02/23/2006:
Starting fresh
I've decided to start programming again!
I've wanted to for a LONG time, ever since my Commodore CDTV became my
"main machine" back in 1993. I bought myself a modem and was
connecting to the net with the CDTV via shell account, and had all
these grandiose ideas of developing killer apps for the CDTV (internet,
games, multimedia stuff)! But, somehow, life kept
interfering. Work, girlfriends, cars, moving out, Windows
machines, other Amigas, and the world wide web kept distracting
me. I never learned to program for the CDTV (well, Amiga, since
it was basically an Amiga 500 with a CDROM drive).
Ever since my Model 4P arrived last year (2005), I've been itching to
do SOMETHING with it. I mean, text editing is fine and dandy, but
I want to see what this little 30lb thing can really do in capable
hands. Apart from massive head trauma.
I figure, either this machine or my 128K Coco 3 would be the ideal
platforms for developing. I've had the most programming
experience in Extended Colour Basic and Super Extended Colour BASIC on
my Cocos, so why not start there? I thought about it for a while,
and came to the conclusion that it'd be far too easy given the Coco's
superior graphic and sound capabilities to do something
meaningful. No, I have something different in mind for my Coco
3. Instead, I decided to learn BASIC on my Model 4P.
Why BASIC? Simple. It's what I know.
I'll start out learning the ins and outs of Model 4 BASIC, then start
adding in more machine calls and instructions, then onto BASIC
compilers, then assembler. Why assembler? 'Cause it's FAST!
I've ordered a book titled "Graphics and Animation on the TRS-80" from
eBay, and that'll give me a start. I think I have a book on Model
4 BASIC somewhere here, too...
Anyhow, gotta get cracking.
See ya!
02/24/06:
I can print! Woo-hoo!
Finally got the DMP-130 printer working with my Model 4P. The 4P
wasn't adding linefeeds after each carriage return, so, after digging
through three separate manuals, I found the answer (the "forms
filter") and am now printing out scores of my writing.
Unfortunately for me, I need a new ribbon. The one that came with
the printer is dry, and the WD40 trick didn't work, in case anyone
feels they need to tell me to "try a bit of WD40 to loosen up the ink".
"What
you need is Jig-a-loo!"
(Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Sigh.
Off to the net to see if I can't find a supplier for new DMP-130
ribbons.
02/26/06:
Ribbons Aplenty!
Found a lot of three DMP-130 ribbons on eBay, and won the lot for 99
cents US. They're apparently a third-party brand that is still
available, so it looks like I'll be printing for a LONG time to
come! Gotta pick up some more fanfold paper though. I only
have one box of about 2000 sheets (held over from my dad's first
computer, a 386 Slam and I built for him)...
Man, I've been using my 4P a lot lately... even played a game or two...
I've also discovered a PDF I'd forgotten... I must have downloaded it
after my 4P arrived and never really looked at it. It's all about
JCL, the Job Control Language, and it likely bears some looking into...
That's pretty much it for this week, unless I do something meaningful
in the six hours before I go to bed...