| Issue #1 | THE STAUNCH 8/89'er | Oct-Nov-Dec 1986 Page 2 |
work with computers anymore. I suppose it was the same way back in the twenties and thirties with cars and radios — at first everybody who did anything with them had to know how they worked, but then they became appliances, and if they didn't work you traded them in for new ones that did...I'd sure like to know where all the H-8's went to... [Editor's reply: Sounds very logical to me — the part about when something is new one wants to understand it. But I'll bet more people than you think are interested in "low-level" programming, and a lot of H-8's are still in use. Obviously for every second-hand machine sold, one is bought. The contrary illusion exists because me are being trampled. My message is, we really don't have to let that get to us.]
Root of the natter: Where'd He Put the Book?
[From Jack Miner, 316 S. Rosedale Ave., Lima, OH 45805]... One of my interests...is family genealogy tables which at present I compile with a typewriter and hand-drawn charts. I bought "ROOTS/M" but find it cumbersome and difficult to use. Perhaps your newsletter contributors will know of a program easier to use. I saw a reference to one in some magazine I have since misplaced. It compared "ROOTS" to another program, but did not mention the supplier... [Editor's reply; Funny, I know of at least one person mho swears by ROOTS (not at it), but if anyone can help Jack, write to him or me.]
Use It or Lose It
[From John R. Davis, Hurst, Texas]... [We should all] support H-89 suppliers or they will dry up. [Editor's reply: Wise, wise words. And the process would probably be irreversible. Looks like it's now or never.]
Speaking for Many?
[From Win Palmer, Fort Myers, Florida]... I want to know how the H-8 works, from the H-19 character generator to how the H-17 sets up the interface chips, etc. I want to be able to do all needed servicing, from replacing the CRT (which I've already done once) to refurbishing a drive! [Editor's reply: I've always wished I could repair a drive too. Good ideas here for articles, you electronics experts!]
THE 8-BIT IOWAN
Kirk L Thompson
#6 West Branch Mob Hom Vil
West Branch, IA 52358
Hello from Herbert Hoover's birthplace,
Let me welcome you, dedicated (or, to use Hank's term, staunch) 8-bit'er. If you're like me, you've had this "obsolete" 8-bit-microprocessor-based piece of gear around for quite some time. In my case, my H89 is so old that I call it "Neanderthal;" its serial number is even less than
1000! In truth, it was boxed by Heath in the halcyon fall of '79 and has been serving me almost continuously ever since. And because I've added to it just as vigorously since the day UPS first placed it on my doorstep, I expect it to continue doing so for some time yet.
Bio Extract. But who am I? Well, I regard myself as a micro hobbyist with delusions of grandeur. I write occasionally, but would like to do that full time. Unfortunately, my creditors presently won't let me! So I maintain my sanity through occasional appearances in Sextant (with some materials presently at REMark and monthly contributions to the newsletter published by DMAHUG (Omaha Heath/Zenith Users Group). Central to these activities is my "Neanderthal."
But why did I buy the thing in the first place? In two words, productivity and the-most-for-the-leastt Productivity, because I wanted an easier may than the "normal" write/type/revise/retype/re-vise/retype syndrome which most writers put up with until the introduction of the micro; and the-most-for-the-least because, in the summer of '79, when I pursued my research on desktop computers, the '89 had the most features for the least outlay. (In fact, most of those other popular brands didn't even have lowercase built in!) I've never regretted the decision.
Commercial software was a bit spare, of course, for the first year or so. But that was no problem since I was learning computing. However, once "ORG 0" CP/M was added (which I anticipated when I -bought; CP/M capability was one of the specs developed during my research), the software base went out of sight. I did have to retrofit the latter, but it was the simple plug-in board from Magnolia Microsystems. So I built my software base to the point where I am now doing a number of things beyond the original impetus: home finance, database, programming (when I can't find a commercial version for what I want to do), and some gaming. Of course, I've increased the capabilities of the system over the years.
And strange to say, most of the trouble I've had with it as I did that, were those I created myself. Have you ever installed a chip backwards? I have! And watched a tendril of smoke lazily rise out of the works before the fuse finally bleu...
So I've had my share of grief, but in a good cause. I think getting the most out of the computer requires some hardware knowledge. I've seen Accounting Dept. personnel at work complain about problems on their IBM PC, but do nothing about them. And although I could go, like the rest of the world, to one of those compatibles, I see no point to it. My '89 still does what I bought it for, so why replace it. Do you feel the same way?
But another reason for hanging onto the "Neanderthal" is simply that I have considerable time and money tied up in the '89. In order to reproduce similar capabilities on a 16-bit system would require an outlay of effort and resources at least equivalent to what I've already expended. I'm simply not prepared for that. And I suspect that many of you are in the same or similar situation.