I mentioned to Robin that there is some dissent concerning the fact that what
may seem to be a cheap project is less attractive when one considers the cost
of programming the (PIC) interpreter (he charges 15 UK pounds). His reply
follows. Robin's email address is 100023.535@compuserve.com

TTFN

Nick Howard
chp3howarnj@ntu.ac.uk
-----------------------------------------------

Nick,

Thanks for your letter, I also was on holiday !

I don't really see the BASIC project as being in direct competition with the
Stamp, and hence don't really see it as a "cheap" solution (those were the words
of the editor of ETI). It is intended to be fitted directly into systems as an
embedded unit rather than the Stamp II's current hybrid module form. It is
slightly cheaper, although not much, because the current version uses the 16C84
rather than the 56. At least the use of the '84 allows EEPROM upgrades at a
later date.  (I will be producing other versions). I really believe that it is
aimed at a different market, the BASIC language is certainly more advanced than
Stamp 1 (I haven't seen the language for Stamp II), and I think the development
system is more user friendly. I see it really being used for prototyping and one
off applications. Anyone interested in quantity is welcome to negotiate with me
directly, the one-off programming charge of L15 holds for any devices.

I originally developed the system from a BASIC interpreter which I wrote back in
1989 on a PC (for producing video subtitling!), and I wrote it at the end of
last year mainly for my own interest to see how it could be done. Eventually it
became a bit of an obsession to shoehorn more and more functionality, hence the
very few words of program memory remaining ! I decided that the time and effort
involved merited at least some return and the price was chosen in consultation
with the editor of ETI with neither of us having any real idea of how much
interest there will be. The development software is free of charge. I am now
wondering whether (and how!) to exploit it commercially.....

I'm sorry if all the above is not in spirit with the free exchange nature of the
Internet, and I half expect angry letters (as I received with the PIC
programmer) from some people who seem to assume that individuals should always
give away the fruits of their labours, or at the very least supply them as
shareware (the same thing to most people) !

I now have a 16C57 version which operates in simulated form, and in the next few
days I hope to try it on real hardware. The '56 version proved impossible to fit
in without what I considered to be unacceptable reductions in functionality, and
I am now wondering what to do with the extra program space in the '57 and '64 !

Anyway please forward any info I've sent to you to the PICLIST or wherever, and
please publicise my CIS address (or snail mail at 37 Plantation drive,
Christchurch, Dorset, England BH23 5SG), I am really interested in any feedback
(positive or negative !) on the BASIC project or programmer. The first article
of the BASIC series hits the streets in ETI next week, (October issue) and the
development software is to be given away free on the front cover of the issue on
sale at the beginnning of October (November issue).

Cheers

Robin