rms@inuxa.UUCP (R Sachs) (12/28/83)
I just bought a Gemini 10X for my C64. But which graphics interface do I buy? The new CARDCO graphics or The Connection (Microware)? I've heard rave reviews about CARDCO products and service in Midnite Software Gazette. Is Microware's just as good? And what features make a good interface? I'd like to dump anything on the screen including Hi Res. Throughput also matters, as well as price, reliability, and customer service. Finally, can anyone suggest a good mail order house or local Indianapolis store for either interface? Rich Sachs inuxa!rms
mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) (12/28/83)
We recently bought a Gemini 10X and a Cardco interface. One respondent indicated he had heard of reliability problems with the Cardco, two others were satisfied. My impression of the Cardco is that the interface works fine, but it draws its power from the cassette port through a kludged up board that is inserted between the cassette plug and the C64. This board is not in all that well, and if you move cables around at all (as you are likely to when you use your cassette) it tends to drag the plugs out. In addition to the obvious problems of not having your cassette plugged in, it could eventually break the board or wear out the connectors. (If anyone has a solution I'd be interested to hear about it.) The Cardco is a general purpose interface from the VIC 20 or C64 to any printer with a Centronics port. However, in reading their manual, you find there are some printer dependent translations done to make it look like a 1525 printer. They specifically mention several printers it is known to work on with different degrees of success: Star Micronics, Epson, Radio Shack, and by throwing a switch, the Prowriter and Smith Corona TP-1. You have to change software to make an Okidata work. The only ones that can dump graphics transparently (it amazes me that any can) are the Star, Epson, and Prowriter. A small change for graphics is needed for the Prowriter. The Cardco manual is full of serious typos, hopefully you aren't going to foist it on a beginner that will believe them. They do include a phone number you can call 1-5 PM weekdays to ask questions, and emphasize that they want to make you happy. We paid $50 for the Cardco at a local (Youngstown) computer store, and the extra $50 for the Microware didn't seem worth it.