The Mushroom Sideways Rom Card from Broadway Electronics allows you to add the power of ROM software to your Electron.

This software is software on a chip, instantly available to the Electron via a * command.

As it takes over the space nornally used by the Electron's BASIC, it still allows you your full 32K of user memory, unlike programs loaded from tape.

So what sort of information can you possibly want on extra ROMs?

Well, at the moment I am writing this on the EDWORD word processor which is stored on a Sideways ROM.

I have no access to BASIC at the moment - I don't need it - but I do have access to all the normal RAM for my text.

Word processors on tape take up a lot of normal memory for themselves, so there is less free for producing letters. ROMs avoid this.

I have also put into the ROM card a memory monitor program, SPY2. This is the nosy person's guide to what goes on in programs. Because it does not use normal user memory, it is possible to study any BASIC or Machine Code program.

The Mushroom Sideways Rom Card has four sockets so it would also be possible to fit a spreadsheet program, a graphics/design program or even a game.

If you have access to an EPROM programmer - a device, not a person! - it is possible to store your own programs on a chip, which costs about £7.

The huge advantage of this is that an 8K program can be loaded into normal memory in about two seconds.

The ROM card fits firmly into the Electron's expansion port. I find it rather a tight fit and it needs some strength to remove it.

Incidentally, always turn off the power to your Electron before connecting the card or inserting any ROM.

Having you your ROMs, they are loaded with a * command. To use EDWORD, you just type *EDWORD and it runs straight away.

There are two types of ROM programs. Language ROMs do not require the BASIC language - they operate instead of it.

Program ROMs do require BASIC and are loaded by a * command into RAM so that BASIC can then be used. This is what takes two seconds.

To say that Electron ROMs, or firmware as it can be called, is in its infancy is a bit of an understatement. The only ROMs I have come across so far are designed for the BBC Micro! Many however will work for us Electron owners although sadly one of the more popular BBC Micro ones, WORDWISE, does not.

I would say that this device is a very useful addition to the Electron. It provides the start for many serious computer applications and with its expansion port, it means you could still connect your printer port or joysticks.

Rog Frost