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Author Topic: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer) (Read 182822 times)

Offline Tuby128

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #105 on: 2013.February.20. 20:40:10 »
At that time I used QuickShot II Joysticks (there are many on E-Bay), but you have to keep in mind, that the Joystick has different plug, as the Enterprise. So you need a so-called SUB-D 15 (male) -> Edge Connector (female) converter. (Very rare, but easily producable)
 I suppose you have known that already.

 Do you like music? What genre of music (or band) did you like at the time, as you developed the IS-Basic? What kind of environment was necessery for a programmer to produce good sourcecode? Were you and your fellow programmer in a completly silent room, or switched the radio or TV on, to avoid the booring silent?

 By the way my favourite bands are The Who, Rolling Stones, Cream and U2. But if I developing a program I'm listening Drum and bass :) because there is no vocal, so I can concentrate on my work, and I can't be tired so easily.

Offline BruceTanner

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #106 on: 2013.February.20. 21:21:44 »
Quote from: Tuby128
At that time I used QuickShot II Joysticks (there are many on E-Bay), but you have to keep in mind, that the Joystick has different plug, as the Enterprise. So you need a so-called SUB-D 15 (male) -> Edge Connector (female) converter. (Very rare, but easily producable)
 I suppose you have known that already.

 Do you like music? What genre of music (or band) did you like at the time, as you developed the IS-Basic? What kind of environment was necessery for a programmer to produce good sourcecode? Were you and your fellow programmer in a completly silent room, or switched the radio or TV on, to avoid the booring silent?

 By the way my favourite bands are The Who, Rolling Stones, Cream and U2. But if I developing a program I'm listening Drum and bass :) because there is no vocal, so I can concentrate on my work, and I can't be tired so easily.
Thanks for that info - it will be useful!

During the day we had silence (had to remain professional!) but it was useful to be able to discuss things particularly between myself and Martin. But for evening programming (I was a real night owl in those days and my brain came alive in the evening) we did have music and fortunately myself and Martin both had similar tastes - Pink Floyd being the favourite as well as all the ones you mention! I know what you mean about distracting vocals though - I also played a lot of Tangerine Dream which is purely instrumental and, may very favourite, the early records of Mike Oldfield, also purely instrumental. I can usually manage rock vocals but talking on radio or TV is impossible to work with! I also find big classical symphonies good to work to.

In the IS days we just had a big plain room with 4 or 5 people in. It was a big Georgian building (probably last quarter of the 1700s) with high ceilings and elaborate decorative plasterwork. It was a nice building and pleasant place to work but there was nothing special about it. You hear of American firms providing games rooms etc but there was nothing like that!

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #107 on: 2013.February.20. 21:25:09 »
Quote from: Tuby128
So you need a so-called SUB-D 15 (male) -> Edge Connector (female) converter. (Very rare, but easily producable)
Bruce! If you want I can send joystick converter.

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #108 on: 2013.February.20. 21:27:13 »
Quote from: BruceTanner
I also played a lot of Tangerine Dream
I also very like it! My other favorite for programing is Jean Michel Jarre.

Offline BruceTanner

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #109 on: 2013.February.20. 21:32:20 »
Quote from: Zozosoft
I also very like it! My other favorite for programing is Jean Michel Jarre.
Yes, I had that too!

Offline Tuby128

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #110 on: 2013.February.20. 21:45:28 »
Mr Tanner, you should have accept Zozo's offer to a joy converter. The little girl needs EP gamer experience, before she realizes the new world's toy (phones with touch screen) and after she will have got one (before the EP), she cannot appreciate the flavour of old time computers.
 In my oppinion every child has to start with i4004 to understand the today's achievments. Like history class, where study always started at the ancient times. Unforutunately there is no enjoyable computer with i4004, but the Z80 family could be a good start.
 What do you think about that?

Offline BruceTanner

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #111 on: 2013.February.20. 22:22:13 »
Quote from: Tuby128
Mr Tanner, you should have accept Zozo's offer to a joy converter. The little girl needs EP gamer experience, before she realizes the new world's toy (phones with touch screen) and after she will have got one (before the EP), she cannot appreciate the flavour of old time computers.
 In my oppinion every child has to start with i4004 to understand the today's achievments. Like history class, where study always started at the ancient times. Unforutunately there is no enjoyable computer with i4004, but the Z80 family could be a good start.
 What do you think about that?
Yes I am hoping to accept zozo's very kind offer but it is a little premature at the moment as I haven't even got my "new" Enterprise going yet! But yes I am keen that my daughter grows up being easy with using technology (so far she is showing every of being so!) and it is helpful to know the history just as it is in the rest of life. The strange thing about the computer world is that it has moved so fast that you can be part of the history before you are dead!

Offline BruceTanner

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #112 on: 2013.February.20. 22:36:58 »
My "new" Enterprise has arrived! I was expecting a BASIC cartridge and a FORTH cartridge, but what I got is a heavily modified cartridge with BASIC and FORTH in the same 27256 EPROM:

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No wonder it doesn't work!

Is this common? It's years since I used any 27xxx EPROM but there seems to be a lot of mods here just to up a size (or two)!

Or perhaps this isn't an original Enterprise cartridge? The PCB tracks on the bottom are just bands/strips running from one side to another, a bit like veroboard without the holes. Do real Enterprise cartridges have these?

Offline Tuby128

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #113 on: 2013.February.20. 22:49:45 »
I think you should accept Zozo's another offer for a Basic cartridge. He can provide a Basic and Forth EEPROM as well. Mr Tanner do you get a chassis with this DIY board? Was the chassis modified?
(@Zozo: Chassis means Műanyag ház)
« Last Edit: 2013.February.20. 22:53:05 by tubybb »

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #114 on: 2013.February.20. 22:52:33 »
There is the original cartridges:
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These are 1x32k and 2x16k type, it is easy modify (only few wire) for 1x64k/2x32k.

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #115 on: 2013.February.20. 22:55:10 »
Quote from: BruceTanner
Is this common?
I newer see same. It is probably builded from two pcbs one with the edge connection one with the ROM socket.

Offline BruceTanner

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #116 on: 2013.February.20. 23:25:40 »
Thank you for the photos zozo, very helpful. I can now see mine is completely different. It's one PCB but not the same at all! Looking more closely now I can see a track that goes to an edge connector pad but the pad has been cut off. It has obviously been made from a PCB that had a bigger edge connector that has been cut down to size, and just happened to have a ROM socket on.

I'm not sure if it's a standard box/chassis. The last third, with a label on, unclips - is this normal, I can't remember? The odd part of it is that it has a very professional looking label that says "BASIC & FORTH ROM". It's a shiny black label, does not look home printed at all.

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I think I am going to have to send you a shopping list zozo, if you don't mind!

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #117 on: 2013.February.20. 23:29:11 »
Quote from: BruceTanner
I think I am going to have to send you a shopping list zozo, if you don't mind!
Ok! :smt023

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #118 on: 2013.February.20. 23:35:48 »
Quote from: BruceTanner
I'm not sure if it's a standard box/chassis.
This is the original:
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Offline BruceTanner

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Re: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer)
« Reply #119 on: 2013.February.20. 23:38:06 »
Quote from: Zozosoft
This is the original:
(Attachment Link)
Thank you - not even the box is the same!