ICD Multi I/O Board Manual (Rev 5/20/1987) Other ICD Product Offerings

 

Appendix A — Other ICD Product Offerings Index

R-TIME 8 Clock Cartridge – $69.95 – adding a new dimension to the Atari: TIME/DATE — developed to provide continuous and automatic time/date information — plugs into any cartridge slot on an Atari Computer and updates SpartaDOS automatically and accurately. The R-Time 8 works in the right or left slot of the 800 computer and can be left in either cartridge port on the 130XE adapter board for the MIO. A unique cartridge extension port in the top allows the use of other cartridges when using an XL/XE series computer. The R-Time 8 is supported through software as the clock for Bulletin Board Construction Set (BBCS) from the ANTIC Arcade and now BBS Express from Orion Micro Systems (written by Keith Ledbetter). Our new 'ZHAND' clock handler works with any DOS and allows simple XIO calls for easy R-Time 8 access through your favorite programming language. It comes with a built in 3-5 year battery! The R-TIME 8 does not use any cartridge area memory and is decoded in the $D5B8 - $D5BF range so it will not interfere with other cartridges including Basic XE. ICD will provide complete service for $20 US flat rate which includes all parts, timing adjustment, and battery replacement.

SpartaDOS Construction Set – $39.95 – a special SpartaDOS utility package which includes seven different SpartaDOS versions and many new disk utilities including: RAMDISK support for the 130XE and RAMBO XL, ATR8000 support, RPM test, a high speed sector copier, hard disk drive support, and much, much more. A special menu file allows rapid transfer, erasure, lock or unlock of tagged files, using only the SPACE bar, OPTION, START, cursor and SELECT keys. You want more you say? Ho about a 32 character keyboard buffer, intelligent switching between disk densities, a binary file games menu, subdirectories, time/date file stamping? SpartaDOS is the only DOS with all these features. The new SDCS manual is 175 typeset pages of everything you wanted to know about SpartaDOS and the US Doubler. Also included is the SpartaDOS version 3.2 software and manual for BASIC XE, 1200XL, and hard disk drive support. There is so much software included in this package that we distribute SDCS on two unprotected disks using three sides! Included free are seven arcade quality games.

SpartaDOS, the essence of SDCS, is a totally new advanced DOS for the Atari Computer. SpartaDOS enhances the entire 8-bit Atari Computer line; gives it the power of an Apple or IBM machine. SpartaDOS puts a time/date stamp on each file when it is created or rewritten. This information is then displayed when the directory is listed. SpartaDOS also supports the 1050 "dual density" which means you can use it with your unmodified 1050 in both single and dual density. Our US Doubler allows your 1050 access to all three densities. SpartaDOS also works with the Indus GT, Rana 1000, and other third party drives for the Atari.

SpartaDOS is also memory resident. This means you can go to BASIC then back to DOS without reloading DOS from disk. Special XL/XE SpartaDOS version even gives you an extra 4000 bytes of free memory! Input and output redirection is supported through 'batch files' and the 'print' command. SpartaDOS supports the ATR8000 with 5 1/4 and 8 inch, single or double sided drives, 36 - 80 tracks. An ATR8000 serial communications handler is also provided.

You get SpartaDOS free as part of the SpartaDOS Construction Set or with the US Doubler.

So you want a second or third opinion, then let's talk about reviews.

In his February 1986 ANALOG review of SpartaDOS, Matthew Ratcliff raved, "With this DOS, I can read from and write to any DOS in any density — without any special utilities. This single features makes SpartaDOS the most powerful disk operating system I've ever seen for the Atari XL/XE computer." In October 1985 ANALOG Computing, Art Leyenberger states in his column THE END USER: "There's an old saying that someone will always build a better mousetrap. ICD will certainly be catching more than mice with their new SpartaDOS Construction Set (SDCS)... As I said before: the more I use it, the more I like ICD's SpartaDOS Construction Set. It could easily be the ultimate DOS for the 8-bit Atari computers." In May 1985 ANALOG Computing, Russell Haupert, in his review of the US Doubler from ICD, Inc., raved: "The DOS is very rich in features and a great pleasure to use." Peter Ellison in ROM Magazine (DEC/JAN 85): "SpartaDOS is the best I have ever used... a product so revolutionary it adds new life to the Atari..." What more can we say?

SpartaDOS X – $79.95 This is an all new advanced version of SpartaDOS in our unique piggyback 'X' cartridge. SpartaDOS X is a totally relocatable DOS which allows operation on any 8-bit Atari with expanded RAM by relocating the DOS overhead in the additional RAM area. This feature of SpartaDOS X gives more free memory to BASIC and other languages operating within the normal 64K boundries of the 6502 CPU. SpartaDOS X supports UltraSpeed I/O on Indus GT drives. SpartaDOS X has the most powerful database ever developed for the Atari. It rivals dBASE III in search speed!

US Doubler with SpartaDOS! – $69.95 True Double Density (180 kilobytes) and high speed I/O for the 1050 drive. Also supports single density and the 130 KB Atari 'Dual Density' or 1050 mode. This is fully compatible with all existing Atari software. The high speed I/O (UltraSpeed) works with SpartaDOS to TRIPLE the speed of data transfer! Now it includes SpartaDOS Construction Set. Two plug-in chips in the 1050 must be replaced and now, no soldering is required in most cases. (Call your dealer for details.) This hardware modification also fixes some of the bugs in the early 1050s that prevented them from loading certain software programs. Even when not using SpartaDOS, the US Doubler increases the 1050s speed by about 8% and reads and writes more accurately than most standard 1050s. The US Doubler makes your 1050 drive compatible with all other DOS's but we are sure you will use SpartaDOS as your main DOS once you learn the natural and powerful command structure. The new US Doubler package includes the SpartaDOS Construction Set manual with an easy to follow installation section, two SpartaDOS program diskettes, and the plug-in hardware modules.

What do the reviews say, you sagely inquire?

In the MAY 1985 issue of ANALOG Computing, Russell Haupert waxes: "In tests, the UltraSpeed I/O worked as stated... The old bleep bleep of POKEY is replaced by a staccato rush that sounds more like machine gun fire... I've tested the US Doubler in all three formats and am happy to report that it performs as promised... Most importantly, using the true double density afforded by this enhancement I've attained compatibility with my friends disks, as well as reducing my disk count by one half." Peter Ellison of R.O.M. Magazine was equally impressed: "If you have a 1050, this is a fantastic deal. It is fully compatible with all software, and allows a whole lot more disk space." In the December 1985 annual shoppers guide, ANTIC, the Atari Resource, selected US Doubler as one of the best products of 1985 in the Unique Hardware category.

US Doubler 1–4 or US Doubler 5–8 – $39.95 – The US Doubler 1-4 is our famous 1050 disk drive modification without the SpartaDOS Construction Set. This includes a complete installation manual and warranty but does not include the technical notes found in the SpartaDOS Construction Set manual. The US Doubler 1-4 is primarily for people who already own the SpartaDOS Construction Set. US Doubler 1-4 will give your Atari 1050 full double density operation with any program designed to support double density on Atari computers.

The 5-8 version was developed for registered US Doubler owners who desire to use more than four drives with their Atari computer. The most obvious use is for bulletin boards. This special US Doubler chip set allows your drive to be set to any drive number from 5 through 8. SpartaDOS is not included since this is for registered US Doubler or SDCS owners only. It works with any DOS which supports more than 4 drives. For operation under SpartaDOS use version 2.3d or later. Note: you will not be able to use this drive as #1 (only 5-8) to boot the system with this special chip set installed.

RAMBO XL – $39.95 – makes your 800XL or 1200XL memory compatible with the 130XE! This internal memory upgrade kit supplies all the signals necessary to turn your XL into a powerful 256K computer. Now you can use powerful BASIC XE with your XL computer! RAMBO XL supports the standard 64K RAMDISK supplied with Atari DOS 2.5. The new RD.COM handler with SpartaDOS Construction Set gives a 192K RAMDISK! That's enough memory to duplicate a full double density disk in one pass! The new PaperClip word processor from Batteries Included supports RAMBO XL. The new Synfile+ database from Synapse/Broderbund now supports this memory expansion! RAMBO XL includes a plug-in decoding board and complete installation instructions. You supply the 8-256K DRAMs which plug into existing sockets where the 64K chips now reside (available for $28.00 direct, price may change). Note: Some 800XLs don't have sockets on all ICs. his will require extensive de-soldering and should only be attempted by a professional. ICD will install and test RAMBO XL on your computer for $30.00 including shipping.

P:R: Connection – $89.95 – a reliable, economical serial/parallel interface for all 8-bit Atari computers. Includes a built in R: handler. Atari 850 compatible at a much better price.

Printer Cable – $14.95 – between your printer and MIO or P:R: Connection. Cables are necessary to connect your printer to either the MIO or the P:R: Connection. High quality 6 foot cables are available for printers with a 36 pin 'centronics' type connector.

MODEM Cable – $14.95 – between your MODEM and MIO or P:R: Connection. Cables are necessary to connect your MODEM to either the MIO or the P:R: Connection. High quality 6 foot cables are available for MODEMs with the standard DB25S. Other configurations available upon request.

Printer Connection – $59.95 – an economical, high quality printer only interface cable for 'centronics' type parallel printers. This unit is built into a 10 foot cable and has metal locking ears to prevent 'fallout' which is a problem with other brands.

Be sure to register your MIO by filling out and sending in your warranty/update card at the back of this manual. This will make you eligible for a free subscription to our quarterly newsletter, OPEN FILE! This will help to keep you abreast of our latest products and newest designs.


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