The video screen, in character mode, is 25 lines deep by 80 characters across. When in graphics mode, the screen gains very fine resolution. (Graphics displays are composed of tiny dots called pixels-for picture elements-and the QX-10 screen can display 640 pixels horizontally by 400 pixels vertical@, producing a sharp, clear graphics image.)
Besides displaying both characters and graphics, the QX-10 monitor has other special features. For instance, every character can be made to blink, show in reverse video, or increase in light intensity. The monitor can also zoom and pan like a TV camera. In addition, when using Valdocs, you can use different font styles such as bold, italic, and bold italic.
Other Features
Besides its 780C microprocessor chip, advanced software capabilities, typewriter-style keyboard, and high-resolution video monitor, your QX-10 is equipped with a long list of state-of-the- art features. Several of these are briefly described here.
ROM
The QX-10 has 8K of ROM, or read-only memory. This is memory that cannot be altered and which contains instructions for starting up the computer. All ROM patterns are permanently stored. When you turn the QX-10 OFF, the ROM remains in storage and performs the same way every time you switch on the unit.
For instance, every time you turn the power ON, the computer retrieves the instructions to place the INSERT DISKETTE message on the monitor from the ROM.
Direct Memory Access Controllers
Also contained in the QX-10 system are two DMAs, or direct memory access controllers. Put simply, these control the memory space and how it is used. Such jobs as moving data from diskette to microprocessor or from a port to the microprocessor and back again are controlled by the DMAs without bothering the micro- processor. This speeds up operations considerably.
