(C), Konstantin Breeders
SPECTRUM
compatible (?)
Computer literacy
This article I decided to write not by accident, because
in our time has divorced a lot of computers based on Spectrum,
and each has its advantages and disadvantages. And from the
handouts still unclear what exactly actually better, because
producers obtained as in the proverb: "Every
frog my swamp praises. "Situation
even worse, the USER'y divided into several camps of fans
of a machine, and each mumbles
his own. All this and gave me the idea
sober explanation of the situation.
Let's start "flushing the bones" from the old
and the order of the sensational PENTAGON'a.
PENTAGON 128 (48-model will not be considered because it
has virtually disappeared from use.) My eyes came across two
versions of this machine. First and the oldest model of the
Soviet fleet SPECTRUM'ov memory has more than 48k
on-board controller drive interface
for the printer, but with all this missing Kempston joystick
(no great loss) and a music processor. Missing connects a
separate board, after which the computer appears a number of
extra wires. But in the second model (PENTAGON 128-03, which
appeared Recently sold out) all these problems are eliminated.
Now the board has all and, in the words, realized TURBO-SH. The
first PENTAGON (for simplicity I will call them
by numbers) has, I believe, two gadskih properties. Property
number one - do not coincidence of timing with the screen
SPECTRUM'om, produced once abroad. As a result Multicolor
effects that were made for the "native" SPECCY,
either absent or appear as a
by ... But the trouble is not only a multicolor,
still happens and sprites in games pomigivayut.
Play-ka in ARKANOID 2 or BATMAN 2 ...
That feel the difference? Fortunately,
second PENTAGON'e of this outrage
disposed of. That's, like, and suggests
the idea that the second something better PENTAGON
first, yes there it was! During that time,
while smart people puzzled over the second
PENTAGON'om, our coders "nalyapali" programs under the first
device. And now we have what was the first one to PENTAGON'a
programs for the "native" SPECCY, ie inoperability of the first
multicolor PENT'a on other machines, including on
second PENTAGON'e. But here people are having
Computers SCORPION, ATM-TURBO, and more
some models, began to sob combustible
tears of programs written in (for)
PENT'yuhe (a). This flow of tears would not cease to this day.
And blame it all port configuration is rather incorrect use
encoders and these same coders. But in his own defense
they say that it all works fine on the company's SPECTRUM'e.
Ha! And let me ask you, how much is actually people saw the
brand best samples of this miracle machines? That all? Now let
still ask something. Why, in the
All imported programs use
Port # 7FFD, rather than # FD? Without waiting for the answer:
because all instructions port configurations listed under the
address and # 7FFD no footnotes as to what bits are required to
activate the port no. So in fact know where you can rolled
away? Someone may ask: "Why does it all
work? "All this works because
on a simple 128th computer schematic
simplified decoding paging port and
required for successful control of two bits, which is available
at PENTAGON'ah. This reduces the
the number of chips, and accordingly,
price of the unit. But if you decide to hang on to his "friend"
is something else, then you It is worth pondering that page
port and your new port is not in conflict.
This was done on SCORP'ah and ATM'ah,
ie increased the number of controllable bits.
The same goes for memory expansion PENT'a to 512k. Increase the
memory in his PENTAGON'a (if you have one), and
then run some DIGITAL
STUDIO. Well, what is the reaction to the sound
DIGITAL'a? And so there were no such glitches
extra memory must be disabled, and all this
due to the Malfunction of paging port and muses. processor.
Here we found another flaw.
And at the expense of the port # FD perfectly described in
Section ASSEMBLER magazine "ZX-FORMAT 3"
SOVSEM POSLEDNEY chapter!
To all this there is a PENTAGON'e
one (?) glitch. This is how well it was said somewhere, its
"rubber" interrupt. Ie more than normal is cycles
CPU between interrupts (and put 70000). Than with the success
enjoyed by some friends (who we do not comrades). If you want
to see that the it turns out, first look at
the work of these fellows (or gentlemen) at the
PENTAGON'e, and then on another computer,
which is normal (?) reacts to the port
# FD. For example: Take the game NAVY SEALS
with the loader on PRESTIGE.
With PENTAGON'om, like, all time
do SCORPION'om. What can I say
about the invention ... Particular attention to
currently attracts shady monitor the machine. It is more
powerful than the famous STS, although it appeared earlier.
They really well something "to prick" or track
errors in their (or others) programs.
There, in the monitor can be done ka
Kie any operation on a disk (eg,
format the drive with inherited muzykalkami) popechatat
something on a printer indulge regime TURBO (if implemented),
etc. etc. A significant drawback of this monitor is occupied by
the volume. It is located in a separate 16k ROM and, in
addition, prihvatyvaet part of the memory TR-DOS and other
firmware. In consequence of that, there is no possibility to
change any part of the ROM. Another trouble on that computer -
TR-DOS. When you leave from the main menus in TR-DOS, then
it starts shipping "boot". But if
"Boot'a" no, or pressing BREAK,
computer just reset, but if
realized an error message. To
everything else, thanks to some changes
in TR-DOS, some downloaders in the programs do not work. But
what is most in This computer glitch - a port of additional
configuration # 1FFD (when you try to spend some machinations
Port # FD). Mr Zonov made a big mistake when he decided to
establish its port with address # 1FFD. And generally, when
do something extra to komp'u, it is necessary
to hide his extra ports farther away, as was done in TURBO 2 +.
Here we reached and memory Scorpion. Those
256k, which are available for SCORP'a by anyone and
nothing more than not used in practice (mainly shadow and
monitor operating system CP / M). True, in this most CP / M
work program with other computers
but using standard procedures. But
here is still not clear why this
CP / M on SCORP'e? How do I know all software for CP / M for 80
characters in a row, but on a simple screen Spectrum
can realize a maximum of 64 characters
(I mean the readable text / maybe
I'm wrong, but still after 80 characters per line and a CP / M
on ATM'e on SCORP'e it looks ugly /).
Turn came up "big" cars.
In this article, will be affected only
computers from the family of ATM-TURBO (PROFI
I unfortunately could not find).
Thus, ATM-TURBO, manufactured by ATM, distinguished from
the variety SPECTRUM'ov presence of CP / M and additional
graphics modes (320x200, each point with a different color,
640x200 two colors on one znakoryad). Ports of additional bells
and whistles available to the user of SPECTRUM-mode, which
leads to horror when you do appeal to some
"Left" port (# FD, for example). More
improved model - ATM-TURBO 2.
It became possible to connect:
keyboard from IBM, Winchester, HAYES-compatible modem. A well
was added 80x25 character text display and an opportunity to
increase the RAM to PC one megabyte. After some problems
ATM firm and developers of computer, all
right to the car moved to the firm MicroArt.
Here and there was TURBO 2 +. Has been altered
IBM-controller keyboard (because of this
on ATM-TURBO 2, some programs in CP / M
have not worked with Claudia). All additional port
configurations vserazlichnyh were hidden from the random data
that increased compatibility with the company
SPECTRUM'om. But then there was another
problem. Guys BIOS developers for
TURBO 2 + befoul TR-DOS, which is why some programs do not load
or in the future, when referring to drive,
hang (the problem as that of the Scorpion). It seems that
MicroArt quite sick trumpet. Even in the intro, where the
selected CP / M or SPECTRUM, jumping title this firm. And after
some waiting in intro text appears in the advertising content,
which again referred to the firm MicroArt and discusses its
steepness. Intersnyh, if you remove all of this, it might
TR-DOS will work as expected. But despite
to all claims in this komp'e good
Shaw made the PLL. That's where the really
improves reading "rotten" drives (personally I do not have
this, do not read other people's disks, which would not be the
drive). What else is worth special mention, since this
additional memory on this machine. In Unlike previous komp'ov
here any page RAM can be installed on any
address (# 0000, # 4000, # 8000 or # C000),
that makes the machine more flexible. And also
there is a possibility you can install ROMdisk 64 kBt, where
you can sew anything should useful. But this machine is another
claim, or rather to those who do program for CP / M-mode.
Recoverable, for example, PRINCE OF PERSIA or GOBLINS. Well
before too toys brake that is already sick. Well, one can not
do so, so only you can opozorit opportunities
machine. Must at least occasionally to write programs in
assembler, rather than Pascal or C (B), there is a non-IBM
Intel- 486DX4/100.
Because on the street and the house is impossible because
of the terrible heat and work generally have no desire to, I'll
start "Call it a day" article. And in the end,
Look at the results of tests your computer to a TURBO and
NORMAL (perhaps someone will need it).
but this is not the end ...
ca.: JC - Jemmini Commander
TEST - test is placed in our
Journal
ZX-BENCHMARK - test program
Journal of the ZX-FORMAT (this
bad program from my special
opinion. And so, with whom she still is,
My advice - erase!)
* - This data was obtained on
TURBO 2 +, with a connected IBM-cluster
viaturoy.
When turbirovanie PENTAGON'ov, values
radiation at different komp'ah different.
So, in a table column TURBO
ON - the value of one particular
case.
Up what you read here. Something really
article came out with the direction to search for deficiencies
of a car. But Still would like to have been made
any conclusions.
And finally, my advice:
... If you just USER or GAMER, who wants to play, but small
capital, or DEMOMAKER, which seeks to shove
the entire program in one interrupt, then
will suit you PENTAGON (cheap and cheerful).
... If you hurry, and if
in order to be considered cool by a hacker
you something is missing, or if there is
hunt to find all the "glitches" in their new
development, then take the SCORPION, yes
newer, you will not regret. But do not forget
to put the switch, the blocking port
# 1FFD.
... And if you're interested in something to investigate if
the graphics are burning desire ponaslazhdatsya steeper than
SPECTRUM'e, or you can do something very cool with the steeper
possibilities if you dream about IBM'e,
but no money for its purchase, then
buy (ATM) TURBO 2 + (but not below
version 7.00).
*
