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Silicon Times Report Issue 0742
*---== ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
October 25, 1991 No.7.42
==========================================================================
STReport International Online Magazine
Post Office Box 6672
Jacksonville, Florida
32205 ~ 6672
R.F. Mariano
Publisher - Editor
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STR Canada: FNET 018 - ///Turbo Board Support 1-416-274-1225
STR Europe: FNET 1031 - <<<INTERNET>>> 011-44-296-395-935
__________________________________________________________________
> 10/25/91: STReport #7.42 The Original 16/32 bit Online Magazine!
-------------------------
- The Editor's Desk - CPU REPORT - WAACE Revisited
- Comdex Overview - WP for WINDOWS - NEW MACS DEBUT
- Codehead Delphi Conf. - 1/8" HARD DRIVE - STR Confidential
-* "LEGAL" PIRACY SCAM EXPOSED!! *-
-* ITS SHOWTIME AT COMDEX! *-
-* ATARI ANNOUNCES PCs! *-
==========================================================================
ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
The _Number One_ Online Magazine
-* FEATURING *-
"UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
Current Events, Original Articles, Hot Tips, and Information
Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports
==========================================================================
STReport's support BBS, NODE 350, invites BBS systems, worldwide, to
participate in the Fido/F-Net Mail Network. Or, call Node 350 direct at
904-786-4176, and enjoy the excitement of exchanging information relative
to the Atari ST computer arena through an excellent International ST Mail
Network. All registered F-NET - Crossnet SysOps are welcome to join the
STReport Crossnet Conference. The Crossnet Conference Code is #34813, and
the "Lead Node" is # 350. All systems are welcome and invited to actively
participate. Support Atari Computers; Join Today!
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AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON: GENIE ~ CIS ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ FIDO ~ F-NET
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COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME
to the Readers of;
ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
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"The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY!
CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198
You will receive your complimentary time
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be online in no time at all!
WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (October 25)
EDHAK DEMO
Download file EDHAKD.LZH from LIBRARY 1 of the Atari Productivity Forum
(GO ATARIPRO) for a full demo of EdHak version 2.25. This version can be
used with the soon-to-be-released QuickCIS version 1.70. Craig Harvey
(the author of EdHak) has also announced a special discount for CompuServe
members who which to order the full functioning version. Contact Craig at
User ID number 73047,600 for details.
NEW FROM DOUBLE CLICK SOFTWARE
Assembly language lesson from Double Click Software! Check out file
DCSASM.ARC in LIBRARY 13 for an assembly language example on how to view
Neochrome and Degas picture files.
NEW FROM SUPRA
Version 4.10 of Supra's removable device driver and SUPRMOD (a program
that can be used to configure some of the device driver's parameters) is
now available in LIBRARY 15 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) under
the filename REMOVE.LZH.
Supra Corp has uploaded a textfile detailing their modem upgrade policy
and prices. This rare (but very welcome) policy is another reason why you
should consider their products when looking for a new modem. See
MODEMS.TXT in LIBRARY 15 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN).
NEW FROM GRIBNIF
Gribnif Software announces the release of ARABESQUE PROFESSIONAL, a
complete BITMAP and VECTOR based illustration package for the TT/ST line.
See ARABPR.TXT for a copy of the press release and ARABDE.ARC for a full
working demo, both in Library 8, Gribnif Software, of the Atari Vendors
Forum (GO ATARIVEN).
NEW FROM CODEHEAD SOFTWARE
CodeHead Software has just released an upgrade to MultiDesk Deluxe!
Owners of this fine program should download MD33UP.ARC, available in
Library 16, CodeHead Software, of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN).
This archive contains everything you need to upgrade CodeHead's MultiDesk
Deluxe 3.1, 3.1a, or 3.2 to the new version 3.3. The new version includes:
greatly improved compatibility with Neodesk 3.02, bug fixes that boost
compatibility with other DAs and applications, and an important new
feature! See the included text files for more information.
ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM (GO APORTFOLIO)
A new message section has been opened under the name *WISH LIST* (section
15). This section is to be used for your requests and suggestions for new
hardware and software products for the Portfolio as well as changes you'd
like to see in the structure of the Portfolio Forum. The Portfolio Forum
is proud to announce the addition of BJ Gleason to the Sysop staff.
Please address any communications to BJ at user id 73337,2011 until his
sysop ID is processed.
GUNSHIP 2000 TOURNAMENT BEGINNING!
MicroProse Software is sponsoring a Modem Games Forum GUNSHIP 2000 tour-
nament. Please read file GS2000.RUL in LIBRARY 2 ("Flight Sims & Games")
of the CompuServe Modem Games Forum for complete details. Type GO MODEM-
GAMES to access this service.
THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE
HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN
OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION
"GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM"
***********************************************************************
"HOW ABOUT THOSE BRAVES!"
THREE GAMES AT HOME..
..ONE GAME IN THE DOME!!
> CPU STATUS REPORT BRIEF OVER-VIEW OF WHAT'S NEW AT COMDEX
=================
Issue #43
Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.
-- Apple Introduces Three New NoteBook Sized Portables
Apple Computer Inc., with the help of Sony Corp., introduced three new
notebook-sized portables called PowerBooks. These will replace the Mac
portable which failed to catch on in the marketplace. Sony, who helped
Apple miniaturize the internal components of the PowerBook 100, has long
been a supplier of Apple's computer screens and floppy disk drives.
The PowerBooks have a basic clamshell design, with full-size, monochrome
screen. All three machines have backlit LCD (liquid crystal display)
screens, but the 170 has an active-matrix screen, giving near-monitor
performance. The keyboard occupies the back half of the unit's base,
with a two-button trackball in the center of the base, in front of the
keyboard. The space on either side of the trackball is a palm rest,
allowing the unit to be comfortably used on the lap, according to Apple.
Each machine comes with at least 2-meg of RAM (expandable to 8-meg), a
20 or 40-meg hard disk, and an 1.4-meg external SuperDrive.
The smallest of the three notebooks, the model 100, weighs 5.1 pounds
and is the size of a sheet of typing paper. It uses a Motorola 68000
16MHz chip and has a lead-acid battery capable of 2-4 hours of use.
The PowerBook 140 includes a 16MHz 68030 processor, weighs 6.8 pounds
and is slightly larger than the PowerBook 100. It also has microphone
and sound capability and a NiCad battery giving 2-3 hours use. Perfor-
mance is claimed to equal the Mac IIcx, or 150 percent better than the
original Classic.
The PowerBook 170 is built around a more powerful 25MHz Motorola 68030
chip, plus a 68882 math coprocessor but is the same physical unit as the
140.
Pricing ranges from $2,299 for the PowerBook 100 with a 20-meg hard
drive, $3,200 for the PowerBook 140 with a 40-meg hard drive, and $4,599
for the PowerBook 170 with a 40-meg hard drive. Delivery is to start
Nov. 4.
-- New Mac Classic II
Apple is extending the Mac Classic's market popularity by introducing
the Mac Classic II series. It improves on the original Classic range
with greater performance, virtual memory support under System 7, more
memory expansion, and sound input capabilities. The system includes
Motorola's 16mhz 68030 cpu which more than doubles the performance of
the origanal Classic.
The Classic II now has a microphone and sound input. Features include a
math coprocessor socket and a 1.4-meg Superdrive, along with Appletalk,
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) and ADB connectors. A 2-meg
version is available that includes a 40-meg hard disk. Also available is
a 4-meg version with an 80-meg hard disk.
The original Classic can be upgraded to Classic II standard with the
addition of a special motherboard. Pricing for the new system starts at
$1,900 and includes 2-meg of ram and a 40-meg hard drive and $2,399 for
the 4-meg of ram, 8-meg hard drive version.
-- Quadra: The High-End Mac
Hoping to get more sales in corporations and government agencies, Apple
introduced the Quadra models 700 and 900. The Quadra's are high-end Macs
for intensive computing uses or to link other Macs in a network. They
contain Motorola's most powerful microprocessor, the 68040, a 25mhz
chip.
Both 68040-based Quadra systems have twice the speed of the IIfx, along
with color, advanced Ethernet and improved SCSI (Small Computer System
Interface)/Nubus technology. Additionally, the floor-standing Quadra 900
can incorporate extra RAM up to 64-meg, additional hard disks and/or other
removable SCSI storage devices. Macintosh IIcx and IIci users can up-
grade to the Quadra 700 with a simple logic board upgrade fitted by
dealers. Each logic board upgrade has 4-meg of RAM and 512kb of VRAM.
Depending on options, the two Quadra models are priced from $3,499 to
$9,199, without monitors. One sits on a desktop, the other is Apple's
first floor-standing model.
-- Upgrade To System 7
Apple unveiled a new version of its System 7 operating system. The new
System version 7.01 operating system requires 2-megs of RAM and a hard
disk. The new version of the Mac's operating system is not being billed
as an upgrade for existing users of System 7.0, but merely as a replace-
ment specifically for the new machines, Apple officials said.
-- Communication Programs for the Mac
---- PowerModem for the PowerBook
PSI Integration, of Campbell, California, unveiled the PowerModem, an
internal facsimile and data modem for the PowerBook with a suggested
retail price of $299, and Travelcom, a pocket-sized external V.32, 9,600
bits-per-second (bps) data modem with a suggested retail price of $799.
Both are available now.
-- Apple Licenses Access PC For New Powerbooks
Apple Computer has licensed Insignia Technologies' Access PC for use in
its Powerbook computers. Access PC allows a Macintosh to read MS-DOS
high-density and double-density diskettes and perform file maintenance
operations on them, as well as on Mac diskettes. Access PC comes bundled
with the Powerbook line of notebooks.
---- Lotus Developing cc:Mail Macintosh Remote
Lotus Development Corporation is developing cc:Mail Macintosh Remote, a
companion product to its local area network electronic mail system,
cc:Mail. It will let stand-alone Macintosh computers, including the new
PowerBook notebook models, exchange text and other material with cc:Mail
users on networks. The package will support communication with both
Macintosh and DOS users. It is due to ship in the first half of 1992.
---- MicroPhone II Version 4.0 Available in mid-November
Software Ventures said it will release MicroPhone II Version 4.0 in mid-
November. The remote communications software is most often used for
electronic mail, retrieving information from on-line databases, and
interoffice data transfers. The new version supports Apple's new Power-
Book notebook computers and its high-end Macintosh Quadra 700 and 900.
---- DataClub Classic and Elite Available for the Mac
International Business Software announced shipment of DataClub Classic
and DataClub Elite, file-sharing software for Macintosh networks. The
company said that its software will let files on several machines appear
as if they were all on one server, doing away with the need for dedi-
cated servers for some users.
---- ACI/Acius Shipping 4D D.A.L.
ACI/Acius announced that it has begun shipping 4D D.A.L., a software
extension to let its 4th Dimension database software access remote
database servers using Structured Query Language (SQL). With 4D D.A.L.
users can develop Macintosh applications that transparently access and
update information on a variety of host database systems.
-- Two SCSI-Ethernet Adapters Offered For Macs
---- Daynaport to Ship in January
Dayna Communications' Daynaport SCSI/Link is meant to hook Macs up to
Ethernet LANs using any cabling system. There are 2 versions, one with a
connector for thin Ethernet and one meant to connect to twisted-pair
cabling. Scheduled to ship in January, it will retail for $399.
---- Asante EN/SC 10T to Ship in November
The Asante EN/SC 10T hooks Macs up to 10BaseT (twisted pair) Ethernet
through the SCSI port. Due to be available in November, it will cost
$399.
-- Act! Contact Management Software For Mac
Contact Software International (CSI) has announced that its Act!, its
PC-based contact management software will be available on the Macintosh
platform , and will be able to be used on the entire line of newly
announced Apple PowerBook notebook computers, the first quarter of 1992.
Act! for the Mac has a contact database and editable WYSIWYG calendar
manager, custom report generator and a word processor with spell-checker
and mail-merge capability. The package also includes an automatically
generated history for each account, unlimited notes per contact, e-mail
support, Apple events support and auto-dialing.
-- World's First 1.8 Inch Hard Drive Introduced
Integral Peripherals announced its Integral Mustang 1820 which it claims
is the world's first 1.8 inch hard drive. The unit is single platter, 20
megabytes, and is designed for the subnotebook and pen-based systems
Also shown was the Stingray 1842, a dual platter, 40-meg unit about the
same weight and size as the 1820. Volume production on both will be
reached by mid-1992.
-- Microsoft Announces Word 2.0 for Windows
Microsoft Corporation says it will unveil a new version of its word
processing program Word For Windows. Microsoft maintains that owners of
earlier versions of Word for Windows will be able to upgrade to Release
2.0 for $129.
-- Hyundai Shows Prototype of new Pen System
Hyundai Electronics America displayed a prototype of its pen system. The
pen system is to feature an 8.5" by 11" form factor including a writing
surface, and a pen stylus. It will be based on the 80386SL processor
and configured with 4-meg of RAM, a 1.44-meg floppy and a 40-meg hard
disk drive. It supposedly will be compatible with PenPoint from Go
Corp. and Microsoft's Windows for Pen Computing. It also will use
Phoenix Technologies' new PenLeader hardware specifications.
-- First Multimedia Systems Available from Philips
The first multimedia systems from NV Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken's NV
Philips Consumer Electronics Co. have been unveiled. They are the Head-
Start 486SX and the 386SX-20.
The 486 computer will sell for $2,499, while the 386 machine will cost
$2,499. Philips said the latter machine is designed to be compatible
with any multimedia software using the MPC mark.
Philips' Multimedia PC-386 contains an Intel 80386SX processor running
at 20 mhz, 4-meg of RAM, and 512k of video memory. It comes bundled
with Microsoft Windows with multimedia extensions, headphones, and a
mouse. It also has a Super VGA display and comes with a 680-meg CD-ROM
drive compatible with Multimedia PC (MPC) standards. The suggested
retail price is $2,499.
Philips also demonstrated the Philips Advanced Interactive Display
(PAID), combination display and pen-input device. PAID can display the
image of a keyboard, calculator keypad or other input device, which the
user can then operate using the stylus.
Philips also launched the first notebook PC to carry the Philips label.
The Philips LX320 uses the 20mhz Intel 386SX chip, weighs 6.4 pounds,
and comes with 2-meg of RAM and a 60-meg hard disk. Suggested retail is
$3,799.
-- Zenith Data Systems Introduces New Notebook Computer
Zenith Data Systems is introducing a more powerful notebook computer,
the MastersPort 386SLe notebook, which begins shipping next month and
carries a suggested retail price of $4,999.
-- Lotus Unveils Lotus Write 2.0
Lotus Development has announced Lotus Write 2.0, an entry-level word
processor designed for, what the company describes as, new users who
need basic word processing capabilities in an easy-to-use format.
Based around Lotus' existing Ami Pro 2.0 visual word processor, Lotus
Write provides the most frequently used word processing capabilities in
a visual environment.
Lotus Write will be available for a suggested retail price of $199 in
the fourth quarter of this year in the United States. Via the Lotus
upgrade program, Lotus Write users may upgrade to Ami Pro for $149.
-- Rosesoft Announces Prokey For Windows
Rosesoft Inc. has released Prokey for Windows, a macro processor which
is designed specifically for Microsoft Windows 3.0. PKW is immediately
available at a suggested list price of $99.
-- CorelDraw CD-ROM Enhanced
Corel Systems has announced an enhanced CD-ROM version of its CorelDraw
graphics software, offering some 10,000 clip-art images. Corel has added
6,000 new images to the CD-ROM version of CorelDraw. The package now
comes on two CD-ROM disks. The price of the CD-ROM version by itself is
$795. Registered CorelDraw users can upgrade to the new CD-ROM version
for $99.
An updated version of CorelDraw for Unix will soon begin shipping. Also,
Corel said that it will produce a 32-bit version of CorelDraw for IBM's
OS/2 2.0. To be available in the first quarter of 1992, the new version
is to have a list price of $695. There is already a version for OS/2
1.3.
-- OS-2 Late....Again
IBM announced it will ship a long-anticipated new version of OS-2 to
selected customers by year-end, but that it would not be available to
most customers until March. The company said that it will delay delivery
until March, 1992, to build in a handful of additional features asked
for by beta testers. IBM had promised in April it would ship the version
before 1992 began.
-- IBM Announces New Versions of LAN Server
IBM announced new advanced and entry-level versions of IBM's LAN Server.
They reportedly offer better performance, security, and fault tolerance,
more flexible support for different types of local area networks, and
new functions.
IBM also introduced tiered pricing for LAN Server. LAN Server 2.0 Entry
costs $795 plus $75 per network node. The Advanced package costs $2,295
plus $75 per client.
-- Zenith Data Systems Intros New Notebook Computer
Zenith Data Systems (ZDS, a Groupe Bull company) showed the MastersPort
386SLe notebook computer. The MastersPort 386SLe combines Intel's new
25mhz 80386SL microprocessor, which offers 25% faster processing than
any i386 SX-based notebook PC, with an 85-meg hard drive. The Masters-
Port 386SLe will begin shipping in North America in November with a
suggested retail price of $4,999.
Also introduced was the Z-486SX/25E, ZDS's fastest 80486SX-based desktop
personal workstation. The Z-486SX/25E includes a Model Z-649 Texas Ins-
truments Graphics Architecture (TIGA) video card, which delivers 1024 by
768 pixels resolution with up to 256 colors.
The Z-486SX/25E comes standard with MS-DOS 5.0 and Microsoft Windows 3.0
pre-installed on the hard disk drive and a Microsoft Mouse. The Model
200, which has a 200-meg hard drive, has a suggested retail price of
$6,199. The Model 1, with no hard drive or video card, has a suggested
retail price of $4,049.
-- Eastman Kodak Shows Off Color Imaging Technology
Eastman Kodak is exhibiting a new IBM- compatible version of the Kodak
digital camera system, a high- resolution digital camera that uses a
Nikon F3 camera body equipped with a Kodak-produced 1.3 megapixel image
sensor. Current versions of the camera are compatible with Apple Mac
computers.
Also being shown are 3 new thermal printers that produce photographic
quality color images from a variety of digital or video sources
including VCRs and personal computers. The printers output images on
paper, transparencies or for transfer onto souvenir and novelty items
such as ceramic mugs.
-- Dell Computer Introduces Entry-level Notebook
Dell Computer introduced an entry-level notebook computer. The NX20,
costs $2,199 and features an Intel 386SX microprocessor running at
20mhz. The NX20 is targeted at customers who need a notebook computer,
but who are price conscience.
-- Dell Announces Color Notebooks
Dell's color notebook, the 325NC, uses an Intel 80386SL microprocessor
running at 25mhz. It has a passive-matrix color liquid crystal display
(LCD) that can simultaneously display 16 colors. The 325NC weighs 6.9
pounds. The machine is scheduled for introduction in the first quarter
of 1992 and according to Dell, it will sell for less than $4,500.
-- Wordperfect For Windows
Wordperfect announced that its long-awaited Wordperfect word processing
software for Windows will begin shipping on November 11th. Wordperfect
for Windows files are compatible with files created under the DOS
version, without conversion. Other file formats also convert on the fly
into the Windows program.
Wordperfect for Windows carries a list price of $495 in the US. Current
registered owners of DOS versions can trade up to the new product for
$99, and will receive a special software license to run Wordperfect
under either DOS or Windows on the same machine.
-- PC Document Management System
Alacrity Systems has introduced a combination of hardware and software
that turns a personal computer into a single-user document image proces-
sing system with the ability to send documents by facsimile. The Desktop
Document Manager has a suggested retail price of $1,995.
-- VideoLogic Introduces MediaStation
VideoLogic has introduced a video compression/decompression board that
will allow users to compress or decompress an entire frame of PAL or
NTSC video in real-time. This allows random access to single frames or
sequences of a video, making it possible to play the sequences in any
direction and at any speed. The MediaStation will be sold in 3 different
bundles, it will be available in February 1992 at prices from $2,995 and
up.
--Six New Products Use C-Cube's CL-550 JPEG Image Compression Processor
---- VideoLogic is Showing MediaStation
VideoLogic is showing the new MediaStation, an add-in card for the IBM
AT and compatibles that symmetrically compresses or decompresses real
time video, CD quality audio and still images. It handles PAL, NTSC, S-
Video composite and RGB real-time video in addition to still images.
Compatible with Microsoft Windows mutimedia extensions, it will be
available in February 1992 at prices from $2,995 and up.
---- New Media Graphic's Introduces Super Motion Compression
Super Motion Compression is New Media Graphics' full-motion video com-
pression/decompression engine for IBM ATs. Priced at $1,995 and avail-
able now, the board connects with the Super VideoWindows board for video
capture to, and playback from, the hard disk under Windows. Capabilities
for stereo audio digitizing and playback from the disk are also present.
---- Specom Technologies Shows New Vidcom Board
Specom Technologies is showing its new Vidcom board for compression/
decompression of color and gray-scale images and video in real time. The
incoming images and video can be digitized, compressed and stored to
hard disk for further processing or transmission purposes. The new board
will display video and images under Windows 3.0, and is scheduled to be
available at the end of the year.
---- Telephoto Communications shows Alice-SPC
Telephoto Communications is showing its Alice-SPC to the public for the
first time. Being a high-speed JPEG image and video compression card, it
takes up one slot on the SPARCstation's S-Bus, and increases storage
capacity and reducing transmission time by reducing file size of digi-
tized images and video. Capable of operating in SunOS and Open Windows
environments, the Alice-SPC card is priced at $2,545 and will be
available in November.
---- Image Manipulations Systems Shows IMS-1001
The IMS-1001 is Image Manipulations Systems's real-time JPEG image
compression/decompression card and multiformat video pass through with
Genlock and Chromakey. Enhancing the IMS-1000, an image manipulation and
graphics card that handles true color images, live video and text and
graphics and is currently available for the IPC and SPARCstation, the
combination can compress/decompress live video or individual video
frames for storage and retrieval from SCSI disks. Price is under $2,000
and availabilty is set for November.
---- Intergraph Developes Digital Image Product
Intergraph has developed a digital image compression/decompression pro-
duct for the Intergraph workstation. Targeted at the workstation-based
photogrammetry and digital image processing markets, it will be
available in the fourth quarter.
-- Touchstone Demonstrates CheckIt LAN
Touchstone Software showed their new CheckIt LAN (local area network)
diagnostic and auditing software. CheckIt LAN is an outshoot of Touch-
stone's best selling program CheckIt.
CheckIt LAN works with NetWare versions 2.15 and 2.2. Touchstone expects
to release a version that works with NetWare 3.11 by December of this
year. CheckIt LAN sells for $149 for the five node set and $395 for the
20 node version.
-- Key Tronic Shows the Future in Input Devices
The Key Tronic's Compuphone keyboard is a full-sized 101-key keyboard
with a telephone handset in a cradle at one end. It can be customized
for PBX systems, the handset can be replaced with a headset, and the
function keys are programmable. It is anticipated that the unit will
sell to end-users for under $200.
The Key Tronic's Keymouse is a single key on a laptop or notebook
computer that substitutes for a mouse or other separate cursor control
device. By rocking the key through a 360-degree arc, the cursor can be
moved to any position on the screen.
Both Compuphone and Keymouse are still awaiting FCC approval. Approval
for both products in expected by January 1992.
-- Micrografx Intros Windows Draw
Graphics program developer Micrografx has announced its Windows Draw
program. Draw provides WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) support,
and 18 outline fonts, as well as several other fonts. Fonts can be mixed
within a line or paragraph. A blend feature converts text to curves, and
text can be fitted to a user-drawn curve. Windows Draw provides more
than 2,600 pieces of clip-art, including such items as cars, chairs, and
groceries.
Micrografx is so confident that buyers will like Draw that Micrografx is
offering a full refund if the purchaser cannot learn to use Windows Draw
within 60 minutes. The offer is valid for 60 days from date of purchase.
-- Software Shields Users From DOS Structure
Proteo Technology has launched Way You Work, software that insulates
users from DOS commands and directory structures. The software presents
files with longer file names than DOS allows, and organizes them into
folders much as the Macintosh operating system does. Also like the Mac,
it allows the user to select a file and have the appropriate application
software started automatically.
Now available, Way You Work will sell for $399. It requires a PC with an
Intel 80286, 386, or 486 processor and at least 640k of memory.
-- Advanced Gravis Shows Five New and Upgraded Products
Gravis Ultrasound is a sound board with 16-bit digital audio that Gravis
says matches the quality of a compact disk. It provides as many as 32
synthesized and 32 digital voices. It'll retail for under $200 and will
be available in the first quarter of 1992.
Gravis' PC GamePad is a combination of control pad and joystick for IBM
and compatible PCs. A removable handle acts as a joystick and without
the handle the device works as a Nintendo-style game controller. It can
also be adjusted for left-handed or right-handed use. At a suggested
retail price of $29.95.
A PC version of the Gravis MouseStick, a joystick than can emulate a
Microsoft or Logitech mouse. Already available for the Apple Macintosh,
the MouseStick will supposedly be available for DOS machines by mid-
November.
The Gravis Macintosh MouseStick has been upgraded by adding a splitter
that lets Mac users connect it and still have access to the Apple
Desktop Bus (ADP) port.
The Gravis Eliminator Game has been upgraded to be card compatible with
IBM PC XT, AT, Intel 80386/486-based computers running at clock speeds
up to 50 megahertz.
-- Computer Associates Introduces Two New Windows Applications
Computer Associates has introduced two new Windows applications, CA-
Textor, a Windows word processor, and CA-UpToDate, a group scheduler.
CA-Textor is a word processing package that takes full advantage of the
Windows user interface and includes floating and drop-down menus, pop-up
dialog boxes, and a user-configurable tool bar. Retail pricing will be
$225.
CA-UpToDate works over a local area network, providing personal infor-
mation management functions as well as the ability to schedule meetings.
It works on all networks supported by Windows, CA said. Retail pricing
will be $149.
Shipping on both products will begin before year-end.
-- Chartersoft to Focus on the Medical Profession
Focussing on a narrow market, the medical profession, Chartersoft intro-
duced GraphShow, a new graphics package that contains drawing tools like
those found in such packages as Corel draw. It offers drawing, graphing,
and presentation software. It has 17 fonts and comes bundled with Adobe
Type Manager.
The software is available now for $259 with a 2nd release, with improved
technical graphing functions planned for mid-November.
-- Ad Lib Offers Three New Add-Ons For Sound Boards
Sound board maker Ad Lib has announced three add-on products for its Ad
Lib Gold line of stereo sound adapters. They include a telephone ans-
wering system, a surround-sound device, and a CD-ROM interface. The Ad
Lib Gold 1000 stereo sound adapter sells for $299.95, the telephone
answering option $99.95, and the surround sound module $89.95.
-- Fax/Modem/Answerphone, All for Under $500
Technology Concepts was showing the VDF-9624, a unit that offers a voice
mail system, a 9,600 bps send/receive facsimile modem, a 2,400 bps data
modem and the software to run it all. All on a single internal PC board
that will sell for under $500. The system is expected to be ready to
ship in January of 1992.
-- Unlimited Systems Intros Portable Acoustic Coupler
Unlimited Systems introduced an acoustic coupling device to allow note-
book and laptop computers to transfer data more reliably via public
access telephones.
The unit, a newly designed, battery powered, acoustic coupler with the
rubber cups fitting over the perforated section, rather than around the
outside, is guaranteed to provide error-free data transfer at up to
2,400 baud from any Bell system pay phone, and up to 9,600 baud from
other phones. Retail price is expected to be $149.
-- MCA on the Rebound?
IBM's MCA (Micro Channel Architecture) got some help Monday when the
Microchannel Developers Association (MCDA) held its first annual
meeting at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel. At the same time, Applied Logic
Research (ALR) unveiled its Powerpro/MC series, a fast Intel '486 based
MCA system aimed at the Unix marketplace. IBM announced that a major
deal with VLSI Technology will allow third-party PC manufacturers to
source and fit MCA technology to their machines very easily.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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=================
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DELPHI- It's getting better all the time!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
This is the transcript of a formal Conference held Tues., October 15th,
1991, with special guests, John Eidsvoog and Charles F. Johnson, the
principals of CodeHead Software.
.Gordie>
I'd like to welcome the CodeHead software team to DELPHI tonight. If you
don't know them, they are John Eidsvoog and Charles F. Johnson.
Do either of you guys have any opening comments?
.Johnny CodeHead>
Charles has.
.CodeHead GT>
Sure, Gordie. We're excited to be offering some really amazing new soft-
ware to the US and Canada, Avant Vector and Repro Studio from TradeiT in
Germany, and Genus, the font editor for Calamus fonts. These are very
high quality graphics tools, hence the new moniker, CodeHead GT.
(Graphics Tools.) Oh yeah... Dot reminds me to say that Genus is from
Canada, by a guy named Gregg Rodgers. Gregg works for an ad agency in
Toronto, and programmed Genus in his spare time. It's quite an amazing
amazing program, with lots of unique features designed to make font
creation and editing as painless as possible. All of these programs are
quite amazing, actually! :) The ST world is long overdue for these kinds
of applications; we're glad to be able to play some part in bringing the
ST into the modern computing world in the US and Canada. GA
.Gordie>
Charles, I've played with the demos, and I'm quite impressed,
personally.
KWAI>
Um, do any of the programs use the math co-processor chip?
.CodeHead GT>
I believe Avant Vector uses the math coprocessor, but to be honest, I
haven't asked that question of the Europeans. I'll find out and let you
know.
KWAI>
Thanks, GT, GA.
.CodeHead GT>
It's quite fast, in any case, w/ or without the coprocessor. GA
KAMIKAZE_ACE>
What's next for Codehead? New and exciting things? Shareware? <grin>
.Johnny CodeHead>
We'll be releasing MIDI Spy soon.
.CodeHead GT>
We also have the new upgrade to MultiDesk, MultiDesk Deluxe. We've been
getting rave reviews from the people who have it and we're having
trouble making enough to keep up with demand.
KAMIKAZE_ACE>
What's it do, and does it work with MultiGEM?
.CodeHead GT>
Well, John knows more about MultiGem than I do....(I think he struggled
with installing it one day), so I'll let him talk for a second. GA
.Johnny CodeHead>
I've tested MultiGem with HotWire. The trick there is to make sure that
HotWire doesn't run as a resident program, but rather as a MultiGem
program. As for MultiDesk, I was unable to get it to work at first, but
apparently there is a way to run ACCs as if they were programs. I
haven't had enough time to pursue it further. Shall I expound on MIDI
Spy?
.Gordie>
Sure!
KAMIKAZE_ACE>
Yes... I'm getting a synth soon...
.CodeHead GT>
(and he's got lots of free time. [nyuk nyuk])
.Johnny CodeHead>
MIDI Spy is a MIDI recorder that runs as a program or an accessory. When
run as a _resident_ ACC, it will record and play back completely in the
background. This means that it will record anything you play, not matter
what you are doing on your computer...disk, modem, printer, or any other
activity will not deter it from its appointed task. You'll never lose
another valuable idea.
.CodeHead GT>
Kinda like the US Post Office. In a way.
.Dana>
Only better!
KAMIKAZE_ACE>
So would I be able to record some stuff while my BBS is running, and
then use it later?
.Johnny CodeHead>
It will load and save standard MIDI files so you can save your ideas and
load them into your full-blown sequencer for further work.
.CodeHead GT>
We're talking _all_ formats of standard MIDI file, too.
.Johnny CodeHead>
You can also load MIDI Spy full of songs from other sources and have
them playing in the background while you do other things.
KWAI>
I like That!
.Johnny CodeHead>
With "chain" play, it will continue playing until you tell it to stop
with a pause between each song. Start/stop, tempo, and song number can
all be controlled from hot keys...
.CodeHead GT>
And maybe best of all (if I might interrupt <get it?>) is....
.Johnny CodeHead>
...or MIDI command that you define.
.CodeHead GT>
...that MIDI Spy comes with a little utility that can totally resolve a
lot of the vector conflicts that plague MIDI programs and AUTO (TSR)
utilities. GA
.Johnny CodeHead>
That's right...I've been unable to produce any MIDI overflow errors with
MIDI Spy. Ga
.baldy>
OK, how come AV and RS are so expensive? ga
.CodeHead GT>
Baldy: have you priced comparable programs for the Mac or PC? Corel
Draw, for example, has a list price of $795.
.baldy>
You're not in Macworld. We don't even have enough money to buy an
AWESOME Mac! :)
.CodeHead GT>
The mid-level version of Avant Vector has a list price of $445 (until
Dec 31st), and it actually does a _much_better_ job of vector-tracing
than Corel Draw. This kind of programming sophistication doesn't come
cheap. Someone has to work for years to be able to do it. And the simple
fact is that Avant Vector _blows_Corel_Draw_out_of_the_water_ in the
vector-tracing arena. So you're actually getting a great deal if you
look at it that way. GA
.Johnny CodeHead>
Baldy, these are not programs that we've written. We must buy them from
Germany.
.baldy>
Well, it's so much more than the DTP programs.
.CodeHead GT>
Also: because they really _are_ that good.
.Gordie>
If I might interject here. These programs are not 'hobbyist' programs. I
think we're seeing the first steps towards the ST/TT being perceived as
a serious business computer. Which means higher priced software.
.Johnny CodeHead>
These are professional programs for professional user...they are not
toys.
.baldy>
Neither is CALAMUS SL and it doesn't cost $450.
.Gordie>
Even if some of the existing software _is_ quite good compared to other
platforms' equivalent software, 'Business' equates 'low price' with
'non-serious'.
.baldy>
Thanks. ga
KAMIKAZE_ACE>
<pardon interruption> Yeah, it's a toy! It's a GREAT toy! Toys this good
are WORTH $500...
.Johnny CodeHead>
What _is_ the price of Calamus SL? I wasn't aware that it's been
released yet.
.CodeHead GT>
All I can say is that after two months of working with Avant Vector, it
has more than proved its worth to me.
DABRUMLEVE>
I don't think it's been announced officially, but ISD has indicated it
will be MUCH more than the regular 1.09N Calamus.
.baldy>
I can get the old calamus for $150.
.CodeHead GT>
Yes. In fact, Didot Professional (which is the only program that really
compares with AV) will have a retail price close to $1000, and that does
not include plotting and sign-cutting abilities.
Since we're discussing the price, I'd just like to mention that we've
now managed to get TradeiT to agree to put the EPS load/save functions
into the mid-priced version of Avant Vector! This means that the entire
world of EPS graphics (and there are thousands of high quality graphics
available from LOTS of sources) is now accessible for the Atari ST and
TT. With Avant Vector, you can import files created with Adobe
Illustrator and convert them to Calamus format, and vice versa. GA
.O.W.J.III>
Well, it might be a little off-topic, but have you considered writing an
ACC version of a transfer-protocol driver (zmodem)...
.Johnny CodeHead>
Yes.
.O.W.J.III>
That would 'take over' if it saw the zrinit string so that those of us
with older term programs could benefit from z-modem without having to
run an external driver manually? GA
.Johnny CodeHead>
As a matter of fact, I've been looking into adding this into CommTool.
.CodeHead GT>
Hmmm, interesting idea.
.O.W.J.III>
Oh....yeah....make it run in the background, like MIDI spy...
.Johnny CodeHead>
I can't promise anything other than that I'm looking into it. ga
.O.W.J.III>
OK.....errrr..one more short ? if I may, what's the difference between
Maxifile and Multifile? GA
.CodeHead GT>
Whew! That question would take about a week to answer. MaxiFile is
basically just a much much MUCH more advanced version.
.O.W.J.III>
Well, I HAVE maxifile 3.0... ahhh, OK...thanks!!! GA
.Johnny CodeHead>
One thing we'd like to make clear is that MultiFile is NOT PD or
Shareware.
.CodeHead GT>
Yes, we had someone approach us at WAACE and say he had the shareware
version of MaxiFile. Erg.
.Johnny CodeHead>
We've found several instances of people thinking MultiFile is down-
loadable (without breaking the law). In case it's not known or clear,
MultiFile is part of the CodeHead Utilities package. ga
.Gordie>
John and Charles, I think between you two and ISD, there is the
beginning of a move to bring the ST/TT into the serious business market.
I'm sure you're getting quite a bit of flack about the high prices of
the new stuff (and I think Nathan will hear about the high prices of the
Calamus packages). Would you address the need to make this kind of move?
.CodeHead GT>
Yeah, some people do kinda shut their eyes and break out in a cold
sweat, Gordie. But hey, folks...time for a reality check! The skills it
takes to produce the code in Avant Vector really _does_ take a lifetime
of study to produce. This is almost a miniature artificial intelligence
engine, for Pete's sake. And the EPS load/save ability essentially means
that you've got a built-in Postscript interpreter as well. Frankly, the
price is cheap, considering all AV is capable of doing. GA
.Gordie>
Is the tie-in with the Calamus format due to the fact that Calamus is a
European program, like these two? ga
.CodeHead GT>
Gordie: DMC has made the Calamus CVG format available to other
developers, as I understand it.
.Gordie>
I wonder if SoftLogik is working on an import module for PageStream 2,
then.
.CodeHead GT>
Gordie: the EPS load/save ability means you can _directly_ import the
files created with Avant Vector into Pagestream and view them onscreen.
.Gordie>
True. I hadn't remembered that little gem of information. Thanks.
.Johnny CodeHead>
Regarding CVG and EPS support; the Germans have about 600 Calamus
service bureaus!! We had to tell them that there are only 4 in Canada
and ONE in the US to convince them of the importance of adding EPS
support to the mid-level version of Avant Vector.
.Keith>
Can you give a brief description of what AV is. (call me naive)
.CodeHead GT>
Keith: Avant Vector is a vector editing and auto-tracing program,
similar to Adobe Illustrator/Streamline for the Macintosh or Corel Draw
for the PC. It converts bit-image graphics (like IMG or Degas files)
into vector graphics (mathematical descriptions of lines and curves)...
which lets you scale the resulting images up or down, stretch them, skew
them, rotate them, etc., without losing any resolution or getting that
"jaggie" effect. GA
.Keith>
Will it work on all of the platforms?
.Johnny CodeHead>
All Atari machines.
.CodeHead GT>
Keith: since AV exports Encapsulated Postscript, the graphics can be
easily ported to other platforms if you wish.
.Keith>
Thanks, ga
.Gordie>
How much memory is required for each of them, as a minimum?
.CodeHead GT>
Minimum requirement to run Avant Vector is 1 meg.
.Baldy>
I got the demo to work on my 520.
.CodeHead GT>
Repro Studio will run in 1 meg, but it really needs more to take
advantage of some of its grey scale editing features. ga
.Johnny CodeHead>
I recently took a friend's IMG file (from his IBM), traced it in Avant
Vector on the ST, and saved it as an EPS file. He's elated at the
results when he loads it into Corel Draw. ga
.CodeHead GT>
It was really great to check out every vector-tracing program at Seybold
and see it blow them all away. (It really did, and I can say that since
I didn't write it.)
.Johnny CodeHead>
Repro Studio was shown there also. However, Repro Studio will not be
available for another month or so.
.Baldy>
OK, do you think it's possible to use MultiGEM with MultiDesk to multi-
task more than 6 progs?
.Johnny CodeHead>
No, I don't. I'm extremely surprised that MultiGem works as well as it
does...
.Baldy>
Why?
.Johnny CodeHead>
The ST was not designed to multi-task, or switch between programs. Any
program that tries to force it to do this must break programming rules
and therefore will have a lot of compatibility problems.
.CodeHead GT>
Yep, that's the bottom line. Either break the rules, or set up a new
protocol, that software has to be rewritten to follow. GA
.Johnny CodeHead>
To the operating system, MultiDesk looks like just one ACC so MultiGem
will not be able to force things otherwise. ga
.Mark>
Could you use MultiDesk to run a bunch of desk accs in one MultiGEM
slot? ga
.Johnny CodeHead>
It's possible, but frankly my first experience with MultiGem was any-
thing but inviting of further testing.
.CodeHead GT>
Well, we'll try again to get MultiDesk to work with MultiGEM. Our intial
results have all failed. And by the way, just to present our perspective
on this, MultiDesk Deluxe works with every major ST application, and
most major TSRs and desk accessories. And it follows the ST programming
rules as closely as possible. GA
.Gordie>
Ah, Charles, but which rules? <grin>
.CodeHead GT>
The meager, scanty rules that Atari has provided, anyway. :)
.Johnny CodeHead>
Don't you mean "Who rules?" <grin>
.Gordie>
hehehe
.Mark>
Oh, also, what's Repro Studio? (MY naive question...)
.Sky>
I have Utilities release #3. Is the update worth doing? $10? ga
.Johnny CodeHead>
Release 4 of the Utilities gives you a lot of extras in the CodeHead RAM
disk as well as a few new programming tools, a revision of Art Gallery
and a new program for handicapped people. There may be a few other
additions but I can't remember.
.Sky>
$10 and original disk? Correct? ga
.Johnny CodeHead>
The new features in the RAM disk include having two disks, and you can
now have a print spooler in the RAM disk, making it reset-proof. That's
right, you can do a warm reset while printing and not lose a single
character in the printout... and there's also a way to save your spooler
data to disk so that you can print it later without having to re-run the
program that created it. And yes, the update is $10 plus original disk.
GA
.Sky>
Thank you, ga
.Baldy>
Is there such a thing as a reset proof disk cache?
.Johnny CodeHead>
I don't think so, but I don't understand what the advantage would be.
.Baldy>
Ok, what if you saved something to a cached disk and your system
crashed?
.Johnny CodeHead>
The scenario is a good reason not to use a write cache. The ICD cache
writes to the disk during the vertical blank so if your system crashes
within a second after doing a write you'll have a problem.
Someone asked a while back about Repro Studio...
.Mark>
Yes, what is it? I've never heard of it before...
.Johnny CodeHead>
Repro Studio is an image processing system with some very advanced and
powerful features. We plan to offer it in two versions. The low-end
version will be just the software and will list for $195. The high-end
version includes a 256 gray-scale scanner and will list for $895. It
makes a great companion for Avant Vector. Repro Studio allows you to
scan images at up to 400 dpi and process them in many different ways
(hand-scanner).
We did a very interesting test at the Seybold show. We found a flyer
from another company with a wood-block type of graphic on the front
cover. We scanned it in two passes with Repro Studio, and put the two
halves together quite handily. The seam was barely detectable. The image
created was 350K! We traced this image with Avant Vector. It took about
ten minutes, although most traces take under a minute. The resulting
vector graphic required no editing whatsoever (well, we had to change
one tiny fill pattern from black to white). The CVG vector file ended up
to be 25K and when we printed it out it looked EXACTLY like the original
...you couldn't tell the difference. We've been showing the two pages to
people ever since and everyone is blown away.
.Gordie>
I assume we'll see something similar in Chicago? Maybe?
.Mark>
Cool...You should've given your copy back to the pamphlet's creator,
just for cruelty.
.Johnny CodeHead>
Anyway, enough blowing <grin>. And yes, Gordie. GA
.Lloyd>
Not a question, just a statement. I think that MultiDesk Deluxe is the
best thing you guys have ever come up with. It's so fast with the
Quantum drive that you don't even notice the Acc's are not in memory!!
.Johnny CodeHead>
Thanks, Lloyd. And did you say that you hadn't received your Utilities
upgrade?
.Lloyd>
Yes.
.Johnny CodeHead>
I'll get that out to you tomorrow, after some disciplinary action
<grin>. GA
.Lloyd>
No problem...I haven't been in any position to miss it <grin>. GA
.Johnny CodeHead>
Yes, it's quite nice to have MultiDesk Deluxe load a list of dozens of
ACCs at bootup without taking any time at all, and later have them
loaded in on the fly so fast. GA
.Lloyd>
It's amazing how fast it is when you're running off of a fast hard
drive!!
.Gordie>
John, how was the WAACE show for the CodeHeads?
.Johnny CodeHead>
Funny you should ask...The WAACE show was a wonderful success, not only
for us but also for most everyone we talked to (vendors). We brought 5
Avant Vectors to the show, thinking that we might sell one or two...we
sold ten!!
.Gordie>
There's your airfare. <g>
.Johnny CodeHead>
After the success of the Glendale show, we decided to bring 100 Multi-
Desk Deluxe packages. They were sold out on the first day!
.Gordie>
And your hotel accomodations. <G>
.Johnny CodeHead>
We also ran out of just about everything else we brought... mostly
updates...
.Gordie>
Any guesses why it was so successful?
.Johnny CodeHead>
Yes, I think there are many contributing factors:
1) The show was well promoted...
2) We had some wonderful, exciting new products: MDD and Avant
Vector...
3) The dwindling availability of dealers may have been a factor...
4) Or the Atari market might be getting better. But...
Most of our sales were updates, so I think it's pretty clear that the
existing users are solidly behind the ST/TT but that there is not enough
new blood in the market to get excited about. GA
.Gordie>
Do you have any contact with developers on other platforms, to know if
the loyalty of the ST users is unique?
.Johnny CodeHead>
I don't really know developers on any other platform, but I think the
other platforms are too large for them to get a sense of loyalty from
their users. GA
.Gordie>
It has been said that software sales are a diminishing thing. The longer
you have your machine, the less software you buy. But the ST users don't
seem to follow that trend. Just an observation, but I think it's worth
noting. ga
.Johnny CodeHead>
As long as we keep putting out either new software or new versions of
our existing software, our users will be there for us...
...and those who pirate our wares are kept happy too (sigh).
.Gordie>
Like that's a consideration. <frown>
.Johnny CodeHead>
My wife would like to ask a question.
.Gordie>
Yes?
.Johnny CodeHead>
"When are you coming down stairs to pay attention to ME!!!???" <grin>
.Gordie>
HEHEHEHEHE
.Mark>
Is that a hint, John? |-)
.Gordie>
Okay, we'll let you go, then. Wouldn't do to ruin some marital bliss for
this!
.Johnny CodeHead>
That's OK. I've been happily married for 12 years... 12 out of 21 ain't
too bad. <grin> Just kidding.
.Gordie>
<G>
.Johnny CodeHead>
We wouldn't have lasted 21 years if she weren't wonderfully under-
standing.
.Gordie>
Seriously, though, I'd like to thank you for being here tonight. Any
closing comments?
.Johnny CodeHead>
I'd like to thank everyone for coming and I'd like to mention that our
outlook HAS changed in the last two months... Some of you may recall
that there was a statement in AIM magazine quoting us as saying that we
have no plans for any new Atari software. As you can see, things have
changed!
.Baldy>
hehe.
.Johnny CodeHead>
With Avant Vector, Repro Studio, Genus, MIDI Spy, and even some other
things I can't mention yet, we're definitely planning some new things!
Thank you all! GA
.Gordie>
This CO is officially over!
***********************************************************************
This conference transcript is the exclusive property of the ST
Advantage on DELPHI. Permission to reprint is granted only if this
notice is included and the transcript is left unchanged.
***********************************************************************
> LANTECH STR Review A TRUE, LOCAL AREA NETWORK
==================
THE LANTECH 10 MEGABIT PER SECOND LAN
=====================================
review by
Joe Mirando
It seems that one of the things that keeps Atari computers from
successfully entering the business market is the lack of a
usable networking system.
That problem has been overcome by Lantech Systems of Billerica,
Massachusetts. The Lantech 10 megabit per second LAN (Local
Area Network) allows two or more computers to share hard drives.
What you need:
1) Two or more ST, Mega or STe computers (mix and match).
2) At least one hard drive.
3) Lantech Basic Starter System.
4) Co-axial cable
5) BNC connectors
6) BNC 'T' adaptors
7) Digital Multi-Meter
The Lantech Starter System comes with two Lantech LT101
cartridges, a 24 page instruction manual and a disk containing
programs to allow you to configure and run the network, an
accessory to allow you to pass messages between computers, and
an accessory to change the printer node for a given computer
(more on this later).
The LAN cartridges themselves measure 5 inches from front to
back, 5 1/4 inches left to right, and are 1 1/2 inch tall. They
plug into the cartridge port of any ST, Mega or STe computer.
On the end of the box opposite computer, there is a BNC (Bayonet
Nut Connector) mount and a "balance switch" which allows you to
adjust the network for optimum operation. On the front of the
cartridge is an LED that flashes as data is passed over the
network.
Once the cartridges are connected to your computers and the
co-axial cables are connected, flip the balance switches on the
cartridges at either end of the network to the "ON" position,
and the switches on the "inside" cartridges to "OFF".
Before going any further, it's very important that you test the
LAN for a few electrical problems. I almost destroyed a large
percentage of my equipment by not testing for ground potential
difference. The tests are easily done with a digital
multi-tester, take only a few moments, and could save you a
large amount of grief.
Now it's time to test the network out.
By running HOSTTEST.PRG on a computer with a hard drive
attached, and TERMTEST.PRG on each of the others in turn (with
or without hard drives), you will be able to determine if your
network will run with few enough errors to be reliable.
Although the network software checks and corrects transmission
errors, too many errors will slow things down and could cause
damage to your hard drive. If you get to many errors for
reliable use, the program will tell you so. Your options at
this point include shortening the cable length, adjusting the
balance switches and checking the voltage available from your
cartridge port.
This last option has proven that, in most of the cases I've
encountered, the fault lies with the computer's power supply.
While the ST's cartridge port is supposed to supply 5 volts
+/-0.25, some ST power supplies put out less than the minimum.
Without getting too technical, the components of the LAN
cartridge should receive a voltage of no less than +4.85 and no
more than +5.2. If you are lucky enough to have a power supply
with a variable resistor on it, you can carefully adjust the
voltage so that it puts out +5.15 at the power supply when the
leads are disconnected from the motherboard (this helps to
assure that you don't get +5.0 volts at the cartridge port and
+5.3 volts at the motherboard, which could destroy your CPU or
your TOS chips). As a last resort, Best Computers sells a
heavy-duty power supply that installs easily and provides the
correct voltage. Both power supply adjustment and replacement
are supposed to be done by qualified personal, but it's not too
difficult to do yourself if you don't mind voiding the warranty
on your computer.
Now that we've cleared the testing stage, it's time to configure
your network.
When you run the LANCONFIG program, you are first asked what
"Node" you are configuring. The computer with the hard drive
should be node Zero. After you select the node number, you are
asked to select the drives that will be available. Configuring
the network consists of giving the computer a node number,
selecting which hard drive partitions it will use, deciding if
this particular node will be allowed to write to each partition,
and whether it will print to it's own printer port or to a
printer connected to another "Node". More than one node may
have a hard drive attached, but any node that does have a hard
drive must look at it's own first. As an example, let's say
that Node Zero has a hard drive with two partitions, C and D,
which we'll call Jack and Leonard. Node One also has a hard
drive with two partitions, which we'll call Sam and Gary. Node
Two has no hard drive at all.
Now, let's configure node Zero. Since node zero has a hard
drive, the partitions on that drive must come first. In other
words, Jack and Leonard must be Drives C: and D: on Node Zero.
Since one of the other nodes has a hard drive, we can access its
two partitions as drives E: and F:. So the drive order for Node
Zero is Jack (C), Leonard (D), Sam (E), and Gary(F) [or Jack
(C), Leonard (D), Gary (E), and Sam(F)].
Let's say that Node Zero has a printer attached, so we tell the
config program that Node Zero will print at Node Zero. Got it?
Node One, since it has its own hard drive (Sam and Gary), must
use them as drives C: and D: followed, if you wish, by Jack
and/or Leonard (or Leonard and Jack) as drives E: and F:. Node
One also has a printer attached, so we tell the config program
to use the printer at Node One.
Node Two, the node without it's own hard drive, can be configured
to use the partitions of the other two in any order and using
all or some of the partitions. Although you can configure the
node to use any of the "remote" partitions in any order, you'll
probably find it much less confusing to keep the drives in
sequence (either Jack, Leonard, Sam, Gary -or- Sam, Gary, Jack,
Leonard).
The last thing to do is select the printer for Node Two. Let's
say that Node Two in addition to not having a hard drive, has no
printer. you can have this node print at either of the other
computer's printers.
Once you set up the configuration for a node, the config program
will create a program called LANTECH.PRG. This is the actual
network program. It can be run from the AUTO folder or from the
desktop. LANTECH.PRG configured for five nodes and eight
partitions (four each on two hard drives), takes up only 10,242
bytes of memory. Obviously, these programs were designed to
be used even with computers with little memory to spare.
Something neat happens when booting a computer without a hard
drive with LANTECH.PRG in the AUTO folder of drive A:. Although
it will use the Drive A: AUTO folder, it will install its
accessories from what ever drive you designate as C: drive.
I've found it useful to keep a "master disk" with all of the
different LANTECH programs. Just rename them NODE_0.PRG,
NODE_1.PRG, NODE_2.PRG, etc. I put all of these different Lan
programs into a folder named (originally enough) LANS. Then, I
copy over all of the other LANTECH programs.
The accessories for messages and printer assignment, while not
necessary for the operation of the Lan, can come in very handy.
The message accessory allows you to send notes from one computer
to another. Without going into too much detail, you select the
accessory, choose the node number to send the message to, type
the message and send it.
Also included is an accessory to change your current printer
node. This way, if your node is configured to print on a node
with a draft quality printer, but you want to print something on
the 24 pin printer attached to another node, you can "swap"
printers for the session.
Problems:
----------
The only problem I've encountered with the Lantech LAN has
nothing to do with the Network, but with TOS itself: TOS was
never meant to run networks and has no SHARE command such as
MS-DOS has. Therefore, it is not only possible, but probable,
that if you write to the same partition with two different
computers, you will corrupt data. This problem arises because
neither computer realizes that the other has written information
to the drive. When you first open a window to a drive, the
computer checks the directory and File Allocation Table (FAT) to
see how much free space there is and where it is. When you
write a file, the computer assumes that nothing about the drive
has changed. If something has been changed by another computer,
files could end up overwriting each other, which would leave, in
technical terms, an "unrecognizable heap of binary garbage".
The best way to avoid this is not to write to the same partition
with two computers at the same time. It's not as bad as it
sounds. With word processing on one partition,
telecommunications on another and desktop publishing on another,
several computers can use the same hard drive with no problems.
Since my company purchased the network with the intent of having
a multi-station office system in which multiple computers could
do accounts receivable and payable, inventory control and
shipping all using the same data files the answer to the
problem was to (using DBMAN) have a "node" file that kept track
of what node was using which file and locked all others out
until that particular node was finished.
As an alternative, if you have programing experience, is to
modify the Message accessory so that when a node needs to write
to a hard drive, it will first check to see if this machine is
Node Zero. If it is Node Zero, it will write the file to the
disk. If the computer is not Node Zero, it will pass the data
to Node Zero, which will write the data for it. However,
lacking experience in Pascal, I have not even tried to do this.
Perhaps the most difficult part of using something like a
network is customer support if you have a problem. There have
been a few times when, although I have not had an actual
problem, I've had a few obscure questions. Lantech has always
answered these questions without making me feel like a computer
illiterate. Talking with Paul Swanson is always informative,
and usually humorous: Like the time I mentioned that the Lan
cartridge was just the right size to rest a coffee cup on. Paul
chuckled and said "Yeah, and if we put a power supply in the
cartridge, it would keep the coffee warm too!"
Knowledge is very important in customer support, but so is
understanding the customer's point of view and having a sense of
humor. I'm glad to be able to report that Paul Swanson fills
all of these requirements and makes a damned good Network system
to boot.
The following list of load-times was compiled using two 1040 STs
with TOS 1.0 and an ICD AD-SCSI plus host adaptor with a Seagate
42 meg hard drive:
------------------------------------------------
| | To load on | To load on |
|Application | Host Computer |remote computer |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|NeoDesk 2.03 | 8 Seconds | 13 Seconds |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|DbMan 5.20 | 5 Seconds | 15 Seconds |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|Flash! | 6 Seconds | 10 Seconds |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|PageStream | 6 Seconds | 10 Seconds |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|GFA Basic | 4 Seconds | 6 Seconds |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|VIP Profess | 7 Seconds | 17 Seconds |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|WordWriter 2 | 7 Seconds | 12 Seconds |
|-------------+---------------+----------------|
|126K WW file |34 Seconds | 36 Seconds |
------------------------------------------------
For more information about Lantech's 10megabit per second
network, contact:
Lantech
12 Shedd Rd., P.O. Box R
Billerica, Ma 01821
Attn: Paul Swanson
Phone (508) 663-3776
The suggested retail price for the starter system, which
includes two LAN cartridges, a software disk and manual, is
$379.95.
Suggested retail price for each additional LAN cartridge is
$179.95
***********************************************************************
:HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT:
_________________________________
To sign up for GEnie service:
Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo)
Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369.
Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that).
Wait for the U#= prompt.
Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN.
GEnie costs only $4.95 a month for unlimited evening and weekend access to
more than 100 services including electronic mail, online encyclopedia,
shopping, news, entertainment, single-player games, and bulletin boards on
leisure and professional subjects. With many other services, including
the biggest collection of files to download and the best online games, for
only $6 per hour.
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! Any time during your first month of membership if
you are not completely satisfied, just ask for your $4.95 back.
GEnie Announcements (FREE)
1. NEW FCC COST INCREASE THREATENS COMPUTER SERVICES.............
2. IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR GENIE USERS IN CANADA...................
3. NOW is the time to apply for COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID $$$$......CASHE
4. NEW RT: The Strange...The Weird...The Unexplained...It's.....PSI-NET
5. Last Chance For The Blue Polo Shirts.........................*ORDER
6. Don't Miss the Boat.... ALL CRUISE TRAVEL Contest in.........OAG
7. Apple Computer Announces New Macintosh Computers.............MAC
8. My Oh My...It's Gone HIGHER - Check out the FLA Lottery in...*FLORIDA
9. LAST WEEK. Help us design our "Front Door"...................MAINFRAME
10. Special Offer in the Software Deal of the Century............SOFTCLUB
11. KT GEnie Kate Bush fans discuss Elton John tribute album in..MUSIC
12. New planets discovered in the adult space fantasy............FED
13. TAKE ADVANTAGE of the After Hours/Flat Fee Plan..............DOWJONES
14. Star Trek Technical Manual authors Okuda & Sternback RTC.....SFRT
15. Find out how to make REAL MONEY in a HOME BUSINESS...........*HOSB
The Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") has adopted rules that will
increase by up to five-fold the price of local telephone lines that use
new network features to provide access to information services. The new
rules could have as serious an impact as the FCC's 1987 access charge
proposal, which was successfully defeated through a massive letter-writing
campaign.
Any information service provider that wishes to take advantage of new net-
work features -- which are to be made available as part of the FCC's Open
Network Architecture ("ONA") -- must start paying the higher charges.
Although the FCC would allow information service providers to continue
using their existing lines at current rates, providers choosing this op-
tion would be denied the use of much existing and future network
functionality. Many state regulators are compounding this problem by fol-
lowing the FCC's lead.
These pricing rules will needlessly inflate the costs of providing infor-
mation services. Information service providers will have no option but to
pass these added costs on to their subscribers in increased prices. This
is bad for the information service providers, bad for subscribers, and bad
for the United States. At a time when the FCC should be encouraging the
widest possible use and availability of information services, the FCC has
adopted rules that will have precisely the opposite effect.
It's not too late to stop the FCC from implementing its new ONA pricing
rules. GEnie (through its trade associations ADAPSO and IIA), CompuServe,
Prodigy, BTNA (formerly Tymnet) and others have petitioned the FCC to
reconsider its rules, and the FCC is now considering whether it should
grant those petitions. You can help by writing to Al Sikes, Chairman of
the FCC, and sending copies of your letter to his fellow Commissioners.
You should also write to Congressman Ed Markey and Senator Daniel Inouye,
the Chairmen of the House and Senate Subcommittees that have jurisdiction
over the FCC. (You may also wish to send copies of your letters to your
own U.S. Senators and Representative).
Tell them that:
- You use information services and how you use them.
- You will curtail your use of these services if prices increase
as a result of the FCC's new ONA pricing rules.
- The FCC's new ONA pricing rules will create the wrong incentives
by discouraging information service providers from taking advantage
of new network features.
- The FCC should reconsider the rules it adopted in Docket 89-79 and
allow information service providers to use new network features
without being required to pay usage-sensitive access charges that
are three to five times higher than existing rates.
Write to:
Honorable Alfred C. Sikes
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, N.W., Room 814
Washington, D.C. 20554
Honorable Sherrie P. Marshall
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, N.W., Room 826
Washington, D.C. 20554
Honorable Andrew C. Barrett
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, N.W., Room 844
Washington, D.C. 20554
Honorable James H. Quello
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, N.W., Room 802
Washington, D.C. 20554
Honorable Ervin S. Duggan
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, N.W., Room 832
Washington, D.C. 20554
Honorable Edward J. Markey
Chairman, Subcommittee on
Telecommunications and Finance
U.S. House of Representatives
2133 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2107
Honorable Daniel K. Inouye
Chairman, Subcommittee on
Communications
United States Senate
722 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1102
GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric
Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission
***********************************************************************
> The Flip Side STR Feature "A casual Overview of Comdex"
=========================
A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT
==================================
by Michael Lee
This is the week of COMDEX, the place where all of the major players in
the computer market come to show off their new wares. Naturally, Atari
was there in all of their glory, showing new products (the new ST Note-
Book for one), introducing some new STe promo's, and displaying their
high-end product offerings.
I wasn't able to attend COMDEX this year, but according to reports from
friends who did attend and from what I have read on-line, Atari has done
itself proud. First SEYBOLD, now COMDEX. It looks as if our favorite
computer company is on a roll!!
If you want to see what Atari's booth at Comdex looked like, watch ABC
Business Week (ABC BW) this next Sunday morning (10-27-91). ABC BW con-
ducted interviews with the owner of the Sands Convention Center and with
the Interface Group (people who sponsor Comdex) and opened its coverage
with a sequence of establishing shot's of the Atari booth. Thanks to the
folks on-line who let us know about this.
Let's take a brief look at what I've heard that Atari had to show this
year. Starting off, Atari showed three PC compatible systems that will
now be available in the US.
First is a battery powered 20mhz '386SX Notebook that comes stock
with 1-meg of memory, a 40-meg hard drive, a 1.44-meg floppy drive
and a 640x480 backlit LCD display.
Second is a full-sized 40mhz '386DX (Advanced Micro Devices AM386)
system. It's SVGA compatible and comes stock with 2-megs of ram, a
80-meg hard drive, a 3.5" 1.44-meg floppy and a mouse.
Third is a full-sized 20mhz '386SX system that is SVGA compatible,
comes stock with 1-meg of ram, a 40-meg hard drive, a 1.44-meg
floppy, 101/102 enhanced AT style keyboard and a mouse.
According to sources at Atari, they will be adding the MS-DOS option to
the line and they will have MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.0 available.
This is not the same PC line that Atari has sold in Canada and Europe in
the past, it has been re-vamped for the US market. The Atari PC line is
being developed and manufactured by a third party company to Atari's
specifications and will come in an Atari box with a custom front panel.
I know that many of our loyal ST owners are wondering why Atari wants to
get into the PC market when we have such a great system already. Well,
I feel there's a couple of good business reasons for Atari to come out
with these three systems. One is so current Atari dealers can sell PC
compatibles with the Atari name instead of some other brand. The other
is that it will allow current Atari owners to keep buying 'Atari' even
if they need a PC compatible for some reason.
From what I hear, the ST Book was a huge success at Comdex. Sources at
Atari say they are putting the final touches on the ST Book at this
time. Atari hopes to have a limited number of 1-meg versions available
later this year and the full production runs early next year.
Here's what a couple of others had to say about Atari and Comdex.
------------------
From Darlah (RT Sysop) - Category 11, Topic 9, Message 2 - from the ST
Roundtable on Genie...
Atari announced their new 520 DISCOVERY EXTRA PACK promo which
includes: Four Games, Paint Program, Basic & Desktop Tour, a 520STe
CPU, SC1224 Color Monitor all in a very colorful, attractive box
sleeve.
They also announced their 1040 FAMILY CURRICULUM promo with: Five
separate modules, each with three programs, 1040STe CPU, SC1224 Color
Monitor all in attractive beautiful box sleeve.
SLM - DTP SOFTWARE PACK with SLM605 300 dpi Laser Printer and a
choice to the Dealer to purchase either Calamus, Calamus Font Editor
and Guide to Calamus Desktop Publishing OR Pagestream with additional
fonts.
The PORTFOLIO MEMORY PACK including: Portfolio Palmtop Computer, 64K
RAM Memory Card, File Manager/Tutorial Software Card and a New, easy
to use manual.
The PORTFOLIO SOFTWARE PACK with Portfolio Chess, Instant Speller
Hyperlists and Financial or DOS Utility cards.
That is the new Dealer promotions.
----------------
From what I've heard on-line, Greg Pratt at Atari says that all Atari
hardware that was announced for the promo's is already in Atari's ware-
house. They're waiting on a few odd's-and-end's pieces of software to
complete the promo's, but the completed product should be shipping some-
time next week. Next week, Atari's staff will be calling all the dealers
who were unable to attend Comdex and taking orders.
-----------------
From B.J. King - Cat. 11, Topic 9, Message 23 - from the ST Roundtable
on Genie...
One of the "bennies" of working for Uncle Sam AND living in Las Vegas
is that I am able to experience COMDEX. WHEW! I walked my little
legs off today (no exaggeration!).
For the uninitiated, imagine 5 football fields filled with the latest
in hardware, software, distribution services, publishers, media,
glitz, stage shows...well, I hope you get the idea. This year's show
used the entire (except for the part under construction) Las Vegas
Convention Center, the Sands Convention Center, and the convention
sections of the Hilton, Riviera, Ballys and Mirage hotels. Ballys was
dedicated to Multimedia exhibits and the Mirage was dedicated to
Networking.
I started walking at 0900 today, and didn't go home until 1700 (that
is 5 PM for you civilians). Twice I ended up at the Atari booth, the
first to kinda wander through and see who (& what) was where and the
second to zero in on specific areas of interest.
I spent some time watching John Eidsvoog vectorize a cartoon with
their new product (I forget the name...it's not something that I have
a need for just yet) When he finished and printed it out, it looked
exactly(!) like what he started with! No scan lines, jaggies, or
anything. (If I had not had seen it with my own eyes, I would never
have believed that I could do that with my Atari...must have really
knocked them over at Seybold!)
I saw the Book! It looks impressive! I want one! 10 hours on one
charge in spite of the hard drive! (no floppy, but that's what I have
a 1040 for, right?)
A long and interesting discussion with Bob Brodie...He wants a Book
too :}. (Thanks for taking the time to 'splain things Bob!)
An ABC 386DX/40 was on display - Portfolios - the announced bundles -
and what I assume was the rest of the Seybold demonstration team with
their line of products...(By the way, it seems they spent more time
tweaking their apps instead of displaying to the public - just an
observation I noticed, as compared to the "reach-out-and-grab-
someone-by-the-lapels" tactics of other vendors on the floor.)
An extensive Music/MIDI area - I saw a demo where a sound sample was
modified to raise the pitch but keep the same time slice -- I guess
the best way to describe it would be to imagine Alvin and the
Chipmunks voices - raised but not fast (remember, I impress easily!)
The gentleman demoing the box (and assoc software) held up a stack of
response forms when I asked how it was going - he said that one man
was coming back this afternoon with CASH to buy the demo unit on the
spot! (realize the entire system (w/software/box/Atari Computer) was
about 4k).
Other miscellaneous things I noted - DRDOS 6.0 / QEMM 6.1 (note the
.1) - The COLOR Jet printer at HP (WOW!) - The floptical drive
developed by Insite - WordPerfect for Windows (about time they caught
up with the Atari :} ) I got a free disk from TDK with F117A demo -
lots of free magazines (saved probably $40.00 in November issues
alone!) - hmm - just had a user-headspace- error...guess I'll stop
for now.
All in all an interesting 8 hours - but it just wasn't enough! I need
two more days to prowl!
BJ King Dead (Head) Tired (and imagine how the exhibitors must feel!)
-----------------
Until next week.....
______________________________________________________
> "LEGAL" PIRACY!?! STR EXPOSE` "DON'T BUY..... BORROW!"
============================
IS THIS THING FOR REAL?
=======================
YOU BET IT IS!
part I
------
A four part
investigative series
by Ralph F. Mariano
It came in the US Mail last week. A "plain brown wrapper" affair with
words emblazoned across the front; "Don't buy any software until you read
this... HOT FLASH! Borrow the latest Commercial Software Programs for
Peanuts! Then in smaller print, this offer good for only 30 days! Spe-
cial "early bird" premiums if you act within 10 days.
Then in BIG, BOLD LETTERS... COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE LENDING LIBRARY. I
sat and looked at this thing for some time wondering about whatever be-
came of the "Hatch Act" (Sen. Orin Hatch R-Utah) supposedly passed to kill
rental types of operations. After a bit of research, it was discovered
that the law has been effectivly skirted by this recent inroad into legal-
ly renting out commercial software. Needless to say, the discovery was
devastating. Yes folks... this is a "call to pens". Read this and the
subsequent articles. But... above all else at this time, help us enhance
our public official's awareness of this new, outrageous threat to our
developer community.
The name of the entity who sent this six sheet flyer is "Soft-Eval
Library Services." In one portion of the flyer the following declarations
are found;
Purpose of the Library
----------------------
Soft-Eval is a Georgia non-profit educational institution serving its
members by lending software for evaluation purposes.
It is in complete legal compliance with the 1990 software copyright
laws governing non-profit libraries for educational inquiry purposes.
We do not provide any technical support or documentation. The absence
of documentation is to limit your use to evaluation purposes.
Most programs have help screens and internal documentation that should
allow you to evaluate them very well.
Operating Guidelines
--------------------
The library is styrictly a limited-membership institution. Because of
the necessity to remain small in order to better serve its members,
membership in the library is NOT open-to-all.
The software programs in the library are copyrighted by their
publishers and authors. The Archival copies are meant for evaluation
and not intended as substitutes of these software packages.
You must NOT remove any write protect tabs or alter the disks under
any circumstances. You can make a temporary backup copy or install
temporarily on your hard disk if the specific software requires you to
remove the "write protect" tab in order to run the package.
Since software is loaned only for the purpose of evaluation, you must
destroy that you may have made when you returnm the original in order
to maintain the software publisher's copyright protection.
All disks and sleeves must be handled carefully and returned in good
condition seven days after you receive them. Please clearly identify
the package return so that we will know whjo returned them when we
check them in.
more next week....
including....
"Promise of Quality", "Shipment Procedures", "Costs", "Plea for
Software Donations", "Total Fees & Obligations" and more.
NOTE:
Readers;
Please...let STReport know what you think of this sort of practice, be
advised, we plan to send your letters along with our complaint to Senator
Hatch's office and photocopies of same to SPA for 'evaluation'. In our
opinion, this sort of thing can bring the sofware industry to its knees if
allowed to flourish unchecked. STReport WANTS your input and help NOW.
Send all letters to:
STREPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
P.O. BOX 6672
JACKSONVILLE, FL. 32205-6672
_____________________________________________________________
> WAACE SWAP ROOM STR FOCUS Fractured Physics & Pandemonium
=========================
AN EINSTEINIAN LOOK AT THE WAACE SWAP ROOM
==========================================
by Joe Mirando
(Aren't computers wonderful? I have just finished this article and
have noticed that it's tone has changed measurably from when I had
started. So I just moved the cursor up and added this paragraph. Now
if I had been doing this on a typewriter I would have had to re-type
at least the first page.)
Well anyway, on with my rambling. I attended the WAACE computer show
in Washington DC on October 12 and 13. The show was, by all accounts, a
great success.
The aspect of the show that surprised me the most was the Swap Room.
This was a room set aside for users who had equipment that they wanted to
sell for one reason or another. Dealers and developers were not allowed
to sell items in this room. The Swap Room was filled above and beyond all
expectations. From the time the show opened on Saturday morning until
just before closing on Sunday afternoon the room was a non-stop deal.
I have since asked many people why they thought the Swap Room did so
well. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a clear consensus. It is
at times like this that I fall back on a method of reasoning popularized
by Albert Einstein. The method is known as a Thought Experiment.
The main idea behind a Thought Experiment is that if you know and
understand the physical laws and interactions involved, you don't need to
use expensive equipment to know what will happen, or what has happened in
a given situation.
Let's try to apply this philosophy to a few different possible scenarios:
Theory #1: The items intended for sale suddenly disappeared.
I doubt it. The Law of Conservation of Matter states that matter can
be neither created nor destroyed. Although the Theory of Relativity
states that matter and energy are interchangeable (via Einstein's 'E=MC2'
equation in which Mass times the speed of light equals the amount of ener-
gy), the amount of energy released in such a transformation would have
transformed most of the Washington area into rubble. Okay, I think we can
rule this out.
Theory #2:
There were only a few people selling items and the rest of the merchandise
appeared from thin air.
I doubt this one too. Again, using Relativity, it might be possible,
but the energy needed to create the items involved would have been huge.
Since I rather doubt that the Sheraton keeps a large nuclear reactor on
the premises, we must look elsewhere.
Theory #3:
The people selling used merchandise were doing so because they were trying
to "get out of" Atari and "get into" another computer platform.
When I started this article, it was my intention to prove this
supposition. Once I began to put this idea into a thought experiment
however, I found that it just didn't work out.
You see, I noticed that, although there were a few complete systems
being offered for sale, the most prevalent situation (or Event in physics
terms) was the selling of programs and peripherals. People who want to
move to another type of computer seldom keep the computers themselves and
sell the software and peripherals.
It was at this point that I changed my "equation" to include not only
the merchandise and the seller but the buyer as well. I also added in the
fact that there were always new faces in the Swap Room on "both sides" of
the table. If that many people were selling things, someone must be
buying them. After re-checking the previous theories and finding no
change in the outcome, I moved on to the few remaining theories.
Theory #4:
Elvis bought it all.
Needless to say, I discarded this theory after only about ten minutes.
Enough said.
Theory #5:
Most of the sellers were trying to sell off programs, peripherals and
older computers that they no longer used, or things that they could do
without in order to buy more things for themselves. The buyers were
anxious to get their hands on computer "stuff" (also a scientific term) at
bargain prices.
Hmm... Well, I don't see any obvious flaws or assumptions that go
against the laws of physics or Virginia so, let's try to put this informa-
tion into a formula (this is known as quantifying the reaction or event).
If we use the basic framework of Einstein's famous equation, we can sub-
stitute our own values for the letters. The resulting formula will be:
E=MC2 where E equals enjoyment , M equals the money that changed hands
and C equals the choices available in the Swap Room. The exact value is
not important here, as we were primarily looking to nail down a workable
theory.
I have proven this theory to my satisfaction every time I've sold a
piece of equipment to my cousin, who also has an ST. Now do you see why
they call it the Theory of Relativity?
As an interesting side note: I have just realized that if Einstein
had a hard drive made by a company named Quantum, and if it ever needed
repair, he would probably have just thrown it away and bought another one.
The reason for this supposition is simple: Einstein didn't believe in
Quantum Mechanics!
________________________________________________________
> STReport's Editorial Page "SAYIN' IT LIKE IT IS!"
=========================
From the Editor's Desk
----------------------
by Dana Jacobson
It never ceases to amaze this editor to see the same few people wil-
ling to read a commentary that is critical of Atari and turn the premise
of that commentary around in such a manner that the complete initial mes-
sage is lost amid all the bluster and dust.
Had the focus of last week's issue of ST Report (741) been complete-
ly about Atari's near invisibility at the recent WAACE show, I might be
able to understand. But, this was certainly not the case. The majority
of last week's issue was reserved for reports of the show, one of which
happened to be from me. All of those reports but two (mine and Joe Miran-
do's) were submitted by show-goers and not anyone on the STR staff. All
of the reports were extremely positive, a congratulatory group of
statements for the fine show that the folks at WAACE put together. They
(WAACE) certainly outdid themselves this year as vendors and attendees
alike have enthusiastically attested.
So, why all the commotion? Well, certainly every coin has a flip
side. In addition to my show report, I also had a commentary which
reflected the "tail" side of that coin, one that was obvious to many
silent observers attending the show. That side was the apparent unequal
representation by Atari.
What do I mean by unequal? All of the developers and vendors that
attended the show were highly visible - they showed us the latest fantas-
tic products they offered, supported and they made them readily available.
In addition, if a user wanted a closer look, they could dig right in, or
at the very least, be given a thorough demonstration. What was not
visible was Atari. Yes, Bob, John, and Ken were in attendance. Yes, they
conducted well attended seminars. Yes, they were more than willing to
talk with anyone. But, there was nothing from Atari for the attendees to
see or touch. How very disappointing. Talking about the latest offerings
from Atari is certainly not as impressive as talking and showing.
Let's try using a little imagination with a hypothetical scenario.
We're at one of the biggest computer shows in the country. The place is
packed with developers and vendors. We, as attendees, are making our way
along the aisles checking out who's who and what each vendor has to offer.
In our travels we come across one booth which consists of an empty
table with a couple of distinguished people standing behind it. The sign
on the wall behind them says XYZ Computers. Ahhh, these are the folks who
are representing the company that the rest of the vendors are supporting
and in return, support me as the user of the XYZ computer.
Let's check out the new machines we've been hearing so much about.
Huh, the booth is empty. Well, let's see what's up anyway. You ask a few
questions after introducing yourself (break the ice kinda thing). Hey,
can I take a look at the new XYZ-ABC2 system, you ask? Oh, you don't have
one. How about the ABCD5? Not here either, huh? Well, the folks at XYZ
begin to tell you about these machines. It's a really great machine. It
has the following configuration and has all of these neat features. If I
had one here I could show you what it can do. Do you have any brochures,
you ask? Er no, I didn't bring anything with me - sorry. You know, the
representative adds, we showed off the ABC2 last month in Texas, you
should have been there. We're also showing it and the ABCD5 in Kansas
City next week, drop by then. Oh, you drove 600 miles to see it here?
Well, I guess you're out of luck, sorry. Disappointed (at best), you
resume your exploration of the show's offerings. Other than your disap-
pointment with XYZ's lack of presence, you enjoyed the rest of the show.
Sound familiar? The focus of my commentary last week was to point
out that Atari's presence, or lack of it, left a bad taste with many
people. If the ST Book was unavailable for unforeseeable reasons, there
were other things that could have been shown anyway. I would hope that if
people were to have learned that the ST Book was stolen, broken, or
whatever; having other machines in abundance would have made up for it.
Yes, there would have still been a few people who would have complained
anyway; there's always a few "you can't please no matter what" (and they
don't necessarily wear STR buttons <grin>).
There was a great deal of back room discussion throughout the course
of the show, both before and after. Some of these discussions, some of
which I was privy to, were with organizers, showgoers, and even some of
the developers. In many of these discussions, items that I mentioned in
my original commentary were directly addressed. There was no conspiracy
to belittle Atari or any of its employees. There was no collaboration to
learn as much "dirt" possible. Nor was there any fantastic fabrication of
a 'ficticious story' happening. What was discussed were the sincere con-
cerns of hard working folks. Concerns that Atari _appeared_ to not be
showing the same kind of open support as other shows had recently
received.
The fact that the Glendale or Chicago shows were mentioned in
comparison is only a reference point. But, continually, there are those
who would like you to believe that STReport has stirred up an East-West
coast controversy, a Glendale-WAACE war. That is simply not the case.
But it certainly would confuse the issues. The point is it appears, from
all public accounts, that the Glendale attendees were treated to a more
visible Atari, period. It could have been East Oshkosh, USA or ANYTOWN,
USA. It happened to be Glendale. It doesn't matter. But, there are
those same individuals who would rather create a diversion than focus on
the point being made:
All shows are not and have not been treated equally.
The bottom line is support. It should always be equal among the
shows in which Atari plays any kind of role. Let the groups organize the
shows. We know that the folks at Glendale and WAACE have the ability to
organize great shows. Atari has the ability to complement these shows
with their support, and should do so. Had this been done at WAACE, the
"little" things that also cropped up would not have had much significance.
Had this been done at WAACE, there would be no reason for ST Report, or
anyone for that matter, to bring it to light. But, if it takes a commen-
tary such as mine last week, and resulting discussions to bring out an
important issue and cause the situation to be equitably resolved, then
something positive has been accomplished.
From my own experience, having Atari at a show compliments both Atari
and the Show itself. Many will say; "Having Atari at a show will possibly
have a positive influence on the show's success." Do all shows _need_
Atari to succeed? - Probably not. Would they be better off _with_ Atari
involved? - Most likely yes. Let's hope that Atari and show organizers
can get this situation resolved so that all involved can move forward and
start to plan next year's shows.
It's really time to move forward...
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> STR Mail Call "...a place for the readers to be heard"
=============
STReport's MailBag
==================
From: BOS1B::DAVIDSHORR
To: RMARIANO
CC:
Subj: STEs and Such
Dear Mr. Mariano,
I am writing in regards to the Atari STe Demo Contest that was
announced by Atari Corp. at the beginning of this year. This contest was
supposed to end in April but I never read of any winners. I was not an
entrant but was very curious to see what kind of demoes came out of this
contest :). I even e-mailed Bill Rehbock on GEnie recently to see what
was up, and he said something about the legal department having to go
through the entries but that they would be posted RSN. I asked Bob Brodie
at WAACE and he said the winning entries would also be posted soon. Well,
still no announcement and/or winning entries on GEnie or here <yeah,
right>, so I thought I would ask if you know anything about this contest.
I know it's Comdex week and all, but this contest supposedly ended months
ago?!? I guess those buttons you gave out at WAACE are still timely <g>
(I was probably the only under-25 year old at the 'Atari Press' seminar
but was too shy to stand up). Sheesh, I've got too many I's in my senten-
ces :).
I would also like to direct your attention to a post in the Midi RT on
GEnie; it is in CAT 2, TOPIC 18, MSG 160. They have a small Atari 'area'
in there; I know that your online mag has a column with helpful message
posts and I wanted to make sure this doesn't get by your editors while
they're sleeping <grin>. It is about a patch for the Revolver switcher
program from Intersect Software that will allow it to run on the STEs(TOS
1.6). A little background: I had read a message on the Intersect board
from someone who said that they had their Revolver fixed to run with their
STe! It was done by a dealer in St. Louis; the sysop of the Intersect
board(Jeff Rigby) said he couldn't fix the program so I guess you could
forget support from them. Meanwhile, a rather talkative:) user in the
Midi area had recently upgraded to an STe and found that his Revolver
didn't work anymore. This was one of his _most_ important programs and he
was _very_ upset that he couldn't do his switching anymore. I left the
info from the message on the Intersect board on the Midi RT and now a few
weeks later he's back up and running with his Revolver. MultiGem just
doesn't cut it with Midi like Revolver does according to him. Apparently
the only fix needed was to change where Revolver looked for the ROMs (FC
to $E). I don't own Revolver (just Interlink and masterLink) so can't
vouch for it personally but I don't believe this fix is widely known
about. Anyway, this message is getting too long so I'll end it here.
Thank you for your support.
Dave Shorr
32070 25-OCT 02:06 Must Haves & Classics
RE: Atari Advertising (Re: Msg 31993)
From: KAMIKAZE_ACE To: BOBBRO (NR)
Bob, PLEASE stop your antagonistic attitude about STReport. It's an-
noying, distracting, and worst of all, it splits up the users. From what
I've seen of him, Ralph's managed to keep his integrity and journalistic
responsibility in mind at all times. Atari would do well to follow his
example. If Atari doesn't want negative press, perhaps they should do
"The Right Thing, The Right Way", as Guy Kawasaki would put it.
All I know for certain is that, given the choice between two differing
opinions, I just watch where the paychecks come from, and that tells me
quite a bit. It tells me that perhaps these "corrections" aren't correc-
tions, they're hushing up. And I recall, over and over, The Editorial
That Killed Atari Explorer. AE was and is your house publication, and you
do have the right to say what goes into it. But you do NOT own STR, or
even Z*Net (despite their heavy bias, they too manage to speak the truth
once in a while). STR also has NOT gone down in popularity, nor, I think,
in quality. It's still an excellent publication, and its readership has,
if anything, grown over the past few years. As long as Atari Corp.
opposes STR, people will read it to find out what Atari is NOT telling us.
To be honest, you are the one damaging your reputation here, by acting
this way, and this is not appropriate behavior for anyone in a public
relations job. While all of us are subject to temper-induced flames,
anyone in an official position needs to keep better self-control.
Thanks for your attention. Oh, and the "not going to dignify that" bit IS
uncalled for. Children do that. Adults don't.
/\/\ark
"No more REAL SOON NOW"
________________________________________________________
> A FEW Thoughts STR FOCUS Isn't hindsight great?
========================
PONDERING LAST WEEK'S ISSUE
===========================
by Ralph F. Mariano
In STReport 741, one will find six upbeat, positive show reports
covering most every aspect of the recent, highly successful, WAACE Show.
The reports indicated the users loved the show, absolutely supported the
developers with excellent sales and were apparently disappointed with the
level of support and participation provided by Atari. The reports were
not edited or influenced by this or any STReport editor, they were exactly
as perceived by the users who wrote the reports. They were, in effect,
"Saying it like it is." STReport's correspondents merely reported their
observations and they did so with a refreshingly high level of candid, ac-
curacy. There has been some requests for STReport to give its sources for
the comments.
In this one case, an exception will be made since the sources are, in
reality, the very authors whose reports are contained in STR741 in their
entirety. The editorial by Mr. Dana Jacobson was quite accurate, it
should be pointed out, he sat in on an informal meeting with a number of
the folks who planned and staged the show. At this meeting, Mr. Jacobson
heard every comment first hand and related them to our readers with true
candor and accuracy.
On a more human level, the realization of the pressure and problems
recently experienced by those folks trying to offer support on behalf of
Atari is acknowledged. However, in a strictly business sense, the East
Coast Show draws as much, if not more, attention to Atari computers than
any major Atari related Show. Notably, when show attendees are able to
clearly notice Atari "missing" even though their reps are in attendance,
then, that observation must be brought out. This is exactly what the
show reports did along with the Jacobson Editorial. This effort was taken
to give these serious, nagging problems exposure in hopes of their being
resolved. After all, according to certain WAACE show officials, this is
not the first year that produced similar problems. All that's ever been
expected is equal, fair support and participation for all shows meeting
the necessary criteria.
One can be sure, if it were within anyone's power to back up a few
months and make some changes.. it would, more than likely, happen.
Whomever made the decisions at Atari, all year long, concerning the levels
of support and co-operation with WAACE apparently gave little or no con-
sideration to those users (a) working diligently at making WAACE the suc-
cess it was and (b) the users traveling great distances to "celebrate
Atari" at a large, well known and respected Atari Festival. Many of whom,
by the way, also stayed four days and spent very long dollars. No doubt
those responsible must answer for Atari's perceived lack of support and
participation even if only to themselves. At best, the very least that
could have been done was bring the "grand prize" to the show but that too,
was obvious by its absence. Atari is still a young dynamic company with
plenty of superb, enthusiastic plans for the future. It is really impos-
sible, no... it boggles the mind to think the actions described herein may
have had the full and complete blessings of the Tramiels. It is highly
doubtful.
STR741 provided a window for users to heard. The entire staff stands
completely behind the show reports, editorials and comments in STR741.
The users provided outstanding show reports that were very complimentary
of all aspects of the show deserving compliments. I applaud these users
and at the same time, offer my heartfelt thanks for the fine effort they
put forth. They ALL did quite well. As for the report of a TT as a Grand
Prize in Glendale, that was an error, and most likely it became confused
with the Chicago Show's announced grand prize of a TT030.
___________________________________________________
STReport's Staff The regulars and this week's contributors!
----------------
Publisher - Editor
------------------
Ralph F. Mariano
PC DIVISION AMIGA DIVISION MAC DIVISION
----------- -------------- ------------
Robert Retelle Charles Hill R. ALBRITTON
STReport Staff Editors:
-----------------------
Michael Arthur Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. Dana P. Jacobson
Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Judith Hamner
John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Joseph Mirando
Contributing Correspondents:
----------------------------
Michael Lee Richard Covert Roger Stevens
Brian Converse Oliver Steinmeier Tim Holt
Andrew Learner Norman Boucher Ben Hamilton
Neil Bradley Eric Jerue Ron Deal
Robert Dean Ed Westhusing James Nolan
Vernon W. Smith
IMPORTANT NOTICE
================
Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc...
via E-Mail to:
Compuserve.................... 70007,4454
GEnie......................... ST.REPORT
Delphi........................ RMARIANO
BIX........................... RMARIANO
FIDONET....................... 112/35
FNET.......................... NODE 350
NEST.......................... 90:19/350.0
____________________________________________________________
> STReport CONFIDENTIAL "REPORTING ABOUT ATARI...NOT FOR ATARI!"
=====================
* "Rumors - Tidbits - Predictions - Observations - Hot Tips" *
========================================================
- Jacksonville, FL. OLDER STs MAY BE WEAK AT PARALLEL PORT
-----------------
In what has been termed "isolated incidents", two users in Jacksonvil-
le, Florida, Glenn Drake and Ron Deal, have both discovered that the
Parallel Ports of their machines a 1040ST and a Mega4 ST provide
insufficient signal strength to drive high end printers. Dot matrix prin-
ters run fine on both machines. The machines were tested with the OAS
LaserPro Silver Express recently offered at greatly reduced prices. Deal
said he contacted Atari and was told the pull up (impedance matching)
resistors in the printers were not the right value for Atari computers.
Upon hearing this both Deal and Drake went to another ST'ers home and at-
tempted to run the printer there. Lo and behold... it worked just fine.
Subsequently, the printer was tried on the 1040 STe and the results were
the same it ran just fine. In support of this situation, STReport found
this short file on GEnie from another loyal user who found that he too was
experiencing serious problems:
Number: 21317 Name: LASERJET.HLP
Address: BBRADLEY Date: 911021
Approximate # of bytes: 768
Number of Accesses: 11 Library: 27
Description:
I NEED HELP FINDING THE SOLUTION TO A LASERJET III THAT WONT PRINT FROM
MY MEGA. TERMINATING RESISTOR VALUE SEEMS TO BE TOO LOW. TELL ME HOW
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM (ie. WHERE THE TERMINATOR PACK IS LOCATED, REPLACE
YAMAHA CHIP, WHATEVER...) AND THERE IS A $10.00 REWARD.
File: LASERJET.HLP
is a BINARY File.
HELP - HELP - HELP
I HAVE A MEGA-4 WHICH I WANT TO DRIVE AN HP LASERJET III.
THE LASERJET III DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE PARALELL INTERFACE OF MY
COMPUTER. ATARI SAYS THAT IS BECAUSE PRINTERS THAT HAVE A TERMINATING
RESISTOR PACK OF LESS THAN 3.3K OHM CAN'T BE DRIVEN BY THE YAMAHA CHIP IN
THE MEGA.
ANYONE KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? LIKE WHERE IS THE
RESISTOR PACK THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN MY LASERJET OR IS THERE A CHIP
THAT CAN REPLACE THE YAMAHA OR CAN I ADD PARTS TO MY MEGA WHICH WILL SOLVE
THE PROBLEM? AND NO, I DON'T WANT TO USE A PRINT BUFFER.
EMAIL TO BBRADLEY IF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER. I SEND $10.00 TO THE FIRST PER-
SON THAT HAS A SOLUTION THAT WORKS.
THANKS,
BRAD
End of list.
_____________________________________________________________
> A "Quotable Quote"
==================
"TIME PRESENTS ALL TRUTHS WITH REMARKABLE CLARITY!"
.... a wise and prudent observer
__________________________________________________________
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""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport International Online Magazine
Available through more than 10,000 Private BBS systems WorldWide!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" OCTOBER 25, 1991
16/32bit Magazine copyright 1987-91 No.7.42
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of
the editors/staff, PCReport, STReport, AMReport, MCReport. Permission to
reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Each reprint
must include the name of the publication, date, issue # and the author's
name. The entire publication and/or portions therein may not be edited in
any way without prior written permission. The entire contents, at the
time of publication, are believed to be reasonably accurate. The editors,
contributors and/or staff are not responsible for the use/misuse of infor-
mation contained herein or the results obtained therefrom.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
