SNAPSHOT V4 VS. THE OTHERS

   Michael Kelley

A couple of issues ago you might remember that Bob Knipper and I
reviewed the majority of cartridges and speed up roms for the Commodore
computers.  The end result was for speed and compatibility - FASTLOAD;
for programming utilities - SNAPSHOT V3.  These two cartridges beat
WARPSPEED, FINAL CARTRIDGE III, TURBO ROM II, EXPLODE, MACH 5/128 in
comparisons for their respective areas.  Now, SNAPSHOT is available in
version 4, which I had the opportunity to review.  Here are my results.
Right up front, FASTLOAD by EPYX is still the champion in
compatibility and speed loading.  

The difference between SNAPSHOT andFASTLOAD was a maximum of 5 seconds, either way, for loads.  What madeFASTLOAD the winner was that ALL the software tested loaded fine, butwith SNAPSHOT my test terminal program Darkterm 4.b actually took 40seconds MORE to load, FleetSystem 2.2 would not load on a 1571 withSNAPSHOT but loaded fine with FASTLOAD, and PaperClip Publisher took 7 seconds LONGER to load with SNAPSHOT.

For utilities, SNAPSHOT V4 is outstanding.  It has the easiest and fastest screen dump and capture I have seen yet.  Push the button and the current screen can be printed, saved, modified, whatever, right from the menu.  The ML Monitor is standard, with some commands making more sense than other monitors, like # for hexi/decimal conversion (thanks to Ray Galo of Brunswick for the ML test).  Most impressive was the memory archiving utility.  Similar to ISEPIC, with the push of a button a memory resident program can be saved to disk for faster loading and easier archiving/back up.  Example: PaperClip Publisher takes 2 min. 30 sec to load, give or take, with either cartridge.  By using the memory archiver, the program then loads in 35 seconds with FASTLOAD, and an impressive 20 seconds with SNAPSHOT.  This is excellent for programs like SUPERBASE, MULTIPLAN, and others that take time to load but are completely memory resident once loaded into the computer.

All things considered, my hardware inventory would definitely contain FASTLOAD, and SNAPSHOT V4 to handle most of my needs.  Next month: JiffyDOS challenges the champions.



WINNER AND NEW CHAMPION- JIFFY DOS
Michael Kelley

Many of you have read the articles of the past 6 months or so reviewing the many speed up cartridges and ROM chips for the Commodore computer that we have been able to get our hands on.  The most recent review was of SNAPSHOT V4, in last month's newsletter.  The result of all that research and information was that the FASTLOAD cartridge by EPYX was the fastest loading with the best compatibility (most programs loaded without turning the cartridge off), and SNAPSHOT V4 distributed by SOFTWARE SUPPORT INT'L had the best built-in utilities (screen dump, ML Monitor, memory archiver, etc.). 

The newest challenger to our champions is JIFFYDOS, by CREATIVE MICRO DESIGNS, INC., of Longmeadow, Massachusetts.  Suffice it to say that I have said 'goodbye FASTLOAD, hello JIFFYDOS'! After over 4 years of using my Commodore computer heavily I have come across programs that give even the best of utilities a hard time in loading and operating.  It is these programs that I use to review and evaluate the quality of a cartridge or ROM speed up utility.  Here are the results of my most recent comparisons: N = no cartridge or ROM, FL = Fastload, SS = Super Snapshot V4, and JD = Jiffy DOS.

Loading SUPERBASE64, V2.03: N= 2 min. 3 sec., FL= 2 min., SS= 1
min. 57 sec., JD= 1 min. flat!  

Fleetsystem 2.2: N= 38 sec., FL= 33 sec., SS= 33 sec., JD= 27 sec. (6 sec. savings).  

Marble Madness: N= 1 min. 35 sec., FL= 1 min. 33 sec., SS= 1 min. 34 sec., JD= 1 min., 25 sec. (another 8 sec savings).  

Paperclip Publisher: N= 2 min. 28 sec., FL= no change, SS= 2 min. 35 sec. (7 sec. LONGER), JD= 52 sec. FLAT!

Darkterm 4B (public domain terminal program): N= 55 sec., FL= 23 sec.,
SS= 1 min. (5 seconds LONGER), JD= 18 sec. FLAT!  

Sideways: N= 1 min. 35 sec., FL= 1 min. 20 sec., SS= 1 min. 15 sec., JD= 45 sec. (almost a full minute saved)!  

Multiplan V1.07: N= 28 sec., FL=25 sec., SS= 23 sec., JD= 19 sec..  

Printmaster Plus: N= 2 min. 42 sec., JD= 40 sec. FLAT!  

As you can see, with JIFFY DOS installed almost all the programs tested loaded with an increase in speed, many of them a very dramatic increase.  A few special notes: with the C-128 in 64 mode I had no problems with any program on a 1541 with Jiffy Dos.  On the 1571, however, Sideways would not load with Jiffy Dos, Marble Madness took longer to load the next level with Jiffy Dos than without, and Fleetsystem 2.2 would not load with Jiffy Dos active.  The file copy routine in Fast Hack 'Em 128 V6.0 would not work with Jiffy Dos active on the 1571, although all parts worked with Fast Hack 'Em 64 V6.0 on the 1541.  A copy of Paperclip Publisher, archived with Supersnapshot V4, took SS= 20 sec., FL= 35 sec., and JD= 25 sec. to load.  The real power and what excites me the most is the ability to speed up ALL disk functions even after the program is loaded. Using Superbase64 I did a match of a file with 495 records of 21 fields each.  Without JiffyDOS, it took 4 min. 55 sec. to complete the search.  With JiffyDOS, it took 2 min. flat, a savings of almost 3 full minutes.  No other cartridge or ROM tested could do that.  To load this newsletter file into FleetSystem took 27 seconds without JiffyDOS, and 33 seconds with.  However, when I saved the file with JiffyDOS active, and then reloaded it, the file loaded in 15 seconds, a savings of 12 seconds.  The manual states that files used with JiffyDOS increase speed AFTER they have been manipulated or saved with JiffyDOS active. The potential for BBSs, spreadsheets, databases, and word processors is tremendous.

JiffyDOS also includes a built in DOS Wedge, for disk commands and file loads using only a couple of keystrokes.  Function keys are redefined to create single keypress function like loading basic or ml, scratching, saving, listing the directory.  The Wedge is expanded to include an additional 15 commands, like Un-New, screen dump, and enable/disable 1541 head rattle.  There is no ML monitor with JiffyDOS (although one is available for $24.95), but complimented by Snapshot V4 this system can't be beat.  If it wasn't for the few incompatibilities on the 1571 I ran into, JiffyDOS would get my highest rating ever. However, I'll give it a 'not quite' almost-#1 (nothing is ever #1). JiffyDOS is a ROM replacement system without cables and is available for any Commodore computer: C64, C64C, C128, 128D, with any combination of drives: 1541, 1541C, 1541-II, 1571, 1581.  Switches are thoughtfully included where needed to return to the original ROMs. Installation on a C128, 1571, and 1541 took me about 1 1/2 hrs., and I am NOT a hardware handyman.  Retail price is $49.95 for the 64 version with one drive, $59.95 for the 128 version with one drive.  ROMs for additional drives are $24.95 each.  We will be putting together a group purchase for April, so save your pennies now.

If time permits at the auction I will answer questions or demonstrate some of the features of JiffyDOS.  March I will definitely set aside time to show JiffyDOS off (okay, Dennis?)!  Bring your favorite program and we'll challenge JiffyDOS even more.  See you at the meetings!