"TIME DESIGNS” NEWS FLASH BEE page Se

WS TS MAA ES ECT EA Vol. 3, No. 4 TZS 1990, 1509 and ZX-81

EDITOR'S COLUMN-- As you well know, I started off last issue with a strongly worded open letter to "Time

gL e 1255597227 oe oR Designs" magazine and its‘ editor,

li 2 SC Gs ie Y] nu. Tim Woods. Needless to say, it hit

home with a lot of T/S users, most

= He aa D SR Cam & notably Tim Woods himself, as I $3) Sé E Gë et ER N] mm received a two page letter from him

shortly after the VISTA newsletter was mailed (late July i989). In summary, Tim noted his lack of time to devote to the magazine due to business interests; the loss of his. wife's help on the magazine altogether; the literal mountain of mail that accumulated during his absence, which is being answered on a date received basis; the corruption of his subscription database file; having not sent out renewal notices for ten months, subscriptions are not coming in; and his general discouragement during which he entertained thoughts of quitting. Tim then assured me that the worst is behind him now, he is working on another issue and plans to continue for “a few more years", and that he believes we “will see a bit of improvement from “Time Designs" by this fall"". He also explained that he would be in California helping his brother move the week I would be in his area, but I was welcome to drop by any other time at my convenience. The final enclosure was the latest issue of "Time Designs", Vol. 5, No. 1. I was disappointed that I would not have the opportunity to talk with Tim Woods and iron some things out, so I took the time to write him, including suggestions and opinions from all of you readers who have written me; I also sent along a list of those of you with missing issues., I have no idea if this worked for any of you or not; I have heard nothing more from Tim Woods, hopefully because he's taking care of all his other correspondence. I have seen the latest issue of "The Plotter", the newsletter from the CCAT/S group of Oregon City, OR., and they had two small articles that may shed some light on the subject. I will recount them verbatim.

“TDM Magazine-- as far as we know, has not published since Vol. 2: No. 1, which was delivered to some folks in May, both by mail and at the CapitolFest. No one has heard a word out of them since. Most advertisers we have spoken to have given it up as a "lost" cause at this point. We have had dozens of calls and letters concerning what is going on with them and we cannot do much to help. We are always sorry to see one of our supporters go "by the wayside", but we are afraid that this has happened".

If you will, consider Tim Woods‘ letter I received in mid-July and the following before you come to a conclusion over the fate of "Time Designs".

“Recently my wife and I had a nice visit with the Ass't Editor of TD Magazine. Stephanie assured me that the magazine was viable and well. The major problem is that a "1 man" business has to be set aside because of trying to make a living, and to devote a lot of time to running other "family" business to keep from losing the value of his father’s estate. For sure this lapse of issuing current editions of the magazine will hurt renewal of subscriptions, assuming subscribers start receiving the magazine again".

There you have it-- the latest news from both sides of the street. Draw your own conclusions and keep in touch-- I have saved all your correspondence in regard to this issue and remain open to any new correspondence and/or suggestions. I really want to see this resolved to the benefit of everyone in the T/S community.

I hope by now you have noticed another improvement in the VISTA Newsletter-- print quality has taken a decided turn for the better. I invested in a new Citizen 12@D printer from RMG Enterprises; On the recommendation of Rod Gowen as the best printer for the money, to which I heartily agree. For my $159.95 (shipping extra) this little gem handles more type styles than I can count, it's Epson-compatible for use with any computer I care to buy (as if I'd ever leave my T/S's behind!!), and it handles 2968 screen dumps with ease in 32-column mode or full-page sideways format. Theresa lot more, but I haven't made it through to the end of the manual yet; it's 188 pages long! ` Truly a value worthy of the Timex/Sinclair world; Thanks, Rod!! Finally, welcome to new member Michael Kutzner of Elizabeth, NJ, who's interested in expanding his T/S5-1888-- I hope we can help you enjoy your computer even more; and Thanks to member Clarence Hamilton, Vernon, BC, for submitting a stack of listings to our ever-expanding public domain library...more on that later. And to those of you who take the time to write, THANES!'! ... Tony Willing, ed.

GOOD NEWS-- There will be a T/S festival in 1998, thanks to the efforts of SMUG, the Sinclair Milwaukee Users Group (P.O. Box 1841, Butler, WI 53837). The 1998 Sinclair Fest will be held on June 1, 2, and 3, 1994, at the Holiday Inn Waukesha in the Milwaukee area. The hotel will charge a flat rate of $45 per room with 2 double beds, and the hotel has an indoor pool and restaurant facilities. Tentative activities include a banquet dinner, buffet style, displays, seminars, lectures, vendors and a SNUG meeting-- make your plans now, and if you can possibly make it, GO! You won't regret it.

TIMEX SINCLAIR PUBLIC DOMAIN LIBRARY UPDATE-- The Public Domain library just keeps right on growing with new submissions coming in and new users taking advantage of the resource. Tim Ward tells me that six T/S-1888 tapes are completed, number seven is nearly ready; that’s well over THREE HUNDRED programs available for the T/S-1888. Better yet, all are available on eight Larken Discs for the T/S-190% also, which makes them even easier to access and load. The 2848 Library is

growing too, with the contributions from user groups like SINCUS (Johnson City, NY) and CAT/S (Washington D.C. area), and many individual users. The 2868 Library is on three tapes or three 2968 DSDD Larken Discs, and is standing right now at 128 programs. Disc four will be completed shortly, with tapes four to follow soon afterwards, as it’s easier to enter a program into the library on disc, then dub in down to tape. All tapes and discs are #4 each, postpaid, and we are trying for no errors on tape or disc-- if you get the software and have trouble loading it, be sure to get in touch with us and save us from making the same mistakes on the next tapes/discs. We are hoping for some coverage in the Timex/Sinclair section of "Computer Shopper" to help the project along; the more people who contribute the better the library becomes for all of us. For the T/S- 1288 library, get in touch with Tim Ward, 5142-D Gingko Drive SW, Tacoma, WA 98439; for the 2068 library, write Tony Willing, POB 199, Vashon, WA 98878. Spread the word and help us become the largest library of public domain software for the Timex/Sinclair computers in

the U.S.A.

IN THE MAILBAG-- A catalog from G. Russell Electronics (R.D. 1, Box 539, Centre Hall, PA 16828). Some of you that have been around the T/S world awhile will recognize "G.R.E." as the company that brought out the Winky Board and the Romswitch, just to name a few of their products. 1 am glad to say they are still in the T/S market, with a catalog full of goods for the 1999, 2068 and QL. Included are Spectrum ROMs and EPROMs ($19.95, 2/$19.95, free shipping), all three Hi-res T/S-1999 games, Rocketman, Fortyniner and ZXtricator ($5.59, 2/$8.95, 3/$12.59), ZXLRB Fastload for $106.59, Winky Boards, and even some parts specials and books. If you can’t wait, call them at (814)364-1325 and order something. From Electro Associates of Michigan, (P.O. Box 312, Lathrop Village, MI, 48976) comes word of 3" MAXELL brand "AMDISK III style" discs, 14/4498 plus $2.59 sth, for those of you needing 3" discs. Send check or money order or call (313)533-8797 for quantity discounts. DISCWORX (1-898-456-2889) offers bulk 5.25 and 3.5 discs as well as name brands, and they accept VISA, MC and COD orders. Discs are offered in quantities of 56 or 188 though, so "group buys" would probably be the only way to go here. I don't normally need 188 floppy discs, even if they are only .21 apiece!! Consumertronics (2811 Crescent Drive, P.O. Drawer 537, Alamogordo, NM, 88316) sends word that their "Disc Service Manual III" ($25) and "Disc Drive Tutorial" ($26) manuals are available and ready for anyone who cares to service their own drives or just figure out what makes them tick. They also offer a "Printer and Plotter" repair manual for $15, "Ribbon Re-Inking" ($8) and many other books on subjects ranging from stealth technology to high-output wood burning stoves. If you want a look at these or any other of the “secret agent" style books they offer, call Consumertronics at (585) 434-8234, or their order line, 1-886-752-7761. Finally, I have about 14 pages of goodies here from RMG Enterprises, 1419 1/2 7th Street, Oregon city, OR, 97845, (503)4655-7484. Suffice it to say Rod Gowen has a little of everything for the T/S enthusiast, and if you haven't had the chance to order anything from RMG, please do so-- RMG is the largest dealer left in the T/S business that I know of, and we need to support him so he can continue to support us. Among the many goods he has for sale are disc drive power supplies for $13.58 (plus #3 shipping), Larken 2968 software Package deals which include the Larken Disc Editor and the MAXCOM BBS package, lots of used printers, Memotech products, disc drives, and LOTS of books and software at low, low prices.

Rod is now Giese uri his packed catalog as Tasword II files on 2668 /Larken disc, so those of you with Wes 2068 systems can print out your own catalog and get some public domain software he's including on the discs as part of the deal. Give Rod a call soon-- find out for yourself, because there are bargains to be had in Oregon City.

Over the past few issues, I've included the schematics for the 2359 modem, 1815 RAM pack and the Larken 1888 disc drive card. This time it's the 2949 printer schematic to add to your collection. The program submission is a utility to print cassette tape labels onto tractor feed labels available at Radio Shack; it should help make that large collection of program cassettes look neater. If you have anything you'd like to see in future issues, write and tell me, or better yet, write an article yourself. I'm getting a bit short of material! Until next time, KEEP ON T/S-ING. SINCLAIRLY, Tony Willing/VISTA, FOB 199, Vashon, WA 79878.

These instuchons were recewed along with the la bulk tape purchase fov the Mhe Domain (var — = yse at your own risk, but these ahrechöns ave Rom a Company that deals in Tape Se

RECOMMENDED CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS. FOR IN-CASSETTE HIGH SPEED DUPLICATORS

Required Utensils: 1 dry, clean, lint free cloth l solid rubber grommet or rubber washer at least HI thick

Wipe oxide residue from. heads. with dry cloth. If residue is not removable with the cloth, then 99% Isopropyl Alcohol can be used with the cloth, but ever so sparingly. Alcohol dripping down into the machine will damage it as the factory prescribed lubrication will then be displaced. If you must use the fluid, make sure cleaned surfaces have completely dried before duplicating. Let dry at least 15 minutes. Rubber grommet is used to clean the rubber pinch roller and capstan (spinning silver spindle located next to the pinch roller.) Turn the machine on so that roller and capstan are spinning. Hold the grommet so that it comes in light contact with the roller but with enough pressure so that it cleans the oxide residue off of the roller. Move the grommet up and down in a vertical motion with it still in contact with the roller so that all residue may be removed. Repeat the "grommet cleaning" procedure on the capstan as well. Do not be concerned with de- magnetizing your duplicators and tape decks. Recent studies have shown that more equipment has been harmed through the use of demagnitizers than have been helped. Please leave demagnitization procedures to qualified service personnel.

The above listed cleaning utensils may be obtained at your local hardware store or if you'd like, from C.C.I. Thank you for your attention to these cleaning methods as they should add to the lifa and fidelity of vour equipment.

CASSETTE LABELS PROGRAM by ANTHONY WILLING

D

REM SAVE "CLABEL.B1" GOTO 19

~REM USE TRACTOR FEED CASSETTE LABELS CLS PRINT "PROGRAM TITLE:" INPUT A$ IF LEN A$>32 THEN GOTO 19 PRINT TAB 16-(LEN A$/2);A$ PRINT "LINE 2 INFO:" g INPUT B$ OA E x IF LEN B$>32 THEN GOTO 79 4 Poe S PRINT TAB 16-(LEN B$/2);B$ en T PRINT "LINE 3 INFO:" Pod Oo INPUT C$ a S 2p IF LEN C$>32 THEN GOTO 129 S Tp es PRINT TAB -16-(LEN C$/2);C$ B NS FOR Z=1 TO 5 oe PRINT 3 3.223 NEXT Z vg: E Pe PRINT. "BOTTOM LINE: n Yu INPUT D$ = SARA A A EN IF LEN D$>32 THEN GOTO 299 > ei PRINT TAB 16-(LEN D$/2);D$ PRINT AT 21,8;"CORRECT?? (y/n)" IF INKEY$="" THEN GOTO 259 poe IF INKEY$="N" THEN GOTO 19 woes PRINT AT 21,8;" n noe DE PRINT AT 21,8;"NUMBER OF COPIES?" 2,8, INPUT X pogr FOR 1=1 TO X au» ® aa CLS ened LPRINT TAB 14-(LEN A$/2);A$ 25 @ x LPRINT TAB 14-(LEN B$/2);B$ SEKR LPRINT TAB 14-(LEN C$/2);C8 ae ae FOR Z=1 TO 4 EE ZE LPRINT REE NEXT 7 bie aoe LPRINT TAB 14-(LEN D$/2);D$ Sa ye LPRINT IDA LPRINT ae ak NEXT | ae oe CLS 34389 PRINT "MORE?? (y/n)" Soe Ba INPUT X$ Eduum IF X$="Y" THEN GOTO 299 N er PRINT "ANOTHER TITLE?? (y/n)" SS Sain die INPUT X$ EN Ar IF X$="Y" THEN GOTO 18 aw Bie CLS PRINT AT 10,8;"WORK COMPLETE" STOP RAND USR 14336

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The mailing list project has been painfully Slow but of course, very neccessary to our

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business. I also have taken the time to complete issue 5-2. It is being printed right now. Enclosed is a copy of a Zebra ad, which you might want to pass on to VISTA members.

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AMG UPDATE NEHS—— ZEBRA SYSTEMS

Perhaps cur loyal customers and subscribers to RMG Updates have been made aware of the fact that RMG has been negotiating with ZEBRA SYSTEMS for the rights to publish/distribute the software titles that they had rights to. We have spoken with the owner of Zebra and tentative agreement has been reached. The distribution agreements have been sent to Zebra but we have not received a reply to date. We hope to have good news for you soon.

KNIGHTED COMPUTERS er

AS many Of you may be aware also, Knighted Computers has quit supporting the TS line of computers and we have heard that WMJ DATA SYSTEMS was negotiating to take over production and distribution of the Quicksilva and other titles that Knighted had the rights to. Bill Johnson, of WMJ, told us that he would let us know when things were finallized and send us a price list so that we may restock our supply of these fine software lines. We will keep you posted on this matter as well.

LARKEN ELECTRONICS

As you know, RMG is the LARGEST Larken dealer and staunchest supporter on the United States. We try to bring you the best that Larry and other supporters have to offer. At last report, Larry had but all computer work on the “back burner" until late September. Hopefully, he will be back at it and complete the rumored desk top publishing package for us before Christmas. He is also working on some hardware products in the works. Keep watching, we will let you know as soon as we hear something.

PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE We, at RMG, have been accumulating more and more Public Domain software for the 29558. We now have titles for the Aerco FD-48 system as well as for Larken users. We also have software for the 2668 alone. We have gotten libraries from VISTA, SINCUS and the TORONTO user groups. We are also accumulating titles from individuals who just like writing for our favorite little computer. We now offer these programs on either Aerco disk (for — the Aerco programs) or Larken disk (for all other programs). If you would like a complete listing of the disks that are available, send a legal S.A.S.E. and we will send one out. If you have a program to donate or that you would like RMG to publish, you might drop us a line or give us a call.

THAT’S IT FOR THIS TIME! Keep watching for more news next time.

Rod Gowen, Owner RMG Enterprises (503) 655- 7434

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