Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!RICK@mit-mc From: RICK%mit-mc@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Tandy 2000 Message-ID: <15819@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Sat, 28-Jan-84 01:13:00 EST Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.15819 Posted: Sat Jan 28 01:13:00 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 27-Jan-84 05:33:42 EST Lines: 59 From: Richard P. Wilkes I have spent more than a few hours in the local Radio Shack working on a Model 2000. I have decided to buy one. My reasons: First of all, I love the keyboard. I use my systems for word processing mostly (I love Word Perfect by Satellite Software International in Orem, Utah; let me know if you want any info on it). The keyboard layout is much better than the PC's and altho I realize that is not saying much, it is a big factor. The function keys (12) are along the top row, which I find easier to use than the left side pads. The arrow keys are between the keyboard and keypad and arrange in a logical arrangement: Up Home Left Down Right Secondly, the machine is blazing fast. I write application programs as a side-line for small businesses. One small BASIC program took around 15 seconds to go through a search loop; on the 2000, it took around 6 seconds. Several other programs I tested showed similar improvements. Radio Shack insists that the MSDOS version they are running does *not* take advantage of the 80186 extra instructions; so, they say that there should be any incompatibilities caused by that. All the BASIC programs I tested worked fine. I was able to read IBM formatted disks by simply copying the files from the disk. Remember, the 96tpi drives may not be in exact alignment with the IBM drives; I didn't have any trouble, though. The programs that directly access the video memory will probably not work. I was able to get my PC version of Word Perfect running fine except that it couldn't set the colors properly. Other programs such as Lotus 1-2-3 won't work. Word Star does, others may not. My best advice for those interested in the machine is to call the manufacturer of the software that interests you and find out when a Mod 2000 version will be available. Word Perfect for the 2000 including keyboard template will be shipped in around two weeks. All other major applications packages that I am interested in are either available for the 2000 or will be within the next month. Apparently, the conversion job is trivial; just a matter of resetting some memory addresses and color registers. Tandy even has an Outside Software Vendor Support hotline available to companies converting software. 'Bout time... In all, I feel the machine is a winner. Of the 110 odd units shipped to the Baltimore area, not has had so much as a glitch; poor repair guys haven't had a chance to play with one. There are of course disadvantages. Tandy is not very quick with the technical manuals, which means the hardware vendors will be slow coming out with expansion boards. But, this time it appears that we won't be limited to Tandy supplied software! This is a serious machine, and the color graphics are superb (if you need them). And the price is right! Discounted, you can get a 10M hard drive system with a 720K floppy, monochrome display with high-res graphics, 256K RAM for $4K. The floppy system with 2 drives is around $1K less. -Rick at MIT-MC