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From: btb@ncoast.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: help (memory upgrades/SpartaDOS/MIO, etc.)
Message-ID: <1940@ncoast.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 25-Jan-87 18:42:32 EST
Article-I.D.: ncoast.1940
Posted: Sun Jan 25 18:42:32 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Jan-87 02:07:09 EST
References: <8701180143.AA21572@cvl.umd.edu> <1080@msudoc.UUCP>
Reply-To: btb@ncoast.UUCP (Brad Banko)
Distribution: world
Organization: Cleveland Public Access UNIX, Cleveland, OH
Lines: 42
Keywords: Extended memory, Rambo XL

I recently wanted to get a memory upgrade for my 130xe to give my
Kyan Pascal some more breathing room... the first thing that seemed to
be popular was the 320K ramdisk upgrade for the 130xe that a local
dealer was doing for $99, but when I went in to him, he recommended
something that makes more sense to me... the ICD MIO board which comes
in 256k or 1Meg ramdisk/printer spooler configurations and it can 
replace your 850 interface... it also has an SCSI/SASI hard disk port...

With ICD's SpartaDOS (file time/date stamping, subdirectories, batch files,
etc.), the MIO is heaven... (I also bought their USDoubler which speeds
up your 1050 and doubles its density all the while letting you read and
write DOS 2.0 format, and read DOS 2.5... SpartaDOS automatically switches
density... some of you may also know that SpartaDOS also supports all
variety of disk drives for the Atari, including double sided drives.)

In addition to the above, the MIO also gives you complete and instant 
control of your disk drive/ramdisk devices... you can instantly switch
the MIO ramdisk to be drive #1 and your 1050 set as drive #1 to be
drive #2 (that is, respond as device D2:).  You can also leave the MIO
turned on when you turn off your machine, and boot from it almost 
instantly...  The guy who recommended this upgrade made a very good point,
if anything ever goes wrong with your 130xe, you can just replace it in
this configuration, whereas, if you make some hard wired memory expansion
to your 130xe, and something goes wrong with it, you are stuck.

	This is very good stuff, in my opinion...

		SpartaDOS with the USDoubler is about $60,
		256k MIO board is about $200...

	replacing the chips in the 1050 with the ones that come with
	the USDoubler package is a minor hassle, so unless you are
	fairly experienced at hacking hardware, I would recommend that
	you have your dealer install the new chips.

-- 
			Brad Banko
			...!decvax!cwruecmp!ncoast!btb
			Cleveland, Ohio

"The only thing we have to fear on this planet is man."
			-- Carl Jung, 1875-1961