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Z*NET Online Magazine Issue 530
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Atari Online Magazine Issue #530
=========================================
(½) 1990 by Rovac Industries, Inc.
Post Office Box 59
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846
=======================================================================
Z*Net Online 24 Hour BBS (908) 968-8148 3/12/24
CompuServe 71777,2140 GEnie Z-NET
=======================================================================
JULY 27, 1990
==========================
THIS WEEK
==========================
by Ron Kovacs
Welcome to another issue... Beginning this week through August, Alice
Amore and Mark Quinn will be on vacation. I will substitute for both
during the weeks ahead. If anyone is interested in pinch-hitting for
the summer, please leave email on any of the pay services or the Z*Net
BBS. BTW, Alice and Mark cover public domain and shareware releases!
The 908 area code is now working in the designated areas of New Jersey.
You will start seeing BBS number changes circulating shortly. This
will also effect the Z*Net numbers. The 908 area code will make a
permanent change next year.
Bruce Hansford has submitted an exclusive report on problems with
Calamus and commentary contained in a recent ST-Informer issue.
BRIGHT SPOT:
Online Magazines can't carry the soundtrack of Roseann Barr's singing
of the National Anthem.....
===============================
Z*NET NEWSWIRE
===============================
GEORGE MILLER LEAVES MICHTRON
=============================
George Miller announced on GEnie in a message that he is resigning
from Michtron to persue other career goals. Those goals were at one
time being considered for an Atari post but Abacus has probably made the
better offer since that is where George is going.
Z*NET ERRATA
============
Last week we congratulated Leonard Tramiel and his wife on the birth of
their baby boy, MICHEAL OLIVER TRAMIEL, born July 14. This week we're
proud to congratulate Leonard and family on the birth of their baby boy,
MICHEAL ELLIOT TRAMIEL, born July 14, and sheepishly admit to having no
idea who Micheal Oliver Tramiel might be.
NEW GENERATION CD-ROM DRIVES
============================
Sony has announced a new generation of CD-ROM drives, a write-once CD-
ROM system, and two PC cards for developing and implementing CD-ROM XA
applications. The four new CD-ROM drives are:
* CDU-541 internal drive with an embedded SCSI-II (rev. 10)
controller and 64 KB ring buffer
* CDU-531 internal drive with a Sony bus controller and 8 KB
ring buffer
* CDU-6211 external drive with embedded SCSI-11 (rev. 10)
controller and 64 KB ring buffer
* CDU-6201 external drive with Sony bus controller and 8 KB
ring buffer
All four drives have a high speed average access time of 0.38 seconds,
a 25 percent improvement over the previous drives. The ability to play
audio CDs is a standard feature of the new CD-ROM drives. Further, all
of the drives can be mounted either horizontally or vertically, and have
a 5-1/4" profile. All new models will be available in the Fall, 1990.
Consumer models based on the same technology will be announced by the
end of 1990.
TANDY'S NEW PC
=============
Tandy introduced the Tandy 1000 RL personal computer with unique home
management programs practical and simple. The Tandy 1000 RL is sold at
Tandy's more than 7,000 Radio Shack stores with a ready-to-use price
range from $750 to $1,299.
ADAPTEC INTRODUCES SCSI PRODUCT
===============================
Adaptec became the first company this week to bring to market Small
Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) software compatible with Microsoft
Corp.'s layered device driver architecture (LADDR) for the OS/2
operating system.
AMIGA APPEARS IN STORES
=======================
Commodore Amiga is now appearing in a number of major stores, including
Macy's California, Montgomery Ward's, VideoConcepts and others.
Commodore says it is planning a presence in more than 1,200 consumer
retail outlets by Aug. 31. Other outlets are to be added by Nov. 15.
===============================
Z*NET SPECIAL REPORT
===============================
Reported by Bruce Hansford
The following letter was FAXed today by Network News Services in
England. It is a copy of a letter sent to ST Informer Magazine in
response to the July "Rumor City", a column in that publication written
by Nevin Shalit. Nevin's column stated that "some VERY NASTY STUFF is
going on over in England. A British distributor is importing US ROMS
and selling the ROMs and Calamus together at a price lower than the
official British importer can offer. To make matters worse, Calamus
representatives say that this distributor, Network News Services, is
bashing Calamus to anyone who calls for information. Lawsuits may be
pending...".
The following is a direct quote, un-altered, from the FAXed letter and
is reprinted with full permission of Network News Services and Frank
Shean:
Network News Services
Dock Road, Tilbury
Essex RM18 7BT U.K.
Tel: 0375:859103
Web-offset and sheet-fed printers; publishers
(newspapers, mags., books).
Photo-typesetting; laser-setting; graphics
design; film/plate-making.
Dealers in: DTP Systems: Atari Products:
Sharp Lasers: Epson.
Creators of the PROXIMA DTP/In-house litho
printing facility.
EDITOR ST INFORMER, OREGON U.S.A. JULY 27, 1990
How about some fair play, guys? One of our US contacts has just read me
your 'rumour' column, July issue, on the subject of us and Calamus. You
might think we're the bad guys: in the UK, Australia and the Middle
East, we're the good guys. Since I was speaking to your editor fairly
recently, he could have raised the issue with me. How would your ST
buffs like to pay 700 dollars (yes, seven HUNDRED dollars) for the
Calamus program which costs about 160 in the US? That's the same
program. Outline here costs nearly 300 dollars and the font disks you
pay about 90 dollars for, cost 250 dollars in the UK. Would YOUR
readers pay out like that, without putting up a squeak?
Everywhere else in the world (except Australia) Calamus operates through
a normal dealer network, with normal competition between dealers. In
the UK there is NO such network: the distributorship is just one man,
who refuses (against European and UK law, incidentally) to allow anyone
to stock the product if they don't agree to maintain his high price. I
understand price-fixing is against US law, too. Why not run some
'rumours' about that?
We started importing from the US in all innocence, not realising what a
furor the Calamus distributor would try to generate when he saw his
monopoly being threatened. Monopolies are against the law in Europe and
the UK. Legal action may be pending.... but NOT against us. WE raised
the matter with our Dept. of Trade and Industry and THEY insisted on the
matter being forwarded to the European Commission (Europe's trade court,
with very far-reaching powers). A DTI spokesman told us (for quoting,
knowing that our main business is publishing and printing newspapers,
magazines and books), that the way Calamus was being handled here was
making 'second-class citizens' of UK Atari users. The law is on our
side, believe me. If you don't believe me... I'll be happy to mail you
all the relevant articles of the Treaty of Rome, which governs European
trade.
The TOS chips we change are because the Calamus writers put ROM
identifiers in the program to protect individual distributor's markets
in their own countries. This is UNLAWFUL in the EEC if it is intended
to stop fair and competitive trading of a product. There is, of course,
no other reason for including a 'country identifier' in the program
which stops that program running anywhere else. Again, in the US, where
the product is traded competitively, it doesn't matter. Here it matters
a great deal.
So we bad mouth Calamus, do we? According to your rumour-monger, we go
to all the trouble of importing Calamus and the TOS chips... and then
we bad-mouth the product so no one buys it, do we??? Perhaps we're not
really nasty guys... perhaps we're just nut-cases. At least, we would
be if we followed the dichotomous reasoning of your rumour-writer. (By
the way, I take it that IS the guy who I went to the trouble of
advising... through your editor... how to fix a possible fault in his
Atari laser?).
We have published newspapers for over forty years... award-winning
newspapers. When it comes to marketing a product, we feel the truth
ought to be told about it... then the customer can make up his own mind.
The most-respected Atari writer in Europe has just re-reviewed Calamus
and has slammed it (ST Club Magazine). All we do is tell people the
truth. I know that such a concept comes alien to most of the computer
industry... but that's the way we are. As to what we're doing and the
general concept of what we're doing to try to promote FAIR trade... may
I refer you to recent decisions of your own Supreme Court, as reported
in the New York Times. Seems we're not alone.
What I want to know... and maybe some of your Atari user-readers might
like to know... is why a mag like ST Informer isn't living up to its
name... and INFORMING! They might also wonder, as do I, at a writer who
thinks it perfectly okay for OK Atari owners to pay FOUR TIMES AS MUCH
for the same product as is paid by people in the US, Canada... and even
Germany, where the program originates. What's he got against the
British? Tell him I'm Irish and maybe he'll want to get his facts -- or
'rumours' -- straight next time.
We, of course, have our contacts. We know exactly who is generating the
kerfuffle about what we're doing and I am surprised that the igloo-bound
gentleman concerned is still carrying on in this way AFTER faxing me an
apology for interfering in my business!
Sincerely,
Frank Shean
Managing Editor, Network
P.S. Do you STILL want me to be your European correspondent!!!
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>
The above letter does not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of
Z*Net Online Magazine or its staff.
=================================
WHY ATARI USERS ARE LIKE THEY ARE
=================================
by John Nagy
This feature is a reprint from the SUMMER ISSUE of ST-JOURNAL MAGAZINE,
presented here by permission. THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE REPRINTED IN ANY
OTHER PUBLICATION OR NEWSLETTER WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM ST-
JOURNAL, 113 West College Street, Covina, CA 91723, 818-332-0372.
Individual copies of ST JOURNAL are available from the above address for
the cover price of $4.50, and subscriptions are $29.95 a year.
Atari users have nothing if not our reputations. We are told that Atari
users are Pirates. We are told that Atari owners are unnaturally
militant, unreasonably demanding, irrationally loyal, and
uncompromisingly cheap. And we are told that we are far more interested
in and informed of the daily affairs and administration of our
computer's Corporation than are users of other brands. Is this all
true? And why?
PIRATES
No. We are not all pirates. While booths offering copies of hundreds
of major software titles are common at hamfests and some computer shows,
the selection is almost exclusively IBM and Apple. This is to be
expected from the commercial pirates, as they, too, know where their
biggest market is.
I think that piracy has become socially unacceptable in most Atari user
groups. It was not always the case, and I am sure that club meetings
still exist where the main point of getting together is to get copies of
everybody else's newest "warez". But this scene is played out in MAC
and IBM groups with much greater frequency than in our Atari clubs
today. Most responsible and involved enthusiasts can see the damage
this does, and most of us have had the opportunity (at shows) to meet
and get to know the developers who's livelihoods are being gouged. The
immediacy of shaking hands with the developer while picking his/her
pocket is generally more than most of our consciences can take. Not
always, of course. The April PACE show in Pittsburgh, PA set a new high
water mark in open discussion of piracy participation and flagrant
statements of intent to "wait and get the new software when it's on the
BBS's." Fortunately, the PACE experience is particularly shocking by
virtue of being unprecedented at Atari shows. Unless we see more like
it, I take it as an aberration rather than a trend.
I believe that Atari users on the whole have taken more accusations of
piracy than we deserve. But like a murder in a small town, it has more
impact because of the small community. And the guilty are getting more
peer pressure than ever before.
(As an aside, you know your computer is sinking when the pirates jump
ship. But they leave early, having little allegiance to anything but
personal greed.)
CHEAP
Yes. Atari people are, by and large, very cheap with their hardware and
software purchasing. Most users can't quite swallow the idea of paying
as much for a software title as they paid for their computer. But
everything is relative. I suppose that most MAC users would balk at
buying titles that cost what their machine did new... but of course we
are talking about thousands, not hundreds of dollars there. The low
price and high value of the ST platform pre-selects a userbase that
expects a lot for their money. Atari users use Ataris because of the
amazing value they present. Part of that value is cheap software to
match the cheap hardware. It goes with the territory, and because
quality ST software has been available for pennies in the past, users
see no reason that it should not continue.
Many Atari ST users would have no computer at all if they didn't have
their ST... and probably MOST would not have a similarly outfitted MAC
or 386 setup. It is no consolation to those users to tell them that
they would be paying two to four times the price for comparable software
if they were on a different platform.
LOYAL
An instant war is on your hands anytime you ask an Atari owner and, oh,
say, an AMIGA owner to compare the advantages of their machines. But
ask an MS-DOS and a MAC owner to comment, and you get very little fire.
Why? What is it that makes Atari (and Amiga) owners so passionate?
It is the combination of the psychology of the underdog mixed with
justifiable resentment. We DO know that the Atari is the Rodney
Dangerfield of computers. We REALLY, REALLY KNOW it. We know what our
machines are capable of, and we are completely used to being laughed at
or at least looked at funny when we mention our computer brand in mixed
company. Many of us know why we made our choice in computers, and we
don't like our judgement being questioned or made light of. Others of
us may not be at all certain that we have the best computer, but we feel
compelled after the fact to defend a choice we have made.
We have gone against the odds to select a non-standard product for
ourselves. We have invested something of ourselves in the process. We
often feel an unusually strong need to defend our position, even if we
are not being questioned about it particularly keenly. And we are more
likely to take more actions either for the same reasons we originally
had to convince ourselves of, or in order to support our earlier
actions. We call that "loyalty". The more off-standard the choice we
make, the more loyal we are likely to be to it.
INFORMED AND INVOLVED
Yes, Atari users are unusually interested in the daily activities of the
company and personalities that create our computers. The Atari message
area on GEnie Telecommunication Service is the busiest of any special
interest group on the entire service. The demand for information has
supported not just one but two weekly online magazines, while MAC and PC
areas have bi-weekly or monthly newsletters. We stay up on the latest
changes in the Vice President's office. We want to know what the
Tramiels are saying and doing. We want to know where Bob Brodie is this
weekend. And the gossip about which developer is planning to do what to
whom over whatever is just that much more interesting. Why?
A major camera manufacturer studied advertising and consumer behavior a
few years back. They found that two major groups read their ads very
carefully. The smaller of the two included people who were about to buy
a camera and were comparing features. The much larger group was those
who had already bought their brand camera and were looking for
information to support the correctness of their selection.
We are starved for support for our decisions to own and use Atari
computers. We are glad to consume any and all sources of information
that may help us either feel that we made a wise choice, or else feel
like we may be helping the choice become more viable for others. There
is sure to be a bit of fear motivating the information search, too.
None of us feel totally secure that Atari will be there forever. We
worry that more developers will desert. We wonder where we will go to
shop for the software that will remain. An oppressed group remains
informed in order to defend its own existence.
MILITANT
Yes. Atari owners can be downright confrontational with Atari and
developers. Several magazines and online services have built their
reputations on being an angry voice, crying out to Atari on behalf of
what they perceive to be teeming throngs of outraged users. Some of
these people and publications go to great lengths to tell Atari how they
are killing the dealer network, strangling the US market, mismanaging
the corporation, and producing the wrong product mix. Most of the
commenting writers, myself among them, are from time to time in this
category. And often, there is reason for the outcry. But Atari Corp
sometimes seems to be mystified at our attitude, as though they cannot
fathom why we take their actions as such important issues. They built a
box; we bought one. Why do we want more?
Here's why: We bought our Ataris because they represent an exciting
piece of the future - one that we can afford. These are more than
appliances to most of us... well, to many of us anyway. We feel that we
have fought the crowd to find a better, more versatile answer to both
our needs and desires for entertainment and productivity. We have
invested of ourselves in the future of Atari. And we CARE about what
happens next. That's what has been the root of the attitudes in our
users that has earned much of our reputation.
Atari, be glad that we care. Start worrying when we stop being a pain.
If it happens in the short-to-medium run, it won't mean that you are
satisfying us, it will mean that we have given up.
===============================
CLEVELAND FREENET - FEEDBACK
===============================
by Francisco X DeJesus
About two months ago I read about the Cleveland Free-Net right here in
Z*Net. You've probably heard something about it by now, including the
fact it's absolutely free. However, if you live nowhere near Cleveland,
you may be thinking how you can get to it without a not-so-free long
distance phone call. All you really need is access to a computer system
in the Internet network...
If your'e at college, the best way to connect to it is to use your ST as
a terminal to a local computer system, for example, using Uniterm to
call your campus computer system. Most colleges and universities
nationwide have Internet access. If you have an account in that
computer, log in as you usually would. From your system, it is a one-
step process to get to the Free-Net. Type in:
"telnet freenet-in-a.cwru.edu" (no quotation marks). If it doesn't
recognize the hostname, try using the IP number directly:
"telnet 129.22.8.76". Most mainframe operating systems (VMS, Unix,
CMS, Music, etc.) support the Telnet command.
If you do not have an account on the local computer system, ask around
to see if you may request a temporary account or if there is a 'guest'
account available. Also ask about the kind of computer that answers the
phone calls. If it is what is known as a 'terminal server', you have to
connect from there to the actual computer that you want to use (for
example, you type in something like 'connect LOCALCOMP' and then your'e
asked for your username and password to log in). If this is the case,
some terminal servers will allow you to use the Internet directly: type
in "connect 129.22.8.76". A last resort is to visit some of the local
microcomputer labs in your school. Find out if they are plugged into
your campus network (usually thru ethernet). If they are, you may
obtain PD Telnet software for both Macs and PCs.
Once you reach the Free-Net (it takes just a few seconds to connect from
anywhere in the country) you will be greeted by the title screen and an
ASCII pic of the 'electronic city'. You may log in as a guest user and
begin to explore the system or apply for an account (they will send you
the actual application by mail). As a guest user you can go anywhere
and read anything in the system, but you can't leave messages, e-mail,
or chat with the other users online.
The whole Free-Net is set up like a menu-driven BBS with a city motif,
and well deserved since it is HUGE! The system is extremely easy to
use, and online help is available. Do check out all the SIGs,
especially the Atari SIG (type "go atari" at any arrow prompt). The
Atari SIG is among the largest, and (as usual) Atari users are among the
most outspoken in some of the other areas. Not all SIGs are computer-
oriented, and there is more than one SIG for every interest (for a
complete listing of the SIGs check out the Index under the Post Office's
User Services).
In all, if you have the chance, I highly recommend you try out the
Cleveland Free-Net. As a first impression, the Free-Net works like any
small BBS, but on such a large scale that the sheer magnitude of it
still awes me (how many BBS's do you know with 96MB RAM and over 2 gig
HD space? - and it's growing!). It takes very little time to feel at
home there, and it's free, so go online today!
ak662@cleveland.freenet.edu
dejesus@comus.cs.tulane.edu
GEnie: F.DEJESUS1
=============================
Z*NET ECHOS
=============================
by Terry Schreiber
North America is hit by another hot summer and as per usual computer
sales are drastically reduced. Atari Canada has been using this slow
time to get things ready for the fall and winter computer buying season.
Trying to pry info from Atari about their plans this season is a little
like changing tires without a lug wrench but I did manage to come up
with a few more things that weren't being held hush-hush till after the
August 8th dealer meeting.
A few years back I complained about lack of dealer support and gave some
definite ideas on how to overcome them. I am glad to hear at least one
of them is now becoming a reality. Atari Canada is setting up a BBS
system for it's dealers to keep in touch with the stray technical
bulletins that seem to go astray. The system is being set-up in the
head office on an Atari PC, and will keep all departments advised of any
messages or mail recieved. "It is a multi-purpose system" explains Rob
McGowan the director in charge of technical support at Atari Canada, but
the main reason is to keep dealers updated with what is happening, other
uses such as:
- dealer orders and messages
- technical and service bulletins
- pricing changes
- advertising schedules
- software and or hardware updates bulletins
- promotional material
- new products
- major bugs and/or fixes
- Atari shows dates
- messages to Atari reps
Dealers will be able to call a local number and go through data
switching to reach the head office resulting in no long distance
charges. The system is being set-up for dealers at this point and
possibly developers later, Public access, no plans in the immediate
future. Support for the general public should come from the dealers and
with this instrument in place our dealers are only a call away from the
information, it's faster than mailing technical bulletins and if it's
there in black and white there aren't any excuses for not knowing the
answers.
We wish Rob good luck in his new position and hope that this endevour
does indeed accomplish what it should - make dealers more aware of what
is happening with Atari.
LIGHTNING STRIKES
Hot weather combined with a cold front caused severe thunderstorms over
most of central Canada and northern United States and as usual,
lightning knocked out power over large areas. BBS system in these areas
were down for hours and even days with some losing valuable equipment to
Mother Nature's light show. It was reported that at least two BBS
systems lost computers and or hard drives in this last storm, so I
thought a timely note would be worthwhile to others before the same
peril strikes.
The best and formost method of guarding against power surges during a
storm is to un-plug EVERYTHING!! A power surge is not limited to the
powerlines. It can travel via the phone line to your modem into your
serial port, from there to the parallel port, DMA port, monitor and
anywhere depending on the amount of power coming in. Electricity needs
a path and looks for the shortest route to complete it's circuit.
Sometimes we are unable to be present to "pull the plug" as it where,
and require something online at all times. There is a much better route
to follow as power surges are in the lines at all times not just during
a storm. Protection is like preventive maintenance on your system, you
have your car checked not because it is giving you problems but so you
don't start receiving them. I am not talking about your $10.00 power
bar here, any surge protector that is worth the cash outlay will start
at about $100.00 on up. My choice is an ESP-386 with modem surge
protection. This model comes with $10,000.00 of insurance coverage
against a surge damaging your equipment. This model retails for almost
$300.00 but they do have two small models carrying $5000.00 and $3000.00
coverage respectfully. Yes, I do sell these models and I would mention
a few more if I was indeed familiar with the others, but I did buy this
for my personal machine long before I started selling them. A
demonstration in their North Vancouver testing lab convinced me of the
perils of power surges.
A small note to the systems still down - Get well soon!
Z*NET ECHOS UPDATE
With the crossnet being down for basically the last two weeks, there is
nothing really to report except that I understand that Ron is planning
on spending more time online shortly, and there has even been talk of
switching the current BBS software to a crossnet compatible program. We
have added five more nodes to the crossnet in the last two weeks and
are still growing. The amount of activity is still sadly short of
projected hopes but steadily increasing.
Checking out the other crossnets we encounter an Amiga 3000 vs Atari TT
discussion, a new desktop alternative, new Stos programs and new
versions of GFA Basic discussions, latest U.F.O. sightings and cover-
ups, assembly vs "C" vs Pascal talks, and many more that I haven't
mentioned.
For FoReM or Turbo boards in the crossnet wishing to join the Z-Net
Echos COnference, please contact Ray Skibo at Crash ST Node #448 Burnaby
B.C., Canada.
==========================
NEW JERSEY - COMMENTARY
==========================
From the Z*Net BBS
(Editor Note: Being a resident of the state with many feelings about
the changes taking place, which were put into action by our new Governor
Jim Florio a democrat, the following has been circulating around BBS
systems and through fax machines. The author of the following text is
unknown.)
Jim Florio is my sheperd, I shall not want.
He Leadeth me beside still Factories.
He Restoreth my Doubt in New Jersey Polotics.
He Guideth me to the path of Unemployment.
He anointeth my Wages with Freeze.
So my Expense Runneth over my Income.
Surely Poverty and Hard Living Shall Follow This Administration.
And I shall live in a Rented House Forever...!!
****====****
5000 + years ago, Moses said, "pack your camel, pick up your shovel,
mount your ass, and I will lead you to the Promised Land."
5000 years later, F.D. Roosevelt said, " Lay down your shovel, sit on
your ass, and light up a Camel, this is the Promised Land."
Today, Jim Florio will Tax your Shovel, Sell your Camel, Kick your Ass,
and tell you that the " Promised Land " is in Japan..!
==========================
EMULATOR BLUES
==========================
by Jack Burkig
(Reprinted from the Puget Sound Atari News, June 1990)
I got involved with Spectre 128 and PC Ditto for the noblest of motives.
I wanted to crow to my friends who own Macs and PCs that I could do more
with my lowly 1040ST than they could do with their expensive, top of the
line stuff, and I could do it relatively cheap, and without completely
filling our apartment with computer gear. I knew that Spectre would not
let me look at real Mac disks, and that PC Ditto was slow, but what the
heck, both seemed to work pretty well within their advertised
performance.
It is true that I never was able to make Spectre talk to my printer, and
I had very little IBM type software, but at least I became familiar with
the way the two user interfaces work, and I was reasonably happy and
solvent. Then Spectre GCR and PC Ditto II were announced, and I sent
in my deposits to be among the early owners of these new wonders. The
price was reasonable, and I convinced myself that maybe I would even
find it enjoyable to run some actual applications from the immense
selection available for the two parent machines, given the promise that
each emulation would be pretty much as good as the real thing.
Spectre GCR was the first one delivered. The package was a neat plug-in
cartridge and I plugged it in and was immediately able to load genuine
Mac disks into memory and run the application. I had Mac-a-Mug and
Hypercard and True Basic and all seemed to work. I could format a disk
in Mac format, copy files to it in Mac mode and then use the copy.
Great! I could not make the disk duplication work in Spectre mode,
however, even after extensive tweaking of a potentiometer hidden under
the cover of the cartridge. No matter, it would be nice, but was not
important. But I did want to be able to send things to the printer. I
bought Printworks and tried it, but the only result was that the mouse
cursor hung up and I spent days rebooting the machine, re-running
Spectre and trying everything I could think of to get around that
problem, without ultimate success.
I wrote to the publisher of Printworks, only to discover that the USPO
could not find them. I wrote to Gadgets by Small, and in due course
they answered, but I was still not able to get a printout. I got a
modem for my birthday and looked at the Atari vendor bb's on Compuserve
and Genie in search of help. There were lots of comments, but so far I
have not found one that has led me to get movement one out of a print
hammer, let alone letters, words, and the neat graphics which Hypercard
puts on my screen. At the moment I have a recommendation to try GDS
Printlink Connection, but have not yet acted on that. I still regard
Spectre GCR as a very good product and am still reasonably hopeful that
I will resolve these difficulties, but the progress to date is zilch.
In late January or early February of 1990 the UPS man brought the long-
awaited PC Ditto II. The news of troubles with this product has been
prominent in Atari related publications for months now, but let me tell
you my horror story, since that is the one which is burned into my soul!
After getting the box I immediately began to follow the instructions in
the Installation Manual, step by step, but frustration soon intervened.
I wrote to Avant-Garde pointing out the following deficiencies:
1. The clip which connects to the 68000 chip is a very insecure
connection. The least tug on the very stiff ribbon cables which
attach to it will pull it off.
2. The installation manual spends two pages telling you how to take
out screws and unbend shielding tabs, but does not mention that the
power supply and disk drive must be removed before the shield can
be removed. In that process you must also unplug the connectors,
and those have a plastic retaining tab to avoid accidental pull-
outs, and are a bit of a trick to unlatch.
3. The installation manual tells you nothing about where the board,
5 x 7.5 inches, fits. I found that it would not fit at all, even
with the shield removed. This may be due to the fact that my
memory upgrade extends half an inch above the shifter box, but even
without that things would have been very, very close.
After a considerable wait A-G sent a printed reply, apologizing for the
omissions in the installation manual, suggested that soldering the clip
in might be necessary or advisable, and casually mentioned that with
certain mother board layouts it would be necessary to send the supplied
clip back for a replacement, since that one would not permit the
keyboard to be installed. My board layout fit the description (but not
the given Revision Number), so I sent it back and waited and waited and
waited... for seven weeks.
Finally, the replacement clip arrived, along with two replacement
Programmed Logic Array chips which were being touted as the cure for
troubles people had been encountering. I took my machine to the local
Atari store and asked them to install the thing, since I had by now
gotten rather flinchy. They wisely declined, pleading that they could
not guarantee that it would work. They did agree to solder the clip on
for me, and after three tries got what seemed to be 64 good connections.
After each try I took things home and tried to run the program. On the
first two solder jobs I got to the Insert DOS disk stage and things hung
up. On the third try the A> prompt appeared, I could display a
directory, TYPE the contents of a file to the screen and run EDLIN to
modify a note written and saved with COPY CON. Because of a memory
upgrade the board would still not fit "under the hood", so I cut a .25 x
4 inch slot in the case of my ST, threaded the ribbon cables through,
reassembled the 1040ST and plugged in the board, crossing those
miserable ribbon cables as required. To protect the board from the
elements I installed it in a Radio Shack box, which sat on top of the
computer. I figured I was in operation. I wanted to run Flight
Simulator 4.0, but it got to a setup menu of some kind, the disk drive
stayed on and things were hung up. Probably FS 4.0 I figured, so I
decided to just excercise DOS functions for a little while.
Gradually, performance deteriorated until I was again at a stage where
the thing hangs up before the prompt appears. I opened the ST up,
reseated the cables and tried "one last time". DOS worked... but only
as long as I did not touch the cables. I asked Rod Coleman at Cimarron
to take one last try at reflowing the solder on the clip, though I
didn't know whether clip or cable was at fault. He graciously did this,
though he had every right to tell me to shove it my ear.
Back at the ranch, DOS would turn on only if I applied finger pressure
to the clip thru the larger cable. I rang the cables out with my ohm
meter, tried "improving" the connection by squeezing with pliers, and
now the disk drive spins for a few seconds and decides there's nothing
there and things hang up. It is very discouraging, and I have about
decided to take my losses and dump the thing before I destroy my ST
completely.
Avant-Garde has been responsive to customer complaints, but very
tardily, and at least for me not very effectively. The fact is that
this is a product so badly engineered as to be almost unbelievable. I
have seen a demonstration of a working PC DITTO II, and I would very
much like to be able to duplicate the results, but I have pretty much
lost hope that the miracle will happen.
To quote Pliny the Elder: Caveat emptor! Or to quote the Guru of my
graduate school physics days: Multiple purpose tools are no damn good!
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