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R/+AMSTR2

This website contains an archive of files for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 computers, which Dominic Ford has rescued from his private collection of floppy disks and cassettes.

Some of these files were originally commercial releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are now widely available online. I assume that copyright over them is no longer being asserted. If you own the copyright and would like files to be removed, please contact me.

Tape/disk: Home » Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Electron_User_Group » EUG_54.ADF
Filename: R/+AMSTR2
Read OK: ✔
File size: 1929 bytes
Load address: 52204556
Exec address: 4D412B2E
Duplicates

There are 3 duplicate copies of this file in the archive:

File contents
      * * * Ross Little's AMSTRAD PCW16X Review Continuation * * *

SLOW and laborious, as is the style of a 16 MHz cutie, but herein lies 
the paradox: it is so much quicker to switch on, load up a file and 
start editing or printing that you will find the overall process incal-
culably faster than on a PC. And even if you leave your other machine on
constantly so that the sheets are always accessible, the PcW is simply
robust enough to make it a nicer experience. I quite happily used it to
keep track of my accounts for about a year whilst I have never once kept
a serious spreadsheet on my PC because it has always been impractical.
The only other niggle is the old fashioned printouts. Nowadays, a 
spreadsheet will print in its entirety. Not so here - every page has to
be separately printed making it more useful as an on-screen reference
tool.
   A more practical program is the address book. Simply enter names and
the other details (address, phone, fax, email and any notes) and then
you get a nicely ordered list of names and numbers on the right hand
side of the screen and further details on the left. Much more friendly 
than a personal organiser, the screen can (like any other) be printed 
out. Also any address can be incorporated into a word processor docu-
ment. This is another program that greatly benefits from immediate start
up times.
   The diary allows you to keep track of your busy life.  Regular
appointments can be scheduled or individual ones can be entered. You
have both a week in detail (on the right of the screen) and a month at a
glance (on the left). Alarms can be attached to the appointments so that 
the computer will automatically switch on and alert you. I rarely used 
these and so, after four months, they went on strike. January the first
I believe, due to the Millennium Bug. But that was as far as it went. I
found this program a real boon when I first got the machine: no more
bits of paper hanging around my desk, nor the risk of forgetting an
appointment. Just flick the machine on before I go to bed and see what I
have to do the next day. Such an elegant solution to my worries.
   The calculator is, perhaps, a bit superfluous. It just means if the
keyboard is within reach, there is no need to open your drawer to reach
for the calculator. Either scientific or basic views are allowed, and
the program is accessible from both the word processor and the spread-
sheet. It was, perhaps, a bit of a waste of computer power, though: I 
would have been more impressed to have seen some kind of scratchpad on 
the scientific option showing all the previous calculations and answers,
possibly with annotations. This is rarely available on low-tech calcu-
lators. Still the idea is, of course, that you shouldn't have to leave 
the computer to do a calculation, and it does its job well.
   The final, and possibly most critical, program is the file manager.
It is also very straightforward. Big buttons point out the copying, del-
eting and archiving functions and all others can be selected from the 
menus. Files can easily be transferred between the cabinet and floppy 
disks with some very nice conventions working behind the scenes: the 
disks are high density dos format, and the files have their own PcW 
index file to allow for extra long filenames including spaces and other 
'illegal' DOS characters. The three character suffixes are invisible to 
the user but allow the machine to distinguish different file types. This
all adds up to a user friendly system that probably beats even Windows
98 (which is still visibly dos based). What's more, PC files can be 
stored on the disk, files can be transferred between PC and PcW, and 
backups can (if you wish) be dumped onto a PC or duplicated without disk
swapping.
   As I mentioned earlier, it also includes a quick and easy backup
option. Just pop your disk in the drive, select backup and make yourself
a cup of tea. Before you've finished your scone, you'll have a complete
system snapshot and that warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of your belly
that says come what may, your files are secure. This is safe computing 
instead of the quick and dirty approach Microsoft adopted. For the first
time: a standard storage format allowing easy storage of all your files
and every system setting. Just like Windows, it will crash every so
often. Some stats now: I have used it most days for the past year; it
has completely crashed around four times; three of those times I was
just teasing it; I have lost a total of five (non-essential) files. So I
have almost every file I have created, downloaded, edited and printed
for the past year. And I have never once deleted a file. How much space
has this wanton inefficiency consumed? On my PC I take things very easy
but have several Gigs of data. On my PcW I have never once tried to save
space and yet in a whole year I have filled just 50% of a single floppy
disk. I must emphasise I have saved every byte of data I have produced.
Every letter I have written (there are plenty), every envelope I've 
typed, every statistic I've collected and every penny taken from my 
account has been stored in minute detail. My entire life for the past 
year exists inside that machine in just 0.7 Mb. I challenge any PC to 
compete with that kind of efficiency. The last four Word documents I
produced took up more room that that. People only laugh at the size of
floppy disks because they don't comprehend how much room 1.44 Mb is. 
They included me.
   So is it worth it? All I can say is that it depends on you. First,
the cost. Compared to other systems, it is cheap and it does what a lot 
of people want so it is excellent value. For me at least, it has
actually paid for itself several times over which my PCs have never
done. Now I do need a PC for the internet and programming and so the 
Amstrad makes the perfect second computer. Virus free and a stable 
environment, I just have to make sure anything important goes on the 
PcW! To be fair, it was a first edition machine and it behaves like one.
There were some improvements that could have been made and bugs that 
should have been eliminated but, in the overall balance, it beats the PC
hands down. For people who are sceptical about Wintel systems, it makes
for a good system. But is it better than the Electron? Well, that was my
first computer. 'Nuff said.
                                                    Ross Little, EUG #54

00000000  20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 20  2a 20 2a 20 52 6f 73 73  |      * * * Ross|
00000010  20 4c 69 74 74 6c 65 27  73 20 41 4d 53 54 52 41  | Little's AMSTRA|
00000020  44 20 50 43 57 31 36 58  20 52 65 76 69 65 77 20  |D PCW16X Review |
00000030  43 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 61  74 69 6f 6e 20 2a 20 2a  |Continuation * *|
00000040  20 2a 0d 0d 53 4c 4f 57  20 61 6e 64 20 6c 61 62  | *..SLOW and lab|
00000050  6f 72 69 6f 75 73 2c 20  61 73 20 69 73 20 74 68  |orious, as is th|
00000060  65 20 73 74 79 6c 65 20  6f 66 20 61 20 31 36 20  |e style of a 16 |
00000070  4d 48 7a 20 63 75 74 69  65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68  |MHz cutie, but h|
00000080  65 72 65 69 6e 20 6c 69  65 73 20 0d 74 68 65 20  |erein lies .the |
00000090  70 61 72 61 64 6f 78 3a  20 69 74 20 69 73 20 73  |paradox: it is s|
000000a0  6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 71  75 69 63 6b 65 72 20 74  |o much quicker t|
000000b0  6f 20 73 77 69 74 63 68  20 6f 6e 2c 20 6c 6f 61  |o switch on, loa|
000000c0  64 20 75 70 20 61 20 66  69 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20  |d up a file and |
000000d0  0d 73 74 61 72 74 20 65  64 69 74 69 6e 67 20 6f  |.start editing o|
000000e0  72 20 70 72 69 6e 74 69  6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20  |r printing that |
000000f0  79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c  20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68  |you will find th|
00000100  65 20 6f 76 65 72 61 6c  6c 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73  |e overall proces|
00000110  73 20 69 6e 63 61 6c 2d  0d 63 75 6c 61 62 6c 79  |s incal-.culably|
00000120  20 66 61 73 74 65 72 20  74 68 61 6e 20 6f 6e 20  | faster than on |
00000130  61 20 50 43 2e 20 41 6e  64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69  |a PC. And even i|
00000140  66 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65  61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 72  |f you leave your|
00000150  20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d  61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6f  | other machine o|
00000160  6e 0d 63 6f 6e 73 74 61  6e 74 6c 79 20 73 6f 20  |n.constantly so |
00000170  74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65  20 73 68 65 65 74 73 20  |that the sheets |
00000180  61 72 65 20 61 6c 77 61  79 73 20 61 63 63 65 73  |are always acces|
00000190  73 69 62 6c 65 2c 20 74  68 65 20 50 63 57 20 69  |sible, the PcW i|
000001a0  73 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79  0d 72 6f 62 75 73 74 20  |s simply.robust |
000001b0  65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74  6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69  |enough to make i|
000001c0  74 20 61 20 6e 69 63 65  72 20 65 78 70 65 72 69  |t a nicer experi|
000001d0  65 6e 63 65 2e 20 49 20  71 75 69 74 65 20 68 61  |ence. I quite ha|
000001e0  70 70 69 6c 79 20 75 73  65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f  |ppily used it to|
000001f0  0d 6b 65 65 70 20 74 72  61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 6d  |.keep track of m|
00000200  79 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e  74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61  |y accounts for a|
00000210  62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 79  65 61 72 20 77 68 69 6c  |bout a year whil|
00000220  73 74 20 49 20 68 61 76  65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20  |st I have never |
00000230  6f 6e 63 65 20 6b 65 70  74 0d 61 20 73 65 72 69  |once kept.a seri|
00000240  6f 75 73 20 73 70 72 65  61 64 73 68 65 65 74 20  |ous spreadsheet |
00000250  6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 50 43  20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65  |on my PC because|
00000260  20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20  61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 62  | it has always b|
00000270  65 65 6e 20 69 6d 70 72  61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 2e  |een impractical.|
00000280  0d 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c  79 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20  |.The only other |
00000290  6e 69 67 67 6c 65 20 69  73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c  |niggle is the ol|
000002a0  64 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f  6e 65 64 20 70 72 69 6e  |d fashioned prin|
000002b0  74 6f 75 74 73 2e 20 4e  6f 77 61 64 61 79 73 2c  |touts. Nowadays,|
000002c0  20 61 20 0d 73 70 72 65  61 64 73 68 65 65 74 20  | a .spreadsheet |
000002d0  77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 69  6e 74 20 69 6e 20 69 74  |will print in it|
000002e0  73 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65  74 79 2e 20 4e 6f 74 20  |s entirety. Not |
000002f0  73 6f 20 68 65 72 65 20  2d 20 65 76 65 72 79 20  |so here - every |
00000300  70 61 67 65 20 68 61 73  20 74 6f 0d 62 65 20 73  |page has to.be s|
00000310  65 70 61 72 61 74 65 6c  79 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65  |eparately printe|
00000320  64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67  20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65  |d making it more|
00000330  20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20  61 73 20 61 6e 20 6f 6e  | useful as an on|
00000340  2d 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20  72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63  |-screen referenc|
00000350  65 0d 74 6f 6f 6c 2e 0d  20 20 20 41 20 6d 6f 72  |e.tool..   A mor|
00000360  65 20 70 72 61 63 74 69  63 61 6c 20 70 72 6f 67  |e practical prog|
00000370  72 61 6d 20 69 73 20 74  68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65  |ram is the addre|
00000380  73 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e  20 53 69 6d 70 6c 79 20  |ss book. Simply |
00000390  65 6e 74 65 72 20 6e 61  6d 65 73 20 61 6e 64 0d  |enter names and.|
000003a0  74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65  72 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c  |the other detail|
000003b0  73 20 28 61 64 64 72 65  73 73 2c 20 70 68 6f 6e  |s (address, phon|
000003c0  65 2c 20 66 61 78 2c 20  65 6d 61 69 6c 20 61 6e  |e, fax, email an|
000003d0  64 20 61 6e 79 20 6e 6f  74 65 73 29 20 61 6e 64  |d any notes) and|
000003e0  20 74 68 65 6e 0d 79 6f  75 20 67 65 74 20 61 20  | then.you get a |
000003f0  6e 69 63 65 6c 79 20 6f  72 64 65 72 65 64 20 6c  |nicely ordered l|
00000400  69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6e  61 6d 65 73 20 61 6e 64  |ist of names and|
00000410  20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73  20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20  | numbers on the |
00000420  72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61  6e 64 0d 73 69 64 65 20  |right hand.side |
00000430  6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73  63 72 65 65 6e 20 61 6e  |of the screen an|
00000440  64 20 66 75 72 74 68 65  72 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c  |d further detail|
00000450  73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  20 6c 65 66 74 2e 20 4d  |s on the left. M|
00000460  75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65  20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c  |uch more friendl|
00000470  79 20 0d 74 68 61 6e 20  61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e  |y .than a person|
00000480  61 6c 20 6f 72 67 61 6e  69 73 65 72 2c 20 74 68  |al organiser, th|
00000490  65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e  20 63 61 6e 20 28 6c 69  |e screen can (li|
000004a0  6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f  74 68 65 72 29 20 62 65  |ke any other) be|
000004b0  20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64  20 0d 6f 75 74 2e 20 41  | printed .out. A|
000004c0  6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 79 20  61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20  |lso any address |
000004d0  63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 69  6e 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61  |can be incorpora|
000004e0  74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f  20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 20  |ted into a word |
000004f0  70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 6f  72 20 64 6f 63 75 2d 0d  |processor docu-.|
00000500  6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 54 68  69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6e  |ment. This is an|
00000510  6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72  6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 68  |other program th|
00000520  61 74 20 67 72 65 61 74  6c 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66  |at greatly benef|
00000530  69 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d  20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61  |its from immedia|
00000540  74 65 20 73 74 61 72 74  0d 75 70 20 74 69 6d 65  |te start.up time|
00000550  73 2e 0d 20 20 20 54 68  65 20 64 69 61 72 79 20  |s..   The diary |
00000560  61 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 79  6f 75 20 74 6f 20 6b 65  |allows you to ke|
00000570  65 70 20 74 72 61 63 6b  20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72  |ep track of your|
00000580  20 62 75 73 79 20 6c 69  66 65 2e 20 20 52 65 67  | busy life.  Reg|
00000590  75 6c 61 72 0d 61 70 70  6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74  |ular.appointment|
000005a0  73 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65  20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c  |s can be schedul|
000005b0  65 64 20 6f 72 20 69 6e  64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c  |ed or individual|
000005c0  20 6f 6e 65 73 20 63 61  6e 20 62 65 20 65 6e 74  | ones can be ent|
000005d0  65 72 65 64 2e 20 59 6f  75 0d 68 61 76 65 20 62  |ered. You.have b|
000005e0  6f 74 68 20 61 20 77 65  65 6b 20 69 6e 20 64 65  |oth a week in de|
000005f0  74 61 69 6c 20 28 6f 6e  20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67  |tail (on the rig|
00000600  68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68  65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e  |ht of the screen|
00000610  29 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20  6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 61 74  |) and a month at|
00000620  20 61 0d 67 6c 61 6e 63  65 20 28 6f 6e 20 74 68  | a.glance (on th|
00000630  65 20 6c 65 66 74 29 2e  20 41 6c 61 72 6d 73 20  |e left). Alarms |
00000640  63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 61  74 74 61 63 68 65 64 20  |can be attached |
00000650  74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61  70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65  |to the appointme|
00000660  6e 74 73 20 73 6f 20 74  68 61 74 20 0d 74 68 65  |nts so that .the|
00000670  20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65  72 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61  | computer will a|
00000680  75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63  61 6c 6c 79 20 73 77 69  |utomatically swi|
00000690  74 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 61  6e 64 20 61 6c 65 72 74  |tch on and alert|
000006a0  20 79 6f 75 2e 20 49 20  72 61 72 65 6c 79 20 75  | you. I rarely u|
000006b0  73 65 64 20 0d 74 68 65  73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73  |sed .these and s|
000006c0  6f 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72  20 66 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f  |o, after four mo|
000006d0  6e 74 68 73 2c 20 74 68  65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20  |nths, they went |
000006e0  6f 6e 20 73 74 72 69 6b  65 2e 20 4a 61 6e 75 61  |on strike. Janua|
000006f0  72 79 20 74 68 65 20 66  69 72 73 74 0d 49 20 62  |ry the first.I b|
00000700  65 6c 69 65 76 65 2c 20  64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 74  |elieve, due to t|
00000710  68 65 20 4d 69 6c 6c 65  6e 6e 69 75 6d 20 42 75  |he Millennium Bu|
00000720  67 2e 20 42 75 74 20 74  68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20  |g. But that was |
00000730  61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61  73 20 69 74 20 77 65 6e  |as far as it wen|
00000740  74 2e 20 49 0d 66 6f 75  6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20  |t. I.found this |
00000750  70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20  61 20 72 65 61 6c 20 62  |program a real b|
00000760  6f 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e  20 49 20 66 69 72 73 74  |oon when I first|
00000770  20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65  20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65  | got the machine|
00000780  3a 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 72  65 0d 62 69 74 73 20 6f  |: no more.bits o|
00000790  66 20 70 61 70 65 72 20  68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20  |f paper hanging |
000007a0  61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d  79 20 64 65 73 6b 2c 20  |around my desk, |
000007b0  6e 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20  72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20  |nor the risk of |
000007c0  66 6f 72 67 65 74 74 69  6e 67 20 61 6e 0d 61 70  |forgetting an.ap|
000007d0  70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e  74 2e 20 4a 75 73 74 20  |pointment. Just |
000007e0  66 6c 69 63 6b 20 74 68  65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e  |flick the machin|
000007f0  65 20 6f 6e 20 62 65 66  6f 72 65 20 49 20 67 6f  |e on before I go|
00000800  20 74 6f 20 62 65 64 20  61 6e 64 20 73 65 65 20  | to bed and see |
00000810  77 68 61 74 20 49 0d 68  61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64  |what I.have to d|
00000820  6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65  78 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20  |o the next day. |
00000830  53 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20  65 6c 65 67 61 6e 74 20  |Such an elegant |
00000840  73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e  20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77  |solution to my w|
00000850  6f 72 72 69 65 73 2e 0d  20 20 20 54 68 65 20 63  |orries..   The c|
00000860  61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 6f  72 20 69 73 2c 20 70 65  |alculator is, pe|
00000870  72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 61  20 62 69 74 20 73 75 70  |rhaps, a bit sup|
00000880  65 72 66 6c 75 6f 75 73  2e 20 49 74 20 6a 75 73  |erfluous. It jus|
00000890  74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20  69 66 20 74 68 65 0d 6b  |t means if the.k|
000008a0  65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 20  69 73 20 77 69 74 68 69  |eyboard is withi|
000008b0  6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 2c  20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69  |n reach, there i|
000008c0  73 20 6e 6f 20 6e 65 65  64 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 65  |s no need to ope|
000008d0  6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64  72 61 77 65 72 20 74 6f  |n your drawer to|
000008e0  20 72 65 61 63 68 0d 66  6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63  | reach.for the c|
000008f0  61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 6f  72 2e 20 45 69 74 68 65  |alculator. Eithe|
00000900  72 20 73 63 69 65 6e 74  69 66 69 63 20 6f 72 20  |r scientific or |
00000910  62 61 73 69 63 20 76 69  65 77 73 20 61 72 65 20  |basic views are |
00000920  61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 2c  20 61 6e 64 0d 74 68 65  |allowed, and.the|
00000930  20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d  20 69 73 20 61 63 63 65  | program is acce|
00000940  73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 66  72 6f 6d 20 62 6f 74 68  |ssible from both|
00000950  20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72  64 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73  | the word proces|
00000960  73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20  74 68 65 20 73 70 72 65  |sor and the spre|
00000970  61 64 2d 0d 73 68 65 65  74 2e 20 49 74 20 77 61  |ad-.sheet. It wa|
00000980  73 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61  70 73 2c 20 61 20 62 69  |s, perhaps, a bi|
00000990  74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77  61 73 74 65 20 6f 66 20  |t of a waste of |
000009a0  63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72  20 70 6f 77 65 72 2c 20  |computer power, |
000009b0  74 68 6f 75 67 68 3a 20  49 20 0d 77 6f 75 6c 64  |though: I .would|
000009c0  20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65  65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20  | have been more |
000009d0  69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65  64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76  |impressed to hav|
000009e0  65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 73  6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64  |e seen some kind|
000009f0  20 6f 66 20 73 63 72 61  74 63 68 70 61 64 20 6f  | of scratchpad o|
00000a00  6e 20 0d 74 68 65 20 73  63 69 65 6e 74 69 66 69  |n .the scientifi|
00000a10  63 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e  20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67  |c option showing|
00000a20  20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65  20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75  | all the previou|
00000a30  73 20 63 61 6c 63 75 6c  61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61  |s calculations a|
00000a40  6e 64 20 61 6e 73 77 65  72 73 2c 0d 70 6f 73 73  |nd answers,.poss|
00000a50  69 62 6c 79 20 77 69 74  68 20 61 6e 6e 6f 74 61  |ibly with annota|
00000a60  74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 54  68 69 73 20 69 73 20 72  |tions. This is r|
00000a70  61 72 65 6c 79 20 61 76  61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20  |arely available |
00000a80  6f 6e 20 6c 6f 77 2d 74  65 63 68 20 63 61 6c 63  |on low-tech calc|
00000a90  75 2d 0d 6c 61 74 6f 72  73 2e 20 53 74 69 6c 6c  |u-.lators. Still|
00000aa0  20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65  61 20 69 73 2c 20 6f 66  | the idea is, of|
00000ab0  20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c  20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f  | course, that yo|
00000ac0  75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65  |u shouldn't have|
00000ad0  20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 76  65 20 0d 74 68 65 20 63  | to leave .the c|
00000ae0  6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20  74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 20  |omputer to do a |
00000af0  63 61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74  69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64  |calculation, and|
00000b00  20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73  20 69 74 73 20 6a 6f 62  | it does its job|
00000b10  20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 0d 20  20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69  | well..   The fi|
00000b20  6e 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64  20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c  |nal, and possibl|
00000b30  79 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 63  72 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c  |y most critical,|
00000b40  20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d  20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20  | program is the |
00000b50  66 69 6c 65 20 6d 61 6e  61 67 65 72 2e 0d 49 74  |file manager..It|
00000b60  20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f  20 76 65 72 79 20 73 74  | is also very st|
00000b70  72 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f  72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 42  |raightforward. B|
00000b80  69 67 20 62 75 74 74 6f  6e 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74  |ig buttons point|
00000b90  20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  20 63 6f 70 79 69 6e 67  | out the copying|
00000ba0  2c 20 64 65 6c 2d 0d 65  74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64  |, del-.eting and|
00000bb0  20 61 72 63 68 69 76 69  6e 67 20 66 75 6e 63 74  | archiving funct|
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00000c60  6e 67 20 62 65 68 69 6e  64 20 74 68 65 20 73 63  |ng behind the sc|
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00000cf0  6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 73  70 61 63 65 73 20 61 6e  |luding spaces an|
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00000d40  61 72 65 20 69 6e 76 69  73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f  |are invisible to|
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00000dd0  65 61 74 73 20 65 76 65  6e 20 57 69 6e 64 6f 77  |eats even Window|
00000de0  73 0d 39 38 20 28 77 68  69 63 68 20 69 73 20 73  |s.98 (which is s|
00000df0  74 69 6c 6c 20 76 69 73  69 62 6c 79 20 64 6f 73  |till visibly dos|
00000e00  20 62 61 73 65 64 29 2e  20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20  | based). What's |
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00000e30  20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73  6b 2c 20 66 69 6c 65 73  | the disk, files|
00000e40  20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20  74 72 61 6e 73 66 65 72  | can be transfer|
00000e50  72 65 64 20 62 65 74 77  65 65 6e 20 50 43 20 61  |red between PC a|
00000e60  6e 64 20 50 63 57 2c 20  61 6e 64 20 0d 62 61 63  |nd PcW, and .bac|
00000e70  6b 75 70 73 20 63 61 6e  20 28 69 66 20 79 6f 75  |kups can (if you|
00000e80  20 77 69 73 68 29 20 62  65 20 64 75 6d 70 65 64  | wish) be dumped|
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00000ec0  20 20 20 41 73 20 49 20  6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65  |   As I mentione|
00000ed0  64 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65  72 2c 20 69 74 20 61 6c  |d earlier, it al|
00000ee0  73 6f 20 69 6e 63 6c 75  64 65 73 20 61 20 71 75  |so includes a qu|
00000ef0  69 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20  65 61 73 79 20 62 61 63  |ick and easy bac|
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00000f50  75 70 20 6f 66 20 74 65  61 2e 20 42 65 66 6f 72  |up of tea. Befor|
00000f60  65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65  20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65  |e you've finishe|
00000f70  64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73  63 6f 6e 65 2c 20 79 6f  |d your scone, yo|
00000f80  75 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 76  65 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70  |u'll have a comp|
00000f90  6c 65 74 65 0d 73 79 73  74 65 6d 20 73 6e 61 70  |lete.system snap|
00000fa0  73 68 6f 74 20 61 6e 64  20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61  |shot and that wa|
00000fb0  72 6d 2c 20 66 75 7a 7a  79 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e  |rm, fuzzy feelin|
00000fc0  67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  20 70 69 74 20 6f 66 20  |g in the pit of |
00000fd0  79 6f 75 72 20 62 65 6c  6c 79 0d 74 68 61 74 20  |your belly.that |
00000fe0  73 61 79 73 20 63 6f 6d  65 20 77 68 61 74 20 6d  |says come what m|
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00001020  67 20 0d 69 6e 73 74 65  61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68  |g .instead of th|
00001030  65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20  61 6e 64 20 64 69 72 74  |e quick and dirt|
00001040  79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61  63 68 20 4d 69 63 72 6f  |y approach Micro|
00001050  73 6f 66 74 20 61 64 6f  70 74 65 64 2e 20 46 6f  |soft adopted. Fo|
00001060  72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69  72 73 74 0d 74 69 6d 65  |r the first.time|
00001070  3a 20 61 20 73 74 61 6e  64 61 72 64 20 73 74 6f  |: a standard sto|
00001080  72 61 67 65 20 66 6f 72  6d 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f  |rage format allo|
00001090  77 69 6e 67 20 65 61 73  79 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67  |wing easy storag|
000010a0  65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c  20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69  |e of all your fi|
000010b0  6c 65 73 0d 61 6e 64 20  65 76 65 72 79 20 73 79  |les.and every sy|
000010c0  73 74 65 6d 20 73 65 74  74 69 6e 67 2e 20 4a 75  |stem setting. Ju|
000010d0  73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  57 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 2c  |st like Windows,|
000010e0  20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c  20 63 72 61 73 68 20 65  | it will crash e|
000010f0  76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 0d  6f 66 74 65 6e 2e 20 53  |very so.often. S|
00001100  6f 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74  73 20 6e 6f 77 3a 20 49  |ome stats now: I|
00001110  20 68 61 76 65 20 75 73  65 64 20 69 74 20 6d 6f  | have used it mo|
00001120  73 74 20 64 61 79 73 20  66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20  |st days for the |
00001130  70 61 73 74 20 79 65 61  72 3b 20 69 74 0d 68 61  |past year; it.ha|
00001140  73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65  74 65 6c 79 20 63 72 61  |s completely cra|
00001150  73 68 65 64 20 61 72 6f  75 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 72  |shed around four|
00001160  20 74 69 6d 65 73 3b 20  74 68 72 65 65 20 6f 66  | times; three of|
00001170  20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74  69 6d 65 73 20 49 20 77  | those times I w|
00001180  61 73 0d 6a 75 73 74 20  74 65 61 73 69 6e 67 20  |as.just teasing |
00001190  69 74 3b 20 49 20 68 61  76 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 20  |it; I have lost |
000011a0  61 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20  6f 66 20 66 69 76 65 20  |a total of five |
000011b0  28 6e 6f 6e 2d 65 73 73  65 6e 74 69 61 6c 29 20  |(non-essential) |
000011c0  66 69 6c 65 73 2e 20 53  6f 20 49 0d 68 61 76 65  |files. So I.have|
000011d0  20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20  65 76 65 72 79 20 66 69  | almost every fi|
000011e0  6c 65 20 49 20 68 61 76  65 20 63 72 65 61 74 65  |le I have create|
000011f0  64 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c  6f 61 64 65 64 2c 20 65  |d, downloaded, e|
00001200  64 69 74 65 64 20 61 6e  64 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65  |dited and printe|
00001210  64 0d 66 6f 72 20 74 68  65 20 70 61 73 74 20 79  |d.for the past y|
00001220  65 61 72 2e 20 41 6e 64  20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20  |ear. And I have |
00001230  6e 65 76 65 72 20 6f 6e  63 65 20 64 65 6c 65 74  |never once delet|
00001240  65 64 20 61 20 66 69 6c  65 2e 20 48 6f 77 20 6d  |ed a file. How m|
00001250  75 63 68 20 73 70 61 63  65 0d 68 61 73 20 74 68  |uch space.has th|
00001260  69 73 20 77 61 6e 74 6f  6e 20 69 6e 65 66 66 69  |is wanton ineffi|
00001270  63 69 65 6e 63 79 20 63  6f 6e 73 75 6d 65 64 3f  |ciency consumed?|
00001280  20 4f 6e 20 6d 79 20 50  43 20 49 20 74 61 6b 65  | On my PC I take|
00001290  20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20  76 65 72 79 20 65 61 73  | things very eas|
000012a0  79 0d 62 75 74 20 68 61  76 65 20 73 65 76 65 72  |y.but have sever|
000012b0  61 6c 20 47 69 67 73 20  6f 66 20 64 61 74 61 2e  |al Gigs of data.|
000012c0  20 4f 6e 20 6d 79 20 50  63 57 20 49 20 68 61 76  | On my PcW I hav|
000012d0  65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20  6f 6e 63 65 20 74 72 69  |e never once tri|
000012e0  65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61  76 65 0d 73 70 61 63 65  |ed to save.space|
000012f0  20 61 6e 64 20 79 65 74  20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68  | and yet in a wh|
00001300  6f 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72  20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20  |ole year I have |
00001310  66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 6a  75 73 74 20 35 30 25 20  |filled just 50% |
00001320  6f 66 20 61 20 73 69 6e  67 6c 65 20 66 6c 6f 70  |of a single flop|
00001330  70 79 0d 64 69 73 6b 2e  20 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20  |py.disk. I must |
00001340  65 6d 70 68 61 73 69 73  65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65  |emphasise I have|
00001350  20 73 61 76 65 64 20 65  76 65 72 79 20 62 79 74  | saved every byt|
00001360  65 20 6f 66 20 64 61 74  61 20 49 20 68 61 76 65  |e of data I have|
00001370  20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65  64 2e 0d 45 76 65 72 79  | produced..Every|
00001380  20 6c 65 74 74 65 72 20  49 20 68 61 76 65 20 77  | letter I have w|
00001390  72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 28  74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72  |ritten (there ar|
000013a0  65 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79  29 2c 20 65 76 65 72 79  |e plenty), every|
000013b0  20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70  65 20 49 27 76 65 20 0d  | envelope I've .|
000013c0  74 79 70 65 64 2c 20 65  76 65 72 79 20 73 74 61  |typed, every sta|
000013d0  74 69 73 74 69 63 20 49  27 76 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c  |tistic I've coll|
000013e0  65 63 74 65 64 20 61 6e  64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20  |ected and every |
000013f0  70 65 6e 6e 79 20 74 61  6b 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d  |penny taken from|
00001400  20 6d 79 20 0d 61 63 63  6f 75 6e 74 20 68 61 73  | my .account has|
00001410  20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 74  6f 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20  | been stored in |
00001420  6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 64  65 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 4d  |minute detail. M|
00001430  79 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65  20 6c 69 66 65 20 66 6f  |y entire life fo|
00001440  72 20 74 68 65 20 70 61  73 74 20 0d 79 65 61 72  |r the past .year|
00001450  20 65 78 69 73 74 73 20  69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 74  | exists inside t|
00001460  68 61 74 20 6d 61 63 68  69 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 6a  |hat machine in j|
00001470  75 73 74 20 30 2e 37 20  4d 62 2e 20 49 20 63 68  |ust 0.7 Mb. I ch|
00001480  61 6c 6c 65 6e 67 65 20  61 6e 79 20 50 43 20 74  |allenge any PC t|
00001490  6f 20 0d 63 6f 6d 70 65  74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20  |o .compete with |
000014a0  74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e  64 20 6f 66 20 65 66 66  |that kind of eff|
000014b0  69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 2e  20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73  |iciency. The las|
000014c0  74 20 66 6f 75 72 20 57  6f 72 64 20 64 6f 63 75  |t four Word docu|
000014d0  6d 65 6e 74 73 20 49 0d  70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64  |ments I.produced|
000014e0  20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 75 70  20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 6f  | took up more ro|
000014f0  6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20  74 68 61 74 2e 20 50 65  |om that that. Pe|
00001500  6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 6e 6c  79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 20  |ople only laugh |
00001510  61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73  69 7a 65 20 6f 66 0d 66  |at the size of.f|
00001520  6c 6f 70 70 79 20 64 69  73 6b 73 20 62 65 63 61  |loppy disks beca|
00001530  75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79  20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63  |use they don't c|
00001540  6f 6d 70 72 65 68 65 6e  64 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75  |omprehend how mu|
00001550  63 68 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20  31 2e 34 34 20 4d 62 20  |ch room 1.44 Mb |
00001560  69 73 2e 20 0d 54 68 65  79 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64  |is. .They includ|
00001570  65 64 20 6d 65 2e 0d 20  20 20 53 6f 20 69 73 20  |ed me..   So is |
00001580  69 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68  20 69 74 3f 20 41 6c 6c  |it worth it? All|
00001590  20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73  61 79 20 69 73 20 74 68  | I can say is th|
000015a0  61 74 20 69 74 20 64 65  70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e  |at it depends on|
000015b0  20 79 6f 75 2e 20 46 69  72 73 74 2c 0d 74 68 65  | you. First,.the|
000015c0  20 63 6f 73 74 2e 20 43  6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20  | cost. Compared |
000015d0  74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72  20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73  |to other systems|
000015e0  2c 20 69 74 20 69 73 20  63 68 65 61 70 20 61 6e  |, it is cheap an|
000015f0  64 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65  73 20 77 68 61 74 20 61  |d it does what a|
00001600  20 6c 6f 74 20 0d 6f 66  20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  | lot .of people |
00001610  77 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 20  69 74 20 69 73 20 65 78  |want so it is ex|
00001620  63 65 6c 6c 65 6e 74 20  76 61 6c 75 65 2e 20 46  |cellent value. F|
00001630  6f 72 20 6d 65 20 61 74  20 6c 65 61 73 74 2c 20  |or me at least, |
00001640  69 74 20 68 61 73 0d 61  63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20  |it has.actually |
00001650  70 61 69 64 20 66 6f 72  20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20  |paid for itself |
00001660  73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20  74 69 6d 65 73 20 6f 76  |several times ov|
00001670  65 72 20 77 68 69 63 68  20 6d 79 20 50 43 73 20  |er which my PCs |
00001680  68 61 76 65 20 6e 65 76  65 72 0d 64 6f 6e 65 2e  |have never.done.|
00001690  20 4e 6f 77 20 49 20 64  6f 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61  | Now I do need a|
000016a0  20 50 43 20 66 6f 72 20  74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65  | PC for the inte|
000016b0  72 6e 65 74 20 61 6e 64  20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d  |rnet and program|
000016c0  6d 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64  20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20  |ming and so the |
000016d0  0d 41 6d 73 74 72 61 64  20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74  |.Amstrad makes t|
000016e0  68 65 20 70 65 72 66 65  63 74 20 73 65 63 6f 6e  |he perfect secon|
000016f0  64 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74  65 72 2e 20 56 69 72 75  |d computer. Viru|
00001700  73 20 66 72 65 65 20 61  6e 64 20 61 20 73 74 61  |s free and a sta|
00001710  62 6c 65 20 0d 65 6e 76  69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74  |ble .environment|
00001720  2c 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74  20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f  |, I just have to|
00001730  20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75  72 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68  | make sure anyth|
00001740  69 6e 67 20 69 6d 70 6f  72 74 61 6e 74 20 67 6f  |ing important go|
00001750  65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68  65 20 0d 50 63 57 21 20  |es on the .PcW! |
00001760  54 6f 20 62 65 20 66 61  69 72 2c 20 69 74 20 77  |To be fair, it w|
00001770  61 73 20 61 20 66 69 72  73 74 20 65 64 69 74 69  |as a first editi|
00001780  6f 6e 20 6d 61 63 68 69  6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 69  |on machine and i|
00001790  74 20 62 65 68 61 76 65  73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f  |t behaves like o|
000017a0  6e 65 2e 0d 54 68 65 72  65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73  |ne..There were s|
000017b0  6f 6d 65 20 69 6d 70 72  6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73  |ome improvements|
000017c0  20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f  75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65  | that could have|
000017d0  20 62 65 65 6e 20 6d 61  64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 62  | been made and b|
000017e0  75 67 73 20 74 68 61 74  20 0d 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  |ugs that .should|
000017f0  20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65  65 6e 20 65 6c 69 6d 69  | have been elimi|
00001800  6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 75  74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68  |nated but, in th|
00001810  65 20 6f 76 65 72 61 6c  6c 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63  |e overall balanc|
00001820  65 2c 20 69 74 20 62 65  61 74 73 20 74 68 65 20  |e, it beats the |
00001830  50 43 0d 68 61 6e 64 73  20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 46  |PC.hands down. F|
00001840  6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72  |or people who ar|
00001850  65 20 73 63 65 70 74 69  63 61 6c 20 61 62 6f 75  |e sceptical abou|
00001860  74 20 57 69 6e 74 65 6c  20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73  |t Wintel systems|
00001870  2c 20 69 74 20 6d 61 6b  65 73 0d 66 6f 72 20 61  |, it makes.for a|
00001880  20 67 6f 6f 64 20 73 79  73 74 65 6d 2e 20 42 75  | good system. Bu|
00001890  74 20 69 73 20 69 74 20  62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74  |t is it better t|
000018a0  68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20  45 6c 65 63 74 72 6f 6e  |han the Electron|
000018b0  3f 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20  74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73  |? Well, that was|
000018c0  20 6d 79 0d 66 69 72 73  74 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74  | my.first comput|
000018d0  65 72 2e 20 27 4e 75 66  66 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0d  |er. 'Nuff said..|
000018e0  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  |                |
*
00001910  20 20 20 20 52 6f 73 73  20 4c 69 74 74 6c 65 2c  |    Ross Little,|
00001920  20 45 55 47 20 23 35 34  0d                       | EUG #54.|
00001929
R/+AMSTR2.m0
R/+AMSTR2.m1
R/+AMSTR2.m2
R/+AMSTR2.m4
R/+AMSTR2.m5

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