ejp@icd.ab.com (Ed Prochak) (12/05/90)
In article <Nov.26.21.48.37.1990.18316@remus.rutgers.edu>, lcs@remus.rutgers.edu (Lyle C. Seplowitz) writes: |> |> Please take a minute to answer these questions... |> I am asking them mainly out of curiousity, but I do have some need for |> the information. |> |> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: some questions abbreviated from the original. |> 1. What computer do you own? |> I have currently, two broken c64's. (Hoping to get one working out of the pair.) |> 2. What hardware do you own? |> 1541 drive 1520 plotter/printer Gemini 10X printer with centronics parallel interface, connected via the user port with a parallel driver |> 3. Do you own GEOS? |> Yes, a bootleg copy of an early version. (probably rev 1.1?) I don't use it at all. |> 4. Do you own ANY kind of external RAM device? |> NO |> 5. What is your main area of interest? (i.e. programming, graphics, |> music, sound, games, education, business, animation, |> telecommunications...) |> I like the sound and graphics capabilities of the 64 (I dabble programming some effects, usually in basic.) The key application for me is a checkbook program. I also use a copy of OMNIwriter wordprocessor, which included a parallel printer driver for the user port. Educational games for my son are interesting, ex. MULE. And I play against the chess games regularly. (Above should all be past tense if I don't get a working machine soon.) |> 6. Explain any comments, suggestions, criticisms, or whatever |> I always complain about the software incompatibility. Copy protection was/is a pain. Initially I had an IEEE488 interface, and a 2040 disc drive. but very little commercial software worked with that setup because they either: overwrote the interface software or assumed the drive was a 1541 and performed copy protection operations based on that assumption. I have similar problems with the printer driver. I have tended to keep to using the printer only in BASIC or from OMNIwriter. Software prices seems to have come down to reasonable levels compared to the price of the hardware. GEOS is still pricey, but it seems to make the 64 into a different machine, so it is not unreasonable. (see next question) |> 7. For GEOS owners, are you satisfied with the operating system? What |> weaknesses do you find with it? What suggestions do you have if there |> were to be a version 3.0? I haven't played much with GEOS. I would buy the latest version if it includes a parallel printer driver. (maybe then I could convince my wife that the 64 is a good machine) ================================================================= I like my 64. I won't give it up unless forced to. Edward J. Prochak Voice: w(216)646-4663 h(216)349-1821 Email: {cwjcc,pyramid,decvax,uunet}!ejp@icd.ab.com USmail: Allen-Bradley, 747 Alpha Drive, Highland Heights,OH 44143 Wellington: ENGINEERING is "the ability to do for one dollar, what any damn fool can do for two."