Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sftig.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxm!sftig!rbt From: rbt@sftig.UUCP (R.Thomas) Newsgroups: net.games,net.micro.apple Subject: Re: CP/M, 70 column card and Wordstar for $165?!?!? Message-ID: <598@sftig.UUCP> Date: Fri, 4-Oct-85 15:35:31 EDT Article-I.D.: sftig.598 Posted: Fri Oct 4 15:35:31 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 5-Oct-85 08:03:03 EDT References: <778@nmtvax.UUCP> <831@gitpyr.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit, NJ Lines: 61 Xref: watmath net.games:2220 net.micro.apple:2198 > < this line intentionally left blank > > > A few months ago, I got something in the mail from a company > in Washington (I think). They were offering Wordstar for the > Apple for $165, and "throwing in" a 6MHz CP/M card complete with > 64K RAM and a 70-column function on the same card. > > It sounded too good to be true, and I was getting an AMIGA anyway, > so I just filed it (not in the round file). Now, my mother wants > a word processor, so I'm loaning her my Apple ][+. She needs all > of the above. So... > > Is this company for real? I'm sorry I don't have the name at the > moment, but hopefully someone will recognize this offer. Anybody > order this? > > Thanks. > > Lee Grey Yes, they are for real. The company is Micropro International Corp. and they are in San Rafael, CA. Not Washington. Wordstar is a registered trademark of Micropro International Corp. The CP/M board is the so called 'Starcard', which is actually the PCPI Applicard. I can't validate the price, but it sounds like it is in the right ballpark. The 6MHz Z80 is as fast as the wind. I run Turbo Pascal on it and I am continually impressed with the speed. Wordstar is also quite sprightly. The 70-column function is implemented in software, and it is *not* useful as a replacement for an 80 column card. It is there so you can run wordstar even if you dont have a real 80 column board. You still need a hi-res monocrome monitor to read it, and the characters are displayed in a 4x8 dotmatrix. (Work it out: The Apple hi-res screen is 280x192. 280/70=4 and 192/24=8.) Not the sort of thing you would want to spend all day reading. However, if you get an Apple extended 80 column card to go with it (or a RAMworks from Applied Engineering) you can have a full, quite readable, 80 column screen, and there is a software package available (from Applied Engineering) that uses the extra bank of 64K on the extended 80-col card (or the extra up to a Meg on the ramworks.) as a RAMdisk. Now, talk about *FAST*! I have one, and I recommend it. Rick Thomas ihnp4!attunix!rbt PS while I am on the subject of RAMdisks, the starcard comes with a software driver that attaches to DOS3.3 and uses the 64K on the Z80 card as a ramdisk for the 6502. For an exorbitant price (a couple of hundred dollars) you can get a piggy-back card for the Z80 from PCPI that will expand the Z80 to a total of 192K, all of which can be used by the DOS3.3 ramdisk software. PCPI does not offer a PROdos version of this software, so I am working on writing one. If I ever get it finished, it will probably be available thru PCPI. PPS. The package from Micropro includes the hardware and instructions for installing the 'one-wire shift-key mod' on the II+ in case you haven't already done so yourself. Disclaimer -- I have no connection with any of the above companies. My employer and the owners of this computer undoubtedly have their own opinions, which may be different from mine.