In article
<CAGPuVoRL7H6mfQymugYjC_wwY2nfT5K49JBwBOFhBsh=6wk...@mail.gmail.com>,
   Abraham Moller <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi all,

> I had a few questions about the Tandy WP-2. How many here have used the
> machine? It seems like a nice upgrade from the Model 100, although the
> lack of BASIC is a disappointment. The 80x8 display, XMODEM capability,
> and 128K drop-in RAM upgrade seem like the main advantages. It also
> looks like Forth and an Infocom interpreter have been ported to the
> machine.

As a computer, the WP-2 isn't that great... The 80x8 screen is very slow,
and XMODEM only works at 1200 bps. the 128K RAM can only be used as a RAM
disk, not regular z80 memory.

> Has anyone here used or upgraded WP-2 CamelForth (besides John Hogerhuis,
> of course)? It looks promising, and disk I/O plus inline assembler would
> make it really strong. 

I've never been a forth guy, I'm afraid. :-( My WP-2 is an early one with
the scroll bug described in the CamelForth docs.  I got that far in
CamelForth and that was about it. 

> Also, does anyone on the list have the source for
> the WP-2 zxzvm Infocom interpreter (Christopher from randomvariations.com
> ported it, but I can't find his email address anywhere)?

AFAIK no one does. :-(

> Is the WP-2 worth it for tinkering? Has anyone developed other apps for
> the WP-2? 

There are a few utilities in the M100 CIS archive (via club 100). I
haven't gotten any further than "Hello World" for it myself. 

An assembly .def file for ASM80/ZMAC, TASM, and ASxxxx cross assemblers
for WP-2 is part of my m100defs.zip archive. wp2.def has everything I know
from the Tech Manual and the CIS archive in it.

It's an OK word processor, assuming you either have a live parallel-port
printer or a filter to go from wp2 .DO to <your wordprocessor of choice>
(WP2 documents are not plain ASCII -- the wiki has the best description).

> A Z80 laptop running Forth and zcode interpreter would be
> really nice and a great addition to my planned portable computing
> exhibit at VCF SE 9.0.

If you want a computer to do computery things, it's probably a skip. It's
good for taking notes in class, or things of that nature. Good for keeping
a journal (main thing mine gets used for), or for doing nanowritemo. 

Willard

-- 
Willard Goosey  [email protected]
Socorro, New Mexico, USA
I search my heart and find Cimmeria, land of Darkness and the Night.
  --Robert E. Howard

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