Spectrofon #06 31 мая 1994

TR-DOS     Письма

From the world of bat - an overview of reading mail: standardization issues, problems IS-DOS, etc.

         From the world of bat



  Recently, our mail
put on weight, but still
I would like what you wrote to us
more often, and more. Probably, the lack of full backward
communication, this seems to be the scourge of all
electronic computer magazines. We have evidence that in
many Western magazines of this type section on
readers' letters is missing.


   Now, about the letters. Recently
time is often raises the question of protection that we use.



   Yes, she did until recently operated
only in TR-DOS 5.03 and above. K
Besides, does not like too
high speed drive. To this should be brought
attention to those who drive
"Squeezes" a lot more than 300
rpm. And yet. You can not handle floppy Regeneration
programs such as DCU - mess up
disc. Those who wish to restore the disk suggest that you use 
the ADS, but only in mode CHECK. After

disk will be checked, the program
asks you whether you want to restore the "broken" sector (if
are to be found). In this
case, if you wish to restore
floppy disk, do not leave the regime
CHECK, and immediately the question
RESTORE? answer YES.



   But in fact we do when we put
protection, have completely forgotten that in
nature is still a dinosaur such as TR-DOS 5.01. Bring
We apologize to those who still
then uses this prehistoric instance. Repent, that is not
made it possible to read
our magazine at 5.01. But we
it is now clear - in a country still full of
all sorts of computer family "ZX-SPECTRUM" and would not be 
surprised if tomorrow the editors will receive a letter from 
the owner "SPECTRUM 16K" with two drives and "screw" on a 
gigabyte, which will ask to pump some cool games on the modem. 



   But seriously, is not quite
clear why the people it most
5.01, which does not go nearly all of the new program? Although
it is clear that there are
users who are easier to alter loader for 5.01, than
climb in the wilds of his computer
to find there home 5.01, drag it to the light of day, and
then paste incomprehensible
5.04T. Oh well, someone who
5.1 enjoys prominent, which,
so to say, the configuration must be his computer.


   Now we discover the world
"SPECTROFON" but also for those who
still remained 5.01.



   As you can see, the issue of standardization of our Speccy 
is very sharply. How to grasp the immensity?

How to provide all the nuances
Conduct computer Uncle Vanya,
whose one-sided 40-track drive, but in addition
TR-DOS 4.99? But he was also very
want to play. The simplest
would advise him to come to Moscow for Mitinskaya market
and buy a normal computer. For example "PROFI" or
"Moscow" at worst "Pentagon". And if Uncle Vanya has no money? 
And if he is to get to Moscow, you need to spend money

twice more than the cost of this is the "Pentagon"? In short, 
the cavalry assaults this problem is not solve. It is clear 
that we must somehow agree on standards

our computers.


   "SPECTROFON" ready to give your pages for everyone
to speak on this matter: and
developers and programmers, and
producers. Let's try to decide. Our magazine is ready to become 
the testing ground on which to hone your ideas and thoughts. We 
NEED a standard. Otherwise, what you get. Please, two letters 
on one subject. 

From Mr. A. Kiba: On the 128th
version of "DEACTIVATORS". In the form in which you publish it,
it fail to work at the family computer "SCORPION". And,
I think, on any other
computers with memory above 128K.

"S": Not exactly. On the editorial MBytes "PROFI" this
the game is going.
A. Kiba: Everything happens because of incorrect work with the 
transfer port memory 7FFD. In order to make it work had to 
insert a few commands. 


   The second letter was even more
rigid.

Sim OLEG: offensive that
pages of your magazine appeared hack hacks -
"FANATIC STASa, which had
irritated by all progressive humanity skripyasche-flashing
encodings, and now the example of "DEACTIVATOR 128", distorted 
by the fact that makes their version of "fail" on a third 
computer, switching pages barbaric way - OUT (# FD), A and 
monitor any non-standard processor NMI (fear resident monitor).


   We refer to all
like Hacker, so jealous
relating to his (?) intellectual property to keep
these crafts at home, nobody
display and admire them in
loneliness.

"S": We think that FANATIC STAS
listen to the wishes of our
readers, and we would say that's what. The thing is,
that preparing the game for inclusion in the "Supplement" we 
sent all them in two vehicles: "PROFI" and

MOSCOW. If at least one
one game does not go, we will either remake it or look for 
another version. And keep all editorial

species Speccy - starting with "Robic", "Master" bypassing 
"byte" and Delta and ending with "Pentagon" and "Leningrad" we 
do not no way.


   And in general can you imagine such a
imagine? Therefore, returning to the subject of 
standardization, for example, - write, we will negotiate their 
own GOST.



   A few more words on the subject
"Go - no go."

Gemara AV: Music Editor
ASM v1.12, included in the second
room, refuses to work with
drive for all operations.
(I "PENTAGON" 128 TR-DOS
5.03). This version of the ASM operates in its own OS. Perhaps
it does not work correctly. Even
when trying to write compiled code of music is
failure. The computer accesses
drive, LED lights,
head twitches and program
issues - DRIVE NOT ATTACHED.

   The same thing happens with
choice of all other disk
operations.

"S": This question we long
give rest. It was very difficult
deal with the system ASM "great archiver" Sendetsky.
Probably only he could competently explain why it
occurs. Unfortunately, the author
failed to warn us about possible
inconsistencies in the record in ASM
shell magazine. We found
only one thing: ASM must be recorded at the beginning of the 
disc. Then this system does not conflict with the shell of the 
magazine and works normal. When we were recording

another batch of the second edition
This question was removed from the agenda
day.



   Those who bought the distribution
second edition (the firm Inforkom ") from the first batch of 
the journal offer to send us a floppy disk and

we will replace it for labor. Those
Who can come to the radio market
Mitino, come to the place
A-37, where you can easily
change the floppy disk. Others, if they have similar
problems may apply to
regional distributors.

Golikov Alexander from Krasnoyarsk asks us whether we are not 
going to open a subscription for "SPECTROFON".


"S": Not yet, although we thought
about it. Simply not yet possible to work with the data bank
subscribers. Hands is not enough. But
maybe next year we
return to this issue.

   Recently, we received
several letters with questions
some games. Well, let's try to answer.

VEDERNIKOV VN from Perm again
returns us to talk about
"ELITE-3", which is released
Firm THD. Here's what he wrote:


   You did not mention anything about a
circumstance. Or maybe it only happens on my computer? I mean 
loop programs on a mission to rescue a dying planet.



   In the first galaxies that mission
do not offer, but is only
fly in the second, as already
2-3 trip in this galaxy gets to the dying planet.



   Well, take away the people and
using planetary hyperdrive
(Per 125cr) or intergalactic
flies in the third galaxy. In
It repeats the same story. And so on until no
find ourselves in the first galaxy. If I try to not drop people 
or take them all, then again taken to the crumbling

star system and all this can
continue until you get into
the first galaxies.


   I've tried do not fly up to this planet. Refilled from the 
star start to another planet, but the same result.




   I'm not talking about that
after the first shipment of refugees
suddenly discover that disappear
all acquired in the additional menu cargo compartments and
ship has a load capacity
only 35 tons instead of the usual
150, 200 or 255 tons.


   And I just lost 220 000
credo spent on the purchase of these compartments. Probably 
saved people saw off a piece of ship on a long - long memory in 
gratitude for the his salvation.



   I would very much like to get an answer
or an explanation on this subject: it
property of my computer, my
broken line version of the game, or a general
property of the game "ELITE-3" (THD)?


"S": The common property of TND. We have already
wrote about the looping of the game
and we have nothing to add to the letter
our correspondent.

Penzina JP (Samara): Read
in the third issue of your magazine
the full version BATTLE COMMAND.
Whether this is the version that is
Name BATTLE COMAND + 10 missions? In Samara, for two years 
already for sale version without maps and without missions. Is 
it possible to publish This full version of the journal

"SPECTROFON"?

"S": Yes, this is the same version. A
about the publication ... When will prepare a full detailed 
description of the section "Expertise" Then be sure to include 
this play in our application.




   Now about the games that we
themselves would have gladly bought and
visitors. At this time, these
games and want to see our readers:

F-19 STEALTH FIGHTER (described in
1 issue of "Computer Worlds
ZX-Spectrum "ed." Peter ").

BARD'S TALE (we know about this game
only that it is quite
successfully transferred from IBM and belongs to the genre ROLE 
PLAYING GAME. By the way, and at IBM, this game

remains one of the best in the genre
RPG).

GATES OF ASSEENOT (about this game
mentions one of the readers
ZX-REVIEW in the third issue of the magazine).



   We appeal to those who have
have these games, with a request
respond. Thank you in advance!


   We have several letters
the structure of our magazine.

Semkin ALEXANDER from Bryansk writes that in the "Supplement" 
to his opinion would suffice and one, a maximum of two games. 
Yet he asks give more information on

system. The same write SIM
Oleg and fungi BORIS, but in a slightly different plane:


   ... Absolutely no need to "APPENDIX"
combined with information
part.



   It's not even that of the
all the extant four issues we had only one game - "GREAT 
BRITAIN" (for quite a good reason) ...


"S": What! Cool game, right?


  ... and that the use
"SPECTROFON" as a boot
somehow irrational. Much
better to produce more extensive
information part and, separately, the application. A user, 
sorry, the subscriber, he decides it is worth taking a second 
disc or not.


"S": At first glance, it is logical. C
On the other hand these words
You can see the people who themselves sell diskettes and thus 
have a large number games and software programs.


   Just tell me what to do
those with some programs
is, and some not? Him that
buy "application" on a separate floppy disk for only one
program, which has been described
in "SPECTROFON" e? While, however,
We are confident that there will be and such.
But, without doubt, the cost of our
readers with such an approach would increase at least in half. 
No, all the same journal wondered a little different way: 
"Honor-run." True, we can change its policy

and to do so, as suggested
authors of the letter, but it should solve most of our readers. 
In general, thanks to SIM OLEG Gribov and Boris from Volgograd

a detailed letter, which addresses many of the problems, and in 
particular to work with is-DOS.



   As part of continuing discussions on the subject cite
that portion of the letter, which refers to this system:


   ... Fully agree with the author of the article (V. Ananin 
"We do not need such an order" "S" N2) in that in addition to 
the text editor in this system, in general, nothing worthwhile 
or not. And if anyone interested in the appearance of programs 
under the is-DOS, so Let him speak from the pages of any 
publication (ideally - SPECTROFON) and tell everyone about

The kernel functions caused by
Rst, and preferably more detail,
than the mere transfer of
Copyright help-file.



"S": We join the call
Our correspondents and appeal to the creators is-DOS, as well
same to the company "slots": IF you want your system does not 
withered in Decor ARTIFICIALLY An information hunger, and will 
continue to actively LIFE - Give the programmer MEET WITH SYSTEM

CLOSER. Use our information capacity ... However,
if everything will remain the same,
someone can be very sly
sort out with this system,
only, perhaps, by this time the bulk of users
are interested in very different
machines and other systems.



    In the meantime, is-DOS reminds us
tin with a beautiful label (a sort of computer
Uncle Bensom). Everything is closed, soldered, and the contents 
of a word. The so-called USER MANUAL for

is-DOS - an ordinary book
has long been the studied along and across the help-s. Useful 
information for thinking people - zero. Of course, at some 
stage this "User's Guide" was

necessary, but now it is not enough
and people like the air we need different
books on is-DOS. Well, if they do not
be? .. Gentlemen, remember that
cans have a tendency to swell and deteriorate.


   True all that we are now
discussed here corresponds to
PROGRAMMER opinion rather than
a normal user.


   User have not fastidious, and eats what gives. And the user 
is completely satisfied that YET dozens of programs is-DOS, 
which exists at this time. But ... Want more. And one

"Slots" in it hardly a virtue. Therefore I would like to make 
this system is opened to all,

who wants to create her masterpieces to the public good.


   Recently, we learned
aware that the firm "slot" is preparing a book on 
Macroassembler for operating system is-DOS. Ice

started? ..


   In conclusion a few words about
distribution of our magazine. Y
We have a few emails with questions on this topic.



   Those who purchase a license for
"SPECTROFON", gets a magazine
unprotected from copying the form and becomes our official 
regional distributor. This, however, does not apply to Moscow 
and Moscow region. Those who purchase a license directly

on all issues of the journal, we pass another diskette with our 
defense. Thus, our regional distributor can quite easily spread 
"SPECTROFON" without regard for the fans of piracy. Although it 
is clear that the ideal protections do not exist and to play 
with Hacker cat and mouse is useless: the more complex and 
impenetrable defense, the strong desire break it.




   Therefore, in this case, the protection is on the magazine 
only for the that would somehow keep the profitability of our 
business on the right to survival level. Once again we remind 
you that program in "ATTACHMENT"

Not protected and, if necessary, you can copy them
its sole discretion.



        WAITING FOR NEW MESSAGES!



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