Answers to Newsletter 004 Generated Questions: 1) Both President Larry
Boucher and New Business Development Manager, Jim Kurinsky, of Adaptec, 580
Cottonwood, Milpitas, CA 95035, 408/946-8600, are happy to send you literature
on their company's fast controller boards and on companies that use them. 2)
Prices for hard disks were given as less than $3000 for 10 to 40 megabyte
packaged units. A 10 megabyte unit goes now for about $900. We're presently
looking for 80 megabytes for less than $3000! The up-to-$600 for quarter
megabyte of RAM is for a plug-in board, not the price of loose chips! (Thanks
to Robert Heckert, Fullerton, California, for highlighting potential misunder-
standing caused by our phraseologies.)
Our position, restated, is: very useful programs need use no more than
20 or 30 kilobytes of RAM, of Transient Program Area. Using overlays and
chaining permit programs of any size to run fast, very fast, if a fast,
correctly installed, Winchester is used for program-module storage. Such a
philosophy means that BIOS or CP/M-system size is not of much importance.
It seems there is some emotionalism involved in setting up ZCPR3 systems
with, say only 48K TPA. (We always assume RAM to be full 64K-bytes.) Our
experience suggests few CP/M programs need more than a 48K TPA. We have run
both T/Maker and WordStar in 44K and, subjectively, can see no chance in
operating speed caused by reduced buffer allocation space. Who wants to
conduct measurements of time taken to scan files, run spreadsheets, etc., with
various sizes of TPA? We'll report your findings here.
Additionally, someone (you) should, in our opinion, do an in-depth
article comparing the Lasting-Value Softwaretm nature of ZCPR3 to PC-DOS and
Unix. Any takers among you writers? We'll supply our experience, our facts
to support your trade-study writings; and surely you'll have no trouble
getting such an article published. Comparisons of this nature are hard to
come by. We'll help, if need be!
Important 8-Bit Program: Outline processing is a mind expanding computer aid;
KAMAS is just that. The acronym comes from Knowledge And Mind Amplification
System, a piece of software destined to mark our 8-bit world: outline
processing, wordprocessing, telecommunications, information retrieval, and a
Forth-like programming language, all-in-one. The system is somewhat command-
line-completion driven. Sounds like an ideal program for control by VFILER,
MENU, and VMENU. ZCPR3 could make KAMAS turn-key, from a series of chained
(up to 255), custom, easy-to-alter menus. For $175.00 KAMAS sounds like
something we would like to push. CP/M-80 software development is alive and
well, thank you. But no thanks to many others. KAMAS is produced by Compu-
sophic Systems, 2525 SW 224th Street, Aloha, OR 97006. Write, or give them
(Adam Trent, President) a call at telephone 503/649-3765. (Ezra Shapiro has a
four-page Preview of program in September issue of BYTE, starting page 123.)
Some think we don't write (and talk) enough about ZCPR3, but our attitude
is: we have a super operating system and it's a tool to be used to solve
every day problems. ZCPR3 provides the environment to integrate application
programs that work hard, provides a user-interface adaptable (through VMENU,
MENU and VFILER) to the experience level of the console operator. We speak
and write of those programs and hardware ideal for the ZCPR3 environment, that
provide a more-than-competitive, cost effective solution to our problems. But
it seems our pronouncements cause a stirring in certain intellectual circles,
among those who know the truth of these matters, but are not following through
with beliefs. They squirm and turn, sleep comes not...are we tools of
commercialism and consumption? Are we part of this syndrome; a mirror is in
the bathroom, but only look if you're not a ZCPR3 user.
Z3 TIPS: Take a look at what XDIR can do. It's so powerful that most of us
never think of using things it can do, because we don't remember all its
power. The U trailing option enables displaying all files in all User Areas.
The ability to log disk directory files into a file and then compare other
directories to that file is extremely useful and a time-saving feature for
scanning lots of disks to find differences among them. The negate option
permitting display of all but the listed files is novel in the CP/M world.
Study of options possible and comparison table below provides information on
its features. The table indicates why it is so difficult to describe with
mere words all features of directory display programs provided with ZCPR3.
Command: XDIR Version 2.0
Syntax: XDIR dir:afn ooo...
or XDIR /ooo...
Function: XDIR displays a disk directory on the console or printer
and is a file name scanner.
Options:
Aa - Indicate attributes of files to be selected
a=A for All Files (System and Non-System)
a=N for Non-System Files [default]
a=S for System Files
D - Send Output to Disk File XDIR.DIR
Ff - Enable a File Scanner Function
f=L to Log File Names to FNAMES.DIR
f=P to Print File Names Stored in FNAMES.DIR
f=S to Scan Disk and Compare to FNAMES.DIR
I - Inspect Logged Files (use with FL option only)
N - Negate Selection of Files
Oo - Select Output Features
o=A to Disable Display of File Attributes (R, S)
o=F to Form Feed Printer when Display Done
o=G to Group Files by Name and Type
o=H to Display Files in Horizontal Format
P - Send Display to Printer
PF - Send Display to Printer with Trailing Form Feed
U - Select All User Areas
A hardcopy printout (assuming you have a printer) of all characteristics and
features of DIRS (as well as any other help HLP file) can be obtained using
the HELPPR program. Enter:
HELPPR <helpname.HLP> <options> <cr>
Options for HELPPR are obtained by entering the customary double-slash after
the command name:
HELPPR // <cr>
Not to slight other ZCPR3 directory display programs, let's compare them
to XDIR using a matrix table of features and functions. Z3 DIR is the
intrinsic assembled in the CP, RCP DIR is in the Resident Command Package, and
DIR, XD and XDIR are transient COM programs.
Directory_Display_Comparison_Table
Attribute Z3_DIR RCP_DIR DIR XD XDIR
Program Size N/A N/A 2K 4K 8K
Sort File Names No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Select Sort Order N/A No Yes Yes Yes
Select SYS Files Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Select All Files Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Negate File Select No No No No Yes
Display Attributes No No No Yes Yes
Horiz/Vert Format No No No Yes Yes
Printer Output ^P ^P No Yes Yes
Form Feed No No No Yes Yes
Select All Users No No No No Yes
Disk Output No No No No Yes
File Scanner No No No No Yes
And now to an equally important program: PRINT. Convenient printer fomatting
and extreme flexibility are main features. (PAGE, for output to console, has
similar features; remember PAGE and PRINT can replace intrinsic built-ins,
TYPE and LIST.)
Command: PRINT Version 2.0
Syntax: PRINT dir:afn1,dir:afn2,... o...
Function: Prints a file on the LST: device, like LIST does, but
offers many more options. Prints a heading, pages
file, numbers pages, numbers lines, places date/time
stamp on output, puts file name on output, and more.
Options:
E - Exact Print (Expand Tabs, Form Feed, No Line or Page
Numbers, No Heading)
F - Toggle default of file name display on page header
(default is ON, so F turns off name display)
H<delim>text<delim> - Define Heading text to appear at the top
of each page (delim = @, for example)
I - Inspect Files (user selects files before printing begins)
L - Enable numbering of each line
M - Disable Multiple Run Flag (if multiple run is ON, then no
"Set Top of Form" message appears for each file and PRINT
moves from one file to another unattended) default is
with Multiple Run ON
N - Disable numbering of each page
On - Offset from left each line n-spaces to the right
Sn - Start printing on page n
T - Toggle date/time stamp in the header of each page (a TIME
subroutine must be assembled into PRINT to enable stamp)
GLOSSARY and ZCPR3 COMMANDS reference cards, presently shipped with our
software, have been sent complementary to all Echelon customers. We care
about your well being and believe these two items assist every day use of
ZCPR3 8-bit CP/M software, both during initial learning and for promoting
fuller retention. These cards at computer-side permit quick operator assist
to forgotten commands and word meanings.
Z3_Bug_Report: Two more come from Peter Lyman of Pasadena, California. FINDF
and UNERASE both will not do their jobs if the files searched for are the
first four in the directory on track two of the floppy disk. Also from Peter,
HELP doesn't expand tabs because of direct use of BIOS calls, instead of using
BDOS calls. So text HLP files using TAB for indent and big spaces don't look
too good! Quick solution is to not use TAB in HELP text files, but five (or
eight) spaces instead. We're looking for a satisfactory long-term solution.
Magazine Articles: Page 396 of BYTE, September 1984, gives a little history
of ZCPR3 and points to where it's going; stated at article's end, "to be
continued." InfoWorld, 17 September, 1984, starting page 59, carries an
excellent review piece by Allen Mehr about Ampro Bookshelftm Series 100
Computers, as well as kind words describing ZCPR3 and Shell Friendlytm. The
machine received highest ratings in categories Setup, Ease of Use, and, most
important, Performance. (Please don't miss Echelon's full page ads in Issue
#10 of User's Guide and October Computer Language magazines.)
Part One of a ZCPR3 article by Richard Conn appears as keystone piece in
October Computer Language, November for the second part. An in-depth,
independent review of ZCPR3 also appears in the November '84 issue.
The Dr. Dobb's Journal article on SYSLIB3 by Robert Blum appears in the
November 1984 issue. That same issue of DDJ has an interesting write-up on
about making files public (global, from any directory, access of both command
and text files) using a licensed DISK7tm program for special displaying and
copying of PUBlictm files, as well as normal files. Bridger Mitchell of
Plu*Perfect Systems, Box 1494, Idyllwild, CA 92349, 714/659-4432, has a
thoroughly developed approach to public files under CP/M. We are considering
implementing a feature like public files under ZCPR3 if we can preserve
directory password security.
IBM versus AT&T: Microsoft wins over Digital Research, we must report. Xenix
(Unix System 3) wins over AT&T System 5. System 3 is the standard now, and
IBM has taken Unix development away from the erstwhile monopoly, bureaucracy-
infested AT&T. IBM is competition-tough. The PC-AT (Advanced Technology)
with Local Area Network (LAN) from Sytek, Mountain View, California, is the
product big-business wants, and probably needs and deserves. (IBM has rights
to purchase 5% of Sytek, which in turn is 51% owned by General Instrument!)
IBM appears to not be going the time-share approach of mainframes and minis
using Unix. LAN is efficient, we said this in several ways before. ESD
(Entry Systems Division) wins over other divisions; Florida leads the struggle
against other parts of the IBM world. AT&T should have established System 5
as the standard before it came out with computer hardware. Apple is dead in
this market, good night Lisa, or is it Irene? DRI Concurrent DOS is still-
born, nary a movement detected! Who needs sales to Fortune 500 companies
anyway? A huge, savvy marketing staff cuts the mustard. That's our musings.
Digital Research, if any single company can be given such credit, caused
the microprocessor to become popular with its virtual-machine operating system
for 8-bit 8080 cpu's. But just when the going got competitive, got rough, its
leadership was found wanting. New leadership of late has done no better.
Johnny-come-recentlies know little of what they need to know. They miss the
boat--see not the patch for the code! We sorrow, again and again. Blood
comes from our pores but, as we all know, we reap what we sow; natural law
cannot be circumvented.
Another IBM move having profound industry consequences is their endorse-
ment of Graphic Systems Software, Wilsonville, Oregon, graphics operating
system. This move, similar to the way IBM adopted Microsoft's MS-DOS, means
good-bye GSX from DRI! Mindset Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, saw the
wisdom of GSS when taking it on for their super PC clone. (But we wonder how
long such clones can be around with the PC-AT priced the way it is.)
Wyse Technology, our favorite terminal manufacturer, located in San Jose,
California, has done so well (last year's sales of over $17 million) they are
going public with an offering of 1.8 million shares of stock at approximately
$8.00 per share. A success in Silicon Valley, coming from customer-insight,
courage and simple hard work; westcoast good news! And now for...
Bad News: Sadness darkens our faces with the knowledge that Ziff-Davis is
cancelling publication of Microsystems magazine. We are charter subscribers,
remember the first issue produced with a Diablo daisywheel. The magazine's
demise signals another bow-wave in the microcomputer industry--publishing
power moving from East to West. Computer Language and Dr. Dobb's more than
fills the gap vacated by Microsystems, and User's Guide, so unique in our
industry, continues as the journal of new computer users, and of those who
desire an in-depth understanding of popular computer programs. Weekly Info-
World completes the quadrangle with timely micro-news and product reviews.
Four influential--thus powerful--journals westcoast produced! (Let's not
forget both Unix magazines, UnixWorld and Unix Review, are from this same
coast.)
Also, Microcomputing magazine is finished after much twisting and
churning. BYTE more than covers whatever small void created by one less such
publication. And furthermore, BYTE, seeing the handwriting on the wall, is
covering CP/M-80 activity with renewed vigor. Gee, that's good news!
About two years ago we proclaimed, while many seemed not to know what we
we were talking about, "There's something sick with an industry that requires
so much money spent in advertising products. Company m
anagers funneling
stockholder (or vc) equity capital to pay for ads before products succeed, or
much less make money--such paths lead to Chapter Eleven." Comes time now to
pay for short term views, for so little soul exhibited. We need more
constructive ideas from people, less copy-cats. Too many clone-magazines, too
few impressed and inspired readers, too many ads with mind-numbing and
language-altering wordings! The industry yields to natural karmic
retribution. (Maybe magazine subscription prices are too low, ad prices too
high, management decisions lack insight; something certainly has been and is
far less than whole.)
We presently favor four magazines and their editors:
1. User's Guide 2. Dr. Dobb's Journal
POB 5245 2464 Embarcadero Way
Redwood City, CA 94063 Palo Alto, CA 94303
3. Computer Language 4. BYTE
131 Townsend Street 70 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94107 Peterborough, NH 03458
Please support them by making known your feelings, your likes and dislikes,
and subscribing. Echelon has ads in two of them now and will have in them
all, if business justifies. Our attitudes could change if their editorial
policies ever promote other than a healthy climate in which we can learn and
in which we can grow--learning, growing, that's what we call living! See you
down the lines...
Echelon, Inc.
101 First Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
Telephone: 415/948-3820
RCP/M & BBS Modem: 408/258-8128
Trademarks: CP/M, Digital Research; Z3-Dot-Com, Alpha Systems; Bookshelf,
Friendly, Ampro Computers; Lisa, Apple Computer; Z80, Zilog; Unix, AT&T Bell
Laboratories; ZCPR3, SYSLIB3, TERM3, EMSG, Richard L. Conn; DISCAT, Lasting-
Value Software, DISK7, Echelon; PC-DOS, IBM, Int'l Business Machines; WY-50,
Wyseword, Wyse Technology; KAMAS, Compusophic Systems; PUBlic, Plu*Perfect
Systems.
Newsletter 007 is Copyright 1984 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permis-
sion to reprint granted automatically if source credit is given to Echelon.
Echelon, Inc.
101 First Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
