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Atari Explorer Online Issue 1992 11
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ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE MAGAZINE
August 8, 1992 Volume 1, Number 11 Issue #92-11
Published and Copyright (c)1992, Atari Computer Corporation
1972-1992 (20 Years Of Service)
~ Editor In-Chief......................................Ron Kovacs
~ Contributing Editor...................................Ed Krimen
~ Contributing Writer...................................Bob Smith
~ AtariUser Magazine Editor.............................John Nagy
~ Atari Corporation....................................Bob Brodie
| | | TABLE OF CONTENTS | | |
||| The Publisher's Workstation............Bob Brodie
More Atari News!
||| The Editors Desk.......................Ron Kovacs
Rumor Update - FNET
||| The Z*Net Newswire...............................
Atari and Industry Update
||| GEnie News..........................Jeff Williams
RT Conference Schedule
||| Epic Reviewed....................Andreas Barbiero
Software review
||| Connecticut Atarifest 1992.......................
Final update to next weeks event!
||| Line Noise: GEnie.......................Ed Krimen
Messages and News from GEnie
||| The Joy Of Serial Cables................Bill Graf
||| The Joy Of Kids and Computers...........Bob Smith
||| The Mysterious TT................Andreas Barbiero
Questions and commentary about the TT
||| AtariUser ST Boards..................John Lockard
Listing of Atari ST boards around the world....
| | | THE PUBLISHER'S WORKSTATION
| | | by Bob Brodie, Director of Communications, Atari Corporation
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
This is an exciting time to be an Atarian! This coming week will
culminate all of the excitement that has been building since the CeBIT
Show in March. Atari gave the first public glances of the Falcon 030 in
CeBIT, and has given a few private showings since then. GEnie will host
Sam Tramiel in a live online conference on Wedensday, August 12th. Sam
promises to give all the long awaited details on the Falcon in this
conference. Be sure to be there!! If you're not a member of GEnie, we
have GEnie sign up information at the end of this article.
Sam will follow up on this conference with another live online
conference the following night on Delphi. This marks the first
appearance by Sam on Delphi, and is eagerly looked forward to by the
membership of the ST Advantage area there. Between the two conferences,
I'm confident that a large amount of information will be given to the
userbase as the shipping of the Falcon comes closer.
For those of you without access to either of these fine pay services,
we'll be issuing transcripts of both conference in the FNET, via the
Atari Explorer Online Conference. We've added even more nodes to the
conference, presently over 70 bbs's are participating in the fast
growing AEO Conference!! Contact me at Node 706 if you're interested in
participating in the Atari Explorer Online Conference.
This coming weekend is the 2nd Annual Connecticut Atarifest, being held
this year in the Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport in
Hartford, CT. I look forward to seeing all of our east coast Atarians
at this show. Show organizer Brian Gockley has been a tireless worker
in getting this show moved up to the next level from last years small
event. I predict that this years show will serve as a launch pad to
make the CT. Atarifest one of the premier shows in the US! Over 40
vendors have taken booth space in this show, and moving it from
Bridgeport to Hartford places the show at a major airport for easy
access, and makes it a step closer to the New England Atarians.
Brian has gotten fabulous rates for attendees that are staying at the
Sheraton, and the hotel is right next to the airport. This all shapes
up to making the show VERY attractive, for locals and out of towners
alike. Atari is providing show stock for a portion of this years event,
making it even more attractive for developers to come to. I'll be
there, and giving at least one seminar as well. Be sure to stop by and
say hello!!!
Since this show will follow so closely on the heels of Sam Tramiel's
online conference, it's only natural to expect that the Falcon will be a
hot topic of discussion at the show. Please be sure to stop by and
share your thoughts about this exciting new product with me. I'm VERY
excited about the Falcon!! It will be wonderful to talk with each and
every one of you about this fabulous new computer.
The next week shapes up to be even more exciting. On the heels of
Atari's disclosure of the Falcon's specifications, comes the Duesseldorf
Atari Messe. This show promises to be a showcase for developers that
have developed new applications designed to take advantage of the
Falcon's capabilities. Even Atari is expecting to have a few surprises
presented to them by the developers that have been working feverishly on
Falcon products. Knowing that the machine is coming is terrific, but
it's even better to be able to see new applications so quickly after the
introduction of this new machine. The Duesseldorf Atari Messe will be
the beginning of our rollout of the Falcon to the Atari Community.
Just as the Duesseldorf Atari Messe is the site of the Atari rollout of
the Falcon, prepartions are underway for the rollout of the Falcon to
the North American marketplace. The North American rollout will
commence at the Boston Computer Society, on September 23rd. Atari is
working closely with the BCS for this meeting. Bob Grenoble of the BCS
predicts that they will have close to 1,000 people in attendance at this
user group meeting. Since the New England Hall where the BCS meets only
hold 600-700 people, BCS has made arrangements to have the presentation
shown via video in an ajoining room. We're very excited to be returning
to the Boston Computer Society. The last presentation we made there was
in 1985, when the ST was launched.
The next major Falcon presentaion will be at COMDEX, held in Las Vegas
from November 16-20. Atari has again secured a prime spot in the Sands
Convention Center for this annual event. While our plans are
preliminary at this point, I expect to see a coming together of the
developers and our exciting new hardware showcased at COMDEX. Atari is
VERY excited about this years COMDEX! We have made special arrangements
to obtain passes to this years event far in advance of the normal time.
They are already in my office, and you may obtain your passes for COMDEX
by writing to me via EMAIL or at the office in Sunnyvale. These passes
will allow you access to this trade only exhibiton for FREE, as special
guests of Atari Corporation. The passes are good for the entire
exhibition, the entire week. If you've ever wanted to attend this
showcase of computing, this will be there year to do it! Don't let the
opportunity to utilize these free passes slip by!
Atarians with musical inclinations should be certain to pickup the
September issue of KEYBOARD Magazine. There are a couple of articles in
this issue of special interest to Atarians. The Keyboard Clinic feature
is "Just Say Notator" with a in depth article on this fine product from
C-Lab. This is part one of this particular clinc. Keyboard indicates
that they will pick up the rest of the clinic in a couple of months.
Geoffrey Ryle, in his computers online column, gives great Atari
coverage on the TT030 benefits in music. Geoff also gives a well
deserved plug to Warp 9, from CodeHead Technologies.
With all these great things going on, it truly is a great time to be an
Atarian!!! I hope to see lots of you online this week on GEnie, our
offical online service, for Sam Tramiels Conference.
Thanks for reading Atari Explorer Online!!
| | | THE EDITORS DESK
| | | By Ron Kovacs
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for reading another edition of Atari Explorer Online Magazine.
Contrary to rumors being released via ST Report Online Magazine this
week and last, the Atari Explorer Online Conference is enjoying high
productivity and healthy discussion. There are over 75 FNET nodes
carrying the conference along with future support for the AtariNet
Network. Stay tuned for further details. If you are interested in
getting the conference on your local BBS system, please send email in
FNET to node 706 and request conference 20448.
Z*Net PC Online Magazine was recently awarded the second runner up of
the 1992 Quill Awards for Technical/News Online Magazine. We are
pleased to be recognized and appreciate the support from all those that
votes for us. The Quill Awards are presented by the DiskTop Publishing
Association. For more information on the DPA, read last week's edition
of AEO.
| | | Z*NET NEWSWIRE
| | | Atari News and Industry Update
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER ALERT! - MAIL ORDER TT PURCHASERS CAUTIONED
Atari's Director of Communications reports that he has recently had a
number of complaints about a certain mail order firm based in Florida.
It seems that this particular firm, which does not have authorization
to purchase TT030's directly from Atari, has been taking orders AND
PAYMENT of TT030s and TT030 monitors. In one case, the user reporting
this to Atari indicated that he had been awaiting delivery of a PTC1426
monitor for TEN MONTHS after he had paid for it. Another user purchased
a TT030, and after demanding his money be returned, was given a number
of *bad checks* before finally settling for a portion of his money back,
and a Mega STE. Atari's legal department will be advised of this
situation, and their advice sought. Atari has ample stock of TT030's
and TTM-195 monitors. They are no longer carrying the PTC1426 monitor.
If you are buying mail order, please be certain that you are purchasing
your TT from an authorized Atari dealer. If you're wary, ask if the
dealer will ship COD.
MAXWELL MOVES EAST
Maxwell C.P.U., the developers of Silhouette, Fractal Fantasy, Expose
and Megstenders, have moved east. Having resided in Colorado for the
past four years, Maxwell has moved to Maryland for professional
reasons - jobs. Moving to Maryland is offering some great
opportunities for Maxwell. While having resided here only 3 weeks,
they have already participated in two Atari shows and are preparing to
display at the Connecticut and WAACE shows. Furthermore, there is an
abundance of Atari dealers in this area not the least of which is Toad
Computers. Maxwell CPU, 1533 Meyer's Station Rd., Odenton, MD 21113,
Phone: (301)261-0637.
GXR SYSTEMS CHANGES NAME - From Email
Please be advised that I have changed my GEnie address from the long-
suffering <R.GRANT11> to the new, improved, <GXR.SYSTEMS>. Without the
brackets, of course. Mail addressed to R.GRANT11 will still reach me,
but as of August 31, 1992, the address will list as Not Available or
something...in other words, the account will be closed. I'm still
active on GEnie, of course (though not as vociferous as I used to be),
but the name change reflects the fact that my computer pursuits are
becoming more and more a professional activity, and since the business
pays the VISA bill......well, time to hang up the numbered moniker.
APPLE'S SUIT NOT RECONSIDERED!
A federal judge has decided that he will not reconsider most of Apple
Computer's copyright infringement suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-
Packard that he had previously thrown out. The core of Apple's four-
year-old suit sought copyright infringement damages from Microsoft's
operating system and Hewlett's New Wave software, which give the basic
commands for personal computers. Apple claims the graphical interfaces
in those programs infringed on Apple's visual displays for its Apple
Macintosh personal computer. Walker had thrown out most of Apple's case
earlier this year, but agreed on May 12 to an Apple request to
reconsider his ruling based on additional information. Apple had been
seeking $5.55 billion in damages from Microsoft, which dominates the
computer software industry.
DISNEY AND ELECTRONIC ARTS FORM ALLIANCE WITH FUTUREKIDS
Walt Disney Computer Software and Electronic Arts have formed separate
marketing alliances with FUTUREKIDS, the world's largest chain of
children's computer schools. FUTUREKIDS ia a privately held company
based in Los Angeles, and operates 152 franchised learning centers and
provides instruction in approximately 1,200 locations throughout the
United States, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia and Indonesia.
XEROX RECEIVES TOP HONORS
Xerox took high honors as its copiers topped a national user preference
survey administered by an independent research firm. The Xerox 5090
duplicator and the 5065 work-group copier have been named gold medalists
in their respective classes in the Summer 1992 issue of "Hanson's
Guidelines." "Hanson's Guidelines," an industry rating guide published
by Perceptual Evaluations, and is the copier industry's recognized
authority in ranking copier performance based on user preference.
Perceptual Evaluations is based in Setauket, N.Y.
HOUSE PASSES BILL
The US House gave final congressional approval this week to a measure
that attempts to further curb "indecent" television and radio
programming. The bill would direct the FCC to extend to midnight its
current 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. ban on such programs. The amendment, sponsored
by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., was adopted by the Senate without debate.
Previous efforts to restrict programming on commercial television and
radio, such as a 1988 amendment by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., have been
overturned by the federal courts, and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.,
predicted the same fate for the Byrd amendment. The House, by voice
vote, approved the Senate changes in the bill and sent it on to the
White House for President Bush's expected signature.
NOT VERY INNERPRIS-ING
Battle Squadron will not be appearing for the ST any time soon.
Innerprise US has decided to drop the ST altogether. Some of you might
remember them changing their minds about releasing Sword Of Sodan a few
months back. Battle Squadron was the only other thing in the works for
the ST. Both of those games are out on the Amiga and Genesis, and
they're not exactly blockbusters, but still, it's always annoying to see
somebody drop us again. - From August 1992 ST Gamers Digest
MICROPROSE KNUCKLES UNDER
Proof positive that letter-writing campaigns do work! Microprose UK was
deluged with letters from ST gamers who wanted to play Civilization on
their machines, so they gave in. Look for Civilization sometime around
October '92, 1 meg required. - From August 1992 ST Gamers Digest
MARC FEST 1992
The Midwest Atari Regional Council, a coalition of Midwestern users
groups, will present MARC Fest '92 at 7pm on August 11, 1992 in
Collinsville, IL, just east of St. Louis. The event will feature
speakers D.A. Brumleve, a developer of commercial software for children
and an astute observer of the Atari scene, and Ron Robinson, a frequent
contributor to various ST-related magazines who is currently on the
staff of Atari Advantage. A swapmeet will round out the evening's
activities, and participants are encouraged to bring their software and
hardware cast-offs. MARC Fest '92 will be held in the Collinsville
Quality Inn at the intersection of I-55/70 and Illinois Route 157.
Please contact David Pintar of EAUG (East Alton, IL) at 618 345 5979 for
further information.
| | | GENIE NEWS
| | | By Jeff Williams
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
This is a brief note to let you know about some of the exciting
Realtime Conferences coming up in the next several weeks in the ST
Roundtable on GEnie.
On Monday, August 10th, ABC Solutions will be on hand to talk about
Publisher 2, the first major upgrade to the Timeworks Desktop Publishing
application. Publisher 2 is NOT the same old DTP program anymore.
On Wednesday, August 12th, we will have Sam Tramiel (President of Atari
Corporation) as our special guest. Mr. Tramiel will be giving all of us
the first official preview of Atari's new Falcon 68030-based computer
system! You will get to hear directly from Atari all about the machine
that has Atari, Atari developers, and Atari users so excited. Please
come and get you own questions answered by Sam Tramiel.
This will be a busy conference with a lot of people eager to ask their
questions. In order to accommodate as many of you as possible, I'll be
asking each guest to ask only one question during each of their turns.
But you can have as many turns as we have time to allow.
On the following week, Wednesday, August 19th, meet and greet the new
publisher of Atari Advantage Magazine, Neal Symms. With the former
publishers of Atari Explorer moving over to Atari Explorer magazine,
subscribers to Atari Advantage will be happy to know that the magazine
will continue. Publisher Neal Symms will let us know all about his
plans for Atari Advantage.
Further down the road, on Wednesday, September 3rd, we'll have the Fair
Dinkum Software Realtime Conference. Fair Dinkum will be announcing a
new product to their line of Atari software offerings, so don't miss
this one.
All of these conferences begin at 10:00 pm Eastern time.
And join us on our regular informal conferences each Monday (DTP) and
Wednesday (ST General Interest) at 10:00 pm Eastern. For folks needing
general or specific help with getting the most out of GEnie, the ST
Roundtable, and your Atari computer, stop by on Sunday evenings at 7:00
pm Eastern for the ST Help Desk RTC.
I hope to see you soon!
Regards,
Jeff Williams
Atari ST Roundtable
| | | EPIC -- A SCI-FI EXTRAVAGANZA
| | | By Andreas Barbiero
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
"A legend is born, a supremely advanced one-man starfighter of awesome
destructive capabilities that, in the right hands will wreak havoc
amongst inter-galactic transgressors - that legend is EPIC."
That's what the box says. Is it true? Is this a game that actually
lives up to the hype on the packaging? Yes, and no. EPIC is one of the
rare games that isnt so much a game as it is a simulator of what it
actually would be like to do what the game is about. Some games only
remotely let you feel like you are really doing whatever it is you are
supposed to be doing. Killing aliens is one of the oldest scenarios in
the blasting pixels genre, and on the movie screen too. This game
bridges the two nicely. From the moment you boot up the first disk and
the credits scroll by like in a feature film, to the first strains of
the "Mars, bringer of War" soundtrack, you get the feeling that you are
sitting in a darkened room with a twenty foot high screen in front of
you. But this is more than a $45 graphics demo. YOU are the hero, and
the game lets you know it in no uncertain terms.
The game revolves loosely around the old "Battlestar Galactica" TV show.
The human race is forced to bridge vast distances of the galaxy to avoid
certain doom, not from the Cylons this time, but from the Rexxon Empire.
The local sun is about to go super-nova, which will eliminate the entire
human populated area of the galaxy, and humankind is forced to remove
itself to Ulysees 7, some 260 light years away from the eventual
supernova. The manual goes into some detail about how this is to happen
and how Man undertakes this huge adventure. (dare I say 'epic'? Naw...)
And the entry screens show it in stunning 3D vector animation, the likes
of which have never been paired up with a game this good. So, to make a
long story short (and it is a LONG story) you are the pilot of one of
three Epic starfighters, leading the rest of the fleet into battle.
There are eight scenarios which are smoothly linked with animated segues
which contain sights of the battle fleets, aliens talking (a kind of
'third person' movie scene) and your EPIC ship doing victory rolls, with
other fighter craft being launched in the background. Some of these are
'SOLO' missions, fighting through mine fields, striking deep into the
heart of enemy camps, the basic Star Wars type stuff. Enemy fighters
move with almost intelligent tactics, the feeling of actually flying
around a fleet in the big battle scenes is stunning. You see other
friendly fighters battling and dying around you, as you hunt down enemy
ships with one eye on the weapons display and one eye on the ever
present timer, ticking off the seconds till the scenario has gone too
long. Another counter ticks off the percentages of the mission
completion. This is the real enemy in some missions; getting, finding,
killing enough to complete the mission in time, is more deadly than any
of the shooting kind.
You might think that I am speaking like one who is in love with this
game, yes I am. BUT (there is always a BUT) there are a few problems
with this program. The controls are a bit touchy. I found the mouse to
be the best, the program requires one hand on the keyboard and the arrow
keys won't let you line up the computer sights accurately enough. The
manual, while wordy (and interesting enough) doesn't tell you the first
thing about flying your ship. In the first mission you have to blow
away the single enemy fighter and enough mines to get the counter to
100%. Then you have to fly towards the planet till the 100% turns red,
otherwise you are standing (floating) around while the game tells you
that you have lost. There is really nothing out there that can KILL
you.
Refueling is accomplished by either capturing a fuel ship in the battle
area, which is almost impossible, or by pressing ENTER on the keypad.
This also gives you full access to the complete panoply of weapons, and
recharges the shield. There is no real way to capture the fuel scoops
in the missions (this is also not mentioned in any way HOW to do it in
the manual) and meet the timing deadline, so the enter key it is. Once
you master the weapons (I recommend using photon 4) just shooting enough
enemy spacecraft or buildings is all you need. In this way the game
fails, while the feeling of flying and fighting it excellent, swapping
weapon control is awkward with only the return key to scroll through
them, a function key for each one would be better. And without the
threat of imminent death, even from the elite forces of the enemy, the
brooding tension of game play loses a bit.
The sounds are excellent, the graphics are wonderfully smooth, clean and
fast. Game play is good, except for the aforementioned defects, and
Ocean gets an A+ for mood. But (there is that 'but' again) a little more
sense of mortal danger would be better. I appreciate a game that
requires thought rather than a manic joystick, but there are a few more
things to pound out to really ice the cake. I give it an overall 92 out
of 100. If you would rather play a game that has a bit of thought
behind it, and would like to play a simulation of what a starfighter
might actually be like, this is it. I recommend it highly. Consider
this the trainer for whatever magic Ocean has in store for us to follow
up. It's great but it can only get better!!!
This article may be reprinted as long as it appears in its entirety and
with this message. (c) Andreas Barbiero Originally printed in the BAAUG
newsletter. 3691 Eastwood Circle, Santa Clara, CA 95054 BBS- 408-986-
0215
| | | CONNECTICUT ATARIFEST '92 - SHOW UPDATE
| | | Final News and Update
| | | --------------------------------------------------------------
More exhibitors have added their names to the list of hardware
manufacturers, software developers, retail dealers and regional Atari
user groups that plan to participate in Connecticut AtariFest '92 on
August 15 and 16.
The show, sponsored by the ACT Atari Group and several user groups
throughout the Northeast in cooperation with Atari Corporation, will
be staged at the Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport in
nearby Windsor Locks, Conn.
The following exhibitors and demonstrators plan to participate:
ABC Solutions
Publisher ST2, First Word, First Graph, tbxCAD, Kuma's KSpread4/Lite.
American Radio Relay League
Learn about operating a phone-less BBS, how to send and receive faxes
and files via HAM radio.
Application & Design Software
Universal Item Selector, Universal NETwork, networking consultation and
affiliate of MacDonald Associates, publisher of ST Informer.
Atari Computer Corporation
Where it all started, evolving from 'Pong' to a 'Power Without the
Price' company. Desktop publishing, MIDI, Portfolio and Lynx
specialties. Falcon is next.
Atari Interface Magazine
Flagship monthly of Unicorn Publications that is by, for and about
official Atari user groups throughout the world and their computers.
BaggettaWare
Educator Albert Baggetta demonstrates children's drawing programs and
assists in a desktop publishing experiment as we create a newsletter
at the show.
Barefoot Software (Hybrid Arts)
Producers of Genedit, Easy Score, SMPTE Track, SMPTE Mate, MIDI Plexor
Ludwig; music software.
Branch Always Software
Emulation specialist and creator of GEMulator (ST-to-PC operation),
8-bit, Apple emulators and cables.
CodeHead Software
Midi Spy, TOS Extension Card, Megapaint II Pro, Hot-wire, G+Plus,
LookIt/PopIt, etc.
Compo Software
Publisher of That's Write, Write On, CompoScript and C-Font software
packages.
Computers Etc.
Atari dealership of Fairfield, Connecticut. Carries full ST/TT/Mega/
Portfolio lines. CAF '91 co-sponsor.
Computers a la Carte
Lawrence, Mass., computer dealer with extensive line of SCSI drives,
external modems and peripherals.
Derric Electronics
Hamden, Conn., dealer with discounted Atari products, printers,
monitors, modems, laptops, supplies, etc.
East Hartford Computer Repair
How-to demonstration by repair/upgrade expert focuses on memory &
speed upgrades for 8- and 16-bit Ataris. Some on-the-spot upgrades by
appointment.
GEnie
General Electric's online subscription service with many Atari
Roundtables, restructured bulletin boards, niches for every interest.
Goldleaf Publishing
Creators of Wordflair, distributors of Retouche, Didot Line Art and
the Image Speeder System.
Golf in Connecticut
Author-programmer Brian Harvey explains how he used Calamus & dbMAN
programs to publish and market his own golfing guide.
Gribnif
NeoDesk, STalker, STeno, CardFile, X-Boot, Arabesque Professional and
Convector Professional and leading importer of Atari software.
ICD
Hard drive systems, host adapters, accelerator boards and software for
ST/TT. Provides tech support on GEnie with 'ICD' at page prompt.
Joppa Software
Maker of STraight FAX! which turns ST into send/receive FAX machine,
and drivers for FAX use from Calamus, Pagestream and GDOS programs.
KMT Computers
Full-service computer store with offices in Connecticut and
Massachusetts.
LaSalle Music & Sound
One of the premier Hartford area music centers, LaSalle is also the
newest Atari dealer in Connecticut.
Maxwell CPU
Expose, Fractal Fantasy and Silhouette, a bit-image and vector
graphics drawing program that now uses FSMGDOS and supports 19"
monitor.
Megatype Software
Creator of font creation/conversion programs like Font Designer,
Bitmaker and Fontverter. Maintains hand-crafted PageStream and
Calamus font libraries.
PLI
Black hard drives, removable cartridge drives, 3.5" optical drives
storing 120 MB of data per cartridge & more.
Pro Musica / Oktal
New England sales representatives for Atari, Oktal and other top
companies.
SKWare
Makers of the Seurat paint program and Colorscan.
Soft-Logik Publishing
PageStream 2.2, popular desktop publishing system for ST/STe/TT.
Typeface library boasts 600 PostScript Type 1 fonts, lots of graphics.
Step Ahead Software
Tracker/ST 3.0, a sophisticated package featuring address book, mail
merge and label printing. Nevin Shalit, GEnie Pagestream RT Sysop &
president of IAAD, to demonstrate.
Steinberg/Jones
What desktop publishing systems do for text, Cubase does for music.
Compose, read, write, tape and control instruments with Cubase & MIDI.
Taylor Ridge Books
Publisher of Clayton Walnum's C-Manship Complete! and his recently-
released ST Assembly Language Workshop, Vol 1. GEM Program due out
soon.
Thin Air Labs
Demonstrations by BJ Gleason, author of over 100 utilities for the
Portfolio including PBASIC 4.9, FTMENU and PREAD.
Toad Computers
Toadfile hard drives and accessories for Ataris. Makes Little Toad
20MB hard drive for light use.
Wizztronics
Designer of The Cartridge Port expander, which allows for the
installation of multiple cartridge devices.
The following groups will display home-grown user talents through
intriguing demonstrations and will provide show goers hands-on
assistance:
ASTMUM .................................. Montreal, PQ
AUGOGH .................................. Hartford, CT
BCS ..................................... Boston, MA
BASIC ................................... Brooklyn, NY
CCCC .................................... Central Connecticut
DBUG .................................... Danbury, CT
FACE .................................... Fairfield, CT
LIAUG ................................... Long Island, NY
MACH1 ................................... Vernon, CT
NAACC ................................... North Attleboro, MA
NVACUS .................................. Nashua Valley,
STARR ................................... New Haven, CT
SAAUG ................................... Scranton, PA
SSAG .................................... South Shore/Boston, MA
WACO .................................... Westmoreland, PA
WMAUG ................................... Western Massachusetts
Other Atari developers, dealers, technical experts and speakers who
plan to appear but have not signed final agreements will be listed in
updates the week of August 10 to 15. Ticket prices: $5 one day, $8
both days.
ATARIFEST DINNER TO INCLUDE FAMILIAR MUSICIANS
Connecticut AtariFest '92 will present an "AtariFeast" Saturday August
15 at the Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport. In fact,
when the curtain comes down at the end of the first day of the
computer show, several activities will continue through the night.
Registration for the event in the Windsor Locks, Connecticut, hotel
will take place both days between 9 and 10 a.m., when the main
ballroom doors open for business. Visitors to the AtariFest will have
until 5:30 p.m. to do their window shopping, select some bargains and
take in the many seminars scheduled. The ballroom doors will close
for the night at 6 p.m.
That much of the schedule is identical for August 15 and 16.
On Saturday, visitors are invited to a 6 p.m. cocktail reception (cash
bar) in the mezzanine foyer of the hotel, right outside Amelia's
lounge. The hour-long get-together will be followed by a special
dinner-dance in the club, which overlooks the airport terminal.
The dinner-dance will feature a deli buffet and entertainment provided
by professional musicians. The dinner menu will include: soup of the
day; two specialty salads; platters of cold roast beef, ham, turkey,
salami, Swiss and New York cheddar cheese; sliced tomatoes, lettuce,
gherkins, olives; assorted breads and rolls; dessert of the day and
coffee. A cash bar will be operated by Amelia's staff.
Between 9 p.m. and midnight, names well known in Atari circles will
take to the bandstand to show another facet of their talents, and to
provide the live entertainment. Professional musicians John
Jainschigg and Peter Donoso of Jainschigg Communications and former
editors of Atari Explorer Magazine will join Fadi Hayek of Sam Ash
Music Stores to offer sounds hot off the MIDI. During the buffet,
recorded electronic works performed by Atari user-musicians will be
played for your listening pleasure. JD&H have invited other Atari
musicians on the scene to join them for an informal "jam session"
during the evening.
The cost of the buffet dinner-dance is $25 per person. Those planning
to attend should make reservations as soon as possible because of the
limited seating available. Tickets will be sold at the registration
desk or door only if any are unsold the morning of the dinner-dance.
U S E R G R O U P D I S C O U N T -- L A S T C H A N C E ! !
If you're a member of one of the following Atari User Groups, you're
entitled to a $1 discount when you attend Connecticut AtariFest '92.
The following PARTICIPATING user groups plan to exhibit their skills,
software libraries, hardware and other resources at the show. Every
member of these groups will be given $1 off the price of a single-day
ticket, if they are part of the member list submitted to Connecticut
AtariFest by an authorized club official. User group officers should
send a club roster to show officials who must receive it no later than
August 10, 1992. The following groups are eligible:
ASTMUM - Montreal, Canada AUGOGH - Hartford, Connecticut
Boston Computer Society (Atari) BASIC - Brooklyn, New York
Central Connecticut Computer Club D-BUG - Danbury, Connecticut
FACE - Fairfield County (Conn.) LIAUG - Long Island, New York
MACH1 - Vernon, Connecticut NAACC - North Attleboro, Mass.
NVACUS - Nashau Valley, Mass. STARR - New Haven, Connecticut
SAAUG - Scranton, Pennsylvania SSAG - South Shore (Boston Area)
WACO - Westmoreland, Pennsylvania WMAUG - Western Massachusetts
If you belong to one of these PARTICIPATING USER GROUPS, make your
membership work for you. Ask your User Group president, vice-
president, secretary or membership director to send us a valid
membership roster immediately. When you check in at CONNECTICUT
ATARIFEST '92, you'll receive a $1 discount if your name is on the
list. Tickets sold at the door are priced at $5 for a one-day pass,
$8 for both days.
If you're planning on visiting the show both days, make a room
reservation now. Bookings at the host Sheraton Bradley are picking
up, and you'll want to be close to the action, which extends into the
evening on Saturday. For Sheraton reservations, call (800) 325-3535
or (203) 627-5311. Directions to the hotel and related travel
information is available in the Atari library section of this service.
STUMP JOCKS AND WIN A PORTFOLIO
Radio Giveaway to Promote Hartford Atari Show
Whether you're an experienced computerist who uses MS-DOS files or a
beginner who needs a computer on the factory floor or in a desert
wildlife refuge, a Hartford area radio promotion might help you get
what you need -- for free.
WHCN Radio (106 on the FM dial in the Hartford area) in cooperation
with ACT Atari Group, sponsor of the upcoming Connecticut AtariFest
'92 at the Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport, will give
away five brand-new Atari Portfolio computers during the week of
August 10. The powerful palmtop computers will be awarded to winners
of a trivia contest hosted by 106-WHCN radio personalities "Picozzi &
the Horn" during the weekdays leading up to the August 15 & 16 Atari
computer show.
The giveaways will serve to publicize the AtariFest which features
more than 40 exhibitors, educational demonstrations, contests, a
desktop publishing center and more. Some attenders who have only seen
Atari ST/Mega/TT and 8-bit computers in action will want to visit the
booth reserved for Portfolio demonstrations. The Portfolio is a
unique "palmtop" category computer weighing less than one pound that
uses MS-DOS (IBM compatible operating system) commands and is
expandable to 640K RAM.
The Portfolio contains built-in text editing, spreadsheet (Lotus 1-2-3
compatible), address/phone directory with auto-dialer, calculator and
diary functions. Another important advantage that the Portfolio has
over limited "organizers" and expensive laptop models is its power
system that runs on three AA alkaline batteries for six to eight weeks
of normal operation; many laptop units will run on internal power for
only a few hours before requiring a recharge.
The Portfolios will be awarded as part of a regular game feature of
the 106-WHCN morning team Picozzi & "The Horn." Each day the duo,
known to their Connecticut and western Massachusetts listeners as
"resident 'HCN couch potatoes and Hartford 'kings' of television
trivia," will be challenged by telephone callers who try to "Stump
Picozzi & The Horn" with TV trivia questions. The game is usually
played in the morning "drive time" slot.
As they award the Portfolio prizes to trivia quiz winners, the radio
"jocks" will also dispense some information about the Portfolio and
Connecticut AtariFest '92, which will open in the Hartford area the
Saturday and Sunday following the contests. The promotion might also
occur during two other Picozzi & Horn regular contests: "Dead or
Alive" and "Elevator from Hell."
If you live in the Hartford, Connecticut/Springfield, Massachusetts
region, keep your radio dial tuned to 106 FM during the week of August
10 and bone up on TV trivia. With any luck, you could be the owner of
a new Portfolio computer from Atari.
For more information about Connecticut AtariFest '92, contact:
Brian Gockley, Chairman Doug Finch, Vice Chairman
Connecticut AtariFest '92 Connecticut AtariFest '92
GEnie: B.GOCKLEY GEnie: D.FINCH7
CompuServe: 75300,2514 CompuServe: 76337,1067
18 Elmwood Avenue 46 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06605 Old Greenwich, CT 06870
(203) 332-1721 (203) 637-1034
| | | LINE NOISE: GENIE
| | | Compiled and Edited by Ed Krimen
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
Some messages may have been edited for content, correct spelling, and
grammar.
OH, JUST YOUR EVERYDAY FALCON SPECS
-----------------------------------
-=> In the "Atari Magazines" category (15)
-=> from the "Atari Advantage - Feedback" topic (5)
Message 93 Sat Aug 01, 1992
AD-VANTAGE at 13:25 EDT
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/// A T A R I A D V A N T A G E M A G A Z I N E ///
/// Contents -- June/July 1992 ///
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
FALCON'030 REVEALED! -- The next generation of home computer is
"""""""""""""""""""" on the way and the Falcon'030 leads the
pack with power and features.
FALCON'030 at a GLANCE:
* Motorola 68030 Microprocessor running at 16MHz,
multi-tasking capable
* Motorola 68881 or 68882 16MHz Floating point co-processor
* Motorola DSP 56001 Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
* 1 to 16MB of memory and 512KB of ROM
* 16 bit BLiTTER Graphics co-processor running at 16 MHz
* Enhanced Broadcast TV quality Video
-- "True Color" 320x200 resolution, 32,768 colors or 640x480
resolution, 256 colors from a 264,144 color palette
-- VGA or Video 320 or 640 by 200 or 400 resolution, 2, 16, or
256 colors from a 262,144 color palette
-- Standard STe video modes with a 4096 color palette
-- RF modulator and VGA monitor connections
-- Overscan support
-- Genlock and multi-media capable
-- Graphics overlay and video tiling
-- Enhanced high speed 16MHz Blitter graphics co-processor
-- STe horizontal scrolling
* "CD quality" stereo sound
-- Stereo 16 bit Analog to Digital inputs
-- Stereo 16 bit Digital to Analog outputs
-- Eight channel stereo DMA sound engine with 16 bit PCM digital
record/playback with up to 50KHz sample rates
-- Stereo 8 bit STe compatible PCM sound
-- ST compatible 3 channel PSG sound
-- Multiplexer to connect Codec, DSP and DMA sound engine
-- Stereo microphone inputs and headphone outputs connected to a
16 bit stereo codec
-- DSP digital audio connector, up to 1MHz data transfer rate
-- Built-in monophonic speaker
* 1.44MB floppy drive
* Built-in IDE 2 1/2" hard drive interface (drive optional)
* SCSI II peripheral interface (hard drive, tape drive, etc.)
* Mega STe/TT compatible local area network (LAN) interface
* Enhanced modem/RS232 port
* ST and STe compatible joystick/controller ports
* Built-in "processor direct" expansion connectors
* On board real time clock and battery backed up RAM
* MIDI input and output
* Parallel printer port
* Enhanced keyboard controller allows 300 DPI mice
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW -- Atari expects to have over 80 Lynx
""""""""""""""""""""""""" titles available and 2 million cats sold
by the end of the year.
COLUMNS
"""""""
== Editors Desk ...... Just a few words from the humble staff.
== Rumor City ........ What's new and what's not.
== MIDI Notes ........ Discover the world of MIDI.
== EuroGames ......... Reports from our European correspondent.
== Lynx Line ......... Hints, tips, and reviews on those hot games.
FEATURES
""""""""
== New & Improved .... New and improved products announced
== Briefs ............ Late breaking news
== Events ............ What's coming up?
REVIEWS
"""""""
== Abaresque Professional.. Powerful bitmap/vector illustration tool.
== Multiplay .............. Math exploration, discovery and practice.
== Blues and Jazz ......... Blues, jazz and rock keyboard skills.
== MEGA Check ............. ST/TT finance management.
== WARP 9 - v3.60 ......... Software screen acceleration to the max.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A closing note from Darren Meer:
There is one area of transition that I need to tell you about -- that
being the world of magazines. This issue is not only historical in its
content, it also marks the last issue of "Atari Advantage" Mike and I
will be involved in. We have been asked to join the "Atari Explorer"
staff and bring our style of coverage and production values. "Atari
Advantage" will be left in the hands of a very capable and extremely
energetic group of writers and users who will introduce themselves in
next month's issue. We are really excited about the opportunity to join
"Explorer", and feel confident that the Atari market will be well served
by both magazines for a long time to come.
If any of you have any concerns as to how this affects your
subscriptions, articles or advertisements, please don't hesitate to call
or write us to express your feelings. We want you to get your money's
worth and will do what ever we can to make sure your do.
And finally, we want to thank all of you who have waited so patiently
for this issue to arrive. Between the Falcon coverage and negotiations
with Atari, our schedule got completely thrown out of whack. Those
things along with the intense Murphy field that has been hovering over
our offices, combined to make this an especially memorable issue for us
as well (he said with a big twisted smile). RjR 8/92
----------
Message 102 Mon Aug 03, 1992
C.PUBLISHING at 23:46 EDT
Hello everyone!
My name is Neal Symms, and I am the new editor-in-chief of Atari
Advantage magazine. I just uploaded a press release to the library, so
please download file #25153. I tried to make it to the conference this
evening, but found it empty when I arrived. :-(
Our account name will be changing soon to the more familiar AT-VANTAGE
as soon as GEnie says we can have it. In the mean time, you can reach
us here at C.PUBLISHING.
We're working hard to get the next issue out the door and to put the
magazine back on a timely schedule. You can look forward to the next
issue which will have the second half of our Falcon preview including
the internals pictures which didn't make the current issue due to legal
problems with Atari. >:-(
We are also looking for writers and reviewers! If you know how to use a
pen, word processor, or crayola crayon (tm) you may have a future at
Atari Advantage! :-) :-) Seriously, though, we are looking for
knowledgeable Atari enthusiasts who like to see their name and efforts
read worldwide. We'll upload more information later.
Thanks for your time. We like to hear any and all comments.
We look forward to setting The New Standard for Atari magazines.
The staff at the NEW Atari Advantage
======================================
MORE FALCON INFO (AS IF THE PREVIOUS STUFF WASN'T ENOUGH)
---------------------------------------------------------
-=> In the "Flaming - Debating - Discussions - Rumors" category (18)
-=> from the "Atari 'Falcon' Project" topic (20)
Message 171 Thu Jul 30, 1992
RJROBINSON [ Ron ] at 23:23 EDT
Jim,
I may get shot for pointing this out, but I hate to see anyone with
false expectations. The Falcon does not have SIMMs. There appear to be
very good reasons for this. Of course Atari could make a liar out of me
with a last minute board tweak :-)
The info I have shows memory in the Falcon consisting of surface mount
DRAM on both sides (16 per side) of a 2" X 4" daughter board connected
to the main board by a pair of connectors. This board is smaller than
a pair of SIMMs, but when maxed out looks to be capable of holding up to
16 MB (?possibly more?).
The setup reminds me of memory expansion used in some of the laptops.
Looks like a great opportunity for after market vendors to me :-)
Considering the keyboard style case, built-in supply, hard drive, and
with all the other goodies in the birdie, there just isn't much vertical
room for big, clunky SIMMs ;-) I hope people will think about this
before flaming Atari for not using SIMMs if it turns out to be true.
I agree with your comments on the basic design and have the opinion
that Atari has effectively quadrupled the overall computing horsepower/
buck with the Falcon. It will take some time for the software
developers to hit the wall running this critter.
-- Ron
----------
Message 231 Tue Aug 04, 1992
RJROBINSON [ Ron ] at 23:07 EDT
Just a reminder, the Advantage article was presented as a "Preview" of
the computer. Several of the final specifications were yet to be
decided when the article was pulled together. Other information was
collected from several sources -- often this information was not
consistent even when from people "in- the-know."
On the other hand, Atari read the article before printing, and hired the
two guys in charge of pulling the issue together. This happened even
*after* Atari read the article. Me thinks that is a good sign :-)
There was confusion over the empty socket. A couple of sources
indicated a 386SX chip could drop into the socket. Sort of a potential
built-in "AT- Speed" perhaps? This feature was to my knowledge not
verified before press time.
There is one "Processor Direct" via two connectors, looked like enough
pins for all the CPU bus signals, interrupts, etc. were available. The
memory board connectors could be a handy second expansion port as Jim
mentioned, very much a hardware hackers dream.
Since several people have requested the specs from the preview article,
I'll repost them here. Apologies to those who read them again. The
next issue may have photo's of the insides for all to see. Atari
requested the photo's be held until the formal intro in Germany this
month. I suspect Atari Explorer will also contain detailed info on the
new computer in the next issue.
[The original message included the same specification listing that is in
CAT 15, TOP 5, MES 93 printed above.]
======================================
LEXICOR AT GLENDALE
-------------------
-=> In the "Lexicor Product Support" category (25)
-=> from the "Lexicor - Newsletter" topic (10)
Message 153 Tue Aug 04, 1992
LEXICOR2 [Ringo] at 00:14 EDT
Lexicor Software will be attending this year's GLENDALE show, September
12 & 13. We will have many new surprises for all.
Ringo
------------
Message 154 Wed Aug 05, 1992
LEXICOR [Lee] at 04:06 EDT
Many surprises is not the half of it! You will see Atari animations
running of top-of-the-line graphics systems. You will see top-of-the-
line graphics running on Ataris. You will see animations on video tape,
on assorted computers, etc. and so on. There will be some new toys and
two new versions of Chronos, V1.50 and V2.0. You will see 24bit slide
shows from the TT and have a chance to see and run the new Falcon030
using LEXICOR programs! How's that for starters?
Lee
======================================
PRE-PURCHASE MEGA STE QUESTIONS
-------------------------------
-=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
-=> from the "Mega STE" topic (14)
Message 53 Sat Aug 01, 1992
D.GLISH [DAVE GLISH] at 09:46 EDT
I am considering getting either a Mega STe or a Falcon when it comes
out. I have a few questions about the Mega STe. I have heard that if
you get a Mega STe without a built-in hard drive you can't use an
external hard drive for booting. Is this correct? Also are the newer
Mega STe's shipping with the HD disk drives? If so do they have TOS 2.5
or 2.6?
----------
Message 54 Sat Aug 01, 1992
S.WINICK at 10:29 EDT
Dave,
Don't go by the 'rumors'. Most of the time they're simply NOT true.
Contact any reputable dealer and get the straight facts -- and get the
Mega STe configured exactly the way you want it.
The Mega STe is an excellent machine -- and DEFINITELY works just fine
with an external hard drive. If your external is a typical 3.5" SCSI
mechanism, it can also be removed from its external case and installed
inside the Mega STe as well. All recent shipments of the Mega STe are
coming with a high density floppy drive -- but -- the operating system
is still TOS 2.05. The high density drive should be de-activated unless
the machine is upgraded to TOS 2.06. If the system is delivered without
an internal hard drive, the correct jumpers should be installed by the
selling dealer (if not already done at the factory) so an external hard
drive will work properly. Select a quality dealership to purchase your
new equipment from and you shouldn't have any problem with it being
configured properly.
Sheldon (Computer STudio - Asheville, NC)
======================================
POST-PURCHASE MEGA STE QUESTIONS
--------------------------------
Message 55 Sat Aug 01, 1992
D.GILLOGLY1 [FunkyKitchen] at 12:19 EDT
Hello all -- I'm the proud owner of a Mega 4STE. However I can't get
anything to work. I can't call out on the modem. I haven't been able
to get Notator to work. I tried turning off the <cache> on the Control
Panel. I'm basically clueless on this stuff. I've never worked w/ a HD
before. I need your help, folks. Thanks. P.S. I'm running a Mega STE
w/ 4 megs'o'ram, a 1.44 hi-dens drv,& 50mgHD. Do I have to re-format my
DD disks? -- FunkyDan
----------
Message 56 Sat Aug 01, 1992
S.WINICK at 20:53 EDT
FunkyDan,
Call the dealer you purchased the MegaSTe from and ask for a little
support in getting the system up to full speed. You made an excellent
choice in that system, but as you've already discovered, it offers a
host of new features that may require a little re-learning of how
everything must be set up to run properly.
Make sure you have TOS 2.06 in the system if the high density drive
option has been activated -- otherwise you'll be facing problems and
aggravation. The Mega STe's have been shipping with the high density
drives but with TOS 2.05 installed. Dealers should either deactivate
the high density option or upgrade the system to TOS 2.06 and change the
AJAX controller chip for proper operation. But..... some dealers
apparently are not doing that since we're hearing of so many problems
from end users.
You do NOT need to reformat your DS/DD diskettes; they should work just
fine the way they are. Enjoy your new system.
Sheldon (Computer STudio - Asheville, NC)
======================================
WHERE, OH WHERE IS LEONARDO?
----------------------------
-=> In the "Lexicor Product Support" category (25)
-=> from the "Leonardo Board" topic (17)
Message 38 Thu Jul 30, 1992
REALM [Joey] at 01:53 EDT
Bill, I'm not sure if any of the cards will work with a SC1224? I just
called about a month ago and checked on the Crazy Dots, I think it was
$899 for the 256 color board and $999 for the 15,000 color board, both
were 16 million total colors. There are some files in the library on the
Gribnif cards.
From what I can tell there are several Matrix models. I think the one I
have retails for about the same price as the Crazy Dots. Everything on
the Matrix is in German. A minor pain but after the first couple days
it really doesn't bother you any more. The ACC that came with it allows
you set everything down to the MHZ of the scan rates. You can set your
resolution and scan frequency to whatever your monitor can handle.
Possible you could get it to work on a SC1224 since everything's
adjustable down to the pixel.
I'm still waiting for the Leonardo myself but as you can see, I'm not
very good at waiting either.:-) Of course there's always... the
Falcon.:-)
----------
Message 39 Thu Jul 30, 1992
LEXICOR [Lee] at 03:36 EDT
Bill, Thanks for your message and consideration. If you think you are
tired of waiting, think how we must feel? Frankly, I would not blame
you if you did take a hike to another platform, and in fact, in a way
we have. We have become Silicon Graphics developers in order to stay in
business. Without that market and the income it will produce we would
have to call it quits. I know this will sound a bit contradictory but
although most developers are reporting declines in business of up to 50%
in the past months, and in spite of the fact, ours has steadily grown.
The plain truth is that at the moment the ATARI market is in deep
trouble. This is not restricted to just the US. I have heard that one
of the largest German developers, 3K, is in serious financial trouble
and may vanish in as little as 3 weeks.
If you want to help, this would be a good time. May I suggest that you
write to "Jack Tramiel" at ATARI and tell him in a simple, straight,
honest, non-complaining one-page letter what you are considering and
what you think he can do to help you.
Things have changed but unless you and others don't take a moment and
write to Jack he will only hear what those around him want him to hear.
I cannot tell you what to write or even if doing will do any good. What
I can tell you is I have done all I can. I don't think that any more
letters, suggestions, or direct pressure will make the least bit of
difference at ATARI.
Now I haven't given up and assure you and all our very loyal customers
that we will do everything we can to support the existing users and
their Ataris.
Lee
----------
Message 40 Thu Jul 30, 1992
J.COLE18 [John Cole] at 17:54 EDT
Bill, Leo is close, but not finished yet. We are waiting for two
things, an AMD chip and an Atari VDI. As soon as we get those, off they
ship! ;-) Till then, we are working on other projects, like Spectrum
animation support in Chronos and Mona Lisa. ;-)
John @ Lexicor
======================================
BUSY, BUSY, BUSY
----------------
-=> In the "Flaming - Debating - Discussions - Rumors" category (18)
-=> from "The Soapbox: Editorials about Atari" topic (2)
Message 190 Wed Aug 05, 1992
TOWNS [John@Atari] at 02:24 EDT
Things are VERY busy around the office right now. As you know, the
Dusseldorf show is less than 3 weeks away. Take away a week in Germany
to prepare for the show, and that leaves two weeks.
Not much time and lots of stuff to do.
-- John Townsend, Atari Corp.
PS. I think I have been working 60-80 hour work weeks the last three
weeks or so. July has been a very long month! ;-)
======================================
| | | THE JOY OF SERIAL CABLES
| | | By Bill Graf
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
When I first started playing around with projects that had to connect
into the joystick ports of my first ATARI computer, an XE 130, I
discovered how neat Radio Shack Joystick Extension Cables were they come
about 10 feet long and have D9 connectors made on to the ends [one male
and one female]. You just chop off the proper end, with enough cable
for your project, strip back the outer covering and connect up the
9 wires however you wish.
Now joystick ports don't use all the pins but these cables have all 9
wires. So when I decided to make two serial cables for the Portfolio, I
naturally used extension cables Part # 270-1705, one reason is that they
provide a nice neat connection in proportion to the size of the PF
serial adapter. My only problem seems to be I always have plenty of
male ends left over. No big deal since the cost is only $5.49 for the
whole cable. The other parts needed are D25 female ends and covers Part
#'s 276-1548 & 276-1549 respectively. I always use the solder type,
however a crimp type D25 connectors are available. Only use about 3 to
3-1/2 feet of cable to limit resistance and prevent interference [the
cables are unshielded but I have had no problems with them].
The wire colors are generally as follows, however, since nothing is
certain in this world, you should always check the pin to pin
continuity.
PIN 1 = BROWN PIN 2 = RED
PIN 3 = ORANGE PIN 4 = YELLOW
PIN 5 = GREEN PIN 6 = BLUE
PIN 7 = GREY PIN 8 = WHITE
PIN 9 = BLACK
NOW TO MAKE A SERIAL CABLE FOR A PRINTER OR A MODEM CONNECT THE D25 as
follows:
MALE D9 COLOR WIRE IN CABLE connect to FEMALE D25 PINS*
PIN 1 = BROWN ---------------------------->PIN 8 ALL
PIN 2 = RED ------------------------------>PIN 3
PIN 3 = ORANGE --------------------------->PIN 2 OTHER
PIN 4 = YELLOW --------------------------->PIN 20
PIN 5 = GREEN ---------------------------->PIN 7 PINS
PIN 6 = BLUE ----------------------------->PIN 6
PIN 7 = GREY ----------------------------->PIN 4 LEFT
PIN 8 = WHITE ---------------------------->PIN 5
PIN 9 = BLACK ---------------------------->PIN 22 EMPTY
* Some applications will need a gender changer or a male D25 could be
substituted.
NOW TO MAKE A NULL MODEM CABLE TO CONNECT THE PORTFOLIO SERIAL PORT WITH
AN ST, MEGA, OR AN IBM or COMPATIBLE PC or XT CONNECT THE D25 AS FOLLOWS
MALE D9 COLOR WIRE IN CABLE connect to FEMALE D25 PINS
PIN 1 = BROWN (NOT CONNECTED AT ALL)
PIN 2 = RED ------------------------------>PIN 2
PIN 3 = ORANGE --------------------------->PIN 3
PIN 5 = GREEN ---------------------------->PIN 7
PIN 4 = YELLOW -------------) PIN 4----)
& connect together| | jumper wire
PIN 6 = BLUE ---------------) PIN 5----) connect 2
pins
PIN 7 = GREY ---------------) PIN 6----)
& connect together| | jumper wire
PIN 8 = WHITE --------------) PIN 8----) connect 3
| pins
PIN 20---)
PIN 9 = BLACK (NO CONNECTION AT ALL)
That's it, put the hoods on the D25's and you're in business, BUT, check
the connections with an ohm meter or battery and bulb circuit tester
before to try it, No guarantees if you blow up your gear, but it works
for me! ..........Bill Graf
GEnie E mail ABGRAF - (This file downloaded from GEnie - 1990)
| | | THE JOYS OF KIDS AND COMPUTERS
| | | By Bob Smith
| | |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Have you ever watched your child explore something unknown or foreign to
him or her? Especially, if they don't know their being observed?
Children are the most natural when they are left to themselves.
My two little girls, ages 13 and 9, each have their very own Atari 8-
Bit computers. Jenny, my older one, has an Atari 800XL and also
peripherals and loves to draw. When she first received her computer,
the various game disks got the usual major workout. She learned how to
reach levels on Boulderdash that I didn't even know existed and Pacman
and his family were no match for her and soon she moved on. The more
she tried, the more she wanted and she started to teach herself the
concept of programing. Well, this led to two new areas that she is now
exploring. One is learning how to write programs in 'Basic" and the
other is drawing.
She had found a book titled "Atari Basic" by James S. Coan and Richard
Kushner among my dusty archives and then proceeded to devour it. She
is learning the rudimentary skills that she will need to become the
world's greatest Basic programmer. (A father's poetic license here.)
Jenny has actually progressed well into the book and to think that she
actually uses some of this newly received skill in her school computer
class. Although her school uses one of those other unmentionable
computers, she has been able to use the principals that she has taught
herself to her advantage in class.
Somewhere along the way, Jenny's considerable artistic talent came to
the surface and she suddenly realized the benefits of having a computer
in the painting and drawing area. She came to me one day and asked I
had a good drawing program by the name of "Atari Paint". Not wanting to
disappoint her, I proceeded to do a search of my 8-Bit library and lo
and behold, I found it. When I mentioned it to her that I did indeed
have it, her face lit up as only a 13 year old face can. For those of
you that have never experienced the pure happiness and gratitude of a
child, it's a treat that words do not do justice to. At any rate, she
proceeded to put in her new found treasure and looked at the demo that's
included and her eyes went wide with anticipation. Now came the moment
of truth, she was going to paint her Rembrandt. It didn't quite turn
out that way the first time, but she kept at it and the progress was
quite measurable. She figured out how the program works, but needed
help in understanding graphics. You guessed it, back to dad she came
and the next request was "Daddy, do you have any graphics books that I
can use and read?" This request came with the full complement of
fluttering eyelashes, hugs, kisses and the "pleading, don't let me
down, Daddy look".
Back to the achieves I went and came up with two excellent books,
"Compute!'s First Book Of Atari Graphics" and "Atari Color Graphics" by
Joseph W. Collins. When told of these, she gave me the usual hug, kiss
and thank you and in a flash she and the books were gone back to her
computer. In writing this piece, I had to sneak the books out of her
room for the titles and author information. If she catches me with
them, I'm on restriction for a week. Her progress has been excellent
and I truly expect to see her "Rembrandt" one of these days very soon.
My other daughter, Beth, at age 9 has become the wizard of the games
department and I will hear her in happy delight as she defeats some
villain or other and the triumphs clearly register in her face. Beth is
also showing strong signs that she will closely follow in her sister's
footsteps and possibly produce her own masterpiece in the near future.
Obviously, all of this talent stems from their father. (Self serving
comment from the proud papa.) I better get ready for another raid on the
Atari archives as Beth gets older.
Yes, there is joy in kids and computers!!!!!
| | | MYSTERIES OF THE TT
| | | By Andreas Barbiero
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
Although available for quite some time now, the TT remains a bit of a
mystery to some. We are all aware of the statistics, they have been
quoted heavily in the trade magazines, newsletters and have been debated
almost unto death on the BBS networks. I hope to answer many questions
that are constantly posed to me and those that are posted on the various
online services.
A processor by any other name...
Many nasty battles have ensued over whether or not the TT is a match for
the newer Clone machines. Direct comparisons are not easy to make
between the 80486 and the 68030 as they are used in their respective
computers. A computer is no more definable on CPU alone as a car is no
more definable by just its engine size. Of course the larger the engine
the more powerful it is, but does that necessarily mean that a more
powerful engine makes for a faster vehicle? There is a very interesting
parallel between performance auto buffs and computer enthusiasts in this
manner. Which is better a 302cid or 305cid? A 80486 or 68030? The
natural answer is 'it depends' on the car, on the computer, and,
basically the system in which the processor is employed.
Avoiding the problem.
I am not going to attempt to explain the intricacies of the myriad of PC
systems here. I'll let that go to someone else with a stronger stomach
than I have for the mind bending plethora of ways to get that little C:
prompt on the screen. This is not to say I won't attempt a few basic
comparisons, but this will not be a PC VS TT article; I'll let you
decide that one for yourselves.
The heart of the ST's big brother.
The TT is a 32Mhz, 68030 MHz computer with expanded graphics resolutions
and other custom hardware bits jammed in. That off-white case holds a
great deal of power for your ST applications. But the machine that
exists today is different that was originally intended when it was first
announced, and while it is an excellent machine with the next generation
of technology, there are a few weak spots.
When Atari decided to up-rate the clock speed to 32MHz from the original
16MHz a few things had to be done to make this work, and not all of them
work as well as they could. A doubling of clock speed should result in
an increase in performance of about 60 to 80% On my Mega STe with a
16MHz clock rate, I can see an increase of anywhere from 65 to 120% in
rated operations done by indexing programs. Now, the cache in the MSTe
helps it push the performance envelope a great deal, and being only 16K,
one wonders what a nice 32K or 64K cache could do. There is a limit to
the usable size of a cache, and a point where the gain in speed would
not be proportional to the expense and effort to put one in. I have to
laugh when I read of 512K caches on clones... there is only a fractional
increase in real system speed once the cache 'hit' percentage rises to
around 90%. Any more bogs down the memory access, I guess the more DOS
you can fit on the cache, the faster it will run. On the TT the up-rated
clock speed only results in about a 40% increase in speed!! This is due
to the small 512 BYTE (256 byte data and 256 byte instruction) cache
contained on the chip itself. So one would think that a LARGER cache,
say about 128K of VERY fast RAM would enhance the performance
significantly. In fact I know of at least one person who is attempting
to create just such an item. Lets hope all this can be fixed easily, as
it will eat up the distance between the TT030 and the MAC Quadra. The
040 is another matter, it has a rather substantial cache on chip which
should preclude these hacks in the future.
Data, data, everywhere, but not a drop to byte!
It would seem the 16MHz past of the TT is still evident, most of the
busses run at 16MHz and require the CPU to be synced to them. This
seems to be a very PC like method of doing things. I have worked on 386s
which ran at very respectable speeds, but resulted in lost performance
when forced to squeeze data through busses and band-widths a fraction of
the CPU's size. The TT uses a method of interleaved data rates in order
to feed the video ram and utilize ST and TT ram. 64Bit wide ram is
supplied, up to 4 megabytes, for the ST or 'slow' ram. This wide ram is
interleaved down into 32 bit and then 16 bit for the 030 to chew on and
run video and audio. Dave Small, in the genesis of his SST had to
address the same dilemma as Atari. In the ST, ram is split between the
video and processor, and that is the major bottleneck which keeps the ST
down to the prehistoric speed of 8 MHz... video is one heck of a leech!
It requires fully half the speed of the CPU and memory! Remember back
to the 8bit days when you could turn off the display to garner about 20%
increase in speed? No? Buy an old Atari 800, or just take my word for
it! In this case you'd be doing yourself and injustice by taking my
word. Not that my word is no good, but the 8bit was a great piece of
equipment, and like the ST, was better than the competition, whether or
not they knew it.
How then to run software intended for the ST on a TT? Isolate it! The
TT can add RAM to the ST-ram side by the addition of a daughter board
which contains its own MMU chip. If you count the slots on these cards,
and substituted 1 Meg SIMMS, a 16Meg ST system could be born!! I know
of no-one who has done this, but it should be possible. I suspect the 4
meg limit on the ST is gotten from the MMU and that nasty video/processor
ram contention.
OK, so what's TT ram then? TT-RAM is a way of placing aside more ram for
higher speed and burst mode access. Bust mode allows the TT (or the 030
actually) to grab four long words of data in about half the time required
for the normal memory fetch. With a larger cache the access of the
relatively slow memory chips would also be enhanced, where's that cheap
10ns RAM when you need it?
TT ram is controlled by MMU equipped daughter boards and there are boards
which will allow you 128 Megs of TT RAM. Try to fill that up with the
info tucked away in your little black book! The 030 can address up to 4
Gigabytes directly, but the power draw of the quantity of the SIMMS
required would be prohibitive, and for the most ambitious home user any
more than this at the present time is a little outrageous. Even at a
cheap $30.00 a megabyte, we are talking about $3,840.00 for memory alone.
A bit about processors...
The TT uses an advanced DMA system allowing it to map 8 bit devices from
its' 32 bit bus, just like the ST converts data out from the 68000's 16
bit bus. This is good since the 030 is a bit slow with the interrupts
for
stuff like floppy access. The DMA is great for this type of thing,
allowing the processor to get on with its schedule without having to wait
for the 8 bit devices to catch up, one bit at a time. The Falcon's specs
call for some pretty wild DMA sound engine band-width. An 8 channel
stereo
DMA, running at 16 bits indicates a real 32 bit bus. (two 16 bit
outputs!)
Hooked up to the DSP 56001 - 1 Megabit/sec output some really fast high
quality sound should be available. Lets just hope that this speed can be
used for other applications like REAL high speed modem emulation, (with a
small box holding the protocol chips interfacing the phone line) or high
speed printing. 1200+ DPI can chew up a lot of memory, and a DSP driven
output line could really speed data transfer and crunching.
There is no blitter on the TT, the old ST blitter would just slow things
down on the 030. The blitter helps greatly when you have to move data to
DMA control, and a 16 bit blitter, like that on the Falcon, could help
out
greatly.
Put it in, Take it out!
SCSI is supported on the TT, a NCR5380 chip backs up the SCSI port on the
TT. This should allow you to use ANY SCSI device available. ICD
announced a similar system for the ST line, including a revision of
MetaDos, the CD-ROM driver, to let you use any PC style CD-ROM. With
this
software the TT should be able to do the same. A standard MAC HD can be
plugged in and run directly this way, which allows a more stable supply
of
hard drives for those out of range of an Atari dealer. I would like to
see direct support of floptical style 3.5in disk drives. These optically
guided drives can utilize 720K and 1.44 meg floppies like any other drive
(maybe even 2.88) and support the use of $20.00, 20 meg floppies. A very
inexpensive way to combine an external high density drive and Syquest
style power in a single unit. As these devices are SCSI, it would not be
hard to implement them.
The Falcon is quoted as having the SCSI II standard, as I must confess a
bit of ignorance about this, this successor to the SCSI family has
support
for the older standard and allows double the data rates. Sure beats
those cheap IDE drives included on clones.
Now that the 1.44meg floppy upgrades have been rectified, a new standard
has emerged with TOS 2.06/3.06; the ability to read/write standard PC
style 1.44 disks. Great for those of you who need to transfer files back
and forth to PCs, and the new generation of Atari word processors fully
support reading and writing Word Perfect 5.1 files as well as some of the
other popular PC word processors.
Pretty Pictures.
The TT supports all the old ST graphics modes as well as a few new ones.
320 X 200 X 256 colors, 640 X 480 X 16, and an outstanding 1280 X 960 in
monochrome. This is nice, but not up to the GIF crazy PC world
standards.
The Falcon supports a 320 X 200 X 32,768 color, 640 X 480 X 256, and
several other combinations out of an 18 bit color palette (262,144
colors)
while I would have preferred to see 1280 X 960 in at least 16 bit color
(65,5536 colors) that would be much more expensive. With all the extras
mentioned before either machine should be able to handle such graphics
power. But since we don't have all the really intimate details on the
Falcon's graphics expendability, I won't kibitz about what I don't know
about yet!
The TT graphics power is substantial, I have seen 3D animations scream by
under realtime control. And with the dozens of VME graphics boards
available, in the never ending contest on who can display the prettiest
pictures, the TT (and its little brother the Mega STe) can keep up with
the PC crowd without straining your wallet or sanity.
This hopefully was a clarification of some of the mysteries of the TT.
There are more things to discuss, like the VME slot and LAN ports, but
I'll leave that up to more enterprising individuals to take on. I
touched on the Falcon here and there, and after some more information is
available I can go on about that machine. The 68030 is a powerful chip
when backed up by the appropriate support hardware. The command
structure should support a great deal of 68000 coded software, giving the
TT and Falcon a great deal of the ST's more notable software legacy, and
allowing potential upgrades the ability to ease into another world of
user-friendly power computing. If you have any addendum or corrections to
this article please feel free to drop me a note!
Delphi: Abarbiero
Mail: BAAUG
3691 Eastwood Circle
Santa Clara, CA 95054
| | | ATARIUSER BBS LISTING
| | | By John Lockard
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
I started a list of ST bulletin boards back in the spring of 1987 as a
message with only ten bulletin boards on it. It's now grown to some 400
bulletin boards of the probably 1,000 ST boards in operation today. The
listing here in AtariUser is a reduced version of the list I publish
quarterly, as the main file contains more baud rate, bulletin board
software, and PC Pursuit out-dial information. The Spring 1992 edition
of this list will be uploaded on Atari Corporation Online bulletin board
and available on some FNET boards in the last week of March, and will
eventually be posted on most major services and boards.
I check and update the list every three months because I have found that
about 11% of the boards in that time have gone down. Yep, about one
half the numbers on this list won't work next year. Since most are run
as a hobby, BBS systems come and go, due to whim or hardware changes (or
failures).
Many of the numbers in this list have FNET numbers attached. This means
that they can network with other boards to exchange files and messages.
FoReM and Turbo boards have access to FNET, and also some Express boards
can do FNET in addition to their own special network. Citadels or
Stadels have their own network called CitaNet that exchanges mainly
messages. Michtron software doesn't network except for limited exchange
of private electronic mail, although recently an MBBS Network file was
released and available on CompuServe and GEnie. Some systems listed
here are multi-line, in which case the main number is the only one
listed.
Please help my list grow and stay accurate. Let me know if your board
isn't here, or if any of these are gone. Your help will make the next
list better. I can be reached at Atari Corporation Online and other
FNET boards on the Z*Net news conference and on some CitaNet
conferences. PC Pursuit users can reach me by typing C PURSUIT at the
"@" prompt. Of course, you can even use a post card! Provide whatever
information you can, including bulletin board names, phone numbers, baud
rates supported, and bulletin board software and version number to:
John K. Lockard
4 Red Oak Circle
Johnson City, TN 37604-7616
Notes:
A - Board Supports: 300, 1200, Or 2400 Baud.
B - Board Supports: 9600, 14400, Or 19200 Baud.
C - Reachable From A PC Pursuit Out-dial.
Software:
E - Express
F - Forem
M - Michtron
O - Other
R - Remote Access
S - Stadel/Sanctum
T - Turbo
W - Wildcat
= United States =
=================
STATE PHONE CODES BBS NAME
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama (205) 722-0900 A..T H.A.U.G.
Alaska (907) 776-8186 A..E Midnight Sun
Arizona (602) 242-3686 A.CO ST Base Express
(602) 285-9246 ABCO Ompher's
(602) 464-4817 A.CO Star-Linx
(602) 459-6514 A..E Danish Tower
(602) 789-9426 .BCT 0440 Realm of Chaos
(602) 938-8288 ABCR Paragone
California (209) 436-8156 AB.T 0462 ST Connection
(209) 732-8520 A..E The Vace Base
(213) 254-9534 ABCT ST Jungle
(213) 461-2095 ABCM Code Head Quarters
(213) 732-0229 ABCT 0592 O'mayer V
(310) 320-1541 A.CF Torrance Forem
(310) 379-3796 ABCO Hitch Hikers Guide
(310) 518-9524 AB.T 0429 M.A.S.A.T.E.K.
(310) 543-5483 ABCO The Travelling
(310) 634-8993 ABCE Target Range
(310) 841-0347 A.CT M.I.D.I. World Network
(310) 863-3718 ABCT 0506 Zoo Station ST
(408) 245-5827 A.CF Online Club
(408) 249-7916 ABCE Realm Of Wonder
(408) 255-6288 A.CO The Paladin's Temple
(408) 287-8399 A.CM Crime Bytes
(408) 353-4669 A.CM Compucat
(408) 449-2150 A..F Bit Stream
(408) 736-8849 A.CO The Rat
(408) 745-2191 A.CF Atari Base USA
(408) 848-6032 A..O S.C.A.U.G.
(408) 972-1548 A.CR Top Gun
(408) 986-0215 A.CO B.A.A.U.G.
(408) 997-7352 A.CM Dog House
(415) 362-8470 A.CF The Asylum
(415) 438-9387 A.CO W.C.S.
(415) 587-8062 A.CE A.B.A.C.U.S.
(415) 745-7901 A.CO The Wishing Well
(415) 790-1375 A.CM The Tavern
(415) 878-9602 A.CO Computer Rock
(415) 883-2236 A..E Castle of Blackthorn
(415) 965-3556 A.CO The Zone
(415) 965-9347 ABCT 0075 Bloom County ST
(415) 967-8319 A.CW Trembler
(510) 351-1385 A.CF The Grid
(510) 352-5528 A.CE S.L.C.C.
(510) 373-6792 AB.F 0706 Z*Net Golden Gate
(510) 452-0350 ABCR Claw Marks
(510) 526-6471 A.CE ST Synchronicity
(510) 785-1290 ABCE Owl's Nest
(510) 834-1707 A.CM The Enchanter
(510) 839-4293 ABCE The Sword In The Stone
(510) 845-1789 A.CF Microworld
(619) 689-8157 A..M S.D.A.C.E.
(707) 446-4158 A..E Solano Station
(707) 528-4259 A..M Decatur Galaxy Class
(707) 642-4636 A..O Gamer's Guild
(707) 792-2572 A..M Star Trek
(707) 823-3052 A..S Interface
(714) 247-3888 A..F The Vortex
(714) 361-1112 AB.T Argonaut's
(714) 534-7093 ABCT 0694 L.A. S.M.O.G.
(714) 546-2152 ABCT 0632 London Smog
(714) 625-4251 A..E A.A.A.U.G.
(714) 650-7779 A.CT 0016 B.A.T.S
(714) 688-3204 ABCO Starlink
(714) 969-5486 ABCT 0712 H. B. Smog
(805) 252-0450 AB.T 0248 Space Station
(805) 987-6985 A..T R.A.M. Of Ventura
(818) 222-4444 A..E Wizardy
(818) 708-8576 AB.T 0652 Pengo Land
(818) 766-5277 ABCT 0576 Loch
(818) 768-7125 ABCT 0559 Warehouse
(818) 881-0738 A..F Port Royal
(818) 993-5516 AB.F The Software Bank
(916) 243-2683 A..E Alternate Reality
(916) 638-9923 A.CE Axolotl
(916) 723-1657 A.CS The Mind Keep
(916) 729-2968 A.CO ST Keep
(916) 791-4549 A..O Merlyn's Realm
Colorado (303) 343-2956 A.CO Atari Club
(303) 361-9256 A.CE Tardis
(303) 367-0668 A.CO The Web
(303) 367-5877 A.CE Bavarian's GastHaus
(303) 431-1404 .BCT 0005 Mile High
(303) 452-4383 .BCT 0186 Grave Diggers Tomb
(303) 457-0320 ABCF Skyline
(303) 469-4954 A.CS Four Wheeling
(303) 699-0402 ABCT 0643 Ring World
(303) 798-5241 A.CO Carina II
(719) 574-7406 A..F 0602 Cartoon Haven
Conneticut (203) 229-9833 A.CO Ultra Project
(203) 269-7969 AB.T 0474 Heaven 'N' Hell
(203) 274-7803 AB.F 0185 Billboard
(203) 331-9936 AB.E Star
(203) 421-4861 AB.T 0079 S.T.A.R.R.
(203) 528-7693 A.CF 0647 E.H.C.R.
(203) 656-0134 AB.E Terripin Station
(203) 776-9723 A..E New Haven
(203) 871-0696 A.CE Silicon Palace
(203) 873-8518 A..O Sinkhole Utopia
Delaware (302) 378-2277 A..E ST Delaware
(302) 836-4816 AB.F 0307 Pay Bax
Florida (305) 271-0688 ABCM A.S.I.M.
(305) 344-3644 A..E B.U.B.B.A.
(407) 381-5403 A.CF 0494 Top Gun
(407) 382-5275 A.CF 0213 Crooked Dragon Inn
(407) 658-1425 A.CO Starship
(407) 831-1613 ABCT 0304 Twilight Zone
(407) 886-1632 A.CM McDonald's Computer
(407) 896-5772 A.CO Bullwinkle's Corner
(813) 397-5335 A..S The Darkest Realm
(813) 539-8599 A..E Tampa Bay Oracle
(813) 797-8449 A..O Tut's
(904) 786-4176 A..T 0350 The Bounty ST
Georgia (404) 425-2718 ABCF Marietta
(404) 521-0445 A.CO Fortress R & D
(404) 659-5720 ABCS Overmind
(404) 796-3805 A..F 0675 Motherboard
(912) 471-7629 A..W U Want What?
Hawaii (808) 261-2184 A..W Muskrat's Den
(808) 293-5459 A..E The Black Hole
(808) 531-4805 A..O Dragon Masters
(808) 622-2533 A..E A.C.E.'s HI
Idaho (208) 587-7603 A..M Rattle Snake Station
(208) 832-4118 A..O Eagles Nest
Illinois (312) 334-7468 ABCF Rune Quest II
(618) 254-6077 AB.F 0123 East Side
(618) 344-8466 AB.F 0621 The Garage
(708) 213-9299 ABCE Northwest Passage
(708) 231-7227 A.CM S.C.A.T.
(708) 250-0968 ABCT 0585 The Graveyard
(708) 310-9014 ABCT 0202 Outpost
(708) 423-1568 A.CF 0562 Midwest Connection
(708) 456-6875 A.CF 0557 ST Center
(708) 457-2219 A.CE Blue Moon
(708) 623-9570 A.CE Pegasus
(708) 680-5105 A.CE Python (L.C.A.C.E.)
(708) 789-3610 A.CR Code One
(708) 830-6387 ABCF ST Scruncher
(708) 894-9241 ABCT Software Syndicate
(815) 834-1914 A.CF Rick's Cafe
(815) 968-2229 A..E I.C.D.
Indiana (219) 453-4046 AB.F 0456 Tippy
(219) 674-5947 A..E M.O.U.S.E.
(219) 674-9288 A..E Mouse
(219) 744-1396 AB.F 0678 A.C.O.R.N.
(317) 353-9326 A.CM ST Archive
(317) 849-4007 A.CO Indy Serve
(317) 962-7981 A..E The Next Generation
(812) 332-0573 A..T 0141 B.L.A.S.T.
(812) 466-3478 AB.E The Phoenix
Kansas (913) 334-3897 ABCT 0067 H.Q.
(913) 651-7526 A..E The Flagbase
Kentucky (502) 245-0386 A..E Triv Atari
(502) 456-4292 A..E The Atari Scene
(502) 897-1589 A..O Twilight Zone
Louisiana (318) 537-3129 A..F Conqueror Connection
(504) 469-8468 A.CE French Quarter
Maine (207) 668-3631 A..M MFS Computing
Maryland (301) 460-6030 A.CO The Eighth Dimension
(301) 894-8516 ABCT 0556 Thieves Guild
(301) 924-3771 A.CO Hallucination
(410) 360-1356 AB.T 0504 Media 2000
(410) 437-0243 AB.F 0501 Storm Shadow
(410) 551-0742 AB.T 0080 Bit Heaven
(410) 628-2693 A..E Lighting Rod
(410) 969-0621 AB.F 0500 Battlezone
Massachusetts (413) 648-9841 A..E Red-Eye Express
(508) 226-8028 AB.F Ye Olde Cookie Shoppe
(508) 393-1362 A..F 0720 East of Moon
(508) 875-8009 A..E Microsystems Software
(508) 966-0503 A..F 0661 Vanguard Fortress
(617) 328-9230 A.CM Question Mark
(617) 396-4607 A.CM B.C.S.
(617) 567-8642 A.CM Toad Hall
(617) 598-6646 A.CO Bay State
(617) 665-0977 A.CE Outer City Limits
(617) 891-7338 A.CS The Blade
Michigan (313) 233-6095 AB.E The Nine Planes
(313) 235-0158 A..E The Carnival
(313) 451-0524 A.CO Molin's Den
(313) 545-8593 AB.O 0137 Doc's Place
(313) 582-0888 A.CE Bloom County
(313) 778-8783 AB.F 0294 Game Room
(313) 973-9137 A.CM Treasure Chest
(517) 393-1748 A..O The Computer Dungeon
(517) 394-6852 A..O C.H.A.O.S.
(517) 787-5061 A..E C.A.C.E.
(616) 245-8259 A..O E.X.T.E.
Minnesota (612) 426-8627 A.CF 0637 Source Machine
(612) 451-4005 ABCF 0452 Inner City
(612) 472-6582 A.CS M.A.S.T.
(612) 488-5973 A.CE S.P.A.C.E
(612) 544-5118 ABCF Flight Line
(612) 782-9845 A.CS MIDIapolis
(612) 784-8643 A.CS *** POOF ***
Missouri (314) 275-2040 ABCF 0224 Flash
(314) 631-5449 A.CF 0624 Paradox
Nevada (702) 363-6066 A..T 0475 Top Gun
(702) 435-0786 AB.E The Rebel
(702) 435-7919 A..F Ground Zero
(702) 565-5271 A..E The Sports Line
(702) 644-8857 A..F 0680 The Revolution
(702) 644-9813 AB.F 0189 Syclone
(702) 645-7570 AB.M Wild Life
(702) 870-4750 AB.F Bud Lite
(702) 883-8054 A..E The Tommy Line
New Jersey (201) 579-3978 A..E Hotel Paradise
(201) 690-5224 A.CF 0685 J.A.C.G.
(201) 822-3658 ABCT 0439 The Strand
(201) 840-4463 AB.T The Underworld
(609) 346-1224 A..S J.A.C.S.
(609) 426-4472 AB.F 0677 Space Station One
(609) 451-7475 AB.F 0168 Cumberland County
(609) 691-3105 A..O Mystics Realm
(609) 848-2658 A..F Night Beat
(908) 290-1133 A..E A.C.E.'s High
(908) 525-1939 ABCR R.C.'s Place
(908) 525-9305 A.CO S.A.B.B.S.
(908) 727-1914 ABCT 0133 Hologram Inc.
(908) 859-5999 AB.F 0610 Songwriter's Den
(908) 920-7981 AB.T 0489 Steal Your Face
(908) 968-8148 ABCF 0593 Z*Net Online
New Mexico (505) 525-0388 A..F 0430 Atari C.A.L.C.
(505) 897-4306 A..F Asylum
New York (212) 569-4118 ABCF The Midnight Caller
(212) 824-5512 ABCT 0266 Patch House
(315) 458-0118 A..E Backstairs
(516) 399-4252 A..M Star Scan (L.I.A.U.G.)
(516) 433-3309 A.CO Byteways
(516) 643-4963 AB.O Bandits Hideout
(516) 867-5654 .BCT The Shire
(516) 937-1455 A.CE B.A.C.K.
(518) 237-1232 A..E C.D.A.C.E.
(518) 475-1446 A..E The Soccer Base
(518) 793-0490 AB.T 0299 Critical Mass
(607) 692-2498 A..E The Enterprise
(716) 247-7157 A..O C.S.S. Support
(716) 247-8355 A..O Computer World
(716) 334-8232 A..F Cobblestone Manor
(716) 381-5139 A..O Moose
(718) 351-4304 A.CE Corner Pub
(718) 522-0768 ABCF 0467 Sherwood Forest
(718) 833-0828 ABCF 0669 Dateline
North Carolina(919) 425-9421 AB.E Center City Express
Ohio (216) 228-7335 A.CO Computer Professionals
(216) 376-0885 A..E Rubber City Atari
(216) 441-3816 .BCE D.C.S.
(216) 468-2759 A.CE Center Ice
(216) 582-1904 A.CE ST Nerd
(513) 233-9500 A..F 0410 A.C.E. Information
(513) 276-4158 AB.E Starbase
(513) 353-4098 AB.T 0689 Speedy's Raceway
(513) 528-5833 AB.T 0657 Round Table
(513) 528-7463 A..T 0658 Cin'Tari OnLine
(513) 574-5660 A..E Magic Kingdom
(513) 753-3001 .B.T 0681 Station
(614) 575-2135 A.CE Ultimate Connection
(614) 870-0085 A.CE Cool Wave
Oregon (503) 246-9712 A.CS 3cpu
(503) 254-1754 A.CO Missing Persons League
(503) 289-9429 A.CF 0670 Puddle City
(503) 297-6542 ABCF 0072 S.T.E.P.
(503) 686-3276 A..F Progressive Atari ST
(503) 873-7146 A..O Oak Circle
Pennsylvania (215) 261-0620 A..E A.C.U.T.E.
(215) 677-1370 A.CM Celler Dweller N.E.A.T.
(215) 677-9721 A.CM Buffaloe's
(215) 750-9065 AB.F ST Emporium
(215) 755-0166 A.CT 0135 The Bat Cave
(215) 755-6743 ABCT 0483 ST World
(215) 776-7495 A..E Westex
(215) 879-8886 ABCT 0287 Starlight
(215) 942-3874 AB.F Threshold
(215) 945-0262 A.CM Star Station
(412) 331-2795 A.CT 0625 Phil's Hangout
(412) 481-5002 A.CE P.A.C.E.
(717) 675-4068 AB.E The Keep
(717) 765-8623 AB.E C & R
(717) 765-8994 A..E Sarge's
(717) 788-5665 AB.T 0099 Time Warp
(814) 825-9410 A..E Traveller's Inn
(814) 833-4073 A..F 0478 S.A.G.E.
(814) 946-3924 A..E New Sights and Sounds
Rhode Island (401) 295-2710 A..T 0345 R.A.M. Wasteland
(401) 621-5359 A..E R.I. A.C.E.
South Carolina(803) 469-6988 AB.F 0655 Wizzard's Castle
(803) 574-6738 A..F 0390 Bear's Den
(803) 576-6212 A..F Hyperspace I
(803) 788-7806 A..F 0538 Dragon Lair
(803) 851-3589 AB.E Mystery
Tennessee (615) 691-0113 A..O K.A.U.G.
(901) 873-3244 A.CE Doghouse-8
Texas (214) 251-1175 ABCE The Psychlo Empire
(214) 264-2415 A.CE Alein
(214) 278-6180 A.CE Vortex
(214) 613-7537 ABCT 0591 The Melting Pot
(214) 669-3144 ABCE Professional Forum
(214) 987-2494 A.CT The Best Of Both Worlds
(409) 539-6277 AB.E W.B.B.S. F.M.
(512) 523-0045 AB.T 0709 Excalibur
(512) 656-3261 A..E The Eagle's Nest
(512) 795-9175 AB.E Quantum Thump
(713) 333-1273 A.CO Musicians In Deep
(713) 480-9310 ABCF 0003 Atari-Oh!
(713) 586-9716 A.CE USS Kencom
(713) 688-9162 A.CF 0663 Anchor
(713) 729-7555 A.CF 0181 Bit Bucket #1
(713) 776-3699 A.CO Bit Bucket #2
(713) 827-8041 A.CF The Floppy Wizard
(713) 921-0550 A.CM H.A.S.T.E.
(713) 944-0108 A.CM Double Click Software
(713) 991-5105 A.CT Dark Side Of The Moon
(713) 992-3939 ABCF 0548 The Metal Shop
(817) 295-8400 AB.E Shade Tree Express
(817) 329-1125 A.CE Outland Station
(817) 573-4190 A..F Barsoom Project
(817) 778-2506 A..E Telephone Company
Utah (801) 269-8780 ABCF 0633 Dark Star
(801) 272-4243 A.CF 0587 Acme
(801) 539-0605 A.CO The Only
(801) 565-0850 ABCF 0030 FACP-ST
(801) 967-8738 ABCE The Repair Shop
(801) 968-3921 A.CF 0078 Stun Bolt
Vermont (802) 524-9387 A..E Whispering Winds
Virginia (703) 250-7303 ABCF Merlin's Litterbox
(703) 354-6368 ABCF 0579 Dreaming City
(703) 425-5824 A.CO Hallucination
(703) 450-3910 A.CM A.R.M.U.D.I.C.
(703) 548-4349 A.CF 0646 Corporate Network
(703) 641-9769 A.CF Gallifrey
(703) 941-8471 A.CM T.A.S.K.
(804) 464-4994 AB.T 0564 P.B.M. Gamers
(804) 744-8022 A..E G.R.A.S.P.
Washington (206) 271-8613 A.CO Budget Board
(206) 362-2317 A.CF 0182 Hillside
(206) 473-6587 A..E Sub - S.P.A.C.E.
(206) 574-1146 A..O Bear Cavern - S.W.A.G.
(206) 574-1531 A..F 0648 Mosh Bit
(206) 848-3371 A..E The Reef
(206) 854-0193 ABCT 0159 Baker Street
(206) 859-9644 ABCT 0596 Super 68
(509) 235-4875 A..E Cybersect
(509) 965-2345 AB.T 0542 Yakima Atari ST
(509) 966-8555 A..T 0322 A.C.E.Y.
West Virginia (304) 733-5626 A..T 0642 Hero's Haven
Wisconsin (414) 278-5390 A.CO P.S.A.
(414) 461-1730 A.CE M.A.S.T.
(715) 832-0496 A..F 0617 Stable
Wyoming (307) 632-7958 AB.F 0045 Prairie Chip II
(307) 638-7036 AB.F 0635 Storm Bringer
= Canada =
==========
Alberta (403) 288-4481 A..O Channel 23
(403) 436-0328 AB.T 0595 Temple Of Doom
(403) 450-1618 A..T 0236 B.E.A.C.H.
(403) 489-9757 A..T 0672 Last Call
Brit Columbia (604) 251-7677 A..O H.I.L.
(604) 334-3809 AB.T 0659 Wizard's Warren
(604) 542-8801 AB.E Court House
(604) 598-0639 A..O Mars Hill
(604) 736-6330 A..E 1040 Midi/Music
(604) 785-9512 AB.T Peace Country Computers
Manitoba (204) 697-3802 A..F The Game Trade
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward
Island (902) 434-1482 A..S B.A.U.D.
Ontario (416) 273-7089 AB.T 0038 Evil Empire
(416) 274-1225 AB.F 0018 Turbo Support
(416) 285-9328 AB.T 0111 Conan's Den
(416) 332-5810 A..T Mother Of All Boards
(416) 336-1236 AB.T 0619 Tron 2
(416) 466-8931 A..F 0523 Leftover Hippies
(416) 479-2169 A..R Atari Canada
(416) 491-0370 A..E The Grand Hotel
(416) 571-6965 AB.E Assassins' Grove
(416) 604-7730 A..O Java's Hide Away
(416) 934-6801 AB.F 0623 Radio Station
(519) 623-6116 A..E Sanitarium
(519) 681-0438 A..E The Digital Centre
(519) 681-9820 A..E Noah's.ARC
(705) 560-3115 A..T 0511 Hammerlab
Quebec (514) 366-4556 A..E M.A.C.A.M.
Saskatchewan (306) 522-1959 AB.F 0686 Sewer Rats Domain
= International =
=================
England 44 296-395-935 AB.F 1031 Internet
44 480-403-375 A..T 1051 Sanitarium
44 742-325-232 AB.T Sheffields Alt Solution
44 842-762-136 AB.R Sounds Digital
Germany 49 7031-275698 A..T 0484 Micro Talk II
49 711-813-480 A..T 0321 Micro Talk I
Luxembourg 35 2-222-534 AB.T 0363 ComNet Luxembourg
Netherlands 31 1751-13128 AB.O The Dutch Connection
New Zealand 64 4-4762-852 AB.F Z*Net South Pacific
Norway 47 2-13-26-59 AB.O A.B.K.
Spain 34 3-430-5653 A..M Ikaria
Sweden 46 31-24-7701 A..M Dagg Skimmer
46 8-771-0280 A..F 0682 The Strapper Board
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Atari Explorer Online Magazine is a weekly publication covering the
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Atari Explorer Online Magazine is Copyright (c)1992, Atari Computer
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Atari Explorer Online Magazine
"The Official Atari Online Journal"
Copyright (c)1992, Atari Computer Corporation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
