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Info-Atari16 Digest Vol. 91 Issue 172
Info-Atari16 Digest Wed, 27 Mar 91 Volume 91 : Issue 172
Today's Topics:
AtariFest Update
Discovery Cartridge - Moans
Future Systems GTS-100 drive
GCR floopy drive problem
Genealogy programs for the ST
Help with atari.archive
Need a cooling fan for my 1040ST with ZRAM upgrade
Needed - ST version of DeTeX
newsletter
New Version of HacMan II Available
STe Flakey DMA
ST Pad specs (2 msgs)
Thoughts on DC Utilities (3 msgs)
Two New Computer Announcements - CeBIT
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 24 Mar 91 11:57:08 GMT
From: math.fu-berlin.de!opal!unido!mcshh!abqhh!tpki!oski!schlut@uunet.uu.net
(Olaf Schlueter)
Subject: AtariFest Update
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes:
[Announcement of a Atari exhibition - I got an urge to travel, as I read
that, but no money , no time, sigh]
> As an added bonus, there will be a large, FREE, flower show on Sunday at St.
> Clair College, so bring your spouse. She'll keep busy at the flower/garden
> show while you browse through the show!
You forgot the bar: HE'll keep busy at the bar \footnote
usual
For equal rights the beer must be FREE :-)
Got, what I want to say ?
Followup to rec.humour or soc.women.
Regards,
--
Olaf Schlueter, Sandkuhle 4-6, 2300 Kiel 1, FRG, schlut@oski.toppoint.de
"Someone is always the evil in the land, and then the good guys are
marching, the eyes full of sand, into a holy war." Konstantin Wecker
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 15:15:47 GMT
From: comp.vuw.ac.nz!actrix!Roger.Sheppard@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Discovery Cartridge - Moans
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <2605@odin.cs.hw.ac.uk> sean@cs.hw.ac.uk (Sean Gordon) writes:
>
> In case any one does not know, the Discovery cartridge is an amazing
> piece of hardware from Happy Computers Inc. which plugs into the
> cartridge port of the Atari ST and allows the user to do such things
> as convert MAC format discs to Spectre format discs.:-
> copies virtually all disks :-) :-)
>
>
> Does anyone know if there is a later version of the discovery software
> than version 2.7 ?
>
> Its a shame that such a powerful piece of hardware is not supplied with
> an equally powerful piece of software. (or is it now ?, I have not heard
> anything from Happy Computers, despite having registered over 2 years
> ago ) :-(
> If anybody has any info on this, can you post it or mail it to me.
> > Thanks.
> Sean Gordon ( sean@uk.ac.hw.cs )
I am one of those to, From what I read, he droped Atari after the
problems he has with Dave Small.
Was going to support the PC market instead..
--
Roger W. Sheppard 85 Donovan Rd, Kapiti New Zealand...
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 23:12:17 GMT
From:
noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!umich!vela!
becker@arizona.edu (Anthony M. Becker)
Subject: Future Systems GTS-100 drive
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
This may have been covered in a previous article, but, as I am new to
this newsgroup, I probably missed it.
I have a GTS-100 drive for my ST. It has developed a problem which
causes it to be unable to write tracks 01 and 02 (and perhaps others,
though I have been able to write some tracks). The drive is still able
to read data just fine. I suspect that the problem is simply a head
alignment needed.
My biggest problem is that I can't find Future Systems. They appear to
have gone out of business, or were bought out by someone, etc. I
called the phone number in my user's reference and got someone's
residence. And, the worst of it is that none of the Atari retail
stores or repair shops in my area (which seem to be going out of
business themselves) will touch my drive.
Does this mean I have to throw it out? Or is there somewhere in the US
where it could be repaired?
Since I am about 300 messages behind in this newsgroup, and cannot
afford to keep up, I would appreciate an email response. Thank you.
--
Anthony M. Becker * "Wenn man die Zeitungen liest, gewinnt man
becker@vela.acs.oakland.edu * den Eindruck, dass wir bis zu den Knien in
* Benzin stehen. Nur noch ein Funke fehlt."
phone: 313/370-2117 * - Michail Gorbatschow
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 22:31:56 GMT
From: o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!mc4c+@pt.cs.cmu.edu (Mark Choi)
Subject: GCR floopy drive problem
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
> Excerpts from netnews.comp.sys.atari.st.tech: 25-Mar-91 Re: ST Pad specs
> T R Hall@atari.UUCP (1624)
> In case you're curious, the software is a neural-net
> simulation.
Really? I am studying PDP at CMU [:~)] and would like to know what
architecture you are using, and what kind of training set you used, etc.
Also what software do you use? This sound way cool! I would love to show
this machine to my instructors. BTW, the ATM is going at 40 MPH now with
Neural net implemented on Sun Sparcstations!
-geisha-
P.S. I contiually bounce when trying to post to atari.UUCP, so I'll post
here and hope no one minds too much.
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 22:31:41 GMT
From: rti!ret@mcnc.org (Raymond Thomas)
Subject: Genealogy programs for the ST
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
I have seen at least two commercial genealogy programs written
for the ST, but havn't yet seen any reviews on them. Before
rushing out and beta testing them myself I would be interested
in hearing peoples experiences with genealogy on the ST.
Specifically, what programs they have used, and how they liked
them.
This may have been discussed before. If so I would be happy
to receive e-mail.
thanks,
ray thomas
ret@rti.rti.org
------------------------------
Date: 27 Mar 91 00:34:54 GMT
From: ccncsu!ccncsu.ucc.colostate.edu!garrick@purdue.edu (Kevin O. Garrick)
Subject: Help with atari.archive
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
I hope that someone can help me out. I am relatively new to the news
group and have read quite a bit about atari.archive, but I am unable
to find any information on how to find it. Could someone please send
a short reply telling me where atari.archive is and what I need to do
in order to use it? I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Kevin Garrick
garrick@greyrock.mso.colostate.edu
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 19:26:06 GMT
From:
noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!umich!ve
la!wsu-cs!jake!pbh@arizona.edu (Patrick Haggood)
Subject: Need a cooling fan for my 1040ST with ZRAM upgrade
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
> J. Harris writes about how his ST with ZRAM stops running after a few
> hours, then when left off for 2-3 hours, boots fine.
I've been having the same problems with my ST. I figured it was heat,
but I can't seem to find a fan for the thing. I remember a device
called COM-COOL that sat on top of the Commodore 1541 disk drive, someone
recommended that I get this as it fit nicely on a 1040. But, I CANT
FIND ONE ANYWHERE! I need a fan that sits right over the power supply
on the 1040 (where I could probably fry eggs if I wanted to), but the
supply also has to have its own power pack, as I don't want to tax the
power supply any more than I am already.
Shoulda just bought the damned STE. Still might. Anybody know if
Kuma's Occam compiler, Minix, Maple, C Breeze or MT-C shell break on the
STE?
--
Patrick B. Haggood
Wayne STate University
Detroit, MI
Physics - Class of 1991 (-2?)
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 11:55:58 GMT
From: mcsun!hp4nl!utrcu1!infnews!ramaer@uunet.uu.net (Mark Ramaer)
Subject: Needed - ST version of DeTeX
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
I tried to mail this, but it bounced.
I wrote one myself.
This is for a UNIX machine, change argv[0] in "detex".
If you have no C-compiler:
1 - get sozobon
or
2 - mail me, and I will send you a binary
table
!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?
@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]~_
begin 644 detex.zoo
M6D]/(#(N,# @07)C:&EV92X: #<I\3]*@ -;___\" $ !W*?$z
M_0(!J0@ '$ !Z%L-E>K/Y#0 . @ $ !D971E>"YC y
M "@#L+'H I % 0"DC* 1Y I8R:-FS(@C 1A,J4("!@*!!(Tx
MB)"*E"H.8T0<6/ @B"$6F7PA H*&@HT3/38)@@6$#!@0)79$R"1)DR14OD@Iw
M$F0(DB(D15!Y\P9$FS!N\H HXX:.G#1EYH P"((.&H1AY)RITX8I'1 %V91Av
M 2+,G#4@Y(0Y6D8.D#%2Z10U.$9.&;,(K2)DDZ9-&CHNN+@1<7($739U!H+@u
M,8<.F31O7*#Q$?%P8H0\QM#) Z>,9,J&W8Q!K)BQ4X-G/I\T~-5-UC,@>KB$t
MP8+-&S=GHGZ5'8,&B\99=X/HO4/!¾? ]N$5M=BA]/K@+%:ZY>YVQ9s
MB:5+BM@*$NP!(2),':MOY.PAG("L"#%ESAA<']X]?/EN]F15FZ</>_OQS4='r
M&&+4P496_M5'WAA_E4%?>~21\<88V#756!YB_4<>4V0\Z!X:<\ 1QA@.:BC"q
M@?"QX2%Y;1A(1QICO(%8&_F9V"(;+\)QWHHB''1'C&T<Y4:')OH88QU-M<6Cp
MB+G99<:2.YKH)(]V&?E&D$@1J: (<Y1!QY%)JF=BB&4P&(:*)MH1XH@E@M!'o
M<2>%Q<87RY6!0@H*[!$>:R",X49Q"9B1'@@H~!G;0SN )P<7_&@W&VY-9;Hn
M=W5NX><**W1Q:*6+TH%I=.'=@48:8A%JJ*.VX:8;"":8 $((9I3QAADH-/:8m
M&RE02I&E;GQZ:&Y?(B?'G8"*2BI"A;JQV*.J-J8K<Y=F>BA(4HA$!*"='@I#l
M<7V@-!,(=KR1!ADHB(4K"'MD*YNY.W1KG+!ID8OG'@FD80:AV:(*J6[?V45'k
M'7(HR~F C'X*:!EL=#G5O2C$.FNMCAF4ZU)X_(4"#"D<G#!"_@*L++#3#9NQj
M NY:(2X906AEA!Q7ELL4GGRRFV<"(?<):+CCNHPKH!+2?*@<\A8[:JF%OBK;i
M"7V<,'+))U~1'KECX&F7?(VUU2>\*HQ1G)X)])SUST&'.C2R:<QQ)AS(H9!Uh
MKMR>= ?07\CUA:UOG%>HU %6+<?5U&F=9W@2HIN CL%FI7;4@";PM6Q $QM>g
M'R 82W399Z>]]M(G96Y7&&2\-D?#;K I)!DN-85GC6K %;H(&1])>FFE[%Uf
M>$8DP81#JIM!!J QLW"57=)AK<(=<,!9+\,-DW&HH)VY 3H+(L@APL0]R.9$e
M%4PP\1W7@<+Q5%.TVMJ6'- /43<;RKOQQE=O-%~65A5~%19")<P1V& LF+%Sd
M> F443$=*&@!#4:6@ 1T*P&20Y89@/6Y.K' .3;('QF~$P+K88\)K'*5:[2Rc
M+.YLCW\OR-T<QH 46ND.>B78@A<$TP7!B* V%,E8ZU[ /S8<JC%R,%>Y8I@Xb
M>Q&J4FQH00PT53T0G$ P2E/.KEK0 C80$5'\\V&Y0. #9D6*#I3:5V,VU4.&a
MV;"(&.,?",8X1C-XCS7A<\SXH'>%K+@!-3I82AO@L!DE>H0JU~E*4\!R+!#4z
MCP6"X8("K%*VR)'*AGF "OK24H;'4,@V=9"*7>;@(ONY,'_[*Z"@]H:"WR%$y
M-AL\0~+(.$9/4O$A&5244\8PQQT>A 5YS,X6/"E$[RQK6V(D)2U;\)U86FB6x
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M+"8P[=(%&!XDFZ'$5.(.*$58R<J$$_R@)L\(/H@-1 [DJ\E-<K*3GOR$"-GTv
MG\5:4(-L'E!=5M1-XC9)*.(=2IF)<JBC3*#,+80R.I&# Z:~0[C/#0\.F%/ u
M40SRS3., 99:L0/,]O@:K?%M;RI0P6OL,+MW)6<,ASJB&TY0'#ZE072ADUGJt
M/MK3/0H*2;M3 )\\]X7-*4\V"F%($8KZ%5L9Y MFF4,:SG"0IR9D(0V!4QH.s
M%8/B,!0%8~5-HL;JJ):N=:/HVA/#MMG*F6XA#>4400M$I)7IQ48V&(NK)@>%r
M H?*!J(9719%P2G+BT94HRO@Z'D\2KR _N]B!@T/PA0F1;K"H:1VN&M>6V &q
MOX(QE6Q]GTE!T(+AR/-XA J!:N?0U+M,4+ %#*6V$I> 5%UQM_PS(/~<ZCG0p
M;@%3>$7I&4(+ ~\D4RNT=>JA+(*1=6IV8PO#URKKFE+10J\%5V$#'/Q:P8>\o
MMK,1<P-6YZ!5KC;RM=W['AW2>$_RB6 (2 '!;=B@%.]-*"I2N0U"Y@>"SNQ-n
M#D@"I!L$&4F$G("$\CN6"UP CZ 8"!T\!\(MD!:U<:/M,?JPH1/63<Z$.Z(m
M"JA*49 SI%*U(3T#/I8E!Y/-_EU6B#4~(&P;9I?V,<6XR8W>"ZUZKB)>+WOPl
M-:-\Z;O&~YXO?>MC).?\..,7VA6O-18H %L@@QSSC\CK;6]7IWN1J?+O@)LMk
M@WB4C$9[-IG!9LM-'.NWX;V~1E,<OA<Q02P6$5-X"QG& Y~%N6%'!7K0FJIBj
MB0D72 4P]"['Z=/KLF1$+G"!E1UZ3=(B9\H3O.8$(#A((~-2%/@P\L5V:&2Ci
M]>+A</*Q5'- PY,EW90PX-&.#L;T'DY 81 (<@IE<#"=[:P54#.4(~;!T1PNh
M:=?F*I>YSA6CE@,X@\P*USA@<UP""47=(LA3BC@MXA&YD$3NR8E.%''<8)%Zg
MJ*B&E7]G-2RK*AK*6B8*5G4;4BH=ZH/#,M9"CV4B?,UU0Z?H\*,U/JJ~98-#f
MT;3RH~8<B[F~ T;K%E"*"K\M]Q)@LG&E[ PK:]G$>3N&'C3.H$O!;L?)X+3&e
MF0!QCTLY9QD6[J.5H-S\"]P>PATO8D%NVT4KKTZ5ECB>GQQ0D$LS_]Y&AKB]d
M86Z.*3$*7A[2;@4$W*?$_0( c
7 _(, b
a
end
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 20:25:41 GMT
From: mcsun!hp4nl!nikhefh!a15@uunet.uu.net (Peter Heymens Visser)
Subject: newsletter
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
****** - LYNX - Magazine - ******
We are planning a LYNX-maganzine.
The first issue will be out in aproximately one month.
We would like some help (escpecialy from the USA).
Deadline for contributins for the first issue is 14 April.
Please email direct to us.
Yiri and Tjerk.
a15@nikhefh.nikhef.nl
Yiri Kohl and Tjerk Heijmens Visser
c/o Peter Heijmens Visser
National Institute for Nuclear Physics
and High Energy Physics ( NIKHEF-H )
Computer Department
Postbox 41882
1009 DB Amsterdam - Netherlands.
phone 020-5920409 ; homephone 020-6168340.
------------------------------
Date: 27 Mar 91 01:34:55 GMT
From:
noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!rex!uf
lorida!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!nu!boyd@arizona.edu (Mickey Boyd)
Subject: New Version of HacMan II Available
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <1991Mar26.194735.11003@wam.umd.edu>, dmb@wam.umd.edu (David M.
Baggett) writes:
>
>PS> Does anybody actually PLAY the game, or am I doing this for my health?
> Just curious.
My girlfriend loves it (harumph!).
--
---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
Mickey R. Boyd | "Kirk to Enterprise. All clear
FSU Computer Science | down here. Beam down
Technical Support Group | yeoman Rand and a six-pack . ."
email: boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu |
---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 15:11:09 GMT
From: comp.vuw.ac.nz!actrix!Roger.Sheppard@uunet.uu.net
Subject: STe Flakey DMA
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <334@mwuk.UUCP> tony@mwuk.UUCP (Tony Mountifield) writes:
> In article <1991Mar19.213400.28693@netcom.COM> rcb@netcom.COM (Roy Bixler)
writes:
> > Roy Bixler
> > rcb@netcom.com -or- (UUCP) uunet!apple!netcom!rcb
> I have also experienced this DMA problem talking to a hard disk with an
> ICD host adapter from a 1040 STe. Can it be solved by just replacing
> the DMA chip, or is there anything else required? Unfortunately, mine
> being an early STe, it is now out of warranty :-(
> Tony Mountifield. | Microware Systems (UK) Ltd.
> MAIL: tony@mwuk.uucp | Leylands Farm, Nobs Crook,
> INET: tony%mwuk.uucp@ukc.ac.uk | Colden Common, WINCHESTER, SO21 1TH.
> UUCP: ...!mcsun!ukc!mwuk!tony | Tel: 0703 601990 Fax: 0703 601991
> **** OS-9, OS-9000 Real Time Systems **** MS-DOS - just say "No!" ****
Should this not replaced Under the Sale of Goods Act, from what I
read in, was it ST-Format !, that Atari has to replace them under All
conditions.
Here in New Zealand we have a Sale of Goods Act, which
sates that thing should last the for some length of time, and not just
one year. This I believe was taken from UK Law.
This I have used for a fault that developed in a CD player, some time
after one year, this I was charged $160NZ to fix it, I then found out
that this was a Manufactures fault,
I then managed to get the money back, with the help of a small claims court,
at the total cost of $10NZ.
Don't let Atari get away with this, this is there Fault and not yours,
it sould not cost you a thing, they can try it on, but will never hold
up in court...
--
Roger W. Sheppard 85 Donovan Rd, Kapiti New Zealand...
------------------------------
Date: 27 Mar 91 01:31:04 GMT
From:
noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!rex!uf
lorida!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!nu!boyd@arizona.edu (Mickey Boyd)
Subject: ST Pad specs
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <2881@atari.UUCP>, trh@atari.UUCP (T R Hall) writes:
>
> You may feel skeptical, but as the designer of the two machines
>announced, I can tell you that "TOS ... with handwritting recognition" is
>FACT, not conjecture. The HCR code will be in the ROMs (and was, in the Demo
>at CeBIT), and tied into the operating system and desktop such that a gesture
>in the Menu Bar area will bring up a window (as invisibly to existing
>applications as possible) into which Hand-written characters are drawn. As you
>write, the characters are converted to ASCII; when you are satisfied, the
>characters are sent (via the Keyboard input stream) to the application. This
>way, _*existing*_ applications will have HCR capabilitites.
>
> The "hooks" to call the HCR system will be available to software
>developers, so they may call it directly, to recognize ASCII characters,
>special character sets, or even gestures. This will be part of the standard
>documentation. In case you're curious, the software is a neural-net
>simulation.
>
Wow. Out of curiosity, has anyone written a paper or something on the
neural network that you are using? Did you base this on an existing
piece of software?
Also, I have yet to see a complete description of the machines (perhaps
our site didn't get that article!?!). If one has been posted, could
someone please email it to me? If it has not, could someone do it!!!
--
---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
Mickey R. Boyd | "Kirk to Enterprise. All clear
FSU Computer Science | down here. Beam down
Technical Support Group | yeoman Rand and a six-pack . ."
email: boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu |
---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: 27 Mar 91 04:38:30 GMT
From: o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!mc4c+@pt.cs.cmu.edu (Mark Choi)
Subject: ST Pad specs
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
> Excerpts from netnews.comp.sys.atari.st.tech: 25-Mar-91 Re: ST Pad specs
> T R Hall@atari.UUCP (1624)
> In case you're curious, the software is a neural-net
> simulation.
Really? I am studying PDP at CMU [:~)] and would like to know what
architecture you are using, and what kind of training set you used, etc.
Also what software do you use? This sound way cool! I would love to show
this machine to my instructors. BTW, the ATM is going at 40 MPH now with
Neural net implemented on Sun Sparcstations!
Posted this time under a more appropriate heading.
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 19:32:48 GMT
From:
noao!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!amdahl
!netcom!kron@arizona.edu (Kenneth Kron)
Subject: Thoughts on DC Utilities
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
From article <59676@aurs01.UUCP>, by whitcomb@aurs01.uucp (Jonathan Whitcomb):
> [[ Details deleted ]]
>
> I like the package in general. My main complaint is that DC makes
> assumptions about how you will be using their software, and don't
> give you alternative options. They also seem oblivious of how
> their products work with other common programs (Pinhead, LGSelector,
> Hotwire!, NeoDesk, etc.). Maybe I've just been spoiled by Codehead
> products, which are fantastic in this regard. I also wouldn't expect
> bugs and unpredictable behavior from a second generation product.
> I recommend it for DC Squish, though.
>
> Anyone else have any reflections on DC products?
I agree with you 100% Jonathan. I have been thinking about writing
something simular thanks for saving me the time. I bought DC Destop and
while the individual programs are all very nice they just aren't
configurable enough and I find my self having to reference the manual too
often. The situation is just bad enough that while I haven't written
them off I will be hesitant to buy anything else from them.
>
> -Jonathan the verbose
> **********************************************************************
> Jonathan Whitcomb UUCP: <whitcomb%aurgate@mcnc.org>
> Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh, NC Delphi: JBWHIT
>
--
Kenneth Kron kron@netcom.COM
------------------------------
Date: 27 Mar 91 03:30:51 GMT
From: noao!ncar!unmvax!nmt.edu!jcksnsr@arizona.edu (Admiral JC)
Subject: Thoughts on DC Utilities
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <1991Mar26.193248.6395@netcom.COM> kron@netcom.COM (Kenneth Kron)
writes:
>From article <59676@aurs01.UUCP>, by whitcomb@aurs01.uucp (Jonathan Whitcomb):
>> [[ Details deleted ]]
>>
>> I like the package in general. My main complaint is that DC makes
>> assumptions about how you will be using their software, and don't
>> give you alternative options. They also seem oblivious of how
>> their products work with other common programs (Pinhead, LGSelector,
>> Hotwire!, NeoDesk, etc.). Maybe I've just been spoiled by Codehead
>> products, which are fantastic in this regard. I also wouldn't expect
>> bugs and unpredictable behavior from a second generation product.
>> I recommend it for DC Squish, though.
>>
>> Anyone else have any reflections on DC products?
>
>I agree with you 100% Jonathan. I have been thinking about writing
>something simular thanks for saving me the time. I bought DC Destop and
>while the individual programs are all very nice they just aren't
>configurable enough and I find my self having to reference the manual too
>often. The situation is just bad enough that while I haven't written
>them off I will be hesitant to buy anything else from them.
>
I agree, good ideas, bad execution.... I have DC Desktop V1.0 and while
I'm fairly happy with it, if I ever get serious enough to get a HD I'll
probably switch to something else... The program is flaky as all hell...
DC Deskdrop doesn't like Uniterm; DC Deskdrop doesn't want to give back
its memory, The cabinet and print spooler seem to come and go off the desktop
at pretty much random; and worst of all - Dc Desktop and DC Formater DA don't
like each other! (They both run but Desktop trashes the icons used by
formatter... )
I will admit thatperhaps this has been fixed in the later versions, but
since Double Click wanted about half what a paid for the original for
an upgrade that seemedto be mostly bug fixes (which should be done in the
first place!) I blew them off....
>>
>> -Jonathan the verbose
>> **********************************************************************
>> Jonathan Whitcomb UUCP: <whitcomb%aurgate@mcnc.org>
>> Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh, NC Delphi: JBWHIT
>>
>--
>Kenneth Kron kron@netcom.COM
_
/\/\/\/\> ... Slither...
<Admiral JC>
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 19:26:54 GMT
From: aurs01!whitcomb@uunet.uu.net (Jonathan Whitcomb)
Subject: Thoughts on DC Utilities
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
-The March ST Informer had rave reviews for the new DC Utilities
-package, so I picked up a copy. In general the programs are
-pretty good and useful, but there were a few bugs, and a couple
-of missing features.
Is it tacky to respond to your own posting? I just had a chat
with the folks at Double Click Software. Very friendly and
helpful.
-First ,XTractor Plus.
The program is called DC XTract Plus.
-It is designed to handle compression and
-decompression of archive files, using .arc, .lzh, .zip and .zoo
-methods. Lots of nice features, but the interface is not very
-intuitive. One of the problems is that no title strings are
-passed to the file selector, so you press the "begin" box on
-the main interface, and you get a file selector with no
-instructions. You can usually figure out what they want by
-checking the default file selector extention, but how much
-extra effort would it have taken to write an instruction
-string to the file selector? (I use the Little Green File
-Selector by Charles Johnson, and like it alot.)
DC writes to their own text box. Unfortunately, it is completely
obscured by the LGFS. I don't know if this is a problem on monochrome
monitors, but it is on medium resolution. At best I can read the
beginning or end of the message if I re-position the file selector.
-Another problem is that you can't install the program as
-an application. I currently just double click .arc and .lzh
-files, and Arcshell prompts me to unpack them. XTractor Plus
-just comes up cold. Until it recognizes paths passed to
-it, and perhaps command lines, I'll stick with Arcshell to
-unpack.
My mistake...this works. Hotwire gives you two methods of installing
applications (the "HOT" method and the "GEM" method), and I used
"HOT". I tried again using "GEM", and it worked fine. Command lines
would still be nice, though.
-XTractor Plus does have a nice compression feature that lets you
-keep selecting new files with the file selector (instead of
-prompting you for each one), but it sometimes hangs when compressing
-.lzh files. I had this happen several times, and consistantly with
-neochrome format files. I would prefer to use .lzh, because it
-usually packs the smallest of all the formats.
Double Click isn't sure if this is a problem of theirs or if something
in my auto folder is mucking up the works. In any rate they'll look
into it. A new version is coming that will speed up the compression
time, and show a bar graph when compressing, so you can keep track of
it's progress.
[stuff deleted]
-The DC Squish program is nice. It compresses executable files and
-uncompresses them at run time with no noticable delay. You have
-the option of setting fast-bits or clearing memory before running
-the program, and you can unsquish any squished program. The
-documentation doesn't tell you if the memory clearing option is
-necessary with Pinhead, though, or indicate if it is faster or
-slower.
DC says that this feature doesn't fight with Pinhead at all.
-My main problem with DC Squish is that sometimes when
-I unsquish a program, it leaves a squished copy in the folder
-that I can't delete. I guess it sets a read only bit, but I
-can't seem to clear it.
DC claims this is a TOS problem (I use V1.2). What happens is
that TOS leaves two files in the folder with the same name (a
Squished and unSquished version), and then gets confused when
trying to erase one. The solution is to rename one, and then
reboot. Then you can get rid of the offending file. A bit of a
hassle. DC says that they will consider circumventing the problem
in the next version by using their own delete routine instead of
relying on TOS.
-This problem aside, I am very happy with
-the program, and have reduced the amount of space I use on
-my hard disk considerably...I will now be able to further delay
-getting another hard disk!
-I like the package in general. My main complaint is that DC makes
-assumptions about how you will be using their software, and don't
-give you alternative options. They also seem oblivious of how
-their products work with other common programs (Pinhead, LGSelector,
-Hotwire!, NeoDesk, etc.).
On the phone they seemed very familiar with these products, and which
caused problems and which didn't. It would be nice to have this
information in the manual or a readme file, though.
[stuff deleted]
-I recommend [the DC Utilities package] for DC Squish, though.
now for the support as well as the product. They were patient
and helpful when I spoke to them, and very receptive to criticism
and suggestions. The DC SEA (self extracting archive) is nice too.
It also includes some other programs I haven't tried out.
-Anyone else have any reflections on DC products?
--Jonathan the verbose
P.S. Last week the on the Delphi Atari weekly conference we decided
a great hack would be to have the pink Energizer bunny come booming
across the monitor from time to time with a digitized voice saying
"...still going...". Sometimes across the bottom, sometimes across
the top or up and down the sides. A DC program of the week, perhaps?
**********************************************************************
Jonathan Whitcomb UUCP: <whitcomb%aurgate@mcnc.org>
Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh, NC Delphi: JBWHIT
------------------------------
Date: 26 Mar 91 21:38:31 GMT
From: noao!asuvax!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!wciu!abode!scale@arizona.edu (Luis
Outumuro)
Subject: Two New Computer Announcements - CeBIT
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
Hi Marc,
You mentioned that you have several TV ads for GameBoy, but
none for the Lynx. It must be in your market area; here where I live, I see
about 5 or 6 TV ads for the Lynx per day and only 1 GameBoy ad every few days.
Here in the Los Angeles area; most toy stores, several department stores and
gaming shops carry the Lynx. From what I understand; Atari DOES advertise,
regionally though. Atari also provides co-op advertising funds for dealers.
Bye..................
Luis
--
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Luis Mark Outumuro III | "Well... you're damned if you do,
Computer Office Products 818/813-1051 | and you're damned if you don't!"
Infoline 818/813-1053 | - Bart Simpson, 1990...
------------------------------
End of Info-Atari16 Digest
******************************
