Z*Net: 6-Mar-92 #9210
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 03/11/92-01:41:34 AM Z
From: aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: Z*Net: 6-Mar-92 #9210
Date: Wed Mar 11 01:41:34 1992
| (((((((( | Z*Net International Atari Online Magazine
| (( | -----------------------------------------
| (( | March 6, 1992 Issue #92-10
| (( | -----------------------------------------
| (((((((( | Copyright (c)1992, Rovac Industries, Inc.
| | Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, NJ 08846
| (( |
| (((((( | CONTENTS
| (( |
| | * Z*Net Newswire........................................
| ((( (( | * Perusing CompuServe......................Mike Mortilla
| (((( (( | * The Michelangelo Virus......................Ron Kovacs
| (( (( (( | * Atari Forums Celebrate 10th Anniversary..Michael Naver
| (( (((( | * Perusing GEnie...............................Ed Krimen
| (( ((( | * New Products At ACE '92..................Press Release
| | * KidPublisher Upgrade Announced...........Press Release
| ((((((( | * PDC Updates..............................Press Release
| (( | * Sudden View Update........................News Release
| ((((( | * MIST Atarifest IV........................Press Release
| (( |
| ((((((( | ~ Publisher/Editor............................Ron Kovacs
| | ~ Contributing 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
| | ~ Z*Net Canadian Correspondent...........Terry Schreiber
| | ~ Columnist....................................Ed Krimen
| | ~ Columnist................................Mike Mortilla
| | ~ UK Columnist...............................Mick Jarvis
| | ~ Features Editor.........................Dr. Paul Keith
| |
|----------| $ GEnie Address....................................Z-NET
| ONLINE | $ CompuServe Address..........................75300,1642
| AREAS | $ Delphi Address....................................ZNET
| | $ Internet/Usenet Address..................status.gen.nz
|----------| $ 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:Pacific .(INTERNET/@status.gen.nz)(649) 3585-543
| | * Z*Net:South Jersey.....(FNET 168).CCBBS.(609) 451-7475
| | * Z*Net:Illinois (Garage)(FNET 621).......(618) 344-8466
| | * Z*Net:Colorado (Mile High)(FNET 5)......(303) 431-1404
| | * Z*Net:Wyoming (Stormbringer)(FNET 635)..(307) 638-7036
| | * Z*Net:Texas (Hacker's Haven)(FNET 705)..(512) 653-3056
| | * Z*Net:Florida (Twilight Zone)(FNET 304).(407) 831-1613
| | Fido Address 1:363/112
=======================================================================
* Z*NET NEWSWIRE
======================================================================
HAUG AT IEEE COMPUTER FAIR
The Huntsville Atari Users Group participated with Ralph Rodriquez of
Atari Corporation in the IEEE Computer Fair. Rodriquez showed off
Atari UNIX at the event. Dealers in Huntsville, Robbins and AB Stevens
showed Atari solutions to music with HAUG. The booth was showing one
of the largest presentations of Atari applications. 20,000 people are
reported to have attended.
ATARI TO ATTEND HAWAIIAN SHOW
Atari Corps Mike Groh will be in attendance at the Hawaiian User Group
Show. Also in attendance will be Impact Marketing.
CENTER FOLD AD BY ATARI APPEARS
LA Computing Magazine, with 1,500,000 subscribers contains a center
dual page full color advertisement by Atari Corporation. The ad offers
a Desktop Publishing bundle for $2999.00 which contains the following:
MegaST2 with 50 Meg hard disk, SM147 Monitor, SLM605 Laser Printer,
Migraph Hand Scanner, and choice of PageStream or Calamus. Along with
the full screen shots of Atari software, there is a full listing of
dealers from across the country participating in this special offer,
they are:
B&C Computer Vision California 408-986-9960
Butler Computer Washington 206-941-9096
Caves Creek Computer Washington 206-783-0933
CompuSeller West Illinois 708-513-5220
Computer Center of Davie Florida 305-583-6028
Computers Etc. Connecticut 203-336-3100
Computer Rock California 415-751-8573
Computer Studio North Carolina 704-251-0201
Digital Imagining Systems Florida 305-756-0446
Computer Warehouse California 916-971-9812
IB Computers Oklahoma 503-485-1424
IB Computers Oklahoma 503-297-8425
Jenkins Computer Texas 800-880-6938
Manny's Computer New York City 212-819-0576
Mid-Cities Comp/Soft South Carolina 803-788-5165
Music Arts Florida 305-581-2203
Run PC Colorado 303-493-5565
San Jose Computer California 408-995-5080
Team Computers Michigan 313-445-2983
Toad Computers Maryland 410-544-6943
Winner Circle Systems California 510-845-4814
NEW FAX MODEM PROGRAM
Joppa Software Development's "STraight FAX!", will work with Class 2
compliant send/receive FAX modems and SendFAX modems (in send only
mode). The first showing will take place at the upcoming Toronto TAF
show April 4-5. Also, a GEnie online conference is scheduled on
Wednesday, March 25, 1992.
ICD LAUNCHES ROUNDTABLE ON GENIE
ICD is now taking another step forward in providing technical support
to its many customers by opening a product support RoundTable on GEnie.
The ICD RoundTable will be hosted by Douglas N. Wheeler. Several other
ICD employees will also frequent the RoundTable sharing their own
expertise. The ICD RoundTable can be found at page 1220 or accessed
with the keyword ICD from any GEnie page prompt.
MICHELANGELO MAKES UNWELCOME DEBUT
The long-awaited Michelangelo virus struck around the world Friday,
though it did not appear to be the data disaster that some had
predicted. State Department official reported Friday that the virus
had struck IBM-compatible computers at three U.S. missions: Toronto,
Canada, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and La Paz, Bolivia. The problem was
fixed before any damage could be done. The State Department's
computers in Washington were not affected by the virus. New York state
authorities reported at least three machines infected with the virus,
but all were caught before they could go off. Egghead Software said
that sales of anti-virus software were running 3,000 percent ahead of
last week. The virus caused damage in at least eight computers in
Japan in the early hours of March 6, and China's Ministry of Public
Security said it had found "fewer than 10" infections during a survey
of computer centers nationwide. In Poland, considered a haven for
computer software pirates, computer owners lined up at software stores
to buy anti-virus software Thursday. NASA had 200 infected computers,
and the destructive virus had also been found in computers installed in
Senate offices. See related story elsewhere in this week's edition.
SPA REACHES SETTLEMENT
The Software Publishers Association announced that a settlement has
been reached in a software copyright infringement suit filed against
Cato Corp., by Lotus, Microsoft, Symantec, and WordPerfect. The
lawsuit was filed on Wednesday Sept. 25, 1991, and Cato Corp.
cooperated fully with the plaintiffs in providing an inventory of all
of the commercial software then in use on all of its personal
computers. Cato Corp. has agreed to a monetary settlement in the
amount of $50,000. Cato has also agreed to the entry of a permanent
injunction that will prohibit further copying and require them to
obtain software only from authorized suppliers. The Software
Publishers Association also has distributed free of charge self-audit
materials designed to help businesses, government entities, and
educational institutions manage their internal software practices. To
obtain a copy of the SPA Self-Audit Kit and SPAudit, a software
inventory management program, companies should write to: SPAudit,
Software Publishers Association, 1730 M Street, NW, Suite 700,
Washington, D.C. 20036.
======================================================================
* PERUSING COMPUSERVE by Mike Mortilla
======================================================================
Ignorance of the law excuses no man;
not that all men know the law,
but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead,
and no man can tell how to refute him.
from Table Talk - Bible, Law
by John Selden [1584-1654]
We're going to narrow the focus of this column just a 'bit!' For one,
were not going to cover uploads, but do look for this information
elsewhere in these issues. Also, we are going to limit the scope of
the messages to Atari specific matters. At the present time there are
issues under discussion in both Atari and other forums which are quite
controversial. Until it is determined who's interest is best served by
covering these issues, we will keep our fingers on the pulse. But in
the mean time, we hope users of CompuServe and other services will pay
close attention to the Rules posted on their respective services.
Also,a brief comment about shareware. Shareware authors have
contributed a great deal to the Atari community and deserve something
back. We don't have to send in our life savings, but these folks have
really provided some excellent programs and continue to do so. Let's
really dig into our conscience and pockets and at the very least
donate to some of the names we see when we boot up our Ataris! We know
who they are. Besides, you can sometimes get free updates on the
original programs! And thanks, all you shareware authors!!!
In the ATARIPRO forum:
The first thing to catch our eye was a series of messages about
Japanese word processing. It seems there is a lack of programs which
allow Japanese users to work in certain areas of their language!
Specifically, hiragana and katakana (for those who know about such
things). Also in this thread, we learn that some Japanese keyboards
have two space bars. That would handy for those who are all thumbs
<g>. The discussion came direct from Japan. CIS sure gets around!
Where else could you talk to someone in the orient for $12 bucks an
hour? Welcome to the global community. Our Japanese connection tells
us that the Atari is thought of as a music sequencer and little else
on those islands. The US Atari market doesn't look so bad compared to
that! Hopefully, with the release of the Notebook, Atari will start
getting the recognition we all know it deserves.
We promised increased coverage about networking Ataris, but must be
somewhat cautious here. There is an old adage which goes: Write what
you know. This author knows very little about networking and the
discussions sometimes get into pin outs, chip specific, etc. I can't
offer too much insight into that area, so I'll cover whatever I *do*
understand about networking.
One member tells us that he has a number of clones (even a 486 33s w/
Windows accelerators) and prefers the TT to those machines. He sells
both Ataris and clones, claims both have strengths and weaknesses
(even warts <g>), but still the TT is TTops with him! Nice to hear.
Jeff at Intersect Software says that Atari has announced that all
future machines and currently designed models (Mega STE and TT) will
have industry standard SCSI ports. ASCI is being phased out as non-
professional. Jeff continues, "The printer port is just that, a
printer port and Atari shouldn't be held accountable for non-standard
applications using the printer port. The serial port does not have a
"crippled serial port interrupt structure". Thru use of an inexpensive
68901 MFP chip the maximum baud rate to Keyboard, Midi and Serial Port
is limited to something under 31K baud. Now that inexpensive V.32bis
modems are available k baud or higher serial port setting is a
potential FUTURE problem." Not everyone agrees with all of this, but
in the absence of personal knowledge and information, we'll defer to
the experts at Intersect.
Those net-workers trying to de-arc WEAVIN.ARC have learned that they
must unsqueeze it with the obsolete USQ.COM (live and learn..) and it
appears that this program is in the ATARIPRO library now.
Here's something Atari users will find absolutely fascinating...
A message was posted re: #Atari.archive.umich.edu - John Barnes reports
that "The mysterious looking string in the message title is the address
of one of perhaps THE foremost source of Atari-related material on the
Internet. This Sun work station at the University of Michigan has been
faithfully collecting everything from power tools for Atari programmers
to games to archives of online magazines. The advantage of being able
to transfer these files, many of which are too large for CIS, via FTP
is very substantial indeed.
Other archives for MS-DOS and Macintosh material are also active in the
same institution.
As a consequence of budget pressures the University of Michigan
authorities are expected to close these archives down very soon. While
the labor is carried out by volunteers, one must suppose that the
hardware maintenance and communications charges represent an attractive
target for cost cutting.
While this is not the only FTP site for Atari material, it appears to
be the most powerful. If the community is to have access to a resource
of this kind it is essential to find a new home for this material
immediately. It is hard to say how soon other archive sites will find
themselves in the same position.
The story is being told on the comp.sys.atari.st news group on the
usenet and in the Info-Atari16 newsletter on the Internet. Those of
you who have access to either of these should keep your eyes on this
situation. Anyone who could provide a server for anonymous FTP for
this material would be performing a real public service.
The folks who run these archives have asked for letters of support from
the community, unfortunately I do not have the mail addresses with me
at the moment." Who could have guessed! We'll keep an eye on this
baby, too, and when the address appears, we'll pass it on.
Now we're all fans of Atari, but none of us are Atari fans <grimace>.
It seems that forum SYSOP Keith Joins woke up his system (using a 6
month old power supply from Best) one morning and... POOF! ...no more
fan. 4 megs in a Mega ST. Well, the discussion got hotter than his
Mega. Apparently, some members have disconnected their fans and ran
for months without them. Others suggested fans sitting atop the
computer, others mentioned that if you had air conditioning going, it
might be enough to cool those jets. But the discussion did mention
that dreaded tool of destruction: The Soldering Iron! Some of us are
cowards when it comes to opening the computer case. The monitor, fine;
the hard drive, fine; but the CPU! Never! Off to the service center.
But these simple technical discussions can really save us, time, money
and visits to the shrink! We hope Keith's Mega is 'way cool, dude.' ;]
Not to mention any names... but a member related quite graphically how
much he hated the hardware he purchased from a certain third party
vendor. Based on what he had to say, it is perhaps a good idea to
visit the Community Square from time to time. Maybe all the time! Any
Bozo (oh dear, is Bozo a registered trademark?)... any baboon can
invest in a plastic mold and advertising. But let the buyer beware!
If that cheapo case you bought is off by a 1/4 inch in the wrong
direction... <ouch!>. Irregular shipping and defective products (some
had to be filed so the user wouldn't cut himself!) are bad enough, but
after what these members called this stuff, it should smell terrible
and fit comfortably into the commode! And this is from a company which
advertises all the time. What you can save in not ordering this from
them could pay for your CompuServe service for a long time to come!
Those using TTs got a little less, and then a little more than they
bargained for. Some TT users woke on the morning of February 29 to
find that according to their TT, it was March 1! Maybe it had
something to do with the International Date Line? Anyway, at least one
user reports that he manually changed it back to February 29, and lo
and behold, the very next day he booted up to find it was February 30!
What fun: The 29 was a Saturday, and March 1 was a Sunday. At least
the TT put the extra day right where we needed it. Not all TT users
experienced the extended weekend, but we hope that by next Leap Year
we'll see many more TTs in circulation.
Speaking of dates, by the time you read this, March 6 will have come
and gone. And with it may also go files from so many hard drives
connected to PCs. We won't dignify the author(s) of this poor
practical joke (read virus) but a word of caution is in order here.
There have been viruses found on Atari computers, but we haven't heard
of any very serious and certainly none that could erase your hard
drive. But, if your running an Atari and using a PC emulator, you
could be infected! Same goes for MAC and other emulation!
We and other forum members have noticed a relatively huge increase in
recent weeks in Atari's advertising budget. Combined ads and services,
etc, with other manufactures (big names like Fostex!) are encouraging
signs that our favorite computer company is not on the rocks! Even the
stock price is climbing! <Ommmmm! Grow!>
As a final note in the ATARIPRO forum, we tried to get the laser
printer (HPLJ II emulation) to accept a screen dump directly with an
array of PD utilities but still get pages and pages of jumbled text.
We haven't given up, but are running out of paper in the process. What
we learned, however, is an interesting tid-bit from Boris. Two weeks
ago I mentioned him and enclosed his name in quotes. He has told me
that in Russia, that means the name is fictitious and it's the same as
"removing a mask." Fascinating! We won't be using quotes in that
context anymore! So much for rushin' through our writing...<sorry>.
The MIDI forums on CIS are really exceptional. The Atari user
involved with music can learn a lot about their favorite programs, and
much more. The members don't always agree on controversial issues
(and there are a lot of controversial issues when the talk turns to
art!) but the tone generally remains professional. And when it comes
to information which requires highly specialized training or
experience, you'll find that the members and SYSOPs there are always
ready, willing and able to get involved.
The issues discussed in the MIDI forum cover a wide base, and we could
easily devote many thousands of words to it. But alas, our focus must
remain on Atari and related matters. Anyone interested in music should
at least visit the MIDI forums. There are also areas devoted to
Classical Music, Recording and Composing, and, of course, MIDI.
One of the really interesting things under discussion this week was...
speed! It has been stated more than once that the ST/Mega and TT
series "seem" and "feel" faster than MACs, IBMs, and Amigas when it
comes to MIDI and other applications. But they are running at close to
the same speeds, respectively, in Mhz. So what's the big deal here?
Stefan Daystrom over at Hybrid Arts (he wrote the SMPTETRACK and other
great programs) tells us that (he starts by quoting a previous
message):
> It is also very fast in MIDI applications (as Stefan as pointed out).
> I wonder if that's because the MIDI port is built in and the system
> doesn't have to address a periferal (how the heck do you spell that)
> equipment.
(Stefan's reply)
"That's part of it (in comparing it, say, to an MPU-based MS-DOS
system).
But another very major part (especially in comparing it to a Mac) is
that the Atari OS lets the programmer do many things directly (write to
the screen, access allocated memory, talk to the MIDI port, etc) that
the Mac programmer has to go through many layers of operating system
overhead to do (or else Apple promises to make the software not work on
the next OS version!). All that OS overhead on the Mac takes a _lot_
of processing time!"
Well, that overhead didn't go over our heads, and it's nice to know
that there is a reason the Atari seems so much faster.
As we write this, it is two minutes to midnight, Thursday March 5, and
something tells us to get it uploaded before the airwaves get clogged
with the sound of hard disks crashing. May all your crashes be soft
ones. :-)
======================================================================
* THE MICHELANGELO VIRUS Compiled from various reports by Ron Kovacs
======================================================================
The virus has been dubbed Michelangelo because it is due to activate
computer erase commands on March 6, the birthday of Renaissance genius
Michelangelo Buonarotti. Origin of the virus is unknown, but it is
said to have been spread worldwide by software producers and
maintenance firms. It is said to be most widespread in Asia and the
United States.
The Michelangelo posed a much greater threat because it destroys
information stored on a PC's hard disk, including the instructions that
allow PCs to do basic things such as print letters. Michelangelo has
been detected in PCs throughout the world. In the United States, as
many as 400,000 IBM-compatible PCs are believed to be infected.
The virus was discovered in computers at the U.S. Senate in Washington
Wednesday. An in-house computer system in the Senate sent every screen
a message Wednesday indicating that "Michelangelo" had been discovered
in several offices. Employees were warned to duplicate their computer
programs and other data.
Illinois Secretary of State George Ryan said Friday, staff in his
office discovered traces of the Michelangelo virus lurking among the
state's vehicle records database but destroyed them before the virus
could do any damage.
The virus hit computers at a small business in Frankfort, Indiana,
Wednesday. It was probably hit a few days early because the
computers' time system had been off.
Press reports from Uruguay said the virus had already wiped clean the
memory banks of a vital military intelligence computer there.
The Michelangelo virus struck at least 10 computer networks in Paraguay
and two systems in Argentina, but most South American computer users
took steps to keep the timed killer from wiping out information stores.
No cases of virus destruction were reported in Brazil and Venezuela,
where thousands of companies changed their electronic clocks and used
anti-virus programs provided by IBM dealers to clean the systems.
Press reports said at least four Brazilian banks had found the virus in
their systems but had destroyed it with the anti-virus program before
it could activate.
Dataquest announced the results of a recent survey showing that 7
percent of the end users surveyed had experienced the Michelangelo
virus during the fourth quarter of 1991, and a surprising 15 percent
reported at least one outbreak of Michelangelo by January 1992. In
addition, survey respondents reported a significant increase in virus
encounters, with more than 2,500 occurrences in 1991 vs. 756 in 1990.
During the first three quarters of 1991, two viruses -- Stoned and
Jerusalem -- accounted for the majority of the computer virus
incidence. The results of the preliminary survey indicate that 48
percent of the sites surveyed have experienced at least one outbreak of
Stoned (also known as Marijuana or New Zealand), while 37 percent
encountered Jerusalem (also known as Israeli or Friday the 13th).
Despite the current publicity on viral contamination, 81 percent of the
survey respondents had identified diskettes as the primary source of
infection.
======================================================================
* ATARI FORUMS CELEBRATE A TENTH ANNIVERSARY by Michael Naver
======================================================================
Reprinted with permission from CompuServe Magazine. This article may
not be reprinted without the written permission of the author and
CompuServe Incorporated. Copyright (c)1992.
As veteran Atari forum members tell the story, it was a classic example
of the generosity and closeness of the Atari forum community on
CompuServe: one member, immobilized in a body cast for three months,
keeping in touch with the outside world through messages from his
colleagues on the Atari ST forum.
It was perhaps the most dramatic but otherwise characteristic example
of the loyalty that Atari forum members express as they mark the tenth
anniversary of Atari forums on CompuServe (GO ATARINET).
Looking back on it now, the auto accident victim, Dave Groves, then an
assistant "sysop," said that his online companions "meant more to me
than I can express. The time and closeness spent with the staff and
our members made the forums a wealth of information and a home away
from home for me."
During his recuperation, Groves' forum colleagues "stood by me through
thick and thin. They were my sole contact with reality and provided me
a very warm and positive family to replace the one I never had outside
of CompuServe."
This sense of family has characterized the Atari forums from the
beginning, in the fall of 1981, when the original (and current)
administrator, Ron Luks, along with two other pioneers, started the
Atari 8-bit forum.
"Atari computer users have been the underdogs of the computing world
from day one," Luks explained. "The popularity of the online forums
was a result. We were the only place people could go to get support
for our machines. You tend to develop an intense loyalty to the
machines and to each other."
The family spirit is matched by a strong independent streak. "We
support the products, and at times have not been very popular with the
company," says Luks. "Our current relations with the company, however,
are the best in years."
Luks remembers his own introduction to Atari. "I was a stock and
options trader in a Wall Street brokerage firm back in 1981," he said.
"I was walking past a computer store in Manhattan planning to buy an
IBM PC. I saw the Atari 800 running a game called Star Raiders."
"I was so mesmerized by the game that I walked in off the street and
took the computer home, figuring I would play with it until I got a
serious machine. But that old 8-bit did everything I needed, so I
never bought the IBM." With his modem and CompuServe introductory
pack, Luks soon was telecommunicating in an Atari section of the
Popular Electronics Forum. A few months later the first Atari forum
opened on CompuServe, called informally "Sig*Atari."
A second pioneer, Michael Reichmann, of Toronto, remembers that
CompuServe was sponsoring a promotion in Toronto. "I said, 'Hey,
online information, that sounds neat.' I bought a 300-baud modem and
got hooked," Reichmann said. "There was something very clubby about
the Atari community in the early '80s, something unique," he recalled.
"If you had an Atari, you knew you had a great machine, but the rest of
the world didn't. It was a small, tightly knit group of a few hundred
people, and 80 per cent us hung around Sig*Atari to exchange ideas and
information."
At the time Reichmann was a vice president of the Canadian Press news
agency. "My background was in photography, so graphics were important.
Back in '81 the Atari 800 was the whiz-bang graphics computer. What
was terrific about CompuServe was being able to get in touch with Atari
software developers all around the United States and Canada.
The third founder, Steve Ahlstrom, of Littleton, Colo., recalls that
"all of us were discovering not only the computer but also the power of
telecommunications. We came from vastly different walks of life, but
we became close because of our common interest."
Ahlstrom served as an assistant Atari sysop for five years, where he,
too, found business opportunities writing Atari software. Later he
became administrator of the Amiga forums, where he can be found today.
Ahlstrom was not the only Atari forum pioneer to branch out to other
CompuServe forums. Groves' dramatic story is another example.
A resident of Miami, Fla., Groves was driving home from his job as a
bank vice president when he fell unconscious at the wheel, the result
of faulty diabetes medication. He hit another car on the expressway at
65 miles an hour. After his 3 months in a body cast, he spent 9 months
in therapy.
So profound was the experience that Groves three years ago established
the Diabetes and Hypoglycemia Forum on CompuServe (GO DIABETES) to
share the kind of information that could prevent accidents like his.
For Groves the Atari ST is still his computer of choice. "I use it for
heavy duty business applications, which surprises some people. It is a
serious business machine."
Newer forum members, people who were not present at the creation of the
8-bit or ST forums but who have become loyal Atari ST users, cite the
same community spirit as a plus. Bill and Pattie Rayl, of Ann Arbor,
Mich., met in college and got an Atari ST as a wedding gift three years
later. The following year, 1987, they joined CompuServe.
"Our CompuServe experience has meant making a lot friends and business
contacts," Pattie said. The couple produces a nationally distributed
magazine for Atari users called Atari Interface. Also, they're the
unofficial sponsors of twice-weekly online conferences -- Thursday
evenings for Atari 8-bit users and Sunday evening for ST users. "The
sysops have been great to us," Pattie said. "They take a hands-off
approach, and let the users do their thing. I really like that."
Another enthusiast is Jim Ness, a West Chicago, Ill., motor equipment
salesman. In 1986 he bought an Atari 520 ST, which he described as a
"basic but very competent machine with a color monitor and disk drive
that sold at K-Mart for about $500." Ness began spending time in the
Atari ST forum. "I knew that if you could find a group of people who
used the machine, you could find software, plus advice on how to use
your computer." That's how things turned out. Ness became a "hobbyist
programmer" and wrote an automated access program for the Atari, called
QuickCIS. "Most people who regularly visit Atari forums use it," he
said. Ness finds the forum managers "very good, very friendly, very
helpful. If that weren't true, I wouldn't have been a member for five
years."
Assisting Luks as forum sysops are Mike Schoenbach, assistant manager;
Dan Rhea, Bill Aycock, Keith Joins, Bob Retelle, David Ramsden and John
Davis, ST sysops; Don LeBow and Bob Puff, 8-bit sysops; and Marty
Mankins, Judy Hamner and B.J. Gleason, Portfolio sysops.
What's ahead for Atari? No one knows for sure, but Luks noted that
since the days when Atari was on the cutting edge as a low-cost, high-
powered graphics computer, there was a dearth of new products for
several years. Now, significant products are being released. As they
are available, Atari's loyal band on CompuServe will be ready.
Michael Naver is a contributing editor of CompuServe Magazine.
======================================================================
* PERUSING GENIE Complied by Ed Krimen
======================================================================
-=> In the "Hardware" category (4)
-=> from the "68030 Accelerated ST's" category (5)
Message 1 Sat Feb 15, 1992
C.STANFORD at 01:28 EST
As an owner of a FastTech '030 40mhz (cache only version) accelerator
board I thought I'd let you all know what its like in the fast lane.
Your mileage may vary depending on your configuration, but with my
setup, MegaST4, ISAC high-rez video board, Quantum lps105 Hard disk the
over all speed-up is IMPRESSIVE, especially in ISAC 16-color mode.
Keep in mind I had a T16 installed previously.
ISAC 1024x768x16
Quick index
T16 '030
textbios 42% 217%
String 49% 423%
Scroll 5% 5%
GemDraw 99% 199%
I don't really want to get into posting a bunch of benchmarks but I
felt that these help illustrate how SNAPPY ISAC feels in 16 color mode.
Now if something can be done about the scroll speed it would be perfect.
Using with Calamus, Avant Vector, Touch-UP and Fontvertor I'm seeing a
speed-up from 2 to 4 times faster than a T16 (16mhz 68000) doing real
work. Screen re-draws in Calamus are simply amazing! I've also noticed
that speed is addictive after a couple of weeks with the '030 going
back to a standard ST is simply unbearable. Hang on to your old ST as
there's plenty of life left in it with an '030 accelerator!
Regards,
Carl Stanford M-S Design
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-=> In the "Software Library and Other Utilities" category (2)
-=> from the "Benchmarking the ST/STe/TT" topic (31)
Message 22 Sun Mar 01, 1992
LEOTAYLOR [LEO] at 12:03 EST
OK George, here are results from a regular customer not associated with
Gadgets in any way!
Hardware: MONO 520 (circa 1986) in a homemade wooden tower
2.5 Megs of piggy back ST memory
SST 40 MHZ with 4 MEGS of 70 nsec FASTRAM
Wait States 2,1
Software: NBM version 1.1 beta (SET FOR HIGH RAM)
QINDEX 2.2 (SET FOR HIGH RAM)
No accessories
No AUTOS except the SST four and QUICKSTE 3.3
Results: MATH ROUTINES 2.31 714%
MEMORY ROUTINES 2.21 722%
DIALOG BOX DRAW 10.66 453%
TOS VERSION ID 0206
RUNNING IN TT/ST RAM TT
CPU MEMORY 1054%
CPU REGISTER 1000%
CPU DIVIDE 1239%
CPU SHIFTS 4279%
TOS TEXT 516%
TOS STRING 3718%
TOS SCROLL 208%
GEM DIALOG 562%
Compared to MONO TOS 1.0
While I have your attention, here are some "REAL LIFE" examples. They
are NOT done in a scientific manner so don't everyone complain that I
didn't turn off accessories, didn't use standard files, etc...
LDW POWER to reset my expense report: before 62 sec, after 12 sec
WORDPERFECT to scroll QUICKBRN.FOX: before 42 sec, after 7 sec
WORDPERFECT to search QUICKBRN.FOX: before 6 sec, after 1.5 sec
Leo Taylor
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
(Gadgets by Small RoundTable)
-=> In the "MegaTalk for the Atari ST) category (8)
-=> from the "MegaTalk" topic (2)
Message 177 Wed Mar 04, 1992
DAVESMALL [Dave] at 04:35 EST
I'm re-testing some MegaTalk software that I'm a teensy concerned about
to make sure it can ship. The boards are ready; the PAL's have been
swapped. I need to polish up some documentation (Sandy definitely
wants some interludes in there, I don't want to write 'em -- GRIN!)
But manuals take little time.
So, basically, it's looking good.
We planned on having it OUT long ago ... except the PAL thing and the
CMOS SCSI chip thing and this thing and that thing made its time frame
interfere with the SST, and the SST had to get priority.
Now that SST is shipping, back to work.
-- thanks, Dave / Gadgets
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
-=> from the "Atari's Service Agreement with GE" topic (26)
Message 4 Wed Feb 26, 1992
TOWNS [John@Atari] at 21:45 EST
Atari started to offer a 1 year warranty on it's computer products in
November 1, 1991. The GE Service Agreement is currently in the
implementation stages. Once the program is completely up and running,
we will provide our dealers and end-users will all of the information
on how to use this program.
So, please.. don't call your GE Service Center and bug them about this.
You will be wasting your time and a phone call. Just give us some time
to make sure that the plan is implemented correctly. We want this plan
to go off without a hitch.
-- John Townsend, Atari Corp.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
-=> from the "Atari's New TOS 2.06: topic (8)
Message 68 Sat Feb 29, 1992
J.KUDRON [JIM] at 16:11 EST
I just returned from having my Mega STe upgraded to TOS 2.06 along with
the 1.44 floppy drive, and it seems pretty solid. I had a slight
problem formatting my first HD disk, but I put the disk aside,
formatted the other ones from the box, and then the problem one
formatted just fine. (The problem one would not format-I thought that
it was a bad disk).
Another curious thing, when I checked a disk with MaxiFile and the
Atari desktop, a _blank_ disk showed 6xx,xxx bytes used! After I
re-formatted this disk, I got 1.4 meg free space.
I'll play around a little more and let everyone know of any other
problems.
Now to bug the CodeHeads to update MaxiFile to support 1.44 formatting!
Jim Kudron
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-=> In the "Atari TT" category (28)
-=> from the "TT RAM" topic (13)
Message 177 Mon Mar 02, 1992
M.STUEVE [Marlo] at 00:46 EST
I finally found the program to copy the TT TOS into TT RAM. It gives a
noticeable speed increase. I've uploaded it to the library as
TTROMRAM.ARC. The following are some Quick Index numbers:
Quick TT Quick TT
Before w/ROMRAM alone w/ROMRAM
------ -------- -------- --------
TOS Text 108 119 254 264
TOS String 120 147 558 586
TOS Scroll 54 54 55 55
GEM Dialog 704 947 1594 1843
These numbers are useful for comparison only.
The program and doc-file are entirely in German, but there's no real
trick to using it. It will use 512K of TT-RAM in exchange for the
extra speed.
Marlo Stueve
5th Crusade Software
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======================================================================
* NEW PROGRAMS AND HARDWARE TO DEBUT AT ACE 92 Press Release
======================================================================
The Atari Canadian Exposition, ACE '92, to be held in Toronto on April
4th and 5th, will be the site of a number of new programs for the
Atari computer, as well as the first time users in North America will
get to see new Atari hardware and peripherals that have long been under
development.
Although specific details are not presently available, Atari has long
promised that any new hardware that will be shown at the upcoming CEBIT
Show in Hanover Germany (which opens on March 11) will also be shown in
Toronto. Atari has not yet released specific details of what that will
include, but at a February 20th meeting of the Toronto Atari
Federation, both Atari Canada General Manager Geoff Earle and Atari
U.S. Director of Communications Bob Brodie indicated that there will be
exciting new computer products to be shown.
One definite star will be the Atari ST Notebook, a small laptop
computer with a 40 meg hard drive and an estimated battery life of ten
hours on a single charge. One was available at the recent TAF meeting
for users to try out, and it created great excitement.
But Atari won't be the only company making announcements and
demonstrating new developments at ACE '92. ISD Marketing will host a
workshop at which features of the new Calamus SL will be not only
demonstrated but taught, and FLASH II, the long-awaited communications
program will be available for purchase, as well as being the subject of
demonstrations. ABC Solutions promises that not only will they have
upgrades for First Word Plus and Timeworks Desktop Publisher, they will
be releasing a new CAD program by a local Toronto developer.
Darek Mihocka will be present to demonstrate his long-discussed
GEMulator, the program that will let Atari programs run on DOS-based
machines, and Dragonware will be showing (and selling) an internal
battery modification for the STacy. Additionally, this new company in
the field of software development will be showing off 5 programs,
including one that manages GDOS and FSM-GDOS set-up. Joppa has hinted
that they will have a new program, as has WizWorks, and Fair Dinkum has
definitely announced it will have Cryptographer ready for public
demonstration and distribution.
Dorothy Brumleve, rightfully famous for her children's productivity
programs, has announced that MULTIPLAY, a brand new program of "Math
Exploration, Discovery, and Practice" will make its debut at ACE '92.
A math program for ages 5-11, it is adaptable to the child's age and
ability, and features games, drills and puzzles. Additionally, there
will be an upgrade for KidPublisher to version 6.4. (The upgrade will
be FREE to those who bought 6.1 at the last TAF Show in 1990.)
Clear Thinking will not only have EdHak 2.3, but will have
Metapsychology Primer available. And speaking of new things,
Advantage, the new Atari magazine, will not only have 6 subscriptions
available as door prizes, 1,000 copies of the new publication will be
available at no charge to the first 500 people entering the show each
day.
Press releases and announcements are still coming in, but ACE '92 seems
to be the place to make announcements and show off what Atari
developers and creators have been doing over the winter. To see what's
new and exciting in the world of Atari computers, ACE '92 is obviously
the place to be!
For an up to date list of those attending, exhibitor kits, display
advertising rates, Talent Show entry forms or any other ACE
information, contact ACE '92, c/o Toronto Atari Federation, 5334 Yonge
St, Suite 1527, Willowdale, ON M2N 6M2. For faster response, call Paul
Collard, Exhibit and Volunteer Coordinator (416) 477-2085, or John R.
Sheehan, SJ, TAF President, (416) 926-1518. GEnie J.Sheehan14. TAF
BBS: (416) 235-0318, TAF InfoLine and Voice Message: (416) 425-5357.
======================================================================
* KIDPUBLISHER PROFESSIONAL UPGRADE ANNOUNCED Press Release
======================================================================
D.A. Brumleve is very pleased to announce a major upgrade to:
Kidpublisher Professional: A Desktop Publishing Program for Young
Writers for ages 5-11
Kidpublisher Professional is a desktop publishing program for children.
Most children use the program to write and illustrate stories and
reports, but it can be used to print any kind of document requiring
both text and graphics (posters, personal letters, etc.). It includes
a WYSIWYG word processor and drawing screen. Printouts have a picture
on the top half of the page with 7 lines (32 columns) of text at the
bottom. Four font styles are built into the program, and a teacher or
parent may design an additional font using any DEGAS-compatible drawing
program.
The previous version (6.2) worked quite well, so this upgrade (6.4)
involves added features rather than bug fixes, though we have also
worked on memory conservation and other improvements which will be
invisible to the user. The new features include the following:
Kidpublisher Professional now contains a built-in coded font set. The
child types a message in a normal font and then can convert the text to
code by simply selecting the coded font set from the FONT dialog. A
decoder card is included in the package. The code used is self-
decoding: a child who receives a message written in the coded font set
can type that message into his own computer and then load the coded
font set to _read_ the deciphered message as well! Kids really enjoy
this feature.
Children who use both our Kidpainter and Kidpublisher Professional have
asked us time and time again to add the MIRROR option to Kidpublisher,
so we have. The drawing portion of the program will now automatically
create mirror-images (horizontal, vertical, or both) as the child draws
with the FREEHAND, LINE, BOX, and CIRCLE drawing tools.
Children can use Kidpublisher Professional to print a title page
without graphics. The title and author's and illustrator's names are
automatically centered, and the title itself is underlined. Teachers
have asked for a date on the title page, and we've added this facility.
The date is derived from the system clock and presented to the child
for editing as part of the TITLE option sequence of dialogs.
Using the included Installation Program, parents and teachers can
choose whether or not to allow each of these new features. If the
TITLE option is permitted, parents and teachers can choose whether the
date will be presented in European (5 March 1992) or US (March 5, 1992)
format.
The package contains a red disk, a 28-page parent/teacher manual, a one
-sheet children's manual, extra labels, and a decoder card.
These enhancements make Kidpublisher Professional more powerful and
more stimulating than ever before. Registered users may upgrade their
copies for just US$5 (plus $1 shipping). The list price for the new
version is US$40.
This upgrade will be ready to ship on or before March 15. An
announcement is on its way to registered users. We do accept
MasterCard and VISA; please include your expiration date. Personal
checks in US$ should include $3 for postage.
D.A. Brumleve
P.O. Box 4195
Urbana, IL 61801-8820 USA
VOICE: 217 337 1937
FAX: 217 367 9084
GEnie: D.A.BRUMLEVE
CIS: 71451,1141
Delphi: DABRUMLEVE
[Please note that version 6.4 is available in the English language
only. The current Dutch, Icelandic, and German versions are 6.3.]
======================================================================
* PDC UPDATES Press Release
======================================================================
Budget Desktop Publishing Program
It's easy to get swept away just by looking at $300 Desktop Publishing
programs with features like auto-kerning and vertical justification.
However, there are a lot of people out there that don't need that kind
of sophistication and don't have the money to spend.
Enter EASY TEXT PLUS, a new entry-level Desktop Publishing program for
the rest of us. At just $69.95, EASY TEXT PLUS is a no-frills Desktop
Publisher that still offers good quality output on 9 pin, 24 pin, and
laser printers (including the Atari SLM804 and HP Laserjets).
EASY TEXT PLUS comes on two double sided disks (single sided version
available) and will work with all configurations of Atari ST's right
down to a color 520 ST with 1/2 meg. Clip Art and text (ASCII and
First Word) can be imported. A complete 88 page printed manual is
included. Support is top notch from a desktop publishing expert. EASY
TEXT PLUS is completely GEM based utilizing the menu bar, dialog boxes,
and a host of GEM functions.
Some features include justified text, word wrap, 36 different graphic
fill patterns, clip art can be clipped to size, and keyboard equivalent
commands. EASY TEXT PLUS is available at finer Atari dealers across
the North American continent, drop by your local dealer for a demo. Or
download a functional demo of your local BBS or online network (GEnie,
Compuserve, etc.)
AT A GLANCE:
~ Import graphics and text
~ Keyboard alternative commands
~ Text editing with word wrap
~ Undo functions
~ Full graphic drawing functions
~ 9-pin/24-pin/laser printer support
Online user special: $25 off!!
Yes, get EASY TEXT PLUS for only $44.95, this offer ends March 31,
1992, don't miss out!
TO ORDER
When ordering specify printer type:
[ ] HP Deskjet/Laserjet
[ ] Bubblejet
[ ] NEC P6
[ ] Atari SLM804 Laser
[ ] Atari SMM804 Dot Matrix
[ ] Epson Compatible 9-pin Dot Matrix
[ ] Epson Compatible 24-pin Dot Matrix
Disks are double sided (add $5 for single sided disks). Add $4 for
shipping/handling.
TX2 The Text Processor
Tired of plain-vanilla text files? Do you need to write a quick
letter? TX2 is the answer. TX2 is an advanced, yet easy-to-use text
file viewer and editor. It offers a variety of features:
~ Special effects (bold, italics, colors, sizes)
~ Use pictures in your text!
~ Compatibility with all ST/TT's
~ Resolution independent (even works on Image Systems 24" monitor)
~ Fast smooth scrolling
~ Bookmarks
~ EDM or GEM menu selection
~ Keyboard Alternates
~ Context sensitive help
~ Word wrap
TX2 is a tried and proven program, having undergone a lot of beta
testing. It has also been used for quite some time by GEnie Lamp,
GEnie's ST magazine. A full manual and help system are available
directly via the program; you can look up instruction in seconds via
the Search function. You can create your own printer driver to print
the special effects to your printer. Easily install TX2 to act as a
file viewer from the GEM Desktop or an alternative desktop (such as
NeoDesk). Combine Neochrome, DEGAS, or PUT graphics in your text file
to produce easy-to-understand documentation for your own programs.
David Holmes, the program author, is very active on GEnie and is
planning on updating TX2 as often as necessary to satisfy users. So
get rid of the old used editor you're using and start fresh with TX2
,
the best in text processing for only $24.95!
Online Special
Order before March 31, 1992 and receive TX2 for $19.95 and get FREE
Shipping!
To Order, Add $4 shipping/handling to $24.95 after March 31, 1992
KUMA QUALITY SOFTWARE
PDC is the exclusive distributor for the Kuma Software (for Atari ST,
Amiga, and IBM) and Book (Amiga and Atari ST) line.
Atari ST products include:
K-Data - $79.95
This is a Powerful and Professional database. It has an easy-to-use
GEM interface and:
~ 32 MegaByte maximum file length
~ 6 simultaneous open windows
~ comprehensive printer configuration package
~ compatible data with K-Graph 3, K-Spread 4, and K-Word 2
K-Word 2 - $69.95
Looking for a beginning word processor? K-Word is an easy-to-use word
processor that fully uses the GEM environment. Features include:
~ spell-checker
~ mail merge
~ compatibility with a wide range of printers
~ 4 simultaneous windows open
~ definable function keys
~ on-screen Help menus
~ headers and footers
~ multi-copy printing
K-Resource 2 - $69.95
This is the perfect resource editing utility. Built in functions
include:
~ Icon/Image editor
~ Simultaneous edit of any number of resources
~ Output files for C, Pascal, Modula 2, Fortran 77
~ Auto Snap and Size
K-Graph 3 - $79.95
Ready to produce some outstanding great-looking charts? Do it the
quick 'n easy way with K-Graph 3. A graphic desktop-like environment
allows you to easily produce line, scatter and area graphs, pie charts,
stacked, horizontal, 3D and normal bar charts, and XY graphs.
Features include:
~ Statistics
~ Math and Logical expressions
~ Auto Axis Scaling
~ Log Scales
~ IMG or Metafile output for use in other programs
K-Roget - $79.95
This Thesaurus makes full use of GEM as a desk accessory. Access it
from any GEM word processor or program. Express yourself more clearly
by using a variety of words. The comprehensive dictionary contains
over 150,000 words and phrases. Phonetic misspellings are trapped and
corrected alternatives are suggested by K-Roget.
Special
Order before March 31, 1992 and receive 50% off the prices listed above!
To Order, Add $4 shipping/handling
XTRA-RAM DELUXE PRICE REDUCTION
PDC has reduced the price of the very popular Xtra-RAM Deluxe upgrade
board which uses SIMM chips to upgrade your ST up to 4 megabytes! Due
to price reductions on components and a larger purchase we are able to
offer the board for just $99.95, that's a $40 savings! And even though
UPS and the post office have increased their rates, we have been able
to maintain the same $6 shipping cost. The money back guarantee is
still in effect so if you're planning on upgrading, don't wait, order
the Xtra-RAM Deluxe today!
PDC
4320-196th SW Ste. B-140 - Check/money orders
Lynnwood, WA 98036
206/745-5980 - Questions/Visa-MasterCard Orders
206/347-8766 - FAX
GEnie: PDC.SW
CompuServe: 72567,302
======================================================================
* SUDDEN VIEW UPDATE News Release
======================================================================
For immediate release:
For more information, contact: Rod Coleman 800-421-4228
Sudden View In Final Release
Reno, Nevada - March 1st, 1992 - According to Rod Coleman of Sudden
Incorporated, the final release of Sudden View has just been shipped to
dealers. After several months in Beta test, 126 changes and
enhancements have been made to produce the final version for the Atari
ST. It now supports Moniterm and TT high resolutions, as well as 8 X 8
font on monochrome monitors.
Sudden View is remarkable for its fresh approach to editing
fundamentals. It uses something called Virtual Control, which allows
the user to have the feeling of virtually touching his text as he edits
and arranges it.
Sudden View's most obvious feature is its ability to dynamically scroll
text and move text blocks. These functions occur in real time and in
direct response to the user's movements. The program responds quickly
enough to move the text as the user moves his hand.
Even though Sudden View only edits ASCII files, they are internally
indexed so that the user can display any part of the file instantly.
This is true whether the file is two Kbytes or two megabytes long.
Another difference is that Sudden View has no "Insert" or "Replace"
modes. Editing action is cursor-position dependent, allowing the user
to just place the cursor and type. If the cursor is over a space to
the left of any text, it will insert; otherwise it will replace.
All deletes and changes are kept in a twenty-element buffer stack so
that the user can restore something that was deleted some time ago.
This buffer stack also works in concert with Dynamic Text Arrangement
as a scratch pad.
Sudden View has no margin bar, yet can support as many different
formats as the user wishes. Each line is its own format. Therefore,
the format conforms to the user's actions, and not the other way around.
It is also very flexible in setting and adjusting word-wrap.
The Power Menu is another unique feature of Sudden View. It is a
multiple-level menu system that can be keyboard- or mouse-activated.
Even though it is as fast as normal power key combinations, it requires
no memorization. Learning it is very natural.
Quick Find in Sudden View allows the user to do a partial-key dynamic
search for any character string. It searches as the pattern is being
entered at over 100,000 characters per second. Normally, the string is
found before the user completes the pattern entry.
Sudden View's copy, cut, paste, and move features are its real
strengths. It defines four different types of text blocks which can be
selected and manipulated without using any menus. The block types are
Character, Sentence, Field and Line. They allow for a very direct and
powerful arrangement of text.
The user can drag a Sentence through a paragraph as it dynamically
re-formats in real time. A group of Fields or a column can be deleted,
replicated or moved as the user directs. The text becomes an extension
of the user's thoughts; control is virtual.
Since Sudden View presents a significant number of new concepts, a
Student version is available at $24.95 suggested retail. It has all of
the standard features and complete one-hundred page manual as well as
occasional study breaks for learning the program.
The Master version has several extra features for the advanced user but
no study breaks. Owners of the Student version can upgrade to the
Master version for $40.00, or both versions can be purchased initially
for a suggested retail of $64.95. Sudden View files are not copy
protected.
The Student version is available from Atari ST dealers now. Either
version can also be ordered directly from Sudden. For more information,
contact Rod Coleman, Sudden Incorporated, 5081 South McCarran Blvd.,
Reno, Nevada, 89502, or call 800-421-4228 for orders or 702-827-2996
for support or other questions.
======================================================================
* MIST ATARIFEST IV Announcement
======================================================================
Mid-Indiana ST (MIST) is pleased to announce confirmed dates for their
fourth annual Atarifest, to be held on Saturday, July 25, 1992. The
show will run from 10:00am to 5:00 pm. MIST Atarifest IV will continue
to build on the successful formula of our previous three shows.
MIST Atarifest IV will be held in the same quality location as last
year's show, the Castleway Conference Center at 6385 Castleplace Drive,
Indianapolis, Indiana. This air-conditioned and fully carpeted
location on the north side of Indianapolis has ample parking and is
close to several major highways, many fine restaurants and hotels, and
the largest mall in Indianapolis.
MIST Atarifest IV will be an excellent opportunity for you to buy and
sell hardware and software. Public admission to the fest will be $3.00
and will include a raffle ticket to win one of the many hardware and
software items donated by attending vendors and developers. Additional
raffle tickets will available for purchase. Last year over 50 items
were given away.
Vendors may purchase booths (8' x 8') at $50.00 each. User groups may
purchase booths for $10.00 each. There will be a limit on the number
of user group booths available. Plans are underway to offer seminars
as well as our ever popular Midi-maze and Lynx tournaments.
Last year over 500 individuals and 30 vendors attended MIST Atarifest
III. We anticipate similar success this year. Packets will be going
out in the next month with more information detailing MIST Atarifest
IV. However, if you wish more information now or want to insure
display space at this year's show, contact Dan Ward via GEnie
(D.WARD10) or give him a call at (317) 254-0031.
We look forward to seeing you on July 25, 1992!
======================================================================
* I-KOEN DESIGN GUIDE TO PAGESTREAM 2 Press Release
======================================================================
The I-Koen Design Guide to PageStream 2 is the complete reference guide
for PageStream publishing. The Guide has reference charts for fill
styles, halftone screens, line styles and object effects at 300 and
1200 dpi. It includes samples of PageStream fonts and standard
PostScript fonts. Character set comparison charts for Soft-Logik,
PostScript and Compugraphic fonts show you which characters are
available in each type of font. Keyboard reference charts for Dingbats
and Symbol fonts make selecting symbols easy. There are also text
size, style, tracking, leading, reverse type and baseline shift
samples. The I-Koen Design Guide also includes a reference to writing
macros and lists keyboard equivalents.
The I-Koen Design Guide to PageStream is printed on durable stock in a
20 page letter-sized booklet. It will be available March 20, 1992.
USA: $6.95 US; Canada: $7.95 Cnd (includes GST)
International: $8.95 US (sorry, no checks for international orders)
I-Koen Design
P.O. Box 107
Lazo, B.C., V0R 2K0, Canada
Pay by check, money order or Visa. Sorry, MC, Amex and Discover are not
accepted at this time. Please include the following information:
Name (if VISA, include name on card):
Billing/Mailing Address:
Visa # (if applicable):
Expire Date:
Signature for Visa orders:
Don't forget the other I-Koen Design publishing products...
RADICAL TYPE --- The Atari and Amiga DTP Magazine
Radical Type is the only magazine dedicated to Amiga and Atari
Publishing. Each issue has tutorials and hints for PageStream and
Professional Page beginners and experts. Radical Type has reviews of
fonts, clip art, books and other DTP related products, plus the latest
Amiga and Atari desktop publishing news. Whether you use PageStream,
ProPage or Saxon Publisher, you'll find help in Radical Type.
Subscription Rates: 1 year (6 issues)
USA: $18.95 US; Canada: $21.95 Cnd (includes GST)
International: $24.95 US (sorry, no checks for international orders)
IDEA FORMS ONE --- Templates for PageStream
Idea Forms One is a personal productivity package for use with
PageStream. Idea Forms includes over 200 templates and forms for
personal or small business use. The templates are divided into 11
design series, allowing you to maintain a uniform appearance for a
range of documents. Requires PageStream 2.1 or higher. Includes 3
disks and a 24 page manual.
USA: $39.95 US; Canada: $45.95 Cnd (includes GST)
International: $45.95 US (sorry, no checks for international orders)
Note: I-Koen Design will be moving to the United States in May 1992.
Radical Type publication will be interrupted after the March/April 1992
issue for two months. It will resume publication as a monthly magazine
with the July 1992 issue. A new address and new rates will be
published when available. The last date we can accept Canadian funds
is April 30, 1992. After April 30 orders must be paid in US funds.
======================================================================
* MULTIPLAY Press Release
======================================================================
D.A. Brumleve is pleased to announce a _new_ program:
Multiplay - Math Exploration, Discovery and Practice for ages 5-11
Multiplay is designed to help children commit basic addition and
multiplication equations to memory and to offer opportunities for the
discovery of math patterns. Among the multitude of basic math drill
programs, Multiplay is unique in the freedom of choice extended to both
the child users and their parents or teachers, in its open-ended,
and in the opportunity for creative thinking and expression.
The program consists of a Main Screen and three play screens: the
Pattern Screen, the Puzzle Screen, and the Make Puzzle Screen. Each
screen's primary component is a grid. The x and y axes form the
elements in an equation and the grid square at which they converge is
the solution to the problem, the "answer square". The parent or
teacher can choose whether the grid deals with the elements 0-9, 0-19,
or 0-29 (limited to 0-19 on a 520ST). There is also a choice of
whether the program will offer multiplication or addition or both.
On the Pattern Screen, the child clicks on a square and sees the full
equation, answer and all. The answers remain highlighted (until the
child turns them off), so the child can go clicking about the grid,
guessing at each answer before it is shown -- and using neighboring
answers as an aid to the guess. The patterns involved in the concepts
of multiplication and addition and the relationships between
neighboring and analogous equations can thus be discovered and
internalized. A TEST option facilitates the play of various games and
helps children keep track of their progress; the test option can also
be used to assist children in the discovery of patterns.
The Puzzle Screen offers a game for one or two players. Children can
play the built-in puzzles or the ones they have made themselves on the
Make Puzzle Screen. Players take turns clicking on squares and then
typing the answer to the problem displayed. The score is the sum of
the player's correct answers. Thus, children who choose to tackle 29
x 29 -- and do so successfully -- will have a much higher score than if
they had chosen easier problems. Each successful answer causes the
computer to fill in all the puzzle squares which have the same color as
the answer square. As the squares are filled with color, a picture is
revealed.
The Make Puzzle Screen allows the child to make and save his own
puzzles. Puzzle design is a challenging undertaking in and of itself.
A separate editor program allows parents and teachers (and older
children) to delete unwanted puzzles.
Multiplay, like all commercial kidprgs, is accompanied by an
installation program which allows the parent or teacher to configure
the child's disk to suit his/her needs and interests. The adult can
pick and choose the options which will be available to the child and
rerun the installation program to add options as the child's skills
increase. This grow-as-you-grow approach allows Multiplay to appeal to
children throughout a wide age range. In fact, Multiplay appeals to
beginners and math wizards alike!
The Multiplay package contains two green single-sided disks, a 28-page
manual, a one-sheet children's manual, and extra labels for your
child's copies. The recommended retail price is US$40.
The program will be available on or before March 15, 1992. We do
accept MasterCard and VISA; please include your expiration date.
Personal checks in US$ should include $3 for postage.
D.A. Brumleve
P.O. Box 4195
Urbana, IL 61801-8820 USA
VOICE: 217 337 1937
FAX: 217 367 9084
GEnie: D.A.BRUMLEVE
CIS: 71451,1141
Delphi: DABRUMLEVE
======================================================================
* FCC UPDATE by Ron Kovacs
======================================================================
The Justice Department proposed measures to forestall invasion of
privacy fears connected with court-ordered surveillance over digital
telephones. Law enforcement has been stymied by the difficulty in
obtaining court-ordered surveillance over digital telephone lines.
FBI Director William Sessions has proposed that telephone companies
integrate their technology so that law enforcement agencies can obtain
more easily court-ordered wire tapping over digital lines. Telephone
companies did not have an immediate response to the proposal.
Digital technology uses different channels for voice and signal
transmission. Traditional analog telephone technology uses one
channel for voice and transmission signal. Each digital channel can
carry hundreds of voice conversations, and it's currently impossible to
segregate the conversations to be monitored by law enforcement agents.
By law, the government must have a court order each time it taps a
telephone line. The FBI uses court-ordered surveillance primarily
against terrorists, kidnappers, drug cartels and secret criminal
organizations.
---
To speed customer calls to an increasingly wide range of commercial
information services, BellSouth Telecommunications announced plans to
introduce a new three-digit calling option.
BellSouth's proposal for a significant break from the traditional use
of three-digit numbers for services like 411 Directory Assistance was
in response to a request by Cox Newspapers. BellSouth's plan would
make 211, 311, 511 and 711 available in the company's local calling
areas in the region, but not on a long-distance basis.
---
The Supreme Court declined to let the government institute a ban on
material it considers "indecent" from television and radio broadcasts.
The court, without comment, let stand a lower court ruling that the
First Amendment allows the government to limit but not totally bar
indecent material from the public airwaves.
The Federal Communications Commission traditionally has allowed
material deemed indecent - but not pornographic - to air between 10
p.m. and 6 a.m. The government had believed children were unlikely to
be exposed to material broadcast during those hours.
The government appeal was opposed by the three major television
networks and groups including the American Civil Liberties Union,
National Public Radio, People for the American Way and the Reporters
Committee for Freedom of the Press.
In 1988, Congress passed a regulation to require the FCC to enforce its
ban on indecent broadcasting at all times. That ban was to take effect
Jan. 31, 1989. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit struck down the FCC regulation and the congressional
statute that mandated its enforcement as violations of the First
Amendment freedom of speech protection.
Since 1927, federal law has prohibited the broadcast of any "obscene,
indecent or profane language." But the nation's definition of
"obscenity" has changed, in large part due to Supreme Court decisions.
While the court has said obscene language does not have First Amendment
protection, other less offensive language - which the government
categorizes as "indecent" - has full constitutional protection.
In 1975, the FCC defined "indecency" as a level of language less
objectionable than obscenity that "describes, in terms patently
offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the
broadcast medium, sexual or excretory activities and organs."
Three years later the Supreme Court upheld the FCC's finding that a
daytime radio broadcast of comedian George Carlin's "seven dirty words"
act was indecent.
=======================================================================
* MODIFICATION TO THE ST POWER-ON RESET DELAY TIME by Jeff Rigby
=======================================================================
The following modification will cause the ST to be in a Halt condition
for apx 14 sec following turn-on. This allows a Hard Drive time to go
through its initialization. The modification will not affect reset
timing (.3 sec). It's relatively simple in that it requires the
replacement of only one resistor (in the 520 & 1040 series).
If you have a Hard Drive for your ST you presently have to turn on the
HD, wait until it stops making noise (initialization...about 14 sec) and
then turn on your computer. With the circuit modification below you can
now turn both on at the same time (idiot proof).
520ST and 1040ST
All computers have reset circuits and a circuit to perform a reset after
the computer has been turned on (allowing the power supply to
stabilize). In the ST these two reset circuits are in one chip, a 556
timer IC (a 556 is two 555 timers in one package). Both circuits use
the same timing components for a delay of .3 seconds. One circuit holds
the reset low for .3 sec after the reset button has been pushed and the
other holds the reset low for .3 seconds after power turn-on. This
second circuit (power on reset) is the one we are going to change.
Basically we are looking at a 22Uf cap charging from B+ through a
resistor (12k). When the voltage on the cap reaches trigger level the
555 timer turns off allowing the reset line to go high.
The formula for Time T with Cap C and Resistor R is as follows:
Resistor = R
Cap = C T= (1.1)*R*C
Time (hold down) = T
For a stock ST
R = 12k
C = 22Uf
Thus: T=(1.1)*(12000)*(0.000022)
T=.29 sec
Ok now for your computer....
Turn on your Hard drive and count the seconds until the activity light
goes out. Mine is about 14 seconds. This time is what you need to
determine the value of the resistor you are going to add to your ST.
For a time of 14 sec we use the following formula to determine the
resistor we need.
R= (14 sec)/(1.1)*(0.000022)
R= 578k
Look in your ST for a Chip that has the number 556 on it (NEAR THE RESET
BUTTON). Off pin 8 you will find a resistor with the color bands;
brown, red, orange (12k).
520ST R83
1040ST R9
Cut this resistor loose and install a 560K resistor; green, blue,
yellow.
Now reassemble and check. Extremes of temperature can affect the timing
of this R reassemble and check. Extremes of temperature can affect the
timing of this RC circuit. I have found that a very cold computer (40F)
can knock almost two seconds off the circuits reset time. Also, the
22Uf cap is manufactured with a tolerance of 20%. A 20% difference can
make a 4 second difference in your calculations. You may want to
install a variable resistor in place of a fixed resistor. If you are
like me, you can't wait for your computer to come on and you will want
the min wait time that still allows the HD to initialize properly. The
variable resistor will allow you to set the time to the nearest second.
Use a 360K resistor in series with a 500 K pot.
The above modifications require some technical skill and should be done
by a service center or a qualified person. Intersect Software makes
no guarantees regarding the reliability of the above modifications. You,
as always, perform the modifications at your own risk.
This technical note may be freely copied as long as the credits remain
intact.
Jeff Rigby
Intersect Software
3951 Sawyer Rd.
Sarasota, Fl. 34233
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