info-mac@uw-beaver (02/21/85)
From: John Mark Agosta <INFO-MAC-REQUEST@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> INFO-MAC Digest Thursday, 21 Feb 1985 Volume 2 : Issue 5 Today's Topics: Absoft's MacFortran re -- Fat Mac upgrades from MassTech don't use *anything but* 74F253s VIDCO Mac video output? follow on to VIDCO video out keyboard problems how quiet is the HyperDrive? Hard disk information? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 19 FEB 1985 23:25 CST From: C27830AD%WUVMD.BITNET@Berkeley Subject: Absoft's MacFortran I've played a bit with this system, although I can't answer yet your question re its operation with a ramdisk. It compiles at more like 200-300 lines/minute, although I've not tried it with a large file and the overhead is 20-25 seconds on even the shortest files. The code is very fast - the Byte Sieve benchmark runs in 6.8 secs, which is close to the fastest C on the Mac - clearly it's native code compiling. The compiler produces applications, which require the run time package (about 11K) on the same disk to run. RMAKER can be used to create DRVRs or FKEYs, etc, as with the assembler. The editor provided is the Consulair, but I found the trick of using the MOCKWrite desk accessory for the editor is best - you run the compiler and then open the desk accessory. Edit the program, save it and compile. Turnaround for compile debug cycles is under a minute. Art Denzau C27830AD@WUVMD.BITNET (314)889-5688 Dept. of Economics Box 1208 Washington Univ. St. Louis, MO 63130 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Feb 85 16:58:11 EST From: Mike Simpson <msimpson@bbn-spca> Subject: re -- Fat Mac upgrades from MassTech RE: Fat Mac upgrades I got my Mac upgraded Saturday by MassTech (I live outside Boston, and so was able to drive over). The replacement was a simple board swap -- take out the old and put in the new. 15-20 minutes, start to finish. They guy who did the installation couldn't have been more courteous and helpful. MassTech threw in RAMdisk software ( which I'm sure everyone else has, anyway). Performance: MacPaint and MacWrite really fly. Dollars and Sense takes a little longer to start up (I suspect a lot of stuff is being read into memory), but after the initial delay, it too is much quicker. Word seems to be a bit faster, but the documents I've been using have been pretty small. I haven't yet tried Multiplan or Chart with the Fat Mac. Warranty info: MassTech warranties the board for 90 days. Since my Mac is seven months old, it was nearing the end of Apple's warranty anyway. If the upgrade was going to blow up, it would certainly have done so by now. In sum, I have no complaints whatsoever about the upgrade per se. However, I can't say anything about taking the board out yourself and mailing it to them, since (as stated above) I brought the Mac in myself. -- Mike Simpson ARPA: msimpson@bbn-spca.arpa USENET:{decvax, linus, ima, ihnp4}!bbncca!msimpson ------------------------------ Date: Wed 20 Feb 85 21:20:40-CST From: Werner Uhrig <CMP.WERNER@UTEXAS-20.ARPA> Subject: don't use *anything but* 74F253s I got lucky and found a "real live certified developer" to coach me, and he recommended NOT to use the 74S253 as it would cause problems with 'certain fast' applications and you'd possibly find yourself in trouble 'in the long run'. He also preferred the 74F253 over the 74AS253 lsited as alternative in the DDJ article. Yes, I've upgraded, even put a hardware switch next to the 'Reset-Switch' to be able to run alternatively as a 128 or a 512. Mount a single-pole sliding miniature switch next to F1 on the edge of the board. After cutting the trace between pins 1 and 2 on the back side of the board on location E3, connect a wire from pin 2 to the center of the switch, pin 1 to one side of the switch. The 47-Ohm resister connected to pin 7 on the new 74F253 mounted on top of location F3 should now be connected to the other side of the switch rather than pin 2 on the pad of location E3. You can now switch between 128 and 512 mode by poking at the switch (invisible from the outside) with a small screw-driver through the slits just in front of the RESET-switch. (Hey, anyone even *remotely* interested in upgrading himself certainly isn't afraid of sticking a screwdriver in there. And most certainly has the RESET-switch installed. Anyone for whom this is not true, should think twice before upgrading himself - my humble opinion) 2 important points. be sure to cover the resistor with some insulating material to avoid a short (a rubber tube is what I used). also, make sure the switch does not stick out over the side of the board, otherwise you might find yourself in trouble when you try to reinstall the board. Look at how the board has to slide back into the chassis and you'll see what I mean. BTW, I simply 'super-glued' the switch to the board. PS: the cost of the 256k chip dropped to $9 per item last week, 3 days after I had mail-ordered mine from Microprocessors Unlimited (whom I recommend highly for their fast and friendly service) PSPS: don't even think of handling those memory chips until the moment you are ready to stick them into the socket, and keep all of them and the board and yourself grounded. you'll be sorry if you don't (no, I was careful ... (-: ) PSPSPS: I understand that all Macs currently coming of the assembly line are using a new board (refered to in the addendum on page 4 of DDJ) which will allow a later upgrade to 4M using the new 1M-byte chips. you can identify those boards with the photo on page 4. also, the board itself has 128k .... 512k written on it. Tally Ho, and may Mr. Murphy smile on you, Werner ------------------------------ Date: Wed 20 Feb 85 16:29:52-EST From: Alan Crosswell <US.ALAN%CU20B@COLUMBIA.ARPA> Subject: VIDCO Mac video output? I'm considering getting the VIDCO CVID 150 universal monochrome interface to be used here with a couple of different kinds of monochrome monitors and projection systems. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has purchased one of these or can recommend a different and/or better one. I already know about the Drexel board which requires a modified video monitor. The advantage of the VIDCO is that is supposedly puts out a standard video signal so I can use it with an unmodified monitor. Alan Crosswell Columbia University ------------------------------ Date: Wed 20 Feb 85 17:12:39-EST From: Alan Crosswell <US.ALAN%CU20B@COLUMBIA.ARPA> Subject: follow on to VIDCO video out I just spoke to a customer of VIDCO and he explained how the CVID 150 provides a composite video out, but not a standard one. It has something to do with a 22 KHz rate which is faster than standard video. Some monitors like certain electrohomes can handle this rate by turning a knob on the front panel. Others like the Sony Profeel can't. So, maybe the VIDCO is exactly the same animal as the Drexel board after all. Could somebody who understands this stuff explain it to me in laymen's terms? All I want to do is buy one monitor to use with IBM PC's, DEC PC's (RS170 RGB), and Mac's if that is at all possible. I don't mind having to tweak a knob depending on which machine is hooked up, but I don't want to have to open the cabinet.... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Feb 85 00:16:24 EST From: Mike O'Dell <mo@seismo.ARPA> Subject: keyboard problems Is anyone else having trouble with the extremely light key touch on the MAC keyboard? They keys have a long travel, but they actuate at a VERY shallow depth. Being a good touch typist, but slightly ham-fisted, I rest my fingers on the keys and often find a line of kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk's or some other such when I look up. While I am not a fan of key clicks, some feedback would be useful in this situation. Has anyone looked into any modifications (mechanical, most likely) that will make the keys actuate deeper? I guess I am spoiled by my Concept keyboard. Its wonderful keytronics conductive foam keyboard is great for us ham-fisters. Also, does anyone know of a palm-rest extension? I have a cloth bag of dried corn doing duty at the moment. -Mike O'Dell ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Feb 1985 05:16 EST From: LEVITT%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA Subject: how quiet is the HyperDrive? Did anyone who has seen a GCC HyperDrive (10M Mac hard disk upgrade) notice how much noise it makes? I've yet to get see one. On my Corvus, there is fan noise AND a nastier noise from a grounding wire that lays on some rotating part. (Brave friends of mine have spared their hair cells by removing the wire in their Corvus'.) Does the HyperDrive have either? How pleasant (low frequency) is the hum of the disk spinning? Also, what does it weigh? -David Levitt ------------------------------ Date: 20 Feb 85 14:54:57 EST From: SOFER@RU-BLUE.ARPA Subject: Hard disk information I am interested in purchasing a 5 to 20 mbyte hard disk drive for the Macintosh. Reliablility, ease of use, and speed are my main requirements, in that order. Users who have experience with the various systems on the market can send comments directly to me and I will summarize for the net. Bill Sofer ------------------------------ End of INFO-MAC Digest ********************** -------