ip,

“the HACKER” is an official publication of the Timex/Sinclair User Group of Las Vegas-a non profit, educational organization. Subscription to the “HACKER” is $15.00 per year (12 issues) and includes membership to TSUG of LV. Please remit to:

Ralph Hammer (treasurer) 2105 Oakwood Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89030

LET'S GET TOGETHER

April 15, 1989 ---1-3 p-m. PC-SIG ---------- -4PM

the public is WELCOME

Meetings are heid on the third Saturday of each month and include a light buffet lunch for members and guests. The meetings are held at

2345 Moorpark Way, Henderson, NV

BOARD of DIRECTORS:

CHRIS FENN------------- 641-4082 RALPH HAMMER-------- 649-4127 SVEN NILSSON---------- 386-3054 STEVE SAWCHUK-------- 451-6676

CONTRIBUTING STAFF: STEVE SAWCHUK EDITOR IN CHIEF DAWN SAWCHUK——CO-EDITOR/MAILING RALPH HAMMER—PROGRAM/AD DIRECTOR

CHRIS FENN————-——— ART DIRECTOR

è THE DUST ‘IN

LAS VEGAS > Sœ

tote) fue k The “HACKER” regrets to report that the FLASH B.B.S. has shut down its operations in the Las Vegas area, for good and not by choice.

Bob Royall, sysop and good friend to the Timex group, reported to the group that a systems failure with the user's file was not the only problem. The US. Air Force has ordered his spouse, Veronica, to another duty station in Turkey.

Bobs BBS, Flash, was a very useful board. He not only tended to all types of computer systems, but he included a complete T/S SIG for all to use as well.

Bobs dedication to the T/S community will not be forgotten, but will be missed. It will sad to see the Royall family leave Las Vegas. But as always, good things never last forever.

The ‘HACKER’ thanks Bob for his never-ending support in the Sinclair community. Thanks Bob.

THE = 0 BARGAIN

If you'd love to have a personal computer but don't love the idea of spending a fortune, here's good news: Computer -brokerage services, cropping up all across the country, are offering a wide selection of state-of-the art used computers, often for half the price you'd pay for the same ones new.

These computer exchanges match up potential sellers and buyers “much like a stock exchange trades shares,” says Alex Randall, president of the Boston Computer Exchange. You can call the exchange directly, saying, “1 want to buy a XYZ computer and I'd like to pay this much.” The broker will then consult the exchange’s inventory (a computerized listing of the available units) to find the computer you want, at the approximately the price you want to pay.

When you settle on the unit you're buying, you send your check to the exchange (you'll probably have to pay shipping costs too). The exchange will deposit your check in an escrow account. Once the check has been

received, the seller will ship the computer to you, usually by UPS or Federal Express. It should be packed in its original box

You then have 48 hours to test the equipment. When you are satisfied that the computer is in good working order, you contact the exchange so that your payment can be released to the seller (the exchange will keep a ten percent commission).

Be advised that you can't back out of the deal simply because the computer is not the color you expected, or doesn't fit into the space you have set aside. To make sure you know just what you want, become familiar with computers owned by friends or associates at work.

While some of the computers listed on the exchanges are manufacturer's closeouts-brand new units, unopened, in their original boxes- most are offered for sale by regular computer users who upgraded to more powerful systems. "The average computer has a ten-year lifetime, but the average user outgrows it in ten months,” says Randell, "So you can count on may more years of dependability.”

There are over 100 computer exchanges across the country. Here is a sampling:

Boston Computer Exchange Boston, Mass. (617) 542-4414

Mattewson Assoc., Inc. Norfolk, VA (804) 624-9639

Computer Brokerage Services, Inc. New York, N.Y. (212) 947-7848

Florida Computer Exchange Clearwater, Fia. (813) 461-3829

Computer Exchange Northwest Seattle, Wash. (206) 620-1181

This article was written by Sue Beckman for Good Housekeeping/April 1989.

Its that time of the year folks. The time that everybody hates. But, this year the IRS is attempting to make things a bit easier on the general public (or the goverment).

Taxpayers due a refund this year may be tempted to consider an offer from the IRS: If you help them cut down on paper work by filing your return via computer, the agency promises to rush your refund to you (HA!). The benefit to the IRS is clear. The labor cost to initially process an electronic return is 3 cents, compared with 38 1/2 cents for the paper return. How good the deal is for taxpayers is uncertain.

With the filing season underway, tax preparation firms, which charge additional fees for electronic filing, are promoting the idea. A fast refund is, of course, a plus. Refunds on electronic returns typically take three weeks or less, compared with

up to six weeks on paper returns filed early on returns filed closer to the April deadline. Electronic filers can even have the refund deposited directly into a bank account, cutting out mail delays. Unless you use a paid preparer, however, you still fase wading through the tax computations and filling out your return before information is electronically transmitted.

And the streamlining is neither as convenient as it might be nor free. You cannot, for example, simply electronically transmit your return from your home computer by using a modem. The IRS accepts computer returns only from approved professional tax preparers. These firms generally charge about $25 to transmit a return by computer, and often $10 to $15 more if the firm does not prepare your return. The charges can make it relatively costly to file this way, just to speed a small refund of a couple hundred dollars or less. But the fee may be well worth it to people awaiting larger rebates.

The IRS hopes that at least 2 million of this year's more than 100 million returns wiii be filed electronically. That would be up from 583,000 last year and only 77,600 in 1987.

H & R Block, which prepares 10 percent of all the nation's personal tax returns, is orrering this type of filing this year, at about half of its 7,000 offices. But you still have to provide the IRS with the paperwork such as your signature and your W-2 forms. So the IRS still does it the old- fashion way, you work for it.

51% HIKE IN DISK PRICES POSSIBLE

Consumer Beware Additional cost in Floppy disks As Federal Government intervenes in Free Trade......... Again !

An article in the Janurary 30, 1989 edition of the Wall Street Journal indicated that the Commerce Department ruled that computer microdisks are being “dumped” into the United States. This means that if the ruling stands, the Commerce Dept. would authorize the Customs Service to impose duties as high as 51% on the floppy disks that we all use.

If you don't think that this is serious for the computer user, just compare the prices of memory chips 18 months ago with those today. The same ruling caused a 4554 increase in computer chips.

You as a floppy disk user are encouraged to contact your federal congressman by phone, letter or both to register your protest against this attack on your pocketbook. DO iT TODAY HULIN

( Reprinted by permission of the Las Vegas PC Users Group, BYTES Newsletter)

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Goals are dreams with deadlines --Unknown--

DISK SYSTEMS!

VE'RE THE LARGEST-

LARKEN dealer in “the U. NE That’s why we can offer more 2068 systems than any one at better prices!! This is our ea priced system-- they start he - many more of these COMPLETE DISK SYSTEMS! Start with this one for only-~ H

j p4

0 !

(Plus $12 P&H) bey

as ia includes 2-3" SSDD drives k ase/power supply/cable b

AND a LARKEN LKDOS I/F with es t WHERE HAVE YOU SEEN SUCH A DEAL ' System is ajso compat yore with the n new LARKEN RAMDISK. Don’t wait! t

f OFFER ENDS 5/15/89? - POSITIVELY! Lig AN SE $ r

= RNG ENTERPRISES Æ 4419 1/2 7TH STREET `

OREGON CITY, OREGON 97045 503/655-7484 *# NOON- 10 TUE- SAT

USING YOUR AREN

COMPUTER ??

Electronic games have come a long way since Pong. Computer simulations have put us in an airplane cockpit, in a submarine conning tower, in command of the battlefields of history, or on starships in deep space- and now in the operating room preforming an appendectomy. In The Software Toolwork’s Life & Death computer- simulated-surgery game, you get to play doctor. To begin, an on-screen buxom nurse directs you to medical school, then to a patient's room, where you check his chart and palpate his abdome. When you place the cursor on a sensitive spot, the computer speaker howls in pain and a balloon caption spells out

YIKES! OOOOGO! or YOW! After you order an X-ray, the diagnosis indicates a need for surgery.

In the operating room, the nervous new surgeon encounters the entire modern miracle of medical engineering: scaples, IV setups,

your Mother real proud of you , play doctor the modern way. Frankly I think the ole fashion way is still fun. This program review was reported in the April’89 issue of Playboy Mag. The same issue that reported the infamous Z868.

EKGs, clamps, bleeders, anesthesia, blood-pressure-monitoring devices, and so forth. The game begins in earnest when, under pressure of a timer, the new surgeon must choose not only the right surgical equipment but also the right procedures. So far, the opening of a drawer, and the extraction of a syringe of antibiotics and injecting them is about the only procedure known without med school. The timer is the part of the procedure that hinders the player, unless your a bonifide doctor and are | {_ + rrr | a looking for a little rest between S ' patients. So if this is what you want Eor to get real good at, go ahead make

cms Sierra Nevada Airways palpi GRAND CANYON THE ULTIMATE TOUR EXPERIENCE SAVE $0, PER PERSON OFF OUR NORMAL PRICE

Tour includes pickup/dropoff at your hotel. Air tour of Grand Canyon aboard

our aircraft, land at the Grand Canyon Airport for a 3 1/2 hour land tour

along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, including a stop at one of the

beautiful lodges for lunch. This 6 hour tour normally departs at 10:30 am

returning to Las Vegas at 4:30 pm. Call us anytime 24 hours per day to arrange your

GRAND CANYON ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE

736-6770 (E

Reg. Price $155.00 pp Mention the “HACKER”

ioe ree eee EE EE EEE ES SESS SSS SSS SESS SS SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS SS SS SSS SSS SSS SS SSS

LAST MINUTE NEWS

Several bits of timely information has come across the HACKER news desk since the last issue. The most inportant rumor that I heard was that Sir Clive might be getting married soon. This was reported in the SINCUS NEWS by way of the HARRISBURG AREA TSUG via a member in England.

QZX reports that they received a long letter from McBrine Computer Products, a creator of T/S software. He is switching over to the shareware concept and wants everybody to know that all are free to copy any tape they have obtained from him and to give the copy to anyone with the provision that the recipient send him whatever sum they feel the tape

Bi TAA

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ATN i if A) y F 3 Ñ WAL KEW, Yo

is worth. VISTA’S Tony Willing and Tim Ward have accepted the job as T/S 1000 public domain librarian for SNUG and the word is that the libraries and services of the North American Group will be available to only members.

Rod Gowen reports that the complete inventory from E-Z Key and Foote Software is ready. If you are interested in what Rod has, just send a legal size SA.SE. to RMG Enterprizes. Also Rod now has in stock and is shipping to any who order, MAXCOM. Larry really out-did himself, says Rod. He has been playing with the program and has found it very easy to use. Rod is hoping it have a review on it soon. The price of the program, MAXCOM is only $25+ $2 shipping. Rod also reported that the wrong number was given for the REMEMBER WHEN BBS. The correct number is (503) 652-5803 not 653-5803.

KAS HW,

RAAT

a ID eT FA TTT aw

Supporting the Sinclair QL, 288, and TS-2068

Subscription $16.00 Year.

UPDATE Magazine,

1317 Stratford Ave., Panama City, FL 32404

And finally, Zebra Systems will sell off their complete inventory of T/S software at'the Capital Fest Timex Fair, the biggest Fest of all, May 5-7, 1989. If you are planning to go, better take the checkbook and an empty suitcase so you can carry home all those great bargins.

) Y ERSTE ATREA DE DA DA At AE DE AA AE mA i aoe Vo Fe Fa Co fa Va Pa 8. Pa FF Tma A ‘a _¥_¥_¥_¥_-9-1-¥_-1.¥_1-1 — N 4 bagera i et E a aad : ‘ an mmm moman mem e n —

One of the biggest trade shows to hit the Midwest this year is about to get underway. The April 10-13, 1989 Trade show for Macintosh resellers (MAXdex) in Chicago, Ill. will have a well known Exibitor among the crowds MAC users. So what you say, In case you haven't guessed who, it's good ole CAMBRIDGE NORTH AMERICA. Yep, the newest marketing company for the 266 will be among the big giants of the computer industry vying for that piece of the Mac-pie. So all you secret MAC users out there, go to the windy city and see what the Z88 can do with a Big-MAC.

ADVERTISER'S SPECIAL

The “HACKER” will run for its commerical readers, a 1/2 page

ad, for six months, for $30. That's only $5. per issue. Send your ad's to the: "HACKER" c/o of this N/L.

NHK NN % HH MH 1H HH HHH He Ne G Me Be Ne Me Me Me G KG ee Me TG TG Me G G K 2 NEW RELEASES FROM ##> RMG RPRI <3)

HERE ARE 2 NEW RELEASES FROM THE WRITING TEAM OF JEAN AND BRANSON WILCOX. We hope that you will give, them a try and help support our 2068 software producers!

Remember the old dice poker game? Here is a great rendition of it for you to run on your 2068. Introductory priced at:

ONLY 8122. 25plus 62. PH

Araro

This one is for all of you TAROT card enthusiasts. I really have not seen a better program of its type for the 2068. It is fun to get your readings done by THE AMAZING CLIVE from his TAROT cards! Also introductory priced at: ONLY @®@12. Splius 62 PH

RMG ENTERPRISES

1419 1/2 7TH STREET OREGON CITY, OR 97045 Ba Ra a be BeBe Be Be Ba Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be

ANOTHER MISTAKE ............

Last issue I reported that when the imfamous 288 was shown in the latest issue of Playboy, 1 questioned whether any other Sinclair machine was so honored in that publication. Well Tony Willing, of VISTA Newsletter, wrote the HACKER stating that there sure was one such Sinclair product in a past issue.

The ZX-81 was portrayed in May,1982 issue pp. 121-122 “PB's Guide to Personal Computers” in full color (Black). With a base price of $150. anda typical system priced at $250.

Tony also goes on to say, that the copy says in part, “16K memory thats ideal for personal/small business records for only $150. - Sorry readers, for not knowing this before I wrote the article and thanks to Tony for bringing us up-to-date.

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT fia

A heartfelt handshake goes out to Robert Curnutt and Robert Borgens for renewing their subscriptions for another year. And a hearty thanks goes to RMG Enterprises for his support of our newsletter. Without these renewals, the HACKER would cease to exist. Thanks again for all the support.

th ary.

For Your | Information

IEWOTLOTG CE Gran]

4 BROT TI ce it I CATS

The last meeting had some very interesting events happening. First of all, the group voted on the idea to support SNUG and also the idea to exchange some programs with George Chambers, a disk of Public Domain programs that Ralph Hammer has compiled. Also the possible procurement of the 2 tapes that VISTA has for sale at the cost of $4.00 per tape.

The group then proceeded to catch up on ali the Newsletters that have been sent to us. John Sumpolic then gave a computer tour of a local BBS that has a library of over 4,000 programs. The BBS was Raiders of The Lost Ark.

Since the demise of FLASH BBS, the group has been looking for another “home base”. And I think that we have found one. Right now we are checking it out to see if we can up/download any programs. If not at least we will have a message base. I will try to report more as time goes on as to the name of the board and its phone number.

Also I'm happy to anounce that the owner of Sierra Nevada Airways, Theresa Heisserman, has graceiously offered to the group, the use of their personal copier for the printing of the HACKER. This now means that the HACKER Star NX- 10 will be saved from an early death. And all it will cost the group is the cost of the copy paper. A very hearty thank you goes to SNA and Theresa for the offer.

Chris Fenn then showed off a 288 program that he had downloaded off of Phil Wheeler's board, direct from England, “ Eric The Catapiller Goes Munching” (long title). Written by Chris Shelley of the 288 Users Club of England. This program is a arcade type graphic game where you move the catapiller around munching up points without eating deadly mushrooms. The group thought that the game was cute for a laptop.

So, as you can see, the meeting was chock full of fun things.and happenings. If you wern't there, you missed many things plus a good lunch. So until the next meeting on the 15th. of April, happy COMPULING......sssssessesceesstescessnteesessseesennnanenseen

SNA’s "GRAND CAYNON' TOUR A MUST, WHEN IN

VEGAS

One of the most Ba breath-taking sites with-in the U. US. is none other than the Grand Canyon. The panaromic view of nature in action, is something very difficult to

write about. It's a “you got to see it to believe it” type of experence.

I had the opportunity to take such a trip on Sierra Nevada Airways tour to the Canyon. Thresea Heisserman, president of SNA, invited my family and I to take the 5 1/2 hour air and ground tour, and let me say that the tour was one of the best investments I have made in a long time.

The trip starts off with a 70 minute air tour to and around the Canyon including a aireal view of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, one of the largest man made lakes in the desert.

After landing, you are shuttled to one of the Inns within the park for a lunch, which is included, and after that you are then shuttled to the South Rim for a view of the bottom at an elevation of 7,000 feet. All the time you are guided through the tour by a guide that tells you all about the sites and is able to answer any questions that you might have.

Then you are shuttled back to the airport for a very relaxing flight back completed with soothing music, provided by the pilot, through individual headphones that are provided for the narration of the wonders of the Canyon

ss sae +

So if you are planning a trip to Las Vegas in the near future, do use the coupon that is printed in the HACKER, (worth $50 off) I'm sure you will feel as I was, time well spent.

Thanks again to SNA for the most enjoyable trip ever.

GOTCHA YA!!!

by...Dawn Sawchuk

April Ist. is an exciting gag day for the HACKER staff. Our own Ralph Hammer and Chris Fenn have been the target of our editors wild pen in the past.

This year's gag was played on our editor (early), by his wife, with all of the group having knowledge.

The whole event started with Steve saying that he could not be gotten by any such pratical joke. Well, one day while he was taking a short nap, I went into the disks that store the newsletter, and moved page 2 to one of my own disks. Then deleted that page from his working disk.

Finally when Steve was ready to print out the final drafts, was when he noticed page 2 was missing. As he was looking a through the disks thinking that he iost that page, I gave him a minute or so before | let him off the hook. Boy, was he relieved.

So on behalf of the T.S.U.G.of L.V.