From: mfinn@pacs.pha.pa.us ( Michael Finn)
Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm
Subject: CP/M SIG at PACS
Keywords: SIG Meeting
Date: 2 Jan 93 04:53:07 GMT
Distribution: phl
Organization: Philadelphia Area Computer Society


The Philadelphia Area Computer Society meets the third Saturday of
each month at Drexel University. The CP/M SIG at P.A.C.S. has its
meeting in the MAtheson Building, Room 311, from 12:00 noon to 3:00
PM.

CP/M SIG at PACS   User Helping User
by John Hill, Mike Finn, and Sheldon Isaac

Contact: Mike Finn, Sig Leader, 215-535-5696

SIG Meeting(s): 12:00-2:55

Welcome to PACS, the Philadelphia Area Computer Society, and to 
its CP/M users group.  Our group comprises a couple of dozen 
people, with a great range of interests and skills.  We enjoy 
getting excellent performance and useful functioning from our 8-
bit systems, with cleverly written, efficent programs - and some 
of the very best of these are free; they have been generously 
released by the authors to the public domain, and are frequently 
improved.

The CP/M users group was one of the earliest SIGs in PACS.  CP/M  
is an operating system designed for computers based on the Intel 
8080 microprocessor chip, and was used in many homemade systems 
as well as in commercial business-oriented ones built around the 
8080 and Z80 processors.  Examples include the IMSAI, Cromemco, 
North Star, Osborne and Kaypro.

Early versions of most of today's most popular PC programs were 
originally developed for CP/M and are still in use.  These 
include but are not limited to Wordstar, dBase, Supercalc, PFS 
Series, and Crosstalk.  There is also a very large number of 
public domain utilities, program languages and other applications 
available.  PACS CP/M group has the entire SIG/M collection, as 
well as many other public domain programs.  All of this is yours 
for the cost of copying it. 

The SIG/M collection, compiled by the Amateur Computer Group of 
New Jersey, is a treasure trove of software ranging back to the 
beginning of CP/M.  It is on 310 disks (as of early 1991), but 
don't be intimidated.  There are very well designed catalog files 
on disk, as well as an accompanying search program, so that you 
can easily get an idea of what's there, or find any topic or file 
you're looking for.  

The SIG is made up of members with a wide variety of systems.  We 
help new members learn how to use their systems and configure 
communications programs to their hardware.  Sessions include 
discussions of hardware problems, utility features, public domain 
programs and using application programs.

CP/M and 8-bit computing are alive and well here at PACS.  Many 
members have upgraded their systems to replace their original 
CP/M operating systems with enhancements developed by hobbyists, 
experimenters, and fellow users.  One such replacement, the Z-
system, is especially favored by several members, yet PACS CP/M 
SIG continues to provide support for the "generic" CP/M operating 
system as well.

The SIG has its own conference on the PACS Multi-Sig BBS where 
members continue the discussions and support between meetings 
through electronic mail and public bulletin board messages.

PACS CP/M SIG members are very active users of CP/M and CP/M 
compatible systems.  For some of us, our CP/M system is the main 
or only computer we use.  Here at the CP/M SIG at PACS, you'll 
find the real meaning of "User Helping User".  Meetings are open 
to all and we encourage PACS membership to get the full benefits 
and support of the Data Bus, the conferencing BBS, and the Usenet 
and UUCP mail that is currently being developed for members.


What else can I say?  If you are an 8-bit computing enthusiast and
still using CP/M and want to meet others who share your interest,
come visit us at our next meeting, Saturday, January 19, 1993 at
Drexel University, 32nd & Market St, Philadelphia, PA, Matheson
building, Room 311.
-- 
Philadelphia     CP/M SIG     Mike Finn     E-Mail: mfinn@pacs.pha.pa.us
Area             Supporting 8-bit computers with CP/M and CP/M compatible OS
Computer         PACS Multi-SIG BBS: (215) 842-9600
Society          CP/M SIG Mailbox: cpm@pacs.pha.pa.us