ST Report: 6-Nov-98 #1437
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 11/07/98-01:08:03 PM Z
From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 6-Nov-98 #1437
Date: Sat Nov 7 13:08:03 1998
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November 06, 1998 No.1437
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From the Editor's Desk...
Whadda ya know!! Florida's been Bushwhacked! I cannot believe the
Bushwhacker Group has two governors (Jeb Bush and George W. Bush) and a
behind the scenes powerhouse known as George H. Bush (ex-President
ex-Vice President - ex CIA head). Folks in Florida are in for some
rough times. Here's where the State of Florida begins to mimick the
State of Texas in lawlessness, state executions, and majorly
overflowing Penal Institutions. Its easy to predict that Florida will
soon become one of those "Jails for Profit" states very shortly. There
would've been a lot less to be concerned about had the Governor's Race
been peppered with political ads that amplified the Candidate's ideals
and goals. But no, Jeb waged a horrible campaign in as much as all he
was doing was bashing his opponent. Politics in this country have gone
from respectable to one of the most dis-trusted professions known to
mankind. Mainly because of the outright crookedness of recent (in the
last five decades) politicians.
One day we'll see political reform. That day will come when the Press
gets outta the politico's bedrooms and into their offices like
Bernstein and Woodward did. Until that time comes we shall be forced to
endure "suck up to and play the press" politicians like Newt "The Beut"
Gingrich (this guy is a real Turkey) I just insulted a turkey. Hey
Newt. GO Home already!
As for all the other, "self righteous - holier than thou" political
phonies who are so busy condemning Clinton's amorous activities. Its
time they ALL got back to doing what they are elected to do. Govern,
not persecute. As for Starr. This guy is a flaming ZEALOT. His
investigative tactics, sponsors and associates need to be thoroughly
investigated by a super Grand Jury made up of twice the number of
private citizens a normal Grand Jury is comprised of. The Elections are
over, the fun is about to begin Henry "The Family Wrecker"Hyde is
already making overtures toward the Whitehouse in the form of
abbreviated questionnaires and promises of pared down witness lists. I
say Clinton should look them all dead in the eye and tell them to take
a hike. If anything, Hyde caused more harm with his amorous escapades
than Clinton ever dreamed of. Hyde's adventure literally destroyed a
family, a marriage and human lifetimes. Clinton fooled around with an
unmarried intern. No broken families no destroyed lives and no irate,
heartbroken children, husbands or wives left in the wings.
My advice to Clinton would be to stand pat. Call for an investigation
into Starr's activities and especially Linda Tripp's. Then on to
Gingrich why wasn't he (Gingrich) made to fully explain his intentions
when his sinister little plan was discovered by a north Florida couple
who were listening to Newt on a cellphone using a UHF scanning radio
receiver? Who pushed the cover-up on that one and Why? Would you
believe they arrested the elderly Florida couple for "revealing"
(re-transmitting) what they heard. That entire slimey Republican
Bunch... I sincerely hope they get theirs now. They screwed this
country over for the last eight years.
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LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
AOL Says It Still Fears Microsoft
America Online Inc. will have the option at the end of this year to undo
a controversial 1996 agreement that made Microsoft's Internet Explorer
the default browser on AOL's popular software. But it probably will not
do so, because it fears Microsoft will retaliate, an AOL official said in
written testimony in Microsoft's antitrust trial. David Colburn, America
Online's senior vice president of business affairs testified AOL would
``be inclined'' to license a browser from Netscape Communications Corp.
instead of Microsoft.
But if AOL ends the browser agreement, Microsoft has warned that it will
stop listing AOL in its Windows 98 software that refers PC users to
Internet service providers. "Given the importance of continuing to be
included in the Windows operating system and desktop," Colburn said,
"AOL's present intention is to opt to continue with the provisions of the
1996 Microsoft agreement." In order to save time at the antitrust trial
of Microsoft, District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson has ordered direct
testimony to be submitted in writing.
America Online has frequently said it chose back in 1996 to include
Microsoft's rather than Netscape's browser in its software, because it
knew Microsoft could help it reach millions of new customers at a time
when the Internet was just becoming popular. Earlier this year, AOL
Chairman Stephen Case said he signed up with Microsoft because Microsoft
agreed to prominently feature AOL in its Windows software. Netscape
contends that deal, in a single stroke, increased Microsoft's share of
the Internet browser market by nine million users.
But Colburn's testimony suggests that even today, when America Online is
an established industry leader, it continues to be intimidated by
Microsoft. America Online today is the biggest Internet service provider
in the United States, serving about 15 million of the total 23 million
households that have Internet access. Still, it depends on Microsoft and
the popular Windows software to reach new customers.
U.S. Says Apple Notes Back Netscape Over Microsoft
Apple Computer Inc. said it was "dead" unless it cooperated with
Microsoft Corp., according to notes introduced by the government into the
antitrust trial against the software giant. The Justice Department and 20
states have alleged that Microsoft illegally used its monopoly in
personal computer operating systems to defeat Netscape Communications
Corp. in a battle for the Internet browser market. The handwritten notes
by an Apple executive were among 100 new exhibits introduced by attorney
David Boies Tuesday as he sought to reassert the government's case after
four days of Microsoft cross examination of the first government witness.
Netscape Chief Executive James Barksdale had testified he was shocked
when Apple co-founder Steve Jobs announced on Aug. 6, 1997, that Apple
would accept Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser. At the same time,
Jobs announced at the MacWorld Trade Conference in Boston that Microsoft
would invest $150 million in Apple. Barksdale tried to reach Jobs but
instead got a call back from Fred Anderson, Apple's chief financial
officer. According to Barksdale, Anderson said that Apple chose
Microsoft's Web browser because it needed access to Microsoft Office, a
suite of business applications that include the "Word" word processor, to
place on its Macintosh computer. "Apple needed to ensure that Microsoft
would continue to provide MS Office for MAC or we were dead," Anderson's
handwritten notes said, backing Barksdale's version of what he was told
by Anderson.
Boies also used documents and portions of videotaped pretrial testimony
to launch a counterattack on Microsoft's efforts to discredit Netscape's
account of a 1995 meeting that has become pivotal to the trial. The
government and Netscape say Microsoft illegally proposed dividing the
market for Internet browser software at the meeting and threatened to
crush Netscape if it did not cooperate. Microsoft proposed making
browsers for its Windows 95 computer operating system and said Netscape
could have the rest, the government alleges.
Microsoft lawyer John Warden last week described Netscape's version of
the meeting as described by notes from Netscape co-founder Marc
Andreessen as an "invention or imaginary concoction." But Boies displayed
a memo sent to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates a day after the meeting by
Microsoft executive Dan Rosen. "Our goals going into the meeting were (in
priority) order: Establish Microsoft ownership of the Internet client
platform for Win95," Rosen's memo said in part. (In computer jargon the
"client platform" means the Internet Web browser and "Win95" means the
Windows 95 operating system.)
Asked if he saw the significance of that memo, Barksdale said he
certainly did. "That seems to be almost exactly what Mr Andreessen's
notes say independently," Barksdale said. Microsoft has also tried to
paint Netscape as the instigator of the 1995 meeting and on Monday said
the meeting was a setup designed to feed material to the Justice
Department. Last week, Microsoft's Warden had noted that Netscape
co-founder Jim Clark had approached Microsoft in December 1994 asking the
larger company to consider taking a stake in Netscape.
Warden had questioned Barksdale on his characterization of the Clark
message as a moment of weakness during some bleak times at Netscape. So
on Tuesday, Boies played an excerpt from Clark's pretrial testimony in
which he said: "I suppose you can just say it was a moment of weakness
and fear on the part of a small company looking in the eyes of the
world's most powerful software company...." Boies also introduced into
court memos dating back to 1994 from Microsoft, urging Netscape to get in
touch and work together. The trial before District Judge Thomas Penfield
Jackson is expected to continue into December. There are at least 23
witnesses remaining.
AOL Says It Had Deal With Microsoft
America Online signed an exclusive deal with Microsoft after the company
promised it would put AOL's logo on its dominant Windows operating
system, according to a government witness in the antitrust trial against
Microsoft Corp. AOL senior vice president David Colburn said that's why
Microsoft beat Netscape in clinching a 1996 deal over the distribution of
browsers, which allow people to view the Internet.
"AOL would not have been willing to negotiate a browser license with
Microsoft had Microsoft not been willing to bundle and promote AOL in its
Windows operating system and on its desktop," Colburn wrote in testimony
released Tuesday. Colburn was scheduled to face cross-examination today
in the Microsoft trial. Like all witnesses in the case, his direct
testimony was submitted in writing to help shorten the trial. AOL is the
nation's largest Internet provider, with 13 million customers. Colburn
said his company agreed to distribute Microsoft's browser because of the
dominance of its Windows operating system, the central nervous system
crucial to most personal computers.
The government contends that Microsoft illegally used its market power in
operating systems to protect its monopoly, extend into new markets and
stifle competition. Colburn said Microsoft offered to put an AOL icon in
the "online services" folder that is called up every time a user starts
up the computer. In exchange, AOL agreed to an "exclusive distribution
and promotion" deal that allowed it to use another browser only when
required by a third party.
"Microsoft has sought to strictly enforce these restrictions and has
carefully monitored references to Navigator and Netscape on the AOL
service," Colburn said. AOL later signed a separate agreement in which
Microsoft agreed to pay AOL 25 cents for every subscriber it converted to
its browser and $600,000 if a substantial number of members switched by a
certain date. Although its agreement with Microsoft does not run out for
several years, AOL has the option to end the deal at the end of this
year, but Colburn said it probably won't, for several reasons. Among
them: Microsoft's dominance in the Internet software business.
"Microsoft's increased presence in the browser market has left Netscape,
at least at this point, in a weakened state," Colburn said. Microsoft
contends that its agreement with AOL was not exclusive. It also argues
that it won the AOL account because its software was technically superior
to Netscape's. Colburn, however, said the two browsers were comparable.
Both were an improvement over what AOL was using at the time; Netscape's
browser was widely used and had better features while Microsoft's browser
was able to "connect seamlessly" with the AOL functions, he said.
On Tuesday, attorneys for both sides of the case finished questioning the
government's first witness before turning their attention to Microsoft
Chairman Bill Gates. Government plans to play parts of a videotaped
deposition of Gates were delayed after objections by Microsoft over how
much of the tape could be shown. U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield
Jackson ultimately ruled that all 20 hours of the Gates interview will be
allowed because "a witness of equivalent significance in this case
doesn't immediately come to mind." The videotapes of Gates jousting with
government lawyers during three days of pretrial depositions last summer
could be shown as early as Thursday.
Apple Executive Says Microsoft Muscled His Company
An executive from Apple Computer Inc. testified that Microsoft used
monopoly power to muscle Apple away from Netscape Communications Corp.'s
Web browser. The Justice Department and 20 states have charged that
Microsoft Corp. violated the nation's antitrust laws by competing
unfairly against Netscape Communications Corp. in the market for Internet
browsers. Apple executive Avadis Tevanian also testified about unfair
tactics Microsoft allegedly used against his company in the market for
multimedia software, which bear an eerie resemblance to tactics described
by Netscape executives as having been used against their company.
Tevanian will be cross-examined on his written testimony, which was made
public Friday, when the Microsoft trial starts its third week Monday.
Apple makes its own computers and operating system, one of the few
competitors to Microsoft's Windows operating system for personal
computers. Microsoft's Windows commands more than 90 percent of the
market, while Tevanian said that in 1997 his company's operating system
had 3.5 percent. Apple computers featured the Netscape Navigator Web
browser until Microsoft leaned on it, Tevanian said.
He testified that Microsoft held a monopoly in the office application
with its Office suite, which included the Word word processor, a
spreadsheet and other programs. Microsoft makes a version for Apple
Macintosh computers, and Tevanian testified it was "critical to the
commercial viability" of Apple computers to sell the product. "Microsoft
was aware that Apple desperately needed to maintain support for Microsoft
Office for Macintosh," he said. Microsoft conditioned its continued
support for Microsoft Office on Apple's agreement to feature Microsoft's
Internet Explorer over Netscape Navigator, he said.
"If Microsoft had not exercised its monopoly power in the office
application market by threatening to stop support for Office for
Macintosh, Apple would not have resolved the disputes" in favor of
Internet Explorer, Tevanian said. In addition, Tevanian described Apple's
own troubles with Microsoft over its multimedia QuickTime technology,
which plays audio and video content and shows pictures. Tevanian
described a series of meetings called by Microsoft, ostensibly to discuss
licensing codes.
In fact, he said, Microsoft used those meetings to pressure Apple "to
abandon its business of providing software that enables users to view
multimedia content." "In return, Microsoft offered Apple the much smaller
portion of the market for software tools used to create multimedia
content," Tevanian said. That echoes government accusations that at a
June 21, 1995, meeting, Microsoft told Netscape to abandon the browser
market for its Windows 95 operating system and instead be satisfied with
the much smaller market of Web browsers for other operating systems.
In another meeting, Apple was told to abandon the playback segment of the
multimedia market, Tevanian said. Tevanian testified that in September
1997, Eric Engstrom, the manager of Microsoft multimedia technology, said
"if necessary, Microsoft would assign 150 engineers" to compete with
Apple. "At that time, Apple's entire QuickTime engineering group
consisted of approximately 100 engineers," Tevanian said. In a statement,
Microsoft said: "Microsoft and Apple continue to be great partners after
more than 17 years of both competing and cooperating in the software
industry. Microsoft today reiterates its strong support for the Macintosh
and our Macintosh customers."
Microsoft Says AOL Customers Had Browser "Choice"
Microsoft Corp. argued that customers of America Online Inc. still had a
choice of Web browsers after the two companies struck a 1996 deal, but an
AOL executive said in practice a rival browser became hard to find. The
Justice Department and 20 states have charged that Microsoft violated the
nation's antitrust laws by competing unfairly against Netscape
Communications Corp. in the market for Internet browsers. In federal
court here, AOL Vice President David Colburn has said his firm decided to
sign the agreement mainly to get a prominent place on the computer
desktop of Microsoft's Windows operating system that runs most personal
computers. The second week of the landmark antitrust ended Thursday at a
snail's pace, with only two of 24 witnesses examined and videotaped
testimony from company chairman Bill Gates delayed again.
Experts had predicted the trial would last six to eight weeks but at the
end of the day government lawyer David Boies said he expected only one --
or at the most two -- witnesses to come before the court next week,
starting with Apple Computer Inc. executive Avadis Tevanian. The trial
has mostly been given to careful, slow cross- examination by Microsoft
lawyer John Warden. Warden's long cross examination of Colburn made it
impossible for any of Gates' videotaped pre-trial testimony to be shown.
Warden tried to show that customers had freedom to choose Netscape's Web
browser "It is true, is it not, that every one of AOL's subscribers has a
free and unfettered choice to use Netscape's Web browsing software if he
wants?" Warden asked Colburn. Replied Colburn: "Yes, if they figure out
how to get it. When government lawyer David Boies asked questions a few
minutes later he wanted to know how much flexibility customers had to use
Netscape's product.
Colburn answered that it was "difficult" for customers to obtain
Netscape, because the Microsoft browser was built in. AOL is the biggest
single provider of on-line services, with more than 13 million customers,
offering its own on-line environment as well as access to the Internet.
Toward the end of the day, Warden sprung a small surprise on the court
that gave waiting television crews at least some tape of Gates footage
from a public announcement over two years ago. Warden played a brief tape
of Gates and America Online Chief Executive Steve Case, when they
announced in March, 1996, that AOL had agreed to adopt Microsoft's
Internet Explorer browser over Netscape's Navigator. The methods that
Microsoft used to convince AOL to sign up for its Web browser and the
terms of the contract have been the central focus of the trial for the
past two days.
Warden tried to get Colburn to acknowledge that America Online picked
Internet Explorer because of its technical superiority. Colburn insisted
that the predominant consideration was that Microsoft was a potential
competitor. Colburn has said AOL chose Microsoft to gain rough parity
with Microsoft's own on-line service, which is displayed prominently on
its Windows desktop. During a break, Boies was asked about the long cross
examination. A reporter asked Boies if Microsoft was filibustering -- a
Senate technique of unlimited debate to kill legislation. Standing on the
front steps of the courthouse in clear view of the Capitol, Boies replied
he would not answer the question "this close to Capitol Hill."
Microsoft Says Others Behaved Like It
Microsoft Corp. tried to turn the tables in court, charging that America
Online Inc. engaged in the same type of behavior that prompted the
government to file antitrust charges against the software giant. Facing
allegations it illegally proposed carving up the market for Internet
browsers with Netscape Communications Corp., Microsoft pointed to
evidence that AOL and Netscape had discussed staying out of each other's
lines of business.
The tactic by Microsoft attorney John Warden seemed designed to raise
doubts in the judge's mind about where to draw the line between market
division and strategic alliances. The Justice Department and 20 states
have accused Microsoft of using its monopoly in personal computer
operating systems to try and intimidate Netscape into agreeing to divide
the browser market at a June 21, 1995, meeting.
Microsoft has said it was merely trying to propose a strategic alliance
-- which Netscape rejected. On Wednesday afternoon, day seven of the
trial, Warden for Microsoft focused on a Dec. 11, 1995, memo from AOL
President Steve Case that proposed what was described as a strategic
alliance. AOL and Netscape feared the clout of Microsoft and tentatively
agreed to work together to combat the larger firm, which they had dubbed
"the beast of Redmond."
Case wrote in the memo that Netscape had promised to "remain a software
company" and pledged it had "no plans or interest in entering the online
services business" for three years. Warden cross-examined AOL vice
president David Colburn about his company's dealings with Netscape and in
particular about the memo, which he suggested amounted to a report of
illegal market division. "In your various meetings with the Department of
Justice to suggest that they go after the 'beast from Redmond', did you
disclose you'd made a market division proposal?" Warden asked.
"Your wording, not mine," shot back Colburn. At another point, Colburn
said he "wouldn't call" the agreement market division. AOL is the biggest
single provider of on-line services, with more than 13 million customers.
It offers its own on-line environment as well as access to the Internet.
Earlier Wednesday, Colburn testified that AOL's March 1996 decision to
choose Microsoft's Internet browser was done to compete with Microsoft
rather than for technical reasons.
AOL was facing competition from MSN, an on-line service owned by
Microsoft that the Redmond, Wash.-giant was able to cheaply promote
through an icon on the first screen or desktop of the Windows 95
operating program. In contrast, AOL was having to distribute its software
through computer makers, paying a bounty for each customer it snared,
Colburn said. In return for using its browser, Microsoft put an AOL icon
in a "folder" on the Windows desktop that contained a list of Internet
service providers.
In cross examination, Warden tried to suggest that AOL chose the
Microsoft browser because it worked better than Netscape's. "Isn't it a
fact that the most important factor in choosing between Microsoft and
Netscape was getting software that worked with your client?" Warden
asked, using the word "client" to mean the software AOL provided to its
customers. "No," replied Colburn. "There were five factors. The most
important in my mind, as the lead negotiator, was securing parity with
MSN." He said that the other priorities were, in order, how much AOL
would have to pay, whether the Web browser would work with the widely
distributed Microsoft Windows, its flexibility of use with other browsers
and, last, whether the technology worked.
Microsoft Spokesman Mark Murray said on the courthouse steps there was
"startling new evidence" the two companies worked together against
Microsoft. He said the draft agreement to stay out of each other's
business was "far more explicit than anything that the government is
accusing Microsoft of." Government lawyer David Boies expressed no
surprise that AOL and Netscape would try to cooperate. "Small companies
get together all the time, particularly when they have to compete against
a monopoly," Boies told reporters.
Avoiding Internet Fraud
Tips from the Securities and Exchange Commission on avoiding investment
fraud on the Internet:
1. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online
newsletter or bulletin board posting, especially if it involves a
small-company stock that is thinly traded.
2. Consider all investment offers with skepticism.
3. Don't invest on your own in small companies that don't file periodic
reports with the SEC, unless you are willing to investigate each
company thoroughly and check the truth of every statement about the
company.
4. Get access to company financial reports from the SEC's Edgar
database, a free service. Be aware, though, that companies raising
less than $5 million in a 12-month period may not be required to
register their securities or file reports with the SEC. If you can't
find a company's reports on Edgar, call the SEC at (202) 942-8090 to
find out if the company filed a stock offering circular under
Regulation A or a Form D.
5. Always check with the securities regulators in your state to see if
they have more information about the company and the people behind
it. The state regulators also can check the Central Registration
Depository, or CRD, to determine if the broker promoting the stock
or the broker's firm has a disciplinary history. The National
Association of Securities Dealers also can give you a partial
disciplinary history of a broker or brokerage firm. The NASD's
public disclosure hotline is (800) 289-9999 and its Web site is
www.nasdr.com .
6. When reading Internet newsletters, find out whether the newsletter
author received payment from a company to "tout" or recommend its
stock and if so, how much he or she received. Read carefully what
the newsletter says about payments it has received, and
independently investigate the company or investment "opportunity"
being promoted. Check with the SEC or your state securities
regulators to see if the newsletter has ever been in trouble.
Syquest Suspends Operations
Computer storage device maker SyQuest Technology Inc Monday suspended
operations and said it may file for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy
reorganization. In a statement, the company said it requested a halt to
trading in its securities. SyQuest stock last traded at 34 cents, up
three cents on the day, before trading was halted. SyQuest, a maker of
removable storage devices and related products for computers, said it
will maintain a limited support staff for customer service while
operations are suspended. In recent years, SyQuest has faced brutal price
competition for its products and battled for market share with Utah-based
rival Iomega Corp. As recently as August, SyQuest said it would lay off
950 employees and end manufacturing at its Fremont, Calif. plant. It
employed just over 1,100 people in 1997. Just last week, the company said
its lenders cut its credit line to $10.8 million from $30 million.
Microsoft Renames Windows NT
Aiming to streamline the identity of its broad software line, Microsoft
Corp. on Tuesday christened the next version of Windows NT, its operating
software for business computers, with a flashier name: Windows 2000.
Microsoft eventually plans to use a similar identity for its other
software as well, including successors to the new Windows 98 for personal
computers, which will use the more-powerful NT technology, Microsoft vice
president of marketing Brad Chase said.
Chase also said the next test version, or beta, of the long-delayed NT
5.0 will now be released in early 1999. Although Microsoft has never put
a firm date on releasing the test software, it had been widely expected
to be out before the end of the year. Chase declined to say when Windows
2000 will finally be ready for sale. Windows NT - for new technology -
was first introduced in 1993 for higher-end business computers such as
workstations and the servers that run computer networks. The latest
version is Windows NT Version 4.0.
The name change is part of a Microsoft strategy to abandon the
traditional numbers long favored by engineers in favor of something
jazzier: The year - approximately - of when the product ships. That began
with Windows 95 and has continued with other products such as the Office
97 business software suite. It also plays into demand by companies to
upgrade computer systems so they won't fall victim to the "Y2K bug,"
which threatens to shut down older systems when the calendar turns from
1999 to 2000.
"While we plan to ship the product in the year 1999, the year 2000 is a
big issue with our customers," Chase said. "It's important we have a
product in an era when customers are thinking about Y2K." Microsoft has
been marketing NT as the operating system for business use, while
recommending Windows 98 for personal and home users. Chase said Windows
98, released in late June, will keep that name. Future versions of that
software, however, will probably be called "Windows for consumers," with
the appropriate model year added.
Under the new nomenclature, Windows NT Workstation, for standalone
computers, becomes Windows 2000 Professional. Windows NT Server, for
small and midsize networks, becomes Windows 2000 Server. Windows NT
Server Enterprise Edition, a more powerful system for companywide
computers, will be called Windows 2000 Advanced Server. Microsoft also is
bringing out a new software version, Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, for
large-scale applications such as huge databases and scientific and
engineering simulations.
Microsoft's decision to change the name of Windows NT Version 5.0 came as
several rival makers of business computers stepped up their own marketing
battles. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Sun Microsystems Inc. on Tuesday
unveiled its new Solaris 7 line, which likewise is designed for computers
ranging from desktop workstations to corporate networks. The initial
versions, for workstations and small servers, are to ship in November,
with the largest version available in early 1999.
On Monday, IBM announced an alliance with Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
and Santa Cruz Operation Inc. to produce a new version of the Unix
operating system for Intel Corp.'s high-powered Merced computer chip, now
in development. The as-yet unnamed Unix product also would run on a range
of computers, and is expected to be out in 2000.
Snag Hit for Microsoft's Windows 2000 Name
Microsoft won't pursue what could prove to be another expensive trademark
battle over the name the company has chosen for its next version of the
Windows operating system. Microsoft vice president Brad Chase last week
said that the company intended to change the name Windows NT to Windows
2000, to mark the convergence of Windows 98 with the company's higher end
NT system. But Redmond's plans may have hit a snag. It turns out that
Robert Kerstein, an entrepreneur and former McCaw Cellular employee,
trademarked Windows 2000 two years ago as part of his "Encyberpedia: The
Online Encyclopedia" Web site. He even owns Windows2000.com, a collection
of links to information resources and a comprehensive list of webcams.
"My goal is not to do anything different than what I have already been
doing-promoting education on the Internet," Kerstein said. "And if the
Windows 2000 name helps me do that, that's great." Kerstein said he has
not heard a peep out of Microsoft. Kerstein said the Windows 2000 name is
a reference to the several hundred links on his Web site to webcams
around the world. "The Windows 2000 came to me when live cams came out
... that cams could be windows that could look out on their world."
Jeff Price, lead product manager for the company's Windows 2000 server,
said Microsoft has no plans to pursue the name or take action against
Kerstein. "Windows is a Microsoft trademark that we've been using since
1983," Price said. "It is a registered trademark. We have been
identifying our products with a chronological number for years." "There
is no impact on our use of the term Windows 2000." On 1 July, Microsoft
agreed to pay a defunct Illinois Internet service provider US$5 million
for the right to continue calling its Web browser software Internet
Explorer. The firm, SyNet, argued successfully in court that it had been
using the name Explorer since 1994.
Remembering The Good Old Days of the Web
You know that you - not to mention the Web itself - are getting old when
you start getting nostalgic for the good ol' days of new media. Of
course, the Web experience isn't exactly long in the virtual tooth just
yet. But things move fast on the information superhighway. Every lane is
a passing lane, and there are no rest areas to catch your breath. How
many Web sites can you think of that still look pretty much the way they
did when you first visited them? Probably not many.
Web watchers - the Net Set included - are always talking about the
importance of keeping sites fresh and flexible. Site developers have come
to build a "flux factor" into their designs - forever adding, removing,
changing and, ultimately, chucking elements of a Web site's look and
functionality. In the world of the Web, evolution is a way of life. The
word "permanent" doesn't exist in cyberspace. The bottom line: It's chic
to tweak. A site's redesign generally is judged in terms of two measures:
how appealing it is, and how well it accomplishes its purpose. If the
site's pleasing to the eye and it works, then it passes the redesign
test.
Nothing wrong with that. But the pass/fail test is predicated on the
assumption that a redesign was necessary in the first place. And if a
site ain't broke, then why fix it? Change for change's sake usually
signals one of three needs: a need to justify one's job, a desperate need
to "appear" to be on the cutting edge or a mistaken belief that change is
needed to remain viable. None of which is to say that sites aren't being
changed for the better all the time. The longer we live with cyberspace,
the more we learn about what works - and what doesn't.
Nor should we get too hung up on the past. Nostalgia is often a polite
word for remembering things the way they never were. And who's to say
that the good ol' days were all that terrific in the first place anyway?
But all this tweaking comes at a price. What about the issue of consumer
familiarity? Or, for that matter, sentimental attachment? Imagine going
to your regular hangout and finding the bathroom where the bar used to
be. Or discovering that your favorite bookstore put the cookbooks in the
classics aisle. As developers continue to create a code of design dos and
don'ts, Web sites also run the risk of losing their individuality. Out
with mom-and-pop personality. In with the malling of Cyberstreet U.S.A.
There's no question that the Web has a future. So, why are we in such a
rush to forget that it has a past?
A T T E N T I O N ** A T T E N T I O N ** A T T E N T I O N
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A T T E N T I O N ** A T T E N T I O N ** A T T E N T I O N
EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
[Image]
Edupage
Contents
Desperately Seeking A Business "Rising Expectations And Exploding
Model For Online Education Demand" For Technology
HP Prefers Chai Over Java For
Electronic Devices Porn Is Peaking On The Web
PC Industry Headed For A Slump E-Mail Response-Management Packages
Debut
MS Execs Worry About Free Corporate Partnerships Fund Laptops For
Software Movement Georgia Students
UCSD To House Academia's
Fastest Computer Intel's Legacy Free PC
IBM's Grand Strategy Smart Cards Slow To Catch On
Online Drugstore War MS-We Decide Our Marketing
DESPERATELY SEEKING A BUSINESS MODEL FOR ONLINE EDUCATION
Different financial arrangements are developing within the various
academic institutions that are busy developing online course offerings.
Two examples: Penn State is splitting revenues with the faculty members
who develop courses and their departments, whereas New York University
will hold ownership rights for its online courses. Is there a lot of
money to split up? NYU's Gerald A. Heeger, dean of continuing and
professional studies, Warns: "Online is a big, important field in higher
education, but it does not have a business model that works. The dirty
little secret is that nobody's making any money." However, he thinks
someday that will change. (New York Times 2 Nov 98)
"RISING EXPECTATIONS AND EXPLODING DEMAND" FOR TECHNOLOGY
The Campus Computing Project's 1998 national survey of information
technology in higher education says that classroom use of e-mail is up
substantially (to 44.4%), that almost half of the institutions are using
student fees to cover information technology costs, and that more than a
third of research universities have some type of policy addressing
faculty-developed intellectual property on the campus. Project director
Kenneth C. Green says, "Campuses are doing more with technology, and they
are doing it better than in the past. But the real challenge at most
institutions is to improve resources and services given both rising
expectations and exploding demand." http://www.campuscomputing.net
HP PREFERS CHAI OVER JAVA FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Hewlett-Packard, discontented with Sun Microsystems' control over its
Java programming language, has banded together with 13 other companies,
including Microsoft, to form the Real-Time Java Working Group, which will
develop new versions of the language for electronic devices. The panel's
creation is the most recent clash in HP's battle with Sun over Java. In
March, HP announced it was developing its own version of Java called
"Chai" (after the popular tea drink), which could be used in devices such
as printers and laboratory equipment. An HP spokesman says the group was
formed to ensure that no one entity would have total control over the
development of Java for the devices. Meanwhile, Sun and HP continue to
work together on Java products for servers and workstations. (Wall Street
Journal 3 Nov 98)
PORN IS PEAKING ON THE WEB
A Forrester Research analyst estimates that the online adult business is
close to peaking, after generating 40% annual growth for the last few
years. "The astronomical growth is set to top out," he says, adding that
"there is commerce activity at all ends of the adult spectrum." Forrester
gauges overall Web commerce at $4.8 billion in 1998, with pornography
sites contributing almost $1 billion to that total. And while lawmakers
are trying to muzzle online pornography, observers are dubious about the
ultimate impact of such legislation: "You can use all sorts of screens to
keep kids out, but the majority of sites choose not to use them."
However, another potential obstacle might be more effective: American
Express is considering shutting off service ties for such sites, and
other credit card companies could choose to follow their example.
(Broadcasting & Cable 26 Oct 98)
PC INDUSTRY HEADED FOR A SLUMP
A Forrester Research report entitled "PC Industry Roller Coaster"
predicts that PC sales will surge to $55 billion in 1999 as corporate
buyers scramble to replace aging equipment run by Y2K-vulnerable
software. After that, however, things are expected to head downhill, with
sales dropping precipitously in 2000 and remaining stagnant through 2002.
After 2000, the report predicts that the PC industry will be reshaped by
a new set of market forces as computer makers fight for share in the
sub-$1,000 PC market by cutting prices even further. Two-thirds of
companies will focus their development efforts on making PCs with
Internet browsers and on a new generation of Internet-connected
appliances, which are expected to sell at much lower prices than today's
PCs. (Reuters/St. Petersburg Times 2 Nov 98)
E-MAIL RESPONSE-MANAGEMENT PACKAGES DEBUT
Manually routing and answering e-mail is time-consuming, with one
Internet research company placing the cost of dealing with each message
at $2.75. With that in mind, two companies are poised to introduce new
software packages next week that are designed to improve response
automation and personalization. Aptex Software's SelectResponse 3.0 uses
technology that can interpret the meaning of unstructured text to provide
quicker and more accurate answers to e-mail queries. Brightware's Contact
Center software generates automated answers for a predetermined set of
questions and routes other messages to the appropriate company contact
when a question requires a more complex response. "The Internet can be
either the least expensive or the most expensive customer channel,
depending on the level of automation you have," says Brightware's CEO.
Using such software should bring the cost of dealing with e-mail
questions down to as little as 25 cents apiece. (InternetWeek 3 Nov 98)
MICROSOFT EXECS WORRY ABOUT FREE SOFTWARE MOVEMENT
An internal Microsoft memo written by one of that company's software
engineers indicates that Microsoft is concerned with developing
strategies for competing against free programs that have been gaining
popularity with software developers, such as the operating system Linux.
The memorandum warns that the usual Microsoft marketing strategy known as
FUD (an acronym for fear, uncertainty, and doubt) won't work against
developers of free software, who are part of the O.S.S. (open-source
software) movement that makes source code readily available to anyone for
improvement and testing. The memo
(http://www.opensource.org/halloween.html) says: "The ability of the
O.S.S. process to collect and harness the collective I.Q. of thousands of
individuals across the Internet is simply amazing. More importantly,
O.S.S. evangelization scales with the size of the Internet much faster
than our own evangelization efforts appear to scale." (New York Times 3
Nov 98)
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS FUND LAPTOPS FOR GEORGIA STUDENTS
Students at Clayton College and State University and Floyd College, two
of Georgia's smallest public colleges, are benefiting from an unusual
partnership that pairs the colleges with a computer manufacturer, a
networking company, a telephone company, an Internet service provider,
two banks and several software vendors. The arrangement enables the
schools to offer laptops to incoming students for a $300-per-semester
fee, which also covers unlimited Internet access and a student I.D. card
that serves as a bank card, phone card and credit card. The partnership,
which has been designated a pilot project by the University System of
Georgia, allows the non-residential colleges to offer a level of
technology support to students that they otherwise could not afford. Some
students have objected to the increased presence of corporate logos on
campus, but presidents at both schools say their primary concern has been
keeping the most to students as low as possible while giving them the
workplace skills they'll need upon graduation. "The mission of this
college says we will prepare students to succeed in the workplace of the
21st century," says Clayton State president Richard Skinner. (Chronicle
of Higher Education 6 Nov 98)
UCSD TO HOUSE ACADEMIA'S FASTEST COMPUTER
The San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego will be home in 1999
to the fastest computer in the academic community -- an IBM-built,
teraflop-class computer to be used by the National Partnership for
Advanced Computational Infrastructure, a group of 37 research
institutions led by UCSD. The university and IBM are negotiating a price
for the RS/6000 SP machine, which will probably be somewhat lower than
the typical asking price of more than $50-million, says the deputy
director of the Supercomputer Center. The computer will open new avenues
of academic research in subjects ranging from brain research to
simulations of the Big Bang, says IBM's Irving Wladawsky-Berger, general
manager of IBM's Internet Division. (Los Angeles Times 5 Nov 98)
INTEL'S LEGACY FREE PC
Intel is pushing a new concept in PCs -- its Legacy Free PC doesn't look
like a PC at all, but rather like an orange and silver pyramid with the
top chopped off. Inside, it's different, too, relying on "plug-and-play"
universal serial bus ports rather than the old industry standard
architecture sockets that require users to install circuit boards or load
special software every time they add a peripheral component. The PC,
code-named Aztec, won't be built by Intel, but the chipmaking company is
hoping to use its considerable influence to persuade PC makers to adopt
its vision of simpler, more stylish devices that work more like
"information appliances": "...We have had this in the works for several
years because we have to change things," says the PC initiatives manager
at Intel. "People have come to expect a gray box, to expect a machine
that crashes." (Wall Street Journal 4 Nov 98)
IBM'S GRAND STRATEGY
Irving Wladawsky-Berger, general manager of IBM's Internet Division,
defines the difference between "e-commerce" and "e-business": "E-commerce
is all about buying and selling (on the Internet) and all the processes
that support buying and selling, such as advertising, marketing, customer
support, credit-card activities and the like. E-business, in addition to
encompassing e-commerce, includes lots of applications to help business
run more efficiently. It also includes more internal applications for
linking employees together and helping employees work more productively.
E-business also involves publishing and accessing information. So
e-commerce and e-business are two halves of the same coin. E-business is
the grand strategy, and e-commerce is an extremely important subset of
e-business." (Investor's Business Daily 4 Nov 98)
SMART CARDS SLOW TO CATCH ON
As a trial of electronic-cash "smart cards" ended on New York's Upper
West Side, it was clear that the introduction of the technology is not
going as quickly as some had expected. The sponsors of the trial
(Citibank, Chase Manhattan, Visa and MasterCard) claim the trial has
rewarded them with "a lot of good learning," but electronic banking
consultant Jerome Svigals says that the most critical problem in
developing a market for smart cards is that they aren't yet profitable --
and won't be profitable until the banks or other issuers can charge for
their use and until consumers are willing to pay for the convenience the
cards represent. So far, the most successful trials in the U.S. have been
in controlled settings (e.g., college and corporate campuses and military
bases) where people use the cards not only to pay for things but also to
gain access to buildings, check out books from the library, etc. (AP 4
Nov 98)
ONLINE DRUGSTORE WAR
PlanetRx and Drugstore.com, two start-ups hoping to get a respectable
share of the $160 billion a year U.S. market for drug prescriptions, are
rushing to open Web sites for this purpose early in 1999. Since many
states do not allow electronic submission of prescriptions, the companies
are forced to supplement their Web-based activities with the use of
phoned or faxed prescriptions; even so, PlanetRx and Drugstore.com are
betting that customers will prefer the convenience of placing their
orders through the World Wide Web and waiting for fast delivery to their
homes, rather than choosing a trip to the local pharmacy. (San Jose
Mercury News 4 Nov 98)
MICROSOFT: WE DECIDE OUR MARKETING
In the Microsoft antitrust case, the company argued that it had every
right to tell Apple last year that if Apple didn't adopt Microsoft's
Internet browser as the default choice on all Apple computers, then
Microsoft would simply stop producing software to run on Apple machines.
A Microsoft attorney asked Apple executive Avadis Tevanian: "Suppose
Microsoft simply decides not to offer a product. Do you have a problem
with that." Tevanian's answer: "Yes. I have a problem with them doing it
when they are using it as a threat to get us to do something we didn't
want to do." (New York Times 5 Nov 98)
NEW!
[BITSBYTES.GIF (64527 bytes)]
by R. F. Mariano
The repairs are coming along nicely. One engine is almost out and as
soon as that one is done the other will be pulled. The cost of repairs
is very respectable as is the upkeep. The remainder of the expenses are
under control but God knows, we could use a "Guardian Angel" for the
major repairs. This coming season we are going to be taking
underpriviledged children out to learn about ecology, conservation and
good sportsmanship. The idea is to instill upon them these principles so
they, in turn, will teach their children and friends. In today's world
it is very important to make certain everyone from active fishermen to
ardent spectators, recreational boaters, swimmers, beach goers and others
who enjoy the sea and all its benefits protect these wonders of nature.
We need to have these practices instilled in our younger generations.
Its the only way we shall be albe to adequately protect the entire marine
environment.
[Image] Protect Your Boat Batteries This Winter
DieHard's Winterizing Program for Marine Batteries
When the cold winds blow, do you think about your boat batteries?
You'd better, say the experts at DieHard marine batteries, or your
cranking and deep cycle batteries may die premature deaths. When the
calendar and cold fronts tell you the worst is yet to come, the operable
word is "winterize."
Here is a step-by-step battery winterizing program for marine cranking
and deep cycle batteries. Wear old clothes because you'll be working
close to battery acid, which can burn a hole in clothing. Protect your
eyes. For safety's sake, mix a solution of baking soda and water (50-50)
and keep it nearby so you can use it to neutralize any acid spills.
1. Disconnect your marine batteries and remove them from the boat and
from the elements.
2. Inspect the cables and connectors. Repair or replace them now, if
necessary, not in the spring when the fish are biting and repair
shops are busy.
3. Clean and brush the cable connectors with a wire brush, removing the
crusty, corrosion build-up. Coat the connectors with white grease to
help maintain good contact between the connectors and batteries.
4. Wire brush the battery posts to remove the white, crusty material.
Coat the terminals with white grease or Vaseline to help ward off
the effects of corrosion.
5. With a disposable rag, wipe the crud, dirt and grit from the battery
cases. Dispose of this rag.
6. Dip another rag into a neutralizing solution of baking soda and
water, half-and-half. Wring out the excess fluid and wipe down the
battery cases.
7. Check the battery acid levels. Add distilled water or de-ionized
water, as required, to bring electrolyte levels to within one-eighth
of an inch of the bottom of the vent well, or one-fourth of an inch
from the bottom if the battery is discharged. Don't overfill, or
sulfuric acid will want to escape out of the vents. Don't use tap
water or well water. They may contain chlorine, iron or salts that
will harm the battery.
8. Recharge your batteries. Wear goggles and old clothes. Do not
overcharge. Excessive overcharging causes loss of electrolyte and
the interior plates to shed their active material, reducing
capacity. Never charge a frozen battery. Always charge in a
well-ventilated area.
9. Cold weather charging requirements make a strong recommendation for
the use of a "smart" battery charger such as the DieHard 71320 shelf
model. This charger is equipped with a microprocessor capable of
recharging each battery according to its own particular needs. On
its "automatic" setting, this charger will charge each battery in
optimal time then revert to a 2-amp "maintenance" setting, keeping
the battery warm and fully-charged.
10. Store batteries in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place, far away
from the furnace. Make sure they're out of reach from kids and pets.
A temperature of about 50 degrees is ideal. Your garage is fine for
storage as long as the temperature inside doesn't dip below
freezing. A frozen battery is a dead battery. Never try to charge a
frozen battery.
11. While your batteries are stored, they'll slowly lose their charge.
Check them monthly. Restore water levels then bring the batteries up
to a full charge if needed. A charged battery lasts longer than a
battery in a discharged state.
If you have maintenance-free gel cell batteries the winterizing routine
is the same except with a sealed case you cannot add more electrolyte.
It's especially important, therefore, that you not overcharge a gel cell
battery or charge it too quickly. If you do, the gel in the battery can
heat up and will have a tendency to dry out, shrink and pull away from
the lead plates.
One of the most asked questions about battery storage is, "Can I store my
batteries on cement?" The answer is, "Yes." Before 1967, storing
batteries on cement was a potential problem because battery cases usually
were made of hard rubber. Batteries didn't hold a charge as long back
then, and the cold cement often helped freeze the electrolyte. Also,
battery sealing was relatively poor. Acid leaks were common in those old
batteries, and many cement floors showed the effects of such leaks. In
that year DieHard introduced the heat-sealed, polypropylene battery case
and cover that have raised battery capacity and reduced the potential for
leakage. A word of caution, though: If your vent caps are not tight or if
you overfill your cells, liquid acid may work its way out through the
vent caps.
DieHard Announces 12 Battery
Models for Marine Market in 1998
Sears Marine Line Includes Starting, Deep-Cycle,
Gel-Cell, and Commercial Batteries
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- (March 1998 - DieHard introduces its 1998 marine
battery line --12 batteries engineered specifically for recreational and
commercial boating and angling, including saltwater flats and freshwater
tournament fishing.
The 1998 line of DieHard marine batteries includes starting, deep-cycle,
gel-cel, and commercial batteries. All DieHard marine batteries are
covered by Sears guarantee, "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back"
and all but one model have 30-month or longer warrantees.
"The automobile market is far and away the biggest market for DieHard
batteries but the marine market is big and getting bigger," said David S.
Egeland, DieHard brand director. "We are very mindful that tournament
style boats for bass, crappie, walleye and saltwater fishing use not only
a starting battery but one, two, three and sometimes four deep-cycle
batteries to power electric motors, bilge pumps, live-wells, fish
finders, satellite navigators and instruments."
For 1998, DieHard will offer one series of marine batteries with a
built-in power level indicator that you can read at the push of a button.
Called the "Power Probe," this top-mounted button and display is found on
the DieHard 3OHM battery. The DieHard 30HM and two other models, 27M and
24M, also feature Sears "Pack Tite" construction, a design feature that
promotes longer battery life by helping eliminate the effects of boat
vibration and pounding. And, delivering 900, 750 and 650 marine cranking
amps respectively, the 30HM, 27M and 24M are designed to handle engine
cranking as well as provide deep-cycle current supply for electric
motors, live-wells, bilge pumps and marine electronics. All three models
feature convenient carrying handles.
There are five batteries in the DieHard Gel-Cel series, factory-sealed
batteries with gelled electrolyte, that deliver power even if fully
submerged in water or turned upside down. Sears Gel-Cel batteries are
designed to start engines from 150 h.p. up to 600 h.p. and deliver deep
cycle current on-demand. DieHard Gel-Cel marine batteries deliver from
500 to 1725 marine cranking amp. The batteries are guaranteed for 30
months, including free replacement for 90 days after the purchase date.
The DieHard 24MS model was designed expressly as a marine starting
battery and delivers an impressive 625 marine cranking amps in spite of
its light weight -- only 36 pounds. However, distinction for "smallest
and lightest" battery goes to the DieHard U1, a 22-pound deep-cycle
battery measuring less than 9 inches long, 6 inches wide and 8 inches
tall. This compact model, rated at 270 marine cranking amps, is ideal for
powering electric trolling motors on small, light boats such as canoes
and aluminum skiffs.
At the other end of the scale are the DieHard 4D and 8D, commercial
marine batteries, that produce 1400 and 1725 marine cranking amps
respectively.
DieHard marine batteries for 1998 are sold through more than 2300 retail
outlets in the United States including Sears Auto Centers, Sears
Hardware, Sears Dealer stores and Orchard Supply Hardware. Sears
Automotive Group is the nation's largest retailer of batteries. If you
have any questions at all about what to do with your batteries, stop in
at your nearest Sears Auto Center and get some answers, or write me,
Capt. DieHard, Sears, Roebuck and Co., Sears Automotive Group, 3333
Beverly Road, BC-103B, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179.
DIEHARD BATTERY MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dave Albritton, DieHard Public Relations Specialist
Voice (847) 286-9017 Fax (847) 286-8351
E-mail: dalbrit@sears.com
Bill AuCoin, Public Communications Inc.
Voice (813) 522-2371; Fax (813) 521-2035;
E-mail: wmaucoin@gte.net
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Got a question relative to something....
* We have covered or reviewed?
* Want something reviewed?
* Want to tell us a thing or two?
* Request a Brochure about a product?
* This is the place...
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* What is WS_FTP Pro?
* What are the primary features of WS_FTP Pro?
* Whats new in version 6.0?
* What other systems can I connect to with WS_FTP Pro?
* How does WS_FTP Pro differ from WS_FTP Limited Edition?
* How do I use WS_FTP Pro with the classic interface?
* How do I use WS_FTP Pro with Windows Explorer?
* What is the optimal environment for reviewing WS_FTP Pro?
* How do I install WS_FTP Pro?
* Where can I find more detailed information on how to use WS_FTP Pro?
* How can I customize WS_FTP Pro?
* How can I use WS_FTP Pro to automate my file transfers?
* How can I create my own FTP site?
* How do developers create custom applications using WS_FTP Pro?
* What other products has Ipswitch developed?
What is WS_FTP Pro?
WS_FTP Pro is a Windows-based file transfer client application that is
used to transfer files between a users local PC and a remote FTP server
connected via a modem and telephone lines or by a local area network. With
WS_FTP Pro, users can connect to any remote FTP server, browse through
directories and files, and transfer files in either direction. In
addition, users can create, change, and remove directories and view,
execute, rename, or delete files. WS_FTP Pro also supports anonymous
logons, which enables users to access the vast store of information on
anonymous FTP sites around the world.
What are the primary features of WS_FTP Pro?
Primary features of WS_FTP Pro include the following:
* Convenient drag-and-drop capabilities,
which simplifies and speeds up your
file transfer tasks
* Choice of user interfaces: Windows
Explorer interface or "classic" WS_FTP
Pro interface (either or both may be
installed). Users can choose the one
thats right for them.
* Year 2000 compliant so that users will
not have to worry about a malfunction
when the year changes
* Auto re-get feature for automatically
resuming interrupted transfers so that
valuable data is not lost during
transfers
* Advanced support for handling timeouts,
port numbers, passive file transfers,
and firewalls
* Support for "remote-to-remote"
transfers
* Support for more than 50 host file
systems
* File maintenance options to help
prevent overwriting of same or newer
files and preserving the original file
date and time from remote host
* Support for custom applications
developed using the WS_FTP Pro
Development Kit so that users can
create their own custom applications by
drawing on the internal capabilities of
WS_FTP Pro.
Whats new in version 6.0?
* Improved drag-and-drop capabilities in
classic interface
* New FTP Utility Pack that includes
Find, Scripting, and Synchronization
Utilities
* Quick connect for immediate connection
to new sites
* Recursive delete which lets any
authorized user delete non-empty
folders on FTP servers
* Site manager allows users to store FTP
sites in folders in a familiar tree
view for easy reference
* Optional new WS_FTP Server for hosting
FTP sites
What other systems can I connect to with WS_FTP Pro?
WS_FTP Pro can connect to any system that has a valid Internet address and
an FTP server application running. This allows users to transfer files
between a wide variety of systems, including Windows, OS/2, VMS, and UNIX
systems.
How does WS_FTP Pro differ from WS_FTP Limited Edition?
WS_FTP Pro includes a number of advanced features that distinguish it from
WS_FTP Limited Edition (LE). WS_FTP Pros Windows Explorer interface is
the most significant of these.
Additional advanced features found in WS_FTP Pro include the ability to
initiate file transfers using convenient Windows drag-and-drop
capabilities. Command line support for multiple file transfers allows
users to automate and further streamline their file maintenance
operations. The auto re-get feature for failed transfers saves even more
time by automatically resuming interrupted transfers upon reconnect. In
addition, WS_FTP Pro comes with a comprehensive printed manual, technical
support, discounts on future upgrades, and is Year 2000 compliant.
How do I use WS_FTP Pro with the classic interface?
To create a connection to a remote FTP site using the classic interface,
users enter either the information to create a new FTP site profile or
invoke one that was previously saved. The FTP site profile tells WS_FTP
Pro the name of the remote system, its platform or host type, and the
required login account informationincluding User ID and password. With
the Quick Connect button, users easily connect to the FTP site.
Once connected to a remote FTP server, the WS_FTP Pro classic interface
displays a window with the local directories and files on the left and the
remote directories and files on the right. With both file systems
displayed, users can easily locate files on one system and copy them to
the desired directory on the other system.
How do I use WS_FTP Pro with Windows Explorer?
The Explorer interface of WS_FTP Pro functions as part of Windows
Explorer. Although the Explorer interface uses the same "core engine" as
the classic interface, it lets users copy and move files within the
familiar environment of Windows Explorer. Users dont even have to be
especially aware that theyre using FTP, or that the servers theyre
seeing are FTP servers rather than just ordinary folders.
The Explorer interface supports nearly all the functionality found in the
classic interface. (Exceptions include remote edit using Shell Execute,
and L8 mode transfers of non-text files.) In addition, it supports the
ability to copy from one remote FTP server to another (remote-to-remote
transfers).
To create a connection to a remote FTP site using the Windows Explorer
interface, simply start Windows Explorer, locate the WS_FTP Pro icon in
the tree view (left pane), and click it. WS_FTP Pro displays a list of
defined site profiles in the right pane of Windows Explorer. To connect to
one of these FTP sites, just double click the site icon, and WS_FTP Pro
connects to the site and displays it contents.
WS_FTP Pro comes with a selection of predefined FTP sites, which can be
kept or deleted. To add a new site profile using the Explorer interface,
just select Add Site from the File menu and follow the prompts in the Add
FTP Site Wizard. Users may also access this wizard via the Add Site icon.
What is the optimal environment for reviewing WS_FTP Pro?
WS_FTP Pro complies with the Windows sockets (Winsock) standard and is
available in the following configurations:
* 32-bit, two-window version for Windows
95, Windows 98, and NT with Explorer
interface
* 16-bit, four-window version for Windows
3.x, (does not includes Explorer
interface)
Supported on Intel platform, we recommend that users review the 32-bit
version for Windows 95 on the Intel platform (486 or better). A TCP/IP
protocol stack is also required. Supported stacks include those packaged
with Microsoft Windows 95 and NT.
How do I install WS_FTP Pro?
The following instructions assume that the user is installing the Windows
95 version of WS_FTP Pro recommended above:
1. Insert the WS_FTP Pro disk
into a floppy disk drive.
2. Unzip the file.
Next, select Run from
the File menu, enter the
drive letter followed by
install.exe.
3. For example, a:install.exe.
4. When asked, choose WS_FTP Pro
Installation.
5. Follow the instructions on
your screen.
Where can I find more detailed information on how to use WS_FTP Pro?
WS_FTP Pro is currently supported by the following literature and
documentation:
* WS_FTP Pro Product SummaryA short
overview of WS_FTP Pros capabilities
* WS_FTP Pro Users GuideDetailed
information on how to install and use
WS_FTP Pro
Additional information related to WS_FTP Pro and other products, including
a searchable knowledge base, may be found by visiting the Ipswitch Web
site (http://www.ipswitch.com). In addition, free evaluation software for
WS_FTP Pro and other Ipswitch products may be downloaded from the Ipswitch
Web site.
How can I customize WS_FTP Pro?
WS_FTP Pro provides numerous opportunities to customize its display,
operation, and the manner in which files are transferred or executed.
These include:
* Program optionsallow users to change
the settings related to the layout and
operation of WS_FTP Pro.
* Session optionslets users change the
settings for current session and
session defaults.
* Pro optionslets users change the
settings related to the way in which
files are transferred between local and
remote systems.
* ASCII extensionslets users change the
extensions that are used by Auto Mode,
which automatically detects whether a
file should be transferred in binary or
ASCII mode.
* Extension conversionslets users
convert file extensions on transfer.
For example, users can convert files
with .htm extensions to .html.
* File associationslets users change the
settings that effect execution by the
Exec button.
* Save directory nameallows users to
save the local and remote directory as
default for next connection.
* Save window locationsaves the current
main window size and location.
Refer to the WS_FTP Pro Users Guide for more information on setting up
all WS_FTP Pro options, including those for the Windows Explorer
interface. Additional information is also available online in the form of
WS_FTP Pro help screens.
How can I use WS_FTP Pro to automate my file transfers?
WS_FTP Pros new utility pack includes WS_FTP Script and WS_FTP Synch.
This utility pack automates file transfers.
The WS_FTP Script utility automates file transfer and management through a
series of commands. For example, users can create a script that will
upload select files at the same time each week.
The second utility, WS_FTP Synch, greatly simplifies keeping remote sites
up-to-date by automatically uploading files which have changes and
deleting files that have been removed from the master directory. This is a
useful tool for quickly and efficiently updating Web sites.
In addition, users can automate file transfers by using the command line
to create a batch file and then use a scheduler to pre-schedule transfers
to run automatically.
How can I create my own FTP site?
Ipswitch is now marketing a new FTP server. WS_FTP Server is an
easy-to-use product that allows you to create your own FTP sites on a
Windows NT system. Used in combination with WS_FTP Pro, WS_FTP Server now
offers companies a robust and complete FTP solution to their Internet file
sharing needs.
How do developers create custom applications using WS_FTP Pro?
WS_FTP Pro provides support for custom applications developed using the
WS_FTP Pro Development Kit. The kit helps developers create custom
applications by allowing them to draw on the internal capabilities of
WS_FTP Pro.
With a choice of languages that includes C++ and Visual Basic, developers
can create standalone FTP applications or add network file transfer
functionality to existing custom applications. For example, developers can
use the WS_FTP Pro Development Kit to quickly write applications that
perform any of the following:
* Posting of frequent updates to Internet
or intranet servers
* Automatic download of documents or
programs
* Regular updates of distributed
databases
* Automated mirroring of multiple servers
What other products has Ipswitch developed?
In addition to WS_FTP Pro, other Ipswitch products include:
* IMail Server for Windows NTInternet
Messaging
* WhatsUpThe Original WhatsUp Graphical
Network Monitoring Tool
* WhatsUp GoldMultiprotocol Network
Monitoring for the Enterprise
* WS_Ping ProPackInternet Utilities
* VT320 Telnet Terminal EmulatorFor
Accessing VMS and UNIX Host
Applications
* WS_FTP ServerFTP Server for Windows NT
[Image]
Ipswitch, Inc.
81 Hartwell Avenue
Lexington, MA 02421
Phone: (781) 676-5700 E-mail: sales@ipswitch.com
Fax: (781) 676-5710 Web: http://www.ipswitch.com
The Linux Advocate
Column #26
November 6th, 1998
by Scott Dowdle
dowdle@icstech.net
ICQ UIN: 15509440
LOGIN:
Did everyone have a good Halloween? I don't think Microsoft did. For details, see News
Item #2. I've been doing more PERL programming at work and I am falling in love with
PERL. It's great, give it a try today. :) As I write this, I've just learned of the
Halloween II document which is a follow up to the first document. Halloween II goes more
in depth on the virtues of Linux and after having skimmed through this document, it is
much more interesting than the first one. But alas, it was too close to deadline time
for me to present much info on it here. Check back next week for that.
NEWS:
Item #1: Here's 'The Skinny' - LinuxWorld Magazine ( has a new gossip column, and I
found the first installment to be enjoyably light reading after all of this Halloween
Document junk. This one gets news Item #1 and the Halloween document gets #2, because
that what it is. Check out The Skinny for yourself at the following URL:
http://www.linuxworld.com/linuxworld/lw-1998-11/lw-11-skinny.html
Item #2: { The Halloween Document } - Eric Raymond (remember him from past editions of
this column?) posted a document on his web site that appeared to be a Microsoft internal
document that is an analysis of the Open Source Software movement and offered up a
strategy on how Microsoft can be combat their newest and greatest threat. As the story
grows, we learn that Microsoft admits that the document is legitimate and the story
breaks in the printed pages of the Wall Street Journal. This story will undoubtedly make
major headlines and have dozens of press articles written about it, but as I write this,
the Wall Street Journal piece hasn't even broken yet. Read the rather lengthy document
with your own eyes. Find it at the following URL:
http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/halloween.html
Related URLs so far include:
Microsoft: Linux a threat to NT
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,28215,00.html?st.ne.ni.lh
Microsoft Accused Of Targeting Linux http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19981102S0005
Microsoft evaluates the open software 'threat'
http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories/news/0,4153,369430,00.html
Internal Memo Shows Microsoft Executives' Concern Over Free Software
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/11/biztech/articles/03memo.html
Microsoft wary of open source, embedded systems
http://www.mercurycenter.com/columnists/gillmor/docs/dg110398.htm
MS: Open Source is Direct Threat
http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/15990.html
Microsoft Seems to Be Heeding The Threat of Shared Software (reproduces the Wall Street
Journal article)
http://www.plcom.on.ca/news/top_stories/linux/981103.html
Microsoft Paper Talked Of Blunting Rival Threat
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-11/03/093l-110398-idx.html
Memo suggests software giant sees Linux as threat
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe/globehtml/307/Memo_suggests_software_giant_sees_L.shtml
Microsoft details open source software strategy
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?98112.wcmsopen.htm
How Microsoft Thinks
http://www.scripting.com/davenet/98/11/howMicrosoftThinks.html
Microsoft's Halloween scare
http://www.salonmagazine.com/21st/rose/1998/11/04straight.html
Microsoft: Linux is a threat to NT
http://www.linuxworld.com/linuxworld/lw-1998-10/lw-10-halloween.html
Item #3: Lotus "hedges" on Linux move - According to this article, Lotus is going to
port Notes to Linux. To the best of my knowledge, no formal announcement has been made.
It's commercial software folks... do we really need more if it? How about an Open Source
clone of Notes someday? I believe several are in the birthing stages. Anyway, for those
in the computer industry that are addicted to commercial software, mainly because they
don't know any better, this is good news for them. See the following URL for specifics:
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/1998/43/ns-5928.html
Item #4: Linux, OS upstart gets some respect - The producers of TV.COM and the owners of
www.news.com have put together an introduction to Linux. To me, this is the most obvious
example that Linux has past the doorway into "Mainstream World". Check it out at the
following URL: http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reports/Trends/Linux/index.html
Item #5: Linux Show Attracts A Zealous Audience - The following story is a short write
up about the Atlanta Linux Showcase that was mentioned last column. Enjoy it at the
following URL: http://www.internetworld.com/print/current/webdev/19981102-linux.html
Item #6: Corel makes commitment to WINE project - Seems as if I missed a significant
story last week concerning the various Corel announcements. WordPerfect 8 for Linux
(free for personal use) hasn't been released yet and I really haven't had time to
research the other stuff I wanted to mention BUT my point here is... (taking a
breath)... Corel did announce that they have decided to help support the WINE project.
For those who haven't heard of WINE, it is a free, open source project to build a
Windows emulator. WINE has been going on and on for several years and has had quite a
bit of success but they are still a long ways off from being 100% compatible. The Corel
announcement (sorry, no links for you at this time, I lost them) has been taken with
much anticipation of it aiding in Wine becoming more compatible sooner.
Item #7: Linux week at InfoWorld? - Well, it might not really be Linux week at InfoWorld
but it is starting to seem like it. Check out the following list of URLs:
Linux and the formula for success as defined by the Pointy Haired Boss - by Nicholas
Petreley
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayNew.pl?/petrel/981102np.htm
Linux in the limelight, Forum on InfoWorld... yet again my Mr. Petreley
http://forums.infoworld.com/threads/get.cgi?80940
Lotus weighs its Linux options - by Emily Fitzloff
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?981031.ehlotus.htm
Unix vendors need Linux to tackle NT
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayNew.pl?/vizard/981102mv.htm
Linux campaign rolls on: Unix camp seeks ally - by Benjamin Keyser
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?981031.ehlinux.htm
Item #8: Beware the Linux hype - For contrast value only, I present a link to the
biggest piece of crap... piece of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) that I've run
across to date. The only thing that isn't funny about this article, is that it just
might actually present a common attitude among those who don't know any better. Hmmm,
those last few sentences sounded pretty slanderous to me but I thought it matched the
theme of the piece in question. Check it out for yourself at the following URL:
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/specials/1998/10/linux_lounge/1.html
LOGOUT:
I was too busy this week reading all the URLs you see posted above... and believe me, I
filtered about two times as more. I hope to have a spotlight next column that was
written by a non-Linux using friend of mine. I asked her a series of questions about
Linux to see what her responses would in an attempt to do an ad-hoc opinion poll from
outside the Linux community. I can't exactly claim that my friend is outside the Linux
community completely, because she has heard me rant and rave about Linux for a couple of
years now and has several concepts about it. It should turn out rather interesting. This
paragraph is meant to be some additional encouragement for you to get those questions
wrapped up ;)
Scott Dowdle
The Kids Computing Corner
Computer news and software reviews
from a parents point of view
[Image]
In the News
Im hoping to get the news section back up to speed in the near future.
At this time, there are some family health problems that are restricting
the time I can devote to this column. If you have any suggestions or
comments, please send them to fsereno@uti.com and I will give them the
utmost consideration.
Featured Review
Travel the World with Timmy!
Windows/Macintosh hybrid CD-ROM
About $25
Edmark
PO Box 97021
Redmond, WA 98073-9721
(800) 320-8377
http://www.edmark.com
Program Requirements
IBM Macintosh
OS:Windows 3.1-9x OS:System 7.0.1
CPU: 486DX/66 up CPU: 68040 or PowerPC
HD Space: 10 MB HD Space: 3 MB
Memory: 8 MB Memory: 8 MB
Graphics: 640 by 480 with 256 colors Graphics: 640 by 480 with 256
colors
CD-ROM: Double-speed CD-ROM: Double-speed
Audio: 8-bit Windows compatible
sound card
Other: mouse
Optional: Printer - Edmark
TouchWindow.
[Image]
Review by Frank Sereno (fsereno@uti.com)
Send your child on an exciting learning journey as he travels around the
world in a hot air balloon. Explore exotic locales while learning about
languages, culture and customs of distant lands. Travel the World with
Timmy! is an enchanting adventure for youngsters that will spark their
interest in additional languages, creativity, reading and more.
Timmy, a friendly and encouraging alligator, is your childs guide. Just
hop in the balloon and click on a countrys flag to be instantly whisked
there. Your child can choose from Argentina, Japan and Kenya. The program
includes five activities for each nation: Games, Build-A-Village,
Make-A-Story, Sing-A-Song and Arts & Crafts. Within any activity, you can
click on the dictionary to view a picture dictionary featuring common
words from Spanish, Japanese and Swahili.
Both Argentina and Kenya feature a game with three levels of difficulty
and a choice between human and computer opponents. Both games develop
problem-solving skills. The Japan portion of the program features Kabuki
Theatre playsets. Your child can print them out, color and assemble the
pieces, then create imaginative plays.
The Arts & Crafts activity is a coloring book featuring the cultural
crafts of each country. Your child can create Japanese kites, paper
necklaces and more. The paint program features several brush sizes, a
variety of textures and numerous stamps. You child can use a magic brush
to see how the people of that country may have painted the picture. The
resulting artwork can be saved to the hard drive and printed on your
printer complete with assembly directions.
Make-A-Story is a story creating machine. The computer gives children
choices at various points in an illustrated story. Your child can listen
and read the story in English or in the native language. The text is
highlighted as each word is spoken so children can learn vocabulary. You
can also print the stories for later reading. Children will probably
notice the difference in grammatic structure between the other languages
and English. Kids will really enjoy creating these stories.
Children love music. What better way to encourage them to learn a little
Swahili than for them to sing a folk tune? By making the sounds of
another language, children are enhancing their ability to speak many
different languages. As we grow older, we lose the ability to make the
different phonemes of language from lack of exposure and use. Its pretty
complicated to explain the science behind this, but the earlier children
are exposed to additional languages, the easier they will master those
languages. Its the old "if you dont use it, you lose it" axiom.
The most interesting and challenging activity to my children was
Build-A-Village. The screen features a landscape from the country being
visited. Along the top of the screen are a set of pictures such as
animals, flora and people of the country. Along the left side of the
screen are numbers. Click on a number or picture and you will hear it
pronounced in the native language. This activity has two modes. In
Explore mode, your child can place objects on the screen by clicking on
an image and a number. He can then drag those items about the screen and
even print the pictures when done. In Question and Answer Mode, the
program now asks your child to place the correct number of objects on the
screen. You can have the computer read the problem off a pictogram scroll
or you can choose to solve the problem by ear. That proved to be quite a
challenge for this grizzled reviewer!
The program features a number of Edmarks famous characters such as
Bailey from Baileys Bookhouse and Stanley from Stanleys Sticker
Stories. If your child has other Edmark titles, these fellows will seem
like old and dear friends. Travel the World with Timmy! has good
production values and excellent content. The program is very easy to
navigate and fun to play. It also carries on the fine Edmark traditions
of an excellent manual that includes suggestions for learning fun away
from the computer and how to trouble-shoot many common computer problems.
The program is also backed by an excellent 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
and a 90-Day defective media warranty.
If you want to give your child a fun way to experiment with additional
languages, you cant go wrong buying Travel the World with Timmy!
Children will learn that even though we have many differences, we have
much more in common with people in other lands. Be sure to look for
special rebate offers available at your favorite software retailer.
[Image]
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File Format for STReport
All articles submitted to STReport for publication must be sent in the
following format. Please use the format requested. Any files received that
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left and 1.0" Monospaced fonts are not to be used. Please use proportional
fonting only and at Twelve (12) points.
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in Word or Word Perfect format. Do NOT, under any circumstances, use
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If there are any questions please use either E-Mail or call.
Many grateful thanks in advance for your enthusiastic co-operation and
input.
Ralph F. Mariano, Editor
rmariano@streport.com
STReport International Online Magazine
[Image] STR Editor's Mail Call "...a place for the readers to be heard"
Editor's MailBag
[big_maddie[1].jpg (26994 bytes)]
This is a heartbreaker... please keep her in your prayers
Have you seen Maddie?
NAME: MADLYN "MADDIE" RAE CLIFTON
AGE: 8 years
HEIGHT: 4' 4"
WEIGHT: 44 pounds
EYES: BROWN
HAIR: BROWN
IF LOCATED, PLEASE CALL THE:
JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT:
1-904-630-0500
Maddie was last seen about 5:30pm Tuesday, November 3rd at her home in
the 6100 block of Fleetwood Road, just off St. Augustine Road, just south
of University Blvd.
The photo (above right) is the most recent, with short brown hair.
[MADDIE_REDSHIRT[1].jpg (15717 bytes)]
When she disappeared, she was wearing a red YMCA basketball shirt, but
not the exact one pictured at left. She had on blue shorts and black
tennis shoes.
IF LOCATED, PLEASE CALL THE:
JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT:
1-904-630-0500
[image87.gif (45316 bytes)]
Classics & Gaming Section
Editor Dana P. Jacobson
dpj@streport.com
From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
Well, another year of elections has come and gone - thankfully. I hate
politics, but I have to briefly mention this past election. First of
all... Ha Ha, ha ha ha! The "Lewinski Factor" backfired and bit the
Republicans in the behind! I hear Newt Gingrich is re-doing his resume;
he'll need it. Only in America: "The Body" becomes governor of Minnesota!
And Jeb takes Florida! And Grandpa Munster loses! Who needs to go out for
entertainment? We've got it all here with politicians!!
Until next time...
Gaming Section
* "Crash Bandicoot: WARPED!"
* "Apocalypse"!
* "Bushido Blade 2"!
* "StarWars"!
* "Wipeout 64"!
* ...And much more!
Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News!
Crash Bandicoot: WARPED
Oh Yeah... He's Back... and He's Ready! Sony Computer Entertainment
America announced the release of Crash Bandicoot: WARPED, available
exclusively for the PlayStation game console. It's a whole new adventure
as Crash Bandicoot returns in one of the most successful and best-selling
videogame franchises in PlayStation history.
In Crash Bandicoot: WARPED, players will experience all new,
out-of-this-world adventures, which include swimming in the underwater
world of Atlantis, riding on the back of a young T-Rex in the Jurassic
Era, and even time warping to a futuristic world in the new millennium!
The time travel theme brings players through unique worlds, and Crash
Bandicoot fans will have to prove they've got the stamina and skills to
endure these multiple challenges.
In addition to the unique worlds, Crash Bandicoot: WARPED also features a
"time trial" mode, where players race against the clock and earn relics
by beating pre-designated times. The first five relics earned open a
Secret Warp Room and one of the secret levels, while every five relics
earned thereafter open secret levels within the hidden Warp Room. The new
time trial mode challenges players to race competitively and achieve the
best time overall.
Crash Bandicoot continues to set unprecedented industry records, with
overall sales of the franchise (including the original Crash Bandicoot
and Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back) surpassing the 5 million unit
sales mark worldwide earlier this year. Crash Bandicoot is the first and
only PlayStation franchise to have both the original game and its sequel
exceed the one million unit mark in North America.
"Like its predecessors, Crash Bandicoot: WARPED is anticipated to be one
of this year's top titles," said Peter Dille, senior director, product
marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "With its release hitting
just in time for the big holiday shopping season and given the
overwhelming popularity of the Crash Bandicoot character and
corresponding PlayStation games, Crash Bandicoot: WARPED will certainly
be a must-have addition for new and existing PlayStation fans around the
world. Crash Bandicoot's timeless appeal and infectious worldwide
popularity makes this a franchise that will continue to break its own
sales records."
Reassembling some of the finest talent who contributed to the previous
titles, Crash Bandicoot: WARPED once again features Mark Mothersbaugh of
Mutato Muzika and founding member/lead singer of the band Devo, composing
another hit musical track for this sequel; and Clancy Brown, the actor
best known as Kurgan in the film "Highlanders" and Sergeant Zim in
"Starship Troopers," as the voice of the infamous character Dr. Neo
Cortex.
Crash Bandicoot: WARPED was developed in partnership with Sony Computer
Entertainment America and the combined talents of Universal Interactive
Studios, Inc. (UIS), and Santa Monica, Calif.-based game developer,
Naughty Dog, Inc.
"Working with Sony Computer Entertainment America to launch one of
today's most popular and highly-acclaimed videogame franchises has been
an unbelievable experience," said Jason Rubin, co-founder, Naughty Dog,
Inc. "With Crash Bandicoot: WARPED, fans of the franchise will be pleased
to find that we've added another playable character, Crash's sister,
Coco; completely new open levels; more awe-inspiring 3D animation and
detailed graphics; a wider game environment; additional character moves;
and best of all, an all-new set of worldly Crash adventures to enjoy."
"Crash Bandicoot: WARPED preserves all of the best qualities of the first
two Crash videogames, while introducing new and enhanced game features to
give Crash fans even more of what they've come to love," said Mark Cerny,
president, Universal Interactive Studios, Inc., and executive producer of
the Crash Bandicoot series. "With the success of the first two Crash
games and now the launch of Crash Bandicoot: WARPED, we can only hope to
see Crash Bandicoot's popularity grow and continue to draw new fans,
offering the best and most unbelievable game experiences they can share
with their friends and family."
Activision Sets Date for Bruce Willis Action-Shooter, Apocalypse
Beginning on November 17, 1998, gamers will be able to experience
explosive non-stop action as one of most famous superstars of our time,
Bruce Willis, with the launch of Activision, Inc.'s upcoming game
Apocalypse for the PlayStation game console. Apocalypse is the first
original game that has been designed specifically for an actor of Willis'
magnitude.
As Trey Kincaid, a pistol-packing nano-physicist, players must defeat the
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as they attempt to save the world in the
mother of all showdowns. Gamers take control of a motion captured and
cyber-scanned 3D Willis as they fight their way through a Neo-Gothic
world on the edge of annihilation.
Square Soft Launches Bushido Blade 2
Having breathed new life into the fighting game genre with Bushido Blade,
Square Soft, provider of one of the most successful gaming franchises in
interactive entertainment history, today announced the launch of Bushido
Blade2 for the PlayStation game console. With the addition of 12 new
playable characters (bringing the total to 20), unique story lines and
incredibly smooth 3D rendered character movements, Bushido Blade 2
travels far beyond the innovations set forth by its predecessor.
Following the release of Xenogears, Square Soft's futuristic role playing
game, Bushido Blade 2 is the third of four new titles to be marketed and
distributed in North America under the recently-formed Square Electronic
Arts joint venture between Square Soft and Electronic Arts. Continuing
the highly acclaimed and unique fighting styles of Bushido Blade, which
eliminated life meters, time limits and restricted movement, Bushido
Blade 2 provides new elements to the fighting game genre and interactive
experience by bringing swordplay even closer to reality.
With the addition of "subweapons," the unique interactive qualities of
each character are further emphasized, thus enhancing gameplay. From a
single strike meaning the difference between life and death, to
stimulating, two-handed swordplay against samurai warriors, the
capability to perform various types of attacks are visually stimulating
and stunningly realistic. A feature foreign to traditional fighting
games, Bushido Blade 2's elimination of time limits allows gamers the
opportunity to explore and enjoy beautifully rendered, authentic fighting
environments throughout the game, while allowing them to strategically
eliminate their opponent. The game also adopts a new command structure
based on two stances and allows gamers to fight from a first-person
vantage point.
"Our ultimate goal continues to focus on providing our customers with the
highest quality, most compelling and fun interactive entertainment
available," stated Jun Iwasaki, president of Square Electronic Arts.
"Bushido Blade 2 is another step forward in our quest to continually
enhance and redefine the entire gaming experience -- this means allowing
our customers to be fully immersed in each of the games we develop,
enabling a more complete and unmatched interactive experience."
With roots dating centuries past to the ancient island of Kounoshima,
Bushido Blade 2 centers around the story of a deep and bitter rivalry
between two samurai families, the Kagami and Sue, who were once engaged
in a devastating war that threatened to split the country in two. The
Kagami family survived the war by siding with the predominant power,
while the Sue family was greatly weakened because of this betrayal.
Today, after centuries of feuding between the Kagami and Sue, descendants
of both families continue to engage in warfare. As a result of this
bloody feud, the Kagami family formed Narukagami, a school for samurai
assassins, while the Sue family formed their own school, Shainto. Through
a variety of battles, different story paths for each character, and
realistic samurai swordplay, gamers are fully immersed in, and become
part of, this bitter feud, thereby, enhancing the replay value of the
game.
Traditional fighting games utilize a command system where single, preset
buttons create special attacks. A unique and improved "Motion Shift
System" is introduced in Bushido Blade 2, bringing an even greater level
of realistic movement to the game. With this system, the player starts
one motion by pressing a controller button, then adds a second,
continuous motion by sequentially pressing another button, allowing for
the creation of special techniques and movements. These techniques and
movements are unique to each character and enable gamers to take full
advantage of each character's subweapons. Bushido Blade 2 is available
for approximately US $40.00 and carries an ESRB rating of "Teen." It is
available now in leading retail outlets throughout North America.
Nintendo, LucasArts Announce Limited Exclusive Star Wars Deal
for Video Game Systems
Nintendo of America Inc., LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC and Lucas
Licensing recently announced a five year worldwide agreement for three
new Star Wars games, granting limited exclusivity to Nintendo. Two of the
games will be based on the upcoming 1999 Star Wars feature film, Star
Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The games will debut exclusively in
home console form on the Nintendo 64 and in portable form on Nintendo's
Game Boy Color system at launch. All titles will be distributed
exclusively by Nintendo.
The first game under the agreement, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, will be
released in North America on December 7 for the Nintendo 64 system. It
allows players to assume the role of Luke Skywalker in piloting more than
a dozen vehicles, and draws from the classic Star Wars characters and
themes. Each of two future games, will be based on the feature film
Episode I scheduled to premiere next May. Like the film, the games will
introduce a new cast of characters, new settings, and a new story line.
LucasArts will develop and publish the Nintendo 64 versions of these
upcoming games, while Nintendo will develop the same titles for
Nintendo's new Game Boy Color handheld system. Under terms of the
agreement, Nintendo will market each of the games and hold exclusive
worldwide distribution rights for five years following the release of
each game.
"The Star Wars franchise is undeniably one of the gold-plated
entertainment properties of the 20th century," says Howard Lincoln,
chairman, Nintendo of America Inc. "And this agreement, launching new
Star Wars video games surrounding the eagerly-anticipated new Star Wars
movie, propels both Nintendo and LucasArts aggressively into the new
century of interactive entertainment." "When the Star Wars saga began on
film, it existed only in a traditional narrative form," says Jack
Sorensen, President, LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC. "But
interactive play added a new dimension to Star Wars, and Episode I will
further redefine what LucasArts can achieve in gaming. We believe these
new high-resolution titles on Nintendo 64 will allow our fans to feel a
part of the Star Wars saga as never before."
The upcoming Rogue Squadron will be one of the first games to use
Nintendo's new Expansion Pak memory cartridge, which inserts into the top
of the Nintendo 64 video game machine. It will boost screen resolution to
640 x 480 pixels, resulting in unprecedented visual effects as game
players emulate Luke Skywalker speeding through 16 different 3D
environments drawn from past and future Star Wars story lines.
Rogue Squadron is scheduled for release in North America on December 7 at
a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $59.95. Nintendo's 4MB
Expansion Pak for the Nintendo 64 is scheduled for release in North
America on November 23 at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of
$29.95. The portable versions of the new Episode I games will be designed
to fully incorporate the 32,000-color palette, 56-color screen display of
Nintendo's new Game Boy Color system. The system is scheduled to launch
on November 18 at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $79.95.
Midway Breaks the Speed Barrier as Wipeout 64 Ships
In explosive gaming news, Midway Home Entertainment today announced that
Wipeout 64, the newest addition to the legendary futuristic racing
franchise, has shipped to retail. Developed by Psygnosis Ltd., Wipeout 64
combines many of the fan-favorite features of previous Wipeout titles
with all-new enhancements including four-player split-screen multiplayer
racing, to create the most exciting Wipeout yet.
"The Wipeout franchise has consistently received critical support from
the press and ignited obsessive enthusiasm amongst gamers," said Paula
Cook, director of marketing at Midway Home Entertainment. "With new race
tracks, new weapons and new features, the all-new Wipeout 64 is sure to
be a winner for gamers, for retailers and for Midway."
Considered by many to be a benchmark series of the modern gaming era,
Wipeout 64 places gamers at the controls of four different high-speed,
anti-gravity racing vehicles (players can also qualify for the
sensationally fast, hidden 'Piranha' ship). Multiple race challenges,
including time trials and multi-player leagues, take place over six
turbulent, twisting tracks packed with hair-pin turns, roller-coaster
style drops and death-defying jumps. In addition to blasting their
friends, players will find races packed with up to fifteen ships to
target using the game's fifteen weapons, collectable at interactive track
hot spots. For the first time in Wipeout history, each race team will
have its own exclusive weapon.
Wipeout and Wipeout XL, which have appeared on both the PlayStation game
console and PC, set the trend for pumping techno music in video games.
Wipeout 64 is one of the first Nintendo 64 games to feature big names
from today's popular "electronica" scene. Exclusive mixes by Fluke
(Absurd, Goodnight Lover) and the Propellerheads (Bang On) take Wipeout
64's adrenaline-charged action to new heights. Gameplay in Wipeout 64 is
designed to be easily accessible to first time players, while offering
Wipeout veterans challenging new levels of high-velocity racing.
Hasbro Interactive Ships MicroProse's European Air War
Leading entertainment software publisher Hasbro Interactive announced he
launch of European Air War from MicroProse. Building on the success of
the critically acclaimed and award-winning 1942: The Pacific Air War,
European Air War is a World War II era flight simulation game that offers
authentic cockpit designs, realistic flight models, enhanced artificial
intelligence, spectacular sound, award-winning graphics and visual
effects with Direct3D and Glide support. The Windows 95 PC CD-ROM game is
being published under the MicroProse brand name.
"European Air War is a highly-anticipated flight simulation offering
players the opportunity to take to the skies over Europe during the most
dangerous days of World War II," said Tom Dusenberry, President of Hasbro
Interactive. "With its unsurpassed graphics and spine-tingling gameplay,
this game ensures ferocious combat and unpredictable dogfight action."
European Air War gives players the chance to fly 20 historical fighter
planes for the American, British or German air forces including the
famous P-51 Mustang, Messerschmitt and Spitfire. All of the 20 aircraft
have detailed, authentic cockpits and realistic flight models. Players
have the option of selecting quick start, single mission or career play;
they can take to the skies for fast dogfighting action or take on
historically accurate missions.
The single mission option allows players to control a single plane or a
group of planes against the computer-controlled aircraft in a particular
type of mission. Players can also design their own missions in single
mission mode. The career option lets players enlist in any of the three
air forces: German Luftwaffe, British Royal Air Force or U.S. Army Air
Force. Players will battle it out to control the European sky in three
dynamic campaigns -- Battle of Britain: 1940, European Theater: 1943 and
European Theater: 1944.
European Air War offers fully customizable gameplay for the beginner or
the expert. Choose the game difficulty, flight model accuracy, graphic
detail levels and keyboard and joystick controls. Of special note is
MicroProse's virtual cockpit technology, which enables players to look
for enemy planes in any direction, just like a real pilot. This was a
popular feature in 1942: The Pacific Air War and has been improved upon
in European Air War.
European Air War features exciting multiplayer options. Players can
select cooperative or competitive missions via modem, serial connection,
local area network and TCP/IP supporting up to 8 players on a LAN. In
addition, the game is a featured title on the Internet Gaming Zone at
Further information about European Air War is available for download from
the MicroProse Web site at www.microprose.com.
The introduction animation in European Air War was selected as "Best
Animation" by Infografica at the 1998 SIGGRAPH convention. 1942: The
Pacific Air War was awarded 1994 Best Simulation of the Year by PC Gamer
and Computer Games Strategy Plus and received a 1994 Editor's Choice
Award from PC Gamer. The game was also a Computer Gaming World Finalist
for 1995 Best Simulation of the year.
'Tis the Season...for Epic Space Battles, Global Domination, Formula 1
Racing, Misguided Lemmings and More...
Psygnosis Redefines Holiday Gift-Giving With Top PC and PlayStation Game
Console Hits for the Whole Family International video game leader
Psygnosis, Inc., announces spectacular holiday product lineup featuring
an array of top-selling, affordably-priced PC and PlayStation game
console titles for holiday gift-giving. There are hits for everyone on
the list: epic space battles for hard-core gamers, world tour golf for
sports fans, heroic fire-fighting for the younger set, and amusing antics
with lovable, misguided lemmings for the whole family.
Featuring both established market leaders and new benchmark titles in a
range of genres including racing, strategy, sports, simulation and
action/adventure, the Psygnosis holiday lineup will thrill players of all
ages with spectacular 3D graphics and realistic, action-packed gameplay.
Psygnosis built its reputation developing games for this audience, all of
which feature high intensity action, stunning environments and
multi-faceted missions. Selections for both PC CD-ROM and the PlayStation
game console include O.D.T ($44.99), an addictive 3D action-adventure
that takes players into a world of mystery, magic and mayhem as one of
four unique characters; and Sentinel Returns ($34.99), a chilling,
mind-bending strategy game with striking visuals, over 600 levels of
gameplay, and music by renowned composer and director John Carpenter
(Halloween).
PlayStation exclusives include Colony Wars: Vengeance ($44.99), a
spectacular space combat that features an epic story line, fast-paced
arcade action, and an emotional depth that makes war personal; and
Psybadek ($39.99), an alternative 3D platform game with street-smart
characters inspired by Manga-Japanese animation that maneuver via
"hoverdeks" through a rolling-3D game-play environment. For PC gamers,
Global Domination ($44.99), is a multi-genre hit that combines strategy,
war games, and air and land arcade combat for up to 16 networked players
(8 teams).
Duffers on the PC can capture the perfect swing with Pro 18 World Tour
Golf ($44.99), which features a unique four-click swing and the most
accurate physics ever. Players tour precisely-modeled courses such as
Royal Country Down and Sun City, and play with top pros such as Mark
O'Meara and Vijay Singh while "voice of golf" Peter Alliss, and ESPN
anchor Mike Turrico, provide commentary. Meanwhile, PlayStation racing
fans will love the screaming action of F1 98 ($44.99), the latest edition
of the very successful Formula 1 series that places players in the most
technically advanced cars, competing against the best drivers on the
world's most famous tracks. Officially licensed by Formula One
Administration Ltd., the program features all 11 teams and 16 circuits,
plus 1998 season statistics.
Lemmings ($24.99) -- One of the world's most successful computer game
puzzles for the PlayStation game console, this family favorite includes
two games in one -- the original Lemmings and the sequel OH NO! More
Lemmings -- for 209 fur-flying levels populated by thousands of lovable,
misguided rodents. As the rambunctious rodents court disaster, players
must safeguard the species by making decisions for the creatures and
assigning them skills to ensure that they survive each progressively more
challenging level.
For the PlayStation platform/puzzle gamer, Roll Away ($39.99) offers a
revolutionary world of floating 3D mazes and deadly obstacles. Players
control the world's coolest beach ball as they roll through 200 fantastic
platform worlds, each of which presents unique problems to solve, and
plenty of obstacles, traps and hazards. Young gamers ages 8 - 10 will
love the first ever 3D fire-fighting game for the PlayStation game
console, Roscoe McQueen -- Firefighter Supreme ($44.99). This action hit
features a 70s disaster movie feel, combining humor, adventure and
strategy as Roscoe battles an evil madman in a struggle to extinguish a
blazing high-rise and save hundreds of innocent civilians.
Mad Catz Announces New, Exclusive MCSPORTS Line
This fall, Mad Catz, Inc. announces the latest concept in console gaming,
the MCSPORTS line for PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Only Mad Catz has a
sports line that features electric blue controllers known as the Sport
Pads for both PlayStation and Nintendo 64, the Sport Port for
PlayStation, which allows five person play, and the unique and exclusive
memory cards, known as the Sport Pack for Nintendo 64 and the Sport Card
for PlayStation. These unique memory cards are shaped into custom molded
sports balls perfect for saving your favorite sports games. This new line
is sure to be a hit for all of the hottest sports games out this fall!
ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
People are Talking
Compiled by Joe Mirando
jmirando@streport.com
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Another week has come and gone and we're
getting closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I always thought that it
was funny when someone older than myself would say that time seems to go
by faster as you get older. Well, not funny actually... just odd. Time is
static, after all. Moving at a rate that, at least at any meaningful
level, does not change. We all move through this fourth dimension at a
constant rate: One second per second. So how is it that most people say
that 'time flies' or 'time drags' at one point or another?
Perhaps it is that we gain experience as we age and all of that extra
data causes us to pay less attention to the passage of time while we do
whatever it is that we do. Or maybe its that we are less capable of
marking the passage of time as we get older, or when our mind is occupied
with something really interesting. Goodness knows that most of us could
use something interesting once in a while. It seems that paying attention
to what is happening around us is becoming a lost art. There are still
politicians that get away with whatever they can irrespective of the fact
that information is so much more available now than at any time in our
history. It happens, we are suitably outraged, we get over it, and it
happens all over again. Lest you think that I'm off on a tear about
politics, let me just say that this goes for everything from computers
and the most recent round of inquiries into Microsoft's business to that
most heinous of pastimes: golf <grin>. The closer you are to the object
or act, the less objective you are.
Hmmm... maybe I should refrain from watching The X-Files while I'm
writing the column, huh? Well, at any rate, I guess we should get on with
the rest of the column. I completely lost track of the time.
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
Jonas Klereborn posts this about changing the hard drive in his Falcon:
"I'm going to replace my internal 65 Mb IDE HD with a bigger drive. Is
there any pitfalls or special things to check or is it just to plug in
any IDE drive, partition it and start working. My setup: Atari Falcon
AB040 in Mk-X case. HDDRIVER 7.5"
Henry Dahmen tells Jonas:
"I just recently bought an IBM DHEA 6.4 GB and it works absolutely
perfect. any other drive i have (scsi and ide) produce a lot of errors
when i run my falcon on 40 MHz but not this one ! it is very fast, almost
cannot be heard and does not heat up."
Marc Paro asks:
"Does anyone know if the Milan will make it to this side of the Atlantic
.... to the USA or Canada? It would be nice to have the option to puchase
such a system here."
'ANGIEF18' tells Marc:
"God Father Computers (in California I think) will be carrying the Milan.
Also, when I asked Systems For Tomorrow (in Missouri) about the Milan,
they said they will be carrying the machine."
'Soreal' asks:
"I have found someone selling a Mega STE 4 MB but claims that the
computer has no internal HDD. Didn't all Mega STE's come with internal
HDD? Could it be a MEGA ST (was there one?)? What should I look for?"
My old friend Sheldon Winick of Computer STudio tells Soreal:
"The MegaSTe came with or without an internal hard drive. The computer
was identical, but the base model without the hard drive simply had an
empty hard drive bay. To add a hard drive to the base model, you'll need
the hard drive upgrade kit, which included the interface board (a simple
plug-in board), hard drive bay cover with mounting hardware, and ribbon
cable. I'm pretty sure I still have one of those lying around in the
parts department if you should need it."
Roger Cain adds:
"There certainly were Mega STs and [some of] these did not contain
HDs..."
Peter Onyschtschuk posts:
"I have had an Atari 520ST (with 4MB mem and a Megafile 60) for many
years but have hardly used it in the last few and so I have fell out of
touch with what superceded what and which is better.
I live in Victoria, BC, Canada and I have no source for Atari h/w or s/w.
Someone just gave me a MegaST2 machine with a Megafile 40. What is the
difference between the MegaST2 and the 520ST? Will the 520ST be able to
read the Megafile 40 and will the MegaST2 be able to read the Megafile
60? Where can I find programs for e-mail, news-group-reading,
web-browsing? Where can I buy a version of Empire from Interstel
Corporation?"
Nick Bales tells Peter:
"Apart from the case, the MegaST has a blitter chip (a sort of 2D
graphics accelerator), and 2Mb of RAM, a 720K drive a hardly-ever-used
internal expansion slot. The keyboard is also much better. That's all."
Bertil Jagard posts:
"I have a user here that are looking for software to his Atari to use a
scanner that are using the printerport. The scanner is for (PC) and is
twain compatible but I'm wondering if there is anyone that knows if there
is any software at all that support this twain on Atari? Please answer
this in email if possible!"
Nick Bales tells Bertil:
"There's no chance in running a parallel port scanner on the Atari's
parallel port, because it is missing some signals. This is the same
reason parallel Zip drives will not run on the Atari's parallel port.
It's not a driver issue. There are some drivers for SCSI scanners around,
but rather difficult to get hold of. Parx used to write them, but they've
folded."
Martin Byttebier tells Nick:
"I'm afraid you're wrong at this point. I've been using an Epson ET6500
scanner for years on my printerport of my TT030. Right now the same
scanner hangs on the printerport of a Hades 060. I know that my
Atari-dealer had to do something inside the TT030 to make the scanner
working but I can't recall what he did. It took only a few minutes so it
is probably not a big job."
Charlie Massey posts:
"I have been using an EZ135 for sometime now on an STe and moved it to my
new/used TT in the past year. It has been a joy and I make fast backups
to my important info and also use it for my music projects. I have been
helping a new computer user that picked up a Mega 2 STe and I thought it
would be a good idea to pick up one of the EZ230's at the blowout price
of $80. It has been a near nightmare........ When I opened it up, I found
that Syquest had changed the SCSI connector from a 50 pin Cetronics to a
25 pin. Since I had to use the Link2 on the Mega, the search was on for
for a 50 pin female Cetronics to 25 pin male. It took me 3 weeks to get
the correct cable-this includes 2 cables that were shipped that were
mistakes......... When I finally got the proper cable, I hooked it up and
the power supply was DEAD! Syquest shipped me a new one at no charge, of
course. Finally, we are up and running. I used the ICD Pro Formatter to
format and partition the cart and all was well. Then I started moving
files and folders to the 230 and checked a few text files and all was
well. Then data started getting trashed. I ran Diamond Edge and there
were many lost clusters and FAT 1 did not match FAT -(I haven't a clue as
to what this means). So, I called Syquest and they cheerfully told me to
box it all up, ship it to them and they sent me a complete new kit. Last
night, I fired it up on my TT, instead of hauling it to my friends house
18 miles away, and it was the SAME situation...... The only difference
was that I was not using the LINK2 and came straight from my Quantum
SCSI. I tried moving data by clicking and dragging, using Maxifile and
even turned off the cache. I am out of ideas. I did not terminate the EZ
as I had no terminator (remember the 25 pin problem) but I figured since
the TT recognized the EZ and was able to format/partition and actually
move a few files correctly that termination is not a problem-True or
False????? <grin>"
Bill Platt tells Charlie:
"I've had an EZ230 hooked up to my STe and now My Falcon because my Jazz
died on me. I have had no problem at all. I believe the EZ like the Jazz
is auto terminating. You may have a problem with the SCSI ID. I remember
reading somewhere that the TT030's SCSI considers the TT itself as a SCSI
device."
David Leaver adds:
"I have used the same ezFlyer on both my MSTe and TT. On the MSTe I
connected via the SCSI port on a Supradrive without problems. The ezFlyer
is Auto-terminating, so there are no termination problems on the MSTe,
(unless you have other devices in the chain) because the internal drive
is on a different SCSI chain. However, on the TT, the ezFlyer is on the
same chain as the internal drive and, if you do not unterminate the
internal drive you will get data errors all over the Syquest, and if you
are unlucky, the internal drive as well. Be very careful about
termination when connecting external drives to the TT's SCSI port."
Brian Becroft adds:
"Well we have a club member who uses one, he uses a ribbon cable with the
suitable SCSI connectors on it so the plugging issues are sorted out. His
problem was he had a commercial 25 to 50pin cable with different pinouts
on the cable, be happy you didn't have this problem! The Link2 heated up
a great deal. All is well now with a new cable. The problem you describe
may be related to termination, and you should establish clearly how it is
on or off, whether there is a switch, jumper auto or whatever. You must
know its status, and try it both ways. I personally have a Syquest 270
removable and have had to return it *THREE* times. Indeed, I knew more
than the Syquest agent in this country, because I got a friend to
telephone the factory in Singapore. THis is where I found out they were
having trouble and there were many dud drives, so I could tell the local
rep a thing or two.
I don't know if the 230 drives are known to have problems, but it should
work fine, like any hard drive should. Without hesitation, you should get
a new replacement, with a new cartridge and very carefully start again
and logically monitor and test different setups to make sure. Try it on
several machines if you can, including a PC. It is important to get it
sorted. I know that my 270 is still a little bit flakey, they do
cartridges in rather easily. I saw an article in a German computer mag,
where they tested the drives *properly* and found that the sysquest 270
had been improved but still had problems. Its hard to find out definitive
information that really covers in depth a customers hassle.
I have seen strange things with the TT030, its hard to know sometimes if
every hardware is quite compatable with each other. Certainly the Atari
SCSI is not great, I've had my share of ICD Link2 problems, I begin to
think that the European Link97 is a more full implementation of SCSI and
who knows if this helps in the equation when there are problems. Either
way, my advice is to insist on a new replacement, I know of people who
have had to do this many times, until you strike a good one."
John Sweden asks a related question:
"[Linking a Zip drive to a 1040 STFM...] Is this possible? How can I do
it and what do I need? If not, what other options are there that won't
bankrupt me? Sorry...lotta questions! Just discovered this newsgroup."
Nick Bales sums it up rather succinctly:
"You CAN'T connect a parallel Zip to the Atari's parallel port. You CAN
connect a parallel Zip to a cartridge port adapter from Germany. You CAN
connect a SCSI Zip to a SCSI host adapter on the Atari."
Trystan Negus asks:
"For the Atari 8-bit there exists a program called APE which enables the
Atari to link to the PC via the serial ports (using a suitable cable),
and effectively use the PC as a direct filestore (using disk images and
so on). Is there a similar utility available for the ST? It seems a shame
to let my PC's HD get filled up with MS bloat when I could use it for
much more useful and entertaining things."
Steve Stupple tells Trystan:
"There is it's called Ghost link and allows you to access any of the pc's
drives via the ST. Apart from the program, you need a standard null modem
cable."
Well folks, that's about it for this time around. See that? Didn't time
seem to just fly by? I hope the rest of the week flies by as quickly so
that we can get together again and listen to what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
[abco2.GIF (21687 bytes)]
American Business Computer, Inc.
PO Box 58094
Jacksonville, Florida 32241- 8094
904-292-9222
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6 - Cyrix 686 MII 300Mhz MMX CPU $1250.00
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CPU chips & Custom Systems up to PII 450Mhz Available CALL $$
Including:
100Mhz PII PC 100 AGP/PCI/ISA for CPU #
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100Mhz MMX TopGun TX Pro AGP/PCI/ISA for CPU #
mboard/90-350cpu 2,3
60-84Mhz MMX TOP GUN TX Pro PCI/ISA for CPU #
mboard/90-350cpu 5,6
1mb Pipeline Cache (TXPro all models)
64MB DIMM FAST RAM
1.44 (3.5") Drive
6GB Hard Disk
4-HDD PCI EIDE HD Controller on board
EPP/ECP/Normal Hi-Speed Parallel Port
56kbd PCI V.90 Voice/Data/Fax Modem
Hi-Speed (16550) Serial Ports
Permidia 2 AGP 8mb 3D SVGA Graphics Card
S3 PCI 4Mb 3D SVGA Graphics Card
Microsoft Win95 compatible Keyboard
High Performance Ergonomic Serial Mouse
Multimedia Fast 36x CD-ROM Player/Reader
Plug & Play Stereo SB Sound Card
Network Ready (PCI NIC)
15" Digital NI Monitor - 28dpi
Amplified 300w Stereo Speakers
250W Power Supply UL-CSA L6-TUV
Mid Size Tower Cabinet
Extras: (Mix & Match)
17" Digital NI Monitor- 28dpi $285.00
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Telephone: 904-292-9222 ** FAX: 904-268-2237
EDITORIAL QUICKIES
WHOOOOPS!
It seems that when God was making the world, he called man over and
bestowed upon him twenty years of normal sex life.
Man was horrified. "Only twenty years of normal sex life?" But the Lord
was very adamant, that was all man could have.
Then the Lord called the monkey and gave him twenty years. "But I don't
need twenty years", he protested, "ten is plenty for me".
Man spoke up eagerly, "Can I have the other ten?" The monkey
graciously agreed.
Then the Lord called the lion and gave him twenty years and the lion,
like the monkey, wanted only ten.
Again man spoke up, "Can I have the other ten?" The lion said, of
course he could.
And then came the donkey and was given twenty years, but like the
others, ten was sufficient and again the man pleaded, "Can I have the
other ten?" The donkey said yes, he could.
This explains why man has twenty years of normal sex life, plus ten
years of monkeying around, ten years of lion about it, and ten years of
making an ass of himself.
Best experienced with
[ie_animated.gif (7090 bytes)]
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