ELAMJD%VPIVAX3.BITNET%Berkeley@sri-unix.UUCP (07/25/84)
I hope this makes it...
First off, is it me, or is something in the net causing me to get the
digest scrambled? This latest issue had part of itself copied over
the part that was supposed to be in the middle. This is a bit annoying
since I was especiialy eager to learn to departition the hard disk and
I missed all three messages. The only reason I bring it up is because
I am on Bitnet and can only recieve and send text files. I can't re-
quest the back issues. I was just wondering...
Anyways, about the Quadlink: I spent 3 months evaluating the
Quadlink from Quadram. I have a great deal of Apple software from
times gone by, and I was all too delighted to test the big card for VPI.
It is big. The article in PC doesn't explain it fully. It took me a
good long 45 min. to put the card in. That doesn't include the time I
took to take my PC apart. There are two wires for the speaker, a cable to
hook to the drive controller (that could stand to be a little longer) as
well as another cable to go from the display adapter to the Quadlink. It
is not something to do for those of little patience. The installation
manual is fair, but it makes everything seem so easy. Once the card is
back in and all of the cables are in some sense of order, you are ready
to go. Two disks come with the package. One is for the PC, the other
for the Apple. Incidentally, the Apple software is from Central Point-
the same people who publish Copyiipc and a lot of Apple software. It
comes in it's own package from them. You put the PC disk in and run a
simple file. Then you put the Apple disk in and boot straight to the
Apple. With a few keys you can transfer between the Apple and PC at
will. Since the Quadlink is it's own machine, you can leave it running
your favorite Apple program and go back to working on the PC. Because
Quadlink uses the 8088 as something of a co-processor though, the PC
may not be calculating your spreadsheet while you play Raster Blaster.
(We can't have everything!).
The board itself is up to the usual high standards of Quadram
and is attractively packaged with it's own books in binders. It did
not cause any problems with any of the PC software I used, but I know
it will not work with anything other than PC-Dos. This includes UNIX.
At least it did a few months ago. The board also gets hot. I use
vinyl disk covers and while I had the Quadlink, had to be careful not
to leave them on top of the machine. It isn't so hot as to cause a
real problem, but it is a consideration if you have several other large
cards. I would be wary of using it with a large multi-function card.
Especially if you were going to be switching back and forth often.
Quadlink sort of cuts their own throats when they descibe it's
capabilities. They say not to expect it to be 100% compatible and that it
won't handle some copy-protected software. Specifically they point to Apple
software protected with a half- or quarter-tracking protection system. (The
reason for this is the PC has larger drive heads than the Apple and cannot
make the subtle differences required to write in between a track.) They may
have lied. I tested every single thing I could think of on that card and
anything an Apple II+ would run would also run on the Quadlink. I even got
one program that wouldn't run on the IIe to run on the Quadlink. As for
copy-protected software, all of that ran fine too. The only problem came
in making a back-up copy of a game and it wouldn't copy. It turned out
not to make any difference because it didn't copy on an Apple either.
The card does have one bug: the joystick is interfaced backwards.
The problem is that up is down on the Quadlink, and left is right. A major
annoyance.
Despite all the good features of the Quadlink the bottom line is that
the Quadlink is nothing more than a glorifed game-port. The games are better
because of the better graphics that the Apple produces, but the IBM is still
better, easier, and faster (Oh- The Quadlink is faster than a regular Apple.
I think it has something to do with the 8088 being used as well.) on the PC
than I can on an Apple. There are rarely times when you need both anyways.
The two machines can transfer text files, but nothing else. The Quadlink
will always stop if it issues a drive request and the PC is using the drive.
>From that point the Apple just sits until you go back to the Apple. It is
an extremely well designed board, but even with all my software for the
Apple, I must say that the Quadlink is not worth even the best price you can
get on it. If nothing else, the Quadlink ignores the numeric keypad- one
of the Apple biggest problems.
On the note about the DVED editor I must heartily concur. In fact,
I use it to edit all of the infopc's I get so I can distribute copies. I am
even using it now so I can just upload the text file. Single key delete to
buffer and instant on line help make this little one file program the best
editor have used. Better than Mince, Personal Editor, Spf, Vedit, or even
Volkswriter (but it doesn't have wrap-around). We are looking at making it
available to all the incoming students next year that are required to buy
PC's. The only problem I have found yet is when you hit the grey asterik
or plus, it advances to to the next line. Comments for source code are a
little ackward without that asterik. I think that the Springfield bulletin
board has Dved, and I know that they have that Forth-83 that was being asked
for. The number is 1-703-971-5381. If there is enough interest, I will
forward a recent listing off what's available on it to the library.
**** Disclaimer- I am not associated with any of the above mentioned products
in any way whats-so-ever.
Danny Elam