SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 1892 THE PPalmtop aper
INSIDE:
Publisher's Message • • • . . • . . 2 LeHers ...... 3, 43 Peripherals ' Printers ...... cover, 5 Serial/Parallel adapters, cables 8 Printers for the HP 95LX Printer Comparison chart ... 10 Drive95/Station95 ...... 12 Creating Cables ...... 16 A look at four light-weight, battery powered printers DOS Connection for on the road, or at home: The Canon bubble Jet Stacker/ACE DoubleCard .... 17 10e, the Citizen PN48, the Diconix 180si, and the Lotus Agenda ...... 20 Seiko DPU-411. User Profiles On the Road and Around the World ...... 22 Introduction by Rich Hall News From HP 512K 95L.X Price Decrease .. . 25 We continue to receive letters asking which printers are most Using COMM ...... 25 95L.X-to-95L.X Communications 25 suitable for the HP 95LX. Portability, ease of use, print quality, and price were the key issues in our minds, so we looked at battery HP 95LX Support powered portable printers under 5 lbs. that could connect easily to Alternatives to CompuServe: America Online, Prodigy ..... 29 the 95LX. Two of the printers discussed have serial ports and can connect directly to the 95LX. The others have parallel ports and Columns User to User: must use a serial-to-parallel adapter to connect to the 95LX. Breakthrough: Make any program What follows is the experience of different 95LX users. If any System Compliant ...... 30 Sound on the 95L.X ...... 31 subscriber has feedback on these, or other printers, please drop us 95L.X as TV Remote Control 32 a line. Lithium AA Batteries ...... 32 Looking Glass: Creating One final note on list price. Manufacturer's suggested retail Custom TopCard ...... 33 price and "street price" may vary 25% or more, so you may want to Mathematical Mood ...... 34 Savvy User: Suggestions for the shop around! visually impaired ...... 36 Analyzing _STAT.wK1 . ... . 36 Programmer's Corner: (Continued on page 5.) DERiVE ...... 37 Getting Started: Files and FILER ...... 41 Thaddeus Computing, Inc. Application to mail Third Party 95LX Products P.O. Box 869 2nd Class pending Hardware ...... 44 Fairfield, Iowa 52556 at Fairfield, Iowa Software ...... 46 Forwarding and Address Basic Tips ...... 49 Correction Requested Quick Tips ..••....•... 50-51 Palmtop Paper On Disk . . . .• 52 Advertiser's Index • • . . . . • • . 52 Now DOUBLE your capacity with DoubleCard!
New! Introducing TM DoubleCard 8M Now up to 8MB of RAM!
NEW! DoubleCard 2.0 now doubles both your standard RAM cards and your HP 95LX internal RAM disk! Now with DoubleCard 8M you can store over 8MB on your HP95LX!
DoubleCard 2.0 ACE Technologies introduces DoubleCard 2.0with its unique new DoubleRAMfeature. DoubieRAM together with the patented Stacker LZS data Extra Software included DoubleCard 2.0 with DoubieRAM compression technology now DoubleCard comes bundled with DoubleCard 1M (up to 1MB) .. .. A2001 DoubleCard 2M (up to 2MB) .... A2002 doubles both the capacity of DoubleRAM, B-Cursor (Block your RAM cards and your HP DoubleCard 4M (up to 4MB) .... A2004 Cursor), CardCopy, ACE Universal DoubleCard 8M (up to 8MB) .... A2008 95LX's internal RAM disk. Card Format utility and a diskette of shareware programs for the HP Standard RAM memory Cards How does it work? 95LX. ACEcard 512K ...... A 1003 DoubieRAM compresses your ACEcard 1MB ...... A 1004 internal RAM and creates a new ACEcard 2MB ...... A 1006 Lifetime Warranty ACEcard 4MB ...... A 1008 RAM disk (as G: drive) in any We believe in the quality and 1MB version HP 95LX. With at reliability of our products so much least BOOKB capacity, this new DoubleCard Software Upgrade that DoubleCard now comes with DoubleCard 2.0 Upgrade ...... C2200 RAM disk is 100% compatible a lifetime warranty. In addition, with all your HP95LX and DOS you will receive five years of free For more information and applications. card batteries directly from ACE. how to order call Additional Features Upgrade now available! DoubleCard 2.0 is now compat If you already own an ACE ible with other PCMCIA based memory card or any RAM cards (800) 825-9977 DOS Palmtops and PC based for the HP 95LX, you can now memory card drives. Double upgrade to a DoubleCard Card mounts automatically together with DoubleRAM. For when it is inserted. In addition, information on how to upgrade a password feature is provided your RAM card, call ACE Tech ACE Technologies. Inc. to protect each DoubleCard for nologies. additional privacy. 2880 Zanker Road. #103 San Jose. CA 95134 U.S.A. (408) 428-9722 FAX (408) 428-9721
Stacker l2S is a trademark of Stac Electronics. DoubleCard. DoubieRAM and ACEcard are trademarks of ACE Technologies. Inc. Take Control and Directly Launch DOS programs New! Introducing SWITCH! TM TM with Direct-Launch!
"SWITCH! is presently the closest thing to an al/-in-one utility for the 95LX. Ii .... Palmtop Paper August 7992
Create EXM loaders for Single key access popular DOS programs to menu items Up to 48 EXM SWITCH! programs A ac I clYlcalc Q switch! B ac J COIYIIYIO R tv-relYlot C agenda K 9alYles S vde Assign DOS and D apcalc L hex-calc T watch EXM programs to E b-cursor M hptris U weekabk F basic N lYIelYl-util Blue Application G battlYlan 0 spellin9 Keys H cardcopy P startrek Control power to ~ ~~~==~==~~ serial port
95LX Control Panel Additional menu for up to Idle time-out control 48 DOS programs
SWITCH! Direct-Launch! For more information and Menu-driven and easy-to-use user Now with the new Direct-Launch! how to order call interface gives you instant access feature, you can launch a DOS to all of your HP 95LX programs plus program from Filer directly while a powerful control panel. SWITCH! other applications are opened. allows you to run DOS programs A new prompt option even lets (800) 825-9977 using the Blue Application keys. you enter command line param Popular DOS programs like ACT! eters when you launch DOS can be launched directly using a programs from Filer. "hot-key" without closing other 95LX applications. SWITCH! also provides In addition, SWITCH! comes with A~[~L a block cursor, capslock display easy installation and installs on ACE Technologies. Inc. and much more. SWITCH! even lets your HP 95LX automatically. 2880 Zanker Road. #103 San Jose. CA 95134 U.S.A. you change your default C:\_DAT (408) 428-9722 FAX (408) 428-9721 directory. SWITCH! 1.0 " ...... "",,. $49
SWITCH! and Direct-Launch! are trademarks of ACE Technologies. Inc. ACT! is a trademark of Contact Software. HP 95LX is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard Co. Publisher's Message The lIP Palmtop Paper Volume one I Number five Our focus this issue on peripherals September I October 1992 contains a contradiction. The advantage Executive EditorlPublisher of the HP Palmtop is its size; we can Hal Goldstein take it everywhere we go. However, there Manalrlng Editor are times when we want to print a memo Ricliaril Hall or spreadsheet directly, read a file from Department Editors Tom Page a 3 112" disk into the 95LX, or plant the Ed Keefe HP 95LX in one spot. To accomplish this Mark Scardina we need peripherals twice the size and Contributing Writers weight of the HP 95LX. We succumb to Sergio Casanova Trevor Cradduck this contradiction of size, this issue and Craig de Fasselle take a look at portable printers, a David Hamachek David Hayden portable disk drive, and a docking F.P. Nagle station, all well-suited for the HP 95LX. Robert Newins Hal Goldstein Also, in this issue Mark Scardina Dave Shier takes a new look at data compression. Phillip Simpson Copy Editor Mark shows us how Stacker and the ACE DoubleCard can literally Carol Vowell double the amount of disk space on a RAM disk and even on the Advertisinll/Marketing built-in C drive. We also take a brief look at alternatives to Brian 'feitzman CompuServe; American OnLine and Prodigy. You will also find the Peder Sweene:y usual assortment of tips and discussions of other products - in Margaret Martm particular, you'll notice an expanded New Products section. Circulation Kelly Johnson Finally, based on many requests, we are starting a technical Rene LaReau support service called ASK THADDEUS! Call or fax your problem. Marni Adams After researching a solution, we will call you back. In order for this Signe Wilson service to evolve and be of service to you, we need both your Diane Wimett feedback and your patience. See page 15 for more details. Executive Advisor Rita Goldstein The HP Palmtop Paper is pub lished bimonthly by Thaddeus IMPORTANT NOTE TO MENU95 SUBSCRIBERS DISK USERS Computing Inc., at 57 East Broad VERSIONS 1.03 AND EARLIER: way Avenue, Fairfield, IA 52556. If you use MENU95 on your HP 95LX, there is a small chanoa that a bug in the HP 95LX can damage files and eventually Second-class postage ~nding at . the entire C drive. Thanks to Mark Scardina who identified the problem and its solution. Fairfield, Iowa. Subscnption rates THE PROBLEM: Suppose you run a program with a COM extension from DOS, such as BA TTCK.COM. If you have less then payable in U.S. dollars, checks 64K of System RAM, DOS should tell you, "not enough memory." Instead, 95LX DOS runs the program, and can possibly drawn on a U.S. bank, or by cred destroy a C drive file or even the entire C drive. (Symptom: "Data error reading drive C" message). Normally this isn't a it card - one year: $39; twoyears: problem, since under most circumstanoas you will have more than 64K of System RAM. However, if you have a number of buiH~n applications open and then run MENU95, there may be less than 64K remaining. If you then run a COM program such $69. Postage: U.S. and U.s. pos as BAn'CK.COM from MENU95 with under 64K remaining, there is a possib~iIy that file corruption will take place. sessions free; Canada, Mexico add $6 per year; other countries add Mark Scardina has come up with the following solution which will protect the C drive when you run COM files from MENU95. (Altematively, you can use the COMTOEXE.EXE program described on page 9 of the Subscriber Disk manual, where you'll $18 per year. Please allow four to read that we thought we had solved the COM problem with MENU95). six weeKs for receipt of first issue. Executive, Editorial, Circulation, English.HP 95LX owners can do the following. Non-English HP 95LX owners can do the same thing using MS DOS DEBUG Marketing and Adverti~ing Offic on their PC. es: P.O. Box 869, FaIrfield, IA 1. Rename MNU95.EXE to MNU95.BIN and put MNU95.BIN on the HP 95LX C drive. 52556. Telephone: (515) 472-6330, 2. In MEMO enter the following lines (called a DEBUG script) in caps exactly as written below. Save the file as FAX: (515) 472-1879. Copyright C:IFIX.SCR. .. 1992, Thaddeus Computing, Inc., N C:\MNU95.BIN all rights reserved. No part ofthis L E lOB OF publication may be reproduced E 171 F6 without written permiSSIOn. Rea E 172 A8 sonable efforts are made to pro E 155E 34 E 1566 DE vide accurate and useful informa RCX tion, but the reader must make 15EF his or her own investigations and W decisions; the Publisher and Edi Q torial Staff cannot assume any 3. Enter DOS trom FILER. Ai the DOS prompt enter the command: resp
2 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 Russian TopCard much easier and faster it [Palmtop Resources is no pouch and secures with a Thanks for publishing my was to get the match stats longer in business. It was velcro closure. It is so light letter in the May/June by down loading the info taken over by Memory Card weight that I forgot I was issue, on page 42. I still kept by the umpire from Associates, see page 48.] wearing the 95LX on my have not found a Russian the 95LX to a PC, printing belt. I had to repeatedly text editor, however, I have it out and giving it to the The Pouch ™ for 95LX reach back and touch it to created a TopCard file media. My question is, what Phil Richardson just sent confirm it was still there. (RUSSIAN.PCX ii) with program do they use, was it me his special 95LX version Also, it is possible to the Russian word for "hello" specially written, and how of The Pouch. I have tried it drop a RAM Card and pair on it. Copy the RUSSIAN can I get a copy of it? out and find it perfect for of spare AA batteries down .PCX file to your 95LX's P.M. Smith unobtrusive carrying of the in the bottom of the pouch C:\_DAT directory, rename Springfield OR, USA 95LX on the belt. This case and still fit the 95LX with it TOPCARD.PCX, and really fits the 95LX like a full coverage. The material you'll see the following card Does Palmtop glove - I'm happy! is stretchy enough to "for on your 95LX when you Resources Exist? The Pouch is a small give" this, and the bottom turn it on. In the July/August issue of belt pouch made of nylon just shows a slight out The HP Palmtop Paper, on -faced Neoprene material pouching when the spare page 42, you mention a similar to the material AAs are down there. company named "Palmtop SCUBA wet-suits are made I will have to give this Resources" from Dallas, from. The material is a very product a "10" for ingenious Texas, USA. Their tele durable closed cell foam design and execution in a phone is not in service, and rubber bonded to a thin simple belt pouch for the a friend of mine in Dallas black spandex material 95LX. I can seriously rec tried unsuccessfully to lo facing both sides. The mate ommend it without reserva You rename the file "TOP cate their office. rial is about 3 mm thick tion (price $19.95, for more CARD.PCX" so that the As we use several of the overall and provides a information see page 35). 95LX treats it like its own programs listed in the de bouncy protective enclosure Robert S. Williams TopCard, and allows the scription of their services, I for the 95LX. The construc CIS ID: [76167,2773J information you enter in am very interested in know tion is very well done and the Owner information ing if they truly exist. high quality. section of SET UP to ap Lee C Stinson A 1.5" wide nylon strap Ii On Palmtop Paper ON DISK, pear along with the image. Gauting, GERMANY runs over the top of the SeplOct92. I left the inside of the frame blank for this reason. You can also go into SET UP, STOP! Before you buy another set of batteries .. press Owner Picture-File, and enter RUSSIAN.PCX to get this image to show up on the screen. If you do it BAITman™ and this way, however, the information you entered in Owner will not show on the screen. NiMH batteries I put a picture of a flying saucer on the right "If you are tired of throwing away batteries, BA TTman will allow side of the frame. I couldn't safe hassle-free use of rechargeables on your 9SLX.. " get rid of the "Press a blue application key" message at - Palmtop paper, August 7992 the bottom line. Mmet G. Ozisik "Every combination of BATTman works flawlessly and I never Istanbul TURKEY once lost data.. " - Palmtop paper, August 7992 Keeping Score with the 95LX Features For more information Besides being an avid read .." NiMH provides 200% more capacity than on our products and er of The HP Palmtop Paper standard NiCds how to order, call: and user of the HP 95LX, I .." Rechargeable to 1,000 times am a Tennis buff. While .." No memory effects and non-toxic to our (800) 825-9977 watching the Canadian environment Open and the Volvo Inter national Tennis Tourna Like hundreds of other 95LX users, start using ments, I noticed the umpire BATIman battery management software with keeping score with the HP NiMH Nickel-metal-Hydride rechargeable 95LX. In fact, the 95LX got batteries and SAVE! • a plug of sorts during the ACE Technologies. Inc. BATTman on 3.5" floppy ...... $39 2880 Zanker Road. Suite 103 Canadian Open when the BATTman with two Ni-metal-Hydrides ...... $49 San Jose, California 95134 U.S.A. announcers explained how (408) 428-9722. FAX (408) 428·9721
SEPI'EMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 3 LETl'ERS: Continued
Lotus Built-in wonderful for those of us the hole because I didn't pack which should power Zoom Scaling who are not electrical have a drill, and because the 95LX for a long time I was reading the "let engineers. melting leaves the hole when AC isn't conven ters" section of the Ju For just a few dol with smooth edges, ient. (I haven't gone long ly/Aug Palmtop Paper. In lars, I obtained at a local which will not fray the enough to see how long it user problem #6 from Radio Shack (they are wire insulation. will last, and I suppose I John Garret in England, most everywhere) a Solder the leads from will have to use a cheap the "simple" solution small plastic box, four the snap connectors, IN voltmeter to see how the seems to be to use the 9V battery snap connec PARALLEL, to one set of batteries do.) I'm not built-in zoom scaling of tors, a little wire, four ends of the double wire. even particularly handy the 95LX to "blow up" spring metal 9V battery Some "clear" silicone with a soldering pencil, the screen so the axis holders, and a coax-type rubber sealant works but I managed. (The labels are readable in barrel plug. well to insulate the sol toughest part was find Lotus graphs. Just press Using cyanoacrylate dered connections. Solder ing a glue which would the blue (+) key to in glue ("Super Glue" or the other ends of the fasten the battery hold crease the readability of "Krazy Glue"), affix the double wire to the coax ers to the inside of the the scales - no need for holders to the bottom of plug. Use a little more box, because I didn't manual rescaling. The the box. One could screw silicone there to avoid want to use screws.) plus (+) and minus (-) down the battery hold any shorting and screw PaulO. Bartlett keys function to zoom in ers, of course, but ce the plug back together. CompuSrv ID: [76625,150J and out of graphics menting them in makes Be sure to put the wire screens on the 95 wheth for a neater appearance. THROUGH the hole in Be Careful Prying er in Lotus or the Solver. Cut a personally conve the plastic box BEFORE Open the 95LX's Casel Lee Buck nient length of 24-gauge soldering the leads to There was an article in New York, NY, USA or better double stranded one end and the barrel the March / April issue insulated wire. With a plug to the other! I didn't Make External Battery hot nail or drill, poke a the first time. and had to for the 95LX whole in one end of the do it over. (Continued on page 43.) I have fallen in love with box. I used a nail heated PRESTO! You have a my HP 95LX, even over a gas range to poke small external battery though I have barely scratched the surface of its capabilities. It has Control your TV VCR Stereo with the 95LX already replaced my wrist watch, my Day IntroduCing -Timer, my ad dress/phone book, a scratch pad, and (with Gene Dorr's CMCALC myREMOTE .EXM ii), my program User programmable Multiple files for mer's calculator. Macro commands different remotes However, the battery life is finite, and using Up to 100 '\ / an AC adapter is not commands myREI'IOTE uL0 '\ UCR.IR T Timer Record always convenient. I got TABDEL P1ayC1ea~/Cance1 "'" @ALT-T TU ~ ~ Past Po~wa~d @ALT-U UCR the idea to make a small Rewind @ALT-C CD I' Pause @ALT-S STEREO external battery pack. R Reco~d P Program Universal HP Customer Support D Disp1ay TU/UCR 'Train" mode C Choose/Se1ect representative, Michael S Set V Johnstone, informed me Single Key / access to y our > that the DC power re Use ARROW keys to select itel1l. / remote EHTER>Send E>dit D>elete I >nse~t T >~ain quirement for the 95LX functions was +/-7.BV minimum, +/-9V nominal, and +/-12 V (175 rnA) maximum. To order CALL: This is ideal for myREMOTE lets your 95LX replace all of your IR remote controls. The built·in programmable (800) 825-9977 using "square" 9 volt macro commands and time delay control even alkaline batteries, and allow for unattended operations. myREMOTE the ability to use voltage works with a wide variety of remote components. of either polarity is ~~ ~ ® ACE Technologies, Inc. myREMOTE Remote Control Software (C1065) ...... $29 2880 Zonker Road. Suite 103 San Jose, Callfomla 95134 U.S.A. ii On the 1992 Subscribers Disk.
4 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 • • • •
Bubble Jet Clones -----"""--. .... Two other manufacturers use the . . Canon Bubble Jet engine and case ~: - . -. as the basis of their printers:
Printing from the HP 95LX 1. To connect the 95LX to aserial printer: use HP's Serial Interface Cable (HP 82222A) or equivalent. The 4-pin end goes into the 95LX, the 9-pln end connects to the serial port of the printer. You will also need a 9-10- 25-pin adapter to connect the 9-pin end of the 95LX serial cable to the 25-pin printer printer port. We used the Printer Adapter Back row, left to right: Selko DPU-411, Dlconlx 18051, Cannon Bubble Jet. from the HP Serial Cable Adapter kit (HP Front row: Citizen PN48 and the HP 9SLX. 82224A) to connect the serial cable to the Diconix 180si serial port. 1A. To connect the 95LX to a parallel port The optional NiCad battery pack, printer - most printers do not have serial The Canon Bubble Jet 10ex: ports (check your printer manual if you are good for about 18 pages of printing not sure which type of port your printer has). The Bubble Jet iB an inkjet when fully charged, lists for $50. A If you have a parallel printer you need a printer for thoBe who want replacement ink cartridge costs $25. serial-to-parallel adapter to connect the two (see additional sidebar, page 8, for more laser-like output at an Battery and ink cartridges should information). affordable 9 centB per page, and be available from the dealer you don't mind lugging around a purchased the Bubble Jet from. 2. Configure the 95LX: Press ~ The Bubble Jet is a quiet print Printer Config Name and select either the 4.6 lb printer the Bi%e of a (Epson FX80), (IBM Proprinter), or (HP notebook computer. With the er, providing 360 dpi (dots per inch) LaserJet), depending upon which selection addition of an optional Bheet resolution on plain bond paper, your printer emulates (check your printer feeder, you could even UBe the envelopes, or transparencies. Built manual if you're not sure). Make sure your in fonts include Courier and interface is set to (COM1). Make sure the Bubble Jet as your primary Baud rate on your 95LX is set the same as printer, provided you do not Prestige Elite (if you configure the your printers (usually 9600). need continuouB form printer and the 95LX for Proprinter 3. Configure the printer: Printer settings are capability. emulation) and Sans Serif, and very standard and you may want to skip this The Bubble Jet comeB with Roman (if you configure them for step and come back to it if your print test a parallel port only and needB Epson LQ-510 emulation). Pro fails. To configure the printer, make sure the a Berial-to-parallel adapter to printer and Epson FX-80 emulation printer's baud rate is the same as the 95LX (9600). Make sure your printer is using the connect to the 95LX. are available on the 95LX. Epson following settings: 8 bits per character, 1 stop technical support said that Epson bit, no parity, XONIXOFF software handshak By Sergio Casanova FX-80 emulation on the 95LX ing enabled, and hardware handshaking should work for an Epson LQ-510 disabled. After a few trials with the office's compatible machine like the Bubble 4. Tum the printer on: (Off and on again if Epson printer, I decided I wanted a Jet. To access these fonts, you'll you've changed settings in point 3 above). printer for my desk at home. I com have to print from a DOS word Make sure the printer is on line. pared the quality of the Canon processor such as VDE, or from 5. Test ,..,e.r!.nt: Press PRT SC Bubble Jet with the quality of the Lotus 1-2-3. This is because MEMO (I
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 5 Perip1aerallJ: Printers
• Brother International markets the HJ- 1001 Ink Jet Printer, virtually iden tical to the Bubble Jet. HP95LX PalmModemtm • Star Micronlcs markets the StarJet SJ-48. According to a very favor able review in the Laptop Buyer's Guide & Handbook (Vol. 10, Is sue.6), Star Micronics made changes in the firmware and soft ware which improved font han dling, paper handling, and print quality. Unfortunately, the 13 additional Bitstream FaceLift typefaces included with the Star Jet are impossible to use with the 95LX's built-in MEMO program. Both clones retail for $499 (plus $50 for battery and $25 for additional ink cartridges), the same price as the Bubble Jet. These machines are essentially identical to the Bubble Jet, and require a serial-to-parallel adapter to connect to the 95LX. o PCMCIA Credit Card Size Format 02400, 1200, and 300 bit/sec Data Rates Since all three are essentially o Integrated Terminal and Facsimile Software 04800, 2400 bit/sec PalmFaxtm identical printers, check street o Compatible with CompuServe, Genie, Dow o Ufetlme Guarantee prices to find the better deal. Jones, and MCI NOTE: We have not tested the HJ JODi Ink Jet Printer or the StarJet 15375 Barranca 8-101 CompuServe, Genie, Dow Jones, and MCI Irvine, California 92718 are trademarks or tradenames of their 1-800-453-0550 respective entities Order Information ------~ Cannon Bubble Jet - $499 SJ-4B with the 95LX, but since the strike ribbon), slower operating Includes AC adapter, connect cable, ink hardware is virtually identical to speeds, and lack of sheet feeder cartridge. $50 for rechargeable battery, $25 the Bubble Jet, you should be able to make it a questionable choice as for addnional ink cartridges. Quiet, good connect them to the 95LX via a a primary printer. print quality. Needs 95LX Serial Cable (HP serial-to-parallel adapter. The PN48 comes with a F1001A or HP 82222A) and Serial-to parallel port only and needs a Parallel Adapter. Depending on Serial-to serial-to-parallel adapter to parallel adapter used, may also need the 9- The Citizen PN48: 25 pin printer adapter from the HP Serial connect to the 95LX. Cable Adapter Kit (HP 82224A), or the 9-25 The PN48's combination oflaser pin computer adapter from the HP like output and small size make By Bob Newins Connectivity Pack (HP F1001A). this 2.6 lb. printer the right CONTACT: Canon USA, Inc., One Canon choice for on-the-road printing. The Citizen PN48 is a diminutive Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042, USA; However, its high operating cost laser-quality printer, with an op Phone: 516-488-6700. (36 cents/page for the single- tional NiCd battery pack that lets StarJet SJ-48 - $499 Based on Bubble Jet engine and case. Improved font and paper handling. 13 addi tional sealeable typefaces. (Not useable Print Samples from MEMO). $50 for rechargeable battery, $25 for additional ink cartridges. Diconix 180si CONTACT: Star Micronics, 420 Lexington ABCDEFGHIJ abcde£ghij 1234567890 Ave., Ste. 2702-25, New York, NY 10170, USA; Phone: (212) 986-6770. Citizen PN48 12 34567890 Brother HJ-100i - $499 ABCDEFGHIJ abcdefghij Virtually identical to the Bubble Jet. $50 for Cannon BubbleJet 10ex rechargeable battery, $25 for additional ink ABCDEFGHIJ abcdefghij 1234567890 cartridges. CONTACT: Brother International Corp., 200 Seiko DPU-411 Thermal Printer Cottontail Lane, Somerset, NJ 08875-6714, ABCDEFG HIJ a bc de f ghij 1234567890 USA; Phone: 908-356-8880; Fax: 908-469- HP LaserJet 5167. ABCDEFGHIJ abcdefghij 1234567890
6 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 Do you really need a printer on the road? Magic RAM Even the lightest of printers will triple the weight you carry on the road. There are already millions of MANUFACTURER OF computers and printers all over the wor1d - in the businesses you visit and in the hotels you stay in. Here are some alternatives to carrying a printer along with you. SRAM Cards for HP95LX 1. Postpone all unnecessary printing chores until you get home. (PCMCIA 2.0 & JEIDA 4.1) 2. Download files, via modem, to your office back home and have your assistant format, print out, and send your correspondence wherever it needs to go. (You'll need to carry a serial cable, 9- 256KB, 512KB, and 1MB 25 pin modem adapter, and the modem along with you.) 3. Transfer the file you want printed over to someone else's computer and have them print it out • Dual battery backup system on their printer. (You'll need to carry a serial cable, and file transfer software with you.) • Fast access time (100ns) 4 Use someone else's printer. (You'll need to carry a serial cable, serial-to-parallel adapter, and • Write protect switch the HP adapter kit with you to connect directly to someone else's printer.) • Low power consumption 5. Carry a small, portable fax/modem with you and fax the page you want print to a local fax • 8KB Attribute Memory option machine (in the hotel lobby or at the business you're visiting). (You'll need the fax/modem, serial cable, and the necessary adapters.) OEM inquiries welcome DistributorslDealers Wanted you print up to 25 pages on a fully F1001A). This connects to the Custom IC Card charged battery (single pages only, Connectivity Kit serial cable, which no tractor feed). The 2.5 lb (1.2 kg) connects to the 95LX. serial port. Private Labeling printer measures 11.5 x 2 x 3.5 The Citizen PN48, with single Coop Advertizing inches (29 x 5 x 9 em). sheet feed, 36 cents per page out Technical Support The PN48 comes with an AC put, and a 25 page battery life, is adapter, connect cable, and one not ideal for volume printing. But if 1850 Beverly Boulevard multi-strike ink cartridge. An you want laser-quality printing Los Angeles, CA 90057 optional NiCd battery ($95) provides while on the road, this is lightest, 25 pages of printing when fully least hassle solution around. charged. Additional print cartridges PHONE (213) 413-9999 cost $4.99 apiece. Battery and ink Order Information FAX (213) 413-0828 cartridges should be available from By Trevor Cradduck your PN48 dealer. Citizen PN48 - $469 PN48 Professional, $549, includes carrying The PN48 can emulate IBM case, laser cartridge, and rechargeable The new Kodak Diconix 180si print Proprinter, one of the 95LX.'s print NiCd battery pack. er (successor to the Diconix 150 er settings. The PN48 is a thermal Needs 95LX Serial Cable (HP F1001A or HP 82222A) and Serial-ta-Parallel Plus) is a very satisfactory, light fusion printer that produces 360 dpi weight, portable printer. near-laser-quality output at 24 cps Adapter. Also needs Citizen KB48 adapter to connect proprietary Citizen printer cable The package includes the (characters per second). The PN48 to the Serial-ta-parallel adapter. Depending printer, AC adapter, and one inkjet prints letter quality only, no draft on serial-ta-parallel adapter used, may also cartridge. Five NiCd C cells will option. The PN48 comes with Cou need the 9-25 pin computer adapter from rier and Times Roman type faces. the HP Connectivity Pack (HP F1001A). cost you about $15 from Radio CONTACT: Citizen America The PN48 is more expensive to Shack. Additional inkjet cartridges Corporation, P.O. Box 4003, Santa Monica, run about $19.95. The inkjet operate than some printers. A sin CA 90411, U.S.A.; Phone: 800-477-4683, gle-strike ribbon costs $4.99, which 310-453-0614; Fax: 310-453-0614 cartridges it uses should be avail works out to be about 36 cents per able from the dealer you buy the page. The multistrike ribbon, also 180si from (the same cartridge as used in the HP ThinkJet portable $4.99, should help to lower per-page The Kodak Diconix 180si: costs, but may also decrease print printer and should also be available quality as it is reused. from your local HP dealer). The PN48 is a parallel printer, The 180si is a four-pound ink jet The size is 5.08 x 27.4 x 16.5 cm which makes it necessary to use a printer for those who want letter (2 x 10.8 x 6.5 inches), which means serial-to-parallel adapter to connect quality (190 dpi) output at an that it can fit into. a brief case, al it to the 95LX. I used the Paralink affordable 12 cents per sheet. though it is a tight fit. It weighs in 3 by Widget, which needs a Citizen The 180si is the only portable at 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) without the batter cable adapter (part # KB48) to con printer we found with tractor, as ies; the battery brings the weight nect to the PN48's proprietary well as sheet feed capability. up to about 1.8 kg (4Ibs). The 180si printer cable. The other side of the The 180si comes in a serial comes with an external 9V DC Paralink 3 connects to the 9-to-25 port version, making it simpler power supply. pin computer adapter that came to connect to the 95LX. The print quality, though not with the HP Connectivity Kit (HP comparable to a laser printer, is
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 7 Serial-to-Parallel Adapters, Cables, and other Adapters The HP 95LX comes with serial and infrared data interface ports. Most printers come with parallel interfaces. In order to connect the 95LX to a parallel printer, a device called a Serial-To-Parallel Adapter must be used. These adapters must draw power from some source to operate. The 95LX has precious little energy to spare and does not fumish extemal devices power through its serial port. Many (but not all) printers can fumish serial-to-parallel adapters enough power to operate. Unfortunately, portable battery-powered printers don't have a lot of energy to spare either, and tend not to be able to power these adapters. This is the case with the Citizen PN48, the Canon Bubble Jet and its clones. The serial-to-parallel adapters listed here come with an intemal battery to provide the power needed to run the adapter. They were designed with the 95LX in mind. They connect between the 95LX and the printer. You may need additional adapters to change gender or to go from 9-pin to 25-pin connectors. Before connecting the 95LX to a printer, make sure both units are switched off. A typical connection might look something like this: PLEASE NOTE: You may need additional adapters, depending on the printer and serial-to-parallel adapter you use. The Paralink 3 needs the 9-t0-25 pin adapter that came with the HP Connectivity Kit (HP Fl001A) to connect to the 95LX serial cable. The PN48 printer needs a special adapter to connect its proprietary cable to any of the serial-to-parallel adapters (Citizen Part# KB48). The serial printers don't need a serial- to-parallel adapter, but the Diconix does need a 9-t0-25 pin printer adapter (HP Serial Cable Adapter Kit, # HP 82224A), and the Seiko needs the 9-10-25 pin adapter that came with the Connectivity Kit. Tne 9-p!n end of the ser181 cable connects HP 95LX Serial Gable Connects to the 5eriaI-to-paralleI adapter to HP 95LX Serial Port
The Ser!al-to-Plira lie I Adapter ORDER INFORMATION Connects to the Pr1nters Parallel Port We know of four battery powered serial-to-parallel adapters available for use with the 95LX:
GA 935 Serial·lo·Parallel Adapter ..•••...•..••..•..•... $99 Smart Converter Serial·to·Parallel Adapter ..•..•.•. 160,000 Lira Uses a 9 volt replaceable battery to give you up to 250 hrs of service. (Approx. $135 U.S.) Uses a standard 9 volt battery (manufacturer does (Manufacturer's estimate, you can use a rechargeable battery but must not recommend using rechargeables). Comes with software so it can also recharge it outside the unit using your own recharger.) Connects directly be used with the HP 48SX Calculator. One end of the adapter connects to the 9-pin end of the HP Serial Cable on one end and a standard directly to the 9-pin end of the HP Serial Cable. The other end terminates Centronics printer port on the other. in a 25-pin female port that fits into the 25-pin male end of a standard Greenwich Instruments, 3401 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 20205, USA; Centronics printer cable. Phone: 800-476-4070 or 704·376·1021, Fax: 704·335-8707. Distributors in Europe and South Africa. Contact ForCALC below for information. Palmprint Serial·lo-Parallel Adapter (available Nov 92) ...•. $159 ForCALC, Via Varese 67,41100 Modena, ITALY; Phone: 059/440404, Comes wHh an intemal battery that can be recharged in 6 hrs by Fax: 059/304490. connecting the Palmprint to the 95LX's AC adapter. Fully charged battery gives you 45-60 hrs of use (manufacturer's estimate). Connects directly CABLES AND OTHER ADAPTERS to the 9-pin end of the HP Serial Cable on one end and a standard Centronics printer port on the other. HP Connectivity Pack (serial cable, software, adapter) . . •• $99.95 Palmtree Products, 145 Washington Street, Norwell, MA 02061, USA; Part # HP F1001A. Includes serial cable, connectivity software, and one Phone: 617·871·7050; Fax: 617·871·6018. 9-to-25 pin adapter for connection to PC. Available through HP dealers and other vendors. Contact information below. Paralink3 Serial·lo-Parallel Adapter ....••.••..•..•••• £59.95 HP Serial Interface Cable ...... $35 (Approx. $115 U.S.) Comes with a replaceable 5.4 volt battery that will give you about 36 hours of printing connected to the Citizen PN48 (user Part # HP82222A. Serial cable only for the HP 95LX. Contact information review) and 100 hours when connected to the Canon Bubble Jet below. (manufacturer's estimate). Leave unconnected to printer when not in use HP Serial Cable Adapter Kit •.•..•.• • •••••••.•...... •. $15 or you will drain the battery. Connects to the 95LX serial cable via the 9- Part # HP82224A. Printer and modem adapters for the serial cable of the to-25 adapter that came wHh HP Connectivity Pack. Other end connects 95LX. Contact information below. directly to a standard Centronics printer port. Hewlett-Packard Company, 3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304, Widget Software, 121 London Road, Knebworth, Herts SG3 6E><, UNITED USA; for location of nearest dealer in U.S., call 800-443·1254. KINGDOM; Phone: 44-438·815444, Fax: 44-438·815222. International: Contact your local HP sales office. Modifying the Bubble Jet to Power a Serial·to-Parallel Adapter (The HP Palmtop Paper has not verified this procedure. This job is better suited for the technically inclined. Modifications like this can void the manufacturer's warranty, so proceed at YOUR OWN RISK - Rich.) . You need a battery-powered serial-to-parallel adapter with the Canon BJ-10 because the printer does not supply energy to the extemal converter. thiS is not because the voltage requirements are too high, but because Canon didn't design the Bubble Jet to do so. . . I checked the connections inside the Paralink 3 and discovered that the 5 volts necessary to power Paralink can be supplied from the outside (pm 18 of the parellel connector of the printer). In fact, this pin was not connected in the Cannon BJ10. I opened the case of the Bubble Jet printer and connected the 5 voH lead from the pin connected to the VoHage regulator to pin 18 of the Parallel port. Now, I leave the converter inserted in the printer and use the power from the printer; the battery is preserved for other uses outside my office: SergiO Casanova
8 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 PeripINrolB: Printers acceptable for a printer of this type Order Information Order Information (see print sample, previous page). It has four fonts: Prestige 10, Prestige Dlconix 18011 - $419 Seiko DPU-411 Printer - $240 12, Helvetica and Gothic; each is Includes AC adapter and one ink cartridge, Small thermal printer with serial port. Useful available in either draft (68 cps) or tractor- and sheet-feed capability. for printing draft~uality notes (files 7K or Reasonable, but less than laserjet output. less). Needs HP Serial Cable (HP F1001A letter quality (21 cps). The 180si Serial port printer not requiring a serial-to or HP 82222A) and the Modem Adapter accepts both sheet paper (manual parallel adapter. that comes with the HP Serial Cable feed) or fan-fold paper (tractor feed). Needs 95LX Serial Cable that comes Adapter Kit (HP 82224A). (Modem adapter You can also print transparencies, with the HP Connectivity Pack (HP F1001A) has modem icon on it.) (Specify 7K memory although you need to be careful in or Serial Interface Cable (HP 82222A) and buffer and battery when ordering.) the 9-t0-25 pin printer adapter that comes CONTACT: Seiko Instruments U.S.A. your choice of transparency to be with the HP Serial Cable Adapter Kit (HP Inc., Electronic Components Division, 2990 sure that it will take the ink. The 82224A). W. Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505 180si emulates the Epson FX-85 or CONTACT: Eastman Kodak Company, U.S.A.; Phone 31().517-7770; Fax: 31()'517- the IBM Proprinter, both of which Personal Printer Products, 901 Elm Grove 7792. are options on the 95LX. This Road, Bldg. 14, Rochester, NY 14650, USA.; Phone: 800-344-0006 or 716-724- means that print modes such as 3592; Fax: 716-726-3108. superscript, subscript, underline, Other Printers italic and bold are all possible if you The August 1992 issue of PC Maga use a word processor that supports zine and Vol. 10, Issue 6 of Computer those features (MEMO does not). Seiko DPU-411: Buyer's Guide & Handbook re The printing action is very quiet. viewed some additional portable The 180si uses 5 NiCd "C" bat This 2-pound, serial-port printers. We already mentioned the teries, which are neatly tucked thermal printer produces draft Brother HJ-100i and the StarJet SJ-48 quality output on 40 column away inside the paper roller. The (based on the Canon Bubble Jet but thermal paper rolls. The DPU- marketed by different companies). batteries are recharged by the prin 411 could be useful to those who The DECjet 1000 and the Kodak Diconix ter's power supply and the printer only need to print out short, 701 are two 7 Ib parallel printers can run on either the power supply draft quality notes. that exceeded the 5 Ib weight limit or the batteries. Kodak says the criteria we set. The Diconix 701 was batteries will give you 50 minutes of By Rich Hall one of PC Magazine's Editor's printing, but I have not tested this. Choice award winners (page 327 of I assume this would depend on the We first heard about this printer the August 92 issue). It has better charge status and "memory" of the from Goran Thornblad, a Swedish print quality than the Diconix 180si Ni-Cd cells. It takes about 10 hours subscriber (see page 37, JanlFeb 92 and comes with a built-in sheet (overnight) to recharge the fully issue). The DPU-411 is relatively feeder. We do describe the features depleted batteries. ("Memory" refers easy to set up, but is not able to of the DECjet 1000 and the Diconix to the fact that Ni-Cd batteries, if signal the 95LX to stop sending 701 in the Printer Comparison repeatedly only partially charged, data when its printer buffer is full. Chart on the next page. lose the ability to hold a full charge. This means that if you try and print The Toshiba ExpressWriter 201 The battery will "remember" the a file larger than about 3 pages was also listed by PC Magazine. It level to which you've been charging (7K), the buffer overflows and the is small and slow, with two internal the batteries and only accept that Seiko starts printing garbage. This fonts and Epson LQ emulation only. level of charge in the future.) may not be a problem if you are Toshiba has recently gone through The connection to the 95LX is printing small text files, but Lotus a restructuring, and the company made using the serial cable from .WK1 and Phone Book (.PBK) files representative I spoke with said the HP Connectivity Pack (HP can easily grow to over 7K bytes. that the ExpressWriter was being F1001A) and the 9-to-25 pin Printer This draft-quality printer comes discontinued. adapter that comes with the HP with an AC adapter and one roll of These additional printers have thermal paper. Additional rolls of parallel ports only, which means Serial Cable Adapter Kit (HP thermal paper are available from 82224A). (The printer adapter has a that if they work with the 95LX, your Seiko dealer (5 rolls for $13). you'll need a serial-to-parallel port small printer icon on it.) The DPU-411 comes with a serial adapter to connect them. We have I paid $399 (Canadian Dollars, port and connects easily to the 95LX not tested any of these additional the Diconix 180si with serial inter using the HP Serial Cable that printers and can make no guar face retails for $419 in the USA). came with the Connectivity Pack antees that they work with the This makes the 180si competitive (HP F1001A) and the 9-to-25 pin 95LX, even with a serial-to-parallel with other portable printers I looked Modem Adapter that came with the adapter. We would welcome at. The Diconix 180si is a very con Serial Cable Adapter Kit (HP feedback on positive experiences venient portable for the 95LX. It 82224A). However, because of print you've had with the portable definitely beats having to cart an buffer problem mentioned above, printers you use with your HP HP Laser HIP around! this printer has limited usefulness 95LX. for the 95LX.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 9 a~
~ ------Reviewed and tested Mentioned but not tested ~ Printer Comparison Chart Cannon BJ.1Oe Citizen PN48 Oleonlx 18011 Seiko OPlJ.411 Brother Star Micronlcl OECjet 1000 Oiconlx701 ~ (w serial port) HJ.1001 StarJet SJ.48 Operational Costs ~ Retail price $499 $469 $419 $240 $499 $499 $329 $549 Battery price $50 $95 5 NiCds- $15 Included $50 $50 N.A. NP-55 C'Mcor. ceells der PICk $50 t.".:I~ ::1:1 Ink cartridge Price/Cost per page $25/9¢ $4.99/36¢ $19.95/12¢ 5 rolls thermal $25/9¢ $25/9¢ $50/10¢ $29.95/8¢ I paper, $13 Serial·to-Parallel adapter needed (*Less expensive non·battery Yes, $100·150" Yes, $100·150" No No Yes, $100-150" Yes, $100·150" Yes, $100·150" Yes, $100-150" I J)()wered serial·to-~arallel ad~ers are available.)
! Other cables and adapters needed; Serial cable = HP Serial Cable, Serial cable Serial cable Serial cable Serial cable Serial Cable Serial cable Serial cable Serial cable comes in HP FloolA Connectivity Pack or HP 82222A Serial Cable. C (w Paralink3) C~izen #KB48 P M C (w Paralink3) C (w Paralink3) C (w Paralink3) C (w Paralink3) C = 9-t0-25 pin "compute~' adapter ~HP Connectivity K~) . P = Printer cable adapter i..... adapter, M = Modem adapter (both om HP 82224A Adapter K~) . C (w Paralink3) o Options Available Sheet feeder $90 N.A. NA N.A. $90 $90 $99 N.A. i Carrying case $59.95 $29 i::1:1 I NA NA N.A. NA NA NA .... 220V AdapterICharger $50 $79 $28 NA N.A. N.A. N.A. $29.95 (0 ~ car lighter adapter N.A. $59 N.A. NA NA N.A. NA NA Phy~ical Description Printer Interface Parallel Parallel Serial Serial Parallel Parallel Parallel Parallel Included in package with printer AC adapter, AC adapter, ACadapter, AC adapter, 1 AC adapter, AC adapter, connect 1 ink cartridge AC adapter, (in add~ion to manuals) conned cable, conned cable, 1 1 ink cartridge roll of thermal conned cable, 1 cable, 1 ink cartridge bui~·in sheet 1 ink cartridge ink cartridge paper ink cartridge feeder, 1 ink cartridge Size of printer (inches 1cm) 1.9x 12.2x 8.5 2x 11.7x 3.5 2x 10.8x 6.5 6.4x 9.5x 2.3 1.9x 12.2x 8.5 1.9x 12.2x 8.5 4.5x 13.5x 8 2.4x l1.7x 7.7 4.8x 31x 21.6 5x 29.7x 8.9 5x 27.4x 16.5 16.3x 24.1x 5.8 4.8x 31x 21.6 4.8x 31x 21.6 11.4x 34.3x 20.3 6.1x 29.7x 19.6 Weight of printer (with battery, in Ibs 1 kg) 4.6/2.1 2.6/1.2 2.9/1.3 2.0/0.9 4.6/2.1 4.6/2.1 6.4/2.9 7.0/3.2
Paper Used (Continuous roll, Sheet, Envelope, Transparecy) S, E, T S, E, T C,S,E, T C (4.5" rolO S, E, T S,E, T S, E, T S,E, T Fonts induded (Courier, Gothic, Prestige Elite, Sans serif, C, E,S, T C, T G, E, S C C, E, S, T C, E,S, T C,G,E,N C,G,S Times Roman, Times Nordic) Perfonnance Print Quality (highest available) Laser Laser LETTER DRAFT Laser Laser Laser Laser (Laser = 300dpi, Letter = 190 dpl. Draft) Print s~d (on highest print quality, characters per inch) 39cpi 24 cpi 21 cpi 37 cpi 42 cpi 40 cpi 49cpi 48cpi.
Time to fully charge batteries 10 hr 6 hr 10 hr 10 hr 10 hr 10 hr N.A. 4.5 hr I Pages printed on charged batteries 18 25 25 1,500 lines 18 18 NA 100 Warranty 12 months 12 months 12 months 12 months 12 months 12 months 12 months 12 months FOR THE HP 95LX • Contact and client tracking ACT! for the HP 95LX lets you take control of your day while you're on-the-go. This powerful contact manager keeps all the details about your contacts and your calendar at your fingertips. • Calendar management ACT! even tracks and reports your expenses. The innovative ZAPCARDS® feature lets you exchange business card and other • Expense tracking contact information wirelessly with other ACT! HP 95LX users. And, it's all fully integrated and easy-to-use. • PC Connectivity Cable included Based on best-selling ACT! contact management software, this for easy data integration powerful version was designed specifically for HP 95LX users like you. And, it's easy to upload and download information to • Report generation and from your desktop version of ACT! with the included PC connectivity cable. • ZAPCARDS® wireless business Take control of your day with ACT!for the HP 95LX! Order your copy risk-free for only $99, and save $50 off the retail price! Simply card exchange mail the coupon below, or call us toll-free at 1-800-365-0606.
~ • International versions available! ------,Send me ACT! for the I YES' I • ro~ ;~r: $99!(sRP $149) I To order ACT!for the HP 95LX at this discount price, complete coupon and mail to Contact Software Int'i., ACT! I HP Offer, 1840 Hutton Drive, #200, Carrollton, TX 75006. I Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Name I Address I City State I Zip Daytime Phone I Payment By: 0 Visa 0 MasterCard 0 American Express Card# Exp. Date I Signature I 0 Check Ene. (payable to Contact Software Inf!.) I Discount Price $99.00 Shipping & Handling $5.50 I TIC residents add $8.17 sales tax InterSystems House, Tangier Lane Total: Eton, Berkshire SL4 6BB ENGLAND I Please Call for International Orders. 10 1992 Conl3ct Software International +44 (0)753830727 Fax +44 (0)75383331 7 ~~-' ~------Two Useful HP 95LX Peripherals when you consider that a serial cable and AC adapter comes with the unit (an HP Serial Cable and Contributing writer David Hayden takes a look at AC Adapter would cost you $50). Sparcom's Station95 (a docking station) and Drive95 If you already have a serial (an external floppy drive). cable and AC adapter, Station95 may seem a bit redundant, especial ly if you don't connect and discon nect that often. But the mere fact By David Hayden that it's there on your desk, so easy with Rich Hall to connect to, tends to encourage its use. I use it all the time and the While the HP 95LX is a powerful money I save on batteries should palmtop computer, a number of quickly pay for Station95. products have been developed which Station95 is a very lightweight add a new level of power and conve hollow black box about 1.5" tall, 8" nience to the Palmtop PC. Let's take long, and 4.5" deep (3.8 x 20.3 x a look at two of them. 11.4 cm). It has a memory card slot in the left-hand side, but there is no Station95 Station95 docking station RAM card drive in Station95 at this Sparcom's Station95 is a docking time. It appears that Station95 was station. All you do is slide your Station95 should be particularly useful to those who use their 95LX designed so that it would be easy to 95LX into the compact, black add one in some future version. Station95 unit sitting on your desk at a desk, and who come and go a lot (i.e. for those who need to con Sparcom confirmed that they are and your connected to an AC adapt considering adding a card drive, or er and linked to your desktop PC nect and disconnect their 95LX often). even a hard disk drive to Station95, via serial cable. Station95 retails for $59.95. but emphasized that it was only a That's not very expensive, especially possibility at this time.
AN HP 95LX HELPS YOU KEEP UP \NITH YOUR BUSINESS. ADD SKYTELTlVI NATION\NIDE MESSAGING AND YOUR BUSINESS CAN KEEP UP \NITH YOU. With 5kyTel's 5ky5tream™ service, the HP 95LX palmtop PC can receive important information in seconds. Like a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet update from the home office. A message about last-minute changes to an important presentation. Or good news about winning a big order. 50 no matter how fast you're moving, yo.ur business can keep up. To learn more about the HP 95LX and Clnir.el" A SkyStream Nationwide Messaging, calli 1-800-456-3333, ext. 0178·1 ~s~tidia~
12 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 install it on the Palmtop. This "de Another problem (more an an Order Information . vice driver" software tells the 95LX noyance) is that when you discon how to work with Drive95. nect Drive95, it seems that some of Station95 - $59.95 Follow the instructions on page the built-in applications load more Docking station that makes it easier to link 1-4 of the Drive95 User's Manual to slowly. I assume this is because you your 95LX to your desktop PC and your AC copy DRIVE95.SYS over to the root still have the device driver loaded adapter. directory of the 95LX (C:\). Then and the 95LX spends some time CONTACT: Sparcom Corp .• 897 NW Grant use MEMO to modify your 95LX's looking for Drive95 before starting Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; Phone: 800-827-8416 or 503-757-8416; Fax: 503- CONFIG.SYS file, found in the root the application. I found that it took 753-7821. directory of the C drive. Add the 2 to 3 times longer to start some following line to the end of your applications. CONFIG.SYS file (be sure to press Drive95 works with the 95LX, Drive95 IENTERI after you type in the line): an HP 48SX calculator, or an IBM compatible personal computer. This 3.5" floppy disk drive is also DEVICE=DRIVE95.SYS from Sparcom. It connects to the [David Hayden is the Product 95LX via serial cable and accepts If you don't have a CONFIG.SYS Manager of Palmtop Applications DOS formatted 720K or 1.44MB file, you can copy over the one found for Lucid Corporation of Dallas, disks. With Drive95 attached to on Drive95's software disk, or create Texas, USA.] your 95LX, you can read from or a new CONFIG.SYS file containing write to a floppy disk, or run a the above line. Order Information program from the floppy disk. While Drive95 is a useful addi tion to the 95LX, there are some Drive95 - $329.95 things you should be aware of. External 3.5" floppy drive that connects to Drive95 (size 7" x 5" x 2") is bulky the 95LX serial port. compared to the 95LX, and this CONTACT: Sparcom Corp., 897 NWGrant Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; Phone: makes traveling with Drive95 less 800-827-8416 or 503-757-8416; Fax: 503- than optimal. Also, as mentioned, 753-7821. Drive95 connects via the serial port, and serial port data transfer can seem a bit slow at times. , Drive95 Floppy Disk Drive Drive95 is battery powered and runs 10-15 hours on a single charge. 2.0 MB $560 It also operates off of an AC adapter, which is included along I 1.0 MB $305 I with a serial cable and software. I II Because Drive95 connects via serial port, data transfer will be a • 512 KB $169 bit slow. (It took Peder Sweeney, HP Palmtop Paper Marketing Man ager, 11 minutes to back up the 256 KB $ 99 files from his 1MB 95LX onto a floppy disk via Drive95.) This is not a fault with Drive95, it's just the Lower nature of the serial port (Drive95 uses Kermit). On the positive side, Peder mentioned that Drive95 Prices works at any angle (upside down, sideways, etc.). Although he did not test this, he thought it would be possible to back up the 95LX without any problems, while it and MEMORY Drive95 were "clunking" around in his briefcase. Imaging Supplies Express To make Drive95 work with the Torrance, CA - USA 95LX, you must first copy the file DRIVE95.SYS from the 3.5" floppy FAX 310-370-3265 disk that comes with Drive95 onto the C drive of your 95LX, and then 800-462-4309 liliiii III liliiii SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 13 ASK THADDEUSI New! HP95LX Robert Roney. Technical Help Service Director of our ASK THADDEUS! Call or fax us your problems Technical Help - we'll call back with the answers! Service '
Need help using your HP 95LX? 3. Get the information to us by one of check your batteries and back up all You're not alone. the following methods: your files before the call. Each week, we at Thaddeus a. FAX it to: 515-472-9595. Computing get dozens of requests for AFFORDABLE RATESI technical assistance on the HP 95LX. b. Or MAIL it to: All ASK THADDEUS! services will (We're the publishers of The HP ASK THADDEUS! be billed to your credit card. We pay P.O. Box 869 the long-distance charges for our Palmtop Paper, and recognized Fairfield, IA 52556 USA experts on the 95LX.) phone call to you. Rates for our ASK If you mail your form, please keep a In response to these requests, we copy for yourself. THADDEUS! Technical Help Service are pleased to introduce ASK depend on your location, as follows: c. Or CALL: 515-HP ASKTH THADDEUS! Technical Help Service. U.S ...... $2.00/ min. It's a fast, efficient, and economical (515-472-7584). You will reach an answering machine that will direct Canada ...... $2.35/min. way to solve your HP 95LX problems! you to read the information asked for on the form. European Economic HERE'S HOW IT WORKS Community ...... $3.25/min. 1. Photocopy the Technical Help 4. A trained ASK THADDEUS! special Request Form below. Save the blank ist will respond by phone to discuss Mexico, South America, original for future use. the problem and possible solutions. Africa ...... $3.50 / min. As requested on the form, be sure to list Asia, Eastern Europe, 2. Fill in the information as directed. 3 alternative times we may call you. Be concise but complete. If we have Australia ...... $4.00 / min. complete information, we will do any 5. IMPORTANT: Our ASK THADDEUS! Note: We will deduct $7.00 from the cost of necessary research in advance. (This specialist may ask you to try one or this service for any inquiries about installa research will be done off-line, at no cost more possible solutions over the tion ofyour Subscribers Disk. to you.) phone. For this reason, be sure to ------I ASK THADDEUS! Technical Help Request Form 1------To: ASK THADDEUS! FAX: (515) 472-9595 ANSWERING MACHINE: (515) 472-7584 From (Your Name): ______Country or U.S. State ______Page 1 of
Daytime phone no.: (______3. Do you use an IBM PC? 0 Yes 0 No Evening phone no.: (, ______If Yes, circle ALL the following items that you have: Fax no.: (______Desktop Portable 286 386 486 HP Connectivity Pack 4. Do you use a Macintosh? 0 Yes 0 No Best times to call you: If Yes, circle ALL the following items that you have: Please list several hours on each of 3 weekdays. We can call you between 9:00am and 5:00pm US Central Time (GMT 6 West. referred to as -6 GMT MacPlus SE Mac II Mac Portable Connectivity software on your HP 95LX). 5. Do you subscribe to The HP Palmtop Paper? 0 Yes 0 No 1. Date:______Times: ______J.f..:t!o.." please fill out the following: 2. Date: Times: ______Profession :. ______3. Date: Times: ______Company :. ______---,_ Type of credit card: 0 Mastercard 0 VISA Address: ______Credit card no .: ______City: ______Exp date: ______State, ______Zip: ______Cardholder signature: Country: ______
6. Describe your oroblem IN DETAIL on seoarate pagels). PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS: Include symptoms and any recent changes you've made in your system. 1. About your HP 95LX: a. Purchased from: ______Fax, call, or mail the above information to us as instructed in this ad. We look forward to helping you! b. Amount of memory: D512K 01 Meg ASK THADDEUS! c. Do you have a RAM card? 0 Yes 0 No P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556 USA d. Do you have an external disk drive? 0 Yes 0 No PLEASE NOTE: The ASK THADDEUS! Technical Help Service is designed to help you get the most out e. Subscribers Disk successfully installed? 0 Yes 0 No of your HP 95LX Palmtop PC. The information we provide is advisory only and is correct to the best of our knowledge . Thaddeus Computing, Inc. is not responsible for any loss of data. time, or money. or for any 2. About yourself: (Circle one) Novice Intermediate user Advanced user expense whatsoever resulting from the use or implementation of our services. Any outcomes from use or non·use of our suggestions are the sole responsibility of the recipient. You've read it in print now get it on diskl The UP Palmtop Paper ON DISK: 5 great benefits even the printed version doesn't have!
Now you can receive The HP Palmtop cost of equivalent commercial programs. Paper ON DISK with every printed issue. 2. We are unable to support you in using Here are the benefits: The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK software. 1. Locate items of interest fast 3. Saves you time and money Each issue of The HP Palmtop Paper ON Dozens of man-hours go into collecting, DISK contains the entire editorial content of organizing, modifying, and documenting the the corresponding printed issue. The text is programs in each HP Palmtop Paper ON stored in ASCII format, and is readable by DISK Having the disks saves you the time any word processor. and expense of doing all this work yourself. To locate an item of interest, just do an TREMENDOUS VALUE! automated search for any keyword. The 4. In-depth descriptions of Each issue of The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK contains the information you're looking for will appear complete editorial content of the printed issue, descriptions of advertised products advertised products, and virtually all the freeware and on your screen instantly. Each issue of The HP Palmtop Paper ON shareware mentioned in the issue. But fast access to items of interest is only DISK also includes detailed descriptions of To give you an idea of the tremendous value this the beginning, because you also get: represents, here are just a few of the hi~hlights of the software some of the products advertised or listed in included in recent issues of f he Hp pa mtop paper ON DISK: 2. Access to almost every freeware the printed issue. This helps you learn more Instructions and utilities for accessing all programs are about products of interest without having to included on each disk. and shareware program mentioned call the manufacturer. in the printed issue WORD PROCESSING That's right - virtually every freeware and 5. It costs so little! VDE: Compact, powerful text editor - a great alternative to shareware program mentioned in each The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK consists MEMO. printed issue is included in the of 2-4 360K floppy disks that you will receive VDE-LX.ZIP: Makes VDE work like WordPerfect. corresponding HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK, along with each printed issue of your regular along with documentation. subscription to the newsletter. (The HP COMMUNICATIONS These programs are useful! Many of them Palmtop Paper ON DISK does not include COMMO.ZIP: Full-featured communications program - have been written or specially adapted just printed issues.). richer scripting language than the 95LX's built-in program for the HP 95LX. A year's subscription to The HP Palmtop - easier to automate your activities. To give you an idea just how useful these Paper ON DISK (6 issues) is just $139. UTILITIES programs can be, we've summarized the Shipping is included for North American contents of recent issues - see box at right. 95BUDDY: Lets you launch an application by selecting its data customers. file in FILER, change default directories, and more. Please note: That's less than $24 per set of disks. It's a l. If you decide to use a shareware great buy even if you only use one program OUTLINE PLUS: Outliner and text editor. program, you are required to pay the per disk! LOADMAKER: Run EXE, COM, or BAT files while in a built-in shareware author his fee. Fees usually Individual issues of The HP Palmtop Paper application. range from $5 to $45 - a fraction of the ON DISK are $33 within North America so a FINISH ZIP: Completes word after you type first few letters. year's subscription saves you $92. ~'; 3"8 ATO: Automates CompuServe activities. Allows you to perform ...------, ou can Itlonal~by functions off-line, saving you line charges. FREE BONUS! subscribing for two ears for~rI- "f<1 GAMES / ENTERTAINMENT Each 1992 subscription to The HP Palmtop Paper ON OISK Satisfaction guaranteed! 'fI t includes Issue #1 (Fall 1991 ) - absolutely FREE! AG.ZIP: Chess and Space Invaders (good graphics). If you have already purchased Issue #1, you may deduct $33 Should you ever become dissatisfied from the price of your 1-year or 2-year subscription. (Outside with The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK, KLONDIKE: 7 pile game of Klondike Solitaire u.s. and Canada, deduct $38.) just let us know. The unused portion of DIVDSK: Checkers, Go-Moku, Tetris, Othello, Mastermind, YClur payment will be promptly refunded. Adventure, and 9 other games. Enjoy! Customers outside North America: MUS95 & SNDPLAY: Music, quotes, sounds on the 95LX. Please add 530 shipping for a one-year subscription, $60 for two TO SUBSCRIBE Plus travel organizer, language compilers, screen printing years. Add $5 shipping for each issue ordered individually. You may utilities, other games, and lots more! (See Issue #0, p.36, Issue pay by credrt card, check, or money order. Check or money order USE THE ENCLOSED #1 p.43, Issue #2 p.44, Issue #3, p.48, Issue #4, p.48, and must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. Issue #5, p.52 for complete listings.) Or order from one of our European distributors: (Contact them for CARD OR CALL US pricing in local currency.) TOLL-FREE: I'.IIII-ri Country E!!E!!! E!! HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH Luxembourg & (800) 373·6114 THE SUBSCRIBER DISK? Belgium (BYTECOM) +32 (0)10 223455 +32 (0)10 241730 The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK is not to be confused with the France (PalmSoft) 1.44.76.11.00 1.40.26.94.32 Thaddeus Computing, Inc. Subscriber Disk that you receive free in June with each year's Germany CN&W Prods) 0 22 02 I 42021 0 22 021 32794 P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, 1A 52556 subscription to The HP Palmtop Paper. Netherlands (ELDATA) +31(0)20 6247284 +31(0)206325111 The annual Subscriber Disk is one or two 360K floppies containing UK (Supplyline) 081-744-0022 081-744-0045 (800) 373-6114 (515) 472-6330 some of the best freeware for the HP 95LX (no Shareware) . FAX: (515) 472-1879 Creating a Cable to Connect Creating Customized Cables to a Modem or PC For The HP 95LX Every piece of hardware with a serial port needs the following mini An HP 95LX user adds an RJ·ll phone connector mum configuration in order to send and receive data: A wire for trans to the HP Serial Cable to better fit his mitting data; a wire for receiving connectivity needs. data; and a third wire for ground to establish a marking point for posi connected it to a four-prong RJ-ll tive and negative signals. The HP Phone Jacks serial cable has a white transmit add Flexibility modular phone adapter on the cut end of the HP cable. I then connect data wire, a yellow receive data wire, and a red ground wire. ed the new modular end of the HP [This information is provided for Different modems have different you to use at YOUR OWN RISK! cable to a 9-pin communications types of serial ports; either a 9-pin The procedure described involves connector (RJ-ll to male 9-pin or 25-pin male or female port. The modifying the HP serial cable (HP adapter) and attached it to a Mac HP 95LX Serial Cable already has a 2222A, also comes with the HP ronix Fax/Modem. I was operation 9-pin female connector on one end, Connectivity Pack - HP FlOOIA).] al! I also have an RJ-ll to 25-pin with the white transmit wire con male adapter for use with a Practi nect to pin 3, the yellow receive By F.P. Nagle cal Peripherals Pocket Modem. wire to pin 2, and the red ground CompuServe ID: [71140,1253J In the months I've been using wire connected to pin 7. this set up I've encountered no If you wanted to make a custom Because of the size and length of problems connecting to my cable for your modem, you would the HP serial cable and the need for home/office PC (386/33 megahertz have to cut that off and attach the a multitude of adapters (9-to-25, 25- IBM clone), a notebook PC, and appropriate serial connector to that to-9, male-to-male, female-to-female, various modems. I've successfully end. If you were to attach a 9-pin null modem, etc... ), I quickly decid connected to a Macronix Fax! male connector, you would attach the wires to the same pins as with ed that there must be a better way Modem. I've also connected to the the female 9-pin connector. If you to solve the connectivity puzzle. Practical Peripherals, Inc. Pocket Modem (PPII PM) using a non-ap were to attach the cable to a 25-pin I cut the 9-pin end off the HP RS-232 connector, you would solder cable the 2nd night I had it! The proved modification to the PPI bat tery pack. the white transmit wire to pin 2, HP cable had three wires (Red! the yellow receive wire to pin 3 and If you feel comfortable with a WhitelYellow) and a ground wrap the red ground wire to pin 7. (Don't wire wrapped around the others few cut wires, it really isn't a large confuse the insulated wires with the used to shield them from interfer task to accomplish the above. (More ground wrap, an uninsulated copper ence and act as a ground wire. (You information on modem modification wire in the cable.) can purchase an "Unterminated" can be found in PM2400.95ii or Use the above instructions if 95LX serial cable, with the end al TINYMO.95ii, two text files in Li you want to construct a cable to ready "cut off," from EduCALC for brary 6 of the HP Handheld forum connect the 95LX to a MODEM. If $12.95. See Order Information box, of CompuServe. Modification of the you want a custom cable to connect next page.) GVC Mini Modem is described in the 95LX to another PC, you'll need I used a continuity checker to GVCMOD.95ii and on page 2 of to reverse the wires connected to determine which signals were con the Fall, 1991 issue of The HP pins 2 and 3, on both the 25-pin, or nected to which wires and then Palmtop Paper.) 9-pin connector. You reverse wires when connect ing to a PC because you want to connect the Transmit data pin of Communications one computer to the Receive data Connector pin on the second computer. When HP 95LX Serial Cable RJ-11 you send your message through a Connector modem, the phone company conve niently crosses the send and receive Connects to 95LX data through its network. This is necessary even for normal phone Connects to Modem/Fax
ii On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk, Sep/Oct 92. HP 95LX Serial Cable modified with RJ-11 jack to connected to Modem GVCMOD.95 on the Fa/191 issue.
16 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 communication so that your voice, which is transmitted from the mouthpiece on one end, is HEARD on the earpiece on the other side! Stacker File Compression Software When you connect to a local PC you have to cross these wires yourselfl and the ACE DoubleCard 2.0 I hope this gives you the neces sary information to go forward, but Install Stac Electronic's Stacker and you can double the once again, BEWARE! DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK! You may invali storage capacity of your RAM Card. The ACE Double date your warranty on any products Card is a RAM card that comes with a pre-installed, you may connect to this modified ready-to-go version of Stacker for the 95LX. The Double cable. Card also lets you compress your 95LX's C drive. ACE [Frank Nagle is MIS/Telecom also offers DoubleCard 2.0 Software that easily turns munications Manager for Micro your existing RAM card into a DoubleCard. Linear, a semi-conductor manufac turer in San Jose, California, USA. By Mark Scardina Stacker is loaded before any other He is responsible for DEC VAX 6310 programs are run. It uses about equipment, Rolm phone switch and ~5K of System memory to perform a multitude of office PCs. He' uses Data compression software has been around for some time. Programs like Its file compression duties. While his 95LX for appointment schedul this is higher than DIET (see page ing, taking job-related notes, writing DIET ii , PKLITEii, and PKZlPii have been used by programmers 18, Fall 91 issue), Stacker does not memos, communicating with the require any space for temporary office and CompuServe, and data and novices alike to reduce the size of files in order for them to take up files. Once Stacker is set up, it auto communications trouble shooting.] less space on floppy or hard drive. matically compresses files saved to Files also take up less time trans the RAM card, whether you're work Order Information mitting over expensive communica ing in DOS or in the built-in appli ------tions systems. Saving file storage cations. Adapters/Connectors/Cables space is an especially important topic among 95LX owners. "Mounting" Stacker 4-prong RJ-11 'hone Connec:tor Stacker creates one huge file on (package of 10) This month we will look at . . Retail (approx.) , .•• , . $1.5!).$3.00 Stacker 2.0, the most popular com your RAM card. It then fools DOS 25-pin Male Serial Connector pression product for the PC market. into thinking that this file is a sepa 25-pin female Strial Connector Stacker burst on the scene a few rate disk drive, allowing you to save 90pln Male Serial Connector short years ago and quickly set the files to and retrieve files from it. In Retan eaCh (approx.) • $1.00-$2.00 standard for hassle-free data com reality, your RAM card will have Contact Check a local $Iectronics stor~ or pression. With version 2.0's ability two files on it: STACVOL.DSK (the $Ied,t'OniCS catalog fOr ~se parts. Prices huge file mentioned above) and are In U.S. currency and WI" VaIy. to be used on removable disks, use on the 95LX finally became possible. STACKER.COM (the Stacker pro Untermfnated 9SLX Serial Cable gram that "fools" the 95LX into 4-pin 95LX plug on one end, bare Wires on thinking STACVOL.DSK is a sepa the other end. Using Stacker Retail ...... " ...... $12.95 Stacker 2.0 can only be used on the rate disk drive). STACVOL.DSK is a Contact EduCALC, 27963 Cebot R~ 95LX's RAM card (and, of course, "hidden file" that doesn't show up in Laguna .Niguel, CA 92Q77, USAi' Phone: . your PC's hard disk). Its installation Filer or with the DOS DIRectory 8(}().Q{7·7001 or 714-582-2637; Fax: 714- command. 582·1445. on the 95LX requires following a very specific procedure presented in You must "mount" Stacker in Modem$ the accompanying sidebar. Once order to have the 95LX "see" STAC Stacker is installed and "mounted" VOL.DSK as a drive. This is done by MacfC)ftix FaxlModem t6OOI9600 it becomes transparent (more o~ executing the following command Retail . .. • .. • • .... • . .... $399 from the DOS prompt: Contact; Macron/x, 1344 Ridder Park Drive, "mounting" Stacker below). The San Jose. CA 95131/ USA; Phone; 408- user simply saves a file to or re stacker a: 453-8088; Fax: 408453-8488. trieves it from the "Stac'd" RAM This command can be placed in your Pocket Modem ("IIMI) card and Stacker takes care of the Available In USA and Canada only. rest. Typical users can effectively ~UTOEXEC.BAT file so that every Retan • ~ • • • • •• • . • • • • • • .• $159 double their RAM card space with tIme you reboot the 95LX, Stacker is Contact: Practical Peripherals, 375 Conejo no discernible performance penalty. mounted. NOTE: You must remount Ridge Ave., Thousands Oaks, CA 91361, Stacker after inserting each addi USA; Phone 8OQ.4424774 or 8(}5497~ tional RAM card. Ii DIET on the 92 Subscribers Disk. Once your card is mounted you On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk can view the contents of STACVOL PKLlTE (PKL103.ZIP) on the Jan/Feb 92 issue. PKZIP (PKZ110.EXE) on the Mar/Apr 92 issue. .DSK as a normal looking disk drive
SEPrEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 17 DOS CONNECTION: Stacker file structure. From FILER press ~ major impact on the "average" com your Stac'd drive on a 512K card. I (GoTo) A:\ IENTER'. If you have un pression ratio, and thus the space recommend against keeping STACK compressed files on your RAM card available report. For example, you ER.COM on the 95LX's C drive. If (i.e. files in addition to could reduce the "bytes free" some STACKER.COM gets corrupted, STACKER.COM and STACVOL.DSK) 200K by storing a 50K file that had which is always possible on the C you can view these by pressing ~ low compressibility. More surpris drive, you will lose access to your A B:\ IENTER'. ing, you could store a highly com drive until you can download a pressible worksheet and actually fresh copy of STACKER.COM. The Compression Effectiveness increase the "bytes free" report. small savings in disk space is not Different file types cannot be com Stacker does provide a utility called worth it. pressed equally. Executable files SDIR. EXE , which reports the com Stacker is a good choice on 1MB such as .COM and .EXE files have pression ratio of each file. However, or greater cards. On 512K cards it's compression ratios that range from the bottom line is that you will 1.5:1 to 1.8:1. (For example, a ratio never know precisely the amount of of 1.5:1 means a 15K file would be remaining disk space until you Installing Stacker 2.0 on compressed to 10K.) Lotus .WK1 actually use it. While this may the A Drive (RAM Card) files range from 3:1 to 8:1. These appear as a dilemma, let me outline variations make the exact determi a strategy that I have used success fully for the last 8 months. 1. With MEMO, create or edit a file named nation of space remaining in your C:\CONFIG.SYS. Add the following lines to Stacker drive impossible. File Storage Strategy I When the file (remember the space before each When the drive is first created, Or): Stacker is optimistically told to to Use Stacker anticipate an average compression The first point to remember is that DEVlCE=A:\STACKER.COM IM=O @ ratio of 3:1. This is higher than data files, your most irreplaceable SHELL=C:\COMMAND.COM IP most people get, but it insures that files, are also your most compress ible. Since the A drive is much safer there are a large number of entries 2. With MEMO, create or edit a file named in Stacker's file table in case some than the C drive, it makes sense to one happens to keep a large number use the A drive for your data stor C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT. Add the follOwing of small files on their card. If you age. This maximizes RAM card use lines: have a 1MB card, you can test this while affording the greatest level of ECHO OFF by running chkdsk a: from the DOS protection. Secondly, remember that PROMPT$P$G prompt. It will report that you have executable files are easily replaced PATH=C:\jC:lOATjA:\ 3MB of free space. Again, this is and have the least compressibility. A:\STACKER.COM A: based on an overly optimistic com Therefore, placing as many as possi ECHO Press CTRL-C to go to DOS pression ratio. Don't believe it, and ble on C drive makes the most ECHO Press any key to go to SYSMGR do not use Chkdsk on a Stac'd RAM sense. This is where DIET or PK PAUSE>NUL card again for checking free space. LITE can be used in stand-alone $SYSMGR form to compress your COM and Stacker provides SCHECK.EXE for 3. Temporarily clear enough space on your this purpose. EXE files befbre placing them on C drive. Finally, you should not overly 95LX's C drive to have 105K free with at Stacker Gives Approximations concern yourself with the reported least 300K of system RAM. .of Storage Space Remaining free space until you are within 4. Copy from your PC to C:\ the follOwing Once you start saving files onto lOOK of your remaining disk space. Stacker 2.0 files: SCREATE.COM, your Stac'd RAM card, you may At this point the space left will be SCREXEC.EXE, SCREXEC2.EXE. observe some unusual reports by more closely approximated by the the DOS DIRectory command, or DIRectory and File Status reports 5. Back up all of your A drive files and then format the RAM card by pressing I < ShHf> • FILER's I MENU, Directory Status described above. Do not try to save command. Your "bytes remaining on files to your very last byte. Stacker ~Format~. disk" figure may decrease in incre keeps an 8K buffer in case you alter a file that it previously had stored. 6. Copy the Stacker 2.0 file STACKER.COM ments not directly related to the to your A drive. size of the file stored. It may even Stacker's operation is internally go up when you add a file and down complex in order that it may be 7. Press~~ALT'~toreboot.Atthe when deleting one! transparent to you. In my opinion, prompt press ~-C and Y to go to the These unusual reports are due the decision on whether to use it is DOS prompt. to the fact that Stacker can only based on two factors: The size of guess the compressibility offiles you your RAM card and the type of files 8. Enter SCREATE A; 1r=3 1c=4 to create have not yet stored. It does this by you store on it. Since Stacker re Stacker's hidden disk file on your RAM looking at the average compression quires that you have STACKER.COM card. A message will appear indicating ratio of files already stored and (44K) on the RAM card, it doesn't success. make sense to me to use it on 128K using that figure to compute an 9. Press ~-I!E!)~ to reboot and go anticipated free space figure. If you or 256K cards. You can use DIET version 1.4 to further reduce the to SYSMGR and you will now have a only have a few files on your disk, Stacked A drive. adding or deleting a file can have a size ofSTACKER.COM to about 30K. This would leave 482K available for
18 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 Technologies recently released the Stac'd files. There appear to be two Intellilink DoubleCard 2.0, a RAM card with a limitations with using this configu proprietary version of Stacker that ration. Once created, you may no Not Just File "auto-mounts" whenever the card is longer partition the C drive without inserted. In addition, DoubleCard destroying the G drive. Also, the G Transfer 2.0 comes with a program that lets drive may not have an APNAME you Stac the C drive and password .LST file. Data Translation protect the RAM card. The real beauty of using the & ACE has also released the DoubleCard is that it is truly "plug DoubleCard 2.0 Software to turn n-play." You can freely mix ROM Reconci I iation existing RAM cards into Double and regular RAM cards, and the Cards and allow users to create DoubleCard always auto-mounts. A Stac'd C drives. 4MB card with a 1MB G drive pro HP Connectivity DOS Windows 3.x The DoubleCard comes in four vides a whopping 5MB of storage on Pack "Add-In" sizes, 1MB, 2MB, 3MB, and 4MB. the 95LX! $69.95 $99.95 $99.95 These are the effective file storage sizes. Their physical size is half [Mark uses his 95LX for PIM, E Sidekick 2.0 Pack Rat their stated size. Simply insert the mail, entertainment, and program Word Perfect Office Current DoubleCard, reboot your 95LX, and ming sophisticated audio / video dBase Excel you have a Stac'd A drive. systems. Mark is the new father of Paradox Word for A DoubleCard puts files you twin boys (congratulations Mark Calendar Creator Windows don't want to compress on the "B" and Lydia, welcome to the world ACT! 1-2-3 for drive, a non-Stac'd portion of the Thomas Alexander and Peter Nicho Windows RAM card. Of particular note: The las Scardina!). Mark is a computer CONFIG.SYS file resides on the consultant based in San Francisco, unStac'd B drive, while the AUTO specializing in palmtop-based appli IntelliLink, Inc. EXEC.BAT file must be placed in the cations. He can be reached at 415- 98 Spitbrook Rd., Suite 12 Stac'd A drive. Any program called 681-9672 or CIS ID: [76711, 732J for Nashua, NH 03062 from the CONFIG.SYS must also commercial projects.] Tel, (603) 1188-06~ Fax: (603) 888-9817 reside on the B or C drives. The inquisitive among you may Order Information ~- wonder about the unusual locations of the startup files. When the 95LX Stacker 2.0 is booted up, DOS first goes to the Data compression software that can double a good choice as long as you don't un-Stac'd A drive and finds the the amount of data you can store on your store too many executable files on CONFIG.SYS file. It loads the pro hard drive. the card. A 50:50 mix of data and grams into memory and goes to the Retail: ...... •.. . ..• $149 executable files will probably deliver C drive to launch COMMAND.COM. CONTACT: Stac Electronics, 5993 Avenida good performance. When Stacker comes back to look Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA; Phone: A COM or EXE file can be com for your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, it has 800-522-7822 or 619-431-7474; Fax: 619- pressed an additional 10% of its already "auto-mounted," so the HP 431-0880. original size by using DIET to com 95LX finds and executes your press the file prior to saving it on a AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the Stac'd DoubleCard 2.0 RAM Memory Cards Stac'd A drive. For example, an 80K portion of the RAM card on the A DoubleCard uses Stacker data compression file saved to a Stac'd disk takes up drive. UnStac'd files on the RAM software to provide users twice the capacity 60K of disk space. If you DIET the of a standard memory, and allows users to card, such as CONFIG.SYS, are now compress their internal RAM disk. file first and then save it to your found on the B drive. Stac'd disk, it takes up only 52K. If you frequently reboot without DoubleCard 1MB ...... $199 This is 8K less than if the file were a card, you can keep a second set of DoubleCard 2MB ...... $329 only Stac'd (10% of the original file DoubleCard 3MB ...... $379 startup files on C:\, which will only DoubleCard 4MB . .. .•...... $529 size of 80K). Stacker reports com be read if a card is not present pression of DIETed files as having a when you reboot. DoubleCard 2.0 Software 1:1 compression ratio. Because of Creating a Stac'd C drive (or a Turns your existing RAM card into a this, your average ratio, and there Stac'd A drive if you purchase the DoubleCard. fore "space remaining," is reduced. DoubleCard software) is easy using Retail ...... $99 the DoubleCard's automatic instal Upgrade an existing ACE RAM Card ACE DoubleCard 2.0 lation program. You simply place (without the DoubleCard Software and DoubleCard 2.0 Software HPDC.EXE and DCFMT.EXE on your on it) to a DoubJeCard 2.0 • . • • • . .. $89 Stacker 2.0 has two drawbacks. card and run HPDC. HPDC creates First of all, you can't use it for files a G drive along with your normal, CONTACT: ACE Technologies, Inc., 2880 on C drive. Second of all, it must be now smaller, C drive. In other Zanker Road, San Jose, CA 95134, USA; "mounted" (i.e. you must go to DOS words, C now contains the unStac'd Phone: 800-825-9977 or 408-428-9722; and enter stacker a:) every time a (uncompressed) files, and a portion Fax: 408-428-9721. different Memory card is used. ACE of the original C drive contains the
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 19 ----~~- -- ~- -. -- ~ - - --~~...... ~~-,~rJ. "'t"~ , DOS CONNECTION: Lotus Ag'enda ~,1 , ...... ~ - Lotus Agenda on the HP 95LX HP 95LX Palmtop Software Agenda lets you enter random information and Pocket reorganize it later. This article tells you how to set it up Sales Force! and enhance its performance on the HP 95LX. A powerful, flexible and interactive database program. By David Hamachek SHELL=COMMAND 1E:512 IP Simple to use, Pocket Sales Force will BUFFERS=8 instantly control and plan the vital areas Lotus Agenda has unique capabili of sales activity, lead and enquiry main You will also need another file tenance, contact follow-up dates, letters ties for text data base management. called A: \AGENDA.BAT that has the and mailshots. Improves customer ser It allows you to enter random infor following lines: vicing, reporting and strategic marketing. mation now, and reorganize it as • 20 fully user-defmable fields, plus you desire at a later time. Agenda is DISPCTL-C full contact history. a program that may be personalized A: • Sophisticated single- and multiple to meet individual needs, but the CD\AGENDA criteria search filters. amount of time needed to personal AGENDA A:\AGENDA\PLANNER.AG • Hot-key access, compliant with 95LX DISPCTL+C built-in applications. ize it is not insignificant. Fortunate CD\ • Lotus 1-2-3 interface. ly, Agenda is adequate for most Available Now! needs without this effort. These three files can be created in MEMO. TO ORDER, or for more information, System Memory Despite the fact that expanded contact: Agenda requires at least 435K of memory will speed up Agenda on eM Software System RAM to operate on the desktop machines, do not use an Business Unit 1 95LX. The more available, the faster EMS simulator on the 95LX. The 33 Sandford Road, Littlemore it runs. A 1MB 95LX is necessary to simulator just adds one more disk Oxford, OX4 4XT, u.K. prevent Agenda from being intolera read and write operation in memory Tel: (+44) 865 748875 bly sluggish (Agenda loads three that is no faster than the 95LX Fax: (+44) 865 748873 times faster on a 1MB 95LX than on RAM, and actually slows Agenda a 512K machine). System RAM down. (On a desktop machine, in should be set to 626K, and Agenda contrast, read and write operations change Views when Stacker is used. should be run from DOS (not from are much faster to EMS than they The first three files mentioned the $SYSMGR shelled to DOS) with are to the hard disk.) above require 834K uncompressed, out any large TSR programs loaded and 569K after being compressed - in other words, you must create or RAM Card Memory with Stacker. modify a file called A:\AUTOEXEC and File Compression In addition, you need room for .BAT. This file must contain the You will need the following files in your .AG file (say 125K uncompres following lines: your A:\AGENDA directory: A.EXE, sed, or 70K compressed). Agenda PROMPT=$p$g AGENDA.EXE, AGENDA.RI, and also needs roughly lOOK for tempo PATH=C:\;C:'-DAT;C:'-SYS;A:\ PLANNER.AG (or XXX.AG if you've rary files. A total of 1,059K uncom PAUSE Press Ctrl-C to DOS without TSRs renamed Planner). pressed or 739K compressed (not REM load TSRs here (Actually, AGENDA.EXE is op counting Stacker). You should also $SYSMGR tional, but it allows you to shell to consider including AG_CHK.EXE DOS. The AGENDA.EXE file con and AG_CHK.RI - these files allow Each time you want to start Agenda sumes very little room compared to periodic checking and repair of (and again when you've exited the other files.) minor data base file damage, simi Agenda), save any open files, then Because Agenda uses overlays, lar to using DOS's Chkdsk (but at a press fE!!!9-~-1 DEq to reboot your PkLite cannot be used to reduce the cost of an additional 61K of disk machine. At the prompt, press disk space required. DIET ii does space uncompressed or 43K com ~-C, V, AGENDA and I ENTER I if you not make any sense for file compres pressed). want to run Agenda. Press any sion, because it needs unused disk other key at the prompt to start the space at least as large as the largest Performance Enhancement built-in 95LX applications. uncompressed file (in this case, Open your .AG file in Agenda, and You must also create or modify 662K) - this requirement more than select IF101 (Menu). Then press File a file called A:\CONFIG.SYS so that offsets any compression savings. it has the following lines (make sure Stacker does offer some space you have a blank space before IE savings, but it takes twice as long to and IP): load Agenda and 20% longer to iii On the 1992 HP Palmtop Paper Subscribers Disk.
20 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 Properties, highlight Auto-assign set against all items and all assign ings or revisions to existing entries. tings and press I
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 21 • The size and weight of the 95LX On the Road and Around the World make it an ideal travel com panion. I always carry 4 spare This International Sales and Marketing Manager traded batteries, but even with these, in his notebook computer for a 95LX. He uses the weight is no problem. Palmtop to track expenses, write client reports, keep • All countries sell the AA bat confidential price lists, record /light and meeting teries, so I never have any wor schedules, and keep customer information. ries about running short. I carry the extra 4 batteries merely as a convenience for the long plane By Phillip Simpson trips. As a precaution, and to test my real battery usage, I Trials of Traveling have a plain label inside my I am the International Sales and battery cover and record when Marketing Manager at Trace in ever I change batteries. I usual Melbourne, Australia, and as such, ly change the batteries at the I am required to travel overseas. 25% level. Even on a busy trip Over the years, I have used Lotus the batteries last 2-3 weeks. for pricing and cost calculations, • With the size of the 95LX I no budget forecasts, etc. When laptop longer have any security wor computers arrived, I thought all my ries. In the evening when I go dreams had come true. I have used out for dinner I can either take the Compaq SLT 286 (laptop) and the 95LX with me in a jacket the Compaq LTE 286 (notebook), pocket or check it into the hotel both of which, have proved excel safety deposit box along with lent, though heavy, workhorses. my passport, tickets, traveler's However, I have discovered a Phillip Simpson checks, etc. number of limitations with these • The value of the 95LX means computers. First of all, even the quently exported. Such a procedure that it is now covered by my adds about one hour to customs LTE notebook seems to become normal travel insurance. The increasingly heavy on a long trip. clearance. If your computer is lost money saved has been ear or stolen in India, you not only lose Extra batteries and AC Adapter marked for other 95LX accesso compound this problem. Secondly, the machine and data, but you have ries, naturally. to pay 150% of its declared pur these devices are large and visible • The cost of the 95LX is such chase price' when you leave the enough so that security becomes a that it doesn't need to be for major consideration when traveling. country. mally imported/exported into One final problem I've had with If I lose the computer I lose more such countries as India. than a piece of hardware; I lose international travel has been in precious data (everything since the accurately tracking expenses. It is last backup). Very few hotels have not unusual to visit 8-10 countries Tracking Expenses security boxes large enough to take in a 21 day trip, so I need to track I have now completed the design of even a Notebook computer. In addi expenses in 8-10 currencies. Previ a spreadsheet for the 95LX that tion, I discovered that most stan ously this was all done with pains enables me to maintain accurate taking paperwork in a diary. I even dard travel insurance doesn't in expense records in 10 separate cur clude electrical equipment with a tually transferred this laborious rencies, plus my domestic currency. task to a spreadsheet. value greater than about $2000. The spreadsheet also converts ex This meant I had to purchase addi penditures back to my domestic cur tional insurance just for the SLT or Enter the HP 95LX rency, which helps me check on spending patterns (EXPENSES.ZIP LTE for $500 - approximately the In August, 1991, I purchased my All expenses ·are entered a se same cost as my regular global 95LX and have taken it on two ii). quential receipt number is given by insurance. lengthy overseas trips. Never again the spreadsheet. I enter that num A third problem I've discovered will I need to take any other com ber on the receipt and then store is India, which imposes a high im puter with me. The 95LX met all port duty (about 150%) on comput my basic requirements, plus ad ers of this value. A computer must dressed some of the above problems: Ii On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk, Sep.{)ct 92. be formally imported and subse-
22 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 the receipt in a large envelope. turning to my office. graphics program for the 95LX. Basic details about the transaction It's great to have MEMO in Another problem I've noticed are entered along with the currency. your pocket, ready to go at a mo with APPT is that my .APT files The conversion to domestic currency ments notice. I now prepare the grow very rapidly. Every week now is automatically made. As these con basis of my monthly report in "real I use the HP Connectivity Pack to versions are made, a total of all time." When something significant Merge my current Appointment expenses in domestic currency is happens, I retrieve my current Book with a backup copy I have on made at the top of the spreadsheet. monthly file and update it. At the my notebook computer's hard disk. Australian taxation laws and end of the month, I give a copy of I am building a comprehensive the policy of my company requires the file to my secretary, who again Calendar Year diary on the hard the dissection of expenses into a checks spelling and syntax, and disk of my notebook computer. It is number of categories (e.g. travel, then formats the report accordingly. very easy and quick to search this meal, accommodation, etc). I have Once again, productivity is im for notes and appointments using therefore included columns for these proved for both of us. the Find feature of the Connectivity categories and am able to dissect Kit's PC version of Appointment the expenses as I enter them into Appointment Book Book. I then use APPT's Remove the spreadsheet. vs. a Paper Diary function to discard appointments On my last trip, I was away for One of the benefits I find using a and to-dos every 6-8 weeks. 30 days, visited 12 cities, and en written diary is that it's very easy tered 132 separate items. By the to jot down notes and appointments Using Other 95LX Features end of the trip, the file was about during phone calls or meetings. A While traveling I use all features of 57K and still small enough to easily written diary not only gives me a the 95LX. I use APPT to record fit on the C Drive. File saving took permanent record of appointments, about 9 seconds, but that inconve it also gives me the freedom to jot nience is minor compared to the down "mental doodles" (graphic amount of data captured and the representations of my ideas). Be ii On the 1992 HP Palmtop Paper Subscribers Disk. improvement in productivity pro cause it's not easy to doodle on the duced by the spreadsheet. 95LX, making a total switch from a When I arrived back from the hard diary to an electronic diary is PALM REFERENCE trip, I transfered the file to my requiring some effort. LTE286, enlarged a few of the col For the last seven years I have umns, and then printed out an been using the Danish TIME Sys PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL expense report, accurate to within tem. I like its integrated Time Man PROFESSIONALS 50 cents. ager that supports the creation of doodles and · diagrams. My job in Using MEMO for Reports International Sales requires the use On my last trip, I prepared daily of such graphics to convey concepts client reports using MEMO. Each across language barriers. client had on average about 112-3/4 Although the 95LX's Appoint of a page of writing. Although some ment Book has an excellent Time people wonder how an adult can use Manager, it lacks graphic capabili such a small keyboard, I had no ties. One of the first problems I had NeE-Take difficulties adapting to it. with APPT was that it didn't graph control of yo d': references Daily updating of client reports ically display a whole week's worth today for only: required discipline, but was well of appointments at one glance. This 01_ $95 (disk version) worth the effort. When I returned was solved by Ehood Baratz's excel t $149 (ROM version) home, I transferred my MEMO file lent utility (WEEKABK Ii). To order, call or FAX to the LTE 286, and gave the file to But I still can't doodle on the my secretary. She retrieved it into 95LX, so I carry a small Spiral WordPerfect 5.1, corrected spelling notebook along with the 95LX. On it mistakes and syntax errors, and I draw, doodle, and write down little then adjusted the document to a throw-away notes (the kind of non standard company format. Instead permanent information I don't want of spending hours on the client (714) 850-1767 • FAX (714) 850-0843 to store on the 95LX). It's not a 3001 Red Hill Ave. Bldg. 4 Ste. 213 report, I had the 16 page document perfect solution, but it works. May Costa Mesa, CA 92626 completed within 30 minutes of re- be somebody should develop a little
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 23 DOS CONNECTION: Lotus Agenda flights, meetings and appointments. always be part of my travels. are used all around the world to I use APPI"s Note facility to high [Originally from New Zealand, assist clinicians in their diagnosis light key points for each event. Phillip Simpson now lives in Mel by prdviding high-quality and accu I use PHONE to keep customer bourne, Australia, with his wife Jill rate biochemical test results. information (phone numbers, fax and two young boys, Mark who is 5 A long-time computer user, his numbers, addresses, and any special and David who is 3. Phillip worked first computer being a Commodore information like the name of their in the diagnostic segment of the Vic20, Phillip is a committed Lotus- secretary etc). Health Care Industry for approxi 1-2-3 convert. Other hobbies include I use LOTUS for customer pric mately 15 years and is now employ water skiing, power boating, and ing files. This enables me to accu ed by Trace Scientific as their Inter 4WD (off road). He is currently re rately quote prices in the field be national Sales and Marketing Man building an old 1970 Series IIA cause I can carry accurate costing ager. As such, he travels to most Land Rover.} details. The password protection parts of the world to visit new and system on the 95LX (plus password current customers. Trace's products in Lotus) gives me the confidence to take such , sensitive information outside the office. If I must attend to the needs of nature partway through a meeting, I can always take the 95LX with me anyway.
Additions and Improvements I have now added a 512K RAM Card to my 95LX so that I can have backups of all my critical data. After all, who wants to loose an expense report before it is submit ted? I am also considering the pur chase of a stand-alone serial disk drive like the Sparcom Drive95. This will not only let me to carry more data on an inexpensive 1.44 MB disk, but will enable me to do a total backup of data while traveling. The addition of Drive95 will also let The Personal Food Analyst, the first professional level nutritional software for me transfer files/data to another the consumer, is now available for demonstration on video cassette computer via the 1.44MB disk. This absolutely FREE, no obligation. Order the software with the video, and you can might come in handy if I needed to print out some pricing information, try it FREE for 30 days. The Personal Food Analyst software is designed but the only printer available was exclusively for the HP95 and the video is deSigned to show you exactly how the parallel, and connected to a clients software can contribute to a healthier lifestyle. You'll see how the built-in desktop PC. (See page 17 for more database of over 4,000 foods and 27 nutrients can help you analyze your daily on Drive95.) food intake and improve your eating habits. The Personal Food Analyst also displays the nutritional and caloric values of your food intake throughout the Conclusion day - numerically or graphically - and compares it to dietary goals created In conclusion, I have found the HP specifically for you based on your personal profile. 95LX an invaluable tool for anyone who is traveling on business, in Let us show you a healthier lifestyle for you and volved in sales, or involved in the your family. Call us today. management of data or ideas out side the office. I expect to find and 800.732.7707 learn of even more ways to improve or 7l9.598.5276 my productivity using my 95LX. One thing is certain, just as I al MIRIOA;. L CORPORATION ways need a passport and credit cards on a trip, so will the 95LX
24 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 SELECTING THE PROTOCOL HP News When information gets transferred between computers via a modem, HP is decreasing the price of the 512K 95LX.. The rest of both computers must agree on what this article looks at the HP 95LX.'s built-in COMM the data that comes across the program and the meaning of various settings. It then phone lines means. All information that gets transferred between com shows how to connect two 95LX's via modem. puters gets transferred as a series of 1's and O's. These l's and O's The chart lists the parameter in the make up the content of what is By HP Palmtop Support being transferred and the punctua COMM config screen, followed by an tion. The punctuation is necessary example setting (the setting neces From the Factory so the l's and O~ can be properly sary to log onto CompuServe), fol encoded and decoded on each end. Price Decrease for 512K 95LX lowed by an explanation. The set of rules defining the punctu The retail price for the 512K unit, ation is called the "protocol". in the USA as of Sept 1, 1992 is PARA· SAMPLE Explanation METER SETTING The HP 95LX COMM program $550. The 1MB 95LX will remain at Port: supports two common protocols $799. Some others countries have Interface1 (Com1) this is the only wire serial port supported by many communications reduced HP 95LX prices. Interna on the 9SLX. packages: XMODEM and KERMIT. tional users should check with local Baud 3 (2400) this assumes your current mo sales office. dem operates at 2400 baud. Stop 1 stop bit is sufficient. 2 stop bits KERMIT might be used to slow down Kermit is one of two protocols built Using The 95LX COMM transmission. The start bit is Program -in to the 95LX to facilitate the automatic. transfer of files. Press IMENU I Trans Parity Even Bit used for error checking. This CONFIGURING COMM setting matches that used by fer Kermit Options. You will see only The HP 95LX user can use built-in Compuserve. two Kermit Options to configure: COMM with a modem and phone Char 7 This will provide for the lower 128 chars. File binary or text will be chosen depending on line to communicate with other the type of file being transferred. (during computers. A COMM user can send Dial: binary transmission, configure for 8 bit char, no parity) (upload) or receive (download) files Type Tone Pulse will also work with touch· from a remote computer across the ·tone phones but tone will not Block this is a type of Checksum scheme where you basically can't go wrong. country or even across the world. work with rotary phones. He can leave electronic mail or even Number xxxxxxxx This is the phone number. carry on a conversation with a user XMODEM at the other computer. Terminal: The Xmodem protocol requires 8 bit Emulation VT100" This is most appropriate for the characters, no parity in the Settings The challenge in data communi 9SLX on Compuserve. cations is to make sure the comput Wrap On" Readability is enhanced when Config screen. Other settings must ers on both ends of the phone line long lines are wrapped at 40 match the configuration of the host are speaking the same language. character increments. device. There is no Option menu for That is, both computers (and their Bcksp. Bcksp. It is a matter of choice whether Xmodem; Send and Receive are the you want the cursor to delete as only choices. modems) must know the speed it backs up or simply to back· (baud rate) data is being transmit space. ted, according to what rules (proto 95LX.-to-95LX Communication col). Other: with Modems To understand the following Echo Disable Echo enabled may cause your For each HP 95LX. you need: an HP chart, in COMM press IMENUI Set entries to appear twice on the display (this does not affect 82222A Serial interface cable, HP tings Config and you will see the communication with Compu· 82224-80003 modem adapter, a following screen: serve). modem, access to an analog phone Duplex Full Full duplex provides for simulta· line (not necessary when using neous two-way communication. acoustic interface). Flow XON·XOFF Enabling both means of flow ENQ·ACK control assures the most trouble The simplest communication free data exchange possible on between two 95LX's gives you effec the 9SLX. tively the equivalent of two cans Some CompuServe users report these settings connected with a string. The rules better left OFF. for this arrangement are few:
Press I MENU I Settings Save to save • Baud, char, and parity must be the same on both machines. settings. Retrieve them with the COMM Configuration Screen • Echo enabled allows the user to see what is being I MENU I Settings Use command. typed.
SEPrEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 25 • o U I DataExchange ~ Macintosh Connectivity Kit - Link the HP 95LX to the Macintosh - Easy file transfer HP 95LX H Mac - Phone and appointment file conversion - HP 95LX System Manager compliant - System 6 and 7 compatible -Includes software, cable and manual Connectivi Feature-Adde Manager lor the HP 95lX All the features I - Master the art of public speaking -Sparcom Co - Automate your presentations (No need to purchas - Stay organized, on-time and to the point - Serial-pC! - Utilize over 100 famous quotes (Connect the HP -Includes Making an Impact - Easily transfer files and api
Communica1 The ULTIMATE 91 In( .' -I'I"'~ - Checkers -Tetris -2400 baud Backgammon -Invaders - Serial -nnnIIl:aPlIl1 - Challenge the 95 or an opponent - Best graphics available - MuHiple skill levels fIf~lII __ Sparcom Corporation • a97 NW Grant Ave • Corvallis, OR Ins areom. Station95 ™ Ram Cards Docking Station lor the HP 95LK • Highest quality available· • Contemporary design • Increase memory • AC power to the HP 95LX • Exceeds PCMCIA specifications • Instant connection to your PC or Mac system performance • Strong, compact, lightweight 256K .... $~ .. $159 512K .... ~ .. $239 1MB .... ~ .. $359 2MB ... .$m .. $629 ty Station95" Docking Station Drive95™ i the Station95 plus: nectivity Software 31/211 Portable Disk Drive separate connectivity Pac) • Rechargable batteries allel converter • Low-cost memory option 15LX to ANY printer) • Transfer files between your lications: HP 95LX ~ PC or Mac HP 95LX and your PC • Works with PCs and laptops ion Slation95 TN Jk'~t---BaSiC lX Docking Station • Create your own custom applications udes: • Easy to use,programming language m • Parallel printing port • Generate HP 95LX System Manager I· AC power adapter compliant progra'ms ~ity software • Portability - program anywhere • Powerful graphics functions
1doI~11I1iI13I.-ro-8418 O· (503) 757-8416. FAX (503) 753-7821 • CompuSem 75320,2440 or inquiries welcome. News from HP
No other settings will influence this simple mode of communication. Use the I MENU I Settings Config command to make/select the matching param EduCALC eters. Connect both HP 95LX's to the Your #1 connection for modem and phone line. On the receiving HP 95LX press I MENU I HP 95LX accessories! Connect. Now type ATA (in caps). EduCALC has everything you This puts the receiving HP 95LX in need for your HP 95LX. auto answer mode. Whether it's a double RAM On the dialing HP 95LX press card, the latest software, I MENU I Connect. Now type in caps: disk drive, or a carrying ATDT# where # is the phone number case for your 95, you'li see for the receiving unit. After the it in the EduCALC catalog. All command to call the other modem is products at Deep Discount issued, the response on each should be: Prices. And in our catalog, you'li see the latest from caller ...... connect 2400 suppliers featured in The receiver ...... ring ...... connect 2400 HP Palmtop Paper: IIObalink F'in- HEWLETT At this point, any keystrokes from ~~ PACKARD _ either machine will be displayed on l~ FREE Catalog the other. With Echo enabled, users ACT!· will have their keystrokes displayed po. THI HP 9SLX on their screen also. IIII (Zgloft Warehoule
FILE TRANSFER L ~ ~@ ~ To transfer files between 95LX's, the Sparcom'" ACE Technologies, Inc. configurations must match each DATABDDK I other. TEXT transfer is the simplest EE EduCALC means of transferring files. From ~~ 27953 Cabot Rd. COMM type IMENUI Transfer Text tiE cfiAYAIR Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Options. Char must be set for 8-bit (800) 677-7001 EXT. 102 data in this mode. Throttling = 0 CP I tjq ~ (714)582-2637 .=.I .• 1IIIii:- FAX (714) 582-1445 and Pacing = None (default) is the simplest configuration to use. Refer to the user's manual for variations to these options. board activity or TEXT transmis and all incoming data will be saved To send a text (.TXT) file from sions, use the Datacomm CAPTURE to the file until ~-~ is again one 95LX to another, select from the feature. To initiate a capture from pressed, closing the file. The Data files displayed after pressing the within Datacomm, press and hold comm configuration menu provides sequence: IMENUI Transfer Text Send. ~ until the menu appears. Press three options for the Capture fea Transmission is virtually instanta and release ~ (Capture) and the ture. The None setting captures all neous. The file will appear directly on the screen of the receiving unit. display will prompt: data, refer to the manual for details If the file cannot be fully viewed in on Filter and Map. the screen, use the cursor movement Save incoming data as: XMODEM and KERMIT are arrows to scroll the display as nec C:\_DAn*.CAP similarly straightforward. XMODEM essary. has no options, KERMIT has a few. Any existing capture (.CAP) files Refer to previous discussion of these CAPTURING TEXT will also be displayed. Type a file two protocols, or the Owner's manu To retain data received by the 95LX name or select an existing file. The al, for specifics. in a file, whether it be simple key- display will return to Datacomm
28 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 but instead reads them first to as Alternatives to CompuServe sure that offensive messages are not posted. This delay, of 4 to 12 hours, Although far less comprehensive than CompuServe, makes it difficult to follow a conver Prodigy has an easy-to-use graphical interface and no sation. An additional limitation is access charges for PC and Mac users. America OnLine the inability to post a response to any message, other than the one also features an easy graphical interface and has just which started the subject (although started a HP 95LX forum for Mac and PC related issues. you can always post a new message that is not a reply, or reply to any message via private mail). Finally, Introduction ture of IBM and Sears. To use Prod Prodigy does not support the up igy (often abbreviated as P*), you loading or downloading of files (Pro By Hal Goldstein must have an Apple or IBM compat digy does now offer the Ziffnet ser ible computer and a modem. vice at an additional charge). I am a great fan of CompuServe and Prodigy also requires the use of Prodigy starter kits are general its HPHAND forum as a support a proprietary access program run ly available at software sources, ning in graphics mode, therefore, it vehicle for the HP 95LX. It is the including retail software vendors best source available for fast an is not possible to access Prodigy and Sears stores. You can find these from your HP 95LX. swers to perplexing problems, for kits bundled as premiums with discussions about the 95LX, and for The main advantages of Prodigy other software or hardware such as over CIS is its lack of on-line access a library of 95LX free and share modems. The price of a start-up kit ware software. charges and its ease of use. Any depends on the source. body can run Prodigy, including However, there are less expen The monthly cost of Prodigy is sive, easy-to-use electronic informa small children (who love the graphic from $9.95 to $12.95, depending on tion services available. We discuss interface and find it entertaining). how many months you pay for at two here, Prodigy, and America Prodigy has a small number of one time. In addition, some services, OnLine, thanks to the contribution special interest bulletin boards such as on-line bill paying and stock of subscribers David Shier and (BBs) similar to the CIS forum mes purchases, require an additional Craig de Fasselle. From what I hear sage sections. Questions and com premium. the only other electronic source with ments regarding the HP 95LX are Software installation is as sim posted on the Computer Club BBs. strong HP 95LX activity is the aca ple as any software package I have demic community's network, Inter The best topic to use is Hardware: Sys seen. In most cases the user will be net, discussed on page 16 of the tems, although Palmtop messages able to accept the default values JanlFeb, 1992 issue. If anyone has are often found under the topic: during install. more current or complete informa-. Other PC Topics. After the initial installation, any tion, please send your comments to Currently, most of the messages update to the Prodigy software is me for publication. regarding the HP 95LX seem to be sent to you automatically when you from new users, or those evaluating log on. The Prodigy Information the various palmtops. However, I Learning Prodigy is easy. The Service hope to see some of the program user can simply select the sections mers and "power users," who fre from the menus (like CompuServe) By Dave Shier quent the HPHAND forum on CIS, or use commands, which are listed Prodigy ID: CXBG88A. posting messages and answering on the screen, to JUMP to a specific CompuServe ID: [75030,3374J) questions on Prodigy. section, or to FIND a keyword. The While most folks on Prodigy will on-line editor that comes with Prod A quick scan through any issue of tell you that CIS is far too costly, be igy is limited and Prodigy does not The HP Palmtop Paper makes it aware that you get what you pay support uploading of messages. clear that CompuServe (commonly for. Prodigy can be a bargain, but However, a third party add-on al referred to as CIS) provides a like any bargain, it comes with lows uploading and downloading of wealth of information and general limitations. Prodigy's limitations messages and contains an editor support for the HP 95LX. While CIS start with the slow interface (I have with a spell checker. I just ordered has far more to offer the HP 95LX often heard Prodigy referred to as this package on-line ($19.95). When users than any other information Plodigy). It's particularly annoying I get it, I'll check it out and let you service, if you are not a member, that much of the wait is due to know if I think it has any merit. you may wish to compare the servic Prodigy painting advertisements on While Prodigy will never be es before selecting one. the bottom 1/3 of the screen. But re a substitute for CompuServe, if you Prodigy is an on-line service member you are not paying for the have to share a single on-line ser available in the U.S., a joint-ven- on-line time. Prodigy also does not vice with your family (up to six post public messages immediately,
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 29 HP 96LX SUPPORT: Alternatives members per household can have 95LX shareware programs have features an easy to use graphic sub-accounts at no additional cost), already been uploaded to AOL. Al interface for the Mac and Windows. or if you need to have a fIXed cost though final location for the palm Access for DOS or Apple II users is regardless of access time, Prodigy top group was not established at hierarchial. The software for either could be the answer. The more of us press time, interested parties should computer is free, and can be ob HP 95LX users there are on Prodi look for the new group within their tained by calling AOL at 800-827-6364 gy, the better the support will be. computer hardware forum (keyword or writing America Online, 8619 Mac Hardware or PC Hardware). Look for Westwood Drive Center, Vienna, VA HP95 Forum on America an announcement or folder regard 22182-9806. The free software sup OnLine (AOL) ing the HP 95LX palmtop users ports offiine Email composition, group. scheduled log ons, and unattended By Craig de Fasselle We are looking for a volunteer downloading of pre-selected files at AOL ID: FLOW13 to be forum leader. This individual any time. A free trial membership is CompuServe ID: [76500,1440J will receive free online time from offered. AOL's fees are $5.95 per AOL, so there will be no costs in month, which includes one hour of In your July/Aug issue of the Palm volved to anyone contributing their free online time. Online charges are top Paper (an excellent newsletter), time and talents. If you are interest $5.00 per hour from 6:00 pm to 6:00 Earl Morton asked about a HP 95LX ed in being the forum leader, please am weekday evenings, $5.00 per forum on America Online (AOL). I contact Craig de Fasselle (Compu hour all day and night on weekends have talked to AOL about this, and Serve ID: [76500,1440] or AOL and holidays, and $10.00 per hour by the time you read this, America screen name FLOW13). during weekdays. Online will have established a sec America Online supports Mac tion for 95LX users. A number of intosh and PC computers, and
Mark Scardina to the Rescue While we continue to urge Hewlett User To User: Packard and Lotus to publish this technical documentation, particular In spite of sparse HP technical documentation, Mark lyon System Manager, contributing Scardina has 'come up with a method to quickly and editor Mark Scardina of The HP easily make software System-Manager compliant. For Palmtop Paper may have come up with an alternative solution. Mark fun, Hal explores programs that create words, sounds, tells me that he is crafting a meth and music on the 95LX.. od for developers to quickly and easily make their software "System Manager compliant." What that By Hal Goldstein by developers, small or large, would means is that any developer who is be available. Furthermore, we have willing to spend an hour recompil Some Technical heard complaints from small devel ing his program can make his DOS Documentation Please opers that they have not been able based program work in conjunction The Hewlett Packard / Lotus cre to access the free technical informa with the 95LX built-in applications. ation of the HP 95LX seems even tion that HP has been able to pro (Naturally, for such a program to more extraordinary now, 1V:z years vide. Not providing access of tech run on the 95LX, it would still face after its introduction. Despite all nical information to small develop limited disk space and system mem that we read in the computer press ers is a big mistake. Already, the ory, and have to conform to the about the explosion of the Palmtop best HP 95LX software we have non-standard 40 x 16 graphics marketplace, there is as yet no real seen has been produced by the dedi screen.) competition for the 95LX. No exist cated individual programmer as Mark tells me that he now has ing palmtop matches the built-in opposed to larger software entities. the highly touted shareware editor, capability or compact size of the Once again, we implore Hewlett VDE, and shareware communica 95LX. Packard and Lotus to make avail tions package, COMMO, working Given the leadership position of able, for some reasonable fee, all the with the built-in applications. In the HP 95LX and the uniqueness of technical information needed by fact, Mark has the blue MEMO and the Lotus System Manager, we developers to write good 95LX appli COMM keys starting VDE and COM would have thought by now, com cations. Good 95LX-oriented soft MO, rather than MEMO and COMM! plete technical information needed ware can only sell more HP 95LX's.
30 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 There are already a number of com him at his CompuServe ID [76711,- cently sent me hours worth of music mercial programs, such as 732] or call Mark at 415-681- 9672. playable on the HP 95LX in a file Grandview, InfoSelect, Agenda, and Now, on the lighter side: called MUS95.ZIP ii. To give you a Wordperfect 4.2, that run reason flavor of what's on the collection, ably well on the HP 95LX. These too Sound and the HP 95LX here is a menu which allows you to could work in the System Manager Those of you who played with choose which piece you would like to environment alongside Phone, Ap Ramon Santoyo's U-SOUNDSiiI play. pointment, and 1-2-3. The manu were perhaps surprised to learn of facturers of these products would the HP 95LX's capabilities to pro only have to re-compile their pro duce sound. There are a number of MUSIC BOX 95 A. GodfAt her Theme B. Broadway grams with Mark's minor changes. freeware and shareware programs D. The Blue Danube Eo The Entertainer The beauty of Mark's plan is F. Funeral March G. Greensleeves available that allow the HP 95LX to ~: ~~~~Yi~~rt~~~~ta 5: §~~ego~pr~liet that once these programs are re speak. Be thrilled by the "Lone Ran P. Popeye Thel'l'l R. Recorder Concerto 0: ~~~l~~~~B~~fime ~: ~~Cf~l r ~~~{~~e compiled, they remain MS-DOS EXE ger" - three minutes of the William Y. Sleepin9 Beauty Z. Symph 1140 or COM program files. They run as Tell Overture; train the 95LX to say ~re~~d1eYetter ... or press Q to quit. before on a PC compatible and from a colleague's name, or reminders; DOS on the 95LX. What Mark does distinctly hear the call of trumpets Menu of songs available is create an additional1K (EXM) file or the Terminator saying "I'll be so that the program runs with the back." The good news is that these As you can see, you can choose from built-in applications. Unlike MENU- programs work on the 95LX. The Mozart to Scott Joplin's "Entertain 95, supplied on the Subscribers bad news is that the volume, quali er," from the "Godfather Theme" to Disk, these modified programs have ty and understandability vary all the characteristics of the built-in greatly. Specific phrases or sounds applications. Given enough System can be quite clear - at the expense Memory, you could open PHONE, of disk space and lack of flexibility Ii U-SOUNDS on 92 Subscribers Disk. 1-2-3, and, say, this special version in producing the sounds you wish. MUS95.ZIP On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk, of VDE, and switch back and forth THE HP 95LX SINGS Sep/Oct 92 issue. between these applications. Contributing editor Ed Keefe re-
WHAT'S THE CATCH? NEWI Version 2.51 The only other thing needed for these revised DOS based programs DEnl'v'El compact with more HP to become system compliant is for a HP the 95LX user to install a ver DERIV~,A sion of SWITCH, marketed by ACE Mathematical Technologies. The SWITCH program Assistant is now available contains a Systems Manager enhan for palmtops cer. Those of you who installed our through 486- free Subscribers Disk may under basedPCs. stand this. The Subscribers Disk automatically installs Mark's SYS MGR.EXE, which fixes problems that impede running existing, dedi cated system compliant (EXM) soft ware. A more advanced version of this program, SWITCH.COM, will be packaged with SWITCH, and will The DERIVE' • Symbolic math from algebra through System requirements allow software that has made program calculus. PC version: MS-DOS 2.1 or later. only solves both • Plots in both 2-D and 3-D. S12Kb RAM and one 3.S" or S.2S"disk Mark's specified minor changes symbolic drive. Suggested retail price is $2S0. • Simple. letter-driven menu interface. work just like a system compliant and numeric ROM-card version: Hewlett-Packard application. This is good news for problems, • Solves equations exactly. 9SLX Palmtop computer. Suggested developers and users alike. We ex and it plots • Understands vectors and matrices. retail price is $289. beautifully too. • Split or overlay algebra & plot windows. Contact Soft Warehouse for a list of pect to have quite a bit more detail dealers. Or. ask at your local computer • Displays accepted math notation. by the next issue of The HP Palm store. software store or HP calculator top Paper. Note that current users • Does arithmetic to thousands of digits. dealer. Dealer inquires are welcome. of SWITCH will be able to upgrade 2000 Years of Soft Warehouse. Inc . • 3660 Waialae Avenue Mathematical Know [Ivv-) loft Warehou/e ~ Suile 304 ' Honolulu. HI . USA 96816-3236 for a nominal fee. ledge on a Disk _H ON OLULU · H AW AI I Phone: (808) 734-5801 · Fax: (808) 735-1105 If you are a developer and want to discuss this with Mark, contact
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 31 COLUMN: User to User the William Tell Overture (the Lone (Arnold Schwartzenegger) in his Ranger theme). Further, its medley Austrian accent state: "I'll be back." E.l. lII'iU... etic selection contains another 40 Sound on the HP 95LX is still a themes including "Auld Lang Syne," novelty with limited usefulness. The A w ....elelSlve ause for "California Here I Come," "God Save programs dedicated to specific students. paalls cnI awns the Queen," "Dance of the Mario sounds can be quite life-like, but the nettes" (the Alfred Hitchcock programs are relatively large and • Learn, review or drill all aspects of Theme), and the Carmen Habanera. give the user no flexibility. Pro arithmetic for math tests and courses If you expect CD quality sound grams such as TALKER (30K) don't • Easy to use manual and software you will be disappointed. However, take up much disk space, but the • Amiga, Atari ST, Apple, HP 48SX, HP I found the tunes genuinely enjoy quality of the sound is severely 95LX, IBM, Mac, TI-85 versions able and appreciated the novelty. limited. Music seems to take up • Concepts, definitions, methods and much less disk space than speech terminology fully explained with lots THE 95LX SPEAKS synthesis. So for example, the of model problems and exercises Robert Williams, the physician who phrase, "I'll be back" takes 12K, .• Includes detailed course outline wrote last issue's profile, found a where Ed Keefe's music medley of for compl,t, Illformatioll, writ, program called TALKER.EXE.1i 25 songs takes 15K TALKER lets you type a word into The other limitation known by E.Z Software, Dept PT1 your 95LX, and have your 95LX those of you who have tried to use P.o. Box SOD, Mdwood Station attempt to pronounce it. You can the HP 95LX as an alarm clock, is Brooklyn, New York 11230 type anything: A name, a profound that the volume is low. Music plays pronouncement, or a four-letter the loudest, but in general you need word. Type your phrase and then to put the 95LX to your ear to hear player, and so on via the HP 95LX IR port. Dave Goodman, who has press IENTER I and the computer at clearly what it is trying to say. written some of the best shareware tempts to enunciate what you just utilities for the HP 95LX, has typed in. If you know ahead of time THE 95LX CHIRPS teamed up with The HP Palmtop what the computer is trying to say, You Star Trek fans remember the Paper's Mark Scardina and ACE it seems to do a reasonably good job. chirping sound when Captain Kirk Technology's Andy Fu to develop the However, normally it is difficult to uses his communicator to talk to the $29 package. We will take a detail understand the 95LX's speech pat Enterprise? Well, Dave Goodman ed look in a future issue. If you terns and interpret what is being has just the thing for you. Run want to test to see if your remote said. Some phrases come out better STARTREK.COM ii and you will see controlled equipment is controllable than others. a nice United Federation of Planets from the 95LX, you can download Dave Marsh's sound program, logo appear on your screen. RMTEST.ZIP Ii from CompuServe, SNDPLAY.EXE Ii does a better job or find it on this issue's HP Palmtop in 95LX speech synthesis. The pro Paper on Disk. gram was written explicitly for the 95LX's sound capability. Unfortu nately, SNDPLAY limits you only to Lithium AA Batteries sound patterns that have already Available at These Locations been created. For example, you can The Eveready Battery Company UNITED FEDERATION announced the retail availability of clearly hear Hal, the computer from OF PLANETS 2001: A Space Odyssey, tell Dave in the Energizer Hi Energy Lithium a soft calming voice, "I am complete L91 AA Battery. As discussed in United Federation of Planets Logo ly operational and all my circuits previous issues, these batteries at least double the HP 95LX battery are functioning perfectly. " You can Now turn the 95LX off and on also understand bass voiced Darth life. The following retailers will again, and you'll hear your HP 95LX merchandise the battery, two per Vedar telling the emperor "As you communicator chirp. Thank you pack, starting in September, 1992: wish." In addition there are prepro Dave (from Hal). grammed sounds for the "Three KMART and Walgreen Drugs (na Stooges," dog barks, a baby greeting tionwide U.s.), and Payless stores Control Your Home (Northwest U.S.). Check in the pho his father, and others, all with sur Entertainment Center prising clarity. tography sections of these stores for from the HP 95LX the batteries. Another program, BEBACK. Some ofthe best HP 95LX program COMii, picks out one small sound ming minds have teamed together phrase and echos it in the 95LX. to create myREMOTE, a software ii On The HP P81mtop P8per on Disk, SeVOct 92, Run BEBACK.COM on the 95LX, package that lets you use the HP or on the CompuServe HPHAND forum. and you will hear the Terminator 95LX to control your TV, VCR, CD
32 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 ·. ,
transfer it back to the HP 95LX Through The Looking Glass _DAT subdirectory. Go into SET UP (press I
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 33 Column: Looking Glass
SOME TIPS Select Ylew, ~ursor position and Paint brush displays the coordinates of the position in the picture you are working on. This may help you keep track of where you are. I've found that setting the attribute to black and picking Paintbrush's fat brush shape lets me erase the whole area in a few sweeps. I also select Ylew, ~oom in and select a portion of the picture to magnify so that I can fine tune the picture, pixel by pixel. Below is TLG.PCX ii, a TopCard PCX file I created with Paintbrush.
The desktop ThinCardDRIVPM transfers data effortlessly between Palmptops and MS-DOS® or MS-Windows® PCs. Plugs right into the printer port. Pass-thru feature retains printer 1 operation. Model TMD-500 reads and writes SRAM cards, •• . TMD-550 SRAM & FLASH cards. Fully PCMCIAIJEIDA '. . ;.. / compatible, with the industry's broadest range of card Customized TopCard on 95LX screen ~./ supplier and platform support. It's quick and easy. Isn't it time Transfer the finished picture to the you put one on your expense report? Call (716) 889-4204 for further information. HP 95LX, and use Setup-Owner to ThinCardDRIVE is a trademark OEM/Dealer inquiries welcome. make the new PCX file pop-up in of Databook, Inc. place of the normal TOPCARD.PCX file. If you leave the Owner File for a wayfaring calculus engine, second crop takes 4 times as many name as C:\_DAT\TOPCARD.PCX Derive will more than meet that work-hours as the first crop. The and move your new PCX file to need. total investment must be less than C:\_DAT\TOPCARD.PCX, be sure But what about those times or equal to $1,200. Typically, the and use Setup to delete any info in when the rest of us encounter math first crop costs $10 per acre and the Owner window. Otherwise it beyond the capabilities of CALC or gives $30 profit while the second will be superimposed on your new 1-2-3, or our own level ofmathemat costs $20 and yields a profit of $100 TOPCARD. You might also paint the ical training? per acre. The question is: how many upper right and lower left comers of If all we want to do is put some acres of each crop should be plant your PCX file solid black to leave numbers in a formula and crank out ed? Don't bother to push the blue room for the time and date and the an answer quickly, then the quick CALC key for this type of problem. "Press a blue application key ... " est answer to our problem is to use You might try 1-2-3 instead, but, message. CALC's Solve routine. once again, the solution, though However, suppose you're con possible, is not something for the In A Mathematical Mood fronted with a problem that in mathematically disinclined. While doing research for this volves the solution of two or more One of the few computer pro month's Programmers' Corner arti linear equations. You know, the grams that could solve such a prob cle on Derive, I began to wonder kind of algebra that says, if 4x + 3y lem is an old workhorse from Bor what other math programs would = 25 and 16x -9y = 100, what are land International. The program is work on the HP 95LX. the values of x and y? Hmmm. called EUREKA: The Solver. Granted, CALC and 1-2-3 will CALC solves that kind of problem, Eureka was released in 1987, solve many of the real-world math but the solution's not that intuitive. and, for its day, it was quite novel. problems that most of us will ever Or, how about something like It used a technique of solving math encounter. And, for the true mathe this? A farmer wants to maximize problems by making repeated guess maticians, if there is a need profit by planting two crops on 100 es at a solution and checking to see acres of land. The total time spent how close each guess was. It would planting and caring for the crops keep on guessing until it ran out of can't exceed 160 hours and the time or computer memory. ii On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk, SellOct 92.
34 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPl'EMBER / OCTOBER 1992 the dual crop problem took an as program. Mercury requires an 80 X tounding two and a half minutes to 25 screen, so expect to spend a lot of PROTECT run to completion. time scrolling around the small YOUR INVESTMENT Here's what the problem and its screen of the HP 95LX. Also, as with solution looked like. any new piece of software, be sure If you drop your HP95LX ...... ".,..... ,...... "' ...... to back up everything on your HP while it's in the POUCH-this Eureka: The Solver, Version 1.0 95LX before using it. bouncy cocoon may save its life! Name of input file: A:\FARMER.EKA If you feel that the program has .au...... , ...... , ...... merit, you might give the author a call and suggest that he modify • Resilient neoprene p= (30*X) +(100*Y); Mercury for use on the HP 95LX. $MAX (P) & nylon. My first attempt at making such a X+Y <= 100 suggestion met with a cool recep • Sturdy belt loop. X+4*Y <=160 tion. The price of $49 is not unrea • Optional shoulder 10*X+20*Y <=1200 sonable. strap. X>=O [Ed Keefe is an author, program Y>=O • Velcro closure mer, computer science instructor, "" ...... ,' ' .. t.a •• "'.... , •• ".. '**'* and long-time contributor to support on front. Solution: publications for HP computers. He is the president of the FastAid Compa $19.95 includes shipping. Variables Values ny, 314 S.W. Logan, Ankeny, IA P = 4400. 50021. Ed's CompuServe ID# is - Mastercard & VISA - X = 80.00 [75300,3667J.1 Y = 20.00 Confidence level = 85.4% All constraints satisfied. The PoVt.h Iii On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk. Sep/Oct 92. uuuu'**'uu .. uuu'**'uu ... , 535 Suffolk Dr. Tucson, AZ 85704 If you have access to a copy of Eure ka: The Solver, you might want to 1-800-727-6824 try the same experiment. FAX: (602) 742-6006 Sad to say, Eureka is no longer being sold by Borland. When the software company decided to focus CALC uses this same technique to its energies on spreadsheets and Manhattan solve some problems that don't lend database programs, it released Eu Consulting themselves to a direct solution. reka back to its original author, Since I still had a copy of Eure Roger Shlafly, of Real Software. Presents: ka, I wondered if it would work on Roger has rewritten the pro the HP 95LX. It took me about half gram and offers it as a shareware External Pocket an hour to resurrect it, color it black product now called Mercury. Modem 2400 BPS and white, and resize the display so I found a copy of Mercury, ver Hayes Compatibility it would show up in the HP 95LX. sion 2.09 on the same bulletin board Once it was installed on the Useable with all PC's that serves Derive users. HP 95LX Compatible 95LX, it took me a couple more Mercury has some unique fea minutes to key in the simultaneous, tures that might make it useful for Includes: linear equation problem, and push the HP 95LX. For example, it's one All Connectivity the button to start the solution. of the few programs that will let Accessories for HP' and uuuu**u*"uuuuuuuau* you choose the serial port for print PC's, Case, Batteries, Eureka: The Solver, Version 1.0 er output. It supports over 30 differ Cables, PC Software Name of input file: A:\LlNEQN.EKA ent printers, including the Laserjet. Introductory Price of "auu,." ..... uuu ...... ".. "" .. u .. Mercury demands a color moni Only $79.99!1** 4*X + 3*Y = 25 tor to produce graphs. However, in 16*X· g*y = 100 the absence of such a display, you Call (818) 996-9264 """uu".""""' .... u** .... " ...... ",, can tell Mercury to list the coordi and place your order nates for such a graph and store the now! Solution: list in a file. The coordinates can "Requires HP Serial Cable Variables Values then be imported into Lotus 1-2-3 ""Plus S&H, Tax (CA Residents) X = 6.2500000 for graphical analysis. Y = .00000000 We've included a copy of MRC
.... AU".U •• U ...... ******** RY209.ZIP ii on The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK for those who On the other hand, the solution to would like to experiment with this
SEPI'EMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 35 The Savvy User Print to Parallel Printers from the Tom makes some design suggestions for the visually HP95LX impaired, gives some advice on how not to bend AC Paralink 3 is for those times you need to print to a parallel printer from the HP adapter prongs, and lists some tips on analyzing the 95LX. Just connect one end of the Paralink 3 adapter to your printer's 36- built-in_STAT. WKI, or any Lotus worksheet. pin female parallel port, and the other to the 95LX via the serial cable from the Connectivity Pack. Paralink 3 IS battery powered and works with most parallel printers. It's light, small, and easy to carry. By Thomas R. Page characters. (The numbers on the 95LX's calculator display look pretty Paralink 3 retails for £59.95. Years ago I had what I thought was wimpy compared with the numbers To Order a horrible bout with the common on myoId HP 12E calculator.) Call: 011-44-438-815444 cold. As it turns out, I was infected Although I would not change Fax: 011-44-438-815222 with the "Histoplasmosis" fungus, the size of the 95LX, I think a new (Am Ex, Visa, MasterCard Accepted) which in most cases causes respira version with fewer, larger keys tory distress, but with some unfor makes sense, especially the more WIDgET tunate individuals (me) can cause commonly used keys. I also think SOFTWARE scarring on the retina of the eye. that newer versions of the 95LX 121 London Road, Knebworth, Herts SG3 6EX United Kingdom This can lead, 20 or 30 years later, should be designed so that it is to vision problems, which I am now easier to install custom ROM chips. experiencing. This would make it easier for specif _STAT.WKI (The Histoplasmosis fungus is ic users, including those of us with I had planned to give a detailed common, found in the accumulated a vision impairment, to customize analysis of the _STAT.WKI spread droppings of birds, pigeons, poultry the Palmtop. sheet contained in the 95LX's ROM, and bats. Over 50 million Ameri Enhancements for the visually but unfortunately my eyes aren't up cans have been infected by this fun impaired would benefit others. Sure, to it. If you want to review it, you're gus. My ophthalmologist recom a brighter, higher contrast display on your own. To retrieve the spread mends that those people who have would be a big help for me with my sheet, enter Lotus and press I MENU, had a Histoplasmosis infection or current problem, but it would bene File Retrieve. Then use your arrow have lived in a high risk area have fit others with less serious visual keys to highlight _STAT.WKI and their retinas examined by an ophth problems, and even make the 95LX press IENTER'. Let me give you some almologist for signs of a past infec easier to use for the general popula tips that will help you analyze any tion.) tion. Curb ramps were originally spreadsheet: My vision difficulties have designed for people in wheelchairs, 1. Read and follow directions caused me to consider ways the but benefit delivery men. Just so, 2. Try a sample problem 95LX might be used or modified to programs and computer hardware 3. Examine the formulas assist people with a vision impair that benefit the visually impaired 4. Examine the macros ment. One of the first things that can help people with normal vision. 5. Enhance and customize the comes to mind is the Dialtoneii spreadsheet to meet your needs program (mentioned in this column, Avoid Bending the Prongs 6. Incorporate the knowledge you May/June 92 issue, page 31). With On Your AC Adapter gain into your spreadsheets. Dialtone, you can hold your 95LX up I used to throw the power adapters to the speaker of a touchtone tele used with my various portable toys Step six is most important. It is phone and let the 95LX "dial" the in a briefcase, giving no consider why you are doing steps one phone by making the touchtone ation to their protection. Conse through four. Step five is great if beeps. Dialing a phone is one of the quently I spend a lot of time you need the spreadsheet. most difficult tasks for me at pres straightening bent prongs. I have All writers develop a unique ent. discovered an almost elegant solu style, and this includes writers of It would also be nice if pro tion to this problem - an extension spreadsheets. The style of _STAT is grams such as Phone Book could be cord end! very different to that of _EXPENSE modified to display larger charac Female extension cord ends may analyzed on page 31 of the May/ ters. I think this program and the be purchased at the electrical sup June 92 issue. The most distinctive HP Calculator program could be plies section of your local hardware feature of _STAT's style is its diago modified to effectively display larger store. Plug the transformer into one nal organization, where each "page" of those and it will protect the of the spreadsheet is below and to prongs from bending. the right of the previous "page," Ii On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk, May/Jun 92. much like the diagonal red or black
36 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 squares on a checker board. Subroutines save memory by elimi Compare the overall styles and I can not bring myself to use the nating repetitive codes. There is a programming techniques. I think diagonal organization. When I first small penalty in execution speed you will find that _EXPENSE is learned to use spreadsheets, memo when a subroutine is used instead somewhat the odd one. The others ry was conserved by cramming of repeated code, but it is not signif appear to be very similar. everything in the upper left comer icant, and is far outweighed by the I have one suggestion that I of the spreadsheet. Memory man advantages of using subroutines. think will significantly improve agement has improved since the To create a subroutine, separate _STAT. Replace the menu that iden days of VisiCalc and 1-2-3 Release the common code and assign it a tifies the various macros on the 1A. Today the diagonal organization range name. The subroutine is spreadsheet with a macro menu may be used without significant, if called in macro code by enclosing invoked by pressing IALTI-M. There is any, memory penalty but I still the subroutine range name is brack no reason to waste valuable work don't want anything in cell GA3382, ets, for example, {print}. It is a good sheet display with a menu. Having it's just too far away from cell AI. idea to assign a meaningful name to only to remember the name of one I did not find any hidden cells the subroutine. macro, no matter what spreadsheet in _STAT. This is another element of Examination of the macro code you are using, is also easier. style. Some spreadsheet writers try in _STAT shows that the program to protect the users of their spread mer was a bit of a smart aleck. He [Tom works for a natural gas sheets from the inner workings of assigned meaningless single letter pipeline company in Houston, Texas, the spreadsheet by hiding key areas range names to his subroutines. He and was one of the first to use pC's of the spreadsheet. I never liked may have wanted to save memory, in the natural gas industry. He has hidden cells. They cause more trou but the savings using this technique been a regular contributor to sup ble than they save. (If you remem are minimal. port publications ofHewlett-Packard ber, in _EXPENSE the cells contain You should take a look at all the computers for many years. Tom's ing the macros had to be unhidden.) spreadsheets in your 95LX. There is CompuServe ID# is [76011,36551.1 One interesting feature of probably something that can be _STAT is its macro subroutines. learned from each of them.
run from ROM. It still must be load ed into RAM (System Memory) be fore it runs. To get the program up and Programmer's Corner running requires at least 234K bytes of working memory. Any extra Ed reviews DERIVE, a 95LX program that solves memory is used to hold data and symbolic mathematics, from algebra to calculus, as well intermediate results. performing numeric functions and plotting 2D and 3D Derive is strictly a DOS applica tion and, as such, will not pop up graphs. over any other program. As a mat ter offact, when it's running, Derive takes over the entire computer. By Ed Keefe Now, with Derive available for the HP 95LX, it is possible to put 2,000 The Look and Feel of Lotus DERIVE: A Mathematical years of math in the palm of your Derive uses a Lotus-like menu to Assistant for your HP 95LX hand. perform its operations. However, In 1982, Microsoft licensed and sold Derive's menu system is just enough a program called muMath for the DERIVE on the HP 95LX different to make using it slightly new IBM-PC. The program did The HP 95LX version of Derive bothersome at first. something amazing for its day. It comes pre-installed on a ROM card. For one thing, Derive's menu is solved math problems, symbolically, The card contains all the relevant at the bottom of the screen rather on a microcomputer. files from the desktop version of the than at the top. Also, the menu is Eventually, Microsoft stopped program. The card also contains two always active. In addition, pressing selling muMATH and released it other programs: RAMCRAM which tab key as well as the space bar will back to its authors at Soft Ware squeezes as much working memory move the highlighter from one menu house. out of the 95LX as possible and option to another. Like 1-2-3, you Since then, the program has FORWARD.COM which lets Derive can also press capitalized letters to been entirely rewritten, and re print on a parallel printer through pick menu items. named Derive: A Mathematical Assistant the serial port of the 95LX, via a for your Personal Computer. desk top computer. Derive does not
SEPI'EMBER I OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 37 COLUMN: Programmer's CorTU!r
DERIVE If you tell Derive to show an a and b, but I wanted to see if I A Mathel'ttatical Assistant approximate answer, you'll get could confuse the program.) Then I HP 95LX Vers i on 2.06 Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991 55.3739. However, if you tell Derive entered the expression FXY(3,2) and b~o~~f~ 1 ~~rA~e~I~: og~· to "solve" the problem, you'll get a told Derive to "Simplify" it. The Press H for help horrendous ratio: correct answer, 21, appeared in less 97017233784872162402203715694511008214--0348256092810 than a second. Next, I keyed in the 17520386581481318268762179694511008214--034825609281 expression FXY{r,s) and told Derive to Simplify that. The solution, By default, Derive shows decimal rA2+r+sA3-3*s+7, appeared a couple of DERIVE screen with Lotus-like menu quantities in a ratio format. This is seconds later. Finally, I told Derive Pressing the right and left arrow a more accurate representation to solve this expression for "r". After keys doesn't change menu items as since it contains no rounding errors. 14 seconds here's what appeared: it does in Lotus. Rather, the right Derive achieves this remarkable and left arrow keys make different accuracy without a math copro r=-(-v(3*(4*s-9)-4*SA3)+1 ) parts of a math expression appear cessor. 2 in inverse video. If there are no math expressions in the display and DERIVE Does Algebra Programming in DERIVE you press the arrow keys to choose To get a better idea of how quickly, The ability to create functions that a menu item, nothing will appear to or slowly Derive does symbolic alge use other functions is the tip-off happen. This different way of using bra, I chose the classic, compound that Derive contains the rudiments the arrow keys takes some getting interest formula: of a programming language. (A good used to. description of a C program is "func There is one other feature of v*(1 +i)An+p*(1 +i*t)*((1 +i)An-1 )/i+ f=0 tions using other functions.") Derive that takes some getting used Derive contains two special to as well. For instance, there is no where v is the present value, p is functions, ITERATES and IFO. These easy way to edit an incorrect entry. the fIxed payment, n is the number functions, along with a complete set In 1-2-3 you can press ~ (Edit of periods, i is the periodic interest key) and change a cell's contents. rate, and f is the future value. With Derive, to correct an entry, (By default, Derive uses single Call for Articles you use the arrow keys to highlight letters to represent variables. If you part of a math expression. Then you In the first issue of The HP Palmtop Paper, we wish, you can change this to use invited programmers and developers to write must choose the Manage/ Substitute more meaningful names for vari menu-option, and enter the correc an article for The Programmer's Comer. ables.) We know that programmers are busy tion. Derive then makes a copy of Having keyed in the formula, I the expression on a separate line. If people and that it takes time to draft a techni told Derive to solve for each vari cal article for publication. Nevertheless, the you have several corrections to able in terms of the others. Here are invitation still stands. We'd really like to hear make, you wind up with multiple the results: from other programmers, especially those who copies of the formula, each one have tried their hand at designing System slightly more correct than the previ n=LN( (p*(i*t+1 )-ri)/(v*i+p*(i*t+1)) )/LN(i+1) Manager compliant programs for the HP 9SLX. ous one. t=((v*i+p)*(i+1)An+ri-p)/(i*p*(1-(i+1)An)) The kind of stuff we're looking for is the kind p=i*(v*(i+1 )An+f)/((1-(i+1 )An)*(i*t+1 ))(i*(v+p*t)+p) of stuff you wish you had read before writing DERIVE Does Arithmetic *(i+1 )An+i*(f-p*t)-p=O a system-compliant program. Derive not only does "symbolic The guidelines for writing an article are math," it also crunches numbers - (TImings for each solution: simple. Express what you've accomplished in n : 13 seconds: and how! a straightforward manner. A small amount of For example, if you ask Derive t : 7 seconds: p : 7 seconds: commented code is acceptable. If the code is to "simplify" the factorial of 100 (i.e. i : 184 sec. (3+ minutes). too long, we can print the highlights in The HP 1*2*3* ... *100) the program will Palmtop Paper, and put the full source code quickly respond with the complete To see if Derive could handle a on The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK. answer: function made up of other functions, HP and Lotus have not fully documented 9332621544394415268169923885626670049071 I declared the following two func the workings of the 9SLX. However, such 5968264381621468592963895217599993229915 tions: missing documentation has always been more 6089414639761565182862536979208272237582 of a challenge than a drawback for true hack 51185210916864000000000000000000000000 FX(x):=xA2+x+1 ers, right? Let us hear how you've accepted that challenge. Send article proposals to: Ed If you use the Derive function PMT(1- FY(y):=yA3-3*y+6 Keefe, FastAid Company, 314 S.w. Logan, 0%/12, 2*12, 1200) to compute the Ankeny, IA 50021; CompuServe 10: [75300, monthly payment on a two year 3667J or to: Hal Goldstein, Thaddeus Comput I put the two functions together in loan for $1200 at 10% APR, you can ing, Inc, P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556; (I have Derive give you an approxi one function, FXY(a,b):=FX(a)+FY(b). CompuServe 10: [75300,2443J. mate or exact answer. could have used x and y instead of
38 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 of logical and relational operators, When the integral appears, tell graphics mode to text mode. The make up Derive's small program the program to simplify it. A couple display won't look as neat, but it ming language. of seconds later the answer will will give you access to the full 80 To create a Derive program, you appear: ATAN(b*xA2Ia)/2*a*b. column screen. just build a set of related functions Now tell Derive to find the in Occasionally, even that won't and save them in a file. It is possi definite integral ofxl(aA 3+bA 3* xA 5) help. The only recourse is to save ble to write programs in Derive. with respect to x. Once the process the formula in a file and use an However, programming in Derive is is started, you can go get a cup of editor, and your knowledge of alge not easy, and it's likely that every coffee and read a chapter from the bra, to write out the complex ex one but die-hard enthusiasts will Derive User's Manual. Come back 8 pression. find it next to impossible to master minutes later to pick up the answer. this feature of Derive. The complete solution takes 25 lines Beyond Calculus to print. We won't do that here. Derive goes beyond calculus to give DERIVE Does Pascal? Derive makes no claim at being you a jump start at solving first and If Derive is difficult to program, fast, just accurate! second order differential equations. perhaps it could be used to help Some solutions can be done exactly, write programs in a standard com A Nuisance while other solutions may be ap puter language. One of the menu Sometimes, as in the case of the 8 proximated through the use of other options hints that Derive will save minute solution above, an expres functions and series. a set of functions as a Pascal file. sion will extend beyond the right Derive comes with several "utili To check this out, I chose the side of the screen. At that point it ty files" which contain add-in func compound interest formulas, derived becomes a real nuisance to try and tions that extend the capabilities of above, and saved them as a Pascal see the missing information. the program. The functions include file. You can use the arrow keys to Bessel, Elliptic, Gamma, Fresnel, I expected to get a Pascal pro highlight parts of the equation and Legendre, Hypergeometric, Hermite, gram that could be tweaked, com slowly display what you're missing. and Zeta. piled and run. Not so. Instead of a To speed up the viewing pro Pascal program, here's what ap cess, you can switch the screen from peared in the file. v*POW( 1+1,n)+p*(1 +1*t)*(POW(1 +1,n)-1 )/I+f=O n=LN((p*(i*t+1 )-f*I)/(v*l+p*(I*t+1 )))/LN(I+1) l=((v*l+p)*POW(I+1 ,n)+ri-p)/(i*p*(1-POW(i+1 ,n))) UTIL Forth Version 2.4 p=i*(v*POW(i+1 ,n)+f)/( (1-POW(i+1 ,n) )*(i*t+1) )(i* The 95LX Toolkit For Programmers (v+p*t)+p)*POW(I+1,n)+I*(f-p*t)-p=0 And Non-Programmers Other than substituting Pascal's Hartle$ all the power of your 95LX with UTll..- a System Manager compliant POWO function for Derive's "A" oper implementation of the Forth language. Even if you are not a programmer, you'll ator, very little coding was done by make use of the sample programs that include games, music and useful utilities. Derive. Create System Manager compliant loaders for your favorite DOS programs, or Saving the same file as a BASIC shell to DOS with a hot-key using the UTIL EXM loader. The easy-to-use and a Fortran file produced compa patching tools let you set the Alt-Arrow and Cursor-Tracking functions for the rable results. loaded program. The package includes a comprehensive User's Guide and many In short, Derive might be useful source code examples. for converting extremely complex UTIL includes a Forth compiler, 8086 assembler, decompiler and disassembler, to math formulae to Pascal code. tum your 95LX into a portable software development system. Create compact, System Manager compliant executable applications and standalone .COM DERIVE Does Calculus! programs. Or use the tools to access the built-in graphics capability of your If you're up to speed in Calculus, 95LX, explore memory and much more. you can probably write down the solution to the following formula in Here's what a few of the current users (who can upgrade to Version 2.4 for only $10) say about UTIL: a couple of seconds. "The loader capability is a real bonus on the 95LX" • "Goodjob!" x dx "Worth itfor the examples alone" • "Thank you for a fine program" f "[love this package" • "Great software package! Thanks" UTIL is a perfect match for your 95LX, and at a list price of just $70, it's a real With Derive, the solution is avail bargain ($80 outside U.S.A. and Canada). To order your copy, call today. able at the push of a few keys. Just choose Calculus Integrate from the Essex Marketing Services Inc. • 272 Old Farms Road • Simsbury CT 06070 • U.S.A. menu and enter the expression. Phone: (203) 651-8284 • Fax: (203) 651-7926
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 39 COLUMN: Programmer's Corner
DERIVE Does Graphics Without a doubt, the most fascinat ing part of Derive is its ability to produce graphs of extremely com plex functions. Not to take away from Derive's ability to plot 2-D graphs, but rath er to show the power of HP CALC's Solve function, I took all 18 func tions from Derive's PLOT2D.MTH demo file and imported them into Solve. Solve was able to plot 12 of the 18 functions immediately. The other six contained hyperbolic and unsup ported trig functions. Converting COSH, SINH, etc. to their exponen tial equivalents allowed Solve to plot those expressions as well. Fur thermore, Solve has a much better interface when working with these types of graphs than does Derive. Derive, however, is the only program that can produce 3-D plots call for Infonnation & Pricing on on the HP 95LX. For example, the SPARCOM following graph was produced using & TRIPOD DATA SYSTEMS the function BESSEL_Y _ASYMP(n,z):= II~I~I~ Accessories SQRT(2/(pi*z)) *SIN(z-(n+1/2) * pi/2). This is the ninth function in the BESSEL.MTH file. The Grids were set for 15 rows along the x and y axes. The graph was Centered at Derive seems to be used most recourse to a math co-processor. Its x=5 and y=O and the Length set widely as an educational tool. Sev best feature is that it comes with tings were x=5 and y=lO. It took eral books have been written to complete source code for all its math about one and a half minutes to support Derive. They all have a routines. BCALC is available in the load the file and pick the function, classroom setting in mind. BPROGB forum on CompuServe. another minute to set the plot pa The best of these books is Ex If you have an HP 48SX calcula rameters and approximately 3 min ploring Math from Algebra to Calcu tor, hang on to it. Although the utes to produce the graph. lus with Derive, by Jerry Glynn, 48SX and Derive share many of the MathWare, 604 East Mumford, IL, same capabilities, each has unique, 61801. (Jerry also runs an electronic positive qualities. I like the 48SX for bulletin board for Derive users.) its dedicated keyboard and Derive If you're an engineer or physi for its compact size and accuracy. cist who wants math functions in a Please don't ask me to choose one palmtop format, then Derive may over the other. '_U H'; • _ I_en E'r- '::It? 00::' I:,t-l'':- meet 80% of your needs. Until next time, Happy Pro I' Eo en~th OE;tlon.= Flot IIUl+ FF.lnt lJlnd,_oll ..... 0':'['1 Finally, if you're a programmer gramming. f~~!r:1 I: ' P~ ~on '-I: (1 .: [,- lot who does technical programming [Ed Keefe is an author, program and want a way to check your algo mer, computer science instructor, Sample DERIVE Graph rithms for accuracy, then Derive and long-time contributor to support will more than do the job. publications for HP computers. He is If you're looking for C code that the president of the FastAid Compa Who is DERIVE For? will let you have the numeric accu ny, 314 S.W. Logan, Ankeny, IA If you're the kind of person who racy of Derive, without the learning 50021. Ed's CompuServe ID# is keeps threatening to relearn all the curve of a new program, let me [75300,3667].] math you've forgotten over the past recommend BCALC. BCALC Ii is a decade, then Derive will serve as a calculator program that gives accu great learning aid. racy of up to 1075 digits without ii On The HP Palmtop Paper on Disk, SeplOct 92.
40 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 Getting Started: Files and FILER Palmtop Training Classes Learn HP 95LX tips, techniques, and In this issue we review fundamental concepts: File name, short-cuts in I-day hands-on seminars extension, data file, program file, path, directory, HP 95LX - A Vision of Possibilities default. We apply this information by examining System Manager, SetUp, Apptlwatch, directories in FILER, by using the FILER HELP, COPY, Phone, Memo, Lotus basics, HP Calc, Connectivity Pack, SkyStream pager DELETE, and RENAME function keys, and by Overview of Shareware for the 95LX considering file naming strategies. Lotus 1-2-3 for the Palmtop Spreadsheets, database, grapbics ACT! for the Palmtop By Hal Goldstein directory, C:\_DAT. The 95LX also Contact calls, meetings, things-to-do saves PHONE, APPT, and HP CALC Custom Executive Training available In the last two Getting Started files into C:\_DAT. Lotus 1-2-3 files Sales Force Integration Workshop columns, we examined the two es are by default saved into the "root" Using ACT to act as a company sential concepts an HP 95LX user C:\ directory. must know to safeguard and orga Bring your own 95LX or test drive one nize his data: "Files" and "directo The Subdirectory and The (purchasable after class). HP-related ries." Because these concepts are so Root Directory products will be available to try out. fundamental, let's spend a little The main directory built into the Intro to HP 9SLX SemJnar Schedule Oct 9-12 - Los Angeles, CA Nov 2 - San Francisco, CA time reviewing them using a con HP 95LX is known as the "root di Oct 16· Orlando, FL Nov 6 - Iowa City, IA crete example. rectory," and is denoted as C:\. Any Oct 21 • Boston, MA Nov II - Kansas City, MO directory can have within it two Oct 23 • New York, NY Nov 13 - Dallas, TX Oct 28 - Philadelphia, PA Nov 20 - Denver, CO FileNames different types of objects: Files and Oct 30 - Chicago, IL Nov 27 - London, UK Suppose we took some meeting additional directories (known as Classes 9am • 5 pm Tuition: S195/day notes in MEMO. We wisely decide to "subdirectories"). Subdirectories, in Call ror addltlona' cities and dates save that information into a file by turn, can have within them files or ror Custom Group Session. typing I!!!!!!I File Save, followed by and subdirectories. Computer Instructors Company the arbitrary file name like NOTES. The HP 95LX comes with the 202-829-4444, 202-722-5195 Fax The file name could have been any C:\ root directory and a C:\_DAT (Washington. DC) 800-487-5040 eight-character name. The charac subdirectory built-in. Both C:\ and ters in the name could have been C:\_DAT already contain files. (It ry of your built-in C drive. (If you letters, numbers, or other special also comes with a "hidden" directo see another name, press f!!I C:\ characters such as underline or ry, C:\_SYS.) IENTERI to "Goto" the root directory. dash (blank spaces not allowed). There are two types of files, You should now see C:\ in the upper Examples of legal names include "data files" and "program files." left.) 12XYZ, BEAUTY, and MAIN_RPT. When you save a document from Now look under C:\ to see the Because we are saving notes MEMO or a spreadsheet from 1-2-3, list of subdirectories and files. FUr from MEMO, the 95LX automatically you are creating data files (e.g. ER always lists the subdirectories adds the "file extension" .TXT to the NOTES.TXT or BUDGET.WKl). A before the files. If you haven't yet name we give the file. In other "program file" is an application or a created subdirectories of your own, words, NOTES is really saved as program. For example, HPTRIS.EXE the first line below C:\ will list the NOTES.TXT . If we had been in Lo is the program file for the Tetris _DAT subdirectory followed by tus 1-2-3 and saved a file as BUD game included on the Subscriber's
SEPI'EMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 41 COLUMN: Getting Started
The first column in FILER always simply examining the function key this up on your RAM card (if you contains the name of the directory labels at the bottom of the main have one) by entering FILER and or file (up to S characters). The FILER screen, and by pressing the moving your cursor to MAIN.PBK in second column contains the file or MENU key. For the remainder of your C:\_DAT directory. Then press directory name extension. Even this article, let's first look at a few !!!I, type a:, and press ~. Your though the FILER screen shows one of the function key labels at the bot phone book would now be copied to or more blank characters between a tom of the FILER screen. your A drive. If anything ever hap name and its extension, the correct pened to your built-in C drive, you filename consists of the up-to-S FILER I!!l Help - As in the other would have a backup of your phone character name, followed by a peri built-in applications, the F1 key book as of the last time you used od, followed by the extension. (e.g. provides help. Here is excellent the F2 Copy command to back up CHKDSK.EXE). There are no spaces advice whenever you run any appli MAIN.PBK. in between! cation on any computer: Always If you don't have an A drive, Now, move the cursor to _DAT study the computer screen for the you can make a copy of your phone and press IENTERI to reveal a whole instructions it provides. Secondly, book to the C root directory by pres new world of files. The upper left form the habit of exploring and sing !!!I, typing C:\, and pressing part of the FILER screen indicates utilizing an application's help facili ~. This method is not as safe that we are now in the C:_ \DAT ty, even if you don't always under as copying a file to the A drive, subdirectory. Listed on the screen stand what is being said. In com since you would lose both the main are the files in the C:\_DAT subdi plex programs such as Lotus 1-2-3, and backup PHONE files if the C rectory. the help facility is invaluable and drive gets corrupted. However, this saves lugging around a huge Lotus method still protects you from inad ~,t""""" F1" i~"}l e""r""""""""""""" """"""""""".".' "'."',." ·""""""'~'t09~ · ·2··· 4: ea aM manual. vertently destroying or corrupting Local NoOirs One hint in exploring FILER's your main phone book in C:\_DAT. 41 help facility: After pressing !!II The backup on the C: \ root drive AC PBK 4467 au:a5-a7-92 APHAME LST 231 a6-15-92 Help, move cursor to Filer commands could save the day. APPTBK EHV 16 039-04-92 EHV 2268 039-032-92 CHF 68 036-27-92 or Function keys by pressing the TXT 89 06- -92 V DCF 71 02- 91 Down Arrow key two or three times. FILER I!!I Delete - Suppose you no CNF 2203 06- 92 Then press IENTERI. longer needed the NOTES.TXT file that we created in MEMO earlier - FILER I!!I Copy - The F2 key allows space on the 95LX is precious. To FILER screen, in _OAT subdirectory you to copy files. There are many delete NOTES you would simply Upon entering the C:\_DAT subdi reasons you might want to do this, move the cursor to NOTES.TXT and rectory in FILER, the highlight bar but I'll list just two here as exam press I!!J Delete. rests on the first line below C:\ ples. _DAT (the one with two periods {.. } First, you could create a MEMO FILER (!!) Rename - Suppose you use followed by • View Up .... The two "template." This is a file with some the HP 95LX to regularly take notes periods at the beginning of that line standardized text or formatting you at three different meetings: Your stand for the "parent" directory, in intend to use over and over. Let's staff meeting, project meeting, and this case, the C:\ root directory. say you create a correspondence an investment club meeting. You Press IENTERI when the cursor is on template consisting of a few blank keep these notes in three separate the two dots, and FILER moves us lines followed by the word "Dear," files: STAFF.TXT, PROJECT.TXT, back to the C:\ root directory. followed by a few more blank lines, and INVEST. TXT. If we had saved our MEMO file and ending with your name, ad Later on you decide to develop a as NOTES, we would find dress, phone number, and fax num more consistent naming convention NOTES.TXT in the C:\_DAT subdi ber. You save this template in for your note files. You want to rectory. As we mentioned earlier, MEMO with the name LETFORM. change the name of STAFF.TXT to the full filename would include the You can use the template by MEETSTF, PROJECT to MEETPROG, path, and be C:\_DAT\NOTES.TXT. entering FILER and pressing I!!I to and INVEST to MEETINV. To re This name contains complete infor make a copy of LETFORM. You are name STAFF, for example, go into mation about the file: Its name, then prompted to Copy 'Ietform' to:. FILER and move your cursor to extension, and path (where the file Type a new name, say, LET JOE. STAFF.OO. Then press (!!) to re is stored). Then go to MEMO and retrieve LET name, type in MEETSTF.OO and JOE. You can write your letter to press IENTERI. FILER Commands JOE without having to bother typ In future issues, we will contin Once we have a clear understanding ing your name and address, phone ue to look at how FILER can help us of how files are named and stored, and fax. organize and safeguard the precious we can make full use of the built-in Another essential use for the F2 work that we perform on the HP FILER program. Copy key is in backing up your files. 95LX. As with all the built-in applica For example, suppose your phone tions, we can get a quick intuitive book is saved in the C:\_DAT subdi overview of what FILER can do by rectory as MAIN .PBK. You can back
42 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 (LETI'ERS: hot keys to operate. Massimo Ferri Continued from page 4.) 2. I had to install BATT Dept. Mathematics, Calendar Supplement man and ask it to by U. Bologna, ITALY for the hp95 (page 7) about opening up pass the setup screen Important dates worldwide: V your 95LX. If you pry the upon Reboot. I had to GWBasic 8.28 • Lunar, Solar, and Time Zone days case apart as suggested "be use command line op on the95LX • National Holidays (>150 countries) tween" the 'MENU' and '+' tions at setup and add a I have used MS Basic • Religious days (6 major religions) keys, you run the risk of line as the last TSR on for many years so • Holiday details • Traditions/gifts damaging the flexible cable the AUTOEXEC.BAT. when I recently got • What's closed • National facts just inside. I did and it cost my 1MB 95LX I Database and Utility Functions: me $183.18 to repair the I hope this is useful to some wanted to use it on • Merge/ Select Files/Records 95LX. It would be better to of our friends. the Palmtop. Using • Calendar&Phonebook Databases pry just outside of these I also would like some PKLITE I reduced • Battery voltages and % left keys, in the area of the help. I come from Kuwait GWBASIC.EXE to • Change file and directory protection alignment pins for the con and in the Middle East, 64.5K. I transferred • Many other built-in functions nector. Saturday is the first day of the file to my BIN Small and easy to use: William W. Heathom the week. Maybe someone directory and it • Menu driven user interface Fouom, CA, USA knows a way to change seems to work within • Usually <20K on-line (135K max) WEEKABK, which only limits. $25 includes floppy disk, on-line manual, PRT95 recognizes Sunday and The graphics and 1 year of calendars, and database program You have written that a Monday as possible first sound statements do with built-in system utilities. shareware program called days of the week. not work, but screen Visa/MC - US412-422-4134 PRT95 by Todd Cary can Adnan. AI Bahar and color commands Made in the USA by ASP print the Phone Book in a London., UK are OK. I use screen variety of formats (see Ju o and color n,O yields the never realized just how ly / August issue, page 5, LEO on the HP 95LX following for n ... ( 8=blank, interesting is the simple response to item 2 of "Some Not many 95LX users have 9=underline, 10= normal, function fix,y) = xAy until I Questions "). heard of LEO. It is a scien 25=blink underline, 26= tried graphing it. How can I contact him? tific text editor with a TeX blink). In addition, color [See page 48, this issue, Please note that I have no file as its output. Thanks to 8,7= inverse and color 16,7= for more on Derive - Hal.] modem. Everett Kaser, who gave me blink inverse. Ahmet G. Ozitlik the correct parameters, I Locate commands work, Other Language Istanbul TURKEY have succeeded in loading so cursor position is OK. Versions of LEO on my 95LX. I can The function keys work Connectivity Kit? [The software, PTR95- now write real math formu normally for LIST, RUN, My primary language is .ZIP, is available on the las on my 95LX, and have LOAD, SAVE, etc., but the Spanish, but I bought the July/August issue of The them output as TeX files. line editing fails (perhaps English version of the HP HP Palmtop Paper ON You need to load FAST due to odd cursor keys or 95LX. Since my English DISK, or directly from LEO.EXE, LEO.CFG, and screen control). isn't that great, I want to Ariste Software, 1523 Fifth the font files from the V350 Emmet Jones buy the Spanish version of Avenue, San Rafael, CA directory to the 95LX. Then Corvallis, OR, USA the HP Connectivity Kit. 94901, USA; Phone 415- retrieve LEO.CFG (the LEO CompuSrv: [971750,1226J The dealer I purchased my 95LX from says he's 459-1519; CompuServe ID: configuration file) into never heard of these foreign [73027,3067]. ] MEMO and add the follow Derive language versions of the kit ing line: I bought DERIVE and have and requests that I send thoroughly enjoyed it. I Using BATTman with VIDEO=MODE20;128;240;BOOO. him the HP part number of the Subscribers Disk wish it were system compli the Spanish version so that I had some initial difficulty You need to do this through ant, but am nevertheless he can order it. using the 1992 Subscribers MEMO or another text enormously pleased with it. I can't seem to get the Disk on my 95LX. I had editor, not through LEO It's been a real learning information from Hewlett installed the BATTman SETUP (the LEO setup experience to work with Packard. I wonder if you battery management pro program), which will not this unusual program. With could find out the part gram (ACE) before I re accept these parameters. I its built-in intelligence, it number for the Spanish, ceived my disk and was also found that I needed to mayor may not do what and other language versions using Stacker on my A increase the right margin. you want; it tries to guess of the HP Connectivity Kit drive (RAM card). I also The only drawback is and often guesses right, but and print them in an up had been using Drive95. I that the LEO menus are too not always. When it doesn't, coming issue of The HP made these discoveries: large to read, so I keep a it may still be possible to Palmtop Paper? reduced photocopy of them coax it. It's an experience, I Ivan Villamil-Morel 1. I had to have the Drive- in my pocket. tell you. Washington., D.C., USA 95 device statement LEO is sold by: ARK The 2 and 3-dimensional [As far as we know, there before the Stacker de Software, 4495 Ottawa graphing is at least as are no other language ver vice statement in CON much fun as any game, and sions of the HP Connectivity Place, Boulder, CO 80303; Kit - Rich.] FIG.SYS in order for the USA; Phone: 303-494-4872. can be quite instructive. I
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 43 LETl'ERS: Continued
Possible to Change When I use the 512K ver working and my wife moved through the metal detector, Date Sequence on sion of the 95LX, it goes my 95LX to an armchair. and the security officer International 95LXs? back to FILER right away. When I wake up, the main asked me what it was and I have an International The same FILER-to-DOS batteries were dead because why I had a strip of Velcro English 95LX (serial prefix delay happens when I'm I fell asleep without putting on it. I showed her that it ABB). How do you set the using a CONFIG.SYS file the 95LX back to FILER was a PC and told her the date sequence to be DD/ on the 1MB 95LX, (but after having connected it to Velcro was used to attach it MMIYY when viewing files again, not on the 512K! Any Drive95. Always put the to the dash of my car. She suggestions? 95LX out of backup mode - in the filer? Can it be done smiled and said okay! without creating an AUTO I have another problem before falling asleep, or with Drive95. Its user docu leaving the 95LX. I'm in charge of a com EXEC.BAT file? If not, HP puter center and use a Mac. should put it on their list of mentation says that I can Alfred Ben; backup the 95LX from FIL Monterrey, MEXICO My corporate life has been things to do. changed with this little box Gary Oliver ER to Drive95, tagging the [Use !!!l to Split the MilBonB Point NSW, desired files and copying screen in FILER. Then since I tossed my Day AUSTRALIA them over. But I don't un press ~ G: to "Goto" the G Timer. (Boy was that derstand how this is possi drive in FILER - Hal.] scary!) Drive95 Problems ble, since Drive95 is seen as I've been using the HP with 1MB 95LX? the G drive, and this can Velcro's 95LX to Connectivity Pack on my Since switching to a 1MB only exist outside of SYS Car Dashboard; Still Mac running a PC emu 95LX I find that I have MGR? Do I have to register Waiting for lation package called Soft difficulty going from FILER DRIVE95.SYS (Drive95's AT. It runs quite well and device driver) in the APP Mac Connectivity Kit to DOS when I'm also using I've been using the HP allows copying and pasting Sparcom's Drive95. If I go COM list for it to be able to if you have at least 8MB of have Drive G and FILER 95LX at home and on the to DOS and then try to go RAM. open at the same time? road since last October and back to the FILER with have found it to be quite an Fred Dugach "EXIT" or "ROM. BAT", it A closing warning! The other night I fell asleep amazing piece of hardware. Cleveland, OB, USA takes a very long time to I had to chuckle a bit the CompuSrv #: [70375,1401J finally get back to FILER. first time I took my HP
led software program that lets the 95LX access the card. This is a 4MB card, not a 2MB card with file com New Non·HP Products designed to pression software. Availability ...... NOW work with the HP 95LX Medium ...... 4MB SRAM Card Runs under SysMgr ...... Yes Price ...... (Call) By Richard Hall and Hal Goldstein standard 9-pin serial port, auxiliary CONTACT: Altec Electronic GmbH, Vahren· power port, lmd an intelligent walder Str. 205/7, D·3000, Hannover 1, In the last five issues we have listed charge circuit with timer. High GERMANY; Phone: +49511·63088·36; Fax: over 200 hardware and software capacity NMH battery available. +49511·63088·49. products, and other 95LX-related Availability ...... NOW services already available from Pricing ...... $300 Flash Filing System third-party manufacturers and CONTACT: CSS, 919 NE Second Street, Software Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; Phone: 800·733· developers. We will continue to list 5017 or 503·752·4419; Fax: 503·752·7037. Software for your PC that enables 95LX hardware, software, books, FLASH memory cards to emulate a videos, training, and services as we Wallet Carrying Case floppy disk under DOS and other discover them. Vendors should send Made of premium men's wallet lea operating systems. us information. ther with shiny brass corner guards, Availability ...... NOW this case holds credit cards, memory Media ...... Floppy disk Hardware cards, notes, checks, and your 95LX. (for desktop PC) Velcro holds case closed. Pricing ...... Call CONTACT: SCM Microsystem GMBH, Availability ...... NOW Fraunhofer Str. l1A, D·8033 Martinsried, Cases Pricing (1#2638) ...... $43.95 GERMANY; Phone: +49 89 8598702; Fax: +49 CONTACT: EduCALC, 27953 Cabot Road, 898595806. EC·95 Environmental Case Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, USA; Phone: 800· USA CONTACT: Computer Modules, Phone: This durable aluminum case is 677·7001 or 714·582·2637; Fax: 714·582·1445. 408:496·1881; Fax: 408·496·1886. suitable for those using the 95LX in harsh environments. It provides RAM Cards & Drives Memory Cards and Drives sealed protection from the weather, I SCM Microsystem of Germany of dust, and shock, while allowing the fers a number of memory card relat HP 95LX to remain operational. 4Maker ed products, including 128K to Includes a puncture-resistant poly 4Maker is a 4MB SRAM Memory 20MB FLASH, 128K to 4MB SRAM, urethane keyboard membrane, Card that comes with a pre-instal- and EPROM cards, and internal
44 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 GPS ... and external memory card drives for speeds up to 9600 baud. A 9 volt your desktop PC. battery powers the Koupler for up to 30 hours of modem use. The Availability ...... NOW Pricing ...... Call package includes RJ-ll modem CONTACT: SCM Microsystem GMBH, connection and an R-type adapter. Fraunhofer Str. llA, D-8033 Martinsried, GERMANY; Phone: +49 89 8598702; Fax: +49 Availability ...... NOW 898595806. Pricing ...... $149 USA CONTACT: Computer Modules, Phone: CONTACT: Unlimited Systems Corp. Inc., 408:496-1881; Fax: 408-496·1886. 5555 Magnatron Blvd, Suite J, San Diego, CA 92111, USA; Phone: 800-275-6354 or 619- Memory Card Drives 277-3300; Fax: 619-277-3305. Designed for desktop computers, these drives fit in a standard 3.5" Light Top Acoustic Coupler floppy disk drive bay. Comes in one Light Top is a battery-powered aco and two card slot models. Includes ustic coupler used to connect com 8-bit adapter card. puter modems to the telephone sys How? Make world leaders (Contact end of next product.) tem via the telephone handset. It weighs less than 5 ounces and is in GPS and computer Memory Card Designer's Kit powered for 40 hours of use with 4 technologies work together. Includes a guide to memory card AAA batteries. Light Top allows system design, example software, a data transmission at speeds from The GPSpac from GESSA universal memory card drive with 2400 to 9600 bps. integrates the most 68-pin connector (internal), a 512K powerful Palmtop PC on SRAM, and 512K Flash ROM card. Availability ...... NOW Pricing ...... $145 the market, the HP 95LX Availability ...... NOW CONTACT: Coml Data Communication Pricing Corp., 5120 Avenida Encinas, Suite C, Carls from Hewlett Packard, One card drive ...... $395 bad, CA 92008, USA; Phone: 800-289-2661 or with Rockwell's NavCore V Two card drive ...... $690 619-431-5606; Fax: 619-431-5744. Designer's Kit ...... $595 state of the art, five CONTACT: Adtron Corp., 128 West Boulder, channel GPS receiver. Suite 102, Chandler, AZ 85224, USA; Phone: Wireless Communication 602-926-9324; Fax: 602-926-9359. I Simple but functional! Memory Card Drives The Data-Lite Portable External and internal card drives Satellite Terminal for your desktop PC. These drives Data-Lite is designed to connect the let your desktop read your 95LX 95LX user to the INMARSAT-C memory cards, and facilitate data satellite system, providing 95LX transfer and backups. The internal users a worldwide data link card drive can accept up to 4MB of to send and receive information. Flash memory for additional file storage capacity. Availability ...... NOW Pricing ...... $10,000 Availability ...... NOW CONTACT: Mobile Telesystems, Inc., 300 Pricing Professional Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20879, EMCD-P: an external drive with USA; Phone: 301-417-6210; Fax: 301-590- parallel port interface ...... $380 8558. COMPLETE SYSTEM : LIST MCD2B-Fd: an internal drive with room - HP 95LX Palmtop PC $699 for up to 4MB of additional Flash memory (MCD2B-FD) ... $810 PagerPac - GPSpac w/transit case $1290 1MB Flash Simm module for This software runs on an IBM AS/- - Battery pack $195 internal drive ...... $165 400 multi-user computer, and allows - Software on 2 Mega SRAM Card $799 CONTACT: Computer Modules, 2350A Walsh Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA; Phone: users of the AS/400 to send messag 408-496-1881; Fax: 408-496-1886. es, schedules, spreadsheets, and other data through an information CALL OR FAX service to the 95LX via a mobile PALMTREE FOR IModems & Accessories I receiver like the HP SkyStream or the Motorola NewsStream Receiver. SPECIAL PRICING Konexx Koupler Acoustic Availability ...... NOW ~, Coupler Runs under SysMgr ...... Not for 95LX The Konexx Koupler Model 203 is a Pricing ...... $Call ::3GPSPO{ battery-powered acoustic coupler CONTACT: Business Partner Solutions, Inc., 2 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 214, Hinsdale, IL 14'5 Washington Street that is used to connect computer 60521, USA; Phone 708-323-9292; Fax: 708- modems to the telephone system via 323-9330; Phone: (as ofOct 15) 8oo-645-BPSI. Norwell, MA 02061 the telephone handset. The Koupler Phone (617) 871-7050 allows consistent data transmission Fax: (617) 871-6018
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 45 Third Party Product.
Software phone books. Includes system utili ties for battery life, file protection, and more. Includes manual, floppy Aviation disk with system utilities, calendar databases, calendar and phone book LapMap control program, menu interface. LapMap is a moving map display Availability ...... NOW for pilots. Attaches your 95LX to Medium ...... Floppy disk Runs under SysMgr ...... No your on-board Loran or GPS receiv Pricing ...... $25 er and LapMap shows where you CONTACT: ASP, P.O. Box 81270, Pittsburgh, are, where you will be, and your PA 15217, USA; Phone: 412·422·4134; Fax: projected ground track relative to 412·422·4135. airports, navaids, and special use MAIL ORDER MEMORIES airspace. LapMap supports several models of Loran and GPS receivers. Connectivity Guaranteed Lowest Prices Availability ...... NOW Medium ...... ROM Card Macintosh Connectivity Kit MOM will beat any documented Runs under SysMgr ...... No Transfers ASCII and Mac personal price by at least 5 % and still provide: Pricing ...... $495.00 information manager data between CONTACT: Peacock Systems Inc., Civil Air the 95LX and the Mac. Includes Terminal #325, Bedford, MA 01730, Phone: • NAME BRAND CARDS 800·533·1012 or (617) 274·8218; Fax: (617) translators for PowerUp Software's • FULL HP95LX COMPA TIBILlTY 274·8130. Address Book Plus, PowerUp CaLa • LASTEST REVISION LEVEL N dar, Claris Hypercard, Portfolio • ALL CARD TYPES AND SIZES Systems' Dynodex, and Borland • FREE BATTERY Built-in Applications Sidekick for Macintosh. Includes • ONE PRICE (CASH OR CREDIT) Ad-ons Mac to 95LX cable. [See Advertising, page 26-27.} SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Abkrp and Abkasc ii Availability ...... Sept 15, 1992 CALL 800·497·9152 Abkrp translates 95LX Phone Book Medium ...... Floppy disk FAX 817-488·3796 Runs under SysMgr ...... No (PBK) files into an SO-column report Pricing ...... $89.95 HP is. registered Iradeawlt of Hewlett Packard Canpany on the default printer or a format CONTACT: Sparcom Corporation, 897 NW ted ASCII data file which can be Gront Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; Phone modified with any text editor. 800·827·8416 or 503·757·8416; Fax: 503·753· Abkasc translates 95LX Phone 7821; CompuServe ID: [75320,2440). Book (PBK) files into an SO-column, Educational comma delimited, ASCII data file ,------, I suitable for use with a database Database I L....-______..... E.Z. Arithmetic Modules program. The Abkasc-created re cords contain all the HP data fields, EFMS ii A series of twelve modules for stud plus two fields which can be used to Everyone's File Management Sys ents, parents and adults that cover create indexed database records. tem is a flat file database. EFMS the basic concepts and computations has user defined screens, indexes, involving whole numbers, whole Availability ...... NOW numbers bases, fractions, decimals, Medium ...... Floppy disk simple report generation, and up to Runs under SysMgr ...... No 32,700 records/file. measurements, percents, integers. Pricing (each) ...... $15 Each module consists of a man CONTACT: UniSource, Inc., 671 Cedar Availability ...... NOW ual that contains all the study Street, Longboat Key, FL 34228, USA; Phone: Medium ...... Floppy disk Runs under SysMgr ...... No hints, terminology, definitions, con 813·383·0194; Fax: (same, evening hours). cepts, methods, model problems and Also available on the HPHAND forum of CIS. Pricing ...... $39 CONTACT: Charles Kingston, Box 564, Elms· exercises necessary to master that ford, NY 10523, USA; Phone: 914·949·7870. module's topics. User-friendly soft Calendar Supplement ware on disk provides an endless for the HP 95LX Mileage amount of easy-to-use drill problems This supplement to APPT's calendar Database program that tracks car for practice and reinforcement. lists holidays and important dates mileage, remembers previous routes The following modules are avail worldwide; lunar, solar, and time for reuse, and keeps a running total able: Whole number basics; Whole zone days; national holidays for over of mileage and expenses. number operations; Whole number 150 countries; religious holidays for Availability ...... NOW base basics; Whole number base 6 major religions; zodiac days and Medium ...... Floppy disk operations; Fraction basics; Fraction more. Know the important days in Runs under SysMgr ...... No operations; Decimal basics; Decimal the country you are visiting. Pricing ...... $35 operations; Measurements; Percent The calendar Supplement also CONTACT: Genus Software Corp., 1625 Richards St., Salt Lake City, UT94115, USA; basics; Percent problems; Integers. performs database operations; [See Advertising, page 32.} merge, append and delete calendars; Phone: 801·487·6220. choose, include, and remove entries, works on the 95LX's calendars and ii On The HP Pelmtop Paper on Disk, Sep/Oct 92.
46 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 Availability ...... Oct. 1, 1992 physicians in calculating proper to-date patient data wherever he or Medium ...... Floppy disk dosages and tracking dosing sched she may be. Stores patients' person Runs under SysMgr ...... No Pricing (each module) ...... $49.95 ules of 20 commonly monitored al and admission information, ad (Available for most popular computers drugs (gentamicin, theophylline, mitting and referring physicians and calculators.) digoxin, etc.). Software programs and insurance carriers data, abbre CONTACT: E.Z. Software, P.O. Box 500, contain the latest findings in phar viated medical histories, allergies, Midwood Station, Brooklyn, NY 11230, USA; macokinetic research. Also includes and patient care notes. Medical Phone: (718) 434-2304. 24-hour consulting service. Rounds tracks the time spent with Availability ...... NOW each patient. It captures patient Financial I Real Estate Medium ...... RAM Card charges for services provided, in I I Runs under SysMgr ...... Yes cluding a program for determining Pricing (software and training) .... $1,850 the new physician evaluation and LiveLine·HP CONTACT: Data Med Clinical Support management services CPT codes. LiveLine-HP is a realtime quote Services (see contact below). Medical Rounds comes with an display service which monitors all HP version with full user documen U.S. equities, indices, futures and Assurance Nutrition™ This service provides precise enteral tation, as well as a PC version on options. Displays 30 issues on your floppy disk. screen, plus a quote line to access and parenteral nutritional analyses any issue's price. Running ticker for pharmacists or dietitians. In Availability ...... NOW displays, trade price, and volume. cludes software for analyzing and Medium ...... ROM assessing patient data. Includes the Runs under SysMgr ...... No Portfolio system includes total prof Pricing ...... $399 itlloss and market value. Hourly latest findings in nutritional re Demo disk ...... $25 intra-day rankings of most active search and 24-hour consulting. CONTACT: The Medical Mind, 897 issues, percentage gainers, losers Availability ...... NOW Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011, Medium ...... RAM Card USA; Phone: 717-737-2550; Fax: 717-763- and historical graphs are also in 0768. cluded. Software includes Kermit Runs under SysMgr ...... Yes (comm program). Must have an Pricing (software and training) . .. . $1,850 CONTACT: Data Med Clinical Support Pocket RD 11 95LX and a 1200/2400 baud modem. Services (see contact below). This nutrition software for nutri Availability ...... NOW Point·Of·Care Software™ tion, health and fitness profession Runs under SysMgr ...... No als calculates, sorts, organizes, and Pricing: Minimum $25 per month. $6 per This product allows 95LX users to hour in Chicago metropolitan area, $9.75 interface with other PC-based soft graphs clinically relevant data, and elsewhere in the USA. ware systems from Data Med and is prints client and personal reports. It CONTACT: National Computer Network, includes 12 program sections: 1929 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago, IL 60635, only useful with those systems. The following Modules are available: Weight loss, exercise analysis, body USA; Phone: 312-622-6666; Fax: 312-622 composition, nutrient analysis with 6889. Availability ...... NOW more than 5,000 foods, diabetic and Medium ...... RAM Card renal calculations, enteral and par Running TOTAL Runs under SysMgr ...... Yes enteral nutrition, and many equa Running TOTAL software comes Pricing for Point-of-Care Software™ with: Assurance Homecare System™ .... $850 tions on determining appropriate with Grand TOTAL, real estate Assurance Long-Term Care System™ $850 nutrient intake levels. appraisal generations software for Assurance Nursing System ™ ..... $850 desktop PCs. Running TOTAL al Assurance Respiratory System™ . . . $850 Availability ...... NOW lows on-site appraisal data collec- Assurance Rehabilitation System ™ . $850 Medium ...... Floppy disk or ROM Card . tion, walking the user through the CONTACT: Data Med Clinical Support questions on a URAR appraisal Services,2331 University Ave., SE, Minneapo lis, MN 55414, USA; Phone: 800-STAT-911 or Easy Printing form. On-screen prompts can be 612-378-2930.; Fax: 612-378-2930. answered with single-key responses. From Your Palmtop! Warnings are given if "critical" Manager's Assistant Depart· items are left blank. Data is then mental Information System The GA935 Printer Converter lets you downloaded into a desktop PC run Manager's Assistant software turns ning Grand TOTAL. print directly from your HP 95LX on the 95LX into a point of care pa virtually any parallel printer. It uses Availability ...... NOW tient data collection device for re the standard HP cable. Medium ...... Floppy disk spiratory, physical and occupational Runs under SysMgr ...... No therapists. The Printer Converter is battery Pricing Grand TOTAL (with Running TOTAL powered and totally portable. for the 95LX) ...... $995 Availability ...... NOW CONTACT: a la mode, inc., 1015 Waterwood Medium ...... Floppy disk Available from most HP dealers. For Pkwy, Suite F, Edmond, OK 73034, USA; Runs under SysMgr ...... No your nearest dealer contact: Phone: 800-252-6633 or 405-359-6587; Fax: Pricing ...... $1,595 405-359-8612. CONTACT: MediServe Information Systems Inc., 1615 West University Dr., Ste 138 Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Phone: 800-279-8456 Health Related or 602-966-6800; Fax: 602-966-6735. Tel: (704) 376-1021 Assuran ce Kinetics™ Medical Rounds Fax: (704) 335-8707 Menu-driven information organizer Toll Free: 1-800-476-4070 This service assists pharmacists or that provides a physician with up-
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 47 Runs under SysMgr ...... No management system. FieldWritR Pricing (floppy disk version) ...... $279 accepts downloaded inspection sche ROM Card version ...... $379 APPLICATION CONTACT: Poly-Bytes Inc., P.O. Box 770070, dules, collects information, cites Coral Springs, FL 33077, USA; Phone: 305- violations, prints site reports and BUILDER 344-0501; Fax: 305-344-0522. uploads results to the main program FOR THE HP 95LX running on a PC. FieldWritR must PVT Terminal be used with ReportWritR. With QAPalm you can create The PVT (patient visit translator) Availability ...... NOW custom data collection and Terminal software turns the 95LX CONTACT: Digital Inspections, a division of viewing applications for your into a pocket sized data collector XENERGY, 800 NW Starker Ave., Suite 48, palmtop on your PC without that assists the physician in record Corvallis, OR 97330,' Phone: 503-752-7233; ing procedures and services with Fax: 503-758-3666. programming. Uses an easy patients. The software will suggest screen painting approach. the appropriate 1992 Evaluation & MicroCoach Transfers data to dBase and Management CPT code for billing Football game statistics software Lotus 123 formats. Demo avail purposes. Specialized CPT code 95LX. Includes offense and defense modules are available additionally stats, as well as computer aided able. for OBGYN, pediatrics, and cardiol tactics for play selection. QA SYSTEMS, INC. ogy, with others in development. Availability ...... NOW 220 East 42nd Street Customized orders will be honored. Medium ...... Floppy disk New York, N.Y. lOOl7 Runs under SysMgr ...... No Availability ...... NOW Pricing ...... $149 1800945-1717/212599-1717 Medium ...... RAM Card CONTACT: Micro Information Services Inc., Fax 212-599-2614 Runs under SysMgr ...... Yes 215 Islip Ave., Islip, NY 11751, USA; Phone: Pricing ...... $499 516-277-6737; Fax: 5l6-277-0509. Specialized CPT modules ..... $200 instrumentation, spreadsheets, da (minimum order, or $2 per code) CONTACT: JA-DE-JA Inc., 600 Fairmount, System 95 Survey Card tabases, and other programs. The # 305, Towson, MD 21286, USA; Phone 800- Turns the 95LX into a complete new version automatically selects 272-3590 or 410-296-4117; Fax: 410-296-2422. data collection and field geometry the appropriate technique for solv device for surveyors. Functions in ing first and second order ordinary clude data collection; off-center differential equations in a single I Personal Info Managers I shots; multiple readings for angles step, and expands support for high and distances; offset, radial and er-level special functions. Keep In View slope stakeout; survey adjustment, This ROM card version can be Keep In View (KJV) is a full-fea sunshots; horizontal, vertical, and uploaded to run on a desktop PC. tured Personal Information Manag spiral curves; earthwork; triangle Availability ...... NOW er (PIM) specifically designed for solutions; and more. Connects to Medium ...... ROM card the HP 95LX. KJV is a cross be any Total Station via special cable Runs under SysMgr ...... No tween an outliner and a free-form (not included) for downloading data. Pricing (new) ...... $289 database. It is an information orga Upgrade ...... varies, call Availability ...... NOW CONTACT: Soft Warehouse, Inc., 3660 Waia nizer based on the concept of an Medium ...... ROM Card lae Ave, Suite 304, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA; office filing cabinet. Runs under SysMgr ...... No Phone: 808-734-5801; Fax: 808-735-1105. KJV can be used for virtually Pricing ...... $695 any text or data based application Total Station connector cable ... . $75 New Media Corporation - including note taking and outlining. (specify type of Total Station) CONTACT: Tripod Data Systems, 1853 SW Correct Phone Number A special reference field allows you Airport Road, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA; The number listed on page 40 of the to associate a particular entry with Phone: 800-426-8026 or 503-753-9322; Fax: July/ August issue is wrong. The a key word. This feature makes KJV 503-757-7439. correct phone numbers are: 800-453- suitable for project management Or: EduCALC, 27953 Cabot Road, Laguna 0550 or 714-453-0114; Fax; 714-453- applications. Other features include Niguel, CA92677, USA; Phone: 800-677-7001 0114. file import and export, printing, or 714-582·2637; Fax: 714-582-1445. searching, and on-line help. Upgrades, Updates, Personal Computer Systems - Availability ...... NOW Correct Phone Number Medium ...... Floppy disk Corrections The phone number listed on page 40 Runs under SysMgr ...... Yes of the July/August issue (LoanSTAR Pricing ...... $69.95 contact) is wrong. The correct num CONTACT: Lucid Corportation, 101 West DERIVE Version 2.5 Renner Rood, Suite 450, Dallas, TX 75082, A new version of Soft Warehouse's ber is 503-665-6990. USA; Phone: 800-92LUCID or 214-994-8100; "Mathematical Assistant" software Fax: 214-994-8103. provides more algorithms for solving Memory Card Associates Take equations, factoring polynomials, Over Palmtop Resources integrating expressions, and alge All products and services previously I Specialized Products I braically simplifying expressions. A offered by Palmtop Resources (see new pseudo-random number genera Jul/Aug issue, page 42) are now of FieldWritR tor has been added, along with the fered by Memory Card Associates, This product is the field component abililty to import, analyze, and plot 241 Curtner Ave. #Q, Palo Alto, CA ofReportWritR, a generic inspection raw numeric data generated by 94306, USA; Phone: 415-856-0920.
48 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 • •• BASIC TIPS •••
This section focuses on the 95LX's built-in applications, giving tips of a more basic level. We are interested in your feedback on this section. Is it differentiated enough from Quick Tips? Do you have any tips? Please write: The Editor, The HP Palmtop Paper, Thaddeus Computing, 57 E. Broadway, Fairfield, IA 52556.
(Split) and you will see two C drive screens. Now ~Appt press (ill (Gato) A: ~. The side of the split screen with the highlighting on it will now show the TIMER AND STOPWATCH IN APPT The 95LX has a Timer and Stopwatch built into contents of the A drive. APPT. Timer can be set to beep in a specific Split screens are extremely helpful in Copying amount of time, waming you of an upcoming or Moving files in Filer. With Split screens, you can meeting, or to stop boiling the fudge. Stopwatch see the computer actually do the work. can be used track efficiency at work, or time the 400 Meter relay at Barcelona. Press to enter Watch. The highlight bar I!!l File Backed Up on C:\ will be resting on Stopwatch. You can time any event to the hundredths of a second by pressing I!!l to Start the stopwatch and I!!l again to stop HP Calc it. Pressing I!!I resets the time. iii Press I
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 49 AAA QUICK TIPS AAA
used the serial port once a week. I II Lotus ~APPT did not connect the 95LX to an AC ~ Connectivity adapter during the tests. MACRO TO GET LISTING CORRECTION: CONNECTIVITY ENCRYPTING DATA Company/Name Average life in days AND HIDING FILES OF DATA FILES PACK'S MERGE DOES NOT One way to protect your sensitive If you keep all of your APPT, Eveready/Alkaline Energizer ...... 29 WORK ON THE 95LX PHONE, and MEMO data files EvereadylLithium Energizer ...... , 58 The tip published in "Quick Tips" information is to keep Hin a Lotus DuracelVDuracell .. •...... 32 worksheet and save it wHh a Pass (ABK, PBK, and TXT) in one direc Gates EnergylMillenium' ...... 7 (page 46, JulylAugust issue) is word. To do this when saving the tory (say C:\DATA) you can use the erroneous. It was taken from a following User Defined Function • No battery waming was given due to the message I wrote, but I had not tried worksheet, type in the name you quick drop off at the end of the battery life. wish to save the file under, followed Key (Macro) to get a file listing of Because of the short life, the serial port the technique. Another Compu by an empty space and the letter P. the data files while you are in the was used only once. Serve forum member tested Hand found that it did not work. I don't Then press ~. You will be application: Marty Mankins understand the reasons, but appar prompted to enter a password (see Take It With You [Menu]FO{BkSp} ently the desktop versions of the page 6-11 of the HP 95LX User's Orem, UT, USA (9 tlmes)C:\DATA\[Enter] built-in applications do not run on Guide). The password is required to PUTTING NON-ALKALINE the 95LX. retrieve the worksheet into Lotus, This assumes that you use the BATTERIES IN BACKWARDS Ted Dickens (HP Forums Sysop) and the sensitive data is not visible standard extensions (.ABK) for the CAN DAMAGE THE 95LX? CompuServe ID: {l6701,272] with any hex file editor like Norton data files. The above example as sumes that the data files are stored According to an HP Tech Support Utilities. in the DATA directory of the C person, the 95LX does have re AUTOMATE BACKUP A LOTUS spreadsheet damage drive. If the DATA directory was on verse battery protection, but the OF THE HP 95LX recovery program called RESCUE your RAM card, C:\DATA\ would be circuH has been tested only with I have a simple BATch file that has an included program that will replaced by A:\DATA\. alkaline batteries, and HP will give accomplishes a backup using DSC- rescue a forgotten password. Mark Scardina no assurances that it will work or 95: Another way to encrypt data is not self-destruct if a user installs Ni CompuServe ID: {l1551,467] echo assuming HP95 is running DSC95.EXE. .. to use a file compression program Cds or equivalent. That is, if you cd Icomm\qlack like DIET. MACRO FOR BACKING UP install alkaline batteries backwards, dc95 Marc Schiffring APPOINTMENT BOOK the circuit will protect the 95LX xcopy d:\'" c:lcomm\cpacklbckupla Is/elY without buming up, while all bets xcopy e:\'.' c:lcomm\cpacklbckup'c Is/elY CompuServe ID: {l2311,173] This macro automatically saves dc95 ·U Michael Gilchrist changes for the appointment book, are off if you use Ni-Cds. CompuServe ID: {l3557,2232] closes the application and creates a Victor D Roberts I run it every night wHhout fail. I feel file backup in card A. It could be CompuServe ID: {l0413,1423] a little better all day. @BASE DATABASE WORKS easily adapted to any other applica Greg Witek WELL ON 95LX tion. DEFECTIVE MAIN BATTERIES CompuServe ID: {l2611,2114] I installed an old copy of @BASE (a A RAM card should be installed DECREASE LIFE OF BACKUP Lotus add-in) on the 95LX. It pro and the 95LX switched to English BATTERY SYSTEM RAM REQUIRED If you have an intermittent short in vides a full XBASE-type database language. The name of the appoint TO RUN DCS95.EXE the main batteries (which is not on my 95LX, which seems to work ment file I use is CALENDA 1.ABK To run the DOS connectivity utilHy unrealistic for the new style alka well. I can move between MEMO, and its path is C:lDAT\CALEN DCS95.EXE on the 95LX requires DA1.ABK. You can change the lines), you may be using the back the System RAM to be at least PHONE, APPT, and Lotus without up battery more than you expect. If any problems! name and path to suit yourself. This 242K. Anything smaller causes macro also assumes that A:\BACK you find yourseif going through error messagesldoesn't work. Steven White backup batteries, try changing your CompuServe ID: {100036,145] UP already exists. Phillip Simpson main battery brand. Clayton, Victoria, AUSTRALIA {MENU}qy{ENTER}y Ted Dickens (HP Forums Sysop) LOTUS 123 MACROMANAGER CompuServe ID: {l6701,272] {FILERXF7}{RIGHT}{F5} BACKUP TO ADD-IN WORKS ON 95LX a:\backup{ENTER}{LEFT} FLOPPY DISK SIMPLE I have been using the Macro RECHARGEABLE {F5}C:ldat\calenda 1.abk On page 19 of your JulylAugust Manager add-in from Lotus 2.2 for BATTERIES {ENTER}{ESC}{F2} issue you indicated that only "more about 8 months without (knock The 95LX is built for alkalines. It {ENTER}y{MENU}q experienced" users will be able to wood) any problems. It uses a has no recharging capabilities and transfer directly to floppies. I am far macro library file of about 14K that its intemal battery logic is set for Jose M.· Lafora Garia from experienced, but was able to has almost all the macros I use on HP Espanola discharge rates of alkaline batteries and may not give you enough warn figure out a very simple procedure. a daily basis in it. I think this add-in Madrid, SPAIN Once you have started APP95 and is VERY useful because I don't ing when using rechargeable batter ies. are in the remote mode, swHch to have to duplicate all these macros split screen with your highlight bar in each spreadsheet. @Battery Those who choose to use re chargeables will have to develop in your desktop's half ofthe screen. Ronald Viece/; Put a floppy into the PC, press ~ CompuServe ID: {l3310,3663] BATTERY LIFE their own plan for switching the Over the last six months I tested batteries often enough to prevent (the Goto key), and type in the ap the battery life of four different kinds memory loss propriate drive letter of your PC's of Double-A batteries. In each case Ted Dickens (HP Forums Sysop) floppy drive (usually A: or B:). You I used the 95LX 1 hour per day and CompuServe ID: {l6701,272] can then highlight the desired files
50 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER I OCTOBER 1992 on either side of the split screen tery is in use. tional drives as "network" drives. information you want, but it can and transfer them back and forth by You can use TimeOutii or (This is shown when you run only be done once. Per-unit cost is pressing I!!I (Copy). 95Buddyii to reset the timeout DCS95 on your PC.) higher than ROM, and density isn't I create a directory on the floppy period for more than 3 minutes, and Gary Oliver as high - but there's no massive disk with a name like "BU081792" this should eliminate the problem. Milsons Point, NSW, AUSTRALIA setup cost. You do need a PROM (BU =backup, 081792 =August 17, John Crea burner - a specialized piece of 1992). I then back up the entire CompuServe 10: {76636,3676J electronics. 95LX into that directory of the flop mMisc • EPROM = Erasable PROM. py disk. This is a PROM that can be erased If something goes wrong with aDOS Tips NEW 95LXs with a long dose of intense ultravio your 95LX files, you can reload the IN THE WORKS? let light. EPROMs have small win· contents of the floppy disk directory CREATING HELP FILES When? Who knows! Leaks about dows in the top through which the back to the 95LX effortlessly. FOR DOS APPLICATIONS new products five-six months ahead W is sent; in normal use, a piece When you are done reloading to the This is a suggestion to those using of schedule are pretty rare; 2·3 of tape covell the window to pre 95LX just reboot and EVERYTHING DOS applications on the 95LX. months is more typical. vent unintentional erasure. More is exactly as it was. Typically, the help files tend to be It's a safe bet that HP is working expensiveness dense than PROMs, I now only backup files that have large and contain too much, or on follow-up products; the success but mistakes aren't as expensive. changed since the last backup. A improperty (for the 95LX) formatted of the 95LX and the stumbling of • EEPROM = Electronically erase batch file or DOS connect is not text. If your application has macros competitive products make it imper able PROM. Same concept, only it needed, and a novice can do this and can execute a DOS command, ative that HP seize this opportunity. can be erased electronically. easily. The backup takes me les~ you can create a text file with the If HP can stay on top of the techno • Flash RAM than 5 minutes a week now, and it help info you need (formatted for logical heap, they can repeat their A new kind of EEPROM which has been a life saver on several the 95). Then using a utility like success in the calculator markets allows the chip to be modified byte occasions. where even though they may not by byte. Flash RAM seems to be REEXE II, create a macro that sell the most - they are clearty Jeffrey Zorn invokes it and your help file. This breaking the traditional tradeoff recognized as king of the hill. Farmington Hills, MI, USA creates pop-up help screens that between flexibility and cost, with If an HP palmtop becomes the densities much higher than EE work very well on the 95LX. 12C of the executive suite, HP will CCMAIL·REMOTE WORKING Mark Scardina PROM yet with lower costs. reap many benefits. ON THE 95LX CompuServe 10: {71551,467J Ted Oickens (HP Forums Sysop) You must use version 3.2. I have Ted Oickens (HP Forums Sysop) CompuServe 10: {76701,272J CompuServe 10: {76701,272J the program and associated files on DECIDE SYSTEM CONFIG the root directory of a 1MB RAM AT BOOT UP WHEN HARD RESET FORMATS BiSet Up card (A:\). I invoke the program I've been experimenting with a DISK with: useful little application that I picked A hard reset (press
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1992 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER 51 HOW TO CONTACT US Products Advertised in The HP Palmtop Paper ~ Page number There are a number of ways to get in ~ touch with The HP Palmtop Paper ACE DoubleCard RAM Memory Cards) ...... inside front Switch) • . .• .. • ...... •.. . . • . . ..• . • . ..• ...... 1 staff. You can write; mail us a disk BATIman Batt8IY Monitoring Software) •• . . . • • . • . • • • . . . • • • • . • . . . . • . • 3 with your comments; send Compu myREMOTE) ...... 4 Serve mail; fax; or call. Our address is: 1SP Calendar Supplement) ...... 43 NAive Data Memory Cards) ...... outside back Thaddeus Computing, Inc. BSE SeriallParalkil Connectivity Kit) ...... 33 CM Software Pocket Sales Force) ...... 20 The HP Palmtop Paper Computer Insbuctors 95L.X, Lotus, ACTI Training Classes) ...... 41 PO Box 869 or 57 E. Broadway Contact Software CT Contact Management Software) ...... 11 Fairfield, IA 52556, U.S.A. Databook Memory Card Drive) ...... 34 DataViz MacLink Plus) .. • • • • . • • .. . • . • . . • • . . . . • .. . • • . • . • .. . • . • . inside back Fax ':515-472·1879 E-Z Arithmetic Math tutoriaQ ...... 32 Phone:515-472~30 EduCALC 95L.X Accessories Catalog! • • . .. . • .. • . . • . .. • ...... • • .. .. • • . . • . • • 28 8 Dorado Trading P 95LX and Acce&sories ...... 40 or 800-373-6114 Essex Marketing SeMoes L - Forth Programming ...... 39 Greenwich Insbuments Seriaf.\o-Parallel convertar . • •••.. •••• .. .••• . .•.• ...• • •• .• ...... 47 CompuServe ID: RAM Memory Cards) ...... 13 Hal Goldstein, [75300,2443] 1:::lII~~s Express 5L.X Connectivity Software) . ••••. . • • • • . . . . • • • . . • . • . • . . •• 19 Lighthouse Palmtop Database) • . • .. • . • . • .•. ..•• .. •.• .. •. • . • . • . •.••• •. • ..• 21 To advertise in The HP Palmtop Pa 1m Referenoe) • . . • . • . • • • ...... • . . . . . • • • . . . • • • . . . • . • • . • • • • • . 23 per, contact advertising sales director. Manhattan Consulting M icRAM =ri.O.Y'C8idSi ' :: : :: :: : : :: :: : :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: : :: : :: : .3~ Brian Teitzman. MlWlC L Corp Personal Food Analyst) • . • ...... • • . . . . . • . • . • . • . . . . • .. • .. • • 24 New Media Card Modem) ...... 6 To subscri~ change address. or clear Palmtree Products GPS Navigational Receiver) ...... 45 up any pro lem with your subscrip Pouch Carrvlna Case) •• . . . • • • • • • . . . • . • . • • . . • • . . • . • • • . . • • • • • . . . • . . •. 35 tion. contact our subscription depart o/A~terns QA Patm custom database builder) ...... 48 ment (Director. Kelly Jolinson). Silicon DIsk Soft Warehouse R~~.~~~ . : :: :: :::::: :: : : : :::: : : :: : :::::::::: : ::::: ~ rcom Memory Cards, software & hardware) ...... 26-27 Technical Support Tal SkyTaI WreIe&& Information Servioe) .•••• .. ••• •• ••••.••••• . .•.•• . • 12 ASK THADDEUS, Thaddeus Com· Th8ddeus= Computing Ask Thaddeus Technical SlIPflOrt) . •••• . •.• . • . .• . • . .• • •• . • . . • . •• . • 14 puting Inc. - Fax us your problem Thaddeus Computing P Palmtop Paper ON DISK) ...... 15 and weIll call you back with the an Widget aralink 3 SeriallParailel Adapter) ...... 36 swer (see page 15 this issue for more information). Customer rates. per minute (we pay long distance charges): USA - $2.00; Canada - $2.35; Europe Software on The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK (July/August 1992) an Economic Community - $3.25; MexicoJ.,South America. Africa - $3.50; ~ ~ .!2 f!lI! Asia]. ]!;astem Europe. Australia - BCALCZIP ApplIcation: Calculator program Shareware 40 $4.0u. MRCRY209Z1P ApplIcation: Calculator ~ram Shareware 35 RMTESTZlP D8m0: TNIs to see if:feR MOTE works on your Free 32 HP Technical Support - HP offers home entertainment sys m. these options: EFMS Demo: Aat file database (limited demo version) Free 48 BEBACKCOM Entertainment: The Terminator tells you "N be back." Shareware 32 • 9O-DAYS FREE SUPPORT- is of MUS95ZIP Entertainment Music for the 95L.X. Shareware 31 SNDPLAYZlP entertainment: Hear quotes & sounds on the 95L.X Free 32 fered to all95LX users and is available SNDSZIP Entertainment: More sounds for the 95L.X Free na by caI.litur (503) 757·2004. STARTREKCOM Entertainment L~O of the United Federation of Planets; Free 32 • FREE AUTOMATED SUPPORT- is tum your 95L.X 0 and on for 'communicator" chl~ offered 24 hours a day by calling (BOO) TALKER.EXE Enteitalnment: Type a word and hear ij on the 95 Free 32 443-1254. RUSSIAN.PCX TopCard: WIll Russian word for 'Hello' at the bottom Free 3 • 6-MONTH SUPPORT CONTRACT TLG.PCX TopCard: WIll FastAid IogoIcontact information Free 34 for $149 you get a toll-free number and EXPENSESZlP Spmdsheet Maintain expense records in different currencies Free 22 ABKRP Utir~: Translates PBK fil8& into an 8O-coI text file or Shareware 48 6 monthS of unlimited support. Call M3C I data file (800) 443-1254. ABKASC Util~ Translates PBK files into 80-c01, comma delimited, Shareware 48 • 9OO-NUMBER SUPPORT- available M3C I data file suitable for use with may database programs on a pay-as-you-trO basis (first minute BOOT.SYS UtiRty: Allows IIIIItipIe CONFIG.SYS files Shareware 51 free. $2.00 per nnnute thereafter). Call UNZIP.EXE !,ltiIiIY:~ZIPfiIes Free na (900) 288-0025. HPALLZIP Text: Desai ' of files in aft HP forums of CompuServe na na PM20400.95 Text: How to get the Practical Peripherals Pocket Free 16 Modem to woik with the HP 95L.X How to submit an article TINYMO.95 Text: More information on modem modification Free 16 ADVERTZIP Text: irHIeMl descriptions, products advertised this Issue na na The richness of The HP Palmtop Pape]:. PTP5.2IP Text The P Plttm Piper, Ma~/Jun, 1992 na na comes from the contributions of 95LX READMEZIP Text: cover letter for P Palmtop aper ON DISK na na users. We and your fellow users wel come your submissions. (We do not Software mentioned in this issue and included offer pa,yment for articles; your reward in other Issues of The HP Palmtop Paper On Disk is knowmg that you've helped others.) or the 1992 Subscribers Disk, If you have a good idea and want to "go for it," send it in via Compu 958UDOYZIP JuU~ 92) FIXes problems, lets you reset timeout Shareware 51 CMCAlC.EXM 92 Su6scribers DiSk) Computer Math Calculator Free 4 Serve EMail [75300.2443] or send disk DAiLTOZIP 1i'·Y/Jun 92) Produoes touchtone dis_ones on the 95L.X Shareware 36 or hard copy to Hal Goldstein or Rich DIET '92'l!ubscribers DIsk) File . Free 17 Hall at the above address. Alternative GVCM0D95.00c all 91) Get the GVC modem~with the 95L.X Free 16 ly you can send an outline of your PKL103ZIP JanlFeb 92) <:otnpre&&ion program for COM and EXE files Shareware 17 idea. We will trY to guide you as to PKZ100.EXE Mer/Apr 92) File compression program Shareware 17 when and whetlier we would use the TlMEOUT.COM 92 Subscribers Dlskl Lets you reset timeout Free 51 article and contact you if we need IJ.SOUNDS 92 Subscribers DIsk Produoes 10 different sounds Free 31 'MEKA8K ~. Subscribers Disk Week-at-a-glanoe display Free 23 clarification or have any suggestions. Of Appointment Book We may want to use an article but for ZIP.COM (92 SUbscribers DIsk) ZIP Transfer program Shareware 33 a variety of reasons you may not see it for many months. Also. please under The Fa11991 HP PIImtop Ptpff ON DISK consisted of OYer 20 files, including those mentioned on J)8~ 36 of the Fa11991 __ of The HP Pe/m/Ol) PItJfr. The JanlFeb 92 HP PeImtop Ptptr ON DISK consisted of over 24 lies, i!K:f.uding those stand that we cannot promise to run mentioned on PI!!I8 43 of the Jan/Feb __ of The HP Perntop PIpM. The MariApr 92 HP Pe/m/Ol) Ptpff ON DISK coilslsted any article. of 28 files, incIudmg those mentioned on page .... of the MariApr __ of The HP .PaItnfop Peper. The May/Jun 92 HP Palmtop If you can especially if you write I'Iper ON DISK consisted of 29 files, including those mentioned on page 48 of the May/Jun Issue of The HP Palmtop ,..".,. a Palnitop Prorue, send us a black and Th8 JuUAua 92 The HP Palmlop Ptptr ON D1SK consisted of 17 files. including those mentioned on page 48 of the JuVAug white photo of yourself. 92 __ ofThe HP PaknIop Paper.
52 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER I OCTOBER 1992 The best name in Macintosh file transfer and translation is now the best source of Macintosh connectivity for your HP Palmtop. Introducing MacLinkPlus for the HP 95LX. The complete solution for backing up, transferring and translating files between your Palmtop and the Mac's desktop. • MacLinkPlus contains the full library of translators, the software to connect your Palmtop to any Mac, a serial cable, as well as built-in communications to allow connections via modem. With just a few clicks, you can backup and transfer files. Then use our fast, accurate translators to convert your Lotus 1-2-3, Memo, Appointment and Phone Book files to and from most popular word processing, spread sheet and database file formats for the Macintosh. • MacLinkPlus for the HP 95LX is available now at a special introductory price of just $99. Call 1-800-733-0030 and order today with Visa or MasterCard and we'll ship free any- == ~ ™ ------where in the US. Or mail us a check for $99 (US currency drawn on a US bank --- account.) And we'll show you the fastest, easiest way from your Palmtop to the desktop. THE DATABRIDGE SPECIALISTS
All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. DataViz, Inc. 55 Corporate Drive, Trumbull, CT 06611 (203) 268-0030 FAX (203) 268-4345 MacLinkJPlus-Freedom To Use The Files You Choose. 1-800-733-0030 MEMORY CARDS
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