Z*Net: 20-Dec-91 #9153
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 12/22/91-12:05:50 AM Z
From: aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: Z*Net: 20-Dec-91 #9153
Date: Sun Dec 22 00:05:50 1991
| (((((((( | Z*Net International Atari Online Magazine
| (( | -----------------------------------------
| (( | Decmeber 20, 1991 Issue #91-53
| (( | -----------------------------------------
| (((((((( | Copyright (c)1991, Rovac Industries, Inc.
| | Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, NJ 08846
| (( |
| (((((( | CONTENTS
| (( |
| | * The Editors Desk............................Ron Kovacs
| ((( (( | * Atari Makes Bold Push In US Market.............Seybold
| (((( (( | * Codehead Announces TOS Extention Card....Press Release
| (( (( (( | * Year In Review: CompuServe....................Ron Luks
| (( (((( | * Year In Review: AtariArts Top 100...........Ron Kovacs
| (( ((( | * Codehead To Take Over QuickST Support....Press Release
| | * Multisync Myths and The Atari ST........Gregg Anderson
| ((((((( | * Year In Review: End User Perspective.........Ed Krimen
| (( | * ATM Safety Tips.......................................
| ((((( |
| (( |
| ((((((( | ~ Publisher/Editor............................Ron Kovacs
| | ~ Editor.......................................John Nagy
| (((((((( | ~ Z*Net Newswire Ltd..........................Jon Clarke
| (( | ~ Contributing Editor.....................Bruce Hansford
| (( | ~ PD Software Reviews.....................Ron Berinstein
| (( | ~ Reporter....................................Mike Brown
| (( | ~ Assistant News Editor.......................Mike Davis
| |
|----------| $ GEnie Address....................................Z-NET
| ONLINE | $ CompuServe Address..........................75300,1642
| AREAS | $ Delphi Address....................................ZNET
| | $ Internet Address.............75300,1642@compuserve.com
| | $ America Online Address........................ZNET1991
|----------|
| Z*NET | * Z*Net:USA New Jersey...(FNET 593).......(908) 968-8148
| SUPPORT | * Z*Net:Golden Gate......(FNET 706).......(510) 373-6792
| SYSTEMS | * Z*Net:South Pacific....(FNET 693).NZ....(644) 4762-852
| | * Z*Net:South Jersey.....(FNET 168).CCBBS.(609) 451-7475
| | * Z*Net:Illinois (Garage)(FNET 621).......(618) 344-8466
| | * Z*Net:Florida (Twilight Zone)(FNET 304).(407) 831-1613
| | Fido Address 1:363/112
=======================================================================
* THE EDITORS DESK by Ron Kovacs
=======================================================================
This year in about to close and another Christmas is approaching. There
are plenty of things to say and little space to print it, however,
before we get into this week's edition, I want to thank the following
for their assistance this year.
John Nagy, Bob Brodie, Bruce Hansford, Terry Schreiber, Geoff LaCasse,
Mike Brown, Jon Clarke, Steve Rider, Ron Berinstein, Bill Scull, Mike
Austin, Stan Lowell, Mike Davis, Mike Mezaros, Darlah Potechin, John
King Tarpinian, Ed Krimen, Dr. Paul Keith, Ron Luks, Tom Byron, Steve
Lesh, Doug Hodson, Dorothy Brumleve, Bruce Kennedy, Tony Komski, Bob
Smith, and my family Lisa, Jessica and Adam for tolerating all the ups
and downs of publishing in this community and those infamous "yelling"
phone calls from the south.
If I have left anyone off the list, you know who you are and forgive my
absence of memory. I want to personally wish everyone a very safe and
heathly Christmas and an exciting 1992.
GENIE TOP 100 UTILITIES UPDATE
Two weeks ago we compiled a listing of the Top 100 downloads of
utilities on GEnie. However, we faailed to include the following file
in the list. So, we are renaming the list the Top 101 files and add
this file to the appropriate place on the list. Mistakes happen and
perhaps a glitch entered our capture buffer. Please add:
Number: 21208 Name: STARSAVE.LZH
Address: JLS Date: 911010
Approximate # of bytes: 20224
Number of Accesses: 441 Library: 2
Description: STarSaver ver. 0.50: First public release of this new
screen saver. This file contains the screen saver program, a doc file,
and a program to temporarily adjust the speed of the stars and the
timeout period. (defaults: speed 2, timeout 3 minutes) STarSaver works
on any ST, Mega, STe, or TT screen in any rez (doesn't work with add-on
cards). It does NOT use-up any ACC slots and it works in any TTP, TOS,
or PRG programs. It supports "hot corners" for instant-on and temp-
disable operations. STarSaver is memorial-ware in memory of my father
who would have been 100 years old today (Oct. 8, 91) if he were still
around. Read the doc file for further details. Use latest version of
UNLZH.PRG or other .LZH extractor
FSMGDOS BEZIER CURVES
It seems that there was a news item in ZNET a few weeks ago that
indicated that Bezier Curve support was taken out of FSMGDOS. THIS IS
NOT TRUE! FSMGDOS DOES BEZIER CURVES! It always has, and taking out
this support was never considered. There was some exchange with certain
developers over how things were supposed to work, so this is probably
where the news item started from, and somewhere there was evidentally
some incorrect information. But FSMGDOS _does_ support GEM/3 style
Bezier Curve calls.
=======================================================================
* ATARI MAKES BOLD PUSH IN US MARKET (Z*Net Exclusive)
=======================================================================
This article Copyright (c)1991 Seybold Publications, All Rights
Reserved. May NOT be re-printed in any publication without the written
permission of Seybold Publications. Information about Seybold and
subscription information is listed at the end of this article.
Atari used the Seybold Exposition to mark a new effort to penetrate the
U.S. publishing system market. It did so by taking a large booth and
demonstrating a varied assortment of products including page
composition, color image manipulation, font editing, direct output
drivers, graphics and a few other things. These products were
characterized by the same capabilities as the Atari products we have
known in the past--the ability to hold their own against all comers in
nearly any feature war we could devise.
One notable change in some of these products is an acceptance of
industry standards. They are accommodating TIFF and EPS files and
outputting PostScript--a sigificant addition if these companies are
serious about the U.S. market.
On display also, of course, was the latest Atari platform, which
provides exceptional speed, especially for its competitive price.
Atari's Professional Systems Group, which is responsible for these
products, specializes in bringing high-end desktop publishing software
from Germany. The programs on display in San Jose were picked for their
relevance to trade shops.
Unfortunately, the Professional Systems Group has dubbed its new
publishing product lineup ``Direct to Press.'' That name is unfortunate
because it bears no relation to the conventional connotation of going
direct to a printing press, a technology that is now coming to reality.
From what we can gather, ``direct to film'' is more what these Atari
products are doing--as is everyone else in the industry.
Some of the software on display was developed in Germany--using
expertise that came in part from veterans of Hell GmbH--and still showed
signs of its native language, but we were assured that it would be fully
Americanized soon. We hope so. It would be a disappointment to see
sophisticated products such as these fail here because they still looked
foreign.
We had seen a few of the products before in earlier versions--e.g.,
Calamus and PageStream--so they have already tried to crack the U.S.
market with little success. But they have been successful in other
parts of the world, and we were impressed enough with some of them to
think they warrant a good look. We'll provide a quick trip through the
booth here, with a hope that we'll get some of the software into our lab
soon to take a better look at it.
Sherlock Professional. A product we didn't see but would like to cover
later is Sherlock Professional, an OCR program that is claimed to read
up to 200 characters per second. It reportedly recognizes multiple
languages, fonts and sizes on the same page and can be taught to
recognize special characters. It comes with a built-in spelling
checker.
PageStream 2. When we last saw Soft-Logik's PageStream at a Seybold
Exposition several years ago, we quickly came to the conclusion that no
other page layout product at any level had more features. We didn't
spend any time with it this year, but we don't think its general
character has changed very much. It supports documents consisting of up
to 1,000 pages and page sizes up to 400 feet by 400 feet. (If our
calculation is right, it would take about one-half million reams of
paper to tile a 1,000-page document consisting of 400x400-foot pages.
How many trees would that be? Or, maybe we should ask, how many
forests?) PageStream sets type in sizes from to 183,000 points. (That
183,000-point size is a more manageable number--only 231 sheets of 11"
paper in the vertical dimension.)
Besides those astounding--but not necessarily meaningful--figures,
PageStream supports 24-bit color, rotating and twisting text and
graphics, full bleeds, drawing and editing Bezier curves, flowing text
around irregularly shaped graphics, Agfa Intellifont and PostScript Type
1 fonts, and a whole slew of layout and other features.
We'll return to PageStream when we get a system running in our lab.
Didot Professional for page layout
----------------------------------
In one section of the booth, Goldleaf Publishing set up a composition
program called Didot Professional with a color image manipulation
program called Retouche Professional to demonstrate how they can be used
together to produce sophisticated documents with color. Both of these
programs were developed by 3K-Computerbild in Germany, where they have
been very successful. They are being marketed in North America by
Goldleaf.
Didot Professional was developed to handle design-intensive pages, but
it has the capability of accommodating long documents--up to 100 pages,
all of which can be displayed at a time. It produces registration and
crop marks, color control bars, etc. It supports grids with a snap
feature and construction lines for alignment.
The display is very fast. One disadvantage with the display is that
displaying color requires a second screen. Goldleaf calls that an
advantage, though, becaus it enables the operator to focus one screen on
commands and the other one on the display.
Text flows into page areas, where it is treated as objects (such as
columns), based on user specifications for those objects, rather than
using the container concept. When a column is created, the screen can
display dummy text for use by a designer in visualizing the layout. A
column can be picked up and moved to a different page. Text can be
flowed around irregular shapes (objects) through an auto-trace feature
or by drawing a thread to create a bounding area.
A tagging scheme and style sheets control typographic parameters.
Styles are assigned to pages as the operator moves from page to page.
Text can be typed around circles or on curved paths. Elements can be
rotated with respect to any selected point in -mm increments (with the
screen displaying the rotated objects almost instantly).
Typography. Didot has some interesting h&j features, such as an option
to expand or condense type automatically to make it fit better. This is
a feature that must be used with extreme discretion, but used properly,
it could be a nice aid. The key issue is how much condensing or
expanding can be done without being noticed by the reader. This
sentence is being rendered at 99% of the actual width of its characters.
Will the adjustment be noticeable? This sentence will be output at
101%. These differences are substantial enough to aid the h&j program.
Whether they will be tolerable to the typographer is another question.
The maximum permissible change will depend to some extent on the design
of particular fonts.
To determine line breaks, the h&j program starts by calculating the line
based on the optimum value and then looks to either side for the closest
break point--a good start. It also permits adjustments to character
spacing. The most troublesome part of the routine is that it is based
on a TeX algorithm and hyphenates very infrequently.
Didot supports kerning based on the shape of each character, rather than
on values for specific pairs, although it also can use kerning pairs
created for PostScript Type 1 fonts, which can be read in as .AFM files.
These values then can be edited using the Didot font editor. It is
possible to indicate in style tags whether the system is to use shape
kerning or pair kerning when that particular style is in effect. (We
would like to see pair kerning used in conjunction with shape kerning so
that exception pairs can counter any problems arising when the shape
algorithm produces unwanted results.)
Kerning can be suppressed on numbers, as is useful in producing columns
of numbers.
Ragged type is formed by a simple algorithm that targets line endings to
be within a specified percentage of the full measure, with no
consideration for how one line looks with respect to surrounding ones.
Text handling. Text appears in WYSIWYG format on the page, but it can
be displayed in monospaced format with hyphenation decisions marked.
Functions available within the monospaced mode include defining and
moving blocks, changing type specifications, etc.
3K-ComputerBild has worked hard to optimize productivity. Not only is
the hardware fast, but aspects of the program have been optimized.
Keyboard shortcuts are available for nearly all operations. When the
screen is recomposing a job, if the operator moves the cursor up, the
screen quickly follows, rather than waiting for composition to be
completed.
Fonts. Didot supports fonts in Type 1 and Atari formats. A full font
editor is available for redesigning font characters or for changing
kerning pair values or shape information.
Graphics. Graphics can be created from primitives or imported.
Gradient fill options are comprehensive, including concentric gradients,
diagonal gradients, etc. Scanned or imported bitmaps can be edited
using a pixel editor.
Graphics can be stored in a library and inserted.
Using the system's graphics capabilities, a block of text such as a
headline can be projected onto a grid and distorted in a variety of
ways, after which individual characters can be modified.
Color. Color images from Retouche Professional can be imported and
manipulated, but most image manipulation is done in Retouche
Professional, which has more complete facilities. Up to eight spot
colors can be assigned, each with a different screen value. Trapping
currently is not supported, but we were told that it is expected to be
added in February.
Output. For high-resolution output, Didot Professional packages its
system in a tower called the Image Speeder. It includes a hardware
screening board that functions something like Hell's RT screening, we
were told, plus a direct driver for Ultre recorders. The developers had
previous experience working with the Hell Chromacom system. It is
possible to specify different angles and frequencies. More information
about the screening capabilities is included under Retouche
Professional.
Direct drivers for other imagesetters in the Linotype-Hell family (the
230, 300, 330, etc.) are under development; they are expected to begin
arriving in the first quarter of 1992, Goldleaf says. Both Didot
Professional and Retouche Professional also output PostScript files.
Retouche Professional CD
------------------------
Retouche Professional CD is an impressive 24-bit color manipulation
program for creating, retouching, correcting, separating and reproducing
color photos. It works closely with Didot Professional to produce four-
color documents. It was released in Europe 18 months ago as a
monochrome system, but is now available in color.
Retouche always works in 24-bit color, although it currently uses
dithering to display 24-bit color on an 8-bit screen. By the end of the
year, Goldleaf says, a 24-bit display board is expected to be completed.
Like Didot, Retouche uses two monitors--one for the tool box, menus,
dialogs, etc., and one for displaying color images being manipulated.
Image repainting on the screen is extremely fast, in part because it is
done directly through the color board, not through the operating system.
A hardware zoom function also is fast, enlarging up to 1,600%.
For image creation, Retouche has an 8-bit palette mode where the user
works with 256 colors from a total of 16.7 million. When retouching an
existing image, the complete 24-bit color spectrum is available,
accessed either through a color picker or by selecting the color from
any pixel in the image.
Two of the tools that are available are sharpening (in which case the
user can specify how great a difference there must be between nearby
pixels for sharpening to be applied) and gradation adjustments
(brightness, contrast and gray levels via a gray curve).
Retouching. Creative retouching features are comprehensive. There are
a variety of pens and brushes. Chalk can be rubbed on pictures to
darken them, to varying degrees of pressure. It is possible to draw
only on parts of an image that are darker than a selected value. Also
available are a spray can, smearing and blurring. There is an undo
feature, which stores in RAM or in virtual memory the last level of
modification. The undo function can be restricted to a single photo.
Pixels can be copied on a point-to-point basis within an image or from
one image to another.
Other features. Retouche also offers an on-screen color measuring tool,
a densitometer, a directory display of 10 thumbnails at a time and a
status report telling the percentage of the job completed at any given
time.
For package design, an image can be projected and stretched with
respect to the grid using 3D tools.
Drawing features include drawing lines using points, lines or bezier
curves.
Masks can be created manually by drawing the desired shape, generated
automatically based on color or gradation values, or defined by matching
any vector path. They can be edited by grabbing the edges and moving
them. Masks can be imported into Didot Professional and applied to
documents.
For calibration, the system scans a test print of CMYK strips from a
press or output device and automatically creates a gradation correction
file that adjusts for the color reproduction profile of the press.
Output. Retouche uses TIFF as its internal format. It can output EPS
format. When separating an image, it handles gray-component replacement
and undercolor removal, giving the user complete control over the
parameters.
Output devices supported are color proof printers and Ultre recorders,
which Retouche and Didot drive directly through the Image Speeder tower.
The package includes more than 120 hand-optimized halftone screens aimed
at maximizing quality. Goldleaf claims that the system can be used to
produce good-quality 200-line screens.
The Calamus SL family
---------------------
We have seen the Calamus page composition program many times over the
years, but in the past it has been characterized mostly by the extensive
list of text-handling features available within the main program. It
has now taken on the aura of a large family of products providing color
manipulation, multimedia, font editing, vector graphics editing, direct
drivers for some popular imagesetters and other capabilities.
To cover these expansive programs adequately will require working with
them in our lab, so our report here will summarize the main features
gleaned from relatively short demonstrations at the Seybold Exposition.
Calamus SL, developed in Germany and handled in North America by ISD
Marketing of Ontario, Canada, will be released in North America on Dec.
15 for a price of $795, including the PKS Write word processor. Calamus
enables having up to seven documents loaded simultaneously, with every
object (text or graphics) taking on any of 16.7 million colors specified
in RGB or Pantone values. Calamus separates each file into four pieces
of film for color separation output.
It uses proprietary outline font technology in the RIP to drive both the
screen and the recorder, producing identical results. Text features are
extensive, including font scaling in -point increments between 0.1-pt.
and 999.9-pt., automatic and manual kerning, editing on the page or in a
text window, search/replace based on type styles, logic/dictionary h&j,
etc.
One shortcoming of the program is that it currently doesn't support
PostScript fonts. It uses faces from Agfa (about 200), Linotype (200)
and URW (1,200), with a deal for Berthold Diamond faces nearly
finalized.
For page layout, Calamus supports multiple master-page layouts,
automatic running headers and footers, an unlimited number of columns
per page, style sheets, rulers and guides for placing elements,
rotation, a maximum page size of 19.7"x27.6", linked containers for
flowing text, and so on. It also supports time and dte stamping.
Calamus imports TIFF graphics, with support for EPS coming soon. For
color images, Calamus uses a program called Cranach Studio (see below).
Although this live link wasn't demonstrated, Calamus will be able to
launch Cranach Studio to edit an image and then return to the Calamus
document.
Output. Calamus drives printers and typesetters directly, without going
through an external RIP. Among the direct interfaces currently
available are those to the Linotype 100, 200, 300 and 500 machines
(without requiring Cora, PostScript or Densy RIPs), Agfa ProSet 9000 and
SelectSet series, and Linotype-Hell Ultre. The ``SoftRIP'' comes with a
special version of Calamus SL.
The Calamus program includes some halftone screening features that
appear to involve sophisticated development. Screening is based on the
use of supercells containing multiple halftone dots to reduce the
possibility of moire interference. The system generates elliptical,
round and square dots.
A nice feature from a user interface standpoint is that when the
operator picks either a screen angle or a screen frequency, the system
reports back what corresponding frequency or angle will be used. If the
operator changes the angle, the system automatically adjusts the
frequency, reporting the new value.
We haven't had a chance to evaluate the results, but the theory and
implementation look promising.
Cranach Studio. For color work, Calamus announced support for a new
program called Cranach Studio, a 24-bit retouching tool with separation
software. Calamus and Cranach are separate companies, but the programs
are being tightly integrated.
Among the features available in Cranach are automasking based on color
density, color correction using a histogram and tonal curve, slider bars
for adjusting contrast and intensity, autotracing with editable Bezier
curves (see below), and zooming to 800%. A Draw and Paint module offers
effects such as lacquer, watercolor, crayon and airbrush. Watercolor,
fingerpainting and oil painting are supported within the retouching
capabilities.
The autotracing feature is enabled through an add-on module called
VectorStudio that converts raster data to vector and vice versa.
Multimedia. The multimedia capability within Calamus was so new that
the documentation and brochure were available only in German. It was
shown in prototype form, running within Calamus SL.
In the demonstration, sample images and sound were played back within a
text document. A video camera had been used for input. Frames were
linked, but could be treated as individual objects. Video images were
manipulated within Calamus and output on a laser printer.
Outline Art. A supplement to Calamus SL, Outline Art is a vector
graphics editor for lines, Bezier curves, control paths and other vector
shapes. It also can be used to generate freely definable raster areas.
It includes facilities for modifying text--rotate, stretch, rasterize,
outline, compress, change to cursive and fit to circle or curved path.
The program includes a predefined, expandable library of
transformations.
Type Art font editor. One of the new products in the Atari booth was
Type Art, a designer's tool that can be used not only to edit fonts, but
also to create fonts and other graphic objects in vector format. It
works with editable Bezier curves. Built-in functions include rotation,
mirror imaging vertically and horizontally, and condensing.
Characters and graphics created or edited in this program can be loaded
directly into Calamus in normal, outline, shadow or rotated style.
PKS Write. Calamus supports an optional word processor, called PKS
Write, which we haven't seen. Features include support for Gem,
importing of text in Calamusformat, manipulation of text rules and style
information, search/replace based on style or not, footnotes, index
generation, macros for document processing, and popup menus. It runs
within or outside of Calamus.
Avant Vector. Codehead Software demonstrated a raster-to-vector
converter called Avant Vector that traces bitmaps and converts them to
vector data so they take less storage space and can be scaled freely.
It supports .PI3, .PC3, .IMG, .BLD, .PIC and .PAC formats, plus .TIF,
.IMG and .IFF.
Editing facilities include functions such as changing curves to corners,
selecting all points to skew them or fill them, rotating based on the
center or a corner of the object, and drawing and filling objects. All
changes are displayed nearly instantaneously.
Objects can be resized, mirrored, grouped and acted on, saved on the
clipboard for later access, and output. Alignment features include a
crosshair cursor and a snap-to grid. The user can specify the
tolerances when defining curves or other functions. Nine preset levels
of precision are available.
Avant Vector is viewed as a candidate in the market for logo generation
and sign output using an optional plotter driver.
Three versions of the product are available. The entry level supports
autotracing and saving, but not editing. The middle range adds all
editing capabilities, but no plotter output. Avant Plot includes
everything, most notably drivers for plotters and cutters.
Repro Studio. One product we didn't have time to look at is called
Repro Studio. It is described as being similar to Adobe Photoshop, but
working only in black and white. It scans and manipulates images to 256
gray levels in TIFF, GIF and PICT formats.
It includes a handheld gray-scale scanner that can scan large images in
multiple passes and merge the data.
Repro Studio has been available in Germany for a few months, and it will
be coming to the U.S. soon.
Hardware
--------
The Atari platform on display was the TT030, featuring a 32-MHz 68030
processor with on-chip cache and memory management. Memory from 2 to 26
MB is supported. A 48.6-MB disk is standard, an 83.9-MB one is
optional. Atari's use of 64-bit-wide video memory and a 68882 math
coprocessor provides extremely fast screen redrawing. Screen resolution
options are 1,280x960 (19" monochrome), 640x480 (16 colors, 14") and
320x480 (256 colors, 14"). Atari doesn't offer a gray-scale monitor,
but it will support some from other manufacturers.
Atari says that a 68040 version will be available next year, as will a
multitasking version of the Gem operating system.
Product pricing
---------------
The entire hardware and software product lines would be too extensive to
list. Here is a sample.
Hardware. The standard TT030 lists for $3,500. A 14" color monitor
costs $550. A 20" Mitsubishi color monitor lists for $2,670. A 19"
TTM 194 monochrome monitor is priced at $1,000. A TTM 195 costs $1,400.
A 6-ppm, 300-dpi, 8+"x11" laser printer lists for $1,300. A 150-dpi
Mitsubishi dye-sublimation color printer costs $14,000. A BridgIt
(Ultre-based) recorder is priced at $28,000. An Ethernet interface can
be added for $500.
A 5,000-dpi Optotech scanner sells for $10,000-$40,000.
Goldleaf puts together a package that includes a lot of customized
hardware and software, described elsewhere.
Software. List prices of some software products are:
Didot Professional, $1,000.
Retouche CD, $2,000.
Image Speeder, $19,000.
Sherlock Professional, $899.
Calamus Font Editor, $100.
PKS Write, $100.
Avant Vector: entry level, $199.
Mid-level, $495.
Avant Plot, $895.
Repro Studio, $895 (including handheld scanner).
THE SEYBOLD REPORTS from Seybold Publications
Subscription Rates (December 1, 1991)
US CAN FORIEGN JAPAN*
Seybold Report on Desktop Publishing
(12 Issues) ............................ $225 $231 $243 Y45,000
Seybold Report on Publishing Systems
(22 Issues) ............................ $336 $348 $372 Y69,000
Combined subscription to both Reports
........................................ $468 $486 $522 Y96,800
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Copyright (c)1991, Seybold Publications
=======================================================================
* CODEHEAD ANNOUNCES THE TOS EXTENSION CARD Press Release
=======================================================================
How would you like to have a BRAND NEW COMPUTER, with system software
that makes it the equal of anything else on the market ... for less than
$140?
Well, now you CAN!
CodeHead Software is proud to announce the TEC -- the TOS Extension
Card! This amazing little circuit board, developed by Germany's
Artifex, allows you to use the very latest version of Atari TOS (2.06)
in your existing 520ST, 1040ST, or Mega ST!
That's right! Now, you can have the same excellent new system software
that owners of Mega STes and TT030s are enjoying, without spending
megabucks for a whole new computer system. In fact, the price for this
upgrade, including the board, is only a little bit more than the price
to upgrade from TOS 1.0 to TOS 1.4!
The TEC is a tiny card that will fit in ANY model of ST computer,
regardless of design. It is compatible with existing upgrades, such as
monitor interface boards or processor cache cards. The low price
includes the ROMs containing TOS 2.06 -- and there sure are lots and
lots of new goodies in those little chips!
What TOS 2.06 Can Do for You
----------------------------
TOS 2.06 is a MAJOR upgrade to the ST's operating system; it's a vastly
more significant upgrade than from TOS 1.0 to TOS 1.4 (Rainbow TOS). The
most noticeable change is the new desktop, which has many of the
features of the popular commercial alternate desktops (and some unique
features too!), but with two BIG advantages: it does not use large
amounts of RAM, and it does not need to be loaded from disk.
Some of the features of the TOS 2.06 desktop:
o Programs, files, and folders can be placed directly on the desktop and
started with a double click.
o Up to 20 programs or documents can be assigned to the ST's function
keys and started with a single keypress.
o Data files can be "dragged" and dropped on program files, which starts
the program and automatically loads the document! Some programs even
support multiple document files in this manner.
o Each file on your disk can have its own unique icon, or you can use a
common icon type for each type of file. New icons can be created and
added to the system.
o Keyboard commands for almost everything! And not only can you control
the new desktop with the keyboard (as well as the mouse), you can also
redefine any of the key commands to suit your own tastes!
o A powerful file search function, that lets you find and select files
that match your specified criteria.
o Window management is considerably enhanced; scrolling has been sped
up, and selected files can remain selected even if you scroll the
window to a different area of the file list.
o Up to seven desktop windows can be open at once, and you can open
directory windows with simple key presses -- even change a window to
show a different drive without closing and reopening it.
o The "View" menu now has an "unsorted" option, for showing the actual
order of files and folders in a directory.
o Any character in the "upper half" of the ST's font can be typed in by
holding the Alternate key and typing its ASCII number on the numeric
keypad.
o Many of the special functions of the desktop (like copying, renaming,
etc.) can now operate in "batch mode", to let you quickly rename or
show info for a group of selected files, for example.
o The bootup sequence now includes a graphic display of the Atari Fuji
logo, and a memory test, and a configurable bootup delay that allows
hard drives time to power up. It's also possible to bypass the AUTO
folder entirely by holding Control during bootup.
o Internal changes in the TOS program code result in very noticeable
performance improvements in many areas.
o ...and of course, lots more. This list barely shows the tip of the
iceberg, in fact.
The TOS Extension Card
----------------------
Because the new TOS 2.06 is located at a different address and requires
more space in the ROMs, you can't simply pull out your old ROMs and plug
in the new ones. This is where the TEC comes in!
The TOS Extension Card can be installed in any model of ST within
minutes. Its size is a mere 2.5" x 2.5", and its unique design allows
it to be placed almost anywhere inside the case of the computer. This
means that it will even work if you have a hardware accelerator, MS-DOS
emulator, or graphic card already installed. Some simple soldering is
required to install the base model of the TEC; any authorized dealer
should be able to handle it easily.
There are also two other configurations of the TEC that are 100% plug-in
solutions, requiring no soldering:
o The TECbridge BUS card, which plugs into the processor bus of the Mega
ST.
o The TECbridge CPU, for computers which have socketed 68000 chips. This
option plugs into the CPU socket, and requires that there be enough
room above the CPU within the case.
The Price
---------
The retail price of the TOS Extension Card is $139.00. This price
includes the TEC board, Atari's official TOS 2.06 ROMs, a disk
containing the official Atari system utilities (including the new
XCONTROL Control Panel), and a manual describing the installation of the
TEC and the new features of TOS 2.06. The TECbridge BUS and TECbridge
CPU options are priced at $155.00.
The TEC will begin shipping on January 10, 1992 (maybe even sooner,
depending on how long it takes to translate the manual); advance orders
are being accepted now. Of course, we won't charge your credit card or
cash your check until your order has been shipped. To place an advance
order for the TEC, call the CodeHead order desk at 213-386-5735.
Mastercard, Visa, and American Express accepted.
CodeHead Software
P.O. Box 74090
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel 213-386-5735
Fax 213-386-5789
=======================================================================
YEAR IN REVIEW: 1991
COMPUSERVE YEAR END SUMMARY
by Ron Luks
=======================================================================
In 1991, CompuServe programmers delivered a major rewrite to the LIBRARY
software. Some of the changes were immediately visible, including the
ability to search all available libraries in a forum from inside any
individual library. Other changes, and new transfer protocols will be
available in 1992. Much of the internal code was rewritten for improved
speed and more efficient keyword searching.
Special "hooks" were implemented that will be useful for terminal
software that supports CompuServe's HMI (host-micro interface)
protocols, such as the CompuServe Information Manager. Pressure will
continue to be exerted on CIS to release an Atari specific version of
this program.
QuickCIS, the automatic navigator program written by Jim Ness, was
updated frequently in 1991 to take advantage of these changes in the CIS
software.
Look for a similar rewrite and improvement in the CIS messaging software
sometime in 1992. Details of these changes will be available in Z*net
Online.
A new sysop, John Davis, was added to the staff of the AtariArts Forum.
John is a specialist in music systems and MIDI and has an established
reputation as music editor for ST Informer. Dave Groves, longtime Atari
sysop, has opened up his own forum for Diabetes and Hypoglycemia
Support.
The Atari Portfolio Forum was named an official online support site by
Atari Corp. in 1991. With active participation by Atari Corp. and all
major Portfolio vendors, this forum rapidly established itself as THE
place to visit for Portfolio owners. A year end programming marathon
led by sysop BJ GLeason, newsletter editor David Stewart, and programmer
Don Messerli, helped push the total number of Portfolio specific files
near the 600 mark by year end. The APORTFOLIO Forum was a beta test
site for Atari Corp. and Spectra Publishing for PowerBASIC, the
Portfolio BASIC programming language and compiler. Currently, testing
continues on Hyperlist, the eagerly awaited outliner/TODO program for
the Portfolio.
Back in the ST/STe/TT world, Atari Forum staff and members helped beta
test new programs for Double Click Software and the soon-to-be-released
FLASH II.
In 1991, CompuServe expanded 9600 bps support with over 200 new nodes
across the USA. This growth will accelerate in 1992 with even more
cities being added to the high-speed list.
International access was given a big boost with drastic rate reductions
for European members. Access from the United Kingdom is now available
in some cities for as little as a $.25/hr (yes, 25 cents) surcharge over
normal CIS connect charges. Service from Germany is as low as a
$2.50/hr surcharge. Daytime rates are only slightly higher. These
reduced rates have brought significant numbers of Atari users from these
countries into the US Atari Forums. The general manager of Atari (UK)
is now online and a special promotion will be offered in 1st Qtr 1992 to
bring online even more UK members and exciting new software previously
available only in Europe. Total CompuServe membership now exceeds
880,000 individual accounts with access from more cities worldwide than
any other information service.
You can access the Atari areas on CompuServe by typing any of the
following commands at any ! prompt.
GO ATARI8 - Atari 8-Bit Forum
GO ATARIARTS - Atari ST Arts Forum
GO ATARIPRO - Atari ST Productivity Forum
GO ATARIVEN - Atari Vendor Forum
GO APORTFOLIO - Atari Portfolio Forum
GO ATARIFF - Atari File Finder Area
=======================================================================
YEAR IN REVIEW: 1991
TOP 100 ATARI-ARTS DOWNLOADS ON COMPUSERVE
Compiled by Ron Kovacs
=======================================================================
This listing has been compiled via a capture of all the files uploaded
to the CompuServe Atari-Arts Forum. Files uploaded between December 1,
1990 through November 30, 1991.
Rank Filename Bytes Access Date
--------------------------------------------------------------
1. VGIF12.ARC/Bin Bytes: 95104, Count: 252, 16-Feb-91
2. GV.LZH/Bin Bytes: 70784, Count: 245, 27-May-91
3. Z9120.TXT/Asc Bytes: 2676, Count: 211, 15-May-91
4. BODPAR.LZH/Bin Bytes: 55040, Count: 169, 02-Jun-91
5. SEXYTR.LZH/Bin Bytes: 39296, Count: 165, 20-Jul-91
6. STR723.ARC/Bin Bytes: 59055, Count: 161, 07-Jun-91
7. STR709.ARC/Bin Bytes: 52251, Count: 152, 01-Mar-91
8. BIGONE.ARC/Bin Bytes: 106456, Count: 147, 28-Dec-90
9. DMLTNM.ARC/Bin Bytes: 17113, Count: 131, 23-Jun-91
10. HOT.LZH/Bin Bytes: 59904, Count: 126, 02-Aug-91
11. STR712.ARC/Bin Bytes: 47625, Count: 124, 22-Mar-91
12. STR713.ARC/Bin Bytes: 66232, Count: 123, 29-Mar-91
13. STR720.ARC/Bin Bytes: 47298, Count: 121, 17-May-91
14. ZNT549.ARC/Bin Bytes: 30464, Count: 118, 15-Dec-90
15. STR701.ARC/Bin Bytes: 56733, Count: 118, 04-Jan-91
16. SMALL.CO/Asc Bytes: 27121, Count: 117, 12-Jul-91
17. STR710.ARC/Bin Bytes: 56366, Count: 117, 08-Mar-91
18. NEWLIB.TXT/Asc Bytes: 14097, Count: 115, 09-Oct-91
19. STR703.ARC/Bin Bytes: 59170, Count: 114, 18-Jan-91
20. COLONY.ARC/Bin Bytes: 42744, Count: 113, 31-Jul-91
21. Z9121.ARC/Bin Bytes: 28416, Count: 112, 18-May-91
22. STR744.LZH/Bin Bytes: 30720, Count: 112, 08-Nov-91
23. TRON1M.LZH/Bin Bytes: 236032, Count: 110, 19-May-91
24. STR715.ARC/Bin Bytes: 49004, Count: 108, 12-Apr-91
25. STR705.ARC/Bin Bytes: 31568, Count: 107, 01-Feb-91
26. STR745.LZH/Bin Bytes: 48290, Count: 105, 15-Nov-91
27. ZN9109.ARC/Bin Bytes: 37376, Count: 104, 09-Mar-91
28. STR719.ARC/Bin Bytes: 66519, Count: 104, 10-May-91
29. STR739.ARC/Bin Bytes: 50157, Count: 104, 28-Sep-91
30. STR652.ARC/Bin Bytes: 67689, Count: 104, 28-Dec-90
31. STR717.ARC/Bin Bytes: 88970, Count: 103, 26-Apr-91
32. STR707.ARC/Bin Bytes: 41998, Count: 102, 15-Feb-91
33. Z9148.ARC/Bin Bytes: 33536, Count: 101, 16-Nov-91
34. STR716.ARC/Bin Bytes: 53276, Count: 101, 20-Apr-91
35. STR704.ARC/Bin Bytes: 45851, Count: 100, 25-Jan-91
36. STR724.ARC/Bin Bytes: 71097, Count: 100, 14-Jun-91
37. Z9144.TXT/Asc Bytes: 8320, Count: 99, 19-Oct-91
38. STR714.ARC/Bin Bytes: 58880, Count: 99, 05-Apr-91
39. STR722.ARC/Bin Bytes: 57548, Count: 98, 31-May-91
40. MONOP3.LZH/Bin Bytes: 52039, Count: 97, 02-Jul-91
41. SARAH.ARC/Bin Bytes: 39296, Count: 95, 24-Dec-90
42. REDHOT.LZH/Bin Bytes: 51840, Count: 95, 11-Aug-91
43. ZNT914.ARC/Bin Bytes: 33536, Count: 94, 03-Feb-91
44. STR735.ARC/Bin Bytes: 55007, Count: 94, 30-Aug-91
45. Z9111.ARC/Bin Bytes: 35328, Count: 93, 22-Mar-91
46. Z9140.ARC/Bin Bytes: 32384, Count: 93, 20-Sep-91
47. STR738.ARC/Bin Bytes: 55853, Count: 93, 20-Sep-91
48. HOTSEP.LZH/Bin Bytes: 33280, Count: 92, 11-Aug-91
49. SPR034.TXT/Asc Bytes: 10648, Count: 92, 31-Aug-91
50. STR726.ARC/Bin Bytes: 50795, Count: 91, 28-Jun-91
51. STR702.ARC/Bin Bytes: 48604, Count: 90, 11-Jan-91
52. STR746.LZH/Bin Bytes: 40294, Count: 90, 22-Nov-91
53. Z9122.ARC/Bin Bytes: 28032, Count: 89, 25-May-91
54. Z9105.ARC/Bin Bytes: 48384, Count: 89, 12-Feb-91
55. Z9117.ARC/Bin Bytes: 35200, Count: 89, 27-Apr-91
56. ZN9108.ARC/Bin Bytes: 22400, Count: 89, 02-Mar-91
57. Z9142.ARC/Bin Bytes: 35456, Count: 88, 04-Oct-91
56. STR721.ARC/Bin Bytes: 66415, Count: 88, 24-May-91
57. Z9138.ARC/Bin Bytes: 40960, Count: 87, 15-Sep-91
58. CEPS2.TXT/Asc Bytes: 4844, Count: 86, 13-Apr-91
59. STR740.ARC/Bin Bytes: 42699, Count: 84, 04-Oct-91
60. STBOOK.TXT/Asc Bytes: 3746, Count: 83, 25-Aug-91
61. Z9123.ARC/Bin Bytes: 32640, Count: 82, 01-Jun-91
62. Z9116.ARC/Bin Bytes: 27904, Count: 82, 20-Apr-91
63. STR742.ARC/Bin Bytes: 67884, Count: 82, 25-Oct-91
64. Z9141.ARC/Bin Bytes: 32000, Count: 81, 28-Sep-91
65. GRIDWA.ARC/Bin Bytes: 45824, Count: 81, 25-May-91
66. TRAFIC.LZH/Bin Bytes: 8902, Count: 80, 03-Jul-91
67. Z9125.ARC/Bin Bytes: 29440, Count: 79, 15-Jun-91
68. Z9149.ARC/Bin Bytes: 32128, Count: 79, 23-Nov-91
69. STR730.ARC/Bin Bytes: 40525, Count: 79, 26-Jul-91
70. STR725.ARC/Bin Bytes: 40704, Count: 78, 21-Jun-91
71. Z9115.ARC/Bin Bytes: 40704, Count: 77, 13-Apr-91
72. STR734.ARC/Bin Bytes: 47779, Count: 77, 23-Aug-91
73. Z9133.ARC/Bin Bytes: 29952, Count: 75, 10-Aug-91
74. Z9118.ARC/Bin Bytes: 39424, Count: 75, 04-May-91
75. NOIDS.ARC/Bin Bytes: 43904, Count: 75, 22-Aug-91
76. Z9112.ARC/Bin Bytes: 35456, Count: 74, 29-Mar-91
77. Z9119.ARC/Bin Bytes: 30080, Count: 74, 11-May-91
78. STR718.ARC/Bin Bytes: 51188, Count: 74, 03-May-91
79. Z9113.ARC/Bin Bytes: 36096, Count: 72, 06-Apr-91
80. STR736.ARC/Bin Bytes: 49952, Count: 71, 06-Sep-91
81. STR747.LZH/Bin Bytes: 64981, Count: 71, 29-Nov-91
82. STR737.ARC/Bin Bytes: 63777, Count: 71, 13-Sep-91
83. QRT.LZH/Bin Bytes: 80631, Count: 70, 07-Aug-91
84. CEPS1.TXT/Asc Bytes: 3192, Count: 70, 08-Apr-91
85. STR727.ARC/Bin Bytes: 61717, Count: 70, 05-Jul-91
86. STR743.ARC/Bin Bytes: 47406, Count: 70, 01-Nov-91
87. Z9146.LZH/Bin Bytes: 24704, Count: 69, 03-Nov-91
88. Z9143.ARC/Bin Bytes: 42752, Count: 69, 19-Oct-91
89. STR732.ARC/Bin Bytes: 51956, Count: 69, 09-Aug-91
90. STR729.ARC/Bin Bytes: 34944, Count: 69, 19-Jul-91
91. STR741.ARC/Bin Bytes: 87842, Count: 69, 18-Oct-91
92. EXPLDI.TXT/Asc Bytes: 2688, Count: 68, 20-Aug-91
93. AIMOFR.TXT/Asc Bytes: 3301, Count: 68, 18-May-91
94. Z9136.ARC/Bin Bytes: 37632, Count: 67, 31-Aug-91
95. STR731.ARC/Bin Bytes: 62957, Count: 67, 02-Aug-91
96. BOING.LZH/Bin Bytes: 37643, Count: 67, 08-Sep-91
97. WAACE.TXT/Asc Bytes: 9630, Count: 67, 12-Oct-91
98. ROBOTZ.LZH/Bin Bytes: 82688, Count: 65, 18-Jan-91
99. STR733.ARC/Bin Bytes: 37052, Count: 65, 16-Aug-91
100. Z9145.ARC/Bin Bytes: 39168, Count: 61, 26-Oct-91
=======================================================================
* CODEHEAD TO TAKE OVER QUICK ST SUPPORT Press Release
=======================================================================
NEWSFLASH! As of January 1, 1992, CodeHead Software will be taking over
worldwide development and distribution of the popular Quick ST 3.0
software accelerator!
Darek Mihocka, the original creator of Quick ST, is selling the flagship
product of Branch Always Software in order to spend more time developing
a PC based Atari ST emulator.
According to Darek, "The response to my emulator demo at the Chicago
Atarifest was very positive. In order to bring the emulator to market
in a timely fashion, it became clear that I couldn't do that while at
the same time trying to develop new versions of Quick ST. Both products
would ultimately suffer. In the capable hands of CodeHead Software,
Quick ST will continue to exist and be improved upon, and ST and TT
users can look forward to a long life for the product that speeds up
their machines. It's a win-win situation for everyone."
Quick ST 3 is a program that intercepts GEM's screen output routines,
and replaces them with highly optimized assembly language code that is
much faster. Windows pop open, graphics appear instantly, text zaps
onto the screen at high speed, and everything you do with your computer
takes less time. It's an indispensable utility for all owners of Atari
computers, since the built-in screen output routines are written in
slow, inefficient C code.
CodeHead Software is well-known for their line of utility and
productivity solutions (and now graphics software as well), and Quick ST
is a logical extension of that line. Charles F. Johnson, co-owner of
CodeHead, said, "We're quite excited about Quick ST, and are looking
forward to supporting this excellent product; and since we've purchased
the source code, you can also look forward to further development of the
program." Quick ST is now the only US-made screen accelerator that is
still being actively supported.
CodeHead will also be handling updates from older versions of Quick ST.
You can upgrade to the latest version by returning your original Quick
ST 2.x master disk to CodeHead Software along with a check or money
order for $20. Owners of Softrek's Turbo ST (any version) may also
upgrade to Quick ST 3 by sending in your Turbo ST master disk and
$20.00.
The retail price of Quick ST 3 is $34.95; to order, contact your local
dealer or call the CodeHead order desk at 213-386-5735. Mastercard,
Visa, and American Express accepted.
CodeHead Software
P.O. Box 74090
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel 213-386-5735
Fax 213-386-5789
=======================================================================
* MULTISYNC MYTHS AND THE ATARI ST by Gregg Anderson
=======================================================================
The following article is reprinted in Z*Net by permission of AtariUser
magazine and Quill Publishing. It MAY NOT be further reprinted without
specific permission of Quill. AtariUser is a monthly Atari magazine,
available by subscription for $18 a year. For more information on
AtariUser, call 800-333-3567.
Most St owners know the ST uses different video signals for its color
and monochrome modes. You may have read about the monochrome SM124's 70
cycle vertical refresh rate (how often per second the screen redraws
itself from top to bottom) and its sharp, flicker-free display. Less
publicized is the RGB (color) SC1224's 60 cycle refresh rate. What's
NOT common knowledge is that the ST also uses two different HORIZONTAL
scan frequencies (the rate at which screen data is drawn left to right).
So what? It's not a problem--unless you want to use a multiscan monitor
instead of two Atari monitors. Lets face it, having a single monitor
that handles all three resolutions and provides a larger screen to boot
has its attractions. Another attraction is Atari TT, add-on ST/TT
graphics card, and even MS-DOS compatibility.
The Atari monochrome display is close to one of the standard VGA modes,
and thus fairly VGA compatible. Most multiscans will handle it just
fine. Unfortunately, the color display is based on IBM's old CGA video
mode and few VGA or multiscan monitors bother to support it anymore. So
why not just use an old CGA or EGA monitor? Don't even think of it! If
you do you'll likely damage your monitor, your computer, or both. Those
old units were designed for a TTL (digital) signal and the ST uses an
ANALOG video signal, and the two are just not compatible in any way,
shape, or form.
So while the advantages of a single 'all-res' monitor are fairly
obvious, there are some disadvantages to using a multiscan with your ST.
Multiscans tend to be rather expensive, with retail costs up to and over
$1,000, though most can be found in the $400 to $600 range via mail
order. You'll also need a video adapter (switchbox) to use a multiscan
with your ST, and this will add another $100h and you'll fill the entire
screen.
Atari ST Video Display Frequencies & Monitor Data
Vertical Horizontal Claimed Actual Dot
Monitor Refresh(Hz) Scan(Khz) Screen Display Pitch
------------------------------------------------------------------
SM124 Mono (hi res) 70 35.1 12.0" 9.5" .?
SC1224 Color 60 15.7 12.0" 10.0" .385
Multiscan (desired) 50-90 15.7-38.0 14.0" 13.0" .28
Your first and most obvious choice is using two Atari Monitors. The
SM124 offers a superb monochrome display that's unmatched by ANY multi-
scan monitor and is reasonably priced. The SC1224, while no barn
burner, is a good monitor for the money and can handle simple word
processing or data-base/spreadsheet work with few problems.
Unfortunately, its .38" dot pitch is just not up to handling anything
requiring detailed displays such as drafting, cad/cam, and so on.
Your second choice is one of the 'Pre-Packaged' multiscan systems for
the Atari ST such as those from Omnimon Peripherals (OPI, formerly
WuzTek) or Talon. Both are solid units that combine excellent color and
high resolution displays with a reasonable price and should satisfy any
users' needs. Best of all, both come as simple, pre-tested 'plug-and-
play' units that eliminate the chance of incompatibility.
If you already have a multiscan or want the 'very best' display possible
and don't really care about cost (are there really such people?), you'll
need an interface to connect it to your ST. Even more importantly,
you'll need a way of switching between color and monochrome modes. Of
several available, I've tested OPI's OMNIX-2 and Talon's Omniswitch.
Each provides the identical display.
OPI's interface is a small 'solid state' box smaller than a deck of
cards that connects out of sight between your ST and its monitor. To
change resolutions, OPI supplied a thin 'wafer-switch' that you can put
almost anywhere. This switch also provides the ability to force a 're-
sync' if the monitor loses the video sync signal. OPI also supplies
software to let you change resolutions without having to re-boot, but it
requires a lot of RAM and the commercial program "Revolver" to use it.
The OPI includes interface, cables, and software.
Talon, on the other hand, seemed more interested in flexibility and
expansion. Their interface is a large (11 X 3.5 X 2") unit with two
mechanical push buttons that has to sit within reach of the user. To
compensate for its size, the Talon comes with built-in DB-9 and DB-15
connectors and can act as a switch box for dual Atari monitors. Talon
also includes a built-in a switch box for two secondary disk drives (B &
C) and also includes RCA connectors for audio and B&W Composite Video.
Optional is Talon's unique GEM patching program to allow 'on the fly'
resolution switching with a custom external switchbox. It lacks the
PI's re-sync capabilities, and some users report having to try several
units to get a stable one. The product is more expensive than the OPI
and does not include cables.
Other interfaces are available from IB COMPUTERS, RIO, TOAD, and JOPPA,
several of which advertise in AtariUser magazine.
MONITOR TEST RESULTS
Though I tested a number of multiscan monitors for ST compatibility, I
couldn't test all of them. The '*' indicates that I didn't personally
test this unit and the compatible/not compatible call is based on the
manufacturer statements or owner reports.
OPI Omnimon Rainbow/ACER 7015/MAG COMPTRONIC PMV14C Plus: This monitor
provides excellent compatibility with the ST and does so at a VERY
reasonable price. The color mode is at least as good if not better than
Atari's SC1224. The monochrome mode, on the other hand isn't quite as
sharp as the SM124's. Despite this, the PMV14C's display is more than
adequate for CAD/CAM, DTP, Drafting, or any other high-resolution use.
The positioning controls, unfortunately, are behind the monitor.
PRINCTON ULTRA-12*: A friend who built his own interface described the
Ultra-12 as 'perfect'. This is understandable since the Ultra-12's 12"
screen is almost identical the Atari monitors' and, as a rule, the
smaller the screen the sharper the display.
PRINCTON ULTRA-14: Works and syncs nicely. While the color modes were
excellent, the unit I tested suffered a background 'waver' in monochrome
mode. I'd estimate the Princton Ultra-14 to be slightly superior to the
Mag Computronic PMV14C.
Sony CPD-1302: This unit rolled uncontrollably with both interfaces.
This is because Sony uses a custom DP-9 pin-out that requires a special
adapter for their sync signal. Generally speaking the 1302 should have
a good to outstanding display in all video modes due to its .26 dot
pitch.
NEC 3D: Though it's color mode wasn't as sharp as the OPI's, the NEC
had the best monochrome display I saw during this test. The best
feature of the NEC is it's built-in ability to remember video display
modes and screen positions. This eliminates having to re-center or re-
size the ST's screen display when changing modes (after an initial
setting). Also nice is that ALL controls are conveniently located in
front of the monitor. Along with Sony, the NEC is one of the most
expensive 14" multiscans on the market today.
Mitsubishi FA3415ATK*: This one should work and has received VERY high
reviews in several IBM specific magazines for brightness and clarity.
Mitsubishi Diamond Scan 1381*: Talon Technologies has tested this unit
and found that it works with the ST. However the Diamond Scan has
received less than glowing reviews for clarity and crispness in several
MS-DOS related magazines.
Samsung Model CN 4551*: Another unit tested and approved by Talon.
Panasonic PanaSync C1391*: This one has gotten raves both for picture
and price, as it is apparently being sold out at a major discount as low
as $329 in mail order ads.
The following lists are based on manufacturer's published
specifications, but NOT confirmed by testing.
These monitors 'should' work with the ST.
Relisys RE-5155* Cordata CMC-141M*
AOC CM324* Mircovitec 1019/SP*
Electrohome ECM-1310U* AOC CM326*
Nanao FlexScan 9060S* Idek Multiflat Digiana MF-5015*
Acer 710VH*
These monitors are NOT compatible with the ST.
Seiko 1440/1450 ViewSonic 4
Samtron SC-428V* Sony CPD 1304*
NEC 4D/5D* Samtron SC-431V*
Mitsuba 710VH* Dell Super VGA*
AOC CM325* Goldstar 1450*
Amdek AM/738* NEC-2A* Tatung CM-1496X*
All Packard Bells* All EGA/CGA monitors*
What to look for in a Multiscan:
1) Make sure the monitor is a true multiscan and NOT a Tri-Sync or
"mulitsync", limited to standard VGA modes. Some multiscans
advertise CGA/EGA compatibility based on using a VGA card that
converts EGA/CGA to VGA frequencies. That won't work on your ST.
2) Be POSITIVE that the unit handles not only 60 and 70 Hz vertical
refresh rates but the 15.7 and 35.1 KHz horizontal sweep frequencies
as well. This is where most multiscans and VGA monitors fall flat on
their faces.
3) Look for a dot pitch of .28 or smaller, and a medium to short
phospor. The smaller the dot pitch the sharper the image should be,
and a long persistence phosphor is useful only if you're into
interlacing, something that ST doesn't normally do.
4) Unless you pick the NEC, you'll have to get used to the display
shifting some to the right when going from color to monochrome (and
visa-versa when going the other direction). That or spend some time
adjusting the size and horizontal position controls to keep things
centered each time you change resolutions. Try before you buy!
Both the OPI and Talon fit all four requirements. As a result, it's
pretty hard to justify spending lots of hard to find cash on a build-it-
yourself system unless you already have access to a multiscan or, like
me, are a pathological perfectionist. Yes, you can get a better display
than the pre-packaged units, but doing so may cost you some major
dollars.
As I said, I'm a pathological perfectionist, so I picked the NEC 3D.
Available at $600 and up via mail order, its display was outstanding and
its ability to remember the ST's display modes was just too tempting for
me to resist, even at the price.
Still want to 'roll your own'? Test the monitor you want BEFORE buying
it. Make NO exceptions unless you can afford another doorstop.
Omnimon Peripherals Inc (Formerly WuzTek), 1 Technology Drive, E-301,
Irvine CA, 92718, (714)-753-9253
Talon Technologies Inc., 243 N. Highway 101, STE. 11, Solona Beach CA,
92075, (619)-792-6511
(And more monitor companies than space allows us to list here, see your
dealer for details.)
Gregg Anderson
BIO: Gregg Anderson is a member of the Far East Atari ST Club, Yokota
AFB Japan. A long time Atari supporter and registered developer, he has
had over 25 articles printed in various Atari-related magazines over the
past four years.
=======================================================================
YEAR IN REVIEW: 1991
AN END USER'S PERSPECTIVE
by Ed Krimen
=======================================================================
Looking upon 1991, I don't remember a whole lot of revolutionary Atari
events taking place. I think most of the development for the market,
not just from Atari itself, but from developers and dealers, was mainly
rebuilding and redeveloping a strategy for the future. End-users
wouldn't have noticed it because closed-door development is just that
-- private; the public isn't supposed to know about it.
At this point, many Atari doom-sayers will be thinking, "What is this
guy smoking? I want a pair of his rose-colored glasses. Atari's not
going to survive past next week. Their stock is down; dealers are
closing; user groups are losing members; developers are leaving the
market; and users are dumping their STs and buying clones. Jump ship
before you go down like the Coleco Adam."
We all know that Atari in the past hasn't necessarily been on top of the
list in terms of customer, dealer, and developer support. In fact, in
most people's minds, they're not even on the list! People "buy Atari"
because they love the computers, not because of the "high" price of its
stock.
When judging from past performance, one would think that the lack of
support from Atari and consequently the departure of users, dealers, and
developers from the ST market will continue until Atari's and the ST's
death.
But with my wearing those funky rose-colored glasses and smoking
whatever it is I'm smoking, there are a few things I can point out that
happened in the past year which show development. In no particular
order and off the top of my head, the Dusseldorf fair in Germany had a
particularly good impact on the North American market. A few software
companies, such as Codehead, Goldleaf Publishing, and Gribnif, are now
importing software packages from Europe. Codehead's bringing in Avant
Vector and MegaPaint, and Gribnif has Arabesque and X-boot. Goldleaf
has Didot Line Art and Retouche. And that's just software. Codehead
gets the TOS Extension Card from Artifex in Germany (to help upgrade the
ST and Mega to TOS 2.06) and Goldleaf gets their souped up tower TT
Image Speeder from Germany as well. Note that most of these products
are desktop publishing-oriented, suggesting that Atari wants to go after
this market much like it has gone after the MIDI market.
But everything isn't just imported. Double Click had their Program of
the Week in 1991. They wrote a small, freeware utility program once a
week for a year. I think it spanned from October 1990 to October 1991.
The Codeheads came out with MultiDesk Deluxe and just recently, MIDI
Spy. Before the last few weeks of the year are over, we find that they
have taken over development of Quick ST 3.0 (which was also released
this year) from Darek Mihocka, who now wants to concentrate more of his
efforts on Gemulator, an ST emulator for PC clones.
Jim Allen of Fast Technology has developed and is now shipping the
Turbo20 20Mhz and the Turbo25 25Mhz 68000 upgrades. His Turbo030 68030
accelerator and David Small's (of Gadgets by Small) SST 68030
accelerator have yet to materialize in customer's hands, however. I
think I heard something about delays with obtaining TOS from Atari.
The long-awaited STalker 3.0 telecommunications program and STeno 2.0
text editor were released. In many ways, STalker 3.0 has more features
and is more powerful than anyone had anticipated. Double Click Software
also released Data Diet, its real-time data compression program.
Lexicor Software released their suite of sophisticated animation and
graphics programs.
Nonetheless, I could go on and on and on, but then I'd have to do more
research than just looking through the December issue of ST Informer for
reminders. Oh, by the way, speaking of ST magazines, Atari User
magazine, the very informative, widely-distributed, inexpensive magazine
sought its debut in 1991. And Atari Explorer was resurrected this past
year, with each issue looking better than the previous. On a somber
note however, STart died early in 1991, but not due to the ST market per
se, but by the publisher's mismanagement.
Perhaps one of the best signs of development in 1991 was the Aegis
Dealer Symposium held in Sunnyvale. Arranged by Atari, this conference
demonstrated that Atari knows that there's more to selling and
supporting a computer than just developing and manufacturing them. Many
dealers and developers took part in the Aegis Symposium to get together
and learn what must be needed to sell Atari computers and third-party
products and software in the years to come.
Under the Atari roof, there have also been some exciting hardware and
software developments. The Mega STE is shipping. The street price for
the 520STE is around $350. The ST bundles are shipping. Atari's
Extensible Control Panel has been available for several months now. FSM
GDOS is available to owners of WordFlair II and others who really,
really, really need it. From what we've been told on GEnie, the
slowdown to wider distribution is the packaging. Atari didn't like the
cover design from one company, so they contracted another and are
getting it re-done. The new model Lynx is shipping, as well as a ton of
games, which seem to have been coming out about one to two a week for a
few months.
Atari's starting to push their name around a lot more than they used to.
The result to all of this will most likely be seen next year, if at all.
For a couple of months, they've been having full-page ads in Keyboard
magazine. Publish magazine ran a Goldleaf Publishing ad recently, and
we're supposed to be seeing more Atari-related ads in that magazine.
According to Bob Brodie at Atari, the Seybold Publishing Report
newsletter has a big write-up on Atari and its Professional Systems
Group presence at the show. In addition, the Lynx is once again being
aggressively marketed, this time in Southern California.
I guess a lot of stuff did happen in 1991. But there's also things that
didn't happen that a lot of people would like to happen very, very soon
-- like yesterday. For example, FCC Class B-certified TT030s are still
not shipping! On the other hand, I understand that TTs with 1.44meg
drives and TOS 3.06 are. Replacement floppy controllers for 1.44meg
drives for current Mega STE and TT owners aren't available yet either.
The deal with General Electric Service Centers hasn't been finalized and
STs aren't in any mass merchandising stores, like Circuit City.
Looking ahead to next year should prove to be a do-or-die year for the
ST market in the U.S. I really don't think the current, emaciated ST
market can hold out for another year, unless Atari makes a substantial
push in the computer industry. Production and distribution of machines
with advertising and general press coverage to let people know what's
out there are the key elements here. Atari plans to show several "WOW!"
computers at the CeBit fair in Germany in March. That's all dandy and
good, but these computers will still be in development for the following
year after they're shown. We just hope that they'll be available in
LARGE quantities when that year of development is over.
Atari must attract new computer users and users of non-Atari computers
to their platform. This must and can definitely be done with their
existing line of the STE, Mega STE, TT030, and soon the ST Book. Atari
is fortunate to have a good number of devoted and informed followers who
love their computers, but this following can't keep Atari above water
forever. Atari must attract new users to the platform, and 1992 will
demonstrate if Atari is willing to do this.
=======================================================================
* ATM SAFETY TIPS
=======================================================================
People who use automatic teller machines to withdraw cash are becoming
targets for thieves, particularly during the rush of holiday shopping.
But a manufacturer of ATMs recently said the risk can be lessened by
taking several precautions.
o Be aware of your surroundings when you approach an ATM. If you
notice anything out of the ordinary, visit the ATM later or use
another ATM.
o Always look inside an enclosed site before entering.
o Ask a friend to come along with you if you need to visit an ATM at
night.
o Have your card ready and in hand, along with other transaction
materials, before you approach an ATM.
o Stand close to the ATM when entering your personal identification
number. Do not allow anyone to watch.
o Wait until you leave the vicinity of the ATM to count your money.
For people who use a drive-up ATM machine...
o Pull up close to the ATM.
o Remain in the car while conducting your transaction. For added
security, keep car doors locked and windows rolled up before and
after making the transaction.
o Keep the car running while operating the ATM.
o Drive around the machine first if it is in a kiosk, or drive by it,
checking between parked cars, if it is a wall-mounted unit.
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