10/26/96
COMMODORE SUMMIT RTC WITH DOUG COTTON
<C> 1996 by Genie
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<Doug Cotton> Okay folks...
<Doug Cotton> We're beginning.
<Doug Cotton> For those of you who missed the banner today,
<Doug Cotton> Jim Brain had to cancel due to a personal emergency...
<Doug Cotton> Jim will be rescheduled at a later date.
<Doug Cotton> Meanwhile, we do have Mark Fellows and Tony Cote of CMD here with
us.

<Mark Fellows> Hi everyone
<Mark Fellows> For those of you who don't know who I am -
<Mark Fellows> I am the chief engineer at CMD (and have been since we started).
<Mark Fellows> Hopefully, I can help answer any questions you may have.

<Tony Cote> OK, just went to the Bahamas for a sec
<Tony Cote> Hi ya'll

<Doug Cotton> Tony Cote, btw, is the newest member of the CMD team...

<Mark Fellows> P.S. I'm kind of a novice at this chat stuff, so please bear
with me

<Doug Cotton> Okay, we'll be fielding questions about the CMD products, or
other general CMD-related items tonight...

<Tony Cote> I just started with CMD as a design Engineer/Tech/programmer/etc...

<Doug Cotton> Anyone who has a question for someone, just type /raise and
you'll be called in order. ;)
<Doug Cotton> Heh, Tony gets all the fun stuff... ;)

<Tony Cote> Huh!?

<Doug Cotton> Okay, we're going to start taking those questions...
<Doug Cotton> The first question comes from Idaho Doug... go ahead Doug.

<Idaho Doug> How are you coming on the 128 Accelerator? The 64 is doing great
from all the reports.  Can I have mine for Christmas?

<Mark Fellows> Well, we are a bit behind schedule obviously, but
<Mark Fellows> this has been due to a number of reasons.
<Mark Fellows> Christmas 1997? (just kidding)

<Idaho Doug> I hope so!
<Idaho Doug> Why not give us a report here tonight? ;)

<Mark Fellows> Chistmas 1996 looks a bit optimistic - we hope to have the 128
released early in '97

<Idaho Doug> What problems and successes have you had?

<Mark Fellows> So far, no problems with the 128 - we have had to work out quite
a few already with the 64
<Mark Fellows> Which is one reason we've fallen off our 128 schedule

<Tony Cote> That's why I came on board to help speed things up a bit with new
developments

<Mark Fellows> Yes, we're expecting Tony to give the project a big boost

<Tony Cote> Load the torpedo's

<Mark Fellows> The good news is that many of the problems we expected to find
have already been solved with the 64 version

<Doug Cotton> The next question comes from Greg!
<Doug Cotton> Go ahead, Greg!

<Greg> thanks doug
<Greg> got a couple, 1. do you know if you will be able to access the video in
the 128 version, and

<Mark Fellows> Yes the 8563 80-col chip will be accessable

<Greg> Doug on usenet you once hinted you had some sort inet stuff in mind 
for the accelerator as a follow-on project, or was I just dreaming when I 
read it?
<Greg> thats it :)

<Doug Cotton> Well, I may have hinted at something like that, but if I did it
was only because I couldn't specifically talk about it. ;)

<Greg> ::sigh:: thanks doug :)

<Doug Cotton> All kidding aside, though, there are some internet projects going
on outside of CMD... we're aware of these, and poking our nose into it a bit.
Can't say much more than that, though.
<Doug Cotton> Now Robert has a question...

<Robert Bernardo> Thanks.
<Robert Bernardo> I have several 128's.
<Robert Bernardo> If I wanted to use the one
<Robert Bernardo> SuperCPU 128 in all of them,
<Robert Bernardo> I would have to have daughterboards in all.
<Robert Bernardo> Will you sell the daughterboards separately?
<Robert Bernardo> What is the estimated cost?

<Doug Cotton> Good Question! Mark?

<Mark Fellows> Yes, I think we will sell them separately...
<Mark Fellows> As far as the cost goes, its too early to estimate...
<Mark Fellows> but, I would guess less than $50.

<Robert Bernardo> Thank you.

<Doug Cotton> Maurine is next... ;)

<Maurine> I have a short que/comment for Doug... and then one for Tony.
<Maurine> I wonder if CW will give Ray Day credit for his photo in the Lansing
Expo article (he's not Max).

<Doug Cotton> We missed doing that right away, quite sorry, but you're right,
we should get a correction in about that.

<Maurine> My que for Tony...
<Maurine> I have a teenage son interested in computer programming...
<Maurine> What kind of background prepared you for your new job at CMD?

<Doug Cotton> The floor is yours, Tony. ;)

<Tony Cote> A lot of experience in both school and personal enjoyment
<Tony Cote> College should be #1

<Maurine> Are you quite young like Jim Brain?
<Maurine> (or have years and years of experience  :)  )

<Tony Cote> I'm not sure how old Jim is, but without giving my age, I've been
into Microprocessor design and progmg for over 20 years
<Tony Cote> Is that it Maurine?

<Maurine> thanks!

<Tony Cote> no Prob!
<Tony Cote> :)

<Doug Cotton> Tony, do you mind if I give them some additional info?

<Tony Cote> Sure

<Doug Cotton> Tony has a very strong background with microprocessors and
design...
<Doug Cotton> Oddly enough, he was familiar with the same software that we at
CMD use for doing our board layouts...
<Doug Cotton> It isn't a commonly used piece of software, so that in and of
itself was a real plus...
<Doug Cotton> Tony also had a lot of experience specifically with the 6502, 
and also with the 65816 (which is what we use in the SuperCPU)...
<Doug Cotton> These were big plusses.
<Doug Cotton> On top of all that, he's done his fair share of programming,
including some work he did on a graphical OS.
<Doug Cotton> That give you a little more to go on, Maurine?

<Maurine> wow!   :)

<Tony Cote> Ahh Shucks, :0

<Maurine> We expect great things from Tony!

<Doug Cotton> And he likes pizza, so he was a shoe-in for the job. ;)
<Maurine> !!

<Tony Cote> No peppers PLEASE!

<Doug Cotton> Okay, let's move along here...
<Doug Cotton> Okay, next a question from Harold! ;)

<Harold> Thanks. My question concerns a minor problem I'm having with my
Ramlink and I have found via Fidonet that others are having the same thing
happening to them.
<Harold> Every now and then I usually find all the data in my RL corrupted. I
have had it upgraded to include the clip and etc., but the problem persists.
<Harold> I have both my computer and RL protected by a surge guard. Any ideas?

<Mark Fellows> Is there any specific occurance that triggers the data loss?

<Harold> That's what bugging me Mark, I cannot find anything that went wrong
like a thunderstorm, etc.

<Doug Cotton> Have you used it with more than one computer with the same
results?

<Harold> Sometimes it's just one partition, while other times it's all of them.
<Harold> Yep, it has done it on both of my 64Cs.

<Mark Fellows> Do you find that it reconfigures itself, or that some files are
randomly trashed?

<Harold> Randomly trashed.

<Tony Cote> How about just a power supply connector getting flakey

<Harold> I have even tried using the 1581 and 1541 power packs to see if that
help, but to no avail.

<Mark Fellows> Could be - sometimes just bumping into your computer or table
can trigger a loss if a connector is loose

<Harold> Even with the battery backup?

<Tony Cote> That makes a difference

<Mark Fellows> Well, it could it be that your battery is low?

<Harold> The only thing that we seem to think that is the cause is a random
power spike.

<Tony Cote> Are you on a surge protector?

<Harold> I have disconnected the power source and let it sit with the battery
with no problem.

<Mark Fellows> Does it happen while your computer is on, or after you shut it
off?

<Harold> Yep. I have one connected to computer and RL and it is plugged into a
wall type.

<Doug Cotton> Have you used different surge protectors?

<Harold> Sometime while it is on and others when I turn it on.
<Harold> Haven't done that yet, Doug.
<Harold> I am thinking about getting one of the battery backup surge protectors
that keeps power on for a short while.

<Doug Cotton> I believe I saw one once that got messed up by a flakey power
strip itself.

<Mark Fellows> It could be a poor connection on the expansion port.

<Harold> Never thought about that Mark, although I do clean the port "teeth"
every now and then.

<Tony Cote> Use an eraser to clean the expansion ports.
<Tony Cote> or do you?

<Harold> And a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

<Mark Fellows> Have you checked the RAMCard to make sure it's seated properly
and the SIMMs are snug?

<Harold> Everything is snug.

<Mark Fellows> What type of power supply do you have powering your 64C??

<Harold> The standard commodore sealed box type.

<Tony Cote> Is it consistant and repeatable in short lengths of time?

<Mark Fellows> That should be OK, unless the supply is starting to give out.

<Harold> It hits me on an average of every other month or two months. It's due
for one any day now. :)
<Harold> Would hooking up a heavy duty power supply to the C-64 help?

<Tony Cote> It wouldn't hurt, old supplies get noisey!

<Mark Fellows> Such an intermittent problem points to possible static discharge
- sometimes the RAMLink can get zapped if you give it a good shock through the
Enable or Direct switches

<Harold> Hmm, thought about that, so I do use static guard quite a lot on the
carpet around the computer terminal.

<Mark Fellows> AS long as you have a 64C with the latest V4 board, any type of
supply should be OK.

<Doug Cotton> Harold, how often does this happen?

<Harold> Every other month or two months.
<Harold> On the average.

<Tony Cote> If the air is too dry, High static discharges can occur, got a
humidifier??

<Mark Fellows> We can offer to check the unit out at CMD, but problems like
this can be very hard to track down (and very time consuming).

<Harold> Yep, we use one during the winter months to keep my wife's allergy
problems down.

<Tony Cote> Marks right, its too intermittent to tell if it happens on monthly
basis.

<Harold> I know, Mark, but I don't see it a major problem worth sending, just
an annoying inconvenience.

<Mark Fellows> Do you have a Commodore REU plugged in?

<Tony Cote> to get a feel of whats wrong

<Harold> Not any more, all I had was just two megs of SIMMS.

<Doug Cotton> Doesn't sound like we'll be able to come up with a quick or easy
resolve... I'd suggest double-checking everything we've gone over here, and if
we can come up with anything else, we'll pass that info on to you.

<Harold> Sounds good to me, Doug. I told the folks on Fidonet that I would try
to see if I could find a solution to this problem.

<Tony Cote> Interesting problem though, we'll be thinking about it Harold.

<Harold> Anyway, it's always a good practice to back up the material on a RL
anyway.

<Mark Fellows> Amen

<Doug Cotton> That it is!
<Doug Cotton> (checking mine... ;)

<Tony Cote> hallelullue ... forget it

<Doug Cotton> Okay, let's see who's in the queue...

<Howie> I was just going to add a suggestion to Harold's prob...

<Doug Cotton> Okay, Howie is up!

<Howie> Perhaps is is a weak or failing chip on one of the simm's?
<Howie> Is there a way for Harold to test the integrity of the simm's?

<Mark Fellows> Could be - the only way to know for sure would be to use some
different SIMMs for a few months

<Tony Cote> Just somehow borrow a couple for a few months

<Doug Cotton> The RAM test, though if it only happens every month or two...
well, it could take a long test period to find it.

<Tony Cote> ditto Mark

<Howie> LOL

<Doug Cotton> Thanks, Howie. ;)

<Howie> welcome

<Doug Cotton> Okay, we've run out of questions?!!!!
<Doug Cotton> Ah, knew there'd be a couple of hands going up after that! ;)

<Tony Cote> How many have RamLinks here and/or SuperCPU's

<Doug Cotton> Okay, Robert... you're up!

<Robert Bernardo> When do you expect the English version of GoDot to go on sale?

<Doug Cotton> We were just talking about that one the other day...

<Mark Fellows> We're just finishing up the English translation of the manual -

<Doug Cotton> The manual is about 3/4 of the way finished... probably be ready
to go in a month or so.

<Robert Bernardo> Thanks.

<Doug Cotton> Okay, QT has a question...

<QT> I actually have two questions...

<Doug Cotton> And a comment, I see... ;)

<QT> First of all, I've read that the Action Replay Cartridge, Super Snapshot
and etc. will no longer be available...
<QT> Is there any chance that CMD may someday produce a similar cartridge?

<Mark Fellows> Yes, there is a chance - we are currently trying to get the
rights to the Snapshot

<QT> Cool Beaners!
<QT> :)

<Doug Cotton> You had a second?

<Mark Fellows> And.. it's possible that the SuperCPU may be able to perform 
that function with just the addition of some appropriate software!

<Doug Cotton> (oops!) ;)

<QT> Wow, that would be great!

<Tony Cote> That's why it's SUPER!

<Doug Cotton> Even in 128 mode, Mark?

<QT> This is regarding the SCPU, what needs to be added to it to be able to run
programs created specifically for it (if anything does need to be added... I'm
a bit confused on this issue)

<Mark Fellows> We'll leave that up to you, Doug (codemaster) Cotton. Maybe
you'd like to tackle the job?

<QT> giggle Mark!

<Doug Cotton> Heh, guess that answers that question for ME anyway. ;)

<Mark Fellows> You don't have enough to do already ;)

<Doug Cotton> As for SuperCPU programs... it can already run native code, yes,
though we expect that a lot of new native programs will want to use additional
memory...

<Mark Fellows> The CPU is ready, willing and able to run 65816 coded programs
right now

<Doug Cotton> So the expansion RAM option that will be available will be
helpful. That's an extra option on the 64 version, but will come standard
(though unpopulated) on the 128 version.

<Mark Fellows> Beyond the obvious 20MHz advantage, 65816 code can boost
performance even further

<QT> When will this be available?
<QT> and what do you mean by "unpopulated"?

<Mark Fellows> Should be available the same time as the 128

<Doug Cotton> Should be available when the 128 version comes out.

<Tony Cote> ditto

<QT> one last question?
<QT> Since you've hired Tony, will you be changing the company's name to CMD&T?

<Mark Fellows> Unpopulated means without SIMMs (although an add'l 256K SRAM
will be on board)

<Doug Cotton> By unpopulated, I mean something like the RAMCard in RAMLink will
come with the 128 version, but it will only have enough RAM for the OS...
you'll need to add some memory to have 'extra' for more extensive programs.

<QT> <just kidding> Thanks for the answers! :)

<Doug Cotton> Heh, I knew that was coming...

<Tony Cote> I wouldn't hold my breath, the signs are all painted already

<QT> giggle!

<Doug Cotton> Okay, let's see who's up...
<Doug Cotton> Looks like it's Bill's turn!

<Bill> I know u guys are busy with the CPU.......
<Bill> but what kind of changes down the road can we look for on the Commodore
RT on Genie

<Doug Cotton> As for Genie...
<Doug Cotton> It's hard to say if there will be many changes...
<Doug Cotton> A lot of that is up to things that are being worked out with the
new owners at this point. For now, we pretty much have to stick with the
'status quo'...
<Doug Cotton> If we get new contracts that give us some incentive to move
forward, though, then I think you can expect to see us start to push the
service and add to what we're doing here now.

<Bill> My other question is in regards to my system......

<Doug Cotton> Go ahead, Bill.

<Bill> I have a 128D,JD,HD40,1581 and external 1571......
<Bill> and have a CPU128 version on order.....
<Bill> why would I want a ramlink?

<Mark Fellows> Well, there's a few reasons
<Mark Fellows> First of all, the RAMLink provides you with a non-volatile RAM
Disk
<Mark Fellows> the SuperCPU, while it may at some time provide a RAM Disk option
<Mark Fellows> will not provide a power and battery back up for the RAM -
meaning of course
<Mark Fellows> that everything in its RAM will be lost when the unit is powered
down.

<Bill> one more question......

<Doug Cotton> Bill, let me add to Mark's coment a sec...

<Bill> does CMD ever plan to advertise... in reference to Genie...as a
Commodore area

<Doug Cotton> RAMLink is just plain the fastest disk access you can get.
Coupled with the SuperCPU, it's even faster. Now, I do use my HD quite a bit
with the SuperCPU setup...
<Doug Cotton> But I use it through RAMLink... in parallel, and it too is faster
that way. Since the SuperCPU cannot otherwise speed up disk access, though,
having the RAMLink gives that extra edge in speed to the overall operation that
you can't otherwise get.

<Mark Fellows> Yeah, and just wait until I rewrite the RLDOS using 65816 code -
you ain't seen nothin' yet!

<Doug Cotton> As to advertising Genie...
<Doug Cotton> We've discussed and made plans to advertise Genie in CW... but I
doubt we would spend money advertising it elsewhere. Is that what you were
asking?

<Bill> Yep, CW in particular........
<Bill> I bet there are a lot of Commie owners out there who don't know about
Genie

<Doug Cotton> Okay, well then, yes... those plans have gotten held up by this
process of the new contracts with new owners, but I think we're close to that
point now.

<Bill> The more Commie users we have here the better
<Bill> maybe the new users could get a special sign up offer.......
<Bill> like the biggies offer?

<Doug Cotton> The biggies offer?

<Bill> thats the last of my questions....thanks :)
<Bill> those bad guys a AOL who thing they are big
<Bill> think

<Doug Cotton> Oh, I understand. Well, the problem with 'offering' anything is
that those things must be done by Genie's owners, not us... we can't give away
free hours unless we want to pay for them... and that's not going to work.
<Doug Cotton> We certainly hope the new owners WILL do something, but that's in
their hands, not ours.

<Bill> I would think they would pay for them.....
<Bill> after all they would get the money in the end

<Doug Cotton> I'd say they probably won't....
<Doug Cotton> The new owners do wish to continue with Genie, but if you hadn't
already noticed, their big push is on the 'sister' Genie area they are creating
on the internet...

<Bill> that's how I got on Genie in the first place with a special sign up offer
<Bill> I had not noticed
<Bill> I have not heard anything since they took over

<Doug Cotton> This isn't all bad... after all, there will eventually be a
'gateway' of sorts where all the stuff posted in either service will show up on
the other...
<Doug Cotton> But these are details I really can't get into yet. Let me just
close with saying that we're doing what we can to make sure that Commodore
owners will have a home, no matter what. ;)
<Doug Cotton> Okay... QT is up...

<QT> I have one more question on the SCPU

<Doug Cotton> BTW, we'll be closing this up after the next couple of
questions... Mark needs his beauty rest. ;)

<QT> I've heard a rumour that with the SCPU that you can actually view some 
PAL demos on an NTSC machine... is this true?

<Mark Fellows> Doug?

<Doug Cotton> QT, I'd be surprised if that were true... but I hadn't heard the
rumor myself, and I can't say that I've tried it...
<Doug Cotton> But usually the situation is that PAL demos are timed to the PAL
VIC interrupt timing for what is known as 'bad lines'... and that doesn't
really change under the Super CPU...
<Doug Cotton> So I kind of doubt it's really true.

<QT> ok, thanks :)

<Doug Cotton> Anything you can think of there Mark?

<Mark Fellows> Just to say that the VIC timing is the same whether or not the
SCPU is running

<QT> Must definitely be a rumour then

<Doug Cotton> Yup. That's the gist of it.

<QT> oh well

<Robert Bernardo> I have friends in England who want CMD products...
<Robert Bernardo> Is there a current distributor over there?

<Mark Fellows> Not currently - they will have to order from us directly

<Doug Cotton> Hmmm.... I think our dealer over there is just about belly-up 
due to lack of sales...

<Robert Bernardo> That's true.

<Doug Cotton> Is it all direct now, Mark?

<Mark Fellows> Well, if Charlie were here he might be able to tell us, but I'm
<Mark Fellows> almost sure its only direct sales now

<Doug Cotton> Robert, he can try checking with Electric Boys (sorry, I don't
have their info here now, but they used to advertise in Commodore Format over
there if your friends have any of those mags...)

<Robert Bernardo> Electric Boys is closing down.

<Doug Cotton> Worst case is they say no, you have to order direct.
<Doug Cotton> I know they've been downsizing considerably, yes.
<Doug Cotton> Okay...
<Doug Cotton> That about covers it for tonight. I want to thank Mark for
showing up...
<Doug Cotton> We KNEW he could do it. ;)

<Mark Fellows> Thanks everyone!

<Doug Cotton> And I'll put the room back in talkie mode. ;)

<Tony Cote> Nice Meeting you all!

<Howie> Thanks Mark
<Howie> ditto Tony  :)

<Doug Cotton> And Tony, too.... Hey, when did you get back?!!!

<QT> Thanks to you all, Mark, Doug, & Tony!

<Snogpitch> Great, Guys!!!

<Robert Bernardo> Thanks to everyone at CMD.

<Howie> ditto QT