mford@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu (Mark Ford) (12/28/90)
My Explode V.4 fastloader cartridge toasted (along with my system) when
lightning struck. I would like to buy another one, but I don't know which
one.
I have a C-128 and the fastloader must have some sort of a lock-out switch
so that I don't have to unplug it each time I want to go into C-128 mode.
The three I have seen listed in the Tenex Catalog are:
1. Super Snapshot V.5
2. Explode V.5
3. Final Cartridge III
I have a Super Snapshot (early version) but it doesn't have a lock-out switch.
My Explode V.4 did have the switch and I liked it.
I like the looks of the windows with Final Cartridge III but since it probably
only runs in C-64 mode it won't make that much difference. I only
run games in C-64 mode so windows aren't necessary but fastloading is. If the
windows worked in C-128 mode, then I would be interested.
If anyone has any experience with any of these (or any others) please respond.
Thank you very much.
Mark Ford
mford@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu
CTuna@cup.portal.com (Image - BBS) (12/28/90)
Among those you have listed, I would personally choose the SuperSnap v5. It is not only valuable for programmers, but has several nice features for ANY user, including an excellent terminal program built in written by Matt Desmond, author of DesTerm for the Commodore 128. Invaluable also is the ability to enter the monitor from a running program, examine/modify it, and then return to the exact spot in the program where you left off. There are also several game player options, such as sprite disable, infinite life generator, and several others. It also has a sprite monitor, and a sample monitor. Well worth the money. It DOES only run in 64 mode, however, except for an 80 column/128 mode function in the terminal program. One you did NOT mention was the Warp Speed cartridge, which *does* run in 128 mode. Nice features, but not as many as the Super Snapshot. The Final Cartridge is ok, but the windows (in my opinion anyway) are more of a gimmick than much of anything else. Just another way of choosing a menu option. :D I don't have any experience with the other cartridge you mention, sorry. Hope this helps a little!
sd05@terre.DMI.USherb.CA (Sylvain Tremblay / Eric Trepanier) (12/28/90)
I cannot speak for the Final Cartridge III, nor for the Explode v4. Personnally, I have a Super Snapshot v4 cartridge and as far as I know, it's the *fastest* fastloader cartridge available. Like most other fastloader cartridges, SS4 allows you to create a special file format called TURBO25, which is claimed to be 25 times faster than normal 1541 load time. However, I never use that format, because it is kind of clumsy, and requires special SS4 tools to copy/delete these files. But when it is used in its regular TURBO mode, the SS4 still speeds up the 1541 considerably. It's much faster than Epyx's Fastload!!! SS4 works with most known Commodore drives including the 1581. This is not true of many other fastload cartridges. And SS4 includes a built-in file copier which is quite handy to have around. This file copier is as good as any other file copier available. There is an excellent monitor, which features full bi-directionnal scrolling, disk sector editing commands and allows full monitoring of the drive's memory. Also a feature unique (I think) to SS4 is the ability to view/print/save any screen snapshot in either the 160x200 Koala format or the 320x200 format, in full color. The print option supports a full 16 color gray shading option. Before I had the SS4, I had a Final Cartridge II and the quality of the screen dumps was quite inferior to that of the SS4. There are many more options available with the SS4, I'm not going to list them all, but obviously, I'm quite satisfied with this cartridge! The current version of the Super Snapshot is V5, available through mail-orders in RUN advertising. RUN also distributes the V4 cartridge directly at a very reasonnable price. I'm not 100% convinced that the added V5 features makes it so much better than V4. Eric Trepanier -- +-----------------------------------------------------------------///------+ | Sylvain Tremblay INTERNET: sd05@terre.USherb.CA __ /// /| | | Eric Trepanier CIS: 71640,666 \\\/// # | | | Sherbrooke, Qc, Can TEL: (819) 820-0976 \XX/ _|_ |
joystyk@clmqt.marquette.Mi.US (Joystyk) (12/29/90)
You mentioned the WarpSpeed cartridge by Cinemaware... I thought these went out of production a while back. If I'm wrong, please let me know where I can order one! I have the Action Replay v5.2 and I found the it doesn't work with some programs... Hostage is one... Beyond Castle Wolfenstein is another... I DO like the Infinite Lives generator however... one thing is thought, that the ARv5.2 doesn't work in 128 mode. Must be unplugged. If anyone has a WarpSpeed cartridge they would be willing to sell ($50) then let me know... -- joystyk@clmqt.marquette.Mi.US / Luposlipaphobia: the fear of being pursued Trebor Sux CBM rules / by timber wolves around a kitchen table I love ADL / while wearing socks on a newly waxed floor
digdon@ug.cs.dal.ca (Mike Digdon) (01/03/91)
I would have to recommend the Snapshot V5.22. It is truly a great cartridge. Nothing comes close to it... it has one of the fastest loaders around, plus all kinds of other hacking toys, if you are into that sort of thing. However your best bet is to compare features and prices. -- +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ + Mike Digdon: digdon@ug.cs.dal.ca + My 64 can still get the + + mike@ac.dal.ca + job at hand completed!! + +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+