Portable Addiction: 15-Sep-91 #005
From: Atari SIG (xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 07/15/92-04:45:31 PM Z
From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG)
Subject: Portable Addiction: 15-Sep-91 #005
Date: Wed Jul 15 16:45:31 1992
Contributed By: Andy Norman <ange@hplb.hpl.hp.com>
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
PORTABLE ADDICTION #05 15 SEPTEMBER 1991
Newsletter for Atari Lynx, Sega Game Gear and Atari Portfolio
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Tjerk "MegaJerk" Heymens Visser ..... (Editor)
Yiri "Neuromancer" Kohl ............. (Editorial Assistant)
Mr. Portfolio ....................... (Portfolio staff writer)
Thanks to: Andre "ALU" Luyer (for allmost getting himself shot while
he was in Moskow), Mr.Doom, Decoder, Robert Jung, Fun-
tronics shop, Bart Smit shop.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Editorial:
Once again the editor is on vacation, so once again it was my job to
put this newsletter together. Luckily, next month it's my turn to take
some vacation, so then I'll be coming to Florida. Anyway, although we
are quite late with it, we finally are able to publish some of the hot
news from the CES in Chicago. Most of the American readers will pro-
bably already know these things, but our readers in Europe might not.
Anyway, this issue is rather short due to the absence of the Jerk.
Enough editorial crap for now! Read and enjoy!
Yiri "Neuromancer" Kohl
Editorial Assistant
Sorry guy's I'm here too. This is the start of another year of hard
work, so we are starting to get settled now.
Luckaly we have a big Portfolio section and we prommise we will have
a lot more reviews on games in the next issue.
This is the sixth issue of Portable Addiction. So we're supposed to be
celebrating something, but we won't. We will save the big party for
our first Lustrum.
Well, after half a year of blood, sweat and tears,and a lot more is to
be expected, we have still a lot to improve.
So watch out in the next few month, we will do a lot more!
Tjerk "Megajerk" Heijmens Visser
Editor.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----------------------+
HOT (?) NEWS AND GOSSIP
+-----------------------+
Atari: As you might know, Atari was not to be found at the CES. They
were, however, at the Barclay Hotel. There they showed a proto-
type of the Jaguar, the 64bit games console. Furthermore they
we showing of their latest Lynx titles. It will make you happy
to know that the titles of the following list are either beta-
versions or finished versions!
Gridrunner, NFL Football, Rolling Thunder, Toki, Golf challenge
Baseball, Hard Drivin', STUN Runner, BasketBrawl, Hockey, Cabal
Checkered Flag, Ishido, Dirty Larry, World Class Soccer, Turbo-
Sub, Scrapyard Dog, Tournament Cyberball, Xybots, Lynx Casino
and Viking Child!
NES: Although Nintendo succeeded in stopping the release of the
Game Genie for a long time, they lost in Canada where the Genie
is now widely available. In the first two weeks of release over
75.000 Genies were sold!
Sega: Ballistics has released Star Control, which is the first 12
megabit cartridge. Renovation have release numerous 8 megabit
cartidges like Gaiares, Valis III, Arcus Odyssey and DinoLand.
Origin: Although this is a console mag, most readers own a PC too. We
though people might be interested in knowing that Origin have
at last finished Wing Commander II. They also showed of Strike
Commander, which uses the same routines as Wing Commander. And
they also had a demo of their probably most eagerly awaited
title: Ultima VII, The Black Gate!!!!
NES: Soon to be released titles are King's Quest (from Sierra!),
RoboCop 3, Rocketeer, Mig 29, Chip's Challenge, PGA Tour Golf.
For there GameBoy there'll be Turrican, Star Wars, Prince of
Persia, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Faceball 2000, Dick Tracey
and more!
Lynx: Pac-Land Ninja Gaiden and A.P.B. have all been released in the
US and reached Europe almost immediately. Atari keep releasing
games at this rate !!!!
GameBoy: SuperText had a review of Bill and Ted's exellent adventure for
the GameBoy(SuperText is the teletext service of SuperChannel).
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+----LYNX Review----+
A.P.B.
+-------------------+
Everybody knows A.P.B. from the arcades, and now the Lynx version has
finally been released. The Lynx version is not only fun, but it has
also great speech. About half of the 256K card is used for the speech!
Officer Bob drives his car through the city to keep it safe. Each day
he has to meet his quota, the quota consists of various violators,
like litterbugs and murderers,but he also has to give hitchers a lift,
avoiding getting demerits. You get demerits for bumping into things.
There are nine different violators,each with their destinctive sounds.
While you chase them, you have to eat donuts for extra time, and you
have to stop at a gas-station for fuel. At some gas-stations there
are shops where you can get free upgrades every other day. You can
buy things like extra speed, better brakes and guns. You'll need the
speed and brakes on higher levels to catch the A.P.B.s. There are a
fifteen different A.P.B.s on sixteen to thirty levels (The posters
don't say how many levels there are, but there are different reports.
I haven't finished the game yet, so I don't know, but it will be in
the next issue.), so you won't finish this game in one night.
The controls are very easy and direct. The joypad is used to steer, B
is used to give gas and with A you can arrest the crooks.But the game
is too sensitive for collisions, especially when you touch another
car.
The graphics are nice, the cars are detailed and the screens with the
chief are fun. I like the part when you get pulled out of the car
when you have too many demerits the best.
The sounds are really impressive, the voices are not as good as the
Klax voices but they are good (better than the voices in RoadBlasters)
and there is a bigger variety of cries and yell's (Who me?, Get lost,
Yes sir, Where's the gas-station? etc.). Even the mumbling of the
chief is well done.
So far the game has been great, but ofcourse it has some flaws too.
You have to start all over when you get fired, well I haven't found
a restart yet. That is another thing, the new games have got posters
instead of booklets (Yes, now Dutch Lynxists will fall victim to the
bad manual syndrome too!!:-). Everybody agrees with the fact that the
posters lack information, they are not very detailed.
At least I found out how you can speed up the screens between the
levels. Press button A, and the screens will pass at double speed,
press B and they will pass at triple speed, for quadrouple speed
press A and B at once.
+--RATINGS--------------------------------------------+
Graphics - 7.5 : Distinctive cars, no blur.
Sound - 8.7 : Good speach, various sentences
Playability - 6.8 : Logic controls, game has good
speed.
Lastability - 8.0 : Not too hard to get in to, and
keeps the difficulty level up
during the game.
Overall - 8.5 : A perfect blend between good
sound, addictive gameplay and
it won't be finished fast.
+----------------------MEGAJERK-----------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+---LYNX Preview---+
Checkered Flag
+-------------------+
Every gaming system needs a racing game, and the Lynx doesn't have one.
As RoadBlasters isn't a real racing game and it will take a while till
Hard Driven' will be released, and that also is not a real racing game.
Checkered Flag has nice features. Like Warbirds you can make the game
as easy or as hard as you want. You can make a practice run, drive one
race on one track or drive a whole season and there are 18 tracks to
choose from. Though you can only race against up to nine opponents you
are able to choose the race distance( 1 to 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 laps).
The start-grid can be randomly determined,or you can take a qualifying
run. Your car can have a 4-speed automatic, 4-speed manual, or 7-speed
manual transmission. So you can feel like Nige when you beat the Lynx,
or your six friends. A nice touch is the fact that you can choose the
color of your car out of ten colors.
Now for the race: You view your car from behind, with your dash panel
(speed and gear) and side-view mirrors on the bottom of the screen. A
road map at the top of the screen shows the course and the position of
everyone in the race like when you watch a Formula-1 race on tv. There
are many roadside obstacles, like trees, cacti, rocks, cows, and signs
(Lynx game ads naturally). Hitting an obstacle costs time as you build
your speed up, and hitting another car causes you both to spin out and
lose speed, as in normal racing games.
It is said that the game has good sound effects more than the normal
screaming tyres. But it is also rumoured that the track editor will be
skipped, but while it is reported that it has a 6 or 8 player ComLynx
capability, nobody will start whining.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+--GAMEGEAR Review--+
Dragon Crystal
+-------------------+
Dragon Crystal is a roleplaying game, like Gauntlet. It is the first
RPG for the GameGear.
You objective is to find the transporter which will beam you to the
next world. The game uses a forced 3-D perspective, so there is a bit
of depth, but not much.
As you go through the four stages you will find things, like potions,
swords, scrolls and rings. Gold can also be found, if you get enough,
you will get a better character or even a continue option.
The graphics are not impressive at all. The only thing you see is your
character,plants as obstacles and the enemies (like killer fruits, WOW)
and a 1 color background (greenish).The plants are also not impressive
there is only one kind per level, that makes it very dull. The enemies
are ugly, not that they look ugly, but they are not well drawn.
Luckaly the gameplay is a lot better. The controls are good and easy
to understand. A nice thing is that you can cut a path through the
plants around you with the sword. So you'll always have a way out.
The rest of the game is more or less a standard RPG like the HitPoints
(100 per trip),so there is not much new or extrodinary about this game.
The sound is good, it has a catchy tune, but it lacks sound effects.
Again it is nothing special, it is not bad at all, but the designers
could have spent more time on the effects.
Well it is the first RPG on the Game Gear (there isn't even one on the
Lynx), so it is well worth trying for newcomers to the Game Gear and
RPG's.
+--RATINGS--------------------------------------------+
Graphics - 5.0 : Not much depth, only one kind of
plant in the background.
Sound - 6.0 : Catchy tune, but not much effects
Playability - 7.3 : Good controles, hunt for gold
becomes fun.
Lastability - 7.5 : A bit too easy for the RPG enthu-
siast, but gameplay will be good
for the beginners, and thus be
addictive.
Overall - 6.4 : Gameplay saves the game, rest is
not so impressive.
+----------------------MEGAJERK-----------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------+
Screen Scene Europe
+-------------------+
Let's have another look at that wonderful market of consoles. Well,
Nintendo is now in quite a bad position here! As for there's no hand-
held PC-Engine here, there are only three portable gaming systems left
to buy: the GameBoy, the GameGear and of course the Lynx. The Lynx is
known here as the ultimate gaming system by most people, so there are
quite some people who own one. Then there's them people that'd like
to have one, but just can't afford one. These people buy the GameGear.
All this leaves the GameBoy nowhere! Although in the European console
war it's a case of "every man for himself", Sega and Atari users have
been shaking hands at the defeat of the GameBoy. The GameBoy will of
course still be sold, but the market for it is slowly fading.
There still is one thing in the way, though! It's called England!
The English people seem to keep standing in the way of Console Evolu-
tion, by holding on to their GameBoys! I don't know what it is, but
these morrons don't seem to notice that the Boy is inferior to every
other system. Even a ZX-Spectrum can do better!!!!!!! I've made more
playable games on my Portfolio!!! And still these guyz keep on saying
that the Boy is the best value for money!?!?! Well, in Europe the Boy
is generaly $25,- cheaper than the Lynx. And look what you get for the
extra 25 bucks! Superb sound (in comparison to the Boy, that is), the
best graphics on any portable system AND the fastest MC used in these
systems.
Now we are opening a debat! If you think you have a strong opinion
about the Gear, Boy or Lynx, send it in! We'll print the best of it.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------+
Marketing ???
+-------------------+
Atari has allways been criticized for it's bad marketing, but Atari
used to be THE brand for computergames. Now that was a while ago, for
the youngsters of today Nintendo is what Atari used to mean for the
youngsters of the seventies. But now people are getting fed up with
Nintendo's price fixing so they turn to Sega, which has done things
well. They have good marketing, lots of games for their systems and
they are reliable.
Nintendo has all those things too,but the price fixing and the nearing
death of the Game Boy caused a bit of concern. But the SNES will save
Nintendo.
Nintendo might be accused of price fixing, but they take care after
their customers. Not only do they release alot of games, the Dutch
Nintendo club has started a Nintendo-infoline. If you have questions
about a game, or if you're stuck, you can call them. And this thing is
running well too, they have eight phone lines open for six days a week
and about a thousand callers a day. The club itself has fifty-thousand
members and they are expecting to have two-hundred-thousand members by
the end of the year. Now these figures might not impress you, but Hol-
land has only fifteen million inhabitants. So don't expext there to be
more than a million consoles.
So that's good service, something that Atari has never heard of, but
at least they started placing some good adds, but that didn't last
long. Sega however is showing some good commercials on MTV for the
Mega Drive and Game Gear. Sega places adds in almost all the gaming
mags for the Game Gear, but Atari didn't do anything. The Atari
Adventure booklet wasn't placed in magazines widely available in Hol-
land.
Everybody knows that the Lynx was developed by Epyx, and bought by
Atari. So how good the Lynx may or may not be, it's not because of
Atari.
Does this mean that Atari is lost forever?
Who knows, but at least Sega is doing things well.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------+
Lynx Game Ratings
+-------------------+
As we could not get hold of the Game Ratings Report, we have no new
standings. So the new games like A.P.B. are not in the list.
We are using the results from the VIDEO GAME RATINGS REPORT.
RANK TITLE VOTES CAST
1) 9.2 Warbirds 4 N S
2) 9.0 Klax 44 B C
3) 8.7 Zarlor Mercenary 18
4) 8.5 Fidelity UCC 2 N B
5) 8.4 Shanghai 8 B
6) 8.0 Chip's Challenge 62 B
7) 8.0 Road Blasters 27 C
8) 8.0 Xenephobe 29 C
9) 7.5 Slime World 44
10) 7.3 Rampage 11 C
11) 7.2 Blue Lightning 60 S
12) 6.7 Rygar 9
13) 6.5 Gates of Zendocon 52
14) 6.5 RoboSquash 15
15) 6.4 California Games 75
16) 6.4 Ms. Pacman 14 C
17) 6.0 Electrocop 54
18) 6.0 Block Out 1 *
19) 5.7 Gauntlet III 50
20) 5.7 Paperboy 15 C
NOTES :
If rate is equal, rank is based on the number of votes cast.
If more votes are cast, the number is more reliable.
N= New
B= Brains needed
S= Simulator
C= Coin-op
* The original report said "Blood Money" but we think it is "Block Out".
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----PORTFOLIO-----+
By Russ Campbell
+-------------------+
Fellow Atari Portfolio Owners:
I promised that I would do a writeup on Atari Canada's BBS, and as it
is back online, well here it is.
Last month there was a typo in my net address, it is as follows:
russ@wcbcs.UUCP (Russ Campbell) AKA Mr. Portfolio
Note that following the report on the BBS, there is an updated file
list as well as a list of commercial files that are available for
the Portfolio.
The following text is taken from Atari Canada's BBS, various screens.
My comments will be prefixed with a ">" ... Mr. Portfolio.
>ya gotta log in first !
Scanning user file ...
Password:
Atari Welcomes you...
> Telephone #s and logon instructions as below:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 hours per day, 7 days a weeks on 2 nodes.
1. 416-479-2169 BBS Toronto Line, due to modem fault this is NOW
1200 bps temporarily.
2. Datapac - if you are from out of town you may access this
service without charge by looking up your datapac phone number
in the white pages. When connected enter:
> 3. If you are calling from outside Canada, you may be able to
> connect to Datapac through Tymenet or one of the other nets
...[cr]
PROF 3[cr]
90100419[cr]
X[cr]
Please enjoy your stay with use. Comments are welcomed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Atari Canada BBS News
BBS NEWS - August 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Datapac Update:
NEW LOGON PROCEDURE gives you much FASTER performance.
See BBS info to read the NEW procedure or download the text file.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press [RETURN] to continue
MAIN MENU National ON LINE Services
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
M Mail... B BBS info/options...
F Files & Info... P Page sysop
N News - August 12
R Groups...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<- G Logoff
Select: B
> As you can see, they support mail from users on the BBS, there is
> info on the various user groups in Canada, BBS info, Atari News
> and of course files and info.
BBS Information
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
U User's Profile D Datapac Logon (NEW)
Z Download Logon Text File
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<- Q MAIN Menu
Select: D
DATAPAC INSTRUCTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following provides much FASTER performance.
The following "set" string should be sent to datapac and can be easily
assigned to a function key. Almost all terminal programs can have
characters assigned to a key.
...[cr]
SET 1:0,3:0,4:4,5:2,6:0,7:0,9:0,13:0,21:0[cr]
90100419[cr]
X[cr]
Characters are echo'd much faster, ZModem downloading has been tested at
about 210 cps. ZModem uploading has been tested successfully. We have not
tested the system at 1200 baud, only 2400 baud.
Ultimately we will be able to automatically set up your datapac port
but in the interim the above will provide you with a remarkable
improvement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIL SERVICE 06 remaining
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEND to Atari: P Post U User List
to Other: E Enter S Scan
B Browse
R Read --> A Areas to Read (important)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<- Q Main Menu
> the mail area is quite good. So far Atari has a message base for
> questions to Atari, a general message base , and a midi base
>
1 (ON ) Atari 2 (ON ) General
3 (OFF) MIDI
> Files are available on Atari's BBS, the file areas are listed
> below. The main area that I will deal with is the Portfolio area
> as it is the biggest so far.
> The lists that I send out for the Portfolio come from this area,
> the Portfolio section.
PRODUCTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
S ST... P Portfolio...
M MEGA... D DOS...
T TT...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<- Q MAIN Menu
> Atari has added a new item to thier BBS, the list of official users
> groups in Canada. They are listed by province.
GROUPS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
U USER Groups...
M MIDI...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<- Q Main Menu
> The following information comes from the Portfolio section on the
> BBS, it lists some of the commercial software that is available
> for the Portfolio.
PORTFOLIO INFORMATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 Hard drive supplier for Portfolio
15 Golf ScoreCard
14 Magnetic Card Reader
13 Portfolio Specifications
12 20 MB Hard drive for the Portfolio
11 512K RAM Cards
10 Flight Planning and DUATS terminal access software
09 Fastpay payroll accounting software
08 PBase data base software
07 Physician- complete package, VAR opportunity software
06 Chequewriter, expense accounting software for the businessman
05 Stock simulation game for professionals
04 Terminal program with many extra features
03 Timekeeper, professional time tracking system software
02 Telephone Dialer for the Portfolio software
01 PIM (Personal Information Manager) with working demo, windows etc.
The system can be customized by the developer to capture data in
the field or extend office accounting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List prompt 16:
Portfolio Hard Drives May 23, 1991
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FLASHDRIVE FOR THE PORTFOLIO
by Don Thomas
I am excited to report that a Tustin, California firm has
released a Portfolio version of their portable hard disk
drive. The product is called Flashdrive, and is available in
capacities from 20 to 430MB.
The Flashdrive 25 is only 1.5" high and weighs less than 1.5
pounds including the internal rechargeable batteries. Mr.
Steven E. Schlanger, President of BSE, reports that BSE
dealers can configure a portable Flashdrive 25 with 20MB for
$499, or a desktop model 35 with 40MB for only $399. The
total cost for a portable computer system with hard disk will
cost about half of a comparable Poqet arrangement!
The only change to the popular Flashdrive, according to BSE,
is a new device driver to accommodate the Portfolio's Smart
Parallel Interface. This device driver is available from BSE
directly, or you can download it from the Atari SIG of
popular On-Line services. Adding the Smart Parallel
Interface, which retails for less than $50, is all that is
needed to interface the Portfolio to the Flashdrive. Required
cables and software are provided with the unit.
The Flashdrive is the perfect solution for applications
requiring large amounts of data transfer, data storage,
security and archiving. Such applications may include access
to extensive MLS listings in the real estate industry and
product specifications for outside sales personnel.
For more information or to place an order, call your local
dealer or BSE directly at (714) 832-4316. Their FAX number is
(714) 832-5381. Write to them at 14701 Candeda Place, Tustin,
CA 92680.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:15
Golf ScoreCard May 15, 1991
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LinksCard (TM) is a powerful and dynamic golf scorecard, game analysis
and records system for the Portfolio.
Statisics are compiled from each game played and analysed by course and
owner to help you plan your course strategy and improve performance.
* Auto scorecard preparation (1 to 4 players)
* Match, Stroke, Skins
* Private game in addition to main event
* Define course once, any number of courses
* Quick entry of strokes, putts optional
* Minimum on course keystrokes
* Pick-UP (let LinksCard determine strokes
* You play statistics, individual and course
* Next Hole statistics for strategy
* Retain any number of old scorecards
* Easy correction
* Print scorecard
* Exceptions handles with ease:
change players, competition, start fee
partners, handicap, course alteration etc.
* Easy to understand
* Includes a tutorial
Contact:
Olympic Computer Systems
13 Farrier Place
Castle Hill
NSW 2154
Australia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:14
Magnetic Card Reader April 17, 1991
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Datacos Pty of Sydney, has announced the development of a magnetic card
reader for the Portfolio. The product includes a swipe magnetic card
reader and software package that allows the Portfolio to directly access
the reader without any additional circuitry.
The software can be accessed by applications developed for the Portfolio,
the reader has a universal mounting allowing track 1, 2 or 3 to be read.
The reader attaches to the serial interface making a secure connection
while maintaining the portability of the computer. Power for the reader
comes from the serial port and draws just 3ma current.
Magnetic Cards are widely used for recording information where security
is important, such as credit cards, membership cards and access control.
The MA102 provides a means of capturing the information on a low cost
portable computer.
Applications for the Atari Portfolio with MA102 include EFTPOS devices,
tracking membership in clubs, capturing client information at exhibitions
and access for control for business and government.
Specifications:
Card Reader typr Panasonic ZU-1402NU
Head Life 300,000 passes
Software 4K
Information/Contact
Datacos Pty Limited
Unit A11
4 Central Avenue
Thornleigh NSW 2120
Phone 02 980 6711
Fax 02 980 6652
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:13
Portfolio Specifications:
------------------------
Processor 80C88, 4.9152 MHz
RAM 128K including internal RAM configured
disk (from 8K size)
ROM 256K containing BIOS, operating system
and applications
Screen Graphics LCD supertwist technology,
Software controlled contrast
MDA text compatible
40 columns, 8 lines
Graphics 240 x 64 pixels
Keyboard 63 keys, PC compatible, buried
numeric keypad and function keys
Sound Speaker with DTMF dialing capability
Mass Storage memory Card 32-128K
Power 3 penlite (4-6 weeks use)
Optional 117V adaptor
Expansion Port 60 pin Pocket PC expansion BUS
Memory Expansion RAM epansion to 640K
Accessories RAM Expansion modules
PC Card Driver
Serial Port
Parallel Port
Applications In ROM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:12
20 Megabyte Hard Drive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
20Meg Hard Drive for the Portfolio. Housed in a durable 3/4" high cradle,
this drive operates on rechargeable batteries,includes a 512K RAM
expansion and optional serial and parallel ports.
Call XoteriX
(818) 888-7390.
$899.00 USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:11
512K RAM Expansion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expand your Portfolio's operating RAM to 636K. Use extra RAM for internal
storage or added application flexibility. Easily connects to the
expansion bus of the Portfolio and retains data with its own battery.
NOTE: Added RAM does not necessarily offer the ability to run existing
MS-DOS software which has not been modified to account for battery
conversation and an LCD screen.
Call XoteriX
(818)888-7390.
$299.00 USA
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:10
NEW PILOTS SOFTWARE AVAILABLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTISAN RELEASES TRANSPORT SOFTWARE
Paragon Technologies announces the introduction of two aviation software
packages for the Atari Portfolio:
FX-3 FLIGHT PAK
The FX-3 will turn your Atari Portfolio into a DUATS
(Direct User Access Terminal System) terminal and flight
calculator. With the FX-3 software and a portable, battery operated
modem the size of a cigarette pack (also available from Paragon) you can
access DUATS services to obtain a weather briefing, file a flight plan
or access the many other flight services. Your session can be saved to
an electronic log and then later reviewed at your own pace. The FX-3
can be used as a general purpose communications program to access
CompuServe and other information services while you're on the road. A
unique 80 character by 25 line Quasi-Static emulation enhances the
Portfolio's capabilities. The flight calculator provides TAS(True Air
Speed), WIND, RATE, FUEL and WEIGHT & BALANCE calculations.
FX-4 FLIGHT PLANNER
If it takes you more than 60 seconds to plan your flight, you need the
FX-4 Flight Planner. Featuring a full U.S. navigational database, the
FX-4 makes flight planning quick and easy. The FX-4 will automatically
generate detailed leg by leg trip plans for you in seconds. You may
specify the route yourself or let the FX-4 choose a set of navaids along
an optimal great circle route. You can locate the twenty closest
airports or navaids from your current airport or navaid automatically.
Flight plans can also be reversed or stored in memory for later recall.
If you're a renter, you will also appreciate being able to store
multiple aircraft performance files for later recall.
- Full North American and Caribbean Navigational Database.
- Every public use airport in the U.S. - paved, turf, and water.
- Detailed Leg-by-Leg Trip Plan
- Optional 56 day update service
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PLACE AN ORDER...
Contact Paragon Technologies at 1-800-255-9411.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:09
FastPay
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fastpay will help you with your payroll tasks. It keeps a
record of every employee, paid amount for up to 5 benefits
and deducted amounts for up to 10 deductions.
It also has 3 accumulators in which you can store weekly
numbers such as retianed vacations, insurable earnings, etc.
Available from:
Autobyte Products Inc.
655 32e, 201
Lachine, Que.
H8T 3G6
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Prompt:08
PBase
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The world's smallest data base system. With it you manage
your data bases, you can print labels and reports to meet
your criteria and formats. You can sort your data in the
order you prefer as well as performing complex searches.
For ease and speed, all the program functions are performed
with a minimum of keystrokes. Carry you data anywhere.
Available from:
Autobyte Products Inc.
655 32e Avenue, 201
Lachine, Que
H8T 3G6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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List Prompt:07
PHYSICIAN PACKAGE Dec 5, 1990
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Medical Practise System:
A complete system for the physician based on the portfolio, the
system is designed around a doctors' briefcase fitted with portfolio
and printer. The software maintains customers, prescriptions, test
treatments, medical certificates, patient files, fees, word processing,
memos, receipts etc.
The developer is looking for Canadian distribution or VARS:
CERVUS
ADG - 10 Rue Fraizer
03210 La Plaine St. Denis
RCS Paris B 351 170 196
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List Prompt:06
Chequewriter
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Chequewriter: A full featured businessman accounting, enter cheques
deposits, salaries, fees, sales, expenses and the
program does the rest.
Autobyte Products, Inc.
655. 32e Avenue, 201
Lachine, Que
H8T 3G6 655. 32e Avenue, 201
Lachine, Que
H8T 3G6
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List Prompt:05
Stocks
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Stocks: Stock market simulation game for the businessman.
Autobyte Products, Inc.
655. 32e Avenue, 201
Lachine, Que
H8T 3G6
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List Prompt:04
Terminal
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Terminal: A very well designed terminal program for the Portfolio
The software tracks names, allows easy dialing
capability along with advanced file transfer features.
Autobyte Products, Inc.
655. 32e Avenue, 201
Lachine, Que
H8T 3G6
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List Prompt:03
Timekeeper:
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TimeKeeper: Designed for professionals, timekeeper is a program
that keeps track of your workload by recording times and
dates for all tasks and projects. Prepare time sheets
invoice your clients with a detailed accounting of
tasks and rates.
Autobyte Products, Inc.
655. 32e Avenue, 201
Lachine, Que
H8T 3G6
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List Prompt:02
Telephone Dialer
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Telephone: Dialer, communications, file transfer from the
portfolio to the Mac or IBM PC. Supports pocket
modem use from any phone or cellular.
Available from : Computer Friends
503-626-2291
503-643-5379 Fax
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List Prompt:01
PIM (Personal Information Manager)
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PIM Personal Information Manager, front end application
uses a hierarchial menu system to access data files or
permits the user to access the built in applications.
An excellent fully operational DEMO program with
sample data is in the Portfolio Resource file area. It
makes a first class working demo for retail sales
people to demonstrate the Portfolio.
The developer can also provide various versions of
the software as well as custom systems permitting end
users to extend the office into the field to capture
or download data.
In Touch Network Systems Inc.
(416)-471-7307rsonal Information Manager)
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> The following is an updated list of files that are available on Atari
> Canada's BBS. They can be found in the Portfolio section.
Press S to Stop, or P to Pause listing:
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DESCRIPTION: This file area contains files for the Portfolio,
applications and utilities.
All files ONLY available in *.ARC format. PC compatible
owners can use the PK unarc utility. ST owners use the
ARC utility loacted in the ST file area.
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---> ARCHIVE:
PK361.EXE 119808 PC compatible ARC utility to unarc BBS files in this
area, ST Arc program available in the ST area
---> NEW Files:
TIMEDATE.ARC 6584 Time date text files within the Portfolio editor
MACROS!.ARC 5688 Run macros for the text editor
ARCA.COM 3456 Compress files - 1 at a time, delete old arc file if
you re-compre
ARCV.COM 2048 View arc files
CHMOD.COM 384 Change file attributes
CMP04.ARC 6400 Compare 2 files for accuracy
CNE2.DRY 17920 Can. Nat. Exhibition, to Sept. 2/91
CRCK4.COM 1536 Checksum program
DESKTO.PGC 1024 Image file shows MAC desktop - requires PGShow
HPSAMPLE.WKS 512 For comparison w/HP-95LX
MACCLA.PGC 640 Image file shows MAC Classic - requires PGShow
MACSTY.PGC 768 Image file shows MAC LOGO - requires PGShow
MINI.COM 640 Print text in microprint MINI ON - MINI OFF
P90.ARC 14464 Print sideways, MUST be started from a batch file
RECIPE3.ARC 22272 Recipe files in .ADR format Experimental
UNERASE.COM 2048 Recover deleted files
UNHIDE.COM 640 Unhides hidden files
---> Data CONVERSION Programs
AG2POR.ARC 3096 Lotus Agenda macros to export Agenda data to Portfolio
DRYSK.ARC 4753 Diary files to Sidekick
PCAL21.ZIP 57807 Windows 3.0 calendar program with import/export
functions to Porti
PCRD11.ARC 38526 Windows 3.0 - Cardfile file compatible with Portfolio
VBRUN100.ARC 211322 Win 3.0 Visual Basic Runtime program for Windows
applications used here
WPCAL.ARC 45640 Covert WordPerfect Calendar to Portfolio diary
---> DEMO Programs:
PGSH21.ARC 8018 Fastest Demo available
PSI.EXE 2944 Demo program for the Portfolio
---> UTILITIES:
60BY10.ARC 10890 Program to change screen to 60 col by 10 lines
ACDPW2.ARC 5834 Password protect data files
ADDRES.EXE 9344 Address file viewer
ADDRES.SIT 13952 Mac Hypercard stack allows import/export, requires
StuffIt
ARCEX.ARC 11648 Portfolio "Un-ARC" utility
AUTOEXEC.BAT 22 Example Startup File
BAT2EXE.ARC 53030 Compile batch files, output runs on the Portfolio
BATTST.ARC 6302 Battery tester for Portfolio
BM2.ARC 3840 Battery reminder program
BXD26.ARC 30592 Debugger, runs on the Portfolio
CONFIG.SYS 22 Example config file
DOSEDI.COM 2048 DOS command line editor, remembers last few commands
you entered
FLASH.ARC 19470 BSE Flashcard software drivers for connecting and HD
to the Portfo
FM.COM 7524 Atari "File Manager"
FT.COM 10811 Parallel module file transfer program
GREP.ARC 20788 Text search program
HDIR.ARC 5120 Horizontal directory
KBRASS.TXT 7936 Create hot keys using ansi.sys
LISTFG.COM 2816 Display fragmented files
LOGOS.ARC 2304 Custom screens
NEWPORT.ARC 6912 Tech Overview of Portfolio accessories
PASSWORD.ARC 1577 Password Protection Utility for Portfolio
PDD2MENU.ARC 14625 Driver for Radio Shack Portable disk drive
PFBACKUP.ARC 2751 Backup utility
PORTHELP.ARC 11776 excellent help files
PORTUTIL.ARC 4352 Setup files for the Portfolio, update, autoexec,
config etc.
PRTTXT.ARC 6832 Textfile Create HOT KEYS on the Portfolio using ANSI.SYS
PTOOL.ARC 26345 A set of excellent Portfolio utilities.
PWK10.SIT 12160 Backup/Restore utilities to MAC using White Knight
SDIR24.ARC 2449 Sort directories
SM.COM 128 Change screen mode from dos prompt of batch file
SNATCH.ARC 17008 Grab PC screen shots and run them on the Portfolio
SRCH.ARC 11125 Search diary and address files for a string
STRIP.ARC 12160 Strips carriage returns from ASCII files
TEXTCO.ARC 41984 Removes returns from text files except at the end of
paragraphs
TIMEZN.ARC 772 Reset system clock when you are in different time zones
UPDT107.COM 1664 Lastest update
VDEL.COM 768 Prompts y/n before any delete file operation
---> Word Processing:
OUTLINE.ARC 96295 Outline text editor for the Portfolio
WS_EDIT.ARC 26599 Word Star like editor for Portfolio
---> Programming:
PBAS45.ARC 187339 Latest version of Basic with coms support
PBE13.ARC 30966 PC editor to create PBasic programs
SPB.EXE 11008 Removes unneeded lines and REM statements from PBasic
progams
ZBASIC.ARC 33792 Compact basic product that runs on the Portfolio
---> Communications:
ACOM11.ARC 16533 Terminal Program
DIAL.ARC 1664 Xterm dialer
PFBOOT.ARC 49479 Serial interface program to load terminal
PORT8BIT.ARC 2563 Tech document describing connecting Portfolio to Atari
8 bit
PORTTOST.ARC 5132 Files to GET Xterm on the Portfolio without files
transfer
SLAVE.ARC 18560 Host program (Portfolio to any terminal supporting
X-Modem)
SLAVE.DOC 2100 Unarc'd docs for Slave.EXE (as above)
SLAVE.EXE 17152 Unarc'd Program file (as above)
STFOLI.ARC 58725 Parallel file transfer
XTERM2.ARC 5477 Terminal program, includes XMODEM file transfer
capability
---> Graphics:
PGFMAKER.ARC 18176 ST/MEGA program to extract images from DEGAS to be
displayed
PORT_ART.ARC 11903 Graphics pix demonstration
SKETCH.ARC 6061 Sketch program for the Portfolio
---> Applications:
CBASE.ARC 25333 Create scripts to collect data in the field
CC3.BAS 4992 Metric conversion, requires BASIC
CLOCK.EXE 4992 Large Portfolio Clock
FUNCTION.ARC 14592 Function analysis uses graphics to plot x-Y diagrams
OHM.ARC 5203 Ohmeter Program for Portfolio
PBASPRGS.ARC 4721 Assorted basic programs
PC.ARC 12288 Programmer's calculator
PIM.ARC 71965 Personal Info Mgr. fully operational program
PTONE.ARC 7727 Generate tones via file or keyboard
QUICK.ARC 8576 Input you cheques in the field and upload to Quicken
later.
SCI.ZIP 44569 Scientific calculator that runs on the Portfolio
TYPIST.COM 768 Typing practise for the small keyboard
TYPIST.DOC 1408 Docs for above
---> Games:
BLKBST.BAS 2176 Arcade game (needs PBasic)
DIGDEC.ARC 6053 Card trick program
DIGDEC.DOC 8704 Docs for above
DZN.BAS 2944 Puzzle (needs PBasic)
DZNRUL.TXT 2048 Docs for above
FS.EXE 2432 Small flight simulator, Not much on graphics but fun
MERLIN.ARC 4726 Game
OTHELLO.ARC 5746 Othello runs on portfolio (set the screen to static)
PCHESS.EXE 26496 An OK chess program that runs on the Portfolio
PORTPRGS.ARC 11582 Assorted Games, LIFE, PVIEW, SM, TT
SIMON.ARC 4444 Simon game
SPIN.EXE 4224 Number Puzzle
TETRAD.ARC 12096 Tetris game for the Portfolio
TRON.ARC 3731 Motorcycle game
VADER.BAS 1920 Space invaders (needs PBasic)
YANKEE.ARC 16537 Music for the Portfolio
---> Misc Files:
APB0791.ADR 18048 Accessories and Peripheral list in address book format
AREACODE.ADR 4864 List of area codes in address book format
PORTABLE.ARC 8192 Portable Addiction, a newsletter on Portable products
PORTADD3.TXT 46633 POrtable Addiction Issue #3 (UK)
Press [Return] to continue:
PORTFOLIO Resources 57 minutes
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I Portfolio Product Info... L List
N New Files
D Download
Z Download listing
U Upload (you send)
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<- Q Product Menu...
Select:
+
+-----------------------------End of Article-----------------------------+
Well,that's another month gone. Let's wait for what Atari has in store
for us this month. And October will be the month in which the GameGear
will officially be released in Holland, so that should be fun.
I promise that I won't go on another vacation untill half december :-)
Greetings from all of us here at PA, and hope to see you again next
month.
Megajerk Mr. Portfolio Neuromancer
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Internet: a15@nikhefh.nikhef.nl
National Institute For High Energy Physics
And Nuclear Physics, Computer Department ( NIKHEF-H ).
P.O.Box 41882
1009 DB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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