory addresses unique to the possible configurations. The memory map is shown in figure 2. The first 2K bytes (lowest address values) are reserved for the exception vector table and the supervisor stack. These 2K bytes— and the I/O space- are protected: They can only be ac- cessed when the CPU is in supervisor mode. Four words of ROM are shad- owed at the start of RAM for the reset stack pointer and the program counter. Video Memory The Atari 520ST offers three display resolutions. The highest resolution is a noninterlaced monochrome 640- by 86 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 ATARI 520ST Photo 2: The Atari 520ST motherboard. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 87 ATARI 520ST --ST MEMORY MAP 00 0000 00 0004 00 0008 ROM ROM RAM RESET; SUPERVISOR STACK POINTER RESET: PROGRAM COUNTER OK -BYTE RAM • 02 0000 RAM 128K-BYTE RAM 08 0000 RAM 512K-BYTE RAM • fa 0000 ROM 320K-BYTE ROM • fc 0000 fc 0004 fc 0008 fe ffff ROM ROM ROM ROM RESET: SUPERVISOR STACK POINTER RESET: PROGRAM COUNTER 192K-BYTE ROM OK-BYTE ROM • ff 8000 ff 8200 ff 8400 ff 8600 ff 8800 I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O CONFIGURATION REGISTERS DISPLAY REGISTERS RESERVED DMA/DISK REGISTERS SOUND REGISTERS ' ff faOO ff fcOO I/O I/O MC68XXX REGISTERS MC68XX REGISTERS Figure 2: The 520ST memory map. Photo 3: low-resolution graphics offer 16 colors in a 320- by 200-pixel array. 400-pixel mode that is output at 70 Hz. The maximum color resolution, "medium resolution," is 640 by 200 pixels with 4 colors (see photo 3). Low-resolution color is 320 by 200 pixels with 16 colors. Bit maps in the main RAM store all of the displayed images (see figure 3). A special interleaving scheme, man- aged by the Memory Controller chip, allows the CPU and video to share memory efficiently. Each display mode uses a 32K-byte bit map in memory, each starting at a 2 56-byte half-page boundary in RAM. This memory is a contiguous chunk con- figured as n logical planes of 16-bit words. The Video Base Address reg- ister holds the starting address of dis- play memory, a value that is loaded into the Video Address Counter reg- ister and incremented to determine which plane a word is in. These registers make video pro- gramming straightforward. You choose a mode, select the address for the start of the screen, and then you have a bit-map screen in memory that is affected only by the color palette. The Video Shifter chip takes words from video-display memory (in general RAM) and combines them ac- cording to the mode selected and the position of the word (see figure 4). It then interprets the bits as an index to the color lookup palette. That infor- mation is then shifted out to 3-bit digital-to-analog converters that pro- duce the analog RGB (red-green-blue) output. Color Palette The 320- by 200-pixel color resolution uses four planes, the 640 by 200 color resolution uses two planes, and the 640 by 400 monochrome uses one plane. The 16-bit color lookup palette has 9 bits of color per entry, 3 bits each of red, green, and blue aligned on low-nybble boundaries. This ar- rangement generates eight levels each of red, green, and blue, for a total of 512 possible colors. The 320 by 200 (four-plane) mode can index all 16 palette colors, but the 640 by 200 (two-plane) mode works with only the first 4 palette entries. 88 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 ATARI 520ST The 640 by 400 monochrome mode bypasses the palette, instead employ- ing an inverter for inverse video. The inverter is controlled by bit of palette color 0. Palette color also assigns a border color in multiplane mode and a white or black border in monochrome mode. A single call to BIOS (basic input/ output system) can change the colors in the palette registers. You could show all 512 colors on a single screen by making such calls on the fly. The 520ST does not have any hardware provision for sprites or player-objects, graphics tools that are found in the Commodore 64, Amiga, and Atari 800. It does have bit-blitting, but only in the GEM software. Memory Controller Using the data bus efficiently was an absolute priority in the design of the 520ST. The CPU makes frequent use of the bus: The designers noticed that between 30 and 40 percent of pro- gram instructions would be store and load types. And the video display needs constant refreshing from mem- ory. After all, in a bit-mapped system such as this, the display on the screen is virtually an image of what is in the RAM chips. A 68000 running at 8 MHz takes 500 ns for each memory-access cycle. But during the first 2 50 ns of that time it isn't looking at the data bus. Instead, it is just setting up the address bus and performing handshaking func- tions. Shivji explains that his team decided to use memory chips that could be read in a 2 50-ns slot, and then to put a Memory Controller custom chip between the CPU and memory. The same controller also sits between the Video Shifter custom chip and memory. During the first 2 50 ns of the 68000's 500-ns read cycle, the Mem- ory Controller gives the Video Shifter access to RAM. Then, when the 68000 is ready— during the second 250 ns of the read cycle— the Memory Controller turns RAM access over to the CPU. The Video Shifter and CPU keep taking turns. Because the RAM is twice as fast as the microprocessor, 16-BIT WORD 4 PLANE 2 PLANE 1 PLANE PLANE PLANE 1 PLANE 2 PLANE 3 PLANE PLANE PLANE 1 PLANE PLANE 1 PLANE PLANE PLANE PLANE PLANE PLANE Figure 3: Organization of bit-plane data in memory. 3 12 3 1 2 3 16 X 9 LOOKUP R G B 1 2 1 1 u — 1 _l INVERTER —^MONOCHROME L0( PL/ 3IC AL :s Bl TVh /IAF 5 VIDEO-DISPLAY VIDEO SHIFT MEMORY REGISTER COLOR PALETTE AND 3-BIT DAC Figure 4: The flow of data from video memory to analog RGB output. the 68000 can run at full speed and read or write to RAM as it desires without disturbing the refreshing of the display. More important, CPU tasks won't be put on hold while the video circuitry makes heavy demands on memory for high-resolution data. Occasionally, because the 68000 has an asynchronous bus that you cannot lock exactly with the video cir- cuitry, missed cycles will occur. All that happens is that the CPU has to wait one 2 50-ns cycle, a rare event ac- cording to Shivji. Glue The Glue chip reduces the overall chip count on the board by integrating the functions of many smaller chips into one device. Glue generates chip selects, handles handshaking (for parts that aren't 68000-bus-oriented), and generates both the video timing and the interrupt controls. Although the 68901 handles part of the inter- rupt management task, Glue takes the interrupt from the 68901 and deter- mines its priority with respect to the vertical and horizontal interrupts. Glue also handles the actual interrupt acknowledge cycles. I/O Chip The 68901 MFP (multifunction periph- eral) chip is a standard member of the 68000 family and provides serial I/O, parallel I/O, timers, and counters. It has eight parallel I/O pins; a 1 6-source interrupt controller with program- mable service modes, including poll- ing and vector generation; four sepa- rate timers with individually program- mable prescaling; and a single- channel, full-duplex USART (universal synchronous/asynchronous receiver/ transmitter). Sound The Yamaha YM2 149 sound chip has three independent monophonic voices and uses a 2-MHz clock input [continued) JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 89 ATARI 520ST Name Atari 520ST Company Mari Corp. Ijnnyvute, CA 94086 (408) 745-2000 Price Monochrome system Color system $799 $999 Microprocessor Motorola 68000, a 32-/16-bit microprocessor (32-bit intern; nonsegmented, external data bus) n_ fining at 8 Mhte Main Memory 512K bytes of dynamic RAM. Expansion to 4 megabytes may be possible in the future through the use of a planned 8-slot expansion interface. . !OM Current models contain 16K hytes of bcot-up ROM. Atari intends to release TOS on ROM for $20, upgrading ROM to 192K bytes and freeing up that amount of RAM. Graphics Three modes: 640- by 400-pixel monochrome, 320 by 200 with 16 colors, and 640 by 200 with 4 colors Sound Three independent sound channels Floppy-Disk Drive Bundled, external 3 1 /2-inch single-sided double-density drive with capacity of 360K bytes. System supports maximum of two floppy-disk drives. Keyboard 94-key Seiectric-styie QWERTY keyboard with numeric keypad, cur rhomboid function keys Interfaces MIDI in and MIDI out ports Monitor port (supports RGB analog, high-resolution monochrome) Centronics parallel printer port (supports Epson-compatible printers) RS-232C serial port Fioppy-disk port Hard-disk port (10-megabit-per-second DMA transfer rate) 128K-byte ROM cartridge port Ports for mouse or two joysticks HMHHM_ Bundled Software TOS, including GEM / L J ' ~ogo BASIC, when completed Optional Peripherals/Expansion SF354 single-sided drive SF314 double-sided drive 1-megabyte RAM upgrade (Lemon Micro, Redondo Beach, CA) $199 $299 $300 Planned Peripherals SMM801 dot-matrix printer, SDM121 daisy-whee for cartridge port, 8-slot expansion interface, local-area ri.jwck for NJJDl port, CD-ROM to produce tones from 30 Hz up to 1 2 5 kHz— more than the human audio range. The chip also has a noise chan- nel. Atari documentation calls this chip the PSG (Programmable Sound Generator). The three channels of out- put are mixed, converted by a built- in digital-to-analog converter, and sent to a monitor speaker. The designers were also able to use some ports and registers on the PSG for activities completely unrelated to sound gen- eration, such as controlling parts of the parallel and serial ports. The registers for the voices control a basic square wave while the Noise Generator register controls a frequen- cy-modulated square wave of pseudo- random pulse width. You can mix tones and noise over individual chan- nels by using the Mixer Control reg- ister. Amplitude registers allow you to choose fixed or variable (Envelope- register-determined) amplitude. DMA Port The 520ST ports fill the entire back and sides of the keyboard unit (see photo 4). One of the strongest fea- tures of the 520ST is the built-in DMA port. Using a CPU to move large blocks of data between memory and external devices is neither fast nor ef- ficient. DMA was created to provide a speedy channel for such transfers and to leave the CPU free to calculate. Without help from the CPU, the Atari's DMA port can move data at 10 mega- bits per second, a rate twice the stan- dard hard-disk transfer rate and much higher, for example, than the Macin- tosh, which must make do with a much slower serial port. In addition, the port can handle up to eight daisy- chained devices and is the opening to practical use of CD-ROMs and many other devices. DMA Controller The Memory Controller and Glue custom chips contain parts of the DMA function, but it is the DMA custom chip that directs the high- speed data transfer through the DMA port. The DMA controller and the CPU have equal access to the bus: A [continued) 90 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 mum Industry Standards Upgraded! The Models 630 And 640 Are 100% Compatible With The AT&T 6300 and 6300 Plus! A perfect upgrade/replace- ment for the standard IBM color graphics monitor and card, the Taxan model 630 and 555®create a higher resolution at a greater savingsl Super High IBM Display IBM CGA Color Adaptor TAXAN 630 TAXAN 555 5CG Board $924.00 $920.00 PRICE/PERFORMANCE RATIO TAXAN IBM Screen Test— This actual unretouched photograph demonstrates the superior text resolution created by the TAXAN 630 monitor and 555 color cardl For maximum resolution and ease of viewing, Taxan's the wlnnerl Resolution Text and Graphics. Superior Text and Graphics Beyond IBM. 640(H) x 200[V) Resolution (640(H) x 400(V) Non-interlaced Resolution 0.37mm Dot Pitch 24.75Khz Scan Frequency 100% compatible with IBM PC, XT, and AT® when used with the Taxan 555 board. S675.00 Suggested Retail ¥M r:y-;-,;- : r^ The Taxan 555 is basically equivalent to the IBM standard color board. This means that the 555 Is 100% compatible with all IBM software I COMPATABILITY IBM Text Mode 1 6 Colors 320 X 200 4 Colors 640 X 200 1 Color Alphanumeric Text Resolution Character Cell 8X8 Scan Frequency 15.75 Khz TAXAN 1 6 Colors 4 Colors 1 Color 10X 16 24.75 Khz Compatible with AT&T 6300 Computer RGB Color, and FOUR Monochrome Capabilities in One Monitor! RGI W No one else offers the monochrome options available with the new Taxan 600 series! The Taxan 630 & 640 moni- tors offer Green, Amber, B&W Reverse, and a White on Blue Background as their total spectrum of mono- chrome options. Only Taxan offers such a wide variety of mono- chrome capabilities. Total CAD/CAM Compatibility 720x400 Resolution! REVERSE BLUE /fftWWiWMftHTfWANTMWf, >TMMT»HWT«UliyMIIMTH(Afni REVERSE B&W The Taxan 640 The Ultimate In Monitor Resolution. 640(H) x 400(V) Non-interlaced Resolution 4,000 Character Display Capability 0.31mm Dot Pitch 24.75Khz Scan Frequency Compatible with AT&T 6300 Computer 100% Compatible with the new generation of graphics boards Taxan (555), Persyst B.O.B .®, Sigma 400® Artist II® STB 400® and others for the IBM PC, XT, and AT. S 775.00 Suggested Retail 1985 Taxan Corporation TO^S^ TAXAN CORPORATION 18005 CORTNEY CT., INDUSTRY, CA 91748 (818) 810-1291 TAXAN EAST, MIDDLESEX BUSINESS CTR. Ill CORPORATE BLVD. SUITE E S. PLAINSFIELD, NJ 07080 (201)769-6500 "IBM, IBM PC, XT and AT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp., "APPLE is a registered trademark of Apple Computers Inc., 'TAXAN S5S is a registered trademark of Taxan Corp, *PERSYST B.O.B. is a registered trademark of Emulex Corp., "SIGMA 400 is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs, "ARTIST II is a registered trademark of Control Systems, *ST8 400 is a registered trademark of STB Systems, Inc. AT&T 6300 and 6300 Plus are registered trademarks of AT&T Information Systems, Inc. Inquiry 404 for End-Users. Inquiry 405 for DEALERS ONLY. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 91 ATARI 520ST first-come, first-served scheme handles contention. Only one DMA operation can take place at a time. A DMA operation depends on the base address, the count, and the read/write status values the program loads into the DMA Base Address and Counter register. In addition, two bits are used as address lines to steer the output of the DMA to the floppy-disk port or to the hard-disk port. DMA occurs in bursts, with the DMA chip storing information in its 32-byte FIFO (first-in/first-out) buffer and then sending it in a hurry to either RAM or to the outside world. The DMA chip and the 68000 CPU have equal access to RAM and compete for the same cycles. The DMA chip's 10- megabit-per-second rate is equivalent to 1.2 5 megabytes per second or 62 5K words per second. (The trans- fers to and from memory in the 520ST are handled in 16-bit words.) The 68000 can access memory every 500 ns. That means its maximum bus use is 2,000,000 words per second. A worst-case calculation (dividing the Photo 4: The back panel of the 520ST. From left to right are a reset button, the onloff switch, power cable, MIDI out and MIDI in, the monitor port, 2 5-pin Centronics parallel printer port, an RS-232C serial port, the floppy-disk port, and the hard-disk (DMA) port. Out of view, on the sides, are the joystick! mouse ports and the \2SK-byte ROM cartridge port. Unfortunately for left-handed users, the attachment cables for the disk drives and for the mouse are short. All but the most inventive users will place the drives on the left and the mouse on the right. ///// //// rv /%. :...: 520ST - l i'v l v ll * ll > f ¥ l T i ¥¥¥¥¥ l T- ffi i LI _L Photo 5: The 520ST keyboard. Wider keytops and the rhomboid shape of the function keys lessen the utility of an otherwise full-featured, well-designed layout. 62 5K words/second rate by the 2,000,000 words/second rate) shows that DMA cannot use more than 33 percent of the CPU bus cycles. A more realistic calculation assumes a 5-megabit-per-second rate for DMA (the standard rate for hard-disk drives) and does not assume that the highest- speed bursts of DMA would run con- tinuously, or that the CPU would reach for memory in every cycle. With these assumptions, the DMA would rarely borrow even 5 percent of the 68000's RAM access cycles. Ports The serial port is a standard RS-232C interface. Some of its signals come from I/O port A of the sound chip, while others are routed through the 68901 chip. The serial port can work with asynchronous data-transfer rates from 50 to 19,200 bps. The parallel port supports the strobe and busy signals of the Cen- tronics parallel interface standard. Both I/O port B of the sound chip and the 68901 chip help control these lines and the eight read/write data bits. The parallel lines of the sound chip are bidirectional, which could lead to some interesting hacking. For example, you might convert a parallel printer into a scanning device to digitize information. The typical data- transfer rate is 4000 bytes per second. The two MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) ports bear special at- tention. MIDI is an industry-standard interface for computers and musical peripherals. The MIDI ports will allow the 520ST to attach directly to exter- nal keyboards, synthesizers, and other equipment. Atari has even been in- vestigating the possible use of the MIDI ports for inexpensive network- ing of 520S r IS. The interfaces work at 31,2 50 bps for serial transfer of infor- mation from the keyboard or a pro- gram to and from external devices. Data is organized as a start bit, eight data bits, and one stop bit. One of the 6850 chips controls the MIDI serial communication. Up to 16 channels are allowed on the MIDI bus in one of three network addressing [continued) 92 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 SOLVE PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS THE WAY YOU THINK. PURE AND SYMBOL. Introducing the new APL* PLUS® PC System, Release 5.0 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 get with APL will let you spend less time on drudgery and more time creating. Intricate calculations and modeling on PC's are a snap. The Release 5.0 version features: • multi-window, full-screen editing • graphics primitives, now with EGA support • spreadsheet-like numeric editing • fast Assembler library • built-in terminal mode • and report formatting. Plus concise notation for programs like sorting, matrix inversions, string searching, - ^ and more. And the complete pack- age price is just $595 with major credit cards accepted. Actnow, 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 infor- mation about our other APL * PLUS products— from our UNIX™ version to the new streamlined Pocket APL™ Or write STSC, Inc., Software Publishing Group, 2115 East Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852. You'll see how symbol PLUS* WARE products are to use, the very first time you use them. Problem-solving at the speed of thought" STSC APL* PLUS PC System requires 256K and DOS 2.0 ex later. 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. a comei company PLUS* WARE and Pocket A P La re trademarks of STSC, Inc. APL * PLUS is a registered trademark of STSC, Inc. UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories. Inquiry 339 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 93 ATARI 520ST modes. The Omni mode addresses all units simultaneously and is the default mode when the computer is first turned on. Poly mode addresses each unit separately. Mono mode ad- dresses each unit voice separately Keyboard and Mouse The documentation refers to the 94- key keyboard (see photo 5) as the Atari Intelligent Keyboard because it uses its own 1-MHz 6301 microprocessor with its own mask-programmed ROM. The device scans the keyboard and the joy- stick/mouse ports. It provides two-key rollover and sends keyboard, mouse, trackball, joystick, and time-of-day in- formation to one of the 6850 ACIA (asynchronous communications inter- face adapter) chips on the main com- puter board. The lines are bidirec- tional, and the 6850 also sends com- mands to the keyboard. The QWERTY keyboard has a stan- dard Selectric-style layout with 10 rhomboid function keys, a numeric keypad, and four cursor-control keys. Many applications for the 520ST will use two special keys, Help and Undo. We found the keyboard layout pleas- ant in appearance and extremely functional. It closely resembles the DEC VT-100 layout. The Control and Return keys are well placed, and the Return key is a three-key-size reverse L shape and hard to miss. The shape of the function keys, however, may make it difficult to avoid hitting more than one. More of a problem is the feel of the keyboard. Each keytop is %- inch wider than the keytops on the Macintosh and IBM PC keyboards. As a result, the keys seem much more closely packed, and you may tend to press two at a time more often than usual. In addi- tion, the keys on our unit required noticeably more pressure than do the keys on most other small systems. And, because connectors are attached to the rear of the unit, it is relatively difficult to adjust the keyboard. The mechanical two-button mouse, which attaches to a port on the right side of the unit, has a resolution of 100 counts per inch and can handle a maximum velocity of 10 inches per second. It has a good feel. You will use the left button for most manipula- tions, including select and dragging within GEM. The right button is appli- cation-dependent. For example, NEO, a low-resolution paint program, uses the right button to copy images. There are keyboard alternatives to all mouse functions, though I suspect few of you will ever use them. Disk Drives We were impressed by the high data- transfer rate of both the floppy-disk [continued] SLICER-THE SYSTEM THAT GROWS TO FIT YOUR NEEDS B5 THE SLICER Real 16 Bit Power on a Single Board— Featuring the Intel 80186 (C) Step CPU ■ Complete 8 MHz 16-bit micro- processor on a 6" x 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 $895 THE SLICER 1 -MByte .#$ EXPANSION BOARD For expanded memory, additional ports, and real time clock ■ 1- MByte additional dynamic RAM ■ 2 RS232C asychronous ports with baud rates to 38.4K for serial communication ■ 2 additional serial ports for asynch (RS 232) or synch (Zilog 8530 SCC) communication ■ Real Time Clock with battery backup ■ Centronics type parallel printer port Fully assembled and tested only $750 SLICER/IMByte EXPANSION COMBO The Slicer (without RAM or RAM .. controllers) with Full 1-MByte \fi** Memory Expansion Kit form only $1295 THE SLICER PC EXPANSION BOARD Gives your Slicer 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 All boards available in kit forms The SLICER Bulletin Board (300/1200 baud) 612/788-5909 Runs MS DOS generic software; PC DOS program operation not guaranteed Also available: The /ySlicer 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. CP/M 86 $85, CCP/M $250 (Digital Research, Inc.); MS DOS $175 (Microsoft Corp.) MasterCard, Visa, Check, Money Order, or C.O.D. Allow four weeks for delivery. Prices subject to change without notice. QUALIFIED DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED SLICER Slicer Computers Inc. 2543 Marshall St. N.E. Minneapolis, MN 55418 612/788-9481 Telex 501357 SLICER UD 94 BYTE • JANUARY I986 Inquiry 323 for End-Users. Inquiry 324 for DEALERS ONLY. MM INTRODUCING THE Friendly Superpower Advanced Business Software That's on Speaking Terms with You! Power or ease of use . . . until now, you had to choose. The more you had of one, the less you had of the other. No longer. KnowledgeMan/2 was created to bridge the gap between simple, single-function programs and powerful integrated multi-function programs. KnowledgeMan/2 is powerful. But you don't have to be a computer wiz to tap that power. Easy-to-use menus help you until you're ready for direct commands. If you run into trouble, on-line help screens come to your rescue. Now both the casual user and the power user get everything you'd expect in a high-powered business software, with the best of both worlds-power and ease of use. See KnowledgeMan/2 in action! For the name of the dealer nearest you, call or write MDBS, P.O. Box 248, Lafayette, Indiana 47902, 317/463-2581. XJ THE UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM KnowledgeMan/2 and MDBS are registered IflClbs trademarks of Micro Data Base Systems, Inc. — — Inquiry 235 "»» I Vl^ The data yowii h 1e Pend { 700s etoc/av #> /=fe BASF QUALIMETRIC' M 5.25" FLEXYDISKS! CERTIi 1 1 JEEE^gf BUT HERE'S SOMETHING THAT WILL- AND IT'S FREE! Just like our FlexyDisks, BASF Video and Audio Cassettes are warranted for a lifetime. * ^ EE35SI And when you buy specially-marked boxes of BASF Flexy Disks between now and January 31, 1986, you have your choice of a free BASF High- Grade Chrome Video Cassette (VHS or Beta) or two free top-of-the-line BASF Chrome Maxima II rj Audio Cassettes. Just mail the coupon below, plus the special labels and the bar codes from the disk pack- ages along with $1.00 for postage and handling. Visit your nearest BASF dealer (to find out where he is, call toll-free 1-800-343-4600) and take advantage of our free offer and sweepstakes today. WIN A COMPLETE $7,500 COMPUTER SYSTEM, featuring the new COMPAQ DESKPRO 286™ and the Epson* MODEL LQ-1500 letter-quality printer, in our new BASF Com- puter Sweepstakes! To enter, simply fill out the coupon below *basfS!k and send jt t0 us; or stop by any BA SF FlexyDisk* : dealer between now and January 31 , 1 986, and J fill out the official entry form; or send a postcard with your name and address to BASF Giveaway, P.O. Box 8920, Westport, CT 06888. *For a copy of the Lifetime Warranty, write BASF Systems Corporation, 19 Crosby Drive, Bedford, MA 01730. c 1985, BASF Systems Corporator COMPAQ DESKPRO 286 is a trade Epson is a registered trademark of I ot COMPAQ Computer Corp. i Corporation. Mail to: BASF Giveaway, P.O. Box 8920, Westport, CT 06888 CHECK YOUR CH0 ICES (Limited timeoffer: mail before 1/31/86): □ Please send me the free cassette(s) indicated at right, and enter me in the BASF Computer Sweepstakes. My order repre- sents a total of □ one □ two □ three Offer Requests, and I am enclosing for each request the special offer sticker(s) and bar code(s) from the BASF FlexyDisk pack(s) I have purchased, together with $1.00 postage & handling (2 requests - $2, 3 requests = $3). □ NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. I am not participating in the BASF Free Mail-In Offer, but enter my name in the Computer Sweepstakes. Name FREE CASSETTE REDEMPTION ORDER Limit of three (3) Offer Requests per customer, each request good for either one (1) BASF Video Cassette or two (2) BASFAudio Cassettes. Here's the detail for my total order. Quantity •VIDEO CASSETTE VHS Beta ■ AUDIO CASSETTES This order represents a lotal ol OflerRequGsl(s) Address _ City Name of Your BASF Dealer Additional Terms: Offer good in U.S.A. Allow 4-6 weeks for cassette(s) delivery. Void wherever prohibited or restricted by law. Limit: one mail-in certificate redemption for up to three (3) Free Offer Requests per customer This certificate may not be mechanically reproduced and must accompany all requests. Offer expires J/37/86. Computer Sweepstakes winner will be notified before 2/28/86. . State _ .Zip. BASF ATARI 520ST drives and the hard-disk drives we tested with the 520ST, The speed is a tribute to the efficiency of the DMA custom chip and the WD1772 floppy controller. I/O is quick (no endless waiting during disk reads), and, unlike the Macintosh, you can remove disks easily at the touch of a button on the drive. The standard system currently includes one single-sided double- density drive with a capacity of 360K bytes. For $299, you can obtain a double-sided drive that can store up to 72 OK bytes. Setting up the drives is slightly more unforgiving than daisy- chaining on Atari's 8-bit systems in that you must use the designated in and out I/O ports on the back of the drives. Still, adding the second drive is a distinct plus. With it, you can copy an entire disk (without the four swaps required if you don't have one) in 99 seconds and copy a 32K-byte file in 16 seconds. The disk-copy operation does not automatically format the disks, which requires an additional 54 seconds for the single-sided disks. The disk format employed is very similar (down to the file-allocation tables) to that of the MS-DOS disks used on the Data General/One por- table computer. However, the formats are not absolutely identical. We took a disk from a DG/One that contained a text file and slipped it into the 520ST disk drive. The GEM desktop on the 520ST recognized the disk and showed it contained a file, but the 520ST wasn't able to open the file for printing or display. When questioned about this, Atari admitted that a utili- ty will probably be necessary to read the files. Floppy-Disk Controller Atari didn't design the floppy-disk controller. The design team chose a chip with a built-in data separator, a modified version of the 1770 chip from Western Digital. The old chip worked with 6-, 1 2-, 20-, and 30-milli- second drives. Atari asked Western Digital to change some of the drives that they support, and the new chip— the 1772-can work with 2-, 3-, 5-, and 6-ms stepping speeds. Atari is using {continued) JANUARY t986 -BYTE 97 ATARI 520ST Photo 6: The 520ST desktop in low resolution, showing the control panel and a customized background color. You can fix your choices by saving the desktop. 3-ms drives. The chip uses the Sys- tem/34 format. There is some incom- patibility between the 1772 and the 765 controllers (the chip used in the IBM PC), although the format is the same. The floppy interface will support a maximum of two daisy-chained floppy-disk drives. You send com- mands to the FDC (floppy-disk con- troller) by first writing to the DMA Mode Control register (to select the FDC internal command register) and then writing the desired 1-byte com- mand to the Disk Controller register. The floppy controller works through the DMA controller custom chip, just as all hard-disk transfers do. Hard Disk Although Atari hasn't yet released its planned 316-inch hard disk for the 520ST system, the company let us play with a 10-megabyte prototype, which transfers data at 5 megabits per second, the standard ST506 rate. Later drives will feature 1 5 megabytes and 7.5 megabits per second. There is no hard-disk controller in- side the 520ST. But the DMA custom chip makes for easy, fast interfacing. The AH DC (Atari hard-disk controller) will be in the hard-disk-drive unit. The DMA controller sends commands to the hard disk using the ANSI X3T9.X SCSI (small computer systems inter- face)-like command descriptor block protocol. The AHDC supports a minimal subset of SCSI commands that are sent to the AHDC in much the same way that commands are sent to the FDC. Both floppy- and hard-disk formats contain 512-byte data sectors. Monitors We used both the monochrome SM124 and RGB SC1224 monitors with excellent results. The color moni- tor supports low and medium resolu- tion. You can use the monochrome monitor only for high resolution. All of the displays are clear, sharp, readable, and flicker-free, but we were particularly impressed by the clarity of the high-resolution monochrome. The monitor you connect when you boot will determine the resolutions you will have available; there is only one monitor port, and you cannot unplug one and connect the other, since they have no compatible resolu- tion. This may give some users a dif- ficult choice, since much of the early software will work with one monitor or another but not both. For the mo- ment, if you are interested in buying the 520ST for business or program- ming uses, you would be best served with the high-resolution monochrome system. Nonetheless, developers will undoubtedly make available resolu- tion-independent software, in part because the developer's kit includes an appropriate directive. TOS TOS (the 520ST's operating system), including the GEM overlay, was to be in ROM and obviously would boot very quickly. As of this writing, how- ever, it is in RAM where, in addition to taking up over 206K bytes of RAM, it requires 32 seconds to boot. Still, this leaves you with a reasonable amount of workspace until Atari releases the ROM version. In the meantime, 16K bytes of ROM (two 64K-bit ROM chips) hold the boot-up code for the computer. Four empty sockets within the 520ST await the new ROM chips. The appearance of the desktop depends upon the monitor and the resolution (see photos 6 through 8). It has some unusual features and some annoyances, but for the most part, those familiar with the operation of the Macintosh will feel at home. The menu bar is at the top, you can use the mouse to resize and move windows and to work scroll bars and sliders, and you can click on file icons to format disks, to get directories, and to rename or get detailed information on files and folders. Like the Macin- tosh, you double-click on icons to open them, drag icons to copy files and disks, or use shift-clicks for multi- ple file copying. Undoubtedly the most impressive aspect of the inter- face is the speed with which you are able to resize and move windows. Those expecting a clone of the Macintosh interface, however, will be disappointed. And several of the dif- ferences are annoying. It takes slight- ly but noticeably longer to click on the boxes within the windows, and resiz- ing, though quicker, is somewhat 98 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 ATARI 520ST more awkward. For example, when you click on the Resize box, the new 520ST window automatically reduces in size. On the Macintosh, it stays the same size until you decide to alter it. There are other important dif- ferences between the 520ST and Macintosh desktops. The trash can is actually an incinerator. Move a file or folder there and it's gone permanent- ly Unlike the Macintosh, whenever the pointer even touches the menu bar, you bring down the menus. To elimi- nate the menu, you have to bring the pointer off the menu and click the mouse button. It's amazing how often this happened to us by accident. The selection process would be much im- proved if only you had to press the button to select menus. Second, the 520ST desktop seems to have parti- tions into which icons can fit. Unlike the Macintosh, in which you can place icons where you wish, the icons have a finite number of possible locations. Third, there is no option to move files, folders, and applications. The only available options are copy and delete. Therefore, to move an icon into a folder you will need to copy it there and then delete the original. And, to move a file out of a folder, matters are further complicated by the fact that the folder opens to take over the win- dow from which it derived. You would first have to move the file to a dif- ferent disk, delete the original file from the folder, then copy the file back to the original disk but not within the folder, and then delete the first copy you made. It sounds difficult because it is. From the current desktop, you have access to a VT-52 emulator, you can install your printer, you can configure the RS-232C port, and you can set any of several defaults on a control panel. For example, if you have the color system, you can alter the palette and thus affect, if you wish, the ap- pearance of the desktop and other applications. In low resolution, you can modify all 16 colors from the palette of 512; in medium resolution, you can modify up to 4. You can also set when and at what rate the keys will repeat with the keyboard response Photo 7: The 520ST desktop in medium resolution, \cons are the default, but you can easily set your preference to text. Photo 8: The 520ST desktop in high resolution. selectors, you can alter the double- and date, a small annoyance since the click response time, and you can ac- 520ST has no internal battery main- tivate or deactivate the keyboard click taining the clock. Most of the time, and the pleasant-sounding error warn- you will have to type in the entire date ing bell. However, there are few edit- and time string, ing amenities when resetting the time [continued) JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 99 ATARI 520ST The RS2 32 Port Configuration win- dow lets you fix the data-transmission rate, XON/XOFE the parity, duplex, and the number of bits per character. The Install Printer window allows you to select between dot-matrix and daisy-wheel between black-and-white and color, between draft and final quality, and the number of pixels per line. A Set Preferences window allows you to set the screen resolution, though your choices here are ob- viously limited by your selection of monitor. You can also choose not to confirm deletes and copies. Once you have set all your preferences, you can save them by selecting the save desk- top option. The only absent option of importance is a command-line inter- face, which is available only with the 520ST developer's package. Software The system comes bundled only with TOS and Atari Logo, and like other new systems, there is at present a dearth of software. Already, however, Atari has released NEO, a paint pro- gram, and ST Writer, a word pro- cessor, into the public domain, but both are surrogates until GEM Write and GEM Paint are available. Atari Logo is surprisingly powerful. It makes full use of the GEM environ- ment and, among many features, allows you to edit on the fly Atari will soon also bundle Atari BASIC with the machine. Our beta version is fast, full- featured, and also uses GEM, but it was constricted by a 32K-byte work- space. Undoubtedly, however, most users will be attracted by the avail- ability of serious development lan- guages, the absence of which held back software development on Apple's Macintosh for most of its first year. TDI Software Ltd. (29 Alma Vale Rd., Clifton, Bristol BS8 2HL, England) has released Modula-2/ST a 32-bit devel- opment system that includes an editor, compiler, linker, and library facilities. TDI's Modula-2 is a full im- plementation, has complete libraries for TOS, and provides full access to the 520ST's graphics features. TDI is also marketing a version of UCSD Pascal with the p-System, which, how- ever, does not include support for GEM. Both TDI products cost £195 each. The Dragon Group (148 Poca Fork Rd., Elkview, WV 2 5071) has released 4xFORTH, a series of 32-bit FORTH development systems for the 520ST The basic 4xFORTH system ($99.95) includes support for multitasking and multiuser access, a compiler, a full- screen editor, and support for 520ST graphics. For $149.95, 4xFORTH also provide a floating-point system and support for GEM calls. Atari has released its C develop- ment software. The $300 package in- cludes the entry points and C bind- ings to both TOS and to the operating system's text and graphics routines (such as text size, attributes, align- ment, and angle, as well as circle drawing, area fill, and bit-blitting). The documentation also provides the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the BIOS," in- formation on Kermit and MIDI, a C programmer's guide, and much more. Purchasers of Haba's Hippo-C, now available for the 520ST, should be warned that the Atari development documentation will still be essential reading. Several other companies are prom- ising interesting additions to the 520ST language group. Metacomco (26 Portland Square, Bristol BS2 8RZ, England) will soon distribute ISO Pascal, a 68000 assembler, and Lat- tice C. Philon Inc. (641 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 1 001 1) is readying a BASIC compiler, a BASIC interpreter, and a C compiler. It is also working on compilers for FORTRAN, Pascal, and COBOL. System Documentation It is fortunate that the system is so easy to learn to use because the documentation is quite poor. The 80- page owner's manual has requisite sections on setting up the system, get- ting started, touring the GEM desktop, and managing disks, files and folders, but it has very little technical material. Materials with the disk drive and monitors are also sadly lacking. Un- doubtedly, users will have to wait for the trickle of technical references on working with the hardware. Conclusion Judging from the conversations around the office and on BIX (BYTE Information Exchange), CompuServe, and The Source, there is a storm of in- terest in comparing the relative capa- bilities of the 520ST, the Amiga, and the Macintosh. There is, in fact, far more interest than there seemed to be in comparing the merits of the 8-bit computers from Atari, Apple, and Commodore. An upcoming special edition of BYTE on the 68000 will make comparisons of processor and application speeds, ease of develop- ment and portability, and user inter- faces, but we are still left with our con- clusion that these are very different machines, with very different markets. The 520ST is an architecturally sim- ple 68000 computer with high-quality video output and a high-speed DMA port. The easiest way to summarize our first look at the hardware is that the 520ST presents the 68000 un- bounded. Not only does it offer an ex- cellent price/performance ratio, but we expect it to produce some im- pressive benchmarks on tasks with heavy computation. The 520ST's complete keyboard and impressive array of ports add up to an attractive system. Finally, the 520ST's use of standards (for exam- ple, 68000, MIDI, Yamaha sound chip, and Western Digital FDC) should make it easier to program, expand, and manufacture. There are also the promised cheap, powerful peripherals: a 10-megabyte hard disk for $700, a W-gigabyte CD- ROM optical disk for around $500, and a 1200-bps modem for $150. The Atari 520ST is certainly an ex- cellent value. For the moment, there is not much application software and you still have to deal with an un- finished operating system; but with the current availability of several high- level languages, the 520ST will un- doubtedly provide many users with what they seek— a means to tap the power of the 68000 at a price they can afford. ■ 100 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Directions for. converting aPC toanXI Insert tabA into slotR Plus«|"! Hardcard. X nn nr nnr First you have to remove Hardcard"* from its box. An operation that's about as simple as installing it in your PC* Using thumb and forefinger, lift the flap of the box. Now reach inside and grasp Hardcard. Slowly pull it out, making sure that your warranty information doesn't fall unnoticed to the floor. And that's it. You're over the hump. You've got 10 megabytes of hard disk storage in your hand. Everything— the drive, the controller, the electronics- is compressed onto a single card. Allow yourself a moment to marvel at its size and weight. Just over 2 lbs. Measuring only 13 x4 x 1 inches. With no connector cables. No additional power supply required. No adapter card to buy. Now slip it into a single expansion slot inside your PC and forget it. Odds are you'll never have to fuss with it again. Because it's so remarkably reliable. More than twice as reliable as the XTs built-in drive. Since Hardcard has fewer parts, there are fewer things that can go wrong. On top of that, Hardcard is even faster than the XT's drive. And it maintains PC compatibility with the most popular software programs. In fact, our special compatibility task force has spent many man-years making sure that Hardcard runs popular software trouble-free. Hardcard also lets you keep both your floppies up and running. Which is 1 something no other add-in drive can do. All of which means that your PC can now be saved. And that friendly, intelligent little machine can have its useful life extended. You won't have to go to the expense of replacing it with an XT Or suffer the shortcomings of bulky, conventional hard disks. Which take hours or even days to install. And when it comes to installing DOS, Hardcard is just as easy. Its special installation program loads your oper- ating system and gets you ready to install your software in minutes. And Hardcard's Directory Program lets you access those programs at the touch of a key. Finally, since Hardcard is so much more reliable, we can give you a warranty that goes well beyond the usual 90 days. We give you a full year. Still, it's nice to know that if anything ever should go wrong, you can pick up a replacement Hardcard at your nearby authorized service center. Hardcard is available now at major retailers nationwide. For the name of the one nearest you, call Plus at (408) 946-3700. Or write Plus Development Corporation, 1778 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas,CA95035. And we'll give you all the directions you need to save your PC. *Hardcard is compatible with IBM PC. IBM PCXTCompaq Portable, Compaq Plus. AT&T PC 6300. Plus and Hardcard arc trademarks of Plus Development Corporation. IBM, IBM PC and iBM PC XT are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Compaq Portable and Compaq Plus are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corp. AT&T PC 6300 is a registered trademark of AT&T Information Systems, Inc. Hardcard from Plus Inquiry 282 ,:,>-" : p\tfS % 104 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAUL AVIS CIARCIAS CIRCUIT CELLAR BUILD AN ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER by Steve Ciarcia A \6-channel \2-bit high-speed A/D converter It is evident that many ap- plications for computer controls, including energy management, security, and environmental moni- toring, require measure- ment inputs and control outputs in quantities not easily expressed in the 0- and +5-volt TTL (transistor- transistor logic) levels present in your computer. An energy-management system, for exam- ple, may need to monitor a temperature range of to 100° C with a resolution of 0.1 degree. The thermocouple sensing this temperature range might generate only 1 or 2 millivolts per degree. A propor- tional-drive pump motor in the same system might require a 2.40-V set-point control in- put to produce the proper flow rate throughout the system. Continuous analog systems like these are in the real world, outside the binary logic-0 and logic-1 domain of digital computers. For the computer to interact with the real world, we need some scheme for translating analog measurements to and from quan- tized binary equivalents. This is not the first time I have touched upon analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. I try to cover this topic every three or four years so that new readers can be brought up to speed on the basics. For the old-timers, however, 1 spice up the proj- ect with the latest whiz-bang conversion in- terface that can be cost-effectively produced. The previous projects have all used 8-bit converters. However, the overwhelming response to the BASIC-52 computer/con- troller (BCC-52) presented in the August 1985 Circuit Cellar has created a demand for something more challenging. Thousands of BCC-52 industrial and end users are ap- plying computer control to applications that ultimately require greater accuracy of mea- surement. Presently, an 8-channel 8-bit A/D con- verter (10,000 samples per second, to 10 V or -5 to + 5 V, P/N BCC-13) is available for the BCC-52, but many measurements re- quire more resolution. Therefore, it's time to dust off the old theoretical explanations and present an up-to-date, high-speed, high- resolution A/D interface for the BCC-52. First, because one is an integral compo- nent of the other, I'll outline the basics of D/A conversion and then go on to A/D con- version. After a few circuit examples, I'll get [continued) Steve Ciarcia (pronounced ,% see-ARE-see-ah") is an electronics engineer and computer consultant with ex- perience in process control digital design, nuclear in- strumentation, and product development. He is the author of several books about electronics. You can write to him at POB 582, Glastonbury, CT 06033. COPYRIGHT © 1986 STEVEN A. CIARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 105 CIRCUIT CELLAR into the heavy stuff. Ultimately, this month's project is the design of a 16-channel (8-channel differential in- put) 12-bit plus sign bit, - 5 to + 5 V, 10,000 samples/sec, BCC-52/Z8 bus- compatible A/D converter board. In a few months, after I have presented a few more essential peripheral devices, I will demonstrate the configuration and application of a full-fledged data- acquisition and control system based on the BCC-52. D/A Conversion The D/A converter can be thought of as a digitally controlled program- mable potentiometer that produces an analog output voltage. This output -JVNAr- /JT > BINARY "1"= SWITCH CLOSED BINARY "0"= SWITCH OPEN -O>v •I -ps REF " V REF " V REF + 2R 4R + 8R J Rf Figure 1 : A 4-bit weighted-resistor D/A converter. A 4-bit word is used to control four single-pole single-throw solid-state switches. Each switch is in series with a resistor. The resistor values are related as powers of 2. The other sides of the switches are connected together at the summing point of an op amp. Currents with magnitudes inversely proportional to the resistors are generated when the switches are closed. They are summed by the op amp and converted to a corresponding voltage. Figure 2: A 4-bit R-2R-type resistor-ladder D/A converter. The topology of this network is such that the current flowing into any branch of a three-branch node will divide itself equally through the two remaining branches. Because of this, the current will divide itself in half as it passes through each node on its way to the end of the ladder. voltage (V ) is the product of a digital signal D, a multiplier constant K (usually 1), and an analog reference voltage V re/ , related by the following equation: V =KDV re/ The binary value transmitted to the D/A converter by the computer is a binary fraction representing what por- tion of the full output voltage is emitted. The fraction is multiplied by a reference voltage, which can be either fixed or variable. D/A converters with variable reference voltages are often referred to as multiplying D/A converters, although all D/A con- verters can be said to multiply. In finite binary fractions, the most significant bit (MSB) has a value of 1/2 (that is, 2" 1 ), the next most significant bit is 1/4 or 2~ 2 , and the least signifi- cant bit (LSB) is (1/2)" or 2"", where n is the number of bits in the binary fraction. If all the bits in the fraction are added, the sum approaches 1; the more bits in the fraction, the closer the sum is to 1. The difference be- tween 1 and the approach to 1 is the quantitation error of the digital sys- tem. I'll discuss this later. Different implementations of D/A and A/D converters use different for- mats for representing the binary digital quantities. One basic difference is how systems represent negative binary numbers and negative volt- ages; some can, and some can't. Analog interface systems that can manipulate positive and negative numbers and voltages are called bipolar converters; systems that can handle only positive voltages and quantities are called unipolar. Unipolar converters chiefly use straight binary and binary-coded- decimal (BCD) representations of digital quantities. Bipolar converters use a variety of representations, in- cluding offset binary, one's- and twos- complement formats, and Gray code. For brevity, I will limit this discussion to converters using straight-binary and offset-binary representations. Later, 1 will get into two's-complement representations since the converter chip used in this project represents 106 BYTE ■ JANUARY 1986 CIRCUIT CELLAR negative numbers in two's-comple- ment form. Offset binary differs from straight binary only slightly. In offset binary, a number consisting of all zeros rep- resents the most negative possible quantity. The most obvious conse- quence of this is that the MSB acts as a sign bit, for negative values and I for positive. For instance, in offset notation, the bit string 01000000 rep- resents -64, while the bit string 11000000 stands for +64. Frequently, offset notation is re- ferred to as a resolution value plus sign bit, i.e., 1 2-bit plus sign converter. The sign bit, while performing as a thirteenth bit in bipolar operation, should not be confused with a 1 3-bit converter. The sign bit can be used to indicate only quantities above V (in this case, sign bit=0) or below V (sign bit= 1) and not shifted in scale. Between -5 V and +5 V on a 12-bit plus sign converter, there will be 8192 divisions (13 bits). However, if the con- verter were to measure inputs only in the range of to 5 V, only 4096 divi- sions (12 bits) can be represented. In this project, the A/D is set for -5 to + 5 V and is therefore indistinguish- able from a 13 -bit converter between these limits and would be 1 bit bet- ter than a straight 12-bit converter used to measure the same range. The translation of digital values to proportional analog values is per- formed by either of two basic De- conversion circuits: the weighted- resistor circuit or the R-2R circuit. The weighted-resistor converter is by far the simpler and more straightforward. This parallel decoder requires only one resistor per input bit. In the weighted-resistor D/A con- verter, solid-state switches are driven directly from the signals that repre- sent the digital number D. Individual currents with voltage magnitudes related by powers of 2 (magnitudes of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 2" n ) are generated and summed by connecting a network of resistors with values of R, 2R, 4R, . . ., 2"R between the reference voltage -V re/ and the summing point of an operational amplifier (op amp) by means of the set of electronic switches. After being summed, the various currents are converted to a voltage by the op amp, as shown in figure 1. While this may appear to be a sim- ple answer to an otherwise complex problem, this method has some sig- nificant drawbacks. The accuracy of this type of converter is a function of the combined accuracies of the resistors, switches (all switches have some resistance), and the op amp. In D/A-conversion systems of greater than 10 bits resolution, the values of the resistors become extremely large, and the resultant current flow is reduced to such a low value as to be lost in circuit noise. For example, in an 8-bit D/A con- verter with R (the value of the resistor for the MSB) set to 10 kilohms, the value of the resistor for the LSB turns out to be 1.28 megohms. With a ref- erence voltage of 10.00 V, only 7.8 microamperes would flow into the op amp. This current is significantly below the response threshold of most low-cost op amps and would not be detected. Lowering the value of R to 100 ohms creates the opposite prob- lem. At a reference voltage of 10.00 V, the input current to the op amp would be 100 milliamperes, more than most op amps can handle. A reasonable alternative to the weighted-resistor D/A converter is the R-2R D/A converter, often referred to as a resistor-ladder converter. This type is more widely used, even though it uses more components than the weighted-resistor type. A simple R-2R design is shown in figure 2, in- cluding the reference voltage, a set of binary switches, and an output amplifier. The basis of this converter is a ladder network constructed with resistors of two values: R and 2R. In each bit position of the network, one resistor (2R) is in series with the bit switch, and the other (R) is in the summing line, so that the combina- tion forms a pi network. This suggests that the impedances of the three branches of any node are equal, and that a current i, flowing into a node [continued) +5-15V WRITE — ENABLE WR DATA BUS ADDRESS AD558 GND 6ND m -OVourg -10V 2.56V ^^,0-lOV 0-2. 56V RANGE SELECTOR *15-V0LT SUPPLY REQUIRED FOR 0-10V OUTPUT RANGE Figure 3: A block diagram outlining a typical connection of the AD 55 8 8-bit multiplying D/A converter. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 107 CIRCUIT CELLAR through one branch, flows out as ill through the other two branches. In other words, the current produced in the network by closing a bit switch is cut by half as it passes through each node on the way to the end of the lad- der. Simply stated, the position of a switch with respect to the point where the current is measured determines the binary significance of the par- ticular switch closure. The R-2R D/A converter is easy to manufacture because only two resistor values are needed. The com- ponent stock can be reduced to one resistor value if two are used in series for each bit. Keeping matched resistor values that have the same tempera- ture coefficients contributes to a stable design. Certain trade-offs are required between ladder resistance values and current flow to balance ac- curacy and noise. One form of the R-2R ladder circuit is found in the multiplying D/A con- verter. This type of converter, which utilizes external-variable analog refer- ence voltages, produces outputs that are directly proportional to the value of the digital input multiplied by this reference. Functionally this type of converter is available as current- or voltage-output types. The current- output devices are faster and less complex because they do not include additional output-amplifier stages. Therefore, they cost less than voltage types. An economical 8-bit multiplying D/A converter is the Analog Devices AD558. Shown in figure 3, it contains an 8-bit latch, R-2R ladder network, reference-voltage source, and output amplifier. TheAD558 can run on a + 5- to + 1 5-V power supply and can be jumper-selected for 0- to 2.56-V or 0- to + 10-V ranges. Using a separate op amp, you can configure an offset con- verter or modify the output of the range. The AD558 can be used as a trans- parent D/A converter by holding the chip-enable and chip-select lines con- stantly low. However, it was primarily designed to be bus-operated and ap- pear as a write-only location in mem- REFERENCE O DIGITAL- TO -ANALOG CONVERTER v .nE>- COMPARATOR CLOCK MSB MSB ■o -O -o -o 8-BIT > PARALLEL OUTPUT LSB D SUCCESSIVE- APPROXIMATION CK REGISTER START CONVERSION SERIAL OUTPUT Figure 4: A block diagram of a typical 8-bit successive-approximation A/D converter. ory or I/O (input/output) address space, lypical connections consist of a decoded address strobe, a write- enable signal, and the 8-bit data bus. A/D Converters Virtually all high-resolution A/D con- verters incorporate a D/A converter as an integral component. That is why, even though our ultimate aim is A/D, 1 always discuss D/A converters first. Hopefully 1 have made you aware of the binary-conversion process, and you can appreciate the concepts of resolution and accuracy. An A/D converter changes an analog voltage into a digital represen- tation compatible with the computer's input needs. Akin to the 8-bit D/A con- verter, an A/D converter is subject to the same conversion rules. If you are trying to read a 10-V signal with an 8-bit converter, resolution is 1/2 56 of 10 V (approximately 40 mV), and ac- curacy will be ± 1/2 the LSB. For greater resolution, more conver- sion bits are necessary. The number of bits does not set the input-voltage range of a converter; it only deter- mines with what precision the output value is represented. An 8-bit con- verter (either A/D or D/A) can be set up just as easily to cover a range of to + 1 V as it can be to cover to + 1000 V. Often, the same circuitry is used with only a final amplification stage or resistor-divider network changed. Note, however, that an 8-bit con- verter with a range of 1000 V has a resolution of only 4 V (1000/256), and it would be useless to measure 0- to 10-V signals. You can solve this prob- lem in a number of ways. The easiest solution is to use a converter with more bits. A 16-bit converter, which has 65,536 steps instead of 2 56, would cover the same 1000-V range in 15-mV increments. As a practical matter, though, a rea- sonable price/performance ratio is often more important than wide- range capability. A/D conversion is considerably more expensive than D/A conversion, and price is directly related to resolution and accuracy. If you intend to read 0- to 5-V input 108 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 CIRCUIT CELLAR signals and you have to be accurate within only 3 5 mV, it hardly makes sense to use a 1000-V range 16-bit converter (probably costing $5000) when an 8-bit 0- to 5-V range unit ($150) would more than suffice. The rule in choosing an A/D con- verter boils down to "be realistic." Assess the quality of the signal source (noise, rate of change of input, ground referenced or differential, etc.) when you choose your converter. Installing a converter with 1 -microvolt (/nV) res- olution to measure an input signal buried in 200 mV of noise is pointless. An A/D converter that scans therm- istor probes and controls the ambient temperature in a large supermarket cannot encode video information from an optical scanner. A/D con- verters, much more than D/A con- verters, are specifically tailored to an application. Speed, accuracy, and res- olution are variables in any converter design, but the blending of these choices can greatly affect the cost in A/D conversion. Most confusing is the variety of A/D- converter designs. They range from very slow, inexpensive techniques to ultrafast, expensive ones. You get what you pay for. The two fastest tech- niques are flash conversion and suc- cessive approximation. The flash converter is just that. It consists of a separate analog-input comparator for each incremental voltage it is to measure. An 8-bit flash A/D converter has 2 56 comparators with gating logic that outputs the binary code corresponding to the comparator triggered by the input voltage. Flash converters are very fast (I million-100 million samples/sec), but they are also very expensive. A somewhat slower (1000-1 million samples/sec) and more cost-effective alternative is the successive-approxi- mation converter. Shown in figure 4, this type— like the binary-ramp-type A/D converter— uses a D/A converter in the feedback loop to compare a calculated D/A voltage to the unknown input voltage. In this imple- mentation, the binary counters are replaced with a special successive- approximation register (SAR). Initially, the outputs of the SAR and the mutually connected D/A converter are at a zero level. After a start-con- version pulse is received, the SAR enables its bits one at a time starting with the MSB. As each bit is enabled, the comparator gives an output signi- [continued) CONNECTION DIAGRAM DUAL IN-LINE PACKAGE v- c 1 * 24 ^DIGITAL V C c V| N (-) C 2 23 ZIDB7/DB12-0 (STATUS WORD) V, N ( + ) C 3 22 ZJDB6/DB12-SARS ANALOG GND C 4 21 Zl DB5/DB12-0 Vref C 5 ANALOG V C c LZ 6 ADC1205 20 19 DDB4/DB12-0 ZJDB3/DB11-0 Vos LZ 7 18 DDB2/DB10-BYST CLK IN LZ 8 17 ZJDB1/DB9-E0C WR LZ 9 16 Z1DB0/DB8-INT cs LZ 10 15 zi int RD C 11 14 Zl READY OUT DIGITAL GND EI 12 13 I] STATUS TOP VIEW FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM r^-- v os? V IN (+) IN CS RD WR OUT STATUS V cc I I TTTT CONTROL AND TIMING SUCCESSIVE- APPROXIMATION REGISTER LADDER AND DECODER L_i. 1 BYTE SEQUENCER AND TRI-STATE OUTPUT LATCH 2-BYTE ADC1205 ONLY -J- Vref ANALOG vcc Figure 5: Pin-out and block diagram of National Semiconductor's ADC1205CCJ 12-bit plus sign A/D converter chip. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 109 CIRCUIT CELLAR fying that the input signal is greater or less in amplitude than the output of the D/A converter. If the D/A out- put is greater than the input signal a is set as the value of the corre- sponding output bit. If the D/A output is less than the input signal the cir- cuit sets the corresponding bit to a 1 . The register successively moves to the next bit (retaining the settings on the previously tested bits) and performs the same test. After all the bits have been tested the conversion cycle is complete. An 8-bit successive-approx- imation A/D converter takes only eight clock cycles to complete a con- version. This one-to-one relationship be- tween conversion resolution and SAR clock counts is generally true only for discrete-component SAR-based A/Ds. In higher-resolution integrated-circuit A/D converters, the clock cycle/con- version bit times are less distinct due to extensive housekeeping circuitry. Like many microprocessors with high clock-crystal frequencies, the actual system clock is "much slower. THE ADC1205 Figure 5 is the pin-out and block diagram of the National Semiconduc- tor ADCI205CCJ 12-bit plus sign A/D converter chip. It operates on a single + 5-V logic supply and 5.000-V refer- ence input to provide a 12-bit conver- sion on 0- to 5-V inputs. With a 1 .08-megahertz clock frequency, the ADCI 205 will do 10,000 conversions per second (108 microseconds per conversion). If an additional - 5- to - 1 5-V sup- ply is connected to V- (pin I), the ADCI 205 will convert - 5- to + 5-V in- puts using a thirteenth output bit. This MSB is the sign bit. It is a logic for positive values and logic I for nega- tive values. Figure 6 shows the output charac- teristics of the converter. For 0- to 5-V inputs (sign bit=0), the codes range from binary 0000000000000 to 01 1 II II Mil II, respectively. In a 5-V range, each bit represents 0.0012 V, or 1.2 mV resolution! If the output of the converter were binary 00000101 1 1 100 (hexadecimal 000BC), this would be (188)*(0.0012)=0.2256 V Similarly, binary 01 10101 1 1 1000 (hexadecimal 00D78) is +4.1376 V Negative inputs are represented in two's-complement binary. For 0- to -5-V inputs (sign bit=l), the codes range from binary II II II I II I II I to 1 000000000000, respectively. The output code for negative values is represented as the magnitude of the difference from the unknown input to - 5 V and not its distance from zero. An output code of 1000010111100 (I00BC) is -((5.00)-(188)*(0.0012)) = -4.7744 V Similarly, 1110101111000 (4095)0,1111. 1111.1111-1- uo94)o. im.ini.mo__ (2)0.0000.0000.0010 (1)0.0000.0000.0001 (0)0.0000.0000.0000 z? NEGATIVE FULL-SCALE TRANSITION .r 1 " POSITIVE FULL-SCALE TRANSITION t 1LSB 1,1111,1111.1)11 (-1) l.iin, mi, mo(-2) -1,0000.0000,0001 (-4095) - - 1,0000.0000.0000 (-4096 ) ANALOG INPUT VOLTAGE [v )N ( + pV, N ( _j] Figure 6: ADCI 205 output characteristics. (I0D78) is -((5.00)-(3448)*(0.0012))= -0.8624 V. Under computer control, the con- version is relatively easy. At each reading, determine the absolute value of the 12-bit number by multiplying it by 0.0012 V. If the sign bit is a 0, add a plus sign to your calculation, and you have a positive output of that magnitude. If, on the other hand, the sign bit is a I , subtract that value from 5.0 V and append a minus sign. You can see that watching the sign bit is important, and this is not as simple as offset binary. One further consideration before presenting the entire schematic is the concept of single-ended and differen- tial inputs. There is a significant dif- ference between them. Most low-cost multichannel A/D converters have single-ended inputs. All converters have a V.--+ and a V ( „_ input. In a single-ended A/D con- verter, the V;__ line is connected to ground. Therefore, all measurements are referenced to a common ground. Even if an 8-channel multiplexer switches inputs to the V in+ line, all readings are referenced to a single ground, and voltages from two dif- ferent systems cannot be monitored simultaneously unless their grounds are connected. This is often not the case, and conditions called ground loops result. Many of you no doubt remember "smoking" an early-genera- tion oscilloscope by accidentally view- ing the hot side of the AC line while referenced through the line cord to the other side (even today I still use an isolation transformer on my scopes). Another consideration is trying to measure voltages that are not neces- sarily relative to ground. Perhaps resistor R, c in figure 7 is a thermistor, and we wish to read the voltage drop across it to determine temperature. A single-ended A/D converter could not be connected directly across R, c if both the circuit and the A/D converter have the same ground without short- ing out one of the resistors. To read the thermistor, you would have to separately read the voltages at points B and C and subtract them. Further- no B YTE • JANUARY 1986 CIRCUIT CELLAR more, unless you manually move the probes, the only way to do it is to in- crease the number of channels on the A/D converter. Hence, the prolifera- tion of multichannel single-ended A/D converters. Unfortunately, measurements refer- enced to ground often contain noise and power fluctuations from other components in the circuit. It is far bet- ter in some applications to simply measure the voltage between two points in a circuit irrespective of ground. Such a measurement is termed "differential." For lack of a bet- ter example, think of this as the two probes on a digital voltmeter (DVM). If the meter is battery-operated, it is completely isolated from ground, and the two probes measure absolute potential between them. Only when the V ln - probe is physically connected to the circuit ground are the readings then single-ended and ground-refer- enced. The ADCI205, while being powered from ground-referenced power sup- plies, has analog input lines that are isolated from ground. These two lines are like the two probes on the DVM. In a multichannel single-ended A/D converter, only the V jn+ line is multi- plexed. The V ln _ line is attached to ground. In a differential-input multi- channel A/D converter, both the V ; „ + and V /n . lines are multiplexed, and neither is tied to ground. To read across R, c , the V in+ line is attached to point B, and the V in _ line is connected to point C (in industry parlance, V ln+ is V ln High and V ln _ is V /n Low). The ADCI205 is a 12-bit converter designed to attach directly to an 8-bit microcomputer bus. The system com- municates with the chip as memory- mapped I/O through the CS (chip- select bar) and RD (read bar) WR (write bar) signals. An additional STATUS (status bar) line is used as a signal to start conversion or check conversion progress. The 1 2 bits and sign are read as 2 successive bytes. Data is right-justified with the most significant byte presented first (the 4 MSBs of the first byte all have the value of the sign bit). A second read to the chip automati- cally presents the least significant byte. The three possible interactions are given in table 1. Communicating with this chip may look complicated, but it is much less so than you might think, especially if you are operating the converter in BASIC. I will demonstrate it shortly. The BCO30 16-Channel A/D Converter Board When you invent things, you get to name them. I called the BASIC-52 board the BCC-52. Since this A/D con- verter board is BCC-bus-compatible, I've decided to call it the BCC-30 (other more appropriate numbers are unfortunately taken). See photo 1. The schematic of the BCC-30 is shown in figure 8. The configuration of the BCC-30 is as a bus-compatible peripheral device to the BCC-52 and the BCC-11 Z8- based computer/controller rede- signed from the original presentation in July 1981. See photo 2. Both units and a number of expansion boards I've designed over the years share a common 44-pin bus sometimes called [continued) +4V SINGLE-ENDED INPUT V| N HIGH} V| N + V| N - AGND A/D | R tc < 2K DIFFERENTIAL INPUT IK v, N high) V lN LOW>— V IN + A/D V|N" AGND JT~ Figure 7: Comparison of single-ended versus differential input connections. l&ble 1: The three possible interacti ons with the AG 205 A/D converter chip. Function CS RD WR STATUS 11 Reset data-byte counter and start conversion. 1 1 Read data. First byte is sign and 4 MSBs; second byte is 8 LSBs. 1 Read status word. Status-word format: Bit — High indicates conversion complete and data ready. Bit 1 — High indicates conversion complete. Bit 2 — High indicates next byte is 8 LSBs. Low indicates next byte is sign and 4 MSBs. Bit 6 — High indicates conversion still in progress. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 111 CIRCUIT CELLAR 1- tO => ¥ * ^ ^ CM O 9 CM CM i—i "^ CM ^ 1 > -J < w — E> ^ * 4k o ^ * a> Q- "* \ u. ,9 ° > l> m z vti. uj *P __^ A ^ ™^_J^ I HhO | . fs- ^ K + + CO i u. ' ^ + > o ? * 2 n t 4 i ' ^L ' > > r T T oo| cvi | m ^ -rf s m + | u. 1 Q Q O z z uj > Z Z ** > _ _ > > o in < Q > o Q CM > ID O o to 00° + 5 1 -< e- 12 II IS H n tc in ^} 00 N H o to qqqqqqq q 00 1 o cr *~* m 00 CM ^ o a oo o CO 1 » X ■ 2 U3 o "*! Q ■* o I <* o CM 00 m ^< to / \ OC in ro »n -J fy, 1 ^f «tt O — ^ Q L ( * § A in cm g O Q *3 —1— c ^ r ^/ 1, \ LlI tO '-ps o o Z* *— ■ — ^ ■ ■ ml S rx CO CD •* 00 CM f'lom^rocM'-Ho < >>>->->->>>- 1 1-- 1 in 00 1 (M •^ ioJ ool r-t o: *j 00 X \ A X 5 S «vi 00 —J r-* CM JJJ <_>•<* ! A / A /\ /"°\ < m O O C? ^ bfr^ 1 •** i* O 1 W © en in > — 1 (1 — U f> 1 ^^ 5* IS U > ir ) ^ r r» 1 C\ < r > tr S) NJ 00 < < ~ 3 lo - ^ »-« jj 'Z QQQQQQQQ < < < < < < £E <<<<<<<< n>xco£ 5 > 3 (_ O oor^k0in^r-i 0( ^ CM i-h r-i (a) Figure 8: Schematic diagram of the BCC-30 \6-channel A/D converter board. 112 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 CIRCUIT CELLAR ^s ■*-$ 3 rvj < VW- »M '^D^ ne-s -W H4 ° ;r - l-O p^ w- 2" 3 _l "3 < o m V h- ' IT)] U3 r- C\J irt O (J> E 3-n ^ ^ lb) ID f 0) O © 1© 1© m \z 2 CM ( UJ J en fin J - © o Q JO IANUARY 1986 • BYTE 113 CIRCUIT CELLAR Photo I: Prototype of the Circuit Cellar 16-channel \2-bit plus sign A/D converter board. Photo 2: The BCC-30 A/D board is bus-compatible with the BCC-52 controller board. The BCC-30 A/D prototype and BCC-52 are shown plugged into a backplane for use together. the "Z8 Bus" but more properly called the MMZ8 bus. Nothing is unique about the signals on this bus except perhaps their pin designations. It is a multiplexed address/data/control bus primarily oriented to 8-bit computers (16-bit address and 8-bit data). The BCC-30 A/D board looks to the computer as a single address at any one of 128 predefined (jumper- selectable) locations. It can be con- figured either as 16 independent single-ended-input channels or 8 differential-input channels. Single- ended or differential operation is determined by the placement of jumpers (PI-4 and is therefore not under program control. The data byte sent by the computer to the board ad- dress defines which channel the input multiplexer is set for. ICs 2, 3, 4, and 5 decode A8-AI4 address bits to produce CS for the ADCI205 chip and latch data directed through buffer IC7 into the multi- plexer address latch (IC6). The jumper positions selected in the schematic locate this address at B800 hexadec- imal (47104 decimal). The 4 LSBs of this register control the input multi- plexer w hile the fifth bit (b4) sets the STATUS level control line to the ADC1205. Running the A/D board in BASIC is straightforward and consists of four sequential operations: set multiplexer address and reset A/D, start conver- sion, read most significant byte, and read least significant byte. While the status of the A/D is available as an output, a conversion takes only 100 microseconds and therefore could never be seen in BASIC (reading the status will be necessary if you are tak- ing 10,000 samples/sec in an assem- bly-language program, however). It is simple enough to start the conversion and then go back immediately and read it since it will always be com- pleted. Executing an XBY(47104) = 18 in BASIC will load hexadecimal 12 into the address latch (the XBYQ com- mand in BASIC-52 is like PEEK and POKE in other BASICs). This cor- responds to a multiplexer address of 2 and a status bit set to a logic I 114 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 CIRCUIT CELLAR (reset). Resetting the status bit starts the conversion with an XBY(47104) = 2. The 2 bytes are then read as A1 = XBY(47104):A2 = XBY(47104). The most significant byte/least significant byte counter automatically incre- ments on the successive reads. Sum- marizing, to read channel #2 (board address B800 hexadecimal), we ex- ecute code as outlined in figure 9. AI and A2 can then be combined to produce the desired output. I refer you to listing 1 for that procedure. As mentioned earlier, four jumpers (IP 1-4) decide whether the function of the A/D is 16-channel single-ended or 8-channel differential. All four jumpers are moved together, and all must occupy either the single-ended or differential jumper positions together. Each MUX08 (IC9 and 10) multiplexer is an 8-channel JFET-type analog switch. While CMOS (comple- mentary metal-oxide semiconductor) switches might function in the circuit (and be about a tenth the cost), their I/O-transfer characteristics are not adequate for a 12-bit converter. The variations in resistance with input signal level would surface as measure- ment errors and instability. JFET multi- plexers are specifically designed for this application and have very flat response curves. Four bits from the multiplexer ad- dress latch (IC6) are directed through the jumpers to the multiplexer control lines. In the single-ended position, V,-„_ of the ADCI205 is physically grounded, and the two MUX08s se- quentially address 16 input signals through it to the V tn+ . When they are in the differential position, however, address line D is disabled, V 4 -„_ is removed from ground, and both W in+ and W in - are switched through the in- put multiplexers. A differential input on channel #2, for example, would have V,„ high on IC9 pin 6 and V«„ low on ICIO pin 6 (setting channel #10 when using differential mode will enable channel #2 instead). The remaining areas worth com- menting about are the reference voltage and input protection. For a 12-bit A/D to be worth anything, it must have a precise, stable reference voltage for its internal D/A. In the BCC-30, the 5-V reference is supplied from an LM3 36-5 voltage reference chip. Additional diodes and a trim pot allow it to be precisely set at 5.000 V with virtually no temperature drift. Only a positive reference is required, even though the converter measures negative voltages as well. The only "gotcha" in using the ADC 1 205 is input protection. While it measures +/- 5-V inputs, levels above or below +/- 5.3 V may damage the device. One method of protecting the inputs is through clamping diodes and current-limiting resistors. Using these techniques, I have connected V in+ and V,-„_ to a voltage source that will shunt damaging inputs away before they exceed 5.3 V. Unfor- tunately, if these diodes are con- nected to +/- 5 V, they will not begin conducting until +5.6 V and -5.6 V, respectively (germanium diodes with similar speed and power capabilities are much more expensive). I have chosen the least painful alternative by providing +/- 4.7-V Zener-generated sources to the clamping diodes that will start conducting at 5.3 V. Presently, only a 100-ohm series {continued) BASIC Command XBY(47104) = 18 XBY(47104) = 2 A1=XBY(47104) A2 = XBY(47104) Function Set multiplexer channel #2 and set status line high to reset A/D converter. Retain multiplexer channel setting and set status line low to start conversion. Read first (most significant) byte. Read second (least significant) byte. Figure 9: Series of BASIC-52 statements used to read channel #2 of the BCC-30. Listing 1 BCC-30. A sample BASIC-52 program to read and display channels 0-7 on the 10 CLEAR 20 REM READ AND DISPLAY A/D CHANNEL 0-7 30 REM SINGLE-ENDED OR DIFFERENTIAL 40 REM -5- TO + 5-VOLT INPUT 50 REM 60 REM 70 N = 47104 : REM BOARD ADDRESS 80 REM STATUS BIT IS B5 - LOGIC 1 IS RESET 90 FOR A = TO 7 : REM DO ALL CHANNELS 0-7 100 GOSUB160:REM READ A CHANNEL 110 NEXT A: REM NEXT CHANNEL 120 PRINT CHR(18),CHR(27),"Y" : REM TERMITE - HOME AND CLEAR SCREEN 130 REM DISPLAY ARRAY HOLDING CHANNEL 0-7 READINGS 140 PRINT USING (#.###) 1 A(0),A(1) 1 A(2) 1 A(3) 1 A(4),A(5) 1 A(6) 1 A(7) I "VOLTS" 150 GOTO 20 : REM DO IT ALL AGAIN 160 XBY (N)=A+16 : REM RESET A/D AND SET MULTIPLEXER CHANNEL 170 XBY(N)=A:REM CLEAR STATUS BIT TO READ DATA 1 80 D1 = XBY(N) : D2 = XBY(N) : REM READ 1 2 BITS AS TWO SUCCESSIVE WORDS 190 R = 0.0012207 : REM VOLTS PER COUNT 200 IF D1 > =240 THEN GOTO 230 210 A(A) = R*((D1*256) + D2) : REM SAVE POSITIVE READING IN ARRAY 220 RETURN 230 D1 =255-D1 : D2 = 255-D2 : REM ADJUST D1 & D2 FOR TWO'S COMPLEMENT 240 A(A)= -1*R*((D1*256) + D2) : REM SAVE NEGATIVE READING IN ARRAY 250 RETURN JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 115 Inquiry 73 1-800-826-0843 \ TIHI1 C©MIPI HIT ii IE&fiSJ M Super Low Prices on Micro Computers and Accessories... MODEMS/DATA COMMUNICATIONS PRINTERS CASE/RIXON 'rice ANADEX List Price LDM 710 Limited DP-6500 S 1595 Distance Modem $ 220 DP-9001B 829 LDM 720 Limited DP-95001A 929 Distance Modem 410 DP-95001B 865 DCX 815 Stat Multi- DP-9625B 1029 plex or 4-Port DCX 815 Stat 960 DATASOUTH Multiplex or 8-Port 1400 PP1-80 col. PC TA208 A/B 4800 bps Parallel 595 385 Modem Dial-Lease PP2-157 Col. PC Line 1400 Parallel 845 475 R96FP 9600 bps DIABLO Modem Fast-Poll 1375 630 API (Letter R96 9600 bps Modem 1250 Quality) 2095 1395 R212A Intelligent 630 API/ECS/EXS 2295 1595 Modem 300/1200 bps 350 D25 25 CPS R212 Executive 212 420 IBM PC 745 535 R208 4800 bps dial up 900 P101 80 CPS 80 R1224 300/1200/2400 COL Dot Matrix 499 355 bps v.22 bis. 550 P12CQ1 150 CPS DCX 812 4 Port Multi- 80 COL Dot plexor 1030 Matrix 699 495 ARK/PARADYNE Call for pricing on All Models call accessor/es and other PRENTICE available printers Multiplexors Bell 202T Compatible call CANON Modem 315 -*— LASER PRINTER -*— Bell 212A Compatible LBP-8A1 Laser P212 SA Stand Alone 395 Beam 3495 2595 P212 RM Rack Mount 315 Canon BJ 80 Bubble 212 TCM SA Stored Jet Printer 599 449 Directory 212 TCM RM Rack Mount 635 555 Call ior other available Canon printers and accessories. P212 ST Auto Dial/Auto Answer 275 TRIMODEM Stand Alone 750 SYSTEMS AND TRIMODEM TERMINALS Rack Mount V.22 0-300/600/1200 Rack Mount 690 635 Low priced, reliable, ergonomic design. Stand Alone 555 WYSE Mfr. List Price BELL 201C Compatible WYSE 50 $ 595 S 410 P 201C SA Stand WYSE 50+ 695 525 Alone 595 WYSE 75 795 539 P 201C RM Rack WYSE 85 799 575 Mount 515 WYSE 350 BELL 208 A and B COLOR 1195 875 P 208 A/B Stand alone 1115 WYSE 30 P 208 A/B Rack mount 1035 NEW 399 332 CC1TT V29 Compatible •WYSE-1100-1 9600 A/B SA Dial or (360K PC) 1765 1159 teased line 9600 bps 1725 **WYSE-1100-2 Call 9629 leased line (Same as for Syncronons 9600 above w/10 Super bps modem 1350 mgb hard Low disk) 3265 Price WYSE 500 (Green mono- I ki.'j'^l Uiiuy. U.J chrome) 230 WYSE 600 160 jty&tuiwMBfflw (Color KGB) 730 505 raSar deal TELEVIDEO ADDS VIEWPOINT PC's and Display Terminals COLOR Mfr. List Price TERMINALS S 735 PM WORK- VISUAL STATION S 1995 S 1160 COMMUTER PC *TV 1605 256K, 2 DRW/LCD PLUS PC 2595 1795 SCREEN 1850 *TV 1605H VISUAL EXP. MEMORY 375 PLUS PC 3995 2588 VISUAL 102 *TV 1605 TERMINALS 695 C PC 2995 2120 VISUAL 241 "TV 1605 CH 4595 3295 TERMINALS VISUAL 50 TERMINALS VISUAL 55 TERMINALS VISUAL 550 TERMINALS NEC 8810 55 CPG (USED) SERIAL PTR 1495 525 650 995 1400 TV PERSONAL TERMINAL 499 TV 910+ VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINAL 699 TV 914 699 TV 922 DEC VT220 COMP. 995 TV 924 899 380 455 520 715 639 TV 925 995 TV 925E 689 SAFT, ELGAR, SURGE ERGONO- SUPPRESSORS AND MIC 925 795 TV 955 699 559 425 STANDBY POWER SUPPLIES 'Systems are IBM PC ' Compatible List 200 Volt Power Price "IBM PC XT Compatible Supply 595 419 ® Registered trademark 400 Volt Power IBM Corp. Supply 795 559 Surge Suppressor 149 Power Line 105 Call for free Conditioners Call for specs catalogue J CIRCUIT CELLAR resistor is used in each input line to dissipate any input overvoltage. The ADC 1 205 converter has about a 50- kilohm input impedance so this extra resistance is unnoticeable. The series resistance can be increased further for more protection, but the temperature drift of this resistor adds errors to the system. The quantity of error depends upon the signal source impedance. Frankly speaking, I would much rather have added a clamped-output op-amp stage, but it would have been very expensive. Remember, we are talking about l-mV signals and 20 parts per million maximum permissi- ble temperature drift. It hardly makes sense to add an op amp with a 30-mV offset and 200 ppm temperature drift combined with piles of who-knows- what discrete components moving in all different directions. Low-drift, low- offset, high-speed op-amp circuits are expensive. It would be easy for me to simply provide an untried schematic of a typical protection circuit, but, as a practical matter, a properly designed and tested circuit with no offset or drift would have been a bigger proj- ect than the whole A/D board. I sug- gest that you simply try to limit your input range to + 5 to - 5 V. Half-watt 100-ohm series resistors will protect the inputs up to +/- 12 V. While faster diodes might eventually be required in the clamping circuits shown, they are reasonably priced and adequate protection for normal use. No one wants to pay what it would take to guard against all pos- sible circumstances. Only an idiot would try to measure the voltage across the tips of an arc welder with this board. Conclusion The price/performance of A/D con- verters is a balance of speed and res- olution. There are $200 4-bit 100 million samples/sec A/D chips and $9.95 12-bit 2 samples/sec units (I won't bother to tell you how much 1 2 bits at 100 million samples/sec would cost). In environmental systems that have slowly varying conditions, speed is not as important as accuracy. Room temperature, for example, doesn't change so fast that you need to sam- ple it 500 times a second. The ac- celerometers on a shake table, how- ever, may need to be sampled 20,000 times a second for accurate G-force event records. The BCC-30 has more than enough performance for most data-acquisi- tion situations and will be finding a home in industrial control applica- tions along with the BCC-52. Circuit Cellar Feedback This month's feedback is on page 403. Next Month I'll build a multichannel audio/video multiplexer. ■ The following items are available from The Micromint Inc. 2 5 Terrace Dr. Vernon, CT 06066 (800) 63 5-3 355 for orders (203) 871-6170 for information 1. BCC-30. 12-bit plus sign, 10,000 samples/ sec, input range: - 5 to + 5 V, 16-channel A/D converter board. assembled and tested BCC-30. $197 2. BCC-13. 8-bit. 12.000 samples/sec, input ranges: to 10 V or -5 to +5 V. 8-channel A/D converter board. assembled and tested BCC-13. $140 3. BCC-99 manual set. Includes all user's manuals and schematics for BCC-52, BCC-1 1, and BCC-2 1 computer/controllers and all cur- rently available expansion boards, including serial, parallel I/O. AC/DC power I/O. and those listed above. Shipping weight 5 lbs. BCC-99, $29.95 All the units above are bus-compatible with the BCC-52, BCC-11, and BCC-21 computer/ controllers. All units come complete with user's manual. Please include $4 for shipping and handling in the continental United States, $10 else- where. Connecticut residents please include 7. 5 percent sales tax. Editor's Note: Steve often refers to previous Circuit Cellar articles. Most of these past ar- ticles are available in book form from BYTE Books, McGraw-Hill Book Company. POB 400, Hightstown. NJ 082 50. Qarcia's Circuit Cellar. Volume 1 covers articles in BYTE from September 1977 through November 1978. Volume II covers December 1978 through June 1980. Volume III covers July 1980 through December 1981. Volume IV covers January 1982 through June 1983. 116 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 XEROX Xerox is about to move xerography light years ahead The Xerox 4045 Laser CP A desktop laser printer that's also a copier. XEROX TeamXerox About twenty-five years ago something happened that changed the world of information forever. Xerox introduced the first plain paper copier, an achievement that brou ght xerography into almost every office. Since then, for more than a decade, Xerox has been applying the power of laser technology in high speed computer printing systems. Systems that produce superb documents of unsurpassed quality. Quickly, quietly and cost effectively. Now, through this process which we've named Lasography, Xerox has come up with a revolutionary product that lets smaller offices and work groups enjoy these benefits, too. Introducing the Xerox 4045 Laser Copier Printer. It's the desktop copier/laser printer XEROX® and the number names are trademarks of XEROX CORPORATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON XEROX LASOGRAPHIC PRINTERS, CIRCLE 390 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD. with a totally unique dual personality. For one thing, it's a sophisticated laser printer. It can print up to ten pages a minute. Which is ten times faster than standard office printers. And while other desktop printers serve primarily one workstation at a time, the Xerox 4045 Laser CP is designed to accommodate four. All at the same time. Not only that, but with the Laser CP's graphics capabilities you can merge all the forms, logos, texts and signatures you want printed and produce documents that anyone would be proud of. But as we said before, the Laser CP has a dual personality. It doubles as a high quality convenience copier. The Xerox 4045 Laser CP is only one example of what Lasography has to offer your office, remote or distributed data processing environments. Because Xerox is already planning ways to apply Lasography toward an even wider selection of products. All of which will put your office exactly where it belongs. Light years ahead. Call 1-800-TEAM-XRX, ext 179 for information and product demonstration. Please send me more information on Xerox Lasography. D The 4045 Laser CP □ The complete line of Lasographic printers. Send this coupon to: Xerox Corporation, PO. Box 24, Rochester, NY 14692 NAME TITLE COMPANY ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE If you can't wait, call: 1-800-TEAM-XRX, ext. 179 (1-800-832-6979, ext. 179) JANUARY I986 • BYTE 119 PRODUCT PREVIEW Q&A Integrated software with macros and an Intelligent Assistant Editor's note: The following is a BYTE prod- uct preview. \t is not a review. We provide an advance look at this new product because we feel it is significant. A complete review will follow in a subsequent issue. Qr R is a new product from am. Symantec (see "In Brief" on page 122) that integrates word pro- cessing and file management with a full macro facility and an effective natural-language interface, your "In- telligent Assistant." The database and word-processing modules include data merge, comprehensive report capabilities, and context-sensitive help, but it is the Assistant that distinguishes the software. With it, you have the option of addressing the database intuitively and quickly by entering ordinary English phrases and sentences. You can carry on a conver- sation about the data in your data- base, to find forms, to ask questions of the database, to view or print reports, to run predefined reports, to perform calculations on the data, or to change the information in the data- base. And with macros, you can speed requests by defining keys as commonly used words and phrases. You can thus bypass the more formal searching, reporting, and updating procedures in most database applica- tions and in QS-A's own database module. Your Intelligent Assistant The Assistant has a built-in vocabulary of over 400 words (see table I for a partial list), and it automatically learns field names and the contents of the database. If you desire, you can also train your Assistant to comprehend your parlance in eight quick lessons. By so doing, you can increase the number of words that the Assistant understands and provide for much more personalized sessions. From the Assistant's main menu (see photo I) you can get acquainted with your new helper through a series of short help screens (and you can rename it to your liking— I chose the name Duncan), you can elect to train or retrain the assistant, or you can ask it to do something. A Sample Session Let's follow a session with the sample database, Realty, which contains ad- dresses and descriptions of 47 bed- and-breakfast units in the United States. The fields include owner's name, address, number of beds, number of baths, rent, amenities, type, and commission. After loading in the database, the Assistant asks you to type your re- quest in English (see photo 2). Me: Where can I get a room? Duncan: Shall I do the following? Create a report showing the address, city, state, zip, and bed from all the forms? The bottom of the screen presents my options. For example, you can dump the output to the screen or to a printer, edit individual forms, or focus the search further. Let's try something a bit more practical. Me: Are there any units for rent with more than 1 bed and a pool? After 10 seconds on an IBM AT with Duncan highlighting its progress through the sentence, it responds: Duncan: Shall I do the following? Create a report showing the monthly rent and the address and the city from the forms on which the bed > 1 and the amenities include "pool" sorted by monthly rent? I'm not sure why it sorted by rent, but I got the information I requested. The report included 17 units sorted from the highest to the lowest rent. Finally, I tried another approach. Me: Show me the forms for the units with between 2 and 5 baths. Duncan (7 seconds later): Shall I: Select and view the forms on which the bath is > = 2 and < = 5? It's hard not to be impressed. The Assistant answers many "Are there. . ." questions with "Yes, press return to see the forms," and "How many. . ." questions with a numeric answer. You can perform calculations, ask follow-up questions, ask to see specific forms, ask date-related ques- 120 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 by Jon R. Edwards tions ("Who was hired after June I, 1985?"), and sort. With a larger data- base, you might want to find the aver- age number of beds in Boston, sort the cost of condominiums with two beds and a bath, or view the list of owners with last names beginning with "D." And you can also use the Assistant to create or delete forms. For exam- ple, you could type "Fill in a new form with 5 Main Street in the address field" or "Delete all forms with no ad- dresses" and the Assistant will com- ply. To modify a form, try "Change Paul John's street address to 5 Main Street," or "Increase all rents by $5" Clearly the possibilities are limitless, but I did have some problems. The Assistant tended to be a bit unforgiv- ing with my typographical errors. It does permit you to edit or define words that it does not understand, but it does not have a built-in spelling checker to offer possible interpreta- tions of your entry. Moreover, after you have corrected your error, it begins its interpretation of your re- quest at the beginning, not where it encountered the problem. And if you are well accustomed to databases, you may long for faster access to the data. The File module, which I de- scribe in detail later, permits more conventional inquiries. Although I found that by truncating my requests ("3 beds" or "sort beds by state") and by using abbreviations that the Assis- [continued) }on R. Edwards is a BYTE technical editor. He can be contacted at POB 372, Hancock, NH 03449. Display Calculate Search/Sort Edit Adjective Comparative Superlative display add alphabetical blank big above biggest find difference containing enter low larger least get divide descending erase many less littlest list average and change few below bottom make bottom ascending create great bigger fewest print count before define high greater greatest report half early expunge much littler lowest run cut begin delete large fewer highest search increase excluding new small lower maximum show decrease between empty little higher largest table maximum fewer remove more minimum mean find replace over most minimum first set smaller smallest multiply get under top percent greater plus higher product including quotient increasing raise last ratio late remainder least subtract lower sum not total or twice order recent reverse search start through top under '^i^'r&doVs ' : -.f:^r Table 1: A list of some of Q&As built-in vocabulary sorted into categories. JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 121 Q&A tant understands ("WNIC" for "with no identification columns"), I got reports and got to the data quickly. Teaching Your Assistant One other problem was easy to solve. I asked about "radar ranges," but dis- IN BRIEF covered that Duncan only understood "microwaves," the precise entry in the amenities field. Immediately, however, Duncan gave me an opportunity to look at all the words in its dictionary and to define the new word as a synonym for the term it knew. You can Name Q&A Type Integrated software, including word processor, database manager, report generator, and a natural-language query system. Works with single flat data files. Manufacturer Symantec Corporation 10201 Torre Ave Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 253-9600 Format Three 5 1 /4-inch floppy disks Computers IBM PC, XT, AT, or compatibles with a minimum of 512K bytes of RAM and two disk drives. A hard disk is preferred. Photo I: The Q&A main menu. just as easily delete a synonym from the list. Alternatively you can tell the Assistant to "Define 'radar range' as microwave" or try more complex synonyms like "Define 'home' as 'ad- dress, city, state.'" One of the nicest features is using synonyms to define reports. For example, if you enter "Define 'bedsort' to be 'address, state, zip code, and rent, sorted by bed,'" you could later enter "bedsort in Massachusetts." Formal schooling for your Assistant is only slightly more involved, but by conducting the lessons, you can per- sonalize your relationship with the Assistant (see photo 3). The eight lessons involve teaching the Assistant about the database. You can identify units of measure, words that general- ly describe the purpose and nature of the database, words that are general- ly synonymous with each field name, and fields that hold locations, names, or values. You can also specify the default columns that you want dis- played in every report. TWo lessons are more advanced. One teaches adjectives to the Assis- tant. For example, you could define "young" as a low age. or "rich" as a high income. In each case, the adjec- tives would apply to a specific field, allowing the Assistant to make judg- ments like younger ("Who is younger than lackson?"), youngest, richer, and richest. The final lesson allows you to associate verbs with particular fields. For example, by associating "earn" with a salary field, you could ask the Assistant "Who earns more than $30,000?" The Assistant has provision for learning irregular verbs. Integrated Modules Q&A contains four other integrated modules, Write, File, Report, and Util- ities. You select the module you want from Q&A's main menu. All of the modules use the screen format and menu structure of pfs:File. Write provides a comfortable word- processing environment as well as "merge printing." From the main Write menu, you can define a new or edit an existing document; set page di- [continued) 122 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 WlTHTHi i ;^'M, r W j ACTUALLY ALLOWS YOUR AT TO RUN UP TO 30% FASTER The memory in your IBM PC-AT, as well as the AST Advantage!™, Tecmar MaestroTM, and other AT memory boards require three clock intervals per memory cycle to perform the same operation that the Cheetah Card™ can accomplish in only two! Other memory boards must wait one full clock interval because their memory is too slow — one-third of the time is lost! The Cheetah Card™ runs "NO WAIT STATE." Programs running in our memory run much faster. Up to a full 30% faster. (It's not possible to achieve a full one-third gain because of I/O operations, etc.) Cheetah International, Inc. 107 Community Boulevard, Suite 5 Longview, Texas 75606 USA You purchased an AT for speed. Do you really want to install a memory board that makes the AT run slow? Of course not! For the first time, you now have a clear choice. You can choose a product that costs more, runs slower, and comes with less guarantee. Or you can choose the 2.5MB Cheetah Card™ that allows the AT to perform up to 30% faster, comes with a full 3-year limited warranty, and retails for less than our competition ! 2.5AAB Cheetah Card™ TriComPlus™ $945 $195 Now that you have a new stopwatch — go by your local computer store and time the new Cheetah Card™. And while you are there — take a look at our ver- satile 3 serial, 1 parallel TriComPlus™ I/O board. If your local dealer does not yet have the Cheetah Card™, then we will ship UPS PREPAID — direct to you. Purchase either the Cheetah Card™ or the TriComPlus™ and test them for up to 30 days! If you are not 100% satisfied, simply return ship C.O.D. for same day full refund ! CALL TODAY 1-800-CHEETAH (1-800-243-3824) TELEX: 510-600-4578 CHEETAH TEXAS: 1-214-757-3001 AST AdvantagelTM is a registered trademark of AST Research Inc. Tecmar MaestroTM is a registered trademark of Tecmar, Inc. Inquiry 58 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 123 Q&A mensions, margins, and type size; clear a document from memory; print the document; or use three DOS func- tions (copy delete, and rename). Write saves text in ASCII; therefore, you could, if you desire, use your favorite editor and only then make use of Q&A's merge capabilities. Nonethe- less, Write is full-featured. In addition to most conventional features, like a range of block moves, headers and footers, integrating ASCII text within existing documents, and adequate printer support, Write includes on- Photo 2: Using the Intelligent Assistant. Photo 3: The third lesson for the Assistant. screen page breaks, macros, word counts, context-sensitive help, a limit of approximately 30 pages of text per document, and line and box drawing. You can also customize commands in a default file. You can save a per- sonalized default file in different direc- tories for different kinds of docu- ments. Windowing, footnoting, and columnar commands are the only conspicuous features that are missing. Write does not work directly with the Intelligent Assistant, but you can use the merge capabilities to insert Q&A data into Write documents. You need only place *field name* within the text to access the data, and there are a variety of text-formatting com- mands to smooth the printing of merged documents. To print the docu- ment, you select Print at the main Write menu. You can then select among several options, including the selection of the database to be used, the number of pages and copies, line spacing, and justification. You can use File, a full-featured database, to build single flat files for use with the Intelligent Assistant or to search for and retrieve data directly. From the main File menu, you can design (or redesign) the database, add data, search, update, mass-update, copy, delete, and print. Forms can be up to 10 screen pages long; each screen page contains 2 1 lines, or three screen pages per 8/2- by 11 -inch sheet. You can have up to 1980 char- acters per field, 2400 fields per record, and up to 16 million records per file. Each field can be up to one screen in length. You can sort (ascend- ing and descending) on up to 2 5 fields and index on up to 120 fields. Field types include text, number, money, keyword, date, hours, and yes/no. File's procedures are more conven- tional and formal than the Intelligent Assistant's, but for data entry and some reports, you will undoubtedly prefer its options. Within File, you can add punctuation and symbols, you can perform date and time arithmetic, and you can include programming statements (including IF. . THEN, IF. . THEN . . . ELSE, AND, OR, NOT, [continued) 124 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 250 — ► HOW TO GET OVER $2000 WORTH OF NEW CAPABILITIES FOR YOUR COMMODOJ OR $599 The Spartan™ is the Apple™ 11+ emulator for your Commodore 64™ that will open up a whole new world of hardware and software for youl Imagine adding these features to your Commodore 64™ for the Spartan™ price of $599: □ Apple™ II + hardware and software capabilities □ 64K RAM expansion □ four software selectable Commodore 64™ cartridge slots □ non-dedicated 8-bit parallel port □ standard audio cassette deck capabilities for your C-64™. The suggested retail value of comparable products offering only these capabilities is over $2200.00* — but the Spartan™ gives you much, much morel By building on your investment In your Commodore 64™— an excellent introductory computer — you create a whole new system with both C-64™ and Apple™ II + capabilities. There is a whole other world out there! The huge selection of Apple™ II + hardware and software is now yours to explore! Call toll free for the Spartan™ dealer nearest you. # FOR INFORMATION WRITE: MIMIC SYSTEMS 1112 FORT ST., FL. 6H VICTORIA, B.C. CANADA V8V 4V2 "All prices quoted are in U.S. funds, freight and taxes not included. Value of components equivalent to the Spartan'" system are quoted from Apple'" 11+ CPU and Apple*" 11+ single disk drive 1983 list prices, and from current suggested list prices and component specifications of other perlpherai manufacturers. Commodore 64'" and Commodore logo are trademarks of Commodore Electronics Ltd. and/or Commodore Business Machines, Inc. Apple'" If + Is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc. Spartan™ Is a trademark of Mimic Systems Inc. and has no association with Commodore Electronics or Apple Computer Inc. The Spartan'" Is manufactured by Mimic Systems under license granted by ATG Electronics Inc. of Victoria, B.C. Canada. TO ORDER CALL 1-800-MODULAR (663-8527) Q&A and INT) to update fields conditional- ly or to control the order of data en- try. You can customize field-specific help screens to provide context- sensitive aid in entering the data, a useful feature when fields restrict data in some way. You can also use colors, shading, and underlining, perhaps to set off the current field or the field labels. Lookup tables let you construct and edit a table of values; you could, for example, construct the table to hold relevant tax information for dif- ferent states or countries. Entries in the table cannot exceed 69 charac- ters. The Print feature is also more versatile than the Intelligent Assis- tant's. For example, like most data- we design and distribute high quality, serious application software for the IBM PC, XT, AT and all MS-DOS compatibles. arity Arltv SQL Development Package Arltv Expert Systems Development Package Why your next generation of products should use our 5th generation tools. Arity's integrated family of programming tools allows you to combine software written in Arity/Prolog'," the best of the fifth generation languages, with Arity SQL the best of the fourth generation languages, and with conventional third generation languages such as C or assembly language to build your smarter application. You can use Arity/Prolog to build expert systems using the Arity Expert System Development Package. Or to build natural language frontends. Or to build intelligent information management systems. Arity/Prolog lets you build advanced technology into your vertical applications package. And more . . . That's not the whole story. Arity's products are all designed to be fast, powerful, serious. Each of our products contains unexpected bonuses. Such as a one gigabyte virtual database inte- grated into Arity/Prolog. The most powerful of its kind on a PC. Quality First. Then price. In order to be the best, we had to prove it to our customers. Our tradition of quality software design is reflected in every product we sell. Quality first. Then price. And we always pro- vide the best in customer support. Our products are not copy protected. We do not charge royalties. And we offer generous educational and quantity discounts on every one of our products. If we are new to you, we do not ask that you trust us. You have to try us to know that we keep our promise on commitment to quality and reliability. Try us by using our electronic- bulletin board at 617-369-5622 or call us by telephone — you can reach us at 617-371-2422. Or fill in this coupon. Whether you order today or not, let us send you full descriptions of our integrated family of Arity products. I PU.-a.sc complete ihu form detailed information. 1.1 pl-K f vnur nrilcr and/ur request Cirv Telephone State Zip Aritv/Prolog Compiler and Interpreter V-* S-^^.O!) Ariiy/Pmlog Interpreter S350.0D Arity Standard Prolog S y5.0<) Arity SQL Development I'aikagc- 5295.00 Arity Expert Sy.sK.rn Development Paikuj' S295.0O Arity Screen Design Toolkit S .19.95 Arity File Interchange/ Toolkit S 49.95 Total Amount I.SIA residents adil S'X. sjtt-> taxi S (These prices include shipping m all t'S. ciiicsl Payment: Check tlR) H AMV.X Card Nu. KxpiratiiinDate Signature arity Arity corporation 358 Baker Avenue Concord, MA 01742 126 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 25 base managers. File allows you to print mailing labels and to design and reuse specialized forms. The Report module extends your reporting capability. From the main Report menu, you can design or re- design a report; print; set new head- ings; and rename, delete, or copy files. Like other report applications, Report sorts (up to 16 columns in ascending or descending order) and arranges the data from the database into a screen or printed display. Report allows you to do calculations and sub- calculations on or within columns; to specify where you want page breaks; to include page numbers, headers, and footers; and to derive up to four new columns from existing data. You may want to create a report based on keywords or have several invisible col- umns that are not printed but that permit special sorting or particular derived columns. From the main Utilities menu, you can import and export data and install a range of printers to support Q&A's advanced printing features. You can import data, or append data to the end of existing Q&A files, from either pfs;File or IBM Filing Assistant. To im- port data in DIF (Data Interchange Format) or ASCII, or from Lotus 1-2-3 or Symphony files, you must first have or prepare a Q&A file exactly match- ing the form template of the imported file. Menus guide you carefully through the process. You can define a macro anytime within Q&A, or edit existing macros in the Write module. Pressing Shift-F2 brings the Macro Menu box to the bottom of the screen, with options to define, retrieve, save, and clear macros. Use them within the modules to set up your working environment, to perform common operations, or to ease tasks like printing or retrieving. Use them with the Assistant to per- sonalize your relationship further. You could, for example, use macros to hasten the typing of your requests. Macro aficionados will appreciate the Escape key, which immediately stops the playback of the macro. Q&A, which is written in C and ma- {continued) Inquiry 2 57 for End-Users. Inquiry 258 for DEALERS ONLY.-* There's a Familar Face Behind the New Name NANAO MONITORS. The name is new to the American-market That's because for the first time in history, a huge new line of computer monitors is available to the US, — factory direct. 26 different models offered in three series, bringing you a range of features broader than any other, Color resolution from 480 dots x 200 lines up to 720 dots x 480 lines. And-Eh-scannina from 15.75 to 24.75 KHz. But the truth is that Nanao has been around for a long time. For over a decade we've supplied OEM's worldwide, designing and manufacturing monitors recognized for their outstanding performance and reliability, Now that same quality selection and value is yours — right from the source. Nanao. The old standby with a new name. NANAO NANAO USA CORPORATION 373 G. Vintage Park Drive Foster City, California 94404 Phone (415) 341-7055 Distributor Inquiries Welcomed WORD FINDER did. Now you can have the perfect word for your thought in seconds without taking your fingers off the keyboard. WORD FINDER is the electronic thesaurus that becomes an extra function inside your word processor. Whenever you give the command, WORD FINDER reads the word the cursor is on and pops open a window of synonyms. Pick one, and the new word replaces the old, automatically. WORD FINDER provides 90,000 synonyms for over 9,000 words, nearly twice that of other thesaurus programs. Yet, WORD FINDER uses only 27K of RAM and keeps all the synonyms in a 1 57K file that can be kept on any disk drive. (A new, even larger database with 1 50,000 synonyms for 15,000 words will also be available in December, 1985.) WORD FINDER will quickly help you make your point eloquently, clearly and concisely. So put pizazz (punch, sizzle, flair) in your writing by putting WORD FINDER in your word processor, today. WORD FINDER works inside most popular word processors,* and it's fast and easy to install. Just ask a writer: WORD FINDER is an affordable adjunct for whipping (flogging, thrashing) your prose into shape quickly and efficiently, without leaving the document file you're working on. _ _, ^ mm _ ^^^-^^^^^ —David Obregon, PC Magazine UuT ^J^J 'WordStar, WordStar 2000, Multimate, Word Perfect, Pfs:Write, Microsoft Word, IBM Writing Assistant, Easy Writer II, Framework, Volkswriter Deluxe, OfficeWriter, and Palantir. WORD FINDER is also available for WordStar on CP/M. Inquiry 386 W SYNONYM FINDER F'NDER m ™* ii SYNONYM FINDER n i Writing (Consultants" ^^y a Division or Microtylics. Inc " I Call 1-800-828-6293 ' Techniplex Center, Suite 466 I East Rochester, NY 14445 I in NY 716-377-0130 ■ Available from your local dealer through I 30 DAY, MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. Rush me WORD FINDER for S79. 95. Q Visa (Add $2.50 shipping; NY residents add sales tax) q MasterCard Exp. □ Check ] Card Number Date / □ COD ' Name Company. Address City _ Phone. . State_ _Zip_ Q&A chine language, requires an IBM PC XT, AT, or compatible with a minimum of 512K bytes of RAM (random-access read/write memory) and two disk drives. Hard disks are clearly prefer- able for storing and accessing large databases. The suggested retail price is $295, or $349 packaged with a 256K-byte RAM board. Symantec will also provide a $50 trade-in for your commercial database software. The Q&A package includes substantial easy-to-follow documentation, a func- tion key template, a quick-reference card, and four disks, which include a tutorial and a sample database. Conclusion Much research on natural-language query processing is centered on ac- cessing data from relational data- bases in a multiuser, networked en- vironment. Q&A draws from the re- search, though the software manipu- lates only single flat files and has no multiuser or networking capabilities. There are other natural-language database products for the microcom- puter market (see "CLOUT and SALVO" by George Bond, October 1984 BYTE, page 279), but most are either front ends or have much more restrictive features than Q&A. With full integration, macros,- and an Intelligent Assistant capable of searching and sorting as well as updating the data- base, Q&A may go far in attracting users who are tired of the program- ming-like formalism often required to retrieve data and organize reports. Nonetheless, natural-language query systems have inherent limita- tions. Processing the query takes time. It may be hard for some to justify the time required to teach the Assistant, and individual expert users will un- doubtedly be better served by raw programming power. And Q&A is not the ultimate natural-language prod- uct, since it doesn't support relational queries and isn't meant for use in a multiuser environment. Still, with the Intelligent Assistant, you can effective- ly explore the relationships in your data without having to grumble about database syntax. Q&A gets the job done in an enjoyable way. ■ Word Processor _ . Computer/Op System. ^J Q Tfte Ji ri| i in Ew\ OhA" f^—^^. Recognized as the authoritative source for micro users! Superior Performance, Practical Price! More programs, projects, ways to use your micro for home, hobby, education, and business! Select 5 Books for Only 'O 85 FUNDAMENTALS OF ■ i ) ■» IBM PC* ■ Programming ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE ■ L wjfk H 1939 ListS24.95 Framework Applications Free guide to BASIC Statements & Commands 1748P List $10.95 (paper) 1295P List $10.25 (paper) Plus FREE For Joining 7 very good reasons to join The Computer Book Club® • Big Savings. Save 20% to 75% on books sure to increase your computer know-how • No-Risk Guarantee. All books returnable within 10 days without obligation • Club News Bulletins. All about current selections- mains, alternates, extras — plus bonus offers. Comes 13 times a year with hundreds of up-to-the-minute titles to pick from • "Automatic Order." Do nothing, and the Main selec- tion will be shipped automatically! But ... if you want an Alter- nate selection — or no books at all— we'll follow the instructions you give on the reply form provided with every News Bulletin • Bonus Books. Immediately get a Dividend Certificate with every book purchased and qualify for big discounts of 60% to 80%. • Extra Bonuses. Take advantage of added-value promo- tions, plus special discounts on software, games, and more • Exceptional Quality. All books are first-rate publisher's editions selected by our Editorial Board and filled with useful, up-to-the-minute information itiiSi iiniu in 1 , siiri P.O. Box 80, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214 Please accept my membership in The Computer Book Club® and send the 5 volumes circled below, plus my FREE copy of BASIC Statements, Commands and Functions, billing me only $2.95 plus shipping and handling charges. If not satisfied, I may return the books within ten days without obligation and have my membership canceled. I agree to purchase 4 or more books at regular Club prices (plus ship- ping/handling) during the next 12 months, and may resign any time thereafter. 1160 1205P 1295P 1389P 1455P 1466 1501 1539P 1556 1567 1710 1742 1748P 1789 1821 1852 1873 1874 1876 1884 1886 1908 1921 1929 1939 1948 1958 1976 Name Address City . State Zip Phone Valid for new members only. Foreign applicants will receive special ordering instructions. Canada must remit in U.S. Currency. This order subject to acceptance by The Computer Book Club® . BY-186 inquiry 74 JANUARY I986 -BYTE 129 130 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN S. DYKES PROGRAMMING PROJECT A SIMPL COMPILER PART 2: PROCEDURES AND FUNCTIONS by Jonathan Amsterdam Procedures and functions are a boon for programmers, but they're tricky to compile LBI Last month, I described the construction of a compiler for the high- level language SIMPL, but I omitted any de- scription of the part of the compiler that han- dles procedures and functions. This month, I'll fill that gap. The SIMPL compiler I wrote translates SIMPL, a Pascal-like language, into VM2 assembly language. VM2 is a hypothetical computer that I wrote a simulator for in "Building a Computer in Software" (October 1985 BYTE, page 112). I described an as- sembler for VM2 in my November 1985 ar- ticle (page 112). The routines— my collective term for procedures and functions— of SIMPL are similar to those of Pascal, except that a value is returned from a function using a RETURN statement rather than by assignment to the function name. The syn- tax of routines is presented in figure 1 , and a SIMPL program using a function can be found in listing la. The Challenge of Routines What makes compiling routines so difficult? Listing I shows a SIMPL program that calculates the factorial of a number, using a function called fact. The factorial of a non- negative integer n is n*(n- 1)*(n- 2)* . . . * 1 . The fact function is recursive; it says that the factorial of n is equal to n times the fac- torial of n- 1 and that the factorial of is defined to be I . To see what has to be done to compile this program, first consider what the run-time behavior of the program ought to be. The following four things have to be done when calling fact. 1. When the statement WRITE(fact(n)) is ex- ecuted, control has to transfer to the code constituting fact. 2. The argument n has to be passed to the function. Somehow, the actual parameter, the value of n in the call to fact, must be connected (or bound) to the formal param- eter, n, that appears in the function definition. 3. It is necessary that fact return to the proper place in the main program and that its result be made available. A function call should act as if it were replaced by its result in the program text. If the call to fact pro- duced the result 6, the program should behave as if the call to fact were simply replaced by the number 6, yielding the statement WRITE(6). 4. Storage has to be found for fact's local variable, temp. [continued) \onathan Amsterdam is a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial In- telligence Laboratory. He can be reached at 1643 Cambridge St. #3 4, Cambridge, MA 02138. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 131 PROGRAMMING PROJECT To handle the control transfer, a sim- ple BRANCH instruction will suffice. If we provide fact with a return address— the memory address of the instruction just after the call— fact will know where to branch to when it's finished. That takes care of transfer- ring control. How about storage allocation? One solution, often used in FORTRAN compilers, is to allocate enough space with each procedure or function to hold that routine's arguments and locals, plus an additional word of storage for the result of a function. In this case, three words would be allocated: one for the argument n, one for temp, and one for fact's return value. The compiler would assign these memory locations while compil- ing fact; it would remember them in the symbol table and use them to generate references to the argument, local, and return value. routine :: = proc | tunc proc :: = PROCEDURE id {formals} ; {vars} block; tunc :: = FUNCTION id {formats} : type ; {vars} block; formals ::=( decl) Figure I : The syntax of SIMPL routines. A block is a list of statements surrounded by BEGIN and END; a dec\ is a variable declaration: and vars indicate the keyword VAR followed by one or more dec\s. Curly braces around an item indicate that the item is optional. Angle brackets indicate zero or more repetitions of the item are permitted. Listing I: (a) A SIMPL program \or calculating the factorial of a number, (b) VM2 assembler code generated by the compiler from (a). PROGRAM factorial; VAR n:INTEGER; FUNCTION fact(n:INTEGER);INTEGER; VARtemp:INTEGER; BEGIN IF n = THEN RETURN 1; ELSE temp := fact(n- 1); RETURN n*temp; END; END; BEGIN READ(n); WRITE(fact(n)); END. (b) BRANCH factorial n: fact: SETSP 1 PUSHL 0, 3 ; n PUSHC EQUAL BREQL L1 PUSHC 1 FRETURN 1 BRANCH L2 L1: PUSHL 0, 3 ; n PUSHC 1 SUB CALL fact, 1 POPL 0, -1 ; temp PUSHL 0, 3 ; n PUSHL 0, -1 ; temp MUL FRETURN 1 L2: PUSHC FRETURN 1 factorial: RDINT POPC n PUSH n CALL fact, WRINT HALT This design is simple and elegant. Unfortunately, it does not handle recursion. Because this scheme assigns a fixed amount of memory to each routine, it implicitly assumes that a routine can use only one set of arguments and locals at a time. Each time a routine is called recursively, a new invocation is set up using the same code but different values for the arguments and locals. In the simple scheme above, the values of the first invocation of a recursive routine will be overwritten by the values of the second invocation. It is necessary to allocate new mem- ory locations each time a recursive routine is called. But it's impossible for the compiler to predict the amount of storage a recursive routine might need, because the compiler can't determine how many recursive calls of a given routine would occur when the program is run. Therefore, this storage allocation must take place at run time, not compile time. You need to decide at compile time how to reference the arguments and locals of the routine and compile the refer- ences into the code for the routine. How can this be done? Activation Records The solution to this problem involves a data structure called an activation record, which is a contiguous region of memory that contains all the vari- able information needed for a rou- tine's invocation. It holds the argu- ments, locals, and a space for the return value for functions. It also holds the return address and some pointers to other activation records I'll describe later. All the activation records for a given procedure have the same format, but their contents differ from invocation to invocation. The run-time behavior of a program with routines is as follows: Each time a routine is called, storage for a new activation record is allocated. After the activation record is allocated, it is filled with the values of the arguments passed by the call and with the return address. Control then transfers to the called routine. When the routine {continued) 132 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 The next time an IBM sales rep tells you he'll meet you halfway, you'll know what he means. IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER AT" SPERRY THENEWPC/IT" 256 3 DISK STORAGE BASIC MEMORY #USERS 512 9 You've just been introduced to the Sperry PC/IT. A resourceful, IBM compatible, new desk-top com- puter that's literally twice as powerful as the one IBM calls "the most powerful personal computer IBM has ever made". The Sperry PC/IT has twice the basic memory of the IBM machine, and expands to a whopping 5MB (2MB more than the AT). And it has 33% more hard-disk capacity than the AT. The Sperry PC/IT is also faster. Process- ing speed is 45% faster. About a third faster for disk access. So you can store more data, process it faster and retrieve it more quickly. All of which makes the PC/IT the performance computer for networking and multitasking applications. And, not surprisingly, that's only half our story. With all this power and performance, the PC/IT is priced to make any prospective IBM customer think twice. For further information, or to arrange a demon- stration at a Sperry Productivity Center, contact your local Sperry office or your authorized Sperry dealer. Telephone toll-free 1-800-547-8362, ext. 72. Or write Sperry Corporation, Box 500, Blue Bell, PA 19424-0024. The Sperry PC/IT. If we gave it any more power, we couldn't call it a PC IBM and Personal Computer AT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. PC/IT is a trademark of Sperry Corporation. ©Sperry Corporation 1985 JL. SPERRY Resellers: Call Sperry at 1-800- 547-8362,ext. 125 to carry the complete PC-to-mainframe line. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 133 PROGRAMMING PROJECT Listing 2: (a) A SIMPL program illustrating nested routines, (b) VM2 assembler code generated by the compiler from (a). (a) PROGRAM P; VAR a, b:lNTEGER; PROCEDURE Q; VAR b, c:INTEGER; PROCEDURE R; VAR b, cUNTEGER; BEGIN { R } b := 3; d :« 3; WRITE('\n7R7:7 \a,b,c,d); IF c > 1 THEN c := c-1; R; END; END; BEGIN { Q } b ;= 2; c := 2; R; WRITE('\n\ END; BEGIN {P} a :«= 1; b := 1; Q; ',' \a,b,c); WRITE('\n .'P',':',' '.a.b.'Xn'); END. (b) BRANCH P a: b; RO; SETSP 2 PUSHC 3 POPL 0,-2 ; b PUSHC 3 POPL 0, -1 ; d PUSHC WRCHAR PUSHC 'R WRCHAR PUSHC ■■ WRCHAR PUSHC 1 WRCHAR PUSH a WRINT PUSHL 0,-2 ; b WRINT PUSHL 1, -1 ; c WRINT PUSHL 0, -1 ; d WRINT PUSHL 1, -1 ; c PUSHC 1 GREATER BREQL L1 PUSHL 1, -1 ; c PUSHC 1 SUB POPL 1, -1 ; c CALL RO, 1 L1: RETURN Q: SETSP 2 PUSHC 2 POPL 0, -2 ; b PUSHC 2 POPL 0, -1 ; c CALL R0, PUSHC 1 WRCHAR PUSHC •Q WRCHAR PUSHC *< WRCHAR PUSHC 1 WRCHAR PUSH a WRINT PUSHL 0,-2 ; b WRINT PUSHL 0, -1 ; c WRINT RETURN P: PUSHC 1 POPC a PUSHC 1 POPC b CALL Q, PUSHC WRCHAR PUSHC P WRCHAR PUSHC *■ WRCHAR PUSHC 1 WRCHAR PUSH a WRINT PUSH b WRINT PUSHC * WRCHAR HALT returns, the storage for the activation record is deallocated. How are references to arguments and locals handled? Instead of wiring an absolute address into the routine's code, the compiler generates an off- set from the current activation record. The offset is added to the address of the current activation record to get the address of the variable being ref- erenced. Since all activation records for a given routine have the same for- mat, a given offset will pick out the same variable regardless of the in- vocation. The current activation record is ref- erenced with a new register I have added to the VM2 machine. This reg- ister is called the frame pointer (FP). The FP always points to the current activation record. Each time a routine is called, VM2 needs to save the cur- rent value of the FP and set the FP to point to the new activation record. It is convenient to save the old FP in the new activation record. When the rou- tine returns, VM2 sets the FP back to the old value. These manipulations ensure that the FP always points to the activation record of the routine currently being executed. A new activation record must be allocated on each call of a routine, and it should be freed when the routine returns, otherwise all the machine's memory would eventually be consumed. Activation records can be allocated on a stack— the same stack VM2 uses for almost everything else it does— and can be freed by sim- ply popping the stack. In fact, another name for an activation record is a stack frame, from which the name "frame pointer" comes. You may re- call from my discussion of stacks in "Building a Computer in Software" that pushing and popping involve lit- tle more than incrementing and de- crementing the stack pointer. You could hardly hope for a more simple and efficient storage-allocation scheme. Nested Routines The scheme for compiling routines as outlined so far does not handle {continued) 134 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 330— ► The Most Powerful LAN Fits on a Disk. Network Power. You knew that someday there would be a powerful LAN that didn't need old-technology network boards. It would be fast, easy to install, and run 99% of PC-DOS software. It would be expandable, provide remote access, password-protection, and enable you to use inex- pensive terminals as workstations in a PC-DOS environment. Dream no more, because the power is here, Its name is LANLink™ A Software-Driven LAN Powerful Enough To Use RS-232 Ports for Network Communications. In development for over three years, LANLink™ represents the next generation of local area networks. All of the logic which has tradition- ally resided on network boards is on LANLink's Satellite and Server Diskettes. No additional hardware is required. Inexpensive serial ports replace "Kilobuck" Network Interface Boards making installation costs one-third that of a board-driven network. How To Configure a Smart Network.. .With Dumb Termi- nals, But Without Dedicated Servers. Boasting a wide vari- ety of configurations, LANLink™ is most often set up as a "Star" having upto eight satellites connected to a central, nondedicated server. Larger networks can have multiple servers, supporting a total of 73 or more network users. R-LAN™ (Remote-LAN) gives users the ability to interact with a LANLink™ network in realtime via modem. Plus, if MultiLink Advanced™ is run on a Satellite, inexpensive dumb terminals can be used to access network disks, files, and programs. THE SOFTWARE LINK, INC/CANADA 400 Esna Park Drive. Suite 13 Toronto (Markham), Ont./L3R 3K2 CALL: 416/477-5480 LANLink™MultiLink Advanced™* R-LAN™are trademarks of The Software Link, Inc. IBM, PC, & PC-DOSare trademarks of IBM Corp. WordStar 2000. dBASE III, and Lotus 1-2-3 are trademarks of MicroPro, Ashton- Tate, and Lotus Development Corp., respectively. 99% of PC-DOS Applications Run In a Totally- Transparent Network Environment. If you know DOS, you already know how to use LANLink™ COPY transfers files among users, and a 2-drive PC Satellite boots 1-2-3 from the Server's hard disk with the entry c: lotus. Each satellite's access can be limited to specific disks, printers, and sub- directories. A wide variety of software including Lotus 1-2-3, dBASE 111, and WordStar 2000 is fully compatible. LANLink™ has a collision-free data transfer rate which exceeds 115,000 BPS. Power Up Your PCs Today. For complete details and the authorized dealer nearest you, call The Software Link TODAY The LANLink™ Starter Kit is S495 and includes mod- ules for both a Server and a Satellite. For a limited time, 50 feet of shielded RS-232 cable will be included free of charge. Additional Satellite Modules are only S195, each. LANLink™ is immediately available and comes with a money-back guarantee. VISA, MC, AMEX accepted. THE SOFTWARE LINK, INC. 'Developers of LANLink™and MultiLink Advanced™ 8601 Dunwoody Place, Suite 632, Atlanta, GA 30338 Telex 4996147 SWLINK CALL: 404/998-0700 Dealer Inquiries Invited PROGRAMMING PROJECT SIMPCs feature of nested routines. Ihke a look at the S1MPL program in listing 2a, which makes use of nested routines. It illustrates how you can place the definitions of other routines between the local-variable declara- tions and the body of a routine, just as you can place routines between the global-variable declarations and the main program body. Nesting affects the scope or visibility of identifiers, that is, which identifiers— variables and routine names— are available to different parts of the program. Let us define the lexical level of a point in the program as its depth of nesting. In listing 2a, global variables are declared at lexical level 0, variables local to procedure Q are at lexical level I, and variables local to pro- cedure R are at lexical level 2. Then, the rules governing scope in SIMPL are easily stated: A routine has avail- able to it all identifiers declared in the routines that enclose it and none of the identifiers declared in routines nested within it. Furthermore, if two identifiers have the same name, the one at the highest lexical level is the one that is visible to a routine. Running the program in listing 2a results in the following output: R: 1323 5 LOCAL m 1 : } i FP LOCAL 1 LOW MEMORY RETURN ADDRESS >...; * 1 DIRECTION OF STACK GROWTH STATIC POINTER 1 OLD FP ARGUMENT n HIGH MEMORY : . ARGUMENT I Figure 2 : The structure of an activation record for a routine with n arguments and m local variables. ACTIVATION RECORD FOR R ACTIVATION RECORD FOR R ACTIVATION RECORD FOR f? LOW MEMORY SP OLD FP i DIRECTION OF STACK GROWTH SP OLD FP "% HIGH MEMORY Figure 3: The structure of the stack when Q calls R and then R calls itself showing the static (SP) and dynamic (FP) pointers. R: 1313 Q: 121 P: 11 Procedure R, being the innermost procedure, can access the global variable a; the variable c, which is local to procedure Q: and its own local variables b and d. R can also call both itself and the procedure in which it is nested, Q (R does not call Q in this example). Q cannot access any of R's variables, but it can access a and its own locals, and it can call R. The main program can access only global variables and can call Q. The variable b provides an example of how variables with the same name hide, or shadow, one another. Each of the three occurrences of b in the program refers to a different variable. The ap- pearances of b within R and Q refer to local variables of those procedures and have the values 3 and 2, respec- tively The occurrence of b in the main program refers to the global variable b, and its value is 1. R's access to c causes a problem for the routine-calling scheme I outlined above. If c were a global variable, it would be accessible directly by name; if it were local to R, it could be found at some fixed offset from the FP. But c is neither local to R nor globally visi- ble from P. I have not indicated how such nonglobal noniocal variables can be accessed. Before I proceed to the solution, note that at the time it is accessed by R, the variable c must be residing somewhere on the stack because, by the visibility rules discussed above, Q has to be called before R can be; it is only from within the definition of Q that R is visible at all. You may recall that the activation record for R contains the value of the FP for R's caller. In this case, R's caller is Q, so the old FP is a pointer into Q's activation record. It would seem you need only follow the old FP to get to nonlocal nonglobal variables. This will not work, however, because other routines besides Q can call R; in particular, R can call itself. In this case, the old FP for the second in- vocation of R points to the activation 136 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 PROGRAMMING PROJECT record for the first invocation of R, not to Q's activation record, so following the old FP would not get us to Q, but merely to another copy of R. We would need to follow the chain of frame pointers back twice to get to Q. Static Pointers In essence, the problem with follow- ing the FPs to find nonlocal nonglobal variables is this: The saved FPs in- dicate the dynamic structure of the program, its run-time behavior: who calls whom. To find variables, the so- called static structure is needed: who's defined inside whom. The solution I have adopted is to maintain a static pointer (SP) in each activation record in addition to the value of the caller's FP (sometimes called the dynamic pointer). The SP always points back to the most recent activation record of the routine in which the current routine was de- fined; for instance, the SP in R's ac- tivation record always points to an ac- tivation record for Q, regardless of who called R. The activation-record format for a routine with n arguments and m local variables is shown in figure 2. Figure 3 illustrates the struc- ture of the stack when static and dynamic pointers are used. Note that it is sometimes necessary to follow several static pointers to get to the desired variable. For example, if a pro- cedure S were defined inside R and accessed the variable c, the SP in S's activation record would be followed, leading to an activation record for R; then, R's SP would be followed, leading to the desired activation record for Q. The number of static pointers to follow is the difference in lexical levels between the point of call and the callee. Calling Mechanism in Action Now that all the pieces of the routine- calling scheme have been described, let's put them into place by seeing what happens when the program in listing 2 is executed. You may want to glance at figure 4 during this discussion. The main program begins by calling Q. First, the current value of the FP is pushed, followed by the SP, and the FP is set to the current value of the stack pointer. Since Q is called from the main program, it is not necessary to save the FP on the stack or to com- pute the SP, but 1 do it anyway since it's easier to implement this calling mechanism if a call from the main program isn't treated as a special case. Next, the return address, which can be calculated from the value of the program counter at the time of the call, is pushed onto the stack, and the computer branches to the begin- ning of Q (see figure 4a). Q begins by pushing two zeros onto the stack. This serves to allocate a word on the stack for each of Q's local variables and at the same time to initialize those variables to 0. The body of Q begins execution by setting its local variables, b and c, to 2. Then, R is called by the same mechanism as before: First, the FP is pushed onto the stack, the SP is computed by fol- lowing the chain of static pointers as many times as the difference in lex- ical levels between the point of call and R, and the value of the FP for the activation record at that place in the stack is pushed. Since the definition of R is at the same lexical level as the body of Q, no static pointers need be {continued) FP i „ (a 1 RETURN ADDRESS FOR Q LOW MtMUKY DIRECTION OF STACK GROWTH HIGH MEMORY . SP FOR Q * i i J OLD FP FOR Q (b f RETURN ADDRESS FOR R ~) SP FOR R OLD FP FOR R Q'S LOCAL VARIABLE c F P Q'S LOCAL VARIABLE b . RETURN ADDRESS FOR Q \ j SP FOR Q OLD FP FOR Q (c) ? RETURN ADDRESS FOR R -x SP FOR R OLD FP FOR R R'S LOCAL VARIABLE d FP R'S LOCAL VARIABLE b V RETURN ADDRESS FOR R i SP FOR R OLD FP FOR R Q'S LOCAL VARIABLE c Q'S LOCAL VARIABLE b RETURN ADDRESS FOR Q SP FOR Q OLD FP FOR Q Figure 4: The run-time behavior of the program in listing 2. See the text for details. JANUARY 1986 ;YTE 137 PROGRAMMING PROJECT followed, and the FP value for Q is pushed as the SP for R's activation record. FP is then set to the stack pointer, the return address is pushed, and control transfers to procedure R (see figure 4b). After pushing and initializing its local variables, R executes its WRITE statement, then tests the value of Q's local variable c. Since Q set c to 2, the statements within the IF statement are executed. First, c is decremented, then R is called recursively. To begin the recursive call on R, the FP is again pushed onto the stack and the new SP calculated. Now, since this activa- tion record for R is one lexical level deeper than R's definition, a single SP is followed; this leads back to Q's ac- tivation record, so the FP value for Q is again used as the SP for this second invocation of R. Note that although the activation record for each invoca- tion of R has a different value for the old FP, they have the same value for the SP. Next, the FP is set to the cur- rent value of the stack pointer, the return address is pushed, and control transfers to the body of R for the sec- ond time (see figure 4c). In the second invocation of R, R's local variables are pushed onto the stack and then the WRITE statement is again executed. R tests c, but this time it is not greater than 1, so the code within the IF statement isn't ex- ecuted. The return process is the in- verse of the call: The stack pointer is set back to where it was before the call, and the FP is restored to its old value. At this point, the stack again looks as it does in figure 4b. Now that the second invocation of R has returned, the first invocation can also return. (The stack now ap- pears as in figure 4a.) Then, Q ex- ecutes its WRITE statement and returns, and finally the main program Listing 3: The Modula-2 source code for the SIMPL CALL statement. (* CALL takes two arguments, the address to branch to and the difference in lexical levels. It does the following things: 1. Pushes the current FP 2. Computes and pushes the SP 3. Pushes the return address 4. Branches to the address. *) PROCEDURE call; BEGIN pushWord(framePtr); (* save current FP *) (* use the difference in lexical levels (2nd arg) to set the SP *) pushWord(followSP(CARDIN AL(memory[programCtr + 1 ]))); framePtr := stackPtr; (* FP will point to return address *) pushWord(programCtr + 2); (* return address *) branch; END call; (* Follows the static-pointer chain. *) PROCEDURE followSP(num:CARDINAL):address; VAR fp.address; n:CARDINAL; BEGIN fp : = framePtr; FOR n : = 1 TO num DO fp : = address(memory[fp + SPoffset]); END; RETURN fp; END followSP; PROCEDURE branch; BEGIN programCtr : = address(memory[programCtr]); END branch; does a WRITE and the program ends. What I've just described differs in two minor ways from the scheme as I originally presented it. First, al- though for reasons of conceptual simplicity I described the activation record as being allocated all at once, it in fact is allocated piecemeal, a push at a time: the arguments (al- though in this example there were none), the FP, the SP, and the return address. Second, it's somewhat more convenient for my purposes to have the FP point to the middle of the ac- tivation record instead of to the begin- ning. This means that some offsets from the FP will be negative and others positive. Some New Instructions A compiled program's code would be long and messy indeed if it had to worry about every manipulation of static pointers and activation records. Instead, I'm going to push all this complexity down into the virtual machine, VM2, and hide it behind five new VM2 instructions. The first and most complicated is CALL, which takes two arguments: the memory address of the beginning of the routine's code and the dif- ference in lexical levels between the caller and callee. It performs all the operations necessary when one rou- tine calls another: saving the return address and FP on the stack, setting the SP, setting the FP register, and branching to the routine. Because CALL is so complex, I have provided the Modula-2 source code for it in listing 3. The instructions PUSHL and POPL are used to access all but global vari- ables; the X is for "local." They each take two arguments: the difference in lexical levels between the variable and the accessing routine and the offset of the variable. Each follows the chain of static pointers a number of times equal to the difference in lexical levels and then uses the offset to access the variable. PUSHL pushes the value of the variable onto the stack: POPL pops the top of the stack into the vari- able. {continued) 138 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Princeton Graphic Systems Number One Again Sharp resolution, full compatibly, and rug- ged reliability. That's what you get in every Princeton Graphic Systems monitor. That's why Princeton Graphic Systems is number one in the minds of more and more personal computer owners every year. Only Princeton Graphic Systems offers a complete family of quality personal computer displays. Our color and monochrome monitors outperform the competition every time. That's why, for the second year in a row, our HX-12 high resolution color monitor has been voted best in the world.* So for the very best i n personal computer monitors, pick the company that's number one. Princeton Graphic Systems. •PC WORLD Magazine's 1985 World Class Survey. PRINCETON' GRAPHIC 5V5TEM5 AM IIMTELLIOENT SYSTEMS COMPANY 601 Ewing Street, Bldg. A, Princeton, NJ 08540, (609) 683-1660, Telex: 821402 PGSPRIN, (800) 221-1 490 Ext. 704 Inquiry 287 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 139 Inquiry 308 I B M / P c CROSS ASSEMBLERS We've been selling these industrial-quality assemblers to the development system mar- ket since 19fB. They are now available for the IBM PC. FEATURES: • Fully relocatable • Separate code, data, stack, memory segments • Linker included • Librarian included • Generate appropriate HEX or S- record formatted object file • Macro capability • CPM80, MPM, ISIS versions available • Conditional assembly • Cross reference • Supports manufacturer's mnemonics • Expanded list of directives • 1 year free update Assemblers now available include: Chip Chip 1802/1805 NSC800 8051 F8, 3870 6500/01/02 Z8 6800/01/02 Z80 6803/08 9900/9995 6804 Z8000 6805 68000 6809 6301 6811 8048/49/50/42 8085 65C02/C102/C112 Take advantage of leading-edge technology Get your own Reims assembler today. Use your Mastercard or order by phone: (408) 265-5411 Relational Memory Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 6719 San Jose, California 95150 Telex: 171618 Prices subject to change without notice. Software distributor inquiries invited. ralms PROGRAMMING PROJECT TWo instructions, RETURN and FRETURN, handle returns. Both take one argument, the number of words of actual parameters (arguments) pushed onto the stack by the caller. They need this value to determine where to set the stack pointer. RETURN merely sets the stack pointer to where it was before the call effectively popping the activation record off the stack. FRETURN (func- tion return) first pops the top of the stack, which should contain the value to be returned by the function, then resets the stack pointer as with RETURN, and finally pushes the returned value back onto the stack. To get a sense of the code gen- erated by my compiler, you may want to look at listings lb and 2b; they show the compiler's output for listings la and 2a, respectively. Compiler Issues Paradoxically I have spent nearly all the second part of the compiler proj- ect describing a mechanism that is im- plemented in VM2. Of course, the mechanism would have been unnec- essary were it not for the peculiar problems that arise in compiling high- level languages with nested pro- cedures and functions. But it is now time to move to the compiler proper. The basic action of the compiler when it sees a routine is as follows: First, the routine name is entered into the symbol table. Then, the list of for- mal parameters is parsed; each formal parameter is entered separately into the symbol table, and the whole list of formals is attached to the routine's symbol-table entry as well to aid in checking calls to make sure they sup- ply the right number and types of arguments. If the routine is a function, its type is then parsed and placed in the routine's symbol-table entry. Next, the local variables are parsed and entered into the symbol table. The compiler's routine-compiling pro- cedure then calls itself recursively to handle any nested routines. Finally, the body of the routine is compiled. The compiler first outputs a label, which is the routine's name. Then, the code to place the local vari- ables onto the stack is generated. I do this by outputting a PUSHC instruc- tion for each local; as I said earlier, it has the effects of allocating a word on the stack and initializing the vari- able to 0. Lastly the code for the body is generated. In SIMPL, if no RETURN statement is executed in a procedure, that procedure returns after its last statement is executed; to handle this, the compiler needs to generate a RETURN instruction after the code for the procedure. Functions, on the other hand, have to return values explicitly. It should be an error if they don't. A few things are needed to embellish this basic compiling pro- cess. First, the compiler needs to remember the lexical level at which each identifier in the program is de- fined. It does this by means of a counter, lexicalLevel, which starts at 0, is incremented whenever a routine definition occurs, and is decremented when the compiler has finished com- piling a routine. Each time a routine name or variable is defined, the cur- rent lexical level is stored with it in its symbol-table record. In order to get the visibility of routine names right, the counter must be incremented just after the routine name is seen but just before the formals are. Formals are treated as being local to the routine in which they occur. Second, formals and locals need to be given offsets from the FP. If you take a look at the form of an activa- tion record in figure 2, you'll see that the first local variable is one word below where the FP points to, so it should be given an offset of - I . The second local should be given an off- set of -2, and so on. Things are a bit more tricky with formals, however. The compiler handles the arguments in a routine call from left to right, pushing the first argument onto the stack first. Hence, the first argument will be farthest from the FP, so it should have the highest offset. To assign offsets to formals, the compiler must read them all in first, count how many there are, then go back through them and assign the offsets. Because [continued) 140 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 248 — ► Triple your PC speed for only $799! 8087 Upgrades 1 MicroWay is the world leader in 8087 support Our 8087 development software has been in use since 1 982. By 1 984 we had become Intel's 97th largest OEM account When you buy from us, you can be con- fident that you will receive the 8087 chip designed for your PC and that our unique diagnostics will instantly verify that your processor works correctly as installed. Call for current prices 287Turbo" This card plugs into the 80287 socket on your AT or COMPAQ, doubling the 80287 clock from 4 to 8 Mhz. It does not change the 80286 clock speed or affect your warranty. The card comes with an 8 Mhz 80287 and has provisions for faster crystals as better 80287s become available. It also has a reset button and circuit that provide a hardware alternative to CNTRL-ALT-DEL 287Turbo with Diagnostics and Reset $395 Micro Way Number Smasher™ Number Smasher gives you AT speed and 1 00% com- patibility with all PC software and hardware. It comes with a 1 Mhz 8086 and 51 2K of no wait state RAM. Most are shipped with an optional matched 10 Mhz 8087 and 1 28K daughterboard. The card runs pro- grams a factor of 2.5 to 4.0 faster than the PC, XT or compatibles it runs in. Other features include FASTROM, a Ram Disk, Print Spooler and Disk Cache. Revision 2 of the Smasher is designed and manufac- tured by MicroWay in the U.SA and has the best service and support of any accelerator card. MegaPage MicroWays "Lotus/Intel" extended memory card has all the features of the others plus one: it uses low power, cool running CMOS DRAM. Ask for our pamphlet "Extended vs Expanded Memory" and learn why MegaPage is the right card for you. MegaPage with 2 Megabytes CMOS $549 Number Smasher, MegaPage and 287Turbo are trademarks of MicroWay, Inc. MicroWay is a regis Inquiry 425 INSVION BEAUTIFUL GRAPHICS Personal Graphics System 11 $799500 Beautiful computer graphics are now affordable with Inovion's Personal Graphic System II, With PGS II you can digitize any video image or create your own with the click of a mouse. It's ideal for color mock-ups, slide presentations, business graphics, and more. With PGS II you'll enjoy the speed, flexibility, and productivity of a sophisticated graphics computer, at a price you can afford. PGS 11 Features 2.1 million colors 250,000 colors displayable Elaborate paint system 19 inch color monitor Optical mouse Optional stylus and tablet ' Optional film recorder and color printer > NTSC input. NTSC and RGB output ' 24 bits per pixel » 512 x 483 pixel display ESWVIONr 250 East Gentile Street ■ Layton, Utah 84041 Call (801) 546-2850 PROGRAMMING PROJECT of the way I've set up the activation record, the last argument—the one closest to where the FP points— will have an offset of 3. One final consideration is that after the compiler is done with a routine, all identifiers local only to that routine should be removed from the symbol table. This is so that a later part of the program can't possibly succeed in ref- erencing one of these identifiers. I'll now describe how to compile the vari- ous constructs that arise in dealing with routines. Routine Calls To compile a procedure or function call the arguments are treated as ex- pressions and each is compiled. When an expression is compiled, code is generated that will result in the value of the expression being left on the stack at run time, so compil- ing the arguments as expressions is just what the routine-calling mecha- nism requires. After the arguments are compiled, a CALL instruction is generated with the name of the rou- tine being called and the difference between the lexical level of the called routine and the current lexical level. The compiler also performs several checks: The called routine must be a function if the call occurs in an expres- sion, otherwise it must be a pro- cedure; and the number of arguments and their types must match with the list of formal parameters. SIMPL RETURN Statement When the compiler sees a RETURN statement followed by an expression, it checks to make sure it is in the pro- cess of compiling a function; if so, it generates code for the expression (which will result in the expression's value being pushed onto the stack at run time) and generates an FRETURN instruction. When the compiler sees a RETURN statement with no follow- ing expression, it makes sure it is com- piling a procedure, then it generates a VM2 RETURN instruction. Variable Access When a variable is used in the code, the compiler looks it up in the sym- bol table. If it is global, its name is used. If not, a PUSHL or POPL in- struction is generated, as appropriate, with the variable's offset and the dif- ference in lexical levels between the current one and the one in which the variable was defined. Name Management TWo minor problems remain for the compiler, both having to do with managing the names of identifiers. The first one concerns routine name clashes. Say you have two routines, P and Q. Inside P you can define another routine, R, and inside Q you can also define a routine called R. The problem is that you can't use the routine names as labels in the assem- bly-language program, since then you would have two "R" labels, and that's illegal in my assembler. The easiest solution is to generate a new label for every routine and record the label in the routine's symbol-table entry for use when the routine is called. [continued] ' - - e ^ * . Figure 5: The structure of the symbol table: an array of pointers to doubly linked lists of symbol-table entries. 142 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 We've gone to great widths to make you look good. SBX ::: t«-f ggs SS5 £33 gea ass Sfis t $M 1 I as: aaa mm atas ass s MS ■::*.•. ««a ■2*5 ■asc vjs: -ass -i-ss -. ji Introducing New SIDEWAYS™ Version 3. Sideways has always been the favorite way to print nearly every- . thing that's too wide for a printer. Not surprising. It's quick. It's easy. And it makes clean, one-piece printouts as wide as you like. So you get spreadsheets that really spread out. Pert charts that peer far into the future. All kinds of extra-wide reports without staples, glue or tape. But now Sideways Version 3 goes even further. Especially for l-2-3™and Symphony.® Now you can make short work of those wide 1-2-3 spread- sheets. No need to make print files. Just highlight a range and print right from your worksheet file using familiar Lotus-like menus. Mix bold, underlined and expanded type, all on the same page. Print through or skip over perforations. Make the finest extra- wide printouts this side of typesetting. Using Symphony? Sideways chimes right in to print any worksheet you've loaded without ever leaving your Symphony session. No matter what software you use. Spreadsheets, databases, word processors, project planners. Whatever you use, you'll get more out of new Sideways. Choose from nine different type sizes, from "minuscule" to "mammoth." Print bold, underlined or expanded - whatever your software can create. Even foreign language and line-drawing characters. Plus, there are so many ways to adjust margins, spacing and page size, it stretches the imagination. Sideways Version 3 for the IBM® PC and all popular dot-matrix printers. Available now at computer dealers nation- wide. Or directly from Funk Software with your check, Visa or Mastercard. At just $69.95 a copy, you'll never want for width again. Special upgrade offer! Just send $20 along with your current Sideways program disk and manual directly to Funk Software. We'll send you Version 3 right away. Funk Software, 222 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. Phone (617) 497-6339. Copyright 1985, Funk Software' Inc. Sideways is a trademark of Funk Software. Lotus, 1-2-3 and Symphony are registered trademarks of Lotus Development Corp. Inquiry 139 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 143 * PROGRAMMING PROJECT The second problem concerns the process of looking up an identifier in the symbol table. Recall that the sec- ond scoping rule states that when an identifier that is declared in a nested routine is also declared inside the routine in which it is nested, the inner- most identifier shadows the other. So the b referred to by procedure R in listing 2a is the variable local to R, not the ones local to Q or P. How can we implement the identifier lookup routine so that this scoping rule is enforced? The obvious solution is to examine all the identifiers with the same name and choose the one defined at the highest lexical level. This solution will VOTRAX ANNOUNCES VOTALKER IB and AP New Levels Of Voice Clarity And Versatility For Personal Computers Unlimited Phonetic Speech for IBM PC, XT, Apple II, Apple Me, Apple Plus, And All True Compatibles Votalker IB and AP are the only Synthetic Speech Generating Systems for Personal Computers that Provide Four Voice Patterns Through On-Board Switches. Both board-level products offer two preprogrammed voice modes that may be further customized through an on-board filter. Voice modes and filter are activated by switches. Other Special Features • Newly Designed Circuit Board with Advanced SC-02 Speech Chip • Sophisticated Text-to-Speech Translator Diskette • Speech Buffer for Undelayed Software Operation Special Introductory Offer $249 — Votalker IB For IBM PC and XT $ 1 79 — Votalker AP for Apple II, Apple lie, and Apple II Plus Other Votrax Products: • Dial Log Televoice Management System for IBM PCs • Personal Speech System and Type 'N Talk Stand-Alone Systems • Votalker C-64 for Commodore 64 • Trivia Talker Games for Commodore 64 • SC-01 and SC-02 Speech Synthesis Chips VOTRAX, INC. 1394 Rankin Troy, Michigan 48083-4074 (313)588-2050 TWX-8102324140 Votrax-TRMI V THE PIONEER IN SYNTHETIC SPEECH SYSTEMS To place an order or learn more about Votalker IB and AP, Call Votrax at (800) 521-1350. In Michigan, Call Collect (313) 588-0341. work, but a simpler one suggests itself if you notice that identifiers in lower lexical levels are declared before those in higher ones. That is, as the compiler reads the program from top to bottom, it will first install global variables into the symbol table, then variables at lexical level 1, and so on. If the symbol table were merely a list of entries, and if new entries were in- serted at the beginning of the list, the lookup routine could simply take the first identifier whose name matched the one being looked up; since that identifier was the most recently in- serted of all those with the same name, it must have been defined at the highest lexical level. In practice, though, a single list is too inefficient a representation for a symbol table— the lookup time is pro- portional to the length of the list, and if there are many identifiers, the list will be long. It would be great if the symbol table could combine the effi- ciency of a hash table with the nice lookup property of a list. That's possi- ble if each element of the hash table, instead of containing a single symbol entry, contains a pointer to a list of en- tries. Instead of one long list, the sym- bol table consists of an array of shorter lists; and since identical strings hash to the same location in the array, all the identifiers with the same name will be on the same list. The lookup routine hashes the name of the identifier it is searching for, in- dexes the array to find the appropri- ate list, and searches the list in order, taking the first match it finds. To facilitate the removal of entries, the list is doubly linked. The structure of the symbol table is illustrated in figure 5. Conclusion The Modula-2 source code for my S1MPL compiler, including the code to handle routines, along with the VM2 assembler and VM2 monitor, are available for downloading from BYTEnet Listings. The telephone number is (617) 861-9764. In part 3 next month,- I'll extend the compiler by adding some useful features like arrays. ■ 144 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 375 by Namir Clement Shammas Creating Reusable Modules Capsule editors quickly customize modules in Modula-2 The advent of Modula-2 marked another step in the evolution of structured programming languages. Modula-2 evolved from Pascal and ad- dresses some programming aspects more effectively than its predecessor. Most important is its ability to create ILLUSTRATED BY CLAUDIA TANTILLO separate modules that are procedure libraries. These libraries perform many related tasks. The concept of modules stresses the ability to tackle a big software project and apply (reuse) the same code in future pro- grams. This cuts down on software de- velopment time, cost, and debugging. This article discusses module reus- ability—its limitations and remedies. To reuse code, you must write pro- cedures and modules that have some degree of freedom from the rest of the program. These modules carry out specific tasks while interchanging data with other parts of the program via global variables, call arguments, and data files. Modula-2, however, im- poses some restrictions to prevent this freedom from turning chaotic. Modula-2 requires that any vari- ables passed to procedures be of the exact same type (i.e., you can't mix ap- ples and oranges), and it allows no generic types. The language relaxes this somewhat for procedure calls for arrays. You can declare an open array without specifying its bound limits, which means that procedures can ac- cept arrays of different sizes but not of different basic types. For example, you can have a procedure like this: PROCEDURE SendString (Name : ARRAY OF CHAR); Notice that the variable Name is a character array whose dimensions are determined when the program calls the procedure SendString. Thus, [continued) Namir Clement Shammas (4814 Mill Park Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060) is a freelance writer and programmer. He is also a con- tributing editor to Computer Language magazine. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 145 REUSABLE MODULES SendString can accept arrays of any size as long as they have the basic type CHAR and are one-dimensional. Hopefully future language updates will expand the open-array feature. By comparison, the Ada language allows generic types but has stricter type checking. The C language, on the other hand, shows little or no type checking and allows the programmer a great deal of freedom— and respon- sibility. Remedies for some of these limita- tions are available in the following programming strategy: 1. Write an incomplete program skeleton that constitutes the major portion of a procedure, function, or module. This capsule should include as much general code as possible. 2. Write another program, a capsule editor, that customizes the capsule and adds the last details by interacting Enter the output filename ? c:sort1.tst Enter new procedure name ? ZipSort Enter record type name ? Mail Is the sort based on one field ? Yes Enter fieldname ? ZipCode Figure I : The display from running EditSort for a single sort key. Enter the output filename ? c:sort2.tst Enter new procedure name ? MailSort Enter record type name ? Mail Is the sort based on one field ? No Enter number of fields used ? 3 Enter name for subkey # 1 ? ZipCode Enter name for subkey # 2 ? State Enter name for subkey # 3 ? Name Figure 2: The display from running EditSort for multiple sort keys. with the user for the required infor- mation. The resulting code produced by the capsule editor is correct and complete. Capsule editors are entire programs that perform text editing, insertion, and addition on the code in the cap- sules. You can think of them as ad- vanced processors that offer flexibili- ty before you invoke the compiler. It is normal to have one capsule altered by one editor. However, you can have several capsule editors work on the same capsule (or the reverse), and you need not write the capsules and their editors in the same language. The advantages of using capsule editors are • easier and faster means of produc- ing custom programs • lower software development cost [continued) Time and Money. Battery Backup, Too At 0.7 amps per 2 megabytes, SemiDisk consumes far less power than the competition. And you don't have to worry if the lights go out. The battery backup option gives you 5-10 hours of data protection during a blackout. Nobody else has this important feature. Why risk valuable data? The Best News We've just done something we know you'll like We've made the SemiDisk far more affordable than ever before. With price cuts over 25% for most of our product line. Even our new 2 megabyte units are included. It's Expandable SemiDisk Systems builds fast disk emulators for more microcomputers than anyone else. S-100, IBM-PC, Epson QX-10, TRS-80 Models II, 12, and 16. You can start with as little as 512K bytes, and later upgrade to 2 megabytes per board. ..at your own pace, as your needs expand. Up to 8 megabytes per computer, using only four bus slots, max! Software drivers are available for CP/M 80, MS-DOS, 2DOS, TurboDOS, VALDOCS 2, and Cromix. SemiDisk turns good computers into great computers. SEMIDISK SemiDisk Systems, Inc., P.O. Box GG, Beaverton, Oregon 97075 503-642-3100 Call SO_l-<*46-"IO for CHRS.?>rw\ 50*-— 'V4H.W for CBBS/PCS. and W).\4>4y -H.W for CBRS/Aloha. all ScmlDbk equipped computer bulletin boards ( MXM20G baud) SemiDisk. ScmiSpool trademarks of SemiDisk Syslcms 512K 1 Mbyte 2Mbyte SemiDisk I, S-100 1695 $1395 SemiDisk II, S-100 $995 $1995 IBM PC, XT, AT $595 $1795 QX-10 1595 $1795 TRS-80 II, 12, 16 $695 $1795 Battery Backup Unit $150 $150 $150 Someday you'll get a SemiDisk. Until then, you'll just have to. ...wait. 146 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 320 ,'/ ' AT ™ Pfantasies for your PC or XT.™ Want better speed and memory on your PC or XT without buying an AT? You've got it! Phoenix's new Pfaster™286 co-processor board turns your PC or XT into a high- speed engine 60 percent faster than an AT. Three times faster than an XT. It even supports PCs with third-party hard disks. But that's only the beginning. You can handle spreadsheets and programs you never thought possible. Set up RAM disks in both 8088 and 80286 memory for linkage editor overlays or super-high-speed disk caching. All with Pfaster286's lmb of standard RAM, expandable to 2mb, and dual-mode design. You can develop 8086/186/286 software on your XT faster. Execute 95 percent of the application packages that run on the AT, excluding those that require fancy I/O capabilities your PC or XT hardware just isn't designed to handle. Queue multi-copy, multi-format print jobs for spooling. Or, switch to native 8088 mode to handle XT and ATare trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Pfaster286 and Programmers' Pfantasies are trademarks of Phoenix Computer Products Corporation. For the Ferrari aficionado: yes. we know this is a rear engine car. We a're showing the addition of a second engine to symbolize how Pfaster can be added lo your PC or XT to increase performance. Inquiry 281 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 147 hardware-dependent programs and back again without rebooting. All with Pfaster286's compatible ROM software. And, Pfaster286 does the job unintrusively! No motherboard to exchange. No wires to solder. No chips to pull. Just plug it into a standard card slot, and type the magic word, "PFAST]' If you really didn't want an AT in the first place, just what it could do for you, call or write: Phoenix Computer Products Corp., 320 Norwood Park South, Norwood, MA 02062; (800) 344-7200. In Massachusetts, 617-762-5030. Programmers' Pfantasies™ by REUSABLE MODULES • increased reliability, and • the ability to produce custom pro- grams when the original software author is unavailable. A Demonstration This demonstration deals with a sort algorithm. I used Logitech's Modula-2/ 86 compiler, version 0.3c, which does not have floating-point implementa- tion but does have reliable file I/O (input/output) operations. I used an IBM PC XT to test the program with all files located on drive C, the hard disk. The compiler did not have a string-manipulation library so I used Strlibl , a module I developed earlier. Reference I contains the code for this entire module. The example is a capsule for the recursive Quicksort algorithm. | Editor's note: Listings for QUIKSORT.MD2 and EDITSORT.MD2 can be downloaded from BYTEnet listings at (617) 861-9764.] This capsule is a procedure written with the following assumptions and remarks: 1 . The data records to be sorted are of a dummy type called Item. The capsule editor changes this to match the desired custom record type. 2. The original capsule has one single dummy sort called key, which the capsule editor alters according to your input. 3. You can only sort on alphanumeric data fields (keys). 4. If you use a field as a sort key, you must use the entire field. The capsule editor for the Quick- Sort capsule is the module EditSort. It performs the following functions: • prompts for the output filename • prompts for the output procedure name • asks for the record type name that you intend to use throughout your program, and • asks for the sort keys. (Based on the number of keys involved, the capsule editor decides how to edit Quicksort. The following two cases explain how this works.) If you want to sort a mailing list, you could call your record type, Mail and [continued] Listing 1: The output code generated by running the EditSort capsule editor on the Quicksort capsule with a single sort key. PROCEDURE ZipSort( A : ARRAY OF Mail ; N : CARDINAL ); PROCEDURE Compare ( S1, S2 : ARRAY OF CHAR): BOOLEAN; (* Compare two strings of the same maximum length.*) CONST eos = 0C; (* end of string *) VAR Less, Stop : BOOLEAN; i : CARDINAL; BEGIN Less : = FALSE; Stop : = FALSE; i := 0; WHILE (i < = HIGH(S1)) AND (Less = FALSE) AND (Stop = FALSE) DO IF (SI [i] < > eos) AND (S2[i] < > eos) THEN (* Proceed in comparison *) IF (S1[i] < S2[i]) THEN Less := TRUE ELSE INC(i) END; ELSE Stop : = TRUE (* Reached the end of string*) END; END; RETURN Less; END Compare; PROCEDURE Sort( L, R : CARDINAL); VAR i, j : CARDINAL; X, W : Mail; r BEGIN X := A[(L + R) DIV 2]; REPEAT WHILE Compare(A[i].ZipCode,X.ZipCode) DO INC(i) END; WHILE Compare(X.ZipCode,A[i].ZipCode) DO DECQ) END; IF i < = j THEN W = A[i] : = A[i] ; A[i] : = A[j] ; Afll : = W ; INC(i) ; DECQ) END; UNTIL i > j ; IF L < j THEN Sort(Lj) END; IF i < R THEN Sort(i.R) END; END Sort; BEGIN Sort(1,N) END ZipSort; 148 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 327 — ► ACRQ Klone for $ 49 95 The Closer You Look, the Better We Look! is the mirror image of Crosstalk XVI, the industry standard in data communications software for small business computers. MIRROR'S design closely reflects Crosstalk XVI's menus, commands and features in fact, if you have used Crosstalk XVI before, you will feel right at home with ?R. The one thing you will not find reflected in MIRROR is Crosstalk XVI's $195.00 price. Because we control the reflection, MIRROR costs only $49.95. If you are new to data communications, it makes sense to go with the industry standard in data communications software, but why pay the industry standard price. .'-. ...:/.•..: lets you have the industry standard at 1/4 the price If you or your company have already standardized on Crosstalk XVI, then consider I IffROR for future purchases and upgrades, you'll realize significant savings, without sacrificing on quality, standardization or features. MIRROR even gives you features that Crosstalk XVI doesn't provide, such -* — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ — ■ ■ - ■- ^ as background operation which lets handle your communica- ' lions while you are using other productivity packages. MIRROR includes ■ ^, ^ ^ a built-in Wordstar-like text editor, and many file transfer protocols such as, ^^ 9$^ Qj XMODEM, XMODEM MULTI-FILE, KERMIT, HAYES and of course, CROSSTALK, With SoftKlone's 60-Day money back guarantee, you can't lose. Pick- up the phone and dial our toll-free number, or fill-out the coupon. EITHER WAY, DO-IT-TODAY. $49.95 plus $5.00 postage /handling ($8.00 for COD orders] ea. V1IRROR, AIII5150I5 7 Order Call Toll-Free: DISTRIBUTING CORP. The Age of KloneWore Has Arrived 1210 East Park Avenue Tallahassee, Florida 32301 lational: California: 1-800-538-8157 1-800-672-3470 xt. 848 Ext. 848 or Information Call: 1-904-878-8564 HRROR, KloneWare and SoftKlone are trademarks of SoftKlone Distributing Corporation. Crosstalk XVI nd Mlcrostul are registered trademarks of Mlerostuf, Inc., HAYES Is a registered trademark of Hayes llcrocomputer Products, Inc., Wordstar Is a registered trademark of Mlcropro International.. MIRROR is available for the IBM PC/XT/AT and compatibles. Payment Method: I ] VISA [ ] MC [ ] COD [ ] Check'Money Order Credit Card #:. Card Expiration Date: Sub-Total (Fl residents must add 6% sales tax] Shipping/Handling Amount Enclosed: / . Purchase Order and site license inquiries please call (904) 878-8564. NOT COPY PROTECTED! Name: Shipping Address: City: Zip Code: Signature: . Telephone < Mail Coupon To. SoftKlone, 1210 East Park Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 REUSABLE MODULES Listing 2: The output code generated by running the EditSort capsule editor on the Quicksort capsule with multiple sort keys. PROCEDURE MailSort( A : ARRAY OF Mail ; N : CARDINAL ); PROCEDURE Compare ( R1, R2 : Mail): BOOLEAN; (* Compare two strings of the same maximum lengths.*) CONST eos = OC; (* end of string *) VAR Less, Stop : BOOLEAN; i ; CARDINAL; S1, S2 : ARRAY [L.YourMaxString] OF CHAR; BEGIN Less : = FALSE; Stop : = FALSE; i := 0; Stringls(S1,R1.ZipCode) ; Stringls(S2,R2.ZipCode) ; StringAdd(S1,R1. State) ; StringAdd(S2,R2. State) ; StringAdd(S1,R1.Name) ; StringAdd(S2,R2.Name) ; WHILE (i < = HIGH(S1)) AND (Less = FALSE) AND (Stop = FALSE) DO IF (S1 [i] < > eos) AND (S2[i] < > eos) THEN (* Proceed in comparison *) IF (SI [i] < S2[i]) THEN Less := TRUE ELSE INC(i) END; ELSE Stop : = TRUE (* Reached the end of string*) END; END; RETURN Less; END Compare; PROCEDURE Sort( L, R : CARDINAL); VAR i, j : CARDINAL; X, W : Mail; BEGIN X := A[(L + R)DIV2]; REPEAT WHILE Compare(A[i],X) DO INC(i) END; WHILE Compare(X,A[i]) DO DECQ) END; IF i <= jTHEN W = A[i] ; = A[i] ; A[i] : = A[j] ; A[j] : = W ; INC(i) ; DECQ) END; UNTIL i > j ; IF L < j THEN Sort(Lj) END; IF i < R THEN Sort(i.R) END; END Sort; BEGIN Sort(1,N) END MailSort; declare it as TYPE Mail = RECORD Name : ARRAY [1..30] OF CHAR; Address : ARRAY [1..30] OF CHAR; City : ARRAY [1..20] OF CHAR; State : ARRAY [1..2] OF CHAR; ZipCode : ARRAY [1..9] OF CHAR END; In the first case, you want to sort by zip code only Create a new pro- cedure named ZipSort. and store it in file c:sort1.tst. Figure 1 shows the display for this case and listing I shows the output file. If you compare it with the original capsule, you will see that the capsule editor alters only the procedure name, the record type name, and the sort key according to your input. It adds no program linesl In the second case, you want to sort by three fields (zip code, state, and name). Call the new procedure Mail- Sort, and save it in file c:sort2.tst Figure 2 shows the display and listing 2 shows the output file. In this case, the action exceeds mere renaming. The capsule editor alters the argu- ment calls of the procedure Com- pare; it takes records of type Mail in- stead of strings as arguments; it declares strings previously passed as local variables; and it adds enough code lines to build the sort strings. The capsule editor even alters the use of Compare in the procedure Sort, and it eliminates dummy key com- ponents altogether. The strategy of using capsules pro- vides you with a new kind of software tool. When applied to supercom- puters, these tools create a new class of programmers. Modula-2 capsules offer an alternative to changing the code prior to compilation, one that allows modules to be quickly cus- tomized. ■ REFERENCES 1. Shammas. N.. "Modula-2: No Strings At- tached." journal of Pascal and Ada. March/April 1984. 2. Wiener. R.. ''Generic Sorting in Modula-2," journal of Pascal and Ada. January/February 1984. 3. Wirth. N., Algorithms + Data Structures = Programs. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice- Hall. 1976. 150 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Why the Hercules Color Card is better for your XT than IBM's. Did you know that there's a color graphics card specially designed for the XT™? It's called the Hercules™ Color Card. We think that it's better for your XT than the IBM® Color Graphics Adapter. Here's why. The XT comes with an empty short slot. IBM's card is too long to fit in it, so you're forced to sacrifice a valuable long slot, while your XT's short slot goes unused. The Hercules Color Card is designed to fit in this short slot. It's the smartest way to maximize the usable slots in an XT and provide for your future expansion needs. IBM Hercules II I I / ^ mi / N Notice how much more efficiently Hercules makes use of the XTs slots. Our efficient use of an XT's slots is not the only reason to buy a Hercules Color Card instead of IBM's. We give you a parallel printer port at no extra cost. (IBM charges extra and takes up another slot.) A lot of people wonder how Hercules can do everything that IBM can in a card less than half the size. We do it by designing our own graphics microchips. Just one of our chips packs the punch of dozens of IBM's, reducing by more than 50% the number of components that can fail. And we'll do just about anything to make our products the most reliable you can buy. Hercules IBM Of course, you will have to give up something when you buy a Hercules Color Card. You'll have to give up software incom- patibility. With Hercules, there is none. Every program that runs on the IBM color card will run on the Hercules Color Card. You'll have to give up IBM's ninety day warranty. Ours is two years. IBM Hercules Compare warranties 3 months i 2 years And you'll have to give up a dollar. The Hercules Color Card is $245-IBM's is $244. Look into the Hercules Color Card for the XT, PC or AT™ Find out why the readers of PC World voted the Hercules Color Card 1985's best color graphics card-ahead of IBM's. Call 1 800 532-0600 Ext. 432 for the name of the dealer nearest you and we'll rush you our free info kit. Hercules. inquiry 155 We're strong on graphics. Address: 2550 Ninth St., Berkeley, CA 94710 Ph: 415 540-6000 Telex:754063 Trademarks/Owners: Hercules/Hercules Computer Technology; IBM, XT, AT/IBM. Printer cable offer expires February 28, 1986. Good only in U.S.A., offer subject to change without notice. Here there be Wizards! In the distant past, stories were told of a breed of mysterious and powerful beings; beings that could weave magical spells, conjure spirits from the vasty deep, and calm the raging elements with subtle movements of the hand. They were called Wizards — the keepers of rare' and special knowledge. Today, they work their craft still: invoking daemons, executing spells, and controlling the very source of their environment. No magic, but wizardry nonetheless; the kind of wizardry without which much of today's world would simply cease to function. These modern-day Wizards are masters of systems software for computer networks, switching systems, and operating systems such as UNIX and UTS on machines ranging from the largest mainframe to the smallest microcomputer. In many ways they hold the keys to the principles that control a society which is now dependent on this powerful software. At Lachman Associates, Inc., we understand the I unique position of talented UNIX professionals because that is what we are. With over 100 full-time consultants, we advise on and direct sophisticated projects for some of the largest companies in the world. Our projects include multi-processor and high reliability operating system evaluation and development; networking with X.25 and Ethernet; tools such as compilers, interactive graphics, and device drivers; as well as training, product analysis, and documentation. So be advised, Wizards do exist. In fact, perhaps you Equal Opportunity Employer Resumes accepted in confidence lark of AT&T Bell Laborato irk of Amdahl Corporation. Lachman Associates, Inc. Corporate Offices . 645 Blackhawk Drive • Westmont, IL 60559 , I /} i 312 986 8840 JHfll/ A Chicago Columbus Denver New Jersey PROGRAMMING INSIGHT EASY 3-D GRAPHICS BY Henning Mittelbach A BASIC program for plotting 3-D surfaces AFTER READING "Budget 3-D Graphics" by Tom Clune (March 1985 BYTE, page 240), I decided to develop a low-cost program for three-dimen- sional graphics on small computers. \Editor's note: Versions of the program for the IBM PC Macintosh, and Apple WlWe are available for downloading via BYTEnet Listings. The telephone number is (617) 861-9764. More information on download- ing to your particular machine can be found at the end of the article] The program is based upon the for- mulas for an axonometric projection {0. 0) !*■ XB UP TO 279- YB TO 189 PLOTTED AREA Figure I: The graphic window, shown here for the Apple II, on which the 3-D graphics program was developed. in relation to the origin, as shown: XB = X*COS(PHI) - Y*COS(PSI) YB = X*SIN(PHI) - Y*SIN(PSI) + Z Depending on the graphic window of the computer used, you may change these formulas to XB = XO + X*COS(PHI) - Y*COS(PSI) YB = YO - X*SIN(PHI) - Y*SIN(PSI) - Z where XO and YO will represent the origin of the axes, as shown in figure 1. (I developed the program on an Apple II, with XO = 110 and YO = 180.) Also in figure 1, (XB.YB) is the point to be plotted, and PHI and PSI are the angles referring to the horizon. The function Z = F(X,Y), in line 200 of the program, needs a scaling fac- tor F (line 210) that the user has to introduce in the program. The Program The program starts at lines 100 to 180 where you set the parameters X0, Y0, (continued) Henning Mittelbach (FH Munchen, Lnthstrasse, D8000 Munchen, West Ger- many) is professor of mathematics at Fach- hochschule Munchen. « — Inquiry 424 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 153 Inquiry 398 1st PLACE COMPUTER SYSTEMS 13422 N. CAVECREEK RD. PHOENIX, AZ. 85022 OTHER INFORMATION: 602-867-9897 s chtck or monay ordar daisy shipping two all othar chacki will CALL FREE 1-800-841-2748 Hi — I'm Joan, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year and thank you for a suc- cessful 1985. We are again looking forward to a even great- er 1986. With your help we can do it, so keep these phones ringing and let us show you our fast and courteous service. Thank you and God Bless Joan COMPUTERS ALTOS 186-10 $4415 ALTOS 486-20 $4195 ALTOS 580-20 $3310 ALTOS 586-20 $5299 ALTOS 986T-40 9355 ALTOS 2086-T80 $14,779 IBM PC $CALL ITT PC $CALL LEADING EDGE $CALL ZENITH $CALL SOFTWARE $CALL CITIZEN. MSP-10 $249 C. ITOH $CALL EPSON $CALL JUKI 6100 $349 OKIDATA $CALL STAR MICRONICS. SG10 $207 NEC 3550 $999 DIABLO D-25 $529 SILVER REED $CALL TOSHIBA 351P $1029 WYSE 50 $419 WYSE 85 $579 QUME 101G $289 QUME 202G $599 TELEVIDEO $CALL AMDEK $CALL TAXAN 630 $429 TAXAN 420 $399 PRINCETON MAX 12E $169 PRINCETON HX 12 $445 PRINCETON SR 12 $615 7 PK. MULTI FUNCTION $149 PARADISE 5 PK $154 HERCULES CL. GR $145 EVEREX EDGE $315 TANDON $CALL TEAC $CALL BERNOULLI BOX! ..!..!.. $CALL TALLGRASS $CALL PROMETHEUS 1200 EXT $305 FAMOUS MAKER INT $189 FAMOUS MAKER EXT $224 HAYES SMARTMODEM 1200 . . . $369 HAYESSMARTMODEM 1200B . . $315 HAYES SMARTMODEM 2400 . . . $605 154 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 SIMPLE 3-D GRAPHICS PHI, PSI. XL XR. YL, YR, and D. Changing parameters gives you vari- ety. It is important that XL be less than XR and YL be less than YR, though these values may be either positive or negative. The parameter D gives the distance between the coordinate lines to be plotted. The program sets D = 5, al- though you can make D smaller (for a more detailed graph) or larger (for a coarser graph that takes less time to plot). You should be sure, however, that the differences XR-XL and YR-YL are multiples of D, or the graphic will have no contour. Line 200 contains the function to be plotted. Figure 2, for example, shows the plot of the program with the function FN Y(X) = SIN (Y/F) * (X-Y) * (X-Y)/150 The parameter F, in line 210, stretch- es the X and Y directions in the argu- ment of Y(X), as does the divisor I 50 in line 200. After fitting some abbreviations to accelerate the plotting (which can take several minutes), line 260 sets an up- per limit for FN(X). Later, in lines 1040 and 2040, the program cuts those values of F(X) that would fall above the top of the window. Line 2 70 asks whether you want to see the graph with two sets of coor- dinate lines, as in figure 2, or with one set of coordinate lines (which takes less time). Depending on your re- sponse, the program goes to subrou- tines at line 1000 or 2000. Lines 300 to 330 ask if you wish to see the axes or not, and will draw them if you do, while line 3 50 draws a frame for the graph. Next, an array H is set to the lower border of the window. Later, a part of this array will be plotted to get the hidden lines. The program continues with line 1000. First the mask (array H) is raised to the front line of X. Later, the Y- coordinate lines can only be plotted if they are above this border. Thus, in line 1060 IF YB < H(XB) THEN H(XB) = YB a small value for XB will be corrected up. Line 1 1 20 starts the first Y- coordinate line with the smallest Y value, Y = YL. The inner loop Y corn- Figure 2: The 3-D plot of the function FN Y(X) = SIN(Y/F)*(X- Y)*(X- Y)/150. SIMPLE 3-D GRAPHICS Figure 3: The 3-D plot of the function FN Y(X) = 20*SIN(X/F)*COS(Y/F). Figure 4: The 3-D plot of the function FN Y(X) = -8*EXP(SIN(X*Y/F/F)). putes all points with fixed X (first X = XL) and then, after setting the mask on this line, plots the line (lines 1200 to 1220 of the program). Lines 2000 to 2240 are an exact copy of lines 1000 to 1240 and are called if you choose the cross-hatch- ing option at the beginning of the pro- gram run. A number of examples follow. Figure 2, the 3-D graphic that comes with the program, uses the param- eters xo = 110 Y0 = 180 PHI = 0.5 PSI = 0.4 XL = YL = XR = 170 YR = 100 D = 5 FN Y(X) = SIN (Y/F) (X- Y)/1 50 F = 10 (X-Y) Figure 3 uses similar parameters, ex- cept that D = 10, F=20 and the function FN Y(X) = 20 * SIN(X/F) * COS (Y/F) was substituted on line 200. The pa- XO = 140 Y0 = 100 PHI = 0.3 PSI = 0.3 XL = -70 YL = -70 XR = 70 YR = 70 D = 10 FNY(X) = -8 F = 28 Figure 5: The 3-D plot of the function FN Y(X) = -X*Y/F/F EXP(SIN(X*Y/F/F)) produce figure 4. Changing the func- tion on line 200 to FN Y(X) = -X*Y/F/F and setting F= 10 produces the plot shown in figure 5. ■ The program for easy 3-D graphics is available as PCGRAF.BAS for the IBM Personal Computer. MACGRAF.BAS for the Apple Macintosh, and APPLGRAF.BAS for the Apple II family (DOS 3.3). You will need BASIC for whichever system you choose. JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 155 / ' %^if MmdK. • orum Electronic Meeting System Until eForum- - bulletin boards, e-mail and computer conferencing were just a lot of static. Every major communications breakthrough has its infancy. Computer conferencing's first buzz started with randomly networked bulletin boards, experimental CB's and then e-mail. Of course, Federal projects gave conferencing real legitimacy. But at a prohibitive price. Now comes the giant step. eForum. It shoots computer conferencing right off the evolutionary chart by bringing long-awaited sophistication that business needed to truly put computer conferencing to work. In a nutshell, eForum creates electronic "meetings" which allow groups of people, not just two or three, to communicate and "chat" on a myriad of subjects. Without worrying about time or geographic zones. Since eForum maintains all the meetings in one place, each person simply "attends" the meeting at the most accessible time. And eForum not only keeps track of what can literally be hundreds of meetings, allowing only those authorized to "attend," but the easy-to-follow structure keeps the "attendee" from getting lost or reading unnecessary material. Then eForum automatically organizes, indexes and files and gives each person an individualized view of what's new in the meeting and a complete written record of each meeting. Even sending totally private messages is easy with eMemo, the enhanced electronic mail facility. That's revolutionary. Yet eForum goes further by letting each organization set up eForum the way that's most efficient for it. By using internal host computers. Or by accessing eForum through a national communications network like General Electric Information Service. And, if that's not breakthrough enough, eForum is even designed to let each person use a personal computer and the most popular software around — Lotus 1-2-3™, WordStar™, MultiMate™, DisplayWrite™ and more — so "electronic handouts" can be brought to each meeting. Too, if you have need to do document development with a team of people, docuForum is our document editing and transfer software which uses the conferencing capabilities of eForum to let team members comment and propose changes to a document. So, don't let the newest explosion in computer conferencing catch you asleep at the keyboard. Call our 800 number and get "on the meeting" now. And soon, just like when the microchip changed the world's idea about computers, you'll wonder how you ever got along without eForum. Call 800-638-4832 to find out how you can get an immediate on-line eForum demonstration! In Michigan, call 313-994-4030. In Canada, call 604-682-6265. 3 E zz= Network Technologies International, Inc. The Arbor Atrium Building 315 West Huron Ann Arbor, Michigan 48 103 Inquiry 417 ciimim i> a trademark of Nchwirk Technok: "Display Write and MuliiMi ^MftllilRTruaBBM I WS BYTE Robotics Machine Vision by Phil Dunbar 161 Robotic Tactile Sensing by Kirk E. Pennywitt 177 Multiple Robotic Manipulators by }. Scott Hawker. R. N. Nagel. Richard Roberts, and Nicholas G. Odrey 203 Autonomous Robot Navigation by Charles ]orgensen. William Hamel. and Charles VJeisbin 223 AI in Computer Vision by John L. Cuadrado and Clara Y. Cuadrado 237 Automation in Organic Synthesis by Gary W. Kramer and Philip L. Fuchs . . 263 I TEND TO THINK of servo- and stepper-motor control data acquisition with sensors, and the like as mature technologies. So when I began to research this theme, the foremost questions in my mind were, What makes robotics so hard? Why is it taking so long to develop this technology? This month's theme authors provide clear explanations of what some of the major prob- lems are and indicate some of the new research developments that are final- ly bringing robotics to maturity. One set of robotics problems involves sensors. We begin our theme with two pieces on this topic, one on vision and the other on touch. It is generally agreed that these two are necessary (and possibly sufficient) for most autonomous robotic functions. First, Phil Dunbar presents a discussion of the problems of current camera systems for robotic vision. He includes an overview of some of the more in- teresting cameras available for machine vision. Next, Kirk Pennywitt looks at directions in research on touch sensors. Those who think of mechanical tpuch as synonymous with pressure transducers will be surprised to learn how complex this subject really is. Motion is central to the idea of robotics. We have two pieces that discuss some of the issues associated with machine motion. I. Scott Hawker, R. N. Nagel, Richard Roberts, and Nicholas G. Odrey discuss coordination of two arms in performing a task. Research on this topic is just beginning, so the focus of the piece is more on problems to be addressed than answers that have been devised. Charles Jorgensen, William Hamel, and Charles Weisbin consider the levels of complexity of robotic navigation. They use a delightful analogy to Magellan, Columbus, and Ulysses to clarify the issues involved in machine exploration. The problems of robotic navigation are primarily concerned with artificial intelligence, as is our next piece. Clara and lohn Cuadrado discuss artificial intelligence in machine vision. Their article explains such AI concepts as frames, inheritance, and demons so clearly that I finally understand what these terms mean. Finally Gary W. Kramer and Philip L. Fuchs discuss how they used a robotic arm to automate their organic chemistry laboratory. I find two aspects of their piece especially interesting. First is how they solved the universal problem in robotics of interfacing disparate equipment. Second, the' arm that they employ is perhaps the lowest-tech piece of equipment in their lab, but it has allowed them to unlock the power of the intelligent instruments with which they work. It is impossible to cover all the major topics of robotics in a single theme. For example, both Phil Dunbar and the Cuadrados acknowledge that the hardest part of machine vision is the intermediate level, where camera data is analyzed to identify, for example, two overlapping objects in a field of vi- sion. This is a hot topic in current vision research but is not included in our theme. However, we found the articles that are here exciting and informative. We hope you have as much fun reading them as we did. —Tom Clune, Technical Editor JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 159 At The Future is at Gold Hill Today You know artificial intelligence is the wave of the future. Programs based on the ideas of artificial intelligence are being written today in Common Lisp-the new Lisp standard developed by researchers from universities and corporations such as Carnegie Mellon, DEC, MIT, Stanford, Symbolics and TI. Lisp allows the devel- opment of programs that are intelligent, flexible, and even human-like. The problem has been that hardware needed to run Lisp is expensive. No longer. Golden Common Lisp (GC Lisp) makes it possible for you to learn and use Lisp on your personal computer. When you use GC Lisp in combination with the AI examples provided, you will be able to develop such exciting appli- cations as expert systems, natural language systems, and intelligent interfaces to complex software. The possibilities are endless. With GC Lisp you can tackle problems that you could not solve before with ordinary number crunching programs. You will be able to write powerful programs that can accom- modate casual computer users who want intelligible answers quickly. Easy to Learn GC Lisp makes it easy for you to learn the technology of Al at your own pace. Each package includes the San Marco Lisp Explorer- an interactive software tutorial developed by Patrick H. Winston and his associ- ciates. This 800-frame instructional Golden Common Lisp is the best selling AL language. system guides you through the steps of Lisp programming and makes the full range of Lisp's power accessible to both novice and experienced programmers. The second edition of the classic Lisp textbook by Winston and Horn is also included. More Power GC Lisp comes complete with the intelligent GM ACS editor (based on EMACS) , full on-line documen- tation of all GC Lisp and GMACS functions, the Common Lisp Refer- ence Manual by Steele, and a com- prehensive user manual. In short, Golden Common Lisp comes with everything you need to program in Lisp. GC Lisp is the most powerful g o L D Lisp available todzgSnPCs; some of its advanced featuSS ;, nclude lexical and dynamic scoping, defstructs, closures, stream I/O, and multiple- value returning functions. The Complete Solution In addition to GC Lisp, Gold Hill offers an entire line of development and delivery tools designed to increase your organization's pro- ductivity in artificial intelligence. These include the GC Lisp Compiler, PC-to-Symbolics rM network, HALCT Graphics, and training and consulting services. Gold Hill is also proud to intro- duce GC Lisp LM (Large Memory) —the first PC-DOS language to take advantage of the 15-megabyte memory capacity of the latest gen- eration of PCs (such as the IBM PC AT) . For multiple-user sites, Gold Hill offers a Corporate License Package which features quantity discounts and service and support. Order Today For order information on Gold Hill products please call today. 800-2GC-USP GC Lisp requires an IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, or IBM-compatible with a minimum 512K and PC-DOS 2.0. Gold Hill Computers Setting the AI Standard for Personal Computers. H I L L G O M P U 163 Harvard Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 D C GOLDEN COMMON' Lisp and GC Lisp arc trademarks ol'Gokt Hill Computers. The San Marco Lisp Explorer is a trademark of San Marco Associates. USPis copyrighted by Addison- VC'csley Publishing Company, Inc. The COMMOS' I.f.SP Reference Manual is copyrighted by Digital Equipment Corporation. IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, and PC-DOS arc trademarks of International Business Machines. Halo Graphics is a trademark of Media Cybernetics. Symbolics is a trademark of Symbolics, Inc. 160 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 145 ROBOTICS MACHINE VISION by Phil Dunbar An examination of what's new in vision hardware THE POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS of machine vision are many and obvious. Everything from quality assurance to robotic navigation could benefit from the availability of reliable vision sys- tems for computers. Perhaps less ob- vious, though, is the variety of prob- lems that hamper development of the technology. These problems appear on all levels of machine vision— hard- ware, low-level analysis, and high-level AI (artificial intelligence) manipulation of low-level data. This article will discuss problems that plague the de- velopment of vision-system hardware and indicate some of the technology that has emerged to address these problems. You might think that the most dif- ficult hardware problem in vision sys- tems is digitizing the high-frequency analog stream of camera data. In fact, that is not so. Currently, machine vi- sion algorithms use gray-scale (i.e., monochrome intensity) video infor- mation almost exclusively. Such infor- mation can be adequately extracted from an analog signal by a 6-bit or 8-bit A/D (analog to digital) converter. Real-time conversion requires approx- imately a 10-MHz conversion rate to digitize a 512- by 512-pixel image. These rates can be achieved with flash converters, pioneered by the TRW company when it introduced the TDC 1007 in 1977. Flash converters employ (2")-l comparators to per- form A/-bit conversions. That is, an 8-bit flash comparator requires 25 5 comparators to operate. Since all pos- sible digitized values can be com- pared to the signal at once, the throughput is much greater than with successive approximation methods. Of course, the complexity of the con- verter rises exponentially with linear increases in resolution. Notable among the commercially available flash converters is TRW's 8-bit mono- lithic chip flash converter (TDC 1048) that can operate at speeds necessary for real-time machine vision applica- tions and costs about $140 per unit. The real problems with vision hard- ware revolve around the cameras. The problems fall into two basic categor- ies: video signal standards and limita- tions of particular camera hardware technologies. Television Standards Much of robotics suffers from a lack of standards. Machine vision, on the other hand, suffers from the existence of video signal standards that are not appropriate for our needs. Those standards were created by and for the television industry. Since the enter- tainment industry is still a far more lucrative market for camera manufac- turers than machine vision, few image sensors and cameras deviate from television standards. The monochrome video signal stan- dard used in the United States, Japan/ and most of the Western Hemisphere is RS-170, a subset of the NTSC (Na- tional Television Systems Committee) standard. Europe uses the interna- tional CCIR (Consultative Committee, International Radio) standard, which is similar to, but not compatible with, RS-170. Since both standards present essentially the same problems to ma- chine vision applications, I will limit my remarks to the RS-170 standard. The RS-170 standard defines the composite video and synchronizing signal that your television uses (see figure 1). The image is transmitted one line at a time from top to bottom of [continued] Phil Dunbar is Manager of Software Engi- neering, \ndustrial Automation Division, Analog Devices \nc. (POB 280, Norwood, MA 02062). JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 161 MACHINE VISION the television screen. The full image frame consists of 52 5 lines, repeated at 30 Hz. Each frame consists of two interleaved fields of 262.5 lines. Forty lines are blank to allow for vertical retrace of the raster scan. Sync signals precede each line of video signal. The synchronization may originate from either the camera or the display apparatus. Unfortunately for robotics and other machine vision tasks, the RS-170 stan- dard specifies a 4:3 horizontal-to- vertical aspect ratio for video signals. This means that the video-signal rep- resention of a square will be longer in the x direction than in the y direc- tion. Your television has a comple- mentary distortion of a 3:4 aspect ratio, so the image of the square ends up appearing visually correct. How- ever, this system poses a problem to algorithm design, since vision algo- rithms measure distances and toler- ances by counting pixels from edge to edge. When viewed through a 4:3 aspect ratio, there is a geometric distortion. At the digital level, circles become ellipses and squares become rectangles. Thus, distance measure- ment is tedious for objects of random orientation. For example, to deter- mine the length of a straight edge, you must project the edge onto the x and y axes, normalize the distance on one axis to the opposite (reference) axis, and then calculate the true length as the hypotenuse. It would help to have machine vision cameras with a sym- metric aspect ratio. Some do exist, but there is no public standard for the composite output signal. Lights, Camera, Action There are other problems associated with the entertainment-industry bias of camera technology besides inap- propriate standards. Primary among these is simply that the technology has been developed for consumption by human eyes and brains. Biological vision tends to be insensitive to ab- solute light intensity, slow variation in intensity, and spatial accuracy. While REFERENCE WHITE PEDESTAL- -SYNC SIGNAL BLANKING LEVEL SYNC LEVEL Figure 1: A composite video signal as it might appear on an oscilloscope. J w. ILLUMINATION Figure 2: A graph of response curves for y [black). (red), y >1 (blue), and y =1 the human eye is well adapted to detection of local intensity gradients, global gradients cannot be perceived without high contrast. Since overengi- neering any product does not make economic sense, video cameras tend to suffer the same biases as humans do. 1 will discuss some of these biases in detail later in the article. Another problem that can be traced to the entertainment industry is that most video cameras exhibit a non- linear response to light intensity to compensate for nonlinearity in CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors. What linearity means when you are talking about light intensity is not intuitively obvious, so I will pause to clarify this concept. Camera dynamic range is deter- mined by the ratio between video out- put amplitude at saturation and RMS (root mean square) noise in darkness. It is essentially limited by noise in the low end and maximum charge capaci- ty in the high end. Some cameras have automatic gain control (AGC), which adjusts the absolute gray-scale response of the sensor to total bright- ness of the scene. Most often, how- ever, you will control the illumination in machine vision applications. Thus, you may need to use reference gray values when you switch from scene to scene, or important information may be compressed in dark regions of the scene by AGC adjustment to bright regions. Gray-scale response linearity is specified by the term gamma (7), which is the exponent in the function A = K * I y . where / is light intensity, K is a constant, and A is the output amplitude. A gamma of 1 yields a linear response, whereas less than 1 compresses the bright end of the response curve and greater than 1 compresses the dark end (see figure 2). Many video cameras have a gamma of less than 1 to compensate for video monitors that exhibit the op- posite effect. Sensor technologies There are essentially two types of video cameras available— one is [continued) 162 BYTE* JANUARY !986 1-800-231-9842 WESTERN REGIONAL ORDERS These Fine Corporations, Universities and Companies Put Their Trust In "COMPUTER MART" ATT 3M Magnavox Eaton Merrill Lynch American Savings Landmark Mortgage American Nurse Assoc. Dun & Bradstreet U.S. Navy - Army University of: California Illinois New York Colorado State Put Your Trust In COMPUTER MART • COMPUTERS • IBM ENHANCED AT 4928 IBM ENTRY LEVEL AT 3241 IBM PC, 1 DSDD DR, 256K . . . 1702 IBM PC. 2 DSDD DR, 256K . . . 1826 IBM PC, NO DRIVES, 64K . . . . 1316 IBM PC, 2 HALF/HYTE 256K 1702 IBM XT, 1DSDD DR/10MB, 256K 3355 IBM XT, 1DSDD DR/TA HD, 256K 2491 COMPAQ, 2 DSDD, 256K .... 2173 COMPAQ PORTABLE 2 MODEL 2 5292 COMPAQ DESK PRO MODEL 3 3304 COMPAQ DESKPRO MODEL 2 2156 • MONITORS • AMDEK300G 119 AMDEK 300A 133 AMDEK 310A 149 AMDEK 600 RGB COLOR .... 409 AMDEK 710 SUPER HI RES COLOR 447 IBM COLOR 616 IBM MONOCHROME 235 PRINCETON MAX-12 E 160 PRINCETON HX-12 RG COLOR 446 PRINCETON SR-12 575 PRINCETON HX-12E COLOR 510 QUADRAM AMBER- CHROME 171 QUADRAM QUADCHROME II 426 AMDEK 722 510 • DISPLAY CARDS • STB SUPER HI RES 400 402 HERCULES COLOR 151 IBM MONOCHROME 218 IBM COLOR 226 EVEREX GRAPHICS EDGE ... 297 EVEREX THE EDGE 243 GENOA SPECTRUM 289 TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER 459 PARADISE MODULAR GRAPHICS 274 • BOARDS • AST SIX PACK PLUS, 64K .... 223' AST MEGAPLUS, 64K 205 AST MP-2, 64K 228 AST ADVANTAGE, 128K 384 AST I/O PLUS 122 JRAM-2 156 QUADRAM QUADBOARD 0K 186 QUADSPRINT 423 TECMAR CAPTAIN, 0K 162 TECMAR FIRST MATE, 0K .... 200 TECMAR WAVE XT, 64K : 187 TECMAR JR CAPTAIN, 128K 295 • MODEMS • HAYES 2400 627 HAYES 300 138 HAYES 300/1200 407 HAYES 1200B w/SOFTWARE 346 HAYES 1200B 351 VEN-TEL HALF CARD 374 VEN-TEL 300/1200 INTERNAL '. 341 • Low Low Prices • No Surcharge for MasterCard and VISA 1-800-237-4048 EASTERN REGIONAL ORDERS AST REACH HALF CARD 1200 363 • PRINTERS • OKIDATA 83A, WIDE CARRIAGE 545 OKIDATA 84P, WIDE CARRIAGE 660 OKIDATA 92P 392 OKIDATA 93P, WIDE CARRIAGE 597 OKIDATA 2410P 1782 OKIDATA 182 215 OKIDATA 192 376 OKIDATA 182S 259 OKIDATA 184 660 EPSON FX-80 TRACTOR 371 EPSON LX-80 255 EPSON FX- 185, WIDE CARRIAGE 515 EPSON FX-100, WIDE CARRIAGE 531 EPSON JX-80 COLOR PRINTER 531 EPSON LQ-1500 PARALLEL 1002 NEC 2050 694 NEC 3550 1058 NEC 8850 1478 JUKI 6300 698 JUKI 6200 503 • ACCESSORIES • NEC BI-DIRECTIONAL TRACTOR 151 NEC CUT SHEET GUIDE 63 JUKI 6100 BI-DIRECTION TRACTOR 105 JUKI 6300 BI-DIRECTION TRACTOR 122 MEMORY, 65K CHIPS 8 MEMORY, 256K CHIPS 39 PRINTER CABLE 10 MICROFAZER BUFFER, 8K ... 131 BERNOULLI, 2 DRIVE 2615 BERNOULLI, 1 DRIVE 1790 Save 3»i; sisvii oooi BHHi VISA* ■BHB =R iVMRr 1901 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, VENICE, FL 33595 2820 W. CHARLESTON, LAS VEGAS, NV 89102 Call for non-advertised and lower current prices. IBM is a registered Trademark of International Business Machines. Prices subject to change. We accepi all major credit cards, money orders, and personal checks. 2% surcharge for shipping, handling and COD shipments, and purchase orders $100 minimum. Returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee. All sales final. IN FLORIDA CALL 813-493-2736 IN NEVADA CALL 702-877-3988 Inquiry 78 JANUARY I986 'BYTE 163 MACHINE VISION based on vacuum-tube technology, and the other is based on semicon- ductor technology. While tube cameras have been around for a long time, solid-state cameras date back only to the early 1970s. VlDICONS Since vacuum tubes have been around the longest we will consider vacuum-tube cameras first. Various types of photoemissive devices are used for imaging in specialized appli- cations that require low light or in- frared vision. For normal video appli- cations, the most popular and cost- effective of the tube sensors is the vidicon tube (see figure 3), a photo- conductive device. It employs a photoconductive layer that develops an electric charge in response to impinging photons. An electron beam scans the photo layer in a raster for- mat, reducing the charge along a line of the picture. This discharge pro- duces a continuous analog signal pro- portional to the light intensity of the focused image. The camera elec- tronics insert sync pulses to indicate scan lines, fields, and frame ends. Vidicons can image a wide spectral band from the ultraviolet, through the visible, to the near-infrared. As you can see in figure 4, the vidicon tube LIGHT SIGNAL PLATE (TRANSPARENT) PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL SCANNING ELECTRON BEAM ELECTRON GUN CATHODE 1\- OUTPUT SIGNAL RL (RESISTANCE LADDER) POSITIVE VOLTAGE POTENTIAL Figure 3: A diagram of a vidicon tube sensor. 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 WAVELENGTH (NANOMETERS) UV I VIOLET | BLUE! GREEN M I RED I INFRARED Figure 4: The spectral response of the human eye (blue), vidicon (red), and CCD image sensors (black). has a spectral response similar to, but broader than, the human eye. The drawbacks to vidicon tubes are analogous to the drawbacks to tubes generally. They require more power, are less rugged, weigh more, and are larger than solid-state devices. In ad- dition, they have one drawback that is unique to camera technology: They exhibit significant image lag. What this means is that the electric charge that was induced in the photo layer for one frame tends to persist over subsequent frames. Thus, a quickly moving bright object will appear to leave a tail in its wake, rather like a comet. A newer kind of tube sensor, called the newvicon tube, has lower image lag than the vidicon. However, the newvicon has a spectral response biased toward th e far-red region. Solid-State Cameras Most solid-state cameras are based on charge-coupled device (CCD) tech- nology, which is now closing in on the performance of existing camera tubes. Silicon, with energy sensitivity in the range of 400 to 1100 nano- meters (see figure 4), is a good choice for detection in the visible spectrum. However, one of the problems of solid-state image sensors is that they have a peak sensitivity in the near- infrared, although most have a bimodal spectral response with a sec- ond peak in the green. Because of broad near-infrared sensitivity be- tween 800 and 1 100 nm, you should use an infrared cut filter with solid- state cameras, particularly if they will be used under incandescent lighting. Ambient infrared light has a "wash- out" effect on response in the visible spectrum. In fact, most solid-state camera manufacturers specify sen- sitivity, only with an infrared filter. Solid-state sensors can be either metal-oxide semiconductor or photo- diode. The basic structure of the CCD is that of an analog shift register con- sisting of a series of closely spaced capacitors. Charge integration by the capacitors provides the analog repre- sentation of light intensity. CCD sensors most commonly use [continued) 164 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 MICRO CAP and MICRO LOGIC put your engineers on line... not in line ? ^ ^Ml t & ^5 C*^ &&£&-• (~x- MdLij-r MyoW/vJ IVO^KST/^TIO/^ <* c u^r How many long unproductive hours have you spent "in line" for your simula- tion? 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 pro- viding 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 Analysts" works. In addition, you get even more advanced device models, worst case capa- bilities, 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 wave- forms, and up to 50 macros in each net- work. 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 effi- cient design system that does what it is supposed to do at a reasonable price" (Byte 4/84). MICROCAP and MICROLOGIC arc available for the Apple II (64k), IBM PC (128k), and HP- 150 computers and priced at S475 and S450 respectively. Demo versions are available for S75. MICROCAP II is available for the Macintosh, IBM PC (256k), and HP-150 systems and is priced at S895. Demo versions are available for SI00. 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, Dept. B Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (408) 738-4387 Inquiry 335 MACHINE VISION one of three addressing strategies: in- terline transfer, frame transfer, or column-row transfer. Interline Transfer The interline transfer CCD is orga- nized into column pairs of devices. An imaging column of photosensors is adjacent to an opaque vertical shift register (see figure 5). Charge ac- cumulates in the imaging column until the end of the integration period, when it is transferred to the opaque column. The signal then shifts vertical- -VERT1CAL SHIELDED CCD SHIFT REGISTERS ■ PHOTOSENSITIVE CELLS I 1 1 1 1 i: i _^ 1. T T H>~ HORIZONTAL CCD SHIFT REGISTER Figure 5: A diagram of an interline transfer CCD. -VERTICAL CCD SHIFT REGISTERS > IMAGE SECTION ) STORAGE SECTION hs^ . SIGNAL l,? ■* OUTPUT HORIZONTAL CCD SHIFT REGISTER Figure 6: A diagram of a frame transfer CCD. ly into a horizontal shift register that represents the picture sequentially, line by line. Since the photosensor area is interspersed with image-insen- sitive shift registers, there is a grate pattern that can create undesirable in- terference called aliasing and moire effects (see the glossary on page 168). The advantage of the interline trans- fer is that the transfer time (to opaque storage) is short compared to the in- tegration period. This is desirable because when transfer time ap- proaches the integration time, solid- state sensors tend to exhibit a locally contained spreading of image re- sponse. Such spreading is called, ap- propriately enough, smear. Interline transfer minimizes smear. Frame Transfer In the frame transfer organization (see figure 6), the sensor consists of ver- tical columns of CCD shift registers divided into two zones. One zone, where charge accumulates during in- tegration time, is photosensitive. When integration is complete, the whole array is transferred in parallel to the opaque storage area of the sec- ond zone. Since the whole image zone is photosensitive, the frame transfer organization minimizes prob- lems with moire effects. Another ad- vantage of the frame transfer CCD is that it can transmit one image while acquiring another. This gives you the flexibility to vary the integration period without changing the readout time. Column-Row Transfer A third type of solid-state sensor employs x-y, or column-row, address- ing (figure 7) to transfer charge from the photosite to the output signal amplifier. The sensor elements are ad- dressed by selecting individual col- umn and row electrodes. Charge col- lected under the column electrode is transferred to the row electrode and amplified for output. Blooming One general difficulty with solid-state sensors is that they tend to exhibit "blooming," which is the cascading of 166 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 262 MACHINE VISION COLUMN SELECT LOGIC INJECTION v /t\/4\ CONTROL ? K7X.T SIGNALS y- o ROW MUX mm COLUMN -< REF. POTENTIAL COLUMN MUX <> • —® a—en o-nm PC Hardware Flexibility Lowcostfor instrument control — 300K bytes per second — $395 complete with software High performance data links — Maximum speed of GPIB — On-board buffering Software • Over $1 ,000,000 In software development • Easytouse.yethandlesany GPIB application • Works with Lotus 1-2-3 • UNIX, DOS and over 12 languages Applications Support ► Applications Library with sample programs & Tl PS for all major instruments ► Full staff of Applications Engineers dedicated to sup- port your specific needs Other IEEE-488 Products • I nterf aces & Software for — Multibus VMEbus - DECQ-bus&UNIBUS - STD&S-100bus • General GPIB Products — GPIB Bus Testers - GPIB Bus Extenders — Stand-Alone Controllers f7 NATIONAL "INSTRUMENTS 121 09 Technology Boulevard Austin. TX 78727 1(800)531-GPIB in Texas (800) IEEE-488 Telex: 756737 NAT INST AUS f JANUARY I986 • BYTE 167 MACHINE VISION A similar measure of resolution is the contrast transfer function (CTF). For this measure, we use a simple black-and-white "square wave" pattern rather than the sine wave modulated pattern. Resolution is specified as a percentage of response for a given number of TV lines. For example, 20 percent response at 800 lines would be considered high resolution by to- day's standards. In solid-state cameras, resolution is limited by the number of photosites on the sensor, by the array geometry and by how much opaque material separates the photosites. Charge leakage adversely affects resolution, as does transfer inefficiency in the case of CCD cameras. Ttibe camera resolution is a function of the electron-beam diameter relative to the area of the photocon- ductive layer. 'IUbe camera resolution is generally higher than that of solid- state cameras and easily outstrips the limitations imposed by the RS-170 {continued) A Video Glossary Aliasing: The kind of misrepresenta- tion that results from pixel density be- ing too low to represent the spatial fre- quencies in an image. Blooming: A phenomenon whereby streaks fan out in the image around an area of intense illumination. Blooming occurs when excess charge in the sen- sor cell overflows into neighboring CCD registers. This can be suppressed by introducing overflow drains under or adjacent to the photosensitive area. Candela: Intensity of a point source that generates one lumen per steradian (unit solid angle). Also called candle power. Abbreviated cd. CCD: Charge-coupled device. A monolithic silicon structure in which discrete packets of charge are trans- ported from position to position by se- quential clocking of an array of gates. CC1R: Consultative Committee. Interna- tional Radio. International standard for composite monochrome video signals. Chrominance: Indicates the hue and saturation of a color or the color infor- mation without the brightness. C1D: Charge injection device. CPD: Charge priming device. CTF: Contrast transfer function. Similar to MTF but uses a black-and-white test pattern. Definition: Number of sensor cells per line/column. Dynamic range: Ratio of the output voltage at saturation and RMS noise in darkness. Exposure: Result of illumination over a given integration time. Gamma (7): A numerical value repre- senting the exponent in a function that relates illumination to response. A gamma of 1 yields a linear response. A gamma of more than 1 results in a greater slope for bright illumination, and a gamma of less than 1 results in a greater slope for low illumination. Integration time: Time allowed for light impingement on a given sensor cell. Lag: Persistence of image charge over subsequent frames. Lumen: The amount of luminous flux on a 1 -square-foot area of a 1-foot radius sphere cast by a 1-cd light source at the center. Luminance: Indicates the light inten- sity without the color. Luminous flux: Luminous power per unit area. Marking: Regional degradation of an electron tube from excessive exposure. Moire effect: Interference between the spatial frequency of the sensor structure and spatial frequencies in the image. MTF: Modulation transfer function. The signal output of the sensor in response to a standard test pattern consisting of sinusoidal variations in gray-level density over a range of frequencies. NTSC: National Television Systems Committee. A standard observed by the U.S.A.. Canada. Japan, and most countries in the Western Hemisphere. Nyquist limit: Upper limit of spatial resolution based on the spatial fre- quency of the placement of sensor elements. PAL: Phase Alternation Line. A system in which the subcarrier phase is in- verted from one raster line to the next. A standard observed by most Euro- pean countries. Pixel: Picture element or sensor ele- ment or photosite. Pixel blemish: A pixel is blemished if it has a response not within an accept- able percentage of the average. Resolution: Number of image lines per frame height with a contrast above or equal to 50 percent. Response: Amplitude of output voltage per unit of light exposure. Response nonuniformity: Difference in response between the most and least sensitive regions of the sensor under uniform illumination, expressed as a percentage of the average. Saturation: Maximum amount of charge stored by a given sensor cell. Saturation voltage: Maximum output voltage for sensor saturation. SECAM: Systeme Electronique Couleur Avec Memoire. A standard observed by France and most Eastern bloc countries. Sensitivity: Minimum illumination re- quired to generate a usable signal. Spectral range: Portion of the light spectrum over which the sensor has a response above 10 percent of the peak-to-peak voltage. 168 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Using an S100 Bus? More Power to You, from Lomas. For most S 100 Bus users; the most sensible upgrade to IBM-PC compatibility is an IBM-PC or equivalent machine. But for a select few of you— Systems Integrators and OEMs— that simply isn't enough. THAT'S WHEN LOMAS DATA PRODUCTS DELIVERS MORE! Our IBM-PC compatible systems give you twice the power of an IBM-PC-AT. That's particularly important for scientific and CAD applications. As faster 8086 family microprocessors become avail- able, your LDP system is easily upgradeable to save your current hardware and software invest- ment. And all our systems are based on the IEEE 696 (S100) Bus, which allows you to choose from over 150 manufacturers for add-on and special function boards. Because our boards are Bus ori- ented, Systems Integrators can provide IBM com- patibility in applications which require rack ' mounting or card cage packaging. The LDP IBM-PC compatible boards will give your Bus three to five times the performance of an IBM-PC. Complete with PC-DOS compatibility and multi-tasking. And LDP offers them all. From CPU and I/O boards to graphics boards and disk con- trollers. Boards as reliable as they are cost- effective. LDP also excels in customer support. As terns Integrator or OEM, you can talk directly to our factory support personnel who work with our products every day— the people who have the answers. Remember— when you need S100 Bus IBM-PC compatible systems and board sets, you need LDP We have no competition. For more information about all our S 100 Bus products, call or write for a brochure. Lomas Data Products 182 Cedar Hill Street, Marlboro, MA 01752, 617/W60-0333 TELEX 4996272 a_j f_r i .! i i . i. ! L Ll I ! ! ! ! O rui, } \ i l J Ql J A !.... 1 ...... I ...I i I i i s r _-r rrr-...- I ! ! I" ! I % \ \ \ \ ! I 1 ! 1^1 \ \ MACHINE VISION T^ble 1 : Commercially ava Vendor liable cameras and their features. Camera Sensor Resolution MTF Minimum Illumination Signal/ Noise Pixel Size Gamma Circon 749 Ward Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (805) 967-0404 MV.9015-H MOS array 648 (H) x 485 (V) 480 lines (H), 330 lines (V) 20 lux with f1.6 lens 42 dB - 1.0 or 0.45 selectable Cohu Inc. Electronics Division 5755 Kearny Villa Rd. POB 85623 San Diego, CA 92138-5623 (619) 277-6700 Model 4600 Interline transfer CCD 384 (H) x 490 (V) 285 lines (H), 480 lines (V) 50 dB . * 0.45 or 1.0 selectable Cohu Inc. Electronics Division 5755 Kearny Villa Rd. POB 85623 San Diego, CA 92138-5623 (619) 277-6700 Model 5402 Vidicon E5405 (Chalnicon E5415 option) Center 900 lines (H), corner 600 (H) 1 lux 54 dB NA 0.5 to 1.0 adjustable EG&G Reticon 345 Potrero Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086-9930 (408) 738-4266 MC9256 MOS photodiode array 256 x 256 60 dB - Fairchild CCD Imaging 3440 Hillview Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94304 (415) 493-8001 CCD3000 Interline transfer CCD 380 (H) x 488 (V) 285 lines (H), 488 lines (V) 50% (CTF) at 488 lines (V) 20 lux with f1.4 lens 50 dB 1.0 Fairchild CCD Imaging CCD 3440 Hillview Ave Palo Alto, CA 94304 (415) 493-8001 CCD 4001 Interline transfer CCD 256 (H) x 256 (V) ■ General Electric 890 7th North St. Liverpool, NY 13088 (315) 456-2832 TN 2509 CID 260 (H) x 253 (V) 80% at limiting resolution 50 dB at saturation 28 x 28 1.0 Hitachi Denshi America Ltd. 175 Crossways Park West Woodbury, NY 11797 (516) 921-7200 KP-120 MOS array 320 (H) x 244 (V) 240 lines (H), 190 lines (V) 5 lux with f 1.4 lens 49 dB Imagerie, Industrie, Systeme (I2S) 239 rue du Jardin-Public 33300 Bordeaux, France (56) 29-10-03 IS 400 Frame transfer CCD 384 (H) x 576 (V) 3 lux 68 dB 23 x23 1.0 170 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 MACHINE VISION Response Uniformity Geometric Distortion Output Signal Weight Power Consumption RS-170 170 g (camera head) 10 W RS-170 511 g 5.5 W 0.5% RS-170, CCIR 450 g (camera head) 24 W ± 10% at saturation Clock rate 525 kHz to 8 MHz at ±1V or RS-170 with MB9000data formatter 340 g 5W RS-170 1 kg RS-170 1 kg RS-170 383 g 2.5 W RS-170 400 g 5W ±5% RS-170, rrio CCIR 6-bit digital standard in the vertical axis. One point that complicates evaluat- ing resolution is that the host com- puter may digitize the output signal at a rate inconsistent with camera resolution. Noteworthy Cameras "feble I lists a selection of commer- cially available cameras. As anyone who has worked from manufacturers' specification sheets knows, however, the information provided by one manufacturer is not always readily comparable to the information pro- vided by another manufacturer. Therefore, to help you evaluate the different cameras, I want to mention some aspects of particular cameras that we at Analog Devices have found particularly desirable for machine vision. The GE cameras use a proprietary charge injection device (CID) sensor that contains an array of column-row addressed MOS sensor cells. The camera can be applied effectively with strobe lighting to capture tran- sient events like moving objects. You can inhibit normal destructive readout of the camera's sensor until the event occurs, when light from the strobe generates the signal charge. Releasing the inhibit signal allows you to read out the signal. Another application of the inhibit feature is to extend the in- tegration period of the sensor longer than the normal 50 or 60 Hz standard frame time. Extended integration allows you to accumulate more charge where scene lighting is low. With a format of 260 horizontal by 2 53 vertical pixels, the TN2 509 camera has a symmetric aspect ratio and linear response. For high resolution in a solid-state camera, VSP labs has the SC500 with 604 horizontal by 576 vertical photo elements. The sensor is a CCD array with high sensitivity in the blue region and a 1:1 aspect ratio. ITM Corporation's Model 5000 Datavision has excellent response linearity and a typical spatial uniform- ity (response nonuniformity) of about 4 percent. The Model 5000 features {continued) JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 171 MACHINE VISION Vendor Camera Sensor Resolution MTF Minimum Illumination Signal/ Noise Pixel Size Gamma Image Technology Methods Corp. 103 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02154 (617) 894-1720 Model 5000 Datavision CCD 384 (H) x 491 (V) 280 lines (H), 350 lines (V) 3 lux with f1.4 lens, without IR filter 45 dB 23 (H) x 13.4 (V) /zm 1.0 Javelin Electronics 19831 Magellan Dr. Torrance, CA 90502 (213) 327-7440 JE-2062 MOS array 384 (H) x 485 (V) 500 lines (H) 30 lux with f1.4 lens 43 dB 0.45 Panasonic Industrial Co. One Panasonic Way Secaucus, NJ 07094 (201) 348-7000 WV-CD10 CPD 404 (H) x 256 (V) 280 lines (H), 190 lines (V) 10 lux with f1.4 lens, IR filter 46 dB Physitec Corp. 206 Main St. Norfolk, MA 02056 (617) 528-4100 43-0031 Frame transfer CCD 604 (H) x 575 (V) 0.1 lux 10 (H) x 15.6 (V) /zm PULNiX America Inc. 453-F Ravendale Dr. Mountain View, CA 94043 (415) 964-0955 TM-34K Interline transfer CCD 384 (H)x491(V) 280 lines (H), 350 lines (V) 3 lux with fl.4 lens 45 dB 23 (H) x 13.4 (V) iim RCA Closed Circuit Video Equipment New Holland Ave Lancaster, PA 17604 (717) 397-7661 TC2900 CCD 403 (H) x 512 (V) 50% at 200 lines (H) 0.025 lux 52 dB 0.5 to 1.0 adjustable Sanyo Industrial Video Division 1200 W. Artesia Blvd. Compton, CA 90220 (213) 537-5830 VDC3800 Frame transfer CCD 572 (H) x 485 (V) 420 lines (H), 400 lines (V) 2 lux with f1.4 lens 46 dB Sierra Scientific Corp. 2189 Leghorn St. Mountain View, CA 94043 (415) 969-9315 DAV-26 Plumbicon (other tubes available) 1000 lines (H), 700 lines (V) 20% at 1000 lines (H) 3 lux 36 dB typical NA Sony Component Products Division 15 Essex Rd. Paramus, NJ 07652 (201) 368-5001 XC-38 Interline transfer CCD 384 (H) x 491 (V) 3 lux with f1.4 lens, without IR filter 46 dB 23 (H) x 28 (V) iim Video Logic Corp. 597 North Mathilda Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 245-8622 CDR-460 Interline transfer CCD 384 (H) x 491 (V) 250 lines (H), 350 lines (V) 3 lux 46 dB 23 (H) x 13.4 (V) /zm VSP Labs Inc. 670 Airport Blvd. Ann Arbor, Ml 48104 (313) 769-5522 SC500 Frame transfer CCD 604 (H) x 576 (V) 400 lines (H), 400 lines (V) 70% at 400 lines 20 lux with f1.4 lens 30 dB 10 x 15.6 tim 1.0 or 0.6 option 172 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 MACHINE VISION Response Uniformity Geometric Distortion Output Signal Weight Power Consumption - 4% typical RS-170, 8-bit digital 1.36 kg RS-170, CCIR 300 g 2 W RS-170 : 600 g 6.8 W CCIR RS-170 122 g RS-170 900 g 7,2 W RS-170 5 W 10% peak- 1,0% RS-170 5.9 kg 100 W to-peak RS-170 115 g 2.3 W RS-170 545 g RS-170 1 kg standard RS-170 output with an op- tional 8-bit digital output at 7 MHz. Another notable camera for robot vision is the 12S 1S400. The sensor is a 384 horizontal by 574 vertical frame transfer CCD array with symmetric photo elements. Output options in- clude RS-l 70, CCIR, or 6-bit digitized data at TTL levels. The outstanding feature of the IS400 is the Monoshot, or image-gating, mode. Monoshot allows the host to trigger the start of charge integration and control the time period of charge integration. With integration periods possible from 3 to 100 milliseconds, you can use the camera to capture moving ob- jects under good lighting conditions or to image static scenes under poor illumination. Expectations We are reaching the performance limitations of RS-170 and CCIR stan- dards as sensor resolution improves. With the price of flash converters coming down, it would make sense to design cameras for machine vision with the converter in the camera— as close to the sensor as possible— to minimize signal noise and degrada- tion. A multidrop bus with camera select and handshake would enable the host computer to select one of several cameras on the bus and send commands. Data would be received as a serial byte stream. Useful com- mands might include window coor- dinates where only a subregion of the scene is of interest, programmable gain, subsarnpling rate, or variable in- tegration time. Feature and distance gauging re- quires that pixel cells be symmetrical in both horizontal and vertical axes, and most sensor manufacturers rec- ognize this. Sensitivity, dynamic range, and uniformity are improving as weight, power consumption, and package size decrease. In the future, we hope to have the ability to perform pixel processing at the sensor level. Operations like edge enhancement or even object detec- tion couid be performed before the data is passed to the host, thus lower- ing traffic on the bus. ■ JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 173 Our professionals If you seriously shop around for the best priced computer hardware, software, and services, you've probably talked product and price with a PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS' professional. If you haven't, you've been depriving yourself and your company of a beautiful professional relationship. Here's why. WE MEAN BUSINESS. By focusing on details, PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS provides business buyer's with the criteria needed to make informed purchasing decisions. Our professionals give you expert advice on current computer and peripheral applications. Quote you prices that make good business sense. Inform you about specials on overstocked items. Make sure that each system is burned- in and fully tested overnight before being shipped. And follow your order from the moment it's processed until it reaches its final destination. Furthermore, if a problem does occur, you won't be left dangling. Direct access to our customer service and technical support centers is available daily. Whether you need a product repaired or replaced, factory authorized technicians and customer service specialists are standing by to quickly resolve any problems you might experience. HOW TO KEEP UP WITH PROGRESSIVE. It's easy. With the Microgram, our monthly customer newsservice, you'll gain insights on new products and receive money saving incentives. And we'll keep you posted on specials and current prices with our monthly price lists. Lists are shipped automatically with all system orders and are available on disk. In addition, FREE UPS shipping is guaranteed on all prepaid orders with confirmation of current pricing. To receive your current price list immediately, just call PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS today, TOLL FREE 1-800-446-7995. And remember . . . for professional service every time, call the professionals at PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISTRIBUTORS. POLICIES 1. We accept VISA, MC, AMEX; No surcharge for VISA or MC. 2. COD requires cash or certified check; Company check when approved. 3. Allow 1 week for personal and company checks to clear. 4. Wiring information available upon request. 5. Corporate, Government and Institutional volume purchase agreements available. 6. Call for exact shipping charges; air shipments take priority. 7. If we must split shipment, you incur no additional shipping charges. 8. All orders shipped insured — No additional charge. 9. All products fully waranteed; Some up to 5 years. 10. All items subject to availability; Prices subject to change without notice. FOR ORDERS 1-800-446-7995 CUSTOMER SERVICE ORDERING INFORMATION 1-404-446-7995 TECH ASSISTANCE 1 -404-446-7996 1 -404-446-799 7 HRS: 9AM-9PM EST. SAT. 12N-5PM EST. ©1985 AT*T Information Systems. IBM is a registered trademark of the International Business Machines Corp. 174 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 make us Progressive. PC SYSTEMS AT&T PC 6300 640K, 2 drives, monochrome monitor/adapter, DOS/BASIC $1998 640K, 2 drives, color monitor/adapter, DOS/BASIC 88498 640K, 1 drive, 10MB hard disk, DOS/BASIC 82898 AT&T PC 6300 PLUS 25% faster than IBM's AT CALL FOB BEST PBICK. IBM PC 256K, 2 drives, monochrome/printer adapter GPmonitor 82198 256K, 2 drives, color/graphics adapter 6? monitor 82498 256K, 2 drives, 10MB internal hard disk 82398 IBM PC XT 256K, 2 drives, monochrome/printer adapter & monitor 82298 256K, 2 drives, color/graphics adapter £? monitor 82898 256K, 2 drives, 10MB internal hard disk . 82898 256K, 2 drives, 20MB internal hard disk 82898 IBM PC COMPATIBLE 256K, 2 drives, 8 slots, 135w power supply 8998 256K, 1 drive, 10MB, 8 slots, 135w power supply 81898 These systems are brand new, shippedfully tested and burned in, fully warranteed for ninety days AND ARE ALWAYS IN STOCK! All system orders include our PC Utilities Package at no extra charge! PRINTERS EPSON FX-85 ( 160 cps narrow carriage NLQ dot matrix) 8389 FX-185 ( 160 cps wide carriage NLQ dot matrix). . . 8809 LX-80 ( 100 cps narrow carriage NLQ dot matrix) 8249 JX-80 ( 160 cps narrow carriage color dot matrix) 8828 LQ-1500 (LQ dot matrix w/parallel interface) 8998 DX-10, 20, 35 (new EPSON daisywheels) . . OH SPECIAL! OKIIIATA ML 192 ( 160 cps narrow carriage dot matrix) .... 8399 ML 193 ( 160 cps wide carriage dot matrix) 8839 PACEMARK 2410 (350 cps wide carriage dotmatrix) 81998 CANON LBP-8A1 (8 ppm, better than HP) 82198 PW-1080A ( 160 cps dot matrix) 8329 PJ-1080A (32 cps color printer) 8849 TOSHIBA P-351 (192 cps wide carriage LQ dot matrix) 81098 P- 1340 ( 120 cps narrow carriage LQ dot matrix) . . 8898 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Tl-855 (150 cps narrow carriage LQ dot matrix) GALL BROTHER HR-15+ (17 cps narrow carriage letter quality) . . 8398 HR-25 (23 cps wide carriage letter quality) 8880 HR-35 (32 cps wide carriage letter quality) 8798 M- 1509 ( 180 cps, wide carriage NLQ, S£PP Dot Matrix) CALL C. ITOH Starwriter (40 cps letter quality) 8898 Printmaster (55 cps letter quality) 81198 NEC Pinwriter P-2 6? P-3 CALL Spinwriter 2050, 3550, 8850 CALL Ask about our full line of tractors and cut sheet feeders! PLOTTERS We carry all HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS and HEWLETT- PACKARD plotters FLOPPY DISK DRIVES HALF-HEIGHT 360K (PC/XT/AT compatible) 8119 HALF-HEIGHT 1.2MB (PC/XT/AT compatible) ..... 8139 MISC. HARDWARE POIAROID Palette (Makes color slides from your PC's screen) 81398 ORCHID PC Turbo ( adds 8MHz processor, multitasking to PC) from 8649 KEYTRONIC KB 5 1 5 1 6? 5 1 53 keyboards. . CALL MOUSE SYSTEMS Optical PC MOUSE w/PAINT 8188 MICROSOFT Serial or Bus mouse w/Mouse Menu) . 8188 GIS Power Back-ups (SPS* and UPS') CALL QUADRAM Microfazer Printer Buffer from $138 CURTIS System accessories CALL HARD DISK DRIVES Internal AT 105MB * 899B PC/XT 10MB . . . from 8429 AT 140MB $339B AT 20MB 8698 AT 190MB 8439B pc/xt 20MB 8848 External AT 30MB 8898 PC/XT 10MB 8698 PC/XT 30MB. ........ 8998 PC/XT 20MB 8948 AT 85MB 81998 380MB 86998 We proudly offer what we think are the best price/performance hard disk and streaming tape sub-systems available. We will gladly test and format any hard disk we sell at a nominal charge. Our line includes: ALLOY, BERNOULLI TECHNOLOGY, CIPHER DATA, DMA, EMERALD SYSTEMS, EPSON, GENOA, IRWIN, MAXTOR, PEACHTREE TECHNOLOGIES, PRIAM, QUADRAM, RODIME, SYSGEN, TALLGRASS, TULIN and WANGTEK MULTIFUNCTION BOARDS We carry the finest quality multifunction boards at prices too low to mention. We are factory authorized centers for the top names in the industry. Our volume buying allows us to set the most competitive prices anywhere. Call us for the lowest prices a full service distributor can give you. MODEMS CHIPS 64K (nine chips) 810 128K (AT RAM) 838 8087 (coprocessor). . 8129 256K (Jr & AT boards) 838 80287 (coprocessor) 8199 CALL FOR QUANTITY DISCOUNTS GRAPHICS CARDS We carry a variety of display adapters. So, call us if you don't see the one you want or need help choosing. GENOA Spectrum ( High res color £? Mono ) 8299 ATfrT Enhanced Display Adapter (runs 640x400 w/ a palette of 16,000 colors on AT&T's Hi Res color monitor . . . CALL HERCULES Graphics Card (Lotus compatible monochrome graphics ) 8329 Color Graphics Card (Short-slot color card w/par) 8179 PARADISE Modular Graphics Card £P Multi-Display Card from 8299 TECMAR Graphics Master (640x400 16 colors and nomographics ) 8489 PERSYST BoB Board (clear text on a color monitor) 8489 TSENG LABS UltraPAK ( 132 col. mono graphics, ser, par, C/C). , . 8439 MONITORS AMDEK 300G & 300A (Green or Amber, composite video monitors) 8129/8139 310A (Amber TTL input, non-glare tube) 8169 COLOR 600 ( 13" 640x240 RGB w/text button, audio ) 8426 COLOR 700 (13" 720x480 RGB w/.31mm dot) 8478 COLOR 710 ( 13" 720x480 RGB, non-glare,/flicker) 8878 PRINCETON GRAPHICS PGS MAX- 12 (Amber TTL input, non-glare tube) . . 8189 PGS HX-12 (690x480 RGB w/.31mm dot) 8449 PGS SR-12 (690x480 non-interlaced RGB w/ .31 dot) 8898 QUADRAM Amberchrome (Amber TTL monochrome) 8149 Quadchrome (690x480, .31mm dot pitch) 8489 Quadchrome II (same as IBM Color Monitor) 8389 TAXAN New 600 Series high res color monitor CALL We carry WYSE and KIMTRON terminals, call for prices. PROTOCOL CONVERSION We carry all AST and DCA products, call for prices. HAYES Hayes 1200 (external 300/1200, auto answer/dial) . . 8419 Hayes 1200B (internal 300/1200, w/Smartcom II) . . 8379 Hayes 2400 (New external 2400 baud modem) 8678 DCA New Fastlink 10KB modem from 81898 ANCHOR AUTOMATION Signalman Mark XII ( 1200 baud at 300 baud price) 8289 We also carry modems by AST RESEARCH, BIZCOMP, PENRIL, QUADRAM, RIXON, VENTEL — please call for current pricing. NETWORKING We carry aJl the best names including 3COM, AST RESEARCH, FOX, IBM, and ORCHID TECHNOLOGIES. Call our Networking Applications experts to design a cost- effective device-sharing networked layout for your office! Regional ON-SITE installation and training available. C.A.D. We sell and support the finest computer aided drafting/ design packages available. Regional ON-SITE installation and training available. DISKETTES VERBATIM Single sided/Single density: ... 10/824 100/8199 Double sided/Double density: . . . . . . 10/829 100/8249 DYSAN Double sided/Double density: . . . . . . 10/829 100/8249 10/889 100/8849 MAXELL 10/889 100/8849 PMD Double sided/Double density .... .... 10/818 100/8129 SOFTWARE Inquiry 292 LOTUSSymphony 8449 MICROSOFT Excel CALL ASHTON-TATE Framework II 8399 ENABLE by Software Group CALL PFS Write, File, Graph, Report from 879 SSI WordPerfect 4.1 8239 MULTIMATE, Multimate ADVANTAGE, JUST Write. . CALL MICROSOFT Word 4.0 ... , 8239 LIFETREE Volkswriter Deluxe w/Textmerge 8169 LOTUS 1-2-3 8309 ASHTON-TATE dBase III 8399 MICRORIM R-BASE 5000 8389 MICROSTUF Crosstalk XVI 8109 PERSOFr SmarTerm 100, 125, 400 CALL RELAY CALL DOW JONES All products CALL SORCIM/IUS Complete accounting modules . . , . from 8289 BPI ACCOUNTING Complete accounting modules . . . CALL OPEN SYSTEMS Accounting CALL SYSTEMS PLUS Books! accounting system CALL MECA/TOBIAS Managing Your Money 8129 MONOGRAM Dollars and Sense 8119 DECISION RESOURCES Signjnaster/Chartmaster8l79/8249 ZSOFT PC Paint Brush 898 HARVARD Harvard Project Manager CALL MICROSOFITroject CALL CLIPPER dBase compiler by Nantucket CALL BORLAND Turbo Pascal & Toolbox ea. 839 MICROSOFT All products CALL DIGITAL RESEARCH All products CALL BORLAND All products from 839 SOFrSTYLE Printworks printer utilities 838 NORTONUtilities $89 QUAID Copywrite, Disk Explorer & Zero Disk CALL CENTRAL POINT Copy II PC 838 FASTBACKby 5th Generation 8118 ATITraining 888 PROGRESSIVE MICRO ^DISTRIBUTORS 3039 A m wiler Road, A 1 1 'ant a, Georgia 30360 YOU FORCED US TO MOVE! ...and We Love You ^ &* s/fff For it! ^0**§r& yr ' Because of the tremendous response you've given to our FREE OVERNIGHT DELIVERY and s 10 OFF policies, our growth has been phenominal! Even we did not project how rapidly we would expand. Quite honestly there were times when it seemed like the whole country was trying to place an order...at the same time! We realize that some of you have had problems getting through (our phones simply could not handle the volume) and, yes, some have even gotten their shipments late (our shipping department has been on a 12 hour schedule)...to those of you, WE APOLOGIZE for the inconvenience and would like to say THANK YOU for your patience. A one million dollar investment has allowed us to solve these problems... we've just moved into our new World Head- quarters, beefed up our sales department, added a spanking new phone system and built a fully automated warehouse. Oh, sorry, we almost forgot "Harold" (who's extremely fast, but very sensitive) our new 100 terminal computer system. He's designed to speed up order processing to get your shipments out the door ...fast. Sorry Harold. EUROPE Announcing Loglcsott Europe. Our European friends may ; —« We our Amsterdam Distnbu ion Ce nte, , { af latest factory fresh versions or can recel ^ e E^eUr?o S ^ n m y p"ci'n g rd & er p C o1^cies. Te,ex: 10759 Logic NL 8 mai , orders to: LOGICSOFT EUROPE BV P A b M 9 S 4 T 6 E°B 1 a A a A HOLLAND CANADA For our Canadian .customers ^^M^ policies. CONFUSED OVER ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS? We don't blame you, that's why we invite you to give us a call. We've evaluated over 50 of them and just because you can save a lot of money buying mail order shouldn't mean you have to sacrifice ser- ..We want to take the time to assist you vice.. before you buy. We realize that an accounting system can add up to a sizeable investment and helping you end up with the right package for your money is what doing business is all about. WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE BY sio .See Our Card for Details FREE .Overnight Deliver See Our Card for Details • bSSR™ ww a«5S beating a price but werl AFRAID TO ASK„ WEW 0r "Reamed to Save Money without Really Trying whoL" n e ThiLd er a L% e f S,il1 a few of you ng our $10.00 of f and PRl , F P n erhaf ? s . think - icies were a "gimrS" or a vf n,flht P '" pressure you into i?!^* ™" " t0 rassed; he's noli ♦£I' ce (don f be e ™ b ar- the publica?ion i'nd wh n n me and da,e of beat No S|S nn ?J° U want us to easy. g,rnmick . no come-on, it's that ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS Information Unlimited (IUS) Open Systems Great Plains Peachtree Series 8 State of The Art Realworld (MBSI) BPI Accounts Payable '299 '409 M99 '389 '479 '575 '395 Accounts Receivable $ 299 '409 M99 '389 '479 '575 '395 Fixed Assets — '409 — '389 General Ledger $ 299 '409 '499 '389 '479 '575 '395 Inventory '299 M09 '499 '389 '479 '575 '539 Job Costing — M09 '499 '389 — '539 Material Management - — M09 Order Entry/Processing $ 299 '409 — '389 '479 '575 — Payroll $ 365 M09 '499 '389 '479 '575 '395 Report Writer — M0° Sales Invoicing — '389 '479 — — Purchase Order Entry — 409 TCSCIientLedgerSystem '1195 ^ JUST A PARTIAL LISTING OF ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS • CALL TODAY! fl» W~W * J H^h^-rj B J -fr __ __ L- Jl THE LOGICAL CHOICE A Member of the Logic Group 110 Bi-County Blvd., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 1-800-645-3491 In New York State..,516-249-8440 • In Canada. ..416-283-2354 Customer Service 1-800*431 9037 See following pages for Software, Hardware, Special Order Dept., Programmers Dept., PC Jr. Corner and our Computer Forms Division. DC 3 h o Q i Bil Ui ! 2 INCREDIBLE NEW SERVICE BREAKTHROUGH OVERNIGHT DELIVERY! VIA... i?» On Orders Totaling over $100. . .Shipped UPS FREE if Under $100 (Within Continental U.S.) Puro/ator courier PLUS...IF YOU CAN FIND A LOWER PRICE ma ■ ill n_* _A, - •»..-!-.* DinuTi miD i owfst PRICE GUARANTEE IS STILL I We II Beats* It By.... THAT'S RIGHT! OUR LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE IS STILL EFFECTIVE! t«ii ... iha advertiser and price of any software or hardware Hem on these pages cur- ^StiZ^miSSto computer publication and we'll beat that price b« ?10 Th£ oCr does no V t apply to Items under $100 or where the pnce Is not .owe than Logtcsott's. NO DEALER'S PLEASE! WORD PROCESSING Wordstar 2000 -H.lai'.'Milzlfflai:!.',!: WORDSTAR 2000 PLUS Wordstar Pro Pac Wordstar Pro Plus WORD PERFECT(New Release) Microsoft Word Spellbinder MULTIMATE _$259 _305 _265 _345 _225 _235 DATA BASE MANAGEMENT (com.) dBASEIH $369 E- FINANCIAL (com.) Clipper (d Base III Compiler) _ Data Base Manager II (alpha)_ Infostar plus. Friday Volkswriter Deluxe Peachtext5000 _ Easywriter ll/Speller/Mailer Edix & Wordix Finalword Samna III Xy Write II Plus Think Tank pfs: WRITE. Wordp!usPCwithBoss_ .Lowest Price 249 165 199 195 255 225 325 255 125 85 359 pfs: file & pfs: report_ REVELATION Powerbase Personal Pearl Easyfiler Superfile Guru _399 _175 _159 _169 _165 _745 _255 _229 _235 _159 _1695 Financier I MANAGING YOUR MONEY Home Accountant Plus _ Howard Tax Preparer INTEGRATED/SPREADSHEETS LOTUS 123 (v 2.0) $305 Professional Tax Planner Fixed Asset System (BEST) Market Manager Plus (Dow Jones)_ Market Analyzer (Dow Jones) GRAPHICS CHARTMASTER Signmaster BPS Graphics Fast Graphs pfs: graph GRAPHWRITER 115 _$119 99 _195 _319 _439 _179 _269 _$275 _195 _289 _265 85 DATA BASE MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGEMAN Cornerstone Tim IV R:Base4000 R:BASE 5000 DB Master d Base II (New Release) Condor III $259 _Loweit Price 189 265 365 475 299 349 Enable (New Version). Smart Series Ability FRAMEWORK Open Access Electric Desk SYMPHONY (Limited Quantity). Supercalc 3 Multiplan TK! Solver , pfs: plan_ _399 _579 _339 _359 _395 _229 _429 _179 _129 _279 _85 Graphwriter Combo Pak DIAGRAM MASTER Microsoft Chart ENERGRAPHICS Energraphics with plotter option PC Draw . Gem Draw (incl. Desk Top) PROJECT SCHEDULERS MICROSOFT PROJECT _ SuperProject(IUS) _319 _485 _195 _175 _259 .325 _295 _95 FINANCIAL DOLLARS AND SENSE HARVARD TOTAL PROJECT MGR. Project Scheduler (Scitor) _$115 Project Scheduler 5000 (Scitor) . _$165 _245 _265 _245 _279 sua OO Si! ZD WORD PROCESSING FANCY FONT $159 Wordplus (Oasis) 115 pfs: proof 65 Punctuation & Style 99 Spellix 59 Wordperfect Sorter 75 . lH.1^7|.1;IJIhdlNhJI=fclfflaH.'.lJ»l _ Ouickode I d Graph I dUtillll. k Graph k Paint _ kText_ DATA BASE = $159 _175 65 175 85 109 Prices & polices subject to change without notice. DATA BASE (com.) Clout 2 SI 45 Extended Report Writer 1 19 Sideways 45 GENERAL PR0KEY4.0 .S89 Norton Utilities (New Release) _65 SIDEKICK (unprotected) 65 GENERAL CROSSTALK XVI (New Release)S115 Smartcom II 109 Sideways 45 Copy II PC 39 DESK ORGANIZER 65 Immediate Replacement on any Defective Product. i Sales Tax on Orders Outside N.Y. State * Purcnase Orders Welcomed from Qualified Institutions ...NO SURCHARGE! (Please call lor price verification) * Please add 2% ig and insurance (Int'l orders add'l ) * Payment: MasterCard. VISA. American Exp.. COD. Money Order or Chef "-SS* 1-800-645-3- Customer Service 1-800-431-9037 mi THE LOGICAL CHOICE / 110 Bi-County Blvd., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 New York State..51 6-249-8440 Canada 416-283-2354 Domestic/International Telex...286905 Soft UR Sne will beat rnv price bv See Olher S.de NEW! Expanded Special Order Dept. We know there are many products that simply cannot be found through mail order. We've solved that problem. ..just ask for our SPECIAL ORDER department.. .We've got the suppliers ...still at low mail order prices! fflEE SssesSs PC JUNIOR CORNER | l PROGRAMMER'S DEPT. SOFTWARE LotUS 1 -2-3(Whilethey last') S309 Wordstar 149 Electric Desk 189 HARDWARE Captain 128K(Tecmar) 339 PC Mouse (Mouse Systems) 129 HARDWARE (Cont.) Keytronic 51 51 Keyboard _S1 79 Keytronic 51 49 Num. Keypad 50 Jr. 128K Booster (Microsoft) 145 Quadram Expansion Chassis 519 Quadram Exp. Memory 235 Quadmem Jr. 219 NEW PRODUCTS ADDED DAILY.. .CALL! /Concurrent PC DOStw/wmdows) . Pascal MT + (PC DOS) PL/1 - (DR) Display Manager - (DR) Access Manager (DR) LATTICE C COMPILER C-Food Smorgasbord _ _S99 .349 489 .359 .269 .305 119 $245^ _305 _159 _479 _299 FORTRAN COMPILER (MS) 229 Pascal Compiler (MS) C Compiler (MS) Microsoft Sort CobolCompiler(MS)_ Business Basic (MS) C86 C Compiler (Computer Innovations) PRINTERS* DIABLO 36** D25** 630-ECS** EPSON LQ1500 _ Parallel Interface JX-80 LX-80** LX-80 Tractor/Feeder. RX-100 FX-80 Plus** FX-185(New)** JUKI 6100 6300 MANNESMANN TALLY Spirit 80 160 180 NEC 2030** 2050** 3530 3550 8850** Pinwriter P2** PinwriterP3** 0KIDATA 182P 84-IBM 192 IBM 193P 2410P QUME Sprint 11/40** Sprint 11/55** . Sprint 11/90** SILVER REED 400 770 TOSHIBA P351 Tractor. P351 1340 CITIZEN MSP10 MSP15 MSP20 MSP25 _$1229 619 _1799 _$1199 79 599 265 30 399 379 569 _$439 _799 _$279 _579 _849 _$719 _695 _1329 .1395 _1949 675 _895 _$239 _799 _409 _559 _2295 _$1299 _1595 _2199 _$279 _795 _$165 _1375 _539 .$315 _455 _455 _595 l»HJH:MH!M:M';M:l=i MONITORS* AMDEK Color 300 Color 500 Color 600 Color 710 12" Green 300G 12" Amber 300A 12" Amber 31 0A PRINCETON GRAPHICS RGBHX-12 RGBSR-12 _$255 _389 _479 _579 135 145 _169 COMMUNICATIONS BOARDS (cant AST-3780 749 DCA IRMA Board QUADRAM Quadlink _$489 _599 Scan Doubler Board(forSR 12) 185 Amber Max-12E 185 QUADRAM Quadchrome12" $465 Quadscreen 17" 1595 Quadchrome I1 1 4" 465 Amberchrome12" 165 TAXAN 100G $125 105A 135 1 21 149 122. 210. 420_ 440_ .149 .259 _409 .699 MULTI-FUNCTION BOARDS AST RESEARCH Six Pak Plus (64k) $249 Mega Plus II (64k) 275 Mega Pak (256k) 369 Advantage (1 28k) 429 I/O Plusll 135 ORCHID Blossom (0-k) QUADRAM Quadboard(64k) . STB Super Rio (64k) . Rio Plus II (64k)_ Rio Grande Grande Byte Chauffeur TECMAR Captain _$235 _$245 _$949 _$449 GRAPHICS BOARDS AST Monograph plus $425 Preview 279 EVEREX Graphics Edge. The Edge HERCULES Graphics Card. Color Card _$309 _299 _$299 169 MA SYSTEMS Peacock Color Board PARADISE SYSTEMS Multi-Display Card _$245 _$215 ModularGraphics Card 289 Options A & B Lowest Price QUADRAM Quadcolor I $195 Quadcolor II 465 SIGMA Color 400 $549 STB Graphics Plus II TECMAR Graphics Master TSENG LABORATORIES Ultra Pak _$315 _$459 _$545 _$329 _259 _375 _275 MODEMS HAYES Smartmodem 300 Smartmodem1200 .$205 „445 COMMUNICATIONS BOARDS AST AST-5251-11 $699 AST-SNA 699 AST BSC 699 Smartmodem 1200Bw/smancom ii 349 Smartmodem 2400 719 NOVATION Access 1-2-3 $475 Lowest Price Smart Cat Plus (Int.) 355 Professional 2400 689 PRENTICE Popcorn X1 00 $379 Popcorn C1 00 355 PROMETHEUS _$199 Pro-modem 1200 Pro-Modem 1200B .$375 _319 ) MODEMS (cont.) 0UADRAM Asher $395 Quadmodem 2000 315 499 375 565 Quadmodem 2024 Quadmodem 21 00 Quadmodem 2124 RACALVADIC Maxwell 1200 PC(w/sw) Maxwell 1 200 V (w/sw) _ 2400 V VEN-TEL PC Modem Half Card PC Modem 1200 _ 1200 Plus $239 _239 _435 _$379 _399 _399 BACK-UP DEVICES ALLOY PC Quick Tape (60Mb) $1719 SYSGEN Image (1 0Mb) $835 MOUSE INPUT DEVICES MOUSE SYSTEMS PC Mouse w/paintbrush $139 MICROSOFT Microsoft Mouse (Serial) $149 Microsoft Mouse (Buss) 139 SURGE PROTECTORS KENSINGTON MICR0WARE MasterPiece $115 CURTIS Diamond $39 Emerald 49 Sapphire 59 Ruby 69 KEYBOARDS KEYTRONIC 5150 5151 (Deluxe) 5152B .$159 _175 _645 MEMORY CHIPS 64k (200ns) $35 256k (1 50ns) 69 DISKETTES L0GICTRAK 5 1 /t"-ioo% guaranteed Double side, double density, 10 per box 20 + boxes per disk $2.35 1 0-1 9 boxes per disk $2.50 2-9 boxes per disk $2.99 1 box per disk $3.99 "Due to weight restrictions, Printers and Monitors are shipped UPS... FREE "Parallel interface req...Ask sales agent mMSBSMSSBBas * NO SURCHARGE lor VISA Welcomed from Qualified institutions... no SURCHARGE! (Please lor handling and insurance (Int'l orders add!) * Payment: MasterCard. ' j N.Y. State * Purchase Ordi verification! * Please add Vh an Exp.. C00. Money Order or ""SSr 1-800-645-3- Customer Service 1-800-431-9037 TZ THE LOGICAL CHOICE / A Member oi The Logic Group ■ " 110 Bi-County Blvd., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 New York State..51 6-249-8440 .416-283-2354 Domestic/International Telex...286905 Soft UR ROBOTICS ROBOTIC TACTILE SENSING by Kirk E. Pennywitt Coming to grips with tactile sensors TODAY'S INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS per- form a variety of tasks, and robotic ap- plications are steadily increasing. Nevertheless, robots currently in use are quite primitive; at best, they possess only a rudimentary aware- ness of their surroundings. As a result, they are generally limited to perform- ing precisely defined tasks in a highly structured environment. The controlled environment of a fac- tory floor is considerably different from the unstructured and complex world in which most humans live arid work. The robots of the future should be able to adapt to any work environ- ment because it is often not practical to adapt the environment to them. Robots of the future should also be able to work with the same tools and equipment— conventional wrenches, hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, and so on— that human workers use. For robots to achieve these goals and at- tain more widespread use, they must be equipped with more sophisticated sensory capabilities that resemble those of a human. Of the five human senses, only vi- sion and touch are really required for a successful and adaptable robot. (Al- though hearing could be useful for the reception of oral commands by a robot, it is not a truly necessary capa- bility. The use of ultrasonic ranging techniques has been investigated for proximity sensing, but interference from the loud noises common in an industrial environment remains an obstacle.) Vision and Touch The capabilities of vision and touch are generally seen as complementary for most future robotic applications. Vision is obviously important for ob- ject identification and obstacle avoidance. It is considered a pre- requisite process for locating, posi- tioning, and identifying objects and also as a proximity sensor for the robot hand or end effector. Touch, or tactile sensing, then takes over for subsequent manipulations in which force, pressure, and compliance are important factors. For many applications, the sense of touch is often considered more im- portant than vision during manipula- tion. A robot must be able to judge when contact is made with an object and know how much force is being exerted upon that object. A robot should also be able to determine when slip is beginning to occur and when the object is posi- tioned properly in its intended loca- tion. In the past, greater attention has been devoted to visual sensing, but robotic touch is now beginning to at- tract more attention. In this article I will provide an over- view of robotic touch sensing, some of its problems, and some of the more promising approaches. Tactile Sensing In robotic applications, we are con- cerned with tactile sensing, or taction, rather than simple touch. The term taction was coined by the late Pro- fessor Leon D. Harmon of Case Western Reserve University, one of the pioneers of tactile-sensing research. Ikctile sensing is defined as the con- tinuous sensing of variable contact forces, commonly by an array of sen- sors. This sensing should be capable [continued] Kirk E. Pennywitt is a research engineer at Georgia Tech Research Institute (Electronics and Computer Systems Lab, Command and Control Division, Atlanta, GA 30332). He works in the areas of computer-based decision support systems, videodisc and computer- graphic software, and robotic tactile sensing. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 177 TACTILE SENSING of being performed within an ar- bitrary three-dimensional space. This distinguishes taction from touch, or binary sensing, which is simple con- tact or force sensing at a single point, l^ctile sensing generally refers to skinlike properties where areas of force-sensitive and displacement-sen- sitive surfaces are capable of report- ing graded signals and parallel pat- terns of touching. l^ctile sensing may be viewed as a two-step process: (1) transduction and (2) data processing. Transduction oc- curs when the features of an object being examined are converted into signals of some form, as in the case of the translation of forces into elec- trical impulses. Data processing then interprets these signals to obtain useful information about the features of interest. Since it is often stated that a robotic tactile sensor should have capabilities similar to that of human touch sens- ing, we should briefly examine human tactile perception. Tools for the Programmer from Blaise Computing Save Up To $130 On These Special Oilers! TOOLS STOOLS 2 : For C or Pascal For a limited time, pick up both packages and save $50 off our regular list price. The C version comes with libraries for the Lattice, Computer Innovations and Microsoft (version 2.03 and 3.00) compilers. The Pascal version supports IBM and Microsoft Pascal. $175. VIEW MANAGER With Source All libraries are included. Please specify C or Pascal. Regular $425. Save $130. $295 Blaise Computing provides a broad range of fine programming tools for Pascal and C pro- grammers, with libraries designed 'and 'engineered 'for the serious software developer. You get clearly written code that's fully commented so that it can serve both as a model and also be easily modified to grow with your changing needs. Our packages are shipped to you complete with comprehensive manuals, sample programs and source code. None of the programs are copy-protected. FOR C AND PASCAL PROGRAMMER* TOOLS <> $125 Extensive string and screen handling, graphics interface and easy creation of program interfaces. Includes all source code. TOOLS 20 $100 Memory management, general program control and DOS file support inlerruptserviceroutine support. Includesall source, code. VIEW MANAGER $275 General screen management. Create data entry screens that can be easily manipulated from your application program. Block mode data entry and retrieval with fast screen access. VIEW LIBRARY Source $150 Source code to the VIEW MANAGER library functions. ASYNCH MANAGER $175 Powerful asynchronous communications library provid- ing interrupt driven support tor the COM pons. All source code included. FOR THE TURBO PASCAL PROGRAMMER: Turbo POWER TOOLS $99.95 Extensive siring support, extended screen and window management, interrupt service routines, program control and memory management, interrupt filters. All source code included. Turbo ASYNCH 0$99M Interrupt driven asynchronous communication support callable horn .Turbo Pascal. ASYNCH is written in assem- bler and lurbo Pascal with all source code included. PACKAGES FOR ALL PROGRAMMERS: EXEC $95 Program chaining executive. Chain one- program from another even if the programs are in different languages. Common data area can be specified. Source code included if you're a registered C TOOLS and C TOOLS 2 user. SPARKY $75 Run-time resident (or stand-alone) scientific, fully pro- grammable, reverse polish notation calculator, No limit on stack size .variables or tape Includes all standard sci- entific functions and different base arithmetic. TO ORDER, call Blaise Computing Inc. at (415) 540-5441 ♦ 2034 Blake Street ♦ Berkeley. C A 94704* (415) 540-5441 * I Kinesthesia versus Cutaneous Responses Human tactile perception consists of two separate and distinct com- ponents: cutaneous and kinesthetic responses. The cutaneous response conveys touch, force, slip, and tem- perature information via the sensitive nerve arrays on the fingertips. This type of capability is what is usually thought of when considering robotic tactile sensing. The kinesthetic response plays a very significant role in the sense of touch. Kinesthesia is the sensing of limb and joint position. It includes both afferent incoming signals developed at muscles and joints and efferent outgoing signals that are motor muscle action commands. The combined cutaneous and kin- esthetic senses are sometimes re- ferred to as haptic perception. Together, cutaneous and kinesthetic stimulation allow a person to perceive objects of three dimensions and events in three-dimensional space. Cutaneous sensations provide the perception of texture and details of shape. Kinesthesia allows the detec- tion of larger contours and enables a person to control exploratory move- ments. Cutaneous stimulation and kin- esthesia must work together for an organism (or robot) to be able to ac- tively explore and perceive its tactile environment. Current research in robotic taction focuses almost ex- clusively on the cutaneous aspects of touch. Since a satisfactory approach to the development of a cutaneous- like sensor has yet to be achieved, it is perhaps premature to be overly concerned with the lack of attention devoted to the kinesthetic aspects of touch sensing. However, it is impor- [continued) 178 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 37 com wren warehouse CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-528-1054 FREE ^pW^ Tharpware Air Express Shipping See Details Below PRINTERS Anadex All Models Call Brother All Models Call Cannon Laser Printer $2099 Citizen MSP-10 $255 MSP-15 $349 MSP-20 $319 MSP-25 $489 DatasOUth AH Printer Models Call Diablo D-25 $549 635 $1079 OthRr Printer Models Call EPSON All Printer Models ..,. Call Juki 6000 $1 69 6100 , $349 6300... $679 NEC 2010. 2015, 2050 $629 3510.3550 $989 3515. ..$1009 3530 $935 8810. 8830. 8850 $ 1 379 P2. P3 Call Elf 360 $399 EM370 $389 OKIDATA All Printer Models Call Panasonic 1091 $235 1092 .' $349 1093 $429 KXP3151 $409 STAR MICRONICS All Printer Models Call Silver Reed EXP400 Parallel EXP500 Parallel or Serial. EXP550 Parallel orSerial. EXP770 Parallel or Serial. $205 $279 $389 $699 Gem Collection . . .$115 Gem Desktop $29 GemDraw Call LANGUAGES C Compiler (Microsoft) FortranCompiler(Microsoft) . Macro Assembler PascalCompiler (Microsoft). . Turbo Pascal 3.0 . $235 $209 $89 $178 $35 Lattice C Compiler Call Run C Interpreter $85 Quick Basic $59 Turbo Tool Box $28 PROJECT MANAGEMENT Harvard Total Project Manager $239 Microsoft Project Call SuperProject $182 Timeline 2.0 $249 COMMUNICATIONS CompuServeStarterKit . Crosstalk XVI PFS Access Remote $17 $94 $78 $94 ing ^ ^ SPECIAL Toshiba P1340 Parallel or Serial . . . .$439 P351 Parallel $969 DISKETTES Maxell MD-2 Plastic BoxlQty 100) . $158 Sony MD/2(Qty 100) $158 MONITORS Amdex All Monitors Call NECAII Monitors Call Princeton Graphics Call Taxan All Models Call Zenith All Models Call VIDEO TERMINALS AltOS Smart III $599 IBM 3161 & 3163 Series Call Qume QVT Green 101 $299 QVT Amber 101 $314 Wyse30 $299 50 $419 75 $559 Wyse85 $579 Wyse350 $859 Zenith Z-22 $455 Z-29 $599 Z-49 Call MODEMS AT&T 4000 External $309 Anchor Automation Anchor Express $229 Zenith Computer Products hf >AV Eu P t,50% COMPUTERS ZENITH Z-158 All Models Z-138 All Models Z-148 All Models Z-171 ...Call . . . Call . Call . . Call Z-200 Call DISK DRIVES Alpha Omega Turbo 10 $529 Turbo 20.. , $529 Turbo 30. $729 Everex All Hard Disks Call Haba Macintosh 400K $279 Macintosh 800K $409 Iomega Bernoulli Boxes for IBM Call Bernoulli Boxes for Macintosh Call Paradise Macintosh Hard Disk Call BOARDS AST Advantage $389 Six Pack Plus $219 Everex Boards Call Hercules Color Card $1 49 Graphic Card $299 Paradise Modular Graphic 06-1 .... S259 Five Pak $ 1 1 9 Quadram Quadlink $325 Tec MarGraphics Master $445 Captain No Memory $155 PLOTTERS Enter Sweet-P600 $749 Epson Hi-80 ..Call KEYBOARDS Keytronicssi5i^^^_ $159 5151 .Jr. ^S jSfe, $179 other Models JB Rt Call HAYES AH Modems Call Novation Smart Cat Plus $279 Prometheus All Models Call US Robotics Courier 2400 $389 Password 1200 $1 89 Microlink 2400 $389 COPIERS Canon fCCPE Canon PC-10 $509 Canon PC-14 $649 ■ Canon PC-20 $719 Canon PC-25 $939 XEROX 1020w/Toner $1099 SANYO SFT600 $609 SOFTWARE IBM PC and 100% Compatibles INTEGRATIVE SOFTWARE WbRD PROCESSORS SPREADSHEETS Lotus 1-2-3 Call Multiplan $114 Spreadsheet Auditor 2.0 $83 Enable 1.1 $329 Framework Call Smart SoftwareSystem $459 Symphony Call TRAINING Flight Simulator , $30 Typing Instructor $29 Typing Tutor III $29 GRAPHICS Chartmaster $206 PC Paintbrush $62 Turbo GraphixTool Box $28 Diagram Master 190 Dr. Halo. $55 Energraphics $165 Energraphics w Plotter Option $2 1 4 Microsoft Chart $172 PC Draw $203 PC Draw Light Pen $1 04 PC Paint w Mouse $123 PC Mouse w Paintbrush . . S 1 07 PFS Graph $78 Printmaster $30 Signmaster $135 Supercalc3(Ver.2.1). .Call Leading Edge Word Processor $50 Leading Edge W/Pwith Spell & Mail $ 1 37 Microsoft Word Call Multimate 3.3 $206 PFS:Write $78 Wordstar w/Tutor $169 Wordstar Pro Pack $239 Word Perfect (Ver.4.1)$199 Wordstar 2000 $239 Wordstar 2000 Plus.. $285 UTILITIES 1 DIP, Copy II PC... Norton Utilities 3.1 Sidekick Sidekick (Unprotected) Sideways Superkey Printworks Spotlight Sidekick— Superkey (Bundle) . $48 $19 $49 $28 $43 $31 $35 $36 $43 $65 MONEY MANAGEMENT Dollars & Sense w/Forcast $95 Tobias Managing Your Money $95 DATA BASE MANAGEMENT Cornerstone $255 | dBase II Call 5 dBaselll ..Call 75 Nutshell.. .Call | PFS:File $78 o PFS:Report $70 s Quickcode $139 3 QuickReport $ 1 39 ° Extended Report Writer $80 o Think Tank.. $93 £ Clipper $355 2 Knowledgeman II Call n Knowledgeman Upgrade Kit Call § R:Base5000 $335 Many other titles available. tOmPtTTER WAREHOUSE Order Line: 1-800-528-1054 Order Processing: 602-224-9345 2222 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, Arizona 85016 602-954-6109 Store Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5:30 Saturday 9-1 Order Line Hours: Mon-Fri 7-5:30 Saturday 9-1 Order Processing Hours: Mon-Fri 10-3 l-'rices reflect 3% to 5% cash discount. Product shipped in factory cartons with manufacturer's warranty. Please add $9.00 per order for UPS ground shipping. Orders 10 lbs. and underyou pay for ground service, receive air service at no extra charge. Available on orders 11-30 lbs. $17 for air service. Prices & availability subject to change without notice. Send cashier's check or money order.. .all other checks will delay shipping two weeks. VISA ^ffl.^^ lE§£g| CWF-1185 Inquiry 82 for MS-DOS Products. Inquiry 83 for all others. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 179 TACTILE SENSING tant to realize that both of these com- ponents should be integrated to develop a successful robotic tactile sensor. Cutaneous sensations are conveyed by the skin. The skin's structure, sen- sitivity, and density of nerve-sensing sites vary considerably over the ex- tent of the human body. Within the hand, the sensitivity may vary by an order of magnitude from the palm to the fingertip. The properties and sen- sory capabilities of fingertip skin most closely resemble those desired for robotic tactile sensors. Tactile Resolution Estimates of the spatial resolution of the fingertips vary from 0.8 to about 3 millimeters. The coarser estimates are based on two-point threshold tests, where two sharp points are pressed against the skin and the minimum separation distance re- quired to determine that two points are being applied is measured. With this method, estimates of spatial resolution range from 2 to 3 mm. Other methods of determining res- olution include detecting gaps in a surface applied to the finger, deter- mining the orientation of a fine grating, and identifying the forms of alphabetic characters. The last three methods yield resolution estimates closer to 0.8 mm. The higher resolu- tions obtained in these latter ex- amples seems to indicate that when larger touch areas are involved, addi- tional information is obtained that allows finer perceptions. l&ctile acuity is more than just a function of the sensory unit density. It also depends on the relative por- tion of the brain devoted to tactile representations and on the structure of the skin itself. It has been demon- strated that the brain region devoted NEED SPACE? $645 Let Your PC Grow '■PS^t**? HYMCO EXPANSION BOX (PEX-100) FEATURES: • Flip-top case • 7 expansion slots for PC add-on board • 130 Watts heavy-duty power supply • Interface to IBM PC, IBM PC/XT & compatibles • Space for 4 half-height or 2 full height 5 1 /4 " drives (drives are not included) ■ m^^™^^^ nymnD TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 5320-D Monterey Rd. Call Today: San Jose, CA 951 1 1 (408) 225-1511 Telex: 882825 HYMCO ONE YEAR WARRANTY 30 days Money Back Guarantee Dealer & Distributor Inquires Welcomed IBM PC and IBM PC/XT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. to tactile processing can change and in turn alter tactile acuity. Experiments on monkeys show that upon loss of a finger, the brain region devoted to the remaining fingers grows to include the region previous- ly devoted to the amputated finger. The tactile acuity for the remaining fingers improves substantially More- over, the role of any individual nerve cell is believed unimportant; rather, networks of thousands of cells pro- vide tactile response. In addition, the structure of finger- tip skin, particularly the papillary ridges (the raised ridges on the finger- tips that produce fingerprints), may contribute to tactile perception. Dur- ing fine movements of the fingers, the ridges create vibratory effects that propagate through the various skin layers, adding to tactile pattern recognition. These phenomena il- lustrate that the data-processing aspects of tactile sensing should be considered at least as important as the transduction concerns. Tactile Sensing versus Vision l&ctile sensing is analogous to visual sensing in many respects. Both sam- ple continuous signals over a two- or three-dimensional space and share a common model of the outside world. Both must employ pattern-recognition techniques to interpret the spatially sampled pattern representations of their environment. These similarities may allow tactile sensing to derive benefits from the considerably greater effort that has already been devoted to visual sensing. However, taction has many advan- tages over vision for physical manip- ulation tasks, which, of course, include almost all commercial and industrial applications. With taction, the physical properties being directly measured are those we are most interested in— object position, shape, texture, sur- face detail, and so on. Vision can infer these properties only indirectly by deducing them from optical prop- erties (shading, projection, reflectivi- ty, etc.). [continued) 180 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 161 BUSINESS SCIENCE EDUCATION STATISTICAL PACKAGES data-analysis software from: dl8lvOTl unbeatable power and flexibility for unbeatable prices! We developed complete, high-performance statistical packages for all computers: [Hduanced Nan-rnrametrlc Crap hie i T-Te tt - Independent Sam T-leit - Correlated Sompl Correlation CrDixtabulallon Frequency .-• "I *- 1. STATISTICAL SUPPLEMENT FOR LOTUS 1-2-3™ (number one statistical add-on for LOTUS™ and Symphony™, also reads files from many other programs, can be used as a stand-alone statistical package, runs on IBM™ and all compatibles, 256k, 2dd, 8087 support) 2. STATFAST (the first stand-alone and still the most powerful statistical package developed for the Macintosh™ 128k or 512k, 1dd) 3. APP-STAT (a complete statistical package for the Apple II™ family of computers, 1dd) 4. PSYCHOSTAT-3 (a complete statistical package, available for Kaypro™ and all CP/M™ computers, 1 dd) $149 $119 $99 $99 All of these statistical packages are user friendly and super-easy to use. They include the full range of basic statistical analyses (descriptive statistics, t-tests, correlations, cross-tabulations, nonparametric statistics, and more) and advanced multivariate statistics (multiple regression, multifactor analysis of variance and covariance, repeated measures, contrasts, unbalanced designs, and more). All packages can handle data files of unlimited size, include flexible Data Editors, and can access data files from spreadsheets, data-bases, and mainframes. If you are interested in statistical analysis on micro computers, call us! Our technical staff can advise you and recommend the best program for your needs. Please add $5 for shipping and handling. To place your order or talk to our technical staff for more information, call or write: STATSOFT 2831 EAST 10TH STREET, SUITE 3, TULSA, OK 74104 (918) 583-4149 LOTUS 1-2-3, Symphony, IBM, Macintosh, Apple II, Kaypro, and CP/M are registered trademarks of respective companies. MostwCofd ) Inquiry 338 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 181 TACTILE SENSING The collection of tactile data is more readily controlled because the sensor is generally in actual physical contact with the object being examined. This eliminates potential problems involv- ing uneven illumination, confusing background image information, or camera point-of-view constraints. There is also potentially less data to analyze in a tactile versus a visual rep- resentation. A tactile sensor is ob- viously ideal for pressure, slip, and incipient-slip detection as well. On the other hand, tactile sensing involves several unique problems. With vision, the three-dimensional reconstruction of the object (based on the two-dimensional camera image) may be done by a powerful central processor that is remote from the sensor. For taction to be useful, you must be able to actively manipulate and ex- plore the object being examined. This requires not only the transduction to be performed at the object site but a large amount of real-time data pro- cessing to be performed there as well. Because a visual sensor is remote from the subject at all times, it faces only moderate constraints on physical size and placement. However, a tac- tile sensor is normally an integral component of a robot end effector and thus must conform to strict size and shape constraints. In addition, the sensor itself must be capable of resist- ing abrasion, heat, and chemicals present in the industrial environment. Requirements of a Tactile Sensor The exact requirements of a particular tactile sensor depend on its specific ap- plication. However, there is a consen- sus among actual and potential robot users on the capabilities a general- purpose tactile sensor should possess. The most commonly stated require- ment is that the sensor be skinlike. It should exhibit high sensitivity, fast response time, continuously variable signal output, and low power con- sumption. It should also be cheap and durable. The ideal end effector should be handlike. Touch, force, pattern, slip, and movement detection should all occur in one device. Forces trans- ferred to the support structure should be used for analyzing larger signals (kinesthetic versus cutaneous sens- ing). Finally, the hand should be intrin- sically "smart." That is, a significant amount of data preprocessing should be done at or near the sensor. Low- level data processing should take place at the sensor level, including detection of information regarding edges, holes, etc. Most surveys of industrial robot [continued] Concurrent™ PC DOS Works For These People "PhoneXpress™, our voice messaging pro- duct, needs the pow- erful multi-tasking environment that Concurrent PC DOS offers. Also, our pro- grammers love it, they can be compiling in one window and switch into an editor which increases pro- ductivity." Dennis King Executive Vice President, Founder Applied Voice Technology "The file manager is great. It's a step above the old DOS system. You don't have to remember commands and you don't have to read the manual." John Martinson Engineer Pacific Gas Transmission "Concurrent PC DOS gives us the capability to attach additional terminals for a more productive office. It has a true multi-user capacity. We can now meet deadlines." Richard Vananda Principal Patrick Sullivan Associates, Architects "I couldn't live without the product. Time is money and the ability to switch consoles and run more than one pro- gram has been a great time saver." Joe Capp Project Engineer Union Carbide "We have created a menu driven system that is totally transparent to our customers. By utiliz- ing the menu system and 4 consoles con- currently we are able to fully utilize Con- current PC DOS" Subbasb Cbadba MIS Director Secoin Inc. Make It Work For You! Call (800) 443-4200 for the dealer or sales representative nearest you. Concurrent PC DOS is a trademark and Digital Research is a registered tiademark of Digital Research Inc. PhoneXpress is a trademark of Applied Voice Technology. M DIGITAL RESEARCH 4 We make computers work. 5 * 182 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 103 u I Program In BetterBASIC Ana I Recommend It!' "Lifeboat Associates," has expanded its philosophy of endorsing structured programming languages to include a truly superior product— BetterBASIC. More than just a BASIC, BetterBASIC offers use of the full memory of the computer, true procedures and functions, modularity and more. BetterBASIC has the advantages of the C language on which Lifeboat built its reputation and appeals to the wide audience of programmers who already program in BASIC. I liked BetterBASIC so much, I decided "Lifeboat" should publish it. I program in BetterBASIC and I recommend it." Dr. Edward Currie, President— Lifeboat Assoc— New York, NY 640K Now you can use the full memory of your 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 proce dures and functions grouped together to form "library modules" which are then available to you or anyone else for future use. EXTENSIBLE Create your own BetterBASIC modules which contain BetterBASIC extensions. This feature coupled with the easy-to-use Assembly Language support, makes this an ideal OEM language. INTERACTIVE BetterBASIC acts like an interpreter because it responds to the users' commands in an immediate mode. However each statement is actually compiled as it is entered. COMPILED Each line of the program is compiled as it is entered into the computer's memory rather than interpreted at runtime. RUNTIME SYSTEM The optional Runtime System generates stand alone EXE. files allowing for the distribution of products written in BetterBASIC with no royalties. SUPPORTS Windows, Graphics, DOS and BIOS ROM calls, Chaining, Overlays, Local and Global Variables, Recursion . . . and more. BetterBASIC Runs on IBM PC, XT, AT and all IBM- compatibles. Ask your local dealer for BetterBASIC or call 1-800-225-5800 in Canada call 416-469-5244. Also available for the Tandy 1000, 1200, AND 2000 AT Tandy/Radio Shack stores. Summit Software Technology, IncI" RQ Box 99, Babson Park Wellesley MA 02157 PRICES: BetterBASIC $199 8087/80287 Math Module $99 Btrieve™ Interface $99 Runtime System $250 Sample Disk with Tutorial $10 bIIsic. Because It's The Best. MasterCard, Visa, Checks, Money Order, COD. accepted and P.O. on approval. BetterBASIC is a registered trademark of Summit Software Technology Inc. IBM PC, XT, AT, are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corp. Btrieve is a registered trademark of SoftCraft Inc. Inquiry 341 (If you're using BetterBASIC and would like to be featured in one of our ads, please write to the Director of Advertising at Summit.) JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 183 TACTILE SENSING Prosthetic and orthotic needs for the handicapped are an important use for manipulators and tactile sensors. users indicate that the spatial resolu- tion required for a useful tactile sen- sor is approximately I mm. For a manipulator of the same approximate size as a human fingertip, this implies a sensor array of from 5 by 10 to 10 by 20 elements. The sensor should have a sensitivi- ty on the order of 1 gram and should have an upper-limit capability of ap- proximately 1000 grams. (A loga- rithmic response would be satisfac- tory for most users.) Nonlinearity in the response of the sensor is general- ly tolerable because it can be com- pensated for in the data-processing software. Hysteresis in the sensing device, however, is absolutely intoler- able. (Hysteresis is a characteristic of many materials whereby a physical parameter, such as electrical re- sponse, varies markedly depending on whether the phenomenon on which it depends is increasing or de- creasing.) A sensor's response should be stable and repeatable, and its response time should be short. The sensor transduction bandwidth re- quirements vary from 100 to 1000 hertz. That is, the data from the sen- sor should be updated at least every 10 milliseconds and preferably every I millisecond. (It is interesting to note that human touch is fairly hysteretic and that the transduction bandwidth ranges from 20 Hz for separate touches to several hundred Hz for vibration sensing.) The sensor must also be durable and capable of with- standing the rigors of an industrial environment. Applications for tactile sensors in- clude manipulation, teleoperation, and prosthetic and orthotic needs. In- dustrial uses include assembly, casting and molding, forging, grinding and polishing, heat treating, machin- ing, painting, pouring, sorting, stack- ing, transporting, and welding. Many agencies, particularly the military, have uses requiring robots with tac- tile sensing capabilities. These include undersea exploration and salvage, prospecting, space-station operations, mining, and hazardous factory, power plant, and rescue operations. Tactile sensing is ideally suited for use in obscured environments, such as murky water and smoky rooms. Teleoperated manipulators require ac- curate force feedback, stable grasp- ing, position sensing, detection of slip, and light touch. This area of sensing has received surprisingly little signifi- cant attention. Prosthetic and orthotic needs for the handicapped are another impor-. tant use for manipulators and tactile sensors. These include artificial limbs for the amputee and sensing and assist devices for the paralyzed. The requirements for prosthetic and or- thotic aids are primarily the same as for teleoperation: stable grasping, light touch, slip detection, and so on. Half of the estimated 7,500,000 disabled persons in the U.S. could probably be helped to some degree with presently available robotics tech- nology. Despite the considerable list of needs for effective touch sensing, the present state of the art remains ex- tremely primitive. Automated tactile sensing is at a very early stage of in- vestigation, comprehension, and capability. Until very recently touch feedback systems for robots and ma- nipulators were quite simple and relatively crude. Today's industrial systems still employ extremely simple devices; almost all of the more sophisticated, complex, and potentially useful tactile sensors are still in laboratory develop- ment, primarily in the academic or government environment (see table 1). However, the transition from simple contact sensing to full robotic taction is under way. A great deal of research is currently being devoted to tactile sensing, and many promising ap- proaches are being investigated. Approaches The design of a tactile sensor is in- fluenced by its intended use. The major applications for tactile sensors can be divided into three general categories: 1. Simple pressure determination and slip sensing. These capabilities are necessary for the most common in- dustrial applications of handling a workpiece without damage. 2. Determination of object orientation and position. This is required for more complex and unstructured applica- tions, such as picking an object from a bin, orienting it into a new position, and assembling it with other objects. 3. Object identification or recognition. This feature is necessary for advanced applications in which a robot may be working in a totally unknown environ- ment (such as undersea exploration) and may be required to classify or identify an object based solely on tac- tile sensations. Each of these applications involves a different design approach and dif- ferent computational requirements. The first application is technically the simplest to implement, and industry has found several workable ap- proaches to it. The latter two applica- tions are the most challenging, and it is on these applications that most of the current laboratory research is focused. The mainstream of current tactile sensor research can be divided into three broad categories, distinguished by their fundamental principles of operation: sensors using electro- optical, piezoresistive, or piezoelectric properties. Electro-Optic Tactile Sensors Electro-optic sensors rely on the modulation of a light source by the {continued) 184 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 TACTILE SENSING Table 1: A com Sensor parison of re Principle botic tactile Spatial Resolution sensors and Bandwidth their charac Force Sensitivity teristics. Load Range Status Advantages Disadvantages Ideal Sensor (Harmon Compilation) 1 mm 100-1000 Hz 1 gm 1-1000 gm Hasn't been invented yet General-purpose, no hysteresis, high resolution None Lord Tactile Sensor Optic 1.8-7.6 mm 300 Hz 3 gm 0-681 gm Commercial Durable, little electromagnetic interference Individual LED/ detector for each site limits ultimate resolution MIT Sensor- Schneiter/ Sheridan Optic 0.6 mm 30 Hz N.A. 18:1 dynamic range Experimental Very high spatial resolution possible, little electromagnetic interference Possibly high computational requirement, limited durability at present Tactile Robotic Systems Optic 2.5 mm 12 Hz 0.04 gm 256:1 dynamic range Commercial Low hysteresis, relatively inexpensive devices available for experimentation Still relatively experimental MIT Sensor- Purbrick Conductive silicone rubber 2 mm 40 Hz 5 gm 5-100 gm Experimental Simple, inexpensive design High hysteresis, nonlinearity MIT Sensor- Hillis Aniso- tropically conductive silicone rubber 0.6 mm N.A. 5 gm 5-50 gm Experimental High resolution, inexpensive design Hysteresis problems Barry Wright Corporation Sensoflex Tactile Sensor Conductive elastomer 1.3 mm 30 Hz 230 gm 200-50,000 gm Commercial Relatively low hysteresis, durable, wide load range, high repeatability Relatively low sensitivity Transensory Devices Inc. Silicon strain gauge 2 mm N.A. 10 gm 10-1000 gm Commercial Mature technology, low hysteresis, high repeatability Fragile, brittle University of Florida Induced Vibration Tactile Sensor Piezoelectric 0.3 mm* (not yet real-time) 1 Hz Not tested Not tested Experimental Inexpensive, good for slip detection or exploration No static response, highly experimental University of Pisa Sensor Piezoelectric 3 mm 100 Hz 20 gm 20-80,000 gm Experimental Multipurpose temperature, vibration, and pressure sensing Static response requires increased complexity of design * Single-element N.A.: Information sensor, high-resolution capability based c not available. >n vibrational design concept. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 185 TACTILE SENSING mechanical deformation of a flexible material. An elastic membrane often forms the touch surface and is usual- ly chosen to be tough and durable. This type of sensor is generally a com- pletely sealed unit and is thus imper- vious to most industrial contaminants. Electro-optic tactile sensors may also be highly sensitive, providing a direct readout of the degree of me- chanical deformation of their touch surface and are usually less suscepti- ble to electromagnetic interference than other types of tactile sensors. T\vo tactile sensors based on electro- optics are commercially available, and they represent the two most common optical approaches. The Lord Corporation of Erie, Penn- sylvania, presently markets a line of tactile sensors designated as the LTS-100, LTS-200, and LTS-300. All are based on the same principle and dif- fer primarily in sensing area and res- olution. The Lord Tactile Sensor is made up of three major components: a touch surface, a transduction array, and an electronic interface and control. The touch surface is an elastomeric pad that contacts an object to be ex- amined. The transduction medium consists of an array of LEDs (light- emitting diodes) and phototransistor pairs. The light from the LED is projected across a small gap and is received and converted into an electrical current by the phototransistor. When the touch surface comes into contact with an object, a pinlike projection on the underside of the touch surface pro- trudes into the transduction area. This projection is forced downward into the gap between the light emitter and detector and progressively blocks the light from the LED emitter (see figure I). The current generated by the light detector is inversely proportional to the degree of deflection of the trans- duction medium. The amount of force applied at a site may be determined by the properties of the elastomeric touch surface. The Lord LTS-100 sensor consists of an 8 by 8 array of LED/phototransistor pairs providing a total of 64 sensitive sites for pattern information. Each site is sensitive only to normal loads, and the electrical signal generated at each site is digitized to an 8-bit value to ELASTOMERIC TOUCH SURFACE LOAD LENS PHOTO DETECTOR STRUCTURE PHOTO EMITTER w? V S m ^S§5 Is E r^i ZERO DEFLECTION MODERATE DEFLECTION Figure 1: Sensitive site detail of an electro-optic tactile sensor. Used with permission of Lord Corporation, Erie, Pennsylvania. provide gray-scale information. Photo 1 shows the LTS-100 and a sample output image. The site-to-site spacing of this sensor is 7.62 mm, and the deflection range at each site is from to 1.52 mm, corresponding to to 681 grams. The 7.62-mm resolu- tion of this sensor is relatively coarse, although its sensitivity of 3.18 grams per deflection increment is fairly good. Deflection information for the entire array is scanned and output approx- imately every 3 milliseconds. The LTS-200A sensor provides higher res- olution by using an array of 10 by 16 sensitive sites on 1.80-mm centers. However, these sites are only digitized to 4-bit values, which reduces their sensitivity. The Lord sensor is a durable and rugged unit. However, since the design requires that each sensitive site be equipped with its own light emitter/receiver pair, which must be individually scanned, the ultimate resolution of the sensor is limited by the physical size of the sites and the complexity of the electronics required to interpret the signals received. [continued) Photo 1: LTS-100 sensor with display of tactile impression. Used with permission of Lord Corporation, Erie, Pennsylvania. 186 BYTE ■ JANUARY 1986 Betcha our compiler can beat up your compiler. Or your money back If you program in BASIC, Pascal, Fortran or C, you're using yesterday's technology. We know this state- ment will start a brawl, but it's true. So, before you start a fight you can't win, take a closer look at the Modula-2 language and the Modula-2 Software Development System (M2SDS) from Interface Technologies. Just compare the features and performance of M2SDS to your system. You'll find a new language and a programming environment that's more flexible, much faster and works on any IBM® PC or 100% compatible with 256 K memory or more. M2SDS COMPILE SPEED (MI MSEC) 20L1NES 200UNES . 0:15.58 0:25.48 EXECUTION SPEED (M IN SEC) SIEVE FIBONACCI 20X20 MATRIX (8087) FP OPERATIONS FP OPERATIONS (8087) 0:12.92 0:52.49 0:08.84 0:27.56 0:01.97 SYNTAX CHECKING EDITOR YES MULTIPLE WINDOW EDITING YES EDITOR FILESIZE LIMIT MEMORYSIZE COMPILE ERROR CALLS EDITOR YES UNKER YES PRODUCES .EXE FILES YES EXECUTABLE CODE SIZE LIMIT DISK SPACE DOS ACCESS FROM EDITOR YES DOS ACCESS FROM PROGRAMS YES 8087 SUPPORT STANDARD YES COPYPROTECTED DISK NO COST WITH 8087 SUPPORT $50.88l$80.88 Source: Software Resources, Inc. Sieve program from BYTE, January 1982. Fibonacci program from Dr. Dobb's Journal, February 1985. Matrix program from BYTE, October, 1982. FP Operations program from BYTE, May 1985. M2SDS with or without 8087 uses 8-byte accuracy. Programs compiled with all checking options on. All tests conducted on a standard IBM-PC/XT with 51 2 K of memory and an 8087 math coprocessor. TVade In and TVade Up. Just to prove that we're not all brag . . . we'll send you M2SDS for just $50.88 if you mail us your present compiler or interpreter diskette.* That's $30.00 off the regular price. If within 30 days you're not programming faster than ever, just return the diskette and we'll send you your money back. So you've got a no risk way to experi- ence the programming efficiency of the future. Heavyweight Champion SDS-XP. If you're ready to move into light-speed, you need SDS-XP. It has everything M2SDS has with a little "punch" added. Like Extended Libraries, M2MAKE and a Foreign Object Module Importer. SDS-XP offers buyers a stout discount when compared with the cost of buying M2SDS and the additional compo- nents as add-ons. For a limited time only, SDS-XP is available for $99.00 with compiler trade-in. That's $150.00 off the advertised price of $249.00. * Original o r back-up diskette may be sent for trade- in. Diskette will be destroyed immediately upon receipt so that your current compiler license agree- ment is not violated. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Calling All Compilers. So now that you're wise to the limitations of your system, why not trade it in. You'll soon see that it was smarter to switch than fight. And a pretty safe bet. m INTERFACE TECHNOLOGIES 3336 Richmond Ave., Suite 200 Houston, Tx 77098 1-800-922-9049 (In Texas, call 713/523-8422) Telex: 322127 Modula-2 Bulletin Board: 713/523-7255 Here's my diskette. Rush me: □ M2SDS for $50.88 each, plus $7 shipping and handling. □ SDS-XP for $99.00 each, plus $7 shipping and handling. Or, send me: □ M2SDS for $80.88 each, plus $7 shipping and handling. □ SDS-XP for $249.00 each, plus $7 ship- ping and handling. □ My check is enclosed. □ Apply charges to credit card indicated below: VISA/MasterCard/American Express (circle one). Credit Card # Expiration Date . Signature . Name (please print) Shipping Address . City. State/Zip Day Phone Texas residents add 6.125% Sales Tax. International orders add $20 for shipping! handling. If paying by check, check or draft must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. INTERFACE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 3336 Richmond, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77098 I I JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 187 TACTILE SENSING A tactile sensor based on the use of fiber optics is illustrated by research performed at MIT by lohn L. Schneiter and Thomas B. Sheridan. In this approach, light is transmitted through a bundle of fiber optics to an elastic reflective surface. The light reflected back from this surface is KsO LIGHT OUT RUBBER SKIN WITH ' REFLECTIVE SURFACE LIGHT SOURCE .-en OPTICAL FIBERS COMPUTER Figure 2: A tactile sensor based on the use of fiber optics, designed by John L. Schneiter and Thomas B. Sheridan. Reprinted from Robotics and Computer- Integrated Manufacturing. Courtesy of Pergamon Press. transmitted through another bundle of fiber optics to a video camera. The camera's output is digitized and made available to a computer for pro- cessing. When pressure is applied to the de- formable reflector, the intensity of the light transmitted through the in- dividual fibers changes. This informa- tion can be converted into a visual image by the computer. (The Jet Pro- pulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has developed a tactile sensor based on the same principle; however, the JPL sensor uses in- dividual photodetectors for each of 16 fiber-optic sensors in a 4 by 4 array.) The touch surface of the MIT sen- sor consists of a layer of white silicone rubber that acts as a deformable reflector. This layer is bonded to a layer of clear elastomer, to which the fiber-optic bundles are attached. Vari- ous methods of transmitting and re- ceiving the light have been experi- mented with. In one case, individual fibers were paired into emitting and receiving layers. This design, illustrated in figure 2, was somewhat difficult to fabricate because of the requirement that half the fibers be directed to the light source and the other half to the video camera. A different design, shown in figure 3, uses each fiber for both emitting and receiving. In this implementation, {continued) TACTILE SENSOR - OPTICAL FIBER BUNDLE- COMPUTER TELEVISION CAMERA BEAM SPLITTER O LIGHT SOURCE EPOXY OPTICAL FIBERS — -REFLECTING SURFACE -WHITE SILICONE RUBBER TRANSPARENT RUBBER Figure 3: A fiber-optic-based tactile sensor that uses each fiber as both emitter and receiver. Reprinted from Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing. Courtesy of Pergamon Press. 188 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 TODAY IF YOU COME IN SECOND, YOU'VE LOSTTHE RACE. It may have been good enough in a Soapbox Derby® but these days there is no second place. Fortunately there's a new way to get a jump on your competition. Intro- ducing Amiga.™ The first personal com- puter that gives you a creative edge. Amiga makes charts and graphs with more color and dimension than any other personal computer (and faster than most of them). But thars just a start. You can prepare presentations with stereo music and animation, slide shows, create package designs, in- struction manuals, brochures. Amiga can not only do many more tasks, it can do more of them at once. And work on all of them simultaneously. While you're preparing the spread- sheet, Amiga will print the memo. And there's probably enough power left over to receive a phone message or a stock quote over a modem at the same time. You won't find a computer that's eas- ier to use, either. You point at symbols with the mouse or use keyboard com- mands if you prefer. Only Amiga is built to give you a choice. Amiga has twice the memory of an IBM® PC But although it can run rings around IBM, it will also run IBM pro- grams. You have instant access to the largest collection of business software in the industry including old standbys like Wordstar® and Lotus® 1,2,3. Amiga is more powerful than Macintosh,™ too, and more expandable. With an op- tional expansion module you can add memory up to 8 megabytes. And while it can do much more than Macintosh or IBM, Amiga costs less than either of them. See an Authorized Amiga Dealer near you. Now that Amiga is here, the question isn't whether you can afford a computer, it's whether you can afford to wait. Amiga by Commodore Amiga can help you design anything, from autos to atoms. Like you, Amiga can do many Amiga's color graphics leave things at once. the competition far behind. mmm ^ AMIGA GIVES YOU ACREATIVE EDGE. ® Soapbox Derby is a registered trademark of international Soapbox Derby, inc., Akron, Ohio. '" Amiga is a trademark of Commodore-Amiga, inc. ® IBM is a registered trademark of international Business Machines, Inc. ® Wordstar is a registered trademark of Micropro, inc. ® Lotus is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. ,M Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer, inc. ©1985, Commodore Electronics Limited. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 189 TACTILE SENSING light is directed from the light source to a beam splitter. At the beam split- ter, 7 5 percent of the light is trans- mitted straight through and is lost. The other 25 percent is directed into the fiber-optic bundle and transmitted to the reflector. This light is then reflected from the reflector back into the bundle, where it again passes through the beam splitter (with 75 percent transmission) to the video camera. In this way. each fiber acts a both an emitter and a receiver, and fabrication is greatly simplified. Because this type of sensor uses tightly packed bundles of optical fibers, extremely high spatial resolu- tion is possible. The ultimate resolu- tion of this type of device is limited only by the diameter of the individual optical fibers. Schneiter and Sheridan have reported usable spatial densities of over 2100 sensitive sites per square inch, which is roughly equal to a resolution of better than 0.6 mm. The device is also completely immune to electromagnetic interference and can be used in environments that would harm computers by simply routing the fibers from the sensor to a remote location. The prototype device is currently limited by a reaction time of 33.33 milliseconds (based on the video camera refresh rate), a somewhat restricted dynamic range of 18 to I, and a touch surface that wears out fairly rapidly (after a few hundred cycles). It is also important to note that very high spatial resolutions, like those attained in this design, often re- quire increased computational re- quirements as well. A commercial tactile sensor com- bining features of both the Lord and the MIT optical sensors is available from l^ctile Robotic Systems of special] MEMORY SOLUTIONS TURBL ] DRIVE™ SERIES High performance, full featured fixed disk kits for: D IBM PC □ IBM PC/XT □ IBM PORTABLE PC D AT&T 0300 □ AT&T 7300 □ COMPAQ PORTABLE AND DESKPRO TTRHO DRIVE - '" is the onlv competitive product in this price category which increases hard disk 1/0 by- SO-IOO'V. and more- over other hard disk subsystems on the market today. And it is as reliable as it is fist with a MTBF of over l-i.OOO power-on hours! FEATURES: I II). 20, & 33 MB Formatted Capabilities (up to 2 drives/66 MB per system ) I 100% Hardware and Software Compatihle I Auto R«ot from Fixed Disk I Head arking Software I Simple Installation I 12-Month Warranty I Short Slot Controller - Card is W l.tng I Drives are Completely Burnt in and Tested With Sophisticated Test Equipment Used by IBM TDKS I0 J TD8S20* TDKUV ' CAPACITY FORMAT1E1) 10 MB 20 MB 33 MB LIST i 595 795 1595 SPECIAL (jty. I |(J». 10 LIST •SPECIAL yty. 1 (Qiy. 1(1 i 895 1095 1695 1 Standard Subsystems Availahlc J Specify Full or 14 Ht. Bezel 1 Price includes replacement 1.35W drop in PS for the IBM C MAX DRIVE™ SERIES High capacity full height fixed disk upgraded for D IBM PC/AT and kits for D IBM PC. XT and D compatibles. FEATURES: ■ 20 to 330 MB Formatted Capacity I Utility Software for C DOS - Utilize up to 10 Vols, or Smaller "Disks". Access Vols, hy Password, Read/Write, Inhibit and More. I Simple Installation I 12-Month Warranty I Unitsare Completely Burnt in and Tested From $795.00 The TURBO DRIVE,™ MAX DRIVE 1 " & 1-8480 Scries o f disk subsystems represents part o f a 1 year corporate commitment to offering higher performance turnkey peripherals at a much lower cost to you than products provided by systems manufacturers. The Tuibo Drive" series offers higher capacities, signifi- cantly increased speed, and power efficient components with less heat dissipation eausing increased product life and reliability. The MAX DRIVE" Series provides maximum capacity with maximum price/performance efficiencies. The 1-8480" Scries offers an alternative to communications and the benefit of media interchange between most micrt, mini and mainframe computers. * Limited Time Offer — Sales Direct to Users at Special Price— Free Shipping In Continental U.S. — Expires January 31, 1986. Dealer Inquiries Encouraged — University and Corporate PO's Welcome mmmwswi Peripheral Technology, Inc. 2911 Newport Boulevard, Newport Beach, California 92663 • (714)642-7163 Sunnyvale, California. The company's highest-resolution sensor consists of a 16 by 16 array of sensitive sites spaced approximately 1.3 mm apart. Each sensing site is composed of a very small cantilever spring that pro- trudes through a metal plate. An op- tical fiber passes beneath each sens- ing site. The fiber has a small gap cut in it so that the two cut ends look at each other across a small air space. Light is passed through the fibers from an array of LEDs along one side of the sensor and is received by phototran- sistors along the opposite side. When pressure is applied to a sensing site, the cantilever spring pushes one end of the optical fiber out of alignment with the other fiber, thus diminishing the amount of light received by the photodetector at the opposite end of the fiber. This arrangement is similar to the Lord approach, but it can provide a potentially higher spatial resolution because the light emitters and detec- tors are located along the sides, rather than within the interior, of the sensor array. Also, whereas the Lord sensor relies on the properties of its elastomer surface to provide the force-versus-displacement calibration, the Tactile Robotic Systems device uses the metal cantilever spring to provide a more stable and predictable spring constant. The sensor can be calibrated to determine loads ranging from 10 to 1000 grams per sensing site. Each sensing site can resolve approximate- ly 2 56 discrete steps, so the sensitivi- ty of an individual site can be as high as 10/2 56 grams, or approximately 0.04 grams. The data response time of the sensor is restricted by the hard- ware and software of the personal computer it is interfaced to and is cur- rently limited to a scan rate of 3 kHz for each site, or approximately 12 Hz over the entire array. plezoresistive tactile Sensors The category of piezoresistive tactile sensors is quite broad and includes [continued) 190 BYTE • IANUARY 1986 Inquiry 169 • UAL. H!E.i^D THE FORTS DH45, THE START OF A NEW BUSINESS GENERATION DAISY OR DOTS... Have it your way. Don't settle for one or the other... get both. The revolutionary FORTIS DH45 dual head printer combines the speed and bit image graphics of a dot matrix with a high quality daisy wheel for crisp letters. All this in one compact unit that saves desk space and at a price that is less than you would pay for one printer. It is also compatible with IBM* PC and most other personal computers. .aisy Wheel Print head \ Dot Matrix Phntheadi with its two heads, produces crisp let graphics with a dot matrix print head. Sewing/ Laundry |[ /// j ;:.:! ** BA ' fr*fi p — it / i l Imagine the advantage of having two heads in one printer. Need graphics or condensed print spreadsheets or a rough draft of a long letter, just touch the control panel. Ho w about important correspondence to impress a potential client, again, just touch the control panel to switch to the letter quality daisy wheel. Indeed, the old saying TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE, really holds true in the DH45. FORTIS 'IBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corp FORTE E5 ■FORTIS Dynaxjnc. DYNAX, INC. OFFICES ■ HEADQUARTERS 6070 Rickenbacker Rd„ Commerce, CA 90040 • (213) 727-1227 ■ NEW JERSEY One Madison St., East Rutherford, NJ 07073 • (201) 471-0100 ■ TEXAS 6012 Campus Circle, Suite 250, Irving, TX 75062 • (214) 257-1700 ■ ILLINOIS 415 West Golf Rd., Suite 48, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 • (312) 228-0707 ■ MASSACHUSETTS 400 W. Cummings Park, Suite 5300, Woburn, MA 01801 • (617) 933-8162 ■ N. CALIFORNIA 683 West Maude Ave., Suite A, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 • (408) 730-1712 Inquiry Il4 YES! Please send me more information on the FORTIS DH45 Dual Head Printer Name Title Company City Zip I to: DYNAX, INC. Customer Service / FORTIS DH45 6070 Rickenbacker Road. Commerce, CA 90040 liiliiii Unlock powerful software with the power of speech. "OPEN MY MAIL!' V "OPEN SALES DATA BASE" "PRINT SALES BY TERRITORY" / "GET STOCK QUOTES" i H "CALL MICROPHONICS" j "EDITLEFi 3»J No matter what software you use, Pronounce will make you a power user. You're just one phone call from the most powerful PC tool available today— the Pronounce™ speech input system from Microphonics™ In plain English, or in any other language, you can create spreadsheets, perform a financial analysis, edit reports, call up graphs, play "what its" and print files. No matter what PC software you use, Pronounce will boost its usefulness and help you work faster. Because Pronounce replaces repetitous keystroke sequences with simple voice commands, leaving your hands free for other things. A simple statement like "revise the two-year forecast" can equal up to 255 keystrokes. That's like typing at the speed of sound. No other speech input system compares with <*&** — Pronounce. And for un- trl§llll| limited flexibility, no other system lets you add or change Voice-Macros™ tS^^^^ anytime you please. Best of all, Pronounce costs less * > i'-""" than half what the ^ ^ *. ^a " competition is asking, t tjP^^^I-^ What the experts are saying about Pronounce. "With the Pronounce software, you don't have to be a programming guru.. . you can make the system into almost anything you want." -PC Magazine, October 1, 1985 "Perhaps its greatest potential is in allowing people untrained in computer skills to use sophisticated software in solving complex problems." —Lotus Magazine, July 1985 Unconditional money-back guarantee. Order now and Microphonics will give you one of the programs listed at right, free. Pronounce comes with a 30-day unconditional money- ■ :: --~^ : i back guarantee. If you are not 100% satisfied, return Pronounce and the free gift undamaged within 30 days for a full refund. Major charge cards and CODs accepted. 1-800-325-9206 Microphonics Technology Corporation, 234 S.W. 43rd Street, Renton,WA98057, Telephone (206) 251-9009. Order Pronounce now at only $695 and Microphonics will give you one of these major products. Absolutely free. Microphonics SuperCalc3 f and Sideways™ FREE . A super spreadsheet with graphics. $395 retail value. Or. ..Enable, FREE . A fully integrated, five-function pro- gram. $695 retail value. Or. . , Microphonics StyleWriter, FREE . StyleWriter is a unique device with 64K buffer and an array of type styles and sizes that upgrades your matrix printer to" letter quality. $199 retail value. Or. . . Microphonics ColoGraph. FREE . Hercules™ look-alike color graphics card. $495 retail value. Or. . ■ Microphonics MonoGraph: FREE . Hercules look-alike monochrome graphics card. $295 retail value. Microphonics 192 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 243 TACTILE SENSING a multitude of different device types and approaches. These range from simple strain gauges and solid-state silicon devices to conductive elas- tomers and foams. They are all in- cluded in this single category because all rely on materials whose electrical conductivity varies as pressure is applied. The use of conductive elastomers as the basis for a tactile sensor has been studied for some time. A conductive elastomer is simply an elastic, rubber- like material that has electrically con- ductive properties. Many different conductive elastomer or conductive foam materials have been experi- mented with, but most sensor designs use an approach similar to that used by lohn Purbrick of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Purbrick noted that if a flat, hard conductor is pressed against another that is rounded and compressible, the area of the electrical contact will vary according to how hard the first con- ductor is pushed. The greater the pressure, the larger the contact area formed and the lower the electrical resistance. Strings of conductive silicone rub- ber with a semicircular cross-section were formed into two identical sets of 1 6 parallel lines. These were aligned perpendicular to each other and placed into contact to form a 16 by 16 array. This created 2 56 nodes where the convex surfaces of both sets of cords touched. An automatic scanning system passed a current into the array along a horizontal string and out across a vertical string, one com- bination at a time. It was possible to measure the resistance of each of the 2 56 contact points in the grid approximately 40 times per second. Purbrick's device was able to distinguish at least 10 dif- ferent amounts of pressure in a range from 5 to 100 grams. William D. Hillis, also of the MIT Ar- tificial Intelligence Laboratory, ex- tended this approach by using sheets of a material known as anisotropical- ly conductive silicone rubber (ACS). ACS has the useful property of being conductive along only one axis in the plane of the sheet. A flexible printed-circuit board was etched into fine parallel lines so that it, too, was conductive in only one direction. The etched-circuit board and the ACS were placed into contact, with the lines on the printed-circuit board oriented perpendicular to the ACS axis of conduction. The contact points at each intersection of the perpendicular conductors form the pressure sensors. A springy nylon mesh (made from pantyhose material) was used to separate the contacts after pressure was released. The array was scanned electronical- ly to determine the applied pressure at each contact point. Hillis's device was a 16 by 16 array over a 1 -square- centimeter area. It was able to reliably measure pressures ranging from 5 to 50 grams per square millimeter. Barry Wright Corporation of Water- town, Massachusetts, markets a com- mercial tactile sensor based on the research of Purbrick and Hillis. How- ever, the Barry Wright sensor uses a proprietary elastomer material, rather than silicone compounds. The Sensoflex Tactile Sensor is cur- rently available in two models, one made up of a 16 by 16 site array on 0.1 -inch centers and the other an 8 by 16 array on 0.05-inch centers. The sen- sor is scanned on a row/column basis, and the output is digitized to an 8-bit value. The sensor can be scanned at rates up to 30 times per second and is designed for recommended loads ranging from to 75 pounds per square inch. Barry Wright Corpora- [contimed) For Further Information Cholakis, Peter N. "Tactile Sensing for End Effectors." SME Seminar on Robotic End Effectors, March 1984. Dario, Paola, and Danilo De Rossi. 'Tac- tile Sensors and the Gripping Chal- lenge." IEEE Spectrum, August 1985. Fox, J. L. "The Brain's Dynamic Way of Keeping in Touch." Science, vol. 225, no. 4664, August 27, 1984, pages 820-821. Hapgood, Fred. "Inside a Robotics Lab: The Quest for Automatic 'touch." tech- nology Illustrated, April 1983, pages 18-22. Harmon, Leon D. "Automated Tactile Sensing." The International journal of Robotics Research, vol. I, no. 2, Summer 1982. Harmon, Leon D. "Touch Sensing 'tech- nology: A Review." Case Western Reserve University, SME Technical Report MSR80-03, 1980. Hillis, William Daniel. "Active Touch Sensing." Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, A.l. Memo 629, April 1981. Kowalski, Carl. "Silicon Succeeds in Touch Sensing." Robotics Today, April 1985. McMillan, William W. "The Robot's Sense of Touch: Some Lessons from Human Taction." Proceedings of the 1984 Computer Science Conference. New York: The Association for Computing Ma- chinery, February 1984. Nevill, G. E., Jr., E. F. Schildwachter, and K. L. Doty. "Alternative Skin Geo- metries and Materials for Induced Vibration Touch Sensors." Gaines- ville, FL: University of Florida, June 1985. Patterson, Robert W. "Development of a Dynamic Tbuch Sensor." Ph.D. Dis- sertation. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 1985. Purbrick, John A. "A Force Transducer Employing Conductive Silicone Rub- ber." First Robot Vision and Sensors Conference, 1981. Rebman, J., and M. W. TU11. 'A Robust Tactile Sensor for Robotic Applica- tions." Proceedings of the 1983 \ntema- tional Computers in Engineering Conference and Exhibit, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, August 1983. Schneiter, John L., and Thomas B. Sheridan. 'An Optical Tactile Sensor for Manipulators." Robotics and Com- puter-Integrated Manufacturing, vol. I , no. I, 1984, pages 65-71. "Tactile Robotic Systems Inc. Product Information Sheet" and personal communication. Sunnyvale, CA: Tac- tile Robotic Systems Inc., August 21, 1985. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 193 A Printer For All Reasons Search For The Best High Quality Graphic Printer If you have been looking very long, you have probably discovered that there are just too many claims and counter claims in the printer market today. There are printers that have some of the features you want but do not have others. Some features you probably don't care about, others are vitally important to you. We understand. In fact, not long ago, we were in the same position. Deluged by claims and counter claims. Overburdened by rows and rows of specifications, we decided to separate all the facts — prove or disprove all the claims to our own satisfaction. So we bought printers. We bought samples of all the major brands and tested them. Our Objective Was Simple We wanted to find that printer which had all the features you could want and yet be sold di- rectly to you at the lowest price. We didn't want a "close-out special" of an obsolete product that some manufacturer was dump- ing, so we limited our search to only those new printers that had the latest proven technology. We wanted to give our customers the best printer on the market today at a bargain price. The Results Are In The search is over. We have reduced the field to a single printer that meets all our goals (and more). The printer is the SP-1000 from Seiko- sha, a division of Seiko (one of the foremost manufacturers in the world). We ran this printer through our battery of tests and it came out shining. This printer can do it all. Standard draft printing at a respectable 100 characters per second, and with a very read- able 12 (horizontal) by 9 (vertical) character matrix. This is a full bi-directional, logic seek- ing, true descender printer. "NLQ" Mode One of our highest concerns was about print quality and readability. The SP-1000 has a print mode termed Near Letter Quality print- ing (NLQ mode). This is where the SP-1000 outshines all the competition. Hands down! The character matrix in NLQ mode is a very dense 24 (horizontal) by 18 (vertical). This equates to 41 ,472 addressable dots per square inch. Now we're talking quality printing. It looks like it was done on a typewriter. You can even print graphics using the standard graphics symbols built into your computer. The results are the best we've ever seen. The only other printers currently available having resolution this high go for $500 and more without the interface or cable needed to hook up to your computer. Features That Won't Quit With the SP-1000 your computer can now print 40, 48, 68, 80, 96, or 136 characters per line. You can print in ANY of 35 character styles including 13 double width and 3 re- versed (white on black) styles. You not only have the standard Pica, Elite, Condensed and Italics, but also true Superscripts and Sub- scripts. Never again will you have to worry about how to print H 2 or X 2 . This fantastic 194 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 machine will do it automatically, through easy commands right from your keyboard. Do you sometimes want to emphasize a word? It's easy, just use bold (double strike) or use italics to make the words stand out. Or, if you wish to be even more emphatic, underline the words. You can combine many of these modes and styles to make the variation almost end- less. Do you want to express something that you can't do with words? Use graphics with your text — even on the same line. You have variable line spacing of 1 line per inch to infin- ity (no space at all) and 143 other software se- lectable settings in between. You can control line spacing on a dot-by-dot basis. If you've ever had a letter or other document that was just a few lines too long to fit a page, you can see how handy this feature is. Simply reduce the line spacing slightly and . . . VOILA! The letter now fits on one page. Forms? Yes! Your Letterhead? Of Course! Do you print forms? No problem. This unit will do them all. Any form up to 10 inches wide. The tractors are adjustable from 4 to 10 inches. Yes, you can also use single sheets. Plain typing paper, your letterhead, short memo forms, labels, anything you choose. Any size to 10" in width. In fact this unit is so advanced, it will load your paper automati- cally. Multiple copies? Absolutely! Use forms (up to 3 thick). Do you want to use spread sheets with many columns? Of course! Just go to condensed mode printing and print a full 136 columns wide. Forget expensive wide-car- riage printers and changing to wide carriage paper. You can now do it all on a standard 8 Vi " wide page, and you can do it quietly. The SP-1000 is rated at only 55 dB. This is quieter than any other impact dot matrix printer that we know of and is quieter than the average of- fice background noise level. Consistent Print Quality Most printers have a ribbon cartridge or a single spool ribbon which gives nice dark printing when new, but quickly starts to fade. To keep the printers output looking consis- tently dark, the ribbons must be changed quite often. The SP-1000 solves this problem by using a wide (Vi") ribbon cartridge that will print thousands of pages before needing re- placement. (When you finally do wear out your ribbon, replacement cost is only $11.00. Order #2001.) The Best Part When shopping for a printer with this quality and these features, you could expect to pay around $500 or more. Not now! We sell this fantastic printer for only $259.95! You need absolutely nothing else to start printing — just add paper. No Risk Offer We give you a 2- week satisfaction guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied for any rea- son we will promptly refund your purchase. A 1-year warranty is included with your printer. The warranty repair policy is to repair or re- place and reship to the buyer within 72 hours of receipt. The Bottom Line Be sure to specify the order # for the correct version printer designed for your computer. Commodore C-64 & C-128, Order #2200, cable included IBM-PC and compatibles, Order #2100, plus 8 'cable #1103, $26.00 Standard Parallel with 36 pin Centronics con- nector, Order #2400, no cable We also have interfaces and cables for other computers not listed. Call Customer Service at 805/987-2454 for details. Shipping and insurance is $10.00 — UPS with- in the continental USA. If you are in a hurry, UPS Blue (second day air), APO or FPO is $22.00. Canada, Alaska, Mexico are $30.00 (air). Other foreign is $70.00 (air). California residents add 6% tax. The above are cash prices — VISA and MC add 3% to total. We ship the next business day on money orders, cashiers* checks, and charge cards. A 14-day clearing period is required for checks. For information call 805/987-2454 TO ORDER CALL TOLL FREE 1 (800) 962-5800 USA . g 6 psj . 1 -(800) 962-3800 CALIF. l ' or send order to: dPROKK 1071-A Avenida Acaso Camarillo, CA 93010 Inquiry 22 for End-Users. Inquiry 23 for DEALERS ONLY. TACTILE SENSING tion. manufacturer of the Sensoflex Tactile Sensor, claims that its product exhibits the characteristics of low hysteresis, fast response time and high repeatability. Strain Gauges as Tactile Sensors Although careful material selection can minimize hysteresis and long-term creep, these effects will always be present to some degree in an elastomer material. Some researchers prefer to avoid these potential pitfalls by basing their sensor design on the more mature and proven technology of strain gauges. In its simplest form, a strain gauge is a circuit that is capable of measur- ing very minute changes in the re- sistance of one or more of its com- ponents. When a force is applied to the gauge or to an object to which the gauge is attached, some parts of the gauge are subjected to tension or compression. This results in a small change in the physical dimensions of the gauge and can be quantified by the resultant change in the electrical resistance of the strain-gauge circuit. Strain gauges are available in a vari- ety of shapes and sizes and offer the dual advantages of low hysteresis and low fatigue. Tfansensory Devices Inc. of Fre- mont, California, is developing a tac- tile sensor based on solid-state silicon strain gauges. These miniature strain gauges allow for the relatively dense arrays of sensing sites generally con- sidered necessary for an effective tac- tile sensor. Each individual sensing site of the TVansensory Devices sensor consists of a; small box-shaped silicon element (called the mesa) that protrudes out of a silicon diaphragm. The mesa is capped with a protective square of hard plastic, and the whole assembly is bonded to a glass substrate hous- ing the electrical connections. A rugged elastomer material covers the entire assembly for protection (see figure 4). The mesa, diaphragm, and interface circuitry are all machined from a single piece of silicon wafer. In use, a 5-volt power supply provides a refer- ence signal for the sensor, as well as power for the on-board logic circuitry. The sensor's output is an analog voltage that changes proportionally with the force applied to the sensitive area. TWo sensors have been developed and tested by TVansensory Devices. One is a single-element sensor; the other is a 3 by 3 array of sensor ele- ments spaced on approximately 2-mm centers. The present devices provide good linearity in force sens- [continued) TURN YOUR COMMODORE 64 INTO AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL CENTER Introduci! T ADE™ for Commodore 64. Controlling the environment since 1983, FIRST ADE™, is now available for use on the Commodore 64. FIRST ADE™, a complete 8 bit data acquisition and control card that just plugs into your Commodore 64, allowing you to control the in- door and outdoor functions of home or business. P Control your heating, lighting, small appliances, freezer, sprinkler system, pool level and temperature, and much, much more. No special wiring required. BSR compatible by simply connecting to remote control modules. INTRODUCTORY OFFER! $495.95 Check/M.O./C.O.D./Visa/Mastercard dd 3% shipping/CA add 6% Sales Tax : How 4 to 6 weeks delivery A/D ELECTRONICS P.O. Box 26357 Sacramento, California 95826 (916)486-1411 Q < u -i o cr H Z o o ULI < o CO FIRST ADE'™ features - 8 Analog Input Channels 8 Digital Input Channels 8 Digital Output Channels 8 120V 6A Relays/Receptacles 8 Analog Input Terminations 8 Digital Input Terminations RS 232 Port Real Time Clock w/battery 3 month warranty FIRST ADE™ Version 1.4 Disk Based/Menu Driven Logic Functions Programmable Setpoints COMING SOON! FIRST ADE™ for IBM PC and Apple II Distributorship available. Inquiry 2 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 195 TACTILE SENSING ing and are designed to measure from to 2 pounds of force. This design ap- proach of miniature solid-state trans- ducers offers great promise for future high-resolution sensors. However, the current silicon and glass sensor is both fragile and stiff and will require further refinements before it is suitable for widespread application in an industrial environment. Piezoelectric Tactile Sensors Piezoresistive sensors measure a change in electrical resistivity as a result of an applied force. Piezoelec- tric sensors are based on materials that generate an electrical response to an applied force. Piezoelectricity is a common phenomenon of crystalline materials such as quartz, and piezo- electric ceramics are in widespread use. However, the brittle nature of most common piezoelectric materials tends to make them unsuitable for tactile sensor applications. A class of materials known as piezoelectric polymers offers con- siderable promise for tactile sensing. Piezoelectric polymers are, as the name implies, polymers that exhibit piezoelectric properties. They are rugged, durable, inexpensive, and available in thin flexible sheets that allow them to conform to complex contours. Piezoelectric polymers may be formed into patterns of high-resolu- tion arrays by either metalizing the polymer film through a suitable mask or by selectively etching a metaliza- tion previously deposited on the film. They are flexible, rugged, high-resolu- tion, and inexpensive. These are some of the key characteristics of the ideal tactile sensor discussed earlier. In addition to their piezoelectric properties, the polymers also exhibit pyroelectric characteristics. That is, they show a change in electrical response based on temperature as well as pressure stimuli. This can be a problem or an asset, depending on how it is dealt with. One piezoelectric polymer that is widely used in tactile sensor research is polyvinylidene fluoride, or PVDF. This material ex- hibits the desirable property of a relatively large and linear electrical response to an applied external force. One problem with the use of PVDF or other piezoelectric materials in general is that the electrical response is inherently dynamic. That is, the material generates an electrical re- sponse only while it is being de- formed. If a continuous, nonvarying load is applied to a PVDF sensor, the electrical signal generated by the load will soon decay to zero. The Dynamic-Motion Principle Researchers at the University of Florida dealt with that potential prob- lem by developing a sensor based en- tirely on dynamic motion. The con- cept of a sensor based on the vibra- tions induced by sliding motion across a sample object was devel- MESA GLASS 1 HARD PLASTIC \ .,,/. > PI ARTOMFR SUBSTRATE— \ x 4 \ / / X 1 — ^ ^ y j — ELECTRICAL / CONNECTION y/\ ^ W . 1 LL EPOXY PACKAGE Figure 4: The major components of a single-element tactile sensor that measures force normal to its surface. By permission of Tfansensory Devices Inc., Fremont. California. oped by Gale E. Nevill Jr. and Robert W. Patterson of the University of Florida. This concept is based on the theory that the papillary ridges of the finger- tips provide information that is useful in the identification of objects by touch. To investigate the theory, a tac- tile sensor was designed that would move across an object under exam- ination. The sensor is composed of two separate PVDF transducers. One transducer is oriented so that its direction of greatest electrical sen- sitivity is parallel to the direction of movement; the other is oriented transverse to that direction. The two transducers, oriented perpendicular to each other, are bonded together with nonconductive epoxy. The trans- ducer assembly is then bonded to a silicone rubber pad. The surface of the rubber pad is made up of a regular series of tri- angular ridges, meant to simulate the ridges on the human fingertip. Separate electrical leads from the parallel and transverse transducers are fed to a signal analyzer. The con- struction of the sensor allows for the separate analysis of the transverse and parallel vibrations induced by moving an object across the sensor. In experimental use, objects are moved across the sensor at a constant speed via a rotating platform. When the sensor pad contacts an object, a measurement is made of the signal in- duced by both the transverse and parallel vibrations. This results in a signal spectrum of voltage versus fre- quency. Discrete values of the signal within certain bandwidths are used as parameters for a discriminate analysis pattern-recognition scheme. During laboratory tests, sample ob- jects are first moved across the sen- sor to establish a test template of parameters. Afterward, the sensor is able to recognize objects to which it has been previously exposed with almost 100 percent accuracy. It is capable of reading the Braille alpha- bet and can distinguish between dif- ferent grades of sandpaper. It can tell [continued] 196 B YTE ■ JANUARY 1986 Look at what we're plugging now. Plug-in Teacs. We offer a full line of PC compatible components to increase your floppy storage, to add Winchester drives, or to include a streaming cassette back-up. Our FD-55 Series, half-height, low power, 5% -inch floppy disk drives are the world-wide standard of excellence with over 3 million in service to date. A quick and easy way to double your capacity Our MT-2st Kit is all you need to plug-in a streaming cassette back-up system. With 90 ips performance, you can store up to 20 megabytes of back- up incredibly quick. Our PS-5250 subsystem is a completely self-contained, self-powered add-on that includes a 20 me| Winchester drive and a 20 megabyte streaming cassette back-up. With Teac, adding on more storage capacity is an open and shut case. 1 mmmm Inquiry 348 Built To Fanatical StandarckTE AC. ENTATION AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS DIVISION, 7733 TELEGRAPH ROAD, MONTEBELLQ CA 90640 st (617) 475-7311 South/Midwest (312) 351-9124 Rocky Mountain (602) 242-4025 (303)337-6329 (801)532-2111 Northwest (408) 727-1427 Southern California (213) 726-0303 ©was TACTILE SENSING the difference between cylinders and spheres of varying sizes and can re- solve differences between ball bear- ings spaced 0.2 5 inch versus 0.26 inch apart. It can also determine the fea- tures of an object under examination even if the speed with which it is scanned across the object is changed. More recent experiments have iden- tified materials for the surface pad that are more resistant to temperature and abrasion than the original silicone rubber pad. Further investigations are being performed to develop sensor arrays that offer increased spatial resolution. This type of sensor shows promise in applications that are primarily exploratory or object-iden- UNLOCK Removes Copy Protection RUNS YOUR SOFTWARE ON ANY HARD DISK • Produce non-protected DOS copies from popular software programs. Currently supports only programs listed below: UNIock ALBUM "A" • DATA BASE MANAGER II™ (ALPHA 2.02) Best of UNIock ALBUM "D" ^■■»4 QC plus S4 ship/ «P#4i%lw handling • MICROSOFT WORD™ (20) •dBASE III™ (1.0, 1.1 & 1.2) • LOTUS 1-2-3™ (1.0 & la) • SYMPHONY™ (1.0 & 1.1) • FRAMEWORK™ ( i.o & 1.1) • CLIPPER™ •MULTILINK™ ( 3.02) • For IBM" PC, XT, AT, compatibles TranSec UNIock is a unique software copying disk that removes copy protection, providing standard non-protected DOS copies. UNIock runs on IBM® PC, XT, AT, and compatibles with 256K or more, DOS 2.0 or higher. BACKUP COPIES. UNIock safely and easily makes backup copies. RUN ON HARD DISK. Programs load faster, use less disk space and work with any hard disk, including Bernoulli Boxes. No longer do you need the original in drive "A". RUN ON RAM DISK. UNIock is the only software that can run copy protected software on a RAM disk or micro-floppy. EASY TO USE. 1) Type UNIock. 2) Select program destination. 3) Insert program disk. SAFE ORIGINAL. UNIock does not alter your original distribution disk. UNIock works by creating a copy of your distribution disk on a hard or floppy disk. It then removes copy protection from the copy! NEW! HOLIDAY SPECIAL! "Best of UNIock" ORDER TODAY BY TELEPHONE! 1-305-474-7548 C& JRANSEC" 1 TranSec Systems, Inc., 1802-200 North University Drive, Plantation, FL33322 Trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners. • UNIock is For Use Only to Improve the Useability of Legally Acquired and Operated Software. tification-oriented. It also appears ap- propriate for use in slip detection. However, since its output depends on dynamically induced vibrations, this type of sensor is unsuitable for conventional gripping applications unless wedded with another sensor design. Also, since the computer must know the sensor's relative speed of motion, there must be communica- tion with another device capable of determining that speed. This is not necessarily a problem, since such in- formation could be obtained from the movement of a robot arm attached to the sensor, but it is a consideration nevertheless. P. Dario, D. De Rossi, P. C Pinotti. R. Bardelli, and others at the University of Pisa in Italy have been involved for many years in developing an artificial, skinlike, tactile sensor capable of alleviating some of these problems. One of their designs attempts to reproduce the sensing properties of the human fingertip. The sensor con- sists of an outer epidermal layer and an inner dermal layer (see figure 5), each of which performs distinct sensing functions. The epidermal layer con- sists of a 40-micrometer-thick film of PVDF protected by a thin Mylar sheet. Electrodes on the top and bottom of the epidermal PVDF film carry off any electrical charge to signal pro- cessing equipment. The underside of the PVDF layer is covered with a resistive paint and is backed by an elastomer layer. A IlO-micrometer- thick PVDF film is attached to the underside of the elastomer layer. The lower PVDF layer serves as the der- mal sensor and is bonded to a circuit board containing an 8 by 16 array of circular electrodes, spaced on 3-mm centers. Any charge developed in the der- mal PVDF layer is discretely measured by the closest electrode sites. The signals from the electrodes are con- secutively scanned, fed into a charge amplification device, and measured. This design allows the sensor to measure gross pressure deformations in the epidermal layer and more highly resolved and localized defor- [contmued) 198 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 36! "Power Protection" Full sine wave output 200W, 300W^ 800W, 1500W output available Real-time status display Extended back-up time I available Factory installed, premium Output filti Audible Heavy-duty handles and rugged case 5 year maintenance-free batteries and surge protected alarm Announcing: AP1000 Series UPS Full sine wave UPS for low power applications from Emerson, the Technology and Price Leader in Uninterruptible Power Systems Your electronic equipment depends upon clean uninterrupted power. If that power is disturbed by "Black-outs", "Brown-outs", Spikes or Surges, your equipment could be damaged and memory lost. Your valuable system becomes worthless. Do you have these? P.C.'s, office computers, ATM's, PBX's, Point of Sale Terminals, Security Systems, or Test Equipment. They could be vulnerable to power-line disturbances. Now they can be economically protected with the new Emerson AP1000 Series UPS with power ratings from 200-1500 watts and starting at $379. From 200VA to 4,000 KVA, Emerson has you covered. For a free Technical Brochure and the Distributor/ Dealer nearest you, call toll free 1-800-BACK-UPS. Emerson Computer Power, 3300 S. Standard St., Santa Ana, California 92702. CALL 1-800-BACK-UPS For Your Free Technical Brochure / ...^te IS ^^^ "■ISMISRSDN Computer Power ^^ Inquiry 422 for End-Users. Inquiry 423 for DEALERS ONLY JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 199 TACTILE SENSING mations in the dermal layer. The overall sensor dimension is ap- proximately 1 by 2 inches. The elas- tomer layer between the two PVDF layers provides electrical insulation. In addition, the elastomer introduces a time delay of about 1 second be- tween the detection of thermal signals in the epidermal and the dermal layers, allowing the isolation of ther- mally induced responses. This alleviates the potential problems associated with the pyroelectric response of PVDF and allows for the possible identification of objects based on their thermal conductance. In practice, the sensor replicates the human's temperature- and pressure- sensing responses. When the resistive paint layer is connected to a regulated power supply, the paint raises the sen- sor's temperature to approximately 37° Celsius. When the tactile sensor touches an object, heat flows from the resistive layer through the PVDF epidermal sensor to the object. The rate of heat flow depends on the ther- mal properties of the object being touched. This allows metals, which have a high thermal conductivity, to be clearly distinguished from plastics or other insulating materials. The dermal sensor array continu- ously measures varying contact forces over relatively dense sensing sites and can therefore detect geometrical fea- tures of objects such as edges, corners, and depressions. The epidermal layer, protected only by a thin Mylar film, is extremely sen- sitive to deformations and can pro- vide gross information only on con- tact location. However, when gently rubbed against an object, the epider- mal sensor behaves like a phono- graph needle, indicating surface roughness. In this mode, it can detect differences between grades of fabric, similar to the capabilities of the University of Florida sensor. When pressed against an object and then released, the combined signals detected by the epidermal and dermal layers provide information on -CONDUCTORS ^MYLAR PROTECTIVE LAYER i m -PVF ? — ELASTOMER OR NATURAL RUBBER PRINTED-CIRCUIT BOARD- -CIRCULAR METAL PLATE Figure 5: A skinlike tactile sensor with an outer (epidermal) layer and an inner (dermal) layer. The sensor was developed at the E. Piaggio Center of the University of Pisa and at the Institute of Clinical Physiology of the Italian National Research Council This figure is reprinted with permission of the IEEE and appeared in "Tactile Sensors and the Gripping Challenge" by Dr. Paolo Dario and Dr. Danilo De Rossi (IEEE Spectrum, August 1985). object hardness. When installed in a mechanical gripper, the sensor can determine object slippage based on microvibrations generated in the epidermal layer by the slipping object. During laboratory tests, the sensor detected slips as small as a few hun- dred micrometers over the time span of a few milliseconds. The sensor has demonstrated a maximum load capa- bility of 40 newtons (a newton equals I kilogram/meter/second) and can detect forces as small as 0.01 newton. This represents an impressive dynamic range of 4000 to I . The University of Pisa researchers suggest two solutions to the problem of the dynamic response limitations of a PVDF tactile sensor. One solution is to make use of a conductive elasto- mer to separate the dermal and epidermal PVDF layers. This elastomer can then measure continuous pressure in the same way as the conductive elastomer sensors described earlier. Another solution is to send sound pulses from the lower to the upper PVDF layers. By measuring any dif- ferences in the travel time of the waves from the lower to the upper layer, the amount of compression can be determined and the pressure in- directly inferred. The University of Pisa sensor appears to offer great promise as a general-purpose tactile sensor combining many functions into a single device. Conclusion There are many approaches to tactile sensing that I have not covered. These include the use of ultrasound, mag- netic induction, electrotopography, and other intriguing techniques. I have tried to identify many of the major concepts and stimulate ideas for future approaches. The robotics designer should be aware of the trade-offs involved be- tween the spatial density of a sensor array and its resultant computational requirements. Higher resolutions often require much greater data- processing capability. Also, it is impor- tant to remember that the intended use of the sensor plays a major role in its design. ■ 200 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Even the smallest bug is big game. There are no insignificant bugs.. They're often ferocious . . . and elusive! That's why we built the better "bug hunter." The UDL (Universal Development Lab- oratory). It's actually an: • Advanced 48- channel bus state analyzer • 8/16 bit in- circuit emulator • EPROM programmer • Input stimulus generator All packed into one, compact box for only $2995. UDL turns almost any PC/MS-DOS and CR/M™ com- puter into a powerful, integrated workstation for hardware/soft- ware debugging. UDI^s unique, CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research, Inquiry 269 real-time emulation lets you track bugs of 46 different target microprocessor "species" without buying expensive hardware adapters. Access all four instru- ments through the same control program. Handle single- step debugging with the emulator. And quickly define a complex trigger spec, so the built-in logic analyzer can find those nasty, subtle bugs. When your tested pro- gram is bug-free, plug a PROM into the socket. And with one command, simply write your program from emulation mem- ory directly into the PROM. Let our UDL simplify the hunt, and keep you quick on the trigger. If you're serious about bug hunting, find out how to qualify for a no- obliga- tion, 10-day "safari" with UDL Call: 800/245-8500 (or 415/ 361-8883 in California). Or write: 702 Marshall Street, 6th Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063- Instruments Become a Professional Bug Hunter. JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 201 w NOTHING DOWN Even the best of personal computers can have a bad day. Blackouts happen. Usually at the worst possible time. But power interruptions don't need to be business interruptions. And lost power shouldn't result in lost data. Not with the POWERMAKER® Micro UPS from Topaz. Designed specifically for hard disc and critical-use business systems, Powermaker Micro UPS ensures a continuous supply of smooth sine wave power even during a total blackout. And there's more. Powermaker Micro UPS also removes spikes and other error-producing transients from incoming power, protecting your PC's sensitive circuitry. So, if your PC needs a little help once in a while, give it Powermaker Micro UPS protection. For nothing down. Call us today at (619) 279-0831, or contact your local Square D distributor. 202 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 TOPAZ SqUflRE TI COMPANY Inquiry 357 for End-Users. Inquiry 358 for DEALERS ONLY. ROBOTICS MULTIPLE ROBOTIC MANIPULATORS by J. Scott Hawker, R. N. Nagel, Richard Roberts, and Nicholas G. Odrey Designing a task-oriented control system for multiple manipulators WHEN CONFRONTED WITH issues related to robots, the average person generally envisions a device or system that is humanlike in form and possesses some human attributes. Robotic reality is quite different from this perception. Robots are generally not human in form and rarely possess human qualities or attributes. Robots in the industrial environment are, for the most part, very simple devices performing simple tasks. To date, few robots have been integrated to work together on the same task or even in the same workspace. It appears on the surface that coor- dinating two robots is not a difficult assignment. This is not the case. To more fully appreciate the potential difficulties with coordinated perfor- mance, consider the requirements for holding a pencil or cylindrical object between the tips of two index fingers. This action requires that the two fingers exert a force on each end of the pencil or cylinder. These forces must support the weight of the pen- cil (see figure la). At the same time, the forces must be limited so they don't damage either the pencil or, from the human standpoint, the fingertips. This type of behavior clear- ly requires force sensors and coor- dinated control between the two fingertips. Now let's add more complexity to the assignment. Consider the prob- lem of holding one fingertip poised in space (fixing one end of the pen- cil) while moving the other fingertip in a circular path, causing the other end of the pencil to follow (figure lb). A slightly more ambitious assignment would be moving both ends in circular paths simultaneously (figure lc). Then, while rotating both pencil tips in cir- cular paths, move or translat e the pencil through space (figure Id). The three motions described re- quire that the forces between the fingers and the positions of the finger- tips be carefully controlled. We recommend that you attempt these motions (as shown in figures la through Id) to appreciate the subtleties involved in moving the pen- cil through its paces. It becomes apparent that a means of monitoring and controlling the ap- plied force is needed. In addition, a means for setting, monitoring, and controlling the paths of the pencil's end points is required. Communica- [continued) J. Scott Hawker, who holds B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. degrees from Texas Tech University, is a graduate research assistant at the Institute for Robotics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is now on leave from AT&T Bell laboratories, studying robotics and manu- facturing systems. R. N. Nagel holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in mathematics from Stevens Institute of Tech- nology and a PhD. in computer science from the University of Maryland. Dr. Nagel is the director of the Institute for Robotics at Lehigh University. Richard Roberts holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Lehigh Univer- sity. Professor Roberts is an expert in the areas of machine design and failure analysis. Nicholas G. Odrey holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in aerospace engineering and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering. Dr. Odrey is the director of the Robotics Laboratory of the In- stitute for Robotics at Lehigh University. All of the above authors may be contacted at the Institute for Robotics, Lehigh Univer- sity. 200 West Packer Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18015. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 203 MULTIPLE MANIPULATORS tion channels and a minimum level of intelligence are required so that the proverbial left hand knows what the right hand is doing. In addition to these requirements, the benefits of practice should have become obvious. As the tasks are repeated and the fingertips become more skilled, the coordinated motion becomes easier. This last feature, the ability to improve performance through trial is especially important if a robot is to be a truly flexible, adaptable element in a factory en- vironment. Dual- Arm Structure Researchers at the Institute for Robotics at Lehigh University are now studying the philosophy and imple- Figure 1 : The actions of two hands rotating a pencil and moving it through space. mentation of high-level, task-oriented control of dual-arm robots, as well as the design and low-level control of robotic arms. The dual-arm robot be- ing described was designed as a re- search system capable of providing a variety of issues related to coor- dinated control of two or more robotic arms. As we made individual design deci- sions, we always biased them to pro- vide as challenging a set of problems as possible for the researcher. The dual-arm robot currently being con- structed at Lehigh University consists of two movable robot arms attached to a rigid base. Each arm possesses seven degrees of freedom: three translational and four rotational. Figure 2 shows the structure and the various degrees of freedom of one of these arms. Each arm is attached to the rigid base in a way that allows the attach- ment points to move with two degrees of freedom in a fixed vertical plane. The range of travel for coor- dinate axes is as follows: Translational axis 1 is 7 feet, translational axis 2 is 3 feet, and translational axis 3 is ap- proximately 1/2 feet. When fully ex- tended, the robot hand can reach 55 inches from the vertical plane repre- sented by coordinate translational axes 1 and 2. The precise limitations of the angular travel of rotational coor- dinates 1,2, and 3 are not known but are believed to be in the range of plus or minus 90 degrees. Rotational axis 4 can provide a full 360 degrees of rotation. With the ranges of travel noted for the translational and rota- tional axes of the two arms, a large work envelope can be addressed. This should provide ample space to con- front the two arms with tasks that re- quire coordinated motion. Implementation We chose aluminum as the material for construction of the robot arms in order to minimize the weight of the arms and reduce the requirements of the driving actuator motors for the system (we designed each arm to han- [continued) 204 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Sdyco Computer cMa/tkeUng & GonsuStatnts $233 AXIOM SEIKOSHA GP550AT (Atari) 222 GP550CD (C-64 222 GP700AT (Atari) 439 GP700AP (Apple) 439 ELITE5CD (C-§4) . 229 C. ITOH ProWriter 85lOSp+ 349. 1550Sp+ 489 StarWriter 769 PrintMaster 929 TOSHIBA P1340 469 P351+ 1149 P341P 969 P341S , 999 351 -Sheet Feeder 529 SAVE MB PRINTERS CARDCO 32K BUFFER. .(C-64) 59 CORONA LP300 Laser Printer 2686 200361 Toner Cartridge 89 EPSON FX85 (New) 333 LX80 212 FX185 (New) 464 LX90 (New) 226 SQ2000 (New) 1555 JX80 467 Homewriter 10 193 CR-20-Atari 153 CR-220-C-64 153 DX-10 (New) ... 207 DX-20 (New) 297 HS-80 (New) 288 LQ1500P .975 LQ1500S 1039 RX-100 356 FX-100+ CALL CITIZEN MSP-10 269 MSP-15 -358 MSP-20 337 MSP-25 495 Sheetfdr (10/20) 189 Sheetfdr (15/25) 199 OKIDATA Oktmate 10 1 79 Okimate 20 CALL 182 214 192 348 193 563 92P 349 93P 565 84P 645 92 Imagewriter 349 'IBM versions also BROTHER HR-15XL-P 359 HR-15XL-S 359 HR-35P 839 HR-35S 839 2024L-P 949 M1009-P .. ., 189 JUKI Juki 6100 347 RS232 Serial Board 55 6100 Tractor 119 6100 Sheet Feeder 209 Juki 6300 757 LEGEND 880 138 1060 222 1380 262 1385 296 LEGEND 808 159 DIGITAL DEVICES 16K BUFFER 75 32K BUFFER 89 64K BUFFER 125 SG-10 $208 PANASONIC 7097 233 3131 (NEW) 269 1092 373 1093 . 426 3151 Letter 426 4K Buffer 65 SILVER REED EXP400 249 EXP500 295 EXP550 399 EXP770 749 DIABLO STAR MICRONICS D25 549 SG-10 208 630 API 1599 SG-15 373 630 ECS ■ ■ 1759 SD-10 336 D80 1F 2395 SD-15 442 P 32 C01 699 SR-10 483 P38 1749 SR-15 583 C 150 999 SB 10 ' 595 DX-35(NEW) ., CALL Power Type 303 AP-80 CALL SG-10 C-64 (NEW) CALL MONITORS MODEMS J TAXAN PANASONIC 115 12' Greeen Composite CALL DT1300D 13" RGB/Composite.. .247 { 116 12" Amber Composite CALL OTM140 14" RGB/Composite.. .329 1 121 12" Green TTL 135 DTH103 10* RGB Hi Res 395 122 12- Amber TTL . 145 DTS1O1 10" Composile 175 f\ 220 14" Color Composite ... .259 DT1000G 10" RGB 166 410 12 " RGB Hi Res IBM 329 TX12H3P 12' Color 419 / 420 12" RGB Super Hi IBM . 409 TR120M1PA 12" Green 109 I 440 12" RGB Ultra Hi Res 555 TR120M8PA 12" Amber 109 k Tilt Stand 35 TR122M9P 12" Green IBM. . 148 TR122MYP 12" Amber IBM . ..148 ZENITH '} ZVM 122A Amber . 75 SAKATA / ZVM 123G Green 75 SG 1000 12" Green 99 ' ZVM 124 Amber IBM 129 SA 1000 12" Amber. 109 ZVM 131 Color 275 SG 1500 12" Green TTL 119 i ZVM 133 RGB 389 SA 1500 12" Amber TTL 129 \ ZVM 135 Composite 4U9 SC 100 13" Color Comp 209 1 ZVM 136 Hi Res Color 589 SC 200 13" RGB 389 f\ ZVM 1220 95 STS1 Tilt Stand 29 r J 2MM 1230 95 / ZVM 1240 149 NEC JB-1260 Green 95 1 TEKNIKA MJ-10 Composite rj MJ-22 RGB 179 255 JB-1201 Green... JC 1215 Color... JC 1216 RGB. ... JC 1460 Color 135 235 375 265 AMDEK i 300 Green 118 X-TRON \ 300 Amber 128 Comcotor 1 Composite Green 177 I 3i0 Amber IBM 155 I Color 300 Audio 234 7 Color 500 Composite 369 PRINCETON GRAPHICS / Color 600 397 MAX- IS Amber 185 Color 700 495 HX-12 RGB 465 Color 710 569 SR-12 RGB.. 595 HAYES RnRnTirq NOVATION Smartmodem 300 133 UOttUDUMUO IBM 300/1200 MS4DOS ext. .319 j Smartmodeni 1200 377 Password 1200M 229 IBM 300/1200 CPM-86 ext . . .3191 Smartmodem 1200B 347 Password 1200F. . "9 IBM 300/1 20CV2400 ext.... .529 1 Smartmodem 2400 598 Password 300M . . 139 IBM 300/1 200/2400 MS-DOS .579 1 Mteromodem HE 135 Password 300F 139 IBM MS4X5S int .325 N Autodial 212A , . 359 IBM CPM-86 int .32SP MICROBITS pcm5 319 Macmodem 300/1200 .315 V 1064Modem . . .57 p CM64 . 519 Upgrade Apple Cal II 225 ) PCM256 769 Cat 300 Acoustic . 139 A TELE LEARNING s 100 37 g J Cat RS232 89 1 Total Telecommunications Courier (C-64) 29.96 Microlink 4 6 6 9 9 ANCHOR AP-250(300 Baud Apple). 69.95 Telpac Ms-DOS IB-250 (300 Baud IBM) . . . 69.95 7g Volksmodem . .55 \ Volksmodem 12 . 186 \ DRIVES INDUS GT ATARI 215 GT COMMODORE 235 MSD SD1 Drive (C-64) 229 SD2 Drive (C-64 469 COMTEL Enhancer 2000 (c-64). 179 TANDON '320K °/o IV Drive 115 DISKETTES VERBATIM DENNISON M SSDD 1399 I ELEPHANT 5'As" SSSD 11 99 ^ DSDD 1999 I ELEPHANT 5V»" SSDD 1299 ,HL ELEPHANT 5VT DSDD 14.99 \ PREMIUM 5V4" SSDD. 1399 R BONUS PREMIUM 5V d " DSDD .15.99 13 5Vj SSDD '... ...9.99 r/J 5V4 " DSDD 12.99 j IBM-PC COMPATIBLE * LOTUS Lotus 1-2-3 309.00 Symphony 439.00 ITT XTRA XP Personal Computer! "256K 2 Drive System CALL "256K, 10 Meg Hard System Call BRODERBUND (IBM) Bank St. Writer 4895 The Print Shop 34 95 Graphics Library I 22.95 Lode Runner 22.95 Ancient Art of War 27 95 Champ Lode Runner 22 95 MICROPROSE (IBM) F- 15 Strike Eagle ...20.75 Solo Flight 20.75 Hellcat Ace 20.75 Spitfire Ace 18 75 'LEADING EDGE Nutshell 69.95 LEWP Basic 65.00 LEWP Merge Print 99.00 LE Spell Correction 169.00 TOLL FREE 1-800-233-8760 TO ORDER CALL TOLL FREE 800-233-8760 Customer Service 1 -71 7-327-1 825 or send order to Lyco Computer P.O. Box 5088 Jersey Shora, PA 17740 RISK FREE POLICY In-stock items shipped within 24 hours of order. No deposit on C.O.D. orders. Free shipping on prepaid cash orders within the continental U.S. Volume discounts available. PA residents add sales tax. APO. FPO. and international orders add S5.00 plus 3% for priority mail service. Advertised prices show 4% discount for cash, add 4% for MasterCard or Visa. Personal checks require 4 weeks' clearance before shipping. Ask about UPS Blue and Red label shipping. All merchandise carried under manufacturer's warranty. Free catalog with order. All items subject to change without notice. Inquiry 219 JANUARY I986 -BYTE 205 MULTIPLE MANIPULATORS die a total load of 5 pounds). Both stepper motors and servo, motors are used for driving the robot arms. The three translational axes and the first rotational degree of freedom are powered by stepper motors. The drivers for the remaining three rota- tional degrees of freedom and the motor that actuates the hand are servo motors. We based the decision to mix the types of motors on size and power re- quirements, delivery schedules, and cost. In addition to these factors (and probably just as important) was the desire to provide the designers of the low-level controls with the different challenges presented by each motor type. All of the stepper and servo motors are equipped with position sensors so that the motions of the arms can be measured. In addition to the positional sensors, each hand will be equipped with a force sensor so that the forces exerted by the hand can also be measured. Controlling two arms to cooperate in accomplishing one task is more complex than controlling two arms to accomplish two independent tasks. Nevertheless, it is very important that adequate, independent, single-arm control mechanisms be in place for each of the two arms so that their mo- tions and applied forces can be con- trolled within the motion constraints specified. These single-arm con- trollers can then be extended and coupled to form an integrated dual- arm controller. Since dual-arm control is an exten- sion of single-arm control we will first describe the common approaches to and requirements of single-arm con- trol. We will highlight the single-arm control problems that are not ade- quately solved and will assume that answers to these problems will be ap- plicable to dual-arm control. Single-Arm Control In order to provide a clear under- standing of the goals of single-arm control our discussion will consider a robotic arm to be very much like a human arm: a series of connected mechanical links or "bones" that allow the end of the last link (the end effector or "hand") to be placed at some position and orientation in space. The energy that causes the mo- tion of the arm comes from actuators or "muscles" that drive the motion of each mechanical "joint" to achieve the desired pose, motion, or force of the end effector. A control computer is normally used to generate the particular ac- [continued] 4y -TRANSLATIONAL AXIS 1 -TRANSLATIONAL AXIS 2 -ROTATIONAL AXIS 1 (20 1 1 Ik TRANSLATIONAL AXIS 3 ROTATIONAL AXIS 2- Figure 2: A schematic representation of Lehigh University's robot arm showing the three translational axes of movement and the four rotational axes of movement. 206 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 336 — ► 7 a&tcy Statistics, reports and plots happen magically with SPSS/PC+* —the enhanced and expanded Statistical Package for IBM PC/XT/AT's* SPSS/PC+ is the most comprehensive statistical program for performing simple or complex tasks. For nearly 20 years, SPSS Inc's reputation and reliability as the leading producer of mainframe statistical and reporting software is unsurpassed. SPSS/PC+ carries this reputation into the PC environment. SPSS/PC+ -Fully integrated: report writing, plotting, file management, communications with mainframes. Statistics: descriptives, crosstabulation, multiple regression, ANOVA. Simple facilities allow transfer of files between SPSS/PC+ and programs like Lotus 1-2-3, dBASEIII.andSAS? SPSS/PC+ Advanced Statistics M - Factor, cluster, discriminant and loglinear analyses, MANOVA. SPSS/PC+ Tables'" - Presentation-quality tabular reporting. Produce stub and banner tables. Handle multiple response survey data. Control content and layout completely. SPSS/PC+ documentation is rated Number One by both novices and experienced analysts. SPSS Inc. also offers a full training schedule and a customer support hot-line. To order, contact our Sales Department at 312/329-3500 SPSS Inc., 444 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 6061 1 , 31 2/329-3500. in Furope: SPSS Europe B.V, 4200 AC mnehem, The Netherlands, >hone: +31183036711 TWX: 21019. PRODUCTIVITY RAISED TO THE HIGHEST POWER •SPSS/PC+ runs on the IBM PC/XT/ AT with hard disk. Contact SPSS Inc. for compatible microcomputers. IBM PC/XT and PC/AT are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. dBASE III is a trademark of Ashton-Tate. 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation SAS is a registered trademark of SAS Institute, Inc. SPSS, SPSS/PC+ , SPSS/PC+ Tables, and SPSS/PC+ Advanced Statistics are trademarks of SPSS Inc. for its proprietary computer software.. MULTIPLE MANIPULATORS tuator drive signals that coordinate the motion of the joints and linkages of a single-arm manipulator. For ex- ample, raising the end effector may be achieved by "shoulder" motion, "elbow" motion, or both. This kind of control which corresponds loosely to the basic motor skills of the human brain, is called "low-level" control in that it is automatic. (Most people don't concentrate on which muscles they have to move to lift a pencil.) Much more effort is expended on planning and executing the overall task (the high-level control), while the low-level control operation is as- sumed to be available and is essen- tially ignored. Instead of this... ...you can have this with this! ssnavaaaagaiiai£3i a«|fBia«B.BaaapfljBpp"afMi' Why waste time digging through cumbersome manuals for operating commands? PC-DocuMate™ templates put computer commands at your fingertips for the IBM® PC, PC-XT, PC-AX AT&T,® Compaqf and Apple® He. You'll have quick reference for needed commands, options and formats right on your key- board with a PC-DocuMate template. Our professionally designed, two-sided templates are made of durable, non-glare plastic. Satisfaction is guaranteed— fully— or your money back. -Dqcu^rte,. $14.95 Templa tes Now Ava ila ble— IBM PC/XT" and COMPAQ" : DOS/BASIC (3.0 & 3 .1) • 1-2-3 • Symphony • dBASE II • dBASE III • Framework • MultiMate • WordStar • WordStar 2000 + • Easy Writer II • MULTIPLAN • PeachText 5000 • SUPER CALC 3 • TURBO Pascal • WordPerfect • VOLKSWRITER DELUXE • Do-It-Yourself. PC/AT" : DOS BASIC (3.0 & 3.1) • dBASE III • 1-2-3 • WordStar 2000 + • Symphony • WordPerfect t MultiMate. • Do-It- Yourself. AT&T*: dBASE III • 1-2-3 • WordStar 2000 + • WordPerfect. Apple He"': Apple Writer II • WordStar • VisiCalc • dBASE II • Quickfile • Do-It-Yourself . How to Order. To order by credit card call 1.800-762-7874 (In NC call 919-878-3600) Or mail us your personal check, money order or MasterCard/Visa/ American Express information. NC residents include 4.5% sales tax. P\easeadd $1.50 for shipping and handling per order. (Foreign orders, except Canada, add $15.00 per order). US funds only. No CODs. Our Guarantee: Use your template for 20 days. If you are not complete- ly satisfied return it to us (undam- aged) for a full refund. OTMHrOT Systems Management Associates 3325 Executive Drive, Dept. Y-2 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 Please send (Quantity and format)- Name Address . templates to: City □ MasterCard Card No. _ □ American Express „ DVisa Signature. .State. ZIP. .Exp. Date. ^a> All the planning, execution monitor- ing, and low-level control suggests that there is far more to a single robotic arm than a collection of link- ages, actuators, and basic motor con- trol that mimics the human arm. This is indeed true. For example, the end- effector "hand" is usually designed for specific tasks. A welding tool is used on a welding arm, a viselike grip- per or humanlike hand on an assem- bly arm, and a paint sprayer on a painting arm. The operation of the end-effector devices must also be controlled in coordination with the motions of the end effector, as deter- mined by the low-level controlled mo- tion of the link actuators. It is obvious then that the high-level control that dictates to the low-level control the pose of the arm end ef- fector must also tell the end effector what to do once it is there. The goal of the high-level computer is to deter- mine the particular sequence of link motions and end-effector operations that accomplish a given task and then drive the low-level control that generates the arm and end-effector actuator drive signals to achieve the task motions and operations. Throughout the performance of the task, the task execution must be monitored through sensors not only to assure that the motions and opera- tions are as expected but also to ad- just the actuator drive to correct any sensed errors. Such closed-loop or feedback control is used at both the low and high levels of control. In order to achieve real-time closed- loop control for a system as complex as an autonomous robot, data must be gathered (through sensing trans- ducers), processed, and monitored to update the parameters of the control and decision algorithms before they are executed. The real-time aspect is required so that error feedback can provide input corrections quickly enough to reduce errors before they become too large. The more variable the working environment, the more data must be gathered, and the more quickly unexpected changes might occur, the more quickly this data must [continued) 208 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 344 MAKE THE CONNECTION . . . Our Connection systems will solve your problem of trying to read and write diskettes or tapes from almost any computer system using your PC. The Diskette Connection is a hardware system that enables the IBM PC or compatible to read and write most 8 inch, 5V4 inch, or 3V2 inch diskettes. With our File Connection software programs you can transfer data files between most computer systems, including CP/M, DEC, Honeywell, Univac, IBM 3740, S/l, S/3, S/23, S/32, S/34, S/36, and S/38. Our Word and Typesetting Connection programs use IBM standard Document Content Architecture (DCA-RFT) to transfer document files between most word processing and typesetting systems, including Compugraphic MCS, CPT, Displaywriter, OS/6, Multiset, NBI, Quadex, Xerox, and Wang. Our Tape Connection system will read and write IBM or ANSI standard Vi inch 1600 BPI magnetic tape. A full size 2400 foot tape can store a 45 MByte file and be written in 6 minutes. Since 1982, we have supplied thousands of systems to customers around the world, including IBM, NASA, AT&T, Kodak, and General Motors. Our specialty is conversion systems and we can provide a solution to your problem. Call us today to discuss your requirements. This ad is one of a series featuring NASA missions. For a free poster, send us your written request. Box 1970 Flagstaff, AZ 86002 (602) 774-5187 Telex 705609 Inquiry I 34 for End-Users. Inquiry 135 for DEALERS ONLY. FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING OEM & OWN BRAND COMPOSITE & TTL COMPATBLE COLOR & MONO MONITOR TERMMAL SAMSUNG Electron Devices SEOUL OFFICE 6-8TH FL, THE JOONG-ANG DAILY NEWS BLDG., 7 SOONHWA-DONG, CHUNG-KU, SEOUL, KOREA TEL: 7516-955/7, 7516-959/961 TLX: STARNEC K 22 59 6 CABLE: "STARNEC" SEOUL LONDON OFFICE SANTA CLARA OFFICE I TOKYO OFFICE 6TH FLOOR, VICTORIA HOUSE 3003 BUNKER HILL LANE, SOUTHAMPTON ROW W.C. SUITE 201 SANTA CLARA, 1 LONDON, ENGLAND CAL. 95050, U.S.A. TEL: (01) 831-6951/5 TEL: (986)8473 TLX: 264606 STARS LG TLX: 171685 SAMSUNG SNTA FAX: (01) 430-0096 KASUMIGASEKI BLDG., 2522 KASUMIGASEKI 3-2-5 CHIYOTA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN TEL: (03) 581-5804, (03) 581-9521~4 TLX: 228009 SANSEI 210 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 317 MULTIPLE MANIPULATORS be processed and fed back to the control input. Stability Complex coupled systems such as single- or dual-arm robots have the potential for unbounded or uncon- trolled behavior (instability) in certain ranges of operation. These regions are usually characterized by con- straints on allowed velocities and ac- celerations or by regions of the work- space that are less precisely con- trolled than other regions. The con- trol system must be designed to locate and avoid, or otherwise accom- modate, these regions of operation without adversely affecting the flex- ibility in the range of operation. Most commercial control systems simplify the control issues by placing limits on the overall velocities and ac- celerations and therefore do not allow the robot to perform to its maximum capabilities throughout the work- space. As the above discussion indicates, the more flexibility required in a robotic application, the greater the number of variables that must be con- trolled simultaneously. State-of-the-art systems are typified by the extensive use of fixtures to reduce the number of variables to a manageable level. Unfortunately, such structures also reduce the flexibility of a system in ac- commodating new tasks or unex- pected difficulties. This use of rigid structures is often attributable to the lack of availability of a broad range of sensors and low- cost control computers, and the dif- ficulty and cost of overall integration into a sensory feedback, real-time control system. The development of the more complex dual-arm robotic systems must address these issues more directly without imposing rigid structures by 'engineering away" problems. Control Levels Researchers at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) have developed a philosophy for designing and imple- menting real-time, hierarchically distributed, sensory-control systems incorporating robotic arms, machine tools, and other manufacturing devices. This philosophy has been success- fully demonstrated repeatedly and has recently been applied to a form of dual-arm control. Because of this demonstrated success, the dual-arm research at Lehigh is based on the NBS philosophy of distributed hier- archical control. We have chosen to describe the portion of the control that achieves the desired motions as "low-level control" and the portion that determines the mo- tions desired for a task as "high-level control." This dictates the following in- terpretation of the present state of research in robotic arm control. Closed-loop sensing and control algorithms now exist that allow precise and stable control of the posi- tion and orientation of the end effec- tor of an arm, and techniques for more general velocity and force con- trol are well under development at many research laboratories. Low-level control mechanisms now or will soon exist that, when given the desired tra- jectory (position versus time) of the end effector, will provide the desired motion. The end effector itself is typically a very simple special-purpose tool for which low-level control is also readily available. However, more general- purpose end effectors, such as humanlike hands that can grasp a wide variety of objects or hand tools, are slow in development due to many of the same problems of dual-arm control. Much of the research on high-level, task-oriented control is focused on the planning aspects associated with various tasks. The planning aspects are concerned with how to automati- [continued) PC-AT COMPUTERS CAN GROW UP! WINCHESTER STORAGE WITH OPTIONAL BUILT-IN TAPE OR LASER OPTICAL DISK BREAKS 32mb BARRIER! FREE Installation thru 12/31/85 *some restrictions apply .ADD 8 INCHES OR MORE! Mainframe: NMS mass storage, disk, tape back up, and laser optical memory systems provide economical, compact, and high performance disk storage with capacities of 84mb, 168mb, 335mb, 474mb, and 689 mb. Each controller supports any combination of two disk capacities, up to 1 ,300 megabytes! Performance: Access times of 17 milliseconds and data rates of up to 2.4 mb/sec...Fast! Leading Edge: Single board SMD/SCSI disc/tape/laser optical controller, occupies only one slot while supporting two SMD disks and your tape or laser optical memory too! NMS systems utilize Winchester technology exclusively made by Fujitsu. ..including Fujitsu model 2333 and new 2361. Laser Optical: Your choice of 400 mb, or 1000 mb of removable, fast, laser optical, read- write, storage. (NMS 007 series). Tape Back-up: NMS provides ANSI-IBM format Vz inch tape systems and 60 mb of file- by-file/streamer 1 A inch cartridge tape systems. (NMS 9000 and PC. 25 series). Networks: Compatible with most major networks, NMS storage systems are the highest performing file servers available. ..reliable too with 60,000 MTBF! Warranty: Controller.. .24 months (RTV), and 12 months (RTV) all other system parts. Don't settle for 5 1 /4 inches when you can get eight! National Memory Systems Corporation 355 Earhart Way, Livermore, CA 94550 TWX 9103866606 TELEX 821892NMSUD (415) 443-1669 National Memory Systems CORPORATION Inquiry 263 JANUARY I986 • BYTE 211 Inquiry 253 The _ FORTH Source™ The computer language for increased. . . EFFICIENCY reduced MEMORY higher SPEED Send for your FREE CATALOG Largest selection of FORTH. . . Book's Manuals Source Listings Software Development Systems Expert Systems Circle reader service number or write: MOUNTAIN VIEW PRESS PO-BOX 4656 Mountain View, CA 94040 (415)961-4103 MULTIPLE MANIPULATORS cally generate the trajectory path of an arm carrying an object so that it does not collide with other objects in the workspace, or how to determine the best grasp location and force for a particular object based on data rep- resented in a computer-aided design (CAD) model of the object. Perhaps more important artificial intelligence researchers are searching for algorithms and heuristics for the automatic decomposition of the steps of a task into a sequence of simpler subtasks that are already imple- mented. Artificial intelligence re- searchers and others are searching for robust techniques for executing the task steps in the presence of uncer- tainties and unexpected changes in the work environment. Visible results of research on high- level control systems include a number of human-oriented graphical programming and simulation systems for robot motion programming and the development of high-level robot programming languages. These lan- guages have, in some cases, been modeled after popular structured pro- gramming languages (e.g., Pascal, APL, and FORTH). Other available results include the development and application of a number of techniques for visual image processing and image under- standing. Methods for integrating these and other sensory-perception techniques into an autonomous, in- telligent control system are under in- tense, although slow, study. Our plan is that the dual-arm research project will provide a flexible and powerful test bed for accelerating the develop- ment of robust, generic solutions to high-level control problems. Dual- Arm Control There are research challenges in dual- arm control at both the low level (how to achieve the desired motions in real time) and the high level (how to deter- mine the desired motions to achieve a task). The challenges at the low level derive from the need for coordinated control of two arms in real time, as well as a data-communications tech- nique that supports the distribution of commands and data among the distributed control elements of the two arms. Many single-arm systems can by- pass these requirements because the control and sensing algorithms are simple enough to allow a single com- puter to perform all tasks in real time. With dual-arm systems, the number of control and sensing procedures is more than double that of single-arm systems, so the sensing and control functions must be distributed among a number of physically distinct and heterogeneous computers. At the high level, the problems associated with single-arm task plan- ning and execution are magnified by the fact that the job tasks must be par- titioned among two arms, but the task partitioning must be coordinated in such a way that the high-level task is accomplished correctly. Algorithms for planning and monitoring must be modified from the domain of the single arm to the more general dual- arm arena. lust as general techniques for the distribution of function and data have proved elusive in the world of distributed and parallel computing, so too have general techniques for dis- tributed control of robots. The NBS approach is to partition the sensory processing, world model- ing (expectations), and control func- tions. The control functions are de- composed into hierarchically struc- tured, limited-scope modules. This same approach has proved useful in the preliminary study and research of dual-arm systems at Lehigh University. It seems natural to think of a dual- arm robot as two independent, low- level, single-arm controllers directed by a third (higher-level) controller that coordinates and synchronizes the arms (see figure 3). This approach, however, does not allow the arms to work together in a tightly coupled operation such as manipulating the pencil The role of the high-level coor- dinating controller is needed, but the low-level single-arm controllers must also be integrated, for example, to [continued] 212 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 THE ULTIMATE CABLE ASSEMBLY FROM ALLIANCE RESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 No More Fumbling with Screwdrivers! Just a twist of the thumb wheel screw heads and the cable is securely screwed into position.! No cable looks or works quite like this. DATA SPEC® cable assemblies not only visually enhance your computer equipment, but provide superior quality inside and out. FEATURES: • Gold Plated Pins • Positive Strain Relief • Full Shielding (Exceeds F.C. C. EMI/RFI Emission Requirements) • Large Convenient Thumbscrews (No More Screwdrivers Needed!) • Exclusive RD.T. Underhood for Maximum Integrity • Lifetime Warranty DATA SPEC® makes cable assemblies to fit any of your interface needs: RS232, Parallel (Centronics), Printers, Modems, Disk Drives, and monitors. For your IBM, Apple, AT&T and other popular PC's. Ask for DATA SPEC® cables at your nearest authorized DATA SPEC® dealer. PRINTER JACK Apple He Serial to Parallel Printer Interface The Printer Jack™ is adevicethatwill enable you to use the Apple lie, which is not equipped with a parallel port, with any standard parallel printer. The Printer Jack can also be used with other computers with an optional cable. The Printer Jack set, Model A1250 includes; a CPU unit (the big box), a 9V power supply and a 5 pin to < 5 pin cable. msuM emxr FROMALLIANCERESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, C A 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 =USE INQUIRY NUMBERS BELOW- =USE INQUIRY NUMBERS BELOWz Power Spikes can occur anywhere! Even in RS232 linesl Stoppowerspikes with the NEW RS232 Surge Protector from DATA SPEC® The RS232 Surge Protector will eliminate power spikes and surges generated by static discharges from damaging computers and peripherals. Comes with a Female DB25 on one end and a DB Male on the other end with gold plated pins. All 25 pins are wired through. Ask for the RS232 Surge Protector at your nearest authorized DATA SPEC® dealer. FROM ALLIANCE RESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 ll;lHJJ;tiHJ.Hil;MiM*felAII.'iaJ£ffi: This miniature RS232 tester is designed to monitor RS232 lines. This tester is very useful in diagnosing RS232 communication problems. There are 7 different colored LED indicator lights to monitor the following functions: Receive Data (RD), Clear To Send (CTS), Data Terminal Ready (DTR), Request To Transmit Data (TD), Request To Send Data (RTS), Data Set Ready (DSR), and Carrier Detect (CD> r Ask for the RS232 Mini Tester at your nearest authorized DATA SPEC® dealer. [IDffiSLMT FROM ALLIANCE RESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 NO LOST DATA! Even Computer Owners Need Beepers Have you ever lost data from a modem because you forgot to turn a switch? Now you can be "beeped" and visually alerted with the Incoming DataAlertfrom DAT AS SPEC®. This device will sound an audible "beep" (for about 15 seconds) and light a red L.E.D. (which stays lit until reset) whenever data is being transmitted through an RS232 line. The Incoming Data Alert monitors pin 3 and can used betweens modems and computers and terminals. DflCBfuni <3HXF FROM ALLIANCE RESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 = USE INQUIRY NUMBERS BELOW- = USE INQUIRY NUM BERS BELOV\ = USE INQUIRY NUMBERS BELOW 25 PIN DATA SWITCH $59.95 All RS232 25 pin switch boxes are available in these configurations: AB-25, ABC-25 and ABX-25 (Cross Matrix, allows the use of 2 computers and 2 peripherals). Can be switched with IBM PC paralell port, compatibles too! It's about time you benefit from high performance at affordable prices? Ask for the 25 Pin Data Switches at your nearest authorized DATA SPEC® dealer. anina sqgcf FROM ALLIANCE RESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 36 PIN PARALLEL DATA SWITCH (CENTRONICS TYPE) These switch boxes also have gold plated pins and have all 36 pins switched. The 36 pin boxes are available in these configurations: AB-36 and ABC-36. Quality features, outstanding durability and affordable prices! Ask for the 36 Pin Data Switches at your nearest authorized DATA SPEC® dealer. □flcarjca gltgcf FROM ALLIANCE RESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 L.E.D. 25 PIN DATA SWITCH BOX Get a 1 1 1 h e outstanding features o f DATA SPEC'S RS232 25 Pin Data Switch Boxes and more with the ABL-25LE. This luxury edition data switch box features 7 L.E.D. indicators (TD, RD, RTS, CTS, DSR, DTR & CD) and gold plated pins. Ask for the 25 Pin L.E.D. Data Switch Box at your nearest authorized DATA SPEC® dealer. [MODO OlTGCT FROM ALLIANCE RESEARCH CORPORATION 20120 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 • 1-818-993-1202 : IBM, Apple and AT&T are registered trademarks respectively of International Business Machines Corp., Apple Computer Inc. and AT&T information Systems. = Inquiry 4I8 for End-Users, inquiry 4,1 9jor_ DEALERS ONLY. ) Copyright 1985 Alliance Research Corporation ■ MULTIPLE MANIPULATORS allow the forces felt by one arm to directly modify the forces applied by the other arm. This results in the con- ceptual control architecture shown in figure 3, integrated into the overall system architecture shown in figure 4. Note in figure 4 that the low levels are coupled directly in the control portion and also indirectly through the model. HIGH-LEVEL COMMAND AND STATUS COORDINATION AND SYNCHRONIZATION LOW-LEVEL COMMAND AND STATUS LOW-LEVEL COMMAND AND STATUS SINGLE-ARM CONTROL SINGLE -ARM CONTROL ACTUATOR SIGNALS ACTUATOR SIGNALS ARM Figure 3: Simplified dual-arm control hierarchy showing low-level and high-level functions. Distribution of Function Physical implementation of the con- ceptual system models shown in figures 3 and 4 requires more explicit definition of the distribution of func- tion and data between low- and high- level control and between the in- dividual low-level controls. For exam- ple, consider which element is re- sponsible for avoiding collisions (i.e., the individual arm controllers or the high-level coordinating controller). It seems that the collision-avoidance function itself should be split and the subfunctions distributed. Similarly, how does the grasp planning of one arm consider the fact that an object is to be handed to another arm whose grasp requirements must also be ac- commodated? The laboratory system {continued) DATA CAD OR 'A PRIORI 1 DATA SENSED DATA MODEL VOLUME REPRESENTATION / OBJECT REPRESENTATIONS ARM REPRESENTATIONS SINGLE -ARM CONTROL ARM SENSORS CONTROL COORDINATION AND SYNCHRONIZATION SINGLE-ARM CONTROL ARM ACTIONS •+- Figure 4: Overall system control hierarchy of a dual-arm robot, showing the relationship between the external world, the actual control and the intrinsic model used by the system. 214 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 In 1876 Alexander Graham Bell gave people an easier way to stay in touchlbday, we're doing the same for computers* At Kyocera, we think it's about time computers had an easier way of staying in touch. That's why we're introducing a telecommunications pack- age featuring our 1200 bps modem and Microsoft's Access software for IBM-PC, XT, AT and all compatibles. It's the most advanced bundled system on the market. But you don't need an advanced degree in computer science to use it. We designed our 1200 bps modem with a mind of its own. It can answer automatically, distinguish busy and dial-tones, even handle voice and data communications on the same line. And you won't have to work overtime mem- orizing mind boggling command sequences, because we've also given our modem built-in help menus. For software we teamed up with the most advanced telecommunications program available, Microsoft's new Access. Only Access features X.PC protocol which lets you simultaneously monitor up to 15 live connections through separate "windows" on your screen. For instance, as one window displays stock market returns, another can provide market analysis. Through a third window, you can book an airline flight via OAG (Official Airline Guide). All the while, X.PC checks data transmissions for errors. Access also lets you compose, send and receive letters through elec- tronic mail services. The Kyocera 1200 bps modem with Microsoft Access is available in stand Kyoccra's intelligent stand alone modem with Microsoft Access software. m alone or direct card and includes all necessary accessories. And because it's bundled, you'll save a bundle. If Alexander Graham Bell were around today, he'd wish it was his idea. :S ^ KyDCERa Modems A tradition of innovation. Inquiry 196 for End-Users. Inquiry 197 for DEALERS ONLY. For the Kyocera dealer nearest you, call toll-free (800) 235-1222 or (408) 257-1 *IBM, IBM-PC and IBM-XT are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation® Kyocera International, Inc. OAG is a registered trademark of Official Airline Guide Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. ©1985 Kyocera Internationa!, Inc. MULTIPLE MANIPULATORS currently under development will allow various alternatives to such issues to be quickly and easily explored. Lehigh University researchers have designed a control structure for com- plex dual-arm operations, and initial research has progressed in two areas: pick-and-place operations with two arms that have overlapping work- spaces and the design of task-plan- ning algorithms to allow the inter- change of objects between arms (i.e., end effectors) in free space. The existence of overlapping work- spaces has led to the development of algorithms for collision avoidance that consider two moving arms. The plan- ning of free-space object interchange takes into consideration the relative locations of the arms, objects to be manipulated, and object destinations, and assigns arm subtasks based on these considerations within the con- fines of workspace areas accessible to the arms. Coordinated-Control Research Lehigh University researchers believe that a distributed control and commu- nications system must be imple- mented and that high-level control al- gorithms must be developed to ac- commodate the increased number of variables and capabilities of dual-arm robots. They have also noted that single-arm low- and high-level control techniques may not be directly ap- plicable due to the increased com- plexity of dual-arm implementations. Lehigh's research team has devel- oped a plan that will begin to uncover the requirements and implementa- tions of dual-arm and more general- purpose multidevice manufacturing systems. The first step in the study of multidevice systems is to obtain a A Unique Keyboard or Program Activated Data Switch for the IBM PC or Any MS-DOS System. This compact self-powered switch is soft- ware controlled at the keyboard or pro- gram to direct parallel data from the computer to printers/plotters. Eliminates the time and frustration of recabling to use different peripherals. To install, connect between computer and peripherals, plug into power, boot supplied software disc and you are ready to code select and direct data flow between the two devices. DS-CAPS Data Switch PRINTERS &B"x3L8"xl.O" Also available is a complete line of manual and electronic switches plus converters to interface and direct data between CPUs and peripherals. Ulfl WEST, inc. The Interface Company 534 North Stone Ave., Tucson AZ 85705 (602) 623-5716 Trademarks: IBM & IBM PC-International Business Machines Corp./ MS-DOS-Microsoft Corp. *AII units shipped freight-collect. Add S4.007unit for postpaid deliver)'. Checks, VISA or MasterCard accepted. Quantity discounts available. AZ residents add 7%. Dealer inquires invited. clear understanding of how complex tasks are decomposed into simpler subtask "primitives." This understand- ing of task decomposition must be ac- companied by an in-depth knowledge of how manufacturing systems are combined to achieve a particular task. We must understand the system com- position that supports the task de- composition. We are approaching this problem in two ways. First, we are identifying and developing mathematical system analysis (decomposition) and syn- thesis (composition) tools that allow theoretical modeling and study of manufacturing systems. Second, we are developing a flexible system-im- plementation strategy that follows the structure of the mathematical tools. This strategy includes modular design with rules for integrating the modules into a system. Clearly de- fined, functionally bounded modules with clearly defined data and control interfaces must be developed. The dual-arm laboratory system under development is the first step toward this system-building under- standing. It will allow us to study such questions as "How can two arms be controlled to cooperate in lifting a load heavier than one arm can han- dle alone?" or "How can two arms be controlled to manipulate the ends of a pencil without dropping or break- ing the pencil?" More fundamental to an autono- mous flexible operation, perhaps, is obtaining answers to such questions as "What general task-decomposition techniques are needed to consider the increased capability of two arms, rather than simply considering two in- dependent arms?" That is, "What does parallelism provide that dis- tinguishes it from overlapping se- quential control?" We believe the answer lies in the term "coordination," which could be interpreted as "dependent" overlapped sequential control. Our research is aimed at under- standing and controlling this dependency to achieve coordination. Our short-term goal is to develop a [continued) 216 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 371 for End-Users. Inquiry 372 for DEALERS ONLY. Get the Picture with fi [ofU] LT [R\ PHOTOBASE is a soft- ware package that works with data base manage- ment systems such as: dbase //* R:Base 4000* and the IBM Filing Assistant*. PC-EYE is a high speed, high resolution video digitizer board that lets you capture anything you can see. Now you can open up a whole new dimension in data base applications by merging real-life pictures with popular data base management systems. Pictures of people, products, diagrams, maps, company logos — what- ever you want to photograph — can be integrated with your data base. Consider these typical applications: Security — verify those employees who have authorized clearance to limited access areas. A data base containing employee pictures and personnel records can be searched and displayed for visual verification. Signature Verification — increase the efficiency of credit checks by adding pictures of customer signatures to your financial data base records. Real Estate — add pictures of houses to on-line real estate listings for faster property identifi- cation and improved sales presentations. Electronic Cataloging — pictures of products can be combined with a data base system containing pro- duct specifications, pricing, availability and much more. Customers, distributors and sales personnel can quickly search data and view the resulting product/ picture information on one screen. Files can be updated easily, quickly. CHORUS It's Easy With a simple keystroke, pop-out of your data base system and into the PHOTOBASE menu. Capture images of text, photos, artwork and 3-dimensional objects with an ordinary video camera and our high resolution PC-EYE™ video digitizer. Pop back into your data base system and add the picture name to your data base like you would any other piece of information. The full functionality of the data base system is preserved, but the resulting display is text and picture information on one screen. Pictures are displayed in the upper right quadrant of the screen at a resolution of 320 x 200 with 16 colors or levels of gray. Text information from data base records fills the rest of the screen. Pictures can also be exploded to full screen. Call or write and we will send you information on PHOTOBASE, PC-EYE, compatible cameras and other imaging equipment in the Chorus Family of products. (603) 424-2900 or 1-800-OCHORUS. TM PHOTOBASE and PC-EYE are trademarks of CHORUS Data Systems. 'dBase II is a trademark of Ashton-Tate; R-Base 4000 is a trademark of Microrim, Inc.; IBM Filing Assistant is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Inquiry 59 CHORUS Data Systems, Inc., 6 Continental Blvd., P.O. Box 370, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054 IBM COMPATIBILITY . at a not so IBM price TECH TURBO PCJAT $2399 PRICE INCLUDES: M6TO8MHZ80286CPU m512K mONE, 1.2 MB FLOPPY DRIVE ■ 8 EXPANSION SLOTS ■ 795 WATT POWER SUPPLY ■ COMPLETE MS DOS, PC DOS, XENIX COMPATIBILITY ■ RUNS LOTUS 123, DBASE III FRAMEWORK AND ALL OTHER POPULAR AT SOFTWARE ■ ONE YEAR WARRANTY!! OPTIONS: TECH TURBO PC/AT WITH 20MB HARD DISK $2825 TECH TURBO PC/AT WITH 20MB HARD DISK, MONOCHROME MONITOR, HERCULES® COMPATIBLE MONOGRAPHICSCARD $2999 ALSO AVAILABLE WITH TAPE BACKUPS, MODEMS, LARGER HARD DISKS, AND NETWORK- ING SYSTEMS. TECH PC/AT $1999 PRICE INCLUDES: ■ 6M HZ 80286 CPU m512K ■ ONE, 1. 2 MB FLOPPY DRIVE ■ 8 EXPANSION SLOIS ■ 1.95 WATT POWER SUPPLY ■ COMPLETE MS DOS, PC DOS, XENIX COMPATIBILITY ■ RUNS LOTUS 123, DBASE III FRAMEWORK AND ALL OTHER POPULAR AT SOFTWARE. ■ ONE YEAR WARRANTY!! OPTIONS: TECH PC/AT WITH 20 MB HARD DISK $2499 TECH PC/AT WITH 20MB HARD DISK, MONOCHROME MONITOR, HERCULES® COMPATIBLE MONO/GRAPHICS CARD $2699 ALSO AVAILABLE WITH TAPE BACKUPS, MODEMS, LARGER HARD DISKS, AND NETWORK- ING SYSTEMS. TECH TURBO PC/XT $1099 PRICE INCLUDES: ■ 4 TO 7 MHZ SOFTWARE SWITCH ABLE CPU m640K ■ TWO 360K DS/DD FLOPPY DISK DRIVES ■ 8 EXPANSION SLOTS ■ 735 WATT POWER SUPPLY ■ ONE YEAR WARRANTY!! OPTIONS: TECH TURBO PC/XT WITH 20MB HARD DISK $1699 TECH TURBO PC/XT WITH 20MB HARD DISK, MONO- CHROME MONITOR AND HERCULES COMPATIBLE MONO/GRAPHICS CARD $1950 ALSO AVAILABLE W 256KB/ i 2 2K At I 1 Pw mU ,8 slots, 130W 2 * < f F r| v f'| P.S..2FDD&FDC * * \Jt/tJ keyboard * • * * 8088 CPU, 640KB * * RAM, 8 slots, 130W • * d» F^ i\ f" P.&, 2FDD &FDC, • *tb /LIrv RrlHGamePort,* ■^ t M ^"fl 1 Ser Port, clock/cal- + + W %J %J endar, battery, key- + • board • * AT compat- * * ible, 80286* * ^ >-* — ~ CPU ' 1MB * *«1'OrA RAM, 16MB • * v I 5v *~\ 1 1 FDD > l92W * * -"* v ^ v v HDC, key-* ^ board ^ i AT compat- i ible, 80286 ^7 * CPU, 1MB * 2&Cknf\r" RAM, 16MB* * JK V / IJK FDD < 192W * *t/I *f I! PS., 20MB* * U I 1/1/ Hard Disk, * * FDC&HDC,* * Ser/ParCard,* ^ keyboard ^ * • ^ Other add-ons, monitor, etc. ^ ^ are available ^ * Monochrome $ 65 * J Color/graphic $80 J ^ Monographic & printer $ 90 ^ * Color/graphic & printer $ 95 * * 384KB multifunction $ 90 * * :20MB hard disk & controller $495 * * 10MB hard disk & controller $410 * * 8087 $115 ^ * CPU motherboard $150 * ^ TERMS: Cashier's check or money order, * ^ personal check requires 2 wk clearance. ^ . Checks must include an address and « phone number, no unminted checks. *W •^ California residents add 7% sales tax. JL COMPUWORLD 1180 E. Miraloma Way Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 749-9935 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 219 THE CMO ADVANTAGE • THE BEST PRICES! >s Next day shipping on all in stock items, >s Free easy access order inquiry. s Orders from outside Pennsylvania save state sales tax. s Free technicial support with our factory trained technical staff. • There is no limit and no deposit on C.O.D. orders. S There's no extra charge for using your credit card. Your card is not charged until we ship. • No waiting period for cashiers checks. s We accept purchase orders from qualified corporations. Subject to approval. s Educational discounts available to qualified institutions. • FREE CATALOG MEMBERSHIP HOME COMPUTERS MODEMS Inquiry 77 SHIPPING Add 3°/o, 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 sub- ject 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. ATARI 130XE (128K) CALL 520ST (512K) CALL 800XL 64K CALL 1010 Recorder $49.99 1050 Disk Drive CALL 1027 Letter Quality Printer $209.00 1030 Direct Connect Modem $59.99 Software Specials 8036 Atari Writer $24.99 Star Raiders $4.99 Missile Command $4.99 Defender $4.99 Galaxian $4.99 Asteroids S4.99 Centipede $4.99 Robotron ..$4.99 Eastern Front $4.99 SynCalc $19.99 SynFile .....$19.99 VisiCalc $39.99 APPLE APPLE lie CALL APPLE lie CALL MaclNTOSH CALL lie LCD Display CALL HAYDEN Art Grabber $31.99 Home Design $49.99 Media Works $63.99 PALADIN Crunch 512 $189.00 fz. commodore C128 Computer S269.00 C1571 (Disk Drive for C128) SNEW C1902 (RGB 13" Monitor for C128J....SNEW C1670 (Modem for C128) SNEW CBM 64 $149.00 C1541 Disk Drive $199.00 C1530 Datasette $39.99 M-801 Dot Matrix Printer $169.00 MCS 803 Dot Matrix $179.00 C1702 Color Monitor $189.00 C1660 Auto Modem $59.99 DPS 1101 Daisy Printer $339.00 PORTABLE COMPUTERS K!tLm PACKARD 41CV $189.99 41CX $249.99 HP 71B $419.99 HP 11C $62.99 HP 12C/15C/16C $89.99 HP 75D $949.00 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 CALL PC-8201 Portable Computer.. ..$309.00 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 3 1 05.99 PC-1250A $88.99 CE-125 Printer/Cassette $128.99 CE-150 Color Printer Cassette.$171.99 CE-161 16K RAM $134.99 ATARI 520-ST SOFTWARE SIERRA ON LINE Ultima II $39.99 Gato $29.99 INFOCOM„ Zork I. II. Ill (ea.) $29.99 Hitchiker's Guide $29.99 Wishbringer $29.99 Suspended $37.99 HABA Hippo-C '■ $49.99 MIRAGE CONCEPTS Express $34.99 ST-Toolbox CALL MARK OF THE UNICORN Final Word $94.99 Hex $29.99 PC Intercom $89.99 MINDSCAPE Halley Project _ $34.99 Macintosh Software Lotus Jazz CALL Microsoft Excel *.... $259.00 Living Videotext ThinkTank 512 $159.00 Manhatten Ready, Set, Go $79.99 Crelghton Development Mac Spell $69.99 Monogram Dollars & Sense. ...$99.99 Peachtree Back to Basics - GL$109.00 PFS File & Report (New V«*sion)$1 19.00 Silicon Beach Airborn $25. 9S Professional Software Fleet System II w/SpelL'(128)... $49.99 Trivia Fever ~. $29.99 Word Pro 4 Plus/5 Plus each. ..$239.00 Info Pro $179.00 BRODERBUND The Print Shop w $29.99 Music Shop $29.99 File (64) $49.99 BATTE«esfc^e4:uJG£D PaperClip w/Spell Pack $79.99 The Consultant DBMS $69.99 Bus Card II $139.00 80 Col Display ™ $129.00 maxell 3V 2 " SS/DD .TT. $24.99 3Vz" DS/DD $39.99 5V4" MD-1 w/Hardcases $14.99 5V4" MD-2 w/Hardcases $19.99 5V4" MD-2-HD for AT $39.99 3Vz" 5 pack $15.99 M Verbatim. 5V* " SS/DD ^ $19.99 5V* " DS/DD $24.99 Disk Analyzer $24.99 SI Elephant 3 1 / 2 " SS/DD $29.99 Elephant W SS/SD $13.99 Elephant 5V*" SS/DD $15.99 Elephant bW DS/DD $16.99 Elephant Premium DS/DCT. $22.99 5 1 /j" DS/DD floppy disks (Box of 10) ! rr. $26.99 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) $11.99 Flip-in-File 100 $24.99 AMARAY 50 Disk Tub 5Vk n $9.99 30 Disk Tub 3Vi" „. $8.99 DISKETTES ANCHOR Volksmodem $59.99 Volksmodem 300/1200 $189.99 Signalman Express $299.00 Lightning 2400 Baud $399.00 DIGITAL DEVICES AT300 - 300 Baud (Atari) $99.99 (B Hayes Smartmodem 300 $139.00 Smartmodem 1200 $389.00 Smartmodem 1200B $359.00 Smartmodem 2400 $599.00 Micromodem He $149.00 Smart Com II $89.99 Chronograph $199.00 Transet 1000 $309.00 Reach 1200 Baud Half Card.. ..$399.00 niPP miCROBITS MPP-1064 AD/AA (C-64) $69.99 |Novationgg Smart Cat Plus $319.00 J-Cat $99.99 Novation 2400 $499.00 Apple Cat II $229.00 212 Apple Cat II $379.00 Apple Cat 212 Upgrade $229.00 Macmodem $319.00 Quadmodem II 300/1200 $339.00 300/1200/2400 $499.00 TELELEARNING C64 300 Baud (Closeout) $39.99 GRAPHICS ■Polaroid Palette $1299.00 DRIVES HARD [•MEGA' 10 meg Bernoulli Box $1899.00 20 meg Bernoulli Box $2599.00 5 meg "MacNoulli" $1499.00 fTALLGRASS TECHNOLOGIES COMMiHFDlOMfMf »■ 25, 35, 50, 80 meg (PC) from $1299.00 IRWIN Tape Backup CALL ^^VEREX- 60 Meg Internal Backup System$829.00 U-SCI 10 meg Internal IBM $399.00 20 meg Internal IBM $549.00 FLOPPY INDUS Atari GT $219,00 C-64 GT $229.00 MICRO SCI A1.5 Apple $179.00 A2 Apple $179.00 SD1 C-64 Single $219.00 SD2 C-64 Dual $469.00 I and on 320K 5V4" (PC) $109.00 TEAC 320K 5V«" $109.00 MONITORS yQMDEK Video 300 Green $129.00 Video 300A Amber $139.00 Video 310A Amber TTL $169.00 Color 300 Composite $179.00 Color 500 Composite/RGB $289.00 Color 600 Hi-Res. RGB $399.00 Color 710 Ultra Hi-Res $489.00 Color 722 Dual Mode $549.00 SEC JB 1260 Green $59.99 JB 1201/1205 (ea.) $99.99 JB 1270 Green/1275 $119.00 JB 1275 Amber $119.00 JB 1280 G TTL/1285 A TTL $149.00 JC 1410 RGB $669.00 JC 1225 Composite $179.00 PRINCETON MAX-12E Amber $179.00 HX-9 9" RGB $469.00 HX-9E Enhanced $519.00 HX-12 12" RGB $469.00 HX-12E Enhanced $559.00 SR-12 Hi-Res $599.00 *XAXaW 115 12" Green $119.00 116 12" Amber $129.00 121 TTL Green $139.00 122 TTL Amber ..$149.00 610 510x200 RGB $NEW 620 640x200 RGB $NEW 630 640x200 RGB $NEW 640 720x400 RGB $NEW 8400 Quadchrome I $499,00 8410 Quadchrome II $339,00 8420 Amberchrome $179.00 8500 Quad Screen $149.00 ZVM 1220/1230 (ea.) $99.99 ZVM 1240 IBM Amber $149.00 ZVM 130 Color $269.00 ZVM 131 Color $249,00 ZVM 133 RGB $429.00 ZVM 135 RGB/Color $459.00 ZVM 136 RGB/Color $599.00 INTERFACES /isr Multi I/O (Apple II) $159.00 MMmACTJCAL Graphcard $79.99 Seriall Card $99.99 Microbuffer II + $169.00 Microbuffer 32K $189.00 QUADRAN^ Microfazer from $139.00 Efazer (Epson) from $79.99 ^Orange micr o Grappler CD (C64) $89.99 Grappler + (Apple) $89.99 Grappler 16K + (Apple) $159.00 DIGITAL DEVICES Ape Face (Atari) $49.99 U-Print A (Atari) $54.99 U-A16/Buffer (Atari) $74.99 U-Call Interface (Atari) $39.99 U-Print C (C64) $49.99 P-16 Print Buffer $74.99 U-Print 16 apple He $89.99 PRINTERS Canon A40 CALL LBP-8A1 Laser. CALL ^CITIZEN MSP-10 (80 col.) $279.00 MSP-15 (132 col.) $389.00 MSP-20 (80 col.) $349.00 MSP-25 (132 col.) $509.00 citoh Prowriter 7500 $219.00 Prowriter 8510 NLQ $329.00 Prowriter 1550P $449.00 Starwriter 10-30 $459.00 corona Lazer LP-300 $2799.00 DIABLO D25 Daisywheel $549.00 630-109 Daisywheel $1749.00 D80IF Daisywheel CALL d-feywriter 2000 $749.00 EPSON Homewriter 10, LX-80, LX-90 CALL FX-85, FX-185, RX-100, JX-80 CALL DX-10, DX-20, DX-35, LQ-1500....CALL SQ-2000, Hi-80, HS-80, AP-80 CALL Epson/Comrex 220-Atari $89.99 JUKI 6000 Letter Quality CALL 6100 Letter Quality CALL 6200 Letter Quality CALL 6300 Letter Quality CALL 5510 CALL LEGEND 808 Dot Matrix 100 cps $179.00 1080 Dot Matrix 100 cps $259,00 1380 Dot Matrix 130 cps $289.00 1385 Dot Matrix 165 cps $339.00 SEC 8027 Transportable $229,00 3000 Series $1099.00 8000 Series $1449,00 ELF 360 $449.00 Pinwriter 560 $999.00 OKIDATA 182, 183, 192, 193, 2410, 84 CALL Okimate 10 (Specify C64/Atari)$189.00 Okimate 20 (IBM) CALL Panasonic KX1080 $NEW KX1091 $259.00 KX1092 $389.00 KX1093 $479.00 Quadjet $399.00 Quad Laser CALL ^ SILYE«-REEO 500 Letter Quality $279.00 550 Letter Quality $419.00 770 Letter Quality $759.00 SG-10C (C64 Interface) CALL SB/SD/SG/SR Series CALL Powertype Letter Quality. CALL Texas Instruments TI850 $529.00 TI855 $639.00 TI865 $799.00 TOSHIBA 1340 (80 column) $589.00 P341 (132 column) $989.00 P351 (132 column) $1149.00 PC COMPATIBLES Inquiry IBM PC SYSTEMS Configured to your specification. Call for Best Price! IBM-PC, IBM-PC II, IBM-XT, IBM-AT SOFTWARE FOR IBM KP-2000 Portable CALL ASHTONTATE Framework II CALL dBase III $369.00 BORLAND Turbo Pascal 3.0 $49.99 Sidekick (unprotected) $59.99 Reflex $79.99 CENTRAL POINT Copy II PC-Backup $29.99 DECISION RESOURCES Chartmaster $229.00 Signmaster $169.00 Diagram Master $219.00 ENERTRONICS Energraphics/Plot $289.00 FOX & GELLER Quickcode III $169.00 FUNK SOFTWARE Sideways $39.99 HARVARD SOFTWARE Total Project Manager $269.00 INFOCOM Cornerstone $279.00 LIFETREE Volkswriter Deluxe $159.00 LIVING VIDEOTEXT Think Tank $109.00 Ready $64.99 LOTUS Symphony CALL 1-2-3 CALL MECA SOFTWARE Managing Your Money 2.0 $109.00 MICROSTUF SOFTWARE Crosstalk XVI $89.99 Crosstalk Mark IV $149.00 Remote $89.99 MICRORIM SOFTWARE R:Base 4000 $249.00 R:Base 5000 $389.00 Clout 2.0 $129.00 MICROPRO WordStar 2000 $249.00 WordStar 2000 + $299.00 WordStar Professional $299.00 Easy $99.99 MICROSOFT Word $229.00 Mouse $139.00 Flight Simulator $39.99 MultiPlan $129.00 MULTIMATE Advantage $299.00 Multi Mate Word Proc $249.00 On File $94.99 Just Write $94.99 NOUEMENON Intuit $69.99 NORTON Norton Utilities 3.0 $59.99 ONE STEP Golf's Best $39.99 PEACHTREE SOFTWARE Peachtext 5000 $179.00 PFSrIBM First Success $218.00 File/Graph (ea.) $79.99 Report $74.99 Write/Proof Combo $79.99 PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE Wordplus-PC w/Boss $249.00 THE SOFTWARE GROUP Enable $259.00 SATELLITE SYSTEMS Word Perfect 4.1 $219.00 SORCIM/IUS Accounting AP/AR/GL/INV/OE (ea.) $295.00 SuperCalc III $195.00 EasyWriter II System $195.00 Super Project $195.00 SPI SOFTWARE Open Access $379.00 SUBLOGIC Jet $39.99 5th GENERATION Fast Back $119.00 PC-138 Series CALL PC-148 Series CALL PC-158 Series ,.CALL PC-160 Series CALL PC-171 Series CALL AT-200 Series CALL % SANYO MBC 550-2 Single Drive $669.00 MBC 555-2 Dual Drive $969.00 MBC 675 Portable CALL MBC775 CALL MBC 880 Desktop CALL Safari (7300) CALL 6300 CALL corona PPC400 Dual Portable 31289.00 PPCXT 10 meg Portable $1989.00 PC40022 Dual Desktop $1389.00 PC400-HD2 10 meg $1989.00 ITT ITT X-TRA 256K, 2 Drive System CALL 256K.10 meg Hard Drive System CALL XP5, 20 meg CALL Sperry-AT as low as $1749.00 Sperry-IT as low as $2699.00 Call for Specific Configuration! All Models CALL MULTIFUNCTION CARDS /isr Six Pack Plus $229.00 Mega Plus I! $269.00 I/O Plus II $139.00 Advantage-AT S999.00 Graph Pak/64K $599.00 MonoGraph Plus $399.00 Preview Mon» $299.00 PC Net Cards $379.00 5251/11 On-line $669.00 5251/12 Remote $579.00 IRMA 3270... .^T^™~ $879.00 IRMA Print $999.00 IRMA Smart Alec $779.00 =^VERE)^ Edge Card $269.00 Color Card (Graphics Edge) $289.00 Magic Card II ,,.,,11.69.00 HERCULES Graphics $299.00 Color ...$159.00 IDEAssociates IDEA 5251 $589.00 MYLEX The Chairman $469.00 PARADISE Color/Mono Card $159.00 Modular Graphics Card $279.00 Multi Display Card $219.00 Five Pack C, S ..$139.00 PERSY5T Bob Board $359.00 li i l—l Captain - 64 SJ99.00 Captain Jr. 128K $199.00 Graphics Master $469.00 Quadport-AT ^^..^$4-19.00 Liberty-AT (128K) $349.00 The Gold Quadboard $449.00 The Silver Quadboard $239.00 Expanded Quadboard $209.00 Quad 512 + $229.00 Liberty $309.00 QuadSprint $499.00 QuadLink $399.00 QuadColor $199.00 QuadJr. Expansion Chassis $469.00 Expansion Chassis Memory $199.00 Chronagraph $79.99 Parallel Interface Board $64.99 1NXEJ PCNC8087 5MHz.. PCNC8087-2 8 MHz ~£jr PCNC80287 6 MHz \T, 1010 PC-Above Board ZZT 2010 AT-Above Board A IB FORTRAN, C, and BASIC Programmers... Programming just got easier with Scientific Subroutine Libraries from Wiley Professional Software* You need to quickly generate dependable, accurate and error-free code. Whatever language you use, Wiley Professional Software has a powerful Scientific Subroutine Library that can save you considerable programming time and development money. Each library consists of more than 100 pretested and precompiled mathematical and statistical subroutines, supplied on disk as a linkable library and as source code. 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. The Subroutines cover formulas for: ♦ Interpolations ♦ ♦ Fourier analysis ♦ ♦ Cross tabulations ♦ ♦ Differential equations ♦ ♦ Roots of biquadratic equations ♦ Just out, Professional FORTRAN! Coming Soon, MORE FORTRAN! ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ General statistics Probability Analysis of variance Regressions Matrices Function evaluations Systems of equations Solution of equations Times series analysis and more And now all the subroutines are available to those of you programming in Professional FORTRAN. All that's required is IBM Professional FORTRAN or Ryan McFarland FORTRAN. On the way is MORE FORTRAN, which includes subroutines covering such areas as: Analytical Geometry ♦ Vector Algebra ♦ Utility (including complex matrix manipulation) ♦ Numerical Analysis (including fast Fourier transforms, and solution to systems of non-linear equations) ♦ Assembler Service Routines — FORTRAN CALLS 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 Professional FORTRAN Library $175 IBM Professional FORTRAN; Ryan McFarland FORTRAN MORE FORTRAN Library Call for Price Microsoft FORTRAN ver. 3.2 or later; IBM Professional FORTRAN; PC DOS 2.0 or better Developed by Peerless Engineering Service lb order, or for free literature, call: 212-850-6788 Or write: Wiley Professional Software John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Leslie Bixel, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 Dealer Inquiries Invited. Educational site licenses available. 49 L TVT THE TECHNICAL SOFTWARE SOURCE 222 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 188 ROBOTICS AUTONOMOUS ROBOT NAVIGATION by Charles Jorgensen, William Hamel, and Charles Weisbin MOST COMMERCIAL robotic systems depend heavily on the fact that their job environments are well known and change only in prescribed ways. Generally when navigation is re- quired, the environment rather than the robot is designed to accom- modate movement. We can keep paths of movement open, pre- position assembly lines, preplace parts, and reduce variations and un- known factors. When we relax such restrictions, however, we must increase the robot's capabilities to compensate for un- predictability in the environment. Thus, the first step toward generalized mobility is to add sensors to provide data so that the environment and the internal state of the robot can be determined prior to any decisions. In this instance, because the spatial rela- tionships between the robot and the world are no longer predetermined, two questions immediately arise. First, what does the world map look like? This requires some form of sensor mapping. Second, where is the robot at any given moment relative to that world? This is called self-location. Teaching robots to look before they leap Because both robot position and environment may change in real-world problems, an advanced autonomous robot must be capable of answering both questions. Until recently, exper- iments in autonomous navigation have focused primarily on robot en- vironment mapmaking rather than on the self -location problem. As a result, even though the experimental en- vironment could change in minor ways, it usually contained a fixed ref- erence point that the robot sensors could detect and use to calculate self- location. For example, self-location has been calculated by homing on a single point such as a radio source, following a path like a magnetic floor tape, using triangulation on infrared emitters (reference 1), or sighting specially constructed optical land- marks. Commercial applications such as in- plant mail delivery have used such systems to a limited extent, but they are not practical for unplanned situa- tions like military land-vehicle opera- tion or emergency repair of nuclear power plant components. For these situations, a robot needs to construct temporary references instead of rely- ing on known references. An example of a temporary reference is using a landmark such as a tall building to orient streets and buildings. The Find-Path Problem Once a robot has determined a refer- ence point and used its sensors to generate a map of the external en- vironment, it must select control al- gorithms associated with movement. That is, it must find a path to its goal. The so-called find-path problem, which has been carefully studied in robotics, can be stated as follows: Given an object with an initial location and a set of obstacles whose spatial location is known, find a continuous path from the initial position to the goal that avoids collision with obstacles along the way. Researchers [continued] Drs. Charles ]orgensen, William Hamel and Charles VJeisbin are involved in research and development of robots and artificial intelligence at the Center for Engineering Systems Ad- vanced Research of the Oak Ridge National laboratory (POB X, Oak Ridge. TN 37831). JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 223 NAVIGATION have proposed a variety of ap- proaches to solving this problem. One approach, called the configura- tion-space method by Lozano-Perez (reference 2), divides a navigation space into zones that the reference point of a robot can occupy without the robot colliding with any obstacles. Paths are then defined for the refer- ence point that makes maximum use of the open area between the refer- ence point and a specified goal. For example, to define the configuration space, Moravec's Rover (reference 3) bounded all obstacles with circles that were enlarged to assure clearances for the robot edges. Paths were then calculated as tangents to these circles. In the context of robot manipulators, Udupa (reference 4) chose to bound the obstacles with complex polyhedra. Other approaches involve either local or global navigation strategies. Local navigation deals with immediate problems of obstacle avoidance, whereas global navigation considers larger regional information like the plan of a building or long-term goals. For example, Crowley (reference 5) de- scribed global path planning in terms of previously stored networks of places. He defined global navigation as traversals along "legal highways" in known areas, with local movement based primarily on avoidance pro- cedures using sensors. Recently, there has been an interest in merging exploration and learning. Learning has been considered in other aspects of robotics, such as ma- nipulator movement (reference 6), but has only recently been applied to navigation control (reference 7). The many factors involved in exploratory robot navigation make it useful to have a conceptual framework to discuss the points. We will now con- sider one such framework, based on some well-known human explorers. Exploration Navigation in unknown territory im- plies that a robot is going to en- counter unexpected situations. The robot will have to surmount problems such as how to avoid obstacles. There will also be serendipitous discoveries Figure 1 : A simple robotic obstacle- course floor map. The red lines represent the bloomed obstacle diameters, blue indicates projected path lines, and green identifies the shortest path. that can be exploited. Such situations are common for all explorers, whether mortals or machines, lb clarify the issues involved, let us consider three well-known explorers and their labors and how they relate to autonomous robot navigation. We will begin by comparing a mobile robot to Ferdinand Magellan, the British cartographer whose map- making consolidated a disordered 16th century world into sets of well- ordered countries and coasts. Next, we will consider the less structured world of Christopher Columbus navi- gating toward unknown territory. Finally, we will examine the mythical hero Ulysses as he contends with the whims of the gods who change his world and throw dangers in his path. Our explorer will be HERMIES II, a small mobile robot at Oak Ridge Na- tional Laboratory, as he navigates around the laboratory at the Center for Engineering Systems Advanced Research (CESAR). Magellan Magellan was interested primarily in the accurate circumnavigation of the world in which he traveled. He there- fore prepared detailed maps from bits and pieces of geographic information gathered from many sources. He syn- thesized this information into a spatial map that reduced the three-dimen- sional real world into scaled distances between objects characterized in two- dimensional Cartesian projections. When used by an experienced navi- gator, the maps of Magellan per- mitted the accurate selection of proper headings and destination points and minimized travel distances. In the same way that Magellan orga- nized the world into maps and used that information for path planning, a robot must be able to use spatial maps of the environment to select destinations and minimize the ex- penditure of resources when seeking goals. At the Magellan level, we assume that information about the spatial characteristics of the environment is suitably stored in computer memory and accessible to the robot-control al- gorithms. Given known obstacle loca- tions that make straight-line traversal impossible, the robot's task becomes one of finding the best path to a goal destination. If necessary, the robot may need to turn and maneuver in tight spaces, dead-end corridors, or mazes. Such situations often occur in real-world environments such as large industrial plants or buildings. Figure 1 shows a sample room with two obstacles placed between a robot and a goal point. The dark borders of the obstacles represent a two-dimen- sional projection of the three-dimen- sional object shapes. Because the exact locations of obstacles are known, navigation could be per- formed as follows: A line is projected from the robot to the goal. If the path is clear, the robot uses the line to calculate an angle of turn and travel distance using the Pythagorean theorem. However, such a simple algorithm could result in problems. For one thing, we have made no allowance for the width of the robot, and it may col- lide with edges of obstacles. Conse- quently, a robust algorithm must take into account required clearances due to all sources of potential imprecision. Second, if a straight line is not reason- able, the robot requires a procedure [continued) 224 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 HALP PRICE Introductory Subscription Offer your cost right in half. At 50% BVTE If you're a technically-inclined micro user, subscribe to BYTE and cut your cost right in half. At 50% of the newsstand price, every BYTE issue will bring you stimulating, timely articles on new technology, innovative poapplications, pre- views, reviews, and appraisals of major new hardware and software products. If your first trial issue of BYTE isn't everything you expected, just write "cancel" on the invoice and return it. Your first issue is FREE to keep with our thanks for trying the small systems journal □ Bill me (North America only) □ Charge Visa □ Charge Master Card □ Check enclosed (U.S. only) D US I yr. $21.00 (12 issues] D Canada or Mexico I yr. $23.00 U.S. (12 issues' D Europe I yr. (air' $69.00 US. D Foreign Surface Delivery (I yr.) $37.00 U.S. 4716 Name Address State/Providence/Country Code CO LU >_ LU < .Q-x *- o zjO coo: CD lO o> i CD CO 00 00 O I cd Today, there are lots of BASICs. All but one are a forced fit. BASIC is so popular it was worth chopping and squeezing it to fit the earliest micros. Stretching it again as memory expanded. And twisting it to do things like graphics. Now, its creators think it's worth reinventing. Every first draft deserves a second chance. John Kemeny and Tom Kurtz think the language they created deserves a fresh approach. One that offers struc- tured programming, making line numbers optional but unnecessary. A language that understands external libraries, matrix algebra, and parame- ter type checking. Graphics syntax that's ready for new hardware when you are. An editor and compiler that are easy for beginners but ready for professional developers. Sometimes, it's the small details. Like support for the 8087 and up to 640K of memory on the IBM-PC R . Access to QuickDraw routines on the Macintosh ™ . Long strings, fast floating-point and an editor that includes block copy and global replace. That's why we call it True BASIC™. Because it's still the easiest place to learn programming. Because you and your programs won't have to start from scratch with a new language. All you have to do is visit your local dealer and ask for True BASIC rM . Talk to Addison- Wesley Publishing about site licensing. Or call us directly at (603) 643-3882. Because your computer and pro- gramming language should be a per-, feet fit. NAVIGATION The piano-mover problem considers both rotation and translation. for obtaining other paths and select- ing one from among the intermediate choices, much as a traveler would select intermediate stops on the way to a destination. This kind of situation is an instance of the find-path problem. One way to implement a find-path algorithm is shown in figure 1 . Here, the known boundaries of the ob- stacles are enlarged ("bloomed") by an amount equal to one-half the dia- meter of the robot plus an extra amount for uncertainty associated with the robot's actual position. At the same time, the robot is mathematical- ly shrunk to a single point. If some ob- ject obstructs a straight-line path to the goal, hypothetical lines are drawn from that point to each of the vertices (edges) of the expanded obstacles in direct line of sight of the robot. From each of those points, new lines are drawn to each vertex of the obstacles in their line of sight, and so on, until a line of sight from some vertex to the goal has been obtained. All paths from the robot's current position to the goal are converted into a graph of nodes and edges where each edge is a path segment. Finding the best path consists of examining path lengths from the start node to the finish and selecting the shortest sequence. Optimal solutions for such find-path problems have been devel- oped that permit the answer to be ob- tained very efficiently, such as the A* algorithm used in the artificial intel- ligence community for the search of decision graphs. Moravec used the approach of projecting three-dimen- sional shapes onto two-dimensional surfaces and calculating tangential paths as a method of navigation plan- ning for the Mars Rover. When the available movement cor- ridors are very narrow, the robot needs more complex algorithms to calculate its rotations. This class of path planning has been called the "piano-mover problem" (reference 8). In the simple find-path problem above, we treated the robot as a point rather than a polygonal body with unequal dimensions and appendages into the navigation space. Such an ap- proach will work if there is plenty of maneuvering room. In the case of the piano-mover problem, the corridors the robot will traverse may narrow so that the robot must rotate to squeeze through clearances the way a piano mover must make turns and rotations CRITICAL CURVE FOR VERTEX X ROTATION ROTATE Figure 2: The piano-mover problem. to climb stairs, go through doors, or go around corners. The complexity comes from the fact that, in addition to finding a con- tinuous motion that will take a robot from a given initial position to a final position, the robot is subject to geometric constraints during the mo- tion. The constraints do not permit any part of the irregular robot body to come into contact with obstacle edges or walls. You can simplify the task by impos- ing restrictions on the range of al- lowed robot motions, such as insisting that the robot move in a fixed orien- tation or that the change of orienta- tion can occur not more than once during a path traversal, but in general the problem is approached as follows. Each corner of the robot chassis outline is labeled and treated as an axis around which the robot can rotate. The map of the navigation area is divided into regions of open space formed by the intersections of the lines connecting the objects, room walls, and corners. Each region is separated from the other in terms of "critical curves" that are created by the set of points generated when each vertex of the robot outline is placed at an intersection point of two re- gions, and the robot is rotated around that axis until an intersection occurs with region boundaries. The set of intersecting curves formed for all the robot vertices com- poses a finite connectivity graph that contains all possible boundary-cross- ing rotations of the robot. Algorithms are then applied to this connectivity graph to select a "path" consisting of axis rotations that permit the robot to cross from one region to another. In figure 2, the robot is represented by a triangle and the corridor to be navi- gated is bent at an angle. To traverse the boundary, the robot must turn right at the first boundary area and move backward down the corridor to fit through. With the current state of robot so- phistication, other factors can over- shadow such tight maneuvers in real- life situations. These factors lead us {continued) 226 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 We have over 1000 Software and hardware items in stock. Shipments on almost all items within 24 hours! Call for programs not listed wAREHOUS DATA PRODUCTS FREE SOFTWARE! With over $100 purchase you will receive a free diskette for your IBM PC with label maker, checker game and banner programs. Technical & Other Info. (602) 246-2222 TOLL-FREE ORDER LINE 1-800-421-3135 SOFTWARE DATA BASE MANAGERS Clipper $345 Clout 2 129 Condor III 299 Fox and Geller Quickcode 145 Fox and Geller Quickreport 145 Knowledgeman 225 Knowledgeman II 309 K Paint 60 K Graph 135 K Text 105 K Report 135 Nutshell 55 PFS: File 78 Power Base 2.1 1 99 RBase 5000 Call Think Tank 98 Tim IV 169 WORD-PROCESSING Easy (Micro Pro) 89 Leading Edge w/Merge 85 M icrosoft Word 225 Multimate3.31 205 M ultimate Advantage 255 Oasis Word Plus 85 Peachtext 5000 145 PFS: Write 78 Random House Spell Checker 36 Samna III 3.0 265 Volkswriter Deluxe 139 Word Perfect 4.1 195 Wordstar 170 Wordstar Propac 238 Wordstar 2000 238 Wordstar 2000+ 285 SPREADSHEETS Microsoft Multiplan 115 PFS: Plan 78 Supercalc II 145 Supercalc III 2.1 169 ACCOUNTING BPI Accounts Payable 299 BPI Account Receivable 299 BPI General Accounting 299 BPI Payroll 299 Cyma Call Dollars and Sense 95 MBSI Call Tobias Managing Your Money 94 TCS. Big Four equivalent of Peachtree Series 4 - Specially augmented and cus- tomized 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 INCREDIBLE VALUE! Nationally advertised boards for IBM PC and compatibles at giveaway prices. 1 year warranty 5151 Equivalent Keyboards $89 Hercules Graphic Board Equivalent with Parallel Port $99 Expansion Board to 576 K $59 AST Six Pack Equivalent with game port $99 Four Drive Floppy Controller . . . $45 Color Card without printer port. $79 Color Card with printer port $95 IBM PC CLONE 256K Expandable to 640K on the motherboard, 2 drives 7 expansion slots $650 HARDWARE Hercules Color Card 145 Hercules Graphics Card 289 J RAM III Call Paradise Five Pak 119 Paradise Modular Graphics Card 249 Quadram Board with Par/Ser and Game Port 199 Quadcolor I 185 Sigma Maximizer Multifunction 149 Sperry 512K Expansion w/128K 145 STB Chauffeur Board 249 STB Mono Board 155 AB Parallel Print Switch w/cables 75 Mini Micro Parallel Print Buffer 69 COMPUTERS Corona PC Call LANGUAGES Concurrent PC/Dos Call Fortran 77 208 Lattice C Compiler 249 Run C Interpreter 89 Microsoft C Compiler 239 M icrosoft Fortran 209 Microsoft Macro Assembler 89 Microsoft Pascal Compiler 178 Microsoft Quick Basic 65 Multi Halo 140 UTILITIES Copy II PC 19 Copy II PC Board 79 Copywright 45 Norton Utilities 3.1 52 PC Tools 22 Pro key 4.0 75 Superkey 35 HARDWARE INTEGRATED Enable Call Smart Software Call TRANSFER PROGRAMS Crosstalk XVI 89 Hayes Smartcom II 88 M icrosoft Access 149 Move-It 79 Remote 99 GRAPHICS Chartmaster 215 Dr. Halo II 99 Energraphics w/o Plotter 170 Energraphics w/Plotter 220 Fontrix 99 Graphwriter/Combo 310 Microsoft Flight Simulator 30 PC Paint Brush 69 PFS Graph 78 Sign master 135 BUYS OF THE YEAR Expansion Board to 576K .. $59 KB5151 Keyboard Equivalent . . . ...89 Hercules Graphic Board w/Par Port Equivalent .. 115 AST Six Pack Equivalent 115 1 Year Warranty HARD DRIVES Bernoulli 20 MB 1 / 2 ht Seagate 20 MB Internal w/Controller Turbo 10 internal MODEMS Anchor Express Hayes 1200 Hayes 1 200B w/Software Hayes 2400 Promodem 1 200B w/Software Promodem 1 200 RAM 64K 150NS Chips (Set of 9) 256K Ram Chips (Set of 9) BOARDS AST Advantage AST Sixpack (384K) 2439 , . 499 . 529 Sperry PC Mono 256K Dual Drive Serial Port, Clock, MS/DOS 2.11 $1650 IBM PC-AT Call ITT Computers PC Compatible 256k Dual Drive, Mono, MS/DOS 1395 ITT XP 80286 IBM/PC Compatible, 512K, 10 MB Winchester, 3 times faster than an XT. 30% faster than an AT $2650 Kaypro 2000 768K $1695 Kaypro 16 2 w/external color monitor . 1995 Zenith 171 Call PRINTERS FREE! PRINTER SET SOFTWARE Purchase an Okidata, Epson, Gemini, Citi- zen or Toshiba 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. . 235 Call Call . 599 . 265 . 309 9.50 .. 27 CITIZEN MSP-10 255 MSP-15 355 MSP-20 329 Citizen 120D 169 Premiere 35 Daisywheel 415 EPSON - Call on all models JUKI Juki 6100 349 Juki 6300 685 NEC 3550 989 8850 1349 P5 Parallel 995 Elf 360 398 OKIDATA - Call on all models PANASONIC 1091 239 1092 349 1093 429 KXP3151 410 STAR MICRONICS - Call for prices TOSHIBA 1340 499 P351 1049 P341 875 MONITORS AMDEK Call for price Taxan 610 31 9 Taxan 121 Green 125 Taxan 122 Amber 134 Princeton Max 12 170 385 249 TERMS: Prices include 3% cash discount. Add 3% for charge and C.O.D. orders. Shipping on most software is S5.00. AZ orders +6% sales tax. Personal check- allow ten (10) days to clear. Prices are subject to change. We accept purchase orders. ^2Ji^3 TOLL-FREE ORDER LINE 1-800-421-3135 WAREHOUSE DATA PRODUCTS 2701 West Glendale Ave. • Phoenix, AZ 85021 Inquiry 378 NAVIGATION to the next level of navigational com- plexity, the exploration of Columbus. Columbus In the navigation of Magellan, the world map existed. Travel involved finding the best path to a goal. Co- lumbus faced a different problem. He knew roughly where he wanted to go, but he had little or no information as to what he would encounter along the way. Since others felt he might sail off the edge of the world, it was important that he create a detailed record of his journey as he went. The voyage was filled with both perils and great dis- coveries to record. For an autono- mous robot, such situations occur with obstacle avoidance and world mapping through sensors. Robotic sensors come in many types and include monoscopic and stereoscopic vision systems, fixed and mobile sonar range finders, laser range finders, touch sensors, stress and torque sensors, and collision detectors. For navigation, the most often sought sensor data is used for edge detection. Vision systems usually encode pic- tures as matrices of gray-scale pixels that are connected through gradient- seeking algorithms that consider re- flectivity, texture, and shading to pro- duce skeletal representations of the scene objects. The skeletal edges are then used to direct turn angles or grasping orientations of end effectors. Using multiple cameras simultaneous- ly permits the estimation of distances through optical parallax. Lasar range finders allow precise location of edges and can be used in conjuction with other sensors such as those for vision. Touch sensors per- mit obstacle avoidance through edge following and work well if the objects are not highly irregular. Sonar sensors are widely used in robotics naviga- tion. For a discussion of the nature and limitations of this kind of sensor, see the text box "Sonar Sensors" on page 230. When the approximate locations of obstacles have been determined, the navigation algorithms use the sensor- IN i \ \ \ \ \ i \ l L i V 1 A ROBOT \ INTO DEAD-END \ CORRIDORS V BLOCKED PATH s TO GOAL GOAL Figure 3: A simple maze that demonstrates the need for memory in Columbus-level navigation. generated map to determine admiss- ible paths much like the Magellan ex- ample. The situation is more compli- cated, though, because of the uncer- tainty that is introduced by sensor errors, fuzzy object shapes, and im- precise destination areas. Depending upon what the robot finds on the way, it may not be possible to reach a goal, and numerous unplanned changes in course may be required. It is also no longer possible to guarantee that the robot is taking the most efficient path to a goal any more than Columbus could guarantee that he had selected the best route to an unexplored continent. When the environment is only par- tially known, new issues must be con- sidered that would not occur with a complete world map. Just as Colum- bus could sail into closed lagoons, a robot can encounter dead-end cor- ridors and mazes when exploring. A maze might be generated by rows of boxes, outdoor canyons, or tangled equipment and can result in a tele- operated robot getting choked by its own power cord. In contrast to Co- lumbus, it is not always easy for a robot to determine that it is in a dead- end situation. Figure 3 shows a maze problem. Suppose the robot were given a con- trol algorithm like the following: When in a new area, first turn toward the location of the goal you wish to reach. l£ke a sonar reading to see if the path is clear. If the path is clear, then move. If it is not, take the first open path on either side of the line you would have taken if the path had been clear. Go one-half the dis- tance to the goal. When you arrive at that location, turn back toward the goal and repeat the process. At first glance, such a procedure ap- pears very sensible. The first clear path closest to an ideal straight line is always the one taken. The half- distance criterion assures that if the robot is far from the goal it will move rapidly to it, but it will take smaller, more careful moves the closer it gets. What, then, is wrong? The problem is that we have not given the robot an ability we take for granted. The robot has no memory. Look again at figure 3. The robot's goal is directly on the other side of a wall. If the robot follows our initial algorithm, it will scan the corridor it is in and select the first open move halfway to the goal after about a 90-degree left turn. The robot will begin to move up the cor- ridor, away from the goal. After a short distance, the robot will be far enough from the goal so that it can travel half the distance by making a turn back toward the goal. What happens? The robot again moves into the dead-end corridor. Thus, without external memory, our explorer bounces around and never reaches the goal. With a memory, pre- viously explored blocked areas can be set off limits for a goal traversal so the robot is gradually squeezed out of dead-end situations. Of course, there are many ways we could deal with this problem. The real difficulty is assuring that a general- purpose navigation algorithm con- siders all the possible traps that can be generated by deficiencies in the robot. Subtle complexities can hide in seemingly simple situations, such as a need to consider multistep memory to avoid recursive loops, a need to ex- plicitly consider trading off distance traveled versus angle turned, and {continued) 228 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 The Best c Book A Powerful c Compiler One Great c value $ 39.95 A good C book just isn't complete without a good C compiler to go with it. That's why we give you both. You get a comprehensive 450 page book and a full feature standard K&R C compiler with the Unix V7 Extensions. The Book is loaded with examples that teach you how to program in C. And our fast one pass C compiler comes with an equally fast linker so you don't waste a lot of time watching your disk drives spin. You also get a Unix compatible function library that contains more than 150 functions (C source code included). And if all that isn't enough, we off eryou a 30 day money back guarantee. So what are you waiting for? The exciting world of C is just one free phone call away. Language Features Functions • Data Types: char, short, abs asm conbuf cone feof ferror getcseg getdseg Isascii iscntrl movmem open replace repmem strcat stremp int, unsigned, long, float, asmx atan cos cpystr fflush fgets getd putd isdlgit islower outp peek rewind rights strcpy strlen double atof creat flleno getdate isprlnt perror rlndex stmcat atol cursblk filetrap gettlme Ispunct poke rmdlr stmemp atol curslin find getl Isspace poseurs scanf stmepy • Data Classes: auto, bdos curscol floor putl isupper pow setbuf strsave bdosx curerow fopen getkey itoa printf setbufsiz system extern, static, register bios cursoff fprintf getmode keypress left* putc setcolor tolower blosx curson fputs setmode putchar setdate toupper calloc delete fread gets len puts settlme ungetc • Typedef, Struct, Union, cell drand free getw neapslz heaptrap log putw setjmp ungetch unlink write Bit Fields, Enumerations cfree chain exec exeel freopen fscanf loglO longjmp rand read setmem sin character execv fseek hypot index inp lseek readattr sound write chs • Structure Assignment, chdlr chmod exit exltmsg ftell fwrlte malloc alloc reach writech sprlntf sqrt xmembeg xmemend Passing/Returning clearerr close exp fabs getc getch Insert lofllter math trap mld$ readdot wrltedot srand sscanf xmemget xmemput Structures clrscrn fclose putch Isalnum mkdir realloc stackslz xmovmem cmpstr fdopen getchar isalpha modf rename str$ ^exlt MIX Editor $29.95 When you're programming in a high level language you need a high power- ed editor. That's why we created a programmable full/split screen text processor. It lets you split the screen horizontally or vertically and edit two files at once. You can move text back and forth bet ween two windows. You can also create your own macro com- mands from an assortment of over 1 00 predefined commands. The editor comes configured so that it works just like Wordstar but you can change it if you prefer a different keyboard layout. The editor is a great companion to our C compiler. Because they work so well together we want you to have both. To make sure you do, we're offering the editor for just $15 when purchased with the C compiler. ASM Utility $10 The ASM utility disk allows you to link object files created by Microsoft's MASM or M80 assemblers. Lots of useful assem- bly language functions are included as examples. ORDERS ONLY 1-800-523-9520 IN TEXAS 1-800-622-4070 NOT COPY PROTECTED Canadian Distributor Saraguay Software: 416-923-1500 Editor C & Editor f ASM Utility S TX Residents S Shipping $ Total S □ Check □ Money Order □ MC/Visa* . (29.95) . (39.95) (54.95) . (10.00) . (6.125% sales tax) . (see below) Exp Shipping Charges: (No charge for ASM Utility) USA: S5/Order Canada: JlO/Order Overseas: SlO/Editor • S20/C • S30/C & Editor □ PCDOS/MSDOS (2.0 or later) □ IBM PC Single Side □ IBM PC Double Side □ Tandy 2000 □ 8 Inch □ Other D CPM 80 (2.2 or later) □ 8 Inch □ Kaypro II □ Kaypro 4 □ Apple (Z80) □ Osborne I SD □ Osborne I DD D Morrow MD II □ Other Name . Street . City State . Zip . Country . Phone ^^^ 2116 E. Arapaho J ^^^ Suite 363 Software Richardson, TX 75081 (214) 783-6001 Ask about our volume discounts. Unix is a trademark of Bell Labs. CPM is a trademark of Digital Research. MSDOS is a trademark of Microsoft. PCDOS is a trademark of IBM. WORDSTAR is a trademark of Micro Pro. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 229 NAVIGATION Sonar sensors have proved par- ticularly useful in navigation research, largely because they are relatively inexpensive and able to grossly cover large areas more rapid- ly than detailed processing with visual systems. Nonetheless, their use in autonomous navigation does pose some problems. Figure A illustrates some of the properties that make "sonars" challenging for use in navigation. Most low-cost sonar devices function by sending a multifrequency or "chirped" sound pulse from a trans- ducer outward in a cone-shaped wave- front. The difference between the time of emission and return is then used to determine estimated distance cal- culated on the basis of how far the wave could travel in one-half the period. Real-world factors intervene when a Sonar Sensors robot uses that information to con- struct spatial distance maps from dif- ferent scanning positions. First, al- though not of great concern indoors, sonar is sensitive to temperature changes. Specifically, the speed of sound in air is proportional to the square root of the absolute tempera- ture in degrees Rankine (degrees Fahrenheit plus 460). If a sonar range detector is calibrated at a standard temperature S and the actual room temperature is A, then the actual distance traveled by the sound in the air is the square root of (460 + A) I (460 + S) times the estimated distance. Thus, if a sonar were calibrated at 80° F and the actual room temperature was 60° F, a measured range of 35 feet would be overestimated by 7.8 inches (see table A). If that 7.8 inches over- lapped with the position of a solid ob- ject, the difference could provide a TRANSDUCER AND RECEIVER (I) (2) (3) (4) Figure A: Sonar problems. (I) Specular reflection, (2) false distance readings caused by reflection. (3) absorbancy. and (4) beam focusing. shocking experience for a moving robot. Another property of sound waves is that they exhibit specular reflection and interact with the texture of materials. This interaction was illus- trated one day in our laboratory when we were going to demonstrate a small mobile robot for some visitors and decided to give the obstacles colorful coats of shiny new paint. The high gloss was attractive to the human eye but also extremely reflective to sonar, so that if the obstacles were not hit almost head-on by a sonar beam they vanished from the sonar navigation maps. The result was that the robot often rammed into the objects instead of going around them. After trying cardboard, metal, and other coverings, we found that the highest specular reflection was provided by simple plastic bubble wrap. Visitors now see OBJECT 1 ROBOT W I c 1 > FALSE \ REFLECT BOUNDAF ION ' Y CAN sjjf *S ) -ransducer'- 1 DISTANCE 1 1 O o J- FALSE o o o o. OO sbbopc 1 - -—EDGE "*h SMOOTH! NG PULSE FROM NARRO BEAM W WING IDTH O 0- 1 -A SINGLE READI NJG ■::0-< || O o o *•" OVEN ESTIMATE OF WIDTH Figure B: A sonar map of a room. Each grid is two feet square. 230 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 23 3 NAVIGATION Table A: The equations of sonar in air. S = V K g HRT SPEED OF SOUND IN AIR Where S = speed of sound K g = gravitational constant H = ratio of specific heats of air at constant pressure to constant volume R = gas law constant for air T = absolute temperature D s ^VS7 ACTUAL DISTANCE Where D s = sonar-measured distance using the above formula A t = actual outside temperature S t = standard temperature SONAR-CALCULATED DISTANCE Vz tS Where t = time between sending and receiving sonar pulse S = speed of sound in air colorful boxes through a fat layer of bubble packing. Since robot designers can't bubble-pack the world, it is ob- vious that other sensor types must be used in conjunction with sonar for navigation. The characteristics of reflected sound also depend on signal energy and fre- quency. Frequencies that are useful in medical imaging, such as ultrasound, are not really practical for robotics because they take advantage of the density of the propagation medium, which is usually a fluid or tissue Most sonar systems for air rely on a carefully selected subset of frequencies de- signed to minimize absorption by typical materials. Under some circum- stances the frequency will be inappro- priate even for head-on readings. An actual example occurred in some ini- tial experiments using robot manipu- lators that attempted to grasp poly- urethane foam blocks, which have ex- tremely high sonar absorbency. For all intents and purposes, these blocks were invisible to sonar. Other sonar problems occur because of the beam shape. The output of a sonar transducer is actually a cone, like the beam of a flashlight. Without a focusing horn, a typical sonar cone is about 3 5 degrees wide. Therefore, sonar maps have to take into account that the leading edge of the cone will contact a barrier well before the center axis of the transducer. If the false angular reading is not corrected, the map of an area a robot uses to navigate is distorted. Figure B shows a sonar map made by a robot in the CESAR laboratory that illustrates some of these effects. Specular reflection caused the map to show artificially smoothed edges to boxes, vanishing walls, and falsely closed movement corridors. Beam spread made ob- stacles that are farther away from the robot appear larger than they really were. Failure to correct for the width of the beam and plotting the distance returns as though they were at the center axis of the sonar resulted in a false inward wall curvature. Many of these characteristics can be compensated for based on known properties of the sonar beam, but not all. The reason is that, in an unknown room, there is no way to assure that a sonar return is the result of a specular reflection effect instead of an actual return from a new object. Without fur- ther verification from different robot positions or alternate sensors such as vision, extraneous information must re- main in the sonar map. The correction, or "unfolding." of sensor data thus becomes of major concern the more rapidly navigation decisions must be made. Switches to make your PCs powerful. Reliable and affordable port expansion without memorizing complicated software commands. Switch your PC between per ipheralswith the push of a button. Is MFJ good? Joe Campbell in his book. The RS-232 Solution said. "Switch boxes are sold by many suppliers, but by far the two best values are from MF J Enterprises." Below are just some of those values. When you need to switch be- tween two peripherals ... or you need to have two computers share the same peripheral . . . MFJ-1240/S79.95 The 1240 has a built-in transmit/ receive switch that allows 2 way in format ion How. LEDs monitor data lines while built-in surge protectors guard them. Can be used as a null modem. MFJs No. I seller! When you need l-to-4 computers to share one peripheral or l-to-4 peripherals to share a common computer. . . MFJ-1243/S119.95 The perfect office switch. Save money. Don't buy extra printers or modems. Connect l-to-4 computers to a single printer or let a PC share up to four peripherals. LEDs monitor data lines: surge protectors guard them. 1\vo way communication is allowed. jj* .■,<^- "oi-Jiu; J — L ^[■t When you need to Inter- connect four computers and four peripherals at one time! The MFJ-1294 gives you a computer system... MFJ-1294/S299.95 With the MFJ-1294 you can create a mini- network of computers and peripherals. All eight devices can be working simultaneously! Think of the production you'll get with the MFJ- 1294's Hi possible combinations. Seven additional models to choose from including MFJs IBM and Centronics Parallel Switches. All RS-232 switches have RS-232 connectors, LEDs to monitor data lines. MOV surge protectors and transmit receive buttons that allow 2 -way communication. And Power Strips to make them safe. Your fine computer and peripheral equipment can be damaged by electrical surges much smaller than you've been led to believe. Save them and your valuable data with an MFJ 'ower Center. Multi-filters isolate equip nating noise/hash/inter- MOVs suppress spikes " surges. These are icavy -duty, commercial quality Power Strips. MFJ- HOT- 'S sockets: 2 un switched: $79.95 MFJ-1 108 -7 sockets; unswitched. Drop-out relay entsdisk drive head from lg; $99.95 MFJ-1 109-like 1 107 but intelligent (switch on the device that's plugged into the control socket and everything else comes on): $129.95 Thcreare other Switches. Power Centers and Computer Peripheral Products available from MFJ. Call and talk with us about all your computing needs. When you do. ask for our latest catalog. Both the call and catalogare free. 1-800-647-1800 For technical/repair information, or in Mississippi, or outside the Continental United States, please telephone... 1(601) 323-5869 or telex 53-4590 MFJSTKV 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 and our One Year Unconditional Guarantee. Call 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. MFJ Enterprises, Inc. 921 Louisville Road Starkville, MS 39759 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 231 NAVIGATION checking sonar maps to handle changing reflections. In addition to changing reflections, errors in robot position occur due to the cumulative buildup of mechanical and electronic innaccuracies in the robot propulsion system. Columbus- level navigations must be able to cor- rect a position by keeping track of changing external references. There is also a need to keep track of higher- level global relationships. One prob- lem is identifying and selecting a good reference point. A robot can use such a point to correct cumulative mismatches between what the inter- nal map records as the robot's loca- tion and what sensor data indicate are Photo I: HERMIES (right) and friend. Notice the bubble wrap on the obstacles and the two-feet-square floor grids. actual object distances and orienta- tions. How to best select and relate such references as well as how to up- date the internal map are topics still being researched. Ulysses Other types of problems occur when navigation in real time is considered. Ulysses had to contend with a multi- tude of perils on his explorations, but he also faced gods who kept chang- ing his environment by adding threats or removing them. For an autonomous robot, a similar situation occurs with traversal in an environment where objects move and requires creation of a stack of inter- mediate goals as changes invalidate global plans. The robot must generate new plans, remove invalid goals from the stack, and break world maps into static and dynamic areas. Consider a woman walking down a crowded hall who is preoccupied with a schedule and takes only occasional glances to determine if something is in her way. A glance may work as long as the unexpected does not occur. The greater the amount of change in the environment, however, the faster and more frequently she must glance up and the more often she will have to modify a plan to walk straight ahead in order to avoid bumping into people. A robot in a dynamic environment is in the same situation. Sensor pro- cessing speed must be sufficient to recognize changes in the environment before a preplanned action results in a catastrophe. Consider the implica- tions for a Mars Rover that could only process the image of a cliff after roll- ing over the edge. Although current computer vision systems provide de- tailed two-dimensional information about the environment, they can be very slow and computation-intensive. The technology is changing, but vi- sion may not be able to effectively handle the full navigation problem. Single-sensor limitations make us want to simultaneously use different kinds of sensors to provide more data. Higher-order logic may then be able to use the increased information 232 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 NAVIGATION to anticipate serious events before they occur. Ulysses navigation often creates the need for multiple sources of informa- tion to supplement local sensor read- ings. Sensor speed is important because the total array of sensors must be fast enough to monitor world changes effectively. In addition, multi- pie sensors increase the importance of future research on databases that combine information into a com- posite data structure. One such area is robotic learning. An ideal autono- mous vehicle would acquire informa- tion about its environment on a local basis and at the same time build or modify a global world model that can be used for more complex plans (ref- erence 7). A Visit with HERMIES To illustrate how some of these tech- niques appear in a working system, consider HERMIES (see photo I). A small mobile robot at Oak Ridge Na- tional Laboratory, HERMIES is the prototype of a robot series that con- tains many of the features needed for autonomous operation in hazardous environments. HERMIES has a self-powered mobile platform with a wheel-driven chassis, dual manipulator arms, on- board distributed processors, and a directionally controlled sensor suite. He is propelled by two independent DC-motor-driven wheels with a com- mon axle alignment. Common motor direction provides forward and reverse motion, while counter driving provides bidirectional pivoting for heading changes. On-board com- puters consisting of an IBM Personal Computer and a Z8 microprocessor are located in an enclosure mounted above the drive chassis. The PC con- trols all functions except the arms, which are controlled by the Z8. The dual arm manipulator torso is located above the computers with two five- degreesof-freedom Hero I arms with added shoulder-pitch motion and a base rotation. At present, the sensory platform at the top of HERMIES has one four-element phased array and a binary vision system positioned by a Figure 4: A Magellan-level navigation by HERMIES, showing the original spatial map. the blooming of obstacle diameters by HERMIES (red), and the selected path (blue). pan-and-tilt mechanism. The sensor platform is controlled by an open- loop commercial multiaxis stepper controller. HERMIES does not do all planning on board but rather commu- nicates sensor data to a remote LISP machine via a radio frequency link. Thus, all the navigation planning, map construction, and decision making oc- cur in the LISP machine, and decisions are transmitted back to HERMIES as primitive FORTH commands recog- nized by the robot operating system. The boxes shown in photo I are movable obstacles from which various maze and barrier problems can be constructed. The box mobility also permits experimenters to change the positions of the obstacles as HER- MIES navigates. The circular disks on the floor are goal markers so the staff can assess how much cumulative er- ror has been introduced between the internal sonar map of the robot loca- tion (displayed in real time on the r\ D f O O 0° START 1 ) o m 1 1 §T~ i 1 1 /stopV — Ujoal, d o oboeocj)O o 0°° Figure 5: A Columbus-level navigation by HERMIES. Obstacles are drawn into the figure but were not available to the robot. The small circles represent the obstacle locations as they appeared on sonar. LISP machine) and the actual location of HERMIES in the laboratory. Consider first a simple find-path problem. Figure 4 is an example of a spatial map that HERMIES con- structed when given a Magellan pro- blem involving four blocks. Notice how the edge of the room and the boxes were "bloomed" (red lines) to allow movement clearances. The blue line shows the computed path to be traveled, which corresponds to the selected vertices of the bloomed boxes. Notice that a shorter path looked possible but the robot did not select it because the clearances of the obstacles were insufficient after the obstacles were bloomed. Figure 5 shows part of a Columbus problem navigation map generated by sweeping the HERMIES sonar through 180 degrees and recording the returned distances as small circles. The dashed line corresponds to the {continued) JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 233 NAVIGATION path selected by HER MIES to avoid the obstacles. The actual shapes of the obstacles are drawn in to illustrate the error introduced by the sonar returns (see "Sonar Sensors" on page 2 30) and were not available to HER- MIES at the time of navigation. Figure 6 shows part of a Ulysses- level global map that was built in four steps. This information is used to combine the history of multiple jour- neys for future navigation planning. (a) ZI goal END Figure 6:' A Ulysses-level map constructed by HERMIES. (a) The obstacle positions before exploration and four paths (blue) from previous traversals around the objects: [b] Voronoi regions are created and labeled from previous path points. The optimal path calculated is shown in blue. Figure 6a shows a spatial graph of cur- rent obstacle locations and paths from four earlier Columbus-level journeys. Figure 6b is a special type of graphic representation called a Voronoi diagram. Both are used to apply graph theory to the multipath history and calculate a new optimal path from previously learned informa- tion. This path would minimize addi- tional sensor use. Learning occurs as new paths are added to the Voronoi diagram and spatial graphs so that, with time, the robot navigation con- trol switches from sensor-driven obstacle avoidance to global graph- based decisions. Future Directions Advances in robot navigation are oc- curring very rapidly so accurate pro- jections about the future are specu- lative at best. Some trends appear evi- dent, however. Robot navigation plan- ning will move increasingly toward Ulysses-level problems. There will be more concern with the computational and algorithmic requirements of real- time sensor processing and decision making using parallel computer archi- tectures, larger knowledge bases and expert systems, and effective charac- terization of uncertainty. Sensors will increase in speed and number with improvements being made in inte- grated functions, such as the use of multiple phased arrays to improve sonar focusing, laser range finders for precise distance and edge detection, touch sensing, and stereoscopic vision. Future descendants of current mobile robots such as Carnegie- Mellon's Terregator, HERMIES, the University of Tolouse's Hilare, and the Department of Defense's Autono- mous Land Vehicle will most likely be faster, smarter, and more aware of their environments than today's pro- totypes. The mobile robots of the future may well be a new class of ex- plorers that journey to places or planets where people can never go. ■ REFERENCES I. Juliere. M., L. Marce, and H. Place. A Guidance System for a Mobile Robot. 1 3th In- 234 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 NAVIGATION ternational Symposium on Industrial Robots. ROBOT 7, vol. 2. April 1983. 2. Lozano-Perez, T. "Automatic Planning of Manipulator Transfer Movements." IEEE l\ansactions on Systems. Man. and Cybernetics. SMC- 11. 1981, pages 681-689. 3. Moravec, Hans P. "Obstacle Avoidance and Navigation in the Real World by a See- ing Robot Rover." Stanford AIT-340. September 1980. 4. Udupa, Shriram M. "Collision Detection and Avoidance in Computer Controlled Manipulators." Proceedings of JJCAI-5. Cam- bridge, MA: MIT Press, 1977, pages 737-748. 5. Crowley, J. L. "Navigation for an Intel- ligent Mobile Robot." IEEE journal of Robotics and Automation., vol. RA-1, no. 1, March 1985. 6. Dufay. "Apprentissage par Induction en Robotique— Application a la Synthese de Programmes de Montage." These de Troisieme Cyde, 1NPG Genoble. lune 1983. 7. Iyengar, S. S., C. C. lorgensen. S. V. N. Rao, and C. R. Weisbin. "Robot Navigation Algorithms Using Learned Spatial Graphs." ORNL technical report ORNL-TM-9782, August 8. 1985. 8. Schwartz, I. T.. and Micha Sharir. "On the Piano Movers Problem, the Case of a Two Dimensional Rigid Polygonal Body Moving Amidst Polygonal Barriers." Com- munications on Pure and Applied Mathematics. vol. xxxvi, 1983, pages 345-398. 9. Everett, H. R. "A Multielement Ultra- sonic Ranging Array." Robotics Age. July 1985. pages 13-20. The research that is the subject of this article was sponsored by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract No. DE-AC05-84O21400 with Martin Marietta Energy Systems \nc. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION For more detail on vision systems, see Digital Image Processing by Rafael C Gonzalez and Paul Wintz (Reading, MA: Addison- Wesley. 1977). For an interesting study of the Mars Rover, see Robot Rover Visual Navigation by Hans P. Moravec (Ann Arbor, Ml: UMI Research Press. 1981). For more detail on robotic arms, see Jeleoperation and Robotics: Evolution and Develop- ment. Robot Technology Series vol. 3 A, by lean Vertut and Philippe Coiffet (London: Kogan Page, 1985). For information on planning, see A Struc- ture for Plans and Behavior by Earl D. Sacer- doti (New York: Elsevier, 1977). This ad is for all those t who ever wonder why your company runs a United Way campaign. When it comes right down to it 5 you're probably the best reason your company has for getting involved with the United Way. You see, they know almost all of the money given to the United Way goes back out into the community to help people. So if you 5 or the people you work with, should ever need any of our services, like day care, family counseling or health care, we'll be right there to help. In fact, there are tens of thousands of United Way-supported programs and services in cities and towns across the country. That means help is nearby wherever you are. And your company knows that could mean the dif- ference between keeping or losing a valuable employee. That's why they give. And that's why they ask you to give. Because there may come a day when you need help yourself. Unit Gd Way Thanks to you, it works, for ALL OF US. inCll A Public Service of This Magazine & The Advertising Council JANUARY 1986 "BYTE 235 A FULL G COMPILER FOR $4Q95 zz ^ — ^ — ^ / 1 \ / w\ 1 1 1 / ' Limited time offer: FREE CED TEXT EDITOR WITH EACH ECO-C88 \\ "^^ Ecosoft's Eco-C88 C Compiler An unbeatable value! For $49.95 you set: • AC compilerwithall data types and operators (except bit fields) • Fast executing code. Some common benchmark results are: Eco-C88 Ml) C86(l) MS(1) MW(1) sieve 12 11 13 11 12 fib 43 ,958 46 109 . — deref 14 13 — 10 11 matrix 22 29 27 28 29 1. Computer Language, Feb., 1985. Reproduced with permission. • 8087 support using a single library. The 8087 is sensed at runtime and used if present. ■ A standard library with over 200 functions (many of which are System V compatible for greater portability). ■ Error messages in English - no cryptic numbers to look up. ■ A cc and "mini-make" (in source) that makes com- piling a snap. . ASM or OBJ output (for use with MSDOS linker). • Expanded user's manual. . Works with all IBM PC's and clones using MSDOS 2.1 or later. ORDERS ONLY 1-800-952-0472 The ECOSOFT family of C products ORDER FORM D C Compiler $49.95 □ Programming Guide $20.00_ D Self-Study Guide $17.00 □ Programmer's Library $20.00_ D Program Editor $29.95 □ C Library Source $10.00 □ ISAM (.OBJ) $15.00 Total* (Ind. res. add 5% tax) *Please add $4.00 for shipping. Payment: VISA MC Credit card expir. date Card # Name Address City, state Zip . AE Check . Phone. Ecosoft, Inc. 6413 N. College Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46220' (317) 255-6476 • 8:30-4:30 Other Eco-C Products CED Program Editor. $29.95 A screen-oriented program text editor similar to the Turbo Pascal editor. You can create, compile and link the source file with CED. If there is an error, CED automatically reloads the source file and places the cursor on the offending section of code. CED supports editing multiple files (with windows), macros, more than 50 editing commands and is configurable to your particular needs and preferences. An outstanding value. C Programming Guide, 2nd Ed. (Purdum, Que Corp.) $19.95 This best seller walks you through the C language in an easy-to-read manner. All aspects of the language are covered, including many of the new ANSI Standards suggestions. Many of the error messages issued by the Eco-C88 compiler reference page numbers in this text making an ideal learning environment. C Self-Study Guide (Purdum, Que Corp.) $16.95 This new book is designed for the person that is learning C on their own. The book is filled with questions and answers that most beginning C programmers have. It also includes many sample programs that illustrate tips, traps and techniques that may take years to discover otherwise. A perfect compliment to the Guide book. C Programmer's Library (Purdum, Leslie, Stegemoller, Que Corp.) $19.95 This best seller is an intermediate level text designed to show you how to write functions for your C library. The book contains many useful library additions, including an ISAM file handler, plus sections on advanced C topics. TUAMiiMAKKS: KCO-CHH. KCl)S(JIT:Tl'l<»0 PASCAL. NORLAND INTL. 236 BYTE* JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 118 ROBOTICS AI IN COMPUTER VISION by John L. Cuadrado and Clara Y Cuadrado Framing doors and windows COMPUTER VISION INVOLVES a two-stage process: An early process- ing (sometimes called low-level pro- cessing) stage extracts intrinsic infor- mation of images, e.g., the gray level at various points on an image plane. This early processing is done very ef- ficiently, albeit unconsciously, in the human visual system. We do not yet understand very well the way it works. In contrast, the late processing (or high-level processing) stage in com- puter vision uses general assumptions about how the physical world fits together to guide vision. This high- level processing is more easily under- stood in terms of the human visual system: We constantly utilize domain knowledge to guide our interpretation of images. Here vision becomes in- separable from general cognitive pro- cessing. This is the stage where ar- tificial intelligence and vision meet; knowledge representation, inferences, goals, and plans all play an important role in this stage of vision. In this article we will attempt to il- lustrate how artificial intelligence tech- niques can be used to aid computer vision. Because of the complexity and diversity of issues involved in these two fields, we feel it is futile to try to cover current state-of-the-art research. Interested readers should consult ref- erences I, 2, 3, and 4. Instead, we will present a simple computer-vision sys- tem that we have constructed for the explicit purpose of demonstrating the role AI may play in a vision system. We will concentrate on the high-level end of the vision hierarchy but we will also point out the interplay between the low-level processes and the knowl- edge-intensive processes whenever appropriate. Frame-based Knowledge Representation Our computer-vision system uses a frame-based knowledge representa- tion to handle all the components in the high-level processing of the vision hierarchy. (Probably the best introduc- tion to the idea of frames and frame- based systems is reference 5. An ex- cellent succinct presentation is also available in reference 6.) The frames structure we use is based on a com- bination of features from KRL (Knowl- edge Representation Language), SRL (Schema Representation Language), and FRL (Frame Representation Lan- guage). Our frame-based system is im- plemented in Prolog and includes such features as inheritance and demons. The basic structure of an abstract frame is shown in figure 1. A frame consists of a name followed by an ar- bitrary number of slots, each of which can support an arbitrary number of facets. Each facet has an associated value. The data corresponding to these values is not typed data in general, although it is a simple mat- ter to provide mechanisms for the en- forcement of strongly typed facets. The value associated with a given facet can be an integer, string, list, or an even more complex object. The most common facet is the value facet. [continued) Clara Y. Cuadrado and \ohn L. Cuadrado [Octy Inc., 10920 Oxford Court, Fairfax Station. VA 22039) both earned Ph.Ds from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Cham- paign. They taught at the University of Maryland and Dartmouth College, respective- ly, and now run their own company develop- ing AI systems. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 237 VISION Al This facet refers to the actual value taken by the corresponding slot. Other commonly occuring facets in- clude the default and if needed facets. A simple example should help to clarify all this terminology. Consider a simple personal com- puter consisting of a microprocessor, some memory a disk drive, a video monitor, and a keyboard. This might be represented as shown in figure 2. Now, a specific instance of this type of computer could be my computer, as shown in figure 3a. The ako acronym stands for "a kind of" and in- dicates that my computer is one of the class of computers having all the characteristics of computer brandX. In particular, my computer "in- herits" an 8088 processor from the computer_brandX. Similarly if we want to know what kind of monitor my computer has, we know that < frame-name > < slot-name > < facet-name > value value < slot-name > < facet- nam e> value . value Figure I: An abstract representation in pseudocode of a frame. since we did not specify a monitor, my computer will inherit the black- and-white monitor specified as the default monitor in computer brandX. From this simple example we see that we are going to need a number of procedures to retrieve values from frames, to install values in frames, etc. We must also agree on some specific representation for frames using the data-structuring facilities that our im- plementation language provides. The implementation we have chosen is to let each slot-facet-value triple be represented as a predicate whose head is the frame name. For example, my computer in figure 3a would be represented as shown in figure 3b. We have chosen not to im- plement frames as list structures in Prolog primarily because Prolog does not provide adequate list-surgery computer brandX cpu value : 8088 memory default : 256k keyboard default : 80_keys monitor default : black_white disk drive default : ss_floppy Figure 2: A pseudocode representation of a frame defining a kind of microcomputer. (a) my computer ako value : computer brandX memory value : 512k (b) my com puter(ako, value, computer brandX). my computerimemory.value^l 2k). Figure 3: An instance of a figure 2-type computer in pseudocode (a) and as implemented in Prolog (b). operations. This is not an oversight by the designers of Prolog. To perform such list surgery it becomes necessary to do certain manipulations that are against the applicative nature of Pro- log. There is a way around it via dif- ference lists, but we will not go into that here. Frames in Prolog In the next few paragraphs, we pre- sent a guided tour through the vari- ous functions that provide the retrieval and maintenance facilities for this particular representation of frames in Prolog. Each of the sets of functions presented below is orga- nized as a main predicate that pro- vides a general facility, including the ability to handle inheritance and the invocation of suitable demons. First, we need a function that will retrieve information from the slots in a frame. The predicate frame get performs such a function. It uses ffget as an auxiliary predicate to handle traversals up the frame hierarchy. The actual code for this function is presented in listing I. | Editor's note: The Prolog source code is available for download- ing from BYTEnet Listings at (617) 861-9764. The code can be run on PDPROLOG, which is also available from BYTEnet Listings.) The next set of predicates provides the facilities to install values in a given slot of a frame. The code for frame put in listing I does this. Next, we provide a predicate for removing information from a frame, frame remove (listing 1). Occasionally, we not only need to install and remove values from some slot in a frame but also need to replace whatever value is in a slot with a new value. In listing 1, frame replace does this. Finally there are times when we need to deal with lists as the values of some slots. Often in these cases we build the lists incrementally. For this reason, we provide the frame ap- pend predicate that appends values to a list in a slot (listing I). To further illustrate the use of the frame-retrieval and maintenance [continued) 238 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 We dorft care which computer you own, Wfell help you get the most out of it. 1 ■*•> CompuServe puts a world of information, communications, and CompuServe is the world's largest information service designed for the per- sonal computer user and managed by the communications professionals who provide business information services to over one quarter of the FORTUNE 500 companies. Subscribers get a wealth of useful, profitable or just plain interesting infor- mation like national news wires, home shopping and banking, travel and sophis- ticated financial data. Plus electronic mail, national bulletin boards, forums (special interest groups), and a multi- channel CB simulator. You get games and entertainment, too. Board, parlor, sports, space and educa- tional games. Trivia and the first online TV-style game show played for real prizes. To buy a CompuServe Subscription Kit, entertainment at your fingertips. see your nearest computer dealer. To . receive our informative brochure or to order direct call or write: CompuServe® Consumer Information Service. P. O. Box 20212 5000 Arlington Centre Blvd., Columbus, OH 43220 800-848-8199 in ono can 614-457-0802 An H&R Block Company Inquiry 71 A NEW SOLUTION from Microcomputer Accessories, Inc. THE FEED & FOLD SOLUTION THE Model #930 80 column printer stand Model #940 132 column printer stand Solved at last, Watson! MlCROFOLD What's that, Holmes? The proliferating paper problem. Now we can feed and refold paper in a space hardly larger than our printer's footprint. Footprint, you say? Look under the printer, Watson. The paper tracks from that lower tray, feeds up through the bottom or rear of the printer, and refolds back underneath, into the upper tray. Tracks? Footprints? Holmes, I'm baffled. Very observant, Watson. These cunningly designed baffles are the secret of its precise, smooth operation. • A smooth operator? Even with its back to the wall, Watson! Are we tracking the footprints of a smooth operator? Holmes, I haven't a clue. . . It's no secret, Watson — all other printer stands are now obsolete. Meet the MicroFold! Microcomputer ^jfe Accessories, Inc. ^|M USA: P.O. BOX3725, Culver City, CA 90231. Telephone 213/641-1800. EUROPE: Rue de Florence 37, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgique. Telephone 02/538.61.73- 240 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 239 for End-Users. Inquiry 240 for DEALERS ONLY VISION AI Listing 1: The Prolog frame-manipulation routines with an example routine for calculating cylinder attributes. r Get the Value of Slot in a given Frame */ frame getfFrame.Slot.Value) : - ffgetfFrame.Frame.Slot.Value). ffget(Parameter Frame.Frame.Slot.Value) :- /* Check for a value Facet. V fget(Frame,Slot,value,Value). ffget(Parameter Frame.Frame.Slot.Value) :- /* Does it have a default? */ fgetfFrame.Slot.default, Value). ffget(Parameter Frame.Frame.Slot.Value) : - /* How about a demon? */ fget(Frame,Slot,if needed, Rule), F = ,. [Rule, Parameter Frame.Value], F. ffget(Parameter Frame.Frame.Slot.Value) :- /* None of the above. */ fget(Frame,ako,value, Parent), /* So, move up the hierarchy. V ffget(Parameter Frame, Parent.Slot.Value). fget(Frame,S!ot,Facet,Value) :- /* Just grab the given Facet or fail. 7 F =,. [Frame,Slot,Facet,Value], F. /* Put Value in Slot of a given Frame. If this Slot has an associated if added demon, then grab it and execute it after installing the given Value. */ frame put(Frame,Slot,Value) : - get rule(Frame,Slot,if added, Rule), /* Must we do something extra? */ fput(Frame,Slot, value, Value), F = .. [Rule, Frame.Value], F. frame put(Frame,Slot r Value) : - fput(Frame,Slot, value, Value), do. V /* Just a simple fput will fput(Frame,Slot,Facet,Value) :- F =.. [Frame.Slot.Facet.Value], assertz(F). /* Remove Slot from a given Frame. If the Slot has an associated if removed demon, then grab the rule and execute it before removing the Slot. 7 frame remove(Frame.Slot) : - get rule(Frame,S!ot,if removed, Rule), /* Something extra to do. 7 [Rule, Frame], frame. fremove(Frame.Slot). _remove(Frame,Slot) : - fremove(Frame.Slot). /* Just a simple fremove. 7 fremove(Frame.Slot) : - F =.. [Frame,Slot,value,Value] ( retract(F). fremove( , ). /* If Slot doesn't exist, then no harm done. 7 /* Replace whatever is in Slot with Value. If the Slot has an associated if replaced rule, then grab it and execute it after doing the replacement. (continued) |£ "^ Inquiry 354 ~~ ^"V^ ' ™ \ Number One in Performance 68010/68000 Coprocessor for IBM/AT/XT/PC- 8/10/12.5mz No Walt States $ 1295°°Qty.1 FEATURES •1-2 MB RAM (1MB Standard) •16K-64KEPR0M •2-8 Serial Ports Async/Sync/Bisync Communications • Battery-backed Real Time Clock • Battery-backed 2K-8K RAM • 2 Parallel Ports •68881 Math Coprocessor • Memory-mapped Dual-port BUS • 3-9 Users Per Board (3 Standard) •Up To 16 Boards Per AT/XT/PC • Can Operate As Standalone Processor SOFTWARE • 0S9 (Powerful UNIX-like Multi-user OS) •CPM/68K • Software selectable OS including concurrent PC D0S/0S-9or CPM/68K operation •Support Module for IBM Graphics •High-speed Local/Global Disk Caching •Basic, Pascal, Fortran, C, and COBOL IBM il 1 rtgiswed trawmark ol (rtlofuliw Systems West: 4704 W. Jennifer. Suite 105, Fresno, CA 93711, 209/276-2345 East: 67 Grandview. Pleasantville, NY 10570, 914/747-1450 Distributor: Telemarketing Services. Inc. 1897 Garden Ave.. Eugene, OR 97403. 503/345-7395 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 241 THE PC'S LIMITED AF-$1 995. THE PC'S LIMITED TURBO PC- $795 At these prices, it's no wonder we're burning up the marketplace. _ Yes, you can believe it. Since we ran our first advertisement for the PC's Limited AT™ and Turbo PC™, the calls weVe received mostly start with comments like "Is this for real?" And "How can that be?" But now that our machines are in the hands of influential buyers, the questions tend to concern quantity discounts for further purchases. (Which are available.) You see, the PC's Limited machines are assembled from components bought worldwide with our strong buying power. Then they are offered directly to you— with no middleman markups. So light a match to your old budgets. With the savings we're providing, you'll have money to burn. PC'S LIMITED AT \ -80286-based System Unit (runs at 6MHZ, 8MHZ optional) -1024K on Mother Board —1.2 Meg Floppy Drive —Combined Floppy/Hard Disk Controller Card -AT Keyboard -192W Power Supply -2 Serials and 1 Parallel Port —Clock/Calendar with Battery Backup Runs all Major Software written for the IBM PC™, PC XT™, and PC AT™. Unit has 8 Expansion Slots, with 7 available in above configuration. Same Bus Configuration as IBM PC AT™. PC'S LIMITED TURBO PC -16-bit 8088-2 System Unit (running at 4.77 or 6.66MHZ) -640K on Mother Board -360K Floppy Drive —Keyboard -135W Power Supply Runs all Major Software written for the IBM PC™ and PC XT™, 40% faster, without modifications. Unit has 8 Expansion Slots, with 7 available in above configuration. IBM • is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. IBM PC, PC XT, and PC AT are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. IPC'S LIMITED SALES-RELATED CALLS OUTSIDE TEXAS, 1-800-426-5150 1611 Headway Circle, Building 3, Austin, Texas 78754 Sales Calls from anywhere in country, (512) 339-6962 Technical Support Calls, (512) 339-6963 Customer Service Calls, (512) 339-6964 Telex No. 9103808386 PC LTD Ad number 401 Inquiry 355 VISION AI */ frame replace(Frame,Slot,Value) : - get rule(Frame,Slot,if replaced.Rule), /* Something extra to do. */ freplace(Frame,Slot, Value), F = .. [Rule, Frame], F. frame replace(Frame,Slot,Value) : - freplace(Frame,Slot,Value). /* Just a simple replace. */ freplace(Frame,Slot, Value) : - fremove(Frame,Slot), frame put(Frame,Slot, Value). r Append Value to the list in Slot. If Slot has an associated if appended rule, then grab it and execute it after appending the Value. V frame append(Frame,Slot,Value) : - get rule(Frame,Slot,if appended, Rule), fappend(Frame,Slot,Value), F = .. [Rule.Frame], F. frame append(Frame,Slot,Value) : - fappend(Frame,Slot, Value). /* Here we check to see if the slot already exists. If it does, then we just append the new Value to the old value list. If the Slot does not exist, then we create it and give it a value consisting of the list whose single element is Value. V fappend(Frame,Slot,Value) : - fget(Frame,Slot, value, Old), (member(Value.Old) fremove(Frame,Slot), fput(Frame,Slot,value,[Value 4 Old]) )• ' fappend(Frame,Slot,Value) : - fput(Frame,Slot, value, [Value]). /* This is a simple utility predicate used to travel up the frame hierarchy looking for an appropriate rule to grab. V get rule(Frame,Slot,Type,Rule) : - fget(Frame,Slot,Type,Rule). " get rule(Frame,Slot,Type,Rule) : - fget(Frame,ako,value,Parent), get ruleparent.Slot.Type.Rule). r Example frame representation: cylinder ako height radius value : thing if added : cylinder height add if removed : cylinder height remove if added : cylinder radius add If removed : cylinder radius remove [continued) M&M mmn J -Y I ' 1 i i i i t i p > > i Number One In Performance Hard Disk Intelligent VCR Backup for AT/XT/PC FEATURES • High speed microprocessor controlled backup (68000) • Two channel interface • Built in LAN channel • Software control of most VCR functions including Fast Forward, Rewind, and auto backup using VCR timer capabilities • Economical VHS or Beta formats Systems West: 4704 W. Jennifer. Suite 105. Fresno. CA 93711, 209/276-2345 East:67Grandview. Pleasantville. NY 10570, 914/747-1450 Distributor: Telemarketing Services, Inc. 1897 Garden Ave.. Eugene. OR 97403. 503/345-7395 •*— Inquiry 276 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 243 Powerful MS-DOS Software. For the IBM® -PC, XT, AT & others with generic MS-DOS/PC-DOS 2.0 or higher. Only Each! UTAH • Hi TM □ Whether student, teacher or professional programmer, this is the one you've heard so much about. It's easy to use. Compiles 5000 statements on a 128K machine. 170 clearerrormessages, i.e. DATA-NAME IS MISSING OR MISSPELLED. Distribute your object code programs royalty free. Small object code programs conserve disk space. Fast compile times to increase programmer pro- ductivity. Over 25 times faster than one compiler costing $995! You get a diskette and 213-page manual with lots of examples and 16 complete COBOL source code programs. $39.95. Also available: COBOL Application Packages, Book 1 $9.95. UTAH PASCAL □ 14-digit precision, BCD math, no round-off errors with decimal arithmetic for business and floating point +63 -64 for scientific. D A very nice TRACE style debugging. □ Arrays up to8 dimensions and64Kstrings. □ External procedures and functions with dynamic auto-loading. □ One-step compile, no assembly or link required. □ You get a 1 32-page manual and diskette. $39.95 UTAH TM □ □ □ □ PILOT Perfect for industrial training, office training, drill and testing, virtually all programmed instruction, word puzzle games, and data entry facilitated by prompts. John Starkweather, Ph.D., the inventor of the PILOT language, has added a built-in full-screen text editor, and much more. Meets all PILOT-73 standards for full compatibility with olderversions. You get a diskette, 125-page manual and ten useful sample programs. $39.95. Also still available for 8-bit machines with CP/M® is our world famous Nevada Software Series used by 50,000 customers in 40 countries. These include Nevada COBOL, Nevada FORTRAN, Nevada PASCAL, Nevada PILOT, Nevada BASIC and Nevada EDIT. $39.95 each. Satisfaction guaranteed. If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, justreturn thepackage within 15 days in good condition, and we'll refund your money. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp. CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research. MS is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. © 1985 Ellis Computing, Inc. UTAH FORTRAN □ FORTRAN IV based upon ANSI-66 standards. □ Very fast compile times and easy to use. □ IF.. THEN.. ELSE constructs. □ Chaining with blank and named common. □ Copy statement. □ ENCODE and DECODE. □ Free-format input and output. □ A very niceTRACEstyledebugging. □ 150 English language error messages. □ You get a diskette, and 223-page manual. $39.95 TM UTAH EDIT TM □ □ □ □ A character-oriented full-screen video display text editor designed specifically to create COBOL, FORTRAN and PASCAL programs. Only requires 15K disk space so it can fit on the same disk as your compilers. Completely customizable tab stops, default file type, keyboard control key layout and CRT by menu selection. Diskette comes with easy to read58-page manual. $39.95. UTAH TM BASIC □ This interpreter has a built-in full-screen editor. □ Single- and Multi-line user definable functions. □ BCD Math- no round-off errors. □ Full Matrix operations. □ You get 220-page manual and diskette. $39.95. Handling/Shipping: No shipping charge within US. Overseas add $10 for first package, $5 each additional. Checks must be in US Dollars, drawn on a US bank. Utah Software requires 128K RAM and PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0 or higher. HOW TO ORDER. Send check or money order to Ellis Computing, Inc. with VISAor MASTERCARD orderby phone. Sorry no COD's. after Jan ^^^^ Ellis Con A ^ 5655 Rigi ■ I Reno, Ne W Phone (7 SINCE 1977 Our new address and phone after Jan. 2, 1986: Ellis Computing, Inc. 5655 Riggins Court, Suite 10 Reno, Nevada 89502 Phone (702) 827-3030 ELLIS COMPUTING 244 BYTE • JANUARY I986 Inquiry I2I Inquiry 356 VISION AI cross section if needed : cylinder cross section volume if needed : cylinder volume cylinderl ako value : cylinder comments: cylinderl above is an instance of cylinder. When we use frame put(cylinder1, radius, 2), say, the system will install the number "2" as the value of cylinderl 's radius and it will further compute cylinderl 's cross sectional area and install it under the cross section slot. Similar actions take place when we do a frame put for cylinderl 's height. Below is the Prolog code that implements all this. NOTE: PDPROLOG only supports integer arithmetic. 7 cylinder(ako, value, geometric object). cylinder(height,if added.cylinder height add). cylinder(height,if removed.cylinder height remove). cylinder(radius,if added.cylinder radius add). cylinder(radius,if removed.cylinder radius remove). cylinder(cross sectionjf needed.cylinder cross section). cylinder(volume,if needed.cylinder volume). /* If we get the height, then we try to compute the cylinder's volume, */ cylinder height add(Cylinder, ) : - cylinder volume(Cylinder. ). cylinder height add( , ). /* If we can't do it. e.g., the radius is unknown, then no harm done. 7 I* If the height is removed, then the old volume is no longer valid. */ cylinder height remove(Cylinder) : - frame remove(Cylinder,volume). /* If we get the radius, then we can compute the cylinder's cross sectional area. V cylinder radius add(Cylinder, ) : - cylinder cross section(Cylinder, ). /* If the radius is removed, then the old cross sectional area is no longer valid. 7 cylinder radius remove(Cylinder) : - frame remove(Cylinder, cross section), frame remove(cylinder, volume). /* PDPROLOG does not support floating-point arithmetic, so if you are using that version, change pi to an integer value. V cylinder cross section(Cylinder, Cross Section) : - frame get(Cylinder, radius, Radius), Cross Section is 3.1416*Radius*Radius, freplace(Cylinder, cross section, Cross Section). cylinder volume(Cylinder,Volume) : - frame get(Cylinder, cross section, Cross Section), frame get(Cylinder, height, Height), Volume is Height*Cross Section, freplace(Cylinder, volume, Volume). cylinderl (ako,value,cylinder). Number One in Performance Z80H IBM/AT/XT/PC- 8mz No l/Vfciit States FEATURES •64K-256KRAM • 2K-8KEPR0M/StaticRam • 2 Serial Ports Async/Sync/Bisync Communications • Real Time Clock • Memory-mapped Dual-port BUS • On-board /Remote Reset NMI capability •Up To 32 Boards Per AT/XT/PC • Can Operate As Standalone Processor • Less Than Full Size Board (will fit other compatables.) SOFTWARE • ZP/M tm CP/M Emulation Software (Supports Most CP/M Software) • Multiuser Capability If Used As A Slave Processor Systems West: 4704 W. Jennifer, Suite 105. Fresno, CA 93711. 209/276-2345 East: 67 Grandview. Pleasantville. NY 10570, 914/747-1450 Distributor: Telemarketing Services, Inc. 1897 Garden Ave.. Eugene. OR 97403. 503/345-7395 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 245 VISION AI predicates, we present an example. It describes a frame for a general cylinder and provides demons for cal- culating the cross-sectional area and volume. The code in listing 1 from the "Example" remark to the end of the listing accomplishes this. In the above, we have presented a brief review of the concept of frame- based representation and provided enough frame-building tools so that anyone wishing to embark on the design of a frame-based system can utilize this skeleton to get started. Next, we will describe the workings of a vision system that incorporates these ideas. A Simple Vision System Sometime last year an architectural firm (let's call it Palladio Associates) came to us with a request for the design and implementation of a sys- tem capable of interpreting house drawings. They needed a system to classify houses according to a fixed number of models. They also wanted the system to make recommendations on possible improvements that could be made to a set of sample houses to make them conform more closely to the models. It was also important that the system be capable of justify- ing (explaining) any recommendations that it would make. After talking with representatives from Palladio Associates, we learned that the number of their model houses was very small. We also learned that the sample houses to be presented to the system fell into well- defined, narrow categories with only & fi Figure 4: IWo house models used by "Palladio Associates!' L yy i rPQ 1 ' i i i i i i i ^n -i- 1 — r 1 : = p p = 1 Q psl — ' — j i i— -— 1 — L - ^ — JL 1 L>^j- i ^=^ :§ = = = m -\ j = = |: 1 II II 1 1 I 1 '■ ,1, ', ,1 U juyj ■ i , Figure 5: Sample houses to be analyzed by the architectural program. some fairly straightforward dif- ferences between the samples and the models. The folks at Palladio also revealed that they had purchased adequate digitizing equipment to con- vert the pictures of the houses into what were essentially sharply segmented line drawings. Figure 4 shows line drawings of two of Palladio's house models. Figure 5 shows similar line drawings of two of the sample houses. We were also given a set of what the architects con- sidered acceptable window, door, and siding styles to go with these traditional-style houses. Equally im- portant was a set of window, door, and siding styles that the architects considered in poor taste, yet which would appear in the sample houses. They further made recommendations on which acceptable windows should replace which inadequate ones, etc. Confident that Palladio's requests for the sytem's features were manage- able, we decided to undertake the project. After agreeing to take on the job, we met with the architects from Palladio to come up with an initial set of sys- tem requirements. Since the digitizing equipment was already available, this presented no real problem. At this meeting the architects expressed an interest in having the capability to in- put sample houses to the system by using an icon-driven drawing system that they had just purchased for their computer. This did not present any additional problems. In fact, input from the icon-driven system would be simpler to deal with than input from the digitizer since, for example, the windows and doors would already be labeled according to their categories. The Housing Project We will now describe the overall sys- tem architecture that we used in the project and explain the flow of infor- mation through the system. Figure 6 is a diagram of the struc- ture of the system. As indicated by box 2 in figure 6, you interact with the system by specifying one or more sample houses that you wish to have [continued] 246 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 If youVe told us once, youVe told us a million times* The message is loud and clear. When dedicated number crunchers wanted a no- nonsense, straight ahead, gets-it-done spreadsheet, they chose Microsoft" Multiplan* As of today, they've bought over a million copies. Now the good news. Microsoft Multiplan just got better. More room* More power* And Macros. New MS-DOS* Multiplan 2.0 gives you the added work- space you crave. Over a million cells, if you're counting, in an expanded 255x4095 matrix. New Multiplans faster. Up to four times faster than first generation Multiplan. (And faster than l-2-3 s in most uses). Yet with all its power, it's a breeze to manage. Because, like you, Multiplan works intuitively. Commands are in English, not Zulu. You work in named regions, not obscure coordinates. So you can get things done quickly, naturally. At the keyboard. Or at the click of a mouse. We added macro capability, too. So you can shrink those long, complex or repetitive sequences to a single keystroke. Multiplan reads and writes 1-2-3 files in one deft com- mand. That means you can share spreadsheets from PC to PC, nimbly, painlessly It's the only spreadsheet that offers linking. And true model consolidation (in batches, or one at a time). All in one command. So you can overwhelm those huge models — not vice versa. Linking also means you won't run out of memory. Or need to add expensive hardware. If you're looking for your basic super spreadsheet— without the super pricetag — try new Microsoft Multiplan. A million crunchers can't be wrong. Microsoft 9 Multiplan The High Performance Software™ For the name of \our nearest Microsoft dealer, or to upgrade to Multiplan 2.0, call (800) 426-9400.1n Washington State and Alaska, (206) 828-8088, In Canada, call (416) 673-7638. Microsoft, Multiplan and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and The High Performance Software is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. 1-2-3 is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. VISION Al the system analyze. You can have a picture digitized, or you may instead choose to input a line drawing using the icon-driven drawing system. All system interactions are ultimate- ly controlled by the inference engine (figure 6, box 1). It has a set of top- level routines that schedule when other processes in the system get to execute. Whenever some process in the system finishes executing, it passes control back to these top-level routines in the inference engine. The inference engine also provides a number of generic routines that are available to the rest of the system. The core of the frame utilities com- ponent of the system (figure 6, box 0) has already been described in the previous section. The routines pro- vided by this component are also generally available to the rest of the system and can be considered as pro- viding another, higher-level language on top of Prolog. After the image of a house has been suitably massaged by the low-level system components in boxes 3 and 4 in the diagram, the information then flows on to box 5. It is here that the system attempts to put together a higher-level description of the image. First, as depicted in figure 7, a set of processes partitions the image into "global house coordinates" and assigns sets of these coordinates to each of the major features of the house, for example, the windows and doors. The main goal here is to parti- tion the house into a set of vertical and horizontal components, each of which contains some house feature that later system phases will find in- teresting. The general scheme here is basically a simple relaxation tech- nique that first tries to partition the house into three vertical components and three horizontal components. By attempting to isolate significant features in each of the components, the process either increases or decreases the number of com- ponents. In the simple houses that the system deals with, the process usual- ly converges very rapidly, and it takes only a couple of passes to settle down to a final partition. What we mean by "global house coordinates" is simply a left-to-right and bottom-to-top assignment of natural numbers to each of the partitions in the image, as illustrated in figure 7. During this phase the system also attempts to classify the windows and doors in the house and match them against the model windows and doors provided by the system. The frame representa- tion of one of the system's models is shown in listing 2. The processes i n box 6 of figure 6 now take over and attempt to con- struct a frame representation of the entire house. This representation in- corporates all the information from the intermediate processes in box 5, but it also discards the pixel-level in- formation from boxes 3 and 4. The {continued) USER INTERFACE e.g.. KEYBOARD. MOUSE, HIGH-RESOLUTION DISPLAY RECOMMENDATIONS/RATIONALE 8 PROCESSES e.g., APPLICATION OF ARCHITECT- SUPPLIED HEURISTICS INPUT SUBSYSTEM e.g.. PICTURE DIGITIZATION ICON-DRIVEN DRAWING SYSTEM INFERENCE ENGINE e.g.. CONTROL STRUCTURES, HEURISTICS FRAME UTILITIES "ra e.g., FUNCTIONS TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN FRAME STRUCTURES FRAME MATCHING PROCESSES e.g., MATCHING OF SAMPLE HOUSE FRAME AGAINST MODEL HOUSES LOW-LEVEL PROCESSES e.g.. DETECT WINDOWS AND DOORS INTERMEDIATE PROCESSES e.g.. CLASSIFY WINDOWS AND DOORS. ASSIGN GLOBAL HOUSE COORDINATES TOP-LEVEL DESCRIPTION PROCESSES . INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION INTO FRAME STRUCTURES FOR EACH SAMPLE HOUSE PRESENTED TO THE SYSTEM Figure 6: Diagram of the structure of the architectural system. 248 BYTE* JANUARY 1986 Break a leg* When you re the one on stage, the one on the spot, it really helps to have great support. You can, you know With new Microsoft® Chart 2.0. Until you Ve worked with Chart, you won't imagine the talents that lurk within your PC And how easily you can unlock them to create the kaleidoscope of full blown, full color graphics only Chart can produce. Something to really wake up the audience in your next presentation. For best performance in a supporting role* Only Chart gives you the freedom to do all the custom work you want. Because it gives you all the tools you need to persuade your audience and illustrate your point. Things like line, bar, area, pie, column, high-low and scatter charts. (Up to 16 to a page.) Choose from 177 colors. Create legends. Do overlays. Add text anywhere, in countless type styles. Move, size, shift. The works. Chart only gets better. Because only Chart 2.0 links directly with Lotus® 1-2-3® As well as Microsoft Multiplan® So when the numbers change, the charts change. Auto- matically. It works wonders with VisiCalcf dB ASE III? R:BASE 5000® and a chorus of others. Ready to roll? So's Chart. In the presentation style that's custom- tailored to your audience. Get remarkable 35mm slides. Do dazzling overheads. Or crank out winning reports with all leading printers, laser printers and color plotters. Check out new Microsoft Chart. You'll get boardroom quality graphics, every time. Without the intramural, 11th hour anxieties. And without the whopping outside bills. And that ought to earn you top billing in any meeting. MicrosoifChart The High Performance Software™ For the name of your nearest Microsoft dealer or to upgrade to Chart 2.0, call (800) 426-9400. In Washington State and Alaska, (206) 828-8088. In Canada, call (416) 673-7638. Microsoft and Multiplan are registered trademarks and The High Performance Software is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Lotus and 1-2-3 are registered trademarks of Lotus Development Cor ration. VisiCalc is a registered trademark of VisiCorp. dBASE III is a trademark of Ashton-late. R:BASE 5000 is a registered trademark of Microrim. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Chart runs on IBM* PCs and compatibles. And supports IBM EGA and other graphic cards, as well as the latest output devices from Polaroid, Hewlett Packard. IBM and others. Inquiry 69 Ad #B808 NEW LOWER PRICES EPS0NFX-85....S339 FX-185. . . .$459 LQ-1500w/Par Module OKIOATA 192-P $329 193-P $459 84-P $629 TOSHIBA 1340P/351-P/S . . . .$469/$1069 BROTHER HR-15XL/HR-25P . . .$329/3439 HR-35P/TWINR1TER $649/$799 TEAC 55B/CDC 1/2 Ht Floppy $79 HARD DISK 20 MB Int w/Cont $459 30MBIntw/Cont $669 TAPE BACKUP 10 MB Int $349 BACKUP POWER SUPPLY 300/500/800 Watts . . .$339/$599/$699 ASTSixpak 64K. . $209 384K. . .$259 PARADISE 5 Pack 0-K. . $139 384K. .$199 MF-100 0-K $169 384K $229 Par. Ser & Game ports + Clock/Cal QUADBOARD 0-K . . . $1 79 384K . . . $239 QUADRAM Microfazer8K. .$129 128K. $169 PGSHX-12/HX-12E $419/$499 MD-12/SR-12 $549/$549 SR-12 & Sigma 400 $999 MD-12& Sigma 400 $999 MD-12 & PersystBoB $899 HERCULES Color/MonoGraphics$159/$299 Hercules Like MonoGraphics $199 EVEREX The Edge/Graphics Edge . . $299/$249 64K Set. . .$10 10+... $9 50+. .$8 128K Set. .$40 10+.. $38 50+.. $35 256K Set . . $35 10+ .$33 50+.. $30 HAYES 1200B Int w/SmartCom II $349 1200 Ext w/o Software $379 PROMETHEUS 1 200 Ext w/o sft $299 1200B Int w/MITEsft $299 Mm order S100 Add 1% for COD. 3% for MC/VlSA & b% for AMEX All sales hnal. Shipping charges vary. Noopenacct Pi's For advance payment or pickup, please call first for workorder u. VISION Al frame representation generated by the system for a typical sample house is shown in listing 3. From here on, the system works with the frame representations ex- clusively. The processes in box 7 at- tempt to match the frame represen- tation of the sample house against the model frames provided by the system. The matching process is very forgiv- ing and utilizes a set of heuristics to include or ignore features that are considered relevant for a global match. After the system has produced what it considers to be a suitable matching between the sample and one of the models, it passes control back to the top-level inferencing component. The system then invokes the final set of processes in box 8, which analyze the sample frame and the model and use a set of the heuristics supplied by the architects to make recommendations on how to modify the sample house to make it conform to the model more closely. The recommendations are coupled with various explanations based on the types of windows, doors, etc., and why the architects feel it would be more appealing to re- model according to some given plan. Epilog The simple system presented in this article illustrates how techniques in ar- tificial intelligence, such as frame- based knowledge representation, can be used in a vision system to provide a very high-level representation of the information contained in simple, well- specified images. The system works because the set of alternatives it has to consider is very small. The system only "knows" a very limited set of win- dow, door, and siding types, some symmetries, and a few relatively sim- ple heuristics relating to the interplay among these well-defined categories. While we spare no effort in en- couraging our readers to try their hands at applying AI techniques to their computer-vision problems, we hasten to add that the gap between our system and something like the ACRONYM system at Stanford (de- scribed in reference 7) is enormous. General-purpose systems like ACRONYM have to deal with issues that are not even addressed in the current system. It is important that our readers refrain from extrapolating the capabilities shown in the simple sys- tem described in this article into realms for which it was never intended. Having said all that, we hope that our little system demonstrates that, given a narrow domain with relative- ly little noise, it is fairly straightforward to construct systems that have reason- [continued) 2 :i l : BeeB B at n XPOSITION Figure 7: Global house coordinates showing the partitioning of a sample house by the program. 250 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 LOGIMOUSFC. <^te^ ■■■ ^^B^^ The professionals' choice. Find out why AT&T, DEC, and Hewlett-Packard have chosen LOGITECH'S mouse as part of their systems. With LOGIMOUSE C7 there's no pad or tablet to clutter up your desk. There's no external power supply with extra wires and plugs. It's clean and simple. The professionals' choice for making all your software run faster and easier. At a new $ 99 price Hardware Superiority ■ HIGH resolution (twice as high as most other mice) ■ NO external power supply required ■ NO pad or grid required ■ ENHANCED opto-mechanical design with CMOS technology Software Superiority ■ Logimouse C7 comes with its own software ■ Universal Mouse Driver makes your mouse compatible with almost ALL applications. With an easy menu system for creating and saving mouse settings. ■ TAG, the Text-And-Graphics editor, is ideal for memos containing maps, organization charts,simple schematics. With file editing capabilities. Technical Support • Fully documented package backed by complete engineering support. To order LOGIMOUSE C7 for your application call our toll free number: 800-231-7717 In California: 800-552-8885 LOGITECH 805 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City, C A 94063 Phone 415/365-9852 LOGIMOUSE is a roistered trademark of LOGITECH. Inquiry 215 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 251 Inquiry 206 for End-Users. Inquiry 207 for DEALERS ONLY. Once you've used a MonsterMac, you're never quite the same.... The MonsterMac two-megabyte memory upgrade turns your 512K Macintosh into something else: a high performance computer, packed with extra speed and features that no other memory upgrade offers. A quarter-meg of PROM space. An expansion port for peripherals. The ability to run without any special software. And most important, availability now . For under $900 from 512K. Call or write for more information. "Product of the Month" Bruce Webster, By te Magazine 1 1/85 Levco 6160 Lusk Blvd., Suite C-203 San Diego, CA 92121 (619)457-2011 "Macintosh" is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer. IBM PC AT performance! PCjr price! ,,' • AMPRO Little Board 186 $419 •8 Mhz 16 Bit 80186 CPU ',;^ • 128 512K RAM; 1 MB - ^ w add-on board 't^lR^ ■ 128K EPR0M - 2 B y te r ' _^ff' Wide sockets ^0m • 4 Drive floppy disk controller &) • SCSI (SASI) hard disk interface • IBM compatible ROM-BIOS • Boots PC DOS 2.x. 3.x •Two RS232C serial ports • Parallel printer port • Expansion board w 512K RAM. 8087-2. Clock. 2 serial ports. RS422 port • AMPRO Little Board Plus $289 • Same as Little Board 186 except 4 Mhz Z80A (8 Bit) CPU. 64K RAM, 4 - 16K EPROM; w CP.M 2.2, ZCPR3 • AMPRO Little Board (the original) $239 • Same as Little Board Plus except no SCSI, 4K EPROM: w/CP/M 2.2, ZCPR3 ft 25 different enclosures w power supplies, cables, etc. from S99 ft Floppy/Winchester drives from S89 ft XEBEC 4000 OWL 1/2 Ht 10Mb drive w integral controller S595 ft Terminals: Wyse, Qume, Kimtron from S395 ft Power supplies, cables, connectors in stock Complete technical support. Assembled systems available. Write or call for free catalog. Most orders shipped same day. VISA, MasterCard, Money Order, C.O.D. Checks allow two weeks. Purchase orders and bids welcome. Prices FOB. Prairie View. IL. IBM P C AT. P Cjr . P C DOS are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation XEBEC OWL is a trademark of XEBEC. Inc 91SKS PLUS 15945 West Pope Blvd. Prairie View, IL 60069 (312) 537-7888 VISION AI Listing 2: The frame representation of architectural system's house models. one of the window typel ako value : window panes value : 12 style value : sash window type2 ako value : window • panes value : 24 style value : sash window type3 ako value : window panes value : 3 style value : picture window type4 ako value : window panes value : 3 style value : sash window type5 ako value : window panes value : 2 style value : sash window ako value : thing i area if needed : window area window area(Window.Area) : - fget(Window, height, Height), fget(Window,width,Width), Area is Height * Width, freplace(Window,area,Area). door typel ako value : door panels value : 4 symmetry value : yes doorway value : [columns, fan light] door type2 ako value : door [continued) 252 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 108 HUM SION 20 Professional Modula-2 for $89. Now the same powerful tools Micropro used to develop its latest word processing system is available to you at a new $89.00 price. Building Blocks for Tomorrow^ Technology Universities are switching to LOGITECH MODULA-2. Innovative programmers now develop applica- tions and products with LOGITECH MODULA-2. The most productive teams at major companies depend on LOGITECH MODULA-2. Now you can create your professional software devel- opment system using the proven technical sophistication of LOGITECH MODULA-2/86. Systems to Fit Your Needs. Base Language System iJSQ ■ Compiler and Linker ^ ■ Module Library Base Language System/8087 ^190 ■ Inline 8087 code. Wl^y Base Language System/512K (IM OQ ■ Full 8087 support. ^ 1U:7 ■ Uses RAM to increase speed by 40 to 50 percent. ■ 80186 and 80286 support. Run-Time Debugger $(SQ ■ Monitors the execution of a program with user-defined breakpoints or by stepping through the program. ■ Symbolically displays the source code, data, procedure call chain, and raw memory. MODULA-2 Editor ■ Fast on-line Modula-2 syntax check. ■ Can run compiler and linker from the editor. ■ User definable templates for Modula-2 syntax constructs. Utilities Package ■ Decoders: Disassemble link and load files. ■ Version: Administrate different versions of one program. ■ Post-Mortem Debugger: Debugs a program after abnormal termination. ■ Cross Reference: Produces a cross-reference listing of a Modula-2 program. Sources $179 ■ Sources to customize your system. ^ ■ Run-Time System sources. ■ Some library module sources. Not Copy Protected $59 $49 INTRODUCTORY OFFER Through theendof January yougetthe new MODULA-2 Editor for free with any purchase of the Base Language System. To place an order call our special toll free number: 800-231-7717 In California: 800-552-8885 A7^T7 C I want t0 create my professional software I ll/iJ 7 development system. Please send me the following building blocks: □ BLSS89 □ BLS/8087 S129 D BLS/512K S189 DRTDS69* □ EDITOR S59* □ UTILITIES S49* □ SOURCES S179* *Sl0 lesswith the purchase of any Base Language System. Please add S5 for shipping and handling. □ VISA □ MASTERCARD □ CHECK ENCLOSED CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE SIGNATURE NAME ADDRESS. CITY STATE. _ZIP_ .PHONEL 1 ffl LOGITECH LOGITECH, Inc. : 805 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City,CA 94063,USA Telephone: (415) 365-9852 LOGITECH SA Box 32,CH-1143 Apples, Switzerland I Telephone: 41 (21) 774545 Inquiry 216 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 253 Value Leader Since 1976 1'/'«'1W/MJ.IiV PC-XT Mother Board IBM " Fully Compatible 8088 Micro-Pcocessor with 8087 Math Pros Socket, 8 1/0 Slots, 256K On Board Memoiy Assembled & Tested Board & All Components 1 - $229 3-4 $21 9 4-10 $200 Over 10 to// IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines PC Case with Hinged Top Easy, Quick Access Fits IBM PC/XT Mother Board Hardware for Mounting 2 - 4 Drives Duality Case — All Metal 1 -$79 2-3 $75 4-10 Enhanced Keyboard for IBM PC Enlarged Return Key & Shift Key LED Indicators on Cap's Lock & Number Keys Fully IBM Compatible 1 -$89 2-3 $85 4-10 $80 PC-XT Compatible Includes 640K RAM, 2 - OS 00 Oisks 360K 135 Watt Power Suply 2-RS232 Serial Ports 1 Parallel Port Real Time Clock • Cal Bat Backup RAM Disk, Print Spooler Assembled & Tested! Everything you need except Monitor & Card 1 -$1059 2-3 $1000 ^4-10 $975 20 Meg $1,575, 1 35 WATT PowerSupply • 4 Drives Power Plugs • Side Switch Model like IBM r ^ Multifunction Card PRICE BREAKTHROUGH 1 Serial Port Printer Port — Game Port Real-Time Clock-Calendar RAM Disk — Port Spooler Dptional second serial port available With 384 RAM $229 3 or more $199 PC PLUS " Add-Ons for IBM " PC & Compatibles Disk Controller Card 44 Game Adapter 23 Disk I/O Card (2 Serial, Parallel * Color Graphics Caid 99 Clock & Game) 113 Color Card/Parallel Port 119 Parallel Printer Card 2 3 Mono Graphic Cd/Prinler Port 109 Hi-Res Mono Card 85 Speaker 2.5D Serial Card 3D I/O Plus Card 99 PAPER 9Vi" x 11" Keen Edge 2 914" x 11" Standard 2 14%" x 11" Standard 3 20 lb -other weights available 2700 sheets per case M A. Oar networking and Integration department hat serviced many of the Fortune SO companies lor the past 5 yean. Call and dlscnss your applications. New Advance Technology PC IBM PC/AT Compatible Single DS/DD 1.2 Meg Disk Drive 512K RAM. Serial Parallel Amber 20 MHz Monitor (Pi3) Expandability tor up to t2 simultaneous users CZF-241-81 Ca n Four Plus Hard Disk System Sama as above including 40 Meg Hard Oisk CZW-241-82BU Call 4 .2 DS/DD 360K Disk Drive I 384 RAM Memory, Amber 20 MHz Monitor Pi3 mJ Built in ROM Diagnostics, I Expansion Slot CZF-148-42BU 1 ,350 One Plus 7 Expansion Slots CZF-I58-428U I ,850 One Plus Hard Disk System. 2D Meg Winning 1/0S/0D 360K 384 RAM Memoiy, 8 MHz with 7 Expansion Slots CZW-158-428U 2,429 POllableS Zenhh Quality IBM Compatible Back Lit Screen 8 MHz 2 Standard DS/DD/360K Drives 640 x 200 Dot Graphs 14.3 Lbs. 250K RAM czui-42 1,995 I Trans Portable 2 DD 360K Drives 8 MHz Clock, 128K RAM 24.2 lbs. CZM38-2I 1,299 6J SOFTWARE for IBM. Macintosh Apple All Major Brands 25% - 40% Off Call for pricing Corporation users volume purchase contracts available Call far money saving details , HARD DISKS . 10 Meg biire >m e.i 299 489 689 20 Meg hut im e*i 499 6«H 869 30 Met) Call ft Mey Call WO Hard Disk Controller 190 MODEMS (D Hayes JInchc*} Call CLOSEOUT SPECIAL Vic 20 sofiware grab bag 3 assorted pieces S20 up to SI29 Value 10 assorted pieces S55 up to S429 Value Act now while tfisyfastf EPSON RX-100 IX-BO Ca FX-85+ FX-I35 + Ca LO 1500 jxaa Color Ca Homewiier 10 Ca NEW LX-30 SO-2000 OX-10 OX-20 HS-80 Ca free printer stand with each printer purchased! Canon Laser Beam Printer Many Advantages met HP Na Additional Cast Quantity Discounts IBM Parallel Interface h can THINK' Its a Diablo 630 i Resident Fonts Downloadable Funis Chuose numbei ol copies ham keyboard For 8EST PRICE Calf Canon a-40 Impact Dot Matrix Printei letter c Y 23 t 18 140 cps 3 kinds ol Graphic Image Selectable Lmefeeding IBM Prinlei Compatible Push Feed Ad|uslable Tractor Fanlold Single Sheet b Murtijiail Copy Paper Usable y More Features Only $259 ORDERING INFORMA 7/0/VDrder by check, Mastercard or VISA. Personal checks take 15 days to clear, No wailing on certilied checks or money orders. Minimum shipping charge S4.00. MA residents add 5%. All items subject to availability. Prices subject to changes. Additional discounts available to qualified educational institutions. Requests for bid on volume requirements invited. Dealer inquiries invited. COMPUTERS Customer Service 215-822-7727 Use our TOLL FREE Order Line Mon-Fri 9am-6pm EST 860-822-1211 In PA: 215-822-7727 252 BETHLEHEM PIKE, COLMAR. PENNSYLVANIA 18915 VISION AI panels value 6 symmetry value yes doorway value [columns, portico, side. _windows] door type3 ' ako value door panels value symmetry value no doorway value [] door ako value thing area if needed : door area door area(Door.Area) : - fget(Door,height, Height), fgetfDoor.width.Width), Area is Heigh * Width, freplace(Door,area,Area). siding typel ako ■ value siding material value ■ clapboard width value narrow cornerboard value yes siding type2 ako value siding \ material value aluminum width value wide cornerboard value no siding ako value thing house typel ako value house stories value 3 siding value siding typel roof value gable windowl optional : yes xposition : 2 yposition : 3 type : window type2 {continued} 254 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 6 INTRODUCING ORCHID'S S.W. AX TEAM The Multifunction Force That* s Superstuff ed With Advanced Technology. Every member of this team has the technology you need to get the job done: Lotus/Intel Expanded Memory Specification (EMS) breaks the 640K DOS limit. Powerful Productivity A Software including Disk Caching, ^ 4 j^ RAM Disk and Print Spooling. Switchless design makes installation easy and fast. All these boards come with a Two Year Warranty to prove our team means business. Finally, advanced technology in multifunction boards. ORCHID 47790 Westinghouse Drive* Fremont, CA 94539 (415) 490-8586 -Telex 709289 ECCELL, Conquest and CramRAM are trademarks of Orchid Technology. Other products named in this document are trademarks of their manufacturers. Inquiry 268 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 255 Inquiry 346 GOOD NEWS FOR AT&F 6300 OWNERS! PC-DocuMates are now available for AT&T (America's best-selling keyboard template) 1-800-762-7874 Or see our ad on page 208 for details. VMrPi Systems Management Associates 3325 Executive Drive, Dept.Y-3 RO. Box 20025 Raleigh, North Carolina 27619 , A GANG PROGRAMMER, A SET PROGRAMMER, A UNIVERSAL PROGRAMMER, I Corporation®' ,. I Instrument Systems Division 1 \ - * E THESE: L TECHNOLOCIES A BYTE OF RAM CENTRONIC PARALLEL PRINTER PORT - 16 x 2 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. • HIGHEST PERFORMANCE/COST RATIO AVAILABLE TODAY OTHER MODELS AVAILABLE • PRICES START AT $995 • UV ERASERS FROM $67 • AVAILABLE FROM STOCK CALL NOW TO ORDER (305) 994-3520 1021 South Rogers Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33431 (305) 994-3520, Telex 4310073 MEVBTC VISION Al window2 xposition : 1 yposition ; 2 type : window type2 window3 xposition : 3 yposition : 2 type : window type2 proto house ako value : house typel window4 xposition : 1 yposition : 1 type : window type2 door xposition ; 3 yposition : 1 type : door typel proto house mirror image ako value : house typel window4 xposition : 3 yposition ; 1 type : window type2 door xposition : 1 yposition : 1 type ; door typel Listing 3: The frame representation generated by the architectural system of a sample house. housel7 ako value house stories value 3 siding value siding type2 roof value gable windowl value w7 window2 value w12 window3 value w17 window4 value w23 door value door37 w7 ako value window type4 ipo /* is part. _of */ value house17 xposition value 2 [continued) 256 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 46 RUSH POSTAGE-PAID CARD FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG • COMPUTER ELECTRONICS training prepares you to service and repair all computers as you build your own 16-bit IBM PC compatible computer. Total system program includes disk drive, test equipment, bundled software, and NRI Discovery Lab. • TV/VIDEO/AUDIO SERVICING includes training with 27" color TV with built-in stereo decoder, VCR. and actual instruction on videotape. • SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS training gives you the skills to service both commercial and consumer satellite earth station equipment as you assemble your own home satellite TV system. • ROBOTICS training features remote-controlled mobile pro- grammable robot you build, experiment with, and keep along with other test equipment. • INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS training prepares you to service and maintain computer-controlled industrial systems. Training includes color computer, disk drive, exclusive NRI training software, and NRI Discovery Lab. CHECK &ONE Name (Please Print) Age Street City State Zip D Computer Electronics D TV/Video/Audio Servicing LJ Satellite Communications CI Robotics □ Data Communications O Industrial Electronics □ Communications Electronics D Electronic Design Technology D Telephone Servicing Q Digital Electronics D Basic Electronics O Bookkeeping & Accounting D Appliance Servicing □ Small Engine Servicing CI Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration, & Solar Technology D Locksmithing & Electronic Security □ Building Construction & Remodeling O Automotive Servicing Accredited by the National Home Study Council 170-016 For career courses approved under G.I. Bill □ Check for details. BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 10008 WASHINGTON, D.C. POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE NRI Schools McGraw Hill Continuing Education Center 3939 Wisconsin Avenue Washington, D.C. 20016-9973 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES I. .I. III. ..II II.IImI.ImI.ImIm.ImIIm.II.I NRI Trains You At Home— As You Build Your Own IBM-Compatible Computer GET THE KNOW-HOW TO REPAIR EVERY COMPUTER ON THIS PAGE. Learn the Basics the NRI Way -and Earn Good Money Troubleshooting Any Brand of Computer The biggest growth in jobs between now and 1995, according to Department of Labor estimates, will occur in the computer service and repair business, where demand for trained technicians will actually double. You can cash in on this opportunity— either as a fulltime corporate technician or an inde- pendent serviceperson— once you've learned all the basics of computers the NRI way. NRI's practical combination of "reason- why" theory and "hands-on" building skills starts you with the fundamentals of electronics, then guides you through advanced electronic circuitry and on into computer electronics. You also learn to program in BASIC and machine language, the essential languages for troubleshooting and repair. You Build-and Keep-a Sanyo MBC-550-2 The vital core of your training is the step-by-step building of the 1 6-bit Sanyo MBC-550-2 computer. Once you've mastered the details of this state-of-the-art machine, you'll be qualified to service and repair virtually every major brand of computer, plus many popular peripheral and accessory devices. With NRI training, you learn at your own convenience, in your own home. You set the pace— without classroom pressures, rigid night-school schedules, or wasted time. You build the Sanyo MBC-550-2 from the keyboard up, with your own personal IBM is a Registered Trademark of International Business Machine Corporation. Epson Is a Registered Trademark of Epson America, Inc. Apple and the Appie logo are Registered ar.lm NRI instructor and the complete NRI technical staff ready to answer your questions or give you guidance and special help whenever you need it. Praised by critics as the "most intriguing" of all the IBM-PC compatible computers, the new Sanyo uses the same 8088 microprocessor as the IBM-PC and features the MS/DOS operating system. As a result, you'll have a choice of thousands of off-the- shelf software programs to run on your completed Sanyo. Your NRI course includes installation and troubleshooting of the "intelligent" keyboard, power supply, and disk drive, plus you'll check out the 8088 microprocessor functions, using machine language. You'll also prepare the interfaces for future periph- erals such as printers and joysticks. 100-Page Free Catalog Tells More Send the postage-paid reply card today for NRI's big 100-page color catalog on f NRI's electronics training, which gives you all the facts about NRI courses in Micro- computers, Robotics, Data Communica- tions, TV/ Video/ Audio Servicing, and other growing high- tech career fields. If the reply card is missing, write to the address below. Your NRI course includes the Sanyo MBC-550-2 Computer with 128K RAM, monitor, disk drive, and "intelligent" keyboard; the NRI Discovery Lab®, teaching circuitdesign and operations; a Digital Multimeter; Bundled Spread Sheet and Word Processing Software worth $1500 at retail— and more. r SCHOOLS McGraw-Hill Continuing Education Center 3939 Wisconsin Avenue, NW g'l'dl Washington, DC 200 1 6 |5jfl| We'll Give You Tomorrow. JANUARY 1986 IYTE 257 WHAT UHLLIVE HAUE TO IMPORT NEXT. COLLEGE GRADUATES? Ever since World War I, most of the rest of the world hascometothe United States for the latest in technology. Now there's a real danger that the pendulum i s swinging the other way. We're importing know-how in many fields instead of exporting it. Unfortunately this situation will get progressively worse. Unless we protect American colleges from infla- tion. For our colleges and universities supply most of the important basic re- search upon which technological progress is built. So please give generously. If we keep the intellectual balance of trade in our favor the industrial balance most cer- tainly will follow. HELP PRESERVE AIYIERICAN KNOW-HOW. GIVE TO THE COLLEGE OF YOUR CHOICE. njl Mwttm ny looii Afc, GukJand i »l ADvtST^NOCOUNCn TOUGH LOCAL NETWORK PROBLEM: "How can our department gel our six computers and three printers to work together efficiently? We also want to he able to access outside data services and our future company LAN." SIMPLE $2995* SOLUTION: NetCommander NelCommander is a smart, small Local Area Network manager. It lets you link from four to 10 computers and peripherals — in any mix of models and makes. A 5 OK. buffer (expandable to 250k) makes sure that productivity is high — keeping fewer printers humming — while computer and PC users do their thing, without wailing for a printer, modem, or shared disk. Those devices can be specified with names defined by users — and allocated on the basis of availability and capability. And NelCommander handles multiple protocols and different baud rales simultaneously — without modifications to hardware or software. It will also lie into your company's LAN. The latest in a family of products in use since 1979. NelCommander is a smart, small, efficient network manager. For more information, call or write: -NetCommander Digital Products Inc. • The Simple Network Solution Company 600 Pleasant Street • Watcrtown. MA •02172 (617) <;i-n::; -:■• .-/^ u APF-1 S39.95 JE520 VOICE SYNTHESIZER tor APPLE II, Il+and lie' JE520AP..$119.95 ■ TvitloSl>cechrorApplell.ll-' and JltuS'i (lir-M ■ Uspd wilh JE520AP JE523TB S9.95 APPLE Keyboard and Case for Apple II and II +* KEYBOARD (KB-A6B): ■ G8 Keys • 15-KeyKeypad • Dire • Durable melal baseplate (wilh is KB-AGB ■ Pop- up lid tor easy access • Fits power supply o-Size: 15VWx1B'Dx4U"H SPECIAL FEAFURES: ■ Automatic-key repeat • Cursor control/numeric keypad • Shitt key modified • 46 predefined lunclion keys (Applesolt, DOS commands & CP/M) ■ Upper/lowerc capabilities when used with SOcolumncardor U/L casechlp ■ lOuser-deline k KB-EA1 KB-A68 EAEC-1 Keyboard and Case S99.95 6B-Key Apple Keyboard only. S69.95 Expanded Apple Enclosure Case only S34.95 Disk! S«lM» I «J Five Key 128K RAM Card Software Programs! For Apple II, II + and //e* The JEB6B s lunclionally compalible wilh Ihe Apple II languagecard and can be utilized with all software that can be used with a standard I6K card The JE86B requires no moUilicahons to your Apple computer Five Key software programs are included Memory Management System, uhlities. diagnostics. demos and RAM disk emulalors tor DOS 3 3. CPM and Apple Pascal Alsofealures DOS relocator Comptete JE868 (Expand-A-RAM) S119.95 Applesurance Diagnostic Disk Controller Card Prevents Crashes! For Apple II, II + and He* The JEB77 serves as a diagnoslic tool, an assurance/maintcnancetool and a dual disk drive controller The JES177 will veiily and check Ihe operating hardware of your system each time you turn on your Apple II. II+ or lie' Test your RAM. ROM CPU. and disk drives Diagnostic routines may be cancelled al Ihe louch ol a key Complete withinstructions JE877 (DRV-1 /Applesurance II) S69.95 The JE8B0 Pr.n Parallel Printer Card For Apple II, II+ and He* wmmam poDuiaraoi-mainx graphic:, print. .,■:, Thu jEoKf) i-> lull/ < ompaliM,.' w.lh AppleCP/'M. Appli) Pascal (c- H ;l( IH,\Nl ,md nm;M o:h,v.iiLilil.' in; Appli' I.. H ■ -iiu' /;.;■ Ihu .li SUUj ,:-, liiuuijurlconligurod Torino C.r-nli ij-iicG t,[,iii:l.irii .hkI cm l jr.' ie-i;uriliijuri!(1 fur ullici i-il.ii'ii.irdi:, it neccss.nv Ac]',',i:ii;i.'dtesl|;'iii!liii:il".iliir."-.nii.linJe video scree nechoO Nor OFF. an andmore! Complelewilh inslruclions JE880 (PRT-1) S59.95 Parallel/Serial Buffer Card For Apple II, Il+and lie* JE880 (above) Parallel Card alleDsimullaneously Complete wilh i The JEBB3inclt erial (RS232) buttered outr: nlotwotypesot prir: JE883 (P/S Buffer) S79.95 VERSACARD for the Apple II, 11+ and lie* VERSACARD provides the Apple user with lour most popular functions on one physical card. Through hardware address decode, VERSA- CARD looks to the Apple as if three different cards are installed: Serial, Parallel. Real Time Clock/BSR Control Interface. VERSACARD's hardware maintains complete compatibility with CP/M, Apple Pascal, and Apple ProDos, with no need forspecial disks. In addition, all standard Apple software using the PRt! and INS com- mands work normally. VERSACARD 1 lunclionson one card SERIAL. PARALLEL. REAL TIME CLOCK/CALENDAR. BSR. . . S169-95 PM-ROM ( )* Grnphilti Upgrade ROM (Allows high resolution graphics) S39.95 PM-SC Serial Cable tor VERSACARD: S26-5'-DB25P (Male) S24.95 PM-PC Parallel Cable lor VERSACARD S20-5'-Cenlronics (Male) $24.95 Jameco's New 1986 Catalog! Filled with New Products, Reduced Pricing and Valuable Pin-out Data. Send $1 Postage for FREE 19&6 Jameco Catalog! $20 Minimum Order - U.S. Funds Only CA Residents: Add 6 to or 6%% Sales Tax Spec Sheets - 30C each Shipping: Add 5% plus SI. 50 Insurance Send S1 Postage lor FREE 1988 Jameco Catalog Prices Subject to Change Send stamped, self-addressed envelope to receive a Quarterly Sales Flyer - FREE! BE ameco VISA* 1355 SHOREWAY ROAD, BELMONT, CA 94002 PHONE ORDERS WELCOME - (415) 592-8097 - Telex: 176043 IBM® Accessories IBM PC/XT Compatible Keyboard IBM-5151 (Equivalent to Keytronics" 5151) $129.95 Additional Add-Ons Available! IBM-Case Computer Case $ 59.95 IBM-KB Keyboard $ 79.95 IBM-FCC Disk Controller $ 79.95 IBM-MCC Monochrome Card $ 99.95 IBM-MON 12" Monitor $109.95 IBM-ICB Color Card $149.95 IBM-E384K 384K RAM Card $199.95 IBM-MB Motherboard $349.95 IBM-10MBK 10MB HH Hard Kit $599.95 IBM-20MBK 20MB HH Hard Kit $799.95 O >^ IBM PCXT Equivalent i 130 Watt Power Supply UPGRADE YOUR PC! • Input: 1 10V @60Hz- Output: +5VDC @ 15A, -5VDC @ 0.5A, +1 2VDC @ 4.2A, -1 2VDC @ 0.5A • Plug compatible connectors • Fits into IBM PC • Weight: 6 lbs. IBM-PS $99.95 Prometheus Modems The ProModem 1200B/BS is a 1200/300 baud modem card which plugs into IBM PC and XT Provides a third serial Comport. Two versions available: 1200B (without software) and 1200BS (with software). The PM1200BS is supplied with powerful MITE communications software from Mycroft Labs. Software available: PC DOS or MS DOS. PM1200B (without Software) $239.95 PM1 200BS (with MITE Software) $274.95 ibN" |C ! DISK DRIVES Documentation "** Included RFD480 (Remex 514" DS full-ht.) $69.95 FD55B (Teac5!ii"DShalf-ht.) $99.95 SA455 (Shugart 5'A" DS half-ht.). . . . $99.95 TM100-2 (Tandon 5VT DS full-ht.) $99.95 JMR 5V4" DISK DRIVE ENCLOSURES Complete with power supply, switch, power cord, fuseholder and connectors DDE-1FH (Houses 1 full-ht. 5'," floppy drive) . . $ 69.95 DDE-2HH iHouses 2 half -hi . 5V e _- __ floppy drives - vertical) $ (3.33 HDDE-1 FH mouses I hard drive) . $199.95 General Application Keyboards Mitsumi 54-Key Unencoded Keyboard • SPST keyswitches ■ 20 pin ribbon cable connection • Low profile keys • Features: cursor controls, control, caps (lock), function, enter and shift keys ■ Color (key- caps): grey • Weight: 1 lb. • Pinout incl. • Size: 13W'L x 4%"W x %"H KB54 $9.95 74-Key ASCII Cherry Keyboard ■ 7-bit parallel ASCII • Full Upper Case, Full Lower Case except I, m, n, o and p. ■ Cursor keypad ■ SPST mechani- cal keyswitches • 26-ptn header connector ■ Color: white Size: 18"L x e'VW x 1 V'H ■ Spec included KB8201 (1500 available) $14.95 UV-EPROM ERASER 8 Chips - 21 Minutes | [ 1 Chip -15 Minutes Erases a!IEPROMs. Erases up toB chips within 21 minutes (1 chip in 1 5 minutes). Maintains constant exposure distance of one inch. Special conductive foam finer 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 B chips. DE-4 UV-EPROM Eraser $74.95 UVS-11EL Replacement Bulb S17.95 260 BYTE* JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 1 79 ^iiii4w«i ELECTRONICS | NEW LOW, LOW PRICES!!! J ELECTRONICS CALL for quantity discounts j SPECIAL!! SPECIAL!! SPECIAL!! Pirlffo. :wmn V|,".i|l!l SU7403N SN/404N SN7405N SN740CN SrJ7407f| SH7408N SN7409N ST7410N SN7411N SH7412N SN7413N '.NMMN .:.,V/Tih,,'j SN/417N SN742W SN7422U SU7423N SN7425N SN742GN SN7427N SN7428N SN7430N SH7432N SN7433N SM7438M SN7439N Sf 7440H SK744IM SN7442N SN7443N SN7444N SN744SN SN7446N SN7447N SN7448N SN7454N SN7459N SIJ7400N SN7470N SN7472N SN7473N 74LS0O 74LS01 74LS02 74LS03 74LSD4 74LS05 74LS06 74LS07 7-1LS08 74LS09 74LS10 74LS1I 74LSI2 74LS14 74LS15 74LS20 741S21 74LS26 74LS27 74LS28 74LS30 71LS32 74LS33 74LS37 74LS38 71LS12 74LS48 74LS51 /•!iy,.i 74LS73 74LS75 74I.S76 74LS85 74LS86 74LS90 74LS92 74LS93 74LS96 74LS107 741S109 74LS112 74LSI22 74LSI23 74LS132 74SOO 74502 74S04 74S05 74.,r,H 74SO0. 74S10 MS11 74SI5 74S20 74S22 74S30 74S32 74S37 74S38 74S64 74S65 74S74 74S85 74SB6 74ALSOO ,mai:,i;/ /4ALSH5 74ALS08 MAIS 10 i-iM-;.// 74ALS30 JMF00 74F02 74F04 74FQ8 /■'.I 111 Ml V /■I! M 74rsri /■•JWl i::m! CU4Q28 n;-n."i i.U.ilJ.M i:ii.nii!, i:;.i-'.i...lll i.ij.uiii ciMin;- SW474N SN7475N SN7476N SNM73N SN7480N SN7482N SN7483N SN7485N S1J7486N SN7489N SN749IN SN7491N SN7402N SN7493N SN7494N SN7496N ■■■n/.\-;t; SN741MN SW74I05N SrJ74107N SW4109J SN7411GN SN74I2IM SN74122N SN74123N SN74125N SH74126N SN74128N SN74I32N SH74136N SN7414H SN74142 i SH74143N SN74144N SN74145N SN74147N SN74148N SN/4150N SN7415IN SN74152N SNM153N Srl74l54N SN7415SN SN74156N SN74157U SN74158N Prig I SN74159N 24 SN74160N IB SN74161N 16 SN74162N IB SN74163N IB SN74164N 14 SN74I65N 16 SN74166N IB SN74167N 16 SN74170N 16 SN74172PJ 24 SN74173N 16 SN74174N 16 SN74175N 16 ■ SN74I7GN 14 SN74177N 14 SN74179N 16 SN74I80N 14 SN74181N 24 SN74I82N 16 SH74184N 16 SN74185N 16 SW41B9N 16 SN74I90N 16 SN74191 i 16 SN7-1192N 16 SN74193N 16 SN74194N 16 SN74195N 16 SN7419GN 14 S.N74197M 14 SN74I98N 24 SN74199N 14 SN74221N 16 Sf 74251N 16 SN74273M 2D SN7427SN 20 SN74279N 16 SN74283N 16 SN74284N 16 SN74285N 16 SN74365N 16 S J74366N 16 SH74367N 16 SN743G8N 16 SN74390N 16 SN74393N 14 741S133 74LS136 74LSI38 74LS139 74LS145 74LS147 7.11S148 74LS151 74LS153 74LS154 741SI55 74LS156 74LS157 74LSIS8 74LS160 74LSI61 7.1LS162 74LS163 74LS1G4 74LS1G5 74LS1GG 74LS1G8 /4LS1G9 74LS170 74LS173 74LS174 MLS •:; 74LS181 74LS189 74LS190 74LS191 74LS192 741S193 74I.SJ94 74LS195 741S196 74LS197 74LS221 74LS2-IO 74LS241 741S21? 741S243 74LS244 74LS245 wmm 74LS253 74LS257 74LS258 74LS259 74LS260 74LS26! 74LS266 74LS273 74LS279 74LS280 74LS283 741S289 74LS299 741S322 74LS323 741S347 74LS3S3 74LS364 74LS365 74LS366 74LS3G7 74LS3G8 74LS373 74LS374 74LS375 74LS377 74LS38G 74LS390 74LS393 74LS399 74LS490 74LS533 74LS534 74LS540 74LS541 74LS590 74I.S624 741S629 74LS640 741S641 74LS644 74LS645 74LSG70 74LSG88 81LS95 81LS96 81LS97 8ILS98 /■i:,i.m IB 275 7-ISI.il' 14 1.49 MS) >„i 16 .45 /■".SI.}', Id B9 /.;:,i :■:*, 14 1.39 /4:,i:jh ii» 79 /■n.i.i'i in /'! MS 14(1 14 ss /■l!jl!,l II .79 M';i!,i It) ?'} /■ISIS/ IS m /■;si:.k lb .89 74SIG0 lb 4.95 Msi»jy IB 395 ;.;si/.; lb .79 74S175 lb .79 MS IBS' lb 1.75 K2 74ALS32 14 m .39 74ALS74 14 55 74AISI09 16 .55 74ALS1 12 16 n 74ALS138 16 .89 ?wm 16 1 19 /•in.iu 1G 1.29 Mil!,/ 16 1,29 MI!',H 16 1.29 /.'.I i'i:i 16 4.95 74F240 20 2.49 74S189 74S194 74S195 74S196 74S240 74S241 74S242 74S244 74S251 74S253 74S257 74S258 74S280 74S287' 74S288' 74S373 74S374 74S472* ■ s ■ 74F241 74F244 74F251 74F253 74F257 74r.)7:-; 74F374 74F379 ci).ir,.i:i r:[j.ii.i.W CIMl.ii, CD4047 (■J.M.M '■[;:ii' ; i ■ L!:;u5.i (,n.V,:;., ■ : ■ CM-:; -:■■! CD406G CD40G8 i:04o(.'j uj.s.i/;, ,,.. ., Ct).;n/? CD4D73 CD4U75 CD407G (;t.''.n,v CD4078 i.[j4(j;;i CD4DH? i:ip:i'.i 6 IUV.1KI.) CO4E.0B CIM5IU f;;.l:.M CW512 C045I4 CD4515 CD4518 :•;■.. OM528 CD4531 IB C04538 16 CD4541 14 C04543 16 CD4553 16 CD4555 16 CD455G 16 CO4560 IE CD45G6 16 CU4583 16 CD4584 14 CD4585 16 C04723 IE CD4724 16 MCI441I 24 MCI4490P IE MCI 4572 IE 74A1S174 16 74ALSI75 16 74ALS240 20 74ALS244 20 74ALS245 20 74ALS373 20 74ALS374 20 74ALS573 20 (M) MOTOROLA MC68701 - Microcomputer with EPROM The MC68701 is an 8-bit single chip microcomputer unil (MCU) which signilicanlly enhances the capabilities ol the MC6800 lamily ot Paris On-chip resources include 2048 bytes Ot EPROM. 128 byles ot RAM. Serial Communications Interlace (SCI), parallel I/O. and a ihrce (unction Programmable Timer MC68701 $24.95 CUSTOM COMMODORE CHIPS for VIC-20, C-64 and C-128 Personal Computers Description Price Part No. Description Price Part No. Description Price *6S10 CPU $19.95 *6525 TPI $20.95 'SPECS. AVAILABLE ffi $1.50 EA. '6526 CIA $25.95 k 6560 VIC-I $29.95 '6567 VIC-II $44.95 '6581 SID . . $32.95 82S100PLAPLA.. $37.95 NOTE:82S100 = U17(C-64) MICROPROCESSOR COMPONENTS D765AC lj'4'l; '.'(.I 26fit-3 03242 280 280C1C 2B0-DARI 2800UA Z80P10 Z80-S10/0 ZBO-SIO.'I ZB0S10/2 ZH0-SI0/9 ZBOA Z80AC1C ZflUA DAR1 Z80A-DMA ZflOA-PIO Z80AS 10/0 Z80A-S10M ZS0A-S10J2 280A-Sl0f9 ^808 280II-CIC Z80U-0ART ZHOIM'IO Z80B-SIO/0 Z800-SIO/I Z80B-S10/2 6520 6522 G532 6545 GB09 G809E G8I0 68810 6821 G8IJ21 6840 68488P G86G1 G8701 3031 W.\fy MVi'i Boea 1073N Q80A B0S5A 8085A ! B0H6-2 8087 808/-2 iilWK H1« 8202 8203 .i.'ir, 8212 8224 8228 h,';i/-s B238 H/.-li K'S.i '. H?55 8255A-5 B25T-5 82/2 ■»,'/.) .;.'/:, K'/'.i 8279-S 8?H2 :.'■•: ■;■:■., ■:.••:/ ■sv•■.; l';,-tmi inXri^e 6.95 26 Adrii Mullijiicwr X ■ Helicsh Counter 695 -Z80. ZBOA. Z80B. SERIES 40 CPU rMK388ONJ|780CI2.5MHi 1 75 28 Counter Timer Circuit t 79 40 Dual AsyncflionousRec /trans- 4.95 40 Direct Memory Accks Circuit ■> 95 4D Parallel l'Olnlcrt«ceCoiilroller . . 1 79 40 Serial M) I kCBartdH,<■, rrrJIw ... 4 95 20 Bus Arbiter 14.95 40 rill ijrw F\rri|:fn>rai Interface . B95 40 HMOS EPHUM MPU 7,95 -11) Mill :i;,i 1! im.,.',! v ■■.!■■!•. .::;-VJ49l . . . 995 .0 'Mi . 1K..H I I'ihJM *, 128x8 RAM. . 29.95 111 1i.KiCilOM-.vhM) 14.95 W 1 ■:.:i.il!-n M> (hi MPU . , 49.95 68 Hiilhlnlnr.i l'i|i,tVi-!lin;.l[!.i:,i:i.i,i :■) -. 40 Nlllinifll. l l iii:r',-:t:'(,",*■.-.■■ 1 8118 ■I!.'--; II,:., -ii;m,,'i..u 50464-15 IMM2016 12 2111 2112 21 UN 2125A 5101 HM6116LP-3 HM6264LP-12 HM6264P-15 / 6514 1300ns) 1250ns) Jl50nsl 1200ns) ... )2(K)ns) 1 1 50ns) (200ns) (120ns) . (300ns) I365nsl (250ns) ... 1200ns) 2107 (200ns) ._ 1G.38-M (120ns)(+5V Only Red) 16 262. 144.1 (150ns) 10 262,144x1 1200ns) 18 G5.53GX-1 (150rts)(41254)(41464l. STATIC RAMS 24 2048x8 1 120ns) . ■ly.Ki.i i6,;t(i4«i 16.384x1 65.536x1 16.38-1x4 1021x1 2048x1 4096x1 .1096x1 8192x1 22 256x4 16 102-1x1 16 102.1x1 18 256x4 16 256x4 18 18 1024x^1 18 1024x4 18 1024x4 18 1024x4 24 2048x8 16 t024x1 18 4096x1 18 1024x4 18 1024*4 16 250x1 20 1024x4 22 256x4 18 4096x1 24 2048x8 24 2048x8 24 2048x8 24 2048x8 28 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 18 102Jx.t I450rts) 8101 1350ns) (250ns) LP (9IL02i (450ii5|8111 (450ns) MOS. (450ns| l-l!.l>-:;lL.P (200ns) .- • i,'ili;::-,l LP .... )S) . l, l! .iiii.,ii.PNI*B . i-1'iri-.i !l-;h I /On:;) (70ns). . KSrm i^'Jrlsi LP . , (450ns) . <450ns) CMOS (450ns) 4044 V 1150ns) LR CMOS. MOS , . . ; CMOS, MOS |1?Ons)LPCMOS. HSOnslCMOS. F CMOS l350ns)CMOSlUPS)44.lCi (35nsi ..is-,si 5101 l/O.'A iMi;. ; Mh IV:,.-..;. 1 IM:i.".i-1 2708 IMS.'/sr, 2/ If. //Clf- ,'/!(, I 2732 .'.'i'A.v. 2732A-25 2732A-J5 .>lul vvtmls 2 loiif , jml 5 iWlciciit silcrici: (liii.ilnu.s the vrorrls and tones h.w Ociin nssiunal s, m.ikintj il | ili< ! In iillml nirjli' v/ords ;w winds cont.w.'ii.iled 150 is J luclily mlelltq !)lf m,nc voce The 011D50 carrsisls ol i Speech Processar Chip HHS41C4 |4fl-pm| and tin |Z) Speech ROMs HM521D4SSR1 and MM521C4SSR2 |2J-pm) along with i Master WtrrJ hsil anrl a recDirmended schemilic diagram oniric appticalionshect. DT1 050 Digitalker' $24.95 ea. MM54104 Processor Chip $12.95 ea. DT1 057 - E ipjnds the 01 1 050 wcibulary kprn 137 lo over 2SQ words, lncl 2 ROMs and specs Part No. DT1 057 $1 1 .95 ea. INTERSIL FE0202O FE02030 7045IP) 7045EVK.I 7106CFI. 710GEV/KH 7I07EV/KH 711GCPI. 720HUS 72051F--G 7206CJPf. 7200CCV/K.I 7207AIPD 7207AEV'Kil 721HPL 7211MIIU. 72151PG 7215EV/KH 7210AUI 7216DIP1 7217IJI 7217A1PI 7224IPI 7226AEVKM Ull D:.|! VII ifv.iru.itirai Kill ;i! A D i LCD (I'uri ml E(.:,ird. Il,s;ii.iyifv.iiu.il ri. Stopwatt Chip. XIL lEiwliKllnin K.11 fens t5eneraK>i - '. ' ■: VII j ,.,„., i,-,-, Kli ilLEO Up.Do-ATi Countt IC95 1349 3149 21-19 1095 30009 1985 Intersil Data Book u $9.95 74HC HIGH SPEED CMOS 74HC02 74HC03 74HC04 74HCU04 74HC08 74HC10 74HC11 74HC14 7-1I1C20 74HC30 74HC42 7.1HC51 741IC56 74HC73 74HC74 74HC75 74HC76 74HC85 741C85 74HC107 74HC109 74HC112 74HC123 74HC125 74HC132 74HC13. 74HC138 74HCM7 74HC151 74HCI53 74HC154 7JHC157 74HC158 74HC160 74HC161 7-1HCIG2 741ICH)3 74IICIG5 74HC106 71HC190 7JHC191 74HC192 74HC193 741IC194 74HC195 74HC221 741C237 74HC240 74HC241 74HC242 74IIC243 74HC244 74CO0 7-:Cii: 74C04 /■iCiiri 7-ICin 74C14 74C2D 74C32 74C42 74C48 /.:t:/:i 74C74 74C85 7-iCtiN /■:Dv< 74C93 74C95 74CI07 M i iajiV. i .u 74CI51 ;.!i;:'i.: 7.-ICI5/ /-trui:.- ,mi:i. ; i MCI62 7-in. ■ ;.:c!i.5 ,M[:i,m MCI /-i 74C17S /.ICl'l.' /■tCI'i.l /-ICl'i'i ,'■!(::>:- 1 74C240 7-:c, ! -;-t 74HC251 74HC253 74HC257 74HC259 74HC2G5 74HC273 7JHC280 74HC299 7-1HC35D 74HC367 74HC373 74HC37-1 74HC390 ! 74HC533 74HC534 74HC595 74HCG88 74HC4024 74IIC4040 741IC4049 74HC4050 74HC4060 74HC4075 74HC4078 74HC4514 74HC4538 74HC4543 74C373 7-:c.ir-; 74C90) 74C902 I 74CJLI3 ', 74C906 -■ ■;:■-.- ' 7JC!)i ; ;x-v 74{';'.'i5 74C917 7.-:t;..j.- ■ ?,:c;i, ; - 7-iC!i;':; /■'.'.:<.):". 7-1C5; 1 -. -iCr- 80C97 DS002GCN ILDfr-ICN TL07ICP IL072CP TL074CN IL081CP TL082CP 1L084CN LPj1109K LM301CN LM3021I LM304H LM305H L1.1307CN LM30BCN LM309K LM310CN LM311CN LM312H LM317T LM318CN LM3191J LM320K-5 LM320K-12 LM320K15 LM320K-24 LM3201-5 LM3201-15 LM320I-2.1 U.1322N Lf.r1323K LM324N LM329D2 LM331M l^43342 LM335Z LM336Z LM337MP LM3371 LM338K LM339N LM340K5 LM340K 12 LM340K15 LM340T-5 LM340M2 LMJ.i.JM', lm:mij!:m LF347N IM?MH LM350K LF351H 8 LF353N 8 LF355N 8 LF356N 8 IM358N 8 LM359N 14 LM360N 8 LM361N 14 LM370N 14 LM373N 14 LM377N 14 LM380CH a LT/380N 14 LM381N 14 LM382N 14 LM384tJ 14 LM380H-3 6 LM387N 8 LM3B9N 18 LM391N-80 16 LM392IJ a LM393N 8 LF398N 8 LM399H LF412CN 8 TL49-4CN IB IL49GCP 8 U497ACN 14 NE531V 8 W540H(C540H) HE544H 14 NE555V 8 XR-L555 8 LM556N 14 KE558N 16 NE5G4N 16 LM5G5N 14 LM566CN 6 Lf.15G7V 8 NE570N 16 NE57IN 16 NE592U 14 LM710N 14 LM7IIN 14 LM723N 14 LM733N 14 LM739N 14 LM741CN B LM747N 14 LM748N S 5! UA760HC 12! LM145GV 8 19! LMI458CN B 4i LPjI1488N 14 6! LMI489N 14 G! LM1496N 14 9! 1A11605CK 99! LM187IN 18 19! LM1872N 18 2.4( U.11877N-9 14 24! LM1689fJ 18 1 5! LMIB96N 14 15! LM2002I 1.9 UIN2003A 16 .9' XR2206 16 39! XR2207 14 24! XR220H 16 1.7! XR2211 14 29! LM2877P 1,91 LM2878P 2.1! LM2901U 14 S LM2902N 14 5! LM2807H 14 1.9! LM2917N 8 15! LM2935T 1.4! LM3900N 14 .5' LM3905CN 8 1 V LM3909N 8 8! LM39UN 8 1 I 1 LM3914N 18 1 9! LM3915N 18 1 9 LM3916H 18 19: RC413SN 14 8 PC4151N!? B 9' RC4193NB 8 29! LIW250CN 8 1.1! KE5532 8 9! NE5534 8 85 78L05A 3i 78I.12A 35 79L05A 59 79MG5AH 6« ICL8038 14 39! LMI3080N 8 1 1! LM13600N 16 1 1! 75477 B II! 76002 14 1 2! 76477 28 39! 30003 1982 Nat. Linear Data Book 11952 pg .$14.95 Inquiry I 79 JANUARY 1986 JYTE 261 MORE EXHIBITS. MORE SESSIONS. MORE PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICATIONS. COMPUTER GRAPHICS '86. You'll discover new ideas... new techniques. ..and new products and services at Computer Graphics '86, the world's largest computer graphics con- ference and exposition, May 11-15, Anaheim. You can begin with the basics. Or build on your already substantial experience. More than 135 technical and tutorial sessions provide inten- sive, up-to-the-minute information on every aspect of computer graphics from AEC and CAD/CAM /CAE to business graphics and visual communication. The 300,000 square foot exposition pre- sents computer graphics for micros, minis and mainframes. . . software packages... peripherals, and related services from more than 200 of the most progressive EVANS AND SUTHERLAND ACT NOW TO ASSURE YOUR CHOICE OF SESSIONS. 1 want more information! Rush registration materials on the Computer Graphics '86 Conference and Exposition to: Send coupon to: National Computer Graphics Association Department AJ, Suite 200 2722 Merrilee Drive Fairfax, VA 22031 Company companies in the field— all ready to an- swer questions, provide demonstrations, and introduce you to the latest in results- oriented applications. City, State, Zip Attend Computer Graphics '86— and see what the world of computer graphics is coming to! Computer Graphics '86. May 11-15, 1986, Anaheim. You'll see it there. 262 BYTE' JANUARY I986 ROBOTICS AUTOMATION IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS by Gary W. Kramer and Philip L. Fuchs In search of the electronic chemist THIS ARTICLE WILL cover aspects of how we are automating the research process for organic chemical syn- thesis. We use a robot arm to handle the mechanical aspects of the task (such as preparing samples) and a number of independent, microproces- sor-based substations for support ac- tivities (such as cleaning the sample tubes and controlling the analysis equipment). We'll explain in detail how we are interfacing support equip- ment to one of the substations. In the day-to-day life of the scientist there are occasional periods of great excitement, but more often the prac- tice of experimental science is routine. Many times procedures are repeated with only small variations to deter- mine the effect of variables or to gather enough data for sound statis- tical analyses. Organic chemistry is no exception. Production of a target molecule, whether a drug, a natural product, or an industrial chemical, often requires carrying out a sequence of steps where the product from the current reaction becomes the starting material for the next step. Like all serial processes, synthesis schemes are adversely affected by weak links. Considerable effort is expended to improve the low-yielding steps of the process. In the commercial production of chemicals, it is desirable to know the precise effects of variables on reac- tion rate and yield. This knowledge is important in compensating for unfore- seen events that can affect produc- tion, safety, and economics. When the number of variables is large, the number of experiments needed to find the best set of conditions or to map out a reaction profile can be astronomical. Automation is an answer to this problem. In other branches of chemistry, most notably clinical chemistry, automation of routine pro- cesses is common. In organic chem- istry, where experimental procedures are more diverse, automation is not widespread. If automation is to come to the organic laboratory it must be flexible enough to allow facile exper- imental reconfigurations. The introduction of the Zymate Laboratory Robot in 1981 by the Zymark Corporation (see the "Prod- ucts Mentioned" text box on page 268) greatly enhanced the practicali- ty of automating organic synthesis. The Zymark robot consists of a non- mobile, nonarticulated arm that can rotate about its base, can be raised or lowered, and can move in and out to gain access to a cylindrical work area about 14 inches high and 54 inches in diameter. At the end of the arm is a wrist that can rotate 360 degrees. A unique feature of this robotic arm is its set of hands. Several different hand types (gripper, syringe, etc.) are available, and the robot can be pro- grammed to change hands for dif- ferent applications. A self-contained system controller and a variety of automated laboratory appliances (centrifuge, balance, shaker, vortexer. [continued) Gary W. Kramer holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University and is an instrumentation specialist with Purdues Department of Chemistry. Philip L. Fuchs is a professor of chemistry at Purdue: he has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. They can both be reached ai the Department of Chemistry, Purdue Univer- sity. West Lafayette. IN 47901. JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 263 Inquiry 295 IBM PC Add-Ons Shop and Compare! QIC-286-AT 8MH Z/ 640K, 1.2MB Controller & Keyboard $ 1 895 10, 20 33MB Hard Disk Subsystems 10MB + Controller $ 41 9 20MB + Controller $ 479 20MB FOR AT (40MS) . . $ 625 External 10MB $ 579 External 20MB $ 629 33MB + Controller ..... $ 72 5 1 0, 20, 60MB Back-up Subsystems 1 0MB Floppy Tape Back-up Drive $ 42 5 20MB Cassette Back- up with Controller ... $ o95 60MB Streaming Tape Back-up $ 815 Expansion Chassis ^^___ With 5 I/O slots and space for 4 half- height drives or tapes $ o45 Hayes <& Compatible Modems 300/1200 baud internal 1 99 Vi size card 215 external 299 (comes with software which emulates IBM 3101 and VT 100) Floppy Drives 360K for PC XT $ 99 360K for AT $ 1 1 9 Multifunction Card With to 384K Ram, Serial parallel port, game port, clock calendar $ 1 09 With 384K RAM $ 1 29 Everex Graphics Edge $ 265 Call us today! 408/942-8086 800/843-8086 (expCA) Telex: 5101002379 OICRCH 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee |C RESEARCH INCORPORATED 489 Valley Way qic 503 Milpitas. CA 95035 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS syringe pumps, etc.) complete a typical laboratory system. The First-Generation System Although the Zymark system was created to do chemistry, it was de- signed with the sample preparation phase of analytical chemistry in mind. Accordingly, it was given the capabil- ities of weighing, mixing, diluting, pipetting, and extracting: tasks neces- sary to get a raw sample ready for final analyses by other instruments. Initially we built our system around the robot, using it to do everything. However, as the system's capability has expanded, our philosophy has evolved to using the robot only to handle situations that would other- wise be difficult to automate. The creation of new instrumentation often goes through several stages. First, a demonstration system is created, which performs some subset of the overall task. Its purpose is to answer key feasibility questions, high- light troublesome areas, and attract resources to the project. Our first- generation scheme consisted of a Zymark system, locally built auto- mated room temperature reactors, and a semiautomated liquid chro- matograph as the analyzer (see photo 1). The system was managed solely by the Zymark controller. The first chemical reaction tested was chosen not only because it fit the system capabilities but also because it was a step in a synthesis in need of yield im- provement. The system was run open- loop; that is, the results from the reac- tions were printed out for later inter- pretation by the operator. This system ran 16 reactions and 240 analyses over a 50-hour period, producing a significant improvement in the yield of the desired material (see the arti- cle "Robotic Orchestration of Organic Reactions" by A. R. Frisbee, M. H. Nantz, G. W. Kramer, and P. L. Fuchs in the journal of the American Chemical Society, volume 106. page 7143. 1984). toward the second Generation Change is inevitable in creating open- ended systems such as ours, as to- [continued] Photo I: The Purdue Automated Synthesis System, phase I. The robot arm stands in the center of the laboratory setup. Arranged around the arm, starting from bottom left of the photo and continuing clockwise are: HP3390A reporting integrator, reagent station, reactor station, aliquot archive station, workup station, syringe and needle wash station, and sample turntable. \n front of the reagent station are three hand parking stations. 264 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 How will you manage the growth of PC technology in your organization? Millions of Workers with Personal Computers 25 20 15 10 I I I I I I I I I I 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Copyright © 1985 by Future Computing Incorporated, Dallas, Texas Announcing Future Directions: The next generation of information services for PC managers. Future Directions is different from any resource you've used before. It provides you with the information you need to make complex personal computer man- agement decisions. It doesn't overwhelm you with lengthy product descriptions. Designed specifically for busy personal computer and informa- tion center managers, Future Directions is a new loose-leaf ser- vice from the premier source of information in the personal com- puter industry, Future Computing Incorporated. A new resource for personal computer managers. Future Directions puts a team of experts behind every manage- ment decision you make, increas- ing your influencing power in the decision process and validating your selections. It gives you more than our opinions on today's office automa- tion trends. It also provides a clear picture of future trends in technology. A time-saving decision tool for managers. Future Directions is simple to use. In 250 pages of easy-to-read charts and text, it presents timely information on such product segments as personal computers, software, and peripherals. For each product segment, we cover today's most important issues and trends, such as net- working, site licensing, standards, compatibility, artificial intelli- Inquiry 140 gence, and more. Future Directions leads you step-by-step through the impor- tant issues affecting product selections. First, it presents var- ious product technologies. Concise charts match technologies to types of usage. Once you deter- mine how your company will use a product, you can compare tech- nologies based on price, perfor- mance, and other factors. And for each product segment, Future Directions explores future technology trends and indus- try standards. Most of the information is presented in charts, so you can quickly find the data you need. It's also indexed for quick refer- ences. And you can extract our charts to support your decisions in management presentations. And it's affordable. Priced at $495,* Future Directions is a management tool you can't afford to work without. By help- ing you narrow down product alternatives quickly, it greatly reduces the number of products you need to evaluate before mak- ing quantity purchases. If Future Directions reduces your evaluation process by even one machine, it's more than paid for itself. It will also help you avoid mistakes in personal computer product selection. Here's what you'll get: □ One loose-leaf binder packed with 250 pages of timely infor- mation on personal computer issues and technology trends □ Updates sent every other month d 12 issues of a monthly newsletter d Free telephone support The personal computer information standard. Future Computing has set the standards for personal computer vendors. Founded in 1980, Future Computing is recognized as the premier source of information on the personal computer industry. All of the information in Future Directions is based on our exten- sive research, including surveys of end users, distribution channel participants, and personal compu- ter product vendors. Money back guarantee. Because we're confident that Future Directions is the most valuable resource on personal computer issues and trends, we're offering you a risk-free subscrip- tion. If you're not satisfied with Future Directions just return it within 15 days and receive a complete refund. Order today. To order, complete and mail the form below or call a Marketing Representative at 214 437-2400 today. FUTIRE COMPUTING INCORPORATED m □ I want the information I need to make personal computer man- agement decisions right at my fingertips. Enter my subscrip- tion for Future Directions for $495. ($600 international price.) □ Please send me more informa- tion about Future Directions. Name. Title- Sales Support Future Computing Incorporated 8111 LBJ Freeway Dallas, Texas 75251 Company. Address _ City/State/Zip Phone ( ) *Price subject to change without notice. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 265 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS day's wants become tomorrow's needs. Accommodating this change is a major design challenge. Flexibility, modularity and portability in both software and hardware are essential. The control-system architecture (figure I) reflects these design criteria and allows orderly growth. The ex- ecutive processor contains the user interface, application program, and the main control routines. It interacts with the rest of the system through 8-bit managerial processors. These managers are the key to the control system. They serve as buffers, trans- lators, controllers, and isolators. Inter- processor communication is carried out in a block protocol over serial data lines. This architecture allows true concurrency while freeing the system from timing constraints. Its modularity permits replacement of system components with a minimum of problems. Isolation of the executive from the real-time, bit-flipping en- vironment of the managers allows the application software to be written in a portable high-level language. The analysis manager provides a good example of the managerial func- tion. Most modern chemical analysis equipment is smart; that is, its inter- nal control systems are processor- driven. Many of these instruments allow downloading of analytical methods, automatic sample injection, postprocessing of raw data into mean- ingful information, and transmission of results. In our work, a sample is loaded into the instrument's auto- injector by the robot, a command file detailing the processing is down- loaded, and, following the analysis, the instrument returns the results. Unfortunately, there is little stan- dardization in the world of analytical instruments. Even within a given com- pany's product line, the command to inject a sample on a high-pressure liq- uid chromatograph (HPLC) is not likely to be the same as that used on a gas chromatograph (GC). However, the managerial computer will know these details, so they can remain hidden from both the user and the applica- tion-level software. Actual analytical parameters are specified by the user during system initialization and are stored as (continued) HPLC SYSTEM ANALYSIS MANAGER OTHER MANAGERIAL PROCESSORS ROBOT MANAGER SYRINGE- CLEANER CONTROLLER GC SYSTEM VALVE -CONTROL SYSTEM LIQUID-SENSOR SYSTEM LIQUID- HANDLING MANAGER EXECUTIVE PROCESSOR ADVISORY | PROCESSOR I ROBOT SUBSYSTEM REACTOR - CONTROL #1 REACTOR - CONTROL #2 REACTOR #1 REACTOR- CONTROL #8 REACTOR #2 REACTOR #8 Figure I: Control-system architecture. 266 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 AW . . -'-'■'".•:*. WHAT THE HECK! ProDesign II The Easy to Use CAD System! ProDesign II is one of the most advanced CAD packages available •for microcomputers. We think it's absolutely the easiest to use. With competitive CAD systems priced at $1500 to $2 500, we were posed with the problem of setting our price. ProDesign II works a wide vaTiety of digitizers and mouse devices. It works with neaTly any plotter or printer available for the IBM PC. ProDesign II can produce plotter quality drawings on ordinary dot matrix printers - a feature found exclusively on ProDesign IL ProDesign II utilizes a virtual screen 4 times the size of the physical screen to make it practical to produce draw- ings on a normal resolution IBM monitor. ProDesign II is tiuly an outstanding GAD package for the IBM PC and compatibles. The question we had to answer was: Even though we had abetter product, should we price it higher than the other GAD systems on the market? We did market studies and calculations. We consulted with experts. We drew charts and graphs. We used the finest spread- sheet programs money could buy. When it came right down to it, we still didn't know what to sell ProDesign II for. $2995? $2495? $ 1995? We even considered $995. Then, in the great American tradition, we said, "AW. . .WHAT THE HECK' Let's see the other guys beat this price!" ProDesign II costs $299. At that price, you can't go wrong! AW . . .WHAT THE HECK! $299.95 THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY American Small Business Computers 118 South Mill Pryor, Oklahoma 74361 918/825-4844 Bl BOMBER this drawing has printed on an EPSON RX-88 DOT MATRIX PRINTER RES0LU1 ION IS . B65" - MORE THAN 4 MILLION DOTS' BETTER IHj Why should you get ProDesign II? Four simple reasons: 1. ProDesign II is easy to use. You won't have to spend weeks learning simple functions. 2. ProDesign II works with the hardware YOU own. ProDesign II supports most printers and plotters available for the IBM PC, as well as a wide variety of digitizers and mouse devices. 3. ProDesign II can produce plotter quality output on ordinary dot matrix printers. (The Bl Bomber above was printed on an Epson RX-80.) 4. ProDesign II is priced 70% to 80% below competitive products! What do you need to run ProDesign II? An IBM PC or compatible with 512K RAM and graphics capability. How do you get ProDesign II? See your local computer dealer or contact us. ProDesign II - The Easy to Use GAD System! Inquiry 18 Back, by popular demand. Just a few years ago, illegal hunting and encroaching civilization had all but destroyed the alligator population in the south. They were added to the official list of endangered species in the United States. Mow alligators have made a comeback. ,-r Conservationists intent on preserving this legendary reptile helped the alligator get back on its feet. Once again some southern swamps and marshes are teeming with alligators. With wise conservation policies, other endangered species have also made comebacks . . . the cougar, gray whale, Pacific walrus, wood duck, to name a few. If you want to help save our endangered species, join the National Wildlife Federation, Department 1 06, 1412 W\W/> 1 6th Street ' MW > 4P5§£ Washington, DC ?B^gf 20036. i ORGANIC SYNTHESIS methods files that are downloaded to the analytical manager at run time. During a run the executive can issue a task to the manager, such as "Take sample number three and run an HPLC analysis using method number two." Upon receiving this command, the manager checks to see if the task can be done (analytical instrument ready and sample three exists) and then returns a completion time estimate to the executive, which sets up a watchdog timer. The manager carries out this task by delivering the necessary directives to the analytical instrument. When the results of the analysis are available and formatted for transmis- sion to the managerial computer, it in- terrupts the executive. Uploading the results to the executive completes the task. If the executive watchdog times out, the executive will issue a status request to the manager and will ini- tiate appropriate action based upon the returned status. Fault conditions in the analytical instruments are reported to the manager, which either corrects the problem or passes it up to the executive. In this way. a disparate collection of analyzers can be made to look relatively uniform to the application software. Figure I shows an advisory pro- cessor in a dotted box to the right of the executive processor. In the future, we will probably use an expert system and other artificial intelligence (AI) methods to enhance the capabilities of our system. Since this technology usually requires special hardware and software environments, a separate computer seems appropriate. Initially, the AI machine will function as a consultant to the executive, but in time the user interface and applica- tion programming functions may migrate to this processor. Choosing the Components Requirements for flexibility, modulari- ty, and expansibility point to a multi- card, bus-oriented system. Our choice of the IEEE-696 (S-100) bus over Multibus or STD-bus systems was [continued) Products Mentioned Laboratory Robot Optical Liquid Detector Zymark Corporation Ivek Corporation Zymark Center 43 School St. Hopkinton. MA 01748 North Springfield, VT 05150 (617) 435-9501 SI 9 Sight Glass Scanner Chemically Inert Metering Pumps Skan-A-Matic Corporation Fluid Metering Inc. Route 5W 29 Orchard St. El bridge, NY 13060 Oyster Bay, NY 11771 (315) 689-3961 (516) 922-6050 Bantam-meter Optical Sensor LQD Liqua Sense Liquid Level Kontes Scientific Glassware Sensor Spruce St. Hi-G Company Inc. Vineland, Nj 08360 Electronics Division (609) 692-8500 580 Spring St. Windsor Locks, CT 06096 Series 1, 2, and 18 Miniature Teflon (203) 623-2481 Solenoid Valves General Valve Corporation Liquid Level Quartz Sensor 202 Fairfield Rd. NSG Precision Cells Inc. Fairfield, NJ 07006 560 South Broadway (201) 575-4844 Hicksville. NY 11801 (516) 938-7772 268 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 TAS TM the "Hard-nosed" Relational Database , the Database + Integrated Accounting . ■ ■~- If You Liked DBase You'll Flip Over TAS™ Hard-nosed business owners have been asking for the power of DBase III™ and RBase 5000™ but without the high price. That's why Business Tools, Inc., created TAS™ Compare TAS with DBase III and RBase 5000. You'll see why we think TAS is the best "Hard-nosed" value around. TAS includes a data dictionary. TAS includes a true procedural language. TAS includes a run-time compiler. Plus TAS can be upgraded to multi-user for SWO. TAS lets you develop your own professional menu-driven business applications. And not just simple ones either. TAS applications can hold up to 17 million records. And because TAS compiles them, they run fast. Get TAS Accounting Software for $349 But why stop with just a database? Forjust $349, you get TAS Relational Database/Language plus General Ledger, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable. And for $499 you get all the above plus Inventory, Sales Order Entry, Purchase Order Entry, and Payroll. Source code is included FREEI So you can even modify the accounting to fit your business. TAS™ DBASE III RBASE 5000 Multi-User $100 No $1400 Data Dictionary Yes No Yes Procedural Language Yes Yes Yes Compiler Yes No Yes Records Per File Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Files Open 16 10 40 Fields Per File Unlimited 128 400 File Size Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Record Size 10,254 4,000 1,530 Field Size 254 254 1,530 Prices $199 $696 $700 And TAS is no new comer. TAS was written by Phil Mickelson, the same "Hard-nosed" business person who created The Sensible Solution™ (relational database) in 1982. TAS comes with a 30 day money back guarantee (less handling' fee of $15 Level 1, $30 Level 2, $45 Level 3 and SW Multi- User). TAS is available for the IBM PC/XT/ATJ M Compaq™ AT&T 6300™ Tandy WOO, 1200, 2000™ and most MS-DOS™ CP/M™ and MP/M™ systems. Multi-user and LAN versions also available. Call Today 1-800-648-6258 Ask for operator 11 Call our Toll-Free Hotline. Use your VISA or MasterCard to order today Outside Washington call 1-800-648-6258. Washington residents call 1-206-644-2015. Deafer inquiries Welcome. wm *m ** *^ BUSINESS TOOLS INC. 4038-B 128th Ave. SE Suite 266 Bellevue, WA 98006 Inquiry 44 The following are registered trademarks ol these com- panies. TAS, Accounting Solution. Business Tools Inc; RBase 5000, Microrim Inc; DBase III, AshtonTate Inc; CP/M and MP/M, Digital Research Inc; IBM PC/XT/AT, Inter- national Business Machines Corp; Compaq, Compaq Computer Corp; AT&T 6300, AT&T Information Systems Inc; Tandy 1000. 1200, 2000. Tandy Corp; MS-DOS, Microsoft Corp; The Sensible Solulion trademark rights are claimed by 0'Hanlon Computer Systems Inc. , ©Copyright 1985 Business Tools lnc.\ How to go from UNIX to DOS without compromising your standards. It's easy. Just get an industry standard file access method that works on both. C-ISAM™ from RDS. It's been the UNIX™ standard for years (used in more UNIX languages and programs than any other access method), and it's fast becoming the standard for DOS. Why? Because of the way it works. Its B+ Tree index- ing structure offers unlimited indexes. There's also automatic or manual record locking and optional transaction audit trails. Plus index compression to save disk space and cut access times. How can we be so sure C-ISAM works so well? We use it ourselves. It's a part of INFORMIX ; INFORMIX-SQL and File-it !T our best selling data- base management programs. For an information packet, call (415) 322-4100. Or write RDS, 4100 Bohannon Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025. You'll see why anything less than C-ISAM is just a compromise. RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEMS, INC © 1985, Relational Database Systems. Inc. UNIX is a trademark of AT&T. INFORMIX is a registered trademark and RDS, C-ISAM and File-It! are trademarks of Relational Database Systems, Inc. ORGANIC SYNTHESIS finally made on the basis of cost per board function and the authors' familiarity with S-100 systems. With the bus architecture decided, the choice of a CompuPro 8/16 was easy. At present, CP/M is the base-level operating system. However, only the terminals, printer, and disks are CP/M system devices. The special interrupt- driven, multitasking control software is implemented as a transient pro- gram. This run-time package takes control of the executive processor, relying on CP/M only for terminal and disk I/O (input/output) handling. If the choice of the executive pro- cessor was easy, the converse was true of the managers. Many of the ex- ecutives' requirements also apply to the managers. But the managers only need to be 8-bit ROM (read-only memory)-based machines; disks and operating systems are unnecessary. The choice came down to either an STD-bus approach or an in-house de- signed system. Over the years we have built up an extensive 8-bit sys- tem that has been used in several data acquisition and control projects. To aid in the development and main- tenance of this system, we also created a variety of hardware and software tools. We have little ex- perience with the STD bus; however, it is desirable to use commercially available equipment whenever pos- sible. Ultimately, we chose the in- house design for our first synthesis system, feeling that we could get go- ing quicker with it. Each managerial computer contains the same set of core boards; an 8085 8-bit microprocessor with 19 interrupt channels, a status and start-up card containing bootstrap PROM (pro- grammable read-only memory) used during initialization, a real-time clock card containing a day/date clock (MM58167) and six 16-bit timers (two 82 53s), a triple serial interface card (three 2651s), and a 64K-byte PROM/ RAM (random-access read/write memory) card. Other cards, such as buffered parallel interfaces, additional clock cards, analog-to-digital con- verter cards, digital-to-analog con- [continued) 270 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 307 Someone new has just entered the world of programming. Now, everyone can program their com- puter. Because now, there's ALICE 1 to show you the way. ALICE; The Personal Pascal... the first complete programming environment that lets you create your own sophisticated Pascal programs, while teaching you how. Much More Than a Pascal Compiler ALJCE knows the syntax and the rules of Pascal . . . changing programming from what was once a slow, complex task to simply a matter of selecting the appro- priate templates, and merely filling in the blanks. You can't make a frustrating syntax error. ALICE won't let you. The Programming System With a Difference ALICE has a unique Pascal interpreter that lets you run - and debug - your programs directly. You can actually see your program executing. And the programs that you develop with ALICE can be used with your Pascal compiler. Help at Your Fingertips All the information you'll ever need from ALICE. A tutorial, features of Pascal, and the meaning of error messages is now at hand ... in over 500 screens of on-line HELP. Let ALICE be the Teacher ALICE is currently being used in hundreds of schools to teach Pascal programming. Why Pascal? Because it has emerged as the language of choice of colleges and universities and is now the language of choice of the SAT examinations. ALICE Offers More! • windows, menus, and function keys . . . easy. • "undo" feature to take back mistakes . . . forgiving. • screen control, color highlighting, and macros . . . powerful. Now you'll program intelligently, accu- rately, almost intuitively . . . with ALICE. To order by credit card, call 1-800- 448-3400 ext. ALICE (in Canada 1-800-387-9018). Specify software or demonstration disk- ette. Or, fill in the order form and send to: Inquiry 329 SOFTWARE^ % CHANNELS Software Channels Inc. 4 Kingwood Place, Kingwood, Texas 77339 (713) 359-1024 Canada and International: 212 King Street West, Toronto, Canada M5H 1K5 (416) 591-9131 ALICE The Personal Pascal n Name: Address:. City: _State:_ Telephone: ( )_ Number of Copies:. Zip Code:. -Machine Memory (K):_ _ @ $95.00 (Canada $129.00)=_ □ Demonstration Diskette: Shipping/handling $4.95 (Canada $5.95)= Payment: VISA □ AMEXD MCD Check □ Money Order □ Bank Draft □ Credit Card Expiry Date: / Credit Gardner □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ Sign ature : . ALICE: The Personal Pascal software prices include shipping and handling to the US and Canada. COD's will not be accepted. Texas residents add 4V&% sales tax. Ontario residents add 7% sales tax. For IBM PC, XT, AT and compatibles. Dealer and distributor inquiries welcome. Site licences available. ORGANIC SYNTHESIS A -UPPER NEEDLE GUIDE -TO WASTE Figure 2: Self -cleaning syringe washer. verter cards, and stepper-motor driver cards, are added as required by the specific application. The 44-pin bus is terminated actively on the backplane board. The front panel has LED (light- emitting diode) indicators for the system states (used during debug- ging), a reset button (warm start to location 0000H), and a restart button (cold start back to bootstrap PROM). A connector on the rear of the front panel allows a box with hexadecimal data/address displays, halt/run switch, and single-step switch to be attached for use during debugging. If needed, our DMA (direct memory access) card, disk-controller card, and disks can be added to create a CP/M-com- patible development system. Each managerial processor has at least one 8K-byte PROM, located at address E000H, which contains the system monitor, debugging routines similar to the CP/M DLTT (dynamic debugging tool) functions, block- mode communication driver, and in- terrupt handlers. When the overall system is complete, there will be several managerial processors run- ning simultaneously. It is impractical to provide a terminal for each com- puter, and the front-panel displays are quite limited. To debug and maintain the system, a spy feature is imple- mented in each manager. Periodical- ly, the manager transmits a message from one of its serial channels de- scribing its current activity and status. We connect the spy lines from each manager to a manual multiplexer switch connected to a single terminal. The system operator selects which manager is monitored. If this manual method proves too limited, the multi- plexer and terminal can be replaced with a disk-based system that can log the activity of all the managers onto disk for postmortem analyses. CONTROLLER WASTE CONTAINER Figure 3: Syringe-cleaner subsystem. 272 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS Much software used by the mana- gers will be PROM-based; only vari- ables and special routines are down- loaded after each master system reset. One Subsystem in Detail Rather than give a condensed view of our entire system, it may be more il- luminating to describe in some detail one subsystem, currently being built, that illustrates several techniques. First, a brief description of the robot's syringe hand is in order. The hand consists of a glass syringe whose plunger is driven by a small DC motor through rack-and-pinion gearing. A potentiometer, mechanically coupled to the drive assembly provides posi- tion feedback. Normally a syringe hand must be cleaned after each use. Figure 2 shows our self-cleaning syringe washer. The cleaning process involves inserting the syringe needle into the lower needle guide, drawing solvents into the syringe barrel one at a time, and then expelling them to waste, followed by pumping nitrogen in and out to dry the syringe. Suffi- cient solvent pressure is developed in the lower needle guide to provide ef- ficient washing of both the syringe in- terior and the needle exterior. This process uses valuable robot time, since the hand must be attached to the arm for cleaning. Several other hands are available, so the robot could be doing useful work if a syringe could be cleaned while its hand is parked. Figure 3 shows a system that alleviates the cleaning problem by allowing up to four syringe hands to be cleaned while parked. A syringe washer is placed below each parking station, and each hand is equipped with an auxiliary set of contacts that engage when the hand is parked. Parking a hand in its station initiates The robot could be doing useful work if a syringe could be cleaned while its hand is parked. its cleaning cycle. The controller hard- ware for this subsystem is identical to that in the managerial processors previously described. In figure I, this controller is shown reporting to the robot manager. However, it may end up serving the liquid-handling manager or even becoming a full manager itself. The solvents are stored in large con- tainers and directed to the cleaning stations by metering pumps driven by permanent magnet stepper motors. [continued) 3J\45|^N^6 Sn^ my 74107 CLK R1A 470ft RIB 4 70ft tDE> ZE> 74107 CLK R2B 4 70ft R2A 470ft 5V >R3A 1 i?oli R3B 4 70ft R4B 470ft Dl THRU D4 1N4002 {TYP)' a 03 n J 2N6037 Q4 2N6037 ■ CI 1 InF •C2 'InF .C3 "InF V© 'I P°° v , ■C4 l lnF 02 | 04 | 03| 24 V POWER SUPPLY I Vret , CZD- Figure 4: Stepper-rnotor drive circuit. JANUARY 1986 1YTE 273 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS Solvent levels are monitored with sensors that make use of the reflectance of light passing through a glass rod. Figure 4 shows the circuitry required for driving these four-phase motors. The direction line is left high, and the step line is driven from the buffered output of an 82 53 or 82 54 counter- timer controller (CTC). Our metering pumps (manufacured by Fluid Meter- ing Inc.) deliver a fixed amount of liq- uid for each rotation of the motor. Sol- vent can be delivered at a program- mable rate by using the CTC in the rate-generator mode. If a fixed amount of solvent is to be delivered, the rate-generator CTC can be gated with the complemented output from a second CTC channel that is used in the interrupt on terminal-count mode. Figure 5 shows one of the CTC circuits on our real-time clock card. Easy selection of true or complemented signals improves the flexibility of this card. System reliability is improved by several sensors mounted near the pump. Solvent levels in the reservoirs are monitored using sensors that make use of the internal reflectance of light passing through a glass or quartz rod whose tip is cut to a 90-degree taper. According to Snell's law, when the tip is surrounded by a low-refractive-index medium such as air, light passing through the rod will be totally reflected. When the refrac- [continued) 2MHz O- RESET O- AO O- Al O- cs C>~ DO C>~ Dl O- 02 O" 03 O- D4 O- D5 [Z>- D6 O- D7 O- RD C^ WR C>- 4.7K [—A/W — 7474 + 2 D Q CLR 13 MC14553 + 1000 DIS LE MR TEI p+ MC14553 + 1000 DIS LE MR T tsv t 2.2K + 5 21 20 19 CS Al A0 8253 OR 8254 CTC DO Dl 02 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 RD WR CLK0 CLK1 CLK2 GATE0 GATE1 GATE 2 fi^j*^ ^j Hjjj - 8 *^ CK2 |— # CK2 GT0 ^^h"^ ^jjr^ry 2 ^ 7n_|^^«l 4 jr 1 I l -O Figure 5: Real-time clock (CTC) circuit. 274 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 TOLL FREE 1-800-848FAST TOLL FREE 1-800-848FAST EXPRESS THE TOP NAME DISKETTES ARE NOW AT THE LOWEST PRICES EVER. 5.25" SSDD 48TPI 5.25" DSDD 48TPI 5.25" DSDD-HD PC/AT 3.5" SSDD 3.5" DSDD Dysan $1.48 $1.95 $4.05 $2.60 $3.50 \ferbatim. DataLife $1.38 $1.74 $3.65 $2.48 $4.00 3M $1.25 $1.65 $3.75 $2.29 $3.40 maxell $1.22 $1.66 $3.30 $2.20 $3.25 m&^m $ .80 $ .90 • $2.45 I WHEN ORDERING ASK ABOUT OUR FREE GIFT ITEMS. These are the highest quality and most reliable diskettes on the market. Now with one simple toll-free call you can buy them at the lowest prices around. Don't set- tle for a brand you never heard of when you can have the best for less. TOLL FREE 1-800-848-FAST TO ORDER PAYMENT: We accept MasterCard and Visa with no service charge • Bank checks, certified checks and money orders will insure fast delivery • COD — Add $3.00 - certified, bank check or money order only • Personal checks - we must wait 10 days to clear before shipping • Corporate accounts and pur chase orders welcome, subject to credit approval • Prices subject to change without notice. Shipping and Handling — Standard case lot is 50 diskettes of the same type pier case • Add 5% for less than case lot quantities • Minimum order size is $30.00 • Add 3% (minimum $3.00), per each 100 or fewer diskettes • Ohio residents add 5.5% for State Sales tax. EXPRESS MICRO SUPPLIES INC. • DEPT. L-557 • COLUMBUS, OH 43260 Inquiry 130 JANUARY I986 -BYTE 275 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS tive index of the surrounding medium is higher, such as with a liquid, a por- tion of the light passes from the rod into the liquid (figure 6). If a photo- detector is placed at the flat end of the rod, its output will decrease when the conical tip of the rod is immersed in a liquid. A simple comparator cir- Figure 6: Reflective liquid-level sensor. cuit (figure 7) converts this change into a computer-readable signal. A version of this sensor, the LQD Liqua Sense Liquid Level Sensor, is com- mercially available. The simple design shown here must be shielded from ex- ternal light; however, a more sophis- ticated synchronous detection scheme (such as the Liquid Level Quartz Sensor from NSG Precision Cells) can virtually eliminate this prob- lem. To ensure that the pump retains its prime, a flow-through sensor is mounted on the pump output to detect the presence of the liquid in the Teflon tubing leading to the distribution valve. This device uses an LED and a phototransistor on op- posite sides of the translucent Teflon tubing to detect the presence of a liq- uid. Again, a comparator circuit (figure 7) provides a TTL (transistor- transistor logic) level signal. To shield this sensor from ambient light, the LED and phototransistor are mounted in an opaque plastic block (figure 8), and the entire circuit is housed in a small black plastic Pomona Box. We know of no commercial versions of this sensor that are as small as the one described, but models that work with larger tubing are readily available + 5V +5V +5V . S360.Q, TIL32 + 5V , 2.5K h TIL78 J3.9K -jiQ> m ^SELECT FOR BEST RESPONSE 270& HLMP 1300 75452 gE> O X -o TO CPU (the Optical Liquid Detector, the SI 9 Sight Glass Scanner, and the Bantam- meter Optical Sensor). A small bellows-type pressure sen- sor on the outlet of the pump is used to detect an overpressure condition due to a fully closed distribution valve or a clogged tube. The TTL outputs from these sensors are brought into the controller through a 16-bit buf- fered parallel I/O card. Figure 9 shows the input section of this circuit. The effluent from each pump is brought to a four-way distribution valve whose exit ports lead to the in- dividual washing stations. These distribution valves are typical of the miniature solenoid valves used in this project, which feature small internal volume (30 to 60 microliters), high- speed operation (8 milliseconds), low power drain (12 volts DC. 210 milli- amperes), and all Teflon wetted parts (Series 1,2. and 18 Miniature Teflon Solenoid Valves). Since the current re- quired to drive these valves is greater than that provided by standard open- collector TTL drivers, additional buf- fering is provided as shown in figure 10. The diodes protect the switching transistor from the voltage spikes gen- erated when the solenoid valve is [continued) IR LED THIN-WALL TEFLON TUBING 1/8 in. OR 1/16 in. 0D Figure 7: Optical fluid detector circuit. Figure 8: Liquid-presence detector. 276 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 NEW LANGUAGE BREAKS OLD RULES. GIVES PROGRAMMERS POWER, SPEED AND SIMPLICITY. Try this remarkable language, PROMAL™ for 30 Days AT NO RISK and... We think you'll be thrilled with this breakthrough system when you discover its power, ease of use, and dazzling per- formance on your IBM PC, Apple Ile/IIc, or Commodore 64. But we don't expect you to accept our claims for PROMAL without proof, so we invite you to explore the power of PROMAL on your own during our 30-day trial period. Broken Rules Now that PROMAL 2.0 has broken the rules, a structured language doesn't have to be slow, unwieldy and difficult to use. PROMAL is fast, elegant, and simple. What Is PROMAL? PROMAL stands for PROgrammer's Micro Application Language. But PROMAL is more than a high-level lan- guage, it's a total structured program- ming development system with a fast, one-pass compiler, a versatile full-screen editor, plus an integrated machine- language subroutine library. And for APPLE and Commodore systems it includes a DOS-like system "Executive." Better By Design PROMAL was designed from "scratch" for optimum performance and ease of use on microcomputers. It has a simpli- fied syntax with no awkward terminators PROMAL 2.0 FEATURES COMPILED LANGUAGE • Structured indentation syntax • No line numbers or terminators • Long variable names (31 characters) • Global, Local, & Argument variables • Byte, Word, Integer & Real data types • Decimal or Hex number types • Functions & Procedures with passed arguments • Predefined DATA of any type • Multi-Dimensional Arrays (any type) • Strings & pointers • Control Statements: IF, IK-ELSE, WHILE. FOR, CHOOSE, REPEAT-UNTIL, BREAK. NEXT. INCLUDE. ESCAPE. REFUGE • Bit-operators, shifts, typecasts • Variables at any memory location • Simple Machine Language interface • Recursion supported • Program chaining and overlays (IMPORT/EXPORT) • Separatecompilation of modules • Load and run relocatable M/L programs • Compile errors trapped for Editor EXECUTIVE (APPLE II & C64 Only) • Command driven, with line editing • Multiple user programs in memory at once • Function key definitions • Progam abort and pause • Prior command recall • I/O Re-direction & batch jobs • "DOS'-like commands: COPY, RENAME, DELETE, display FILES. TYPE, HELP etc. • Memory MAP SET, and display commands EDITOR • Full-screen, cursor driven • Function key controlled • Line insert, delete, search • String search and replace • Block copy. move, delete & file read/write operations • Auto indent, undent support LIBRARY • 50 Resident Machine-language commands • Call by name with arguments • String handling (9 routines) ■ Re-directablc I/O (STDIN & STDOUT) • Formatted numeric output • Decimal & Hexadecimal I/O • Block fill/move/rcad/write • Cursor control & line editing • lata type conversion • Random number function • Real function support (in PROMAL): ABS, ATAN, COS, EXP LOG, LOG10, POWER, SIN, SORT, TAN • Modem device support & much more like ";" or "}" and indentation is part of the syntax, so structuring your code is natural and easy. Just compare PROMAL with BASIC in this example: Equivalent Program Segments REPEAT PROMPT AT 5.24. Add Chg Ouit? IF Reply A ADD Item New- Items New. Hems + 1 CHANGEItem UNTIL Reply Q 11910REM BASIC 1 1920CL = 5 LN - 24 PRS -"Add Chg Quit?" 11925GOSUB9490:REMGET REPLY 11930IFRP$ A" THEN 11950 1194019 IT:GOSUB10100:REMADD 11945NUNI t 1;GOTO 11920 11950 IF RP$< -"C"THEN 11970 11960 19 = IT;GOSUB 6050:REM CHG 11970 IF RPSo'O" THEN 11920 PROMAL is readable and understand- able. You see the logic from the structure. And PROMAL lets you call procedures by name -so no more GOSUBs. But there's more. Slick Editor Editing your source is a snap with the specially-designed and integrated full- screen Editor-it not only helps you structure your program, it even finds compilation errors- automatically. Quick Compiler The compiler is a lightning-fast, one-pass, recursive descent design. On the IBM PC it crunches source to object at 2000 lines per minute, and it's equally impressive on the Apple and C64. And your PROMAL source code is portable from machine to machine. That means your source can be used on all PROMAL target machines. Run-Time Speed Demon PROMAL blows away Apple II and C64 languages from BASIC and PASCAL to FORTH. (Send $3 for a copy of our full benchmark report.) It's 2000% faster than BASIC. And on a normal IBM PC, the native 8088 code from PROMAL beat Turbo Pascal 3.0 by 10% on the standard sieve benchmark! DOS For Those Without If you don't have a real "DOS," then PROMAL gives you a true operating system environment with the built-in operating system Executive. (See box.) Order Form for PROMAL 30-Day Trial! □ APPLE IIc/He My system is (check one) □ IBM PC/100% compatibles □ COMMODORE 64/128 Please RUSH me: □ PROMAL Developer's System -Compiler, Editor Library, Demo disrL 280-page manual, (Plus Exec tive for Apple and C-64) and stand-alone program ~eneration (no royalties). 99.95 + 5.00"Shipping & Handling nd-User System for Apple llc/lle and Coi 64/1 28 -all features of Developer's Version except for program execution) □ Library, Demo disrL 280-page manual, (Plus Execu- ive for Apple and C-64) and « ' [eneration (no royalties). '99.95 + 5.00"Shippi„„ nd-User System for Apple llc/lle and Commodore 4/1 28 -all features of Developer's Version except stand-alone program generation (Executive needed for program execution) $49.95 -f 5.00 Shipping* Handling □ Graphics ToolBox (Apple/L64 only,)- 20 routines for ni-res graphics: windows, clipping, text-on- fraphics using scaled, rotated, user-defined fonts. 29.95 + 2.50 Shipping & Handling HMCT ^!Z * MinXlTIIK «soci»rioii Outside Opinion Naturally we're enthusiastic about PROMAL, but here's what other pro- grammers are saying: "Excellent. . . an ideal development system Well done indeed!" M.T.V. Naperville, III. "I am . . . so amazed by PROMAL ... I cannot believe the high degree of excel- lence of this entire package." C. R, Ph.D. Ridgeway, New York "I don't know that I've ever seen a [system] as thoughtfully designed and as skillfully executed as PROMAL. Its logic andeaseof programming are truly remarkable. Its speed of execution is phenomenal . . . congratulations " E.C.R. Alexandria, VA Safety In Numbers SMA, Inc. has been satisfying cus- tomers (over 100,000) since 1982 with innovative microcomputer products. Now you can join our thousands of satisfied PROMAL users, by trying it today. Try It For 30 Days On Us Send us some bucks and we'll send you PROMAL on trial for 30 days. If for any reason whatsoever you are not satisfied, just send it back for a quick refund of your purchase price. No questions asked. No risk. How To Order. Call TOLL-FREE to order with your credit card or use the handy order form below to send in your check or money- order for your 30-day trial. Don't wait, you deserve the power of PROMAL today! 1-800-762-7874 In NC: 919-878-3600 Systems Management Associates, Inc. 3325 Executive Drive, Dept. PB-6 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 mwrnnm PROMAL runs on IBM PC/PCjr with 192K, Commodore 64/128, APPLE Ik, or APPLE He with 80 Col. 128KCard, and is NOT COPY- PROTECTED. ^$ Please charge my □ Visa □ MasterCard □ American Express □ My check is enclosed Card Number Signature Name _Exp.Date_ Address - City State _ Zip _ NC residents add 4'/2% sales tax. Foreign orders add $20.00 additional shipping. Inquiry 34 5 PROMAL is a trademark of Systems Management Associates, Inc. Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International, Inc. JANUARY 1986 BYTE 277 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS turned off. The capacitor connected from collector to emitter on the switching transistor slows its switching speed, preventing secondary break- down from the turn-off transient of the inductive load. Drive for these cur- rent boosters is derived from a 16-bit buffered parallel I/O card. Figure 1 1 shows the output section of this cir- cuit. The DP8311 octal peripheral driver is used as a medium-power (100 mA per line) open-collector in- verting buffer. The SIP resistor pack on the outputs is optional and is not used when the power booster circuit is used. The DC motor on the syringe hand that drives the syringe plunger is con- trolled by the circuitry shown in figure 12. The location of the plunger cor- responding to the empty and full posi- tions is discerned by a pair of com- parators that monitor the voltage across the position feedback poten- tiometer in the hand. In this cleaning operation, we monitor only the open and closed positions of the plunger. When given an UP signal from the controller, the plunger is allowed to slew to the top position: a UN signal slews the plunger to the bottom. The controller can determine the position of the plunger by monitoring the TOP and BO TTOM signals. A th ird input signal, HAND PRESENT, detects {continued) RESET Q> 06 O Figure 9: \ 6-bit buffered parallel input circuit. 278 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 THE CMS POWER SERIES Expansion Subsystems for IBM and ompatible Computers 1 - Iffi B 1 PF 1 V t D f 'fj D j jJTw D ■ D iHHd u j$ ■ D The Power Drive™ Hard Disk Subsystems . 10 to 120 MB Features: One master AC circuit Three independent AC circuits AC line filter The Power Twin™ Hard Disk Plus Tape Backup ~ 10 to 30 MB AC surge suppressor Fan Triple output DC supply The Power Tape™ Tape Backup Subsystems 10 to 60 MB The Power Center 7 ' Stackable expansion subsystem Accepts up to two half height 30 MB disk or 60 MB tape drives. ENERGIZE YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER We Back You Up! 401 W. Dyer Rd. Santa Ana, CA 92707 (714) 549-9111 Inquiry 61 Inquiry 123 ALL LEADING BRANDS • EPSON • PANASONIC • JVC • SHARP HITACHI " • RCA • SONY CALL US LAST! For best prices l and fastest delivery Post-Holiday Inventory Reduction Sale On Epson Printers! Prices TOO LOW to print! Home Writer 10 with PIC 100CPS — NLQ Mode — One Year Warranty PIC's to select from: IBM Jr & <£^HT PC, Atari, Commodore, Apple lie -^^^ NO EXTRA CHARGE TO USE YOUR MASTER CARD OR VISA! Generic Parallel "NEW ITEM" CALL! NLQ mode— One Year Warranty AP-80 75 CPS- Fully compatible with Apple Computers! Supports all Apple ImageWriter software! TIRED OF SOME MAILORDER RUN AROUND? WE DELIVER PRODUCT, NOT PROMISES! 1-800-527-5274 IN MISSOURI: 314-423-8300 Midwest Computer & Video Supply Co. P.O. BOX 28448 ST. LOUIS , MIS SOURI 63146 C.O.D. U^J TAKE COMMAND of Your Keyboard Place your most often used software commands where they belong— at your fingerlips— on lop of the keys. End fumbling and searching Ihrough manuals. Touch- down" 1 Key Overlays will greatly reduce instructional needs and learning time, reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity. These Overlays are made of a non-glare rigid plastic material with the same look and feel as the original keytop, precisely die-cut to the exact size of your keytops. Printing is on the underside to prevent the print from ever wearing off. The back is laminated with a strong non-slip adhesive lor permanent adherence to the keytop; although (hey can be removed without permanent damage to the keytops if desired. Instructions for easy installation are included with the kit. CUSTOM KEY OVERLAYS can be made to your exact specs at a much lower cost than engraving. P 0. Box 201, Dept. B, Cornville, AZ 86325 (602) 634- 7517 r KEY OVERLAYS Qty. Price KEYTOP EXPANDERS g^ Qty. Price IBM PC. PC/XT, PC Port. Qry. Price MulliMate (44 keytops) $29.95 5250/5251 (48 keytops/lronts) $21.95 Easy Writer II (22 keytops/ 5520 (101 keytops) 29.95 7 key Ironls/Handy Card) 29.95 3270 (30 key fronts) 18.95 Lotus 1-2-3 (12 keys) $21.95 DisplayWrite 2 (36 keytops) 21 .95 (24 keytops/Handy Card) 29.95 IBM 5291 Display Station DisplayWrite 3 (38 keytops) 21.95 Dvorak (43 keytops) 26.95 WordPerlecl (32 keytops/Handy Card) 29.95 (13 keys) 21.95 Compaq. Columbia (10 keys) 21.95 Wordstar (29 keytops) 26.95 WordPerfect 3.2 (32 keytops/ Corona, Eagle Spirit, Oubie, Control Key English (5 keytops) 6.95 10 key fronts/Handy Card) 29.95 Keytronfc (10 keys) 21.95 Blank Overlays (99 keytops) 21 .95 WordPerlecl 4.0 (24 key tops/ IBM 3270 PC 'Enter (1 keytop) 3.95 Do-it-yoursetl Kit (200 + pieces) 29.95 11 key Ironls/Handy Card) 29.95 Name TOTAL (Min. order $10.00) $ Address Prices include tirs! class postage. (Orders shipped within 24 hours.) Cily State Zip Arizona residents add 5% tax n Vt^ n MP. Fxp nalp Car ri# TOTAL ENCLOSED $ L Visa or MC orders phone 602 634-75 17 Yo ursatlsfac tion guaranteed or your money refunded. ORGANIC SYNTHESIS ne 2 tl.OK 2N5174 SOLENOID IN 4002 I VALVE c=) r"i 1N4002A | J Figure 10: Valve-driver power booster circuit. when the hand has been placed in its parking station. One subtle feature is the internal interlock signal. This signal is generated by a magnetically actuated reed switch on the parking station. The magnet is attached to the robot arm. The purpose of this circuit is to prevent power from the auxiliary contacts from being applied to the hand when it is still attached to, and powered by, the robot arm. To activate the syringe cleaner drive, the robot arm must physically back away from the hand. The final device controlled in this application is a standard 120 V AC solenoid valve used to turn on and off the water to an aspirator that provides vacuum for removing the waste sol- vent. This valve is controlled by an op- tically coupled solid-state relay driven directly from a DP8311 output. Liquid- presence sensors on each waste line are used to help ensure that the wash- ing operation actually occurred. Having described the hardware, let us examine some of the software re- quirements. Since this is a subsystem, it must be able to communicate with a higher-level computer. The commu- nication is done serially over an RS-232C link in a block protocol, with CRC-16 error checking and automatic [continued] 280 BYTE • IANUARY 1986 Inquiry 159 for End-Users. Inquiry 160 for DEALERS ONLY. Transporter NightShift Long After Your Staff Goes Home, We Keep Your PC Making Calls, Sending and Receiving Files, and Keeping a Log Your microcomputer doesn't go home at five. Why not keep It working? TRANSPORTER keeps your PC communicating almost as well as your staff could do it. Just load it with a "task list" before you go home. It can automatically call other computers, log in, repeat calls if necessary, send and receive files, and more. It can do it overnight, when phone rates are lowest. The next morning, TRANSPORTER gives you a report of what it has accomplished during its night shift. So you can start the day ahead of the game. TRANSPORTER comes with our popular CROSSTALK data communications program added on. It com- municates with any other system running TRANSPORTER or CROSSTALK. For details, see your retailer or write for a brochure. D- 1000 Holcomb Woods Parkway Roswell. Georgia 30076 For the IDM Personal Computer. Requires 1 28K RAM, two disk drives, PC-DOS. Asynchronous Communications interface or equivalent R5202 connection, and a modem compatible with the 'AT command set. Inquiry 247 MICROSTUF Push Back The Envelope: 10/6 & 12.5 MHz AT Compatibility A HERITAGE OF EXCEL- LENCE ... In any mar- ketplace one product stands out as the pinnacle of per- formance and value. In the PC/XT marketplace, that product is the ACS-1000: 4.77 or 8 MHz operation, 1 Megabyte memory, built-in communications, built-in floppy disk controllers, even a SASf interface— all pack- aged on a single board and priced competitively with the merely compatible. Building on the heritage of the ACS-1000, the ET-286 plus brings the same stan- dards of excellence to the AT marketplace. ACS-1000 ET-286 plus • 8 Or 4.77 MHz • 10/6 & 12.5MHz • 1 Meg Memory • 4 Meg Memory • 2 Serial Ports • 3 Serial Ports • 1 Parallel Port • 2 Parallel Ports • On Board Disk Controller • 8 Expansion Slots • On-Board Clock/Calendar • Onboard Clock/Calendar A WORD ABOUT STANDARDS . . . A lumbering giant like IBM must play it safe, move slowly and if at all possible, maintain control. Control is maintained by setting standards . . . safe, easy targets for performance. OEM's and system integrators profit from those standards and the market acceptance they create by combining compatibility With superior performance. You might say that IBM sets the standards, and the aftermarket raises them. J EXPERIENCE WAIT- I LESSNESS . . . While your I competitor's products are ; toiling away at a meager 6 J MHz, you and your ET-286 I p/us can jet along at 10 MHz! S If that's not fast enough, the I architecture of the ET-286 i plus is ready to launch into | HyperSpeed at 12.5 MHz j when processors are com- '-• mercially available. You can, | through software, throttle 1 back to 6 MHz with 1 wait j state for absolute adherance I to the IBM standard. Or a .1 simple jumper sets the | ET286 plus at 6 MHz with no I wait state. As further insurance for | your future, the ET-286 plus is the first PC to use the new 1 Megabit Ram chips (in addition to 256K chips), of- fering up to 4 megabytes of J on-board memory. As a ma- jor node in your network, we've provided two parallel ports and three serial (take your pick: RS-232 or RS-422) ports. Even with all these fea- tures, this American made product is available in OEM quantities for under $1,000. .In fact, for a limited time we are offering qualified OEMs a system evaluation kit in- cluding a fully tested 10 MHz board, 51 2K memory, cables and 200w power supply for $1 495. For more informa- tion, call or write: ACS International, Inc. 2105 Luna Rd., Suite 330 Carroliton, Texas 75006 214-247-5151 TELEX: 709748 ACS UD ORGANIC SYNTHESIS DO O Dl O- D2 O- D3 O- D4 0» D5 O- D6 O- D7 O- 34 33 32 31 30 + 5V A io^f; TA 26 ;o.oi f f RESET Q>- WR O- RD O- A0 O- Al O- CS O- 35 36 DO Dl D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 RESET WR RD A0 Al CS PC7 PC3 PCO PAO PA1 PA 2 PA3 PA4 PA5 PA6 PA7 PBO PB1 PB2 PB3 PB4 PB5 PB6 PB7 PC6 PCI 10 •W 3> 40 39 38 16 37 T RST 13 + 5V >>o5 8X 10K PU OPT 20 16 15 23 24 STB T RST 11 8X10K PU OPT + 5V 16 <£-V -i*-o<< | 13 1 2 o<220Sl >330ft -s^s ii(r>" S--4 — ^> j|>j 4xl0K PU HZ> INT1A I -CZ> INT1A I -C> INT1B I -C> INT1B H±> C> H±> H±> i -o -o> -ci> i i -D> H±> -C> H±> -£> -d> -l±> I I I -O ACK B <-] ACK A I ■O 0BF B I I I -O 0BF A Figure II: \6-bit buffered parallel output circuit. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 283 ORGANIC SYNTHESIS + 5V HAND PRESENT T OK 10K LO SET BOT 100K 2 10M 10K HI SET U m 10M f5V t TOP I BOTTOM UP/DN I + 5V 4.7 K J ♦-• w\ 1 75453 ,1 MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED INTERLOCK 10K **• POSITION FEEDBACK lOOnF /?7 +v ;2.2K Figure 12: Parfed syringe hand drive circuit. retransmission of bad blocks. The most common request from the superior processor will be "Which syringe hand is clean and ready?" The subsystem must answer this question, but if no hand is available, it should give an estimate of when one will be ready. This allows the calling pro- cessor to set a countdown timer that avoids redundant requests for a clean hand when none is available. Another interaction with the calling processor is downloading a special cleaning pro- cedure to be used in place of the default method. The local processor should be able to handle routine error conditions such as a pump losing its prime, but it will have to report fatal errors, like being out of solvent, to the superior processor. A Look into the Future In the evolution of this project, many problems like the syringe cleaner will continue to be encountered. Some can be sidestepped, others ignored, but many will require solutions. The software will be formidable, but hope- fully the user interface will hide most of this so that the system will not in- timidate its users. Even when com- plete in its present design, our system will require input from a highly trained chemist to produce useful results. This may not always be so. Rapid progress is being made in the parallel field of computer-aided synthetic design. The future marriage of an automated syn- thesis system such as ours and a synthesis-design computer will result in a quantum leap in organic chemistry: the ability to design, carry out, and optimize the production of a material under the guidance of a computer. ■ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to note especially the hard work of Doug Lantrip. Mike Trueblood, and Roger Frisbee. without whom most of this system would still be on paper. Finan- cial support by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., The Dow Chemical Co., Eli Lilly and Co., and the National Science Foundation (CHE-840611 5) is gratefully acknowledged. 284 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 PC SOURCE 'i ■ " tm$ 20MB Hard Disk* comPAa Portable BRANE PRODUCTS'! PC,XT&AT $Call For Prices ^ i- Hard Disk Kit ForThe... IBM AT $595 $749 20MB 30MB • Intel 8088-3 (4.77 MHz) •MicroSoft MS-DOS 2.11 •1-Half Height Floppy Disk Drive •640KRam •135 Watt Power Supply •8 Total Slots • Standard Keyboard C/XT1 $695 Free Shipping! v.-;-.-.-,. ■■■■-. ■■■■.:■ '■■■■ v.v.v,-., ■.»■■-:-.■:■.-■■.: ■ ■■■'■ 256K 360K Floppy $2559 * PC Source Installed Runs All Major Software Written For IBM PC & PC-XT Complete Hard Disk Kits for the IBM PC m • Reliable • Full Instructions • 1 Year Warranty $395 $479 $695 10MB 20MB 30MB T Hard Disk Kit ForThe... comPAa Portable $469 $579 10MB 20MB STANDARCEE MFC $149 W/384K Memory 64K Chip Set 9chipsperset, 1 Yr. Warranty M t " M computer's CPU free to perjbrm ot, tasks. j^p • Use with standard IBM color TTL RG monitors. • Supports analog RGB monitors on thejfr&jc card. (You get ultra high resolution color' normally only available on mini and\main frame computers.) • Standard resolution of 640 by 400, 16 colors with 128K of video ram on the Silver Card. • Maximum resolution of 1024 by 1024, 16 with 512K of video ram on the Gold Card. • Expansion connector: Allows upgrades which extend and enhance features of the basic card—no more obsolete hardware. Planned extensions include: • 256 colors (8 bits/ pixel) display able frot\ pallete of 262,144 colors. • 512 colors (9 bits /pixel) display able from a pallete of 16,777,216 colors. • Display characteristics are fully programmable • Interlaced mode allows use of low cost monitors. • Non-interlaced mode for flicker-free display • Display size up to 1024 by 1024 (40 MHz bandwidth.) • Flash hardware enable/disable on 4 colors (Layers) allows any of 4 specified layers to be temporarily "disabled" i.e., erased, then later can be "enabled", i.e., put back on the screen without being redrawn. This greatly increases speed of use. • Light pen input port. (Permits a light pen to be used as a pointing or pick device) • Hardware pan and zoom support. (Allows smooth panning, and zoom up to 16 times magnification) . / / • Compatible with existing software including AutoCAD^ ' p-cad, VERSACAD, MasterCAD, etc. 7 • Software support. Planned software includes / j Tektronix emulation, Graphics support library. / Get VIVA and bring your PC to life! VIVA is versatile, state of the art quality at a price you can afford. Call today and we'll be there— QDP! VIVA Da VINCI! VIVA DaVINCI QDP PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE IN GRAPHICS CARDS this CSTcord acceP ted by ^er . PCs natio* % computer system QDP Computer Systems, Inc. 10330 Brecksville Road Cleveland, Ohio 44141 (2161 526-0838 Telex 243596 Cable: Quasdata, Brecksville Inquiry 414 p-cad is a trademark of Electronic Design Automation • AutoCAD is a trademark of Autodesk Inc. • VERSACAD is a trademark of T&W Systems, Inc. VIVA and MasterCAD is a trademark of QDP Computer Systems, Inc. • IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines AT A GLANCE Name Canon A-200 Company Canon U.S.A. Inc. One Canon Plaza Lake Success, NY 11042 (516) 488-6700 Components Processor: 8086, 4.77 MHz Memory: 256K bytes Mass storage: Two 5 1 /4-inch double-sided double-density floppy-disk drives, 360K bytes each Display: 80 columns by 25 lines, 640 by 200 pixels (black-and-white); 40/80 by 25, 320 by 200 pixels (color) Keyboard: 83 keys, including 10 function keys and numeric pad; IBM PC layout I/O interface: Centronics port, RS-232C port, five expansion slots (two 16-bit, three 8-bit) Software MS-DOS 2.11, GW-BASIC, diagnostics Options 256K-byte RAM module Documentation Manuals for software and machine Price A-200 M2 (256K memory, two floppy-disk drives, mono- chrome monitor) $2195 A-200 C2 (256K memory, two floppy-disk drives, color monitor) $2695 ft * = -|SESSB8C=r o fC. . .',•,', .V. V i . ' fM T m Uli MEMORY SIZE (K BYTES) 200 400 600 1000 DISK STORAGE (K BYTES) 400 800 1200 1600 m • ii 2000 BUNDLED SOFTWARE PACKAGES 2 4 6 10 PRICE {S 1000) '2 CANON A-200 |j§§§| IBM PC V//A APPLE EL E The Memory Size graph shows the standard and optional memory available for the three computers under comparison. The Disk Storage graph shows the highest capacity of one and two floppy-disk drives for each system. The Bundled Software Packages graph shows the number of software packages included with each system. The Price graph shows the list price of each system with two high-capacity floppy-disk drives, a monochrome monitor, a printer port and a serial port, 256K bytes of memory (64K bytes for 8-bit systems), and the standard operating system and BASIC inter- preter for each system. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 295 The rear view of the Canon A-200 shows (from left to right) the blower fan, power cord receptacles, serial port and parallel port, and ex- pansion slots. DISK ACCESS IN BASIC (SEC) 2 50 2 00 150 50 56 _46 29 '36 Inside the A-200. At the lower right are the expansion slots; the power supply is at the lower left. At the upper left are the floppy-disk drives. BASIC PERFORMANCE (SEC) 250 200 150 100 WRITE SYSTEM UTILITIES (SEC) READ CALCULATIONS SPREADSHEET (SEC 40K FORMAT/DISK COPY 40K FILE COPY | J CANON A-200 LOAD IBM PC Y//A APPL E HE RECALCULATE The graph for Disk Access in BASIC shows how long it takes to write a 64K-byte sequential text file to a blank floppy disk and how long it takes to read this file. (For the program listings see June 1984 BYTE, page 327, and October 1984, page 33.) In the BASIC Performance graph, the Sieve results show how long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes prime-number benchmark. In the same graph, 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 for- mat and copy a disk (adjusted for 40K bytes of disk data) and to transfer a 40K-byte file using the system utilities. The Spreadsheet graph shows how long the computers take to load and recalculate a 25- by 25-cell Microsoft Multiplan spreadsheet where each cell equals 1.001 times the cell to its left. The tests for the Canon A-200 C2 computer used MS-DOS 2.11 and GW-BASIC. The tests for the Apple He were done with ProDOS (except for the spreadsheet, which was done with DOS 3.3). The IBM Personal Computer was tested with PC-DOS 2.0 and BASICA. 296 BYTE* JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 72 REVIEW: CANON A-200 Canon i vv v v v i : i ; i ; r r =jj. ,, y y r y y y V y y ■ -«* Photo I: Keyboard of the Canon A-200 computer. \t is identical to the IBM PC keyboard. pixels in four-color mode. This is a crisp, comfortable monitor to view, and I had no problem with text and graphics. Since you can mount the monitor on top of the basic computer system, the whole unit takes up only \7Va by \5% inches. Software and Manuals Other items that come with the A-200 are MS-DOS 2.11, GW-BASIC 2.02, manuals for each, a 72-page manual for the computer, a self-prompting diagnostics disk, and a short pam- phlet about the monitor. The manuals for DOS and BASIC (about 167 and 33 5 pages, respectively) are mainly for reference; you will have to supple- ment them with outside material if you don't know how to program in BASIC or want to work extensively with DOS. They are definitely not novice-level "how-to" manuals. The system manual is fairly well done and leads you through setup and opera- tion. I did have a problem when it came to booting the system up the first time due to the manual's orga- nization. I followed the manual in a serial fashion. I inserted a disk and then waited for it to boot; it wasn't until I turned to the next page that I read you're supposed to push in the head-lock button. The head-lock but- ton actually has a dual function: to pop a disk out and to raise and lower the head. Warnings placed on a following page are seldom read in time, so they should be on the same page as the actions they relate to. Other than that slight anomaly, the manuals do their job in helping you get the system up and running. IBM Compatibility The main question most users will have is just how IBM PC-compatible the system is. Happily, it is very PC- compatible. As mentioned earlier, the system comes with MS-DOS and GW- BASIC, so no problems there. The system also booted with PC-DOS 2.1 and 3.0, and I did not notice any prob- lems. I also ran compatibility tests with WordStar, Lotus 1-2-3, and Flight Simulator, all without problems. Other programs (including FlashCalc, Dollars and Sense, and Statpro) also ran with- out any noticeable problems. Canon claims to have tested 400-plus pro- grams, and the only programs reported to have had any problems were some games, but Canon men- tions no names. Conclusion Overall, I found the A-200 with color monitor to be a very attractive system in terms of both looks and capability. I enjoyed using the system, and the color monitor is absolutely outstand- ing. It has been said that the lapanese incursion into the U.S. computer market follows their classic motto, 'Tkke a product and then make it a lit- tle better and a little less expensive." While the Canon A-200 is not a quan- tum leap over the IBM PC, it is a less- expensive alternative in a capable package. ■ Color Diskettes BV YCenTech The Colorful Solution to Data Organization" 1 TIMELESS WARRANTY SS-DD QTY.100 DS-DD 690 *85d Color Bulk 890 $-|05* Color Boxed Color Bulk 96 TPI I ^ $913 ** IBM PC-AT Compatible Color Bulk L. DS-HD 100% error-free beyond 75% clipping level. Available in 13 useful assorted colors. Custom Labeling/Branding available. "A" Color Bulk w/Tyvek sleeves add 6C Label Kits 2c. ■^-Pre-packaged in Plastic Library Case/12. A S4.95 value case for 20C/disk extra. *FREE 3M Hip n' File™ Offer *890 *$-|80 * $ 2°3 LIFETIME WARRANTY SS-DD QTY. 5 BOXES DS-DD $H29* $220* *$079* IP N FILE C $093* High Density w/free Flip rT File DS-HD L. 3M Headcleaning Kit $5.99* 3M Data Cartridges idc -10000 $10.60* DC-3000XLP $17.37* DC-600A $18.60* *PrJce after $2.00 per box coah back from 3M. 3.SV135 TPI W/FREE FL "Black" Diskettes YCenTecIi TIMELESS WARRANTY SS-DD QTY. 50 DS-DD 790 1^990 Factory fresh in boxes of 10 with Tyvek sleeves, user ID labels, write-protect tabs and IOO reinforced hub ring. SO09 8-inch soft or hard C Nashua "Boxed" Diskettes LIFETIME WARRANTY SS-DD r-~~^^- DS-DD 850 $765 ^3.5"/35 TPI £. Factory fresh in boxes of 10 with Tyvek sleeves, user ID labels, write-protect tabs and reinforced hub ring. High Density for IBM PC-AT Compatible $2.59 100% By Leading American Error- RllLIC Media Manufacturer Croo I I .^"^ nno nl Iho inn 1 one of the top 2 LIFETIME WARRANTY SS-DD QTY. 100 DS-DD 550 w/hub ring Tyvek envelopes 6$ ea. PRINTER RIBBONS Epson MX 70/80 $2.68 Epson MX-100 $4.06 Okidata 80,82,83,92,93. $1.36 Okldata 84 $2.95 650 Labels 2$ ea. DISK STORAGE Amray Media Mate 50 $7.99 Disk Minder II-75 $8.99 Micro Disk Minder-36 ... $7.75 PRICE PROMISE: We will better any lower delivered price on the same products and quantities advertised nationally. TERMS: FREE USE OF VISA AND MAS- TERCARD. American Express also accepted. Shipping: Add $3.00 per 1 OO diskettes or frac- tion thereof. Other items add S3.00 for disk storage or headcleaning kit or dozen ribbons or C.O.D. orders. P.O. accepted from recog- nized institutions and schools on 2%-10 Net 30. Utah residents add 53/4% sales tax. Minimum order $30.00. TOLL FREE ORDER LINE: 1 -800-233-2477 INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES: 1-801-942-6717 2028 E. FT. UNION BLVD.. 105 1/ SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH 84121 LOmpUter CALL: 1-800-AFFAIRS I ff airS, inC. HOURS : 9AM-6PM M-F {Min Til JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 297 YOU CAN'T GET A GOOD FEEL FOR A SOFTWARE PACKAGE FROM AM AD. If you're searching through the ads in this magazine for the "right" software pack- age, good luck. Let's say you're looking for a data base manager. You read a dozen ads. Each one offers its list of features. Each one talks about the ideal combination of power and ease of use. And each one promises to "solve your problems", "answer your needs", or both. Don't Believe Anybody We could make the same claims for DATAEA5E. Even before Release 2.5, tens of thousands of users made DATAEA5E the corporate data base standard. We could tell you that they found DATAEA5E to be an invalu- able productivity tool because of its fully relational capabilities, full screen editorand unique combi- nation of menus and com- mands. But don't believe us. More than 100 reviewers from major publications agree with our productivity claims. Data Decisions called DATAEA5E "per- haps the most effective blend of ease-of-use and performance available for PC users to date." But don't believe the reviewers. Application developers, MI5/DP/ IC managers, and all kinds of other users from Fortune 1000 companies throughout the country have reached strikingly similar conclusions. A user at General Instruments reports that "those same factors that make DATAEA5E preferable for non-programmers — ease of use and speed of development — make it the program of choice for many technical types, too." But don't even believe other users. Nobody knows what you know. Even if all these people are absolutely rightabout DATAE A5E, does that mean it's the right product for you? The best way to know if DATAEA5E fits your needs is to get your hands on our free sam- ple diskette. Fifteen minutes with the sample will give you a feel for our best DATAEA5E yet — Release 2.5. It has features that appeal to all users; from developers to data entry people: A complete procedural lan- guage; quick reports at the press of a button; a direct inter- face to Lotus 1-2-5; the ability to move rapidly from file to file on a common piece of data; and built-in scientific, mathematical, financial, date, time, and string functions. Productivity takes more than a good product. It takes a good company, too. Buying a software package is the beginning of a relationship. Technical support, product upgrades, special corporate and dealer programs and informa- tional seminars should all be part of this relationship. If the only thing you get is a product, forget about productivity. At Software Solutions, you find more than a product. You find software solutions. Find out for yourself. The advances in DATAEA5E's Release 2.5, and the support behind it, offer you practical advantages that leave all the other data base managers far, far behind — including R:Base 5000* and dBase III® But don't believe us. Call or write for information and your free sam- ple diskette today. Software Solutions, Inc. CALL OR WRITE FOR YOUR FREE SAMPLE DISKETTE. Send information and a free DATAEA5E sample diskette for my PC (chech one): n ibm n wang n dec n n Include materials relating to: I I Corporate Client I I Retailer I I MI5/DP/IC Professional ED VAD I I Other dame: Title: __ Phone: Company: . Street: City: Mail to: State: .Zip: BYT 1/86 Software Solutions, Inc., 12 Cambridge Drive, Trumbull, CT 0661 1 Telex: 703972 Don't like samples? Then just call us. We'd be happy to talk about your information management needs and advise you. 800-243-5123 © 1985 Software Solutions, Inc. Trademarks are of their respective companies. Scandinavia 5wit?erland, France United Kinqdom West Germany, Austria West5oftA/5,Alesund, Norway; (47) 7 1-41 141 Softsource, 5&A 1222 Vesenaz, Switzerland; 022-3518-55 Sapphire Systems, Essex; 01-554-0582 M&T Software Verlag. Munich; 089-4615-0 Inquiry 331 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 299 Meet The Princeton Graphic Systems Family 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 640x350 lines noninterlac- ed - .28 mm dot pitch -Compatible with IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter -Nonglare screen -$785 HX-12. High resolution RGB monitor -640x200 lines noninterlaced -.31 mm dot pitch tube-Nonglare screen -$695 MAX- 12. Amber monochrome -720 x 350 lines -Enhanced to in- terface with IBM color or monochrome adapter card -Nonglare screen -Can display 16 shades of amber -$249 HX-9/9E. Nine inch, high resolution RGB monitor non- interlaced -.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) *vt- r- fc , . jEyp ;A 9 1 • 1: • WM : I Me — L ;:,.. ' SR-12P. PGS's top of the line RGB monitor 640x480 lines ^ noninterlaced - .26 mm dot pitch - 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 -640 x 400 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, perfor- mance, and value. Princeton Graphic Systems. 601 Ewing Street, Bldg. A, Princeton, N.J. 08540. (609) 683-1660 Telex: 821402PGSPRIN (800) 221-1490. Ext. 304. Princeton accessory product line. Undergraduate tilt/swivel monitor base, ColorView card, Green/Amber switch, RGB-80 card and Scan Doubler card. PRINC ETON IBM IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapler. and IBM Professional Graphics Adapter are Irademarks ol International Business Machines, Inc. Compaq is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corp Corona is a trademark ot Corona Data Syslems, Inc. Apple is a trademark ol Apple Computer Corp. PC World Is a Irademark ot CW Communications Inc. SR-12 screen courtesy ol Mouse Systems. Inc. GRAPHIC SYSTEMS AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS COMPANY 300 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 288 SYSTEM REVIEW Color Fox Scottsdale Systems MBC-555 by John D. Unger Scottsdale Systems has taken the basic Sanyo MBC-5 55 computer and put it together with some major hardware upgrades to create the Silver Fox. enhances Scottsdale has replaced the 40-track — — double-sided double-density (DSDD) disk SanyO S drives with 80-track double-sided quad- density (DSQD) drives for a formatted disk capacity of 800K bytes per drive. Included with the Silver Fox is Sanyo's video RAM [random-access read/write memory) expan- sion board, which makes the computer much more IBM PC-compatible than the standard Sanyo MBC-555 and allows it to run Lotus 1-2-3 and other PC-compatible software. Besides the packages normally bundled with the Sanyo MBC-5 55, Scotts- dale Systems adds more programs, includ- ing the new operating system needed to use the high-capacity disk drives and the video board. Scottsdale Systems has also added an NEC color monitor to the basic Silver Fox and dubbed this combination the Color Fox. The Color Fox is the model 1 review in this article, and unless otherwise stated, the only difference between the Silver Fox and the Color Fox is the monitor. What you get when you buy a Color Fox is a complete computer system with suffi- cient software to carry out all the most com- mon tasks that a microcomputer is called upon to .do: word processing, spreadsheets, database management, and running BASIC programs. However, the Color Fox cannot be considered a "true" IBM PC-compatible machine like the Compaq or Zenith Z-150. If you must have some special piece of soft- ware for your specific application, make sure there is a version that runs on the Color Fox, either with or without the video RAM expansion board. ]ohn D. Unger (POB 95, Hamilton. VA 22068) is a geophysicist for the U.S. government. At work he investigates the causes of earthquakes: at home he tries to keep up with the programming efforts of his two teenaged sons. Hardware The principal enhancements to the Color Fox are hardware, so I will spend most of the review discussing these aspects. As I mentioned, the basic hardware of the Color Fox is pure Sanyo. In spite of the new label on the front of the computer (see the photo in the "At a Glance" section), the plate with the serial number on the rear of the review machine reads "Sanyo MBC-5 55-2." The most apparent difference between the Color Fox and the Sanyo MBC-55 5 is the substitution of the standard DSDD disk drives with two DSQD drives. The drives, TEAC model FD-55F, can read and write disks formatted in all the standard MS-DOS 40-track formats, either single- or double- sided. With a special operating system from Scottsdale Systems, the drives can read and write disks formatted with either 8, 9, or 10 sectors and 80 tracks for a maximum capacity of 800K bytes per drive. This special operating system is essentially a modification of MS-DOS 2. 1 1 written for the Sanyo. It's called HAGEN-DOS. The com- puter must be booted with this special operating system to take advantage of the increased disk capacity. These high-density drives are significant- ly noisier than either the original single- sided or the DSDD TEAC FD-55B drives I now have in my Sanyo MBC-5 55. The noise appears to come from the stepper motor as it moves the heads from track to track, but it does not seem to affect the perfor- mance of the drives. I had not realized just how much you can store on one 5^-inch disk when it has a capacity of 800K bytes. In fact, I began to make good use of MS-DOS's tree directory structure, which is normally useful only on hard disks, and partitioned my files into dif- ferent subdirectories. While Scottsdale Sys- tems recommends disks certified at 96 tracks per inch, I did not use anything other than disks certified for DSDD use in the quad-density drives, and I had no failures formatting even "generic" DSDD disks in 80- track format. The Sanyo video RAM board is an expan- sion board that was introduced about a year after the MBC-5 5 5 came on the market. {continued) JANUARY 1986 5 Y T E 301 REVIEW: COLOR FOX HAGEN-DOS looks and acts just like MS-DOS 2.11 except for the format program. Sanyo introduced this option to enable its computer to run Lotus 1-2-3; as a side benefit, the Color Fox and any other Sanyo MBC-555 with the board installed can run other IBM PC graphics software as well. Technically, together with the special operating system, the video RAM board duplicates the 16 K bytes of memory that is permanently set aside in the IBM PC for direct memory access by the graphics display This tactic is necessary because the Sanyo MBC-55 5 uses a different section of memory for this purpose. The loca- tion of video RAM in the Sanyo also depends upon how much memory you have installed in your computer, just to complicate things further, the display is 'mapped" from RAM to the screen coordinates differently in the Sanyo than in the IBM PC. The video RAM board mounts in- side the case of the Color Fox and is electrically connected to the com- puter through the single expansion bus on the motherboard. Utilizing the video RAM board's capabilities can be somewhat awkward. The Color Fox comes with two versions of HAGEN- DOS. One version is for use when run- ning the "straight" 'Sanyo memory model (that is, without the video board enabled). The other version is for use with software that requires the video RAM board. Also, you have to switch the monitor from its normal output port on the rear of the com- puter to a different port on the expan- sion board. Initially, this was quite a chore because the two ports have dif- ferent types of sockets, so I was switching cables back and forth all the time. Scottsdale Systems now sup- plies a twin-lead cable connected to a two-position switch (standard with the Color Fox only). Still, when you want to change from using an applica- tion that requires the video board to one that doesn't, you must reboot the system with the proper version of HAGEN-DOS, switch the monitor cable selector, and then change the monitor SYNC setting from positive to negative. I was disappointed with the NEC color monitor. There were no prob- lems running graphics or games in color; the clarity and color separation in graphics mode were very good. My problems stem from trying to read text on the screen. The clarity and resolution of text were poor enough that, for the first time, I did not write the entire review on the actual com- puter I was reviewing. I lay the blame chiefly on the monitor because the Color Fox's text quality on a normal high-resolution monochrome monitor is quite acceptable. The character set is very similar to that formed on an IBM PC in graphics mode. The overall quality of the display while operating in IBM PC-compatible mode with the video RAM board is clearly worse than the standard dis- play mode. The screen scrolls in a jerky fashion, and the scrolling is ac- companied by streaking and blurring on the display. The Color Fox has all the open RAM sockets on its motherboard filled, giv- ing it a total of 256K bytes of RAM. This is the maximum memory for the Sanyo and the Color Fox. Software To run the bundled MicroPro and IUS software, or when running programs using Sanyo BASIC, you need to boot up under the version of HAGEN-DOS that disables the video RAM board. To run IBM PC-compatible software and the version of GW-BASIC included with the video board, you need to boot up under the version of I-TAGEN- DOS that enables the video board. Both operating systems support the quad-density disk drives and both in- clude some nice utility programs not supplied by Sanyo, including a RAM- disk program and a screen-dump routine. The two operating systems and their extra utility programs are products of A-OK Computers and can be obtained separately and used with a normal Sanyo MBC-555. (A-OK Computers is located at 816 Easley St., Silver Spring, MD 20910; tele- phone (301) 588-8446.) HAGEN-DOS looks and acts just like plain MS-DOS 2.11 except for the for- mat program, which is more user- friendly and includes the option to format disks in quad-density. I had no problem reading from or writing to disks created in either single- or double-sided double-density format on the Color Fox or on any other MS- DOS or PC-DOS machine. Scottsdale Systems spices up the Color Fox with three major pieces of bundled software not included with the Sanyo MBC-555. The programs are Spell, a spelling proofreader by Software Toolworks; Filebase, a sim- ple database manager by EWDP Soft- ware; and Mail TYack I, a mailing-list program by Sapana Micro Software. I found the best of the lot to be Spell. It runs faster and is easier to use than SpellStar, which is included with the WordStar series that comes with the Color Fox. Spell has an effective dic- tionary of more than 50,000 words and runs independently of the word- processing program you are using. It has no problems working with text files created by WordStar or with nor- mal ASCII files, but it may not work with files written on some word pro- cessors. Benchmarks The benchmarks for the Color Fox are somewhat more complex than usual. Because the video RAM board changes the character of the com- puter completely, I ran each bench- mark both with and without the board enabled. I used GW-BASIC for the BASIC benchmarks run with the video board and Sanyo BASIC without the video board. The numbers in the benchmarks do not tell the whole story, however. While changing from page to page or moving the cursor around the page in WordStar, the video-board version of this program runs much faster than the standard [continued) 302 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 AT A GLANCE Name Color Fox Type Enhanced Sanyo MBC-555 with color monitor Company Scottsdale Systems Ltd. 617 North Scottsdale Rd. #B Scottsdale, AZ 85257 (602) 941-5856 Size 15 by 14V2 by 4% inches; 21 pounds Components Processor: 8088 at 3.6 MHz Memory: 256K dynamic RAM standard Mass storage: Two TEAC FD-55F double-sided quad- density 5 1 /4-inch drives; 800K capacity per drive Display: NEC JC-1460DA color display; 13-inch diagonal screen; 80-column by 25-line text; 320 by 200 graphics in IBM PC mode; 640 by 200 without video RAM; 640 by 400 with monochrome monitor Keyboard: Detached QWERTY with five function keys and numeric pad Interfaces: Parallel printer port, monochrome and color RGB ports on both mother- board and video board Software HAGEN-DOS (similar to MS- DOS 2.11), Sanyo BASIC, GW- BASIC, WordStar, SpellStar; . MailMerge, InfoStar, CalcStar, Easywriter, Spell, Filebase, and Mail Track I Options RS-232C serial port Documentation Sanyo operator's guide, manuals for all software except GW-BASIC Price $1497 MEMORY SIZE (K BYTES) 200 400 600 800 DISK STORAGE (K BYTES) 1000 400 800 1200 1600 2000 . II 11 • . BUNDLED SOFTWARE PACKAGES 2 4 6 8 10 PRICE ($ 1000) 2 4 : -m m n COLOR FOX [ . V | IBM PC ^^ APPLE HE The Memory Size graph shows the standard and optional memory for the computers under comparison. The Disk Storage graph shows the highest capacity of one and two floppy-disk drives for each system. The Bundled Software Packages graph shows the number of pack- ages included with each system. The Price graph shows the list price of a system with two high-capacity floppy-disk drives, a mono- chrome monitor, graphics and color-display capability, a printer port and a serial port, 256K bytes of memory (64K bytes for 8-bit systems), the standard operating system for the com- puters, and their standard BASIC interpreters, JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 303 \ v e l **■= = B == ._ ■ ■«. » • - 6 ■' »„ — #. • - The rear of the Silver Fox. An NEC color monitor distinguishes the Color Fox from the Silver Fox. Also, a twin-lead cable comes with the Color Fox to facilitate swapping between the RGB plugs on the motherboard and on the video RAM expansion board. DISK ACCESS IN BASIC (SEC) 250 200 150 100 50 WRITE SYSTEM UTILITIES (SEC) READ 40K FORMAT/DISK COPY 40K FILE COPY \ T\ COLOR FOX WITH VIDEO BOARD In the Disk Access in BASIC graph, a 64K-byte sequential text file was written to a blank floppy disk and then read. (For the program listings, seethe June 1984 BYTE, page 327, and October 1984, page 33.) In the BASIC Performance graph, the Sieve column shows how long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes. The Calculations column shows how long it takes to do 10,000 multiplica- tion and 10,000 division operations using single-precision numbers. The System Utilities graph shows how long it takes to format and copy a disk (adjusted time for 40K bytes of disk data) and to transfer The inside of the Silver Fox. Notice the video RAM expansion board in the lower right corner. BASIC PERFORMANCE (SEC) 250 SIEVE SPREADSHEET (SEC) 25 CALCULATIONS LOAD COLOR FOX E;i;;&;jj IBM PC RECALCULATE APPLE HE a 40K-byte file using the system utilities. The Spreadsheet graph shows how long the computers take to load and recalculate a 25- by 25-cell Multiplan spreadsheet where each cell equals 1.001 times the cell to its left. The tests for the Color Fox with the video board were done with GW-BASIC; the Color Fox without the video board was tested with Sanyo BASIC. The tests for the Apple He were done with the ProDOS operating system (except for the spreadsheet test, which was done with DOS 3.3). The IBM PC was tested with PC- DOS 2.0. 304 BYTE* I.ANUARY 1 986 Inquiry 51 REVIEW: COLOR FOX Sanyo version. This is because the video board can take advantage of direct video memory input/output, while the version of WordStar con- figured for the Sanyo or for the Color Fox without the video board enabled uses slower BIOS (basic input/output system) screen-scrolling routines to move through the text. Conclusion The Color Fox is an impressive pack- age of hardware and software offered at an attractive price. Scottsdale Sys- tems has taken a powerful yet inex- pensive system, the Sanyo MBC-55 5, and made it more powerful, more IBM PC-compatible, and added even more software in the bargain. The hardware enhancements that create the Color Fox from a Sanyo could be done by anyone. However, even if you bought the basic com- puter and the variouscomponents at bargain prices, you'd still end up pay- ing about $300 to $400 more for your system than for the Color Fox. On the negative side of things, the high-density disk drives are somewhat noisy, and the display quality leaves something to be desired, especially when using the video RAM board in text mode. The Color Fox comes with a limited one-year warranty from Scottsdale Systems. Easterners may not be com- fortable dealing with a. company located as far away as Arizona. They might prefer to do business with one just around the corner. However, as far as I know, Scottsdale Systems is the only place to go if you want to buy the Color Fox. The people I talked to there were courteous and knowledge- able. Also, the basic core of the Color Fox, the Sanyo MBC-555, has proven to be a rugged and reliable computer during the past year and a half. The owner of a Color Fox should have no trouble obtaining post-warranty ser- vice for the machine from one of the many dealers set up to work on the Sanyo. ■ Editor's note: For a review of the Sanyo MBG-550IMBC-555. seepage 270 of the August 1984 BYTE. OUR PLUG-IN CARD GIVES YOU PLUG-IN CONTROL. PC488allowsyourlBM PC/XT/ATorcompatible to control IEEE-488 instruments. With PC® 488, yotTcari D Plug-in to BASIC, C, FORTRAN, or Turbo Pascal! M □ Emulate hp controllers, D Use Tek Standard Codes and Formats, □ Run IBM's IEEE-488 software, and much more. Just $395 for the complete hardware and software interface. cec Capital Equipment Corporation 10 Evergreen Avenue Burlington, MA 01803 Call today (617) 273-181 Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International Computers For The Blind Talking computers give blind and visually impaired people access to electronic information. The question is how and how much? The answers can be found in "The Second Beginner's Guide to Personal Computers for the Blind and Visu- ally Impaired" published by the National Braille Press. This comprehensive book contains a Buyer's Guide to talking microcomputers and large print display processors. More importantly it includes reviews, written by blind users, of software that works with speech. Send orders to: National Braille Press Inc., 88 St. Stephen Street Boston, MA 02115, (617) 266-6160 NBP is a nonprofit braille printing and publishing house. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 305 MAKE YOUR DECISIONS EASIER We know that making business decisions can be tough and time- consuming. At Mitac, we also know there's one decision that doesn't have to be: choosing a reliable personal computer system. MS-DOS Plus A Lot More Take our MPC160S, for example, the latest in our series of IBM PC compatible systems. Compatibility was only the starting point for designing the MPC160S. We've combined a floppy drive controller, a monochrome video display controller, two serial ports, and a parallel port, along with the 4.7MHz CPU, 16K ROM, 512K RAM, five full-slot expansion bus, and keyboard interface, all onto a very compact single board. Reliable Custom Chip Technology Using semi-custom CMOS chips allows us to integrate board functions more thoroughly, and at the same time reduce the chip count of our system. This means there are fewer parts and fewer problems, because we know when you're making important decisions every day, the last thing you need to worry about is your computer. Right For Every Office The MITAC system is designed to be the work horse in your office. Whether you need just one or enough for a large department, with MPC 160S your choice in a personal computer system is an easy one. This gives you more time to do what you do best, make decisions. mitac WHEN RELIABILITY IS THE DECISIVE FACTOR American MITAC Corp. 3385 Viso Ct., Santa Clara, CA. 95054. TEL: {408)988-0258, 988-7508 TLX: 9103382201 MECTEL FAX: 408-9809742 MITAC Inc. 9 Fl, 585 Min Sheng E. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C TEL: (02)501-8231, 501-2679 TLX: 11942 TAIAUTO FAX: 8862-5014265 Inquiry 251 MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. IBM PC is the registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp. SOFTWARE REVIEW EC0-C88 C Compiler inexpensive MS-DOS C compiler by David D. Clark David D. Clark is a research chemist working at the Research and Development Center of the Colgate- Palmolive Company. He has a B.A. in chemistry from Indiana Central University and a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the University of Nebraska. He can be reached at 126 Birchview Dr.. Piscataway. NI 08854. In the spring of 1983 I noticed adver- tisements for a new C compiler for Z80 CP/M systems. I had a couple of C sub- set compilers at that time but wanted one that could perform floating-point arithmetic. That summer I purchased Eco-C version 1.51. I was rather disappointed with it as I indicated in a BYTE review (see "TWo More Versions of C for CP/M," May 1984, page 246). Since I wrote that review, Ecosoft has made substantial improvements to the product. It became so good that I bought additional copies for my place of work and now recommend it without reservation. Since the original review, I have purchased a Zenith Z-150 IBM PC-compatible com- puter. I saw that Ecosoft developed a ver- sion of its compiler for MS-DOS systems, but at $2 50 it was more than I could afford. When Ecosoft announced the new price of $49.95, I placed my order. USING ECO-C88 Installing the compiler is easy. The batch- processing files supplied on the two dis- tribution disks perform the installation auto- matically. There are two versions: IN- STALLF.BAT for systems with two 360Kbyte floppy-disk drives and INSTALLH.BAT for systems with a hard disk. The installation process is different from the sequence de- scribed in the user's manual because of a change in file sizes; it is documented in a README file on one of the distribution disks. On a floppy-disk system, the compiler and library are placed on one disk, while the header files, cc utility, linker, and editor of your choice are placed on the other. On a hard disk, the files are distributed among several subdirectories. After installation is complete, you can create a C program using your own text editor. The full C syntax as defined in Ker- nighan and Ritchie (The C Programming Lan- guage by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie, Prentice-Hall, 1978) is supported, with the exception of bit fields and the #line macro preprocessor directive. Only the small memory model is supported, so programs contain a maximum of 64K bytes of code and 64K bytes of data. This is usual- ly more than adequate. (See the text box "Eco-C88: An Update" on page 314 for the latest information.) Compiling a program is simple; you type cc followed by the program name. The cc program is not actually part of the compiler proper. It is an auxiliary utility program that controls the flow of the compilation and ac- cepts several options to alter its normal ac- tions. One pleasant feature is the presence of a simple make command. For those not familiar with a UNIX version of the utility, the make command takes care of the com- piling and linking of files that make up a pro- gram. It will only recompile those modules that have been altered since the last time you ran the program. The cc utility is also provided in source form, so you can customize it to fit particular system con- figurations. | Editor's note: The cc utility requires DOS 2.21 or higher to run] The cc utility makes automatic operation of the compiler convenient, but it is pos- sible to individually invoke each of the com- piler's passes. These passes consist of the preprocessor (XREXE), parser (XC.EXE), optimizer (XOREXE), code generator (XM.EXE), and assembler (XASM.EXE). An error pass (CE.EXE) is called automatical- ly if one of the other passes detects an error. The compiler's output is an .OBJ-type object module that you must then link with routines from the library to produce an ex- ecutable .EXE file. Although there is a separate assembler pass, it does not accept a human-readable text file as input. All com- munication between the separate parts of the compiler is accomplished by reading and writing data files (*.cwk) that are auto- matically created and erased as the pro- grams run. Error handling is performed just as it is in the Z80 version of the compiler, and it's one of my biggest gripes. If the compiler [continued) IANUARY 1986 IYTE 307 REVIEW: ECO-C88 AT A GLANCE Name Eco-C88 1.55 Company Ecosoft Inc. 6413 North College Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46220 (317) 255-6476 Necessary Hardware MS-DOS 2.0 (or higher) 8088-based computer with 256K bytes of memory and two 360K-byte floppy-disk drives or one floppy-disk and one hard-disk drive Documentation 92-page loose-leaf user's manual in a slip- cover binder Price $49.95 detects an error in the preprocessor, it informs you of what occurred but not always of where. For example, if it detects an unclosed comment, the compiler tells you that it is on the last line of the file and that a comment is not closed. It gives you no idea of where the offending comment starts. The only solution I have found is to place dummy #include directives in the file and see how many the com- piler includes. If the parser detects an error, it falls into one of two general types: a warning or a fatal error. When this occurs, the line number character number in the line, and offending token are displayed as well as the error message. The line numbers do not seem to be particularly reliable, however. I have had two succeeding errors with different tokens report identical positions in the file. Further- more, I can't find either with a text editor. The compiler continues through multiple warnings, but com- pilation stops after detection of a single fatal error. The manual describes the com- piler's operation with the cc program quite well but contains little descrip- tion of how to use the individual pro- grams that make up the compiler itself. 'IWo compiler command-line op- tions, h and d, are mentioned, but the manual does not state their purposes. From reading the source text for the cc program, you can deduce that the h command tells the compiler which directory to search for header files. The d option enables you to do a "command-line define," meaning you can define a symbol to the compiler from the command line. This would be useful for switching on or off con- ditionally compiled debugging code in the program. Although it is not mentioned in the manual, the com- [continued] DRIVE ENCLOSURES *£*■ $"** FLOPPY-WINCHESTER-TAPE FROM $ 80 00 (Includes Power Supply) 3915 $199 Write or call for our brochure which Includes our application note: "Making micros, better than any of box computer" ***** • Desktop & Rack •Heavy Duty All Metal Cabinet • Fan & Dust Filter* • Hefly Power Supplies • Full or Slim Drives • Power Harness From Supply To Drives • Line Fuse, EMI Filter*, Detachable Line Cord • Cabinets & Supplies Available Separately • = Most Models (Disk drives not included) BII&9QISK RESEARCH CORPORATION 8620 Roosevelt Ave./Visalia, CA 93291 209/651-1203 32 Page Free Fakt Pakt Catalog 308 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry I7l AT&T presents maxims for better international communication. ometimes, it's better to put all your eggs in one basket. AT&T International Services offer the strongest, sturdiest basket for your telecommunications needs. Because AT&T has a long history of making international connections and developing international services. AT&T offers a wide range of international services for your company, whether you're involved in manufacturing, distribution, marketing or any other function. AT&T International Long Distance Service, for example, helps your company build better business relationships. AT&T International 800 Service encourages the steady flow of contact between customers, salespersons and suppliers, so you can maintain a competitive edge. But how do you choose the services that are right for you? It's simple. Just contact your Account Executive or Sales Specialist at AT&T. They're experts in a wide range of businesses, and they can offer you our entire basket to accommodate your needs. Together you and your AT&T representative can tailor services and applications that work for you. To learn more about AT&T's state-of-the-art telecommunications and the applications they have for your business, please contact your Account Executive at AT&T Communications now. Or call a Sales Specialist at the toll-free number below. 1 800 222-0400 Ext. 515 ©1985 AT&T Communications International service to and from continental U.S. =ATsT The right choice. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 309 REVIEW: ECOC88 piler accepts an n command-line op- tion to disallow the use of nested comments in the source text. The Library The library is included in object form only, but the source is available at extra cost ($15 according to the manual, $10 when I ordered). The library contains all the standard library routines you would expect after reading Kernighan and Ritchie. Additional groups of routines are for operating-system-dependent func- tions, terminal handling, and IBM- specific video routines. The library oc- cupies about 1 50K bytes of disk space and, unlike the Z80 version, consists of only one file. The floating-point routines can use an 8087 numeric coprocessor if one is available. If not, the software emulates the coprocessor's opera- tions. The compiler determines the coprocessor's presence or absence by examining the value of an external variable, 8087. You can use this variable to force software emulation by setting it to FALSE. The software emulation insures that systems with and without the coprocessor will ob- tain the same results from a series of calculations. An object-only version of the ISAM (indexed sequential-access method) functions is also available for $15. Benchmarks I used six benchmark programs when evaluating Eco-C88. Several are pre- sented in listings I through 5; the results are summarized in table I . For these evaluations, I used a Zenith Z-150, an IBM PC-compatible com- puter with 3 2 OK bytes of memory and two 360K-byte double-sided double- density floppy-disk drives. I per- formed compilations using the cc pro- gram previously described and the -nl command-line option to prevent automatic linking. I did linking by in- voking the MS-DOS linker manually. I did all timing by hand using a stop watch and took the average of three measurements. File sizes are those given by the MS-DOS command DIR. The Empty program in listing 1 pro- Table 1: A summary of the benchmark results in seconds. All timing was done by hand. The measurements recorded are an average of three. The compile/assemble times were most variable and seemed to depend on the history of file operations on the disk. Size 962 bytes 7894 bytes 7876 bytes 7896 bytes 8760 bytes 14,577 bytes Program Compile/Assemble Link Exe Empty 59 26 — Sieve 63 71 11 Fib 67 68 43 Deref 65 66 10 Factor 70 73 18 Savage 61 108 449 Listing l : The Empty benchmark tests for the system overhead required to create any program regardless of its useful content. empty.c — benchmark to get compile, assemble, link, and library overhead */ main() { } Listing 2: A corrected version of the Deref benchmark program, which examines the speed of pointer dereferencing. r deref.c — benchmark program to examine the efficiency of pointer dereferencing */ #define LOOPS (unsigned) 50000 /* how many loops */ #define BELL struct cptrf { char ** }; main() { unsigned i; char yekdorb; struct cptrl * * /* ASCII bell character */ ************ ptr1 . ******* ********* 'pointer; printf("°/ou loops \ n", LOOPS); for (i = 0; i <= LOOPS; i+ +) yekdorb = *************** printf("°/ocfinished\n", BELL); exit(0); * pointer). ptrl; 310 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 REVIEW: ECO-C88 Listing 3: The Factor benchmark tests the implementation of long ints. It uses the Pollard rho algorithm to find a factor of a large integer. factor.c — a long integer benchmark in C #include "stdio.h" #define BIGNMBR 1394761 /* 1181*1181, number to be factored long p, x, y, cnt; /* gcd — return the greatest common divisor of a and b 7 long gcd(a, b) long a, b; { * long q, r; if (b < 0) b - -b; if (a < 0) a = -a; if (a > 0) { b = b % a; if (b = = 0) r = 0; else r = 1; while (r > 0) q = a/b; r = a - q*b; a = b; b = r; } } return (a); main() puts("Factoring... M ); p = BIGNMBR; cnt = 0; x = 3; y = 3; while (gcd(y - x, p) < 2) { cnt+ + ; /* Pascal or Modula can use Succ or INC */ x = (x*x + 2) % p; y = (y*y + 2) °/o p; y - (y*y + 2) % p; /* no, this is not a mistake } printf("A factor of °/old is °/old \ n", p, gcd(y - x, p)); printf("lt took °/old iterations \n\n", cnt); On a system that uses floppy disks, most of the time involved in compiling small programs is used by disk input/output vides an estimate of the overhead re- quired just to compile and link a pro- gram and the minimum memory nec- essary to create an executable file regardless of its useful content. The results in table I lend support to the conclusion that, at least on a floppy- disk-based system, most of the time involved in compiling small programs is used by disk I/O (input/output). The Sieve of Eratosthenes is the high-level-language benchmark for microcomputers. It uses an algorithm to find all the prime numbers between 3 and 16,381. The Fib program calculates a series of Fibonacci numbers using a highly recursive algorithm. Because of the recursive function calls, this program gives a good estimate of how well a particular language implementation performs function calls. (Listings for the Sieve and Fib programs appear in May 1984 BYTE, pages 2 50 and 2 52, or you can download them from BYTEnet Listings at (617) 861-9764.) When I wrote the review of Eco-C's CP/M version, I was new to C. 1 heard that pointers were an important part of the language and wanted to write a benchmark that could discern dif- ferences in the dereferencing of pointer variables. The result is the Deref benchmark in listing 2. Since the appearance of the first review, others have pointed out to me that the original program has a flaw. The error was in the declaration of #define LOOPS 50000 My intention was that LOOPS be an [continued) JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 311 REVIEW: ECOC88 unsigned integer. However, in the body of the program, that 50000 should be interpreted by compilers as a long int. If the declaration had de- fined LOOPS as a hexadecimal C3 50 or as an octal value, the listing would have been fine. However, according to Appendix A of Kernighan and Ritchie, a decimal number greater than the largest positive integer should be in- terpreted as a long integer. This causes problems for some compilers with the printf statement at the end of the program. Some compilers work because of the way the standard library is implemented. C subset com- pilers generally have no difficulties, since they usually do not implement long integers. In order to fix the program, you can simply replace the statement in ques- tion with #define LOOPS 50000 (unsigned) Listing 4: The Savage floating-point benchmark. The program tests the speed and accuracy of floating-point calculations. * * savage. c — floating point speed and accuracy test. C version * * derived from BASIC version that appeared in Dr. Dobb's Journal, ** September 1983, pages 120-122. V #define ILOOP 2500 extern double tan(), atan(), exp(), log(), sqrt(); main() { int i; double a; pri ntf(" start \ n"); a = 1.0; for (i = 1; i <= (ILOOP- 1); i++) a = tan(atan(exp(log(sqrt(a*a))))) + 1.0; printf ("a = /o20.14e\ n", a); printf("done\ n"); Listing 5: This apparently innocuous Fopentst program will never run correctly, even if the correct file is present in the default directory, because of the register handling used by Eco-C88. /* fopentst. c — test the operation of the fopen() function "stdio.h" */ #include mainf) { FILE *fp; if ((fp = fopen(' WTEXT.TXT", "w")) = = { puts("Can't open MYTEXT.TXT \ n"); exit(-1); NULL) putsf'Successfully opened MYTEXT.TXT \ n"); Eco-C88 compiled and worked cor- rectly with both versions. The version with the cast to unsigned produced a slightly smaller program that ran substantially faster. Most compilers that fail to make it through this program do so because of the depth of indirection. It has been argued that there is no practical analog for such a construct in a pro- gram and that the proposed ANSI C standard will require only six levels of indirection. That might be true, but the syntax summary of the language in Kernighan and Ritchie specifies that indirection can be of any depth. In my opinion, the program is flawed on aesthetic grounds since what is pointed to through all those levels of indirection is a random byte of mem- ory. If someone can devise a bench- mark that has such a high proportion of dereferencing operations and is more practical, I'd like to hear about it. The Factor program in listing 3 tests the efficiency of the implementation of long integers. It is based on a Pascal program by Richard E. Crandall (Pascal Applications for Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, 1983). It uses the Pollard rho algorithm to find factors of large numbers. The program operates under the assumption that the number is indeed factorable. If given a prime number to operate on, the program will not return. The choice of BIGNMBR is ar- bitrary. It gives an easily measurable execution time. The program uses many of the arithmetic operators as well as long function parameters and function-return values. It gives a fair- ly well rounded indication of the effi- ciency with which long integers are implemented in a language. The Savage program in listing 4 tests the speed and accuracy of floating- point calculations. This is a C version of a program originally proposed by Bill Savage in the September 1983 issue of Dr. Dobb's \ournal (" 16-Bit Soft- ware Toolbox" by Ray Duncan, page 120). The correct result for the pro- [continued) 312 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 "now in our am raw TH€ WORLD OF PC UPGRflD€S FR€€ 5 Mega Bytes Of software with the purchase of any P.C. hard disk —■ ■ PC HRRD DISK y* 10 Mbyte IS10 $495 PC HARD DISK % 20 Mbyte IS20 $545 PC HARD DISK 30 Mbyte IS30 $895 TANDV1000 MUITI-FUNC BOARD TMF-1 $255 crsh rssist SP€€DS DISK ACC6SS $49. 95 DIRC-CT RSSIST SIMPUFIC-S DOS OPCRATIONS $49. 95 COMMAND ASSIST DOS MANUAL ON DISK $49. 95 INTCRNAL TAPC BACKUP 10 Mbyte MT10 $385 PORTABLC TAP€ BACKUP 10 Mbyte MT10P $525 — INT6RNAL TAPC BACKUP 60 Mbyte MT60 $895 DCSKTOP TAP€ BACKUP MT10€ $575 MT60€ $995 AT HARD DISK 20 Mbyte AT20 $545 AT HARD DISK ^ 33 Mbyte AT33 $750 AT HARD DISK 70 Mbyte AT70 CALL PC/AT HARD DISK 120 Mbyte ATI 20 $4,995 ORD€R UN€ 800-228-0891 305-677-8333 v/sr Micro Desi g n International Inc. ?* li\\ ftlflll"^ |IIK 6566 Universit Y Boulevard, Winter Park, Florida 32792 (305) 677-8333 T€l€X 332559 MDII 1 V€RR WRRRflNTV, 30 DRV MON€V BHCK GUflRRNT€€ ON RLL OUR PRODUCTS JANUARY I9S6 -BYTE 313 REVIEW: ECO-C88 The Eco-C88 compiler is rather strict in its adherence to the C language as defined by Kernighan and Ritchie. gram is 2 500. When I ran the pro- gram, it printed a final value of 2.49999999968640E3, or an error of about one part in a billion. From the results in table I, it would appear that Eco-C88 is rather slow. This is not en- tirely true. As I've mentioned, the soft- ware floating-point routines emulate the 8087 coprocessor. This means that doubles are 8-byte quantities with a dynamic range of about +/-10 308 . That means you can calculate a number as large as 170 factorial without overflow. The other point to note is the accuracy main- tained while calculating transcenden- tal functions. Many implementations will only approximate such functions to six or seven significant digits. From past tests of MS-DOS C com- pilers, the results for the comparable benchmarks seem to show that Eco- C88 is one of the fastest and produces relatively compact code. A possible exception is in the area of floating- point calculations where the software emulation of the 8087 might cost the compiler in speed. I am not aware of any directly comparable results for the long-integer benchmark, but I would say that performance in this area is quite adequate. The difference between the 16-bit MS-DOS version of the compiler and its 8-bit counter- part is quite pronounced, even though the 8-bit version is the fastest I have tested. Another interesting point is that, al- though the Empty benchmark pro- duced a code file of less than IK byte, if you write a program that actually does anything, it requires a minimum of about 8K bytes. Overhead is about I minute due to disk thrashing on a floppy-based system. Consider the Fopentst program in listing 5. It looks perfectly legal. As a matter of fact, it will compile and link without error. However, it will never be able to open the file, even if it is present in the default directory. The fopenQ function is declared as a func- tion returning a pointer to a variable of type FILE in the source code for the library functions. It is that way on Eco-C88: An Update Since the evaluation of Eco-C88 by David D. Clark, Ecosoft has made a number of revisions to its C compiler. The version now available is 2.81, as opposed to the 1.55 version reviewed. The C library has been split into three separate libraries to provide support as needed. These files are ECOC.L1B (standard C functions). ECOTL1B (transcendental math support), and ECOM.LIB (expanded memory sup- port). The standard library, ECOC.L1B, has more functions, such as fgetc and fputc. The memory library, ECOM.LIB, lets you address outside of 64K bytes of data memory, but it does not sup- port large models. The cc utility has more options, some that are documented in a new manual, some in a README.DOC file. The -a option, where supplied to the cc utility or the assembler-pass module XASM.EXE, produces human-readable assembly-code files. The MS-DOS as- sembler, MASM, can read these files. Error messages can be directed to an output file using the -e< filename > option, and the line numbers for the error messages are accurate. In addi- tion, enumerated data typing is sup- ported. A paperback book has replaced the loose-leaf binder for the new Eco-C88 manual. almost all compilers. However, in the program listing, the type of the return value for the function is not declared and the compiler correctly assumes it to be of type int. The problem oc- curs because of the way Eco-C88 allocates registers: All return values of type int are returned in the AX register. All pointers are returned in the BX register. In order to get the program to work, the declaration FILE *fopen(); must appear in the program or the return value gets lost. I should em- phasize that nothing is wrong with the way Eco-C88 handles this. It is good programming practice to make such declarations, but it is unusual. Han- dling register usage in this way prob- ably allows for certain speed and size optimizations not possible if pointer results were returned in the same reg- isters as char, int, and unsigned results. I first ran across this problem when porting programs compiled on UNIX, MS-DOS, and CP/M systems. Mention of this in the manual would have been helpful. Conclusion Eco-C88 is a high-quality package, particularly at its new price. It is com- parable to systems costing much more. It is convenient to use, works well, and produces acceptably com- pact and fast programs. The compiler is rather strict in its adherence to the language as defined by Kernighan and Ritchie, almost authoritarian for a C compiler. A few elements do annoy me, most- ly in the area of compiler error han- dling. Also, because of the large number of passes involved, the com- piler spends a lot of time reading and writing disk files. It might be nice to be able to examine assembly-lan- guage output occasionally but I have not really missed it. You cannot easily use the system to create programs that manipulate huge amounts of data in memory because only the small memory model is supported, allowing 64K-byte programs and 64K-byte data segments. However, all in all I am more than satisfied. ■ 314 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 If OO Baud Smart Duck If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and looks like a duck, it darn well better act like a duck. And ADC's new Hayes Compatible 1200 baud auto-answer/auto-dial modem is one heck of a duck. And, it's a market buster at just $169. By Drew Kaplan Hats off to Hayes. They've just about written the book on specs and protocol for the 1200 baud modem market. Every professional modem bills itself as 'Hayes Compatible'. But the big ques- tion is, how much does it really cost to make a top-of-the-line 1200 baud mo- dem? Or, who's getting rich? ADC's modem is made in the same factory by the same people as one of Hayes's biggest competitors. And, ADC is a division of BSR f the enormous half- billion dollar electronics giant. So for $1 69, you'll not only begetting a duck that quacks properly to Hayes modems, but sings like a nightingale to your pocketbook and can save you a for- tune in time with its extra features. DUCK SOUP Any computer with an RS232 stan- dard serial port, will work flawlessly with this modem. And, virtually any modem or terminal software that's compatible with Hayes, will becompatiblewithADC. We've evengot intelligent programs, cables, and interfaces (if you need them) to activate your IBM PC or Clone, and your Apple IIE or IIC. I've owned a Hayes 1 200 baud modem for about 2 years. I just unplugged it and plugged in ADC's to operate my Hewlett- Packard dumb terminal which I use at home to monitor DAK's computer. The only differences I noted were im- proved monitor sound, more screen dis- plays and a help menu. And oh yes, one last extra. I use a few local data bases whose phone lines are always busy. Well, ADC's intelligent modem recog- nizes a busy signal, hangs up and keeps retrying the number every 30 seconds. There are less important (to me) extras like day, date and time, an extra phone jack and auto tone/pulse switching. So, you'll love it for discount services. DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? Just think, you can transform your PC into a terminal that can interact with main-frames. You can download infor- mation from your main office computer and run Lotus, Wordstar or you name it. It's all possible with your PC and modem. You can exchange information with other computers. Say you're a writer, you can send a chapter from your home or office in Los Angeles to New York, have it edited and sent back to you. You can even send it directly to type- setters and have a book or a newsletter prepared from your transmitted file. It's really great when drafts of con- tracts are flying back and forth. Why retype everything over and over again? Electronic mail lets you type in your message and you won't have to worry about playing telephone tag any longer. You can getthe weather in Baltimore, get the latest quote on your company's stock, or even reserve a seat on the next flight to Las Vegas. You can upload public domain software (there's an enormous amount of free software) or sample the newest programs before you buy. There are pay data bases like Com- puServe and The Source that have infor- mation about anything, and thousands of free bulletin boards about everything from Ham Radio to Parapsychology. There's even a new book that lists and describes such diverse data bases as one with 6500 references about coffee, to one with 2,000,000 on agriculture. Of course, economics, medicine, law and computers are all well represented. THE TECHNICAL SIDE OR, WHY 1200 BAUD? The ADC Modem will communicate at 1 200 baud (about 1 20 characters per second) or 300 baud (about 30 charac- ters per second) automatically, depend- ing on the link at the other end. So, it's clearly a decision of money and time. 1200 baud is roughly 400% faster than 300 baud, so if you transfer data across the country you save 400% on your phone bill. And think of the time $1 69 can save you! If you download material from pay data bases, even though some charge more for 1 200 baud, you still come out way ahead because of the amount of information you get per dollar. It comes with a modular phone cord that you simply connect to any standard modular jack and it uses standard Bell 103 and 21 2A protocols. It operates in half or full duplex. Its built-in microprocessors let you automatically answer in-coming data calls and act on all Hayes commands. It even waitsfor dial tones and phone network tones during auto-dial. The mo- dem is 9 1 / 2 " X 5 1 / 2 " X 2". It's backed by ADC's standard 1 year limited warranty. HOOKING IT UP MADE EASY All you need is a serial output, a cable and a modem program. All our modem programs on disk let you save, upload and download files. Look how easy it is. If you own an IBM PC or a clone, usually you'll find an RS232 serial port already built-in. All you need is our cable andmodem programondiskwhichwe've packaged together for just $29 plus $3 P8-H. But, before you order your cable, you may need a short sex education course. Sex Education 1 A. You need to deter- mine whether your computer's RS232 connector is male or female. If you look at the picture below this paragraph, you will notethatthe connec- tor has holes going in. It's a female. If it had copper pins sticking out, it would be a male. Now wasn't that simple? So, if yours is female, order our male cable and modem program Or. No. 4353. If you have male pins sticking out, order our female cable, Order No. 4354. If you don't have an RS232 port, we have a serial interface card for your IBM orClone complete with cable and modem program for$99 ($4 P&H) Or. No. 4355. For your Apple IIC, your serial inter- face is built-in. All you need is our cable and modem program on disk. They are just $29.90 ($3 P&H) Order No. 4356. Foryour Apple IIE, you'll need a serial interface with an RS232 port, a cable and a modem program. It's all yours for just $89 ($4 P&H) Order No. 4357. 1200 BAUD SMART DUCK RISK FREE For business or pleasure, you'll com- municate, gather information and save time. If you aren't 1 00% satisfied, simply return it in its original box to DAK within 30 days for a courteous refund. To Order Your ADC 1 200 Baud Intel- ligent Modem risk free with your credit card, call toll free, or send your checkfor DAK's market busting price of just $169 plus $6 P&H. Order No. 4334. The OnLine Directory of over 1,100 Data bases, complete with descriptions isjust$14.95($2P8rH)0rderNo.4358. The ducks will sure to be quacking up a storm when they see BSR's factory direct, through DAK, price on this state- of-the-art 1200 baud intelligent modem. Hayes, Lotus, Wordstar, IBM, and Apple IIE & IIC are registered trademarks of Hayes Microcomputer Products, Lotus Development, MicroPro, International Business Machines and Apple Computer. DAK INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED TOLL-FREE ORDER LINE For credit card orders call24 hours a day 7 days a week CALL TOLL-FREE. . .1-800-325-0800 8200 Rem met Ave., Canoga Park. CA91304 (Bank-Switching) totr/fl 'MMU' CHIP ^ it* 1 i 'MMU' MODULE ▼ i^rakyili THE NEW BREED OF MULTIFUNCTION CARDS. MJ-CARDAT1 With AST SIXPAK, QUADBOARD, JRAM, or the newer INTEL ABOVE BOARD, you limit your PC growth. The ALL CARD AT1 is expandable to 2MB on board (4 MB in two slots) and FULL MEGABYTE POWER with the ALL "MMU" Module Option. ALLCARD AT1 starts with all the multi-function features and 256K at $445. Even the standards are designed for software of the future —the calendar clock has non- volatile RAM with alarm interrupts and the serial port has multiple addresses. Also, mix 64 & 256K chips. ALL CARD AT1/M This model comes equipped with all the features of ALL CARD AT1 plus the ALL 'MMU' Module Option which includes ALL/MOS (Memory Operating Software). With a simple menu-driven installation procedure, ALL/MOS converts your existing software to 1MB DOS, and delivers FULL MEGABYTE POWER. 'FULL MEGABYTE POWER' 1 MEGABYTE DOS. Break the 640K barrier. Run existing versions of the popular business packages IN 1 MB including 1.2.3, SYMPHONY, FRAME-WORK, dBASE, APL, TOPVIEW, SIDEKICK, MULTILINK, CROSSTALK, TURBO PASCAL, C86, IBM MACRO ASSEMBLER, MULTI- MATE, WORDSTAR, NOVELL, PC NET 4 MEGABYTE EXPANDED MEMORY SPEC. Run 4 megabyte software conforming to the LOTUS/INTEL/MICROSOFT specif ication,with enhancements. SYMPHONY 1.1 has already been released and 1.2.3, FRAMEWORK and others are coming. MULTI-MEGABYTE, MMU PROTECTED RAM DISK. Run ALLDISKas large as you like with full assurance that it is fully hardware protected from inadvertent tampering by you, others, or programs with 'bugs'. FUTURE INDUSTRY EXTENDED MEMORY SPEC. Run higher performance software confor- ming to the future specification for machines equipped with MMU. IBM PC AT is IBM's first personal computer with MMU. With ALL CARD your PC and XT also have MMU. Full megabyte power means you can run all of the above either individually or together. And more. Provide Memory Management Unit (MMU) hardware for DOS/UNIX and other multitasking, multiuser and VM (Virtual Machines) operating systems of the future. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of Bell Laboratories. 1-2 3. Symphony. Framework; APL; Topview; Above Board; AST; Sixpak. Quadboard, JRAM; INTEL, dBASE; Sidekick; Multilmk: Crosstalk; Turbo Pascal; C86, Multi-Mate. Wordstar; NOVELL. PC NET are trademarks of the respective companies. *VIJL CARD is a trademark of ALL Computers Inc. ONLY MJL CARD™ WITH 'MMU' FOR THE IBM PC, XT & COMPATIBLES DELIVERS FULL MEGABYTE POWER FOR SYMPHONY, 1-2-3, FRAMEWORK, APL, TOPVIEW. . . ABOVE BOARD, AST.QUADRAM AND OTHERS WITH BS CANT DO IT IBM PC AT CANT DO IT Memory is the single most important part of a computer. A faster CPU can save you minutes, but more memory can save you hours. More memory consolidates multiple jobs and spreadsheets into a single run. The result is the job is simpler to design, faster to run, and much less error prone. Picking the right method to expand memory is vital to the future life of your PC. This is what the industry is saying about 'MMU' and Bank- Switching . . . PC Magazine— May 14, 1985 ££ Several industry leaders have echoed. . . concern that (Bank-Switching) is only a stop gap measure on the way to full use of... on chip memory management (MMU). PC Magazine shares that concern." PC Week— April 16, 1985 ££ MMU, a function that controls how memory is addressed, is more sophisticated mm than Bank-Switching techniques" PC Magazine— June 1 1, 1985 CC SP rin 9 COMDEX The introduction of a memory expansion card (ALLCARD) ■■ with full memory management facilities for 4 megabytes of on-board PC RAM was one of the more exciting of these developments" " (ALLComputers Inc.) seems to have stolen a march on the major board makers" Personal Computing— August, 1985 ££ Alone and away from the din over Bank-Switching technology. ... a four megabyte, multifunction board (ALL CARD) that allows almost all software to utilize its memory right out of the box." There is clearly only one way of the future— full memory management! In the past, Bank- Switching was obsoleted by MMU with mainframes and again with minicomputers— and now with personal computers. ALL CARDgives you the bestof both worlds— Bank-Switching and MMU. ALLCARD stands alone with its proprietary MMU CHIP for the IBM PC. It alone can run 1 times as many packages and run them faster. It alone can be plugged into a 64K, 640K or even a 2MB PC and run concurrent combinations of 1MB DOS (MMU), 4MB LOTUS/ INTEL/MICROSOFT spec. (Bank-Switching) and RAM DISK Only ALL CARD gives you 974,848 bytes total memory for DOS— type A>CHKDSK on your PC and compare. ALL CARD is your best choice by far. SPECIAL $100 OFFER Buy the ALLCARD AT1/M with 256Kfor$895 or AT 1 for $445 and foran additional $1 00 get your card populated with a full megabyte. Offer is limited. Act now! Order your ALL CARD today. Inquiry 1 3 ALL Computers Inc. 102 BloorSt., W.,12th Floor, TORONTO, CANADA M5S 1 M9. (41 6) 960-01 1 1 TELEX 06-986766 The world's best selling monochrome graphics card for the IBM PC. There are more Hercules™ Graphics Cards in more IBM® PCs, XTs and ATs than any other monochrome graphics card in the world. Over a quarter of a million demanding users around the world use a Hercules Graphics Card to improve the perfor- mance of their software. The Lotus® 1-2-3® Booster. Consider Lotus 1-2-3. Hercules gives an off-the-shelf copy of 1-2-3 the highest resolution I possible : -' " ~'" i on an IBM PC, XT or AT. More 1-2-3 users choose the Hercules Graphics Card to get crisper text and sharper graphics than any other monochrome graphics card. And we bring the same performance to other integrat- ed programs like Symphony" Framework" and SuperCalc®3. But we don't stop there. The Hercules Graphics Card improves all kinds of software. Like Microsoft® Word, a word processor that enables you to display text with sub- scripts, superscripts and italics Or pf s: Graph, an easy-to- use business graphics program that converts your data into presentation quality graphs. Or Microsoft® Flight Simu, lator, the high flying game for the overworked executive. Or our own Graph X" a library of graphics sub- routines that eases graphics programming. Or AutoCAD," a computer aided design program that offers features normally asso- ciated with expensive CAD systems. And we supply free soft- ware with each card to do hi-res graph- ics using the PC's BASIC interpreter. State-Of-The-Art Hardware. The Hercules Graphics Card gives you graphics res- olution of 720h x 348v and a parallel printer port. Our unique static RAM buffer pro- vides sharp 9 x 14 characters and flicker-free scrolling. Our exclusive safety features help prevent damage ? to your monitor. State-of-the-art custom IC technology delivers unsurpassed reli- ability. Ordinary graphics cards use up to 30 ICs to do what one Hercules IC does. By using fewer parts, we reduce the pos- sibility of component failure. Which is one reason we warranty the Hercules Graphics Card for two years. Unbeatable reliability. Advanced technology. Proven by over a quarter of a million users. Why settle for anything less than Hercules? Call 1-800-532-0600 Ext 408 for the name of a 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: 415 540-6000 Telex: 754063. Trademarks/Owners: Hercules, Graph X/Hercules; 1-2-3, Symphony/Lotus; IBM, XT, AT/IBM; Framework/ Ashton-Tate; SuperCalc/Sorcim-IUS; Microsoft/Microsoft; pfs:/Software Publ; AutoCAD/AutoDesk. Printer cable offer expires February 28, 1986. Good only in U.S.A., offer subject to change without notice. 318 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 156 HARDWARE REVIEW Inside The Sider by Douglas E. Hall A hsrH^Hisk F^jKT^ run m V own business as a micro- — rs, uaiu luarv computer consultant for nonprofit driVG -~* organizations, it was clear that 1 would need a hard disk for storing my word- lOr the processing, spreadsheet, database, and pro- ~ \ ~ ~ gram files, which filled more than 40 flop- Apple 11+ , lie Py disks A mailer I received from First Class Pe- ripherals advertised a 10-megabyte hard- disk system for Apple II computers. Called The Sider, it sold for only $695. Not only was the price right, but the company of- fered a 1 5-day trial period during which I could return it with no questions asked. That seemed unprecedented for a piece of sophisticated computer equipment. The disk drive is about the size of a shoe- box, measuring 7.5 by 3.5 by 16 inches. The well-padded package from First Class con- tained the drive, interface board, installation manual, cable, installation software, and miscellaneous hardware. Installing the Hardware Although I have degrees in electrical engi- neering and once designed and wire- wrapped my own homebrew computer, that background was not adequate to help me determine the difference between an "anchor screw" and a "retaining screw," both of which were involved in installing the cable-clamp assembly to the back of my Apple lie. First Class could have made the task easier by including a few more dia- grams of hardware-installation steps in the manual. It would also help to have a diagram showing and naming each part and noting whether it is for the Apple II + , lie, or both. Nevertheless, within 45 minutes I had the hardware connected. When the computer and disk were plugged in and turned on, the drive began to hum, and I figured I had at least approximated the cor- rect cable installation. INSTALLING OPERATING SYSTEMS The Sider is partitioned to hold up to four operating systems: DOS 3.3, Pascal, Pro- Douglas E. Hall has B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He currently runs his own microcomputer consulting business. He can be contacted at MicroCraft, lane Road. Chichester. NH 03263. DOS, and CP/M. You have to decide on the amount of disk space you want to set aside for each system, however, and then follow the step-by-step procedures in the manual. I installed only DOS 3.3 and CP/M. The "dynamic partitioning screen" for dividing the disk into sections for each operating system was confusing to use. Eventually it became clear that I had to adjust ProDOS for maximum partition size (even though I didn't need it at all) as a step along the way to dividing up the disk into CP/M and DOS 3.3 areas. That didn't make a lot of sense to me, but that's the way it had to be done. In contrast to the Davong 15-megabyte hard disk, which I had used for nearly two years earlier, The Sider requires the entire disk to be partitioned during installation. You are not allowed to leave part of the disk undesignated as to operating system and assign it later when your actual need for space becomes more apparent. This forces you to make better estimates as to your space needs and could possibly cause problems later. In my case, if I decide next month that I want to install Pascal, there will be no hard-disk space available for Pascal files even though I may have lots of unused CP/M space. The only solution is to reparti- tion the disk, install the operating system again, and then restore all the files to the disk from backup floppy disks. It would have been better to allow some of the disk space to remain unassigned until needed. Once I had partitioned the disk, my next step was to break each partition into volumes as desired. Again the manual was not very satisfactory. It stated that "DOS is divided into small volumes (DOS-SV) and large volumes (DOS-LV)," without indicating what the actual sizes or limitations on use were for either. After I had guessed at what I might need, I was ready to format the disk and install my operating systems. I followed the manual meticulously and all went well. That isn't to say I understood all that was happening. For example, during the process [continued] JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 319 REVIEW: THE SIDER AT A GLANCE Name The Sider Type 10-megabyte external hard disk with controller card for Apple II + , lie Company First Class Peripherals Inc. 3579 Highway 50 East Carson City, NV 89701 (800) 538-1307 (702) 883-4000 in Nevada Size 7.5 by 3.5 by 16 inches; 11 pounds Necessary Hardware Apple II + or He with one floppy-disk drive, monitor, and 64K RAM Necessary Software One or more operating systems (DOS 3.3, CP/M, Pascal, or ProDOS) Features 10 megabytes of formatted storage Options A second Sider can be daisy-chained Documentation 53-page installation manual Price $595 a lot of screens appeared with infor- mation on "Pre Comp Cycle." "Con- trol Byte," "Interleave," "DOS Bounds," and other items meaningless to me. The manual explains these screens by saying, "A series of screens describ- ing the boundaries of each partition are displayed next." It would seem to me that if these screens are important or useful enough to appear at all, then some explanation should be pro- vided. If they are not useful to the user, then why display them? After an hour, I had completed the software installation. I turned every- thing off and rebooted. The Sider worked perfectly. The main menu ap- peared on my screen and I was able to drop into CP/M or DOS or run a program from either a floppy-disk drive or from The Sider. Utility Programs The Sider manual lists, but does not explain, the various utility programs that are provided. It seemed logical to me to use the Backup/Restore utili- ty to copy my floppy-disk volumes and files onto the hard disk. I couldn't get it to work; it kept telling me that my floppy disks were not "library volumes." The manual contains not a hint about what this utility expects. A call to First Class Peripherals' toll- free telephone number resulted in a discussion with a technician who said that he was not sure of the purpose of the Backup/Restore utility. He sug- gested that I use a different utility called Image Copy. He stated that First Class is preparing a user's manual to supplement the installation manual, that people who had bought The Sider would eventually receive a copy, but that no date had been set for its release. He also stated that he had on- ly a handwritten set of engineering notes to use in assisting callers ex- periencing problems. I used Image Copy and it worked well. It took 48 seconds to copy a 140K-byte DOS 3.3 floppy disk to a similar volume on the hard disk. (Don't make the mistake of using Image Copy in place of Apple's COPYA program to copy one floppy disk to another, however. COPYA re- quires 1 minute 28 seconds to com- plete that task; Image Copy requires more than 20 minutes.) One especially handy utility is the Hard Disk Catalog. It automatically catalogs each DOS volume on the hard disk in sequence. It is extremely helpful in searching for a particular DOS 3.3 file. The program as provided was written in Applesoft, so I was able to make a simple modification to send the catalogs to the printer as well as to the screen. One utility The Sider lacks is an im- port/export utility, which allows you to copy a file from one operating system to another. I need this to move text files from CP/M, where they were [continued] Photo I: Front view of The Sider hard- disk drive. Photo 2: Rear view shows extra connection for daisy-chaining. 320 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Contemporary Electronics Series Trial Examination Order Form YES! I'm interested in learning contemporary electronics and would like to examine the first module in the series. If I decide to keep it, I will pay just $ 19.95 plus $2.25 shipping and handling. I will then receive f uturemodules automatically, one every 4 to 6 weeks. Each of the 15 modules in theseries is $19.95 plus$2.25 shippingand handling and comes on the same 15-day Free Examination basis. There is no minimum number of modules that I must buy and I may cancel at any time simply by notifying you. If I do not choose to keep the first module, I will return all materials in good condition and pay nothing. Future modules will be canceled and I will be under no further obligation. Name Street Please Print City/State/Zip Phone Number < ) All orders subject to approval and payable in U.S. funds only. Available in U.S. and Canada only. Add first class stamp and mail today! Covers every subject of modern electronics • Digital logic • Digital gates (TTL, CMOS, MOS) • Flip flops • Counters and registers • Op-amps and applications • Combinational logic circuits {ROM, PLA, decoder) • Amplifier fundamentals • Transistors (bipolar and FET) diodes and thyristors • Linear and digital integrated circuits • Microprocessors • Oscillators • Optoelectronics • Fiber optics ' Robotics 2080-016 Post Office Will Not Deliver Without First Class Stamp ft!. McGraw-Hill Continuing Education Center 3939 Wisconsin Avenue Washington, D.C. 20016-2876 !■ i ■ 1 1 1 • a 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ^^ MASTER THE NEW ELECTRONICS WITH McGRAW-HILL'S G)ntempoiaiy The fast, easy and low cost way to meet the challenges of today's electronic innovations. A unique learning series that's as innovative as the circuitry it explains, as fascinating as the experiments you build and explore. From digital logic to the latest 32-bit microprocessor, the McGraw- Hill Contemporary Electronics Series puts you into the electronic picture one easy step at a time. Fifteen unique Concept Modules, sent to you one every 4-6 weeks, give you a handle on subjects like optoelec- tronics, robotics, integrated circuits, lasers, fiber optics and more. Each Concept Module goes right to the heart of the matter. You waste no time on extraneous material or outdated history. It's a fast, efficient, and lively learning experience. . .a non-traditional approach to the most modern of subject matter. Unique Interactive Instruction With each module, you receive a McGraw-Hill Action Audio Cassette. Each tape is a dynamic discussion that drives home the key facts about the subject. Your learning With your first module, you get this solderless breadboarding system. You'll use it through- out the series to build elec- tronic circuits , ; and bring concepts to life. experience is reinforced through interaction with vividly illustrated text, audio cassettes, and actual electronic experiments. Indexed binders preserve backup material, notes, and tapes for convenient referral. g a-sse O^ Perform Experiments in Contemporary Electronics Throughout your series, lab- oratory experiments reinforce every significant point. This essential experience . . .dynamic, hands-on demonstrations of theory in practice ... | will help you master \ principles that apply all the way up to tomorrow's latest VLSI (Very Large M Scale Integrated) circuitry. 1 In your very first module, you'll use integrated circuits to build a digital oscillator, verifying its operation with a light emitting diode (LED). You'll learn to identify passive and active components, understand concepts common to all electronic circuits. For Anyone Interested in Electronics The Contemporary Electronics Series is designed for anyone from hobbyist to professional. It's for you if you're looking for new fields of interest. . .if you're a teacher who A^r r%% wants an update in con- temporary circuits. . .a manager or supervisor in an electronics plant. . .a doctor, an engineer, a chemist who finds electronics playing an increasingly important role in your work. It's even for electronics engineers or technicians who feel their training needs freshening up. It's the quickest, . most convenient, c -? probably least expensive way to doit. And the only one that gives you hands-on experience. 15-Day No-Risk Trial To order your first module with- out risk, send the postage-paid card today. Examine it for 15 days under the terms of the order form and see how the Contemporary Electronics Series gets you into today's electronics. If card has been used, write us for ordering information. McGraw-Hill Continuing Education Center 3939 Wisconsin Ave. Washington, D.C. 20016 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 321 REVIEW: THE SIDER created with dBASE II, to Apple DOS, where they will be used in a mail- merge routine. I'd pay $50 for such a utility. Is anybody at First Class listening? Noise One final complaint: noise. This prob- lem is not unique to The Sider, of course. All hard disks have some noise. But The Sider is not among the quietest of hard disks. I often find myself turning it off so I can hear myself think. Without some special noise insulation, it would be distract- ing in any office setting. Speed The Sider does its job. I've used it to rapidly create large database files for dBASE II under CP/M, which is some- thing that was not possible with my floppy disks. The measurements that are given in table I show a corn- Table I: Benchmark comparisons for The Sider hard-disk system and Apple's DuoDisk floppy-disk system. (See the June 1984 BYTE, pages 334 and 336, for details.) The benchmark programs were written in Applesoft BASIC. They were executed on an Apple We running DOS 3.3 and having 128K bytes of memory. Write a 64K-byte file Read a 64K-byte file Copy a 40K-byte file The Sider 2:43 3:03 :31 Apple DuoDisk 3:04 3:35 1:32 parison of access times for floppy disks and The Sider. Conclusion I give The Sider an A for price, per- formance, and ease of use; a C for ease of setup; a D for documentation (at least until the user's manual is released); and an A for First Class's policy of 15-day return and one-year warranty 1 have necessarily dwelt on the problems I see with The Sider. But the best summary of my evaluation is the answer to the question, "Did I return The Sider to First Class at the end of the 15-day free trial period for the promised full refund?" Definitely not. For the very attractive price of $695, I am willing to live with The Sider's limitations. | Editor's note: The price has since fallen to $595.| ■ The WYSEpc is truly IBM PC compatible. It runs over 350 software packages. Even the acid tests - Lotus 1-2-3 and Flight Simulator - run beautifully. TRADEMARKS- WYSEpc: Wyse Technology. IBM, IBM PC, XT : International Business Machines Corporation. Lotus, Lotus 1-2-3: Lotus Development Corp. Flight Simulator: Microsoft Corp. The IBM-compatible WYSEpc gives you more features for less. Buy, lease or rent from MTI at great prices. Wyse includes features that others price as options. Each model of the WYSEpc comes as a complete package with nothing else to buy. The basic system includes the processor unit with 256K RAM, two 5V4" diskette drives of 356K each (IBM format), keyboard, display adapter, 14" tilt/ swivel monitor, two serial ports and a parallel port. It also includes the MS-DOS 2.11 operating system, GW-BASIC, and a complete set of manuals. The floppy disk controller, display adapter, and the three I/O ports are incorporated in a single-board design. This allows you two additional IBM-compat- ible option slots. There's also an IBM PC/XT compatible model with a 10-Megabyte Winchester and color graphics option. MTI is an authorized distributor for Wyse, so we can meet your needs in a timely fashion. Call MTI today. MTI SYSTEMS CORP. A SUBSIDIARY OF DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED N.Y.: N.J.: Pa.: 212/226-2337 516/621-6200 518/449-5959 201/227-5552 412/931-9351 Ohio: El.: Ky.: Cal.: 216/464-6688 312/773-2300 502/499-6656 818/883-7633 714/220-6487 Or call: 800/645-6530 322 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 254 THE GREAT ESCAPE! FROM IVORY TOWERS AND COLD COMPUTER ROOMS TO THE WARMTH OF YOUR OFFICE. Artificial intelligence for business has arrived in a revolutionary new product . , . Guru. At last, artificial intelligence designed espe- cially for business! Guru brings together expert system capabilities of artificial intelligence, the productivity of familiar business computing tools and the ease of communicating with your computer using menus, commands or plain English. All available in a single, integrated program. Guru works like human experts, considering uncertainties, reasoning through forward and backward chaining, asking for more infor- mation when needed, and explaining its recommendations. Guru's expert system works hand-in-hand with all the familiar business computing tools like spreadsheets, statistical analysis, business graphics and a programming language, always available for both expert consultation and your everyday business computing needs. Best of all, you won't need to learn LISP or PROLOG or buy fancy computers . . . Guru runs on your PC and communicates in plain English! Guru is artificial intelligence that means business. For more information, call or write Micro Data Base Systems, Inc./Marketing & Sales, P.O. Box 248, Lafayette, IN, 47902, 317/463-2581, Telex 209147 ISEUR. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT MEANS BUSINESS. Inquiry 4I5 mobs mdbs is a registered trademark and Guru is a trademark of Micro Data Base Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 248, Lafayette, IN, 47902 ■ \\* & ^ocetfan% r 324 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Avocet turns an ordinary PC into an extraordinary development system. And saves you $20,000 in the process. Now, there's a way to see all your best microprocessor designs take root, easily and effectively. Avocet cross-assemblers, simulators, THE AVOCET CROSS-ASSEMBLER FAMILY. Avocet Target CP/M-86 Cross- Micro- IBM PC, assembler processor CP/M*-80 MSDOS" XASM04 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 XASM6811 68HC11 250.00 250.00 XASM180 HD64180 250.00 250.00 XMAC682 68200 595.00 595.00 XMAC68K 68000/68010 595.00 595.00 ' Trademark of Digital Research ** Trademark of Microsoft emulators and EPROM program- mers turn your personal computer into a sophisticated development system. No more searching for the ever inaccessible mainframe. Or, wondering how to pay for a $20,000 dedicated development system. Avocet products save time and money, and provide the most flexible development system available. Avocet allows you to develop software for practically any micro- processor without switching devel- opment systems. And equally important, Avocet development tools are easy to install and easy to use. We provide you with everything you need to develop microprocessor software, from data entry through assembly, debugging and final EPROMs. Now "debug" on your PC. Avocet has realistic answers for users who want low cost 'debugging capability. Until now, engineers have been very much ^ on their own in the g^ area of testing. But '"" now Avocet simulators and emulators virtually eliminate the frustrating and often costly "crash and burn" method. New AVSIM family of full screen simulators. Avocet's new software simulator/ debuggers let you test your code in a crashproof, interactive environ- ment, without additional hardware. Your PC's screen becomes a "win- dow" into the simulated target CPU. Extensive break point, I/O, and interrupt facilities make AVSIM a truly useful development tool. Price $299. New TRICE in-circuit emulator. At last, an affordable in-circuit emulator! With the self-powered TRICE, you can examine target memory and register, set break points, single-step, trace and more; TRICE recognizes 34 differ- ent commands. Its serial interface lets you control emulation and download code from your terminal or PC. Priced from $498. AVPROM programmers work with any rC. The AVPROM s program over 37 different devices, including EPROMS through 27512, CMOS and E 2 PROMS, and MPU/EPROM combos, using fast "adaptive" algorithms. Intelligent, self-con- tained units work with any per- sonal computer, using Avocet's GDX driver software... from $429. Gang programmers from $979. To find out more about Avocet software development tools and accessories, call us toll-free: 1-800-448-8500 (In the U.S except Alaska and Hawaii.) VISA and Mastercard accepted. Most popular disc formats now available — please specify. Ship- ping and handling additional — call for exact quotes. OEM INQUIRIES INVITED. Avocet Systems Inc., P.O. Box490-B7, Rockport, Maine 04856, (207) 236-9055. Telex: 467210 AVOCET CI. AVOCET /X SYSTEMS INC! Inquiry 28 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 325 All too often, brand-name CPUs are "bundled 1 ' with mediocre peripherals— a practice that makes for profitable sales, but does nothing for the system's performance. In Japan, where most computer peripherals are actually built, NEC is the largest personal computer company— by far. And NEC didn't make it to first place by offering second rate peripherals, The monitors with the broadcast video heritage. While dozens of companies market display monitors, only a handful possess the tube technology and manufacturing capability to actually build them. NEC is one of the few. In fact, NEC's complete line of color and monochrome monitors reflects the professional and broadcast video expertise that twice earned NEC Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Winning the printer race takes both speed and endurance. Ask people who really know about printers, and they'll tell you that NEC builds the best. They may also point out that NEC builds printers for other computer companies. And if you ask them to choose one word to sum up what makes NEC printers stand out, it will probably be "reliable." This is why NEC has become the printer of choice for the most demanding installations. So before you buy a peripheral from any name company, make sure the company puts more into the peripheral than just its name. PC-PR105A IBM PC PLUG COMPATIBLE TRI-MODE DOT MATRIX PRINTER ^k-pM9 5R NEC NEC Home Electronics (U.S.A.) Inc. Personal Computer Division 1401 Estes Avenue Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 312-228-5900 Inquiry 264 HARDWARE REVIEW Add-on memory and I/O ports for the IBM PC AT BY TJ BYERS Advantage* for the AT TJ Byers is the author of numerous books and articles on computers. His latest book is Inside the IBM PC AT (McGraw-Hill). You can contact him at 9411 Soledad Canyon Rd.. Canyon Country. CA 913 51, The architecture of the IBM PC AT's 16-bit-wide bus, although similar to that of the 8-bit-wide IBM PC bus, is different enough that standard IBM PC cards are not compatible with the AT in most cases. Consequently, a new generation of IBM enhancement products has been de- veloped for this machine. One of the more versatile multifunction boards for the AT is Advantage! from AST Research (see photo 1). Advantage!, which is among the first of the third-party products for the AT to appear on the market, closely resembles AST's SixPakPlus multifunction board for the IBM PC. Of course, there are differences. First you will notice that the AST clock/ calendar is absent. Since the PC AT has an internal clock and calendar, AST has not duplicated it. Second, you can load the Ad- vantage! with almost 10 times as much RAM (random-access read/write memory) as a SixPakPlus. Extra memory is really what the Advan- tage! is all about. The board's minimum memory configuration is 128K bytes of RAM, enough to take an enhanced IBM PC AT with 512 K bytes of memory up to the machine's lower limit of 640K bytes. (The PC AT can use 640K bytes of RAM in its 1 -megabyte real-address-mode address space.) But the IBM PC AT doesn't stop there, and neither does the Advantage! multifunction board. Using the AT's protected-mode memory configuration, Advantage! can con- tain up to 1.5 megabytes of RAM. This is extended RAM that resides above the nor- mal I megabyte of real-address-mode memory-address space that the AT uses for routine operation. You can use this protected-mode memory space for RAM disks such as the IBM PC-DOS 3.0 VDISK utility or for multiuser operating systems like IBM's XENIX package. If that isn't enough RAM for your needs, Advantage! accommodates a special piggy- back memory module that attaches to the board itself and extends the total on-board memory to 3 megabytes. This means that you can add a full 3 megabytes of RAM to your IBM PC AT while using a single expan- sion slot. Cascading more Advantage! boards, up to a maximum of five, results in 1 5 megabytes of protected-mode memory (the maximum the machine will accept). Furthermore, Advantage! offers several other memory-expansion options to meet your goal. You can choose either 64K-bit or 2 56K-bit RAM chips for maximum flexibili- ty when upgrading your system's memory. Memory-Addressing Capability Memory addressing, the function of Advan- tage! that designates where extra memory appears in the machine's address space, is also flexible. The total on-board memory can be split to fill space in both the base (real-address-mode) memory system and the protected-mode memory area. In other words, if your AT has 2 56K bytes of base memory and you add a I.5-mega- byte Advantage! board to your system, you can choose to put all 1.5 megabytes in the protected-memory area and leave the base memory alone. This decision results in a machine with 2 56K bytes of base RAM and 1 . 5 megabytes of extended memory for use as a RAM disk or for multiuser functions. Or you can split the extra memory be- tween the two modes. Through the use of DIP (dual in-line package) switches, you can fully load the base memory by sectioning off 384K bytes of the 1.5 megabytes for use as base memory. The maximum base RAM is 640K bytes of the assigned 1 -megabyte address space (in this case, 2 56K original bytes plus 384K bytes added by address- ing the Advantage! board). This leaves 1 1 1 6K bytes, or 1.116 megabytes, for use as protected-mode memory. Communications Ports The Advantage! multifunction board also contains a serial communications port and [continued) JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 327 REVIEW: ADVANTAGE! AT A GLANCE Name Advantage! Company AST Research Inc. 2121 Alton Ave Irvine, CA 92714 (714) 863-1333 Computer IBM PC AT Features Memory expandable to 1.5 megabytes on-board, memory expandable to 3 megabytes on-board with piggyback module; split memory-addressing capability; uses 64K- or 256K-bit memory chips; parallel printer port, serial RS-232C asynchronous port, and optional second serial port and game port Documentation 75-page user's manual, tabbed function identification Price 128K bytes of memory and serial/parallel ports $595 3 megabytes of memory with piggyback board and serial/parallel ports $2395 Photo I: The AST Advantage! multifunction board for the IBM PC AT, showing sockets for up to 1.5 megabytes of RAM, memory-address DIP switches, and parallel-port, serial-port, and game-port connectors. Note the rows of vertical pins in front of the RAM socket area and immediately above the printed-circuit fingers: these are for connecting the optional add-on 1. 5 -megabyte piggyback RAM board. a parallel communications port. The serial port is an RS-232C-compatible asynchronous communications port that you can use to provide a link be- tween the AT and a modem, serial printer, mouse, or other serial device. Unlike on the IBM PC, which uses the industry-standard 25-pin DB-2 5 con- nector, Advantage!^ RS-232C port is interfaced via the 9-pin DB-9 connec- tor that IBM is using as its new RS-232C standard. A second asyn- chronous serial port is offered as an option. The parallel printer port is also stan- dard on the Advantage! board. It per- forms exactly like any IBM parallel printer port, such as the one that comes on the IBM monochrome monitor, and can be used in conjunc- tion with the AT's existing parallel port. The IBM PC AT can support three parallel ports, and you can con- figure Advantage! to respond to two of the three assigned addresses. As a final option, you can install a game port. The game port is totally software-compatible with the IBM game adapter and you can use it with most joysticks. Due to a problem in the diagnostic program that accom- panied some of the earlier AT ma- chines, the port might not always show up on the listing of installed devices. This causes no problem in the use of the game port, so ignore it. Documentation Probably Advantagel's best feature is its documentation. It is clear, concise, and to the point. AST has broken down the operation of each function into a separate and extremely man- ageable chapter. The text is not over- whelming and the manual is well il- lustrated. The user's manual includes four appendixes that contain all pos- sible switch settings and actual pro- grams to modify or improve system performance. This is a welcome and noticeable improvement over some manuals I have used. Priced at $595, Advantage! is a good buy with plenty of capability. Of course, prices increase as the number of memory chips you use increases, but that's to be expected. Advantage! lives up to everything it promises. I have used the Advantage! board for RAM disks and as extended memory with the XENIX operating system, and the results have been excellent. I highly recommend it for the serious AT user. ■ 328 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 TEK 2200 SERIES PORTABLE OSCILLOSCOPES THE ANSWER BY ANY MEASURE You can't judge a scope by its cover. When you look at our simplified, practical internal design, you see why the Tek 2200 Series delivers unparalleled high performance and reliability in the field. You get quality that's unmistakably Tektronix in scopes so advanced, they cost you less to buy and own. Through an innovative new con- cept in scope design we reduced the number of mechanical parts by 65%. Reduced cabling by 90%. Virtually eliminated board electrical connectors. And elimi- nated the need for a cooling fan. The result: a scope with designed-in simplicity that increases reliability as it cuts downtime and repair costs. All of which means outstanding value in a compact, lightweight package that your service technicians will appreciate. Plus, you get a selection of per- formance to precisely match your needs. There are the 60 MHz single time base delay 221 3A at $1275* and the 60 MHz dual time base 221 5A at $1525* And at 100 MHz, the dual time base 2235 at $1750* and the 2236 with an integrated counter/timer/ multimeter at $2650* The industry's first three-year warranty! is testimony to 2200 Series dependability. Adding value to value are a variety of optional service plans that can economically extend this cover- age to five years. Consider what you're paying now in downtime, in service, in back-up scopes. On the bottom line, a Tek 2200 Series scope will save you money, time and trouble now and in the years to come. Contact your Tek Sales Engineer for a demo today. Or call 1-800-426-2200, Ext. 201. In Oregon, call collect: (503)627-9000, Ext. 201. 'Prices F.O.B. Beaverton, Oregon t3-year warranty includes CRT and applies to 2200 family oscilloscopes purchased after 1/1/83. Scopes are UL listed, CSA and VDE approved. Copyright © 1985, Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. TTA-517-1 Prices subject to change. Tektronix COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE Inquiry 351 25Q000 customers made usdoilTheWYSEpc. We established a precedent on better than 250,000 desktops with our terminals. So when our customers got ready to include PCs in their plans, they didn't think they should have to settle for less thanWyse style, performance and economy. We agree. And now you can get the WYSEpc with IBM compatibility in hardware, software and expandability. We've thoroughly tested more than 350 software packages and acces- sories. It runs even the acid tests — Lotus 1-2-3 and Flight Simulator— in beautiful Wyse style. Our price includes dual floppy drives, monochrome 14" tilt/swivel monitor, height- adjustable keyboard, 256K RAM, two serial ports, one parallel port, MS-DOS with GW-BASIC- and more. There's also an IBM PC/XT compatible model with a 10-Megabyte Winchester disk. A color graphics option is available on either model. For more information about how much less all this costs from Wyse, call toll-free, today. WYSE Inquiry 388 CaI1800-GET-WYSE SOFTWARE REVIEW Powerful but not quite ready and able by Steve King Enable Steve King is a program analyst for the state of California and a part- time writer and consultant. When not working with computers, he enjoys equestrian activities. He can be reached at 17 62 5 Rancho de Oro. Ramona, CA 92065. Enable, a $69 5 integrated software package from The Software Group, would appear to be ideal for certain applications on the IBM Personal Computer. Imagine, for example, writing a guide to restaurants and restrooms in your area. You could use Enable's word processor to write the text for the guide, its database manager to assemble the data, its spreadsheet to track the associated expenses and income of the project, and its communications module to transmit the finished manuscript to the typesetter. Throughout the project, Enable's window-management capabilities would apparently let you easily keep an eye on all these functions. You could even use Enable to prepare some charts and insert these into the text. Unfortunately, an actual test of the soft- ware with such a project revealed several deficiencies in Enable. Of course, I used ver- sion 1.0. After I wrote this article, The Soft- ware Group released Enable 1.1, which is said to include some enhancements. No doubt this new version will fix many of the deficiencies I found. In the meantime, I will report on the software as I, and perhaps many customers, received it. | Editor's note: The new version of Enable does indeed fix many of these deficiencies. See the text box ,x Enable 1.1" on page 334 for some notes on the new version] Enable 1.0 comes on three disks: a system disk, an operation disk, and a tutorial/data disk (the new version comes on four disks). I evaluated the program with a Compaq Deskpro containing 640K bytes of RAM (random-access read/write memory) and two floppy-disk drives. Since Enable re- quires frequent disk swapping on a floppy- disk system, I recommend using a hard disk. By the time I finished this review, I was quite burned out by Enable, partially because of so much disk swapping. Not only do the program's 'many overlay files require fre- quent disk changes, but The Software Group also employs a copy-protection scheme that checks drive A occasionally to verify the presence of a bona fide system disk, even if you're running Enable from a hard disk. Fortunately, the new version of Enable is not copy-protected. Enable's maintenance plan, which in- cludes toll-free telephone support and free updates for a period of one year, costs $95. In addition to a spiral-bound manual for each of its five modules (word processor, spreadsheet, database manager, communi- cations, and overall system control), a getting-started booklet, a quick-reference guide, and a small binder of helpful hints, Enable comes with a large keyboard overlay that gives the word-processing and tele- communications commands on one side and the spreadsheet and database-manage- ment commands on the other. The Software Group has written all the documentation as a tutorial, which makes it difficult when you just want to look up something, even though the manuals contain extensive indexes. Integration and Control When you first start Enable, you proceed through a series of menus to your desired function. The software creates a border that displays messages. This border limits the display to a 78-column width. Enable boots into the Master Control Module (MCM), which integrates Enable's functions. The MCM also controls window- ing, file handling, extensive macro capabil- ities, and a profile of the hardware in your system. The MCM duplicates most of the operat- ing-system file-manipulation commands. The module lets you select, copy, rename, and erase files from a single menu. How- ever, the MCM doesn't display files that were not created by Enable. The MCM also prevents you from accidentally erasing Enable's system files. After you choose a profile, the MCM lets you select one of the four applications modules: word processing, spreadsheet/ graphics, telecommunications (Telecom), [continued] JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 331 REVIEW: ENABLE AT A GLANCE Name Enable 1.0 Type Integrated software package Company The Software Group Northway 10, Executive Park Ballston Lake, NY 12019 (518) 877-8600 Format Three 5 1 /4-inch double-sided floppy disks, MS-DOS 2.0 format Computer IBM PC or compatible with at least 256K bytes of memory and two floppy-disk drives; hard-disk drive suggested Features Word processing, spreadsheet, database management, graphics, windows, macros, communications, context-sensitive help Documentation Five 7- by 9-inch spiral-bound manuals, approximately 150 pages each, three pamphlets, and one keyboard overlay Price $695 and database-management system (DBMS)/graphics. Then it helps you choose the file you wish to process. If you don't remember a file's name, enter a question mark and the MCM takes you to the file-control menu. To select the file you want, move the cur- sor to it and press the enter key. The Software Group gave Enables MCM impressive macro capabilities (the ability to execute stored keystroke sequences, including data entry and commands). You can tell Enable to record keystrokes for playback later or, once you have learned Enable's macro language, you can create macro files with the word processor. The Enable disks contain extensive tutorials that impressively demon- strate use of the macro powers. Word Processing I tried Enable's word-processing func- tion first and it almost soured me on the rest of the program. When the word processor starts up, you must set your document margins each time you start a new file. Next Enable assumes you want a title page for every new document you create. However, you can move the cursor down past the title page and start entering your text. You can also type the key sequence F9-0-N-T to delete the title page. The series of keystrokes necessary to delete the title page typifies one of Enable's big problems: In general, the commands are too complicated and require too much moving about the keyboard for easy learning. For exam- ple, F2 with the up-arrow and P keys takes you to the beginning of a para- graph; F2-P takes you to the end. Most cursor commands start with F2; most text-manipulation commands begin with F9. You can also access most text-ma- nipulation commands from a series of menus that the software displays at the top of the screen when you press F10. Since you can't access all com- mands (such as the title-page com- mand) from the menus, you must fre- quently refer to the keyboard overlay or the manuals. The overlay is printed in very small type and contains rather cryptic explanations. It was frequent- ly difficult to locate the keystroke se- quence I wanted. Usually I resorted to thumbing the pages of the quick- reference guide. Since the menu command se- quences are not similar to the key- board command sequences, the menus do not help you learn the key- board commands. In fact I found that this dissimilarity impeded my learn- ing process. For example, when insert- ing a page break from the menus, you press FI0-L-4; when using keyboard commands, you press F9-Ins-M-P. The Software Group should take a lesson from Mark of the Unicorn and use the same keystroke sequence for menu and keyboard command entry. Mark of the U nicorn's The Final Word brings up a menu if you pause after the com- mand-initializing keystroke or lets you enter the command uninterrupted if you know the correct keystroke sequence. Despite its clumsy, confusing com- mand structure, the Enable word pro- cessor contains almost the same "capabilities you'd find in The Final Word, WordPerfect, or WordStar 2000. This program can create headers and footers, tables of contents, indexes, and footnotes. The Enable word pro- cessor also has a mail-merge function and can perform extensive boilerplate text manipulation using MCM macros. However, I had several reformatting problems when I edited my text. The program refused to move a small block of words from one place on a line to another place on that same line. Sometimes when I deleted or moved a block of text, the software left two spaces in the place from which the block came. Since I couldn't persuade Enable to delete either of the spaces, I was left with two spaces between the remaining words. If I inserted words into the middle of a sentence, thus forcing the end- of-sentence mark (usually a period) and the two spaces before the next sentence to wrap to the next line, the software dropped one of the two spaces. I had to manually reinsert {continued) 332 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Want to hear a demonstration of Hewlett-Packard's Thinkjet Printer? REVIEW: ENABLE another space to maintain the proper distance between sentences. The word processor uses its own format for storing files on disks, but it can also store files in ASCII, Volks writer, EasyWriter, and WordStar file formats. Enable is also supposed to be able to read those other for- mats. However, when I tried to get Enable to read the BYTE standard word-processor benchmark file, a 40-paragraph ASCII file, it would read only the first line. I used a public- domain utility to convert the bench- Enable 1.1 by Rich Malloy The new version of Enable corrects many, but not all. of the deficien- cies reported by Steve King. Enable now comes on four floppy disks (utility system, operation, and tutorial/data) that you must frequently swap in and out of disk drive A. All the disks are copyable. but an Install routine mentioned in the manual does not seem to work. Also, the disk-swap prompt is an irritating sound. The new word processor can now handle text lines longer than 78 col- umns (up to approximately 160 col- umns), lb help you set margins, a small window in the screen's lower right corner indicates which column the cur- sor is in. Also, if a reformatting opera- tion leaves an extra space between words, you can delete the extra space with the Del key. You can turn off the automatic creation of a title page for each new document by changing your system profile. Finally Enable can read ASCII files fairly easily. The database manager can now easily merge data files. The updated spreadsheet offers vari- able formats from 2 56 rows by 2 56 col- umns to 4095 rows by 1 5 columns. The spreadsheet can also easily read and recalculate Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets. The telecommunications module now lets you set up a wide range of communications parameters. It also can do simple auto-log-on procedures. However, this module still has a few simple problems. For example, it stores your desired parameters on the utility disk, but the operation disk looks for these parameters on your data disk. Some items were not mentioned by Steve King. Enable does not currently support printers made by Star Micron- ics. C. Itoh, or Mannesmann TSlly. No provision lets you modify Enable for additional unsupported printers. When I set up Enable for an Epson MX-80, connected an IBM PC to a Star Micronics Gemini printer, and told the system to print, it locked up ir- retrievably. The word processor seems to con- tain other shortcomings. Copying a block of text seems to cause some paragraph indentation in the block to be lost. And for some reason, the backspace key functions as a reverse space bar; it blanks out the character to the left but does not delete the space. You can change this to a nor- mal backspace function by adjusting your system profile, but the backspace key sometimes reverts to its default behavior for no apparent reason. Finally, in the system-profile section, you apparently cannot change that part of your system profile that refers to your modem. After a brief test. I would judge the updated product to be much closer to its advertised claims than the version used by Steve King. Note that because of the extensive disk swapping re- quired. I would discourage Enable's use on floppy-disk systems. Also, like Mr. King, I would have preferred that the publisher had made Enable's menu and command sequences identical. Finally some procedures, such as In- stall and the one to set up a particular modem, do not seem to work. All in all, on a hard-disk system and for certain applications requiring several different functions, Enable ap- pears to be a viable, if somewhat idio- syncratic, product. Rich Malloy is the New York editor for BYTE. He can be reached at BYTE. McGraw-Hill 43rd Floor, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York. NY 10020. mark file to WordStar format, but the Enable word processor still would read only the first paragraph of that format. Database Management Of Enable's functions, I found the database-management system and the spreadsheet to be the most logical and the easiest to use. The DBMS module contains almost all the capabilities of popular middleweight database managers such as dBASE II or Condor 3. However, Enable allows the use of, but not yet the merging of, multiple data files. Although the Enable DBMS module doesn't contain a built-in programming language, as dBASE II and Condor 3 do, the MCM's macro capabilities combined with Enable's report language let you design sophisticated data-manage- ment programs, such as general ledgers or inventory-control modules. The Enable DBMS can read dBASE II data files directly. Since The Soft- ware Group also provides a utility pro- gram, Convert, that translates ASCII- format data files to Enable format, the Enable DBMS can use files created by almost any other database program. I imported a 1260-record mailing list into Enable that Condor 3 had created. I simply told Condor 3 to store the file with fixed-length fields in ASCII format and then used Con- vert to finish the conversion process. Each record in an Enable database file can have up to 32 fields (like dBASE II and Condor 3) of entered data or up to 113 fields containing data that is derived or calculated from the entered data. However, each record is limited to 2000 characters. With Enable, you design a database with a series of menus that lets you specify the type and limits for each field. The software lets you specify an amazing number of details about the limitations for each field, including whether data is entered from the key- board, derived from another database or from another field, or copied from the operating system. Next, Enable helps you design the data-entry forms for each database. (continued) 334 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 t WSintto. „ hear it again? You made about as much noise turning the page as the Thinkjet Printer makes turning one out. So it lets you do two things at once. Print. And think. Without sound hoods. Without remote printing stations. Without aspirin. (And without a lot of clutter. The only thing smaller than the Thinkjet Printer is its price: $495?) Better still, it works with just about every personal computer. Hear the Thinkjet Printer sound off. Call (800) FOR-HPPC, Dept.276X, for the Hewlett-Packard dealer nearest you. m HEWLETT PACKARD *U.S. list price. PG02511 fe SKIGRAPHICS. ONE KEYSTROKE TURNS LIFELESS DAIA... 3W % K into vital statistics. Data. You live with it every day. What you need are the tools to make it come alive. Comprehensive analytical tools. Mathematical precision. And graphics capabilities to broaden your insights— to help you visualize, analyze, and communicate your find- ings quickly and convincingly. And now you've got it. With STATGRAPHICS-a new PLUS* WARE™ product from STSC. STATGRAPHICS is the only PC soft- ware to fully integrate a wide variety of statistical functions with high- resolution color graphics. Giving you the power and precision you used to find only with mainframe software. STATGRAPHICS' unique inter- active environment allows you to generate graphs from within the statistical procedures. You can change a variable and see the effect— im- mediately. So your job is easier and you're more productive. MORE OPTIONS FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS. STATGRAPHICS features over 250 functions for analyzing data — including analysis of variance, regres- sion analysis, experimental design, quality control procedures, multivariate techniques, nonparametric methods, and extensive forecasting and time series analysis. It also lets you enter data at the keyboard or access data stored in standard ASCII files, LOTUS® 1-2-3 worksheets, and DIF files used by other popular software packages. TELL A CLEARER, MORE DRAMATIC STORY. STATGRAPHICS includes a wide variety of graphics programs such as two and three-dimensional line and sur- face plots, bar and pie charts, histograms, time sequence plots, and quality control charts. The graphics are supported on color and monochrome graphics boards, dot-matrix printers, and pen plotters for presentation quality graphics. SOPHISTICATED STATGRAPHICS IS SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE TO USE. STATGRAPHICS is completely menu-driven, and includes a com- prehensive user's guide, online HELP screens, tutorial, and handy reference card. And STSC's HELP-Line is only a phone call away— giving you ready ac- cess to our staff of technical experts. TAKE A LOOK AT STATGRAPHICS. AND LOOK NO FURTHER. STATGRAPHICS is the most ad- vanced statistical graphics software available for PC's. And the complete system is just $695. To order STATGRAPHICS, or for more information, contact your local dealer or call 800-592-0050 (in Maryland, 301-984-5123). Or write STSC, Inc., 2115 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852. Major credit cards accepted. Inquiry 340 Problem-solving at the speed of thought. ^^PJP^ STATGRAPHICS operates on IBM PC's and compatibles under DOS, Version 2.0 or later. A minimum of 384K RAM, a graphics adapter and compatible monitor, and two 3^ | ^P^ double-sided disk drives or a hard disk are required. An 8087 math coprocessor and 512K RAM are recommended. a Contei Company STATGRAPHICS is a registered trademark of Statistical Graphics Corporation. PLUS * WARE is a trademark of STSC, Inc. LOTUS is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. Inquiry 312 REVIEW: ENABLE While designing an entry form, you can access the word-processing module to add text enhancements that give instructions to the data-entry person. You can also specify a verifi- cation method that requires entering a particular field twice when accuracy is important. Finally, the DBMS module lets you design reports in almost the exact way that you design data-entry forms. However, The Software Group also has included a rudimentary program- ming language for creating reports in Enable. Using the word processor, you can construct a report with a series of dot commands (words pre- ceded by a period, or dot). The report language contains .if, .elseif. .else, .exit, and .endif commands to handle conditional situations. When you are not designing a new database, you can bypass the DBMS menu and enter direct commands to the software as you do when using the word-processing module. The F9 key initiates these commands but, once again, no relationship exists be- tween the menu command sequence and the keyboard command se- quence. Spreadsheet Since I don't own Lotus 1-2-3, 1 bor- rowed a friend's copy for comparing it to the Enable spreadsheet. Enable's spreadsheet looks like 1-2-3 and has a similar command structure, but it of- fers a maximum worksheet size of only 2 55 rows by 2 5 5 columns. How- ever, my friend, who is much more of a spreadsheet expert than I am, believes Enable's spreadsheet size is more than adequate for most uses. Since I normally use the Report Manager spreadsheet from Datamen- sion (Northbrook, Illinois), which allows 2 56 pages of spreadsheets as well as 2 56 rows and 2 56 columns per page, 1 found both the Enable spread- sheet and 1-2-3 somewhat limiting. Report Manager's third dimension (pages) lets you generate multiple related spreadsheets, such as a budget page for each month of a year. The Software Group incorporated {continued) Inquiry 200 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 337 BOX.OFFICEHIT. *0£ Most software companies would call it a stroke of luck if they designed a system so effective, it became the small business favorite. We call it a stroke of genius. McGRAW-HILL 800-292CYMA Inquiry 187 REVIEW: ENABLE most typical spreadsheet capabilities in Enable, such as range commands and global formatting. Enable also has many mathematical functions, in- cluding business functions (e.g.. amor- tization payments and internal rate of return), scientific functions (e.g., sine and cosine), and logical/conditional functions (e.g., choose, if, true, and false). The Enable 1 .0 spreadsheet can also save files in 1-2-3, VisiCalc, and DIF formats, but strangely enough cannot read files in those formats. Graphing Both the database and spreadsheet modules let you design graphics images on the video screen if your PC has graphics capabilities. Enable can create vertical bar graphs in two and three dimensions, as well as pie charts and line graphs. I found Enable's graphs much easier to format and print than those created by 1-2-3, Report Manager, and Con- dor Graf. You can design various levels of titles for graphs and embellish them with nine different fonts. Telecommunications Enables telecommunications module is its weakest point. It requires even more disk swapping than the others and has some severe bugs. For exam- ple, after you choose Iklecom from the main MCM menu, Enable lets you select Communicate or Setup. Setup supposedly lets you change com- munications parameters. When I tried to use Setup, however, the program beeped repeatedly and instructed me to insert the tutorial/data disk. Enable never accepted the disk asked for and, thus, never let me change the communications setup. 1 did manage to convince Enable to communicate by using the Communi- cate selection to access the program's terminal mode. 1 called a bulletin- board system and tried to download a public-domain program using the XMODEM error-checking protocol. Unfortunately, after you tell Enable to receive a file using XMODEM, the program prompts you to swap a disk before it begins to receive the file. {continued) « — Inquiry 94 for End-Users. Inquiry 95 for DEALERS ONLY. WRITE TURBO PASCAL APPLICATIONS FAST WITH WfW ZEUS. TM Generate entire applications, including reports and menus, from start to finish with amazing speed. • 300 fields per logical screen, 4 physical screens per logical screen. • Screens are compiled, not interpreted. • Predefined I/O types of String, Real, Integer, Phone and Date, User definable types, • Bullet-proof Data Entry. • Generates entire Database programs with Add, Change, Inquire, Delete and Backup functions predefined, • Includes algorithm (and uses) for a resident Binary Tree indexing for no wait lookups. Easy to change to other methods. Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International PC-DOS is a trademark ot International Business Machines Corporation MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation • Generates easily modifiable code. • Completely menu driven. • Includes Database Generator, Report Generator, Menu Generator, and I/O Function Generator (to define additional I/O types similar to phone and data types, which are predefined). REQUIRES: Turbo Pascal and PC- DOS 2.0 or higher. Soon available 'on MS-DOS. $59.95 unprotected (includes postage and handling only in U.S.) Georgia residents add 4% sales tax. CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-JMC-8667 or 1-404-736-8265 JMC Research, Inc. 803 Eisenhower Drive Augusta, Georgia 30904 69 "So before Harris-Lanier showed up, your PCs wouldn } t share information?" "And now they're working together non-stop" FDR YOUR INFORMAOON, OUR NAME IS SHE For more details on how Harris-Lanier can get your PCs to share information, call 1-800-241-1706. HARRIS Inquiry 201 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 339 MICROWAY'S 8087 RUNS 1-2-3™! MicroWay is the world's leading retail- er of 8087s and high performance PC upgrades. We stock a complete selec- tion of8087sthat run at 5 and 8mhz. All of ourcoprocessors are shipped with a diagnostic disk and the best warranty in the business - one year! 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 from 4 to 8 mhz. Our NUMBER SMASHER™ in- cludes 5 1 2K ram. It will run the IBM PC at clock speeds up to 10mhz and achieves a throughput of .1 megaflops with 87BASIC/INLINE, Intel Fortran, or Microsoft Fortran. Software reviewers consistently cite MicroWay software as the best in the industry! Our cus- tomers frequently write to thank us for recommending the correct software and hardware to meet their specific needs. They also thank us for our same day shipping! In addition to our own products which support the 8087 and 80287, we stock the largest supply of specialized software available any- where. For information call us at 61 7-746-7341 FASTBREAK™. . . MicroWay's software turns on your 8087 during 1- 2-3™ execution. Recalculations run up to 36 times faster. When used with the NUMBERSMASHER™itcanprovidea total increase in 1-2-3'" execution speed of up to 79 to 1. FASTBREAK providesyouwith the unique capability for running other programs on top of 1 - 2-3. These programs can be written in BASIC, PASCAL, Fortran or C and can access the current values i n your 1 -2-3 worksheet $79 FASTBREAK & 640K NUMBER SMASHER . . . $1099 mtaM ] m^^.-^ nvtnEPr *4,t ' -"l * fell _ ,. rf^swjrs tnritinrinrihhn ifci tia U4 ; JgH(09gpp|l3KIK!QKX< r i » w, 9 &* LIFEBOAT 1TW1 to 1985 Lifeboat Associates ,TM Safeguard your computer system with the essential peripheral . . . Perma Power® Power Commander Computer Power Control Center When valuable equipment and irreplaceable data are on the firing line, it makes sense to protect them from the dangers lurking in the power line. Trust the Power Commander™ Computer Power Control Center to guard your sensitive circuitry from voltage spikes and surges, while giving you fingertip control of your computer and four peripherals. • Prevents data loss and physical damage from switching and lightning-induced transient voltage surges • Provides both common-mode and normal-mode surge suppression • Reduces line noise from RFI/EMI inter- ference • Positive Shutdown Mechanism* pre- vents operation of unprotected equipment • Performance specified to IEEE Std. 587 (Category A) • U.L. listed • FULL FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY See the new Power Commander™— along with the full line of Perma Power Surge Suppressors and Sockets Plus™ Multiple Outlet Strips— at computer stores and office supply dealers nationwide. *patent pending P£RMA POWER. tiecfronics inc. 5615 West Howard Avenue • Chicago, Illinois 60648 Telephone (312) 647-9414 Inquiry 279 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 343 REVIEW FEEDBACK TOSHIBA PI 340 I have become a bit puzzled about the reviews for printers in BYTE the past year or so. particularly after purchasing a Toshiba PI 340 printer. The review of the Epson LQ-1 500 (BYTE, December 1984, page 293) gives a sam- ple of print from the PI 340 that was made with a printer that was not working prop- erly (see Maxim Smith's letter in Review Feedback, May 1985, page 299). The same is true of reviews of the IBM Quietwriter (June 1985, page 385) and the P1340 itself (October 1985, page 305). The print samples from the P1340 in all three of these reviews were done with PI 340 printers that were not working properly. When 1 got my PI 340. 1 was warned that it was common for the flexible cable from the printer body to the print head to work loose, or partly loose, and that 1 would need to be sure that it was securely con- nected. Until I did this, my printer did not print properly. Whatever the cause, the PI 340 can (and should) print better than the examples shown in BYTE. Reviews of the PI 340 should warn buyers about the possibility of loose cable connection, or whatever causes the problem. Dennis P. McGuire Minneapolis, MN 1 want to compliment your review of the Toshiba PI 340 printer. 1 was particularly impressed that the reviewer, Rich M alloy, accurately reported the machine's usable fonts, rather than repeating the erroneous specifications advertised by Toshiba. It should be emphasized to your readers that this machine does not have a usable letter-quality font at 12 characters per inch, despite the fact that Toshiba implies such a font in its advertising and in the user's manual for the P1340. In fact, my experi- ence with Toshiba after purchasing a PI 340 suggests a disdain on the part of Toshiba for its customers; this might be of interest to any of your readers contemplat- ing the purchase of a Toshiba printer. Readers should know that an executive of the company told me that since 1 had purchased the printer from a discount house, at a below-list price. 1 had no right to expect Toshiba to accept return of the printer. Had I purchased the machine from an authorized, "full-price" dealer, Toshiba would have accepted a return. Altogether, my experience with the Toshiba PI 340 was very unsatisfactory. That is too bad because in many respects it is a very nice printer. My advice is to look for a manufacturer that has some regard for its customers and for the integri- ty of its advertising. Eugene H. Levy Tucson, AZ Deskpro Graphics In the August 1985 Review Feedback (page 283), Bryan Mumford made a note that the Compaq Deskpro will not run any of the popular graphics cards, such as the Hercules card. This is not quite the case. The monitor supplied with the standard Deskpro will not run on these cards. When 1 saw this letter. 1 went to the local Micro Mart; they assured me that the Deskpro will run these cards. 1 have seen Deskpros running a Sigma Color Design 400 with a Princeton Graphic Systems SR-12 Monitor. They also claim that they have sold Deskpros with Tecmar Graph- ics Master cards and several other graph- ics cards, but not with the Deskpro monitor. One suggestion to Mr. Mumford: See if the Princeton Scan Doubler will work with the Compaq Graphics Adapter; that will give you 640 by 400 resolution on the Compaq monitor. Andrew Bowen Bethel Park, PA Stearns Desktop The review of the Stearns Desktop Com- puter (October 1985. page 264) by Wayne Rash Jr. mentioned some severe problems without correctly identifying the causes. Though 1 left Stearns in May 1 985, 1 was the hotline support specialist who answered Mr. Rash's telephone questions and inspected the Stearns computer after he returned it. The computer he used for the review was in BYTE's possession for over a year and had been visibly damaged in one (or more) of the three (or was it four?) shipments that BYTE ar- ranged for the computer. The unit had been dropped so hard that the hardened plastic case cracked, freeing the case's re- taining screws. One of these loose screws lodged under the main computer board (affecting the keyboard interface), a sec- ond was found in the power supply, and the third was near the disk controller. When the screws were removed, the key- board and disk drives functioned perfect- ly. Few electronic devices function well (if at all) when shorted. Perhaps, in retrospect, 1 should have been more insistent about shipping a re- placement unit. After all, the first dealer service provided to Mr. Rash was removal of a piece of the plastic case from the in- terior of the floppy-disk drive. He repeat- edly refused my offers to send a unit directly from the factory— an admirable at- tempt by BYTE to maintain continuity and integrity, but a mistake in this case. Carol L. Jahnke Bloomington, MN For the most part, Ms. Jahnke 's reply may accurately reflect the condition of the computer when it arrived in the Stearns offices. I did not notice any severe damage to the machine when I had it, but it was shipped twice more after that. 1 should note, however, that I would have expected the local service representative to bring such damage to my attention during one of his numerous visits. Since the service rep said nothing, I had to assume that the machine was in optimum operating order. I should also add that Ms. Jahnke was the model of patience and helpfulness during the time 1 had the computer. 1 wish that other computer companies would staff their hotlines with people like her. Finally, let me add that even had the machine operated flawlessly, my findings as to the utility of the machine, its level of compatibility, and the level of docu- mentation would still stand and would still lead me to make the same recom- mendation as to its desirability. —Wayne Rash ]r. ■ REVIEW FEEDBACK is a column of readers let- ters. We welcome responses that support or challenge BYTE reviews. Send letters to Review Feedback. BYTE Publications. POB 372, Hancock. NH 03449. blame and address must be on all letters. 344 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 ■■■■. Chic. Seldom are computers thought of as beautiful. But out of every thousand , there is always one that catches the eye. Such a computer is the stunning new WS- 1 . The audition starts when you open the flip-top of this intriguing portable. Switch on, and the WS- 1 becomes a word- processor, a spreadsheet, a database, or a graphics tool. Stay in touch, with the WS-l's built-in autodial modem, speaker phone, and cassette mechanism. Send files, take calls, or even run the WS-1 as an answering machine! / See us at the COMDEX Show in Atlanta, Georgia, April 28 to May 1, 1986 The WS-1 offers some surprises inside too. Such as a powerful 16/ 32-bit 68000 microprocessor, ROM- based multitasking Operating System, and APL interpreter. Or features like the high-contrast 25 X 80 bit-mapped graphics LCD, RAM expan- sion up to 5 12K, and optional 3 . 5-inch microfloppy disk drives. All this power comes in a sleek foot- printofonly 11 X 13 inches. We think you'll agree that the WS- 1 really is one out of a thousand. Bmpene Inquiry 19 FOR DISTRIBUTORSHIP INFORMATION AND PRODUCT DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT: BmpEPE fmCORPORATtD Asahi Bldg. , 7-5-20 Nishi-Shinjuku. Shinjuku-ku. Tokyo. Japan. Phone: 03-365-0825. Telefax. 03-365-OW;. Telex. J33101 AMPERE. 1 P Sharp Mail BoxGxic AMP (Group Code APLWS). Wr\Pt GPACC U - s - REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE. 3K48 Carson St. Suite 301 KMRftr-isFr&P Torranic. California i>0503, U.S.A. Phone. ^213-540-1553. COMPUTER IMC Telex: .322SOOWORKSPACE BUTE Kernel Computing at Chaos Manor: One Minor Problem by jerry Pournelle 349 Chaos Manor Mail conducted by ]erry Pournelle 366 According to Webster-. Benchmarking by Bruce Webster 371 BYTE Japan: Favoring Kanji by William M. Raike 381 BYTE U.K.: The Acorn RISC Machine by Dick Pountain 387 Mathematical Recreations: Euclids Algorithm by Robert T Kurosaka 397 Circuit Cellar Feedback conducted by Steve Garcia 403 One minor problem. That's all it was— nothing more. We've all had them. In fact most of us have them every day. In Jerry's case, however the one minor problem kept going on and on and on. It just happened to be the day before Friday the 13th. Although it turned out to be a day that Jerry would not care to relive, he did learn some lessons from it and still has the highest praise for what personal computers can do. With the big move to Utah finally completed, Bruce Webster- feels that he is ready to start working again. This month's According to Webster deals largely with the subject of benchmarks. Bruce discusses what characteristics they should have, how to interpret them, and factors other than performance you should consider. He also makes a number of predictions for 1986 and prom- ises to review them at the end of the year. This month in BYTE Japan, Bill Raike focuses on the new NEC computers in the PC-9801 series, which no longer have the 8086 but are quite a bit faster. Another new Japanese product that Bill reports on is the long-awaited Japanese-language version of the Macintosh and some software that comes with it. It is the result of the linkup between Apple and Canon and is actually a kanji-character ROM board that's been piggybacked onto the main board of a 512Kbyte Macintosh. Finally Bill discusses the Fujitsu lap-size portable computer that he reported on in last August's BYTE Japan. It is now called the FM-167T and is available at very reasonable prices, but only in Japan. The events leading to the development of the Acorn RISC Machine, or ARM, is the topic of BYTE U.K. Dick Pountain covers the background provided by previous Acorn machines and describes the goals of the design team and how they were implemented in this RISC processor. In Mathematical Recreations, Bob Kurosaka returns to the subject of repeating decimals, covered in his November column. That column concluded with an algorithm for converting repeating decimals into fractions. This month's column presents a program to implement that algorithm. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 347 ynti«uui!NHivu;ifctii^imu helps save time, money and cut frustrations. Compare, evaluate, and find products. SERVICES • Programmer's Referral List • Dealer's Inquire • Compare Products • Newsletter • Help find a Publisher • Rush Order • Evaluation Literature FREE • Over 700 products • BULLETIN BO ARD- 7PM to7AM 617-826-4086 Al - Expert System Dev't ExpertEASE - Inductive. PCDOS Call EXSYS - All RAM, Probability. Why. Trees, Solid, files, popular PCDOS $359 INSIGHT 1 - Probabilities, required thresholds, menus, fast PCDOS $ 95 INSIGHT 2 - adds backward, forward, par- titions, dB2, lang. access. PCDOS $449 Others: APES ($359), Advisor ($949), ES Construction ($ 1 00), ESP ($845), Expert Choice ($449), more. SERVICE: FREE NEWSLETTER Software development and AI on micros: trends, forecasts, con- troversies, innovations, and techniques. Plus announcement of 80 NEW tools. CALL for "Newsletter Packet." List Our GC LISP - "Common", rich. Interpreter - Interactive Tutorial 495 Call LARGE Model - 2 to 15 meg. 695 649 Compiler and LM Interpreter 1 190 1045 TLC LIS P - "LISP-Machine" - like, all RAM, classes, turtle graphics, 8087, compiler. CPM-86, MSDOS $235 WALTZ LISP - "FRANZ LISP" - like, big nums, debug, CPM-80, MSDOS $149 Others: ExperLISP ($439), IQ LISP ($155),TransLisp-PC($75), BYSO($125),MuLISP-86($199) Al- PROLOG ARITY PROLOG - full, debug, ASM, C, virtual. Compiler $1950 MSDOS $495 MPROLOG - Rich syntax, editor, segment work space, portable. PCDOS $725 Prolog-86 - Learn Fast. Standard, tutorials, samples MSDOS Call Others: Prolog- 1 ($359), Prolog-2 ($1895), MicroProlog($229), Prof. MicroProlog ($359). Editors for Programming BRIEF Programmer's Editor - undo, windows, reconfigure PCDOS Call C Screen with source 80/86 $ 75 EMACS by UniPress - powerful, multifile, windows, DOS, MLISP. programming. Source: $949 $299 Entry System forC-Bellesoft PCDOS $325 FirsTime by Spruce - Improve . productivity. Syntax directed for Turbo ($69), Pascal ($229), orC ($239) PMATE - power, multitask 80/86 $159 VEDIT - well liked PCDOS $119 XTC - multitasking PCDOS $ 95 Paragon PASCAL - for performance: extensions like "packages"; "Iterators"; 5 memory models; 64 bit 8087; strings. Space vs. speed optimization options. MSDOS $895 C Language - Compilers BDS C - solid value, fast CPM80 $125 C86 by CI - 8087, reliable MSDOS Call Lattice C - from Lifeboat MSDOS $289 Lattice C - from Lattice MSDOS $339 /Consulair Mac C w/toolkit MAC $299 Megamax - tight, full MAC $239 Microsoft C 3.0 -new, tight. MSDOS $259 Q/C 88 by CodeWorks - Compiler source, decent code, cross/native MSDOS $295 Williams - source debug. MSDOS $399 Wizard C - Lattice C compatible, full Sys. Ill, lint, fast. MSDOS $399 C Language- Interpreters C-terp by Gimpel - full K & R, .OBJ and ASM, large progs. MSDOS $249 INSTANT C - Source debug, Edit to Run-3 seconds MSDOS $399 INTRODUCING C - Interactive C to learn fast, tutorial PCDOS $115 RUN/C - improved MSDOS $109 C Libraries -General Blaise C Tools 1 ($109), C Tools 2 $89 C Food by Lattice - ask for source $ 1 1 9 C*LIB by Vance $125 C Utilities by Essential - 300+ $149 Greenleaf Functions - portable & ASM $ 1 49 Polytron - for Lattice, ASM source $ 99 Software Horizons - Pack 1 $129 C Libraries - Applications COMMUNICATIONS: AsynchMgr $175 Greenleaf- full, respected $149 Software Horizons - Pack 3 $139 FILES: Btrieve - multilanguage $199 C Index by Trio - full B -I- Tree, vary length field, multi compiler /File is object only $ 89 /Pro is partial source $179 /Plus is full source $349 C Tree by Faircom - source, port. $349 dbclSAM by Lattice for dB2 or 3 $219 dbVISTA - full indexing, plus optional record types, pointers. Network. Object only - MS C, LAT, C86 $179 Source - Single user $459 Source - Multiuser $929 Ask about Atari ST, Amiga Note: All prices subject to change without notice. Mention this ad. Some prices are specials. Ask about COD and PO's. All formats available. RECENT DISCOVERY dB ASE to C translator: dBX - no royalties, addon ISAM, MSDOS $ 350 Source $1000 Call for a catalog, literature, and solid value 800-421-8006 THE PROGRAMMER'S SHOP ™ 128-B Rockland Street, Hanover, MA 02339 Mass: 800442-8070 or 617-826-7531 1085 C Support -Systems C Debug - Source debuggers - by Complete Soft ($269), MSD ($ 1 49). C Sharp - well supported, Source, realtime, tasks MSDOS C Sprite Debugger by Lattice C ToolSet - DIFF, xref, source PC Lint - fall C program checking and big, small model. All C's $600 $149 $135 $119 Low Cost Languages ECO C/88 by Ecosoft $ 50 Introducing C - Step by step training $109 TransLisp-PC - "Common Lisp", tutorial, graphics, 230 functions, samples $ 75 Modula 2 by ITC - Windows, tight $ 80 Prolog-86 - enhanced, DOS, Edit Call Quick BASIC by Microsoft - Compile BASICA, Link $ 79 Snobol4-l- by Catspaw - Strings $ 85 Turbo Edit/Assembler $ 85 TURBO PASCAL and SUPPORT BORLAND: Turbo 3.0 $ 49 3.0 with 8087 or BCD $ 79 3.0 with 8087 and BCD $ 85 Turbo Graphix - graphs, windows $ 39 Turbo Toolbox or Editor $ 55 Turbo Tutor $ 29 TURBO . . . Asynch by Blaise, full $ 89 MetaWindow by Metagraphics $ 49 Power Tools by Blaise - library $ 89 Power Utilities - profiler, pp $ 89 Professional -interrupts, macros, $ 50 OTHERS: FirsTime ($69), Screen Sculptor ($99), Pascal Pac ($ 1 00), Tidy ($45), Multi Halo ($95). Fortran & Supporting Forlib-f- by Alpha - graph, comm. $ 59 MACFortran by Microsoft - full 77 $239 PolyFortran - xref, pp, screen $149 Prospero - '66, reentrant $390 RM Fortran - enhanced "IBM Fin" $429 Scientific Subroutines - Matrix $149 Strings and Things - registers, shell $ 59 MultiLanguage Support Advanced Trace 86 Symbolic, rewrite Assembler $149 Btrieve/N ($469), single user $199 Codesifter - executive profiler $109 LMK Make by Lattice $159 MultiHalo- full $199 Panel - Screens, windows $239 Periscope II symbolic debugger $129 PFinish - Profile by line, routine $299 PLink-86 - 32 levels, overlays $289 PolyLibrarian - Manage .OBJs $ 89 TexSys - Source code control $ 89 348 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 291 COMPUTING AT CHAOS MANOR One Minor Problem Nearly Friday the 13th Reflections SpaceWar Bridge Parlor Nemesis MandelZoom Cardiovascular Program PC-Sweep FUPROLOK Copy II PC Option Board Hacker Ethic BY JERRY POURNELLE \erry Pournelle holds a doctorate in psychology and is a science- fiction writer who also earns a comfortable living writing about computers present and future. I've been back from Europe for nearly a month, during which time I've answered 532 letters, thrown out 11 9-gallon trash bags of paper, and caught the flu. Withal, things have almost settled to normalcy. The construction is finished, most of the archaeological layers of mail have been answered, many of my books have been taken from boxes and shelved, and some of the great software inflow has been organized. I've even had time to work on a novel. On the other hand. . . Day of the Locust It was not Friday the 13th. It was the day before. It all started when Mrs. Pournelle made a weekend visit to Seattle. She took along Percy, the NEC PC-8201 lapboard portable. On the way back, she wrote a chapter for her new book and naturally wanted it trans- ferred over to her machine, which happens to be the Zenith Z-150. "No problem," said I. Little did I know. Our usual method for transferring Percy's files is to use an RS-232C cable to connect him up to a port on the Golem, our big CompuPro 286/Z80 S-100 Dual Processor. The Golem now reliably runs Concurrent DOS 4.0 and can read and write to a lot of different disk formats: 8-inch and 514-inch as well as CP/M and MS-DOS. More on this later. There is a minor problem: I don't yet have the proper Concurrent DOS software to transfer files in through the Golem's serial ports. Real Soon Now, they tell me. Mean- while, it is only a minor problem. The Golem boots Concurrent DOS off the hard disk, but he first looks to see if there's a floppy in the top 8-inch drive. If there is, he boots that, which means I can bring him up in old- fashioned CP/M-86, and that's not only as solid as a rock but has all the usual CP/M capability for using PIP to transfer files in and out of serial ports. I can bring in files and stash them on the hard disk or in the memory drive, open the 8-inch drive door, press Reset, and everything's fine. Well, there is another minor problem. The Golem has two terminals: our ancient (and extremely reliable) TfeleVideo 950 and Com- puPro's PC Video board, which is designed to make an S-100 system capable of running a fair number of MS-DOS programs under Concurrent DOS. The PC Video board naturally wants an IBM-PCompatible key- board. We've been testing the Enigma 9000, which is a very good keyboard indeed, but it has an interesting feature: when you first turn on the machine, the keyboard squeals and howls until it gets a signal to shut up. This is fine if I'm booting Concurrent DOS, but when I boot with CP/M, nothing ever talks to that keyboard, so it's going to howl until doomsday, and that's irritating. "No problem," I say, reaching behind the Golem to unplug the silly thing. My wife, who thinks computers don't like her even though she has made a truce with the Z-l 50 and actually likes the PC-8201 a lot, waited expectantly for her text. "Hmm," I said. "It doesn't seem to be booting. Maybe a bad boot disk." I removed the 8-inch disk and hit Reset to let the Golem boot up with Concurrent DOS. Nothing. "Oh. I have to plug that key- board back in." I did. Reset. Nothing. "Do we panic yet?" Roberta asked. "Yes" Actually what I did was call Tony Pietsch. When Reset does nothing, you have a real problem. He listened to the symptoms. "Don't know. That's hardware, all right. Have you done the usual? Check the fan filter? l&ke the cover off and push the boards in? Check the cable connections?" "Uh, yeah," I said somewhat sheepishly. I hadn't told him about removing and re- placing the keyboard cable. I managed to get off the line. Sure enough, the hard-disk cable connector next to the keyboard input socket had been partially displaced; it took about one second to fix that, after which everything worked fine. [continued) JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 349 Inquiry 290 WALTZ LISP The universal, superefficient LISP for MS-DOS and CP/M. Waltz Lisp is a very powerful and complete implementation of Lisp. It is substantially compatible with established mainframe Lisps such as Franz (the Lisp running under Unix), Common Lisp, and Maclisp. In independent tests, Waltz Lisp was up to twenty)!) times faster than competing microcomputer Lisps. Easy to use. Built-in WS-compatible full- screen file editor: Full debug- ging and error handling facilities are available at all times. No debuggers to link or load. Random file access, binary file support, and extensive string operations make Waltz Lisp suitable for general programming. Several utilities are included in the package. Functions of type lambda (expr), nlambda (fexpr), lexpr, macro. Splicing and non-splicing character macros. Full suite of mappers, iterators, etc. Long integers (up to 611 digits). Fast list sorting using user defined comparison predicates. Built-in prettyprinting and formatting facilities. Nearly 300 functions in all. Transparent (yet programmable) handling of undefined function references allows large programs to reside partially on disk at run time. Automatic loading of initializa- tion file. Assembly language interface. Each aspect of the interpreter is described in detail. The 300+ page manual includes an exhaustive index. Hundreds of illustra- tive examples. Superbly documented. Order Waltz Lisp now and receive free our PROLOG Interpreter Clog PROLOG is a tiny (but very complete) PROLOG implementation written entirely in Waltz Lisp. In addition to the full source code, the package includes a 50 page Clog manual. 16-bit versions require DOS 2.x orCP/M-86 and 128K RAM (more recommended). Z-80 version requires CP/M 2.x or 3.x and 48K RAM minimum. Waltz Lisp runs on hundreds of different computer models and is available in all disk formats. 5169 'Manual only: $30 (refund- able with order). Foreign orders: add $5 for surface mail, S20 for airmail. COD add S3. Apple CP/M, hard sector, and 3" formats add S15. MC/Visa accepted. For further information or to order call 1-800-LIP-4000 Dept. 31 El In Oregon and outside USA call 1-503-684-3000. ODE 15930 SW Colony PI. Portland, OR 97224 INTERNATIONAL* CHAOS MANOR Well, there was a minor problem. The Golem has a lot of RS-232C con- nectors on the back. Concurrent DOS can support four physical terminals. The next hardware development here is to link the Golem with Zeke, the CompuPro Z80 I'm writing this with. I can also simultaneously connect up several different printers and under Concurrent DOS simply say PRINTER NEC or PRINTER HP, after which the Golem knows which port and printer protocol to use. That's necessary. The HP LaserJet is a fine printer for near- ly everything, but it can't handle fan- fold. Once a month I call in my ac- counting program, make journal en- tries for all the checks, and voila!, I'm done with all that until next tax time; but, of course, the check-writing pro- gram expects the checks to be on fan- fold paper. Anyway, there are many cable con- nectors, and, alas, while each of those connectors has a label, I have never written down which one is the TTY port under CP/M-86. 1 mean, I've done this 20 times, right? It's obvious, right? Wrong. And indeed, I did write it down about a year ago in a logbook. Unfor- tunately, I never got around to index- ing the log. Oh well, it's easier to ex- periment with different places to plug in than to search through that log. It's a simple experiment. Just put the PC-820I in Terminal mode and enter STAT CON: = TTY:. When you get things plugged in in the right place, Percy controls the Golem and all's well. Of course, there is a minor problem. You have to be sure Percy and the Golem's TTY port are set for the same baud rate. The PC-820I is set for 9600 baud. I don't remember what baud rate we set for the TTY port under the old CP/M 2.2 BIOS (basic input/output system), but it doesn't matter. Chang- ing the Golem's baud rate is simple, lust type Baud 06 9600 (port 6 is the TTY port). Of course, if the baud rate is wrong, you can't change it if you've already assigned the console to the TTY port. The machine's not listening to anything except the TTY port, and it won't hear anything coming in at the wrong baud rate. . . Reset takes care of that. Now change the baud rate, then use STAT, and plug the cable in. . . After about 1 5 minutes of mucking about, I had that taken care of. The cable was connected, Percy and the Golem were on the same wavelength, and we were ready to send over Roberta's file. There was one minor problem. The simplest way to bring a file into a CP/M system from a port is to use PIP. Thie, if the file is larger than I6K bytes, CP/M has to go off and write some directory information at the I6K-byte boundary, but a 286 ma- chine writing to a RAM (random- access read/write memory) disk will seldom lose anything, even at 9600 baud; certainly not more than a char- acter or two. There are better ways for transferring important data or pro- grams, but for text, PIP is the easy way to go. I invoked PIP. "Requires Concurrent DOS," re- sponded the Golem. "Yeah, of course." I muttered. PIP.CMD is for Concurrent DOS. We'd kept the old CP/M 2.2 PIP, but re- named it. Only what had we called it? Directory-search time. Sigh. The Golem has a lot of files on the hard disk in the A0 area. There's a reason, of course: system files stored on the A: drive, user area 0, can be invoked from any user area of any disk drive. Search away. Eventually I found PIP22.COM, after which it took about 30 seconds to transfer Mrs. Pour- nelle's file over to the Golem and another 1 5 seconds to write it from the RAM disk to an 8-inch floppy. No matter what else happened, that file was safe. I disconnected the RS-232C cable, removed the CP/M 8-inch boot disk, reconnected the keyboard, and pressed Reset. Concurrent DOS came up fine. Look at the Darned Thing Of course, there were a few house- keeping details. Now that I had her file in the M: drive, it was no trick at all to change it from the vanilla-ASCII format of the PC-8201 editor to WordStar; that's [continued) 350 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 THE X-10 THE X-10 POWERHOUSE INTERFACES WITH YOUR COMPUTER TO CONTROL YOUR HOME...FOR SECURITY, COMFORT AND ENERGY SAVINGS. This remarkable Interface lets you run your home through your Apple lie or He, Commodore 64 or 128 and a mouse, keyboard or joystick. When you're away, it makes your home look and sound lived in. When you're home, it can turn off the TV at night and wake you up to stereo and fresh brewed coffee in the morning. It can even turn on your air conditioner and control your heating. SPECIAL COLOR GRAPHICS MAKE PROGRAMMING A SNAP. You simply pick a room from the display screen. Use your mouse, joystick, or key- board to position graphics of lights or appliances. Then follow on-screen instructions to program any light or ap- pliance to go on or off when- everyou choose. You can even control thermostats, light intensity and more. THE WAY IT WORKS. The X-10 Powerhouse Interface is cable- connected to an Apple RS-232 port or a Commodore "User" port and plugged into a standard 1 10V outlet. After it is pro- grammed, the Interface sends digitally encoded signals through your home wiring to special X-10 Modules . To control a lamp or appliance, you simply plug the electrical device into a Module Inquiry 389 THE CAT. Model CP290 and then plug the Module into an outlet. The Interface can control up to 256 Mod- ules throughout your home and won't interfere with normal use of lights and appliances. There are plug-in Appliance Modules, Lamp Modules, Wall Switch Replacement Modules and Special 220V Modules for heavy duty appliances such as water heaters and room air conditioners. Plus Thermostat Controllers for central heating and air conditioning, Telephone Responders to control your home from any phone, and much more. IT WON'T TIE UP YOUR COMPUTER. Use your computer only for programming. When you're finished, disconnect the Inter- face from your computer and keep it plugged into any conven- ient power outlet in your home. It will operate as a stand-alone controller with battery back-up and will run your home automatically. SURPRISINGLY INEXPENSIVE. A Powerhouse System includ- ing the Interface, software and connecting cables costs less than $150. X-10 Modules are less than $20 each. Software for IBM PC and compatibles available soon. For the Dealer Nearest You Call: 1-800 526-0027 or, write to: X-10 (USA) f in NJ: ( 201 > 784-9700] 185A Legrand Avenue Northvale, NJ 07647 X10 " POWERHOUSE NUMBER ONE IN HOME CONTROL Apple, Apple He and Apple lie are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Commodore 64 and 128 are registered trademarks of Commodore Int'l Ltd. IBM PC is a registered trademark of International 8usiness Machines Corporation. JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 351 Inquiry 412 II "BRIEF . . . is quite simply* the best code editor I have seen." — David Irwin, Data Based Advisor, 8/85 Tailor Editing to Your Style • A high-level, readable Macro Programming Language - allows customization for programming , languages . . . Complete, unlimited variables, etc. • Edit multiple files of unlimited size (2 Meg is OK) • Multiple Windows on screen with different or same file, fragments, etc. • A bona-fide UNDO stack (up to 300) of all operations: deletions, reading files, search, translate, more. For PC, AT, compatibles and Tandy 2000. Only $195 Full Refund if not satisfied in 30 days. CALL 800-821-2492. Full "regular expression search" - wild cards, complex patterns Reconfigurable keyboard Adjustable line length - up to 512. Keystroke macros - for common typing sequences Suspend BRIEF to execute, exit to DOS - run another program (like a compiler, dir, XREF, DIFF, or DEBUG) then resume BRIEF session Compiler-specific support like auto indent, syntax check, compile with- in BRIEF -Solution ♦Systems 335-B Washington St.. Norwell. MA 02061 617-659-1571 Learn and Use AI Technology In Your First Evening With TransPROLOG-PC A complete Prolog Interpreter, Tutorial, and set of Sample Programs: □ Modify and write Expert Systems. Use the simple "Guess the animal" example on the Tutorial or use the sophisticated system for Section 318 of the US Tax Code written by one of the TransPROLOG-PC authors and published in the March, 1985 issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal. D Understand Natural Language Use the sample program that produces a dBase DISPLAY command as output. Programming experience is not required, but a logical mind is. Serious development of ex- perimental systems is practical with TransPROLOG-PC. 1 or 2 pages in Prolog is often equiva- lent to 10 or 15 in C. RECENT IMPROVEMENTS: MSDOS commands, on-line help, load Editor. AVAILABILITY: All MSDOS, PCDOS systems. D Write Symbolic Math or Abstract Problem Solving Applications This is a complete Prolog program to convert from Farenheit to Centigrade: f.to.c(C,F):- C is(F-32) *5/9. Planning programs and games are included to help you learn. □ BECOME FAMILIAR WITH PROLOG IN ONE EVENING. ONLY $125 Full refund if not satisfied during first 30 days. -Solution .Systems 335-B Washington St. Norwell, Mass. 02061 617-659-1571 800-821-2492 CHAOS MANOR done with Tony's FILTER.COM, a CP/M-80 (Z80) program that comes with the WRITE text editor. FILTER turns WordStar files to WRITE, WRITE to WordStar, and, for good measure, either WRITE or WordStar files to a standard ASCII with carriage return and linefeed at the end of each line (thus suitable for transmission over a modem to BYTEnet or BIX). It's also fast. Even with a normal Z80 it is actually faster to exit WordStar, use FILTER to transform the WordStar file to ASCII, then use it again to put the file back into WordStar than it is to use the WordStar Control-QA global reformat routine; at least it is for files of any size at all. With the Golem's 8-megahertz Z80 slave board, the 286 to do housekeeping, and a RAM disk, it took less than a minute to make both ;WS and TXT transformations of her file. I even brought up WRITE, loaded in the text, and showed her. "Fine, but how do I get it on my machine?" she asked. "Nothing to it." There really is nothing to it. Concur- rent DOS on the Golem has a magical property: if I put a DOS disk in the 5 ^-inch drive, I can read and write to it just as I would a CP/M disk. Not only does PIP.CMD work, but I can log onto that DOS disk while inside WRITE- which is an 8-bit program running on the Golem's Z80. I need only issue a SAVE on a DOS disk to transfer the file. I didn't do that, but only because it would save it in WRITE format, and she needed WordStar. "What do you want me to save it on?" I asked. She handed me a disk. It had her book title on the label. I put it in the 5 14-inch drive and from habit displayed the directory. There was one minor problem. No directory. The Golem wouldn't read that disk. "Isolate the problem," I said to myself. "Make sure the disk is good. Read it in a DOS machine." I turned on the Kaypro 286i PC AT clone, which is the only fully PCompatible I keep up here. This time there was a major prob- [continued] 352 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 413 X-VIEW 86™ analyzes, profiles, and debugs DOS application software — for improved performance on the IBM PC and its compatibles. Application Program Unmodified DOS Application X-VIEW 86 _ *# — DOS Debug Dynamic Execution Information X-VIEW 86 lets you observe the internal operations of DOS application software. Helps you analyze, debug, test port, or convert DOS application software — and get faster, more reliable results. Real solutions to technical challenges. Looking for code hot spots? X-VIEW 86 helps you find them fast. Irritated by bugs that DEBUG can't reach? X-VIEW 86 captures them. Sweating over hardware compatibility issues? X-VIEW 86 pinpoints the trouble spots. Struggling with a conversion that just won't work? X-VIEW 86 breaks the deadlock. What X-VIEW 86 does. X-VIEW 86 saves you hours of time-consuming, tedious work. It automatically collects data on application programs: □ memory map references □ I/O space references □ INT call usage □ instruction set usage □ segment usage data X-VIEW 86 can interrupt the application program □ on any processor I/O access □ on any processor INT instruction □ on a specified execution path address □ on a specified memory location reference X-VIEW 86 can also start the application program execution at a specified address. And it displays the results of the analysis on screen. Hardware and software requirements. X-VIEW 86 runs on any member of the IBM PC family — or any operationally-compatible machine that has at least 64 Kbytes of memory. And it's not copy-protected. You use it with PC DOS DEBUG 2.0 or 2.1. Exciting — not expensive. X-VIEW 86 is priced at an affordable $59.95. To order, call 1-800-221- VIEW. In Texas, call 1-214-437-7411. Then get ready for a whole new outlook on your work. Inquiry 141 To order X-VIEW 86™ by credit Namfi card, call toll free 1-800-221- VIEW. In Texas call 1-214-437- 7411. Or send the coupon today. Title Customer Service McGraw-Hill Inc. 8111 LBJ Freeway Dallas, Texas 75251 Pity OftatP 7ip Phnnp ( > OtV KRQ PR Ami X-VIEW 86'" is $59.95. All orders are subject to acceptance by McGraw- Hill, Inc. Prices are subject to change Shipping ($2.00 per copy) Texas sales tax ($3.67 per copy) Total without notice. □ Check enclosed (Make check Signaturp payable to McGraw-Hill Inc. Orders paid by check are subject to delay.) Name on card □ A.E. □ M.C. □ VISA □ D.C. Credit card no. Fxpiratinn rlatp IBM is a registered trademark and PC-DOS Is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Inquiry 115 for End-Users. Inquiry 116 for DEALERS ONLY. LOOKING FOR AT PREFORMANCE FROM YOUR lEARTH HAS IT FOR LESS THAN $1 ,000! \ AYOUR SEARCH IS OVER!! EARTH ■COMPUTERS' exciting new high- Vspeed, 80286 accelerator card, TurboACCEL-286™ , isjustwhatyou've A been looking for. The TurboACCEL- LW286 will boost your PC performance up flto Five times... its completely software W transparent., .and its only $995! TurboACCEL-286 will fuction with most operating systems and application programs (unlike other so-called ■accelerator boards). The TurboACCEL-286 features a high-speed, 8MHz, 80286 processor, 512Kbytes of RAM (expandable to 1 Mbytes), a switchfor8088 operation, and facilities for an 80287 math co- processor. It occupies one expansion slot, is completely compatible with most PCs and is software transparent. End your search for AT performance. Order the TurboACCEL-286 today! Call or write: EARTH COMPUTERS P.O. Box 8067, Fountain Valley, CA 92728 TELEX: 910 997 6120 EARTH FV (714)964-5784 Ask about EARTH COMPUTERS' other fine PCand S-1 00 compatible products. CHAOS MANOR lem. It wouldn't boot. The next few minutes are too pain- ful to describe. Roberta insisted that computers don't like her, while I had a few choice remarks about experi- mental systems. Of course, I shouldn't have been much surprised by the Kaypro's problem; it had been having progressively more severe difficulties reading the hard disk. To get ahead of the story, it wasn't Kaypro ma- chinery that failed, it was the Seagate hard disk; Kaypro doesn't make hard disks. At the time, though, that was cold comfort, and I still didn't know why the Golem couldn't read Roberta's disk. "Calm," I kept telling myself. That often helps, although it's probably better not to shout it at the top of your lungs. Why wouldn't the Compu- Pro read Roberta's disk? Eventually I looked at it. Looked hard. It said: "10 Sector, Single Sided"; it was for her Apple II, not the Z-l 50. The Compu- Pro 286 running Concurrent DOS can do a lot of wonderful things, but it won't read a hard-sectored disk. Eventually we found her real Zenith disks. The Golem had no trouble at all with those, and it took about one minute for PIP to transfer her file. Roberta went away to work, and I went back to answering mail. The End of the Matter There was one minor problem. While we were away in Europe, someone had disconnected the monitor from her machine. That one she dealt with, but they had also disconnected her highly portable MPI Sprinter printer, probably to take to a war-games con- vention. Roberta is at the stage where she'd rather write with a computer than a typewriter, but she also wants paper copies. I understand perfectly: it took me a couple of years before I was able to dispense with paper drafts and work exclusively on screen. She found her printer but wanted help connecting it. I hadn't set it up and couldn't remember if it was serial or parallel. 'Tell you what." I said. "It's getting late. We'll let Alex take care of that tomorrow. Let Don print it on the IBM PC." I went back to the mail . . . After a while Roberta was back. Her file is in WordStar. Don Hawthorne, our assistant, was using XyWrite. FILTER on the CompuPro will trans- form a file from WordStar to XyWrite. but that's an 8-bit program. Don has a genuine IBM PC. If you read an un- transformed WordStar file into XyWrite. you see Greek letters, and graphics symbols, and other ex- traneous matter, all designed to make you think your files have been cor- rupted and your text lost . . . The next few minutes were again too painful to describe. Eventually I convinced her that nothing was lost. Of course, she still didn't have a paper copy. "Please hook up my printer." "It's almost suppertime. Here, I'll print it." She looked a bit wary. "It's no problem," I assured her. I took her disk upstairs and put it in the Golem's 5!4-inch drive. In seconds I had a copy in the RAM-disk drive. Seconds later I had used FlLTER.COM to make a WRITE conversion of her WordStar file. I added commands to put in page numbering and double spacing and to print the date as a footer. "While I'm at it. I'll make a really safe copy of all this." I said. Hard disks and 5 ^-inch disks are all very well, but to me "really safe" means an 8-inch floppy backup. I formatted a disk and put all her files on it. "Now we're ready to print." Of course, there was one minor problem. Although the Golem can run the HP LaserJet, he generally isn't con- nected to it; the printer is normally connected to Zeke, the machine I do all my books on. (I explained why I write with an ancient Z80 rather than one of the newer machines in the November I985 column. Basically, I want one machine that no one ex- periments with.) It wouldn't be much of a problem. Zeke, being a Compu- Pro, has no trouble at all reading 8-inch disks written by the Golem. I turned the Z80 ori. Zeke is purely a writing machine; there's an autostart program that 354 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 CHAOS MANOR brings him up in WRITE. Zeke trundled for a moment, then was quiet. I looked at the screen. "Mem- ory Error at CF61. Exiting WRITE." I stared at that message. WRITE has a built-in memory-test routine, but I had never seen any result from it before. I pushed Reset. Same result. "Memory Error at CF61." "Is it time to panic?" Roberta asked. "I will keep calm," I kept saying, but in truth it was close to panic time; any other machine can fail without dis- astrous consequence, but Zeke is ab- solutely vital. "Logic" I told myself. Check the fan filter. Shake the cables. Open the box and push the boards in properly. TUrn on the machine again. "Memory Error at CF61. Exiting WRITE." "Now it's time to panic." Fortunately, early training prevailed. In the old days— prior to 1981— com- puters were expected to glitch. Zeke was from that era. When Tony built the machine, he insisted that I buy spare boards. Zeke proved so reliable I'd never needed them, but in fact 1 have enough boards to build a new computer. Locating them wasn't easy, but even- tually I found a CompuPro RAM-17 64K-byte memory board. Blow the dust off the box. Tkke out the board. Now pull out Zeke's memory board. Study the switch settings. This should be simple. . . There was one minor problem. The phone rang. When I got rid of the caller, I realized I didn't know which of those two identical boards had come out of Zeke and which was the spare. Worse, they had different switch settings, and of course the bad board was the one with the switches set the right way. Now which was which? I put in a board and turned on Zeke. It was downright comforting to see "Mem- ory Error at CF61. Exiting WRITE." Five minutes later Zeke was working fine, and five minutes after that Roberta had her paper copies. The day before Friday the 13th was over. Reflections I wouldn't want to repeat that day, but it did have its useful aspects. First lesson: I've been spoiled. When I first began writing with com- puters, I bought a modular system because I expected glitches. In the old days, I would always push in boards, shake cables, and generally muck about looking for obvious problems. If that didn't work, I'd systematically replace boards. No longer. For five years Zeke has been on 8 to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, with time off only when I take trips; and in that time I have replaced one disk drive (the heads got out of line and began eating disks) and done one general housecleaning after moving the machine from one [continued) Lattice Works NEW PROGRAMMERS SCREEN EDITOR INTRODUCED Designed specifically for pro- grammers, die Lattice Screen Editor (LSE) is a fast and flexible, multi- window editor that is also easy to learn and use. LSE runs under MS-DOS or PC-DOS on most popular machines with 128Kb memory. It provides standard editor functions such as block moves, pattern searches, and "cut and paste'! In addition, LSE off- ers special features for programmers such as an error tracking mode and tliree assembly language input modes. A complete installation program is included to remap any of LSE's 48 keyboard functions. Menus, prompts, help messages and default file exten- sions can also be customized for individual user preferences. $125.00. LATTICE TOPVTEW TOOLBASKET NOW AVAILABLE Providing more than seventy functions, the Lattice TopView Tool- basket is designed for software developers writing applications for B3Ms TopView multi-tasking, multi- window environment. Lattice The Toolbasket functions elimi- nate the need for extensive use of assembly language when interfacing with TopView. The Toolbasket 's library includes functions to control window, cursor, pointer, and printer operations. It also provides access to TopView'scut-and-paste facilities and offers debugging services. The Toolbasket runs on the IBM PC, XT, AT, and compatible systems with 256Kb memory. $250.00. Binary and source code is available for $500.00. LATTICE CREATES C COMPILER FOR COMMODORE AMIGA Amiga C, produced by Lattice for the Commodore Amiga, supports the Amiga's 68000 microprocessor and offers the same high speed and extensive capabilities of the MS-DOS Lattice C compiler currently used by more than 30,000 software develop- ers worldwide. Available from both Commodore and Lattice. $300.00. In addition, Lattice also offers cross compilers that allow you to develop Amiga programs on MS-DOS or UNIX systems. Contact Lattice, to discuss your programming needs. Lattice provides C compilers and cross compilers for many environments including Tandy, Sony, Hewlett-Packard, Tandem, and IBM Mainframe. Corporate license agreements available. Phone (312) 858-7950 T\VX 910-291-2190 UWERN'ATIONAL S/MJ-S OFFICES: Benelux: De Vooght. Phone (32)-2-720-91 -28. England: Roundhill. Phone (0672) 54675 Japan: Lifeboat Inc. Phone (03) 293-4711 France: SFDL. Phone (1) 666 1 155 Inquiry 203 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 355 Inquiry 48 for End-Users. Inquiry 49 for DEALERS ONLY. BUILD YOUR OWN IBM XT & IBM AT COMPATIBLE SYSTEMS Introducing XT-16 Self-Assembly Kit At Super Low Cost • Including640K XT-16 CPU Mother Board, Color Graphic Card, Floppy Controller^ne^smi) Slim Drive, Flip-Top Case, 135 W Power Supply, Keyboard, Assembly Instruction, and User's Svstem Manual. ONLYS775.00 XT, AT CASE Same Dimension as IBM PC/AT ' For IBM PC/AT & Com- patible Mother Boards $115.00 * Flip-Top For Easy & Quick Access to Inside ► IBM Style Slide-In Case Also Available $69/ ife^, XT- XT. AT POWER SUPPLY XT- 13 5 W $ 89.00 (Side Or Rear Switch) XT-150W $115.00 AT-200 W $165.0Q XT. AT KEYBOARD -LED for Cap Lock & Num. Lock Big Return Key & Shift Kev S79.00 AT — Same Layout as IBM PC/AT S109.00 XT, AT MOTHER BOARD XT-16-II MOTHER BOARD • IBM PC/XT Fully Compatible • 8088 Microprocessor w/8087 Optional • 8 I/O Slots, up to 640K on Board Assembled & Tested w/BIOS With 256Kon Board S265-00 With 640K on Board S349.00 AT- 3 2 CPU Mother Board • IBM PC/AT Fully Compatible • 80286 Microprocessor w/80287 Optional • 640K Standard, Upgradable to I MB on Board • On Board Clock Calendar • 8 I/O Slots SCall PC/AT ADD-ON CARD • ATS 1 MB Memory Card SCall • ATS 1.5 MB Multifunction Card SCall • ATS Hard & Floppy Drive Controller SCall • PCP-128 Eprom Programmer $139.00 • Disk I/O Card (handle 2 Floppy Drive, Serial 2nd Optional), Parallel, Game, Clock w/cables & Software $149.00 • Color Graphic Card $ 95.00 • Floppy Disk controller (handle 4 drives) $ 59.00 • Multi-Function (OK) $139.00 • OEM Dealers Welcome • Please Call For Our Special Dealer Price C.J. COMPUTERS CORP. (Manufacturer & Distributor) 2424 W. Ball Road, STE B Anaheim, CA 92804 Mail Order Hot Line: (714) 821-8922. {"14) 821-8923 (IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation) 356 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 CHAOS MANOR room to another; now I've had one memory-failure error. Except for the time the drive went bad, I haven't even had (8-inch) disks fail. No wonder I was lulled into a false sense of security! But I should have remem- bered what to do. Second lesson: don't put the com- puter memoranda into the day book. Keep a computer log, and log everything. Baud rates. Port numbers. Cookbook instructions on how to do stuff that's important but infrequently needed. I always kept a complete computer log in the old days. It doesn't cost much. My local drugstore sells those mottled black-cover composition books for $1.89— never mind that when I bought my first computer the same book cost 45 cents— and it's plenty easy to keep one in the bookcase next to the ma- chinery. Third lesson: years ago I concluded that "the best business microcom- puter is a year-old development sys- tem." It no longer makes sense to talk about "the best business micro." Too much depends on business needs and the software base. Even so, there's a bit of truth to the maxim. The Golem is an advanced experimental development system. Viasyn (Compu- Pro) still dominates the development- system market, and Dr. Godbout is forever sending down new refine- ments; but the heart of that modular S-100 system doesn't change, and the machine gets the job done. I can't say I'm entirely happy with the way CompuPro treats software. I wish mightily they'd take at least one more step toward PCompatibility. Even so, I'm still running all the 8-bit programs I wrote and refined and tailored to my needs. I've recompiled some in Com- piling CBASIC CB-86 so they run even faster. (For all my fascination with Modula-2, my accounting system and most of the business programs I rely on are written in Compiling CBASIC, which is one heck of a good language.) In addition, I can run Lotus 1-2-3 and a number of other PC programs; in- deed, with Concurrent DOS I can run Lotus 1-2-3, my accounting program, WRITE, and three other things at the same time. I can read from and write to a dozen disk formats. Computer users have to make choices. A long time ago I thought I'd made mine: I was going to be a user, not a hacker; I wasn't going to learn programming, I didn't care about the innards, I didn't know or want to know one chip from another. In times of stress I talk as if I still thought that way; but in fact that's a silly attitude. Powerful machinery gives me capabil- ities other people don't have. It also demands that 1 learn something about how to use it. The trade-off is worth- while. Example: in about an hour, Larry Niven and Steve Barnes are coming over to work on The Legacy of Wereot. a three-way collaboration. (Actually, it's a collaboration between Larry Niven and (erry Pournelle, who make up one auctorial entity, and Steve Barnes, who is another; but that's for a dif- ferent discussion.) The point is that while Niven and I have identical machines, Barnes uses a PCompatible and WordStar 2000. My big Compu- Pro 286/Z80 will read his disks and transform his text into WRITE files. We'll work for the afternoon, and when we're done, we'll put one copy back into DOS for Barnes and another onto an 8-inch disk for Niven. Do that with your off-the-shelf PClone. Development-quality machinery isn't for everyone. Being state of the art has costs. On the other hand, it wasn't the Golem's fault that I shook a cable loose. When all is said and done, Roberta did manage to write a chapter while on an airplane. We did manage to get it out of the machine and onto paper. I was able to write a column, several chapters of a novel, and a ton of notes while traveling in Europe, and all those safely reside on disks. So we had a bad day. We also got things done that a few years ago I'd have thought im- possible. I love these little machines. Look First If you are contemplating buying a CompuPro machine— and I like mine {continued) You would think when IBM needs EPROM Programmers they would choose the best and the most expensive. They don't. They only choose the best. GTEK. MODEL 7956 (w/RS-232 option) $1099 MODEL 7956 (stand alone) S 979 GTEK's outstanding Gang Programmer with intelligent algorithm can copy 8 EPROMS at a time! Use the 7956 in a production environ- ment when you need to program a large num- ber of chips. Programs all popular chips through the 27512 EPROMS; supports CMOS EPROMS through the 27C256; supports EEPROMS through the X2864A; supports Intel's 2764A & 271 28A chips. The 7956 will also program single chip processors. MODEL 7228 S 599 GTEK's 7228 has all the features of the 7 1 28, plus Intelligent Programming Algorithms! It supports the newest devices available through 512 K bits. The 7228 programs 6 times as fast as standard algorithms. It programs the 2764 in one minute! Supports CMOS EPROMS through the 27C256; supports EEPROMS through the X2864A; supports Intel's 2764A & 27128A chips. Supports Tektronics, Intel, Motorola and other formats. MODEL 7324 $1499 The 7324 has a built-in compiler. It programs all MMI, National and Tl 20 & 24 pin PALS. It has non-volatile memory and operates stand- alone or via RS-232. MODEL7128 S 429 The 7128 has the highest performance-to- cost-ratio of any unit. It supports the newest devices available through 256Kbits. MODEL 7322 $1249 Same as Model 7324 but operates only via RS-232. MODEL 7316 S 749 This PAL PROGRAMMER programs Series 20 PALs. It has a built-in PALASM compiler. MODEL 7283 $1199 This BI-POLAR PROM PROGRAMMER programs all popular BI-POLAR PROMS. It operates stand-alone (for production) or RS-232 (for development). MODEL 705 S 299 68705V3, R3, P3 PROGRAMMER. EPROM, PROM & PAL PROGRAMMERS — These features are standard from GTEK — Compatible with all RS-232 serial interface ports • Auto select baud rate • With or without hand-shaking • Bidirectional Xon/Xoff • CTS/DTR supported • Read pin compatible ROMS • No personality modules • Intel, Motorola, MCS86 Hex formats • Split facility for 16 bit data paths • Read program, formatted list commands • Interrupt driven— program and verify real time while sending data • Program single byte block or whole EPROM • Intelligent diagnostics discern bad and/or unerased EPROM • Verify erasure and compare commands • Busy light • Complete with Textool zero insertion force socket and integral 1 20 VAC power (240 VAC/50Hz available) • 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, H MS-DOS; PC-DOS, B ISIS" and TRSDOS" operating systems. Call for pricing. CROSS ASSEMBLERS These assemblers are available to handle the 8748, 8751, Z8, 6502, 68X and other microprocessors. They are available for CPM and MS-DOS computers. When ordering, please specify processor and computer types. ACCESSORIES Erasers DE4 $80; PE14T $129 C25 $349; C50 $599 U/V Eraser DE-4 $ 80. RS-232 Cables $ 30. Model 7128-L1.L2, L2A (OEM Quantity) $259. Model 7128-24 $329. Cross Assemblers CPM-80 $200. MSDOS;CPM 86 . . . $250. PGX Utilities Call for pricing PALX Call for pricing 8751 Adapter $174. 8755 Adapter $135. 48 Family Adapter $ 98. "All you CPM people who wanted to move to IBM, but couldn't... now you can — and bring your CPM software with you!" \r From GTEK, the leader in devel- opment hardware and software, comes the CPM user's dream. The ma- jority of ad- vances being made in the computer industry today are being" made for PC-DOS and MS-DOS machines. If you are a CPM user who wanted to convert to these operating systems but didn't because you had to abandon or rewrite your CPM programs, now you can make your move without losing or rewriting a single program! The dream from GTEK is a package that makes your PC-DOS (IBM PC, XT, AT) or MS-DOS (IBM clones like COMPAQ, Leading Edge, Televideo) machines think they're being run by an 8080 or Z80 microprocessor with CPM! If you've been using CPM on any of these machines you can now move to PC-DOS or MS-DOS operating systems. Kaypro • Osborne • Heath/ Zenith • Radio Shack • Epson • DEC • IBM • Mor- row • Xerox • HP • Sanyo • lntertec • Cromenco • Televideo • Compupro. The GTEK pack- age contains a CPEmulator™ and CPM Conversion Utility that allows you to read and write popular CPM disk formats such as Kaypro and Osborne. How easy is it to use? Two steps. (1) Use the Conversion Utility to copy the CPM program to an MS-DOS or PC-DOS diskette. (2) Use the Bind Utility to attach the CPEmulator to your program. And that's it. It's ready to run. You won't see any difference when you run the CPM program! Now all the work you did in CPM is still valuable when you change to your PC-DOS or MS-DOS machine. And here's the happy ending to the dream. The CPEmulator is just $199. Call GTEK's CPM Hotline... 1-601-467-9019 Development Hardware/Software P.O. Box 289, Waveland, MS 39576 601/467-8048; telex 315-814 (GTEK UD) , INC. GTEK, PALASM, CPM, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, ISIS, TRSDOS, & CPEmulator are registered trademarks. Utek Inquiry I49 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 357 CHAOS MANOR a lot— you might want to know more about what you're getting into. C-Pro, the independent CompuPro User Group (POB 2146, Woodbridge, VA 22193), publishes an increasingly useful magazine as well as maintain- ing a bulletin board. There have been a number of debates over software, there are tips about support, and there is enough information to make it well worth subscribing to. If you already have a CompuPro and aren't a member, you're really missing something. A Whole Lot of Stuff Every shelf in my office is a potential guilt trip; the place is crammed with in- teresting software. Sigh. Even giving short shrift to each won't get them all mentioned, much less do justice to them. In other words, my apologies: it's that time again, when I race along giving brief mention to programs that deserve a lot more space than they're going to get. First, there's SpaceWar for the IBM PC This is a full implementation of the classic game first done at MIT. It can be played by one player or two, with or without star and gravity fields. It has phasers and torpedoes, and the ships move in inertial space, meaning that if you accelerate you'll keep mov- ing in a straight line until you rotate the ship and blast again. It has nearly everything. Great game. SpaceWar is user-supported soft- ware, meaning that you can get a copy from anyone who has one, but you should send the author $20 if you like it and use it. Next, there's Bridge Parlor, which plays a very good game of bridge; I've been using it to relax after work at night. This one also runs on PCom- patibles, including the Kaypro AT clone. It- needs 192 K bytes of memory and 'I do wish the author had been a little fussier in his use of graphics; here and there I have to look closely to see what's going on. However: Bridge Parlor plays good, standard bridge. Opponents signal. Normal conventions apply. You can set it for defense practice so that you're never declarer, or you can always sit South with those wonder- ful hands that South always gets in the newspaper bridge columns. It does all this smoothly, fast, and well. Bridge Parlor isn't as nice as finding three congenial people to play bridge with, but it's the next best thing. Recom- mended. I mentioned last month that there's no good computer program that can play go. That's still true. However, you can get Nemesis, the best go program (as tested in tournaments). If you've any skill at go, it won't ever beat you, [continued) UHJjl [j« SMI BACKUP YOUR SOFTWARE WITH LOCKSMITH 6.0™. Locksmith, the controversial copy program that took the Apple world by storm in 1981, has evolved from a powerful bit-copy programmed into a complete disk utility system, allowing the Apple user to recover crashed disks, restore accidentally deleted files, and perform hardware diagnostics on the disk drive and memory boards. The NEW Locksmith version 6.0 is now available and includes an advanced disk recovery utility, a framing-bit analyzer, an automatic boot tracer, a sector editor, many file utilities, and of course, the most powerful bit-copy program available. A fast disk backup utility copies disks in eight seconds flat. Improvements to Locksmith Programming Language have made it more powerful and easier to use for you to write your own backup and repair procedures. Includes a library disk which contains automatic procedures to copy hundreds of Apple programs. Locksmith requires no additional hardware, but will use any additional RAM memory that it finds, including RAM boards from Applied Engineering and Checkmate Technology. Don't get caught with your hands tied. Order Locksmith 6.0 today. NEW LOW PRICE $79.95 Registered Locksmith 5.0 owners may upgrade to version 6.0 for $29.95. Available from your computer dealer or directly from: © Alpha Logic Business Systems, Inc. 4119 North Union Road Woodstock, IL 60098 (815)568-5166 1 VISA flffi ©Alpha Logic Business Systems, Inc. 1985 Locksmith and Locksmith/PC are registered trademarks of Alpha Logic Business Systems, Inc. 358 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 14 COMPUTERS PC, 256K.360K FLOPPY, 10MEGHD $2049.00 PC, 256K, 360K FLOPPY, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY, 10 MEG HD. $2299.00 PC, 256K, 360K, FLOPPY, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY, 20 MEG HD. $2659.00 AT-512K, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY, 360K FLOPPY, 20 MEG HD. $3877.00 AT-512K, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY, 360K FLOPPY, 40 MEG HD. $4349.00 PORTABLE 256K WITH 2-360K DISK DRIVES $1919.00 256K WITH 1-360K FLOPPY AND 10 MEG HD. $2449.00 256KWITH 1-360K FLOPPY AND 20MEGHD. $2639.00 DESKPRO SYSTEMS MOD. 2-256K, 2HF/HT $1949.00 MOD. 3-256K, 1HF/HT, 10 MEG HD. $2795.00 MOD. 4 -64 OK, 1 HF/HT, 10MEGHD. $2949.00 286 SYSTEMS 286 PORTABLE, 256K AND 1.2 MEG FLOPPY $3299.00 286 PORTABLE, 640K, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY, 20 MEG HD. $4645.00 286 PORTABLE, 640K, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY, 20 MEG HDB/U $5159.00 DSKPRO 286-256K, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY $3129.00 DSKPRO 286-512K, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY 30MEGHD. $4419.00 DSKPRO 286-5 1 2 K, 1.2 MEG FLOPPY 30 MEG HD. B/U $4940.00 SOFTWARE WORD PROCESSING WORDSTAR 2000 $239.00 WORDSTAR 2000 PLUS $289.00 WORDSTAR EASY $ 87.00 SAMNA PLUS $299.00 SAMNA III $239.00 PFS. REPORT $ 69.00 PERFECT WRITER $125.00 WORDPERFECT W/SPELLER $211.00 PERSONAL WORDPERFECT $ 85.00 MICROSOFT WORD $210.00 SPREADSHEETS & DATABASES LOTUS 1-2-3 $299.00 SYMPHONY $429.00 SPELLING CHECKER $ 87.95 TEXTOUTLINER $ 87.95 SPOTLIGHT $ 44.95 DBASE III $345.00 FRAMEWORK $345.00 SUPERCALC REFLEX S197.0C $249.0( S199.0C | DISKS COMPATIBLE POWER BASE MAXELL HI-DEN $42.95 PC COMPATIBLE R BASE 5000 $344. 0( MAXELL DS-DD $19.95 64 OK, 135 W P/S keyboard, 2 DS, DD PERFECT CALC $125.0( ] VERBATIM $21.95 drives, ser port, par port, mono VISICALC $125.0( $109.0( RE ) graphics card. MULTIPLAN 1 GRAPHICS BDS $775.00 FINANCIAL SOFTWf HOME ACCOUNTANT $84.0( $99.0( , HERCULES GRAPHIC CARDS COLOR CARD $289.00 $145.00 MONOGRAM DOLLARS & SENSE XT COMPATIBLE PARADISE 640K, 135 W P/S keyboard, 360 K ACCOUNTING GRAPHICS CARD $272.00 floppy, 10 meg HD, controller card, ser BPI MULTIDISPLAYCD $197.00 port, par port, mono graphics card. GENERAL ACC. BPI INV. OR JOB CST S 297 °° PERSYST ZS TM UTILITIES FOR Turbo Pascal PROGRAMMERS Improve Code Performance Find Subtle Bugs Automate Tedious Tasks Supports Turbo Pascal 2.0 & 3.0 IBM PC/XT/AT & True Compatibles PCDOS 2.X & 3.X 192K RAM DSDD Drive If You Really Use Your Pascal Compiler You Need These Tools! Pretty Printer Pascal Structure Analyzer Execution Profiler Execution Timer Advanced Text Processing & Command Automation • Pattern Replacer ' Difference Finder 1 Command Builder ' File Finder • Super Directory Where Else Can You Get 500K of Integrated, Useful, Tested, Fully Documented Source Code for $95? 140 Page Printed User Manual Quick Reference Card Detailed Programmer's Manual on Disk Complete Turbo Pascal Source Code 6 Bonus Utilities with Source! Tax & U.S. Postage Included Executable only version $55 MC/Visa Orders TOLL FREE (USA) 800-538-8157 x830 (CAL) 800-672-3470 x830 Brochures, Questions, PO's call 408-378-3672 Checks or Money Orders TurboPower Software 478 W. Hamilton Ave., Suite 196 Campbell, CA 95008 U.S.A. INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES - Switzerland: Software Haus 064-512651 Japan: Southern Pacific Ltd 045-314-9514 England: The Core Store 0606-45420 Canada: Software Commodities 416-865-1600 Holland: SCOS PC-Center 020-106922 Norway: Polysoft 03-82575 TurDO Pascal is a Trademark of Borland International 360 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 CHAOS MANOR but it does let you practice. If you have never played the game, you can learn using the program; it will ruth- lessly exploit dumb mistakes, so that when you graduate from it to a human opponent, you'll be a more interesting player. Go players are rated in ranks called kyu, with the lowest being best; Bruce Wilcox, inventor of Nemesis (The Go Master), claims this program is at 20 kyu. I haven't played serious go in 10 years; I can beat the program con- sistently, but I do have to pay atten- tion to what I'm doing. Whether it's worth $75 depends; if you've much in- terest in go, you'll probably be play- ing it long after you've tossed out most other computer games. Wilcox claims there will be stronger versions available Real Soon Now. Its Glorious! Every now and then we get wonder- ful, if somewhat specialized, programs to review. One such is MandelZoom from Token Software. Those of you who read Scientific American will recall the August 1985 cover story on the Mandelbrot set, which is said to be quite possibly the most complex set in mathematics. Mark Bolme of Token Software has done a program that will let you play with Mandelbrot sets on your color PCompatible; and it's glorious. The disk comes complete with cookbook instructions and a setup to let you examine all the stuff from the Scientific American article; if you want to know more, go look it up. With MandelZoom you can step back and look at the big picture or zoom in to examine fine structure. I can't imagine a better way to waste an afternoon or two. No color PCompatible is com- plete without a copy of this; get one and see what I mean. Looks Great to Me Cardiovascular Systems and Dynam- ics by Nils Peterson and Diana Arm- strong is another specialized pro- gram; if you need this one, you need it bad. Their introduction states: "Simula- tion brings to life the dynamics of a physiology laboratory while avoiding the* high costs of animal care and modern equipment." Most of us are disturbed by the cost of medical training; not merely the money costs, but other ones: the psychic or spiritual costs of using animals not only for research but also for student training. I do not care to become bogged down in the intrica- cies of this debate. I would suppose that there is no one in the world who prefers that animals be sacrificed to train students: the debate is over the necessity. The late C. S. Lewis said once that he imagined a science that would not do to a vegetable what is often done in experiments to human beings. One of the wonders of computers is their ability to simulate things that we really would not want to do in the real world. As micros become both cheaper and more powerful, we may yet realize Lewis's dream. The Peterson/Armstrong program simulates cardiovascular systems on a PCompatible machine. I'm not com- petent to determine how accurate the simulation is, but I had an M.D. and a veterinarian look at it. and both were impressed. I'd very much like to see efforts like this succeed. Take That Barry Workman has a new PC disk in his Software Anthology Series. This one contains Sweep for PCompati- bles. CP/M Sweep is still one of Work- man's most popular items; the new one is from the same authors and works more or less in the same way. With PC-Sweep, you can easily trans- fer files from one disk or directory area to another, rename, delete, make directories, print files, squeeze and unsqueeze, and a lot more. I use it all the time. Like the original Sweep, PC- Sweep is shareware; if you buy it through Workman, you become a reg- istered user and the authors get their fee. As usual, the Workman disk con- tains a mixed bag of shareware, free- ware, and public-domain programs. [continued] Himtron MULTI-USER SOLUTION for IBM PC, XT, AT mm why sues mot 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 compati- bility. 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 in- cludes file and record locking, shared data access, and commun- ication between users. It is the intelligent alternative. The KT-7/PC supports Time Sharing, Enhanced Time Sharing and Multi-Processor implementa- tion 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 ever- widening network of multi-user PCs. The KT-7/PC may be comple- mented with one (or more) I/O Card, Memory Card, 8086 Speed Enhancer Card, 80286 AT Card, 8088 Multi-Processor Card, 80186 Speed Enhancer Card, 68000 Card, and related software. For more information about Kim- tron'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) 286-8790 TWX 910-338-0237 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. 1705 Junction Court Building #160 San Jose, CA 95112 K imtron Inquiry 194 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 361 CHAOS MANOR All have been tested and work more or less as Workman says they will, al- though in some cases you may need some ingenuity. I count 20 programs on the disk; PC-Sweep is pretty well worth the $32.50 by itself. There's also FUPROLOK.COM, a demon that will let you run programs that have been protected with Vault's PROLOK from a hard disk. It's quick, transparent, and works. There are other "un- protect" programs also. I may be repeating myself, but I think Workman's Software Anthology Series is one of the best software bargains going. Copy All Every copy-protection scheme can be defeated. In the PROLOK scheme, a hole is burned on the original disk; you can copy the disk, but when you try to run the program, it will at some point or another try to write to that bad disk sector; if it gets back good data, the program knows you're not running the original disk and takes ac- tion; it either demands the original disk or dumps your program. Indeed, some Vault officials threatened much more drastic action, including the in- sertion of software time bombs that would damage your computer. The remedy to this one was obvious from the beginning. Using the infor- mation from Crayne's Serious Assembler (Baen Books), I was able to write a demon that resides in high memory, watches for the PROLOK call, and satisfies the program that there's a bad sector just where the program wants to see one. I never got around to publishing my demon, largely because I wasn't that sure I'd done it right; but it wasn't long before FUPROLOK appeared on bulletin boards across the country. Other copy-protection programs rely on doing odd things to the disk format: that is, they deliberately in- troduce errors onto the disk, then in software try to compensate for them. Most of these schemes use "undocu- mented features'— really quirks and errors— of the PC floppy-disk con- troller. The Copy II PC program from Items Discussed Bridge Parlor . . . Price unavailable Nemesis (The Go Master) .... .$75 Parlor Software Company Bruce Wilcox POB 2100 34 Oak St. Liverpool, NY 13089 Lexington. MA 02173 Cardiovascular Systems and Software Anthology Series Dynamics Price unavailable $32.50 per disk, disk 2 of PC Command Applied Technology Inc. Series includes FUPROLOK West 400 Main St. WRITE $239 Pullman. WA 99163-0511 includes FILTER (509) 344-6145 Workman and Associates 1 1 2 Marion Ave. Copy II PC Program $39.95 Pasadena. CA 91106 Copy II PC Option Board and (818) 796-4401 Program $95 Central Point Software Inc. SpaceWar . $20 9700 Southwest Capitol Hwy., #100 Bill Seller Portland. OR 97219 317 Lockwood Lane (503) 244-5782 Scotts Valley. CA 95066 MandelZoom $2 5 Wilderness Token Software for Apple II $49.95 POB 3746 Electric Transit Bellevue. WA 98009 501 Marian St. (206) 455-4130 Thousand Oaks. "CA 91360 Central Point Software will take care of nearly all those schemes. When publishers found that out, they escalated the war. Central Point's answer to that is a new board. You plug it into your PC and connect to your floppy drives, then run the cable from your PC disk controller to the Copy II PC option board. This allows you to defeat most of the new protection schemes. The option board works fine in a PC, and it's easy enough to install. It's a bit harder to get into a Compaq or PC AT because you have to change jumpers around, but the instructions are clear enough. Once installed it works automatically, and you're set until the next round in the copy- protection wars. That's one remedy. Another is to l&ke The Pledge and not buy copy- protected software— a movement that seems to be gaining ground. It's having results, too. Living Video- text, which makes the excellent Think- Tknk program, has given up copy pro- tection. They're to be commended. I hope a lot of others get the message. The Hacker Ethic Steve Levy's book Hackers discusses "the hacker ethic" of free software. Some of the old MIT free-software people have decided to do something about it. Richard M. Stallman and others have formed the Free Software Foundation (1000 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138). I don't know all those people, but I've known RMS for some time; and while his views of the world are not mine, I respect his intelligence and his integrity. They're looking for help. Write and ask for their brochure, and since they don't have much money, slip a buck in the envelope to help them cover the expense of mailing it to you. Winding Down It's late, Niven and Barnes are here, and the deadline is due; which is all right, because I am out of space. The game of the month is still BIX, which takes up more of my time than anything else; but while I was suffer- ing from the flu, I found a strange 362 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 CHAOS MANOR Pyramid of Peril has interesting puzzles and a good scenario. satisfaction in fooling about with the Macintosh version of Wizardry, while the boys continue to play both Gato and Pyramid of Peril on the Mac. Pyramid is really quite nice, with in- teresting puzzles and a good scenario. I have somehow managed to neglect Wilderness, an expert-system game developed by Charlie Kohlhase. Charlie's normal job is programming spacecraft; about the time you read this, Voyager will get to Uranus using his mission plan. Wilderness is fun and instructional and can teach a lot about living in wilderness areas. Recommended. The first book of the month is Klass: How Russians Really Live by David K. Willis, formerly Moscow bureau chief of the Christian Science Monitor (St. Mar- tin's, 1985). Excellent. Example from page 42: "Since I left Moscow, an American personal computer has become the mark of immense klass." If you want to understand life in the Soviet Union, this is the book. The other book of the month is Modula-2 Programming by Ed Knepley and Robert Piatt (Reston-Prentice- Hall, 1985); this is a good text for those who already know something of programming and want to learn more about Modula-2. BIX, meanwhile, continues to im- prove. I now find myself committed to having a BIX party next month; it was going to be a few friends and now looks to be bigger than that. I hope the place survives. ■ \erry Pournelle welcomes readers comments and opinions. Send a self -addressed, stamped envelope to \erry Pournelle, do BYTE Publica- tions. 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. Thinking of the C Language? THINK COMPUTER INNOVATIONS C86 VERSION 2.3 with Source Level Debugging Support 0^ The C language has rapidly become the development language of choice for applications ranging from Operating Systems to Accounting Packages. WHY? Its structured approach and extreme portability make it perfectly suited to today's fast-paced environment. Of all of the C Compilers available for PC/MSDOS, more programmers choose COMPUTER INNOVATIONS' C86. WHY? Because it's part of a COMPREHENSIVE family of C products with an unparalleled reputation for performance, reliability, and stability. C86 2.3 C COMPILER C for PC/MSDOS began with C86 and today it remains perhaps the most solid, stable C Compiler available. Even competitor's ads show C86 as a consistent top level performer in benchmark testing. Version 2.3 offers a host of new features including source level debugging support and a 40% boost in compilation speed. Call for complete specifications. COST: S395 UPDATE TO 2.3: S35 w/old diskettes NOT COPY PROTECTED CALL ABOUT VOLUME DISCOUNTS LEARN C INTERACTIVELY WITH INTRODUCING C Intimidated by rumors about the difficulty of learning C? Need to train your staff quick- ly? INTRODUCING C can help. INTRODUCING C combines a thorough, self-paced manual with a unique C interpreter to provide a fast, efficient method of learning C. Designed for both professional and casual programmers, it provides a comprehensive understanding of important C concepts such as standard K&R syntax and operators, full structures and unions, arrays, pointers, and data types. Requires IBM PC. XT. or AT with one disk drive and 192K bytes of memory. COST: S125 - NOT COPY PROTECTED CI PROBE SOURCE DEBUGGER Take advantage of C86 2.3 source level debugging support with CI PROBE. Cut down program development time and save money! CI PROBE is highly economical yet has the features of debuggers costing far more. COST: S225 - NOT COPY PROTECTED C-TERP C86 COMPATIBLE INTERPRETER The C-TERP INTERPRETER is a full K&R implementation that allows you to write code and execute it immediately without the compile and link steps. Once you have your pro- gram running with C-TERP you can compile the code (without alterations) with C86 for fast, efficient executable files. C-TERP requires 256K, 512K is recommended. COST: C86 version - List Price: S300, Special Computer Innovations Price S250. Combined C86 & Lattice version - List Price: S400, Special Computer Innovations Price S350. Start With Us, Stay With Us Computer Innovations offers a complete range of products that let you enter the C environment and create applications with the most advanced set of development tools available. Unparalleled tech support assures that you're always at the height of productivity. To order call: 800-922-01 69 '1 COMPUTER INNOVATIONS, INC. 980 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 • (201) 542-5920 C-TERP is a trademark of Gimple Software. Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. Inquiry 76 JANUARY I986 -BYTE 363 Contact us for other tow prices on hardware and software Next Day Air Extra, Call for latest prices. FREE SHIPPING in the Continental United States NO SURCHARGE FOR E3 OR e 20 MEG Hard Disk System for PC Internal $469 External $619 Half Height Includes Seagate Hard Disk, Western Digital Controller, Cables, Manual, Software, and Mounting Hardware. Boots From Hard Disk One Year Warranty Floppy Disk Drive |w r 55-B, Half-Height, DS/DD MITSUBISHI (Japan's Best) Half -Height, DS/DD Call us for competitive prices on larger quantities of RAM chips. 64K RAM ********* S6t Of 9 ChLPS, 200 or ISO Nanoseconds $8 r per set 256KRAM $29 Set of 9 chips i» Nana**™* 128K RAMfortheA Set $39 20 and 30 MEG High Speed 40 MS Hard Disks for AT 20 MEG $579 30 MEG $699 Includes Seagate Full Height Hard Disk, Cables, Manual, and Mounting Rails. Boots from Hard Disk. One Year Warranty. SOLVE YOUR POWER PROBLEM. XT POWER 135W $89 25 or more $75 each ■ Directly replaces power supply in PC. 1 " Fully XT'" compatible. One Year Warranty 300/1200 Baud Hayes Compatible Modem Fits in Short Slot $159 ~~~~~~~~~~: PC'S LIMITED Six Function Card • Upgradable to 384K • Clock/Calendar • Includes Software • Parallel Port • Serial Port • Game Port Two Year Warranty w/384K $129 — PC's Limited AT Multifunction Card • Expandable To 3 Meg (1.5 on Board/1.5 on Piggy Back Board) • Supports 64 or 256K Rams • Parallel Port • Serial Port (2nd Serial Optional) $199 w/OK Piggy Back Board $59 w/OK PC's Limited PC-576 RAM Board W/OK • Expandable to 576K • Supports 64K or 256K RAMS • Fits in Short Slot PC's Limited Floppy Controller Card $69 52 m $49 • Supports Up To Four Drives 364 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 277 PRICES AND MACHINES THAT OUTRUN THE COMPETITION. @ p« UM.TED — p C 's LIMITED AT High Performance High Performance Competitive Price Competitive Price /£/ $795 Includes: System Unit, 640K on Mother Board, 360K Floppy Drive, Keyboard, 135W Power Supply. Rum all Major Software written for H10 IBM PC* and PC/XT', 40% faster, without modifications. (Processor} 16-bft 8088-2, 4.77 or 6.66MHZ Clock Speod. (Expansion Slots) :8; 7 ore available In above configuration. $1995 zzz=z Includes: 80286-based System Unit, 1024K on Mother Board, 1.2 Meg,Floppy Drive, Combined Floppy and Hard Disk Controller Card, AT Keyboard, 192W Power Supply, 2 Serials and 1 Parallel Port, and Clock/Calendar with Battery Backup, all on Mother Board. Rum oil MajorSoftwaro wriMon for two IBM PC", PC XT™, and PC AT». (Procotsor) Intel 80286 running at 6MHZ. (Expamion Slots) :8. 7 aro avallablo in above configuration. Same Bus Configuration as IBM PC AT™, (rmhz notional) PC's Limited PC-2000 RAM Beard W/OK Fully Compatible With Lotus/Intel Expansion Memory Paging Technique PC's Limited Monochrome Graphics Fully Hercules Compatible • Expandable to 2048K • Includes Ramdisk/Print Spooler Software Tcras:DuetoourlowprlcesandassurifldS*jsterCirddls- coum.AxnericiflEiprcMiiolsubjecitodlscount. Compaq. TtAC. IBM. Irwin, Intel. and Mitsubishi aretndemarks of their respective companies. All brand names are registered trademarks. Virtan independent lil« PC'S LIMITED SALES-RELATED CALLS OUTSIDE TEXAS, 1-800-426-5150 1611 Headway Circle, Building 3, Austin, Texas 78754 Sales Calls from anywhere in country, (512) 339-6962 Technical Support Calls, (512) 339-6963 Customer Service Calls, (512) 339-6964 Telex Ko. 9103808386 PC LTD Some quantlticsmay be limited. PC'S LIMITED reserves therlght to substitute equivalent items. fe^tri i B S B Ad number 401 Inquiry 277 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 365 CHAOS MANOR MAIL 68000 Objection Dear Jerry, In the July BYTE ("Quo Vadimus?" on page 309) you mention that many ignore the Motorola 68000 family despite its fine architecture. For those of us in the scien- tific world, there is an important reason that 68000-based microcomputers have not yet caught on. That is the lack of a 32-bit floating-point math chip for the 68000 series, analogous to the 8087 family for the 16-bit 8086/8088 series. Motorola has promised such a chip, but it has not yet materialized at the user level. The Skye board, which does do floating- point operations, yields about a factor of 3 increase in speed. A 4.77-MHz 8088- based Compaq with an 8087 will do float- ing-point calculations approximately 10 times faster than a 68000-based system with a Skye board. The 6-MHz 80286/ 80287-based IBM PC AT and the 8-MHz 8086/8087-based AT&T 6300 push this ratio to something like 20:1. While 68000-based systems compile and link a lot faster, when you have to start crunch- ing numbers in a language like (I know you hate this) FORTRAN, the next step after Intel's 16-bit series is something like a VAX, which has good floating-point hard- ware available. Joel S. Davis Albuquerque, NM They tell me that Motorola is fixing this Real Soon Now. Meanwhile, 1 don't hate FORTRAN; 1 just don't think there's an easy-to-use implementation of it for micros. Certainly there wasn't back when MacLean and I were first learning about these little machines; FORTRAN was the only higher-level language I'd had any ex- perience with (or read any books about). If there had been a good implementa- tion, I'd probably have been a real cham- pion of RATFOR for micros! 1 expect there are good micro FOR- TRANs now, but I've lost the knack. Best— Jerry Sour Apples Dear lerry. Being a late convert to the world of the microcomputer, I have always been amazed at the biased and bizarre views of so-called computer hackers. 1 am cur- rently astonished by the childish behavior of hackers who are in reality Apple fans. 1 continue to read with amusement their immature ramblings on how we all must join with them to save the world from IBM. These California throwbacks to the Aquarian age are so detached from real- ity that they may never come back. First, let's look at what IBM did. Its people designed a computer using a microcom- puter chip (the venerable 8088) from a third-party vendor (Intel), using an oper- ating system from a third-party vendor (Microsoft), and gave out bus and inter- connection information so that anybody could design expansion cards and acces- sories for it. IBM did make some stupid decisions on the monochrome-versus color-display format and that infamous keyboard that opened the door for even more third-party action. But this is hardly Orwell's 1984. Even the most casual pe- rusal of BYTE reveals that numerous small companies are reaping the benefits of what IBM has done. Now let's look at the Apple Macintosh to see where Apple is headed. Well, it ap- pears that we have a closed system and a proprietary operating system. On top of that, if you want to do program develop- ment, you have to sign a licensing agree- ment that forbids any criticism of Apple (now that sounds like 1984). Look how Apple treated its early Mac supporters by charging them $900 for the memory up- grade to 512K bytes. Contrast that to IBM's decision to send all early PCjr buyers a free replacement keyboard. Now Apple is trying to call the Mac a business machine. The Macintosh design team was a group of immature computer whiz kids who obviously did not give any thought to creating a business computer. If they did, it's obvious that none of them knew what a business computer is, or should be. Anyone attempting to design a business computer must consider the following basic criteria: 1 . Ergonomic keyboard. Since a business requires both text and numerical entries and easy scrolling, you need a good- quality keyboard with a separate numeric keypad and cursor pad. 2 . Versatile, clear display: Businesses re- quire the option to use either a mono- chrome or color display. Since many workers do not have excellent vision, the display must be large (at least 13 inches diagonally) and have excellent resolution. Also, the monochrome and color formats should be the same (sorry, IBM). 3. Two disk drives. A minimum of two disk drives are required to reduce annoying and time-consuming disk swaps and to simplify backing up disks. 4. Built-in expansion slots. Since all busi- nesses have unique requirements, expan- sion slots must be available to tailor the computer to the needs of the business. To minimize desk clutter and to maximize performance, the expansion slots should be in the main unit, directly connected to the main buses on the motherboard. The Mac falls short in all four categories. Sure, you can clutter up your desk and spend extra money buying a numeric key- pad and a second external disk drive. But you can't have a cursor pad, a color dis- play, or any expansion slots. A mouse is a great editing tool, but it is irritating and difficult to use during keyboard-intensive text entry or when entering numerical data in a spreadsheet. Anyway, with the nu- meric keypad and second disk drive tak- ing up all your desk space, where are you going to roll the stupid mouse? As to your problems with the Maclribes- men, you do not have to be converted. The Mac is seriously flawed in both design and execution. Apple had a real chance with the development of the Lisa to set the standard for all future computers. In- stead, it assembled a design team of brilliant, but naive, kids and let them develop a nice little toy. Then Apple de- cided to close the system. On top of that, Apple released a virtually unusable 128K- byte system. Let's hope that all those Mac fans out there get the message and pass it on to Apple. If Apple's arrogance hurts sales enough, maybe Apple and other manufacturers will mend their ways. David Brandt Oakdale, NY Well, you put things a bit more strongly than 1 would. Stay well.— lerry ■ 366 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 CompuPro Opens The Door i . . . For Total Solutions With Our Family of Multi-User Systems And System Components. Sometimes it seems like opportunity is just behind the door. At CompuPro, we've created a family of multi-user systems and system components that open many doors— from high performance multi-user business systems to industrial control. CompuPro products have earned an enviable reputation for delivering performance, auality and reliability— at prices that shut the door on the competition. So whether you use systems or build them, let CompuPro open some doors for you. ompuPro Inquiry 373 Vlasyn Corporation 26538 Danti Court Hayward, CA 94545-3999 800-842-7961 800-842-7962 (California) As your introduction to The Library of Computer and Information Sciences Take any 3 books (Publishers' prices shown 47100 $2495 52799 (Softbound) $18.95 44904-3 $87.50 39797 (Counts as 3 choices) (Softbound) $14.95 39985-2 $39.00 68430 (Counts as 2 choices) (Softbound) $19.95 74259 $1995 37206 $22.50 (Softbound) 37194 $22.95 38220 $24.95 70734 $18.95 UNIX PROGRAMMING 0WRONMENT RobPfte wtttfamG***^ i ASSEMBLY ReferenceGuii LANGUAGE Second Edition t"\YfXZ; ^ imputer Language Reference Guide « i n iwf, UMVJl Second Edition *L « ■ * I™? » HarryLHelms PRIMER ^" IBM PC & XT 85375 $26.95 39986 $9.95 34620 $24.95 74781 $21.95 (Softbound) (Softbound) (Softbound) 52183-2 $55.95 (Counts as 2 choices) Special Value! ^— ^— THE HANDBOOK OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLI- GENCE (Volumes 1-3) The Handbook was con- ceived and produced by leading scientists and researchers at Stanford University. It makes avail- able the concepts and techniques of this rap- idly expanding com- puter universe to sci- entists, engineers, stu- dents, and hobbyists who are encountering Al for the first time. 52150-3 $141.95 (Counts as 3 choices) The,Handbook ,.. ^Artificial £k;. foiieJiigence 368 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 (the oldest, largest, and most respected computer book club in the world) mmmwmmm mmmmmmmm (the oldest, largest, and most respected computer book club in the world) Please accept my application for trial membership and send me the three volumes indicated, billing me only $1.00 each, plus ship- ping and handling. I agree to purchase at least three additional Selections or Alternates over the next 12 months. Savingsrange up to 30% and occasionally even more. My membership is cancelable any time after I buy these three books. A shipping and handling charge is added to all shipments. A few expensive books (as noted) count as more than one choice. No-Risk Guarantee: If I am not satisfied— for any reason— I may return my introductory books within 10 days. My membership will be canceled, and I will owe nothing. Name Name of Firm _ Address (if you want subscription sent to your office) Apt City _ _Zip. State (Offer good in Continental US. and Canada only. Prices slightly higher in Canada.) BYTE 1/86 TDG4 Please accept my application for trial membership and send me the three volumes indicated, bil ling me only $1.00 each, plus ship- ping and handling. I agree to purchase at least three additional Selectionsor Alternates over the next 12 months. Savingsrange up to 30% and occasionally even more. My membership is cancelable any time after I buy these three books. A shipping and handling charge is added to all shipments. A few expensive books (as noted) count as more than one choice. No-Risk Guarantee: If I am not satisfied— for any reason— I may return my introductory books within 10 days. My membership will be canceled, and I will owe nothing. Name Name of Firm. Address^ City (if you want subscription sent to your office) Apt State. -Zip_ (Ofier good in Continental U.S. and Canada only. Prices slightly higher in Canada.) BYTE 1/86 7-DG4 CO LU V UJ o rr Q »- < < UJ Ill g o UJ CO 2 n CO CO UJ o UJ _J < u. I z r z z z> St -> z CO UJ > >f 0-s UJ^ QC^ < 3° Li. CO 4i >- UJ O cr o t? .< < UJ jj 2 POST CESS MAIL r S " Q Z uj O uj u_ z z z z> ~3 z ^JuJ Al SID PLYM 30 RIVEF JJCVJ CC2 coi £ s Ujj - z w CO? 1 3° 5£ S B FIRST ^^ for only *P» each You simply agree to buy 3 more books ***** iHii#0"- <****M iHilfi" ft 99* iHiffW" m~~ _... 52655 $9.50 (Softbound) 41969-2 $32.95 70206 (Counts as 2 choices) $24.95 p^; j SYSTEM DESIGN FROM PROVABLV CORRECT^ CONSTRUCTS^ JAMES MARTIN I 81844-2 $37.50 (Counts as 2 choices) 35495 $12.95 52336-2 $31.50 (Softbound) (Counts as 2 choices) (Softbound) SIANDARD PASCAL U5ERKSERENCE MANUAL )oug Cooper W.fiC»<*ife £^M«^? _ NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING ■ '(MD**"**' MirylVvHam* Multiple Processor Systems for Real-Time Applications BurtH.Uebowitz JohnH. Carson Mm Fundamentals of Data Structures in Pascal 80158 $12.95 70728 $17.95 56285 $27.95 58811 $24.95 63235-2 $37.95 49353 $26.95 (Softbound) (Softbound) (Counts as 2 choices) **-*•— Data Analysis The Key to Data Base Design N f USPcraft ii^TT 1 ^ yi/JD MARK im 41620 $29.50 65400 $26.95 40830 $19.95 38985 (Softbound) $17.95 85857-2 $32.95 58635 $19.95 (Counts as 2 choices) (Softbound) 4 Good Reasons to Join 1. The Finest Books. Of the hundreds of bookssubmitted to us each year, only the very finest are selected and offered. Moreover, our books are always of equal quality to publishers' editions, never economy editions. 2. Big Savings. In addition to getting the 3 books for $1.00 each when you join, you keep saving substantially, up to 30% and occasionally even more. (For example, yourtotal savings as a trial member, including this introductory offer, can easily be over 50%. That's like getting every other book free!) 3. Bonus Books. Also, you will immediately become eligible to participate in our Bonus Book Plan, with savings up to 70% off the publishers' prices. 4. Convenient Service. At 3-4 week intervals (16 times per year), you will receive the Library of Computer and Information Sciences News, describing the Main Selection and Alternate Selections, together with a dated reply card. If you want the Main Selection, do nothing, and it will be sent to you automatically. If you prefer another selection, or no book at all, simply indicate your choice on the card and return it by the date specified. You will have at least 10 days to decide. If, because of late mail delivery of the News, you should receive a book you do not want, we guarantee return postage. If the reply card has been removed, please write to The Library of Computer and Information Sciences, Dept. 7-DG4, Riverside, N.J. 08075 to obtain membership information and an application. Byte 1/86 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 369 We call him Asher the Slasher. Not to insinuate that he's the violent type. Let's just say that Asher carries his job as media director to a kind of quasi-psychotic extreme; the way he slices up ad copy is a copywriter's nightmare. But when he ordered us to write this ad for Final Draft, the new word processor from CYMA/McGraw-Hill, we started feeling pretty brave. Because we use Final Draft every day. And we know exactly what to say about this incredibly simple and unbelievably powerful system. Without Asher's slashes. So we wrote about the edit commands. They're alphabetically assigned so that you can learn them easily. All 35, not 305 like some of the other systems we've struggled with. In fact, Final Draft is so simple, you can learn to use it the first day and master it the second. We did. And then we described the feature list: automatic red-lining and strike-out, table of contents, floating footnotes, thesaurus, spelling check . . . power you won't find in comparably-priced systems. But, as usual, the Slasher had some descriptions all his own. "You call this an ad?! I've read better copy in comic books! I'd better get a real ad by 5 o'clock, or heads will roll!" This time, he couldn't scare us. Because we knew it was a great ad. So we stored it with the canned paragraph feature, wrote 37 memos to the execs at CYMA, and read the ad into each one. And they loved it. Absolutely raved. Put it in all the magazines, and since then we've canned all our work with Final Draft. Now we're working on Asher. FINAL DRAFT The word processor from CYMA/McGraw-Hill. Call 800-292-CYMA. Inquiry 96 for End-Users. Inquiry 97 for DEALERS ONLY. THIS AD WAS CANNED 37 TIMES ACCORDING TO WEBSTER Benchmarking Industry Updates Benchmarking Predictions by Bruce Webster Bruce Webster is a consulting editor for BYTE. He can be contacted do BYTE, POB 191 0. Orem. UT 84057. Well I made it. I and my belong- ings got to Utah relatively in- tact, and I managed to get everything unpacked and organized a day or two ago, so I'm ready to really start work- ing again. I appreciate your patience over the last few months; these columns have been a little bit sparse, but that should change now. Industry Update It is late September when I write this, and Apple has just announced several new products, including a 20-megabyte hard disk for the Macintosh (reportedly priced at $1495) and a 31/2-inch 800K-byte disk drive for the Apple He and He (at $499). Other products include a new version of the Imagewriter printer and two high-resolution color monitors for the Apple II computers. Not having seen any of them, I can't really comment except to say that it's good to see Apple taking a more aggressive role in the marketplace. I've taken swipes at Apple just about every month, mostly out of frustra- tion at the mixture of brilliance and lack of brilliance coming out of Cupertino. Apple's innovative edge had dulled a little, but com- mon sense seems to be making a strong comeback, and it bodes well for Apple as well as the industry as a whole. On another front, IBM has been very quiet for the last few months, having said little since announcing that earnings for the rest of 1985 were not going to be very good and that the PC II did not, does npt, and will not exist. I am not quite sure what this means, but I see two possibilities: Either the Entry Systems Division is in disarray since the mandated relocation of 200 of its ex- ecutives from Florida to New Jersey, or IBM is planning to make some stunning an- nouncement and has managed for once to keep it quiet. If it's the latter, the people at IBM will probably have made the announce- ment by the time you read this— they like the November/December period for such things. In the Atari 520ST versus Commodore Amiga battle, it appears Atari has won the first skirmish by getting machines out the door, onto dealers' shelves, and into users' homes. Commodore is just this week get- ting demo units of the Amiga to dealers. I do not yet have either machine. As I type, though, an Atari 520ST is winging its way to me from the BYTE offices in Peter- borough. No word yet, though, on when an Amiga might show up. Look for a side-by- side-by-side comparison of the 520SX Amiga, and Macintosh as systems and de- velopment software become available. Meanwhile, the "Christmas wars" should be over by the time you read this. Going out on a limb, I think that the Atari 520ST will be the big winner, with the Amiga also do- ing well (but not as well as the Atari). The big loser will be the Apple II, barring a drastic price reduction down to less than $600. Right now, the Apple II falls between the 520ST and the Amiga in price but looks rather pitiful next to either one in perfor- mance. The software advantage has carried the Apple II for a long time, but consumers now have some affordable alternatives that make up in sheer power what they may lack in available software. (For more on all this, see the "Predictions for 1 986" section later in the column.) Benchmarks and Language Selection Speaking of performance, a discussion of benchmarks has been going on for the last week or two in the Pascal conference on BIX (BYTE Information Exchange). The con- sensus is that the (in)famous Sieve of Eratosthenes (see listing 1) is not adequate by itself as a benchmark and that you should run several different programs to ex- ercise various aspects of a given compiler or computer. The trick, of course, is com- ing up with the right set of programs. What characteristics would the right set of benchmarks have? First, such a set would [continued] JANUARY 1986 "BYTE 371 $495 Little Board ™/186— ♦ High Performance, Low Cost PC-DOS Engine Boots IBM PC-DOS f not included) • Three times the COMPUTING POWER of a PC • Data and File Compatible with IBM PC, runs "MS-DOS seneric" prosrams • 8 MHz 80186 CPU, DMA, Counter/Timers, 128/512K RAM zero wait states, 1 6-128K EPROM • Mini/Micro Floppy Controller ( 1-4 Drives, Sinsle/Double Density, 1-2 sided, 40/80 track) • 2 RS232C Serial Ports (50 -38,400 baud), 1 Centronics Printer Port • Only 5.75 x 7.75 inches, mounte directly to a 5-1 /4" disk drive • Power Requirement: +5VDC at 1.25A; +12VDC at .05A; On board -12V converter • SCSI/PLUS™ multi-master I/O expansion bus • Software Included: • PC-DOS compatible ROM-BIOS boots DOS 2.x and 3.x • Hard Disk support • OPTIONS: • Expansion board with: • 128 or 512K additional RAM • 2Sync/AsyncRS232/422 serial ports • Battery backed Real Time Clock » 8087 Math Co-Processor • Buffered I/O Bus • STD Bus Adapter • Utilities source code • TurboDOS / Networkins TM BOOKSHELF Fast, compact, high quality, versatile PC-DOS system Setter 200 Three times the COMPUTING POWER or a PC • Data and File compatible with IBM PC-DOS 2.x and 3.x • Runs "MS-DOS seneric" prosrams (Dbase II, Multiplan, Wordstar, Supercalc 2, Turbo Pascal, Fortran 77, Microsoft C, Lattice C, IBM Macro Assembler, Intel compilers & tools, GW Basic, etc ) • Works with any RS232C ASCII terminal (not included) • Compact 7.3 x 6.5 x 10.5 inches, 1 2.5 pounds, all metal construction • Based on Little Board/186 • 512 KRAM^no wait states • Two RS232 serial ports • One Centronics printer port • One or two 360 Kb floppy drives • 1 0MB internal hard disk drive option Priced from $1295.00 10MB System Only $1945.00 Software Included: • PC-DOS Compatible ROM-BIOS boots DOS 2.x and 3.x • Hard Disk Support • T/Makerlll —Word processes, spreadsheet, relational database, spellins checker, and data encrypt/decrypt Expandable: • Floppy expansion to four drives • Hard disk and tape expansion • SCSI/PLUS™ multi-master I/O expansion bus DISTRIBUTORS ARGENTINA: FACTORIAL, SA., (1) 41-0018, TLX 22408 BELGIUM: CENTRE ELECTRONIQUE LEMPEREUR, (041) 23-4541, TLX 42621 CANADA: DVNACOMP COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD., (604) 872-7737 ENGLAND: QUANT SYSTEMS, (01) 253-8423, TLX 946240 REF:19003131 FRANCE: EGAL+, (1) 502-1800, TLX 620893 SPAIN: XENIOS INFORMATICA, 593-0822, TLX 50364 AUSTRAUA: ASP MICROCOMPUTERS, (613) 500-0628 BRAZIL: CNC-OATA LEADER LTDA., ( 41 ) 262-2262, TLX 041-6364 DENMARK: DANBIT, (03) 66-20-20, TLX 43558 FINLAND: SYMMETRIC OY, (0) 585-322, TLX 1 2 1 394 ISRAEL: ALPHA TERMINALS, LTD., (3) 49-16-95, TLX 341667 SWEDEN: AB AKTA, (08) 54-20-20, TLX 1 3702 USA: CONTACT AMPRO COMPUTERS INC., TEL: (415) 962-0230 TELEX: 4940302 IBM®, IBM Corp.; 80186®, Intel, Corp.; TurboDOS®, Software 2000, Inc., Dbase II®, Ashton-Tate; Wordstar®, Micropro, Inc.; Supercalc 2®, Sorcim, Inc.; Turbo Pascal®, Borland, Intl., Inc.; Microsoft C®, GW Basic®, Multiplan®, Microsoft, Inc.; Lattice C®, Lattice, Inc. COMPUTERS. INCORPORATED S67 East Evelyn Ave. . MountainViev\LCA94041 . (415)962-0230 . TELEX 4940302 ; ACCORDING TO WEBSTER need to cover the different aspects of a computer language. The Sieve, at first glance, doesn't do a bad job: It includes integer arithmetic and comparisons, array in- dexing, loops, and conditional tests. And the Sieve works well for getting "rough order of magnitude" comparisons between languages; for example, the benchmark times shown in my August 1 98 5 column give a pretty good idea of the comparative speeds of, say, MacPascal versus Mac- Modula-2 versus Megamax C. But the Sieve is probably not so reliable by itself for comparing -all the C compilers on the Macintosh. Why? The bulk of the time is spent with just a few statements: assigning a constant value to a one- dimensional Boolean (or, for C, integer or short) array, in- creasing an integer value by another integer value, and testing if one integer value is less than or equal to another. By optimizing those few operations, a compiler/language can look good running the Sieve but might not perform so well with a broader mix of tasks. Let's say, then, that we're going to design a set (or suite) of benchmark programs for comparing compilers and lan- guages. What aspects should be covered? The list might be as follows: • Integer arithmetic. Addition and subtraction will be fairly straightforward, since the underlying processor can prob- [continued) Listing I : The Sieve of Eratosthenes program written in Pascal. program Prime(lnput,Output); purpose calculate first 1891 prime numbers 10 times const Size var Flags I.Prime.K.Count.lter begin Writelnfsize of flags; Writeln('10 iterations',Chr(7)); for Iter := 1 to 10 do begin Count : = 0; for I := to Size do Flags[l] : = True; for I : = to Size do if Flags[l] then begin Prime := I + I + 3; K := I + Prime; while K < = Size do begin Flags[K] := False; K := K + Prime end; Count := Count + 1 end end; Writeln(Chr(7),Count r ' primes') end. { of program Primes } = 8190; : array[0..Size] of Boolean; : Integer; .SizeOf(Flags)); 372 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 20 for Little Board. Inquiry 2 1 for BOOKSHELF. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS THE 2400 bps MODEM FOR IBM-PCs & COMPATIBLES. Plug the new USRobotics Microlink 2400™ modem board into any slot in your IBM PC or compatible — to give your computer full 2400 bps data communications capability. The Microlink 2400 can communicate twice as fast as 1200 bps modems. (It transmits a double-spaced page of text in as little as 7 seconds!) Faster com- munication means lower phone bills and increased productivity. The modem can even redial busy numbers until it gets through — freeing you for other tasks. Microlink 2400 displays call status and length on your screen, as well as operational parameters, including the command set and S-register settings. The modem's auto-answer feature automatically adjusts from 2400 bps to 1 200 or 300 bps to match the speed of incoming transmissions. What's more, a powerful equalizer assures peak performance on every call. The Microlink 2400 is CCITT and Bell compatible, and re- sponds to the full AT com- mand set. You can use it with any of the popular telecom- munications software pack- ages including Telpac™ by USRobotics, Crosstalk™, PC Help screens Ta)k ™ and Smartcom ™ In addition to the features you'd expect, our new, im- proved Telpac enhances Microlink 2400's performance with such features as easy-to-use windows, multilevel security, and log files to monitor your outgoing calls. Microlink 2400's low chip count results in ex- ceptional reliability — backed by a full 2-year manufacturer's warranty. But best of all is the price — only $699! And if you prefer an external ' courier 2400™ modem, our new Courier 2400™ will deliver the same superior performance at the same affordable price. We set out to build the best modems on the market. Now, they're ready. Microlink or Courier. Being faster is important. But being best was our goal. tflobotics The Intelligent Choice in Data Communications. Inquiry 365 USRobotics, Inc. 8100 McCormick Blvd., Skokie, IL. Phone: 1-800-Dial USR. In Illinois: (312) 733-0497 Telex: 650-186-3130 LOW COST UNIVERSAL EPROM, EEPROM, PROM PROGRAMMER EPROMS EEPROMS MICROS PROMS 2518 THRU 2584, 2716 THRU 27513, 27C16 THRU 27C512, 88732 THRU 88766, 57C258 52B13, 52B23, 52B33, 2816A, 2864A, 48Z02 8741, 8744, 8748(H), 8749(H), 8751. 8755 CY7C 281, 282, 291, 292 1409 BASIC MODEL NO PERSONAIJTY MODULES, MENU SELECTION, ^ — — ^ ONBOARD 110/220V AC POWER SUPPLY, RS232C INTERFACE, XDN-XOFF. RTS, CTS, DTR, VERIFY PROGRAM AND BLANK COMMANDS, MANUAL PROGRAMMING friTH LINE EDITING, ACCEPTS ASCII, INTEL OR MOTOROLA FORMAT. USER FRIENDLY MONITOR FOR I/O DEBUGGING, FAST PROGRAMMING MODE: 27128 UNDER TWO MINUTES, LOW/HIGH BYTE PROGRAMMING FOR 16 BIT BUS, EEPROM BYTE, BLOCK, OR CHIP ERASE, UP/DOWN LOAD IN INTEL/MOTOROLA FORMAT, COMPUTE DOCUMENTATION INCLUDING CAD SCHEMATICS, HIGH QUALITY AMP ZIFs | 1409 KIT PRICING | : 8K FIRMWARE, PCB ( XFORMER. , . .$125 : UA + 874(X) FAMILY $150 : 21 + 8751, 8755 + 2" PCB . . . .$200 : 11A + FULL SET OF PARTS .... .$250 : 21 + FULL SET OF PARTS $300 : 31 + FULL SET OF PARTS $400 : 12A ASSEMBLED AND TESTED . . . ,$350 : 22 ASSEMBIED AND TESTED . . . .$400 STAND ALONE EPROM DUPLICATION GANG PROGRAMMER EXPANSION PORT FOAM PAD, ACTIVE SOCKET LED INDICATOR | 1409C PRICING 33 : 13A + EPROM DUPLICATION . . 34 : 33 + 8744, 8751, 8755 . . . . . $850 . $800 SOURCE CODE ON PC-DOS DISK $ 75 SOFTWARE DRIVERS FOR MOST PCs ... $ 35 CAIIFORNIA RESIDENTS ADD 6% SAIES TAX ALL PRICES F.O.B. SAN JOSE, CA MASTERCARD AND MSA ACCEPTED B&C MICROSYSTEMS 6322 M0JA\TC DRIVE, SAN JOSE. CA 95120 TEL (408) 997-7685 TWX 4995363 ACCORDING TO WEBSTER The Complete and Comprehensive Intelliware™ Laboratory for Expert System Concepts on the IBM Personal Computer. Experteach is a comprehensive guide to Expert System technology consisting of a uniquely integrated collection of Expert System tutorials, case studies, on-line teaching pro- grams, Expert System building tools with source code and Artificial Intelligence languages. Experteach is based on extensive experience in teaching Expert System concepts in association with IEEE. ACM and the Continuing Educa- tion Institute. Experteach introduces you to Expert System technology by allowing you to build Expert Systems and to experiment with a variety of Artificial Intelligence tools and languages on the IBM PC. Experteach includes eight rule-based Expert System shells with source code implemented in Lisp, Prolog, dBASE II and Pascal. Each language has been used to im- plement both a forward chaining and a backward chaining Expert System shell with a built-in lule editor, inexact in- ference and how & why explanation facilities. Experteach includes a comprehensive Lisp interpreter and a complete Prolog interpreter with DEC- 10 Prolog • Complete Lisp Interpreter for syntax. Expeneach requires only 256K of memory, the IBM PC® . Experteach Includes: • Comprehensive Introduction to Expert System Concepts. • On-line Tutorial Describing the Operation of Expert Systems. • Lisp Based Expert System Tools with Source Code. • Prolog Based Expert System Tools with Source Code. • dBASE n™ Based Expert System Tools with Source Code. • Pascal Based Expert System Tools with Source Code. • Complete Prolog Interpreter for the IBM PC. • Comprehensive Case Studies of Several Major Expeit Systems. • Comprehensive bibliography on Expert Systems. Intelliware, Inc. , 4676 Admiralty Way Suite 401 Marina del Rey, CA 90291 (213) 827-1334 □ Introduction to Expert System Concepts. On-line Tutorial, Case Studies. Bibliography and Pascal Based Tools $99.00. DLisp. Prolog or dBASE II Based Tools $99.00 each, incomplete Experteach System with Lisp and Prolog Interpreters. $475.00 Check. Money order, Visa or. Mastercard. $9.i0 for postage and handling. California. 6.5% tax. :. IBM PC is i.l IBM ,1HASI-: II IS A TRADEMARK OF Ash(on-Tale. ably handle them well. Multiplication and division, though, should get special attention, since they're more difficult and time-consuming, making them better targets for com- piler or run-time library improvement. • Real arithmetic. "typically, most compilers call run-time routines to perform real-number math, so speeds will vary widely depending upon how well written those libraries are. My own benchmark experience bears that out, with significant speed variations between different compilers. Also, precision is as important, if not more so, than speed; more on that later. • Array manipulation. Arrays are the closest thing to a universal data structure, found in just about all program- ming languages. They should be read from and written to. Multidimensional arrays with multibyte elements pro- vide the best test of performance. • Character and string manipulation. The perception of computers as number crunchers lives on, but micros prob- ably do more text processing than any other single func- tion. Different types of string manipulations, including as- signments and comparisons, are worth timing. • Manipulation of other data structures, like records or sets. Pascal, C, and FORTH all allow complex data struc- tures; assignment and manipulation of subfields should be timed. • Control structures. Loops and IF. . THEN and CASE statements all need to be tested. These are usually straightforward enough, but some care must be taken to provide accurate comparisons. The code within the con- trol structures must have closely matched or well- measured performance between different compilers. • Subroutine calls. As with control structures, you should be sure you're measuring the call and return performance rather than code within the subroutine or bracketing the call. • Screen input/output. I/O performance tends to be fuzzy because the operating system often stands in the way. Even so, some compilers handle this better than others. On the other hand, those that perform better often do so at the expense of portability by using machine-specific features. • Disk I/O. Again, the hardware and the operating system play a big role here, but with those two factors held con- Table l: Times, in seconds, recorded by seven different Pascal implementations running four benchmarks. These programs were all run on the same computer. Implementation Sieve Matrix Sort Reals 1 15.3 4.9 12.3 8.4 2 12.3 9.9 3.1 8.0 3 15.2 12.3 14.6 109.0 4 164.3 13.3 17.2 4.2 5 20.9 4.5 10.7 4.2 6 234.3 27.5 26.9 19.9 7 23.8 12.4 11.5 19.9 374 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 129 Inquiry 81 ACCORDING TO WEBSTER stant. language performance can be safely compared. The second characteristic is that these aspects should be isolated into different programs so that performance in each area can be measured. This isn't always easy; for example, it's hard to test control structures (loops, etc.) without having something in them— but that something might create a speed difference. Likewise, to test, say, in- teger arithmetic, you may want to set up a loop— but how much effect does the loop have? Still, with work and care you can get a pretty good idea of what aspects of each benchmark program are critical. By .separating the bench- marks, you can develop a profile for each compiler or lan- guage. This will help you decide which one to use for a particular application. Third, the issue of true comparison versus optimization must be dealt with. For example, at the start of the Sieve, the array F'ags is initialized using a FOR loop. Many com- pilers and languages support a fast fill routine (such as FillChar in UCSD and lUrbo Pascal or the FILL word found in many FORTH implementations); using such implemen- tation- or language-specific features can speed execution, while strict adherence to an independent form provides a more "accurate" (though possibly less relevant) com- parison. So the question is this: Should the benchmark programs be adjusted for each compiler/language to take advantage of special features, or should they remain as identical to other versions as possible? This is another argument for a set of benchmark programs; with multi- ple programs, you reduce the possibility of a specific feature or extension resulting in deceptively good perfor- mance for a single program. Finally, be aware of compiler options that can affect speed. TUrbo Pascal for example, has a number of op- tions (range checking, user interrupts, etc.) that are turned off by default, resulting in very fast execution. If you turn just one of them— $U + , for user interrupts— back on, your benchmark programs will slow down by a factor of 10 or so. In contrast; IBM. Pascal (version 1.0) has a number of similar options (covered by the metacommand SDEBUG) turned on by default, resulting in slower execution. When you run benchmarks, make sure that the compiler options are identically set, preferably with as many options turned off as possible. Interpreting Benchmarks Once you've run those benchmarks through a number of compilers or languages, you may find that the results are not as clear-cut as you would like. A particular implemen- tation may do well with a few of the benchmarks, so-so with some others, and poorly with one or two. For exam- ple, table 1- shows- the- results of running four benchmarks— the Sieve, an integer matrix multiplication, a string sort, and a real-number arithmetic exercise— through seven dif- ferent versions of a particular language on the same com- puter. Note the dramatic differences. For example, imple- [conlinued) OUR 10th YEAR! COMPUTER SWAP AMERICA, INC. SHOWS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1, 1986 A one-day, hassle free personal computing bargain show occurring three times a year: Complete personal/desktop systems to IC's, diskettes to drives, application programs to games, books and magazines, plus consignment tables, door prizes and the Vlasyn/GompuPro auction. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1986 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. AT THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 344 TULLY ROAD • SAN JOSE, CA. 1 1/2 miles west from Tully Road exit off U.S. Highway 101 General Admission $5.00 Selling Spaces $75 to $400 For more information on selling at or attending contact: COMPUTER SWAP AMERICA, INC. P.O. BOX 620107 WOODSIDE, CA 94062 • (415) 366-9162 "The original high technology flea market and personal computer bargain ©1986, Computer Swap America NewQuark PC SBC '495. Base model 5" x 8" Only $. Quantity discounls available • IBM PC-XT® compatible single board computer mounts to 5^4" drive • Includes Floppy Disk & Color Graphics CRT Controllers plus more AISO includes: Legal BIOS • Boots MSDOS® 3.0 • Printer Port • 2 Serial Ports • 256K RAM • Clock Speed at 4.77 MHz • Alphanumerics and Graphics Modesfor Color Video Controller. Options include: 512K RAM • Motherboard with IBM PC® Bus Expansion Slots • XT - Compatible Hard Disk Controller • Real Time Clock with battery-back-up • Clock speed of 9.5 MHz (Twice as fast as a PC) The Megatel Quark/PC isf or the OEM designer or systems integrator who wants reliable PC compatibility in an easy- to-use SBC The Quark/PC BIOS will run most IBM PC® soft- ware including Flight Simulator and Lotus®. To meet your specifications a set of options let you add memory, speed and an XT-compatible hard disk controller. Not only does it quickly mount to a 5 V* " drive, it also comes with floppy disk and CRT color graphics controllers — all for just $495. To order or enquire call us today. Dealer enquiries welcome. Megatel computer Technologies (416) 745-7214 150 Turbine Drive, Weston, Ontario M9L 2S2 Telex: 065-27453 U.S. Address: 1051 Clinton St., Buffalo NY. 14206 Quark Is oregisteredtrademark ol F. and K. MFG CO. LTD IBM, IBM PC and IBM XTare registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. Lotus is a registered trademarkof Lotus Development Corp. MSDOS is o registered trademark of Microsotl Corp. megatel Inquiry 231 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 375 Inquiry 432 for U.S. and Canada. Inquiry 433 for other International. MULTILINGUAL WORD PROCESSING fc.ttltimiiul QflHB ?»** This is lultilirvjual text •■ tt*neh: La touch* flit est e'9a)»ent utilisee iwec Jes touches' du clauier nuierique pour entrer les caracteres qui ne se trouuent pas sur les touches du clavier de type naehine i fcrire. To WORKtfWTER Cxn mo HovaEiKii tiaftf ne tqv xpriotTt Kai oxt&tdoTnKc via tow onmpivd ctawAwrrla. Japanese: tit / r i i sisoy ■n '/ j a ■? * ^ » i * Uenn Sie Ihren Text ohne *Pa- pierii>erschuewiur)9'. erfas- sen- berichti9en oder ab- speichern ibchten brauchen Si* die Kilfe eines Text- verarbti timgsprwans . llili ■ iii m m m 01 02 03 04 01 Organization charts: i B. Siith i Date 3tei nuaber Price 856565 656565 256565 366565 126765 316-6787-666 545-6787-681 268-2686-899 999-9999-999 iee-ieee-iee 345.86 ieee.ee 45.67 i.ee 1999.99 - Cokx support - Arithmetic calculations on text - Integrated Communications - Transmit and receive on disk - Automatic hyphenation - Document repaglnatlon - Search and replace - Context sensitive help - Easy to use and learn - In English, French, German - In Dutch and Greek. - IBM PC/XT/AT and Compatibles Only $259 Inch Latin and Japanese/ Greek font Junior version $49.95 Af/CffO BUS/AfESS P/KJDUCTS g ■ Up to eight fonts on screen ■ Graphics and character modes - Image based Word processing - Line graphics and bar charts ■ Independent columns ■ Real time text dragging ■ Typewriter emulation ■ Translation to and from ASCII ■ Printing to printer or disk - Comprehensive printer tables - Numeric tabs and Indents - Headers and footers i 1 1 E Avenue Observatolre IMFIP Brussels, Belgium l—LJL Tel: 375-0953 Tlx: 26340 P.O.BOX530 Wayne, NJ 07470 [ Tel: 201/684-4142 DISKS & MORE CALL FREE 1-800-328-3472 All Prices Per Box of 10 — Min. Order 2 Boxes Diamond™ SS/DD/RH DS/DD/RH High Den Brown® SS/DD/RH DS/DD/RH High Den SS/ $20.99 SS/ 22.89 DS/ 34.99 All Diamond Disks Come In A Free Plastic Storage Case Head Cleaning Kits— Clean From 10-260 Times 8.95 to 29.95 SS/DD/RH 12.39 96TPI 21.89 ss/ 22 - 89 DS/DD/RH 16.59 DS/DD DS/ 33 89 High Den 31.69 96TPI 25.89 3M® SS/DD SS/DD/RH 13.59 ■ 96TPI 20.59 ss/ 2289 DS/DD/RH 16.69 DS/DD DS/ 3599 High Den 31.79 96TPI 25.09 Ring King Storage Units I 3 5'/4" I 3'/2" D SS/DD 24.89 DS/DD 26.89 SS/SD 19.89 SS/DD 23.89 DS/DD 27.89 3M Data Cartridges DC-1000 12.61 15 - 2.00+ .20 ship 20 - 2.50+ .20 ship DC-300 A 17.85 35 - 5.99 + 2.00 ship 50 - 15.00 + 2.00 ship DC-300 XLP 19.37 50 - 8.95 + 2.00 ship 8" DC-600 A 20.60 70 - 15.22 + 2.00 ship 70 - 23.97 + 3.00 ship Ship 5.00 per 10 . NORTH HILLS CORP INT'L k 3564 Rolling View Dr. White Bear Lake MN 55110 ^ -1-800-328-3472 MN Call Collect 612-770-0485 All Disks Are 100% Certified - Have A Lifetime Warranty. All 8" & 5 Va " Have Ty vek Envelopes, User Labels, W/P Tabs TERMS-VISA, MC, Prepaid-MO or Cert. Check, COD Add 3.00 SHIPPING- 574" & 3'/2" - 3.00 per 100 or Fewer -8" - 4.00 per 100 or Fewer —Storage Units and Cartridges As Shown "All Orders Are Shipped In 24 Hrs." "Never Undersold" Prices Subject To Change - Call For Quantity Prices -. Min Order 2 Boxes ACCORDING TO WEBSTER mentation #3 looks pretty good with most of the bench- marks but does horribly with the real numbers. Likewise, implementation #4 beats all the others with the real numbers (except'for #5, which it ties) but is terribly slow on the Sieve and less than exciting on the other two. Im- plementation #5 seems to be the closest to an all-around winner; it comes in first on the second and fourth bench- marks and does acceptably well on the first and third. (For those of you dying of curiosity, the different implementa- tions are unmasked at the end of the column.) So the question is this: Which one do you go with? Well, as with just about any decision involving micros, "That depends." Upon what? Upon what you want to do with it. If you're going to be doing a lot of real-number calcula- tion, you probably won't choose implementation #3. Like- wise, for functions similar to the Sieve, you don't want #4 or #6. But performance alone may not give you sufficient information to select one compiler or language over an- other. For example, the benchmarks for implementations #I, #2, and #5 are close enough that, for a general mix of functions, performance is going to be pretty much equal. So how do you choose? More than Speed Once you have eliminated performance as a criterion for selecting a compiler or language, you should consider other factors. Some of these are • Precision of real numbers (mentioned above). There are many pitfalls in doing real arithmetic, like cumulative round-off errors, subtraction of nearly identical values, and so on. Compilers typically have a set of library routines for doing real arithmetic; the quality of these routines can dramatically impact the quality of your results beyond the simple issue of how many significant digits the compiler supports. • Memory models. Most compilers perform well for small programs; what happens when you want to write a large one? How large a program can you have? How much mem- ory can you actually use, and what can you use it for? What mechanisms exist for getting around those limits? • Compiler size and speed. This wasn't considered an issue until Borland International released TUrbo Pascal, which was an order of magnitude smaller and one or two orders faster than anything else out at the time. I, for one, wonder now why many other compilers are so big and so slow. • Adherence to standards. This can be for the language itself or for the libraries supplied. Again, Turbo Pascal has been controversial in this respect; critics have pointed out the ways in which Borland ignored the ISO (International Standards Organization) and Wirth definitions and the problems caused thereby, while apologists have countered by claiming T.irbo itself is a de facto standard because more copies of TUrbo are in existence and use than any other Pascal implementation (and, probably, more than all other implementations combined). 376 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 267 Inquiry 274 ACCORDING TO WEBSTER • Access to hardware/ROM (read-only memoryj/operating system. How well does the compiler let you use the com- puter you're running on? This can include graphics, I/O ports, mass-storage devices, math coprocessors, and calls to ROM or operating-system routines. • Utilities. Does the language have support programs, like editors, debuggers, linkers, and libraries? How many are included in your package, how much do the rest cost, and how well do they work? • Cost, licensing, technical support, and upgrades. If you're planning to do a lot of work in a given language, cost is not that big an issue (unless, of course, you don't have the money). If you're planning to do commercial work, licensing is a big issue, although more and more firms are dropping licensing fees (inspired, perhaps, by the death of SofTech Microsystems, which used to ask in- credible fees). Likewise, good technical-support and up- grade policies are important for serious development, since most compilers are undergoing constant improve- ment. • Your environment. If all your coworkers are using C, it may not be a good idea to select Pascal, and vice versa. This is especially true if someone else is going to main- tain your program (fix bugs, add features, etc.) after you've written it. • Aesthetics and philosophy. Some people really like C; others swear by Pascal; yet others prefer FORTH, or LISP, or assembly language, or even (gasp!) BASIC. The reasons are many, complex, and often inalterable; in this respect, a person's language preference becomes as firm as religion or politics. What's really ironic is that, given all the benchmarks and other valid issues, this last point is often the deciding one, and the others are shamelessly manipulated to support the predetermined decision. As you can see, there is much, much more to consider in selecting a given language or compiler than how fast it runs the Sieve program. Of course, this is all assuming that you're running on one given computer. If we start talk- ing about different configurations (memory, disks, etc.), not to mention entirely different computers, the issues become even more complex. Predictions for 1986 I'm not sure what it is that makes us get such a kick out of trying to predict the future, but it is fun. I am, perhaps, a bit unwise to try it myself; not only am I writing this before 1986 even starts (late September, to be exact), but I don't have much in the way of inside information, espe- cially living up here in the Rockies. But, as the song says, I've been a fool for lesser things, so here goes. • There will be a big upswing in the "mythical" home com- puter market. This will start toward the end of 1985 and will continue strong through most of 1986. What's more, the public— having learned their lesson from the millions {continued) the Jv"lO gives you Out of This World Performance PLUS PC Features: • 8 MHz 80186 microprocessor with true 16-bit data bus. • True PC compatability with our own custom ROM BIOS and PC cardslots for the video of your choice. • Standard 512K zero wait DRAM, 640K or 1M options. • 8087 numeric coprocessor port. • On-board floppy disk con- ^^y troller for up to four 5 1 /4 M r^T} drives. ^•On-board SCSI hard disk con- troller port. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: RATABILITY! NEW LOWER PRICES Kits • Not So Bare Board $250 • Quick Kit $625 • Full Kit $795 • Assembled and Tested . . .$895 • 128K Add-On $ 90 • Vi MEG Add-On $240 • XT Style, Flip Top Enclosure 5 85 • 150 Watt Power Supply . .$135 • 5V4" 48 TPI DS Vi Height ppy Disk Drive $125 PClEffl P.O. Box 128 904 North 6th Street Lake City, MN 55041 (612) 345-4555 Total Solutions: Assembled and Tested Systems • Mono-Chrome System . .$1,865 Includes: 640K, Power Supply, Enclosure, Keyboard, Monitor, Two Drives, and Printer Port. • Color System Call • Quantity Discounts Upon Request • Call For Info on Add-Ons, Hard Disks, Etc. So you can't get Toshiba Printer i H H hsIsi I III hsIB 1 1 1 I H i m 800/854-0561 ' IN CALIFORNIA CALL 800/432-7257 EXT 837 We have a full selection of type font cartridges and disks to enhance Toshiba P341.351 and 1351 printers . . . + manuals, ribbons . . . and much, much more. T/FD016S69 T Origin 2, L Gothic 2, B Italic 1 , Gothic 15, E Italic 1 T/FD011S49 T Origin 2, L Gothic 2, B Italic 1 T/FD014S49 Orator 1 , Orator 2, Outline 1 17FD015S49 Theme, Script, L Italic T/FD013S69 Greek/Math 1, Greek Math II, APL 1, Sci Pi 1 17FD021S49 Micro 1 , Italic 1 , Italic 2 T/FD031 $35 Courier, Graph 10, Elite, Graph 12 F/FD001 $95 Micro 1 , Copper 1 , Italic 1 , Italic 2, Zip 1, Micro 20, Science 1 F/FD002$95 Boss 1,0 Gothic 1,C Italic 1, G Italic 1, Fathead 1, Gothic 15, Greek 1 F/FD003$95 Courier 1 , L Gothic 1 , Orator 1 , Script 1 , Italic 17, Symbol 12, Hebrew 1 F/FD004$95 Roman 1, Elite Italic, 0CR-A, 0CR-B, Prestige Pica, Greek 2, Micro 15 T/FC011 $69 Bold Face Letter Gothic T/FC012$69 Elite Italic Gothic 15 T/FC013$69 Greek/Math I Av»ya>- = + a APLI )]va^ , + ./a± T/FC014 $69 Greek/Math II i " *$%& afjtaeEz Sci Pi I •-♦•-♦ J r 1 1 r l j «« s * * T/FC015S69 OratorI 0rator2 T/FC016$69 Out Una 1 ScMpt T/FC017$69 Theme hi tal ic T/FC018$69 SitoKcl OCR-B G/FD051 $50 Sci 4, Sci 5, Sci 124, Sci 125 G/FD052$25 Miniset G/FD053$30 Maxiset T/R001 $12 Universal Ribbon PRINTER Shipping and handling will t tax added to California orders, aena lor iree caiaiog. Accessories Direct inc./po. box W6O8-347. wine, ca 92713/714-832-7312 Inquiry 420 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 377 Inquiry 32 5 Fourth Annual Conference on INTERACTIVE INSTRUCTION DELIVERY in Education, Training and Job Performance February 19-21, 1986 Hyatt Orlando Hotel Orlando, Florida Presentations cover applications in: Videodisc CD/ROM Microcomputers Software Development Methodology Pre-conf erence tutorials are scheduled for February 17 and 18. Exhibits of representative technology will be available to conference registrants. Previous exhibitors include: © DEC LaserVideo Hazeltine Panasonic Hitachi N.A. Philips IBM Pioneer NCR MetaMedia Systems Sony 3M Visage, Inc. WICAT Systems Wilson Learning Corp For further information contact: SALT Society for Applied Learning Technology 50 Culpeper St. Dept. B Warrenton, V A 22 1 86 (703) 347-0055 TERMINAL EMULATION FOR THE IBM PC AND COMPATIBLES • TWO TERMINAL EMULATORS IN ONE — Bluestreak supports terminal ses- sions over both COM1 and COM2. The user switches back and forth with a single keystroke. You can configure each channel independently of the other. For Example, communicate at 1200 baud emulating a VT100 through COM1 and communicate at 9600 Baud in TTV mode through COM2. • EMULATES TEN POPULAR TERMINALS — Bluestreak supports terminal emulations for VT100, VT 52, FREEDOM 100, ADDS REGENT 25, ADDS VIEWPOINT, HAZELTINE 1500, TELEVIDEO 920, ADM 3A, DG DASHER 6053 AND MIME 340. • CHARACTER TRANSLATIONS FROM A USER DEFINED TABLE OR A BUILT IN ASCII/EBCDIC TABLE — Bluestreak translates characters in terminal, file send, or file receive mode. • EXTENSIVE COMMUNICATION SETUP PARAMETERS — Baud rates to 9600, character filtering, extensive flow control setup, file transfer utilities. • PROGRAMMABLE USING LANG-ALLAN'S TRIGGER RESPONSE — Trig- ger/Response programming allows you to set up automatic functions eas- ily. You enter the prompt as seen from the remote system then the response you want to send. That's it! • KEYBOARD DEFINITION LETS YOU CUSTOMIZE THE SYSTEM — You can define up to30special function keys. Set up Bluestreak to simplify a complex computer operation with up to 16 characters per special function key. DOS ACCESS WITH A SINGLE KEYSTROKE - Receive a file with Bluestreak, access DOSandprocessthedata. Reenteryourterminal session with a single keystroke. $52.95 Phone orders only (BOO) 237-6360 ext. 222 For information (305) 677-1539 MasterCharge, Visa, Check or Money Order 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE LANG-ALLAN, INC. 2431 ALOMA AVE., SUITE 103 P.O. BOX 1341, WINTER PARK, FL 32790 (305)677-1539 ACCORDING TO WEBSTER of C-64s, TI-99/4AS, and VIC-20s gathering dust on book- shelves—will be willing to put out the bucks to buy power- ful, expandable computers. The result is that. . . • Commodore and Atari will both do well, much to every- one's surprise. People will buy the 520ST and the Amiga, looking for a system that can do serious work and yet run nifty games. The Apple II has been the only computer on the market for years that has really filled that bill, and its aging technology has caught up with it. This means that . . . • Sales of the Apple II will plummet, only to be spurred again by dramatically reduced prices. This, of course, will hurt Apple, since the Ile/IIc models have been the real cash cows, helping to subsidize the Lisa and the Macintosh. As a result. . . • Apple will be scrambling, trying to rectify its mistakes of the last two years. The computer-as-toaster concept of the Macintosh has failed. It remains the easiest computer around to use, but the crippling hardware limitations have held it back. A Mac-like machine with slots, a fan, a faster processor and disk drives, more memory and mass stor- age, a larger display, and possibly even color will be re- leased. With these changes. . . • An MS-DOS card for the new Macintosh will be released. Probably not from Apple, it will most likely come from either Dayna Communications (the MacCharlie people) or AST Research. The card will have cables leading to a pair of 5^-inch disk drives, and the whole system will let the new Mac look like an IBM PC. Once this happens. . . • The Macintosh will finally start to penetrate the cor- porate business market— two years late, and in nowhere near the numbers that Apple had hoped. Nevertheless, it will generate some cash and (more important) con- fidence from Wall Street, sending Apple stock up from its long-term slump. However, in the meantime. . . • An MS-DOS box-with 8088 processor and a BIOS (basic input/output system) from the folks at Phoenix— will be released for the Amiga. It will plug into the Amiga's ex- pansion bus and take over the machine, using the 68000 as an auxiliary I/O processor. It may have its own 5 V* -inch drives, or it may use the optional 5!4-inch Amiga drives. At the same time. . . • UNIX, despite its many serious flaws, will also do well, much to everyone's surprise (except all those UNIX hackers who have sworn by it all along). Versions of UNIX will ap- pear almost simultaneously for the new Macintosh, the Amiga, and the upgraded (1 -megabyte) 520ST. All three machines will become popular in university and engineer- ing environments, as those same UNIX hackers discover the delight of having a computer all to yourself. The up- shot of all this is that . . . • The 68000 will have a good year, not only because of the successes of the new Mac, the Amiga, and the 520ST but because of other 68000-based systems aimed at home, educational, and scientific markets. Indeed, the 80x86 versus 680x0 dichotomy will cause deja vu in those who have seen the IBM versus DEC mainframe and mini- 378 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 199 ACCORDING TO WEBSTER computer market divisions over the years. Speaking of whom . . , • IBM will mostly sit on its lead (and its hands), content to rely on momentum and its name to sell products. The only new product to see the light of day will be its laptop portable, which will be decently designed but poorly marketed and received. Instead, this market will be snatched up by the clone-makers, much as the desktop portable market was, and possibly by the same firm: Com- paq. And speaking of the clone-makers. . . • IBM-compatible computers will continue to grab a larger share of the business market, eating into IBM's sales. Should IBM be so foolish as to introduce a proprietary operating system, that share will actually Increase, as both software developers and consumers shy away from lock- ing themselves into IBM-only software and hardware. Well, that's that. Those are my predictions for 1986. A year from now, I'll review them and see how 1 did. None are terribly dramatic, and there will undoubtedly be major developments that are unanticipated here. IN the Queue Well, the Atari 520ST arrived safe and sound and is now set up and running. Next month's column will be devoted to first impressions of the machine, which I think will sell very well. I'll also look at a significant piece of develop- ment software for the 520ST: a native-code Modula-2 com- piler from TD1 Software Ltd. Other programming tools will be covered, too, including two new native-code Pascal compilers for the Macintosh and a useful set of diagnostic tools for lUrbo Pascal development under MS-DOS. An Amiga computer is now on its way, so the following month (March) will have benchmarks and other comparisons be- tween the Mac, the 520SI and the Amiga. And the Answer Is. . . For those of you who are curious as to the identities of the language implementations in table 1, here's the story. All of these are Pascal implementations running on a Com- paq portable under MS-DOS 1.1. Since all were done in the spring of 1984, they are out of date; new versions of most (if not all) of the implementations have since been released. If I had had the latest versions of all the Pascals. I would have rerun the benchmarks, but I didn't. As such, these should not be considered accurate or current. The envelope, please: #1: llirbo Pascal, version 2.0, Borland International #2: IBM Pascal, version 1.0, IBM (Microsoft) #3: Pascal/MT+, version 3.1, Digital Research Inc. #4: UCSD Pascal, version I V.I, Network Consulting Inc. #5: Same as #4, but run through the native-code generator #6: UCSD Pascal, version IV. 1, SofTech Microsystems #7; Same as #6, but run through the native-code generator Incidentally these were all run with as many compiler options turned off as possible. ■ iMdJIilJHreTTBDEALERS WELCOME!! 99% Hayes compatible 300/1200 Inquiry 87 ALPHA CONCORD 7 Days Money Back Guarantee (except handlings! 5) ■ Auto dial, auto answer (tone or pulse) • 6 status indicators & switch selectable. ■ Auto speed selection (0-300, 1200 ■ Speaker with volume control , ■ Aluminum case, w/adaptof 6 MONTH WARRANTY Modern board completely assembled, & guaranteed, 5 minutes assembly. MODEM SEMI-ASSEMBLED MODEM ra RISC Machine A commercial RISC processor by Dick Pountain Dick Pountain is a technical author and software consultant living in London. England. He can be contacted do BYTE. POB 372, Hancock NH 03449. Acorn Computers Ltd. is one of the U.K.'s most successful computer companies, but like many others, it had its share of financial problems dur- ing the depressed year of 1985. Set up in 1 979 by two Sinclair alumni, Chris Curry and Hermann Hauser, the Cambridge-based firm (4a Market Hill, Cambridge CB2 3NJ. England) started out manufacturing a set of modular single-board controllers based on the MOS Technology 6502 processor. These small boards stacked together to make up complete industrial-control systems. The following year the Acorn people launched the Atom personal computer, a packaged but expandable machine that arose out of their experience with 6502 systems. For a while, at around £200, the Atom was the cheapest hobby computer available here, and it attracted a strong following, par- ticularly among those who are as handy with the soldering iron as with the assem- bler. Hopped-up Atoms can still be found to this day. Acorn's next product, initially called the Proton, was designed to meet a very ad- vanced—for the time— specification pub- lished by the BBC (British Broadcasting Company), which was requesting bids to supply a personal computer around which an educational television series would be produced. Acorn won the contract, after a strong and often acrimonious contest in which Sinclair Research, whose 48K-byte color Spectrum was already on the market, lost out. After a frustratingly long delay due to quality-control problems with the ULAs (un- committed logic arrays), the BBC computer was launched and proceeded to corner the market in schools and universities. Acorn became a very wealthy company, with a turnover reputed to be £100,000,000 per annum at its high point. The BBC Micro (alias the Beeb) is still quite a deluxe machine, with better high- resolution color graphics than any of its competitors, and quite a bit faster, thanks to its 2-megahertz 6502. Another plus is the provision of a 10-MHz bus, called the Ttibe, to which second processors can be at- tached. Acorn charges a lot of money for this sophistication though, and the Beeb has kept its £400 price long after com- petitors have slashed theirs to below the £200 mark. Acorn had from the start paid more at- tention to software than most manufac- turers, recruiting the brightest Cambridge University computer science graduates for its software division. As a result, the Beeb acquired a range of languages unrivaled by any machine but the Apple II, including an advanced structured BASIC, LISP, Logo, FORTH, Pascal, BCPL (Basic Combined Pro- gramming Language), and more. But despite all these positive points, the Beeb has a major drawback, a shortage of mem- ory. The ambitious specification, combined with the limited addressing capabilities of the 6502, left it with a maximum of 32K bytes of workspace (only this year upgraded to 64K bytes), and in the higher-resolution graphics modes this can be reduced to a mere 8K bytes. That doesn't get you very far in LISP or Logo. So at the height of its prosperity Acorn set a team to design, in secret, its own pro- cessor to replace the 6502. This may seem like an ambitious, even rash, undertaking, but the people on the Acorn team were so wedded to the simplicity and speed of the 6502 architecture that they found it hard to countenance any of the commercially avail- able 16-bit replacements. The BBC operat- ing system is heavily interrupt-driven, and the sluggish interrupt latency of 16-bit chips, such as the Intel 8086 and Motorola 68000, would have meant introducing DMA (direct memory access) hardware and all sorts of other undesirable complications. Acorn did, in fact, adopt the National Semiconductor 32016 as a second processor for the Beeb, but only after first offering a 3-MHz 6502. And so they conceived the idea for the [continued) JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 387 Only Toshiba printers combine the beauty of the daisy with the spe^d of the dot. The Toshiba 3-in-One™ printers. Toshiba's 3-in-One printers are the IBM PC-compatible printers that give you the best of everything. Because their 24- pin printhead gives you beauti- ful letter-quality type like a daisy Combined with the quiet speed and perfect graphics of the matrix. In the world of business printers this combination makes Toshiba the leader in the letter- quality matrix category And our 3-in-One printers a breed apart. So your printouts stand apart from the crowd. Toshiba's3-in-One136-column printers also give you both down- loadable type fonts and plug-in type font cartridges for an almost unlimited number of ways to express yourself. For misinformation, call 1-800-457-7777 Oper- ator 32. And tell us h -, ',- , you'd like to see the beauty of the daisy and the speed of the dot. InTbuch with Tomorrow TOSHIBA 10SHIBA AMERICA. INC Information SysiemsDiviSion 388 BYTE • JANUARY I986 Inquiry 360 BYTE U.K. Acorn RISC (reduced instruction set computer) Machine, or ARM. THE ARM The ARM was a very well-kept secret indeed. Until its announcement in August 1985, when it had already been created and was available in sample quantities, no word of its ex- istence appeared in the computer press. Acorn's designers worked in col- laboration with the U.S. firm VLSI Technology Inc. (San Jose, CA) who supplied them with CAD (computer- aided design) workstations and design software and made the chips. The Acorn team already had some experi- ence in VLSI (very-large-scale integra- tion) design from working on the ULAs for the BBC microcomputer, but none in processor design. At the time these were some of the most complex ULAs ever made. In a mere 18 months the Acorn team designed ARM from scratch, and it worked as specified from the first silicon. This is not only a great testament to Acorn's design skills, but also a remarkable vindica- tion of the RISC design philosophy. (See "RISC Chips" by John Markoff, November 1984 BYTE, page 191.) It's highly unlikely that such a feat could have been achieved using any of the colossal architectures currently in fashion, like the 68020. The Acorn people on the design team were inspired by the virtues of the venerable 6502 and by other RISC researchers, such as those on the Stanford and Berkeley teams. How- ever, they departed in several ways from previously used techniques. The design goals they set were high execu- tion speed, a small and regular in- struction set, and a very short response time to interrupts (in par- ticular, one much better than that of present 16-bit chips). In addition, the Acorn people required that the chip be capable of supporting virtual- memory operation. Since they started in 1984, it made sense to go straight to a 3 2 -bit processor, as the 16-bit era was already drawing to a close. The ARM design started, quite properly, with the instruction set rather than the hardware. In fact, the whole design, debugging, and prov- ing of the chip were performed by software simulations— some running on BBC microcomputers with the 3-MHz 6502 second processor— with no hardware prototype at all. The first fabricated chips were also the first hardware realization of the project. ARM uses a heavily pipelined archi- tecture to achieve a performance of 3 MIPS (million instructions per sec- ond) from a small (7 millimeters square) chip containing 2 5,000 transistors. For comparison, the 68020 is around 9 mm square, contains 192,000 transis- tors, and achieves about 2.5 MIPS. Clocked at the equivalent of 5 MHz, ARM runs BASIC benchmarks almost exactly 10 times faster than the IBM PC AT and comfortably faster than the TD1 Pinnacle with its 12-MHz 68000. The first version of ARM uses fairly conservative 3-micron CMOS (com- plementary metal-oxide semiconduc- tor) design rules with double metal level and uses so little power that it doesn't become even detectably warm in use. The device is packaged on a square 84-pin ledec chip carrier. Later versions will go to 2.4-micron design rules, resulting in an even smaller chip. A smaller chip means a higher yield, and Acorn estimates that it will be more than four times cheaper to manufacture than current megachips such as the 80x86 and 680x0 series. Acorn hopes to sell it to manufacturers of low-cost personal computers, as well as to the artificial intelligence workstation sector. ARM has 2 5 full 32-bit registers, a 3 2 -bit data bus, and a 26-bit address bus that enables it to address 64 megabytes of memory to byte boun- daries. Only 16 registers are normal- ly available to the programmer. Dur- ing interrupts the extra registers become available to the processor to simulate a DMA channel without needing to save any of the user's reg- isters. Register 15 contains the pro- gram counter; it also holds the status flags in its first 6 bits, there being no separate flags register. All instructions are 32-bit words [continued) TheToshiba P341 printer. The outstanding value in 3-in-One M technology. Dollar for dollar; nothing matches what our P341 can do for your office. Here's quality, versatility and expand- ability at an entry-level price. The Toshiba P341.The mid-range printer with features that are tops. Speed: 72 characters per second - letter quality; 216 characters per second (12 cpi)— draftquality. Reliability: I n-use tests show the Toshiba 3-in-One printer cooperate without fail for up to 5 years of normal workdays. Compatibility: Toshibas 3-in-One printers are compatible with major soft- ware packages. Interchanqeability : Our parallel and serial interfaces make the 3-in-One series compatible with all micros. Today -and tomorrow. m P In Touch with Tomorrow TOSHIBA TOSHIBA AMERICA. INC , information Systems Division Inquiry 360 ■ BYTE U.K. (aligned on word boundaries), divided into several fields, and fetchable in one clock cycle. All operations are performed on 32-bit quantities. If you wish to fetch bytes, certain of the load-and-store instructions will extract them and zero-extend them to 3 2 -bits, making use of the on-chip barrel shifter. The advantage of this scheme is that having everything the same length simplifies instruction fetch and sequencing. A potential disadvantage, shared by many RISC designs, is that a minimum 4-byte instruction gener- ates a lot of code compared to older machine designs. With today's mem- ory prices, however, that is not too great a concern. There are 44 basic instruction codes that can be divided into five categor- ies: load-and-store single-register, load-and-store multiple-register, arith- metic and logical, branch, and soft- ware-interrupt instructions. ARM sup- ports no multiply or divide instruc- tions. Each instruction type has several fields, and by setting appro- priate option bits you can synthesize a large number of different instruc- tions from the basic set. Following the Berkeley and Stanford models, ARM has a load-and-store ar- chitecture. Only the load-and-store in- structions can access memory, and all operations on data are register-to- register. All the instructions are conditional; that is, they include a test that must be true before they will execute. The first 4 bits of each op code are used to select one of 16 possible condi- tions. This reduces the number of branches required in a program be- cause branches reduce the efficiency of pipelining. When a program takes a branch, it has to throw away the next (already fetched and decoded) in- structions; this causes a time- consuming break or "bubble" in the pipeline. You can write many pro- grams without branches using this "skip-on-test" feature, which is avail- able in every instruction. The ARM has only two addressing modes: base-relative and program- relative. However, you can easily syn- thesize other modes from these. Base- relative mode permits either a 12-bit immediate value or a second regis- ter—in each case shifted if necessary by the barrel shifter— to be used as the offset. The result of this offset operation may be optionally rewritten to the base register— signaled by turn- ing on a "rewrite" bit in the instruc- tion. Since offsets may be positive or negative, it's easy to get the same ef- fect as the 68000's pre- and post- automatic decrement and increment modes. The ARM'S barrel shifter is also used for arithmetic and logical shifts and (without programmer involve- ment) to align data words and to ex- tract fields from instructions. As an example, to multiply a,number in a register by 17. ARM could add the number to itself shifted left four times and could do it in a single clock tick. Branches use a 24-bit offset that allows branching to anywhere in memory. There are no separate long and short jumping instructions and no reason to want them, as they would save neither space nor time. If you set the optional "link" bit in the branch instructions, register 1 5 (the program counter) is copied into register 14 as a return address so that jumps and subroutine calls and returns are ac- complished by the same instruction. All ARM instructions can be ex- ecuted in one clock tick, except for the load-and-store multiple-register in- structions, which require one tick per register. These load-and-store multi- ple-register instructions provide a fast way of saving the processor state and, therefore, very efficient context switching for procedure calls in high- level languages. Figure 1 is a block diagram that 390 BYTE- JANUARY 1986 BYTE U.K. 32 BITS , ARM FLOORPLAN . INSTRUCTION SKIP TRAP CONTROL CONDITION SEQUENCER BIT COUNTER PRIORITY ENCODER DATA CONTROL PIPELINE STATUS INSTRUCTION BUS REGISTER SELECT REGISTER DECODE PROGRESS STATUS REGISTER ALU DECODE SHIFT DECODE INSTRUCTION DECODE ALU OUTPUT BUS ADDRESS BUS ADDRESS BUS ADDRESS REGISTER 3 ADDRESS INCREMENTER u REGISTERS ( SHIFT BUS I NCREMENTER BUS % | READ BUsT^) n Jl o PIPE- LINE DATA BUS READ BUS A Figure 1: Block diagram of the 32-bit data path through the ARM chip and some of ARM'S main functional units. shows the 32-bit data path through by a single control unit, as in conven- array in which the instructions are the ARM chip and some of ARM'S tional processors, but by a number of hard-wired. There is no microcode main functional units. The flow of data separate functional units. The instruc- ROM (read-only memory); indeed through this pathway is not controlled tion decoder is a programmable logic [continued) EMULATORS, AND UV ERASERS: $50 TO $5000 All from Logical Devices. Choose from a complete, full- featured product line of stand- alone or PC driven units designed to meet your every PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, PLD, &PAL* development and production need; including reasonable 1 prices. *PAL is a registered trademark of Monolithic Memories, inc. Compare features, compare price; then make the Logical choice. ITS LOGICAL For details, write or call: 1321 nw 65th Place, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309; (305) 974-0967 toll free 800-EE1-PROM TELEX 383142 I LOGICAL DEVICES INC Inquiry 213 JANUARY 1986 "BYTE 391 BYTE U.K. there is no microcode. Bits in the ac- tual instruction word provide most of the control information. ARM may fetch an instruction from memory while the previous instruc- tion is being decoded and that in- struction's predecessor is finishing execution in the ALU (arithmetic logic unit). This state of affairs, which maxi- mizes processor throughput, persists as long as ARM is performing register- to-register operations consecutively without branching. The load-and-store architecture pays dividends in pipe- line efficiency. Acorn has measured ARM'S maximum processor-to-mem- ory bandwidth (the rate at which it can transfer data) at 18 MHz. Afron's PC/AT Bugbusters Hardware-assisted Software Debuggers for Bullet-proof PC/ Al-based Products A BUGBUSTER STORY Brad Crain, a project manager at Software Publishing (the people who developed both PFS:WRITE and PFS: FILE), relates the follow- ing: "On Friday, March 22, 1985, I was about to get on an airplane with Jeff Tucker, who was co- author of PFS:WRITE with me, and fly to IBM's Boca Raton, Flor- ida facility. For a week, we had been unsuc- cessfully tryingto isolate a bug in a new software product. In a last, desper- ation move, I set up an early-Saturday morning appointment with ATRON. "Three of us walked through ATRON's door at 8:00 the next morning. Using ATRON's hard- ware-assisted debugging tools, we had the prob- lem identified and fixed by 10:30AM." Mr. Crain concludes: "We'd never have found the bug with mere software debuggers, which have the bad habit of getting over-written by the very bugs they're trying to find. It doesn't surprise me that almost all the top-selling soft- ware packages were written by ATRON customers. Now that they've broadened their PC family of debuggers to include a PC/AT debugging tool, those of us seriously into 80286 development are greatly relieved." ARE YOU TRYING TO DO SOMETHING SCAREY? Like developing your AT-based software product in the dark? Without professional debugging tools? Seven of the ten top-selling software packages listed by the THE WALL STREET JOURNAL* were produced by ATRON customers. The PC PROBE™ bugbuster ($1595) accounts for much of this success. Nowthatthe PC/AT is the new standard for advanced commercial and scientific development, ATRON is proud to announce the AT PROBE™ bugbuster ($2495). It has even more debugging capabilities than the PC Probe. •WSJ. June 24. 1985. reporting Softscl figures. © 1985 by ATRON. PC PROBE" and AT PROBE'" ATRON. SIDEKICK" Borland. IBM Corp. HOW BUGBUSTERS KEEP YOU FROM GETTING SLIMED The AT PROBE is a circuit board that plugs into your PC/AT. It has an umbilical which plugs into your 80287 socket and monitors all processor activity. Since AT PROBE can trace program execution in real time, and display the last 2048 memory cycles, you can easily answer the questions: "How did I get here?" and "What are the interrupts doing?" It can solve spooky debugging problems. Like finding where your program over- writes memory or I/O - impossible with soft- ware debuggers. You can even do source-level debugging in your favorite lan- guage, likeC, Pascal or assembler. And after your application is debugged, the AT PROBE's perfor- mance-measurement software can isolate your application's bottlenecks. Finally, the AT PROBE has its own 1 -MByte of mem- ory. Hidden and write-protected. How else could you develop that really large program, where the symbol table would otherwise demand most of your PC/AT memory. BORLAND'S PHILIPPE KAHN: "THERE WOULDN'T BE A SIDEKICK™ WITHOUT ATRON'S DEBUGGERS." So why waste more time reading though your program listing forthe ten thousandth time, trying to find why your program starts howling with every full moon. Be like BORLAND, get your Atron bugbuster today and bust bugs tomorrow. mik THE DEBUGGER COMPANY 20665 Fourth Stieel • Saratoga. CA 95070 408^741-5900 is numerous Iraifcnuuks. Ad hylUBA. The condition-sequencer and instruc- tion-skip units implement the skip-on- test feature. If the current instruction's condition test fails, the instruction is discarded without breaking the pipe- line. of following instructions. Acorn departs firmly from the Berkeley model however, on the sub- ject of delayed branching. The Berkeley RISC avoids the problem of pipeline breaks by delaying branch in- structions; it redefines branches so that they take place after the next in- struction; thus, you can always safely prefetch the next instruction. Acorn was initially attracted to this idea but later rejected it because part of Acorn's design goal was to support virtual memory. A processor that works in a virtual- memory environment must have re- startable instructions; if a memory- accessing instruction— for example, a store— tries to access a part of mem- ory that is not available, the memory manager will order an abort. When the processor receives an abort signal, it must restart the offending instruc- tion, having restored the processor state and taken some appropriate remedial action. With a delayed branching scheme, this is difficult to do if an abort occurs while prefetch- ing the instruction following a branch. Acorn's team instead chose the skip-on-test route and thus has made all the ARM instructions restartable. However, the hardware itself won't do all the repair work; it only preserves the information necessary so that user-supplied software routines can restore the processor state. ARM has achieved the desired short interrupt latency, partly thanks to the virtual absence of uninterruptible multicycle instructions and partly due to the presence of dedicated system registers that avoid the need to save user registers. ARM'S extremely high processor-to- memory bandwidth is achieved by the wide nonmultiplexed data and ad- dress buses and the quite modest cy- cle time (150 nanoseconds) and there- fore does not need to employ expen- sive static-memory parts. The chip has control signals that can extract 30 per- 392 BYTE* JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 27 BYTE U.K. cent extra performance from cheap 4-MHz dynamic RAMs (random-access read/write memories) by exploiting page-mode cycles. Software Unlike most new chips, ARM is already quite well supplied with soft- ware. Acorn has a small concurrent operating system running on the chip, derived from that on the BBC com- puter. Acorn showed me a BBC BASIC interpreter and a LISP compiler work- ing with a windowing full-screen edi- tor. Compilers for BCPL and Modula-2 are also available, while G Pascal, FORTRAN, and Prolog are all in the works to cater to the scientific and ar- tificial intelligence communities. Acorn's business division, one of the new departments that were set up after the takeover by Olivetti, is responsible for the design and manufacture of ARM, but it is rather tight-lipped about current marketing plans. Clearly, Acorn will use ARM in future products, but it has not an- nounced any yet. Acorn has an- nounced that an evaluation board will be available soon and that it will be selling the chip to other OEMs (ori- ginal equipment manufacturers), several of whom have had evaluation units for some time. Conclusion The Acorn story nearly ended early in 1985, when the City of London panicked and drove Acorn's share- price (i.e., stock price) down through the floorboards during the post- Christmas computer-sales holocaust. The Italian company Olivetti rescued Acorn and now has a majority share- holding. Informed rumor contends that the Olivetti people didn't know about the ARM project when the rescue was first launched; if that is true, they must have been pleased when they found out. In ARM, Acorn/Olivetti has one of the first commercial RISC processors in the world and an exceptionally able one. ARM could revolutionize the per- formance of even modestly priced home computers. It represents a strik- ing vindication of the RISC philosophy in terms of performance, the time it took to develop, and its ease and low manufacturing cost. Regular readers of this column may have noticed that I'm a bit of a nut for RISC processors, and it's a source of some vicarious pride to me that by the time you read this column, three powerful examples of the breed, all designed in Britain, will be available. In addition to Acorn's ARM announce- ment, the INMOS Transputer was launched on October I, 1985, and the first Metaforth MF16LP has been delivered. ■ Howa software engineer gottocaptain the lunar landing module. The Computer Museum is a lot more than a collection of the most famous machines in the history of information processing, it's also a lot of fun. For more information, or to become a Museum Member, write The Computer Museum, or call (617) 423-6758. The Computer Museum B S T N There's something in it for everyone 300 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 What use is 68000 power if you can'tgetat it? You can with the U-MAN! Look at these languages and tools available for the programmable 68000 power U-MAN Series 1000 supermicro UCSDp-systemwith text editor, filer, many utilities. • PASCAL • FORTRAN 77 • BASIC • Advanced Developers Tool Kit including 68000 Assembler CP/M68K with editor, many utilities. 68000 Assembler. • DIVIDEND THEN SWAP DIVISOR, DIVIDEND 460 WHILE DIVISOR>0 470 QUOTIENT = INT(DIVIDEND/DIVISOR) 480 REMAINDER = DIVIDEND - DIVISOR*QUOTIENT 490 DIVIDEND = DIVISOR:DIVISOR = REMAINDER 500 WEND 510 PRINT PRINT 520 PRINT "THE FRACTION ";NUM;"/";DEN;" HAS A GCD OF ";DIVIDEND 530 IF DIVIDEND = 1 THEN PRINT "THE FRACTION IS ALREADY IN LOWEST TERMS.":GOTO 560 540 PRINT "THE REDUCED FRACTION IS: ,J ;NUM/DIVIDEND;" /";DEN/DIVIDEND; 550 IF DEN/DIVIDEND=1 THEN PRINT " = ";NUM/DIVIDEND 560 END Subscription Problems? We want to help! 7/ you have a problem with your BYTE subscription, write us with the details. We'll do our best to set it right. But we must have the name, address, and zip of the subscription (new and old address, if it's a change of address). If the problem involves a payment, be sure to include copies of the credit card statement, or front and back of cancelled checks. Include a "business hours" phone number if possible. BUTE Subscriber Service P.O. Box 328 Hancock, NH 03449 m JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 399 EUCLID The LCD is the smallest integer that is evenly divisible by both denomina- tors. To put it another way, the LCD is the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators. While any com- mon multiple of 9 and 12 will suffice for adding the fractions (e.g., their product, 108), we prefer the least value because it will simplify reduc- ing the fraction later. (a) 3 6 8 (b) 3 1 2 8 (c) 2 1 1 4 (d) 4 1 1 1 3 9 18 24 3 6 8 1 2 8 1 1 4 Figure 3: Finding the least common multiple of three numbers using triple division. With larger denominators, the task of finding the LCD becomes increas- ingly difficult. In 5/12 and 3/14, it is not easily seen that the LCD is 84. Many methods have been devised for find- ing the LCD, most of which require prime factorization. One rather mys- tical method works for any number of denominators. Suppose we want the LCM of 9, 18, and 24. Find a common divisor for all three numbers, if possible. If not, find a common divisor for any two of them, if possible. (If not, the numbers are relatively prime; the LCM is mere- ly the product of the three numbers.) Listing 2: A BASIC program to find the least common multiple of a set of numbers using Euclid's algorithm. LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE ALGORITHM BY ROBERT T. KUROSAKA 20 '* 30 '* 50CLS 60 PRINT "This program calculates the least common multiple" 70 PRINT "of a set of positive integers." 80 PRINT 90 INPUT "HOW MANY INTEGERS ARE IN THE SET";TERMS:TERMS = INT(ABS(TERMS)) 100 IF TERMS<2THEN 400 110 REM NUMBER ARRAY HOLDS THE SET OF INTEGERS FOR WHICH THE LCM IS SOUGHT. 120 DIM NUMBER(TERMS) 130 PRINT :PRINT "ENTER THE INTEGERS ONE AT A TIME." 140 FOR 1 = 1 TO TERMS 150 INPUT NUMBER(I) 160 NUMBER(I) = INT(ABS(NUMBER(I))) 170 IF NUMBER(l) = THEN PRINT "ILLEGAL ENTRY. ":GOTO 150 180 NEXT I 190 REM BEGIN LCM PROCEDURE. 200 LCM = NUMBER(1) THE LCM OF A SINGLE NUMBER IS ITSELF. 210 FOR l = 2 TO TERMS 220 REM FIND GCD OF ACTIVE ENTRY AND WHAT PRECEDED IT (GCD WILL BE STORED IN 'DIVIDEND' BECAUSE LINE 290 ASSIGNS LAST VALID DIVISOR TO DIVIDEND). 230 DIVISOR = NUMBER(I):DIVIDEND = LCM 240 REM LINES 250-300 ARE THE SAME AS 450-500 OF THE GCD ROUTINE. 250 IF DIVISOR> DIVIDEND THEN SWAP DIVISOR.DIVIDEND 260 WHILE DIVISOR>0 270 QUOTIENT = INT(DIVIDEND/DIVISOR) 280 REMAINDER = DIVIDEND - DIVISOR'QUOTIENT 290 DIVIDEND = DIVISOR:DIVISOR = REMAINDER 300 WEND 310 LCM = NUMBER(I)*LCM/DIVIDEND 320 REM THE LAST LCM WILL BE LCM OF ALL THE ENTRIES. 330 NEXT I 340 PRINT :PRINT 350 PRINT "THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE OF"; 360 FOR 1 = 1 TO TERMS 370 PRINT NUMBER(I); 380 NEXT I 390 PRINT "IS";LCM 400 END 400 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 SAVE 50 % United States D One Year $21 □ 2 Years $38 D 3 Years $55 Canada/Mexico D One Year U.S. $23 □ 2 Years U.S. $42 □ 3 Years U.S. $61 Europe □ $69 (air delivery), U.S. Funds enclosed Worldwide D $37 (surface mail), U.S. Funds enclosed □ BILL ME. If I'm not completely satisfied with my first copy, I'll simply write "cancel" across your invoice, mail it back, and my subscription will be cancelled. □ Check Enclosed □ Bill VIS A □ Bill Mastercard Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing your subscription. 4216 Address . City/State/Zip Card * Expire s_ Signature 'off newsstand price of $42.00 United States □ One Year $ 2 1 □ 2 Years $ 3 8 Canada/Mexico □ One Year U.S. $23 □ 2 Years U.S. $42 Europe □ $69 (air delivery), U.S. Funds enclosed Worldwide d $37 (surface mail), U.S. Funds enclosed □ BILL ME. If I'm not completely satisfied with my first copy, I'll simply write "cancel" across your invoice, mail it back, and my subscription will be cancelled. □ Check Enclosed □ Bill VISA □ Bill Mastercard Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing your subscription. □ 3 Years $55 □ 3 Years U.S. $61 Name . 4216 Address City/State/Zip Card * Expires_ Signature 'off newsstand price of $42.00 m BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 39 MARTINSVILLE, NJ POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE BYTE Subscription Dept. P.O. Box 597 Martinsville, NJ 08836-9956 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 39 MARTINSVILLE, NJ POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE BYTE Subscription Dept. P.O. Box 597 Martinsville, NJ 08836-9956 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES EUCLID We will perform a triple division on these three numbers. In figure 3a, we divide the common divisor 3 into all three numbers. Note that we did not divide the first two numbers by 9 because our precedence of rules re- quires us to first look for divisors of all the numbers. Next, we repeat the procedure for the three quotients: 3, 6, and 8. The first two are divisible by 3 again (figure 3b). Important: If the divisor does not divide into a particular number, mere- ly copy the number. In figure 3b, the 8 is brought up. This procedure is repeated until all the quotients are Is. In figure 3c, the 2 and 8 are divided by 2, with the I being brought up. Finally, in figure 3d, we divide by 4 • and obtain all Is in the quotients. The LCM is the product of all the divisors used. That is, the LCM of 9, 18, and 24 is 3x3x2x4 = 72. You might enjoy trying to write a program to implement this method. There is, however, yet another method for finding the LCM, and, not surpris- ingly, it employs Euclid's algorithm. The LCM of two numbers a and b is the product of the numbers divided by their GCD. That is, l£M(a,b) = axblGCD(a.b). This becomes apparent if we look at a simple example: 1 and 14. Their product, 140, is a multiple, but it isn't the smallest one. Since 10=2x5 and 14 = 2x7, their LCM needs only 2x5x7, while their prod- uct is 2x5x2x7. Dividing by their GCD of 2 eliminates the overlap. In the language of elementary set theory, the LCM is the union of the two sets of factors. The formula above instructs us to "add" the two sets together and then "subtract" their intersection. Since we already have the GCD pro- gram, we are only one step away from finding the LCM of two numbers. That's the good news. The bad news is that this method works only with two numbers at a time. To find the LCM of three or more numbers (say, 8. 10, and 14), we first find the LCM of 8 and 10 (40) and then find the LCM of 40 and 14 (280). This is no problem for a computer, but you may feel that it is less efficient than our I use strings, of course, because you can't directly enter a repeating decimal into the computer. triple-division approach. Anyway, listing 2 presents my version of the LCM routine using Euclid's algorithm. Finally, we are ready to return to our initial problem of converting a repeating decimal to a fraction. Listing 3 shows my routine for doing steps I through 4 of figure I . The program is mostly a lot of string-handling. 1 use strings, of course, because you can't directly enter a repeating decimal into the computer. So I use a " " to signify where the cyclic part begins and enter the number through one iteration of the cycle. This is analogous to the way of writing repeating decimals like 0.333 .. . as 0.3 . Not only are you unable to enter repeating decimals into the computer, the computer is unable to hold any infinite series. However, the point of step 3 is to get rid of the cyclic part. All of the action in the method hap- pens in the nonrepeating part and the first iteration of the cycle. So that is all that we use in our program. The only really interesting part of this routine is in line 420. After I find the value of the unreduced fraction's numerator and denominator, I convert the values into strings and then back to numbers. Why? When I first tried writing the routine in listing 3, I used the number 0.736 as one of my test cases. The routine displayed the numerator value as 72.9 and the denominator value as 99. However, when I merged the routine with listing 1, I got strange results. It seems that Microsoft BASIC'S guard digits were nonzero, so when the GCD routine tried to clear the decimal from the 72.9, the fraction became 7.29x {continued) a message to our subscribers From time to time we make the BYTE subscriber list available to other com- panies who wish to send our subscribers material about their products. We take great care to screen these companies, choos- ing only those who are reputable, and whose products, services, or infor- mation 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 sub- scribers. Many BYTE subscribers ap- preciate this controlled use of our mailing list, and look forward to finding informa- tion of interest to them in the mail. Used are our sub- scribers' names and ad- dresses only fno other in- formation we may have is ever given). While we believe the dis- tribution of this informa- tion is of benefit to our subscribers, we firmly respect the wishes of any subscriber who does not want to receive such pro- motional literature. Should you wish to restrict the use of your name, simply send your request to the follow- ing address. BYTE Publications Inc Attn: Circulation Department 70 Main St Peterborough NH 03458 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 401 EUCLID Listing 3: A BASIC program to convert a cyclic decimal number into an unreduced fraction. You can merge this program with listing 1 to make a complete implementation of the algorithm in figure I . 10 '**"* 20 '* 30 '* 40 ■**** 50CLS 60 PRINT 70 PRINT 80 PRINT REPEATING DECIMAL TO FRACTION CONVERTING ROUTINE BY ROBERT T. KUROSAKA This routine can be used with the greatest common denominator" program. Load the GCD program, then MERGE this routine into it." The MERGEd program is designed to determine the reduced fractional" 90 PRINT "representation of a repeating decimal.":PRINT 100 PRINT "To ENTER a repeating decimal:": PRINT " Type the nonrepeating part, then a ' ' before the cycle." 110 PRINT "For example, 1.2_345 is the proper entry for 1.2345345345. . . " 120 PRINT "The decimal should always precede the ' ', i.e., .333. ... is entered": PRINT "as ' 3'. Reversing the V and ' ' will cause an error.":PRINT 130 INPUT "ENTER REPEATING DECIMAL";NUMBER$ 140 REM NONREPEATING PART OF NUMBER IS THAT PART UP TO * _". VAL OPERATOR IGNORES ALL NUMBERS AFTER A NONNUMERICAL CHARACTER. THUS, IN 1.2_345,VAL("1.2_345") WILL BE 1.2, ETC. 150 NONREPEATING.PART = ABS(VAL(NUMBER$)) 160 REM DEFINE A MORE READABLE FUNCTION TO USE FOR THROWING THE LEFTMOST CHARACTER OF A STRING AWAY. 170 DEF FNDROP.LEFT$(A$) = RIGHT$(A$,LEN(A$)-1) 180 REM FIND DECIMAL POINT 190 WHILE LEFT$(NUMBER$,1) <> "." 200 NUMBERS = FNDROP.LEFT$(NUMBER$) 210 WEND 220NUMBER$ = FNDROP.LEFT$(NUMBER$) 230 REM FIND OUT HOW MANY DECIMAL PLACES THE REPEATING CYCLE IS OFFSET FROM THE DECIMAL POINT. 240 WHILE LEFT$(NUMBER$,1) < > "_" 250 OFFSET = OFFSET+1 260 NUMBER$= FNDROP.LEFT$(NUMBER$) 270 WEND 280 REM THROW AWAY REPEATING PORTION MARKER, "_" 290 NUMBER$= FNDROP.LEFT$(NUMBER$) 300 REM HOW MANY DECIMAL PLACES ARE IN THE CYCLE? SINCE THE REPEATING CYCLE IS EVALUATED AFTER THROWING AWAY THE DECIMAL POINT, MULTIPLY BY 10" -(TOTAL NUMBER OF PLACES TO THE RIGHT IT SHOULD BE SHIFTED). 31 CYCLE.LENGTH = LEN(NUMBERS) 320 REPEATING.CYCLE = VAL(NUMBER$)*10~ - (OFFSET + CYCLE.LENGTH) 330 REM NUMBER= NONREPEATING PART+ REPEATING CYCLE. SINCE THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE CYCLE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT DOES NOT CANCEL ON SUBTRACTION, ONLY USE IT. 340 NUMBER = NONREPEATING.PART+REPEATING.CYCLE 350 REM "CLEARED.NUMBER IS THE VALUE OF THE SUBTRACTION THAT DOES AWAY WITH THE INFINITE CYCLE (STEP 3 IN THE BYTE ARTICLE ALGORITHM). 360 CLEARED.NUMBER=NUMBER*10~CYCLE.LENGTH- NONREPEATING. PART 370 REM NOW, ASSIGN THE VALUES OF THE NUMERATOR AND DENOMINATOR TO THE VARIABLE NAMES USED IN THE GCD ROUTINE. 380 NUM = CLEARED. NUMBER:DEN = 10" CYCLE.LENGTH - 1 390 REM I CONVERT NUM AND DEN TO STRINGS AND THEN BACK TO CLEAR THE GUARD DIGITS IN THE NUM AND DEN VARIABLES. SEE BYTE ARTICLE FOR DETAILS. 400 NUM$ = STR$(NUM):DEN$ = STR$(DEN):NUM = VAL(NUM$):DEN = VAL(DEN$) 410 PRINT "THE EQUIVALENT UNREDUCED FRACTION IS:";NUM;'7";DEN IO 7 before the decimal-clearing routine gave up in disgust. By convert- ing the values calculated in listing 3 to string values, I clear the guard-digit garbage out of the numerical repre- sentation. When I then reconvert the values into numbers, the GCD routine functions properly. As always, I welcome your com- ments, criticisms, and suggestions. I've been getting some interesting mail on previous columns and will devote some space in an upcoming column to some of the more interesting in- sights. ■ 402 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 CIRCUIT CELLAR FEEDBACK Conducted by Steve Garcia Museum Control Dear Steve. I have used the BSR X-l system to con- trol a museum exhibit. One problem 1 en- countered, which an engineer at BSR con- firmed, was that the lamp modules would not properly control low-wattage light bulbs (25 watts or less). Do you have any ideas about how 1 can get around this problem cheaply? Also, what happens if two controllers send commands at the same time? For ex- ample, controller x sends an ON command to unit A3 at the same time controller y sends an OFF command to unit B2. Wouldn't a hopelessly jumbled signal result? Timothy S. Goodfellow Raleigh, NC Your letter does not state what prob- lems you experienced with lamp modules controlling low-wattage bulbs, so it is hard to give you an exact answer. During development of the Home Run Control System (April through June 1 985), 1 did a lot of testing using a 7 -watt night- light, and the lamp modules were able to turn it on, off, and dim it correctly. Perhaps BSR has improved the modules since you experienced the problem. One solution would be to use higher-wattage bulbs and dim them to the level that you want (The Home Run system can do this for you automatically.) You are quite right that two BSR con- trollers transmitting simultaneously would result in a jumbled signal. The BSR works by sending bursts of 120 kHz at 2.778-millisecond intervals in a pattern that the modules decode. (See my arti- cle in the May 1985 BYTE for details on BSR operation.) If a second controller starts transmitting after the first has started, the timing between the pulses would be altered, and the modules would not be able to decode the signal.— Steve Looking for a UART Dear Steve. 1 am an electronics student who is plan- ning to build a scrolling LED display similar to your April 1984 project. I plan to use my 8085 minisystem with 2 K bytes of EPROM and 1 K byte of RAM. The user will be able to enter messages through an ASCII keyboard. Could you please let me know where 1 can purchase an inexpensive UART. so that the message is transmitted serially to the display? Also, would the Hewlett-Packard "union jack 1-inch" 16-character display be more cost-efficient and less complex to build than the one in your project? Michael Sarrett San Francisco, CA You can purchase a UART from most of the mail-order electronics supply houses. The Intersil IM6402IPL costs $6.90 as Digi-Key part number NT5000-ND. Order from Digi-Key Corporation Highway 32 South POB 677 Thief River Falls, MN 56701 (800) 346-5144 Any common- anode dot-matrix LED display can be used in place of the single LEDs used in my project as long as it has a sufficient dot matrix (5 dots per row by 7 dots per column). The electronics can be modified to handle larger or smaller LED matrices.— Steve Parallel Processing Dear Steve. In your article "Build the Microvox Text- to-Speech Synthesizer" (September and October 1982). you stated that the more sophisticated text-to-speech programs re- quired up to 80K bytes of memory, half of which contains words that are excep- tions to the rules. It has occurred to me that if such a program were implemented on a single microprocessor, even a fast and powerful one, the time required to generate speech would be prohibitive. Would it be possible to run several pro- cessors in parallel, one containing the rules and several others containing words that are exceptions to the rules? Also, in "The Lis'ner 1000" (November 1984), the caption for photo 4 states that 64 concurrent available words form a reasonable search vocabulary Are more possible? If not, could parallel processing be used to overcome this problem? Alan Aden Camp Point, 1L Parallel processing is the wave of the future. Supercomputers are rapidly ap- proaching the upper limit of speed for a single processor, and the only way to solve a problem any faster is to put several processors to work on the prob- lem in parallel. The way to accomplish this in the manner you suggest is feasi- ble but may not gain much speed. Look- ing up an item in a sorted table can be done rapidly by using a binary search and even faster if a technique called hashing is used. A table having 8000 en- tries would require 13 tests to find the desired word. Splitting the table in half and putting each half on a separate pro- cessor would reduce the number of tests to 12 on each processor— not much of a gain. The greatest gain would be to have one processor performing a text-to- speech algorithm while a second one searches for the word. If the word is found in the search, the text-to-speech algorithm would be stopped and the word from the table fed into the synthe- sizer. Your second idea of applying parallel processors to speech recognition could increase the number of words it could recognize almost linearly with the number of processors you have working on the input word. The only problem you might encounter would be when two or more processors think they have a match, and another processor would have to pick one of the candidates.— Steve ■ Over the years 1 have presented many dif- ferent, projects in BYTE. I know many of you have built them and are making use of them in many ways. 1 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 Feed- back, POB 582, Glastonbury, CT 06033. and fill me in on your applications. All letters and photographs become the property of Steve Garcia and cannot be returned. COPYRIGHT © 1986 STEVEN A. GARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 403 NEW SERVICES Ordering Disks of BYTE Listings Source-code listings in the form of text files of programs that accompany BYTE articles are now available from BYTE on disk. To order a disk of these listings for noncommercial purposes, indicate the issue (the first available is December 1985) and the kind of disk below. Enclose a check or money order in the correct amount made out to BYTE Listings. All prices include postage. OTHER FORMATS (all cost $6 per disk in North America, $7 in Europe and South America, $8 in Asia, Africa, and Australia) Size D 8-inch □ 5/a -inch □ 3!/2-inch Machine BYTE issue: COMMON 5 '/4-inch FORMATS (all cost $5 per disk in North America, $6 in Europe and South America, $7 in Asia, Africa, and Australia) □ IBM PC □ Apple II 5 /4-inch DOS 3.3 □ Apple II 5/4-inch ProDOS □ Commodore 64 □ Hewlett-Packard 12 5 □ Kaypro 2 CP/M □ TRS-80 Model III □ TRS-80 Model 4 □ Texas Instruments Professional □ Zenith Z-100 □ Atari COMMON 3/2-inch FORMATS (all cost $6 per disk in North America, $7 in Europe and South America, $8 in Asia, Africa, and Australia) □ Apple Macintosh □ Atari 520ST □ Commodore Amiga □ Hewlett-Packard 150 □ Data General/One CP/M STANDARD 8-inch FORMAT ($6 per disk in North America, $7 in Europe and South America, $8 in Asia, Africa, and Australia) □ Single-sided single-density SEND DISK TO: Name Street City State or Province . Country Postal Code Check or money order enclosed for $_ Bulletin Boards in Canada Listed below are some Canadian computer bulletin boards that will carry program listings from BYTE. Programs are for noncommercial use in connection with BYTE articles only. There are no usage charges but you must pay your own telephone charges. Western Canadian Distribution Center (101 11112 101st St., Edmonton, Alberta, T5G 2A2) will be sup- plying listings to its member bulletin-board systems. Canadian Remote Systems, Toronto, Ontario, (416) 231-9202 Edmonton, Alberta, (403) 454-6093 Meadowlark, Alberta, (403) 43 5-6579 Prince George, British Columbia, (604) 562-9519 Regina, Saskatchewan, (306) 586-5585 Winnipeg, Manitoba, (204) 452-5529 In addition, BYTEnet Listings are available from or arrangements are being made with one or more system operators in the following nations: Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Singapore, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and West Germany. Contact us at (603) 924-9281 for an up-to-date list. 404 BYTE ■ JANUARY 1986 CLASSIC BYTE T-SHIRTS! #T1 -COMPUTER ENGINEERING #T3- INSIDE IBM Three classic Byte covers - and boy, do they look great on this 3 A sleeve "baseball shirt"! The vivid royal blue sleeves and neckline really complement the full-color design. And don't mistake this for a rubbery patch that cracks and peels off after a few washings. This is true four-color process: the per- manent inks are silk-screened into the fabric, 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, sporty shirt that keeps its crisp, fresh look through many wash- ings - with almost no shrinking! The price for each Classic Byte T-Shirt is only $12.50 ($1 1 .50 each for 3 or more). Be sure to include shirt size: C-(child 10-12), S-(34-36), M-(38-40), L(42-44), XL-(46-48). Your order will be shipped within a week. Please send me the following shirt(s) at $12.50 each, or $11.50 each for 3 or more. I have included $2 for shipping and handling ($5 overseas). # TITLE SIZE AMOUNT $ $ $ $ $ Shipping & Handling (see above) $ TOTAL $ □ I have enclosed check or money order. □ VISA □ MasterCard □ Free Brochure Card #: Exp. Date: Ship my shlrt(s) to: Name: Mail this coupon to: Robert Tinney Graphics 1864 North Pamela Dr. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 405 "When I was growing up, I was the quickest kid on the block. But the streets were catching up with me. I'm sure glad there was a Boys Club around to help keep me a step ahead. "You know, a Boys Club shows kids there are lots of ways to reach goals, besides scoring touchdowns. It gives them every chance to be leaders. And encourages something every bit as important as good leadership— good citizenship. "They sure pointed me in the right direction, and I've been running my life ever since — running through boys lines, running through airports. Now I'm even running my own business! "It's no wonder so many Boys Club kids grow into productive, civic-minded adults, like teachers, politicians, business executives and professional athletes. Which gives more than 1,200,000 young people, at 1,100 Boys Club facilities across the country, something to look forward to. "Hey, I'm not saying a Boys Club can turn every kid into a star. But a Boys Club sure can teach 'em how to club reach for one." The Club that beats the streets. 406 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 66 LETTERS (continued from page 32) Intel has adhered to two of the unwritten rules of benchmark- ing. It used benchmarks developed outside Intel and contracted an outside company to run the benchmarks on its machines. What Intel did not do is have the results interpreted by an ob- jective, independent party. Intel did contact me prior to publication of the report, but only for permission to reprint the listings (which the company trimmed the comments out of) and not in an advisory capacity. I gave the company reprint permission. I expected that the benchmarks would be used carefully and according to the guidelines of my article. Clearly Intel could have avoided the problems mentioned above if it had had an outside independent party evaluate its benchmarking methodology and its interpretation of results. At first. I was upset that Intel did not reference me as author of the BYTE benchmarks. Upon reflection, I am glad it did not. David Hinnant Research Triangle Park, NC Positioning Printer Paper Part of my job as an electronics technician requires me to make considerable use of computers and printers. Additionally. I am the owner of a personal computer. Something that I (and I'm sure, many others) have noticed is how difficult it is to get the paper positioned "just so" when first loading it into the printer, so that the printer doesn't print on the perforations, the spac- ing is right from top to bottom, etc. I think I may have a solution to the problem, which I would like to suggest to the printer and paper/forms manufacturers. My suggestion is that the printer makers get together with the manufacturers of paper and forms and devise/implement a method for advancing paper/forms to the top of the sheet. I'm aware that some printers have a top-of-form function, but this is usually a variant of a formfeed. What I propose is a method of advancing the paper until the first printable line is under the print head, regardless of sheet size or position. I've given the matter quite some thought, and I think that this could be implemented fairly easily by using the following scheme. During the manufacturing process for the paper, a dark band or spot would be printed on the paper (between feed holes) some distance from the top of the sheet. This should be fairly easy to do since most paper I've seen has the manufacturer's name already printed on it. and this band or spot would be easily added. Then, on the printers, a sensor (possibly an MCA-7 optical sen- sor) would be placed in such a position as to detect that dark band/spot when the first printable line is under the print head, judging from the number of printers I've seen, this would prob- ably be located in the area immediately under the platen of the printer, perhaps two or three inches lower than the print head. Such a distance would allow the use of full-sized paper, as well as formfeed checks, etc. ' By using such a technique, when a top-of-form button was pressed (or command issued) the paper would advance ap- propriately and stop. Such a system might even prove to be a replacement for the more traditional formfeed command/but- ton, since it would reliably position the paper/form every time (regardless of sheet size), even after paper/form changes or com- pletely powering down the printer. I would be happy to hear any comments, suggestions, and criticisms BYTE readers might have about this idea. David K. Merriman Fullerton, CA ■ COMPETITIVE EDGE P.O. Box 556 — Plymouth, Ml 48170 — 313-^51-0665 Compupro®, LOMAS, EARTH, TELETEK S-100 CIRCUIT BOARDS CompuPro286CPU $671. Lomas2868MHZ $821. Color Magic 32K $556. CompuPro SPUZ*"8MHZ 296. Lomas8086 420. Lomas10MHz8086 520. CompuPro 8085/88" 263. Lomas Octaport'" 8 Serial 320. Lomas4sen'al 200. CompuPro Disk 1A ,U 371. Lomas LDP" 72 206. LomasColorMagic ,u 16K 476. CompuProDisk3 ,y 446. Lomas256KDram 358. Lomas MSDOS" 2,11 200. CompuPro Ram 22 ,u 446. Lomas512KDram 448. CompuProMDrive H«512K 446. CompuProRam23" 188. Lomas Ram67'" 599. CompuPro I/O 3 8 port 371. CompuProRam23 128 263. Lomas HazitaU' u 244. TeletekSBC 16MHz 128 375. CompuProCPUZ' 1 ' 189. Thunder 186'" 895. Turbodos®forTeletek 650. CompuProCCP/M»816 8 ' 300 LomasCCP/M®86" < 280. Lomas 2 Megabyte System Support One ,u 263. CompuPro I/04 245. Ram-(2048K) just $821. TeletekHD/ 375. Systemaster II® 795. Earth Turbomaster $795. Teletek Systemaster® 495. I.T.I 024x1024 Brd $995. Illuminated Technology 1 024x1 024 Board for Autocad™ $995. Earth Computer TU RBO SLAVE 1 8MHz 1 28K $395. Turbo Slave I runs with Teletek, North Star Horizon, Advanced Digital and Others under Turbodos". SYSTEMS CompuPro 85/88,256K,CDOS, SS1.I/0 4.2-96TPI DRS, 15 Slot CompuPro 85/88,256K,CDOS. SS1.I/0 4,1-96TPI,20MB, 15 Slot CompuPro 286, SPUZ, 40MB, SSI. I/ 3, CDOS, 15 Slot, 30 amp P/S 286, 1024K. 20MB. AutoCad 2 System — Ready to Run Lomas 286,1 024K.20MB HD,1-5",CDOS, 6 SERIAL. 2 Par, 15 Slot Lomas Thunder 186, 256K, 20 MB HD, 1-5", CDOS, 4 Slot Teletek 8MHz Master, 4-8MHz 128K SLVS, 1-5", 20 MB HD, TDOS AT CLONE 286, FAST 20 MB HD, enhanced 512K 640K PCXT Clone 1 DR Qty 5 up each UPGRADE YOUR IBM* PC"!! $3095 $4295 $6995 $8395 $4995 $2895 $4995 $2995 $795 $695 S795 $1295 $2295 $3295 $3595 GRAPHIC BOARDS Hercules Monochrome $299 Hercules Color Card $159 TecmarGraphicsMasler $449 Paradise Graphics $279 STBGraphixJI $279 Hercules Compalible MONO $135. FLOPPY DRIVES TEAC1/2HTFD55B $119 Mitsubishi96TPI $125 5"DSDDCotorDisket1es S 21 ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND STOCK ON HAND CompuPro is a Registered Trademark ol Viasyn, CPU Z, Disk 1A, Disk 3. InteHacer 3, Interfacer 4„ CPU 286, CPU 8085/86, System Support 1, MDRtVE-H, Ram 22, Ram 23 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Viasyn. CP/M 2.2. CCP/M, are registered trademarks of Digital Research Inc. MSDOS is a registered trademark of Microsott. Systemaster & Systemaster II are registered trademarks ot Teletek Enterprises. Turbodos Is registered trademark of Software 2000. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. AutoCad 2 is a registered trademark of AutoDesk. Inc. MONITORS Amdex31GA S159 Princeton Color HR -12 $459 Princeton ColorSR-12 $649 286ACCELERATOR TurboAccel-286 8 MHZ $895 MULTI-FUNCTION BOARDS AST6 Pak64K $245 Quadram Expanded Ouadboard K $219 TecmarCaptain64K $199 HARDDRIVEKITS PC10MBPC PC21MBPC AT21MBAT AT36MBAT AT 70MB AT AT 80MB AT AT1I9MBAT PCFIpy Controller AT SER/POR. Ask aBbut our monthly "SPECIAL" 51" Disks 96TPI Za 1 ?? OSID€ Q95 96TPI £&?? HIGH OQ95 DEN. OW? 31'Disk SSIDE 24i 5 8" Disks SSIDE SDEN. SSIDE DDEN. DSIDE DDEN. 209P 22?5 27&P maxell SfDisks SSIDE qos DDEN. y*S> DSIDE * A7S D DEN. 14'-? SS,DE HQQc 96TPJ ly^? D ^ E 2450 * H DEn!2K5 3rDisks sside 1849 DSIDE 263? 8 Disks SSIDE OAQb DDEN. 24^-° DSIDE 0ft95 D-DEN. ^D^ SOKTK 3i"Disks sside18?5 D-SIDE 28^ ATHANA * neper 795^ 5' BOX $ 341£ Old Reliable Media Mate $ 8 9 - 5 ea +2°-° Shipping 5l"Disks D |^.io* SSS15V iSShss DSIDE n>tcfi 96TPI 2450 "de G n H 309§ 3iDisks SSIDE 19?5 DSIDE 27§5 8 Disks SSIDE -jggs SDEN. SSIDE /)oqc DDEN Zd^ D-SIDE mm DDEN.Z/^? Connector \ferbatim 51" Disks SSIDE 1i75 DDEN. 11 (2 DSIDE i4 95 D-DEN. Vr& SSIDE 4Q nc 96TPI 19^ ■SS 245_o h d ' e °n h 2995 3i"Disk SSIDE 1835 8" Disks SSIDE hqqc; SDEN 19^ SSIDE oig5 DDEN.^I^? DSIDE OA 95 * Delaware 1 800-451 1849 RO. 80x10247 Wilmington, DE. 19850 ♦Oklahoma 1-800 654-4058 RO. Box 1874 Bethany.OK. 73008 * Nevada 1 800-621-6221 PQBoxl213 BoulcferCity.NV. 69005 TERMS* Minimum 20 disks or $35°^ — VISA or MasterCard accepted COD. orders add 2^ for special handling. SHIPPING 5 3^4 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. Inquiry 107 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 407 4 WHAT'S NEW NEW SYSTEMS PC-Compatible Kaypro The Kaypro PC is an MS- DOS machine based on a 4.77-MHz Intel 8088 microprocessor, with a socket for the Intel 8087 math coprocessor. It comes with 2 56K bytes of RAM. expandable to 640K bytes, two double-density 360K- byte floppy-disk drives, and room for either a full- or half-height hard-disk drive. Its multivideo adapter sup- ports monochrome, color graphics, and composite video output. System boards use three of the nine IBM PC-compatible expansion slots, leaving the user with three full-length and three half-length slots. Its 132-watt power supply can support a hard disk. It has both serial and parallel ports. The Kaypro PC comes with a 12-inch monochrome monitor and an IBM Selectric-style detachable keyboard with the same layout as the Kaypro 286i and PC AT keyboards. Kaypro is bundling MS- DOS 2.11, WordStar. Mail- merge, CorrectStar, Star- Index. MITE, Polywindows/ KDESK, and GW-BASIC with the system. It costs $1595. Contact Kaypro Corp., 533 Stevens Ave.. Solana Beach, CA 92075. (619) 481-4300. Inquiry 565. Single Board VS 186 Virtual Systems' VS-186 is a PC-DOS-com- patible, single-board com- puter that can accept up to 512 K bytes of ROM and up to 1 -megabyte of parity- checked RAM. The 8/2- by II -inch computer board is aimed at the measurement and control market and therefore is self-contained and built to work in extreme industrial environments. The Kaypro PC. Standard operating systems for the VS-186 are PC-DOS, C/PM-86. and Virtual Sys- tems' UNIX-style QNX. The VS-186 is founded on an 8-MHz 80186 micropro- cessor and contains a socket for an 8087 math copro- cessor. ROMs can be in- stalled in six EPROM sites; two other ROM sites are oc- cupied by the system code. The VS-186 comes with 256K of parity-checked RAM controlled by an 8208 mem- ory controller chip and ar- ranged as two banks, yield- ing a no-wait-state system that lets the 80186 run at full speed. The VS-186 has two RS-232C serial ports, a pro- grammable parallel port, a Centronics-compatible paral- lel port, a SASI/SCSI inter- face for disk and tape drives, and a processor-bus extension. The serial ports are controlled by a dual serial-channel controller and can operate asynchronously or synchronously. Four iSBX expansion connectors are wired to the 80186's DMA channels for high-speed I/O. The VS-186's price is $950. Contact Virtual Systems. Suite 406, 1500 Newell Ave.. Walnut Creek. CA 94 596. (415) 935-4944. Inquiry 566. 128K Color-Graphics Single-Board Quark/150 The Megatel Quark/150 is a color-graphics single- board computer based on the Z80B microprocessor. It includes a 128K-byte dynamic RAM, two serial ports, four parallel ports, a floppy-disk controller, and RGB video output. The floppy-disk controller can handle up to four drives of any size in any combination. The RGB interface can be configured 16 different ways using three resolution modes: 2 colors at 640 by by 240. or 16 colors at 160 by 240. A graphics software package with 27 fleleVideo TPC I-compatible) functions gives you eight fill patterns, eight line styles, multiple character heights and widths, ellipse and arc func- tions and lets you change the resolution mode for any line. The Quark/1 50 is a 4- by 6-inch Eurocard. It comes with CP/M 2.2 BIOS, the Megatel graphics primitives, and a transition board that provides an interface to standard peripherals for $695. Contact Megatel Com- puter lechnologies. 2311 South Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne. IN 46803. or call (416) 745-7214. Inquiry 567. XT-Compatible GMS PC/286 The IBM PC XT- compatible Gulfstream Micro Systems Professional Computer/286 has an 80286 microprocessor running at 8 MHz with zero wait states. An 80287 numeric copro- cessor is optional. The system comes with 2 56K bytes of on-board memory, expandable to 640K on the motherboard, and eight ex- pansion slots. Video boards, ports, and monitors are not provided. The system is sold in three model groups. The first group consists of computers with one or two 360K-byte floppy-disk drives. Model Group 2 adds the choice of a 10- 20- or 30-megabyte hard disk. Model Group 3 adds a 10- or 60-megabyte internal tape backup. Prices for Model Group 1 start at $2995; for Model Group 2, $4420; for Model Group 3. $5388. Contact Gulfstream Micro Systems, 5500 North Federal Highway. Boca Raton. FL 33431. (305) 994-6500. Inquiry 568. 408 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 WHAT'S NEW PERIPH E R A L S Eight-Pen Color Plotter from HP Hewlett-Packard's Color- Pro is an eight-pen plotter that can produce multicolor pie, bar. and line graphs and text charts on 8/2- by 1 1-inch paper or on overhead-projector trans- parencies. Its high resolution of 0.001 inch is said to give it a fine-line quality as much as four times better than comparable plotters. Such resolution improves the drawing of both straight lines and solid fills. The ColorPro moves pens at 15.7 inches per second. You can select pens from the carousel through soft- ware or front-panel com- mands. Pens in the carousel are automatically capped. HP offers pens in two widths and 10 colors for paper. Iransparency pens are available in seven colors. A slot for ROM cartridges lets you expand or customize the ColorPro's capabilities. An HP graphics- enhancement cartridge adds a larger buffer and more ad- vanced graphics commands. Lotus's 1-2-3 and Sym- phony Decision Resources' Chart-Master and Sign- Master, and HP's Graphics Gallery and lextcharts are some of the programs that work with the ColorPro. The HP-GL programming lan- guage is built into the plotter. Available with an RS-232C or an IEEE-488 interface, the ColorPro costs $1295 and works with HP, IBM, Apple, Compaq, and most other personal computers. The graphics-enhancement car- tridge costs $195. Contact Hewlett-Packard, Inquiries Manager, 1820 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303. Inquiry 569. Matrix's Alliance cluster controller. 2400-bps Modem from UDS Universal Data Systems' Faslalk 2400 is a Hayes- compatible modem that connects to your personal computer via the RS-232C port. It uses V.22 and V. 2 2 bis asynchronous modulation for full-duplex operation at 2400 bps over public switched telephone networks. It will also work as a Bell 2 12 A or 103 series modem at 1200 or 300 bps. Faslalk 2400 comes with an asynchronous communi- cations package called SignOn for IBM and com- patible personal computers. SignOn stores up to 100 phone numbers in a direc- tory and dials any one of them with a single keystroke. You can store automatic log- on sequences, and you can set dates and times for unattended data transfer. The Faslalk 2400 modem and SignOn cost $62 5. Con- tact Universal Data Systems, 5000 Bradford Dr., Hunts- ville. AL 3 5805, (205) 837-8100. Inquiry 570. RS-232C Networking with Alliance The Alliance cluster con- troller allows networking of 2 to 20 IBM PCs and peripherals using standard RS-232C serial ports and proprietary software. The basic Alliance controller in- cludes a Hitachi 64180 (an enhanced Z80-compatible) microprocessor, software both in the Alliance and for each PC on the network, and eight serial ports; addi- tional modules with four ports each can be added. An optional 480K-byte printer buffer can also be in- stalled, as can a serial-to- parallel converter. Informa- tion is transferred through the network at 115K bits per second, which is relatively slow compared to other PC networks. The basic eight-port Alliance should be available this month for a list price of $895. Each four-port expan- sion module is $349. Con- tact Matrix Communications, 112-116 Washington St.. Marblehead. MA 01945. (617) 639-1211. Inquiry 571. RAM Box for Macintosh MacVentures' Quick- Drive is an external RAM-disk box that works with the Apple Macintosh. The basic QuickDrive con- tains 51 OK bytes of RAM that is designed to behave like a fast disk drive. You can get more RAM with the 1- 1.5- or 2-megabyte ver- sions of the device or by adding up to three 510K- byte expansion modules to the basic QuickDrive box. You connect QuickDrive to the printer port or, for Applelalk users, the modem port. You can then attach your printer to a second port on the QuickDrive. QuickDrive has its own switching power supply, which will accept 12 volts AC or DC. and a connector to tap standard wall voltage. Because QuickDrive doesn't depend on the Mac for power, it retains any infor- mation on the RAM disk even if the Mac accidently loses power or is turned off. You don't have to modify the Macintosh hardware in any way to use QuickDrive. QuickDrive does not use any of the Macintosh's mem- ory space. MacVentures claims that it is five to ten times faster than floppy-disk drives because its data-trans- fer rate is greater than 900 kbps. It also claims Quick- Drive can launch MacWrite in 7.4 seconds and MacPaint in 5.1 seconds. QuickDrive comes with a menu-driven program that lets you configure the size and number of disk volumes you want to use and lets you set up a print spooler that can handle printing as a background task. The basic QuickDrive costs $499, has a 90-day warranty, and includes 510K of RAM. a printer port, a cable, a power supply, and the con- trolling software. The 1 -megabyte, 1 . 5-megabyte, and 2-megabyte versions of QuickDrive cost $649, $799, and $949, respectively. The 5 lOK-byte expansion modules cost $169 each. Contact MacVentures. POB 6123, Aloha, OR 97007, (503) 64 5-9696. Inquiry 572. [continued) JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 409 WHAT'S NEW A D D - I N S 10 MHz 80286 Board for IBM PC Applied Reasoning's PC- elevATor Model 2100 allows the IBM PC to operate at up to twice the speed of IBM's PC AX by adding an 80286 micropro- cessor running at 10 MHz with no wait states. An op- tional 5- or 8-MHz 80287 floating-point coprocessor can also be added to the card to speed up computa- tion-intensive programs. The card also has I megabyte of memory. The PC-elevATor is priced at $2695. For more informa- tion, contact Applied Reasoning, 765 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, (617) 492-0700. Inquiry 573. Hardware-assisted Bug Zapper The Bug Zapper is a hardware-assisted de- bugging tool for the IBM PC. The IBM PC half-slot expan- sion card provides a "zap" circuit that monitors memory addressing and in- terrupts a program when it overwrites specified loca- tions, enabling the program- mer to search through memory to find out where the program went off track. Also available at all times is a "halt" button, which inter- rupts program execution even when normal interrupts have been disabled, also allowing registers and memory to be checked to locate the cause of un- wanted behavior. Guardian, the monitor pro- gram included with the Bug Zapper, is installed at boot time; the halt and zap func- tions both turn control over to the Guardian monitor or optionally to another host •/■- . ! / ■I/,' h *im I ; «ff* cf-WMii -, ; *###** ' ##* Norcom chips for enhanced text. debugging program such as Microsoft's SYMDEB. Guar- dian performs standard debugging functions in- cluding view or overwrite memory or registers, port in- put or output, trace, and unassemble. The Bug Zapper, with both the expansion card and Guardian, is priced at $19 5. For more information, con- tact Microtech International, 9906 Norwood Court, Dept. M-3. Largo. MD 20772. (301) 350-1068. Inquiry 574. Enhanced Text Mode for Heath/Zenith 89 and 19 The T-Prom character- generator chip from Norcom provides an en- hanced character set for the Heath/Zenith 89, 89 A. 19, and 19A computers. The replacement character ROM chip enhances 94 text char- acters, while maintaining graphics compatibility by not changing any of the graphics characters. Another chip, the GT-Prom, combines the T-Prom features with the graphics enhancements of Norcom's earlier G-Prom on a single chip. The T-Prom chip is priced at $19.95; the GT-Prom is $24.95. For more informa- tion, contact Norcom. 9630 Hayes, Overland Park, KS 66212, (913) 888-6237. Inquiry 575. Breadboards for Eurocard, PC Buses Augat has added two breadboards to its Uni- layer II product line. The company is now offering a 220-mm dual Eurocard and an IBM PC AT-compatible board. The Eurocard has a high- density universal pattern and will accommodate up to 150 16-pin DIP equivalents. It has a primary I/O connec- tor, two 96-pin DIN connec- tors, and an I/O header that supports two 64-pin DIN connectors. The IBM PC AT-compatible board also has a high- density universal pattern and will accommodate 94 16-pin DIP equivalents. The I/O supports the IBM PC AT- compatible edge connector. a 37-pin D-subminiature, and a 50-pin header area. Augat will wire the boards for you if you transmit the wiring data to Augat elec- tronically; wired boards can be delivered within four weeks. Unwired. the Euro- cards cost $220 apiece or $1505 for 10. The AT- compatible boards cost $197 each or $1590 for 10. Contact Augat Inc., Systems Division. 40 Perry Ave.. POB 1037, Attleboro, MA 02703, (617) 222-2202. Inquiry 576. ImageMate Emulation Card Orange Micro's Image- Mate card enables Apple's lmagewriter II printer to emulate an Epson FX-80 or IBM Graphics Printer, while also adding a printer buffer with 64 K bytes of memory (expandable to 128K). The ImageMate also includes an adapter cable and DIP switches to select IBM or Epson emulation. For Apple computer owners who don't need Epson or IBM emulation, Orange Micro announced a similar card that adds an in- telligent printer buffer to the lmagewriter II. The Image- Buffer card adds 64K or 128K bytes of buffer memory and can also print multiple copies of buffered documents. A clear-buffer feature is also provided to eliminate the need to power-off the printer when unwanted information is in the buffer. Both ImageWare expansion cards will retail for approx- imately $120 each. Contact Orange Micro, 1400 North Lakeview Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807. (714) 779-2772. Inquiry 577. 410 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 WHAT'S NEW SOFTWARE A P PLE Modeling in Three Dimensions MacModel is a solids modeler for the Macintosh that lets you draw three-dimensional ob- jects and view them from many vantage points in wide-angle or telephoto perspective. You can create models of objects as small as molecules or as large as tall buildings. The software handles con- structive solid geometry. You can start with basic objects like spheres and cubes, then combine them with union, intersection, or subtraction to form any object. Also, you can move, stretch, or rotate any object with the mouse. After you've drawn an object. MacModel lets you calculate or change physical properties such as size, weight, density, and reflectance. Drawings can be printed with an Imagewriter or LaserWriter. MacModel runs on any Mac but synoptics recom- mends the 5I2K-byte ver- sion. The software costs $40. Contact synoptics. Suite 213. 1075 Bellevue Way NE. Bellevue. WA 98004. (206) 747-7633. Inquiry 578. SOFTWARE IBM PC PC-to-PL/M Connector CompuFirm has released an interface library of more than 1 50 functions and utilities designed to provide a connection be- tween an IBM PC and Intel's PL/M compiler. This de- bugged set of assembly- language functions enables you to write various applica- tions in the PL/M language using the Intel compiler. PL/M Connection provides access to all of a PC's DOS and BIOS functions and high-speed graphics func- tions that interface directly with the color-graphics and monochrome display adapters. The package offers development support for software control of such peripherals as floppy and hard disks, communications devices, printers, video displays, and keyboards. The compiler generates in-line code automatically for the 8087 floating-point co- processor. The program consists of four main libraries plus utilities written in PL/M and assembly. For programmers unfamiliar with using PL/M to make a DOS program. CompuFirm has provided step-by-step sample pro- grams explaining how to create such a program from the source code. PL/M Connection comes on a double-sided PC-DOS disk with source code in PL/M and assembly, demo programs, and a 200-page manual with examples of each function. The package has a license fee of $295 per user. Quantity discounts and site licenses are available. Contact Compu- Firm Corp.. Suite 204. 7677 Ronson Rd.. San Diego. CA 92111. (619) 571-0228. Inquiry 579. On-line Correction Aid The Resident Speller from S & K Technology is a memory-resident spelling-correction system for the IBM PC and com- patibles. The program checks spelling as you type. It operates with many popu- lar word processors, includ- ing WordStar, Microsoft Word. MultiMate. pfs:Write. WordPerfect. Volkswriter, and PeachText 5000. The Resi- dent Speller can also be used as a stand-alone spell- ing checker for standard ASCII text files. As a resident utility, the program occupies 2 5K bytes of memory; its 49.000-word dictionary takes another 64K bytes. You can turn checking on and off from within your word-processing environ- ment. Configurable features include the interpretation of individual characters, the marking symbol and meth- od, and default filenames. The main dictionary and alternate dictionaries can be expanded. The Resident Speller costs $99. Contact S & K Tech- nology Inc.. 4610 Spotted Oak Woods. San Antonio. TX 78249. (512) 492-3384. Inquiry 580. Lessons in Speedy Reading Achievement House claims its FASTYead pro- gram can help increase your reading rate with its 80 lessons of self-instruction, practice, and testing. The program also teaches the mental and physical aspects of fast reading to help you increase comprehension and retention along with speed. The lessons use "real world" material with a dif- ficulty level equivalent to what's found in industry and education. You set your own pace and goals, and the software tracks your prog- ress. The program keeps tabs of where you finish in a lesson so you can resume with subsequent material quickly. FASTread costs $59.95 and comes with a 30-day guaran- tee. It runs on an IBM PC XT, or AT with at least I28K bytes, one disk drive, an 80 by 2 5 display, and DOS 2.0 or later. Contact Achieve- ment House. 103 Great Plain Rd.. Danbury. CT068II. (800) 551-1133; in Connec- ticut. (203) 748-0277. Inquiry 581. PLZ Compiler KCSystems has devel- oped a resident PLZ compiler that follows Lattice C calling conventions and can be used with any Lattice C-compatible library. The company said its compiler implements the complete Zilog PLZ language, in- cluding the extensions of the Z8000 PLZ (32-bit data types, structure operations, etc.). A version for the 68000 running under CP/M-68K is also available. KCSystems said the com- piler is best suited for ROM- based 8088/8086 or 68000 systems, systems-level pro- grams, and any application where C or Modula-2 would otherwise be used. The package costs $75 and consists of the compiler, user's manual, Report on the Programming language PLZ-SYS (T. Snoock et al.. Springer- Verlag. 1978), and a year of free updates. Or you can buy the manual and text for $20; the money is credited toward purchase of the com- piler. A money-back guarantee runs for 30 days. Contact KCSystems. 20 Lam- ington Dr.. Succasunna. NJ 07876, (201) 927-9104. Inquiry 582. {continued) JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 411 WHAT'S NEW S O F T W A R E • OTHER COMPUTERS TWo for the Amiga MaxiCorp has released a set of business- oriented modules and a serial communications pro- gram for the Commodore Amiga. Maximillian contains four modules: MaxiCalc, a spread- sheet that can handle 256 rows by 256 columns; Maxi- Word. a word processor; MaxiGraph. for drawing bar, line, and pie charts; and MaxiTerm, a communica- tions program that can operate with data speeds up to 9600 bps. With a 256K- byte Amiga, you can use any one of the applications; with a 512K-byte machine, you can use all four together. MaxiComm, another com- munications program, is capable of terminal emula- tion and file transfers be- tween the Amiga and on- line services and data trans- fers between Amigas. Both XON/XOFF and XMODEM protocols are available. Maximillian lists for $195. MaxiComm is $49.95. Con- tact MaxiCorp. 2817 Sloat Rd.. Pebble Beach, CA 93953, (408) 625-4104. Inquiry 583. RAM Disk, RAM Upgrade for 520ST Lamar Micro has devel- oped a RAM-disk pro- gram for the Atari 520ST. Called RAM Overdrive, the program lets a 520ST with 1 megabyte of RAM address the upper 512 K bytes of random-access memory as a RAM disk. One way to fatten your Atari so it can use the RAM disk is with Lamar's I -mega- byte RAM upgrade. When used with a word-processing program such as ST Write, this RAM expansion lets ap- proximately 688K bytes (or 344 typewritten pages) reside in memory at all times. The operating system automatically detects this in- crease and makes the 688K bytes available to the application. RAM Overdrive costs $34.95. The RAM upgrade is $300. You have to send your keyboard to the company for installation of the RAM. Contact Lamar Micro. 2107 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach. CA 90278. (213) 374-1673. Inquiry 584. Pascal for Ataris Draper Pascal lets you create, compile, and ex- ecute Pascal programs on the Atari 400. 800. XL. or XE computers. It incor- porates features from UCSD and ISO standards and has extensions, such as sound and graphics, that take ad- vantage of Atari hardware. Machine-language sub- routines can be loaded and called, and program chain- ing is supported. Draper puts no limit on the size of source-code programs. A one-pass compiler generates pseudocode directly; max- imum size of program pseudocode is 30K bytes. Execution debugging tools include instruction trace and stack display. No linking is required. Draper Pascal needs only one disk drive and 48K bytes of RAM. It costs $44.95 (plus $2 shipping) and comes with a manual and sample programs. Con- tact Draper Software, 307 Forest Grove. Richardson. TX 75080, (214) 699-9743. Inquiry 585. CP/M for Z8000 Digital Research and Zilog have jointly devel- oped CP/M-8000 for the Z8000 16-bit micropro- cessor. CP/M-8000. which is being marketed by Toshiba and Zilog, features an enlarged directly accessible memory space beyond 64K bytes. The developers say the new CP/M has an im- proved file manager and command repertoire as well as increased capability for library maintenance. CP/M-8000 comes with a C compiler, assembler, linker, debugger, and utilities. Per- sonal BASIC. Compiler BASIC. FORTRAN, and Pascal/MT+ are slated as options. Toshiba's offerings for the operating system are a PL/M compiler, a macro assembler, a PROM writer, a download utility, and a screen editor. The new CP/M can operate with a Z8001. Z8002, Z8003. or Z8004; a minimum of 176K bytes (2 56K is recom- mended); and up to 16 disk drives. It comes on single- sided single-density 8-inch floppy disks or on double- sided double-density WHERE DO NEW PRODUCT ITEMS COME FROM? The new products listed in this section of 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. 1/ you want your product to be considered for publication [at no charge), send full infor- mation about it. including its price and an address and telephone number where a reader can get further information, to New Products Editor. BYTE, 70 Main St.. Peterborough. NH 034 58. 514-inch disks. Prices start at $340. Contact Toshiba Corp., 1-1-1. Shibaura. Minato-ku. Tokyo 105. Japan; telephone: (03) 457-2104; Telex: J22587. Inquiry 586. Atari Tools Volume One of the Atari ST Toolbox contains five utility programs on a single disk. The programs are Disk File/Sector Editor. Memory Editor. Fast Format & Copy, Deleted File Recovery, and Directory Print. Volume One costs $39.95. Contact Mirage Concepts Inc., Suite 108. 4055 West Shaw Ave.. Fresno, CA 93711. (209) 227-8369. Inquiry 587. Software- Development System Described as a fourth- generation language. Sculptor is designed to reduce programming time by using menus written in plain English and screens created with any text editor. Microprocessor Develop- ments Ltd. says Sculptor can cut programming time by as much as 80 percent. The system uses a B-tree access method. It's trans- portable to a variety of computers using MS-DOS or PC-DOS. Multiuser applica- tions can be developed for systems running under UNIX. UniFLEX. and OS-9. Contact Microprocessor Developments Ltd.. 1/3 Can- field Place. London NW6 3 Br. England; telephone: 01-328-2277. The U.S. representative is Gander & Flynn Ltd.. 225 Dyer Rd.. West Palm Beach, FL 33405. (305) 832-0131. Inquiry 588. 412 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 -The Buyer's Mart- A Directory of Products and Services THE BUYER'S MART is a monthly advertising section which enables readers to easily locate suppliers by product category. As a unique feature, each BUYER'S MART ad includes a Reader Service number to assist interested readers in requesting information from participating advertisers. RATES: 1x-$375 3x-$350 6x-$325 Prepayment must accompany each insertion. AD FORMAT: Each ad will be designed and typeset by BYTE. Advertisers must furnish typewritten copy. Ads can include headline (23 characters maximum), descriptive text (250 characters maximum), plus company name, address and telephone number. Do not send logos or camera-ready artwork. DEADLINE: Ad copy is due 2 months prior to issue date. For example: June issue closes on April 1. Send your copy and payment to THE BUYER'S MART, BYTE magazine, 70 Main Street, Peterborough, NH 03458. For more informa- tion call Karen Burgess at BYTE 603-924-9281. ACCESSORIES SOFTWARE PACKAGING, DISKS Cloth binders & slips like IBM's. Vinyl binders, boxes, and folders-many sizes. Disk pages, envelopes, & labels. Low qty. imprinting. Bulk & branded disks. Much More) Low prices. Fast service. Call or write for FREE CATALOG. Anthropomorphic Systems Limited 376-B East St. Charles Road Lombard, IL 60148 1-800-DEAL-NOW (312) 629-5160 ACCESSORIES Self-Inking Printer Ribbon For users of Okldata and other open spool ribbon printers. Controlled Printout Devices are a new kind of printing ribbon that re-ink themselves, and will last 15 times longer than the ribbon you are now using. For further information please call or write. CONTROLLED PRINTOUT DEVICES, INC. POB 869, Baldwin Rd. ( Arden, NC 28704 (704) 684-9044 DISK CONVERSION CONVERSION SERVICES Convert any 9 track magnetic tape to or from over 500 formats including 2Vz'\ 5 1 /4", 8" disk formats & word processors. Disk to disk conversions also available. Call for more info. (312) 459-6010 Pivar Computing Services, Inc. . . 47 W. Dundee Road + + Wheeling, I L 60090 Inquiry 651. Inquiry 667. Inquiry 729. BOOKS /DISKS /VIDEOS GASP! THAT IS THE SOUND OF YOUR ALTOS AS IT FILLS WITH BUGS, DUST AND OTHER GUNK! Protect your investment in your 586/986 Altos. Enclose it in a filtered solid wood enclosure box. $199.95 Each. BOB'S BOX CO. 314 Sutton Street, Maysville, KY 41056 (606) 564-3932 Inquiry 654 LESS NOISE! MORE COOLING! Stop irritating fan noise & overheating prob- lems with the SILENCER cooling system. It utilizes a super quiet (84% less noise), West German, all metal, 4V2" fan. Provides up to 100% more cooling. Mounts on the back of the IBM PC. $79.95 + $4 s/h VISA/MC PC COOLING SYSTEMS 31510 Via Ararat Dr., Bonsall, CA 92003 (619) 723-9513 C LANGUAGE TRAINING Train your entire staff for less than 1 student seminar fee. Use the best & most professional video training package. Complete 5 hour video production. Learn all aspects of C from basics through pointers. $995 includes 6 video modules plus textbook plus workbook. Call: Retrieval Technology 3 Courthouse Lane, Chelmsford, MA 01824 617-458-1130x108 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES VIDEO STORES We need ambitious dealers in all U.S. states and Canada to market a powerful system to computerize video tape rental stores. WINCHESTER DATA PRODUCTS INC. 3301-Executive Drive., #204, Raleigh, N.C. 27609 (919) 872-0995 INCOMPATIBLE WORD PROCESSORS? We convert to and from: XEROX, DEC, IBM, LANIER, WANG, PC-DOS, CONVERGENT TECHNOLOGY, WORDSTAR, MULTIMATE, SAMNA ASCII, MICOM. Also most CP/M systems. LOWEST PRICES DATA CONVERSION INC. 6310 Caballero Blvd. • Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 522-7762 (800) 824-4851 In CA. DOCUMENTATION Computer Assembly Manuals BIG BLUE SEED fa IBM" BUILDERS: parts list, place- ment diagrams, instructions for assembling over 55 IBM- compatible bare cards - $14,95. APPLE SEED II for APPLE" BUILDERS: in the style of the BIG BLUE SEED with instructions for assembling 70 Apple-compatible bare cards - $12.95. BOTH ASSEMBLY MANUALS FOR $25.00 NuScope Associates RO. Box 790 • Lewiston NY • 14092 Inquiry 726. DISTRESS SALE Export order cancelled on 5,000 new, factory boxed, Canon F60 and 1080A printers. The let- ter quality F-60 is similar to IBM's Quietwriter selling for $1,395. Distress priced from $129 to $179. The 1080A has same specs, as FX-85, 160 CPS, NLQ, etc. Priced from $139 to $189. PC SYSTEMS 8 a.m. — 5 p.m. EST 305-746-3407 800-826-4839 305-746-3407 COMMUNICATIONS DUPLICATING SERVICES SMART ANSWERING MACHINE SAM transforms your IBM PC into an intelligent phone answering & real-voice messaging center. FEATURES: 999 personal messages, call screening, message for- warding, timed or grouped message delivery, sortable phonebook/autodialer, time/date log, voice prompted remote access, AND MORE!! All hardware & software included. Retail $295. VISA/MC. DIALECTRON, INC. 2035 California St., Ste #17, Mountain View, CA 94040 (415) 960-3040 WESTERN TRANSDATA, INC. Why risk duplicating your important programs on your com- puter, when our equipment is designed solely to duplicate disks & verify their perfection 100%? Over 600 formats. y/i\ 5'/4" & 8'! Plus serialization, copy protection, labeling, packaging, shrink-wrapping and fast, personalized service. WESTERN TRANSDATA, INC. 1701 E. EdingerAve. A-4 Santa Ana, CA 92705 714/547-3383 (collect) Inquiry 727. Inquiry 676 Inquiry 751 BLANK FUNCTION KEY TEMPLATES Write convenient commands next to your function keys on re- versible plastic templates. Styles to fit IBM-PC, Compatibles, HP-150, Keytronics 5151, and others. Custom also available. $4.95 Pkg. of 3 (Plus $1 s&h) 1-800-231-5413 In CA 1-800-523-5441 Free catalog of other helpful products available by circling number below on inquiry card. Inquiry 670. CONTRACTS FOR ENTREPRENEURS Legal contracts (or hardware/software developers. Employee agreement, non-disclosure form, contracts for sale {hardware and/or software), consulting, development, hardware & soft- ware maintenance, non-competition, project delivery & more. $5 ° Waters Publishing $50 - 8235 Douglas - Suite 1000 - Dallas, TX 75225 800-628-2828 Inquiry 749. DUPLICATION SOLUTIONS We have the answer to your duplication needs, no matter what the volume. We supply auto- loaders, disks, and technical support. We pro- vide copy protection, serialization, package assembly, and distributive shipping. MegaSoft P.O. Box 1143, Freehold, NJ 07728 1-800-222-0490 201-462-7628 (in NJ) Inquiry 707. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 413 The Buyer's Mart- ENTERTAINMENT HARDWARE HARDWARE BIBLE ADVENTURE GAME "Keys of the Kingdom" is an exciting Bible adventure game in which you acquire the ar- mor of God, confront the devil, meet characters from the Bible, and solve mazes and puzzles using the Bible. Runs on MS- DOS computers. Price: $25.00 Peterson Computer Co. P.O. Box 40067 Bellevue, WA 98004 XPNDR2 PROJECT CARDS FOR THE COLOR COMPUTER DISK SYSTEM The 6809E signals are brought out to pins on a 40-pin wirewrap connector; on top the disk con- troller mounts vertically. 4.3X7.2" drilled for ICs; 5V and GND buses; all the right stuff. Includes App Notes. Cardguide available. Free Brochure. ROBOTIC MICROSYSTEMS BOX 30807, SEATTLE, WA 98107 (206) 782-6809 BUYING A PROGRAMMER? Information on EPROM programmers for Engineering, Production and Field Service. Specifications and prices upon request. SHERMAN PIRKLE, INC. 617-861-6688 Inquiry 728. Inquiry 738. TRAIN DISPATCHER Train Dispatcher is a realistic simulation of a railroad traffic control center and was created by designers of CTC systems for operating railroads. Learn how dispatchers route rail traffic. IBM PC - $37; graphics card required. Apple II - $32; color monitor recommended. MCA/ISA accepted. SIGNAL Computer Consultants, Ltd. P.O. Box 18222, Dept. 36 Pittsburgh, PA 15236 (412) 655-7727 BDS LASER PRINTER! — $2,559.00 COMPLETE WITH SOFTWAREI 8 Pages per Minute. 9 Type Fonts, (16 with optional Cartridge), Down-Loadable (Design your own) Fonts, Parallel (Centronics, IEEE-48B) and Serial (RS-232C) Interfaces, Landscaping (Graphics Intermixed with Text), Magnification, Sideways Print, and Non- Volatile Memory for Control Features. HIGH TECHNOLOGY, INC. 9312 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster, CO 80020 (303) 431-7596 VISA and MASTERCARD Accepted! PCjr ADD-ON DRIVES Upgrade your PCjr with our user-installed add-on drive system. II includes a replacement disk con- troller (operates up to 3 drives), a 2 drive cable, ex- ternal 360K drive(s) & software for operating the extra drives. Prerequisite: DOS 2.1 , $295 (one drive), $449 (2 drives), $149 (controller only), $6 shipping. Call (505) 292-4182 J & M Systems, Ltd. 15100-A Central SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123 Inquiry 701. HARDWARE Tandy 1 000 Hardware TanPak Multifunction Cards $329 Memory to 51 2K, RS232, Clock, DMA TanPak Secondary $249 Memory to 256K, RS232, Clock 10 Meg Hard Drive with Controller $549 20 Meg Hard Drive with Controller $749 Hard Drive Specialist 1-800-231-6671 or 1-713-480-6000 16208 Hickory Knoll, Houston, Texas 77059 TURBOCHARGER FOR IBM •^ Increases processing speed over 300% • Full software compatibility with PC and XT s Supports Intel 10 MHz 8087 coprocessor Everett/Charles® Marketing Services 6101 Cherry Avenue Fontana, CA 92335 800-443-1860 Calif. 800-821-0589 IBM-PC BREAKTHROUGH X5 -PC PERFORMANCE IMPROVED 500% + EMS 10MHZ SUPER 86 + Vz MB RAM INSTALLED SOCKETS FOR UP TO 3MB OF EXPANDED MEMORY AND 8087 (XR CARD ADDS ANOTHER 5MB MAX) X5 $539 - 1MB XR $369 - Vfe MB RAM $72 TRAILRIDGE ASSOCIATES 14300 WEST 50TH AVE., GOLDEN, CO 80401 303-441-9109 Cleans up your line power! Isobar protects computer from damage caused by high voltage spikes and AC line noise. It prevents errors, malfunctions, false computer printouts and discskips, plus audio and video hash. Isolated filter banks isolate the outlets to prevent equipment in- teraction 1 3-way spike protection! Free catalog. Indus-Tool 730 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60606 Phone 312-648-2191 1/2 IN. 9 TRACK COUPLER READ and WRITE 1/2 in. magnetic tape with format- ted 9 track drives. Runs all speeds and densities in PC, XT, & AT running MS-DOS or IBM XENIX. Data transfers up to 904K bytes/second. Couplers start at $880. Complete sub-systems start at $2995. Overland Data, Inc. 5644 Kearny Mesa Rd., Ste. A, San Diego, CA 921 1 1 (619)-571-5555 and TELEX 754923 OVERLAND POWERLINE GREMLINS?? POWER FAILURES?? The MEIRICK STANDBY POWER SYSTEM is the TOTAL SOLUTION to your powerline problems. 240 watt system - $365; 400 watt system - $495; 800 watt system - $795 MEIRICK Inc., POWER SYSTEMS DIV. Box 298, Frisco, CO 80443 303-668-3251 Inquiry 696. Inquiry 724. Inquiry 708. EPROM/EEPROM PROG. $250 Programs 2716-27256, 25xx and 68764/66 eproms via RS-232. Also 874x micros and 28xxA & 52Bxx EEPROMs. Automatic baud rate select, built in help menus, no personality modules! 16 BIT I/O MODULE $75 Low cost control via RS-232. Expands to 512! INTELLITRONICS P.O.Box 3263, Tustin, CA 92680 (714) 669-0614 MULTIFUNCTION BOARDS US Made, Memory to 384K, Printer, I/O ports: clock, battery, and more. . . Under $200 Everett/Charles® Marketing Services 6101 Cherry Avenue Fontana, CA 92335 800-443-1860 Calif. 800-821-0589 MULTI-FUNCTION Bd $149.95 includes 384K of RAM, Serial, Pari., Clock, Software 256K RAM Card (full) for IBM's 109.95 Team 300/1200 modem, int. or ext., Hayes Compt 199.95 Radio Shack 64K Color Computer II 139.95 External Drives 5 1 A" for Radio Shack in case115.95 Epson Printers, Cheap! Call for quotes. C.C. Distributing 5512 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 381 1 9 901-761-4565 Inquiry 698. Inquiry 685. Inquiry 662. APPLE & IBM PERIPHERALS! FACTORY DIRECT! He 64K/80 Column Bd. $39. II + /He Cooling Fan $24.95. II + /lie Mouse w/SFWR $49.95. Joystick III w/fire on stick Apple or IBM $24.95. 10 Ft IBM Parallel Cable $12.95. RAM Set/9 PC-$5 XT-$7. Add $3 Shipping. Write for complete list. NEXO DISTRIBUTION 8824 Golf Drive - Spring Valley, CA 92077 (619) 589-7928 Inquiry 722. 414 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 GOULD COLORPLOTTERS Model 6120-HP Equivalent small footprint under $1000. Everett/Charles® Marketing Services 6101 Cherry Avenue Fontana, CA 92335 800-443-1860 Calif. 800-821-0589 Inquiry 686. $99 HARD DISK CONTROLLERS These NEW SHUGART 1610 controllers emulate other SASI controllers and mount directly on any 5V*" drive. 1610-1 emulates DTC 510. . .1610-3 emulates XEBEC S1410. . .1610-4 emulates SCSI similar to ADAPTEC 4000. Controllers work with BYTE's COM1 80. ACS 1000, ISI 5160, AMPRO, WAVEMATE, TRS80 III, IV, APPLE, MAC, OTHERS. Controller-$99. Manual & Schematic-$8, COD & Shipping $5. Quantity pricing available. California add 7°/o sales tax. COMPUTER SURPLUS STORE 3675 DeSoto Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95051 408-248-0134 Inquiry 666. The Buyer's Mart- HARDWARE SOFTWARE/BUSINESS SOFTWARE/BUSINESS LOW COST EPROM BURNER Read, burn, and verify popular 28-pin EPROMs and EEPROMs, including 2764, 27128, 27256, 27512, 2817 and 2864. No personality modules. Uses intelligent pro- gramming algorithm for high speed burning. Operates through parallel port. Intel and Motorola hex formats sup- ported. Complete hardware/software package. Atari 520ST EPROM Burner $139.95 IBM PC/PC compatible EPROM Burner $199.95 Hippopotamus Software, Inc. 985 University, Suite #12, Los Gatos, CA 95030 (408) 395-3190 Price, availability, and specifications subject to change without notice. TAX-PREP '86 MAKES TAXES EASIER Multlplan, 1-2-3 or Excel users, easily prepare totally professional tax returns, 22 linked schedules, IRS approved printout. IBM, Apple. TRS-80, CP/M $129.95; MAC $99.95. Call now for full information. EZWare Corporation (215) 667-4064 PC-File III™ Version 4 Search, sort, browse, global changes, macros, mailing labels, format reports with selection & calculations, sub- totals, totals, averages, encryption. Exchange data with 1-2-3, WORD, WordStar. Over 190,000 users. $59.95 + $5 s/h. For IBM PC. ButtonWare, Inc. P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006 1-800-J-BUTTON Inquiry 695. Inquiry 687. Inquiry 655. HAVE YOU SEEN??? If you have missed us in the November Issue of BYTE, Microsystems Journal, or even at Comdex, look us up in the February 86 Issues of these magazines for our HD 64180 master processor and dual 8/16 bit slave processors. Intelligent Computer Designs Corp. 9252 Garden Grove Blvd. Garden Grove, CA 92644 LP88-LINEAR PROGRAMMING A powerful menu-driven system for solving linear programs w/ up b 255 constraints & 2255 variables. Features include in- teractive & batch operation, spreadsheet-style input & editing, storage of problems & bases, Simplex Algorithm restait, report generator, sensitvity analysis. Req. IBM PC, 192K. $99 w/8087 support, user's guide. VISA/MC. EASTERN SOFTWARE PRODUCTS INC. P.O. Box 15328, Alexandria, VA 22309 (703) 549-5469 PC-File/R™ All the power of PC-File III plus: Relational link to other databases, integrated letter writing & mail- merge, context sensitive pop-up help windows. New binary search retrieves data hundreds of times faster. $149.95 + $5 s/h. ButtonWare, Inc. P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006 1-800-J-BUTTON Inquiry 754. Inquiry 681. Inquiry 656. PERIODICALS DISCOVER ROBOTICS Robot Experimenter™ magazine shows you how to take the next step in the computer revolution by free- ing your computer to roam about the house. REx is designed for both educators and experimenters. Subscribe now to explore the world of tomorrow. • $24.00 for 12 issues. MC/VISA/CHECK • Robot Experimenter POB 458, Peterborough, NH 03458 603/924-3843 TSA 88-TRANSPORTATION A GENERAL-PURPOSE system for solving transpor- tation, assignment and transhipment problems. Solves transportation problems with up to 510 origins and/or destinations by applying the Transportation Simplex Algorithm. Menu-driven with features similar to LP88. Requires 192K, $99 with 8087 support user's guide. VISA/MC. EASTERN SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, INC. POB 15328, Alexandria, VA 22309 (703) 549-5469 PC-Type™ Fast, compact, capable & easy! Help panels, hands- on tutorial macros, multiple-line headings & footings, DOS path suppoil, print spooling, block operations, etc. ASCII files. Install program allows customization. $59.95 + $5 s/h. For 128K IBM PC. ButtonWare, Inc. P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006 1-800-J-BUTTON Inquiry 735. Inquiry 682. Inquiry 657. REPAIRS PC SVi" HARD DISK REPAIR 10-day repair service on Seagate, Tandon, Miniscribe, Rodime. ALSO, component level repair on • WD1002 Drive Controller PCB, and • IBM PC&XT Motherboard PCB. Send for free brochure or call (714) 550-9303. APPLIED DISK TECHNOLOGY, INC. 1017 N. Baker St., Suite B Santa Ana, CA 92703 dFELLER Inventory A business Inventory program written in modifiable dBASE source code. The menu-driven program lets you locate items by inventory name or number. It keeps track of reorder points, ven- dors, average cost, and other info. Requires dBASE II or III. PC-DOS/CPM $150. Feller Associates 550 CR PPA, Route 3, Ishpeming, Ml 49849 (906) 486-6024 PC-Calc™ Version 3 64 columns x 256 rows, math and stat. functions, horizontal bar graphs, title locking, individually ad- justable column widths, IF. . THEN, link to other spreadsheets or PC-File databases, much more. Re- quires 256K IBM PC. $59.95 + $5 s/h. ButtonWare, Inc. P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006 1-800-J-BUTTON Inquiry 652. Inquiry 688. Inquiry 658. SOFTWARE/BUSINESS DATA ENTRY SYSTEM Heads-down data entry with two-pass verification for the PC/XT/AT & compatibles. Loaded with features like: Auto dup & skip, verify bypass, range checks, & table lookups. Fully menu driven only $395. Call for free 30 day trial period. COMPUTER KEYES 6519 193 SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036 (206) 776-6443 STANDARD FORMS Easy to use with on screen step by step prompts. Prints data required in proper spaces on any preprinted form that fits in your printer. Free phone support. $79 (VISA/MC/AMEX). MS-DOS/CPM-80. Other original software. FREE catalogue. MICRO-ART PROGRAMMERS 173 Birch Avenue, Cayucos, CA 93430 (805) 995-2329 (24 hours) 1985 TAX PREPARATION Fast, easy to use package prepares and prints 1985 Federal income tax returns using form 1040. Fully interac- tive, menu driven. Follows IRS forms. Supports 26 forms plus multiples. MS/PC-DOS, 128K; Prof. $149.00; Pers. $39.95; VISA/MC ($5 SH) Dunphy Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 326, Worthington, OH 43085-0326 614-459-2349 (orders 800-622-4070; III. 800-942-7317) Inquiry 665. Inquiry 679. ENHANCE YOUR PRINTER!! Print in a variety of fonts and sizes with your Epson (or compatible) printer. Prints SIDEWAYS too. Great for letters, spreadsheets, . . .even signs and banners! Create your own fonts to print. DigiCon Print Package-$49.95 (for IBM PC). Digital Concepts, Inc. P.O. Box 8345, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 (412)823-8314 Inquiry 677. ► TIME & BILLING ^ 400 clients/20 partners/80 job & 40 out of pocket categories/20 areas of practice/fixed fee or hour- ly/more! Prints billing/statements/aged rec's/more! Free phone support. $149 (VISA/MC/AMEX). MS- DOS/CPM-80. Other original software. FREE catalogue. MICRO-ART PROGRAMMERS 173 Birch Avenue, Cayucos, CA 93430 (805) 995-2329 (24 hours) Inquiry 710. MY WORD!® is just $35.00 Complete word processing plus sort, add rows & col- umns, mergeprint, quickprint, macros, math, micro- justify, use all 256 char. Source; add $35. 150 page printed manual. 30-day money-back guarantee. IBM PC or compatible, 128K, one drive, any printer. T.N.T. SOFTWARE, INC. 34069 Hainesville Road, Round Lake, IL 60073 (312) 223-8595 Inquiry 745. JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 415 The Buyer's Mart- SOFTWARE/BUSINESS SOFTWARE/GENERAL SOFTWARE/GENERAL PC-Write™ Shareware Fast, friendly, flexible word processor and text editor for IBM PC. Easy to use. Advanced features like macros, split screen, footnotes, mailmerge. Many good reviews, thousands sold. All software, manual on disk $10. OK to copy! Register for full manual, support, source $75. Quicksort (206) 282-0452 Visa/MC 219 First N. #224J, Seattle, WA 98109 MICRO BEATS RACETRACK!! Earn profits to afford peripherals and goodies to build the "System of Your Dreams." Dick Mitchell did it. A Winning Thoroughbred Strategy, book and software program $59.95. Book only, $29.95. Send for literature and review. Cynthia Publishing Company 4455 Los Feliz Blvd., Suite 1106B Los Angeles, California 90027 (213) 664-3165 Church Package Parishioner Time, Talent and Treasure System pro- gram is written in modifiable dBASE source code. • Contributions • Disbursements • Ledger • Names with mailing labels • Personal information database. Requires dBASE II or III. PC-DOS/CPM-80 $200. Feller Associates 550 CR PPA, Route 3, Ishpeming, Ml 49849 (906) 486-6024 Inquiry 733. Inquiry 689 Programmers: We guarantee our products to be solid, bugfree. " CorrectForth - Very professional. * Correct_Datamizer - 50:1 data compression guaranteed. * SafeModem - Hackerproof. $80.75 per program MC/VtSA/MO/Check. Specify computer. Correct Software, Inc. RR1 Box 140, Black Hawk, SD 57718 (605) 787-5904 SIGN MAKER $46.50 Print Letters from 5/8 inch to 83 feet tall Horizontal or Sideways banners to 1 2 inches tall. Very Fast. 2 fonts. Perfect for Store signs, posters, etc. Okidata 92-3, 192-3 Epson FX80, 100, Star Micronics. MS- DOS, CPM-80. WOODSMITH SOFTWARE Rt. 3-Box 550A, Nashville, IN 47448 (812)988-2137 UNIX™-LIKE TOOLS FOR MS-DOS Increase programmer productivity with QTOOLS $49.50 from QCAD SYSTEMS, INC. 1 1 64 Hyde Ave., San Jose, CA 95129 Toll-free 800-538-9797 In California, call 408-727-6671 Leaders in software tools Inquiry 668. Inquiry 753. Inquiry 731. SOFTWARE/GRAPHICS TurboTax(R) "Very easy to use. Documentation-Excellent"— PC Magazine. POWERFUL and FAST' 33 forms plus multiples. CALCULATES in 3 seconds! Pop-up menus. IRS approved. 1986 planning module. Many extras. Simply the best! IBM & compatibles. 256K. $65 + $5 S/H. Visa/MC. Many states avail. ChlpSoft, Inc. 5674 Honors, San Diego, CA 92122 (619) 453-8722 WORD IMAGE Edit 4 files, undo, sub-directory, big files, macros, on-screen attributes, command driven, batch files, search/replace in ranges, help, all printers, manual, fast, MORE. Needs 320KB, PCDOS 2.0 + , and 360K disk. Intro: $50.00, 30-Day trial. Software Ideology P.O. Box 305, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204 718-236-3876 GRAPHICS PRINTER SUPPORT AT LAST! Use the PrtSc key to make quality scaled B&W or color reproductions of your display on any dot matrix, ink jet, or laser printer. GRAF PLUS supports all versions of PC or MS- DOS with IBM, Tecmar, and Hercules graphics boards. $59.95. Jewell Technologies, Inc. 4302 SW Alaska St., Suite 207, Seattle, W A 981 16 (206) 937-1081 Inquiry 663. Inquiry 740. Inquiry 700. Boost Sales by 25%! 4.000+ SALESEYE users are doing just that. Proven software system streamlines your follow-up efforts. Power- ful database manager and word processor. 34 fields (9 user-definable). Unlimited comments. Prints lists, form let- ters, labels, profiles. Money-back guarantee. IBM PC, compatibles W/256K. SALES SOFTWARE $89 - CALL NO W (212) 684-5553 High Caliber Systems, Inc. 165 Madison Avenue, Suite 6001, New York, NY 10016 LEARN TOUCH TYPING NOW Are you a hunt-and-peck typist? Then you need the TOUCH TYPIST computer typing course. Over 10,000 have already learned to type withTOUCH TYPIST. For IBM-PC, DEC Rainbow, or DECmate II and III. List$79. SPECIAL PRICE $27.97. FREE SHIPPING. MCA/ISA. COD + $3. Newline Software P.O. Box 289, Tiverton, Rl 02878 (401) 624-3322 ATTENTION ENGINEERS Easy-to-use graphics software for the IBM PC, XT, AT. and compatibles. Full 2-D and 3-D screen graphing capabilities including contours. No programming needed! Interface to pen- plotter. OMNIPLOT [S] $195 OMNIPLOT [P] $195 BOTH $295 MICROCOMPATIBLES 301 Prelude Drive • Silver Spring, MD 20901 (301) 593-0683 Inquiry 693. Inquiry 719 Inquiry 711. "THE CLERK" RETAIL POINT OF SALE New software organizes your retail business equal to the best programs, Features include: complete invoice generating, automatic inventory control, figuring dis- counts, taxes, and statement generating. A real must for the small retailer. Demo disk $29.95 (refundable). Pro- gram on sale $149.95 reg. $199.95. 1-800-346-3026 ext.958 WDR SALES CO. 9604 BELMONT, KANSAS CITY, MO. 64134 FREE SOFTWARE Disk includes sample programs of TOUCH TYPIST, PROFESSIONAL TEXT PROCESSOR, and PRO- FESSIONAL SPELLING CHECKER. Plus informa- tion about other software and computer products. Indicate IBM-PC or DEC Rainbow or Zenith Z-100. $3 s&h. Newline Software P.O. Box 289, Tiverton, Rl 02878 (401) 624-3322 CHEAP GRAPHICS on your printer. GRAF 3.0, an extensive upgrade of GRAF 2.0 (Sept. Chaos Manor) for MS-DOS & Z80 CP/M systems w/Epson or C.ltoh compatible graphics printers. Bar, Pie, Scatter & Line Graphs. 14 Fill-in Patterns, Auto Scaling, Legend Creation. Menu-Driven. CP/M $49.95 MS-DOS $69.95 incl. S/H No CCs Microcomputer Systems Consultants 27-B Forst Ave., Port Jefferson Station, New York 11776-1820 (516) 928-7493 Inquiry 750. Inquiry 720 SOFTWARE/GENERAL SOFTWARE/LANGUAGES MicroGANTT® Control your project! You describe the work, MicroGANTT calculates the schedule and budget. Op- timize the schedule interactively. Customize the reports. Sub-tasking, fixed and variable costs, multi-project resource allocation, unlimited size and scope. GANTT, PERT, CPM, DOD-7000. Call or write for free catalog. Earth Data Corporation P.O. Box 13168, Richmond, V A 23225 (804) 231-0300 Inquiry 680 416 BYTE TAX PREPARER PROGRAM Prepare client's oryourown Fed. Income taxes on your PC. Simplified data input. Program calculates and pro- duces printout for transfer to IRS forms 1040. 2210, Sched. A, B, C, G. & W. For IBM-PC, Zenith Z-89, Z-1 00, DEC Rainbow. Requires BASIC. List $60. SPECIAL $39 + $3 s&h. Newline Software P.O. Box 289, Tiverton, Rl 02878 (401) 624-3322 Inquiry 721. CROSS ASSEMBLERS with "UNIVERSAL" LINKER and POWERFUL LIBRARIANS for IBM PC MS-DOS Full featured for most microprocessors ENERTEC, INC. BOX 1312, Lansdale, PA 19446 215-362-0966 MC/VISA Inquiry 683. JANUARY 1986 The Buyer's Mart- SOFTWARE/LANGUAGES SOFTWARE/LANGUAGES SOFTWARE/SCIENTIFIC CBTREE FOR C PROGRAMMERS Provides enhanced file handling calls directly in- to C programs. Maintains balanced B-trees, sup- ports unlimited number of keys, data records, and key lengths. Fast, Flexible, Efficient. No royalties. Source Code Included. New Low Price: $99 PEACOCK SYSTEMS, INC. 2009 Hileman Rd., Falls Church. VA 22043 (703) 893-0118 Tools for CB80 & CB86 BDOS, DOS, and BIOS calls from CB80 and CB86! CBC Tools includes functions for directory access, string ops, a debugger, radix conversion, command line parsing, quicksorts, bit and byte ops, and much more. Available for CP/M-80, CP/M-86, and PC-DOS for $180.00. Minnow Bear Computers POB 2233 Sta. A, Champaign, 1L 61820-8233 (217) 398-6883 ► SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR < Memory resident emulation of the HP-1 1C plus direct insertion of results in foreground program, graphi- cally presented, decimal, hex, binary, & octal opera- tions, boolean functions and more. Mouse support. 8087 or Standard versions $49.95 + 3.00 s&h. K SOFTWARE HOUSE Rt. 2, Box 83B1 Unionville, TN 37180 (615) 294-5090 Inquiry 703. Minnesota S N O BO L4 Lan 9^9e Powerful string &data handling facilities. Interpreter com- patible with mainframe SNOB0L4. 32K strings, 32 bit in- tegers, 8087 for float & large memory model. Sample pgms include ELIZA. For >128K IBM PC/MS DOS or compatible. Authoritative "green" book by Griswold available. Guide +5V4" diskette $44.95 Guide + green book + dkt .$59.95 Green book only $24.95 Postpaid in USA. In NY add tax. VISA/MC (914) 271-5855 BERSTIS INTERNATIONAL POB 441, Millwood, NY 10520 68020 Motorola compatible macro Assembler Package features linker, object librarian, symbol report generator with cross reference. Produces S-records and ROMable code. For CP/M-68K, MS-DOS $750. Portable Source in C $3500. AVAILABLE NOW. Quelo, Inc. 2464 33rd Ave. W. Suite 173, Seattle, WA 98199 206/285-2528 telex 910-333-8171 PC TECHNICAL GRAPHICS TEKMAR is a graphics library for the Tecmar Graphics Master. Similar to PLOT-10, includes WINDOW, VIEWPORT, AXIS. Support for HP, Hi plotters. Curve fitting, complete plotting program. Log, semi-log, multi-axis, 3-D, contours. Demo disk, literature available. Advanced Systems Consultants 18653 Ventura Blvd., Suite 351, Tarzana, CA 91356 (818) 407-1059 Inquiry 653. Inquiry 732. Inquiry 650. SOFTWARE/SCIENTIFIC JOIN THE "C" GUILD Membership includes quarterly distribution of all public domain submissions and 50% discount on catalogue items including "C" source code for PC utilities, small C compiler, adventure games and 2D & 3D fractals, graphics, and spreadsheet routines, etc. VISA "C" Guild, Inc. 116 W. 6th St., Bloomington, IN 47401 1-800-554-3874 PC Array Processing! VECTOR87 has 60 array processor subroutines: FFT, 2D FFT, convolution, dot product, real & com- plex vector operations, linear equations, etc. Up to 18 times faster than compiled code. For MS For- tran, Pro Fortran, Lattice C, MS C. $120 each ver- sion with source, no royalties. Vectorplex Data Systems Ltd. Box 138 Station M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2H6, Canada (403) 248-1250 CADD for $99.95 FEATURES: Drawing layers • User Defined Fonts • Component Libraries • Video & Digitizer Menus • Color Graphics. Autocad™ file conversion - $24.95 Dot Matrix Printer/plotter option - $24.95 MC, VISA, COD, add $3.00 for shipping. 60 day money back guarantee. GENERIC SOFTWARE 6 Lake Bellevue #203, Bellevue, WA 98005 1-800-228-3601 Inquiry 661. Inquiry 748. Inquiry 690. UNIVERSAL CROSS-REFERENCER -WORKS WITH ALL LANGUAGES— BASIC, C, Pascal, FORTRAN, COBOL, ASM. . . You name it! MS/PC-DOS V2 + , IBM PC, XT & compatibles Unbeatable at $39.95 + $3 s/h. MC/Visa/Check DALSOFT SYSTEMS 3565 High Vista, Dept E2 Dallas, TX 75234 (214) 247-7695 Affordable Engineering Software CALL or WRITE for FREE CATALOG Circuit Analysis • Root Locus • Thermal Analysis • Matrix Manipulation • Signal Pro- cessing • Filter Design • Graphics • Text Proofreader BV Engineering 2200 Business Way Suite 207, Riverside, CA 92501 VISA/MC (714) 781-0252 Digital Logic Design on the Macintosh™ The LogicWorks™ series allows you to create, test and document digital circuitry on your Macintosh. Full simulation capability lets you catch design errors before committing your circuit to hardware. From $79.95 (US). Demo pkg. $10. Visa/MS Accepted. Capilano Computing Systems Ltd. Box 86971, N. Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V7L 4P6 (604) 669-6343 Inquiry 673. Inquiry 659. Inquiry 660. BYSO® LISP for IBM PC INTERPRETER $150 (includes Visual Syntax®) COMPILER $395 for stand alone expert systems, etc. Levien Instrument Co. POB 31, McDowell, VA 24458 (703) 396-3345 SYSTEM DESIGNER SD is a tool for the design of hierarchical systems and processes, representable by trees. SD breaks a task of designing a large system into a great number of small, easy tasks while keeping track ol all pieces. SD plots a graph of a tree representing the proposed system. The price is $399. CUSTOM SYSTEMS 23 Crestwood Ct„ Lansdale, PA 19446 (215) 468-7773 AutoCAD IC LIBRARIES Integrated circuit symbol libraries allow rapid capture of electronic schematics with AutoCAD 2.X. Symbols can be inserted, scaled up/down, rotated, copied, moved, dragged, put on new layers, erased, made into biocks, and used with data attributes. LS TTL Library $295 Z80 Family Library $195 Schematic Library $295 TKF Systems (301) 730-3542 5478-A3 Harpers Farm Rd., Columbia, MD 21044 AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk. Inc Inquiry 705 Inquiry 671 SOFTWARE/SYSTEM CROSS ASSEMBLERS Develop microprocessor programs on your IBM PC or MS DOS computer. * Macros * Conditional Assembly * Editor * Complete support for most 8 bit microprocessors Linker and EPROM Programmer Driver Microcomputer Tools Co. 1255C Kenwal Rd., Concord, CA 94521 (415) 825-4200 Inquiry 716 BEAM ANALY. & SPRING DESIGN Beam analysis program calculates shear, moments, reac- tions, slopes and deflections in beams. Price: $50.00. Helical spring design program for compression, exten- sion and torsion springs. Price: $75.00. Both packages include disk and documentation. For Apple II series of computers or IBM PC, PCjr and compatibles. SYLCA CORPORATION 33-47 14 Street, Dept B, Long Island City, NY 11106 718-278-4604 Inquiry 743. DISK DRIVE DIAGNOSTIC Memory Minder, from J & M Systems, is a disk diagnostic program for the IBM PC, PCjr, & IBM com- patibles. It checks your drives for head alignment, spin- dle speed, hysteresis, azimuth & more. And, you can use Memory Minder to actually align your disk drives 1 . $99 plus $4 shipping. J & M Systems, Ltd. 15100-A Central SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123 (505) 292-4182 Inquiry 669. JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 417 The Buyer's Mart- SOFTWARE/SYSTEM SOFTWARE/SYSTEM UTILITIES MCFORMAT $50 Don't let DOS waste your disk space! Add up to 50% more hard disk capacity to your IBM PC, XT, AT cr 100% compatible by selecting format parameters, including cluster & directory size. Fully DOS compatible (3.0 or 3.1). VISA/MC. Microcomputer Concepts, Inc. 9715 SE 43 St., Mercer Island. WA 98040 (800) 722-8088 (206) 236-2300 Symbolic Debugger for Turbo Pascal™ - Set breakpoints at line numbers or procedures - Display and modify variables symbolically - Fully integrated into Turbo Pascal environment Requires Turbo 2.0 or 3.0, IBM PC version. Only $49 plus $2 S&H. KYDOR COMPUTER SYSTEMS 812 S. Sherman St., Richardson, Texas 75081 (214) 669-1888 MEDIA MASTER PLUS READ. WRITE, and FORMAT over60CP/M disks and run most CP/M-80 programs on your IBM PC! Two pro- gram package includes ZP/EM, a CP/M-80 emulator pro- gram that transforms your IBM PC into a 1-2 MHZ CP/M 2.2 computer. $59.95 + $3.00 S/H (CA 6%) Intersecting Concepts, Inc. 4573 Heatherglen Ct. Ste. 10 Moorpark, CA 93021 (805) 529-5073 Inquiry 699. Multi-terminal DOS GASS-General Accounting Scientific Swit- ching system. Multitasking. Can handle 12 terminals oft IBM PC. Used in mini's since 1976. Dealers wanted. List price $795,00. For limited time $95.00. Maxey Systems, Inc. 5910 Youree Dr. Suite D, Shreveport, LA 71105 (318) 868-5422 pcSHARE MULTI-USER O/S pcSHARE allows your IBM-XT/AT or compatible to sup- port up to 5 users running 1 -2-3, dBASE, WordStar, etc. on inexpensive serial CRTs. For software developers, pcSHARE efficiently runs compiled Basic, Pascal & C pro- grams with full DOS 3.0 compatible record locking. Digitrol Computers Inc. 440 Phillip Street Waterloo, Ontario, CAN, N2L 5R9 (519) 884-4541 BASIC PROGRAMMERS Add SALT & PEPPER to your existing/new programs. Create dazzling Menus, intelligent Input Screens. Walk- ing Strings, ASC/Desc Sort, PRT. SCR. Data processing & more. SALT & PEPPER has 28 modules, (in MS-DOS compatible BASIC). They merge with your program in minutes. S & P perlorms all the tricks, YOU get the ap- plause. $59.95 plus $2.50 s&h. Demo disk $2.50 ppd. MCMSA COMPUTER GURU 40 Wagner Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854 201-356-6477 Inquiry 706, Inquiry 678. Inquiry 664. STATISTICS LASER TYPOGRAPHY $495. Typographic composition software to drive the Cor- ona L300 Laser Printer as a typesetter. H & J 24 proportional space fonts, widths for 78 fonts available. Mix face & point size on any line. multicolumn capability. Micro Print-X, Inc. P.O. Box 581, Ballinger, TX 76821 (915) 365-2343 Dealer Inquiries Welcome RATS! RATS is a fast, accurate & complete regression pack- age with unsurpassed POWER. Has both time-series & cross section analysis. Includes Box-Jenkins, logit & probit. Spectral analysis & graphics also available. Requires 256K RAM, IBM PC or compatible. $200. MC/Visa. VAR Econometrics P.O. Box 19334, Minneapolis, MN 55419 (612) 822-9690 PACKED HOT STUFF UTILITY DISK FOR IBM-PC $10 EXPECT A MIRACLE! MICRO TOOLS INC. POB 357 N. Chili, NY 14514 (716)594-1088 Circle the Inquiry # ... We'll do the Rest Inquiry 715. Inquiry 747. Inquiry 714. ACT1 PROFESSIONAL FULLY INTEGRATED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM for PC-DOS Proven 3V'2 years. Includes General Ledger; Accounts Receivables; Order Entry/lnv.; Accounts Payable; Inven- tory: Payroll (incl. Post Facto). only $99.50 plus ship. & hand. (800) 344-2540 Cougar Mountain Software Box 6886, Boise. ID 63707 NUMBER CRUNCHER STAT SYS Menu-driven. Multiple & stepwise regression, ANOVA, time series, discriminant analysis, principal components, scatter plots, histograms, t-tests, con- tingency tables, nonparametrics. Import export data. Sort, join, merge. Site license $79. IBM PC/Macintosh. NCSS-B 865 East 400 North, Kaysville, UT 84037 801-546-0445 ••• HARD DISK OWNERS"' SIMPLIFY & PROTECT YOUR SYSTEM WITH THE MAIN MENU! Organize your system with easy-tocreate easy-to follow menus that display when the system is turned on. Execute programs and DOS commands with the touch of a key. Password pro- tect specific programs or entire menus. Will not detract from your systems memory. On-line help screens. Time Utility. $19.95 VISA/MC IBM pc/xt & compatibles with 192K and dos 2.x. PARSONS TECHNOLOGY 6925 Surrey Dr. NE., Cedar Rapids, \A 52402 (319) 373-0197 Inquiry 744. Inquiry 725. TRANSLATIONS CPM-80 LIVES on your PC CP/Mulator puts a 4mhz 8 bit CP/M emulator in your IBM-PC for $99. -A great 8 bit development system -Saves expensive CPM-80 applications -Increases PC speed 10% for 8088 programs -Priced less than most software only products -Uses no valuable board slots Source Information P.O. Box 2974, Warminster, PA 18974 Phone (215) 628-4719 ARABIC AND FRENCH TRANSLATION If you are interested in expanding your sales base into the Arabic or French market then SCIENCE may be able to help you. Fast, accurate transla- tion of any computer related application. Business advice for entry of your product into these markets is also available. SCIENCE 55 rue Barbes, 94200 Ivry-Sur-Seine, France (1) 46-71-18-55 ZERODISK ZeroDisk runs dozens of copyprotected business packages from your hard disk without floppies. Call for the latest list of software it handles. Needs IBM AT, XT, PC, or compatible, DOS 2.0 or higher. ZeroDisk is revis- ed monthly and is not copy protected. $75 US. Check or Credit Cards accepted. QUAID SOFTWARE LIMITED 45 Charles St. E. 3rd Fl. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4Y 1S2 (416) 961-8243 Inquiry 741. Inquiry 737. UTILITIES CP/M Calls from CB80 Access the full power of CP/M or MP/M direct from your CB80 progs. Execute BDOS or XDOS calls. Get such info, as user or CP/M version number, time of day, direc- tory, etc. BDOSMASTER consists of CB80 Basic code to be "INCLUDED" in your prog, and a module for use by LK80. Complete package $75.00. Practical Solutions, Inc. 134 S. Central Ave.. Valley Stream. NY 11580 FOR INFO. CALL 1-516-561-0566 TO ORDER 1-(800)-227-3800, ext. 983 Inquiry 730. 418 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 DOS PATHING EXTENSION Give your software the full PA THING capabilities that are missing from the 2,xx and 3.xx versions of MS- DOS and PC-DOS. FULLPATH object license: $19.95. source license: $399.95, (+ $5 S&H + 6% in MN). VISA/MC/PO/CHK 30 day money back guarantee. P. R. GLASSEL and ASSOCIATES, INC. 30255 Fir Trail, Stacy, MN 55079 612-462-1337 Inquiry 691. IBM -TOSHIBA PRINTER INTERFACE • all extended capabilities of the T0SHIBAS available • bit mapped graphics supported • Prints all IBM extended ASCII characters • screen dumps in text and graphics • escape sequences supported • popular software supported directly • "Sideways" and "Pyxel Visuals" support • dealers welcome $79.95 ($2.50 S&H) Integrated Data Technologies, Inc. 4775 Biinchberry Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80917 303-488-2583 MC/VISA COMPUTER PRODUCTS, Inc. ORDER TOLL FREE (800) 538-8800 (CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS) (800) 848-8008 I MasterCard] STATIC RAMS 101 256x4 450n 1.90 102 IK x 1 450n .79 102L-4 IK x 1 450n .89 102L-2 IK x 1 250it 1.29 111 258x4 450n 2.29 112 256x4 450u 2.29 114 IK x 4 450u .99 114-25 IK x 4 250it 1.10 1 I4L-4 IK x 4 450is 1.20 1141-3 IK x 4 300is 1.30 I14L-2 IK x4 200m 1.40 147 4K x 1 55m 395 101 258x4 450m CMOS 3.90 M84044-4 4K x 1 450m 2.95 184044-3 4Kx 1 300m 3.45 ¥54044-2 4K x 1 200m 3.95 IK4118 1 K x 6 250m 8.95 MM2016-Z0 2Kx6 200m 2.49 MM201B-15 2Kx8 150m 2.99 MM2018-10 2Kx6 100m 4.49 MBI18-4 2Kx8 200m CMOS 2.49 M61I6-3 2Kx6 150m CMOS 2.99 M8116-2 2Kx8 120m CMOS 5.49 M8118LM 2Kx8 200m CMOS 2.99 MB11BLP-3 2KxB 150m CMOS 3.49 M6U6LP-2 2KxB 120m CMOS 8.49 -8132 4Kx8 300m 29.95 M82B4P-15 6KxB 150m CMOS 5.95 iM82B4LM5 8Kx8 150m CMOS 6.95 4MBZB4LP-1Z 8Kx8 120m CMOS 6.95 DYNAMIC RAMS M84027 4K x 1 250m 1.45 P0411 4Kx 1 300m 1.95 M52B0 4K x 1 300m 1.95 K410B 6Kx 1 200m .49 1115208 BK x 1 250m .49 118-20 16Kx1 200m .79 116-15 lBKxl 150m .99 11B-12 16K x 1 120m 1.49 116 lBKxl 150m 5i 3.95 164-25 B4K x 1 250m 5» .59 184-20 B4K x 1 200m 5» .69 164-15 64Kx1 150m 5» .79 1256-20 256x1 200m 2.89 1256-15 258x1 150m 2.89 EPROMS 702 258x6 1 M 3.95 706 IK x B 450m 2.49 758 IK x B 450m 5.90 718 2Kx8 450m 5i 2.95 716-1 2Kx8 350m 5i 3.95 NS2516 2Kx6 450m 5» 3.95 M827I6 2Kx8 450m 8.95 H82532 4Kx8 450m 5» 3.95 732 4Kx8 450m 5> 2.95 732 A-4 4Kx6 450m 21i 2.95 732 A-35 4Kx8 350m 21? 3.95 732 A 4Kx8 250m 21? 5.95 732 A-2 4K I 6 200m 21i 8.95 764 BK x 6 450m 5» 3.95 784-25 BKxB 250m 5» 4.95 784-20 BK x 1 200m 5» 5.95 182564 BK x B 450m 5» 9.95 CM86784 BKxB 450m 5» 17.95 ICM68766 BK x B 350m 5i 19.95 7128-45 lfiK x B 450m 5« 8.00 7IH-30 16K x B 300m 5i 5.50 7126-25 16Kx6 250m 5i 8.00 7256-25 32Kx8 250m 14* 9.95 74LS00 74LS00 .23 74L8126 .48 74L8280 .58 74LS01 .24 74L8126 .48 7418285 .54 74LS02 .24 74L8132 .58 74L8273 1.45 74L803 .24 74L8133 .58 74L8275 3.30 74LS04 .23 74L8136 .38 7418279 .48 74LS05 .24 74L8137 .98 74L8280 1.95 74LS08 .27 7418138 .54 74L8263 .88 74L809 .28 74L8139 .54 74L8290 .88 74LSI0 .24 74L8145 1.15 74L8293 .88 74LS11 .34 7418147 2.45 74L8295 .98 74LS12 .34 74L8148 1.30 74L8298 .86 74L813 74LS14 .44 .SB 74L8151 74L8153 .54 .54 74L8299 74L8323 1.70 3.45 74L815 .34 74L8154 1.85 7418324 1.70 741820 .24 7418155 .88 7418352 li5 74L821 .28 74L8158 .68 74L8353 1.25 74L822 .24 74L8167 .84 74L83B3 1.30 74L826 .28 74L8158 .58 74L8384 1.90 74L827 .28 74L8180 .88 74L83B5 .46 74L826 .34 74L8161 .84 74L8368 .46 74L830 .24 74L8162 .88 74L8387 .44 74L832 .28 74L8183 .84 74L8388 .44 74L833 .54 74L8184 .68 74L8373 1.35 74L837 .34 74L8186 .04 74L8374 1.35 74L838 .34 74L818B 1.90 7418377 1.35 74L840 .24 74L81BB 1.70 74L837B 1.13 74L842 .48 74L8169 1.70 74L8378 1.30 74L847 .74 74L8170 1.45 74L83B5 1.85 74L848 .74 74L8173 .68 74L83B8 .44 74L84Q .74 74L8174 .54 74L8390 1.15 74L851 .24 74L8175 .54 74L8393 1.15 74L854 .28 74L81B1 2.10 74L8395 1.15 74L8S5 .28 7418189 0.90 74L8399 1.45 74L863 1.20 74L8190 .88 74L8424 2.90 74L873 .38 74L8191 88 74L8447 .36 74L874 .34 74L8192 .78 74L8490 1.90 74L875 .38 74L8193 .78 74L8824 3.95 74L876 .38 74L8194 .88 74L8840 2.15 74L878 .48 74L8195 .68 74L8B45 2.15 74L883 .59 74L8198 .78 74L8688 1.85 74L885 .88 74L8197 .78 74L8B89 1.85 74L8B8 .38 74L8221 .88 741.8870 1.45 741890 .54 74L8240 .04 741.8874 9.60 741891 .88 74L8241 .98 74LSBB2 3.15 74L892 .54 74L8242 .96 74LS8B3 3.15 74L893 .54 74L8243 .96 7418894 3.15 74L895 .74 74L8244 1.25 74L8BB5 3.15 74L898 .88 74L8245 1.45 74L88BB 2.35 74L8107 .38 74L8247 .74 74L8989 3.15 74LS109 .38 74L824B .98 74L8783 23.95 74L8112 .38 74L8249 .98 61L895 1.45 7418113 .38 74L8251 .58 B1L896 1.45 7418114 .38 74L8253 .58 61L897 1.45 7418122 .44 74L8257 .58 B1L8BB 1.45 7418123 .78 74L825B .58 25L82521 2.75 74L8124 2.85 74L8259 2.70 25L82569 4.20 We will try to BEAT All Competitor's Prices CALL for Quote! 8000 8031 14.90 8253 6.90 8035 5.00 8253-5 7.00 8030 5.90 8255 4.45 4188-6060 19.90 8255-5 4.90 1*8-8073 20.90 6257 7.90 8080A 3.00 8257-5 6.90 8085 4.60 8259 5.90 8085A-2 11.90 8259-5 6.90 6086 24.90 8271 60.90 8087-3 |5 MHz) . . 124.95 8272 10.90 8087-2 18MHz) . . 199.95 8274 28.90 8088 18.90 6275 28.90 8089 59.90 8279 6.90 8279-5 7.90 8100 6Z6Z 84B ° ,UU 8283 8.45 8131 2.90 6284 4.90 8155 6.90 8288 8.45 8155-2 7.90 8287 6.46 1158 6.90 6288 12.90 8185 28.90 8289 44.90 8185-2 38.90 8292 12.90 8200 8202 8203 8205 8212 6214 8218 8224 8226 8228 6237 8237-5 14.90 8238 4.45 8243 4.45 6250 9.90 8251 3.90 8251A 4.45 8300 23.90 38.90 2.90 1.75 3.75 1.75 2.20 1.75 3.45 12.90 8303 8304 8307 8306 8310 8311 , 2.90 , 1.90 , 2.90 , 2.90 , 3.90 , 3.90 8700 8741 28.90 6748 10.90 8749 28.90 8765 23.90 80000 80188-8 99.90 80188 89.90 THIS IS A SAMPLING ONLY . . . CALL WITH ALL YOUR COMPONENT NEEDS CRYSTALS ALL STANDARD VALUES... 1.69 CRYSTAL CLOCK OSC. ALL STANDARD VALUES... 4.69 DIP SWITCHES 4,5,6,7,6.16 ALL... .79 ea. ZIF SOCKETS 14 pli ZIF 4.89 18 pli ZIF 4.89 24 pin ZIF 5.69 28 pli ZIF 8.69 40 pli ZIF 9.89 ORBITAL SYSTEMS: EXTENDED BO-Column Card for APPLE Me • 64Kto 128K Upgrade • 2-Year Warranty. . . . $69.95 Z-BO (CP/M) CARD APPLE II+, IIE f • Compatible w/all Apple CP/M • Lifetime Warranty 69.95 MEG-O-RAM EXPAND DESKTOP SPACE 1 MEGABYTE on APPLEWORKS t APPLE II et...$259.°° APPLE ACCESSORIES Parallel Printer Card 49.95 BO-Col. card for Apple II+ ... 149.95 BO-Col. card for Apple Me ... 129.95 Serial Card (communicitlon) . . . 69.95 Cooling Fan 38.95 Power Supply 69.95 Joystick 29.95 Joystick Adapter Apple lie... 14.95 RF Modulator 13.95 Disk Drive Full Height 169.95 Disk Drive Vz Height 169.95 Controller Cerd 49.95 Apple Peddles 5.95 16K Card 39.95 * BULK * x DISKETTES * SS/DD 25/$17.25 DS/DD 25/$19.75 ATJ disks .... 25/$50.00 3V2" disks.... 25/$50.00 ALL DISKETTES HAVE A FULL 1-YEAR WARRANTY MEMORY EXPANSION KIT UV ERASERS QUV-T8/1 $49.95 ECONOMY Model • Erases 15 EPROMS In 20 minutes • Plastic Enclosure DOKAY carries the Full Line pf LOGICAL DEVICES, Inc. 41256 150ns $2.89 each! APPLE 1 or IBM' JOYSTICK $ 29, 95 ft MERCURY MODEMS ft For APPLE* and IBM* HAYES COMPATIBLE MODEM 195.00 - FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY - • IBM* ACCESSORIES • 8087-3 (5 MHz) 124.95 8087-2 (8 MHz) 144.95 TEAC 55B 99.95 TANDONTMlOO-2 129.95 1 35 W XT POWER SUPPLY . . 99.95 51 2K RAM MEMORY BOARD . . 1 39.95 MULTIFUNCTION BOARD with 3B4K RAM 179.95 MACINTOSH 1 UPGRADE (Parts only) 128K to 512K 50.00 Consists of: 16 41256 150ns 1 74F253 17 16 Pin Sockets Resistors and Capacitors ALSO INCLUDED f A TRADEMARK OF APPLE COMPUTER t A TRADEMARK OF IBM CORPORATION CALL or WRITE for our FULL CATALOG TERMS: Minimum order $10.00. For shipping and handling include $2.50 for UPS ground or $3.50 for UPS Blue (air). For each additional air pound, add $1 .00. California residents must include 6% sales tax; L A., S.F., S. Cruz, & S. Mateo . counties include 6.5% sales tax and Santa Clara include 7% sales tax. All items subject to availability and prices subject to change. Typographical errors are not our responsibility. No additional charge for Master- card or Visa. We reserve the right to substitute manufacturers and to limit Quantities. HOURS: Mon - Fri 7 30 to b OO Saturdays 10 00 to JOO VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE 2100 De La Cruz Blvri ALL MERCHANDISE IS 100% GUARANTEED m Inquiry 112 JANUARY 1956 * BYT:^ 419 Inquiry 92 CCT-4 SYSTEM SERIES The latest CCT implementation of the new generation Intel 16-Bit Processor technology. This means extreme speed, unequaled power, and the ultimate in reliability, and of course, the 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 DM Acontrollers 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-4 A State-of-the-art power in it's basic form. Consists of CCT-286Z CPU board and CCT-M256 (256K), along with Com- puPro: Enclosure 2 Desk (21 slot MF), Disk 1A, System Support 1, Interfacer 4, the CCT-2.4 floppy drive system, and CP/M 8-16, and with SF-200 surge suppressor system $5,269.00 CCT-4B Single-user/hard disk power. As the 4A, except priced without the CCT-2.4, toadd in your choice of CCT hard/floppy combination drive subsystem, at the published pricing $4,149.00 (Example: CCT-4B Mainframe with CCT-10/1 = $6, 198.00) Plus cost of selected 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 in- V ^ stead of Interfacer 4; SF-400 instead of SF-200, plus Concur. DOS 8-16 O.S. (4 to 6 user system) .... $4,999.00 ♦$^. (Example: CCT-4C Mainframe with CCT-40/1 = $8,048.00) Plus cost of selected dr,ve subsystem x$^A^^ Limited Time Offer - FREE 80287 and Supercalc 86 with any CCT-4! Xvcj!r The above systems include all necessary cabling, assembly, testing, minimum 20 hour burn-in, r/ *»£^ v^ ^ and the CCT unconditional 12 month direct warranty. A*/ CCT-M512 WORLD'S TOP SELLING CCT STATIC RAM. IEEE Standard 12MHz. 512K in one slot! — Special Price: $799 * CCT-M256 256K version of M512 upgradeable to full 512K. Perfect 256K RAM board for any CompuPro system S439 %c%s CUSTOM COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY / BOX 4160 / SED0NA, ARIZONA 86340 TOLL FREE ORDERING: 800-222-8686 / For technical support / service: 602-282-6299 BYTE back issues for sale 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 Jan. S3. 25 S3. 70 $4.25 S4.25 Feb. S3. 25 S3. 70 S3. 70 $4.25 S4.25 March S3. 70 S3. 70 $4.25 S4.25 April S3.25 S3. 70 S3. 70 $4.25 $4.25 May S3. 70 S3. 70 $4.25 S4.25 June S3. 70 S3. 70 $4.25 $4.25 July S3. 70 S4.25 $4.25 Aug. S3. 70 S4.25 $4.25 $4.25 Sept. S3. 70 $4.25 $4.25 $4.25 Oct. S3.25 S3. 70 $4.25 $4.25 $4.25 Nov. S3. 25 S3. 70 $4.25 S4.25 S4.25 Dec. S3. 25 S3. 70 $4.25 S4.25 S4.25 SPECIAL ISSUES and INDEX BYTE '83-'84 INDEX $1.75 1984 Special Guide to IBM PC's [Vol. 9, No. 9) $4.75 1985 INSIDE THE IBM PCs (Vol 10, No. 1!) $4.75 Circle and send requests with payments to: BYTE Back Issues P.O. Box 328 Hancock, NH 03449 Prices include postage in the US. Please add $.50 per copy for Canada and Mexico; and S2.00 per copy to foreign countries (surface delivery). Payments from foreign countries must be made in US funds payable at a US bank. □ Check enclosed □ VISA □ MasterCard Card # Exp. Signature Please allow 4 weeks for domestic delivery and \2 weeks for foreign delivery. NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP 420 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 TOLL-FREE ORDERING: 800-222-8686 FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT/ SERVICE / IN ARIZONA: 602-282-6299 CCT CUSTOM COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY 4 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 quickly 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! □ CCT-286Zisourmodeldesignation for the MI-286 dual processor board from Macrotech.lt features the super high speed combination of Z-80H and 80286, with provision for the 80287 math chip. Directly replaces 8085/88 and 8086 CPUs running CP/M, MP/M Concurrent DOS, and MS-DOS, at throughput increases of 3X to 5X! SPECIAL PRICE -$795 80287 Option - Installed - $250 SEE THE CCT-4 SERIES USING THIS BOARD DETAILED ON THE FACING PAGE NOW! BATTERY BACK-UP ON CCT RAM BOARDS! VOLATILE PRICES CALL FOR QUOTE LIBERTY TERMINALS • Superior Reliability • 110-14" GREEN-80/132 Column .. CLOSE 110-14" AMBER OUT 200-14" GREEN-80/132SuperDeluxe PRICES 200-14" AMBER CALU! OKIDATA PRINTERS -Top Quality 82 -80 Col .. CALL 83 -132 Col .. CALL 92 -80 Col .. CALL 93 -132 Col .. CALL 84 - 132 Col/200cps— Top of the Line , CALL For Serial Interfaces CALL TOSHIBA P351 - 288 CPS/24 PIN - $1499 DIABLO — Letter Quality Series Model 620 . $969 Model 630 $1799 WE HAVE ALL SOFTWARE-CALL $ ACROSS THE BOARD PRICE REDUCTIONS $ INDUSTRIAL GRADE SUPERIOR QUAUTY CCT DISK DRIVE SYSTEMS S-100 HARD DISK SUBSYSTEMS ROLLS ROYCES OF THE INDUSTRY Professionally engineered ST-506 type systems forthe business market S-100 Computer user. Includes industrytopqualitydrives, CompuPro Disk 3 DMA controller, all cabling, A&T, formatted, burned-in. Pro- visions for up to two hard disks in each system. We include operating system update. CP/M 80, CP/M 86, CP/M 8-16, CCP/M 8-16, CP/M 68K. (/1 Systems areCCT 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) $3699 CCT-90(87 + MEG) $4909 CCT-125(123 + MEG) $6099 CCT-10/1 $2049 CCT-20/1 $2569 CCT-40/1 $3049 CCT-60/1 $4249 CCT-90/1 $5459 CCT-125/1 $6649 HOT NEW PRINTERF ACER 1 ™ - Print buffer I/O Board. Up to 1 Meg. RAM on board. Looks as/works with CCT lnterfacer3/4. Single or Multiuser/Interrupt driven or polled. Super-slick design handles one serial, one parallel, BOARD software switchable. Also for Zenith and Alpha. Intro Price — $349. ooto. n i.„n*nn FLOPPY SYSTEMS OOT c CCT-2.4 • Dual 8" DSDD CCT-5 • 5 1 /4 M DSDD Mitusbishi 2.4 Megabyte in Extra Heavy horizontal enclosure, IBM Compatible Mitsubishi 360K. 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 Burned-in. Perfect for our Concurrent DOS Package . $399 CCT-8/5 • FULL IBM COMPATIBILITY One Mitsubishi 8" DSDD (1 .2 Meg)/One 5-V4 " DSDD (360K) IBM Drive For Concurrent DOS and PC DOS $1029 * SUPERPRICES * COMPUPRO COMPONENTS* INSTOCK • CPU-Z-$229 • Disk 1A- $399 • Disk 1Aw/CP/M- $499 • CPU 8086/10 -$359 • SPU-Z-? CPU 8085/88 -$229 • CPU 286 -$849 • CPU68K- 10Mhz-$359 Disk 3 -$459 • RAM 22 (256K) - ? • RAM23/64K-$229/128K-$299 SUPER SALE - M-Drive/H - 512K - $399 / 2 Meg - $899 Enclosure 2 Desk - $699/Rack - $749 • Interfacer 3 - $409 • Interfaced -$289 • System Support 1 - $299 Concurrent DOS 8-16 (CCTCMX) - $309 • CP/M 80 (CCFHMX) - $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 $649 D CP/M 8-16 - Kit - $673 CCT-1 - ENTRY LEVEL S-100 BUSINESS SYSTEM Enclosure 2-Desk-21 Slot Mainframe • • CCr-2.4-Dual 8" Mitsubishi • CPU-Z - 6 Mhz Z-80 CPU Board • DSDD Drive System - 2.4 Megabytes • Disk 1A - DMA Floppy Disk Controller • • CP/M 80 - 2.2 HMX - CCT Modified • • RAM 23 - 64K Static RAM - 12Mhz • . A || Cabling, Complete CCT Assembly, • Interfacer 4 - 3 Serial/2 Parallel I/O • Testing, and Minimum 20 Hour Burn-in • RUNS ALL STANDARD 8 " CP/M SOFTWARE - INCLUDES OUR EXCLUSIVE 1 2 MONTH DIRECT WARRANTY SPECIAL PRICE $3,150 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 sell are CCT individually tested and set up for your system - Plug-In & Go! Arizona residents add sales tax CCT© Trademark — Custom Computer Technology; MS-DDS© Trademark — Microsoft; IBM© Trademark — International Business Machines; CompuPro© Trademark — W.J. Godbout; CP/M © MP/M © Trademarks — Digital Research HERCU LES™ Trademark — Hercules Computer Technology Inquiry 93 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 421 Inquiry 342 SUNTROIMICS CO-INC. 12603 Crenshaw Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 1-800-421-5775 (Order Only) (213) 644-1 140 (CA Order & Info ) STORE HOURS Mon Fri 9am to 6 p m Sat 10 a m 10 5 o m TERMS VISA MASTERCARD COD iCashOrCenii.ee) Oecu Requiredi Chech (Anow 2 3 Weeks IBM S App>e SUN-XT COMPUTER (IBM PC/XT COMPATIBLE) D RAM EXPANDABLE TO 640 K D USES MS & PC-DOS OPERATING SYSTEMS □ RUN LOTUS 1-2-3 FLIGHT SIMULATOR SYMPHONY DBASE II & III AUTO CAT, WORD STAR, MULTI PLAN . . . ETC. (DOES NOT RUN PROG. REQUIRE ROM BASIC.) D CPU BOARD W/256 K RAM D COMPUTER CABINET D FULL FUNCTION KEYBOARD D 135 W/POWER SUPPLY D 2 DSDD DISK DRIVES D FDC W/CABLE □ TTL MONITOR (AMBER OR GREEN) D MONOCHROME GRAPHICS CARD W/PARALLEL PRINTER PORT. □ FULLY AST (MEETS FCC CLASS "A" REG. FOR IND. & BUS. USE)^ _ _ _ ^^ only 5895.00 DEALER fiOEM INQUIRES INVITED!! SUN-XT CPU D 8088 CPU [8087 OPTION) D RAM EXPANDABLE TO 840K D FULLY IBM COMPATIBLE D OIMEN8ION SAME A8 IBM PC/XT □ NO RAM INCLUOEO O 8 EXPANSION 8LOT8 S175.00 FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER D STANDARD DOUBLE BIDE DOUBLE OEN8ITY D RUN 2 INTERNAL fi 2 EXTERNAL D WITH CABLE $33. UU IBM STYLE CABINET D 8 BLOT BACK PANEL D COMEB WITH MOUNTING BRACKET fi HARDWARE D FITS IBM POWER SUPPLY $59.00 COLOR GRAPHIC CARD D RGB fi COMPOSITE UIOEO D 840 x 200 HIGH-RES D 320 x 200 LO-RE8 D 80 x 25 TEXTMODE D LIGHT PEN INTERFACE $99.00 HIGH RESOLUTION MONOCHROME MONITOR D 12" AMBER OR GREEN D 1000 LINES AT CENTER D 20MHZ BANOWIOTH D BEPARATE TTL SIGNAL INPUT D OUAL INTENSITY SIGNAL LEVEL D HIGH PERFORMANCE SHARP IMAGES $105.00 MONOCHROME GRAPHIC CARD D HIGH-RE8 CHARACTER D 720(H) x 348(V) D 80 x 25 TEXT MODE D RUN LOTUS 1-2-3 ETC. D WITH PARALLEL PRINTER PORT $120.00 MULTI-FUNCTION BOARD D RAM EXPANDABLE TO 3B4|0 K] D SERIAL/PARALLEL PORT O CLOCK CALENDAR W/BATTERY BACKUP D GAME PORT D SPOOL fi RAM DISK $129.00 MULTI-I/O BOARD D FLDPPYDI8K DRIVE CONTROLLER D PARALLEL PRINTER PORT D SERIAL I/O PORT (OPTION DUAL) D CLOCK CALENOAR W/BATTERY BACKUP D GAMEPORT $149.00 RGB COLOR MONITOR D 14" DISPLAY OB-8 CONNECTOR D 840 x 240 HIGH-RES a 2500 CHARACTERS (80 x 32) D RGB TTL LEVEL, INTENSITY SIGNAL D 0.38 mm OOT PITCH D H-8CANNING 14.5K-17.8KHZ $365.00 FULL FUNCTION KEYBOARD D 83 KEY FULL FUNCTION D POWER, CAPS, NUM LIGHT INDICATOR D MECHANICAL TYPE SWITCH 3 W.TH CABLE $?g QQ 135W POWER SUPPLY $89.00 150W POWER SUPPLY $109.00 6 OUTLET SURGE SUPPRESSOR [MIDLAND ROSS IND.) $14.50 10 MB HARD DISK w/CONT. $450.00 20MB HARD DISK w/CONT $550.00 A8YNC R8232 $59.00 PARALLEL PRINTER CARD $39.00 TEAC 55 BV OR TOSHIBA IMD-04 DISK DRIVE $89.00 HARD DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER (10MB OR 20MB) $159.00 64K RAM KIT (9 EA) S8.50/KIT 25BKRAM KIT (9 EA) S29.00/KIT PARALLEL PRINTER CABLE $15.00 CITIZEN M8P-10 PRINTER $299.00 TOSHIBA 1340 PRINTER $599.00 DSDD 5V« DISKETTE $12.95/per 10 ea EPRQM BLASTER FOR IBM, HIGH SPEED. BURNSIN 45 SEC. PROG. 2716, 32, 64, 12B 5139.00 "= 1-800" !=-=.= 872-4727 PC-256K. 1 10 MB $2,260 00 256K, 1/360 Floppy, 10 MB Hard Disk MONITORS $169°° $159°° $165°° Amdek 310A Taxan 121, Green Taxan 122, Amber TVM MD-3 (Amber, Green, RGB) $449°° COMREX CR6700 (RGB) .$299°° DISK DRIVES INTERNAL HARD DISK (with controller) 10MB Rodime (Compaq Upgrade Kit) $529°° 10MB V2 Height Seagate $395°° 20MB V 2 Height Seagate $495°° External Case $149°° FLOPPY DISK DRIVES V 2 Height Mitsubishi $85°° PC* USA Has It All • Honesty • Price • Service • Delivery 2003 108th St., Suite 301 Grand Prairie, TX 75050 214-641-6953 Metro 647-4008 Texas Wats 1-800-441-0975 National Wats 1-800-872-4727 Business Hours (M - F 9 - 6) CT TELEPHONE SALES ONLY - NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC • MINIMUM ORDER S200 00 lor free delivery • TERMS VISA. MASTERCARD. CASHIERS CHECK. WIRE TRANSFER- (C O D. call lor details) • ALL ITEMS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND PRICE CHANGE • ALL PRODUCTS ARE NEW AND CARRY MFG AND/OR PC'USA WARRANTY PLEASE CALL FOR WORK-ORDER NUMBER BEFORE RETURNING DEFECTIVE MERCHAN- DISE UNAUTHORIZED RETURNS SUBJECT TO A RESTOCKING FEE • ALL SALES ARE FINAL comPAa Portable Hard Disk System 256K 1/360K Floppy, 10 MB Hard Disk $2318°° $435900 \mk (Monitor Extra Systems Include . . . IBM AT and Keyboard, IBM 1.2 Meg Floppy, Panasonic 360K Floppy, Seagate (ST4026) 20 MB Hard Disk (40 MS Access Time) TEAC 20MB Tape Backup $839 PRINTERS EPSON LX 80 . $215°° COMREX CRIV .$499°° EPSON LQ 1500 .$920°° Okidata 192P . . .$369°° COMREX CRII . .$299°° Okidata 193P . . .$499°° CANON LASER BEAM $2495°° 422 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 275 A Happy & Prosperous New Year From Computer Connection For The Best Prices & Service Call (800) 732-0304 PRINTERS STAR MICRONICS SG-10,120cps,2K buffer $ 219 SG-15, 120cps,2K buffer 375 SD-10, 160 cps, 10" carriage , 359 SD-15, 160 cps, Corr. Qual 469 SR-10,200cps, 10" carriage 499 SR-15,200cps,w/tractor 599 SB-10 Draft &NLQ 24 wire printhead . 625 OKIDATA ML182P120cps We ML182IBMGraphicsComp Will ML182S10"Carriage Beat ML192P,160cps all ML192IBMGraphicsComp Pricing ML192S,160cps on ML193P,160cps Oki ML193 IBM Graphics Comp .. . Printers ML193S,160cps with ML84P,200cps or ML84IBM without ML84S,200cps IBM Oklmate20 Rom EPSON LX80, 100 cps, 10" carriage Call FX80 + , 160cps, 10" carriage Us RX100, 100 cps, 15" carriage First FX100+,160cps, 15" carriage For LQ1500 Draft NLQ Lowest SQ2000, All New Prices 'We Are An Authorized Dealer BROTHER HR-25 $ 439 HR-35 649 DYNAX DX15XL,20cps By Brother $ 329 DH-45 Dual Head, LQ & Dot Matrix . . 829 JUKI 6100,L.Q.18cpsw/proportionalspc.$ 349 6300 L.Q. 40 cps 675 TOSHIBA P1340P $ 525 P1340S 525 P351 P/S, Faster and More Versatile 1 145 PANASONIC 1091 wn"ractor,120cps,1yr. war. . .$ 239 1092, 10"carriage, 180 cps 375 1093, 15" carriage, 160 cps 535 HARD DISK DRIVES MICRO-SCI 10 Meg w/cont. formatted for IBM $ 385 20Meg w/cont. formatted for IBM 599 ALPHA OMEGA 10Megw/ControllerCard $ 529 20 Meg w/ControllerCard 629 30Megw/ControllerCard 999 20MegforAT 550 33MegforAT 775 DISK DRIVES TANDON TM100-2forlBMPC $ 89 MITSUBISHI VaHt.360K $ 110 TEAC 55B Double Sided 360K $ 99 Quad Density 159 Drives For Apple & Franklin MICRO-SCI A-2 $ 155 A.5C for lie w/cable . 155 A.5V2 height for ME 115 Controller Add 55 10 meg. w/cont 645 20 meg. w/cont 845 PRINTER ACCESSORIES ORANGE MICRO Grappler + $ 75 Buffered Grappler + , 16K exp.64K . 149 TOSHIBA Bi-DirectionalTrac. 1351/351 . . .$ 149/155 Font Disk for Down loading P1351 . . 50 MICROTEK DumplingGX(sameasGrappler + ) $ 65 Dumpling GXw/16K buffer 119 DumplingGXw/32Kbuffer 129 Additional Buffering 16K 7 FOURTH DIMENSION Par. Card& Cable for Apple $ 49 OKIDATA Plug and Play for IBM $ 49 Tractor for 182 & 192 39 JUKI Bi-Direc,Tractorfor6100/6300 .$ 115/125 Serial interface 65 CABLES IBM PC to Parallel Printer $ 18 Serial Cable 16 Centronics M/M or M/F 16 DISPLAY MONITORS QUADRAM Amber chrome IBM compatible .... $ 169 AMDEK V300G $ 119 V300A 1 25 V310Afor IBM PC 155 Color300 199 Color500 Color Composite 319 Color600 RGB Hi-Res 399 Coior710Super Hi-Res 545 TAXAN IBM Green Monochrome#121 $ 129 IBM Amber Monochrome#122 139 RGB IBM w/Cable#620 389 RGB Super Hi-Res.#640 Best Buy . 489 RGB/#630 389 PRINCETON GRAPHICS HX-12 for use with IBM PC $ 440 Max 12E Amber for IBM 169 SR12SuperHi-Res 575 Scan Doubler 185 QUIMAX PX-4, RGB Hi-Res w/Gr. Text Mode .$ 410 DM-14 Monochrome for IBM 150 m NEW YEAR SPECIALS!! IBM STARTER • IBM PC • 128K -One 360K Disk Drive • Amber Monitor $1750 COMPAQ STARTER • Compaq Port • 256K • One 360K Disk Drive • 10 meg. $2399 IBM PROFESSIONAL COMPAQ PROFESSIONAL • IBM XT • Two 360K Disk Drive • 20 meg. H.D. • 2 Par. & 1 Ser. Port • Clock/Cal. 640K • Taxan # 620. • DOS 3.1 $3099 • Compaq Desk Pro • 640K • One 360K Disk Drive • 20 meg. H.D. • 10 meg Tape B/U Taxan #620 • Par. & Ser. Ports $3185 "THE COMPANY THAT DELIVERS" IBM PC ACCESSORIES IBM IBMDos3.1 $ 65 PARADISE ModularGraphicsCard $ 259 ModuleA 75 ModuleB256Kw/C&C 120 5-Paksameas6Pak-Ser.Port 175 64K MEMORY UPGRADE 64K(9chips)200ns& 150ns $9.99 HEXACE TECHNOLOGIES HI-ResCoiorCardforPC.XT.AT . . .$ 110 QUADRAM QuadColoM Board $ 179 Exp. Quadboardw/64K& Game Port 199 Quadlink3000RunApplesftonlBM 329 VUTEK (2 yr. war.) Vutek - CPS Board, RGB & Composite w/Par. & Ser. Ports, 2 Yr. War $ 189 Color Card (Here, comp.) w/Para. ... 1 50 Monographic Card (Here, comp.) . . . 275 AST RESEARCH SixPak + W/64K& Sidekick $ 215 SixPak+ W/384K& Sidekick 255 Game Port 49 KEYTRONICS KB5151 $ 175 MICROTEK Monochrome Text Par. & Ser $ 169 ColorGraphicsCard 165 TECHMAR Graphics Master $ 449 256K Memory Upgrade 99 APPLE & FRANKLIN ACCESSORIES ACCESSORIES Kensington SystemSaver $ 69 Masterpiece Control Unit 99 MICROTEK Serial Interface $ 75 MICROMAX Viewmax 128K extended 80 col. card forAppleliEw/64K $ 99 80col.cardforApDlell&ii+ 139 ADVANCED LOGIC SYSTEMS Z Engine 2.2 $ 115 80 Col./64K 69 APPLE Super Serial Card $ 139 SMT 64K,80col. Card, 3yr. war $ 49 MICRO-SCI 64K,80Coi.Card $ 79 PERSONAL SYSTEMS APPLE Professional Sys. inch Apple HE w/128K & 80 col., tilt moa, duo disk w/con't kit . $1339 Apple lie Lightweight Portable 789 IBM IBM PC64K, 1 Drive $1460* IBM PC, 2 Drives w/256K 1535* IBMXT,10Meg.,360KDr.w/256K . 2399* IBM XT Bare w/256K & IBM Floppy . 1899* Call About All "AT" Systems 'Call for current IBM prices SANYO MBC 550-2 W/1.320K Drive &sftwr. .$ 750 MBC 555-2 w/2, 320K Drives & more software 899 775 Portable 1795 Serial Port for Sanyo 65 COMPAQ 256K, w/2 -320K Drives $1899 DeskTop Model 1 1649 DeskTop Model 2 1925 DeskTop Model3 Call DeskTop Model4 Call We have "286" Ports. & D.P. in stock WYSE 1100-1 Incl. 256K w/two 360K Drives, 1 par & 2 ser. ports $1399 1 1 00-2 incl. 1 meg, 1 floppy, 256K, 1 par. & 2 ser. ports 2599 *Wyse Monitors & Exp. Chasis Available SOFTWARE LOTUS DEVELOPMENT CORP. Lotus1-2-3 $289 Symphony 420 ASHTON TATE DBase II $ 299 DBase III 389 PRINTER SWITCH BOX EXPONENT CentronicsTwoSwitch $ 60 CentronicsFourSwitch 85 Serial Two Switch 45 Serial Four Switch . 69 MODEMS ANCHOR Volksmodem XII $ 185 Express 1200 255 HAYES MICRO 300BaudSmartModem $ 149 1200 Baud Smart Modem 379 1200BforlBMPCw/SMII 375 2400 Baud Modem 645 Micro Modem ME 149 Chronograph 189 300 For Apple He w/Sftwr Call DISKETTES PC DISKETTES Sgl./Dbl.(Boxof10) $ 13 Dbi./Dbl.(Boxof10) 15 COMPUTER CONNECTION Dbi./Dbl.(Boxof10) $ 16 Sgi./Dbl.w/DiskContainer(10) 15 Dbi./Dbl.w/DiskContainer 17 Bulk50&Up-Dbl./Dbl 1.35ea. We Stock What We Sell! ! IF YOU SEE IT ADVERTISED FOR LESS, CALL COMPUTER CONNECTION FIRST FOR LOWEST QUOTE! MAIL ORDER: 17121 S. Central Avenue, Unit L Carson, California 90746 NO SURCHARGE FOR CREDIT CARDS We accept VISA, MasterCard, COD [w/depositj, Certified Checks or Wire Transfers. Minimum Shipping Charge $4.00. Some items subject to back order. California Res. add GVt% Sales Tax. AM returns are subject to a 15% restocking charge and must be authorized by store manager within 10 days. Prices subject to change without notice. This Ad supersedes all others. ORDER LINE (800) 732-0304 [Outside California] [213] 635-2BD9 [Inside California) Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CUSTOMER SERVICE: [213] 635-5065 Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Inquiry 75 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 423 fci •Quickly shares your computer among multiple terminals, printers, moderns, etc. with just a flick of the wrist. •Compact black & beige aluminum enclosure features a high quality rotary switch with rear mounted connectors. •Serial RS 232 Models have fern. 25-Pin Conn. (Lines 1-7 & 20) PI-02-S switches 2 to 1 S59.95 PI-03-S switches 3 to1 79.95 PI-06-S switches 5 to 1 109.95 •Parallel models have fern. 36-Pin cent. conn. PI-02Pswitches2to1 94.95 Pl-0*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. CflK /—\ 7301 NW 41 St. I /IIMfr MIAM| . FL 33166 I—/ LWI\ (305)592-6092 WAVEFORM SYNTHESIZER • For IBM-PC/XT/AT and compatibles • Generates user-definable signal • Up to 2000 points per envelope $795.00 QUA TECH, INC. 478 E. Exchange St. Akron OH 44304 (216) 434-3154 TLX: 5101012726 ® Inquiry 296 MODULAR DATA ACQUISITION • For IBM & Compatibles • Flexible and Inexpensive • Money Back Guarantee • Free Technical Support Fast Delivery QUA TECH, INC. 478 E. Exchange St. Akron OH 44304 (216)434-3154 TLX: 5101012726 ® Inquiry 297 RS-422 Communications Board • For IBM-PC/AT/XT and compatibles Dual RS-422 serial interface Programmable to 56k baud Differential drivers to 4000 ft. $345.00 QUA TECH, INC. 478 E. Exchange St. Akron OH 44304 (216) 434-3154 TLX: 5101012726 O 64K-128K-256K DRAMS 80287-8 "80287-3 8087-3 "8087-2 8087-1 B I T TN £ R 6L6CTRONICS 899 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY LAGUNA BEACH, CA 92651 (714) 497-6200 CALL NOW FOR FREE CATALOG Inquiry 36 Check your spelling as you type! The Resident Speller™ PC Version • Turn on or off checking with the touch of a key • Add words to alternate list • Works with most word processors • Requires 90K in addition to word processor for 49,000 word dictionary The Resident Speller $99 Demo Disk $ 2 S & K Technology, Dept. G 4610 Spotted Oak Woods San Antonio, TX 78249 512-492-3384 Inquiry 31 1 -* LU -* [Dimensions 6"x4"x3'4" J"^" BI-DIRECTIONALSERIAL'PARALLEL CONUERTER C0NUERT YOUR RS232 SERIAL PORT INTO A CENTRONICS PARALLEL PORT, YOUR PARALLEL PORT INTO A RS232 SERIAL PORT, JUST BY M0UING JUMPERS. NO MORE LIMITATIONS IN YOUR SYSTEM. NOW YOU CAN CONNECT A TERMINAL TO PARALLEL PORT, YOUR PARALLEL PRINTER TO A SERIAL PORT, SERIAL PRINTER TO A PARALLEL PORT, AND MUCH MORE 22. BAUD RATE AND MODE FULLY SELECTABLE. 23 ALL IN ONLY ONE UNIT 22 ORDER TODAY AT INTRODUCTORY PRICE AT: INTECTRA INC. - Department 232 2629 TERMINAL BLU MOUNTAIN UIEW - CA - 94043 (4153 96?-88I8 - TLX 345545 Introductory price $ 79.99 (California residents add 6* tax - Bay area residents add ?x tax] Inquiry 315 Inquiry 298 Inquiry 170 $1149 ■ Two 800K Drives ■ 256K RAM ■ Video RAM Doord ■ Monitor ■ 1 4 Free Software Pockoges ■ 1 Year Warranty and More! The Silver Fox $1149 The Color Fox $1298 The Fox $995 The TurboFox $1499 ■ IBM-PC Compatible ■ 8088-2 CPU ■ 4.77/8MHz ■ Two DSDD Disk Drives ■ 256K RAM ■ Monitor ■ 8 Expansion Slots ■ WordStor. ColcStar ■ MS-DOS 2.1 1.GWBASIC The TurboFox $1499 with 20MB Hard Disk $2099 Zenith Z-148 $1398 ■ Two DSDD Disk Drives ■ 640K RAM ■ Amber Monitor ■ MS-DOS. Fiiebose ■ MyWrite, MyColc, Spell ZenithZ-148 $1398 Two Place Expansion $99 The New ALTOS 2086-2 The high performance Xenix based system for 20 work stations from Altos - a world leader in multi-user systems and software. The 2086-2 features 2 MB of RAM, an 80MB hard disk, a 60MD tape backup and an 80286 CPU. Options include: 1 more user stations, up to 8MB of RAM, up to 1 89MB of hard disk storage and an 80287 co-processor. ALTOS 2086-2 814599 The power of o mini or o fraction of rhe cosr ALSO Altos 9B6-40 S861 9 Altos 586-40 $6989 THE ATARI 520ST ■ Precision Grophics-640x400 resolurion. ■ 5 1 2 Colors with oprions RGB moniror. ■ Parallel and Serial Inrerface Srandard. ■ Double Density Disk Drive Srandard. ■ Two Burton Mouse Srandard. ■ Oprionol 1 MB Hard Drive. CCOO ■ 68000 CPU Archirecture. ■ 5 1 2K RAM Srandard. ^ monochrome monitor ■ 6MHz Clod< Speed. $899 ■ MIDI Inrerface. with RGB monitor PLUS... Word processing, spreadsheet, database and inregrored software is availobe now! Call for pacing and inquire obour rhe norionol 520ST Users Group. OLYIUPIA THE OLYMPI A NP If you're considering the purchase of on Okidoro 1 92 or on Epson FX-85 give us a call before you spend S50 to $ 1 00 more for on inferior prinrer. We'll send you on aciual prinrsomple derailing rhe NP's amazing 17x17 dor matrix and such features as ir's builr-in push rractor, 1 65 CPS speed, low noise level and FX-80 compar- ability rhar make rhe Olympia NP rhe besr value in dor matrix printers for only $285 THE OLYMPIA RO A letter quality doiseywheel prinrer rhe Olympia RO offers a 14" car- riage, 14 CPS prinr speed, Diablo 630 emularion, parallel and serial parrs. All ihis and o builr-in rracror a r only $329 MORE PRINTERS SrarSG-10 $239 Diablo D-25 $549 All Okidoro Call All Epson Call Season's Greetings From \ / / \ Scoffsdale Systems 617 N.Scorrsdale Rood. Suite B, Scorrsdole, Arizona 85257 "■" (602) 941-5856 Call 7-5 Mon.-FrL |\r We participate in arbifrorion for business and customers through The Better ^ f o. ^* Business Bureau of Maricopa County. SINCE 1980 I TELEMARKETING ONLY: If you plan to stop by please phone oheod. Prices listed ore far cosh. P.O's from | Fortune 1200 companies ond universities with good a edit odd 2% / Mostercord and Visoodd 0% /Arizona residents odd 6% sales rax / Shipping extra / AJI items are new whh monufocrurer's wortanty / Returned merchandise subject to 20% restocking fee / Personal or company checks rake up to 3 weeks to cleor / No COD's or APO's. Prices ond specifications subject to change / Product subject to ovoilability. Trademarks: AJros, Altos Computer Systems; Silver Fox, MvWrite and MyColc, Software Toolworks; Apple II r« ond Macintosh w, Apple Computer Inc." Atari im by Atori Corp. HAGEN— DOS, ond Jocklntosh, Scarrsdale Systems. Ltd.; Wordstar and CalcSror, Miaopro International; /V&-DOS, ond Multiplan. Microsoft Corporation; FLEBA5E. EWDP Software. Inc.; dBASE II, Ashfon-Tate: IBM-PC DOS, and IBM-PC. International Business Machines. WE NOW DO SPECIALIZED SERVICE If you own o Sonya 555-2, Silver Fox or any other computer that is our of warranty please contact our Service Deportment. We'll be happy to quote a price for cleaning and adjustment of drives, motherboard repair or general service questions. Well work with you to keep your system olive. TERMINALS Wyse50 $449 QumeQVT101 $298 QumeQVriOIA $325 COLOR MONITOR SALE NEC JC 1460 RGB $298 Taxon420RGB $409 THE BERNOULLI BOX The Half -Heights Are Here! ■ Hard disk copociiy ond performance ■ Removable cartridge economy ■ Cartridge convenience ■ Winchester copocity ■ Unparalleled reliability 10Mb $1859 20 Mb $2499 ljOCDQOSGCDDi] instrument PLOTTERS DMP-29 $1795 DMP-41/42 $2365 DMP-51/52 $3579 PC-695 $629 PC-595 $549 DIGITIZERS DT-1 1 $669 DT-11A $669 REACH OUT AND TEACH SOMEONE THE AMSTRAD128K ■ z-soa cpu ■ Keyboard ■ Monitor (RGB opt.) ■ 3" Disk Drive ■ Cassette Interface ■ Joystick Port ■ Parallel Port ■ CP/M, LOGO, AM-DOS ■ Word Processor ■ Spreadsheet ■ Gomes, Graphics Introduce Your Family To Computing For Only $439 with green monitor Inquiry 3 19 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 427 Erases Most Eproms in 3 Minutes Solid 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 $2 50 AZ RESIDENTS WdLLIMG CO. ADD 6% TAX 440 1 S. JUNIPER • TEMPE. AZ 85282 • (602) 838-1277 fllTmARYfTlAC INDUSTRIES INC 800-231-3680 Radio Shack® Tandy® Epson Printers People you Trust to give you the very best! ' Lowest Discount Prices ► Reliable Service • Quality Products "World's largest independent authorized computer dealer." 22511 Katy Fwy., Katy (Houston) Texas 77450 (713) 392-0747 Telex 774132 double ft* THE OPTION CAPACITY OF YOUR IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER PC-XTRA • DIRECT EXTENSION OF IBM PC BUS • NO SOFTWARE CHANGES • NO HARDWARE MODIFICATION " • STYLING CONSISTENT WITH ISM Add aft !ftos« special options that you've been wanting without worrying about tilling your ptug-ln and back panel space 0**y F.O.B. SANTA ANA — -CALfFOHNIA RESIDENTS ADD 6% SALES TAX P C HORIZONS, INC. 1701 E. Edinger, Ste. A6, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (714) 953-5396 Inquiry 376 Inquiry 226 Inquiry 271 Osborne A s available only! Very limited quantity. Important: Always call to check availa- bility before ordering. To fix yourself, or for parts. Complete, but known not working. Guaranie days. Ma or refurb ding on Exch/ Repair ed for 30 / be new , depen- avail. Outright Main Board OS-1 $79 S79 S139 Main Board Exec. S159 S139 S299 Battery Pack, 40 Watt — $49 iDouble Density Kit "* |** Includes board, cable , docume ntation & S79 I disk 5" CRT iGrn/White) S9.95 S19 $29 7" CRT (Amber) S19 S49 $99 15" CRT, no case $85 Drive Analog Card S9.95 S29 S59 Drive Mechanism S19 S25 $59 Power Supply S4.95 S24 $29 Keyboard (No enclos.) S9.95 — S99 Shipping charged on all orders Computer Parts Mart 415-493-5930 $200 Park Blvd * Palo Alto * CA 9430 Sure tils insured? SAFEWARE® Insurance provides full replacement of hardware, media and purchiised software. As little as $39/yr. covers: • Fire • Theft • Power Surges • Earthquake • Water Damage • Auto Accident For information or immediate coverage call: 1-800-848-3469 In Ohio c all 1-614-262 -0559 v. otfifc«HKL,y SAFEWARE. The Insurance Agency Inc. • Multi-user Database! • Powerful! • Multiple Operating System Compatibility! • Attractive Dealer Pricing! • Full Dealer Support! Dataflex ,- a trademark of Data Access Dealer Inquiries Invited 24000 Telegraph Road Southfield, Michigan 48034 USA 1313) 352-2345 Inquiry 79 Inquiry 316 Inquiry 62 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 P.O. Box 246, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 ELEXOR L Constant Voltage Output with up to 15% DIPs in Line Voltage 1 Spike & surge suppression • Noise suppression 1 Prolongs computer life 150 WATT 000 WATT $59 $99 BASHP150 (Sh. wt. 20 Ibs.) BASHP300 (Sh. wt. 30 Ibs.) ffi DATAGARD SURGE & NOISE SUPPRESSOR .*<*« • 600V spike max. • 6500A spike current max. • 6' line cord • 1 5A circuit breaker $27 .SO 50-99 $25 100 or more BAWBRDG115S(Sh wt 2 lbs. each) 95 r ea. HERCULES Graphics Cords Monochrome Color $339 $179 BAHECGC BAHECCOLOR QUADRAM Quodchrome II • Large 14" high-res. RGB display • 640x240 res. • PC cable included BAQDRQC2 Retail: $599.00 {Shipping weight 30 Ibs.) maxell 0V 2 " Diskettes Single Sided Double Sided $31 $46 BAMXLMFt BAMXLMF2 IRVINE 18241 Mc Durmott, Irvine, CA 92714 (714)660-141 1 EPSON LX90 Dot Matrix Printer with NLQ with FREE Tractor and Interface with IBM-PC Standard Parallel Interlace (Inc. Apple He) BAEPNLX901 BAEPNLX902 YOUR CHOICE: (Shipping weight 18 Ibs.) TST PRIORITY roNEl ELECTRONICS mm inquiry 289 Mal | Yo ur Order To: BS1 21622 Plummer St., Chatsworth, CA 9131 1-9970 RETAIL (816)709-5464 INDUSTRIAL: (616)709-5111 SAN JOSE 452 W. Trimble Rd., San Jose, CA 95131 (406)946-7010 MINIMUM PREPAID ORDER $25.00. Terms U.S. VISA, MC, BAC. Check, Money Order, U.S. Funds ONLY. CA residents add 6%, 6V2%, or 7% Sales Tax, depending on your local rates. Include MINIMUM SHIPPING & HANDLING of $3.00 for the first 3 lbs., plus 50C for each additional pound (25C if within Calif.) Plus 25C per $100.00 value of your order for insurance. Orders over 70 Ibs. 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 January 1986. Credit card orders will be charged appropriate freight. We are not responsible for typographical errors. PRIORITY ONE ELECTRONICS and PRIORITY 1 ELECTRONICS are registered service marks of the Heath Group, Ltd. Zipper 2 1 2A, Zipper 2400, Zipper 1 200B and Zipper Modem are trademarks of the Heath Group, Ltd. |^ ORDER TOLL FREE (800)423-5922 (NOW IN CALIF. TOO!!) MMW NO SHIPPING CHARGES ORDER TOLL-FREE 800-824-3432 CHRISTMAS SPECIALS DRIVES TANDON 100-2 89.99 TANDON 100-4 (96 T.P.I.) 129.99 EPSON HD860 20 MEG. vs HT. HARD DISK WITH CONTROLLER & CABLES 599.99 SYSTEMS BLUEXTRA • PC/XT Compatible • 8 Slot Motherboard • 1-V 2 HT. 360K Floppy • 256K RAM • 135W Power Supply • RunslBMDos2.1or3.1 FULL WARRANTY 699.99 MONITORS Princeton Graphics MAX-12-HI-RES Amber with HI-RES Controller Card 299.99 Princeton Graphics HX-12 RGB with Color Graphics Card 549.99 ADD ON CARDS Multifunction Card w/384K RAM Included. Serial/Parallel Port, Clock/Calendar, Game Port 159.99 NICORN ELECTRONICS " 100l0CanogaAve UnitB-8 Chalsworlh.CA 91311 er S1000 — NosfiiopiigcrtaigesanpfepaKJortHfs — C OD add $3 00 — UPS Bfue add S3 00 — CaM residenls add 6' ,'. sates la» Personal checks he« (or clearance VlSA-MC Inquiry 366 maxell BULK DISKETTES SS/DD $.70 SS/DD $1.70 DS/DD 2.25 Prices based on quantities of 500 Orders shipped within 24 hours C.O.D. 800 222-049C 201- 462-7628 in N.J. P.O. Box 1143 • Freehold, N.J. 07728 Inquiry 230 BBSS IBMPC/VT220 EM220 . V1720.VTI02 emulation $ 149 * ^^ e Transfer • 132 Column modes • Color Support • Hot Key BBSS TEK 4010/4014 EM4010 . Tektronix 4010 emulation $249 * ^7*220, VT102 emulation • Picture files • High resolution hardcopy • Supports IBM, IBM Enhanced, Hercules, Tecmarand AT&T. Diversified Computer Systems, Inc. 3775 Iris Ave. , Suite IB Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 447-925 J Tiudemarks: VTK0 -Digital Equipment ; IBM PC, XT- IBM Corf). Inquiry 111 Robot Experimenter 7 Looking for information on educational and experimental robots? Need a source for robot equipment? Like to know the latest news in this rapidly changing field? Robot Experimenter is the publication for experimental robots. Each issue is loaded with reviews, design ideas, soft- ware projects, and the latest industry news. Write today for a FREE sample issue. Don't let the future happen without you. Robot Experimenter published by Ceargs PO Box 458 Peterborough. NH 03458 603/924-3843 WE CAN MAKE INCOMPATIBLE DATA COMPATIBLE! We can transfer datafiles between different operating systems; convert media (disks and tapes); decode and translate documents between major dedicated word processors and/or major PC software; re-arrange data- base files; transfer texts and re-formulate spreadsheet data. Write or call to discuss your needs, then send a disk or tape sample of your datafile for a com- plimentary translation. CompuData Translators, Inc. 6565 Sunset Blvd., Suite 301 Hollywood, CA 90028 (213) 462-6222 ADAPSO Member FINALLY! Aztec C65 tm joins ProDOS tm with VIX. Develop C programs in ProDOS. Run existing binary programs in ProDOS such as c65, cci, In. mklib and others. System includes: • Standard library written in 6502 assembly. • Advanced screen editor with undelete, auto- indent, word wrap, macros, and more • Source code to entire system except editor. $50 + $3.50 shipping Multitasking 128K version - CALL Create advanced database applications with Tlist. Designed specifically for ProDOS, Tlist uses file caching and balanced binary tree indexes to advance beyond the limitations of ordinary data- base managers Tlist is provided as a library of functions featuring: • Compact variable length record format. • Multiple fields per index key. • Functionto restructure database files without loss of data. Tlist in Aztec C65 object format - S75. + $3.50 Tlist with source and VIX - $350. Eclipse^ Systems T. O . Box 237, Merion, Pa. 19066 (215) 664-2419 Inquiry 309 Inquiry 68 Inquiry 117 DeSmet C Development Package Still $109 "... a stunning amount of bang for the buck" Houston, Brodrick and Kent BYTE Magazine, August 1983 Call to order by VISA, MC, or AMEX (408) 720-9696 or write to us: C Ware Corporation 505 W.Olive, Suite 767 Sunnyvale, CA 94087 We Sell Direct to You IC PROMPT DELIVERY!!! | S SAME DAY SHIPPING (USUALLY) V20 CPUjUPD70108D-8 $16.00 8087-2 Math Coprocessors 1 40 . 00 DYNAMIC RAM 64Kx4 150 ns $" 1 20 ns ; 150 ns J 1 20 ns I 150 ns S 150 ns ROSS 256K 256K 256K 128K 64K 64K 256Kx1 256Kx1 128Kx1 16Kx4 64Kx1 EPROM 27C256 32Kx8 250 ns 27256 32Kx8 250 ns 27C64 8Kx8 200 ns 2764 8Kx8 250 ns STATIC RAM 6264LP-158Kx8 150 ns OPEN 7 DAYS: WE CAN SHI $7.50 4.75 3.75 2.50 $2.99 MasterCard 'VISA or UPS CASH COD n Factory New, Prime Parts ojkoo MICROPROCESSORS UNLIMITED, INC. BBtttSSr A"*) 267-4961 Prices shown above are for Nov. 25, 1985 Pteaso cad tot current prtces Prices suojocl !o diange Please expocf higher or lower prices on some parts due to supply & demand and our changing costs Shfjpmg & msmance oxtia. CM •- ■ " °M CST can usualty be AAver od to you by M nert lu S6 00, or Priority Or* ;.i S13.0O! cr.m m f< F-EXSAT DELIVERY ON ORDERS ' '■ Th StdAr F( POne MAYBE THE ONLY DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE YOU'LL EVER NEED • Table based 8 bit cross-assembler • Tables/Source files included for: 1802 6502 8048 COP400 3870 6801 8051 Z8 8096 6805 8085 Z80 • Modify/Create tables for most 8 bit micros Create your own instruction sets • INTEL, MOTOROLA. TEKTRONIX output formats • Use with any EPROM programmer • 36 page manual, full instructions • Available in the following disk formats: 5" IBM PC PC/MS-DOS 2.0 or greater, compatibles 5" APPLE ll+/lle CP/M-80 (Softcard), compatibles 8" SSSD CP/M-80 (Z80 only) $99 9 *129 9 Credit card orders: Include card no , name on card, expiry date, signature. Nova Scotia residents add 10% sales tax. UNIVERSAL CROSS ASSEMBLERS Inquiry 47 Inquiry 244 Inquiry 368 mm /"7ree digital watch f With the purchase of any floppy* I disk drive in this issue, we'll s include a 7 melody alarm. \ Quartz chronograph, digital \ watch... absolutely FREE ^v (limit one per customer)! MODEMS SMARTEAM»103/212A Fully HAYES compatible 300/1200 baud external modem . . . *184 • HAYES 1200B $ 357 • NOVATION Smartcat 1200 internal $ 333 I llllllllllUUIHIHIHI ACCESSORIES KEYBOARDS FULLY IBMandKEYTRONICS COMPATIBLE • 5150 style $ 78 00 - 5151 style *98 00 PC POWER SUPPLIES 150 WATT . . . $ 99 00 130 WATT *77 00 • MULTITECH multifunction board (ASTsixpack+comp.) . . . *119 45 • ASTsixpack+ *223 00 • AST Advantage 128K *384°° • MULTITECH color board *98 87 • HERCULES color board . . *144 00 • HERCULES graphics board J 287 00 • MULTITECH 384K mem exp. brd. (empty^ *56 00 lll.. U HARD DRIVES COMPLETE INTERNAL SYSTEMS Includes drive, controller card, cables and install procedures, Capacities listed are unformatted. We sell only the finest drives from Seagate. Mitsubishi, Tokico/ Hitachi and others guaranteed to meet or exceed original manufacturer's specifications. ( YOUR CHOICE nes We bought the remaining inventory of two popular printer models from Legend. When they're gone, they're gone!! • MODEL 880 Only 500 available! 80 column, "Square Dot" matrix, 100CPS, Centronics Parallel, friction/ tractor feed. • MODEL 1000 Only 200 available! 80 column, "Copal" mechanism, dot matrix, 100CPS, Cent, parallel, friction/tractor feed. • EPSON LX80 *248 • OKIDATA92P $392 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll DISKETTES • 2 drive PC floppy controller *45 85 • 4 drive PC floppy controller $ 58 50 • Name Brand 1MB 3W $i24 50 • APPLE II Compatible, inc. cable . . . $ 97 75 llllllllllll " "--■——=- 1 1 1 1 1 II I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 II I I I I TTTTTTT COMPONENTS 256K DRAMS Quality Japanese mfg. from companies like HITACHI. TOSHIBA and FUJITSU. Set of 9 150ns $ 26 50 • 64K DRAMSSetof9 150ns. . $ 7 49 • 8087-3 *99 00 • 8087-2 *129 60 • 80287 *178 00 •27128 $ 2*° • 27256 $ 4 50 • 2764 *1 98 • 4128 *2 97 13MB *389 00 25MB *489 00 38MB SEAGATE VOICE COIL . *899 00 51MB SEAGATE VOICE COIL *1098 00 FUJI •SS/DD • DS/DD 48TPI . • DS/DD96TPI . . BOX 10 $ 13 90 .BOX10 $ 18 25 . BOX 10 $ 27 15 NASHUA BULK DS/DD Sold in increments of 50 only, shipped in poly bags, 50 I 100-450 I 500-950 I 1000-4950 I 5000 + .88 .86 .84 .82 .80 NAME BRAND DS/DD Grey Jacket, with reinforced hub. From a well known nationally advertised maker. Sold in increments of 100 only, shipped in poly bags. 100-400 I 500-900 I 1K-4.9K I 5K-9.9K I 10K + .65 .60 .56 .53 .50 MONITORS TATUNG • 14" HI RESR.G.B $44450 • 12" GREEN *115 30 • 12" AMBER *119 75 • AMDEK Color 300 *226 00 • TAXAN 121 Green *136 00 • TAXAN 122 Amber *146 00 :*m WORLDWIDE ACCESS IF YOU DON'T SEE IT, CALLI We have virtually any product available at the best pricing. Space limits us to only a Everybody hates us but our customers. ||Mfi^[ ifl anSTeh^nC^ us for a quote we don't have it, 6311-L DeSoto, WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91367 HOURS: 8:30 AM-5:30PM PACIFIC TIME. MONDAY-FRIDAY Vfeature BIG disks for Ul Utiles User-Transparent Security Features Included. Golden Bow Systems S80 - S120 Add S3 lot snipping/ handling California residents add 6%sa!estax. *%-C 619/2E p ^V PO Bo*3< I A L San Die °°' 619/298-9349 .3039 CA 92103 System 501: $1975 DATA ACQUISITION & CONTROL Call or write for FREE brochure KEITH LEY Keithley Data Acquisition and Control, Inc. 28775 Aurora Road Cleveland, Ohio 44139 (216) 248-0400 Telex: 98-5469 BULK DISKETTES BY- NASHUA $175 each gt> loo 5Vj' DS/DD with hub ring and Tyvek sleeve, bulk packaged, no labels, factory warranted Shipping extra For quantity 50. add 10c each Get the same low price our high-volume duplication customers get! CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-321-4668 in Colora MASTERCA ALF n Colorado, 303-234-0871 MSA. MASTERCARD, OR COD ACCEPTED 1315-F Nelson St Denver. CO 80215 Inquiry 146 Inquiry 191 8051/52 DEVELOPMENT BOARD 8051 -Based Single-Board Computer with Monitor/Debugger p 4 28-pin byte-wide sockets; monitor will program EEPROMS. ■Perfect for System Development and Educational Applications a 5255 Binary Technology, Inc. . MERIDEN. NH 03770 CI RCl 1 T DESIGN TOOLS <►- _y "\ - FOR PC'S y, A Si \ A 4- ■ i i r* ■■■■■ 1™ f ™ ff rT MTni 1™I ^*1 1 HERCULES COMPATIBLE Color Graphics w/Parallel Port 2 Yr. War. $104.95 Monochrome Graphics w/Par Port 119.95 EVEREX The Edge Color/Mono $289.95 Graphics Edge 289.95 IBM IBM Monochrome w/Parallel Port $219.95 IBM Color Card w/Parallel Port 214.95 PARADISE Modular Graphics Card $259.95 SIGMA Color 400 Board $539.95 50 Sets •Due 128 Nine, 4128 25 Sets 8 5MHZ Ma fo j 64K SETS* All Upgrades Carry a 2 Year Warranty Nine 4164, 200ns $7.95 $6.54 ea. 150ns Sets to Semi Conductor Market Call for Current P K SETS 256 K S $39.95 9, 41256, 200ns 32.95 ea. 25 Sets 80287 5MHZ lor AT & Deskpro {189.95 087-3 8087- th Co-Processor 8MHZ Math Co r IBMPC for AT&T, Compa 5109.95 $124.9 $8.00 rices ETS $28.95 27.95 ea. 2 •Processor q, Deskpro [ HrlffitylQNSWS AMDEK COLOR COMPOSITE • Works w/IBM Apple and Commodore $159.95 AMDEK 300G Composite Green $124.95 300A Composite Amber 134.95 310A Monochrome Amber 159.95 TAXAN Call For Lowest Prices SAKATA SC-100 Color Composite 13" 280x300 $179.95 SC-150 Color Composite or RGB 640 x 200 w/Text Switch 379.95 SC-200, 640x240 Dot Pitch .39 399.95 SC-300P, 800x400 Dot Pitch .31 599.95 PRINCETON GRAPHICS HX12, 640x200 Dot Pitch .31 HX12E, 640x350 Dot Pitch .28 SR12, 640x400 Dot Pitch .31 SR12P, 640x480 Dot Pitch .26 HX-9, 640x350 Dot Pitch .28 MAX12E, 720x350 $442.95 517.95 573.95 787.95 432.95 169.95 DIVERSIFIED GROUP 100 Hi-Res Green 18MHZ Composit 80 col. $ 79.95 100 Hi-Res Amber 18MHZ Compos. 80 col. 89.95 200 Hi-Res Green 20MHZ Mono. 80 col. 89.95 200 Hi-Res Amber 20MHZ Mono. 80 col. 99.95 DG Monitors come with 1 Year Warranty ■nri iiM iar :inri jmm ii I! n it ll i^VTI 5Va" POLAROID DISKS • 10 Diskettes • Reinforced Hub • w/Free Library Case $12.95 /l-fl SWITCH BOXES Parallel 2 pos. $54.95 Serial 2 pos. $64.95 DISKETTES Polaroid Dbi/Dbl 5 Year Warranty 1 bx. $12.95 10 bxs. $11.95 100 bxs. $9.95 KEYTRONICS KEYBOARDS 5153 Touch Pad $289.95 5150 Standard $169.95 5151 Deluxe $179.95 BELKIN CABLES IBMPC to Par. 6 foot Shielded $14.95 IBMPC to Modem$16.95 The Diversified Group Inquiry 428 TOLL FREE ORDER LINE (800) 523-1041 INSIDE CALIFORNIA (213) 675-0717 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 439 nflflffliiai Sampler (135) and/or Professional Systems (from J 175) for , . Apple ProDos Amiga Micro VAX Macintosh IBM PC/AT DFC Falcon UNIFORTH is a full-featured, floating-point, FORTH-83 Standard language available for most micro and mint computers Call or write for our free catalog or use our Bulletin Board (614-459-7736, 300/1200 Baud) f ormoredetailed Information UNIFIED SOFTWARE SYSTEMS P Box 2 1 294, Columbus, OH 43221 -0294 (614)459-7735 RPPLE I I " I/O ROBOTIC CONTROLLER LIE KNEUI THE TRUE ENTHUSIAST MOULD Ft MO THIS ARTICLE WAV BACK HEAE IN THE BACK OF BYTE THE BUKOUISKI ROBOTICS UIP CAAD IS A LOUI COST APPLE COMPATIBLE ROBOTICS CONTROLLER CAAD THAT NAV BE USED STANO ALONE, OA I N AN APPLE SLOT AS AN INTELLIGENT PEAIPHEAAL CARD THE CAAD FEATUAES AN ONBOAAD 65C02 MICROPROCESSOR, UP TO 48 I/O LINES, 2 TIMERS. AND BK NON UOLATlLE RRM SHIPPEO WITH TONS OF SOFTWARE RND SUPPORT . $129 00 BUKOUSKI ROBOTICS 1555 U UNIUERSITV "105 TEMPE AZ 85281 < 602) 966-6230 Software for Engineers Electronic Circuit Analysis • Nonlinear transient, DC, AC analysis • Worst Case, Monte-Carlo • Frequency, time dependent parts $450 Logic Simulation System • Full delay analysis (min, max, typical, load dependent) • Ability to save simulation results __ $395. Both have: • Built in editor, fully interactive • Macros (unlimited) • Large circuits For MS-DOS, 192k minimum Tatum Labs 33 Main Street Newtown, CT 06470 (203) 426-2184 Inquiry 367 Inquiry 426 Inquiry 427 VT100$150 * plus your PC, jr, XT, AT or compatible ZSTEMpc-vT100 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 and KERMIT Full keyboard softkeys/MACROS Speeds to 38.4KB. High Throughput Color/graphics, monochrome & EGA support International Font Support • DOS Access ZSTEMpc-VT1 00 S150. ZSTEMpc-D200 S125. 4010/4014 Option S99 30 day money back guarantee. MC/VISA. KEA SYSTEMS LTD. #412 - 2150 W. Broadway Vancouver, B.C. CANADA V6K 4L9 Support (604) 732-7411 TELEX 04-352858 VCR Order Toll Free (800) 663-8702 Zstem by ICTcA PC EXPANSIONS AST SixPakPlus (64k) $229 SixPakPlus (384k) $259 MegaPlus (64k) $269 Advantage (1 28k) $409 Advantage (1.5M) $569 I/O Plus $129 PCnet - starter kit $809 Ouadboard (64k) $193 Quadboard (384k) $229 Quadmeg-AT(128k $319 Quadmeg-AT (2M) $529 Quadport-AT $1 05 HERCULES graphics board $319 ColorCardwith PP $159 HAYES Modems: 2400 $call Smartmodem 1 200 $409 Smartmodem 1 200B $379 Set of 9 chips (64k $6 256k chips (each) $3 8087 chip $119 Maynard Disk Controller $100 Sandstar Series $call Internal Hard Disks from $609 MaynStream tape backup from. . . $979 Oume 142A $99 Teac FD55B $99 Tandon TM1 00-2 $109 CDC 9409 $119 Verbatim Datalif e disks (10) $20 VLM Computer Electronics 10 Park Place • Morristown, NJ 07960 (201) 267-3268 Visa. MC. Check or COD. Serial 4 ■ ■ ■ IH ■ ■ ■ ^ Parallel Convert What You Have To What You Want! • RS232 Serial • 8 Baud Rates • Latched Outputs • Centronics Parallel ' Handshake Signals * Compact 3'/. x 4S x VA 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 In 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! onl y *89. 95 Connector Option J10.00 CA Residents 8% tax UPS Shlpplnrj M 00 AmErtronlcB 2734-C Johnson Dr. Post Olfice Box 3717 Veniura, California 93006 c© CALL (805) 658-7466 or 658-7467 For FAST Delivery " Inquiry 393 Inquiry 353 DATA ACQUISITION and control for ANY computer The Model 1232 communicates via RS-232. and has 8 analog inputs ( ± 4 VDC; 1 2 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 617-237-5514 or write: STARBUCK w w DATA COMPANY "T" "T" *¥ 2 Mica Lane, Wellesley, MA 02181 TIME SAVING - MONEY SAVING PRINTER BUFFER SPOOL-Z-Q PIUS k a parallel prbiliT huder which vwrks will) any ( >.ir,illel printer .Hid frees up ytHir computer (or productuv use while printing. WiY hiish capacity (U8K tu 512KI and full finit" •iji.uc .mil null tli.ir.icri >r t omprcssion me. ins tlul Spool-Z Q Plus is re.tdy to uWi- on the rc.illy hi* jol>s A specr.il Pauseoiv hirmlcrcl le.ilure allows printing sinftk 1 sheets from the hulit-r. Spool-ZQ I'lus also I). is Copy. Clor. jnd St-If-Tesl furu lions butll in. Supplied Complete will) UL/CSA listed power supply, the Spool-Z (} I'lws duller is easy lo mst.ill and use. Alt models jre userexp.ind.ihlc lo 5I2K ,il jiiy tinu'liy |usl liluKKiin; in standard ■>5(>K RAM chips Spool Z-Q Plus is the professional's (hone, for si«?. (eatures, .lf«l |>r.V«:. (Without Cable) 128K-S279 256K-$309 512K-$369 (Including Cable) 12«K-$J09 256K-S339 512K-S399 SPOOL-Z.Q BLUE PLUG IN PRINTER BUFFER FOR THE IBM PC ,»ldc»mpa(i- hie computers IS A GENUINE HARDWARE PRINTER BUFFER. NCJT A SPOOLER. I'.ir.illt'l only K to I.024K are available. Spool-Z-Q Blue replaces the parallel printer tatd in the PC (May be LIM), 1, or i). Many, many advanced features. Call Of write lor lull detail*. Prices start ,« $3!'.) (Parallel only! .md S l'?9 IScrial Capable!. Av.itl.ible from dealers or direct from us. We accepi M/C. VISA. AMEX or COO orders No charge for shipping or COD 15 day trial period (no-hassle relund fjolicyl on all products. CA residents — 6% tax. Jotectrontes DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED. O.E.M.S - We can modify our 1601 Fulton Ave.,Suite 10A buffers to meet your special Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 483-0709 Maxell Floppy Disks The Mini-Disks with maximum quality. ! Dealer inquiries invited. GO.D's accepted. Call FREE (800) 235-4137. PACIFIC EXCHANGES 100 Foothill Blvd.. San Luis San Luis Obispo. CA 93401. InCal. call (800) 592-5935 or {805)543-1037. Inquiry 3 37 Inquiry 189 Inquiry 272 TAKE THE D & D CHALLENGE! CAN YOU FIND A BETTER PRICE? SPECIAL #1 CORONA PORTABLE • 256K • 2 Drives • Monitor • Keyboard • DOS $1195 All Sales Are Warranteed for 90 Days, Parts & Labor WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL! MAIL ORDER AND SAVE ORDER TOLL FREE (800) 621-0849 ext. 446 SPECIAL #2 IBM XT 256K • One 360K Drive • One 20 MG Hard Disk • Keyboard • Controllers $2295 SYSTEMS IBM PC 256K, 1 Drive $1495 PC 256K, 2 Drives 1529 XT 256K, 1 Drive 1879 XT 256K, 1 Drive 1-10 MG 2229 AT & T Call for best price COMPAQ Portable, 2 Drives, 256K . . $1875 Call on Desk Pro's CORONA Portable $1195 Desk Top, 2 Drives, 256K w/monitor 1399 ZENITH Call for best price MODEMS HAYES Micromodem HE $149 300 149 1200 389 1200B IBM Internal 359 2400 External 639 PROMETHEUS Promodem 1200 $279 Promodem 1200A 289 Promodem 1200B 269 Promodem 1200MAC Call ANCHOR Express . .$219 PRINTERS EPSON Call for Best Pricing OKIDATA 182, 120 cps $218 183, 120 cps 418 192, 160 cps, IBM 348 193, 160 cps, IBM 498 84, 200 cps, IBM 658 OKI-MATE 20, Color 118 TOSHIBA P1351 Call P1340 $ 519 P351 1029 STARMICRONICS SG10/15 $219/389 SD10/15 355/469 SR10/15 Call CITIZEN MSP-10 $249 MSP-15 369 MSP-20 399 MSP-25 539 DISKETTES Call for quantity discounts PRECISION COPY SS 100 (Box of 10) $12 DS 100 (Box of 10 15 DYSAN SS 100 (Box of 10 $30 DS 100 (Box of 10) 34 MAJOR BRAND DS/DD Bulk Disks as low as . . . .69C ea. IBM EXTRAS We carry almost everything for PC, AT or XT Name Brands or Generic AST RESEARCH PC Net II $519 SixPak + , 64K w/Side Kick . 209 Reach wCrosstalk 329 Preview Mono Card 239 Advantage wl28K 399 D & D MEMORY CARD MF-100 + , 64K same as SixPak + $119 HERCULES Color Card w/Printer Port . .$149 Mono Graphics Card 305 GOODIES IBM Printer Cable $15 64K Ram Set of Nine Chips . 8 256K Ram Set of Nine Chips 29 Power Supply 135 Watts 79 8087 CoProcessor Call for Best Price DOS 2.1 55 DOS 3.1 64 MONITORS PRINCETON GRAPHICS Max 12E $159 HX-9 Call HX-12 429 SR-12 569 Doubler Card 179 THOMSON Color Monitor $329 Monochrome Monitor 169 AMDEK 310A 600.. 722.. .$148 . 419 . 525 DRIVES IBM COMPATIBLE Teac 55B $90 Mitsubishi 4851 89 Tandon TM 100-2 89 In quantities of 2 or more TEAC 55B, 360K $ 94 55GF, 1.2MG for AT 149 WELTEC AT Compatible 360K $109 IRWIN 10 MG Tape Backup . . .$479 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE 5Vi" 525A for He and 11+ $109 525CforIIc 119 350M for Mac Call BUILD YOUR OWN P.C. 640K Mother Board w/8 Slots $179 Flip Top Case w/speaker ... 59 Disk Controller 49 Color Card 99 Monochrome Card 129 5151 Keyboard 99 Dual Drive Kit 189 135 Watt Power Supply 79 WE OFFER VOLUME DISCOUNTS! MAKE THAT CALL (800) 621-0849 ext. 446 SPECIAL #3 IBM PC • Two V2 Ht 360K Drives 256K • 10 MG Hard Disk Drive • 120 Day Warranty $1929 SPECIAL #4 MULTIFUNC. CARD FOR IBM • Serial and Parallel Ports • Clock/Gameport • Ram disk/ Printer spool, Software • 1 yr. War. w/384K only $139 SPECIAL #5 INTERNAL HARD DISK FOR IBM • Seagate w/IBM Controller 10 Meg 20 Meg $419 $519 SPECIAL #6 IBM PC/XT COMPATIBLE • Two 360K V2 Ht Drives • 256K • 8 Slots • 135 Watts • 120 Day Warranty $569 6 6 Di/counl Computer/ SELLING TO YOU SINCE 1978 MAIL ORDER: 13324 HAWTHORNE BLVD., SUITE 201 HAWTHORNE, CA 90250 ORDER DESK: Inside California (213) 970-0206 Outside California (800) 621-0849 x446 Hours: Monday— Friday 8 am to 6 pm Open Saturdays WE CARRY TOO MANY ITEMS TO LIST, PLEASE CALL FOR A QUOTE ON ANY ITEM. jfflft No Surcharge for Credit Cards Terms:All merchandise new. We accept MC, Visa, Wire Transfer, C.O.D. (call), Certified Check. P.O/s from qualified firms. Shipping: minimum $4.00 first 5 pounds. Tax: California residents only add G/2% salestax. All returns subject to 15% restock fee. Prices Subject to Change. Inquiry 98 JANUARY 1986 'BYTE 441 KODAK DISKETTES: Discover the future today! 'Kodak H Ml M M KODAK- THE NAME SAYS IT ALL. Take a Century of experience in coating products like photo film, add two brand- new state-of-the-art plants for manufactur- ing diskettes and you have something new: KODAK diskettes, a taste of the future. Kodak spends more than three million dollars a day in research and development. They have more than 120,000 employees and manufacture and market more than 30,000 products. But George Eastman said it best: George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak and the man who made it possible for everyone to have a family album ex- pressed Kodak's philosophy almost a cen- tury ago: make "good goods!" That's why we're so pleased to add KODAK diskettes to our line. Great quality, great value! For those of you who want a "brand name" diskette with top-of-the-line quali- ty... without paying through the nose, the choice is simple: KODAK. Of course, there's a LIFETIME WARRANTY! Except as noted, all KODAK diskettes are packed in boxes of ten with Tyvec sleeves, user ID labels and write-protect tabs. Bulk packed diskettes are labelled as KODAK diskettes and are packed in 4 bundles of 25 diskettes with Tyvec sleeves, user ID labels and write-protect tabs. Qty. Qty. Qty. 20-40 60+ 100 5.25" SSDD.... $1.11 ea. $1.01 ea. 5.25" DSDD.... $1.46 ea. $1.33 ea. 5.25"DSDD-HD $3.47 ea. $3.15 ea. 3.5" KODAK DISKETTES 3. 50" SSDD... $2.06 ea. $1.87 ea. 3.50" DSDD .... $2.73 ea. $2.48 ea. KODAK LABELLED BULK DISKETTES 5.25" SSDD in package of 1 00 $ .93 5.25" DSDD in package of 100 $1.24 for orders only: information & 1-800-621-6827 inquiries: (In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140) 1-312-256-7140 HOURS: 8AM-5PM Central Time. Monday-Friday WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES! DISK WORLD!. Inc. 629 Green Bay Road • Wilmette, Illinois 60091 FANTASTIC LOW PRICES ON BASF Ltir»ni/: DISKETTES! LIFETIME WARRANTY! Buy in bulk and save. 150 to the carton with envelopes, write- protect tabs and user ID labels. Boxed product is the same, except in cardboard boxes of 10. Qty. 50 Qty. 150 5.25" SSDD 83 ea. .80 ea. 5.25" DSDD .94 ea. .92 ea. 5.25" DSDD-HD 2.13 ea. N/A 5.25"SSDD-96TPI .94 ea. N/A 5.25' DSDD-96TPI 1.06 ea. N/A 3.50SSDD-135TPI 1.84 ea. 1.68 ea. 3.50DSDD-135TPI 2.40 ea. 2.28 ea. NOTE: 3.50" diskettes in Quantity 50 are packed in plastic library cases. That's why they seem to be a better buy. But there are only 5 diskettes to a case. . .so the bulk diskettes are really a better deal, unless you like expensive little library cases. for orders only: information & 1-800-621-6827 inquiries: (In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140) 1-312-256-7140 HOURS: 8AM-6PM Central Time, Monday-Friday WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES! DISK WORLD! Authorized Reseller Information Processing ■■ D ASF 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 MASTER- CARD accepted. COD Orders: Add additional $5.00Special Han- dling charge. APO, 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 7% sales tax. Prices subject to change without notice. This ad supercedes all other ads Not responsible for typographical errors. minimum total order: $35.00 for orders only: information & 1-800-621-6827 inquiries: (In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140) 1-312-256-7140 HOURS: 8AM-6PM Central Time Monday-Friday WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES! DISK WORLD!. Inc. 629 GreenBayRoad • Wilmette. Illinois 60091 DISK WORLD! ATHANA DISKETTES The great unknown! UU Qty 50 sir dsdd- I *T Qt y- 50 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. L FET ME WARRANTY SOFT SECTOR ONLY! Sold in multiples of 50 only. for orders only: information & 1-800-621-6827 inquiries: (In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140) 1-312-256-7140 HOURS': 8 AM-6PM Central Time. Monday-Friday WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES! DISK WORLD!, Inc. 629 Green Bay Road • Wilmette. Illinois 60091 All 3M diskettes are factory packed in boxes of 10 and come with Tyvec sleeves, user ID labels and write-protect tabs. 5.25" SSDD 5.25" DSDD 5.25" SSDD-96TPI 5.25" DSDD 5.25" DSDD-HD 3.50" SSDD 3.50" DSDD 3M DATA CARTRIDGES (Sold 10 to a carton only.) (Add 55.00 shipping charges for cartridges') DC1000 $12.43 ea. DC300XLP $19.09 ea. DC600A $20.30 ea. Qty. 20-40 Qty. 50+ S1.20 ea. S1.09 ea $1.70 ea. S1.54 ea $2.18 ea. 51.98 ea $2.73 ea. S2.48 ea $3.45 ea. S3.14ea $2.18 ea. S1.98 ea S3.09 ea. S2.81 ea DISK WORLD! Authortzsd Distributor Information Processing Products 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 . . $2.70 ea. + 25c Shpng. Epson MX-100 . . . $4.08 ea. + 25C Shpng. Okidata Micro83. . $1.37 ea. + 25C Shpng. Okidata Micro84 . . $2.98 ea. + 250 Shpng. for orders only: information & 1-800-621-6827 inquiries: (In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140) 1-312-256-7140 HOURS: 8AM-6PM CentralTime. Monday-Friday WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES! DISK WORLD!, Inc. 629 Green BayRoad • Wilmette, Illinois 60091 DISK WORLD! DISKETTE STORAGE CASES AMARAY MEDIA-MATE 50: A REVOLUTION ^^ IN DISKETTE STORAGE ^P^. ^ Every once in a while, someone takes the ^Hm+* s«mple and makes it elegant' This unit holds ^^ ■ 50 5'A" diskettes, has grooves for easy .._r stacking, inside nipples to keep diskettes from slipping and severa' other features. We like it! CO £0 + $2.00 ^J.Uj ea. Shpng. DISKETTE 70 STORAGE: STILL A GREAT BUY. S^^gf Oust-free storage for 70 5'A" diskettes. :^BH. Six dividers included. An excellent value. *C * VDISK CADDIES $9-95 Shpng DISK CADDIES The original flip-up holder for 10 5 1 /<" "diskettes. Beige or grey only. J ■< CC + 20C Shpng for orders only: information & 1-800-621-6827 inquiries: (In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140) 1-312-256-7140 HOURS: 8AM-6PM Central Time. Monday-Friday WE WILL BEAT ANY NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE ON THE SAME PRODUCTS AND QUANTITIES! DISK WORLD!, Inc. 629 Green Bay Road • Wilmette. Illinois 60091 DISK WORLD! ATHANA Authorized Distributor MAGNETIC MEDIA DISK WORLD! The value leader in Computersupptles And accessories. 442 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 Inquiry 1 09 What the world really needs is a 69 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 adver- tising, 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 IBM diskettes, for example, are one of these. SoarelBM 5 1 /4" diskettes. Same forDYSAN.Polaroidand 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 manu- facture 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. FRAUD ALERT! Please be careful! Alotof the "no-name" diskettes flooding the market at prices of lessthan $1.00 are whatwe in the industry call "floor sweepings." In other words, they're garbage. . .stuff that six months ago, no self-respecting manufac- turer would have sold. But times got tough and some people's scruples got a little lost indesperation. . .and so a lot of computer usersare getting some really bad disks. . .and that isn't bargain at all. So, when the price seems too good to be Jrue. . like 39 cents, be careful... very careful! HOURS: Human: 8AM-6PM Central Time, Monday through Friday 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 advertis- ing 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 tothe 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 manu- facturer 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 copy- protecting their originals') HOW TO ORDER: ORDERS ONLY: 1-800-621-6827 (In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140) INQUIRIES: 1-312-256-7140 FOR FASTEST SERVICE, USE NO-COST MCI MAIL: Our address is DISKORDER. It's a FREE MCI MAIL letter. No charge to you. (Situation permitting, we'll ship these orders in 24 hours or less.) SHIPPING: 5'A" & Vh" 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 0R- OERS: Add additional $5.00 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 ship only to United States addresses, except for those listed above. TAXES: Illinois residents, add 7% sales tax. MINIMUM ORDER: $35.00. DISK WORLD!, INC. 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 Pago- Pago 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 buytherealMcCoy, the samediskette that major software publishers, computer manufacturers and diskette marketers buy... and call their own. We simply charge less. Super Special! Store 75 diskettes for only $5.95! Yep. that's right: order 50 Super Stardiskettes.addS5.95 and we'll include a Media Prod- ucts DISK MINDER II. ..a well made unit thatwe're impressed with. It holds 75 diskettes securely and looks nice too! 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 expla- nation of the problem, and we'll send you the replace- ments. (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. 629 Green Bay Road Wilmette, Illinois 60091 Inquiry 109 JANUARY 1 986 • BYTE 443 TM ESTABLISHED 1977 ORDERS 800-528-3136 TECH. SALES/CUST. SERVICE 602-991-7870 TELEX 165025 FTCC SEC PHX "2 "to 0> w 03 O CD sz £ -o ■o < C/} Ui QC a. 2 QC Ul ■*-* Q. 0) O O < o z ui H O z ui en < Ui Computer Systems VIASYN 816/286-H40 W/256K SPUZ & .5MDrv/H. $$SPECIAL... TOO LOW TO ADVERTISE!!! VIASYN 816/C2 w/80286, 512K RAM, SPUZ-256, 40Mb H.D., 10Mb Tape, 5Vi" 96TPI FLPY. CDOS 816/286, NewWord & Supercalc II REDUCEDII $6,779 VIASYN CORE SYSTEM w/256K RAM, l/F-4, Syst. Supp. 1, ENCL. 2D, Disk 1A, Disk 3.5'A"FLPY, & 10Mb H.D. Add Your Choice of CPU & Oper. Sys. . . . $3,949 VIASYN 816/10-H40 w/Tape & 1Mb MDrv $6,377 CALI/FOR OTHER SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS MORROW PIVOT II Portable CALL data systems PC COMPATIBLE & FASTER TOO! ZENITH Z-15B PC-DESK TOP SYSTEM: 256K RAM. 2 DSDD FLPY DRIVES, Serial. Paral. Monochrome & Color Composites RGB Colo/ Ports, & MS-DOSw/4.77 & 8 MHZ CPU Clock Rates. G or A Monitor . . . $1,895 Z158 Wl 2 FLPY & 20Mb H.D. DRVS $2,459 Z158 Wl 2 FLPY & 40Mb H.D. DRVS $2,798 Vi HT 10Mb TAPE OPTION ..... ...-;. $425 Z-148 PC W/256K, 2 FLPYS, MS-DOS, 4.77 & 8MH2, Serial & Parallel Ports. Amber Monitor $1,219 Z-138 PCTRANSPORTABLE 24 Lbs.320K. Dual FLPYS. 7" Amber Screen, MS-DOS. 4.77 & 8MHz. Serial & Parallel Ports , $1,499 Z-171 Lap-Top Portable, Dual Drvs.. 640K, MS-DOS Battery. Padded Carrying Case. Video RGB & CMPST., Hayes Compatible 300/1200 Baud Modem $2,739 S AATARf "JACKINTOSCH 520 ST FREE PRINTER! COLOR SYSTEM 32/16 BIT 68000 CPU. 512K RAM, 500K DRIVE. 4 COLOR GRAPHICS 640X200 RES., MENU DU MOUSE. TOS, BASICS LOGO SOFTWARE. MUSIC GENERATOR, PARA.. SERIAL & JOYSTICK PORTS, CLOCK & TERMINAL EMULATOR $999.95 JACKINTOSCH 520ST Monochrome 640x400 $799.95 ATARI COMMUNICATIONS PACKAGE BY S-100: PROMETHEUS 1200 MODEM, CABLE, & CHAT SOFTWARE RETAILS FOR $545, NOW $329 Diagnostic-Keyboards-Voice DATACOM TRI-STA TE RS232 V.24 Break-out Box$189 DYSAN DISK DRIVE INTERROGATOR $115 DYSAN ODD Digital Diagnostic Disk . SS $30,DS $40 DYSAN AAD Analog Alignment Disk.. SS $25,DS $50 RID DYMEK FLPY DRV. DIAGNOSTIC DISKETTE $29 FLUKE 77 DVM with Holster $129 KEYTRONICS 5750/5 151/5153 $169/$179/$299 VOTRAX PERSONAL SPEECH S YSTEM $295 Floppy Disk Drives MITSUBISHI 2B94 STD / 2896 V? HT 8" .... $395/$369 MITSUBISHI 4853 I TEAC FD55F 96TPI .... $119/$99 TANDON TM 100-2A $115 TEAC FD55B & MITSUBISHI 4851 48 TPI $88 Computer Accessories CA P75 Expandable 5 Circuit Monitor Base with Modem Protection & Surge/Noise $99 CA P150.P151.P152.P15 with ABC Data Switch . . $209 CA C1-6 6' IBM-Paral. CBL ...(1-9) $9.50, (10+) $8.80 CA C1-9 9' IBM-Paral. CBL (1-9) $11.95, (10+) $11.00 CA C200 SERIES Premium Molded RS232 Cables .... , (1-9) $18.98 TO $28.47, (10+) $11.86 TO $27.05 CA C300 SERIES Premium Molded Parallel Cables ... (1-9) $19.98 TO $45.57, (10+) $18.98 TO $43.29 CA C400 VIDEO CABLES (1-9) $2.48 TO $21.29, (10+) $2.36 TO $18.10 CA C500 SERIES Cable Extender Packs w/ MON. PWR, VIDEO & KEYBD. CBLS ... (1-9) $29.98, (10+) $28.48 CA S4 4 Circuit Surge Supp.(1-9) $26.47, (10+)$25.15 CA S6 6 Circuits Surge & Cable Storage (1-9) $31.77, (10+) $30.18 Monitor Tilt & Swivel Stand (1-9) $12.95, (10+) $10.95 Hard Disk/Tape Subsystems AT-INSIDER. PC-INSIDER. PC-OUTSIDER HARD DISK SERIES FOR IBM. BOOTS FROM HARD DISK, FORMATTED Wl CONTROLLER & ALL NECESSARY CABLES. HARDWARE & P/S or PC STYLE CABINET. PC-INSIDER-33 33Mb Formatted $929 PC-OUTSIDER-33 W/T 33Mb & 10Mb Tape . . . $1,599 PC-INSIDER-72 72Mb Formatted $2,385 PC-OUTSIDER-72 W/T 72Mb & 60Mb Tape . . . $3,166 PC-INSIDER-116 116Mb Formatted $4,175 PC-OUTSIDER-116 W/T 116Mb & 60Mb Tape . $5,415 AT-INSIDER-33 33Mb Formatted $995 AT-INSIDER-66 66Mb Formatted $1,649 AT-INSIDER-f20 120Mb Formatted $3,895 TECMAR QIC60 TAPE For PC"S $1,299 TECMAR QIC60 HOST l/F Board $109 WANGTEK PC-36 60Mb TAPE Internal Same As TECMAR $1,199 CALL For DLR &/or QTY. PRICES on HARD DISKS: OUflflTUm 0540 40Mb REDUCEDII $1,138 Mitsubishi Mspgor Seagate MICROPOLIS MiniScribc Amcodyne S-100 BUS SYBSYSTEMS Supporting Turbodos. Concur. Dos. CP/M 80 & 816 Operating SystemsCALL DRIVE SYBSYSTEMS FOR COMPUPRO: w/ DISK 3. CABINET P/S, FAN CABLES, ETC •20Mb EPSON, SEAGATE. ETC $1,139 •37Mb QUANTUM O540 $1,825 •45Mb MICROPOLIS 1304 $2,179 • 72Mb XT-1085 or 1325 $2,295 •89Mb MAXTOR XT-1 105 $3,695 • 1 16Mb MAXTOR XT-1140 $4,395 10Mb TAPE (CompuPro or PC) INT/EXT. . . $498/$598 ALLOY PC-BACKUP 17.7Mb TAPE $1,729 ALLOY PC-QICTAPE Up to 69Mb $1,799 ALLOY PC-9TRACK 42Mb $4,995 ALLOY ITS-100+ 9TRACK 42Mb/S-100 $4,995 ALLOY IDXCS-100T 17.7Mb Tape Subsystem . $1,719 Mainframe & Drive Enclosures ECT RM-10 Rack Card Cage 10 Slot-15A $250 ECT 77-70 Desk 10 Slot - 15 AMP $365 FULCRUM 880 with Front Panel & 20 Slots $565 INTEGRAND 2200Aw/4 Slots & 2 X 8" VzHT FLPYS349 INTEGRAND 2270 w/4 Slots & 5*/<" FLPY + H.D. . $315 INTEGRAND Laser Turbo 10 Slots. 2 H.D. 5'/<" . . $498 PARA DYNAMICS 3020D 20 Slot Desk $639 INTEGRAND 2909 2X8" V? HT Horiz. Stack $189 JMR 7H5 5V*" H.D. PC Style Cabinet $189 JMR 2SV8 Dual Vertical ^ HT. 8" $175 JMR 2H5 Dual 5'/«" Horizontal H.D $225 MPS 8462 Dual Horizontal 8" Slimline $215 MPS 8465 Dual 5" & 8" Horizontal Slimline $225 MPS 5500 5V'«" STD. HT. H.D. & Vz HT. Drive .... $225 MPS 5505 5V'«" H.D. & V? HT Flpy or Tape $209 MPS 5407 5V«" STD HT H.D. or Dual Vp HT $215 MICROWARE SINGLE STD. 5'A" Flpy Horizontal . $59 MICROWARE DUAL HORIZ. 5V«" V? HT. Floppy . . $79 MICROWARE 920004 Dual STD. 5'/«. PC-Style... $149 PARA DYNAMICS 2300-G3 2X8" Flpy & 5 H.D. . . $395 Chips We Have Some of the LOWEST PRICES in the Nation!! 64K, 256K, 8087 & 80287 CALL Power Solutions PC/XT REPLACEMENT P/S 130/150 WATT . . $89/$99 SAFT SPS 400V A 400 WATT & SINE WAVE $475 SAFT SPS1000VA 1000 WATT/SINE WAVE . . . $1,091 SOLA 750/4500 WA TT HI-INRUSH UPS $1,89? TRIPPLITE ISOBAR Line Suppressor-Filters from $3E TRIPPLITE BC-425-FC 425 Watts 15-20 Minutes. $398 TRIPPLITE BC-1000 Watts 20-30 Minutes $925 TRIPPLITE LC-1800 Conditioner/Stabilizer $215 TRIPPLITE COMMAND CONSOLE CCI 8-12 ... . $110 PC & AT Multifunction/Slave Bds. We Have a Good Selection of Multifunction and Memory Boards for PC. XT. AT, JR, AT & T. and PC Portables INTEL ABOVE BOARD AT 128K-4Mb w/Expanded Mem. SW to allow CPU to Address all Avail. Mem. $459 LASER DISK I/O FLPY CTRL, S.P & G Ports. CLK-CAL, Ram-Disk & Print Spool. MS-DOS $195 MACROTECH MSR-AT 3Mb PC/AT. 120nSEC .. $929 STB BIG BYTE 64K $122 STB GRANDE BYTE 128K $225 STB RIO PLUS II 64K-512K, S.P, Clock $216 STB RIO GRANDE PC-AT 128K.-1.5Mb. 2S.P&G $319 TECMAR CAPTAIN UNPOP w/Treasure Chest . . $157 TECMAR EXPANSION CHASSIS With 8 Slots . . . $675 TECMAR MAESTRO Unpopulated for IBM-AT .. $325 TECMAR MAESTRO For PC/AT 2.5Mb $775 TECMAR WAVE 64K to 256K Fits XT Short Slot . $17£ ADVANCED DIGITAL PC-SLAVE w/256K. 8MHz 808£ CPU.2 S Ports. RTNX S/W-For Multi-User P.C. . . $695 ADVANCED DIGITAL PC-SLAVE PACKAGE with Link 125 Terminal $99S ALLOY PC-SLAVE 16 256K to 768K RAM $75S PC Scientific/Industrial Boards IND. COMP. DESIGNS 7000 w/96TTL I/O Ports . $37$ TECMAR BASE BOARD 96 Digital I/O Lines . . . CALL TECMAR 9AVI0 D to A Up to 24 Devices ..... CALl TECMAR I EEE-488 Board * CALL TECMAR LABM ASTER CALL TECMAR EXPANSION CHASSIS 12AMP P/S. Dual AC Outlets. 7 Useable Slots. Space for Hard Disk . . . $67£ Video/Graphics & Cad STB MONO PLUS II V 7. ....... $16' STB CHAUFFEUR RGB Port/16Grey Shades Produce< on Monochrome TTL Monitor Without Video Drivers $271 STB GRAPHICS PLUS II w/ Paral. PRT Port .... $24< STB SUPER RES 400 Color Hi-Res w/ 32K $32! TECMAR GRAPHICS MASTER 16 Color Hi-Res. $43! TECMAR GRAPHICS TENDER RGB/PRT Port .. $19; CSD-PC AUTOCAD 2 PACKAGE: 1024X102* Monochrome Graphics • 15" 1100X1250 Res. . $3,14! ILLUMINATED TECHNOLOGIES AUTOCAL PACKAGE: 8 Color 1024X1024 S-100 Board • Insidi Autocad Handbook • Autocad 2 • Mitsubishi 19 1024X874 RGB Analog Color Monitor • Hitachi Tige 11"X11" Tablet with 12 Button Cursor $4,99! STB SUPER-RES PKG: Board & 13" CM-1370 Monito w/ 16 Colors, 720X400 @ 31.5KHz Scan Rate. . . . $74< TECMAR SUPER-RES PKG: Board & 13" ZVM-13f Monitor with 16 Colors @ 640X400 $92! VECTRIX VXPCA 4096 Colors Close-Out$1,89! VECTRIX VXIPC Video Cable $7! Monitors & Terminals AMDEK 300G $12! PRINCETON GRAPHICS Sfl-72 690X480 RGB .. $59! TATUNG CM-1322 640X200 RGB Same as IBM . $37! TATUNG CM-1360 LIKE 1322 with G-A Switch . . $41! TATUNG CM-1370 720X480 RGB w/GRN Switch. Lont Persist Phos. Works w/ STBs SUPER RES 400 . . $46! TATUNG DM-12VL A&G 12" Monochrome . $125/$11* TATUNG MM-1222G/A Hi-Res 12" TTL (IBM)$119/12! TAXAN MONITORS Call for Low Price TECMAR ZVM-136 640X480 RGB 13', Grn Switch$49» ZENITH ZVM122A AMB or ZVM123A GRN $7! ZENITH ZVM123A (Green)/722A (Amber).... $85/$8- ZENITH ZVM135 Hi-RES RGB w/ Green Switch . $45 KIMTRON KT-7 14" Green $49- LIBERTY FREEDOM TERMINALS CALl LINK 725 Wyse 50 Compat. 14" GRN or AMB w/Highe RES.. More Emul'S. Selectric KB.. 6 Scroll Rates $42 LINK 725 PC w/PC Emulating Video & Keybd . . CAL S-100 DIV./696 CORP. 14455 NORTH 79th ST. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260 Inquiry 3I3 for End-Users. Inquiry 3I4 for DEALERS ONLY. FULL DEALER SUPPOR1 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM HRS: 8:00AM — 5:00PM M-F WORLDS LARGEST SELECTION OF PC & S-100 PRODUCTS S-100 Bus BDS & Accessories 1 1 you purchased before calling us. you probably paid too much! We stock ACKERMAN DIGITAL, ADVANCED DIGITAL, CCS, VIASYN, CROMEMCO, DUAL, ELECTROLOGICS, INTERCONTINENTAL MICRO, KONAN, MULLEN, PICKLES & TROUT, INDUSTRIAL COMPUTER DESIGNS, TARBELL, TECMAR, TRANSEND, VECTOR ELECTRONICS A Few Of This Months SPECIALS Are: .............. ACKERMAN MEMORIZER 64K RAM & EPROM . $211 ACKERMAN KLUGE CARD A&T $175 ACKERMAN PROMBLASTER II Up to 27256KS . $306 ACKERMAN PROMBLASTER EXTENDER .... $79.95 SPECTRONICS PE24T/9 EPROM ERASER/TIMER 146 ADV. DIGITAL SUPER 186/256K MASTER .... $1,495 CCS 2422 Dual Floppy CTRL With CP/M $350 CCS 2710 4 Port Serial Board $275 CCS 2720 4 Port Parallel Board $215 CCS 2810 Z80 CPU with Serial Port $235 COMPUPRO/VIASYN RAM 16 64K STATIC $175 COMPUPRO/VIASYN RAM 22 256K STATIC .... $446 COMPUPRO/VIASYN RAM 23 128K STATIC .... $219 COMPUPRO MDRIVE/H-10-1Mb for 816/10 $595 COMPUPRO PC-VIDEO BOARD $369 COMPUPRO DISK 1A 5" & 8" Floppy CTRL $369 COMPUPRO Disk 3 ST506 5" H. D.C $445 COMPUPRO SYSTEM SUPPORT 1 w/ CLK-CAL $263 COMPUPRO MOTHER BOARD 21 Slot $222 COMPUPRO CPU 8085/88 6 & 10 MHz $263 COMPUPRO CPU 8086 - 10M Hz $297 COMPUPRO CPU 68K - 10M Hz $319 COMPUPRO CPU 286 - 8MHz $672 CROMEMCO XPLMOM Hz 68000 CPU $1,270 CROMEMCO DPU 68000/Z-80 Dual CPU $675 CROMEMCO SCC Z-80 Single BD. Computer... $420 CROMEMCO 8PI0 8 Port Parallel $293 CROMEMCO D+7A 8 Channel 8 Bit D/A $293 CROMEMCO BIART Dual Sync/Async $675 CROMEMCO 64FDC 5"&8" Floppy CTRL $505 DUAL AIM-12 A/D Input 12,Bit/32 Channel $629 DUAL AOM-12 D/A OutpuM2 Bit/4 Channel .... $540 DUAL WDC Winchester DMA 2 BD. Set SA-4000 $840 ICM MASTER & SLAVE BOARDS CALL INDUSTRIAL COMPUTER DESIGNS: •D/A 64-100 64 Analog Outputs $298 •A/D 64-100 64 Analog Inputs $225 •CCT-100 Highly Accurate Time & Dat^e Controller with Battery Back-Up . , , . $249 KONAN DGC-100 ST 506 5V* H.D. Controller. . . . $325 KONAN SMC-200 SMD 8" Controller $450 MACROTECH I/RA/W512K Static with Battery Back-Up and MDrive/H Capability $769 MACROTECH MI-286 80286/Z80H Dual Proc. . . . $699 MACROTECH MSR-II 1Mb Dynamic Ram $825 MACROTECH MSR-II 2Mb Dynamic Ram $999 MULLEN TB4A EXTENDER BD. w/Logic Probe . . $69 MULLEN /CB70 8 Channel Low Voltage Controller$165 PICKLES & TROUT P&T488 IEEE 488 BD & S.W. $429 VECTOR RAM 17 64K Static Ram (VIASYN) Excellent with Z80 CPUS $299 VECTOR INTERFACER I Dual Serial (VIASYN).. $199 VECTOR INTERFACER II 3 Para.. 1 Serial $219 S.D. SYSTEMS CLOSE-OUT!!!!!! •RAMDISK 256K $495 •EXPANDORAM-4 256K with Parity $595 •VFW-3 Floppy & H.D.C $475 •CP/M 3.0 UNBANKED $95 TRANSEND CLOSE-OUT!!!!!! •I/O 5 2 Serial, 3 Parallel $195 •EP128 128K Eprom Reader $169 •PB1 2708. 2716 Eprom Programmer $99 •VB2 Kit I/O Mapped Video Board $99 •MB64 64K Static Ram Board $449 Diskettes & Cartridges 3M TAPES 300XL&600A/1000A In Stock . $29795/19.95 DYSAN 3.5" SSDD $29.39 DYSAN 3.5" DSDD $35.00 DYSAN 5'//' DSDD $24.95 DYSAN 5'//' SSDD $22.95 DYSAN 3740/20 8" DSDD $31 DYSAN HARD DISK CARTRIDGES 8" $150 DYSAN 5»/«" DSDD I UHI-96TPI IBM-AT $28/$59 FUJI 5'//' SSDD I 5'h" DSDD $15/$19 FUJI FD2D-1024 8" DSDD $29.95 Printers, Plotters & Buffers BROTHER HR-15-XL 17CPS Daisywheel S or P . $377 BROTHER HR-10 12CPS Daisy w/ TRAC.. S&P . $249 BROTHER TwinRiterb Dot Matrix & Daisywheel $859 BROTHER 2024L 24 Pin Hi-Res Print&Graphics . $869 ' BROTHER M-1509 180/45 NLQ, P&S l/F $295 BROTHER M1009 EPSON Compatible Plug & Play$149 BROTHER HR-5 Plain-Paper Thermal Portable . . $159 CITIZEN MSP-10 160/40 NLQ 80/132 $275 CITIZEN MSP-15 160/40 CPS 15" Low Profile . . . $409 CITIZEN MSP-20 200/50 NLQ 80/132 $349 CITIZEN MSP-25 200/50 CPS 15" ULTRA QUIET $569 EPSON LQ-1500 Cut-Sheet Feeder, Single Bin .. $309 SIEMENS PT-88 80 Column Ink Jet $595 STAR SG10/15 120 DATA/30 NLQ $239/$409 STAR SD10/15 160 DATA/40 NLQ $369/$495 STAR SR10/15 200 DATA/50 NLQ $535/$659 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 800 SERIES CALL HOUSTON INST. PLOTTERS & DIGITIZERS .. CALL DITRON 64K PC/XT CARD BUFFER w/PRT Port(LPT 1 or 2 or 3) 100% PC&AT Resident S/W Utilities... $135 HANZON 12315 64K-256K INTELLIGENT BUFFER SER.-SER., SER.-PAR., PAR.-SER., PAR. -PAR. Computer to Printer Combinations Possible. So easy to use - instructions printed on bottom of cabinet . . $259 HANZON ADD-IN MODULE 64K RAM $49 JOHNATHAN FREEMAN DESIGNS UNIVERSAL PRT BUFFER S&P In & S&P Out, 64K/256K $189/$249 OKIDATA 182 80 Column 120 DATA/ 60 NLQ . . . $222 PRACT. PERIPH. APPLE GRAPHICARD & CBL. . $70 PRACTICAL PERIPH. APPLE SERIAL BOARD .. $112 PRACTICAL PERIPH APPLE PRINTERFACE $55 VIA WEST VSP-32 Paral-Serial Converter $62 Networking & Switch Boxes INTERCONT. MICRO SYS. LAN-PC w/o RAM. . . $469 INTERCONT. MICRO SYSTEMS LANS-100 $359 COMPUPRO/VIASYN NET 1 1 For 816/10 Sys.. . . $425 COMPUPRO/VIASYN NET 101-96 For S-100 Bus $425 GILTRONIX MANUAL and AUTOMATIC SWITCHING ftNITS to Fit all of your SHARED PRINTER, TERMINAL, MODEM & other Peripheral Needs. These Units In Stock: 5100 8 Wire A-B Serial ,■„ CALL $110 8 Wire A-B-C Serial .'. CALL 5200 24 Wire A-B Serial . . .7. . . CALL 5210 24 Wire A-B-C Serial. CALL 5211 24 Wire A-B-C W/ LED'S CALL 5220 24 Wire A-8-C-D Serial CALL 5230 24 Wire A-B-C-D-E Serial CALL 5240 24 Wire A-B-C-D-E-F Serial CALL 5400 CENTRONICS A-B CALL 5410 CENTRONICS A-B-C CALL 5500 IBM - PARALLEL A-B CALL 5530 IBM - PARALLEL A-B-C-D-E CALL 5540 IBM - PARALLEL A-B-C-D-E-F CALL 8005 5 Porf Peripheral Shared Device to Connect 5 Terminals/Computers to Printer CALL 9301 3-Way Distributed Control Unit - RS232 For Use with Multiple Baud Rate Devices CALL Call For Prices & Configurations On Other Units Software • Software • Software We have Access to all Well Known Brands - ORDER CORRECTLY -- SOFTWARE IS NOT RETURNABLE! Word Proc./Screen Formatter MICROPRO CORRECT STAR I PC-DOS $95 MICROPRO MAIL MERGE I CP/M-86 8" $75 MICROPRO PROPAK $317 NEW STAR NEWWORD 16 Bit with merge PRINT, THE WORD PLUS Spelling Checker - Easier than Word Star but File Compatible $99.95 NEW STAR NEWWORD 8 bit with merge PRINT $79.95 PFS WRITE $97 OASIS THE WORD PLUS Spelling Checker $95 OASIS PUNCTUA TION & STYLE $79 MARK OF THE UNICORN THE FINAL WORD... $189 COMPUVIEW VEDIT/VEDIT PLUS $115/$169 COMPUVIEW VEDIT PLUS, V-PRINT & SPELL.. $298 COMPUVIEW V-SPELL CP/M 80 8" & PC DOS ... $95 Language And Tools BD SOFTWARE "C" Compiler 8" SS SD 8 BIT ... $95 BORLAND PC TURBO PASCAL 3.0 $44 BORLAND PC TURBO PASCAL 3.0 W/ 8087 $70 COMPUTER INNOVATIONS C-86 "C" Compiler. $299 DIGITAL RESEARCH Most Products 36% OFF ITHACA PASCAL Z CP/M80 8" $285 LATTICE "C" Compiler $299 MICROSOFT Complete Line 32% OFF SUPERSOFT FORTRAN PC/MSDOS $199 DIGITAL RESEARCH COMPLETE LINE 36% OFF AMERICAN TRAINING INFL TUTORIALS .. 36% OFF BORLAND PC SIDEKICK (Unprotected) $54 BORLAND PC SUPERKEY (Unprotected) $41 BORLAND PC TURBO GRAPHIX TOOLBOX $35 BORLAND PC TURBO TOOLBOX $35 BORLAND PC TURBO TUTOR $22 FOX rGELLER QUICKCODE For dBASE 2 $187 FOX & GELLER dGRAPH For dBASE 2 $187 FOX & GELLER dUTIL For dBASE 2 $63 FOX & GELLER QUICK SCREEN For dBASE 2. . . $94 FOX & GELLER PC GRAFOX BUS. GRAPHICS . $159 FOX & GELLER PC QUICKREPORT III $187 Data Bases & Spreadsheets ASHTON-TATEALL PRODUCTS 32% OFF DATAFLEX FILE/RECORD Locking Multi-User . CALL MDBS Knowledgeman CP/M86 8" $295 MICROPRO REPORT STAR $119 MICROPRO INFO STAR/16 Bit $239 MICRORIM R: BASE 5000 $439 PFS FILE I REPORT CALL SORCIM Supercalc-3 Better Than 1-2-3!!! $195 Communications Programs MICROSTUF CROSS TALK XV! S125 MYCROFT LABS MITE / MITE PLUS $135/$150 WOOLF MOVE-IT PC-PC Communications $95 Modems __ PROMETHEUS PROMODEM 1200 Hayes Compatible w/ Built-in PWR Supply-RS232 Stand Alone Unit $289 OPTIONS FOR PROMODEM 1200 ARE; COMMUNICATIONS PROC. BUFFER 2K-512K. . . $99 512K RAM for Communications Buffer $49 ALPHA NUMERIC DISPLAY $75 PROMETHEUS 1200A Apple II, II +. Me Card w/Terminal Software in ROM $279 PROMETHEUS 300C Apple IIC Piggy Back $139 PROMETHEUS 12Q0B For PC'S with Procom ... $249 PROMETHEUS 1200M Stand Alone MAC Modem with Cable and Communications Software $348 HAYES SMART MODEM 1200 RS-232 $439 HAYES SMART MODEM 2400 Universal $659 U.S. ROBOTICS PASSWORD 1200 $209 U.S. ROBOTICS AUTO DIAL 212A $309 U.S. ROBOTICS PC/XT MODEM with TELPAC. . $199 U.S. ROBOTICS PC MULTI-MODEM with Clk-Cai., Batt. Back-up, PRT Port. 256K RAM Telpac $395 U.S. ROBOTICS MULTILINK/COURIER 2400 $435 Hobby Corner SOLD "AS IS WITH NO RETURNS AMPRO UTTLE BOARD" (The Original) $259 APPLE II INTEGER BASIC CARD $59 CROMEMCO ZPU $149 DRI GSX-80 $39 DRI PASCAL/MT+ $175 ELECTROLOGICS QUASI-DISK 2/4Mb CP/M80 RAM DISK with Battery Back-Up $1,695/$3,095 HEURISTICS SPEECH LAB For Speech Recognition95 IMSAI PI06-6Kit 2 Sets of 24 PROG. I/O Lines . $149 IMSAI MIO KIT (Assembled) 2 PAR & 1 SER $69 MICROPRO CalcStar 1 .20 8" CP/M $79 MICROPRO SuperSort 1.60 8" CP/M $140 MORROW DJDMA-3A with Software $195 MORROW HDCA-3 8 or 14" SA4008 H.D.C $195 MORROW MPZ80 REV. 2 w/ Documentation .... $195 NORTH STAR FLOA TING POINT BOARD $169 NOVATION SMART CAT 212 $239 PARA DYNAMICS 2508D Like 3510 w/ 8 Slots . . $395 PRAGMATIC DESIGNS PD20MS 8" FUJITSU 20Mb H.D. Subsystem For CompuPro System $2,495 PROTEUS ENGINEERING "WRITE" W.P. CP/M 8" $50 S.D.S. MPU 100 Z80 CPU Kit $89 S.D.S. E-PROM BOARD #27007 Kit $49 SMS STATIC RAM 64K For N.S. Horiz., Etc $149 TEI TFD-0 Cabinet For 3 STD SW FLY DRVS. . . $195 O CD 2 m 2 .S 30 m in CO > Cl a H o H rr ct> O c/> rr ■ "TJ CD 2? a "U All merchandise new. Advertised prices are cash prepaid only. MC. Visa & P.O's from Wires. COD s ($5 min. fee) withCashiersCheck/MO & APO's accepted. Shipping: minimu RES ONLY add'6% sales tax. All returns subject to 20% restocking fee or credittowards future prices slightly higher. All prices subject to change without notice. I 1 ' I • 1 I 1 I I I I 1 I I 1 I I I I t I I I I 1 I OUR POLICY •Surcharge for VISA or Mastercard. •Volume purchasing agreements available. •Orders subject to availabiity. 'Supply limited on certain items. •Pricing subject to change without notice. •ACP Retail Store pricing may vary. Not responsible for typos. TOLL FREE 800-854-8230 CA Residents 71 4-558-881 3 i i i i i i i i i i » CORPORAT E BU YERS StiS PRICE BREAKTHRU At these prices you would expect a Taiwan clone. We are offering the best IBM PC/XT® compatible available in the market today. Com- pare the features and you won't believe the price! ADVANCED PC/XT NEW $ LOW PRICE! 750 00 BASE PRICE ACP has sold over 2,000 of this system to major customers including Rockwell Int'l, Hughes Aircraft and Emulex Corp. See for yourself why these customers prefer the Advanced XT over the IBM XT. (Photo of System 6) BASE PRICE INCLUDES: • (1) 360K DS/DD Floppy Disk • 256K RAM Expandable to 640K on the Motherboard (256K chips) • On Board Serial Port - FREE • On Board Parallel Port - FREE • On Board LCD Display Port - FREE • On Board RGB Output - FREE • On Board VideoComp. Out -FREE • Keyboard Output Port • (3) Expansion Slots • Quiet 100 Watt Power Supply • Ergonomic Design & Packaging • VLSI Circuit Design • 90 Day Warranty • UL Approved/FCC Approved UNBUNDLED ADVANCED PC/XT COMPONENT PRICING (ACP recommends using all Advanced Components in upgrading your PC) SYSTEM 1 SYSTEM 2 CPU w/(2) Floppys, Keyboard, Mouse, Mouse Software & Gm Mon w/TIt Swiv Base. Same as System 1 with RGB Color Monitor and Tilt Swivel Base $1150.00 $1399.00 SYSTEM 3 SYSTEM 4 CPU w/(1) Floppy, 10Mb Hard Disk, Controller, Keyboard, Mouse and Mouse Software Same as System 3 with 20Mb $1399.00 $1699.00 SYSTEM 5 SYSTEM 6 CPU w/(1) Floppy, 10Mb HD, Contr'l, Keyboard, Mouse w/Software & Grn Mon, w/flt/Swiv Base Same as System 5 with RGB Color Monitor and Tilt & Swivel base $1549.00 $1799.00 SYSTEM 7 SYSTEM 8 CPU w/(1) Floppy, 20Mb HD, Contr'l, Keyboard Mouse w/Software & Gm Mon w/TIt & Swiv Base Same as System 7 with RGB Color Monitor and Tilt and Swivel Base $1849.00 $2099.00 •CPU Base Unit $750.00 •Keyboard w/Mouse & Software. . . . 149.95 •RGB Color Mon w/TIt Swiv Base . . . 395.00 •Gm Comp. Mon w/TIt Swiv Base.. 199.00 •LCD 80 x 25 Display 299.00 •Green Monochrome Monitor 149.00 •Hi-res Text Mono Card 149.00 •256K Upgrade (Installed) 59.95 •8087-2 Co-processor 129.95 •1200 Baud Modem Short Card, Hayes Compatible w/Software $179.95 •6 Slot Expansion Chassis 399.00 •10Mb (gray) Upgrade w/Contr'l. . . . 399.00 •20Mb (gray) Upgrade w/Contr'l. . . . 599.00 •360K (gray) DS/DD Floppy Disk. . . 129.00 •PC DOS 2.1 65.00 •PC Works 1.15 (Touchstone) Regular $195 49.95 •GW Basic $75.00 •GEM by Digital Research 29.95 •Maintenance Manual 50.00 •Technical Reference Manual 50.00 SYSTEM SPECIALS •Sys 5 w/Diablo 620 Serial $1849.00 •Sys 6 w/Diablo 620 Serial 2099.00 DIABLO 620 DAISYWHEEL PRINTER The Finest Letter Quality Printer at a Spectacular Price. We have sold 1000's. You can have a spare at this price. 620 Serial List 1495 ACP $395.00 620 API List 1695 ACP 445.00 620 D36 List 1695 ACP 495.00 F-21 Sheet Feeder. List 895 ACP 249.00 620 Tractor List 395 ACP 99.00 Cable ACP 29.00 Serial to Par. 16K Buffer. . . ACP 125.00 ml xmwr IBM PC/XT® of IBM $599 10 Mb CQQQ 20 Mb Upgrade $0%)%) Upgrade (1 Year Warranty) Qty. 1 Qty. 6 SA712 10 Mb $229 $219 ST225 20 Mb $369 $349 Western Digital Cont $195 $175 PC UPGRADE SPECIAL SET OF (9) 64K RAMS $y95 $9£95 AW SET OF (9) 256K RAMS $5.95 4128 PIGGYBACK RAM 1200 Baud Hayes™ Comp. Modem Shor Card by U.S. Robotics with Telpac I Software. List $499 ACP.. $179.00 Buy (6) $159.00 \ 20Mb Tape Back-up Archive, #1 in tape back-up technology. High speed 20Mb back-up for only $899.00 External Box w/Power Supply Great for adding Hard Disk to your PC. Same as photo $179.00 DOT-MATRIX BLOW OUT DIABLO/HONEYWELL P-11 100cps, parallel S-11 100cps, serial P-31 100cps, par, wide S-31 100cps, ser, wide P-32 150cps, par, NLQ $129.95 139.95 249.95 269.95 299.95 CANNON/USA PW-1080A 165cps, parallel $169.95 PW-1156A 165cps, par, wide 199.95 — — __— _ji IllillPSpii DID YOU GET OUR FLYER? IF NOT . . . CALL & GET ON OUR MAIL LIST UPS POWER SUPPLY Back Up Powar tor your IBM, Appla or Compatible UPS-PC 200 Waits 5277.00 UPS-XT300 Wall* 419.00 UPS.AT 800 Walls 739 00 A-B PRINTER SWITCH An AB Switch allows use ot two printers with your computer system. We slockovar 15 dif- ferent configurations. AS Switch (Centronics) 559.00 AB Swilctl (DB2S) 59.00 COLOR VIDEO CARDS Plantronles Color Plus 5375.00 IBM Color Card 227.00 IBM Mono Card w/parallel 2 1 9.00 STB Graphics Plus 369.00 Paradise Mutlldisplay Card 345.00 Everex Graphics Edge 345.00 DRIVE CABINETS IBM Style Hard Disk with power supply and Ian 5179.00 Dual Hard Disk w/power sup & iBn 295.00 Dual SVi" Full Height vertical mount 65.00 Dual SV," Full Height horizontal mounl 99.00 Dual 5V." Thlnline w/power sup & Ian 60.00 Single SV*" Full Height w/power sup & fan56.00 Single 5*4" Thlnline w/power sup & len 60.00 PERSYST CARDS Persysi MonoCombo - NEWI 533500 Parsysl Color Combo - NEWI 335.00 Persysi Bob Boarb 445.00 Persysi Shorlpon Color Call Persysi Mini Mono Call Persysi +1 Time Spectrum W/64K 179.95 Persysi 192K Rainbow DEC Card 149.95 SPECIAL BUY Sharp 12" Color RGB Monitor List $499.00 ACP $249.95 MODEM SPECIAL Hay** •maitmodam Compatible 1200 S. External. Sold for «3»« $199.00 INTERSIL STD BUS BOARDS LIST ACP 5200 569.95 69.95 TRANSISTORS/DIODES 1SB3100 ISB3101 ISB3110 ISB3216 ISB3216 1SB3330 1SB3331 1SB3340 ISB3400 ISB3410 ISB3500 ISB3S10 ISB3520 ISB3521 Z80CPU ZaOUniv. CPU 6065 CPU 16K CMOS RAM 16K StaliC RAM 16K CMOS HAM ZBO PIO (D mating) Universal PIO Opto Pera. Input Floppy Controller SASI (DMA) WINI Inter Dptol 200 79.95 610 99.95 200 3995 750 119.95 210 4995 210 49.95 300 11995 215 7995 255 9995 215 9995 270 11995 150 6995 190 69.95 375 149.95 260 79.95 245 69.95 69.95 SPST Relay OPDT Relay ISB3600 Arilhmelic ISB3610 EPflOM Programer ISB3700 Sync/Async ISB3711 Univ. Sync/Async ISB3720 REMDACS 315 14995 ISB3630 12 Bil A/D 720 269.95 CAPACITORS .OIuF DISC BYPASS CAPACITOR 100/SS.SO .1 uF DISC BYPASS CAPACITOR 100/6.50 .01uF MONOLITHIC CAPACITOR 100/11.25 .1 uF MONOLITHIC CAPACITOR 100/14.25 CORCOM EMI FILTER STD CORCOM 3 Conductor Filter $4 SO Line Cord for above — 6 fool 1 49 Line Cord 2 Conductor — 6 loot .35 Line Cord 3 Conductor — 6 fool .95 MUFFIN FANS Over 10,000 In Stock Torin 3" TA-300 Fan NEWt 59.95 Torin 4.66" Mulfin Fan NEWI 12.95 12VDCFan NEW! 14 95 Finger Guards add 1 49 Power Cords add 1-49 IC SOCKETS SOLDERTAIL 1-99 100 6 P.nST/LP 5 .13 5 .10 14PinST/LP .15 .11 16PinST/LP .17 .t2 18PinST/LP .20 .17 ZOPmSTJLP .28 26 22PinST/LP .29 .27 24 Pin ST/LP .29 .27 26 Pin ST/LP .39 .32 38 Pin ST/LP .45 .36 40 Pin ST/LP .48 42 64 Pin ST/LP 3.95 3 25 WIHEWRAP (GOLO) 1-99 100 6 Pin WW/3L 5 .49 5 .40 14 Pin WW/3L .62 .49 16 Pin WW/3L .65 .55 18 PinWW/SL .88 .77 20Pin WW/3L .99 .98 22PlnWW/3L 1.19 1.13 24 Ptn WW/3L 1.25 1.17 28PinWW/3L 1.49 1.39 40PinWW/3L 1.89 175 TEXTOOL/ZIF ZERO INSERTION 16 Pin 56.75 24 Ptn 57.85 28 PinSS.95 (Wt Stock All Types of Sockets) 7/51.00 2N3904 PN2369A 5/1.00 2N3906 PN916 2N2218A 2N2219A 2N2905 2N2907 2N3055 2N356S 2N3636 2N3772 3/1.00 T1P29A TIP30A TIP31A TIP32A 1N4146 1N751 1N4002 1N4004 MPQ2232 2/1.00 2/100 2/1 25 2/1.25 25/1.00 5/1.00 12/100 10/100 OPTO ISOLATORS MCT-2 MCT-6 MCT-6B MCA-25S 4N26 4N27 4N28 4N33 4N35 4N37 4N38 LED LAMPS 5 .09 5 .06 Jumbo Red Jumbo Green Jumbo Yellow .17 .15 Mini Size Red .10 .09 Mini Size Green 19 .16 Mini Size Yellow .19 .16 SPECIAL VALUESI MCM68705 EPROM 5995 6116/2016-ISOmS 10/19 95 DB-25P Male 10/17.50 DB-25S Female 10/19.95 2732A2 10/29.95 2716OC-450mS 10/2450 2764-450mS 10/29.95 CALL ACP FOR ALL YOUR VOLUME IC REQUIREMENTS EDGE CONNECTORS S-100ST 53.95 S-100 WW 4 75 44 Pin ST 2 75 44 Pin WW 4.75 72PmST 650 72PinWW 725 D-SUBMINIATURE 1-24 DB25S (Female 53.10 DB25P(Male) 2.40 Hood 51.25 Mlg H/W 5 99 DE37S (Female) 55.95 DE37P(Male) 5.25 Hood 5 1.75 Mlg H/WS .99 DD50S (Female) 56.95 DD50P (Male) 6.00 Hood 53.25 Mtg H/W 5 .99 (OTHER STYLES IN CATALOG) CENTRONICS IDC 36 Pin Male IDC 36 Pin Female Solder 36 Pin Male Solder 36Pin Female (CALL TOLL FREE FOR IDC'e) IDC CONNECTORS Solder Header Rt Angle Solder Header Ribbon Header Socket Ribbon Header Ribbon Edgecard Rt Angle W/W Header NUMBER OF CONTACTS 20 26 34 40 5( .79 1.20 1.65 2.10 2.40 3.00 3.10 4.10 4.20 4.60 7.15 NOTE: To order insert number of contacts in place of xx in ACP part number. ORDER QUANTITY OF 50PCS (mixed) AND TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF. EPSON PRINTERS FX-85 (160cps) S369.00 FX-185 (160cps) 515.00 LX-80 (100 cps) 245.00 LQ-1500 (NLQ) 899.00 FX-80+ 339.00 PRINTER SPECIALS Toshiba 1340 S399.00 Toshiba 341 949.00 Toshiba 351 1099.00 StarSG-10 239.00 Brother 1509 399.00 6800 6810 S 2.65 68047 22.95 6502B 9.50 8035 5 5 75 8039 5.75 8060A 295 8085 A 4 90 60C65A 9.95 8088 2450 8087-2 129.95 17 50 88 95 8 75 8155 8156 8185 6202 8203 6205 9212 ZS0.CPU ZB0-CTC Z60.DART Z80-DMA Z80-PIO Z50-SID/0 Z80-SID/1 Z80-SID/2 Z8D-SIO/9 8214 J 8216 6224 6226 6226 8237 6237-5 6238 8243 8250 8251 8251A 8253 8255 82S5A 8257 8271 8275 8279 8282 6263 8284 8286 8287 8288 8289 6292 8741 8748 8749 B755A 5 6.75 69.95 2695 12.95 27.95 2450 2450 34,95 4 0MHJ "B" 6.OMH1 Z8002 34.95 DISK CONTROLLERS UPD765 5995 1797 52195 6643 S28.95 1771 15.95 2791 3295 8272 1995 1791 2275 2793 32.95 1691 6 95 1793 21.50 2795 3295 2143 6 95 1795 21.50 2797 27.95 9216 12 ;;b CRT CONTROLLERS 6845 51195 6275 52850 I TMS9918 68B4S 17.SS 7220 34.95 8350 6847 1150 5027 17.95 6545 5037 21.95 I 8002 NEC7220Graphics UARTS/USARTS 1602B S3 95 I 2350 5 8.95 I IM6403 1013A 395 8250 1050 TMS5501 1015A 6.75 I IM6402 7.75 I 2851 1702 (ImS) 2708 (4S0nS) 2758 (5V) 2716 (450nS) 2716 (350nS) 2518 (5V) TMS2716 TMS2532 2732 (450nS) 2732 (250nS) 2732 (200nS) 2732A 4 (4S0nS) 5 2732A (250nS) 2732A-2 (200nS) 2764 (450nS) 2764 (250nS) 2764 (200nS) TMS2564 (450nS) MCM68764 (450nS) MCM68766(350nS) I 27128-3 (300nS) 27128 (250nS) S4.9S I 27C64 STATIC RAMS 2101 (450nS) 51.89 21L02 (450nS) .99 2102-1 (450nS) .79 21L02-2 (2S0nS) 1.39 2111 (450nS) 2.75 2112(4S0nS) 2.75 2114 (450nS) 1.45 8/9.50 21141-4 (450n) 1.69 8/12.50 2114L-3(300n) 1.79 8/13.30 2114L-2(200n) 1.69 8/13.90 2147 (SSnS) 4.50 4044-4(450nS) 3.25 4044-3 (300nS) 3.75 4044-2 (200nS) 4.35 UPD410(100nS) 3 75 5101 (CMOS) 3.50 MK4118 $4.95 TMM2016-2 (200nS) 3.10 TMM2016-15 (150n) 3 95 TMM2016-1 (tOOnS) 3,00 HM8116P-4 (200nS) 475 HM8116P-3 (ISOnS) 3 25 HM6116P-2(120nS) 5.75 HM61 16LP-4 (LP) 3.60 HM6116LP-3 (LP) 3.95 HM6116LP-2 (LP) 3.95 Z6132 (300nS) 32.95 HM6264P-1S (ISO) 14.95 HM6264LP-15 (LP) 16.95 74S189 (35nS) 1.65 93415 (50nS) 3.95 93425 (50nS) 3.95 DYNAMIC RAMS 4027 (250nS) 1103 (300nS) 4116N-2(150nS) 4116N-3 (200nS) 41 18N-4 (250nS) 4164N.150(150n) 4164N-200 (200n) 4l64N-120(120nS) TMS4164l150iiS) TMS4416 (200nS) 56.95 TMS4416(150nS) 7.75 41258-150 (150n) 2.75 41256-200 (200n) 2,75 TMS4050(300nS) 1.85 TMS4060 (SOOnS) 1.85 MM5260 (300nS) 1.85 UPD411 (300nS) 1.85 MM5298 (250nS) 1.85 DISK SPECIAL (ibm pc dsddj 79' sssr wowi ■ "Cd. Hub Rings PACKAGE Tyvac Cover supply Limited * Major Migr OF 100 SVtt" DISKETTES VERBATIM 525-01 SS/DO VERBATIM 550-01 OS/DO (IBM) MAXELL MD-1 SS/DD (All) MAXELL MD-2 DS/DD (ISM) MAXELL DISKS lor AT (96tpi) DYSAN 104/1D SS/DO (AH) DYSAN 104/2D DS/DD (IBM) ACP SS/DD (All) ACP OS/OD (IBM) 3Vi" DISKETTES VERBATIM 3',V MF350 (MAC) MAXELL 3VS" MICRODISK (MAC) B" DISKETTES VEHBATIM 8" SS/DD VERBATIM 8" DS/DD DYSAN 8" SS/OO DYSAN 8" DS/DD 1 Box 10 Box 522.95 519.95 27.95 24.95 19.95 17.95 24.95 22.95 46.95 43.95 2795 2595 34.95 31.95 14.95 1295 1795 tS.95 28.95 26.95 38.95 38.95 32,95 3095 49.95 47.95 4000 5 .26 4028 S .65 4059 57.90 4001 .22 4029 .75 4060 .85 4002 22 4030 .39 4066 .39 4006 .79 4031 3.25 4069 28 4007 .22 4032 2.15 4070 .35 4008 .95 4034 1.91 4071 28 4009 .39 4035 79 4072 .28 4010 .39 4037 1.95 4073 .28 4011 .24 4040 .75 4075 .26 4012 .24 4041 .75 4076 .75 4013 35 4042 .65 4077 .35 4014 75 4043 85 4078 .35 4015 .39 4044 .69 4081 .29 4018 .35 4048 .60 4082 .29 4017 65 4047 89 4085 .95 4018 79 4048 .99 4086 .95 4019 39 4049 35 4093 .45 4020 .69 4050 .34 4094 2.95 4021 ,69 4051 .75 4098 1.90 4022 .69 4052 ,75 4099 1.85 4023 .25 4053 78 4501 .69 4024 59 4055 3.95 4502 .95 4025 .25 4056 2.95 4503 49 4027 45 CALL FOR 74C00 5.29 74C02 .29 74C04 .29 74C0B .35 74C10 .35 LM108AH S3.95 LM300H .99 LM301N .35 LM304H 1.89 LM305H .95 LM306H 4.75 LM307N .40 LM306CN .65 LM310CN 1.65 LM311CN .62 LM312H 1.75 LM318CN 1.45 LM318H 1.55 LM319N 1.19 LM320 (sea VRs) LM324N .55 LM339N .95 LM340(see VRs) LM348N .95 LM358CN .65 LM359 1.75 LM360N 295 LM370N 4.95 LM373N 3.95 LM376N 3.75 LM377N 1.90 LM380CN 85 LM360N 1.05 LM381N 1.59 LM382N 135 LM383N 1.95 LM384N 1.75 LM386N 89 LM387N 1.29 LM389N 1.15 LM392N .69 LM723N 48 LM723H .55 NE531 2.85 NE555 35 NES56 .65 NE558 1.49 NE561 23.50 NE564 2.85 LM565 .95 LM566 1.45 LM567 85 NE570 3.85 NE571 290 4507 4508 4510 4511 4518 4518 4520 4555 4558 4566 80C95 80C97 MC14408 MC14409 MC14410 MC14411 MC14412 MC14419 74C74 5.65 I 74C161 51.15 I74C373 52.35 74C85 1.89 74C175 1.15 74C374 2.35 74C90 1.15 74C240 1.89 74C901 .59 74C93 1.15 I 74C244 1.69 I74C922 4.45 MORE 74C IN STOCK- ALSO IN CATALOG LM3909 .96 LM3914 52.95 LM3915 2.95 LM3916 2.95 MC4024 3.75 MC4044 4.35 RC4131 3.75 RC4138 1.19 RC4151 3.75 CA3023 2.75 CA3039 1.25 CA3048 1.25 CA3059 2.85 CA3060 2.85 CA3065 169 CA3080 1 10 CA3081 1.60 CA3082 1.60 CA3083 1.55 CA3086 80 CA3089 2.95 CA3098 3.45 CA3130 1.29 CA3140 1.15 CA3146 179 CA3160 1.49 LM13060 1.25 LM13600 1.45 LM13700 1.45 LF347 JANUARY SPECIALS (SUPPLY LIMITED) igjXJfMRTl ALL NEW FACTORY BOX ymmmiaJ with 1 Year Warranty! MODEL 127 20Mb HARD DISK External Unit with Controller Built-in. Available with Host Adaptor for IBM-PC, IBM-XT or Apple II (Add $149.95 for Host Adaptor). Reg Retail $1495 ACP $499.00 MODEL 227 20Mb w/TAPE Complete Subsystem with 20Mb Hard Disk and High Speed Tape Back-up. Requires Host Adaptor at $149.95. Reg Retail $2995 ACP $1399.00 Emu SUPER NUMERIC KEYPAD Manufactured by Keytronics. We have sold ACP $29.95 or 6 for 24.95 ea Reg Retail $99 NE590 52.45 NE592 2.70 LM709N .55 LM709H 1.90 LM710 .68 LM711 75 LM715 3.95 LM723N 55 LM723H .75 LM733 98 LM739 1.85 LM741CN .33 LM74JH 40 LM741N .29 LM747 65 LM748 55 LM1014 1 15 LM1303 1.90 LM1310 1.45 MC1330 1.65 MC1349 1.85 MC1350 1.15 MC1358 1.65 MC1372 6.75 LM1414 1.55 LM15S8H 299 LM1800 235 LM1812 8 10 LM1830 340 LM1871 5 45 LM1872 5.45 LM1877 320 LM1889 1.90 LM1696 1.70 ULN2001 1.95 ULN2003 1.49 XR2206 3.75 XR2207 2 90 XR2208 2.40 XR2211 3.75 LM2877P 2.00 LM2878P 2.25 LM2900 83 LM2901 .99 LM2903 69 LM2907 2.45 LM2917 285 LM3900 55 LM3905 1.15 LF351 LF353 LF355 LF3S6 LF3S7 TL071CP TL072CP TL074CN TL081CP TL084CN TL494 TL496 TL497 MC3423 MC3453 MC3456 MC3459 MC3469 MC3470 VOLTAGE REGULATORS 7B0ST Also 8, 12. 15 , 24V .69 7905KAIso < „-. 12, 15. 24V. .1 .jy 78L05. 12, 15V 65 79L05, 12, 15V . .75 78M06C .... 89 LM309K ...... . . 1.25 78MG/79MG 1.49 LM317H/K , 1 25/3.65 78H05KC . B.75 LM323K 4.85 7805K AJso LM337K ..3.75 12, 15. 24V .. 1 .£y LM338K ..6.75 . 24V... 79 LM350T ..4.55 8, 12, 1£ LM350K . 4.75 SPECIAL PURPOSE CHIPS MC14411 J 11.50 58174 511.25 95H90 5 9.25 BR1941 11.50 5832 3.75 76477 3 75 34702 12.50 AYS2376 11.50 76488 5 75 5016 14.95 AY53600 11.50 76489 8 75 8116 10.50 2513-001U 9.50 AY38910 7.95 5307 10.50 2513-002L 9.50 AY38912 7.95 MC4024 3.75 UPD7201 27.95 SSI-263 36.95 8038 3.75 3341 4.50 Volrax 39.95 5369 3.50 11C90 13.25 DiglialKar 34,95 58167 1225 MC1590G 2.95 LM13600N 1.95 ADC0800 514.95 ADC0804 3.45 DAC0806 1.90 ADC0B09 4,45 ADC0816 14.25 AD7523.IN 1.99 ADC0817 59.75 OAC0800 4.75 OAC0806 2.85 DAC1020 7.95 OAC1022 5.65 LF353N 1.99 SP10O0 Speech 59.95 TR1863 5V UART 54.25 DATA AQUISITION 1408L6 5195 1408L8 2.65 DAC100 7.95 DAC08 7.95 DAC01 8.95 LF13201N 1.99 EXPANSION MEMORY 64K UPGRADE (set of 9) $7.95 256K RAMS (Set of 9) $26.95 CABLES/ACCESSORIES IBM PARALLEL (Shielded) 519.95 IBM SERIAL(Shielded) 19.95 KEYBOARD EXTENSION 4.95 RS232 GENDER CHANGER Male-Male 9.9? RS232 GENDER CHANGER Female-Female 695 NULL MODEM AOAPTOR 6.95 5H" DISK TUB $8.95 3V," DISK TUB $14.95 HEAD CLEANING KIT-5V.'- or B" $9.95 DISK DRIVE SPECIALS Toshiba ND04D OS/OD IBM S89.50 Toshiba ND04E-G for "AT" 99.50 Toshiba ND08DE-G 1.2Mb for 'AT"149.50 ALL WITH MOUNTING KIT 7400 7401 7402 7403 7404 7405 7406 7407 7406 7409 7410 7416 7417 7420 7421 7422 7423 7425 7426 7427 7428 7430 7432 7437 7438 7439 7440 7441 7442 7443 7444 7445 74LS00 5 74LS01 74LS02 74LS03 74LS04 74LS05 74LS08 74LS09 74LS10 74LS11 74LS12 74LS13 74LSU 74LS15 74LS20 74LS21 741S22 74LS25 74LS27 74LS28 74LS30 74LS33 74LS33 74LS37 74LS38 74LS40 74LS42 74LS47 74LS48 74LS51 74LS54 74LS55 74LS73 74LS74 74LS75 74LS78 74LS78 74LS83 74LS85 74LS86 74LS90 74LS92 74LS93 74LS95 74LS96 74LS107 74LS109 74LSH2 74S0O $.25 74502 .29 74503 29 74504 45 74505 45 74508 39 74509 .39 74510 .35 74511 .39 74S15 .35 74S20 39 74S22 .35 74S30 .35 74S32 45 74S38 .89 74S40 .39 74S51 .35 74564 .39 74565 .39 7448 5 .66 74123 5 .45 7447 .65 74125 42 7448 66 74126 7450 .19 74126 49 7451 .19 74132 .45 7453 .19 74138 .75 7454 .19 74U1 .65 7459 .25 74142 2.95 7460 .37 74143 3.70 7470 .29 74144 2.95 7472 29 74145 59 7473 33 74147 1.49 7474 .34 7414S 1.19 7475 .36 74150 1.09 7476 34 74151 55 7479 4.60 74152 67 7480 .69 74153 .53 7482 .95 74154 1.19 7483 .45 74155 69 7485 .55 74156 .59 7486 .35 74157 .58 7489 1 05 74158 165 7490 35 74159 1.58 7491 05 74160 .79 7492 .45 74161 .69 7493 .35 74162 .69 7494 .85 741B3 .69 7495 50 74164 69 7496 .69 74165 .69 7497 2.70 74166 85 74100 1.50 74187 2.75 74107 .24 74170 125 74109 .17 74172 4 75 74118 1.45 74173 .69 74121 29 74174 69 74122 44 74175 69 74176 5 .89 74177 .89 74179 134 74180 .75 74181 1.75 74182 1.15 74184 2.25 74185 2.25 74190 67 74191 67 74192 ,67 74193 .67 74194 67 74195 .67 74196 .75 74197 .96 74198 1.15 74199 1,15 74221 1.19 74251 .75 74273 1.65 74276 1.68 74279 75 74283 140 74284 2.90 74285 2.90 74290 1.49 7429B 1.49 74365 .55 74366 .55 74367 .55 74368 .55 74390 1.45 74393 133 74490 225 74LS00 74LS113 5 .38 74LS114 .39 74LS122 .45 74LS123 .95 74LS124 2.75 74LS125 .49 74LS129 .49 74LS132 .59 74LS13B .39 74LS139 .59 74LS135 .59 74LS145 1.19 74LS14B 1.38 74LS151 .55 74LS153 .55 74LS1S4 149 74LS155 69 74LS156 69 74LS157 .69 74LS159 .69 74LS160 69 74LS161 69 74LS162 69 74LS163 69 74LS164 69 74LS165 .90 74LS160 1.90 74LS16S 1.15 74LS160 1.15 74LS170 140 74LS173 67 74LS174 .67 74LS175 ,87 74LS181 1.95 74LS190 .85 74LS191 .65 74LS192 .78 74LS193 .78 74LS194 .69 74LS195 .89 74LS196 .79 74LS197 .79 74LS221 .89 74LS240 .95 74LS242 .95 74LS243 .95 74LS244 1.25 74LS245 1.45 74LS247 74LS248 74LS249 74LS251 74LS253 74LS257 74LS258 74LS259 74LS260 74LS261 74LS266 74LS273 74LS275 74LS279 74LS283 74LS290 74LS293 74LS255 74LS29B 74LS324 74LS347 74LS348 74LS3S2 74LS353 74LS363 74LS36S 74LS366 74LS367 74LS368 74LS373 74LS374 74LS375 74LS377 74LS385 74LS386 74LS390 74LS393 74LS395 74LS399 74LS424 74LS688 74LS870 61LS95 81LS98 81LS97 81LS98 2SLS2521 29LS2569 74SO0/PROMS* 74S74 $.55 74S8S 1.B9 74S68 .55 745112 .55 745113 .55 745114 .55 74S124 2.69 745132 1.39 745133 .43 745134 .50 745135 B9 745136 1.39 745139 B9 74S135 .69 745140 .55 74S151 .99 74S1S3 .99 74S157 .99 74S159 5.99 74S160 2.49 74S161 IBS 74S174 1.19 74S175 1.19 74S188* 1.49 74S194 149 74S195 1.49 74S1S6 1.49 74S240 1.99 74S241 1.99 74S242 199 74S243 1 99 74S244 1,99 74S251 1 19 74S2S3 1 IS 74S2S7 1.19 74S25B 1 19 CALL FOR 74HC 74S260 74S280 74S287' 74S28B' 74S373 74S374 74S3B7' 74S471' 74S472' 74S473' 74S474' 74S475' 74S570' 74S57V 74S572' 74S573' 74S940 74S941 nduii-y jjjj|jijj§j| Inc sil Qttejz etail ific Eac iaxJni\n^A\£J\2tt lUE Ed nijer, Saiita AjTc*_CA WlOll California Digital 17700 Figueroa Street • Carson, California 90248 i i XEROX *29 SUNRISE COMPUTER 80 Column LCD Display 10 Function Keys Micro Microphone for Speaker Telephone Internal 1200 Baud Modem Monitor Output Television Output , Optional Printer Speaker The Xerox Sunrise 1 8 1 is by far the best value we have ever seen in a micro computer. This is a self contained battery and AC operated portable. The Sunrise was originally prices at $2995. Xerox has since elected to drop the computer from their product list. California Digital has purchased all the remaining inventoiy and is making the unit available at a fraction of its original cost. This portable features a built in 80 column liquid crystal display, 64K of memory along with both RF monitor and television out- puts. The internal 300/1 200 baud modem includes an auto dial telephone assembly. The units has both Centronics parallel and a serial port programmable to 19,200 baud. The self contained micro cassette is capable of capturing data from the keyboard as well as doubling as an recorder for dictating messages. An optional dual floppy disk drive module, pictured above, is available for only $219. Also available, for $59 is an 80 column printer that mounts in the drive module. The Sunrise features a CP/M operating system which allows the operator to use any CP/M program in Xerox 5Vt" disk format and over 5000 CP/M programs available in publicdomain. We haveavalable a 15 minute tapeon the Sunrise Computer. The tape is in VHS format and was produced by Xerox to promote the computer. California Digital is offerthe promotional tape atS15. This will beapplied towards purchase price of the Sunrise 1810. DATA PRODUCTS 1200 Baud # Hayes Compatible The Eclipse 1 200 is the best value we have ever offered in a fully Hayes Compatible modem. The unit incorporates status lamps, speaker, auto dial and many more features into this compact package. California Digital is so comfident of your completesatisfaction that we will allow The return of the Eclipse 1 200 and apply the full credit towards the purchase price of any other modem. T^ 1 ^ SUPPORT :§::=i?§: PRODUCTS MEMORY & SPECIALTY BOARDS Twlx- Winchester, floppy and streamer tape 299 AST Six Pack64K, serial, par'l, clock/cal. 229 AST Six Pack as above but384k/Byte of mem. 239 419 129 279 379 239 219 499 199 119 AST Advantage 128K ASTI/Oplus clock/cal., serial &gameport Quadram Quadboard II, 64K memory Quadram QuadLInk/ Apple files Persyst Time Spectrum card, 64K DigiGraphics Multiluncition Titan Tech. PC/Accellertor Hexace RAM card 576K/byte Hexace multifunction GRAPHIC CARDS Hercules Color Card 179 Hercules Graphic Cant 319 Persysl BoB Board super hi-res color. 329 Hexace half slot video card 1 1 9 Peacock Color Card, composit/RGB, printer 139 California Comp. Supervision graphics 379 INTERNAL MODEMS Modtech UltraLink 1200, 202 half duplex 99 AnchorAuto. Signalman Mk6. 300 baud. 49 Promethus1200B internal 279 HARDWARE Tallnrass 6D msg. tape back-up 1459 KrarT IBM Joystick 35 Microsoft Mouse, serial & paintbrush 145 Mouse Systems PC Mouse 149 8087 co-processor 119 Keylronics 5151 IBM keyboard 199 Belkin A/B switch, pari or serial 59 SOFTWARE MicroPro WordStar word processing 179 AshtonTate Framework, spreadsheets 395 AshtonTate DBase til .DataBase Manager 395 Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet & more 299 Symphony by Lotus development 419 Redwood Dev. Jr. CAD, plotter 59 1200 BAUD MODEMS UltraLink 1200 The Universal Data 21 2A is manufactured for the mini- computer market. This modem is both 300 and 1200 baud auto answer. An industrial quality modem origin- ally priced at S595. NOT Hayes compatible. SMARTEAM 1200 The Team 212A offers all the features of the Hayes Smart Modem 1200 for a fraction of the price. Now is your opportunity to purchase a 1200 baud modem at the price of a 300 baud modem. SIGNALMAN MARK VI ^no BAUD IVIMIflV VI 300 BAUD The Anchor Automation Mark VI is a 300 baud direct connect modem that plugs into any slot of your IBM/PC. This modem supports auto answer and auto dial capa- bilities. Other features include telephone number stor- age, send / receive text files, single key-stroke dialing along with many other functions provided on disk. The Mark VI was originally priced at over S300. 10 MEGABYTE T M** ^V WINCHESTER ^b^P M ■JADI-k nicu HDIlir » HARD DISK DRIVE °*»%fr-* Quantity Two The UltraLink is a 1200 baud HALF DU- " PLEX bell 202 compatible internal modem card for the IBM/PC. This unit operates full duplex at 300 baud. The UltraLink adds a voice/data demerv sion to your PC. Manufacturers original suggested price on this modem is $795. California Digitals price is only $99. Eclipse 1 200 1 00% Hayes, with status lamps. Universal Data 21 2LP, 1 200 duplex, line powered. Universal Data 2 1 2A. 300/ 1 200 baud, industrial. Universal Data 1 03JLP, line powered, auto answer Hayes Smartmodem 2400 baud modem Fujitsu 2400/1 200 baud auto everything. Team 1 200 Hayes Compatible. 300/ 1 200 baud. UltraLink 1200 data and voice on same line. CTS 21 2AH 1 200 baud, auto dial Terminal software for CTS 2 1 2AH Prometheus 1 200 super features Prometheus 1200B internal PC Signalman Mark 12, 1200 baud, Hayes compatible Signalman Mark VI, 300 baud internal PC Hayes Smart Modem 1 200 baud, auto dial Hayes 1200Bforusewilh the IBM/ PC, 1200 baud. Hayes Smartmodem, 300 baud only, auto dial Hayes Chronograph, time & date Ppnril 300/1200 industrial aualitv ECP-1200 UDS-212LP UDS-212A UDS-103LP HYS-2400 FUJ-1935D TEM-SM1200 UTL-1200A CTS-212AH CTS-212SFT PRM-P1200 PRM-P1200B SGL-MK12 SGL-MK6 HYS-212AD HYS-1200B HYS-103AD HYS-CHR232 PEN-12AD 179.00 139,00 159.00 29.00 599.00 459.00 199.00 99.00 219.00 35.00 319.00 279.00 239.00 49.00 389.00 369.00 199.00 199.00 3 Five Inch Winchester Disk Drives each two+ SHUGART SA712 10 M. Ht. 259 239 SEAGATE ST506 6.7 Meg. 139 129 SEAGATE 225 20 Meg. Vi Ht. 389 359 SEAGATE 4026 26 M. 35mS. 859 829 SEAGATE 4051 51 M. 35mS.1095 1059 FUJITSU 2242 55 M. 35mS. 1799 1729 FUJITSU 2243 86 M. 35mS. 2295 2219 RODIME RO-202E 27 Meg. 759 729 RODIME RO-203E 40 Meg. 995 959 RODIME RO-204E 53 Meg. 1259 1195 CONTROLDATA 94155-86 M.1829 1779 MAXTOR XT1140 140 Meg. 3379 3295 HONEYWELL 85M. 27 mS. 1795 1695 TOSHIBA MK5670M.30mS.1789 1729 TANDON 502 10 Meg. 419 379 • Winchester Controllers for IBM/PC • FALCON FT-HDC half card 189 XEBEC 1220 with floppy controller 269 NATIONAL COMPUTIR5004 159 OTC 5150BX 159 OMTI 5510 half card 189 ADAPTEC 2010A software install 189 WESTERN DIGITAL WO/1002 189 • SCSI/SASI Winchester Controllers • XEBEC 1410A 5V4" foot print 239 OMTI 20L 119 • Winchester Accessories • Installation Kit with manual 10 Winchester enclosure and supply 139 Dual 20/34 cable set 25 Switching power supply 49 TOLL FREE ORDER LINE (800) 421-5041 TECHNICAL & CALIFORNIA (213)217-0500 448 BYTE • JANUARY 1986 California Digital 17700 Figueroa Street m Carson, Calif ornia 90248 BY*" DISK DRIVE SALE '89 LETTER QUALITY £A 734.2796 ^F Telex: 04-55670 206-1847 W. Broadway. Vancouver. B.C.. Canada V6J 1 Y5 Inquiry 394 Inquiry 24 Inquiry 190 ChinaStar© II CHINESE WORD PROCESSOR $99. • IBM PC, XT, AT, portable or compatible with 256 K RAM • Multilingual • 21,000 Traditional or 11,000 Simplified Chinese characters • Traditional/Simplified file translation program • Multiple input methods L JHL RESEARCH, INC. 2552 W. Woodland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92801 (714) 827-7420 Telex: 350481 IBC __-»____ SINGLE M68000 *™ R ° COMPUTER On board 6-10 MHz CPU, 20K RAM. 32K EPROM, twoRS-232, 16-bit port, 5-counter/timers expandable via Memory/FDC Board. M68K CPU (bare board) $ 89.95 M68K CPU A&T (6MHz) $495.00 MD512K Memory/FDC (bare board) $ 89.95 MD512K Memory/FDC (128K) $495.00 FDC/Hard Disk interface option $150.00 M68KE Enclosure w/power supply. $249.00 M68K Monitor EPROM's $ 95.00 M68K Macro Cross Assembler $195.00 4XF0RTH OS w/assembler. editor $295.00 CP/M 68K OS w/"C" compiler .$395.00 pmfO Educational P.O. Box 16115 I"" IVI ^% Microcomputer Irvine, CA 92713 1^1 T 10 Systems (714)854-8545 15-BIT A/D CONVERTER for IBM® PC + /-5V0LT INPUT RANGE, FULLY DIFFERENTIAL 0.025% ACCURACY, 4 CHANNELS 7 SAMPLES/SECOND $265 6-CHANNEL THERMOCOUPLE THERMOMETER FULLY DIFFERENTIAL $175 64-CHANNEL DATA LOGGING SOFTWARE VOLTAGE, CURRENT OR THERMOCOUPLES 16-CHANNEL STRIP CHART INCLUDED POWERFUL AND EASY TO USE $150 ****** FOR APPLE II® BROAD LINE OF 0ATA ACQUISITION AND CONTROL PRODUCTS INCLUDING: 8-, 12-. AND 13-BIT A/D CONVERTERS SAMPLING RATES UP TO 1 1 1 .000/SECOND THERMOMETRY, DIGITAL 1/0 DATA LOGGING SOFTWARE CUSTOM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REASONABLE PRICES LAWSON LABS, INC. 5700 RAIBE ROAD COLUMBIA FALLS, MT 59912 406-387-5355 Inquiry 186 Inquiry l|9 Inquiry 204 J- PC/XT USERS! I COGTREE Utilities by Cogitate St 29.95 # LYNC by Norton-Lamber SI 99.95 # DATAFLEX by Data Access . . . Varies # RM/COBOL by Ryan/ McFarland Varies # Universe by Omnitrend . . . . S 98.50 I Blue Mac! by Cogitate S 599.00 # CadPower+ by Trilex S995.00 f Softext Teaching Aids S 95.00 M PrintSet by Cogitate S 79.95 M CogiTAPE by Cogitate CALLN # Anti-Static Products Varies W Uninterruptible Power Backups Varies J" TeleVideo Software CALLH EllfeiJ! "A Higher Form of Software" 24000 Telegraph Road Southfield, Ml 48034 |313| 352-2345/Telex 386581 VISA/MASTERCARD ACCEPTED Dealer Inquiries Welcomed ICs and Disk Drives 64K / 126K / 256K D-RAMs at LOW PRICES TEAC FD-55BV DSDD Disk Drives 189.00 each or •82.00 each for box of 10 [w/one year factory warranty!] V-20/V-30 TURBO CHARGER * HIGH SPEED-Up to 40% increase! * CMOS— Uses 85% less power! * REPLACES slow 8088 CPU * LOW COST! MEMORY BOARDS *ABM SUPER80ARD w/QK 8125.00 *ABM MEM512 w/OK 8 95.00 *JRAM-2 w/OK 8148.00 Expandable 2MB w/IDK 8148.00 EPROM, S-R AM, 8087, and 80287a era IN STOCK CALL US FOR DETAILBI ExcelTec Industries, Inc. P.O. Box 2205 Silver Spring, MD 20902 1015 Gayley Ave. #422, Los Angeles, CA 90024 West Coast East Coast Phone: (213)208-6942 (301)933-3523 FAX: (213)208-6846 (301)933-3643 OEMs and DEALERS are Invited CALL US FOR THE LATEST PRICES 9-TRACK MAG. TAPE SUBSYSTEM FOR THE IBM PC/XT/AT !4757 For information interchange, backup and archival storage. IBEX offers a 9-track. IBM format-compatible 'A" magnetic tape subsystem for the IBM PC, featuring: ■ 42 MBytes on a single v^r^MV > IBM format 1600 cpf. )BEX COMPirrER CORR a Software for PC-DOS, 20741 Mar osi ue.nni; Chatsworth. CA 913U iwi& uus. (818) 709 . 8100 TWX. 910-493-2071 Inquiry 63 Inquiry 128 Inquiry 162 I icro products nternational 714/898-0840 i Telex: 887841 XORDATA HTBH Fax: 714/897-3363 ► 15392 Assembly Lane, Unit A • Huntington Beach, CA 92649 < LOOK what ' s UVWIX Inside! 5 Complete Systems Our, 1986 Catalog is HOT} off the press! / [ v Dealers! Check our 9 * Profitable Discount Pricing! The XAT is out most versatile and powerful system. Using Intel s 80286 processor, the system runs at 6 and 8 MHz with a true 16-bit data bus. Comes standard with a 3 me§ Add-On board, 2 parallel & one serial port, monitor, keyboard. DOS 3.1, two ^height DS/DD 1.2 meg floppies. This standard system is as compatible with IBM as it can be. Featuring a 4-layer mother- board. 8-slot expansion, up to 640K memory on the motherboard, and the 6.67 MHz TURBO mode. Also included: DOS 31. keyboard, 135 watt power supply, TTL 72t x 348 resolution video card, green or amber monitor, serial & parallel ports. Real Time Clock and software. Mlilllllllllllilllllllll I . illli!l|!lllllil!f ~i !llil!lll|||||l!l|fii f | The perfect choice for the system integrator who needs the IBM compatibility, but not in the standard PC cabinet This model features hinged and removable sides, up to 3 ' zheight peripherals out front, Iron! mount AC switch and rear mount 200 watt power supply Also makes an ideal "Host" of "File Server' unit in multi-user configurations' The XTjr. is only junior in size' With up to 640K memory on the motherboard and four expansion slots, this stand-alone system is also greal for workstations in a networking environment It can be upgraded to the TURBO two speed motherboard and you can also add up to 2 serial & 2 parallel ports or any IBM compatible expansion card A perfect word processing data entry system. Compact This is truly Ihe affordable portable, and we II build it to your specifications Need a 20 meg hard disk and 20 meg tape with 640K memory in your compact portable"? Or how about a 2 (loppy Turbo system? No problem' The XPC Compact comes standard with a 9 " green CRT driven by a color graphics card so you'll always have a RGB color out- put to externally run a color monitor Amsterdam ■ 020-45-26-50 2 Meg Above Board 24 Add-On Cards This board satisfies the new "Above Board" approach suggested by INTEL and Lotus 1-2-3 Also may be used on our XT-SBC TURBO board for memory based at (K Hard Disk Controller Handles 1 or 2 drives. 5 to 140 megabytes with mini- mum software configuration. Features DOS 21 & 3 1 compatibility, and ST-506 Interface 384K Multi-Function Features Parallel Port. Serial Port. Game Port. Clock Calendar. Expand to 384K all cables. Print- Spooler and RAM Disk Software. Germany 4 Meg Token Ring Connect your workstation to an existing 4 Megabyte IBM token ring system or build up your own IEEE 802 5 standard system The lowest possible cost for 100'l industry standard compatibility AT H.D. & Floppy This new combo board with its Ivspeed VLSI technology will give you a data transfer rate 50% than the existing combo board in the AT. Runs both 360K and 1.2 meg floppy disk drives Mono & Color Graphics Supports two levels o f graphics and text in monochrome or color Low resolution 320 x 200 pixel, high resolution 640 x 200 pixel 7 PAK Multi-Function Features Floppy Controller, Parallel Port. Serial Port (optional 2nd Serial). Game Port. Clock Calendar. RAM- disk. PrmtSpooler. all cables & manuals 35 Components PROM Laser Hi-speedalgorithmes will burn 2716, 2 732 2 732A. 2764 (m 52 sec) 27 128. 27 256 EPROMS under soft- ware control right in your PC Bombay ■ 357172 Motherboards XAT TURBO XT-SBC • RTC Calendar • 4 77 & 8 MHz clock • 6 8. & 10MHz clock • Serial & Parallel » 8-slol expansion • 4-layer PCB design • Intel 80286 • RTC Calendar XPC TURBO XPC-XT 4 77* 6.67 MHZ • Standard 4.77 MHz A ti,,a, Of*0 rt^r-.*,* m ... 1. C 1AI/ _>..., <* i r t> o.or iwni 4-layer PCB design • up to 640K memory 8-slot expansion • 8-slot expansion up to 640K Memory • standard 8088 CPU 6088-2 processor ■ 8087 socket avail Power Supplys XT 135 watt XTC-Black ■ ^ Rear Mount Rear On OH switch extra AC outlets + 5V-15A -5V-.5A + 12V-4A,-.!2V-.5A • 135w swilchmg « • Whisper Fan « • Side AC switch « • + 5V-15A-5V-5A • • + 12V-4.2A/-12V-.5A" AT 200 watt XT 150 watt Whisper fan Hi-outpul 150 wait 4 DC connectors + 5V-15A -5V-.5A + 12V-5 5A-12V-5A ' 200 Watt power i Exterior AC switch i 4 DC power conn. • +5V-20A -5V-5A + 12V-7.7A.-12V-.5A* Cabinets The XTjr. cabinet is only 3 " x 16 5 " x 15 \< will hold a standard XT compatible molherboa Includes a swilchmg power supply Front pane cut-out for a half-height (loppy or hard disk Our XPC-XT cabinet has an 8-slot back panel with additional cut-outs tor two RS-232 I/O ports Features mounting tor up to lour hnll height peripherals. The right choice lor an external add-on cabinet' Add-on a floppy, tape back-up, or up to 33 meg of hard disk (half-height) Switching power supply is included. Keyboards AT iSlp^'i This Keyboard is standard equipment with all of out XAT systems, but the layout is so well liked, we're offering it here _ XT /!§.' PI Our volume purchases of these IBM style unitsallows us to lowerthepriceonce again 5151 Now a fully selectric unit at an alfordable price. Features a tOkey numeric pad & a separate cursor pad. Drives Archive Irwin Maxtor Memtek Miniscribe Panasonic Seagate TEAC l\ilin 3 Sub-Systems 3 Networks Cassette Training Int/Ext Modems Choose from single !?height, dual 'rheight. or '/iheight with lull heigh! base. All Sub-systems include con- trollers, cables, software, and manuals. One way to stay ahead of the competition is by using a Mulh- User or Network system configuration from Micro Products International. Choose Hi-speed RS-232 • XOR-NET SDLC or Token Ring Data transfer rales up to 4 megabytes/ second can be obtained. What is the Cassette Training concept? Using Interactive Audio Training to combine the advantage of classroom and sell-teaching methods. The Method One audio track delivers a lecture explaining the program, while the second track emulates the keyboard. actually runs Ihe student's computer Al frequent intervals the tape pauses automatically to allow the student keyboard input, which is monitored for accuracy by the MITS COED • FCC approved direct RJ-11 connection • Phone Cable a Power Supply Finally a price breakthrough on i 30 1200 baud modem Our low p software |MSHHH|jH • Runs Ihe popular Hayes communications software ■M- 1 • XCOM software included • All cables included We included every feature you would want in a modem card It's FCC registered for direct connection to your modular phone jack with the cord included Inquiry 238 PORTABLE MEMORY EXPANSIONS 8K MEMORY MODULES $29 For Model 100, NEC PC-8201A & Olivetti M10 24K MEMORY MODULES $99 For Tandy 200 128K SIDESTAR $399 A Ram Disk Cartridge for the NEC Starlet 128K SIDECAR $259 Ram Cartridge tor the NEC PC-8201A TTXpress 1280 $99 Portable Thermal Printer— 2.2 lbs., bat. oper. FREE SHIPPING IN USA (800) 732-5012 (805) 987-4788 (in Calif.) VISA MIC & AM E R.EXP. 420 Constitution Ave., Camarillo, CA 93010 //^COMPUTING Inquiry 429 FREE SOFTWARE FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN User Group Software isn't copyrighted, so no fees to pay! 1000's of CP/M and IBM software programs in .COM and source code to copy yourself! Games, Buy 850. 475. 675. 250. 100. 200. 200. 200. business, utilities! All FREE! Rent IBMPC-SIG 1-390 Disksides 410. IBMPC-BLUE 1-154 Disksides 175. SIG/M UG 1-246 Disksides 160. CP/M UG 1-92 Disksides 45. PICO NET 1-34 Disksides 25. KAYPRO UG 1-54 Disksides 65. EPSON UG 1-52 Disksides 65. Commodore CBM 1-93 Disksides. . 100. Public Domain User Group Catalog Disk $5 pp. (payment in advance, please) Rental is for 7 days after receipt, 3 days grace to return. Use a credit card, no disk deposit. Shipping, handling & insurance $9.50 per library. (619) 941-0925 Orders & Technical (9 to 5) (619) 727-1015 24 Hr. 3 Min. Info Recording Have your credit card ready! National Public Domain Software 1533 Avohill Dr. Vista, CA 92083 800-621-5460 then dial 782-542 BBB AM EX Inquiry 261 5W te ^ FLEXYDISKS $ 1.15ea 1 .11, 1 .O^ea .54 $ 3.29ea $ 3.19 $ 2.35ea $ 2.25 ea fea ea SS/DD Soft DS/DD Soft High Density (IBM-ATI 3.5/SS Micro In Stock — Immediate Shipment. Mastercard, VISA, Check or Money Order. Add $3.00 shipping charges per each 100 or part. Add $2.50 additional for C.O.D. shipments. N.J. residents add 6% sales tax. Data Exchange Dept. B, P.O. Box 993 178 Route 206 South Somerville, N.J. 08876 (201) 874-5050 Inquiry 395 age 6 5 years worked 40 retirement benefits The U.S. Department of Labor has a free booklet that will help you answer these questions and a lot more. Send for it today. Write: Pensions, Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, Colorado 81009 U.S. Department of Labor ! jSaleSIu^ KEYBOARD PROTECTOR Remains in place during keyboard use. Prevents damage from liquid spills, dust, ashes, etc. Fits like a second skin, excellent feel. Available for: IBM-PC, AT, Apple (all), Compaq, Model 100, NEC 8201, C64, Zenith 150, DEC, Kaypro and many others, Send $29.95, check, M.O., Visa & MC include exp. date. Specify computer type. Dealer inquiries invited. Free brochure avail. Merritt Computer Products, Inc. 2925LBJFwy. #180 / Dallas, Texas 75234 (214) 942-1142 Inquiry 2 32 BUY UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS 1 1 Exxon 2 General Motors 3 Mobil 4 Ford Motor 5 IBM 6 Texaco 7 E.I. du Pont 8 Standard Oil (Ind.) 9 Standard Oil of Cat 10 General Electric 11 Gulf Oil 12 Atlantic Richfield 13 Shell Oil 14 Occidental Petroleum 15 U.S. Steel 16 Phillips Petroleum million Americans can't read. And guess who pays the price. Every year, functional illiteracy costs American business billions. But your company can fight back... by joining your local community's fight against illiteracy. Call the Coalition for Literacy at toll-free 1-800-228-8813 and find out how. You may find it's the greatest cost-saving measure your company has ever taken. A literate America is a good investment o Coalition for Literacy m\ Gxnci BUILD YOUR OWN XT COMPATIBLE SYSTEM 640K XT COMPATIBLE MOTHERBOARD ONLY $ 1 69 • 4.77 MHz 8088 CPU, OPTIONAL 8087 CO-PROCESSOR • 8 EXPANSION SLOTS • OK RAM INSTALLED, EXPAND- ABLE TO 640K ON-BOARD MEMORY • ALL ICs SOCKETED— HIGHEST QUALITY PC BOARD • ACCEPTS 2764 OR 27128 ROMS Compatible with all IBM PC/XT hardware and software. Use with our flip-top case, power supply and other accessories to build a com- plete XT compatible system. PRO-BIOS $29^ IBM XT Compatible BIOS runs virtually all IBM software, even Sidekick! EXTRA FEATURES: Control colors from DOS Park heads on the hard disk with Control-Alternate-Break HARO BISK SYSTEMS MIHISCRIBE/SHUGART 10 MEGABYTE HALF HEIGHT SEAGATE ST-225 20 MEGABYTE HALF HEIGHT $395 $525 Includes short slot HD controller, cables, mounting hardware and instructions. All drives are pre-tested. One year warranty. VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE LOCATED AT 1256 SOUTH BASCOM AVENUE IN SAN JOSE I ■ 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 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 ind-ide $2.50 (or UPS Ground and $3.50 (or UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and Ion additional shipping charges - please contact our sales department lor the a residents musl include applicable sales tan. All merchandise is warranted lor 90 days unless otherwise stated. Prices are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible tor typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit quantities and lo substitute manufacturer. All merchandise subject to prior sale. © Copyright 1985 JDR Microdevices Inquiry 182 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 455 4164 2oons 690 STATIC RAMS 2101 256x4 (450ns) 1.95 | 5101 256x4 (450ns)(CMOS) 3.95 2102L-4 1024x1 (450ns)(LP) .99 2102L-2 1024x1 (250ns)(LP) 1.45 2112 256x4 (450ns) 2.99 2114 1024x4 (450ns) .99 2114L-4 1024x4 (450ns)(LP) 1.09 2114L-2 1024x4 (200ns)(LP) 1.49 2114L-15 1024x4 (150ns)(LP) 1.95 TMS4044-4 4096x1 (450ns) 1.95 TMM2016-150 2048x8 (150ns) 1.49 TMM2016-100 2048x8 (100ns) 1.95 HM6116-4 2048x8 (200ns)(CMOS) 1.39 HM6116-3 2048x8 (150ns)(CMOS) 1.49 HM6116LP-4 2048x8 (200ns)(CMOS)(LP) 1.49 HM6116LP-3 2048x8 (150ns)(CMOS)(LP) 1.59 HM6116LP-2 2048x8 (120ns)(CMOS)(LP) 2.95 HM6264P-15 8192x8 (150ns)(CMOS) 3.89 HM6264LP-15 8192x8 (150ns)(CMOS)(LP) 3.95 HM6264LP 12 8192x8 (120ns)(CMOS)(LP) 4.49 LP=Lovw power DYNAMIC RAMS 4116-250 16384x1 (250ns) .49 4116-200 16384x1 (200ns) .69 4116-150 16384x1 (150ns) .89 4116-120 16384x1 (120ns) 1.49 MK4332 32768x1 (200ns) 6.95 4164-200 65536x1 (200ns)(5V) .69 4164-150 65536x1 (150ns)(5V) .79 4164-120 65536x1 (120ns)(5V) 1.95 MCM6665 65536x1 (200ns)(5V) 1.95 TMS4164 65536x1 (150ns)(5V) 1.95 4164-REFRESH 65536x1 (150ns)(5V)(REFRESH) 2.95 TMS4416 16384x4 (150ns)(5V) 4.95 41128-150 131072x1 (150ns)(5V) 5.95 41256-200 262144x1 (200ns)(5V) 2.95 41256-150 262144x1 (150ns)(5V) 2.95 L 5V=Single 5 Volt Supply REFRESH=Pin 1 Refresh 41256 150ns $2.95 • •••HIGH-TECH**** NECV20 UPD70108 $2095 REPLACES B06B TO SPEED UP IBM PC 1(M0% • HIGH-SPEED ADDRESS CALCULATION IN HARDWARE • PIN COMPATIBLE WITH 8088 • SUPERSET OF 8086/8088 INSTRUCTION SET • LOW POWER CMOS 8 MHZ V20 UPD70108-8 $24.95 8 MHZ V30 UPD70116-8 $26.95 • •••SPOTLIGHT**** ORDER TOLL FREE .iTiTiBftliMiliIi: 800-662-6279, EPROMS 2708 | 2716-6 2716 I 2716-1 TMS2532 2732 2732A 2732A-2 27C64 I 2764 ! 2764-250 2764-200 TMS2564 MCM68766 27128 27C256 1 27256 5V=Single 5 1024x8 2048x8 2048x8 2048x8 4096x8 4096x8 4096x8 4096x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 16384x8 32768x8 32768x8 Volt Supply (450ns) (650ns) (450ns)(5V) (350ns)(5V) (450ns)(5V) (450ns)(5V) (250ns)(5V)(21VPGM) (200ns)(5V)(21V PGM) (250ns)(5V)(CMOS) (450ns)(5V) (250ns)(5V) (200ns)(5V) (450ns)(5V) (350ns)(5V)(24 PIN) (250ns)(5V) (250ns)(5V)(CMOS) (250ns)(5V) 3.95 2.29 1.95 2.49 3.95 2.29 2.69 3.95 5.95 1.95 2.49 3.49 8.95 17.95 2.79 12.95 7.49 21V PGM=Program at 21 Volts fl?£SEE!E£ EPRI 1 ERASERS ■ CORPORATION 00 Model Timer Capacity Chip Intensity (uW/Cm 2 ) Unit Price PE-14 NO 9 8,000 S83.00 PE-14T YES 9 8,000 S119.00 PE-24T YES 12 9,600 S175.00 8000 8035 1.49 8039 1.95 8080 2.95 8085 2.49 8087-2 139.95 8087 109.00 8088 6.95 8088-2 9.95 8155 2.49 8155-2 3.95 8748 7.95 8755 1995 80286 129.95 80287 185.00 6500 1.0MHZ 6502 2.79 65C02ICMOS) 12.95 CRT CONTROLLERS CRYSTALS 74LS00 8200 8203 8205 8212 8216 | 8224 8237 8237-5 8250 8251 8251A 8253 8253-5 8255 8255-5 8259 8259-5 I 8272 8279 | 8279-5 8282 8284 8286 L 8288 29.95 3.29 1.49 1.49 2.25 4.95 5.49 6.95 1.69 1.89 1.89 1.95 1.69 1.89 1.95 2.29 4.95 2.49 2.95 3.95 2.95 3.95 4.95 J 6507 9.95 6520 1.95 6522 4.95 6526 26.95 6532 6.95 6545 6.95 6551 5.95 6561 19.95 6581 34.95 2.0 MHZ 6502A 2.95 6520A 2.95 6522A 5.95 6532A 11.95 6545A 7.95 6551A 6.95 6845 68B45 6847 HD46505SP MCI 372 8275 7220 CRT5027 CRT5037 L TMS9918A 4.95 8.95 11.95 6.95 2.95 26.95 19.95 12.95 9.95 19.95 3.0 MHZ 6502B 6.95 6800 1.0MHZ Z-80 6800 6802 6803 6809 6809E 6810 6820 6821 6840 6843 6844 6845 6847 6850 6883 1.95 4.95 9.95 5.95 5.95 1.95 2.95 1.95 6.95 19.95 12.95 4.95 11.95 1.95 22.95 DISK CONTROLLERS 1771 4.95 1791 9.95 1793 9.95 1795 12.95 1797 12.95 2791 19.95 2793 19.95 2797 29.95 6843 19.95 8272 4.95 UPD765 4.95 MB8876 12.95 MB8877 12.95 1691 6.95 2143 6.95 BIT RATE GENERATORS 32.768 KHz 1.0 MHz 1.8432 2.0 2.097152 2.4576 3.2768 3.579545 4.0 4.032 5.0 I 5.0688 6.0 6.144 6.5536 8.0 10.0 10.738635 12.0 14.31818 15.0 16.0 17.430 18.0 18.432 20.0 22.1184 24.0 32.0 .95 2.95 2.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 CRYSTAL OSCILLATORS MC14411 9.95 BR1941 4.95 4702 9.95 COM8116 8.95 l MM5307 4.95 | Z80-CPU2 5MHz1.79 4.0 MHZ I ZSOA-CPU Z80A-CTC Z80A-DART Z80A-DMA Z80A-PIO Z80A-SIO I Z80A-SIO 1 l Z80A-SIO/2 2.0 MHZ 1.89 1.95 5.95 5.95 1.95 5.95 5.95 5.95 68B00 68B02 68B09E 68B09 6SB21 68B45 68B50 1 68B54 4.95 5.95 7.95 7.95 4.95 8.95 3.95 7.95 A UARTS AY5-1013 AY3-1015 TR1602 2651 IM6402 IM6403 . INS8250 3.95 4.95 3.95 4.95 6.95 9.95 6.95 , 1.0MHz 1.8432 I 2.0 2.4576 2.5 4.0 5.0688 6.0 6.144 8.0 10.0 12.0 12.480 15.0 16.0 18.432 20.0 L 24.0 5.95 5.95 5.95 5.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 . MISC. 6.0 MHZ Z80B-CPU Z80B-CTC Z80B-PIO Z80B-DART Z80B-SIO/0 Z80B-SIO/2 LZ8671 ZILOG 4.95 8.95 8.95 14.95 12.95 12.95 19.95 J CLOCK CIRCUITS MM5369 1.95 MM5369-EST 1.95 MM58167 12.95 MM58174 11.95 . MSM5832 2.95 , SOUND CHIPS 76477 76489 SSI-263 AY3-8910 AY3-8912 L SP1000 3.95 8.95 39.95 12.95 12.95 39.00 J TMS99531 TMS99532 ULN2003 3242 3341 MC3470 MC3480 MC3487 11C90 2513-001 UP AY5-2376 1 AY5-3600 PR0 11.95 I 9.95 19.95 .79 7.95 4.95 1.95 8.95 2.95 13.95 6.95 11.95 74LS00 .16 74LS01 .18 74LS02 .17 74LS03 .18 74LS04 .16 74LS05 .18 74LS08 .18 74LS09 .18 74LS10 .16 74LS1 1 .22 74LS12 .22 74LS13 .26 74LS14 .39 74LS15 26 74LS20 .17 74LS21 .22 74LS22 .22 74LS27 .23 74LS28 .26 74LS30 .17 74LS32 .18 74LS33 .28 74LS37 .26 74LS38 .26 74LS42 .39 74LS47 .59 74LS48 .69 74LS51 .17 74LS73 .29 74LS74 .24 74LS75 .29 74LS76 .29 74LS83 .49 74LS85 .49 74LS86 .22 74LS90 .39 74LS92 .49 74LS93 .39 74LS95 .49 74LS107 .34 74LS109 .36 74LS112 .29 74LS122 .45 74LS123 .49 74LS124 2.75 74LS125 .39 74LS126 .39 74LS132 .39 74LS133 .49 74LS136 .39 74LS138 .39 74LS139 .39 74LS145 .99 74LS147 .99 74LS148 .99 74LS151 .39 74LS153 .39 74LS154 1.49 74LS155 .59 74LS156 .49 74LS157 .35 74LS158 .29 74LS160 .29 74LS161 .39 74LS162 .49 74LS163 .39 74LS164 .49 .65 .95 .95 .49 .39 .39 .49 .69 .69 .59 .59 .59 .69 .69 .69 .69 .69 .79 .49 74LS165 74LS166 74LS169 74LS173 74LS174 74LS175 74LS191 74LS192 74LS193 74LS194 74LS195 74LS196 74LS197 74LS221 74LS240 74LS241 74LS242 74LS243 74LS244 74LS245 74LS251 74LS253 74LS256 1.79 74LS257 .39 74LS258 .49 74LS259 1.29 74LS260 .49 74LS266 .39 74LS273 .79 74LS279 .39 74LS280 1.98 74LS283 .59 74LS290 .89 74LS293 .89 74LS299 1.49 74LS322 3.95 74LS323 2.49 74LS364 1.95 74LS365 .39 74LS367 74LS368 74LS373 74LS374 74LS375 74LS377 74LS378 1.18 74LS390 1.19 74LS393 .79 74LS541 1.49 74LS624 1.95 74LS640 .99 74LS645 .99 74LS669 1.29 74LS670 .89 74LS682 3.20 74LS683 3.20 74LS684 3.20 74LS688 2.40 74LS783 22.95 81LS95 1.49 81LS96 1.49 81LS97 1.49 81LS98 1.49 25LS2521 2.80 25LS2569 2.80 26LS31 1.95 26LS32 1.95 .39 .39 .79 .79 .95 .79 HIGH SPEED CMOS A new family of high speed CMOS logic featuring the speed of low power Scnottky (8ns typical gate propagation delay), combined with the advantages of CMOS: very low power consumption, supeiior noise immunity, and improved output drive. 74HC00 74HC: Operate at CMOS logic levels and are ideal for new. all-CMOS designs. 74HC00 74HC02 74HC04 74HC08 74HC10 74HC14 74HC20 74HC27 74HC30 74HC32 74HC51 74HC74 74HC85 74HC86 74HC93 74HC107 74HC109 74HC112 74HC125 74HC132 74HC133 74HC138 74HC139 .59 .59 .59 .59 .59 .79 .59 .59 .59 .69 .59 .75 1.35 .69 1.19 .79 .79 .79 1.19 1.19 .69 .99 74HC148 74HC151 74HC154 74HC157 74HC158 74HC163 74HC175 74HC240 74HC244 74HC245 74HC257 74HC259 74HC273 74HC299 74HC368 74HC373 74HC374 74HC390 74HC393 74HC4017 74HC4020 74HC4049 74HC4050 1.19 .89 2.49 .89 .95 1.15 .99 1.89 1.89 1.89 .85 1.39 1.89 4.99 .99 2.29 2.29 1.39 1.39 1.99 1.39 .89 .89 74HCT00 74HCT: Direct, drop-in replacements for LS TTL and can be intermixed with 74LS in the same circuit. 74HCT00 74HCT02 74HCT04 74HCT08 74HCT10 74HCT11 74HCT27 74HCT30 74HCT32 74HCT74 74HCT75 74HCT138 74HCT139 74HCT154 74HCT157 74HCT158 74HCT161 74HCT164 74F00 .69 74F02 .69 74F04 .79 74F08 .69 74F10 .69 74F32 .69 L 74F64 .89 .69 .69 .79 .85 .95 1.15 1.15 2.99 .99 .99 1.29 1.39 74HCT166 74HCT174 74HCT193 74HCT194 74HCT240 74HCT241 74HCT244 74HCT245 74HCT257 74HCT259 74HCT273 74HCT367 74HCT373 74HCT374 74HCT393 74HCT4017 74HCT4040 74HCT4060 3.05 1.09 1.39 1.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 .99 1.59 2.09 1.09 2.49 2.49 1.59 2.19 1.59 1.49 . 74F00 74F74 .79 74F86 .99 74F138 1.69 74F139 1.69 74F157 1.69 74F240 3.29 74F244 3.29 74F251 1.69 74F253 1.69 74F257 1,69 74F280 1.79 74F283 3.95 74F373 4.29 74F374 4.29 1 VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE LOCATED AT 1256 SOUTH BASCOM AVENUE IN SAN JOSE MUUH5>: M-W-h, 3-5 TU-TH, 9-9 5A IJjjD |\/||f*rOf4o\/|r ,fc OQ PLEASE USE YOUR CUSTOMER NUMBER WHEN ORD *^™^ H Mi^^i %J%A\J W ■ %#V^L# TERMS: Minimum order $10.00. For shipping and handling include $Z50 1994 Q R^Qmm Aueni Id Qan Inca PA Q£19A Ground and S3.S0 for UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and foreign orders rrr l£.£H O. DCiaUUIII AWeilUt?, Odll aObe, \**\ WltO additional shipping charges -please contact our sales department fortnear qaa COO CAftft m Qflfl CCO C07A If* A \ m I At\Q\ i\C\C C/10A residents must include applicable sales tax. All merchandise is warranted to OUU-OOO-OUUU • OUU-DD^-O^/y (UA) • (4UoJ yyO-D^OU unless otherwise stated. Prices are subject to change without notice. W< r- a w /jAn\ A-rr «i m * r- -^ • -i -» «■ m "a m responsible for typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit qu "' PAX (400) 275-8415 • TeleX 17 1-110 substitute manufacturer. All merchandise subject to prior sate. ©COPYRIGHT 1985 JDR MICRODEVICES, INC. THE JDR MICRODEVICES LOGO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF JDR MICRODEVICES. JDR INSTRUMENTS AND JDR MICRODEVICES ARE TRADEMARKS OF JDR MICRODEVICES. IBM IS A TRADEMARK OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES. APPLE IS A TRADEMARK OF APPLE COMPUTER. 456 BYTE • JANUARY 1 986 Inquiry I83 PARTIAL LISTING ONLY — CALL FOR A FREE CATALOG CMOS 7400/9000 4001 .19 14419 4.95 7400 .19 74147 2.49 ■ 74S00 .29 74S163 1.29 4011 .19 14433 14.95 7402 .19 74148 1.20 ■ 74S02 .29 74S168 3.95 4012 .25 4503 .49 7404 .19 74150 1.35 ■ 74S03 .29 74S174 .79 4013 .35 4511 .69 7406 .29 74151 .55 ■ 74S04 .29 74S175 .79 4015 .29 4516 .79 7407 .29 74153 .55 ■ 74S05 .29 74S188 1.95 4016 .29 4518 .85 7408 .24 74154 1.49 ■ 74S08 .35 74S189 1.95 4017 .49 4522 .79 7410 .19 74155 .75 ■ 74S10 .29 74S195 1.49 4018 .69 4526 .79 7411 .25 74157 .55 ■ 74S15 .35 74S196 1.49 4020 .59 4527 1.95 7414 .49 74159 1.65 ■ 74S30 .29 74S197 1.49 4021 .69 4528 .79 7416 25 74161 .69 ■ 74S32 .35 74S226 3.99 4024 .49 4529 2.95 7417 .25 74163 .69 ■ 74S37 .69 74S240 1.49 4025 .25 4532 1.95 7420 .19 74164 .85 ■ 74S38 .69 74S241 1.49 4027 .39 4538 .95 7423 .29 74165 .85 ■ 74S74 .49 74S244 1.49 4028 .65 4541 1 .29 7430 .19 74166 1.00 ■ 74S85 .95 74S257 .79 4035 69 4553 5.79 7432 .29 74175 .89 ■ 74S86 .35 74S253 .79 4040 .69 4585 .75 7438 .29 74177 .75 ■ 74S112 .50 74S258 .95 4041 .75 4702 12.95 7442 .49 74178 1.15 B 74S124 2.75 74S280 1.95 4042 .59 74C00 .29 7445 .69 74181 2.25 ■ 74S138 .79 74S287 1.69 4043 .85 74C14 .59 7447 .89 74182 .75 ■ 74S140 .55 74S288 1.69 4044 .69 74C74 .59 7470 .35 74184 2.00 ■ 74S151 .79 74S299 2.95 4045 1.98 74C83 1.95 7473 .34 74191 1.15 ■ 74S153 .79 74S373 1.69 4046 .69 74C85 1.49 7474 .33 74192 .79 ■ 74S157 .79 74S374 1.69 4047 .69 74C95 .99 7475 .45 74194 .85 ■ 74S158 .95 74S471 4.95 4049 4050 4051 .29 .29 .69 .69 74C150 5.75 74C151 2.25 74C161 .99 74C163 .99 7476 7483 7485 7486 .35 .50 .59 .35 74196 74197 74199 74221 .79 ■ .75 ■ 1.35 ■ 1.35 ■ 74S161 1.29 74S571 2.95 4052 4053 4056 .69 2.19 74C164 1.39 74C192 1.49 7489 7490 2.15 .39 74246 74247 1.35 ■ 1.25 ■ DATA ACQ INTERFACE 4060 .69 74C193 1.49 7492 .50 74248 1.85 ■ ADC0800 15.55 8T26 1.29 4066 .29 74C221 1.75 7493 .35 74249 1.95 ■ ADC0804 3.49 8T28 1.29 4069 .19 74C240 1.89 7495 .55 74251 .75 ■ ADC0809 4.49 8T95 .89 4076 .59 74C244 1.89 7497 2.75 74265 1.35 ■ ADC0816 14.95 8T96 .89 4077 .29 74C374 1.99 74100 2.29 74273 1.95 ■ ADC0817 9.95 8T97 .59 4081 .22 74C905 10.95 74121 .29 74278 3.11 I ADC0831 8.95 8T98 .89 4085 .79 74C911 8.95 74123 .49 74367 .65 ■ DAC0800 4.49 DM8131 2.95 4086 .89 74C917 8.95 74125 .45 74368 .65 ■ DAC0806 1.95 DP8304 2.29 4093 .49 74C922 4.49 74141 .65 9368 3.95 ■ DAC0808 2.95 DS8833 2.25 4094 2.49 74C923 4.95 74143 5.95 9602 1.50 ■ DAC1020 8.25 DS8835 1.99 14411 9.95 74C926 7.95 74144 2.95 9637 2.95 ■ DAC1022 5.95 DS8836 .99 14412 6.95 80C97 .95 74145 .60 96S02 1.95 ■ L MC1408L8 2.95 DS8837 1.65 EDGECARD CONNECTORS 100 PIN ST S-100 .125 3.95 100 PIN WW S-100 .125 4,95 62 PIN ST IBM PC .100 1.95 50 PIN ST APPLE .100 2.95 44 PIN ST STD .156 1.95 44 PIN WW STD .156 4.95 36 PIN CENTRONICS MALE IDCEN36 RIBBON CABLE 6.95 CEN36 SOLDER CUP 4.95 | CEN36PC RT ANGLE PC MOUNT 4.95 FEMALE JDCEN36/F RIBBON CABLE 7.95, INTERSIL ICL7106 9.95 ICL7107 12.95 ICL7660 2.95 ICL8038 4.95 ICM7207A 5.95 1CM7208 15.95 VOLTAGE REGULATORS TO-220 CASE I 7805T .49 7905T .59 7808T .49 7908T .59 7812T .49 7912T .59 | 7815T .49 7915T .59 TO-3 CASE I 7805K 1.39 7905K 1.49 | 7812K 1.39 7912K 1.49 TO-92 CASE 78L05 .49 79L05 .69 78L12 .49 79L12 .69 OTHER VOLTAGE REGS LM323K5V 3A TO-3 4.79 LM338KAdj.5A TO-3 3.95 | 78H05K5V 5A TO-3 7.95 78H12K 12V5A TO 3 8.95 L 78P05K 5V 10A TO-3 14.95 LINEAR [ IC SOCKETS 1-99 100 8 PIN ST .11 .10 14 PIN ST .11 .09 16 PIN ST .12 .10 18 PIN ST .15 .13 20 PIN ST .18 .15 22 PIN ST .15 .12 24 PIN ST .20 .15 28 PIN ST .22 .16 40 PIN ST .30 .22 64 PIN ST 1.95 1.49 ST=SOLDERTAIL 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 PIN WW 1.39 1.28 24 PIN WW 1.49 1.35 28 PIN WW 1.69 1.49 40 PIN WW 1.99 1.80 WW=WIREWRAP 16 PIN ZIF 4.95 CALL 24 PIN ZIF 5.95 CALL 28 PIN ZIF 6.95 CALL 40 PIN ZIF 9.95 CALL ZIF=TEXTOOL I (ZERO INSERTION FORCE) TL066 .99 LM733 .98 TL071 .69 LM741 .29 TL072 1.09 LM747 .69 TL074 1.95 LM748 .59 TL081 .59 MC1330 1.69 TL082 .99 MC1350 1.19 TL084 1.49 MC1372 6.95 LM301 .34 LM1414 1.59 LM309K 1.25 LM1458 .49 LM311 .59 LM1488 .49 LM311H .89 LM1489 .49 LM317K 3.49 LM1496 .85 LM317T .95 LM1812 8.25 LM318 1.49 LM1889 1.95 LM319 1.25 ULN2003 .79 LM320 see7900 XR2206 3.75 LM322 1.65 XR2211 2.95 LM323K 4.79 XR2240 1.95 LM324 .49 MPQ2907 1.95 LM331 3.95 LM2917 1.95 LM334 1.19 CA3046 .89 LM335 1.40 CA3081 .99 LM336 1.75 CA3082 .99 LM337K 3.95 CA3086 .80 LM338K 3.95 CA3089 1.95 LM339 .59 CA3130E .99 LM340 see7800 CA3146 1.29 LM350T 4.60 CA3160 1.19 LF353 .59 MC3470 1.95 LF356 .99 MC3480 8.95 LF357 .99 MC3487 2.95 LM358 59 LM3900 .49 LM380 .89 LM3909 .98 LM383 1.95 LM3911 2.25 LM386 .89 LM3914 2.39 LM393 .45 MC4024 3.49 LM394H 4.60 MC4044 3.99 TL494 4.20 RC4136 1.25 TL497 3.25 RC4558 .69 NE555 .29 LM13600 1.49 NE556 .49 75107 1.49 NE558 1.29 75110 1.95 NE564 1.95 75150 1.95 LM565 .95 75154 1.95 LM566 1.49 75188 1.25 LM567 .79 75189 1.25 NE570 2.95 75451 .39 NE590 2.50 75452 .39 NE592 .98 75453 .39 LM710 .75 75477 1.29 LM723 .49 75492 .79 H=TO-5 CAN, K =TO-3. T=TO-220 DIP CO INNECTORS DESCRIPTION ORDER BY CONTACTS 8 14 16 18 20 22 24 28 40 HIGH RELIABILITY TOOLED ST IC SOCKETS AUGATxxST .62 .79 .89 1.09 1.29 1.39 1.49 1.69 2.49 HIGH RELIABILITY TOOLED WW IC SOCKETS AUGATxxWW 1.30 1.80 2.10 2.40 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 DIODES/OPTO/TRANSISTORS FOR ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS SEE D-SUBMINIA TURE BELOW \ \ \\ i m i m i AUGAT 24ST D-S UBMINIATURE DESCRIPTION ORDER BY CONTACTS 9 15 19 25 37 50 SOLDER CUP MALE DBxxP .82 .90 1.25 1.25 1.80 3.48 FEMALE DBxxS .95 1.15 1.50 1.50 2.35 4.32 RIGHT ANGLE PC SOLDER MALE DBxxPR 1.20 1.49 1.95 2.65 FEMALE DBxxSR 1.25 1.55 2.00 2.79 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 2.70 2.95 3.98 5.70 _. FEMALE IDBxxS 2.92 3.20 4.33 6.76 HOODS METAL MHOODxx 1.25 1.25 1.30 1.30 GREY HOODxx .65 .65 .65 .75 .95 ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS: INSERT THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS IN THE POSITION | MARKED "xx" OF THE "ORDER BY" PART NUMBER LISTED. EXAMPLE: A 15 PIN RIGHT ANGLE MALE PC SOLDER WOULD BE DB15PR. MOUNTING HARDWARE $1.00 IDC CONNECTORS DESCRIPTION ORDER BY CONTACTS 10 20 26 34 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 IDHxxWR 2.05 3.28 4.22 4.45 4.80 7.30 RIBBON HEADER SOCKET IDSxx .79 .99 1.39 1.59 1.99 2.25 RIBBON HEADER IDMxx ... 5.50 6.25 7.00 7.50 8.50 RIBBON EDGE CARD IDExx 1.75 2.25 2.65 2.75 3.80 3.95 FOR ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS SEE D-SUBMINIATURE ABOVE HARD TO FIND "SHAPABLE" HEADERS CAN BE SNAPPED APARTTO MAKE ANY SIZE HEADER, ALL WITH .1" CENTERS 1x40 STRAIGHT LEAD .9S 1x40 RIGHT ANGLE 1.49 I 2x40 STRAIGHT LEAD 2.49 [2x40 RIGHT ANGLE 2.99, SHORTING BLOCKS GOLD CONTACTS SPACED J/$1.00 them. Thank you CALL FOR VOLUME QUOTES 1N751 .25 4N26 .69 1N759 .25 4N27 .69 1N4148 25/1.00 4N28 .69 1N4004 10/1.00 4N33 .89 IN 5402 .25 4N37 1.19 KBP04 .55 MCT-2 .59 KBU8A .95 MCT-6 1.29 MDA990-2 .35 TIL-111 .99 N2222 .25 2N3906 .10 PN2222 .10 2N4401 .25 2N2905 .50 2N4402 .25 2N2907 .25 2N4403 .25 2N3055 .79 2N6045 1.75 2N3904 .10 TIP31 .49 LED DISPLAYS FND-357(359) COM CATHODE .362" 1.25 FND-500(503) COM CATHODE .b" 1.49 FND-507(510) COM CATHODE .b" 1.49 MAN-72 COM ANODE .3" .99 MAN-74 COM CATHODE .3" .99 MAN-8940 COM CATHODE .8" 1.99 TIL-313 COM CATHODE .3" .45 HP5082-7760 COM CATHODE .43" 1.29 TIL-311 4x7 HEXW/LOGIC .270' 9.95 HP5082-7340 4x7 HEXW/LOGIC .290" 7.95 DIFFUSED LEDS 1-99 100-UP JUMBO RED T1V4 .10 .09 JUMBO GREEN T1V« .14 .12 JUMBO YELLOW T1*/4 .14 .12 MOUNTING HOW T1V4 .10 .09 MINI RED T1 .10 .09 SWITCHES SPST MINI-TOGGLE ON-ON DPDT MINI-TOGGLE ON-ON DPDT MINI-TOGGLE ON-OFF-ON SPST MINI-PUSHBUTTON NO. SPST MINI-PUSHBUTTON N.C. . SPST TOGGLE ON-OFF I BCD OUTPUT 10 POSITION 6 PIN DIP 1.25 1.50 1.75 .39 .39 .49 1.95 DIP SWITCHES 4 POSITION .85 7 POSITION .95 5 POSITION .90 8 POSITION .95 i 6 POSITION .90 10 POSITION 1.29 J lilar firms who u umers bothering F.K. Chapel Hill, NC . > COPYRIGHT 1985 JDR MICRODEVICES RIBBON CAB LE CONTACTS SINGLE COLOR COLOR CODED 1' 10' V 10' 10 .18 1.60 .30 2.75 16 .28 2.50 .48 4.40 20 .36 3.20 .60 5.50 25 .45 4.00 .75 6.85 26 .46 4.10 .78 7.15 34 .61 5.40 1,07 9.35 40 .72 6.40 1.20 11.00 50 .89 7.50 1.50 13.25 Inquiry 183 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 457 order toll free 800-538-5000 800-662-6279 BARGAIN HUNTERS CORNER DISK DRIVE SPECIALS TEAC FD-I Vi HEIGHT, IBM QUIWE QT Vi HEIGHT, IBI SHUGAI Vi HEIGHT S/DD $85°° DRIVE $69 95 $99 95 BLE LY $99 95 FULL OR 1 / 2 ECIALFROMA SAY WHO), TS-806 ONE TEAC HEIGHT HA MAJOR MANI PERFECT FOR Tl I HURRY — QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED! SPECIALS END 2/28/86 PAGE WIRE WRAP WIRE PRECUT ASSORTMENT IN ASSORTED COLORS $27.50 100ea: 5.5". 6.0", 6.5". 7.0" 250ea: 2.5". 4.5". 5.0" 500ea: 3.0". 3.5". 4.0" WIRE WRAP PROTOTYPE CARDS FR-4 EPOXY GLASS LAMINATE WITH GOLD-PLATED EDGE-CARD FINGERS SPOOLS 100 feet $4.30 500feet $13.25 250 feet $7.25 1000 feet $21.95 Please specify color: Blue, Black, Yellow or Red EMI FILTER ► MANUFACTURED BY CORCOM * LOW COST * FITS LC-HP BELOW *6AMP 120/240 VOLT 6 FOOT LINE CORDS LC-2 2 CONDUCTOR .39 | LC-3 2 CONDUCTOR .99 LC-HP 3 CONDUCTOR W/STD FEMALE SOCKET 1.49 MUFFIN FANS I 3.15" SQ ROTRON 14.95 | 3.63" SQ ETRI 14.95 L 3.18" SQ MASUSHITA 16.95 . IBM-PR2 .—-- IBM BOTH CARDS HAVE SILK SCREENED LEGENDS AND INCLUDES MOUNTING BRACKET IBM-PR1 WITH +5V AND GROUND PLANE .... $27.95 IBM-PR2 AS ABOVE WITH DECODING LAYOUT $29.95 S-100 P100-1 BARE- ND FOILPADS $15.15 P100-2 HORIZONTAL BUS $21.80 | P100-3 VERTICAL BUS $21.80 P100-4 SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HDLE $22.75 APPLE P500-1 BARE - NO FOIL PADS $15.15 P500-3 HORIZONTAL BUS $22.75 P500-4 SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HOLE $21.80 L 7060-45 FOR APPLE lie AUX SLOT $30.00 i SOCKET-WRAP I.D.™ * SLIPS OVER WIRE WRAP PINS * IDENTIFIES PIN NUMBERS ON WRAP SIDE OF BOARD * CA N WRITE ON PLASTIC; SUCH AS IC # 'INS PART# PCK. OF PRICE 8 IDWRAP08 10 1.95 14 IDWRAP14 10 1.95 16 IDWRAP 16 10 1.95 18 ID WRAP 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} CAPACITORS TANTALUM 1.0f/f 15V .35 A7fjf 35V .45 6.8 15V .70 1.0 35V .45 10 15V .80 2.2 35V .65 22 15V 1.35 4.7 35V .85 .22 35V .40 10 35V 1.00 DISC 10pf 50V .05 680 50V .05 22 50V .05 .001//f 50V .05 27 50V .05 .0022 50V .05 33 50V .05 .005 50V .05 47 50V .05 .01 50V .07 68 50V .05 .02 50V .07 100 50V .05 .05 50V .07 220 50V .05 .1 12V .10 560 50V .05 .1 50V .12 MONOLITHIC .ov 50V .14 .1//f 50V .18 .047^ 50V .15 A7f/f 50V .25 ELECTROLYTIC RADIAL AXIAL 1/if 25V .14 1//f 50V .14 2.2 35V .15 10 50V .16 4.7 50V .15 22 16V .14 10 50V .15 47 50V .20 47 35V .18 100 35V .25 100 16V .18 220 25V .30 220 35V .20 470 50V .50 470 25V .30 1000 16V .60 2200 16V .70 2200 16V .70 4700 25V 1.45 4700 16V 1.25 I COMPUTER GRADE 44.000//f 30V 3.95 FRAME STYLE TRANSFORMERS 2 AMP 5.95 4 AMP 7.95 AMP 10.95 2 AMP 7.95. [DATARASE EPROM ERASER $34.95 * ERASES TWO E PROMS IN 10 MINUTES • COMPACT-NO DRAWER ► THIN METAL SHUTTER PREVENTSUV LIGHT FROM ESCAPING isa % WATT RESISTORS 5% CARBON FILM ALL STANDARD VALUES FROM 1 OHM TO 10 MEG. OHM i 10 PCS same value .05 100 PCS same value .02 50 PCS same value .025 1000 PCS samevaJoe .015 RESISTOR NETWORKS SIP 10 PIN 9 RESISTOR .69 SIP 8 PIN 7 RESISTOR .59 DIP 16 PIN 8 RESISTOR 1.09 DIP 16 PIN 15 RESISTOR 1.09 DIP 14 PIN 7 RESISTOR .99 DIP 14 PIN 13 RESISTOR .99 SPECIALS ON BYPASS CAPACITORS .01 Lff CERAMIC DISC 100/S5.00 .01 (A MONOLITHIC 1 00/$1 0.00 .1 fif CERAMIC DISC 100/$6.50 .1 //f MONOLITHIC 100/$12.50, PS-IBM SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES $99.95 ' FOR IBM PC-XT COMPATIBLE ► 130 WATTS ► +5V@15A. +12V@4.2A PS-IBM -5V @ .5A. -12V @ .5A ► ONE YEAR WARRANTY PS-130 $99.95 * 130 WATTS * SWITCH ON REAR » FOR USE IN OTHER IBM TYPE MACHINES * 90 DAY WARRANTY PS-A $49.95 ► USE TO POWER APPLE TYPE SYSTEMS * +5V @ 4A, +12V @ 2.5A -5V @ .5A. -12V @ .5A * APPLE POWER CONNECTOR PS-SPL200 $49.95 * +5V @ 25A. +12V @ 3.5A -5V@1A. -12V @ 1A ► UL APPROVED » ALUMINUM ENCLOSURE PS-TDK $29.95 *+5V@4A, +12V@ 2A +12V @ 2.8A. -12V @ .30A ► 6.2" x 7.4" x 1.7". 1.6 LBS. PS-11951 $29.95 ► MANUFACTURED BYASTEC ► +5V @ 6A. +12V @ 2A +12 V @ 1.5A. -12V @2A. ► 5.0" x 8.0" x 2.0". 1.6 LBS. NEW BOOKS BY STEVE CIARCIA I BIULD YOUR OWN Z80 COMPUTER I CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 1 CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 2 CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 3 L CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 4 $19.95 $17.95 $18.95 $18.95 $18.95 J PS-SPL200 MICROCOMPUTER HARDWARE HANDBOOK | FROM ELCOMP $14.95 OVER 800 PAGES OF DATA SHEETS ON THE MOST COMMONLY USED ICs. INCLUDES TTL. CMOS. 74LS00, MEMORY, CPUs. MPU SUPPORT. . AND MUCH MORE! WISH SOLDERLESS BREADBOAROS PART NUMBER DIMENSIONS DISTRIBUTION STRIP(S) TIE POINTS TERMINAL STRIP(S) TIE POINTS BINDING POSTS PRICE WBU-D .38 x 6.50" 1 100 ... ... 2.95 WBU-T 1.38x6.50" 1 630 6.95 WBU-204-3 3.94 x 8.45" 1 100 2 1260 2 17.95 WBU-204 5.13x8.45" 4 400 2 1260 3 24.95 WBU-206 6.88 x 9.06" 5 500 3 1890 4 29.95 WBU-208 8.25 x 9.45" 7 700 4 2520 4 39.95 LITHIUM BATTERY WlC MASTER $79.95 I AS USED IN CLOCK CIRCUITS $3.95 S1.49 j 3 VOLT BATTERY . BATTERY HOLDER L THE INDUSTRY STANDARD ^ VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE LOCATED AT 1256 SOUTH BASCOM AVENUE IN SAN JOSE JDR Microdevices 1 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 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 (or UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and additional shipping charges - please contact our sales department for the amount CA residents must include applicable sales tax. All merchandise Is warranted tor 90 days unless otherwise stated. Prices are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible tor typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit quantities and to substitute manufacturer. All merchandise subject to prior sale. © Copyright 1985 JDR Microdevices 458 B YTE • JANUARY )986 Inquiry 184 PARTIAL LISTING ONLY — CALL FOR A FREE CATALOG IgL PRINTER BUFFERS - FREES COMPUTER FOR OTHER TASKS WHILE PRINTING LONG DOCUMENTS. STANDALONE DESIGN - WORKS WITH ANY COMPUTER OR PRINTER. ALL MODELS FEATURE PRINT PAUSE. MEMORY CHECK AND GRAPHICS CAPABILITY. m\ 3-WAY SWITCH BOXES $139.95 SP120P PARALLEL * 64K UPGRADABLE TO 256K * LED INDICATOR SHOWS VOLUME OF DATA IN BUFFER SP120S RS232 SERIAL $159.95 * 64K UPGRADABLE TO 256K * SIX SELECTABLE BAUD RATES FROM 600B - 19.200B SP110 PARALLEL $249.95 * 64K UPGRADABLE TO 512K * SPOOLS OUTPUT OF UP TO THREE COMPUTERS * LED BARGRAPH DISPLAYS AMOUNT OF DATA IN BUFFER * RESET FUNCTION CLEARS DATA IN BUFFER * REPEAT FUNCTION CAN PRODUCE MULTIPLE COPIES OF A DOCUMENT _ * SERIAL OR PARALLEL * CONNECTS 3 PRINTERS TO 1 COMPUTER OR 3 COMPUTERS TO 1 PRINTER * ALL LINES SWITCHED * HIGH QUALITY ROTARY SWITCH MOUNTED ON PCB * GOLD CONTACTS * STURDY METAL ENCLOSURE SWITCH-3P CENTRONICS PARALLEL 99.95 L SWITCH-3S RS232 SERIAL 99.95 J IBM PRINTER CABLE * DB25 TO CENTRONICS * SHIELDED CABLE $9.95 JOYSTICKS I $7.95 DISKETTES DISKETTE FILE N-MD2D N-MD2F N-MD2H N-FD1 IM-FD2D N-3.5SS V-MD1D V-MD2D V-MD110D NASHUA 5Va" DS/DD SOFT SECTOR DS/QUAD SOFT SECTOR DS/HIGH DENSITY FOR AT NASHUA 8" SS/DD SOFT SECTOR DS/DD SOFT SECTOR FLOPPY DISK DRIVES TEAC FD-55B V* HEIGHT DS/DD FD-55F Vi HEIGHT DS/QUAD oa**„ SHUGART 5A460 5V«" (80 TRACK) DS/QUAD i™..™^ TANDON | TlVn 00-2 5'/«" (FOR IBM) DS/DD MPI MPI-B52 5V«" (FOR IBM) DS/DD SIEMENS 8" DISK DRIVES FD 1 00-8 SS/DD SA801 R EQUIV. $ 1 1 9.00 I FD200-8 DS/DD SA851R EQUIV $ 1 59.00 JFORMAT-2 SOFTWARE $49.95 SUPPORT FOR QUAD DENSITY DRIVES FROM TALL TREE SYSTEMS DISK DRIVE CABINETS 5 1 /4 M DRIVE ENCLOSURES CAB-APPLE APPLE TYPE DRIVE CABINET $24.95 WITHOUT POWER SUPPLY | CAB-1FH5 FULL HEIGHT 5V4" BEIGE DRIVE CABINET $69.95 WITH POWER SUPPLY CAB-2SV5 DUAL SLIM LINE 5W* CABINET $49.95 WITH POWER SUPPLY - VERTICAL MOUNT 8 INCH DRIVE ENCLOSURES BY JHR | CAB-2SV8 DUAL SLIMLINE 8" DRIVE CABINET $209.95 WITH POWER SUPPLY - VERTICAL MOUNT CAB-2FH8 DUAL FULL HEIGHT 8" DRIVE CABINET WITH POWER SUPPLY - HORIZONTAL $219.95 $9.90 $34.95 $49.95 $27.95 $34.95 NASHUA 3.5" 3.5" SS/DD FOR MACINTOSH $32.95 VERBATIM 5 1 /4" SS/DD SOFT SECTOR $23.95 DS/DD SOFT SECTOR $29.95 SS/DD 10 SECTOR HARD $23.95 J NASHUA DISKETTE SPECIALS 5 1 /4" SOFT SECTOR DS/DD WITH HUB RINGS HOLDS 70 5W DISKETTES CAB-1FH5 IBM STYLE COMPUTER CASE ATTRACTIVE STEEL CASE, WITH HINGED LID. FITS POPULAR PC/XT COMPATIBLE MOTHER-BOARDS. IBM COMPATIBLE KEYBOARDS DKM-2000 $79.95 * SWITCH CUT-OUT ON SIDE FOR PC/XT STYLE POWER SUPPLY » CUT-OUT FOR 8 EXPANSION SLOTS • ALL HARDWARE INCLUDED $59.95 • FULLY IBM COMPATIBLE » 83 KEY IDENTICAL IAYOUTTOIBM KEYBOARD * LED STATUS INDICATORS FOR CAPS. NUMBER LOCK . AUDIBLE CLICK KB-5151 $9.90 B0N0F10 89Cea BULK QTY 50 790ea BULK QTY 250 NASHUA DISKETTES WERE JUDGED TO HAVE THE HIGHEST POLISH AND RECORDED AMPLITUDE OF ANY DISKETTES TESTED. SEE "COMPARING FLOPPY DISKS". BYTE 9-84. EXTENDER CARDS 1 " f '' IB " :. !;,:■>. IBM-PC $45.00 IBM-AT $68.00 APPLE II $45.00 APPLE Me $45.00 MULTIBUS $86.00 . POWER STRIPS * ULAPPROVED * 15A CIRCUIT BREAKER $12.95 $99.95 - ENHANCED IBM COMP. W/LARGE RETURN KEY ■ SEPARATE CURSOR AND NUMERIC KEYPADS ■ CAPS LOCK & NUMBER LOCK INDICATORS . IMPROVED KEYBOARD LAYOUT CASE WITH KEYBOARD KEYBOARD-AP $49.95 . REPLACEMENT FOR APPLE II KEYBOARD * CAPS LOCK KEY * AUTO-REPEAT t ONE KEY ENTRY OF BASIC OR CP/M COMMANDS FOR APPLE MOTHER-BOARD ■ USER DEFINED FUNCTION KEYS * NUMERIC KEYPADWITH CURSOR CONTROL > CAPS LOCK <■ AUTO-REPEAT MODEL KB-1 000 ONLY $79.95 20 MHz DUAL TRACE OSCILLOSCOPE HIGH QUALITY TEST EQUIPMENT FROM JDR INSTRUMENTS 35 MHz DUAL TRACE OSCILLOSCOPE MODEL 2000 $389 BAND WIDTH - DC: TO20 MHz (-3db) AC: 10 Hz TO 20MHZ (-3db) SWEEP TIME - .2 //SEC TO .5 SEC/DIV ON 20 RANGES COMPLETE MANUAL AND HIGH QUALITY HOOK-ON PROBES INCLUDED * INPUT IMPEDANCE: 1 MEG OHM r TV VIDEO SYNC FILTER • X-Y AND Z AXIS OPERATION 110/220 VOLT OPERATION * COMPONENT TESTER * LP CONSUMPTION - 19 WATTS BUILT-IN CALIBRATOR * AUTOMATIC OR TRIGGERED TIMEBASE MODEL 3500 $549 ^ BAND WIDTH - DC: TO 35MHz (-3db) AC: 10 Hz TO 35MHZ (-3db) > SWEEP TIME - .1 //SEC TO .5 SEC/DIV ON 21 RANGES ► DELAYED TRIGGER - 100 mSEC TO 1 //SEC WITH INTENSIFIED AND DELAYED MODES - COMPLETE MANUAL AND 1X-10X COMPENSATED HOOK-ON PROBES INCLUDED * VARIABLE HOLD OFF FOR VIEWING COMPLEX WAVES > TV VIDEO SYNC FILTER - TRIGGERING OF CH-A, CH-B. ALTERNATING, LINE OR EXTERNAL ► X-Y AND Z AXIS OPERATION CALL FOR VOLUME QUOTES DIGITAL MULTIMETER PEN MODEL DPM-1000 $54 95 AUTO RANGING, POLARITY AND DECIMAL! LARGE 3.5" DISPLAY r DATA HOLD SWITCH FREEZES READING FAST. AUDIBLE CONTINUITY TEST LOW BATTERY INDICATOR OVERLOAD PROTECTION ONLY IV* x 6'A x %" DC VOLTS 1mV-500V - AC VOLTS 1mV-500V .1 OHM - 2 MEG OHM r WEIGHS ONLY 2.3 OUNCES LOW PARTS COUNT-CUSTOM 80 PIN LSI INSURES RELIABILITY > INCLUDES MANUAL. BATTERIES. HARD CASE. AND ALLIGATOR CLIP 5 COPYRIGHT 1985 JDR MICRODEVICES Inquiry 184 JANUARY 1986 -BYTE 459 #JDR Microdevices IBM COMPATIBLE INTERFACE CARDS ALL WIT HA ONE YEAR WARRANTY MULTIFUNCTION CARD $129.95 ALL THE FEATURES OF ASTS 6 PACK PLUS AT HALF THE PRICE * CLOCK/CALENDAR * 0-384KRAM * SERIAL PORT * PARALLEL PORT * GAME PORT * SOFTWARE INCLUDED PRINTER CABLE $9.95 64K RAM UPGRADE 9/S6.21 COLOR GRAPHICS ADAPTOR $99.95 FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH IBM COLOR CARD * 4 VIDEO INTERFACES: RGB, COMPOSITE COLOR. HI-RES COMPOSITE MONOCHROME, CONNECTOR FOR RF MODULATOR * COLOR GRAPHICS MODE: 320 x 200 * MONO GRAPHICS MODE: 640 x 200 * LIGHT PEN INTERFACE MONOCHROME GRAPHICS CARD $129.95 FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH IBM MONOCHROME ADAPTOR AND HERCULES GRAPHICS CARD <■ LOTUS COMPATIBLE » TEXT MODE: 80 x 25 > GRAPHICS MODE: 720 x 348 » PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE ► OPTIONAL SERIAL PORT $19.95 1224 South Ba scorn Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 800-538-5000 • 800-662-6279 (CA) • (408) 995-5430 • FAX (408) 275-8415 • Telex 171-110 FLOPPY DISK DRIVE ADAPTOR $59.95 * INTERFACES UPTOFOURSTANDARD FDDs TO IBM PC OR COMPATIBLES * INCLUDES CABLE FOR TWO INTERNAL DRIVES 1200 BAUD INTERNAL MODEM FOR IBM INCLUDES PC TALK III COMMUNICATIONS-SOFTWARE » HAYES COMPATIBLE » AUTO DIAL/ AUTO ANSWER * AUTO RE-DIAL ON BUSY » INCLUDES SERIAL PORT! * ONE YEAR WARRANTY EASYDATA-12B $195 300 BAUD MODEM FOR APPLE OR IBM CLOSE-OUT iS&t SPECIAL .tsfc, NOW OHLY '*//' $49.95 INCLUDES ASCII PRO-EZ SOFTWARE (A S100 VALUE IN ITSELF) ► FCC APPROVED » BELL SYSTEMS 103 COMPATIBLE ■ INCLUDES AC ADAPTOR CABLE FOR APPLE lie AUTO DIAL/AUTO ANSWER DIRECT CONNECT $14.95 Canon 160 CPS PRINTER MODEL PMM000A $199.95 P r- i n t e d i n D r a f t m o d e or Proportional and NLQ * VERYHIGHSPEED PRINTING (160 CPS) * EPSON/IBM COMPATIBLE CONTROL * 1 1 x 9 DOT DRAFT MODE CHARACTERS » 23 x 18 DOTS IN NEAR LFTTER QUALITY 2K PRINT BUFFER DOWNLOADING FONT BUFFER FAN FOLD, CUTSHEET OR ROLLPAPER SOUD "BUSINESS" MACHINE UNBELIEVABLE MONITOR DEALS TAXAN RGB VISION III MODEL 475 MADE FOR TAXAN BY ACORN 640 x 262 PIXEL RESOLUTION 16 COLORS > 18 MHz BANDWIDTH 12" BLACK MATRIX IBM AND LOTUS COMPATIBLE SAKATA COMPOSITE COLOR MODEL SC-100 TOP RATED FOR APPLE 13" COMPOSITE VIDEO RESOLUTION: 280H x 300V - INTERNAL AUDIO AMPLIFIER < ONE YEAR WARRANTY < CABLE FOR IBM $15.05 SAMWOO MONOCHROME MODEL DM-216B PERFECT COSMETIC MATCH FOR IBM PC IBM COMPATIBLE TTL INPUT 12" NON-GLARE SCREEN P39 GREEN PHOSPHOR HI-RES 22 MHz BAND WIDTH $209.95 $169.95 $99.95 MONITOR STAND TILTS AND SWIVELS $12.95 APPLE COMPATIBLE INTERFACE CARDS I EPROM PROGRAMMER $59.95 I MODEL RP525 » DUPLICATE OR BURN ANY STANDARD 27xx SERIES EPROM » EASYTO 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 » ONE YEAR WARRANTY 16K RAMCARD $39.95 » FULL TWO YEAR WARRANTY . EXPAND YOUR 48K APPLE TO 64K . USE IN PLACE OF APPLE LANGUAGE CARD I BARE PC CARD W/ INSTRUCTIONS $9.95 llC TEST CARD $99.95 » QUICKLY TESTS MANY COMMON ICs * DISPLAYSPASSOR FAIL * ONE YEAR WARRANTY * TESTS: 4000 SERIES CMOS 74HC SERIES CMOS 7400; 74LS, 741. 74H, 74S. SOME PROMS AND RAMS DISK DRIVES FOR APPLE COMPUTERS *m am * V 3 HEIGHT-ALPS MECHANISM * 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE ► FULL 1 YEAR WARRANTY BAL-525 $99.95 BAL-500 $129.95 » TEAC MECHANISM- DIRECT DRIVE * 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE * FULL 1 YEAR WARRANTY AM 35 $129.95 * FULL HT. SHUGART MECHANISM " DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR APPLE DISK II > SIX MONTH WARRANTY FOR APPLE IIC AD-3G $139.95 * 100% APPLE lie COMPATIBLE. READY TO PLUG IN W/ SHIELDED CABLE 8. MOLDED 19 PIN CONNECTOR ■ FAST, RELIABLE SLIMLINE DIRECT DRIVE ► SIX MONTH WARRANTY FOR MACINTOSH MAG535 1 $249.95 » 3.5" ADD-ON DISK DRIVE . 100% MACINTOSH COMPATIBLE » SINGLE SIDED 400K BYTE STORAGE » HIGH RELIABILITY DRIVE FEATURES AUTO-EJECT MECHANISM ► FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY DISK DRIVE ACCESSORIES DISK CONTROLLER CARD $49.95 1 APPLE He ADAPTOR CABLE $19.95 ADAPTS STANDARD APPLE DRIVES FOR USE WITH APPLE He TEAC DISK DRIVES FOR IBM PCS FD-55D .FD-55F DS/DD OS/QUAD 89.95 99.95j COMREX CR-1000 DUAL SLIMLINE DISK DRIVE FOR APPLE COMPUTERS $199.95 * SPACE SAVING DESIGN STACK BETWEEN COMPUTER AND MONITOR * QUIET, REUABLE Vz HEIGHT DRIVES * TOTAL STORAGE CAPACITY: 286K BYTES * AUTO-EJECT MECHANISM * SHIELDED CABLE INCLUDED INCLUDES CONTROLLER AND DOS 3.3 WITH DISK UTILITIES ALL MERCHANDISE 100% GUARANTEED D COPYRIGHT 1985 JDR MICRODEVICES 460 BYTE • JANUARY I986 Inquiry I85 UNCLASSIFIED ADS NEEDED: Nonprofit organization needs donation of IBM compatibles, monitors, printers, and Hayes- compatible modems for conflict resolution and mediation training and education project in Costa Rica. Central America. Peaceworkers. 3149 Plymouth Rd.. Lafayette. CA 94549. (415) 935-3 565. TRADE: Two white-water rafting tickets in exchange for an IBM PC XT or compatible for our training adven- ture teaching people with severe cerebral palsy to use micros and obtain employment, lax-deductible. Kathleen Martin, Computer Access Project. 1904 Franklin St.. Oakland. CA 94612. (415) 832-7430. NEEDED: Nonprofit school for emotionally disturbed children seeks tax-deductible donation of Apple computers, peripherals, literature, supplies, etc. Will provide receipts. Dean Esmay. SMA Independence High School. 22700 Richton Square Rd.. Richton Park. IL 60471. (312) 481-6091. WANTED: Volunteer programmer seeks contribution of IBM. Apple, or compatible, peripherals, and literature for Institution of Social Work and Com- munity Development projects and development of public-domain educational programs for literacy training in underdeveloped areas. Jeffrey Y. Balanag. 3 5 36 Road Ten. Altura St.. Sta. Mesa. Metro-Manila 2806. Republic of the Philippines. NEEDED: UNIX system. IBM or compatible micros, terminals, monitors, printers, and other equipment for training and user's group sponsored at Maine State Prison. Tax-deductible. George Fernald, Maine State Prison Jaycees. Box A. Thomaston, ME 04861. or call David Macmillan or Bruce Wentworth at (207) 354-2535. ext. 293. WANTED: lax-deductible IBM PC-compatibles, moni- tors, printers, and copying machines for U.S. pro- fessors helping revive scientific psychology in China through graduate program at Liaoning Teachers University. Macintosh with printer also welcome. Shipping paid. Dr. I. S. Phillips. Child Study Center. University of Denver. Denver. CO 80208. WANTED: Nonprofit educational institution seeks tax- deductible contribution of an Apple He or lie with printer for class use. Sherrill Jones. Northside Elementary School. Milledgeville. GA 31061. (912) 452-8502. WANTED: Nonprofit youth-benefitting organization seeks 2 56K IBM PC. daisy-wheel printer, and public- domain software and/or 2 56K Apple lie for business and training use. Will pay shipping and send receipt. John Donohue. San Francisco Youth Sports Travel Fund Inc.. POB 31488. San Francisco, CA 94131. (415) 661-5002. WANTED: Nonprofit after-school day-care center seeks tax-deductible donation of public-domain word-processing and database software for Apple 1!+. Karen Schiller. Havurah Youth Center. San Fran- cisco Jewish Community Center. 3200 California St.. San Francisco. CA 941 18. (4 1 5) 346-6040. ext. 224. WANTED: Tax-deductible contributions welcomed by nonprofit organization acting as equipment clear- inghouse for many nonprofit organizations needing hardware donations in Montana. Idaho, and Wyo- ming. Northern Rockies Action Group. 9 Placer, Helena. MT 59601. (406) 442-6615. WANTED: Nonprofit organization specializing in pro- moting family life seeks tax-deductible donations of computer equipment to expand services. Marian Redinger, Beginning Family. 14260 Lake Hills Blvd.. Bellevue. WA 98007. (206) 644-2207. WANTED: Tax-deductible donation of TRS-80 com- puter and peripherals or Kaypro and compatible CP/M machines to support orthodox church group community project. Monastery of St. Justin Martyr, POB 844, El Dorado. CA 95623. (916) 644-6652. NEEDED: Small church seeks computer system (IBM. Apple, or Commodore) for bookkeeping and word processing. Donations are tax-deductible. Templo El Olivar. POB 729. Sunland Park. NM 88063. (91 5) 778-8605. NEEDED: Word-processing and computer equipment to assist nonprofit ministry to preach in all parts of the world. Charles and Yvonne Svitlik. Cornerstone Ministries. POB 845. Waterbury. CT 06720. WANTED: Nonprofit tax-exempt organization needs donation of IBM PC. Apple. TRS-80. or compatible for general accounting and stock-control applica- tions. Mrs. Z. Elizondo. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. 276 Pitt St.. Sydney. New South Wales 2000. Australia. WANTED: Nonprofit community service organization seeks tax-deductible donation of Apple or compati- ble with printer. New Life Foundation. Box 2000, Ojai, CA 93023. WANTED: Swedish student would like to correspond with others who have an interest in artificial in- telligence in general and LISP in particular. Fredrik Nyman. Pilvagen I. S-616 00 Aby, Sweden. WANTED: 1 need to convert my Apple II to a II + . but I can't find the autostart ROMs. Can anyone help? Richard Ashby. M.D.. 9713 Old Creek Rd.. Ventura, CA 93003. (805) 649-2725 or 652-6153. WANTED: Information o n punch-card readers, includ- ing interface for connection to an Apple 11+ or Com- puPro (S-100) running a Z80 processor. Walter F. George. M.D.. 134 5 East 14th St.. San Leandro. CA 94578. (415) 483-6367. WANTED: A copy of BYTE document #112 (LISP in- terpreter for the 6800 or similar document for the 6809). Mark Wilson. POB 14. Huntingdon. PA 16652. WANTED: Documentation on OEM (parallel) interface Diablo Hi-Type II daisy-wheel printer including pin assignments, voltage levels, etc. Maintenance infor- mation also appreciated. Will refund postage costs. Dick Dixon, llmarin. Vale View Dr.. Beech Hill. Reading RG7 2BD. England. WANTED: Working Intel 4004 and 8008 microproces- sor chips for science museum exhibit. Send price. Ray Albrektson. 900 Edgehill Court. Covington. KY 41011. WANTED: BYTE, issues I through 10. Will pay reasonable price for good condition. Dave lenson. 7200 Marilyn NE. Albuquerque. NM 87109. (505) 821-0109. WANTED: Information about sales places of literature for Casio FP-200 notebook computer, particularly on how to create an assembly program and to re- define the character set. Javier Argandona Lazo. Dr. Johow No. 385. Nunoa. Santiago. Chile. FOR SALE: TI-99/4A. cassette-recorder cable, and books: $130. Timex Sinclair 1000: $20. ColecoVision: $140. Atari 5200: $170. 1 will pay postage. Heriberto Suarez. Buzon 3034. TYujillo Alto. Puerto Rico 00760. FOR SALE: DEC PDP-11/05 system with 32K. includes restart/LDR. CROLRC arithmetic element. Unibus CrL RK06-EA 120/60. single-access RK06 120/60 Hz. ]0!rt-inch expander box 120 V. DEC maintained. Best offer. Mary Ann Atkins. Fountaindale Public Library District. 300 West Briarcliff Rd.. Bolingbrook. IL 60439. (312) 759-2103. FOR SALE: Radio Shack information distribution net- work. Five TRS-80 Model II terminals, four disk drives, one MUX. Sue, Data Support Service. 7711 Carondelet 504, Clayton, MO 63015, FOR SALE: PDP-11/10, two RK05s. Laboratory Peripheral System, VT-52. and manuals. $800. Science Unlimited Research Foundation. 311-D Spencer Lane, San Antonio, TX 78201. FOR SALE: Complete system board for Columbia 1600-1. 8088 processor, one parallel and two serial ports, power supply, and documentation. $400. Paul Bookbinder, 150 West 87th St.. New York. NY 10024, (212) 840-1327. UNCLASSIFIED ADS MUSr 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 organizations. Programs to be exchanged must be written by the individual or be in the public domain. Ads must be typed double-spaced, contain 50 words or less, and include full name and ad- dress. This is a free service: ads are printed as space per- mits. 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: Apple 11+ (64K) with two Apple drives. Zenith monitor, Epson MX-80 F/T with graphics chips, RS-232 interface. RF modulator, manuals, and accessories. Excellent condition. $1100. John Lipa. 165 Harcross Rd.. Woodside. CA 94062. (415) 366-0547. WANTED: Commodore 64 and 128 users in U.S. and Canada for public-domain software club. Jonathan Harte. 138 Birch-Hill Dr.. Ottawa, Ontario KlK 3Y5. Canada. (613) 746-7392. FOR SALE: NEC PC-8001A computer. 8031 dual 150K disk drives. Renaissance Technology Wedge. NEC JBI201 monitor, extra RS-2 32 C port, sound synthe- sizer board. A/D/A ports. Centronics parallel port, and 300-bps modem. $1700. James Bucan. 278 Sisson St.. Romeo. Ml 48065. (313) 752-2660. FOR SALE: Dimension 68000. 1-megabyte RAM, four floppy-disk drives, and IBM. Z80. and Apple emula- tion boards. Asking $6000. Stan Miley. 2812 Hillside Dr.. Bryan. TX 77802. (409) 846-1664. FOR SALE: S-100 system 6-slot Integrand mainframe, 'Ieletek FDC-1 CPU/disk controller 5 ! / 4 -inch and 8-inch formats, two RS-232C ports, parallel ports. CompuPro RAM 16, two 8-inch 1 .2-megabyte drives, two monitors, two printers. 300/1200-bps modem, and documentation. $2 500 or best offer. Art Mor- ton. 2 513 Dawes St.. Rancho Cordova. CA 95670. (916) 363-8144. FOR SALE: Hazeltine Executive 80 Model 20 ter- minal. 80/132 columns, up to 19.200 bps. character graphics, eight programmable function keys, detach- able keyboard. Paul Wick, 10503 Jimenez St. Lake View 'Terrace. CA 91342. (818) 896-3 502. FOR SALE: Tektronix 60-MHz oscilloscope. Model 2215. dual trace, dual time base, delayed sweep, with manuals, probes, and cover. $1200 or best of- fer. Richard Gorton. DVI-C68544. POB 600. TYacy. CA 95376. FOR SALE: Sol-20 48K computer with Micropolis 630K dual drive Model 1053 MOD II. manuals, and more. All in good condition. $750 plus postage. John L. Gorman Sr., 210 Sprague Ave., South Plain- field, NJ 07080. WANTED: ALSPA ACI-2 CP/M computer. Duncan Moyer. 13418 Garden Bar. Grass Valley. CA 95945. (916) 268-0115. FOR SALE: BYTE: January 1982. 23 copies will be sold individually by lottery for $5 each. Send SASE for drawing. Selene Pappas. 23644 North 84th St.. Scottsdale, AZ 85255. WANTED: Hewlett-Packard 86/87. 128K memory module, serial (RS-2 32 C) interface. I/O ROM, modem, and plotter ROM. D. Bran. 12335 Santa Monica Blvd. #192. Los Angeles. CA 9002 5. FOR SALE: Intersystems S-100 system, 64K, Z80, two serial and two parallel ports, two Shugart 850 DS/DD, C. Itoh 101 terminal. PROM burner, modem, and more. $1400 or best offer. Martin Unger. 1415 Northwest 62nd St.. Ft. Lauderdale. FL 33309. (305) 772-3070. FOR SALE: BYTE: June through December 1976: $20: 1977 through 1983: $30 per year, David Baldwin. 22 Fox Den Rd.. Hollis. NH 03049. (603) 465-7857. FOR SALE: Mannesmann Tally MT 160 printer. Epson- compatible. 160 cps. has near-letter-quality mode. In fine working condition. Asking $200. Also. Apple 80-column card: $25. Dave Schultz. 12801 Country- view Court. Burnsville. MN 5 5337. WANTED: EPROM copy, disk copy, source code, or hex dump of operating system for TLC Problem Solver Intelligent Terminal (TOS version 1.011 or later). Also schematics or other documentation. (PSS Inc. out of business in 1979.) Will provide TOS in 2732 for your terminal. Tim Vest. 4 Cambridge Rd.. Convent Station. NJ 07961. (201) 993-8541. WANTED: Correspondence about computers for solar and greenhouse applications. John Wilson. 29001 Harvey Lane. Corvallis. OR 97330. FOR SALE: Hewlett-Packard 9816 personal computer. 9121 two-drive unit. 82906A dot-matrix printer, and all manuals. Mint condition. W. M. Davidson. 4405 West Pyracantha. Tucson. AZ 85741. (602) 742-3982. FOR SALE: Cromemco TVace System simulator Model TSS-S. $15. N. Conroy. 177 Tbsca Dr.. Stoughton. MA 02072. (617) 344-1352. ■ JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 461 BOMB BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box ARTICLED PAGE ARTICLE AUTHOR(S) 1 9 Microbytes staff 2 37. 408 What's New staff 3 44 Ask BYTE Ciarcia 4 57 Book Reviews Clark. Price. Benderavage 5 84 Product Description: The Atari 520ST Edwards. Robinson, Mclaughlin 6 104 Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar: Build an Analog-to-Digital Converter Ciarcia 7 120 Product Preview: Q & A Edwards 8 130 Programming Project: A SIMPL Compiler. Part 2: Procedures and Functions . .Amsterdam 9 14 5 Creating Reusable Modules Shammas 10 153 Programming Insight: Easy 3-D Graphics Mittelbach 11 161 Machine Vision Dunbar 12 177 Robotic tactile Sensing Penny win 13 203 Multiple Robotic Manipulators Hawker. Nagel. Roberts. Odrey ARTICLED PAGE ARTICLE AUTHOR(S) 14 223 Autonomous Robot Navigation . . . .lorgensen. Hamel. Weisbin 15 2 37 Al in Computer Vision Cuadrado, Cuadrado 16 263 Automation in Organic Synthesis. . .Kramer. Fuchs 17 293 Canon's A-200 Callamaras 18 301 Color Fox Unger 19 307 Eco-C88 C Compiler Clark 20 319 Inside The Sider Hall 21 327 Advantage! for the AT Byers 22 331 Enable King 23 349 Computing at Chaos Manor: One Minor Problem Pournelle 24 371 According to Webster: Benchmarking Webster 2 5 381 BYTE Japan: Favoring Kanji Raike 26 387 BYTE U.K.: The Acorn RISC Machine Pountain 27 397 Mathematical Recreations: Euclid's Algorithm Kurosaka BOMB Results SIMULATION TABULATION Lawrence Cone wins $100 for his article "Skycam; An Aerial Robotic Camera System," which placed first in the results of October's issue. In second place is the theme "Why Models Go Wrong" by lorn R. Houston. who wins $50. Part 2 of Clifford Kelley's "EGO: A Homebuilt CPU" covering "The Hardware" came in third. Steve Ciarcia. Bruce Webster, and Jerry Pournelle remain popular with readers. Hats off to all. BYTE ADVERTISING SALES STAFF: Dennis J. Riley, Advertising Sales Manager, 70 Main Street, Peterborough, NH 03458, tel. (603)924-9281 NEW ENGLAND SOUTHEAST SOUTH PACIFIC WEST COAST SURPLUS ME, NH. VT. MA. Rl. NC. SC GA FL, AL. TN SOUTHERN CA. AZ. NM. LAS VEGAS AND RETAIL ACCOUNTS EASTERN CANADA Maggie M. Dorvee 1404) 252-0626 lack Anderson (714) 557-6292 Tom Harvey (805) 964-8577 Paul McPherson Ir. (617) 262-1 160 McGraw-Hill Publications McGraw-Hill Publications 3463 State Street-Suite 2 56 McGraw-Hill Publications 4 1 70 Ashford-Dunwoody Road- 3001 Red Hill Ave. Santa Barbara. CA 93105 575 Boylston Street Suite 420 Building #1 -Suite 222 Boston. MA 02116 Atlanta. GA 30319 Costa Mesa. CA 92626 The Buyer's Mart Karen Burgess (603) 924-9281 ATLANTIC MIDWEST Karen Niles (2131 480-5243. 487-1160 BYTE Publications NY. NYC. CT. Nl (NORTH) 1L. MO. KS, IA. ND. SD. MN. WL NB. IN McGraw-Hill Publications 70 Main Street LeahC. Rabinowitz (212) 512-2096 Bob Denmead (312) 751-3740 33.33 Wilshire Boulevard #407 Peterborough. NH 03458 McGraw-Hill Publications McGraw-Hill Publications Los Angeles. C A 90010 1221 Avenue of the Americas— Blair Building BYTE BITS (2x3) 39th Floor 64 5 North Michigan Ave. Chicago. 1L 60611 NORTH PACIFIC Dan Harper (603) 924-6830 New York. NY 1 0020 HI, WA. OR. ID, MT. NORTHERN CA. BYTE Publications NV (except LAS VEGAS). W. CANADA 70 Main Street Dick McGurk (2031 968-7 1 1 1 GREAT LAKES. OHIO REGION David lern (415) 362-4600 Peterborough. NH 034 58 McGraw-Hill Publications Ml. OH. PA (ALLEGHENY). KY. McGraw-Hill Publications Building A-3rd Floor ONTARIO. CANADA 425 Battery Street Post Card Mailings 777 Long Ridge Road Mike Kisseberth (313) 352-9760 San Francisco. CA 941 1 1 National Stamford. CT 06902 McGraw-Hill Publications Bradley Browne (603) 924-6166 4000 Town Center— Suite 770 Bill McAfee (415) 964-0624 BYTE Publications EAST Southfield, Ml 48075 McGraw-Hill Publications 70 Main Street PA (EAST). N! (SOUTH). 1000 Elwell Court-Suite 225 Peterborough. NH 034 58 MD. VA. W.VA. DE. DC. SOUTHWEST. ROCKY MOUNTAIN Palo Alto. CA 94303 DanielFerro(2l5) 496-3833 UT. CO. WY. OK. TX. AR. MS. LA McGraw-Hill Publications Kevin Harold (214) 458-2400 Three Parkway McGraw-Hill Publications Philadelphia. PA 19102 Prestonwood Tower-Suite 907 5151 Beltline Dallas. TX 75240 International Advertising Sales Representatives: 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 W IX 3RA Central. Hong Kong 222 75 76 84 1 45 52 891 England 01 493 14 51 Tel: 5-260149 Telex: 60904 SEVEX HX Mrs. Gurit Gepner Mr. Andrew Karnig Mr. Savio Pesavento McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Andrew Karnig & Associates McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Hiro Morita PO Box 2 1 56 Finnbodavagen Via Flavio Baracchini 1 McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Bat Yam. 59121 Israel S-131 31 Nacka, Sweden 20123 Milan. Italy Overseas Corp. 3 866 561 321 39 8-44 0005 02 86 90 617 Room 1528 Mr. Fritz Krusebecker Mr. Alain Faure Seavex Ltd. Kasumigaseki Bldg. 3-2-5 Kasumigaseki. Chiyoda-Ku Tokyo 100. Japan 3 581 981 1 McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. 400 Orchard Road. #1001 Liebigstrasse 19 1 7 rue Georges Bizet Singapore 0923 D-6000 Frankfurt/Main 1 F 75116 Paris Republic of Singapore Tel: 734-9790 West Germany France 69 72 01 81 (1)47-20-33-42 Telex: RS35539 SEAVEX 462 BYTE ■ JANUARY 1986 READER SERVICE Inquiry No. Page No. 398 1ST PLACE COMP. SYSTEMS. ... 1 54 2 A-D ELECTRONICS 195 3 A-OK SYSTEMS 428 4 AST. RESEARCH 19 5 A.ST RESEARCH 19 6 AB COMPUTERS 254 7 ACS INTL. INC 282 8 ADDMASTER CORP. 426 10 ADV. DIGITAL CORP 36 11 ADV. DIGITAL CORP. 36 12 ADVANCED COMP. PROD . 446, 447 * ALF PRODUCTS. INC 432 13 ALL COMPUTERS 316, 317 14 ALPHA LOGIC BUSINESS SYS. . . 358 15 AMDEK CORP. 56 17 AMERICAN MICRO TECHNOLOGY 67 18 AMERICAN SMALL BUSN.COMP. 267 19 AMPERE INC 345 20 AMPRO COMPUTERS INC 372 21 AMPRO COMPUTERS INC 372 22 APROTEK 194 23 APROTEK 194 24 APROTEK 452 25 ARITY CORPORATION 126 26 ASHTONTATE 12, 13 * AT&T INFO. SYSTEMS 396 * AT&T INTERNATIONAL 309 27 ATRON CORP. 392 28 AVOCET 324, 325 30 B&B ELECTRONICS 434 * B&C MICROSYSTEMS 374 32 BASF SYSTEMS 96, 97 33 BASIC TIME 79 34 BAY TECHNICAL ASSOC 23 35 BINARY TECHNOLOGY, INC 432 36 BITTNER ELECTRONICS 426 37 BLAISE COMPUTING INC 178 38 BORLAND INTL Cll. I 39 BORLAND INTL Cll. 1 40 BORLAND INTL 39 41 BORLAND INTL 39 42 BORLAND INTL 41 43 BORLAND INTL 41 426 BUKOWSKI ROBOriCS 440 44 BUSINESS TOOLS INC 269 ' BYTE BACK ISSUES 420 * BYTE SUBSCRIBER MESSAGE ... 401 ' BYTE SUBSCRIBER SERVICE .... 399 45 BYTE CONNECTION. THE .424 46 BYTEK COMP. SYS. CORP. 256 47 C WARE/DESMET C 430 48 CI. COMPUTERS 356 49 C.J COMPUTERS 356 * CALIFORNIA DIGITAL 448, 449 51 CAPITAL EOUIPMENT CORP. . . 305 52 CAPITAL MICRO 436 55 CAUZIN SYSTEMS 76, 77 58 CHEETAHINTL. INC 123 59 CHORUS DATA SYSTEMS 217 61 CMS 279 ' 62 COGITATE 428 63 COGITATE 452 64 COMET TECHNOLOGICAL CO . . 432 * COMMODORE BUSN MACH. ... 189 65 COMMUNICATIONS ELECTR. ... 435 66 COMPETITIVE EDGE 407 68 COMPUDATA TRANSLATORS INC. 430 69 COMPUMAIL 250 373 COMPUPRO/VIASYN CORP. 367 70 COMPUSAVE 424 71 COMPUSERVE 239 72 COMPUTER AFFAIRS INC 297 73 COMPUTER BARN. THE 116 74 COMPUTER BOOK CLUB. THE . , 129 75 COMPUTER CONNECTION INC. . 423 * COMPUTER CONTINUUM 434 76 COMPUTER INNOVATIONS 363 77 COMPUTER MAIL ORDER . . 220, 221 78 COMPUTER MART 163 79 COMPUTER PARTS MART 428 Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. 81 COMPUTER SWAP AMERICA ... 375 82 COMPUTER WAREHOUSE 179 83 COMPUTER WAREHOUSE 179 84 COMPUTERBANC 433 86 COMPUTRADE . 398 387 COMPUWORLD 219 87 CONCORD TECHNOLOGY CO . . 379 88 CONROY-LAPOINTE 52, 53 89 CONROY-LAPOINTE 52. 53 90 CONROY-LAPOINTE 52, 53 91 CUESTA SYSTEMS .30 92 CUSTOM COMP. TECH 420 93 CUSTOM COMP. TECH 421 94 CYMA CORPORATION 338 95 CYMA CORPORATION 338 96 CYMA CORPORATION 370 97 CYMA CORPORATION 370 98 D AND D DISCOUNT 441 * DAK INDUSTRIES 315 394 DATA EXCHANGE 452 395 DATA EXCHANGE 454 418 DATA SPEC 213 419 DATA SPEC 213 102 DIGITAL PRODUCTS INC 258 103 DIGITAL RESEARCH INC 182 104 DIGITALK 46 106 DISK MERCHANT 383 107 DISKETTE CONNECTION 407 108 DISKS PLUS 252 109 DISKWORLD!. INC 442. 443 111 DIVERSIFIED COMPUTER SYS. . .430 428 DIVERSIFIED GROUP 438. 439 112 DOKAY COMP. PROD. INC 419 1 1 3 DYNATEC SYSTEMS INC 398 114 DYNAX. INC 191 115 EARTH COMPUTERS 354 116 EARTH COMPUTERS 354 117 ECLIPSE SYSTEMS 430 118 ECOSOFT 236 119 EDUCATIONAL MICROCOMP. SYS. 452 120 ELEXOR INC 428 121 ELLIS COMPUTING INC 244 422 EMERSON 199 423 EMERSON 199 407 ENERTEC INC 70 343 ENGARDE 4 124 ESSENTIAL SOFTWARE INC 32 126 EVEREX SYSTEMS 43 127 EVEREX SYSTEMS 43 128 EXCELTEC INDUSTRIES. INC. ... 452 129 EXPERTEACH 374 130 EXPRESS MICRO SUPPLIES .... 275 134 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING 209 135 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING 209 396 FORTRON. INC 437 397 FORTRON. INC 437 137 FOX AND GELLER. INC 384 138 FOX SOFTWARE. INC 54 139 FUNK SOFTWARE 143 140 FUTURE COMPUTING/M-G I.S. . . 265 144 GENOA SYSTEMS CORP. 72. 73 145 GOLD HILL COMPUTERS 160 146 GOLDEN BOW SYSTEMS 432 147 GOLDEN BOW SYSTEMS 434 148 GRAND UNION MICROSYSTEMS 434 149 GTEK INC ...357 150 H.E.I. INC 26 152 HANZON DATA INC 30 153 HARMONY VIDEO & COMP. .... 379 200 HARRIS/LANIER 337 201 HARRIS/LANIER 339 Page No. 202 HARRIS/LANIER 341 154 HAYES MICROCOMPUTER PROD. . 27 155 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. . . 151 156 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. . 318 • HEWLETT-PACKARD 333 158 HEWLETT-PACKARD 335 159 HOOLEON COMPANY 280 160 HOOLEON COMPANY 280 406 HOUSTON INSTR./BAUSCH&LOMB . 22 161 HYMCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. . . 180 162 IBEX COMP. CORP. 452 163 IBM CORP. 286, 287 408 IBS CORP. 24 409 IBS CORP. 24 166 IC. EXPRESS 432 167 INFORMATION SOFTWARE 31 168 INLAB INC 434 169 INNOVATIVE PERIPHERALS 190 425 INOVION 142 170 INTECTRA INC 426 171 INTEGRAND -308 172 INTERCONTN. MICRO SYS 48 173 INTERCONTN. MICRO SYS. ...... 48 • INTERFACE TECH CORP. 187 174 INTUSOFT -432 175 IOMEGA 20, 21 178 IADE COMP. PROD 450, 451 179 IAMECO ELECTRONICS . . . 260, 261 180 IC INFORMATION SYSTEMS 292 181 |DR INSTRUMENTS 25 182 IDR MICRODEVICES 455 183 IDR MICRODEVICES 456, 457 184 IDR MICRODEVICES 458, 459 185 IDR MICRODEVICES 460 186 IHL RESEARCH 452 187 ]MC RESEARCH. INC 339 189 IVB ELECTRONICS 440 190 KADAK PRODUCTS LTD 452 393 KEA SYSTEMS 440 191 KEITHLEY DAC 432 192 KEY SOLUTIONS CO 74 193 KEY SOLUTIONS CO 74 194 KIMTRON CORP. 361 196 KYOCERA 215 197 KYOCERA 215 198 LABORATORY MICROSYS 62 424 LACHMAN ASSOC 152 199 LANG-ALLAN. INC 378 200 LANIER HARRIS 337 201 LANIER HARRIS 339 202 LANIER HARRIS 341 203 LATTICE. INC 355 204 LAWSON LABS. INC .452 206 LEVCO ENTERPRISES 252 207 LEVCO ENTERPRISES 252 208 LIFEBOAT ASSOC 341 209 LIFEBOAT ASSOC 343 210 LINTEK INC 383 213 LOGICAL DEVICES 390, 391 211 LOGICSOFT 176 215 LOGITECH INC 251 216 LOGITECH INC 253 217 IjOMAS DATA PRODUCTS 169 218 LYBEN COMP. SYS 426 219 LYCO COMPUTER 205 • MACMILLAN BOOK CLUBS 368. 369 221 MAIN STREET COMPUTER ... 34, 35 222 MANX SOFTWARE SYS 47 223 MARK WILLIAMS CO. . . , 59 224 MARK WILLIAMS CO. . . 61 225 MARON PRODUCTION INC 432 TO GET FURTHER information on the products advertised in BYTE, either pick up your touch-tone telephone and use TIPS (if you are a subscriber), or fill out the reader service card. Either way full instructions are pro- vided following this reader service index which is provided as an addi- tional service by the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions. "Correspond directly with company. inquiry No. Page No. 226 MARYMAC INDUSTRIES INC. ... 428 227 MASTERBYTE COMP. OF NY 393 228 MAXELL DATA PRODUCTS 7 229 MAYNARD ELECTRONICS 15 * MCGRAW-HILL CEC 321 141 MCGRAW-HILL INC 353 230 MEGASOFT 430 231 MEGATEL COMPUTER TECH.... 375 232 MERRITT COMP. PRODUCTS .... 454 233 MFI ENTERPRISES INC 231 432 MICRO BUSINESS PROD 376 433 MICRO BUSINESS PROD 376 235 MICRO DATA BASE SYS 95 415 MICRO DATA BASE SYS 323 236 MICRO DESIGN INTL 313 237 MICRO MART INC 64. 65 238 MICRO PRODUCTS 453 239 MICROCOMPUTER ACCESSORIES . 240 240 MICROCOMPUTER ACCESSORIES . 240 241 MICROGRAFX 17 * MICROMINT INC 386 242 MICROPHONICS TECHNOLOGY . . 60 243 MICROPHONICS TECHNOLOGY . 192 244 MICROPROCESSORS UNLTD 430 ' MICRORIM INC 394. 395 245 MICROSHOP 425 * MICROSOFT CORP 51 * MICROSOFT CORP. 247 * MICROSOFT CORP. 249 * MICROSOFT CORP. . . INSERT 32A-H 247 MICROSTUF. INC 281 248 MICROWAY 141 * MICROWAY 340 123 MIDWEST COMP. & VIDEO SUPPLY 280 250 MIMIC SYSTEMS 125 251 MITAC 306 * MIX SOFTWARE 229 252 MONTEREY INTL. CORP. 70 253 MOUNTAIN VIEW PRESS 212 254 MTI SYSTEMS CORP. 322 257 NANAO 127 258 NANAO 127 259 NANTUCKET 45 260 NANTUCKET 45 261 NATL. PUBLIC DOMAIN SFTW. . . 454 * NATIONAL COMPUTER GRAPHIC 262 262 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS .... 167 263 NATIONAL MEMORY SYSTEMS 211 264 NEC HOME ELECTR. USA 326 265 NEC INFORMATION SYS CIU 417 NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES 156, 157 ' NEWSNET INC .16 267 NORTH HILLS CORP. 376 * NRI SCHOOLS ELECTR. DIV. .... 257 268 ORCHID TECHNOLOGY .255 269 ORION INSTRUMENTS. 201 271 PC. HORIZONS. INC 428 272 PACIFIC EXCHANGES 440 273 PC NETWORK 80, 81 67 PC SOURCE 285 274 PC TECH 377 275 PC USA 422 276 PCS LIMITED 242 277 PCS LIMITED 364. 365 278 PECAN 66 279 PERMA POWER ELECTRONICS. . 343 430 PERSOFT INC.. 8 431 PERSOFT INC 8 281 PHOENIX COMP. PROD CORP. ... 147 282 PLUS DEVELOP. CORP 101, 102, 103 284 PRACTICORP 69 285 PRECISION DATA PRODUCTS ... 432 286 PRICE-LINE COMPUTERS INC. . . 359 287 PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS 139 288 PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS 300 420 PRINTER ACCESSORIES DIRECT. 377 289 PRIORITY ONE 429 290 PRO CODE INTERNATIONAL ... 350 291 PROGRAMMER'S SHOP 348 292 PROGRESSIVE MICRO DISfR. 174. 175 JANUARY 1986 • BYTE 463 READER SERVICE Inquiry No. Page No. 429 PURPLE COMPUTING 454 414 ODP COMPUTER SYS 294 295 OIC RESEARCH 264 296 OUA TECH. INC 426 297 OUA TECH. INC 426 298 OUA TECH. INC 426 • OUAID SOFTWARE LTD 382 299 OUALITY PRINTERS 434 302 OUANTUM SOFTWARE SYS. .... 380 303 RADIO SHACK CIV 304 RADIO SHACK . . II 305 RAIMA CORP. 385 306 RED RIVER TECHNOLOGY INC. ... 55 307 RELATIONAL DATABASE SYS. . . .270 308 RELMS 140 309 ROBOT EXPERIMENTER 430 310 ROSE ELECTRONICS 434 311 S&K TECHNOLOGY INC 426 312 S'NW ELECT. & APPL 337 313 S-100 DIV. 696 CORP. 444, 445 314 S-100 DIV. 696 CORP. 444. 445 315 SAB-LINK, INC 426 316 SAFEWARE 428 325 SALT 378 317 SAMSUNG ELECT. DEVICES .... 210 399 SBT CORPORATION 259 400 SBT CORPORATION 259 319 SCOTTSDALE SYSTEMS 427 320 SEMIDISK SYSTEMS 146 321 SILICON SPECIALTIES 75 Inquiry No. Page No. | Inquiry No. 322 SILICON SPECIALTIES 75 323 SLICER COMPUTERS INC 94 324 SLICER COMPUTERS INC 94 * SOFTCRAFT. INC 18 327 SOFTKLONE DISTRIBUTING .... 149 ' SOFTLINE CORP. 71 328 SOFTRONICS 434 329 SOFTWARE CHANNELS INC 271 330 SOFTWARE LINK. THE 135 331 SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS INC. 298. 299 412 SOLUTION SYSTEMS 352 413 SOLUTION SYSTEMS 352 335 SPECTRUM SOFTWARE 165 * SPERRYCOMP. SYS 133 336 SPSS 207 337 STARBUCK DATA CO 440 338 STATSOFT 181 339 STSC INC. . 93 340 STSC INC -336 341 SUMMIT SOFrWARE TECHN. INC. 183 342 SUNTRONICS CO. INC 422 ' SYSGEN INC 290 344 SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ASSOC. 208 345 SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ASSOC 277 346 SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ASSOC. 256 427 TATUM LABS 440 404 TAXAN CORP. 91 405 TAXAN CORP 91 348 TEAC 197 349 TECH PC 218 Page No. 350 TECH PC 218 351 TEKTRONIX INC 329 352 THOMSON CONSUMER PROD . . . 63 353 TIGERTRONICS INC 440 ' TINNEY. ROBERT GRAPHICS .... 405 354 TLM SYSTEMS INC 241 355 TLM SYSTEMS INC 243 356 TLM SYSTEMS INC 245 357 TOPAZ. INC 202 358 TOPAZ. INC 202 360 10SHIBA AMERICA INC . 388. 389 361 TRANSEC SYSTEMS, INC 198 363 TRUE BASIC 225 364 TURBOPOWER SOFTWARE 360 365 U.S. ROBOTICS 373 366 UNICORN ELECTRONICS 430 367 UNIFIED SOFTWARE SYS. 440 368 UNIVERSAL CROSS-ASSEMBLERS 430 369 VEN-TEL INC 28, 29 410 VERTEX SYSTEMS . 342 411 VERTEX SYSTEMS 342 371 VIA WEST 216 372 VIA WEST 216 * VLM COMPUTER ELECTR 440 375 VOTRAX. INC 144 376 WALLING CO 428 378 WAREHOUSE DATA PRODUCTS . 227 379 WEDGE TECHNOLOGY INC 434 380 WERSI ELECTRONICS 50 381 WESTERN COMPUTER 58 Inquiry No. Page No. 382 WESTERN COMPUTER 58 383 WHOLESALE OUTLET. THE 68 188 WILEY PROFESSIONAL SFTW. . . 222 384 WINTEK CORP 5 385 WINTEK CORP. 428 403 WORLDWIDE ACCESS ......... 431 386 WRITING CONSULTANTS 128 388 WYSE TECHNOLOGY 330 389 X-10 USA. INC 351 390 XEROX CORP. 117, 118. 119 401 Z-SOFT CORPORATION 49 402 Z-SOFT CORPORATION 49 * Correspond directly wilh company. INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING SECTION 500 AMERICAN BUYING & EXPORT SERVICES 144C * BYTE 144A, 144D 501 CASIO I44H 502 CITIZEN PRINTERS 144E 503 DELIN INFORMATICA 144B 504 FIGURE FLOW LTD 144B 505 GREY MATTER 144B 506 WINTECH CORP I44B No domestic inquiries, please. TIPS SEND FOR YOUR 1) SUBSCRIBER I.D. CARD SUBSCRIBERS ONLY! * Use BYTE's Telephone Inquiry Processing 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 'Ibuch-Tbne 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 DDDDDDDDfflffl 6) When TIPS says "Enter magazine code & issue code" Enter [HfflOlElfflffl 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) 1. DDDfflffl 6. D □ □ ffl ffl 10. □ □ □ ffl ffl 14. □ □ □ ffl ffl 2. DDD11 7. D □ □ ffl ffl ii. nnnfflffl 15. □ □ □ ffl ffl 3. nnniffl 8. D D D ffl ffl 12. □ □ □ ffl ffl 16. □ □ □ ffl ffl 4. nnnfflffl 9. D D D ffl ffl 13. □ □ □ ffl ffl 17. □ □ □ ffl ffl 5. DDDfflffl END SESSION 8) End session by entering [S [I ffl ffl 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! 464 B YTE • JANUARY 1986 BYTE READER SERVICE m Fill out this coupon carefully. PLEASE PRINT. Requests can- not be honored unless the zip code is included. This card is valid for 6 months from cover date. Name (Title) _ JANUARY 1986 4116 .(Company). i 23 2 24 3 25 4 26 5 27 6 28 7 29 8 30 9 31 10 32 II 33 12 34 13 35 14 36 15 37 16 38 17 3 9 18 40 19 41 20 42 21 43 22 44 45 67 89 46 68 90 47 69 91 48 70 92 49 71 93 50 72 94 51 73 95 52 74 96 53 75 97 54 76 98 55 77 99 56 78 100 57 79 101 5 8 80 102 59 81 103 60 8 2 104 61 83 105 62 84 106 63 85 107 64 86 108 65 87 109 66 88 110 111 133 112 134 113 135 114 136 115 137 116 138 117 139 118 140 119 141 120 142 121 143 122 144 123 145 124 146 125 147 126 148 127 149 128 150 129 151 130 152 131 153 132 154 155 177 199 156 178 200 157 179 201 181 202 181 203 158 159 160 182 204 161 183 205 162 184 206 163 185 207 164 186 208 165 187 209 166 188 210 167 189 211 168 190 212 169 191 213 170 192 214 171 193 215 194 216 195 217 174 196 218 175 197 219 176 198 220 172 173 221 243 265 222 244 266 223 245 267 224 246 268 225 247 269 226 248 270 227 249 271 2 28 2 50 2 72 229 251 273 230 252 274 231 253 275 232 254 276 233 255 277 234 256 278 235 257 279 236 258 280 237 259 281 238 260 282 239 261 283 240 262 284 241 263 285 242 264 286 Address City. Telephone .State 287 309 288 310 289 311 290 312 291 313 292 314 293 315 294 316 295 317 296 318 297 319 298 3 30 299 321 300 322 301 323 302 324 303 325 304 326 305 327 306 328 307 329 308 330 331 353 332 354 333 355 334 356 335 357 336 358 337 359 338 360 339 361 340 362 341 363 342 364 343 365 344 366 345 367 346 368 347 369 348 370 349 371 3 50 372 351 373 352 374 375 397 419 376 398 420 377 399 421 378 400 422 379 401 423 380 402 424 381 403 425 382 404 426 383 405 427 384 406 428 385 407 429 386 408 430 387 409 4 3.! 388 410 432 389 411 433 390 412 434 391 413 435 392 414 436 393 415 437 394 416 438 395 417 439 396 418 440 441 463 485 442 464 486 443 465 487 444 466 488 445 467 489 446 468 490 447 469 491 448 470 492 449 471 493 450 472 494 451 473 495 452 474 496 453 475 497 454 476 498 455 477 499 4 56 478 500 457 479 501 458 480 502 459 481 503 460 482 504 461 483 505 462 484 506 507 529 508 530 509 531 510 532 511 533 512 534 513 535 514 536 515 537 516 538 517 539 518 540 519 541 520 542 521 543 522 544 523 545 524 546 525 547 526 548 527 549 528 550 551 573 552 574 553 575 554 576 555 577 556 578 557 579 558 580 559 581 560 582 561 583 562 584 563 585 564 586 565 587 566 588 567 589 568 590 569 591 570 592 571 593 572 594 595.617 639 596 618 640 597 619 641 598 620 642 599 621 643 600 622 644 601 623 645 602 624 646 603 62 5 647 604 626 648 605 627 649 606 628 650 607 629 651 608 630 652 609 631 653 610 632 654 611 633 655 612 634 656 613 635 657 614 636658 615 637 659 616 638 660 id. computer store, or bookstore 661 683 705 727 749 771 793 662 684 706 728 750 772 794 663685 707 729 751 773 795 664 686 708 730 752 774 796 665 687 709 731 753 775 797 666 688 710 732 754 776 798 667 689 711 733 755 777 799 668 690 712 734 756 778 800 669 691 713 735 757 779 801 670 692 714 736 758 780 802 671 693 715 737 759 781 803 672 694 716 738 760 782 804 673 695 717 739 761 783 805 674 696 718 740 762 784 806 675 697 719 741 763 785 807 676 698 720 742 764 786 808 677 699 721 743 765 787 809 678 700 722 744 766 788 810 679 701 723 745 767 789 811 680 702 724 746 768 790 812 681 703 725 747 769 791 813 682 704 726 748 770 792 814 BYTE'S BOMB is your direct line to the editor s desk. Each month, the two top-rated authors receive bonuses based on your evaluation. First look at the list of this month's articles and corresponding ar- ticle numbers (located on the page pre- ceding the Reader Service list), then rate each article you've read as Excellent. Good. Fair, or Poor, based on your overall impres- sion of the article, by circling the ap- propriate number in each column below. Your feedback helps us produce the best possible magazine each month. Article No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Excellent 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 81 85 89 93 97 Good 2 6 10 14 18 22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 66 70 74 78 82 86 90 94 98 Fair 3 7 II 15 19 23 27 31 35 39 43 47 51 55 59 63 67 71 75 79 83 87 91 95 99 Poor 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 Article No. 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Excellent 101 105 109 113 117 121 125 129 133 137 141 145 149 153 157 161 165 169 173 177 181 185 189 193 197 Good 102 106 110 114 118 122 126 130 134 138 142 146 150 154 158 162 166 170 174 178 182 186 190 194 198 Fair 103 107 111 115 119 123 127 131 135 139 143 147 151 155 159 163 167 171 175 179 183 187 191 195 199 Poor 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180 184 188 192 196 200 BYTE READER SERVICE m Fill out this coupon carefully. PLEASE PRINT Requests can- not be honored unless the zip code is included. This card is valid for 6 months from cover date. Name (Title). .(Company). Address City. Telephone _State_ JANUARY 1986 4116 .Zip, l purchased this copy by □ Subscription □ Newsstand, computer store, or bookstore l 23 45 67 89 111 133 155 177 199 221 243 265 287 309 331 353 375 397 419 441 463 485 507 529 551 573 595 617 639 661 683 705 727 749 771 793 2 24 46 68 90 112 134 156 178 200 222 244 266 288 310 332 354 376 398 420 442 464 486 508 530 552 574 596 618 640 662 684 706 728 7 50 772 794 3 25 47 69 91 113 135 157 179 201 223 245 267 289 311 333 355 377 399 421 443 465 487 509 531 553 575 597 619 641 663 685 707 729 751 773 795 4 26 48 70 92 114 136 158 180 202 224 246 268 290 312 334 356 378 400 422 444 466 488 510 532 554 576 5«8 620 642 664 686708 730 752 774 796 5 27 49 71 93 115 137 159 181 203 225 247 269 291 313 335 357 379 401 423 445 467 489 511 533 555 577 599 621 643 665687 709 731 753 775 797 6 28 50 72 94 116 138 160 182 204 226 248 270 292 314 336 358 380 402 424 446468490 512 534 5 56 578 600 622 644 666 688 710 732 754 776 798 7 29 51 73 95 117 139 161 183 205 227 249 271 293 315 337 359 381 403 425 447 469 491 513 535 557 579 601 623 645 667 689 711 733 755 777 799 8 30 52 74 96 118 140 162 184 206 228 2 50 272 294 316 338 360 382 404 426 448 470 492 514 536 558 580 602 624 646 668 690 712 734 756 778 800 9 31 53 75 97 119 141 163 185 207 229 251 273 295 317 339 361 383 405 427 449 471 493 515 537 559 581 603 62 5 647 669 691 713 735 757 779 801 10 32 54 76 98 120 142 164 186 208 2 30 252 274 296 318 340 362 384 406 428 450 472 494 516 538 560 582 604 626 648 670 692 714 736 758 780 802 II 33 5S 77 99 121 143 165 187 209 231 2 53 275 297 319 341 363 385 407 429 451 473 495 517 539 561 583 605 627 649 671 693 715 737 759 781 803 12 34 56 78 100 122 144 166 188 210 232 254 276 298 330 342 364 386 408 430 452 474 496 518 540 562 584 606 628 650 672 694 716 738 760 782 804 13 35 57 79 101 123 145 167 189 211 233 255 277 299 321 343 365 387 409 431 453 475 497 519 541 563 585 607 629 6 51 673 695 717 739 761 783 805 14 36 58 80 102 124 146 168 190 212 234 256 278 300 322 344 366 388 410 432 454 476 498 520 542 564 586 608 630 652 674 696 718 740 762 784 806 15 37 59 81 103 125 147 169 191 213 235 257 279 30! 323 345 367 389 411 433 455 477 499 521 543 565 587 609 631 653 675 697 719 741 763 785 807 16 38 60 82 104 126 148 170 192 214 2 36 2 58 280 302 324 346 368 390 412 434 456 478 500 522 544 566 588 610 632 654 676 698 720 742 764 786 808 17 39 61 83 105 27 149 171 193 215 237 259 281 303 325 347 369 391 413 435 457 479 501 523 545 567 589 611 633 655 677 699 721 743 765 787 809 18 40 62 84 106 128 150 172 194 216 238 260 282 304 326 348 370 392 414 436 458 480 502 524 546 568 590 612 634 656 678 700 722 744 766 788 810 19 41 63 85 107 129 151 173 195 217 239 261 283 305 327 349 371 393 415 437 459 481 503 525 547 569 591 613 635 657 679 701 723 745 767 789 811 20 42 64 86 108 130 152 174 196 218 240 262 284 306 328 3 50 372 394 416 438 460 482 504 526 548 570 592 614 636 658 680 702 724 746 768 790 812 21 43 65 87 109 131 153 175 197 219 241 263 285 307 329 351 373 395 417 439 461 483 505 527 549 571 593 615 637 659 681 703 725 747 769 791 813 22 44 66 88 110 132 154 176 198 220 242 264 286 308 330 352 374 396 418 440 462 484 506 528 550 572 594 616 638 660 682 704 726 748 770 792 814 To get further information on the products advertised in BYTE, fill out the reader service card with your name and address. Then circle the appropriate numbers for the advertisers you select from the list. Add a first-class stamp to the card, then drop it in the mail. Not only do you gain information, but our advertisers are encouraged to use the marketplace provided by BYTE. This helps us bring you a bigger BYTE. The index is provided as an additional service by the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions. PLACE POSTAGE HERE G1TE READER SERVICE PO BOX 298 DALTON, MA 01227-0298 USA PLACE POSTAGE HERE BITE READER SERVICE PO BOX 298 DALTON, MA 01227-0298 USA BYTE » SUBSCRIPTIONS 4116 For a subscription to BYTE, please complete this card. Name Address City State. Zip. Country. Card No.. Expiration date Four digits above name— Master Charge only Signature Date_ Please allow eight weeks for processing. Thank you. USA Canada Mexico □ I year □ $2l □ $23 □ 2 years □ $38 □ $42 □ 3 years □ $55 □ $61 □ $69. Europe (air delivery) payment enclosed □ $3 7 Worldwide (surface mail) payment enclosed (Air mail rates available upon request) Please remit in US funds drawn on a US bank. Thank you. □ Check enclosed (Bonus: (North American only| one EXTRA issue— receive 13 issues for the price of 12) □ □ 3 □ Bill me (North America only) EVIEh SUBSCRIPTIONS For a subscription to BYTE, please complete this card. 4116 Name Address City State. Zip_ Country. Card No.. Expiration date. Four digits above name— Master Charge only Signature Date. Please allow eight weeks for processing. Thank you. USA Canada Mexico □ l year □ $2l □ $23 □ 2 years □ $38 □ $42 □ 3 years □ $55 □ $61 □ $69. Europe (air delivery) payment enclosed □ $37 Worldwide (surface mail) payment enclosed (Air mail rates available upon request) Please remit in US funds drawn on a US bank. Thank you. □ Check enclosed (Bonus: [North American only one EXTRA issue— receive 1 3 issues for the ^^^ price of 12] □ S □ H □ Bill me (North America only) Don't Miss An Issue! Have BYTE delivered to your door. Each month BYTE will bring you the latest in microcomputer technology. DISCOVER and IMPLEMENT new ideas. Don't miss the original informa- tion presented in the pages of BYTE. With BYTE you'll always be among the first to know about the important breakthroughs, worthwhile new equipment, and innovative projects in the world of computing. CHALLENGE US to deliver the very best idea in microcomputers and advanced technology to you. Return the attached card today! Subscribe to BYTE-the world's leading computer magazine. BYTE SUBSCRIPTIONS PO Box 597 Martinsville, NJ 08836^0597 USA PLACE POSTAGE HERE PLACE POSTAGE HERE BYTE SUBSCRIPTIONS PO Box 597 Martinsville, NJ 08836-0597 USA THIS NEC PRINTER CAN MANUFACTURE 2 MILLION Color Pin writer CP5 dot matrix printer, To build 2 million of these cars requires printing more than 25 billion dots. And that's how many our new Pin Writer' M P5 printer can print before you have to think about a repair. This NEC printer is not an exception. In fact, any NEC printer can run an average of 5 years in normal use before it needs a repair. Such reliability doesn't come easy. Every NEC printer is built on a highly automated assembly line. From the most advanced components in the industry. Then it's subjected to some of the most demanding tests ever devised for printers. Reliability is not the only thing this NEC printer has going. It's also the quietest dot matrix printer in its class. And it has the finest graphics resolution, plus more built-in true fonts. And it's the fastest multi-speed 24-pin dot matrix printer available. Now don't you wish NEC also made cars? Check out a new Pin writer P5 at your nearest NEC dealer. Or for more information, call 1-800-343-4418 (in MA 617-264-8635). Or write: NEC Information Systems, Dept. 1610, 1414 Massachusetts Ave., Boxborough, MA 01719. NEC PRINTERS.THEY ONLY STOP WHEN YOU WANT THEM TO c&c Computers and Communications NEC NEC Information Systems, Inc. Inquiry 265 ■Ja&j/F' Next to your computer, nothing beats a Tandy printer* Tandy printers make fine print quality, graphics and high performance affordable- For the best value and selection in printers, shop Radio Shack Computer Centers. Match any of these top-quality printers with your Tandy, IBM® PC or PC-compatible computer* Low-Cost Business Printer The DMP 430 (26-1277, $899) is a dot-matrix printer with an 18-vvire print head that delivers supe- rior correspondence characters. Choose from micro, italic and double-high fonts, as well as bit-image graphics. In the draft mode, DMP 430 prints 180 characters per second. Triple-Mode Personal Printer The low-cost, versatile DMP 130 (26-1280, $349.95) lets you choose from word processing or data processing modes, as well as dot-addressable graphics. Available at over 1500 Radio Shack Computer Centers and at participating Radio Shack stores and dealers. Radio /hack COMPUTER CENTERS A DIVISION OF TANDY CORPORATION Inquiry 303 Prints in four character styles: standard or italic cur- sive in draft or correspondence modes. Budget-Priced High Performer The DMP 105 (26-1276, $199.95) is the low-cost solution for data processing and general-purpose use. Features a bit-image graphics mode, too. Prints 80 characters per second in the draft mode. Dot-Matrix Power for Business Get high speed and high performance with the DMP 2200 (26-1279, $1695). The draft font prints at an out- standing 380 characters per sec- ond. For correspondence, the near letter-quality mode deliv- ers 90 characters per second. That's faster than most daisy- wheel printers. *D.Y1P 105 requires optional-extra IBM Printer Emulator (700-21 18, $29.95) for IBM compatibility. Prices apply at Kadio Sluick Computer Centers and at participating stores and dealer;;. IBM/Kcgistered TM International Business Machines Corp.