RGB Video
13 messages · 2008-02-27 → 2008-02-29 · Yahoo Group era · View archive on archive.org
Participants: Adam Trionfo, Robert "Exile In Paradise" Murphey, Glen Goodwin, Mark Scheck, Fred, Bill Loguidice
Preserved from the Timex/Sinclair 2068 Yahoo Group (2001–2019), which is no longer online. Text reproduced from the archive.org archive; email addresses masked.
Messages
1. "The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers" Book
Adam Trionfo · Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:42
My Timex/Sinclair library has expanded yet again with this book:
"The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers: The Only Book You'll Ever Need to Become an Expert at the Timex 1000 and 2000" by Peter Morse, Ian Adamson, Den Anrep and Brian Hancock.
This book was published in England with the title "The Century Computer Programming Course.” Although the U.S. version of this book implies that it covers the T/S 2068, it actually covers the Sinclair Spectrum. Even that is only covered in a thirty-seven page "special section." This book is 526 pages, which seems quite lengthy for a Home Computer book of this era (published in 1983).
The table of contents is six-pages long. Here is a summary of the table of contents:
Introduction
Part One: First Steps
Section A: The ZX81 Microcomputer System
Section B: Getting to Know the ZX81
Section C: Basic BASIC
Section D: Saving, Loading and Listing Programs
Section E: Improving the Program
Section F: A Game Interlude
Part Two: Essentials of BASIC Programming
Section G: Programming Methods I
Section H: Control
Section I: Printing
Section J: Arithmetic and Functions
Section K: Strings
Section L: Loops
Section M: Plotting
Section N: Subroutines
Part Three: Advanced BASIC Programming
Section O: Programming Methods II
Section P: The Character Set and Codes
Section Q: Graphics
Section R: Logical Operations
Section S: Lists and Arrays
Section T: Sorting, Searching and Storing Arrays
Section U: The Computer Memory
Part Four: Application Programs and Games
Section V: Application Programs
Part Five: Covering the Whole Spectrum
Section W: The Spectrum
Appendices
I: Sinclair BASIC Summary
II: Error Codes
III: ZX81 Character Codes by Keyboard Assignment
IV: Use of Cassette Tapes
V: System Variables
VI: Program Library
The programs in this book require a T/S 1000 with a 16K RAM Pack. Many or most of these programs should work fine on T/S 2068, given that the T/S 1000 version of BASIC is a subset of the 2068’s version of BASIC. While the "special section" does cover the new Spectrum BASIC commands, it doesn’t give them the attention that the other commands get in the rest of the book. The additional commands only found in the T/S 2068 version of BASIC are not covered at all.
If you're interest lies with any of the Timex /Sepectrum computers, this book DOES cover them all. If you're completely new to programming this book starts out SLOW, which is good, but even the "advanced" topics are acutally not really advanced (i.e. ML isn't introduced-- unless you can PEEK and POKE). This book has plenty of flowcharts, which is something you just don't see anymore in programming books. Though many people don't use them any more (and some programmers haven't even SEEN them!) flowcharts can be very helpful understanding program flow.
In summary, unless you have a specific need for a book that covers the T/S 2068, then this book will probably work well for you.
Adam
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2. Re: [ts2068] "The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers" Book
Mark Scheck · Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:13
Great book review, I currently building out my basement, once that's finished I'm going to get another Timex 2068, and every cartridge and geek out on it for a month or so. ;-)
Or I might just emulate it.
Adam Trionfo <[email]> wrote:
My Timex/Sinclair library has expanded yet again with this book:
"The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers: The Only Book You'll Ever Need to Become an Expert at the Timex 1000 and 2000" by Peter Morse, Ian Adamson, Den Anrep and Brian Hancock.
This book was published in England with the title "The Century Computer Programming Course. Although the U.S. version of this book implies that it covers the T/S 2068, it actually covers the Sinclair Spectrum. Even that is only covered in a thirty-seven page "special section." This book is 526 pages, which seems quite lengthy for a Home Computer book of this era (published in 1983).
The table of contents is six-pages long. Here is a summary of the table of contents:
Introduction
Part One: First Steps
Section A: The ZX81 Microcomputer System
Section B: Getting to Know the ZX81
Section C: Basic BASIC
Section D: Saving, Loading and Listing Programs
Section E: Improving the Program
Section F: A Game Interlude
Part Two: Essentials of BASIC Programming
Section G: Programming Methods I
Section H: Control
Section I: Printing
Section J: Arithmetic and Functions
Section K: Strings
Section L: Loops
Section M: Plotting
Section N: Subroutines
Part Three: Advanced BASIC Programming
Section O: Programming Methods II
Section P: The Character Set and Codes
Section Q: Graphics
Section R: Logical Operations
Section S: Lists and Arrays
Section T: Sorting, Searching and Storing Arrays
Section U: The Computer Memory
Part Four: Application Programs and Games
Section V: Application Programs
Part Five: Covering the Whole Spectrum
Section W: The Spectrum
Appendices
I: Sinclair BASIC Summary
II: Error Codes
III: ZX81 Character Codes by Keyboard Assignment
IV: Use of Cassette Tapes
V: System Variables
VI: Program Library
The programs in this book require a T/S 1000 with a 16K RAM Pack. Many or most of these programs should work fine on T/S 2068, given that the T/S 1000 version of BASIC is a subset of the 2068s version of BASIC. While the "special section" does cover the new Spectrum BASIC commands, it doesnt give them the attention that the other commands get in the rest of the book. The additional commands only found in the T/S 2068 version of BASIC are not covered at all.
If you're interest lies with any of the Timex /Sepectrum computers, this book DOES cover them all. If you're completely new to programming this book starts out SLOW, which is good, but even the "advanced" topics are acutally not really advanced (i.e. ML isn't introduced-- unless you can PEEK and POKE). This book has plenty of flowcharts, which is something you just don't see anymore in programming books. Though many people don't use them any more (and some programmers haven't even SEEN them!) flowcharts can be very helpful understanding program flow.
In summary, unless you have a specific need for a book that covers the T/S 2068, then this book will probably work well for you.
Adam
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3. RE: "The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers" Book
Adam Trionfo · Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:19
>>
Great book review
>>
Thanks. I've also been posting these "reviews" (I don't think of them as that) to Amazon.com. Maybe they will be helpful to other people too?
>>
I'm going to get another Timex 2068, and every cartridge and geek out on it for a month or so. ;-)
>>
Ha! Good luck getting every cartridge. Or even just a couple of 'em.
>>
Or I might just emulate it.
>>
If you're just going to be playing games, then I suggest emulation. It works really well, plus you don't have to wait for tapes to load (all right!). I do find that typing on the PC keyboard is awkward, but I guess that typing on the T/S 2068 isn't exactly perfect either...
Adam
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4. Re: [ts2068] RE: "The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers" Book
Robert "Exile In Paradise" Murphey · Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:40
On Thu, 2008-02-28 at 08:19 -0800, Adam Trionfo wrote:
> Thanks. I've also been posting these "reviews"
> (I don't think of them as that) to Amazon.com.
> Maybe they will be helpful to other people too?
Definitely.
The main thing that keeps a platform alive after
the company falls out from under it is simply
human energy.
The more you spread the word, answer questions, and
post seemingly inane and pointless (to you) sounding
tidbits, the more the platform "lives."
It may not seem useful to you, or be so "obvious"
that it doesn't seem like posting, but in the end
it could be the ONE fact that someone desperately
wants, now *or later*.
As a real example, I spent most of this evening
reconstructing a website from the Wayback machine
in order to get a 95%+ commented disassembly of the
the original MITS Altair 6800 4K BASIC interpreter.
The site itself disappeared years ago, but the fact
that someone had bothered to disassemble and comment
that code, and that I was able to find it, was very
helpful for me. Other sites still have parts of what
I was looking for, but the site that had gone missing
was the most developed, farthest along, and that is
the one I wanted.
So, yes, its worth it to spread the word, keep the
energy level up, and show OTHERS that they aren't
the only ones interested.
> I'm going to get another Timex 2068, and every
> cartridge and geek out on it for a month or so. ;-)
Me, I just want to find one of the emulator carts
that originally came with it, so I can try out some
of the Spectrum stuff as well.
After I fix the video out.
Thanks to everyone for the links to that.
I saw that snowy video (on a 24" Dell flatpanel
by the way) and I could feel my eye start to
twitch ...
--
Robert "Exile In Paradise" Murphey
Let the worthy citizens of Chicago get their liquor the best
way they can. I'm sick of the job. It's a thankless one and
full of grief.
-- Al Capone
5. Re: [ts2068] RE: "The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers" Book
Fred · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:25
On 29/02/2008, at 16:40, Robert Exile In Paradise Murphey wrote:
> After I fix the video out.
> Thanks to everyone for the links to that.
> I saw that snowy video (on a 24" Dell flatpanel
> by the way) and I could feel my eye start to
> twitch ...
All the recent discussion of Timex video quality reminded me of this
video of the best video out I've ever seen on a Sinclair machine, also
on a LCD panel: <http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I3zRaRTzgCI>.
Sadly, as I don't think NTSC TV sets have RGB inputs, I don't think
that it is possible to match this on the TS2068 without a CGA monitor.
Fred
6. RE: RGB Video; was: RE: "The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers" Book
Adam Trionfo · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:39
Fred wrote:
>>
All the recent discussion of Timex video quality reminded me of this
video of the best video out I've ever seen on a Sinclair machine, also
on a LCD panel: .
>>
That video does look REALLY nice. It's about comparable to what you see
when you run an emulator-- and that is IMPRESSIVE! Is there anyway to
capture the RGB output to a PC monitor so that it doesn't have to be filmed?
There was a link to a 2068 video as well, and after just seeing the nice RGB-out
of the Sinclair machine, it was sorta sad to see the "warble" of the 2068 display.
>>
I don't think NTSC TV sets have RGB inputs, I don't think
that it is possible to match this on the TS2068 without a CGA monitor.
>>
Older RGB monitors should be able to handle this signal just fine. When was the
last time that a CGA monitor was made? About twenty years ago?
Adam
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7. RE: RGB Video
Glen Goodwin · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:59
Adam Trionfo wrote:
> When was the
> last time that a CGA monitor was made? About twenty years ago?
Yes, which means they are cheap and plentiful. The last time I
went to a computer junk-fest I bought five -- including three
original IBMs -- for $4 each, and they were all in working order.
Glen
0/0
8. Re: [ts2068] RE: RGB Video; was: RE: "The Essential Guide to Timex/Sinclair Home Computers" Book
Robert "Exile In Paradise" Murphey · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:15
On Fri, 2008-02-29 at 07:39 -0800, Adam Trionfo wrote:
> Is there anyway to capture the RGB output to a PC
> monitor so that it doesn't have to be filmed?
Yes, a PC capture board can do it, provided you have
the right hookups (i.e. it has to accept RGB inputs,
or you need some form of copper glue between the
RGB and whatever your capture board does.
Many ATI Radeon cards in the "TV Wonder" line have
TV/Cable/HD capture abilities that could be adapted.
They usually take F-connector, RCA, or S-video inputs,
but some (like mine) have a crazy purple plug block for
all sorts of camera inputs too.
--
Robert "Exile In Paradise" Murphey
Increased sunspot activity.
9. RE: RGB Video
Adam Trionfo · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:06
Glan wrote:
>>
Yes, which means they are cheap and plentiful.
>>
I have not seen one in many years. I'll have to check the local flea
market on the weekend. I don't know of any "junk-fest" around here.
Adam
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10. RE: RGB Video
Glen Goodwin · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:26
Adam Trionfo wrote:
> Glan wrote:
> Yes, which means they are cheap and plentiful.
>
> I have not seen one in many years. I'll have to check the local flea
> market on the weekend. I don't know of any "junk-fest" around here.
Where are you? I'll bet I can point you in the right direction.
In the meantime, if you call some local PC repair shops you might
find somebody who will pay *you* to haul off some CGA monitors ;-)
Glen
11. RE: [ts2068] RE: RGB Video
Bill Loguidice · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:45
It is actually a common theme on the Vintage Computer Forums and elsewhere
that straight CGA and EGA monitors are tough to get these days. If you have
a source, Glen, you could certainly resell them for a small profit and to
help out the community.
=================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
(A PC Magazine Top 100 Website)
http://www.armchairarcade.com
=================================
From: [email] [mailto:[email]] On Behalf Of
Glen Goodwin
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 6:26 PM
To: [email]
Subject: [ts2068] RE: RGB Video
Adam Trionfo wrote:
> Glan wrote:
> Yes, which means they are cheap and plentiful.
>
> I have not seen one in many years. I'll have to check the local flea
> market on the weekend. I don't know of any "junk-fest" around here.
Where are you? I'll bet I can point you in the right direction.
In the meantime, if you call some local PC repair shops you might
find somebody who will pay *you* to haul off some CGA monitors ;-)
Glen
12. RE: RGB Video
Adam Trionfo · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:50
Glen wrote:
>>
Where are you? I'll bet I can point you in the right direction.
>>
I live in Albuquerque, NM.
>>
In the meantime, if you call some local PC repair shops you might
find somebody who will pay *you* to haul off some CGA monitors ;-)
>>
I've called around most of these places before (though not looking for
CGA monitors specifically). These places don't usually have anything
older than ten years old (and that is ANCIENT to them). I know that
usually even computer recycle centers are leary about taking old
monitors. For instance, I know for certain that there is a recycle center
locally that will charge YOU $25 to drop off a monitor. Maybe it is a little
less, certainly it was around twenty dollars.
I about 2000 I worked at a PC place and they finally cleared out the
inventory of C64 items (hardware and software). We donated a HUGE
pickup truckload to a thrift store. We might as we have thrown it all away,
as we found out that that is what THEY did with it. Later on when we were
clearing out the 68K macs, rather than give them to a thrift store we brought
them to a mac user group. They were shocked and HAPPY about it all.
Anyway, I'll see what I can find out over the next couple of weeks. It isn't
that I NEED a CGA monitor, but I'm quite curious about this.
Adam
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13. RE: RGB Video
Adam Trionfo · Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:52
Bill Loguidice wrote:
>>
straight CGA and EGA monitors are tough to get these days. If you
have a source, Glen, you could certainly resell them for a small profit
>>
The trouble with selling items like this is that the cost of shipping is often more
than the item is worth. Those old monitors are HEAVY.
Adam
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TS2068 / TC2068 · Video upgrades (composite, RGB, HDMI) · Books & manuals