Z*Net: 21-Feb-93 #9308
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 02/24/93-12:13:31 PM Z
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From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson) Subject: Z*Net: 21-Feb-93 #9308 Date: Wed Feb 24 12:13:31 1993 ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ##########(((((((((( ##########((( ##(( ##((((((( ##(((((((( ########## #################(( ####(( ####(((( #(( ##(( ##########(( ############# ##############(( #####(((((( ##(( (( (( ##((((( #######(( ############# ###########(( ##########(( ####(( #(((( ##(( ##########(( ############# ##########(((((((((( ##########(( ##((( ##((((((( #####(( ############# ####################################################################### ####################################################################### Z*NET: ATARI ONLINE MAGAZINE Copyright (c)1993, Syndicate Publishing Volume 8, Number 8 Issue #492 February 21, 1993 File:93-08 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Publisher/Editor..........................................Ron Kovacs Writer............................................Michael R. Burkley GEnie Online Editor........................................Ed Krimen CompuServe Online Editor............................Michael Mortilla Contributing Writer.........................................Len Stys Contributing Writer........................................Bob Smith AtariNet Coordinator\Telecommunications...................Bill Scull Contributing Editor...................................Dr. Paul Keith Z*Net News International Gateway - New Zealand............Jon Clarke Z*Net News Service\AtariUser Magazine-Publisher\Editor.....John Nagy ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GEnie..............Z-NET CompuServe....75300,1642 Delphi.........ZNET Internet...status.gen.nz America Online..ZNET1991 AtariNet..51:1/13.0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS |#| The Editors Desk......................Ron Kovacs |#| Z*Net Newswire.................................. |#| Singular Solutions To Ship.........Press Release |#| Gemulator Update...................Press Release |#| New Aquisition For Toad Computers..Press Release |#| Z*Net Calender........................Ron Kovacs |#| Perusing Delphi.......................Ron Kovacs |#| Perusing GEnie.........................Ed Krimen |#| Perusing CompuServe................Mike Mortilla |#| AtariUser Magazine Reviews...................... |#| The Funny Farm.........................Bob Smith |#| Z*Net Support BBS Listing....................... ###### THE EDITORS DESK ###### By Ron Kovacs ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- I want to welcome back another writer to the staff this week. Bob Smith, (yes, his real name), is back from a long vacation. Welcome Back Bob! ###### Z*NET NEWSWIRE ###### Atari News and Industry Update ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- For the latest Industry News read Z*Net PC Online Magazine. It is now released bi-weekly. COMPUSERVE LOWERS CONNECT CHARGES CompuServe has announced that it is reducing hourly connect-time charges for members who participate in its Standard Pricing Plan for the CompuServe Information Service. Connect-time charges will drop as much as 37.5 pct for most CompuServe services, including its popular forums, beginning Feb 28. Under the Standard Pricing Plan, members will now pay a monthly fee of $8.95 for unlimited connect-time use of 36 basic services, such as travel, shopping, investment and games. When using CompuServe's other services, members will pay an hourly charge of $8.00 for access at 1200 or 2400 baud and $16.00 for 9600 baud. Previously, members paid a monthly fee of $7.95 and hourly charges of $12.80 and $22.80 for access at 1200/2400 and 9600 baud. ###### SINGULAR SOLUTIONS TO SHIP FALCON WORKSTATION ###### Press Release ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- Contact : Steve Klein 818-792-9567 Pasadena, CA - January 11, 1993 - Singular Solutions today announced that the first digital audio workstation built upon the Atari Corporation's latest computer, the Falcon 030(tm), is slated for shipment. The combination of Singular Solutions A/D64x(tm) Audio Interface and D2D EDIT(tm) from D2D Systems of Cambridge, England represents the first professional quality audio production system to employ the extensive digital audio capabilities of the Atari Falcon030. The two companies will showcase the system at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Winter Show, to be held from January 15-18 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim,California. The system is scheduled to start shipping shortly after the conclusion of the show, which over 35,000 members of the music industry are expected to attend. The Singular Solutions A/D64x provides two channels of "audiophile- quality" analog-to-digital conversion at multiple sampling rates, plus an integral phantom powered microphone preamp, absolute digital overload indicators, and digital audio input and output. D2D Systems' D2D EDIT is the first digital recording and editing package to utilize the digital audio features of the newest Atari computer. A Falcon030 equipped with D2D EDIT provides users with a full-featured digital audio workstation capable of recording and editing CD-quality sound. D2D EDIT provides direct to disk recording, non-destructive waveform editing, MIDI timecode drive cure sheet, punch-in recording, and on-the-fly marker creation. The Singular Solutions A/D64x extends the Atari-D2D systems combo with digital audio input and output plus very high quality analog-to-digital conversion. "Our previous experience in hard disk recording has always required us to produce our own hardware," indicated Paul Wiffen, Director of Marketing for D2D Systems. "With this cooperative effort, we are able to concentrate on what we do best, which is software, and let Atari and Singular Solutions concentrate on the hardware. I believe that the results speak for themselves." The A/D64x features two channels of 16-bit delta-sigma (ultralinear) analog-to-digital conversion with 64 times oversampling and a three stage linear phase digital anti-alias filter. It is equipped with balanced as well as unbalanced inputs and an integral low noise microphone preamp with 48 bolt phantom power. The digital audio input and output support both AES/EBU and S/PDIF standards. The A/D64x is constructed entirely of professional quality components. "The Atari Falcon030, in its basic configuration, is an incredible machine for digital audio work," said Steve Klein, President of Singular Solutions. "The inclusion of the Motorola 56001 DSP definately puts Atari in a prime position to capture a major share of the rapidly expanding digital audio market. The addition of our A/D64x and D2D EDIT results in a truly professional quality system at a price that just can't be beat." A Falcon030 system with A/D64x and D2D EDIT costs under $2900, an aggressive entry point for a digital audio workstation with the functionality of alternatives selling for many times the price. Singular Solutions is located in Pasadena, California and designs, manufactures, and markets digital audio products for the dicerning audio profession. D2D System is based in Cambridge, England and specializes in the development and marketing of mulimedi applications for desktop computers. Specifications of the A/D64x - Frequency Response (DC to 20 kHz) +0.00/-0.03 dB - Maximum input levels Balanced +16 dBm Unbalanced +13 dBm Mic(Full Gain) -43 dBm Mic(min Gain) -11 dBm - Input impedance Balanced 10 kOhm Unbalanced 20 kOhm Microphone 8.81 kOhm - Minimum Seperation (left to right)@ 1kHz 100 dB - Maximum THD (DC to 20kHz, any level) 0.003% - Minimum signal to noise ration unweighted 92 dB A-Weighted 95 dB - Maximum Spurios Signals (noise floor) -115 dB - Differential Nonlinearity 0.2 LSB - Maximum phase error (at 20kHz) 7 deg - Minimum digital filter stopband rejection 86 dB - Supported digital audio data formats AES/EBU S/PDIF EIAJ CP-340 IEC-958 - Size Standard 15.0" W 1.88" H 7.5" D Rack Mount 19.0" W 1.75" H 7.5" D - Weight Net 7.0 lbs Shipping 9.5 lbs - Pricing $1295. Rackmount option $80 - Contact Singular Solutions 818-792-9567 Fax 818-792-0903 Email info_ad64x@singular.com Falcon Based Products from D2D D2D-EDIT Stereo Direct to Disk recording/editing software. 16 bit, 50kHz sample quality Non-destructive cut, copy, paste MIDI Timecode driven cue sheet Markers on the fly $299 SPDIO SPDIF format digital interface for D2D-Edit Allows Falcon to sample at 44.1 & 48kHz Ideal for DAT editing and CD compilation $299 4T/FX Multi-track recording software 4 tracks to internal/external hard disk Realtime mixer/EQ to Falcon stero out* 2 simultaneous effects on Falcon DSP* $599 * - version 1.1 availible March 1 4I/4O Audio Hardware Expander Allows Falcon to sample at 44.1 and 48kHz 4 professional quality stereo analog inputs 4 professional quality stereo analog outputs SPDIF digital interface (also AES/EBU format) $599 - Preliminary specifications. D2D reserves the right to change without notice. - Distributed by Digital I/O Tel/Fax (310) 398-3993 ###### GEMULATOR VERSION 2.1 ###### Press Release/Update ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- Branch Always Software 14150 N.E. 20th Street Suite 302 Bellevue, WA 98007, U.S.A. - NEW FEATURES AND IMPROVEMENTS - SMALLER HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS - INTERNATIONAL AVAILABILITY - SEE IT AT THE SAC SHOW - LOWER U.S. PRICES Branch Always Software has just released version 2.1 of the Gemulator, the Atari ST emulator for DOS and Windows compatible PCs. Gemulator allows a 386 or 486 based PC to directly run most Atari ST software (except for games and music software) and supports all versions of TOS, four different screen resolutions, and can provide up to 8 megabytes of RAM to ST programs. Gemulator 2.1 is now available from computer dealers in Europe and North America. In the U.S. and Canada, the list price is now only $229 U.S. which includes the Gemulator board, emulation software, and U.S. TOS 2.06 ROMs. Gemulator 2.1 is now also available in the U.K., France, Holland, and Germany. The versions sold in each of those countries contain TOS 2.06 ROMs appropriate for each country, and all documentation and software has been fully translated. Gemulator 2.1 will be shown at the upcoming Sacramento Atari Expo on March 13th and 14th in Sacramento, California. Come by the Branch Always Software booth and see Gemulator for yourself! Version 2.1 has the following new features and improvements: - the separate 386 and 486 versions of Gemulator have been combined into one single convenient version which is just as fast (or even slightly faster on some machines) than Gemulator 2.0. - the ability to create a virtual Atari hard disk partition on any size DOS partition means that you can now safely read and write Atari files anywhere on your PC's hard disk and even over the network, without having to reformat or repartition the hard disk as before. - a 4 megabyte PC can now emulate a full megabyte of ST RAM (up from 512K before). Gemulator can emulate up to 8 megabytes of ST RAM, double the 4 megabyte limit of the real Atari ST. - Pagestream and some other programs now print up to 10 times faster. The actual speedup will depend on the size and contents of the Pagestream document. A full page 8.5" x 11" 300 dpi Pagestream document prints out in about 3 minutes on an HP LaserJet printer. - the real-time clock in the ST keyboard is now emulated. This allows TOS 2.06 to boot up with the current DOS time and date. - the "missing keystrokes" bug from Gemulator 2.0 and other bugs are fixed. Gemulator already has several features not found in the real Atari ST, and in many ways it is much better than a real ST: - the ability to emulate up to 8 megabytes of ST RAM (described above) makes it ideal when using a lot of GDOS fonts, running the new MultiTOS, or editing very large Calamus and Pagestream documents. - the ability to emulate TT medium resolution (640x480 16 colors) allows most GEM based Atari ST programs to run with more colors and with better graphics than is possible on the real ST. - switching from color to monochrome (or vice versa) is as simple as pressing one key. Forget having to use two monitors and swapping cables all the time! - each Gemulator board can hold up to 4 sets of TOS ROMs and you can easily switch from one version of TOS to another by just pressing a few keys. This allows you to use the supplied TOS 2.06 with most of your ST software, but switch back to TOS 1.0 or TOS 1.4 for running earlier software not compatible with TOS 2.06. - due to the ever increasing speed of PCs and the availability of the 486 DX2 clock doubler chip, you can easily upgrade your 33 Mhz 486 PC to a 66 Mhz PC and run Atari ST software up to 3 times faster than a real ST. That's faster than a Mega STE, faster than a 20 Mhz accelerator, and in many cases, as fast as the Falcon. Gemulator now has smaller hardware requirements. Your PC need only have the following: - a 386 or 486 CPU - 4 megabytes of RAM - a 720K 3.5" floppy disk drive - a VGA card and monitor - 1.7 megabytes of hard disk space - a mouse is optional but recommended Gemulator consists of a PC board which plugs into any 8-bit or 16-bit AT-style slot. The board is used to install TOS ROMs which are needed to run Atari ST software on a PC. The emulator itself is simply copied to the hard disk and run from the DOS prompt or a DOS window just like any other PC program. The speed of Gemulator's emulation is affected by the speed of your PC's processor, hard disk, video card, and other factors, but it is usually proportional to the speed of the processor (the 386 or 486 chip). Below is a table of various processors and the APPROXIMATE speed of emulation compared to a standard ST (which of course has a relative speed of 1.0): 386/16 - 0.3 386/33 - 0.6 386/40 - 0.8 486/25 - 0.9 486/33 - 1.2 486/50 - 1.8 486/66 - 2.4 386 based computers running slower than 33 Mhz are not recommended for use with Gemulator due to the relatively slow speed of emulation. Gemulator emulates the 68000 chip entirely in software and so a fast 386 is required. The Gemulator package comes with a set of TOS 2.06 ROMs, but if you wish to use your own ROMs, the board and emulator can now be purchased without any TOS ROMs for $179, a $50 savings. You must of course supply your own TOS 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 or 2.06 ROMs before being able to use Gemulator. In the U.S. and Canada, Gemulator is distributed by: PMC (Purple Mountain Computers) 15600 N.E. 8th Street, Unit #A3-412 Bellevue, WA 98008, U.S.A. For ordering information, call 1-206-399-8700. In Europe (including the U.K. and Germany), Gemulator is distributed by: ACN / Atari ST Nieuws Postbus 5011 2000 CA Haarlem The Netherlands For ordering information, phone 011-31-23-351100, or fax 011-31-23-351444. To upgrade from Gemulator 1.0 to Gemulator 2.1, send $49.95 is U.S. funds and your Gemulator registration card directly to us: Branch Always Software 14150 N.E. 20th Street, Suite 302 Bellevue, WA 98007, U.S.A. Users who last year upgraded to Gemulator 2.0 have already been sent a free Gemulator 2.1 upgrade disk. If you upgraded to 2.0 but haven't received the 2.1 disk, please contact us and make sure that we have your latest mailing address in our records. ###### NEW AQUISITION FOR TOAD ###### Press Release ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- Toad Computers, Inc. Toad Computers is proud to announce that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide distribution and marketing rights to Silhouette. The newest version of Silhouette, version 1.5, supports color and adds many new features. Version 1.5 also sports a new name: Silhouette Colortrace. Silhouette has always been an exciting vector and bitmap graphics package with many unique and advanced graphics tools. Silhouette Colortrace adds color to the mix and allows you to create colorful vector and bitmap graphics from scratch. Or you can edit existing color graphics! Silhouette Colortrace outputs to standard black and white and color file formats like Illustrator EPS (for use with PageStream), GEM metafiles, and even Calamus CVG. For viewing color work on-screen, Silhouette Colortrace supports TT medium resolution (16 colors) and the Falcon 16 and 256 color modes. Color work may be done in other modes as well, including monochrome 640 x 400 or 1280 x 960. Silhouette Colortrace includes a new and upgraded bitmap to vector conversion process that supports color and has reduced memory requirements. The program also takes advantage of Speedo GDOS and its Bitstream fonts for inclusion of standard GDOS text. Additionally, Speedo GDOS text may be converted into modifiable vector objects a great feature for creating custom logos and other text effects. Silhouette is developed by Maxwell CPU of Odenton, Maryland. They will continue to add new and exciting features to the program. Toad Computers will provide technical support and upgrade assistance to Silhouette users, and will also be marketing the product aggressively in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Registered owners of version 1.25 or greater can upgrade to Silhouette Colortrace for only $15.00 (plus $3 shipping) until April 20, 1993. Thereafter, the upgrade cost will be $25.00 (plus $3 shipping). To upgrade, please send your check along with your original disk to: Toad Computers Silhouette Upgrade 570-F Ritchie Highway Severna Park, MD 21146 The suggested retail price of Silhouette Colortrace is $119.95. In comparison to similar programs on the Atari or any other platform, Silhouette Colortrace offers twice the features at half the price. Silhouette Colortrace will be available for a limited time from Toad Computers for $99.95 (includes shipping). Silhouette Colortrace will begin shipping in the next four to five weeks. Technical Support / Upgrades (410) 544-6943 Voice (410) 544-1329 FAX (410) 544-6999 BBS Orders ONLY (800) 448-TOAD No technical support will be given on the 800 line. Silhouette Colortrace Features Include: Takes advantage of TT medium and Falcon 16 and 256 color graphics modes (even overscan) Outputs to color GEM metafiles, Calamus CVG, and Illustrator EPS formats (for use with PageStream) Color or monochrome bitmap to vector conversion with upgraded features and reduced memory requirements Import and Export Calamus vector CVG files Supports the Atari Clipboard for application sharing of IMG and GEM files Supports GEM 3 Bezier Metafiles Magnification of vector or bit images up to 16 times with grid and ruler systems Separate bit-image and vector windows with the ability to import bit- images into the vector window Allows warping of objects along a curve Advanced duplication methods allow control of object width, height, rotation, line width, gray scale, duplicate distribution. Use separate sizing and rotation reference points. Supports printing through GDOS Supports Dr. Bob's ScanLite ($19.95) to allow direct scanning into the bit-image window Advanced drawing tools: lines, polylines, b-splines, beziers, polygons, stars, circles, ellipses, elliptical and circular arcs, spraycan, parabolas, round boxes (with adjustable rounded edges), rectangles, flood fill and more! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The number of the Toad Computers Support BBS is (410) 544-6999. It operates from 300 to 14,400 baud, eight bits, no parity, two stop bits, 24 hours per day. Questions regarding the BBS can be directed via FAX to (410) 544-1329, or by voice to (410) 544-6943 (after 6 p.m. EST). (C) 1993 Toad Computers ------------------------------------------------------------ 02/16/93 ###### THE 1993 Z*NET COMPUTER CALENDAR ###### Schedule of Shows, Events and Online Conferences ###### ---------------------------------------------------------------- ### February 21, 1993 RTC in the GEnie HOSB (Home Office Small Business) Rountable. "Protecting your Business from Viruses". Conference stsrts at 9:30 pm EST. Type HOSB at any GEnie prompt to attend. ### February 23, 1993 RTC in the GEnie HOSB (Home Office Small Business) Rountable. "Shareware Authors Meeting". Conference starts at 10:00 pm EST. Type HOSB at any GEnie prompt to attend. ### February 24, 1993 RTC in the GEnie HOSB (Home Office Small Business) Rountable. "Help Using CHIPSOFT And Tax Q & A". Conference starts at 9:00 pm EST. Type HOSB at any GEnie prompt to attend. ### March 1993 CeBIT, the world's largest computer show with 5,000 exhibitors in 20 halls, is held annually in Hannover, Germany. Atari traditionally struts its newest wares there, usually before it's seen in the USA or anywhere else. In '93, the Atari 040 machines should be premiering, and this is the likely venue. Third party developers also use this show to introduce new hardware and software, so expect a wave of news from CeBIT every year. Atari Corp and the IAAD coordinate cross-oceanic contacts to promote worldwide marketing of Atari products, and this show is an annual touchstone of that effort. Contact Bill Rehbock at Atari Corp for information at 408-745-2000. ### March 5, 1993 RTC in the GEnie ST Roundtable. "Dateline Atari" with Bob Brodie. This is a regular monthly conference held by Atari. Discussions usually pertain to the latest Atari releases and updates. Conference begins at 10pm EST. Type M475;2 at any GEnie prompt to attend. ### March 13-14, 1993 The Sacramento Atari Computer Exposition is to be sponsored by the Sacramento Atari ST Users Group (SST) at the Towe Ford Museum in Sacramento, California. A major two day effort, the SAC show is being held in the special events area of the Towe Ford Museum, home of the worlds most complete antique Ford automobile collection. As an added bonus, admission to the museum is free when you attend the Expo. The museum is located at the intersection of Interstates 5 and 80, just 15 minutes from the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport. Contact Nick Langdon (Vendor Coordinator) C/O SST, P.O. Box 214892, Sacramento, CA 95821- 0892, phone 916-723-6425, GEnie: M.WARNER8, ST-Keep BBS (SST) 916-729- 2968. ### March 15-16, 1993 Lap & Palmtop Mobile Computing Expo at the New York Hilton Hotel in New York City. Exhibitors will show the latest in mobile computing, software, pen, peripherals and communications from the industry's leading manufacturers. In conjunction with the exhibits is the Mobile Systems Solutions Conference series. Featuring over 80 leading industry experts speakers, the conference provides vital information needed to build or improve your world of mobile computing. ### March 16, 1993 RTC in the GEnie HOSB (Home Office Small Business) Rountable. "Multilevel Marketing". Conference starts at 10:00 pm EST. ### March 16-19, 1993 Image World - Washington DC at the Sheraton Washington. ### March 20, 1993 Philadelphia, PA area group PACS is holding their 16th annual Computer Festival from 9 AM til 4 PM. It will be a multi-computer show with Atari showings by the PACS Atari SIG's, NEAT, CDACC, and JACS clubs. The Fest is to be at the Drexel University Main Building, 32nd and Chestnut Streets in Pennsylvania. Contact for Atari display: Alice P. Christie, 207 Pontiac Street, Lester, PA 19029, 215-521-2569, or 215- 951-1255 for general info. ### March 21-24, 1993 Interop Spring '93 in Washington DC. ### March 30 - April 1, 1993 Intermedia 93 at the San Jose Convention Center, San Jose CA. ### May 3-5, 1993 Digital Video New York/MultiMedia Exposition at the New York Sheraton in New York City. ### May 4-5, 1993 The 3rd Annual Networks and Communications Show returns to the Hartford Civic Center. Companies such as Intel, Microsoft, DEC, DCA, IBM, and MICOM will be exhibiting. For more information, contact: Marc Sherer at Daniels Productions, 203-561-3250; fax: 203-561-2473. ### May 11-13, 1993 SunWorld '93 exposition and conference, held in San Francisco at the Moscone Center. The second annual event is the largest trade show in North America dedicated to the Sun, SPARC and Solaris industry. SunWorld '93 will feature a full day of in-depth tutorials, which are being developed in association with Sun Educational Services, to be followed by three days of conference sessions and an exposition. The three-day exposition will feature more than 175 leading vendors in the industry including Adobe Systems, AT&T, Computer Associates, Hewlett- Packard, Informix Software, Insoft, SAS Institute, Solbourne, SPARC International, Sun Microsystems, SunPro, SunSoft and WordPerfect. For more information about attending SunWorld '93 call Lynn Fullerton at (800) 225-4698 or to receive information about exhibiting contact David Ferrante at (800) 545-EXPO. ### May 22-23, 1993 Pacific Northwest Atari show will be held in Vancouver Canada. The Vantari User Group will be sending out developers kits in the very near future with more details and pricing. The show will be held in the Metrotown Centre Mall, which is the 2nd largest in Canada with over 400 stores. The traffic in the mall is amazing! In addition the Holiday Inn Hotel is attached to the mall as well so travel time is nil. If you have any questions in the meantime leave email (G.Norton) on GEnie. ### June 12-13, 1993 (NEW LISTING) CT Atarifest '93 at the Windsor Court Hotel in Windsor Connecticut. This year the Atarifest has relocated to a new hotel with excellent room rates ($35.00 per room), free and plentiful parking, easy access from Interstate 91, I-95, I-90, I-84, I-80, an in house Sports Bar, a bigger ballroom and is located just 1 mile from Bradley International Airport (free shuttle service for hotel guests). Tentative commitments from A&D Software, Gribnif Software, Barefoot Software, Toad Computers, Computer Studio, Baggetaware, Derric Electronics, E.Hartford Computer Repair, MegaType Software, Wizztronics and GFA Software Technology. For further information, call Brian Gockley at 203-332-1721 or Doug Finch at 203-637 -1034. E-mail can be directed to B.GOCKLEY or D.FINCH7 on GEnie or to 75300,2514 or 76337,1067 on CIS. ### June 22-23, 1993 Lap & Palmtop Mobile Computing Expo at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Exhibitors will show the latest in mobile computing, software, pen, peripherals and communications from the industry's leading manufacturers. In conjunction with the exhibits is the Mobile Systems Solutions Conference series. Featuring over 80 leading industry experts speakers, the conference provides vital information needed to build or improve your world of mobile computing. ### July 17-18, 1993 The Kansas City AtariFest '93. The location for the show is Stadium Inn, 7901 E 40 Hwy. Ticket prices at the door will be 5.00 dollars each day. Advance tickets will be 4.00 dollars each, for advance tickets, please send 4.00 dollars per ticket to: Kansas City AtariFest, P.O. Box 1653, Lee Summit, MO 64063 or if you belong to a user group please mail a request for a user group information pack. To make room reservations please call 1-800-325-7901, we are also working with a local travel agent to get special airfares for the show. You may call 1-800-874-7691 to take advantage of the special fares. For more information please leave Email as follows; GEnie, B.welsch, J.krzysztow, for CompuServe, Leave for Jeff Krzysztow at 74027,707, or you can call (816)224-9021, or mail to the address listed above. ### August 3-6, 1993 MacWorld Expo at the Boston World Trade Center, Bayside Exposition Center and sponsored by MacWorld Magazine. This event is titled Boston '93. ### September 18-19, 1993 The Glendale Show returns with the Southern California Atari Computer Faire, V.7.0, in suburban Los Angeles, California. This has been the year's largest domestic Atari event, year after year. Contact John King Tarpinian at the user group HACKS at 818-246-7286 for information. ### September 20-22, 1993 The third MacWorld Expo, titled Canada '93 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, sponsored by MacWorld Magazine. ### September 21-23, 1993 Unix Expo '93 in New York City, New York. ### October 7-8, 1993 Lap & Palmtop Mobile Computing Expo at the Chicago Mart/Expo Center in Chicago, Illinois. Exhibitors will show the latest in mobile computing, software, pen, peripherals and communications from the industry's leading manufacturers. In conjunction with the exhibits is the Mobile Systems Solutions Conference series. Featuring over 80 leading industry experts speakers, the conference provides vital information needed to build or improve your world of mobile computing. ### October 27-29, 1993 CDROM Exposition at the World Trade Center, Boston MA. ### October 27-29, 1993 EDA&T Asia '93. The Electronic Design and Test Conference Exhibition at the Taipei International Convention Center in Taiwan. Exhibit space is still available. For more information contact: Betsy Donahue, Chicago, fax: 708-475-2794. ### November 7-10, 1993 GeoCon/93, an international conference and showcase for software products developed outside the U.S. at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge, Mass. The conference program will include three days of workshops on topics of interest to overseas developers entering the U.S. market. Workshop presenters will discuss such issues as how to negotiate distribution and licensing contracts, setting up a business in the U.S., manufacturing and fulfillment, technical support, packaging, research sources, and how to market through direct, retail, and catalog channels. For additional information, contact Tom Stitt, associate publisher, Soft letter, 17 Main St., Watertown, Mass. 02272-9154; telephone 617-924-3944; fax 617-924-7288, or Colleen O'Shea, director, Soft letter Europe, 2 um Bierg, 7641 Chirstnach, Luxembourg, telephone 35.2.87119; fax 35.2.87048. ### November 15-19, 1993 COMDEX Fall '93. Las Vegas Nevada. If you have an event you would like to include on the Z*Net Calender, please send email via GEnie to Z-NET, CompuServe 75300,1642, or via FNET to node 593 or AtariNet node 51:1/13.0. Show listings are also published in AtariUser Magazine. ###### PERUSING DELPHI ###### Compiled by Ron Kovacs ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- 49172 20-FEB 16:38 General Information RE: Printer Drivers (Re: Msg 48858) From: BOBBRO To: ETAT I think part of the thing that we have to keep in mind is that the developers must be allowed the leeway to be creative. While we would all really like to see a single standard put into place (like say, Speedo GDOS!), even Atari knows that the developers must keep trying to find a better way to do things. If everyone used GDOS, there would be plenty of printer drivers. :) And there would be other problems instead. Perfect, it isn't. But it is getting better all the time. Most word processors seem to provide the essentials, Epson 9 pin, Epson 24 pin, HP, and Atari laser printer. Those printers probably represent most of the ones in use in this marketplace. regards, Bob Brodie 49173 20-FEB 16:40 General Information RE: Printer Drivers (Re: Msg 48859) From: BOBBRO To: ETAT SpeedoGDOS should work with MicroSoft Write, but will not work with ST Writer, Regent Word I or Regent Word II. All of those (with the exception of ST Writer) haven't been updated in at least three years or more. It's time to upgrade. I've rarely used MicroSoft Write, gotta have a spell checker. regards, Bob Brodie 49174 20-FEB 16:46 General Information RE: Lynx ad! (Re: Msg 48874) From: BOBBRO To: BRYEDEWAARD Bry, I keep saying this, but people aren't paying enough attention. The idea that MultiTOS will be uploaded is strictly a _proposal_, there is a big possibility that it will bot be uploaded, and you will have to order it from a dealer. My opinion is that if we uploaded it to GEnie for 30 days, and then let the rest of the world have it, we'd keep some of the bean counters at Atari happy. I don't share your view that we'd be making it hard to get if we did that. In fact, I think that by selling it, we'd be making it much harder to get. But that may be exactly what happens. I've NEVER said that GEnie was Atari's only port to the world, Bry! I'm proud to have my Delphi address on my business card. I'm also proud of the TWO networked BBS's that I sysop. If GEnie was the only thing that mattered to Atari then you and I wouldn't be having this discussion right now. :) Let's not worry about it until we make a decision about uploading it, ok? regards, Bob Brodie 49176 20-FEB 16:56 General Information RE: Lynx ad! (Re: Msg 48929) From: BOBBRO To: OCS Hi Oliver, Your assumptions aren't even close to correct. <grin> The number of people on GEnie is many times the number that you have cited. And, you are also overlooking the beancounter mentality that sometimes is present when a new product comes out. Lots of beancounters would love your idea of a decent manual and sell it for say, $75. That's less than what Apple sells System 7 for, and less than the list price of DOS 5 or Windows 3. If you upload it to everywhere, then you give it away, make ZERO dollars on it, and end up spending more still in product support. With no income. On the other hand, placate the bean counters by making some bucks. Then makes the userbase happy by putting it up everywhere after a reasonable delay. Or we can just go ahead and sell it, and not have to put up with the guff from the online networks at all. <- Beancounter mentality I think my suggestion (key word SUGGESTION) is the best balance. But hey... I've been wrong before. regards, Bob Brodie 49179 20-FEB 17:08 General Information RE: Dateline: Atari (Re: Msg 48936) From: BOBBRO To: OCS Your GM dealer needs to sell you on the advantages of his car, true. But on the other hand, if all you did was come into the dealership to discuss the many advantages of VW, then that would be another matter. Typically, that is where the problem comes in on the networks. If someone starts an "I love CIS" or "I love GEnie" thread on one of those networks, stand back 'cause it's gonna get wild. regards, Bob Brodie 49182 20-FEB 17:30 General Information RE: Lynx ad! (Re: Msg 48696) From: BOBBRO To: BIBLINSKI Gordie, Isn't SUCKS a little bit harsh for the performance of MultiTOS, even on an 8Mhz machine? I mean, yeah...Leonard says it sucks <grin>, but on an ST with an AdSpeed, T-16, T-15, Tiny Turbo, or even a Mega STE, it ain't so bad. Right?? <nudge, nudge> Thought so.... Bob Brodie 49192 20-FEB 18:37 General Information RE: Printer Drivers (Re: Msg 49172) From: ETAT To: BOBBRO (NR) Bob, your approach is correct, but fairly tunnel visioned. These folks want $150 bucks for a word processor, it should work on your printer. Maybe I am old fashioned buy it would seem that you could sell more of your high dollar software if you included Panasonic, Okidata, and other major printer peddlers. Atari has always favored Epson, but most of the other printers have one Espon compatability or another. But even beloved Epson has a ton of various models, and the new ones have a different printer language of their own. If the software people only want to cater to a limited amount of users, I suppose that is their affair. Meanwhile, your Atari people are going to IBM compats because the provide software that is superior in many way. I think their word processors will handle a larger variety of printers as a whole. Panasonic seems to be crowding Epson out or giving them a major run for the money.... I only know one thing, if Atari wants my business...they gotta provide what I want. Everywhere else the consumer has a say. 49202 20-FEB 22:33 General Information Atari purchase...? From: SGIBBONS To: ALL Hello all. I have been using an IBM for quite some time. One of my friends suggested that I purchase an ATATI ST. I have owned an ATARI 800xl a LONG time ago. Are they similar? 1). Where can I buy an ST at? 2). How much would they cost? With dual disk drive and color monitor & modem? 3). Do they still use 6502 assembly? If not, what kind do they use? 4). When puchasing an ATARI ST, what recommendations can "you" make regarding books for learning ATARI Basic/assembly? Source? 5). Is the ATARI ST a "current" computer (repair service avaliable?). Or has it followed the Commodore 64 or the Texas Instruments 99/4a? 6). ATARI BBS'S AVALIABLE? Thanks. S.G. 49232 21-FEB 09:52 General Information MultiTOS (Re: Msg 49169) From: LMCCLURE To: BOBBRO (NR) You might want to try issuing a /BUSY command before starting your replies... I believe that restricts any communications until you do an /UNBUSY to mail (and it should not look like you are ignoring the person, either). As to MultiTOS, I just hope no one in the 'sell it, don't upload' camp uses the messages protesting *possible* short-term GEnie exclusivitity to swing things over their way. I wonder if they people who are concerned about this realize that Atari does not *have* to provide MultiTOS for the price of a download at all, regardless of where? 49270 21-FEB 12:50 General Information RE: Lynx ad! (Re: Msg 49218) From: DPJ To: ABARBIERO (NR) Andreas, I appreciate your concern over having messages copied, reprinted, etc., but apparently this type of disclaimer has little to no weight. I had similar disclaimers on my messages, and a general one when STReport had its own category in GEnie's Atari RT. Two weeks ago Z-Net reprinted one of my messages from the STReport area without getting my permission first. I left a message to both Darlah and Ron Kovacs asking for a retraction and/or apology; and never even got a reply from either. BTW, it is my understanding that these disclaimers _are_ valid. I have also seen messages from the GEnie area supporting this view. Apparently however, it doesn't wash in reality or ignored by a certain few. I wish you better luck than I had! Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine 49271 21-FEB 12:54 General Information RE: Lynx ad! (Re: Msg 49226) From: DPJ To: JGALLARDO (NR) Jose, You hit it on the head. It's true that nothing with regard to releasing MTOS has been cast in stone yet. But, with the various rumors/suggestions, it makes perfect sense for the userbase to make their opinions heard. If Atari has an idea as to how _we_ feel, then perhaps it will help them make the appropriate decision. It's called _feedback". Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine 49285 21-FEB 17:00 General Information RE: Lynx ad! (Re: Msg 49169) From: WAYNEDUNHAM To: BOBBRO (NR) >I've been working on the new dealer agreements, and dealer sign up >procedures. That's good news. I wish You and Atari much success in smoothing over things with existing dealers, and signing up new ones. I'd sure like to see a high quality dealer in the Hartford Ct area. It would save me a long trip down to Fairfield for a mediocre dealer (Computers Etc.) In regards to the GEnie contract requirements..... I do understand and agree with the need for an official support place such as GEnie. I, nor most of the Atarians know the scope or limits of the agreement, but given the FSM release on GEnie only fiasco it appears much too constrictive to me personally. As I've stated before, Atarians are far too fragmented and isolated due to lack of dealers, user groups, etc to ignore any avenue of getting news, software, etc out as quickly and efficiently as possible. Certainly GEnie gives the biggest return in that respect, but I would like to see things happen quicker on the other avenues such as Delphi, Fnet, and yes even CI$. With the expanded Delphi activity it would seem that news and such wouldn't be much of a problem, but getting software such as Xcontrol, Mtos, etc here as quickly as possible is a concern of mine. Wayne 49290 21-FEB 17:19 General Information RE: Lynx ad! (Re: Msg 49270) From: ZNET To: DPJ (NR) Dana... I never received your message but it was brought to my attention earlier today. The message I reprinted DID NOT HAVE ANY statement about NOT reprinting it. If that was the case, you should have appended a statement to your message, you did not, and it was reprinted without your permission. As for your request for an apology??? Why?? Did you type the message or not? If you want to apologize for making the statement, send one along! Ron 49291 21-FEB 17:25 General Information Message Reprints From: ZNET To: DPJ (NR) Dana... Just an additional note... If you do not want to see a message reprinted, you could simply add... "This message may not be reprinted." or something along those lines. Any message that has or had a disclaimer on it, usually doesn't appear in Z*Net or other online magazines. However, in looking back at some of your messages, you do place a disclaimer and in others nothing.... So, You can't have it your way all the time if you are not clear in your posts. Ron ###### PERUSING GENIE ###### Compiled by Ed Krimen ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- SPEEDO AND WORKS: READY TO ROLL ------------------------------- -=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14) -=> from the "FALCON 030 - Help and Questions" topic (41) Message 62 Wed Feb 03, 1993 B.REHBOCK [BILL@ATARI] at 11:00 EST SpeedoGDOS and Atari Works are getting manufactured as stand-alone products. The SpeedoGDOS add-on should be _around_ $60.00, and Atari Works will be _around_ $120.00 or so and it will include SpeedoGDOS. These prices are of course, are subject to change. :-) -Bill ==================================== MAGAZINE MYSTERY ---------------- -=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14) -=> from the "Atari Explorer" topic (30) Message 29 Tue Feb 16, 1993 EXPLORER.1 [] Ron [] at 23:53 EST Detectives from Sunnyvale have solved the mystery of the lost 3rd class November/December issues of Atari Explorer. The gory details have not yet been released but a reputable source states they will be outlined in the next edition AEO, if not sooner. I was told the issues are *now* in the *US* mail system and will be delivered as fast as 3rd Class US mail can get them out. Sorry folks! Ron @ Atari Explorer Magazine ==================================== DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATION FOR FALCON ------------------------------------ (MIDI/WorldMusic RT) -=> In the "MIDI Software and Hardware (Atari ST)" category (3) -=> from the "Falcon Digital Sampling" topic (23) Message 53 Sun Feb 07, 1993 W.DEAN4 [D'noski] at 11:44 EST I was reading thru the latest EQ Magazine and saw what was said to be the first Digital Audio Workstation for the Atari Falcon 030 ($1594), made by Singular Solutions of Pasadena, CA and D2D Systems of Cambridge, England. The system specs are as follows: A/D64x that offers 2 channels of 16- bit, delta-sigma sampling at rate of 32, 44.1 and 48 kHz,A/D conversion with 64 times oversampling and a three-stage linear phase digital anti- aliasing filter. It has both balanced and unbalanced inputs, AES/EBU and S?PDIF ins and outs, and an integrated low-noise microphone pre-amp with 48-volt phantom power. The D2D Editing System is the first digital studio editor to use the features of the Falcon 030: direct-to-disk recording, non-destructive editing, MIDI time code-driven, cues sheet, punch-in recording, and on the fly marker creation. see ya...D'noski ==================================== C-R-R-R-AZY DOTS ---------------- -=> In the "Atari TT" category (28) -=> from the "Monitors for the TT" topic (11) Message 74 Tue Feb 09, 1993 D.WALTER7 [Doug Walter] at 00:55 EST Ken, There is of course, a Crazy Dots category upwind of here a little bit. You might want to contact Dan Wilga (GEmail: GRIBNIF) for brochures on the CD board. Gribnif is the N.A. distributor for the board. TKR manufactures them in Germany, but docs and screens are in English. A few of the more important features (from their newsletter): * 2 versions - 256 or 32,768 colors, both having 256 gray levels * Megabus and VME (TT/MSTe) versions. Megabus has "pass-thru". * Drive any multisync up to 1664x1220 in mono,4, & 16 color modes; Up to 1280x800 in 256 color mode; 1200x800 in TrueColor mode * Custom drivers included for most analog monitors, including SM124. Driver creation software included for other monitors. * Hardware "panning" of larger virtual screen * Tseng ET-4000 graphics chip set w/ video ram for fast redraws * DA included for custom color pallettes and color/grayscale switching on the fly. * Res switching at bootup in auto config program. Remembers last picked rez for config panel bypass. * Standard High Density VGA output connector * Expansion connectors for future features. (24 bit color) * Easy install: no disassembly req. for the VME version. A few caveats comes to mind. With CD, you will not see any of your normal boot sequence until the driver loads. See fix below. CodeHead's Warp9 doesn't work with CD in the color modes, although UISIII works in mono modes (I haven't tested Warp 9 myself). Just about everything else I own will run except WordwriterST, Touch-up (everything works except "Lightning" mode) and most commercial games. I like mine - a lot. I use it with an inexpensive VGA switchbox to choose between CD and "normal" TT output. I keep it switched to "TT" during bootup, then switch to "CD" for running. The switch, along with Gribnif's XBOOT3 to choose resolutions and configuration setups at bootup have spoiled me. For example, I have several different rez "sets" that load in the appropriate NEWDESK.INF and Calamus SL .SET files automatically for each resolution/color mode. The boards are not inexpensive, but if you are going to do a lot of DTP, or color graphics work (Photo CD?) they may be worth considering. SL is much easier to deal with at 800x600 or better, and Gemview does wonders for 256 color GIFs. :-) Text scrolling is a little slower and "jumpy" in color at high rezs, but in mono modes it really flies. System: TT with 4/16 megs (GESoft), Quantum 105, NEC 4fg 15" multi. Doug7 ==================================== WHERE'S MY MEMORY?! ------------------- -=> In the "Atari TT" category (28) -=> from the "Atari TT" topic (2) Message 101 Thu Feb 04, 1993 J.RENNER1 [Jim] at 01:06 EST I recently purchased a TT and had a question for the more technically minded/informed. I boot a completely plain system, and discovered that there was about 350k missing from my system memory. I am in TT med and realize that 150k is used for video, and that the system needs some other ram, but 200k. Is that normal? If so i would be interested to learn what exactly TOS (by the way i have 3.06) is using that memory for. Thanks, Jim. ---------- Message 102 Thu Feb 04, 1993 J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead] at 03:21 EST Jim Renner, An operating system cannot store its variables in ROM -- it needs RAM. The low end of a 680x0 contains all of the exception vectors. Then there is the OEM memory area. Next is the area used by the BIOS and GEMDOS, then you've got some that's used by whatever hard disk driver you're using (this might be quite large if you've got a cache). Then there's a large block that's used by GEM. It needs space for storing application structures, desktop information structures, window structures, menubar structures, drop-down image blit areas, VDI workstations, etc, etc. This array of memory usage is not restricted to the TT. All versions of TOS take a sizable area. I just booted from a blank floppy disk under TOS 2.06 and with no hard drive software, the OS used 217K of RAM. I remember test years ago determining that the most one could expect for free memory on a 1 meg machine was about 780K. That's just the way it is. John ==================================== RAYTRACING WITH THE FALCON -------------------------- -=> In the "Graphics" category (7) -=> from the "Ray Tracing and Ray Traced Images" topic (22) Message 33 Mon Feb 15, 1993 C.LATHAM2 at 06:30 EST Well, I downloaded the POV source on 2-10-93, but couldn't find the binaries (I hadn't been following the massages, so I didn't know that they had been removed). So I compiled my own version with Pure C. Had to turn down the warning level though, as the compiler gave about a zillion warnings. Thing worked ok though, except when it tried to allocate a buffer for GIF pictures, while trying to trace the FISH13 sample file. Seems the malloc call in the GIF.C file was passing an int instead of a long: if ((decoderline = (unsigned char *) malloc (2049)) == NULL) { fprintf (stderr, "Cannot allocate space for GIF decoder line\n"); fclose (Bit_File); exit (1); } Fixed it by declaring the size as a long: if ((decoderline = (unsigned char *) malloc (2049L)) == NULL) { fprintf (stderr, "Cannot allocate space for GIF decoder line\n"); fclose (Bit_File); exit (1); } I know about >< much C, so I just guessed at the possible problem and its solution, but this worked, so it must be right. My question to anyone knowledgable in C is why the compiler would pass an int to a function that was prototyped as requiring a long. Anyway, after this POVRAY.TTP worked just fine, except for the statistics. It said the image I had traced required 9 hours, 527 minutes, 432,456.00 seconds. So, just what time is it when your clock strikes thirteen? It was too bad that the clock didn't function correctly, as I wanted to see how the TT with its 33Mhz '030 and 16Mhz (I think) '882 compared with the time it took a 25Mhz 386 w/Cyrix FPU to render the same image (the docs said 60hrs for the 386; the image was PIECE3). I know this may be comparing apples and oranges, as the docs didn't say what resolution was used when the 386 did the rendering. I did mine at 640 x 400. I had started out using QRT, but although the images were pretty good, I was a little disappointed that it didn't support anti-aliasing. Although aliased images are not of too much concern when viewing at 320 x 200 using Spectrum, on my Falcon at 640 x 400 in true color mode, all of a sudden being able to anti-alias makes a big difference. Anyway, PIECE3.POV turned out great. I was really impressed with the smoothness of the image, after seeing the images that QRT made. I had begun to wonder why no work seems to have been done on QRT since '88, but with POV around, why bother working on QRT. The things the author (Steve Koren) wanted to add to QRT are already a part of POV, plus a lot more. By the way, not too long ago I would have believed that 16 bit color was all you really needed, that the human eye wouldn't be able to easily distinguish between any two adjacent colors; not when you had 65,536 separate colors. What a load of crock. With Falcon true color, you get 5 bits of red, 6 bits of green, and 5 bits of blue. That's 32 levels of red and blue, 64 of green. Sounds good. Isn't good. Well, ok, it's not bad, but at lower intensity levels, two adjacent levels of, say, blue can easily be distinguished. This takes away slightly from the realism that the image might have had. You really need 24 bit color on these ray traced images, since subtle shading seems to be a hallmark of ray-tracers. Granted, the scanned photograph of a baby with teddybears looks pretty darn good in Falcon truecolor. I suppose the next thing I'll need is some sort of dithering tool to mix the edges of these areas so that you don't see the different shades adjacent to each other. On another note. Yes, multitasking. It's a must. I have 4 TTs and 1 Falcon all networked together where I work. Three of the TTs are running (24 hours a day) a touchscreen based Point of Sale program. I recompiled the POS program so that instead of staying in a loop looking for a screen touch (which are readable from the serial port), it sleeps for 25 milliseconds between each touch lookup. Thus is checks for touches 40 times per second, which gives you seemingly instantaneous response when you touch the screen. I than ran QRT as a background task (I/O sent to /dev/null) with a lower priority than the POS program. Since POS is normally dormant, waiting for touches, QRT got all the CPU time it needed, probably 95% of all CPU time. But when POS was used, the user couldn't tell the difference. Essentially, interactive programs MUST be given a higher priority, so the user will not perceive any degradation. But, they must also free the CPU when there is nothing to do, which is 99% of the time while typing a letter, or mousing around in a spreadsheet or desktop publisher. I hope that this will be automatically done when GEM applications make event_multi calls under Multi-TOS. Currently, when a program makes an event call, the AES just sits in a loop, checking the keyboard and mouse over and over and over, etc. It would be better to check them, and if there is nothing to do, then pause for 25 ms or so. Let's face it, the user will not be able to do too much in 1/40th of a second. And having this done within the event calls means that - no- application will need to be recompiled with special MiNT calls. At least, none that DO NOT use event_timer with a delay of 0. Here where I work we are using the PowerDOS kernal, as it is at the heart of the network that we are using. Although we don't have the multi-windowing/multi-application interface of Multi-TOS, that is hardly necessary for a ray-tracer. Showing the images to the screen in a window while tracing? Given the length of time it takes to render an image, I'm not too thrilled with the idea. I'd rather just let the image be built, then use a postprocessor to view it with. Though I suppose having the ability and not using it would still be better than not having it at all. One thing I do like about POV over QRT (ok, one of many things), is that you can specify a start and end scan line to render from the command line. Although you could do this with QRT, it had to be defined within the definition file, not on the command line (and besides, it didn't work). The reason I like this is simple. With 5 '030 machines online, all with FPUs installed, it seems the smart thing to do would be to have each of them work on 1/5th of the image, then combine the files. Actually, what I'm going to do is create a program that will run on each machine. I will then have a file that will list a task to perform, and the parameters to pass to that task. The aforementioned program on each machine on the network will read the next task to do, and do it. I would take an image to render, for instance, and break it into say, 10 scan line sections. This is so we can compensate for busy or slow machines. One machine might be able to render 30 lines in the time it takes another to render 10. If the technique looks familiar, that's because it is. I think it's called tuple processing, but I read about it so long ago (3-4 years) that I'm not sure of its name or many of the details of its implementation. I'll just have to guess, unless someone can steer me toward some documentation. BTW, check out the POV rendered images printed in the Jan and Feb '93 CompuServe magazine in the 'Graphic of the month' section. Chris @ ViewTouch, Inc. ==================================== HOW MANY ATARI MACHINES CAN -YOU- NETWORK? ------------------------------------------ -=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14) -=> from the "FALCON 030 - Help and Questions" topic (41) Message 41 Tue Feb 02, 1993 EXPLORER.1 [] Ron [] at 00:16 EST PowerDOS/PowerNET from PowerPoint Software works well on the Falcon030 LocalTalk port. On this end, there is a Falcon, TT, Mega STe and a classic 2.5 meg 520 ST connected and talking. The 520 ST is connected via the MIDI ports, the other computers are on the LAN using standard LocalTalk connectors and phone wire. It is a peer to peer network, any or all computers can be servers. I hear the latest beta version is taking advantage of the DSP in the Falcon. Ron @ Atari Explorer Magazine ==================================== ###### PERUSING COMPUSERVE ###### By Michael D. Mortilla ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- "There was never in the world two opinions alike, anymore than two hairs or two grains. Their most universal quality is diversity." Michel E. de Montaigne [1533-92] We all know that CompuServe is about as diverse as you can get. And it can be generally be assumed that within a particular forum, the topics will stay reasonably within the scope of the common interest of the forum members. But this week, and in recent weeks as well, the range of topics in both the Ataripro and Atariarts forums has been quite wide in scope, from paring down the military to speculation on why some government programs aimed at helping people are ineffective. So what? You might ask. What's the difference what is discussed in the forums? Glad you asked <g>. What seems to be happened more and more here is that the members of the Atari forums are working together as a true "users group" and not "just" a collection of computer users who happen to call CIS to get the latest Shareware, news on their favorite computer or find a bargain for their next piece of hardware or software. Oh, that happens too, to be sure! And there may be no better place to get up to date information, professional help and access to a large library of information. But what seems more important is that we Atarians here on CIS are getting to know one another quite well. It's not unusual for members to be referred to by their first names in a string which they are not active in at that time. For example, if we're talking about QCIS (the program to automate your CIS time, and save big bucks) then someone might mention Jim in passing. Most of us know who that is. If we really liked a new Warp 9 screen saver, then we might mention how much Charles has done for the ST. But again, you might ask "So what?" What's you point? Well, the point is that we are all sitting in out little rooms typing on some plastic keys in a process which was supposed to create more distance between humans. But the fact is that we are coming closer as people and becoming friends (or in some cases, adversaries). Our online communications are becoming impassioned, temperamental, defensive, supportive, derogatory, sarcastic, wry, dry and spry. In short, we are evolving into electro-organic beings! We are able to use our microprocessors in conjunction with our intellect and motor skills, to communicate on an ongoing basis. Akin to this skill was the development of language, which may have been responsible for our development from being simply furry creatures that walked a little funny to the most diverse and productive creatures on the planet (if not the universe). But this time we are developing and communicating on a much larger scale (nationally and internationally). Again, we've been doing this for a long time too, via telephone, letter, and intercontinental visits. But never with such frequency and fluency, and with so many people at once. It's a recipe for chaos, but it's happening in a highly organized fashion, and developing at a pace greater than anyone might have expected. Ironically, as with any form of competitive business, there is "patron" envy. We are free to mention names here, but we all know who the major online services are. While envy is not specifically mentioned in any of the recent messages, there seems to be a scent of it in the air. 'They've got so and so as their "official" support center'; 'They've got so and so many more users"; 'They're online time is cheaper'; 'They're online time is more cost effective'; and so on. Competition is great, but a time may someday come when these differences may not exist anymore, and we'll all be able to access all the services, sort of in the same way that phone companies work. If AT&T is my "carrier" I can call Ron, who might be on GTE and we can set up a conference call with Boris on Sprint and Brad on MCI. We'll all pay our respective carriers for the services and time we use of theirs, but if I use some AT&T and some MCI, it's all on my bill from GTE (who runs my local area). Truly a one world network of communication. In many futuristic views of life on our planet, there is the view that we will someday be one people, with one language and common goals for this race of homo-sapiens. This is desirable, in my opinion, and a step in that direction may be the kind of intercontinental communications we are experiencing on CIS and elsewhere. The next step might well be interaction, in real time, between the online services. We could access Genie from CompuServe, Delphi from PAN, and Prodigy from the MUSOBBS. This may not be a very popular idea in the corporate offices of any of these services right now, but are there any subscribers to any of these online services who *wouldn't* want to be able to have that kind of access? I think not. And what would that do for online time? It would skyrocket. Right through the roof! The result? Cheaper communications on our computers and increased profits for all the services as well as an even wider network of communication, information and cooperation. It almost sounds too good to be true. Yeah, yeah, I know, there are just too many details to work out, too many diverse sources of income and collection, and the whole competition thing is down the drain. The services would actually have to start cooperating with each other! The subscribers, on the other hand, would have no problem adjusting immediately. The stage for this kind of development is being set in a number of ways. Apple & IBM joining forces? Atari with a machine that reads IBM programs? A "Gemulator" that lets an IBM read Atari programs and a device that lets you read Mac programs on your Atari! These things are real, or close to reality, and will serve to bridge the communication breakdown between platforms. The gap between people is somewhat wider and might take more than simple reprogramming and design modifications, but it can be done. And once we are face to face (screen to screen?), up close and personal, we might discover that we're not all that different after all. We can "get along," as Rodney King questioned during the LA riots last spring. And we can cooperate in a meaningful, progressive way *IF* we are given the opportunity to do so and follow through with the effort on an individual basis. Thanks for letting me diverge form the "usual" reporting of activity in the Atari forums on CompuServe. In a way, I really don't feel I have diverged, but just reported a different scope of activity (and dreamed a little). Until we meet again... ###### ATARIUSER MAGAZINE REVIEWS ###### Copyright (c)1993 AtariUser Magazine ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- This column MAY NOT BE REPRINTED without the written permission of AtariUser Magazine. For more information, see the AtariUser reprint specifications at the end of this Z*Net issue. GFA-BASIC Toolkit, Volume 1 How-to, Hands-on Book; ST, STe, TT Designed for the beginning and intermediate GFA Basic Programmer, The GFA Basic Toolkit includes the manual and a diskette containing GFA Basic routines, functions and procedures that can be merged into GFA Basic programs in Version 2.0 or above. It is not designed to be a tutorial, but rather to provide building blocks for your own programs. The routines are written by many contributing programmers and cover topics such as Graphics, Video Effects, Basic I/O, Sound and Music, and keyboard and mouse. Each routine contains a routine number, a numerical designation of the routines compatibility with earlier versions of GFA Basic, a brief description of the routine, the filename under which the routine is stored on the accompanying Toolkit diskette, description of how the routine is called, the parameters, its use within the calling program and an example of the routine. A listing of each routine is also provided at the end of the book. I found the routines to be very well written, and as a tutorial for learning by example, each routine introduces the beginning programmer to more sophisticated methods of programming and programming style. Particularly valuable utilities are included that will prevent programmers from having to reinvent the wheel in each of their own works. Center_print displays a given text screen from the center of the video display outward. It can be used with all three screen resolutions. The mouse_up procedure holds the execution of a GFA Basic program until the mouse button is released. By using this routine, especially in compiled programs after every mouse event will help eliminate the accidental selection of another button. The most useful routines are those in the Input/Output Unit which determine the current directory path, format the floppy, set the write protect file or hidden file attribute and copy a disk file to another file name. These utilities can be used in any GFA Basic programs that write to a configuration file. The toolkit is well worth its price and is an excellent addition to anyone's library of utilities. GFA-BASIC Toolkit, Volume 1, by John Hutchinson (of Fair-Dinkum Software), $34.95 with disk from Taylor Ridge Books. -- Kevin Festner ButtonzBASIC Push-button GFA Interface Utility; ST, STe, TT, Falcon ButtonzBASIC is an attractive, mouse driven shell utility combining all aspects of GFA BASIC programming into one integrated graphic operated environment, thus replacing the GFA MENU and MENUX utilities. A GFA BASIC programmer can edit, create, compile, set compiler options, link with as many objects as desired, execute GFA BASIC Programs and even perform all file and disk operations without having to leave the environment. ButtonzBASIC can be run on any size Atari ST/STe/TT machine, and supports all ST screen resolutions. To test the effectiveness of ButtonzBASIC, I developed, compiled, linked, and ran a test program without leaving the environment. By pressing the Edit button from the ButtonzBASIC Main Screen, it was quick and easy to go between the Utility and the GFA BASIC Editor/Interpreter and back. After development on the editor, I set the compile options and compiled the source code and then linked it to the objects that I added to the Object List from ButtonzBASIC's Setup Configuration Utility. ButtonzBASIC allows the linked program to have a different name from the source code file and allows the source code to be compiled into a TTP, TOS, PRG or ACC. Without leaving the interface, I then ran the compiled program from ButtonzBASIC by using the Test function, formatted a disk, created a folder, and copied the test program to that disk. ButtonzBASIC didn't do anything that I couldn't do with GFA BASIC's included utilities or the desktop, but it did make everything easy to use and immediately at hand. The small manual accompanying ButtonzBASIC provides the barest of information on operation. However, the tool is so easy to use that the meager size of the manual didn't bother me as much as some of the questionable attempts at humor in "cute" descriptions of obvious functions such as Quit. The description accompanying, for example, the EXECUTE PROGRAM reads, "Well now, any idea what this button might do? Not to hard, is it!" Only the drummer rim-shot is missing. ButtonzBASIC is well worth the $44.95 price for those who use GFA BASIC regularly. But for occasional users, I think it might be a bit pricey for the convenience it offers. From MagicSoft/Micro Computer Depot, 224 O'Neil Court, Suite 14, Columbia, SC 29223, phone 803-788-5165. -- Kevin Festner World Class Soccer Second Class Game; Lynx Atari's latest addition to the sports library is World Class Soccer, a portable version of the worldwide sport for one or two players. Basic soccer rules and penalties apply, including throw-ins, corner kicks, and fouls. Game options allow setting the length of the game (from 10 to 90 minutes), the field conditions, and the computer difficulty level. Ball control is effortless, with automatic dribbling and easy passing and kicking controls. On defense, you can steal the ball by kicking or with a "tackle", and you have control of the goalie and all squad members. The screen scrolls from side to side, and zooms in and out of the action as needed. Even with good game ideas, World Class Soccer is sandbagged with weaknesses that hurt the gameplay. Control automatically goes to the man closest to the ball, which causes quick changes when it enters a crowd. The screen often focuses too closely on the ball making long passes impossible to coordinate, as you may control a player or goalie who is off-screen. Although teams from a hundred countries are available, the only difference is the flag shown. Graphic images and sprites are respectably drawn and animated, and look good regardless of their size. On the down side, the scaling occurs too slowly to be effective, while the scrolling is too fast and jumpy. Sounds are uninspiring, composed mostly of a bouncing soccer ball mixed with periodic whistle blows and a crude crowd cheer. This game has the ingredients for a quality soccer game, but assembles them into a disappointing ensemble that could have been better. While the hard-to-follow game action can be overcome, only devoted soccer fans will care to invest the time that World Class Soccer requires for mastery. Atari Corp., for the Atari Lynx, $29.95. --Robert Jung COPYIST DTP New Version Scores Hit MIDI; ST, STe, TT First off, Dr. T's Software is NOT gone from the Atari market, no matter how persistant the rumor. They've recently updated the best selling Atari titles, and Copyist is one of those. My first chance to experiment with Dr.T's COPYIST came a few years ago, when the earliest version of the program was released. I was fascinated with the idea of being able to turn musical ideas into a printed score without the laborious work of transcribing. I was disappointed. The Copyist used to be a painfully difficult program, unfriendly, buggy, copy-protected, and willfully ugly. Much of that has changed since the first release, and Copyist DTP has been reshaped by its programmers. Copyist DTP is no longer copy- protected, and once the simple hard drive installation is completed, you have immediate access to all of the program functions. Additionally, if you're working with Dr.T's MPE shell you can transfer from Copyist to OMEGA or X-OR inside that environment, giving you access to Dr.T's version of multitasking. The downside of this is that the program blocks access to all desk accessories. The program itself is a lot more fun to work with now. A full menu bar is now included, with key combinations available for most commands. Full mouse access helps, too, making it easier to get around inside the score that's being edited. It's now possible to easily enter new sections into a score, using the mouse and computer keyboard, and score editing is no longer torturous for the user. The remaining aggravation is that the screen is redrawn with every editing change. Copyist DTP is also flexible in both input and output. You can enter a score from the computer keyboard, if so moved, complete with full ornaments. The easiest way, of course, is to create a file using a sequencer, and import a Type 1 MIDI file (or a file from Dr.T's own sequencers, KCS and OMEGA.) Output can be generated for full scores or parts, in a variety of formats ranging from dot-matrix and laser printers to EPS and TIFF files. The manual is easy to understand, detailed without needless complexity, and does a good job of guiding the reader through the program. Copyist DTP has grown into a full professional tool, one that requires work on the part of the user (most of which is related to the art of transcribing music, rather than the program) but provides a satisfying environment for the user, and a thoroughly satisfying end product. Copyist DTP V.1.7, $399, by Dr.T's Music Software, 100 Crescent Road, Ste.1B, Needham, MA 02194 -- Steve McDonald ###### THE FUNNY FARM ###### By Bob Smith ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- It has been awhile since we visited the farm and I just thought a visit at this time of the year would warm your hearts, tickle your funny bone, provide you with some knee slapping and just get that old tummy into a side splitting guffaw. Now that we have your complete exercise program set out, it is time to go to the farm.... Every New Year we sit down with the children and try to decide if we should start a family. One of my New Year's resolutions is to take control of my life - and stop blaming the Hoover Administration. I'm still recovering from our New Year's celebration this year. Partying is such sweet sorrow. On New Year's Day the president of the company put up motivational signs all over the place that said, "Do It Now!" There was one in front of everyone's desk. In just the first week, he was amazed by the results. Three salesmen asked for a raise, the bookkeeper eloped with the accountant and the mail room boy headed west to become a movie producer. What's more difficult, being an air controller at O'Hare International Airport over the holidays -- or folding a king size contour sheet? I have a friend who keeps track of all the latest fads. He tells me this year boomerangs are coming back. On the campaign trail, George Bush had visited an old folks home. He spotted a man sitting alone and said, "Do you know who I am?" "No, I'm sorry, I don't," the man answered, "but I think they might be able to tell you up at the front desk." As governor of California, Ronald Reagan was invited to speak in Mexico City. He gave what he thought was a rousing speech, but received only polite applause when he was finished. The speaker who followed spoke in Spanish, which Reagan didn't understand, and was vigorously applauded throughout the entire speech. Trying to hide his embarrassment, Reagan began applauding sooner and longer that anyone else, until his ambassador leaned oure and whispered "I wouldn't do that if I were you. He's the translator for your speech." Ross Perot really didn't stand much chance of a chance in this year's presidential race. It's really hard for a guy with $3 billion to go around saying something's wrong with the country. It's actually a good thing we aren't all millionaires. If we were, who'd pay the taxes? We've added these recorded messages to our companies answering machine: "If you are calling to place an order, press 1." "If you are calling to send a payment, press 2." "If you are calling to complain, press 3973251973230654095." Quotes Of The Month =================== "People don't remember you for all the good things you do. They remember the time you blew a giant bubble out of your nose." - Donna Barr "People will accept your idea much more readily if you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it." - David Comins " " - Marcel Marceau "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will too late." - Ralph Waldo Emerson I often listen to the police band on my CB radio. Once I dialed 911 and dedicated a crime to my girlfriend. My sister lives in a high-crime area, but she's trying to see the bright side of her situation. For instance, the other day a burglar managed to force open one of the windows that had been stuck for years. A Texan was bragging about his property to his visiting brother-in-law from New York. "I can get into my car, drive all day, and still be on my own land." "Yeah," said the New Yorker, "I had a car like that once, too." A tourist in Las Vegas was approached by a stranger who asked, "Can you spare $25 bucks? I have no place to sleep and I haven't eaten in two days." "How do I know you're not going to just gamble it away?" "Oh, don't worry about that," replied the stranger. "Gambling money I've got." A man was hired to paint a church, but he discovered he severly under- bid the job. To make up for the loss, he figured he'd just add a little water to the paint. When he finished the job, the church looked pretty good. But after only a few days, the paint started peeling off in sheets. It looked horrible. "Oh no!" he cried in guilt and embarrassment. "Now what am I going to do?" A deep voice from above answered him: "Repaint and thin no more." I guess that's enough exercise for this month. Just remember, laughter is the best medicine, then would someone please explain to me why I keep getting these large doctor's bills. Until the next time, keep smiling. ###### Z*NET/AEO FNET SUPPORT BBS ###### Compiled by Ron Kovacs ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- *SOME* systems have not been listed as they were NOT included in a recent FNET information date file. The following systems are part of the AEO/Z*Net Online Conference in the FNET. These systems participate in the conference which receive the latest editions of Atari Explorer Online Magazine and Z*Net Atari Online magazine weekly. 8 Jeff Bath Universal ST 414-496-0724 45 Mike Hawkins The Prairie Chip ][ 307-632-7958 66 Don Liscombe The Brewery 416-683-3089 72 Russell Schwartz STEP BBS 503-297-6542 74 Lamarr Kelley H.A.U.G. BBS 205-722-0900 94 Jerry Cross Facts Line 1 313-736-3920 123 Rick Berry EastSide BBS 618-254-6077 133 Dean Lodzinski Hologram Inc. 908-727-1914 168 Bob Dolson C.C.B.B.S. 609-451-7475 181 Brett Hainley NovelConcepts BBS 713-729-7555 182 Gary Mcallister Hillside 206-362-2317 204 Steve Rider The Closet Door 408-736-8069 224 Dick Pederson Flash BBS 314-275-2040 287 Walter Hudson Starlight BBS 215-879-8886 304 Bill Scull The Twilight Zone 407-831-1613 307 Norstar PayBax BBS 302-836-4816 319 J. Townsend Atari Base 408-745-2196 390 Joe Burke Bear's Den 803-574-6738 410 Smitty ACE Information 513-233-9500 423 White Seeker BILINE BBS 303-791-2592 462 Brian Watters Atari ST Connection 209-436-8156 467 Robin Sherwood Forest 718-522-0768 478 Dennis Mcguire Spectrum Atari Group 814-833-4073 504 Quartermaster Media 2000 410-360-1356 523 Lesley-dee Dylan Leftover Hippies BBS 416-466-8931 546 Mark Antolik Bear Swamp BBS 513-644-0714 576 The Scottsman The Loch BBS 818-766-5277 592 Drazil Reptillian The O-Mayer V BBS 213-732-0229 593 Ron Kovacs Z*Net News Service 908-968-8148 595 Barry Torrance Temple of Doom 403-436-0328 596 Jay L. Jones Super 68 206-630-1261 602 Bruce Faulkner Cartoon Haven BBS 719-574-7406 610 Frank Kish The Songwriter's Den 908-859-5999 619 Milt Boren Tron 2 BBS 416-336-1236 623 Shawn Zweers Radio STation 416-934-6801 632 Clueman London Smog BBS 714-546-2152 633 Randy Rodrock The Dark STar BBS 801-269-8780 642 Wiz Hero's Haven 304-525-3339 647 Tom Allard E.H.C.R. 203-528-7693 648 Waltzer The Mosh Bit 206-574-1531 652 Mr. Pengo PengoLand 818-708-8576 655 Roger Allman Wizzard's Castle 803-469-6988 657 Scott Haynes The Round Table BBS 513-528-5833 658 Scott Haynes Cin'Tari OnLine 513-528-7463 669 Al Peterson Dateline: Atari BBS Brooklyn, NY 670 Martin Crommie Puddle City 503-289-9429 675 Stan Sharp Eleventh Hour BBS 706-796-3805 678 Kim Stahn A.C.O.R.N. 219-744-1396 685 Gary Gorski JACG BBS 201-690-5224 689 David Barker Speedy's Raceway 513-353-4098 690 Kerry Bowman Progressive Atari ST 503-686-3276 693 Chris Thorpe Z*Net South Pacific 644-4762-852 701 John Curtis Conqueror Connection 817-539-8228 702 Long John Silver Mother of All BBSs 416-332-5810 706 Bob Brodie Z*Net Golden Gate 510-373-6792 729 Adrian Gruber **StarBase1** 407-381-2610 734 Max Denebian Alternate Eternities 503-649-7915 746 Bill Butler WORLD SPACE 604-420-2647 754 Dave Lloyd Skyline BBS 303-457-0320 755 Bob Smith InnerCore 407-294-5183 756 Joseph Wilson Hidden STar Services 503-463-9022 757 Tom Denison CHAOS BBS 517-394-6852 758 David Scarpa W.M.A.U.G Junction 413-786-3870 **--DELPHI SIGN-UP--** **--GENIE SIGN-UP--** ============================|============================ To sign up for DELPHI call | To sign up for GENIE call (with modem) 800-695-4002. | (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection hit return | Upon connection type HHH once or twice. At Password: | and hit return. Wait for type ZNET and hit <return>. | the U#= prompt and type in | the following: XTX99436, | GEnie and hit return. ============================|============================ **--COMPUSERVE SIGN-UP--** ------------------ To sign up for CompuServe service call (with phone) (800) 848-8199. Ask for operator #198. You will then be sent a $15.00 free membership kit. ========================================================= **--ATARINET INFORMATION--** -------------------- If you'd like further information or would like to join AtariNet-please contact one of the following via AtariNet or Fido: Bill Scull Fido 1:363/112 AtariNet 51:1/0, Dean Lodzinski Fido 1:107/633 AtariNet 51:4/0, Terry May Fido 1:209/745 AtariNet 51:2/0, Tony Castorino Fido 1:102/1102 AtariNet 51:3/0, Don Liscombe AtariNet 51:5/0, Daron Brewood Fido 2:255/402 AtariNet 51:6/0. You can also call the Z*Net News Service at (908) 968-8148 for more info. ======================================================================== Reprints from the GEnie ST Roundtable are Copyright (c)1993, Atari Corporation and the GEnie ST RT. Reprints from CompuServe's AtariArts, AtariPro, AtariVen, or Aportfolio Forums are Copyright (c)1993, CIS. ======================================================================== Reprints from AtariUser Magazine are Copyright(c)1993, AtariUser. NO AU article MAY BE REPRINTED without the written permission of the publisher. You can subscribe and read ALL of the informative articles each and every month by contacting AU at (818) 246-6277. For $15.00 you will receive 12 issues. Send your payment to AtariUser Magazine, 249 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 332, Glendale, California, USA, 91203. Foreign delivery is $30.00 in US funds. ======================================================================== Atari is a registered trademark of Atari Corporation. Atari Falcon030, TOS, MultiTOS, NewDesk and BLiTTER, are trademarks of Atari Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this publication belong to their respective owners. ======================================================================== **--** Z*NET OFFICIAL INFORMATION **--** ========================================================= Z*Net Atari Online Magazine is a weekly online publication covering the Atari and related computer community. Material published in this issue may be reprinted under the following terms only: articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of each article reprinted. Reprint permission is granted, unless otherwise noted at the beginning of the article, to registered Atari user groups and not for profit publications. 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