ST Report: 30-Nov-90 #648
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 01/05/91-12:22:31 AM Z
From: aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 30-Nov-90 #648
Date: Sat Jan 5 00:22:31 1991
*---== ST REPORT ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
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November 30, 1990 No.6.48
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> 11/30/90: STReport? #6.48 The Original 16/32 bit Online Magazine!
-------------------------
- The Editor's Desk - CPU REPORT - CPU MacNews
- MEDUSA! - 16mb DRAM CHIP! - Atari & DTP
- Atari's Year? - Portfolio News - Bundle Mania
- Back to Basics - Mail Call - STR Confidential
* ATARI HAS STRONG INVENTORY! *
* EXPOSE' DEMO RELEASED!! *
* WORDFLAIR II SPECIAL OFFER! *
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> The Editor's Podium?
How many shopping days left before Christmas? According to all in-
dications this will be a decent Christmas for Atari and its dealers after
all. That's right, product is arriving at the warehouse and Atari is
filling orders. In fact, they are quite busy.
Comdex is behind us and some of the sparks are still glowing. As most
folks now know, there have been mixed impressions emanating from Comdex.
For most of us the bottom line is where we will be next year. Atari will
be at Comdex and most likely in the same location. The word has leaked
that there was at least 1800 new leads obtained at Comdex of folks wanting
to be Atari dealers. Also, the newer products are fully anticipated to be
available during the first quarter of 1991. Looks like the dealers and
developers will have good things to look forward to.
Seems the TT030 units are in the warehouse just waiting for the FCC
ticket.... Now that's what's called being "Ready Freddy"! 1991 may just
be the year to pay attention to Atari after all.
The Portfolio and its third party goodies continue to dominate the
scene and rightfully so, remember the Portfolio is the "bridge" to other
computer platforms. This is great since it shows folks, who would have
never heard of Atari, that Atari Computer is a serious player.
Thanks for your support!
Ralph......
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> CPU REPORT?
==========
Issue # 93
----------
by Michael Arthur
CPU INSIGHTS?
============
MEDUSA, AMIGA1, AND ATARI ST EMULATION FOR THE AMIGA
----------------------------------------------------
Ever since their introductions, the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga
have competed against each other in the low/middle end of the computer
market. When a consumer decides between the two, the main issue is the
quality of software available for a particular computer. With the advent
of Macintosh and PC Emulators for both computers, such a consumer doesn't
have to give up the use of Mac/PC software if they buy an ST or Amiga.
As such, a choice between the ST and Amiga has invariably been a
choice between the software arenas that each computer excels in. One may
have chosen the Amiga for its graphics and Desktop Video capabilities,
but doing so would keep one from enjoying the superlative MIDI and DTP
software available for the ST. Recently, a string of ST Emulators have
appeared for the Amiga that have the potential to change this situation.
One of the first to appear on the scene was AMIGA1. Unlike most
computer emulators, this was a Public Domain utility that promised to
emulate the Atari ST without the need for TOS ROMs. In order to do this,-
the unknown programmer of AMIGA1 decided to pirate a version of TOS and
simply "hack" it into the emulator itself. Obviously, this made AMIGA1 an
illegal product that caused people using it to pirate Atari's operating
system software. This, in addition to the facts that AMIGA1 was extremely
buggy and would not multitask with other Amiga programs, made AMIGA1 the
worst possible solution for ST Emulation.
Next to enter the ST Emulation Arena was a commercial product cal-
led Chameleon. Like AMIGA1, Chameleon was an all-software solution for
ST Emulation that didn't require one to install additional hardware to use
TOS ROMs. It supports the ST's Low/Medium/High Resolution displays, and
allows one to easily switch between resolutions. It can read/write to
Atari ST disks, and recognizes the ST's MIDI port to allow the use of ST
MIDI software. In addition, it can use Microway's FlickerFixer board (or
the Amiga 3000's flickerfixer chip) to provide an interlace-free display
in High Resolution. Cost: 90 DM (Deutsche marks).
However, Chameleon isn't very compatible with ST software, and it
is slow enough that although one can multitask Chameleon with other Amiga
programs, the resulting slowdown in performance would be intolerable. Fur-
ther more, the method that Chameleon goes through to avoid using a cartr-
idge slot or board (like Spectre GCR and Amax) to hold TOS ROMs makes it
illegal to use in the US. To use it in Germany, one has to use special
hardware to copy the TOS ROMs onto a floppy or hard disk. When Chameleon
is first started, it loads this "hacked disk version" of TOS 1.6 into the
Amiga's 16 or 32-bit RAM for use. However, this use of ROM software is
apparently illegal in the US, and Atari seems able to stop attempts at
selling the Chameleon in the US.
With few viable options for emulating the ST, an Amiga user (or a
person choosing between the ST and Amiga) would have been in the same
situation as before. However, another German company has introduced an
ST Emulator that may actually be legal to sell in the US. Called Medusa,
this emulator requires the TOS ROMs to be installed in sockets found on a
small Amiga 2000 expansion board that comes with the package. When it
first starts up, it loads TOS directly into Amiga 16-bit or 32-bit RAM,
and uses the Amiga's Enhanced Chip Set to support the ST's standard
resolutions. It can read/write to ST floppy disks, and is compatible with
ST SCSI Hard Disk drivers.
Running as a single task, Medusa can perform at 85 - 95 percent of
the 1040 ST's speed. However, one can also multitask Medusa with other
AmigaDOS applications. Another benefit of Medusa is its comparatively
high compatibility rate (approximately 90 - 95%) with non-copy protected
ST Software. Like the other ST emulators, Medusa requires TOS 1.6 to run
on 68020/68030 Amiga accelerators. Since Medusa uses the TOS ROMs in a
manner similar to that which Spectre GCR and Amax use Mac ROMs to emulate
the Macintosh, a US company may start marketing it in the US by early
1991. Cost: 550 DM, or 300 dollars.
CPU MacNews?
===========
APPLE FORMS COMPANY TO DEVELOP RISC-BASED NOTEBOOK COMPUTER
-----------------------------------------------------------
Apple Computer has teamed up with VLSI Technology and Britain-based-
Acorn Computer to form Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) Ltd., a joint chip
research and development company. Apple and VLSI will be investing a sum
of approximately 1.75 million pounds into the venture, which will also be
obtaining Acorn Computer's 32-bit RISC (reduced instruction set chip)
architecture.
ARM Limited intends to use Acorn's RISC Chip, which has very low
power consumption requirements, to focus on areas like portable computing
and embedded control systems for automotive and aeronautical electronics.
However, Apple appears to have invested in ARM Ltd. as part of an effort
to develop a RISC-based "notebook computer" to replace the Macintosh
computer line. For years, Apple has said that this was one of its
long-term plans, and Larry Tesler (head of Apple's Advanced R&D Group) has
praised "ARM's advantages (in its RISC-based chip architecture) of
high-performance, low-power consumption, and low cost for a variety of
applications". Apple is also funding General Magic Inc. (a company formed
by Andy Hertzfield and Hypercard creator Bill Atkinson) in its efforts to
develop sound/graphics data compression techniques suitable for future
"handheld" computers. However, any results from ARM Ltd's efforts (like a
RISC-based Notebook Computer marketed by Apple) are not expected to be
available until after 1992....
> CPU STATUS REPORT? >>>> LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS <<<<
=================
- Osaka, Japan MATSUSHITA PLANS TO SHIP 16MEG DRAM CHIP SAMPLES
------------
Matsushita Electronics Corp. has announced that it will begin
shipping prototype samples of its 16 Megabit DRAM memory chips during the
Spring of 1991. With this move, Matsushita is following several other
semiconductor manufacturers (including Toshiba, Texas Instruments, and
NEC) in announcing plans to begin sampling 16 Megabit DRAM chips during
1991. Like NEC, Matsushita has said that it will begin mass producing its
new memory chips during 1992.
- Washington, DC US SOFTWARE INDUSTRY MAKES UP 1.2 PERCENT OF US GNP
--------------
According to a study recently released by ADAPSO (the Association of
Data Processing Service Organizations), the US Software Industry is now
worth over $60 billion dollars a year, or 1.2 percent of the US's total
Gross National Product (GNP). This study also revealed that the US
Software industry employs approximately 750,000 people, and that it
generated $12.1 billion in overseas sales for the Fiscal year of 1989.
- Atlanta, GA CONVICTED CRACKER APPEALS PROHIBITION ON COMPUTER USE
-----------
Robert Riggs, who recently pled guilty to illegally entering
BellSouth's computers and stealing computer source code, is now appealing
a part of his jail sentence that forbids him from using computers while in
jail. Attorneys for Riggs believe that this segment of the sentence
violates his First Amendment rights, stating that there are "less
restrictive alternatives" for punishing Riggs. In addition to the computer
prohibition, Riggs is also serving 14 months in jail, and many analysts
feel that the Judge's sentencing was clearly meant to send a strong signal
to other "Computer Crackers"....
Riggs is one of the three members of the "Legion of Doom" cracker
group who were convicted of breaking into a Bell South computer network
within a 3 year period. Interestingly, this group now has to pay $700,000
to compensate BellSouth for the cost of repairing the network, even though
they didn't actually damage any data on the network. But while BellSouth
says that it cost $4.5 million to investigate, repair, and increase the
security measures in its network, the Defense Attorneys for the "Legion of
Doom" didn't have the resources to verify BellSouth's findings.
CPU Errata: The last issue of CPU Report mentioned that the Atari TT
=========== didn't come with a Motorola 68882 Floating Point Math Chip,
However, all models of the Atari TT come with a 68882 math
chip running at 33 MHZ. Also, the Macintosh LC does not have
a 32K CPU Cache, as previously mentioned.
***********************************************************************
:HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT:
_________________________________
To sign up for GEnie service: Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369.
Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that).
Wait for the U#= prompt.
Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN.
**** SIGN UP FEE WAIVED ****
The system will now prompt you for your information.
-> NOW! GENIE STAR SERVICE IS IN EFFECT!! <-
***********************************************************************
> ATARI DTP STR Feature? "Atari? For DeskTop Publishing?"
=====================
THE OVERLOOKED ALTERNATIVE
==========================
To the high cost of Mac and PC DTP:
Atari ST or Mega hardware running Calamus or PageStream.
By Stephen Frye
With contributions from:
Nathan Potechin, Fred Murray, and Nevin Shalit.
"Atari? For desktop publishing? Give me a break! Do yourself a
favor, and go out and get a real computer!" Someone actually said those
exact words to me not more than a month ago, and for those of us who have
used the ST/Mega platform during the last five years -- for everyday tasks
like word processing, spreadsheet and database calculations, telecommunic-
ations, CAD and Desktop publishing (DTP) -- them's fightin' words!
Many people are not aware that Atari's ST and Mega computers have the
horsepower under the hood to handle top-notch DTP applications, and that
these applications do exist. There are numerous reports of people running
service bureaus who, after being impressed with the quality of a document,
are astounded when they find out it was created on an Atari system.
The two top packages, ISD's Calamus and SoftLogik's PageStream, have
no problem holding their own in comparisons with the best packages for the
Mac and PC. The cost-effectiveness of the Atari platform? Many Atari
retailers will be happy to sell you a complete DTP system -- 4MB RAM,
monitor, hard drive, either Calamus or PageStream, and 8PPM laser printer
-- for substantially less than $4,000.00.
When the October 1990 issue of BYTE Magazine featured a comparison of
DTP packages for their lead article, they neglected to include Atari
packages in their comparison. Well, if BYTE won't do it, we'll take care
of it for them. This article is the result, and it outlines how Calamus
and PageStream handle the tasks covered in BYTE. There is also a com-
panion comparison table of Atari, Mac, and PC packages.
In order to make room for PageStream and Calamus in the tables, I used
only three of the seven packages from BYTE -- PageMaker 4.0 (Mac), Quark
XPress 2.12 (Mac), and Ventura Publisher 3.0 (DOS). While it's clear that
PageStream and Calamus do not have every feature in the list, keep in mind
that the Mac and DOS packages also fall short by about the same degree.
Also note that major upgrades to both Calamus and PageStream are in the
pipeline, and should be available sometime within the next six months.
Installation and Hardware Requirements
--------------------------------------
Both Calamus and PageStream require a minimum of 1MB of RAM to run,
and are happiest with 4MB. Calamus requires a monochrome monitor, while
PageStream uses either monochrome or color. Both packages also support
the Moniterm Viking 19" monitor available for the Atari system.
Both packages are installed similarly -- copy the program files to the
hard disk, and edit the system paths so the program can find fonts, prin-
ter drivers, documents, etc. Neither program is copy-protected in any
way, nor do they require write-enabled master disks.
Preliminary Layout
------------------
Like most of the other page-layout packages, Calamus uses the frame
method for placing items on the page. PageStream, on the other hand, is
similar to PageMaker, where both graphics and text "objects" such as
headlines can be placed anywhere on the page. PageStream also uses frames
called "columns" for the body text of a document. Once a column has been
placed, it can be manipulated in a similar manner to other objects on the
page.
PageStream and Calamus both use clipboards to store design elements.
PageStream has the normal cut/copy/paste clipboard for text and graphic
elements, plus a special clipboard for cropping bit-image pictures before
they are pasted into the document. Somewhat more convenient is the ap-
proach used by Calamus, which has five different clipboards for frames,
each of which is large enough to provide a preview of the clipboard's
contents.
Master Pages
------------
PageStream uses the same method as PageMaker and Quark XPress, with
one right and one left master page available per document. Calamus'
approach is more like Ventura Publisher. Any frame in the document can be
grouped and treated as a header/footer for the document, and thus be
repeated on every page of the document. The contents of headers and
footers can be changed in the middle of the document, and the changes will
only affect those pages after the change was made. Separate headers and
footers can be defined for right- and left-hand pages. Once these header-
/footer frames have been created, the page can be stored in a disk file,
allowing a collection of "master pages" to be built.
Neither PageStream nor Calamus support on-screen thumbnail views,
although these can be printed to paper if desired.
Rulers and Guides
-----------------
PageStream and Calamus both allow use of rulers and guidelines, and
multiple measuring systems. Elements can be snapped to guides, grids, or
guides and grids at the same time.
Typography Capabilities
-----------------------
The only limit on the number of fonts in either ST program is the
amount of memory in the machine. More memory allows more fonts to be
loaded and used. Point-size increments are 0.1 point for Calamus, and
0.01 point for PageStream.
Leading, Tracking and Kerning
-----------------------------
PageStream has defaults built in for leading and tracking. If the
default values don't work right, they can be changed, either for the
entire document or selected blocks of text. Leading can either be fixed
or variable, depending on the size of the letters in each line. Kerning
is handled by editable kerning tables, as well as manual overrides.
Calamus also uses the default with override method for leading and
tracking, and also supports fixed or variable leading. Kerning in Calamus
is a function of the font itself, and the only kerning control within
Calamus is a manual override. Full control of kerning requires the com-
panion Calamus Font Editor, which installs as a desk accessory and allows
the user to modify the "outline" around each character, and thus change
the kerning value. If the font designer has done their work well, this is
seldom required. Leading and tracking values in both Calamus and PageStr-
eam can be included as part of a style tag or macro, allowing as many
levels of tracking as are deemed necessary
Style Sheets
------------
Ventura Publisher they're not, but each package does allow paragraph
tagging and the creation of the equivalent of style sheets. The current
version of PageStream does not allow collections of tags to be loaded and
saved from disk, but this promised for the next version, due out by the
end of the year.
Calamus' "style sheets" are actually two separate items: page-layout
information, and tags created as macro lists that define any combination
of typography, paragraph style, and text strings. Layout files and macro
lists can be stored in disk files, and either one retrieved as needed.
Hyphenation & Justification
---------------------------
H&J is one area where the current versions of Calamus and PageStream
do not measure up to the other packages. Neither Calamus nor PageStream
allow alteration of the default H&J algorithms. PageStream does offer
three justification options that allow some fine-tuning in the document.
Text Editing
------------
As with most DTP packages, Calamus and PageStream can't hold a candle
to specialized text editors and word processors for power and ease of use.
They're not entirely helpless either. Both have approximately the same
level of capability as the Macintosh products, with cut, copy, paste,
search, and replace of both text and style attributes. Calamus adds a
separate text editor similar to Pagemaker's Story Editor.
Graphics
--------
Different hardware platforms tend to generate different file formats,
and the ST is no exception. Calamus and PageStream support a wide variety
of formats for graphic importation that are generated by ST-specific
graphics software. "Foreign" file formats are generally limited to GEM
metafiles and .IMG bitmaps, although PageStream also imports PostScript
and EPS images.
For internally-generated graphics, Calamus has the basics -- lines,
boxes, circles, and other pre-defined shapes -- with border and fill
control. PageStream truly goes above and beyond most other packages,
providing object-oriented drawing tools that may negate the need for a
separate object-graphics program. Both packages allow grouping of elem-
ents on a page.
As far as text flow around graphics, Calamus does not automatically
flow around irregular objects, but PageStream does.
Bells & Whistles
----------------
Drop caps are done manually in both packages. PageStream handles
"step and repeat" with a "duplicate" feature that defines the number of
times an object is duplicated, as well as the x and y offsets.
Calamus supports rotation of selected text to any angle in tenths of a
degree. PageStream allows the rotation of ANY object (text column or
graphic image) to any angle in whole degrees.
Long Documents and Books
------------------------
With its automatic footnote and index generation, Calamus is more
suited to handling long documents than PageStream. Calamus allows the
text in a document to be exported with its style and formatting informa-
tion embedded in the file, allowing relatively easy updates, and has the
ability to name graphic frames, allowing them to remain empty until the
final graphic image has been supplied, or reserving the space for a photo-
graph.
Printing and Typesetting
------------------------
There's a big difference in Calamus' and PageStream's printing capabi-
lities: PageStream can output in PostScript, and supports 4-color separat-
ions. Calamus does not, although both PostScript and color capabilities
are on their way in the next upgrade.
For everyday 300DPI output, this is not an issue, but the need for
high resolution typesetting means that Calamus users will need to find a
service bureau that has an ST with Calamus hooked up directly to an image-
setter, bypassing the PostScript RIP. PageStream users can create a
PostScript disk file and either modem or carry the file to the nearest
PostScript service bureau.
Do They Measure Up?
-------------------
Whether or not Calamus and PageStream will serve your needs as DTP
packages is something that only you can determine. The point of all this
is that there is a third option in DTP hardware and software that can
provide a competitive, cost-effective alternative to Mac and DOS
solutions. Even if initial purchase cost is not an issue, find a local
Atari dealer or user group and explore Calamus and PageStream before you
make a final decision. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised at the
abilities of these packages, and amazed at their cost!
Aldus Corp. ISD Marketing, Inc.
(PageMaker 4.0) (Calamus 1.09N)
411 First Avenue South P.O. Box 3070
Seattle, WA 98104 Markham Industrial Park
(206)622-5500 Markham, Ontario
Canada L3R 6G4
(416)479-1880
Quark, Inc. SoftLogik Publishing Corp.
(Quark XPress 2.12) (PageStream 1.82)
300 South Jackson Street P.O. Box 290071
Suite 100 St. Louis, MO 63219
Denver, CO 80209 (314)894-0431
(303)934-2211
Ventura Publishing Co.
(Ventura Publisher 3.0)
15175 Innovation Dr.
San Diego, CA 92128
ATARI DESKTOP PUBLISHING COMPARISON
===================================
Calamus Page Page Quark Ventura
1.09N Stream Maker XPress Publisher
(Atari) 1.82 4.0 2.12 3.0
(Atari) (Mac) (Mac) (PC)
+ = yes - = no M = manual
Price $299 $199 $795 $795 $795
Font Editor $99
Configuration 1MB 1MB 1MB 2MB 640K
RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM
Mono Monitor DOS 2.1
Page layout
------------------------
Configurable ruler
lines + + + + +
Show cursor position on
ruler + + + + +
Report cursor
coordinates + - - + -
Guidelines + + + + -
Grid overlay + + - - +
Configurable grid + + - - +
Master pages - + + + -
Multiple master pages - - - - -
Turn master page on/off - + + - -
Pasteboard - - + - -
Tool palette + + + + +
Style catalog on screen + - + - +
File catalog on screen - - - - +
Typography
------------------------
Max. font size 999.9 1310 650 500 254
Smallest increment
(points) 0.1 0.01 0.1 0.25 0.5
Kerning precision (ems) 0.1pt 0.1 0.01 0.1 0.01
Edit kerning tables - + - + -
Tracking control
(levels) M M 5 Unlim. 2
Edit tracking graphs - - - + -
Leading increment
(points) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.001 0.01
Subscripts + + + + +
Superscripts + + + + +
Shift baseline 0.1pt 0.1pt + 0.01pt 0.01pt
Column balancing - - - - +
Vertical justification - - - - +
Widow/orphan control M M + + +
Text editing
------------------------
Search & replace text + + + + -
Search & replace fonts + + + - -
Spelling checker - + + + -
ASCII markup language - - - - -
Automatic text flow + + + + +
Views
------------------------
50% + + + + +
200% + + + + +
400% + - + - -
800% - - - - -
User specified + + - - -
Edit facing pages - + + + +
Thumbnails - - - - -
Printing
------------------------
Scale + + + + -
Tiling M + + + -
Print crop marks - + + + +
Spot color overlays + + + + +
Print to PS/EPS file - PS + + +
Precise control
------------------------
Manually enter
coordinates of
frames/objects - + - + +
Move objects
incrementally
with cursor keys - - - + -
Numeric entry for
tab stops - - + + +
Align objects - M M - -
Document control
------------------------
Two-way link to
text file - - - + +
Revision tracking - - - - -
Change bars - - - - -
Multiple files open - + - - -
Document specifications
------------------------
Maximum pages 9999 254 999 100 Unlimited
Max. page size 27.5x27.5 18x18 17x22 48x48 18x24
Double-sided + + + + -
Mix portrait and
landscape pages - - - - -
Reorder pages + + - + -
Long documents
------------------------
Automatic index
generation + - + - +
Automatic TOC
generation - - + - +
Cross-references
automatically
updated + - - - +
Index of figures - - - - +
Network support
------------------------
Simultaneous users - - + - +
Lock files - - + - +
Read only - - + - +
Lock elements + + - - -
Tabling - - + - +
------------------------
Equation editing - - - - +
------------------------
File Formats
------------------------
Microsoft Word - - + + +
XyWrite - - + - +
WordPerfect + + + + +
MacWrite - - + + -
Write Now - - + + -
EPS - + + + +
TIFF - - + + +
PICT - - + + +
Sun Raster - - + + +
HPGL - - - - +
WMF - - - - +
PCX - - - - +
GEM + + + - +
MacDraw - - + + -
MacPaint - - + + +
RTF - - + - -
DCA - - - - +
DBF - - - - -
SYLK - - - - -
Graphics manipulation
------------------------
Flow text around
graphics + + + + +
Run around irregular
shape - + + + -
Text repel + + - + +
Anchor graphics to
text - - + - +
Anchor graphics to
position on page + + + + +
Suppress display of
graphics + - + - +
Automatically scale
graphic to
fit frame + + + - +
Manually scale graphic + + + + +
Cropping + + + + +
Contrast control - - + + -
Halftone screening + + + + +
Custom screening + + + + +
Customized screening
angle - + + + +
Dithering controls - - - + -
Negative + + + + -
Drawing
------------------------
Rectangles + + + - +
Circles + + + - +
Polygons + + - - -
Constrained lines + + + + +
Other shapes + + - - -
Free-form drawing - + - - -
Special effects
------------------------
Rotate text
(Degree increments)0.1 1 90 - 90
Rotate graphics
(Degree increments)- 1 - - -
Flip graphics - - - - -
Pour text into shapes - - M - -
Shapes for
graphical frames - - + + -
Step and repeat - - + + -
Repeat frame
across pages + - - - +
Gravity - - + - -
Condense/expand text - + + - -
Color
------------------------
Spot colors + + + + +
Process - + + + -
Pantone - - + + -
Charting functions - - - - -
------------------------
________________________________________________________
> Stock Market ~ STReport? ATARI STOCK AT $2 A SHARE!
=======================
THE TICKERTAPE
==============
by Michael Arthur
The price of Atari stock stayed the same on Monday and Tuesday. On
Wednesday its price was down by 1/8 of a point. No stock was traded on
Thursday, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. On Friday the price of Atari
stock went down 1/8 of a point, ending the week at $2.00 a share. On
November 23, the price of Atari stock was down 1/4 of a point from the
price on November 16.
Apple Stock was up 1 1/4 points from Friday, November 16, 1990.
Commodore Stock was up 1 1/8 points from 11/16/90.
IBM Stock was down 1 point from 11/16/90.
Stock Report for Week of 11/19/90 to 11/23/90
_________________________________________________________________________
STock| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thanks | Friday |
Reprt|Last Chg.|Last Chg.|Last Chg.| Giving |Last Chg.|
-----|--------------|-------------|-------------|---------|--------------|
Atari|2 1/4 ----|2 1/4 ----|2 1/8 - 1/8| ----- | 2 - 1/8|
| | | | | 22,200 Sls |
-----|--------------+-------------+-------------+---------+--------------|
CBM |8 3/8 - 3/8| 9 + 5/8| 10 + 1| ----- |9 7/8 - 1/8|
| | | 499,200 Sls | | 222,400 Sls |
-----|--------------+-------------+-------------+---------+--------------|
Apple|36 3/8 +1 1/4|35 1/2 - 7/8|36 1/8 +5/8| ----- |36 3/8 + 1/4|
|1,999,200 Sls | | | | 475,000 Sls |
-----|--------------+-------------+-------------+---------+--------------|
IBM |114 3/4 +1 1/8|113 3/8 |114 1/8 +3/4| ----- |112 5/8 -1 1/2|
| | -1 3/8| | | 465,500 Sls |
-----'-------------------------------------------------------------------'
'#' and 'Sls' refer to the # of stock shares that were bought that day.
'CBM' refers to Commodore Corporation.
_______________________________________________________
> ATARI! STR FOCUS? "Keep the faith..... its on the way!"
================
"THE YEAR OF ATARI"
===================
by Brad Martin
I must say that I am not happy writing this article. I have been a
long time supporter of Atari Computer and video games. I have owned Atari
machines since they released Atari Pong, and when they released their new
computers, the 400 and the 800, I knew that these were the computers for
me.
Since that time I, and a lot of other Atari enthusiasts, have had a
love hate relation with the company. We all love the computers, but hate
the companies lack of ingenuity in selling them. Atari, under the manage-
ment of Warner Communications, had no idea what to do with their computer
company. They placed the 400/800 in toy stores, and sold them as game
machines with a keyboard attached. Even through this giant mismanagement
a select group of computer purchasers saw through all the competitors
rhetoric, and purchased the most powerful computer on the market at that
time. Unfortunately the game market died, and Atari could not figure out
how to overcome the game machine image and market their computers effec-
tively, so they lost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Along came Jack Tramiel and bailed out Atari. Jack had recently left
Commodore Business Machines, which he founded, after losing an internal
power struggle and was looking for something he could use his talents in,
and something that he could leave his sons. As soon as he purchased Atari
and took control from Warner Engineering he consolidated Atari, firing
hundreds of workers. He brought over many of his design team from Com-
modore and they instantly started working on the next generation of com-
puters. And thus the Atari ST was born.
Introduced at the 1985 Consumer Electronic Show, the ST was a instant
hit with the press. Dubbed the 'Jackintosh', due to the similarities it
had with the Apple Macintosh, the press predicted big things for this
upstart computer. And in the first year of it's life it looked like the
predictions might come true.
Well, things did not work out the way everyone planned. The European
market took off, sales were much higher then in the States, and with the
dollar exchange rate Atari was making more money over there then they were
in the United States. Then came the straw that broke the camel's back,
the DRAM market dried up. Atari had to cut back heavily on production,
and most units that were produced were shipped to Europe. Since there was
a lack of units for sale in the United States Atari felt that advertising
was a useless waste of money.
Well, since that time nothing much has changed. Increased sales in
Europe, and lack of increase of production has, for the last three years,
meant lack of product here in the United States. That, mixed with the
steady decline of dealers, who have moved to other platforms, or gone out
of business entirely, and lack of advertising has led to an absence of
consumer interest in Atari's computers.
This has led to a lack of support for third-party supporters. Almost
all ST related magazines have fallen by the wayside, and third-party
software support is at the lowest it has every been. It has been many
months since the last major software release, and the bulk of the software
that has been released has come from Europe. Major Atari supporters such
as Michtron and Antic have stopped supporting Atari, or gone out of
business. Things are bleak in the Atari community.
The past two years, so claimed "The Year of Atari" by Atari's upper
management have not turned out to be. Promises that all new hardware
would be released in the United States at the same time as in Europe have
turned out to be not true. Cries from developers and owners for Atari to
do something to promote this computer in the U.S. have fallen on deaf
ears. The Atari community is in chaos. Long time supporters of Atari are
at each other's throats. This is not surprising as people seemingly have
no outlet for their frustrations.
This years fall Comdex was to be (again) the turning point. Atari's
new high end Computer, the TT/030 (which had been shown one year before at
the last fall Comdex), was to be released to dealers at the same time is
was being shown. They were going to introduce their new software bundles,
that had proven so successful in Europe. This, and other exciting new
announcements were to signal Atari's reemergence into the U.S. computer
marketplace. Unfortunately I don't believe that Atari is going to make
good on their objectives.
First off, contrary to MANY statements made by Atari officials to
dealers and developers the TT/030 did not ship immediately after Comdex.
One long time Atari dealer when asked his feeling after finding out that
Atari's promises were false, and that the TT/030 had not yet been approved
by the FCC, and might not ship until next year expressed disappointment
but at the same time saw the Portfolio holding its own through all the
"wait states."
Therein lies the secret. Atari has been actively advertising the
Portfolio, and selling them very well. You might think that this would
send a message to their upper management. You advertise a product and it
sells, you don't advertise a product, and nobody wants nor buys that
product. But besides an adequate co-op program Atari has no advertising
for the ST or TT/030, nor is any planned. When pressed on the subject at
Comdex an Atari official admitted that their advertising for the ST and
TT/030 would probably not change from what it is now.
Atari's major effort now seems to be a variety of software bundles.
Atari has used this plan with great success in Europe. The bundles usual-
ly include fifteen or more of the latest, hottest software at an unbeat-
able price. This should be a great plan for Atari U.S. Software Bundles
open an instant window to the new user and this is exactly what's needed
to get the Atari platform's juices running once again.
________________________________________________________________
> STR Portfolio News & Information? Keeping up to date...
================================
THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE
=======================================
by Walter Daniel 75066,164.
This column marks the beginning of regular coverage of the Atari
Portfolio Forum (GO APORTFOLIO) here in ST-Report. The forum is a thriv-
ing community where you can find answers to your Portfolio questions and
the latest freeware uploads. Next time you're logged on CompuServe, give
us a visit!
The message areas are Forum Business, Communications, Utilities,
Entertainment, Editors/Word Processors, Database Functions, Applications,
Programming, Mac-to- Portfolio, and New Products. Comments about terminal
programs will be in the Communications area, talk about games will be in
Entertainment, and so forth.
The file libraries have similar topics: New Uploads, Communications,
Utilities, Entertainment, Editors/Word Processors, Database Functions,
Applications, Programming, New Products, and Misc. Files. New files
should be uploaded to Library 1 (New Uploads); they will remain there for
about a month, then be distributed to the appropriate library.
---===---
There are a few files of interest to just about all Portfolio users.
UPDATE.COM from Atari fixes several bugs in the operating system (UP-
DATE.ARC in library 3).
XTERM2 from Jim Straus is a terminal program that uses the optional
serial interface for file transfer and telecommunications. See XTERM2-
.COM and XTERM2.DOC in library 2.
SLAVE from Atari Australia uses the serial interface for file transfer to
a desktop machine (SLAVE.ARC in library 2).
PBASIC from BJ Gleason is a free Portfolio-specific BASIC interpreter
that has floating-point variables, arrays, and more. The current version
is 2.1 (PBAS21.ZIP in library 8), but version 3 with an improved manual
is on the way.
You might wish to download CATALO.ZIP in library 1 for a compressed
text file that lists all the files in all the libraries as of November 12,
1990.
---===---
In future columns, I'll cover what's being discussed in the forum mes-
sages, mention new uploads to the libraries, and cover a topic in depth.
Topics I plan on examining include connectivity with various desktop
computers, types of programs (utilities, games, etc.), and new products.
I would appreciate any feedback and suggestions you have, so please post
messages in the forum to me:
Walter Daniel 75066,164.
_____________________________________________________
> BUNDLE MANIA! STR FOCUS? "...psst, Hey Buddie..."
=======================
BARGAIN BUNDLES
===============
by Larry Karowski
Just before I began writing this article, I took a few moments to
read Neven Shalit's new column in St Informer. He said something in this
month's column about Atari that is just so vividly true it bears repeating
here. But, first, I would like to mention one very important thing..
Neven and Ralph both write a great deal of articles that could be taken as
being Anti Atari.. But both of them Love Atari... They hate to see the
company in its present state of affairs and maybe, just maybe... That's
why they write these "attention getting" columns, in hopes that perhaps
someone in Sunnyvale will read these columns and change their ways. Nice
thought huh?
Rumor City Fantasy: "At this point the only fantasy worth having is
survival. Hey, I am not being negative here. With the new MacIntoshes
selling at $779 Atari has got to do something to get more dealers, to
create and execute an advertising campaign, to attract new developers, to
differentiate their product by either price or performance, and to manufa-
cture and deliver machines in a consistent and timely manner. They have
failed for 2 years at every single one of these tasks, and there is only
so much failure you can have before the entire company just collapses.
This is not "gloom and Doom" this is reality. There is no room for fantasy
when you are bleeding from 5 major places."
Well lets get into the topic at hand, The new Atari bundles.. Talked
about for 2 years they are finally here. And what a disappointment. The
idea started in England where Ataris were not selling all that well..
Atari UK entered into negotiations with some of the English Software
developers. They came up with some really nice bundles of software that
they sold with the computer at very attractive prices. Sales skyrocketed.
Why not? You could purchase an Atari ST with 10 games cheaper then you
could buy a Nintendo with 5 games! Yeppers that's right! A real live
computer with a disk drive and 10 games cheaper then a Nintendo with 5
games. It sold really well in the UK.
The end result of 2 years of hard work with detailed market studies by
many people in Sunnyvale and of course, the UK, are the following bundles
which are planned to be offered to the US Market.
* 520STFM HOME ENTERTAINMENT PACK: 520STFM, Missile Command, Star
Raiders, Crack'd, Moon Patrol, NEOChrome, Joust.
Retail: $579.65
For entertainment this is a nice package for the new user. The 520 ST
and 5 games and very successful coloring program. The games may be fami-
liar to us, but they are indeed "new" to a brand spanking new computer
user. The pricing on this bundle may be somewhat steep but in the end,
hopefully the results sought, an enlarged userbase, will prevail.
* 520STFM COMMUNICATIONS PACK: Computer, SX212 modem, STALKER and
STENO telecommunications software. Retail: $529.85
This is a decent telecommunications package for the Novice user. One
comment though, a 2400 baud modem is more up to date and is recommended.
Stalker and Steno are very good programs. A Supra 2400 modem is around
$100.00 so, for a few dollars more, a 2400 modem could make this bundle
very attractive. Interesting story about the SX212 modem. When this was
first announced many, many years ago most 1200 baud modems were $150-300.
Atari announced the SX212 at $99.00 at Comdex and had 3 or 4 there, set up
and working. However, it was not ready for sale, (would you believe it
was not FCC approved!), by the time Atari started selling it, over a year
later, there were 3 or 4 companies selling 1200 baud modems for $99. But
even worse Supra was selling a 2400 baud modem for only $129.
* 1040STE HOME PRINT SHOP BUNDLE: Computer, MIGRAPH HAND SCANNER,
Touch-Up, Easy Draw 3.0. Retail: $1,398.90
With the Scanner included, this is an excellent offering. Not a big
savings over retail, but a good deal for the new user at entry level. In
the end, most people who would want a scanner, Easy Draw and Touch-Up
would ultimately want/need more memory or a higher end computer. An
excellent way to intro the new TT030.
* 1040STE DELUXE PAINT PACK: Computer, ELECTRONIC ARTS DELUXE
PAINT ANIMATOR. Retail: $799.90
Out of all the companies writing software for the ST, to pick EA to
have a program in the bundle is a surprise. Wonder what those companies
who have supported the ST from day one have to say. In reality, Deluxe
Paint is quite the program and should ensure this bundle's being very
successful.
* DTP PACKAGE #1: Mega 2 computer, SM124 Mono Monitor, Megafile 30
hard drive, SLM605 Laser Printer, CALAMUS. Retail: $2,199.00
Now comes the "Big Gun" in the DTP arena on the Atari platform. ISD's
Calamus is the "creme de la creme" when it comes to powerhouse DTP progra-
ms. This bundle is a sure fire seller. All the products in this bundle
are very capable of delivering more than satisfying results.
* DTP PACKAGE #2: Mega 2 Computer, SM124 Mono Monitor, Megafile 30
hard drive, SLM605 Laser Printer, DESKSET II. Retail: $2,099.00
This area reserved for comments from the sole reviewer of Desk Set II.
As for my opinion, the hardware is great.
Next week lets talk about the little bundle that could.......
___________________________________________________________________
> THe Flip Side STR Feature? "...a different viewpoint"
=========================
A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT
==================================
by Michael Lee
Hello out there? Is anyone there? Is anyone reading this column? Am I
publishing stuff that you folks are interested in or am I boring you?
The only way that I will know is if you let me know (via ST Report).
Also, one other thing I feel I need to remind our readers about. When I
put a post in my column that contains hardware fixes or modifications to
your system, neither I nor ST Report are advocating these fixes/mods. I
am just passing along information that might, nor might not, be of
interest to you.
----------------
From Larry Rymal on The Gadgets by Small RT on Genie:
If you can, save up about $230 and get a NEC MultiSync GS 2A multisync.
It is a paper white like the Atari monitor, and when the video plug is
adapted to fit the ST, will give you a superior image over that of the
Atari monochrome monitor. Your image can be easily sized and the monitor
is a great crossover monitor in that it can be used with either an IBM,
ST, or real Macintosh.
----------------
Are you a little confused about the new GDOS (FSMGDOS) that Atari is
coming out with? Here's a couple of posts that might help to clear up
some of that confusion...
From John Towns (Atari Corp.) on Genie:
...FSMGDOS has a font cache option which makes the fonts get MUCH faster
as they are used. I am talking about on the screen.
...As for point sizes it works like this:
...There is a file called EXTEND.SYS that contains all of the
information about your scalable fonts. You specify specific point sizes
in this file that will be recognized in your GDOS applications.
...In addition to this method there is a new GDOS call that will allow
you to get an arbitrary point size. If the GDOS application is aware of
this call (most of the popular application should be by the time FSMGDOS
ships!) then you can select any point size you want from 1 to 999
points.
...The method described above allows for the additional flexibility
while maintaining the maximum compatibility with existing applications.
From Ken Badertscher (Atari Software Engineer) from Genie:
...To summarize, to a user's point of view, what's been discussed here,
with a few points of my own:
- FSM (Font Scaling Module) GDOS supports characters of any size,
rotated at any angle, with any aspect ratio, skewed at any slant.
- FSM GDOS is compatible with GDOS Release 1.1. It works just fine
with Microsoft Write, Word Flair, Easy Draw, and other existing
applications which use GDOS.
- Because FSM GDOS can scale characters to any size, outline fonts
don't require separate font files for different sizes of screen and
printer fonts. Each font style requires an average of roughly 50K of on-
disk data in 2 files for all devices in all point sizes.
- Not only can you still use your bitmapped fonts with FSM GDOS,
those fonts work even better with it. It uses a font cache so that you
can install as many fonts as you like in your ASSIGN.SYS, as long as
there's enough room in the cache for the largest font. FSM GDOS will
move fonts in and out of the cache as they are needed.
- There is one important thing that FSM GDOS does NOT do. It does NOT
slow down your system! The way that GDOS does its stuff has been
streamlined. The CodeHead "Zoombox" benchmark shows that FSM is now only
slightly slower than G+PLUS, and considerably faster than GDOS Release
1.1. So not only does FSM GDOS give you more, it gives it to you faster.
- Speaking of speed, character generation from outline fonts is also
fast. It can pretty much keep up with my typing on an ST, and I clock in
at around 80 wpm. On a TT, FSM GDOS can generate characters considerably
faster than I can type. I can't say the same for ATM under Spectre...
- FSM GDOS will come with a couple of utilities: an accessory/
program/CPX which allows you to specify various operating parameters,
and an application program that will take full advantage of FSM's font
power, letting you create and print simple single page posters/flyers
with rotated, arbitrarily sized text and imported graphics.
...Availability? Best answer I can give is RSN. What with the vagaries
of distribution and productization (geez, I love marketing-ese), I
haven't a clue how long before it will get into users' hands. As I
mentioned, we're just now getting feedback from developers on technical
issues. They may come up with something we left out, which will require
revising and testing.
...I must say that FSM GDOS is solid and bug-free as far as I can tell.
The last major bug I can remember was squashed a couple of weeks ago. I
use it daily--I'm working on that single-page creator FSM show-off
program I mentioned above.
----------------
From Jim Tittsler (Atari) on Genie:
The TT030 does not include a BLiTTER or other graphics coprocessor. Much
of the VDI was rewritten to exploit the 68030 instruction set and
cache... so it is faster even without one.
----------------
Mike Valent on Genie:
...Sheaffer's Scrip jet black works fine with the new-ink cartridges. It
*may* (the new ink) mix better with the Scrip refill ink - I'm on my
third or fourth refill of my first new-ink cartridge and am getting the
exact same print quality that I got when the cartridge was new.
...Anyway, refilling the new cartridges works at least as well as
refilling the old ones, and may turn out to work better.
From Dave Heine on Genie:
...I just recently started refilling the new ink cartridge (non-
smearable type) with my usual Sheaffer Skrip ink and have found that it
works great. The ink is no longer non-smearable, but at least I can
continue to extend the life of the cartridge.
----------------
Until next week....
__________________________________________________________
> PUBLIC RELATIONS STR FOCUS? CUSTOMER RELATIONS, "BACK TO BASICS"
==========================
CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT?
=========================
by R. F. Mariano
Ever since I was able to plunk down 10 cents for a soda pop at the
corner candy store, I have been aware of one basic fact of doing business
and that is; "The Customer is ALWAYS right". That principle has served
many business concerns, both large and small, extremely well. Ask any PR
executive at any successful corporation or, the proprietors of a small mom
and pop grocery or deli how they feel about that basic premise. You will
most certainly hear them exclaim;
The customer, no matter how aggravating or satisfying, is:
(a) the life blood of ANY business...
(b) they pay the bills...
(c) they give direction to R&D...
(d) they must be satisfied...
(e) without them... there is NO business!
Therefore, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT!
Of course, there are those who will immediately say, "If you do
everything the customer wants... you can give the business away." An
attitude such as this can cause real problems for any company because it
immediately leans towards the premise that the customer is the enemy, not
to be trusted, not to catered to and most of all, to be given only what
the company "thinks" or "perceives" exactly what is due the customer.
In all honesty, it is difficult to not say, "Atari, more often than
not, acts like the customer is the ENEMY!" After all, stop for a moment
and examine some of the more memorable events of the past two years. But
first, let's look at another premise that seems to go continually un-
noticed, "We all learn from our mistakes." One would think, after over
three years of hit and miss decisions, they would learn a little about
solid marketing and good customer relations.
One can go on and on concerning certain decisions coming from the
"hallowed halls" of Atari that have had a negative influence time after
time. What do they do when the userbase criticizes these decisions?
They do hear the commotions but it is very doubtful that they listen.
Its a good bet that Atari is really beginning to pay closer attention
to the plight of the users, developers and dealers. This may not have been
the real "year of Atari" but that does not by any stretch of the imagina-
tion mean that the show is over... it really has yet to begin, all we have
been seeing so far are the coming attractions. Hang in there folks, its
going to get better....
_______________________________________________________
> EXPOSE' STR InfoFile? "View graphic files from a GEM window!"
====================
Demonstration Version
---------------------
EXPOSE' (VERSION 1.0)
=====================
Produced by Maxwell C.P.U.
Developer Randy Angove
Copyright 1990
Suggested Retail Price- $39.95
Thank you for reviewing our new product Expos . Expos is a desk
accessory designed with desktop publishers in mind. View graphic files
from a GEM window, create, save and load a notepad which will send text
directly to your main application - right from Expos and without having
to exit your application. And there is more!
The desk accessory Expos offers the ST user the ability to load
graphic files, view them from a GEM window and save a clip area as an IMG
file. With the notepad function the user can save ascii text, save and
reload as needed and send the text from the Expos notepad directly into
a main program without having to load or import the text. Expos also
comes with an editable date/time and also a GEM based function for quickly
viewing diskette/partition free memory. Free RAM is also always shown on
the Expos main window.
Expos also offers a diskette formatting function and a screen snap-
shot function which saves in IMG or DEGAS formats. The extended ASCII
character set is available and one can create a string of these charac-
ters and send them into the notepad or directly into the main applicat-
ion. To quickly access any of the Expos features one need only select
Expos with a control-shift-alternate combination depressed.
============== EXPOSE' QUICK REFERENCE MANUAL ===============
Note: Key functions have been disabled in the demo in order to protect
our product.
Expos requires an ST system operating under medium or high ST reso-
lution. Program memory requirements are 150 kbytes (due to window memory
demands); systems with 1 or more megabytes should maintain enough free
RAM for major applications.
Use EXPOSEM.ACC for monochrome monitors - high rez.
Use EXPOSEC.ACC for color monitors - medium rez.
Resource files (*.RSC) have been compiled into the desk accessory program.
MAIN DIALOGUE BOX:
Functions
I. Disk/partition free memory space. Click on any of the
active partitions and the free memory available will show up
immediately.
II. Digital time/date. Edit the time or date by clicking on
the black box which says 'set time/date'. Time travel not
included in demo version.
III. The Expos Title. Click on the title and the file
selector box will be brought up.
IV. View/Load Functions. First load a graphics file.
Loading the file will bring up a GEM window for viewing the
file. Repeated viewing of the same file is done by clicking
on the View function.
V. Pad Function. Bring up the notepad feature of Expos .
VI. Format Function. Format a diskette with this function.
VII. Snap Function. Take a snapshot of the screen and save
in either DEGAS or IMG format.
VIII. Exit Function. E.T. phone home!
THE NOTEPAD DIALOGUE BOX:
Access directly by depressing the Control key before selecting Expos .
I. Creating text. Type in the 6 line page moving from one
line to the next by using the up/down arrow keys. There are
up a 99 lines to a notepad file.
II. Save Function. Save the complete notepad as a file. It
defaults to *.EXP. Notepad files can alternatively be created
in a text editor.
III. Load Function. Reload notepad files.
IV. Send Page. Send the present 6 lines of text from the
notepad directly into your main application, e.g. word
processor or desktop publisher. Alternatively one can send
one line at a time by clicking on the numbered button
adjacent to the line of text. The text is loaded into the
document beginning at where the cursor presently resides.
V. Clear Function. Clear the notepad to start a new list.
VI. Extended Ascii Function. Access the dialogue box with
the extended ascii character set.
VII. Adding a Return. One can switch off the addition of a
RETURN command between lines of notepad text. This causes
lines of text to run together allowing the main application
to word wrap properly.
VIII. Exit Function. Sends you back to the main box if you
entered from that direction. Otherwise it returns you
directly back to the main application ... you had entered by
depressing the Control key.
EXTENDED ASCII DIALOGUE BOX:
Access the Extended ascii box by depressing the Alternate key
before selecting Expos .
I. Extended Ascii Character Set. Click on any of the
characters and this will load them into the character string
below.
II. The character string. One can type normal characters
into the string as well as click on the extended ascii set.
III. Send Function. This function will send the string of
characters directly into your main application.
IV. Send to Pad. Alternatively, one can send the string
into the notepad for safe keeping.
V. Ascii Code Function. Click on the underline area to
send the cursor to it. Type a ascii code number and then
click on the function's text. The ascii character
corresponding to the code number will be sent to the
character string.
LOADING GRAPHIC FILES:
When the user selects the LOAD function from the main Expos dialogue
box, he/she will be presented a choice of file formats that can be loaded
(presently disabled in the demo except for DEGAS format). Select one.
Load the file from the file selector. A gem window will pop up and the
graphics will be shown.
Now one can clip an area of the image and save it as either a IMG or
DEGAS file. The Function keys are used for this purpose and more.
F1- Load a new image.
F3- Clip a picture. You can press the right mouse button at
any time to abort the clipping. Click on the upper-left
portion of the area of interest and then move the mouse to
the lower right. When ready click once more. IMG or DEGAS
formats will be offered as a choice.
F5- Save first 32k of picture as IMG file.
OTHER QUICK ACCESS KEY COMBINATIONS:
To quickly access parts of the desk accessory Expos , depress one of the
following combinations before clicking on Expos on the Desk dropdown
menu:
Shift Key View a loaded graphic file.
Control Key Enter the Notepad.
Alternate Enter the Extended Ascii Set.
Control-Alt Format a disk.
Shift-Alt Open the File Selector.
Control-Alt Take a screen Snapshot.
Expos will be available in December 1990. Presently the manual is
going to press. You will be able to purchase Expos from your local dea-
ler, through the E.A. Brown Catalogue or directly from Maxwell C.P.U.
If you have any comments regarding this product please direct them
to T.REYES on Genie or present a message to the message area of MAXWELL
CPU vendorship in the Atari Vendorship Forum on CIS.
Maxwell C.P.U.
2124 W. Centennial Dr.
Louisville, CO. 80027
(303) 666-7754
Sincerely,
Tim Reyes
dba Maxwell Computer
Products Unlimited
___________________________________________________________
> STR Mail Call? Letters concerning STR articles...
=============
In response to last week's issue;
Letter 1
Ralph -
You solicited responses to the two post-Comdex articles you
published. Here you go:
- - -
I think it's necessary to inject a "user's viewpoint" into the
topic generated by two articles in the 11/23/90 ST Report. I am not a
commercial developer, and don't have the financial interests and needs
that a developer has. I think that makes a difference.
I can understand the plight of the ST developer. Anybody whose
business depends to some extent on the success of another business is
in constant jeopardy. The developer gambles that the "lead" company is
growth oriented and will be successful, thus pulling the developer's
business along with it.
The problem with this method, in our case, is that Atari shows no
indication that it wants to play this game. It apparently is not at
all interested in growth, and gives every appearance of trying to
limit, or even reduce, its unit output. This breaks the rules. And
this is what is so devastating to ST developers.
But, how does this affect the rest of us? Long term, of course,
we end up losing developers to other platforms. A nicely assembled
list of alumni was printed in one of the previous articles. Many of
those who have not yet left are already producing products for other
machines, alongside their ST products.
On the other hand, we can expect new people to fill some of those
gaps. The gap left by Tom Hudson (Degas, CAD-3D) will soon be filled
by Lexicor Software. Lexicor will expand the graphics capabilities of
the ST line well beyond Tom's efforts. Alan Page and Joe Chiazzese have
left Flash! behind, but we have Strata Software's STalker and STeno
expanding that envelope. Matt Singer has walked away from his Forem
BBS for the ST, but T2 Ltd. has given the BBS world a steroid injection
with the new BBS Express. This is a progression that will continue for
some time, even if Atari goes completely away.
As users, we have to keep our situation in perspective. Long
term, we have to expect that the ST is never going to be the Holy
Grail. We will always have friends wondering why we own this machine,
instead of a PC or a Mac (none of our friends own filthy Amigas, of
course).
But does the machine do what we need it to do? Can it handle our
text processing/DTP/spreadsheet needs? Can it entertain us, flashing
and bleeping and blooping all day? Of course it can. Only a very very
few people need 10 MIPS performance, or 256,000 colors onscreen, or
1.44 meg of storage on a floppy, or even 8 megs of RAM. The rest of us
can survive very nicely on a mundane 1040ST.
The point of all this? We can and should sympathize with the
plight of the ST developer, but our ST machines will remain useful and
usable for many years to come, regardless of who remains in our group
of leading developers. And regardless of what dopey business decisions
are made in Sunnyvale.
Jim Ness
---===---
Letter 2
RE: COMDEX
From: BIBLINSKI
_After_ I spent hours driving the 1900 miles back to my home, thinking
about what Atari's dismal (to those of us who have a clue what's going on)
appearance at Comdex meant. _After_ I had hit bottom in my attitude tow-
ards Atari Corp. No, I am well aware what a disaster Comdex was, from the
viewpoint of a US Atari owner. I can't depend of them for anything, and
nothing I do seems to affect that. But I can depend on some of the devel-
opers, and I can do something to affect that.
The developers will leave when they can't make money. Granted that
Atari's selling a few million machines would significantly help the de-
velopers make money, but I can't effect that, so I have to do what I can
to help them make money. That means getting out my checkbook, and buying
something I can use, or paying a shareware fee for something I do use.
Call it grassroots support, if you will. If 4000 ST owners (less than 10%
of the US market) spent $30 on a piece of Codehead software, that $120,000
would affect whether or not they would continue to develop for the ST. I
don't expect everybody to throw a couple hundred More? dollars out on
software or hardware, but some of us who have been putting off those
purchases, waiting for who-knows-what, certainly could. Screw Atari,
let's support the developers!
Gordie
---===---
Letter 3
From: DOUBLE-CLICK Michael B. Vederman
To: ST-REPORT -> ST.REPORT R.F. Mariano
Sub: Your inaccuracies
Dear Ralph -
We at Double Click Software deeply protest your statement of fact in the
last issue of ST Report that Double Click Software was moving on to ano-
ther computer. This is completely inaccurate and has no basis of fact.
The fact is that we have never publically stated that we are leaving the
Atari market or are expanding in any way.
Your issuance of information as a statement of fact, without consulting us
is extremely disconcerting. Your statement has already had an influence on
our users and business. Users are calling and writing e-mail wondering if
they are going to be left our in the cold when we 'move on'.
The fact is this:
We have absolutely no plans to abandon the Atari market.
We are diligently working on updates to our existing software, as well as
developing new software for both the ST and TT.
We have _absolutely_ no programs in development on any other computer
system. Our primary focus and attention is completely on the Atari mar-
ket.
Now, it is not unreasonable to say that all of the Double Click Software
programmers have experience in other machines and operating systems, and
that some even currently program in those environments in their full-time
jobs.
However, to blatantly state that we are moving out of the Atari computer
arena is a complete, unadulterated non-fact. You would have been well
served to consult us before publishing such unsupported claims.
We therefore request that you place a complete and undisputable retraction
of your comments in the next issue of ST Report. We also request that you
include this letter so our exact thoughts may be accurately represented.
Double Click Software
Note:
STReport does apologize to the folks at Double Click Software, there
indeed was an honest mistake in last week's issue that may have led some
readers to think that Double Click was leaving the Atari US market. That
is NOT the case, Micheal Vederman of Double Click has assured us that
their support for the ST market will remain in place.
---==---
Letter 4
RE:The Comdex Mystery?!
From: DPJ
I've read all of the reports that came out of Comdex while the show
was going on. I've read the Comdex reports in ST Report and Z-Net Online
magazines. I've seen various messages here and on GEnie. I just
finished reading this week's installment of ST Report.
My reasoning behind the message header I used is "what is going on?"
What the bejeezus is Atari doing - anything? Is the information I've been
reading for real? The "Doll House" analogy in ST Report was beautiful,
albeit disheartening. I can actually visualize these things happening!
al! The plight of the dealers is real! The plight of the userbase is
real! Is Atari real anymore? Was Comdex a failure this year?
I'd like to hear some firsthand accounts from any of the developers
here that attended Comdex. What is your reaction? I've always considered
myself an optimist, but I'm having more than a few doubts at the moment.
I have no intention of abandoning my STs - I really enjoy them TOO much to
do that. I have no interest in other platforms - Atari is what I want.
-Dana
____________________________________________________________
> STReport CONFIDENTIAL? "BLOCKBUSTER ATARI NEWS FIRST!"
=====================
- Livermore, CA GoGo->ST GOES SHAREWARE!!
-------------
GoGo->ST is a file executor and work session log utility that replaces
the ST desktop for 90% of the average users time. GoGo->ST was designed
from the ground up to be user friendly, and it has become an inexpendible
part of the ST for those who use it.
Macrosoft Shareware is owned by Mark Cawthon. Mark also wrote GoGo>ST,
and has continued to develop the product over the past two years. Origina-
lly sold commercially by MaxWell CPU, MaxWell has relinquished all rights
to GoGo for reasons unrelated to the product and Macrosoft Shareware was
created to continue distribution of the product now as shareware.
Currently the suggested contribution is just $5.00, and about 300
downloads have taken place on GEnie alone in the past month since the
first release was made to the public. At present, 11/24/90, the most
recent version of GoGo->ST is V.21.
- Sunnyvale, CA THOSE PESKY TOS ERRORS REVEALED
-------------
========================================================================
EVERYTHING YOU NEVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TOS ERROR NUMBERS
========================================================================
The GEM function which displays "TOS Error #..." does not display in the
alert box the actual error value returned by GEMDOS or BIOS. Those return
values are negative numbers (e.g. GEMDOS error -66 is "Invalid program
load format"). Negative GEMDOS error returns are translated to MS-DOS
error numbers for the form_error() alert box you see. BIOS errors result
in a "Critical Error" alert, which gives you a chance to retry the disk
access that caused the error.
GEMDOS MS-DOS
Error description error error Alert text (TOS 1.4 and later)
------------------------- ------ ------ ------------------------------
Invalid function # -32 1 TOS Error #1.
File not found -33 2 This application cannot
Path not found -34 3 find the folder or file
No more files -49 18 you just tried to access.
Too many open files -35 4 This application does not
have room to open another
document. To make room,
close any document that
you do not need.
Access denied -36 5 An item with this name
already exists in the
directory, or this item
is set to Read Only status.
Invalid handle -37 6 TOS Error #6.
Insufficient memory -39 8 There is not enough memory
Invalid memory block addr. -40 9 in your computer for the
application you just tried
to run.
Invalid drive -46 15 The drive you specified
does not exist.
Not same drive (on rename) -48 17 TOS Error #17.
Seek out of range -64 n/a TOS Error #33.
Internal error -65 n/a TOS Error #34.
Invalid prg load format -66 n/a (the infamous) TOS Error #35.
Setblock failed -67 n/a TOS Error #36.
Note that some MS-DOS error codes do not have equivalent GEMDOS errors,
and some GEMDOS error codes do not exist in MS-DOS.
TOS Error #35, probably the most common error alert that is not self
explanatory, happens when a program you are trying to run has somehow been
corrupted. What it means is that TOS can not find some magic numbers it
expects to find either at the beginning or at the end of the program file.
This error is usually attributable to operator error (as in trying to
execute an archive or text file as a program), or to bit rot.
Here are the BIOS "Critical" errors, and the alert text you see when they
happen:
Error description TOS error Alert text (TOS 1.4 and later)
-------------------------- --------- ------------------------------
Basic, fundamental error -1 Your output device is not
No paper -9 receiving data.
Unknown device -15
Drive not ready -2 Drive X: is not responding
Unknown command -3 Please check the disk drive,
Bad request (invalid length) -5 or insert a disk.
Seek error -6
CRC error -4 Data on the disk in drive
Unknown medium -7 X: may be damaged.
Sector not found -8
Write fault -10
Read fault -11
General failure -12
Bad sectors on format -16
Write protect -13 The disk in drive X: is
physically write-protected.
Media change -14 The application cannot read
data on the disk in drive X:.
Insert other disk -17 Please insert disk X
into drive A:.
"To err is human, but to really screw things up, you need a computer."
- anon.
- Larkspur, CA WORDFLAIR II SPECIAL OFFER!!
------------
Goldleaf Publishing, Inc. cordially invites users of the following
word processing programs to switch to Wordflair II to attain a new level
of document processing power:
1st Word Plus (GST) - Microsoft Write
Word-Up (Neocept) - Word Writer St (TimeWorks)
Now through February 15, 1991 only, users of any of these programs may
order Wordflair II direct from Goldleaf Publishing, Inc. for half price.
In order to qualify for this special offer, users must send their original
disk(s) and a check or money order in the amount of $75 to Goldleaf
Publishing, Inc. at 700 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, CA 94939.
For more details, contact us at 415/461-4552.
Wordflair II will ship on or before January 2, 1991.
- Sunnyvale, CA ATARI HAS STRONG INVENTORY!
-------------
According to our sources, Atari added the following to their Christmas
(shippable) inventory:
Stacy (4mb) ~ Mega 2 Computers ~ SC1435 Color Stereo Monitors
1040STe Computers ~ SM124 Mono Monitors
These have been LARGE quantity additions to the existing goods in the
Atari warehouse, also, according to our source, sales have been "brisk"
and are expected to become even more so as we get closer to the holidays.
This all adds up to a positive first quarter for Atari.
______________________________________________________________
> Hard Disks STR InfoFile Affordable Mass Storage....
=======================
NEW LOW PRICES! & MORE MODELS!!
===============================
HOLIDAY SPECIALS!
** EFFECTIVE -> 11/19/90 **
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Est. 1985
_________________________________________
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FAX: 904-783-3319 12 PM - 6 AM EDT
_________________________________________
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_____________________________________
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Model Description Autopark Price
==================================================
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SGN1096 85Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 649.00
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SGN4077 230Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 1669.00
==================================================
WE HAVE A COMPLETE LINE OF 3.5 LOW PROFILE HARD DRIVES
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USE IN MEGA ST COMPUTERS AND RELATED CONFIGURATIONS.
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- SYQUEST 44 MB DRIVE - ICD ST ADVANTAGE PLUS H/A
- ICD Utility Software - 3' DMA Cable
- Fan & Clock - Multi-Unit Power Supply
(1) 44 MB Syquest Cart.
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--->> SPECIAL NOW ONLY __$719.00__ <<---
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* SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE AND HARD DRIVE COMBINATIONS *
- Syquest 44 Model [555] and the following hard drives -
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65mb SQG09 $1109.00 85mb SQG96 $1119.00
LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS
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Listed above are a sampling of the systems available.
Prices also reflect various cabinet/power supply configurations
(over sixty configurations are available, flexibility is unlimited)
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* SLM 804 Replacement Toner Cartridge Kits $46.95 *
Replacement Drums; CALL
Keyboard Custom Cables Call for Info
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-* 12 month FULL Guarantee *-
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Personal and Company Checks are accepted.
ORDER YOUR NEW UNIT TODAY!
CALL: 1-800-562-4037 -=**=- CALL: 1-904-783-3319
Customer Orders ONLY Customer Service
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____________________________________________________________
> A "Quotable Quote"?
=================
"GOOD THINGS ALWAYS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT"
..anonymous
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport Online Magazine
Available through more than 10,000 Private BBS systems WorldWide!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-----------------------------------------
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