No. 50 November-December 1989 $3.95 THE M TECHNICAL J 0 URN A L o COPIA. 3D Graphics In Depth This whole issue is a project. Put UNIX on your 386, build a board to grab video images, build another to analyze voices, and then display all your graphics in 3D. 3D-Surface page 8 Generation The PC Video Frame page 16 Grabber LIMBO, Part Three Our robot project rolls on. page 22 PostScriptal Two page 32 A very graphic look at a very graphic language. UNIX For The PC page 40 Which UNIX should you purchase for your new 386? There are some real bargains. And More • • • On Your Own An inside look at the lives of silicon valley consultants. o 7447019388 3 Ufl!lf?!iiJ J/@fl!lf? fP©lEifl5Ju O!iiJ(1@ ill [§J@r:JQf?iJfl!lO [Lo@@f?o(1@f?J/ O!iiJ@ &!iiJ@O!iiJQQf?O!iiJ@ (1@@ODDD Introducing ... The PC-LabCard Family Only from HSC Electronic Supply Dig ital 1/0 and Prototype Development IBM PC/XT/AT and it's Counter Card compatible models are moving into Card Industrial/Laboratory applications at • 32 Digital Input Channels • Large breadboard area (3290 holes) - TTL compatible an increasing rate. The reasons for • Independent memory and 1/0 address - Low loading: 0.2 mA at OAV input this include their price/performance decoders built-in • 32 Digital Output Channels ratio and short user learning curve. • Memory and I/O ports are jumper - TTL compatible PC-based data acquisition boards selectable - Driving capacity: Sink 24 mA, are now taking the place of the • All bus signals are buffered, marked, source 15 mA and ready for use • Intel 8253 Timer/Counter traditional data loggers or recorders - 3 channels of timer/counter which cost. several times more. PCL-750 .................................... $74.00 - Breadboard area for flexible user configuration "PC-LabCard" is a family of add-on cards to turn your PC into a PCl·720 ............................... $160.00 high performance data acquisition/ - ~ t. testing system at an attractive price. It includes not only the hardware -:-:-~-,--< -; ?;:~,.-;<, I ~ ... ' cards, but also the software, . ,:;:l!::~ ~ '. ~- ~ .~ /;: ..,., accessories and application support • • ~ ,-{:: ~.'" I packages which come together to make a thoughtful solution to your PC-based automation needs. 14 Bit Super-Lab AID + DI A + DIO +Counter -Analog Input (AID converter) - 16 different channels" - 14 bit, 25K/sec sample~ate ' ...•... ' •• >~naloglnput (t\IDconverter) -:-Input range: +5V to-5V, +1Vto.;1V ,·16single~ended channels, 12 bit -Analog Output (D/Acomierter) -Input range:<+5Vto ~5V,+1Vto ~.1V ~ DIA Channels: r standard/loptional • Analog (:>utput( 01 A converter) -14 bit, +/- 5Vfullrage .' . ~ •• 2channel,12 bit.· Steppi n9 rvlotor • . Digital I/O .. i . ~O,,:+5Vfullrange -16channels each, TTLc()r11patibl~ ~ •••• Digital I/O • Counter ~16phannelse~:lCh, TTLcompatible Control·Card • Independen,t; simultaneous operation .; 1 channel. of timer/counter • Counter .:.Programmable'pacerfuhdiori· >r6hanneloftimer/counter of up to 3 motors ~.' PrOgrammable pacer function • ProgrammablespeedJrom 3.3 to 3410, ppS • Built~inacceleration control PCL-714 .. ; .... " ... ~·..• ;.;,.~L.·.. •.• .. ;.; .. $495.00 l=>CL~712 .. ~ .. ~; ....... ,.; ....... ;..... $295.00 • OneClock'(pulse,·Direction) or two,clock (OW, CCWPulses) output mode '\'; ,':1 f,' ,:,,:,:~ I r-(·.'.,~· ,! !.,\lI.i:'';-.,~,~(.1 ,'"(",',,,./c-,ct0/;' ~ : ':; ';.',;~.::... ,:::.": ',~~(.»,~'j llfl~~'(Q)f/~{ffJg~©D§JO'§J :~~~~lg~~~~~tpu~~~~~iri°utPuts Call ,the ,~@@/Jjl1rdJ{j)[r~gl/'(#)@g ",' . :~~It~~~:ff~p~~~~~ outPutE/~g::~~iC :.~,~ "~:;~,·.\·.".','.I.·.~.'.'.,.,,!.'.t;,I.;,i.·.;.i.·.,.•.:..1.·.i .•i,i,.:,; .•. ·,.·.i.~.: ...:.,i •. I.: .•.• •..; .• 1.l~l~r~~l~rl) F , ,,~-- "," '~:;;v 'i'<"~'- ,,'::~'-' ~.<"<~·t:",!/.~:,·:,~~~·~,,1·,JJ<{,;:'·'j , .... ~{ffJf/§J .©U§1~i/©A\ ... @~'fl PCL.73a.~~""':""~""r"';"I ;$395.0oRe~g~fce r.• ,j;/ ••• V,;\ i)': i;'+Y' fi~'t.• ;J?ifJ :\',,'1;;;',\ 1i', , Etectro~g~p~{~~~~e~~~~upPlies .vv~ ship'Uf$~9()D ,,' ,(408) 732~2814 'A:r,·.,!,H h"":"""';'"I':'~I"':! ',' }.', ;<:~.;:~\} ': HSC of Sacramento'· HSC,of$anta Rosa We shipto,APO/FPO sa sc' r5a,4mgeHn9tom, 'COCAkg84t9' ;"8' 6cSolt9atRI" eCdAw090SdS4D1r. '·"S>'/:3 . '" " " '" " (916) 338-254S,', (707) "792-2277' ' '-'1"1,,"""" tsICle"CCiUfQt'l"li.a No wI Galif~(jrnla Twelve function Switch-selectable FJ Separate numeric keypad that switches to keys for increased Erasable template for all IBM XT, a multifunction business calculator automatic to label ;vur function AT, PS/2 and with tilt-up LCD display. Includes memory, operation. key assignments. compatible square root and percent keys. Switch allows systems. Keyboard and Solar panel ;vu to swap calculator status to power the position of Ctrl Extra large indicator lights. calcu/ator- and Caps Lock. Backspace and even when Enter keys. the com­ puter is turned off! $149~5 buys you both charge your spreadsheet and typing board would be an inspired idea at send them back within 30 days and performance. this price even if you didn't get well cheerfully refund your $149.95. the hot-selling spread­ Like our famous tactile, positive­ Quattro in the bargain. No questions asked. sheet and the ............... response keys that give After all, as InfoWorld says, "if you How, you ask, can you take advan­ QUAl fRO you a much better feel for haven't looked at Datadesk's key­ tage of this remarkable offer? Just fill TurboCalc-lll the road. So you can type boards, you ought to:' out the coupon and send it in. Keyboard/ faster with fewer mistakes According to the Washington Post, Better yet, call us toll-free. Calculator. than ever before. "for ingenUity of design and sheer And tell us to step on it. And the new, enhanced dollar value, Datadesk can't be beat:' For just $149.95-less IBM"lOl-key layout with And when it comes to your peace than Quattro's street some logical improve­ of mind, nothing beats our two-year price, and a lot less ments-including separate warranty. than its $247.50 sug­ numeric and cursor keys What's more, if Quattro and Turbo­ gested retail price, you that let you cruise through Calc-ill don't blow the doors off the DA.TA.DESK can now get both Bor- spreadsheet data entry vehicles you're currently drivrng,just All individual trademarks and copyrights are acknowledged. land's best-seller and""" . ·.~"i"!"T without ever having to the keyboard you need "More than 1-2-3" at shift Num Lock. rr: - 1;1§:\la:~"t: to drive it at top speed. less than half the cosr Get better mileage Bundle includes Datadesk's TurboCa\c-11l Namely, the Turbo- That's what PC Mggazine from your desktop. .,' $149I .-95 Keyboard/Calculator for IDM" and compatibles and Calc-ill~ Keyboard! says about Quattro," the In case you haven't noticed , Borland's Quattro sllreadsheet. Add $10 shipping and handling Calculator from !wt-selling spreadsheet already, the keypad per urut (Continental U.S. only). CA reSIdents please add $9.75 sales tax per unit. Datadesk. from Borland Imagine doubles as a full-function # of Units: Amount Enclosed: Boost your what theyU say about <.• business calculator com­ Com~uter Type*: Disk Size: o 3lh" 05%" overall performance. this ~~dinary plete with its own pop-up *1£ P /2, include additional $5 for cable adapter. With its built-in, utiau LCD display. Which saves Payment: o VISA DMC DAMEX o CHECK Me presentation-quality graphics, intelli­ space on your desktop and lets you Card No: Exp.Date: gent recalcs, unlimited macros, easy perform any calculation with a single <; installation and compatibility with keystroke-no matter what software Name leading spreadsheet and database you're driving. Company Name software, Quattro is made to order What's more, the keypad packs a for your business. solar panel, so you can start up the ••• Daytime Tek/>hone Address And TurboCalc-ill is made to calculator even when your computer City State Zip order for Quattro. Or for any other is idle. .......• Mail to: Datadesk, 7651 Haskell Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91406. FAX: (818) 780-7307 software you like to drive. We wouldn't steer ': Or Call: (800) 826-5398. In cA, Call: (800) 592-9602 Because, as you can see, it's loaded you wrong. .'> /. with features designed to turbo- Frankly, getting into a Datadesk key- '" ~ -\ .}ml~fAW '.:C." '-=C,' 'c' "., ·\"1~'.i':'!,, •. , Reader Service Number 8 .. ....' ... ,' ... :. , .,. '" ..... .> .....' ... ; .• ,.......... ',.: .... ,.,'.';., --------------------, ._._-----------_._--- fiNAllY A debugging tool tough enough to handle the DOS New Version 2.0 Nasties. How Soft-ICE Works Soft-ICE uses the power of the 80386 to sur­ round your program in a virtual machine. This gives you complete control of the DOS environment, while Soft-ICE runs Nasty over-write? No sweat! safely in protected mode. Soft-ICE uses the 80386 to provide real-time break points on Soft-ICE memory range break points help you memory locations, memory ranges, execution, track down memory over-write problems II 0 ports, hardware &: software interrupts. whether you are doing the over-writing or With Soft-ICE you get all the speed and power of another program is over-writing you. a hardware-assisted debugger at a software price. Hung program? No problem! Don't want to switch debuggers? When the system hangs, you now have hope. You don't have to! With Soft-ICE you can break out of hung Soft-ICE can run stand-alone or it can add its programs no matter how bad the system has powerful break points to the debugger you already been trashed. And with Soft-ICE's back trace use. Use your favorite debugger until you require ranges you can re-play the instructions that led Soft-ICE. Simply pop up the Soft-ICE window to set up to the crash. powerful real-time break points. When a break point Program too large? Not with Soft-ICE! is reached, your debugger will be activated automatically.