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Michael Zumpano | 1 Jun 09:48
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Forth programs for WP-2 ?

I hear there is a forth interpreter for the WP-2 (or WP2-Forth compiler for
dos).  Does anyone know where I can find it?  Is there a repository of
programs somewhere?

I used to like Forth... in 1978!  Wondered what ever happened to it.  Just
found out with a Google search.

BTW - I really like my WP-2.  It has 128k chip and it is always ready to do
work, unlike my Wintel laptop that has a limited battery life.  I keep in my
car plugged into an inverter.  Now with my NADSbox the WP-2 has new life;
its so easy to transfer programs back to my main squeezebox.  I'm working on
a new book about how "mature" athletes can feel like kids again.  I think
I'll write the whole thing (chapter at a time of course) on my WP-2 (with
backups every hour or so).  I'm full of that west-coast vintage computer
romance today.  Must be the pollen... or the scotch.

Mike Zumpano
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Marcus von Cube | 1 Jun 13:21
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Re: Running VirtualT from the desktop

Hi Daryl,

I apologize for having P.ed you O. Really!

I was not specifically talking about VirtualT on Linux but on software
design for multiuser system in general. Collaboration is a different
(und much more complicated) beast, more suited to client/server
architectures with a database back end. We will not talk about VirtualT
this way. ;)

Now back to topic:

It looks like there are a few problems to solve if we want to make VT's
behavior a little more standard and versatile:

1) The preference file should either be selectable by the user to have
differing configurations not only per user but for a single user, too.

2) Or, the single pref file could have named sections where the current
configuration is selectable by the user (command line or menu).

3) RAM file contents and ROM selection should be per configuration. A
useful approach for ROM testers could be a fully qualified path of the
actual ROM image in the config file (or config section, s. a.)

How to find the ROM and HELP directories?

I think, an externally settable search path is still the best way but
there are other options:
(Continue reading)

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coxon.spencer | 1 Jun 14:04
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RE: Forth programs for WP-2 ?


I am dying for my NADSbox to arrive so I can hook it up to my WP-2 which is one of the greatest writing implements
ever created!  I've written dozens of reports on mine, most of my short stories and about a dozen radio
plays.  Delighted at the prospect that this will continue well into the future!

> Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 00:48:36 -0700
> Subject: Forth programs for WP-2 ?
> From: mike.zumpano@...
> To: m100@...
> 
> I hear there is a forth interpreter for the WP-2 (or WP2-Forth compiler for
> dos).  Does anyone know where I can find it?  Is there a repository of
> programs somewhere?
> 
> I used to like Forth... in 1978!  Wondered what ever happened to it.  Just
> found out with a Google search.
> 
> BTW - I really like my WP-2.  It has 128k chip and it is always ready to do
> work, unlike my Wintel laptop that has a limited battery life.  I keep in my
> car plugged into an inverter.  Now with my NADSbox the WP-2 has new life;
> its so easy to transfer programs back to my main squeezebox.  I'm working on
> a new book about how "mature" athletes can feel like kids again.  I think
> I'll write the whole thing (chapter at a time of course) on my WP-2 (with
> backups every hour or so).  I'm full of that west-coast vintage computer
> romance today.  Must be the pollen... or the scotch.
> 
> Mike Zumpano
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Rick Hanson | 1 Jun 15:50

RE: Forth programs for WP-2 ?

Hugh ... your NADSBox was mailed on the 26th.  I don't know how long 
it will take through Canadian customs ... sure hope not too much 
longer.  Let me know when it arrives.  I'm curious as packages to 
Australia or the UK take 3 to 5 days.  Remember to read the Quick 
Start pages of the Users Guide. -Rick-


At 05:04 AM 6/1/2009, coxon.spencer@... wrote:
>I am dying for my NADSbox to arrive so I can hook it up to my WP-2 
>which is one of the greatest writing implements ever created!  I've 
>written dozens of reports on mine, most of my short stories and 
>about a dozen radio plays.  Delighted at the prospect that this will 
>continue well into the future!
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John R. Hogerhuis | 1 Jun 16:20
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Re: Forth programs for WP-2 ?

On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 12:48 AM, Michael Zumpano
<mike.zumpano@...> wrote:
> I hear there is a forth interpreter for the WP-2 (or WP2-Forth compiler for
> dos).  Does anyone know where I can find it?  Is there a repository of
> programs somewhere?
>
> I used to like Forth... in 1978!  Wondered what ever happened to it.  Just
> found out with a Google search.
>

Nothing too bad. For example, every one of the One Laptop Per Child
(OLPC) XO-1 laptops shipped with Open Firmware which is a Forth based
BIOS.

I ported CamelForth to WP-2. It's a work in progress, but it does
work. Anyway, you can find all my WP-2 work (what there is) on the
wiki. If you want to program the WP-2, you should also look at the
service manual.

Just search the http://bitchin100.com/wiki for
tandy wp-2

-- John.
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coxon.spencer | 1 Jun 16:40
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RE: Forth programs for WP-2 ?


It could be a while at customs.  They probably will call the RCMP if they think tnehe NB is some sort of
component for Iranian nuclear weapons (there's been a big trial about that up here).  No worries, I shall wait.
thanks for shipping so quickly and I will be sure to read the Quick Start!
best
Hugh
> Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 06:50:41 -0700
> To: m100@...
> From: rick@...
> Subject: RE: Forth programs for WP-2 ?
> 
> Hugh ... your NADSBox was mailed on the 26th.  I don't know how long 
> it will take through Canadian customs ... sure hope not too much 
> longer.  Let me know when it arrives.  I'm curious as packages to 
> Australia or the UK take 3 to 5 days.  Remember to read the Quick 
> Start pages of the Users Guide. -Rick-
> 
> 
> At 05:04 AM 6/1/2009, coxon.spencer@... wrote:
> >I am dying for my NADSbox to arrive so I can hook it up to my WP-2 
> >which is one of the greatest writing implements ever created!  I've 
> >written dozens of reports on mine, most of my short stories and 
> >about a dozen radio plays.  Delighted at the prospect that this will 
> >continue well into the future!
>
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Rick Hanson | 1 Jun 16:48

Re: Forth programs for WP-2 ?

Note: there are two versions of the WP-2 ... early and late.  I once 
worked with a CS student in the mid west who coded in Z80.  He ran 
into that problem, which in marketing analysis would have caused all 
sorts of support issues ... the project was scrapped.  You two need 
to coordinate.  -Rick-
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John R. Hogerhuis | 1 Jun 17:29
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Re: Forth programs for WP-2 ?

On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 7:48 AM, Rick Hanson <rick@...> wrote:
> Note: there are two versions of the WP-2 ... early and late.  I once worked
> with a CS student in the mid west who coded in Z80.  He ran into that
> problem, which in marketing analysis would have caused all sorts of support
> issues ... the project was scrapped.  You two need to coordinate.  -Rick-
>
>

Which problem?

All versions of the WP-2 firmware that I've encountered are rather
buggy, unlike the M100 which either doesn't have many bugs or they are
more obscure.

-- John.
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Gary Lee Phillips | 1 Jun 17:57
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Re: Forth programs for WP-2 ?

Well, that's interesting. I've been tempted a couple of times to pick
up a WP-2, since I mostly use the M100 for writing anyway and the WP-2
has the larger screen in a similar form factor. First time I've heard
mention of buggy firmware.

Are the problems enumerated somewhere? How severe are they?

--Gary

On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 10:29 AM, John R. Hogerhuis <jhoger@...> wrote:
> On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 7:48 AM, Rick Hanson <rick@...> wrote:
>> Note: there are two versions of the WP-2 ... early and late.  I once worked
>> with a CS student in the mid west who coded in Z80.  He ran into that
>> problem, which in marketing analysis would have caused all sorts of support
>> issues ... the project was scrapped.  You two need to coordinate.  -Rick-
>>
>>
>
> Which problem?
>
> All versions of the WP-2 firmware that I've encountered are rather
> buggy, unlike the M100 which either doesn't have many bugs or they are
> more obscure.
>
> -- John.
>
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John R. Hogerhuis | 1 Jun 18:19
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Re: Forth programs for WP-2 ?

On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 8:57 AM, Gary Lee Phillips
<tivo.overo@...> wrote:
> Well, that's interesting. I've been tempted a couple of times to pick
> up a WP-2, since I mostly use the M100 for writing anyway and the WP-2
> has the larger screen in a similar form factor. First time I've heard
> mention of buggy firmware.
>
> Are the problems enumerated somewhere? How severe are they?
>

No, not enumerated. It's typical random-crash during operation kind of stuff.

They are at the "occasional annoyance" level, I'd say. The by-design
issues with WP-2 are worse:

a) The fact that it slows way down on long paragraphs... you have to
add a newline once in a while just to make it responsive
b) Every WP-2 I've used has a stiff keyboard. Maybe that loosens up
after a while, but not in my experience.

Anyway, I think it's a fun machine... but it would be better with a
patched ROM to fix some of these issues. I think the ROM is surface
mount though, so that's probably not in the cards.

The typically go for about $14 on ebay, so not much to lose.

-- John.
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Gmane