wrd@tekigm2.UUCP (04/05/86)
Yes, I did mean Newell not Newman. However, I ended up purchasing the RAMBO XL from ICD as it is installable in a 1200XL. My goal is to get all three of my computers up to the same speed, same memory, etc. Since I have a 130XE, 800XL and 1200XL -- Newell or CDY would not allow me to do this. The local computer store who has been selling both versions are now reporting that the RAMBO XL is outselling the Newell by a considerable margin. It is set up to run SpartaDOS but apparently with slight modifiations (hardware or software?) it can be made to run MYDOS. As it stands, when I finish both installations, I can utilize all of my existing XE software as it will make both my 800XL and 1200XL look like 130XE's. My point was to try to get useage of the additional 128k RAM without going to non Atari DOS 2.5 compatability. However, I think that if I could disassemble the RAMDISK.COM file, I could achieve this. (Assuming, a, I knew what I was doing, and b, could figure out how to disassemble it. I guess I need to buy the assembley/assembler cart or disk from I think Atari.) I am sorry, but I do not think CDY software/hardware is worth the non-compatibility with all of my Atari 2.5 disks. It was a pain to convert from DOS 3.0 and 2.0 to 2.5 and I do not want to go through that again. Especially since most software coming out (including each month's ANTIC disk) is in the DOS 2.5 format. I personally have never had a problem with non-XL OS software. I got a translator disk when they first came out and until last week never had a piece of software that required it. I now have two games that I down loaded from a local BBS that do require the translator, but since no one seems to like the games anyway, it is a moot point. Most of the commercial software (business type) seemed to follow legal Atari schemes and work just fine on both XL and XE models. I have not had a problem with the 1200XL either, even though it is supposed to have an even odder OS. Whatever its' problem is I do not know as it works fine with everything. Having never had one of the 800's, and not being a very intelligent hacker, I have never developed any programs that are not XL compatible. The only real interesting things I have been experiencing lately with the 130XE is that at the start of some of the games that I have been downloading from the BBS, I get what appears to be a screen of funny things that look like my 130XE is bank switching, but after a few seconds it clears up and the game title screen appears. Probably these games were designed for the 800 and feature the abiliy of four joysticks. Somehow joysticks 3 and 4 are activating the memory banks momentarily or something, since as I understand it that is the location of the XE bank selection memory now. Sorry to be so long winded. --Bill--