DSEAH@WPI.BITNET (04/01/88)
Someone mentioned that they kept their Supersonic Digitizer in Slot 2, and had to swap back and forth to use it. I have one of those, but only use the stereo output a lot because the digitizer is so &@#@#^! to get at without having a cable running out and broadcasting noise all over the radio. You can stick it in slot 3 without turning off the 80 col firmware because I think it only need power, not i/o, through the slot. I haven't tried it, but I think the 80 col firmware doesn't make any difference when you are running the digitizing software under ProDOS 16, so you can turn it off in times of need. And about formatting track-by-track on a 3.5" disk: The fast 16 sector copiers like Locksmith 6.0 Fast Backup, Copy II Plus, and Diversi- Copy read in a track-image without post-nibbling the data. That is, it just leaves the track in raw, funny-looking 6 bit disk bytes. This way, the FORMATTING of the track is also preserved. Then the copier just writes the raw track data back to the disk, making sure that the track end doesn't write over the beginning. This is very fast, because you don't have to mess with decoding, buffers, ANDs, ORs, or buts. However it takes up more memory. This should be theoretically possible on a 3.5" disk drive, because the track formatting is almost exactly the same as on a 5.25" disk. It is also the same as the Macintosh format with the exception of 12 ID bytes of some kind. In fact, Copy II Plus 8.1 Sector Copy appears to use this technique. No preformatting of the disk. Using one drive and 1.25Meg of memory, it took 30 seconds more time to use Diversi-Copy (with Diversi Cache on) to backup my DPaint art disk than it did with Copy II Plus with one swap of the disk. I would like to find out how to program the 3.5" drive directly as you could with the 5.25" drives from assembly language, but Apples reference manuals seem foggy on this. Can anyone help? And Fans. I probably have to get one soon, but I don't want to pay $40 for a Real, Noisy-as-hell Apple Original. What specs do the Apple //gs fan have to meet?
DSEAH@WPI.BITNET (04/05/88)
Do any Music Studio owners out there have some interesting music? Activision allegedly has a BBS in California but it doesn't answer. It is supposed to have technical support, updates, forums, songs and instruments. Oh yes, one thing that is really upsetting is Music Studio CRASHES if you have a ProGrappler enabled. So much for printing sheet music. Yet another reason to dump this piece of crap. Does anyone want to buy a relatively trouble-free ProGrappler for their Apple //e? The cable doesn't sit good on the connectors but it works. I'll lose it for $50, cable included and manual too. Sorry, but already sent in the registration card. I still have the proof-of-purchase, though. WANTED: info on Orange Micro's GRAPPLER C/MAC/GS protocol converter. It is supposed to latch onto your printer's Centronics port and make it speak in digestable Imagewriter-compatible chunks through the GS/C/MAC serial port. According to a blurb in the Music Studio box, Paintworks Gold has EPSON printer drivers for Grappler compatibles for the Apple IIgs. Has anybody seen ALIEN MIND from PBI software or FIREPOWER by Microillusions? The one ad I saw for ALIEN MIND looked a lot like ALIENS (the movie) with all kinds of weapon options. I am suspicious of PBI because they have released junk so far in terms of playable GS games. I have heard that FIREPOWER for the Amiga is pretty awesome and can be played through the Modem. I am hoping that the GS version will be the next Thexder for us. On another tangent, is it true that there is a Apple ][ Plus version of Flight Simulator that has play-by-modem built into it? I heard another rumor that subLOGIC is getting an Apple //GS version out pretty soon. While we are on the topic of flight simulators, what is EOA's Chuck Yeagers Advanced Flight Trainer like? Also, Sierra On-Line has something for the GS called 3D HELICOPTER SIMULATOR, which I haven't seen around yet. Dave Seah --- Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Bitnet: DSeah@WPI.Bitnet | We can't receive files! | Internet: DSeah%WPI.Bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU | EMAIL only!
SASQUATCH@ALBION.BITNET (04/10/88)
Ok folks, get read for a bunch of questions. What are the practical limitations of CDAs? I'm thinking along the line of a pr ogram that's a CDA. It'd be rather nice to be able to call up my modem progr am from with another program and run it, then return to the other program. Would it be possible to write a modem software that worked as a CDA or to write a CDA that could call in and run a specific piece of software and then return you to the software from whence you came? About mice. I don't really care for them. Is it possible to wire a regular joystick up to the appropriate connector and use that instead of a mouse? I work with rather restricted desk space and would rather move a joystick than have to constantly clear space for that silly mouse. On a related note, would there be any problem makeing an ADB splitter so that I could hook my mouse (or, hopefully joystick :-) to the back of the apple, then plug my keyboard into that? The reason I ask is that it seems rather self-defeating to have a detachable keyboard then attack a mouse to it that you have to worry about dropping everytime you pick up the keyboard. Not only would this make the keyboard more detachable, but it would also allow hooking up another, different ADB device to the keyboard if I ever had an urge to do that. About kermit 3.82. I'm having a problem with it. Everytime I get a message from a SEND command and everytime Kermit makes my GS beep, it looses a _bunch_ of characters from the beginning of that line. Does any one know how to fix this? I'll appreciate any help people can give me. Specific instructions on building the ADB splitter and/or wiring a joystick to the ADB connecter would be great. Thanks in advance. Kevin Lepard Bitnet: SASQUATCH@ALBION Disclaimer: Who said that? I would never say that. My opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Albion College. (Thank goodness.)
laba-4an@web3d.berkeley.edu (Andy McFadden) (04/10/88)
In article <8804092000.aa12183@SMOKE.BRL.ARPA> SASQUATCH@ALBION.BITNET writes: > >ogram that's a CDA. It'd be rather nice to be able to call up my modem program >from with another program and run it, then return to the other program. Z-Link allows you to exit without hanging up. Still, a CDA would be VERY nice. >About mice. I don't really care for them. Is it possible to wire a regular >joystick up to the appropriate connector and use that instead of a mouse? >I work with rather restricted desk space and would rather move a joystick than >have to constantly clear space for that silly mouse. It is possible to insert a device driver of sorts into the //gs heartbeat queue. Unfortunately, my copy of the //gs Toolbox Reference is like November 198[5/6], and doesn't contain much specific info. >Kevin Lepard >Bitnet: SASQUATCH@ALBION -- "Will my mouse work with an Apple CAT modem?" laba-4an@widow.berkeley.edu (Andy McFadden)
halp@TCGOULD.TN.CORNELL.EDU ("Bruce P. Halpern") (04/10/88)
RE: Mouse alternatives
A. Stationary Mouse
The Kensington "Turbo Mouse" is a track ball that has two large buttons. It
replaces a mouse on ][c and ][e, and I, assume, ][gs. I like it much better
than a mouse since it doesn't move around and doesn't get dirty. It provides
at least as much control as a 'standard' mouse; perhaps more.
B. Joystick-Mouse Combination
I think that CH Products or Kraft Systems makes a ][x joyskick/mouse hybrid.
****DISCLAMER: My comments, etc., are my own shakey opinions ********
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