19 May 1986 Z-NEWS 501 BPrinter. Long wait is over--BPrinter ships, EI Price List Item 41, our print despooler. It prints even during heavy disk accesses--other despoolers don't. BPrinter is ideal for RAM and hard disk based systems. It is easy to use and adheres to Z-System segment and tool philosophy. But you must have I/O Package installed in your BIOS (Micromint's SB180 does) or be using Z-Com, Price List Items 5 and 6. All who ordered should have received it by now. (Item 84, ZCPR3 and IOPs tutorial written by Richard Conn, sells for only $9.95, shows how to modify your BIOS for Z-style I/O redirection.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- More Benchmarks and the Future. Programs Bench 1, 2, and 3 from Micro C magazine (Z-News 409) compiled with Software Toolworks C/80 produce quicker running code than does Manx Aztec C. But clearly these programs are more a test of compiler design than of computer throughput. Furthermore, it also should be clear programs for high-performance 8-bit systems should be coded in Assembly Language--ZCPR3: The Libraries, Item 82 at $29.95 from EI Price List, shows how easy it is. Aztec is acceptable if custom link libraries are written for it, as Tim Gary did for Z-Msg. Assembler loop, compare, and I/O functions run two to six times quicker; math routines have not been worked out yet. With 38,400 baud ASCII terminals, 5.2 seconds is lower limit for Bench 3. (First 76,800 baud terminal appears soon?) Notice only Assembler permits achieving it. C/80 comes close. Screen painting, updating is important if doing word and text processing. Also essential, good quality screen display, e.g., quality offered by Wyse 50+ and TeleVideo 955. (Benchmark programs are on Z-Nodes as file BENCH01.LBR.) File Manx Aztec C v1.06 Computer Configuration Save Bench1 Bench2 Bench3 Deep Thought 42 (12.288mHz 64180) RAM 1.1 131.5 72.5 7.7 using Assembler (Syslib v3.6) n/a 15.6 5.2 using C/80 v3.0 68.2 37.6 6.4 using BDS-C v1.5a 134.0 97.0 7.2 Symmetric 375 bsd4.2 Unix (10mHz 32016) 5.3 20.8 11.8 8.3 Micromint SB180 (6.144mHz 64180) RAM 2.5 263.0 135.0 15.1 using Assembler (Syslib v3.6) n/a 29.3 5.2 using C/80 v3.0 135.4 74.3 6.7 using BDS-C v1.5a 268.0 194.4 14.6 AT&T Unix 5 PC (10mHz 68010) 49.1 25.1 15.3 Micromint SB180 (one wait state) RAM 3.3 344.7 176.9 19.8 Dual Systems S-100 Unix (8mHz 68000) 5.5 100.2 70.1 23.5 Slicer (8mHz 80186) 23.1 13.7 23.9 Oneac ON! (4mHz Z80) RAM 6.1 478.0 244.5 25.6 using Assembler n/a n/a 6.9 using C/80 239.6 129.0 8.5 using BDS-C v1.4a 624.0 248.6 10.2 Ampro Model 1210 (4mHz Z80) 14.7 480.0 246.0 27.5 using Assembler (Syslib v3.6) n/a 55.1 7.8 CCS S-100 (4mHz Z80) 8" floppy 16.5 478.0 244.0 27.3 using Assembler (Syslib v3.6) n/a 56.2 8.1 using C/80 v3.0 241.9 130.1 9.8 IBM PC (4.77mHz 8088) 54.7 28.7 73.6 Š Using WordStar 3.0 (vi if Unix machine), "Save" benchmark is obtained by adding time-to-save to disk value, in seconds, 68k-byte SCAN.EI text file (Z- News 409) when WS cursor is at top-of-file to value when at bottom-of-file. Divide by two to obtain average. A C Language compiler written especially for Hitachi HD64180 would put results for this chip in truly superior class. Enhancements planned for ZAS assembler makes 64180 even better than it is now. RAM disk versus program memory space (TPA) philosophy--many small coordinated files allocated memory, i.e., loaded, versus single large program. Quickly locating files through OS file structure versus code segments by vector? Speed and flexibility of each approach, that's the trade. When we no longer have to consider sluggish magnetic disk accesses, our software design procedures change. (Term3 and Discat designs are fully justified, because of increased flexibility offered, even without RAM disks.) Operating systems generally were not designed with abundant fast memory in mind. Unix and later, CP/M 1.4, considered 16k-bytes of "core" as their starting points; CP/M 2.2, 20k-bytes. Now, these limited memory structures don't seem appropriate when megabytes of inexpensive and fast memory are available and online. After using RAM-disk machines for sometime now, conscious of costs and reliability factors, we suggest getting hard disks out of our small desktop super microcomputers--like Oneac did--and using only RAM main memory with battery and removable floppy disks (Kodak) for back-up. Think--it means no more cold booting. Big ROMs and PROMs go away. One-time boot, load Z-System, load utilities, and one-time load application programs--that's it. Save to high-density floppy--forget hard disks of less than 30-megabytes. (Z-News 502 tells of DT42--it handles 76,800 baud terminals, even 153,600 and beyond; future is now!) Leave AC power on at all times, auto-turnoff of CRT screen after 20 minutes of non-use, no moving parts except for floppy drive during actual back-up operations. Such machines are always ready, ready when you are. Ideal! Z-System Site License Policy. Simple policy which we think fair and reasonable. No big deal many companies make it. You pay retail price for the first copy of program and 20% of retail for each additional copy you wish to use on-site, up to 15 copies. Above 15 copies, price drops to 15% of retail, 85% discount. You do program disk copying. You receive one set of applicable documentation. More sets are purchased at volume discount rates shown on our current Price List. Example: six copies of program are twice the price of one. Five sets of additional documentation are purchased at 25% discount, i.e., 75% of retail; 50 sets, 33%; 250, 40%. So what's the big deal? (No site license or runtime fees required for Quick-Task (tm), use it on as many computers and for as many jobs as you choose. But each physical site or corporate division requires one master license costing only $249.00.) Trenton Computer Festival. Oldest hobby computer faire huge success. This eleventh year, biggest yet! Sol Libes, Editor and co-publisher of Micro/Systems Journal, chosen as Hobbyist-of-the-Year, tears in his eyes. Phil Lemmons, BYTE Magazine Editor in Chief, Saturday night banquet keynote address speaker, encouraged use of more imagination and asked programmers to write other than business wordprocessor and spreadsheet software. Thousands see and hear latest in microcomputer developments. Two-hundred indoor exhibits, hands-on graphics and communications demonstrations. Bargains galore at gigantic (5 acres of) outdoor flea market. Continuous technical sessions...Richard Conn's Z-System session packed beyond standing-room-only. Š Many microcomputer pioneers attended, Keith Peterson, Charles Strom, Jud Newell, Sigi Kluger, Steve Ciarcia, Dave Hardy...fun to meet dozens of Echelon customers. Thanks to Alan Katz and his students and to Trenton State College for volunteer support and use of beautiful campus facilities. See you there next year, in and down the lines. But hard as we looked, not one drop of California Zinfandel could be found anywhere, red or white. Z-Node Activity. Barron McIntire III is prime operator of Z-Node #65 in Cheyenne, WY, 307/635-8366. Lawrence Langer is secondary or co-sysop. Give their upgraded to 30-megabyte Kaypro 10 a call--lonely country up there in Wyoming. "Hidden Valley" Z-Node #68 is up. Sysop and long-time ZCPR3 user, Tim O'Loughlin, mans Epson QX-10 with 10 megabytes of storage space. Tim has over 1500 files online and uses USR 2400 bps modem for quick transfers. Vernon, NJ 07462, 201/764-2507 is his location and phone number. Four Z-Nodes cover state of New Jersey, very satisfying. The beat goes on. From Essex, England, R.C. Page signs as Sysop of Z-Node #69. Also, yet another Californian signs up making it 17 for state. Z-Node #70 is to be run by Jim Moyer, San Jose 95129. Phone numbers for both are passed on we we get them. Norm Beeler's ZeeMachine Z-Node #35 worth calling. He has two lines into one Z-System, common message and data base, with auto call-forwarding to second line if first is busy. Try 408/735-0176 to see of things to come. Norm's RAS is in Sunnyvale, CA. Echelon moves, has risen up, electronically by "word-of-mouth" using Z- Node network--unique! Sysops use Z-System because they believe in it, believe in high-performance 8-bit operating systems and their future, for getting work done with grace and speed. From Our Mail Box. "It is one thing to read your ads and other's enthusiastic comments, but actually using Z-System is a truly exciting experience... " writes Julian Olson, Outremont, Quebec, Canada. Common observation of those starting to use Z, excitement! Excitement continues because so many features keep your interest, peak your curiosity. Let friends know what you learned from high-performance 8-bit computers. Spread the word! From Z-System Good-Neighbor Helper, Rick Swenton, "I have developed a patch to Heath/Zenith's BIOS Configuration Utility Version 2.2.04 which will disable those options which would corrupt ZCPR3 or ZRDOS, namely mucking with echo-on-delete in the BDOS and poking file names into the CCP for execution on cold or warm boots." Rick sends you his patch for a self-addressed stamped business-sized envelop. Address and phone number: 19 Allen Street, Bristol, CT, 06010, 203/589-7297. Remember, Rick is a Heath H8 and H89 ZCPR3 expert. If you need installation assistance, please contact him. Amateur Z User Corner. Publication of Z-System User's Guide opens door to substantial information and potential knowledge and understanding of our 8-bit operating system (OS). It's Item 88 on EI Price List selling for $14.95 plus $4.00 shipping and handling, continental USA. Don't forget back issues of Z- News offer many tips on using Z-System. And "Z Column" written by Art Carlson, The Computer Journal, is another good source for user information. If you don't already subscribe to TCJ, now's the time starting with Issue 23. Six issues for only $14.00. Call or write 190 Sullivan Crossroad, Columbia Falls, MT 59912, 406/257-9119. Potpourri. We express appreciation, long overdue, of DisCopyLabs, San Jose, CA, for quality diskette duplication and downloading. As most such companies have gone away, DisCopyLabs gains strength, and size, through attention to Šdetail and having deep regard for each customer, no matter how large or small. Thanks Norman and Antonia Tu, and each member of your staff, for doing unto Echelon as we attempt to do for our ZCPR3, ZRDOS, and Z-System customers. Anyone needing disk duplication services, write or call DisCopyLabs, 2610B North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134, 408/435-5444. Zilog becomes second source for Hitachi HD64180 high-integration super 8- bit chip. Slightly modified design--Z180 it's called--offers full compatibility with all Z80 support peripherals. It provides "an upward migration path to the Z800" scheduled for shipping this calendar quarter. Can you believe it? Zilog's Alan Hamilton, Director of Component Marketing, tells us to. The Z180, we believe; Z800, we believe when we have one in hand. In Z-News 207, page 5, we hoped HD64180 is called either H180 or Z180. ON! computer from Oneac (Z-News 408) is one outstanding machine, an office (and software development) package that's better than any we have used. Styling: so good-looking, engaging. And machine doesn't waste your time. Never have to cold-boot, it's always ready to be used and it's here, so get it--you don't have to buy IBM or Apple to run your small-to-medium sized business--your secretary will respect you more; your bottom-line will show better, because of increased productivity, hers and others of your staff. And why use a DEC VAX or an IBM PC host to develop target 8080/8085, Z80, NSC800, or HD64180 code when ON! using Quick-Task, ZAS and ZLINK is so much faster and more efficient? Office or lab, it's up to you! Others have wrought, have done their part by conceiving, designing, documenting, producing, and offering an extremely attractive alternative to main stream, to trooping... call Oneac, 312/680-5999, for literature and volume pricing arrangements. Common Ground. Many feel offended--you know who you are--by being requested to read everything seven (7) times (Z-News 302, page 3). Technique as explained is basis for Western concept of study. Without study learning occurs slowly. Why are we as we are? We learn so slowly, if at all. Most of us are born, spend years on planet, die, and: so what! We die as we were born--no soul developed beyond that passed genetically to us. LEARNING REQUIRES GREAT EFFORT! Work (study) concerns, is about learning. We only think we learn if we but go through the motion. (We speak now on non-physical level.) Give it a try...read, study something thoroughly, completely, and feel new understanding. Do it! What can we lose? ==================================================================== Of Cabbages and Kings. Words have power. Many have questioned our use of data, information, knowledge, and understanding, a virtual word pyramid. And grasped not notion of reality and dimensions. (If shoe fits, wear it even if pinching! Truth, sweet to the taste, is bitter in the stomach.) Move from one word to another and feel mental and emotional change as you go. Relax. Ponder each; concept of levels of perception is recognized. Data is not information is not knowledge, not understanding, not...remember? Gushing of words from river of thought: Data: evidence known facts statistics reports raw materials information Information: derived compiled acquired data learning instruction knowledge Knowledge: learned integrity interpreted facts sight integration enlightenment science erudition understanding Understanding: fathom comprehend be aware of grasp perceive appreciate know insight see the light master acceptance read between the lines Š realize sense control wisdom Wisdom: .... Reality is relative; to think we capable of imagining it absolute is illusion. (Any concept we have of God, infinity, is also relative and subjective, thus fickled. If the majority agrees with us it becomes solid- fact, but majorities do not determine reality.) Reality changes to new levels as our subjective position changes; changes occur as we more fully integrate experience with data, information, knowledge, understanding. Integration involves perceiving, adapting, assimilating, blending, extending dimensions to higher levels, to higher limits. Levels and limits change, expand as we learn, as we grow, as we live; integration (integrity) further involves, requires getting control, Control, and finally CONTROL. Reality is something neither derivative nor dependent but exists of and by itself--is fundamental and essential existence. Dimensions give measure to existence, spatial extensions starting with thought, moving into less mobile substances. As more dimensions are perceived, approaching infinity but simultaneously curving back to zero, freedom increases, fewer laws are active- -reality less relative, approaches Absolute. Then human thought soars as if equipped with gossamer wings of magic eagles! Another outpouring: Dimensions: extent size measurements height length width aspect scope magnitude Reality: firm solid having existence original true state of being genuine authentic state of thinking material corporeal substantial absolute Absolute: .... (Above and below were composed in response to Byron McBride, Michael Durant, among a dozen others. Though these words fall as water on desert plants, soon evaporating, some computerists find them useful, just as such plants need little water for growth and flowering.) Our reality, altered as our perception, as our being moves from level to level, is wholly subjective. The word objective, applied at times to the absolute we think we achieve or understand, means an absolute; striving for such is a perpetual goal, seemingly .rm 42 never achieved. Show us an objective human being! If a single one cannot be found, how can groups or organizations of them exist! We see far but not beyond the macro (infinity) frontier; exact same boundaries mark limits of the micro (zero) frontier. Much stone is lifted before SKETCH water not only tastes like but is wine. Think of the great Egyptian pyramids: Queen of Hearts saying, the steps represent levels of thought; the "Don't use words with me..." overalì shape¬ aî infinitå numbeò oæ tï Alice. potential dimensions. Our perceptioî point, our perch, our platform, our ground, is somewhere in the middle between zero and infinity. (From Z-News 304, zero equals eight equals infinity...a paraphrasing of the Law of Octaves on which our musical scale is based. Two zeros, one on top of the other is the Šeight; two zeros side by side, infinity. Numbers exist without mathematics and arithmetic.) Build a mental pyramid! Start with highest level of symbolism, our imaging: 1) Absolute (All, God, Law, unity, the gods, infinity, principle), 2) love, 3) truth (wisdom), 4) ideas (mind), 5) books, 6) words, 7) letters of the alphabet, 8) neocortex (recently evolved brain), 9) rhombencephalon (animal or ancient brain), 10) nucleic acids, 11) synapses, and finally, 12) neurons of the brain (inviolable, sacred hardware level)--a few levels of comprehension from viewpoint of a newsletter writer and computerist. Other levels could be developed representing more points along the Path. Attempt comprehending a book's meaning from letters-of-the-alphabet level. Concept of levels then quickly come into sharp focus. Remarkably, reality is a combination of perception levels containing many dimensions concurrently active to transmit, communicate harmony. (It's impossible to pluck a flower without affecting a galactic star, a sneeze ricochets amongst the planets.) In the world of "hard-reality" only four dimensions exist: width, length, height, time. In our reality, time takes on additional dimensions, resulting in all-time and eternity. The consequence normally is sensation of only the present. All that was, is, and will be is now! Enough...some people tell not all they know. Oops, knocked over the glass of Zinfandel. See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc. 885 N. San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA 94022 USA Telephone: 415/948-3820 Z-Node Central (RAS): 415/489-9005 Trademarks: SB180, COMM180, TKBBS, Micromint; PRO-180, MDC-1, Magnum Digital; XL-M180, Intelligent Computer Designs; HD64180/63484, Hitachi; NSC800, National; Z80/180 Zilog; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Zas, Zlink, Z-Msg, Term3, Quick-Task, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon; CP/M, Digital Research; Unix, AT&T; Ada, AJPO of US Government; H8, H89, Zenith; IBM, International Business Machines; Apple, Apple; VAX, DEC, Digital Equipment; ON!, ONFILE, Oneac; V-Spell, CompuView; Newword, Newstar Software; SCSI/Plus, Little Board, Bookshelf, AMPRO Computers. eagle herå * Z sets you FREE! * * Š Z-News 501 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon.