The Flash EPROM - Review

The Flash EPROM is an exciting new storage device released at the end of 1997, and available from Rakewell in the UK and Domino Cubes in the USA.

As their name implies, Flash EPROMs are similar to EPROMs in that they can only be used for backup storage, or for holding applications. The main difference comes in the "Flash": they are extremely fast at saving and retrieving files. In addition, they do not need to be removed from the Z88 to be erased; this can be done using the Z88 itself.

Each cartridge costs UKP59 and has a massive 1Mb capacity: the maximum possible for a Z88 card. The card comes with a small instruction booklet which gives brief details of how to get up and running with the Flash EPROM.

Unfortunately, the Filer is not capable of working with the Flash card, so a BASIC application is supplied which carries out the formatting process, and the saving and loading of files. This program is provided on the Flash EPROM itself (together with a PipeDream documentation file), which is initially configured as if it was a standard 32K EPROM, which the Filer can cope with.

Once you have retrieved the program (called FlashStore) and documentation, you are strongly advised to back them up, either to a standard EPROM card or another computer - if you lose these, you will not be able to access any files on your Flash EPROM!

Luckily, Rakewell keep a copy of the program on their Web site, so all is not lost if you do happen to have a nasty accident. It's worth checking this regularly anyway, as FlashStore is frequently updated - all comments on this page refer to version 1.5.6

Once first loaded up, FlashStore will detect that you have a new, unformatted, Flash EPROM and ask if you wish to format it. This takes less than 10 seconds! Then you are presented with a nice display showing the various single-letter commands that you can use, plus a summary of the current free space and the number of files saved on the card.

The program will not allow you to save or format if you have a "battery low" condition, in case a power failure causes a corruption. This is probably unlikely, however, since the Flash EPROM is claimed to consume far less power than a standard EPROM.

The available commands are:

Catalogue

A list of all files saved to the Flash EPROM is displayed, complete with the size of each file. If you chose to see deleted files, these are shown in a small light grey font.

Save

On entering this option, the default device is automatically presented so that you can quickly enter a file name or wildcard to save. For example, if you want to save all files on :RAM.1, if this is set up as your default device then all you need to type is /* to complete the wildcard :RAM.1//*. This option keeps you informed on its progress throughout - a nice change from the rather worrying blank screens of Filer!

Fetch

As with the original Filer, you must enter the exact filename that you want to retrieve with this option.

Restore

A much more powerful command, this allows you to retrieve every file on the Flash EPROM, with the option to overwrite existing files.

Format

Allows you to quickly re-format a full Flash EPROM, ready to be re-used.

Quit

Bit obvious, this one, isn't it?

In the fullness of time, the developers of the Flash EPROM hope to replace the current BASIC program with an application integrated into the card itself. However, there's no need to wait for that - the current system works extremely well. At last, you have absolutely no excuse not to back up those files, even when you're on the move: the Flash EPROM is both fast and spacious - it's also extremely good value.

For application developers too, the Flash EPROM is great news as it provides a really fast way to develop & test applications, when used with the new version of Zprom from Interlogic's Assembler Workbench.

In short, BUY ONE!

Go to the Flash EPROM History

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