Which personal computer? Last week I wrote about the application of Visi Calc with personal computers for on farm use. The four programs 1 have explored so far are farm analysis, cash flow, budgets, and amor tization tables. Actually anything you can do with a calculator you can do with a Visi Calc. It may even be feasible to tie a record keeping system into the program. This will take some study. What kind of computer There are a lot of personal computers around and it appears as though they are becoming engaged in a price war. My '^oo^o^*' s • evert l0 ° of rnine rals ' veo riing s 34 sto cke rsa V • cornP Jfed v* th cal**.*J^gra* „vfr efl f pe ” e ed ,n 9 p fi 9 £ P)Bl° ckS - Ask about our "special offer". CUSTOM MADE FEED BINS FOR FARMS FEED MILLS • Made of 13 gauge Steel • All welded seams • Gravity Flow or Auger Free Estimates Also * Steel Rpof Trusses for buildings - Portable Hog Buildings - Bucket Elevators - Grain Augers Distributors - Flow Pipes & Accessories We Sell, Service & Install Ph: 215-944-7808 STOLTZFUS WELDING SHOP Owner - Samuel P. Stoltzf us RD 1011, Dryvilleßd. Fleetwood, PA 19522 Brockett’s Ag Advice By John E; Brocket* Farm Management Agent Lewistown Extension Office suggestions would be: buy local or nearby so you have someone who can service the equipment; buy one that has a Visi Calc program that can be used with it; and look into the availability of other agricultural programs or software that can be used on the machine. Now for some quasi-technical items. You don’t have to un derstand the jargon but it helps. Visi Calc takes 30K of memory for itself. I found that the farm analysis program I did took 17K of memory. One of the amortization w« , i®S , veet/(x f Rumensin | d| Mmer^ • Jw 6030 Jonestown Rd. association or Harrisburg Pa. 17112 DIESEL SPECIALISTS . 717 545 5931 Interstate 81 Exit 26 Diesel fuel injection and turbo charger specialists. Locally owned and operated with over 25 years in business. Authorized Sole A Service For: • American Bosch • CAV • Robert Bosch • Simms • Roosa Master * RotoMaster • Airesearch • Schwitzer We Also Service: • IHC • Caterpillar • Cummins • General Motors injectors • Allis Chalmers • Blowers, governors etc. • Bacharach Tools Daily Shipments by UPS, Parcel Post, or our representative who is in area regularly. PRO TIL The New Concept In [ ROTOTILLING CONTACT: LAWN CARE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. MARTINDALE, PA PH: 215-445-4542 programs took 24K of memory What does that mean? That means that you probably should look for a machine that has at least 48K of memory. Then I would suggest getting a card to give you another 16' i. This would mean that you would have a total of 64K of memory. Most of the programs you would want to cun would then be possible. Example: Visi Calc plus farm analysis requires 47K or Visi Calc plus a 25 .year amor tization program requires 54K. What else? The computer package usually includes a computer, a monitor, a disc drive, various attachments called interfaces for use between the computer and disc drive or printer, and one or more basic programs. I think you would find a printer useful and for larger programs such, as the farm analysis, one would be essential. Some suggestions based on a short-time personal experience: x- Get a computer with at least 48K memory. x- Get a card that will add 16K to this memory. x- Get a green and black monitor rather than black and white because it is easier on the eyes. X- Use diskettes (use in disc drive) rather than tapes. x- Get a printer. They range in quality and price. Some print like a typewriter (they’re more ex pensive) and some print in dots (they’re cheaper). Ask for a demonstration. x- Decide on what you want to print out before getting a printer. I wouldn’t get anything that would print less than an 8-inch sheet. That size would do nicely a THINK AHEAD... Read Futures Markets on Page 3. HEWEY WELDING Box 2312, Rd 4, Lebanon. PA 17042 717-867-5222 ALUMINUM GRAIN BUUIES & ALUMINUM REPAIRS These ultra-light bodies are designed for strength through engineering, not strength with bulk. For example a 16* grain body with tailgate and 48 M sides weighs on I length or any side height up to 60" ★ Double swinging hay hauling tailgate ★ Barn door type tail gate ★ Slide out cattle chutes Lancaster farming, Saturday, October 16,1982—025 1490 lbs, complete. We’ll build you any Also available ★ Diamond Flooring ★ Pull out panel tailgates ★ Any size grain chute farm analysis or an amoritization schedule. The standard sized computer paper used by large computers is 14 inches. The cost will be 50 to 60 percent more but may be worth it. Get the Visi Calc program suitable for your computer. Cost? Sale cost for the total package will probably be between |2,100 and |4,500 depending on the model, the dealer, and the quality of ac cessories. Is it worth it? Probably not if you do not intend to use it; perhaps if you use it in your farm business. Really only you can answer this (and of course your children who will probably use it more than you).
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers