★ PEOPLES ★ PCW AMSTRAD ★ PCW BUS STOPS ★ |
| PCW Bus Stops (New Computer Express) |
EC regulations force Amstrad to claim that PCWs are not expandable Amstrad was forced to modify the design of its latest word processing workhorse, the PCW 9256 and PCW 9512 Plus to keep In line with the EC, Express can reveal. To adhere to new regulators which come into effect in 1992 and concern computer emissions which interfere with radio signals. Amstrad has been forced into claiming that the machines are not expandable. when in fact they are. It has also been forced to 'pretend' that the expansion bus at the rear of the machine, in fact a simple card edge which lakes the RS232 interfaces and other peripherals available to the PCW, does not even exist. It is instead calling it a ‘hardware test' port. This has lead to rumours that the new machines are totally incompatible with the previous 8000 series and the PCW 9512, both of which have fully exposed edge connectors. RUMOURS ARE RIFE The confusion about compatibly problems arises from the fact that, although the new card edge is mechanically identical to that used in the preceding series, it is hidden deep within the back of the machines and is covered by a plastic plate. This means that, without modification, older peripherals such as RAM-pack. upgrades, and RS232 interlaces will not fit the new machines. Manufacturers such as SCA systems are maintaining that this will not lead to "horror stones" regarding the new PCWs. Peter Mydlarz of SCA told Express: "The new expansion ports have had to be covered and hidden in order to comply with new EC rules. This does make them inaccessible to currently available add-ons. However, we will certainly be developing modified units to cope with this problem". Locomotive, however, has run into a problem with its recently launched LocoLink PC-to-PCW connectivity package. The company's technical director. Richard Clayton, said: "There is a slight problem with the new port on the 9526 in that, in order to abide by many of EC regulations especially in Germany, Amstrad has been forced to say that the PCW is not expandable. So it has covered the port. It has also placed it low-down on the machine. This means that if you connect many of the old peripherals. such as LocoLink, they will touch the floor. Frankly though, because there are a variety of PD programs which can read 3.5-inch, 9 sector. CP/M disks on the PC. you probably don't require LocoLink on the new machines. However, if public demand is great enough, we will produce a compatible version". TESTING TIMES According to sources close to Amstrad, the card edge is being termed as a 'hardware test' rather than an expansion slot. The unnamed source also told Express: “It is well known that PCWs kick out RF (radio frequency) interference like no one's business. To cope with this the company has been forced into burying the port at the back of the machine, and also to cover it with the plate. "Removing the cover is child's play. It look's like a fudge put on by Amstrad as a last minute thing rather than a pre-planned piece of design. It's only held on by a couple of screws and. once removed, the slot is immediately ready for use. The only problem I can see is that by doing this you invalidate the warranty". We called Amstrad to confirm this, and were told by Nick Hewer on behalf of the company: “No. this isn't the case as far as we Know. Information isn't clear at the moment. But there appears to be no problem with warranties'. OUT WITH THE OLD However, all is not rosey in the garden tor owners of the older machines. With developers having to move over to the new machines, it will not be too long before it becomes economically unviable to make peripherals and dongles for the old PCWs. This will have one major effect on owners of the old machines who wish to upgrade. They will have to buy the new PCWs or leave that format behind in favour of PCs. This also applies to software. It is far easier, and cheaper, for software houses to duplicate the hugely popular 3.5-inch disk format - which is used on PCs, Amigas, STs, and Macs - than for the 3-inch - only used on the PCW, CPC and Spectrum. With news that several unbranded 3-inch disk manufacturers have stopped trading, leaving only one producer of 3-inch disks remaining - Maxell - the position for the older PCWs looks more and more dubious. For further news on this see next week s issue of Express. New Computer Express (10-1991)
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