Message-ID: <874@uw-beaver>
Date: Thu, 21-Feb-85 02:23:58 EST
Article-I.D.: uw-beave.874
Posted: Thu Feb 21 02:23:58 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Mar-85 03:16:45 EST
Sender: daemon@uw-beaver
Organization: U of Washington Computer Science
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From: John Mark Agosta 




INFO-MAC Digest         Thursday, 21 Feb 1985       Volume 2 : Issue 5

Today's Topics:
                           Absoft's MacFortran
                  re -- Fat Mac upgrades from MassTech
                    don't use *anything but* 74F253s
                         VIDCO Mac video output?
                      follow on to VIDCO video out
                            keyboard problems
                      how quiet is the HyperDrive?
                          Hard disk information?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 19 FEB 1985 23:25 CST
From: C27830AD%WUVMD.BITNET@Berkeley
Subject: Absoft's MacFortran

I've played a bit with this system, although I can't answer yet your 
question re its operation with a ramdisk.  It compiles at more like 
200-300 lines/minute, although I've not tried it with a large file and
the overhead is 20-25 seconds on even the shortest files.  The code is
very fast - the Byte Sieve benchmark runs in 6.8 secs, which is close
to the fastest C on the Mac - clearly it's native code compiling.  The
compiler produces applications, which require the run time package
(about 11K) on the same disk to run.  RMAKER can be used to create
DRVRs or FKEYs, etc, as with the assembler.  The editor provided is
the Consulair, but I found the trick of using the MOCKWrite desk
accessory for the editor is best - you run the compiler and then open
the desk accessory.  Edit the program, save it and compile.
Turnaround for compile debug cycles is under a minute.
    Art Denzau C27830AD@WUVMD.BITNET (314)889-5688
       Dept. of Economics Box 1208
       Washington Univ.
       St. Louis, MO 63130

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Feb 85 16:58:11 EST
From: Mike Simpson 
Subject: re -- Fat Mac upgrades from MassTech

RE: Fat Mac upgrades

I got my Mac upgraded Saturday by MassTech (I live outside Boston, and
so was able to drive over).  The replacement was a simple board swap
-- take out the old and put in the new.  15-20 minutes, start to
finish.  They guy who did the installation couldn't have been more
courteous and helpful.  MassTech threw in RAMdisk software ( which I'm
sure everyone else has, anyway).

Performance:  MacPaint and MacWrite really fly.  Dollars and Sense
takes a little longer to start up (I suspect a lot of stuff is being
read into memory), but after the initial delay, it too is much
quicker.  Word seems to be a bit faster, but the documents I've been
using have been pretty small.  I haven't yet tried Multiplan or Chart
with the Fat Mac.

Warranty info:  MassTech warranties the board for 90 days.  Since my
Mac is seven months old, it was nearing the end of Apple's warranty
anyway.  If the upgrade was going to blow up, it would certainly have
done so by now.

In sum, I have no complaints whatsoever about the upgrade per se.  
However, I can't say anything about taking the board out yourself and
mailing it to them, since (as stated above) I brought the Mac in
myself.

                        -- Mike Simpson
        ARPA: msimpson@bbn-spca.arpa
        USENET:{decvax, linus, ima, ihnp4}!bbncca!msimpson

------------------------------

Date: Wed 20 Feb 85 21:20:40-CST
From: Werner Uhrig  
Subject: don't use *anything but* 74F253s

I got lucky and found a "real live certified developer" to coach me,
and he recommended NOT to use the 74S253 as it would cause problems
with 'certain fast' applications and you'd possibly find yourself in
trouble 'in the long run'.  He also preferred the 74F253 over the
74AS253 lsited as alternative in the DDJ article.

Yes, I've upgraded, even put a hardware switch next to the
'Reset-Switch' to be able to run alternatively as a 128 or a 512.
Mount a single-pole sliding miniature switch next to F1 on the edge of
the board. After cutting the trace between pins 1 and 2 on the back
side of the board on location E3, connect a wire from pin 2 to the
center of the switch, pin 1 to one side of the switch.  The 47-Ohm
resister connected to pin 7 on the new 74F253 mounted on top of
location F3 should now be connected to the other side of the switch
rather than pin 2 on the pad of location E3. You can now switch
between 128 and 512 mode by poking at the switch (invisible from the
outside) with a small screw-driver through the slits just in front of 
the RESET-switch.  (Hey, anyone even *remotely* interested in
upgrading himself certainly isn't afraid of sticking a screwdriver in
there.  And most certainly has the RESET-switch installed.  Anyone for
whom this is not true, should think twice before upgrading himself -
my humble opinion)

2 important points.  be sure to cover the resistor with some
insulating material to avoid a short (a rubber tube is what I used).
also, make sure the switch does not stick out over the side of the
board, otherwise you might find yourself in trouble when you try to
reinstall the board.  Look at how the board has to slide back into the
chassis and you'll see what I mean.  BTW, I simply 'super-glued' the
switch to the board.

PS: the cost of the 256k chip dropped to $9 per item last week, 3 days
after
        I had mail-ordered mine from Microprocessors Unlimited (whom I
        recommend highly for their fast and friendly service)

PSPS:  don't even think of handling those memory chips until the
moment
        you are ready to stick them into the socket, and keep all of
them
        and the board and yourself grounded.  you'll be sorry if you
        don't (no, I was careful ... (-:  )

PSPSPS: I understand that all Macs currently coming of the assembly
line
        are using a new board (refered to in the addendum on page 4 of
DDJ)
        which will allow a later upgrade to 4M using the new 1M-byte
chips.
        you can identify those boards with the photo on page 4. also,
the
        board itself has 128k .... 512k written on it.

                Tally Ho, and may Mr. Murphy smile on you,
                                                                Werner

------------------------------

Date: Wed 20 Feb 85 16:29:52-EST
From: Alan Crosswell 
Subject: VIDCO Mac video output?

I'm considering getting the VIDCO CVID 150 universal monochrome
interface to be used here with a couple of different kinds of
monochrome monitors and projection systems.  I'd appreciate hearing
from anyone who has purchased one of these or can recommend a
different and/or better one.  I already know about the Drexel board
which requires a modified video monitor.  The advantage of the VIDCO
is that is supposedly puts out a standard video signal so I can use it
with an unmodified monitor.

Alan Crosswell Columbia University

------------------------------

Date: Wed 20 Feb 85 17:12:39-EST
From: Alan Crosswell 
Subject: follow on to VIDCO video out

I just spoke to a customer of VIDCO and he explained how the CVID 150 
provides a composite video out, but not a standard one.  It has
something to do with a 22 KHz rate which is faster than standard
video.  Some monitors like certain electrohomes can handle this rate
by turning a knob on the front panel.  Others like the Sony Profeel
can't.  So, maybe the VIDCO is exactly the same animal as the Drexel
board after all.  Could somebody who understands this stuff explain it
to me in laymen's terms?  All I want to do is buy one monitor to use
with IBM PC's, DEC PC's (RS170 RGB), and Mac's if that is at all
possible.  I don't mind having to tweak a knob depending on which
machine is hooked up, but I don't want to have to open the cabinet....

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Feb 85 00:16:24 EST
From: Mike O'Dell 
Subject: keyboard problems

Is anyone else having trouble with the extremely light key touch on
the MAC keyboard?  They keys have a long travel, but they actuate at a
VERY shallow depth.  Being a good touch typist, but slightly
ham-fisted, I rest my fingers on the keys and often find a line of
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk's or some other such when I look up.  While I am not a
fan of key clicks, some feedback would be useful in this situation.
Has anyone looked into any modifications (mechanical, most likely)
that will make the keys actuate deeper?  I guess I am spoiled by my
Concept keyboard. Its wonderful keytronics conductive foam keyboard is
great for us ham-fisters.

Also, does anyone know of a palm-rest extension?  I have a cloth bag
of dried corn doing duty at the moment.

        -Mike O'Dell

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Feb 1985  05:16 EST
From: LEVITT%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA
Subject: how quiet is the HyperDrive?


Did anyone who has seen a GCC HyperDrive (10M Mac hard disk upgrade) 
notice how much noise it makes?  I've yet to get see one.

On my Corvus, there is fan noise AND a nastier noise from a grounding 
wire that lays on some rotating part.  (Brave friends of mine have 
spared their hair cells by removing the wire in their Corvus'.)  Does 
the HyperDrive have either?  How pleasant (low frequency) is the hum 
of the disk spinning?  Also, what does it weigh?

-David Levitt

------------------------------

Date: 20 Feb 85 14:54:57 EST
From: SOFER@RU-BLUE.ARPA
Subject: Hard disk information


I am interested in purchasing a 5 to 20 mbyte hard disk drive for the 
Macintosh. Reliablility, ease of use, and speed are my main
requirements, in that order. Users who have experience with the
various systems on the market can send comments directly to me and I
will summarize for the net.

                        Bill Sofer

------------------------------

End of INFO-MAC Digest
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