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Rakewell Limited



Z88

The Z88 lives on

The Z88 for the person on the move

New (and existing) users are rediscovering that the Z88 is still a great machine to use and it's now only £80! The main programs (or applications) that you can use are

• PipeDream - a combined word processor, database and spreadsheet package that has many powerful features.
• Diary - for appointments and things to do lists without running out of room on the page.
• Calendar - which also shows you which days you've booked.
• Clock - with the current time and date.
• Alarm - to wake you up and to remind you of appointment.
• Printer Editor - to allow any printer to be connected directly to the Z88 (with the correct cable).

Z88 Starter Pack

The low cost Starter Pack gives the NEW Z88 User all the necessary accessories.

Buy the Starter Pack straight away. It consists of:-

• Cambridge Z88 Computer
• User Manual
• 128K Ram Pack
• Parallel Printer Cable
• Mains Adapter
• Carrying Case
• A complete set of BATTERIES

Sick Z88 & Advice

Is your Z88 not working, or at least not working properly? Has it lost all your files again?

We hold limited stocks of Z88 parts and can get you running again. Give us a call. With the Z88 at a new low price it is often more cost-effective to buy a spare machine.

REMEMBER we are computer consultants who can HELP YOU to use Z88's (and other computers) in most applications.

Protect and Survive

Did you know that if your Z88 screen breaks - it used to cost £100 to replace?

Many Z88 users are surprised how much it costs to replace a cracked screen. It can be simply avoided by getting the Cambridge Topper. This is a hard cover that goes on the front of the Z88, protecting the screen and keyboard when not in use.

Even when the Z88 is turned off, it will consume more power if a key is pressed accidentally. The Topper will stop that from happening and therefore save you battery power.

Save those Files

We get phone calls from customers who say "HELP, I've lost all my files. What can I do?" We say, "Where is your back up?" They say "what back up? I thought the files would be safe in the RAM pack." The only answer we can give here is "You have lost your files and there is nothing you can do about it now."

The moral of this story is to be one step ahead and have copies of your important files on the new 1M Flash EPROM, another computer or on disk. We have even had people with the old EPROMs who do not want to use them, in case they fill them up. If you have any EPROMs, get an EPROM Eraser and then USE the EPROMs.

A good starting point now is to have two 1M Flash EPROMs. If you need to save a larger number of files and have another computer, get the correct computer link software.

If you are in doubt, give us a call and we will talk it through.

BBC BASIC

Carry on programming in BBC BASIC, or use the programs you have written with the Z88 on your PC!

BBC BASIC (86) is fully configured for the IBM PC and compatibles, and all the statements and functions specified for BBC BASIC are available. It has been designed to be as compatible as possible with Version 4 of the 6502 BBC BASIC resident in the BBC Micro Master series. The language syntax is not always identical to that of the 6502 version but in most cases the 80x86 version is more tolerant.

BBC BASIC (86) is supplied in four versions:

• BBCBASIC.EXE The standard 'small memory model' interpreter
• BIGBASIC.EXE The large memory model' interpreter
• BBCRUN.EXE The 'small memory model' run-only version
• BIGRUN.EXE The large memory model' run-only version

You can use the run-only versions to combine a BBC BASIC program with a cut-down version of the interpreter to create a single executable file which may be run directly from the DOS prompt (or from Windows) without it necessarily being apparent that BBC BASIC is involved. Executable files created this way may be distributed freely without any royalty for BBCBASIC being due.

The 'small memory model' versions allocate 64 Kbytes (when available) for the user's program and variable space; the large memory model' versions allow the variable storage area (the heap) to exceed 64 Kbytes, up to the limit of low memory in the machine (normally a maximum of 640 Kbytes). The large memory model versions run slightly more slowly than the standard versions when performing the same operations, and use more code and data memory than the standard versions for the same BASIC program. The small memory model versions are also generally more appropriate when it is necessary to 'shell out' from BBC BASIC to run another DOS utility.

The documentation provided covers the features which differ from the standard Acorn versions and should therefore be read in conjunction with a standard BBC BASIC manual.

BBC BASIC (86) requires about 32 Kbytes of code space. When available, a full 64K segment is used for data (small memory model version), resulting in PAGE having a value of &900 and HIMEM a value of &F800. If less than 64K is available HIMEM will be set at a lower value. BBC BASIC releases any memory surplus to its requirements so that other programs may be run from within BBC BASIC (using a "star" command). If you have sufficient memory you can even run BBC BASIC from BBC BASIC (although this is hardly useful)!

Demonstration Software

Try out BBC BASIC now before ordering the full version.

This version has

• HIMEM restricted to &2000
• Program and data space limited to under 8K bytes

Download the software from here, put these files in a separate directory and type 'BBCDEMO' to run.

PC PipeDream

[PipeDream on the PC]

If you like PipeDream on the Z88, why not install it on your PC and avoid having to convert files altogether?

PipeDream prices have been slashed making this option more cost effective. The commands that are used on the Z88 and the computer are the same (the diamond key becomes the Alt key). Using a PC Link ROM and the correct cable you can 'log' onto your Z88 (as drive Z) and easily fetch or save your files directly to or from the Z88 in PipeDream on the computer.

Spell Check and other Extras

PipeDream comes with a spelling program (which used to be an optional extra), keyboard templates for all the functions, registration card and the DOS programs on a 3-1/2" disk.

Millennium Compliant

[Screen shot of PipeDream test in DOS window under Windows 95]

We have done some tests on PC PD to see if it is compliant. The "DATE" command picks up the right date from our computer clock (after setting it to a date next year) and the calculations work as shown on the above screen shot. Year 2000 is now known as year 100.

Check it out yourself with the ---

Demonstration Software

Try out PipeDream now before ordering the full version.

This version will not

• save files
• or print them

Download the software from here, put these files in a separate directory and type 'DEMO' to run.

Printer Drivers

Now, here is a book to help you redesign your Printer Driver from scratch.

Have you just changed your printer to find that it no longer likes the FX-80 driver supplied with your Z88?

Here is a very helpful manual that has a number of examples of printer drivers that work. Priced at only £7.50, this could save you hours doing it all yourself.

EPROM Erasers

We have reduced the price of this item due to the arrival of the Flash EPROM!

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© Rakewell Limited 1999