Date   : Mon, 02 Mar 1987 15:20:46 cet
From   : 7GMADISO%POMONA.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
Subject: Tandy Model 4 Misinformation

Kevin J. Belles made some rather mis-informed comments about the
Tandy model 4 recently.  While it is true that for some time the
standard configuration of a Model 4 was SS drives, the CURRENT
machines from Tandy have DS drives; also, many if not most of the
used machines have been upgraded by their previous owner to
DS drives.

The 'BIOS' code is easily available in commented assembly listings
from Misosys, Inc.

The banks switching is 'weird', you say??  It is simply controlled
by 4 bits in $OPREG (the Option Register), which is directly linked
to CPU port 84H.  It's more complex to explain than it is to use.

Further, as I said in my previous post, there is NO Z-80 assembler
I have seen that can compare to Pro-MRAS by Misosys.  If you want a
comprehensive list of its many features, I'll post one.

As regards the Kaypro; the Monezeuma Micro version of CP/M is much
superior to anything I've seen on the Kaypro.  Using the extended RAM
available in the 4, MM CP/M automatically provides a 64k RAMdisk; the
memory can also be used by programs like Monte's Window, which is
similar to SideKick, and VERY useful (the TRSDOS 6.3 equivalent is
called Pro-WAM).  Further, there is a utility available which will make
the memory drive the SYSTEM drive, and so on.

The Model 4 is not JUST a CP/M machine, it is much MORE.  I don't
deny that it has its quirks -- no machine lacks them.  However, I
DO assert that it is distinctly superior to machines like the
Kaypro, which are virtually being ignored by Kaypro.  The 4 is no
longer Tandy's showpiece, but it is still supported.

                  George Madison  (7GMADISO@POMONA.BITNET)