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Rainbow EchoMail Digest                         Jul 13, 1990

In this issue:
  TECO FOR RAINBOW?
  JUST GOT A RAINBOW!            (2 messages)


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Date:     07-10-90 (14:12)
To:       ALL
Subject:  TECO FOR RAINBOW?
From:     BRIAN TREADWAY

I posted the following query once before, but was unable
 to check for responses.  Answer it again!
 My favorite text editor, TECO, has been available on
 every |d|i|g|i|t|a|l| machine I've ever used till now
 (various PDP-11's and VAXes).  Usually it wasn't officially
 supported, but it was sure fast and handy.
 Is there a TECO editor that runs on a Rainbow?
 I'm not looking for the VT52/VT100 screen "macro," but
 the TECO editor itself, with "< >" iterations,
 "q" registers, and conditional transfers.
 Any clues anyone can give me will be appreciated.
 Brian Treadway


- ---
 * Origin: Midnight DEC - The BBS for DEC sales & information (Opus
------------------------------
Date:     07-12-90 (08:52)
To:       ALL
Subject:  JUST GOT A RAINBOW!
From:     CHRISTOPHER WROTEN

I am treasurer for a non-profit tax-exempt choral society
 located in Walpole, Mass.  I just acquired a Rainbow 100.
 I know almost *nothing* about it and am looking for some
 guidance.  Once I get an exact listing of the machine's
 hardware and software, I'll post that to those who would
 like to help me out.  My questions right now are:
     1. Accounting software.  Does anyone have PeachTree
        accounting package?  Is it available anywhere?  I've
        got Peachtree WordProcessor, so I would think the
        accounting software is available.
     2. Hard disk.  System currently has 2 floppies.  I'd
        like to get a 10 or 20mb hard disk.  What are the
        possibilities & general costs?
     3. Memory.  I think it's currently got 384K but am not
        sure.  Again, what are the possibilities and general
        costs of more memory?
     4. Printer.  Possibilities/costs?

 If anyone has Rainbow equipment that they'd like to donate
 to our non-profit choral society corporation (Neponset
 Choral Society Inc., P.O. Box 202, East Walpole, Ma. 02032)
 please contact me.  Thanks!!

 Christopher Wroten, Treasurer
 140 Lovering Street
 Medway, Ma. 02053-2303
 Internet: CFW@RES-C4.PRIME.COM
 Voice: 508-879-2960 x4336 (Prime Computer)


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Date:     07-13-90 (09:48)
To:       CHRISTOPHER WROTEN
Subject:  JUST GOT A RAINBOW!
From:     GEORGE THEALL

CW>     2. Hard disk.  System currently has 2 floppies.  I'd
CW>        like to get a 10 or 20mb hard disk.  What are the
CW>        possibilities & general costs?

   *If* you can get a hard disk controller for your machine, you
can install in your system almost any hard disk that uses MFM or RLL
encoding. [Note, however, the Rainbow only handles the MFM format; if
you choose a drive with RLL encoding expect to have it format out to
only 2/3 its capacity.] The Seagate ST225 20MB drive, for example,
that's sold for PC compatible systems will work fine. So too will the
ST241 40MB drive. The June 1988 issue of _Rainbow News_ had an
excellent article about this. I would highly recommend you read it if
you're thinking of "doing it yourself".

   Hard disk controller cards for Rainbows have become scarce since
Suitable Solutions stopped supporting the machine. You might try
calling either Caroline Mack (editor of _Rainbow News_, +1 618 632
1143), Jim Greely (+1 800 446 3074), Eustace Enterprises (+1 407 433
0846), or some other retailer specializing in DEC systems. DEC itself
might have something lying around which they'd sell you, but its
prices are usually exorbitant.

   I'm not aware of pricing these days. As a *rough* guess, I'd say
$250 for the drive itself and $200 for the controller card.

   BTW: Unless you buy from DEC, you'll probably need to obtain a
program called WUTIL to do a low-level format of the ahrd disk. The
latest version (that I know about) is v3.2, available via anonymous
FTP DRYCAS.CLUB.CC.CMU.EDU in [.INFO-DEC-MICRO.UPLOADS] or on Penn's
Landing bbs here in Phila (+1 215 898 8511, 8N1).

CW>     3. Memory.  I think it's currently got 384K but am not
CW>        sure.  Again, what are the possibilities and general
CW>        costs of more memory?

   Rainbows came with either 64 or 128K on the motherboard. Since you
have more than that in your system there must be some type of
expansion module. Now if I've done my math correctly and you really do
have 384K on board, then you have only one set (of 3) of slots filled
up on this module (9 chips of 256K-bit DRAM per set). You can add
another 512K of RAM to the system simply by plugging it in to the
empty slots. [Please open up your system unit and verify this *before*
ordering any chips.] Any 256K-bit DRAM should work; chips rated at
150ns will be fine. Look in something like _Computer Shopper_ for ads.
The upgrade should cost you less than $50 should you do it yourself.

CW>     4. Printer.  Possibilities/costs?

   The Rainbow has a serial port available for a printer. You can use
anything you want there - just make sure (1) it has a serial interface
and (2) it comes with drivers for the software you are planning to
use.

   In my case I bought a Panasonic 1091i printer and an optional
serial interface. Total cost was about $300 ($100 for the interface
itself :-(. This is a 9-pin dot matrix printer with Epson and IBM
Proprinter emulation modes. Quite a good deal, I think.


George
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