ThePortablePaperV5N5_48pages_Sep-Oct

Vol.

5,

No.

5

The lIP Portable/Portable Plus/Portable Vectra

U~ers

Newsletter September / October 1990

THE

ortable Paper

--

".~

HP~~JjiScoDu:tiues:Rest:of:

c/

::L:,.,,",,"

'':''''~' "~"_A.""~'" ',~~. ".~._,* ~_ :~"

;:".* .. ," .. j A

Periable··Plus~·AccessorieS:

~<,../ :.--_>~!/ ~"</~"_ iJ~:-_~-_\~~</ ~~.:/

.

<

j'«->-.-:\ /

-.'c'/ /"

~

Publisher's Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Letters

Kermit, Version 3.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Printer, HP 9114 Switch On During Travel . . . . . . 4

"NICAD" a Registered Tradmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Don't Forget International HP-150 Users . . . . . . 37

Problem with HP-IT. Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 41

Reflection EXIT Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 41

HP-110 Advances 3-4 Lines Before Printing. . . .. 43

DeskJet and The Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 43

110%

P. Plus Accessories Off HP Price List -- Most

Still Available Through Personalized Software . . .. 6

Modify Keyboard for High-Speed Typing . . . . . . .. 6

New Calculators/printers From HP . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Norton Utility -- NU.COM (NUllO.COM) . . . . . . . 8

Portable Technology Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Two New Modems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10

Portable Computing & Communications Expo. . 12

Technical Support Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Voodo DOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17

Late Night At Personalized Software . . . . . . . . . . 18

Mac Reads HP Disks With Read HP, Soft PC .... 18

Voltage Adapters Excellent Traveling Companions 18

News from Personalized Software

1991 Subscribers Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19

ROMBO Is Really Shipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19

DAC-EASY Accounting A Product Again . . . . . . .. 19

WordPlus For HP110 No More . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19

WorldPort Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19

Portable Vectra Views

Zenith Extends SupersPort Warranty to 2 Years . 24

This Doctor Makes Housecalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Portable Vectra CS Screen Problems . . . . . . . . .. 26

Through The Looking Glass

As-Easy-As 4.00P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Latest Release of the Video Display Editor . . . . . 28

ROMBO -- The Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28

The Classical Classifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Latest Release of Stereo Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Turbo Assembler, Version 2.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Mix

Power-C,Version 2.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

1991 Subscribers' Disk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30

The Savvy User

Waiting for ROMBO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Edlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Webster's Spelling Checker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

My Soapbox -In Search of the Golden Goose . . .. 35

User Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

No

more lugging a disk drive wherever you go! No more taking up precious

Edisk space with frequently used programs and data! Now you can easily put almost any program - and important data -

...

~~~~a~~m ~l~~~~

ONE YEAR GUARANTEE -60-DAY TRIAL .

~~r~o~~~~~er ~~~:

ROM drawer.

See order form for details

you fill that unused

Once you've done so, your programs and data are available instantly, with no danger of loss and no need for an external disk drive.

"Burning" your own ROMs is easy even for a computer novice - with our

Portable Plus ROM Burner. All you do is connect the ROM Burner to your Plus, and follow the simple instructions we provide for using the software that comes with the unit. (We even show you how to have your ROM programs automatically show up on your PAM menu!)

ERASABLE!

ROM space with fixed data and with almost any Portable

Plus program you wish - including programs that are not commercially available on ROM. This eliminates the need for an extemal drive and frees up valuable space on your electronic disk.

Regardless of your needs, we invite you to take advantage of this Portable

Plus break-through. Put your programs and fixed data on ROM and experience the ultimate in portable computing convenience. Order our ROM Burner for the

Portable Plus today.

If

you make a mistake while burning in a ROM - or

if

you later wish to change the contents of your ROMs - no problem.

Just use the ultraviolet eraser that comes with our ROM Burner and start over.

(Our programmable ROMs are technically "EPROMs", which stands for "erasable programmable read-only memory.")

UP TO 3 MEGABYTES ON ROM!

The ROM drawer that fits into the bottom of your Portable Plus has sockets for

12 ROMs. Each socket can hold a 128

Kbyte ROM. Even though there are more than 50 programs now available on ROM for the Portable Plus, most people only use 2-6 of the 12 sockets - which means part of the 1.5 megabytes of each drawer's available ROM capacity is going to waste.

HERE'S WHAT YOU GET

A must for every Portable Plus user, ROMBO: our

ROM Burner package includes:

1. Personalized Software ROM Burner for

Portable Plus, with serial cable.

Burns commerciplly available 64 Kbyte ROMs or speCial

Pet'!;onalized Software 128 Kbyte ROMs.

2.

Ultraviolet eraser.

Erases 64K or 128K

ROMs for reburn. Lets you correct mistakes or change programs or data. Also useful for testing to make sure your newly burned ROMs work properly.

3. All necessary software,

including: two compression programs that shrink COM and EXE files so you can fit more programs on ROM.

4.

Two Personalized Software 128 Kbyte

EPROMs

(erasable programmable ROMs).

5.

Complete user manual.

Clear, step-by-step tutorial, written for novice and experienced users alike. How to burn ROMs, how to use accompanying software, how to get ROM programs to show up on your PAM screen. Also includes suggestions on what to put into ROM, how to avoid snags, and other tips based on our years of experience in supporting the Portable Plus.

• EP10NH

Rombo: Personalized Software ROM

Burner Package for the Portable Plus

(ROM Burner, serial cable, ultraviolet eraser, software, two 128 Kbyte

EPROMs, user manual) Retail: $695 Subscriber: $595

• Personalized Software 128 Kbyte erasable pro· grammable ROMs (EPROMs, for the Portable Plus

EP11 NR Single EPROM Retail: $69 Subscriber: $59

EP12NX Set of 4 Retail: $276 Subscriber: $199

• Personalized Software 128 Kbyte non-erasable programmable ROMs (PROMs, for the Portable

Plus

(Ideal for making multiple copies of ROMs)

EP18NR Single PROM Retail:$64 Subscriber: $54

EP19NX Set of 4 Retail:$256 Subscriber: $179

• EP13NR

27C512, 12.5V, 64 Kbyte EPROM

Retail: $25 Subscriber: $22

• EP14NS

ROM Burner software and manual only

(Useful if you wish to burn your own 64 Kbyte EPROMs for the Portable Plus using a different ROM burner)


• SW11 UC

Portable Plus ROM drawer


• EP15NE

Custom ROM services

EPROM (includes 10 minutes testing to make sure your

ROM works in Portable Plus as specified)


• EP16NE

ROM consulting

rewriting, etc.): $75/hour

(additional testing, batch file

-REITAl

$195 per month. Call for details.

BREAKTHROUGH IN PORTABLE PLUS

ROM TECHNOLOGY

Our Portable Plus ROM Burner is a breakthrough for Portable Plus owners. It copies programs and data onto special 128 Kbyte programmable ROMs created exclusively for us.

Aside from ours, the largest commercially avai 1able programmable ROMs that fit the sockets inSide the Portable Plus ROM drawer are only 64 Kbytes.

Our 128 Kbyte programmable ROMs give you double the storage capacity!

Moreover, unlike the procedures you have to go through with other ROM Burners, ours are easy. We supply all the software you need and a user manual that even a novice can follow with ease. Most importantly, ours is the only ROM Burner that lets you burn these ROMs directly from your Portable Plus.

We also offer custom burning of non-erasable ROMs. With volume discount, this can cost significantly less than the price of blank EPROMs.

Call for a quotation.

©

Copyright 1990 Personalized Software, Inc.

D

NEW!

Save money on repairs and upgrades

~~.

@

Let our expert technicians fix your HP equipment

90-day guarantee on all repairs and upgrades.

-HP1tO, Portable Plus, ThinkJet, HP9114,

HP150 computers and disk drives, and more!

HP Portable and HP150 users:

If your equipment isn't

9

• HP110 or Portable Plus case replacement: $175 working properly or you've outgrown its capacity don't throw it away!

• HP110 or Portable Plus internal modem replacement: $195

• FastPlus upgrade (faster processor for Portable Plus) : $250

Send it to us instead. We'll send it back running like a charm.

• 256K to 512K upgrade for Portable Plus: $395

Repairs are as low as $65. Most upgrades are $250 or less.

And we guarantee our work for a full 90 days.

• 128K to 512K upgrade for Portable Plus: $495

• HP9114 repair: $65-135

To set up an appointment for a repair or upgrade, give us a call. Then send in your machine. We'll look at it for just $25, then give you a firm price on parts and labor.

If you decide to go ahead, the $25 will be applied to the cost of our work.

• HP ThinkJet repair: $65-135

Other repairs depend on our cost of parts and a $42/hour labor charge.

You can expect a range of $75-$250 for repairing most HP Portable and

Here are some typical charges:

HP150 computers and peripherals.

To extend the life of your HP equipment, call our repair service today! • HP110 or PortablePlus screen replacement or upgrade: $195

• HP110 or Portable Plus keyboard replacement: $250

(800) 373-6114. We guarantee you'll be pleased with the results!

Why pay $500 or

more for Lotus® 2.01 wh you can have a fully compatible program fo

r

I-ust $79 95'1

$79.95

for disk version!'

$195.

for disk version plus

ROM Backup (subscriber prices)

Until now, if/ou wanted the advantages an compatibility of

Lotus 1-2-3, Version 2.01 for your

Portable Plus, you had to pay

$625 retail for a ROM.

N ow you can have a program that acts similar to Lotus

2.01 for just $195 (disk and ROM)

or only $79, if all you need is the disk version.

You can't get that much spreadsheet power for your

Portable Plus for less!

The program is called

As-Easy-As, because it's as easy as 1-2-3 (get it?), and it fully lives up to its name: As-Easy-As does almost everything Lotus 2.01

MEMORY REQUIREMENTS

As-Easy-As requires 272K of Portable Plus main memory, plus 12DK of electronic or floppy disk space (plus another 5DK of disk space if you want to use the Help files). does (see list at right). It even does some things Lotus can't do, like matrix operations.

If

you're new to spreadsheets, you11 find As-Easy-As to be powerful, yet easy to learn and use.

If you already use Lotus, you have nothing new to learn.

As-Easy-As works in much the same way and it reads and writes Lotus 2.01 WK1 files and

Lotus 1A WKS files, so you don't have to change your data.

To gain the advantages of

Lotus 2.01 at a fraction of the price, order As-Easy-As at our risk today.

Retail Subscriber

Price PrIce

As-Easy-As on disk

$99.95 $79.95

PRODUCTNO.ASllNS

As-Easy-As ROM Backup

(disk

+

ROM)

215.00 195.00

PRODUCT NO. ASllNK

Lotus 1-2-3·is a registered

~ademark of Lotus Oevelopment Corporation.

As-Easy-As gives you almost all the features of Lotus1-2-3, Version 2.01, including:

• Accommodates large worksheets

(8,192 rows by 256 columns)

• Choice of Pull Down or Panel Menu

Interface

• Choice of Functions including mathematical, statistical, logical, financial, string, date, time, and user- definable

• Powerful frequency distributions tables (Bins)

• Capable of linking current worksheet with information from other worksheets and disk

• Versatile, powerful graphics capabilities, including support for

9/24-pin and LaserJet printers, ability to create .PIC files, comprehensive chart-generation capabilities for bar, line, X-Y, pie, stacked bar, hi-Io, polar, area charts, and delta semi-log and log-log graphs

• X-V data regression

• Database operations, data input forms, reads/writes dBASE files

• Text search, replace, justify

• Goal-seeking capabilities (give desired answer and As-Easy-As gives you the input)

• User-configurable printer setup file

• Worksheet auditing

• Named range, function, and macro selection lists

• Multiple planes (3-D simulation)

• Macro programming language, including over 70 powerful macros

• Macro record/playback capability and single-stepping through macros

• Full support of sub-direcWries and path names

• User-configurable screen options

• Able to shell to DOS.

©

Copyright 1990 Personalized Software, Inc.

Portable Plus users:

At last! A great spelling checker available on ROM!

Webster's

(web/stars) n. The speUing checker rated Editor's Choice by

PC MagaDne

(Dec. 24, 1985), and now available from Personalized Software for the Portable Plus and HPlSO.

-Customized on

3112"

disk by special arrangement with Simon & Schuster, Inc.

PC Magazine rated eight leading spelling checkers for ease of use, flexibility, speed, overall program size, thoroughness, and accuracy. WEBSTER'S NEW WORLD

SPELLING CHECKER came out on topfor a number of good reasons:

First, there's sheer size. WEBSTER'S contains over 110,000 words in its dictionary-five times the number in

Hayden's Speller, 21h times as many as in

The Word Plus-yet WEBSTER'S dictionary and main program take up only

207K of disk memory.

Second, WEBSTER'S isn't just easy to use-it's positively a

pleasure.

It reads your files at high speed, then displays every questionable word in context, highlighted.

At the same time, in a "window" off to the side, it gives you a list of possible correct spellings. A simple menu gives you the following options:

• Accept the word as is

• Replace the word with one of the suggested spellings

• Enter the correct spelling manually

·1~Mlh''''''I~IIII~'.21 •

HP110 Portable

Portable Plus

I I

Portable Vectra I-

I - I

HP150

I-

IBM PC and comDatibles I-

Available on ROM Backup for the Portable Plus

• Add the word to an auxiliary dictionary of frequently used words

• Replace all other occurrences of the word

• Look up the spelling of any other word at any time

WEBSTER'S also lets you mark in your text any spelling corrections that change length of a word; this lets you quickly locate portions of text that may need reformatting.

WEBSTER'S will automatically locate double repetitions (like "and and"). It can correct transpositions ("itme" becomes

"item"), missing apostrophes ("dont" becomes "don't"), and

typos of all kinds

("spellling" becomes "spelling," etc.).

If you're not sure of a word, you can even spell it the way sounds, and chances are WEBSTER'S will supply the correct spelling. ("Fenomenon" gets corrected to

"phenomenon," for example.)

In addition, WEBSTER'S will let you preview a list of all questionable words

before displaying them in context; this saves you time because it lets you eliminate words from the questionable list

(or add them to your auxiliary dictionary) before you begin the editing pass.

Johp

~vorak, writing in the

San Fran-

cisco Examiner, called WEBSTER'S "the

II

PV users: Please subtract $10 from subscriber price (since we don't have to send you additional customized disks or extra documentation). Be sure to indicate "PORTABLE VECTRA" on your order. best spell-checker we've seen in a long spell." Henry Kisor of the

Chicago Sun

Times has called WEBSTER'S "the best proofreading software on the market." We agree with them both-and we think you will too. Order your copi at no risk today.

Webster's Spelling Checker on 3% " disk customized for the Portable Plus and

HP150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $79.95

$69.95 for Portable Paper subscribers.

PRODUCT NO. WBllNS

Webster's is available on ROM backup

( ' "

. ) for an additional $179. See ROM ad

~ in this issue for important details.

"""I!llr'

WEBSTER'S SPELLING CHECKER works with any file produced by the Editor, WordStar, and

MemoMaker. It produced by MS also works with ASCII flies

Word and Word Perfect.

Our version of WEBSTER'S includes a customized 3.5" disk and simple Instructions for running the program on the Portable Plus and

HP15o. A special utility allowing WEBSTER'S to run on the HP150 is included on the disk.

60-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

See order form for details.

TO ORDER

Use

enclosed postage-paid order form or send check or credit card information

(#. expo date. signature) to:

Personalized Software p.o. Box 81;9. Fairfield, IA ;;25';0 515i472-fi;3:30

Products

Advertised

or

Discussed

in

This Issue

1991 Subscribers Disk ... 19,30

As-Easy-As . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,26

Classical Classifer . . . . . . . . . . 29

Condor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

DAC·EASY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Editor II, The ............. 9

Empowerer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Ethernet Adapter ... : . . . . . . 25

FastPlus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

FilePlus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Formatter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

HPduette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

HP Professional . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Kermit 3.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

LapLink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

LapTape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Uke-New Plus . . . . . . back cover

Mobile Recharger . . . . . . . . . 34

Norton Utilities . . . . . . . . . 8, 27

No-Squint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Numeric

Keypad . . . . . . . . . .

25

Portable Powerhouse . . . . . .. 10

Power Cube . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

ReruiHP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,40

Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

ROM Backup . . . . . . . . . . 20, 21

ROMBOROM

Burner . . . . . inside front, 28,

34

Shelp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Sidewinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

SquishPlus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

StatPower .. . .. . .. . .. .... 25

Stero Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Stowaway Modem,Fax .... 10,12

Term110/plus . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Used Computers . . . . . . . . . 11

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42:(",

Voltage

~Pters

. . . . . . . . . 1 ., )

Webster s Speller . . . . . . . . 2,

34 '

Weltech 5.25 Drive . . . . . . . . 25

WordPerfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

WordPlus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

WorldPort Fax . . . . . . . . . 19, 25

WorldPort Modem . . . . . . . . 31

Zenith SupersPort . . . . . . . .

24

PRICE UST . . . . . . . . . . . center

PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE

We appreciate your ongoing comments about where Personalized Software should head in the future. Here is our current thinking:

Through 1992 we will continue to market and support the

HP Portables and the HP150, particularly the HPll 0 and

Portable Plus. We will look for new markets that can best take advantage of all the strengths of the HPll 0 and

Hal Goldstein

Portable Plus -- long battery life, indestructibility, built-in

ROM software, price, etc, etc., etc. -- and sell HP Portables and our many accessories into those markets. (W"e're open to suggestions and your help). In the meantime we will establish ourselves as the support hub for a major manufacturer's microcomputer products (like HP printers and microcomputers or Toshiba laptops).

The introspection involved while searching for new directions allowed us to understand our uniqueness in the marketplace: essentially

we are a for-profit international computer users organization.

Our primary mission is to collect and disseminate practical knowledge: knowledge about how to take full advantage of a computer, knowledge of products to enhance that computer, and knowledge

FOR HANOY REFERENCE: Items directly relevant to the three

HP Portables are denoted in this issue as follows:

II1II110 Portable • Portable Plus • Portable Vectra

1ft

Vectra LSI12

When items are partly or indirectly relevant they are denoted as:

§]

110 Portable

I!!]

Portable Plus

~

f&1

Vectra LS/12 about the advantages of using such a computer. That knowledge takes the form of a newsletter and long-copy advertisements for products that support a computer and for the computer itself.

Given this strategy and self-knowledge, we decided to publish The Portable Paper for at least one more full (6 issue) year.

Almost all 1200 current subscribers need to renew.

Please help us help you and RENEW NOW. Take a moment and fill out the enclosed renewal form or give us a call. In exchange we will send you six more issues of The

Portable Paper, a 1986-90

5~year index to The Portable

Paper, and what should be the best (1991) Subscribers

Disk yet.

I'

We willl'continue to cover the HPll0 and Portable Plus as in previous years. We will also cover the LS/12 and

Portable Vectra CS as relevant material comes our way. For example, see article that appears in this issue about the extended LS/12 warranty. We may however not always run the Vectra Views column next year.

We look forward to continuing our role as the central hub for HP Portable knowledge in 1991.

Future Direction of

Personalized Software

II

I've taken advantage of Personalized Software's new editorial policy of printing the

II addresses of correspondents to contact

Robert Moorehouse with information about the "25 cent" charger (see attachment). Robert wrote in the Mayl.June issue of the Portable Paper that charging while on board a boat was one of many problems faced by the "boat people". I hope my advice on charging is useful to him.

Frankly, I'm surprised that no one else has expressed an interest in mobile recharging since we divulged the details of the "25 cent" charger (see VolA, No.5,

(a

Pg.27). Perhaps pride of creation is

''fill

clouding my judgement, but the concept of this charger is so simple that I find it amazing that not one word was heard from other readers about implementing one of their own. Yet judging from the ads in the Portable Paper, you apparently continue to sell the Mobile Recharger, a device which is more costly, less reliable and does less thar:t the "25 cent" charger.

Oh, the whims of the public, even "high tech" public!

But I don't need to tell you about the whims of the public. Your comment that the renewal rate for subscriptions to the

Portable Paper was only 67% spoke volumes. What a shock! Have you considered polling former subscribers to find out why they didn't renew? Lack of software to run on the HP? Battery problems? Bought a new computer? Yours is a fickle audience, Hal. All it takes to lose them is a glitzy new machine which runs some splashy software (which may even be productive) and they're gone. It's called planned obsolescence and the computer industry has been built on it.

You asked for guidance concerning

Personalized Software's future role. Here are some thoughts. We may never see another product like the Portable Plus computer, but it seems to me that the strengths of Personalized Software lie in supporting such computer systems as they evolve. You might expand on this support base by branching out to other models besides HP and NEC. Continue to sell portable systems, possibly advertising in other publications such as RV and boat magazines. Both RV and boat markets seem to be largely untapped. (My long overdue article for Trailer life magazine about our own experiences would help!).

Sell accessories to the RVers and boat people which are geared for their special needs. For example, navigation software for boaters, as Robert Moorhouse suggests; trip and maintenance log spreadsheets for both; covers, supports and nonskid shelving for the hardware. Exploit the potential of the "25 cent" charger with a do it yourself kit which yields a charger consisting of a piece of wire and two connectors that fits in a shirt pocket.

Develop a universal mobile charger applicable to several different portables. I would be pleased to expand on these latter items at your convenience.

People who commute great distances are likely to be users of portable computers. My wife suggests a "Commuter Computer" magazine for them. Their needs are obviously different: business software, schedulers, word processing with considerable graphics output. Many of these

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1990

3

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER people travel by train, e.g. Connecticut to

New York; but van pools are increasingly being used and even mandated by government air pollution agencies all over the

U.S. In IA, commuters often sit in a van for over two hours each day.

You speak of continuing a close association with HP because they're a great company. The HP that I knew was such a company. I hope today's HP is, too; but their decision to discontinue the Portable

Plus computer and apparently abandon any future involvement in such a significant region of the computing spectrum has franldy left me wondering. My advice is to be loyal to them only if it's clearly in the best interests of the Personalized

Software to do so.

In my career I've read dozens of technical publications, from

Physical Review

and IEEE Proceedings through Trailer Life and automotive shop manuals. None have consistently had as much good, useful information per page as the Portable Paper. Somehow, you've gotto find a way to keep up the good work. .

Rosemary sends her love to you and'

Rita. Our travels have taken us north, possibly into Canada around Lake Huron.

Because of extensive involvement with the relative in Indiana, we have postponed our return visit to Fairfield until next Fall or Spring. We'll be looking forward to seeing you both again.

Joe Butterworth

987 Vermont #4

Oakland,

Ca 94610

subscriber purchases one 'of these machines I doubt very much you would make a dent in your startup loans.

A very good point against making your own portable is the LS/l2. Who made it?

Zenith Data Systems. I've taken a good look at the LS/12 and as far as I'm concerned its a Zenith with the Hewlett-

Packard name on it. Zenith still makes it, and the reason HP dropped it was either the public caught on to what it was and just went Zenith or (more likely) the market made it obsolete and Zenith is just using up its spare parts.

Another look at the history of this 286 might be enough to scare you out of the market. When it was released two years ago it carried a list price of five thousand dollars, today the list is down over one thousand dollars and sales are still slow at best. Can you afford to sit on a big inventory and cut your prices to the bone when

Toshiba and Sharp undercut your price and more times than not come in with a better product to boot? If you are still not convinced take a look at the enclosed specifications guide for a Zenith Minisport, a OEM product made in Taiwan. In a poll of corporate satisfaction it was soundly beaten by

Toshiba.

A final case might be Zenith's

Turbosport 386 portable, an eight thousand dollar machine that died within six months and was last being sold at Damark

International for around three thousand.

Perhaps your best bet is to offer a general Portable Paper which covers more topics of concern for all portable users as

Printer, Disk Drive

Accidently Switched

On During Travel

()'

amJust a quick note to see if any of your " readers have a suggestion to solve a small

II problem I'm having while traveling with my Portable Plus, printer and disk drive.

It seems that while transporting my computer in and out of airplanes, the printer or disk drive sometimes are switched on (due to either jarring or sideto-side movement). I've tried various solutions, from chewing gum to adhesive tape, with no luck. The switch design lends itself to easy on-off action.

Perhaps one of your readers has experineced this problem and has determined a good solution.

II

Bob Margevicius

Service Cycle

23879 Madison St.

Torrance, CA 90505

Expand the Scope of the Portable Paper

am I've been intending to respond for weeks to your request for advice column. Now

I!!IIII Teitzman to return my call so I can harass

... him about some equipment, this seems as

;t

You've got my vote for continuing your efforts in the publishing business.

There is a BIG NEED out there for information, particularly about Portables and

150 systems, and .you are the best positioned in the country to supply it. The

unwise, to Manufacture

Your Own Portable

am In regard to your publisher's message in

Mitsubishi, NEC, Olivetti, Packard Bell, well as your current products.

Michael seberg

Minneapolis, MN

the July/August Portable Paper. While I

II

I!!IIII should take your company, I think it

... would be most unwise for you to manu-

;t facture your own portable.

First, look at the established laptop manufacturer's I can name off the top of my head .. Let see there's ... Apple, Com-

Kermit, Version 3.0

mil Enclosed please find a disc containing MS-

IIIlI

DOS Kermit Version 3.0 for the HP 110

II and the Portable Plus. I have made a number of improvements to the parts of

I!!]

Kermit specific to these computers. An

IiSIl overview of the latest features

i;'

enclosed.

~

In addition to the latest blOary code, paq,

Dell, Epson, IBM, Leading Edge, the encolsed disc contains the documentation fpr MS-DOS Kermit Z.32.This should suffice for the 110/plus version of 3.0.

Panasonic, Sharp, Tandy, Texas Instru-

(Documentation for the IBM version of ments Toshiba and Zenith. There are probably at least twenty more I can't

~~k of off the top of my head. My POlOt

IS

Kermit 3.0 is in a book from Digital

Press.) I've also included source code for system-dependent modules. with all due respect you would be a no-

I have submitted a slightly earlier name in the market. version of this program to Columbia

Second, if you can find all the parts

University, which holds the copyright. through OEMs you would not be a hardware' manufacturer, just a component

I hope you and other users of the 110 and Plus fint Kermit 3.0 useful. assembler. Since your hypothetical portable is built with other companies' parts you will have to add some real value to the final product. This could be a support nightmare alone.

John Nyenhuis

North Chauncey

West Lafayette, IN 47906

[We will make Kermit

3.0 available, probably on the

1991

Subscribers Disk -

idea of expanding into HP printers and other peripherals strikes me as an outstanding one and could include plotters, digitizers, scanners, OCR systems and CDbut a broader publication. The Portable

Paper is broad enough to include all portables and everything under the sun they can connect to. Even though all of my stuff is HP, I'd still like to hear about

Ultralites and how they compare, in hopes I will learn something about how to use my HP better.

Another thing I would urge you to consider is reprocessing some of the ore you've already mined, so to speak. You've got a potential mother lode in all of the tips and routines for Portables you've_, published over the years, which could b{) collected and published in a "Best of ... , '

"Son of ... ," "RetUrn of ... " series. I assume,

Third, where do you plan to get your market share? IF every Portable Paper

Hal.}

ROM technology.

Your present publications tend to focus on a very narrow field. Perhaps it's time to broaden their scope, as you did with the Portable Paper by including all of the HP machines. Perhaps the answer is not to have a bunch of little publications

4


mE PORTABLE PAPER of course, you were planning to do this all along and that's why you saved all of your old Portable Paper copy on disks,

The annual index is great as far as goes, but it's a hassle to dig back years to find V3:2:14-16 when I need to know something. Here are some specific tides you might consider:

• Portable Plus TIps and Routines

• Portable Program Storehouse (collecting all of the Through the Looking

"NICAD" a

Registered Tradmark

mJ

Attached is a copy of a new product announcement in which you use the term

II

"NICAD" as a descriptive term for niclrel

I!!II cadmium batteries. I am writing to in-

IAl form you that use of the term "NICAD"

II)

(spelled in any form) is a violation of a

, tradmark owned by SAFT America Inc.

SAFT owns this trademark under registration No. 721-248 in the United States patent office originally filed by

Gould, Inc.

Glass features) The Portable Connection: HPIL, HPIB and Serial connections to other devices

• Portable Products Catalog: extended descriptions of programs for Portables and their capabilities and lists of other products by category that will work with Portables. on September 12, 1961, and reneWed on

September 12, 1981, and sold to SAFT on

March 31, 1982.

I'm sure you can understand th~ importance of trademarks and realiZe that we must make every effort to protect ours. Therefore, I am requesting that you

The HP 150 System: What You Need to

Set One Up. There's a crying need out there for a booklet of this type.

I don't make arrangements to change your future copy by substituting the generic terms

"nickel cadmium" or "NiCd", or by indio cating t;hat SAFT is the owner of the trademean an operating manual; I mean a guide to what an HP 150 is and does and what the basic components are that make up such a system. What kinds of disk mark.

If you should have any questions or comments regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you drives are out ,there? How do you tell a

HP 150A from a B, C, D, etc., and what difference that makes, the different DOS versions available and how the 150 differs for your cooperation.

Marsha B. Dukes

SAn' AMERICA INC.

711 Industrial Boulevard

from the IBM-PC standard.

~

The final offering, obviously, is a pet around the country are sending out sur-

Valdosta, GA, 31603-1886

[SAFT manufactures nickel cadmium batteries for a wide range of applicatiOns .

Thanks for keeping us accurate - Rich.] plus 150 systems without manuals or instructions of any kind and people are buying them and not knowing what to do with them. I would be happy to help you guys put something together on this, and

I think it would help you sell a lot more

HP ISO's and associated products.

In summary, it seems to me there's a ton of stuff to write about out there.

There's even more HP stuff on the

CompuServe HP bulletin board that could be collected with their permission and published. I'd hell of a lot rather spend

$10 pawing through a book for answers than

$10 for 10 minutes to flounder around in their bulletin board.

For that matter you might want to consider setting up your own BBSo to sell software and other products. I know they are a pain in the ass - I ran one for the local clubs for a couple of months - but you've got enough bucks to do it right and enough of a customer base to support it, along with the rich trove of information from back issues to plug into it.

Just some thoughts. I'd love to collaborate with you on any of the above if you're short-handed.

Jack Swanson

12620 Manzanita Rd. NE

Bainbridge Isl., WA 98110

Glad Help Available

o

for HP's Portables

mJ

Thank you for letting me know that somewhere on the globe there is help for lIP's

II r,;jl request to Personalized Software (PS) last

L!!J

year (I got the address from an old copy any response! But, alas, out of the blue a copy of a magazine devoted entirely to the machines I was considering an obsolete buy. The local HP distributor could not

(would not?) help when I requested software for the Portables

(two

110's and a

Plus). Enough of that; I'm only glad there is still software and help available. o I am still trying to come to grips with all the things I always wanted to know about the Portables. This is while trying to read all 26 copies of the Portable Paper at once. I was trying to read them all in just under two days, marking all the relevant articles I want to come back to. But when I started again with VINl, I began to realize why you only publish the PP every second month (in addition to all your explanations about economics and other real-life hurdles most of us try not to think about) - there is just too much information hidden in the articles. It was

(is) also interesting to read the "history" of the Portables: the suggestions from users, speculation about HP's future actions

(Letters continued on page 36.)

mE PORTABLE PAPER

Volume five/Number five

September/October 1990

EditorjPublisher

Hal Goldstein

Managing Editor

Richard Hall

Department Editors

Tom Page

David Hughes

Ed Keefe

Contributing Editors

Joe Butterworth

Stephen Kelley

Thomas M. Morgan

Byron Rigby

Copy Editor

Glen Frank

Art Consultant

George Foster

Circulation

Vicki Randolph

Barbara Gianino

Deb Quade

Executive Advisor

Rita Goldstein

The Ponable Paper (ISSN-0886-9138) is published bimonthly by Personalized software at 57 East Broadway Avenue,

Fairfield, IA 52556. Subscription rates, one year: U.S. and U.S. possL'Ssions,

$55; Canada, Mexico add $3 surface mail, $6 air; other countries add $6 surface mail, $18 air. Please allow four to six weeks for receipt of first issue.

Executive, Editorial, Circulation, and

Advertising Offices: P.O. Box 869, Fairfield,IA 52556. Telephone: (515)472-

6330, FAX: (515)472-1879. (c) Copyright 1990, Personalized Software, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. Reasonable efforts are made to provide accurate and useful information, but the reader must make his or her own investigations and decisions; the Publisher and Editorial

Staff cannot assume any responsibility or liability for the

use

of information contained herein.

PoSTMASTER: Please send address changes

0 to Personalized Software, The

Portable Paper, P.O.

Box:

869, Fairfield,

IA 52556. ' io


S

nm

PORTABLE PAPER

Portable Plus Accessories Off HP

Price List -- Most Still Available

Through Personalized Software

[It's official. HP has removed all Portable Plus accessories from its Price List. However, in most cases Personalized Software has like new and refurbished HP Portable equipment available. Here is the official HP notice.]

"The Portable Plus was discontinued by

HP in September,

1989, and entered a five-year support life. Effective Septembet: 1, 1990, the following accessories will be removed from the Corporate Price List:

IllREMOVED AS

OF

SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1990

Product Number Description

45504K Opt. 400

45539K Opt. 400

45555K Opt. 400

82863K Opt. 400

82863KD Opt.400

82866KF Opt.400

82866KZ Opt.400

82973A

82982A

82992A

9114B

9114B Opt. 013

9114B Opt. W03

MemoMakerffime Manager

Lotus 123, v 2.01 ROM

Executive Card Manager

Reflections 1

German Executive Card Manager

French Executive Card Manager

Italian Executive Card Manager

HP-IL Interface Card

128K Software Drawer

One MB Software Drawer

Battery-Powered Portable Disk Drive

Portable Disk Drive (European)

Warranty Upgrade. "

•

Modify Keyboard

II

for High-Speed Typing

III

Carefully modify the Teflon plunger of each key to increase the speed of your HP-II0 and Portable Plus keyboard.

By Byron Rigby

Your readers may be interested in a modification that can easily be made to the keyboard of the HP-110 Portable and the Portable Plus. The purpose of the modification is to make the keyboard more sensitive and suitable for fast typing and word processing. I owe this tip to a colleague from France, an excellent high-speed typesetter.

Carefully lift off one of the alphanumeric keys, using a penknife or other thin blade. The key will resist coming off, but prying first one side, and then the other, should pop the key off. With the key removed you should see a small, white Teflon plunger sitting in a black square.

Examine the Teflon plunger carefully (see diagram below for a blown-up view). The plunger has a raised cross on the top that fits into the underside of the key you just removed. At each end of the plunger there is a small rectangular tab that slides up and down in the grooves on the left and right side of the black square the plunger sits in.

You will also see a narrow projection on the plunger pointing towards the screen and contacting the brass spring electrode that makes the final electrical contact on depressing the key. (An identical functionless projection is found on the user side of the plunger.)

You will see that the screen-side projection (and the . identical functionless projection) is sloped in such a way(). that when you depress the key, the brass spring electrode is allowed to come nearer to, and finally contact the other brass electrode, thus closing the circuit and completing the keystroke.

If this projection on the Teflon plunger can be made to slope more, the brass spring electrode will make contact with the other brass electrode sooner (when the key is depressed only a little way). This improves the keyboard considerably for those who do a lot of word processing, and who have a light keyboard touch.

STEPS OF MODIFICATION

You will have to follow these steps for each key on the keyboard. You may not want to modify some of the less frequently used keys like the function keys, Esc, Del, etc .

1. 11FT THE TEFLON PLUNGER OUT - Use a fine pair of needle nosed pliers. Be careful and don't let the small spring under the plunger fly out. You'll have a hard time finding it on the floor.

2. PARE DOWN PROTECTION ON TIlE PLUNGER -- Use a sharp knife (Xacto or straight razor work fine) to pare down the projection so that it slopes more steeply on the top (see diagram below). This should be done so that in the undepressed position of the key, the brass spring electrode is still held away from contacting the other brass electrode.

The cutting or paring increases the angle of th projection so that the moment the Teflon plunger is depressed, the brass spring electrode more rapidly approaches and makes contact with the other electrode.

6

SEPTEMBER / OcrOBER 1990

New software breakthrough!

0

0/0

more file space for as little as $S9.95!

• Easy to use-if you can save

a

file, you already know how to use SQUISH PLUS!

• A must for every HP Portable owner-ROM

Backup version especially valuable if you use

a

Portable Plus!

(Sorry, SQUISH PLUS doesn't run on theHPllO.)

SQUISH PLUS "compresses" your files so they take up less disk space!

It isn't often we find a program that's a must for every pOrtable user, but Squish Plus is just such a program.

Squish Plus lets you increase your disk storage space by 50% or more for as little as $89.95without having to install any hardware or learn any new commands.

Squish Plus compresses files, saving them much more efficiently than DOS. For exampfe, a word processing file of 50K might only take 30K using

Squish Plus. cover compressed files that have been deleted!

Initial set up is easy too. There is no need to reformat or repartition your present disk. All you do is install Squish Plus as a "device driver." (You don't even have to know what that means. The manual-one of the best we've seen-walks you through the procedure in 5 minutes.)

ANY DRAWBACKS?

Other file compression programs impose a speed

COULDN'T BE EASIER!

To use Squish Plus, you simply add a new drive letter to your system (for example, e:). If you wish, the new "drive" can be password protected.

Then, whenever you save files to the new

"drive," Squish Plus compresses them automatically. When you retrieve a compressed file,

Squish Plus automatically expands it to its normal size.

The saving in disk space is enormous: Squish

Plus compresses data files (spreadsheets, text penalty. But Squish Plus is so efficient

there's virtually no loss of

speed-especially on the Portable

Plus-except perhaps for a slight additional wait with some of your program files and largest data files.

Other file compression programs also set aside a significant amount of internal memory space for file decompression. But Squish Plus uses only 36K of memory for everything.

(Portable Plus users may need to increase internal [main) memory by as much as 36K. On the

Portable Vectra and LS/12 Laptop, Squish Plus simply borrows 36K from the 640K of memory that's built in.) documents, databases) by 30-70%, and compresses program files by 5-25 %. On the average,

you will increase the amount of datil you can store on a disk by 50% or more!

Note: All your other software can use the compressed data

as is.

There are no new commands to learn. You set up direc-

• .a:I.IIIU,"~I~IIII~IJI;1I

1:tories and perform all file operations-save, retrieve, copy, rename, backup, etc.-the same way you always do. (File backup takes up fewer disks, of course, and is significantly faster.) You can even use the Norton

HPll0 PDnable

PDnabie Plus ponable Vectra

•

•

HPl50

IBM PC and compa!.

Available on ROM Backup lor lhe ponable Plus

•

Utilities "Undelete" program to re-

WHAT ABOUT DISK SPACE

FOR THE PROGRAM ITSELF?

The files on the Squish Plus disk total 139K, including several Squish

Plus utilities .

Portable Plus users can get by with just 54K by eliminating all but two essential Squish Plus program files.

(You can even reduce your Edisk space requirement to zero if you're willing to disable PAM and load

Squish Plus from an HP9114 each time you reboot).

A better alternative-and the one we recommend-is to purchase Squish Plus on ROM Backup

(see box below).

Whatever computer you use,

there is no other

way to expand your file storage space that is as easy or economical as Squish Plus.

Order your copy at no risk today.

Retail

Price

Subscriber

Price

Squish Plus for

IBM PC compatibles $99.95 $89.95

PRODUcr NO. SQ12NS

Squish Plus for

Portable Plus $129.00 $99.95

PRODUcr NO. SQllNS

Rom Backup Package

(includes Squish Plus for

Portable Plus on disk and two 64K Backup ROMs) $264.00 $234.95

PRODUCT NO. SQllNK

Squish ROMs

(Must own Squish Plus for Portable Plus for each

ROM set purchased)

$135.00 $135.00

PRODUCT NO. SQ12NR

6O-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

See

order form for details.

TO ORDER list· t'nclost'd JlOSlage·paid urder furm or st'nd check ur eft-dit t"ard infurmatiun

P.O.

(N,

(·XJl. date, signature) tu:

Personalized Software nux

869, F'dirfit·ld. IA 52551; 515/472·6330

CALL NOW!

515-472-6330

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR

PORTABLE PLUS USERS

Special Portable Plus version

The authors of Squish Plus have worked with

Personalized Software to create a customized version that runs on the Portable Plus.

This version is available only from us.

Be sure you specify

"PORTABLE PWS VERSION" when you order.

Buy Squish Plus on ROM!

With disk space at a premium in the Portable

Plus, the best way to buy Squish Plus is on ROM

Backup.

Our exclusive ROM Backup package includes two

ROMs-128K the Squish Plus disk, and total-that contain all the Squish Plus files (except for one that you'll never need).

With Squish Plus on ROM, all the useful Squish

Plus utilities will always be available, and you won't have to give up any disk space at all.

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

3. REINSERT THE TEFLON PLUNGER CAREFULLY - Use the needle nosed pliers t? reseat the plunger into the

New Calculators/Printers From UP

l1li' . . . . " projection you par~d down

1S

~a~e sure that the IIIIlI The Corvallis, Oregon division of Hewlett-Packard gave

#>..;i

pomting towards the screen when you remsert the plunger.

III birth to a great laptop, the Portable Plus. Unfortunately'\)1

II they are no longer occupied with laptops. However, they

4. PRE·SS THE KEY B"CK ON THE TEFLON PLUNGER. l1li are still producing great equipment, including The Business tn: _

Consultant TI (lIP 19BTI, retail price $175) and the Thermal

" Strip Printer (lIP 82240B, retail price 3135).

SIDE VII!W

OF TEFLON PLUNGER

TOP VIEW OF TEFLON PLUNGER

............. CUT SHADED AREA

WITII RflZOR KNIFF.

CUT SHADED AREA

WITH RAZOR KNIFE

• The Buisness Consultant TI -- is HP's top-of-the-line financial calculator. The calculator uses HP Solve, instead of key stroke programming, to customize its operation. It stores and sorts names, phone numbers and addresses .

Menus and prompts are available in six built-in languages.

The calculator operates in reverse Polish notation (RPN) or algebraic-entry mode.

The Consultant TI has graphic capabilities, a time management feature that includes an appointment menu with clock and alarms, cash-flow analysis capability, and list-based statistics and forecasting.

The Consultant TI offers a four line, 23-character dotmatrix LCD, 128K ROM, 6.5K RAM, and uses three replaceable N-cell batteries.

• The HP Thermal Strip Printer -links to the Business

Consultant TI by an infrared interface. The printer can operate up to 18 inches away from the calculator by reading a flashing infrared LED at a 940-nM wavelength.

The unit features an 8-dot print head that can provide

24 columns of characters with space between them. A 200byte print buffer holds eight full 24-character lines, and the "} unit features unidirectional printing.

The HP 82240B weighs one pound, with full paper roll

" and four AA batteries (AC adapter optional).

It measures

3.6 x 7.3 x 2.5 inches. •

Norton Utility --

NU.COM (NUllO.COM)

IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE •••

The good part about this procedure is that if like the results, you can undo the deed. The functionless

By: Thomas

M.

Morgan

projection on the other side of the plunger is sloped as the other projection was before you pared it down. You need only remove the Teflon plunger, rotate it 180 degrees, and

(NUllO.

COM is a version of NU.COM that works on the HP

110.

It comes with Norton Utilities when you purchase it

. from Personalized Software - editor.)

reinsert it in the black plastic square. ThQ tbnctionless projection on the user's side will then become the active projection moving the brass spring, while the projection you have just modiJied will become the functionless element on the user's side. Replace the key and it should

II

NU110.COM, when run in its original form, requires the

[!!] switch

/02

in the command line to avoid displaying a mess.

It also requires changing to the

AI.

T mode to allow selection of mes by pointing. When exiting NUllO.COM, HP mode needs to be reset and inverse video turned off. feel as it did originally.

A WARRNING! The Teflon plunger cannot be bought individually. If you modify both projections on a plunger

These functions can be handled by calling NUllO.COM from a batch me that contains the necessary Escape

Sequences before and after the call to NU110.COM and the and don't like the results, you're stuck with it unless you buy a new keyboard, or manage to salavage a plunger from switch can be included.

To avoid the need for the batch me, which slows down a discarded keyboard. •

[Byron Rigby is an Australian subscriber to The

Portable Paper. Byron

is

also the Governor General of the

Transcendental Meditation and TM Sidhis Program in

Australia - Hal.1

loading and uses space, the following patch to NU110.COM performs all of the required functions internally.

To patch NUllO.COM, copy it to NU.COM, then eithe with DEBUG, or NUllO, make the following changes. To be sure that the correct bytes are being changed, the

8 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1990

The

EditorH

It's way beyond

MemoMaker!

You won't believe all the word-processing features this $129* program contains-and it takes up less than 40K of memory!

*

(only $99.95 for Portable Paper subscribers)

By Hal Goldstein

Let's face it: MemoMaker is an adequate word-processor, but it has its limits. No search and replace. No simple way to merge files. No destructive backspace key. (Th delete the last character you have to use the left arrow key and the deletion key[s].) No compressed or expanded printing. No ... -but why go on? If you use

MemoMaker, you probably have your own list of things you wish it could do.

Wel! we have good news! Now there's an easyto-use text editor that runs on the Portable and

Portable Plus that will satisfy almost every item on your wish list. And the program comes with a built-in bonus: It also runs on the HP 150, mM

PC, and HP Vectra, which means that now you can use the same program and files on your desktop that you use on your Portable.

The program is called THE EDITOR II. It does everything MemoMaker does plus a heck of a lot more. And you don't have to go to the expense of buying WordStar (for the Portable) or MS

Word (for the Plus) to go beyond MemoMaker's capabilities.

THE EDITOR II's most valuable features are listed on the chart to the right. It's quite a list, isn't it? Th me, THE EDITOR II is a real blessing.

I use it daily instead of MemoMaker, and I've silently given thanks to its author, Ed Gilbert, many, many times. Just a few minutes with THE

EDITOR II (that's all it takes to be up and running) and I think you'll be a fan of his too.

In addition to the great features listed to the right, there are six more I especially want to emphasize:

1. THE EDITOR II's Lotus-like menus make it incredibly easy to use.

2. THE EDITOR II creates ASCII files, which means you can send your files to and from almost any other program or computer without special formats or codes.

3. THE EDITOR II will automatically back up your files to protect you against mistakes: When you save a file, THE EDITOR II saves not just the current version, but the previous one as well.

,.

\>

4. THE EDITOR II takes up less than

40K

of memory.

5. THE EDITOR II loads and saves files and executes commands exceptionally fast.

6. THE EDITOR II comes with a well-written reference manual and a step-by-step tutorial.

I

Portable Plus

I I I~

HP110 Portable

•

• find a word processor with this many useful

Portable Vedra

Even in the desktop market, it is difficult to

HPI50

IBM PC and co~at.

Available on

ROM Backup for the Portable Plus

• features at this low a price. For the Portables, THE EDITOR II simply can't be beat. See for yourself: Order your copy, risk-free, today.

THE EDITOR II on disk . . . . . . . . .

:$99.95

Portable Paper subscriber price ..

$79.95

PW)DUCTNO f:DIINS

ROM BACKUP version . . . . . . . . . $194.95

(THE EDITOR II on ROM and disks)

PHolJllCT NO.

EDI~rp

For users of Version I or SuperROM:

EDITOR II Upgrade Kit on disk ... $35.00

I'I/OI>I.'(T :\0. EDI.JNS

Upgrade Kit on ROM and disk .... $58.00

1'IlOI>UCT :\0. P.DI5NII

II

PV users: Be sure to indicate PORTABLE VECTRA" on your order so we can send you proper disk format.

60·DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE


TO ORDER

~I;' pnl'iusPQ postage-paid '.Irtier fOI'Ill or

~t'nd chl'tk or (,l'f:'uit {'ard information l~. ('xp. dat(" signal lin') to:

Personalized Software

P.O. B, 'x Slif!. Fairfidd. IA ,;2",;li :;1,; 472-I:i:J:JfI

Special combined offer-

SAVE $30:

THE EDITOR and THE FORMATTER together-

Only

$119.95

total (Portable Paper subscribers only)

The Formatter

THE FORMATTER gives you advanced formatting capabilities that even THE EDITOR II can't handlelike: multi-line headers and footers. automatic hyphenation (you can even add your own words to the built-in dictionary)· user-specified page length and line length. automatic page numbering. tables and charts· table of contents generation. and more.

THE FORMATTER works by imbedding special formatting codes into your EDITOR II, MemoMaker, or other ASCII text files. You can customize THE FOR-

MATI'ER for almost any printer.

Note: The user manual itself is a challenge, and no technical support is available. We therefore recommend THE FORMATTER for strong computer users or those already familiar with text formatters.

If you need any of the features listed above, and if you're willing to spend the time it takes to learn the commands, THE FORMATI'ER is for you. Order your copy, risk-free today.

THE FORMATTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $59.95

Portable Paper Subscriber price . . . . . . . $49.95

II

PV users: Be sure to indicate "PORTABLE VECTRA" on your order so we can send you the proper disk format. o

Search and replace.

Just tell THE EDITOR II what word or phrase to look for, and it will display each occurrence and/or replace the occurences either selectively or globally. o

Edit two files at once.

THE EDITOR II will display two separate portions of text at the same time, one above the other. You can view and edit two parts of the same file-or even two different files-simultaneously. o

Backspace delete.

You can erase the last character with a keystroke. o

Block and line centering.

THE EDITOR II lets you center blocks and lines of text with a few simple keystrokes. o

Powerful macros.

Store any sequence of keystrokes and play it back at the touch of a single key. Macros can be edited, deleted, stored in files-even autoloaded on startup. THE EDITOR II comes with over two dozen macros to get you started. o

No limit on file size.

If you're an HPllO Portable user, you're no longer confined by MemoMaker's 819-lim' limit. You can have as large a file as internal memory allows. o

File merge.

You can merge two or more files togethpr with ease. o

Compressed and expanded.

You can imbed control characters in your text to tell your printer to print all or part of your text compressed, expanded, bold, underlined, or whatever else your printer can handle. o

Unlimited line length.

Your files are no longer limited

to

80

characters per line. This means, for example, you can print 132-character lines on your ThinkJet in compressed mode. o

Lines per page.

You can specify the number of lines per page, using the control codes required by your printer. o

Easy in, easy out.

You can exit from THE EDITOR II, run another program, then type a one-word command and be back in THE EDITOR II exactly where you left off. This includes exiting DOS-which means you can delete, copy, and rename files while running THE EDITOR II. o

Right justification and automatic paragrapb indent.

A simple command right-justifies your text and automatically indents your paragraphs however many spaces you wish. o

Undelete.

A simple command will undelete the last line or block of text deleted. o

Upper/lower case conversion.

Another simple command lets you change between upper case and lower case without having to retype anything.

In terms of useful features per dollar,

THE EDITOR II is a truly exceptional buy.

I urge you to try it. Order yours today.

©

Copyright 1988 Personalized Software

lHE PORTABLE PAPER original bytes are shown below on the line above the replacement bytes. When using NUllO (or NU) to change a file, remember that the sectors may not be stored in order in adjacent disk space. In this patch, this will not cause a problem as all changes are in the first sector.

DEBUG 0100 0101 0102 0103 0104 0105 0106 0107 0108 0109 010A 0108

NUllO 0000 0001 0002 0003 0004 0005 0006 0007 0008 0009 ooOA OOOB

NUoOld EB 3E 20 43 6F 70 79 72 69 67 68 74

NU-new FC BE 3A 01 BF 80 00 B9 05 00 F3 A4

DEBUG 010C 0100 010E 010F 0110 0111 0112 0113 0114 0115 0116 0117

NUllO OOOC 0000 oooE oooF 0010 0011 0012 0013 0014 0015 0016 0017

NUoOld 20 31 39 38 34 2C 20 31 39 38 35 2C

NU-new SA 2A 01 B4 09 CD 21 EB 2B OE 1F SA

DEBUG 0118 0119 01lA OllB OllC 0110 OllE OllF 0120 0121 0122 0123

NUllO 0018 0019 OOlA 001B oolC 0010 001E oolF 0020 0021 0022 0023

NUoOld 20 31 39 38 36 2C 20 50 65 74 65 72

NU-new 30 01 54 09 CD 21 CD 20 5B 4E 55 20

DEBUG 0124 0125 0126 0127 0128 0129 012A 012B 012C 0120 012E 0l2F

NUllO 0024 0025 0026 0027 0028 0029 002A 002B OO2C 0020 oo2E 002F

NUoOld 20 4E 6F 72 74 6F 6E 20 41 6C 6C 20

NU-new 48 50 31 31 30 50 1B 26 6B 31 5C 24

DEBUG 0130 0131 0132 0133 0134 0135 0136 0137 0138 0139 013A

~

NUllO 0030 0031 0032 0033 0034 0035 0036 0037 0038 0039 oo3A 003B

NUoOld 72 69 6 7 6 8 74 73 20 72 65 73 65 72

NU-new 1B 5B 30 60 1B 26 6B 30 5C 24 03 2F

DEBUG 013C 0130 013E 01F7 01F9 01FA 01FB 01FC 01FD 023A 023B

NUllO oo3C 0030 oo3E ooF7 ooF9 ooFA ooFB ooFC ooFD 013A 013B

NUoOld 76 65 64 74 C6 06 A1 00 2F CD 20

NU-new 64 32 00 EB E9 19 FF 90 90 EB BD

•

PORTABLE

POWERHOUSE

Driglna/) retail

ONLy$495!

Hewlett-Packard's HP110 Portable

($195

with pDrtable printer and disk drive)

Includes word processor, Lotus 1A, bullt·ln modem, communications software-and a ONE· YEAR GUARANTEEI

Hewlett-Packard's HP110 Portable was way ahead of its time.

An MS-DOS machine (version 2.11), the HP110 stores programs and data on ROM chips. The rugged unit weighs only 8 pounds, has a 16·line screen, and has enough available memory for more than 80 pages of word processing text.

With up to 20 hours of continuous use per battery charge, the HP110 is ideal for business travel. puters, used means worn out. But there's little that can wear out in an

HP110, because there are no moving parts except for the keys.

Every HP110 we sell is fully tested and is guaranteed against malfunction for one full year. All units come with a

3D-day no-risk trial and free technical support. For details or to order, call

(800) 373·6114. Call now-offer good only while supply lasts!

At only $495 used, our HP110s make great gifts for students, friends, and

N W· h

U/te·new Portable Plus: only $12951

Used: $B95

i.S1

Personal." zed

We also publish the HP Port· more than 100 software pmgrams that make the HP110 and Portable Plus even more powerful.

Software

INC.

The worldwide

HP Port. bit: experts

P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556 (515)472-6330 FAX:(51~)472-18J9

Portable Technology Update

II

We use the Portable Technology Update as a reference for

II some of the articles we write in

Tbe Portable Paper.

I!!RI Portable Technology Update focuses exclusively on the

... portable industry. It is supported by subscription ($250 for

It one year, quarterly subscriptions and single issues also available) and has no advertising. Data is organized by category in a tabbed, three-ring-binder format and updated monthly. Portable Technology Update provides information on the following topics:

Portable Technology Update

125 Beach 124the St •

Belle Harbor, NY 11694

Phone: 718-318-3880

FAX: 718-318-0865 •

Two New Modems

• New Product Introductions -- summary of new products introduced during each month;

II

. yocal TechnolOgies, Ltd., of Santa Clara, California has

• Industry news _ events affecting the portable industry;

I!II mtroduced two compact modems that may be of interest to

• Application case studies _ how specific r.;ofupanies are ... some HP Portable users: using these products;

II

• In-depth product reviews -- product comparisons, lUI reviews, ratings and reports; IIW

STO.WAWAY 2400-

SMALL, LINE-POWERED MODEM

• Industry directory _ names, addresses, and phone numbers of the manufacturers;

The Stowaway 2400 is a small, Hayes compatible, linepowered modem that connects to the serial port of your

• Product listings _ Model name, description and price of portable. It gets the power it needs from the computer portable products; and telephone it is attached to. Batteries, or an internal AC

• Product specification sheets.

Subscribers to Portable Technology Update also receive free telephone support, complimentary passes to shows and conferences, invitations to participate in laptop seminars, opportunities to beta test new products, invitations to participate in focus groups. For further information contact: adapter is never needed.

The Stowaway is a little bigger, but weighs less than a standard 25-pin adapter.

It uses the industry standard AT command set including the latest extension. Stowaway

2400 also has an internal non-volatile memory for savin the modem configuration and up to four phone numbers.

Other features include the following (see page 12):

10


USED HP PORTABLES

AND

PERIPHERALS

We buy them. We sell them. We guarantee them.

No longer using your HP

Portable or peripherals?

Turn them into cash through The Portable

Equipment Exchange.

Prices fluctuate, so call us for current figures. .

Buying used HP equipment makes sense.

You know HP quality!

Even used HP machines can serve you well for years. Call for current prices.

I

Any used item you buy from us can be retumed within 30 days for a full refund. In. addition

1

ONE·YEAR GUARANTEE

(parts and labor) on all used equipment!

(SIS) 472·6330

For good buys on used-and new-HP equipment, see our 4-page brochure enclosed with this issue,

The Portable Equipment Ex(hallge

-a division of Personalized Software

P.O. Box 869 Fairfield, IA 52556

©

Copyright 1987 Personatized Software

No more cutting and pasting-

Now you can print it sideways!

~:;;;;;;;;;;::::.-

_----._._.

- - -

_

_--_

..

_._.

- -

-

_

_-_

...

_._.

_

... -

_

..

_--'

Illili!I!lilllll!i!lilll~llllllllll!iliiilll!

SIDEWINDER

SideWinder i$ puhli$hed hy Southern Software

At last! Sideways printing

, , , ,.

HP110 Portable

for the H P Portable,

Portable PLUS, and

ThinkJet'

(And the HP150, Vectra, IBM PC,

Portable Plus

PortableVectta

HP150

IBM PC and co"",.1

Available on ROM Backup tor the Portable Plus

•

•

• MS-DOS computers, and most HP graphics printers.)

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

Southern Software of

New Orleans, creators of SideWinder, have also created two companion utilities that work only on

The HP Portables:

.

__

.•

-_

..

,

_

".

...

It's called SideWinder, and it's perfect for Lotus 1-2-3 print files, MemoMaker files, or any other text (ASCII) file that's too wide for a normal page.

Simply fill in a grid on your Portable to modify SideWinder's builtin create italics ... Hebrew letters ... integral signs ... whatever sideways characters you wish.

Just type in the file name, and SideWinder does the rest, printing up to 53'rows

sideways -

for as long as your paper supply lasts. You1l never need to cut and paste again!

Sketch & Print lets you make line drawings on your screen using the cursor and function keys.

SideWinder's high-quality graphics characters are indistinguishable from ordinary characters, and SideWinder prints just as fast as your ThinkJet can.

£

9

In addition, a built-in mini text editor lets you get inside your print files and easily create double-""idth characters and underlines.

SideWinder

$

69 95

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

$59.95 for Portable Paper subscribers

PRODUcr NO. SWll Nfl

U's a lot like those EtchlSketch toys you played with as a child.

(Actually, it's even better because you can draw not just horiwntal and vertical lines, but also diagonals with a single key.) Sketch &

Print also lets you print and saYe anything you draw on the screen.

$10 for both utilities when purchased with SideWinder

0

For a

complete graphics software program, see ad for "Sketch" in this issue.

Order form and guarantee are on inside back cover or send check or credit card number to Personalized Software, PO Box

SideWinder 1.01 owners may upgrade to current version 2.01, which supports 8 chars/inch, by sending 869, Fairfield IA 52556 (515) 472-6330. '105 rows for QuieUet Printer

Personalized Software $7.50 or by mailing a self-addressed $.39 stamped envelope and the SideWinder ma>ter QlSk. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ......

©

Copyright 1987 Personatized Software

mE PORTABLE PAPER

• Operates on all telephone lines;

• Line powered -- no batteries or AC adapter;

• 2400, 1200 and 0-300 bps;

• Automatic fullback;

• Extended AT command set;

• Auto dial;

• Tone and Pulse dialing;

• 40-character command buffer;

• Non-volatile memory;

• One year warranty. patterns and applications development are making portable computers the business for the 90's -- surpassing the impact of desktop computers.

PC&C estimates an attendance of 3,000. For registration information call 1-800-545-3976. •

Technical Support Notes

By Hal Goldstein and Stephen Kelley

STOWAWAY

9624

COMPACT, BATTERY POWERED FAX/MODEM

The 9624 combines a conve~tiona~ 2400 bps da~ mod:m with a 9600 bps fax modem m a smgle 8

OZ,

2.2 x 4.2 x

0.8" package.

The full, extended AT command set is provided with

II

This past year Steve has been finishing up

.hi~

PhD in

Physics (and consciousness) at our local MahariShi Interna-

[I

tional University, and working at Personalized Software part

II time doing technical support. Steve recently finished his

Doctorate and is soon to begin work at the Texas Accelerai.1 tor Center. I asked Steve to put together some notes for the next technical support person. These notes are

2400, 1200, and 0-300 bps capability for data modem operation. The fax modem allows transmission and reception at 9600, 4800, 2400, and 300 bps.

Other features include the following: interesting and I thought many readers would find some value in them. I have edited out most of the HP150 material.

• Automatic fullback;

• Hayes compatible;

• Auto diaVauto answer;

• Tone/pulse dialing;

• 40-character command buffer;

• Non-volatile memory;

• GROUP

III compatible

• FAX support software;

• One year warranty.

BASICS OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Attitude constitutes 90% of technical support. Being friendly and understanding makes the customer feel good.

To help, you must first listen and understand the customer's problem. Keep asking questions until you understand the problem. If the software and hardware is available on your desk, follow along with the customer on your machine. Some crucial information to obtain is:

Stowaway 2400 (retail $295) and Stowaway 9624 (retail

$645) were developed by Vocal Technologies, Ltd. For more information please contact:

• Name of computer;

• CPU type;

• Software being used, including version number and; where it is located (hard disk, floppies, ROM);

• Hardware configuration relevant to the problem (printer, disk drives).

Vocal Technologies, Ltd.

3032 Scott Boulevard

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Phone: 408-980-5181

FAX: 408-980-8709 •

Try to get a feel for the customer's level of computer literacy as you talk with him and aim your instructions to that level.

You should be familiar with DOS. The following DOS commands and topics are particularly important in technical support:

II

Portable Computing

[I

&

Communications

II

Exposition and Conference

""

~

• DIR

• COpy CON

• CHKDSK

• FILE NAMES

• COpy

• TYPE

• EDLIN

• BATCH FILES

• AUTOEXEC.BAT • CONFIG.SYS

• SUBDIRECTORIES (CD MD RMDIR) i.1

Billed as an exposition dedicated to laptop and portable products, this year's Portable Computing & Communications Exposition and Conference will be held at the

Sheraton Centre Towers in New York, September 26-27.

The focus this year will be on software applications for sales & marketing, wordprocessing, information management, connectivity, spreadsheets, graphics, etc. The exposition will also focus on the communication of portables, specifically on modem, fucsimile, and cellular phones.

Keynote speaker will be Randy Fields, chairman of the board of Mrs. Fields Inc. Mr. Fields will discuss how the changing emphasis on time management, organizational

PROCESSORS

Familiarity with typical hardware setups is also important.

We support six types of processors:

1. HP-ll0;

2. Portable Plus;

3. HP-150;

4. Vectra LS/12;

5. Vectra CS;

6. NEC UltraLite.

12 SEPTEMBER

I

OCTOBER 1990

II

PV users: Please subtract $10 from subscriber price (since we don't have to send you additional customized disks or extra documentation). Be sure to indicate "PORTABLE VEGfRA" on your order.

and

CONDOR,JR.

Database

management

made easy!

If you have customer files, sales records, inventory, or lots of

anything

that you need to keep track of, you need a database management system (DBMS).

If you want a sophisticated DBMS that even a beginner can use, try Condor 3 or

Condor, Jr.

Condor 3 runs on the Portable Plus,

Portable Vectra, and HP150. Its smaller cousin, Condor, Jr., runs on the HPllO and Portable Vectra only. Both versions let you set up a database in a single step, simply by typing a picture of the input form right on your screen. You enter and modify data-or even revise the database structure-simply by typing right on the same form.

Unlike other database systems, you simply tell Condor what to do, not how to do it-and you tell it using simple,

English-like statements such as LIST

CUSTOMER BY NUMBER NAME STATE

AND COMPUTE TOT SALES.TO.DATE.

As a result, it takes only one fifth the time to compute, display, sort, search, or report on your data using Condor as compared with other database systems such as dBASE III. Most users find they can create and begin to use their f}rst database within minutes after opening the package.

Condor 3 (but not Condor, Jr.) is a fully relational DBMS. That means you can use Condor 3 to compare, select, and combine data from two or more files. and other files not created by Condor.

Over 150,000 Condor programs are currently in use. We think the Condor people have done a fabulous job of packing an enormous amount of database power into an incredibly easy-to-use system. We urge you to try Condor 3 or Condor, Jr. at our risk today.

Condor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $495.00

$379.00 for Portable Paper subscribers


Condor 3 also lets you create your own custom report formats. (Condor, Jr. includes a LIST command for limited report writing.)

You can transfer

'I~MIIM,',I~ml~I': II: . .

HPll0 Portable

Portable Plus

•

Condor 3

1

Condor, Jr.

~

• data back and forth Portable Vectra

• from Condor 3 to

Lotus 1-2-3 print files

HP150

IBM

PC and compa!.

..

•

•

•

PRODUCT NO. CRllNS

PRODUCT NO. CR13NS

MEMORY REQUIREMENTS

Condor 3 requires only 128K of memory to run.

~he.entire program, including the report writer, fits

In less than 360K. Since each command is in its own file, you can save memory space by deleting any commands you don't need.

Con~or, t~e.

Jr. is even more memory-efficient: main program

IS only 25K, and you add individual 10K programs for each function you wish to use.

It transfers Jiles both ways between your Portable Plus and your desktop computer without an HP-IL card!

An HP-IL card inside your mM PC or compatible computer lets you transfer files to and from your Portable Plus.

It's a good solution to the data transfer problem,

provided

you only use one desktop computer. But if you ever need to transfer data between your Portable Plus and someone else's desktop computer, you're stuckor at least you were until now.

Because now there's a way to do it with software.

It's a program called HPDuette. 'lbgether with a special serial connecting cable that it comes with, HPDuette is all you need to transfer files at high speed both ways between your Portable Plus and any mM PC compatible desktop.

• I I I "

HP110 PonabIe

Portable Plus

Ponable Veclra

• HP150

IBM PC and co lIbles

HPDuette performs complete error checking during the transfer process to ensure data integrity. It handles multiple-file transfers, subdirectory transfers, and DOS

"wild card" usage. It lets you use DOS commands such as type, list, rename, and erase without having to exit the program. And it transfers

datajaster

than you can with an

HP-IL card.

HPDuette is easy to use too, Simple menus and easy-to-understand help screens are available at all times.

For true convenience in file transfer to and from your Portable Plus, order

HPDuette today.

HPDueHe with cable for Portable Plus ... $99.95


P]WDUC'T NO. DUllNS

HPDuette is a registered trademark of Platte River Associates. Inc.

pduett0

comes with a serial cable and two disks; you load one disk into your Portable Plus and the other into the desktop.

HPDuette transfers data at 57,600 baud. To use

HPDuette, you connect the 9-pin serial port on your

Portable Plus to the serial port on your desktop computer using the serial cable that comes with the program.



TO ORDER-

l' se enclosed postage-paid order form or send <:hec:k or credit curd information

(#. eXl', date. signature) to:


P.o. Box H(i!l. I'airtield. L\ :;~:;:;(i :;1:; ~72-(i:l:ln

©


mE

PORTABLE PAPER

Questions concerning the Portable Plus and the HP-150 make up the majority of technical support call~.

The Portable Plus and the HP-110 are very similar computers. The Plus has RAM and ROM drawers which give it more capability than the 110. The 110 comes with four ROM applications: MemoMaker; Lotus 1-2-3; Terminal

Commands; and DOS Commands. All these applications are documented in the 110 manual except Lotus which is documented in the HP-110 Portable Computer Lotus 1-2-3

User's Manual. In addition, Personalized Software sells software on disk for the 110 (see our Sales Book).

Setting up printers and disk drives is almost identical, and products are installed in PAM the same way.

Personalized Software's video tapes and the HP-110 and

Portable Plus Owner's Documentation cover most aspects of these two computers.

INSTALLING AN APPLICATION ON PAM

II

Plus. Create a PAM.MNU file on the drive where the lIIapplication files are located. Use COPY CON, or EDliN,

The Editor, or another ASCII text editor to do so.

PAM.MNU consists of a set of two lines for each PAM application on the disk. The first line appears as a title on the PAM screen, and the second specifies the startup command for the .COM .EXE or .BAT file you wish to run.

Sample Contents of C:PAM.MNU where BASIC.COM and

EDITPLUS.BAT are the files which start the two applications on drive C.

Basic basic

The Editor editplus

PRINTERS

ftI!t

Printers may be classified according to their interface with

III and parallel.

II

Thinkjet Printer

II

HP-m 2225A

HP-R 2225B

Parallel 2225C

Serial 2225D

The first step to setting up a printer is to get it to print from DOS. •

• CONNECTING THE HP-IL THINKJET PRINTER TO THE

110 OR PORTABLE PLUS -- first hook the printer up in the HP-IL loop. Then modify system configuration, set printer interface to HP-IL.

• CONNECTING A SERIAL THINKIET PRINTER TO

PORTABLE PLUS/HP-110

1. Connect serial cable, 9 to 25 pin HP (HP92221P) or Personalized Software (SC13NM) serial cable.

2. Set all dip switches down.

3. In datacom configuration (5 menu) set Serial to

9600,8,1,none,on,ignore,ignore,ignore.

4. In system configuration (f6 menu) set printer interface to serial.

• CONNECTING A SERIAL THINKJET PRINTER TO

PORTABLE VECTRA OR LS/12 -- assuming COM1 is serial port:

1. Place in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file the following two lines: mode com1: 9600,n,8,1 mode Ipt1:=com1:

2. Connect the ThinkJet to the CS or LS/12 using the proper serial cable.

3. Set all dip switches down.

• DESKIET

Computer settings are the same when using the DeskJet as a serial printer. All dips should be down on the

DeskJet.

• KODAK DIOCONIX PRINTER

1. Set the side dip switches: number 3 up, the rest down.

2. Set the front dip switches: numbers 3 and 9 up, the rest down.

TYPES OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT CALLS

Most technical support calls relate to one of the following three categories:

WHAT DOES THIS PRODUCT DO?

Often a customer wants more information about a product

..

then the salesman can give him and will ask for technical " . support. Tell him what you can about the product, and if necessary look at the manual for details.

Example A:

Wt11 sidewinder work with my printer?

Page 31 of the sidewinder manual answers this question.

HOW DO I USE THIS?

The manual will almost always answer the customer's question, but the manuals are hard for some people to understand. Follow along with the customer in the manual and also on your machine if available. Don't be afraid if you don't know how to do something. Look in the table of contents and/or index to find what you need and you'll learn it along with the customer.

Example A: "I can't get ReadHP to work". Following the directions in the ReadHP manual you find the customer's PC desktop boots from drive C and the PC's B drive is a 3.5" floppy drive. The customer uses a double sided HP Portable floppy drive with his HP Portable.

You instruct the user to put the ReadHP disk in the B drive and issue the following command from DOS: install c P b

After you have installed the software, reboot the system and observe the driver installation message that says physical drive B has been installed as logical drive D, format is HP double sided. Now the customer should be able to read from and write to an HP Portable or HP-15 disk inserted in his 3.5" drive as long as he addresses that drive as the "D" drive.


TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

TIllS PRODUCT DOESN'T WORK

This category is rare. Mostly, the customer isn't following the instructions. Lead them through and the problem will disappear. On occasion the physical product is defective.

Apologize for the mistake and let the customer talk to Vicki about a replacement or refund.

PRODUCT INSTALLATION

Most products have an automatic installation on the 110,

Plus and 150.

On the 110 and Plus, put the installation disk in drive

C, press

f4

to reread disks, and then select the

~tallation program from PAM. First select what disk to install the program, then specify whether you want a PAM item to automatically remove the application. See the documentation on INSTALLP in the DOS Tools manual to learn how to package a product for automatic installation on the 110 or Plus.

LOTUS - The default printer for Lotus is the parallel or

HP-IL printer. To print from the serial port, GO

/WGDPI, WORKSHEET GLOBAL DEFINE PRINTER

INTERFACE, and set the printer to 2, serial. You must then set the BAUD RATE, usually to 9600. Then press esc to get back on menu level and press u to update the configuration me. To confirm your settings select s for STATUS: you will see the interface and baud rate settings.

SHELP -- Put one of the following lines in your

CONFIG.SYS me: device=a:\path\shelp.sys for SHELP on the Edisk. b:\Super\shelp.sys or b:\aea\shelp.sys or b:\sw_shelp\shelp.sys for shelp on ROM.

Reboot to enable SHELP (press ctrl-shift-break). To get into SHELP press ctrl-shift-extchar.

• SQUISH PLUS - Make sure SQPLUS.SYS, ATTACH.EXE, and MKDISK.EXE are copied onto your Edisk. Then put the following line in CONFIG.SYS me: device=a:\path\sqplus.sys

Put the following three lines in an AUTOEXEC.BAT me: cd d:\path attach e: a:\path\file.ext cd \

Create a squish disk with the following command: mkdisk a:\path\file.ext

Reboot the system to put all this in effect. What this will do will be to create a drive E in which everything will be automatically compressed in the me

A:\PATH\FILE.EXT. The drive and path referred to in the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT mes is where the squish command ATTACH and driver SQPLUS.SYS are put. Once you have run the MKDISK command above, you can remove MKDISK.EXE from the Edisk.

• READHP -- ReadHP is installed on your PC, not the HP.

1. Check to see that the appropriate DEVICE command is in your CONFIG.SYS me.

• The follOwing command line in your

CONFIG.SYS me lets you read HP-150, 110, and Portable Plus single-sided floppy Disks: device=hpsingle.sys d

• This command line in your CONFIG.SYS me lets you read HP-150 double-sided floppy disks:

It

,. device=hplSOds.sys d

• This

DEVICE command in your CONFIG.SYS me lets you read Plus/110 double-sided floppy disks: device=hpllOds.sys d

In each case d is the drive letter of your

3.5" drive.

If the appropriate DEVICE command is NOT in your CONFIG.SYS me, follow the installation instructions in the ReadHP manual to install

ReadHP.

2. Each of the above DEVICE commands installs a

DEVICE DRIVER when you boot up. Make sure that the appropriate device driver is on the drive you boot from. Type the DOS DIR command and you should see one of the following:

HPSINGLE.SYS for 150, 110, Plus single-sided disks;

HP150DS.SYS for HP-150 double-sided disks;

HP110DS.SYS for Plus/110 Double-Sided.

If not, follow the installation instructions in the

ReadHP manual to install ReadHP.

3.

Reboot your mM and look for the ReadHP message noting the Logical Drive ReadHP is using (see page

7 of the ReadHP manual for more on this).

It will be the next drive letter available, usually drive D.

The rest of this article will assume ReadHP is using drive D.

4. DOS commands can access HP disks using the logical drive assigned by ReadHP (drive D in our example), not the physical drive your PC usually reads. Make sure you use the ReadHP logical drive when reading HP disks.

5. Try formatting a new HP Portable disk, copy some mes to it, then transfer to the mM and test

ReadHP. Some problems may be because of worn disks. You can get READ ERROR, BAD DISK, and

NON-DOS DISK error messages because of a worn disk. Note that some mes don't work on PCcompatibles. Copying a me to the mM with


IS

mE PORTABLE PAPER

ReadHP will not make it usable. The best test of success is to transfer an ASCII file and use the

1YPE command to display it on the IBM screen.

A: When you format a disk on the 110, Plus or 150, you will be prompted to give a volume ID. There is a program in Norton Utilities called VL which will let you change the volume ID.

6. If you get a disk error which asks "Abort, Retry,

Ignore?" try typing i and see if the command will execute.

7. There may be some PC's on which ReadHP cannot read some or all HP disk formats. ReadHP does not work on an external

3.5"

IBM drive (one that plugs into an external port). If you have the resources, try using ReadHP on a different PC or for a different format of HP disk.

Q: How can I get a DOS (ASCII) file into WordPerfect or save a WordPerfect file as a DOS (ASCII) file?

A: Wordperfect's Text In/Out function is accessed by pressing ctrl-f5 while in WordPerfect. You can save or retrieve in DOS (ASCII) format. On a retrieve you are given two options for what to do with the carriage returns and linefeeds (see WP manual Text In/Out for details).

COMMON QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS

II

Q: When I start my Portable, a command in CONFIG.syS

III locks up the computer. How can I remove this command?

A: First turn off the machine by holding down the contrast key until the machine turns off. Then press ctr-shft-ext char and tap the contrast key. The machine will boot into DOS from the B ROM drive and you can take the offending line out of CONFIG.SYS. If the bad line is in

AUTOEXEC.BAT, it is easier to just hold down ctr-c to abort AUTOEXEC.BAT.

Q: Can I use WordPerfect 5.0 on my HP-150?

A: WP 5.0 requires at least 512K to run on the 150. Use the DOS command CHKDSK to see how many bytes total memory the machine has.

Q: How can I alter the protection on a file?

A: Use the CHANGE command from Personalized Software's DOS Tools. See the DOS Tools manual for details.

Q: Can I run two devices from the Portable Plus serial port?

A: No, run one of them from the HP-IL port.

Q: How do I turn on a locked-up Portable?

Q: I'm having trouble using my LOGITECH mouse with the

A: Try these techniques in sequence, each more drastic than the next, until one works:

1. Make sure it is off by holding down the contrast key for about 20 seconds. Then tap the contrast

Portable Plus.

A: Make sure you have used LTMOUSE, not MSMOUSE and that the files are installed in the root directory. key to turn it on.

2. Turn off the computer as above, then boot from the B drive by holding down the following keys:

Q: What WordPerfect printer driver do I use for the HP

82906A printer?

A: Use the STANDARD PRINTER driver. ctr-shift-ext char-contrast.

3.

Do a hard reset by removing the battery cover and pressing the black button. You will loose the

RAM

II

Q: How do I read HP disks on the LS/12?

A: See the instructions above on ReadHP and Vol.4, No.4, memory. Pg.17. of

Tbe Portable Paper. You must reboot before

4. Replace the battery if none of the above work. the computer will load the driver.

Q: Can I send ASCII control characters to my printer with

Q: There are thin lines missing from my thinkjet printout.

A: Clean the cartridge.

Lotus?

A: Use the setup string option in Lotus. Check in the Lotus

Manual's index under "ASCII." You will also need your printer manual.

II

Q: My computer locks up when I try to run Sidewinder

~ from the "Run Sidewinder?" prompt in Sidewinder

Q: My drive went down while using Lotus and I can't save the spreadsheet in my computer. ,,'

A: ;WGDD will let you choose a new drive to save your

IA.t

A: Circumvent this bug by typing "N" to exit Sidewinder m enhancer.

Enhancer and then run Sidewinder from PAM. spreadsheet on.

RANDOM NOTES

Q: I've just installed a ROM product in my Plus and it doesn't show up on the PAM screen.

A: Backup your Edisk before opening the software drawer.

On a two-chip package the chips must be in adjacent sockets. The chip marked "H" must be in a socket marked "H" and the chips marked "L" must be in an "L" socket. Make sure the chips are installed with the notch on the chip matching the notch in the outline of the chip on the circuit board and the chip is properly seated.

• Webster's doesn't work with MS-Word files.

• Password on the 1988 Subscribers disk. If you get locked out, type TESTPASS (all caps) and the initia1.

password, unless you have changed it. i fi i~~

• WordPerfect on the Plus -- you can delete all

WP{WP} files except

WP{WP}

.SET.

Q: How can

I put a volume ID on a disk?

• BOXES on the 1989 Portable Paper Subscriber Disk does not work with MemoMaker, only with The Editor.

16


TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

• LapTape won't work on an LSIl2 with expansion chassis when the VGA is on.

• Reflections used with a 2400 WorldPort MNP modem -port configuration menu (Fl then F3) CTS should be

HIGH. •

Voodo DOS

Joe Butterworth

Thought you might enjoy the spooky little story I've enclosed titled ''Voodoo DOS." I must emphasize that everything I've described in the story actually happened except for the talking Portable Plus computer and the dark and stormy night. But here's the really spooky part. Since writing the story, I've been absolutely unable to duplicate the strange results that I first observed with file ????????90b!

Now that's spooky! So if you repeat the little experiment described in the story and find that DOS works fine, don't be surprised. On the other hand, if you, too, find that

DOS requires a sacrifice before it will delete a file welcome to the twilight zone!

II

THE NIGHT WAS DARK AND FORBIDDING ...

III

The night was dark and forbidding as I sat before my

1:1

Portable Plus computer wrapping up some file management tasks I had put off doing. Lightning cracked and thunder

• roared through the dank atmosphere. But I was warm and dry and the computer was operating on its internal battery to protect it from electrical transients, so despite the storm

I felt secure. But was I?

Running Personalized Software's FilePlus, I turned to the my first task: Rename a file called CAPTIONS.90A to

CAPTIONS.90B. Since the basic file name was to be retained while renaming only the extension, I thought I could save keystrokes by typing only "*.90B" when FilePlus asked me for the new name.

"How clever," I thought to myself.

"Tsk tsk" an almost inaudible voice murmured from somewhere'within my Portable Plus computer. Momentarily stunned, I quickly dismissed the voice as wind noise as the storm raged outside. "Computers don't talk," I thought. "Let's see how that turned out." And I rearranged the FilePlus display to view my new file, CAPTIONS.90B.

It wasn't there, but I did find a file named "????????90B".

"Rats," I thought. "My use of the asterisk wildcard to save keystrokes is now going to cost a bundle of keystrokes to fix.

I'll have to ask FilePlus to rename ????????90B to

CAPTIONS.90B." So I did, but all I got was an error message, "File already exists .. ."

"Now what?" I thought. 'Well, if Rename won't work let's delete it. After all, I've got a backup on disk." So I asked FilePlus to delete ????????90B. This time I got a more personal error message: "Sorry. This one will not go."

'What's going on?" I asked to no one in particular.

"But wait if

FilePlus won't rename or delete this rogue file,

I'll use MemoMaker or The Editor and handle it from within one of those programs." But neither MemoMaker or

The Editor would load ????????90B!

"Now what do I do?" I said aloud.

"I tried to warn you," the voice from the computer said, this time loud enough so there was no chance of it being mistaken for the wind. I sat there, my mouth agape, my brain refusing to believe what it had clearly heard. Finally,

I said in a quiet voice, "Computers don't talk."

"Oh anyone knows that," the voice replied. "How can they? Computers are just dumb machines, collections of silicon and copper. But software, and more to the point, operating system software ... there's another matter entirely.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is DOS."

"I don't believe it," I murmured. But before "it" could say anything more, I went directly to DOS. Voices or not,

I knew a good tip when I heard one:

If all else fails, go to

DOS. I asked for a directory listing of "*.90B", and

10 and behold, there was file ????????90B, a1l8Kworth. Surely now

I could deal with this rogue! I typed "RENAME ????????90B

CAPTIONS.90B", but before I could hit the RETURN key

DOS said (that'S right, said) to me, "It won't work!"

Naturally DOS was right. It didn't work. I think the error message was "UNABLE TO FIND FILE mm??90B."

But I was in such a rattled state, I can't be sure. Anyhow,

I finally managed to get my hands calm enough to type

"COPY ???m??90B TEMP", hoping to coax it into a temporary home so I could kill it.

''You don't give up easily, do you?" DOS said, as he, she or it displayed the same error message.

"Now cut that out!" I shouted, thinking maybe if

I was more aggressive ... I pounded out ERASE m?????.90B.

"Ha ha!" DOS chortled. "You fool." Of course, this too failed.

'Why me?" I cried. "All I did was try to be clever and save a few lousy keystrokes, and now you've stuck me with

8K of E-disk space which is unreachable in any way shape or form. What do you want of me?"

"A sacrifice," DOS boomed from my Portable Plus.

"A sacrifice," I lamented. "Now wait a minute. Computers are great and all that. But a sacrifice? That's going too far."

"Surely there's a file you could spare," DOS intoned.

''You have many, and if it's backed up you've lost nothing.

And unless I get my file, you're stuck with my little pet,

?m?m.90B. Now what do you say?"

It took me a moment to respond. I was still trying to figure out how DOS said m??m.90B. "OK," I finally responded. ''You win. Which file do you want?"

"It doesn't matter. You choose."

Outside, the storm howled with renewed fury as I copied an old text file and renamed the copy

BONEHEAD.90B. "OK. Here's your sacrificial file, DOS."

"Good. Now just lay your hands on the keyboard and relax. Hum. BONEHEAD. That's good. Appropriate, too."

Maybe it was the electricity in the air caused by the strange rainless lightning, or maybe it was something unexplainable by mere science, but some force guided my trembling hands as they typed "ERASE *.90B."

Lightning as bright as day lit up my room and a tremendous clap of thunder shook me as I hit the RETURN key.

And from within the computer, "Ah! Good! Thank you," accompanied by an eerie smacking of lips.

After a moment or two to collect my shattered nerves,

I called up FilePlus. The rogue file, ?m????90B was gone.

I sat there for a while as the storm abated, wondering how or if I would ever tell anyone of this strange occurrence.

No one would believe me. But I did learn one thing: no short cuts when communicating with DOS. And listen to your computer.


17

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

Uoe is a retired Hughes Aircraft engineer. He and his

Wife are traveling full time in their 23-foot travel trailer, explOring the u.s. and Canada. Joe's permanent address is

987 Vermont, #4, Oakland, CA

94610.J •

smoke began to rise from the glue stick, its cylinder glowing red from the friction.

Suddenly, it was over, like a clear, soundless sky returning abruptly after a summer storm. We jumped up

iii::.

and down, screamed war cries, Pounded each other on the ..,))

Late Night

At Personalized Software

back. The Terrible Trio had done it. It was all over except for counting the dead glue sticks, and taking it over to the local Tribune Printing Company to be printed the next no, this morning! It was 2:00 A.M. of the new day.

Later that morning, I got the stuff to the Trib, and they

[As

can require many days without rest or much sleep to reach deadlines. Our graphic designer George Foster and

I are veterans in late night marathons to produce a newsletter or advertisingfeat. The original (blue covered)

Portable Equipment Exchange that we send out with each issue represents our latest efforts. George finally saw the wisdom of desktop publishing and did much of his work

cranked it right out as if they ate that type of thing every morning for breakfast. I went back to the office.

It was a quiet morning - too quiet. •

Mac Reads HP Disks

With Read HP and Soft PC

on- an Apple Macintosh.

However (to no one's surprise) this evolution in

George's thinking did not result in either of us getting any

II

Reader Bill Bready reports that he is able to put an HP-

II formatted disk into his Apple Macintosh TIei and use

more sleep. What did help this time was our involving·

ReadHP (available from Personalized Software) to read from

Glen Frank, our bookkeeper, proof-reader, and sometimes

and write to the disk.

graphiC artist. We pulled Glen in at the end of a series of late nights needed to put the Portable Equipment Ex-

He uses a Macintosh program called SoftpC to create a

DOS environment on his Mac. He installs ReadHP in that

change together. We thought some of you might enjoy

environment, specifying the floppy drive he wishes to use.

and relate to his comments about the experience - Hal.

J

When the Mac uses the drive, it can read from and write to the HP disk. The disk comes up on the Mac as an icon and

A Day

in the Life of Herr von Frankwits,

Private 1st Class

the Mac creates a file folder called "HP." He can read HP

ASCTI documents.

ReadHP is available to subscribers of

The Portable Paper

Sometimes Glen Frank.

for $69. It allows mM compatibles to read HP Portable and

HP150 3.5" disks. Call us at 515-472-6330.

1\

It was a quiet evening - too quiet. Curious George Foster had said he'd call at 7:45, and it was now 8:30. Something must be wrong. "Big Hal's not going to like this," I

II thought. Suddenly the clanging of the phone bell jarred

II me out of my gloomy ruminations. It was Curious George.

"OK, you can come over now, we're ready to start,"

II

George mumbled sleepily into the mouthpiece. l1li

I hung up quickly and jumped for my briefcase, already

SoftpC is a product of Insignia Solutions LID of Sunny- "

Vale, California, and retails for 5399 for the XT/CGA version and an additional $199 for the ATIEGA option. For more on Soft PC contact Insignia Solutions directly at 1-800-848-

7677 . •

Foreign Voltage Adapters Are

Excellent Traveling Companions

stuffed with the materials I had painstakingly gathered together under Big Hal's instructions earlier in the day. I f t i l ' . was out the door and down the street into the wispy II1II Radio Shack produces a c~uple of well~recommended evening fog in two shakes of a cat's tail.

II voltage

~onvert~rs to use Wlth your Portable Plus, 110,

"Now that we're ready, this ought to be a snap," I

IP.Ift

911~

Drwe, ThinkJet,

LS/1~, or Portable Vectra AC when remember thinking optimistically (and, unrealistically) . . . . you re on the road, abroad.

"Hour, hour-and-a-half, and it'll be all pasted

~ to go." Hah!

The first indication that things weren't going to go my way was when I got to George's office and he said, "Well, there's nothing printed out yet for you to paste onto." Just about then, Big Hal arrived, and wheels really started turning fast. Artwork that had been ostensibly the right size just a few hours ago suddenly needed reducing or enlarging. New artwork needs appeared out of thin air.

Some of the old artwork just vanished, vaporized from our consciousness and tossed into the circular file. Big Hal on the scene.

JJ

CONVERTER-ADAPTER (part no. 910-5255, type

273-

. , J .

George's studio I careened, till I couldn't tell whether I was

The next five hours are still a bit blurred in my memory.

Back and forth, back and forth, between Hal's office and was

1402) -This converter allows the use of 120 VAC devices with high wattage requirements (irons, heating pads, etc.). Rated at 1,000 watts, it comes with a builtin thermostat that prevents overheating and overloading.

The Converter-Adapter weighs 3

OZ, is

3.5" x 1.5" x

1.5", and retails for $15.95 at Radio Shack.

• STEP-DOWN TRANSFORMER (part no. 910-5250, type

273-1401) -- Provides safe operation of low wattage devices such as electric razors, radios, calculators, etc.

Thermally protected and rated at 40 watts.

The Step-Down Transformer weighs 9.5

OZ, is

1.6"

2.6" x 1.25", and retails for $14.95 at Radio Shack. • coming or going (usually it was both). Shrink. Enlarge.

Cut. Center. Paste. Over and over and over again till


M

'it

~

Personalized

Software

INC.

Products that make HP Portables smarter

p.o.

Box 869, Fairfield, Iowa 52556

515472-6330

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER and everything seemed fine. The chips came in on schedule, and we were prepared to ship.

We started testing the chips in final

QA,

and we started experiencing intermittent problems with the chips. We thought the problem was with the firmware of the ROM burner. Days were spent working with the ROM burner vendor. We finally discovered the main

ROM part of the

128K byte ROMs we built was not the same as our prototype and slightly different from the ROM vendor's specifications. What this meant was a six week delay in getting in and building new 128K byte ROMs. Those ROMs tested fine and were shipped. By the time you receive this newsletter we should be well-stocked with ROMs and ROM burners to fill all orders. •

By

Hal Goldstein

DAC-EASY Accounting

A Product Again

II

1991 Subscribers Disk

d fi

III

DAC-EASY accounting version 1 Works quite nicely in the

Portable Plus and the HP150 environment with slight

. . E

IAiI

Kee e recently. went .through a number of programs I modifications (see VolA No.2 Pg. 16-19). DAC-EASY has have been collecting this past year and coupled with h i s · . . " . . .

II own collection sent me back

IRII software. One or two more lterations are reqwred before

Leadin didat g can fi th es or e two

700K disks crammed with

. . . lIB we nail down the 1991 Portable Paper Subscribers disk. disk· I de. mc u . gwen us pernusslonto reproduce

Portable Plus/HP150 verslon of thetr product

DAC-EASY .

1S ava a e.

~u

~etr manual and ship a erso .

0

.re

(part No. DC 11NS, retail pnce $150, SUbScrlbers pnce

'129). Use the order form inclosed in the center spread or call 515-472-6330. •

• LZEXE and SCRNCH the EXE and COM me compression utilities that can reduce the size of a program me as

" much as 70%.

( " , • KERMIT 3.0 for the HP110, Portable Plus, and Vectras.

WordPlus For HP110 No More

KERMIT is a popular communications protocol that can be used when transfering mes via modem or serial port

II

WordPlus has been an ideal spelling checker for the HP110. from the HP Portables to another Pc. It works nicely on the 16 line screen and a version of the

• A host of new games for the Portable Plus including

Poker and a war strategy game.

• The latest version of Ed's favorite word processor VDE.

Popular PC Magazine colurnnistJohn Dvorak in his April

24, 1990 Inside Track agrees with Ed when he says

"VDE 1.5 may be the finest piece of word processing code ever written."

• A number of quite useful DOS utilities and Lotus worksheets that work on the HP110, Portable Plus,

18/12, and Portable Vectra. dictionary is provided that fits on the HP110 electronic disk. After months and months of indecision and not returning our phone calls, Russ Boelhauf, the author of the program, chose not to let us continue to sell the product.

We offered to reproduce the manual and disk, support the product, and pay him royalty. He would have to do nothing. For some unknown reason, Russ finally said no.

If you would like to register your opinion, please contact

Russ Boelhauf, Oasis Systems, 6160 Lusk Blvd, San Diego,

CA 92121, (619) 453-5711, Fax: (619) 453-5716. •

III

our way soon, addressed to me, Hal Goldstein.

WorldPort Fax

The 1991 Subscribers Disk is only available with a 1991 subscription to th~

Portable Paper. It will be shippe~

"'I'

A number of you have patiently waited to see if we can get the January 19911Ssue of The Portable Paper along With an II1II the WorldPort Portable Fax to work with the HP P rtabl index to the 1986-1990 issues. •

III

Plus and HP110. The bad news is the the

Wo~ldPo~

(fouchbase Systems) folks will not be able to rewrite the

ROMBO Is Really Shipping

I apologize for stating last issue that RaMBO was shipping.

It actually began shipping in mid-August. Our 128K byte mM PC compatible software to work on the HP Portables.

However, there is still hope.

Touchbase soon will release a command line version of their software. According to a Touchbase programmer, the version should work on the Plus. They will be sending us the software and a portable fax for us to test when they chip manufacturer had promised to send the final chips to us a couple of days after The Portable Paper went to the printer. We tested the final prototype chips a week before release the software.

I can't really promise a timeframe because it depends on when we get a unit. We'll keep on it and keep you informed. •


19

......

\

"

..

\ I

\ I

"

:

POWER~~~~~:

FOR

yolJR;'~~

---

PORTABLE~;;:~;

LUS

Easy-to-use, lightning-fast /'

1/

;.

\~,~~'\~

\ \\\\\ """

. ROM chips save valuable Portable Plus memory

and eliminate the need for a disk drive.

I \ '\ \ \

\

\

\

\

"

The most powerful and unique feature of your Portable Plus is that it lets you store programs on

ROM (Read-Only Memory) chips for instant access.

Almost all other portable computers require a disk drive in order to function. A disk driveeven a portable one-is a bulky piece of equipment, easily breakable, and slow in loading programs.

By contrast, a ROM chip weighs next to nothing, is virtually indestructible, and lets you load programs instantly. (Programs on

ROM chips don't take up any space on your Edisc.)

All of which means that your

9-pound Portable Plus is the fastest, most portable, and most reliable computer you can ownprovided, of course, you take full advantage of its ROM technology.

YOUR SOFTWARE

DRAWER WAS MEANT

TO BE FULL

The engineers at Hewlett-

Packard designed the Portable

Plus so it could accommodate an optional "software drawer" containing 12 ROM sockets. Clearly, their intention was that those sockets be filled with useful programs.

But if you're like most Portable

Plus users, you probably are using just a few of the sockets for ROMbased programs like Lotus 1-2-3 or MemoMaker.

That's fine as far as it goes, but if you aren't using

all

the ROM sockets-or if you have to carry around an HP9114 disk drive wherever you

go-then you are not using your Portable Plus to full advantage.

Th stllrt using

thefull

potential of your Portable Plus, look over the chart at the far right.

It contains more than 50 programs and utilities available on ROM chips from Personalized Software.

Taken together, these ROMs cover

every application you're likely to need-;;fl't>m

word processing to spreadsheets to data

60-DAY GUARANTEE

OF SATISFACTION

If, within 60 days, you are dissatisfied with a ROM product for any reason, you may return it for a full refund.

2-YEAR GUARANTEE

AGAINST DEFECTS:

If a ROM proves defective at any time within 2 years, we will replace it at no charge. communications, graphics, programming languages, and more.

Which means once you install these ROMs, you'll have everything you need right inside your

Portable Plus.

You'll never have to carry a disk drive again.

We invite you to browse through the chart, read the information at the right, and then order one or more ROMs today. You'll find them to be fast, reliable, and an incredible boost to your productivity.

Whatever your reason: to free up valuable memory space ... to eliminate the need for an external disk drive ... or just for the convenience of lightning-fast program loading,

fill your software drawer with ROMs

and you'll turn your Portable Plus into the powerhouse its designers intended it to be.

With our exclusive Double

Guarantee, the risk is all ours.

Why not order right now?

P.S.

If you have questions about any of the ROMs, give us a call.

Brian or David will be happy to make some recommendations as to which ROMs might best meet your needs for word processing, spreadsheets, or whatever applications you're interested in.

We supply clear instructions diagrams with every ROM order. If you prefer, send us your software drawer and we will install your ROMs for you-and test them-at no charge.

To remove your software drawer, first back up your A drive (so you won't lose your data), then use an ordinary screwdriver to remove the two outside screws on the drawer.

You won't be able to use-your Portable

Plus without the software drawer, so we recommend you call us first to make sure the ROMs you want are in stock, and to set an appointment for installation.

That way, we can install and test your new ROMs the day we receive your software drawer, then ship your drawer back that same evening. Return shipping within the Continental U.S. via UPS Second-

Day Air is free for all orders over $200.

Please add $15 to your order if you want overnight return shipping.

(In most cases, if you set an appOintment in advance and use overnight shipping both ways, you'll only be without your software drawer for less than two business days. We'll ship the manuals and other materials in advance by surface carrier so you'll have them by the time you receive back your software drawer.)

To order, use the postage-paid order form in the center of this issue. For even faster service-or if you have questions about any of our ROMs-give us a call.

................. .

/ / IMPORTANT INFORMATION

AIOUT OUR ROMS

---

---

\

",\

"\

()

We offer two kinds of ROM chips. One kind we produce ourselves; these are offered as part of our "ROM Backup

Packages" (see below). The other kind are manufactured by Hewlett-Packard; we call these simply "HP ROMs."

ROM Backup Packages

A ROM Backup Package includes both the disk version of a program and the

ROM version-plus the standard User's

Manual and additional instructions for installing and using the ROM. (In the chart, prices of products marked "PS" are for entire ROM Backup Package.)

According to the agreements we have with the original software vendors, our

ROM version is considered a backup copy of the disk version. ·Unless you already own the disk version, we cannot sell you the ROM Backup by itself.

Please note:

1. If you purchased the disk version of a program from us, we have that in our records. If you purchased the disk version elsewhere, you will need to show us proof of purchase before we can sell you just the ROM Backup.

2. Prices for ROM Backups alone are as follows:

As-Easy-As • • • • • • • • • • •• $125.

Best of DOS Tools •••••• $129.

The Editor •••••••••••••• 95.

GamesPlus • • • • • • • • • • • •• 105

HPDuette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95.

HPrint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95.

Shelp • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 55.

SideWinder ••••••••.•••• 55.

Shelp

+

SideWinder ••••••• 95.

Sketch •••••••••••••••• 95.

Squish Plus • • • • • • • • • • •• 135.

SuperROM •••••••••••••• 49.

TermPlus ••••••••••••••• 95.

Turbo Pascal 3 ••••••••••• 95.

Typing Whiz •••••••••••• 95.

Webster's Speller • • • • • • .• 179.

WordPerfeet ••••.•••••• 295.

3. It is important that you read and adhere to the licensing agreement that comes with the disk version of any software you buy, because the same agreement applies to the corresponding ROM

Backup. In most cases, this means you can use only one version of the software at a time on only one computer system at a time. Remember, the ROM is a

backup copy of the software, not an independent second copy.

HPROMs

The HP ROMs that we sell do not include (or require) the corresponding disk versions. They are the same ROMs that HP sells, except ours are usedwhich turns out to be better than buying them new. Here's why:

Unlike other used products you can buy, there are no moving parts on a

ROM, and nothing that can wear out.

Because of this, our two-year guarantee against defects applies to used HP ROMs as well as to our own ROM Backups.

(Two years is twice the guarantee against defects that Hewlett-Packard offers.)

Our used HP ROMs are also covered by our unique 60-day guarantee of satisfaction.

Best of all, our used HP ROMs are priced as much as 50% below retail.

Look at the chart at the right and compare! (In the chart, "Retail price" of HP

ROMs is HP's price new. "Subscriber price" is our price used.)

SideWinder

SOFTWARE AVAilABLE ON ROM

For product details, see individual ads elsewhere in this issue, in our catalog, or refer to articles in past issues. In this chart,

"Type" refers to either HP (used HP ROM) or PS (Personalized Software ROM Backup Package -price includes both ROM and disk versions). CAll. FOR AVAlLABllIIY OF USED HP ROMS.

Product

Part Retail

Number Price

Subscriber

Price

No. of

Type chips Notes

WORD PROCESSORS

WordPerfect 5 WDllNK $919 $595

PS

6

The Editor II

MemoMaker

ED12NK 195

175 PS

HP

1

384K of files includes PlusPerfect, main

WP program, help files, printer drivers, etc.

Does not include required 300K wp.fil file, spelling checker, or thesaurus.

The Editor version 1 is available as part of our SuperROM chip (see "Combined ROMs," below).

Comes on same chip as Time Manager (see

"Combined ROMs" below.)

MSWord

MultiMate

MS20UR

MM20UR

394

520

WORD PROCESSING UTiLmES

Formatl10

FormatPlus

FP13NK 175

HPrint

HP12NK 175

Mini PrinterTalk

Webster Speller WB13NK 259

SPREADSHEETS AND UTiLmES

Lotus 123,lA LT12UR 495

Lotus 123,2.01 LT15UR

New Lotus 123,2.01 LTllHR

As-Easy-As

625

625

ASllNK 215

199

295

165

171

249

249

195

,.

HP 1

HP 1

PS

PS 1

PS 1

PS

PS

HP

2

2

HP 3

HP 3

HP 2

Comes as part of Super ROM (see "Combined ROMs")

Comes as part of Super ROM (see "Combined ROMs")

3rd ROM containing help doesn't have to be installed.

Pricing of NEW HP ROM if used ROM not available.

DATABASE PROGRAMS

Exec Card Manager EC11 UR 395

COMMUNICATIONS

PC2622

Reflection

PC13UR 395

RFllUR 525

TermPlus TE13NK 195

PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTERS / GAMES

Best of DOS Tools DT12NK 179

FilePlus

GamesPlus

HP Calculator

HP Duette

Shelp

FE14NK 165

GAllNK 205

CL11NK 95

DU13NK 195

SH12NK 110

Time Manager

SW12NK 135

Typing Whiz

Squish Plus

TW12NK 145

SQ11NK 264

GRAPHICS

Sketch

SKl2NK 175

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

MSBasic MS21UR 331

COMBINED ROMs

MemoMaker/TimeMgr MM21UR 245

Shelp, SideWinder SH13NK 235

SuperROM

(5 programs on one chlp):The Editor,

SU11NK

Formatl10, Mini

PrinterTalk, Shelp, Sidewinder

474

BUNDLES

Editor Pack

+

Editor Pack

FM17NK 823

FM16NK 658

125

225

239

295

175

169

155

175

95

185

105

135

235

171

165

119

215

299

599

499

PS 1

HP

1

HP 1

HP 1

PS 1

PS

2

PS

1

PS

2

PS

1

PS 1

PS

1

HP

PS

1

PS 2

PS 1

HP 1

HP 1

PS 1

PS 1

PS

5

PS 4

Also available on a ROM with Shelp, and on our

SuperROM chip (see "Combined ROMs" below).

(Lotus 1-2-3 can also be used as a database.)

VT100 and HP Terminal emulator.

Minor upgrade of PC2622

Includes FormIBM, Jetctrl, and other great utilities.

Selected utilities from DOS Tools1

Chess,

Go-Moku, TigerFox, FastMind, Othello, Yhatzee

From our 1987 Subscriber Disk

Contains Portable Plus half of software

Includes note extraction program. Shelp also available on a ROM with SideWinder, and as part of SuperROM chip (see "Combined ROMs" below).

Comes on same ROM as MemoMaker

(see "combined ROMs" below).

(Lotus 1-2-3 can also be used for graphics.)

This is not GWBASIC.

Also includes SideWinder enhancement utility.

Mini PrinterTalk is the abbreviated version included on the PrinterTalk disk; it is functionally equivalent to Printertalk for most applications. Shelp and

SideWinder are the same versions as on the individual ROMs described above.

(Editor

II,

Webster, FormatPlus, FilePlus)

(Editor

II,

Webster, FormatPlus)

1Utilities included in the Best of DOS Tools ROM backup Package are as follows. For program details, see catalog.

PACK

VOL

DUMP

TY

CLEAN OIRAU. ARCE

TMA TJETA

CYPHER RENOIR WHEREIS TEE

MOVE OFF

FCOPY ASK

CHANGE ARC520 MOVEALL TRIM

PRNCONFWAIT

SOL FDATE LABEL

BEEP

OIRS

SQPC

FGREP XCOPY FDUMP COPYNEW

TRANSUT

SM

Note: ARC520 is shareware; the author normally requests a $35 contribution. However, we've already paid your user fee.

2IMPORTANT: All HP ROM prices given in this chart (unless othewise stated) are for used ROMs. Used HP ROMs (especially

Lotus 2.01) are sometimes not in stock. Call to verify availability of used HP ROMs and pricing on new HP ROMs if used ROMs unavailable.

OUR COMPLETE HP110, PORTABLE PLUS PRICE LIST

Private

File PF11NS 39.95 34.95

THE PORTABLE PAPER

Shelp

Squish Plus (P.Plus)

SH11NS 55.00

SQ11NS 129.00

49.95 (49)

99.95 (79)

(SuJ.:dbem DirIIs 0Dly Available WiIh SnIa:riptioos)

1991 Subscript. & Disk PPN1PS

All 1986-91 issues/disks PL11PK

$55.00 (Free)

159.00

• Items in tbis column are <tiscounted further with a purchase of

Tiger Fox TF11NS 32.95 29.95

~::.~r(HP110) ~i~s 4~:~ 3~:~

(Free.,iIV;, an HPIlO or a like-new or refwbished Portable Plus.

All 1986-90 issues/disks PL14PB

Individual back issue PP99PB

PP Binder VoL5 PB16NM

PP Binder VoLl-5 'PB15NM

119.00

9.20

7.00

29.00

HPll0, PORTABLE PLUS COMPUTERS

OOMPlJ'IERS

Like-new 512K P.Plus' PP36UC $2795 $995

SOFlWARE

ON ROM

(poRTABLE PLUS)

Programming

Compiled BASIC (USED) MS13UQi425.00 $225.00

FORTRAN (USED) F012Ul 395.00 250.00

MS BASIC (USED) MS11 UC 325.00 165.00

MS GW BASIC (USED) GW11UC 425.00 250.00

Programmer's Tools

(U)

PT11UC 325.00 175.00

U the product number ends with 'UR', it is a refurbished HP

ROM. U it ends with "NK", it is a new Personalized Software disk plus ROM backup.

Turbo Pascal 5.5. P.Plus TP52NX 219.00 175.00

Upgrade for Plus, HPl50 TP15NS 69.00 69.00

(must own mM PC Turbo 5.5, honor license)

T.Pascal 3.0 Optimizer TP17NS 125.00 119.00

Refurbished 512K P. Plus PP16UC

Refurbished 128K P. Plus PP12UC

Refurbished HP-110 PQ11UC

Like-new German Plus' PP37UC

Germanlocallz. ROM GE31UR

Like-new Swiss/Fr. Plus' PP34UC

French locallz. ROM FR3IUR

Like-new Swedish Plus' PP40UC

2795

2590

3000

2795

150

2795

150

2795

795

395

495

995

99 (50)

995

99 (50)

995

Like-new

English

Plus'

Like-new Italian Plus'

Italian localiz. ROM

PP3IUC

PP38UC

IT31UR

2795

2795

150

995

995

99 (SO)

'All Like-new Portable Pluses come in original packaging with new battery, new manual, and our 1 year guarantee.

SPECrAL HPllO, PORTABLE PLUS BUNDLES

HP110,TbinkJet,HP9114 PP40UX

Like-new RAM Special' BU11UX

Refurbished RAM Special' BU12UX

Like-new ROM Special' BU13UX

RefurbIshed ROM Special' BU14UX

Like-new Terminal Spec.' BUl5UX

Used Terminal Special' BUl6UX

$4300 $ 795

3816 1295

3816 1095

4450

1595

4450 1395

4360 1395

4360 1195

256K Terminal Special' BU17UX 4591 845

'RAM

SPECIAL: 512K Port. Plus, 128K RAM drawer, Shelp,

Editor II, Websters, FormatPlus, FilePlus, As-Easy-As, GamesPlus

'ROM SPECIAL: 512K Portable Plus, 128K RAM drawer, ROM drawer, GamesPlus, and ROMs:

Editor II, Websters, FonnatPlus, FilePlus, Shelp, As-Easy-As

+rERMINAL

SPECIAL: 256K or 512K Portable Plus, 1200B into modem, Reflection or PC2622, MemoMaker, Time Manager

PERIPHERALS

MODEMS

Used 1200 baud Internal BM11 UC

WorldPort Modem 1200 WM11NH

WorldPort Modem 2400 WM12NH

WorldPort M. 2400/MNP WM13NH

WorldPort seria1 cable

WP 1200 Upgrade kit

WP Acoustic coupler WM16NH

HP92205D MOust. cpler AC11NC

PlUNTHRS, PIDTTER

(Refurbished)

HP-lL TbinkJet Printer TJ11 UC

Serial TbinkJet Printer TJ14UC

$ 495

495

DeskJet Printer, cable

HP-lL 7470A Plotter

DeskJet Plus

PaintJet

LaserJet 500 Plus

LaserJet 11

LaserJet IlD

LaserJet lIP

DISK DRIVES

WM14NM

WM13NG

0111 UC

PL11UM

D.J12UC

PA12UC

LA13UC

LA14UC

LA12UC

LA15UC

(refmbished)

HP9114A Disk Drive

HP9114B Disk Drive

DD11UC

DD12UC

$ 795

795

15 Meg Hard Drive HDllUC 2700

(with HP-ffi/HP-lL Interface, HPm, HPlL cables)

MEMORY,SOFIWAREDRAWERS

(u~P.Plus)

1 Meg HP RAM Drawer MM11NC $1275 9 9 5

384K HP RAM Drawer MM12UC 982 295

256K HP RAM Drawer MM19UC

128K HP RAM Drawer MM13UC

128K HP Memory Card MM14UC

709

436

273

225 (199)

150

125

(99)

(99)

HP ROM Software Draw. SWllUR

$600

199

359

499

30

199

79

195

837

1095

995

1395

4200

2495

3795

1495

195

$250

179

319

425

20

179

79

135

$199

295

425

595

CALL

CALL

CALL

CALL

CALL

CALL

(167)

(295)

(179)

(399)

$199 (179)

249 (199)

995

99 (79)

Part

~

!!!!:

Combined

ROMs

Shelp,SdWndr

SuperROM

SH13NK

SU11NK

$235

474

$215

299

(139)

(199)

(Editor 1, Format110, PrinterTa!k, Shelp, SideWinder)

95"

49"

Communications

Advanced Mail AD12UR

PC2622 PC13UR

Reflection

TermPlus

RF11UR

TE13NK

Graphics

Sketch

Productivity BoosIers

DOS Tools DT12NK

I

Games

$179

FiIePlus FE14NK 165

GamesPlus

HP Calculator

HP Duette

Shelp

Squish Plus

TypingWhiz

$175 $171

Programming languages

MSBasic

Turbo Pascal 3 TP13NK

$331 $165

No longer published

Spreadsheets and Database

As-Easy-As AS11NK $215

Exec. Card Mgr ECllUR

Lotus 123,lA L T14UR

Lotus 123,2.01 LT15UR

New Lotus,2.01 LT11HR

SideWinder

$169

155

175

95

185

105

235

135

$195

225

249

395

499

125

Word

Processors

Editor IT

Editor Pack +

ED12NK

FM17NK

$195 $175

823 599

(Editor IT, Webster, FonnatPlus, FilePlus)

Editor Pack FM16NK 658

499

(Editor IT, Webster, FormatPlus)

MMkr/TmMgr

MSWord

MultlMate

MM2IUR

MS20UR

MM20UR

245

394

520

119

199

295

WordPerfect 5

205

95

195

110

264

145

395

495

625

625

135

940

Wont

Processing

Utilities

FormatPlus FP13NK $175 $165

HPrint HPl2NK

Webster Speller WB13NK

175

259

171

249

95

(199) 179'

"You must own the disk version of the product in order to use prices in the "Backup Price' column.

SOFlWARE

ON DISK

Communications

595

CompuServe starter kit CM11NS $ 39.95

Kermit KE11NS 19.00

Relay Gold (Plus)

TermPlus

Term1)0

Y1pNI:

SKl2NK

GA11NK

CL11NK

DU13NK

SH12NK

SQ11NK

TWl2NK

MS2lUR

SW12NK

WD11NK

$295

395

525

195

$150

239

295

175

RG11NS 295.00

TE12NS 99.95

TE11NS 99.95

TIll UC 135.00

Database/Accounting Software

Condor 3

Condor Jr

CR11NS $495.00

CR13NS 99.95

(99)

(99)

(139)

(99) 95'

(99)

(99)

(99)

$ 35.95

19.00

279.00

79.95

79.95

49.95

95"

129

(99) 95"

(159) lOS"

(139) 95"

55"

(199) 135"

(99) 95'

95"

(159) 115'

(199)

(199)

(99) 95'

(199)

(495) 295"

(99) 95'

(49)

$379.00 (299)

89.95

129.00

Project

Management

Milestone

PertMaster for HP110

PertMaster for P.Plus

SpreadSheet and Statistics

101 Macros

As-Easy-As

Lotus 123, v2.01 / Symphony

P.Plus Software Driver LT14NS 69.95

SideWinder and Utilities SW13NS 79.95

SideWinder SW11NS 69.95

Statistix 2.0

Wont

Processors

The Editor IT

Editor Pack

ED11NS $ 99.95

FM16NX 259.00 .

(Editor

II,

FonnatPlus, Webster Speller)

Editor IVFormatter

PlusPerfect

VI (Unix-like editor)

ED13NX 119.95

WD14NS 150.00

Vl11NS 195.00

WordPerfect 4.2 P. Plus WD18NS 435.00

WordPerfect 5.0 P. Plus WDl7NS 645.00

(Includes PlusPerfect)

Wont

Processing

Utilities

Format110 FMl2NS $39.95

FormatPlus

Formatter

FP11NS 79.95

FM11NS 59.95

HPrint

MemoMaker Pack

HP11NS SO.OO

FM14NX 159.90

(Format Plus,Webster Spelling Checker)

PrinterTaik PT11NS 49.95

PrinterTalk, Format110 PT12NS 89.90

RigbtWords Diet. Ext. RWl2NS 29.95

RightWriter

Webster's Speller

RW11NS 95.00

WB11NS 79.95

ACCESSORIES, SUPPUES

POWER SUPPLIES. RECHARGERS

110, +,9114, TJ charger RC16UC $20.00

$ 89.95

499.00

499.00

$62.95

79.95

59.95

69.95

59.95

159.00

$ 79.95

195.00

99.95

129.00

169.00

339.00

395.00

$35.95

69.95

49.95

75.95

125.00

44.95

59.95

29.95

89.00

69.95

BATl'ERIFS

HP110

Batteii'

BT12HC $39.00 $39.00

HP9114 Battery

Portable Plus Battery'

BT13HC 65.00

BT11HC 59.95

Refurbish a 9114 Battery BT11NG 35.00

TbinkJet Battery BT14HC 55.00

65.00

59.95

35.00

55.00

• Includes instructions, torx screwdriver, nut driver

CABLES

HP92221P ser.pm 110,+ SC13HC 42.00

HP-lL Cable, 1 Meter

HP-lL Cable,

HC11 UM 8.00

V2

Meter HC12UM 6.00

HP-lL Cable,S Meters HPll UM 10.00

Seria1 modem 110,Plus WM14NM 42.00

Seria1 printer 110,Plus SC13NM 42.00

CARRYING CASFS

ML11NS $ 99.95

PR11NS 695.00

PR12NS 695.00

MC11NS $69.95

AC11NS 99.95

ST11NS 169.00

HP vinyl 110, + -NEW BV11HC 29.00

HP leather 110,+ -USED CS11UC 89.00

HP fabric system -USED SC11UC 110.00

Targus leather system

TA11NM 199.95

Targus nylon system case TA12NM 99.95

$42.00

42.00

8.00

6.00

10.00

20.00

27.95

29.00

49.00

59.95

179.00

89.95

$20.00

(59)

(49)

(49)

(99)

(299)

(49)

(49)

~~

ROM BURNING

ROM Burning kit

(Portable

PIus~

EP10NH695 $595 (495)

(ROM burner & eraser,cable,2 128K EPROMs,software,manual)

Dac-Easy Accounting

Used dBase

IT

DC11NS 150.00

DB 1IUC 550.00

295.00

110 (European charger) ER11HC 25.00

HP9114 Empowerer PRl2NM 99.95

Mobile Recharger PRllNM 69.95

25.00

89.95

59.95

79.95

128K byte EPROM EP11NR

(4) 128K byte EPROMs EPl2NX

128K PROM (no erase) EP18NR

Four 128K PROMs (" ' ) EP19NX

64K 27C512, EPROM

ROM burning software

EP13NR

EP14NS

Custom 128K burning EP15NE

Custom burning consult. EP16NE

69

276

64

256

59 (49)

199 (179)

54 (44)

179 (159)

25

250

22 (19)

195

150 135

75 per hour

File

Transfer

HPDuette for P.Plus

Linkll0

Link Plus

ReadHP

DU11NS $99.95

LKl2NS 90.00

LKllNS 90.00

RDllNS 79.95

Graphics

Flowcbarting 11+ FL11NS $229.00

Log.Mouse P.Plus System MS15NM 219.00

$89.95

85.95

85.95

69.95

$199.00

179.95

69.95

Power Cube PR13NM 89.\15

PRINTER.

DISK SUPPLIF.S

3.5' disks (10), case DS11NM $44.90

DeskJet Ink cartridge cr11He 19.95

HP92261n Inkjet 2500 z TJ12HC 64.95

HP51630a Inkjet 500 z TJ13HC 19.95

TJ Inkjet paper cart. TJ14HC 10.95

TJ plain paper cartridge TJ15HC 10.95

$29.95

19.95

59.95

19.95

10.95

10.95

INTERFACE CARDS

(refurbished)

HP-lL Card For mM PC IL11UC

New HP-lL Card For PC HP17HM

P .Plus Video Interface Vl14UC

P.Plus V.Intfc:e+ Monitor VM12UM

Composite monitor

HPILIHPIB Interface

HPILlSeria1lnterface

VM1IUC lL13UC lL12UC

$195

195

435

750

325

395

295

INPUT DEVICHS

Log.Mouse P.Plus System MS15NM

P.Plus Mouse Sftwre

P.Plus Mouse Cable

MS11NS

MS13NM

Numeric Keypad, P.Plus TS11NM

$219

70

30

139

$119

159

195

275

150

235

179

$179

60

20

135

(99)

PrintMaster (p.Plus)

Sketeh

Sketeh Halftone disk

PR11NS 79.95

SK11NS SO.OO

SD11NS 9.50

75.95

9.50

Learning

Material for HPllO, P.Plus

How to Use the

HP

Portables Video Tapes VP11NM$150.00 $119.00

Procluclivity

Boosting

Utilires

I

Games

BacTools

DOS Tools

FilePlus

GamesPlus

Norton Uitilities Adv.

Norton Utilities

BC11NS $49.95 $39.95

DT11NS 44.95 39.95

FE12NS 69.95

GA11NS 99.95

59.95

69.95

NU12NS 150.00 129.00

NU11NS 99.95 89.95

(99)

(49)

(49)

(99)

(79)

UPGRADES / REPAIRS

256K to 512K Plus Upgr.

128K to 512K Plus Upgr.

FastPlus (CPU upgrade)

HP110 keyboard repl.

HP110 sereen replace.

P.Plus screen upglrepL

P.Plus keyboard repL

Repairs

256KNG

128KNG

FA11NG

KE11UC

LC11UC

G011NG

KE12UC

$1100

1100

250

225

435

350

320

CALL

$395

395

199

195

195

195

250

CALL

(159) f,,\\\

",

LS/12, PORTABLE VECTRA PRICE LIST

Part

LS/12 SPECIFIC PRODUCTS

IS/12

OOMPUTERS

Used IS/12, 20 Meg Drive

Used IS/12, 40 Meg Drive

IS II UM Call for pricing, avail.

IS 12UM Call for pricing, avail.

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

(Subscribers

Disks Only

Available WIIh SuhscripOOns)

1991 Subscription & Disk

For Veetta CS, 1988-91 issues, disks

For Veetta CS 1988-90 issues, disks

For IS/12 1989-91 issues, disks

For IS/12 1989-90 issues, disk

Individual back issue

PP Binder Vo\.3

PP Binder VolA

PP Binder Vol.5

PPNIPS

VE11PK

PP15PB

ISllPK

PP12PK

PP99PB

PB13NM

PB14NM

PB16NM

$55.00

109.00

79.00

89.00

59.00

9.20

7.00

7.00

7.00

IS/12

MemQ!Y

1 Meg EMS Memory

4 Meg EMS Memory

EM11NH

EM12NH

$ 295

1195

$ 285

1095

IS/12

Internal Mcxlcms

HPDI502a 2400 Modem

Datastar 5, 2400/MNP

IM1lHL

DA1lHL

IS/12

Drives

Weltec 5.25' Drive

LapTape tape backup

WEllNH

LAllNH

$449

599

$349

795

AdditionallS/12-Specific Products

Expansion Chassis

Numeric Keypad

HPD1057A Battery

HPD 1058A Recbarger

HP Carrying Case

80287 math coprocessor

EX11NH

NU11NH

NB1lHL

BCIlHL

CC1lHL

MAllHL

$499

129

299

109

99

649

$369

539

$299

695

$449

115

269

109

80

575

Refurbished LS/12,

P. VECmA

CS

PRINTERS

New Diconix - para1lel

New Diconix - serial

Serial HP2225D ThinkJet

Parallel HP2225C ThinkJet

DeskJet Printer, cable

DeskJet Plus

PaintJet

LaserJet 500 Plus

LaserJet liD

Rugged Writer

DTllNH

DTl2NH

TJl4UC

TJllUI

DJ11UC

DJI2UC

PAI2UC

LA13UC

LA12UC

RUllUC

$ 519

539

495

,4<15

795

995

1395

4200

3795

1695

$ 399

415

295

295

425

CALL

CALL

CALL

CALL

CALL

LS/12,

P. VECmA

CS

PERIPHERALS

Portable Mcxlcms / FAX

WorldPort FAX/Modem 2496

WorldPort Modem 1200

WorldPort Modem 2400

WOrldPort M. 2400/MNP

WorldPort serial cable

WP 1200 Upgrade kit

WP Acoustic coupler

WFllNH

WMIINH

WM12NH

WM13NH

WM14NM

WM13NG

WM16NH

$ 699

199

359

499

30

199

79

$ 599

179

319

425

20

179

79

PORTABLE VECmA

CS

SPECIFIC PRODUCTS

PORTABLE VECfRA CS OOMPUTERS

New Portable Veetta CS 20

Used Portable Veetta CS 20

Used Portable Veetta CS

VE13HC $3595 $1795

VE 17UC Call for pricing, avail.

VE 12UC Call for pricing, avail.

External hard drive / tape backup

Weltec Serial 20 MB Hard Disk WE12NH $1099

Valltek Serial and Parallel Port Tape backup units

60 Meg Valitek

160 Meg Valitek

VAllNH

VA12NH

1695

2395

$ 899

1495

1995

Internal Mcxlcms

HPD1003A 2400 Baud

HPD1002A 1200 Baud

VE16UC Call for pricing, avail.

MOl lUCCailforpricing, avail.

Serial

card and EMS Memory

Dual seriaVEMS Card

1 Meg EMS memory

AD 11HC Call for pricing, avail.

EM1lHC $595 $295

Other IS/I?, P.Vectrn CS Peripherals

EtherNet Adapter

Logitech Mouse

Statpower PC100+ Inverter

ETl1NH

MS14NM

STllNH

$695

119

179

$629

99

169

External Hard Disk

TravelDisks: bard disk, P. Vectra CS bus extender card, cable

TD-IO (10 Meg) new TD11NH $ 995 $ 945

TD-JO (10 Meg) refnrbished TDI2NH 650

1095

595

995

TD-20 (20 Meg) new TD 13NH

TD-20 (20 Meg) refnrbished TD14NH

TD-30 (30 Meg) new TD 15NH

TD-30 (30 Meg) refurbished TD 16NH

775

1195

900

725

1095

835

1195

TD-40 (40 Meg) new TD17NH

TD-40 (40 Meg) refurbished TD18NH

TD-l00 (100 Meg) new TD19NH

TD-l00 (100 Meg) refurbished TD20NH

1295

1100

1895

1500

995

1795

1395

TD-250 (250 Meg) new TD21NH

TD-250 (2SO Meg) refnrbished TD22NH

Extra P.Veetta Bus Extender TD23NH

Extra cable TD24NH

Extra IBM Bus Extender card TD25NH

3495

CALL

80

110

SO

3195

CALL

75

99

47

LS/12,

PORTABLE VECmA SOF1WARE

The Editor II

Condor 3 for IBM

LapLink

NoSquint

EDllNS $ 99.95

CR1lHM 495.00

LA11NS

NOllNS

139.95

39.95

$ 79.95

379.00

119.00

37.95

Squish Plus SQ12NS 99.95

CALL FOR CONSULTATION AND PRICING

89.95

ON OTHER IBM COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS

Other Vectrn CS Products

HP-lL Adapter Card

HPDl007A Soft Case

HP69009 Battery

HP16NM $245.00 $235.00

CS12HC Call for pricing, avail.

BAllHC 2SO.00 225.00

Monitors for Vectrn

CS (and IS/I2)

Monochrome Monitor VI12HC 129

CGA Monitor

EGA Monitor

M0l2HC

M013HC

399

599

119

299

479

LS/12, P.VECmA ACCESSORIES

Printer Supplies

TJ plain paper cartridge

TJ inkjet paper cartridge

HP92261n inkjet 2500 z

HP51630a inkjet SOO z

DeskJet ink cartridge

Disks

10 3.5' disks and case

10 3.5" I.44M disks, case

Cases

Targus leather system

Targus nylon system case

Cables

Standard Parallel Cable

P.Vectra 25-pin serial pm

9-pin AT serial printer cable

TJ15HC

TJ14HC

TJl2HC

TJ13HC

CTllHC

$10.95 $10.95

10.95 10.95

64.95 59.95

19.95 19.95

19.95

19.95

DS11NM $44.90 $29.95

DS12NM 69.95 59.95

TAI1NM $199.95 $179.00

TA12NM 99.95

89.95

PL11NM

$29.95 $24.95

SE12HC

$29.95 $24.95

SEIIHC

$29.95 $24.95

ADDITIONAL

COMPUTERS

(CALL FOR INFORMATION

AND PRICES)

REFURBISHED HP150

COMPUTERS, DRIVES,

PERIPHERALS, ACCESSORIES,

SOFTWARE:

• Free HP150 Catalog CAT150 0.00 0.00

TOSHIBA IAPTOPS

(Call for prices)

Notebook

PQ;

• TIOOO --

80C88 4.77MHz 604 lb laptop with 512K RAM

(expandable to 1.2MB) and a built-in

nOK

3.5" floppy drive,

CGA-compatlbile 8Ox25 LCD display with RGBlmonochrome monitor port, 5 hour battery.

• Tl

OOOSE --

8OC86 9.54MHz 5.9 lb laptop with 1MB

RAM

(expandable to 3MB), a built-in 1.44MB floppy drive, 8Ox25

LCD display, CGA compatlble, 2 hour removable battery.

• TIOOOXE --

8OC86 9.54MHz 6.21b laptop with 1MB or

RAM (expandable to 3MB), internal 20MB hard drive

(external disk drive optional), 80x25 LCD display, CGA

compatIble, 2 hour removable battery pack.

• T1200XE --

8OC286 12MHz 7.2 lb laptop with 1MB RAM

(expandable to 5MB), 20MB internal bard drive, built-in

1.44MB 3.5' disk drive, 80x25 LCD display, CGA compatlble with CGNRGB monitor port.

Battery-Powered

PQ;

• T1200HB --

80C86 9.54MHz llAlb portable with 1MB

RAM, 20MB internal bard drive, built-in

720K

3.5" disk drive,

80x25 LCD display, CGA compatlble with RGB and

monochrome monitor ports.

• T1600 --

80C286 6/12MHz 12.9 lb portable with 1MB

RAM

(expandable to 5MB), 20MB or 40MB internal hard drives, built-in 1.44MB 3.5" disk drive, EGA quality LCD display with EGA color monitor port.

• T3100SX --

8OC386 16MHz 14.9Ib portable with 1MB

RAM (expandable to 13MB), 40MB/80MB hard drive, built-in

1.44MB 3.5" disk drive, high-res. display, VGA compatlble display system with VGA monitor port. Up to 3 hours battery life.

AC

Powered

PQ;

• T3100e --

80286 6/12MHz 13.2 lb portable with 1MB

RAM (expandable to 5MB), 40MB bard drive, 1.44MB, 3.5" disk drive, high-res. display, and a CGNRGB color monitor port.

• T3200 --

80286 6/12MHz 19lb portable with 1MB RAM

(expandable to 4MB), 40MB bard drive, 1.44MB 3.5" floppy drive, high-res. display, EGNCGA color monitor port.

• T3200SX --

80386SC 16MHz 17 lb portable with 1MB

RAM (expandable to 13MB), 4O/120MB hard drive, 1.44MB

3.5" floppy drive, high-res. display, VGA monitor port.

• T5100 --

80386 16MHz 14.6 lb portable with 2MB RAM

(expandable to 4MB), 100 MB bard drive, 1.44MB 3.5" floppy drive, high-res. display, EGNCGA monitor port,

• T5200 -

80386 20MHz 18.7 lb portable with 2MB RAM

(expandable to 14MB), 40MB or 100MB hard drives, 1.44MB

3.5' floppy drive, high-res. display, VGA monitor port.

• T8500 (desktop) --

80386 25MHz 22 lb with 2MB

RAM (expandable to 14MB), 100MB-200MB hard drive,

1.44MB 3.5' floppy drive, VGA display adapter.

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

II

[Vectra Views contains information which specifically pertains to the Portable Vectra

CS

and Vectra LS/12 Laptop

Pc. In this column we note the latest developments in

Portable Vectra and LS/12 products from Hewlett-Packard,

Personalized Software, and other third parties, and include specific tips for Vectra and LS/12 users. Please feel free to contribute on disk or letter to Personalized Software, P.

O.

Box

869,

Faiifield, IA

52556,

call

(515) 472-

6330, or Fax

(515) 472-1879.}

Zenith Extends

SupersPort 286 Warranty to 2 Years

has been extended to two years to deal with a loose-chip problem that may have affected all units manufactured in

1988-89. (Hewlett-Packard OEM'd the SupersPort 286 from

Zenith and called it the LS/12). It seems that chips installed in sockets on the motherboard of the SupersPort

286 can vibrate loose, or lose their protective coating and corrode. A number of problems have been reported by users that seem linked to this condition. They include:

• shaky screen display;

• blank, bright blue screen;

• fuzzy characters;

• missing rows or columns in the display;

• hard-drive failures preventing booting.

Zenith dealers have reported that the model has been brought in for service more often than other Zenith machines. Because the loose chips cause such a wide variety of problems, Zenith will replace the motherboard of any malfunctioning SupersPort 286.

If you have an LS/12 and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact your HP dealer fo arrange for repairs. HP will cover the cost of the repair and return postage to you. You will have to pay for shipping your

LS/12 to the appropriate HP Service Center. If replacement assemblies in addition to the original manufacturing problems are needed, the extra cost will be charged to the customer or the customer's service contract. •

This Doctor

anyone else in the whole world happened to me at the worst possible time two weeks ago while I was trying to finish a work-related document at home on my trusty old

XT Turbo, with my wife upstairs thumping on the floor with a broom handle, reminding me that it was midnight and I should be in bed, and our cat outside my window persuading the Pelton's cat that it should not expect a handout at our house without a fight.

My hard drive corrupted!

I've always hated that nasty little DOS "Abort? Ignore?

Retry?" message. That's what I liked about hard drives, you never got that message. But that night I did.

So I ran the DOS CHKDSK command and the screen went blank for the longest time, which did not bode well!

Finally a message came up telling me that there was a. problem with my FAT (the "File Allocation Table" is found at the beginning of any disk and keeps track of where on the disk a file is, or different parts of a file are, located.)

I went to sleep.

Next day I asked Hal about it. He gave me a floppy disk and said, "Put it in and type NDD." I like simple fixes!

NDD stands for "Norton Disk Doctor," one of the many fine programs that can be found on The Norton Utilities

45 Advanced Edition. The Disk Doctor automatically diagnoses and corrects a variety of problems that can occur on both hard and floppy disks. NDD runs a number of tests, including tests of the integrity of all copies of the File

Allocation Table; a number of tests designed to probe the integrity of the boot record; and a test of the entire disk directory structure. Over a hundred individual tests are performed.

I went home, booted up, put the disk in my floppy drive and typed NDD. I was presented with three choices:

Diagnose Disk, Common Solutions, and Exit Disk Doctor.

I chose to diagnose the disk and selected the hard drive.

(I

NDD informed me that one of my FAT's was corrupted never knew a disk had more that one FAT). NDD politely asked me if I would like it flX the problem, I typed

'ty" and that was it.

Actually that wasn't the end. NDD next gives you the option of doing a Data Sector Test. I didn't have to do it in this case, but I did anyhow. This is a very long and boring test, but my 4-year-old son Robert loved it. NDD displays a map of your hard disk -- a grid of boxes. Then a little square cursor-shaped box goes slowly through the map, looking for bad sectors. Robert thought it was like

Pac-Man. Every time NDD found a bad sector it flashed a message and Robert pressed the Return button, which caused NDD to move as much of the contents of the bad sector as possible to a new location before permanently marking the sector as "bad" so no more information will be stored there.

After that NDD ended and my hard disk worked.

When I put my son to bed later that night, he wanted me to tell him a story about the Bad Sectors and the Disk

Doctor. "So the good Disk Doctor found the Bad Sectors and took away all of their information and gave it to the

Good Sectors. Then he marked all of the Bad Sectors with a large 'X' so nobody would ever ... "

By Richard Hall

An unfortunate event that has probably never happened to


EIGHT ways to make your LS/12 Vectra or

o

Portable Vectra CS more productive!

Transfer your files

to

another

PC without hassle!

Highly rated LapLink software offers high-speed file transfer between your

Vectra and another IBM PC compatible using LapLink's special cable.

Versatile (works with parallel and serial ports) and easy to use (simple manual or automatic file tagging).

LapLink for

PV, LS/12

lallns

Retail: $139; Subscriber: $119

Fast numeric entry for your LS/12!

The Zenith Numeric Keypad plugs into the right side of your L5/12.

Calculator-style numeric keypad simpc lifies spreadsheet and database numeric entry

.cJb.

Numeric Keypad,

LS/12

nullnh


Access any Ethernet network with your Vectra!

Xircom Pocket Ethernet Adapter

attaches to your Vectra (or any PC compatible) parallel printer port.

It lets you connect to any Ethernet LAN, supporting Novell NetWare versions

2.0a and higher. It's 5 oz: the size of an audiocassette case.

Ethernet Adapter,

LS/12,PV

et11nh


12V DC IN

Recharge your Vectra while driving!

Plug your Vectra recharger into the

4.5" x 3.5" x 1.3", 1 lb, PCI00+

StatPower Pocket Power Inverter.

Recharge your Vectra battery by connecting the PCI00+ to your car's cigarette lighter. The PCI00+ provides instant 115V power from any

12V source.

StatPower PCI00+

PV;

LS/12

st11ilh


115 AC OUT

No to

more squinting find your cursor!

Why search for a faint underline?

Make Vectra cursor BIG and BOLD with NoSquint and see the cursor

~ clearly without strain.

No-Squint

PV, LS/12

no11ns

Retail:$39.95;Subscriber:$37.95

f't?-

('r.{//f

r

".-,

( (

~)-\'

{L~J ~

))r.~or

'II

..:.

_

'

)'

fj"" • " .. --

_~

ra

-

Fax your files anywhere. anytime!

Now you can have both a 9600 bps

Group ill facsimile and a full-featured

2400 bps modem .in one completely portable, pocket-sized unit! 5hare the

WorldPort 2496

among different

PC's, or use it just for your work and travels. Connects to Vectra serial port and can operate from its own battery or from AC power.

WorldPort 2496

PV,LS/12

wf11nh


Back

up

your LS/12 hard disk files

to

tape!

Tallgrass Technologies top-quality tape backup unit backs up L5/12 #20 or

40 Meg hard disk. Connects via L5/12 floppy disk connector in back. HP lab tested and approved.

LapTape Backup Unit,

LS/12

lallnh


Access files from 5.25" using your LS/12

_..-"t'::'olIIiiII

Weltech 5.25" disk drive

plugs right into the L5/12 external drive: port in back of L5/12. Can read from and write to 360K and 1.2M floppy disks.

Weltech 5.25" driveLS/12 wellnh

Retail: $349. Subscriber: $299

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

NEW VERSION

OF NORTON UTILITIES

Recently, Norton announced that version 5.0 is shipping, so the product has gotten even better.

Norton Utilities 5.0 retails for $179. Subscribers to

The

Portable Paper

can purchase it through Personalized

Software for $159. Be sure to specify Norton Utilities 5.0 for the Vectra. •

Portable Vectra CS

Screen Problems

II

Keep watching this column for news of the Portable Vectra

CS screer: A number of customers have complained about vertical or horizantallines appearing on the screen. HP is reportedly investigating the problem for a possible fix. •

Through

By

Ed Keefe

This article is a collection of reflections on the following products for the HP Portable Plus (and PC- Compatibles):

1. As-Easy-As, version 4.00P,

2. VDE version 1.53,

3. ROMBO, EPROM Burning Kit,

4. The Classical Classifier, an outliner,

5. Stereo Shell, version 3.00,

6. Turbo Assembler, version 2.00,

7. MIX-C Version 2.00.

8. The 1991 Subscribers' Disk for the Plus.

[I

AS-EASY-AS 4.00P

II

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A SINGLE LETTER

MAKES

I read Tom Page's remarks about As-Easy-As in the last issue

~ about the shortcomings of the program to be puzzling.

Then it dawned on me that he was probably working with version 4.00 N of As-Easy-As. Both Tom and I "beta tested"

As-Easy-As 4.00 N for Personalized Software to make sure it worked properly on the Portable Plus.

My current experience has been with version 4.00P.

The change from "N" to "P" represents a change for the better. Version 4.00 P of this amazing program is slightly more powerful than the previous version. All known bugs have been eliminated and it now works flawlessly on the

Plus.

I have been an As-Easy-As fan since its initial release.

Version 4.00P of As-Easy-As is, undoubtedly, the best of the

1-2-3 clones around. It gives more bang per buck than either Quattro or VP-Planner. I have even gone so far as to retire 1-2-3 in favor of As-Easy-As:it's that much better, in my estimation. Here are a few instances of where the program has been improved.

As-Easy-As still presents its menus in a column rather than in a row across the top of the screen. This is probably done to avoid being hassled by Lotus Corporation's staff of lawyers.

If you want the menus to appear across the top of the screen, just start As-Easy-As with the command, aseasy /p.

The

/p stands for "Panel Menu". The worksheet still will not look like 1-2-3. However, you won't have to retrain your eyes to look for the menu in a different spot.

There are hints, in the Users' Manual, on how to make

As-Easy-As look more like 1-2-3. I followed the hints and designed a macro program that does exactly that, but don't tell Lotus Corp.

If you prefer a pull-down menu, be aware that the menu will appear on the left of the worksheet. Losing sight of the data in column A may be frustrating. However, if you press the period [.] key, the pull-down menu will hop to the right side of the display. If you want the pull-down menu to appear always on the right side of the display, just save the setting in the Configuration file. (By the bye, if you want the menu to pop-up in the middle of the screen, there is even a way to make this happen.)

Another visual nuisance is the fact that the letters designating the columns are right-justified rather than centered. Also the column header-divider is a "/' rather than a blank. Both of these visual nuisances may be eliminated during startup by using command line switches.

Type aseasy /ctr /dv= . This will center the letters in the column and extinguish the column dividers. Once you have the worksheet looking the way you want it, save the settings in the ASEASY.CFG file and keep this file in the same directory as ASEASY.EXE. The next time you execute

ASEASY, you won't need to use the same command line switches. This is a very handy feature, I think.

Having said that, let me add that the /CTR command can't be saved in the ASEASY.CFG file. Instead, use a simple batch file, ABA.BAT, containing the following single line: aseasy /ctr /auto=%l. Now, instead of using

ASEASY to startup, use the simpler ABA command.

Furthermore, if you put the filename of a worksheet following ABA, the /AUTO=%l switch will automatically load the file into As-Easy-As. Isn't that better than 1-2-3's

AUTO 123.WKS?

Some of the advanced features in As-Easy-As caught my attention and have made me a devoted fan of the program.

For instance, ABA has the ability to have several worksheets in memory at the same time. It also has the ability to link one worksheet, in memory, with other worksheets on disk.

26


t)

Erased your files?

Get them back with

The Norton Utilities!

"THE NORTON UTILITIES among the most helpful are utilities I've run across. I use them myself every day, and in my opinion, they're a must.

Here's why."

Hal Goldstein, Publisher

The

Portable Paper

. 0<)

HOW TO RESTORE DELETED FILES

It happens to the best of us. One slip of a finger and a whole week's worth of text or data is past history.

But not you have THE NORTON UTILITIES! if

Just type qu (for quick unerase), give the first letter of the name of the file you erased, and

thefile

gets

restored.

Miraculous as it sounds, in many cases that's all there is to it!

HERE'S HOW lT WORKS

How can a deleted file get unerased?

Simple. The file isn't really deleted in

fI

C,~er

Or

the first place. When

.fro..,~ you delete a file, all that actually gets

..::::. %

erased is part of the

-<

~.

.

~

S"

file's directory entry.

~

~

(That's why it only takes an instant to

"011

U1\~ delete an entire file.)

Without a directory entry, DOS can't find the file, but THE

NORTON UTILITIES can.

Now, what about those cases where you can't possibly recover a file because you've already partially overwritten it with other files? Surely THE NORTON

UTILmES can't help you then?

VERSION 4.0 OR ADVANCED EDITION

-WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?

If you have an HPllO, The Advanced

Edition does not work.

If you have a Portable Plus or HP150, The Advanced Edition of The Norton Utilities includes all of Version 4.0, plus many additional features. Among these are:

1. Speed Disk: pp,cks the files on a floppy, electronic, or hard disk more efficiently. This reduces disk head wear and significahtly reduces the tirr\e it takes to save or retrieve a file.

2. Advanced "NU" Program: Undeletes blocks of text from disks that have become "corrupted" (unreadable by

DOS). Also lets you access and modify the

DOS directory and F.A.T. table.

3. Format/recover: Restores all the files

. on a hard disk if you have accidentally reformatted it. (Note: this feature does not work on the HP150 or Portable Plus.)

Our recommendation: If you have a hard disk, or want to be able to manipulate directories, or need to access

ASCII data from non-HP formatted disks, use the Advanced Edition.

Wrong-they can! THE NORTON

UTILITIES won't recover the entire file, of course, but they

can help you restore

the portions of the file that still remain on the disk. ,.,

I-

It's done with a powerful utility called nu that lets you display, change, and capture to a file any information on any disk. In complex cases you may need to

"Indispensible."

-PC Magazine

"You'll bless this diSk."

-Peter McWilliams

(The Personal Computer Book)

"Don't compute without it."

-The New York Times do some detective work, but nu will help you find whatever remains on the disk, thereby saving you from countless hours of retyping lost data.

POWERFUL FILE MANAGEMENT

COMMANDS

In my opinion,

the ability to recover lost files alone makes THE NORTON

UTILITIES

well worth the price. But

there's even more tothe package: THE

NORTON UTILITIES are also an excellent

disk

management system. Here are

some examples of what you can do:

Let's say you want to sort directories and files physically on disk-either by name, extension, size, date, time, or by any combination of these. Just use the ds (disk sort) command. I use this one to sort my electronic disk files by size all the time. Then when I display the directory, the larger files come at the end of the list, and I can see at a glance which ones to move elsewhere to free up any needed amount of disk space.

Or let's say you remember putting the phrase "a penny saved is a penny earned" into a text file on your floppy or hard disk but you can't remember which file it was-or even which directory.

How to find it?

No problem.

Just type ts

(for text search), specify the phrase, and the program will display every occurrence of the phrase, identifying each occurrence by directory and file .

Or let's say you can't remember which subdirectory you put a given file into.

Instead of hunting for the file manually, just type ff (find file) and specify the name of the file and the directories to search through. The program does the rest.

Other useful features include the fa command, which lets you change file attributes (for example, to convert HP150 read-only files into erasable files), and the fs command, which tells you the total file size of a group of files (I often use it to find out the total disk space occupied by my Lotus worksheet "WKS" files or by all my text files from a given project).

CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR COMPUTER

Because of their great helpfulness and ease of use, THE NORTON UTILmES are a best-seller in the IBM PC market.

Personalized Software is authorized to distribute them on 3% " disk for users of the HP150, HP110 and Portable Plus. (All it takes is a few keystrokes to customize

THE NORTON UTILITIES to your machine; just follow the simple customization instructions included on the disk.)

Also included in our package are the standard 5% " disk sold by Peter Norton for IBM pes.

THE NORTON UTILITIES are a timesaver for you and a life-saver for your data. Use them just once and you'll wonder how you ever did without them.

Order your copy at no

",-

I ,

~,!

I

0,

J'

risk today.

~NORTON

UTILITIES

:.. Y-:'

T

'.1

J

1

DATA RECOVERY

DISK MANAGEMENT

THE NORTON UTILITIES 4.0 .. $99.95

Portable Paper Subscriber Price ... $89.95

PRODUCT

NO.

NUllNS

THE NORTON UTILITIES

ADVANCED EDITION . . . . . . . $150.00

(includes Version 4.0)

Portable Paper Subscriber Price .. $129.00

PRODUCT

NO.

NUl2NS

HP110 Portable

Portable Plus

I.

I

Portable Vectra

I. I

I • I

HP150

IBM PC and compatibles

I • I

_L • J

mE PORTABLE PAPER

When the current worbheet is changed, the changes are, automatically, reflected in the disk worksheets. But wait, there's more! As-Easy-As has the ability to let you write your own FUNCTIONS. For example, I noticed that AEA does not have an @XORO (exclusive OR) function. So, using just the information on the help screen, I was able to create such a function and add it to the worksheet.

Given this ability, I have suggested to TRIUS that they consider producing a Reduced Instruction Set spreadsheet.

The kernel of the worksheet could be much smaller than the 200k byte size it is now. The user could import only those functions that were necessary to drive a given worksheet. If you didn't need TRIG functions, why keep them around as overhead? The memory space saved would allow for bigger worksheets.

Furthermore, As-Easy-As lets programmers create ADD-

-INS. These are somewhat like the add-in programs for

1-2-3, but they are certainly different. For one thing, AEA add-ins must be written in Turbo Pascal 5.5 (or greater!!).

The add-in programs also need a special .TPU file from

TRIUS. This .TPU file gives your program the ability to interact with data from the worksheet. I've tried my hand at one add-in, got it to work and then discovered that I could do the same thing with a small macro program.

I also like playing with the built in Goal-Seeking function in As-Easy-As. Using the Goal-Seeker function lets me work a spreadsheet "in reverse." It reminds me of the ability of the HP41 calculator to perform "interchangeable solutions."

The current version of AsEasy features a single screen text editor. It lets you make changes to a spreadsheet that would, ordinarily, have to be done using the F2 (Edit) command. This feature has more promise than polish, but it does work. Be careful, however, when editing lines that begin with

'\= or any such command that causes As-Easy-

As to repeat characters in a cell. The editor lops off the single quote and you wind up with a cell full of

= = = signs.

And speaking of promises of things to come... As-Easy-

As has most of the code needed to allow your spreadsheet to reach the outside world via the Serial port of the Plus, hook into test equipment and directly pull real- time data into the spreadsheet. I have not been able to test this out.

However, if Hal can call in a few markers, we may be able to get HP Corvallis to lend us an HP 48SX Calculator. I'm eager to make the Plus communicate with the j8SX. If that can be done, then As-Easy-As could use the 48SX as a

"math coprocessor." However, if some industrious engineer beats me to the punch on this one, I won't object.

Power your Portable, ThinkJet, and HP9114 from a

Single wall outlet.

To ThinkJet

--~

To wall outlet

Can't plug your Portable, ThinkJet,

HP9114, and HP hand·held into the same wall outlet because the recharger cubes are too big? Here's the solution:

The Power CubelRecharger from Personal· ized Software.

The Power Cube has four power cords.

Three are HP cords that plug into your HP

Portable, ThinkJet, HP9114 disk drivers), or

HP hand-held (HP41, 71, 75, series 80, etc.).

The fourth is a conventional AC cord that plugs into the wall and powers the other three.

Get rid of that tangle of extension cords, power strips, or whatever else you've been putting up with.

Order a Power CubelRecharger today.

Power Cube!Recharger ........ $89.95


©

Copyright 1987 Personalized Software may be directly entered into the editor using the

ExtChar and numeric key pad_ (On the Plus, you can do this, if you remember to invoke the

~bedded key pad first.) You can still use the ExtChar G command to pick from an abbreviated list of characters.

• There is a new print control:

A

PG

causes an immediate pause during printing. This allows you to align the platen for printing on various kinds of forms.

• There is a new filemode

1M,

which supports the disk filet)1 format of Microsoft Word 5.0. In addition, the

/P . modecan now handle files created by WordPerfect 5.

The

IX switch allows importing and exporting files using the XYwrite file format.

• The display of fixed (hard) tabs, previously set at 8 column intervals, is now adjustable to 4, 8, or 16.

• The Print command (A KP) now has a new "S" option to suppress page numbers or headers on the first page of output.

• All in all, for its small size, its cost (still free for personal usage) and its advanced features, VDE continues to blow the competitors out of the water.

• The latest release ofVDE will be sure to appear on the

1991 Subscribers' Disk for the Plus. But more of that later.

II

LATEST RELEASE

II

OF

THE VIDEO DISPLAY EDITOR

ROMBO - THE MANUAL

.

mil

VDE, my favorite text editor! word p~essor for the HP " . Like some of you, I have received m~ cop~ of the use~' liB

Portable Plus, continues to nnprove With age. The most ... Manual for the ROMBO ROM burrung kit.

As of this recent release is version 1.53. Some enhancements include the following: writing, I have not yet received the ROMBO kit. I've read

• Line graphics characters and foreign language characters the manual, front to back, and I tip my hat to the folks at

Personalized Software for a job well done.

I)

All the information for burning ROMs for the Plus haS .. been around for many years. But that's like saying, "Here's a sack of flour. If

28


THE PORTABLE PAPER

THE

HP9114

EMPOWERER

If you've been frustrated trying to use your HP9114 external disk drive only to have the battery quit before you've finished your work, then you know the problem. Now you need the solution.

THE PROBLEM:

The charge on your HP9114 battery doesn't last long enough for you to do all you'd like to. For that matter, in some cases it doesn't last long enough to do

half

of what you'd like to.

According to Hewlett-Packard, you get up to 40 minutes of continuous usage before the battery dies. Weve never gotten more than 20. Just formatting disks, transferring files, or running disk-intensive software and getting it to work can bea major triumph.

Plugging in the HP9114 doesn't help, either. That only recharges the batteryit doesn't let you keep working.

WE HAVE THE SOLUTION:

The official HP suggestion is to bUJi

I"

another battery pack and keep both plugged in. When one loses power, replace it with the other. This seems clumsy to us. What if you want to do several hours of disk intensive work? At

Personalized Software we have a better solution-the HP9114 Empowerer.

The Empowerer is special power supply that will allow your

HP9114 disk drive to

1 1 1

HP110 Portable

Portable Plus

Portable Vectra

I ' run forever. Just remove the battery pack,

HP150

IBM PC and comDat. and plug The Empowerer into the open slot and into your wall outlet. It's that easy!

To run your HP9114 to your heart'S content, order your HP9114 Empowerer today.

HP9114 Empowerer ......... $99.95


PRODUcr NO. PR12NM



TO ORDER r se enelosed postage-paid order form fIr send cheek

Of credit card infurmation

(#. expo date. signature) to:


P.l I. Box HUg. F'airfield.IA

~2ij,jtl 515 4,~-ti:J:JlJ

Haw

many times have you wished you had a second external disk drive?

The Portable Equipment Exchange, a division of Personalized Software, is selling HP9114A units including power supply at a substantial discount. See enclosed four-page brochure for details. be able to figure out how to bake a loaf of bread."

The authors of the Users' Manual for the ROMBO Kit (a group effort involving Hal Goldstein, Rich Hall, Larry

Baldosier, and Ron Chase, with proofing help from Glen

Frank) have presented us with a Cook Book for baking

EPROMS. That in itself is no small feat. Beyond this, they have done it in style: pictures, diagrams, suggestions, what to try and what not to try.

Sad to say, there have been several delays on the part of Personalized Software's suppliers. Hence, the actual

ROMBO Kit remains a promise rather than a reality. But take my advice, don't wait for kit (let alone the movie).

Get ROMBO, the Book, today. It's a fast reading and explosive manual.

[Editors Note: ROMBO started shipping on August 15.J

mE

CLASSICAL CLASSIFIER

[II

By the way, I drafted this article using an outliner program called the Classical Classifier. So if the writing style seems stilted and awkward, blame the medium, not the author.

What's an outliner, you ask?

.

~..

An outliner is a text editor with special commands that

... let you organize your writing in an outline format. All the indentation and paragraph numbering is done automatically for you.

Some other programs that do outlining are Brown Bag

Software's PC-OUTIlNE, Think-Tank, and GrandView.

WordPerfect also contains an outliner, but it is rather limite.d in what it can do.

What is unique about The Classical Classifier is that it runs on the Portable Plus ... well, sort of.

The Classical Classifier was written by David Toliver, in

1986. He apparently wanted an outliner that would work on computers that were not 100% PC-compatible. Thanks to the hacking of Joe Jesson, the program now works on the Portable Plus.

I used version 1.2 of the Classical Classifier program.

The program needs PCRUN or PPINT16, the PC emulator programs, to work on the Portable Plus. The program is still slow on screen updating and is confusing to use. The program is completely command-driven. There are no pull-down menus nor any pop-up help screens. The commands are similar to those in WordStar-like editors, but some of the commands behave differently. For example,

CTRL-KB and CTRL-KK mark the beginning and end of a block of text. However, if the block overlaps an indented paragraph, it is declared an "ill-formed block" and the ordinary block commands won't work. Trying to turn the block off (CTRL-KH) does not appear to work at all.

The outliner comes with an installation program that, supposedly, will let you redefine the function keys to suit


29

mE PORTABLE PAPER your own tastes. Trying to do so is an exercise in futility.

I tried to define CTRL-LEFTARROW to do the same thing as

CTRL-A (skip one word left) and was told that this was the same command to "delete a character to the left" and that

I should redefine the latter to something else.

It took almost an hour of playing around before I could get half of the keys re-assigned. After that I reached a point of

• Vertical wrap-around in me windows is now an option.

If enabled, the me windows will wrap from top to bottom or bottom to top. when the first;1ast me is moved past.

• The tab key is now active. The Tab key will now move the cursor between windows. diminishing returns. Almost every new definition was declared invalid because it was part of another definition.

Part of the problem is due to the fact that the Classical

Classifier was written in Turbo Pascal 3.1 which, in its

MS-DOS version, does not do well at handling the keyboard. The other part of the problem is that David Toliver tried to make the program too flexible for the user. Rather than learn a new set of commands, the user must learn how to teach the program what each set of keystrokes

• File date and time are now changeable with Stereo

Shell. The me attribute editor has been enhanced and will now allow the user to change the me date and time as well as its attributes.

There are many other enhancements, making Stereo Shell one of the best me manager programs on the shareware market. Stereo Shell will probably appear on the 1991

Subscriber's Disk. means. The program does not like to be taught.

David Toliver claims that he has a more recent version of the program, written in Turbo Pascal 5.5. All of the

TURBO ASSEMBLER, VERSION 2.00

III

For those of you who may want to try your hand at shortcomings have been overcome: except for one... The Assembler programming, you may be interested to know latest version of the program does not work on the

Portable Plus.

I am now waiting on David Toliver to see if he will be able to modifY the program for use on the Plus. Until then, let me conclude by saying that version 1.2 of the

Classical Classifier is "not quite ready for prime-time" use on the Portable Plus. It is barely usable on a desk top, that Turbo Assembler 2.00 now works on the Portable Plus.

Turbo Assembler 1.00 had some difficulty in running on the Plus. It would not work from the DOS command line.

Interestingly, it would work, some of the time, from the

PAM shell. The TASM 2.00 bug, if that's what it was, has been fixed.

PC-compatible computer.

MIX POWER-C VERSION 2.00

m!I

If you're not up to Assembler programming, but you're

LATEST RELEASE OF STEREO SHELL

Stereo Shell is a me manager program, very much in the

III looking for a cheap way to learn C programming, then how about spending $20 for a full-fledged C compiler?

II mold of Personalized Software's own FILEPLUS. Stereo MlX-Software, Inc. (1132 Commerce Dr. Richardson, TX

Shell (StS) will let you work with two different disks or 75081) has recently upgraded their top-selling Ps>wer-C

II directories at the same time. You can watch the program compiler. The compiler is relatively fast, performs·.some m for deletion, copying, compression/decompression (using optimization of code, and produces .EXE mes which are on a par with those produced by Turbo

C.

I just received my

PKZIP, or LHARC, etc). You may point at a text me and copy of the upgrade and have barely had time to check that push a function key to either view the me or to edit it. If the me is an executable it works on the Portable Plus. I would be interested in

me,

the StS program is smart hearing from anyone who uses this product regularly. enough to know that you don't want to view the

me.

It will execute it instead.

Stereo Shell is now available as version 3.00. This is a major upgrade. More than fixing a few bugs, Emry Wooten has added a lot of new features. You are no longer

1991

SUBSCRIBERS' DISK

m!I

It's that time of year, again, to call for any and all programs

III that you would like to see on the Subscribers Disk. restricted to using the function keys to star; a command.

The first letter of the command is often enough to start the

If you have any programs, interesting batch mes, 1-2-3

II or As-Easy-As worksheets that you have found useful, put function. For example, moving the sliding light bar to a

~ text me and pressing "E" will invoke your Editor and automatically load the

me.

Other enhancements to the Stereo Shell program include the following:

• Files can now be moved between drives rather than just between directories on the same disk.

• Exit stage right? The program now allows the user to exit to the left window path, the right window path, or back to the sub-directory from which it was invoked.

Personalized Software.

For myself, I will undoubtedly include the latest version of VDE and Stereo Shell. Along with these shareware programs, I will include several programs that I have written for my own use. These include GBK.WKS : a 15K byte macro program for use with As-Easy-As. GBK implements a completely automated, grade-book. It will be of direct interest to anyone who teaches. It may also provide some examples of how to get As-Easy-As to display a user7'§~r'i' created menu in the middle of the screen, how to generatGi;l;~'u

• EXIT right now! A new ExtChar-Q command will dump you immediately back to the operating system in the original load directory. automatically.

30

SEPTEMBER

I

OCTOBER 1990

THE PORTABLE PAPER

~

2400 baud portable modem

f

O r

yo

U r

HP

P

rtabl

e

The4Hx2Hx1H

WorldPort 2400 costs less than HP's internal

:~~e:::!r!st~a:!e~na:!~;u~:r~sed

Weighs only

6*

ounces!

If you do data comunications with an HP Portable or Portable Plus, you've probably found the internal 300- or 1200-baud modem to be too slow. Until now, the only solution was to buy a bulky external modem and hig it around wherever you go.

A better solution is the Worldport 2400. It measures a trim 4

H

x 1

H,

it's rugged, it weighs only 61h ounces including the battery, and it sends and receives at 300, 1200, and 2400 baud.

A MYRIAD OF FEATURES

The Worldport 2400 has a wealth of features you would expect to find in a desktop modem several times its size.

EXTRA BONUS FOR USERS OF THE

IBM PC AND NEW HP PORTABLE VECTRA

Included with the WorldPort 2400 at no charge is the acclaimed communications and remote control software package, Carbon Copy PLUS (retail value:

$195). The program also comes free with the World-

Port1200-WorldPort2400 Upgrade Kit. (Carbon Copy

PLUS will not run on the HP11 0 or Portable Plus, but both WoridPort modems will run with HP's communications software, namely the Terminal program for the

HP110, and TERM and Reflection for the Portable Plus.)

For example, the WoridPort 2400 has auto-dial, auto-answer, and both pulse and tone operation.

It comes with a standard modular phone plug for connecting with the telephone line. It offers nonvolatile storage of up to 20 commands. And it is fully compatible with the industry-standard

Hayes AT Command Set, and with the HPllO's

Thrminal software and the Portable Plus's TERM and Reflection software.

Ii'

Since a modular plug is not always avait'able, the WorldPort 2400 also has a built-in interface for an acoustic coupler. (The coupler, an optional extra, runs at 300 and 1200 baud.) The unit is compatible with both the internationally accepted CCITT communications standards and the Bell communications standards recognized in the U.S ..

The WoridPort 2400 uses a standard 9-volt transistor radio battery (it's included with the unit). A fresh battery will keep the WoridPort humming for 8-10 hours. You can extend battery life by operating the unit from a wall outlet whenever possible, using the optional AC adapter. The WoridPort 2400 draws no power from your Portable's battery.

DOUBLE GUARANTEE

In addition to our standard 60-day money-back guarantee, the

• I t I

HP110 Portable

Portable Plus

.-

I • I

Portable Veella

• HP150

IBM PC and eompalibles

WorldPort 2400 comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.

The WoridPort 2400 offers portablility, reliability, well-designed features, and ease of use.

Order yours, risk-free, today.

Retail Subscriber

Price Price

WorldPort 2400 modem .... $359.00 .... $319.00

PRODUCT NO, WM12NM

, WorldPort Modem 2400/MNP .499.00 ..... 425.00

WM13NH

WorldPort 1200 modem ...... 199.00 ..... 179.00

(without software)

WM11NM

Cable to connect modem to UP Portables ............. 30.00 ...... 20.00

WM14NM

Acoustic coupler ............. 79.95 ...... 79.95

(300/1200

baud) WM16NM

Upgrade kit: WorldPortl200-

WoridPort2400 ............ 199.00 ..... 179.00

(includes Carbon Copy PLUS software)

WM13NM

•

•


See order form

[01' cl("'t;d/s.

·TOORDER

11s\'('udllsl,t!

IH"'lla~t"palllllnll'r fill III ur

-"'1111 dU',·k

HI"

('I"I'dil "anllllli,rwallull

1 11

,1'''1'

.Ialt'. siHU<lIIII'I') In

.... ·rsonuliz.·d SUn wnrt'

I'll H.I,

Slill, 1·~ul'r/l'I.1, IA

:';'::-';11;

.-d.-, r;:.! li:tltJ

WfirldPurl2:41fJOalld Worldl"orll2:00 arf'lrad"markH f.fl'ourhbUII" SYHlf'IIIH, hiI'. nayrH IH al.radl'mark .,rn.yt·N MlC'rtH"ORlllull'r l"rIHlul"tH, hn". (:lIrbull

(~opy

I" •• IIS IN alradrmark or Mrrldiall Trt"bnult,g)', In.",

~----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~@

•

ROMSIZ.EXE -- a small utility program for use with the

ROMBO eprom burning kit. ROMSIZ will let you list all

A ,NEW AND IMPROVED LAPTOP COMPUTER

II

I read with.interest in the last issue of The Portable ·Paper

• eprom. It will then check the size of the IDes, convert . . the actual IDe size to the number of 1K byte clusters,

II

Plus.' and total up the clusters. This should take much of the i.1

I had started a wish list but ran up against the same red guesswork out of deciding which programs will fit on flags that Hal mentioned. (He didn't mention anything an eprom.

NEWFILES.EXE - another utility program which gathers up the names of all the IDes on disk which have their archive bit set. The list of names may be redirected to a text IDe for editing. The names of the IDes appear as

"fully qualified names" (the .drive letter and subdirectory path precede the name). With a small amount of editing, the list could be made into a batch IDe and could serve as a part of a backup routine.

• ALLFlLES.EXE -- yet another utility program.

This one lists all the IDes on a given disk in much the same way that the CHKDSK

IV

command does. The IDe names are fully qualified, and include the actual byte count per

IDe along with the number of clusters the IDe consumes on a disk. about product liability insurance, government environmental safety regulations, advertising, etc.). Even so, it doesn't hurt to dream. That's what wish lists are all about.

For myself, my wish list started with the operating system for the computer: DR-DOS 5. This is a DOS command-compatible operating system from Digital

Research: the company that brought forth the CP/M operating system. DR-DOS 5 is completely ROM executable, and even has a built-in battery saver capability.

I'd also want a computer that used a full 80386 microprocessor. Skip the interim kludges of the 80286 and

386SX. (By the time the computer came to market, the cost of 80386 chips should be low).

Again, by the time the computer was a reality, EPROMs should be replaced by EEPROMs (also known as "flash

EPROMs" or electrically erasable PROMs). The ideal laptop should be able to support up to 4 meg of these userinstallable EEPROMs. CMOS RAM should start with 1 megabyte on board and be expandable to 16 megabytes.


31

THE PORTABLE PAPER

An excellent keyboard would be mandatory (this computer might become my main computer.)

If the size of the machine ruled out the use of a full-size keyboard, then it should have the ability to use an external keyboard.

The ability to use an external VGA (or better) monitor would also be tops on my wish list. And, while dreaming,

I could also wish for an active matrix LCD color display.

The ideal laptop should also be ruggedly built and be able to withstand all the punishment that the HP Portable and Plus handle.

Battery life should exceed eight hours and, in emergencies, the batteries should be replaceable with an external battery pack stuffed with off the shelf batteries that you could buy at any store. That way, if charger, you could kludge together a power supply from a local Radio Shack or electronic supply store.

The wish list could go on and on. However, the guiding principle for building such a computer would be that it should be modifiable. If a newer version of the operating system comes along, the computer should be able to switch to it. Newer displays should be part of the upgrade path.

[Ed Keefe is an author, programmer, and computer science instructor. He is the preSident of the Fast Aid Company,

314 SW Logan, Ankeny, IA 50021. Ed's CompuServe ID # is 73277,1064.J •

By Thomas R Page

<&

II

Occasionally each of us must apply a little sdf analysis and adjustment or some external regulatory mechanism will

II apply its abrupt and precipitous damping forces. Literally

II this translates to, "Count your money before you spend it."

1m

My company's management looked at the income statement liB and exclaimed, "We-have-got-to-save-money!" It is a perfectly normal and expected reflex of good management.

If income is down the reason is obvious. If income is up, they say, "Income has not increased as rapidly as anticipated." Allgood businesses have a VP programmed to pop-up and gripe about costs every seventeen months. As long as it keeps its reasons synchronized with indicators anybody can read, nobody ever guesses this VP android does not know what he is doing.

The android did not say, "We have to cut cost." It understands that a dollar earned is a dollar saved. Although totally preprogrammed, this is an effective management . tool since it requires every one to periodically evaluate how tJ) they are doing their job. An appropriate response to this request is to suggest buying some bigger computers so the existing staff can meet increasing demands of the job. We all know adding a computer increases the demands of any job but it is the only way we can survive the job we have.

There are few problems a bigger computer won't solve.

We must balance this idea with the knowledge that any computer can create problems it can't solve. Computers thrive when used effectively but when they are not used effectively they can become a liability.

A plan to use existing computers even more effiCiently is an appropriate secondary response. Make a few suggestions to improve current operations, but ideally new jobs should be proposed for existing machines. We all know portable computers really need a companion desktop machine and of course a powerful 286 laptop demands a

386 rather than a 8088 for its companion. This is an opportunity to start a bulletin board or even send a computer home with an employee. This might help avoid expenses associated with overtime travel to the office to solving a problem and is an effective use of an old machine that has very little value.

See how the game is played? The game is negotiation.

Having a big slick computer is great but having another computer too is even better. There is no reason to give up anything you have today but we must find a way to use everything we have. I believe this so much that I loaned e) my faithful old HP-110 to a friend. He now knows much more about computers than he did before -- an OK investment in my opinion.

Someone suggested the ideal product costs a penny, sells for a nickel, and is habit forming. The object of negotiation is to identify the little products we have and then trade for something the other guy has. We may not be able to produce a product that is habit forming or costs only a penny, but we should always be looking for products to trade. We should always look for opportunities, and a problem is nothing more than an opportunity in disguise. Computers are rather expensive but they can sure be habit forming.

Here are ideas I submitted to make our machines more effective.

1. Audit old disks and recycle those that are no longer needed. (This is an opportunity to identify and preserve key IDes for history, or quickly and painlessly deal with a pile of totally disorganized disks before management realizes what a valuable resource they could be if properly indexed.)

2. Save disk space via intelligent software installation.

There is no reason to keep IDes on a disk that are not used. Software vendors could give us some help with this. Figuring out what IDes that came with a are useful is a very educational hacking opportunity.

32

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER

1990

3. Compress mes with PKZIP or SQUISH PLUS. Obviously saves disk space. SQUISH is almost invisible. PKZIP has a simple DOS command line interfilce and can save telephone charges if mes are compressed before being transmitted to another computer.

(Ideas two and three create opportunities for users to learn about the organization and logical structure of their machines. This creates more savvy users who will produce better on their computers. This is a result more profitable than the disk that is saved.)

4. Ever a proponent of freedom of computing and having heard horror stories of down time resulting from network fililure, I suggested key programs be installed on the user's disk to permit operation independent of the network. I also suggested that disconnecting from the network except when network services are truly needed could release for productive use vast amounts of memory sacrificed to network overhead. Network overhead is those TSRs than must be executing to drive the network connection. Some of these programs make continuing demands on the CPU and significantly reduce the computers speed.

If I talk too much about networks I will be 'talking out of school' since I have absolutely no experience working on a network. For six years my Portable has been my primary computer. My iconoclastic approach to computers probably stems from this awful handicap[?]. I actually had to think to make it work. New out of the box, the 110 must be the easiest computer to start ever built. Open it up and hit a key. But making it really work was a challenge.

Effectively using any tool is a challenge that will demand dedication of an amount of time for education. I can remember a time when it was suggested using the wrong computer could setback one's capability to use a computer.

These people could not see that MS-DOS, 1-2-3, Editing, and Communications are the most important core programs of a personal computer and that learning these would create basic knowledge applicable to all computer systems.

A computer network is just another computer tool and there are savvy ways to use it. There is no reward for ineffective use but if used properly a network can be a very effective tool. Don't expect a network to make computers easier to use. It simply creates more options. The most difficult part of computing is putting available options together in a manner that allows accomplishment of a goal.

This takes some work on the part of the user but it is filr better than the alternative, which is learning a procedure to do a job and then being forever a slave to that procedure. This is an unfortunate dark side of computing which we must always guard against. After all, these machine should work for us. It is just a matter of remembering who is boss. The real purpose of my last suggestion is to get people who know and care more about networks than I to think about how they can be best used. nIB

PORTABLE PAPER

FilePlus:

The Portable Plus file manager. Fast, sophisticated, easy-to-use!

• List files in two directories simultaneously

• Copy, move, and delete multiple files

• Sort directories

• Crute protected ("Read·Only") files

• Back up only those files that have changed since last backup

• And much more!

When Hewlett-Packard introduced the P.A.M. file manager in 1983, the program was ahead of its time. With P.A.M., users could copy; rename, and delete files by preSSing function keys instead of having to enter DOS commands.

Today, however, users are more sophisticated-and so are the file management programs that have come on the IBM PC market. These programs go way beyond P.A.M. in their abilities and in the convenience they offer the user.

Most of these file managers won't run on the Portable Plus, but we've developed one that does. It's called FilePlus, and here are its benefits:

1. Display tWQ directories

This is a feature that even some of the most popular IBM compatible file management programs don't have! FilePlus lets you list two directories (from the same or different disks) simultaneously on screen. This makes it especially easy to move files back and forth between the two directories.

2. "Point and Shoot"

You don't have to wade through P.A.M.'s function key menus to perform a simple operation like copying a file.

Instead, you simply display the contents of the source and destination directories side-by-side, tag the file you want to copy, then use a simple Lotuslike menu to enter the "Copy" command with a single keystroke.

You use the same "Point and Shoot" method to run programs and to move, delete, view, etc. any files you wish.

3. Tag multiple files

You can tag any number of files in a directory, then perform the same action

(copy, rename, delete, protect, etc.) on all of them

in a single step.

4. Sort files

FilePlus can list the files in a directory by name, extension, size, or date. (An alphabetical listing by name helps you locate files in a hurry. A listing by size is useful in determining which files to erase in order to free up any needed amount of disk space.)

5. Single-step "Move" command

To move a file from one directory to another, you no longer have to copy the file first then delete the original. FilePlus lets you do it with a single "Move" command-and you enter the command with one keystroke!

6. Protect your files

You can protect your files (make them "Read-Only") to guard against accidental deletion. FilePlus even lets you do this with entire directories! You can unprotect the files whenever you wish.

7. Show attributes (Read-Only, Hidden, Archive)

FilePlus displays the attributes of all the files in a directory so you can view them at a glance or change them in a flash.

8. Backup only if changed

FilePlus allows you back up just those files that have been changed since the last backup.

FilePlus will save you time and effort, boost your productivity, and increase your enjoyment of your Portable Plus. Once you try FilePlus, you won't want to be without it.

Order FilePlus at our risk today!

FilePlus ................................................ $69.95

Portable Paper Subscriber's Price ........................... $59.95

ORDER NO. FEllNS

60-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE


HP110 Portable

Portable Plus

IBM PC and com atibles

Portable Vectra

• HP150

TO ORDER

1'''1' 1'llt'IrISI'II p~I lilJ.:('·I,aid '1I1It'" (linn

"I' SPII,I dlt't'k

(lr nt'IUt ('ani inftll'llul1itll\

/ =,

{'xp. dutc', sigl1tltlll'l') 10'


I~(). Ilux SIilI, f)lirlipld. 1:\ :i:!.;.;I; .")1·; 17~-Il:l:1O


33

nm

PORTABLE PAPER

III

WAITING FOR ROMBO

I am excited about creating my

own

custom ROMs for my

Plus but I am still waiting. I may even be the cause the

Paper is late this month as I delayed starting this column because I wanted to report my experiences burning ROMs.

I did get the software and instruction manual. I thought the manual was well written and organiZed but of course

I can't say for sure until I try to burn a ROM. I am glad

Hal sent this out early since it give me an opportunity to think about how I want to organize my ROMs. Except for a few batch files that are subject to modification from time to time I intend to clear all programs from my E-disk. This may be an opportunity to upgrade to later versions' programs. There are several programs of which I do not use the latest version since they are bigger than an almost equivalently effective early version.

In anticipation of RaMBO, I installed Version 1.10 of

PKZIP on my Plus just to verify that it would work with mysystem. It is larger than the program that it replaces but it is much faster, and this may even be worth the extra

E-disk it is occupying.

Before installing any software I always directory the

arge your Portable

( and

HP9114 ) and ThinkJet off your car's cigarette lighter!

It's the Mobile Ni-CaD Recharger

(MNR-2) from S.O.S., and it couldn't be easier to use: simply plug one end into your car's cigarette lighter and the other into your Portable, Portable Plus,

HP9114,orThinkJet.*

The time it takes to charge a given unit is about 30% longer than with a wall charger. Your car does not have to be running-the unit can operate overnight with no danger of running down a normal car battery.

Mobile Recharger .•.••••..•.. $69.95

Portable Paper subscriber price .•••••• $59.95

PRODUCT NO. PR11NM

• Also works with HP41C/CV/CX, HP71B, and

HP75C/D hand-helds: HP82143 and HP82162 printer/plotters; HP82161 cassette drive; and rechargeable reserve battery packs for all these devices.

©


Installing ED on everybody's computer and making it easy for the users to edit their own batch files and other text files would be even better. distribution disks to see what files are there, and if there are any batch files I will take a look to see what they are

WEBSTER'S SPELLING CHECKER

doing. There are several batch files on the RaMBO <lli!k. " . Recently I received a CompuServe message from a person

I printed copies of these so I can analyze them at my . . using my SPELL.COM loaderfor Webster's Spelling Checker convenience. Reading code is often one of the best ways to learn how a product works. At least it's cheap.

(WSP). He was having difficulty updating the auxiliary dictionary. SPELL, designed to work with the ROM version

LEARNING TO USE A COMPUTER

The first step in learning to use a computer is to learn an

II application such as 1-2-3 or word processing. This should

III be obvious since there is no reason to use a computer

I!!II unless it is doing something useful. The second step is

IiiIlearning DOS and some file management techniques.

II

There is no reason to know about file management unless you have some files to manage. My early experience with personal computers was using VisaCalc on an HP125. File management was never a problem on this machine since it did not have a fixed disk. If we ran out· of disk space we just inserted a new floppy. Without a doubt file management is the key to using a computer but it makes no sense unless there are files to manage.

EDLIN

.,

I got a kick out of Rich Hall's article on Making Edlin Easy in the last issue of the Paper. I recognize there are pleasures to be had from arcane skills such as shoeing horses or writing with a quill pen. As far as I am concerned, editing with Edlin is equivalent to writing with a quill pen.

I will admit I am slightly skilled in using Edlin and can use it if pushed against the wall. The real way to make Edlin easy is typing ED to load Personalized Software's The

Editor.

If your job is to support a number of computers and their users there is some advantage to using Edlin since it is on everybody's computer. Were this my job I would have a floppy disk with ED and a few other useful utilities such as Norton's Filefind and Undelete to take with me. of WSP, saves a little disk space by keeping the auxiliary dictionary in a ZIP file namedA:\BIN\WSP.WSZ. In addition

Spell allows multiple auxiliary dictionaries. Spell's

lilt.

default~} auxiliary dictionary should be in named N

AUX.

When

Spell is executed the N AUX or other requested auxiliary dictionary is extracted to the current directory and when spell is exited updated auxiliary dictionaries are returned to

WSP.WSZ. New auxiliary dictionaries can be created or modified with an editor such as MemoMaker or Ed.

If

WSP does not suggest the word you wanted when it finds a spelling error, try the Prey and Next keys. This is a very useful feature of WSP that can be easily overlooked. you think WSP is a little too klutzy, try loading it with

SPELL. COM. SPELL.COM is available from the Portable

Library of the HP Forum on Cserve. The file is named

SPELL.ZIP.

An earlier pure batch version of Spell is available in SPELLARC. download EDBAT.ZIP, which contains a loader for ED which links ED, SPELL, and PKZIP to assist with file management.

Yes, I wrote these programs but I would not use them if they were not useful. •

34


THE PORTABLE PAPER

By

David Hughes

memory through the microprocessor port with the inpO function (C) or Port arrays (Turbo Pascal). In fact, the safest and most reliable way to check for the presence of a

Portable Plus is to read the product number from the configuration EPROM. No other MS-DOS machine has the same product number stored in this unique location.

The goose chase began when I started looking for a data table which contained the state of the hardware. I'm operating under the assumption that PAM reads the state of each device, and sets it according to the user's wishes every time the computer is rebooted. Therefore, PAM must create and maintain this table somewhere in main memory.

My search began by looking through main memory with the DEBUG utility found in the B:\BIN\ETC subdirectory

(perhaps YO].l didn't know your lIP Portable PLUS had

DEBUG.c6M?). By setting the Plus to a default condition,

I thought it would be possible to search main memory for a byte pattern that matched the defaults found in the configuration EPROM. The goose kept slipping further away. DEBUG didn't produce the results I sought after.

The chase continued as I began to search deep into

PAM with a more robust debugging tool to find the

In Search of the Golden Goose

II

LESSON NUMBER ONE

121

One fundamental principle of searching for geese is that in order to find geese, you must go where they congregate. answers to my questions. Learning takes time, and great learning takes even longer. I've learned a lot about PAM, but I haven't found the location of the system configuration parameters yet. Our lesson reminds us that we need to be patient and keep searching. And so I continue the

You normally don't find them strolling down midtown

Manhattan carrying the Wall StreetJoumal, nor do you find

(~ them frequenting garage sales. Try a quiet pond away from

' " the road, or a large field with low

grass.

If you're fortusearch. Ah, time to kick off my shoes and wade for awhile! table is located, drop me a note through Personalized

Software. I can tread water for only so long! nate, you may even spot a pintail swimming in a shady marsh. Sometimes you just need to find the right spot and

WHILE

WE

WADE

wait patiently for their arrival.

Wai~g has some benefits;". There are many ways to bide our time while looking for a

There is a lot to be learned from our short lesso~. in interest in developing a set of simple batch utilities that bird watching. We can apply the same les~n t~ ~ting would work in conjunction with the TERM program built software. There are many man-years of technical orilhance into the Portable Plus. The general idea is to be able to buried deep within the soul of your lIP Portable computer write a little batch me that would dial a number through just awaiting discovery. Our goal is to learn ho:w to find the right information that will help us solve the challenge the internal modem. Once connected, the batch me would send the logon and other necessary strings to get to the at hand. right menu on the desired BBS or information service. In batch mode you could then send or receive text or binary mes with an XModem command. Once completed, your batch me would log you off. For interactive communications, the simple TERM program could be used. Your batch me might look something like this:

CHASING THE WILD GOOSE

Since the last edition of the Portable Paper I've been thinking about writing a small utility that would allow users to view or change the System Config parameters directly from the command line. These parameters are normally accessible only through PAM. It's miserable to have to return to PAM, depress F6, change the configuration, depress FS, and then wait for the computer to

.re~t.

Wouldn't it be more convenient to type something like

HPSYS

SLEEP=5

to adjust the sleep interval to five minutes?

The first step in developing this utility was to learn how to read the system defaults stored in the configuration

EPROM. This was relatively easy, since the Portable Plus

Technical Reference gives a detailed listing of the USconfiguration EPROM.

This information is read into

MODEM pulse

DIAL "1-515-472-6330"

MESSAGE "persona1ized*software"

MESSAGE "L"

MESSAGE "1"

MESSAGE "D"

XFER R "stuff. arc"

MESSAGE "Un

XFER S "foo.arc"

MESSAGE "bye"

MODEM hangup

SEPTEMBER / ocTOBER 1990

35

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

The utility MODEM would allow us to send various commands to the internal modem. The DIAL command would dial the number. MESSAGE is a general utility to send a carriage return terminated text string out the modem. In this case, our hypothetical bulletin board uses the mnemonics "L" for liBRARIES, "1" for NEW FILES, and

"D" for DOWNLOAD. These, of course, would be different for different bulletin boards. The XFER utility would receive (R) a me called STIlFF .ARC. We would then send another message to upload a me with the "U" command, and send a me called FOO.ARC. Now that we're complete, we send the message

bye

and then use our handy MODEM utility to turn off the internal modem. This batch me could be called by the PAMALM me, so you can have unattended me transfers. You could even use the XFER command interactive with TERM if you exit without severing the connection and send the me.

YOUR TURN

The usefulness of the Portable Plus is limited only by your own determination and creativity. Even if you're not a programmer, you can encourage those who are. The simple modem utilities are just a vision. Your thOUghts matter. This is your paper. Please let me know if you have any ideas you'd like to add to this loose specification.

As for that system configuration table ... it may take some time, so be patient. Remember, not long ago people chuckled at the thought of space travel, and now it's a reality. I'll hang out in the duck blind and keep on looking for an answer. Hopefully it won't take long.

[David is a service engineer of computer power systems at KW Control Systems of Middletown, New York, and a long-time contributor to The Portable Paper.} •

(Letters continued from page 5.) am from HP, and then the demise of

I!II machines whose equivalents are only now

IAiI appearing on the market - I just read an article on a new notebook size machine from National- LCD screen, ROMed operating system, RAM disk, .... HP, HP why didn't you make your portables 100% IBM compatible (or Apple compatible for that matter) with a more readable screen and less expensive expansion capabilities?????

In this country it was not hard to understand why the Portables didn't sell well.

The Plus's price here was three times the

US$ price and not at all attractive compared to 100% compatibles. The big problem was also software. Because it is so prohibitively expensive to stay a subscriber to all the newsletters and magazines in the USA, the SA Portable community was largely unaware of the private developments going on over there.

I bought my first 110 in 1985 (it was then fast becoming an extinct species in this country). MemoMaker was a pain!!no spell checking, no find/replace, no proper backspace key, no .... ? Typing and editing MBA papers on the 110.was a real cliffhanger. But portability was of prime importance and the 20 hour battery life made me hang on to the machine. I finished my degree and then decided I'd had enough of struggling and started advertising to sell the 110 and buy a

"proper" laptop with lots of relatively cheap software. However, I found that I was stuck with the machine! (One enquirer told me that the modem in my 110 was not at all compatible with our phone system; another one saw me (accidently) drop the machine about 80cm onto a solid concrete floor - and suddenly became disinterested - how can a machine still work after that?!!!).

[lIP deSigned the

110 and Portable Plus to be able to withstand 90cm drops].

Then I decided to try (a very last time) to get some software!help from somewhere. This led me to the HP Communicator (not much about the Portables in them, though) and, eventually, PS, and all the good news about real life software available from PS.

Considering the size of the market you and the developers are addressing, you must be doing all this for the love of it

(the portables? or maybe, HP?).

Interesting to. see how some readers complain about the advertising - a sure sign of the ever present economics factor; and the eventual demise of

The Portable

Paper (replaced by the NEC newsletter).

My one 110 is about 5 years old, still with the original battery and going strong.

About a year ago I noticed that the Low

Battery(!!!) warning appeared when the indicator still showed 60 odd percent charge left, but no problems so far. I just have to keep going.

"ou, in various editorials, dwelled on tb:e question of what HP did wrong. And,

I suppose, so has everyone who really cared about their products. All I can say from personal experience over more than

20 years with HP equipment in this country, is that there are still a lot of people who would love to own HP equipment -

IF ONLY TIlEY COULD AFFORD IT!

I know some people got tired of computers who only talk to themselves. I think we can all salute Apple for staying

Apple, keeping their own operating system, and own brand of machine (even though they lost both the founding members of the company).

So why not HP? Their earlier oneline-display machines were capable of things not found in many systems even today. The catch of course is how to maintain the high standards of quality when lowering prices? Volume sales?

Aggressive marketing? The market for exclusivity (this is what HP became in this country at one stage - exclusive quality) is shrinking by the day. Even the fully DOS

LS/12 was prohibitively expensive here.

Keep up the good work and try to

Mr. Grimmer to finish that pop-up! (my sincere sympathies with him - I know what it takes to try and raise four children!!!) and hang on to CliffLooyenga, Ed

Keefe, etc. and get more (ex) HP engineers, programmers to contribute. I thought I knew something about programming in Pascal, until I read some of Clift's articles - all about Inline, AX, BX, etc. and realize how little I really know. I wish I could attend some of Ed's classes. His article about the debugger (V4N2) was enough to whet my appetite. Has he published a book about these basics - telling you in simple language what to do and how? (After 20 years with computers you would expect me to know all these things, but remember the four kids!).

I've already managed to raise some eyebrows here (even long time HP dealers, believe it or not) when I tell people about your company and show them the software available (even for the 150).

Maybe in the future you can expect some more interest from this part of the globe.

Leslie Van

Rooyen

POBox 146

1752 Paardekraal

RS

36


TIm

PORTABLE PAPER

Recommended by Hewlett-Packard, and used by more than 1,000 of their employees.

It's a program called Shelp (shell + help), and it runs on the Portable Plus from within any nort-graphics program. Here's all you do:

Press [Ctrl] [Shift]

[E~tend char] and u~ pops the She!p menu, right in the middle of your application (Lotus

In this example):

Instant Access Pop-ups

for the Portable Plus:

Calculator • notepad • macros • and more

"A great, easy-to-use productivity booster. If there's one program every Portabie Plus owner should have, it's Shelp."-Hal

Goldstein, Publisher, The Portable Paper

The menu gives you 4 choices: Calculator, Notepad, Key

Macros, and Off.

Choose Calculator and get a 4-function calculator that works just like a pocket calculator with memory. You can:

• save results in ten different storage

• "paste" results at the cursor location in ," registers and retrieve them again with two quick keystrokes whatever applicatIOn you were using when you invoked Shelp.

Choose Notepad and a "scratch pad" pops up on your screen. Type whatever you want into it, exit to your application, and then recall the notepad whenever you want.

No more having to scribble notes on paper to remind you of phone numbers, things to do, or bright ideas!

Choose Key Macros and you can assign "strips" of up to 31 typewriter characters to any of the 26 letters in the alphabet. This saves you having to type the same phrase over and over again.

Example: If you type "United States" a lot, you could assign the entire phrase to the "U" key. Just move the cursor to "U!' in the Keyboard Macros menu and type

"United States."

To recall "United States," simply press [Ctrl] [Extend char], then [U]. Presto-"United States" appears at the cursor location in your application!

Choose Off and your Portable Plus turns off without having to return to P.A.M., and without having to save your application file. When you turn your computer back on, you'll be in the same place in the same application, with no data lost.

All the capabilities of IBM-PC programs like Borland's

SideKick and SuperKey? Certainly not, but Shelp's the only such program for the Portable Plus. It's a clean, easy-to-use, and highly useful helper you'll want at your fingertips always.

Shelp runs on the Portable Plus only. It works with

Time-Manager, MemoMaker, Reflection 1, Lotus, and any other non-graphics program. (Shelp does not run with MS Word.)

Shelp was written by Randy Salo, the former HP engineer who authored MemoMaker on the original HP

Portable.

PRODUCT NO. SHllNS

Shelp ............. $55 ($49.95

for Portable Paper

subscri~ers)

60-day no-risk trial: If, after 60 days you are dissatisfied with t~is.product for any reason, you ,may return It for a full refund. To order, use the postage-paid form at the back of thiS Issue, or send check or credit card number to:

Personalized Software, P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556

515/472-6330

©


Don't Forget International

HP-150 Users

It was a great announcement that

MS-WORD 5.0 could be soon made available for the HP-150.

May I however point out that HP marketed its 150 in many more countries than just in the USA and that there is a crucial need for those of us configured with a

French Azerty - or any other customized keyboard - to get the product working properly on our machines.

I hope that someone will realize it and will seize the chance to make MS - WORD

bility to put MS Word on the HP-150 or

Portable Plus_ Sorry to have raised hopes_

I appreciate the points you make about customizing non-U.S versions of products_ Our problem is that we do not have the resources to customize our products for different languages and key-

boards - especially since

we are almost always talking about between

0 to 3 units sold per product per language_

I don't like haVing to think this way, but practically

I see no other alternative.

Sorry. - Hal]

5.0 fully versatile.

I mentioned this because I experienced that such kind of service could not which I found disappointing.

Expand Your Field

be made available by the people who developed WordPerfect 4.2 for the HP150,

of Influence

am

Responding in your Publisher's Message

~

I shall appreciate if you could mention

I!II

Vol. 5, No.3, I do agree that. you WIll this to whom it may concern to the bene- . . need to expand your field of influe~ce fit of all of us not belonging to the USA

II somewhat due to the unfortunate demise community.

Many thanks beforehand. • of the HP Portables.

I must confess that I have been one of

Ph.

Ronsse

Elsdonklaan

142610 - Wilrijk Belgium those who have "deserted" the HP Portable, and now have a Compaq LTE/286.

I have by no means deserted HP altogether, however, as I have a Vectca LS/12 (on

[Unfortunately, it looks like an impossl-

which this is being written) and two

Vectca CS machines. In addition, this will be printed on a Laser Jet II.

I certainly admire what you have done for the HP user, and I would hate to see all that work go down the drain; although

I personally don't see much need myself for portable information in the future. I would, therefore, endorse your idea of a cataloglnewsletter on HP printers. Also, the "New Wave News" idea sounds intriguing, although probably not as something which I would use so much as just read for interest.

Of course, if you should find it worthwhile to enter into a publication for users of other HP equipment, such as what I lI;m using, and/or to start something for

Compaq users, I would definitely want to subscribe.

I hope that these thoughts may be useful to you as you plan the future of

Personalized Software, and I look forward to news of youe decisions.

David G. Flinn

W2CFP

866

Ridge Road

Lansing, NY 14882


37

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

Speed up your Portable Plus

At least 60

%

faster with our low-cost

"FastPlus' ,

upgrade!

By installing a faster processor and increasing the clock speed of your Portable Plus, you can run

Lotus 1-2-3 and other applications at least 60% faster than before.

The upgrade is straightforward, but requires skill and experience working inside a Portable Plus.

If you want to try it yourself, see our instructions in

The Portable

Paper

Vol. 3, No.1, pp. 12-14.

If you want O'lr trained technicians to do it for you, call to schedule an appointment, then send us your

Portable Plus and $250.

(This covers the cost of desoldering the Harris SOCS6 processor and replacing it with the faster NEC

V30, increasing the clock speed from 5.33 MHz to S MHz, and returning your computer to you via

UPS surface. If you prefer overnight return shipping, add $35.)

In most cases, we'll perform the upgrade and ship your computer back the same day we receive it. In all cases, we guarantee our work for

60 days.

Please note: This upgrade will void your HP warranty, and HP will be under no obligation to service yo'ur Portable Plus in the future. However, we will continue to service upgraded machines, and HP repair centers may, infact, do the same.

This "FastPlus" upgrade will make your Portable Plus more than twice as fast as the original IBM PC-that's even faster than the HP Portable Vectra!

Th save time running your spreadsheets, editing your documents, loading programs, saving files, and almost anything else you use a computer for, order the "FastPlus" upgrade today. You'll appreciate the difference it makes!

"FastPlus" upgrade for

Portable Plus . . . . . . . . . . .

$199

PRODUCT NO. FAllNG

(Be sure to call first to schedule an appointment.)

Overnight return shipping .. $35.

User Support ''Void''

Needs Personalized

Software Touch

mJ

You've done a remarkable job making and r.II keeping my Portable Plus a powerful tool,

WY

and lowe you and your staff a fair sum of

II gratitude. The features which made it the premier machine when introduced are

1.1 now for the most part either common-

. place or obsolete, but your insight that user support would be needed is what has made my initial investment seem like the bargain of the century. Without your help, this machine would not be on my lap now. So what's next? There is great need for your style of hands-on user support.

Lotus 123 support was part of your original plan, but was set aside due to there being other sources for help and other things needing your attention. We know of no user support that has the right focus, it's either too close-in or too broad, and now only the Lotus Whizzes read that stuff. These folks have not had a significant impact on how people do few are being utilized in ways that will help to reshape our business. Many sit idle and more keep track of departmental vacation schedules.

An internal PC support staff was organized and operated for several years primarily for Lotus training and assistance, but was discontinued by IS management. This effort failed to produce users with any real creative potential, and we now have a handful of whizzes who seem unable to apply the tools

(unless led to the trough) and landlords who use their PC's as office sculpture.

We're at the dawn of the information age and under-utilizing the available resources as p~ople were probably slow to embrace tIre opportunities of the Industrial Revolution.

It's not hardware-oriented or specific, but there is a huge void and if you could apply your proven Personalized approach

- we may yet be spared learning German or Japanese.

S. E. Fori

6855

W.

65th Street

Chicago,

II..

60638

their jobs; how companies do business; or how new products are created.

We have dozens of PC's here and they've been in place for years, but the

Information Systems people tell me that

mJ

Observations

I

and Suggestions

[I

A few quick observations following your

II

"Publisher's Message" in MayJ.Tune.


C3#) am phasing out my HP equipment .' and have no intention of going back to them again, (except for Laser printers).

This is mostly because HP formats their

3.5" disks in some crazy way so that I can't use them on my Compaq 286e desktop and my Compaq 286 Laptop. Also I have found HP to be getting worse and worse in respect to customer service. Having someone tell you to take your machine back to your retailer when you are six thousand miles from where you bought it can be tedious. But back to you. Laptops are here to stay and you are the man who has been saying so for a long time. Why not a laptop magazine for all laptop users? You could put a slim copy of Laptop

User in the with Portable Paper or with

UltraLite Connection. Then slim those two as Laptop User gets fatter and takes over.

You have a mailing list and you may want to stick with a subscription-style magazine independent of advertisers. Or you could go the whole way and take ads and go into the shops.

A couple of observations. The trouble with most computer magazines (and Photography magazines) is that they act . their readers collect apparatus rather tha use apparatus. Dare I say - The Portable

HP-related hardware, software, or peripherals, HP

Professional, the monthly magazine for Hewlett-

Packard commercial and technical computing, is for you. It's a free source of valuable information that will help you do your job.

It's Informative.

It's Monthly.

It's Read by over 35,000

Professionals Like You.

It's FREE!

Read HP Professional for information and insights on the latest hardware, software, trends and developments.

Start your free subscription today ...

Send us the coupon below. Y ou'll receive a subscription application in the mail. Fill out and mail the application to qualify for your free subscription.

I

I

I

I

I

()

I

I i

I---------~~---~---------------------~----

HP~~~~?F:~~~~~~:~:~~::=::::~:~a::~:::QUEST

Telephone (

Mail to: HP Professional, P.O. Box 616, Horsham, PA 19044-0616.

Or call Lori Ulbrich at (215) 957-1500, or FAX (215) 957-1050.

TIlE PORTABLE PAPER

Now you can use

Even though your HP PortableIHP150 and the new IBM compatible computers both use 3% " disks, the disks are incompatible-HP disks can't be used in IBM machines.

HP Portable or HP150 disks

ReadHP, a "device driver" program developed by

Personalized Software, solves the problem.

ReadlIP installs in an IBM PC or compatible in min-

(single or double sided)

utes, and is a cinch to use: You simply place a 3% " lIP disk (single or double sided) in the PC's disk drive, and

in a

3Y2 "

IBM compatible disk drive

press a few keys. Voila! The PC can read and write to the disk directly-without losing the ability to read and write to IBM disks.

Want to share your WordPerfect, Lotus, or other files between your lIP Portable/HP150 and an IBM compatible with a 3%" disk drive? It's simple: Order ReadHP today.

ReadHP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $79.95

Portable Paper subscriber price . . . . . . . . . $69.95

PRODUCT NO. RDlINS

Volume

Pricing

Available



TO ORDER

['s\, \,tlt'lost'd postage-paid un!t'!' f(tl'm lJl'

~{'t111 dll'ck or nt·dit card information

(,<;t.

t'Xp. date . ..;ignaturt'J to:


1'.0. Bo\. S!i~l. Fairt1t'!d. 1.-\ :i:.!;i,')11 ·11·) ·li~·Ii;):ll)

1 1 I '

HP110 Portable

Portable Plus

Portable Vectra

HP150

IBM PC and compa!.

•

•

•

•

Paper is also a bit like that? A lot of your readers and potential readers are like me: they want to get on with number crunching or word crunching and they don't want to spend hours playing with the machinery and inventing new programs.

We like to hear of new machines and new programs, but only if they are simple and practical. Otherwise we want to hear about getting the most out of the machines we already have.

Whatever you do I know it will be great and you have my warmest good wishes.

Len Deighton

Nutwood House

Wormley West End

EN10 TQN England

[Our product READHP allows users to read their HP Portable or HP-150 formatted disks on an IBM Pc.

Other publishing houses now produce magazines on laptops. I have always shied away from doing such a publication because of the difficulty of being all things to so many potential readers.

What happens is that only a little of the material of such a magazine is relavant

to anyone user. - Hal]

Interested in

NewWave Newsletter

I am very much interested in having a paper directed to "New Wave" . For a year and a half I have had a HP Vectra RS 20 and recently I installed "NewWave". I like the program very much but I do think it is rather difficult to handle sometimes. I would like your support in this area.

I do think that there might be interest in general information for the Vectra series. Ideas of new programs, bat-files and so on the same way we have had information for the Portables. Does the offer of combining programs on ROM also include

Lotus 123 and other software that you did not produce yourself?

Ingemar Odenbrand

Chemical Technology Center

P.O. Box

124

5-22100

Lund, SWEDEN

[We ,fannot legally make copies of any

m

RaMmed software. Sorry. - Hal]

Expand Portable Paper to Include Other Laptops

The goal of a publication such as yours would be to help a person set up his equipment to meet his present and future needs. I believe you can do this by continuing to publish the Portable Paper, but consider including ideas for all laptop and portable computers. There are many procedures, techniques and programs that laptop users need that you can describe to them. This is a simple extension of what you are now doing since you suggest programs for both the Portable Plus and the Vectra. Most of the popular computer~", magazines spend a great deal of effort in'!;;t evaluating the latest product and improvements; there is very little effort supporting those with laptops or portables. While

PCResource does a creditable job with its

PC TECHNIQUES column there should be some medium to exclusively assist the portable user in all fields. Many users whose only equipment is the laptop would avail themselves of such a service.

Perhaps the Portable Paper could help in the portable and laptop computer domain. The keystroke by keystroke articles in some of your past editions were very enlightening. This is similar to the Cobb

Group's The Workshop which is devoted to the intricacies of Microsoft Works. I am sure this approach will find great acceptance.

Along with new programs the laptop user also needs information on how to improve or modify his equipment. Whilethe desktop computer has expansion slots to facilitate changing the equipment, in the laptop, as we have seen with the

Portable Plus, modification is difficult if not impossible. One simple example: the laptop user may want to consider an external floppy or hard drive as an addition to meet his growing needs.


THE PORTABLE PAPER

At last!

COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE

for the HP110 and Portable Plus

prototype.

It runs on the Portable Plus.

HPllO users: Tired of struggling with the

Both programs allow you to: built-in Thrminal program?

Portable Plus users: Is PC2622 or Reflection too complex for your needs?

• Send and capture ASCII information;

• Quickly send programs, Lotus worksheets, and archive files via the

XMODEM protocol;

In either case we have good news: two of the easiest-to-use communications programs we've

• Log onto electronic bulletin boards ever seen.

ThrmllO was developed by Cliff Looyenga, who writes the "Wizardry" column for The

Portable Paper.

It runs on the HPllO.

ThrmPlus was developed by Portable Paper and remote computers automatically;

• Store and access directories of phone numbers;

• Run other programs without severing the phone connection. contributer David Hughes from an earlier

Both programs have on-line help, and use around

25K

of electronic disk space.

Most importantly, both programs make efficient, logical use of function keys and menus to make the job of transferring files and programs easy.

You won't appreciate

how

easy until you try

ThrmllO or ThrmPlus for yourself. We invite you to do so today at our risk.

Term110 (for HP110) or

TermPlus (for Portable Plus) .............. $99.95

(Specify which program when you order)

Portable Paper subscriber price ........... $79.95

, , , ,.

~

¢E

HP110 Portable

•

Portable Plus

•

Portable Vectra

HP150

IBM PC and compa!

Available on ROM Backup for the Portable Plus

*


See order [arm [or details.

TO ORDER

[I:>l' t'IKio!,>(,ti puslaW'-jmid

OI'iIt,1' limn

111· s('nd dU'{"k or t'J"etlil ('a I'd informatioll

(II,

t'xp. datI', sigllulun') 10:

Pt"rsoualized Sort ware

I'i I. BlI). HmJ,I'1tirril'ltI, IA

:i~f)!Jlj GlrF,17~·n;I;IO

"ROM IIItkupottQttnPltis

in:Clud~sIBl\f~j~k' fI)~~Hing

utility, ThlnkJ1It control

POll,uP,,~l!d

I'I!'(IFe.· .

A discussion on other possible equipment modification such as the expansion chassis and its uses should find much interest.

This can include chassis from both the laptop manufacturers and third party suppliers.

I have mentioned these ideas, not because I need or want them, but only as examples for discussion.

Setting up a facility to handle different makes of computers would be prohibitively expensive, necessitating that some of the ideas and suggestions come from the users. Assignment of a particular machine type or program to one person or group may also be necessary.

One last thought, due to the unusual names of programs it would be informative for us to know when we don't need that program because whatever it may do, it can be accomplished by something we own.

There is no interest for me in a newsletter on HP printers or on the "NewWave

News". Thank you for the fine work, and for the free disk.

P. A.

Romanelli

22

Nob Rd

Utica, NY 13501

1m

Problem with HP-IL Card

II

In late February I purchased a used HP-IL

Card for an IBM PC - AT clone from PS.

I intend to transfer my Lotus 123 files, generated on my HP-110, to the C-drive, through the HP-IL Card (from the HP91-

14A Disk Drive) to the IBM clone B Drive

(3.5"). The HP-110 has too small a memory to fully sort my library entries, which exceed 2100 books, with related entries.

Depending upon the Lotus file with

As-Easy-As, which is in my AT, I should be able to process further through Sorts, etc.

The 110 is ideal for the library work, since our bookcases are on the main floor, as well as in the basement. Instead of entering the data on a note pad, then keying into a computer, the entries are made directly from the physical location of the book.

However, upon attempting to load the

HP disk into my config system at bootup,

I get "Non system disk or disk error".

Retries do not work. If I bypass the disk to proceed, my next message is "Bad or missing HPIL.SYS". Running the TEST on the disk, I get the following:

1. Test 700 (Return) Looking for card at address 700 Card Found.

2. Test 1700 Looking for card at address

1700 Card Found.

Portables, but for my introduction to

"computerese." I've learned much throughout your pages, and have felt good about buying your recommendations - even to the point of experimenting in areas where I felt absolutely no confidence!

I haven't tried FORMIBM as an alternative approach, and I am wondering somewhat about "ReadHP" - however, everything I read leads me to believe that HP-IL should work.

Please H-E-L-P!!

Roy G. Michell, Jr.

Trustee Michell Char. Fdn.

&

Trust

722

Oakbrook Ridge

Rochester, MI48307

The HP-/L card does not work with some

PC compatibles. Also, every once in a while an HP-/L cable goes bad. Be sure to type bpUnk from DOS or PAM from the HP-ll0 or Portable Plus.

If

you call us for technical support, we might be

able to help out. - Hal]

3. Test Looking for card at address 1700

Card Found.

If

I change the config.sys to

Device=HPIL.SYS /a1700 all of the above repeats, and I cannot run· the program

Reflection EXIT Command

III

If you haven't already researched this one, here is an answer to the letter "ROM for

Reflection" on page 43 of the May!.Tune '90

Portable Paper.

When using the Reflection terminal either.

In reading all issues of

The

Portable

emulator program manually, that is, when you interact with the keyboard and decide

Paper relating to the HP-IL card, I find that this is not uncommon.

Ever since your first issue I have been on-the-fly what and when to do things, then the safest way to exit the program is most thankful for your existence, not only for your challenging expertise with the to press fS, the Exit key. Note that depending on where you are in the menus,


41

TIm PORTABLE PAPER

NEW-ON VIDEOTAPE!

How to Use the HP Portables

• For new and intermediate users

• Cuts training time for new users (employees, spouse, children, friends)

• 'leaches you how to get the most out of your HPll0 or Portable Plus

Now you can learn how to use the full potential of your HP Portable computer directly from Hal Goldstein, president of

Personalized Software and leading HP Portable expert. (Even HP engineers call him for advice on using their Portables.)

HOW TO USE THE HP PORTABLES is based on Hal's more than five years of experience using the HP Portables and publishing

The Portable Paper.

FOR EVERY TYPE OF USER

This 5-hour set of three VHS video tapes gives all the fundamentals of using both the

HP 110 Portable and the Portable Plus. HOW

TO USE THE HP PORTABLES will save you countless hours of learning on your own. It will also save time and effort in training an employee, spouse, child, or friend.

HOW TO USE THE HP PORTABLES is not just for beginners, however. Intermediate

HP Portable users will find many new topics and many important tips and tricks for using the HP Portables to full advantage.

Part 1: OVerview

• Brief demonstration of what an HP

Portable can do: word processing, spreadsheet, database management, communications, time management

Part 2: Fundamentals 01 Using the HP110 and Portable Plus

• Understanding the value of the HP

Portables' RAM and ROM ter,hnology

-Includes demonstration of how to install ROM chips in the Portable Plus

• Maximizing screen readability

• Maximizing battery life

• Making full use of the HP Portable keyboard

• The back of the HP Portables: interfacing with other devices

• PAM, the home screen

-Managing files and starting programs

-Using PAM's System Config to

Even experienced computer users who are new to the HP Portables will find the tapes to be of immense value in learning to use the many special features of these unique machines.

LEARNING MADE EASY

In this set of videotapes, Hal doesn't just

tell

you how to use the HP Portables. He actually shows you, step-by-step, what keys to press, while the camera shows you what appears on the computer display.

Watching Hal demonstrate everything in a logical sequence right on your TV screen is a far better way to learn than wading through the HP Portable user's manuals-especially since the tapes include many important details that are either obscure or simply not covered in the manuals.

(Once you've seen the tapes, you'll find that the user's manuals make excellent reference sources_) best meet your needs

-Partitioning RAM into main memory and "Edisc" storage

Part 3: Using ROM·based software

• Tutorials on ODS, MemoMaker, Lotus

1·2-3 as a spreadsheet, Lotus 1-2-3 as a database, and data communica· tions using the Terminal or TERM program.

-These tutorials get you started and give you most of what you need to know about using these programs.

Part

4:

Connecting the HP Portables to

Peripherals

• Connecting to ThinkJet printer,

HP9114 disk drive

• Connecting to IBM compatible computers with HPLin«

• Connecting to';P OeskJet and other serial printers

Part 5: Demonstrations 01 Products

That Enhance the HP Portables

• SideWinder (prints speadsheets sideways)

HOW TO USE

THE HP PORTABLES videotape , •••...... $150.

Portable Paper subscriber price ...••.... $119,

• Shelp (pop-up notepad, calculator, etc.)

• Webster's Spelling Checker

• The Editor (word processor)

• The Norton Utilities (quick unerase, disk sort)

• Portable modems

All this and more in an informationpacked 5-hour presentation by Hal

Goldstein, president of Personalized

Software and leading expert on the HP

Portables.

Hal has packed these tapes with useful' information. You'll save hours of poring over manuals and trying to figure things out for yourself.

HOW TO USE THE HP PORTABLES is a highly cost-effective way to learn how to use an HP Portable to full advantage. It saves time and effort in getting up to speed and it saves time and effort in training others.

Order HOW TO USE THE HP PORTABLES at our risk today.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT

The regular price of HOW TO USE THE HP

PORTABLES is $150, or $119 if you subscribe to The Portable Paper.

However, HOW TO USE THE HP PORTABLES is only $45 if purchased along with any used

HP110 or Portable Plus system from The Portable Equipment Exchange (a division of Personalized Software).

Used HP Portables make great gifts.

HOW TO USE THE HP PORTABLES makes them even greater-because the tapes eliminate much of the struggle and time spent in learning how to use the machines.

See the latest Portable Equipment

Exchange brochure for current prices on used Portables. Or call (515)

472-6330. We'll help you select a used

HP Portable system that best meets your needs.


See

order fonn for details.

TO ORDER

Use enclosed postage-paid order form or send check or credit card information

(I,

exp. date, signature)

10:

PenonaUzed Software

P.O. Box 869, FlIirfie1d, IA 52556

515/472-6330

you may have to press the "System" key first. This will both power-down the communications port for you, and tecminate

Reflection automatically. This is all that is required, and is completely fail-safe.

You could issue the EXIT command from the Command Line, as mentioned in the reader's letter, to get exacdy the results described, that is, the power to the communications port is left untouched.

In this instance, you would be operating in the grey acea of somewhere in between manual and progcamming mode, and the onus would be upon the user to execute the right commands in the propel' sequence. NOl'01aIly the EXIT command would be used inside a command file or program. Since Reflection cannot anticipate whether the user wishes to remain connected to the remote computer or not, separate power-down instructions ace required. To power- down the port from the Command Line (or issue any tel'01inal escape sequence), use the DISPLAY command. The correct sequence then, would be

(two separate steps): display" ".. [&bR" exit

After returning to PAM, look at the DamA com Config, and note that the powe""" option will show

OFF for whichever communications port you were using.

42

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER

1990

THE PORTABLE PAPER

Since I like things simple, I always use the

Exit key because it· looks after all the housekeeping for me. When you do cre-

".ate a command file to automate a procetJ'dure, make sure that it is completely debugged by going back to PAM.'s Datacom menu to see if the desired results have '. too simplistic.

The bottom line is that a simple and complete set of instructions are needed for the connecting of these components.

One which includes all of the little

(seemingly unimportant) details which you

"hackers" assume that we . numbskulls been implemented. It seems programming always has its traps, and this is just one of them.

. .

Norm Lang

10688. Glenwood Crescent

E. Surrey, BC V3R OB4 Canada

should know.

IS IT

AIl.

WORTII m ...

INDEED!

II

We find (after a long struggle) that the

DeskJet isa superb printer which produc-

@!I

es print-shop quality. By using raw command code data (sans word processor),

HP-ll0

Advances

3-4 Lines Before Printing

II

While the HP-110 starts printing where I set the paper, the Portable Plus advances precise positioning is possible-anywhere on the page.

Hewlett-Packard, in the DeskJet

~u al, suggests that the dip switches in the

Printer be set (A)4-up, all others down.

3 - 4 lines.

Any way to work around or eliminate this default setting?

Michael Felsen&tein

236640th Avenue

San Francisco, CA

94116

[None that I/mow. - Hal]

When (B)5 is up, the 19,200. baud rate provides faster printing. When (A)4

&

(B)3 are up, "line draw" (from optional font cartridges) is enabled.

From the PAM screen, select "system config", then, "datacom interface". Be sure that the datacom interface in "system config" is directed away from the "serial"

DeskJet and The Plus

Please set up a Portable Plus (with Memo-

Maker and HPrint) connected to a DeskJet for some "fun and games" your customers c~joy.

An "Entry Level" write-up is needed in port (select "modem" or "HP82164A).

Back to PAM, select "datacom coofig" to set up serial port. Settings should be

"19,200" "8" "1" "none".

Key in a page of text, run it through

HPrint and get a very professional page from the DeskJet! (Murphy is oh-so patient). On another page, key in a few lines of text, and insert a small' sketch at about column 31.

\I

involved. An update of the HPrint manual is also sorely needed.

Information in the HP manual is incomplete. Information in the Southern

Software HPrint manual is incomplete.

Information supplied with the DeskJet from Personalized Software is 180· out of phase with the DeskJet manual-and a bit

TIlE PLOT THICKENS

I have sent you three figures (it wasn't planned that way) printed from the same memo. The large figure (right) is "as planned". The center figure is the

~ult of selecting "NLQ-ON" from the HPrint menu. Tum NLQ back-off, and a third

(left) drawing results! Playing with 12/10 pitch on the HPrint menu will shift the drawings left/right by a couple columns.

Things continue to get worse until it is discovered that only a "printer reset" will unlock the glitch. In the search for a solution, 4100 other settings have been

"scrambled"!

HPrint must be set-up as· follows:

Press the "Enter" key, then 2 to select thing to DeskJet). Press Enter, then 3 to select printer connector, then 6 "Com 1".

The HPrint menu "NLQ" toggle must be in the "oft" position. And remember,

HPrint "pitch" selection will also shift graphics left/right.

Mike Mooney

B

&-

M Distributors

Higbway

59

South

P.o.

Box

667

Heavener, OK

74939

Thanks for Your Help

Thank you all very much for your unequaled support in providing me with the great deal and technical support. With the great Lotus software I was able to buy my first house! Thanks everyone.

Bodhi Rovner

304N.Main

Fairfield, IA 52556

•

Thanks to so many of you who are willing to help organize local users groups. Users groups give an opportunity to share tips, answer questions, discuss other products, trade free software and Lotus templates, and meet other professionals.

As you will notice, some areas have more than one contact person and some major areas have none.

If you are in a "missing" area and would like to organize a group, contact us.

If your groups combine, also tell us. We will publish this column each issue, keeping it up to date. Write:

Local Users Groups,

Box 869,

Fairfield, IA

52556

515-472-6330.

Califurnia,

Southern California

We meet 2nd Thur 7-9 at HP sales office, 5161 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood.

Request PORTOVEC Notes Newsletter, Dave Mark, 818-794-4969. San Diego Steven L. Eyre 619-452-

8530, Dan Butterfield, 619-470-3551. San

Mateo, Santa Clara Counties,

San

Francisco

Bay

Area,

BAYCHHU, HP Laptops

&

Handhelds, meet 2nd Sat of the month, Contact Michael Fe1senstein, 415-

564-8279 eve.

Sunnyvale

Interex Int'l Hewlett Packard Users Group, 640 Almanor Ave, 408-738-4848.

Colorado,

Colorado Springs

Dan run,

303-528-8080. Denver call

Bob Pressey, 303-777-0326.

Hawaii,

Honolulu

Rodney Y. Fukuya if interested, 808-945-3111. Indiana,

Indianapolis,

Bob Glass, 317-638-

2326. Iowa, Mid

Iowa

Ed Keefe D: 515-964-6644 E: 515-964-7064,

SouthEast Iowa,

Hal Goldstein, 515-

472-6330.

Minneapolis/St.Paul,

John Ferman, 612-822-1372. Maine,

Yannouth,

Everylast

Tues 6:30 US route One, Yarmouth, ME 04096, 846-5497. North

Carolina,

Charlotte

and

Surrounding Area,

John Jacob, 704-334-3468. Texas,

Houston,

Thomas

R.

Page D: 713-759-4259 E: 713-528-7138. WashingtDn,

Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, Western Montana, and possibly Western Washington,

Bob Sandberg, 509-466-4999.

Eastern Washington,

Stephen S. Warner, D: 509-534-1588, E:509-535-3322:

Western Washington,

Portable Plus, 150 and Vectra users meet first Thurs 7-9 pm, HP sales office, Bellevue, Pete Ross, 206-342-8875. Portable, 40

&

50 Senes: 7-9pm second Wed., U.Wash. computer center,

\ )

Seattle Bob Moore 206-543-7879. WashiogtonD.c.,

St.

R~m 519.

Call to confirm and say

Hi.

Greater Washington D.C. area,

8:00 pm, Third Monday of each month, Ballston Tower #1 800 N. Quincy

William F. Cross, D:202-696-4112, E:703-845-9508. Australia, 8 Avoca St. S. Yarra, Victoria, Australia. Nigel S.

.. Ball. 03-267-8344. Central America, I would be happy to form a users group, either Spanish or English, Apartado Postal 1587, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

England,

HP Computer Users

~ation House!.Besstx;>rou~ Roa~,

HIl!fOW, HAl 3DX, United Kingdom,

01-4~3-3313.

Japan, I would

. like to help start a users' group. Michael Lazann, 26-26-502 Moto UJma; Minann-ku, HiroshlDla 734 Netherlands, Mr. R.M. Franqumer, Menthenbergseweg

13, NL-6816 PRo Arnhem, The Netherlands. Spain, Club de usarios HP 110, Pont

Reyes

S.A., Ala atencion de D. Enrique Serra, Ronda Universidad, 15,08007,

Espana. Sweden, Stokholm, first Thurs each month 6:30 pm, call to confirm. Jens Pettersson, 08-713-1710. Telex 149 70 gentel S.


43

Wor Perfect 5.

and

4.2

You don't need an IBM PC

to

run the world's best-selling word processor.

Now you can use industry-standard WordPerfect on your HP150

or

Portable Plus! p.s.

We even have a Portable Plus version that's partly on ROM!

WordPerfect. It's the world's best-selling word processor for the IBM PC. Most reviewers feel it's the best word processor on the market.

WordPerfect not only performs all the usual functions you would expect from a full-featured word processor, such as:

• search and replace

• cut and paste

• automatic page numbering

• headers and footers

• bold, underline, compressed, expanded, italic

• superscripts and subscripts

• automatic hyphenation

• right justification

• undeleting of deleted text

• and more, but it also offers a carload of advanced features-such as:

• Text in Columns

• Footnotes, Thbles of Contents, and

Indexes

• 115,000-word Speller

• Thesaurus

• Mail-Merging

• And built-in Math functions for creating a mini spreadsheet anywhere in your document.

Best of all, you can run the complete

WordPerfect on your Portable Plus or

HP150 Touchscreen. (Depending on the kind of Portable Plus or HP150 you have, you can use either WordPerfect 4.2 or the new 5.0.)

To learn more about the world's most advanced word processor-and how to use it on your HP computer-read the information on these two pages. Better still, try our

Portable Plus or HP150 version of Word-

Perfect for yourself

at our risk.

Order WordPerfect today, and put it through its paces.

Use it to format documents in a fraction of the time it took you before.

Use it to track down spelling errors and typos in a flash.

Use it for footnotes, mail merging, database sorting, or any of its other advanced features.

Use it for your daily correspondence or for generating the most complex reports you can think of, complete with numerical tabulations and text in columns.

If, within 60 days, you feel that Word-

Perfect isn't everything we say it is-or if you are dissatisfied with WordPerfectjor

any other reason-simply return it and

we'll send you a full refund.

Product

Number

Retail SlIbscriber

Price Price

WordPerfect 5.0 for the

Portable Plus

(includes Plus Perfect)

WD17NS $645

$395

PlusPerfect WD14NS $150

$129


Portable Plus, with ROM

Backup (includes Word-

Perfect, PlusPerfect,

Backup ROMs) WDllNK $940 $595

WordPerfect ROM

Backup' WD12NR $295 $295

Wordperfect 4.2 for the

Portable Plus WD14NS $435

$339

~'


HP150

WD13NS $495

WordPerfect 4.2 singlesided for HP150

WD12NS $435

$395

$339

WordPerfect 4.2 doublesided for the HP150 WD11NS $435

$339

WordPerfect Upgrade Kit (Upgrades

Personalized Software Portable Plus or HP150 version 4.2 to 5.0) ...... .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .. Call us for pricing and other details.

*

Requires proof of purchase of WordPerfect 5.0 and

PlusPerfect, and written confirmation that you will honor the WordPerfect license agreement.

Here's what you receive when you order the

Portable Plus or HP150 version of WordPerfect

(published exclusively by us). Note: See box below to determine whether you should buy

WordPerfect 4.2 or 5.0.

1. Complete WordPerfect software and Users

Manual

The entire IBM PC version of WordPerfect (on

3V2"

disks) and the standard WordPerfect users manual.

2. Special utility programs

Our versions of WordPerfect 4.2 and 5.0 both come with an IBM PC emulator program that allows WordPerfect to run on your HP computer. (The Portable Plus version of this emulator is called PlusPerfect.) Our disks also include "batch" files that allow you to run Word-

Perfect automatically.

3. (Optional) ROM Backup for Portable Plus

6 ROM chips containing PlusPerfect and a significant portion of WordPerfect 5.0. (You can use 4 or 6 of these ROMs, depending on the amount of space available in your ROM drawer.)

Although you'll still need tlore a 300K Word-

Perfect file on your disk an set main memory to 376K, this ROM Backup aves you up to 384K of RAM.

To purchase the ROM Backup, you must already own (or order) WordPerfect 5.0 and PlusPerfect on disk.

I

4. Instruction booklet

In addition to the comprehensive WordPerfect users manual, we supply our own instruction booklet. It tells you, step-by-step, how to get started, what to ignore in the users manual, and how to use WordPerfect on your HP computer.

5. Keyboard template

We also include a convenient 4-color keyboard template that we've designed specifically for the unique keyboard layout of your Portable Plus or

HP150. The template shows you, at a glance, which keys to press to execute each of Word-

Perfect's functions.



TO ORDER

P.O.

US(> enclosed postagf'-paid order form or send check or cn'dir. card information

(N,

expo datI', signatuw) til:


Box 8fm, Fairfield, IA fi2!)fifj !)Jfi!472-fi~J;1O

~he

Porta Ie Plus

and HP150

(If you have additional questions, don't hesitate to call us!)

Q.

Are the Portable Plus and HP150 versions of WordPerfect identical to the IBM PC version?

A. WordPerfect 5.0 and 4.2 are identical on all three machines, except: a.) the on-line tutorial does not run on the

Portable Plus or HP150. (However, the

"learning" section .of the 'Users manual covers the same material as the tutorial.) b.) the "Preview Document" feature (which shows special fonts and graphics as they will appear on printing) functions in a limited way.

O c.) Some extra, unessential utilities that come with WordPerfect do not run on the

HP150 or Portable Plus.

With both 5.0 and 4.2, if you already know how to use WordPerfect on an IBM PC, you can use the HP version right out of the box.

Q.

Can I transfer WordPerfect files back and forth between different versions of Word-

Perfect and between my HP computer and an

IBM PC?

A. Yes to both.

WordPerfect 5.0 has a built-in transfer utility that makes sharing files between versions of 4.2 and

5.0 easy.

Moreover, WordPerfect produces identical files on an IBM PC, Portable Plus, and HP150. The only difficulty that may arise in transferring files between these machines is that HP and IBM computers use different formats. If you don't already have the ability to accomplish the transfer, you can either use our Disk Conversion

Service or a variety of hardware or software solutions, depending on your system. For details, see "File Transfer Made Easy," in our product listings in this issue.

Q.

Where can I get assistance in using Word-

Perfect on my HP150 or Portable Plus?

A. If you have a problem related to the HP150 or Portable Plus-or if you're not sure where the problem lies-call us. If you have a question about how to use a WordPerfect feature, call

WordPerfect Corporation. They are famous for the calibre of their customer support, and you can call them toll-free.

Q.

Will the HP version of WordPerfect work with my printer?

A. Our instruction booklet tells you how to run

WordPerfect with all printers that work with your

Portable Plus or HP150, including serial, parallel

(Centronix), HP-IB, and HP-IL.

Here are some of the advanced features that have made WordPerfect the world's numberone selling word processor. (These features are common to WordPerfect 4.2 and 5.0).

Speller

WordPerfect's built-in spell-checker is fast, thorough, and easy to use. The main dictionary contains 115,000 words, and you can add words of your own to one or more auxiliary dictionaries. The Speller also counts the number of words in a document or in any block of text.

File merging and mail merging

With WordPerfect, it's easy to produce personalized form letters (mail merging), and to assemble reports, proposals, and contracts from pre-written components.

Thesaurus

WordPerfect's Thesaurus helps you find the right word when you need it. Synonyms are grouped by noun, verb, and adjective, and at the touch of a key, you can look at second and third levels of alternatives.

Columns ..

WordPerfect's OiJlumns feature is ideal for writing a newsletter, glossary, script, or any text that requires columnar format. Up to 24 columns can formatted in either newspaper style

(snaking) or parallel style (side-by-side). The columns appear on the screen exactly as they will print on the page.

Footnotes and endnotes

WordPerfect streamlines the task of creating and editing footnotes and endnotes. Just enter information at the appropriate spot, and Word-

Perfect takes care of numbering and formatting-including allowing just the right amount of space at the bottom of the page. If you later add or delete a note, WordPerfect will automatically renumber the others.

Table of contents

Mark portions of your text, specify a format, and WordPerfect will automatically generate a Table of Contents and an Index for your document.

Math

WordPerfect lets you use 4-function math for calculations across columns and for subtotals, totals, and grand totals down columns, anywhere in your document. Whenever you change a number, WordPerfect updates the totals. It's like having a mini spreadsheet at your fingertips-without leaving WordPerfect.

Sort

You can sort lines, paragraphs-even external database records-from within WordPerfect.

You can apply logical rules to the sort: It's easy, for example, to generate an alphabetized list of all customers in California who have purchased more than $100 worth of merchandise within the last 6 months.

Here are the main features that have been added to WordPerfect in upgrading it from

Version 4.2 to 5.0:

Fonts and printing

WordPerfect 5.0 lets you set margins, tabs, etc. using inches, centimeters, and points. Fonts may be freely mixed and changed without affecting margIns, tabs, or column definitions.

Integrated text and graphics

WordPerfect 5.0 lets you insert graphic images from most graphics programs directiy into your text. You can enlarge, reduce, move, and rotate most images to your specifications.

Styles

You can combine text and codes to create a specific ''style;' or format, that you can then use over and over again (for chapter headings, subheadings, etc.).

Document compare

WordPerfect 5.0 will compare the on-screen documenttoan existing document on disk. Text that has been added will be "red-lined" (marked with a vertical bar in the left margin), and text that has been deleted will be shown in "strikeout:'

Keyboard redefinlHon and macros

WordPerfect 5.0 lets you store any sequence of keystrokes so that those keystrokes will be executed upon the press of a single key. This

"macro" feature allows easy entry of repeated text and commands. One way to use macros is to change the key assignments for Word-

Perfect's features. There is no limit to the number of different keyboard layouts you can thus define.

To determine which version of WordPerfect to buy-4.2 or the new 5.D-follow these steps:

Step

1.

Assess your needs.

Please see the column, ''WordPerfect's Newest

Version" (at top right) to learn about the features that are unique to Version 5.0. If you need these features, then 5.0 is the version for you, provided your machine can run it (see below).

Step 2. Check your memory size.

Portable Plus:

To comfortably run Version 5.0, you'll need a machine with at least 896K of RAM (e.g., a 512K

Portable Plus with a 384K RAM drawer, or a

128K Portable Plus with two 384K RAM drawers).

With an 896K machine and ou r ROM version, you can run WordPerfect without an HP9114 disk drive. Otherwise, with an 896K Portable

Plus, you need to load WordPerfect from the

HP9114. Once you load WordPerfect, you no longer need the HP9114 to run WordPerfect.

To comfortably run Version 4.2, you'll need a machine with 640K of RAM.

You can run either version of WordPerfect with just 512K of RAM if you're willing to do a lot of disk access from your HP9114.

Note: You might consider purchasing a 1

Megabyte RAM drawer for your Portable Plus.

This would let you bring the superb WordPerfect speller module wherever you go without having to load it in from an external disk drive. And with a megabyte of extra

RAM, you'd have lots of room left over for text files.

HP150:

To run Version 5.0, you'll need 512K of memory and a double-sided disk drive.

To run Version 4.2, you'll need 256K of internal memory and either a double-sided or singlesided disk drive. (Note: If your HP150 uses single-sided disks, you'll also need a hard disk drive to run Version 4.2. Neither version of

WordPerfect will run on a dual-floppy singlesided HP150 system.)

Our recommendations:

In general: Choose WordPerfect 4.2 if: (a) your machine demands it, or (b) you're already using 4.2 on other machines and don't intend to upgrade, or (c) you wish to save some money and don't need the new features in WordPerfect

5.0.

On the other hand, if you want those new features and your machine can handle it, WordPerfect 5.0 is the one you should get. If you use a

Portable Plus, you'll tie up the least amount of

RAM if you purchase our ROM Backup version of WordPerfect 5.0.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Like-new 512K

Portable Plus

Only $995!

PROD.NO.PP36UC

Used $795

PROD. NO. PP16UC

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Each like-new Portable Plus comes in its original packaging with new battery, new manuals, and our one-year guarantee .

• Lib-new

StlK·.Pm1~lI

•

~sta_te

·l23KlAMdmwer*

KOU __

• 123K!tAM

draw«

• 7

putPto~.neBdimrJl

(*Y

~WOJd.~)

• Webster'J SptIltilJCheckft

• FonnatPJus

(~W.w0r4 proees"co~*.)

.' FUePip me .....

aitd

keyboard~)

Shelp

(pop-up

~a4,~,

• As-l3asy"As(LOm12.0

work ..

•

).~.(UPt

.pnes

( 8

os disk)

. . . . .

~NO>JUm.l~

. ' ' ' '

(dI* ooRO:u

a_up

• ·TblBdltor··Jl

·We_t$Spel1iq·~

.~U$

.RIePb.tS

SAVE $200

Substitute oil refurbished 512K Portable Plus and subtract $200 from any of these 5r2K systems. Same 60-day trial! Same I-year guarantee!

RAM SPECIAL with used 512K Plus

PROD. NO.BU12UX

$1095

ROM SPECIAL with used 512K Plus

PROD. NO.BU14UX

$1395

TERMINAL SPECIAL with used 512K Plus

PROD. NO.BU16UX

$1195

Special! 12XI\. Portahle PillS PROD. '\0. PPI2l ('

(lilly U1)5.'

Free technical support on every product we sell!


P.O.Box 869

Fairfield, Iowa 52556

BULK RATE

U.S. POSTAGE

PAlD

FAiRFI

ELD,

IOWA

PERMIT NO. 218

ThePortablePaperV5N5_48pages_Sep-Oct

Vol.

5,

No.

5

The lIP Portable/Portable Plus/Portable Vectra

Newsletter September / October 1990

THE

ortable Paper

HP~~JjiScoDu:tiues:Rest:of:

Periable··Plus~·AccessorieS:

<

more lugging a disk drive wherever you go! No more taking up precious

Edisk space with frequently used programs and data! Now you can easily put almost any program - and important data -

...

~~~~a~~m ~l~~~~

ONE YEAR GUARANTEE -60-DAY TRIAL .

~~r~o~~~~~er ~~~:

ROM drawer.

See order form for details

you fill that unused

Once you've done so, your programs and data are available instantly, with no danger of loss and no need for an external disk drive.

"Burning" your own ROMs is easy even for a computer novice - with our

Portable Plus ROM Burner. All you do is connect the ROM Burner to your Plus, and follow the simple instructions we provide for using the software that comes with the unit. (We even show you how to have your ROM programs automatically show up on your PAM menu!)

ERASABLE!

ROM space with fixed data and with almost any Portable

Plus program you wish - including programs that are not commercially available on ROM. This eliminates the need for an extemal drive and frees up valuable space on your electronic disk.

Regardless of your needs, we invite you to take advantage of this Portable

Plus break-through. Put your programs and fixed data on ROM and experience the ultimate in portable computing convenience. Order our ROM Burner for the

Portable Plus today.

you make a mistake while burning in a ROM - or

you later wish to change the contents of your ROMs - no problem.

Just use the ultraviolet eraser that comes with our ROM Burner and start over.

(Our programmable ROMs are technically "EPROMs", which stands for "erasable programmable read-only memory.")

UP TO 3 MEGABYTES ON ROM!

The ROM drawer that fits into the bottom of your Portable Plus has sockets for

12 ROMs. Each socket can hold a 128

Kbyte ROM. Even though there are more than 50 programs now available on ROM for the Portable Plus, most people only use 2-6 of the 12 sockets - which means part of the 1.5 megabytes of each drawer's available ROM capacity is going to waste.

HERE'S WHAT YOU GET

BREAKTHROUGH IN PORTABLE PLUS

ROM TECHNOLOGY

©

Save money on repairs and upgrades

@

Let our expert technicians fix your HP equipment

90-day guarantee on all repairs and upgrades.

-HP1tO, Portable Plus, ThinkJet, HP9114,

HP150 computers and disk drives, and more!

Why pay $500 or

more for Lotus® 2.01 wh you can have a fully compatible program fo

for disk version!'

for disk version plus

ROM Backup (subscriber prices)

If

Portable Plus users:

At last! A great spelling checker available on ROM!

Webster's

(web/stars) n. The speUing checker rated Editor's Choice by

PC MagaDne

(Dec. 24, 1985), and now available from Personalized Software for the Portable Plus and HPlSO.

60-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

TO ORDER

Products

Advertised

or

Discussed

in

This Issue

PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE

Hal Goldstein

we are a for-profit international computer users organization.

1ft

§]

I!!]

f&1

Given this strategy and self-knowledge, we decided to publish The Portable Paper for at least one more full (6 issue) year.

Future Direction of

Personalized Software

''fill

Printer, Disk Drive

~~am ~l~~~~

~~r~o~~~er ~: