Polyletter 8701 Page with This Issue Polyletter Is Back on Schedule. The
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The Newsletter for PolyMorphic Systems Owners and User< PolyLetter 8701 P age JAN/FEB 1987 Edi-l:oria.l cludgy software has enough hardware to support a great deal of potential growth . With this issue PolyLetter is back on That doesn't mean that there 1s no room for schedule. The JAN/FEB 1987 issue is Poly to grow, and it doesn't mean that the actually being published within the JAN/FEB Poly is no good. On the contrary, the Poly 1987 time slot! can continue to do what it has done just as Readers have expressed interest 1n a well as it has _ Why, I have even written variety of subjects _ A number of readers two MS-DOS software look-alike programs for have responded to say that they are using a the Poly _ One is VOL.GO, which reads and clone along with their Poly, but still like displays the disk Cvolume) name just like the Poly better_ I know the feeling . I am MS-DOS's internal VOL command . I usually using an XT clone but still prefer the leave my disks in the drive when I shut off Poly . I know how to make the Poly do what my system and tired of listing each drive I want to; with the clone it's a fight. to see what I have in it when I boot up . I Readers have asked for more information added VOL 1, VOL 2, and VOL 3 to my INITIAL about communicating between the Poly and file and it shows me the names the disks on clones and between the Poly and a Mac . At line when I boot up_ The other program is least one reader has told me on the phone SORT.GO which reads an input file of lines that the one computer that finally measures into memory sorts them, and writes out the up to the Poly is an AT. Unfortunately, sorted list to the output file . As in t h e r e 1 s s t i 1 1 n o t a g o o d s e t o f s y s t e m· MS-DOS, you can specify switches to reverse s o f t w a r e c o m p a r a b 1 e t o P o 1y ' s _ I m a.g i n e the order f/Rl or to select the column to that! The Poly's ten year old System 88 sort by (!+ nL SORT . GO was written to software design is so good that it takes an produce the annual index publ ished in the AT with an 8 MHz 80286 cpu with ten times last issue of PL, but it could be used to the memory to equal a lowly 8080 cpu alphabetize any file. (Someone once wanted running at 1 . 8432 MHz _ Just imagine what to alphabetize a list of quotations, but I could be done if the software engineering don't remember who_) and inovation that went into the Poly over 10 years ago were put into the computing Poly Problems power available today! by Bob Bybee Oh well, back to reality _ How many of our beloved Poly users would like Ever had one of those months when your P o 1 y Le t t e r t o 1 n c 1 u d e s om e i t em s a b o·u t system just wouldn't behave? A few weeks clones in our sacred pages? I got a call ago I started seeing a "glitch" 1n the from one reader who practically begged me video from my Poly _ Thinking i t was the to move in that direction. In a past video board's fault, I opened up the editorial I urged Poly to assemble and sell system_ I wiggled the video cable, checked clones to Poly Users who needed more sheer for loose connections, and so on . While I computing power. We must face the fact was doing this, the Poly's power was off, that there is a limit to Poly's computing but I had left my video monitor turned on. power. And a short time later, smoke was roll1na In education there is a distinction out of my trusty Leedex Cnow Amdek) 12;' between potential and achievement. A Video-100 monitor! person's achievement is compared to their Well, good . At least it's not the Poly _ potential, such as is measured by IQ and I went to the closet to find the 9" mon i tor other tests_ The normal result is to have that came with the system . Haven't used it achievement roughly match potential. in a while, but it always served 1n a However, there are two groups which do not pinch . Oops_ __ all the video is smashed follow this pattern . Those whose into one vertical line! Scratch two achievments seem far ahead of their monitors. -- potential are called over-achievers_ Those So I found a cheap Samsung green-screen whose achievements seem far behind their monitor, mail-order, for about $65 . Rushed potential are called learning-disabled . 1t here by UPS Blue _ Hooked 1t up, and 1t I f w e a p p 1 y t h 1 s d i s t ·i n c t i o n t o worked fine, except that the cha racter s c om p u t e r s , w e s e e t h a t Z - 8 o- C P I M sys t em s were too wide for the screen _ A little are about normal, but the Poly is clearly adjustment of the monitor's controls, and an over-achiever it gets a LOT out of its the two controls on the Poly v1de o board, 11m1ted 8080 potential. The clones are solved that problem _ So the Pol y's back 1n probably functioning below their potential operation. and could be classified as But then, disk drive problems struck _ l learning-disabled. The point of this started getting more and more errors from dtscuss1on is that Poly has achieved a near my ltl floppy drive . Replaced drive 1, and maximum realization of its potential. It it's no better. Exchanged drives 1 and 2, just doesn't have the hardware to go much and still drive 1 doesn't work reliably _ further, while the clones, with their So I started suspecting the power supply _ PolyLetter 8701 Page 2 JAN/FEB 1987 Measured the voltages feeding the drives __ _ also ran the machine with the cover off _ aha! The +S suppl{ is low feeding both CI had one Poly that worked fine until I drives, and drive is the lower of the bolted the cover on -- then it went two_ flakey!l As a matter of fact, the 16K So I spent a couple of days locating memory board is dynamic RAM and doesn't parts, removing the power regulators from generate near as much heat as one of the SK the system, and replacing them. After al 1 static RAM cards. this, the +S volt supplies measured 4 . 85 Making a Twin system is a hellofa lot of and 4 . 95 on the two drives, well within work . - There are 20-30 modifications on tolerances _ Run the confidence disks, and each CPU and Video card. Each Twin system now the drives both read with no errors. requires 2 modified Poly 4SK memory cards Whew 1 Glad that's over. Button up the Cone for each user) and one SK memory card . system, replace the cover, put the brand Besides, a twin works slower and requires new Samsung monitor back on top of the special system disks_ CThe CPU runs at the Poly, and ___ holy bits, Batman, the disk same speed, but is now working for two drives are producing errors again! users, each about 112 the time, and the Now I'm ready to kick myself. The disk system software must all be written to use drive problems started just after I bought that time-sharing_) the new Samsung video monitor. I didn't You can't get more than 64K (actually make the connection before, but now it 56Kl in a Poly because the SOSO has only a makes sense . The new monitor must be 64K address space . If you put in generating a stronger magnetic field than bank-selectable memory, you could have part the old one, and it's interfering with the of the user memory area set to exchange data being read from the magnetic with banks . This is of no use to any diskettes_ Sure enough, moving the monitor existing software that I know of. You o ff to the side of the Poly corrects the could put in a RAM-disk, but it would need problem. a driver program to interface it and it I'm going to keep the Samsung monitor, would look like either a disk drive, or a but plan to put it on a stand that keeps it peripheral device, rather than more memory _ away from the disk drives . And if the As for the 16K to 64K modification . One field is that strong, I need to keep my reader has phoned in to say his son, who is diskettes away from the monitor as well. studying EE converted a board for him . I But I've always tried to do that anyway _ have three boards which have been modified, Is there a moral to the story? No, each 1n a different way! The S125 you unless "phooey" counts as a moral _ quote is Poly's charge for the labor to do the work .