Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Silicon Times Report Issue 0932
SILICON TIMES REPORT
====================
INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
=============================
from
STR Electronic Publishing
August 06, 1993 No. 9.32
=========================================================================
Silicon Times Report
International Online Magazine
Post Office Box 6672
Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155
R.F. Mariano
Publisher - Editor
-----------------------------------------
Voice: 904-783-3319 10 AM - 4 PM EST
STR Publishing Support BBS Network System
* THE BOUNTY BBS *
FIDO 1:112/35 ~ FNET 350 ~ Nest 90:21/350.0
904-786-4176 USR/HST 24hrs - 7 days
2400 - 38.4 bps V.32 - 42 bis 16.8 Dual Standard
FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EST
-----------------------------------------
Fido 1:112/35 The Bounty STR Support Central 1-904-786-4176
FNET. 620 : Leif's World <Home of STR>...1-904-573-0734
FNET.. 18 : ///Turbo Board BBS Support...1-416-274-1225
FNET. 690 : PASTE BBS....................1-206-284-8493
FNET. 460 : The Atari ST Connection......1-209-436-8156
FNET. 489 : Steal Your Face BBS..........1-908-920-7981
_____________________________________________________________________
> 08/06/93 STR 932 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!"
""""""""""""""""
- The Editor's Desk - CPU Report - PORTFOLIO NEWS
- NO COMPETITION? - CP ANTI Virus - ELVIS AT BRACE!
- NORTON COMMANDER - STACKER 3.1 - PEOPLE TALKING
- EXPERT WITNESS? - SLM & FALCON NOT! - STR Confidential
-* FLASH II UPGRADE RELEASED!! *-
-* PAGESTREAM 3 FOR WINDOWS? *-
-* SPEEDO + SIGNUM VIRUS ON DISK 3? *-
=========================================================================
STReport 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/PROWL/ITC/USENET/NEST/F-Net Mail Networks. You may also Phone
The Bounty BBS direct @ 904-786-4176. Enjoy the wonder and excitement of
exchanging all types of information relative to computers, worldwide,
through the use of excellent International Networking Systems. SysOps,
worldwide, are welcome to join the STReport International Conferences. The
Fido Node is 1:112/35, ITC Node is 85:881/253 Crossnet Code is #34813, and
the "Lead Node" is #620. All platform's BBS systems are welcome and
invited to participate. Support your favorite computer Today!
=========================================================================
CIS ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ NVN ~ FIDO ~ PROWL ~ ITC ~ NEST ~ EURONET
USENET ~ CIX ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET ~ FNET ~ GEnie
=========================================================================
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
You will receive your complimentary time
and
be online in no time at all!
WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (August 06)
ATARI IN THE NEWS
This is a GREAT TIME for Atari-related announcements. First, the alliance
between ATari and IBM for the new Jaguar, and now Gribnif Software
announces GENEVA, their new multi-tasking environment. See the GENEVA
press releases in LIB 15 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) or go to
the Gribnif section/library in the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) for
additional info.
NEW JAGUAR AREA IN ATARI 8-BIT FORUM
With the announcement from Sunnyvale on the new JAGUAR Multimedia
Entertainment System, we've added a Message Section and Library to the
ATARI8 Forum. We invite you to join us in sharing news and views of what
promises to be an exciting machine. GO ATARI8 for Section 15 [Jaguar].
TWENTY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FALCON ... ANSWERED BY ATARI CORP.
Download file 20Q_01.TXT from LIBRARY 15 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO
ATARIARTS) for the first 20 QUESTIONS file of questions submitted by the
members to Atari Corp and answered by Bob Brodie, James Grunke and Bill
Rehbock.
AGITATION PUZZLE GAME
Download file AGIT.ZIP from LIBRARY 2 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO
ATARIARTS) for Agitation. Agitation is easy to learn, tough to solve. This
is the most indescribably difficult, infuriatingly impossible program you
could choose to run!
* create custom puzzles
* upload and share
* point and click puzzle solving
* multiple cheat, peek and help modes
* watch the computer solve puzzles
* custom graphics and dialogs
* check out the other puzzles here online! mono freeware
B/STAT VERSION 2.46 NOW AVAILABLE
Download file BSTAT4.LZH from LIBRARY 5 of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO
ATARIPRO) for version 2.46 of B/STAT. B/STAT is a shareware statistical
analysis and business graphics program. It requires a 1 megabyte machine
and double sided drive at a minimum. B/STAT makes use of GDOS or SPEEDO
GDOS if installed but requires neither. This is version 2.46 of B/STAT and
offers some improvements in graphing over earlier versions. B/STAT may be
registered online by GOing SWREG and selecting ID # 263.
OREGON RESEARCH JOINS ATARIVEN!
Message Section 12 and Library 12 have been established for online support
of Oregon Research's products. Please read OREGON.TXT in Library 12 of the
Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) for an overview of the company. Also, be
sure to check out the other files in the Library for in-depth information
on their entire product line.
NEW SOFTLOGIK DEMO IN ATARIVEN
Download file FLAGS.LZH from LIBRARY 11 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO
ATARIVEN) for Sample EPS (Adobe Illustrator) files of the new Flags of the
World clipart collection now being sold by Soft-Logik Publishing. The
archive contains four flags.
THE PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE
HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN
OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION
"GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM"
"ENJOY CIS' ATARI FORUMS WHERE CENSORSHIP IS A DIRTY WORD!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""
The "dog days of summer are here for some of us. Heat waves galore
and floods galore. What a combo! Oh well, sort of reminds one of the type
of wacky pandemonium we find in the Atari platform these days. So, what's
new?
From the debacle the IAAD pulled on Lexicor to the ongoing lack of a
DMA device to allow current Atarians to connect their SLM Laser printers to
the "new" Falcon computers. Its wild. From developers in every direction
they've expressed embarrassment over the IAAD's recent actions regarding
Lexicor. Its also been rumored that only three of the IAAD board members
voted on the expulsion matter. We checked on the ST$ address D.A. Brumleve
wanted Lexicor to send its defenses to... it's a cumulative address for ALL
the STRT sysops on Genie including Atari personnel. That's incredible!
Should Lexicor be required to send its statement of defense to the charges
made by the IAAD to these NON-IAAD members?? ST$ lists out as STRT Sysops!
Something is not quite right with all this. In fact, it reeks! Its now up
to you, the readers and users... should Lexicor have been "done" the way
they were?? There is absolutely nothing about the way the IAAD conducted
itself that can be considered fair and democratic. If you feel the IAAD
should reconsider its actions let the IAAD know at the following address on
compuserve 76004,3655 or, your favorite developer know. After all, you do
cast the final votes with your support.
When we first made mention (last year) of the lack of an adequate DMA
port for SLM owners, we were told by Atari; (I have the captures) "it'll be
taken care of... inexpensively". It's been taken care of ok, for whom
we'll never know. The matter certainly hasn't been taken care of for the
loyal Atari users who invested the thousand or so dollars in support of
Atari. Then, there is the cart port matter.... watch and see... there'll
be NO cart port on the next generation of Falcons. If there is such a
thing at all. At the rate they're selling Falcons right now, there is much
apprehension about the future of Falcons.
Meanwhile, on other platforms the new software is pouring out in box
fulls for everyone. From the commercial to the shareware its all top
drawer stuff worthy of everyone's attention. With the new software and
constant hardware advancements and improvements there is no wonder why
people are converting over in droves. Dungeon Mast for the PC is superb
and I might add, all the spell commands we already learned work just fine.
The sound is awesome though. It just keeps getting better. PageSTReam 3
is rumored to be getting set for Windows too.
Keep cool during these hot August days... enjoy the summer fun while
its here. But please do it safely.
Ralph...
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
** STReport **
NOW AVAILABLE FOR
ELECTRONIC HOME DELIVERY
DIRECT TO YOUR (E-)MAIL BOX
The Editorial Staff of STReport International Online Magazine is proud
to announce the highly successful and continued availability of STReport
through GEnie E-Mail subscription delivery.
STReport will be E-Mailed to any GEnie subscriber who requests it as an
archived (in LZH format) attached file. Instructions for downloading an
attached file are provided on page 200 on GEnie (Type M200). Downloading
E-Mail utilizes the very same transfer protocols as the GEnie RT Libraries,
so there is little or no difference between downloading from a Library and
downloading an attached file (also called F-Mail).
To request STReport be E-Mailed to you, send subscription request in
E-Mail to J.MIRANDO1 requesting such and you will be put on our "paper
route" beginning with the next issue. Each issue will be uploaded by
Saturday evening and will be available to you immediately. It simply
appears in your E-Mail queue!
Wait no more for the REAL news and FULL information from the wonderful and
sometimes wacky world of computing...
Ask for your STReport deliveries to begin today!
*** 337 SUBSCRIBERS AND GROWING! ***
STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU!
""""""""""""""""
Publisher - Editor
""""""""""""""""""
Ralph F. Mariano
PC DIVISION AMIGA DIVISION MAC DIVISION
----------- -------------- ------------
Roger D. Stevens Robert Glover R. ALBRITTON
Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor Emeritus
STReport Staff Editors:
"""""""""""""""""""""""
Dana P. Jacobson Michael Arthur John Deegan
Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Judith Hamner
John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Joseph Mirando
Steve Spivey Doyle C. Helms
Contributing Correspondents:
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Michael Lee Richard Covert Scott Birch
Brian Converse Oliver Steinmeier Tim Holt
Andrew Learner Norman Boucher Harry Steele
Clemens Chin Neil Bradley Eric Jerue
Ron Deal Robert Dean Ed Westhusing
James Nolan Vernon W. Smith Bruno Puglia
IMPORTANT NOTICE
""""""""""""""""
Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc...
via E-Mail to:
Compuserve................... 70007,4454
Delphi......................... RMARIANO
BIX............................ RMARIANO
FIDONET........................ 1:112/35
FNET........................... NODE 350
ITC NET...................... 85:881/253
NEST........................ 90:21/350.0
GEnie......................... ST-REPORT
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
=====================
On CompuServe
-------------
compiled by Joe Mirando
Hidi ho good neighbors. Another week has come and gone, and Falcons are
starting to make their way into the States... slowly, but they are coming.
If you haven't seen a Falcon yet, find a dealer that has one. It really is
a good, entry level, home machine.
Oh, and while I'm thinking of it, look for Lee Benjamin's review of the
BRACE AtariFest. Its really neat, and I guess that I gave him the
beginning of an idea for it.
Well, let's get to the business at hand: The tips and information that
abounds in the Atari Forums on CompuServe...
From the Atari Productivity Forum
=================================
Henry Tremblay asks:
"What's the news on Atari Works. Will it be ready for Christmas? I have
the opportunity to buy LDW Power in French from France for about 35 $ US.
Should I wait for Atari Works?"
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine tells Henry:
"Atari Works is available from some dealers in the USA I believe as well as
Multi-TOS. I guess the real issue is on what are needs in a
spreadsheet?"
In a conversation about hard disk problems Jay Craswell tells
Grosvenor Barber:
"I would not rain on ICD parade but I had something similar happen.
Ok here is what I "think" may be the problem. Drives that you want to
load must load in order without gaps. Thus ASIC drive 0 by itself is
fine. However if you strap your single drive system with only a drive
3 it will never find it. There is a one byte patch to mae the system
scan thru all unit numbers. Don't ask I don't remember. Plus I prefer
it not to look for things I know are not hooked up <grin> Hope that
helps and the very best to you and yours."
Grosvenor tells Jay:
"Thanks. Here is how I fixed up a real mess..... I gave up. Running the
latest Atari hard drive software from CServe proved somewhat inadequate.
Perhaps it was me, perhaps not. After a day of playing with the settings,
I choose to get the latest ICD drivers on DL from ATARIVEN. Although this
"fix" is more akin to taking a drink to "cure" a hangover (a bit of the
hair of the dog that bit ya), it did do the job. I now have a fast and, so
far, reliable hard drive again.
I do not think I will optimize the drive again. I do believe the Oregon
product is good and capable and the people there were terrific. On the
other hand, their product along with whatever I own just did not get along.
I see no reason to try again.
I have learned that the probability of this problem occurring again with
the latest ICD drivers is significantly less than with my earlier copies.
However..... I am bloodied and wish to crawl away and heal.
Fragged drives will be handled with a mass click and drag to any empty
partition; erase the original partition; and return the files. That seems
to work pretty good based on my viewing of the drive files with the Oregon
partition graphical drive/file viewer.
And let me add one last point in this monologue: BACK UP YOUR DRIVES. Yet
another computer junkie who knows the truth but is too dumb to follow The
Way"
Jay replies:
"Glad you are on the mend. I have done pretty much the same thing. I use
a big external Opto drive and just copy the whole schmere and then format
and copy back the "good" files. <grin>"
Greg Kopchak tells everyone interested in viewing PhotoCD pictures on
a Falcon:
"If you live in the Midwest, we will have Photo Show up and running at MIST
this weekend. Due to a sports car, I'm only bringing a VGA monitor with
me. Would have liked to show it on a large screen TV."
Boris Molodyi tells Greg:
"Unfortunately, can't go to the show. I'll take a look at local dealership,
tho, when he gets it.
BTW, will it work on TT with 24 bit graphic card?"
Greg tells Boris:
"You can do conversions to TIF, EPS, or RAW 24 bit color with a TT, color
card, and Photo Show, but you can not view the images. For viewing, a
Falcon is required. If I had access to a 24 bit card, I can add viewing as
an option, but I'm smart enough not to try doing it blind.
If you would like to test a 24 bit viewing routine for the TT, leave me
E-mail. It's on my list right now, but not on the top of the list yet.
Ask your dealer. Our US distributor is shipping the program now. We got a
call from a dealer setting up his Photo CD drive tonight, so the program is
hitting the streets as we speak.
Our booth at MIST was non-stop from opening to closing at MIST.
It was really nice to get a chance to put a face together with so many
familiar names over the weekend. We would like to thank everyone who
stopped by. Wish we had more time in the day.
I was disappointed that I didn't get a chance to check out the color cards
being shown by Gribnif and Lexicor at the show. I really wanted to see the
new version of my old favorite, Flash. Never got a chance to see any of
them. Missed Geneva too. Needed an extra Atari monitor, saw a couple and
never got a chance to pick one up.
I guess I was just overwhelmed by the large group of enthusiastic Atari
users at the show. Hope to catch everything I missed at the next show."
Boris tells Greg:
"Viewing option would be nice, indeed. With TT/graphic card combo having
better graphics than Falcon, it seems rather reasonable. I'd be glad to
help in testing, but I'll be getting the card only in September. If you'll
be still needing testers by then, I'm always glad to help."
Frank Wilson tells us all:
"I have a 1040ST that I have recently retired. It has a 1 meg RAM, a
double-sided floppy drive, and NO hard drive. I want to give it to my
daughter for use as a word processor. I would greatly appreciate it if
someone could recommend a word processing program that would be suitable
and also tell me where I can order it. It does not need to have extensive
features. It needs to have good documentation. It needs to be able to be
loaded at startup and not require a lot of disk swapping while in use."
John Damiano of Transierra tells Frank:
"I think you would like STWriter which is on here and is free other than DL
charges. I have used it for 7 years now and still like it for most
things."
John Randone tells Frank:
"You should also consider WordWriter b Timeworks...This commercial program
is probably available for around $50 or less. It is extremely easy to use,
and even has some features the big ones don't--like having 4 documents open
simultaneously. I have recently put away my copy of Word Perfect 4.2, and
use WordWriter for _all_ my regular word processing."
John Devlin asks:
"Can anyone tell me what the following error codes mean when the ICD util.
5.2v is run...
The error codes are sense error code $10 or $14"
Mike Mortilla tells John:
"$10=ID or CRC Error $1=No record found"
Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine tells John:
"You should consider getting the newer version of the utilities. The
version is in the library 6.0.7 and it may solve your problem
quicker."
John Amsler asks about converting word processing files:
"There's no way to convert a WordPerfect file to First Word Plus format, is
there?
(I know -- or suspect -- that it can be converted to ASCII format and then
imported to First Word Plus, but a friend of mine wants to print out a
resume on my laser printer, and he's got Word Perfect whereas I've got
First Word Plus.)"
Rick Flashman of Gribnif Software tells John:
"About two years ago I had seen on Genie a shareware program that did just
what you wanted. However, I don't have it any more. Maybe someone else is
more familiar with what I am talking about (converting documents between
WordPerfect and 1stWordPlus). I even sent the writer a shareware fee
(though I never heard from him again)."
I'd just like to point out that, on other services, a message of this
type would probably have been deleted, or the writer admonished,
because the message refers to another on-line service. Well, at any
rate, Carl Barron tells John:
"Have your friend install a WP driver for your laser. Then print the file
to disk with that driver. Giving you the file printing it is as simple as
copying that file to your printer without another word processor. If your
laser is HPLJ2 compatible there is a driver for your laser."
John tells Carl:
"THANKS for the info! Yes, I have a HPLJ IIIp, so it maybe it will
work."
John Randone tells John Amsler:
"There was (is) a program called WP switch. It converts to and from a
variety of word processors to Word Perfect compatible...but I don't know if
your application is supported. But, it may be just what you are looking
for."
Dick Paddock asks:
"Have you used the CPX control panel to set (or verify the setting) of the
MegaSTe to 16MHz with cache on? I think that's the default setting, but if
you haven't checked, you should."
Shawn Laughlin tells Dick:
"I have an STe, so I'm quite certain I'm on 8Mhz <g>. Next computer I'll
buy will be a 486 or 586 . Sorry, but I will no longer support a platform
that can't (or wont) compete. "I surrender". 8mhz, 16 mhz whatever- is a
might too tame in this world. Gimme 40+ mhz,24 bit graphics etc.
I am glad that I purchased this STe in January for he sake of the software
I've compiled over the years. I expect, that from as much as I should use
it should las me 20 years. Sorry to admit it, but with the current price
wars, Atari is not a bargain. I've owned a computer for 10 years and still
haven't had one that came with a hard drive! Thank you, Atari. It really is
disgusting. I'll see you al on the "other -PC compatible- side" <g>.
Sorry to sound so cynical, but I've grown weary of dead horses.
I quit drinking 2 months and I'm in a 486 SVGA! So what was that about a
16 mhz cache?"
John Damiano tells Shawn:
"Actually...my 16mhz Mega feels just as fast as my 486DX50. And its WAY
more easier to use."
Shawn asks John:
"How does 16mhz feel faster than 50? (that little "50" behind the DX does
mean 50 mhz,eh?).
Just curious, do the TT's, Mega or Falcon come with a hard drive?
When you add the price of a hard drive to an STe, it is cheaper to get a
PC ( and you run 4 times as fast!). Atari is probably easier to use right
out of the box, ( like that Apple commercial) but if you see the computer
as an investment, the setting up time might be well worth it considering
the solidity of the platform."
John tells Shawn:
"It just feels faster when you are using it. I don't know why...its
perception. I like the 486 (its a Gateway machine) but I always use the ST
stuff because its just more fun/easier to work with. Of course...having
years of experience may prejudice me somewhat :>}"
Rick Flashman at Gribnif Software tells Shawn:
"You can't compare megahertz between a Motorola and Intel processor. There
is no basis for the comparison. I can tell you flat out that my 16MHz Mega
STE *is* faster than the 486DX 33MHz that I am using right now. Heck, my
8MHz STacy is probably faster."
Shawn asks Rick:
"Funny, I thought hertz was hertz no matter *what* was being measured
(sound, radio signals etc.).
Is 16mhz not 16 million cycles per second? Is 33 mhz no 33 million cycles
per second? Is 440 Hz no middle A ?
What good is the unit if it can't be used for comparison?
Explain how 16 million cycles per second can be faster than 33 million per
second.
Another good test is to run a program like Falcon on both machines and
watch the difference in the frame rates. I did some animation work for a
video company a couple of years ago on a 386. I know that was faster than
an ST."
Phil Jensen tells Shawn:
"On both processors there is not a one-to-one correspondence between hertz
and instructions - the more involved instructions, or more involved
addressing modes take more "ticks". Further, there is no assurance that
similar tasks will involve the same number of instructions on the two
processors.
One thing that can be said is that Motorola, from the original 68000 up,
has more hardware register bandwidth than Intel: 16 32-bit registers,
versus 8 (or 11, depending what you count) 16-bit registers on the machines
below the 386, and still only 8 (or 13) 32-bit registers on the 386 and
beyond. How well all this is used depends on the compilers being used.
The 386/486 are "real machines", but Intel software is still crippled by
the heritage from the older processors with no alternative to the segmented
address space."
Shawn Laughlin thanks Phil:
"Oh, I think I understand a little better. To move a 32 bit address would
take more instructions on the Intel processor than on the Motorola?
I seem to remember some talk about the weird addressing modes on the PC
(least significant word, most significant ?)
Perhaps this goes back to having 16 bit registers?
Also, for future reference, is there a way to tell from the model numbers
if has 8 or 13 registers."
On the technical side, Phil tells Shawn:
"Right - PC software that was written for the pre-386 machines is full of
sequences like
MOV AX,[059C]
MOV DX,[059E]
MOV [BP-8],AX
MOV [BP-6],DX
which takes 13 bytes (as opposed to 8 for "move.l thing,-8(a6)" on 68K).
They all only have 8 "general" registers: AX,BX,CX,DX,SI,DI,BP,SP. I was
being generous talking about 11-13: the old chips have three "segment"
registers (besides CS which is really part of the PC) - DS,ES, and SS. The
386 also has FS and GS, but again (aside from the fact that the whole idea
of segmented addresses is wrongheaded) not much code uses them, for
compatibility.
Little-Indian versus big-Indian is a whole 'nother can of worms..."
Shawn tells Phil:
"All of a sudden, the TT doesn't look too bad <g>."
Jim Ness tells Rick Flashman:
"The STE is faster? Nah, you gotta qualify that. Run any pure cpu
benchmark, and your 486 will turn out to be 6-8 times faster. Sieve, dry,
wet, anything like that.
Where the STE seems faster is in the reaction to commands on the desktop.
Especially when you DON'T install MultiTOS. And, especially when you DON'T
use an equal resolution.
I'm sure you've seen how slow the Falcon can be, when you use 640x480x256,
which would be equivalent to the second lowest Windows rez.
One good test is to uncompress an .LZH file on both machines. Compare the
times."
Sysop Bob Retelle adds this bit of info:
"The way Atari made the Mega STe a "16 Mhz" machine is a trick that's a lot
like the way the Intel DX2 "speed doubler" chips work.
ONLY the CPU chip and its cache run at 16 Mhz, the rest of the computer..
the memory, the I/O, the disks, the DMA... all run at the regular 8 Mhz.
So the speedup you'll see will be far less than double... it depends on
what the software you're running is doing. If it spends a lot of time in
tight loops, it will run fast.. if it jumps around so the cache has to be
refilled constantly, or does a lot of I/O, it won't run much faster than a
regular 8 Mhz ST."
Walter Henzel asks:
"Would someone please tell me if ANY 3.5 inch drive would work with my
ST520? Or must it be an Atari drive? It seems to me that any drive should
store any information sent to it, period. So if I format a disk with my ST
everything should be cool? Sort of like a tape recorder. No matter what you
plug into it, microphone, guitar, synth, whatever brand, it all works. But,
this all being logical and simple usually means it won't work like that.
Could someone please inform me?"
Sysop Bob Retelle tells Walter:
"Walter, almost any 3.5 inch disk drive *mechanism* can be used with an
ST...
The problem would be interfacing it with your 520 ST. If you have the ST
with no internal disk drives, you'd need a case and power supply, and a
cable with a special Atari plug on it to connect it all to the ST.
But yes, once connected, you should be able to format and write to disks.
(If you're thinking of using say an external floppy drive for a PC or a
Mac, the interface is probably what would stop you. While you're right
that the disk drive would work, the computer needs to know how to control
the drive.)"
Robert Aries tells Walter:
"I installed a 3.5" DS mechanism into my old Atari SF354 (single-sided)
case. It wasn't as easy as "plug & play". I had to wire a new ribbon
connector. I may have a circuit diagram somewhere if you need it.
Also, be warned that the Atari OS doesn't use the standard disk change
detect protocol (whatever that is). If you swap disks the computer may not
know it; writing to the new disk will probably screw up the FAT and the
whole thing will be trashed. A related problem is that pressing <Esc>
doesn't update the directory; you have to open and close the window on the
desktop to do that.
I just installed the TEC board in my 520st (If you're not familiar with
this product, it's a board that updates the OS to the latest version,
2.06). It seems the routines dealing with disk change detection have
changed, because the problems I just mentioned are corrected (as far as I
can tell)."
Ken Slauson tells us:
"I'm looking for a good source for STe parts. Right now I think I need a
new 1772 chip, as my A and B drives are acting squirrely. But I'd like to
nail down spares for some of the more proprietary chips before Atari cashes
in all their chips. Atari repair shops are few and far between these days,
especially in Alaska. Anybody got any favorite sources? How about
schematics?"
Good ol' Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine tells Ken:
"I like TCN (The Computer Network) in Glendale,CA myself. I don't have
their phone number off the top of my head. Wait ... its right here on my
mouse pad. <grin> (818)-500-3900"
From the Atari ST Arts Forum
============================
David Burns posts:
"I am new here, and most delighted to see all the Atari activity. Am
running a MEGA/STE with 4-meg, B & W Monitor, SF 314 B Drive, Supra Modem
2400, Panasonic (HP Laser) Printer. I came looking for MGIF40, but the
directory at library 14 says it can't be found. I visually scanned to find
it, and confirm. It's dadgum hot here today, thank you."
Sysop Brad Hill tells Dave:
"Welcome to the Atari Forums! Glad to have you with us. There is a
newer version of the MGIF program in library 14. Will that do, or do
you specifically need 4.0? Anyway, the file is named MGIF42.ZIP. If
you BROwse with the keyword MGIF, it'll be the first program you see
in library 14."
Chas Cartwright asks:
"Does anyone else think now is the right time to buy an STe or am I
mad?"
John Devlin asks Chas to qualify:
"...what do you want to do with the Ste ????
If you list on here what you want from the STe we will be able to help you,
I take it you are also thinking of getting a Falcon ??
Finally, where are you ??"
Chas tells John:
"What do I want from the STe? What don't I want!
Actually I want it to do everything my venerable TOS 1 STf 1040 does only
better. A number of my ST owning friends have recently upgraded there TOS
but with the recent price cuts on the STe I think a completely new machine
is a better deal.
For the record the type of things I do with my current machine are: Games,
DTP, Programming (APL), Games, Video digitizing and of course Games.
As for the Falcon - it's tempting but there is always a risk with such a
new (immature?) product.
Where am I? Hampshire, England."
John Devlin tells Chas:
"I have an Ste 4Mb, which i have upgrade the to TOS 2.06, far better
operating system. From what you have describe a STE would suit your needs,
no doubt someone will disagree...
I am into DTP, i use Timeworks Publisher Two, i also have a video digitizer
which i uses for a friends wedding video co. By the way was is APL, i have
never heard of such a language...
I agree 100%, i shall be waiting for at least another year...
I live in Wimbledon, London."
Chas tells John:
"It does not look as if anyone is going to try and persuade me to buy a
Falcon. Which is just as well as I am typing this on my new STe! All the
same I hope everyone is not as sensible as us. We need lots of intrepid
souls to rush out and buy it so that it will still be there in a years
time...
Never heard of APL??
That is not unusual, we are a very select group. APL is an acronym for "A
Programming Language" and it is seriously weird. It has its own character
set and if you thought C was cryptic it has nothing on APL."
Henri Tremblay asks:
"Is there a way to join two scanned portions of the same image into one
image. I tried it for a while just now, the Clip function in TouchUp
doesn't allow to move the clipped area to fit it with the outer portion.
Now I know that I've seen something advertised to do that. I tried other
drawing package like Hyperpaint, but il will not allow to select a block
larger than the screen (oh, how I miss the Mc here). Any suggestion?"
Carl Barron tells Henri:
"Coalaese from WIZ WORKS, and merge it from MIGRAPH are two da's proported
to join two vertical scans horizontal into one. Requires very close to the
same scan rate on each chunk. Both of the above developers, also have a
scan accessory, if you desire one as well. Some scanning 'tray' is highly
recommended, as is a flat bed or MIGRAPH's wand, to do the trick in one
pass of the scanner if you plan on doing this quite often..."
Henri tells Carl:
"Thanks for the info. I knew there was something. It's just too bad that
no art package seems to handle large images. Hyperpaint does it, but as I
said the block function won't allow you to select a block larger than one
screen. I ordered my upgrade to TouchUp recently. I could have bought
Merge It at the same time."
From the Atari Vendors Forum
============================
Gordon McLennan posts:
"I've currently got V6.0.8 of 'The Link' ICD software, and I have to say
that it's so bug ridden it's making the use of my new floptical drive next
to impossible. Partitions on my hard drive disappear with monotonous
regularity, read and write errors crop up all the time, all of which can
lead to a few problems, as you would expect...
So what I want to know is, why is the latest version of the software on CIS
from >last December<?! I was looking for the latest update, but instead
found something from last year!
If you're on CIS to provide customer support, how about providing
some?"
Albert Dayes of... well, you remember... tells Gordon:
"From what I recall ICD's PRO SCSI and LINK software require you to send
your disk back to ICD for an update. From my memory ICD PRO SCSI and LINK
software is around 6.2.0 or so."
Louis Kokoros asks about the "PageStream of the future":
"Hello SoftLogik; I am sure you've probably been asked this before, but
here goes:
I understand you haven't committed to porting PageStream 3 for Atari, and I
fully empathize with the dilemma you must face in doing so, yet...
Have you EVER entertained the thought of porting to Windows? I use
MS-DOS/Windows 3.1 in conjunction with my STE Atari, and I can emphatically
tell you, that there is NOTHING in the price range of PageStream, that has
it's functionality in the Windows World! Nothing! Unless of course you
step up to the Quark Xpress altar...
Unless it's a trade secret or something...is it possible to bait the
Windows users with the carrot of PageStream for Windows in the not to
distant future?"
Mark at SoftLogic tells Louis:
"Windows version of PageStream3: NO COMMENT"
Louis tells Mark:
"Hmmm, I suppose I am forced to take your response at face value.
Undecided on Atari Version; No comment on Windows version. Got it. You've
been most helpful!"
Mark tells Louis:
"Remember that I never said we won't be doing a Windows version. I never
said we were either."
Max Norman asks:
"Can anyone tell me if Tom Hudson's Hardcopy program creates correct
Metafiles? I've tried importing them into Calamus 1.09, and it seems to
load them but then just displays a black picture. Any Ideas???"
Nathan Potechin of DMC tells Max:
"You should not have any difficulty importing GEM Metafiles into Calamus. I
do not own Tom's program. If you wish, send me a file and I'll test it
here."
Max tells Nathan:
"Thanx for the offer of checking one, I'll upload a sample later
tonight!"
From the Atari Portfolio Forum
==============================
When David Stewart asks about keyboards for other languages for the
Portfolio, Sysop BJ Gleason asks him:
"Why do you need the other keyboard arrangements? A project for the
company you are working for?"
Dave Stewart tells BJ:
"My boss and I were just wondering whether you could buy Ports with
different keyboard configurations, or whether we'd have to supply foreign
customers with English keyboards nd let them figure out how to use it.
We've got some ideas for how to work around the problem now, anyway, so
it's not that urgent anymore."
Peter Bennett tells BJ Gleason:
"I am about to upload the next version of PGPrint. If I upload it as
PGP.ZIP and you delete PGP10.ZIP, then am I right in assuming that I can
upload any future versions with the same name (i.e. PGP.ZIP) to replace the
previous version? That'll stop the libraries becoming clogged up with
multiple versions of the same program.
The new version has much faster screen writing and a minor correction to
allow for printing of graphic files in different directories..."
BJ tells Peter:
"You can delete pgp10.zip by yourself. You can then upload and replace
PGP.zip with later versions... it also keeps the download count intact to
give you a better idea to the usage..."
Peter tells BJ:
"Sorry bj, I don't know how to delete a file from the libraries - could you
either give me the instruction or direct me where I can get the command
sequence?"
Sysop BJ Gleason tells us all:
"As a fast-paced, live-on-the-razor's edge, laugh-in-the-face-of-death,
computer science instructor, I am off on the road again.
I am first heading to Alaska for a week's vacation. I'm heading to
Anchorage, and perhaps Fairbanks and others points in between [Where is
Cicley? ;-)]
Then I am heading to Petropavlosk, Russia [look on the atlas by the
Aleutian Islands, the Kamchatka Peninsula] for an educational seminar on
international telecommunications and education.
I'll be back on the 21th...
PS yes, the Portfolio is going with me..."
East Coast Editor of ST Informer, and a cohort of mine and BJ's at
the Connecticut AtariFest, Brian Gockley, teases poor BJ:
"Boy, for a mild mannered programmer, you manage to fund quite a few
travels. You aren't somehow programming the American Express computer to
reroute your expenses, are you?...
Of course you'd never admit it anyway!" ;^)
Dan Parvaz posts:
"I have a problem with CRYPT.HOO and NCRYPT.HOO. When I try to execute
them from within the editor I get a -beep- and a "unable to execute" type
message. What giveth?"
Peter Bennett gives Dan:
"If your C: drive is 32k or higher, there may not be enough memory left to
run the programs over the top of the editor. Sometimes you need a c: dive
of 8k to run a hook program.
If file manager or other tsr's are running, there may not be enough memory
for the hook file to execute.
Sometimes removing the 'buffers=' line from your config.sys file helps.
One other thing - make sure anything you 'ncrypt' is backed up. The program
sometimes has trouble with word-wrapped lines and won't 'dcrypt'
properly."
Dan Parvaz asks:
"Any one out there know where I can get a RS-232 interface in the middle of
Utah? I'm taking off somewhere and I'll need to modem a bit. Have a clunky
2400 baud modem, just need a way to hook up. I'll Western Union/Call in
VISA, you name it. I just need it f a s t!"
David Stewart tells Dan:
"I think that Re:Port has got you all set up ... if you need anything else,
give us a call!"
Well folks, that's about it for this week. I know that the column is
kind of long this week, but I figure that it evens out last weeks
column, which was shorter than normal.
Tune in again next week, same time, same channel, and listen to what
they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
***********************************************************************
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
=================
STReport International Online Magazine is available every week in the
ST Advantage on DELPHI. STReport readers are invited to join DELPHI and
become a part of a friendly community of enthusiastic computer users there.
SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI
======================
Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access
DELPHI services via a local phone call
JOIN -- DELPHI
--------------
Via modem, dial up DELPHI at 1-800-695-4002
then...
When connected, press RETURN once or twice
and...
At Password: type STREPORT and press RETURN.
DELPHI's Basic Plan offers access for only $6.00 per hour, for any
baud rate. The $5.95 monthly fee includes your first hour online. For
more information, call: DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005 DELPHI is
a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge, MA.
Try DELPHI for $1 an hour!
For a limited time, you can become a trial member of DELPHI, and
receive 5 hours of evening and weekend access during this month for only
$5. If you're not satisfied, simply cancel your account before the end of
the calendar month with no further obligation. If you keep your account
active, you will automatically be enrolled in DELPHI's 10/4 Basic Plan,
where you can use up to 4 weekend and evening hours a month for a minimum
$10 monthly charge, with additional hours available at $3.96. But hurry,
this special trial offer will expire soon! To take advantage of this
limited offer, use your modem to dial 1-800-365-4636. Press <RET> once or
twice. When you get the Password: prompt, type IP26 and press <RET> again.
Then, just answer the questions and within a day or two, you'll officially
be a member of DELPHI!
DELPHI- It's getting better all the time!
***********************************************************************
> "EXPERT" WITNESS? STR Spotlight Sadly... "The Lines are being drawn.."
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
ITS NO SECRET..
IT'S FOR ALL TO SEE
FOIA
----
Preface
-------
WHAT ..ARE WE REALLY WITNESS TO???
a commentary
by R.F. Mariano
The following item was brought to our attention as a result of a
seemingly questionable action on one of the major online services.
Apparently the following item, presented herein in its entirety, was
uploaded to a well known Atari "support" area for all the users to see.
The premise being that since its a matter of public record and available
for anyone to scrutinize at will, there should be no problem. SURPRISE!!
It was promptly and UNCEREMONIOUSLY DELETED!
By now, you must be wondering just which service and area this
occurred in. I'll give you a hint.. Which ST area on one service in
particular, has been repeatedly in the "spotlight" for exhibiting the
seemingly "presumptive audacity" to decide what is or is not "beneficial"
to its users. Now... Do you really need to ask? As an afterthought, the
operators of this particular area are seemingly destined for the rude
awakening. From all indications, users are growing very tired of the
perceived blatant censorship, playing favorites and less than desirable
sleazy politics that appear to be ever present and a perceived part of this
"support" area alone.
The big joke is the promoting of this particular area as "where the
action is!" Among many, many users its allegedly stated like this;
"You wanna see expert backstabbing, superb baiting, vicious fights,
delightful rank out sessions and knock down, drag 'em out slamfests?
Go to the STxx.. on XXxxx... You'll find plenty of that trash!"
All apparently organized and staged by the now infamous _clique_ to
intimidate, formulate and control user's public opinions and comments. If
that's what they mean by "where the action is" ..they can not only keep it,
they can stuff it.
What ever happened to good, old fashioned, user and product support.
Not to mention the free, unencumbered exchange of useful information?
Apparently, they're losing grasp of the original, well thought out concept
of telecommunications. Perhaps.... its more 'pleasurable' to propagandize,
patronize, ostracize, stigmatize and alienate at will. They had better
prudently remember, "What goes around... comes around."
----====----
From Dave Small;
For some time, Gadgets by Small, Inc. and IEC have been involved in
legal action. It has become the focus of quite a bit of activity recently,
which is where I've been ... :-)
Jim Allen has agreed to be an expert witness for IEC *against* Gadgets
by Small, and in fact is scheduled to be deposed personally shortly. I am
not qualified to say what an expert witness is.
I have typed in this rather long document so that *you* may *see* it.
I feel that freedom of information exchange is very important.
**Please note** that I did not type in Gadgets' reply to this
document. *This is not a competitive note between developers.* It is
informational; again, I make no attempt to reply to this. (Look, in any
event, I have no more SST's to sell; we shipped them all beginning last
February.
Sysop: I feel this document belongs here because it contains
information *relevant to the topic* as per the base note.
For instance, the usage of a 68EC030 processor in the TinyTurbo is
mentioned herein.
= = = = = = = =
This document is sworn under oath and notarized.
= = = = = = = =
I have, to the best of my ability, typed in *verbatim* the contents of
the following affadavit. Errors in the original text, or page breaks, are
marked with "[sic]". There is always the possibility that even after my
doublecheck, I made an error; it was not intentional if so, and will be
corrected if pointed out.
= = = = = = = =
DISTRICT COURT, COUNTY OF ADAMS, STATE OF COLORADO
civil Action No. 91CV2518 Division C
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AFFIDAVIT OF JAMES C. ALLEN
-----------------------------------------------------------------
INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, a Colorado corporation,
PLAINTIFF,
v.
GADGET BY SMALL, INC., a Colorado corporation,
Defendant.
------------------------------------------------------------------
THE UNDERIGNED, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, upon oath,
deposes and says the following:
1. The undersigned is the Owner of Fast Technology, located at 14
Lovejoy Road, Andover, MA 01810, telephone (508)-475-3810.
2. The undersigned is in the business of designing, producing, and
selling computer equipment and software with 12 years experience, with
particular experience in Motorola 68030 accelerator design for use in Atari
"ST" computer market conditions.
3. I am familiar with the product of Gadgets by Small, Inc.
identified as a 68030 SST accelerator board for the Atari "ST" computer,
which uses as component parts the Motorola 68030 chip and the Samsung
KS84C31-33 Dram controller chip.
4. My familiarity with the product of the defendent is based [sic]
my analysis of the hardware board and software for the product which I was
able to purchase on the open market. I am also familiar with the design by
Gadgets by Small, Inc. as a result of my previous technology license
relationship with the defendent in the development project for the purpose
of creating an accelerator board for use in Atari "ST" computers.
5. As a result of my experience in the industry as well as my past
association with David Small, Research and Development Engineer for Gadgets
by Small, Inc., I am aware and consider David Small to be an expert in the
field of design and implementation of accelerator products for use in Atari
"ST" computers which use the Motorola 68030 chip and the Samsung KS84C31-33
dram controller chip.
6.[sic]The product, hereby known as the "Turbo030", which I have
developed and market for the Atari "ST" computer is an accelerator board
which uses the Motorola 68030 chip, but uses a proprietary dram controller
design which vastly outperforms the Samsung KS84C31-33 chip in flexibility
and maximum processor speed, 50 Mhz vs. 33 Mhz. The product also
incorporates advanced architectural features such as a high speed external
cache memory to increase data throughput to the processor, and an auxiliary
68000 processor which enhances software backward compatibility to nearly
100%. These design differences constitute a "super set" of features beyond
those of the defendents [sic]product.
[ sic: End of Page One of Affadvit ]
7. The product developed by the undersigned is not competitive
with the product of the defendent, Gadgets by Small, Inc., for the
following reasons:
A. The product of the undersigned has all of the design
elements of the Gadgets by Small. Inc. [sic] product, but is
vastly enhanced in both speed and compatibility with the
additional components such as: external high speed processor cache
memory, auxiliary 68000 processor, and proprietary dram
controller.
B. The product of the undersigned operates at a much
higher clock rate of 50 MHz (Megahertz) as opposed to the 33 Mhz
speed of the Gadgets by Small, Inc. product, and is therefore much
faster and more competitive in the acceleration marketplace.
C. The product of the undersigned as well as the product
of Gadgets by Small, Inc., both use 32bit wide dynamic ram and a
Motorola 68030 chip, but the product of the undersigned represents
the next generation of accelerator products due to the additional
features employed.
D. The products are not competitive in price since the
product of Gadgets by Small, Inc., sells for one half the price of
the product of the undersigned.
E. The products are not competitive in marketing methods
employed, as the product of the undersigned is marketed through
direct mail methods to "high end" software application users and
through electronic online services, rather than through ordinary
retail advertising and distribution methods, such as those
employed by Gadgets by Small, Inc. for its product.
F. The second Motorola 680X0 based product offered by the
undersigned, hereby known as "Tiny Turbo030", is of a very
different design than that of the product of Gadgets by Small,
Inc., it does not employ the use of any 32bit dynamic ram, has a
lower selling price, uses Motorola's 68EC030 low cost processor,
and is targeted at a different typer of customer than the product
of Gadgets by Small, Inc.
8. The undersigned is no threat to Gadgets by Small, Inc., with
regard to competition for the following reasons:
A. The undersigned has a superior product in the
marketplace which exceeds the ability of the product by Gadgets
by Small, Inc. in speed, efficiency, and compatibility.
B. The undersigned has purchased on the open market the
product of Gadgets by Small, Inc. and has reviewed same and has
found no technology in the hardware or software which represents
a competitive advance in the marketplace of accelerator boards for
Atari "ST" computers.
C. The hardware and software design of the Gadgets by
Small, Inc. product represents olf technology which has been
replaced with faster and more efficient technology such as the
updated Samsung KS84C31-40 40 Megahertz dram controller chip, as
well as memory controllers from other manufacturers such as AMD
and Texas Instruments, or proprietary designs such as used by the
undersigned.
D. The software associated with Gadgets by Small, Inc.
[sic: End of Affadavit Page Two]
68030 SST product contains no encoded or otherwise obscure and
proprietary methods of initializing the Samsung KS84C31-33 dram
controller chip, nor does the Gadgets by Small, Inc. 68030 SST
product contain any encoded or otherwise proprietary method of
testing the dynamic ram controlled by the Samsung KS84C31-33,
therefore the undersigned will gain no beneficial information
from the Gadgets by Small, Inc. product which will make the
undersigned more competitive.
E. The undersigned has been involved in a technology
licensing agreement with Gadgets by Small, Inc., on a project to
design an accelerator board for Atari "ST" computers, and is aware
of the nature of the design theory and philosophy employed by
Gadgets by Small, Inc. and as a result of the knowledge of the
undersigned, the undersigned has no desire whatsoever to
appropriate or otherwise emulate the work of Gadgets by Small,
Inc.
F. The undersigned has no need whatsoever for access to
Gadgets by Small, Inc. customer lists, or Gadgets by Small., Inc.,
Mototola [sic] 68030 setup software, or Gadgets by Small, Inc.
Atari Operating System modification software in order to examine
the use by Gadgets by Small, Inc. of the Samsung KS84C31-33 dram
controller for design flaws on the part of Gadgets by Small, Inc.
Therefore, there is no threat of exposure of these key assets
items to any potential competitor to Gadgets by Small, Inc.
9. The undersigned, freely and without reservation covenants and
warrants to the court that the undersigned shall not disclose to any third
party any information acquired by the undersigned while serving as expert
witness for the Plaintiff in this case.
10. The only technical information required to be disclosed to the
undersigned, in order to analyze the claims by the Defendent of a defect in
the Samsung KS84C31-33 dram controller chip, are the software source
listings to the final "production" releases of the following:
A. The 32 bit dram initialization and setup software.
B. The 32 bit dram testing software.
C. The schematic diagrams of the circuit design of the
Gadgets by Small, Inc. product known as the 68030 SST board.
D. The programmable logic chip "PAL" equations for the
chips involved in the dynamic ram circuit, including the chips
that initialize and control the Samsugn KS845C31-33 dram
controller chip.
[sic: End of Page Three]
11. The undersigned has no need for the customer lists of Gadgets
by Small, Inc. for the purpose of giving expert opinion as to the Gadgets
by Small, Inc. 68030 SST accelerator board for Atari "ST" computers.
(signature on paper)
---------------------
James C. Allen
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS }
} ss.
COUNTY OF ESSEX }
THE FOREGOING AFFIDAVIT was subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th
day of December, 1992, by James C. Allan.
Witness my hand and official seal.
THOMAS L. BRYANT
NOTARY PUBLIC
My commission expires Oct. [sic: unreadable on FAX]
---------------------
Notary Public
[sic] End of document.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am rather interested in your reactions to this document. If you
wish, I am available for reply via EMAIL for privacy, to David M. Small
[76606,666] on Compuserve, DAVESMALL on GENIE or dsmall@gadgets.com on the
Internet. (If the Internet has me all set up -- unsure.)
This document is NOT COPYRIGHTED and may be freely copied, subject
only to its being copied completely and accurately for fairness.
END OF DOCUMENT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
______________________________________________________________
> COMPETITION? STR Spotlight Tiny Turbo & Turbo 030
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Jim Allen owner and operator of Fast Technologies... posted the
following message back in March of 1992. Proclaiming the benefits of the
acclerators he designs and manufacturers for sale on the Atari platform.
The ONLY OTHER accelerator for sale until recently on the Atari
platform was the SST from Gadgets by Small. The exchanges between the two
designers, Dave Small and Jim Allen, have been vitriolic at best and at
least, slightly entertaining. Many of the exchanges between the two gents
are on file at STReport. A number of which clearly indicate the high level
of aggressive competition between the two gents, their companys and their
products.
To Wit:
Category 4, Topic 11
Message 1 Tue Mar 10, 1992
J.ALLEN27 [FAST TECH] at 23:56 EST
Fin
ally.......
FAST TECHNOLOGY proudly announces.....
Tiny TURBO030
TinyTurbo030 is our entry level 68030 based accelerator for the Atari
ST and STE computer line. There are two versions, one for the ST, the
STE (including MegaSTE). They are identical in function and feature,
differing only in physical layout.
The TinyTurbo030 has the following features:
* Motorola's advanced "030" running at 40Mhz!!!!
* a spot for an optional 68882 FPU chip running at 60Mhz!!!
* Onboard 8Mhz 68000 chip for _100%_ compatibility, hard/software
* The most compact 030 accelerator design available anywhere
* Fits all models of the ST and STE line, even the STacy
* Optional Virtual Memory software for up to 128Megabytes of "ram"
* Super fast static ram cache design to speed up program AND video!!
* Makes your ST or STE up to 6 TIMES faster in real world use
* Equipped with Atari's new TOS 2.06, with some further enhancements!!
* Bundled with CodeHead Technology's QuickST acceleration software
* Specially designed to support and speedup Mega ST/VME video boards
* Fully BLiTTER chip compatible, works with them all!!!
* No auxiliary or replacement power supply needed!!!!
* Only 3.5" by 2.5", fits in the palm of your hand!!!
Fast Technology has been honing this design to perfection for a full year
now, we have numerous beta test sites and customers around the world, so
TinyTurbo030 customers are assured of solid performance and a no-hassle
installation and above all a _very_ high degree of compatibility in 030
mode, and total compatibility in 68000 mode. When you buy a TinyTurbo030
you are buying a proven design from the leaders in Atari accelerator
design!!!
The 68000 onboard the TinyTurbo030 lets the user boot up as a stock
machine, able to run any software, or use any peripheral which isn't
compatible with an 030 chip...simply at the flip of a switch!! The 68000
may also be set to boot off your original TOS roms, just in case TOS 206
compatibility is in doubt.
The 030 is running at a minimum of 40Mhz, when the final printed
circuit boards are here, we'll decide on 40...42...46......
The Virtual Memory option is a sneaky software way of making your
system "think" it has lots more than the standard 4Megabytes of ram ST/STE
computers are capable of. This does require you to have 4 Megabytes of real
ram in your ST/STE, but for those who need ooooodles of memory, that's no
big deal. The Virtual Memory option also includes an upgrade to the 50Mhz
030 chip and perhaps a bit high clock speed ;-)
There is a spot for a 68882 math coprocessor. We say "spot" because
due to height restrictions a socket is not possible in most ST/STE systems.
Here at Fast Technology we have the ability to install and remove PGA chips
easily, so being soldered in is not a problem. We use the PGA...pin grid
array...package because that's the only one the 50Mhz 882 chip is available
in. We've been using 50Mhz 882's at 60-75Mhz for months without a single
failure. The temperature range that desktop ST/STE computers live at is low
enough to allow this.
The TinyTurbo030 has been tested with Moniterm, ISAC, Matrix, Crazy
Dots, and a few other obscure video addon boards. When you dive into the
world of serious DTP and CAD work, and have invested in a big screen setup,
you REALLY NEED an accelerator.
The basic design of the TinyTurbo030 is similar to that of the now
"World Famous" Turbo25. A small super highspeed static ram cache combined
with a very fast 030 processor produces a very healthy speed increase in a
Tiny package. Combining the proven design of the Turbo25, with the
tremendous speed of the 030 chip seemed a natural, and the TinyTurbo030 was
born.
Using Atari's TOS 2.06 the TinyTurbo030 brings you the latest and
greatest of Atari's operating systems. This new OS has been enhanced and
made immune to speed, your system will feel like it was designed from
scratch, custom, just for you!! We've added some nice features too, like a
user settable boot delay, and other "goodies".
How fast is it? Take a look...
QINDEX 2.2, MegaST4, Blitter on, ST high resolution, QuickSTE(TT)
speed comparison versus Tos 1.4
Test TinyTurbo030 AtariTT
---- ------------ -------
Memory 497 812
Register 1024 827
Divide 1268 1024
Shift 4457 3661
Text 1032 894
String 5121 4756
Scroll 158 426
Draw 1508 1003
Tos 2.06 3.06
Mhz 40 32
Dynacadd 3D Cup 43seconds 50seconds
In real world use, like CalamusSL, the TinyTurbo030 is without question
faster than a fast ram equipped TT, just ask a Tiny user!!
How much does it cost?
The TinyTurbo030 has a list price of $999.00 US, compared to other
accelerators of similar speed on other platforms, like the Amiga and Mac,
this is a very reasonable price. But wait....
For a limited time only...till April 30th, 1992...the TinyTurbo030
introductory price is $599 !!!! Yes, only $599 will get upgrade your ST/STE
to the latest technology, with a massive speed increase, the new Atari TOS,
and still allow you to maintain total compatibility with your favorite
oldies!!!
The only requirement to lock in this price is that we receive your
deposit for 50%...$300...before April 30th. The other 50% due when your
TinyTurbo030 is shipped.
The FPU option is $299 ($50 deposit) and the Virtual Memory option is
also $299($50 deposit). Include with your order a COMPLETE description or
your system, and your option choices if any.
------------
____________________________________________________________
> FLASH II NEWS! STR InfoFile Flash II upgrade.......
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""
MISSIONWARE SOFTWARE
FLASH II UPDATE
Missionware Software is pleased to provide an online upgrade for all
current Flash II owners. We're now releasing Flash II version 2.11, which
is a maintenance upgrade for all owners of Flash II version 2.1. However,
even if you never upgraded to version 2.1, you'll still be able to upgrade
your version 2.0 and 2.01 with this patch! The file to look for is called
"F211UPGD.LZH".
Flash II version 2.11 fixes a number of minor bugs that our beta testers
and users discovered in version 2.1. You only need to upgrade to 2.11 if
any of the following affected your operation:
* Type Ahead Backspacing: When Rubout was selected and backspace was used,
the wrong character got erased from Flash II's internal TA buffer. The
text looked ok on the screen but was garbled when sent to the port.
* Capture Clear: When clearing a capture that had a marked block, when the
capture filled a second time with new data, the marked block reappeared.
* Silent Line with 0K Buffer: Silent Line would crash during
initialization if its buffer size was set to 0K bytes.
* Wait For String Command: This was ignoring case when it should have been
case sensitive.
* Keypad Enter: When using Keypad Application mode, the ENTER key was
sending the wrong escape sequences in the VT and ANSI modes.
* "DL AS" Script Command: Added for compatibility with older versions of
Flash!. You can now download text as a file.
* Memory Options: If "User" was selected and the memory specified was 256K
or a multiple thereof, then the setting got chnaged to "All" and 128K at
boot time.
* Terminal Timer: The timer now counts all the time, not just when you
dial a number or board. It resets to zero (0) when you use Dial Number or
Dial Board.
* Cursor Position: In Vidtex and VT52 modes, if the host positioned the
cursor beyond the end of the screen the program crashed.
Missionware Software continues to strive to provide you with the best
support anywhere! Remember, version 2.11 is only an interim version.
We're planning on releasing version 2.2 fairly soon which adds even more
capabilities for all Atari machines and new features as well. Version 2.2
will also be uploaded as a patch upgrade for all current owners.
If you have any questions about any of our products or about this patch
upgrade, you can contact us right here. You can also contact us by mail or
phone. Our address is:
Missionware Software
354 N. Winston Drive
Palatine, Illinois 60067-4132
USA
phone: 708-359-9565
Thank you for supporting our products and the Atari line of computers!
_________________________________________________________
> ELVIS? STR Feature Neat doin's at BRACE!
""""""""""""""""""
ELVIS PRESLEY -- ABDUCTED BY ALIENS
===================================
...while buying used Atari equipment at the Blue Ridge Atarifest!
by Lee & Other Lee
- Asheville, N.C.
After having been sighted in the swap room at last year's WAACE
show in Washington, Elvis was again sighted at the Blue Ridge Atari
Computer Enthusists Atarifest. He was seen skulking among the used
8-bit and ST systems.
Cliff Allen of Computer Studio reported that Elvis came in with a
broken CDAR-504. He said, "I had to tell him that I couldn't repair
it because I can't get parts for it. He didn't seem interested in a
newer unit."
At some point during the show an alien spacecraft was seen emerging
from the Lexicor videotape presentation and witnesses said it went
directly to the swap room and abducted the unsuspecting Elvis.
"I just knew this would happen!" - Joe Mirando of ST Report
John Eidsvoog, of Codehead Technologies, said he saw the craft
departing at approximately Warp 9.
Joe Mirando, of ST Report who was present at the Washington Elvis
sighting said, "I just knew this would happen! Having Elvis in the
Atari Community was just too good to be true."
John Cole of BRACE was heard to say, "Dang! He was going to buy the
SLM804!"
Sheldon Winick of Computer Studio commented that he had hoped to
sell a Falcon to The King. Sheldon went on to say, "With a Falcon in
the hands of The King, Atari could get all the free advertising they
wanted."
Rick Ladoge, who was representing Barefoot Software, claimed to
have demoed Barefoot's software for Elvis, but this could not be
independently confirmed.
Gregg Anderson of Computer Studio and "Atari Explorer Online"
reportedly had an interview scheduled with Elvis for his "Atari
Asylum" column. He said, "I was gonna see if the Falcon ran any
faster or slower with Elvis at the keyboard and get timing tests of
using direct-to-disk to record the low frequency vibrations of Elvis'
voice."
The present whereabouts of Elvis and the alien craft are unknown
but they departed to the west with Glendale, California a likely
destination.
-- This article was written by Lee Benjamin & Lee Mavity of the Middle
Georgia Atari User's Group (MGAUG) with thanks to Joe Mirando for the
initial report from WAACE, and to everyone at the Blue Ridge Atarifest
for a great show!
______________________________________________________
> NORTON COMMANDER STR InfoFile
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
SYMANTEC'S NEW VERSION OF NORTON COMMANDER
==========================================
--Norton Commander 4.0 is the Fastest and Easiest Way to Manage, View,
Compress and Uncompress Files--
KEY FEATURES OVERVIEW
o File compression for the most popular formats
o Over 50 viewers for application, graphics and compressed files
o High-speed file and directory transfer from laptop to desktop
and vice versa
o Send faxes, telexes and paper mail with Commander Mail
o All file, copy, move and delete dialog boxes include
subdirectories
o Support for 300% larger directories
o Available now - $99 SRP
Norton Commander 4.0, is the world's best-selling DOS shell that provides
the fastest and easiest way to manage, view, compress and uncompress files.
Norton Commander 4.0 brings significantly greater speed and convenience to
file management, file viewing, application launching, electronic mail and
PC-to-PC file transfer. No other comprehensive DOS file management software
is as fast, as easy-to-use and as small in memory and disk space
requirements as Norton Commander 4.0.
Norton Commander increases a user's productivity by providing immediate
access to and a complete view of directories and their contents. One
keystroke or mouse click can launch applications, view, copy, move and
delete files and directories. Commander lets the user view over 50
different kinds of files, including both DOS and Windows application files,
graphics files and compressed files. Commander Link, with new file-only
transfer capability, transfers files between two PCs via both serial and
parallel connector cables.
"The fourth generation Commander is not only fast and lean, making it ideal
for portables, but it's also powerful, versatile and feature-rich," said
Grant Johnson, Symantec's business unit director for the Peter Norton
Group. "It contains improvements with recommendations and suggestions from
users all over the world. The Norton Commander 4.0 transforms the DOS
environment into one that is easily managed by the everyday user, yet
robust enough for the advanced user."
NEW FEATURES
File Compression in the World's Most Popular Formats
Norton Commander lets the user copy, move and delete to and from compressed
files. Commander has built in support for PKZIP 2.04x, and seamless
external support for ARJ, ARC, PAK, LHARC and ZOO. With simple
modifications, additional external compression programs can also be
supported.
Over 30 New File Viewers Added
Norton Commander 4.0 users can view more than 50 file formats including
Q&A, Paradox 3.5, Lotus 1-2-3 3.x, Excel 3.x and 4.x, MS Word for Windows
1.x and 2.x and more. In addition to PCX, several new graphical viewers
including GIF, BMP, TIFF and ICO have been added.
Enhanced Commander Link
The addition of parallel link support in Commander Link lets users apply
the high-speed parallel port to transfer files and directories from their
laptop to their desktop PC and vice versa. "New File" transfer capability
saves times by only transferring new files. A new cloning feature allows
Commander to easily duplicate itself over a serial connection.
Commander Mail Enhancements
Commander Mail lets MCI Mail users send faxes, telexes and paper mail to
recipients who do not need to be MCI Mail subscribers. Commander Mail
automatically files e-mail messages and stores frequently used fax numbers
and e-mail ID numbers in an address book.
Quick View
Quick View lets users browse through a list of files in one panel while
displaying the contents of any highlighted file in the other panel. Without
first loading the parent applications, the new Quick View feature allows
the user to view spreadsheet, database, graphics, word processing or
compressed files in one keystroke or mouse click. When a directory is
highlighted, Quick View will show the total number of the files and
subdirectories of that directory and the amount of space used.
Quick View is available from both the Left and Right menus. The Zoom
feature lets the user zoom a half-screen file view to full screen and back
again with a single keystroke.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Directories can now be three times larger than before, containing more than
1,600 files per directory. For greater efficiency and convenience, all file
copy, move and delete dialog boxes have an "include subdirectories" check
box. This allows the user to include both directories and sub-directories
with all file operations.
A more proficient Editor supports block operations and includes printing
capability, letting the user create and edit existing documents without
leaving Commander. An enhanced Find/File capability lets the user search
for text contained in a file. It can also copy, move and delete found
files.
In addition to allowing access to the DOS prompt at any time, Commander
also provides a DOS history, recalling and displaying the last 15 DOS
commands in a pop-up window for quick selection and re-running. Users can
easily edit the command line and copy file names to it.
The Norton Commander 4.0 is network compatible, allowing users to access
and manage data over any PC compatible network. Commander also provides
system information, making a hardware and memory information summary
available from a menu option.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Norton Commander 4.0 is available at a suggested retail price of $99.
Upgrades to registered users of Norton Commander are available for $39,
plus shipping and handling, and include a free copy of Norton Speedcache+,
the fastest hard disk and CD-ROM cache for DOS and Windows.
Norton Commander 4.0 requires DOS 3.1 or higher. It runs on IBM PC XT, AT,
PS/2 and compatibles, requires 512K RAM, a serial or parallel cable for
Commander Link, and an MCI Account for Commander Mail.
Symantec Corporation develops, markets and supports a complete line of
applications and system software products for IBM personal computers and
compatibles, and Apple Macintosh computers. Founded in 1982, the company
has offices in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. Information
on the company and its products can be obtained by calling (800) 441-7234
toll free, or (408) 252-3570.
Brand and product references herein are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective holders.
CONTACT:
Ana Shannon/Christiane Petite
Symantec Corporation
310-449-4140/310-449-4141
Rebecca Fuller
Wilson McHenry Company
415/592-7600
________________________________________________________
> NVN WANTS YOU! STR InfoFile A great NEW Network!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""
NVN - THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK!
===============================
The Atari computer platform has support on yet another top notch
telecommunications service! National Videotex Network (NVN) maintains an
area just for our favorite computers. Type GO ATARI, Order an extended NVN
Membership of 6 or 12 months, pay for it in advance and receive a bonus in
connect time at no additional charge.
NVN lowers its connect time charges!
$5/hour non-prime time (EST. 7pm - 9am weekdays and all day weekends)
$8/hour prime time (EST 9am - 7pm weekdays)
Choose from two great subscription plans:
6-Month Membership
==================
Pay just $30 for a 6-month Membership and receive a usage credit that
entitles you to $15 of connect-time in the Premium services of your
choice. Your total savings using this plan would be over $20!
12 Month Membership
===================
Pay $50 for a full year's Membership and get even more free time on-line.
We'll give you a $25 usage credit to use in your favorite premium services
or try out new ones. You could save as much as $45. NVN now offers
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). For a $2 per month service charge,
customers may have their NVN online charges automatically debited from
their personal checking accounts. Please contact Client Services for this
new feature!
For more information about either of these plans..
Please, give us a call at; 1-800-336-9096.
You can join NVN one of two ways...
By voice phone 1-800-336-9096 (Client Services)
or via modem phone 1-800-336-9092.
NVN Highlights
--------------
1. For the newcomers ....
2. NEW (MODIFIED) REFERRAL PROGRAM LET'S YOU EARN $10 USAGE CREDITS!
3. A library built *just* for business people
4. Board Certified Psychiatrist heads up the new Substance Abuse Forum
5. VETERANS: Please report to the Military Forum <GO MILITARY> for C&D.
6. Step out into the Great Outdoors Forum <GO OUTDOORS>
7. We've got just the cure for your medical information needs
8. The Diabetes & Hypoglycemia Support Forum is now online.
9. SOUND OFF!!! Take our Game Survey
10. Let's talk about Coins
11. Call all DISNEYphiles! Join the gang! <GO AMERICA>.
12. Amiga Forum now available for Amiga and Desktop Video enthusiasts!
13. NEW Email enhancements are on-line. Including personal mailing lists!
____________________________________________________________________
> NOVA CARD NEWS! STR InfoFile NOVA SPECS and UPDATE NEWS!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
SPECIAL NOVA CARD UPDATE
========================
Announcement from Lexicor Software Corp.
----------------------------------------
As of Monday 19th July 1993, the Special NOVA Deal offered by Lexicor
Software for the NOVA Graphics Card is over.
The NOVA Mega and the NOVA VME 16M will now both have the same price of
599.99 U$D.
The price for the SUPERNOVA has not changed and will cost: 999.99 U$D
The 32K Graphic Card is only available on Special Order and will cost 429
U$D both the Mega and the VME. For these Card's there may be an added
handling Price.
Shipping cost are excluded from these prices.
Technical Specifications
------------------------
NOVA Megabus 16M
----------------
Maximum Frame Rate : 90Mhz
Video RAM : 1 Megabyte
RAMtype : DRAM
Maximum Color's : 16,7 Million Colors (24bit)
Maximum Resolution (>70Hz): 1024x768 in 256 Color's
Maximum Resolution (15bit): 768x512
Maximum Resolution (24bit): 640x400
Virtual Resolution : YES
Automatic REZ Switch : YES
Upgradeable : YES
VDI for 24bit : YES
VMG : YES
HARDWARE Accelerator : NO
NOVA VME 16M
------------
Maximum Frame Rate : 90MHz
Video RAM : 1 Megabyte
RAMtype : DRAM
Maximum Color's : 16,7 Million Colors (24bit)
Maximum Resolution (>70Hz): 1088x832 in 256 Color's
Maximum Resolution (15bit): 800x600
Maximum Resolution (24bit): 640x480
Virtual Resolution : YES
Automatic REZ Switch : YES
Upgradeable : YES
VDI for 24bit : YES
VMG : YES
HARDWARE Accelerator : NO
SUPERNOVA
---------
Maximum Frame Rate : 135MHz
Video RAM : 2 Megabytes
RAMType : VRAM
Maximum Color's : 16,7 Million Colors (24bit)
Maximum Resolution (>70Hz): 1280x1024
Maximum Resolution (15bit): 1024x768
Maximum Resolution (24bit): 800x600
Virtual Resolution : YES
Automatic REZ Switch : YES
Upgradeable : YES
VDI for 24bit : YES
VMG : YES
HARDWARE Accelerator : YES
For more information check our previous releases on the NOVA Card. The
Virtual Resolution are programmable via the VMG. The VDI of the NOVA has
proven to be very compatible with our Software and many other Software
applications as well.
There is also a NOVA Special disk available soon that has some NOVA
Specific program's on it, including NOVA Mines, the game, and the special
Calamus SL driver that will enable Calamus SL to run in 15/16bit in
15/16bit color mode.
Yat Siu
Lexicor Software Europe
LEXICOR SOFTWARE CORP.
1726 Francisco ST.
Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone 510-848-7621
FAX 510-848-7613
________________________________________________________
> CPAV 2.0 STR InfoFile Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0
"""""""""""""""""""""
CENTRAL POINT ANTI VIRUS 2.0
============================
BEAVERTON, Ore. Central Point Software, Inc. is shipping Central Point
Anti-Virus 2.0, a new version of its advanced, DOS-based virus protection
program that introduces groundbreaking technology for protection against
unknown viruses. Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 provides PC users up-to-date
protection against existing and future viruses without requiring frequent
updates.
With the introduction of a unique expert system for generic detection
capabilities - designed by Central Point anti-virus technologists - the
product takes a giant technology leap over both previous versions and
competing products. In addition, the new release defends against the more
than 2,000 known viruses and offers increased performance and reduced
memory requirements to provide comprehensive virus protection.
"The Virus Analyzer included in Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 arms
organizations such as ours with a powerful weapon to fight the onslaught of
destructive viruses facing corporations today," said John Johnston, manager
of network operations for a Fortune 500 company. "As we move more of our
mission-critical business applications onto the network, it is essential to
have the up-to-date and continuous virus protection that Central Point
Anti-Virus 2.0 provides."
Generic Virus Detection and Cleaning
Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 employs the use of a unique expert system,
Virus Analyzer, to provide generic detection of unknown viruses. Unlike
the generic detection touted by other anti-virus products, the Virus
Analyzer requires no prior information about files in an uninfected state.
Instead, it uses a built-in expert system to compare the files it analyzes
against what is currently known about computer viral code characteristics
to make positive, but non-specific identification of virus infection.
"The Virus Analyzer feature is quite extraordinary," said Dr. Simon
Shepherd of the UK Computer Virus Certification Centre. "The advent of a
system that eliminates the task of frequent upgrading is such a significant
development that I cannot envision anyone buying anything else."
Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 also utilizes an enhanced proprietary checksum
engine and checksum format, SmartChecks', to distinguish between legitimate
file changes and file changes caused by a virus. Additionally, SmartChecks
allow users to clean both known and unknown viruses without virus-specific
information. When viruses are removed using SmartChecks, the file is
perfectly restored to its original, uninfected state.
Increased Detection of Known Viruses
The Civil Defense, WinVir 1.4 and TPE 1.x viruses are just a few of the new
viruses now detected and cleaned by Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0. In
addition, Central Point Anti-Virus adds virus removal capabilities to its
signature format via the new Smart Signatures' feature. "Signature-based
detection and cleaning has definitely not been abandoned with the
implementation of our generic detection technology," said Tori Case,
product marketing manager for Central Point Anti-Virus. "The best defense
is still a known defense, and signature-based detection allows for the best
removal options."
Smart Signatures allow for easy updating of both detection and cleaning
capabilities throughout an organization. In addition, the Network Update
feature in Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 allows a custom network directory
to be created for network installation and automatic updating of Central
Point Anti-Virus. New Smart Signatures can be placed in this directory for
transparent distribution to users with Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 on
their workstations.
New Compressed File Scanning
In addition to supporting the standard disk compression schemes, such as
DoubleSpace, Stacker and SuperStor, Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 now
supports the most popular file compression formats, including PK Zip, PK
Lite, LZEXE and ARJ. When using this option, Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0
opens compressed files in memory and scans each file individually to
determine if it contains a virus, preventing any viruses from hiding in
compressed files.
Increased Performance and Reduced Memory Requirements
Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 incorporates several new and enhanced features
to increase performance, as well as to make the product more functional for
users working in a RAM-constrained environment.
New features include the following:
Fast Verify. This feature increases scanning speed from four files per
second to more than 60 files per second by verifying the checksum of a file
only if the file's size has changed.
Use of Upper Memory Blocks (UMBs) by terminate-and-stay-resident programs
(TSRs). The VSAFE and VWATCH memory-resident programs reduce conventional
RAM requirements by loading the entire program into UMBs, if available. If
UMBs are used, no conventional memory will be used by the TSRs.
Enhanced features include the following:
Enhanced memory scanning. A new scanning algorithm provides protection
against more viruses in memory. Also, the memory scanner now can be
updated for new viruses between program upgrades via signature files.
Reduced program size. Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 reduces RAM usage by
more than 50K over previous versions.
Pricing and Availability
Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 will be available in June from major software
distributors and resellers in North America for a suggested retail price of
$129.95. Registered users of previous versions of Central Point Anti-Virus
can upgrade to Version 2.0 for $29.95. Additionally, there is an optional
subscription plan available to provide customers four consecutive updates
for $49.95. Customers in the United States and Canada can order their
upgrades or obtain more information by sending a private email to CPS KimS,
or calling (800) 964-6896. For information on corporate licenses, call
(800) 305-0936.
Central Point Software, Inc. has been developing, marketing and supporting
virus management software since March 1991. The only two-time winner of
the PC Magazine Editor's Choice award, Central Point Anti-Virus is
available for DOS, Windows, Macintosh and Novell NetWare platforms.
Central Point was also selected as the anti-virus vendor of choice by
Microsoft for inclusion in MS-DOS 6. With more than 2 million customers,
Central Point Anti-Virus offers users the most advanced virus protection
available.
Central Point Software, Inc., headquartered in Beaverton, develops, markets
and supports a complete line of utility software products for DOS, Windows
and Macintosh on the desktop, as well as the Novell NetWare platform.
Founded in 1981, the company now has a worldwide customer base of five
million users. Central Point's products are translated into six foreign
languages and are available in more than 30 countries.
_________________________________________________________
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
:HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT:
_________________________________
Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo)
Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369.
Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that).
Wait for the U#= prompt.
Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN.
GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric
Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> STACKER 3.1 STR InfoFile DOS 6 Compatible
""""""""""""""""""""""""
STACKER TECHNOLOGY
==================
What is Stacker?
The Stacker device driver implements a virtual disk with twice the capacity
of the physical disk. It works by reducing the number of sectors required
to hold a cluster and compressing the data with the Stacker LZS algorithm,
the industry standard.
How Stacker Works.
As the Stacker device driver is called upon to write a cluster of data, it
calls upon the Stac Compression technology in either hardware or software
to compress the data in the cluster. Once compressed, the data is
allocated to the minimum integral number of sectors necessary to contain
the compressed cluster.
Stacker uses either a 4K, 8K, 16K, or a 32K byte cluster. Normally,
MS-DOS would require eight 512-byte sectors to store a 4K cluster. By
compressing the data by a factor of 2, on the average, Stacker uses only
half the number of sectors to store the same amount of data. In the case
of a 4K cluster, 2:1 compression yields four sectors per cluster rather
than eight. The result is a doubling of capacity on a compressed volume.
The Stacker Algorithm Consists of Two Elements.
* A device driver that compresses all data before it is written to
a storage device and decompresses all data as it is read.
* Stacker LZS(tm), a high-speed lossless compression algorithm,
is implemented in a coprocessor chip or in software.
The Stacker LZS algorithm looks for repeated strings in a window. This
window, within which string matches can be found, always contains the most
recently processed 2,048 bytes. The technique employed gets its name,
sliding window, because the window slides forward through a file as bytes
are processed.
Living With Stacker
You treat your Stacker drive like an ordinary drive, except that it is
twice as large now. All of your files appear in their normal size and
location. All compression and decompression is automatic and invisible.
You can use your normal DOS and utility functions (like Norton Disk Doctor
and PCTOOLS DISKFIX) on the Stacker drive.
Types of Stacker Installations
Stacker provides two flexible configurations. The default installation
compresses your existing data into one large, hidden file. This file is
then "mounted" as the next available drive letter. We then "swap" this
newly created drive letter with the original drive letter. This makes your
applications run normally, without having to reconfigure them.
The second installation option is to compress empty drive space that exists
on your drive now. For example, if you had 40MB of space available on
drive C:, we would turn this into an 80MB drive D:.
Contact Information
Stac Electronics
Lois Leslie (619) 431-7474
Jennings & Company
Greg Spector (415) 349-8400
Stacker 3.1 Now Shipping, Includes Integrated Data Compression for
MS-DOS 6.0 Competitive Upgrade Also Offered
CARLSBAD, Calif., Stac Electronics (NASDAQ:STAC), began shipping Stacker
3.1 for Windows & DOS. The latest release of Stac's award-winning data
compression software is compatible with all versions of MS-DOS and
Microsoft Windows, plus achieves new levels of safety and ease of use by
taking advantage of special features in Microsoft Corp.'s new DOS 6.0.
"With Stacker you get safe, proven, full-featured data compression no
matter what version of DOS you're most comfortable with," said John
Bromhead, Stac's director of marketing. "And, if you do choose to upgrade
to DOS 6.0, Stacker will tightly integrate with your new operating system."
Stacker 3.1 for Windows & DOS has a suggested retail price of $149.
Registered users of Stacker 3.0 can upgrade to Stacker 3.1 directly from
Stac for $19.95. Users who purchased Stacker 3.0 after March 30, 1993
qualify for a free upgrade with proof of purchase.
For people who are already running MS-DOS 6.0, but are not currently
Stacker users, Stac is offering a special competitive upgrade to Stacker
3.1 for the suggested retail price of $79.95.
"All users of MS-DOS 6.0 can now take advantage of our hassle-free
competitive upgrade and they can get safe, full-featured compression that
tightly integrates with the operating system," added Bromhead. "And if you
are using MS-DOS DoubleSpace, our new Stacker 3.1 will instantly convert
your system to use our safer Stacker LZS_ technology that has three levels
of data integrity checks built in."
Although both Stacker and DoubleSpace double the storage capacity of system
hard disks, only Stacker 3.1 provides the additional functionality and
features that made its predecessor one of the best-selling software
products worldwide.
Features unique to Stacker include:
* DoubleSpace Conversion: Converts data compressed using DoubleSpace, the
utility bundled with MS-DOS 6.0, to Stac's patented Stacker LZS technology.
* The Windows Stackometer_: Graphical gauges that allow Windows users to
continuously monitor disk capacity, compression ratio and fragmentation
levels.
* Stacker Anywhere_: Allows users to read and write to any removable media
on any PC, even one where Stacker is not installed.
* Stacker Automount_: Makes Stacker removables immediately available for
use.
* Unstack: Automatically returns a Stacker disk system to its original
state.
* Stacker AutoProtect_: Detects disk errors dynamically and at boot time,
and immediately protects Stacker volumes.
* Stacker AutoRecovery_: Automatically repairs errors on the disk.
* Two-gigabyte Stacker drives: Allows users to compress large drives
without having to set up multiple partitions.
The Company, Stac Electronics, is the leading supplier of high performance
data compression products for DOS, Windows, Macintosh and OS/2 personal
computers. Implemented in software and silicon, Stac's products are sold
direct from the company and through retail and OEM sales distribution
channels worldwide.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> A "Quotable Quote" What'd he say??? Wha???
"""""""""""""""""
"IF YOU'RE THERE YOU AREN'T THERE!"
&
YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE!"
J.B. Lennon Esq.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> DEALER CLASSIFIED LIST STR InfoFile * Dealer Listings *
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ---------------
ABCO COMPUTER CONSULTANTS
=========================
P.O. Box 6672
Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155
Est. 1985
1-904-783-3319
FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER
IBM/MSDOS-PC-CLONES-MAC-AMIGA-ATARI
CUSTOM - MADE TO ORDER HARDWARE
SOFTWARE, SUPPLIES & INSTRUCTION
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
COMPUTER STUDIO
===============
WESTGATE SHOPPING CENTER
40 Westgate Parkway - Suite D
Asheville, NC 28806
1-800-253-0201
Orders Only
1-704-251-0201
Information
FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER
Authorized Atari Dealer
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
EAST HARTFORD COMPUTER
======================
202 Roberts St.
East Hartford CT. 06108
1-203-528-4448
FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER
Authorized Atari Dealer
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
MEGABYTE COMPUTERS
==================
907 Mebourne
Hurst, TX 76053
1-817-589-2950
FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER
Authorized Atari Dealer
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
SAN JOSE COMPUTER
=================
1278 Alma Court
San Jose, CA. 95112
1-408-995-5080
FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER
Authorized Atari Dealer
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
CompuSeller West
================
220-1/2 W. Main St.
St. Charles, IL., 60174
Ph. (708) 513-5220
FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER
Authorized Atari Dealer
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
(DEALERS; to be listed here, please drop us a line.)
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STReport International Online Magazine
-* [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport *-
AVAILABLE ON OVER 20,000 PRIVATE BBS SYSTEMS
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
STR Online! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" August 06, 1993
Since 1987 copyright (c) 1987-93 All Rights Reserved No.9.32
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Messages quoted in whole or in part are done so under the Fair Use
provision of the US Copyright Laws. USPC Title 17. 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. STR, STReport and/or portions therein may not be edited in any way
without prior written permission. STR, STReport, at the time of
publication, is believed reasonably accurate. STR, 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.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
