ST Report: 3-May-96 #1218
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 05/06/96-05:29:18 PM Z
From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 3-May-96 #1218
Date: Mon May 6 17:29:18 1996
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May 03, 1996 No. 1218
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- CPU Industry Report - Linux Info - Caldera Updates
- HP New Printers - Gates a Daddy! - Copeland Delayed
- Kid's Computing - GTE Flat Rate - Tommy!
- Award Bios - People Talking - Delphi Deal
McAfee Drops Cheyenne Takeover!
Markkula Sells 14% of Apple
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Florida Lotto - LottoMan v1.35
Results: 4/13/96: 3 of 6 numbers with 0 matches
>From the Editor's Desk...
First, a look at these wonderful times. talk about a concerted effort to
ruin thousands of American's summer vacation plans. Three Cheers to the
GOUGING OIL Companies and Gasoline prices which are soaring out of sight due
to an "Oil Shortage" . Bread, Flour and all associated products are going up
in cost due to shortages. Corn and corn by-products are going up due to a
shortage .Beef and its by-products. you guessed it. are going up in price
too!! These shortages seem to be hitting at just about the right time to
clobber an election. Somehow or other I can't quiet the nagging voice in the
back of my ear that keeps saying . HEY! What we really have here is a
"shortage of the truth"!! These so-called shortages .especially the "Oil
Shortage" is a bunch of hooey!! The prices are being driven up to hurt the
re-election of Clinton and shoe-in the Republican. Mr. Antique himself Rob't
Dole. Remember please.. A vote for Dole is a vote for his yet to be
announced Vice President. Dole is 74 . Odds are he will not survive his
first term. Besides, he's one of those who supported isolationism and
boasted about taking out a "contract" on the USA. In other words a disaster
looking for a place in time to happen.
I know, it sounds far fetched.. but in times when Vince Foster
(President Clinton's Legal Counsel) is found dead in a US Park Service Park
(Park Service Police Jurisdiction) and incredibly, called a suicide when the
blood (what little there was) flowed uphill from a massive gunshot wound to
the head. And oddly enough, there was no "bullet exit splatter" to be found
anywhere near where the body was found.. additionally, the body was lying
neatly on the ground, arms to the sides and legs together!!
Now.. A Top Government Retired Executive who was in an extremely
sensitive position, head of the CIA, ex-Director Colby mysteriously
disappears. Accident? Shades of Hoffa! Just like Oswald was Kennedy's
Murderer! Can you believe Colby (now a senior citizen) "sneaked away" from
his Body Guards to go to his Virginia summer cottage?? Further, can you
believe Colby was going river canoeing alone on a dark, cold and rainy spring
weeknight and then conveniently oops.. accidentally falls overboard??? Hard
to believe!! The best part of all ..with this hot air is; We heard about
his disappearance for a day or so and now. nothing. Not a peep. No follow-
up at all. In these times, the grotesque thought about there being an acute
shortage of truth emanating from Washington DC is very, very believable. Is
it any wonder those in DC, from the President on down, feel an air of
distrust of the Federal Government on the part of the people. Its well
earned.
One can only wonder about when the Federal WACO Syndrome is going to
manifest itself in the Great Northwest. Another "Janet Reno Fiasco" is in
the making folks. Watch and see the "Freemen", their wives and children pay
the price of Justice.. "Reno Style". Just like those other horrific recent
incidents. And then watch and be entertained by all the neat productions
regarding all the different reasons why Reno & Co. did what "they had to do".
Oregon and WACO left an indelible mark of the beast on the soul of "Justice
and Freedom for All" in this country. Will the "Powers that Be" in DC ever
try to undo the horror and mistrust of the US Government they've fostered?
Time will tell. Want to see and hear the rest of the horror coming out of
WACO?? Get yourselves a copy of the transcripts of the Federal Trials going
on in Texas as a result of WACO. The Feds have blamed _everyone_ but
themselves and have locked up most of the survivors on one charge or another.
The Federal Judge presiding over the proceedings (Reno is his boss) made
quite "the spectacle" of the word justice. Read the Trial Manuscripts and
especially the good Judge's "highly informed and impartial" rulings. Talk
about a SCARY plot for a good social ills horror movie..
Then again. I could be wrong, I don't think so. let's hear from you..
Ralph.
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STReport Headline News
LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
It's a Girl! Bill Gates Is a Dad
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is a new father. Melinda French Gates gave
birth Friday night to an 8-pound, 6-ounce girl at Overlake Hospital in
Bellevue, Washington. The baby's name is Jennifer Katharine, and mother and
daughter were reported doing well.
"They're home," company spokesman Dean Katz told The Associated Press this
morning. "Everybody's fine." Jennifer is the first child for the couple,
who married in a private ceremony on New Year's Day 1994 on the Hawaiian
island of Lanai. The couple met at a Microsoft dinner in New York and dated
on and off for five years before becoming engaged in 1993.
Professor Sues Over Data Block
A University of Oklahoma journalism law professor has brought a federal suit
against the university for blocking student access to Internet sites that
it deems sexually obscene. In Oklahoma City, professor Bill Loving told the
Reuter News Service he believes the university's decision to restrict
students' access to the Internet is unconstitutional and violates First
Amendment protection of free speech.
Said Loving, "The whole issue of the First Amendment is that it is the
protection for unpopular or even offensive speech." Reuters says sites on
the Internet news groups titled "alt.sex" were blocked from the university's
computers on April 1 after a religious group and a state legislator
complained that students could view indecent material there. The wire
service says university access to some of the sites later was re-established,
but those discussing bestiality, pedophilia and some other sexual subjects
remain blocked.
"If the university administration is aware of obscenity," said Loving, "then
let the administration follow constitutionally required steps to deal with
it. Child porn is the fruit of a crime. Let OU help prosecute those people
sexually abusing children." Meanwhile, OU President David Boren, a former
U.S. senator, says he welcomes the court case, even though the professor's
complaint calls for the sites to be unblocked and for a permanent injunction
to be imposed against similar actions in the future.
Boren says, "This is an issue that needs to be tested and I respect Bill
Loving for what he's doing. This is an issue that needs guidance from the
courts."
McAfee Drops Cheyenne Takeover
McAfee Associates Inc. says it dropped its $1 billion offer to buy Cheyenne
Software Inc., which strongly resisted the anti-virus and network management
software publisher's takeover bids. "We have carefully considered whether
pursuing an acquisition of Cheyenne on an unsolicited basis is in the best
interests of McAfee's stockholders and we have concluded it is not," says
Bill Larson, McAfee's president, CEO and chairman. "The Cheyenne board's
continuing refusal to discuss our proposal has made the combination
impossible to effect on a friendly basis." Larson say he is still interested
in discussing a merger on a friendly basis.
Cheyenne, which publishes data storage management software, resisted McAfee's
takeover attempt by filing a lawsuit against McAfee and Larson, claiming
the company was spreading lies about the proposal and Cheyenne's response.
The merger would have created the world's fifth largest software publisher,
with combined revenues of approximately $340 million.
Hayes Selects New President-CEO
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. has named ex-IBM executive Joseph
Formichelli as its new president and CEO. Formichelli immediately assumes
responsibility for directing Hayes' daily operations as the modem maker
continues to implement its bankruptcy recovery plans. Formichelli also will
join Hayes' seven-member board of directors.
Formichelli most recently served as vice president of worldwide operations
for the IBM PC Co. He previously served as general manager of mobile
computing for the IBM PC Co. "I am personally delighted to have Joe join the
team at Hayes," says Dennis C. Hayes, Hayes' chairman. "Joe's extensive
operations experience and his proven track record as a results-driven
executive rounds out the management team that will prepare Hayes for an IPO."
"I look forward to joining Hayes, the premier standard- setting company in
the computer communications industry," says Formichelli. "With the top brand
in the industry, superior products, outstanding service, and a rebuilt
management team, Hayes is positioned and ready to grow rapidly in revenue
and income."
Ex-Delphi CEO Seeks to Buy Firm
The former chief of Delphi Internet Services says he is leading a team of
online executives in a bid to buy back the Boston area information service
from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. "I'm thrilled to be back with Delphi," ex-
CEO Dan Bruns says in a statement from Cambridge, Massachusetts. "In the two
years since I parted with the company, I've talked online and in person with
many Delphi members, and their enthusiasm and loyalty for the service remains
high. I'm committed to ensuring that Delphi continues to offer a friendly
and exciting online experience."
Brun says Delphi is profitable "and I intend to keep it that way. The top
management team includes a number of online industry veterans, and I will be
announcing their appointments shortly." Delphi started 15 years ago as an
online encyclopedia. In 1992 Delphi, it acquired BIX, the online service for
technical professionals, from McGraw-Hill, and became the first major online
service to offer Internet access.
Media czar Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. entered the picture in October 1993,
buying Delphi and announcing highly publicized plans to revamp the service
and infuse it with News Corp. "content," such as guest appearances by
characters from shows on News Corp.'s Fox television network. However, those
plans never materialized. Last August, MCI Communications Corp. announced
it was merging its online business with Delphi and appointed as the CEO of
the combined venture Scott Kurnit, who recently left the IBM/Sears Prodigy
system to join MCI.
At the time, The Wall Street Journal reported the joint venture would include
250 employees of MCI and 450 from Delphi and its online game unit Kesmai
Corp. and would combine the more than 200,000 MCIMail customers with the
100,000 Delphi subscribers. Also, Delphi CEO Alan Baratz then stepped aside
to become president of News Technology Ventures. Since then, Baratz has left
for Sun Microsystems Inc. to head a new division to handle Java, the evolving
programming language it developed for the Internet.
Zoom Builds Modems for Panasonic
Zoom Telephonics says it has started building V.34 28.8K bps data/fax modems
for Matsushita Electronic Instruments Corp.'s Panasonic unit. Designed by
Panasonic, the modems will be sold in Japan under the Panasonic brand. "Zoom
is pleased to have been selected as an OEM supplier by Matsushita," says
Frank Manning, Zoom's president. "Matsushita demands quality manufacturing
and the ability to deliver high volumes reliably."
Compaq Sales Surpass Packard Bell
Unseating Packard Bell Electronics Inc., Compaq Computer Corp. led the
personal computer industry in U.S. sales during the first quarter.
According to its preliminary estimates, International Data Corp. also says
the PC market in the U.S. grew 14 percent in the first three months of the
year, below year-ago growth levels but, says The Associated Press, "not
indicative of the major slowdown many observers feared had seized the
industry."
IDC told reporters it will hold to its previous forecast of 15.3 percent
annual growth for the PC industry. In 1995, U.S. PC sales growth was 23
percent. The researchers identified these market leaders:
z Compaq shipped 740,000 units, up from 530,000 a year ago.
z Packard Bell shipped from 620,000, up from 591,000 in the first quarter
of 1995.
z With the biggest growth, Hewlett-Packard Co. jumped from eighth-place
last year to third. IDC estimates the company shipped 401,000 units, compared
to 173,000 a year ago.
z In 4th place was Apple Computer Inc. with 370,000 units, down from
472,000 a year ago.
z No. 5 was Gateway 2000 Inc., which shipped 341,000 units, up from
271,000 in the first quarter a year ago.
HP Unplugs Its Mainframes
In a demonstration that it can run its global businesses more effectively
without them, Hewlett-Packard Co. is switching off the last of its mainframe
computers within the next few weeks. "In mid-May we will be unplugging the
last mission- critical mainframe that runs the Hewlett-Packard Co.
worldwide," an HP spokesman told Samuel Perry of the Reuter News Service.
"This is also practicing what Hewlett-Packard preaches," he added, saying the
Palo Alto, California,
computer maker has been working towards this capability for more than five
years.
Perry calls the cutting out of mainframes a bold move for the firm, a
"statement of its commitment to a vision of the strength of a distributed
model where computers are interconnected across vast networks." HP does not
produce mainframes, but the spokesman says, "What we're deploying easily
matches all of the former mainframes that we'd had installed and in most
cases would exceed all of the performance levels. Plus, of course, HP
systems are not systems that need to be water cooled, that require huge
amounts of real estate within an IT (information technology) organization.
For the most part these are refrigerator-size servers."
Reuters also characterizes the move as an important step for the company's
own marketing efforts, "in which it has embraced the use of client server
computing in which individual workstations or personal computers are linked
by speedy computers called servers."
HP Rolling Out New Printers
Hewlett-Packard Co. is set to replace its best-selling commercial printer
with a new family that for the first time includes its PCL6 printer control
language. At HP's Palo Alto, California, headquarters, company executives
told the Reuter News Service the new series will be available in three
models: the low-cost LaserJet 5, the network-ready 5N for Ethernet 10Base-T
networks and the LaserJet 5M, designed for use on any network.
Reuters notes the models replace HP's best-selling commercial printer,
accounting for 3.6 million units in 1995, or more than one quarter of
Hewlett-Packard's total production sold last year. The previous models were
the LaserJet 4 and LaserJet 4M. HP says the new printers offer faster
graphics printing and usability for a workgroup's shared printing needs,
printing at 12 pages per minute (ppm) and 600-dots-per-inch resolution.
The LaserJet 5 has an average expected retail price of $1,299, while the
LaserJet 5N is expected to be priced at $1,549 and the average price for
LaserJet 5M printers is expected to be $1,799. "The emphasis on networked
models reflects market trends," Reuters observes, quotes officials with
International Data Corp. as estimating 87 percent of all laser printers in
the U.S. will be connected to networks in 1999, up from 47 percent in 1994.
Ex-Apple Exec to Head Fujitsu PC
Fujitsu Ltd. has named former Apple executive George W. Everhart to head the
recently formed Fujitsu PC Corp. As president, Everhart will play the lead
role in setting the strategic and tactical direction for the Fujitsu
subsidiary as it works toward its goal of becoming a top five PC maker by
1998. Everhart, 49, served as vice president of business and government
sales at Apple.
Everhart's previous positions at Apple included vice president of U.S. sales,
vice president and general manager of the personal computer business
division and vice president and general manager of the business markets
division. "Mr. Everhart brings outstanding leadership and a thorough
understanding of customer needs and channel requirements to the entire FPC
team," says Akio Hanada, chairman of Fujitsu PC Corp.
"Fujitsu PC Corp. has a tremendous opportunity to become a leading vendor in
the highly competitive U.S. PC notebook market," says Everhart. "By
leveraging Fujitsu's leadership in innovative computer technologies, its
worldwide reputation for manufacturing quality products and world-class
service and support, FPC has the global resources and experience necessary to
create innovative solutions for business professionals on the road or in the
office."
Markkula Sells 14 Percent of Apple
Apple Computer Inc. Vice Chairman A.C. "Mike" Markkula Jr. has sold 14
percent of his shares in the computer maker just as a new Apple chief
executive prepares to unveil a turnaround plan for the company. The Wall
Street Journal this morning quotes a federal filing as saying the reclusive
Markkula sold 500,000 Apple shares on April 26, when the stockclosed at
$24.75. With 3.1 million shares, Markkula remains Apple's largest individual
shareholder.
Still, notes the Journal, "the timing of the sell-off troubled some
analysts," since CEO Gilbert F. Amelio is set on May 13 to outline his
strategy to restore the money-losing company to profitability. Markkula
"remains a powerful figure in the company, having helped sack three prior
CEOs and elevate Dr. Amelio to the helm," the paper observed. Analyst David
Wu at Chicago Corp. in New York commented, "It is not going to look good to
the investing public."
An Apple spokeswoman told the paper insider shareholders such as Markkula
have narrow windows of time in which they can trade stock and that this move
reflects "a personal decision" on which she couldn't elaborate.
Gateway Launches Web Shopping
Gateway 2000 Inc. says it has become the first major PC manufacturer to offer
customers the ability to custom configure, order and pay for a PC via the
World Wide Web. The company's Web site (http://www.gw2k.com) allows
customers to design the system they want. Buyers receive a price quote for
their configuration and are able to complete the entire transaction while
online. Encryption methods built into the system are designed to address
concerns about credit card security, says Gateway.
The company notes that customers can also check the status of their orders
online, as well as get tech tips and leave messages for Gateway sales
personnel. Gateway says response to the online order system has been positive
since it was made available on April 10. "With thousands of new consumers
going online every week, the Internet is becoming the world's great new
shopping mall," says Gateway Chairman and CEO Ted Waitt. "Only the most
flexible direct manufacturers will be able to provide the levels of service
demanded by these sophisticated PC buyers. Gateway is proud to pioneer this
level of service."
Yahoo Launches TV Ads
Yahoo Inc. is jumping from the computer screen to the TV screen with a first-
ever ad campaign. The decision by the Sunnyvale, California, company that
produces a popular search engine on the Internet's World Wide Web to
advertise on TV "stems from its need to make a big impression that will
improve its chance of surviving a consolidation of such services," observes
business writer Evan Ramstad of The Associated Press.
AP says the company's TV commercials -- with a tagline of "Do You Yahoo?" --
will appear on news shows and programs that appeal to a computer-savvy
audience, such as "Late Show with David Letterman," "Saturday Night Live,"
and "Star Trek" shows. Karen Edwards, director of brand management at Yahoo,
told Ramstad, "We're targeting information gatherers and people who are
similar to the people we know are on the 'Net. We've done research and
looked at the types of shows that have the most Web sites and Internet
discussion activity."
She adds the company hopes to persuade people who have been considering
starting an Internet account to take the plunge and, when they do, to turn
to Yahoo's search service first. Like most search services, Yahoo is free to
users and supports itself by selling advertising that people see when the
click on to its Web page. Yahoo earlier this week reported first-quarter
revenue of $1.7 million and profit of $81,000.
AP says the company's TV ads have a second purpose, "letting Yahoo's
advertisers know that the company is serious about attracting users."
Edwards would not say how much the campaign will cost but said it will
eventually extend to radio and print advertising too. The wire service
notes at least one Yahoo rival -- Infoseek Inc. - has started advertising in
general-interest publications, such as The New York Times, that are read by
advertising professionals, "but Yahoo's TV campaign is believed to be the
first by an Internet search service aimed at a broad audience."
Motorola Shipping Cable Modems
The first of 1 million cable modems allowing high-speed access to the
Internet now are being shipped by Motorola Inc. However, says reporter Mark
Robichaux in The Wall Street Journal this morning, "the news comes face-to-
face with healthy skepticism over the cable industry's ability to promptly
deliver a variety of new services, from cable modems to limitless pay-per-
view movie channels."
In Los Angeles for a major cable industry trade show, Comcast Corp.
President Brian Roberts told Robichaux, "There's clearly a strong desire on
the part of investors to see digital boxes and modems and telephones become
reality, but I think there's been an overreaction to the negatives and
frustration with the positives. Hopefully, they'll see the forest for the
trees."
The Journal says Motorola already is shipping initial orders to Time Warner
Inc., Comcast and TCI, among others, for commercial launches this summer and
fall and that more than a dozen other vendors - including LAN City Corp. and
Hewlett-Packard Co. -- are pushing their own versions. For modem speeds
hundreds times faster than ordinary phone wires, operators will charge $25
to $40 a month, but critics cite some early problems, says Robichaux,
including "electrical 'noise' leaking into the network, lack of standards,
limitations of cable's rarely used 'upstream path' from the home, and the
potential for overloading the system with too many users."
Countering the critics, Motorola Vice President Jim Phillips told the paper,
"This stuff works and it's in homes." Phillips said his employer will unveil
a computer chip that is designed to manage noise, power and traffic across
the cable plant. But, says media analyst Raymond Katz with Bear Stearns,
assuming the hardware works as advertised, "the bigger, more critical issue
is, can they sell it? This is an industry that hasn't introduced a new
product since pay-TV."
Netscape Leads Browser Market
Dataquest Inc. says its figures show Netscape Communications Inc. as the
"clear winner" in the Internet browser market. The market research firm
reports that Netscape Navigator has captured 84 percent of the browser
market, with Microsoft's browser tool a distant second at a 7 percent market
share. But Dataquest also notes that Microsoft is inching ahead.
"More than 40 percent of the Netscape Navigator use is Version 2.0, and in
fact the biggest shift in browser use has been among Netscape users
upgrading from Version 1.1," says Kathryn Hale, a Dataquest principal
analyst. Creating a more competitive environment, says Hale, is the great
challenge for all browser developers, as well as a number of smaller ones
have already lost market share.
"New browsers like Hot Java are already hitting the scene, and the Web
Crawlers are a growing presence. Web designers should bear all this in
mind," she notes. Dataquest says America Online held onto the No. 3 position
in the browser market with a 3 percent market share, while NCSA Mosaic is in
fourth place with 1 percent of the market. Web Crawler traffic accounts for 2
percent of the market.
(Editor Note; Dataquest needs to redo this "study" . by whatever means..
including using the WEB and seeing for themselves what is actually happening.
"`Twas a good guess ..but off the mark")
MFS, UUnet to Merge
MFS Communications Co. and UUnet Technologies Inc. have announced plans to
merge in a stock swap deal valued at approximately $2 billion. The merger
has been approved by each firm's board of directors and recommended to
shareholders. The deal will create the only Internet service provider to own
or control fiber optic local loop, intercity and undersea facilities in the
U.S., as well as in Britain, France and Germany. The combined company, with
an annualized revenue of about $1.02 billion and 4,200 employees, will offer
543 Internet points of presence (288 outside the U.S.), 7,400 buildings,
218 local exchange carrier central offices, 16 local/long-distance switches,
213,000 fiber miles and 7,462 international voice grade equivalent circuits.
"This merger is especially compelling because of the unique fit between MFS
and UUNet," says James Q. Crowe, chairman and CEO of MFS. "Since over 40
percent of UUnet's network expenses are for local communications services,
we expect to derive significant savings from this important cost element." In
December 1994, UUnet and Microsoft entered into a strategic relationship
for the development, operation and maintenance of a large-scale high speed
dial-up and ISDN TCP/IP access network, which is the primary Internet
network infrastructure for Microsoft, including the Microsoft Network online
service. Microsoft holds a 13 percent stake in UUnet and a Microsoft
representative serves on UUnet's board.
Netscape Tests Navigator 3.0
Netscape Communications Corp. is releasing a test copy of the next version of
its software for browsing the Internet's World Wide Web. Netscape Navigator
3.0 is slated to go on sale in June. "For many people who use the Web, the
release of the test version is the main event," says business writer Evan
Ramstad of The Associated Press, noting Netscape allows people to download
the software for free, "a strategy that got millions of people to use its
browser and gave it the dominant role in shaping how information is created
and shared on the Web."
Netscape "makes money by selling so-called 'server' software that creators
and publishers of Web information use to take advantage of the features in
the browser," he adds. AP says the new program includes 75 features that
were not in the previous one, chiefly in security, document sharing and
audio and video. "They range from as simple as having different background
colors in tables to running a video frame by frame," Ramstad reports. "There
will be a simple way for businesses to share documents while employees are
creating them. That raises Navigator's prospective competition with
products Lotus Development Corp.'s Notes."
Also some features that were accomplished with popular plug-ins - such as
using the Web for phone calls or exchanging three-dimensional images -- are
being incorporated into Navigator 3.0. Netscape Vice President Bob Lisbonne
told the wire service the test version, ready for Windows, Macintosh and
UNIX-based computers, will range in size from 3MB to 6MB, while the final
version typically is smaller. The commercial version will carry a price tag
of $49, although many
online services offer it free to subscribers.
(Editor Note: The 3.0 Beta (current version) is a grand total of 7mb
compressed for D/L one can only imagine how much hard disk this puppy will
consume.)
Senator Offers Encryption Law
Federal legislation aimed at ending government restrictions on software
encryption technology -- a measure backers say will give a big boost to
online commerce -- has been introduced by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.)
Reporting for the Dow Jones news service, writer Scott Ritter says the bill
already has won support of a broad range of U.S. technologycompanies,
including Microsoft Corp. and Pacific Telesis Group.
"Proponents," Ritter writes, "say existing laws, which limit exports of data-
scrambling technology, could cost the U.S. computer software industry
billions of dollars over the next four years." And Senate Majority Leader
Robert Dole, R- Kan., a co-sponsor of the measure, told Dow Jones, "This bill
is pro-America. We think it's a big step in the right direction." As noted
earlier, existing export laws prohibit U.S. software from exporting products
with strong encryption technology, even though the technology is widely
available over the global Internet. In the past, the White House has opposed
the sale of stronger systems, saying terrorists or other criminals could use
them to do illegal deeds without beingmonitored.
Sponsors of this bill, including Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry
Pressler, R-S.D., say they hope to work with the Clinton administration and
law enforcement authorities to smooth out any concerns. Says Pressler, "The
cold war is over. We must recognize that we're in a new era. It's time that
we move on." Ritter says the proposed legislation would:
1. Allow unrestricted export of mass-market or public domain encryption
systems.
2. Require the Secretary of Commerce to allow the export of encryption
technologies if products of similar strength are available elsewhere in the
world.
3. Prohibit the government from imposing a mandatory key-escrow system in
which the government or another third party would hold a key that could be
used to decipher encrypted data.
The wire service notes a similar bill, also co-sponsored by Burns, already
has been introduced in the Senate and is expected to see action in the
Judiciary Committee, while the latest version will be sent to Pressler's
Commerce Committee. (The two could end up being merged into a final product
when hearings take place early next month.)
Conferencing Systems Unveiled
Compaq Computer Corp. has unveiled a line of desktop conferencing system
targeted at business users. Based on Intel ProShare video technology and
various Compaq Deskpro XL and Deskpro PC models, the systems will be
available starting in mid-May. The Deskpro-ProShare line represents the
first products to be introduced since Compaq and Intel entered into a
strategic alliance last year to co-market integrated desktop conferencing
products.
"Desktop videoconferencing will enable customers in different locations to
hear and see each other while working on the same documents at the same
time. Individuals can make long distance presentations and exchange ideas and
information without leaving their offices, as well as send and receive high
resolution snapshots of any camera image," explains John T. Rose, senior
vice president and general manager of Compaq's commercial desktop division.
"This technology will save companies significant time and money on travel,
reduce cycle time associated with creating documents and approval cycles,
and enhance the quality of communication by enabling real time visual
interaction, regardless of distances between team members."
"The Intel ProShare Video System is the price-performance leader in desktop
videoconferencing, providing a full suite of data collaboration features,
full motion video, and conferencing over ISDN lines," says Jim B. Johnson,
vice president and director of marketing of Intel's Internet and
communications group. "Because Compaq is the world's largest supplier of
personal computers, this announcement signifies that desktop
videoconferencing is ready for extended deployment. Both companies
understand the requirements of this technology and are committed to
delivering the right standards-based solutions for today's business
environment."
Businesses Resisting Info Highway
Despite much hype, big businesses appear reluctant to promote themselves via
the information highway, according to an international survey conducted by
public relations firm Manning, Selvage & Lee. The survey finds that while
many companies have their own web sites and offer employees broad access to
the Internet at work, corporate communications pros aren't logging on as
much as all the cyberhype would have us believe.
The results show that 66 percent of the 500 corporate communicators
questioned in the U.S. and Europe have access to the information
superhighway at the office. Yet 80 percent of the respondents consider the
Internet to be an unimportant communications tool; more than 85 percent rate
it as unimportant for their customers, 88 percent rate it as unimportant for
their employees and 91 percent as unimportant for their shareholders.
"All talk and no action is the way you'd have to characterize corporate use
of the Internet thus far," says Monita Buchwald, managing director of M/NET,
Manning, Selvage & Lee's interactive public relations service. "Rich
opportunities are being missed because companies are not taking advantage of
the Internet's many ways to reach and influence their key audiences."
Buchwald says she expects that companies will change their tune as more and
more people come to understand the benefits of interactive communication.
Survey respondents apparently feel the same way, since the study finds that
corporate communicators are projecting four-fold or higher increases by the
year 2000 in the importance their companies
place on the Internet in reaching their respective target audiences.
Special Win95 Pricing for Schools
Microsoft Corp. says it will offer schools copies of Windows 95 for $19.95
each, plus shipping and handling. The offer applies to any U.S. K-12 school
or higher education institution, and is valid from May 1 through Oct. 31.
1996. Schools must order a minimum of five copies of the operating system.
Microsoft says the offer will be accompanied by a $1 million donation of
Windows 95 software and instructional materials to teacher training programs
nationwide.
"This special pricing and training donation will help ensure that more
students and teachers have access to powerful, leading edge software tools
and the knowledge to use them to enhance education," says Jonathan Lazarus,
Microsoft's vice president of strategic relations.
CD-ROM Jewel Case Guidelines Issued
The Software Publishers Association has released new packaging guidelines for
CD-ROM jewel cases and alternative cases. The SPA says the guidelines
provide for all essential information to be self-contained within the
package. The trade organization is recommending the guidelines to software
publishers as a consistent form of placement of information on the jewel
case, making it easier for consumers and retailers to find important consumer
information about the product. The guidelines are especially important for
lower-price point products sold without an outer box, notes the SPA.
"As product packages get smaller and with few effective preview mechanisms,
consistency and placement of information becomes critical," says Mandy Braun
Strum, the SPA's consumer market section manager. According to SPA's 1996
Consumer Survey, 47 percent of consumers make their final purchasing decision
on-site.
Online Service Field Set to Soar
The number of U.S. households with connections to consumer online services
will grow from 9.6 million in 1995 to 35.2 million by the year 2000,
according to figures compiled by Jupiter Communications. Jupiter, which
specializes in market research for the online industry, forecasts that 34
percent of all U.S. households will be connected to a consumer online
service by the turn on the century.
The company notes that online industry revenues, which totaled $2.2 billion
in 1995, are expected to reach $14.2 billion by the year 2000. According to
Jupiter, revenue growth is the result of the increasing number of paid
subscriptions to consumer online services and Web sites, revenues from
online advertising and revenues from transactions. While the Internet's
World Wide Web has become a major force in the online market, proprietary
services such as CompuServe, America Online and the Microsoft Network,
remain leading industry players.
"Predictions of imminent doom for the proprietary services were obviously
premature," says Adam Schoenfeld, vice president of Jupiter Communications.
"The definition of what a consumer online service is has changed dramatically
and now encompasses Web-based services, the traditional onlines, and the new
access options. This change will accelerate, and the Web will continue to be
a dominant platform, but the number of online households will continue to
grow at a breakneck pace through 2000."
Dataquest Sees Growing PC Market
The worldwide PC market will have continued success with double-digit growth
for the rest of this decade, according to Dataquest Inc. The market
researcher says the worldwide PC market will grow 19.1 percent in 1996 while
the U.S. market will grow 13.6 percent. Although there have been concerns
that excess semiconductor inventory has signaled a stall in the PC market,
Dataquest analysts report that the market is still very healthy.
"Last year's growth of 25.6 percent may not be sustainable, but we are
bullish on the prospects for the PC market where PC makers shipped $125
billion in PCs last year," says Kimball Brown, vice president and chief
analyst of Dataquest's computer and peripheral program. A growth rate of
19.1 percent shows continued strong growth and represents far from a
difficult year ahead."
Compaq Computer Corp. was the market leader for the ninth consecutive quarter
with worldwide PC unit shipments reaching 1.59 million units, a 27 percent
increase from the first quarter of 1995. Despite losing ground in the U.S.
market, IBM Corp. grew 14 percent worldwide. The most active vendor both
worldwide and in the U.S. was Hewlett- Packard Co. In the U.S., HP broke into
the top five for the first time by shipping 405,000 units to grow 138 percent
over the first quarter of last year.
Worldwide PC units shipments are expected to reach more than 71.7 million
units this year, says Dataquest. With a compound annual growth rate of 17
percent, unit shipments are forecast to reach 131.7 million units by the year
2000. "As the U.S. market moves toward maturity in both the commercial and
home segments, growth is shifting to Europe, Japan and the emerging
economies of the world," says Bill Schaub, director of Dataquest's Worldwide
Tracking programs. "This is a trend we expect to continue for many years to
come and will favor PC companies with strong global
strategies."
The Interactive Adventure
Explore the Heart and Soul of the Rock N' Roll Generation
And to win Cool Tommy Stuff!
Relive all the excitement,
adventure and energy of the first
- ever rock opera with the
commemorative CD-ROM collector's
edition of Pete Townshend's Tommy
- The Interactive Adventure. Gain
musical, cinematic and theatrical
insights into the meaning and
inspiration behind the music
through CD - quality sound clips
and voice over commentaries by
Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey,
and John Entwistle.
Join the star - studded cast including Elton
John, Jack Nicholson, Tina Turner, Ann
Margret, Eric Clapton and many more as they
take part in the events that have made Tommy
an enduring musical phenomenon for over 25
years.
You'll be enthralled by the sights and
sounds of a completely interactive
exploration that takes you from the early
days of Pete Townshend and The Who before
Tommy right up to today's smash Broadway
musical.
Product Highlights
z Over 1 hour of video and audio featuring band interviews and
live clips from concerts, the movie and the Broadway show, including
original performances by Elton John, Tina Turner, Phil Collins,
Billy Idol, Patti Labelle, Jack Nicholson, and many more.
z The complete lyrics from the original recording of Tommy with
commentary by Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, and John Entwistle.
z Rare photos, notes, drawings memorabilia from Pete Townshend's
personal archives.
z Special bonus CD of the original soundtrack recording of Tommy
plus a one-of-a-kind colector's book of Tommy's history with photos.
z Developed by Kardana Productions, Inc. Broadway
Coming in April 96'!
System Requirements: 486SX25MHz CPU, 8MB RAM, double-speed CD-ROM, 16-bit
sound card, SVGA (256-colors or better), Windows 3.1 or later -
minimum requirements conform to an MPC2 system.
EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
Edupage
JAPANESE CHIP PRODUCTION FULL SPEED AHEAD
While U.S. companies are pulling back on new chip factory construction, three
of Japan's largest semiconductor manufacturers are going forward with big
expansion plans. Hitachi will spend $1.12 billion on a next-generation, 64-
megabit memory chip plant, scheduled to open in the first half of 1998.
Mitsubishi Electric is upgrading its factory in Saijo, Japan, to produce 64-
megabit chips by October 1997, and NEC is pouring about $1.85 billion over
the next decade into a research facility to develop even more advanced one-
gigabit memory chips, starting in late 1997. "This is how they will survive
in this market," says an analyst with Morgan Stanley Japan Ltd. "Without
this type of more stable investment policy, I think they can't survive as a
first-tier group." (Wall Street Journal 26 Apr 96 A8)
CHIP DEMAND ON THE RISE IN ASIA
Dan Klesken, an industry analyst with Robertson, Stephens & Co., is bullish
on the long-term chip market: "If you look at the U.S. over the next 20
years, we're going to generate about 25 million new jobs. But if you look at
Asia, including China, that region is going to generate about 250 million
new jobs. Those new wage earners will be buying PCs, digital TVs, digital
cellular phones, etc. The industry today will consume about 250 acres of
silicon. But, by my calculations, it's going to be up around 1, 600 acres
in about 10 years' time." (Investor's Business Daily 29 Apr 96 A6)
NETWORK PC OR INFORMATION APPLIANCE?
Farzad Dibachi, a former Oracle senior VP leading the push for the $500
network PC, has started his own company and thinks he has a better idea.
Dibachi's new firm, Diba, plans to develop technology that will allow
consumer electronics companies to manufacture a variety of inexpensive,
single-purpose appliances. "I think it's a brilliant idea," says the
president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. "They have started from
ground zero and built a new thing that isn't a computer, it's an information
appliance." Oracle Executive VP David Roux isn't so sanguine: "He's got the
right train on the wrong track." (Wall Street Journal 26 Apr 96 B3)
BIPED ANIMATION SOFTWARE
A new software program from Autodesk's newly formed Kinetix unit takes the
drudgery out of computer animation. Biped, a plug-in module for Autodesk's
3D Studio Max, supplies the animation sequence for how a stick figure would
move between any programmer-specified point A and point B, filling in details
such as how arms would swing and the head would nod as the character moves
along. Another module, Physique, supplies even more detail for 3-D figures,
such as how the bicep would bulge when the arm was bent, etc. The whole
thing's "pretty amazing," according to a Dataquest analyst. (Business Week
29 Apr 96 p93)
CONTINENTAL TO OFFER PHONE, INTERNET SERVICE
Continental Cablevision isn't wasting any time in taking advantage of the new
telecommunications deregulation act. It will begin offering subscribers in
California and Florida telephone and cable modem service later this year,
with plans to rapidly expand into Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York.
By the end of the year, Continental expects to have upgraded its systems in
New England, and will have the ability to offer 1.1 million subscribers cable
modem service. (Broadcasting & Cable 22 Apr 96 p61)
INTERNET LONG-DISTANCE TO FIGHT PHONE FEES
New Internet long-distance provider ShadowTel vowed to fight a Canadian
regulatory commission decision that it must pay contribution fees to phone
companies to help keep local rates low. The company's position is that rules
for long- distance resellers should not apply to it because it uses Internet
technology from beginning to end. (Ottawa Citizen 27 Apr 96 E4)
FLAT PRICING ON GTE AIRFONE
GTE Airfone is changing its strategy on phone call pricing, ditching its per-
minute charges for a flat $15 fee. The new arrangement will present
significant savings for callers who chat five minutes or more. The new rates
will kick in on May 1. (Investor's Business Daily 29 Apr 96 A6)
NEW LCD DISPLAYS
Researchers at Kent State University's Liquid Crystal Institute are working
on a cheaper liquid-crystal display technology that produces clearer images
using less energy. The new displays use a cholesteric liquid-crystal
material that reacts differently to light than the material used in
conventional displays. Rather than twisting the light so it can pass through
a filter, one ray is reflected, and the other is transmitted -- electrifying
the chemical turns it clear. Because the cholesteric LCDs reflect light
without the need for polarizing filters, they can be bright and legible
without being backlit, thus saving energy. The panels will be able to run
about 10 times longer on batteries than is possible with conventional
displays. (Scientific American May 96 p32)
MEMPHIS, CAIRO LINKS
Microsoft plans to release major upgrades of both Windows 95 and Windows NT
in late 1997 or early 1998, with the code-named Memphis and Cairo software
versions being the first step toward a standardized Windows for corporate
users. The two programs will share the same basic, 32-bit kernel "around
1998." But some analysts are skeptical about Microsoft's ability to bring
products out on time, while others point out that by 1998, the company will
need to begin launching a 64-bit version of its NT Server to work with
planned 64-bit Unix systems planned for that timeframe. "The fact is there
will always be two versions of the kernel," says a Forrester Research
analyst. (Information Week 22 Apr 96 p22)
APPLE DELAYS COPLAND
Rumors from sources within Apple say that the introduction of Copland,
Apple's next-generation operating system, will be delayed until mid-1997.
(Computer Industry Daily 29 Apr 96)
HEY, BIG SPENDER
In a debate at a meeting of the American Association of Advertising Agencies,
technology pundit George Gilder (author of "Microcosm") remarked that "the
consumer will definitely pay for information on the Internet," but was
challenged by skeptic Clifford Stoll (author of "Silicon Snake Oil"), who
argued that "the dirty little secret of Internet is that it's a neighborhood
of cheapskates" for "as soon as you charge people pennies to click onto
icons, they stop." (New York Times 26 Apr 96 C17)
NETSCAPE UNVEILS NAVIGATOR 3.0
Trying to stay one step ahead of Microsoft, Netscape announced a new version
of its Navigator Web browser, just three months after the last one.
Navigator 3.0 includes features such as software for making phone calls over
the Internet, a "shared whiteboard," enabling users in different locations
to collaborate on a document, and 3D graphics. The new browser will also
link to the VeriSign service to provide security for electronic commerce.
(Wall Street Journal 29 Apr 96 B7)
MERGER CREATES 3RD-LARGEST COMPUTER SERVICES GROUP
Computer Sciences Corporation will acquire the Continuum Company for $1.4
billion in stock to become the third-largest provider of computer services,
with IBM and EDS in the top two slots and Andersen Consulting coming in 4th.
(New York Times 30 Apr 96 C1)
INTEL VIDEOCONFERENCING SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE SITES
Intel's new ProShare desktop videoconferencing system allows up to 24 sites
to connect on a single phone call, making the process much less expensive
for people who need to connect to multiple sites. Currently, a user must
install a special circuit board in their PC to use the ProShare system, but
a software-only version is due out later this year. The system will make it
much easier to run desktop videoconferencing over corporate networks. "We've
been waiting all these years for a picture phone, and we just might get it.
But it won't be a phone, it will be a computer," says an industry observer.
(Wall Street Journal 30 Apr 96 B7)
NEWS SERVICES GO TO WEB
The Wall Street Journal has announced an interactive version of its news
service on the Web at < http://www.wsj.com/ >, which is currently free;
later this spring the cost will be $49 a year for individuals who don't
subscribe to the print version of the Journal, and $29 a year for those who
do. (Wall Street Journal 29 Apr 96 B1) Microsoft, on the other hand, is
planning to turn its MSN News and other news Microsoft Network news products
into a free Web-based service. Microsoft will also offer its non-news MSN
content over the Web beginning in mid-May, for a fee
<http://www.msn.com/news/ >.
DELL'S GREEN MACHINES
Dell Computer, in response to customer concerns about the safe disposal of
obsolete computers, is coming out with a computer chassis made of materials
that are fully recyclable. The OptiFrame chassis will be used in Dell's
OptiPlex business-oriented computers, beginning this summer. "Our industry
adds more than 60-million PCs to the market every year. The question, then,
is what do you do with them when they become obsolete," says the senior VP of
Dell's product group. "We have added the environmental advantages of this
chassis without adding to the cost." The Gartner Group predicts that nearly
25-million obsolete computers will end up in landfills in 1996. (St.
Petersburg Times 29 Apr 96 p9)
U.S. PC SHIPMENTS UP 14% TO 15%
Dataquest and International Data Corp. both released estimates of 14% to 15%
growth in U.S. personal computer shipments during the first quarter of 1996,
indicating a worldwide increase of about 18%. The top five companies in
terms of units sold were Compaq (for the second year in a row), Packard Bell,
Hewlett-Packard (up from No. 7 last year), Apple and Gateway 2000. (Wall
Street Journal 29 Apr 96 A3)
BELL ATLANTIC-NYNEX MERGER PUTS VIDEO ON HOLD
The first order of business once telco giants Bell Atlantic and Nynex merge,
will be an aggressive launch into long-distance markets, with wireless cable
less of a priority initially. "The video stuff is clearly back-burnered,"
says Howard Anderson of the Yankee Group, who predicts Internet-related
services will come second. "The revenue potential is greater in long
distance, and it also helps solidify their positions in the local business,"
says a consultant with Furman Selz. "It's also an area they know. It's not
as far afield as video, so the learning curve is much shorter." (Broadcasting
& Cable 29 Apr 96 p92)
CYBER-CHECKS
Internet shoppers who'd rather write a check than use plastic can use a new
payment option offered by Azteq Direct Internet Superstore <
http://www.azteq.com/ > -- Azteq I-Check. Customers provide checking account
data on an encrypted order screen or by phone, or can fax a copy of a check.
The payments are processed by PhoneChex Systems, which prints out a physical
demand draft for deposit to Azteq's account. "Fraud is going to be there no
matter what we do," says PhoneChex's president. "But the fraud of credit
cards over the phone is much larger than taking checks over the phone or
online." (Investor's Business Daily 30 Apr 96 A8)
HAS ISDN'S TIME COME AND GONE?
"ISDN was a sort of a `Field of Dreams' technology," says the chief
technologist for Citicorp. "The thought was, `Build it, and they will
come.'" But it's been slow going, and with cable modems and ADSL
(asynchronous digital subscriber lines) technology on the horizon, some are
predicting ISDN's time is already past. "If they were serious about
marketing ISDN, I would expect to see billboards and placards on buses,"
says a Forrester Research analyst. "They'd offer free installation,
discount coupons in hardware packages, and bundled Internet access service."
Instead, ISDN installation is expensive, and its speed still unimpressive
for activities such as Web browsing, where cable modems' and ADSL's much
greater downstream capacity is a big advantage. (Information Week 22 Apr 96
p65)
MOTOROLA'S MILLION CABLE MODEMS
Motorola is shipping the first of a million cable modems ordered by cable
companies such as Time Warner, TCI and Comcast, among others. Cable
operators plan to charge between $25 and $40 a month for online access at
speeds hundreds of times faster than ordinary phone lines. Critics have
cited problems with cable modem technology, including electrical "noise,"
limitations on two-way transmissions, and potential user overload, but a
Motorola VP says, "Bullfeathers, this stuff works and it's in homes." (Wall
Street Journal 29 Apr 96 B7)
OS/2 WITH EARS
IBM says the next version of its OS/2 operating system, code-named Merlin,
will include voice-recognition capabilities. "A keyboard and a mouse are
very foreign to most human beings," says IBM's VP for personal software
products. "Speech is a much more natural way of interacting with your
computer." Merlin is expected to hit the market during the second half of
this year, priced below $100. (St. Petersburg Times 29 Apr 96 p9)
MCI ONE SERVICE
MCI's new MCI One service will provide one-stop shopping for everything from
long-distance phone service to Internet access to a Westinghouse home-
security system that alerts a parent when his or her child enters or leaves
the house. (Wall Street Journal 30 Apr 96 B7)
GORE WANTS CABLE EVERYWHERE
Vice President Al Gore told a convention of cable TV industry executives that
they should wire every U.S. home, school and library by the year 2000,
saying: "I challenge you to pursue your own commitment to the public
interest with ferocity." Gore compared the effort to President Kennedy's
call in the 1960s for the space industry to place a man on the moon by the
end of that decade. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 30 Apr 96 B1)
VOCABULARY TEST
Peter Lyman, the Librarian of the University of California-Berkeley notes a
linguistic paradox: "We always talk about new technology using old
vocabulary. 'Electronic publishing', 'digital library', 'information
highway': to our grandchildren these terms will probably sound as peculiar
as 'horseless carriage'." (New York Times 29 Aprx 96 B1)
MFS TO BUY UUNET, STOCK OPTIONS SCRUTINIZED
MFS Communications will purchase UUNet Technologies for about $2 billion in
stock, giving MFS the ability to offer its corporate customers one-stop
shopping for local, long-distance and Internet access services. (Wall Street
Journal 1 May 96 A3) The Chicago Board Options Exchange is looking into
unusually heavy trading of UUNet stock options just prior to the disclosure
of its deal with MFS. Trading volume in certain UUNet options contracts more
than tripled on Monday. The CBOE will turn its findings over the Securities
and Exchange Commission. An investor with inside knowledge could have
bought 100 UUNet options for $30,000 on Monday and sold them Tuesday for
$65,000. (Wall Street Journal 2 May 96 B6)
NBC LOOKS TO MCI TO REPLACE SATELLITE DISTRIBUTION
NBC will begin testing MCI's high-speed HyperMedia service to distribute
video to its affiliate stations around the country. The service allows
affiliates to use video workstations to connect to the server via 1.544-Mbps
to 12-Mbps switched multimegabit data services, or 45-Mbps asynchronous
transfer mode technology. Other possible HyperMedia customers include
companies who want to do video training over the network and hospitals and
research centers providing telemedical services. "This is part of the trend
of moving applications onto the network," says MCI's chief engineering
officer. (Information Week 22 Apr 96 p28)
COMPANIES GET JAVATIZED
Apple Computer has licensed Sun Microsystems' Java software for use in
Apple's Macintosh, Newton and Pippin operating systems. (Wall Street
Journal 1 May 96 B7) Sun Microsystems also announced licensing agreements
with Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and others, giving Sun the potential
for turning Java into an operating system for the Internet. "Java
accomplishes what has been considered by many to be the Holy Grail of
computing, to enable software to run across all operating systems," says the
president of Sun's JavaSoft subsidiary. (Investor's Business Daily 2 May 96
A9)
GEORGIA LAW COULD PROHIBIT WEB LINKS
Legislation recently signed into law by Georgia Governor Zell Miller is aimed
at preventing fraud in cyberspace, but critics say it could force developers
of World Wide Web pages to remove links to other pages. The law makes it a
crime to "falsely identify" oneself on the Net, or to direct people to
someone else's computer without the other person's explicit permission.
"The law is written so poorly, and it criminalizes things that are a very
basic way of operating on the Internet, that we're not sure how it would be
enforced," says the legal counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
(Chronicle of Higher Education 3 May 96 A29)
COOKIE-CUTTER MICROCHIPS
While other researchers are experimenting with X-ray lithography for etching
minute lines onto silicon wafers, a professor at the University of Minnesota
has developed a way to stamp ultrathin lines on microchips "almost like they
were cookies." Stephen Chou's research team recently was able to imprint
wafers with lines just 0.025 microns wide, and Chou's "quite confident" that
they can get down to 0.01-micron lines -- "maybe even smaller." (Business
Week 6 May 96 p95)
PENTIUM PRICES PLUNGE, DELL PASSES SAVINGS ON
Intel has cut the price of its Pentium and Pentium Pro chips by 10% to 30%,
bringing the cost of a $428 150 Mhz Pentium down to $364, for instance. In
response, Dell Computer has lowered prices on its OptiPlex computer line by
21%, and some of its Latitude laptops by 8%. "When the cost of components
such as memory chips or processors drops rapidly, a company that maintains
about 30 days of inventory is able to quickly pass along those savings in the
form of lower prices by the end of the month," says CEO Michael Dell.
(Investor's Business Daily 2 May 96 A9)
GREENER CHIPS
A study financed by the Semiconductor Research Corp., the National Science
Foundation and Sematech will look for ways to improve the environmental,
health and safety aspects of semiconductor manufacturing. The University of
Arizona will work on reducing the amount of highly purified water needed to
rinse and clean silicon wafers, and will try to reduce energy needs in the
process. (Investor's Business Daily 1 May 96 A6)
MCAFEE ABANDONS MERGER TRY WITH CHEYENNE
Deciding not to continue a merger attempt that would have turned into a
hostile takeover, McAfee Associates (maker of software for detecting
computer viruses) has withdrawn its $1 billion offer to take over Cheyenne
Software (maker of software for managing personal computer networks). (New
York Times 2 May 96 C6)
WTO GLOBAL TELECOM DEAL
World Trade Organization talks aimed at liberalizing telecommunications
regulations have been put on hold until after the U.S. presidential election
is over and American negotiators are free to make the sort of compromises
they dare not make in the lead-up to the election for fear of offending
industry groups and voters. (Toronto Globe & Mail 30 Apr 96 B8 & 1 May 96
B7)
DIGITAL TV CONVERTER BOXES
The General Instrument Corporation will begin shipping the first generation
of digital converter boxes to cable companies Tele-Communications Inc., Cox
Communications, and Comcast, allowing viewers to receive up to 320 channels
with superb picture and sound. General Instrument has also contracted with
small companies such as Wink and ACTV to develop software to allow
customized versions of programs -- e.g., giving a viewer the ability to push
a remote control to see an "instant replay" on demand. (New York Times 1
May C18)
GERSTNER SAYS IBM'S NO LONGER AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
IBM CEO Louis V. Gerstner Jr. told the annual shareholder's meeting that when
he took over the company "IBM was on the endangered species list," but that
dramatic cost cutting and market changes have shifted demand to IBM: "IBM has
an opportunity to lead the shift to network computing. That's where the
action is again, and that's where it hasn't been for many years." (Atlanta
Journal-Constitution 1 May 96 D1)
AMERICAN GIANTS TAKE AIM AT TELESAT
Telesat Canada's ambitious $1.6-billion satellite program has run into fierce
opposition from American broadcasters who want to stop competitors from
using Canadian satellites to beam into the lucrative U.S. market. At least
five major direct-to-home companies (including AT&T, MCI, DirecTV, Echostar
Satellite and United States Satellite Broadcasting) want the Federal
Communications Commission to block rivals Tele-Communications Inc. and
Telquest Communications from using Telesat Canada satellites since neither
company can find space on American satellites. Although the FCC has no
jurisdiction over Canadian satellites, the two companies still need FCC
"landing rights" licences. (Toronto Financial Post 30 Apr 96 p1)
ONLINE ADVERTISING
Proctor & Gamble has raised the ire of online services by limiting payment
for some of its ads on the World Wide Web to the number of people who
actually seek additional information rather than everyone who sees the ads.
Advertising Age magazine reports Web directory service Yahoo! has agreed to
accept ads from P&G, one of the United States' major advertisers, on a
"click-through" rather than an "eyeball" basis. (Ottawa Citizen 29 Apr 96
A10) ... And in the United Kingdom, an interactive TV commercial is being
piloted with 100,000 London-area homes; viewers watching the Frosted Flakes
cereal commercial will be able to send commands through a set-top box to
control some of the actions of Tony the Tiger and other cartoon characters.
(Financial Times 1 May 96 p1)
BELL COMPANIES: NO KNIFE, NO KETTLE, NO BOILING WATER
Rejecting suggestions that the proposed Bell Atlantic merger with Nynex will
slash into jobs and restore the Bell companies to their original monopoly
status, Bell Atlantic CEO Raymond W. Smith says: "There are folks who just
can't help ruminating about the Bell System jumping up one more time - like
Glenn Close in 'Fatal Attraction' -- to murder competition and boil it in a
kettle." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 1 May 96 D3)
Edupage is written by John Gehl (gehl@educom.edu) & Suzanne Douglas
(douglas@educom.edu).
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The AWARD BIOS SETUP
Version 4.5
for the Triton Chipset Manual
(Addendum to the General Manual)
vers 1.0
Forward written by Vince Hadley (vhadley@ee.utah.edu)
I copied the following from some info AWARD sent to me by mail and it
represents as closely as possible the format, style, and information conveyed
unto me. I am typing it into an electronic form (you CANNOT get this off of
their BBS) to supplement the info given in their manual for their 4.50
version of their BIOS. Note, this is for the Intel Triton chipset! I do not
know how a similar version of the BIOS would be on another chipset, and I
think that this is why it was not included with the _general_ manual because
what follows is chipset specific. Please do not modify the following. I will
try to answer any questions you may have...although I do not know everything.
Also, the number for their BBS is: (415) 968-0249. In addition, I have
noticed in my BIOS some stuff that is not mentioned below. I contacted AWARD
about this and they don't have any idea either...(example PCI Streaming, COM
ports and MIDI functions, etc.). They told me that they sell the core
"Software" for the BIOS to the manufacturer and then he adds to it (or alters
it) however he wants to and so you'll oft times find other things in the BIOS
setup that AWARD has no knowledge of. As the tech rep told me, there are no
two BIOS's out there that are exactly alike.
Disclaimer
Under no circumstances is any responsiblilty assumed by myself (Vince Hadley)
or by Award Software, Inc. as to the use, misuse, application, or
misapplication of the material herein provided. This information is provided
on a 'as is' basis, and is not guaranteed to be correct or current and the
information contained herein can change at any time. Anyone using this
information shall assume full responsibility for any consequences or damage
that may result therefrom. You use this information at your own risk.
Again, please do not modify the following:
Award BIOS 4.50 Setup Utility
Chipset Features Setup / Power Management Setup
PCI Configuration Setup
(For the TRITON Chipset!)
Chipset Features Setup...
This section allows you to configure the system based on the specific
features of the installed chipset. This chipset mangages bus speeds and
access to system memory resources, such as DRAM and the external cache. It
also coordinates communications between the conventional ISA bus and the PCI
bus. It must be stated that these items should never need be altered. The
default settings have been chosen because they provide the best operating
conditions for your system. The only time you might consider making any
changes would be if you discovered that data was being lost while using your
system.
ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A59C000)
CHIPSET FEATURES SETUP
AWARD SOFTWARE, INC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| DRAM RAS# Precharge Time : 4 | |
| DRAM R/W Leadoff Timing : 8/6 | |
| DRAM RAS to Cas Delay : 3 | |
| DRAM Read Burst Timing : x2222 | |
| DRAM Write Burst Timing : x3333 | |
| | |
| System Bios Cacheable : Disabled | |
| Video Bios Cacheable : Disabled | |
| 8 bit I/O Recovery Time : 1 | |
| 16 Bit I/O Recovery Time : 1 | |
| Memory Hole at 15M-16M : Disable | |
| IDE HDD Block Mode : Enable | |
| IDE 32-bit Transfer Mode : Enabled | |
| IDE Primary Master PIO : Auto | |
| IDE Primary Slave PIO : Auto --------------------------------------|
| IDE Secondary Master PIO : Auto | ESC : Quit : Select Item|
| IDE Secondary Slave PIO : Auto | F1 : Help PU/PD/+/- : Modify|
| On-Chip Primary PCI IDE: Enabled | F5 : Old Values (Shift)F2 : Color |
| On-Chip Secondary PCI IDE: Enabled | F6 : Load BIOS Defaults |
| PCI Slot IDE 2nd Channel : Enabled | F7 : Load Setup Defaults |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
DRAM Settings
The first chipset settings deal with CPU access to dynamic random access
memory (DRAM). The deafault timings have been carefully chosen and should
only be altered if data is being lost. Such a scenario might well occur if
your system had mixed speed DRAM chips installed so that greater delays may
be required to preserve the integrity of the data held in the slower memory
chips.
-----------
DRAM RAS#
Precharge
Time
DRAM must continually be refreshed or it will lose its data. Normally, DRAM
is refreshed entirely as the result of a single request. This option allows
you to determine the number of CPU clocks allocated for the Row Address
Strobe to accumulate its charge before the DRAM is refreshed. If insufficient
time is allowed, refresh may be incomplete and data lost.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| 3 | Three Clocks. |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 4 | Four Clocks. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Four Clocks is the default.
-----------
DRAM R/W
Leadoff
Timing
This sets the number of CPU clocks allowed before reads and writes to DRAM
are performed.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| 8/7 | Eight clocks leadoff for reads and seven clocks |
| | leadoff for writes. |
----------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 7/5 | Seven clocks leadoff for reads and five clocks |
| | leadoff for writes. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
8/7 Leadoff timing is the default
-----------
DRAM RAS to
CAS Delay
When the DRAM is refreshed, both rows and columns are addressed separately.
This setup allows you to determine the timing of the transition from Row
Address Strobe (RAS) to Column Address Strobe (CAS).
----------------------------------------------------------------
| 3 | Three CPU clock delay. |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 2 | Two CPU clock delay. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
3 CPU clocks is the default.
-----------
DRAM Read
Burst
Timing
This sets the timing for Burst mode reads from DRAM. Burst read and write
requests are generated by the CPU in four separate parts. The first part
provides the location within the DRAM where the read or write is to take
place while the remaining three parts provide the actual data. The lower the
timing numbers, the faster the system will address memory.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| x2222 | Read DRAM timings are 2-2-2-2 |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| x3333 | Read DRAM timings are 3-3-3-3 |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| x4444 | Read DRAM timings are 4-4-4-4 |
----------------------------------------------------------------
x2222 timings is the default.
-----------
DRAM Write
Burst
Timing
----------------------------------------------------------------
| x2222 | Write DRAM timings are 2-2-2-2 |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| x3333 | Write DRAM timings are 3-3-3-3 |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| x4444 | Write DRAM timings are 4-4-4-4 |
----------------------------------------------------------------
x3333 timings is the default
Cache Features
-----------
System BIOS
Cacheable
When enabled, accesses to the system BIOS ROM addressed at F0000H- FFFFFH are
cached, provided that the cache contoller is enabled.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Enabled | BIOS access cached. |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| Disabled| BIOS access not cached. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Disabled is the default.
-----------
Video BIOS
Cacheable
As with caching the System BIOS above, enabling the Video BIOS cache will
cause access to the video BIOS addressed at C0000H to C7FFFH to be cached, if
the cache controller is also enabled.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Enabled | Video BIOS access cached. |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|
| Disabled| Video BIOS access not cached. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Disabled is the default.
PCI and IDE Configuration
-----------
8 bit I/O
Recovery
Time
The recovery time is the length of time measured in CPU clocks, which the
system will delay after the completion of an input/output request. This delay
takes place because the CPU is operating so much faster than the input/output
bus that the CPU must be delayed to allow for the completion of the I/O.
This item allows to you to determine the recovery time allowed for 8-bit I/O.
Choices are from 1 to 8 CPU Clocks.
1 clock is the default.
-----------
16 bit I/O
Recovery
Time
This item allows to you to determine the recovery time allowed for 16-bit
I/O. Choices are from 1 to 4 CPU Clocks.
1 clock is the default.
-----------
Memory Hole
at 15M-16M
In order to improve performance, certain space in memory can be reserved for
ISA cards. This memory must be mapped into the memory space below 16 MB.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Enabled | Memory hole supported. |
---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Disabled| Memory hole not supported |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Disabled is the default.
-----------
IDE HDD
Block Mode
This allows your hard disk controller to use fast block mode transfer to and
from your hard disk drive (HDD).
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Enabled | IDE controller uses block mode. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Disabled| IDE controller uses standard mode. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enabled is the default.
-----------
IDE 32-bit
Transfer
Mode
Enabling 32-bit transfer mode allows for faster access to data on your hard
disk drive.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Enabled | 32-bit transfer mode enabled. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Disabled| Conventional transfer mode used. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enabled is the default.
IDE PIO
IDE hard drive controllers can support up to two separate hard drives. These
drives have a master/slave relationship which are determined by the cabling
configuration used to attach them to the controller. Your system supports two
IDE contollers-- a primary and a secondary-- so you have the ability to
install up to four separate hard disks.
PIO means Programmed Input/Output. Rather than have the BIOS issue a series
of commands to effect a transfer to or from the disk drive, PIO allows the
BIOS to tell the controller what it wants and then let the controller and the
CPU perform the complete task by themselves. This is simpler and more
efficient (and faster).
Your system supports five modes, numbered from 0 (default) to 4, which
primarily differ in timing. When Auto is selected, the BIOS will select the
best available mode. This is true for the next four setup items:
1. IDE Primary Master PIO
2. IDE Primary Slave PIO
3. IDE Secondary Master PIO
4. IDE Secondary Slave PIO
-----------
On-Chip
Primary PCI
IDE
As stated above, your system includes two built-in IDE controllers, both of
which operate on the PCI bus. This setup item allows you either to enable or
disable the primary controller. You might choose to disable the controller if
you were to add a higher performance or specialized controller.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Enabled | Primary HDD controller used. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Disabled| Primary HDD controller not used. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enabled is the default.
----------- On-Chip Secondary PCI IDE As above for the Primary controller,
this setup item allows you either to enable or disable the secondary
controller. You might choose to disable the controller if you were to add a
higher performance or specialized controller.
---------------------------------------------------------------
-
| Enabled | Secondary HDD controller used.
|
---------------------------------------------------------------
-
| Disabled| Secondary HDD controller not used.
|
---------------------------------------------------------------
-
Enabled is the default.
-----------
PCI Slot
IDE 2nd
Channel
This item allows you to designate an IDE controller board inserted into one
of the physical PCI slots as your secondary IDE controller.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Enabled | External IDE controller designated as the |
| | secondary controller. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Disabled| No IDE controller occupying a PCI slot. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Disabled is the default.
Power Management Setup...
The Power Management Setup Allows you to configure your system to most
effectively save energy while operating in a manner consistent with your own
style of computer use.
ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A59AA01)
POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP
AWARD SOFTWARE, INC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Power Management : Max Saving | IRQ1 (Keyboard) : ON |
| PM control by APM : Yes | IRQ3 (COM 2) : OFF |
| Video Off Method : Blank Screen | IRQ4 (COM 1) : OFF |
| | IRQ5 (LPT 2) : OFF |
| Doze Mode : 1 Min | IRQ6 (Floppy Disk) : OFF |
| Standby Mode : 1 Min | IRQ7 (LPT 1) : OFF |
| Suspend Mode : 1 Min | IRQ8 (RTC Alarm) : OFF |
| HDD Power Down : 1 Min | IRQ9 (IRQ2 Redir) : OFF |
| | IRQ10 (Reserved) : OFF |
| IRQ3 (Wake-Up Event): OFF | IRQ11 (Reserved) : OFF |
| IRQ4 (Wake-Up Event): OFF | IRQ12 (PS/2 Mouse) : OFF |
| IRQ8 (Wake-Up Event): OFF | IRQ13 (Coprocessor) : OFF |
| IRQ12 (Wake-Up Event): OFF | IRQ14 (Hard Disk) : OFF |
| | IRQ15 (Reserved) : OFF |
| Power Down Activities --------------------------------------
| --------------------- | ESC : Quit : Select Item|
| COM Ports Accessed : ON | F1 : Help PU/PD/+/- : Modify|
| LPT Ports Accessed : ON | F5 : Old Values (Shift)F2 : Color|
| Drive Ports Accessed : ON | F6 : Load BIOS Defaults |
| | F7 : Load Setup Defaults |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Power
Management
This category allows you to select the type (or degree) of power saving and
is directly related to the following modes:
1. Doze Mode
2. Standby Mode
3. Suspend Mode
4. HDD Power Down
There are four selections for Power Management, three of which
have fixed mode settings.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Disable (default) | No power management. Disables all four |
| | modes. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Min. Power Saving | Minimum power management. Doze Mode = 1 |
| | hr., Standby Mode = 1 hr., Suspend Mode |
| | = 1 hr., and HDD Power Down = 15 min. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Max. Power Saving | Maximum power management -- ONLY |
| | AVAILABLE FOR SL CPU'S. Doze Mode = 1 |
| | min,. Standby Mode = 1 min., Suspend |
| | Mode = 1 min., and HDD Power Down = 1 |
| | min. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| User Defined | Allows you to set each mode individually.|
| | When not disabled, each of the ranges are|
| | from 1 min. to 1 hr. except for HDD Power|
| | Down which ranges from 1 min. to 15. and |
| | disable. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
APM Control
APM
When enabled, an Advanced Power Managment device will be activated to enhance
that Max. Power Saving mode and stop the CPU internal clock.
If the Max. Power Saving is not enabled, this will be preset to No.
-----------
Video Off
Method
This determines the manner in which the monitor is blanked.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| V/H SYNC+Blank | This selection will cause the system to |
| | turn off the vertical and horizontal |
| | synchronization ports and write blanks |
| | to the video buffer. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Blank Screen | This option only writes blanks to the |
| | Video buffer. |
----------------------------------------------------------------
PM Timers
The following four modes are Green PC power saving functions which are only
user configurable when the User Defined Power Management has been selected.
See above for available selections.
----------
Doze Mode When enabled and after the set time of system inactivity, the CPU
clock will run at a slower speed while all other devices still
operate at full speed.
----------
Standby When enabled and after the set time of system inactivity, the
Mode fixed disk drive and the video would be shut off while all other
devices still operate at full speed.
----------
Suspend When enabled and after the set time of system inactivity, all
Mode devices except the CPU will be shut off.
----------
HDD Power When enabled and after the set time of system inactivity, the
Down hard disk drive will be powered down while all other devices
remain active.
Power Down Activities Power Down Activities events are I/O events whose
occurance can prevent the system from entering a power saving mode or can
awaken the system from such a mode. In effect, the system remains alert for
anything which occurs to a device which is configured as ON, even when the
system is in a power down mode. ---------- COM Ports When set to ON
(default), any event occuring at a COM (serial) Accessed port will awaken a
system which has been powered down.
----------
LPT Ports
Accessed
When set to ON (default), any event occuring at a LPT (printer) port will
awaken a system which has been powered down.
----------
Drive Prts
Accessed
When set to ON (default), any event occuring at a hard or floppy drive port
will awaken a system which has been powered down.
----------
IRQ1
(Keyboard)
When set to ON (default), any event occuring at the keyboard will awaken a
system which has been powered down.
The following is a list of IRQ's, Interrupt ReQuests, which can be exempted
much as COM ports and LPT ports above can. When an I/O device wants to gain
the attention of the operating system, it signals this by causing an IRQ to
occur. When the operating system is ready to respond to the request, it
interrupts itself and performs the service.
As above, the choices are On and Off. Off is the default.
When set On, activity will neither prevent the system from going into a power
management mode or awaken it.
* IRQ3 (COM 2)
* IRQ4 (COM 1)
* IRQ5 (LPT 2)
* IRQ6 (Floppy Disk)
* IRQ7 (LPT 1)
* IRQ8 (RTC Alarm)
* IRQ9 (IRQ2 Redir)
* IRQ10 (Reserved)
* IRQ11 (Reserved)
* IRQ12 (Reserved)
* IRQ13 (Coprocessor)
* IRQ14 (Hard Disk)
* IRQ15 (Reserved)
PCI Configuration Setup... This section describes configuring the PCI bus
system. PCI, or Personal Computer Interconnect, is a system which allows I/O
devices to operate at speeds nearing the speed of the CPU itself uses when
communicating with its own special components. This section covers some very
technical items and it is recommended that only experienced users should make
any changes to the default settings.
ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A59AA01)
PCI CONFIGURATION SETUP
AWARD SOFTWARE, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Slot 1 Using INT# : AUTO | |
| Slot 2 Using INT# : AUTO | |
| Slot 3 Using INT# : AUTO | |
| Slot 4 Using INT# : AUTO | |
| | |
| 1st Available IRQ : 10 | |
| 2nd Available IRQ : 11 | |
| 3rd Available IRQ : 9 | |
| 4th Available IRQ : 12 | |
| PCI IRQ Actived By : Level | |
| PCI IDE IRQ Map to : ISA | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| ---------------------------------------
| | ESC : Quit : Select Item|
| | F1 : Help PU/PD/+/- : Modify|
| | F5 : Old Values (Shift)F2 : Color |
| | F6 : Load BIOS Defaults |
| | F7 : Load Setup Defaults |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PCI Slot Configuration
-----------
Slot x
Using INT#
Some PCI devices use interrupts to signal that they need to use the PCI bus.
Some devices, notably most graphics adapters, may not need an interrupt
service at all. Each PCI clot is capable of activating up to four interrupts,
INT#A, INT#B, INT#C, INT#D. By default, a PCI slot is allowed INT# A.
Assigning INT#B has no meaning unless the device in the slot requires two
interrupt services rather than just one. Like wise, using INT#C can only mean
the device requires three interrupts and similarly for INT#D.
Selecting the default, AUTO, allows the PCI controller to automatically
allocate the interrupts.
-----------
1st/2nd/
3rd/4th
Available
IRQ
A INT# is an interrupt request which is signaled to and handled by the PCI
bus. However, since the operating system usually has the final responsiblilty
for handling I/O, INT#s can be mapped to an IRQ if the device occupying a
given slot requires an IRQ service. By default, IRQ's 9 and 10 to PCI are
mapped to PCI devices, but any available, unused IRQ can be used.
You can select which INT# is associated with each PCI slot and which
conventional IRQ is associated with one of the two available INT#s. The IRQ
settings must be the same as the jumper setting on the motherboard.
A setting of NA means the IRQ has been assigned to the ISA bus and is not
available to any PCI slot.
-----------
PCI IRQ
Activated
by
This sets the method by which the PCI bus recognizes that an IRQ service is
being requested by a device. Under all circumstances, you should retain the
default configuration unless advised otherwise by your system's manufacturer.
Choices are Level (default) and Edge.
-----------
PCI IDE IRQ
Map To
This allows you to configure your system to the type of IDE disk controller
in use. By default, Setup assumes that your controller is an ISA (Industry
Standard Architecture) device rather then a PCI controller. The more apparent
difference is the type of slot being used.
If you have equipped your system with a PCI controller, changing this allows
you to specify which slot has the controller and which PCI interrupt (A,B,C
or D) is associated with the connected hard drives.
Remember that this setting refers to the hard disk drive itself, rather than
individual partitions. Since each IDE controller supports two separate hard
drives, you can select the INT# for each. Again, you will note that the
primary has a lower interrupt than the secondary as described in "Slot x
Using INT#" above.
Selecting "PCI Auto" allows the system to automatically determine how your
IDE disk system is configured.
AWARD BIOS CMOS SETUP UTILITY
Version 4.50G
(C) Copyright 1995 Award Software International, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Documentation Revision 1.3H
Notice
The information in this guide is subject to change without notice.
The software described in this guide is furnished under a license agreement
and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
Award Software, Inc. shall not be liable for technical or editorial omissions
made herein; nor for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the
furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
This guide contains information protected by copyright. No part of this guide
may be photocopied or reproduced in any form without prior written consent
from Award Software International, Inc.
November 16, 1995
Introduction
This manual discusses Award's Setup program built into the ROM BIOS. The
Setup program allows users to modify the basic system configuration. This
special information is then stored in battery-backed RAM so that it retains
the Setup information when the power is turned off.
The Award BIOS installed in your computer system's ROM (Read Only Memory) is
a custom version of an industry standard BIOS. This means that it supports
Intel/Cyrix/AMD processors in a standard IBM-AT compatible input/output
system. The BIOS provides critical low-level support for standard devices
such as disk drives and serial and parallel ports.
The Award BIOS has been customized by adding important, but non-standard,
features such as virus and password protection as well as special support for
detailed fine-tuning of the chipset controlling the entire system.
The rest of this manual is intended to guide you through the process of
configuring your system using Setup.
Starting Setup
The Award BIOS is immediately activated when you first power on the computer.
The BIOS reads the system information contained in the CMOS and begins the
process of checking out the system and configuring it. When it finishes, the
BIOS will seek an operating system on one of the disks and then launch and
turn control over to the operating system.
While the BIOS is in control, the Setup program can be activated in one of
two ways:
I. By pressing <Del> immediately after switching the system on, or
II. by pressing the <Del> key or by simultaneously pressing <Ctrl>, <Alt>,
and <Esc> keys when the following message appears briefly at the bottom of
the screen during the POST (Power On Self Test).
TO ENTER SETUP BEFORE BOOT PRESS CTRL-ALT-ESC OR DEL KEY
If the message disappears before you respond and you still wish to enter
Setup, restart the system to try again by turning it OFF then ON or pressing
the "RESET" button on the system case. You may also restart by simultaneously
pressing <Ctrl>, <Alt>, and <Delete> keys. If you do not press the keys at
the correct time and the system does not boot, an error message will be
displayed and you will again be asked to...
PRESS F1 TO CONTINUE, CTRL-ALT-ESC OR DEL TO ENTER SETUP
Using Setup
In general, you use the arrow keys to highlight items, press <Enter> to
select, use the PageUp and PageDown keys to change entries, press <F1> for
help and press <Esc> to quit. The following table provides more detail about
how to navigate in the Setup program using the keyboard.
Up arrow Move to previous item
Down arrow Move to next item
Left arrow Move to the item in the left hand
Right arrow Move to the item in the right hand
Esc key Main Menu -- Quit and not save changes into CMOS
Status Page Setup Menu and Option Page Setup Menu
-- Exit current page and return to Main Menu
PgUp key Increase the numeric value or make changes
PgDn key Decrease the numeric value or make changes
+ key Increase the numberic value or make changes
- key Decrease the numberic value or make changes
F1 key General help, only for Status Page Setup Menu and
Option Page Setup Menu
(Shift)F2 Change color from total 16 colors. F2 to select
key color forward, (Shift) F2 to select color backward
F3 key Calendar, only for Status Page Setup Menu
F4 key Reserved
F5 key Restore the previous CMOS value from CMOS, only
for Option Page Setup Menu
F6 key Load the default CMOS value from BIOS default
table, only for Option Page Setup Menu
F7 key Load the default
F8 key Reserved
F9 key Reserved
F10 key Save all the CMOS changes, only for Main Menu
Getting Help
Press F1 to pop up a small help window that describes the appropriate keys to
use and the possible selections for the highlighted item. To exit the Help
Window press <Esc> or the F1 key again.
In Case of Problems
If, after making and saving system changes with Setup, you discover that your
computer no longer is able to boot, the Award BIOS supports an override to
the CMOS settings which resets your system to its defaults.
You can invoke this override by immediately pressing <Insert> when you
restart your computer. You can restart by either using the ON/OFF switch, the
RESET button or by pressing <Ctrl>, <Alt> and <Delete> at the same time.
The best advice is to only alter settings which you thoroughly understand. To
this end, we strongly recommend that you avoid making any changes to the
chipset defaults. These defaults have been carefully chosen by both Award and
your systems manufacturer to provide the absolute maximum performance and
reliability. Even a seemingly small change to the chipset setup has the
potential for causing you to use the override.
A Final Note About Setup
Not all systems have the same Setup. While the basic look and function of the
Setup program remains the same for all systems, individual motherboard and
chipset combinations require custom configurations. For example, you may find
that your Setup main menu has a different number of entries from the main
menu displayed in this manual. These are simply features not supported (or
not user configurable) on your system.
The final appearance of the Setup program also depends on the Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) who built your system. If your OEM has decided
that certain items should only be available to their technicians, those items
may very well be removed from the Setup program.
Section 1
Main Menu
Once you enter the Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility, the Main Menu will appear
on the screen. The Main Menu allows you to select from several setup
functions and two exit choices. Use the arrow keys to select among the items
and press <Enter> to accept and enter the sub-menu.
Note that a brief description of each highlighted selection appears at the
bottom of the screen.
Setup Items
The main menu includes the following main setup categories. Recall that some
systems may not include all entries.
Standard CMOS Setup
This setup page includes all the items in a standard, AT-compatible BIOS. See
Section 2 for details.
BIOS Features Setup
This setup page includes all the items of Award special enhanced features.
See Section 3 for details.
Password Setting
Change, set, or disable password. It allows you to limit access to the system
and Setup, or just to Setup. See Section 4.
Chipset Features Setup
This setup page includes all the items of chipset special features. See
Section 5 for details.
Power Management Setup
This entry only appears if your system supports Power Management, "Green PC",
standards. See Section 6 for setup details.
PCI Configuration Setup
This entry only appears if your system supports PCI. See Section 8, if your
system supports Power Management, otherwise see Section 7.
Load BIOS Defaults
The BIOS defaults have been set by the manufacturer and represent settings
which provide the minimum requirements for your system to operate.
Load Setup Defaults
The chipset defaults are settings which provide for maximum system
performance. While Award has designed the custom BIOS to maximize
performance, the manufacturer has the right to change these defaults to meet
their needs.
IDE HDD Auto Detection
Automatically detect and configure hard disk parameters. The Award BIOS
includes this ability in the event you are uncertain of your hard disk's
paramenters. See also Section 2, "Standard CMOS Setup".
HDD Low Level Format
If supported by your system, this provides a hard disk low level format
utility. See Appendix D for details.
Save & Exit Setup
Save CMOS value changes to CMOS and exit setup.
Exit Without Save
Abandon all CMOS value changes and exit setup.
Section 2
Standard CMOS Setup
The items in Standard CMOS Setup Menu are divided into 10 categories. Each
category includes no, one or more than one setup items. Use the arrow keys to
highlight the item and then use the <PgUp> or <PgDn> keys to select the value
you want in each item.
Date
The date format is <day>, <date> <month> <year>. Press <F3> to show the
calendar.
day The day, from Sun to Sat, determined by the BIOS and
is display-only
date The date, from 1 to 31 (or the maximum allowed in the
month)
month The month, Jan through Dec
year The year, from 1900 through 2099
Time
The time format is <hour> <minute> <second>. The time is calculated based on
the 24-hour military-time clock. For example, 1 p.m. is 13:00:00.
Daylight saving
The category adds one hour to the clock when daylight-saving time begins. It
also subtracts one hour when standard time returns.
Enabled Enable daylight-saving
Disabled Disable daylight-saving
Drive C Type/Drive D Type
The categories identify the types of hard disk drive C or drive D that have
been installed in the computer. There are 46 predefined types and a user
definable type. Type 1 to Type 46 are predefined. Type "User" is user-
definable.
Press PgUp or PgDn to select a numbered hard disk type or type the number and
press <Enter>. Note that the specifications of your drive must match with the
drive table. The hard disk will not work properly if you enter improper
information for this category. If your hard disk drive type is not matched or
listed, you can use Type "User" to define your own drive type manually.
If you select Type "User", you will need to know the information listed
below. Enter the information directly from the keyboard and press <Enter>.
This information should be included in the documentation from your hard disk
vendor or the system manufacturer.
CYLS. number of cylinders
HEADS number of heads
PRECOMP write precom
LANDZONE landing zone
SECTORS number of sectors
If a hard disk has not been installed select NONE and press <Enter>.
Drive A Type / Drive B Type
The category identifies the types of floppy disk drive A or drive B that have
been installed in the computer.
None No floppy drive installed
360K, 5.25 in 5-1/4 inch PC-type standard drive; 360 kilobyte
capacity
1.2M, 5.25 in 5-1/4 inch AT-type high-density drive; 1.2
megabyte capacity
720K, 3.5 in 3-1/2 inch double-sided drive; 720 kilobyte
capacity
1.44M, 3.5 in 3-1/2 inch double-sided drive; 1.44 megabyte
capacity
2.88M, 3.5 in 3-1/2 inch double-sided drive; 2.88 megabyte
capacity
Video
The category selects the type of video adapter used for the primary system
monitor. Although secondary monitors are supported, you do not have to select
the type in Setup.
EGA/VGA Enhanced Graphics Adapter/Video Graphics Array.
For EGA, VGA, SEGA, SVGA or PGA monitor adapters.
CGA 40 Color Graphics Adapter, power up in 40 column mode
CGA 80 Color Graphics Adapter, power up in 80 column mode
MONO Monochrome adapter, includes high resolution
monochrome adapters
Error Halt
The category determines whether the computer will stop if an error is
detected during power up.
No errors Whenever the BIOS detects a non-fatal error the
system will be stopped and you will be
prompted.
All errors The system boot will not be stopped for any
error that may be detected.
All, The system boot will not stop for a keyboard
But Keyboard error; it will stop for all other errors.
All, But The system boot will not stop for a disk error;
Diskette it will stop for all other errors.
All, But The system boot will not stop for a keyboard or
Disk/Key disk error; it will stop for all other errors.
Memory
The category is display-only which is determined by POST (Power On Self Test)
of the BIOS.
Base Memory
The POST will determine the amount of base (or conventional) memory installed
in the system. The value of the base memory is typically 512K for systems
with 512K memory installed on the motherboard, or 640K for systems with 640K
or more memory installed on the motherboard.
Extended Memory
The BIOS determines how much extended memory is present during the POST. This
is the amount of memory located above 1MB in the CPU's memory address map.
Expanded Memory
Expanded Memory is memory defined by the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft (LIM) standard
as EMS. While most standard DOS applications cannot access memory above 640K,
the Expanded Memory Specification (EMS) provides an interface allowing access
to all system memory. While still in use by some DOS applications, EMS is
rapidly declining in importance since new processors and operating systems
prefer extended memory.
A special, expanded memory device driver is required to use memory as
Expanded Memory.
Other Memory
This refers to the memory located in the 640K to 1024K address space. This is
memory that can be used for different applications. DOS uses this area to
load device drivers in an effort to keep as much base memory free for
application programs. The BIOS is the most frequent user of this RAM area
since this is where it shadows RAM.
BIOS Features Setup
This section allows you to configure your system for basic operation. You
have the opportunity to select the system's default speed, boot-up sequence,
keyboard operation, shadowing and security.
Virus Warning
When this item is enabled, the Award BIOS will monitor the boot sector and
partition table of the hard disk drive for any attempt at modification. If an
attempt is made, the BIOS will halt the system and the following error
message will appear. Afterwards, if necessary, you will be able to run an
anti-virus program to locate and remove the problem before any damage is
done.
! WARNING !
Disk boot sector is to be modified
Type "Y" to accept write or "N" to
abort write
Award Software, Inc.
Enabled Activates automatically when the system boots up
causing a warning message to appear when anything
attempts to access the boot sector or hard disk
partition table.
Disabled No warning message will appear when anything attempts
to access the boot sector or hard disk partition
table.
NOTE: Many disk diagnostic programs which attempt to access the boot sector
table can cause the above warning message. If you will be running such a
program, we recommend that you first disable Virus Protection beforehand.
CPU Internal Cache/External Cache
These two categories speed up memory access. However, it depends on
CPU/chipset design. The default value is disable.
Enabled Enable cache
Disabled Disable cache
Quick Power On Self Test
This category speeds up Power On Self Test (POST) after you power up the
computer. If it is set to Enable, BIOS will shorten or skip some check items
during POST.
Enabled Enable quick POST
Disabled Normal POST
Boot Sequence
This category determines which drive to search first for the disk operating
system (i.e., DOS). Default value is A,C.
C,A System will first search for hard disk drive then
floppy disk drive.
A,C System will first search for floppy disk drive then
hard disk drive.
Boot Up Floppy Seek
During POST, BIOS will determine if the floppy disk drive installed is 40 or
80 tracks. 360K type is 40 tracks while 760K, 1.2M and 1.44M are all 80
tracks.
Enabled BIOS searches for floppy disk drive to determine
if it is 40 or 80 tracks. Note that BIOS can not
tell from 720K, 1.2M or 1.44M drive type as they
are all 80 tracks.
Disabled BIOS will not search for the type of floppy disk
drive by track number. Note that there will not
be any warning message if the drive installed is
360K.
Boot Up NumLock Status
This allows you to determine the default state of the numeric keypad. By
default, the system boots up with NumLock on.
On Keypad is number keys
Off Keypad is arrow keys
Boot Up System Speed
Selects the default system speed -- the normal operating speed at power up.
High Set the speed to high
Low Set the speed to low
IDE HDD Block Mode
By enabling block mode for your IDE hard disk drive (HDD), you allow your
system to read and write to the drive using large blocks of data instead of
individual bytes.
Enabled Enable IDE HDD Block Mode
Disabled Disable IDE HDD Block Mode
Gate A20 Option
This entry allows you to select how the gate A20 is handled. The gate A20 is
a device used to address memory above 1 Mbyte. Initially, the gate A20 was
handled via a pin on the keyboard. Today, while keyboards still provide this
support, it is more common, and much faster, for the system chipset to
provide support for gate A20.
Normal keyboard
Fast chipset
Memory Parity Check
Parity is a measure of the consistency of your system's RAM, memory chips.
Plus, there is both parity and non-parity memory. At boot, the Award BIOS
both sizes and tests all memory. Normally, when a parity error is detected,
the BIOS will display a message describing the problem as well as the
problem's location, if possible. The boot process will then terminate and you
will not be able to continue until the bad chip or SIMM is located and
replaced.
Disabling the Memory Parity Check allows the system to by-pass the test and
allow your system to boot. You then have a choice of continuing to operate
your system or attempting the remedying the problem.
Enabled Normal memory parity check
Disabled Ignore memory parity check
Typematic Rate Setting
This determines if the typematic rate is to be used. When disabled,
continually holding down a key on your keyboard will generate only one
instance. In other words, the BIOS will only report that the key is down.
When the typematic rate is enabled, the BIOS will report as before, but it
will then wait a moment, and, if the key is still down, it will begin the
report that the key has been depressed repeatedly. For example, you would use
such a feature to accelerate cursor movements with the arrow keys.
Enabled Enable typematic rate
Disabled Disable typematic rate
Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec)
When the typematic rate is enabled, this selection allows you select the rate
at which the keys are accelerated.
6 6 characters per second
8 8 characters per second
10 10 characters per second
12 12 characters per second
15 15 characters per second
20 20 characters per second
24 24 characters per second
30 30 characters per second
Typematic Delay (Msec)
When the typematic rate is enabled, this selection allows you to select the
delay between when the key was first depressed and when the acceleration
begins.
250 250 msec
500 500 msec
750 750 msec
1000 1000 msec
Security Option
This category allows you to limit access to the system and Setup, or just to
Setup.
System The system will not boot and access to Setup will be
denied if the correct password is not entered at the
prompt.
Setup The system will boot, but access to Setup will be
denied if the correct password is not entered at the
prompt.
Note: To disable security, select PASSWORD SETTING at Main Menu and then you
will be asked to enter password. Do not type anything and just press <Enter>,
it will disable security. Once the security is disabled, the system will boot
and you can enter Setup freely.
System BIOS Shadow
It determines whether the system BIOS will be copied to RAM, for faster
access. However, it is optional depending on chipset design. System Shadow
will improve system performance.
Enabled System shadow is enabled
Disabled System shadow is disabled
Video BIOS Shadow
Determines whether video BIOS will be copied to RAM. However, it is optional
depending on chipset design. Video Shadow will increase the video speed.
Enabled Video shadow is enabled
Disabled Video shadow is disabled
C8000 - CFFFF Shadow/E8000 - EFFFF Shadow
These categories determine whether option ROMs will be copied to RAM. An
example of such option ROM would be support of on-board SCSI.
Enabled Optional shadow is enabled
Disabled Optional shadow is disabled
Section 4
Password Setting
When you select this function, the following message will appear at the
center of the screen to assist you in creating a password.
ENTER PASSWORD:
Type the password, up to eight characters in length, and press <Enter>. The
password typed now will clear any previously entered password from CMOS
memory. You will be asked to confirm the password. Type the password again
and press <Enter>. You may also press <Esc> to abort the selection and not
enter a password.
To disable a password, just press <Enter> when you are prompted to enter the
password. A message will confirm the password will be disabled. Once the
password is disabled, the system will boot and you can enter Setup freely.
PASSWORD DISABLED.
When a password has been enabled, you will be prompted to enter it every time
you try to enter Setup. This prevents an unauthorized person from changing
any part of your system configuration.
Additionally, when a password is enabled, you can also require the BIOS to
request a password every time your system is rebooted. This would prevent
unauthorized use of your computer.
You determine when the password is required within the BIOS Features Setup
Menu and its Security option (see Section 4). If the Security option is set
to "System", the password will be required both at boot and at entry to
Setup. If set to "Setup", prompting only occurs when trying to enter Setup.
Section 5
Chipset Features Setup/Power Management Setup/PCI Configuration Setup
These three sections, if applicable, are specific to individual systems and
are not included with this document.
Appendix A
POST Messages
During the Power On Self Test (POST), if the BIOS detects an error requiring
you to do something to fix, it will either sound a beep code or display a
message.
If a message is displayed, it will be accompanied by:
PRESS F1 TO CONTINUE, CTRL-ALT-ESC OR DEL TO ENTER SETUP
POST Beep
Currently there is only one beep code in BIOS. This code indicates that a
video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to
display any additional information. This beep code consists of a single long
beep followed by two short beeps.
Error Messages
One or more of the following messages may be displayed if the BIOS detects an
error during the POST. This list includes messages for both the ISA and the
EISA BIOS.
CMOS BATTERY HAS FAILED
CMOS battery is no longer functional. It should be replaced.
CMOS CHECKSUM ERROR
Checksum of CMOS is incorrect. This can indicate that CMOS has become
corrupt. This error may have been caused by a weak battery. Check the battery
and replace if necessary.
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER
No boot device was found. This could mean that either a boot drive was not
detected or the drive does not contain proper system boot files. Insert a
system disk into Drive A: and press <Enter>. If you assumed the system would
boot from the hard drive, make sure the controller is inserted correctly and
all cables are properly attached. Also be sure the disk is formatted as a
boot device. Then reboot the system.
DISKETTE DRIVES OR TYPES MISMATCH ERROR - RUN SETUP
Type of diskette drive installed in the system is different from the CMOS
definition. Run Setup to reconfigure the drive type correctly.
DISPLAY SWITCH IS SET INCORRECTLY
Display switch on the motherboard can be set to either monochrome or color.
This indicates the switch is set to a different setting than indicated in
Setup. Determine which setting is correct,and then either turn off the system
and change the jumper, or enter Setup and change the VIDEO selection.
DISPLAY TYPE HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST BOOT
Since last powering off the system, the display adapter has been changed. You
must configure the system for the new display type.
EISA Configuration Checksum Error
PLEASE RUN EISA CONFIGURATION UTILITY
The EISA non-volatile RAM checksum is incorrect or cannot correctly read the
EISA slot. This can indicate either the EISA non-volatile memory has become
corrupt or the slot has been configured incorrectly. Also be sure the card is
installed firmly in the slot.
EISA Configuration Is Not Complete
PLEASE RUN EISA CONFIGURATION UTILITY
The slot configuration information stored in the EISA non-volatile memory is
incomplete.
Note: When either of these errors appear, the system will boot in ISA mode,
which allows you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.
ERROR ENCOUNTERED INITIALIZING HARD DRIVE
Hard drive cannot be initialized. Be sure the adapter is installed correctly
and all cables are correctly and firmly attached. Also be sure the correct
hard drive type is selected in Setup.
ERROR INITIALIZING HARD DISK CONTROLLER
Cannot initialize controller. Make sure the cord is correctly and firmly
installed in the bus. Be sure the correct hard drive type is selected in
Setup. Also check to see if any jumper needs to be set correctly on the hard
drive.
FLOPPY DISK CNTRLR ERROR OR NO CNTRLR PRESENT
Cannot find or initialize the floppy drive controller. make sure the
controller is installed correctly and firmly. If there are no floppy drives
installed, be sure the Diskette Drive selection in Setup is set to NONE.
Invalid EISA Configuration
PLEASE RUN EISA CONFIGURATION UTILITY
The non-volatile memory containing EISA configuration information was
programmed incorrectly or has become corrupt. Re-run EISA configuration
utility to correctly program the memory.
NOTE: When this error appears, the system will boot in ISA mode, which allows
you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.
KEYBOARD ERROR OR NO KEYBOARD PRESENT
Cannot initialize the keyboard. Make sure the keyboard is attached correctly
and no keys are being pressed during the boot.
If you are purposely configurating the system without a keyboard, set the
error halt condition in Setup to HALT ON ALL, BUT KEYBOARD. This will cause
the BIOS to ignore the missing keyboard and continue the boot.
Memory Address Error at ...
Indicates a memory address error at a specific location. You can use this
location along with the memory map for your system to find and replace the
bad memory chips.
Memory parity Error at ...
Indicates a memory parity error at a specific location. You can use this
location along with the memory map for your system to find and replace the
bad memory chips.
MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST BOOT
Memory has been added or removed since the last boot. In EISA mode use
Configuration Utility to reconfigure the memory configuration. In ISA mode
enter Setup and enter the new memory size in the memory fields.
Memory Verify Error at ...
Indicates an error verifying a value already written to memory. Use the
location along with your system's memory map to locate the bad chip.
OFFENDING ADDRESS NOT FOUND
This message is used in conjunction with the I/O CHANNEL CHECK and RAM PARITY
ERROR messages when the segment that has caused the problem cannot be
isolated.
OFFENDING SEGMENT:
This message is used in conjunction with the I/O CHANNEL CHECK and RAM PARITY
ERROR messages when the segment that has caused the problem has been
isolated.
PRESS A KEY TO REBOOT
This will be displayed at the bottom screen when an error occurs that
requires you to reboot. Press any key and the system will reboot.
PRESS F1 TO DISABLE NMI, F2 TO REBOOT
When BIOS detects a Non-maskable Interrupt condition during boot, this will
allow you to disable the NMI and continue to boot, or you can reboot the
system with the NMI enabled.
RAM PARITY ERROR - CHECKING FOR SEGMENT ...
Indicates a parity error in Random Access Memory.
Should Be Empty But EISA Board Found
PLEASE RUN EISA CONFIGURATION UTILITY
A valid board ID was found in a slot that was configurated as having no board
ID.
NOTE; When this error appears, the system will boot in ISA mode, which allows
you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.
Should Have EISA Board But Not Found
PLEASE RUN EISA CONFIGURATION UTILITY
The board installed is not responding to the ID request, or no board ID has
been found in the indicated slot.
NOTE: When this error appears, the system will boot in ISA mode, which allows
you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.
Slot Not Empty
Indicates that a slot designated as empty by the EISA Configuration Utility
actually contains a board.
NOTE: When this error appears, the system will boot in ISA mode, which allows
you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.
SYSTEM HALTED, (CTRL-ALT-DEL) TO REBOOT ...
Indicates the present boot attempt has been aborted and the system must be
rebooted. Press and hold down the CTRL and ALT keys and press DEL.
Wrong Board In Slot
PLEASE RUN EISA CONFIGURATION UTILITY
The board ID does not match the ID stored in the EISA non-volatile memory.
NOTE: When this error appears, the system will boot in ISA mode, which allows
you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.
Appendix B
POST Codes
NOTE: EISA POST codes are typically output to port address 300h.
ISA POST codes are output to port address 80h.
POST Name Description
(hex)
C0 Turn Off Chipset OEM Specific-Cache control
Cache
1 Processor Test 1 Processor Status (1FLAGS)
Verification.
Tests the following processor status
flags
carry, zero, sign, overflow,
The BIOS will set each of these
flags, verify they are set, then turn
each flag off and verify it is off.
2 Processor Test 2 Read/Write/Verify all CPU registers
except SS, SP, and BP with data
pattern FF and 00.
3 Initialize Chips Disable NMI, PIE, AIE, UEI, SQWV
Disable video, parity checking, DMA
Reset math coprocessor
Clear all page registers, CMOS
shutdown byte
Initialize timer 0, 1, and 2,
including set EISA timer to a known
state
Initialize DMA controllers 0 and 1
Initialize interrupt controllers 0
and 1
Initialize EISA extended registers.
4 Test Memory RAM must be periodically refreshed
Refresh Toggle inorder to keep the memory from
decaying. This function assures that
the memory refresh function is
working properly.
5 Blank video, Keyboard controller initialization.
Initialize
keyboard
6 Reserved
7 Test CMOS Verifies CMOS is working correctly,
Interface and detects bad battery.
Battery Status
BE Chipset Default Program chipset registers with power
Initialization on BIOS defaults.
C1 Memory presence OEM Specific-Test to size on-board
test memory
C5 Early Shadow OEM Specific-Early Shadow enable for
fast boot.
C6 Cache presence External cache size detection
test
8 Setup low memory Early chip set initialization
Memory presence test
OEM chip set routines
Clear low 64K of memory
Test first 64K memory.
9 Early Cache Cyrix CPU initialization
Initialization Cache initialization
A Setup Interrupt Initialize first 120 interrupt
Vector Table vectors with SPURIOUS_INT_HDLR and
initialize
INT 00h-1Fh according to INT_TBL
B Test CMOS RAM Test CMOS RAM Checksum, if bad, or
Checksum insert key pressed, load defaults.
C Initialize Detect type of keyboard controller
keyboard (optional)
Set NUM_LOCK status.
D Initialize Video Detect CPU clock.
Interface Read CMOS location 14h to find out
type of video in use.
Detect and Initialize Video Adapter.
E Test Video Test video memory, write sign-on
Memory message to screen.
Setup shadow RAM - Enable shadow
according to Setup.
F Test DMA BIOS checksum test.
Controller 0 Keyboard detect and initialization
10 Test DMA
Controller 1
11 Test DMA Page Test DMA Page Registers.
Registers
12-13 Reserved
14 Test Timer Test 8254 Timer 0 Counter 2.
Counter 2
15 Test 8259-1 Mask Verify 8259 Channel 1 masked
Bits interrupts by alternately turning off
and on the interrupt lines.
16 Test 8259-2 Mask Verify 8259 Channel 2 masked
Bits interrupts by alternately turning off
and on the interrupt lines.
17 Test Stuck Turn off interrupts then verify no
8259's Interrupt interrupt mask register is on.
Bits
18 Test 8259 Force an interrupt and verify the
Interrupt interrupt occurred.
Functionality
19 Test Stuck NMI Verify NMI can be cleared.
Bits (Parity/IO
Check)
1A Display CPU clock
1B-1E Reserved
1F Set EISA Mode If EISA non-volatile memory checksum
is good, execute EISA initialization.
If not, execute ISA tests an clear
EISA mode flag.
Test EISA Configuration Memory
Integrity (checksum & communication
interface).
20 Enable Slot 0 Initialize slot 0 (System Board).
21-2F Enable Slts 1-15 Initialize slots 1 through 15.
30 Size Base and Size base memory from 256K to 640K
Extended Memory and extended memory above 1MB.
31 Test Base and Test base memory from 256K to 640K
Extended Memory and extended memory above 1MB using
various patterns.
NOTE: This will be skipped in EISA
mode and can be "skipped" with ESC
key in ISA mode.
32 Test EISA If EISA Mode flag is set then test
Extended Memory EISA memory found in slots
initialization.
NOTE: This will be skipped in ISA
mode and can be "skipped" with ESC
key in EISA mode.
33-3B Reserved
3C Setup Enabled
3D Initialize & Detect if mouse is present,
Install Mouse initialize mouse, install interrupt
vectors.
3E Setup Cache Initialize cache controller.
Controller
3F Reserved
BF Chipset Program chipset registers with Setup
Initialization values
40 Display virus protect disable or
enable
41 Initialize Initialize floppy disk drive
Floppy Drive & controller and any drives.
Controller
42 Initialize Hard initialize hard drive controller and
Drive & any drives.
Controller
43 Detect & Initialize any serial and parallel
Initialize ports (also game port).
Serial/Parallel
Ports
44 Reserved
45 Detect & Initialize math coprocessor.
Initialize Math
Coprocessor
46 Reserved
47 Reserved
48-4D Reserved
4E Manufacturing Reboot if Manufacturing POST Loop pin
POST Loop or is set. Otherwise display any
Display Messages messages (i.e., any non-fatal errors
that were detected during POST) and
enter Setup.
4F Security Check Ask password security (optional).
50 Write CMOS Write all CMOS values back to RAM and
clear screen.
51 Pre-boot Enable Enable parity checker
Enable NMI, Enable cache before boot.
52 Initialize Initialize any option ROMs present
Option ROMs from C8000h to EFFFFh.
NOTE: When FSCAN option is enabled,
will initialize from C8000h to
F7FFFh.
53 Initialize Time Initialize time value in 40h: BIOS
Value area.
60 Setup Virus Setup virus protect according to
Protect Setup
61 Set Boot Speed Set system speed for boot
62 Setup NumLock Setup NumLock status according to
Setup
63 Boot Attempt Set low stack
Boot via INT 19h.
B0 Spurious If interrupt occurs in protected
mode.
B1 Unclaimed NMI If unmasked NMI occurs, display
Press F1 to disable NMI, F2 reboot.
E1-EF Setup Pages E1- Page 1, E2 - Page 2, etc.
FF Boot
Appendix D
Low-Level Format Utility
This Award Low-Level-Format Utility is designed as a tool to save your time
formatting your hard disk. The Utility automatically looks for the necessary
information of the drive you selected. The Utility also searches for bad
tracks and lists them for your reference.
Shown below is the Main Menu after you enter into the Award Low-Level-Format
Utility.
Control Keys
Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move around the selections displayed on the
upper screen. Press [Enter] to accept the selection. Press Esc to abort the
selection or exit the Utility.
SELECT DRIVE
Select from installed hard disk drive C or D. Listed at the bottom of the
screen is the drive automatically detected by the utility.
BAD TRACK LIST
Auto Scan Bad Track
The utility will automatically scan bad tracks and list the bad tracks in the
window at the right side of the screen.
Add Bad Track
Directly type in any information about known bad tracks in the window at the
right side of the screen.
Modify Bad Track
Modify information about the added bad tracks in the window at the right side
of the screen.
Delete Bad Track
Delete the added bad tracks in the window at the right side of the screen.
Clear Bad Track Table
Clear the whole bad track list in the window at the right side of the screen.
PREFORMAT
Interleave
Select the interleave number of the hard disk drive you wish to perform low
level format. You may select from 1 to 8. Check the documentation that came
with the drive for the correct interleave number, or select 0 for utility
automatic detection.
Auto Scan Bad Track
This allows the utility to scan for bad sectors first then format by each
track.
Start
Press <Y> to start low level format.
Linux NewsWire STR FOCUS!
>From Scott Dowdle.
Pretty good information on that site including other mklinux ports. The Mach
3 microkernel was developed by Carnagie Melon (sp?) University and is
available for many different computer platforms. Porting Linux to the Mach 3
microkernel is very significant in the computer world... and the Apple / OSF
port of Linux to the Power Macinstosh is just the first in a long string of
ports coming. It makes Linux more platform independant. :)
Well, here's the press release...
Apple and Open Software Foundation Announce Linux
for Power Macintosh
Leading User-Supported Version of UNIX to be Available
to Power Mac Users
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts- Apple Computer, Inc. announced today that it is
supporting a proect with the Open Software Foundation (OSF) to port Linux, a
freely distributed version of UNIX, to a variety of Power Macintosh
products. This version of Linux operates on the OSF Mach microkernel which
will be running natively on the PowerPC microprocessor. The announcement
was made at the Conference on Freely Redistributable Software held in
Cambridge. A demo of an early prototype was shown as part of the
announcement.
"This is part of Apple's overall effort to embrace more open industry
standards, particularly those popular in the Internet community," said Ike
Nassi, vice president of Apple system software technologies. "This software
will be particularly popular with Mac users in higher education as well as
the scientific research communities who have asked for our
support of Linux."
"We are pleased to be working with Apple on this important new port of the
Mach microkernel, now hosting the popular Linux environment," said Ira
Goldstein, executive vice president and chief scientist of the Open Software
Foundation. "We have a strong working relationship with Apple and this is an
important result of our cooperation."
Linux is a broadly used version of UNIX supported by a wide community of
programmers. Linux provides UNIX features such as true multitasking, virtual
memory, shared libraries, demand loading, TCP/IP networking and many other
advanced features. Versions of Linux are being ported to a wide variety of
platforms, including other PowerPC-based computers. This effort marks the
first time that Linux will be hosted on the Mach microkernel.
Linux on Power Macintosh will be especially significant in several of Apple's
key markets, particularly the higher education and scientific communities.
With Linux a student will have an extremely low-cost, yet high-performance
PowerPC-based UNIX system for personal use. Advanced research that requires
UNIX applications will now be possible on an engineer's personal Macintosh.
"As a long time Linux user, I am absolutely delighted about the announcement
of Linux on Power Macintosh," said Professor George Blumenthal, chair of the
astronomy & astrophysics department at Lick Observatory, University of
California, Santa Cruz. "Now Macs will have a dual personality, in the best
sense of the word; on the one hand they will allow users to exploit the ever
popular and easy to use Macintosh software, while on the other hand, they now
provide a platform that appears virtually identical to the UNIX machines
that many of us use daily in our work."
Linux for Power Macintosh adds a new UNIX alternative for PowerPC systems to
existing products such as AIX from IBM and MachTen from Tenon Intersystems.
This gives Macintosh users a range of options from a free, user supported
UNIX implementation up to commercial, mission critical solutions for large
enterprises.
In keeping with the spirit of the Linux community, Apple and OSF will make
the source code for this Linux port freely available. This includes source
code to the Mach microkernel and the required Macintosh platform driver
support. Linux is distributed throughout the world over the Internet and
other means, generally through the GNU General Public License, which allows
people to use it and change it so long as no further restrictions are imposed
and that the source code is made available.
Apple and OSF expect that the first port of Linux for Power Macintosh will be
available this summer. The system will initially support the first
generation of Power Macintosh computers based on NuBus expansion, and will
later be extended to PCI-based Power Macs as well as the upcoming PowerPC
Platform (formerly CHRP.) Information regarding this version of Linux is
available on the Linux on Power Macintosh web site. Apple expects to make the
software available at this location as well.
This project is an outcome of Apple's ongoing relationship with OSF, which
includes consulting work for Copland, the next major release of the Mac OS.
The Linux port provides Apple an open environment for OS research work, as
well as enabling an exciting new opportunity for Power Macintosh users. This
port delivers both the Mach 3.0 microkernel (developed by the OSF Research
Institute) and Linux as an OS "personality" on Mach. The OSF microkernel was
originally developed at Carnegie Mellon as Mach and subsequently enhanced
extensively by the OSF Research Institute.
CALDERA INTERNET OFFICE SUITE 1.0 SHIPS
INTERNET WORLD, SAN JOSE, Calif. Apr. 29, 1996 Caldera, Inc., today began
shipping the Caldera Internet Office Suite, a set of mainstream business
applications with added Internet-aware functionality. The suite's native
Linux applications include Corel's WordPerfect 6.0 for UNIX, NCD Software's
Z-mail e-mail package, XESS Software's NExS Spreadsheet, and Metrolink's
Executive Motif Libraries, each ported natively to Caldera's Linux operating
system.
"Caldera is introducing proven, commercial technologies ported to the Linux
operating system that create a low-cost, secure information environment that
takes advantage of the richness of UNIX, the full communication sharing
protocols and services of competitive Internet and Intranet technologies,
and the simplicity of mainstream business applications," said Bryan Sparks,
President of Caldera.
Caldera is providing Linux-based products for commercial usage and
establishing the missing Linux VAR channel and essential business alliances
between the industry's major software vendors. Caldera's Channel Partners and
Independent Vendor Partners are now leveraging Linux technologies that have
been developed and tested for years by the Internet community.
"During the next two months, dozens of mainstream software vendors will be
releasing newly ported versions of their products based on Caldera's Linux,"
said Ransom Love, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Caldera. "These
companies' products will ship along with Caldera's products on the Caldera
Solutions CD, scheduled to ship in less than
8 weeks."
Products ship on the Caldera Solutions CD as encrypted code that can be
unlocked and installed with encoded "keys" purchased through Caldera.
Customers and Channel Partners can begin with the Caldera Network Desktop,
which includes a comprehensive graphical interface, a complete Linux
operating system with source code, Intranet and network management tools, and
a native Linux version of Netscape Navigator 2.0, the widely popular client
software for enterprise networks and the Internet, with Java and news reader
capabilities. Customers and Channel Partners can then purchase and unlock
from the Caldera Solutions CD those applications needed for their unique
information system. Products on the Caldera Solutions CD include secure web
servers, firewall software, databases, spreadsheets, word processors, IP/IPX
gateways for NetWare networks (See related joint news release from Caldera,
Inc. and JSB Corp. to be distributed 4/30/96), and many other software
solutions.
By placing their products on the Caldera Solutions CD, Caldera's partners can
offer products on the industry's first commodity-priced, UNIX-based
platform. The Caldera Solutions CD will ship inside every box of the Caldera
Network Desktop sold worldwide.
The Caldera Internet Office Suite, the only UNIX business application suite
on the market, will sell for $329, considerably less than the combined
standalone costs of competitive UNIX-based business applications. Caldera is
also shipping WordPerfect and Motif Executive Libraries as a bundle separate
from the Internet Office Suite. The price
for the WordPerfect/Motif bundle is $250.
Technical Support
The Caldera Internet Office Suite products will be technically supported for
a fee via both email and telephone inquiries. Questions submitted via email
will be billed at $10.00 per incident, or as part of a pre-paid contract. For
information about customized service contract, customers should call (800)
847-7472. Customers should use the following e-mail
addresses for each individual product:
WordPerfect: wp.support@caldera.com
NExS Spreadsheet: nexs.support@caldera.com
ZMail: zmail.support@caldera.com
Technical support via telephone is available through per-minute, per-incident
and pre-paid options. Per-minute support is available at (900) 737-3328 for
$1.95/minute. Per-incident support is available at (800) 847-7472 or (801)
225-3388 for $20.00/incident. For information about customized pre-paid
monthly and annual contracts, customers should call (800) 847-7472.
Caldera's products ship with online technical support documentation and help
files that can be easily accessed through Netscape's HTML browser, included
in the product. Technical information is also available via the WWW at
http://www/caldera.com/. Customers will receive technical support for third-
party products directly from the vendor who placed the product on the
Caldera Solutions CD.
Internet-Enabled Features of the Caldera Internet Office Suite
The Caldera versions of WordPerfect and NExS assist users in authoring HTML
documents that can be published directly to the Internet from the Caldera
Network Desktop, sold separately. By using an integrated menu within
WordPerfect, users can easily create HTML documents with embedded URL
hypertext links, allowing users to author complete Web pages that can be
immediately published from the Caldera Network Desktop to the Internet or
private Intranets.
In addition to a full-featured GUI, the NExS Spreadsheet allows users to
update cells remotely from another workstation in a workgroup or from any
workstation around the world via the Internet. Users can also import and
export Lotus 1-2-3 files. The ability to update information on-the-fly
allows organizations to have instantaneous access to data. NExS also
enables users to export tables in HTML so they can be immediately accessed
via the Internet or within a private Intranet.
Z-mail provides full SMTP and MIME type support for Internet and Intranet
distributed e-mail, allowing users to easily interact with the Internet as
if it were simply an extension of a local network.
All of the applications in the Caldera Internet Office Suite are dynamically
linked to the included Motif libraries, resulting in improved performance
and usability. Caldera suggests that customers run the Caldera Internet
Office Suite using 16 MB of RAM. The full suite uses 90 MB of hard disk
space.
The Caldera Linux Operating System
Caldera's mission includes creating the products, alliances, VAR channel, ISV
channel, technical support programs and corporate accountability necessary
for an emerging technology to obtain widespread implementation in the
business environment. Using Linux, Caldera has a solid start. Mirai, a
Chicago-based consulting company, polled Webmasters worldwide in 1995 and
found that nine percent of World Wide Web servers were running on the Linux
operating system (http://www.mirai.com/survey). This places Linux second
only to Sun technologies as a UNIX Web server platform.
Caldera has created a solid foundation on which third party developers can
successfully design, develop, distribute or employ services that meet the
needs of the expanding market with low product costs for consumers.
Caldera, Inc., a privately held company established in 1994, empowers the
Internet community, developers, OEMs, channel partners, ISVs, industry
partners, consultants and end-users to collaborate, innovate, build and
deliver meaningful computing alternatives based on Linux to the business
community. Caldera is at http://www.caldera.com/ or (801) 229-1675. For
orders and information call (800) 850-7779. Caldera is a registered
trademark; and Network Desktop, Caldera Internet Office Suite, and Caldera
Solutions CD are trademarks of Caldera, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark
of X/Open. Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corp. Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications logo, Netscape,
and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape Communications
Corporation.
Caldera Press Contact:
Lyle Ball, Senior Manager, Public Relations
lyle.ball@caldera.com, tel: (801) 229-1675 x305
Kids Computing Corner
Frank Sereno, Editor
Crayola Art STR Focus http://crayola.com
Crayolar Washable Finger Paint
Crayolar washable finger paint is especially appropriate for children's early
art experiences. The bright color and tactile nature encourage children to
explore and learn through the senses, building fine- and gross-motor skills
from paint manipulation. Cleanup is worry-free, as Crayola finger paints'
special washable technology allows color to be laundered from most fabrics,
and color is truly washable from skin and most surfaces. More experienced
users can also enjoy finger paint, using more sophisticated techniques.
Techniques:
BEGINNING FINGER PAINTERS:
Try traditional finger painting on the glazed side of finger paint paper. Use
a sponge to dampen both sides of the paper. Smooth out wrinkles before
painting. Spread a tablespoon of paint outward from the paper's center to
cover the entire paper.
z Make strokes, waves, wiggles, finger and thumb prints and other marks
with different parts of the hand and arm.
z Blend colors on top of or next to each other. Dampen fingers or add
water squeezed from a sponge if paint begins to dry.
z Use combs, stiff paint brushes, sponges, straight-edged cardboard pieces
and cotton swabs on the finger painted surface.
Make a monoprint. On a clean, smooth non-porous surface (cookie sheet,
formica tabletop), outline the boundaries of your printing paper with masking
tape. Dampen the non-porous surface and finger paint within those boundaries.
(For no-mess processes, smooth plastic wrap over the damp, nonporous surface,
dampen the plastic wrap surface, and paint on it.) Press printing paper onto
the wet painting, rub the back, and lift off the print.
Create monoprint backgrounds. Prepare as for monoprints. Use very small
amounts of finger paint, applied thinly to the dampened surface. Print as for
regular monoprints, and let the paint dry. Finish by adding foreground
figures on top of the monoprint, using markers, crayons, colored pencils or
collaged shapes cut from painted paper.
ADVANCED FINGER PAINTERS:
Make mixed-media monoprint designs. Use bright markers, watercolors, crayons
or colored pencils to cover an entire white paper or paperboard surface. Make
a finger paint design -- leaving some open, unpainted areas -- on a tabletop
surface prepared for monoprinting (see above). Press the colored paper
surface onto the finger paint design, rub the back, then remove it.
Experiment with chalk and finger paint for stunning effects. Completely cover
a white paper with bright chalk colors. Brush a dark-colored finger paint
layer over all the chalk. Use the straight edge or tip of a small cardboard
scrap to draw back into and pull off the finger paint in selected areas. If
desired, place a clean paper over the completed painting, press the papers
together, then pull them apart to produce an interesting second print. Try
Crayola glitter finger paint for this process.
Explore screen printing processes. Make a simple screen: cut the center out
of a paper plate (keeping rim intact); place pre-washed organdy fabric over
the bottom side of the cut-away circular area; and glue or tape the edges of
the fabric to the paper plate rim.
Allow the glue to dry, then:
1. Use white Crayola craft glue to draw a design or figure on the center of
the organdy circle. Let the glue dry.
2. Place the plate (right side up) on a paper surface. Put finger paint
colors on the plate edge and draw it over the organdy surface with a straight-
edged cardboard strip.
3. Remove the plate to reveal designs created by the dried glue lines.
Repeat as desired. Wash the screen carefully to save it for reuse.
Possible Applications
Both traditional finger painting and chalk effects work well for creating
visual texture, shapes for collage and paper mosaics, strips for paper
weaving, paper for Chinese paper-cutting, and lettering designs.
Use the monoprint techniques described above for child-made book
illustrations and for landscapes, seascapes, underwater scenes, and skies.
Chalk and finger paints, used together as indicated, create a unique effect
for florals, insects, landscapes, Medieval stained glass windows, and
calligraphy designs.
Combine techniques and experiment with finger paints to create patterns,
logos, and designs related to Israeli screen prints and other cultures'
traditional art forms.
Portable Computers Section
Marty Mankins, Editor
MERIDIAN DATA SHIPS OPEN-ARCHITECTURE CD NETWORKING
SOFTWARE FOR MIXED-NETWORK ENTERPRISES
New Cross-Platform Software Provides Universal Client Interface
for Easy Management and Access of CD ROM Applications
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (April 11, 1996) -- Meridian Data, Inc. (NASDAQ/NMS:
MDCD) announced today that it has begun shipping powerful client/server
applications that manage CD ROMs over heterogeneous network environments.
Incorporating an industry-unique open architecture for Microsoft Windows NT
and Novell NetWare networks, CD Net" Software unifies CD management and
access for network administrators and users, providing a common suite of
Windows-native tools for sharing thousands of discs throughout the
enterprise.
"Meridian's seamless, multi-platform management tools allow organizations to
uniformly control and share CD collections located anywhere on the network,"
said Gianluca Rattazzi, president and chief executive officer of Meridian
Data. "For business operations, this translates into improved CD ROM asset
control and higher user productivity, enterprise-wide."
Advanced CD Networking Applications
CD Net Software includes a new suite of universal client productivity
applications that provide a single control point-across multiple Windows NT
and NetWare servers-for managing CD ROM resources. The advanced tools allow
an administrator to comply with CD license requirements (metering) and
grant/deny access (security) on a user-by-user basis.
By eliminating server and drive letter barriers, the software also permits an
unlimited number of CDs to be easily mapped to user desktops-an unprecedented
feature. These applications include CD Manager for the network administrator
and CD User for network users.
Pricing and Availability
The CD Net for Windows NT and CD Net for NetWare software products are
shipping and available immediately.
CD Net for Windows NT server software, configured with unlimited-user
license, has a suggested list price (U.S.) of $995. Client software pricing
starts at $795 for a 25-concurrent-user license, with optional 50-user and
100-user licenses priced at $1,295 and $1,995, respectively. The product is
compatible with Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51 and Windows NT Workstation
3.51, or higher.
CD Net for NetWare is licensed on a per-server basis and has a suggested list
price of $795 for a 25-concurrent-user license, with optional 50-user and
unlimited-user licenses priced at $995 and $1,495, respectively. The product
is Novell-certified and compatible with Novell NetWare 3.12 and NetWare 4.1,
or higher.
To facilitate easy integration into Windows NT and NetWare servers, Meridian
also offers CD NetROM SCSI CD ROM subsystems. The storage modules include 4,
7 or 14 high-performance 4x- or 6x-speed CD ROM drives per subsystem,
complete with ISA or EISA host adapter card, power supply, cabling and
cabinetry.
About Meridian Data
Founded in 1986, Meridian Data is a leading provider of CD ROM networking
software and systems. Its high-productivity CD solutions are widely employed
throughout Fortune 500 and government businesses. Meridian is headquartered
in Scotts Valley, Calif., and maintains offices in Lawrenceville, N.J.,
Herndon, Va., Atlanta, Ga., Naperville, Ill., and London, England. The
company's products are available through leading distributors and value-added
resellers.
For more information, visit http://www.meridian-data.com on the World
Wide Web.
Contact: Richard Krueger Contact: Jeannie Barbieri-Low
Meridian Data, Inc. The Hoffman Agency
408/438-3100 408/286-2611
The Meridian logo and CD NetROM are trademarks and CD Net is a registered
trademark of Meridian Data, Inc. All other product
names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies. c1996 Meridian Data, Inc.
Atari Interactive - software/Jaguar/Computer Section
Dana Jacobson, Editor
>From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
Usually I'm complaining about how long the past week has been; this week
seemed to have flown by for some strange reason. Spring is finally in the
air. In fact, I'm almost ready to perform one of my annual Spring "rites" of
passage, and shave the winter beard. <g> Another sure sign of Spring is the
obvious decline in message activity online people tend to get out more and
shake off those winter doldrums and enjoy the nice weather. It happens every
year.
I'm hoping that we can "buck" the quiet trend and generate some activity
in the Atari section. With some pending time off, I hope to spend some time
contacting a number of our staff and generating some informative articles and
news items. There just seems to be little time to do so during a normal
work week and keep up with everything else going on in a "real" life. <g>
And weekends just seem to be tied up with getting everything done that
couldn't be done during the week. Ugh!
So, in the meantime, sit down and relax and enjoy this week's offering.
Until next time...
From Delphi's World of Video Games, Forum manager Andy Eddy:
This comes from DAN, former CEO of Delphi. The message that follows is
a press release about Delphi.
A E
Dear DELPHI Member:
I'm very pleased to announce that a team of colleagues and I have purchased
the Delphi and Bix services back from News Corporation.
I was a part of the Delphi team from 1983 through 1994, and served as CEO of
Delphi from 1987 through 1994. You'll be familiar with the other members of
the Delphi team as I announce them shortly.
We are committed to reviving Delphi's reputation as a thriving collection of
welcoming, friendly electronic communities -- places you can call your on-
line home.
More than anything, we want your suggestions, participation and encouragement
as we make YOUR Delphi the service that YOU want it to be. Let us know what
you think.
Thanks for your support. It's great to be back!
Dan Bruns DELPHI Mail: DAN
For immediate release:
Delphi Internet Services Former CEO
Reacquires Service From News Corporation
Cambridge, MA April 30, 1996. Dan Bruns, former Chief Executive Officer of
Delphi Internet Services, today led a team of on-line executives in the
purchase of the pioneering on-line service back from the News Corporation.
"I'm thrilled to be back with Delphi," says Bruns. "In the two years since I
parted with the company, I've talked on-line and in person with many Delphi
members, and their enthusiasm and loyalty for the service remains high. I'm
committed to ensuring that Delphi continues to offer a friendly and exciting
on-line experience."
"The company is profitable, and I intend to keep it that way," remarks Bruns.
"The top management team includes a number of on-line industry veterans, and
I will be announcing their appointments shortly." The entrepreneurial Bruns
is a leader in the on-line industry as a Board Member of the Interactive
Services Association and as a co-founder and CEO of Knowledge Factory
Partners. Knowledge Factory's service, Business Factory
(http://www.businessfactory.com) is a World Wide Web site delivering
localized and personalized business news to executives at smaller and
midsized companies.
The Delphi service began fifteen years ago as the world's first on-line
encyclopedia. In ensuing years, Delphi evolved into a meeting-place of
hundreds of on-line communities where people of like interests meet and
interact. In 1992 Delphi acquired BIX, the on-line service for technical
professionals, from McGraw-Hill. In the same year Delphi became the first
major on-line service to offer full Internet access. News Corporation
purchased the company in 1993.
Delphi has prospered through its cultivation of on-line forums serving a wide
diversity of topics and interests. Delphi is unique in offering its members
the ability to create their own "custom forums," where members can host a
discussion about any topic. Popular custom forum topics include the hit Fox
show X-Files, the legendary singer/songwriter/author Jimmy Buffett, and the
world of trivia. Delphi also provides its own forums about popular topics,
including the Internet Special Interest Group, where members can learn about
navigating through the Internet with Walt Howe, an Internet expert and author
of Internet Basics, a pioneering book about the hows and whys of the
Internet.
"There's a great deal of enthusiasm among the membership about the return of
Bruns and his team to Delphi," says Howe. "There are plenty of Delphi
members hoping they never have to try another service, and so this is
terrific news for them. The service will continue operating from its current
Cambridge, Massachusetts offices, and can be reached at (800) 695-4005 for
information about subscribing.
Information is also available at Delphi's Web site: http://www.delphi.com.
Press contacts: Dan Bruns (617) 621-9326 or David Parker (617) 621-9331.
UK ATARI SHOWS 96
The UK Atari Shows for 1996 have now been confirmed.
Organized by Goodman International
SPONSORED BY ST FORMAT MAGAZINE
Sat September 28th ----- Motor Cycle Museum Birmingham
Sun September 29th ---- Osterley Four Pillars Hotel, London
Companies that have made a provisional booking are: Goodman's, ST Format,
System Solutions, Upgrade Shop, FaST Club, Best Electronics, Titan Designs,
16/32, Owl Associates, Calamus User Group, Merlin, Top Byte. All the
exhibitors I have spoken to so far intend to make these the best shows to
date, with new product launches, demonstrations etc., but we do need your
support. You've plenty of notice this time, and they are not as close to
Christmas as last years.
Admissions prices have been set at 3UKP for adults, 1UKP for children More
detailed news will be posted over the coming months.
Regards to all.
Mike Goodman
Reader Feedback!
Hi! I just read the latest STReport and I noticed that Ralph is saying that
the ASCII version of STReport is approaching the "end of the line". The
Adobe PDF version completely fails to excite me as I can not read it on any
of my six different Atari computers. My Jaguar, Amiga 500, Commodore 64 and
Texas Instruments TI-30 III calculator probably will not like it either. Is
there any chance of the Jag and ST sections of STReport becoming a separate
entity? BTW, I have enjoyed reading STReport for many years and I would
like to continue to read it as long as there is some Jag/ST stuff in it.
I have one suggestion with respect to the ST section... It seems to be
getting harder and harder to find sources of commercial software and
hardware so I was wondering if a list could be done of some of the mail order
places in North America that still support the ST. I think most people know
about Toad but what about other places such as Computer Dungeon? I haven't
ordered anything from CD but I did get a look at a recent catalogue. They
have lots of used software available at attractively low prices. I am sure
other ST owners who don't want to buy "I Burn Money" (I.B.M.) machines would
also be interested in knowing about places such as Computer Dungeon.
Bye For Now... Ted Skrecky.
[Editor's note: I've replied to Ted's e-mail privately, but also thought it
would be interesting to reply here as well as I know that others have
expressed similar concerns in the past. It's also nice to occasionally print
one of our feedback "letters" and keep you, the readers, abreast of what
we're hearing.
To answer Ted's concern about the ASCII version of STReport there's been no
definitive date, if any, for the cessation of an all text version of
STReport. In Ralph's defense, it is difficult for him to have to put out TWO
versions of STReport on a weekly basis. However, it has become easier in
recent months as the various section editors have been able to puttogether
their individual sections in a format which allows Ralph to complete the text
version much quicker.
Like Ted, I personally have no use for a non-text version of STReport. If it
weren't straight text, I couldn't read it either. Nor could many of our
readers. I wouldn't want to write my section for STReport if I couldn't read
it! And, for the present and likely future, I believe that Ralph has
accepted that philosophy and will maintain both versions. Wouldthere be a
possibility that a separate entity evolved in the future? If the ASCII
version of STReport were discontinued AND there was sufficient interest in
reading an Atari-Specific online magazine, the answer is that I would
probably do something along those lines. However, in all honesty, I'd prefer
to remain a part of STReport and maintain an Atari section within its pages.
As to your suggestion for a listing of Atari dealers and mail order sources
consider it as already in progress. That's an excellent suggestion. I
sometimes forget that not everyone is aware of the various sources for Atari
software and hardware and there's a need to keep everyone aware of such
sources. Look for that listing soon, and we'llperiodically update it.
Thanks for the letter and suggestions!! Keep those cards and letters coming
folks they are appreciated.]
Special Notice!! STR Infofile
File format Requirements for Articles
File Format for STReport
All articles submitted to STReport for publication must be sent in the
following format. Please use the format requested. Any files received that
do not conform will not be used. The article must be in an importable word
processor format for Word 7.0.. The margins are .05" left and 1.0" Monospaced
fonts are not to be used. Please use proportional fonting only and at eleven
points.
z No Indenting on any paragraphs!!
z No underlining!
z Column Format shall be achieved through the use of tabs only. Do NOT
use the space bar.
z No ASCII "ART"!!
z There is no limits as to size, articles may be split into two if lengthy
z Actual Artwork should be in GIF, PCX, JPG, TIF, BMP, WMF file formats
z Artwork (pictures, graphs, charts, etc.)should be sent along with the
article separately
z Please use a single font only in an article. TTF CG Times 11pt. is
preferred. (VERY Strong Hint)
If there are any questions please use either E-Mail or call.
On another note. the ASCII version of STReport is fast approaching the
"end of the line" As the major Online Services move away from ASCII.. So
shall STReport. All in the name of progress and improved readability. The
amount of reader mail expressing a preference for our Adobe PDF enhanced
issue is running approximately 15 to 1 over the ASCII edition. Besides,
STReport will not be caught in the old, worn out "downward compatibility
dodge" we must move forward. However, if the ASCII readership remains as
high, rest assured. ASCII will stay. Right now, since STReport is offered on
a number of closed major corporate networks as "required" Monday Morning
reading.. Our ascii readers have nothing to worry themselves about.
Many grateful thanks in advance for your enthusiastic co-operation and input.
Ralph F. Mariano, Editor
STReport International Online Magazine
Jaguar Section
JV Enterprises/Towers II Update!
CatNips! Fight for Life!
And more...
>From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
I've been busy for most of the week corresponding via email with Jag Jaeger
of JV Enterprises, developers of Towers II. It seems that Jag and Vince are
avid readers of STReport and noticed my comments regarding the online
concerns about whether or not Towers II was going to be released, in an issue
a couple of weeks ago. Jag dropped me a line and brought me up to date on
the progress of getting Towers II released, and a few other items; some that
I have passed along in his message (there are other items that I have to hold
off reporting for the moment, per Jag's request).
Anyway, the correspondence has been enjoyable and enlightening. We hope to
receive a review copy of the game should one become available. In the
meantime, Jag has sent me the Falcon computer version of the game (if I can
get it "un - MIMED!) to look at to give me an idea of what to expect even
though the Jaguar version will be somewhat different in a number of ways (I
can't relate those differences at the moment). I've included Jag's
letter(s), with some details omitted as requested. At the moment, it sounds
promising that Towers II will see the light of day. I also want to thank the
many readers who have responded to my inquiry a couple of weeks ago about the
potential for buying Towers II if it were to be released. The feedback has
been quite good, so keep those letters coming to let us know how you feel
about the game being released. If you're like me, you can't wait to see a
role-playing game for the Jaguar. BTW, I did receive some screen shots of
Towers II and will be posting them on Delphi and CompuServe over the weekend.
I'll also post them on Toad Hall and Don Thomas' CatNips BBS.
Fight for Life has been getting a lot of positive feedback lately, and
finally. It looks, so far, that Atari has another winner on its hands. It's
nice to see Atari and Francois Bertrand get some good feedback on this game
as it wasn't that long ago that it appeared that the game was undeserving of
being over-hyped, and almost cancelled. We'll be receivinga copy to see for
ourselves shortly.
I talked with Atari's Don Thomas a number of times this past week. One of
the things that he did mention that I wanted to pass along to you is that
Atari's Web page has been updated finally. Some changes have been made to
the site itself, but most important is the fact that the information
available is now current. If you haven't checked it out before, or it's been
awhile, drop by for a visit c the address is: http://www.atari.com. And
speaking of Don Thomas, we've included Don's latest CatNips for your reading
pleasure. There's a lot of FFL feedback included, and we hope that you enjoy
it also.
In the meantime, I'm going to sit back and relax myself. It should be a nice
weekend and maybe I'll get a chance to get outside, sit down with my feet
up, and enjoy a couple of cold beers. I might even get in a few games on the
Jaguar, _before_ my wife gets at it!
Until next time...
Jaguar Online STR InfoFile Online Users Growl & Purr!
CATnips... Jaguar tidbits from Don Thomas (96.04.27)
Hey there. Hi there. Ho there.
For those who are kindly pestering me for a new CATnips update... here you
go. Although this is a slow time of the year anyway, there are still things
going on of course. I've been spending a lot of time updating my personal
project; the chronology of computers and video games. This past week, I have
sent letters to CEOs of the most prominent computer, peripheral and game
companies to see if they have anything they want to add. So far my book is
already well over 300 pages, but there are some historic gaps I know I need
to fill in before I can feel it is complete. If you are associated with a
computer/video game business or users' group, please feel free to submit any
data that you have that I can include. I'm looking for dated events such as
when an organization was founded, when significant products are released,
when prominent people in the industry were hired, fired, promoted or
indicted <g>. If you have any data like this, please send it to me at my
Email address of "75300.1267@compuserve.com".
Atari is moving our warehouse this weekend to a location that makes more
sense for our new office location. As many of you know, I was able to find a
bundle of cool things to sell at great prices and many of you have asked me
if there are any additional items we found during the move. The answer is
YES. Please stay tuned to STReport, CATscan, the Compuserve, GEnie, Prodigy
and Delphi Atari support areas as well as popular Internet Newsgroup
locations for an update soon.
A new Atari Fanzine has been published called The Atari Times. It is
published by Mr. Greg George with help from his colleagues such as Mr. Rafi
Guroian, Mr. Edward Castle and Mr. Andrew Robertson. The first issue, dated
May '96, is 7 pages (8th page is blank). It contains a fairly complete list
of Jaguar games, reviews, classified ads, scanned images and some good
articles.
The Atari Times is a free publication. Write:
Greg George, 1531 Stevens Loop Rd., Babson Park, FL 33827
or Email Greg at "ggeorge@mail.polk.cc.fl.us".
FIGHT for LIFE
To me, it seems like a decade since the Fight for Life project began. For a
long time, Mr. Francois Yves Bertrand, it's creator, worked in a cubicle
next to mine at 1196 on Borregas Avenue. Every once in a while, Francois
would invite to peer over the wall at his latest revisions and little by
little I saw Fight for Life come together as if I were watching time lapse
photography.
Francois is an extremely talented individual. He initiated the project
virtually on a single handed basis. As he developed the project, he
solicited the talents of other wizards to help with some of the bit maps,
texture maps and sound effects used in the game. By the time Francois was
finished and submitted the final copy, the Fight for Life team was numerous,
exhausted and proud... and they should be proud.
Atari Corporation has always prioritized the famous "fun factor" over almost
any other element in a game. The reason for this is because eye candy is
only appealing in the store or when you show off a game to a friend for the
first time. If the game isn't fun, then consumers look for ways to return or
sell it as soon as they decided it is boring to play.
Bill Rehbock, the executive producer, and J Patton, the producer of Fight for
Life believed very much in the "fun factor" formula and asked Francois to
work on those parts of the game engine first. As he did, news began to leak
out that Atari was working on a polygonal fighter and before long, Atari was
pressed into providing work-in-progress demos to the gaming press.
Unfortunately, the gaming magazines decided to evaluate the game by terms
other than how it was being developed. While Francois was spending
relatively little time making it look good and a lot of time at making it
play well, the magazines insisted on evaluations based on how well the
screen shots appeared in their glossy magazine pages. By the end of the
third quarter of 1995, Atari felt compelled to announce that Fight for Life
was "indefinitely postponed" while, behind the scenes, Francois and his team
accelerated final development with a focus on the graphic elements of the game.
Friday, April 19, 1996, Atari released Fight for Life to the Jaguar
community. As you will see below by unsolicited Internet feedback, the game
is being touted as an excellent new addition to the Jaguar library. I
finally got a chance to look at it this morning. Please let me say first,
that I am not pretending to be a polygonal fighter expert. I've seen the
Virtual Fighter clones, but I have not played them any more than maybe a
quarter's worth each. That being established, Fight for Life definitely has
the fun factor elements I'd expect from an Atari product. Not only does the
game look GREAT!, but the mechanism to "earn" new moves as I win bouts is a
challenging motivation. I also like the fact that each bout feels like a
real time fight. Even in instances where I found a particular one move that
seems to defeat my opponent, I have to work hard using it to win.
I'll let the comments that follow speak for themselves, but overall, I'd say
Fight for Life kicks BUTTered buns! <g>
Dana Jacobson of STReport found this one for me...
Subject: FFL: first impressions
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 96 04:57:00 GMT
From: blizzard@xmission.com (Curtis J. Hepworth)
Hi all,
Just got Fight for Life today...(thanks Dave at Bits of Fun!) =) I didn't
really know what to expect after the latest round of FFL bashing that went
through this newsgroup... horror stories of bad control, sluggish movement
and sheer boredom, etc. But I must say that I'm very pleasantly surprised
with FFL! Is it the greatest 3-D fighting game ever? No. But is it as dire as
recent reports indicated? Not by a long shot!
The word was that it had lousy control, yet I found the control to be very
nearly spot on and the special moves are among the easiest to pull off of any
fighting game I've played. True, the fights are slower paced than most
fighting games as well, so if you only like the lightning fast fighters this
one may not be for you- but I found that the more deliberate pace of FFL was
helpful to me in that I actually had time to think about my strategy and what
moves I wanted to try, rather than just blindly pounding on buttons as two
blurs whiz around the screen. If some of you are skilled enough to
effectively play and enjoy that type of game- Great! More power to you! I am
not at that level however, and neither am I too proud to admit it. Sluggish?
In speed perhaps, but in control- no. (In fact I found the control response
to be considerably quicker than Virtua Fighter for example.) I use VF as a
comparison because it is the only 3-D fighter I've played extensively
enough to make such a statement.
As for the alleged excessive length of the rounds- well, once I started
using a lot of specials the rounds didn't seem to last very long at all.
Again this is all a matter of what you want- if your desire is to kick your
opponents butt in 10 seconds flat, then again FFL may not be for you. If
however you are more like my brother and I who always turned our hit
strength in SF2 down to the absolute minimum so that our fights WOULDN'T be
all over in 10 seconds, then this may be right up your alley.
Strong points:
Very good graphics- somewhat akin to VF Remix on Saturn...I like FFL's a bit
better because of the nice look the
g-shading gives to the tmaps.
Nice music- again better than I was expecting based on preliminary info.
Responsive control
Ease of using specials Many of the specials are quite exciting (though not
spectacular) and fun to watch!
Full 3-D movement (ability to sidestep and also roll away) The "avoid"
button is a very refreshing twist from the block routine! Pretty good voice
and SFX Stealing moves from a defeated opponent in order to customize and
"save" (by password) your character is a nice idea and great fun!
Beautiful backgrounds!
Nice replays- controllable from any angle, distance, etc. Gives you some
great looks at the characters in action up
close. Seems to have decent AI- not exceptional here though.
Difficulty level is pretty good- seems to easy at first but gets a lot more
challenging by the 3rd or 4th fight. Seems to be a nice steady increase all
along. (No I haven't beaten the game yet!) ;)
Easy to use but somewhat limited combo system. (Again a matter of personal
taste- I don't have any problem with it, but major fans of KI very well
might!) <g>
Very smooth character movement (most of the time!) as well as very nice
scaling and rotation, etc.
Drawbacks:
Pace can be rather plodding (though the generous use of specials can offset
this to some extent.)
Just a bit tricky to get your character turned around to face an opponent
from time to time. (After a overhead jump
for example) Some of the characters look better than others-a few still look
like they could have used a bit orem work.
Control can be a bit touchy at first- you'll notice this when you accidently
jump over someone when you just meant to move toward them =) (After a few
minutes though, you'll adjust and it'll hardly ever happen anymore.)
Some moves are better (read smoother) animated than others The game never
really quite achieves that "adrenaline rush" some may be looking for in a
fighter- again because of it's deliberate pace.
All in all though a very worthy purchase in my opinion! Seems solid
throughout- some very nice features and no real glaring weaknesses as I see
it. Definitely a game that showcases what the Jaguar is really capable of-
congrats to Francois Yves Bertrand and his team (artists, composers, etc) I
think this game pushes the hardware more than most any other Jag game yet.
Some people may find the pace a bit slow, but at least we won't have to
endure whiney "16- bit" comparisons on this one! Well done!
Lastly I'd just like to say that this game DOES have that certain intangible
that makes it very addicting! It really seems to grow on you- I can't wait
to finish this post and get back to playing it... that should say something
anyway! I hope that this post might help make it easier for someone out
there to decide if they want to purchase FFL or not- if so, glad to be of
help!
Now back to the game!
Curtis J.
PS- Merci Francois! Je trouve que votre jeu est tres
chouette!!!
Frans Keylard located this one for us...
To: jaguar@redsun.net
From: mor@well.com (Greg Troutman)
Subject: Re: fight for life?
Sender: owner-jaguar@colossus.net
>>>>Has anyone played this d@mn game yet? I was holding out
>>>>purchase of this game until I saw some of the opinions
>>>>of list-members. I tend to agree with the overall voice
>>>>of the list, but I am starting to think that everyone
>>>>feels the same and *noone* bought the game!
I bought it. I haven't had much time to play it yet, but it seems pretty fun
to me! There's a couple of things still bugging me about the controls, but
other than that it seems like great fun. The graphics are great, the sound is
good. My kids have been playing it more than me, and they seem pretty
impressed (VF arcade fans.)
Frans also found this one...
From: jvmatthe@unity.ncsu.edu
Subject: FFL initial reactions and bug
To: jaguar@redsun.net
Date: Fri, 26 pr A1996 08:19:41 -0400 (EDT)
Sender: owner-jaguar@colossus.net
Hi all,
I got my FFL on Tuesday and have played a good bit since then. I like the
graphics, which are, for the most part colorful and detailed. The textures
mapped onto the fighters help mask the polygons well. For example, (and while
I am saying this, I want you to know that I hope that this next statement is
not too offensive to some of you) on the female characters, the textures on
the breasts give a sense of roundness even though they are more rectangular
if you pan the camera around. So it looks like some attention to details was
paid.
The controls seem fairly responsive, but I think that the control is
slightly different from what I expect when I read the book. For example,
when I read Reverse-Up-B for a move, I expected to be able to slide my finger
along the D-pad from Reverse to the Up position and then hit B. However, I
feel that it works like it should only if I tap Reverse then tap Up and then
tap B, i.e. no sliding. Anyway, this is a minor complaint, and I think that
I am adjusting.
The combos are fun to watch, and the A (Avoid) button is a really nice touch
which sometimes results in really beautiful movements like the somersault to
get out of the way of an oncoming attack. Some combos are a little choppy,
especially on a couple of the "pick up your opponent and smack 'em on the
head" type moves. When one of these is executed, if you are at the farthest
distance that the move can be successfully made, the victim simply moves in
one frame from the far away position to the nearer "in place to be mangled"
position. I don't know a whole lot about how the game works internally, but
seems like this could have been smoother.
I wish that the taunting at the end of the fight were a little more varied,
but maybe that is something that can be done with special combinations of
button-presses after you complete your last move... I don't know.
I did find one way to make my game crash. Go into two player mode, and back
the opponents up until they are on opposite ends of the playing field. Then
pause the game and pan around until the two players are lined up directly
with each other (i.e. you can't see one because the other is in the way) and
then zoom in until the camera passes "through" the nearer of the two
players. This causes my screen to go black and the audio to freeze. The "*-#"
reset doesn't work. Shutting of the Jag and turning it back on is the only
way to fix it, and that just means restarting the whole game.
You can tell that something fishy is going on, because the shadows of the
players as they back across the ring will not line up underfoot like they
should, and it even looks like some polygons get out of place.
Anyway, I enjoy it, and my friend Ruffin is coming over tonight so we can
work at it some more. He is really good with one person, and I am working on
learning a group of combos from several different characters but I am no
where near as good as he yet.
Hope this is informative for you. If you have questions, feel free to ask.
--Matt
Jaguar Developer Feedback!
Jag Jaeger
JV Enterprises
Hello Mr. Jacobson,
I just read last weeks latest ST Report (I'm about a week behind) and was
surprised to see a mention about us.
In Short, Telegames is currently looking at Towers II.
There are several reasons we haven't released many review copies. The first
being, we were waiting for a definite response on that it would be picked
up. The second reason being, we don't have a burned rom version. Most
reviewers have the development kit, but not with the Alpine board. I'm not
sure of your situation. If you do have an Alpine board we would be more
then happy to immediately send you a review copy. On Genie in the Atari
development sig, A copy has been posted there for some time now. I assure
you that Vince and I are doing everything in our power to get Towers II to
the Jaguar.
Oh, by the way, please keep us posted on how many copies you sell :).
About Towers II-
In Towers II, There are twenty different characters, about 400 creatures
abound. Over 100 different types of objects, 13 different types of weapons,
13 different types of armor, 14 magical spells. These are a mix of magical
and non magical, for a combined total of 400 items.
Towers II is the most elaborate, first person perspective game ever designed
for any console system. It features 12 levels with 750,000 square feel of
dungeon space. It adheres to true role playing set in a magical medieval
environment. With over 400 creatures to battle and interact with, and many
intricate puzzles to challenge anyone form novice to expert.
Outside of my gloating, I personally think that so much of the game will be
lost if we or someone else can't convince Telegames to do it on an 8K
version. We just started working on the 128 byte version, and who knows,
maybe we'll be able to pull another trick out of our empty bag. I really do
hope that you have the Alpine board, I would love to get an honest review
and comment from you. If there is any more information that I could help you
with, please don't hesitate to write.
Thank you for your time...
Jag@JV Enterprises
ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
On CompuServe
compiled by
Joe Mirando
73637,2262
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Before we get started, I'd like to correct a
slight misunderstanding that arose from last week's column. I happened to
mention to someone that STik (Part of the WWW package) could not be used to
connect to the Internet via CompuServe because CompuServe only provides a
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) and STik can use only a SLIP (Serial Line
Internet Protocol... I think) connection. Therefore, you cannot use STik on
CompuServe. Someone has written a file to be used with CAB (another portion
of the WWW package) that allows the browser to be used with a PPP
connection. The problem is that, in order to use this wonder-file, you must
use MINIX (a UNIX clone for the Atari). This brings on problems of its own,
such as the loss of the familiar TOS/GEM desktop, and the loss of a hard
drive partition (MINIX requires a partition that cannot be accessed by TOS).
Okay, now for the problem part (mine of course)... A few people got the
impression that it was STik that requires MiNT/MINIX. It doesn't. STik
runs under TOS. It is the overlay file for CAB (the one that lets you use a
PPP connection) that requires MINIX. I'm really impressed with STik and
CAB. I understand that PPP support is almost half way there for STik, but
there are other things that the author is putting his efforts into that are
more important so I don't
know when we'll see PPP support.
At any rate, remember that STik is used with TOS, CABMINT.OVL is used under
MiNT/MINIX. That's all I have to say about that.
Now, let's get on to the reason for this column is the first place... all
the great news, hints, and tips available every week right here on
CompuServe.
>From the Atari Computing Forums
Sven Bauer asks for help with some of the more esoteric CompuServe commands:
"Every now and then when I'm visiting a fourrum such as this one, I get a
message from some one trying to talk to me. What command do I enter to
reply? I'm using Flash II, if that makes a difference."
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Online Magazine tells Sven:
"You can type the send command. It is similar to this ... send <user number>
<your message goes here>"
Sysop Don Lebow adds:
"That's a "SEND" command. Here's a clip from the online CIS help:
SEND
Enter the SEND command at any Forum command prompt to send a short, private,
one-line message to any user who is currently in the Forum. The message can
be a maximum of 73 characters. In order to SEND to another member, you need
to know the member's user number, which is separate from the member's
CompuServe User ID. You can obtain their user number by entering the USTATUS
command at any Forum "!" command prompt. The format of the SEND command is:
SEND XXX Hello
where XXX indicates the user number that is to receive the message and Hello
is the message. The recipient of the message will receive something similar
to the following:
;;[1] John Doe - Hello,
where [1] is the user number of the sender, "John Doe" is the name of the
sender, and "Hello" is the message that was sent.
Hope that helps."
Joe Lensbower asks:
"Is it possible to go to the LIBRARIES and BROWSE ALL NEW files? Or must one
enter each and every library, then browse backwards for new files, then
exit, then choose another library, then do it all over again? (I am using an
Atari, of course, so none of that fancy Navigator software usage)."
Sysop Jim Ness tells Joe:
"Use this command line, while in any library:
BRO LIB:ALL
If you want to do a capture, turn your buffer on and use this:
SCA DES LIB:ALL"
Joe tells Sysop Jim:
"I'll try it. But will BRO LIB:ALL give me only NEW files, or all of them?
(I guess I'll find out in a moment...)"
Jim tells Joe (and the rest of us):
"As you probably already know, the BRO command shows you files in reverse
chronological order. Newest files show up first."
Sysop Ron Luks adds:
"BRO LIB:ALL will give you all files, but in LAST UPLOADED, FIRST DISPLAYED
order. In other words, newest files shown first, going backwards. Just
abort the scan when you go back far enough."
Jon Hartman asks:
"My hard drive is crashing...how can I make or receive start up disks for a
new hard drive? Or....what if it's the HD controller...how can I tell?"
Richard Rives tells Jon:
"Hmmmmm (thinking), is it the IDE drive on a Falcon? or ST or TT? How old is
the drive? You could boot up with a floppy (hold down the left Alt key I
think) and then run your hard disk driver from a floppy to try to retrieve
any data. Another important point is to check all your connections and make
sure the SCSI chain is not too long (if you are using multiple drives) Maybe
someone else has some better answers."
Ryan Ridgely posts:
"I've been downloading several ST programs lately on to my IBM clone, and
when unLZHing them I'm getting 'bad CRC errors'. Does anyone know what's
wrong?"
Our own Atari section editor, mild-mannered Dana Jacobson, tells Ryan:
"This usually means that the Quester version of LZH was used to archive the
file. Or, it really is a bad file."
Ryan tells Dana:
"It actually said, bad LZH header...It was picswitch v1.0. What does this
mean and what can I do about it? I need to convert Spectrum images to
GIF's..."
Dana tells Ryan:
"One of the SysOps will need to check the file out and see if it has become
corrupted with old age! <g> See what they say."
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Online Magazine tells Ryan:
"You need a newer version of LZH. There is LHARC v3.0x in the library which
should handle the archives on the ST without any problem. I am sure there is
a similar program on the PC side too."
Bob Sakayama asks:
"How does one access ftp and WWW using Atari STs? I'm using Flash II."
Mark Kelling tells Bob:
"Using your CompuServe account is the best way to access ftp sites with your
Atari ST. Just GO INTERNET and select FTP from the menu. Simple as that.
(You will of course have to know the ftp address for whoever you want to
access.) You can also Telnet login to systems which accept it.
WWW is another thing all together! There is a WWW browser in the libraries
here (Search with keyword WWW.) but it requires a SLIP connection which
CompuServe does not have. If you know of a local Internet provider with SLIP
access, you can try it there. The set up is very difficult, and reports are
that success is limited."
Bob tells Mark:
"[I] Tried your suggestion, Go INTERNET. Chose 5 -File Downloads (ftp), but
get "Access to the ftp service requires CIM software..." I only see Mac and
Windows stuff there. What am I doing wrong?"
Sysop Bob Retelle tells the other Bob:
"Unfortunately the FTP access from CompuServer requires the use of an "HMI"
communications program, and at this time the only ones available are for the
PC and Mac. There's been some talk in the forum here about a "group
programming project" to come up with something similar for the ST, but it may
be a while before that gets going.
Using Flash from CompuServe you can use telnet to connect to remote host
systems, and you can get to UseNet newsgroups.. just GO TELNET or GO
USENET."
Dennis Bishop posts:
"I see that the date for the graphics change over for CIS is getting closer,
got their windoz/mck flyer in the mail today, so what's going on with the
Atari people, going to die away?"
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Online Magazine tells Dennis:
"I do not think so. The sysops have said that this forum will remain on the
current hardware for quite a while yet."
Sysop Bob Retelle tells Dennis:
"Some Forums here on CompuServe have already switched over to the "CIM-only"
style of software, but many are still on the old software. Some, like the
Atari Forums will stay with the ASCII setup for the foreseeable future."
Hildbrand Hermann tells us:
"I've got a performa 6200 PMac. Not wanting to miss Atari prgs I bought
MagicMac and NVDI 4.0. I could install MagicMac on my hard disk all right.
NVDI, however, refuses to get installed. I keep getting the same message on
the screen: Fault at loading (Fehler beim Installieren). Whatever I tried
failed. NVDI 4.0 simply wouldn't run. My dealer gave me a fresh copy, but,
with the same result. I've sent a message to the authors and hope to get an
answer soon. In the meantime I thought I could as well try to get some help
via Atari Computing Forum. I do hope there's someone out there who knows to
teach NVDI to run on PMac."
Albert Dayes tells Hermann:
"I thought there was a special version of NVDI created specifically for the
MagiCMAC program?"
Bill Anderson adds:
"It must be NVDI for MagicMac."
David R. Schmudde, the Editor of Classic Atari Online Magazine, posts:
"Okay, I need some help... bad. Now I have had my TT030 for about 1 month,
and have downloaded several shareware games off the internet and off
CompuServe and I can only get about 25% of my programs to work. Even
several of my commerical programs won't work. TT-Artist- (Compuserve), a
screen saver for GEM. I put the main file in the AUTO foldre and it won't
ever load up.
Captin Blood (Commercial) - I get 4 bombs.
Llamatron (Compuserve) - loads but the screen only turns red and then the
computer locks up.
Gem Chess (Compuserve) - "psudo-loads" in the background of GEM and then goes
back to chess.
Ozone (internet) - Game runs, joystick won't work.
I use a standard 7800 ProSystem JoyStick for the TT030, they are both nine
pins. Is this "legal"?"
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Online Magazine tells David:
"It might be because the games were written before the TT was around for some
of the games. Have you booted your machine clean (that is with no desk
accessories and the bare minimum of auto folder programs) and see if that
helps? I did not think the 7800 joystick should make that much of a
difference."
Sysop Bob Retelle tells David:
"I'm not really familiar with the TT, but I think I recall reading that some
16bit programs have problems on the 32bit CPU in the TT. I vaguely remember
that there was a patch program which allowed some older programs to run on a
TT... (unless I'm confusing it with something else). I'm not certain about
using the 7800 joystick... I do know that the old standard Atari 2600 style
stick works, but I don't know if the 7800 stick is compatible. Hopefully
someone else may remember if there was such a patch program, and what the
name was..."
Carl Barron adds:
"There is a program somewhere called 24bit.prg. It sets the TT's mmu to map
addresses from a 32 bit to 24 bit address space. Is that what you had in
mind? There are other differences like stack frames from traps and exception
vectors, between the 68000 and 68030. Who knows what 'cheats' are employed
in a game program? The tt has a real mmu. If you address memory you don't
own in this mode you get an bus error [2 bombs] if I recall. This mode is
not normally used for compatibility reasons. You'd be surprised how many
programs assume they own the machine."
Sysop Bob adds:
"I think that 24BIT.PRG was the one I was thinking of... as I recall, some
programs made illegal use of the upper 8 bits or something like that, but
when run on the 32bit CPU in the TT those programs crashed pretty solidly.
You're right about the "cheats" in game programs too..!"
David tells Sysop Bob:
"You mean there is no "protected mode" like in Intel processors for 16 bit
apps? (or 8-bits for and Intel-DOS based). I thought Motorola would figure
that that would be a good idea. Honestly, I didn't think that a 7800
joystick would make a difference, but I wanted to make sure."
Albert jumps back in and tells David:
"Motorola 68K series always had linear memory addressing 1-16 megs of ram and
for 68020 and above large amounts. Just think if IBM has picked the Motorola
chip over the Intel chip way back when."
Well folks, that's about it for this week. Tune in again next week, same
time, same station, and be ready to listen to what they are saying then...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
EDITORIAL QUICKIES
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