Epson PX-8 User Manual page 88

ing system has been added to the PX-8 CP 1M. This is known as MTOS
(Microcassette Tape Operating System).
It
means that CP 1M can use the
microcassette drive as the equivalent of a disk drive. Because of the physical
differences in operation the use of a microcassette is slightly different from us-
ing a floppy disk or RAM disk. This will become obvious as you study the oper-
ation of the Microcassette drive.
b) Microcassette selection and use
Consult your Epson dealer for supplies of microcassette tapes.
You should ensure that the tapes you buy are of the correct type as there are
similar size cassettes which are not compatible with the PX-8 Microcassette drive.
Microcassettes are available in sixty-minute lengths (thirty minutes per side) and
thirty-minute lengths (fifteen minutes per side). These are marked MC-60 and
MC-30 respectively. Because a thirty-minute tape will store 10K to SOK bytes
of information per side, it is usually adequate for storage of your most fre-
quently used data and programs.
It
is recommended that you use the shorter
tapes because it is often faster to change tapes (or flip one over) than to wind
to the end of a long one. In addition, shorter tapes are less likely to jam. The
microcassette directory can only hold 12 file names, so 12 short data files or
programs will leave a long length of unusable blank tape.
Some of your most important data will be saved on microcassettes, so it is im-
portant to care for them properly. To keep the tape clean, always keep it in
its protective case when it is not in use. Never let your fingers touch the tape
itself; the oil from your skin can contaminate it. Be sure to keep your tapes
away from magnetic surfaces. Proximity to a magnetic field can erase your tapes.
Magnetic fields are found in television sets and other devices that have trans-
formers or speakers. Dirty recording heads in your microcassette drive can cause
errors in reading and writing and can even damage your tapes. You should clean
them periodically, using a head-cleaning cassette, a cleaning kit (available where
you purchase your cassettes) or a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol.
c) Tape Insertion
To insert the Microcassette tape proceed as follows:
4-2
1)
Press the EJECT key to open the microcassette compartment cover.
I1111
MICRO CASSETTE
/' V )( (~/\I
fh~Y:/) !/~
)1
REC
,g'~
c:::J
EJECT
~
§]
Fig. 4.1
2) Insert a microcassette with the side to be used uppermost. This will have
the majority of the tape as seen through the window on the right hand side.
Fig. 4.2
4-3