Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!well!tswift
From: tswift@well.sf.ca.us (Theodore John Swift)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy
Subject: Re: m-100
Message-ID: <25615@well.sf.ca.us>
Date: 22 Jun 91 21:42:15 GMT
References: <7546@cactus.org>
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 77


>I just recieved a model 100.

Congratulations.  It's a pretty nifty machine for the size and price.

>What upgrades should I do?

That depends on what you want to do.  You can install additional RAM memory
to the basic system, up to a max of 32K (seems small by today's standards,
but you can do a lot with the M100).  The memory may already be installed.
If you want to do much programming, there are some option ROMs with debuggers,
utilites for renumbering, formatting, and generally tidying up BASIC programs,
etc.  There are ROMs with better word processors, spreadsheets, database
applications, etc.

>Where is the archive?

There are a few.  One is on the net, but I've forgotten the exact address.
He'll pipe up, though.  Another is a free BBS in Pleasant Hill, CA, run by
Club 100.  Some files there are available free- a larger library is
available after you pay a $12 annual support fee.  Voice (415) 932-8856;
BBS (415) 939-1246; Fax (415) 937-5039.  Club 100 sells all sorts of upgrades,
add-ons, and other M100, M102, T200 related stuff, as well as posting other
folk's stuff for sale or wanted.  Their address is PO Box 23438,
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.
  You may also want to track down a copy (your local Radio Shack probably
has some copies) of "Portable 100", a magazine which covers the M100 family.
They're: Portable Computing International Corporation,  PO Box 428,
Peterborough, NH 03458-0428  (603) 924-9455.

>How can I get a new space bar( this one works, but is broken and wobbles
>on the left side

Are you sure it's broken, or did it just pop loose from the stabilizing bar
underneath?  The key contacts are under the right end of the space bar, and
there's a metal "stabilizer bar" under the left end that pops into a slotted
socket.  If that doesn't work, the folks at Rat Shack can order any part
you need...you just need to be able to give them the part number, which may
be nontrivial.  If you're interested in hardware hacking, you can order the
Service Manual, which would give you all the part numbers you'll ever want,
not to mention schematics, pinouts, theory of operation, service proceedures,
etc.  It costs about $15 and is lots of fun to browse through (but then, I'm
interested in the hardware as well as the software).

>What are these things worth today?

From $5 at unsuspecting garage sales to about $300 for a new M102 in the
store.  I bought mine used for about $86, which I consider to be a steal.
Several mail order places sell M100s for around $240.  Club 100 has adds for
several, but it's hard to determine the price of the M100 by itself, since
it's often sold with lots of add-ons and accessories.  Maybe $150.

>Does anyone know of a typing tutor or morse code tutor for it?

Yes, I downloaded a morse code program from Club 100 a while ago.  I'll see
if it's around.  I think they also have a typing tutor.  If I find them, I'll
posting them.

>How long should the batteries last?

The manual says about 20 hours:  Five days at 4 hours/day, 20 days at 1hr/day.
From my limited experience, this seems about right, though I haven't kept
rigorous notes on when I've installed batteries, how long I've used it, etc.
You can buy a 6 Volt battery eliminator at Rat Shack or several other places
for a few bucks.  If you plan to use it more than occasionally, it may be
cheaper and more ecotopian to buy four NiCad AA's and a charger.  The only
problem is that NiCads have a slightly lower full-up voltage than carbon-zinc
batteries, so the "low battery" light comes on pretty quick.  The Tandy 200
has a minor ciruit modification to convert the power supply to be happy with
NiCads.  You'd have to check the Model 100 Service Manual to see if there's
a similar arrangement on the M100.  They'll work just fine with NiCads (there
is no danger of damage), but you get a low battery indication very frequently.
-- 
----------------------
Ted Swift tswift@well.sf.ca.us
"You bally well are informed, Jeeves!  Do you know everything?"
"I don't know, sir"    ~P.G. Wodehouse