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Silicon Times Report Issue 0021
_______________________________________|
|ZMAG |ZMAGAZINE ST-REPORT ISSUE #21|
| ZMAG |______________________________|
| ZMAG |February 10, 1988 |
|_______|______________________________|
|Editor |Ron Kovacs |
|_______|______________________________|
|Asst Pb|ST Xpress Magazine |
| |Ken Kirchner, Tony Santos |
|_______|______________________________|
|INDEX |
|_______|_______________________________
|..<1>..|Atari ScuttleBits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Kelly
|..<2>..|Best Of 1987 Survey Results. . . . . . . . . . . .Ron Kovacs
|..<3>..|MulitLine NiteLight (Review)
|..<4>..|ST Desktop (A New Newsletter). . . . . . . . . . .Luther Miller
|..<5>..|Star Trek (Software Review). . . . . . . . . . . .Steve Marshall
|..<6>..|Zoomracks Update (Part 1). . . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Heckel
|..<7>..|ST Transformer Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Darek Mihocka
|..<8>..|Spreadsheets and Databases . . . . . . . . . . . .Rob Krumm
|_______|________________________________________________________________
|..<1>..|Atari ScuttleBits February
________________________________________
by Bob Kelly
ATARI! What price glory .........
To say the news about the home/small business computer market has been
dull over the past few months is an understatement. Atari's new computer
product announcements hit the street like a feather dropped from a ten
story building. In other words, the national news media ignored Atari's
press releases and, of course, there was no impact on Atari's stock
price.
On the other hand, while Atari has NOT advertised it's 16 or 8 bit home
computers, it has been advertising. The game mac
booming and Atari once again is a leader. However, Nintendo, the primary
competitor, did not care to the public by
Atari.
Atari Versus Nintendo - For Real!
Nintendo of America sought a preliminary injunction against Atari for
unfavorably comparing in its commercials the XE video game system with
into believing:
1. Atari's game system played hundreds of games while Nintendo played
only 80.
2. Atari's system played both disks and cartridges while Nintendo
offered only cartridges.
According to Nintendo, the facts in the case were:
(1) many of the "hundreds of Atari games" were out of production/
circulation, and
(2) Atari failed to inform the consumer the disk drive, which had to be
purchased separately, was expensive and hard to find.
The court, in December, ruled AGAINST Nintendo stating Atari may continue
its advertising campaign. The advertisements did not violate the Lanham
Act, a federal statute prohibiting false advertising. Atari, needless to
say, was very pleased with the judge's ruling.
Incidentally, Atari, by the end of November, was sold out of the XE game
system through Christmas. As of mid-January, the XE game system is
available in only limited quantities on the East Coast with sales
remaining very brisk. Atari plans to release/develop more game software
to support sales of the XE system.
No doubt Atari has a true winner, at least for now. Glory, glory,
hallelujah! However, game system sales in the U.S. are once again
carrying Atari's corporate image to the public. This strategy for the
U.S. market is fraught with danger. The last thing Jack Tramiel's Atari
should want is to reinforce the image of a game machine company in the
U.S. market. This happened with the old Atari (Warner Corporation) and we
know what the results were. The largest market for computer sales in the
world is in the United States and Atari is pursuing a policy which subtly
encourages serious consumers to buy a non-Atari machine. The "game
machine company" is a stigma which must be avoided.
Atari needs to separate game machines from its computer operations. It
must be done IMMEDIATELY. My own suggestion is give much less prominence
to the Atari Corporate Logo on the packaging and in the advertising.
Further, advertising of the ST/MEGA computer line is a must in the U.S.
market and should be stepped up in the 2nd quarter of this year. Jack, I
will be happier, as will a lot of other Atari users, if there was a lot
less GLORY for the Atari Logo in connection with the XE game system.
Atari Versus Apple - A Possibility?
The rumor mill within the computer industry on occasion can come up with
a whopper (it makes writing this column definitely interesting). One
source of rumors/gossip from time to time is InfoWorld, the weekly
computer news magazine. Over the past year, a news policy has been
implemented by InfoWorld which stresses business use of computers as
opposed to small business/home applications. As a consequence, little
mention of Atari has appeared in the general columns. (Of course, this is
also because they consider themselves to be serious minded. Who knows,
maybe they are serious since my subscription has just been cancelled). In
any event, two InfoWorld columnists are exceptions to this general
policy, Jerry Pournelle and Robert Cringely who write occasionally on
events impacting the Atari Corporation.
Cringely, in his January 11, 1988 column, mentioned some possible
business between Steve Jobs (founder of Apple) and Jack Tramiel. It is
best that I quote the column directly.
"I bumped heads with one of Jack Tramiel's secret agents from Atari. It
looks like Jack has been paying very close attention to Apple, and in
fact it seems he's readying a couple of 68020-based PCs that will run
Macintosh software as well as ST programs. The machines are supposed to
be products of the long-rumored collaboration between Atari and Next
Inc., which nobody could figure out until now.
"Fans of Russian novels take note-here's the plot: Steve Jobs, hating
John Sculley for firing him and wanting to destroy Apple as an act of
revenge, commissions a Mac emulator, possibly from wunderkind Andy
Hertzfeld. But Steve has no extra money to build it, and he's saddled
with an agreement that lets Apple see his technology before it goes to
market.
"Enter Jack Tramiel, who also hates John Sculley (Jack hates everybody)
and who envies the large Mac software base. Steve gives the Mac emulator
to Jack, who will produce a zillion low-priced Mac clones in Taiwan,
while Jack lets Steve use Atari's amazing eight-voice Amy sound chip for
the Next workstation. Steve wins, Jack wins, John loses. Film at eleven."
Hey, this is far out stuff. But, how does this make David Small feel
(Mr. Magic Sac)? Does anyone really believe that John Sculley will stand
by and let this happen? I, for one, don't think it's likely. Talk about
lawsuits! They will be flying all over the West Coast courtesy of Apple.
In fact, such a course of events could even spawn a growth industry for
lawyers.
Business and the Mac - an insight:
Numerous articles have been written by the national press concerning
Apple and its penetration of the corporate market. While it is correct in
thrust, some of what has been said needs to be put in perspective.
For 1987, it is estimated that approximately 390,000 Mac II's and SE's
have been shipped by Apple to its dealers. According to Apple, about 40%
of the SE's and 65 to 70% of the Mac's have been going to companies with
at least 1000 employees. This means roughly 180,000 Mac II/SE computers
are in the hands of major corporations as a result of purchases in 1987
(translates into a demand of 15,000 computers per month.)
If one were to measure Mac's sales performance against total national
sales for an average month, 15,000 computers quickly becomes miniscule.
In fact, Apple's share of the Fortune 500 market is estimated for 1987 at
3 1/2 to 4%. By way of comparison with Compaq Computer's share of the
business market, Apple is probably somewhere in the neighborhood of being
1/4 as large as Compaq's. Thus, Apple is light years away from IBM.
The fact cannot be ignored that the Mac has introduced more competition
to the IBM/clone dominated corporate market. In my mind, there is no
doubt that the Mac is a superior machine in terms of technical
capabilities and ease of use. The economics of its purchase in lieu of an
IBM or clone is, however, certainly negative. To really gain market
share, Apple's Mac prices must become more competitive. Further, with the
advent of Sun Computers joining forces with AT&T; Next, Inc., Steve Job's
new company, introducing a new machine in 1988; and IBM's move to a Mac
look-alike interface (Presentation Manager), Apple's fight for market
share is certainly just beginning.
See you here next month...... Oh ...
P.S. By the way Atari, where is the 80 column cartridge for the 8
bit'ers and most importantly the software (new Atariwriter +) that was
suppose to be on the market in September? November? December? etc.?
Your reputation in marketing and delivering products is growing!
________________________________________
..<2>.. Best Of 1987 Survey Results
________________________________________
Compiled by Ron Kovacs
The following survey results were captured from a few Oasis BBS systems
running the Best of 1987 Survey.
The survey was created from the Best of 1987 Poll created in December
1987. All the nominees were listed by system users. Then I compiled the
survey from the entries and created the survey.
The highest amount of entries were listed in the survey for the users to
vote on. The accumulations of the systems captured, are included here. A
few of the questions have been deleted because they contained regional
and local information which is not of use in other areas.
ZMAGAZINE BEST OF 1987 SURVEY
| Question Number 1 |
Choose Your Favorite Atari 8 Bit BBS.
0> Express BBS (not pro)
1> Oasis (all versions)
2> Carina I (not II)
3> FoReM 8 Bit
4> NiteLite
5> AMIS
6> BBCS
[#0] 47 [#1] 167 [#2] 38 [#5] 13 [#6] 07
ZMag's Best BBS Program of 1987> Oasis BBS
| Question Number 2 |
Choose Your Favorite Atari 16 Bit BBS.
0> FoReM ST
1> Express ST
2> Michtron
3> BB/ST
[#0] 202 [#1] 56 [#2] 11 [#3] 03
ZMag's Best 16 Bit BBS Program of 1987> FoReM ST
| Question Number 3 |
Choose Your Favorite Printer.
0> Star Series
1> Epson Series
2> Atari Series
3> OkiData (not Okimate)
4> NEC Series
5> Juki
6> Okimate 20
7> Texas Instruments
8> Kiss Lazer Printer
9> Panasonic Series
[#0] 66 [#1] 89 [#2] 31 [#3] 12 [#9] 74
ZMag's Best Printer of 1987> Epson Series
| Question Number 4 |
Choose Your Favorite Atari Corp Product. Atari only!
0> Mega ST
1> XEP80
2> 130XE
3> 1040ST
4> 1050 Disk Drive
5> 520ST
6> SC1224
7> XF551
8> XMM801
9> SX212
[#0] 35 [#1] 11 [#2] 95 [#3] 13 [#4] 30 [#5] 88
ZMag's Best Atari Corp Product of 1987> 130XE
| Question Number 5 |
Choose Your Favorite 8 Bit Game, PD or Other.
0> Alternate Reality
1> Arkanoid
2> HardBall
3> Gauntlet
4> Superman
5> World Championship Karate
6> Ultima 4
7> Gemstone Warrior
8> Flight Simulator II
9> Fooblitzsky
[#0] 59 [#1] 23 [#2] 27 [#3] 54 [#5] 31 [#6] 54 [#8] 24
ZMAg's Best 8 Bit Game of 1987>Alternate Reality
| Question Number 6 |
Choose Your Favorite 16 Bit Game, PD or Other.
0> Pro Wrestling
1> Shanghai
2> Gauntlet
3> StarGlider
4> Flight Simulator II
5> Alternate Reality
6> Wizardy
7> The Bards Tale
8> Mercenary
9> Gridiron
[#0] 40 [#2] 29 [#3] 39 [#4] 28 [#5] 32 [#6] 26 [#7] 55 [#8] 23
ZMag's Best 16 Bit Game of 1987>Bards Tale
| Question Number 7 |
Choose Your Favorite Bulletin Board Service.
This question omitted because contents were targeted at local area
systems.
| Question Number 8 |
Choose Your Favorite Online Service.
0> GEnie
1> CompuServe
2> PC Pursuit
3> Delphi
4> Games Computers Play (Off Line)
5> The Source
6> Dow Jones
[#0] 64 [#1] 98 [#2] 54 [#4] 33 [#5] 11 [#6] 12
| Question Number 9 |
Choose Your Favorite SysOp.
| Question Number 10 |
Choose Your Favorite Co-SysOp.
These 2 questions were targeted at local area sysops and co-sysops so
they were deleted from the survey.
| Question Number 11 |
Choose Your Favorite Magazine, Online or Printed media.
0> Analog Magazine
1> ZMagazine
2> Antic
3> Atari Explorer
4> ST-Log
5> STart
6> ST-World
7> Compute
8> ST-Express
9> TeleTalk
[#0] 19 [#1] 84 [#2] 109 [#3] 17 [#4] 18 [#5] 07 [#7] 14 [#9] 04
ZMag's Best Magazine of 1987>Antic Magazine
| Question Number 12 |
Choose Your Favorite Programmer.
0> Keith Ledbetter
1> Tom Hudson
2> Ralph Walden
3> David Small
4> Matt Singer
5> Bill Teal
6> Phillip Price
7> Matthew Ratcliff
8> Jerry Horanoff
9> Bill Wilkinson
[#0] 65 [#1] 23 [#2] 26 [#3] 29 [#5] 19 [#6] 49 [#7] 12 [#8] 25
[#9] 24
ZMag's Best Programmer of 1987>Keith Ledbetter
| Question Number 13 |
Choose ICD's Best Product.
0> Multi I/O
1> P:R: Connection
2> SpartaDos Consrtruction Set
3> R-Time Cartridge
4> US Doubler
5> Rambo XL
[#0] 94 [#1] 27 [#2] 86 [#4] 49 [#5] 16
ZMag's Best ICD Product of 1987> Multi I/O
| Question Number 14 |
Choose Your Favorite Modem.
0> Avatex 1200HC
1> Avatex 2400
2> XM301
3> Supra 2400
4> USR Courier 2400
5> SX212
6> Everex 2400
7> Hayes 1200
8> Capetronic 1200
9> SmartTeam 2400
[#0] 47 [#1] 67 [#2] 32 [#4] 38 [#5] 29 [#7] 40 [#9] 19
ZMag'S Best Modem of 1987>Avatex 2400
| Question Number 15 |
Choose Your Favorite Hard Disk System or Drive.
0> Seagate ST213
1> Supra 8 Bit 20 Meg
2> Supra 16 Bit 20 Meg
3> Atari SH204
4> NEC
5> Control Data
6> Seagate ST225
7> Seagate ST251
8> Seagate ST138
9> Seagate ST125
[#0] 11 [#1] 109 [#2] 71 [#3] 09 [#4] 57 [#9] 15
ZMag's Best HD System of 1987> Supra 8 Bit 20 Meg HD
________________________________________
..<3>.. MultiLine NiteLite (Review)
________________________________________
Author name unknown
MultiLine NiteLite, ah yes.. What is it?? NiteLite as some of you may or
may not know, is a pretty decent BBS program for the Atari 8Bit/ST line.
Now, Paul has come up with what just may be the grand daddy of them all.
NiteLite MultiLine.
This program run on the 520/1040 STs and requires the SP interface (also
Made by Paul Swanson). It lists for $99, and all you need to run it, is
basically what you already have. It's 110K written in OSS Pascal (By the
way, the source code it also included, so you can change and edit the
program if you have OSS Personal Pascal).
I would definatly recomend the following is what I use. Although
definatly not neccessary (I will mark an * next to the *things you should
have)
2 60 Meg Drives
7 300/1200 Baud modems (At least 2 are needed if you want MultiLine)
1 Ramdisk*
1 Drive*
1 520/1040 ST*
1 SP408/808*
It will run on the 408 or 808 series of interfaces, however if you ever
plan on adding more lines (NiteLite will support up to 7 lines plus a
local logon), then I would recomend the 808.
Currently, the release version of the program hasn't got XModem, or any
transfer protocol, BUT plans are set up in the near future to add them.
There will also be a "background" transfer routine which we allow you to
download, while doing other things on the board, such as chat, reading
messages, etc. Unlike many other full blown boards with MultiLine, this
one also has a MultiCaller Chat feature, which allows all the callers
on-line to chat with each other, as well as a SysOp page found on other
bulletin board Systems.
NiteLite although incomplete is as good as any of the other NiteLite
programs Paul Swanson has done. That can always be taken both ways.
However, I am slightly biased. I love NiteLite. So, if you are interested
in MultiLine boards. Give this one a shot.
NiteLite BBS - 617-663-4221
AfterImage - 617-273-3065
(Both 300/1200) are to good examples of MultiLine NiteLite.
Imager
AfterImage NiteLite
NiteLite Systems
PO BOX R
Billerica,Ma 01862
________________________________________
..<4>.. The ST Desktop
________________________________________
by Luther Miller
February 3, 1988
Hello, and thank you for reading this text file. I have written this text
file in order to explain to people exactly what the The ST Desktop is.
The ST Desktop is a new, monthly, informative newsletter produced for
Atari ST users. Although the newsletter is short, we managed to squeeze
in four software reviews and two hardware reviews, not mention a
programming column and a few other miscellaneous articles into the first
issue. We plan to expand the newsletter even more in the future, with
more reviews and more subject-specific articles. Content may not be
great at this time, but we are only asking a cover price of 75 cents, and
even less for subscribers.
Unfortunately, only myself and two other people were able to contribute
articles for the first issue. In order to become more informative to the
average user, we want most of our articles to be written by users like
yourself. In order to get more articles from users, we have decided to
make an offer, for each article you send us that we print, we will add a
FREE issue of The ST Desktop to your subscription, and if you don't
subscribe we will send you a FREE copy of the issue containing your
article.
We are looking for almost any articles that you, the user, are willing to
write. Reviews are always an easy task, especially since new products
are continuously being produced. Just think, if you send us a review of
each new product you purchase, you will not only be able to voice your
opinion of it to other users, but you could have a free subscription just
by writing twelve reviews a year! Other articles are warmly welcomed
too; programming, tutorials, information on new products, and just about
anything else that has to do with the ST.
Although we aren't very big now, only eight to ten pages per issue, we
can get bigger fast with YOUR help! We want YOU to write our articles,
to make us "by the users, for the users," so load up that word processor
and tell us about that great new game you just bought!
Since nobody has really heard of us yet, and we sincerely want you see
what we are all about, we are giving away copies of our newsletter for
FREE! If you haven't seen us before, you can get a FREE issue mailed to
by giving us your name and address. No obligations, just send your name
and address to The ST Desktop, c/o Luther Miller, 487 Averill Avenue,
Rochester NY 14607. Or if you have a modem, you can send me E-Mail
(Luther Miller) on The Atari Apex BBS (716-458-2638) or on GEnie to
RED.STAR.
Remember, your first issue is on us, so take advantage and act now!
Luther Miller -- Editor, The ST Desktop
________________________________________
________________________________________
..<5>.. Software Review of STAR TREK
________________________________________
by Steve Marshall
"Space...the final frontier". Those words, spoken each week by Captain
James P. Kirk of the Starship ENTERPRISE, welcomed television viewers to
the imaginative world of the future as envisioned by Gene Roddenberry.
Captain Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, Dr. "Bones" McCoy and
Lieutenant Uhura all became familiar friends and helped create a
following of loyal fans that has lasted over 20 years. Now those same
words, spoken by the same voice, welcome the ST game player into the
fascinating and visually wonderful world of STAR TREK.
In this new game, created by Firebird Software and published by Simon and
Schuster, you are Captain Kirk and the crew of the ENTERPRISE, on a five
year mission to destroy the Klingon conspiracy. The Klingons have
discovered an isotope of dilithium that, when subjected to sufficient
energy, renders most beings open to telepathic suggestion over a distance
of light years. Over 20 Federation starships have entered the area
controlled by the Klingons and have inexplicably turned rebel, firing on
other Federation starships.
Your mission is to stop the Klingons from extending their power over the
rest of the galaxy, and to destroy their telepathic mind control
conspiracy.
To accomplish this you have the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The game
opens with the digitized voice of Captain Kirk and the familiar theme
music. After the game loads, you are in the command center of the
Enterprise, where you see Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Chekov, McCoy, Uhura and
Scotty. Each of these officers controls a certain aspect of the game.
Clicking on the figure of Kirk, seated in his chair, will bring up a
portrait of Kirk and status figures...elapsed time, current stardate and
ships stores. It is here you can load and save games in progress. Spock's
screen allows you to check on the status of the ship, inspect energy
levels and assess damage after battles. Spock will also provide
information on star systems, planets and will analyze objects found
during your travels. Sulu is the navigation officer and allows you to
chart your course through the "Quarantine Zone", the area controlled by
the Klingon Empire. This zone is global in shape and 100 light years in
diameter. Over 4000 planets can be found among the 1000 star systems.
Each star system is either Independent or under the control of the
Federation, the Klingons or the supposedly neutral Romulans. Each planet
can be one of 21 different types including planets that affect the
Enterprise by either supplying needed energy, weapons, information, etc.,
or by draining the ships power or energy, throwing the ship into another
star system, or even releasing a weird form of vegetation called
'catastrophe pods' that cling to the ship and over a five week period of
time eat their way through the ship, destroying it (and you). One type
of planet is 'life supporting' and it is these planets that allow you to
'beam down'. You can assign up to six officers to teleport down to a
planet, where they will come upon various hazards and obstacles in their
quest for objects to aid in your mission. This is the only time when the
individual officers are at risk, although it doesn't seem that anyone can
ever "die". Once injured, that officer can no longer participate in
activities on the planet.
Back up on the Enterprise, Dr. McCoy oversees the health of the crew.
Calling up his screen reveals a status screen showing a small picture of
each character with a colored bar designating the current health of that
person.
Traveling between star systems can take time, especially if your
dilithium crystals have been exhausted and your warp speed has been
reduced. Scotty gives you the status of your warp drives and your
impulse engines and warns you, in his distinctive brogue, when you are
exceeding the limits of your engines. You'd better respond quickly too,
or you'll find that the Enterprise has disintegrated. Chekov is the
weapons officer and it is through him that you respond to enemy attacks.
Captain Kirk sounds the warning and you rush to arm your phasers or ready
the photon torpedoes.
A three-dimensional chart of your attackers' positions allows you to
choose your adversary. At this point a computer generated representation
of the enemy ship in 3-D animation is presented and you set your
targeting circle and start firing. The battle sequences are not terribly
challenging (the opponent ships don't really move that much) but Star
Trek is really more of a strategy/adventure game rather than quick-action
arcade game, so the battle sequences fit right in with the tone of the
game.
You can succeed in your mission (and win the game) in a number of
different ways, ranging from destroying the Klingons psi-mitters, to
turning six rebel Federation commanders loyal, to blackmailing the
Klingon admiral. Whatever method you choose, you have five years to
succeed, and those five years can go by pretty fast when you're warping
all over the galaxy searching for the solution.
STAR TREK makes frequent use of digitized sounds, particularly the voices
of the crew. Nearly everyone speaks, including Kirk ("Battle stations,
all decks to battle stations!"), Scotty ("If we keep at this speed we'll
blow up any minute now!"), Sulu ("Now in standard orbit sir"), Chekov
("Got him!") and Spock's epilogue when you lose the game (I'll save that
for you to enjoy). In addition, the teleporter uses the actual sounds
from the TV show, and Dr. McCoy's status screen features a digitized
heartbeat.
STAR TREK is also beautifully rendered graphically, with color portraits
of each of the characters, lifelike 3-D animation battle sequences, and
other scenes like the orbiting Enterprise.
STAR TREK is a great game for several reasons. First, it's fun to play,
with the digitized sound and the beautiful graphics enhancing the
strategy. It satisfies what I like to call the "exploring urge", the
type of game that creates a huge world and lets you explore it in your
own way. This was one of the things about SUNDOG that appealed to many
people. In many ways, STAR TREK reminds me of SUNDOG in its attention to
detail, the great graphics, and its little surprises that catch you off
guard. This game is entitled "STAR TREK:The Rebel Universe", leading one
to believe that this is just the first in a series of STAR TREK games,
just like the movies that now number four. I hope that is true because I
would love to see another game of this quality.
It is interesting to note, that like THE PAWN and STARGLIDER before it,
STAR TREK has made its first appearance in the market not on an Amiga,
not on an IBM, not even on a Mac, but on the Atari ST! I heartily
recommend this game. At only $39.95 retail, it is a real bargain, and
destined to become a computer game classic.
________________________________________
..<6>.. A Letter To ZoomRack Users Part 1
________________________________________
by Paul Heckel
January 26, 1988
Dear Atari ST Zoomracks User:
It looks like you picked the software of the future even though the Atari
ST has not been selling as well as we all would like. Whether or not you
are staying with the Atari, or are thinking of moving to the MS-DOS
computers, you are important to us and we will continue to support you.
Zoomracks will be avialable soon and you can order your upgrade now,
saving $100.
I: UPDATE ON ZOOMRACKS
Zoomracks Column
Zoomracks is useful enough, its user base is large enough, and its
potential applications varied enough to support a monthly Zoomracks
column. The magazine is ST X-press; the columist is Madelon Wilson. Both
Madelon and ST-Xpress publisher, Rich Decowski, are Zoomracks users.
Madelon describes what other people use Zoomracks for to illustrate new
uses and useful techniques. Several users have remarked favorably on the
column and I recommend it highly.
Major Atari dealers and bookstores carry ST-Xpress. Or you can subscribe
for $35.00 a year. (A $75.00 edition includes a disk, but no Zoomracks
templates.) To get all the Zoomracks columns, ask to start with the
October issue. Order from:
ST-Xpress
PO Box 2383
La Habra CA 90631
2) Zoomracks User Groups
A national Zoomracks user group, two local groups, and an online user
group are forming. The New York group is serving as the national group
and is headed by Jerry Finzi (212/255-2111) and Madelon Wilson
(203/735-6711). The membership fee is only $10.00 and a bi-monthly
newsletter is planned. The mailing address is:
Zoomracks User Group
c/o Ground Glass Systems
36 W 20th St.
New York, NY 10011
Marty Brown (271-7460) heads up the West Coast group:
Zoomracks User Group
c/o COAST
PO Box 2955
Oakland CA94609
The Zoomracks user group has is online on the Atari bulletin board on
GENIE, in the ATARI ST 16-bit SIG, CATegory 6, TOPic 26.
User Survey
A Zoomracks user survey proves Zoomrack's value. Last summer we
conducted in depth survey of 91 different Zoomracks users (out of over
2000 users) and the results are illuminating. As users you varied
uniformly from complete novices to experienced users. One user is a
sixth grader, another wrote programs in 1944 for ENIAC, the first
computer.
You used Zoomracks at home, school, and in business. You reported a total
of 125 different applications. You used average of 5.2 applications.
(This is impressive: the average IBM is used for 2 applications, the
average Macintosh for 6.
The most common business uses are: Mailing lists (29% of all users),
address book, (25%), invoicing (12%), Mail merge (12%), correspondence
(10%), customer lists (10%), sales tracking (9%), research (8%),
inventory (7%), newsletter preparation (7%), project managment (7%),
vendor lists (7%) and accounting (5%).
The most common home applications are: address book (19%), home inventory
(13%), recipes (12%), correspondence (10%), phonograph records (10%),
mailing lists (9%), book catalogs (9%) checkbook accounting (9%), video
tapes (7%).
The most common school uses are: class notes (9%), research (5%),
bibliographies (4%), and studying for exams (4%).
Business users include salesmen, physicians, a composer, a professional
novelist, manufacturing consultant, Fortune 500 companies, video
production, police, government, and many others. For over half of you,
Zoomracks was your most used software product. You gave very high ratings
to the following phrases:
"would strongly recommend to friends" (The highest score)
"supports my changing applications needs"
"indispensable"
"justified my computer"
"most used software program"
"based on a great concept"
"is easy to use once learned"
"very flexible"
"fun to use"
"has a lot of potential for growth"
Many business users completely run their business with just Zoomracks.
One user, Jerry Finzi, a New York photographer who had never used a
computer until he purchased Zoomracks a little over a year ago, has in
his spare time since then developed and is now successfully marketing a
photographer's studio management system. It computerizes sales,
production, invoicing, correspondence, bookkeeping, picture inventory,
everything a photographer can use a computer for. He recently introduced
it at PHOTO 87, the largest annual photography trade show, where
photograpers found his product superior to competitive products on the
PC. He has already sold a dozen systems and has hundreds of interested
prospects.
(If any of you are intested you can purchase the survey for $10.00, our
cost of xeroxing and mailing it. It is over 100 pages since it devotes
one page to each of the 91 users.)
Press Coverage
We are getting influential press coverage in spite of our small size.
Jerry Pournelle the Byte columnist mentioned us several times, and Dave
Bunnell, founder and publisher of PC World and MacWorld mentioned us in
columns on HyperCard in both of those magazines. Both Jerry and Dave have
been with the PC industry from its inception and thus have a longer
perspective to see what is really new and interesting. So getting their
support has been gratifying.
The winter issue of START carried a major article on Zoomracks called
"HyperCard without the Hype," and there has been a lot of interest on the
GENIE Atari Bulletin Board the subject of Zoomracks as the original
HyperCard.
HyperCard
Apple computer, the leader in personal computers has validated Zoomracks
as the wave of the future. In August, John Sculley, Apple's president
announced what he called his most exciting introduction since the
Macintosh itself. The product is HyperCard, and it is bundled with every
Macintosh. Many of you have told me that HyperCard seems similar to
Zoomracks. It is. However, it uses cards in stacks rather than racks--
its as if you could use Zoomracks only in single card, single rack mode.
HyperCard is stronger in graphics, inital impression, ease of first use,
fonts, hypertext links, ability to access data on hard disk, and its
variety of programming features -- all capabilities we planned for future
versions-- long before HyperCard.
We think Zoomracks is better: it uses racks (not stacks); it doesn't
require a hard disk; it has flexible output formatting; except for the
first day, is easier to learn and use; it lets you do much more without
programming. You probably can't run a business with just HyperCard, but
you can with Zoomracks.
We think Zoomracks basic concept is better: Its macros are simpler to
use than HyperCard's programming language. It will be easier for us to
include HyperCard capability in future versions of Zoomracks then for
HyperCard to include Zoomracks capability. Most important Zoomracks is
documented in less than 200 pages, HyperCard in an 800 page book.
Apple's Sculley was gracious enough to say in a January Microtimes
interview, "HyperCard isn't the first... We had Owl Guide, we had other
products, Zoomracks, ... " (Owl Guide, the only other product he
mentioned, is a conventional hypertext product and can't do most things
that Zoomracks can.)
Alan Kay, the Apple Fellow whom Sculley credits with bringing HyperCard
to his attention, called Zoomracks "an important new metaphor from the
author of the best book on user interface design." In the early 70's at
Xerox PARC Alan' group pioneered the windowing, mouse, menu and icons
that are used in the Macintosh and GEM. It is gratifying to receive such
recognition for Zoomracks from such leaders.
As a Zoomracks user, you are a pioneer. Congratulations, and thank you.
NEXT WEEK PART 2
________________________________________
..<7>.. ST Transformer Update
________________________________________
by Darek Mihocka
February 7, 1988
The accompanying ARC file contains a file called _X4MER12.TOS which is
to replace current versions of XFORMER.TOS, STXMONO.TOS, and XFORMER.PRG.
You must already have all the files from ST Xformer 1.11 or 1.11M as they
are not provided in this ARC file.
New features of Xformer 1.2:
- one version now supports both color and monochrome monitors
- better monochrome support, but still 1/4 screen display
- now runs with the Omni Res Terminal Emulator from HYPERTEK
- opcode $61 fixed
- DOS directory filenames used to come out garbled. That's fixed
- no speed increase, _but_ read on!
Note: if you do use Omni Res, you will get a full screen monochrome
display. However, it may not be as clear or readable. If BASIC boots up
with black vertical bars, type DOS, then re-enter BASIC by pressing B to
"Run cartridge".
Information about ST Xformer II:
Since the release of the Xformer in October, I have mainly heard only two
things from people: make it run in monochrome, and make it faster. The
monochrome part was easy, and now with Omni Res, it is even better. The
speed issue was a bit harder to address. The dispatch algorithm used
could have been sped up slightly, by getting rid of common code and thus
saving some jumps and branches. But to get a really major speed increase,
I started writing a new emulator from scratch and came up with some
voodoo that allowed me to write an emulator that is TWICE AS FAST as the
emulator now available. Thanks go to David Small, Charles Smeton, and Jan
Gray for providing some of the speed up ideas.
Here at a glance are some of the features of ST Xformer II:
- twice as fast, runs at about 40% the speed of a 6502
- a GEM based non-cryptic user interface that allows you to re-configure
the emulator with the menu bar. No more deleting and renaming of files.
- 4 modes: generic 6502, Atari 800, Apple ][, and C-64 emulation (I
should have provided a DEGAS file containing a screen shot showing
Commodore 64 BASIC in action on the emulator, but that would probably
make most people delete this file right away!)
- online documentation (i.e. from the menu bar)
- player missle graphics and sprites, greatly increasing compatibility
- a hardcopy of detailed documentation and source code will be available
for a small fee. (Hey, I gotta eat too!)
- phone support will be provided if you really get stuck
The program will be available on July 1, 1988, and will be shareware.
That means it'll be free and available on most BBSs and information
services at that time.
The program will soon go out to a few beta testers who will put it
through the wringer. A preview version will be made available to
magazines and user groups on May 1, 1988. If you are a user group
executive and are interested in getting the preview version to demo to
your user group, send a recent copy of your newsletter, your name and
phone number, and $5 (to cover the cost of a disk, a mailer, and postage)
to me:
Darek Mihocka
310-D Bluevale St. N.
Waterloo, Ontario
N2J 4G3
CANADA
and I'll give you a call when the disk is about to go out (in late April
or early May).
Anyone will last minute requests and suggestions for the emulator can
drop me mail, email, or call the "support line" (really just my modem
line, he he, so if you call and get a modem carrier, hang up). Of course,
after the preview gets out, I'll definately be taking last minute
suggestions and bug reports before letting the cement dry.
To contact me by email, you'll need an account on one of the information
services listed below, and then send the email to the appropriate ID:
BIX: darekm
Compuserve: 73657,2714
DELPHI: DAREKM
GEnie: DAREKM
The ST Xformer support line is: (519)-747-0386
On the FOREM FNET network, send email to Gilligan's Island BBS (node
#118). Hopefully it'll find a path through.
That's all! Enjoy ST Xformer 1.2 and please be patient about getting ST
Xformer II. It will be worth your wait.
________________________________________
..<8>..Spreadsheets and Databases
________________________________________
by Rob Krumm
Q: WHICH IS BETTER, A SPREADSHEET OR DATABASE MANAGER?
A: NEITHER. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR APPLICATION.
Tom Goren, my accountant, recently left a C.P.A. firm where he was a tax
manager to start his own firm. He decided he would completely computerize
his practice and asked my advice about hardware. I asked if he'd thought
about software yet, and he said, "Not really. I thought I'd get the
equipment set up first."
Goren was making a common mistake. Despite the youth of the computer
industry, there's an old axiom that says you should research the software
that fits your needs before you buy either the software or the hardware.
Although this advice is sound in theory, it's almost impossible for
novices such as Goren to follow. Matching your needs to the features and
abilities of software is one of the hardest tasks in computing. The
growth and development of a strong consumer-based software market has
created a vast wonderland of programs from which to select. This massive
volume of programs, all different from their competitors, makes the task
of choosing increasingly more difficult. Yet the wealth of creativity
represented by the software market promises some fantastic results if the
right choice is made.
"The primary problem," says one of my clients, Carolyn Rigiero, "is that
buying software is a little like choosing a family pet. No matter how
much time you spend looking over the litter, you don't really know what
you've chosen until you get it home and live with it awhile."
The purpose of this article, then, is to try to establish some common
sense ways of discerning the types of software that should be applied to
particular tasks. Specifically, we'll look at guidelines that would
indicate whether a given task can be handled best by a spreadsheet or a
database. Please note that while all the tasks used as examples below
could be accomplished with either type of program, one will help you be
more productive than the other, depending on the task. It's like carving
a pattern in stone -- you could use a screwdriver, and still get the job
done, but it wouldn't be the best tool for the job. At the end of each
section, you'll find a summary of each set of guidelines for choosing the
correct type of software.
CONCENTRATE ON CONTENT, NOT FORM
A common misconception about software is caused by the differences that
sometimes occur between a program's form -- the way that it appears on
the screen -- and its content -- the operations that it's capable of
performing. For example, the name spreadsheet is applied to a program
that displays a screen divided into a series of rows and columns. The
name fits the look of the program, which resembles the row-and-column
layout of an accounting ledger. Based on its appearance, and the
connotation of the word spreadsheet, many people conclude that this
program should be applied to tasks normally carried out with ledger
books.
However, appearances can be misleading, as in the case of spreadsheets.
While the form of the screen display indicates one type of function, the
operational capability of a spreadsheet falls into a very different
category. In truth, spreadsheets should be referred to as mathematical
modeling programs. An advantage of using a model -- a replica of some
real-life object -- is that it can be tested for an approximation of how
the real-life object would behave under various conditions. Analysis of
the results provides information that is then applied to the real-life
object.
Computers create models by using mathematics to duplicate real-life
objects and situations. Popular spreadsheets, such as Lotus 1-2-3,
SuperCalc 4, Excel, and Multiplan, provide this type of mathematical
modeling in a form accessible to almost every computer user. For example,
a budget -- whether for personal use or business -- is a mathematical
model of income and expenses. Spreadsheets allow the user to describe a
series of relationships between values that can instantly be calculated
to reflect the results of a specific set of conditions.
This ability to revise results to conform to any change in the basic
assumptions is referred to as what-if analysis, the name applied to a
very common form of decision making. Suppose that you're about to buy a
new car. This decision requires you to look at various loans with
different interest rates and lengths. What if you borrowed the money at
9 percent for 60 months? Or at 5.5 percent for 36 months? Or at 3.5
percent for 24 months? The models created with spreadsheets help you
make decisions by showing the results of numerous possibilities so that,
in minutes, you can compare and contrast each option.
In advising my accounting and bookkeeping clients, I explain that the
tasks usually associated with ledger books aren't really models, since
they're not speculative situations. Ledger books record, accurately it is
hoped, actual historical data. This data is not subject to flights of
fancy or what-if speculation, but is information recorded exactly as it
happened. This type of task works best in a database program that's
designed to record and retrieve large amounts of data.
Summary. The first principle to keep in mind when you're thinking about
computerizing a task is to analyze the basic type of information you are
going to work with, rather than looking at the form of a particular
program's screen display. By concentrating on the content of your task
you'll be able to assess the type of application to use.
DEPENDENT VS. INDEPENDENT VALUES
How can you begin to evaluate whether any particular task requires a
spreadsheet or a database, and then determine which spreadsheet or
database?
To understand these steps, consider the following scena rio. Ron Johnson,
a real-estate developer, plans to carry out a project in which he would
build, and then sell, 15 single-family homes. Johnson's first step is to
apply for a loan, which requires a business plan that projects the costs
and income generated. In addition, he'll want to keep track of the actual
expenses and compare them to the amounts projected for the same items. He
wants to know if these are spreadsheet or database tasks.
One of the basic methods of analyzing this problem revolves around the
concept of dependent and independent values. An independent value is one
that occurs as a result of some activity outside the scope of any project
and is usually a given, such as fixed prices and costs. Dependent values
are those that can be calculated from the figures that are already part
of the project. For example, when you're ready to fill out your income
tax return, you deal with lots of numbers. The amount of money you
earned, the total of your medical expenses, and how much you paid in
interest on your home are all independent values. No one can be
absolutely sure what those values will be beforehand. However, once
these values have been established, the procedure by which the amount of
tax owed is figured is based on a series of related calculations
described in the tax laws. The amount of tax paid is a number that
depends on the values you provide for income, interest, and deductions;
therefore, a spreadsheet is best.
When generating the business plan mentioned above, Johnson began with a
few assumptions about basic costs and some ideas of how each item related
to all the other items. For example, the amount of money to be borrowed
depends on the expenses, such as the interest due on the loan. Therefore,
the business plan falls into the spreadsheet category because the values
entered are really a series of related numbers, each dependent on a few
initial assumptions. On the other hand, the task of keeping track of the
actual expenses and comparing them to budgeted expenses is one in which
most of the values are historical data, or independent values, which
strongly suggests that a database program should be used.
Summary. The first step in deciding whether any task is a database or a
spreadsheet application is to determine the relative percentage of
dependent and independent numbers in the project. A printed copy of a
project that is similar in content to the one in question would be
helpful. A highlighter can be used to mark all of the values that are
dependent on other values. After the highlighting is done, if it's found
that a high percentage of the values are dependent, then a spreadsheet
program is probably the correct one to use. If, however, most of the
values appear to be independent of other values, then the task probably
requires a database.
THE ESSENCE OF DATABASE SOFTWARE: SELECT AND SEQUENCE
As a computer educator, I am often called upon to train computer sales
representatives. When I asked the students in one class to tell me what
a database was, most of them described it as the computer equivalent of a
stack of index cards. Others called it the screen display into which
information is entered or the storage of data in a disk file. In
reflecting on their responses, I found that they were confusing the form
in which database programs frequently display information on the screen
with the actual function and purpose of the program. This is the same
problem of mixing form with function that occurs with spreadsheets.
I explained to the students that the essence of database programs can be
summarized in two operations: selection and sequencing.
Selection is a process by which a subset of related information can be
selected out of a larger set of information. If the set of information is
a list of people who own Apple computers, you could then create a
subgroup by selecting all Macintosh owners. You could create a smaller
subgroup by selecting Macintosh owners in Pennsylvania. In each case you
are selecting information based on a logical criterion by which each
piece of information can be tested to determine if it belongs to the
subgroup.
Sequencing is a process whereby a set of information is arranged in a
specific order, usually numeric, alphabetical, or chronological. This is
also called sorting. When a program performs selection, sequencing, or
some combination of both, it is performing database management. If the
task you have in mind requires that you select data for related subgroups
or arrange your data in some order, your task requires database
operations.
Summary. While it is true that database programs perform other tasks --
such as math and printing reports -- it is the sophisticated selection
and sequencing features that truly distinguish database managers from
other software such as word processors and spreadsheets.
TWO TYPES OF SORTS: PHYSICAL AND LOGICAL
The distinction between databases and other software often is made more
confusing because many spreadsheets and even some word processors provide
some functions that fall into the data-management sphere. For instance,
although Lotus 1-2-3 is considered a spreadsheet, its original conception
was as a three-part program: one, spreadsheet; two, business graphics;
and three, database. Lotus 1-2-3 has a sequencing command and can perform
some data selection. WordPerfect is a word processing program, but it too
can perform sequencing of data in a limited way.
The database facilities offered in 1-2-3 remind me of a baseball pitcher
who can also get a base hit from time to time. It's a great feature to
have, but you still don't want your pitcher batting cleanup. The
implication is that "real" database programs do something that
spreadsheets with database functions cannot.
So how are database programs different from programs that include
sequencing and selection operations in some limited form?
Consider sequencing. Suppose you wanted to alphabetize customer
information written on index cards by the surnames of the customers. How
would you do it? The most obvious method would be to physically move
cards around until you have placed the cards in the correct order. This
is called a physical sort because you actually move the data from one
position to another.
Another method would be to number all the cards just as they are in
random order. Then create a list in which the names are arranged
alphabetically and next to each name place the number of the card on
which the name appears. This method would be a logical sort. In a logical
sort you don't physically rearrange the information to conform to the
sort order, but create a list that shows the order the cards ought to be
in if they were to be physically rearranged.
Most people would assume that the physical sort is the most direct and
best method for organizing the cards. But when you change from human
activity to computer operation, the logic changes because of the
technological advantages of computers.
There are a number of disadvantages to physical sorting that can be
overcome by using logical sorting. When the data is rearranged in a
physical sort, such as with spreadsheets or some simple file managers,
the original order is destroyed. In addition, any subsequent sorts delete
the previous sorted order. However, in a logical sort the original order
of the data is preserved. You can set up as many additional sort orders
as you like without changing or destroying any previous sequencing
orders.
Logical sorts usually take less time than physical sorts because they
manipulate only the key data needed to determine the sequence and ignore
ancillary information stored with the key. A physical sort must move all
the data associated with each key to the new location.
Changes made to data also pose a problem for programs that sort
physically. For instance, if you add new data for sorting to a
spreadsheet such as 1-2-3, the program must sort from the beginning and
perform a complete physical sort in order to place the new data into the
proper sequence. Programs that use logical sorting create organized index
lists in order to quickly place new items into their proper position
without having to resequence the other records.
Logical sorting is often referred to as indexing because of the similar
way indexes are created for books. When you make an index for a book, you
don't rearrange the text of the book in alphabetical order. Instead you
create an alphabetized list of topics and note the page numbers on which
the topics are located. This is much the same way that logical sorting
programs operate.
Summary. This distinction between physical and logical sorting provides
another way of defining spreadsheet and database applications. If your
application requires only occasional sequencing and the quantity of
information is relatively stable, you can probably get by with the level
of database functions found in 1-2-3 or similar spreadsheets.
On the other hand, if your task requires the data to be sequenced in
several different ways and if additions, corrections, and revisions are
made frequently to the data, your task requires the use of a full
database program. Spreadsheets may sequence but database programs include
the ability to create and maintain logical sequence orders.
TRANSFORMING INFORMATION WITH DATABASE SOFTWARE
When the expression "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) is applied
to computers, it refers to a situation where the computer screen
resembles as closely as possible the final printed product. WYSIWYG
usually connotes ease of use. The phrase implies some very basic truths
about the way the human mind operates and the difficulties that people
commonly encounter with computer applications.
Humans are genetically predisposed to a special form of cognition called
one-to-one correspondence. This ability, inherent in all normal
individuals, is what makes counting on your fingers easier than only
using mental images to count. Your fingers serve as visual symbols for
the numbers being counted. However, in modern society the individual must
dispense with the instinctive method and rely on a more abstract and
arduous mental system of counting.
Why is this the case? Viewed in isolation, counting on your fingers is
perfectly adequate for many counting tasks. But, if counting is viewed as
a preliminary step toward learning higher mathematics, the student must
acquire a more difficult, abstract form of counting in order to better
understand the more complex tasks to follow.
This same distinction arises when looking at the difference between
spreadsheets and databases. The structure of a spreadsheet is such that
the data is placed into rows and columns, creating the same form in which
the information will appear on the final printout -- a one-to-one
correspondence.
"This one-to-one correspondence has a very reassuring effect on people
who are new to computers," says Angie Hinds, a new student to Lotus
1-2-3, who is starting work as an administrative assistant for a small
publishing company that relies heavily on computers.
This security, like counting on your fingers, is sometimes misleading,
however. Suppose that you want to enter into the computer a list of
names and addresses that's organized into columns, one for the name,
another for the street address, a third for the city, and so forth. If
you were to use a spreadsheet, which is already divided into columns and
rows, you could begin immediately by entering the names into the first
column, the street address into the second column, and so on. When you
were finished, the screen display would look just like the paper list.
If you were using a spreadsheet such as Multiplan or 1-2-3, you could
sort the names alphabetically or by zip code. However, suppose you then
wanted to print the names and addresses onto mailing labels. This would
be a problem because you entered the names and addresses side-by-side,
not vertically as they would appear on mailing labels. But if you had
entered the data vertically, you would have then lost the ability to sort
because information would be scrambled into the same column.
This example points out a deficiency of programs that use one-to-one
correspondence. In the case of the names and addresses, the task required
an application that could transform the data from column format to
mailing-label format and back again.
Database applications are characterized by their ability to place the
same data into a variety of output formats, called reports (there are
also add-on programs for some spreadsheets that create reports). The
database applications may be used to generate many different reports from
the same data, such as mailing labels, form letters, or bills.
Databases may also combine the data into columnar reports or summary
sheets. But there is a price to be paid for these advantages. If the data
is constantly capable of changing form, how are we to visualize what is
going on? Database programs require the user to deal less with
individual, concrete items (such as the actual numbers in a spreadsheet's
cells) and to begin to conceive of data through a system of symbolic
names that represent the actual data (such as TOTAL INCOME representing
the sum of all income items). This type of system is inherently harder to
comprehend because there is no single, visual image that accounts for all
the possible relationships. The relationship between the items is really
in the mind of the person using the program as much as it is in the
memory of the computer.
It is for this reason that database programs have not generally garnered
the same widespread popularity as have word processors and spreadsheets,
which do present one-to-one correspondences between the on-screen
appearances and the final products. Among the database products on the
market, those that present the most visually oriented screen images are
the most widely accepted programs. However, visual images and database
power are often at odds with one another. The screen structure of many
programs makes it easy to enter data. But assembling the final product
from the initial data is usually a different matter.
Summary. A very crucial question to ask about any task is whether the
data entered in one form is to be output in a different form. The
transformation of data into various reports constitutes a one-to-many
relationship, which contrasts to the one-to-one correspondence found in
spreadsheets.
For example, all financial accounting, in which data is entered into
ledgers and journals, and turned into balance sheets and income
statements, requires a degree of transformation found only in databases.
This fact seems to contradict the common notion that spreadsheet programs
are accounting programs. Perhaps this is a result of the fact that many
accountants use spreadsheets in their work.
"It is important to keep in mind that accountants do more than
bookkeeping," says Tom Goren. "Much of our work fits well into the
modeling functions provided by spreadsheet programs."
ROB KRUMM is founder and owner of microComputer Schools, Inc., in Walnut
Creek, California. He has written several books on major software
packages; the latest releases are Understanding and Using dBase III Plus
(Simon & Schuster/Brady Company) and Using Lotus 1-2-3 for Business
(Addison-Wesley).
________________________________________
ST-REPORT #21 (c)1988 Syndicate Pub Co.
February 10, 1988
________________________________________
