[comp.sys.ibm.pc] IBM Technical References

johnsobm@boulder.Colorado.EDU (03/06/90)

I'm considering buying the BIOS and Technical Reference manuals
to allow more intelligent use of the various interrupts/features on
a 55SX.  Opinions:

1. Are the technical manuals vital and necessary reading?  (I work
about at the assembly level about 50% of the time.)

2. What sort of prices an I expect to pay?  My impression is that
ibm tech publications are midway between 'ouch!' and outrageous.


And...while I've got the net on the line, maybe the resident bug
killers could offer some advice on the following:

When I load my SPICE circuit simulator (~350k), I get a "sharing
violation" on my hard drive; when I let the thing fail, it suggests
that I add the directory containing the remainder of the SPICE code
to my PATH, which is OK except the whole damn program is in my root
directory, and the root is most assuredly in my PATH!  The system:
55SX, 2MB main, 60MB hard, 1.44 3.5".

Any thoughts/opinions on any of the foregoing will be greatly
appreciated.

<johnsobm@spot.colorado.EDU>