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     Anyone wanting to write, say, a guess-the number game, will need some way of generating a number that is not predictable.  Fortunately,REV SMRTDSK
      by Bob Stroud 
   This article originally appeared in the ADAM's Leaf of the Edmonton ADAM Users Group and is distributed by the ADAM News Network.
   This hardware item resembles a game cartridge and it actually fits into the normal cartridge slot. It can stay there permanently when you are not using the computer for playing games.  
   It is necessary to have at least a 64K memory expander to use this unit. In fact the bigger your expander the more useful the SMARTDSK cartridge will be.
   After turning onb your system, pulling the cartridge reset switch will boot the program and the first SMARTDSK screen will come up. It will indicate the size of ramdisk available, thus giving you an idea of the usable memory. 
   Through use of the SMARTKEYS you are easily guided through the various operations provided. The second screen allows the options of either saving the contents of the ramdisk, loading the ramdisk from any other drive, or a third option, to continue. Three other options then appear, Boot SmartDSK, Boot drive, or Boot program. Secondary screens give you choices of the various drives.  
   Through these various options it is possible to load a number of different programs into the ramdisk memory and load or boot them almost instantly on demand. I have found for example that by using another Walters's Software program:  "PrBOOT", which on tape can hold SmartBASIC V1, SmartBASIC V2, ADAMCalc, SmartFILER, ADAMLink, and SmartLOGO all these can be loaded automaticallyfrom the PrBOOT media using the load ramdisk feature.  Any of these programs then become available merely by booting the SmartDSK cartridge again and selecting the appropriate program.  I have experienced difficulty in booting SmartFILER however.  
   The fact that once loaded all the ramdisk memory stays intact, even if you reset the the system though the normal reset switch, is a great plus. Only if the power is turned off, or another program destroys the contents by using the memory expander will the programs in the ramdisk be lost.  
   Another excellent feature of the SmartDSK cartridge is the ability to save any of the programs you set up in the ramdisk with the save ramdisk feature. 
   I have also found that it is very useful to be able to set up a tape or disk which has SmartBASIC and files of all my favorite SmartBASIC utility programs. I arrange these to come up on screen through a Hello menu program. After loading this by means of SmartDSKM to the ramdisk these programs are readily available whenever you are programming or using SnmartBASIC.  
   Overall I would rate this a very useful addition to your ADAM system IF you have a memory expander.  Programs all boot or load very fast from the ramdisk and once you have done the initial work of planning and setting up your ramdisk contents, there is a great saving of time, and wear and tear on the normal drives.
   The price when I purchased this item was $29.95 U.S. and I think well worth it. I have used most of the items created by Walter's Software, and I have always been well pleased with both their products and their service. I highly recommend this particular item and their other software.  ### 
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