Date   : Sun, 20 Mar 1983 14:17:34 EST (Sun)
From   : Keith Petersen <w8sdz@brl.arpa>
Subject: [gregr: Re: New CP/M Card for APPLE ][]

This should have been posted to Info-Cpm, but I hear that the usenet
gateway to Info-Cpm has been inoperative since January.  I suppose
that's why the author of the message posted it to Info-Micro instead.
I am forwarding it because it is very informative.  Appologies to
those who receive two copies.
--Keith

----- Forwarded message # 1:

Date: 19 Mar 83 2:40:47-PST (Sat)
To: info-micro@brl.arpa
From: menlo70!sytek!zehntel!tektronix!tekid!gregr@ucb-vax.arpa
Subject: Re: New CP/M Card for APPLE ][
Article-I....D.: tekid.1039
Received: from Usenet.uucp by SRI-Unix.uucp with rs232; 20 Mar 83 1:31-PST
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I was also very interested in the ALS CP/M Card because I currently have
a Microsoft Softcard for my Apple ][ and have found several deficiencies
relative to my applications.  The most important performance
consideration for me is speed and the Softcard has an effective clock
rate of only 2 Mhz.  Also the Softcard does not include all standard
CP/M utilities such as SYSGEN nor does it include the BIOS source code
although this has been documented in magazines.  As soon as I saw the
ALS ad I called them to confirm the apparent 6 Mhz clock rate.  I asked
to speak to technical support or a product engineer but was told they
were "too busy completing the product design in order that shipments
might begin by the end of March".  The marketing folks informed me that
the Z-80 ran at 6 Mhz without wait states although they didn't seem to
know what wait states were initially.  I was also interested in details
about how bank switching was done ( a feature of CP/M Plus ) such as the
effective clock rate when using the motherboard RAM.  I really needed to
talk to a product engineer for this information and followup questions
but they weren't available.  I next decided to confirm that schematics
were available for the board but I was told that schematics were NOT
included and none would be provided under any circumstances.  I also
asked if BIOS source code was included and again the reply was NO!  Again
this would not be supplied under any circumstances although this policy
was subject to review at some future time I was told.  I immediately
checked the ad for the product and found this claim; "...and full
documentation - for just $399.".   I can find no reasonable
justification for these omissions and I consider them essential portions
of the documentation.  The bad part of all this is that I really want to
buy this product.  (I had even reserved one with my local retailer).  At
this point I not sure what to do next.  If any other potential customers
for this product feel the same about this issue as I do you could help
us all by calling ALS and expressing your opinion.  ALS has a toll-free
number 800-538-8177 outside California that you can use to get
additional information or express your concerns.  Anyone obtaining
additional information about this product could mail it to me or post it
to the net.  I really believe that this product is an excellent value
except for the documentation problem and will be valuable for any Apple
CP/M user.

A little more information -- I was told that the CP/M Card will come
with all documentation and utility programs that one would receive from
Digital Research if you were to purchase CP/M Plus directly from them. I
f this is so it makes this product an even better value.  GSX-80, also
from DR is not yet released but will be shipped to all CP/M Card owners
as soon as its available.  

Finally -- I believe that another 6 Mhz Z-80 card is available but I
recall no mention of CP/M Plus.  The price was somewhere around $600.
The initials of the company were something like PCIP.  Does anyone have
any information about this board?  Also how long will it take Microsoft
to respond with their own product?  Anyone have any insight on this?

                                   Greg Rogers
                                   Tektronix






----- End of forwarded messages