RobertB

Thanks for that, Jason! Happy New Year! Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

Or buy a multi-scan LCD VGA monitor. We had three of those running at last year's CommVEx. Happy New Year! Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

In 2016 when I visited the Adelaide Retro-Computing Event in Australia, I met Jane M. Voskamp (Jones), veteran Commodore programmer and writer. Having seen her articles in Loadstar and the LUCKI Report a long time ago, I was pleased to meet such as affable lady. To my surprise, she also brought her 1994 publications which were still for sale. With the limited amount of Australian dollars I had, I bought 4 of her booklets, all produced on Commodores with the use of the Write Stuff 128 word processor, GEOS 128, and a Commodore MPS-1250 printer. The booklets were GEOS in Review - Reviewing GEOS Authors Programs, the Handbook of Commodore Disks, the Handbook of the Commodore 64, and the Handbook of the Commodore 128. I find that the Handbook of the Commodore 128 is an introduction to programming on the C128. As a sample of what to expect, the 45-page, A4-sized booklet is divided into the following chapters: Forward Disclaimer Who Means What Built-in Sprite Designer Disk Commands Base Conversion Tutorial BASIC 7.0 Memory Usage Start & End of BASIC 7.0 Dynamic Keyboard Technique VIC-II Chip 40 Columns VDC Chip 80 Columns Boolean Logic Operators Flags & Monitors - What They Mean Monitor Utility - How to Use It Assembly Language Mnemonics Addressing Modes Assembly Language Introduction CP/M - Introduction Complete Text Memory Maps Bibliography, Users Groups, etc. The price of the Handbook of Commodore 128 was $15 AUD, but she gave me a discount for buying 4 booklets. Her other available products were: Profile.80 Plus Mod3 -- A C128, 80-column disk utility for creating/collecting auto-booting disks Card Art Series - disk of geoPaint files with which to make greeting cards Card Art Series II - disk of geoPaint files with which to make greeting cards Border Series - disk of geoPaint "Border" files Clip Art series - several disks of geoPaint images The World of GEOS Handbook, including The World of GEOS disk The World of GEOS Handbook II The World of GEOS Handbook III GEOS Unplugged I (handbook) GEOS Unplugged II (handbook) GEOS Unplugged III (handbook) GEOS Unplugged IV (handbook) GEOS Unplugged V (handbook) She can be contacted via Facebook or through her business address - JMV Grafix, P.O. Box 635, Enfield Plaza, 5005, South Australia. Phone - (08) 8 260 4062. Happy New Year! Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------- Subject: New message from 8 Bit Weapon From: "Bandcamp" <[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------- Seasons Greetings, Enjoy our 8 song holiday album for FREE, made with real Commodore 64, NES, and more. Please share! <3 https://8bitweapon.bandcamp.com/album/its-a-chiptune-holiday Happy Holidays! Love, Seth & Michelle :)" visit 8 Bit Weapon on Bandcamp at: http://8bitweapon.bandcamp.com

The photos are still trickling in. More can be found at http://www.dickestel.com/commvex17.htm Merry Christmas! Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

While in Europe in September and October, I made my first visit to Sweden. I had a fun time looking around the city and meeting Commodore and Amiga friends. For a few of the photos, go to http://blog.retro-link.com/2017/12/meeting-commodoriansamigans-in-sweden.html For the sake of completeness, here the links to my other European Commodore/Amiga travels. After Sweden, I spent some days in south England, then over to Prague, the Czech Republic; and then Cardiff, Wales. http://blog.retro-link.com/2017/12/meeting-commodoriansamigans-in-sussex.html Near the end of my vacation, I was able to go to a Lincolnshire Amiga Group meeting. http://blog.retro-link.com/2017/12/meeting-amigans-at-lincolnshire-amiga.html The last Commodore/Amiga meeting I attended before I left was the Amiga North Thames meeting. http://blog.retro-link.com/2017/12/meeting-commodoriansamigans-at-amiga.html Talk, talk, talk, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Merry Christmas, C= and Ami aficionados! The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:00+ p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17 at -- Bobby Salazar's Mexican Restaurant 2839 North Blackstone Ave. (corner of Blackstone and Michigan) Fresno, California (559) 227-1686 Because of members showing interest, the A.L.I.C.E. (A Laptop Incorporating a Classic Experience) laptop returns, A.L.I.C.E. being the portable solution which runs AmiKit X, Amiga OS 4.1, and Windows 10. Also returning because of its popularity is the new C64 game, Galencia, this time updated to v1.5. Another returning C64 game - Slime by Mr. Nop - updated for the Dec. 9-10 World of Commodore show, and also from that show, a demo entitled Scroll25. Just in time for the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie is Jim Happel's resurrected C64 game, Star Wars v1977 and v1981. What better way to enjoy Christmas than to play... Halloween games! For the VIC-20 comes Haunt and It Comes From the Grave. Or how about a VIC-20 racing game in the form of Nitro Wheels? More to the point is the Plus4/C64 game, Genius 2: Into the Caves, in which you must search caverns in the quest to find toys. We're still going through the pile of new game disks from from the British company, BinaryZone.org. Some of the games are Maze Of The Mummy, Barnsley Badger, Hessian, and Eye of the Gods. Finally, if I can get to San Jose in time to pick it up, John Yaccarine of The Other Group of Amigoids is donating a load of hardware/software free to all attending FCUG members. Ho-ho-ho, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

There are the Wico trackballs. Writing from Salem, Oregon, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

It doesn't hurt to try. Truly, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

Have you tried calling the phone number on that disk? Truly, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

The Pacific Commodore Expo NW is returning to the Living Computers: Museum + Labs, 2245 1st Avenue South in Seattle, Washington on June 9-10, 2018! The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Set-up will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday the 8th and 9-10 a.m. Saturday the 9th ; tear-down will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday the 10th. Exhibitors - bring your Commodore and Amiga computers to display! Visitors - enjoy the the Commodore and Amiga computers! As PaCommEx nears, more details will appear at the discussion forum at http://www.commodore.ca/forum/viewforum.php?f=14 and the website will be updated (currrently showing PaCommEx 2017) at http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex Sincerely, Robert Bernardo organizer - Pacific Commodore Expo NW Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

VCF Pacific Northwest (Feb 2018): Last call for exhibitors and speakers Where: Living Computers: Museum+Labs (Seattle, WA, USA) When: February 10th and 11th, 2018 Registration deadline: December 10th, 2017 (About 2 weeks left) We have about 15 registered exhibitors now. We are looking for a few more to fill things out and to ensure that if somebody drops out that the show doesn't look too thin. The exhibits span a wide range so it won't be a pure 8-bit gaming or a DEC heavy iron show. If you are procrastinating about being an exhibitor then it is time to register. If I can answer questions to help you decide then email me. This is our first time in Seattle; the bar is low so don't be too worried about having the perfect exhibit. We are still looking for speakers too; the floor is pretty open. If you did something cool during your career or just want to share aspects of the hobby with others, this is a great place to do it. (I especially enjoyed Lyle's talk on repair and restoration at VCF West.) Interested or know somebody who is? Check out http://vcfed.org/wp/festivals/vintage-computer-festival-pacific-northwest/....please email me directly if you have questions or need encouragement. Regards, Mike Brutman michael(at)vcfed.org

Happy Thanksgiving, C= and Ami aficionados! The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 19 at -- Bobby Salazar's Mexican Restaurant 2839 North Blackstone Ave. (corner of Blackstone and Michigan) Fresno, California (559) 227-1686 On the hardware side, we'll get to see and use the new SD2IEC from RetroFun of England. After a 2-year absence, the Amiga 600 returns, fully repaired and sporting a new IDE-to-CF card drive. And straight from the October Amiwest Show, we'll look over the A.L.I.C.E. (A Laptop Incorporating a Classic Experience) laptop which runs AmiKit X, Amiga OS 4.1, and Windows 10. At our last meeting we ran out of time to try out the modernized game, Empire 128 - Enhanced; and the new C64 game, Galencia. We won't run out of time at this meeting! Speaking of England, we'll start going through the 20+ C64, Plus/4, and VIC-20 new game disks from the British company, BinaryZone.org. Some of the games are Planet Golf, Argus, The Sky Is Falling!, Sleepwalker, Platman Worlds, Shoot 'Em Up Destruction Set 4, Majesty of the Sprites, and Realms of Quest. Truly, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Happy November, C= and Ami comrades! The next meeting of the Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network is Saturday, Nov. 18, from 2 to 5+ p.m. at Panera Bread Restaurant 19662 Nordhoff Street Northridge, California (818) 407-9400 Not only will I have an Amiwest Show report, I'll bring an A.L.I.C.E. (A Laptop Incorporating a Classic Experience) laptop for everyone to try its AmiKit X, OS 4.1, and Windows 10 modes. The Amiga 600 returns, this time with IDE-to-CF drive. We'll look at plenty of new C64 game disks from BinaryZone.org (Mario, bring your C128 set-up!), in addition to VIC-20 and Plus/4 game disks (Richard, bring your switchable Plus/4 set-up!) As in September, I'll be distributing a carload of C= stuff, this time from C= user Rolf M. of Ventura. Also, expect European gifts to be passed to all members (yay, early Christmas!). As always, bring any Commodore or Amiga items you wish to share! Truly, Robert Bernardo Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

That sounds like Starship Battles 128 by Micro Designs. It ran very slowly, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

I consider it to be a fun, action game for the C128's 80-column mode! Can't think of another fun, action game for the C128 80-column mode, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Oh, yeah, that was very exciting! Too bad I didn't have my videocamera rolling, but I did take a lot of photos with the still camera. (still to be posted) Truly, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

80-column RGB digital-to-VGA converter at http://bit-c128.com 40-column composite/s-video-to-HDMI converter at https://www.ebay.com/itm/1080P-HDMI-To-3-RCA-AV-CVBS-Composite-S-Video-R-L-Audio-Converter-Adapter-USA/222429254484?epid=1140068747&hash=item33c9d11354:g:3S0AAOSwdGFYulqk Both work very well, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

For the Amiga, an Amiga 2065 ethernet card, TurboPrint 7 Professional, AmigaTerm, Avantage Shoot 'Em Up Construction Kit, Aegis Modeler, Pixel 3D version 2 from Axiom Software, and a bunch of classic Amiga magazines. All from last weekend's Amiwest Show, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Contract signed, and deposit made. The Commodore Vegas Expo (CommVEx) v14 2018 is coming to the Plaza Hotel, 1 S. Main Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on August 11-12. Start making your plans! Sincerely, Robert Bernardo organizer - Commodore Vegas Expo v14 CommVEx forum - http://www.commodore.ca/forum/viewforum.php?f=6

Greetings from Europe, C= and Ami aficionados! As has been the tradition for years, the Fresno Commodore User Group has its annual "picnic" lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 15. This time lunch will be at Dave and Buster's Restaurant 212 East River Park Circle (Friant Road and Highway 41) Fresno, California 93270 As has been the tradition, bring your family and friends; the club will pay for lunch. Expect European gifts to be distributed! Writing from Prague, the Czech Republic, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

The classic "Outworld" has a very attractive gamescreen with a lot going on; it looks almost C64-ish. The newer "Pulse" is also attractive with its fast-moving, side-scrolling software sprites and landscapes. Writing from Prague, the Czech Republic, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Yes, he does. It's a special order, and I have two of them. They run much cooler than the original two-pronger. Writing from Prague, the Czech Republic, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Oh, very interesting. If you want to start a virtual Video Toaster club, sign me up. Writing from Prague, the Czech Republic, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Yes, check out the VIC-20 community in the forum at http://sleepingelephant.com/denial As for games, the new ones are really pushing the capabilities of the VIC-20. Other users and I are particularly impressed with Pulse, which was released last year. Doing my postcards before I leave Stockholm, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm