August 1989 MCU Magazine

GENERAL INFORMATION

MCUC

This magazine is published monthly for distribution to members of the Memphis Commodore Users Club. It is in no way connected with the Commodore Business Machine Ltd. or Commodore Inc. and Commodore products (CBM, PET, C64, C128, VIC20, Amiga) are registered trademarks of Commodore Inc. The MCUC is a non-profit organization whose purpose is the free exchange of information and knowledge about the use of Commodore computer systems. Memberships are open to anyone: ownership of a computer is not required. Monthly meetings are open to the public and visitors are welcome.

Dues are broken down into three categories. Membership dues may be paid quarterly (3 months) at $6 or annually at $20.00. An associate membership is offered for those living outside a 45 mile radius of Memphis at $10 per year. All memberships are family memberships and dues are not refundable.

Contribution to the MCUC magazine may be in any wordprocessor, preferably saved as a sequential file. You may submit articles on disk, or hardcopy, or upload to the MCUC BBS. Other User Groups are welcome to reprint material from this magazine; we ask only that you give credit to the author and source.

The editor reserves the right to reject material submitted relating to illegal services, products or unethical practices. All material submitted becomes the property of MCUC. The 5th of each month is the DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES.

MEETINGS

General Membership Meeting - First Tuesday of each month. 7:00 PM in Fulton Auditorium, State Technical Institute.

Beginner's Class - First Saturday after the first Tuesday. 1:00 PM at the Main Library, Peabody and McLean.

Board of Director's Meeting - Second Thursday after the General Meeting. 7:30 PM State Tech, in the cafeteria.

128, CP/M, MS-DOS SIG - Now meeting with the Memphis FOG group. 4th Tuesday of each month at the Whitestation Library. Copy Session at 6 PM, Meeting starts as 7:00 PM.

OFFICERS

ADVERTISING RATES

All rates monthly.

Classified to Members Free
All ads must be in by the 15th.
CIRCULATION: 300 copies

Treasurer's Report

TREASURER'S REPORT 7-16-89

GARY THURMAN TREASURER

Meeting Changed

August's Board Meeting has been changed to Sunday, August 13th, at 2:00PM. Location to be announced at August General Meeting, or check the BBS's or call one of the officers.

Secretary's Notes

MCUC Official Board Meeting. 7-13-89

The board meeting was called to order at 7:30PM by Bob Nunn, Pres.

Officers present;

The problems of newsletter mailings were discussed. It seems like the US Postal service was at fault for the July newsletters being late.

Disk sales were down this month. New ideas for increased disk sales were discussed and will be implemented. Ten disks will be offered for the month of August at $4/10 pack.

Spell checkers for the Write Stuff have been ordered.

Some of the clubs surplus equipment has been sold. The rest of it will be sold at auction.

C.A.S.E. meeting is September 16-17. Club will have tickets for sale. Charlie Wirth is the clubs C.A.S.E. rep.

Beginners Packets/Members packets are being put together. Will be coming out after the first of the year.

BBS validation calls that are long distance will be limited to ten (10) minutes.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30PM

Respectively submitted
Richard Coffman, Secretary

No Mo INFO

An Editorial By Ron Montgomery

This time they've gone too far. It's kind of like being bitten by your own dog or stabbed in the back by a friend.

INFO Magazine, through their Senior Editor, Mark Brown, has stepped over the line and chosen sides. In our July-August issue, Mr. Brown comments about the wisdom of Commodore's rumored development of a new 8-bit computer. Without going into the details, (details are never accurate in rumors anyway) this machine is supposed to be basically a super C64 except better for slightly less money than a 128-D.

According to Mr. Brown, Commodore should be using all its resources to improve the Amiga and develop new Amiga models. Who knows? Maybe they could make an Amiga that someone would want to buy. Furthermore, Mr. Brown advocated "a planned, scheduled phase-out of your 8-bit computers that meshes with real world 64 and 128 sales figures..."

Well, maybe there's another idea worth trying. How about a planned, scheduled phase out of your 16-bit INFO magazine that meshes with real world sales and advertising figures.

It works like this. First we remove all the sales to 64 and 128 owners who would have appreciated loyalty to their machines. Then as a result we remove all the advertising that was aimed at those same 64 and 128 users that are no longer reading.

By the way, Mr. Brown, if you're reading this, don't bother printing a reply in your magazine. I won't be reading it anyway.

Commodore In Business II

More Business Uses by Bob Earnheart

All of you know Bob Earnheart, our Education Coordinator, of Earnheart Computer Repair. Bob fixes Commodore equipment and other peripherals so I spoke to him about how he uses the Commodore 64 in his business.

The principle use is to run software to do diagnostic testing on the computers and peripherals. 64 Doctor, a commercial program, will check the computer, disk drive, monitor and printer.

This program will check the joystick ports, modem, cassette, expansion ports, the keys and all ram on a computer. It will check for drive alignment, mechanical functions and check for read/write ability which is a mix of mechanical and circuit functions.

On a printer, it will check every font style the printer is capable of doing, including condensed, bold, italicized, etc. It will check for color correctness on a monitor.

The Test/Demo disk that comes with the 1541 drive contains an alignment check program and will also test your printer. The alignment program is written in basic and can be modified to check a 1571. Just load and list the program, looking for the area that specifies 35 tracks. Change the 35 to 70 and you can check the 1571.

64 Doctor is manufactured by:
Computer Software Association
50 TED Drive
Randolph, MO 02368

Editor's Desk

Monthly Focus: Business & Education

by Cheryn Nunn

This month's focus is on Educational and Business software for the C-64 and C-128. Included in this issue are interviews of two people who use or have used their computer in their business. We'll also look at a variety of educational programs for all ages, and business sofware to do everything from word processing to payroll to designing your own fliers and advertisements.

Educational software can be used in the home or at school. Many schools furnish C-64's for the students to learn about computers and to help them learn other subjects as well.

Business software can be used in a variety of places. You can use a database program at home to keep track of all your addresses for your Christmas card list. At Christmas time, you simply print out your mailing labels and half your work's done. You can even print out your own Christmas cards! Or balance your checkbook using an accounting program or a spreadsheet you've set up yourself. Do your taxes using tax programs and then play "what if" to see how to get more of your money back.

Schools can use business software to send letters or announcements to students and parents. They can use databases to keep various kinds of information about their students and to facilitate producing reports using the data.

Churches and clubs can use databases to keep their mailing lists, desktop publishing programs to product newsletters, bulletins, fliers, etc., and accounting programs to keep track of financial records.

These are only a few ideas of how to use educational or business software. The list is endless and is only limited by one's imagination. There are many, many programs available in all price ranges. The selection is wide enough that you should be able to find just the program you need.

Notes From John

Real Programmer Stuff??

Insanity by John Blackmer

Last week one of our members uploaded a foamware frob, I swear this guy was a bit twiddler from the boonies! The doink almost dorked my drive with his spgahetti code! When he sent it up, I munged the BBS! There was baudbarf all over the screen. Well, it turned out to be a no-bozo routine that I'm sure he hacked. After hours of ad dos-eum and a little period of cablexia, I had to fight with the buglettes and boo bugs to access the wimp interface. The iconitis set in and I was sure I would scrooge the pixel sort if I wasn't careful! Cosmic rays took over and during the diration a frobette turned my drive to toast. If I ever find this purveyor of y code, I'll hork his chicken lips and put it in the bit bucket. But that's a tomorrow problem! By the by, there are better slushomatics around but watch out for the zombieware, vaporware and tardywares hyped by the prop heads. I.M.H.O. any mugger that leeches an archival backup should get arthritis, edititus, iconitus and a bad case of cablexia.

************************************

For a translation refer to your April issue of the MCUC Magazine, "Real Programmer's Say the Darnedest Things".

Presidents Ponderings

Open letter to Commodore User Groups

by Bob Nunn

Some of you may wonder why I write so many letters to user groups. Having been active in MCUC for the last few years I have had an opportunity to observe a few things that many user group officers may not have had the chance to see. Since we get a lot of information, ideas, and programs from other user groups, I want to see all user groups succeed and prosper. If this community prospers together we all benifit and so my reasons are mostly selfish.

I have been reading user group newsletters from all over (about 40) each and every month cover to cover for the last 2 years. About this time of year and more towards the last quarter of the year, I have observed that many groups seem to run out of steam. I have noticed in the last few months a lot more negative articles. What I mean by this is that the officer who is writing the article has begun to mostly comment on how nobody else does anything and it was his/her hope that some one got off there duff and helped or the club was going to go down the tubes. Of course they didn't put it that blunt but the resentment was there. I'm here to tell you that NOTHING GOOD COMES from this kind of attitude. My wife is our newsletter editor, I'm very active in producing some of our library disks, and also run a BBS on the side. We both get tired too.

I'm sure that each of you feel that sometimes nobody really appriciates what you do. That is only human nature. I feel and hope you agree though that it is important as club officials that we each strive to rise above these feelings and attitudes.

Perhaps I've just described you or someone in your group. What can you do to change these things. The first thing you should do is study what is causing this problem. Are you or this individual unusually burdened?? If so, can some of the burden be layed off on other members in the group?? I know also that sometimes it's difficult to let go. Perhaps you feel like nobody elso can do it as well? GADZOOKS, aren't we all human!?! Well maybe that is so but nonetheless it is important for all people to feel like they are part of the club. Let someone else take the responsibility. "BUT I ASKED FOR VOLUNTEERS and nobody spoke up". Well I have heard this one most of all. Don't ask a group, ask a person. I think you'll find that when you discuss the job one on one with a person and explain why you think that they would be the best and that they were the first that you thought of because of their talents, then they will likely be eager to volunteer.

I've watched the past officers of MCUC for 3 years now. Most are not members any longer. Some have resigned or been asked to resign. That doesn't speak too highly of club volunteer work. It really is shameful that this has happened over and over again. It is shameful because it is largely avoidable. If it is beginning to get to you or one of your group, don't sit and watch it happen. Do something positive to correct the problem and do it now!!

Each club has several difficult jobs to do and many times it's the newsletter editor or the librarian or ?????? that gets eat up and decides to quit or just lays down on the job. We at MCUC have taken steps with the bigger more difficult jobs by breaking them down into smaller jobs and getting more people. I would like to personally thank those people who have assisted us in splitting up the responsibilities when they become too much for one person to handle.

Thanks to all the BBS Operators out there that support us by posting messages. Thanks to all the businesses that support our club with discounts and advertising. Thanks to all the volunteers that did demo's this year, or made cookies or brought out your systems to fairs and trade shows, or helped with the library or taught classes or helped fold and collate our magazine. Thanks to all of you who make our guests feel welcome at our events. THANKS MOST OF ALL TO EACH AND EVERY MEMBER WHO COME TO OUR MEETINGS AND PAY YOUR DUES FOR IT IS YOU THAT WE ARE HERE FOR. We sometimes forget that you are not here for us, and your splendid participation is what make the MEMPHIS COMMODORE USERS CLUB the best in the world.

Sysop's Scuttlebutt

SID - Sound Interface Device

by John Blackmer

Well, Since Bob Nunn came out with all those incredible KOALA files last month and with the receipt of the stereo SID cartridge AND the barrage of SID files around, I guess I had to follow suit with an article on the SID.

Koala files and SID files fit together very well when used with the Stereo Sid player. All you have to do is match the KOALA picture with the SID .MUS file and rename it, being sure to add the .PIC extention to the KOALA filename. One of the releases this month is a disk where I did exactly that! The result is a great graphics and music show! The inclusion of .WDS file for the appropriate music makes it a super sing along. I tried, and alas failed to create an .ANI file for Crusin'.mus. If anyone has knowledge about these .ANI files, PLEEEESE fill me in on 'em.

Another of the finer aspects of the SID systems(?) is the ability to add stereo to the files. This, too is easy to do. Simply copy the .MUS file and name it with the .STR filename extention! The main menu of Stereoplayer 10.0 gives you the ability to separate the voices to either channel (provided you have the 2nd SID chip installed)

Got a SID file without the .WDS file???? No problem theres a program called WORDS CREATOR.SDA available to allow you to create your own words file. Sorry, you have to figure out the words.

You say you want to play sid music without a SID player???? Hmmmmmm O.K I have a file that will convert your favorite SID to an m/l routine that you load and run then go ahead and use the computer for programming or some other thing that won't interfere with the same m/l vectors. It can even be used as a subroutine in a basic program. Just SYS to the proper address and continue with your basic program.

I'm continuing to learn more and more and SID and its compatable files so watch for more on it in the MCUC Magazine in the near future.

HAPPY LISTENING!

==JOHN==

Announcement!! August Demo's

1. Education Demo - special speaker
2. The Write Stuff Spellchecker & More!

Using Your Commodore In Business

An Interview with Warren Sauer by Cheryn Nunn

In a recent interview with Warren Sauer, owner of a company called Southern Marketing, we talked about his use of first the C-64 then the C-128 in his business. Here retold, is that interview.

Q. Warren, what software did you use in your business?

A. There were four programs I used. Superbase 64, an excellent database management program, kept my customer list. Superscript, a word processor which would mail merge with Superbase, was used for printing sales letters, deliquent notices, etc. You can load both these programs in at the same time. When I upgraded to a 128, I upgraded to the 128 versions which runs much faster. I also used the CMS Accounting Package for General Ledger, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Job Costing, and Payroll. This program will work with form feed checks. It also helped with quarterly government forms for taxes, year-end reports, and automatically calculated and printed W-2's. Multiplan, a spreadsheet program, was used for profit/loss statements, cost analysis (what if's), etc. Multiplan is particularly nice because you can link spredsheets. For instance, I had a checkbook spreadsheet to balance my checkbook monthly. Figures from the Checkbook were pulled to a Profit and Loss spreadsheet and together with sales figures and other data I entered, gave you a monthly P & L report. The monthly P & L provided figures for a yearly Profit and Loss Report. With the spreadsheets linked, the amount of data to be entered manually was reduced substantially.

Q. Did other people in your office use the Commodore in their work?

A. Yes, mostly for word processing.

Q. Would you consider the software you used to be user friendly and easy to teach others?

A. Yes, very easy to teach.

Q. Approximately how much would a person have to spend to have a well rounded selection of software to meet most of their business needs?

A. About $200.00 would get the basics and get them started.

Q. How long did you use the Commodore to help run your business?

A. Approximately 4 years.

Q. Would you recommend the Commodore as a complete office computer for the small businessman?

A. Definitely, yes!

Thank you, Warren, for taking the time to answer these questions. It's always nice to see "our" computer taken seriously and not thought of as strictly a "fun" machine.

The software mentioned in the above article is available from Software Discounters of America. Following is a list of prices found in the July 1989 issue of Compute's Gazette.

These were the best prices I found although other software houses carry these. I was unable to find an ad for Multiplan. There are other good spreadsheet programs available, such as Swiftcalc 64 or 128 from Timeworks and Vizistar for C128 from Progressive. I read the descriptions in Briwall's catalog on both these spreadsheets. Both sound full featured and will do graphing (C128). I could not tell from the descriptions, though, if either would "link" spreadsheets. Swiftcalc includes a "sideways" program. Vizistar is not for the occasional user and includes a database.

He's Done it Again!!

Disk Handler has done it again. On many of this month's disk, we have a terrific hi-rez graphic screen and boot program written by Kevin Dunn.

P.S. The SFD1001's were purchased by Kevin Dunn in a closed bid.

What's New In DTP

The Latest Desktop Publishing Software

by Cheryn Nunn

Recently, in the Febuary 1989 issue of Compute's Gazette, they provided a Buyer's Guide to Personal Publishing Software. This type of software will let you be a writer, editor, artist, designer or even a publisher.

The Newsroom and PaperClip Publisher are stand-alone desktop publishing programs. Both can manipulate text and graphics to create newsletters, fliers, etc. geoPublish features a complete graphics-oriented draw program, the ability to import graphics from geoPaint and supports over 70 dot-matrix printers and all PostScript laser printers. BetterWorking Word Publisher operates in the GEOS environments. This program contains a 100,000-word spelling checker and supports more than 100 printers. Personal Newsletter is also designed for use with GEOS. It comes with 270 pieces of clip art.

The next category reviewed was what they called Specialty Packages. These programs include old favorites like The Print Shop and PrintMaster Plus. These programs allow you to make your own signs, banners, and greeting cards. Certificate Maker lets you create over 200 different certificates and you can add individual names and messages. JingleDisk is a holiday card maker for personalized season's greetings. You can add animated, musical stories to each message. PartyWare lets you print everything for a party from the invitations to the hats!

The third category is Graphics Support. This software contains additional graphics you can use with the above programs. The Art Gallery series is for PrintMaster Plus and The Print Shop. Certificate Library, Vol. 1 contains an additional 100 certificates to use. The Clip Art Collection is for use with The Newsroom.

Memphis Commodore Users Club also provides graphics support for some of these programs. There are utilities that will convert graphics from The Print Shop to PrintMaster or Newsroom format and back again. Also available are utilities to convert Print Shop graphics to GEOS or Doodle format.

Many thanks to Caroline D. Hanlon for her excellent review in Compute's Gazette.

August Disks of the Month

The following disks contain the Commodore Public Domain Educational Programs, originally compiled by Jim Love of Daly City, CA. Most contain instructions for both student and teacher. These programs make learning basic educational requirements both fun and visually interesting for the young student.

Kindergarten

27   "BIG LETTER"       PRG
46   "COUNT TEN.C2"     PRG
49   "COUNT-FIVE.C2"    PRG
10   "GUESS-A-NUMBER"   PRG
12   "HOW MANY BOXES"   PRG
31   "HOW MANY.C2"      PRG
30   "KEYBOARD.C2"      PRG
39   "MATCHING.C2"      PRG
44   "MISSING NUMBR.C2" PRG
41   "NUM RECOGNTN.C2"  PRG

1st Grade

37   "ALPHABETIZING.C2" PRG
51   "CONC. WORDS.C2"   PRG
55   "CONCENTRATION.C2" PRG
39   "DRILL.C2"         PRG
35   "DRILLS.C2"        PRG
36   "HURKLE.C2"        PRG
30   "KEYBOARD.C3"      PRG
35   "LETTER.C2"        PRG
36   "MEDIAL VOWELS.C2" PRG
41   "NUM RECOGNTN.C3"  PRG
41   "NUMBER GUESS.C2"  PRG
62   "PICTURES.C2"      PRG
34   "VOWEL MAGIC.C2"   PRG

2nd Grade

38   "ALPHA BETTER.C4"  PRG
37   "ALPHABETIZING.C4" PRG
51   "CONC. WORDS.C4"   PRG
39   "DRILL.C4"         PRG
36   "MEDIAL VOWELS.C4" PRG
42   "MM SADSTORY 2.C4" PRG
39   "MM VB FORMS 9.C4" PRG
34   "VOWELS MAGIC.C64" PRG

3rd Grade

33   "ABSTRACT.C5"      PRG
34   "ADD DRILL.C5"     PRG
48   "BRAIN CRANE +.C5" PRG
48   "BRAIN CRANE -.C5" PRG
51   "BRAIN CRANE /.C5" PRG
51   "BRAIN CRANE X.C5" PRG
49   "CAR RACE MULT.C5" PRG
29   "MATH PLUS5"       PRG
46   "MATH TUTOR.C5"    PRG
45   "MONSTER MULT.C5"  PRG
47   "MUNCHKIN MULT.C5" PRG
45   "PIZZA.C5"         PRG
72   "SAUCER MULT.C5"   PRG
47   "UP THE LADDER.C5" PRG

4th Grade

51   "BRAIN CRANE X.C6" PRG
48   "BRAIN CRANE +.c6" PRG
49   "CAR RACE MULT.C6" PRG
46   "TURTLE 1.C6"      PRG
55   "TURTLE 2.C6"      PRG
55   "WORD SEARCH 1.C6" PRG
55   "HANGMAN.C6"       PRG

5th Grade

49   "CAR RACE MULT.C7" PRG
37   "GROSS PAY.C7"     PRG
43   "LONG DIVISION.C7" PRG
17   "MATH FACTS DRIL7" PRG
45   "PIZZA.C7"         PRG
52   "SIMULATION.C7"    PRG
41   "SPELLINGTUTOR.C7" PRG
45   "S'PG ERRORS 8.C7" PRG
46   "S'PG ERRORS 4.C7" PRG
46   "S'PG ERRORS 5.C2" PRG
43   "S'PG ERRORS 6.C2" PRG
31   "TABLES.C7"        PRG
49   "TURTLE 1.C3"      PRG
55   "TURTLE 2.C7"      PRG

64 Business

File Master - simple database program

Soft Account - savings account checking program: will figure interest after input of rate

Taxfile V2.0 - entries in various deductions to income, gives summary report.

Credit Card Control - database for keeping track of credit card numbers, address, phone numbers. Invaluable if card is lost or stolen.

Mortloan - allows comparison of different loans

Bills - budget helper

Money Watcher V3 - system for tracking monthly what you spend and where, gives YTD totals

Propect File - database for prospects

Amort'N Table - amortization table, shows amount alloted to interest and principle from each payment.

Depreciation - Calculates depreciation.

Gen. Loader - Geneology Utility

Sign & Announce - make signs or announcements, to screen or printer

Stamps - database for stamp collectors

Banner Printer - print your own banners

64 Secretary - database, stores information in relative files

Calculator - on-screen calculator

128 Education

1-QMaster - actually Quiz Master V5.0 - lets you make your own quizes or tests.

Formulas - program for entering complex formulas; OHMS Law, Series or Parallel Values, Reactance, Wavelength, Decibel, AC Conversions

Quad Tutor - tutor program for solving quadratic equations

Driller V1.0 - program for entering info to aid in learning

128 Business

TCX-128-v1.0 - 128 80 col. term program, simple to use

Checking 128 - Checking account program for 128, 80 col; docs included

Autotype80 - type line, hit return, prints on printer

Clock Demo - displays clock on screen

128 Disk Label - prints 3 col. condensed print directory of disk, cut and paste on disk jacket

Wordorama - Simple "Wheel of Fortune"-type word game

Disabler (40-80) - program that shows how to install disable switch on Fast Load Cartridge

1571 copy (40-80) - 1571 single disk backup copier

Bargraph - 80 col. graphing program

Fast/Copy-80 - 80 col. single drive file copier

Color Demo - displays color abilities of C128

Custom Label 3.0 - allows you to make 2 different kinds of disk labels, see examples

C128 Loan - loan calculation program; input various parameters and will calculate monthly payments, interest rate, etc.

BTCPY.IMG - DOS Shell Boot Copier

Geos/PS Album 2

This disk contains PS graphics that will need to be converted using your version of GEOS. This is the 2nd side of last month's release.

Disk of the Month Order Form

Since July's meeting was during vacation time, we will have July's Disks of the Month at the August meeting for anyone who missed them. Or you can use this form to order them by mail.

( ) 64 Graphics - three samples of superb Commodore graphics

( ) 64 Slideshow - a whole disk full of koala files. Something you can show off to your friends.

( ) SID Music #1 - an all new collection of SID Music from other user groups. Never before heard in this area!

( ) SID Music #2 - more new SID music. You'll want to add this one to your collection.

( ) GEOS PS Album - PS graphics that you will want to convert using your version of GEOS.

( ) 128 Disk - contains a Naval vessel database, Sea 128 (graphic program), Star Trek (Trekkie graphics) and The Bible (selected quotations).

Prices are: $2/disk, 3/$5 to members $3/disk, 3/$6 to non-members Clubs may obtain disks on a 1 to 1 exchange basis by sending copies of their Disks(s) of the Month. Add $1 postage/handling for 1-3 disks, $.25 for each additional disk.

Mail to MCUC, PO Box 34095, Memphis, Tn 34314-0095

Dinosaurs Enter the Computer Age

By Dan Gutman

Sixty-five million years ago, dinosaurs vanished from the face of the earth. Now they're back, this time in the form of computer software.

"Dinosaur Days," "Dinosaurs Are Forever," "Designasaurus," "Digitosaurus." The old "terrible lizards" may not rule the planet any more, but they sure rule the educational software aisles in computer stores.

The Children's Television Workshop recently conducted a study asking kids what scientific topics most interested them. Dinosaurs came out on top (right in front of whales). It should come as no surprise that software publishers have begun using the loveable creatures as a theme to get children interested in their programs.

"Since time began, every child on the face of the earth has had a fascination with dinosaurs," says Toby Shaw, Vice President of Learning Lab Software. "I do not know of a kindergarten class that has not done dinosaurs. It's something that naturally appeals to children."

Learning Lab publishes "Dinosaur Days," which includes both a simple word processor and a drawing program. Kids can use it to create their own illustrated books, puppets and comics about dinosaurs.

They'll also learn about dinosaurs. When you click on the image of a triceratops, for example, a window pops up on the screen telling you interesting facts about the creature (I didn't know those long horns over the eyes made "effective stabbing tools"!). These can be read off the screen or printed out.

For the fun of it, kids can create fanciful images of dinosaurs wearing roller skates, tennis shoes, funny hats and scuba gear. The program can share graphics and files with the other programs of the Pelican Writing Series - "Monsters and Make Believe" and Creation."

(Learning Lab, 800-247-4641, Apple, IBM, $40)

Then there's Polarware's "Dinosaurs Are Forever," the simplest of the dinosaur programs. It's a sort of computer coloring book with on-disk graphics of 26 different dinosaurs. Kids can take the pictures and print up custom-made banners, calendars and posters.

Three-year-olds can have fun with it, and older children can use the program to learn how the 26 dinosaurs evolved, their weight, size and eating habits. Colorful stickers are included in the package.

(Polarware, 800-323-0884, for Apple, Commodore and IBM, $30).

"Designasaurus" from Britannica Software is sort of a "dinosaur construction set." First you create a dinosaur by selecting a head, neck, body and tail from dozens of choices. Next you give your beast a name and print out its picture, along with palaeontological information and the creature's chances of survival.

Finally, you take your dinosaur on a stroll through Jurassic forests and Precambrian swamps. If you make sure it eats the right foods, stays away from predators and doesn't mess up the ecological balance of the planet too badly, you'll win a certificate to the Dinosaur Hall of Fame. The program also comes with 12 canned dinosaurs that can be printed in three sizes (even on a T-shirt!).

(Britannica Software, 800-572-2272, Apple, IBM, Commodore, $30-$50)

Last but not least is "Digitosaurus," the most conventionally educational product of the lot. This program doesn't teach kids about dinosaurs, it teaches them mathematics.

A dinosaur-like creature challenges students to solve whole number problems in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. With every correct answer, your digitosaurus grows older and wiser.

(Sunburst, 800-431-1934, IBM, $65)

"If dinosaurs will get kids to write creatively, then we've succeeded. That's the ultimate goal," says Tobi Shaw. "We've got to get these kids motivated. Then we can work on punctuation and other writing skills."

Read Amplifier Circuit

Ever wonder how data is read from or written to a disk? Commodore, in one of its early tech manuals, gives the best explanation that I have ever read. As most of you know, the computer only reads in 1's and 0's. Well, when data is put on the disk, a 1 is represented by a change in direction of magnetic flux. This is caused by a change in direction of current passing through the R/W coil in the R/W head. Just the opposite happens when a 0 is recorded, no change in current flow occurs causing the direction of magnetic flux to remain the same.

When information is being read from the disk, CEMF is induced into the R/W coil by the magnetic fields on the disk, causing current flow.

Bob Earnheart

NASA Apacelink

Contributed by Dwight Campbell

NASA Spacelink - (205) 895-0028

To use NASA Spacelink, type the number of the menu item most likely to contain information of interest, and press your computer's return, carriage return (CR), new line, or enter key. You will find one or more sub-menus under each item in the main menu. Continue choosing menu items until the desired information appears.

For example, if you are a sixth grade teacher and you want to plan a lesson around food for astronauts, choose item 9 fron the Main Menu (Materials for Classroom Use). From the next menu choose item 2 (Living in Space Activities, Grades 1-6). From the next menu choose item 2 (Food Lesson Plans). Your final menu choice will be item 6 (Grades 4-6), which will contain suggested activities for sixth grade students. At this point you'll be told to press Return to view the document or enter an X (type X and press return) to receive the file via an XMODEM file transfer.

Every NASA Spacelink menu offers the options of returning to the previous menu (item 0) or returning to the main menu (item 1).

When you first logged on to NASA Spacelink, you indicated the number of lines your computer monitor will display at one time. NASA Spacelink will pause accordingly to allow time to read information that has appeared on the screen. You may press Return whenever you are ready for NASA Spacelink to continue.

If you wish to override the pause feature tp allow continuous scrolling, type the letter C (for continuous) when text begins to appear. You must type the letter C every time you want text to scroll continuouslyl. This feature is helpful when you are not reading text, but are saving to disk. If you wish to stop viewing text while it is scrolling, you may type the letter S (for stop) and the previous menu will reappear.

If you want text to pause on demand, type the letter S while depressing your computer's Control key. To resume scrolling, type the letter Q while depressing your computer's Control key.

In brief, here are the keys you can use to control operation of NASA Spacelink!

Please note that if you are calling at 300 or 12000 baud, there will be a delay in NASA Spacelink's response to S and Ctrl/S.

The above file was downloaded by Klaatu from the NASA online data service, SpaceLink

Anyone can access Spacelink, but it is a long distance call to Huntsville, AL. It is a temendous source of ecucational and current information about NASA activities and projects.

Memphis Commodore Users Club members are invited to join BIX's flat fee service at 25% off

BIX has turned off hourly rates

Unlimited BIX use for only $29.25 a quarter. That's 25% off our regular rate of $39 a quarter.

Now Memphis Commodore Users Club members are invited to subscribe for an unheard-of flat fee of just $29.25 a quarter for an annual subscription or $44.25 for a 90-day trial subscription. Not only can you get BIX for a flat rate, but you can purchase unlimited off-peak Tymnet for just $15 a month.

At these prices, why use a service with hourly rates?

BIX is the BYTE Information Exchange, the on-line resource most prized by the computer-using world since 1985. At $29.25 a quarter, BIX gives you information essential to your peak performance as a microcomputer pro for the same money you could easily burn up in about 2 or 3 hours on an hourly rate service. Your risk-free, one-year subscription may be cancelled at any time without further charge. Just notify us.

Here's what you get as a BIX subscriber:

More than 150 microcomputer-related conferences -- Connect with the experts on computers such as Macintosh, IBM PC and compatibles, the Apple II family, Amiga and Atari. Talk with programmers skilled in C, Pascal, Ada, BASIC, Assembler and other languages. And consult experts on operating systems including MS-DOS, OS/2 and UNIX.

Microbytes Daily -- The award-winning, on-line news service offers up-to-the-minute industry news and product information covering IBM PC and compatibles, Macintosh, workstations, cutting-edge research, and hot new products and technologis.

The full text of BYTE magazine -- Receive the text of BYTE magazine before it's in print. Even back-issue text is accessible.

Software libraries -- Browse dozens of software libraries, including those for PCs, Macs, Apple II, Amiga and Atari, and download free and shareware programs.

Vendor Support -- Get advice and information on using products and applications from more than a hundred hardware vendors and software publishers.

Electronic Mail -- This BIX service offers binary attachments to mail, so you can send spreadsheets, pictures, formatted word processing documents, or desktop publishing files.

Support Material -- Our menus provide a convenient map of the system, and include powerful options such as the BIX Index -- which lets you search all the BIX conferences. A special command interface lets you move around BIX quickly and efficiently, and a Quick Download option collects all your mail messages and new conference messages and sends them to you, saving you time. Subscribers automatically receive the BIX Command Manual, Menu Manual, and Simulation Diskette.

Subscribe to BIX right now -- on your computer.

You can call BIX directly, at 617-861-9767 and pay no Tymnet rates, or you can purchase unlimited off-peak Tymnet for just $15 a month. You may also use Tymnet's low hourly rates and pay the fees of $2/hour evenings, weekends and holidays, and $8 hour weekdays. Set your telecommunications program for full duplex, 7 bits, even parity, 1 stop bit, or 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.

If you use Tymnet, call Tymnet Customer Support at 800-336-0149 for your local access number. Now dial your local Tymnet number; after the usual handshaking, you'll see a line of garbled characters (or a request for "terminal identifier"). Respond with a lowercase "a". Then you'll see a "please log in:" request, to which you should respond with "bix" and a carriage return. Next you'll see the prompt, "Name?"; enter "bix.mcuclub" here and you'll begin registration.

You can charge your BIX subscription to VISA, MasterCard, or American Express, have it billed to your company, or prepay by check.

If you dial directly, respond to the log-in prompt with "bix" and enter "bix.mcuclub" at the "Name?" prompt. Continue as with Tymnet.

BIX
One Phoenix Mill Lane
Petersborough, NH 03458
800-227-2983
In NH, 603-924-7681

SID Symphony Stereo Cartridge

The SID Symphony Stereo Cartridge

Enjoy stereo Sidplayer music conveniently and affordably with the SID Symphony Stereo Cartridge from Dr. Evil Laboratories! This cartridge provides you with three more SID voices and true stereo sound capability. There is no assembly required--simply plug the cartridge into your Commodore 64, 64C, SX-64, 128, or 128D and prepare yourself for breathtaking 6-voice stereo symphonies!

Many stereo Sidplayer songs, both standard and enhanced, are already available in the public domain, as is the player program for stereo SIDs, Mark A. Dickenson's Stereo Player v10. You can even create your own stereo Sidplayer songs with Compute!'s Music System for the Commodore 128 and 64: The Enhanced Sidplayer, available from your local bookseller. The SID Symphony Stereo Cartridge is the only cartridge endorsed by Craig Chamberlain, author of The Enhanced Sidplayer.

The cartridge is powered by a replaceable 9-volt alkaline battery to give you hours of entertaining music. No extra hardware is required, except that you will need two RCA male-to-male cables to connect the outputs of your computer and cartridge to your stereo system.

The SID Symphony Stereo Cartridge is priced at only $34.95 postpaid, making stereo music affordable for all Commodore computer owners. Plus, the cartridge is backed by Dr. Evil Laboratories' limited 90-day warranty.

Note: Also available is a disk with the latest version of Stereo Player and 39 stereo songs for $1.00 as a service for those who do not have access to SID music libraries. This disk is not part of the standard $34.95 cartridge package.

Please send me ____ SID Symphony Stereo Cartridges at $34.95 each postage paid.

___ Please include the Stereo SID Music Collection Vol. 1 disk ($1.00).

I have enclosed a check or money order for _______.

Washington residents: please add 8.1% sales tax to your orders ($2.83 per cartridge).

All funds must be U.S. Please make your order payable to Dr. Evil Laboratories.

Send this order form and your payment to:

Dr. Evil Laboratories
P.O. Box 3432
Redmond, WA 98073-3432

And please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Notes Off the Line

Edited by Bob Nunn

Here is a few interesting sub posts off of Operator Headgap BBS. I hope you find these interesting and informative.

  From: Bob Nunn
  Date: WED., 6/29 10:34 pm
  Subj: New Commodore CGS?

Heard about the new 64 compatible that
has 128k, built in drive and super new
graphics + 64 compatability? Well there
are rumors that C= is considering a new
8-10 mhz 6502 computer. Whats that you
say no room for 8 bit technology in
this day or 32 bit stuff. Well it ain't
on the showroom floors yet, nor has it
debut at a show. We'll wait and see but
it is a little thought provoking,
especially after Commodore officially
announcing they have discontinued the
128D computer on Q-Link. The guy said
that they have halted production and
don't intend to restart. Supplies
should last through Christmas or longer
if they can't find enough of us turkeys.

  From: DION MILLER
  Date: THURS., 6/6  1:49 pm
  Subj: ad&d help

 Just to change the subject a little.
Has anyone solved Pool of Radiance
yet? How about some tips. I've been
having a hard time getting through the
Kobold Kingdom & the Graveyard.

  From: NORRIS
  Date: FRI., 6/7  8:14 am
  Subj: Pool Problem

Well Dion, just keep trying, it took me
countless times getting through the
Kobold Caves and the Graveyard. 

  From: BELIAL
  Date: SAT., 6/8  5:08am
  Subj: Pool Tips

You can solve Pool of Radiance WITHOUT
going through the Kobol Caves. All
you have to do is go through the
Stojanow Castle and find that Dragon
and kill it. I forget his name (starts
with a T though).

  From: Bob Nunn
  Date: WED., 6/29 3:41 am
  Subj: Dr. Evil Stereo Cart

 I just got my Stereo Sid Cartridge
from Dr. Evil Laboratories. It only
took a couple of weeks. The price was
$34.95 which isn't too bad to get 3
more voices out or your Computer. I
haven't had time to give it a full
blown workout but the 3-4 hours I've
had it up it's working just fine. It
seems they solved the power problem by
installing a replaceable 9 volt.
The music is SUPERB!

  From: DISK HANDLER (Kevin Dunn)
  Date: THURS., 6/30  4:42 am
  Subj: Stereo

Well thanks Bob!!!You got me back
into stereo over here! I had the urge
a week ago to put another sid chip
back in my computer so THIS time, I
did it right!!!I hope it works (my
computer...I know the chip works!)
(GRIN) Maybe I can bring my setup
over there one day and we can see
if there is any difference in the
cartridge and a home-made job??

  From: DISK HANDLER
  Date: TUES., 7/4 12:56 am
  Subj: Stereo!

Well, I don't know about Bob's stereo
cart, but I have a Stereo Chip in
my C=64 and I am enjoying it Immensely!
It opens up a whole new world for
the Commodore! I am currently working
on a demo for the stereo sid chip
which will auto-locate the chip (where
ever it is in the 64 mem.config)
Trouble is finding a sid song that
is BEYOND EXCELLENT to make the demo
awesome!!!!

  From: Bob Nunn
  Date: SUN., 6/9 10:40 am
  Subj: Home Made Sid Ship

Bob Earnhart has repaired most
computers that have had an extra sid
chip installed. It seems that there is
a power problem and it will take not
only the sid chip but a few others when
it goes. The cartridge uses a nine volt
battery which works fine and doesn't
cause the probs that wiring one it
does. I think Kevin Dunn is aware of
the problem though and may have the
problem well in hand. I would wait a
while and see though. The Cartridge is
only $34.95 but that would be quite a
bit more than the chip assuming you
didn't have your computer let out all
its blue smoke, and you know that all
computers work on that blue smoke and
if you let it out it won't work.

  From: LUTHER
  DATE: SUN., 6/9  6:55 pm
  Subj: Sid Chip

I never had a problem when I installed
the second SID chip in my 64. It
got pretty hot so I installed a DIP
heat sink.

Disk Drive Auction

The MSD 2's will be offered for auction at the August Meeting. Both drives will be offered as a package as one drive is inoperative and useful only for parts. Bob Nunn will start the bidding off at $30.

The SFD1001's were purchased by Kevin Dunn in a closed bid. Congratulations, Kevin!

Index