Z*Net: 05-Jan-91 #9101
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 01/17/91-08:43:57 PM Z
From: aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: Z*Net: 05-Jan-91 #9101
Date: Thu Jan 17 20:43:57 1991
==(((((((((( == Z*NET INTERNATIONAL ATARI ONLINE MAGAZINE
=========(( === -----------------------------------------
=======(( ===== January 5, 1991 Issue #91-01
=====(( ======= -----------------------------------------
==(((((((((( == Copyright (c)1991, Rovac Industries, Inc.
PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Ron Kovacs SENIOR EDITOR: John Nagy
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Jon Clarke, Terry Schrieber, Mike Schuetz
*----CONTENTS----*
EDITORS DESK.........................................Ron Kovacs
Z*NET NEWSWIRE.................................................
ATARI COMPUTER DEMO CONTEST....................................
REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPTS............................Donald Thomas
GRAMSLAM GRAMMER..................................Press Release
KIDS-91 PROJECT................................................
PORTFOLIO PD SHELF...................................Ron Kovacs
ST MEMORY UPGRADES................................Press Release
PUBLIC DOMAIN UPDATE..............................Keith Macnutt
GOODS AND SERVICE TAX HITS CANADA...............Terry Schreiber
EDITORS DESK
============
by Ron Kovacs
Welcome to 1991!
The issue number has changed to a new format to make it easier to locate
past edition of Z*Net. Simply, we have used the year and week in the
filename. Example: 9101 (1991 - Issue #1 of year or Week #1 of year)
ZNET9101 is this issue number.
Our staff is almost ready to return to work and we look forward to a
full return by next week. Most of us are getting settled into new
routines with our real paying jobs and relocations made during the
last 2-3 weeks.
We have started a new conference in the FNET system to support the
KIDS-91 Project and encourage everyone to join and participate. The
conference code is 20593 with the lead node 593. Please send email to
Node 593 if you are interested in joining.
I want to also thank the 41 systems carrying the Z*Net Online Conference
at the present time. I greatly appreciate the support and will list
all the boards and numbers in the next edition. If you are interested
in joining this conference, the code is 20448 and the lead node is 593.
We are sending Z*Net issues out every Saturday night through the
conference. Comments and discussions about Z*Net and Atari are a
regular feature along with assistance to those requesting it with Atari
products and software.
May 1991 be the best year for Atari and it's supporters.
Z*NET NEWSWIRE
==============
ATARI 1991 UN-OFFICIAL
Atari stock is down again at the close of 1990 sitting at 1 3/4. Sales
for Atari's fourth quarter were excellent according to un-official
sources. The TT is now selling in Canada and Europe and should be in
dealers hands this month. The MEGA STe looks to be sold in only in
North/South America. The Europeans have the older Mega to get rid of
first. Lastly, the 16-bit 16Mhz Atari Home Game System is expected by
the second or third quarter of 1991 and will have an adaptor to play the
Lynx games.
CROUCH LEAVES ATARI
Bill Crouch's last day at Atari was Friday January 4, 1991. There has
been no official response from Atari on his departure, but low fourth
quarter "numbers" may have played a part in his leaving.
DEALERS TO GET TT
Atari dealers WILL be able to get the TT. They have to give ATARI a
letter stating that they have business and industrial clients. Also,
it is expected that the STacy will be sold through these dealers in the
same manner.
ATARI CANADA ANNOUNCES 1 YEAR WARRANTY
Jeff Earl, General Manager of Atari Canada announced this week a full
one year warranty on all computer product from the 520ST on up.
Previously the 520 & 1040 series were covered for 90 days only. This
brings Atari in line with the industry norm and still holds the "Power
Without The Price" stature.
NEW ATARI PRODUCT COMING
Atari Canada has announced it will ad a new computer to it's 68000/030
series. Details on the new system are being withheld for it's premier
at the Pacific Rim Computer and Communications Show in Vancouver B.C.
next week. (we did find out it will be released in a TT style case)
NEW HANDHELD COLOR VIDEO GAME
Sega announced this week they will unveil Game Gear, the latest in
handheld portable video games, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las
Vegas, Jan. 10-13. Game Gear has a back-lit screen which enables
players to play in all lighting situations. Other options include a
television tuner, which transforms the video game system into a portable
color television, and a car cigarette lighter adaptor and rechargable
battery pack. The new color system sold more than 40,000 units in Japan
after just two days of availability.
MATSUSHITA ACQUIRES MCA
Matsushita announced late this week that it has completed its
acquisition of MCA Inc. The merger, which was effective January 4th,
was the second step in a two-step acquisition. The first step, a cash
tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock of MCA at $66
per share, was completed on Dec. 29, 1990.
HAYES/PROMETHEUS REACH SETTLEMENT
Hayes announced that an amicable out-of-court settlement of the patent
litigation between Hayes and Prometheus Products Inc. has been reached.
The settlement resolves all claims filed by Hayes against Prometheus.
As part of the settlement, Prometheus has consented to a judgment that
the Modem with Improved Escape Sequence patent issued to Hayes in 1985
(Heatherington U.S. Patent No. 4,549,302) is valid and has been
infringed by the manufacturer and sale of their products. Prometheus
has licensed the patent and is paying license fees to Hayes in
connection with the execution of the license agreement.
HOUSEHOLD MARKETPLACE
Lotus Development Corp. is planning on releasing a CD-ROM called
"HOUSEHOLD MARKETPLACE". This CD-ROM claims to contain data of about
120 million people in the US. It lists income profiles, spending habits
and marital status among other things. This is believed to be an
infringement of an individual's privacy and rights. Lotus says that
this CD-ROM will only be sold to "legitimate businesses". Now, if you
don't want mail-order and other telemarketing outfits to bug you, you'll
have to write in to Lotus to explicitly exclude you from their list.
You can write to: Lotus Development Corp., Attn: Market Name Referral
Service, 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02142. The Wall Street
Journal had run an article in their November 13th's issue (on page B1)
headlined as: "Lotus - New Program Spurs Fears Privacy Could Be
Undermined". -- Harish Pillay harish@itivax.bitnet
ATARI COMPUTER DEMO CONTEST
=========================== Press Release
As Atari Computer Corp. gets into full swing for 1991, dealers are
requesting as many demonstration programs as possible to "show off" the
abilities of our hardware. We are looking for demos that feature DMA
sound, digitized speech, and advanced color graphics that will make
people want to buy the STe/MegaSTe/TT series of computers.
Submitted demos might include:
o Demos that take advantage of the expanded STe/TT color palette.
o Demos that show off the abilities of existing presentation graphics
packages such as the Cyber Series, Deluxe Paint, and others.
o Demos along the lines of Cool STe and Tony Barker's.
o Interactive demos -- self running demos that a shopper in a store
can get involved with.
All submitted demos will become property of Atari Corporation, with all
rights reserved and may be freely distributed to our dealers and users.
Judging will be done by Atari staff in Sunnyvale and all decisons made
by the judges will be considered final and not reviewable by any other
person or agency. Employees (and their families) of Atari Corporation,
its advertising agencies, and its subsidiaries are ineligible.
One winner and two runner-ups will be selected from the files either
uploaded to our Email address on GEnie (ATARIDEV), CompuServe (70007,
1072), or mailed directly to our offices at:
Atari Corporation
1196 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Attention: Bill Rehbock
Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than March 26, 1991 and
received by us in-house by April 5, 1991 to qualify for entry. The
contest prizes are listed below.
Prizes:
1st Prize..........32MHz TT030/8-50
1st runner-up......16MHz MegaSTe/4-50
2nd runner-up......Lynx & 2 additional games
Feel free to copy this announcement as long as it is reproduced in its
entirety.
REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPTS
====================== PART 36 - "CALLING ALL PROFESSIONALS"
by Donald A. Thomas, Jr.
(c)1991, ARTISAN SOFTWARE
(This is PART 36 of a series of articles published and distributed by
Artisan Software. Please feel free to copy and distribute this article
as you please provided you include all unedited text. Also feel free to
upload to boards and communication services. These articles are
designed to entice you to take constructive action. Write to involved
parties and tell them how YOU feel about the subject.)
Jan Dean & Associates, in Fort Worth, Texas, are business seminar
specialists. Rick Dean, Marketing Director for the firm, contacted
Artisan Software having seen the article in the December issue of START
magazine. Rick explained that their organization has provided their
audience with in-depth perspectives of how Macs and IBMs are used in
business environments. Most recently, they discovered the power and
value of Atari 16-bit machines and are excited about the possibility of
presenting the Atari alternative in their seminars.
Atari Computer Corporation has made arrangements to provide Jan Dean &
Associates some equipment and several key software companies are
supplying samples of their packages. Rick contacted Artisan Software
for testimonials from persons who use Atari computers in business
settings. The resulting list has been sent to Rick's attention.
This notice is an appeal for others to send any information they may
have to Rick for his project. He needs the name, address and phone
number of contacts throughout the U.S. who can explain how they use
Atari computers professionally. If you or someone you know fits this
catagory, please jot a note to:
Mr. Rick Dean
c/o DEAN GROUP TEXAS
P.O. Box 11722
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
To order Artisan Software's updated new paperback edition of The
REVOLUTION HANDBOOK, send $14.95 (plus $1.50 shipping and handling) to:
ARTISAN SOFTWARE, PO Box 849, Manteca, California 95336. The 1989 disk-
based version is available through select Atari dealers including
Megabyte Computers (Hurst, TX), Computer Studio (Asheville, NC) and in
the December issue of STart magazine.
GRAMSLAM GRAMMER
================ Press Release
Release Date: 1 January 1991
Phil Comeau Software announces the release of Version 3 of the GramSlam
Grammar and Style Checker -- the first grammar, writing style, and
readability analyzer for the Atari ST.
GramSlam checks documents for over 1200 common grammar and writing-style
problems. GramSlam's readability statistics help the user tailor
writing to a particular audience. GramSlam can improve the quality of
any written work -- memos, letters, stories, resumes, manuals, and
business and school reports.
Version 3 of GramSlam offers many significant improvements over the
previous version, including checks for: doubled words; British vs.
American spelling; capitalization problems; unclosed parentheses and
quotation marks; sentences ending with prepositions; incorrect form and
use of "i.e." and "e.g."; punctuation placed incorrectly inside or
outside quotation marks; inappropriate use of contractions.
Other features added to Version 3: problem reporting can be limited to
problems exceeding a specified severity; preference for British or
American spelling rules can be selected; works more consistently with
different word-processor formats; GRAMSLAM.PRG can be renamed
GRAMSLAM.ACC to use as a desk accessory; problem context in problem
reports has been expanded to four lines; problem phrase file has been
compressed; user's manual has been completely rewritten.
Version 3 of GramSlam is priced at $39.95 (+ $3.00 S/H). Customers who
purchased GramSlam prior to 31 December 1990 can upgrade to Version 3
for $10.00 (+ $3.00 S/H) before 1 June 1991.
For further information, contact:
Phil Comeau Software
43 Rueter St.
Nepean, Ontario
Canada K2J 3Z9
(613) 825-6271
KIDS-91 PROJECT
===============
The KIDS-91 Newsletter
A Global Dialog for Children 10-15 Years
****************************************
Issue number 5, December 15 1990
IN THIS ISSUE
-------------
1. The KIDS-91 project
2. The Newsletter
3. Progress report
4. Some new responses
5. Documents and Files
6. If you don't have a modem
7. Invitation to Norway in May
8. For more information about KIDS-91.
1. KIDS-91
----------
The objective of KIDS-91 is to get as many 10 to 15-year-old children
as possible involved in a GLOBAL dialog continuing until May 12, 1991.
We want their responses to these questions:
1) Who am I?
2) What do I want to be when I grow up?
3) How do I want the world to be better when I grow up?
4) What can I do now to make this happen?
We would also like them to illustrate their future vision, for example
in a drawing, a video tape, or something else.
On May 12, 1991, the children will be invited to "chat" with each other
in a global electronic dialog. Exhibitions of selected parts of the
responses will then be sent back to the children of the world to see and
enjoy.
2. THE NEWSLETTER
-----------------
The KIDS-91 newsletter is an information bulletin for participants,
sponsors, teachers, mediators, promoters, and others.
Suggestions and contributions to the next issue are welcome. We hope
to port it within 45 days or so. Write the Editor to receive future
issues of the newsletter.
Editor/Project director: Odd de Presno
Mail address: Saltrod, Norway (Europe).
Telefax: +47 41 27111
Online addresses:
Internet: opresno@coma.uio.no
UUCP/EUnet: uunet!coma.uio.no!opresno
S.H.S. BBS: SYSOP (Phone: +47 41 31378)
3. PROGRESS REPORT
------------------
Our two Internet/BITNET discussion lists, KIDS-91 and KIDCAFE, have
quickly become key meeting places for people involved in the KIDS-91
project.
To join KIDS-91 send the command SUB KIDS-91 Your name to
LISTSERV@vm1.NoDak.EDU. (For example: SUB KIDS-91 Ole Olsen.) The
command should be in the BODY of the text.
The Danish Ministry of Education's "Skolernes DataBase Service" (more
than 250 schools connected) has parallel KIDS-91 and KIDCAFE conferences
in Denmark. Messages are fed from the Internet/BITNET discussion lists.
Messages entered by Danish participants are ported to the global
discussion lists.
Parallel conferences are also in place on other networks. For example,
on:
* GeoNet, on a bulletin board called "GD-KIDS-91". Internet address:
GD-KIDS-91@TLXF.GEOMAIL.ORG.
* SciNet, Toronto. All messages from the lists are exchanged with the
KIDS91 and KIDCAFE conferences respectively. Our "call for help" has
been posted in ENET.SYSOP (the European FidoNet System Operator's
conference) and FN.SYSOP (world-wide FidoNet sysop's conference), on
BOOKMAIL in Frankfurt am Main (Germany), in the "kids.91" conference
on IGC/US, in the misc.kids newsgroup on the National Centre for
Software Technology in Bombay (India), as well as other places.
"I am right away going to post the great idea of KIDS-91 on our Notice
Boards and to all Indian Sites. You are very likely to get a lot of
responses from interior India ....." --Jagdeep Antani.
And then:
".. I have been to one village in the state of Maharashtra (India). I
collected responses of about fifty students from that place. ... I
will keep on typing the responses. All are from students of rural
background. They are not aware of environmental degradation, drugs and
other things. The most touching where the responses about what they
wanted to be. There are many interesting responses..."
--Pradeep Waychal.
The invitation to participate has been mailed out to 54 schools in
Moscow! We are spreading out in Brazil, Argentina (through el Programa
Nacional de Comunicacion e Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de la
Secretaria de Estado de Ciencia y Tecnologie, 250 nodes), and Germany.
The first batch of responses came in from the Paterson School System in
NJ, USA, a network of 25 7th grade classes. Then there's the Americans
living in Germany, WCU MicroNet (a North Carolina, USA, network with
more than 50 subscribing schools), the Big Sky Telegraph (Dillon,
Montana), TOGL (Telecommunications Opportunities for Gifted Learners) in
Florida, the schools in Sacramento, the Seabury Hall High School in
Maui, Hawaii, and many more.
In the city of Santa Monica (USA), they decided that all Santa Monica/
Malibu schools with students in the appropriate age range will be
brought online the PEN system to participate in KIDS-91. Phone lines
will go in. Modems will be provided. Five hundred KIDS-91 flyers will
be distributed to teachers and others. Wow!
Wait, there's more: they are developing a multi-national real-time
continuous-action full-color satellite video linkup -- a "Hole in Space"
-- for the climactic day of KIDS-91, May 12, 1991.
Others are eager to exploit amateur packet radio in connection with the
project. Lynn Richardson put news about KIDS-91 up on his radio
bulletin board (email address on CompuServe: 73417,437), and is planning
to distribute it nationwide.
Initially, we thought that teachers and schools were our only target
group. Wrong! There's also a lot of interest in groups working with
preventive care as illustrated by Mr. Volker Ulle at Langenhagener
Verein fuer Sozialarbeit e.V. in Germany, and the Department of
Preventive and Adolescent Health Care at the Medical Faculty, Charles
University, Prague, who is running a major KIDS-91 campaign in
Czechoslovakia.
Czechoslovakia came online after having read about KIDS-91 in the Online
Journal of Distance Education (Alaska, USA). This magazine goes to
about 2000 people in 40 countries.
We also have contacts in other countries in Eastern Europe. Via FidoNet
we correspond with Daniel Kalchev of Sofia, Bulgaria ("I was told, some
months ago, that it's not possible to use the phone lines for data
transfer - well, 'theories' may not be true sometimes", he wrote.) We
also have several contacts in Poland Via modem from Riga, Latvia, we
learned that the children's newspaper "LaBA" featured a story about
KIDS-91 in their November 9th issue, and that responses are now being
received. We expect a batch to arrive by courier later this month.
FidoNet is also our gateway to Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, and
to a helper in Brazil.
John Carson of the Northern Territory University, Darwin, Australia,
wants to make KIDS-91 a project for his graduate diploma in Educational
Computing.
Winding down, we have friends in CHATBACK, a network for children with
special needs in the British Isles. And then there is Peter Flynn of
Ireland (of SCHOOL-L discussion list fame), and a host of others that
we should have mentioned.
4. SOME NEW RESPONSES
---------------------
So far, we have received responses from:
* Fenwick in Ontario, Newfoundland, Kelowna B.C. and Lismore (Canada),
* Oslo, Saltrod and Valderoy (Norway),
* Seattle, Mt. Vernon in New York, Seabury Hall School on Maui, Hawaii
and Paterson in NJ (USA),
* Madrid (Spain),
* Rio de Janeiro and Mercs in Curitiba (Brazil),
* the English Grammar School in Riga (Latvia),
* Byron Bay, O'Connor Catholic High School in Armidale, Kentucky, and
Uralla N.S.W. (Australia),
* London (UK),
* Moscow, USSR,
* Asahi-cyo elementary school in Tokyo (Japan),
* Herttoniemi School in Helsinki (Finland)
* Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Here are a few examples from our new participating countries:
>From Moscow (USSR):
1. My name is Yulia Snegiryova, I'm 12. I love my country. My country
is very beautiful. Only beeing friends we can preserve beauty and
nature.
2. It's difficult for me to say, what I'm going to be, but I enjoy
English and I want to study foreign languages. I would like to have an
interesting job and to meet with people of different countries.
3. I want me and everybody to live in peace on our planet. I want
people to understand each other and to love animals.
4. Maybe I can't do much, especially now, but I want to study well, to
learn everything about our world, it's history, countries and people.
>From Buenos Aires, Argentina:
1. My name is Maria Estefania Marini, and I am 10 years old. I am
argentine. I go to 5th form of school. I like playing voley and
tennis. I have 10 dogs, 10 canary birds and a turtle. My sister has a
horse too.
2. When I grow up I will be a stewardess because I like flying and
because my mother has been one of them. I like being a lawyer too,
because I want to protect people who need it.
3. I would like a world without poverty and without thieves.
4. I can call the police when I see a thief and I can give my savings
to the poor people. I think this is all I can do. I wish that when I
grow up I would make too much.
>From Tokyo, Japan:
1. My name is Yuusuke Matsuo. I am a boy. I am 11 years old. My
hobby is playing with miniture trains. I am not good at sport.
2. I would like to be a cook at "Blue Train", especially nicknamed "the
Great Dipper" (bullet train).
3/4. I will join a group which is very active in environmental
movement. I have already decided not to use spray things. I should do
recycling as much as possible. We should reuse the heat from factories
to make the water at home hot.
>From Helsinki, Finland:
1. I am Aino Telaranta and I'm almost 14 years. I play the piano. I'm
concerned about pollution and the Iraqi situation. I like music: pop,
rap, hip hop, heavy (not hard) and so on. My sister and I have a
gerbil.
2. I really don't know, but I have a little bit thought of becoming a
pediatrician or a doctor. And why? I don't know that either.
3. I want the earth, water and other nature to be clean, there should
be no wars and it should no matter how somebody looks or thinks. I+d
like the world to have no famine and no violence. No racial
descrimination, no dictators, people shouldn+t destroy nature, and
people are equal. People should have work.
4. I must save the world as much as I can. I should never tease
anybody or be a racist and I should never kick or hit anybody. I can
give money to the Red Cross and so on.
5. DOCUMENTS AND FILES
----------------------
These following files are now available by email from the archives of
the KIDS-91 discussion list.
The "Letter to Teachers" and Newsletter #4 have been translated into
Spanish. File names: TEACHR-S and NEWS-4S.
The "Action Guide" (filename: ACTIONGD) is a list of 17 suggested
KIDS-91 classroom activities.
The "Overall Proposal for Support" is a general proposal for KIDS-91
sponsorship. It may be used as an appendix to your own applications for
support of local KIDS-91 activities. (Filename: SPONSORA.)
The children's responses are stored in files with names like RESP1190
and RESP1290.
For information about how to download these files, send a request to the
editor using the email address above.
6. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A MODEM
----------------------------
Teachers without access to communications equipment can get the
responses sent to them on computer diskette. Here's how: Send a letter
with a preaddressed return envelope and a formatted DOS diskette (360KB
5.25" MS-DOS/XT, or 720KB/1.4 MB 3.5" DOS). Enclose a check for US$
10.00 payable to KIDS-91 (plus any amount that you would like to donate
to the project). Send this to:
KIDS-91
c/o Odd de Presno
4815 Saltrod
Norway (Europe)
He will send you as many received responses as possible (up to the
capacity of your disk). If you also want some of the other files,
please indicate that in your letter.
Those who want files sent to them in Macintosh format can send to SciNet
using the address below.
7. INVITATION TO NORWAY
-----------------------
On Sunday May 12, 1991, we invite the children of the world to
participate in a KIDS-91 Celebration with youth in other countries via
a variety of technologies. And all of you are invited to celebrate the
occasion with us in the small town Arendal in southern Norway (your
editor's home town).
The KIDS-91 Celebration will be integrated in a "Nordic Children's
Cultural Week" in Arendal.
A communication centre will be set up. All children present will be
given a chance to "chat" electronically, and the dialog will be
displayed on large screens for everybody to see and enjoy.
For more information, send an electronic message to the editor, or call
Anne-Tove Vestfossen of the Nordic Children's Cultural Week at +47 41
31204.
8. FOR INFORMATION
------------------
about KIDS-91, or if you want to help out or participate, contact the
editor, or one of the following persons:
Nancy Stefanik: MetaNet=stefanik, PeaceNet=nstefanik,
AppleLink=x0447, TCN=tcn145
Jonn Ord/SciNet: jonno@scinet.UUCP
You can also write to
KIDS-91, c/o SciNet, 131 Bloor Street West, Suite 200,
Box 326, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R8, Canada
January 3, 1991 - Z*Net Update
We have started an FNET conference to support this project and sysops
interested in joining should send a request to Node 593 for addition
to the conference. Conference code is: 20593. Lead Node is 593.
PORTFOLIO PD SHELF
==================
Compiled by Ron Kovacs
The following list was compiled from CompuServe's APORTFOLIO Forum and
the GEnie Portfolio Roundtable. This is a compilation of new Portfolio
files recently uploaded to these services. Some were tested locally and
comments added to the descriptions already available.
SNATCH.ZIP 17116
Here is a Terminate and Stay Resident Utility that you can run with your
favorite painting program on your PC and create PGF files suitable for
veiwing on your Portfolio. Once the file is created, transfer it to
your Portfolio and view it with PGSHOW.
PGS110.ZIP 7168
PGSHOW 1.10 - The FULL-FEATURED Portfolio Graphic File Viewer. This new
version of PGSHOW supports a new compressed picture format. The same 6
graphics (this time in PGC format) are included. A tool for converting
PGF files to PGC format will be available soon. A new version of
PGEDIT will also be available. (c)1990 Software Vineyard All Rights
Reserved - by Don Messerli
AREACD.BAS 2697
Enter the area code and see the state abreviation --or-- enter the state
abreviation and see all the area codes for that state. This file was
called areacd.100 in the M100 forum on CompuServe. The author
originally ported it to compile under Power BASIC, but now it is
doctored to work on PBASIC as well. Warning--there is no ON-ERROR-GOTO
in PBASIC so it will crash. Original program by Don Zeikel, Portfolio
port by John Feagans.
FTM11.EXE 39717
FTMenu 1.1 - Improved File Section! More Files! Better Spelling! All
the changes that have been requested have been implemented. Written by
BJ Gleason, Thin Air Labs.
PGF01.ZIP 9892
Selection of dithered and converted graphics files for the Portfolio in
the PGF format. You MUST have PGF.COM or PGSHOW.EXE to view these
files. The Syntax is PGSHOW MIME.PGF <enter> Enjoy..more on the way.
PGEDIT.ZIP 70784
PGEDIT 1.00 - The Portfolio Graphic Editor. This program lets you
create, modify, and edit PGF files for use with PGSHOW, PGF.COM, and
PBASIC 3.1. PGEDIT does not run on the Portfolio. It requires a
desktop PC with 512K of RAM (360K free), VGA card, and Microsoft
compatible mouse. All of the contents of PGSHO101.ZIP are also included
in this file by Don Messerli, (c)1990 Software Vineyard All Rights
Reserved
PGF.COM 63
Here is the smallest DOS command to display .PGF file - 63 bytes. The
syntax if PGF filename.PGF. You must include the entrire filename. The
picture is displayed and waits for a keypress. Written by BJ Gleason.
FS.EXE 2432
A flight simulator for the Portfolio! Needless to say, an executable of
this size makes certain compromises... but your imagination fills in the
blanks. You can simulate a color display if you have some colored
cellophane.
DREAM.PF 12704
This is a file that contains a proposed software and hardware
combination for the Portfolio that makes up Dave's Dream Portfolio.
This is a spinoff of Steve Gibson's article about Steve's Dream Machine.
This is meant to generate a discussion as to what is needed to make the
Portfolio a more useful computer.
FT4LPT.ARC 2464
A DEBUG script file and docs to hack FT.COM to use the second printer
port LPT2: To let one port be dedicated to talking to your little
friend.
PILOT.TXT 1996
Description of the FX-4 Flight Planner and FX-3 DUATS Communications
software. The FX-4 features a full U.S. NAVAID and airport database and
will generate detailed leg-by-leg trip plans in seconds. You may select
the route or let the FX-4 select the NAVAIDs along an optimal great
circle route. The FX-3 provides access to the FAA DUATS weather
briefing service and provides Weight & Balance, TAS, Rate, Fuel, and
Wind calculations.
QUICK.ZIP 7273
If you have Quicken on your home computer, get this program for your
Portfolio! This will let you keep track of your transactions on the
road, and then you can import the file directly into Quicken when you
get back to home base. Shareware. Uses Portfolio-only features.
PF11.ZIP 12244
Significant upgrade to PF10 - Move, Mark, Etc. Turbo Pascal Source
included. File manager for the Atari Portfolio similar to FM or DR/CO
from PCMAGNET. Small. Bug correction for hang when copying.
OTHELL.EXE 5716
Othello for the Portfolio... Written by BJ Gleason
FENCE.EXE 4741
Written by BJ Gleason. The game of Fences... hit the target by putting
up fences to bounce the ball...
PBAS30.ZIP 65693
PBASIC 3.0 - Strings. Faster. More Functions. Help File for Address
Book.
LMINE.EXE 6561
LandMine... Find all the bombs.
SPIN.EXE 4125
Arrange the numbers in order... not as easy as it seems...
REV.EXE 3800
The Game of reverse - swap a list of numbers until they are in order...
MASTMD.EXE 4225
MasterMind for the Portfolio. 4 digits, 10 gueses... try your skill.
DOSCMD.ADR 3505
A synopsis of DOS commands with syntax and examples of use. Includes
examples of * and ? wildcard use. It can be kept conveniently in the
the Atari Portfolio as an Address Book (.ADR) file. This allows quick
data-base-like access. An essential supplement to the PF/DOS "HELP"
command for infrequent users of MS/DOS.
PCLOK.ARC 4096
Update to PortClok and PortDiv to fix a problem that allowed multiple
copies to be installed into memory. PortClok also updated so that menus
better reflect the options available eliminating some confusion
regarding it's use. PortClok now Version 2.1, PortDiv now Version 2.2,
the ARC file also includes updated documentation.
HIGHAS.WKS 2267
A Portfolio worksheet with the high ASCII characters arranged for easy
perusal, and copy/paste if desired. Or, the ALT-key code can be noted
for later use.
BLACJACK.ZIP 11340
Blackjack game written specifically for the Portfolio, but also works on
a regular IBM PC machine.
PQUICK.ZIP 7560
This will allow you to easily input Quicken checkbook data onto the
Portfolio, which you can later import to Quicken on your desktop PC!
UNIFORTH.ARC 109620
UniFORTH. I haven't tried it but it's supposed to work. Use the
portfolio's editor.
SCI13.ZIP 104580
C on the Portfolio! Uploader put system files on ram card and ran C
from a 40k c: drive, since C is just a hair too bit for the 32K card.
You'll need ANSI.SYS and CONFIG.SYS on c: as well.
DEBUG.COM 17640
This is a version of debug that will run on any computer especially the
Portfolio.
SKETCH.ZIP 6300
Like Etch-a-Sketch, electronically. A fun program, with a cheap and
innovative shareware offer. This program is SHAREWARE. (c) 1990 David
E. Stewart.
PORTFOLI.ARC 153720
Here are the messages in their entirety taken from the ST BB where
Portfolio support was 1st given. This file has been archived.
ST MEMORY UPGRADES
================== Press Release
*Labor charges (parts not included):
520ST or 1040ST to 1, 2, 2.5, or 4 meg $42
MEGA ST to 4 meg, 520STfm to 1 meg $21
Blitter Installation $21
TOS 1.4 Installation $ 6
PC Ditto II or Accelerator Board Installation $36
1.44meg Floppy Drive modification $24
Repairs or STacy upgrades call
* - add $5 for return shipping for each box, so you save if you get it
all done at once and you mail it all in one box; if you want it insured
that's about $5 more, and if you want shipped at at faster rate that's
extra too.
Call, Erik Muldowney, at (904)-478-8290 weekdays, (904)-651-5776
weekends to make arrangements first.
Tired of trashing desk accessories and auto-folder programs because of
"out of memory" messages? Of sitting and waiting while the next level
of the dungeon loads from virtual memory? Is there a program you've
been drooling over but can't use?
Then let me expand your ST's mind! Who needs an expensive upgrade
board! They just take up room and screw up when you give them the least
little bump! My method solders the chips directly to the board, and I
can do this for any ST. Even the ones with the chips under the power
supply! The only parts I need are the chips, some jumper wire, and in
some cases some capacitors and resistors. I came up with this method of
upgrading the memory when I discovered that my 1040ST's DRAMs were under
the power supply, and I couldn't use Barry Orlando's method. When I was
done I realized that it would work on any ST, is not sensitive to
impacts, and you don't have to buy sockets.
DRAM chips have come down quite a bit, around $5.50 apiece for 70ns 1meg
x 1s. The prices seem to vary a little with time. I get mine from
Lifetime Memory Products, at (800)-233-6233, call them for current
prices, and tell them Erik Muldowney sent you. If you want your STacy
upgraded, you will need a different type of chip. To go from a STacy 1
to 2 or 4 meg you need 1meg x 4 ZIPs, SAMSUNG part # KM44C1000Z, and
you'll need four of them for 2meg, eight of them for 4meg. These
goodies are a bit more expensive, thank ATARI for that. If you want to
upgrade a STacy, don't order chips yet. Give me a call first.
Regardless of what type of computer you have or chips you are buying I
would advise you to get 100ns or faster. No problem, since you almost
can't find anything slower than 80ns.
If you want TOS1.4 or Blitter chips installed, you will either have to
send your machine to me first or open it up yourself. The reason is
that some ST's have 2-chip ROM sets and some have 8-chip sets, and some
have a spot for the Blitter and some don't. If yours doesn't have a
spot for a Blitter you'll have to get a daughter board, and the only
ones I'm familiar with are also processer accelerators too, which are
expensive. If you know what you need you might try Toad Computers at
(800)-448-8623. They have the TOS chips for $83 a set. If you want a
Blitter-and-socket, try Best Electronics at (408)-243-6950, they have
them for about $47.
As you can see I have added the 1.44meg floppy drive modification to my
list. This will require the purchase of a special Floppy Drive
Controller chip and board, as well as a drive mechanism. I will get
back to you on the source of these items (thanks to Paul Gittins for
that one).
What are my qualifications, you ask? Well, I have an A.S. in
Electronics technology and I'm working on a B.S. in Electrical
Engineering, and I have some Air Force tech school under my belt too.
Also, I have been an ST'er for over 2 years and have done many an
upgrade and repair in that time. And I've been doing this for about a
month with success.
One of my first customers asked for some guarantee that he wasn't
sending his ST into oblivion, never to see it again. I thought about it
and came up with this: if you request I'll send you two copies of a
signed letter describing our agreement (what I'm going to do to your
machine, what it will cost, how I'll replace it if I botch the job,
etc.), and if you like it you sign and send one copy back with your
machine. You can send it registered mail if you like, so I'll have to
sign a form to receive your machine at the post office, and you'll get
the form. Hopefully that should satisfy the paranoids out there (I
understand, I've heard horror stories too). Also on request I can give
you the names of satisfied customers, after getting their permission.
I have now been doing this a while and know better how long a job takes,
how much it costs to mail things, etc. The prices are based on about $6
per hour. Which isn't much more than working in a fast food joint, and
is a hell of a lot less than most electronics technicians charge. Also,
I've upgraded my STacy recently. Surface mount chips are a pain! So I
decided to switch to ZIPs and do some drilling. I've got access to some
really great equipment for that, so it will be a bit easier and neater.
As for repairs, I had not planned on originally doing them, there's no
guarantees, and I'm not "an authorized ATARI service center", but it
just sort of happened. Lastly, I have decided that I can no longer
order parts for customers before I receive the money for them. I don't
have the capital to be doing that all the time. Therefore you either
order the parts yourself and send them with the machine when they
arrive, or you send the machine and a check for the parts at the same
time. Both take the same amount of time because I get parts fast and
can be doing chip removal, trace cutting, and some jumpering while I
wait for them.
This text file may be distributed freely provided it is not altered.
PUBLIC DOMAIN UPDATE
====================
by Keith MacNutt
ON-Schedule v3.1
David Becker
Genie- D.Becker8
ON-Schedule is one of those programs you have always looked for but
could never seem to find, that is until now. This gem is one of the
best calendar programs I've ever come across, and I've looked at a lot
of them, hoping to one day find one that had even half the features this
program has.
ON-Schedule was written out of the need to create and track employee
shifts and hours over each week and month, with the flexibility to
simplify and speed the printing of shift schedules for up to 5 persons.
These same features that allow a small company to operate more
efficiently, also can be used by the average person to organize their
social calendar. Instead of shifts, they can enter appointments and
commitments, along with the time each took, and at the end of the month
find out within seconds, just how much time was devoted to each.
For Epson compatible printers the driver is the default at run time, and
if you own a non-epson printer you can enter the esc codes and use them.
The only codes the printer driver really needs are the condensed on and
off codes, which can be entered in a decimal format, and are saved with
the calendar. The user may also save the calendar in a ascii or degas
PI? format for latter printout. If the ascii file is used, then the
calendar is printed in the normal format, from left to right or if the
degas format is used, it will be printed at 90 degrees using the long
portion of the page. If using the degas picture file, the user is
presented with a choice of draft, medium LQ or high LQ formats for the
final printout. I've never tried the draft format, but I know that
using the other two will give a very nice output to the printer.
Most features can be accessed by either drop down menus or by control
characters, and makes for a very fast and flexible interface. For users
of NEODESK 3.0, saving the calendars in degas format allows you to bring
up the month at anytime by just double clicking on the file. This
feature alone makes life so much easier in keeping track of all the
birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions all at a glance.
If your looking for a calendar program, you owe it to yourself to try
out what I think is one of the best available.
GOODS AND SERVICE TAX HITS CANADA
=================================
by Terry Schrieber, Contributing Editor
The Goods and Services Tax was implemented on January 1,1991 and here
are my experiences of the first few days.
This tax was actually supposed to reduce the cost of manufactured
products to the consumer - I have yet to see this. At a certain
computer store last week the price of a box of Sony 3.5 disks remained
the same as did all the products on the floor but the difference being
that now they were subject to a 7% GST tax. This made them cheaper last
week.
A visit to the Safeway store to find that a prepared bar-b-que chicken
is subject to GST as well as potato salad but cooked ham, pastrami, or
basically any other prepared meats were not. Strange. Ice cream was
not subject to taxation while toothpaste was, bread was un-taxed while
donuts, cookies and muffins were.
Perhaps all the bugs are not quite out of the system as yet and we
should give it a chance but first impressions are showing that the
savings will not be passed on to the consumer and that a review of what
is subject to the tax should be done.
TX2 VIEWER
==========
From TX2VIEW.ARC
Editors Note: TX2 formatted text provides color graphics to regular
ascii files. A recent utility uploaded to GEnie allows you to format
Z*NET and ST-REPORT issues and read them with the viewer with color
fonts and text. The following is a capture of the text files provided
in the ARC file.
In this ARC file are the TX2_VIEW program, the documentation files (to
be read from the program), and an index file for GEnie Lamp #1.14.
This is a DEMO. Every 30 seconds or so, an alert box will come up
reminding you to register. Also, the program will automatically quit
after 4 minutes. (Registered users, you should have gotten the "key"
from me to unlock this program.)
Starting with this version, .FST files will not longer be used.
Instead, index (.IDX) files will contain the index. This only needs to
be present to use the indexing features; it is not needed for fast
loading.
Note that this version is not 100% compatible with the old one. Issue
#1.14 will not work perfectly; the title of each section will not be
highlighted. Starting with the next issue, though, it will work
perfectly with this version, but not the first. (Future issues will
still be compatible with version 1.2, but the titles will be messed up
a little.)
To get a fully functional version, please send $10 to:
David Holmes
13124 Rose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
I will send you a "key" program to unlock this demo and remove its
limits. This key will also work for future versions uploaded to GEnie.
(Please do not distribute the key to unregistered people. I would
consider that piracy.)
Copyright (c) 1990 David Holmes
GEnie address: D.HOLMES14
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Z*NET Atari Online Magazine is a weekly publication covering the Atari
and related computer community. Material contained in this edition may
be reprinted without permission except where noted, unedited and
containing the issue number, name and author included at the top of each
article reprinted. Opinions presented are those of the individual
author and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff of
Z*Net Online. This publication is not affiliated with Atari
Corporation. Z*Net, Z*Net Atari Online and Z*Net News Service are
copyright (c)1991, Rovac Industries Incorporated, Post Office Box 59,
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846-0059. Voice (908) 968-2024, BBS (908) 968-
8148 at 1200/2400 Baud 24 hours a day. We can be reached on Compuserve
at PPN 71777,2140 and on GEnie at address: Z-Net. FNET NODE 593
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Z*NET Atari Online Magazine
Copyright (c)1991, Rovac Industries, Inc..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-----------------------------------------
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