Subj : Re: What to do with a C128
To   : cbmeeks
From : Bo Zimmerman
Date : Mon Dec 11 2017 16:05:44

On 11/29/2017 12:40 PM, cbmeeks wrote:
> What do you guys do with your C128's other than boot into C64 mode to play 
games?
>

I've been a C128 fan for 30 years, so I think I can speak for the things
I use it for.

Word processing and text reading and editing is always a biggie:  Zed
128, Word Writer, and WordStar in CP/M are great editors I've used.
JiffyDOS @T in 80 columns is my favorite SEQ text Reader these days. :)
I've also long used it as both a BBS server (Zelch 128) and client
(Desterm FTW). Desterm made a great MUD client and *nix shell client in
the 90s as well, though the last 4-5 months I've been working on a
GEOS64 80col ansi telnet client, so not so much lately.  You can see
some info and download links for Zelch 128 at the far bottom of this
page: http://www.zimmers.net/bbs/index.html

At various times I've enjoyed programming in C -- Power C 128 mostly,
but some Hi-Tech C in CP/M also.  Turbo Pascal in CP/M got me through my
first 2 years of college, though I haven't messed with it since then.  I
have and still do quite a bit of BASIC 7 programming.  And while I do
all my ML in 64 mode with LADS, I'll use the ML monitor in C128 mode for
debugging sometimes.  The C128 ML monitor is also my favorite dec/hex
converter. :)

I ran variations of GEOS 128 for several years, and still prefer to do
my WYSWIG geoWriting in it. Although it's more convenient to stick with
GEOS64 to avoid having to keep switching screen modes, I also do native
disk imaging/de-archiving in C128 mode, using either EMUTIL in native
C128 or geoBEAP in GEOS 128, for the cpu speed and burst-mode disk access.

The last year or so, I've written several wireless ethernet modem apps
for the C64NET WiFi Modem, all of which work in C128 mode, including an
IRC client, FTP client, WGET client, and a simple Telnet and BBS client.
   All but the BBS client I regularly run in C128 mode, especially IRC
and native Telnet.  So, you'd have to add those activities to the list.
You can see the ascii-ported source and binary downloads for those here:
https://github.com/bozimmerman/Zimodem/tree/master/cbm8bit

If I need to do file copies in JiffyDOS, or filesystem browsing and
manipulation in general, I go for the C128 in 80 Columns every time.
And obviously if I need to do any one-off data file processing, BASIC 7
is wonderful.

Lastly, the 80 column VDC chip may lack sprites for games, but it has
some interesting color video modes for displaying pictures.  There are
several good demos of these abilities out there that I go back to from
time to time.


- Bo

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