Z88 & QL Link Feature

A place to discuss general QL issues.
Post Reply
User avatar
vanpeebles
Commissario Pebbli
Posts: 2816
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:13 pm
Location: North East UK

Z88 & QL Link Feature

Post by vanpeebles »

Today my new Z88 arrived from RWAP, so I thought I'd write up my initial thoughts plus some details on how the link kit works.

Image

Image

Image

Image

The first part I wrote on the Z88:

Part One

N:RAM.0/z88plainF

Always keen to add to my Sinclair collection this is my latest
addition. A Cambridge Computers Z88 which is a pretty nifty portable
computer with a crisp display and a good range on four AA batteries.
I've also acquired a link kit to use with the QL.

I'll be taking a photos as I go with some details on the Z88 plus how I
get on with the QL link kit. All written on the Z88 then transferred to
the QL and finally posted on the QL Forum.

The Z88 itself arrived in some very attractive packaging, the Z88
packed in a kind of plastic corrugated "cardboard" the same
material used for the boot liner on the C5. This silver packet also has
a handle to double up as a carry case.

The first step was to install the four AA batteries then perform a hard
reset to initialize the machine. Next up I set the date and time in the
clock, no problems with Y2K either!

To write this article I'm using the main application on the Z88 called
Pipedream which is a multipurpose office program. The menu key is used
to toggle through the various menus for setting options, saving,
adjusting page layout etc. Plus you also have a built in interactive
help which is accessed using the help key.

While writing your article or using other applications, the index key
will suspend that program, allowing you to run something else such
as the calculator, filer etc and then switch back to your suspended
task later.

Considering the age of the Z88 (around 1987/8) it's a very impressive
machine sporting a battery life of over 20 hours, a super fast easy to
use operating system plus the use of battery back ram and flash ram for
quick saving. I don't have any extra cards yet but the machine has
three sockets in the bottom allowing for extra ram and storage.

Image

Image


RWAP
RWAP Master
Posts: 2834
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:51 pm
Location: Stone, United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Z88 & QL Link Feature

Post by RWAP »

Glad it got there OK - like the review so far!


User avatar
vanpeebles
Commissario Pebbli
Posts: 2816
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:13 pm
Location: North East UK

Re: Z88 & QL Link Feature

Post by vanpeebles »

Part Two : The Link Kit

The link kit consists of a serial cable and a floppy disc which contains a whole host of utilities plus help files all ran from a main menu, making it very easy to use.

Image

I opted to use option 4. which is the impex95 transfer program. The default settings are already enabled on QL with serial 2 used and files saved to ram drive. The Z88 needs a few settings changed for flow control and parity. The QL is then set to receive the file while the Z88 sends the file using the import-export utility.

Image

Image

The transfer itself takes a few seconds and the file is copied to the ram drive on the QL where it can be renamed then saved somewhere better :)

Image

Image

All simple to use and fairly quick :ugeek:


RWAP
RWAP Master
Posts: 2834
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:51 pm
Location: Stone, United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Z88 & QL Link Feature

Post by RWAP »

Glad you got the link working so well :D


Post Reply