Z*Magazine: 7-Mar-89 #147
From: Atari SIG (xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 09/18/93-05:14:35 PM Z
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From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG) Subject: Z*Magazine: 7-Mar-89 #147 Date: Sat Sep 18 17:14:35 1993 |SYNDICATE ZMAGAZINE| | Issue #147 | | March 7, 1989 | |Copyright 1989, SPC| |This week in ZMagazine| Publisher's Desk Ron Kovacs Editor's Monitor Harold Brewer Commodore 1350 Controller Jay Pierstorff New Games for the 8-bit Matt Ratcliff GEnie's February 8-bit Uploads Courtesy of GEnie/Atari 8-bit RT Micromiser: Part 3 Kenneth Gilbert Z Innovators Oasis BBS Policy Courtesy of Bungalow BBS Z*NET Newswire Harold Brewer |PUBLISHER'S DESK| |by Ron Kovacs| Welcome to a new, revamped edition of ZMAGAZINE. Along with the change in format, I am pleased to welcome Harold Brewer to the staff as editor. Harold, from the St. Louis area and supporter of two area Atari Users Groups, will insure the best editing and content. Long time readers of ZMAG will remember our old original style, and I hope the new readers appreciate the change. If you have comments on this change, please leave us Email on the services at the account names listed below. As in the past, the request remains the same: if you have any articles you would like to submit, please send them in. If your BBS system carries our publications, let us know so we can add them to our list. ZNET has been released and is appearing in 6 debut groups. If you are interested in more information on ZNET, look for the entire press release in this weeks ST*ZMAGAZINE and in next week's edition of ZMAG. If you are a User Group Editor, we are sure the information released about ZNET will be of interest to you. For more info on ZNET, leave Email or call (201)968-8148. I will get back to you as soon as I can! My sincere thanks go to Harold Brewer for his assistance. Best of luck with this and all future releases. |Editor's Monitor| |by Harold Brewer| This issue of ZMagazine reflects three changes in its makeup. 1) Syndicate Publishing is responding to ZMagazine's readers' views with a 40 column ZMagazine. This format should make the online viewing of ZMagazine more of a pleasure to us 40-column users. 2) Since ZMagazine is once again concentrating on Atari 8-bit articles, ATASCII control characters will make their appearance here. The full utilization of the Atari 8-bit character set would seem to make sense. 3) Ron Kovacs, with his editing of ST-ZMagazine and Z*NET taking much of his time, has felt it necessary to pass the editorship of ZMagazine to another. The person Ron chose to be the new ZMagazine editor is me, Harold Brewer. A thumbnail sketch: I'm 32 years old, married with two children. I live in an Illinois town called Granite City which is an IBM's throw from St. Louis Missouri. I am involved with two local Atari users' groups: Atari Computer Enthusiasts St. Louis and Eastside Atari User Group, and I am a co-SysOp on two Atari Bulletin Boards: Bungalow BBS--Oasis BBS Software Support BBS 314-351-2837 and Centurian BBS--the National ZMagazine Headquarters BBS 618-451-0165 or 314-621-5046. (The 314 area code is PC Pursuitable.) My computer system consists of a 256K 800XL (RAMBO XL) with switchable Omniview OS, two doubled 1050 disk drives, a 256K MIO, a Supra 2400 bps modem, a Star NX-10 printer, a Commodore 1702 monitor, and a one week old 60Meg Seagate hard drive. I've had my 800XL since 1984, and have been "modeming" since November 1986. I am a big fan of ICD and SpartaDOS, so if it seems I am a bit biased where they are concerned, you know its roots. I have edited two newsletters in the past, and have excelled at the several college-level English classes I have taken. These should assist me in providing ZMag readers with timeliness and clarity. I hope to assist in the fine tradition of excellence which Ron Kovacs and Syndicate Publishing has maintained in the production of ZMagazine. That's enough "I"s, so in passing, ZMag's new editor would like to add that ZMagazine gratefully accepts all Atari 8-bit articles and commentary. |COMMODORE 1350 CONTROLLER| |by Jay Pierstorff| (Reprinted from July 1986 ZMagazine) Courtesy CompuServe SIG*Atari There has been much talk of mice and mouse controllers lately. The new Atari STs come equipped with their own mouse...(mice?)...meeces?. Anyway, those of us who have an Atari of the 8-bit persuasion have watched with great envy, wishing we too could have mice. Even if we could buy an ST mouse for our 8-bitters (which we can't), it wouldn't work with our existing joystuck (sic) programs. Sure, we'd all love to have an Atari ST, but my 130XE's library is bigger than the ST's and more important, it's paid for. Atari is rumored to be introducing an 8-bit mouse, but it is not confirmed at the time this article is being written. Mouse envy persists. I found myself wandering the aisles of the computer stores. Suddenly, I noticed a Commodore product beaming through the glass. "The Commodore 1350 Mouse for the C128" was printed on the package. The price was less than $50. Those lucky 128 owners! Too bad Atari hasn't made one for their computers. The C128 Commodore is upwardly compatible to the C64 computer. That means any software which worked on the 64 will also run on the 128. The C64s and the Ataris have always been really friendly about using the same joystick varieties. Would this... could this...might this mouse work with a trackball or mouse driver program? The plug looked very much like a standard joystick connector. I bought it and took it home. I could tell my Atari 130XE was nervous about the whole works, but undaunted, I loaded a trackball program, plugged in the mouse...but wait, the plug would not stay in! Upon close examination of the connector, I discovered that it was about 1/8 of an inch too short to reach the connector pins (Commodore computers don't recess their joystick ports quite as much as Atari). I was puzzled for a moment and then I thought about using a joystick extension cable! Ha! I quickly found my extension cable and plugged one end into port 1 and the other end plugged perfectly into the mouse's "tail"! With trembling fingers I slid the mouse across the desk, and then... nothing. The cursor was on the screen but the mouse yawned. It would not control the cursor, not even a little. Now what...? I tried to think, maybe it would work with a Koala or Touch Tablet program! I booted and failed. Maybe it was a "joystick emulator!" A joystick in mouse clothing! I loaded the graphics editor of The Print Shop, IT WORKED! IT WAS A JOYSTICK EMULATOR ALL ALONG! Suddenly, it occurred to me I should probably calm down. I got down off the computer table and tried a few more programs. Everything that would normally run with a joystick was working with this imitation mouse. A comparison of the mouse and the Atari port shows the connections are mostly compatible with Atari and Commodore joysticks. Interesting that the brief mouse instructions made no mention of joystick emulation or even compatibility with the C64! Strange thing to keep a secret! Especially for companies in business to make money. The only non-workable feature of the 1350 Mouse is the right button. The left button is the standard "fire" button on a joystick. The right button is connected to pin 9. The Atari looks to pin 9 for a potentiometer reading like a paddle controller would produce. But since there is no paddle emulation in the mouse, the right button is invisible to the Atari OS. Oh well, one doesn't miss what one has never had. If joysticks were meant to have two buttons....well you know what I mean. The Commodore Mouse is very usable. Even though your computer thinks it's a joystick, you will think it's a mouse! It really does an amazing job of convincing you! It feels good in your hand and moves smoothly across any flat surface. A clean desk or a "mouse pad" will give best results. A mouse pad is a rubber backed, thin cushion that gives more control over mouse movements. For mouse maintenance, the rubber coated steel ball can be easily removed for cleaning. The 1350 Mouse is different from a true optical driven mouse. A true mouse has proportional control. The faster you move the mouse, the faster the cursor will move. The 1350 mimics this action but it can't move the cursor any faster than a joystick would. Slower cursor movements are imitated by the mouse delivering short, stop and go pulses to the computer. A true mouse will always take the same desktop travel to move the cursor from one screen edge to the other. The 1350 will move the cursor at maximum speed as long as the 1350 is in any motion at any speed. That means a fast, long push may not move the cursor as far as a short, slow push! That's not really a problem though, it's just a difference that can be worked with. It can even be an advantage for limited desktop space. The Commodore 1350 Mouse worked with all games and programs that require a joystick. Some are improved by the mouse and some are more suited to joystick control. The type of programs that are best suited to the mouse are those that require precision movements of cursor or gunsight centering on the screen. The least suited are the programs requiring continuous scrolling movements. They often require picking the mouse up and starting again if you run out of counter space. Drawing and doodling programs worked fabulous. Koronis Rift scores improved markedly. Rescue on Fractalus was confusing! Donkey Kong was...different! It just depends on the type of movement involved. Many games took on a whole new feel when played with the mouse. Many were even more fun with a mouse than with a joystick! Do you really need a mouse? Yes you do! If you own and use a joystick, you will definitely enjoy owning a 1350 Mouse. I wouldn't part with mine. Don't throw your joystick away yet, but mine is seeing less use since I let the mouse in the house! The Commodore Mouse is not just for the C128 anymore! It's one of the best darn joysticks since the old Atari licorice stick! (Editor's note: We 8-bitters can purchase the ST mouse for $59.95 retail, and 2 1/2 years after this article was written, still no 8-bit mouse from Atari.) |NEW GAMES FOR THE 8-BIT| |by Matt Ratcliff| ANTIC PUBLISHING INC., COPYRIGHT 1989 REPRINTED BY PERMISSION. I was just sorting through my cartridge collection yesterday. Atari has released 15 or MORE new cartridges (though not necessarily new programs) in the past year. That's a whole LOT MORE than anyone else. We have complained long and loud about Atari's lack of support for the 8-bit Ataris, but it seems that times are changing. Cartridges which stand out from the crowd are: Into The Eagle's Nest--This is an ORIGINAL game from Atari and PANDORA software. It is similar to Gauntlet. The scenario places you in a Nazi fortress where you must blast your way past the enemy soldiers, activate 4 detonators (one at each level of the castle), rescue three of your captured allies, and escape with your skin. It's VERY difficult to win, but the playability is superb. Graphics and sound effects are the best I've seen in years. This baby gets a four star rating from Mat*Rat. Crystal Castles--Has Pac-Man gone 3-D? Could there be a Bentley Bear cartoon show in your future? It's hard to say, but this is a very cute game. The mazes are now 3 dimensional, played from a 2/3 overhead view. You must get Bentley Bear to run up and down stairs, through tunnels, and navigate elevators to collect the jewels and honey pots. There's also a super-power magic hat that lets Bentley thwart his foes for awhile. There are "hidden" escape routes from some screens which let you jump to higher levels in the games, and gain bonus points and lives. This game is great for small children, who seem fascinated by it all. It is easy to master in terms of game play, but difficult to beat with about 30 different mazes. This is a very cool game and gets a three star rating from Mat*Rat. Mario Brothers--Yes, finally, after 6 years, Mario Brothers comes to the Atari home computer. It is old by today's standards--Nintendo has Super Mario Brothers II out now! However, it's a real GAS to play, especially in the two player mode. The graphics and sound effects mimic the original coin-op very nicely. This running, jumping, varmint zapping game gets a 3 1/2 star rating from Mat*Rat. Desert Falcon--You control the mysterious Desert Falcon. Why is he here? What should he do? It seems that he's a "pirate" of sorts, looting the pyramids of Egypt. Pick up hieroglyphics for points and "mysterious powers". Shoot bad guys, avoid the obstacles, and eventually shoot the "howling sphinx" right between the eyes. This is a 2/3 overhead view of a scrolling playfield, similar to Blue Max and Zaxxon. The scenario seems all too much like Zaxxon to me. It does have more "depth" because of the mystical powers some hieroglyphs can provide. Graphics are fair and sound effects are good. Playability is above average, but the theme is definitely nothing new. It gets a 2 1/2 star rating from Mat*Rat. |*** NEW NEW NEW ***| Finally, coming to my dealer this week, three new cartridges: Crime Busters--Jim Zalewski's second light gun game (his first was "Barnyard Blaster"). he name indicates the theme. I'll give you a mini-review in an upcoming HOT NEWS. Dark Chamber--This is a mystery game. It is an ORIGINAL game, supposedly similar to Gauntlet--only BETTER and more sophisticated. Choplifter--This Broderbund game has been repackaged in a cartridge, with ALL NEW GRAPHICS. No word on whether the game play has been changed, however. I will keep you posted! |GEnie's February 8-bit Uploads| Courtesy of GEnie/Atari 8-bit RT Edited by Harold Brewer # FILENAME Address-YYMMDD-Bytes-Access-Lib Description 4203 DETERMNOHANDLER.ARC CRAIG.S.THOM 890228 25200 18 8 Desc: handler-less version of DETERM 1.59 4202 DETERM850.ARC CRAIG.S.THOM 890228 25200 31 8 Desc: 850/P:R: version of DETERM 1.59 4201 DETERMMPP.ARC CRAIG.S.THOM 890228 26460 3 8 Desc: MPP version of DETERM 1.59 4200 ZMAG146.ARC ZMAGAZINE 890228 20160 54 13 Desc: Issue #146, Feb 28, 1989 4199 DETERMSX212.ARC CRAIG.S.THOM 890228 26460 16 8 Desc: sx212 version of DETERM 1.59 4198 DETERMXM301.ARC CRAIG.S.THOM 890228 27720 5 8 Desc: XM301 version of DETERM 1.59 4197 DETERMDOC.ARC CRAIG.S.THOM 890228 16380 43 8 Desc: Documentation for DETERM 1.59 4196 ZNET.ASC ZMAGAZINE 890228 10080 25 12 Desc: Press Release for Z*Net Newsletter 4195 ZNET_AD_RATE.ASC ZMAGAZINE 890228 5040 15 12 Desc: Advertiser info for Z*Net Newsletter 4194 ATARI4SALE.TXT S.DAY3 890226 2520 30 11 Desc: GREAT SYSTEM FOR SALE!!! 4193 VT850B0.ARC C.LASER 890226 15120 13 8 Desc: VT100 Emulator, uses optional XEP80 4192 GILBERT_REPLY.TXT S.BOLDUC 890225 7560 45 9 Desc: Micromiser Tells It's Side 4190 BEACHCOW.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 15120 22 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -cow- 4189 AMIGA3D.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 18900 16 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -amiga3d- 4188 LIMOUSINE.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 17640 13 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -limo- 4187 SHOGUN.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 25200 14 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -shogun- 4186 MONSTER1.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 16380 16 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -monster- 4185 BALLOON.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 17640 14 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -balloon- 4184 FACE3.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 16380 18 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -girl1- 4183 FACE2.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 16380 21 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -man2- 4182 FACE1.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 13860 13 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC -Girl- 4181 JUKEBOX.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 20160 21 7 Desc: Source files (RGB) for APAC 4180 SPACE4.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 5040 19 7 Desc: APAC (PI9) picture file of Space 4 4179 SPACE3.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 5040 15 7 Desc: APAC (PI9) picture file of Space 3 4178 SPACE2.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 5040 14 7 Desc: APAC (PI9) picture file of Space 2 4177 SPACE1.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 6300 18 7 Desc: APAC (PI9) picture file of Space 4176 RAINBOWGIRL.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 5040 26 7 Desc: APAC (PI9) picture file 4175 REAGAN.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 10080 14 7 Desc: APAC (PI9) photo file of Reagan 4174 SUSIE.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890223 6300 36 19 Desc: APAC file (PI9) of sexy woman! 4173 MT32EDLIB.ARC JEFF-S 890222 50400 5 4 Desc: Roland MT32 Editor/Librarian 4172 CZLIBREV.ARC JEFF-S 890222 44100 5 4 Desc: Minor revision to CZ editor librarin 4171 HUNK1.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890222 2520 20 19 Desc: APAC file (PI9) of nude hunk (man) 4170 MISSMARCH.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890222 6300 52 19 Desc: APAC file (PI9) of nude woman 4169 ELVIRA.ARC S.YAMAGUCHI 890222 5040 50 19 Desc: APAC picture file of nude woman 4168 CONTENTS71.TXT C.WALNUM 890221 2520 22 23 Desc: April 1989 ANALOG Contents 4167 DSWAP51.ARC E.BACHMAN 890220 8820 38 22 Desc: an SDX compatable Dswap. 4165 ZMAG145.ARC ZMAGAZINE 890220 17640 77 13 Desc: Issue #145, February 21, 1989 4164 FACE.TXT E.LAMBETH1 890219 5040 44 12 Desc: The international Atari User group 4161 KOALAPIX.ARC E.LAMBETH1 890218 40320 31 6 Desc: Several Koala pictures in 1 file. 4160 LOTSOFAMS.ARC E.LAMBETH1 890218 34020 31 5 Desc: 12 AMS MUSIC FILES IN 1!!! 4159 ZMAG141A.ARC ZMAGAZINE 890218 21420 46 13 Desc: The missing ZMAG! 4158 ELECTROIDS.ARC J.BILLIG1 890218 2520 36 23 Desc: PROTECT YOUR POWER SUPPLY FROM THEM. 4157 AVALANCHE.ARC J.BILLIG1 890218 6300 51 23 Desc: A GREAT Q-BERT TYPE CLONE. 4155 CLOUDHOPPER.ARC J.BILLIG1 890218 8820 32 23 Desc: TAKE TO THE SKIES ON YOUR POGO... 4154 UPWARD.ARC J.BILLIG1 890218 15120 35 23 Desc: MAKE IT TO THE TOP OR ELSE... 4153 DIAREVIEW.TXT M.BEARD 890216 15120 45 21 Desc: Review of the new Diamond cartridge 4152 LBLMAKER.ARC R.BACZEK 890216 27720 67 15 Desc: DISK/VIDEO/MAIL LABEL MAKER IN BASIC 4151 DEADSET1.ARC G.WARMUTH 890216 21420 15 4 Desc: A set of AMS 'dead songs 4150 NEWSOFTW.ARC M.QUIGG 890215 6300 70 11 Desc: *Fantastic* way to get new software 4149 AUTOCROSSTICS.ARC MARTY.A 890215 41580 42 10 Desc: A SUPER Word Game! 4148 VOICEDOS12.DCM E.LAMBETH1 890214 50400 11 11 Desc: Voice-DOS version 1.2 (Diskcom) 4147 PORKYPIG.PIC E.LAMBETH1 890214 3780 14 6 Desc: PORKY THE PIG! 4146 WARSONG.AMS E.LAMBETH1 890214 8820 18 5 Desc: Hmm, this is a classic song i cant 4145 COKESONG.AMS E.LAMBETH1 890214 3780 13 5 Desc: The coca cola christmas song 4143 ZMAG144.ARC ZMAGAZINE 890214 21420 93 13 Desc: Issue #144, February 14, 1989 4142 HARDSOFTWARE.TXT S.LIDDICK 890213 2520 87 11 Desc: EXAMPLE PRICES/AVIALIBILITY - MGL 4141 ILBMREAD.ARC JDPOTTER 890212 26460 62 4 Desc: Converts Amiga ILBM pictures to APAC 4139 BATTLESHIP1_1.ARC D.BAILEY4 890212 20160 20 14 Desc: Carina 2 Battle ship 1.1 4138 MIDDLE.ALF L.WHITWORTH 890212 16380 12 15 Desc: 10 OKIMATE COLOR PRINTER ONLY 4137 SUNSET.ALF L.WHITWORTH 890212 12600 14 15 Desc: 10 OKIMATE COLOR PRINTER ONLY 4136 EON2.ARC F.SMULLIN 890212 50400 41 12 Desc: Here's the February Issue of EON MAG 4135 EON1.ARC F.SMULLIN 890212 46620 35 12 Desc: A RE-ISSUE OF OUR FIRST ISSUE 4134 EONVIEWER.ARC F.SMULLIN 890212 30240 41 12 Desc: A BASIC program used to view EON MAG 4133 LISA2.ALF T.HERSCHBACH 890211 35280 29 24 Desc: Lisa! Version 2.0 An adventure game 4132 ENJOY.TXT M.QUIGG 890211 2520 67 11 Desc: How good our computer is... 4131 NYFED88.ARC J.WAGNER2 890211 12600 21 9 Desc: SYNCALC NY & FED1040 1988 TAX FORMS 4130 XFCABLE.TXT DAREKM 890211 2520 28 9 Desc: New product from Innovative Concepts 4129 ZMAGSPEC.TXT ZMAGAZINE 890211 28980 34 13 Desc: Special Edition 4128 CZPATCHES.ARC JEFF-S 890211 1260 3 4 Desc: CZ PATCHES FOR CZ EDITOR/LIBRARIAN 4124 ZBREAK.TXT ZMAGAZINE 890210 2520 103 13 Desc: URGENT REQUEST FROM SIG HARTMAN 4123 USBLUES.AMS NEWDIRECTION 890207 10080 20 4 Desc: U.S. BLUES BY THE GRATEFUL DEAD 4122 EXPRESSCART.TXT ORION.MICRO 890206 11340 131 24 Desc: Press release for Express! Cartridge 4121 ZMAG143.ARC ZMAGAZINE 890206 21420 100 13 Desc: ISSUE #143, FEBRUARY 7, 1989 4120 SKELETON.M65 REEVE.SOFT 890205 1260 7 26 Desc: Skeleton Acc for DAMAKER.APP 4119 TOUCHTB.DRV REEVE.SOFT 890205 1260 6 26 Desc: A fixed Atari Touch Tablet driver 4118 DAMAKER.APP REEVE.SOFT 890205 3780 7 26 Desc: A Desk Accessory Maker 4115 UNARC.COM BOB.PUFF 890203 11340 72 2 Desc: The new version of Super UnArc only 4114 SUPERARC.ARC BOB.PUFF 890203 35280 201 2 Desc: * Version 2.4 of Super Arc & UnArc * 4113 REPAIRS.TXT MR.GOODPROBE 890203 2520 27 11 Desc: advertisement for 8-bit repairs! 4112 PPFIX.ARC C.PEREZ1 890203 2520 23 10 Desc: GEMINI 10X PRINTING TO PP.BAS-3840 4111 CRAZY1EIGHTS.TXT LAKE31 890202 8820 56 12 Desc: Humor column esp. for 8-bitters! 4109 DACNVRT.ARC E.BACHMAN 890202 3780 13 26 Desc: make DA's from object files |MICROMISER: PART 3| |by Kenneth Gilbert| Many of you may be aware of the recent interchange between myself and Steve Bolduc of Micromiser Software, the company that sells the Turboword word processor. My previous comments about the program were based on the original Turboword disk which I received a few months ago. Since then, due mainly to the suggestions of many users, the program has gone through a major updating process. The present review therefore reflects these changes and pertains to Turboword+ as of February 28, 1989. To begin with, my major complaint about the program was the fact that it could not perform double spacing of documents. Although not advertised as a standard feature, I consider this function to be part of the bare minimum required of a useful word processor. Turboword+ now does both double and triple spacing at printout time (you do not see the effect of this on the screen at all). A minor limitation of this feature is that you cannot change spacing within a document; the entire text must be printed single, double or triple spaced. Perhaps in future updates spacing could be adjusted with control characters embedded within the file. In any case, I am very pleased that the program can now accomplish this. Although the major portion of the program is writen in BASIC, this does not generally pose a problem. The amount of memory available for text is approximately seven to eight single-spaced pages. Since files can easily be linked, there is virtually no limitation on the length of document that can be produced. Furthermore, it is probably a safe practice to keep large documents as a number of smaller files so that major disaster can be limited in the event of a single file becoming damaged. Speed is not terribly limited by this either, since the major limitation of speed is the XEP-80 itself. Printer control codes remain as inverse character sequences (underlining for example). Although this causes a problem by not being able to undeline part of a word, it does allow the WYSIWYG feature of the program to work even when control sequences are used. Nevertheless, if the user wishes to create his own non-spaced control sequences, this is possible. A very important change is the ability to return to the main menu without saving the file, as well as being able to change the name of the file that the document will be saved to. Some of us do change our minds about changes after we've made them, and now it is possible to recover the original document unchanged. In the previous version of the program the automatic centering of my address was not exactly...er...centered. This bug has been corrected and my letterheads now look very nice indeed. Other features that have been added to the program include double column printing, right justification, default printer port adjustment, and a file sorter program (which I have not yet tried). For those of you who are unfamiliar with the program, it also has a powerful mailmerge facility and envelope addressing capability, as well as a spelling checker and built-in DOS functions. One important limitation that I should mention is that this program essentially requires a RAMdisk. The main program needs to be reloaded from disk every time you save a file, and the time it takes to perform this function is only reasonable if executed from a RAMdisk. I am using it on an unmodified 130XE, and I find it to be sufficient. However, if you wish to use the spelling checker at a reasonable speed, a much larger RAMdisk is recommended. Is this program as good as PaperClip? In a word: no. It was not meant to be an alternative to what most would consider to be the best word processing software available for the Atari 8-bit computers. What Turboword+ is, is the ONLY word processing program available for use with the XEP-80. As such, it fulfills its role well. Considering the difficulty of writing ANY software for this little box, I must say that Turboword+ is an excellent effort at making 80 column word processing a reality for Atari 8-bit owners, and until AtariWriter-80 is released it is your only choice. |Z INNOVATORS OASIS BBS POLICY| Reprinted from Bungalow BBS Edited by Harold Brewer January 23, 1989 -1- When you purchase OASIS BBS software, you become a registered owner with the rights to use the software. -2- You cannot sell your OASIS for money or goods. Only Z Innovators has the right to sell OASIS BBS. If you GIVE your OASIS to another person as a GIFT, then that person is not considered a registered owner by Z Innovators. That person would not be eligible to purchase an OASIS support files account on the support boards. Your registration is NON-TRANSFERABLE. -3- As a registered owner, you are eligible to establish ONE user account on each of all OASIS support boards. You must purchase access to OASIS support files. Starting July 1, 1989, the cost is $25.00 for access to OASIS support files on all the support boards, through June 30, 1990. If you purchase OASIS after July 1, 1989 for $55.00, then the support privilege is included in that $55.00 purchase price. All access to support files is subject to terms of renewal after July 1, 1990. -4- The purchase price for OASIS BBS and for support files access is not refundable. There is no guarantee that OASIS support boards will be in existence through June 30, 1990. Z Innovators plans to support and continue adding to OASIS BBS, well into the 1990's. |OASIS BBS Support Prices| Effective July 1, 1989, no one who has not paid for support access will have access to OASIS support files on any OASIS support BBS. The price for one account, on each board, with access to Oasis support files through June 30, 1990, is $25.00. Only people who have purchased Oasis BBS are eligible for an account with access to support files. Check with Z Innovators if you are unsure of your eligibility. THREE MONTHS NOTICE! Z Innovators will not accept payments for OASIS support until AFTER MAY 1, 1989. All current OASIS SysOps are hereby given a full THREE MONTHS NOTICE prior to the date that payments will be accepted. Do not send your payment before May 1, 1989. FIVE MONTHS NOTICE! With this announcement, the current OASIS SysOps have FIVE MONTHS to get their boards up to date, and decide whether they want to pay for Oasis files support. Effective July 1, 1989, any OASIS sysop who has not paid for access to oasis support files, will have his access terminated. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR With your payment of $25.00, you are eligible for access to OASIS support files on any OASIS support BBS with files support. This eligibility expires on JUNE 30, 1990, no matter when it is purchased. Therefore, all access to support files is subject to renewal for July 1, 1990. Support access accounts are NON-TRANSFERABLE under any conditions, and cannot be used by anyone other than the purchaser. Anyone found to be allowing their account to be used by any other(s) will have their access terminated without notice. There is a list of a few OASIS SysOps who are exempt from this payment, and have been granted free access to Oasis support files through June 30, 1990. Please see the EXEMPTION list. CURRENT SUPPORT BOARDS The OASIS support boards are: XBN I BBS 508-580-8722 XBN II BBS 508-559-6844 The Bungalow 314-351-2837 When you order after May 1, 1989, make CHECK or MONEY ORDER payable to: Z INNOVATORS 1344 Park St. Dept. 187 Stoughton, MA. 02072 (Editor's note: The information presented in ZMagazine #142 concerning Oasis Software is still valid and can be read as an adjunct to the above policy. Oasis BBS is $30.00 until July 1, 1989, and includes support board access until that date.) |Z*NET NEWSWIRE| ==>Atari Corporation has stopped shipping its 8-bit software SXExpress! (for use with the SX-212 modem). Atari Customer Service was not aware of why this action was taken. But one possibility could be that which a St. Louis user, John McGowan, has written about on Gateway BBS: the R: handler (for use with the SX-212 modem when operated "direct connect" on an Atari 8-bit) included on the SXExpress! disk was not doing its job. This scenario may have prevented a sucessful bootup. Hopefully, a re-release of SXExpress! will not take long. ==>The March issue of Computer Shopper has a feature article called Buying The Right Printer At The Right Price, and has an associated printer showcase. Good reading even if you are not in the market for a printer. ==>Diamond Paint, application software to be used with the new Diamond OS cartridge, is said to be shipping now. This from Alan Reeve on GEnie. ==>For SpartaDOS X users: Keith Ledbetter's macro program SuperKey! may not be compatible with the X cartridge when using SuperKey!'s SpartaDOS version. Instead, use the "normal" SuperKey! program for SpartaDOS X compatibility. This from the GEnie Atari 8-bit bulletin board. ==>ICD has sent a shipment of their 8-bit products (SpartaDOS X, Action!, and Printer Connection) to Atari's Federated Group. ICD's president Tom Harker explains on GEnie that Diamond OS cartridges have also been shipped to Federated. "If they sell through, Federated will be expanding their purchasing to include most of our products as well as many other third party developers." I second Tom's enthusiasm by hoping we 8-bitters will not let such an opportunity to increase the base of Atari 8-bit products go by. | Syndicate Publishing Company | | P.O. Box 74, Middlesex, NJ 08846 | | (201) 968-8148 | |Copyright 1989 All Rights Reserved| CompuServe: 71777,2140 GEnie: ZMAGAZINE Source: BDG793 Please Contribute!
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