 x'                                                                 place to store your extra printer ribbons is in your refrigerator.
     That's the advice Jay Foreman of the M.W. Ruth Co. gave attendees at ADAMCon 01.
     Otherwi 
Second column in series: "Random Access (THE HARRIS FILE)" by John Harris, MOAUG as printed in Feb 1990 MOAUG newsletter 
-------------------------------------
                                 
     STORING RIBBONS--The best place to store your extra printer ribbons is in your refrigerator.
     That's the advice Jay Foreman of the M.W. Ruth Co. gave attendees at ADAMCon 01.
     Otherwise, he said, air gets into the plastic bags and deteriorates the ribbons over time.
     But one should wait three hours after removing a ribbon from the re- frigerator before using it in the printer, he added.
               * * * * * 
     HELP KEEP ADAM ALIVE: One way we can help keep ADAM alive and our ven- dors, software writers and hardware developers in business is to spread the word that support for the ADAM is available.
     My latest bit is to watch the classified ads for an ADAM for sale.  When I spot one, I call the number and ask the owner if he or she is aware that supplies and service are still available. Many are not.
     I ask them to pass along my name and phone number to the purchaser of their ADAM and the message that I'll be glad to inform them of user groups, vendors, repair services, etc.
     And they usually do. After all, it helps them sell their ADAM if they can so inform the prospective pur- chaser.  And occasionally, someone decides to hold onto their ADAM and put it to use rather than sell it.
              * * * * * 
     CHEAPO COMPUTER DESK--Seemed that I could never get a desk big enough for all my ADAM equipment and still spread out the books and papers I needed to work with.
     Without big bucks for an execu- tive-style office desk, I improvised.  Bought a door (smooth, interior-type) from a building supply company and set it over two two-drawer file cabinets which serve as pedestals and storage.  Works great. Plenty of space now.
              * * * * * 
     DOUBLE STORAGE--If you've ever lost a datapack full of important files, because the tape twisted and broke, or it was accidentally erased, you know it's a distressing situation. Hours, or perhaps days, of work have vanished.
     To avoid this, I now double-save. I store important files onto two different tapes or disks. It's a small price to pay for the safety of your important files.
              * * * * * 
     MODULE COVERS--Don't have a custom dust cover for your printer or memory console? A VCR vinyl cover for each works fine.
     Another VCR cover will take care of your disk drive and keyboard, if you place your keyboard lengthwise beside your disk drive before covering.
              * * * * *
     EASY ON/OFF--Plug all your com- ponents (except disk drive) into a surge surpressor six-outlet electrical connector.  Leave the individual com- ponent switches on.  Then, with one flip of the outlet switch you can activate your printer, TV monitor, lights, etc.
     Then when a thunderstorm threat- ens, you have only one line to discon- nect from the wall to protect all the components.
     But the disk drive must be on a separate line because you must turn it on before the printer power supply in order for ADAM to recognize it.
              * * * * * ^I 
Editor's Note:  Oddly enough, my disk drives work fine on the same surge suppressor as my computer, as long as I leave them turned on when I flip the switch.  (Yes, even the word processor recognizes my C drive this way.) This surprised me.  Perhaps it's enough to have the disk drive come on AT THE SAME TIME as the computer.  Or is my system unique in that respect?  -- PJH 
^J
  
  covering.
              * * * * *
     EASY ON/OFF--Plug all your com-
