Micropendium Volume 1 Number 4

We've changed our name

Micropendium Volume 1 Number 4

May 1984 Micropendium (Home Computer Compendium) Front Cover
Editor	Laura Burns
Categories	Home Computers, TI-99/4A
Publisher	John Koloen
Country	USA
Based in	Round Rock, Texas
Language	English

What is MICROpendium?

I hope not to meander with this month's commentary, but you must understand that we've had a difficult time getting this edition of the magazine out. Producing even a small publication is fraught with peril.

For one thing, we've been threatened with a lawsuit by another company because of our use of the name Home Computer Compendium." You will probably have noticed that we're using a different name on our mast. We're now calling ourselves MICROpendium.

I could care less what we call the magazine, since our focus will remain on the Tl99/ 4A home computer and we will do everything just as we have done since we started this venture.

But things are tough all over. Elsewhere in this issue you'll find a brief article about the end of software distribution by TI. There'll be no more cartridges or anything else going to vendors from Texas Instruments, which may leave some home computer users in a quandary. Check out our lengthy piece on retailers. Some vendors have stocked up on TI products and expect to have quite a bit on hand, enough to last for months. However, if you plan to stay with the TI, my advice is to buy whatever TI software that you've been wanting because days of scarcity may lie ahead, particularly for some of the application programs. From now on, there is no tomorrow as far as TI is concerned.

FIRST-CLASS VERSUS THIRD-CLASS

Some readers have found that delivery of this publication is a bit on the tardy side. We sympathize with them but there's not much we can do about it because the U.S. Postal Service will not provide timely delivery of third- or second-class material mailed nationally on a monthly basis. Those who want to be assured of receiving their copies within five days of the pressrun have no alternative but to pay first-class delivery rates. This will amount to about 30 cents more per issue than the base subscription price, which includes third-class delivery. Although it means more work for us, we encourage our readers to pay the first-class postage rate because it is the only means we have of insuring timely delivery, particularly on the east and west coasts.

To determine how much this will cost, based on the number of issues remaining on your subscription, simply examine the mailing label on the front 'page of this edition. You will see a series of numbers and letters at the left-hand corner. It should begin with the letter "A" followed by four digits, the letter "S" and another number. This last number represents the month of the year your subscription started. The number 2 stands for February, 3 for March, etc. Since each subscription is for 12 months, simply count the number of months remaining on your subscription and multiply this number by 30 cents. The total is the amount needed to pay for first-class delivery for the remaining issues on your subscription. Send a check or money order for the amount and we will start your first class delivery with the next edition.

I wish there was a better way of doing this, but there isn't.

SOMETIMES WE'LL WAIT FOR THE NEWS

Just so you know, our policy is to hold the magazine for a week if need be in order to get late-breaking stories in. I warn you of this so as to forestall some of the disappointment that may come when your edition hasn't arrived by the usual date. However, we think that most readers would rather have the news as soon as possible, rather than having to wait a month because of inflexible deadlines. Again, if this is not to your liking, let us know.

RUMORS AND RUMBLINGS

Here are a few rumors picked up over the past several weeks that seem worth repeating:

There's supposed to be a third-party spelling checker coming out for the TI-Writer cartridge. The rumor has it that it will include 20,000 words and operate out of the Utility section of the program. We're looking into it.

Programmers who work in console BASIC may be able to protect their programs from being listed or edited. A new program may become available soon that is designed to prevent BASIC programs from being copied by users. It is said to require the Mini-Memory cartridge for programs less than 4K in length and the Mini-Memory and 32K memory expansion for longer programs. It is said that the programs that are protected will run in console BASIC only. However, orders are not being taken at this time. That's it for now.

— JK

Debugged

Tunnel problem

A reader has reported that a tip published in the March issue about using the Tunnels of Doom cartridge to transfer Scott Adams adventure games from cassette to diskette doesn't work for all of the games. We tested it on for Pirate Adventure game and it worked. However, he encountered some difficulty in trying to transfer other games, noting that they didn't play properly after the transfer.

Tips such as these cannot be tested thoroughly under all conditions. We publish them to help other TI users or to give them ideas of ways to better use their systems. We hope this is an acceptable policy to you. If not, please let us know.

Meanwhile, anyone have any suggestions about why the transfer works qith some games but not others?

Feedback

More solutions

The solution offered by Chuck Moats (March 1984) to the GROM problems was very helpful.

Another common problem is a key which prints two or more letters instead of one. The solution to this came off of the Source. Lift off the plastic key with a pair of pliers, shoot in some contact (TV tuner) cleaner onto the switch and press the keyh back into place. Sometimes part of the switch comes up with the key, but this is no problem if you are gentle. You need small slip-joint pliers to get a grip on the keys.

Bob Stephenson
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Faster entry

Your comment in your new magazine about slow entry into JUG (International Tl99 Users Group) Database 300/500 was true. If you inquire of IUG they will advise you of a minor correction that corrects the very slow data entry.

Also-I have provided them with a single disk (single-sided) version called Database 250 which does not require swapping disks, etc. Full featured-but only uses one disk for a 250-entry database. The database uses two disks for 300 entries.

New, how about an article on how to use TEii and modem with Compuserve. I can't get it all together: best way to save to disk, etc.

Help!

John Topham
Prospect Heights, Illinois

Ed: Any readers have advice on using Compuserve? We'd like to hear from you.

In agreement

I saw the first issue of Compendium at the Northern New Jersey 99er Users meeting. It is certainly the most informative magazine I've seen published for the 99 computer.

Your review of Database 500 was a copy of my impressions. After spending several frustrating evenings I came to the conclusion that it was a good program, but needed editing to a one line entry. After another week of decoding and learning much about files, I now have a much faster entry and search with four times the storage capacity. If you have a need, I will send you a copy, though I have personalized it for two disk drives and default prompts.

If you have an opportunity to review the Companion word processor, I believe you will also find it to be one of the best utility programs for this computer.

Robert Wolf
Bound Brook, New Jersey

Ed: We'd appreciate your suggestions on improving Database 500, and so would our readers. Also, elsewhere in this issue you will find a review of Companion.

For members only

The article in your magazine (February 1984) indicated the program (Database 500) is available as a nonexchange item. Evidently the person wishing to order the program must be a member of the "International Users Group," otherwise the order is turned down (a fact which is not mentioned in your article). This is aggravating to say the least (how would you feel after waiting two weeks to find that you did not rate the program due to being a "Non-Member")?

It was not indicated in the article that one had to be a member of any group to be entitled to buy the software. Perhaps the reviewer did not think to ask if this was the case, or the users group left the impression that the software would be available to anyone willing to purchase it.

Whatever the case, it is a pain to order something only to find later that it is unavailable to "Non-Members." Please state in future articles and or reviews if this is the case!

M.D. Gorman
Gardena, California

Ed: We did not know that International 99/4 User Group software is available only to members. We did provide them with a pre-publication copy of the review but received no comment from the IUG. We regret the inconvenience this has caused you ond possibly other readers.