Computers&Electronics
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Computers&Electronics EPTEMBER 1983 formerly Popular Electronics $1 75 Improving Timex/Sinclair Data -Tape Loading Sony's New Personal Desktop Computer System Computerized Video Drawings Made Easy One -Shot Testing of Multiple Circuit Points 11-11,.# 1 1 1 .\\I. 1 r1 I A i f - .... f-7'I '1TTTT7 . II 1 ] _P .I- P _ 1 110S6 t!J OtJI1ndn7 210 OCOr131121nW 0519 0 N21060 é't 113N)121y0 1 o 1,873O OTbT T60W0S19 )1210 260i0^z view 140 14 7 1t ating System Simplified BUY A BANANA. SAVE A BUNCH. Meet the Banana',"the very business reports, etc.) tractor tough, versatile, portable, and feed (for precise alignment and reliable dot-matrix printer from quick loading), parallel or serial Gorilla:" interface (take your pick), self - At $249.95 retail it's an ideal inking ribbon cassette (for long and inexpensive companion for life and easy installation), 10 personal computers like Apple portable pounds in weight, and (or Apple"look alikes'such as compatibility with so many of the Franklin""orAlbern, most popular personal computers Commodore; "I'll S-80,` Kaypro;" on the market. Timex," Osborne;'etc. Plus its print head features a After that, it's merely com- unique single -hammer design that parable to other printers that can eliminates a lot of moving parts, to cost up to three times as much: eliminate a lot of annoying repairs. 10" carriages (to handle standard That's the Banana: silly name, 9'/2" paper), 80 columns, graphics serious service. It's everything capability, 10 characters per inch the expensive dot-matrix printers (expandable to 5 cpi) draft -quality are... print (for perfectly acceptable Except expensive. form letters, data processing, - , . -t>a( o..,:" Leading Edge Products Inc., 225 Turnpike Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021 Toll -free: 1-800-343-6833; In Massachusetts(617) 828-8150. Telex 951-624. E NO. 20 .r INFORy/ ARD Here's why we're Number One. When it comes to logic probes, more people purchase Global Specialties! Because you can spend twice as much and not get the speed. precision, flexibility and accuracy offered by our four logically -priced probes-including our remarkable True multi -family new 150 MHz ECL Probe. Not to mention the versatility, performance: reliability and durability we've become famous for. DTL, TTL, CMOS. Or ECL'! But we don't stop there. When it comes to logic testing, Global Specialties does the complete job. With our DP -1 auto -sensing digital signal injector-for fast, easy stimulus -response testing at an economical $83.00*. Plus a line of multi -channel Logic Monitors that provide an inside picture of circuit activity at up to 40 nodes simultaneously. And each product has an idea - filled applications manual-as well as an unmatched line of highly -functional accessories, to extend its versatility still more. With Global Specialties, there's no need to compromise on performance. Or value. Discover for yourself why we're the number -one logical choice! Easy -to -use Memory and Pulse functions Full readout Interchangeable thin - indications-HI, LOW profile power cords PULSE (instead of awkward. heavy or coiled cords) Overload and AC -line - Unsurpassed reliability- high - protected performance proven impedance input Linear input impedance All eliminates errors due to specs conservative non -uniform loading and guaranteed Half the price for equal Complete line of (or better) performance interchangeable probe tips and - Circuit -powered with grounding wires. reverse -voltage including easy protection clip, banana plug. alligator clip jumpers and variety of power cords - - - f: 151 r. -i ;.el - : Trr 1 . smoes y- Standard LP -1, only $50.00', with latching memory-captures pulses as fast as 50 nsec, to 10MHz, guaranteed Economy LP-2, $32.00', guaranteed to 50 nsec, 1.5 MHz High-speed LP -3 with memory, only $77.00', guaranteed to 10 nsec (6 nsec, typical) and 50 MHz! New ECL LP -4', $150.30; the new industry standard-with memory, guaranteed to 4 nsec (2 nsec, typical) at 150 MHz! 'LP -4 probe exclisively for use with ECL. For DTL, TTL or CMOS, select LP -1, -2 or -3. Compact, high -impact, human -engineered case -free for 70 Fulton Terr. New Haven, CT 06509 (203) 624-3103. TWX 710-465-1227 GLOBAL Call toll details OTHER OFFICES San Francisco(415) 646-0611. TWO 910-372.7992 Europe Phone Saffron -Walden 0799-21682, TLX 817477 1-800- 6077 Canada: Len Finkler ltd.. Downsvrew. Ontano SPECIALTIES Duri ness43- CORPORATION Suggested U S resale Prices. specifications subject to change without notice ® Copyright 1981 Global Specialties Corporation. Circle No. 46 on Free Information Card Computers&Electronics SEPTEMBER 1983 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 9 FEATURE ARTICLES A NEW BREED OF COMPUTER PRODUCTS Am 32 Joe Desposito/A roundup of recent innovative computers and related products. UNIX THE EASY WAY 43 David Fiedler/Fundamentals of the Unix operating system. 1 1 II FAST AND EASY GRAPHICS WITH A I LOW-COST TOUCH TABLET ' 5 1 Joe Desposito/Enables computerists to bypass a computer keyboard, while creating drawings. THE MODULARIZED COMPUTER-SONY'S 59 NEW SMC-70 Stan Veit/A hands-on look at a unique small computer system. A COMPUTERIZED DIALING SYSTEM FOR THE TRS-80 MODEL II 64 James Barbarello/Enhance utility of TRS-80 in LES SOLOMON ON COMPUTER HARDWARE office -type applications. 26 Invisible Short Circuits In Digital Equipment. COMPUTER SOURCES LEARNING 16 -BIT MICROCOMPUTER TECHNOLOGY 27 72 George Meyerle/Part 7: How to use the monitor to create software. 85 ENTERTAINMENT ELECTRONICS Len Feldman/Digital TV-How Soon? A MULTIPLE TEST-POINT MONITOR 76 George Gooder/Measures volts at a number of circuit THE ELECTRONICS SCIENTIST points simultaneously. 90 Forrest M. Mims, III/Homemade Electroscopes and Experimenting with a Geiger Counter. BEEP! BEEP! 79 James Antonakos/Add a power-failure sensor to any ac DEPARTMENTS digital clock. IMPROVING TIMEX/SINCLAIR TAPE LOADING 80 Tim Stoner/Reduce troublesome dropouts and noise problems. EDITORIAL/Art Salsberg 6 Compuphobia. A VIC-20 CASSETTE ADAPTER 84 Bernard J. Sheehan/Interface for the VIC-20 allows any audio cassetter recorder to be used. 12 LETTERS COLUMNS 16 NEW PRODUCTS 103 COMPUTER MART/ELECTRONICS CLASSIFIED COMPUTER VIDEO GAMES 22 112 ADVERTISERS' INDEX COVER ART BY A. DANIELS monthly COPYRIGHT 0 1983 BY ZIFF-DAVIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. All rights reserved. Computers 8 Electronics (ISSN 0032.4485) September 1983, Volume 21, Number 9. Published by Ziff. for Posses- Davis Publishing Co., at One Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. Richard P. Friese, President; Selwyn Taubman, Treasurer; Bertram A. Abrams, Secretary. One year subscription rate U.S. and sions. 515.97: Canada. 520.97; all Other countries. 523.97 (cash orders only, payable in U.S. currency). Second Class Postage Paid at New York, N.Y. 10016 and at additional mailing offices. Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Dept., Ottawa, Canada. and for payment of postage in cash. POPULAR ELECTRONICS including ELECTRONICS WORLD trademark registered. In- dexed in the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. Ziff -Davis also publishes Boating. Car and Driver, Cycle, Flying, Popular Photography, Skiing, Stereo Review, Electronic Experimenter's Handbook, and Tape Recording 8 Buying Guide. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COMPUTERS 8 ELECTRONICS. Circulation Dept. P.O. Box 2774, Boulder, CO 80302. Please allow at least eight 2 Computers & Electronics HUGE ELEK-TEK DISCOUNTS EXTRA BONUS TI -99/4A COMPUTER KEYBOARD SAVE $180 br TEXAS FREE PHP1200 PERIPHERAL EXPANSION -BOX `v INSTRUMENTS with purchese of Eny 3 following items: TI -99/4A Keyboard 149.00 PMP 176 95 212 Cod M. 1280 1.69.3 1646 061 .121 RA'a. MP 1P0 v C Cea C+bd MP 040 D., 05.605.6Cad Less Mfr. Rebate 50.00 DIM PnD2.'P 11Prpr,Mnd544. Price After Rebate 99.00 PNP 12591.Pe4r S.I9m 0-3 11.6 TN'a 1,1/'ax 911 1.1.4 90 156.0 Ser,l Limited Time Offer LIWITED fIME OFFER Mfr. Elek. Mfr. Elio. Mfr. Elek- Sugg. Tek Sugg. Tak Sugg. Tek Model Name Ret. Price Model Name Ret. Price Model flame Rel. Price CONSOLE PMM 3029 44ton 6 56666 II (Sod SMta Speech n PMC 0044 11.9916 Morse Comp.« (.0 RE 40wtl01 22500 44990 5400416 3 6064.14401 3995 3200 POD 560 -I 1ne969136 466 E.p44n and Enne. Ext.». PE RIPME R9LS PO4 3029 4641046n I (Sold 96 Sp.96 SASIC o EdrlcM.rr.44. Canm4r0 Mo0u4 POP 1200 18010 t995 400 9.090.0.1 1.00nson Box 24995 Sy* 0 400ommM010( . 1995 3200 PMP 1220 RS232 Cad 17495 13000 PMM 69 Dv90n (Sad 549 Speech.. 610 5000 Junto 43 36N Menory E 6rneon and En» POP 1240 DM Como. Carp 10124 D99 040690. 669 664.2 59646r 62.66a3d) . 3995 3390 lee.« BA5^. a Ed4344aa.m6a Ca0m4nd 4ofu4 1995 IEO 00 I 1900 un 099 C9nl016 24995 P014 3050 Romeo.. 3995 ]]00 '090..01 POP 1250 1....on Sy6.n 3.19 Dra 1D94 D0. PM4 x51 Nun4rtlonl II 3995 3200 AdoO.. re 14066.. 4661u4 531,., (Dr.lOped by Sc. 466I Cont.. 990691 39995 29510 66610 U]Sdd 4 6410 WAR.11 940. PM4 99961 Dw raro 3059 3 Xal.duK 5padro-+ w ( S15be.cnn 4 646 496696 25% 2490 POP 1260 Memory E.rn.4 Ord (329 RAM) 29995 21500 .0). 5995 4500 POD 562 M9.On 1166L4 2995 2400 POP 1270 PCdr C.d 1329 RAM Merey E.pen.on 4,04.00) 24995 18000 V0M 3000 tlSiW. 5p 1 SUM ro-i..4941415dd 666 PND 545 616 C.009 . 2095 2400 POP 1500 Bad State Spe.cnn Synne9M21 4995 110 00 19 59 95 4590 POD 5949 TM 0604 2995 2400 POP ,600 400010 Coupes 070.0 22495 14500 PM4 3061 St19.K SpI17,y-4r 5(50d 51.