shulman@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU (Jeff Shulman) (04/06/86)
Delphi Mac Digest Sunday, 6 Apr 1986 Volume 2 : Issue 13 Today's Topics: RE: Usenet Mac Digest V2 #17 (Re: Msg 6876) MDS Edit 2.0 and hard disks DiskBench results Polaroid disks Benchmarks Whither Club Mac ? ? ? Picture needed!!! RE: Whither Club Mac ? ? ? (Re: Msg 7093) RE: Usenet Mac Digest V2 #18 (Re: Msg 7099) RE: Whither Club Mac ? ? ? (Re: Msg 7093) Re: MacWorkstation & Mac+ thoughts/comment Re: WORD -> MacWrite Re: WORD -> MacWrite Re: WORD -> MacWrite Re: Text Diff bug? RE: Challenge (Re: Msg 7089) RE: Challenge (Re: Msg 7089) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: PEABO (6925) Subject: RE: Usenet Mac Digest V2 #17 (Re: Msg 6876) Date: 30-MAR 19:52 MUGS Online re: MacDraw non-feature ... The problem is worse than just the mixing of font names and sizes in one menu. MacDraw records the font in use by its position in the menu, not its font number and you cannot switch systems (to one with a different collection of fonts) and still have your document display properly. It makes no sense, but that's the way it "works". Re: printer drivers and PostScript Apple does produce real PostScript. What you may be thinking of is the LaserWriter prep file which customizes the PostScript that comes in ROM by adding new words to its vocabulary. These new words perform commonly needed functions required by the translation from QuickDraw to PostSCript. Without the LaserWriter pre file, you cannot process a PostScript file produced by the Apple LW drivers. Re: Mac+/HFS compatibility ... The compatibility issue is just all the more reason for application developers to adhere to the published interface recommendations in programming their applications. Apple iterates that applications MUST check the ROM revision before using new features, but nothing is said about what to do if the old ROM is in use. (A dialog box that says "Upgrade your Mac logic board ... OK" perhaps?) Presumably a developer could have a code segment that performs the function that would otherwise be done by the ROM, but where would the incentive be to do that? Re: Damn Dealres! (About upgrades really) ... The dealer is supposed to accept a third-party upgraded board for logic board upgrade, but charge for it as if it were a 128K board. I don't recall hearing anything about a policy for ROM upgrades of 128K machines, but I don't see why a dealer should be concerned about the presence of a reputable third party upgrade as long as it doesn't interfere mechanically with the new ROMs (unlikely) or the mounting of the 800K disk drive (less unlikely, but still a remote possibility). There is a $200 difference in the logic board upgrade price for 128K vs. 512K boards. Note, the heap is smaller when using a 512K 128K ROM than it is for a 64K ROM. If the same logic is used for 128K, the heap might be unacceptably small, leading to problems. peter ------------------------------ From: PEABO (6933) Subject: MDS Edit 2.0 and hard disks Date: 30-MAR 20:21 Programming MDS Edit 2.0 has an additional fix. It no longer updates the Modification date of a file if you close the file without making changes. I noticed this because my MAKE procedures no longer recompile things that I merely looked at. peter ------------------------------ From: BRECHER (7032) Subject: DiskBench results Date: 3-APR-05:30: Hardware & Peripherals The DiskBench application does low-level performance testing on hard disks, providing some indication of the relative speed of the disk hardware and driver software combination among competing products. Multiple reports on the same kind of disk from multiple testers are welcome, so that anomalies can eliminated. Anomalies might include media defects in the test area requiring controller retries, data correction, or revectoring to an alternate area. Results on only one specimen should be regarded as provisional. Moving the mouse during the test will degrade the results! 64K ROM/Sony floppy note: the Sony driver disables interrupts for relatively long periods (more than 1/60th second) during reads of the size requested by DiskBench, and thus interferes with the timing mechanism used by DiskBench (the system variable "Ticks") so that the reported time is much less than the actual time. Hence the data transfer (read) times for some 400K floppies are omitted ("N/A") below. Since the Access Time test requires more than 1MB, DiskBench does not perform it on any floppies. HyperDrive note: Run DiskBench from the Startup drawer. For the access time to be valid, Startup must be more than 1MB in size, and it must be unfragmented -- it must have reached 1MB+ in size (possibly via restore to a newly-initialized HyperDrive) before any other drawers were created. Do not run DiskBench with the HyperDrive cache turned on. Current collection of results from the DiskBench program: Data transfer Access Tester ---- time ---- time Reads Writes 400K floppy drive, Apple 8756 11816 N/A S. Brecher 400K floppy drive, Apple N/A 12392 N/A G. Frascadore 400K floppy drive, Apple 8796 11629 N/A C. Nicolais 400K floppy drive, Apple N/A 12351 N/A R. Perez 800K floppy drive, SS, Apple 8758 11407 N/A S. Brecher 800K floppy drive, SS, Apple 7544 11550 N/A C. Nicolais 800K floppy drive, DS, Apple 7701 10874 N/A S. Brecher 800K floppy drive, DS, Apple 7523 10913 N/A N. Fong 800K floppy drive, DS, Apple 7737 10897 N/A C. Nicolais AST 4000, AST Research 1495 1533 159 KATZ, Mousehole BBS AST 4000, AST Research 1495 1549 160 KATZ (second drive) AST 4000, AST Research 1495 1537 169 KATZ (third drive) Bernoulli Box, 5MB, Iomega 4174 24437 66 JCOM, Mousehole BBS DataFrame 20, SuperMac 1319 2233 488 J. Bean DataFrame 20, SuperMac 1344 2233 487 S. Brecher DataFrame 20, SuperMac 1319 2233 446 L. Custer Hard Disk 20, Apple 7029 7938 368 M. Chally Hard Disk 20, Apple 7074 7871 368 N. Fong Hard Disk 20, Apple 7054 7944 370 KATZ, Mousehole BBS Hard Disk 20, Apple 9883(?) 6948 368 R. Wiggins HyperDrive 10, obsolete model 1591 1616 401 S. Brecher HyperDrive 10, GCC (V2R1) 8000(?) 7982(?) 648(?) H. Conover HyperDrive 10, GCC (V2R1) 7985(?) 6892(?) 485 R. Perez HyperDrive 20, GCC (V2R1) 1703 1506 640(?) R. Ford HyperDrive 20, GCC 1704 1506 241(?) W. Luckie MacBottom 10, v2.1, PCPC 4159 6897 686 M. O'Connor MacBottom 10, v2.6, PCPC 4159 6897 608 S. Aronian MacBottom 20, v2.1, PCPC 4110 6817 601 L. Becker MacDrive, Tecmar 6102 6704 440 L. Custer MacDrive, 10MB Fixed, Tecmar 6017 6719 401 C. Nicolais MicahDrive 20 AT, Micah 508 507 488 S. Brecher Quark QC-20 6476 6488 82(?) R. Thacker QuickDrive external RAMdisk 2411 2479 52 R. Bates QuickDrive external RAMdisk 2466 2535 33 J. Eugenides RamStart RAMdisk/Beck-Tech RAM 186 186 N/A G. Frascadore Warp 20, Warp Nine Engin'rng 14537 14537 321 G. Frascadore ------------------------------ From: RICFORD (7080) Subject: Polaroid disks Date: 4-APR-12:52: Hardware & Peripherals I just talked with Mary Clark from Polaroid. They're offering double-sided 3 1/2" disks, with a 20 year guarantee, and a 48-hour data recovery service for the following prices. I'd like to hear from anyone who's familiar with these disks -- they're gray. 1-5 boxes: $43.00 6-10 boxes: $37.00 (each) 11+ boxes: $33.00 (each) Ric Ford "MacInTouch" (The phone number is 1-800-241-4403) ------------------------------ From: RICFORD (7081) Subject: Benchmarks Date: 4-APR-13:06: Hardware & Peripherals We are currently testing the MicahDrive AT 20 (in a Mac 512/128K ROM). I've uploaded a new MacInTouch benchmark file to the Hardware database containing our initial test results. To summarize, we are finding it to be the fastest hard disk we've tested yet, but not twice as fast as others. The comparison is clouded by the unusual hardware configuration. The sample we have is also somewhat noisy. Next on the agenda is loading it up and using it in daily work situations. We'll keep you posted. Ric Ford "MacInTouch" newsletter ------------------------------ From: FRANKPATRICK (7093) Subject: Whither Club Mac ? ? ? Date: 5-APR-10:19: MUGS Online Has anybody got any insight as to what happened to CLub Mac? First their BBS disappears. Then they stop offering logoed "golf shirts" (a sure sign of potential demise if I ever saw one. Then their monthly stops at about February or so. Then their Boulder, CO phone number is disconnected. Are they gone for good? And just after I resubscribed? FrankPatrick ------------------------------ From: FRANKPATRICK (7094) Subject: Picture needed!!! Date: 5-APR-10:46: Creative Pursuits Please!!! I NEED A DIGITIZED MACPAINT FILE SHOWING A MAC SYSTEM!!! If just the Mac, fine; if it also shows a 400k drive, Apple mode, and Imagewriter I, perfect. Does anybody know of or have such a MacPainting or even a particularly well hand-drawn either Paint or Draw? ------------------------------ From: DBRANDT (7097) Subject: RE: Whither Club Mac ? ? ? (Re: Msg 7093) Date: 5-APR-13:21: MUGS Online Well, the BBS still seems to be there, but their Boulder phone # was disconnected and the phone co. doesn't know of any new number. I tried to send a message to BOZO/MAC asking him what happened, but have not received a reply (I initially called Boulder to see if they had installed a packet switching network, as they said it would be available in 6 weeks for about 2 months.) David Brandt ------------------------------ From: PEABO (7106) Subject: RE: Usenet Mac Digest V2 #18 (Re: Msg 7099) Date: 5-APR-15:02: MUGS Online Re: Super/Subscripts and TextEdit The TextEdit routines do not allow for any style, size, or typeface variations with the text, but the original 100-day Inside Macintosh had documentation for another edit package called CoreEdit. If you can find the original IM you can see if CoreEdit will really do what you want. I think CoreEdit is available from Apple Licensing for $50/product annual license fee. Call the Apple Licensing department at (408) 973-4667 for more info. peter ------------------------------ From: RICKLEPAGE (7103) Subject: RE: Whither Club Mac ? ? ? (Re: Msg 7093) Date: 5-APR-14:27: MUGS Online Club Mac has ceased operation, at least on the magazine/product level. We talked with a couple people close to Wallace who told us that they have no funds at all to even let their users know that it is no longer. We tried more than a few times to get in touch with Wallace, but he wouldn't return our calls. The BBS was up at least till early last week. Rick LE Page "MacInTouch" ------------------------------ From: PEABO (7114) Subject: Re: MacWorkstation & Mac+ thoughts/comment Date: 5-APR-15:31: MUGS Online Re: MacWorkstation That is a licensed product from Apple. Call (408) 973-4667 [I'm getting good at this, didn't even have to look up the number this time :-)] for more info. Re: Mac+ thoughts/comments The function of setting the clock time and date was removed from the control panel and put into the Alarm clock. Just open the Alarm clock, flip down its tab, and click on either the time or date. peter ------------------------------ From: PEABO (7116) Subject: Re: WORD -> MacWrite Date: 5-APR-15:37: MUGS Online I hadn't heard that Microsoft WORD could be converted to MacWrite by stripping the high-order bits (and I don't believe that it is true), BUT, that technique works just fine for converting Micropro WordStar documents. One thing though, they will be text files with a CR at the end of every line. peter ------------------------------ From: PDNNOG (7121) Subject: Re: WORD -> MacWrite Date: 5-APR-18:24: MUGS Online Actually, most of the word file is plain ole ASCII with the first 64 or so characters in the file being a header and some in the end being a footer. There is a note by someone in the infomac archives for more details. I tried just writing from the beginning of the ascii part to a dummy file with FEDIT, then change the type to text, the creater to MACA, and then MW 4.5 will convert the file...no format tho. ------------------------------ From: PEABO (7122) Subject: Re: WORD -> MacWrite Date: 5-APR-20:06: MUGS Online Yeah, it would be a real feather in someone's cap to do a decent job of converting WORD docs to MacWrite with the formatting intact. There are lots of things you would have to approximate, since WORD does so much more than MW. One specific reason I'm interested in this is that most of the technical docs coming out from Apple are in WORD format. I've been posting them double (the second copy in TEXT-only) but that's not exactly a satisfactory solution. peter ------------------------------ From: PEABO (7117) Subject: Re: Text Diff bug? Date: 5-APR-15:43: MUGS Online Jeff, please forward by the most appropriate means: Date: Fri, 28 Mar 86 09:31 pst From: "pugh jon%e.mfenet"@LLL-MFE.ARPA Subject: Text Diff bug? Jon, thanks for the bug report. I'll find out what's going on. peter ------------------------------ From: MCOHEN (7120) Subject: RE: Challenge (Re: Msg 7089) Date: 5-APR-16:43: Bugs & Features Try copying the disk using Copy ]['s Block Copy or Mac Zap. Both will write out a good sector (usually containing 00's) in place of the bad one. - Mike ------------------------------ From: LOFTUSBECKER (7134) Subject: RE: Challenge (Re: Msg 7089) Date: 6-APR-09:26: Bugs & Features Joe, I'm pretty sure that MacZap will let you initialize any sector. And if you copy the disk (use CopyII Mac, Sector Copy) I suspect that FEdit will rebuild the directory properly. - Lofty ------------------------------ End of Delphi Mac Digest ************************
kearns@garfield.columbia.edu (Steve Kearns) (04/07/86)
I have Macdraw version 1.9 which I heard was "debugged". But my copy does some strange things: for example I sometimes have to do "new" 4 times before getting a window that has a page I can draw in. (The other times it is just grey where the page normally is). Also "page size" is mortally screwed: sometimes there are huge pages , sometimes 144 pages, etc.. Is it my version? Has anyone else had these problems. ? -steve (kearns@columbia-20)
ephraim@wang.UUCP (pri=8 Ephraim Vishniac x76659 ms1459) (04/09/86)
> Delphi Mac Digest Sunday, 6 Apr 1986 Volume 2 : Issue 13 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > From: BRECHER (7032) > Subject: DiskBench results > > The DiskBench application does low-level performance testing on hard disks, > providing some indication of the relative speed of the disk hardware and > driver software combination among competing products. It disturbs me to see the diskbench results gathered and disseminsated with such enthusiasm when their value is so questionable. Thinking about how the benchmark works, I have two *major* reservations about it: 1. The data transfer size of 32K is *grossly* unrealistic. While launching and running programs, opening, saving, and closing documents, a read or write of 32K is almost unheard of. Copying files under the finder is the only common activity that does large reads or writes. The performance of a disk with 32K transfers may have little to do with its performance on more typical small transfers. 2. Doing the reads or writes consecutively with no delay causes a bias that is consistent for a particular disk but varies unpredictably from one disk to another. Since all the operations start at the same sector (zero), the disk has to rotate to a fixed point to start data transfer. This forces an overhead between consecutive tests. In "real" operation this overhead is randomized, averaging half the rotation time of the disk. In DiskBench, this overhead is consistent for a particular disk, depending on where the previous operation ended and the time to return from the driver to DiskBench and start the next operation. So, a *realistic* disk benchmark would have to survey a variety of transfer sizes and would have to "dither" the delay between tests to avoid bias. Note that the rotational bias problem also affects the seek test, since it seeks to a particular sector, and not to a particular track. By varying the interleaving of my disk, I've varied the "seek" result of DiskBench from 315 to 367! Obviously, this test is not a very pure test of seek overhead. Ephraim Vishniac decvax!wanginst!wang!ephraim