OOOOThe Boston Computer Society
SINCLAIR/TIMEX USER GROUP NEWSLETTER
Volume 1, Issue 4 October 1982
This newsletter is produced to inform group members of the agenda and
logistics for future meetings, as well as to recap and amplify the information
provided at the last meeting. It also provides a forum for members and
interested parties to communicate what they have learned or developed relating
to Sinclair and Timex computer products.
NEXT MEETING
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 1982
Time: 7 :00 p.m.
Place: Large Science Auditorium
UMass, Harbor Campus
(Directions on last page)
AGENDA
This meeting marks the first anniversity of the Sinclair/Timex User Group.
We are planning a big celebration, and have executives of both Sinclair
Research, Ltd. and Timex Computer Corporation coming to our meeting:
Ms. Maragret Bruzelius, Executive Vice President for the U. S.
Operations of Sinclair Research, Ltd., will offer interesting
insights into Sinclair's history and its goals. Prior to becoming
the head of U. S. Operations, Ms. Bruzelius was with Advent and
Polaroid. She has been involved with the consumer electronics
industry for the duration of her professional career.
® Mr. Dan Ross, Vice President of Timex Computer Corporation, will
speak about the background and goals of the Timex Computer
Corporation, and functions of the newly formed Timex Computer Club.
Mr. Ross has over 15 years experience in high technology areas, and
has held positions with IBM, ITEL, and MEMOREX Corporation.
We are looking forward to what these two have to say about their companies and
products. In addition, we have asked representatives of a number of local
Sinclair/Timex related companies to display their products.
We will be advertising the meeting and anticipate a large turnout.
HEELLLP . . .
We would like to encourage more direct participation in the planning and
implementation of group meetings and activities. Contact Sue or Cliff to
volunteer.
NOVEMBER'S MEETING
In November, we plan a meeting primarily for prospective buyers or new
owners of a Sinclair or Timex computer. This meeting could help you decide if
the Sinclair or Timex computer is an appropriate gift for someone you know this
holiday season.
LAST MEETING ACTIVITIES
At the September meeting, Dave Wood described the new CAI (Widget)
interface and printer which he recently purchased. Paul McGarry described and
demonstrated parallel input/output to the computer. Also, Henry April gave us
an update on the large keyboard he developed.
THE HISTORY OF THE SINCLAIR/TIMEX USER GROUP
By Susan C. T. Mahoney, Founder and Director
Last fall, I started the user group to bring owners of the Sinclair
computers together to share how they were using them, as well as to discuss
problems and discover solutions. During late summer of 1981, I did some
contract work with Sinclair Research in Boston. I was curious and anxious to
meet people who were interested in or already using the Sinclair computer for
applications in business, education, science, and the home.
Our first meeting was on October 14, 1981, one week after Clive Sinclair,
founder of Sinclair Research, Ltd., introduced the ZX-81 to the United States
at a press conference in Boston. The user group met in an office located in
Kenmore Square, eighteen people attended the meeting. Since Sinclair had not
started shipping the ZX-81, most of the attendees were owners of the ZX-80 (the
model that preceeded the ZX-81). The meeting was very successful with a lot of
enthusiasm exchanged.
The second meeting, however, almost did not occur. Two days prior to the
meeting, I was informed that we no longer had access to our meeting place. The
company that was letting us use the space went out of business. Frantically, I
searched to find another place that was available for the right price (free)
and near public transportation. After checking with many government agencies
and failing to find a suitable place, we met in the BCS office. This change
required posting signs at the old meeting site to inform people of the last
minute change. After trying to squeeze 22 people into the BCS office, it was
obvious that we needed to find a larger meeting place for the group.
At the Northeast Computer Show, I happened to sit next to an enthusiastic
new owner of a ZX-81. After we spoke for a while, she offered her place of
work, which was the Countwa^T library (the Harvard Medical Library). That
worked out for two meetings, but again we outgrew the space.
Things were beginning to look a bit grim for finding a permanent meeting
place that could accommodate our rapid growth. Then, Rick Kane called and
offered me the use of the whole Physics Department at UMass, Boston, Harbor
Campus. When I learned we could have TV monitors, places to store some of our
equipment, a choice between an auditorium that could seat 150 and one for 550,
smaller rooms for breakout sessions, access by public transportation, and
parking, it was obvious where our home would be. Futhermore, Rick is director
of the Source and CompuServe users groups of the BCS. I knew that some day we
would have a modem for the computer and that cooperation between our groups
would prove very beneficial.
Since February we have been meeting in the small auditorium which
accommodates 150 people. During the summer months attendance varied between 50
and 75 people. Our September newsletter had a mailing of over 300. Now, with
people returning from vacation, the number of attendees will grow. Also, due
to increased sales of both the ZX-81 and the TS-1000, we expect a very large
increase in attendance. Therefore, as of October, we will be meeting in the
large auditorium, one floor above the present meeting room. We hope that UMass
will continue to be our home until the BCS gets its new building. (See the
article in the July-August issue of the Computer Update.)
In July our group's name was changed from Sinclair User Group to
Sinclair/Timex User Group to reflect our interest and support for owners of
both Sinclair and Timex Computers.
I'm excited for the future of the group. With the rapid growth, we have
the potential of becoming the largest group within the Boston Computer Society.
However, we will always try to structure the meetings so that everyone is
served. We are always open to new suggestions and ideas. If you have any for
the next meetings, please contact me.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Skip Hammel
David Ornstein
Dave Wood
John Baskies
Kirt Olson
Ann Zevnik
Mike Gonnerman
Mary Reiman
Mike Levy
Henry April
John King
Bob Smith
Mike Weiskoff
Sinclair Technical Information
Computer Display, Keyboard Scanning, ZX-81 Parser
FI. Pt. Numbers, Tape Utilities, Linking BASIC Programs
Timex Marketing Planning
How to Write for SYNTAX
SYNTAX Group Discount, TS-1000 Press Conference
London ZX Microfair Report
New Things to Come from Sinclair
New Hardware/Software in England, Mindware Products
Design of the E-Z Key Keyboard
Clock/Family Bulletin Board Program
64K Memory Applications
Computer Education
Walter Stepanski Survey of Support Resources
Rick Kane Computer Bulletin Boards
Paul McGarry Parallel I/O Demonstration
We wish to acknowledge the following companies whose representatives made
contributions to our meetings: Agnew, Carter, and McCarthy; Demystifying
Computers; E-Z Key; Heuristics; Jordan Kahn; King Software; Mindware Company;
Sinclair Research, Ltd.; Siriusware; The Harvard Group; and Timex Computer
Corporation.
TRY THIS
It has been suggested that we have a program in each letter. Here is a
simple program that plots Lissajous patterns, such as you may see on an
oscilloscope. Enter the first two inputs as small integers, less than ten.
The third parameter controls the resolution of the plot. Try 2, 3, 50.
10 INPUT A
20 INPUT B
30 INPUT N
40 FOR 1=0 TO 2*PI STEP PI/N
50 PLOT 32+20*SIN (A*I), 21+20*COS (B*I)
60 NEXT I
(Remember TO, PI, STEP, SIN, and COS are tokens.)
L.t
Ss
DIRECTIONS TO THE MEETING
The Sinclair/Timex User Group meets in the Large Science Auditorium (Room
8/1/009) of the University of Massachusets of Boston, Harbor Campus. The
Harbor Campus is only three miles from downtown Boston and easily accessible by
public or private transportation. From the north or west, take the Southeast
Expressway to Exit 17. Turn left onto Columbia Road. Enter the rotary and
take the first right (Morrissey Boulevard). Bear right on the traffic island,
following UMass/Boston sign. Turn left into the campus. From the south, take
the Southeast Expressway to Exit 18 (near the Boston Gas tanks). Follow
Morrissey Boulevard northward to the campus. On the MBTA, take the Red Line
(Ashmont Train) to Columbia Station. Transfer to the free University suttlebus
in the T parking lot.
INFORMATION
For more information, contact
Sue Mahoney, Director
c/o The Boston Computer Society
or leave a message at
(617) 361-4736 or 361-5819
either :
Cliff Danielson, Editor
or 14 Davis Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
(617) 256-4638 (Home)
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