LISTEN TO YOUR GENEVA     

   Since  Epson America,  Inc.  introduced the Epson Geneva  PX-8 
just  a few months ago,  software developers have been working to 
make commercial software available for the new portable computer. 
At  the same time another group of people have been working  with 
the Epson Geneva,  to develop programs for the public domain. One 
such program,  already available for Geneva users,  is PLAYER.BAS 
developed by Software Riches.
   PLAYER.BAS  is a basic program which allows the Geneva to  act 
as  an  easy to use audio microcassette player for  listening  to 
music or speech which has been recorded on microcassette.  One of 
the  nice  features  of the program is that it  can  be  used  in 
conjunction  with  WORDSTAR,  or  almost any other  Epson  Geneva 
program, so that while the keyboard is being used for typing, the 
microcassette  drive  built  into the Geneva  can  be  playing  a 
dictated microcassette which the typist can transcribe.
   For  the  PLAYER.BAS program to run,  the MicroSoft Basic  Rom 
capsule  must  be installed into  the  Geneva.  In  addition,  if 
WORDSTAR or another Rom based program is going to be  used,  that 
Rom  capsule must also be installed.  Since the built-in  speaker 
does  not permit an audio cassette to be played at a high volume, 
it is recommended that a standard earphone be connected to the SP 
OUT  (speaker  out) port on the back of the  Geneva.  Almost  all 
Radio Shack stores sell a 3mm earphone for under $1.50.  (Ask for 
catalog number 33-175 at your local Radio Shack store.)
   Since  the PLAYER.BAS program is in the public domain,  it  is 
available  for downloading from several Epson-Net bulletin  board 
systems  including  the PORTABLE COMPUTER MESSAGE  SYSTEM  (PCMS) 
which  may be accessed by calling (914) 693-0293.  The PLAYER.BAS 
program  is also available from the EpsonConnection's   "TAPE  OF 
THE MONTH." Once a copy of the program is obtained,  it should be 
loaded into the Geneva as a Basic program.
   The  PLAYER.BAS  program  is based upon one  main  menu  which 
allows  for  six  functions  similar to  those  of  any  standard 
cassette player. The menu commands are as follows:

PLAY - Plays an audio microcassette using the internal speaker or 
an external earphone connected to the SP OUT port.

STOP - Stops the playing of the audio cassette.

REWIND  - Resets the audio cassette to the beginning of the tape. 
Rewind may not be used while the program is in the play mode. 

FAST  FORWARD - Winds the audio microcassette to the end  of  the 
tape. Similar to rewind, the fast forward command can not be used 
while the program is in the play mode. 

END  - Allows the program to be exited and for another program to 
be  loaded into the Geneva.  The end command may be used  anytime 
while the PLAYER.BAS program is running including while it is in 
the play mode.

TIME - Displays the current time on the Geneva's display.

   If  using  PLAYER.BAS  to listen to  dictation  while  running 
WORDSTAR,  be  sure  to  leave the first four  minutes  of  every 
microcassette   blank   when   recording   the   dictation   onto 
microcassette.  After the audio microcassette has been  recorded, 
load  the PLAYER.BAS program into the Geneva and run it.  Use the 
rewind command to reset the microcassette to the beginning. Next, 
execute the play command and the audio cassette will  begin.  Now 
exit  the  PLAYER.BAS  program  and  load  WORDSTAR  (or  another 
program)  into  the Geneva.  The WORDSTAR program takes  time  to 
load.  (This  is why the beginning of the microcassette was  left 
blank.)  By  the  time  the WORDSTAR is loaded and  ready  for  a 
document to be typed, the audio microcassette will begin playing.
   Unlike Epson's earlier HX-20 portable, the Geneva, though only 
released a few months ago,  already has a large selection of both 
public domain and commercial software available for it.  Software 
Riches looks forward to an exciting future for the Geneva as even 
more  software  and  hardware is made  available  by  both  Epson 
America, Inc. and private developers.


                         Jason R. Rich
                         Software Riches