U ÃÏÍÍÏÄÒÅ ÆÒÅÅ ÍÁÇÁÚÉÎÅ ÉSSUE 15 ÊANUARY 2008 WWW.COMMODOREFREE.COM ÆREE TO DOWNLOAD MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO ÃOMMODORE ÃOMPUTERS ÁVAILABLE AS ÔEXT ÈTML ÐÄÆ $ Ã64 .Ä64 DISK IMAGE ÅDITOR ÃHRISTMAS OVER & A WELCOME TO THE ÎEW ÙEAR, ALTHOUGH ALL OUR FAMILY SUFFERED VARIOUS SICKNESS & FLU SYMPTOMS OVER THE ÎEW ÙEAR. ×E DID HAVE GREAT ENJOYMENT WATCHING OUR YOUNG SON OPENING HIS PRESENTS. É MADE VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS & BROKEN THEM ALL THE NEXT DAY, EXACTLY THE SAME AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DONE ON ÎEW ÙEARS ÄAY. É AM LOOKING FORWARD TO 2008 AS IT SHOULD BE ANOTHER GREAT YEAR FOR ÃOMMODORE MORE NEW HARDWARE, MORE EXCELLENT SOFTWARE & MORE ISSUES OF ÃOMMODORE ÆREE MAGAZINE. ÁLTHOUGH THE MAGAZINE TOOK A 1 MONTH BREAK É STILL CANT BELIEVE WHERE THE TIME WENT, ÄECEMBER FLEW BY & ÊANUARY QUICKLY FOLLOWED, É AM TOLD THIS IS OLD AGE, THE OLDER YOU GET THE FASTER TIME PASSES YOU BY. ÈÏ× ÃÁÎ É ÈÅÌÐ ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ ÆÒÅÅ ÏK THE BEST WAY TO HELP WOULD BE WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT ÃOMMODORE (YES FOR THE OBSERVANT É SPELLED THE COMPANY CORRECTLY THIS TIME) _GRIN SERIOUSLY THOUGH ARTICLES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME, ×ÈÁÔ ÁÒÔÉÃÌÅÓ ÄÏ ÙÏÕ ÎÅÅÄ ×ELL THEY VARY CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA BUT É AM LOOKING FOR ÔUTORIALS (BEGINNERS & ÅXPERT), ÅXPERIENCES WITH ÃOMMODORE, ×HY É LOVE Ã= MACHINES, ÉNTERVIEWS, MAYBE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A POWER USER ÔHANKS ÎIGEL WWW.COMMODOREFREE COMMODOREFREE@COMMODOREFREE.COM ======================================= U ÒEADERS ÃOMMENTS ÈEY MAN, ÌET ME JUST SAY NICE JOB ON THE PUBLICATION. ÃOMMODORE ÆREE ÍAGAZINE ÊOHN ÍANY THANKS FOR THE ÅMAIL. ÔHANKS FOR THE ÃOMMENTS ABOUT THE MAGAZINE É AM GLAD SO MANY PEOPLE STILL ENJOY READING MY PUBLICATION É WAS LOOKING & É DO NOT SEE A DATE ON ANY OF THE PUBLICATIONS. É THINK THIS COULD BE USEFUL TO YOUR READERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THE MATERIAL BEING PRESENTED. ÃOMMODORE ÆREE ÍAGAZINE É AM PRESUMING YOU MEAN ON THE WEBSITE THERE IS NO DATE LISTED NEXT TO EACH ISSUE, JUST THE ISSUE NUMBER, ÉF SO THIS CAN EASILY BE RECTIFIED & É WILL ENSURE É INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION THANK YOU FOR DRAWING MY ATTENTION TO THIS. ÁND THOUGH É AGREE MOST OF THE INFO IN YOUR MAG MAY BE TIMELESS, UPDATES ON AVAILABLE HARDWARE & THE EFFORTS OF THE SCENE COULD BE BETTER SERVED IF THE PUBLIC KNEW OF THEIR TIMELY EXISTENCE, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO JOIN IN/HELP OUT/PRE ORDER ANY OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS OR MATERIALS. ÃOMMODORE ÆREE ÍAGAZINE É FULLY AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS, THE QUESTION IS HOW DOES ONE KEEP UP-TO- DATE, É CAN ONLY GIVE INFORMATION É KNOW ABOUT, SO IF É DONT KNOW ABOUT A PROJECT OR UPDATE É CANT PRINT ANYTHING, THIS LEADS ME NEATLY ON TO VOLUNTEERS FOR THE ÍAGAZINE & DEVELOPERS TO EMAIL ME & UPDATE ME ABOUT PROJECTS. ÁLTHOUGH É FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL PROJECTS ARE LABOURS OF LOVE CONDUCTED IN THE DEVELOPERS OWN TIME & EÍAILING VARIOUS PEOPLE ABOUT SMALL UPDATES WOULD TAKE MORE TIME FROM ACTUAL DEVELOPMENTS. É HOPE É HAVE DRAWN ATTENTION TO SOME USERS OF PROJECTS THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BEEN UNAWARE OF, & IF YOU FEEL EXCITED ABOUT A PROJECT FEEL FREE TO TELL ME OF UPDATES SO É CAN INFORM OTHERS. ×HICH BRINGS ME TO MY LAST SUGGESTION. Á NICE HARDWARE SECTION WITH THE CURRENT DEV EFFORTS, AVAILABILITY SCHEDULE, H/W VENDORS, REVIEWS, & CONTACT INFO WOULD DEFINITELY BE WELCOMED IN THE SCENE. ÉF FACT, É DO NOT KNOW OF A PUBLICATION WHERE ALL THAT INFO IS LISTED. ÃOMMODORE ÆREE ÍAGAZINE ÅXCELLENT IDEA AS É DONT HAVE THE TIME TO COMPILE THIS É AGAIN ASK FOR VOLUNTEERS TO MAINTAIN THIS ITEM AS WELL AS MAYBE A FOR SALE OR CLASSIFIED SECTION. ÃOMMODORE ÆREE ÍAGAZINE É HAVE A SECTION FOR THIS BUT AS NO ONE HAS EVER SENT ME ANYTHING FOR SALE OR TRADE É HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PRINT ANYTHING, ALSO MOST PEOPLE NOW USE EÂAY TO MAXIMISE THERE SALES POTENTIAL ESPECIALLY WITH ÃÍÄ PRODUCTS ÊOHN ÃOMMODORE ÆREE ÍAGAZINE ÊOHN ÍANY THANKS FOR THE ÅMAIL ======================================= U ÎEWS & 8 BIT DESIGNS GETS A NEW WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.8BITDESIGNS.ATH.CX/ ÔHE SITE SHOULD BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO Ã= USERS DUE TO ITS DESIGN. ÔHIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS BUT THE DESIGN IS LOOKING GOOD (WELL IT LOOKS GOOD TO ME) ÈÏØÓ 64 V1.0.5.10 15:24 & ÈEY FOLKS, THE NEWEST ÖERSION OF THE ÈÏØÓ64 IS OUT. ÃHECK IT AT: HTTP://WWW.BTINTERNET.COM/ÞHOXS64/ ÓO WHATS NEW? 1) ÆIXED ÓOUNÄEMONS SID EMULATION COMPATIBILITY THAT WAS BROKEN IN THE PREVIOUS RELEASE. 2) ÁDJUSTED MEMORY-RESET PATTERN. ÁN OPTIONAL MEMORY PATTERN FILE CALLED C64.RAM HAS BEEN & ADDED. ÔHE FILE WAS SAMPLED & EXTRAPOLATED FROM THE MEMORY-RESET PATTERN OF A Ã64Ã. ÉF THE C64.RAM FILE IS MISSING THEN A DEFAULT PATTERN IS GENERATED. ÃEVI-AKTUELL 11/07 RELEASED 21:59 ÃOME & GRAB THE LAST ISSUE FOR 2007 OF THE ÇERMAN PAPERMAG ÃEVI-AKTUELL! WWW.WEBGESTALTER.COM/ CEVIAKTUELL1107.PDF É ÁDORE MY 64 ÔHINK GEEK ARE SELLING A RATHER NICE Ã= T-SHIRT WITH THE WORDS É ADORE MY 64 & A PICTURE OF THE MACHINE, DISK DRIVE & MONITOR: HTTP://WWW.THINKGEEK.COM/TSHIRTS/ GENERIC/8113/ ÕLTIMATE 1541 ÕPDATE ÄEC 14TH 2007 É KNEW ABOUT IT FOR SOME DAYS NOW, BUT ÇIDEON NOW ANNOUNCED IT OFFICIALLY: ÔHE 1541 ÕLTIMATE WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE WITH A 32Í ÓÄÒÁÍ CHIP THAT IS USED TO EMULATE A ÃOMMODORE ÒÅÕ WITH 16Í ÒÁÍ! &ÔHE FEATURES OF THE CARTRIDGE ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE: 512K ÓÒÁÍ 4Í ÆLASH ÒOM 32Í ÓÄÒÁÍ (ONLY ON THE ÕLTIMATE ÐLUS) ÓÄ CARD ÉNTERFACE ÁÒ & ÆÃ3 CARTRIDGE EMULATION FILE BROWSER TO SELECT DISK IMAGES +ÄÍÁ-LOAD ÐÒÇS FULLY COMPATIBLE 1541 EMULATION FULLY COMPATIBLE ÒÅÕ EMULATION WITH UP TO 16Í (ONLY ÕLTIMATE ÐLUS) FILE BROWSER ALSO WORKS IN Ã128 MODE FOR DISK IMAGE SELECTION! ÔHE PRICE IS ÅURO 99 PLUS SHIPPING FOR THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE, & ÅURO 119 PLUS SHIPPING FOR THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE PLUS. ÙOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND YOUR PRE- ORDER NOW, SO ÇIDEON CAN ORDER COMP- ONENTS APPROPRIATELY. ÓOME MORE INFO: HTTP://COMMODORE-GG.HOBBY.NL/ INNOVATIE_1541KAART_ENG.HTM ÔHE CONSTRUCTION + FUTURE OF THE 1541 "ÕLTIMATE" ÕPDATE ÄECEMBER 14, 2007 Á LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO INTEGRATE EXCITING NEW FEATURES & IMPROVE EASE OF USE OF THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE. ÔHE FOLLOWING TEXT DESCRIBES THE CURRENT STATUS: ÕSER ÍENU ×HEN USED AS A CARTRIDGE ON YOUR Ã64, THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE NOW HAS A NICE USER INFERFACE, WHICH CAN BE STARTED BY PRESSING THE MIDDLE BUTTON ON THE BOARD. ÔHE CURRENT PROGRAM THAT THE Ã64 IS RUNNING IS FROZEN & A BLACK SCREEN WITH A NIFTY BLUE BAR APPEARS, SHOWING THE FILES & DIRECTORIES THAT ARE ON THE ÓÄ-CARD. ÔHE 1541 ÕLTIMATE SUPPORTS ÆÁÔ, ÆÁÔ16 & ÆÁÔ32 FORMATS & ALSO SUPPORTS LONG FILENAMES (TRUNCATED TO 22 CHARACTERS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IT ON A 40 COLUMN SCREEN). ÂY USING THE CURSOR KEYS ON THE Ã= KEYBOARD, THE USER CAN TRAVEL QUITE SMOOTHLY THROUGH THE DIRECTORIES OF THE ÓÄ-CARD. ÔHE 1541 "ÕLTIMATE" ÔHIS SCREEN ALLOWS THE USER TO SELECT A FLOPPY IMAGE TO MOUNT (I.E. TO CHANGE FLOPPY DISKS) OR TO CREATE NEW FLOPPIES OR NEW DIRECTORIES. ÔHIS MAKES IT EASY TO MANAGE LARGE NUMBERS OF FLOPPIES. ÔHE MENU ALSO ALLOWS THE USER TO CHANGE THE ÉÅà ADDRESS OF THE 1541 DRIVE BY SIMPLY PRESSING 8, 9, 0 OR 1. ÓINCE THIS ALSO RESETS THE 1541 DRIVE, IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR A MANUAL RESET OF THE DRIVE. ÉN ADDITION TO MOUNTING FLOPPIES TO THE 1541 DRIVE, THE USER CAN ALSO SELECT SEPARATE PROGRAM. ÔHESE CAN BE LOADED DIRECTLY INTO THE MEMORY OF THE Ã64, USING ÄÍÁ. ÐRESSING Ò INSTEAD OF ÓÐÁÃÅ OR ÒÅÔÕÒÎ TO SELECT THE FILE EVEN RUNS THE PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY AFTER LOADING. ÔHIS OPERATION IS POSSIBLE ON SEPARATE PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO ON FILES WITHIN A .D64 OR .T64 FILES (YES YOU CAN BROWSE .D64 & .T64 FILES AS WELL!) ÁS YOU START USING THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT IT IS FASTER THAN YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE ON ANY Ã64! ÔHE USER MENU CAN BE LEFT BY PRESSING ÒÕÎ/ÓÔÏÐ, AFTER WHICH THE Ã64 PROGRAM CONTINUES TO RUN. ÂECAUSE THE FREEZER MENU DOES NOT RUN ON THE PROCESSOR INSIDE THE Ã64 BUT ON A SEPARATE 6502 ON THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE ITSELF, RETURNING TO THE Ã64 PROGRAM IS SMOOTH & SAFE. ÈELP! ÉT IS BLOCKING MY CARTRIDGE SLOT! ÙES, IN ORDER FOR YOUR 1541 ÕLTIMATE TO WORK, IT HAS TO RESIDE IN THE CARTRIDGE SLOT. ÉN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE FRUSTRATION, THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE COMES WITH EITHER THE ÆINAL ÃARTRIDGE ÉÉÉ, OR THE ÁCTION ÒEPLAY CARTRIDGE INSTALLED. ÎEEDLESS TO SAY, THE SPEED LOADERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THESE CARTRIDGES WORK TOGETHER FLAWLESSLY WITH THE EMULATED 1541 DRIVE. 1541 ÄRIVE ÅMULATION ÔHIS CYCLE-ACCURATE EMULATION (OR IMPLEMENTATION RATHER!) OF THE 1541 HARDWARE, COMBINED WITH AN ACCURATE EMULATION OF THE FLOPPY DRIVE MECHANICS OFFERS THE USER A SOLID & EASY TO USE REPLACEMENT OF A REAL 1541 DRIVE. ÉT USES AN ÓÄ-CARD TO STORE DATA; FLOPPY DATA IS STORED IN .Ä64 IMAGES. ÔHESE IMAGES CAN BE MOUNTED ON THE HARDWARE OF THE 1541 ULTIMATE, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY ARE CONVERTED TO ÇÃÒ FORMAT, WHICH THE 1541 CAN READ FROM & WRITE TO. ÄATA WRITTEN BY THE DRIVE IS CONVERTED BACK FROM ÇÃÒ TO BINARY IN PARALLEL TO THE OPERATION OF THE DRIVE & WRITTEN BACK TO THE .Ä64 FILE. ÔHE 1541 "ÕLTIMATE" ÃURRENTLY, É AM INVESTIGATING WHETHER IT IS USEFUL TO SUPPORT .Ç41 FILES AS WELL, OR ANY OTHER FORMAT TO STORE FLOPPIES WITH CUSTOM FORMAT ON THE ÓÄ-CARD. ÔHE DRIVE EMULATION DOES NOT PUT ANY RESTRICTION TO THE ACTUAL FORMAT USED (ASIDE FROM IT USING THE ÇÃÒ SYNCS, SINCE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE 1541 HARDWARE IMPLEMENTS). ÉF YOU ARE USING CUSTOM FLOPPY FORMATS, OR WOULD LIKE TO USE THESE WITH THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ÉÅà SUPPORT ÔO SERVE OTHER ÃOMMODORE USERS AS WELL, OTHER THAN Ã-64 USERS, THE PLAN EXISTS TO HAVE THIS CARTRIDGE OPERATE AS STAND-ALONE UNIT, TOO. ÓINCE THE ON-SCREEN MENU WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE IN THIS CASE, THE USER NEEDS ANOTHER METHOD TO SELECT THE FLOPPY IMAGE. ÔHIS WILL BE DONE BY CONTROLLING THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE THROUGH ÉÅÃ; ÃOMMODORES SERIAL PORT. ÔHROUGH ÉÅÃ, THE DIRECTORIES ON THE ÓÄ-CARD CAN BE SELECTED, AFTER WHICH THE BUTTONS ON THE BOARD CAN BE USED TO SWITCH BETWEEN FLOPPIES WITHIN THE SAME DIRECTORY. ÔHIS ALLOWS SWAPPING DISKS WITHIN A PROGRAM THAT DOESNT ALLOW YOU TO SEND ÉÅà COMMANDS. ÎOTE THAT THIS FEATURE HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED. ÕPDATES ÎEW VERSIONS OF THE SOFTWARE & ÆÐÇÁ FOR THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE CAN BE EASILY DISTRIBUTED AS ONE FILE, WHICH IS TO BE PUT ON THE ÓÄ-CARD. ÕPON POWER-ON, THE ÂOOT-ÒÏÍ OF THE 1541 ÕLTIMATE SEARCHES FOR THIS FILE, & WHEN PRESENT, IT WILL LOAD & EXECUTE IT. ÉF NOT, IT FALLS BACK TO THE FLASHED VERSION. ÃOMMODORE ÍICROPHOTOGRAPHS ÍICROPHOTOGRAPHS OF VARIOUS ÃOMMODORE ÉÃS NEW PLACE & A FEW DETAILS HAVE BEEN ADDED: HTTP://WWW.DIGITAL-CIRCUITS.ORG/ SID/ÃÓÇ%20ÍICROGRAPHS/ Ðà ÃOMMODORE ËEYBOARD OVERLAY HTTP://WWW.4KEYBOARD.COM/INDEX.PHP? MAIN_PAGE=PRODUCT_INFO&CÐATH=68& PRODUCTS_ID=141&ZENID=D2AF917694C 880444DA7A11430C79AE1 ÈIGH-QUALITY STICKERS FOR ÃOMMODORE 64 ÓYMBOLS FOR Ã64 ARE ON NON-TRANSPARENT BLACK-MAT STICKERS. ÓTICKERS ARE MADE OF HIGH-QUALITY BLACK NON-TRANSPARENT MAT VINYL, THICKNESS - 80MKN, TYPO- GRAPHICAL METHOD. ÁPPLYING STICKERS ON THE KEYBOARD PROPERLY ONCE, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT LETTERS WILL STAY FOREVER. ÉMPACT OF THE ÃOMMODORE 64: Á 25TH ÁNNIVERSARY ÃELEBRATION Á ÖIDEO OF THE EVENT IS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FOR ANYONE WHO COULDNT ATTEND ÁDAM ÃHOWANIEC, ÃHAIRMAN OF THE ÂOARD, ÌIQUID ÃOMPUTING, ×ILLIAM Ã. ÌOWE, ÃHIEF ÅXECUTIVE ÏFFICER & ÐRESIDENT, ÎÅÐÓ, ÊACK ÔRAMIEL, ÆOUNDER & ÃÅÏ, ÃOMMODORE ÉNTERNATIONAL, ÓTEVE ×OZNIAK, ÃOÆOUNDER, ÁPPLE ÃOMPUTER, & ÍODERATOR, ÊOHN ÍARKOFF, ÎÙ ÔIMES ÊOURNALIST: HTTP://WWW.COMPUTERHISTORY.ORG/ EVENTS/INDEX.PHP?ID=1193702785 ÔHERE ARE 2 WEB PAGES CONCERNING THE ÕLTIMATE ÅXPANDER É MAKE & SELL FOR THE ÖÉÃ-20. ÙOU CAN FIND THEM HERE: WWW.8BITCENTRAL.COM & É CAN EASILY BE REACHED THROUGH MY ÍÓÎ ÍESSENGER ADDRESS: ESLAPION_FL@HOTMAIL.COM É ALSO MAKE ÏÔÐ/ÐÒÏÍ BASED SUBSTITUTES FOR THE Ã64 ÐÌÁ PART# 906114-01 AS WELL ÇÁÌ TECHNOLOGY BASED REPLACEMENTS FOR ÁMIGA 3000 CHIPS Õ202, Õ203, Õ701 & Õ714. É HAVE JUST BEGUN ACCEPTING PREORDERS FOR THE ÂEHR-ÂONZ MULTICART FOR THE ÖÉÃ-20, A CARTRIDGE THAT CONTAINS 127 GAMES FOR THE ÖÉÃ. & ÐRICING: ÖÉÃ-20 ÕLTIMATE ÅXPANDER: - ÂASE WITH 32K ÒÁÍ & READ-ONLY SWITCH -> 30$ - 8K SIZE ÒÏÍ OPTION -> 5$ EXTRA - 2 X 4K SIZE ÒÏÍ OPTIONS(IN THE SAME 8K REGION) -> 7$ EXTRA ÓUBSTITUTE ÐÌÁ: (906114-01 FOR THE 64, 251641-02 FOR THE ÐLUS/4, 251641-03 FOR THE 1551, 324745-01 OR 324744-01 FOR THE 8296) - ÎORMAL -> 10$ EACH -> 10 OR MORE: 8.50$ EACH - ÔHICK PINS -> 12$ -> 10 OR MORE: 10$ EACH ÌOGIC CHIPS FOR ÁMIGA ÃOMPUTERS: - Õ202 (390526-02), Õ203 (390527-02), Õ701 (390528-03) OR Õ714 (390529-03) FOR ÁMIGA 3000 -> 8$ PER CHIP ÖÉÃ-20 ÂEHR ÂONZ CART WITH 127 GAMES: - 30$ PER CART (NO CASE) ÁÌÌ ÉÎ ÃÁÎÁÄÉÁÎ ÄÏÌÌÁÒÓ. ÂEST REGARDS, &ÆRANCOIS EÂAY ÎÅ×Ó ÃÍÄ ÓUPER ÃPU ACCELERATORS ARE NOW ALMOST A RARETY ON EBAY BUT RECENTLY ONE CAME UP FOR SALE & NOT SURPRISING THE BIDDING WENT A BIT OVER THE TOP SEE THE LINK: HTTP://CGI.EBAY.CO.UK/WS/ EÂAYÉÓÁÐÉ.DLL?ÖIEWÉTEM&ITEM= 280190054672&INDEXÕÒÌ=0& PHOTOÄISPLAYÔYPE=2#EBAYPHOTOHOSTING ÓOLD FOR ÕÓ $999.99 + POST ÃÍÄ ÓUPERÃÐÕ 128 WITH ÍÍÕ & 16Í ÒÁÍ! ÔHIS AUCTION IS FOR A ÃÍÄ ÓUPERÃÐÕ 128 WITH ÍÍÕ!!! ÔHIS IS A ÃÐÕ ACCELERATOR (20ÍHZ) FOR USE WITH THE Ã64/128 COMPUTERS. ÔHE INSTALLATION OF THE ÍÍÕ INTO THE 128 ALLOWS THIS ACCELERATOR TO BE USED WITH THE 128 IN 128 MODE. ÐLUG IN A ÒÁÍÌINK & HAVE A ÃÍÄ ÈÄ CONNECTED TO THAT WITH A ÐARALLEL CABLE & YOU GET SOME BLAZING FAST ÉÏ!! ÔHIS AUCTION INCLUDES THE ÃÍÄ ÓUPERÃÐÕ, 16Í OF ÒÁÍ, ÍÍÕ UNIT, ÉNSTRUCTION ÍANUAL, & ÓUPER- ÃÐÕ ÄISKETTE!!! ÄUE TO THE AGE & NATURE OF THIS ITEM, IT IS BEING SOLD "AS IS". ÐÒÅÓÓ ÐÌÁÙ ÏÎ ÔÁÐÅ IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE AN UPCOMING CONCERT: ÏN ÓATURDAY ÁPRIL 19TH WE'LL BE PLAYING ANOTHER CONCERT IN ÃOPENHAGEN AT "ÔHE ÒOCK". ÔHE LAST TWO CONCERTS THERE WENT REALLY WELL SO ÔHE ÒOCK WANTED US TO COME & PLAY AGAIN :) ÈOPE TO SEE ÙÏÕ THERE! ÔICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.BILLETLUGEN.DK (SEARCH FOR "ÐÒÅÓÓ ÐÌÁÙ ÏÎ ÔÁÐÅ"). ÙOU MIGHT THINK THAT WE TELL YOU THIS A TAD EARLY BUT WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO PLAN AHEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU NOT LIVING IN ÄENMARK. ÁT THE PREVIOUS CONCERTS THE DOORS CLOSED DURING THE EVENING BECAUSE THE PLACE WAS CRAMMED (THAT'S MORE THAN 550 PEOPLE), SO BE PREPARED & BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE :) ËEEP AN EYE ON OUR EVENT PAGE FOR UP-TO-DATE INFO ABOUT SUPPORT BAND & MORE: HTTP://WWW.PRESSPLAYONTAPE.COM/ ?PID=CONCERTS_THEROCK2008 ÍUSIC VIDEO:--- ÏN TOP ON THAT WE CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE WORKING ON A MUSIC VIDEO WHICH IS GOING TO BE RECORDED (THE VIDEO PART, THAT IS, AS THE TUNE IS RECORDED ALREADY) NEXT WEEKEND. ÔHE VIDEO WILL FEATURE ALL THE MEMBERS OF ÐÐÏÔ & MORE WITH LOTS OF COMPUTER GRAPHICS & POST PROCESSING. ÆOR NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE VIDEO WILL BE OUT BUT REST ASSURED THAT WE'LL POST INFO ABOUT IT ON THE WEBSITE & PERHAPS ALSO SEND YOU ANOTHER MAIL ON THIS LIST WHEN IT COMES OUT. ÔHE TUNE, YOU ASK? ÔHAT'S A SECRET! ÒÏÃ=Ë ÏÎ! ÐÒÅÓÓ ÐÌÁÙ ÏÎ ÔÁÐÅ HTTP://WWW.PRESSPLAYONTAPE.COM/ ======================================= U ÓEASON'S GREETINGS FROM INDIVIDUAL ÃOMPUTERS ÔEAM INDIVIDUAL ÃOMPUTERS IS SENDING "ÍERRY ÃHRISTMAS" TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS & BUSINESS PARTNERS! ÉN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THE GIANT PROJECT "ÃLONE-Á", WE FINISHED OUR WORK ON THE HARDWARE DESIGN OF A ROUTER THAT CAN BUNDLE SEVERAL INTERNET LINES, & WE CONTINUED THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRIVERS FOR EXISTING PRODUCTS. ÆOR 2008, THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS. ÆIRST OF ALL, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT ÈELMUT ÓCHTTNER WILL JOIN OUR TEAM IN 2008. ÈE WILL BE IN CHARGE OF ÁMIGA DRIVER MAINTENANCE & SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING OF NEW MICRO- CONTROLLER-BASED PRODUCTS. ×ELCOME TO OUR TEAM! ×E ARE ALREADY WORKING ON BRINGING SOLD-OUT PRODUCTS BACK INTO THE SHOPS: ÃATWEASEL ÍË4, ÉNDIVISION & ËICKFLASH ÏÓ4 WILL EXPERIENCE SMALL CHANGES FOR THE NEXT PRODUCTION RUNS. Á FEW MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE BOUGHT THE "ÍICROMYS" DESIGN FROM ÍARKO ÈEROLD. ×E HAVE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE Ã64 MOUSE ADAPTER, & WE'LL RELEASE IT UNDER THE NAME "ÍICROMYS Ö3" DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2008. ÈIGH COMPATIBILITY WITH ÐÓ2 MICE WILL REMAIN, & ÕÓÂ-MICE THAT SUPPORT ÐÓ2 PROTOCOL ARE AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED TO THAT MODE. ÔHE NEW ADAPTER CAN BE CONFIGURED FOR DIFFERENT TARGET SYSTEMS BY ÄÉÐ SWITCHES: Ã64: 1351 PROPORTIONAL MOUSE EMULATION WITH WHEEL-EXTENSION Ã64: ÊOYSTICK EMULATION ÁMIGA: 3-BUTTON MOUSE WITHOUT DRIVERS ÁMIGA: 3-BUTTON WHEELMOUSE WITH ÆREEWHEEL-DRIVER ÁTARI ÓÔ: 2-BUTTON MOUSE ÍICROMYS Ö3 CAN OF COURSE BE USED ON OTHER RETRO-SYSTEMS THAT USE A 9-PIN ÓUB-Ä CONNECTOR FOR GAME CONTROLLERS, SUCH AS ÁTARI 8-BIT MACHINES, ÓCHNEIDER, ÁMSTRAD & ÍÓØ. ÃOMPETITION ÐÒÏ ÒETRO STILL AVAILABLE ÁLTHOUGH THE ÕÓÂ-VERSION OF THIS SUCCESSFUL JOYSTICK IS SOLD OUT AT THE MOMENT, THE RETRO-VERSION THAT WE PRODUCED TOGETHER WITH ÓPEEDLINK IS STILL IN STOCK. ÓTARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2008, THE PRICE WILL BE RAISED TO 14.99 ÅÕÒ. ÉF YOU WANT TO SECURE THE OLD PRICE FOR YOUR ORDER, PLEASE PLACE YOUR ORDER BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR! ÎEW PRODUCT: ÍÍà ÒEPLAY ÔHE DEMAND FOR ÍÍÃ64 CONTINUES TO BE STRONG. ×ITH THE ÃOMMODORE ÓCENE ÁWARD THAT WE GOT FOR THE ÒETRO ÒEPLAY, THE DEMAND FOR THIS PRODUCT WAS ALSO BOOSTED. ×E HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST IN THESE PRODUCTS, WHICH ARE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT NOW. ×E TOOK THE CHANCE TO MERGE THE TWO PRODUCTS INTO ONE NEW, POWERFUL CARTRIDGE, THE ÍÍà ÒEPLAY. ÍANY REQUESTS FOR CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN ÍÍà ÒEPLAY. Á COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE FEATURES WOULD GO BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS NEWS ITEM, SO WE'RE ONLY LISTING THE MOST IMPORTANT DATA HERE: 512Ë ÒAM 512Ë ÆLASH ÒOM ÃLOCKPORT FOR ÒÒ-ÎET ÓÄ/ÍÍà CARD ÉNTERFACE (ÍÍÃ64 COMPATIBLE) ÆREEZER (ÒETRO ÒEPLAY COMPATIBLE) ÅXTENDED FREEZER-MODE ÓUPPORT FOR NATIVE Ã128 CARTRIDGE SOFTWARE ÆREEZE/ACTIVITY ÌÅÄS ÅXISTING SOFTWARE THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR ÍÍÃ64, ÒETRO ÒEPLAY OR THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO CAN BE USED WITHOUT CHANGES. ÔHE NEW HARDWARE FEATURES ARE ACTIVATED BY THE COMPLETELY RE-WRITTEN FILE BROWSER OF ÍÍà ÒEPLAY. ÙOU CAN NOW CREATE & MOUNT *.D64 ARCHIVES. ÆLASHING OF CARTRIDGE SOFTWARE (FOR EXAMPLE ÁCTION ÒEPLAY, ÒETRO ÒEPLAY, ÎORDIC ÐOWER OR ÆINAL ÒEPLAY) IS MADE A LOT EASIER WITH THE BUILT-IN FLASH UTILITY. ÔHE EXTENDED FREEZER MODE ALLOWS MEMORY CONFIGURATIONS THAT MAKE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SOFTWARE A LOT EASIER, BUT ALSO EASES ADAPTING EXISTING SOFTWARE (FOR EXAMPLE ÆÃ3) TO THIS HARDWARE. ÍANY CUSTOMERS REPORTED DIFFICULTIES WITH SPECIAL MODELS OF THE Ã64 OR THE Ã128. ÕP TO THIS POINT, PROPER FUNCTION ON THESE SPECIAL MACHINES WAS EITHER ONLY POSSIBLE AFTER A LONG WARMUP-TIME, OR IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AT ALL BECAUSE THE Ã128 IS NOT 100% COMPATIBLE TO THE Ã64. ×E HAVE MADE THE NECESSARY CHANGES & COMPLETED EXTENSIVE TESTS WITH MORE THAN 40 VARIANTS OF THE Ã64 & Ã128 - EVEN NATIVE Ã128 CARTRIDGE SOFTWARE IS SUPPORTED BY ÍÍà ÒEPLAY! ×E HAVE ALREADY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF ÒÒ-ÎET A FEW MONTHS AGO. ÔHE NEW SHAPE MIGHT HAVE LOOKED STRANGE TO SOME CUSTOMERS, BUT WITH THE RELEASE OF ÍÍà ÒEPLAY, OUR PLAN SHOULD BECOME OBVIOUS NOW: ÙOU CAN NOW FIT ÍÍÃ64, ÒETRO ÒEPLAY & ÒÒ-ÎET INTO ONE STANDARD CARTRIDGE CASE. ÃARTRIDGE CASES ARE AVAILABLE SEPARATELY. ÈOLES FOR BUTTONS, ÌÅÄS, ÓÄ CARD & A NETWORKING CABLE MUST BE MADE BY THE USER. ÍÍà ÒEPLAY WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM OUR TRADE PARTNERS SHORTLY. ÔHE PRICE IS 79 - ÅÕÒ(*). * RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE INCL 19% ÖÁÔ ======================================= U ÉNTERVIEW WITH ËENZ WWW.BINARYZONE.ORG Ñ - ÐLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF? ÇREETINGS ÐROGRAMS! ÍY NAME IS ÊASON 'ËENZ' ÍACKENZIE & É'M THE FOUNDER OF ÂINARY ÚONE ÐÄ - THE ÕËS BIGGEST DEDICATED Ã64 ÐÄ LIBRARY WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE 1990 (GOOD LORD!) É'VE ALSO BEEN A MEMBER OF VARIOUS Ã64 DEMO GROUPS INCLUDING ÃOMPUTER ×ORLD (WHICH WAS JUST ME & A FEW SCHOOLMATES), ØENTRIX (THE FIRST PROPER GROUP É JOINED) & ÃOSINE (WHICH É'M STILL HAPPY TO BE A MEMBER OF!) É'M NOW A CRUSTY 36 YEAR-OLD RETRO-TWONK LIVING UP ON THE BEAUTIFUL ÍALVERN ÈILLS IN THE ÕË WITH MY LOVELY WIFE ÎATASHA, A SMALL HAIRY BUNNY-TYPE BEASTIE CALLED ÐHOENIX & LOTS OF RETRO COMPUTERS (FAR TOO MANY IN FACT!) Ñ - ×HEN WAS WWW.BINARYZONE.ORG SETUP? ÔHE ÂINARY ÚONE WEBSITE WAS UPLOADED ONTO THE 'ÎET ON ÎOVEMBER 28TH 1998. ÂINARY ÚONE HAD RELIED ON SENDING ITS PAPER-BASED ÐÄ CATALOGUES & MAILSHOTS TO ITS 4000+ MEMBERS VIA ÓNAILMAIL UNTIL THAT TIME SO É DECIDED TO GIVE ÂÚ A WEB-PRESENCE AS THAT WAS WHERE EVERY- ONE ELSE SEEMED TO BE HEADING. ÔHIS MADE IT A LOT EASIER TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT NEW ÂINARY ÚONE RELEASES & REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE. Ñ - ÆOR READERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE CAN YOU GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT ÂINARY ÚONE, WHEN YOU STARTED TO THE PRESENT? ÂLIMEY, WHERE DO É START?! ÒIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING É GUESS ... É HAD THE IDEA FOR A ÐÄ LIBRARY BACK IN 1989 AFTER É HAD BOUGHT A FEW ÐÄ DISKS FROM '×ICKED ÐÄ' WHICH WAS A ÐÄ LIBRARY RUN BY FAMED ÃOMPUNET DUO ÉAN & ÍIC. ÕNFORTUNATELY THEY STOPPED THEIR ÐÄ SERVICE IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE ON COMMERCIAL GAME PRODUCTIONS SO É DECIDED TO CARRY ON WHERE THEY LEFT OFF. É HAD AMASSED QUITE A BIG COLLECTION OF DEMOS & OTHER Ã64 ÐÄ RELEASES BY THIS TIME SO É SET ABOUT COMPILING A CATALOGUE. ÉT TOOK ME ABOUT A YEAR TO SET UP ÂINARY ÚONE ÐÄ FROM THE INITIAL IDEA & THE ÐÄ LIBRARY WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN 1990. É PLACED SMALL ADS IN A COUPLE OF COMPUTER MAGS & THE ORDERS LITERALLY CAME FLOODING IN! ÏVER THE NEXT FEWS YEARS THE ÐÄ CATALOG EXPANDED TO INCLUDE HUNDREDS OF DISKS & É ALSO BRANCHED OUT IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. É ALSO TOOK OVER THE RUNNING OF 'ÔHE ÇUILD ÁDVENTURE ÓOFTWARE' FOR A WHILE, RELEASED A FEW Ã64 GAMES (PRODUCED BY ÊON ×ELLS, ÁLF ÙNGVE & ÊASON ËELK) ON THE 'ÐSYTRONIK' SOFTWARE LABEL & É ALSO PRODUCED & EDITED THE Ã64 MAGAZINE 'ÃOMMODORE ÚONE' (WITH THE HELP OF A ÌÏÔ OF CONTRIBUTORS!) ÔHIS RAN FOR 16 ISSUES IN TOTAL FROM ÓÅÐ 1995 UNTIL THE WINTER OF 2001. É ALSO JOINED FORCES WITH WWW.C64AUDIO.COM & HELPED WORK ON VARIOUS COMMERCIAL ÃÄ RELEASES FEATURING Ã64 MUSIC & REMIXES. ÎOWADAYS É PRODUCE RETRO-RELATED PRODUCTS FOR THE ÂINARY ÚONE ÉNTER- ACTIVE WEBSITE (WWW.BINARYZONE.ORG) ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER INTERNET RELATED SHENANIGANS. Á RECENT PROJECT OF MINE IS 'ÏNE ÍAN & ÈIS ÍIC'. ÔHIS IS A SERIES OF RETROCOMPUTER MUSIC PODCAST SHOWS THAT FEATURE CLASSIC TUNES FROM VARIOUS COMPUTER SYSTEMS. ÆOR MORE DETAILS CHECK OUT: WWW.BINARYZONE.ORG/PODCAST/ Ñ - ×HY WAS THE ÃOMMODORE ÚONE MAGAZINE STOPPED? ÂY THE 16TH ISSUE MY LIFE HAD CHANGED DIRECTION SOMEWHAT & É WANTED TO CONCENTRATE ON OTHER PROJECTS. É HAD BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE ÕË ÃHANNEL 4 COMPUTER GAME SHOW 'ÂITS' WORKING BEHIND-THE-SCENES AS THEIR RETRO- RESEARCHER. ×HEN THE IDIOTS AT ÃHANNEL 4 DECIDED TO KILL THE SHOW É PRODUCED THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR ÅMILY ÂOOTH, ONE OF THE GIRLS WHO PRESENTED THE SHOW (WWW.BOUFF.TV), AND THEN SPENT A FEW YEARS IN ÓOHO LARKING AROUND WITH ÅMILY. ÁLL THESE 'DISTRACTIONS' MEANT É HAD LESS TIME TO WORK ON THE ÃOMMODORE ÚONE MAG SO DECIDED TO END IT WITH THE 16TH ISSUE (WHICH FEATURED ÅMILY ÂOOTH ON THE COVER & AN INTERVIEW WITH HER, FUNNILY ENOUGH!) Ñ - ÈOW LONG HAVE YOU SUPPORTED & OWNED Ã= MACHINES? É BOUGHT MY FIRST Ã64 IN 1987 É THINK - ALTHOUGH É'D BEEN A HUGE FAN OF THE Ã64 A GOOD FEW YEARS BEFORE THEN! ×HEN É WAS STILL AT SCHOOL É USED TO GO ROUND TO MY CHUM ÍATT ×ALTONS HOUSE & PLAY Ã64 GAMES WITH HIM (É WAS A ÓPECCY USER AT THE TIME!) É WAS ALWAYS BLOWN AWAY BY THE AMAZING MUSIC IN Ã64 GAMES (ÍATT EVEN USED TO RECORD Ã64 MUSIC TAPES FOR ME!) ALONG WITH THE SMOOTH SCROLLING & SPRITES ETC. ÔHIS MADE ME REALLY, ÒÅÁÌÌÙ WANT A Ã64 BUT É WAS THEN UNEXPECTEDLY BOUGHT AN ÁMSTRAD ÃÐà 464 AS A PRESENT. É DABBLED WITH THE ÁMSTRAD FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS BUT STILL WANTED A Ã64 SO IN THE END É SOLD MY ÁMSTRAD &, AFTER A LOT OF SAVING, FINALLY BOUGHT MYSELF A Ã64 (WHICH COST ME ABOUT 250!) É STILL HAVE THAT Ã64 ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT NOWADAYS - CHECK OUT: HTTP://WWW.BINARYZONE.ORG/ SPECADORE64.PHP TO SEE WHY! É ALSO GOT INTO THE ÁMIGA SCENE & EVEN EXPANDED THE ÂINARY ÚONE ÐÄ RANGE TO INCLUDE ÁMIGA DISKS. ÔHE ÂINARY ÚONE ÁMIGA ÐÄ RANGE WASN'T AS POPULAR AS THE Ã64 ÐÄ RANGE - PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY GOOD ÁMIGA ÐÄ LIBRARIES BUT ONLY A FEW WHO CATERED FOR Ã64 USERS. Ñ - ÈOW DID YOU SET UP THE WEBSITE? ÔHE ÂINARY ÚONE WEBSITE WAS ORIGINALLY PRODUCED BY MY MATE ÍAT ÒECARDO WHO RUNS WWW.PREFERREDIMAGE.CO.UK ÈE DESIGNED THE SITE & CAME UP WITH THE ORIGINAL LOOK. É THEN BUILT ON WHAT ÍAT HAD STARTED & OVER TIME THE SITE HAS EVOLVED INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY. ÔHE MOST RECENT ADDITION WAS THE RETRO STORE. É WANTED TO PRESENT THE ÂINARY ÚONE PRODUCT RANGE MORE PROFESSIONALLY & CATER FOR OTHER RETRO SYSTEMS SO, WITH THE HELP OF MY WIFE ÎATASHA, PRODUCED THE NEW FEATURE-PACKED ÂINARY ÚONE ÉNTERACTIVE STORE: HTTP://WWW.BINARYZONE.ORG/RETROSTORE/ Ñ - ÄO YOU STILL PROVIDE ÐÄ TO Ã= USERS & IF SO IS THIS STILL AVAILABLE ON DISK OR IS THERE ANOTHER DELIVERY METHOD? ÔHERE ISN'T REALLY MUCH CALL FOR Ã64 SOFTWARE ON DISK ANY MORE - PROBABLY DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF EMULATORS. ÉT'S MUCH EASIER TO DOWNLOAD A .Ä64 DISK IMAGE & RUN IT IN AN EMULATOR RATHER THAN MUCK AROUND WITH FLOPPY DISKS É GUESS! ÆUNNILY ENOUGH, É ACTUALLY DID GET ASKED TO SUPPLY OVER 200 ÂINARY ÚONE DISKS ON 5.25" FLOPPY DISKS RECENTLY - & THE GUY EVEN SUPPLIED THE BLANK DISKS TOO! É STILL HAVE ALL THE ORIGINAL ÂINARY ÚONE ÐÄ FLOPPY DISKS SO IT WASN'T A PROBLEM TO COPY THEM FOR HIM (ALTHOUGH IT TOOK A WHILE!) É CAN'T ACTUALLY GET ANY STOCKS OF 5.25" BLANK DISKS ANY MORE SO É DON'T OFFER THE ÐÄ ON Ã64 DISKS. ÉNSTEAD É'VE STARTED GIVING AWAY THE ÂINARY ÚONE ÐÄ RANGE AS FREE DOWNLOADS ON THE ÂÚ WEBSITE. ÙOU CAN CURRENTLY FREELY DOWNLOAD OVER 200 ÂÚ DISKS AS .Ä64 DISK IMAGES FOR FREE FROM: WWW.BINARYZONE.ORG & MORE WILL BE ADDED OVER TIME. Ñ - ÉS THERE STILL A DEMAND FOR ÐÄ? ÎOT ON THE ORIGINAL 5.25" DISKS - É ONLY VERY RARELY GET ASKED FOR Ã64 ÐÄ ON FLOPPY DISKS, LIKE THE GUY É MENTIONED ABOVE. É'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOWNLOADING THE FREE ÂÚ DISKS AS É HAVE NO WAY OF KEEPING COUNT OF THOSE. É'VE HAD SOME GREAT FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENJOYED THE FREE ÂÚ DISKS HOWEVER SO AS LONG AS THERE'S STILL INTEREST IN THE Ã64 É'LL KEEP THE DISKS ONLINE! Ñ - ÃAN YOU TELL OUR READERS ABOUT SOME OTHER PRODUCTS YOU SUPPLY? ÔHE ÂINARY ÚONE AUDIO MUSIC ÃÄS HAVE PROVED TO BE VERY POPULAR - THESE ÃÄS FEATURE MUSIC DIGITALLY RECORDED FROM REAL Ã64S (WHICH SOUNDS MUCH BETTER THAN EMULATED ÓÉÄ MUSIC!) É'VE ALSO BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO RECEIVE THE BLESSING FROM A LOT OF THE ORIGINAL COMPOSERS TO USE THEIR WORK ALONG WITH WWW.C64AUDIO.COM WHO LOOK AFTER THE WORKS OF MUSICIANS LIKE ÒOB ÈUBBARD & ÍARTIN ÇALWAY ETC. ÙOU CAN ALSO BUY RETRO-RELATED ÃÄ-ÒÏÍS FROM THE ÂÚ SHOP (INCLUDING A SET THAT CONTAINS THE ENTIRE ÂINARY ÚONE Ã64 ÐÄ RANGE!), RETRO ÄÖÄS, RETRO COMPUTER GLOSSY PHOTOS & POSTERS & É'VE EVEN STARTED OFFERING RETRO GAMES ON THE SITE! ÉT'S EARLY DAYS FOR THESE THOUGH AS É HAVE LITERALLY HUNDREDS MORE TO ADD BUT IT WILL TAKE ME A WHILE TO ADD THEM ALL INTO THE STORE. Ñ - ÔHE WEBSITE LISTS SOME SUPERB POSTERS ARE THESE STILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE, IF SO WHAT MACHINES ARE COVERED? ÙOU CAN BUY GLOSSY PRINTS FEATURING PHOTOS OF RETRO COMPUTERS LIKE THE Ã64, ÁMIGA, ÁTARI ÓÔ, ÚØ SPECTRUM, ÚØ81 & MANY MORE FROM THE ÂÚ RETRO STORE. ÔHESE LOOK GREAT WHEN FRAMED. ÉN FACT, É ORIGINALLY PRODUCED THESE JUST FOR MYSELF BUT AS THEY LOOKED SO NICE THOUGHT OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THEM - & É WAS RIGHT! ÙOU CAN ALSO BUY LARGER POSTERS THAT WERE PRODUCED TO PROMOTE VARIOUS RETRO EVENTS. ÔHERE'S EVEN SOME SPECIALLY RESTORED VERSIONS OF CLASSIC RETRO GAMING ADS & MAGAZINE COVERS! Ñ - ÈOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN ÂINARY ZONE? ÊUST LITTLE OLD ME IS IN CHARGE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF ÂINARY ÚONE & THE PROCESSING OF ORDERS + WEBSITE UPDATES ETC. ÃOUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE & DEMO CREWS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ÚONE OVER THE YEARS - IN FACT É'VE MADE MANY GREAT FRIENDSHIPS WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD THANKS TO RUNNING ÂÚ! Ñ - ÄO YOU SEE ANY VALUE IN USING REAL Ã= HARDWARE OVER EMULATION? ÆOR LISTENING TO Ã64 MUSIC, ÄÅÆÉÎÉÔÅÌÙ! É MUCH PREFER THE SOUND OF REAL Ã64 MUSIC OVER EMULATED MUSIC - HENCE THE POPULARITY OF THE ÂINARY ÚONE ÃÄS É GUESS! ÁLSO, EMULATED Ã64 GAMES JUST DON'T LOOK RIGHT TO ME! ÔHE GRAPHICS ARE TOO CRISPY CLEAR WHEN EMULATED & LOT OF GAMES JUST END UP LOOKING LIKE A BLOCKY MESS. ÍY Ðà NEVER QUITE GETS THE SCROLLING AS SMOOTH AS A REAL Ã64 EITHER. ÉF É WANT TO PLAY A 64 GAME AS IT WAS ÍÅÁÎÔ TO BE PLAYED É WILL ALWAYS POWER UP MY Ã64 (WHICH IS ALWAYS KEPT SET UP) YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT THE ORIGINAL MACHINE! Ñ - ÄO YOU SEE ANY VALUE OF UPGRADING THE Ã64/128 BEYOND IT'S ORIGINAL SPEC? É'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN THE POINT OF INCREASING THE SPEED OF THE Ã64'S PROCESSOR OR ADDING EXTRA ÒÁÍ - BUT THEN AGAIN, É'VE NEVER REALLY USED SOFTWARE THAT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT (LIKE ÇÅÏÓ FOR EXAMPLE). ÁDDING THINGS LIKE ÆLASH MEMORY CARD READERS ARE A GOOD IDEA THOUGH AS IT MAKES PORTING DISK IMAGES FROM THE Ðà BACK TO THE Ã64 REALLY EASY & INCREASES THE LOADING TIMES CONSIDERABLY! Ñ - ×HAT WAS THE LAST PIECE OF ÈARDWARE FOR YOUR Ã64 YOU PURCHASED? ÍY MOST RECENT ÃOMMODORE PURCHASE WAS A REPLACEMENT MOUSE FOR MY ÁMIGA AS MY OLD MOUSE PACKED UP. É HAVEN'T BOUGHT ANY Ã64 HARDWARE FOR AGES THOUGH AS É STILL HAVE ALL MY ORIGINAL HARDWARE & IT STILL ALL WORKS! Ñ - ÄO YOU REMEMBER ÍEGAÔRONIX ÐÄ? ÈEHE, É CERTAINLY DO! É REMEMBER BEING A TAD MIFFED AT THEM FOR LAUNCHING A ÐÄ LIBRARY THAT WAS ALMOST AN EXACT COPY OF ÂINARY ÚONE RIGHT DOWN TO THE CATALOGUE LAYOUT, LOGO & EVEN THE CONTENTS OF THE DISKS! ÔHIS ANNOYED ME AS É'D PUT A LOT OF TIME & EFFORT INTO COMPILING THE UNIQUE RANGE OF ÂINARY ÚONE DISKS & PRODUCING THE CATALOGUES - & THEN FOR SOMEONE TO COME ALONG & BASICALLY COPY EVERYTHING É'D DONE... ×ELL, É WASN'T IMPRESSED! Ñ - ×HAT ARE YOU TOP 10 COMMERCIAL Ã= GAMES? ÆROM THE TOP OF MY HEAD & IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER: ÕRIDIUM, ÐARADROID, ×IZBALL, ÌAST ÎINJA, ÇHOSTS 'N' ÇOBLINS, ÃREATURES ÉÉ, ÁRMALYTE, ÅXPLODING ÆIST, ÓTUNT ÃAR ÒACER & ÍYTH. Ñ - ×HAT ARE YOUR 5 FAVOURITE ÐÄ GAMES & 5 FAVOURITE DEMOS? ÆROM THE ÂINARY ÚONE RANGE: Ã64 ÐÄ ÇAMES, ÇAMEÂOY ÔETRIS, ÆLUBBLE & ÓQUIJ, ÃHAOS (ËERNAL), ÔWIN ÔIGERS & ÔERMINAL ÃITY Ã64 ÐÄ ÄEMOS: ÍATHEMATICA (ÒEFLEX), ÔOP ÐRIORITY (ÃONTEX), ÄEUS ÅX ÍACHINA (ÃREST), ÇRAPHIXMANIA 2 (ÍÄÁ), & ÄUTCH ÂREEZE (ÂLACKMAIL) Ñ - ÄID YOU EVER GET INTO THE FREESCAPE GAMES? ÎOPE, TOO SLOW & BORING FOR MY LIKING - GOOD MUSIC THOUGH (ESPECIALLY ÄRILLER!) Ñ - ÈAVE YOU READ ÃOMMODORE ÆREE MAGAZINE? É MUST ADMIT É HADN'T READ IT UNTIL YOU CONTACTED ME. É'VE SINCE HAD A LOOK THROUGH ISSUE #13 & ENJOYED READING IT. ÓEEING YOUR Ã64 MAG REMINDED ME OF THE GOOD TIMES É HAD PRODUCING ÃOMMODORE ÚONE - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! ======================================= U ÉNTERVIEW WITH ÂILL ÄEGNAN VINTAGE COMPUTER.NET Ñ- ÐLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF? ÍY LOVELY WIFE ËELCEY & É HAVE 2 KIDS, ÌLOYD (4) & ÁLICE (1.5). É AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A HAPPY HEALTHY FAMILY. É OWN MY OWN ÉÓÐ/PROGRAMMING BUSINESS HTTP://DEGNANCO.NET) ×HEN É AM NOT SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY É CAN BE FOUND TINKERING IN THE BASEMENT WITH OLD COMPUTERS, PRACTICING THE GUITAR, OR DOING SOMETHING OUTSIDE. É TEACH COMPUTER HISTORY AT THE ÕNIV OF ÄELAWARE TO COMPUTER ENGINEERING SENIORS. É RUN A WEBSITE AT: HTTP://WWW.VINTAGECOMPUTER.NET THAT DOCUMENTS MY CLASSIC COMPUTER EXPLOITS. É AM ALSO AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT OF THE ÍID ÁTLANTIC (Õ.Ó.) ÒETRO ÃOMPUTING ÈOBBYISTS (ÍÁÒÃÈ) ÔHEIR WEB SITE IS HTTP://WWW.MIDATLANTICRETRO.ORG ÔHIS IS WHERE THE ÖINTAGE ÃOMPUTER ÆESTIVAL ÅAST HAS BEEN HELD FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. É AM A ÖÐ OF THE CLUB. Ñ- ×HERE DO YOU LIVE? ÌANDENBERG, ÐENNSYLVANIA ÕÓÁ. ÉT'S ABOUT HALF-WAY BETWEEN ÂALTIMORE & ÐHILADELPHIA. Ñ- ×HY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE OLD MACHINES LIKE ÃOMMODORES? ÉT'S NOT JUST COMPUTERS ALONE TO NEED TO BE PRESERVED - IT'S THE SOFTWARE, THE MONITOR, DRIVES, CABLES, POWER SUPPLIES, DOCS, MANUALS, & THE BOX... THE WHOLE PICTURE. ÏTHERWISE THE COMPUTER IS JUST A THING TO BE DISPLAYED ON A TABLE LIKE A STUFFED ÄODO. ÉF ONE'S GOAL IS TO PRESERVE THE ENTIRE SYSTEMS IT QUICKLY BECOMES CLEAR THAT MAGNETIC MEDIA IS THE WEAK POINT OF ANY ANTIQUE COMPUTER SYSTEM. ÉN 20 YRS IT'LL BE TOO LATE TO START BACKING UP TAPES & DISKS, ÉT'S A WAY TO CONT- RIBUTE TO FUTURE HISTORIANS Ñ-×HY ÃOMMODORES SPECIFICALLY? ÉT WAS THE LATE 90'S & É ALREADY KNEW WHAT É WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ÁMIGA, ÁPPLE & ÉÂÍ SYSTEMS, & É THOUGHT É'D START EXPLORING OTHER PLATFORMS. ÁT THE TIME IT WAS STILL RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND A WORKING Ã64 OR Ã128 SYSTEM WITH SOFTWARE SO É STARTED WITH THAT. ÏVER TIME É LEARNED THAT THERE WERE ALSO ALL OF THESE WEIRD OTHER ÃÂÍ MODELS & EVOLUTIONARY DEAD ENDS. ÁLL TOLD IT MAKES FOR A VERY INTERESTING STORY. ×HAT OTHER MANUFACTURER, EXCEPT FOR POSSIBLY THE ÔANDY, HAD SO MANY MODELS & VARIATIONS IN THE 70'S & 80'S? Ñ- ×HAT ARE YOU FAVOURITE FEATURES OF THE  MACHINES? ÔHE Â'S HAVE THE SAME ÓÉÄ CHIP AS THE Ã64, WITH A SEPARATE AUDIO PORT. ÔHE 256Ë Â MODELS GIVE A PERSON A LOT OF ROOM TO WORK WITH. É BELIEVE THAT THE  SERIES KEYBOARDS ARE NICER THAN ANY OTHER Ã= SYSTEM. Ñ- ÃAN YOU EXPLAIN TO OUR READERS ABOUT THE  MACHINES? ÔHE  SERIES IS COMPRISED OF 3 GROUPS 1. ÔHE Ð500 (Ð128) 2. ÌOW PROFILE SYSTEMS (Â128-80 IN THE ÕÓ, THE 600 (610, 620) SERIES IN ÅUROPE) 3. ÈI PROFILE SYSTEMS (ÃÂÍ 128-80 & ÃÂÍ 256-80 IN THE ÕÓ, THE 700 (710, 720) SERIES IN ÅUROPE ÎOTE THAT THE Â128-80 WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD AS THE Â500 IN THE ÕÓ. ÔHERE WAS NEVER A Â256-80 LOW PROFILE COMPUTER SOLD IN THE ÕÓ, BUT THERE ARE LESS THAN 5 KNOWN PROTOTYPES. ÈERE IS MORE INFO ON  ÓERIES PROTOTYPES: HTTP://VINTAGECOMPUTER.NET/ CBM_B_PROTOTYPES.CFM ÔHERE IS A GREAT WEB SITE DEDICATED TO THE  SERIES THAT DOES A GREAT JOB OF DETAILING THE HISTORICAL DETAILS OF THE  ÓERIES LINE, & É WOULD ONLY BE RE- HASHING ÍR ÓHOCKLEY'S GREAT WORK. HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/ÞSHOCKLEY 15790/ONLINESTORAGE/B128.HTML ÈERE IS MY TAKE ON THE  ÓERIES STORY: ÔHE  SERIES WAS DEVELOPED BY Ã= FOR THE HOME & BUSINESS MARKET IN 1981-2, ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE ÉÂÍ ÐÃ. ÏRIGINALLY THESE SYSTEMS WERE TO BE FITTED WITH BOTH THE 8-BIT ÍÏÓ 6509 PLUS OPTIONAL 16-BIT ÉNTEL 8088 OR 8-BIT Ú-80 PROCESSORS, BUT ONLY MODELS WITH 6509'S MADE IT TO THE MARKET. ÅARLY USER GUIDES DO DESCRIBE MODELS WITH BOTH THE Ú-80 & 8088, BUT NONE WERE SOLD IN THE ÕÓ. ÔHERE MAY HAVE BEEN A VERY FEW "ÂØ" MODELS SOLD IN ÅUROPE WITH 8088 DAUGHTER BOARDS. ÔHERE WERE PROBABLY SOME AFTER-MARKET BOARDS AS WELL. É DO NOT BELIEVE ANY SYSTEMS WITH Ú-80 DAUGHTER BOARDS WERE EVER MADE. Á FEW PROTOTYPE 8088 BOARDS EXIST, INCLUDING ONE IN MY POSSESSION. ÍICROSOFT OFFERED ÍÓ ÄÏÓ TO Ã= AS WELL AS ÉÂÍ. ÉN FACT, É HAVE A COPY OF A EARLY ÍÓ ÄÏÓ 1.25 DISKETTE FROM Ã= LABS WHICH WAS TO BE USED FOR EXPERIMENTING IN-HOUSE WITH THE MODELS FITTED WITH THE 8088 BOARDS. ÁLAS, ÍÓ ÄÏÓ DID NOT FIND IT'S WAY TO THE  SERIES. É DON'T KNOW IF Ã= FAILED TO SEE THE VALUE IN HAVING ÍÓ ÄÏÓ, PREFERRED ÃÐ/Í, OR SIMPLY GAVE ÍÓ ÄÏÓ/8088 INTEGRATION A LOW PRIORITY. ÍOST LIKELY THE PROBLEM WAS PRODUCTION COST. É ALSO HAVE A FEW ITERATIONS OF THE ORIGINAL DEVELOP- MENTAL COPIES OF ÃÐ/Í - 80 FOR  SERIES SYSTEMS WITH THE 8088 BOARDS. ÓO, FOR YOU TRIVIA BUFFS, THE FIRST ÃÐ/Í DISKS MADE FOR THE Ã= WAS NOT FOR THE Ã-128. ÙES É HAVE ARCHIVED THESE DISKS! ÔHE TOTAL NUMBER OF MACHINES PRODUCED & SOLD DID NOT EXCEED 20,000 WORLDWIDE, A GREATER PROPORTION WERE SOLD IN ÅUROPE. ÔHE INTRODUCTION OF THE ÉÂÍ Ðà IN 1982 & THE SUBSEQUENT LAUNCH OF THE Ã-64 SQUEEZED THE  SERIES INTO OBLIVION. ÁLTHOUGH Ã= ABANDONED THE  SERIES, A DEDICATED GROUP OF  SERIES ENTHUSIASTS CALLED THE ÃHICAGO Â128 ÕSERS ÇROUP (ÃÂÕÇ) WAS FORMED BY ÎORMAN ÄELETZKE & ÐROTECTO, THE COMPANY HIRED BY Ã= TO LIQUIDATE THE REMAINING  SERIES COMPUTERS. ÉN FACT Ã= OFFICIALLY GAVE THE Â128 ÐÍ TRADEMARK & MEMORY MAP & FULL USAGE RIGHTS TO ÎORMAL ÄELETZKE & ÃÂÕÇ. ÔHIS GROUP OF DEDICATED  SERIES ENTHUSIASTS ENGINEERED S/W & H/W FOR THE  SERIES INTO THE EARLY 90'S. ÁFTER ÄELETZKE'S DEATH IN 1990, THE LEADERSHIP MANTLE WAS PASSED TO ÂRUCE ÆAIERSON. ÂRUCE & THE REMAINING ÃÂÕÇ'ERS PUBLISHED A NEWS LETTER CALLED THE ÎORTHWEST ÃOMPUTER ÎEWS "ÄEDICATED TO ÏRPHANED ÃOMPUTERS". ÕNFORTUNATELY ÂRUCE DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR. ÏNE LAST THING - THE  SERIES COMPUTERS USED THE ÉÅÅÅ INTERFACE WHICH WAS FASTER THAN THE Ã64/128 SERIAL INTERFACE BY A LARGE MARGIN. ÄISK DRIVES & PRINTERS MUST HAVE AN ÉÅÅÅ PORT TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE Â'S. ÓEE MY TRICKS & TIPS PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS ON USING A  SERIES COMPUTER WITH A 8050, ÓÆÄ-1001, OR OTHER ÉÅÅÅ DRIVE: (ÅÄ = ATTACHED AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW) HTTP://VINTAGECOMPUTER.NET/ BROWSE_THREAD.CFM?ID=1 ÎÏÔÅ: ÔHE ONLY REAL SUCCESSFUL THING TO COME OUT OF THE  SERIES LINE WAS THE ÓÆÄ-1001 DISK DRIVE. ÔHIS DRIVE WAS VERY POPULAR WITH Ã64-BASED ÂÂÓ'S. Á Ã64 NEEDS AN ADAPTER TO USE THE ÉÅÅÅ INTERFACE OF THE ÓÆÄ-1001 OR ANY ÉÅÅÅ DRIVE. Ñ- ×HAT IS THE RAREST ITEM IN YOUR COLLECTION? Ã= ÔHE PROTOTYPES: Ð500, ÂØ700 (ÁMERICAN PROTOTYPE THAT BECAME THE ÃÂÍ 128-80), Â520 (A Â256-80 PROTOTYPE) Ñ- ×HAT Ã= ITEMS WOULD YOU LOVE TO OWN, IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT? ÃOMMODORE ÖÉà 20 DOCKING STATION. Ñ- ÈOW REGULARLY DO YOU USE YOUR Ã=S? É HAVE ONE ATTACHED TO MY COMPUTER NETWORK. ÈERE'S HOW É DID IT: HTTP://VINTAGECOMPUTER.NET/ BROWSE_THREAD.CFM?ID=85 É'D SAY É MESS AROUND WITH SOME VINTAGE SYSTEM DAILY, & OF THOSE THE Ã= SYSTEMS ARE HIGH ON THE LIST. ÍY GO-TO SYSTEM IS A Ã128 WITH ÊIFFY ÄÏÓ. ÍY Ã= SYSTEM SET UP CONSISTS OF Ã128, 1802 MONITOR, 1571, 1581, 1541, 8050 DRIVES. Ñ- ÁRE YOU A READER OF ÃOMMODORE ÆREE É HAVE BEEN SINCE THE SUMMER. Ñ- ÔELL OUR READERS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF Ã= POSTER HOW MANY WERE PRINTED, WHAT IT IS & HOW LONG DID THIS PROJECT TAKE TO RESEARCH ÔHESE ARE ALL MY SYSTEMS. ÏRIGINALLY É WANTED TO MAKE A SORT OF PERIODIC TABLE OF THE Ã=S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT É SETTLED ON THE CURRENT DESIGN FOR STYLE REASONS. É WANTED TO HAVE EVERY SYSTEM TURNED ON WHILE PHOTOGRAPHED. ÔHAT MEAN COMPLETE DARKNESS IN THE ROOM & A WHOLE LOT OF EXPERIMENTING TO GET A GOOD PICTURE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE SYSTEM LIGHTS. ÔHE DRIVES WERE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU HAD TO TIME THE FLASH TO MATCH THE INITIAL- IZATION LIGHTS WHEN THE DRIVE POWERS ON. ÂECAUSE É WAS PAYING THE PHOTOGRAPHER BY THE HOUR, É HAD TO HAVE IT ALL CHOREOGRAPHED, WITH ONE SYSTEM AFTER ANOTHER STAGED & READY TO GO AFTER ANOTHER. ÔHERE WERE A TOTAL OF 138 DIFFERENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS SET UP, PHOTOGRAPHED & TORN DOWN IN A 19 HOUR PERIOD. Ñ- É HAVE A LINK OF THE ÃOMMODORE ÆREE WEBSITE ÄIRECTLY TO THE POSTER PURCHASE PAGE, BUT CAN YOU TELL OUR READER HOW TO PURCHASE THIS PIECE OF HISTORY? ÈERE IS A LINK: É SHIP THEM MYSELF, JUST CLICK ON THE LINK & PLACE YOUR ORDER THROUGH ÐAYPAL. ÐOSTERS ARE SHIPPED IN A HARD TUBE WITHIN 48 HOURS. ÔHE PAPER & PRINT QUALITY IS "PROFES- SIONAL GRADE" Ñ- ÃAN YOU TELL OUR READER ABOUT "BEST IN SHOW" YOU WON AT ÖÃÆ ÅAST FOR MY  ÓERIES EXHIBIT HTTP://VINTAGECOMPUTER.NET/VCF3/ COMMODORE_Â_ÓERIES_A.ÊÐÇ (THIS IS NOT A PICTURE OF ME BY THE WAY, É DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS) ÈERE IS A PICTURE OF ME: HTTP://VINTAGECOMPUTER.NET/ PICTURES/BD_CBM_PET2001.JPG ÔHE EXHIBIT TOLD THE STORY OF THE  SERIES COMPUTER, AS É HAVE DESCRIBED ABOVE. É DEMONSTRATED ÍÓ ÄÏÓ & ÃÐ/Í ON A SYSTEM WITH AN 8088 PROCESSOR INSTALLED, É HAD A LOT OF ÉÅÅÅ DRIVES INCLUDING THE Ä9090 HARD DRIVE, THERE WAS A ÃÂÍ 8300 ÉÅÅÅ PRINTER, & É PROGRAMMED A DEMO OF THE ÓÉÄ CHIP. É ALSO HAD A LITTLE KEYBOARD PROGRAM THAT ALLOWED ONE TO PLAY MUSIC IN A Â128. Ñ- ÙOU ALSO WROTE SOME REPAIR & DOC- UMENTATION ABOUT THE  SERIES WHERE CAN OUR READER FIND THIS INFO? SEE ABOVE Ñ- ÄO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES OR INTERESTS É AM A MUSICIAN, MY CLAIM TO FAME IS MY BAND THE ÓPACE ÖIPERS, WHICH HAD SOME SUCCESS A WHILE BACK. SPACEVIPERS.COM IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. É BUILT & PLAY THE ÔHEREMIN. É AM ALSO PRETTY GOOD AT THE BASS & GUITAR. ÕNTIL RECENTLY É WAS PLAYING IN SOME BAND, DOING SOME SHOW SOMEPLACE BETWEEN ÎEW ÙORK ÃITY & ×ASHINGTON, Äà WEEKLY. É GAVE A LOT OF THAT UP TO SWITCH TO TEACHING COMPUTER HISTORY, & IT KEEPS ME CLOSER TO HOME NOW THAT É HAVE KIDS. Ñ- ÙOU SAID YOU "PRESERVING HISTORICAL MICROCOMPUTERS" CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS ABOUT THIS IS IT A FULL TIME JOB? ÎO, É TEACH JUST THE ONE CLASS. ÉT'S A 3 CREDIT COURSE. ÔHERE'S A Ã= UNIT BY THE WAY, IT'S VITAL TO INCLUDE Ã= IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE TEACHING COMPUTER HISTORY. Ñ- ÁRE MANY PEOPLE INTERESTED IN "PRESERVING HISTORICAL MICROCOMPUTERS" ÔHERE ARE 17 STUDENTS. 12 ARE ÃOMPUTER ÅNGINEERING MAJORS, THE REST ARE ÃOMPUTER ÓCIENCE. ÔHEY LIKE THE HANDS- ON OPPORTUNITY. É ASSIGN EACH STUDENT OR GROUP THEIR OWN VINTAGE COMPUTER, INCLUDING ÃOMMODORE'S. Ñ- ×HAT IS THE COURSE & HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTEND? SEE ABOVE Ñ- ÉS THERE SOME SORT OF QUALIFICATION AT THE END? ÔHERE'S A PRESENTATION - THE STUDENTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THEIR ASSIGNED CLASSIC COMPUTER TO THE CLASS. ÔHEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WRITE A PROGRAM OR DO SOME HARDWARE MAINTENANCE & SHOW HOW THEY DID IT. Ñ - ×HY WOULD PEOPLE ATTEND, ×HAT USE IS SUCH A COURSE WITH THE ADVENT OF EMULATION? ÔHERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE REAL THING. ÁT FIRST THE STUDENTS WERE RESISTANT, BUT EACH CLASS É BRING IN A SYSTEM TO DEMO. ÔO REITERATE MY EARLIER STATEMENT, IF YOU CAN WITNESS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM & ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE USE OF THE SYSTEM FOR YOURSELF, YOU GET SO MUCH MORE OUT OF IT. ÁLSO, THOSE STUDENTS WHO STARTED WITH EMULATORS, ALL HAVE SWITCHED TO THE REAL THING EVENTUALLY. ÅMULATORS ARE NOT ALWAYS COMPATIBLE. Ñ- ×HAT MACHINES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN, APART FROM Ã=? ÁT PRESENT É AM WORKING ON A ÃROMEMCO ÓYSTEM ÔHREE, AN ÉÍÓÁÉ 8080, & ÓYNERTEC ÖÉÍ-1. É ALSO HAVE AN ÁPPLE ÉÉÉ WITH A BAD POWER SUPPLY THAT É AM WORKING TO RESTORE. É LIKE TO SPREAD IT AROUND. ÍY WORKSHOP CONSISTS OF A Ã= WORKBENCH, A Ó-100 SYSTEM WORKBENCH, & A "GENERAL" WORKBENCH. É BELIEVE É HAVE 200-300 SYSTEMS, MOST OF WHICH WORK. É HAVE A PRETTY BIG HOUSE & AN UNDERSTANDING WIFE! ======================================= U ÃOMMODORE WITH ÒOSE ÔINTED ÇLASSES ÅVERYONE LOOKS BACK FONDLY & REMEMBERS THE ÃOMMODORE YEARS; ITS LIKE WHEN YOU REMEMBER BEING YOUNG & HOW EVERYTHING WAS BETTER, CHEAPER & MORE EXCITING BACK THEN. É DONT REALLY RECALL FINDING ANYONE WHO SAID SOMETHING LIKE É PURCHASED A Ã64 & THE MACHINE WAS RUBBISH É ONLY USED IT ONCE & SOLD IT ALSO THE FACT EVERYONE HAS SOME FORM OF FAVOURITE GAME, FROM THERE CHILDHOOD BE IT ÔETRIS ÐACMAN OR ANOTHER TITLE. É DO STILL PLAY ÃOMMODORE GAMES ALTHOUGH É TEND TO STICK TO WELL KNOWN TITLES. ÔO MANY THE ÃOMMODORE IS SOMETHING THEY REMEMBER WITH GREAT AFFECTION, ALSO SOMETHING WORTH FIGHT ABOUT, MANY SEE THEIR FAVOURED MACHINES AS SUPERIOR, HOWEVER WE KNOW ÃOMMODORE MACHINES WERE THE BEST MACHINES EVER CREATED SO É DONT WANT TO DEBATE ABOUT THAT FACT. ÎOTHING IN THE DESIGN OF ANY ÃOMMODORE MACHINE CAN BE FAULTED, THE DESIGN & BUILD OF THE MACHINES WAS SUPERB ALL THE GAMES RELEASE WERE BRILLIANT TITLES & WELL WORTH THE MONEY WE PAID FOR THEM. ÒEMEMBER IN THE SCHOOL YARD PEOPLE WOULD CHANT ÍY ÃOMMODORE IS BETTER THAN YOUR, 'INSERT OTHER 8 BIT SYSTEM HERE.' ×AS IT ALL GOOD; HAVE É REMEMBERED MY CHILDHOOD CORRECTLY OR AM É WEARING ROSE TINTED GLASSES AS THEY SAY HAS MY MEMORY BEEN CLOUDED WITH AGE & THE NOSTALGIA OF OUR YOUTH? ×AS THE Ã64 THE BEST MACHINE OF ALL TIME & WERE ALL THE GAMES SO GOOD, WAS THE HARDWARE BUILT QUALITY & DESIGN SO GOOD THAT NO FAULTS CAN BE FOUND EVEN AFTER ALL THIS TIME? ÈOW MANY ÃASSETTES DID YOU PURCHASE ONLY TO WAIT 20 MINS FOR AN ERROR TO APPEAR ON SCREEN WITH THE DREADED WORDS SYNTAX ERROR OR WORSE THE MACHINE JUST RESET BACK TO THE ÃOMMODORE BOOT UP SCREEN. ÈOW MANY DISKS WERE MANGLED BY YOUR 1541 DRIVE WHILE TRYING TO READ THE VAST AMOUNTS OF COPY PROTECTION ON THE NEW GAME YOU PERSONALLY PAID GOOD MONEY FOR, ONLY TO LOAD IT 3 TIMES & HAVE YOUR DRIVE DIE. ÄID ÃOMMODORE ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT? É REMEMBER WAITING EAGERLY FOR THE ÁMIGA 4000 WITH ÃUSTOM ÄÓÐ NEW ÁÁÁ MODE GRAPHICS ONLY TO FIND É HAD PURCHASED A SLIGHTLY FASTER ÁMIGA 1200 IN A BIG BOX. ÄONT GET ME WRONG É HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THE ÁMIGA FINDING OUT É CANT DRAW & MY MUSIC SKILLS REALLY WERENT THAT GOOD AFTER ALL. ÓO YES É AM AFRAID EVEN ÃOMMODORE HAD ITS FAULTS, RUSHING PRODUCTS & PRODUCING HALF FINISHED MACHINES. ÓOME THINGS WERE RIGHT THOUGH. ÔHE Ã64 DESIGN SEEMED TO BE PERFECT AT THE TIME, 16 COLOURS ON SCREEN HIRES DISPLAYS & THE CUSTOM ÓÉÄ MUSIC CHIP. ÔHEN THE Ã128, 3 MACHINES FOR THE PRICE OF 1 WITH ÃÐÍ & Ã64 COMPATIBILITY, MAYBE THIS WAS MORE OF A MARKETING PLOY BUT IT WAS A REALLY USEFUL MACHINE. ÔHE FACT WE STILL USE THESE MACHINES TODAY MUST MEAN SOMETHING WAS RIGHT WITH THEM. ×ITH THE SURGE OF ÒETRO ENTHUSIAST MANY OF WHO ARE LITTLE MORE THAN AVID COLLECTORS DO THEY ACTUALLY USE THE MACHINES OR ARE THE MACHINES JUST TROPHIES OR COLLECTORS ITEMS GATHERING DUST, SAT ON SHELVES IN SOMEONES PERSONAL MUSEUM, A FAD WE MUST COLLECT EVERY ONE EVER MADE. É PREFER TO USE MY MACHINE, É HAVE GONE MAD & PURCHASED SOME ITEMS É COULDNT AFFORD IN MY YOUTH FOR EXAMPLE MY ÓØ64, & 128ÃÄÒ ARE MORE ITEMS TO HAVE RATHER THAN SOMETHING É NEEDED. É DO OWN A NUMBER OF OTHER ÃOMMODORE SYSTEMS AN ÁMIGA 500, A 600 & AN ÁMIGA 1200. É ALSO OWN A NUMBER OF Ã64S & A FEW Ã128S, & MY ÃOMMODORE 4000 ÁLTHOUGH THE MACHINES ARE REGULARLY USED, É CONFESS THE ÁMIGAS DONT SEE MUCH IN THE WAY OF GAMING ACTION AS THE Ã64 HANDLES THESE NEEDS WELL ENOUGH FOR ME. É WAS A BIG FAN OF ÄOOM WHEN IT ARRIVED ON THE Ðà BUT APART FROM THE ODD ADVENTURE NEVER REALLY PLAYED ANYTHING ELSE ON THE ÐÃ. OR EVEN THE NEWER CONSOLES, É OWNED A PLAY STATION 2 FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, PURCHASED VIA EÂAY, BUT SOON SOLD IT, É PURCHASED IT MAINLY FOR THE RETRO GAMES COLLECTIONS É ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE Ã64 & SOME CLASSIC GAMES. É AM NOT CLAIMING EVERY Ã64 GAME WAS SUPERB, É DO HAVE A LARGE COLLECTION OF LETS JUST SAY PURCHASES É REGRET, BUT É ALSO HAVE SOME SUPERB GAMES THAT REALLY GET YOU HOOKED & HAVE A ONE MORE TIME EFFECT, É STILL GET INTO TROUBLE FOR SITTING THERE THINKING, IF É JUST HAVE ANOTHER GO É COULD GET TO LEVEL 5, ALTHOUGH THIS TIME INSTEAD OF LATE FOR SCHOOL É AM LATE FOR A MEAL OR THEATRE NIGHT OUT, & ITS MY WIFE RATHER THAN MY FATHER SHOUTING. ÅVERYONE É WOULD SUSPECT LOOKS BACK TO THEIR CHILDHOOD WITH FOND MEMORIES, CHILDHOOD É AM SURE FOR THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WAS A HAPPY TIME, A TIME WHEN EVERYTHING WAS NEW & THE WHOLE WORLD WAS JUST THERE TO BE EXPLORED. ÃOMMODORE WAS A LARGE PART OF THAT CHILDHOOD FOR ME BUT THE MACHINE IS JUST AS GOOD NOW AS IT WAS BACK THEN! ÁND THE GREAT GAMES É PLAYED ARE STILL THAT; GREAT GAMES & THE GAMES THAT WERE RUBBISH ARE STILL JUST AS RUBBISH. É COULD LOAD ÔETRIS OR ITS MANY CLONES & PLAY IT ALL DAY IF É HAD THE TIME, LIKEWISE É SPENT MANY A DAY LOCKED IN MY ROOM PLAYING HOVER BOVVER & DONT REGRET A SINGLE MOMENT OF WASTED CHILDHOOD. É STILL LOAD GAMES LIKE ÄEFENDER & AM É JUST AMAZED THAT SUCH A GAME COULD BE CREATED, THE TIME THAT MUST HAVE BEEN SPENT DESIGNING THE SOUND & GRAPHICS & THEN GETTING THE GAME PLAY TO WORK, MAYBE É AM JUST AS SAD AN BORING NOW AS É WAS WHEN É WAS A YOUNG CHILD, SMALL THINGS STILL AMUSE ME. É STILL SIT THROUGH TAPE LOADING SCREENS & LISTEN TO THE MUSIC WAITING FOR THE GAME, EVEN NOW WITH EMULATION & HARD DISKS & THE ÉÄÅ INTERFACE, É STILL LOVE LOADING GAMES FROM TAPE, WATCHING THE LOADING SCREEN & THEN THE MUSIC APPEARING IS GREAT, & TAKES ME BACK TO THE FIRST TIME É PLAYED THE GAME. ÍAYBE ALL GAMES ARE SOME FORM OF DRUG, AN ADDICTION WOVEN INTO MY SMALL BRAIN. ÏF COURSE THE GAMES COULD BE PLAYED IN DIFFERENT CONTEXT A TETRIS SPEED TRIAL WHO CAN GAIN THE MOST POINTS IN Ø AMOUNT OF TIME, THIS GOES WITH ÊASON'S COMMENTS ABOUT RETRO ÒOSE TINTED ÇLASSES ÃOMMENTS FROM ÊASON ËELK ÏF COURSE GAMES WEREN'T ALL THAT GOOD; IT'S LIKE ANYTHING "RETRO" ÂECAUSE EVERYTHING GETS FILTERED; IN THE SAME WAY THAT MOST OF THE SONGS RELEASED IN THE 1970S OR 1980S WERENT CLASSICS & A LOT OF THE DESIGN DECISIONS MADE WERE, LOOKING BACK NOW, ABSOLUTELY HIDEOUS (TALK ABOUT BEIGE OVERLOAD... IT'S FINE ON A COMPUTER CASE BUT AN ENTIRE ROOM?!) THE MAJORITY OF 8-BIT GAMES WERE AT BEST AVERAGE & QUITE A FEW WERE APPALLING. ÔHAT SAID HOWEVER, AN AVERAGE GAME CAN ALSO BE ENTERTAINING & EVEN BAD TITLES HAVE SOME ENJOYMENT VALUE, FIRST FROM REALISING JUST HOW LOW THEY'RE STOOPING & THEN TRYING TO PLAY THEM IN WAYS THAT AREN'T IN THE INSTRUCTIONS LIKE HAMMERING AROUND THE COURSE OF A DRIVING GAME BACKWARDS & TRYING TO CAUSE PILE-UPS! ÐACKS LIKE ÍIDWAY ÁRCADE ÔREASURES OR THE ÔAITO COLLECTIONS ARE A BIT LIKE THE 80S COMPILATION ÃÄS, "ÎOW ÔHAT'S ×HAT É ÃALL ÍIDWAY ÖOLUME ×HATEVER", MOSTLY CROWDED WITH THE TITLES THAT WENT WELL & THE ODD ONE THAT HAS A "CULT" STATUS, BUT THE SIMPLE FACT OF THEIR EXISTENCE PROVES A POINT; THESE GAMES, SELECTED FROM THE OVERALL POOL OF AVERAGE-NESS, DO STAND THE TEST OF TIME VERY WELL INDEED. ÔHE SAME CAN BE SAID OF A LOT OF 8-BIT COMPUTER TITLES, THE Ã64ÄÔÖ WENT ON SALE WITH TWENTY Ã64 GAMES &, WHILST A FEW LIKE ÓWORD ÏF ÆARGOAL WERE QUESTIONABLE CHOICES FOR A DIRECT-TO-ÔÖ DEVICE WITHOUT A SAVE OPTION OR MAINS POWER. ÁCTION-ORIENTED GAMES LIKE ÕRIDIUM, ÈEAD ÔHE ÂALL OR ÚYNAPS & THE SPORTS TITLES STOOD UP VERY WELL INDEED. ÓTORIES ABOUND OF YOUNGER CHILDREN DISCOVERING THEIR PARENT'S ÄÔÖ & ENJOYING THE GAME & KIDS ARE PROBABLY THE GREATEST BAROMETER AS REGARDS THE QUALITY OF A GAME BECAUSE THEY DON'T SUGAR COAT THEIR OPINIONS. .:[ ÊASON ËELK ]:. ×EB DEVELOPER/GAME CODER/ÉÔ BOD/VERY CONFUSED! ======================================= U ÃOMMODORE ÃÁÄ ÐAD ÐROJECT ÂY ÒICK ÙOUNGMAN ÉNTRO: ÁNYONE WHO HAS EVER TRIED TO DO ANY PRECISE ARTWORK ON A Ã=64 CAN RELATE TO THIS PROJECT. ÔO PUT IT SIMPLY, IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE WITH A JOYSTICK, AND MAKING A TRUE 45 DEGREE LINE, ÉÓ IMPOSSIBLE. ÔHIS PROJECT ACTUALLY WAS COMPLETED 15 YEARS AGO AND USED NOT ONLY FOR A DRAWING TOOL, BUT ALSO AS A GAME CONTROLLER. ÉT IS SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, AND SOMEONE WITH MINIMAL SOLDERING SKILLS SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE IT, WITH A LITTLE EFFORT. ÍATERIALS: ÙOU WILL NEED: 9 - MOMENTARY (NORMALLY OPEN) SWITCHES 1 - 9 PIN ÄÂ9 PLUG (OR A CHOPPED OFF CORD FROM AN OLD JOYSTICK) ÓOME WIRE/SOLDER & STUFF LIKE THAT. 8 - ÄIODES * ÓILICON SWITCHING DIODES. ÒADIO ÓHACK #276-1620 (PACK OF 50 FOR $ 2.98) (ALSO KNOWN AS SIGNAL DIODES) 1 - ÃONTROLLER CASE ×HAT KIND OF SWITCHES YOU USE, AND HOW YOU SET THIS PROJECT UP IN A CASE IS UP TO YOU. ÈOW IT WORKS: ÔHE POSITION OF THE CURSOR AT THE JOYSTICK PORT IS READ BY SIMPLY GROUNDING PINS 1-4 AND PIN 6 (ÆÉÒÅ ÂÕÔÔÏÎ). É.E. GROUNDING PIN 1 MAKES THE CURSOR (OR SPRITE) MOVE ÕÐ, AND GROUNDING PIN 4 MAKES IT MOVE TO THE ÒÉÇÈÔ. ÔHAT IS GREAT, IN THEORY, BUT NOT PRECISE IN PRACTICE, BECAUSE ONE SLIP OF YOUR HAND WILL TRIGGER ANOTHER DIRECTION, AND ALL YOU HAVE IS A CROOKED LINE. ÔRYING TO HOLD A JOYSTICK HANDLE TO DRAW A 45 DEGREE LINE IS EVEN WORSE. ÓO THE SOLUTION IS TO MECHANICALLY CLOSE THE CONTACTS BY PUSH-BUTTONS, ALLOWING PRECISE CONTROL OF THE CURSORS MOVEMENT. ÔHIS PROJECT GOES ONE STEP FURTHER, BY ALLOWING YOU TO USE ÏÎÅ BUTTON TO PUSH Ô×Ï!! ÔHIS IS EXPLAINED BETTER BY CONSIDERING THIS. ÉF YOU WANTED TO MOVE THE CURSOR AT 45 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HOLD BOTH THE ÒÉÇÈÔ, AND ÕÐ BUTTON AT THE SAME TIME. ÔHAT WORKS, ÏÎÌÙ É ÍÅÁÎ ÏÎÌÙ --- YOU CAN PUSH BOTH BUTTONS ÅØÁÃÔÌÙ AT THE SAME TIME! ÔHAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! ÎOT ANY LONGER.. ÂECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO ADD THAT BUTTON! ÌOOK AT THE PICTURE ONLINE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. ÔHE CONCEPT IS SO STUPIDLY SIMPLE, É WON'T GO INTO THE ALL THE NITTY GRITTY HERE. ÆOR THIS EXPLANATION, WE WILL ONLY LOOK AT MAKING A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE UPPER RIGHT AREA OF THE PICTURE. ÂECAUSE OF THE DIODES INLINE ON SWITCH # 3, THEY PREVENT FEEDBACK BETWEEN Ó× 1 AND Ó× 2, SO PRESSING EITHER OF THOSE SWITCHES ALLOWS THEM TO ACT NORMALLY, ÂÕÔ, BY PRESSING Ó× 3, THE GROUND IS NOW LATCHED TO THE OUTPUT OF ÂÏÔÈ OF THOSE SWITCHES ÁÔ ÔÈÅ ÓÁÍÅ ÔÉÍÅ, RESULTING IN A PERFECT 45 DEGREE LINE! ÓOME ÓUGGESTIONS: ÈOW YOU USE THIS PROJECT, AND CONSTRUCT IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU. ÉT IS SIMPLE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO JUST MOUNT SOME CHEAP SWITCHES IN A BOX AND WIRE THE DIODES POINT-TO-POINT, OR YOU CAN MAKE A Ðà BOARD, IF YOU HAVE THE SKILLS. ÉF YOU WANT TO USE THIS PROJECT AS A GAME CONTROLLER (IT WORKS VERY WELL FOR THAT TOO) KEEP IN MIND WHAT KIND OF SWITCHES YOU WILL USE, AND HOW MUCH ABUSE THEY WILL HANDLE. ÈOW YOU LOCATE THE SWITCHES IS UP TO YOU. ÏR YOU COULD EVEN SETUP THE SWITCHES LIKE A ÐLAYSTATION PAD TOO. ÆULL ÌAYOUT ÃLOSING ÎOTE: É HAVE STARTED TO MAKE A TEMPLATE FOR YOU THAT WANT TO ETCH YOUR OWN Ðà BOARD, BUT ANY HELP THERE WOULD BE WELCOME, AS MY TIME IS LIMITED (AND THE SOFTWARE É USE FOR MAKING ETCH PATTERNS REALLY SUX, AND TAKES BOO-KOO TIME !)ÉN THE MEAN TIME, HERE IS A SIMPLE HARDWARE HACK, THAT WILL BE VERY USEFUL, AND CAN SUPPLY A MISSING LINK, TO SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER PRODUCED. ÒICK ÙOUNGMAN HTTP://USERS.COMMSPEED.NET/WLBBS/ ÃÁÄ-ÐÁÄ.HTML ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ ÆÒÅÅ ×OULD LIKE TO THANK ÒICK FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT THIS PROJECT IN THE MAGAZINE ======================================= U ÉNTERVIEW WITH ÒICK ÙOUNGMAN HTTP://USERS.COMMSPEED.NET/WLBBS/ Ñ ÐLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF ÍY NAME IS ÒICK ÙOUNGMAN. É LIVE IN ÐRESCOTT ÁÚ, & É'M HAPPY TO SAY, É HAVE MADE IT TO THE AGE OF 55 YEARS OLD FOR SOME REASON THAT IS BEYOND MY CONTROL. Ñ ×HERE DO YOU WORK & WHAT DO YOU DO É ASSUME YOU MEAN TO MAKE A WEEKLY PAY CHECK, IF SO, É HAVE BEEN A "REPAIR MAN" ALL MY LIFE. É HAVE SPENT SOME 30 YEARS IN THE ÒÖ FIELD, & HAVE BOUNCED BACK & FORTH FROM REPAIRING MOTORHOMES & FIXING BOATS FOR AS LONG AS É CAN REMEMBER. ÐRESENTLY, É RUN THE ÓERVICE ÄESK AT A MOTORHOME DEALER IN TOWN. É ALSO HAVE TECHNICAL TRAINING IN ELECTRONICS & ASSORTED PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES. Ñ ×HAT INTRODUCED YOU TO ÃOMPUTING & Ã=? ÉT WAS EITHER DEVIL OR AN ANGEL, BUT WHATEVER IT WAS, É'VE BEEN CONSUMED BY COMPUTING EVER SINCE. ÓOMETIME IN THE LATE 80S, É GOT A Ã64 & MONITOR AT A YARD SALE THAT DIDN'T WORK, BUT A SIMPLE FIX TO THE POWER SUPPLY CORD GOT IT WORKING. ÉT WAS MY FIRST COMPUTER, & FROM THERE, MY LIFE DID INDEED CHANGE FOREVER. ÉTS BEEN A LOVE HATE RELATION- SHIP, THAT WHY É REFER TO THE ANGEL & DEVIL. Ñ- ×HAT Ã= ITEMS DO YOU OWN PRESENTLY 1541, Ã64 BREADBOX, & A 1702 MONITOR, BUT É HARDLY EVER USE THEM WITH ÖÉÃÅ AVAILABLE. ÔHE ÖÉÃÅ TEAM HAS DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB OF MAKING THAT EMULATOR, THAT IS IS VERY RARE THAT É FIRE UP THE REAL Ã=. ÏN THE OTHER HAND, WHEN É SHUT THE ÂÂS DOWN & SOLD THE EQUIPMENT ON ÅBAY THERE WAS 78 LBS OF FLOPPYS, OVER 400 LBS OF HARDWARE, & OVER 60 LBS OF BOOKS & DOX IN THE ÂÂS LIBRARY, SO WHAT É OWN TODAY IS JUST A LOT EASIER TO MOVE IF É HAVE TO. Ñ ×HY DO YOU THINK Ã= IS STILL IMPORTANT É DON'T KNOW IF É WOULD CONSIDER IT IMPORTANT NOW IN THE AGE OF THE ÐÁà ÃROWD (POINT-AND-CLICK), BUT FOR SERIOUS COMPUTER USERS, THE Ã= IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO LEARN ABOUT. ÔHE Ã64 WAS THE BEST SELLING COMPUTER IN THE WORLD FOR GOOD REASONS, & MUCH OF WHAT IT CAN DO, WAS DISCOVERED BY 3RD PARTY PROGRAMMERS LIKE THE LATE ÊIM ÂUTTERFIELD. ÔHOSE CONCEPTS & ÂÁÓÉà PROGRAMS, ARE STILL USED AS BUILDING BLOCKS FOR MANY MODERN DAY PROGRAMS. ÔHE Ã64 IS, & WILL ALWAYS BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN DAY COMPUTERS. Ñ ×HY DO YOU STILL ÓUPPORT Ã=? ×HEN MY FIRST ÂÂS WENT ONLINE IN THE LATE 80S, ON A Ã64, IT WAS ALL ABOUT SUPPORT FOR THE MACHINE. É NEVER CHARGED A MEMBERSHIP FEE IN THE 10 YRS IT WAS ONLINE, OR REQUIRED USERS TO UPLOAD STUFF, IN ORDER TO DOWNLOAD THE ÂÂS FILES, LIKE MANY OTHER ÂÂÓ DID AT THE TIME. ÔHERE IS AN OLD METAPHOR THAT SAYS "ONCE ITS IN YOUR BLOOD" , OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IS THE REASON É STILL SUPPORT THE Ã= MACHINE. ÁNYONE WHO HAS BEEN A ÓYSÏP, OF A WORKING ÂÂS, CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT DEDICATION MEANS. É WAS LUCKY ENOUGH, TO HAVE HAD SOME FORESIGHT, TO ARCHIVE THE FILES, BEFORE É SHUT DOWN, SO É'M STILL IN A POSITION TO OFFER SUPPORT. É NOW OFFER THOSE PROGRAMS TO PEOPLE AGAIN ON ÃÄS Ñ ÃAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE HTTP://USERS.COMMSPEED.NET/WLBBS ÔHE WEB SITE FOR THE MOST PART IS ABOUT OFFERING A ÃÄ COLLECTION OF Ã= RELATED SOFTWARE ON ÃÄS. ÉT IS ÎÏÔ Á ÂÕÓÉÎÅÓÓ, BY ANY MEANS ! ÉT IS ABOUT SUPPORT & PRESERVATION, OF Ã= SOFTWARE. ÉT IS SOMETHING É STARTED ABOUT 6 YRS AGO BECAUSE A FRIEND OF MINE TALKED ME INTO IT, & IT HAS HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE SMILE AGAIN OFFER THE Ã= FOR SUPPORT, & THERE ARE LINKS ON THE PAGE, THAT WILL LET VISITORS REQUEST PROGRAMS, THAT CAN BE SENT TO THEM VIA EMAIL FOR FREE (WHICH É GLADLY DO).ÔHE WEB PAGE HAS BEEN #1 FOR A ÇOOGLE SEARCH FOR Ã= ÓOFTWARE, FOR OVER 5 YRS, FOR ONE REASON, & THAT IS SUPPORT FOR THE Ã= MACHINE. ×HAT STARTED OUT AS ONE ÃÄ OF THE ARCHIVES OF THE ÃOMMIE ËAZEEZ ÂÂS, HAS NOW GROWN INTO A SET OF 3 Ã=, FULL OF SOFTWARE FOR THE Ã= COMPUTER. ÔHAT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MANY INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE GLOBE, WHO HAVE UPLOADED PROGRAMS TO ME TO INCLUDE ON THE Ã=. ÁT PRESENT THERE ARE 3 ÃÄS OFFERED, & 2 MORE IN THE WORKS, THANKS TO PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. Ñ ×HAT IS THE ÃAD-PAD PROJECT? HTTP://USERS.COMMSPEED.NET/ WLBBS/ÃÁÄ-ÐÁÄ.HTML ÔHIS ENDED UP BEING ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL HARDWARE HACKS É EVER TRIED. É BUILT THE FIRST ONE USING A KEYPAD FROM AN OLD TELEPHONE, TO USE FOR DRAWING SCREENS FOR THE ÂÂS. ÆOR ABOUT $10 & MINIMAL SOLDERING SKILLS, YOU CAN MAKE A WHOLE NEW CONTROLLER THAT WILL DRAW STRAIGHT LINES & THAT INCLUDES A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, WHICH IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO WITH A JOYSTICK. ÉT ALSO DOUBLES AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE JOYSTICK FOR GAMING TOO. ×HEN É FIRST POSTED IT, YEARS AGO ON THE ÂÂS CIRCUIT, NO-ONE REALLY PAID ATTENTION, BECAUSE NO-ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WAS USING "PUSH-BUTTONS" TO CONTROL GAMES. ÔODAY, MOST "GAMERS" DON'T KNOW WHAT A JOYSTICK DOES, LET ALONE WHAT IT IS, SO É THINK ITS A USEFUL PROJECT AGAIN, & É'M SURE SOMEONE COULD ADAPT SOMETHING LIKE A ÐLAYSTATION CONTROLLER, TO USE ON THE Ã=, WITH A LITTLE INGENUITY. Ñ ÙOU ALSO POINTED ME TO HTTP://USERS.COMMSPEED.NET/WLBBS/ VICE-KEYS.HTML DO YOU THINK EMULATION PLAYS A VITAL POINT IN THE SUPPORT OF Ã= MACHINES? ÔHERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND, THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PERFECTION OF EMULATORS LIKE ÖÉÃÅ, THAT KEEPS THE Ã= ALIVE. ÏRIGINAL HARDWARE IS GETTING HARDER TO FIND, BUT BECAUSE OF EMULATORS, NEW USERS CAN EXPERIENCE WHAT A REAL Ã64 WAS LIKE, & FOR THE OLD TIMERS, WE CAN STILL ENJOY OUR Ã64 ROOTS, ON A MODERN DAY ÐÃ. ÔHE ÃÄ COLLECTION É OFFER IS ARCHIVED IN ALL Ä64 FORMAT TO USE WITH THE EMULATORS, SO FINDING SOFTWARE IS NOT A PROBLEM ANY LONGER. Ñ ÄO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER MACHINES OTHER THAN Ã=? É HAVE MORE COMPUTERS AROUND HERE THAN WALL OUTLETS, BUT HERE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. É CALL IT MY Ø1541 TOWER. HTTP://USERS.COMMSPEED.NET/ WLBBS/1541TOWER.JPG Ñ- ÃAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE Ã= ÃS YOU SELL, WHAT IS INCLUDED & HOW TO ORDER ? É HAVE TRIED TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING & NOT JUST GAMES. ÔHERE ARE LOTS OF PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE, INCLUDING GRAPHICS DRAWING PROGRAMS, WORD PROCES- SORS, ÂÂS PROGRAMS, & TONS OF OTHER UTILITIES FOR MUSIC FILES & ÂÁÓÉà PROGRAMMERS. ÔHERE IS ALSO A LOT OF STUFF FOR ADVANCED USERS, LIKE ASSEMBLERS, COMPILERS, & SCHEMATICS FOR A LOT OF HARDWARE, AS WELL AS AN EXTEN- SIVE LIBRARY OF DOCS FOR VARIOUS GAMES UTILITIES, & THE Ã64. Ñ ÓOME USERS DONT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET CAN THEY CONTACT YOU VIA SNAIL MAIL? ÙES, BUT É SEE NO REASON TO PUBLISH IT HERE, BECAUSE THEY WOULD NEED INTERNET ACCESS, TO READ THIS MAGAZINE. Ñ ÈOW DO YOU PURCHASE THE ÃÄS & WHAT WOULD BE THE COST, ALSO CAN YOU DELIVER INTERNATIONALLY & WHAT PAYMENT METHODS CAN YOU TAKE ? É SHIP WORLD WIDE, BUT THERE IS AN EXTRA CHARGE FOR ORDERS TO BE SENT OUTSIDE OF THE ÕÓ. ÔHE ÃÄS COST $10 EACH, SHIPPING IS $5 FOR 1 OR ALL 3. ÉN THE ÕÓ. É USED ÐAYPAL FOR CREDIT CARDS, UNTIL ÅÂAY BOUGHT THEM OUT, SO NOW IT IS STRICTLY PERSONAL CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS. Ñ ÙOU WERE SAYING "É'M MOST PROUD OF, IS É HAVE BEEN #1 ON A ÇOOGLE SEARCH FOR "Ã= ÓOFTWARE" FOR OVER 5 YEARS" HOW WAS THIS ACHIEVED É HAVE NEVER PAID A PENNEY TO ANYONE FOR MY POSITION ON THE SEARCH ENGINE. ÔHE "CROWN" COMES FROM CONSISTENCY, & HONESTY. ÔHE PAGE ITSELF, IS VERY PRIMITIVE, & WAS SET UP WHEN É FIRST STARTED LEARNING ÈÔÍÌ (IT SHOWS), BUT IT DOES WHAT IT IS MEANT TO DO, & PEOPLE SOON LEARN ITS FOR REAL, WHEN THEY EMAIL ME QUESTIONS & GET A PERSONAL RESPONSE IN A FEW HOURS. ÈOW TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE A #1 POSITION, WITHOUT PAYING ANYONE FOR IT, INVOLVES MANY THINGS. É WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS IN A FUTURE INTERVIEW IF YOU WOULD LIKE. Ñ ×HY DID YOU PUT ALL THE SOFTWARE ONTO ÃÄS & HOW WAS THIS ARCHIVED? ÁFTER YEARS ONLINE, É KNEW THE DIAL UP ÂÂS HAD COME TO AN END, & ALSO KNEW, IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE É SOLD OFF ALL THE EQUIPMENT THE ÂÂS USED, BUT É DID NOT WANT TO LET THE SOFTWARE THE ÂÂS HAD AMASSED, TO BE LOST ENTIRELY, SO É STARTED ARCHIVING IT ONTO A HARD DRIVE ON A ÐÃ. ÔHAT Ðà WAS A 286 RUNNING ÄÏÓ 5.0 É TWEAKED ITS ÂÉÏÓ TO LET IT USE A 850 MEG HARD DRIVE. É USED A Ø1541 CORD, & A PROGRAM CALLED ÔRANS64, TO ARCHIVE THE ENTIRE SOFTWARE LIBRARY INTO Ä64 DISK IMAGES. ÔHE PROCESS TOOK UNCOUNTABLE HOURS TO COMPLETE, BECAUSE ÔRANS64 IS VERY SLOW, BUT THE GOOD PART WAS, IT ARCHIVED MANY DISKS THAT NO OTHER SIMILAR PROGRAM COULD, SO THOSE ARE ALSO PRESERVED NOW. ÈONESTLY É NEVER INTENDED TO MAKE A ÃÄ, BECAUSE BACK THEN, A ÃÄ DRIVE WAS JUST HITTING THE MARKET, & É DIDN'T HAVE ONE. É DID INTEND ON USING THAT HARD DRIVE ON A FUTURE Ðà BASED ÂÂS, TO OFFER Ã= DOWNLOADS, BUT AT THE TIME THE EMULATORS OUT THERE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD WERE, ÃÒÁÐ. ÔHEY HAD SO MANY BUGS, & WERE ÄÏÓ BASED WHICH MADE THEM HARD FOR MOST PEOPLE WANTING TO EXPLORE THE Ã64 ON A ÐÃ. É EVENTUALLY GOT A NEW Ðà THAT HAD A "ÃÄ BURNER", & BURNED A FEW ÃÄS OFF THAT HARD DRIVE, & GAVE 1 TO AN OLD ÂÂS USER THAT WAS A CLOSE FRIEND. ÈE ALONE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR TALKING ME INTO OFFERING IT TO THE PUBLIC, SO É STARTED INDEXING THE ÃÄ & RELEASED THE FIRST ONE IN 1999. Ñ ×HY BOTHER PUTTING THE FILES ONTO ÃÄ? ÂLANK 360Ë FLOPPYS ARE HARD TO COME BY THESE DAYS, SO É CHOOSE THE ÃÄ FORMAT. ÁCTUALLY, WHEN FOLKS ORDER THE COLLECTION, THEY HAVE AN OPTION OF GETTING ALL THREE ÃÄS ON ONE OF THOSE ÕÓ FLASH DRIVE STICKS IF THEY WANT FOR A FEW EXTRA COINS. É THINK THAT IS REALLY COOL, & IF CURRENT HARDWARE HACKERS SUCCEED WITH INTERFACING A ÕÓ FLASH DRIVE TO A Ã64, É CAN PREDICT A WHOLE NEW USER BASE OF THE Ã64. ÔRY TO IMAGINE HAVING A 1 GIG 1541 DRIVE TO USE WITH AN ORIGINAL Ã64 BREADBOX, THAT ISN'T EVEN THE SIZE OF A PACK OF CIGARETTES. Ñ ÈAS ANYONE CONTACTED YOU WITH REGARDS TO COPYRIGHT ON THE APPLICATIONS? ÎO, & É THINK THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE ANYMORE ( IF THEY STILL EXIST AT ALL ). ÍANY OF THE COMPANYS THAT PRODUCED SOFTWARE FOR THE Ã64 HAVE DISSOLVED YEARS AGO, & THOSE THAT SURVIVED LIKE ÅLECTRONIC ÁRTS, & ÂORDERBUD, HAVE LONG SINCE ABANDONED SUPPORT FOR THE Ã= SOFTWARE THEY MARKETED 20 YEARS AGO. ÍY ENTIRE FILE LIST IS VIEWABLE ON THE WEB PAGE, & IF ANYONE OBJECTS TO ME INCLUDING A PROGRAM ON THE ÃÄS, ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS EMAIL, & IT WILL GO AWAY. Ñ ÄO YOU READ Ã= ÆREE MAGAZINE? ÎO, É DEVOUR IT. ËEEP UP THE GREAT WORK Ñ- ÃAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE ÃROSS REFERENCING YOU ARE DOING ON ÔRANSACTOR MAGAZINE É AM PUTTING TOGETHER A DATABASE OF THE "ÂITS & ÐIECES" COLUMN, IN THE MAGAZINE, THAT WILL BE SEARCHABLE & INDEXED, THAT É WILL POST ON MY WEB PAGE SOON. ÔHERE WAS A LOT OF GREAT STUFF IN THAT COLUMN FOR PROGRAMMERS & HARDWARE HACKERS, & UNLIKE ÃRAIG ÂRUCE WHO HAS ARCHIVED THE WHOLE PUBLICATION, É AM FOCUSING ON JUST THAT SECTION SO USERS CAN QUICKLY FIND THE TIPS & TRICKS PRESENTED THERE. ÏNCE THAT IS DONE, É PLAN TO DO THE SAME FOR ÁÌÌ THE MAGAZINE ARTICLES SO A USERS INQUIRY FOR SAY "ÓÉÄ", WILL LIST A RESULT OF THE ARTICLES & WHICH ISSUE THEY WERE IN, SO THEY CAN VIEW THEM. ÔRANSACTOR WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE Ã= SCENE, IT CUT THROUGH THE BULL & HYPE OF OTHER RAGS LIKE ÇAZETTE, & SIMPLY GOT DOWN TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND. Ñ ×HAT OTHER PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE LINED UP? ÁT PRESENT, A FEW OTHERS & É ARE WRITING A NEW MULTIDISK ADVENTURE GAME FOR THE Ã64 CALLED "ÔHE Ã= ÃROOK". ÉT'S A TEXT ADVENTURE, WHERE YOU CAN GET HIRED BY Ã=, AS A OFFICE BOY, BUT IF YOU KNOW Ã= COMPUTERS, YOU CAN ADVANCE IN THE GAME & THE COMPANY. ÔHE ULTIMATE GOAL, IS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO BE A TOP LEVEL PROGRAMMER, & THEN STEAL THE PLANS FOR Ã= NEW ÓUPER ÃOMPUTER, & SELL THEM TO ÓTEVE ÊOBS AT ÁPPLE FOR A COOL $5,000,000. ÉT'S REALLY QUITE FUN. Ñ- ÁNY OTHER LOGS IN THE FIRE? ÂESIDES THE NEW ÃÄS IN BETA TESTING, THE ÔRANSACTOR PROJECT, & THE Ã= ÃROOK GAME, É HAVE ALSO STARTED TO CREATE A ÈÔÍÌ ÂBS THAT WILL EMULATE THE ÂÂS GENERATED BY A Ã64.ÔHE ÂÂS PROJECT HAS ACTUALLY CONSUMED MOST OF MY TIME LATELY, BUT É THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO RELEASE A PACKAGE THAT ANYONE CAN USE WITH BASIC ÈÔÍÌ CODING ABILITIES, & BECOME A ÓYSÏP, WITHOUT ALL THE ADVANCED SKILLS TO RUN A TELNET SITE & STUFF. Ñ- ×OULD YOU CLASS YOURSELF AS A PROGRAMMER OR A HARDWARE EXPERT OR JUST AN EXPERT USER & CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU CATEGORISE YOURSELF? ÔHATS A TUFF QUESTION TO ANSWER. É'M BY NO MEANS AN EXPERT IN ANYTHING, & É DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN CLAIM THAT TITLE, BECAUSE SOMEONE ALWAYS WILL KNOW MORE THAN YOU DO. É AM A VERY GOOD ÂÁÓÉà PROGRAMMER, & ELECTRONIC TECH, BUT É AM NOT AN EXPERT. É LEARN NEW THINGS EVERYDAY ABOUT COMPUTERS, & IF É WAS AN EXPERT, É WOULD HAVE ALREADY KNOWN THEM. Ñ ÃAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ÂÂS, WHAT WAS USED TO RUN IT & WHY YOU CLOSED DOWN? ÔHE ÃOMMIE ËAZEEZ ÂÂS WAS ONLINE FOR ABOUT 10 YRS ON A Ã64 RUNNING Ã*BASE WITH FOUR 1581 DRIVES. ÅVENTUALLY, AS MORE & MORE USERS SWITCHED TO ÉÂÍS THE USER BASE DROPPED OFF, SO É RELUCTANTLY SWITCH TO A ÄÏÓ BASED ÂÂS ON A 286 Ðà CALLED ×ILDCAT, & RENAMED IT TO ÔHE ×ASTELAND ÂÂS. ÔHE ×ASTELAND STILL HAD A Ã= SECTION ON IT, SO É DIDN'T LOSE ALL MY USERS, BUT AS THE INTERNET BECAME MORE & MORE POPULAR, É FINALLY PULLED THE PLUG ABOUT 3 YRS LATER. Ñ- ÄO YOU THINK THE ÂÂS SCENE WILL EVER BE REBORN, OR IS IT A THING OF THE PAST ÃONTRARY TO WHAT IS BELIEVED, THERE ARE MANY DIAL-UP ÂÂS STILL, BUT THEY HAVE GONE UNDERGROUND, & ARE VERY SECURE. ÔHEY HAVE THINGS ON THEM THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO CHANCE BEING ACCESSED TO ON THE INTERNET, SO É WOULD SAY IT IS ALIVE & WELL, JUST HARDER TO GET TO. Ñ ÄO YOU REGRET BEING A ÓYSÏP? ÆOR THE MOST PART NO, BUT É DID SACRIFICE THOUSANDS OF HRS MAINTAINING THE ÂÂS OF MY LIFE, & É WOULDN'T DARE TO GUESS HOW MANY DOLLARS IN EQUIPMENT & PHONE BILLS. É'M SURE IT WAS A LOT, & É LOOK BACK NOW, & QUESTION MY SANITY FOR NOT CHARGING USERS TO ACCESS THE ÂÂS. ÏN THE FLIP SIDE, É LEARNED A LOT ABOUT COMPUTERS & MAINTAINING "A NETWORK", & THAT HAS HELPED ME A LOT IN OTHER ENDEAVOURS É DABBLE IN NOW. ÃÄ Æ.Á.Ñ. ×HAT IS A .Ä64 ÆILE? Á .Ä64 FILE IS A "DISK ÉMAGE" OF A Ã= FLOPPY DISK THAT CAN BE USED ON YOUR Ðà WITH ANY OF THE POPULAR EMULATORS TO RUN THE PROGRAMS IN THE IMAGE FILE. Á SINGLE "IMAGE" FILE MAY CONTAIN SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT IS A FULL COPY OF THE ORIGINAL DISK, & THAT DISK MAY HAVE CONTAINED MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. ÔODAYS EMULATORS COME WITH GOOD DOCUMENTATION AS TO HOW TO ACCESS ALL THE FILES IN THE Ä64 FORMAT. ÈOW DO É USE THE Ä64 FILES ? ÖERY EASY, BY MAKING USE OF ONE OF THE Ã= ÅMULATORS INCLUDED ON THE ÃÄ ÙOU SIMPLY USE YOUR MOUSE & POINT & CLICK ON THE PROGRAM YOU WANT TO RUN. ÙOU CAN ALSO RETURN A Ä64 FILE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORMAT BY USING ONE OF THE COPY PROGRAMS INCLUDED ON THE ÃÄ, & A SIMPLE INTERFACE CORD THAT GOES BETWEEN YOUR Ðà & A Ã= ÄISK ÄRIVE. ÄETAILS TO CONSTRUCT THE INTERFACE CORD ARE INCLUDED ON THE ÃÄ ×HAT ARE THE ÓYSTEM ÒEQUIREMENTS FOR THE ÃÄ? ÃÄ ÐLAYER (4X OR FASTER RECOMENDED), ÄÏÓ 5.0 OR BETTER ÏÒ ×INDOWS 3.1, OR BETTER, 8 MEGS OF MEMORY, 66 ÍÈÚ PROCESSOR OR FASTER ÈOW MANY PROGRAMS ARE ON THE ÃÄ? ÔHATS A GOOD QUESTION, É HAVEN'T EVEN ATTEMPTED TO COUNT THEM ALL !! ÔHERE WAS OVER 2000 DISKS ARCHIVED INTO Ä64 FORMAT, & ALOT OF THOSE DISKS CONTAINED 20 OR 30 PROGRAMS EACH. ×HEN É RUN A WORD COUNT ON THE FULL FILE LIST, ×ORD REPORTS THERE IS 14,783 LINES, SO ITS SAFE TO SAY THERE IS AT LEAST 10,000 FILES ON THE DISK. ÏNE THING FOR SURE, THERE IS ENOUGHT FILES & PROGRAMS ON THE DISK TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. ÃAN É USE THE Ä64 FILES ON MY Ã=? ÎO, NOT IN THE FORMAT THEY ARE IN NOW. ÙOU MUST USE A COPY PROGRAM TO RETURN THEM TO "NATIVE" Ã= FORMAT. ÃAN É COPY THE ÃÄ? ×ELL É SURE CAN'T STOP YOU!! ÊUST DO ME A FAVOR & DON'T TRY TO SELL YOUR COPIES.... GIVE THEM AWAY. ÏÆ ÃÏÕÒÓÅ! É'D RATHER HAVE YOU STEER YOUR FRIENDS TOWARDS THIS WEB PAGE & HAVE THEM PURCHASE ONE, BUT É HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT YOU DO WITH THE ÃÄ AFTER YOU GET IT. ÕSE IT FOR A MINI FRISBEE IF YOU WANT TO. ======================================= U ÂEGINNERS GUIDE TO THE 64 ÐART 2 (ÐART 1 IS IN ÉSSUE 14) ÂY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE A WORKING Ã64 WITH THE FOLLOWING ON SCREEN & READY FOR USER INPUT **** ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ 64 ÂÁÓÉà Ö2 **** 64Ë ÒÁÍ ÓÙÓÔÅÍ 38911 ÂÁÓÉà ÂÙÔÅÓ ÆÒÅÅ ÒÅÁÄÙ. ×HAT WE REALLY NEED IS TO ÌÏÁÄ AN APPLICATION & ÒÕÎ IT, MAYBE A GAME & USE OUR JOYSTICKS TO ENSURE THE MACHINE IS FULLY WORKING. ×ITH THE MACHINE FACING YOU ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE NEAR THE POWER YOU WILL NOTICE 2 JOYSTICK PORTS, É SUGGEST YOU PURCHASE 2 JOYSTICKS THESE ARE CHEAP & EASILY AVAILABLE ON EÂAY LOOK FOR Ã64 COMPATIBLE OR ÁTARI Ä STYLE JOYSTICK. ÃÁÒÔÒÉÄÇÅ ÔHE EASIEST OPTION IS TO ÌÏÁÄ A GAME FROM A CARTRIDGE, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS POWER OF THE MACHINE INSERT THE CARTRIDGE WITH THE COVER PICTURE FACING UP & THEN TURN ON THE 64, THE GAME OR UTILITY WILL ÌÏÁÄ INSTANTLY FROM THE CARTRIDGE WITH VIRTUALLY NO WAITING TIME. ÎOW IF THE GAME NEEDS A JOYSTICK IN PORT 1 OR 2 YOU WILL ALREADY HAVE THEM SET UP & WONT HAVE TO POWER ÏÆÆ & CHANGE PORTS, ALSO YOU CAN USE THE 64 FOR 2 PLAYER GAMES. ÁÔÔÁÃÈÅÄ ÄÅÖÉÃÅÓ ÅVERY DEVICE CONNECTED TO THE Ã64 HAS A DEFAULT NUMBER: ÄISK DRIVE = 8 ÔAPE DRIVE = 1 ÐRINTER = 4 ÔHESE ARE THE MAIN ONES YOU WILL USE WITH A BASIC SETUP, SO TO ACCESS THE DEVICE WE USE ITS NUMBER. ÔÁÐÅ ÔO LOAD A GAME OR APPLICATION FROM TAPE YOU NEED TO ÐOWER ÏÆÆ THE Ã64 CONNECT THE TAPE DRIVE, THE CONNECTOR WILL ONLY FIT ONE WAY THEN TURN ON THE Ã64, THE TAPE GETS ITS POWER FROM THE Ã64 SO YOU DONT NEED ANY OTHER CONNECTORS OR POWER. ÉF YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE APPLICATION YOU CAN TYPE: ÌÏÁÄ"APPLICATION NAME" & PRESS ÒÅÔÕÒÎ OR PRESS ÒÕÎÓÔÏÐ/ÒÅÓÔÏÒÅ THIS WILL ÌÏÁÄ THE FIRST APPLICATION FROM TAPE, ÙOU COULD ALSO ISSUE THE COMMAND ÌÏÁÄ FILENAME,1 & PRESS ÒÅÔÕÒÎ THIS WOULD LOAD THE FILENAME OF THE DEVICE ON 1 WHICH IS THE TAPE DRIVE; CANT SAY É HAVE SEEN ANYONE USE THIS. ÄÉÓË ÔO LOAD APPLICATIONS FROM DISK, POWER ÏÆÆ THE 64. ÃONNECT THE DISK DRIVE & THEN POWER ÏÎ THE DRIVE THEN POWER ÏÎ THE 64 IF YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE APPLICATION YOU CAN THEN TYPE ÌÏÁÄ"APPLICATION",8 OR ÌÏÁÄ":*",8 THIS WILL ÌÏÁÄ THE 1ST APPLICATION FROM DISK. ÔHEN TYPE ÒÕÎ & PRESS ÒÅÔÕÒÎ. ÏF COURSE A DISK NEEDS FORMATTING BEFORE USE. Ã64 ÂÁÓÉà ÄÉÓË ÃÏÍÍÁÎÄÓ ÆORMAT A NEW DISK ÏÐÅÎ1,8,15,Î0:ÄÉÓËÎÁÍÅ,ÉÄ:ÃÌÏÓÅ 1 ÌOAD A FILE ÌÏÁÄ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÌOAD 1ST DISK FILE ÌÏÁÄ *,8 ÌOAD & RUN FILE ÌÏÁÄ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8,1 ÓAVE A FILE ÓÁÖÅ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÓAVE & REPLACE ÓÁÖÅ @0:ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÖERIFY DISK FILE ÖÅÒÉÆÙ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÄIRECTORY LISTING ÌÏÁÄ $,8 ÌÉÓÔ ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ ÆÉÌÅ ÔÙÐÅÓ ÁÎÄ ÕÓÅÓ ÄÅÌ ÄELETED FILE ÐÒÇ ÐROGRAM FILE ÓÅÑ ÓEQUENCE FILE (USUALLY TEXT FILE) ÒÅÌ ÒELATIVE FILE (DATA FILE) É HAVE WRITTEN A GUIDE TO HELP USERS AT HTTP://WWW.COMMODOREFREE.COM/ MAGAZINE/INFORMATION/ÕSERGUIDE.TXT ×HEN YOU DELETE A FILE FROM A DISK THE FILE IS STILL VIEWABLE IN THE DIRECTORY BUT LISTED AS ÄÅÌ OR DELETED, YOU MAY FIND IT USEFUL TO TYPE ÌÏÁÄ"$",8 THEN HIT ÒÅÔÕÒÎ THEN ISSUE THE COMMAND ÌÉÓÔ THESE 2 COMMANDS WILL ÌÏÁÄ A DISK DIRECTORY FROM DEVICE NUMBER 8 THEN ÌÉÓÔ THE FILES ON SCREEN; É WOULD ADVISE YOU TO TRY VARIOUS DISKS & LOOK AT THE FILES. ÐÒÉÎÔÅÒÓ ÐRINTERS ARE ISSUED BY DEFAULT THE ÉÄ NUMBER 4. ÍOST SOFTWARE WILL PRINT TO THEM WITHOUT FURTHER CONFIGURATION. ÁGAIN HAVE THE 64 POWERED ÏÆÆ ÃONNECT IT TO THE ÓERIAL PORT OR THE ÄISK DRIVE AS THE DEVICES CAN BE CHAINED TOGETHER LIKE ÕÓ DEVICES. ÁLTHOUGH Ã64 ÄOT- MATRIX PRINTERS & PEN PRINTERS WERE CONSIDERED STATE OF THE ART WHEN LAUNCHED THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE COMPUTING WORLD & DOT-MATRIX IS NO LONGER AN ACCEPTABLE OUTPUT. ÖARIOUS ADDITIONAL BOXES WERE MADE TO ALLOW A STANDARD PARALLEL PRINTER TO CONNECT TO THE 64. ÌOOK FOR DEVICES THAT ARE Ã= TO ÃENTRONICS OR JUST LOOK ON EÂAY FOR Ã= PRINTER INTERFACE YOU SHOULD FIND SOMETHING LIKE ÔHE ÓUPER ÇRAPHIX CARD. ÔHESE ALLOW THE CONVERSION OF ÁÓÃÉÉ FROM ÐÅÔÁÓÃÉ Ã= USED A VARIATION OF STANDARD ÁÓÃÉÉ FORMAT ALL PRINTERS USE CALLED ÐÅÔÁÓÃÉ THESE DEVICES CONVERT ON THE FLY PERMITTING THE PRINTING TO NON- Ã= PRINTERS, É HAVE MINE CONNECTED TO A LASER & INKJET PRINTERS & BOTH MACHINES OUTPUT TEXT FINE FROM THE 64. Á TIP IS TO USE THE ÃÍÄ COMMAND; THIS PERMITS CHANGING THE DEFAULT OUTPUT DEVICE SO IF YOU WANTED A DIRECTORY LISTING PRINTED INSTEAD OF BEING LISTED ON THE SCREEN YOU COULD ISSUE THE COMMANDS: ÏÐÅÎ 1,4 OPEN DEVICE 4, PRINTER ÃÍÄ 1 OUTPUT NOW GOES TO PRINTER ÌÉÓÔ OUTPUT WILL GO TO THE PRINTER ÃÌÏÓÅ 1 CANCELS REDIRECTION COMMAND ÄONT WORRY ABOUT THE ÏÐÅÎ 1,4 COMMAND RIGHT NOW, JUST USE IT FOR REDIRECTING TEXT & IGNORE WHAT IT DOES, WE WILL COVER THIS & OTHER COMMANDS IN LATER TUTORIALS ÔIME MARCHES ON & MACHINES ESPECIALLY 8 BIT MACHINES GET LEFT BEHIND OR FORGOTTEN. ÆORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE 64S DESIGN & THE INGENUITY OF DEVELOPERS & THE LOVE USER HAVE FOR THE MACHINE; VARIOUS ADD-ONS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE 64 OVER THE YEARS. ÓOME OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER PRODUCTS WERE PRODUCED BY ÃÍÄ. ÉTS INVENTORY WAS LATER PURCHASED BY ÍAURICE ÒANDEL HTTP://CMDRKEY.COM/ ×ÁÒÎÉÎÇ ÈOWEVER A WORD OF WARNING: BEFORE YOU ORDER ANYTHING É WOULD ADVISE YOU THAT THERE IS A LONG WAIT FOR PRODUCTS MEASURED IN ÙEARS RATHER THAN MONTHS, SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN WAITING MANY YEARS FOR PRODUCTS TO ARRIVE. ÏBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SIDELINE FOR ÍAURICE. ÔHE LINK SHOWS ÍAURICE HARD AT WORK CREATING THE PRODUCTS BY HIMSELF. ÔHE WEBSITE MAY SAY 3 MONTHS WAIT BUT YOU NEED TO INTERPRET THIS AS 3 YRS MINIMUM (IF IT EVER SHOWS UP AT ALL) HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/ PROFDREDD/MAURICE/CMDRKEY.HTML ÆOR A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE ÃÍÄ ÈARDWARE PRODUCTS GO TO: HTTP://WWW.CMDWEB.DE/ ÈÁÒÄ×ÁÒÅ ÃÍÄ PRODUCED MANY ITEMS OF HARDWARE INCLUDING ÓÃÐÕ Á 20ÍHZ ACCELERATOR FOR THE Ã64/128 THE DEVICE CAN ALSO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 16MB OF MEMORY TO MY KNOWLEDGE ONLY THE GAME ÍETALDUST TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRA PROCESSING POWER ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF ÄEMOS, ÇÅÏÓ & ×HEELS OPERATING SYSTEMS, HOWEVER OTHER APPLICATIONS CAN BENEFIT. ÆOR EXAMPLE COMPLEX 3Ä STYLE GAMES GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE EXTRA SPEED. ÔHE DEVICE IS SWITCHABLE FROM 20MHZ BACK TO 1MHZ FOR COMPATIBILITY & ALSO INCLUDES AN ÏÎ/ÏÆÆ SWITCH FOR EXTRA COMPATIBILITY ALSO HAS ÊIFFY ÄÏÓ INCLUDED. ÆÄ-2000 Á 1581 DRIVE CLONE, HOWEVER IT HAS A BONUS OF BEING ABLE TO USE HI-DENSITY DISKS, MAKING THIS DEVICE VERY USEFUL FOR THE CASUAL Ã64 USER. ÈAS ÊIFFÙ ÄÏÓ. ÁLSO CAN ÓWAP DEVICE NUMBERS WITH ATTACHED DISK DRIVES ÈÄ ÄÒÉÖÅÓ ÃAN CONTAIN UP TO A 4GB HARD DISK INCLUDES ÊIFFYDOS & AN EXTERNAL SCSI CONNECTOR CAN BE SET WITH UP TO 255 PARTITIONS EACH CAN BE 16MB IN SIZE. ÆEATURES A DEVICE SWAP BUTTON. ÙOU CAN ALSO CREATE 1541 & 1581 PARTITIONS FOR COMPATIBILITY. ÒÁÍLINK ÃAN FEATURE UP TO 16MB OF MEMORY. ÉS ÓUPER ÃÐÕ COMPATIBLE I.E. THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER. ÁLLOWS THE USER TO SET UP PARTITIONS TO HAVE DISKS INSTANTLY ACCESSED, ALSO FEATURES A BATTERY BACKUP TO SAVE THE PARTITIONS WHEN POWERED ÏÆÆ ÊÉÆÆÙÄÏÓ ÊIFFYDOS IS A FLOPPY DRIVE SPEED UP SYSTEM THE CHIP NEEDS FITTING IN THE 64 MACHINE & ALSO IN YOUR DRIVES FOR THE DEVICE TO FUNCTION TO ITS POTENTIAL, BUT AS THE ÒÁÍLINK, ÓÃÐÕ & ÆÄ DRIVE HAVE ÊIFFYDOS INSTALLED, YOU COULD ADD A ÓÃÐÕ & A ÆÄ200 DISK & BE ÊIFFYDOS ENABLED, ALTHOUGH OTHER DISK DRIVES WILL NEED THE CHIP FITTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, LIKE THE 1541 & 1581 DRIVES. ÊIFFYDOS HAS A POWERFUL SET OF CONTROL FEATURES TO REDUCE TYPING & GENERALLY BENEFIT THE USER 1581 ÔHE 1581 IS A FLOPPY DISK DRIVE & USES 3.5" SINGLE DENSITY DISKS. ÔHESE ARE MORE REDILY AVAILABLE THAN THE 1541 5.25" INCH DISKS ÉÄÅ64 HTTP://WWW.IDE64.ORG/ ÔHE ÉÄÅ64 IS A CARTRIDGE THAT ALLOWS STANDARD Ðà ÉÄÅ DISK & ÃÄ ÒÏÍ DRIVES TO BE CONNECTED TO YOUR 64, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS EVERYONE IS SOLD OUT THERE IS A NEW VERSION OUT. ÆOR MORE DETAILS SEE: HTTP://WWW.IDE64.ORG/IDE64V4.HTML ÔHERE IS A PATCH FOR ÇÅÏÓ TO WORK WITH THE DEVICE, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE ×HEELS DOESNT SUPPORT THE SYSTEM. ÉF YOU ARE A GAMES FAN YOU CAN COPY MOST SINGLE FILE GAMES ON THE DEVICE & ÌÏÁÄ THEM VERY QUICKLY ÍÍà ÓIMILAR TO THE ÉÄÅ INTERFACE IS THE ÍÍà CARD ALLOWING YOUR 64 TO USE STANDARD ÍULTIMEDIA ÓD CARDS UP TO 4GB. ÃÁÂÌÅÓ ÎOT MUCH USE UNTIL YOU NEED ONE, BUT YOU SHOULD LOOK TO INVEST IN SOMETHING LIKE AN Ø1541 ÃABLE. ÔHIS CABLE CONNECTS A Ðà TO 1541 OR 1581 DRIVES & COPY FILE TO/FROM IT. ÁLSO USEFUL WITH THE ÈÄÄ64. ÉF YOU OWN AN OLD ÐÃ, YOU SHOULD LOOK TO INVESTING IN THEM. HTTP://WWW.PROTOVISION-ONLINE.DE/ HTTP://WWW.VESALIA.DE/E_PRODUCTS.HTM ÏÐÅÒÁÔÉÎÇ ÓÙÓÔÅÍÓ ÇEOS WAS THE FIRST GRAPHIC OPERATING SYSTEM É SAW & REQUIREMENTS ARE LOW. Á 1541 DRIVE, Ã64/128 & JOYSTICK. ÙOU CAN DOWNLOAD A LIMITED VERSION FOR FREE AT: HTTP://CBMFILES.COM/GEOS/INDEX.HTML ×HEELS MADE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ÇEOS SYSTEM BUT REQUIREMENTS ARE HIGHER ÙOU NEED SOME FORM OF MEMORY EXPANSION & IDEALLY A HARD DRIVE ÖARIOUS OTHER SYSTEMS HAVE EMERGED LIKE ÃONTIKI. ÃHECK HERE FOR THE ÃONTIKI WEBSERVER: HTTP://WWW.SICS.SE/CONTIKI/PLATFORMS/ CONTIKI-COMMODORE-64-WEB-SERVER.HTML ÁND THE MAIN ÏÓ: HTTP://WWW.SICS.SE/CONTIKI/ ÔHE OPERATING SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED FOR VARIOUS MACHINES ÓÏÆÔ×ÁÒÅ ÔHE ÈÄÄ64 SYSTEM TURNS AN OLD Ðà OR ÌAPTOP INTO A STORAGE SYSTEM ALLOWING ALMOST UNLIMITED NUMBER OF GAMES & FILES TO BE ADDED: HTTP://WWW.64HDD.COM/INDEX_EN.HTML ÔHE SOFTWARE WILL WORK WITH REGISTERED VERSIONS OF ÇÅÏÓ. ÔHE AUTHOR ALSO SELLS A SPEED UP CARTRIDGE FOR USERS WITH ÈÄÄ64 SPEEDING UP ACCESS TO THE FILES STORED ON ÐÃ, CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS. ÔHE WEBSITE ALSO SELLS VARIOUS CONNECTORS & CAN TRANSFER FLOPPY DISKS TO DISK IMAGES. ÁLSO OF NOTE TO ÃÍÄ ÈARD DISK OWNERS IS ÄRIVE ÇHOST. ÁLLOWING USERS TO BACKUP THEIR ÈARD ÄISK ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ ÈERE IS INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE WEBSITE ON BOTH ÈÄÄ64 & ÇHOSTDRIVE (AS É PROMISED ÎICK MANY TIMES É WOULD PROMOTE HIS SOFTWARE. ÓORRY ITS TAKEN SO LONG ÎICK) ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ IS THE ONLY DISK IMAGING SOFTWARE FOR ÃÍÄ DRIVES. ÏVERVIEW ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ IS A TOOL FOR "IMAGING" OR "GHOSTING" THE CONTENTS & STRUCTURE OF ÃÍÄ DRIVES. ÄRIVE GHOSTING IS FAR MORE THAN A BACKUP - IT IS A COMPLETE TRACK & SECTOR ACCURATE METHOD OF COPYING DATA & ENSURING THAT SYSTEMS, NOT JUST FILES, CAN BE RESTORED AT A LATER DATE. ÐROGRAMS, DATABASES, ÇÅÏÓ, ×HEELS, ANYTHING & EVERYTHING IS CAPTURED! ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ IMAGES THE CONTENTS & STRUCTURE OF YOUR ÃÍÄ ÈÄ, ÆÄ OR ÒÁÍÌÉÎË TO SPECIAL FILES ON A Ðà CONFIGURED TO RUN 64ÈÄÄ. ÔHESE IMAGE FILES CAN BE KEPT ON THE Ðà OR BURNT TO ÃÄÒÏÍ FOR A MORE PERMANENT BACKUP. ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ OFFERS THE FLEXIBILITY OF A COMPLETE BACKUP/RESTORE, USER SELECTED PARTITIONS, OR THE ABILITY TO IMPORT INDIVIDUAL PARTITIONS TO NEW DRIVES OR LOCATIONS. ÉT EVEN LETS YOU IMPORT Ä64 FILES DOWNLOADED FROM THE INTERNET OR FROM ARCHIVES ONTO YOU ÃÍÄ DRIVE. ÆEATURES ÃOMPLETE BACKUP SOLUTION FOR ÃÍÄ DRIVE USERS - ÈÄ, ÆÄ OR ÒÁÍÌÉÎË. ÕSES IMAGING SO AS TO CAPTURE ALL DISK DATA - NOT JUST THE FILES ÓIMPLE, INTUITIVE POINT & CLICK USER INTERFACE ÒUNS UNSUPERVISED ONCE STARTED ×ORKS WITH FREEWARE & ÐROFESSIONAL VERSIONS OF 64ÈÄÄ USING THE POPULAR Ø1541 CABLE, OR USE IT IN COMBINATION WITH ÉÄÅ64 ÉMAGE FILES STORED IN Ðà FORMAT & CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO ÃÄÒÏÍ ÉDEAL FOR: ÂACKUPS ÒESTORATION ÄRIVE MECHANISM UPGRADES ÄATA EXCHANGE ÉNSTALLING Ä64 FILES ÓHUFFLING PARTITIONS AROUND & MORE... ÖERSION 1.06 INCLUDES: ÓTANDARD SERIAL MODE ÆAST-ÓERIAL RESTORE MODE ÐWRÌOAD CABLE SUPPORT FOR FASTEST BACKUP/RESTORE ÉÄÅ64 FILE SYSTEM MODE TO BACKUP/ RESTORE YOUR ÃÍÄ SYSTEM ÉNTRODUCTION ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ IS A UNIQUE BACKUP TOOL AVAILABLE TO THE Ã64 USER. ÉS POWERFUL, YET EASY TO USE. Á GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE ALLOWS EASY SELECTION OF 64ÈÄÄ & ÃÍÄ DRIVES, TAGGING OF PARTITIONS TO BACKUP OR RESTORE, & NAVIGATION OF YOUR 64ÈÄÄ ARCHIVES. ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ WILL WORK WITH 64ÈÄÄ CORE VERSION V0.7B5 (OR BETTER) - FREEWARE OR ÐROFESSIONAL VERSIONS. 64ÈÄÄ IS A ÍÓÄÏÓ Ðà BASED EMULATION PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS 8-BIT Ã64 COMPUTERS TO ACCESS THE POWER OF Ðà DRIVES VIA THE POPULAR Ø1541 COMPATIBLE CABLE. ÔO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 64ÈÄÄ, REFER TO THE SEPARATE USER MANUAL OR THE WEBSITE. Á COPY OF THE CURRENT FREEWARE VERSION OF 64ÈÄÄ IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR DISTRIBUTION OF ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ. ÏF COURSE THERE IS NO NEED FOR 64ÈÄÄ IF YOU USE ÄÒÉÖÅÇÈÏÓÔ WITH YOUR ÉÄÅ64. 64ÈÄÄ ÄETAILS 64ÈÄÄ IS A LOW-COST ALTERNATIVE TO PURCHASING A ÈARD ÄRIVE FOR Ã64/128, ÐLUS4/Ã16 OR ÖÉÃ20). 64ÈÄÄ WORKS WITH "IMAGES" OF REAL Ã64 DISKS & TAPES. ÔHESE IMAGES ARE CREATED BY TRANSFER- RING THE DATA FROM A REAL DISK/TAPE TO A STANDARD FILE FORMAT. ÔYPICAL DISK IMAGES ARE KNOWN AS Ä64 FILES. ÔYPICAL TAPE IMAGES ARE KNOWN AS Ô64 FILES. ÔHERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THAT WILL LET YOU TRANSFER YOUR DATA, & MANY WEBSITES THAT HOST ARCHIVED Ä64 FILES. ÔHE 64ÈÄÄ SOFTWARE LETS YOU CONNECT YOUR Ã64 COMPUTER TO THE ÌÐÔ PORT OF A Ðà USING A STANDARD Ø1541 OR ØÅ1541 CABLE. ÆOR FASTER CONNECTION A SPECIAL ÐWRÌOADER PARALLEL CABLE CAN BE USED TO SPEED THINGS UP 30-50 TIMES. ÏNCE CONFIGURED, YOUR 64 CAN HAVE ACCESS YOUR DATA WHICH IS SAFELY STORED & BACKED-UP ON THE Ðà WITHOUT HAVING TO FIDDLE ABOUT WITH DOZENS OF FLOPPIES & OLD FLOPPY DISK DRIVES. ÉN ADDITION TO USING YOUR ÐÃ'S HARD DISK, YOU CAN ACCESS ITS ÃÄÒÏÍS, ÕÓ DRIVE, ÒEAL-ÔIME-ÃLOCK, ETC. ÔHE Ðà SYSTEM CAN BE ANY STANDARD 386/486/ ÐENTIUM ETC. 64ÈÄÄ RUNS UNDER ÍÓÄÏÓ (OR A ÄÏÓ-ÂOX ON SOME ×IN9X SYSTEMS) BUT MAY NOT RUN UNDER ×INDOWS 2000, ÎÔ OR ØÐ UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ALTERNATE ÄÏÓ BOOT CONFIGURED OR A ÄIRECT-ÉÏ DRIVER. ÉF YOU ARE STUCK USING A NON-ÄÏÓ SYSTEM SUCH AS ×IN2K/ØÐ/ÎÔ OR ÌINUX, 64ÈÄÄ IS ALSO AVAIBLE ON BOOTABLE ÃÄ-ÒÏÍ. 64ÈÄÄ SUPPORTS Ä64, Ä71, Ä81, Ô64, ÌÎØ IMAGES & THE ÎATIVE ÍÓÄÏÓ FILE SYSTEM. ÍÓÄÏÓ MODE EVEN SUPPORTS Ã64 16-CHAR FILENAMES IN ×IN95 ÌONGÆILEÎAME FORMAT IF THE ÌÆÎÆÉÌÅÓ PLUG-IN (V1.55 UPGRADE) (125KB) HAS BEEN INSTALLED. ÙOU CAN EVEN COMMAND THE ÐÃ'S 3.5" FLOPPY DRIVE TO READ/WRITE 1581 DISKS USING ×OMO'S 1581ÃÏÐÙ. ÔHE FULL FREEWARE DOWNLOAD INCLUDES UTILITIES & TEST SOFTWARE, AS WELL AS 64ØPLOR (A CROSS-PLATFORM FILE ÅXPLORER FOR Ã64/128/16/ÐLUS4/ÖÉÃ20 MACHINES & WORKS WITH REAL & 64ÈÄÄ DRIVES). ÇÅÏÓ64 IS SUPPORTED VIA A CUSTOM KERNAL DISK DRIVER. ÕTILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE DRIVER DOWNLOAD TO PROVIDE TIME & DATE SUPPORT AS WELL AS A DISK ÓHORTÃUT TOOL FOR JUMPING BETWEEN Ä64'S CONTAINING YOUR ÇÅÏÓ COLLECTION. ÎOT FORGETTING THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER HARDWARE & SOFTWARE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR VARIOUS COMMODORE MACHINES, CHECK OTHER ISSUES SO YOU DONT MISS OUT. ======================================= U ÄOWNLOADED FROM WWW.COMMODOREFREE.COM ÃOMMODORE 64 ÒEFERENCE ÇUIDE ÏRIGINALLY COMPILED BY: ----------------------- ÎIGEL ÐARKER (COMMODORE FREE) WWW.COMMODOREFREE.COM ÁLAN ÂAIRSTOW (ÃOMMODORE ÓCENE) WWW.COMMODORESCENE.ORG.UK -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ ÆÉÌÅ ÔÙÐÅÓ ÁÎÄ ÕÓÅÓ --------------------------------------- ÄÅÌ ÄELETED FILE ÐÒÇ ÐROGRAM FILE ÓÅÑ ÓEQUENCE FILE (TEXT FILE) ÒÅÌ ÒELATIVE FILE (DATA FILE) ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ 64 ÂÁÓÉà ÄÉÓË ÃÏÍÍÁÎÄÓ --------------------------------------- ÆORMAT A NEW DISK: ÏÐÅÎ1,8,15,Î0:ÄÉÓËÎÁÍÅ,ÉÄ:ÃÌÏÓÅ 1 ÌOAD A FILE ÌÏÁÄ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÌOAD 1ST DISK FILE ÌÏÁÄ :*,8 ÌOAD AND RUN FILE ÌÏÁÄ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8,1 ÓAVE A FILE ÓÁÖÅ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÓAVE AND REPLACE ÓÁÖÅ @0:ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÖERIFY DISK FILE ÖÅÒÉÆÙ ÆÉÌÅÎÁÍÅ,8 ÄIRECTORY LISTING ÌÏÁÄ $,8 THEN ÌÉÓÔ ÒEDIRECTION ÃÍÄ ÅØÁÍÐÌÅ: ÒEDIRECT DIRECTORY LISTING TO A SERIAL PRINTER: ÏÐÅÎ 1,4:ÃÍÄ 1:ÌÉÓÔ:ÃÌÏÓÅ 1 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ 128 ÂÁÓÉà ÄÉÓË ÃÏÍÍÁÎÄÓ --------------------------------------- ÆORMATTING A DISK ÈÅÁÄÅÒ DISKNAME,ÌÉÄ,ÄDRIVENUMBER,ÏÎ, ÕDEVICENUMBER ÌOAD A FILE ÄÌÏÁÄ FILENAME,8 ÓAVING A FILE ÄÓÁÖÅ FILENAME,8 ÖERIFYING A FILE ÄÖÅÒÉÆÙ FILENAME,8 ÄISK ÄIRECTORY ÄÉÒÅÃÔÏÒÙ ÃÏÍÍÏÄÏÒÅ ÄÏÓ ×ÅÄÇÅ ÄÉÓË ÃÏÍÍÁÎÄÓ --------------------------------------- ×ILDCARDS ? ÍATCH ANY CHAR Å.Ç ÄÏ? COULD MATCH ÄÏÇ OR ÄÏà * ÍATCH THE REST OF THE NAME Å.Ç Ä* COULD MATCH ÄÏÇ OR ÄÕÇ ÆORMAT A NEW DISK @ÎÅ×0:DISKNAME,ÉÄ ÓAVE A FILE ÅND Æ8 OR ÃÌÒ ÍOVE ÃURSOR ÃÒÓÒ UP/DOWN ÓELECT ALL + ÕNSELECT ALL - ÓELECT SOME FILES ÉÎÓ/ÄÅÌ ÌOAD AND RUN FILE ÒÅÔÕÒÎ ÌOAD A PROGRAM ÓÈÉÆÔ+ÒÅÔÕÒÎ ÌÏÁÄ VOLUME ROOT / ÏPEN OR CLOSE ÃÄ ^ ÑUIT APPLICATION < ÉÄÅ64 Ã= ÂÁÓÉà ÃÏÍÍÁÎÄ ÅØÔÅÎÓÉÏÎÓ --------------------------------------- ÉNITIALIZE ONE DEVICE ÉÎÉÔ ÉNITIALIZE TWO DEVICES ÉÎÉÔ2 ÃHANGE DIRECTORY ÃÄ DIRECTORY PATH,ÄÎ ÄIRECTORY ÕNIX STYLE ÌÌ PATH,ÄÎ ÄIRECTORY C64 STYLE ÄÉÒ,ÄÎ ÍAKE DIRECTORY ÍËÄÉÒ PATHNAME,ÄÎ ÄELETE FILE ÒÍ NAME,ÄÎ ÐRINT TIME & DATE ÄÁÔÅ ÓWAP DEVICE NUMBERS ÃÈÁÎÇÅ (FLOPPY NOW DEVICE 10 IDE64 DEVICE NOW 8) ÏPEN ÃÄ TRAY ÃÄÏÐÅÎ ÃLOSE ÃÄ TRAY ÃÄÃÌÏÓÅ ÄEACTIVATE ÉÄÅ 64 ËÉÌÌ ====================================== U ÈERE AT THE ÃOMPUTER ÈISTORY ÍUSEUM (ÃÈÍ) FOR THE ÉMPACT OF THE Ã64 WITH ÊACK ÔRAMIEL ÂY ÒOBERT ÂERNARDO ÒEPRINTED WITH ÐERMISSION FROM ÁUTHOR [ÒOBERT ÂERNARDO, AN INVITED GUEST, WAS AT THE ÄECEMBER 10, 2007, ÃOMPUTER ÈISTORY ÍUSEUM EVENT, ÔHE ÉMPACT OF THE Ã64: A 25TH ÙEAR ÁNNIVERSARY. ÂELOW IS HIS FIRST-HAND, MINUTE-BY-MINUTE ACCOUNT OF THE EVENT AS IT UNFOLDED. ÈIS ACCOUNT IS ONLY INTERRUPTED DURING THE ACTUAL TALK ITSELF, BECAUSE HE WAS BUSY VIDEOTAPING AND TAKING STILL PHOTOS.] ÄEC 10 2007, 3:31 PM ÂECAUSE THE #C64FRIENDS CHAT IS LOCKED OUT HERE, É'M POSTING ON THE NEWS- GROUPS. É ARRIVED EARLY, HOURS BEFORE ANY OF THE OTHER GUESTS AND ATTENDEES. ÂIL ÈERD, ÊERI ÅLLSWORTH, & OTHERS HAVE GONE OFF TO LUNCH (BUT É CAME IN AFTER THAT & SO, É MISSED OUT). ÔHE EVENT ROOM IS STILL BEING SET UP BY THE ÃÈÍ STAFF, THE ROOM BEING THE SAME 2ND FLOOR ROOM USED BY EXHIBITORS & VENDORS AT THE ÖINTAGE ÃOMPUTER ÆESTIVAL. ÔHE MEMBERS' RECEPTION ROOM IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR TO THE RIGHT OF THE ENTRANCE. É FINALLY FINISHED UNPACKING THE CAR & SETTING UP THE ÆÃÕÇ INFORMATIONAL TABLE. ÊUST A BIT OF CONFUSION AS TO WHERE TO PLACE THE TABLE, BUT IT WAS FINALLY DECIDED TO PLACE IT ON THE 2ND FLOOR, OPPOSITE TO THE STAIRS & TO THE SIDE OF THE REFRESHMENTS AREA. ÆÃÕÇ NEWSLETTERS & APPLICATIONS ARE SPREAD OUT ON THE TABLE AS ARE FRAMED PHOTOS OF ÊIM ÂUTTERFIELD AND ÊERI ÅLLSWORTH. ÈERE AT THE REFRESHMENTS AREA, THE 400 ATTENDEES CAN GATHER FOR COFFEE AND CAKE. É'VE PREPPED ALL MY CAMERAS, I.E., LOADED THE FILM AND VIDEOTAPE. É'VE ALSO BORROWED ANOTHER ÄIGITAL 8 CAMCORDER FROM OUR TREASURER. ÁT THE BACK OF THE EVENT ROOM, É SPY A MORE PROFESSIONAL CAMCORDER ON TRIPOD; PERHAPS THAT IS THE ONE THAT WILL BROADCAST THE LIVE FEED TO THE ÎET. ×ILL REPORT BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE. ÓTILL AWAITING PEOPLE TO SHOW. ÄEC 10 2007, 4:16 PM ÔHINGS ARE STARTING TO PERK UP AROUND HERE NOW. ÓTEVE ×OZNIAK IS WANDERING AROUND; HE WENT TO OUR ÆÃÕÇ TABLE, LOOKED AT THE PHOTOS, AND REMARKED THAT HE'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT ÊERI ÅLLSWORTH IS UP TO. ÎEWS REPORTERS ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY WANDERING IN, PICKING UP THEIR PRESSPASSES, & THEN HEADING OFF TO THE PRESS ROOM. ÈERE IS A LIST OF THE NEWS PEOPLE TO COME: ÉVESTORS ÂUSINESS ÄAILY, ÓAN ÊOSE ÍERCURY ÎEWS, ÆINANCIAL ÔIMES, ÃOMPUTER×ORLD, ÉNFORMATION ×EEK, ÁÎÇ ÎEWSPAPERS/ÔRIBUNE ÔOWER, ÂLOOMBERG ÎEWS, ÒED ÈERRING, ÂAY ÁREA ÎEWS ÇROUP, ÉNFO ×ORLD, ÓALON.COM, ÇADGET ÇAMES, ÉÄÇ ÎEWS ÓERVICE, ÃÂÓ, ËÐÉØ-ÔÖ, ÉÄÃ, ÁSSOCIATED ÐRESS, Ðà ÇAMER, E×EEK, ÍAC ×ORLD, ÍAC ÌIFE, ÓAN ÊOSE ÂUSINESS ÊOURNAL, AND THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING, ÍEDIA É MAY HAVE MISSED ONE OR TWO ABOVE. ÍY MISTAKE -- THE FOOD FOR THE MEMBERS' RECEPTION IS TO THE CENTER AND LEFT ON THE FIRST FLOOR. ÁS THE SCENTS OF THE FINE FOOD WAFTS AROUND... ÄEC 10 2007, 4:34 PM ÊACK ÔRAMIEL HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING! ÈE GREETED THE ÃÈÍ PEOPLE,SAT DOWN AT A TABLE, AND IS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS WHILE PHOTOS ARE BEING TAKEN. ÓHORTER THAN É THOUGHT, WEARING A DARK SPORT COAT, GRAY SLACKS,AND DRESS SHIRT UNBUTTONED AT THE TOP... ÄEC 10 2007, 4:53 PM ÄARN! ÏNLY THE LARGE GROUP OF PRESS IS BEING LET IN TO TALK TO ÊACK.É STILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 6 FOR THE MEMBERS' RECEPTION. ÓTEVE ×OZNIAK AND ÊACK ARE BOTH AT THE SAME TABLE, HAPPILY TALKING TO EACH OTHER. ÆLASHES ARE BEING FIRED OFF THE PRESS CAMERAS. É THOUGHT FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. ÚOOMING IN WITH MY VIDEOCAMERA... ÏN ÄEC 10, 5:06 PM ÅVERYBODY'S STILL IN THE RECEPTION ROOM, WHERE NO VIDEOCASTING IS SET UP. ÂRIAN ÈURLEY OF ÌIQUID ÃOMPUTING ASKED ÌOWE, ×OZNIAK, & ÔRAMIEL TO SAY SOME WORDS TO THE PRESS GATHERED THERE. ÂECAUSE É WAS NOT ALLOWED IN, É VIDEO- TAPED FROM THE BALCONY RAILING OVER- LOOKING THE RECEPTION ROOM. ÓOME SHAKY CAMERA WORK BUT AT LEAST IT'S RECORDED. ÓTILL WAITING UNTIL THE 6 PM MAGIC HOUR. ÄEC 10 2007, 6:30 PM ÔHE MEMBERS' RECEPTION IS IN FULL FORCE! ÓCADS OF PEOPLE ARE WOLFING DOWN THE TASTY TREATS (MY DINNER!). ÂIL ÈERD, ÂRAD ÔEMPLETON, ÃAMERON ËAISER, ÊERI ÅLLSWORTH, & ÔÏÇÁ MEMBER ÇORDON ÃOLLINS HAVE ARRIVED. É ATE PLENTY OF COCONUT SHRIMP & THEN UNDER THE ADVICE OF ÃAMERON, STAKED OUT A SPOT FOR VIDEOTAPING THE EVENT (FRONT ROW TO THE LEFT). ÌOTS OF PRO VIDEO CAMERAS HERE, BUT ÖALERIE ÁLSTON OF ÃÈÍ CONFIRMED THERE IS NO LIVE WEB-CASTING. :-( ×ITH ÃAMERON'S VIDEO GEAR BEHIND ME... [ÔHE EVENT RAN FROM APPROXIMATELY 7 PM TO 8:35 PM.] ÄEC 11 2007, 1:05 AM ÁFTER THE EVENT, ÖALERIE ÁLSTON OF ÃÈÍ CONFIRMED THAT A FEW DAYS FROM NOW, THE VIDEO SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE SEEN AT THEIR WEBSITE. ÏF COURSE, É WAS TAPING FURIOUSLY BEFORE (HEY, É DIDN'T GET ENOUGH TO EAT AT THE RECEPTION... É WAS SO BUSY TAPING) & AFTER (HEY, EVERYBODY ATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY Ã64 CAKE... É WAS SO BUSY TAPING). ÏH, WELL... THE LIFE OF A VIDEOGRAPHER. ÔHE PANEL DISCUSSION BEGAN A FEW MINUTES LATE, BUT THAT GAVE EVERYONE TIME TO CROWD THE ROOM. ÉT WAS PACKED! ÆAMILY, NEWS MEDIA, AND ÖÉÐS WERE IN FRONT; THE REST WERE TO THE SIDES OR IN THE MIDDLE & BACK. É WAS SURPRISED THAT ÓTEVE ×OZNIAK & ÊACK ÔRAMIEL WERE TAKING FRIENDLY JABS AT EACH OTHER... YOU KNOW, THE ÃOMMODORE VS. ÁPPLE RIVALRY. ×ILLIAM ÌOWE ADMITTED THAT THE ÐÃJR WAS A MISTAKE. ÁDAM ÃHOWANIEC ("SHO WAN NEE EH" AS ÂIL ÈERD TOLD ME) WAS PROUD THAT THE ÁMIGA WAS STILL AHEAD OF Ðà FOR 10 YEARS AFTER THE ÁMIGA'S INTRODUCTION. ÔHE PANEL DISCUSSION ENDED AFTER QUESTIONS WERE FIELDED FROM THE AUDIENCE -- ABOUT 8:35 PM. ÔHEN ÁDAM & ÊACK CUT THE ANNIVERSARY CAKE, & THEN IT WAS A FREE-FOR-ALL AS EVERYONE CROWDED AROUND ÊACK, ÓTEVE, ×ILLIAM, & ÁDAM. ÓO MUCH NOISE... SO MANY PEOPLE TALKING. ÅVERYONE SEEMED VERY HAPPY. ÎEXT TO THE NEWSLETTERS, PHOTOS, & APPLICATION FORMS, É HAD A BROWN Ã64 ON DISPLAY AT THE ÆÃÕÇ INFORMATIONAL TABLE. ×HEN THE TALK ENDED, ÊACK ÔRAMIEL STARTED LEAVING, AND É HAD TO DROP ALL EQUIPMENT, RUSH TO THE TABLE, GRAB THE Ã64, RUN BACK (EXCUSE ME... EXCUSE ME... COMING THROUGH... COMING THROUGH...) TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM. É HAD THAT BROWN Ã64 BREADBOX AUTOGRAPHED BY ÊACK -- "ÉT'S AN HONOR TO MEET YOU, ÍR. ÔRAMIEL. ×OULD YOU AUTOGRAPH MY Ã64?" ÔHEN É RAN BACK TO THE ÆÃÕÇ TABLE TO PICK UP THE BOOKS ÊACK ÒUBIN WANTED AUTOGRAPHED BY ÔRAMIEL. ÕNFORTUNATELY, É WAS DELAYED BY CURIOUS ONLOOKERS WHO ASKED ME ABOUT THE CLUB, THE ÊIM ÂUTTERFIELD AND ÊERI ÅLLSWORTH PHOTOS, AND THE ÃOMMODORES WE HAD IN STORAGE. ÂY THE TIME, É GOT BACK TO WHERE ÊACK ÔRAMIEL WAS, HE HAD LEFT! ÂIL ADVISED TO HAVE ÌENARD ÔRAMIEL AUTOGRAPH THE BOOKS. ÈOWEVER, WHEN É PULLED THE BOOKS OUT (ÏN THE ÅDGE & THE ÈOME ÃOMPUTER ×ARS), ÌENARD AND ÂIL BECAME VERY OUTSPOKEN, SAYING THAT THE LATTER BOOK WAS FULL OF FALSEHOODS, THAT THE AUTHOR DID NOT REALLY HAVE THE INFORMATION, THAT THERE WERE ERRORS IN THE BOOK. ÌENARD GRUDGINGLY AUTOGRAPHED THE BOOK, BUT BOTH OF THEM WERE MORE AT EASE SIGNING ÂAGNALL'S BOOK. ÒIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ÌENARD, ÂIL TEASED ME, "×HAT'S THE PROPER WAY TO SAY THE LAST NAME?" É SAID, "ÔRA MEL". É FOUND ÁMIGA ENGINEER, ÄALE ÌUCK; ÆÃÕÇ MEMBER, ÂILL ×ARD; ÆÃÕÇ/ÔÏÇÁ MEMBER, ÍITCH ÚOLLINGER; AND ÖINTAGE ÃOMPUTER ÆESTIVAL ORGANIZER, ÓELLAM ÉSMAIL. É TRIED TO TAPE ÄALE AND ÂIL ÈERD'S CONVERSATION, BUT WITH SO MUCH NOISE, É DIDN'T THINK MY RESULTS WERE VERY GOOD. ÂRIAN ÂAGNALL WAS THERE; HE THANKED ME FOR MY EFFORTS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT A 2ND EDITION OF HIS BOOK, ÏN THE ÅDGE: THE ÓPECTACULAR ÒISE AND ÆALL OF ÃOMMODORE. ÉF HE COULD GET A FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT FROM ÊACK IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE HE'S IN TOWN, PERHAPS THAT 2ND EDITION WOULD COME TO LIGHT. ÂIL ÈERD ASKED HOW MANY COPIES WERE SOLD OF THE BOOK, & ÂRIAN REPLIED 8,000. ÄALE MET UP WITH ÁDAM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS AND TALKED A BIT. ÂIL TALKED WITH ÊACK (WELL... BEFORE THE PANEL DISCUSSION), AND AT ÂIL'S URGING, É TOOK SEVERAL STILL SHOTS OF HIM WITH ÊACK. ÆREE POSTERS OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE Ã64 WERE HANDED OUT, AND MANY OF THOSE WERE AUTOGRAPHED BY THE GUEST SPEAKERS. ÃAMERON ËAISER HAD A ÐÅÔ BOOK AUTOGRAPHED BY ÊACK. ÁBOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE ÃÈÍ PEOPLE WERE TELLING US THEY'D HAVE TO SHUT THE DOORS. É STARTED PACKING UP MY EQUIPMENT AND CLOSING DOWN THE ÆÃÕÇ TABLE. ÍEANWHILE, ÂIL ÈERD, ÌENARD ÔRAMIEL, ÊERI ÅLLSWORTH, AND OTHERS SNUCK OVER TO THE ÖISIBLE ÓTORAGE ÁREA (OF COMPUTERS) AND CLOSED THE DOOR. ×HAT SECRETS WERE THEY DISCUSSING? ×ERE THEY STARTING UP SOME KIND OF PARTY? ÖALERIE ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULDN'T STAY LONG, BECAUSE THE MUSEUM WAS CLOSING. É PUT EVERYTHING INTO THE CAR AND WENT BACK TO DROP OFF THE CART THE MUSEUM LOANED TO ME. ÔHE SECRETIVE GROUP WERE JUST COMING OUT OF THE ÓTORAGE ÁREA, & SEVERAL DEPARTED, JUST LEAVING ME, ÂIL, ÊERI, AND ÊERI'S FRIEND, ËEN ÓUMMERIL (SP?). ÔHOUGH ÂIL WANTED TO CRASH BECAUSE OF SEVERE JET LAG, HE STILL HAD ENOUGH ENERGY FOR WHAT ËEN, A ÃÈÍ PERSON, WANTED TO SHOW US. ËEN BROUGHT US INTO THE OTHER HALF OF THE MUSEUM, THE AREAS NOT SEEN BY THE PUBLIC. ÐLENTY OF CATALOGUED AND UNCATALOGUED COMPUTER AND GAMING GEAR SITTING ON SHELVES! ÁNALOG COMPUTERS, MAINFRAME BOXES, COMPUTERS LIKE THE ÃOLECO ÁDAM (WITH BOX) AND ÁPPLES, GAME SYSTEMS LIKE THE ÃOLECOVISION (AND A ÖECTREX HIDING ÓOMEWHERE ËEN INFORMED ME). ÈE SHOWED US THE Ã= AREA, AND É SAW SHINY ÐÅÔS ÓITTING THERE. "ÄON'T TOUCH," HE WARNED. ÂIL ASKED WHETHER THERE WERE RAM EXPANDERS IN THE MUSEUM STORAGE, AND ËEN SAID NO. É SAID, "ÒAM ÅXPANSION ÕNITS"; ÂIL CORRECTED ME, "ÔHAT NAME WAS USED AFTER É HAD LEFT." ÂIL HALF-SERIOUSLY (HALF-JOKINGLY?) ASKED WHETHER THE MUSEUM WOULD WANT A LOAN OF THE ÃOMMODORE ÌÃÄ COMPUTER HE HAD. ÊERI REMARKED THAT ÃOMMODORE NERDS WOULD COME FAR & WIDE TO SEE THAT MACHINE. É SAID THAT IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY BULLETPROOF GLASS & GUARDED BY A LASER BEAM ALARM SYSTEM. ÂIL SAID THE PRICE OF SUCH AN ITEM WAS NOW $30Ë. É SAID, "ÂIL, É THOUGHT AT ÖÃÆ ÅAST YOU SAID IT WAS $20Ë". ÈE SAID THAT AFTER EVERYONE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, THE PRICE HAD GONE UP. ;-) ÁND ON WE JOKED. ÆINALLY, AT ABOUT 10:30 WE LEFT THE MUSEUM, ÂIL SHAKING MY HAND, ÊERI LEAVING WITH HER ÃHRISTMAS GIFTS, AND EVERYBODY GOING BACK TO THEIR PLACE FOR THE NIGHT. ÎOW É'M HERE AT THE ÅCONO ÌODGE IN ÇILROY FOR A FEW HOURS OF SLEEP BEFORE É HAVE TO HIT THE ROAD FOR THE 3-HOUR DRIVE DIRECTLY BACK TO SCHOOL. ÏN ÄEC 11, 9:07 AM É WAS SURPRISED AT HOW ÊACK ENJOYED THE LIMELIGHT; HE WAS RELAXED, ENGAGING, AND CONFIDENT. ÈE WAS SURROUNDED BY FAMILY, FRIENDS, INDUSTRY TYPES, ADMIRERS, AND FANS. ÈE WAS GREETED BY SO MANY PEOPLE... SOME HE HADN'T SEEN IN A LONG TIME. ÉN THAT EVENT ROOM OF 400 ATTENDEES, THE FEELING WAS THAT OF A GREAT CLASS REUNION. Á SIDE NOTE... WHEN THE PANEL DISCUSSION ENDED, THERE WAS ÒESOUNDING APPLAUSE FOR ÔRAMIEL, ×OZNIAK, ÌOWE, ÃHOWANIEC, AND HOST ÍARKOFF. ÁS ÂIL ÈERD MENTIONED TO ME, ONLY SOME OF THE STORIES WERE SCRATCHED; THERE WERE MANY MORE NOT TOLD. ÉF ONLY THE GUESTS COULD HAVE GONE ON... :-) ÔRULY ÒOBERT ÂERNARDO ========================================= ========================================= =========================================