Milestone! You are great, why procrastinate? Learn Z! Richard Jacobson and
Bruce Morgen edited Kaypro Z-System Manual (Z-News 407) into a generic
tutorial, one applicable to any computer running ZCPR3 and ZRDOS. You who
have found our reading material difficult, this is your book. It is a fitting
addition to lonely ZCPR3: The Manual by Richard Conn and adds another
dimension (level) to Echelon documentation. Titled Z-System User's Guide, we
offer it for $14.95, plus $4.00 shipping and handling, continental USA--Item
88 on Price List. Additionally, Californians must include 7.0% state sales
tax.
Though an efficient learning tool for beginners and intermediates,
advanced users also are expected to learn much from the Guide. Creating
aliases and menus, producing ZEX batch files, making VFILER CMD files--all
explained using tutorial style. Many, many how-to-create, how-to-use
examples: just what we have needed for so long.
Unique New Computer. Always ready, no loss of data--ever! Office automation
and development system computer ready. Oneac Corporation of Chicago
(Libertyville) shipping Z80 RAM-disk based, power-conditioned, packaged
machine, with industry-standard ASCII terminal. No loss of data, ever!
That's main feature, plus speed--four to six times faster than best hard disk.
Uses a floppy drive for backup storage to battery-protected dynamic RAM. Pull
plug out of wall, data in RAM is safe. No loss of data, with blinding speed!
That's what Oneac "ON!" computer is about--it's always on, always ready, never
switched off, never quits. No booting, everything is always loaded! Indeed,
there's nothing like it on the market...and you can't get it by adding
hardware to existing computers. Security and speed is obtained by ingenious,
integrated hardware/software design. And it's dead quiet, no fans, no
acoustic noise. Efficient and attractive office-place styling! Nothing we
have seen matches it. Machine comes in two versions: 2 or 4 megabytes of
DRAM with 5.25" DSDD 96tpi floppy for backup.
Programmers developing software and business professionals, writers,
authors, lawyers, engineers, journalists, love ON! machine for its mind-
altering speed and for data safety. Office managers and secretaries love ON!
for ease of use and ten times faster operations compared to IBM and Apple. No
one likes to wait, and wait, for computers to finish simple tasks. Human
creativity at-its-peak produced ON! computer.
"For the work you have to do. If you have tried using a computer
to get your important work done you already know the problem.
Getting started is, at best, painful and very time consuming. If
you are among the minority that has taken the time to overcome the
problems of getting started, you have found that, as an experienced
user, your time is being eroded by inefficient system operations,
slow execution times, occasional disasters, and ongoing software
difficulties... ON! is the only computer specifically designed to
get the work you have to do done without wasting your time."
ON! computer, conceived and designed by Nick DeWolf, Aspen, CO, sells for
$2,000.00 or so. That's less than you would think for such quality,
reliability, and speed. Remember, it's shipping. Call or write Oneac's Mr.
Byron Brooks, VP Marketing, 27944 N. Bradley Road, Libertyville, IL 60048,
312/680-5999, for literature with complete details. Oh! ON! runs Z-System
with fully developed menus and suspended program operations. Has internal
clock to activate preset commands, auto-date/time stamp files, turn
peripherals on/off. Comes with Newword, V-Spell, and SuperCalc, and over 50
utilities--all come-alive with quick menu drive! Everything is ready to run--
preconfigured--no installation.
Z TIPS. Though recently moved to Bellevue, WA, Dreas Nielsen finds time to
develop code, to make significant ZCPR3 shell utility contributions. 1)
GETVAR prints a user-defined prompt, accepts a response, and assigns it to a
user-defined shell variable, and 2) RESOLVE resolves references to shell
variables, System Files, register values, and other quantities from aliases,
ZEX files, etc. Standard Z3 HLP file is supplied. Shell utilities are in
SHUTILS.LBR on Z-Nodes. Thanks, Dreas, we needed these!
Steve Kitahata, Z-Node #57 Sysop, Gardena, CA, locates and removes long-
standing bug in LDR13.COM. Seems that especially for short segments, e.g.,
128-byte TCAP, 1.3 can overlap into next buffer area if load error occurs
because segment code is either too lengthy for space allocated or defective.
One less bug to worry about...thanks, Steve, for your efforts--keep 'em up!
Get file LDR14.LBR for update.
Rea Williams, Z-Node #10 Sysop, is first to create Index to Z-News.
Others, including EI staff, are working on similar things. So, soon we will
have a good set of indices, long needed, to assist finding subjects in the
newsletters. Our cup runs over. Rea's Index is file ZNEWS01.IDX on Z-Nodes.
Anyone looking for the best in hard-disk add-ons (semiconductor RAM is
not for everyone, yet) should write or call Advanced Concepts Engineering and
Consulting, 8926 S.W. 17 Street, Boca Raton, FL 33433, 305/482-7302. ACEC's
install program permits configuring hard drive to your computer, to your
liking. We are told installations are Z-System compatible! They have
versions for many popular CP/M machines, e.g, Kaypro, Osborne, Xerox, Eagle,
Sanyo, Zorba, etc. Tell'em Echelon sent you.
From Our Mail Box. "The knowledge I have gained personally from ZCPR3-ZRDOS
use cannot be overstated. Thanks a million...I shall be waiting anxiously for
your coming goodies. The best of success to the entire Echelon team in their
future efforts." Art Welsh writes from Anchorage, Alaska. Thanks, Art, for
the kind words; we move on the goodies as fast as our resources permit.
Remember though, it is you driving us and controlling what we do--without you
we are nothing.
From Joseph Hance, Miamisburg, OH, "...purchased... ZCPR3 and SYSLIB3...
what is your update procedure to receive latest versions of your products?" A
question asked by many: we replied in Z-News 403 to get a modem and get
online, it's 1986. Well, here's a more considered answer. Upgrades to any
single or two-disk program is $20.00 plus $4.00 shipping and handling,
continental USA. Each additional disk, if in same shipment and of same
program, is $10.00.
Take our situation, Joseph, into full account: we have a master set of
over 50 disks containing our products. We handle 10 or so floppy formats.
Tools and programs are constantly being improved, bugs fixed. Price of basic
Z-System, $192.50, is low considering how many disks, thirteen (13) SSDD 5.25
inchers, and how much software customer receives. The Libraries package is
shipped on 8 disks and sells for only $69.00. Clerical problem of maintaining
records of exactly what version of each utility and program each customer
received exceeds our corporate capability. Z-Nodes are main source for
updates to software we release to SIG/M of ACGNJ (Amateur Computer Group of
New Jersey), the software for private use and not to be sold without a license
from Echelon. We deal with, handle more source code than any microcomputer
software house we know of; perhaps AT&T and IBM are exceptions. Suggestions
to improve our service are welcomed.
Z-Node Activity. Calls to Z-Node system are estimated at near 40,000 per
month--many magazines wish for such coverage! Twenty-six (26) callers per day
per telephone line installed--26, magic number! Many days, up to 45 calls are
received; but, on a monthly average, a Z-Node line can sustain 26 calls per
day. That seems to be it! And all nodes are not operating at capacity. If
they were, we would be getting close to 55,000 calls per month. Lots of open
time, so give your local node a call.
George Reeves becomes Z-Node #67, Decatur, GA 30030, complements Z-Node
#46 Sysop Jim Altman in nearby Atlanta. George uses both CCS and TeleVideo
microcomputers and will use one of them as his node covering ZRDOS and ZCPR3
software. His number will be passed on as soon as he is up and running.
Z-Nodes 58, 63, and 65 become downloaders of EI proprietary software.
Support your local downloader. He is your best source for Z-System
information.
Potpourri. Z-Team member, John Forker, has finished his upgrade of SB180.
We documented changes, have given them to Micromint and NAOG (see Z-News 308),
and have placed changes-only into the public domain. Upgrade consists of 1)
removing wait-states from hardware speeding machine by 30%, 2) adding 256k-
bytes of DRAM on-board using piggy-back chips, and 3) modifying BIOS and
system support utilities to automatically use extra memory as 416k-byte RAM
disk. New software works with or without memory-chip addition. John made
many changes to his liking to ROM monitor, BIOS, and other utilities. We
don't recommend trying to make John's suggested changes unless you are a
qualified electronics technician. If you feel unqualified but still want the
changes, obtain NAOG's advice (215/443-9031) on getting complete job
performed--please, don't call Echelon.
It's no wonder computer users, once seeing performance of certain 8-bit
systems, are migrating from Apple and IBM PCs to S-100 and SBCs: Ampro,
Micromint, Intelligent Computer Designs, Zicomp, Dean Micro Systems, Magnum
Digital, etc. Old timers are returning home, too! Speed and quality are
common denominators. Let's face it--those who write code for other than
certain 8-bit machines, it seems, have little or no love for their work. Thus
we see what we have been getting--software needing more and more hardware
resources, software encouraging no-think, consumption-only mentality!
Of Cabbage and Kings. We discussed
money's nature in Z-News 305, pg 5. Many
did not understand what we were getting
at: what is money and what is stealing!
Let's move to another level and approach
subject from different angle. People
morally (what's right, what's wrong)
develop from birth--it's predictable--by
degrees! We don't necessarily all start
from same point either. 1) Right is blind
obedience to rules and authority, based on
fear of punishment. Stealing is wrong
only if we might get caught. 2) Right is
serving one's own or one's group needs and
making fair deals. 3) Right is playing
the good (don't rock-the-boat) role, being
loyal, and being motivated to follow rules
and expectations. 4) Right is doing one's
duty to society (the majority understand
ing) and to one's own group. 5) Right is
upholding the values of society, even when
they conflict with one's group rules. 6)
Right is defined by one's own ethical
principles, and 7) Right is beholding
what's good for the Cosmos and acting
accordingly. Thus, concern for self
moves, as we grow, to concern for society,
the greater good for the greater number,
from individual instances to general
rules. Only a minority of adults reach
mentality and understanding of 5) and 6),
and during any period (epoch), less than
100 people, world-wide, reach 7).
Moral development determines how a
person (re)acts in practical situations,
every situation. We all steal one way or
the other, but do we give back in kind or
not? Do we promote Life or do we assist
killing it? We know the answer if we but
still ourselves...we don't always have to
react, to be like fleas on a hot tin roof,
reacting to stimulation--act, we can with
will and understanding.
What constitutes the Whole? Integrity,
Z-News 307 and 308 replied, is the answer.
Z-News 308 spoke of plagiarism as basic to
culture and what it morally means. Philo-
sophically, psychologically, Z-News 302
through 305, and 308, hit us squarely in-
the-teeth. Our armor plate buckled, darts
pierced bare flesh. Now what do we do,
how do we (re)act?
Days grow long, Spring is here; but, we
don't get smarter--we are attached to our
tread-mill life. We treasure not colors
of Autumn; aromas of last Summer go unre-
membered in our haste to "make a living."
But we live not! We are not much more
than automatons or cyborgs. But why not
choose to live and do it deeply, with
making-a-living the fall-out. Everything
is available: facts, data, information,
knowledge for the asking, and for the
experience. Let us turn-on our brains, so
long on auto-pilot (our subconscious mind,
the autonomous nervous system), and choose
consciously. Question everything! Stop,
observe, listen. Wait, accept not first
answers, argue with yourself--a sure way
to receive answers that last, really last,
ones we know are correct for us. Let us
BEcome more than what we presently are!
See you down the lines...
Echelon, Inc.
885 N. San Antonio Road
Los Altos, CA 94022 USA
Telephone: 415/948-3820
Z-Node Central (RAS): 415/489-9005
Z-News 408 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission
to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is
given to Echelon.
