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Silicon Times Report Issue 0844
*---== ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
from
STR Publishing
""""""""""""""
November 06, 1992 No.8.44
==========================================================================
STReport International Online Magazine
Post Office Box 6672
Jacksonville, Florida
32205 ~ 6672
R.F. Mariano
Publisher - Editor
-----------------------------------------
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_____________________________________________________________________
> 11/06/92 STR 844 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!"
""""""""""""""""
- The Editor's Desk - CPU Report - PORTFOLIO NEWS
- 25Mhz Notebook - ACER 50Mhz - Chip Prices UP!
- MS->MAC S/W Specials - STumpf HOAX - GEMulator Shipping
- AMBERSTAR HOT! - NEW GFA ANNOUNCED - STR Confidential
-* A.C.T. NOW ANNOUNCED! *-
-* DEVELOPERS PAY FOR SPACE? *-
-* FALCON030 JAN/93?!? *-
==========================================================================
ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
The Original * Independent * Online Magazine
-* FEATURING WEEKLY *-
"Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information
Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports
==========================================================================
STReport's BBS, The Bounty, invites BBS systems, worldwide, to participate
in the Fido/TurboNet/Atari F-Net Mail Network. You may also call our BBS
direct at 904-786-4176, and enjoy the excitement of exchanging information
relative to the Atari and other computers worldwide through the use of
excellent International Messaging Networks. SysOps, worldwide, are quite
welcome to join the STReport International Conferences. The Crossnet Code
is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is # 350. All BBS systems are welcome and
invited to actively participate. Support Atari Computers; Join Today!
==========================================================================
CIS ~ GENIE ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ FIDO ~ FNET ~ TNET
EURONET ~ CIX ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET
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=============
* ATARI EDITION *
=============
COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME
to the Readers of;
ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY!
CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (November 6)
BEST OF GO GRAPHICS
-------------------
The Atari Forums have been invited to participate in Issue 4 of the
"Best of GO GRAPHICS", a print publication produced by the Graphics Forums
on CompuServe.
We would like to include YOUR .GIF images! Please upload your 320x200
or 640x480 (or close to these aspect ratios) .GIF graphic images to
LIBRARY 4 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) as soon as possible.
Deadline for participation is November 15, 1992.
NEW SYSOP WANTED!
----------------
Also a quick reminder that SYSOP*Ron Luks is still accepting
applications for a MIDI/Music sysop. If you have experience and knowledge
of MIDI in the Atari computer environment, please send a CompuServe Mail
message to 76703,254 outlining your qualifications.
VENDOR DATABASE UPDATED!
-----------------------
Bill Aycock has uploaded VENDOR.DAT to LIBRARY 6 of the Atari
Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO). This is an update to the VENDOR.DAT
Atari vendor data file, which lists names, addresses, phone numbers,
product info, and CIS UserIDs for developers and vendors of Atari
products. Please see VENDOR.ARC in the same library for the viewer
PRG/ACC and documentation.
THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE
HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN
OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION
"GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM"
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""
A few weeks away from Comdex and the tension is already mounting.
Atari is reported to have some "very special" goodies to announce/show at
Comdex. In fact, its been reported that the announcements may compare to
the enormity and importance of the original 520ST announcement. The Atari
computing community needs the shot in the arm Atari's expected Comdex
presentation is capable of providing. Let's hope the reported powerhouse
announcements have the gusto to do so.
If you are going to be attending Comdex, be sure to look up Ditek
International's booth where the Windows version of DynaCADD will be on
display. Its sure to be treat to see DynaCADD doing its thing on the PC
platform's Windowed environment. Its great to see such foresight on the
part of Ditek as this move will ensure continued support for the Atari
version of DynaCADD. Congratulations guys.
The Atari platform is looked upon these days by some as a fossil, an
embodiment of days gone by, to substantiate their claims they point out
the developers leaving this platform for greener pastures and/or entirely
different careers. Informed computer industry observers categorize this
unfortunate happenstance as a "shakeout". The phenomenon is a normal
process in any growing industry. As the technology marches forward, there
are bound to be those left by the wayside. The Falcon simply put, must
succeed. Else, the handwriting is on the wall.
Ralph @ STReport International Online Magazine
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU!
""""""""""""""""
Publisher - Editor
""""""""""""""""""
Ralph F. Mariano
PC DIVISION AMIGA DIVISION MAC DIVISION
----------- -------------- ------------
Roger D. Stevens Charles Hill R. ALBRITTON
STReport Staff Editors:
"""""""""""""""""""""""
Lloyd E. Pulley Sr. Dana P. Jacobson Michael Arthur
Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Judith Hamner
John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Joseph Mirando
Steve Spivey Doyle C. Helms
Contributing Correspondents:
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Michael Lee Richard Covert John Deegan
Brian Converse Oliver Steinmeier Tim Holt
Andrew Learner Norman Boucher Harry Steele
Ben Hamilton Neil Bradley Eric Jerue
Ron Deal Robert Dean Ed Westhusing
James Nolan Vernon W. Smith Bruno Puglia
Clemens Chin
IMPORTANT NOTICE
""""""""""""""""
Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc...
via E-Mail to:
Compuserve.................... 70007,4454
Delphi........................ RMARIANO
BIX........................... RMARIANO
FIDONET....................... 112/35
FNET.......................... NODE 350
NEST.......................... 90:19/350.0
GEnie......................... ST-REPORT
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STR'S "BELIEVE IT? OR.. WHAT?"
<>###############################<>
"There is no comparison! The Atari Falcon
is far superior to the PC platform."
Sam Tramiel, 08/92
"As I said before, all marketing announcements will be made at
Duesseldorf. I will not comment on future models of the Falcon.
WE ARE TALKING TODAY ABOUT A MACHINE.....
WHICH WILL BE SHIPPING NEXT WEEK."
Sam Tramiel, 08/92
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> CPU STATUS REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
=================
Issue #45
Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.
-- Toshiba Offers New Notebook
Toshiba America has unveiled its first pen computer. The $3,499 Dynapad
system weighs in at 3.3 pounds and uses a 25MHz Advanced Micro Devices
386SXLV 3.3-volt microprocessor. It features a 40MB hard drive, two card
slots and a 9 1/2-inch display.
Toshiba also is cutting prices 14-25% on its notebooks, moving the low
end of its suggested retail prices down to $2,299. Actual retail prices
are typically 6-12% below the suggested price.
Toshiba also introduced a top-of-the-line family of 486-powered note-
books dubbed the T4400Cs, with what it termed the world's most advanced
color display screen.
Estimates from International Data Corp. that place Toshiba's share of
the $1.4-billion U.S. market for portable computers at a leading 13.9%
of the volume for 1991.
-- Supplies Plummet, Prices Soar!
The high demand for low-priced personal computers has caused chip prices
to surge as much as 30% in recent weeks while supplies plummet.
Analysts predict this economic lesson of supply and demand will cause a
continuation of boom times for American DRAM chip makers, most of whom
are running factories at near capacity or even capacity levels.
However, the tight semiconductor supplies could potentially hurt compu-
ter manufacturers reluctant to pass on the increased chip prices to
consumers in a cut-throat PC market.
"Prices seem to be creeping up and that could be good for the industry,"
said analyst Lawrence Borgman at Johsephthal Lyon & Ross Inc., who noted
that the price of a four megabit DRAM has jumped from about $9.50 to
nearly $14.
The rise in DRAM prices is also the result of a preliminary decision by
the U.S. Commerce Department to charge Korean manufacturers of dumping
DRAMs in the United States at below fair market prices.
Analysts predict that companies such as Micron Technology Inc. and Texas
Instruments Inc. could benefit from the chip supply shortage.
-- Acer Shipping 50mhz 486DX System
Acer America Corp. says it now is shipping 50MHz 486DX versions of
AcerFrame 3000 high-end symmetric multi-processing server and AcerFrame
1000 dual-processor server.
-- IBM Ships Anti-Virus Software
IBM has started shipping anti-virus software for either DOS-, Windows-
or OS/2-based systems.
IBM AntiVirus/DOS will protect both DOS and Windows systems from compu-
ter viruses. IBM AntiVirus/2 will protect systems running under OS/2.
The two software packages separately sell for $29.95.
-- Microsoft Offers Low Software Prices to Mac Buyers
Using the slogan "Start Off with the Best," Microsoft Corp. announced
today it will offer Microsoft Excel 4.0, Word 5.1 and Microsoft Works
3.0 at special low prices for those who also purchase Macintosh compu-
ters. The offer applies to all Mac computers except the Performa and is
valid Nov. 1 through Jan. 3.
Purchasers of Apple Macintosh computers can receive either a package
deal of Microsoft Excel 4.0 and Word 5.1 for the Macintosh or, for a
lower price, Microsoft Works 3.0 for the Macintosh.
The discounts represent approximately a 50% savings to the resellers.
-- NEC Develops Virtual Reality Ski Training System
NEC Corp. has developed a virtual reality ski training system that
mimics the view, movements and suspense associated with downhill skiing,
providing novice and intermediate skiers with an opportunity to learn
the sport away from the slopes and in a safe, simulated environment.
According to sources, computers are used to generate the interactive 3-D
universe of virtual reality and shoots participants into the middle of
ski slope action. Skiers in training will learn how to balance weight,
utilize ski poles, and navigate ski courses.
NEC is predicting that the training system, which is currently being
tested in Japan, will hit U.S. sports centers, athletic training
facilities and ski resorts within three years.
Skiers using virtual reality to improve their form and technical exper-
tise will wear a "headmount" -- an apparatus that allows participants to
view a traditional ski scene -- and stand on two metal plates that simu-
late the sensation of traveling over hills, down pistes and tree-lined
trails and over moguls.
"Pulse monitors" hooked up to a skier's finger monitor stress levels and
adjust the level of difficulty accordingly. For example, the more stress
a skier experiences, the less difficult a course will become.
-- NEC Announces MIPS-Compatible RISC Processor Family
NEC Electronics says it is making a family of MIPS R4400-compatible re-
duced instruction-set computer (RISC) microprocessors that operate at
low voltages.
The company says the new Vr4400 chips operate at either 3.3- or five-
volts (V) and have external clock speeds of 75 megahertz (MHz) and
internal clock speeds of nearly twice that, or 150 MHz. A 0.6 micron
fabrication process was used to increase the clock speeds, according to
NEC.
NEC maintains more than two million transistors are on the 64-bit chips.
And an increase to 16 kb of both instruction cache and data cache allows
for higher integer and floating-point performance.
NEC says the Vr4400 can be used for workstation, high-end personal com-
puters (PCs), and multiprocessing systems. Like the MIPS R4400, the
chips offer super-pipelining, a pipelined floating-point unit, two-level
cache memory and a high- performance on-chip translation look-aside buf-
fer (TLB), the company said. In addition, cache and a memory management
unit (MMU) offer in handing of both large-address-space tasks and a
large number of users, NEC added.
NEC said in simulation of an R4400 processor the Vr4400 delivered 113
SPECmarks overall, with 95 SPECint89 (integer performance) and 126
SPECfp89 (floating-point performance). However, NEC maintains the chips
are upwardly compatible with the NEC Vr-series 32-bit and 64-bit
microprocessors, including the company's Vr3000A and the Vr4000 chip
families.
-- Maxtor 2.5-Inch Drives For Portables
The growing popularity of notebook computers has led to increasingly
smaller drives suitable for the new systems available on the market.
Along those lines Maxtor Corp., has introduced two new 2.5-inch disk
drives.
The 84mb 25084 measures 10 millimeters (mm) in height and weighs 125
grams. The company claims it is the thinnest and lightest 2.5-inch drive
available. The new 25252 offers a formatted capacity of 252mb and an
average seek time, like the 25084 of 12ms.
According to the company, both drives have a track-to-track seek time of
2.5ms. The drives feature a rotational speed of 4247 rpm and an average
latency of 7.0ms.
Maxtor is targeting the single-disk 25084 at notebook and pen-based
systems requiring "high performance in a very thin package." The three-
disk 25252 is aimed at manufacturers of high-end notebooks and portable
workstations that, according to the company, "require drives with ever
increasing performance and capacity in smaller, low power packages."
The company claims that the drives are designed for "high reliability in
the rugged notebook environment." The specified mean-time between
failure (MTBF) rate of 350,000 hours is 40 percent higher than any other
2.5-inch product, maintains the company.
Additionally, it is claimed that the 25084 and the 25252 have been
designed to withstand 15 Gs operating and 150 Gs non- operating shock,
and both drives utilize rugged glass substrate disk media. In seek mode,
both products use only 1.8 and 1.9 watts (W), and in standby/sleep mode,
the drives use 0.10W.
__________________________________________________________________
> ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
=====================
On CompuServe
-------------
compiled by Joe Mirando
From The Atari Productivity Forum
=================================
Continuing last week's conversation about CYBERPAINT's compatibility with
Mega STe computers, John Amsler tells Rafael Hermoso:
"As the former user of a 1040ST/TOS 1.04 and the current user of a
MegaSTe/ TOS 2.06, I HIGHLY recommend that you get the MegaSTe. I'm
not sure about CYPERPAINT, ut CYBER STUDIO (CAD-3D) runs just fine on
my current setup! Especially if you buy Warp 9 from the Codeheads,
the MegaSTe is like a "poor man's TT!"
Greg Wageman joins in and says:
"Poor man's TT"
"Probably better, actually, because CAD3D isn't 100% functional on the
TT. In particular, the "Set Color" dialogues bomb due to an exception
stack format error. However, CAD3D and Cyber Control will function on
a TT, thankfully."
John Amsler tells Greg Wageman:
"I haven't seen CAD3D run on a TT, but I know that on a MegaSTe with
Warp9 it runs GREAT!"
Well folks, the mother of all trade shows is right around the corner.
That's right: COMDEX is coming. Jim Ness tells John Amsler:
"It will be interesting to see what Atari shows. This week's ST
Report reprints a letter from the former Atari/Germany manager (Alwin
Stumpf), who says that the Falcon has been put on hold, because Atari
realized that, at the published price point, potential new customers
are more likely to by a PC, than a Falcon.
This brings together a couple of questions I have been wondering
about: Where are the Falcons that were supposed to appear in October,
and What is this new Falcon case that Byte columnist Jerry Pournelle
recently mentioned. By extrapolation, I assume that Atari will
release the Falcon with a separate keyboard - it involves slightly
more cost to them, but induces a higher perceived value to buyers.
Pournelle's reaction to the original Falcon probably mimics that of
potential new buyers."
Bob Retelle adds some perspective:
"Funny.. that's exactly what all the "Atari Bashers" have been telling
them from day one... the current Falcon design wouldn't sell..
The story Bob Brodie used to tell about the Atari version of the
removable SyQuest drive is much the same.. I wonder if the Falcon will
suffer the same fate as that very successful Atari product?"
Sysop Ron Luks tells Jim Ness:
"Gee, that reaction (favorable to the detached keyboard) was the same
attitude that prevailed here MONTHS before Pournelle saw a Falcon.
Maybe someday they will listen to our folks as a higher priority.
Good questions about Falcon availability, though. Its now November
and NO falcons are available in this country as far as I've been able
to find out and we haven't heard a peep out of anyone in Europe that
has one. Its not a reassuring start for a new machine."
Jim Ness replies:
"It turns out that the Mausenet message Ralph published was a hoax.
It was posted by someone who used Alwin Stumpf's name.
Pretty good hoax, since it addressed questions that have been floating
around among we online types for quite awhile.
Even with the hoax, we still are now somewhat late receiving the first
limited numbers of Falcons - same with Europe - and the split case
rumor persists."
Dazzz Smith posts:
"Ok Boys just for you.....
----------------------------------------------------
The Falcon range will expand in 1993. A consumer version and a CD
Drive will be available. The consumer version will be repackaged in a
new case and sell for 399 and be a 1Mb version (ie no MultiTOS just a
games machine) and launched around May 1993. The consumer version will
be packaged to appeal to games players but there will be only 1 or 2
games bolstered by productivity packages such as those available now.
The idea is to get at the console users with the graphics and sound
quality and make them see that a keyboard and processing power does
have benefits (sounds like the same challenge that computers companies
had in the early-mid 80s).
-----------------------------------------------------
Oh and by the way, November 14th is the latest date for UK Falcons to
hit the streets, trouble is I don't think anyone mentioned whether it
was 92 or 93!"
Tony at GST Software asks for the...
"Source Please - We've not heard about this?
But then that's Atari for you"
Dazzz answers:
"Im waiting for an answer from the source to crosspost the full
piece."
Sysop Ron Luks tells Dazzz:
"Let me know when the Falcons "actually hit the stores" in the UK. I
have a running bet with Pattie Rayl since February of this year about
when the Falcons actually become available. You don't want to know
the details of the bet."
Dazzz replies:
"Well, my local store is quoting Nov 14th as are several other stores
round the country, I will be giving them a ring soon after to see if
they are setting a machine up in the store, then I can go round with a
handful of disks!"
'Multimedia" has become the buzzword this season. All of a sudden, any
computer that is sold must be all things to all people. That is not
necessarily a bad thing. What we are witnessing is the evolution of the
personal computer. Part of that evolution is being able to take data
meant for one type of computer and using it with another.
Tom Mynar asks:
"Does anyone know if any vendor is working on software which will take
the Multimedia .WAV structured sound files for the Falcon ?
I assume that since MANY of the Multimedia sound cards use the Yamaha
chips (don't know if they are the "same" as the ST/TT/Falcon chip),
that there might not be too much trouble doing it."
Hal Dougherty tells Tom:
"I have a Replay 4 cartridge for my 1040 STe and it plays the .wav
files just fine. All you have to do is set the sample rate and play.
Some of the other sound players handle the samples just fine. If you
look at the wave form the first header bytes describe (to the ibm) how
to replay the sample. When I want to use a sound sampled on my ST, I
just clip the header from a .wav file that's the same speed as one I
want to move from my ST. The IBM handles the file fine after that.
I've got to get a Sound Blaster soon! The beeps and clicks are
driving me nuts."
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine joins in and posts:
"I've heard that the audio manager can read *.WAV files. It should be
a trivial program to write to read the files. The spec is on-line in
one of the microsoft forums as part of the RIFF specification.
I don't know what chips are used in the PC sound board but I wouldn't
be surprised if they were Yamaha chips. WAV sounds are just samples
like other samples on the Atari. I think it (WAV) supports at least
stereo sound, 16-bit at 44.1khz sound too."
Scott Sanders of SDS Software (the creator of the System Audio Manager,
one of the great programs that will be included with each FALCON) tells
Albert Dayes:
"The program, System Audio Manager, which has been shown on the Falcon
and is backward compatible to the STe does play .WAV as well as .AVR
samples. It can also be used to convert between them. A detailed spec
of the format is available in the Microsoft Windows Multimedia
Programmer's Reference."
On the subject of CD ROMs, John Amsler tells Hal Dougherty:
"What *I* want to see is a CD . read *_AND_* write drive!!!!"
Yeah, right. A CD ROM that you can WRITE to. Gee, some people have
great imaginations, huh? Huh? what's that?
Dan Cable tells us:
"It's out now. Phillips has a unit that will read and write once to
CD-ROM. It's also multi-session and so can be used for Kodak's Photo
CD."
John replies to Dan:
"That's good, but what I was talking about was a CD that can be read
and *written* over and over again like a floppy disk. I guess I'll
have to wait until 2002 for something like that. Sigh."
Dan posts:
"Nope. Not yet anyway. Besides by 2002 it might be something
completely different in size, shape, etc."
John Amsler posts:
"I still don't understand why it is "impossible" to make a CD
writable over and over again like a floppy disk. I see no use buying
a CD device if I can only write to it ONCE ... regardless how many
TOCs it can have or where it puts them."
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine explains:
"Well magnetic optical is a CD-like medium that you can write to and
erase a million plus times. The is the closest thing to a floppy disk
you will find. I still haven't looked into the sony mini-disc (CD)
which is supposed to be recordable. But since it is audio rather than
data it might be a while before the equivalent data version comes out
if it does it all."
Sysop Ron Luks adds:
"You have to keep in mind that the original CD was designed
SPECIFICALLY as a read-only device for the music market. A dumb idea,
but one of the original specifications was to insure that it would be
a read-only medium.
Therefore the technology of reading 'little pits' in the media (which
are structural changes in the physical media) are far different from
reading electrical signals which are easily rewritten. A CD is really
more of an extension of the old vinyl LP in that it is a PHYSICAL
signature that is read instead of an electrical signature."
Dick Paddock explains some of the nuts and bolts of CDs and CD ROMs:
"I think it's the technology. Writable CD's are essentially created by
blasting little pits in the smooth surface. As long as you don't try
to be too restrictive on parameters, "unsmooth" is really easy to
create with heat, for example. "Smooth," however, which is required as
the equivalent of demagnetized, is really hard to create on the fly
with something designed to create "unsmooth."
From the Atari Arts Forum
=========================
Ever since the dawn of the computer age, games have been a major part of
the "Computer Experience". Dan Danilowicz asks about Chess games:
"I'd like to know which of the Chess programs available for the ST is
considered the strongest, and where I can obtain a copy. I remember
reading a review for a program in the not too distant past, that
claimed that particular product actually figured out its opponent's
strategy, which supposedly made its search for moves more efficient.
Any ideas?"
Albert Dayes, that busy Atari Explorer employee tells Dan:
"The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Chessmaster
2000."
Dan tells Albert:
"Thanks for the reply, but I don't think that's the one. I guess I'll
have to do some diggin' through my old magazines..."
Sysop Bill Aycock tells adds:
"The latest program in the Chessmaster series is probably pretty
strong... I have Chessmaster 2100, and I know it's a lot better than I
am. :-) Most of the mail order places should be able to supply a
copy."
In response to a question about who will be writing software for the
FALCON, Jeff at Intersect Software says:
"Who is writing low end software, that's a problem. Who is writing
high end software, LOTS of people, some even from the Next.
High end doesn't sell alot of machines but with limited quantities
available the first year, Atari will sell all they can produce.
If the market looks good low end software developers will start
producing for the Falcon, starting with upgrades of existing software
to take advantage of the Falcon's features.
1) Look for passive copy protections schemes in most of the new
software.
2) Slightly higher prices ($39 dollar ST software selling for ~ $79 on
the Falcon).
3) Documentation on DISK with on-line help rather than paper manuals.
4) Support through BBS's and CIS rather than phone support.
5) Less advertising, more word of mouth and more use of tools like
Soft Source on <grin> the other service for finding the software you
need. To be fair, CIS has the same service but is not well known for
Atari machines."
From the Atari Vendors Forum
============================
One unique facet of the Atari community is that we don't wait for someone
else to tell us what want or need. WE tell THEM. To their credit, the
developers in the Atari arena usually listen and try to comply.
Let's see if any of them take this post from John Barnes:
"I think it's time to do a little brainstorming on what might
constitute a killer application for the Falcon.
Greg Wageman mentioned Adobe Photoshop. I think that is a great idea,
particularly if a suitable input can be found for the picture. It
seems to me that CCD SLR cameras with good resolution are on the
market. If a unit can be developed with a SCSI-2 Interface, so that it
would be applicable to all computers it might provide a way to achieve
what Kodak is doing with its Photo CD ROM on a hobbyist's own desktop
at a tolerable price. The DSP chip might be able to do image
compression pretty much on the fly, thus making it feasible to store a
respectable length slide show on a Syquest Cartridge. Couple this with
the possibility of wipes and other effects that the DSP chip can
achieve in the image display and one might have a real stunner."
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer tells John:
"The Kodak PhotoCD stuff is created on the Sun SPARCstation and I'm
not sure how additional hardware the need for compression. The images
can be up to 3000 by 2000 which is 25 megabytes too. There is
supposed to be a new authoring software next year (1993) which gives
the ability to use two other standard PhotoCD portfolio and another
type which I have forgotten the name. The pixel sizes are limited to
512 by 700 (or something very similar) and you can store quite a bit
more. The Kodak PhotoCD Philips writer units are not too expensive
around $5000 or so. So you should be able to use one to create any
ISO-9660 CD-ROM, a PhotoCD, and PhotoCD portfolio standard disc.
Kodak stated that authoring tools for the PC should be out by mid
1993. They have an entire section in the Photoforum dedicated to
Kodak's PhotoCD and you can leave messages to Paul McAffe who is the
Kodak rep too."
John Amsler asks:
"Hmmm. OK; here's another loony question: is there a
board/card/whatever that has both a 68000 and a 68030, even if it
would only allow one version of TOS, i.e., 2.06?
Is such a board even possible?"
Albert Dayes answers:
"I recall a Fast Tech product that has both an '030 and 68000 in their
with TOS 2.06."
Albert is quite correct. The Fast Tech Turbo 030 and Tiny Turbo 030 both
contain 68000 and 68030 microprocessors and TOS 2.06 with enhancements for
the accelerator board.
Well folks, that's about all the time we have for this week. Tune in
again next time and listen to what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
***********************************************************************
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
=================
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or twice. When you get the Password: prompt, type IP26 and press <RET>
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TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (11/4/92)
NEW SWEDISH MONO EMULATOR
STR843.LZH (10-30-92)
AEO 9216/9217 (10-20-92)
GEMDOS MANUAL
CYBERNETIX
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
MEGA DEPACK V2.0
PAULA ABDUL
SPC 3375 1.61
AUTOSORT 4.1
All of the above files can be found in the RECENT ARRIVALS database for at
least one week after the posting of this list. Please Note that in the
case of online magazines, only the most current issue in the database at
the time of this compilation is considered for the Top 10 list. Also, for
all files, a submission is eligible for the Top 10 list for only four
weeks after its original uploading.
DELPHI- It's getting better all the time!
***********************************************************************
> STUMPF SPEAKS UP! A HOAX!! STR Spotlight "....Truly "FOOLS GOLD!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
From GEnie's ST RT
Category 24, Topic 2
Message 30 Sun Nov 01, 1992
D.JACOBSON2 [Dana] at 12:30 EST
It truly is unfortunate that people still resort to making this kind of
"news"to alienate users and Atari. Fortunately, the hoax was discovered
quickly enough and people are made aware of it before any real "damage"
was done.
Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine
Below, we present THE HOAX, in both German and english, a "Fidonet
post from Alwin Stumpf", sent us by an honestly concerned Atari
enthusiast.
\\\\\**/////
Item 1925192 92/10/27 22:53
From: x.xxxxx xxxxx xxxx
To: ST.REPORT Ralph F. Mariano
Sub: Alwin Stumpf/the FALCON
Ralph,
I just found the following message on FidoNet, it was cross posted
from MAUS Net in Germany. I just thought I would pass it along in case
you haven't seen it or heard about it. The translation is mine and only
contains the highlights. If you want a more complete translation just
let me know. Ralph, feel free to correct/change any of my text (for
spelling, grammar, readability, whatever, etc.).
From: Alwin Stumpf @ ST
To : All
Subj: ATARI's future
Dear ATARI users,
I am sure you are aware that I am no longer working at ATARI Corp.
Different personal and inner company reasons made me do this, not so easy
a step.
I understand the current German ATARI market is categorized as one of
the strongest markets anywhere, and I am sure that makes it hard to
understand why I left. I appreciate your feelings deeply. My decision to
leave ATARI was strengthened as a result of it being decided to stop
FALCON production because people noticed that the planned customers
weren't ready to invest between 2300 and 3500 German Marks ($1300 and
$2000). These persons would most likely buy a MS DOS compatible computer
or even a Macintosh instead of putting a low end machine with very limited
uses in their house. At this time however, a few FALCONS are being
delivered to a few select, handpicked German dealers, these belong to the
first production run and are without, as announced, MultiTOS. Instead,
they are being delivered with the single tasking TOS 4.0x. The number of
machines are limited and will be the only ones available for the time
being. You most likely will not understand this unusual strategy, but why
should we produce thousands upon thousands of FALCONS that can't be sold?
The FSM-GDOS and MultiTOS production had to be stopped in the last
minute because 1) a renegotiation with Mr. Eric Smith (copyright) and 2)
differences between ATARI and Bitstream. Naturally ATARI knows that
MultiTOS, for the entire semiprofessional area, shouldn't be
underestimated and that the MT project will be taken up again.
The SUTRA project is still under high pressure development and should
come out around the first of April 1993.
The entire ATARI product line is still going to be 'fully supported'
as much as possible, although the 68030 class of computers will have to be
held back until it is believed they have a fairly good chance in the
market. At this time, the need for powerful machines seems to be
satisfied by the TT and ATARI is having it hard enough as it is. I hope I
was able to give you a small picture into ATARI's future and I beg of you
not to doubt in ATARI's credibility. Think positive!
I wish you all much luck
With friendly grusses
Alwin Stumpf
(former General Manager, ATARI Germany)
Msg #91 / 1-93 Time: 25 Oct 92 20:00:00
From: Alwin Stumpf @ ST
To : All
Subj: ATARI's Zukunft
---------[ATARI_EXPERT.GER]----------
* Originally from Area 'Atari.Soft'
* Originally to
* Forwarded by Thorsten Bella on 2:245/8.35, 27 Oct 92 00:30:02
Verehrte ATARI-Anwenderinnen und ATARI-Anwender,
sicher ist es Ihnen bekannt geworden, da ich nicht mehr bei der Firma
ATARI Corp. beschftigt bin. Leider zwangen mich diverse persnliche und
innerbetriebliche Grnde zu diesem, nicht gerade leichtem, Schritt.
Mir ist klar, da gerade der deutsche ATARI-Markt zu den kaufkrftigsten
Mrkten berhaupt gehrt, deswegen kann ich Ihre Emprung durchaus verstehen.
Mein Entschlu ATARI zu verlassen wurde noch verstrkt, als beschlossen
wurde den FALCON gnzlich einzustellen, weil man gemerkt hat, da die
Zielgruppe nicht bereit sei eine Summe zwischen 2300,- und 3500,- DM zu
investieren. Die Zielgruppe wrde wahrscheinlich eher einen MS
DOS-kompatiblen Rechner oder gar einen Macintosh erwerben, als sich einen
LowCost-Rechner mit sehr begrenztem Einsatzbereich in die Stube zu
stellen. Zur Zeit werden jedoch einige FALCONS an handverlesene deutsche
Fachhndler ausgeliefert, die aus der Erstproduktion stammen und leider
nicht, wie angekndigt, mit MultiTOS, sondern mit einem SingleTask-TOS 4.0x
ausgeliefert werden. Diese Gerte sind limitiert und werden vorerst die
einzigen sein, die ausgeliefert werden. Sie haben sicherlich Verstndnis fr
diese recht ungewhnliche Strategie, aber warum sollten wir zigtausende
FALCONs produzieren, die gar nicht verkauft werden knnen.
Die Entwicklung von FSM-GDOS und MultiTOS muten wir leider auch in letzter
Minute stoppen, weil es 1. groe Probleme mit Herrn Eric Smith
(Urheberrechtsstreitigkeiten) und 2. diskrepanzen zwischen ATARI und
Bitstream gibt. Natrlich ist es ATARI bekannt, da MultiTOS eine nicht zu
unterschtzende Wirkung auf den gesamten semiprofessionellen Bereich hat
und deshalb wird das Projekt MT wahrscheinlich dann wieder in Angriff
genommen werden, wenn die Diskrepanzen aus dem Weg gerumt werden konnten.
Leider zwangen immer wieder innerbetriebliche Unstimmigkeiten und
Umstrukturierungen zu einem Aufschub und zuletzt zu einem Stop der
Aktivitten.
Das SUTRA-Projekt wird aber dennoch mit Hochdruck weiterentwicklet;
kommt aber vorraussichtlich erst Anfang April 1993 auf den Markt.
Leider arbeiten die Programmierer in Israel und so ist die Koordinierung
des Projekts als uerst schwierig anzusehen.
Die gesamte ATARI-Palette wird nach besten Krften weiter 'gesupportet';
hingegen wird man sich bei den Rechner der 68030-Klasse einschrnken mssen,
um noch einigermaen am Markt bestehen zu knnen. Weltweit ist zur Zeit der
Bedarf an leistungsfhigen Maschinen gedeckt und da hat es ATARI schwer
genug, sich zu plazieren.
Ich hoffe, ich konnte Ihnen einen kleinen Einblick in die nahe Zukunft von
ATARI geben und bitte Sie nicht an die Glaubwrdigkeit von ATARI zu
zweifeln, sondern mit viel Geduld und Nachsicht an die Zukunft zu denken.
Think positive!
Hiermit mchte ich auch gleich die Gelegenheit nutzen, den deutschen
Entwicklern ein groes Lob auszusprechen. - Gerade die hier anwesenden
Entwickler haben mit ihrem Engagement und ihrer Hartnckigkeit sehr viel
dazu beigetragen, da ATARI in einigen Bereichen Fu fassen konnte. Allen
voran Herrn Julian Reschke, Herrn Karsten Isakovic und die Firma DMC.
Leider muten wir aber feststellen, da immer mehr Softwarehuser ihre
Software auf andere Plattformen portieren (beispielsweise Calamus SL) und
somit nicht unerheblich an der momentanen Situation beteiligt sind. Mir
ist bewut, da eine Erweiterung der Produktpalette und der Flexibiltt, mit
sehr groen Risiken verbunden ist und deshalb apelliere ich an alle
Entwickler, auch einmal den inneren Schweinehund zu berwinden und mit
anderen Sofwarehusern noch enger zusammenzuarbeiten. Einigt Euch auf
Standards. Gestaltet intuitive Oberflchen. Investiert ein paar Mark mehr
fr unabhngige Handbuchautoren und Ihr werdet sehen, es kommen sehr bald
bessere Zeiten auf Euch zu! Motiviert Euch - Nur wer selbst brennt, kann
andere entflammen!
Viele von Ihnen werden sicherlich gemerkt haben, da Herr Normen Kowalewski
nicht mehr im MausNet schreibt. Das hat natrlich verschiedene Grnde auf
die ich hier leider nicht eingehen mchte und darf. Fest steht, da Herr
Kowaleski nicht mehr fr die Firma ATARI Deutschland GmbH ttig ist. Herr
Kowaleski verlt auf eigenem Wunsch die Firma ATARI. Er grt Sie alle
recht herzlich an dieser Stelle und bittet Sie gleichzeitig um
Entschuldigung fr den etwas abrupten Abbruch seines Services innerhalb des
Mausnetzes.
Zum Schlu mchte ich mich bei Ihnen allen fr die jahrelange Treue
gegenber der Firma ATARI und mir bedanken. Allen Unkenrufen zum Trotz geht
es ATARI relativ gut und wir hoffen innerhalb der nchsten 12 Monate einen
neuen Anfang machen zu knnen - vielleicht mit einem neuen 68040er fr die
professionellen Anwender!
Ihnen allen viel Glck!
Mit freundlichen Gren
Alwin Stumpf
(ehemals Geschftsfhrer ATARI Deutschland GmbH)
\\\\\**/////
Editor note;
The following messages appeared in GEnie's ST RT relative to the STUMPF
HOAX.
Category 24, Topic 2
Message 25 Sat Oct 31, 1992
TOWNS [John@Atari] at 16:18 EDT
In response to the message from Alvin..
1. The BitStream version of GDOS is still under development. We have
not stopped development on this product. In addition, Atari has a
great relationship with BitStream and we are not experiencing any
licensing problems with them at all.
2. Eric Smith will be a regular, full-time employee of Atari Corp.
around the 2nd of November 1992. As Eric stated about 3 days ago
on USEnet, Atari has fulfilled all of its licensing requirements
with Eric and there is NO copyright dispute. Also, as you might
imagine.. our relationship with Eric is quite good :-)
3. As for Falcon030 production.. I have heard nothing about this.
As far as I know, production is continuing as planned.
-- John Townsend, Atari Corp.
------------
Category 24, Topic 2
Message 26 Sat Oct 31, 1992
POTECHIN [Nathan @ DMC] at 16:54 EST
I have just received a surprise guest from Germany, Mr. Michael Bernards
of Color Concept and RUFUS fame. Michael has just arrived from Germany and
one of the first things that he shared with me was all of the nonsense
messages that have been appearing on the German MouseNet including the now
infamous message that was supposedly from Mr. Stumpf titled "Atari's
Future". Since Mr. Stumpf has never posted a message in 7 years and anyone
in the MouseNet can choose to put whatever name they wish, it was quickly
determined, at least in Germany, that the message was a hoax and a farce.
Unfortunately, my information has arrived just one day to late. Sigh. I
did speak with Mr. Mariano on this issue and I'm certain that he was also
unaware of the hoax, as were we all, until now. I thought I'd better pass
this along though. A few days after the message from Mr. Stumpf was
supposedly posted, another post arrived supposedly authored by Mr. Jack
Tramiel (who we all know from his frequent posts here) :-) and a few days
later apparently Jesus of Nazareth left a post as well, clearly
establishing the ability of anyone on MouseNet to send a message and
indicate any name they so chose.
I was really upset by that article that appeared to be authored by Mr.
Stumpf. It was a contradiction of everything I had ever learned about the
man over many years. I was glad that Michael appeared and explained in
such a timely fashion.
Thank you for your kind words on Calamus and INVISION Elite by the way. I
appreciated it.
Nathan @ DMC Publishing
------------
Category 24, Topic 2
Message 27 Sun Nov 01, 1992
B.REHBOCK [BILL@ATARI] at 01:51 EST
Please let me assure all that the "Stumpf Posting" was indeed a hoax.
There is very little to say about it other than it is unfortunate that
people buy into hoaxes so easily. I wonder how much back-up "reporting"
was done to confirm this? I am very disappointed that this was printed
without a headline to the affect of: "Halloween Hoax".
As John said, (and STReport reported) Eric Smith is joining us this week,
we have a wonderful relationship with Bitstream (and Alwin wasn't
involved with the SpeedoGDOS project anyway :-) and Falcon production is
in the process of being stepped up. Overall, I've got to say things are
going along pretty well, aside from unnecessary distractions such as this
issue :-)
Happy Halloween, everybody!
------------
Category 24, Topic 2
Message 28 Sun Nov 01, 1992
ST.REPORT [Ralph] at 07:40 EST
Towns;
Thank you for the clarification. As always, your input is very
much appreciated.
Nathan;
I certainly acknowledge your comments relative to the Stumpf
MauseNet post. The illustrative points of information you make have
been corroborated thoroughly. The "Stumpf" post was indeed a cruel
hoax. I also thank you for making it known that we were totally
unaware of this message being a hoax as, I am sure, the individual
who sent it to us was. We did check with three folks we normally
talk with the day it came in and they had stated that "most all" the
German "big whigs and developers" use MauseNet and that it was a
good source of reliable info. We now know otherwise.
Bill;
I find myself at a loss to explain the hoax, other than to say
it was done very well and to assure you a full article relative to
the hoax will appear next week clearing up the confusion. Also
steps have been taken to ensure such occurances are minimized.
"Back-up reporting?" Quite honestly, the normal incoming
information process was followed and all appeared to be normal.
Evidently, we'll now be forced to dismiss a large percentage of what
comes through the "Mause" Net as being totally unreliable. I must
ask though, that you not be "disappointed" by the lack of a
"Halloween Hoax" headline in this week's issue. I'm sure it too,
will appear in next week's issue.
Ralph @ STReport International Online Magazine
As promised, the sole purpose of the article you are now reading is to
point out the STUMPF HOAX for what it is; a pathetic HOAX. The situation
is deplorable. To think there are still those who would try to do harm to
Atari by using another man's good name and reputation as a catalyst is
reprehensible. I've asked a number of our European correspondents to
check deeply into this matter in hopes of discovering the perpetrator of
such a hoax. I'd like to think its merely a Halloween Prank but, even as
such, it leaves a great deal to be desired.
A. Stumpf, for the record, has had a brilliant career with Atari Corp.
in fact, he's become a highly successful professional as a result of his
years with Atari. There is no possible way Stumpf could've or would've
posted such non-sense in the "mausenet". The name of the network alone
should've been warning enough. Stumpf, in seven years, has never posted
on "mausenet" or any other 'network' for that matter.
Someone suggested Stumpf departed from Atari under 'less than pleasant
conditions'... nothing, absolutely nothing, could be farther from the
truth. Suffice it to say, he is quite comfortable and positively harbors
no ill will toward Atari.
***********************************************************************
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Real Time Conference Special Events Calendar
Monday, November 16th.......
-> * LIVE FROM COMDEX * <-
-- Sam Tramiel --
Wednesday, Nov. 18 - Keith Gerdes {TraceTech} will be our guest to discuss
his latest projects. These include DATA DIET v2.0 and DATA RESCUE. He is
the author of numerous programs such as, Squish, DC Formatter, and DCopy
Shell; just to name a few!
Regular Open Conference every Wednesday night, 10PM EDT, 7PM PDT
DTP conference every Monday at 10PM eastern in room 3.
Do you have a question for Sam Tramiel? Here's your chance. Post it in
Category 14 Topic 31 - Feedback to Atari and it will be forwarded to Sam
in preparation for the Nov. 16th Real Time Conference from COMDEX in Las
Vegas!
The Atari ST Roundtable - Join in the fun!
New Files in Your Library
-------------------------
No. File Name Address Description
----- ------------ ----------- -------------------------------------
26409 OMEGA.TXT E.KRIMEN Info about Omega's Grotesque Demo
26408 SUPERLIB.TXT D.BUCHANAN1 INFO ON UNIVERSAL MIDI LIBRARIAN
26407 LMP250_M.LZH D.HOLMES14 Graphics for GEnie Lamp 2.50 (MONO)
26406 LMP250_C.LZH D.HOLMES14 Graphics for GEnie Lamp 2.50 (COLOR)
26405 LMP250.LZH D.HOLMES14 GEnie Lamp #2.50 (TX2 version)
26401 BBSX9211.LZH C.SANCHEZ2 BBS Express! ST BBS list for Nov 92
26386 TTUPDATE.TXT K.BROOKS1 Pricing Update On GE Soft RAM Boards
26370 PSYCHO.ARC J.KOCHER1 PYSCHO WORLDS - fast arcade action/w
26367 DISTANCE.BAS K.WEBB2 FINDS DISTANCE (LAT LONG)
26357 C_FONT_D.LZH J.L.FLOWERS Converts 8-bit fonts to Degas fonts
26356 SACEXPO1.TXT M.WARNER8 SAC Expo 93' press release
26352 MAGJOKE.LZH S.JOHNSON10 PageStream 'Test' Gone Awry
26351 W9STSAVE.LZH MUSE A Warp 9 Extend-O-Save module.
26349 GLMPR244.LZH F.KOCH Press Releases,For Sale,Wanted
Checkout the 39 NEW Calamus Sample Font files now available in Library 30
"Darlah's Treat of the Month"
-----------------------------
November's "Darlah's Treat of the Month" is now available at page
475;9. This month's treat is the Demo of "That's Write 2" in a self
extracting format. Product support for "That's Write 2" is available
in the Atari Bulletin Board (page 475;1) Category 35, Topic 15.
Thanks to Robert Engberson (COMPO) for providing this month's treat.
GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric
Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission
***********************************************************************
> The Flip Side STR Feature "... a different viewpoint.."
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT
==================================
by Michael Lee
----------------
Comments about the new HP LaserJet IV - Cat. 1, Topic 4, Msgs 188-189
- From the Soft Logik RT on Genie....
Question from Charlie Montgomery (Design for Print)...
Has anyone seen the new HP LaserJet IV (600x600dpi)? If so how does it
work with Atari PageStream. Is PostScript or HP mode the way to go
with PGS & HP ?
Answer from Nevin Shalit (sysop)...
I have an HP4 at work, and it is GREAT. We're getting another one
later in the week, and this one will have PostScript and 6 megs of
memory. The output of the HP4 is tremendous.
One thing to remember....PGS's HP driver only goes to 300DPI, and this
shows when using the HP4. I'll test the printer with PGS-generated
PScript code, and let you know how that works out.
----------------
-- The Following Posts Are All From The ST Roundtable On Genie --
Gemulator Update from Darek (BRASOFT) - Cat. 19, Topic 15, Msg. 96....
Gemulator 2.0 update disks are now being copied and shipped out. If
you paid for the update you'll be receiving it later this week or
early next week. I'll be uploading a press release with more detailed
info, but here is a rough list of improvements over the shareware
version:
- smaller file size - 1.7 meg vs. 2.9 meg, this results in faster
loading, more space on the hard disk, and in some cases (like on 4
megabyte PCs) it eliminates the need to use virtual memory. On a 16
Mhz 386 machine with 4 megabytes of RAM (a relatively slow system),
the time to boot up the GEM desktop dropped from 3 minutes to 20
seconds! That includes the time to load in the Gemulator program,
initialize the ROMs, and boot up the desktop.
- faster emulation, roughly 10% faster on 386 machines, and 20% faster
on 486 machines, it varies from machine to machine and program to
program.
- faster mouse response, much easier clicking and double clicking, and
less "mouse lag".
- the ability to read and write to MS-DOS hard disk partitions SMALLER
than 32 megabytes.
- the ability to emulate anywhere from 512K to 8 megabytes of ST RAM,
instead of being fixed at 2 megabytes of ST RAM.
- VGA graphics support (a.k.a. TT medium resolution). It supports the
standard 3 ST resolutions plus 640x480 16 color VGA mode.
- faster floppy loading - the speed at which programs load from floppy
disk is up to 50% faster on 10 sector and 1.44 meg disks.
- a GEMUL8R.INI file allows you to automatically set such settings as
MONO, COLOR, SWAP, BOTH, etc, each time you run Gemulator.
- compatibility problems with GFA Basic 3.6, Wercs, and some other
programs have been fixed.
These features fix or improve many of the problems that have been
raised here over the last two months.
I am now working on the 32 megabyte hard disk limitation. My hard disk
driver will be ready in a few weeks and will be mailed free of charge
to people that are now being sent the 2.0 update. So unless your
mailing address changes, you
don't need to do anything to get that
second disk. The driver also contains clock support so that when you
boot up the GEM desktop it is using the same time and date as your PC.
----------------
From LYRE, about the OCR [Optical Character Recognition] from Migraph -
Cat. 5, Topic 10, Msg. 110....
Just a comment concerning OCR's system requirements / abilities accor-
ding to the flyer that they sent me (on request):
o Process any scanned text in IMG, IFF or TIFF format.
o Save scanned text in ASCII format.
o Direct support of Migraph, Alfadata and Golden Image hand
scanners.
o Allows use of other scanners - including flatbed, but not directly
supported.
o Omnifont technology (mathematical definitions, not raster images)
used to recognize text.
o Automatic recognition of 20 fonts (including Courier, Helvetica,
Times, Bookman, Letter Gothic and Artisan).
o Font sizes recognized for included fonts is between 8-18 points.
o Reads 8-18 point proportional or monospaced fonts, whether
typewritten, typeset, laser printed or NLQ dot matrix.
o Linguistic databases for English, German and French make
intelligent interpretations of unusual, defaced or questionable
characters.
o Use locator, multiple zoom levels and polylines to view and select
text to save time and disk space.
o Works on any ST, STe, Mega or TT computer with 2MB of memory and a
hard disk. (4MB recommended for flatbed scanners.)
All of the above is from the flyer. It has been paraphrased in places,
but should be basically correct. Just thought that I would pass this
info on to anyone else interested.
The essential information for Migraph is as follows:
Migraph, Inc.
32700 Pacific Hwy. S., Suite 12
Federal Way, WA 98003
U.S.A.
Tel: 206-838-4677 9am - 5pm Pacific Standard Time
Fax: 206-838-4702 24hrs
In the US for product orders or upgrades only: Tel: 800-223-3729
----------------
About the new role-playing game, Amberstar - Cat. 9, Topic 15, Msgs 1-
9...
From E.BAIZ...
This game looks to be one of the best role-playing games for the ST
yet. The gameplay is great, the graphics are smooth and the sound is
not bad either. The game ide a is much like an Ultima game. When you
are on the surface you get an overview of the whole area. When you are
in a dungeon it is much like a DM game. ST Action gave it a 92% rating
and said there are plenty of hours tucked away. This game is played
with a mouse and must be played on a hard drive due to it's size. It
might be able to be played on floppies, but that is not the impression
I got from the article I read. Should be out very soon if not now.
From John Hoffman...
Wait no more, this game came out yesterday. So I took the risk and
bought it. So far this seems like an excellent game.
As stated earlier it is very much like an Ultima game. I think I would
say it is very comparable to Ultima V. For people that might be thin-
king of Ultima VI, this game is real fast. After playing for awhile on
Ultima VI this game responds almost too quickly.
The documentation is impressive looking but is lacking in details that
would be necessary for the novice player. The novel although is quite
good. I would have like more hints on how to get started and details
on character stats and development. After reading the documentation a
couple of times and playing for a couple of hours I have many unans-
wered questions. So documentation is fair...
Sound is so far pitiful. As in many games of this sort the sound is a
background tune that I turned off after about 10 minutes of play.
Fortunately under the game save menu there is an option to turn the
music off. So far no digitized sounds that I've noticed.
Graphics are very well done. The images are clear and colors are well
used. movement of character is quick and lively. In 3D mode movement
is also fast. I have yet to meet any enemies in the dungeons I've been
in so I don't know what the graphics will look like. Dungeons and
cities are displays in a 3D perspective view like Dungeon Master.
Combat in the wilderness displays a 3D view of the enemies and a
tactical board view of the enemy and good guys off to the side. The
wilderness is the only place I have encountered enemies. Alas, it was
a VERY short battle. One attempt at hitting the orcs which both of my
characters missed, and then each character recieved one blow ending
the combat with discouraging results. Wilderness and buildings are
represented in a 2D birds eye view. Much of the early part of the game
I have spent exploring buildings and gaining basic equipment and
talking to people. I even found a character willing to join my party.
So far I seem to have a large number of things to do but insufficient
tools and experience to do any of the things requested. Two dungeons
that I have entered won't let me go anywhere because of doors that
won't budge. Apparently I need to find a crowbar of some similar tool
to open the doors. These doors aren't locked just rusted shut or
rotted. I still have the sewers to checkout maybe there I'll find my
crowbar. I can also perhaps go to the cemetary and wait for a ghost.
As you talk to people you will be given a variety of quests. So far I
have 4 tasks or quests that I have been asked to complete. All this
activity has been in one city. Visable on the map are at least 7
cities, castles or ruins. I think there is a lot to this game. Oh make
that 4 dungeons I know of so far. There is also one in a crypt in the
cemetary. At least I think it is.....
BTW I forgot to mention one of the nicest features in the game. There
is an automap feature that generates a map as you explore. This is
real nice!!....
Sound on Amberstar is pretty much pointless. There is background chip
music and no digitized sounds that I've noticed.
The documentation says this game will use as much memory as is avail-
able in your computer. This would seem to imply that if you had enough
memory you wouldn't need to have much disk access. For installation on
floppy there is a cache program included on the disks to improve
floppy performance.
I think that this is a very large game. So far each 3D dungeon has
been unique in atmosphere. The sewers had water down the center of the
coridors and various pipes dumping water into the corridors. The
cellar had caskets and ruble piles. The basement had yet another set
of distinctive features. There also variations in color.
The game size might be implied in the story. The task defined in the
story is to stop Marimion from gaining power to perform the ritual to
bring Tarbos, the god of chaos back. To stop Marimion you must find
and enter Godsbane. To get to Godsbane you must pass through Bralkurs
teleport which leads through the demonic realms. You must also find
the thirteen pieces of the Amberstar. Some pieces have been lost
others are being kept. You must search Lyramion for clues for the
location of the pieces. Once you find all the pieces you must assemble
the amberstar. This must happen in a special place, sadly no- one
knows where.
I have played about 8-10 hours and have never left the city you start
in other than for just a quick exploration. There is still a lot in
the city I haven't figured out yet. I now have to missions to other
cities to find other guilds so I will be leaving the city tonight to
expore the wilderness. I still feel that I've missed something since I
still haven't found a crowbar.
----------------
Hard drive question - Cat. 14, Topic 9, Msgs 90-98...
Question from J.H.ENGLISH...
I have recently purchased a Mastor 7213S hard drive. I have a MegaSTE
unit and have installed the Atari hard drive adaptor. I cannot get
the system to recognize the hard drive. I have had an Atari tech look
at the unit. We formatted a Seagate drive with my unit. The tech
seems to think it is the Maxtor hard drive. Does anyone have any
suggestions?
Response from Wayne Watson...
I also have the Maxtor 7213S drive and it works with the Atari
software. It was previously formatted with Atari's software at the
dealers. Look around on the drive for any jumpers and remove ALL that
you find. There may be a parity jumper on it. Without taking it apart,
I can't remember if it requires a jumper for SCSI 0 but I don't think
so. The drive does work with the system though and it works great. I
get about 1100K transfer rate using RATEHD.PRG from ICD.
Answer from Sheldon Winick (Computer Studio)...
We've used the Maxtor 7213S with Atari's software in the TT030 without
any problems. There's no reason it shouldn't work in the MegaSTe as
long as all the jumpers on the drive are properly set. You should be
able to get the proper jumper settings from wherever you bought the
drive from -- or call Maxtor directly.
Make sure you've also removed the terminator resistors from the drive.
It will NOT work in the MegaSTe if the terminators are left in place.
More questions, this time from Mike Allen...
What is the bit with the terminators on the 7213S in a MSTe?
When I swapped from the Seacrate to a 7120S I noticed that there were
no terminators in the Seacrate but I left the terminators in the 7120S
and have had no problems. Is this a unique problem with the 7213S?
Answer from Sheldon Winick...
The first and last SCSI devices in the SCSI chain need to be termin-
ated. That applies to SCSI devices that are actually connected as SCSI
devices in the TT030 or Falcon.
However, SCSI devices connected to an ST/STe/MegaSTe, etc. using a
separate host adapter, are actually being used as DMA (ACSI) devices
so terminators are not needed, and may in fact interfere with proper
operation if left in place. Some peripherals may work with the termin-
ators left in place, others won't. Best thing to do when installing a
new peripheral in the DMA chain is to remove the terminators to
prevent any possible conflict.
Reply from DOUG.W (ICD)...
The drives on each end of ANY SCSI bus should be terminated. That
includes SCSI buses that originate with a host adapter. The thing to
keep in mind is that with a host adapter connected to the TT's DMA
port, there are TWO SCSI buses - the one originating at the SCSI con-
nector on the back of the computer, and the one originating at the
host adapter. It's also important to keep in mind that most host adap-
ters have terminators so that only one attached drive (the farthest
from the host adapter) should be terminated.
----------------
Questions about support for the DC software now carried by Trace Tech-
nologies - Cat. 2, Topic 12, Msgs 5-6...
Question from Pete Killian...
Now that you are out on your own, how will this affect the DC
Utilities package? Specifically, will there be an upgrade to the
extract shell to cover LH5 compression? If your new company does not
have the rights to it, will you do a new shell or do you know if DC
will ever bring it up to date?
What about DC Desktop (and other DC products you might have been
involved with)?
P.S. I also regularly use Data Diet and eagerly look forward to seeing
how you will improve it.
Answer from Kieth Gerdes (Trace Technologies)...
My "new" venture will have no effect on the current DC Desktop, DC
Utilites 2 and DC Shower packages from Double Click Software- all are
still available in their entirety from DCS.
As you mentioned, the DCU2 package still needs one module updated/
upgraded- Xtract+ by Paul Lee. LH5 type compression (LZH&ZOO) has been
included in its 'test version' for _some_ time now. Please check with
DC in CAT30 TOP2 for the current status...
All modules that I wrote in the above three packages will continue to
be available in their current form as long as DC wants to distribute
them. Overview: DCU2 - Squish 1.4 and the RAMdisk stuff. DCD - ICE,
DeskDrop and AUTO GUI. DCShower - ShowPIC and ShowHEX.
The only thing in relation to myself that has changed at DC is the
fact they are no longer distributing my Data Diet package. The
distribution contract expired and I felt that I should use my own
company to launch and support Data Diet v2, Data Rescue and.....
You see my commercial programs distributed by DC were on a contract
basis. Many people have the wrong idea about my part in DC - I had no
official role. The three DC partners are/were (not really sure
nowadays) Michael Vederman, Paul Lee and Gilbert Callaghan. Gilbert
played what I call the silent partner since he worked on hardware
while DC was mainly software. Because of this, I guess I mistakenly
got his spot in people's perception of DC since my name was seen
actively.
Looking back, my only regret is that I never used a company name in
conjunction with my personal name especially with DD... It would have
made this period for TraceTech so much easier!
And what do users think? I guess only time will tell. :)
By the way, look for the upgrade notice and demo of DDv2 this month!
----------------
Special on Recipe Box and Recipe Converter from Anthony Watson (Mountain
Software) - Cat. 2, Topic 32, Msg. 79...
**********************************************************************
Holiday Special
**********************************************************************
Well, the holidays are fast approaching! Seems to start earlier every
year? Time to start your Christmas shopping, and planning your
Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.
So, in keeping with the holiday spirit, and to do my part in bringing
a little joy into your life this season, I'm offering a special on The
Recipe Box and/or Recipe Converter!
From November 1, 1992 to December 25, 1992 you can register The Recipe
Box for only $15, and The Recipe Converter for $10. That's a $10
savings on the package! (Though you can register just one if that's
all you need?)
If you register during this holiday special, I'll include a
compilation of various holiday recipes to assist you in getting those
meals ready!
P.S. Be Sure to mention 'HOLIDAY SPECIAL' when you register so that
you will receive the holiday recipes!
*********************************************************************
----------------
About HD Sentry from David Beckemeyer (Beckemeyer Development) - Cat. 2,
Topic 34, Msg. 177...
...the latest version of HD Sentry is V1.3. There are basically two
ways to upgrade. You can send in your disk, plus a $10 update fee and
$5 for S&H (US). We will upgrade your old disk and send it back. If
you would also like a new manual, include an addional $5 ($20 total).
Send to:
Beckemeyer Development
P.O. Box 21575
Oakland, CA 94620
The other way to upgrade is to call our BBS and download the latest
version. The phone number is 510-530-9682. 1200/2400/9600/14.4K
(V32bis) speeds are supported. 24hrs, 365 days/yr. You could also call
the office and order by phone ($5 extra for duplicate disk). The voice
number is 510-530-9637.
----------------
Some general info from Bud Connolly - Cat. 4, Topic 16, Msg. 31...
Conner Peripherals: 408/433-3340
Seagate: 800/468-3472
These are Technical Support phone numbers.
Seagate BBS: 408/438-8771
Mailing Addresses:
Conner Peripherals Seagate Technology
3081 Zanker Road 920 Disc Drive
San Jose, CA 95134-2128 Scotts Valley, CA 95066-4544
408/456-4500 408/438-6550
----------------
Atari Dealer Moves - from Mike Drysdale (Team Computers) - Cat. 14,
Topic 2, Msg. 19...
TEAM COMPUTERS ANNOUNCES ITS NEW LOCATION AND NAME
Team Computers, Southeast Michigan's largest Atari dealer, is pleased
to announce that it is moving to a new, larger location in Clinton
Township, Michigan. In this new facility we will be doing business as
POWER Computers.
The new location is over twice the size of Team's current building in
Eastpointe, Michigan. The new store front is in the Imperial Plaza on
Garfield Road between 18 Mile Road and Canal. This plaza is anchored
by a Kmart, a Kroger food store and an Arbor Drugs. Clinton Township
is one of Michigan's fastest growing areas.
We are also pleased to announce the formation of our new Vertical
Market, Value Added division, GenTech. GenTech will market solutions
for desktop publishing, networking, document imaging, business
specific solutions and consulting. This outside sales effort combined
with an expanded service department will strengthen our position as
one of Michigan's leading computer stores.
POWER Computers will open for business on November 12th.
Team Computers is a full service computer store that has been in
business since 1984 specializing in the home and small business user.
----------------
About Atari's new Speedo GDOS - Cat. 14, Topic 35, Msgs 1-2....
Question from J.LUCIEN1...
I would like to ask any ATARI official to please explain the advan-
tages of Speedo GDOS versus FSM and Font GDOS. Also (if possible),
price, projected release date, system requirements, etc.
Answer from John Townsend (Atari)...
SpeedoGDOS will use less memory than FSMGDOS and will be faster too.
The fonts are widely available and are relatively cheap.
As for FontGDOS.. SpeedoGDOS has scalable fonts. FontGDOS uses bit-
mapped GDOS fonts only. The output of SpeedoGDOS will be WAY better
than FontGDOS.
SpeedoGDOS will work on any ST, STE, Mega STE, Falcon030, Mega, TT,
etc. I wish I could give you a definite RAM requirement, but I can't.
I believe that SpeedoGDOS could potentially run in as little as 512K
(depending on what applications and printers you are using..)
As for date of delivery and price.. Sorry, I don't have that informa-
tion as of yet. As soon as I have something, I will post it here!
----------------
There's been some questions concerning the future of AIM - Cat. 15,
Topic 11, Msgs 80-81...
From John Nagy (AtariUser)...
I received an issue of AIM about 2 weeks back that was labled "FALL".
It was in newsprint, another mag following ATARIUSER's format due to
high costs of printing. It also featured an editorial from Bill and
Pattie that decryed the current sales situation they are having, told
of 2 mag distributors that closed owing AIM money, and promised to
continue publication, if on an irregular schedule, until things
improve.
From Dorothy Brumleve (Kidprgs)...
...I have in my hands a copy of the "Fall 1992" AIM, distributed at
the WAACE show in October. As the editorial explains, AIM has been
going through some changes; unfortunately, some are due to financial
problems. They've had problems both with advertisers and distributors.
They are temporarily printing on newsprint like AtariUser and
frequency of publication has been temporarily reduced. "The question
isn't whether or not AIM is going to still be around; the question is
only how many issues will be produced until Atari begins resupplying
the market with quantities of products to sell. And the answer will be
determined solely by finances." Unicorn Publications, the publisher of
AIM, is also publishing an 8-bit-only newsletter now. This was also
distributed at WAACE.
----------------
From D.SEBERG - How to order Stalker and contact Gribnif Software - Cat.
17, Topic 3, Msg 143...
...To order Stalker call or write to the following:
Gribnif Software
P.O. Box 779
Northampton, MA 01061
1-413-247-5620 Voice
1-413-247-5622 Fax
You can order Stalker or any of a multitude of other programs directly
from Gribnif Software.
---------------
Some interesting stuff from Lee (Lexicor) - Cat. 18, Topic 22, Msg 66...
Well it is actually much worse for AMIGA than most folks realize, at
least in one sense. Right now in the development stages "and I stress"
development stages, there is an External Genlock with True color Frame
capture being worked on [for the Falcon030]. This hardware may also
include MPEG and sound support. Several of the best ATARI developers
of software and hardware are working together to build what might be
compared to the Toaster from newteck. The difference would be that the
ATARI equivlant would be far less expensive and much faster. This is
not the usual blue sky contempolation.
Hardware has been built and tested with the Falcon030 software is
underway pointed at a suite of Multimedia and DTV applications,
including Video Titling with realtime video image mapping on scrolling
fonts, wipes ect. PI-PO on screen windowing under Multi-TOS. The usual
Genlock app's and links to high end graphics work stations. One recent
demonstration of this type of applications was shown at the Glendale
Atari show a few months back. One real impressive demonstration was a
realtime 15 bit true color vido w/stero sound of the TERMINATOR demo
from Silicon Graphics which was genlocked to the Falcon and displayed
on the Falcon screen.
Of course this is all just in the proto-type stages and dependent on
ATARI / Falcon030 marketing in the US and of course demand by the US
market.
If you want more information you might touch bases with BOB-BRODIE @
Atari, as he was at the Glendale show and quite interested in these
efforts.
----------------
Until next time.....
____________________________________________________________________
> A.C.T. NOW! STR InfoFile Atari Community Together Now
""""""""""""""""""""""""
Atari Community Together Now
Campaign Organizers:
Len Stys, Mark Leair
Supported By:
The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
"OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" is a series of campaigns that will first help
increase support for Atari ST and Falcon computers. If there is enough
interest in Atari 8-Bit computers, the Portfolio palmtop, and the Lynx
handheld video game system, this operation will support them as well.
The main goal of this operation is to strengthen the Atari Community.
"A.C.T. NOW" stands for Atari Community Together Now. The campaign
organizers believe that Atari users, developers, dealers, publications,
and Atari's management must take action to save the Atari Community.
Many people suggested that we forget about Atari's involvement. They
claim that Atari Corporation will never participate in this operation,
even if it will help the company greatly. They believe Atari's management
doesn't care about the Atari Community.
If they are right, Atari Corporation will not be around much longer.
The Atari Community is the company's only edge over other PC
manufacturers.
We can only hope that Atari's management realizes the importance of this
operation.
The organization of "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" was no easy task. Many
things needed to be considered such as who this operation should benefit.
Should it benefit Atari users or Atari Corporation? We also didn't know
if it should be run in a positive or negative manner. And if it should
be "anti-Atari" or "pro-Atari." We decided that this operation should be
run in the most positive manner possible. This is because nothing
positive ever results from being negative. We also decided that it should
benefit ever member of the Atari Community equally. This is the only way
the operation will be able to strengthen the Atari Community. And lastly,
we decided that this operation should not be "anti-Atari" or "pro-Atari",
but "pro-Atari Community."
The first campaign in this operation will give you the opportunity
to tell Atari's management everything that you feel the company is doing
right and the things that you believe the company can improve. This
campaign will benefit everyone in the Atari Community because Atari
Corporation will become stronger by the information that you provide them.
And when a member of the Atari Community becomes stronger, the Atari
Community becomes stronger.
The second campaign will ask publications to publish articles about
Atari's new Falcon030 personal media computer. How will publicity help
the Atari Community? Atari dealers will sell more computers, Atari
Corporation will sell more computers, Atari developers will sell more
products, publishers will have more readers, and Atari users will have
more products to purchase and fellow users to talk with. We will also
be speaking out for what is fair. Atari announces the new Falcon030
computer at the Boston Computer Society meeting and the nation ignores
the company. Apple announces new computers every other week and every
major newspaper and computer magazine in the nation publishes an article
on them. This is not right. As members of the Atari Community, we need
to stick up for each other.
There will be many other campaigns that will directly benefit Atari
users, developers, dealers, and publications as the first campaign
benefits Atari Corporation. But, every campaign will benefit the Atari
Community. If you are interested in strengthening the Atari Community,
join us... We can make a difference!
Sincerely,
Len Stys
Mark Leair
Cost?
-----
There is no cost to you in any way to participate in these campaigns.
There is no registration fee and no donations are being accepted.
Members Key to Success
----------------------
The number of people participating in these campaigns are extremely
important. We can accomplish anything together. The news of these
campaigns must be shared with every member of the Atari Community that you
know. "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" should be publicized in Atari publications,
at Atari user group meetings, Atari shows, and Atari dealerships.
If you take action, we can and we will make a difference. If you sit
back and watch, we won't do anything.
Official Site
-------------
The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is the official site of "OPERATION:
A.C.T. NOW". If you wish to add any information or discuss anything
related to this operation, a special section has been created specifically
for this purpose on Free-Net.
The Atari SIG can be accessed by the phone number "216/368-3888" at
either 300, 1200, or 2400 baud. It can also be accessed by users from
around the nation or world for free by using "telnet" at their college or
business by the following Internet addresses:
freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu = hela.ins.cwru.edu = 129.22.8.38
Type 'go atari' at any menu.
The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's U.S. mailing address is:
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
P.O. Box 364
Mentor, OH 44061-0364
The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's Internet e-mail address is:
xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu
Online Newsletter
-----------------
There will be an "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" online newsletter to keep members
informed about what is going on.
A.C.T. NOW Directors
--------------------
If you are interested in becoming an organizer of "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW",
please contact us by the address above. We are interested in having
several people from each group of the Atari Community direct this
operation.
Independent Operation
---------------------
"OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" is in no way affiliated with Atari Corporation.
These campaigns are organized by individuals that have an interest in
Atari products. The "Atari" name, logo, and any other Atari products
mentioned are copyrighted by Atari Corporation.
"OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" is supported by the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG,
but individual SysOps and members may or may not endorse this operation.
+------------------+
| CAMPAIGN ONE |
+------------------+
The first campaign will be to compile two lists. One list will
consist of things that we believe the company is doing right. Atari is
doing great things and if you want to continue seeing the company doing
these things, you have to let them know. The other list will consist of
things that we believe the company can do better. The company will never
know the problems that you see unless you tell them. We will send these
lists to Atari Corporation's Board of Directors and ask that they consider
our suggestions. Will Atari listen? There isn't a successful company
around that doesn't listen--especially to their customers, developers,
dealers, and publications.
What you need to do is write down everything that you see right with
Atari and the things that you believe the company can improve. Include
any past experiences that you have had with the company.
Here are a few examples:
RIGHT IMPROVE
Users
----- Great products, No easy memory
great price upgrade
Once took 4 months
to get my computer
replaced when sent
to Atari
Developers
---------- Good developers Took 3 months to
area on GEnie get a computer to
develop on
Great computers Atari was rude to
to develop on me when they first
showed me the Falcon
Dealers
------- Good dealer Shortage of products,
support even today
No new products
No co-op advertising
and lack of company
advertising
Publishers
---------- Atari advertises Slow to pay for ads
regularly
Does not give enough
new info to us
The comments made in these examples should not be taken as truth.
They are simply examples. Also, your comments can be as long as you want.
In fact, the longer and more detailed, the better.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you may send these lists in another
envelope.
The goal of this campaign is to inform Atari of things that we believe
can help improve the company's position in the computer marketplace.
All of the lists that are received will be compiled and then sent to
Atari Corporation.
+------------------+
| CAMPAIGN TWO |
+------------------+
The second campaign is to concentrate on letting computer publications
know that Atari is back.
The Falcon030 has been released in the United States. The amount of
press that the Falcon receives will most likely determine when the Falcon
will be shipped to the United States and the quantity shipped.
The Boston Computer Society meeting was not as successful as it should
have been. This is because there was little press covering the Falcon030
announcement.
What you need to do is list names and addresses of publications that
you wish to see have an article about the Falcon030 personal integrated
media computer. The campaign organizers will compile everyone's lists
into a larger list for everyone to write these publications. At the same
time, we will contact Atari Corporation so the company can make
arrangements with these publications to see the Falcon030. The one thing
that Atari needs is press and this is probably the best way to get press.
You should also list names and addresses of publications that you wish
to see support the Atari ST and Falcon computers on a continued basis.
This information should be sent along with the "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW"
registration form.
-----------------------------------
OTHER CAMPAIGNS WILL BE ANNOUNCED
AT ANOTHER TIME
THESE MAY INCLUDE:
8-BIT, LYNX, AND PORTFOLIO
CAMPAIGNS
-----------------------------------
THANK YOU AND PLEASE SEND THE
FOLLOWING FORMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
<---------------- CUT HERE ---------------->
"OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" REGISTRATION FORM
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND MAIL IT TO: OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW
P.O. BOX 364
Mentor, OH 44061-0364
PLEASE PRINT
(CONFIDENTIAL (WILL NOT BE RELEASED PUBLICLY)
NAME _____________________________ AGE ______ PHONE (____)_______________
ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________
CITY _________________________________ STATE ____________ !ZIP ___________
OCCUPATION _____________________________________ PHONE (___)______________
COMPUTER(S) OWNED ________________________________________________________
VIDEO GAME SYSTEM(S) OWNED _______________________________________________
ARE YOU AN ATARI DEVELOPER? YES / NO !ARE YOU AN ATARI DEALER? YES / NO
WHAT DO YOU PRIMARY USE YOUR COMPUTER FOR? _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
DO YOU BELONG TO A USER GROUP? YES / NO IF YES, HOW MANY MEMBERS _______
IF YES, WHAT IS THE NAME? ________________________________________________
IS THERE A(N) ATARI DEALERSHIP(S) NEAR YOU? YES / NO
IF YES, WHAT IS THE NAME(S)? _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF EACH OF THEM? ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
DO YOU SUBSCRIBE TO ANY ATARI PUBLICATIONS? YES / NO
IF YES, WHICH ONE(S)? ____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
LIST SOME OF YOUR MOST USED SOFTWARE _____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DEVELOPER/COMPANY? _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
THANK YOU!
<---------------- CUT HERE ------------------>
"OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW"
CAMPAIGN INFORMATION
(All of the following information will be compiled together. Your name
will not be tied with any of this information if you choose to leave it.)
YOU MAY WISH TO SEND THIS PART IN A SEPARATE ENVELOPE THAT DOES NOT
INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND RETURN ADDRESS.
CAMPAIGN ONE:
-------------
PLEASE CIRCLE WHICH GROUP YOU BELONG TO:
USER / DEVELOPER / DEALER / PUBLICATION / ATARI
PLEASE LIST EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE ATARI DOING RIGHT:
------------------------------------------------------
(include any past experiences, etc.)
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(add another sheet if needed)
PLEASE LIST IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU BELIEVE CAN BE MADE:
------------------------------------------------------
(include any past experiences, etc.)
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(add another sheet if needed)
<-------------- CUT HERE -------------->
PLEASE LIST HOW YOU WOULD MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE LIST ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW PRODUCTS OR ENHANCEMENTS TO OLDER
PRODUCTS:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
CAMPAIGN TWO:
-------------
PLEASE LIST ANY NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES AND THEIR ADDRESSES THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAVE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE FALCON 030 COMPUTER:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
(add another sheet if needed)
<------------ CUT HERE ------------->
PLEASE LIST ANY COMPUTER PUBLICATIONS AND THEIR ADDRESSES THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE START SUPPORTING THE ATARI ST AND FALCON COMPUTERS:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
ANY COMMENTS THAT MAY HELP THIS OPERATION?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
OTHER CAMPAIGN INFORMATION WILL BE REQUESTED FROM YOU AT ANOTHER TIME.
THANK YOU!
______________________________________________________
> STReport CONFIDENTIAL "Rumors Tidbits Predictions Observations Tips"
"""""""""""""""""""""
- Gevelsberg, Germany GFA ANNOUNCES NEW PLANS
-------------------
On Saturday, the third of October, a meeting of GFA-programmers was
held with experienced users in Germany, where the future development of
GFABasic was thrashed out. It was specifically intended that the views
of "real world" GFA programmers be taken into account. The following
information, taken from a message in the German GFABASIC threads GER echo
by Lars-Thorsten Sudmann, who is connected to the firm Richter, which has
taken over the development of the ST version of GFA Basic.
The "real" GFA company will no longer be involved with the ST. The
new reprogrammed GFA Basic, currently under the name "4.0", will have a
small compiler, which can create stand-alone applications quickly. For
more experienced programmers, there will be a GFA to C converter, the code
of which can then be used by many C compilers, on many computer systems.
Named were MS-DOS, Windows and Unix. The management of variables will be
changed, so that the problems caused by garbage collections moving
variables around will be obviated. All commands in the new version will
be based on "clean" OS calls, and the dirty low-level stuff that plagues
GFA Basic now will be abolished. Downward compatibility will be
maintained, including the Line A calls; however, these will be redirected
to the proper VDI routines.
The new documentation will contain programming advice and guidelines
for GEM. Old versions of GFA Basic used to gobble up all available
memory. This will be changed, so that programs will only allocate the
minimum necessary. Requests for more memory will in some cases be made
by GFA transparently, while the OS Malloc-functions will be available too.
The new version will also support modular programming; you can split up
your source code into smaller parts, just like in C or Modula-2, greatly
enhancing the readability and maintenance of the code. C-like structures
are also planned, but may not be included in the first new version.
Function libraries will be available too, and usable from the
interpreter. The file functions will now allow the usage of real GEMDOS
file handles, and error codes, removing the cumbersome old way of doing
things. The editor will be rewritten completely. The new editor will, at
last, be fully GEM and it allows multiple source codes to be edited
simultaneously. It will also feature on-line help, and a multitude of
options, so that its behavior can be fine-tuned to the wishes of the
programmer.
Keyboard shortcuts will for the large part, be the same as in older
versions; shift F10 will still be Run. "The programming team intends to
work as quickly as possible; while obviously no firm date can be given at
this time, Richter hopes to be able to make further announcements about
the progress before the end of the year." Suggestions, bug reports and
ideas can be sent to Ulf Dunkel % MAUS OS,Fido 2:242/2. Dunkel is also in
charge of writing the documentation for GFA4.0. For further information
please contact Richter:
Richter Distributor
Hagenerstrasse 65
5820 Gevelsberg Germany
Phone: + 49 2332 2706
Fax: +49 2332 2703
- Sunnyvale, CA DEVELOPERS ASKED TO PAY FOR SPACE?
-------------
Its been reported the developers are being asked to pay for the
privilege of setting up in Atari's Comdex display. According to our
resources, this is finally not the case at all. It seems that, at one
time in the recent past, it was discussed at Atari and that certain
developers were indeed asked to pay while others were not. Apparently in
the long run, the entire concept was scrapped as a disgracefully bad idea.
Therefore, in the interest of quelling a bad rumor, we are pleased to
report that barring a change of heart, there is no basis in fact to the
story that Atari is charging developers for a work space in their Comdex
Area.
- Sunnyvale, CA NEW ATARI NORTH AMERICA PRESIDENT?
-------------
Rumors are flying about indicating Gary Tramiel may have been named
the new head of Atari North America. Tramiel, once the head of the ill
fated Federated Stores Acquisition where Atari reported losses in the
millions, could not be reached for comment.
_____________________________________________________________
> STR Mail Call "...a place for the readers to be heard"
"""""""""""""
STReport's MailBag
""""""""""""""""""
Messages * NOT EDITED * for content
-----------------------------------
From GEnie's ST RT
Category 14, Topic 20
Message 77 Mon Nov 02, 1992
REALM [Joey] at 01:43 EST
If the 386SX is 16 bit device, 24bit Address then it would appear the
slot was designed with it in mind. It probable never even occured to
anyone it would be used for anything else other then an emulator. To the
developers it looks crippled and to Atari it looks like a 386 Emulator
Bus.
I would also think Atari doesn't want an accelerator produced so they
can have sales on the future two piece FALCON. Lets face it, Atari makes
their money on the machines. The more exapndable they make it, the less
they sell. They can easily include higher resolutions and more expansion
slots in the next version. Then sell those for a great deal more knowing
if you want it, you have to pay for it, especially since the lower model
can't do it.
Anybody notice its November and not ever dealer has at least two
Falcons like promised?
------------
Category 14, Topic 26
Message 40 Sun Nov 01, 1992
J.LUCIEN1 at 14:10 EST
Would any ATARI official care to update us on the current status of the
much-publicized repair agreement between ATARI & GE???
------------
From the FNET
Conf : Atari Explorer On-Line
Msg# : 6676/6676 Lines: 9 Read: 3
Sent : Nov 04, 1992 at 7:07 PM
To : All
From : Bryan Webster at Fnet Node 698, Peace Country Computers
Subj : Falcon
Have any of you had a convincing timeline given you for the availability
of the new Falcon units? A reliable source told me yesterday that they
would NOT be available to them for shipping until January, 1993.
Bob, I would very much appreciate your comment, as the same source also
said the MegaSTe production will be discontinued. I will likley go (as
Gene Mosher suggests) for a TT system upgrade, but was counting on a lot
more getupandgo from you guys with the new Falcon.
From CIS
#: 74688 S17/Community Square
05-Nov-92 08:13:16
Sb: #74624-*.LHA
Fm: John J. Amsler 70275,676
To: Boris Molodyi 70322,624 (X)
Boris:
My background is math, not marketing. Nevertheless, I tend to agree with
those people who in essence say:
"The Falcon flies ... or Atari dies."
(I hope the Falcon flies high enough to spit on [or sh_t on!] Apple, IBM,
and Commode and that 100 years from now Atari is still around and the
other computer makers are mere pages in computer archaeology books.)
- John
From the FNET
Conf : STReport Online
Msg# : 22560/22563 Lines: Extended Read: 1
Sent : Nov 01, 1992 at 10:10 AM
To : ALL
From : Jolly Roger at Fnet Node 548, The Metal Shop [548]
Subj : Falcon
There was a Falcon030 at the Houston Atari Fest. We had two sysops,
two programers and scores of others putting it through some tests. From
Bob Brodie (he was there), it comes in two packages... a 1 meg/65M HD and
a 14 meg/65M HD. There was no mention made of plans for a 4 meg. The
cost to go to 14 meg from 1 meg was close enough to upgrading to anything
in between, that they decided that ya might at well go all the way (which
is good in a way).
As for campatability, the Falcon030 did have a few problems with a
small percentage of software (most likely due to illegal system calls) but
did wonders with everything else. I bought Flight Simulator II and poped
it in. Off it went with no problems, infact the screen was ...smooth...
How's that for compatibility? I give the Falcon030 an A-. Then again,
I've never seen a next generation computer be completely compatible and
get the A+.
The Falcon030 will come with a Direct to Disk recording program for
you midi fans. Bob Brodie's demo of the sound was a full recording of
Boston that he did late one night with a sony diskman and a CD playing it
into the Falcon030. The graphics are unequaled anywhere, even with the
Falcon030 running at 16 MHZ. The DSP graphics chip relieves the CPU of
having to do all the dirty work making the Falcon030 run graphics around
even a 50 MHZ other computer.
When asked if there were any store chains interested in selling the
atari line, Bob says "YES!" Attendance at the show tells a story of it's
own. We'd advertised heavily on local BBS's and it was very visible it
it's results. Those who came found out about the show from mostly BBS
advertising, Genie, reading about it from our resident atari stores, or
through magazines locally circulated about the Atari from the Houston
user's association. All that free advertising DID make a huge impact for
the show. Taking notes, Bob? Feel free, no, please use us again for your
advertising. My users are hungry for info and ya can't pass up such a
targeted audience.
My recomendation? If you're looking for an upgrade to your ST, then
forget about the IBM. The Falcon030 IS the choice. It runs your existing
software and best of all **NO DOS** for those spoiled on the user friendly
atari system interface. The machine is worth what Atari is asking for it.
It's the new "Power without the Price!" For further details on the
Falcon030, check out your ST reports. You'll be impressed.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> A "Quotable Quote" ABOUT SUCCESS...
"""""""""""""""""
"If you have tried to do something and failed, you are vastly better
off than if you had tried to do nothing and succeeded."
sent in by... Jimmy Carter
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> ABCO SPECIALS! STR InfoFile * NEW 1992 Prices! MORE Products! *
""""""""""""""""""""""""""" -------------------------------
** EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! **
NOTICE: ABCO will BEAT OR MATCH * ANY *
Advertised or Invoiced price * WE WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD!
ABCO COMPUTER CONSULTANTS
=========================
P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32236-6672
Est. 1985
_________________________________________
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BBS: 904-786-4176 12-24-96 HST
FAX: 904-783-3319 12 PM - 6 AM EDT
_________________________________________
HARD DISK SYSTEMS & DESIGNS TO FIT EVERY BUDGET
_________________________________________
All systems are complete and ready to use, included at NO EXTRA COST
are clock/calendar and cooling blower(s).
*-ALL ABCO HARD DISK SYSTEMS ARE FULLY EXPANDABLE-*
(you are NOT limited to two drives)
- Available for all Platforms -
-* ICD LINK & ADSCSI PLUS HOST ADAPTERS USED EXCLUSIVELY *-
WE PAY SHIPPING & INSURANCE!!! >UPS!<
(Cont. USA)
VISA - MASTERCARD - NO SURCHARGE!
*_*_*_*
ABCOFILE 80mb Hard disk System - $ 419.95! Assembled Ready to run!
Includes either the ICD ADSCSI PLUS _or_ THE LINK & DMA Cable
Installed in our NEW "Super Style" Case!
*_*_*_*
*** NEW!!! ULTRA MODERN "SUPER STYLE" ABCOFILE CASE ***
DELUXE 2 bay Cabinet W/65w Auto PS & Blower $119.00
Case & ICD LINK or ADSCSI PLUS Host [Hard Disk Ready] $259.95
-STAND ALONE PRODUCTS-
Model Description Autopark Price
==================================================
SGN4951 51Mb 3.5" Y 419.00
SQN1096 83mb 3.5" Y 519.00
SQN2055 120mb 3.5" Y 574.95
SQN1296 213mb 3.5" Y 839.00
SQN4055 340mb 3.5" Y 1310.00
==================================================
Standard "Shoebox Cabinet style is also available
Call for pricing applicable to IBM - MAC - AMIGA
IDE - SCSI - ESDI
MODERN TOWER CABINETS AVAILABLE Call for Info!
PLEASE NOTE: The above is partial listing only!
Many other configurations available.
20mb - 3.5gb
NOTICE - NOTICE - NOTICE - NOTICE
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
SPECIAL PURCHASE! * 83mb - 1345mb * Hard Disk Mechanisms
Call for SUPER PRICING!! Limited Time Only!!
IDEAL FOR USE IN: IBM - MAC - AMIGA!
FULLY ASSEMBLED SCSI DRIVES w/o ICD LINK Available
ADD $35.00 for 4 BAY SUPER CABINET w/250+w PS
EXOTIC TOWER CABINETS AVAILABLE Call for Info!
PLEASE NOTE: The above is partial listing only!
FAST TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATOR UPGRADES AVAILABLE & INSTALLED
*****
>> ABCO proudly offers: ATARI PRODUCTS <<
MAC PRODUCTS - AMIGA PRODUCTS - PC PRODUCTS
Call for ABCO's * HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PRICING! *
ABCO COMPUTER SYSTEMS * STILL THE BEST VALUE!
*****
Original Atari Mouse replacement: $35.00 NEW!
If you don't see what you want listed here, call us.
Odds are, we either have it or, can get it for you!
* GUARANTEED * AT THE BEST POSSIBLE PRICE! *
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* SYQUEST 44MB (#555) >> ABCOFILE "44" & "88" *
* REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVES *
--->> LIMITED TIME SPECIAL! NOW ONLY 44MB $ 559.00 <<---
88MB $ 659.00
WE PAY SHIPPING & INSURANCE! >UPS!<
(Cont. USA)
COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED AND READY TO RUN!
Cart and Utility Software Included!
44mb CARTS: $ 69.50
88mb CARTS: $ 109.50
44mb MECH ONLY: $ 339.95
88mb MECH ONLY: $ 439.95
****** SPECIAL - SPECIAL ******
* TWIN SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVES ... PROGRAMMER'S DELIGHT *
SPECIALLY PRICED ** $895.95.00 **
Includes: * TWO * cartridges!
* SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE AND HARD DRIVE COMBINATIONS *
- Syquest 44 Model [555] and the following hard drives -
** 50mb SQG51S $759.00 105mb SQG105S $959.00 **
Or, YOUR choice of Hard Disk Mechanism!
LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS
CUSTOM CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE
** ANNOUNCING THE NEW! -> ABCO CD-ROM! **
:Special Introductory offer:
ABCO CD-ROM $489.95
Listed above are a sampling of the systems available.
Prices also reflect various cabinet/power supply configurations
(over sixty configurations are available, flexibility is unlimited)
* IBM - MSDOS - AMIGA - ATARI - APPLE - MACINTOSH *
ALL UNITS COMPATIBLE WITH --> SUPERCHARGER - AT/PC SPEED - GCR
LARGER units are available - (Custom Configurations)
*** --> COMPLETE IBM CLONE SYSTEMS AVAILABLE!
CALL FOR PRICING & AVAILABILITY
386/486 33Mhz - 50Mhz - 66Mhz
*>> NO REPACKS OR REFURBS USED! <<*
Atari SLM 804, SLM 804PCV Laser Toner Kits
Memorex 2108, 5287
Oasys Laserpro 5287, 5308, Express 830, Express Series II
Silver Express, Gold Express
** $41.95 shipping Included **
Atari SLM 605 Laser Toner Kits
AT&T 593, CAF Laser, DSI Laser, DTP Systems, Epson EPL-6000
Facit P6060, Fontx Syslaser, Harris3M 2006, M-Tally MT905
Microtek Turbo PS, OAS Laserpro Executive, Packard Bell 9500
TEC LB 1305, Toshiba PageLaser 6
** $41.95 shipping included **
(TWO Toner Carts Incl.)
Panasonic Laser Toner Kits
Panasonic KX -P 400 series, Panafax UF-750 Facsimile
** $41.95 shipping included **
-- ALL TONER KITS * IN STOCK * --
* Toner Starter Kits-$62.95 *
* Replacement (804) Drums-$186.95 *
ABCO is PROUD to announce the acquisition of
the exclusive U.S.A. distribution rights for
** Bitblit Software's ///Turbo Board BBS. **
This fine Atari ST BBS system software and
user support
is available through ABCO to all
Turbo customers in the USA. Call for current
pricing.
ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED
Now Available
BUSINESSES, LEASE TO OWN WITH AT&T
-* 12 month FULL Guarantee *-
(A FULL YEAR of COVERAGE)
WE PAY SHIPPING & INSURANCE! >UPS!<
(Cont. USA)
QUANTITY & USERGROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!
_________________________________________
DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!
please, call for details
Personal and Company Checks accepted.
ORDER YOUR NEW UNIT TODAY!
CALL: 1-800-562-4037 -=**=- CALL: 1-904-783-3319
Customer Orders ONLY Customer Service
9am - 8pm EDT
TUES thru SAT
ABCO is EXPANDING!! CALL FOR INFORMATION!
SEND FOR YOUR NEW ABCO CATALOG TODAY!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport International Online Magazine
-* [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport *-
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STR Online! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" November 06, 1992
Since 1987 copyright (c) 1987-92 All Rights Reserved No.8.44
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of
the editors/staff of STReport International Online Magazine. Permission
to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Reprints
must, without exception, include the name of the publication, date, issue
number and the author's name . STReport and/or portions therein may not
be edited in any way without prior written permission. STReport, at the
time of publication, is believed reasonably accurate. STReport, its staff
and contributors are not and cannot be held responsible for the use or
misuse of information contained herein or the results obtained therefrom.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
