Re: //+ Video question

[gerome@teleport.com (Gerome Manufacturing)]

In <34nup4$sh2@mozo.cc.purdue.edu> poy@widget.ecn.purdue.edu (Alfred L Poy) writes:

>In a previous post, someone asked a question regarding a strange wire
>on a //+ running from the joystick connector to the keyboard.  If I
>remember this correctly, the hack allowed programs to sense whether
>the shift key was pressed by reading one of the paddle switches through
>the joystick port.  The //+ does not support lower case text (without
>modification) so there was no way to sense the position of the shift
>key for keys other than numbers/punctuation.  A program would have
>to be specially written to look for this signal.


	This appears to be the case.  Someone sent me a description of how
the thing worked.  When I get some time i'll try it out.  However, with out
the wire complete, some of the 80 column programs will display the lower
case....

>On a side note, I actually still have an old //+ sitting at home in
>my basement right now.  It's intersting (almost sad) to note that the
>one piece of equipment which I credit with inspiring me on to a good
>paying career in engineering is now only worth the price of a CD.
>Try THAT with a CD today!

	I have the same thoughts about mine.  I am 26 years old, when I was
a freshman in high school, the state said "get them computers or they will
be unable to cope with the jobs of the future!"  Well we got the apples and
they opened many doors for me.  My current job requires me to use computers
in many different ways.  All of those long hours hacking around paid off. 
There is little that I can't make these ibm boxes do these days.  Too bad
it's not quite as fun or inspiring as working with the II+ was...

							Doug Dingus

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