News - Jul.97 - Dec.97
From: Atari SIG (xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 08/23/99-01:56:53 PM Z
From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG)
Subject: News - Jul.97 - Dec.97
Date: Mon Aug 23 13:56:53 1999
Time Capsule - News - Jul.97 - Dec.97
-------------------------------------
News Subject Title Date Posted
------------------ -----------
MAE Assembler Jul.27,1997
65816 computer Jul.27,1997
MIST FEST IX! Sep.05,1997
Atari Celebrates 25 Years! Sep.20,1997
THE BIG SPIN Sep.20,1997
CAB 2.5 - Now with PPP Sep.27,1997
final MIST show bulletin Oct.01,1997
Atari Underground Update 9-21-97 Oct.04,1997
New Atari8-bit emulator for Win32 (9X/NT)
Oct.11,1997
Best Electronics Rev. 10 Catalog Nov.01,1997
POOLDISK II CD Nov.01,1997
Vintage Computer Festival Nov.15,1997
Atari show in Dallas, Texas! Nov.15,1997
Atari show in Dallas - update Nov.15,1997
ABBUC JHV 97 Germany Nov.15,1997
Help us fill POOLDISK II CD with public domain software
Nov.22,1997
ANNC: SIFE 0.0 IS HERE Dec.08,1997
Announcing Ramdrive v1.0 Dec.17,1997
New Atari 8-Bit CD-ROM Dec.17,1997
New Magazine needs Submissions! Dec.18,1997
Article 537 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: MAE Assembler
Date: 27 Jul 1997 21:19:39 GMT
From: jharris@poboxes.com (John Harris)
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 17:03:16 GMT
The MAE assembler is finally ready for a primetime release. I am sorry for
those of you who have been waiting a year for this. It was another
difficult time for me personally, but I expect things to improve from here.
I hope I can partially make up for it with some of the newest enhancements
to the assembler.
For a little background, MAE originally came from Eastern House software,
makers of the Monkey Wrench. I've been using it since 1981, although I
made substantial modifications to it before I found it a useful tool. In
the first few years, I tried to get Eastern House interested in the changes
I made, and in return I wanted to get actual source code to help fix some
of the more elusive bugs I encountered. The situation never worked out,
and I eventually realized that I was not going to get the kind of tool I
really wanted without writing new code anyway. The problem, was that I
could never justify taking all the time at once to write the whole thing
from scratch. Instead, I kept doing more extensive mods, and replacing
modules a bit at a time. It was always for my own use, but several years
ago, others became interested in it. Anomalies that I had gotten used to
now seemed more embarrassing with the prospects of others using it. There
was also the issue of not wanting it to be placed in general release while
still containing much of the original Eastern House code. This started a
snowball of more replacements and rewrites that ultimately arrived here.
I really want to thank those of you that sent money or other goodies as a
kind of shareware contribution, even though I did not ask for anything. It
was a terrific gesture that gave me much of the inspiration I needed to get
this completed. I also want to thank Itay Chamiel for providing 80 column
software routines like those in his Ice-T terminal, and doing most of the
work to adapt them to a 64 column mode. Finally, thanks to the beta
testers and suggestions I received that account for many of the new
features.
New features for this release include a configuration utility, completely
new macro system with full text substitution, new conditional assembly
(nested also), comment or uncomment blocks of text, load/save key macros to
disk, and many others.
For those of you not familiar with earlier versions, here are some of the
feature highlights:
Excellent full screen editor with key macros, automatic 'JSR' and return to
subroutine and data labels, block moves and copies, and multiple undo.
Compatible with XEP80 and other 80 column devices. 64 and 80 column
high-speed software drivers also included.
High level of integration between editor, assembler, and debugger. The
editor can take you directly to lines that had assembly errors. The
debugger can reference labels in the symbol table and assemble single
program lines.
True local labels.
Full text-substitution assembler macros.
Full 65816 and 24-bit support.
Uses only 1.25K of main system memory. Most of the code resides in bank
select. (Still runs in 64K, but you'll only have 13.75K for source buffer).
Still being supported!
John Harris Japanese translation of Microsoft slogan:
jharris@poboxes.com "If you don't know where you want to go,
we'll make sure you get taken."
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 538 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: 65816 computer
Date: 27 Jul 1997 21:43:00 GMT
From: jharris@poboxes.com (John Harris)
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 18:01:39 GMT
Some of you may remember an anouncement I tried to make a few years back,
but later had to keep quiet. It concerned a new atari-compatible computer
made with a 65816 processor and some other cool stuff. It was being
manufactured for a dedicated application that I actually never found out
what it really was. I found out about it at a time when I was selling
character generator software on the Atari8, and having immense difficulty
obtaining Atari hardware. It was a great connection to make, and we are
still selling these new systems with my CG software installed.
The big project never materialized, since the company making the systems
and Atari could never reach an agreement for large supply of Atari custom
chips. It seemed like a no-brainer--Atari had chips, these guys had money,
it should have been a simple exchange. It's no wonder Atari doesn't have
any feet left. They keep shooting themselves there.
Anyway, the bottom line is that Atari negotiations were the reason behind
my silence at the time, and now that the project is completely dead I can
make public the details of the machine for all those that are curious.
It is based on a 5.37MHz 65816 processor, although it still runs 1.79MHz
when accessing the base 64K of address space for compatibilty with the
custom chips. It is in a nice case with internal 3.5 high density floppy
and hard drive, parallel and serial, expansion slots, fully static memory
(turn the power off and on, and everything is still there!), mouse support,
and separate IBM-style keyboard. It has its own Sparta-like DOS, and with
65816 optimizations the memlo gets down to $FA3. I've found the
compatibility to be extremely good, with two main problems. Some european
programs, especially demos, use the undocumented 6502 extra instructions,
and these don't work on the 65816 CPU. The other issue, is that there is
no cartridge slot. Technically, it is feasible to add a slot using a plug
in board, and run a connector out the back. It would probably depend on
the number of interested parties for whether it was financially affordable
to get the thing made. One nice thing about the slots though, they are
physically the same as IBM 16-bit ISA cards. (but not electronically
compatible of course). You can get experimenter boards for IBMs that just
run power and have all other connections open. The do-it-yourself'er can
do pretty much anything from here.
Because of being a very low-production item, it is really expensive by
8-bit standards. Retail is $1800 with all options and the CG software.
Obviously, it's only being sold to commercial applications like hotels and
cable TV at that price. It is possible to make some deals if anyone is
interested, especially for systems without the CG software. Obviously, I
need to be fair to the people who are still buying the system for
commercial use. I don't have any prices for you, but if anyone is
interested at all, please let me know and I'll see what we can work out.
If you're just curious for info, let me know that too.
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 1997 03:30:56 GMT
Here are some questions asked by Brent Buescher, that I'll answer here for
others to see.
-what is the video circuitry like? which of the eight-bit models is
it most like? Does it incorporate Ben Poehland's Super Video fixes?
The video is engineered from scratch, and is higher bandwidth than any of
the Atari models. It looks superb on split-video monitors. I think it
looks very good on composite as well, but there is one factor that can make
it look worse on some monitors. Atari's chroma signal is much too hot and
way out of NTSC specs. Monitors will compensate for this by effectively
turning down the color gain. What happens as a result, is that color
artifacts, the usually unwanted color fringes that occur on high res
pixels, get diminished with the reduced gain. On the D816 (the new
system's name) the artifacts will generally be more prominant since the
color gain is higher.
There is a very simple mod consisting of a resistor soldered in parallel
across another one that brings the chroma level up to Atari XE levels, and
makes the composite output look better than XE in all cases. There is also
a more extreme mod that requires tuning a coil, but virtually eliminates
all artifacting in the composite output. The image is then really clean,
but you'll have to play Jawbreaker in a B/W maze as a result. :-)
-how are the ergonomics of the DOS and hard disk system? That is, how
do they compare to a Black Box and Sparta? I found the black box's
partitioning system extremely convenient and easy to use.
He licensed the BB and Sparta software, so it is virtually identical.
-is the IBM keyboard interface featureful like the TransKey or is it
rudimentary?
Well, it's different. I wanted access to the function keys for my program,
so they all return unique keycodes. Same thing with Home, End, PgUp, etc.
Some of the Shift-Ctrl letter keys that return nothing in the Atari, do
return the logically expected code on the D816. All 256 key codes can be
returned, but there is not much in the way of 'fancy' implementation. One
thing I like, is that the two alt keys are mapped to Select and Option,
which works out really nice when programs use Select-key combinations. I
think some of the mappings work out to 1200XL function keys, because Home
for example takes you to the beginning of the line in any E: environment.
In short, it's a design to give additional key codes, versus additional
functionality to the existing Atari.
-does it support ultraspeed in the OS?
Yes.
-how much memory does it conveniently support?
It comes with 128K in XE compatible and ANTIC compatible banking. At least
one board design exists to give 4 Meg (I believe) of linear addressable
memory in the 24-bit address space, but I do not have one. My CG board has
32K of upper memory, and I believe this can be extended fairly easily to 1
meg or maybe higher. I still need to find out all the options for memory
enhancement.
-how many joystick ports?
2, with standard DB9s. It also has an Atari SIO port, but uses a DB15 so a
special cable will need to be made. Easiest, is to chop one end of an SIO
cable and attach a DB15.
-does it support XL bank switching? (i.e. access to the full base 64K
in the same way that XLs do) I infer from your post that it's not
XE-like...
It's XE-like. Again, I'm not sure of the options to go above 128K in the
XE address space. I know all of the portb bits are used, but I think there
is at least one bit that could be sacrificed for enhanced memory. If
you're thinking of ramdisks though, forget it. Access will be much faster
in upper memory because of the 5.37MHz speed when you get outside of 64K.
-- Other notes --
It has a 65816-aware OS that handles native interrupts. The MAE assembler
supports all 65816 code and the full 24 bit address space. There is also a
custom version for the D816 that uses the PgUp, Home, etc. keys.
John Harris Japanese translation of Microsoft slogan:
jharris@poboxes.com "If you don't know where you want to go,
we'll make sure you get taken."
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 539 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: "Jeffrey G. Hammer" <jghammer@indyunix.iupui.edu>
Subject: MIST FEST IX!
Date: 5 Sep 1997 15:30:39 GMT
To those who hate seeing these long address lists, I apologize. My e-mail
program does not support Blind Carbon Copy.
************** MIST FEST IX - Saturday, 26 July 97 - 10am - 3pm
***************
Here is partial list of MIST FEST IX vendors/user groups attending:
Nashville Atari user Group
Emulators, Inc (Derek Mihocka)
FMH Games
LCACE .
ACORN.
LAG
ICD
It's All Relative.
Systems for Tomorrow
SCAT
There isn't much time left. Vendors ($20/table) and Individuals/User
Groups ($5/table), reserve your tables now before they are all gone.
Remember, because of the state of the Atari market in the U.S., this may
very well be the last great Atari Show in the U.S.
Location for MIST IX is the Post Road Community Center
in southeastern Indianapolis, halfway between
Interstate Highways 70 and 74. The location is south of
Washington Street (U.S. 40) at 1313 South Post Road.
Entry tickets are $1.
For details, E-mail to Charlie Sears csears@doe.state.in.us
or Jeff Hammer jghammer@indyunix.iupui.edu or use:
Crossroads/MIST BBS U.S.: 317.535.1643
FIDOnet 1:231/310.0 Voice U.S. 317.535.4829
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
2LT Jeffrey G. Hammer, Indiana National Guard
SGT Jeffrey G. Hammer, Hendricks County EMA SAR Team
Amateur Radio Operator (SKYWARN), N9NIC
Speedway, IN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Article 540 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: Michael Current <mcurrent@carleton.edu>
Subject: Atari Celebrates 25 Years!
Date: 20 Sep 1997 21:09:55 GMT
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 04:13:22 -0400
Out of Sight! Atari Celebrates 25 Years!
(c)1997 By Donald A. Thomas, Jr.
(datj@compuserve.com)
Those who know me, know my undying commitment to remember how much fun I
had with Atari products throughout the early years of the industry's
evolution. Atari was once one of the most popular tradenames in the world.
It ranked almost as high as Coca-Cola in brand name recognition and
household members either read about it, spoke about it or played an Atari
product virtually every day of their lives.
Aside from the pure entertainment value that Atari provided over the years,
Atari has influenced the industry in ways that most of us will never
fathom. Apple Computer was born of Atari employees and the first Apple
system ever manufactured is said to have been of parts "borrowed" from
Atari engineering labs. Today, Apple Computer suffers from many of the same
symptoms that Atari experienced prior to its unceremonious passing not long
ago. After all these years, even Steve Jobs is wisely backing away from an
"opportunity" at the helm. Apple might be wise to call on ex-Atari
executives to advise them what not to do. SC&T, a formidable maker of video
game driving controllers was founded by an ex-Atari employee and so was
Activision. Ex-Atari people work at 3Com, AverMedia, Capcom, Creative Labs,
Electronic Arts, Intel, JTS Corporation, Midway, NetManage, Photronics,
Piiceon, Playnet, Reality Quest, Sega of America, Silicon Gaming, Sony
Computer Entertainment America, Sun Microsystems, Super Dimension,
Tecnomatix Technologies, U.S. Robotics, . . . virtually every imaginable
Silicon Valley technology company in existence. In each case, their
experiences from Atari help shape what they do in their present jobs and
they will affect the way we enjoy tomorrow's technology.
Those like me that remember Atari so fondly clearly recall "Pong", but many
of us will remember different forms of the game. The Silicon Valley
remembers a coin-operated stand-up system that had electronics affixed to
an oversized electronics board and played through an off-the-shelf
black-and-white Zenith television. Much of the country may remember a
dedicated home-based console with two integrated paddles and several modes
for one or two players. But what assuredly everyone over 18 remembers is
the Atari Video Computer System (VCS aka 2600) and the elaborate forms of
"Pong" it could play in color. And soon forthcoming was "Air/Sea Battle",
"Breakout", "Combat", "Outlaw", "Slot Racer", "Super Breakout", "Surround",
"Video Olympics" and many other innovative titles that exploited the pixel
in every 2k way possible.
On Tuesday, June 27, 1972, Atari was incorporated. Although Atari had roots
that traced back more than a year prior, this is the date that many people
recognize was the formal birth date. . . making Atari 25 years old in the
year 1997.
On Friday, July 12, 1996, Atari Corporation was informed by the Securities
Exchange Commission (SEC) that their intentions to merge with Jugi Tandon
Storage, Inc. (JTS) was approved pending the formality of a shareholder's
vote.
On Tuesday, July 30, Atari Corporation hosted a special meeting of
stockholders in the offices of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. in
Palo Alto, California. The meeting was said to have taken about four to six
minutes. With an outcome of approximately 42 million votes in favor and
about 11,000 against, the stockholders ratified the decision to merge.
Trading of ATC shares were halted at the end of the day. Upon the
conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Sam Tramiel arranged to pick up the
severance checks for himself and his siblings. Mr. Jack Tramiel, former
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atari Corporation, remained to assist with
a smooth transition with the handful of surviving Atari personnel.
Essentially, July 30 was the final day Atari existed as an entity of its
own. A handful of ex-Atari employees, who had remained faithful in a hope
that someone or something would hear a heartbeat and jolt it back to life,
accepted no new checks with an Atari logo. JTS stepped in, delegated any
remaining liabilities and reassigned the staff to the task of selling hard
disk drives.
On Monday, July 28, a friend of mine sent to my attention the following
notice:
==========================================================================
ATARI ALUMNI REUNION
Wednesday, August 13, 6-9 PM
San Jose Live!
150 South First Street, San Jose
(408-294-5483)
* 25 years ago, in June of 1972, Atari was born!
* Come join Atarians from all the ages as we celebrate 25 years of
innovation, technology, and countless memories.
* Come play Pong (1972) and San Francisco Rush (1997) and see what
25 years of technology hath wrought.
SPREAD THE WORD!
All current and former Atari employees are welcome!
* Bring old photos and memorabilla - come swap lies with some of
the best!
* Open Bar from 6 to 8 PM
* Video Games. Video Games. Video Games.
* Spotlight Event: High Stakes cash prize Video Game contest
starring former Atari executives.
* Please RSVP by phone, fax or E-mail to:
Karen (Graham) Jefferson
408-434-3738
408-434-3910 (fax)
jefferson@agames.com
Deborah Geyer
408-473-9427
408-473-9488 (fax)
geyer@agames.com
COME CELEBRATE
ATARI'S
25th ANNIVERSARY
==========================================================================
The notice clearly states that the event on August 13 is open to "all
current and former Atari employees". The festivities will banner Atari's
25th Anniversary and historic being. I have a copy of the original flyer
and I noticed some interesting things:
* The word "Atari" (or a derivative) appears 6 times.
* There are 25 lines of type on the actual announcement.
* The expression "Video Game" is found 4 times.
* The term "25 years" or "25th anniversary" appears 4 times.
* Both RSVP e-mail addresses end in @agames.com
"@agames"? Atari Games? Hmmm. I don't know much about San Jose Live! or how
big the establishment is, but could this event be intended for just Atari
Games?
Flashback to the "wee hours" of Monday, July 2, 1984, when Tramel
Technology, Ltd. (Mr. Jack Tramiel) acquired the assets of Atari from
Warner Communications by promising $240 million in long-term notes and a
32% interest in the home-computer and home-game divisions. The resulting
deal specified that Warner communications retain the arcade game and
telecommunications (AtariTel) divisions of Atari. The deal with the
Tramiels was initiated by Warner with a phone call to Mr. Garry Tramiel who
was working as a broker at Merill-Lynch in Sunnyvale.
Since that time in 1984, Atari Coin-op and Atari Home Consumer Products
were more than separate divisions, they were entirely separate companies,
but the deal that Jack made with Warner saved both companies and Atari
survived as two companies for over a decade more.
Quite frankly, I'm not sure what they will be celebrating at San Jose Live!
on Wednesday, August 13, but it definitely is not an Atari Alumni Reunion.
When I spoke to Karen to RSVP, she pointed out that this was only for the
coin-op company which is currently owned by Williams and still calls itself
Atari Games. Interesting, the terms "Atari Games", "Coin-Op" and "Consumer
Products Atari not invited" appear no where on the invitation.
How does that phrase go? . . . Out of sight, out of mind?
-- END --
Article 541 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG)
Subject: THE BIG SPIN
Date: 20 Sep 1997 21:24:03 GMT
Date: 14 Aug 1997 01:57:16 -0400
THE BIG SPIN
by Donald A. Thomas, Jr. [datj@compuserve.com]
(c)1997 - permission granted to distribute/reprint for non-profit
There are different types of spins. There is the spin around the block.
There is the spin programmers use to rotate sprites in a video game. There
are spins on the way stories are told. There are dance spins and toys that
spin. There is also the BIG SPIN as it applies to the evolution of the
computer industry.
On Wednesday, August 6, Mr. Bill Gates and Mr. Steve Jobs cooperatively
announced that Microsoft was contributing to Apple's bottom line with a
monetary figure of $150 million. Assuredly, there are undisclosed
stipulations Microsoft is placing on that contemporary bail out, but Jobs
says Microsoft wants to "own the industry". In theory, Microsoft now has
influential control over Apple-based proprietary PCs as well as traditional
IBM-compatible PCs. Microsoft will tell you that consumers deserve a choice
and that they are protecting their investments in Apple-based applications
by helping to revitalize the platform.
It is as if the investment community does not care about the whys. They
simply see "Microsoft" and "Apple" in the same press release and stock
values bend up on the speculation. But, what are they speculating on? All
they really know is that Apple's dike is being plugged by Microsoft. They
know that Microsoft will benefit in some way by having some non-active
share in the company.
If we spin the world back to 1994, Wednesday, September 28 to be exact,
there was an announced $90 million bailout Sega promised to Atari. Terms
included Sega's acquisition of Atari shares, tentative agreements to
exchange software titles and a forgiving of a pending lawsuit Atari had
registered against Sega. Hmmm, what parallels exist there? Are there any?
For $150 million, has anyone bothered to find out?
Some answers are revealed with an understanding of motivations. There
are two types of motivations in making business decisions; both start with
"P". They are "Performance" and "Pride". Companies get in serious trouble
when these motivations are not spinning together in a synchronized balance.
These two categories can be demonstrated by looking at advertising
decisions. There are "institutional" ads. Those are advertisements that
promote brand awareness, but lack any sense of urgency. For instance, there
are no prices, no sales and no limitations on the act to purchase. An ad
that simply states "Drink Coca-Cola" is an institutional ad. Institutional
ads fall under the category of "Pride". If you run nothing but
institutional ads and never give consumers motivation to buy now, the
competition storms in with a strong price/value message and steals the
consumer.
A "Performance" orientated ad is one that creates some urgency. The ad
is strictly placed to generate a measurable profit after backing out the
cost of manufacturing, distribution and advertising. The ad features a sale
price or a value message or places some type of "get it now or lose" theme
such as limited edition collectable items. Running too many
performance-orientated ads teaches the consumer to only buy the product
when there is a deal. Companies need the "Performance" advertising to get
people to often think about purchasing their product. A basic example is
the decision to buy Coke or Pepsi in the grocery store. Many consumers will
buy either one first based on price- secondly what they prefer. Personal
preferences are statistically based on name recognition. Therefore, the
institutional ads help to make decisions when the prices are virtually the
same.
Rather than dwell more deeply in the philosophies of business
principles, let us look specifically at the motivations between Apple and
Microsoft while keeping the philosophies in mind. Apple is in serious
trouble. They have had consistent quarterly losses, write-offs and
lay-offs. They are desperately trying to make "Performance" orientated
decisions to compensate for the years and years of imbalance of a "pride"
orientated business philosophy... decisions that successfully built a huge
dedicated base of users, but failed to lure new generations of new users.
Instead, novice purchasers were swayed by the appeal of universal
compatibility offered by the IBM clone. Microsoft, on the other hand, is so
immensely successful that they very well may face litigation for forming a
monopoly. They do not have a dire need to generate quick profits, but they
do have a need to make sure the population is pleased with them as a
company and for the products they sell. Imagine the problem!
If/when Apple fails and Microsoft seems to be standing over them with the
dagger in their hands. In the long run, it is healthier for Microsoft's
image to show they made every effort to help Apple be successful.
Not to belittle the value of $150 million, but Microsoft will not feel
the loss. It can be compared to many of us buying a new microwave oven...
we certainly have to juggle some finances around, but it won't come close
to bankrupt most of us. On the flipside, $150 million is a big bite of what
Apple needs to survive and Microsoft (Gates) knows the public views $150
million to be a great deal more than a couple annual salaries. So why did
Microsoft give Apple the money?
Last evening my wife and I had an occasion to stroll the Hillsdale
shopping mall. I always enjoy ducking into a B. Dalton when I can and I did
again. Predictably, the magazine rack was full of cover stories of the
Apple/Microsoft deal. If it was not a picture of Bill Gates, there was a
headline about him or Apple. I picked up three of them... BusinessWeek,
Newsweek and Time. Each of them is chuck full of stories that provide Gates
and Jobs a forum to express their views. Just for fun, have any of you ever
checked what it would cost to buy the cover of BusinessWeek, Newsweek,
Time, every computer journal, newspaper as well as formidable exposure on
television and radio? Assuredly, $150 million would not make a down payment
except, perhaps, with the agency placing the exposure. The sum of $150
million was a bargain for the measure of "Pride"-orientated exposure the
two companies are now enjoying.
Microsoft certainly did not deliver $150 million to Apple believing
that Jobs already has a plan to turn things around. As of this writing, no
one at Apple really knows who will be in charge. Jobs is making decisions
now, but he makes it clear that he does not want to be the CEO. Jobs wants
to remain faithful to his Pixar endeavors. He knows that the Apple problems
are too big and he does not want to go down with the ship. On the other
hand, Pixar is doing well and is a better career bet. Jobs does more than
hint that facility and headcount downsizing is imminent. This should have
been clear long ago anyway. Every business must bring expenditures to be
below income.
This provides us to another opportunity to spin back the hands of time.
Let us return to Monday, July 2, 1984 and the takeover of Atari by the Jack
Tramiel regime. At that time, Atari was losing hundreds of millions a year
and Warner Communications was literally bleeding money and in desperate
need to stop the crisis. Jack walked in and, almost overnight, offices and
buildings were vacated. People left so fast that over $100,000 in unsigned
travelers checks were left in an unlocked safe in the finance office
according to one takeover executive.
The casualties of personnel and real estate proved to be a key part to
Atari's saving grace. Within a few years, Jack made Atari profitable,
transformed it into a publicly traded company and repaid Warner for all
outstanding debts. In the mid to late eighties, PCs and Apples still cost a
lot of money and Tramiel's Atari found success selling a new generation of
16/32-bit machines for a fraction of IBM-compatible investments...
especially in Europe. But as IBM compatible prices dropped so did Atari's
ability to be competitive and make money. All along the mass market really
wanted 100% compatibility with office computers. When they became almost as
affordable as Atari computers, they won the "Performance" war against any
"Pride" that Atari's proprietary systems built with their users over the
years.
So now, we spin ahead again to present day. We see Apple hanging on to
proprietary technologies just like Atari did. The are defending their niche
markets in graphics and education just like Atari did in the music industry
with integrated MIDI ports and with affordable desktop publishing solutions
using Calamus or Pagestream. We know $90 million did not save Atari when
Sega gave it to them and we know there is historical proof that companies
that attempt to sell proprietary closed environments such as (Atari,
Commodore, Texas Instruments, Coleco Adam, Next, etc.) to the mass markets
ultimately fail. The consumer wants his home applications to work at the
office. The retailer does not want to carry multiple versions of like
software. Software developers do no like having to provide like development
and support functions for multiple platforms. Just spin the dial in history
and these examples appear again and again.
Another recurring spin is that technology companies fail to look at
historic evidence to make decisions for the future. They too often feel
what they have is so cool that everyone will want one, regardless of price
compatibility, trend or overall business sense. It is enough to amaze
anyone that Apple encounters a $150 million windfall without having to
expose a firm and conservative plan to turn things around... not just
philosophical, but itemized actions. Actions that will expand the amount of
Mac software exposure in retail stores. Actions that will inspire die-hard
Apple users to give up the machines and buy new ones. Actions that attract
new customers. Actions that attract new software developers. Actions that
satisfy creditors. Yet again, $150 million cannot do all these things, so
we will have to see how Jobs applies his newfound capital assets.
By looking at the industry spin over the years, Apple's charter should
be quite clear with or without the infusion of $150 million. They need to
build affordable personal computers that are 100% cross compatible with the
rest of the world. They need to cater to their established base with
optional PC-compatible emulation cards that permit the use of Mac software.
They need to divert their technologies to a strong software development
plan based on a MS-Windows framework. Alternatively, they need to put 100%
energies into a relatively small, yet focused high-end solution that will
be out of reach to the mass market (a.k.a. Silicon Graphics).
Steve Job's pride may prevail and insist on downsizing Apple to a model
that he remembers in days when consumers were willing to consider
incompatible platforms. He may downplay the corporate image of boardrooms
and office formalities. Just like Jack Tramiel at Atari, he may not see
that the world has spun around and has different buying trends than they
did ten or more years ago.... that the money and power of IBM couldn't make
OS/2 fly and that we are now a world that ultimately must have a Start icon
in the corner of their computer screen.
It is amusing to watch the industry spin so fast that it never slows
down to take a look at where it has been already.
--END--
Article 542 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: "Jeffrey G. Hammer" <jghammer@iei.net>
Subject: CAB 2.5 - Now with PPP
Date: 27 Sep 1997 19:11:32 GMT
Sorry if you receive this more than once, I just wanted to make sure that
as many people see it as possible.
From: Stu Huffman <shuffman@doe.state.in.us>
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 1997 1:40 PM
>Crystal Atari Browser is now available in its first commercial version,
>v2.5 -- with PPP dialer!
>
>Here's a message from System Solutions of the UK, the only place to get it
>in English.
>
>I plan to order it. Anyone else want to share the FAX call?
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 18:09:27 +0100
>From: Rob Perry <Rob@system-solutions.co.uk>
>
>You can place your order now. The new price of Cab with the PPP dialler
>will be #25.49 + #8 postage (that's in British Pounds Sterling). We
>cannot offer e-mail delivery at the moment.
>
>Payment with Credit Card cannot be accepted via e-mail. If you want to
>order with a credit card please fax us the complete order, including
>the credit card number and expiry date, and sign it. Our fax number is
>01753 830344.
>
>Regards Rob
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Stu Huffman, Indiana Dept of Education: shuffman@doe.state.in.us
> Mail Address: State House 229, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2798
> Office Voice: 317-232-6618 FAX: 317-232-8004
> Home: 610 Artists Dr, POB 1215, Nashville,IN 47448-1215 812-988-7558
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Article 543 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG)
Subject: final MIST show bulletin
Date: 1 Oct 1997 19:39:14 GMT
From: Al Andalus <erasmus@Atari.World>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 08:48:46 GMT
BULLETIN FROM JEFFREY G. HAMMER, MIST SHOW CO-ORGANIZER:
It's almost here! Don't miss it! Possibly the last Atari Show
in the United States!
Saturday, July 26th, from 10 am til 3 pm. (Chicago time)
Post Road Community Center
1313 S. Post Road (south of Washington St., US-40)
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Admission: $1
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Vendor/User Group/Seller list:
This is a list of vendors that have confirmed they are coming
to the show. (We are SOLD OUT.)
Nashville Atari user Group
Emulators, Inc (Derek Mihocka)
FMH Games
LCACE
ACORN - R. Magdich
LAG
ICD
Doug Palmer
It's All Relative
Systems for Tomorrow
SCAT
Donald Turnock
chro_MAGIC / Crawly Crypt
Sanjay Parker
Chris Danyi
Tom Tolman
TOTAL: 24 tables plus MIST plus Jaguar
NOTES:
Missionware will not be there. There may be software available.
Clear Thinking (Edit Plus - Craig Harvey) will not be there.
There will be software updates available.
Toad most likely will not be there.
ICD will run networked Jags, with Battlesphere. He will also
have a limited number of another Jag network game available for
sale. (made by another vendor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTIONS: Post Road is located between exit 90 of I-70 and
exit 96 of I-74, outside the I-465 beltway, on the southeastern side
of the Indianapolis area.
I-65 (to \ / I-69 (to Toronto,
Minneapolis)\ / Canada)
\ /
\________________________ /
\| I-465 beltway \/
|\ |
| \ |I-465
I-74 (to \ | \ |
San Fran- \ | \ |
cisco) \ | \ | |
\| |_____________|___|_____________________
| | | P| I-70
I-465| _______| | o| (to Baltimore)
| / \ | s|MIST
| / | | t|SHOW
/ | | |
/ | | |\ |
/ \____________|________/ \|
/ I-465 | \
I-70 / |I-65 \ (to North
(to Denver) (to Mobile, Ala.) \I-74 Carolina)
Article 544 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: MHz <mhz@earthlink.net>
Subject: Atari Underground Update 9-21-97
Date: 4 Oct 1997 21:34:51 GMT
Greetings. Sorry i know its been a LONG time since the last update, but I
have
a busy life now. As some of you may know I work at a radio station
(www.wrqk.com Weasel on the jox page) I now am the host of the morning
show so its hectic. I try to keep up on as much Atari news as I can, and
im chatting on IRC Undernet #Atari alot at night. (wile getting show prep)
I would like to welcome the new members to the Atari Underground. The list
now has almost 875 people. :) I never thought the list would grow this big,
but
im glad it has. Some of you might not have got this from Telegames so im
passing it along.
-----------------------------------------------------------
NEWS RELEASE
DALLAS, TEXAS (September 18, 1997) -- Telegames announces the official
release date of its next product for the Atari Jaguar, ZERO 5. ZERO 5
will begin shipping worldwide on September 29th
ZERO 5 is a futuristic space shooter set in a 3-D, 360 degree playfield.
The year is 2044 and the battle for Earth has begun. On the far reaches
of the galaxy, a massive invasion force is assembling. Scanners at
DEFCON have alerted you to the alien threat. The Earth's best pilots are
dispatched in their BAMBAM cruisers to engage the enemy. Multiple
weapons, driving soundtrack, non-stop combat, multiple power-ups, and 15
extended missions contribute to a shooters game with real depth.
www.telegames.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Thats all for now. I will try to update more often
Dont forget to check out these Jaguar /msg boards.
http://www.ataricentral.com/wwwboard/jagtalk.html
http://www.magicalfox.com/ken/postit.cgi
If you want to talk LIVE with fellow Atari/Jaguar gammers just get on IRC
Undernet and /join #Atari If your not sure how to get on IRC chat email me
and ill give you all the directions you need.
Atari Underground
MHz@earthlink.net
Atari- a term used in the Japanese strategy game GO to politely warn an
opponent that he is about to be conquered.
Article 545 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: New Atari8-bit emulator for Win32 (9X/NT)
Date: 11 Oct 1997 22:00:59 GMT
From: rich@cstone.net (Rich)
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 15:52:45 GMT
I've ported David Firth's Atari800 to Win32 & DirectX. The home page is here:
http://www.cris.com/~Twist/atari800win
(this page will be updated as new versions come out)
This being the first version there are bound to be problems (a few of which I
already know about and are listed in the bugs.txt document). However I was able
to play plenty of games of MULE and Archon, among lots of other things.
-Rich
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 546 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Best Electronics Rev. 10 Catalog
Date: 1 Nov 1997 21:49:47 GMT
=====================================================
THE LONG RUMORED CATALOG IS REALLY DONE!
After 36+ Months of Intense Labor our Over Due Baby/
Rev. 10 Best Electronics All ATARI Parts/Reference
Catalog has Arrived. This New Rev. 10 version Catalog/
Atari Reference Manual is Over 4 Times the size of our
last catalog (June 1991) and has Many Interesting New Features!
Just to Tickle your interest here are just some of the Features:
* A Catalog Index. Easy to find Item/Product format
* 55+ Best Technical/Repair Tips covering ST, 8 Bit and 2600
5200/7800 Atari Products.
* 90+ Best Informative Information Tips.
* Over 330+ Pictures of Atari products (last catalog had 137 pictures)
* Over 2000+ New Atari part Numbers/ Products
* Expanded Listing and Descriptions of 8 bit Software Titles.
* An Atari Memorabilia Picture Museum and Complete Atari 1/0 Connector
* Specifications on just about every Atari product made!
As we start an Unprecedented 15th Year in the Atari Computer Parts
business, Our New fully Computerized Accounting System has had all of the
BUGS worked out, so each customer will Now have a Unique Customer Number for
easy Item Inquiries, Order Processing and Invoicing. We can efficiently
Track our 4,000+ Line Item Inventory!
The Unique Best Catalog which is Now Shipped World Wide to Atari end users
and Dealers alike is priced at $7.50 (Actual Cost to Produce only) PLUS
$3.00 U.S. Priority Mailing.
(California residents must add your local 7.25% (.54), 7.375% (.55), 7.50%
(.56), 7.75% (.58), 8.25% (.62) or 8.50% (.64) cents sales tax to the total.
So if you would like to get a hold of a Hot off the press copy of our
catalog, just send us your NAME & ADDRESS and a check for $10.50 OR have us
include the new catalog FOR $7.50 in your next Mail Order and SAVE $3.00.
BEST ELECTRONICS
2021 The Alameda #290
SAN JOSE CA 95126 USA
408-243-6950
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 547 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: POOLDISK II CD
Date: 1 Nov 1997 22:32:46 GMT
From: ernest@pi.net (Ernest R. Schreurs)
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 1997 23:25:45 GMT
It has been two years since we produced the POOLDISK, a CD that
contains about 2300 public domain / shareware / freeware diskettes
for the XL/XE in ATR format. We are currently working on a new
version, the POOLDISK II. This CD will contain even more diskettes.
We gained acces to a stack of diskettes with Dutch software, and
we are sure that there are lots of other disks out there that we do
not have in our private collection. So we need your HELP!!!!
Actually, you can do yourself a favor. If you happen to have any
disks that we do not already have, it would be greatly appreciated if
you would send us or E-mail us a copy of it in the ATR format. A
regular copy of an 8-bit disk is fine too of course. We will then put
that disk on the next POOLDISK. Then, if you obtain a POOLDISK
from us, it will contain all the public domain / shareware / freeware
diskettes that you own. This will provide you with an excellent
backup of all your disks, and in the mean time, you can share all this
software with all other classic Atari users. So, this is sort of like
having all your disks written to a CD for free! Well, you have to pay
us for the cost of the CD of course, but, since we sold a lot of
copies of our first POOLDISK, we have recovered all our cost
(investment in hardware, software, photographs etc.) so we can produce
this next POOLDISK real cheap. Our original POOLDISK was sold
at US $ 35, but we can produce the second POOLDISK much
cheaper. We have not yet set a fixed price, but the POOLDISK II
will be sold at half that price or less! Note that this price is not
fixed yet, as we are still considering the option to make it a
double-CD. But rest assured that this CD will be real cheap.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has
purchased our first POOLDISK, for through their support, we can
create this second POOLDISK at these astonishing prices.
So, send us ALL the PD / shareware / freeware that you have,
If you want to verify whether or not we already have the program
or disk you want to send to us, feel free to ask, just send us a note.
If you are a librarian, or know one, contact us! We can create a
separate directory on the CD to identify that these disks come
from your usergroup. This is THE chance to create a permanent
backup copy of your library.
If you have photos of rare 8-bit items or other material that would
be interesting to put on this CD, contact us! Any other suggestions
are welcome too! Any rare 2600 stuff is equally welcome!
Make sure you do not miss this opportunity to participate in this
project. Don't disappoint us, make my mailbox full with ATR's.
The more people participate, the faster we can produce this
CD. We are planning on releasing it before the end of this
year, maybe even in time for Christmas. So help us please!
Send E-mail to ernest@pi.net or by regular mail to
Ernest R. Schreurs
Kempenlandstraat 8
5211 VN Den Bosch
The Netherlands
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 548 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Vintage Computer Festival
Date: 15 Nov 1997 21:55:30 GMT
From: siconic@jasmine.psyber.com (Sam Ismail)
Date: 6 Sep 1997 21:35:09 GMT
Announcing the First Annual Vintage Computer Festival!
------------------------------------------------------
Mark your calendars! The first ever public celebration of vintage
computers will take place at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton,
California this October 25th and 26th.
The Vintage Computer Festival (VCF) is the first event of its kind
anywhere in the world. This two day festival will feature presentations
and workshops by notable computer industry figures and vintage computer
hobbyists. There will also be an on-site, hands-on vintage computer
exhibition. Experiment with the classic computers of yesteryear!
Each year a computer from the past is placed in the Vintage Computer
Spotlight. This year we focus on the Apple ][. To celebrate the 20th
anniversary of this classic, we will be giving away an original Apple ][
personal computer! Each person who attends the VCF is automatically
entered into the drawing!
Both seasoned and new computer collectors will enjoy workshops and
panels to share ideas and learn about finding, acquiring, restoring,
and enjoying vintage computers.
The VCF also features the Vintage Computer Flea Market. Find those old
computers, peripherals, manuals, and programs you've been looking for!
The flea market is the ideal way for new comers to the field to start
their own collection or for seasoned collectors to add to their existing
stash.
Celebrate the good old days of computing! Attend the First Annual Vintage
Computer Festival!!!
When: October 25-26th, 9:00AM - 5:00PM daily
Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, California
Admission: Pre-registered ($SAVE$)
Individual: $15
Family: $24 (two adults and four children)
Benefits of pre-registration include:
o Access to speakers, workshops, flea market and
exhibition
o Pre-paid parking
To pre-register, send a check or money order to:
Vintage Computer Festival
4275-29 Rosewood Drive #161
Pleasanton, California 94588
Please make checks payable to "Vintage Computer Festival"
At-the-door
o Speakers, Workshops, Flea Market and Exhibition
Individual: $10.00
Family: $16.00
o Flea Market and Exhibition only
Individual: $5.00
Family: $10.00
Please note: "At-the-door" rate is for a one day pass
only and does not include parking.
For more information including the latest list of speakers and workshops
please check out:
http://www.siconic.com/vcf
or send e-mail to:
mailto:vcf@siconic.com
SEE YOU AT THE VINTAGE COMPUTER FESTIVAL!!!
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 549 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Atari show in Dallas, Texas!
Date: 15 Nov 1997 22:02:37 GMT
From: smedley@gte.net (Dan Mazurowski)
Date: 14 Sep 1997 22:25:07 GMT
The Event:
----------
Another reminder that the Atari Users of North Texas will be hosting
an "Atari show" at the Infomart in downtown Dallas on Saturday,
October 11th. While AUNT is primarily an ST/TT/Falcon computer users
group, we invite all Atarians - 16 bitters, 8 bitters, and gamers
(like me!) to attend. Attendance is FREE!
OK, I gotta admit it up front - the 8-bit computer line will not be
very well represented here. In fact, I think my XEGS will be the only
machine in this family around for you to fiddle with. But this is a
great chance for us all to get together and share some stories. And if
you want to bring some of your 8-bit stuff for swapping, post a note
in comp.sys.atari.8bit announcing what you have to bring - perhaps
some of us can get together and do some business on the side.
Other attractions:
-------------------
We will also be hosting a pre-show dinner and a post-show dinner to
give all Atarians a chance to relax and have dinner in a much more
relaxed atmosphere. The pre-show dinner will be at the Hoffbrau in
Addison, while the post-show dinner will be at the Bavarian Grill in
Plano. If you would like to attend either or both of these dinners,
contact David Acklam (see e-mail address later in this note).
At this point in time, we expect ChroMagic, Crawly Crypt, Systems For
Tomorrow, It's All Relative, Emulators Inc., and Trace Technologies
attend. (This is not set in stone - more vendors may be added, and
some of these may not attend after all. I should have a more definite
list for you in about a week. But these vendors all showed a strong
interest in attending.)
What there is to do:
---------------------
Along with shopping the vendors, we are planning a few software &
hardware demonstrations, including an Atari internet demo (if we can
get a phone line from the room cheap enough) and a big chunk of my
personal Atari classic (and not so classic) video game collection -
free to play all day, as long as you're nice to my stuff! (I'll also
be bringing a little bit of trading stuff for any classic gamers out
there.) Again, I'll have more solid info in about a week - stay tuned!
There are also plans still being hammered out for a free raffle and
some game competitions. I am welcoming suggestions about what games
you would like to play in such competitions, and ways to structure the
events. (Probably no prizes for the games - it will just be for fun.
But here's hoping we CAN manage to scrounge up a few extra prizes
aside from the raffle - anybody got anything humorous to donate?)
BTW, if you are not a ST/TT/Falcon owner, contact our vendors and let
them know what platform you would be interested in shopping for at the
show! For instance, I know SFT stocks classic and modern Atari gaming
stuff - their e-mail is sales@SystemsForTomorrow if you want them to
bring some of these items with them.
If you can't go, ADVERTISE!
-----------------------------
And lastly, if you're a vendor and would like to place an ad in our
show newsletter, which will be handed out free at the show, contact
Dave Acklam ASAP! Rates a VERY CHEAP for this advertising, but it goes
to press very soon so contact him NOW! Last year we attracted Atarians
from all over Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma for this show -
let them know you're there to sell Atari products to them, even if you
are unable to bring your goods to the show!
For more info, contact:
David Acklam, President & Editor: d-acklam@ti.com
Dan Mazurowski, Secretary: smedley@gte.net
---
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Sir Smedley AKA Dan Mazurowski
smedley@gte.net
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Classic game collecting - nostalgia is chunky!
NEW & IMPROVED web page at http://home1.gte.net/smedley/index.htm
Come see my Atari Community E-mail Address Book!!
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 550 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Atari show in Dallas - update
Date: 15 Nov 1997 22:39:45 GMT
From: smedley@gte.net (Dan Mazurowski)
Date: 25 Sep 1997 15:12:37 GMT
Here we go! I finally have a list of vendors committed to attending
the show. Chromagic, Crawly Crypt, Systems for Tomorrow, Emulators Inc
(formerly Branch Always Software) and More Than Games. These names
should all be familair to you ST computer fans out there. For the
Atari gamers, Systems for Tomorrow also sells 2600, 7800, Lynx, and
Jaguar games - contact them if you would like them to bring along a
specific title for you. Sorry XL/XE fans, as far as I know none of
these guys carry products for the older Atari computers. Hey, believe
me, I e-mailed both Best Computers and B&C Computervisions to try to
get them to attend the show, but neither could. (Come to think of it,
I don't remember if Best even replied... I wonder if the address I
used was any good?) But come on by anyway, meet some fellow Atarians
and maybe strike a few trade deals. (And yes, fellow gamers, I will
have some trade fodder along if you wanna wheel & deal!)
The show is on Saturday, October 11th, at the Infomart in downtown
Dallas Texas. For directions or other info, contact:
Dan Mazurowski smedley@gte.net
---
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Sir Smedley AKA Dan Mazurowski
smedley@gte.net
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Classic game collecting - nostalgia is chunky!
NEW & IMPROVED web page at http://home1.gte.net/smedley/index.htm
Come see my Atari Community E-mail Address Book!!
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 551 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: ABBUC JHV 97 Germany
Date: 15 Nov 1997 22:47:45 GMT
From: schallt@fh-worms.de ()
Subject: ABBUC JHV 97 Germany
Date: 13 Oct 1997 13:09:45 GMT
Hi out there,
it is time for the next ABBUC JHV 97 fair/show for the atari 8 Bit systems.
As every year is the fair held in Herten/Germany on Sa. the 18th of October.
The fair is a point/place to meet other people that are still using their
XL/E.
At the fair will be Wolfgang Burger ( Boss ABBUC ), Joost Kuepp ( PCB, Manual
libary or do it yourself repair lettres ), Erhard Puetz ( Floppy Doc ) and
other people that lead this club with about 500 users.
You can buy games and hardware from different people.
KE - Soft with his great range of XL/E, VCS 2600 - 7800 games and
A. Stuermer ( Portronic ) - with his sound devices, games ...
Kaisersoft - imports many games from Polen/Tschechien and makes Top Mag ( German
only )
ABBUC - has a great PD Libary, many Manuals, different hardware, several
Cartridges, Abbuc Mag 1- 50 ( German ), ABBUC Homepage and more.
Many private will also there and sell their used hard- and software.
You will meet people from Polen/Germany/USA/Holland ...
It is possible that the people that invented a AT- BUS Interface are there. They
have updated theis Software and now you can use OEM Zip drives with your XL.
CU in Herten
schallt@fh-worms.de
Die diesjaehrige Abbuc JHV findet wieder am 18 Oktober in Herten statt. Wer Lust
und Zeit hat kann als Besucher zwischen 12 Uhr und 16 Uhr auf der Messe aufschlagen.
Die Messe wird wieder in Herten ( Buergerhaus Sued ) durchgefuehrt. Hier ein Auszug
aus der Homepage vom ABBUC:
ATARI BIT BYTER USER CLUB e.V.
am 18. Oktober 1997
in 45699 Herten, Brgerhaus Herten Sd
Tagesablauf:
10.00 - 11.00 h Aufbau der Aussteller
11.00 - 13.00 h Hauptversammlung
13.00 - 17.00 h Computerschau
Anschlie'end gemtlicher Ausklang in einer Gaststtte
Also lassen wir es mal gemuetlich ausklingen.
Weitere Hinweise auf anwesende Teilnehmer und Aussteller entnehme man der ABBUC
Instant Seite im Internet ( liegt nicht in der ABBUC Homepage !!! ).
Gruss
Torsten Schall
schallt@fh-worms.de
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 552 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Help us fill POOLDISK II CD with public domain software
Date: 22 Nov 1997 23:00:56 GMT
From: ernest@pi.net (Ernest R. Schreurs)
Date: Thu, 09 Oct 1997 23:05:29 GMT
We are currently working on POOLDISK II. For those of you that do not
know what this is, in October 1995 we created a CD-Rom filled with
public domain programs for the Atari 8-bit systems. It also contains
shareware, freeware and everything else that can be distributed
freely. All the public domain diskettes we have in our collection
have been copied to a PC with SIO2PC. The POOLDISK CD thus
contains over 2300 files in the well known ATR format. These can be
used with a real Atari 8-bit computer, by using SIO2PC or APE, or
with the various Atari 8-bit emulators that exist.
We are now working on the second version of this CD. Since prices of
blank CDR disks have dropped a lot compared to two years ago, we can
sell the new POOLDISK II disks at a very low price. This is a great
opportunity to save all your own public domain disks and other disks
and material that can be copied freely. If you send us a copy of
whatever you have, we can add it to the POOLDISK II, and this way, we
can help each other. You will be able to get a backup of your disk
collection, and everbody else will be able to use the stuff too. Any
text files or any other material like pictures that can be stored on a
CD is also welcome.
So please check the stuff you own, and if there is anything that you
would like to share, send us a copy. If you have some programs or
utilities that you wrote yourself, and did not think other people
would be interested in, now is the time to share it with everyone,
since we have lots of space on a CD-Rom. Ask your friends and fellow
Atarians too. We hope to be able to start production of the CD by the
end of November, so make sure you send us your stuff before that time.
We really need your help now. We have gathered some 100 Dutch disks
for the new CD, but we think there must still be hundreds of programs
out there that deserve to be on the CD, so if you have any stuff, in
any language, we need it ! If you are unsure about whether or not
stuff is already on the POOLDISK, send us a list of the stuff you have
and would like to send us.
Our original POOLDISK was sold at US $ 35, but we can produce the
second POOLDISK much cheaper. We have not yet set a fixed price, but
the POOLDISK II will be sold at half that price or less! Note that
this price is not fixed yet, as we are still considering the option to
make it a double-CD. But rest assured that this CD will be real
cheap. If we receive lots of stuff, we can make this a double CD, so
do not hesitate, send us everything you got !! You can E-mail stuff
to me using my address: ernest@pi.net or you can send it by regular
mail to:
Ernest R. Schreurs
Kempenlandstraat 8
5211 VN Den Bosch
The Netherlands
Keep those XL's/XE's humming!
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 553 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: ANNC: SIFE 0.0 IS HERE
Date: 8 Dec 1997 21:46:33 GMT
From: kendrick@zippy.sonoma.edu (William Kendrick)
Date: 27 Nov 1997 10:06:14 GMT
SIFE, The Super-IRG Font Editor, version 0.0 has been released!
Super-IRG mode is similar to APAC, ColorView and HIP mode in that it
is a software-based, Vertical Blank Interrupt (VBI) driven display.
With Super-IRG mode, you get 14 colors on screen at once, nearly
3 times as many as in a normal IRG mode. And since the palette doesn't
change and DLI's aren't used, you can dither the "blended" colors
between the two flipped frames to reduce the flickering considerably!
In fact, SIFE does just this! When I was creating the graphics for
Gem Drop (I did this practically by hand; I only had a simple
monochrome font editor to use!), I learned that the key to making the
Super-IRG mode look good is to take advantage of the ability to dither
the pixels.
SIFE has a simple copy/paste buffer for copying characters around in
your font, and even allows you to edit four characters at a time
(in a 2x2 fashion; great for tile graphics for games)...
The current version comes with:
* The SIFE 0.0 compiled executable (no Action! cartridge is needed).
* The Action! source code to SIFE 0.0.
* A Super-IRG library for Action! INCLUDE it in your programs and then
use SIOn() and SIOff() to turn the mode on and off.
* A simple example program using the library mentioned above.
* A Super-IRG version of the good ol' standard Atari ROM font.
* Documentation!
This isn't the last version, though! Future versions will include:
* Editing of at least two fonts simultaneously (with copy/paste between).
This would be great for animated fonts!
* Assembly language and BASIC examples of using Super-IRG.
* More editing features (mirror image, invert, slide, etc.)
* The ability to load and save other font formats.
* A Windows BMP to SIFE converted!?!?
You can download SIFE from U.Mich at:
ftp://atari.archive.umich.edu/atari/8bit/Graphics/Editors/
http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Graphics/Editors/
Or search for it at XL Search:
http://zippy.sonoma.edu/kendrick/nbs/xlsearch/
Or just download it directly off the SIFE Website:
http://zippy.sonoma.edu/kendrick/nbs/atari/utils/sife/
Enjoy! Please send any comments!
And if you make some cool, useful .SIF fonts, please e-mail them to me
or upload them to UMich!
-bill!
kendrick@zippy.sonoma.edu
http://zippy.sonoma.edu/kendrick/
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 554 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Announcing Ramdrive v1.0
Date: 17 Dec 1997 22:29:59 GMT
From: rje@co.umist.ac.uk (Raphael James Espino)
Date: 09 Dec 1997 15:32:54 GMT
Well here it is!
For all of those who are interested Ramdrive 1.0 is
a new ramdisk for XL and XE's. It works under most DOS's including
2.0, 2.5, 3.0, MYDOS 4.50 and 4.53/4, and possibly others (although I
haven't tested it, but you're welcome to try it). It does use the RAM
under the OS ROMs for its own purposes which means that it won't work
with anything else that also does the same, such as most versions of
SpartaDos, (although it might work under SpartaDos X - anyone willing to
try it?), DOS XE, Turbo Basic XL and others. It will work with the OS
B translator disks however.
Support is included for an 8k ramdrive using the RAM under the BASIC ROM, a 64K
ramdrive (499 sectors, for standard 130XE 128K machines), a 256K
ramdrive (for 320K machines), a 512K ramdrive (for 576K machines) and a
1Meg ramdrive (for 1088K machines). However other memory sizes can be
accomodated by creating the corresponding configuration files. The
upper limit is set by the fact that only one bank switching address is used
(see below), although I have plans to use 2 addresses (and hence
bigger ramdrives) in version 1.1. Also there are a couple of
configuration files allowing you to play Zork I from a ramdrive (at
least 256K needed).
You can have up to 10 ramdrives at any one time, although 9 ramdrives
and 1 real drive would probably be the practical upper limit.
Ramdrives behave almost like standard drives, and can be configured for
single, enhanced and double density, single or double sided, as well
as more exotic configurations, such as 512 byte sectors and 1024 byte
sectors, and anywhere up to 256 sides. The maximum number of sectors
on a ramdrive is 65535.
Ramdrives are assigned a drive number in the standard way (i.e. D4:,
D7: , etc.) and both real drives and ramdrives can be renumbered at a
keypress, so your ramdrive can become D1: and your real drive D8:
without having to change the switches on the back of your real drive.
You can also both warmstart and coldstart at a keypress and retain
your ramdrives.
Non-standard memory expansions can also be used, 1,2,4,8,16 and 32K
memory banks are catered for, appearing anywhere in the RAM address
space, and using any address for bank switching (defaults to 54017 PORTB).
I hope to upload an .arc file with all this to the umich archive soon,
but for the time being it's available on my web page:
http://www.co.umist.ac.uk/~rje/8bit/ramd.html
So go take a look and tell me what you think, suggestions, comments,
bug reports, etc. are all welcome. You can e-mail me at:
rje at co dot umist dot ac dot uk
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 555 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: New Atari 8-Bit CD-ROM
Date: 17 Dec 1997 22:37:52 GMT
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 12:05:38 -0800
From: BobKlaas <bobkla19@sisna.com>
Organization: K-Products
For the past couple of years I have been working on building a CD-ROM
for the Atari
8-Bit computer. I am looking for items that have not been published on
the Pool Disk or the
Disk put out by James King. If you have something to contribute be it
text or file then send it to me..I will enclude it in the CD-ROM pc
format to be downloaded to the Atari 8-bit. I am not interested in
Copyrighted files! The files can be copyrighted proviede you hold the
copyright and or Text Files you have written in any area upgrade ect!
I know there are Tech support individualy that have documented all or
the computers, drives ect built for the Atari 8-bit. Many of you have
gone through each item with a logic probe as I have and have the
information layed out.now is the time to share the informaton with
others! I have and will continue to do so..If you have something you
wish on the disk
then by all means send it to me stating what it is what it does ect and
it will be encluded.
Earlier I received some Copyrighted items from individuals holding the
copyright but
I (dummy!) didn't know how to receicve them..if you sent me something
before to be incldued in the disk please send it again as I can now tap
the right key to get the file
Apppreciate your efforts
bob
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
Article 556 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.news:
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: New Magazine needs Submissions!
Date: 18 Dec 1997 16:28:06 GMT
From: "/\\/\\/\\/\\--VoRTeX--/\\/\\/\\/\\" <jonart@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 02:01:08 -0500
Hi Everyone,
Currently, I am working on a little magazine for older computers(mostly
commodore and atari but all others are welcome to) to help support users
out there. There seems to be alot of support for older systems just not
in one place. I want to do features and listings on web-sites,
companies, individuals who support these older machines. I would like to
have articles on hardware upgrades and modifications for these machines
along with new and innovative software. I will also provide very low
cost advertising for those who wish to sell their hardware/software new
or used. I think I can publish it quarterly with no problems. The format
will be simple and cost effective for me to produce, 8.5in by 11in pages
folded in half(booklet form), and will hopefully have at least 16 pages.
I have not figured out a price for this yet but more than likeley about
$1 will pay for the printing and the postage. I will be taking
submissions for articles right now. They can pretty much consist of
anything(reviews, opinions, programming, hardware modifications, and
most importantly getting these machines online.) All submissions will
get proper credit! Also I am in need of a name for this mag, so please
send in your ideas!
Please send all submissions to: Vintag_Micro@yahoo.com
I hope something like this would be of interest to others.
Thank You,
Jon
--
Michael Current, mailto:mcurrent@carleton.edu
8-bit Atari FAQ and Vendor Lists, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, telnet://freenet-in-c.cwru.edu (go atari)
St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts, http://www.library.carleton.edu/space/
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