Subject: TrackStar E questions and impressions
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From: m.kelsey@spam.eecs.wsu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2,comp.emulators.apple2
Date: 21 Feb 1999 11:10:01 GMT
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Does anyone have the actual TrackStar E software handy?  I have downloaded
two ZIP files, both are the identical.  I had a kind soul e-mail me their
files, but again, they're the same as those on apple.cabi.net and
from www.ahhz.com.

If you have ANY of the TrackStar software, please send it to me.  I would
like to compile a CD with as much information as possible about the Track-
Star (including Acrobat and HTML versions of the manuals) but the only
software I have is for the TrackStar Plus.

The version of TSUTILIT.COM I have prints "TrackStar Plus Configuration"
across the top.  The manual I have shows screenshots of a utility that
allows a person to configure the video options (Hercules, CGA, EGA, etc)
however these options are absent in the TSUTILIT.COM I have.  The 
screenshots read "TrackStar E Configuration" across the top.

Also, does anyone know the pinouts for the IBM PC floppy drive connectors
on the TrackStar E?  I'd like to rig up a PC drive to verify and test
its limitations.

Alright, now for my first impression of the TrackStar E.  The first time
around I didn't get any video output.  The Disk II didn't work either.
The core system worked, as I could hear the emulator beep, I reset the
emulator, and typed in a short FOR NEXT loop that beeped the speaker
10 times.  I knew the card as functioning, but not up to expectations.

Later on the floppy drive started working.  The drive chattered as it 
booted, just a good //e should.  I didn't understand why the disk drive
didn't work before but now worked.  I remembered I had
disabled the internal cache on my Celeron 450 to make 1990-1992 demos
run without encountering "runtime errors."  Well, that was the ticket.
My Celeron was far too fast for the antiquated TrackStar E.  A small
flip in the BIOS, and instant-action, even under Win98 DOS 7.0 (no
GUI). 

I've tried just about everything I can think of that really pushes
video, audio and copy-protection to the maximum.  Again, I had a load
of disk drive problems with disks I knew should be good.  What did this
indicate?  Perhaps the controller on the TrackStar expected a different
disk interleave.  

Well, that wasn't it, either.  I manufactured an extension cable to
facilitate testing Disk II drives.  Viola, now all those programs that
had read problems before suddenly worked.

At this point, I must admit, the TrackStar E is quite impressive.
I can set my PC's clock using my ThunderClock Plus utility.  The
use of the Apple II Disk II drive appears to properly support quarter-
tracking and copy-protection schemes of Shamus (who knows?), Frogger
(spiral tracking), Animate (bit slipping), Karateka (modified sectors
and quarter tracking), Aliens (more bit slipping), and many more.

I have yet to test Serpentine (quarter tracking) and Flight
Simulator II (half-tracking and sync).  I'll test out Wizardry too, since it
uses synchronized tracks on unprotected sectors.

The CGA video could be improved upon.  The video emulation resembles
that of Randy Spurlock's APL2EM.  Nowhere near as good as APPLE2PC.
The 80-column text is gorgeously clear on a CGA monitor.  A text
window underneath a double-hires page displays crystal clear white
text with the 16 color picture above (e.g., Tetris 128K).

The audio quality rates between true //e sound and Laser 128.  Quite
frequently it sounds better than a Laser 128.  Sometimes it's not
up to par with a //e.

I haven't tested parallel or serial emulation yet.  

The socketed joystick connector works like a champ, too.  I'll
have to locate my Mach I and test out the joystick D-sub connector.  

Overall, I must admit, the TrackStar E is very well designed.  The
keystrokes are quickly learned, and the utilities are straight-forward
if you take time to read the whole text.

So, would I go out and by another TrackStar E?  Absolutely.  Well worth
the $10 to $17 they cost.

reply to: mkelsey -at- eecs -dot- wsu -dot- edu