HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: muocj@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Olivo Contreras)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Atari Portfolio general
Date: 10 Sep 92 02:49:05 GMT
Organization: Educational Computing Network

In article <BuBI83.35E@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> dbowman@warp (Don A. Bowman) writes:
>A couple of questions for you Portfolio users (any and all replies
>solicited):
>
>1) Where are there some FTP sites for this? 
    The best one is atari.archive.umich.edu in the atari/portfolio
    directory.

>2) Does anybody do much programming for it for explicit applications?
>   If so, what language? Assembler? Basic? Is there a tiny basic for
>   it?
>
    BJ Gleason and Don Messerli have don a lot of programming for the
    Port.  BJ has PBASIC 4.91 for it.
 
>3) Does anybody know how to access the serial port through anything other
>   than the BIOS? In particular, how do you toggle the RTS/DTR lines?
>   How about OUT1 for the interrupts?
>
    I think that kind of information is available in the Portfolio
Technical Reference Manual.  It's available from Atari for $60.

>4) What's the easiest way to do file transfers with the serial port?
>   (There was no manual with mine). The built in software only does
>   the parallel port, right? I have written a small xmodem-type thing
>   which I bootstrapped across the serial port. Does somebody have a 
>   better way?
>
    Once you get XTERM on a Port's RAM card, you're in good shape.
Someone has written a utility to transfer a copy of XTERM from an ST to
a Port using the serial ports.  It's the best I've seen so far.  The
directions are given on the ST's screen.

>5) How long can I expect the batteries to last? Will it warn me of
>   low batteries if I use NiCads?
>
    My rechargeable NiCads last about 11 hours and some minutes.  If
they drop down too low, you might miss seeing the low battery warning.

>6) What is a good source of cards for it, and at what prices?
>
    Dave Stewart, publisher of Re:Port newsletter, offers RAM cards at
very reasonable prices.  E-mail me for more information.

>7) Can the internal RAM be upgraded? How? By how much?
>
    Megabyte Computers in Texas can upgrade the Port's memory to 512K
for $299.  I don't have their phone number or address handy.  I'll see
what I can do to find it.

>8) Where is this group archived, and is there a FAQ?
>
    I'm not sure where this group is archived.  The FAQ is available
from Compuserve, but keep an eye on your e-mailbox.

>9) How many of you use this? Why? What do you like about it? Dislike?
>
    I use my Port extensively.  I need it for school.  It's compact,
easy to carry, and fun to use.  I dislike the high prices for ROM cards,
but that's about all.

I hope this helped.

Olivo Contreras Jr.
muocj@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
muocj@ecnuxa.bitnet
From: brianc@iastate.edu (Brian J Cerveny)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: TI-85 games
Date: 12 Sep 92 18:49:19 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

In <1992Sep12.035607.26166@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu> sklar@picasso.ocis.temple.edu (Dave Sklar) writes:

>	Wow!  Someone else out there working on the 85.  I've been working
>on a minesweeper-type game, as well, and I'm almost done an artillery/tank
>game.  I wrote the artillery game for the TI-81 last year, so I've been
>converting it and improving it.

Interesting, a friend of mine here wrote an Artillery program on the TI-81.
Or, so he says.

>	How long are the programs?  Perhaps we could all post source code?

Well, source code could be posted for the Minehunt game, but TI-tris will be
tough.  Right now, the pieces are stored in lists I made in stat mode, but
I could initialize those lists directly from the source.  Plus hand-drawn
graphics are an integral part of my games.  The games would still work
without the fancy graphics, of course, but the "atmosphere" wouldn't be
the same.  :)

I don't expect the source code to be more than a few K, if that, for
any of my games.  So far the TI-tris source only 570 bytes (plus 1021 bytes
for the picture and about 600 bytes for the pieces) and that is to the
point where you can move and rotate pieces while they fall, but I have not
implemented the detection of pieces at the bottom or removing completed
lines at the bottom.  (And thus scorekeeping isn't implemented either.)
So I have a way to go, and what's left should be the hardest part of the 
game.

Until LINK-85 comes out, posting source would also mean manually retyping 
the source on the computer.  We'll see, I guess.
-- 
   // Brian J. Cerveny (brianc@iastate.edu)
 \X/  Disclaimer:  The views expressed above are my own.  So there.
From: ptmusta@sara.cc.utu.fi
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Want Portfolio goodies
Date: 10 Sep 92 11:55:53 GMT
Organization: University of Turku, Finland

Is there a good, cheap source of RAM, RS232 and Centronics cards for PoFo
in the Northern Europe. The prices have been horrible and Atari dealers
doesn't seem to know what they do have and how to sell it. Here in Finland
I have found NO dealers since -89. I hope things are better in USA. Here
in Europe it seems like Atari doesn't even want to try to sell their goodies.
Personally I would to buy either RS232 or Centronics -card. Without it
my PoFo is just about useless.
	PTM
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
From: brianc@iastate.edu (Brian J Cerveny)
Subject: Re: TI-85 games
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 19:32:48 GMT

In <1992Sep13.043737.24048@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu> sklar@picasso.ocis.temple.edu (Dave Sklar) writes:

>	Yeah, the terrains I have for Artillery are stored pictures, along
>with stored equations.  That's kind of hard to translate to text, except by
>posting a 127x63 array of 0's and 1's, which is cumbersome and a pain to
>reinput.

Yeah.  That's where LINK-85 would be nice, because then you could just transfer
all of the pics, programs, and lists that are needed.

>: Until LINK-85 comes out, posting source would also mean manually retyping 
>: the source on the computer.  We'll see, I guess.

>	I called TI last week, and they said that they were shipping to to
>dealers but would start shipping it themselves until October.  Plus, they
>wanted $70 for it.  I wonder if they'd release specs on the cable and the
>transfer protocol.

Interesting.  The HP cable lists at $59, and goes for $45-$50 mail order
with software.  Without software they go for $29, and there are plenty of
third-part cables around with various connectors.

>	Unfortunately, the plugs for the link cable are sub-mini 2.5mm
>STEREO.  No one carries plugs or sockets of this size that are stereo.  I
>checked Radio Shack, various electronics catalogs I get in the mail, etc...
>Some have sockets, some have plugs, but they're all mono.  It'd be nice to
>know if the transfer even uses the other channel.

I hope there will be third-party cables for the TI.  Technical info on the
interface and software protocol would be great, too.  If the TI software
is required, I could get the IBM version for my XT laptop, but I'd just as
soon be able to use it from my Amiga.

It would be even better if the I/O port was programmable, then we could make
our own transfer programs.
-- 
   // Brian J. Cerveny (brianc@iastate.edu)
 \X/  Disclaimer:  The views expressed above are my own.  So there.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
From: dv@cc-mac.nbn.com (David Vezie)
Subject: HP 42S Perm/Comb bug
Organization: Computer Concepts
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 08:17:38 GMT

I have an HP 42S, and have noticed a strange error (ever since I started
taking a Probabilities class, and started using this function).  The
PROB and COMB functions, with integers in X and Y, give an Invalid Data
error.

It's apparently an intermittent error.  Sometimes I seem to press some
keystrokes while playing with it that makes it work.  Then, later if I
do something else (maybe CLIST?), it's bad again.

Is this a known bug?  Any ideas?

I don't normally read this newsgroup, so please email any responses
to me, and I will summarize if there is enough interest.
-- 
David Vezie dv@sonoma.edu,dv@xnet.ssl.berkeley.edu
From: rob@sbil.co.uk (Robert J Greenwood)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Series3 SSDs - is are there 3rd party sourc
Date: 8 Sep 92 15:46:24 GMT
Reply-To: rob@sbil.co.uk
Organization: Salomon Brothers, Ltd.

In article 22371@city.cs, lionel@cs.city.ac.uk (Lionel Tun) writes:
>Are Series3 SSDs compatible to some standard, and are there any 3rd
>party offerings? Two or three hundred quids for a meg of space seems
>a bit expensive.
>
I quite agree.  Please post any sources you find.
---
-- 
Robert J Greenwood                           Salomon Brothers International Ltd
rob@sbil.co.uk                                 Business Technology Organisation
From: brianc@iastate.edu (Brian J Cerveny)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: TI-85 games
Date: 11 Sep 92 21:21:43 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

For those of you who just ran out and bought a new TI-85, you will
notice that there is nothing available for software!  Big surprise,
the calculator is only what, a few weeks old?  Well, hold onto your
horses... there are games coming.  I have started on two games myself.

The first is a version of Tetris (of course), called TI-tris.  So far
it's coming along great.  Be warned, the TI has no machine-level 
programming capability, so all programs will be interpreted.  This means
they will be slow compared to assembled HP programs.  Nevertheless,
it is noticeably faster than the HP-28.  The Tetris clone I saw for that
machine was unplayably slow.

The other game I have started is a Minehunt clone, but more like the
computer versions than the HP-48 Equation Library version that is 
sometimes set up in an impossible configuration.

Other games I'm considering include Sokobon and Pac-Man.

Don't worry, games isn't all this machine is good for.  :)  There are LOTS
of productive programs on the HP archives at seq.uncwil.edu just begging
to be converted.

There is one drawback of course...  The first is the fact that the LINK-85
cable and software is not out quite yet.
   
-- 
   // Brian J. Cerveny (brianc@iastate.edu)
 \X/  Disclaimer:  The views expressed above are my own.  So there.
From: sklar@picasso.ocis.temple.edu (Dave Sklar)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: TI-85 games
Date: 12 Sep 92 03:56:07 GMT
Organization: Temple University
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5


	Wow!  Someone else out there working on the 85.  I've been working
on a minesweeper-type game, as well, and I'm almost done an artillery/tank
game.  I wrote the artillery game for the TI-81 last year, so I've been
converting it and improving it.

	How long are the programs?  Perhaps we could all post source code?
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
From: b645zjo@utarlg.uta.edu (Rick Homard)
Subject: Re: Opinions on HP42S/HP32S2/28S wanted...
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington
Distribution: inet
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 03:05:00 GMT

In article <PHR.92Sep3155757@soda.berkeley.edu>, phr@soda.berkeley.edu (Paul Rubin) writes...
>I still don't like the 42s very much.  It has plenty of functions
>but the user interface is very clumsy.  You have to scroll through
>a long catalog or else use a painful process to get to any function
>that is not directly on the keyboard (or pre-programmed on a key).
>I think they did a quick and sloppy job in designing this one.
>With used 48's not much more expensive, the only thing the 42s
>has going for it is its smaller size.


But the 42S can do more matrix functions than the 48S(X).  
I agree that the interface is not complete on the 42S but it is still a
very powerful machine for the size and the price.  If you don't require 
an RPL machine or even a Hewlett-Packard, take a look at the new TI-85.
This machine can do all that the 42S can do plus much more and for the
same price.

Just my $.02
Rick Homard

Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
From: geary@unicorn.cis.ohio-state.edu (Lord High Everything Else)
Subject: Looking for HP-41 Q-RAM
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept of Computer & Information Science
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 21:06:36 GMT


    Does anyone out there have any sort of Q-RAM for the HP-41 that
they would be interested in selling?

Mark Geary
-- 
    "Build high for happiness."
From: sjl@doc.ic.ac.uk (Steve J Lacey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Psion3 game - puzzle!
Date: 8 Sep 92 17:03:26 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Department Of Computing, Imperial College, London.
NNTP-Posting-Host: stork.doc.ic.ac.uk

I've just written my first opl game - It's a variant on the common
puzzle 15 game. It's available via ftp from the archive here:

src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.3.7)

/public/computing/systems/handhelds/psion/icdoc/puzzle.opl

or via the shortcut:

/public/packages/psion/icdoc/puzzle.opl

Please let me know what you think and if you have anything you want to
place on the archive, let me know.

Steve.
--
---
Steve J Lacey, Systems Group.      (In my opinion, my opinions are just that.)
Department of Computing, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine,
180 Queen's Gate, London SW7. Phone : 071 589 5111 x5085, Fax : 071 581 8024 
Email: sjl@doc.ic.ac.uk            `Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?'
---
From: cable@crs.cl.msu.edu (Dan Cable)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Atari Portfolio general
Date: 10 Sep 92 02:19:25 GMT
Organization: Michigan State University

dbowman@warp (Don A. Bowman) writes:

>A couple of questions for you Portfolio users (any and all replies
>solicited):

>1) Where are there some FTP sites for this?

Atari.archive.umich.edu or Compuserve but it's commercial.

>2) Does anybody do much programming for it for explicit applications?
>   If so, what language? Assembler? Basic? Is there a tiny basic for
>   it?

There seem to be a fair number of apps in (I believe) compiled Basic. There is
a small PD basic available.

>3) Does anybody know how to access the serial port through anything other
>   than the BIOS? In particular, how do you toggle the RTS/DTR lines?
>   How about OUT1 for the interrupts?

Don't know.

>4) What's the easiest way to do file transfers with the serial port?
>   (There was no manual with mine). The built in software only does
>   the parallel port, right? I have written a small xmodem-type thing
>   which I bootstrapped across the serial port. Does somebody have a
>   better way?

You will need a terminal program to do serial transfers. There are several
available both commercial and PD.

>5) How long can I expect the batteries to last? Will it warn me of
>   low batteries if I use NiCads?

I get 4-5 weeks of daily use out of alkalines. Atari specifically warns against
rechargeables for the reason you cited. I have had several people tell me that
they have gotten satisfactory results with good quality NiCads (Panasonic was
mentioned) but don't get as much life as alkalines.

>6) What is a good source of cards for it, and at what prices?

What kind of cards? Ram? Software?

>7) Can the internal RAM be upgraded? How? By how much?

Yes. It can be upgraded to 512k internal by MegaByte Computers in Hurst TX.
Their phone number is (817)589-2950. They also have up 80mb hard drives for the
Portfolio. The last advertised price for the upgrade installed (they don't
recommend DIY) was $249.00.

>8) Where is this group archived, and is there a FAQ?

Don't know. If you really want the Portfolio FAQ, e-mail me and I will post it
to atari.archive if it's not already there.

>9) How many of you use this? Why? What do you like about it? Dislike?

I like mine very much. It's rugged, you can actually type on it and it's very
simple to set up and use. If you're looking for a <1 lb replacement for your
desktop 486/33---this ain't it. But then again, you wouldn't dig a basement
with a spoon would you?  True, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of
some of it's successors but I have yet to see a better machine for the intended
purpose.
I hate to sound like Mr. Atari but I haven't really found anything to complain
about in over 2 years of continuous use.

--
Dan Cable                            e-mail cable@crs.cl.msu.edu
Canton MI USA planet Earth           Compuserve 75266.353
From: awhitloc@ringer.cs.utsa.edu (Andrea G. Whitlock)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: RAMCARDS FOR SELL 128 KB.
Date: 5 Sep 92 00:52:37 GMT
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio

In article <1992Sep4.191257.10852@arbi.Informatik.Uni-Oldenburg.DE> Martin.Kunze@arbi.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de (Martin Kunze) writes:
>Ok.
>I agree to all of you.
>I will just post a new article if there is something new...
>Like lower prices and new devices.
>
>Is that what all of you want ??
>
>Martin Kunze

Maybe you could revise your subject to be "ramcards for sale" instead of
sell.  ;) 

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrea G. Whitlock | awhitloc@ringer.cs.utsa.edu | UTSA, Division of MCSS
"Computers are useless.  They can only give you answers." - Pablo Picasso
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
From: mfolivo@sactoh0.sac.ca.us (Mark Newton-John)
Subject: Re: Atari Portfolio general
Organization: Sacramento Public Access Unix
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 05:12:45 GMT

In <BuBI83.35E@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> dbowman@warp (Don A. Bowman) writes:

>2) Does anybody do much programming for it for explicit applications?
>   If so, what language? Assembler? Basic? Is there a tiny basic for
>   it?

There is a BASIC for it. PBASIC

>4) What's the easiest way to do file transfers with the serial port?
>   (There was no manual with mine). The built in software only does
>   the parallel port, right? I have written a small xmodem-type thing
>   which I bootstrapped across the serial port. Does somebody have a 
>   better way?

Essentially, you run a terminal program on both computers, use a
null-modem cable between them, and presto, file transfer.
If the other computer has a parallel port and an IBM, there is a
program included with the parallel port interface. Then you just
need a 25 pin cable and that's it. You run the program on the IBM,
then go into the file transfer menu on the Portfolio.

>5) How long can I expect the batteries to last? Will it warn me of
>   low batteries if I use NiCads?

I get about six to eight weeks per set of batteries. Maxell AA
Photo batteries lasts a bit longer than regular AA alkalines.
You can use NiCd batteries, but their fall-off rate is faster, and
you may miss the LOW BATTERY warning. If you miss that, then all
infomation on C: is lost. (hint- save everything on a RAMcard!)

>6) What is a good source of cards for it, and at what prices?

CompUSA (a computer superstore) is a good source and various Atari
dealers.

>7) Can the internal RAM be upgraded? How? By how much?

Yes, you can upgrade to 512k internally from Megabyte Computer in
Texas for $299 with a six month warranty. The other way is to get
Atari's Memory Expander+, expands the memory to 512k, and adds a
second card slot (B:) But it is available only outside the US.

>9) How many of you use this? Why? What do you like about it? Dislike?

I use and carry my Portfolio EVERYWHERE. This is the best machine I
have used, and it is easier to type than with the H-P and a hell of
a lot less expensive.

Atari will REPLACE dead Portfolios with a NEW one for $110. Contact
Atari for details. I doubt that ANYONE else has such an offer.

Two resources for Portfolio  information is Atari Explorer magazine
and a free magazine callled Atari User.

Contact Atari. I have found that every time that I have called,
Atari has been most helpful.

Atari Corp.
1196 Borregas Av
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1302
(408) 744-0880

>Don.

>-- 
>Don Bowman                (519) 744-6154     dbowman@zeus.uwaterloo.ca
-- 
#############################################################
# Scaramento Public Access UNIX     sactoh0.SAC.CA.US       #  
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds,comp.sys.palmtops
From: anthony@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Anthony J Stieber)
Subject: Re: What is the best/favorite graphics calculato? What are the best graphics calcs under $200 (was <None>)
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 04:06:18 GMT

In article <1992Sep13.210222.1@vaxb.acs.unt.edu> ij59@vaxb.acs.unt.edu writes:

>The TI-85 has 32k and is even more powerful then the 81 (99 equations stored in
>o' other stuff, but it costs closer to $120.  Still, it might be worth it, but

EduCALC has the TI-85 for $109.

>Of course, the HP48SX still blows both of the TIs away, but we're talking
>closer to $250 for that machine.  And it insists on using reverse polish

The HP-48S which is the same as the SX minus the two card slots, and
has every the SX has, retails for $200, and is sold by EduCALC for $154.

>pretty amazing things.  "Mathematica in your shirt pocket." Not to mention the
>RAM/ROM card drive and infrared Kermit transfer to other HPs)

Apparently the TI-85 will have some sort of serial interface
available for it.

I am but a satisified customer of EduCALC (800-677-7001), local
discount stores might have lower prices.
--
<-:(= Anthony Stieber	anthony@csd4.csd.uwm.edu   uwm!uwmcsd4!anthony
From: fan@cs.washington.edu (Frank F. Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Language Master
Date: 10 Sep 92 07:04:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: beaver.1992Sep10.070400.27658
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, U. of Washington, Seattle


I am looking for a good electronic dictionary.  The best one, so far
as I know, is from Franklin - LM6000.  It is priced $210, and the
pronunciation is not very accurate.

I would appreciate if anyone can recommend a better one to me, or
give me a better price for the LM6000.

Thanks.

- frank.
--
From: 0003735974@MCIMAIL.COM (Jim Gorak)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: PSION Series 3 Palmtop
Date: 13 Sep 92 04:14:00 GMT

I have recently become the owner of a PSION Series 3 palmtop computer.
 
I'm interested in:
 -Comments from others with experience using the Series 3.
 -Information on the serial & parallel I/O options.
 -Has anyone developed any useful programs in PSION's OPL language?
 -Are there any public domain OPL programs?
 
The system I use to access NetNews does not carry comp.sys.handhelds.
Please reply via e-mail.
 
Thanks...
--
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  | X.400 S=Gorak;DDA:ID=3735974;A=MCI;C=US | Internet 373-5974@mcimail.com |
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  + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
                 >>>>  Never Play Leapfrog With A Unicorn  <<<<
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds,comp.sys.palmtops,misc.forsale.wanted,misc.forsale
From: eab@msc.edu (Edward Bertsch)
Subject: WANTED: graphics calculator <$100 [USED]
Organization: Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 00:50:30 GMT


I'm looking for a graphics calculator for someone who is taking
pre-calculus/analysis this year.  I heard mention of the TI-85,
though I don't know what it will do or what it costs.  I've
also heard of the TI-81, and the CASIO FX line of calculators.
And of course there is the HP 48, although this may be a bit
out of my price range.

If you have a calculator like this you'd like to sell, please
send me e-mail.  Thanks.


--

Edward A. Bertsch (eab@msc.edu)   Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc.
Operations/User Services          1200 Washington Avenue South
(612) 626-1888 work               Minneapolis, Minnesota  55415
(612) 645-0168 voice mail         [DISCLAIMER: MY OPINIONS; NOT MSCI'S]

      ___________________________________________________
      Dump the Republocrats:      vote Libertarian in '92
      ---------------------------------------------------

% echo "potatoe potato" | spell
potatoe
%
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