[net.micro.zx] caveat emptor?

schwager (10/13/82)

#R:uiucdcs:10500003:uiucdcs:10500008:000:2665
uiucdcs!schwager    Oct 12 17:43:00 1982

hey,craig--
 i have a zx-81 if you want to borrow it.  give me a call sometime and ill
bring it over for ya.  as far as using it for what you want, its possible
but there's two things you should know:
	1.It is quite slow when running basic, I have found.  but really,
	  for less than $100 you cant expect apple performance.  i think
	  its about as fast as a programmable calculator, somewhat faster
	  in the "fast" mode.
	2.i imagine you would want to mess around a lot with the output 
 	  ports from the z80, but the documentation that comes with the 
	  machine is not for someone who wants to get that technical.			  also, there are only four chips (three in the timex version,			  i hear), so much of the hardware is in a special sinclair	
	  chip and there is no info on how that chip utilizes the i/o
	  lines from the prossessor, so it may interfere with what you're
	  using it for.  but i guess you could just come in and take 
	  your output right off the z80i/o    .
let me know if you want to borrow my machine.  i think its worth the money,
if youre short on cash, but be prepared for a couple limitations.  i would
get the 16k rampack right away, because 2k doesnt go very far at all.
				mike

i

bye
		
q
6
  
  

   
i
 




  
  
  


;'



helpp
       


	
	



hey,craig--
 i have a zx-81 if you want to borrow it.  give me a call sometime and ill
bring it over for ya.  as far as using it for what you want, its possible
but there's two things you should know:
	1.It is quite slow when running basic, I have found.  but really,
	  for less than $100 you cant expect apple performance.  i think
	  its about as fast as a programmable calculator, somewhat faster
	  in the "fast" mode.
	2.i imagine you would want to mess around a lot with the output 
 	  ports from the z80, but the documentation that comes with the 
	  machine is not for someone who wants to get that technical.			  also, there are only four chips (three in the timex version,			  i hear), so much of the hardware is in a special sinclair	
	  chip and there is no info on how that chip utilizes the i/o
	  lines from the prossessor, so it may interfere with what you're
	  using it for.  but i guess you could just come in and take 
	  your output right off the z80i/o    .
let me know if you want to borrow my machine.  i think its worth the money,
if youre short on cash, but be prepared for a couple limitations.  i would
get the 16k rampack right away, because 2k doesnt go very far at all.
				mike

i

bye
		
q
6
  
  

   
i
 




  
  
  


;'



helpp
       


	
	




\