(C) DUDE.
Music: DUDE (C) Mitchell / LS (R) DGN
Hold on, dude!
(BRAVO).
DO "PROFI" perspective?
I do not know whether I will make a sensation his message,
but says: firm "CONDOR" scored its offspring (ie, a computer
"PROFI"), leaving everyone to fend for themselves. So, let's
look at things a sober look.
In the best case, the user has:
- 1 MB of RAM;
- COM port;
- Winchester;
- Built-in printer;
- Nonvolatile clock
(Their designation "PROFI" not at all clear)
and all this (I am not afraid of that word!) turbocharged
"To asses" computer.
At worst (according to my sources):
- 512K RAM;
- A printer port.
Go to any version of the computer (3, 4, 5) can be
dock:
- DAC "COVOX";
- Programmer;
- HT-controller keyboard.
ALL !!!!!!
What he did "CONDOR" to "PROFI", and then connects. No one
else did not develop. Well, to the fourth and fifth versions
can be connected via SOMport MS-mouse, modems for "PROFI"
Nobody, I think, do not enjoy.
Let's look at the dominant (to date) platform
Scorpion-compatible machines.
Customers who prefer this machine can connect:
- General Sound;
- Controller SMUC (HDD 'IBM-slot);
- IBM-controller keyboard and mouse;
- Programmer "PROSCO";
- Interface card MIDI-SC;
- XTR-modem.
And finally, most importantly: Members Scorpion'a
have the prospect! (Question of the cost of peripherals
I omitted.)
Agree that communication capabilities
"PROFI" look at this background, "a few" palely. However, it
should be noted that almost all units are serviced Scorpion
system TR-DOS (Disk). Operating system, as such, simply does
not exist. Each unit is written own program, which is
essentially a miniature operating system, which eliminates the
change in the program for external users. Or the device has its
own ROM, which generally complicates the task of any upgrades.
In "PROFI" is somewhat different. Additional peripherals
running Drivers from the CP / M, exception is only
Controller CT-keyboard - it contains its own ROM. Rewriting the
driver can easily modify the program.
Someone may say: "try and rewrite the driver."
About this later.
But the problem is not the point. Case that
from the end of 95-year was not issued a single device
"PROFI"!!! Devices connected to "PROFI" now (ie, within 96 th)
have been developed not for him exactly, but to "the family of
Spectrum-compatible machines (tipa Pentagon'ov). Enumerate a
few that I know of devices: - Kempston-Mouse,
- Sound Drive,
- Light pen,
- Various Modems
(Nothing else I know).
Yes, and I had long been clear that the devices to "PROFI" no
longer (I will be glad to know that wrong).
Those who have had the patience to read my
speculation to this point, I ask the question: Is it possible
to connect any any commercially available devices for such
components as "PROFI"? And the very same question to answer is:
Maybe.
My question sounded about the same
way, from the firm "Scorpion" I got the answer (although
somewhat unclear) that the "PROFI" can be connected: -
IBM-controller keyboard and mouse; - Fee General Sound;
- XTR-modem.
With a little refinement, the description in the brochure that
came with the controller SMUC, you can connect and him. "
*
Now approach the problem from the other side.
On "PROFI" There is no system connector, as
such, there is only a LPT-port (printer port, port
user's parallel port - you can call it
arbitrarily). On "Scorpion'e" has a full system connector,
which are derived signals processor data bus, address bus, some
auxiliary signals and power. All of the devices (or the vast
majority of them) are available per connection to him.
Moreover, such an approach is not original - for IBM internal
devices are connected in a similar way.
That 's the problem: how to be a system connector on the
"PROFI"?
I'm leaning towards the standard a la Scorpion,
as choice is not there. In addition, the connector connecting
the two boards "PROFI", most of the signals are already there.
Remains the missing signals, and will the system connector. By
the way, at any version of "PROFI" there is a place to install
a second connector (it is called SYS.BUS), on 3.XX versions
4.xx and it can be installed on any of the Motherboard - either
on top or the bottom. On the version 5.hh - only on the bottom.
And the firm "CONDOR" said that if the adapter mating to the
connector, you can connect any branded peripherals (but it was
written only in How to version 3.2). Adapter, this "live"
nobody has seen, apparently, the developers believed that
user bungled it myself, here it is necessary to give
they are solely responsible for: at least have provided the
ability to install it in a more or less acceptable location. On
the connector This is already available and the data bus and
address bus, and signal processor, but not buffered. Us
as users can only get a few necessary signals and how to
sbuferizirovat already available (options already). True, you
will need to figure out which of the devices may have a
conflict on ports. Ready to listen to alternative suggestions.
One more thing. Having a system bus, we
obtain the-shelf software support, but again
of defective TR-DOS'a, ie resources "PROFI" will not be used.
I will try to reflect on this theme ... Before
indignant cries were heard, they say, "CP / M and inhibits the
buggy for a smoke." Yes, it really so, but it applies to old
versions of the BIOS (Type v.2.2; v.2.26), which was moved to
"PROFI" with little or no adaptation. Now a new version 4.00
(there were also intermediate 3.30, 3.40; 3.50), in which the
most optimized all procedures, rewritten drivers and remove all
unnecessary. In this case, the shell DOS NAVIGATOR (it's
plugged in in the new version) is very fast even with a
disabled TURBO.
In addition, in the system: "... a lot added:
- Memory management system;
- New file function;
- A powerful command interpreter (almost as IBM),
accelerated function of the disk that is fundamentally changed
appeal to the driver disk - as a result of the exchange faster
and easier to write drivers! Changed loading and placement of
drivers - as a result of a lot is possible ... "
That I gave a statement of the author of the new system:
STAR SOFTWARE. And I hope that soon time he will tell us about
their new programs.
So there is a new field for
programmers in the CP / M, about which I know nothing (and not
just me).
Raises another question: how all the news of the world
"PROFI" to bring to the ears of users?? After all, the
coordinator, what was the "CONDOR", now no. Developers (Ay,
where are you? Probably extinct), and Connectors-modernizers
hard'a know nothing of any one about a friend or a new soft'e.
And users do not know anything about what changes occur to
their computer. Therefore, I propose to inform
All Categories PROFIstov "from the pages of this magazine. Why
this? Yes, because no one another (I've seen plenty of them:
OBERON; ZX-FORMAT; DEJA VU; MIRACLE; ODISSEY; ZX-POWER; SPECTRUM
EXPERT; about Spectrofon and ZX-REVIEW, you can forget)
"PROFI" not paying almost no attention, most are only watered
mud. And here at this computer assigned to an entire column.
All who are interested in my thoughts,
propose to write to the address:
300039 Tula str. Makarenko d.13 kv.114
Larionov Sergei Vladimirovich
or at the editorial office.
System connector Scorpion
contact signal contact signal
1A A15 1B A14
2A A13 2B A12
3A D7 3B +5 V
4A BLK 4B DOS 5A NO USE 5B NO USE
6A D0 6B GROUND
7A D1 7B GROUND
8A D2 8B RAS 9A D6 9B A0
10A D5 10B A1
11A D3 11B A2
12A D4 12B A3
13A INT-13B IORQGE 14A NMI-14B GROUND
15A HLT 15B RDR 16A MREQ-16B NO USE
17A IORQ-17B NO USE
18A RD-18B NO USE
19A WR-19B BRQ 20A NO USE 20B RES 21A WAIT-21B A7
22A NO USE 22B A6
23A NO USE 23B A5
24A M1-24B A4
25A RFSH-25B CSR 26A A8 26B BAK 27A A10 27B A9
28A NO USE 28B A11
29A NO USE 29B NO USE
30A GROUND 30B GROUND
SYS.BUS "PROFI" ver.5.XX
contact signal contact signal
1A NO USE 1B TURBO 2A LEFT 2B RIGHT
3A A14 3B A15
4A A12 4B A13
5A +5 V 5B D7
6A NO USE 6B NO USE
7A NO USE 7B NO USE
8A GROUND 8B D0
9A GROUND 9B D1
10A CLCAY 10B D2
11A A0 11B D6
12A A1 12B D5
13A A2 13B D3
14A A3 14B D4
15A OUTIORQ-15B INT 16A GROUND 16B NMI 17A-5V 17B HALT 18A NO
USE 18B MREQ 19A NO USE 19B IORQ 20A NO USE 20B RD 21A
BUSRQ-21B WR 22A RESET-22B 12mHz 23A A7 23B READY
24A A6 24B +12 V
25A A5 25B TIMER
26A A4 26B M1 27A ROMCS-27B REF
28A BUSAK-28B A8
29A A9 29B A10
30A A11 30B CP / M
31A ROM14 31B TR-DOS
32A SOUND 32B BLOK
SYS.BUS "PROFI" ver.4.XX
coincides with ver.3.XX
contact signal contact signal
1A NO USE 1B TURBO 2A LEFT 2B RIGHT
3A A14 3B A15
4A A12 4B A13
5A +5 V 5B D7
6A NO USE 6B NO USE
7A NO USE 7B NO USE
8A GROUND 8B D0
9A GROUND 9B D1
10A CLCAY 10B D2
11A A0 11B D6
12A A1 12B D5
13A A2 13B D3
14A A3 14B D4
15A OUTIORQ-15B INT 16A GROUND 16B NMI 17A NO USE 17B HALT 18A
NO USE 18B MREQ 19A NO USE 19B IORQ 20A NO USE 20B RD 21A
BUSRQ-21B WR 22A RESET-22B 12mHz 23A A7 23B READY
24A A6 24B +12 V
25A A5 25B NO USE
26A A4 26B M1 27A ROMCS-27B REF
28A BUSAK-28B A8
29A A9 29B A10
30A A11 30B CP / M
31A ROM14 31B TR-DOS
32A SOUND 32B BLOK
29B A10
30A A11 30B CP / M
31A ROM14 31B TR-DOS
32A SOUND 32B BLOK
hx