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Z*NET: ATARI ONLINE MAGAZINE
----------------------------
December 18, 1992 Issue #23 Volume 7, Number 23
Copyright (c)1992, Syndicate Publishing Company
~ Publisher/Editor..........................Ron Kovacs
~ Senior Editor..............................John Nagy
~ Assistant Editor...........................Ed Krimen
~ Writer............................Michael R. Burkley
~ Writer.....................................Bob Smith
~ Z*Net News Service NZ.....................Jon Clarke
$ GEnie Address..................................Z-NET
$ CompuServe Address........................75300,1642
$ Delphi Address..................................ZNET
$ Internet/Usenet Address................status.gen.nz
$ America Online Address......................ZNET1991
$ AtariNet Address...........................51:1/13.0
* Z*Net: News Service FNET 593 AtariNet 51:1/13 (908) 968-8148
* Z*Net: Golden Gate FNET 706 AtariNet 51:1/9 (510) 373-6792
* Z*Net: S. Pacific FNET 693 New Zealand
**--CONTENTS--**
### The Editors Desk...........................Ron Kovacs
### Z*Net Newswire.............................Ron Kovacs
### The Year In Review 1992 - Part Two.........Ron Kovacs
### Kodak Conference Highlights................Ron Kovacs
### Perusing GEnie..............................Ed Krimen
### Perusing The Internet.......................Ed Krimen
### IAAD Membership Listing.................D.A. Brumleve
### AtariNet Update......................................
### Customer Report............................Don Harris
### The Unabashed Atariophile..........Michael R. Burkley
### Software Versions..................AtariUser Magazine
### CDROM/Multimedia Title Hardware Vendors Listing......
###### THE EDITORS DESK
###### By Ron Kovacs
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
The entire staff of Z*Net wishes your family a very pleasent and Happy
Christmas.
There are some editorial comments at the beginning of a few articles
contained in this edition.
###### Z*NET NEWSWIRE
###### Latest Industry Update
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
ATARI RESPONDS TO ABCO COMPLAINTS
Z*Net contacted Atari Corporation for their reaction to Don Harris's
article. According to Bob Brodie, Director of Communications, he
contacted Atari's legal department regarding ABCO, and this is the
statement that was made concerning ABCO Computer Consultants. "It has
come to our attention that ABCO Computer Consultants is conducting their
business in a fashion that displeases some of their customers. STReport
International Online Magazine and ABCO Computer Consultants are both
operated by Ralph F. Mariano. Customers may wish to take this into
account when reading STReport International Online Magazine, or deciding
to do business with ABCO Computer Consultants. ABCO Computer
Consultants is not an authorized Atari dealer." We were not able to
contact Mr. Mariano on this issue. (Editor Note: The Harris article
referenced in this news story appear in this edition of Z*Net)
MAGAZINE REPORTS FTC PREPARING ACTION AGAINST MICROSOFT
Business Week magazine, in its Dec. 28 issue, said FTC investigators
were preparing recommendations to the agency on how to proceed against
Microsoft, including splitting the company, erecting a "Chinese wall"
between divisions or altering the way its software is sold to computer
makers. Investigators are focused on the aggressive tactics Microsoft
has used to win its 95 percent share of the market in operating systems
for personal computers running on Intel Corp. micrprocessors. In a 250
page report delivered to FTC commissioners in early December, the
findings were that Microsoft maintained its hold on the market with
overly aggressive licensing arrangements, the magazine said. Reports
have emerged in other trade publications, such as InfoWorld, that rivals
have claimed Microsoft cut special deals with large customers who agreed
to buy both operating sytem software and applications software.
Allegations have also been reported that Microsoft dumped software at
prices designed to drive others out of the market. Microsoft offers
discounts to makers of personal computers that agree to pay for a copy
of DOS software for every personal computer they sell.
DMC UPDATES CUSTOMERS
In an open letter to registered customers of DMC Publishing, Nathan
Potechin, President announced that a few mistakes were made in
communicating to some of their customers in Australia. Due to the
long holiday period coming, mailouts and further information will not be
available until January 4, 1992. Potechin when on to state in his
release, "I am pleased to announce that I will extend the terms of all
the promotions enclosed in our customer mailout. As of right now, the
40% promotional discount on all original typesetter fonts from AGFA
Compugraphic, Linotype and URW, the ridiculous clearout prices on VIP,
Masterplan and STAcounts, the dynamite sale prices on the Calamus Font
Editor, Outline Art, Calamus 1.09N, the Clip Art, the User 2 Users disks
etc. is hereby officially extended to January 31, 1993. Please accept
this extension as a token of our appreciation to you all, our Registered
customers and allow me to take this opportunity to wish you all the very
best through this holiday season and a very Happy New Year."
STRAIGHT FAX CHANGES
As of December 16, 1992, Joppa Software Development will no longer be
marketing the STraight FAX! FAX Communication Software for the Atari ST,
STe, TT/030 and Falcon030 computers. All marketing rights and
distribution will be handled by the developer of the software under the
company name of NewSTar Technology Management, which is owned by the
developer of the STraight FAX! For more information contact: NewSTar
Technology Management, P.O. Box 0122, Columbia, Maryland 21045-0122.
FALCON GETS BLUE RIBBON AWARD
The December 1992 edition of EQ, The Recording and Sound Magazine
awarded the Atari Falcon030 a Blue Ribbon award in their Second Annual
Awards. The awards are out together during the AES show. EQ editors
and contributors walked the floor of the event in search of new
equipment. The AES show took place in San Fransisco. The "New Contender
Award" when to Atari. Worth noting, Atari was the only computer to win
an award in the group of equalizers, harmonizers, rate converters and
digital recorders. Z*Net will provide more information on AES in future
editions so stay tuned!
PHOTO CD NEWS FROM KODAK
NEW PIW ACCESSORIES PREPARE PHOTOFINISHERS FOR HOLIDAY
Photofinishers and other users of Kodak Photo CD Imaging workstations
(PIWs) can improve the processing of Photo CD orders with a series of
PIW accessories and upgrades available now - just in time for the
holiday rush - from Eastman Kodak Company. The PIW improvements will
dramatically boost PIW productivity, expand printing options and make it
easier to clean dust or dirt off film before scanning images onto Photo
CD discs. "This holiday season promises a big increase in Photo CD
orders, not just because of the usual surge in picture-taking during the
holidays, but because many people will purchase Photo CD players as
gifts," said Michael P. Morley, Kodak vice president and regional
business manager, U.S. and Canada. The pictures can then be viewed on
TV using a Photo CD player, or can be input to a computer using a CD-ROM
XA drive. The disc also functions as a "digital negative" and can be
used to make photographic-quality thermal prints. Customers interested
in more information about PIWs and accessories may call the Kodak
Information Center at 1-800-242-2424, ext. 40.
###### Z*NET NEWS YEAR IN REVIEW - PART TWO
###### By Ron Kovacs
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
Last week we began the regular Z*Net tradition of looking back at the
year in review. As stated before, I am covering what we COVERED in
Z*Net and Atari Explorer issues in 1992. There will be other articles
from our regulars and a few guests in the next few weeks. Last week we
covered December 1991 thru January 1992, this week we take you through
February into May.
**--FEBRUARY 1992--**
John King Tarpinian reschedules the annual Glendale Atari Faire one
week earlier than originally announced. The reason for the change was
to distance the WAACE Atarifest for vendors and developers.
General Videotex (Owners of Delphi) announce that they have purchased
BIX, the online service developed by BYTE magazine.
Bill Rehbock states, "The packaging is finally all done, the last
revison of the disks is going to the duplicator and product should be
showing up on shelves shortly. (Finally! :-)" What he was talking about
was the new GDOS - FSM.
Atari places a full two-page ad in Discover magazine. The first page
shows a souped up ST midi machine and the second page reveals the Atari
Portfolio PC.
SST, the new accelerator board from Gadgets-By-Small begins shipping in
quantity in four configurations. Dave Small states, "If you see a box
with an SR-71A Blackbird on the cover at the dealer, that's the SST."
The MegaTalk board is said to be shipping shortly.
Atari releases their new version of Hard Drive Utilities Ver 5. Right
on the heels of ICD's release of 5.4.5.
Atari MGR, a network transparent window system originally written for
Unix is released. MGR requires 1 meg of memory and the MiNT
multitasking system version 0.6 or better.
Atari Advantage Magazine offers free advertising.
Apple Computer asks for $4.37 billion as damages from Microsoft for the
alleged infringement of Apple copyrights on parts of the screen display
for its Macintosh computer.
Radio Shack celebrates its 15th year in the computer business.
San Francisco's law mandating the safe use of video display terminals
in the work place was struck down by a judge.
Lexicor announces the first full step of Phase-4 Software development is
completed, paving the way for Rosetta, Chronos, Prism-Render and Prism
Paint and also the 24bit Leonardo board is said to be nearly ready.
Atari provided several advanced Atari computers for two new programmer
-Authors working on some very high speed graphics.
Atari announces their support of the CD-I standard.
Scott Gershin, owner of Hollywood's SOUNDELUX post-production sound
studio, was nominated for an Oscar for his work in sound on the "JFK"
movie. Scott did his work using Atari equipment for control of digital
audio, using Hybrid Arts ADAP and other sound tools.
The Toronto Atari Fair takes place with Bob Brodie in attendance. Also
on hand is the ST-Book. Brodie refuses to discuss new products under
development, ie: The Falcon.
The Eastside Atari Users Group, under special agreement with Atari
Corp., began selling Atari Lapel Pins during the year.
The shareware PD scene gets three start-up/boot programs in one week,
SuperBoot with Version 7.4, MouseBoot from Germany and STinit with
version 3.4 from the UK.
Software Development Systems (SDS) introduces the Newdesk Icon Editor
CPX.
GEnie's ST RT Bulletin Board consolidates all of the online magazines
into one category.
The Atari Base USA BBS returns with new BBS software and joins the FNET
network. Operating and receiving calls at (408) 745-2196.
Atari contacts the Boston Computer Society and askes for a later date to
appear to debut the latest new products. Atari's intention was to have
product available for sale shortly after the event. Sources at Atari
stated ,"In the past we have been guilty of showing vaporware. The
rescheduling of this event reflects our new committment to only show new
products when they are close to production."
Atari hires seven new executives; Tony Serra, General Manger of Atari
Australia, Scott MacDonald, Atari Australia controller, Gary Weiner,
Corporate Vice-President of marketing and sales, new Atari Vice-
President of quality assurance, Maxie R Smith, Lutz Lange, Sales Manager
for Atari Germany, Dieter Pruess, Finance Manager for Atari Germany, and
Richard Maunday, Controller for Atari UK.
Atari signs seven million dollar advertising contract for the Lynx with
Hal Rinney & Partners. Plans called for a new nationwide campaign to
begin in April 1992.
Atari France, UK and Italy begin publishing periodicals aimed at
distributors and customers. These are slick, glossy full color issues
running up to 100 pages. Contents include news about Atari developments
in software and hardware, music applications and video games.
Apple unveils The Apple Exchange Program, a trade-in program designed to
help customers upgrade their computer equipment. The program was
targeted to business and institutional customers.
IBM introduces the industry's fastest 386SX, powered by IBM's 386SLC
microprocessor.
Codehead announces in a message on GEnie that Atari has no plans for
releasing TOS 2.07. And in another message, Charles Johnson states,
"Sorry to hear that Turbo ST seems to have a problem with TOS 2.06,
guys. The spanking new, heavily modified and debugged version of Quick
ST won't have any problems with 2.06, of course, and the release date is
probably not too far off now."
Michtron resurrects in Delaware with new President Jim Dorsman.
FSMGDOS rumors still circulate. Bug fixes with printer drivers are
repaired and problems with packaging persist, while interested Atari
users wait for the latest word.
An article in Electronic Engineering Times states that a Motorola
executive said that they have dropped plans for a 68050, but are
planning on a major change in a new chip and will call it the 68060.
Computer Chronicles NAMM coverage is aired in late February with
disappointing coverage of Atari at the event. Less than 3 minutes of
air time are given to Atari. There was a very breif mention of the new
Atari Music Division and peaks at some third-party products. The focus
of this episode was MIDI and covered a number of platforms.
DragonWare Software announces the Stacy Internal battery kit.
Compuserve hosts a special 24-hour conference in the Atari Portfolio
Forum. This was a non-stop conference in which prizes were given away
like subscriptions to Atari Explorer, programs, and gift certificates.
**--MARCH 1992--**
The Huntsville Atari Users Group participates with Ralph Rodriquez of
Atari Corporation in the IEEE Computer Fair. Rodriquez showed off
Atari UNIX at the event which was attended by over 20,000 people.
LA Computing Magazine, with 1,500,000 subscribers contains a center
dual page full color advertisement by Atari Corporation. The ad offers
a Desktop Publishing bundle for $2999.00.
ICD opens a Roundtable on GEnie which is hosted by Doug Wheeler.
The Michelangelo virus struck around the world though it did not appear
to be the data disaster that some had predicted.
Intersect Software states on CompuServe that all future Atari machines
and currently designed models (Mega STE and TT) will have industry
standard SCSI ports. ASCI is being phased out as non-professional,
according to Atari.
The CompuServe Atari Forums celebrate their 10th anniversary. To
celebrate the occassion, CompuServe magazine runs an article about the
forums and in it Ron Luks states in response to what's ahead for Atari?
"No one knows for sure, but since the days when Atari was on the cutting
edge as a low-cost, high-powered graphics computer, there was a dearth
of new products for several years. Now, significant products are being
released. As they are available, Atari's loyal band on CompuServe will
be ready."
Dave Small reports the status of the MegaTalk board and states, "I'm
re-testing some MegaTalk software that I'm a teensy concerned about to
make sure it can ship. The boards are ready; the PAL's have been
swapped. I need to polish up some documentation. We planned on having
it OUT long ago ... except the PAL thing and the CMOS SCSI chip thing
and this thing and that thing made its time frame interfere with the
SST, and the SST had to get priority."
John Townsend states on GEnie, "Atari started to offer a 1 year warranty
on it's computer products in November 1, 1991. The GE Service Agreement
is currently in the implementation stages. Once the program is
completely up and running, we will provide our dealers and end-users
with all of the information on how to use this program."
D.A. Brumleve announces a major upgrade to Kidpublisher Professional,
and announces Multiplay, a new math exploration, discovery and practice
program.
The Supreme Court declined to let the government institute a ban on
material it considers "indecent" from television and radio broadcasts.
Atari's warehouse personnel locate a number of Stacy Laptop computers
and Atari makes them available to dealers for a limited time while
supplies last.
Apple announces a new Apple Macintosh LC II which integrates the color
text and graphics, sound input, and optional Apple II software available
on the original LC. With virtual memory and the 16MHz Motorola 68030.
**--APRIL 1992--**
Goodman's Music held a two-day MIDI show and sale at Hollywood's Beverly
Garland Hotel. Atari's Mike Groh attended the event that included
significant support for Atari computers.
Gribnif Software announces that their imported graphics card "Crazy
Dots" will have a reduced retail price. The new Crazy Dots 15 will do
32,768 colors or gray scales and the same resolutions.
The popular and powerful point-of-sale and inventory control system for
the Atari ST, Sales-Pro was updated by Hi-Tech Advisors to Version 6.10.
Chris Latham, author of the Universal Item Selector and the Universal
Network (marketed by A & D Software) forms a new company and announces
that he will offer no further support of the earlier products. Latham's
new company PowerPoint Software, releases PowerNet.
Atari still remains closed mouthed about its new Falcon. Rumour has it
that Atari has approached third party developers for the MS-DOS
emulation add-ons.
A new network for those BBS's that choose to support the Atari platform
of home computers is announced. The name of this new network is
AtariNet and can be accessed by any BBS that uses any Fido compatible
mailer/msg tosser.
Over 100 people attended GLENCON 2, a "technical conference" featuring
Charles Johnson and John Eidsvoog, better known as the CodeHeads of
CodeHead Technologies. The event is opened by an hour talk and question
session by Atari's Bob Brodie. Four out of five questions for Bob were
asking for details that Bob couldn't give--yet. WARP-9 was the other
hot topic. CodeHead took over QuickST as of January 1, 1992, and has a
completely re-done package that is so different, it has a new name. The
balance of the conference featured an overview of line of CodeHead
products, including HotWire, MaxiFile, MultiDesk Deluxe, CodeKeys,
Lookit/Popit, Cherry Fonts, and the new graphics powerhouses MegaPaint,
Genus, and Avant Vector.
Collosal Cave gets packed onto a ROMCard for the Portfolio!
Atari begins releasing several new ROMcards for the Portfolio. The
first one is Portfolio Chess, The Instant Speller, and a Limited Edition
"Terminator 2: Judgement Day" Card, in conjunction with release of the
movie on videotape.
The 1992 Atari Canadian Exposition, or ACE '92, is held and a success.
Sales were brisk, and 3000-3500 people attended the convention. Also
held was a talent show, dealer and developer meetings, a gala banquet
and many seminars, but the "meat" of the show was the exhibitors; many
dealers and developers were there. Atari's new 68030 machines were
demonstrated only to developers, not to the general public. Bill
Rehbock demonstrates MultiTOS. There was a setup of Lynxes, 1040STes,
Mega STes, TTs and STBooks on display. There was also an "Atari museum"
featuring old Atari hardware from the 2600 to the 800 to the XE Game
System.
Atari delays the release of their 1991 fourth quarter financial reports
for several days past the March 31 deadline imposed by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, then announced a poor quarter performance with
a $4.4 million loss. Atari President Sam Tramiel said, "The company has
restructured its overhead and is focusing on the improvement of its
balance sheet and the development of new products."
Lone Wolf introduces a line of professional stage lighting and audio
control system including MicroTap (which gives communications network
capability of MediaLink), MidiTap and FiberLink (for show control
equipment that do not integrate MediaLink), and the Virtual Stage
(software/hardware to put all serial and MIDI control in a graphic
window on Atari, MAC, or PC computers.
Accolade announces that a preliminary injunction which was requested by
Sega went into effect. The injunction bars Accolade from further
development, manufacture or sale of any Sega compatible products.
Police crack a nationwide electronic network of young computer criminals
who have made fraudulent credit card purchases and broken into
confidential credit rating files.
Gribnif Software announces the availability of Application Systems
Heidelberg's Pure C in the North American Atari market.
Atari and Rovac announce the merger of Z*Net Online Magazine and Atari
Explorer to form Atari Explorer Online Magazine. The new online takes
the place of the popular Z*Net magazine and goes to a bi-weekly format.
The publisher is John Jainschigg and Ron Kovacs is the editor.
**--MAY 1992--**
The premier edition of Atari Explorer Online Magazine debuts.
Attornies representing Atari and Nintendo present closing arguments in
the landmark Atari vs. Nintendo case, which revolves around allegations
that Nintendo attempted, through unfair means, to monopolize the US
video games market. Sources at Atari expect a quick decision on the
trial, now in its 3rd month.
Tengen, subsidiary of Atari Games Corp., announce that it will be the
exclusive U.S. distributor of Domark entertainment software titles for
play on the Sega Genesis and Sega Game Gear video game systems.
The US government lifts restrictions on high-technology exports to
former Warsaw Pact countries.
Atari confirms that final release to production had been granted for the
Atari version of the Lynx videogame card Batman Returns.
A large library of color animations of the important processes of cell
and molecular biology is released for distribution by Bio-Animate
Productions, of London, Ontario, Canada.
Fair Dinkum announces the release of The Cryptographer, the latest
addition to their line of word-puzzle and educational software.
I-Ken Design announces the release of a 20-page quick reference guide
for PageStream 2.
Dr. T's Music Software announces a new Audio/Video production kit for
the ST. The combined package includes the Omega sequencer, Hitman cue-
sheet production tools, and the Phantom SMPTE synchonizer.
Atari releases a new software application for the Portfolio, Hyperlist.
Hyperlist provides the opportunity to create extensive lists, then
attach "child" lists to each item in the "parent" list. On paper, the
data flow resembles an organizational or flow chart.
After the release of a single AEO issue, John Jainschigg resigns as the
publisher. Bob Brodie comments in Issue #2, "This edition marks a
significant change from our initial plans. Atari has long planned to
bring Atari Explorer back to Sunnyvale from the east coast. We've
always believed that having the staff in house would be more cost
effective, as well as make access to the latest technology easier for
our journalists. The time for this move has come. With the transition
to the West Coast comes other changes as well. Publisher John
Jainschigg has decided to stay in New York, and will put out one more
issue of the print version of Atari Explorer. We had hoped to be able
to convince John that California is a great place to be, but he loves
New York."
CodeHead Technologies announces exclusive representation in the US and
Canada of Calligrapher, developed in Great Britain by Working Title.
European press reports that Sack, the German developers of AT-Speed were
working with Atari to develop DOS emulations as original equipment.
FSMGDOS is still delayed, John Townsend reports via GEnie, "There are a
number of issues that have to be settled before we can release a version
of FSMGDOS to the retail channel. Atari is not "bored" with the
product, we aren't waiting for applications to appear that use it, nor
is FSMGDOS broken under MultiTOS. I am not at liberty to discuss the
issues at hand. But, please allow me to say that we are working on
solving those issues and our first concern is with regard to our
customers. We want to make sure that everything is complete and in
order before shipping the product."
Atari Product Manager in the UK, Bob Katz, states, "The decision to
produce STE-only games came from the top. Sam Tramiel, boss of Atari
US, wanted to produce STE-only games in a move to increase programmers
awareness of the hardware potential of the machine. Atari has acquired
the rights to several major coin-op games for conversion for use on the
STE only, taking full advantage of the machines custom hardware."
ST Format Magazine reported that a cut-down version of FSM GDOS will be
available for release in the UK in June and MultiTOS is still under
development and is not likely to be available until late in 1992.
Atari still insists that the Falcon030 is due for release in late autumn
1992 and MultiTOS is unlikely to be included on ROM as part of the
operating system.
Director of Atari Service Ted Maciejewski and Don Mandell, Vice
President of US Sales and Marketing are dismissed. Art Morgan replaces
Maciejewski. James Grunke, Director of International Music Markets
takes over Mandell's duties.
FontGDOS gets released via Atari Explorer Online Magazine. Along with
FontGDOS, CPX files for use with XCONTROL, and accessories for those
that prefer to use the standard .ACC files. The entire package goes out
exclusively on GEnie for downloading and appear later on the other pay
services.
Atari dealers start receiving Ajax upgrades after a period of
unavailability. Problems with the TOS 3.06 with 1.44 meg floppy disk
drives and the Ajax controller have been resolved by a dealer-performed
modification of the power supply and wire shielding on TT machines.
Lexicor becomes a Silicon Graphics Iris independent vendor under the
Iris partners program. This means that Lexicor is licensed to port it's
Phase-4 software products to the Silicon graphics platform.
Hybrid Arts is acquired by Audio FX, a growing high-tech conglomerate in
San Jose, CA. The Hybrid Arts line of Atari hardware and software
continue uninterrupted.
SDS Software releases software drivers that will enable Atari ST and TT
owners to use the Logitech digitizing video camera with their computers.
Atari announces that Lynx systems and software sales are in line with
projections to double the 1991 volume and by the end of 1992 there will
be over 80 total games available.
Atari announces that it will ship 24 Lynx titles during the summer
season, followed by an additional crop of 15 titles for fall and winter
release.
Lexicor announces that MonaLisa will be their 24-bit graphics
application. Prism Paint is not being upgraded into a 24-bit
application because the author walked out on them and refused to finish
version 1.5 of Prism Paint.
40 Falcons reach Germany and are distributed among developers.
###### KODAK IN CONFERENCE
###### Highlights captured from the CIS CDROM Forum
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
(2-6,P. McAfee [Kodak]) A request. Please no private conversations,
except for Steve and the Kodak folks online tonight. Paul Wisotzke and
Joel White, of the Kodak Information Center, are online.
Let's get started.
(2-9,Steve (Moderator)) I'm Steve Luper and I'm the Sysop of the CD-ROM
Forum. Rich Bowers is logged on but is sitting here with me so he isn't
ignoring you. We are very happy to welcome Paul McAfee and his cohorts
with Kodak.
Paul McAfee, how about giving us a brief introduction of yourself.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) I am public relations manager for Photo CD. Scott
Brownstein will be at my side in a moment. I'll let Paul Wisotzke take
this.
(2-62,KIC PGS KODAK) Specifications for CD ROM Drives are available from
the manufacturers.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) Scott just arrived. Current drives can support
either 150 or 300 Kbytes per second.
(2-62,KIC PGS KODAK) We test only for Photo CD compatability.
(2-58,Tom Lichtenberger) Hi Paul, glad to meet you<g>. I'd like to know
what CD Roms are recognized/blessed by Kodak as being Multi-session
compatible? I understand the list is very very short right now, can you
list the CD ROM's that are?
(2-10,Joel White Kodak) The current drive list is available by mail and
will be posted in library 7 of this forum.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) Tom, Joel Wisotzke will post the list in CD-ROM
Forum. You also can call KIC at 800-242-2424, ext. 53. The list
changes virtually daily (grows).
(2-37,Todd Copilevitz) Thanks. I want to use the photo cd with
photoshop for desktop publishing. What kind of resolution can I get
from the CD, and will the plug-in module for photoshop handle pulling
files off the CD? The other question is regarding color balancing. How
much will I have to do for a color printer such as the CLC 500?
(2-10,Joel White Kodak) We will be releasing a Photo Shop plug-in in a
few weeks. The plug-in will access images directly into PhotoShop.
(2-27,Eric S. Michelson) What size images are scanned currently into
CD's, what are my options?
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) Each image is available at all five resolutions,
from 128 x 192 to 2048 x 3072, all 24 bit color.
(2-8,Bob Cox) Will Kodak release to Desk Top Developers the format info,
of the file PLAYLIST.PCD on the protofolio CD? We want to develop a
play program for PC's in windows.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) From Scott ... The format is available from
Philips. You need to ask Philips for the Photo CD specification. That
information is in the Photo CD spec.
(2-39,Dan CCC) We need to know what "average" file sizes are so that we
can archive stock images and then combine or manipulate them in
Photoshop.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) The 2048 x 3027 is 18 MB in 24 bit color.
(2-39,Dan CCC) What is the smallest?
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) The smallest is 128 x 192 x 24 bit = about 64K
(2-21,Bruce Rubadeux) What is the EK position, as of today, for a SDK
and LIC. availability for writing PCD. Also address Philips CDD521 vs.
EK equpt.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) We currently do not have a license or SDK for
writing PCD. The PHilips CDD521 and Kodak PCD 200 writers are made on
the same assembly line. However, there are differences in warranty and
service and software (drivers) are totally different.
(2-48,Scott Torroll) My question is on the availability of the access
software, where and when?
(2-62,KIC PGS KODAK) Access should be available thru many software
dealers. As well as directly from Kodak.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) Access is available now from Kodak for $39.95, and
from stores.
(2-7,Richard More) Will I notice a difference between ASA 100 film and
ASA 1000 film? Second can I use both slides and negatives?
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) Yes, you will see a difference. Yes you can use
both slides and negs, color and b&w.
(2-23,Ron Kovacs - ZNet) What is Kodak's impression of the Atari Falcon
030?
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) Scott hasn't seen it, but if it is Photo CD capable
it must be good.
(2-26,Steve Ranck) I work for a CD-ROM driver developer and we're
having trouble getting one of our SCSI drivers working with a photo CD
compatible CD-ROM drive. What do you suggest we do?
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) KIC can help you work out compatibility issues.
Call 800-242-2424 extension 53.
(2-33,Bob Ledbetter) Hi, I understand Kodak has been working with Atari
and the new Falcon030. Can you brief us as to what, specifically is
being done in the advertising area.
(2-6,KODAK - McAfee) I am not aware of any co-advertising with Atari at
this time.
###### PERUSING GENIE
###### Compiled by Ed Krimen
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
1024x768 GRAPHICS CARDS: $299!
------------------------------
-=> In the "Hardware" category (4)
-=> from the "Dover Research Corp. (AlberTT and ISAC)" topic (28)
Message 196 Thu Dec 10, 1992
J.ALLEN27 [FAST TECH] at 02:58 EST
Good news for folks, Jay has a supply of both ISAC boards for the MegaST
_and_ AlberTT boards for the MegaSTE/TT and both are on sale for $299!!!
Yes, just $299, and you too can enjoy hi-res color graphics!!! Just give
Dover Research a call, or Fast Technology if you wish.
----------
Message 198 Sun Dec 13, 1992
J.GNIEWKOWSK [GE-Lamp ST] at 03:00 EST
I am interested in the AlberTT video board for my Mega STe. The $299
price tag sounds terrific, and I have a few questions:
o What is the resolution for 16 colors (800x600)?
o If I were to look in "Computer Shopper", what type of monitor would I
be looking for?
o How does NewDesk handle the increased screen size and palette? Does
it think it's working in a extremely large Lo Rez environment? (i.e.
will I have a "Hi Rez" screen with a 16 colors?)
I guess with my last question, I've seen the Moniterm monitor at work
and would I have the same size/resoloution with 16 colors available?
o How does software handle the larger screen size?
Thanks,
John E. Gniewkowski
GenieLamp ST Editor
----------
Message 199 Sun Dec 13, 1992
REALM [Joey] at 05:01 EST
John, the AlberTT is 1024x768 and looks just like ST Low to the
computer. Most real programs work with it right off. I know Calamus SL
and DynaCADD support it. Most anything that runs in a window seems to
work. Prism Paint works. You need a monitor that will handle the 1024x
768 at 50mhz (Trying to remember for sure but I think it's 50?). Don't
forget to get one that will handle the other resolutions as well. My
cousin has a 17" and it's just about right, I wouldn't go any smaller
unless it's a money problem then you might get away with 16". The Icons
get really tiny but your picture look sharper.:-)
For $299, it's much better then the Moniterm which is 1280x960 in mono.
Your trade off will be in the price of a large screen color monitor. If
your going to use it a lot, don't skimp, get a monitor that will handle
the res. You might ask Jim about the Toshiba it's a really nice unit
and works with all the res's! Basically all you do is plug the card in
and put 1 program in your Autofolder.
Hope that helps!
----------
Jay Craswell Jim Allen
Dover Research Corp. Fast Technology
321 W. 4th Street P.O. Box 578
Jordan, MN 55352 Andover, MA 01810
612-492-3913 508 475 3810
GEnie: J.ALLEN27
======================================
FALCON IS A WINNER!
-------------------
-=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
-=> from the "Atari Falcon 030 Computer" topic (20)
Message 85 Wed Dec 09, 1992
C.FLUEGEL [Curt] at 00:52 EST
Well, I was talking to the keyboardist for Prince and the NPG today (his
name escapes me, either Kirk or Morris) about Paisley Parks setup and
his home personal studio. He currently uses his MPC-60 to sequence and
is going to add a computer sequencer soon. Paisley uses all Macs to
date, but he said he heard about this new computer from Atari that
everyone is real excited about. He didn't read it in magazines. Word
is spreading and people are getting excited. Understandably, the
majority here aren't into music, but it IS a multimedia machine. And it
is already being more than excepted; it won a blue ribbon from EQ
magazine.
Get hyped already!! The Falcon is a winner!
Curt... I still want one!! (and a 100 to sell)
P.S. EQ had an advertisment card saying you can get more Falcon info.
Is this true? If there is a glossy (I still have one for the STBook)
who do I contact to get some for Guitar Center?
======================================
DID SOMEONE SAY TURBO030 DEAL?
------------------------------
-=> In the "ISD Product Support" category (16)
-=> from the "Calamus S/SL" topic (20)
Message 203 Mon Dec 07, 1992
J.ALLEN27 [FAST TECH] at 22:48 EST
There is indeed a deal on TURBO030 boards for CalamusSL users, the board
is 50Mhz, has TOS 2.06, has 4 Megs of 32-bit burst-mode TT-type RAM,
expandable to 40 Megabytes max, comes with free installation in the US
(or in Canada when I'm up there), a high-power 7 Amp replacement power
supply, a general tuneup to the Mega (new 74AS373 chips, etc.), and has
two options:
A 50Mhz 68882 coprocessor for use with Dynacadd
A Virtual memory driver which allows up to 128 Megabytes of "TT" ram to
be simulated, and runs considerably peppier than the VM built into
Calamus SL.
The board runs 2-3 TIMES faster than the fastest TT configuration, and
has a price of $1,495, with the VM and FPU add-ons $149.00 and $299.00
respectively.
Delivery is within two weeks of order. Units are basically built to
order. Installations can be done overnight, for fast turn around, and
free loaner units are available to keep you up and running while we
operate on your Mega.
The Turbo030 is compatible with virtually all the video boards available
for the MegaST, and a few that aren't...yet ;-) Moniterm, ISAC,
CrazyDots, Resolution, Matrix C32, C110, and M110 boards are all
supported.
Additional memory sizes...8, 16 (w/32 chips), 16 (w/8 chips), 32 (w/16
chips), and 40 Megabytes are all available. Prices are available upon
request.
We stand ready to serve your acceleration needs. Any customer of DMC
can be a customer of Fast Technology's. We'll jump through hoops, we'll
even EAT FIRE, whatever the customer requires!
Thank you- Jim Allen, Fast Technology.
----------
Message 209 Wed Dec 09, 1992
J.ALLEN27 [FAST TECH] at 01:48 EST
The installation in any ST computer of an accelerator involves
unsoldering the 68000 chip, and soldering in a socket. The accelerator
is then plugged into the socket. There are some updates for the
motherboard, basically to bring it up to snuff with the final releases
Atari was manufacturing; they were learning as time went on. It doesn't
matter whether it's a T25 or a Turbo030, etc., they all require the same
amount of effort.
The little brother of the Turbo030 is the TinyTurbo030 which is
basically a Turbo030 without any 32bit TT-RAM onboard. It gives
performance nearly equal to a TT and is available in either 40Mhz or
50Mhz versions. The 50Mhz version is required in order to use our
Virtual Memory option.
The Tiny030 has two versions: one for ST computers, all of them; and one
for STE computers, both of them. The STE version is a plug-in, unless
you are unlucky enough to own an STE without a socketed 68000, in which
case we'll put a socket in for you, then plug the board in. ;-)
The prices are: $599 for 40Mhz, $699 for 50Mhz, $149 for Virtual Memory.
These units will be available in a couple of weeks, we've been working
on them for a while now.
So you can go FAST and REALLY VERY FAST. Whatever your needs are, we
have a solution.
======================================
ATARI ON THE TRAVEL CHANNEL
---------------------------
-=> In the "Lynx - The Game Machine" category (36)
-=> from the "General Lynx Info and Discussion" topic (5)
Message 83 Sun Dec 13, 1992
M.POCHE [Mick] at 14:21 EST
Last night, while flipping channels on the TV, I happened to stop on the
Travel Channel, and they were doing a story on ways to kill time in
airports while waiting to board the plane. The first thing they showed
was the Lynx, although one of the original ones. They showed a guy
playing Blue Lightning, then showed some of the other games available
(California Games, Klax, and Slime World).
The next thing mentioned was the Portfolio, and showed the same guy
doing some spreadsheet work, showed the RAM cards, and some other things
on it.
The only other thing shown was the Turbo Express, but it didn't get as
much time as the Lynx, and there was no sign of the Game Boy or Game
Gear!
It was a pleasant surprise to see something with the Atari logo on it on
TV, and I hope to see more.
======================================
SOLID AS A ROCK
---------------
-=> In the "Atari TT" category (28)
-=> from the "Atari's TT" topic (2)
Message 90 Mon Dec 07, 1992
D.HARRIS8 at 05:53 EST
I've been looking at buying a TT but I've been told that "A LOT" of TT's
being sold have defective memory boards in them. Has anyone else heard
or experienced this? Should I save my money?
----------
Message 91 Mon Dec 07, 1992
B.GOCKLEY [Brian G.] at 10:46 EST
Hi Don, I've installed almost 50 boards, and only one was bad. That's
2%, which is pretty good.
----------
Message 92 Mon Dec 07, 1992
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 19:53 EST
Don, TT's are solid. I have had no problems at all with mine. They are
made by Sanyo for Atari.
----------
Message 93 Mon Dec 07, 1992
S.WINICK at 20:37 EST
Don, Does the person who is telling you this fable actually have any
personal experience with a "lot" of TT's? Why not check with actual
owners and dealers who are using the product? We sell a lot of TT030's
-- it's our best selling Atari computer product!! If they didn't work,
they wouldn't sell -- and _I_ wouldn't sell them!
Not only do I sell them, I actually USE them myself, at Computer STudio,
personally, and in my Architectural practice as well. The TT030 forms
the basis for my DTP and CADD workstations, as well as handling all
other business tasks.
Like any quality dealer, we always test our TT030 equipment after
installation of all dealer-installed options (things like those RAM
boards you mentioned) before delivery to the customer. If there were
"A LOT" of TT's being sold with defective memory boards in them, I think
I would know about it, as would the other dealers who actually sell the
product.
======================================
YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO CLEAN UP WHEN...
-------------------------------------------
(Home Office/Small Business)
-=> In the "Consumer Affairs, Personal Business" category (10)
-=> from the "Space related jobs and subjects" topic (18)
Category 10, Topic 18
Message 2 Tue Dec 15, 1992
J.ATTARD [Janet(sysop)] at 09:47 EST
When you have to follow the cables to find your keyboard.
----------
Message 3 Tue Dec 15, 1992
LADY.LUCK [Nadine] at 18:47 EST
You know it's time to clean up when.....your mouse has =real= fur on
it. :)
----------
Message 4 Tue Dec 15, 1992
DAVIDTURNER at 21:26 EST
...you have to feel of all 57 Dr. Pepper cans on your desk so you can
tell which one you were drinking! :)
======================================
###### PERUSING THE INTERNET
###### Compiled by Ed Krimen
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
FALCONS IN GERMANY
------------------
-=> In comp.sys.atari.st
-=> From: Peter_Missel@k.maus.de (Peter Missel)
-=> Date: 3 Dec 92 11:09:00 GMT
Hi everybody!
Falcon 030 demo sets have been given to Atari dealers for about one
month now, including microphone, stereo speakers, 128 MB MO-drive, and
(of course) a 4/65 meg Falcon.
Obviously, a considerable number of new dealers, as well as some
warehouse chains that had taken Atari out of their program a few years
ago, have signed dealer contracts for the Falcon line of products.
"Small quantities", whatever this may mean, are promised to be shipped
this year; full mass availability is planned for February/March 1993.
(As said in a dealers' mail from Atari Germany.)
======================================
WHAT ABOUT THE SO-CALLED JAGUAR?
--------------------------------
-=> In rec.games.video
-=> From: rjung@aludra.usc.edu (Robert A. Jung)
-=> Date: 6 Dec 92 17:58:03 GMT
DISCLAIMER: The following is pure personal speculation, gleamed from
news and tidbits heard in muted whispers in various places. There is no
officiality about any of this, but it's fun to conjecture.
In article <92341.013723TMK114@psuvm.psu.edu> <TMK114@psuvm.psu.edu>
writes:
>If the Jaguar/Lynx adaptor story has become an official rumor, then the
Jaguar must be a real system. Does my logic hold? Is Atari really
going to release the Jaguar sometime this decade? (After all, we know
that 'next year' is Ataris peak for 'once we finish the prototype and
investigate marketing such a system')
I think there's a near-certain probability that the Jaguar exists, and
will be released in early 1993.
To wit:
* "Atari is working on a Jaguar/32-bit machine" rumors have been
floating around for the _longest_ time now, especially in the video-game
magazines. If there was no validity to these rumors, Atari could easily
fire off a letter to those selfsame magazines, telling them that there
is no such beast, and would they stop focusing on imaginary machines and
promote the Lynx instead. B-)
* People HAVE seen the Jaguar. Sam Tramiel made a brief reference to
development kits sent to people already (re: GEnie/Atari Corp.
conference after the 1992 Winter COMDEX), for instance. There have also
been brief side-references to Jaguar sightings, such as the following
from EGM, in an article about the Super NES Super FX chip:
"The Nintendo chip will allow the Super NES to really take on Atari's
Jaguar system, which is also based on RISC technology (although insiders
who have seen both hint that the Atari hardware still surpasses
Nintendo's software upgrade)."
Most of the support for a Jaguar existence comes from #1, above. Atari
has never DENIED the existence of a next-generation video-game system,
and has had plenty of opportunities to do so. Reason #2 above promotes
Atari's claim from being pure vaporware; if other people have seen
prototypes of a Jaguar, they must exist in some form, right?
>My stock of info about the Jaguar is very sketchy, and amazingly
apocryphal, so I'd appreciate anything more concrete. Note that in
this case, recent rumors count as 'more concrete.'
It's been sketchy because nobody has spoken much about it. I think
Atari got tired of taking flak for releasing specs for future machines,
then getting trashed by the public when the product doesn't get
delivered ASAP. Their current strategy is to wait until the product is
almost ready to roll, THEN trump it up. There's some advantages to this
-- look at the now-delayed Super NES CD player.
======================================
NEXT DEVELOPERS PORTING SOFTWARE TO THE FALCON
----------------------------------------------
-=> In comp.sys.atari.st
-=> From: oyakea@warren1b.its.rpi.edu (Amalaye Oyake)
-=> Date: 26 Nov 92 23:51:41 GMT
To quell the rumours and myths going round here something fresh out of
my mail box:
*MAIL STARTS HERE *
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 92 23:55:36 EST
From: H46CC%CUNYVM.BITNET@VM.ITS.RPI.EDU
Subject: Re: is it true-ATARI SUPPORT ?
To: oyakea@rpi.edu
(sorry, don't know how to quote previous articles, but...)
It's true about NeXT developers on the Falcon. At Comdex, two NeXT
developers were showing their products for the Falcon.
One was a voice-mail system (the company's name I don't remember and
can't find in the Winter 92 NeXT Software and Peripherals Catalog).
The other was Singular Solutions' A/D64x sound recording system (page
55 of that catalog).
Besides these developers, Kodak also signed a contract with Atari for
the development of their PhotoCD system on the Falcon, bringing the
power of multi-session PhotoCDs to the home (the software package is
about $2-300, and the Falcon can accept about any CD-ROM drive
available).
The reason that people are choosing to develop on the Falcon (coming
from such a nice env as NeXTstep) is that the Falcon is the only other
system on the market with as fully-integrated a DSP as the NeXT (with a
faster DSP to boot at 32mhz compared to the NeXT's 25mhz) and is the
lowest priced system with DSP of any system (DSP boards on an Intel
machine run about $3-500 alone and the aren't full-functioning/fully-
integrated DSP's).
So, programmers wanting to use DSP and do so on a machine that should
sell in relatively large quantities, would at least look at a Falcon.
(And GEM/MultiTOS is a MUCH nicer and better Multitasking OS to work in
compared to DOS/Windows (can't say OS/2 since I haven't used/programmed
on it yet)!!!) Jarius Jenkins
* MAIL ENDS HERE *
Apparently some next developers like the Falcon.
On the other hand, the guys on Amiga advocacy group have a discussion
who needs a DSP? They also call the 56001 DSP a cheap gimmick and claim
one only needs a DSP board for their A1200 or A4000. True, but at least
there is a consistent DSP implementation across the Falcon line,
something which no Amiga has. And as seen, people apparently like this.
January is less than six weeks away so all Falcon lovers may soon have
their wish.
======================================
ATARI 2600 MANUALS: PERFECT EXAMPLES
------------------------------------
-=> In comp.sys.atari.8bit
-=> From: AKH104@psuvm.psu.edu (Karll the Ghoul)
-=> Date: 5 Dec 92 21:41:09 GMT
Just a little thing I would like to share with everyone here:
There is a nice, complex computer science course here at Penn-State for
designing educational software for Xwindows and other systems, as well
as other neato stuff for use in the real world at other universities.
And well, heh, as odd things go, part of the course is learning to
design user manuals. The instructor went through hundreds of Atari 2600
manuals learning how they did it since he always thought they were so
simple!
It became the outline for the class, and as such, the manuals for the
programs they developed are very nice and easy to understand and have
turned some heads! Those who thought it was the dumbest thing one could
do are very impressed that the format works. =)
PS: We have this AMIGA graphics design lab here. Hmm, I wonder if
Atari wouldn't consider approaching PSU with a FALCON lab. =)
======================================
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!
---------------------
-=> In comp.sys.atari.st
-=> From: mppi76@cd4680fs.rrze.uni-erlangen.de (Harald Schoenfeld)
-=> Date: 14 Dec 92 08:56:59 GMT
-=> Organization: Regionales Rechenzentrum Erlangen
I can't believe it! My FALCON was delivered on friday!
So at least the "small" developers in Germany get their FALCONs now.
Some hundred are to be delivered since last week.
BTW: They were flown from Taiwan to Germany. :-)
The first hard disk recording program was written in about 1 or 2 hours
and works perfectly with 50kHz 16Bit stereo. So forget all the PC
SoundCards (with 25kHz that are only 6kHz in reality - as revealed by
the German magazin ct last week. :-) )
More to be reported soon...
======================================
3200 DUTCH UNITS SOLD
---------------------
-=> In comp.sys.atari.st
-=> From: qsi@contrast.wlink.nl (Peter Kocourek)
-=> Date: 9 Dec 92 03:05:36 GMT
From: Erlend Nagel
Hmmmm, are there really that few Atari users left?
Not so!
This weekend I read the Dutch Atari sales figures. They sold 3200
units, which is the same as the same quarter last year (yes, 3200 in
just one quarter (the 3rd, so not even with Xmas)), and about as much as
Apple has sold. Keep in mind that these were just the Personal Computer
sales, so 1040STE, Mega STE, and TT, not the Lynx.
This is very good when considering that the market in the Netherlands is
pretty rotten at the moment. I think this is because Atari does not
have that many competitors in the home market, except for those people
that are willing to settle for a DOS machine which is not very suited
for home use.
======================================
PIRACY KILLING ST DEVELOPERS
----------------------------
-=> In comp.sys.atari.st
-=> From: boblu@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Robert Luneski)
-=> Date: 15 Dec 92 21:15:26 GMT
In article <BzB7yM.9u0@ccu.umanitoba.ca> ens@ccu.umanitoba.ca writes:
>Software piracy is decidedly a grey area. Tom is far too poor
Bull. There is nothing "grey" about software piracy. Piracy is a
euphamism for theft. If you use software that you have not legally
obtained a license for use, then you have stolen it. Period. Nothing
grey about it!
>I have seen this scenario play out many times. It's illegal, yes.
>But as bad as stealing 6 TVs? Get serious.
You tell that to my son when I can't buy him shoes because software
sales are down, and then I get calls for product support from three
times the number of users than can be accounted for by legal sales.
You would be surprised how many unique stories people come up with for
why they don't know there registration number AND never sent in their
card AND can't find their manual AND lost their orginal disk.
It happens, it's real, it's illegal, and it is killing ST developers.
Bob Luneski
======================================
WHEN HAPPENS WHEN YOU RELEASE
A MACHINE THAT'S NOT READY
-----------------------------
-=> In comp.sys.atari.st
-=> From: FRACYON@dirac.physics.jmu.edu (Ali Fracyon)
-=> Date: 15 Dec 92 16:27:22 GMT
-=> Organization: JMU Physics Dept.
leo@dcs.warwick.ac.uk writes:
> Apparently CBM's answer to the Falcon, the A1200 is now available in
the UK. The most likely release date for the Falcon would seem to be
February.
And don't forget the A4000s with their fans being put in backwards.
..wait a minute, I own an Amiga, I should be defending them...
All good companies do it. My friend just bought a HP that has the place
of its '(' ')' and '{' '}' and maybe '[' ']' keys switched.
C= has always had problems with missing chips or loose chips in their
computers. The official explanation was that their was a bump outside
of one of their main warehouses and truck drivers that drove too fast
over this bump knocked the chips out. See, it can be explained.
Really.
Ali Fracyon
Temperstorm, June '92, Compute's AmigaResource
The Fly, October '92, Compute's AmigaResource
======================================
###### IAAD MEMBER LISTING
###### As of December 15, 1992
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
The IAAD is an organization of third-party hardware and software
developers supporting the Atari ST family of computers. Unique in the
industry, the IAAD works to provide its membership with help in
marketing, packaging, technical matters, and other issues of interest to
third-party commercial developers. This listing has been prepared to
familiarize the public with our members and some of their products. We
hope you will find it useful.
Each entry has the following format (when applicable):
Member Name
GEnie Address
Company Name
Mailing Address
Phone(s)
Product Names
The listing is provided below in ASCII format. An additional file is
available in CardFile format. Please note that the product listing is
not comprehensive nor detailed, and new products are continually
released. Please feel free to contact individual members for
information about their listed products. For more information about the
IAAD, contact any Board Member.
IAAD Board Members:
D.A. Brumleve, President
James C Allen
Nathan Potechin
Nevin Shalit
Chet Walters
Member Listing:
James C Allen
J.ALLEN27
FAST Technology
14 Lovejoy Road
Andover MA 01810 USA
508 475 3810 (fax)
508 475 3810
Turbo25/TinyTurbo030/Turbo030/TurboRAM
David Beckemeyer
D.BECKEMEYER
Beckemeyer Development Tools
P.O. Box 21575
Oakland CA 94620 USA
510 530 0451(fax) 510 530 9637
Hard Disk Sentry/Hard Disk Toolkit/SCSI Tape Kit
Robert M Birmingham
R.BIRMINGHA4
13630 SW 101 Lane
Miami FL 33186-2814 USA
305 385 1942
Dorothy A Brumleve
D.A.BRUMLEVE
D.A. Brumleve
P.O. Box 4195
Urbana IL 61801-8820 USA
217 367 9084(fax) 217 337 1937
Kidpublisher Professional/Super Kidgrid/Kidpainter/Multiplay/Telegram/
Creative Discovery Packet/Learning Games Packet
John Cole, Lee Seiler
J.COLE18, LEXICOR
Lexicor
415 453 0271
Phil Comeau
P.COMEAU1
Wintertree Software Inc.
43 Rueter Street
Nepean ON K2J 3Z9 Canada
613 596 1575(fax Attn) 613 825 6721
The GramSlam Grammar and Style Checker/Grammar Expert/Spelling Sentry
Brad Cox
BAREFOOT
Barefoot Software
19865 Covellow Street
Canoga Park CA 91306 USA
818 727 0632(fax) 818 727 7143
SMPTETrack/EditTrack/GenEdit/EZ Score+/Hybriswitch
Manfred Doewich
CYBERCUBE
Cybercube Research Ltd.
126 Grenadier Crescent
Thornhill ON L4J 7V7 Canada
416 886 3261(fax) 416 882 0294
CyReL SUNRISE M16-1280 True Color High Resolution Graphics Card/
CyReL SERENADE M16-1280 True Color High Resolution Graphics Card/
CyReL VidiMix8 Desktop Video Module/CyReL Serial Mouse Manager/
CyRel Palette Master
Paul Dube
P.DUBE
Elan Software
550 Boul. Charest Est P.O. Box 30232
Quebec G1K 8Y2 Canada
418 683 9189(fax) 418 692 0565
Solutions
John Eidsvoog, Charles Johnson
J.EIDSVOOG1, CODEHEAD
CodeHead Technologies
P.O. Box 74090
Los Angeles CA 90004 USA
213 386 5789(fax) 213 386 5735
G+Plus/MultiDesk Deluxe/HotWire/CodeKeys/CodeHead Utilities/Warp 9/
Calligrapher/MaxiFile/Lookit & Popit/MIDIMax/MIDI Spy/Avant Vector/
MegaPaint/Cherry Fonts/Genus Font Editor/TOS Extension Card
Robert Engberson
COMPO
Compo
104 Esplanade Avenue Suite 121
Pacifica CA 94044 USA
415 355 0869(fax) 415 355 0862
That's Write/Write On/C-Font/CompoScript/That's Address/Musicom/
PC Speed/AT Speed/AT Speed C16
Lauren Flanagan-Sellers
WORDFLAIR
Goldleaf Publishing Inc.
700 Larkspur Landing Circle Suite 199
Larkspur CA 94939 USA
415 257 3515
WordFlair II
Rick Flashman, Dan Wilga
GRIBNIF
Gribnif Software
P.O. Box 779
Northampton MA 01061 USA
413 247 5622(fax) 413 247 5620
NeoDesk 3/NeoDesk CLI/STalker 3/STeno/XBoot/CardFile 4/Convector
Professional/Arabesque Professional/XBoot III/Crazy Dots 8/Crazy Dots 15
David Fletcher
DITEK
Ditek International
2800 John Street Unit 15
Markham ON L3R 0E2 Canada
416 479 1882(fax) 416 479 1990
DynaCADD
George Geczy, David Thompson
JMGSOFT, D.THOMPSON66
JMG Software International, Inc.
892 Upper James Street
Hamilton ON L9C 3A5 Canada
416 575 0283(fax) 416 575 3201
HyperLINK
Tyson T Gill
T.GILL7
GT Software
12114 Kirton Avenue
Cleveland OH 44135-3612 USA
216 252 4272
CardFile (distr. by Gribnif)
Tom Harker, Doug Wheeler, Hans-Peter Labude
ICDINC, DOUG.W, ICD.GMBH
ICD, Inc.
1220 Rock Street
Rockford IL 61101 USA
815 968 6888(fax) 815 968 2228
The Link/AdSCSI Micro ST/AdSCSI ST/AdSCSI Plus ST/AdSpeed ST/AdSpeed STe
FA-ST Hard Drive Kit/FA-ST Tape Backup/Cleanup ST/ICD Professional Hard
Drive Utilities/ICD Tape Backup Software/Advantage Micro ST/Advantage ST
Advantage Plus ST/STHA/Personal Pascal
Doug Harrison
D.S.HARRISON
P.O. Box 66236
Baton Rouge LA 70806-6236 USA
Opus (shareware)/Lookit
& Popit (distr. by CodeHead)
Craig Harvey
C.HARVEY
Clear Thinking
P.O. Box 715
Ann Arbor MI 48105 USA
313 971 6035(bbs) 313 971 8671
EdHak/Metapsychology Primer
Harlan Hugh
H.HUGH
Power Thought Software
116 Sumach Street
Toronto ON M5A 3J9 Canada
416 594 9355(fax) 416 594 9355
INVISION Elite (distr. by DMC)
John 'Hutch' Hutchinson
FAIR-DINKUM
Fair Dinkum Technologies
P.O. Box 2
Los Alamos NM 87544 USA
505 662 7236
CrossWord Creator II/Word Search Creator/Cryptographer/InfoDisk/
Cyberdrome: The Hoverjet Simulator/Puzzle Pack
Gene Kane
GENEXRX
Xerox Corp
101 Continental Blvd. M/S ESC1-257
El Segundo CA 90245 USA
310 333 2707
Printer Drivers For Xerox Printers
Deron Kazmaier
DERON.K
Soft-Logik Publishing
P.O. Box 510589
St. Louis MO 63151-0589 USA
314 894 8608 or 800 892 8608
PageStream/ImageClub Clip Art/ImageClub Fonts/Business Forms
Alex Kiernan, David Link, Dave Nutkins
HISOFT
HiSoft
The Old School
Greenfield Bedford MK45 5DE England
+44 525 713716(fax) +44 525 718181
Devpac 3/HiSoft BASIC 2/Lattice C/HighSpeed Pascal/FTL Modula-2/WERCS
Harlekin 2/HiSoft C/ProFlight/K-Spread/K-Comm/K-Word/K-Data (HiSoft
products distr. by Oregon Research Associates)
Gregory J Kopchak
GREG
It's All Relative
2233 Keevan Lane
Florisant MO 63031 USA
314 831 9482
It's All Relative/BookMaker/Forecaster3/AbbreviatorST/PhotoCD Conversion
Bob Luneski
ORA.TECH
Oregon Research Associates
16200 S.W. Pacific Highway Suite 162
Tigard OR 97224 USA
503 624 2940(fax) 503 620 4919
Diamond Back II/Diamond Edge/Knife ST/Ultimate Virus Killer/DevPacST 3
DevPacTT/HiSoft BASIC 2/Lattice C 5.5/HiSoft C/HighSpeed Pascal/FTL
Modula-2/Tempus 2/WERCS/Harlekin 2/True Paint/ProFlight
Henry Murphy, Carl Stanford
H.MURPHY, C.STANFORD
MS Design
611 West Illinois Street
Urbana IL 61801 USA
217 351 6412(fax) 217 384 8469
FontPak 1 & 2/Wheeler Quick Art CD-ROM/Wheeler Quick Art Image Disks
Tom Nielsen
ESTEEM
eSTeem, inc.
72 Shades Crest Road
Hoover AL 35226-1014 USA
205 987 9208
eSTeem PILOT
Mark T O'Bryan
M.OBRYAN1
Paradigm Software Products
1369 Concord Place Suite 3-B
Kalamazoo MI 49009-2201 USA
616 372 5972
Omni-Banker ST
W. David Parks
W.PARKS3
Dr. Bobware / Wizworks!
P.O. Box 45
Girard OH 44420 USA
216 539 5623
ScanLite/MVG: MultiViewer Graphica/MVG Modules Disks 1, 2, & 3
William Penner
BPENNER
Medical Designs Software
3235 Wright Avenue
Bremerton WA 98310 USA
206 479 2157(bbs) 206 373 4840
ECTStat/IOLCALC/MultiWriter/SERIALFX
Mario Perdue
M.PERDUE
M.P. Graphics Systems
P.O. Box 501289
Indianapolis IN 46250-6289 USA
317 335 3775
Noids-II
Nathan Potechin
POTECHIN
DMC Publishing
2800 John Street Unit 10
Markham ON L3R 0E2 Canada
416 479 1882(fax) 416 479 1880
Calamus 1.09N/Calamus SL & modules/Calamus Font Editor/The Guide to
Calamus Desktop Publishing/Outline Art/INVISION Elite
Roger Richards
R.RICHARDS2
Synergy Resources
754 N. Bolten Avenue
Indianapolis IN 46219 USA
317 231 4158(fax) 317 356 6946
GEMvelope!/SynthView DW-8000/SynthView K1
George Richardson
G.RICHARDSO1
Merlin Group, Inc.
96 Hoyt Street
Kearny NJ 07032-3311 USA
201 998 0932(fax) 201 998 4441
Chris Roberts
DRAGONWARE
DragonWare Software Inc.
P.O. Box 1719
Havre MT 59501-1719 USA
406 265 7300
G Man/Satellite Locator ST/Smoke Art/Dragon Battery/Battery.ACC/Omikron
Basic/FreeWay/DBRS ST/D_Graph ST
Eric Rosenquist
E.ROSENQUIST
Strata Software
94 Rowe Drive
Kanata ON K2L 3Y9 Canada
613 591 1922(fax) 613 591 1922
STalker & STeno (distr. by Gribnif)
Nevin Shalit
NEVIN-S
Step Ahead Software, Inc.
496-A Hudson Street Suite F39
New York City NY 10014 USA
212 627 5830
TrackerST/Tracker For Windows
David M Small
DAVESMALL
Gadgets by Small, Inc.
40 West Littleton Blvd. #210-211
Littleton CO 80120 USA
303 791 0253(fax) 303 791 6098
Spectre GCR
Josh Snyder
J.SNYDER7
Cali-Co. Superior Software
P.O. Box 9873
Madison WI 53715 USA
608 255 6523
Mah-Jong Solitaire
Gene F Sothan
EFS
Sothan Software / IB Computers
9395 North Wall
Portland OR 97203 USA
503 286 8816
IB Harddisk Backup
John Trautschold
J.TRAUTSCHOL
Missionware Software
354 N. Winston Drive
Palatine IL 60067-4132 USA
708 359 9565
lottODDS/Printer Initializer/Flash II
Melinda Turcsanyi
M.TURCSANYI
MUSICODE Software
5575 Baltimore Drive Suite 105-127
La Mesa CA 91942 USA
619 469 7194
Clayton Walnum
C.WALNUM1
Taylor Ridge Books
P.O. Box 78
Manchester CT 06045 USA
203 643 9673
C-manship Complete/ST Assembly Language Workshop/GFA Basic Toolkit/
VDI Quick Reference/AES Quick Reference/TRB Shareware Companion
Chet Walters
C.WALTERS1
WizWorks!
P.O. Box 45
Girard OH 44420 USA
216 539 5623
Image Cat/Mug Shot!/Coalesce Image Merger/Ma Hubbard's Cupboard/Mug Shot
Data
Sterling K Webb
S.WEBB7
SKWare One
P.O. Box 277
Bunker Hill IL 62014 USA
618 462 2171 (evenings)
Seurat/ColorScan/Auto*Art/PS-2GDOS
Norm Weinress
N.WEINRESS
Weinress Consulting
3236 Velma Drive
Los Angeles CA 90068 USA
213 876 7704
D.E.K.A.
Steve Whitney
S.WHITNEY
655 South Fair Oaks Avenue I-103
Sunnyvale CA 94086 USA
815 968 6888
James D Yegerlehner
J.YEGERLEHNE
Apprentice Software
22205 Swan Road
South Lyon MI 48178 USA
313 437 0526
Neural-network Construction Set
###### ATARINET
###### Network Overview - Updated December 15, 1992
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
So, you've heard about AtariNet. This is a network for any BBS that
supports the Atari platform of home computer. There are already several
bulletin board systems worldwide participating and more are joining. A
listing of the current BBS's that are participating and the echos that
are available follow:
Zone 51 AtariNet Headquarters
Region 100
Host 1 - Twilight Zone, Longwood FL, Bill Scull
1-407-831-1613
4 - Steal Your Face, Brick NJ, Ed Lynch 1-908-920-7981
6 - MySTery BBS, Goose Creek, SC, David Blanchard 1-803-556-9730
8 - Alien BBS, Burlington NC, Mark Cline 1-919-229-4334
9 - Z*Net Golden Gate, Sunnyvale CA, Bob Brodie 1-510-373-6792
10 - Atari Base, Sunnyvale CA, Robert Brodie 1-408-745-2196
13 - Z*Net News Service, Middlesex NJ, Ron Kovacs 1-908-968-8148
14 - Information Overload, Riverdale GA, Ed June 1-404-471-1549
15 - Flightline BBS, Minneapolis MN, Craig Peterson 1-612-544-5118
Host 4 - Hologram Inc, Old Bridge NJ, Dean Lodzinski
1-908-727-1914
3 - Assasins Grove, Oshawa Canada, Jeff Mitchell 1-416-571-6965
4 - Aces High BBS, Matawan NJ, Richard Guadagno 1-908-290-1133
5 - StormShadow, Pasadena MD, Robert Lovelace 1-410-437-0243
Host 102 - Sunfox's Realm, Raleigh NC, Erik Williams 1-919-867-1844
Region 200 - AtariNet Headquarters II
Host 2 - AtariNet Nevada, Las Vegas NV, Terry May
1-702-435-0786
4 - Sports Line BBS, Henderson NV, Nick Hard 1-702-565-5271
5 - Left Over Hippies, Toronto Canada, Lesley Dylan 1-416-466-8931
10 - STarship, Lake Charles LA, Rich Tietjens 1-318-474-9432
11 - The Choice BBS, Las Vegas NV, Mark Woolworth 1-702-253-6527
12 - Thunder Hold, American Fork UT, Todd Harrington 1-801-756-2901
13 - Conqueror Connection, Fort Hood TX, John Curtis 1-817-539-1469
Host 201 - The DarkSTar BBS, Salt Lake City UT, Randy Rodrock
1-801-269-8780
5 - Acme BBS, Salt Lake City UT, Eric Nikolaisen 1-801-272-4243
Host 202 - The Wylie Connection, Wylie TX, Wes Newell
1-214-442-6612
7 - Aaron's Beard, Dallas TX, Troy Wade 1-214-557-2642
13 - The Wylie Connection, Wylie TX, Wes Newell 1-214-442-6612
20 - Outland Station, Ft Worth TX, John Stiborek 1-817-329-1125
21 - Psychlo Empire, Irving TX, Mark Corona 1-214-251-1175
Host 203 - AtariNet Midwest, Indianapolis IN, Bill Jones
1-317-356-5519
1 - The Zoo BBS, Indianapolis IN, Bill Jones 1-317-356-5519
2 - The Music Station, Webb City MO, Chris Richards 1-417-673-4926
3 - The Maligned ST, Urbandale IA, Mike O'Malley 1-515-253-9530
4 - The Crawly Crypt, Joplin MO, Jim Collins 1-417-624-1887
5 - BLAST BBS, Bloomington IN, Steve Johnson 1-812-332-0573
Region 300 - AtariNet Headquarters_III
Host 3 - The Space Station, Canyon Country CA, Tony Castorino
1-805-252-0450
3 - Atari ST Connection, Fresno CA, Brian Watters 1-209-436-8156
4 - Autoboss Atari Elite, Bunola PA, John Graham 1-412-384-5608
5 - The Yakima Atari ST BBS, Yakima WA, Pat Moffitt 1-509-965-2345
6 - FIDOdoor Support BBS, Vandenberg AFB, Bryan Hall 1-805-734-4742
7 - cyberSecT BBS, Cheney WA, Chuck Aude 1-509-235-4875
9 - The Mosh Bit, Vancouver WA, Mark Wallaert 1-206-574-1531
10 - Target Range, Paramount CA, Alan Dietrich 1-310-634-8993
11 - Sanctuary From The Law, Inyokern CA, Sean Price 1-619-377-3611
12 - MASATEK, Torrance CA, Valeriano Meneses 1-310-518-9524
13 - The Mind Keep, Citrus Heights CA, Jeff Fehlman 1-916-723-1657
14 - Callahan's Place, Ashford WA, Brian Lane 1-206-569-2911
15 - ST-Keep, Citrus Heights CA, Andrew Studer 1-916-729-2968
16 - H.B. SMOG, Huntington Beach CA, Jim Thingwold 1-714-969-5486
17 - Acey BBS, Yakima WA, Dick Grable 1-509-966-8555
Region 400 - AtariNet Headquarters IV
Host 5 - The Brewery, Ajax ON Canada, Don Liscombe
1-416-683-3089
3 - Rather Digital, Sudbury ON Canada, Steve Barnes 1-705-560-3115
Region 500 - AtariNet UK
Host 6 - AtariNet NW England, Stockport Cheshire UK, Daron Brewood
44-61-429-9803
2 - STun NeST Central, Stockport Cheshire UK 44-61-429-9803
3 - DigiBBS, Nykobing F Denmark, Flemming Nielsen 45-54-858385
Region 600 - AtariNet Headquarters VI
Host 501 - AtariNet Germany, Koeln Germany, Frank Brodmuehler
49-221-248285
8 - Apolonia, Essen, Peter Kaszanics 49-201-237509
Hub 100 - Hub AC, Aachen, Benedikt Heinen 49-241-408593
101 - Firemark BBS, Aachen, Benedikt Heinen 49-241-408593
102 - Dao-Lin-H'ay, Luegde, Joerg Spilker 49-5281-79372
103 - AtariNET, Milano Italy, Magic.Alex Badalic 39-382-488-515
Region 700 - AtariNet Headquarters VII
Host 701 - Peace Counter Computers, Fort ST John BC Canada
1-604-785-9512
Region 800 - AtariNet Headquarters VIII
Host 801 - Znet South Pacific, Wellington New Zealand, Chris Thorpe
64-4-4762853
||| AtariNet EchoList -- 31-Oct-92 |||
/ | \ Compiled by Terry May @ 51:2/0 / | \
-> The following echo is _required_ for ALL AtariNet sysops.
-> ONLY AtariNet sysops may have access to this echo.
Echo Name Description Moderator
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A_SYSOP AtariNet SysOps 51:1/0 - Bill Scull
-> The following echoes are _required_ for AtariNet moderators
-> and hosts, but may be picked up by ANY AtariNet sysop.
-> ONLY AtariNet sysops may have access to this echo.
Echo Name Description Moderator
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A_ECHO AtariNet echoes discussion 51:2/0 - Terry May
A_TEST AtariNet test echo 51:1/0 - Bill Scull
-> The following echoes are available to all interested AtariNet sysops.
-> These echoes can and should be accessible to all users and points.
Echo Name Description Moderator
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A_4SALE Atari products for sale/wanted 51:1/11 - E Williams
A_ATARI Atari general discussion 51:2/4 - Nick Hard
A_BBS_ADS Atari supported BBSes 51:2/0 - Terry May
A_BBS_DOORS Atari BBS doors (externals) 51:1/6 - D Blanchard
A_COMMERCIAL_ADS Atari Commercial Ads 51:1/11 - E Williams
A_DTP Atari DeskTop Publishing 51:1/11 - E Williams
A_EXPLORER Atari Explorer Magazine 51:1/13 - Ron Kovacs
A_FIDODOOR FIDOdoor Support 51:3/6 - Bryan Hall
A_GENERAL General discussion 51:2/4 - Nick Hard
A_GRAPHICS Atari graphics 51:2/0 - Terry May
A_PROGRAMMING Atari programming 51:5/0 - D Liscombe
A_SOUND Atari sound/music 51:2/0 - Terry May
A_TECH Atari hardware tech talk 51:202/0 - Wes Newell
A_BINKLEY BinkleyTerm ST support [ Gated from Zone 1 ]
A_FIDO_ST FidoNet ST discussion [ Gated from Zone 90 ]
A_IOS_HELP IOSmail Support [ Gated from Zone 1 ]
###### CUSTOMER REPORT
###### The Continuing Saga of Caveat Emptor
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
[Editors Note: In running the following article, we did a lot of
talking and checking with our attorney. But the facts are basically
presented here in a somewhat humorous tone after a failed purchase.
I do NOT want this to be taken as a firing of the rockets into a full
magazine war as it is NOT the intention here. There is a legit problem
that needs attention and addressing. There are no winners here.
Some may take this as another attempt by Z*Net to throw darts at
STReport. However, if this story was about Gribnif, Codehead, or even
Zephyer you know it would have appeared. What we are dealing with in
this article in NOT STReport, but a mail order distributor selling
hardware and a customer having a problem getting product paid for.
As with ALL material published here, we allow editorial space for
response and encourage ABCO to do so. We also hope that this matter is
addressed quickly and responsibly.
- Ron Kovacs
The Introduction...
Hi. My name is Don. Some of you know me as Laser's Edge Graphic
Design. A sampling of my work has been on GEnie and on a few local
bulletin boards. I'm the one who gratefully received an honorable
mention in the '92 Outline Art Contest with "Flowers of the Mind" (I
like to tell people I was "one of the winners" in an international art
contest). I've been using and supporting Atari and its computers ever
since the 1040ST first came out. It was my first computer and I bought
it for music sequencing and, yes (sigh), for games. I later bought a
Mega 4 ST with a 20mb hard drive and Atari Laser Printer to begin
typesetting and desktop publishing, and also kept the 1040 for the kids
to use (and, yes (sigh), for games). I love the Atari computers. I
believe in Atari so much, that I have talked most of my family into
buying Ataris (Ataries?) when they were ready to go computer hunting.
My mother even started doing DTP so she could publish a newsletter where
she works. Even though she prefers Pagestream, whereas I am a devoted
Calamus disciple, I don't hold it against her. She does use an Atari.
The Ecstasy...
My mother decided she needed a hard drive and a faster computer to do
her DTP more efficiently. I most heartily agreed. Working off of
floppy drives is extremely inefficient, but it works. Once you start
working every day on it, though, a hard drive can save hours in disk
access time alone and CPU speed is especially important when you start
handling complex graphics. Anyway, Mom told me she wanted a new Mega 4
STe with a hard drive like she had seen in ST Informer, and asked if I
knew where to get one. She knew there was no Atari store in town, but I
told her that I had been buying my laser printer cartridges from a guy
who works out of the back room of his house, and who I thought was an
Atari dealer. So, I told her I would ask about pricing and, if the
price was right, get her one. She asked me if I wanted one, also!
"MOM! Do I WANT one? Of COURSE I want one!" I nonchalantly exclaimed.
"Well then, get one for yourself, too!"
WOW! I had really been wanting a new TT (giggle), but my finance
department said no. And, of course, I wasn't about to turn down a new
STe if it was offered. So, with Mom's blank check in hand, I scurried
over to the local Laser Printer Cartridge Supplier and Almost- But-Not-
Quite Atari Dealer. I managed to keep the drool from running down my
lip and into my beard as I casually told him I wanted TWO, count 'em,
TWO, not ONE but TWO brand spanking new never-been-used-before fresh-out
-of-the-box Mega 4 STe's.
We talked pricing, features, goodies, all the normal computer stuff, and
wrote up an order for those TWO brand spanking new, never-been-used-
before, etc., STe's. He told me it would probably take a week to ten
days to get them in.
"Great", I said. I was already anticipating the increase in speed I
would experience while watching screen redraws in Outline Art (and the
great sound of the games), not to mention the increase in hard drive
space over my trusty 20 megger.
Then my local Laser Printer Cartridge Supplier and Almost-But-Not-Quite
Atari Dealer, whom I'll call Ralph, which could be but isn't necessarily
his real name, asked if I would rather have a TT (giggle) if he could
get it for the same price.
"RALPH! Do I WANT one? Of COURSE I want one!" I nonchalantly exclaimed.
Ralph told me that the STe was a discontinued computer (I was later told
that the TT [giggle] was also discontinued) and that I would be much
better off with a TT (gig... well, you get the point). And besides
that, he said, the prices have come WAY down on the TT's.
"What about compatibility problems with my music software, Notator."
"Oh, there should be no problem. It'll run great."
The price wasn't exactly the same, but for the extra three hundred
dollars (each) it seemed worth it. So, we wrote up another order, this
time for TWO, count 'em, TWO, not ONE but TWO brand spanking new, etc.,
etc., TT's, with two megabytes of TT Ram, four megabytes of ST Ram (I
had to run my Atari laser printer), a 50 megabyte internal Hard Drive
and a 15 inch (I think) Magnavox color monitor. He told me it would
probably take two to three weeks to get them in.
"Fine," I said, and wrote out the check for the full purchase amount in
advance, up front, 100% down with no long term financing options. I was
elated. That was Wednesday, September 23rd.
The Waiting...
I called to check on the progress every week to ten days.
"Be patient," I was told. I'm not going to settle for (Unpostable Word
= UPW)!
"What?" my inquiring mind wanted to know. Does that mean that a lot of
the TT's out there are (UPW)... well, not quite right? I was glad I was
going to get a good one, or two. I continued to call every week to ten
days.
"Don't worry, I'll keep in touch. I'll let you know when it comes in,"
I was assured by my Local Laser Printer Cartridge Supplier and Almost
etc., etc., etc.
Three weeks passed. My mom wanted to know where her computer was. I
called Ralph.
"I placed the order Friday, and the good news is we got it in before the
price increase. We're in good shape! Don't worry, I'm treating you
right," I was told.
October 22nd. Four weeks. Mom wanted her computer. I called Ralph
again.
"We've got one ordered and I'm looking for the other one," Ralph said.
"I'm not settling for no (UPW)!" There it was again. I was beginning
to feel sorry for all those poor Atari users out there who did settle
for (UPW)..er, something that wasn't quite right. But why STILL looking
for another one? Are they that hard to find? Is Atari out of business?
Did I buy a pig-in-a-poke, or what? I should have told him to forget
it, but I didn't. He had my (mom's) money. I decided to call a bona
fide Atari dealer just to ask a few questions, so, on October 23rd, I
gave Sheldon Winick, of Computer Studio in Asheville, NC, a call.
"Computer Studio. May I help you?"
"Good morning, is Sheldon in?" I asked. I wanted to talk to the boss,
the big man, the top guy, the head cheese. I've learned if you ask for
him by his first name the person who answered the phone usually thinks
you're a personal friend, so they put you through faster.
"This is he." So much for the personal friend stuff.
"Mr. Winick, this is Don Harris in Jacksonville, Florida. I don't know
if you remember meeting me over at Ralph's (which could be but isn't
necessarily his real name) several months ago. Laser's Edge Graphic
Design?"
"Yes, Don, what can I do for you?"
I began to tell Sheldon the story of ordering the TT's, and asked him if
he sold them and, if so, how much trouble he was having in getting them.
"Oh, we sell them all the time. No trouble getting them at all."
I asked if he knew why Ralph might be having a hard time getting them.
I was told Ralph isn't an Atari Dealer, so that might explain it.
The Agony...
I had read some messages in the MIDI RTC on GEnie about Notator not
running on a TT, so I asked about compatibility problems with Notator.
He said he didn't think Notator supported the big screen monochrome or
color monitor, but that other MIDI packages had no trouble. I felt dark
clouds moving overhead, but figured I could keep my Mega 4 for Notator
until it supported the TT.
I asked about pricing. Computer Studio's prices were higher than what
Ralph wrote my order for, but that was for a different configuration
with more RAM. In fact, according to Sheldon, they don't even sell TT's
in the configuration that I was supposed to be buying. Gloom and Doom,
those two sisters of despair, began to stir a large, boiling cauldron in
the nether regions of my brain.
November 3rd, six weeks. Mom wants her money or her computer. I called
Ralph.
"It's being shipped UPS Brown Label. Be here in a few days. I'm still
looking for another one." I didn't tell him mom wanted her money back.
I knew she would be glad she waited when she got her new TT (giggle).
November 12th, seven weeks. Mom's mad. Her 1040 ST broke down and she
can't do her newsletter. I called Ralph.
"It'll be here next Tuesday. They shipped it UPS Brown Label and it
takes about a week. Don't worry, I'm taking care of you. I'll let you
know. I'll keep in touch... etc., etc."
"That'll be good if it does, but now my mom's ST is not working and she
can't work on her newsletter," I informed him. I told him what it was
doing.
"Ah, (UPW). Sounds like the power supply. Just bring it in and I'll
fix it."
Right.
I managed to get mom's ST running. Seems it was the power supply on the
external floppy drive, so I gave her mine.
Next Tuesday, November 17th, arrived. I called Ralph. I spoke briefly
and courteously to his answering machine. "Ralph, this is Don Harris.
Please call me at ###- ####."
Ralph called. "Don Harris, please."
"Speaking."
"Don, here's where we are. I have gone through six TT's already,
and..."
"What do you mean 'gone through six TT's' ?"
"Oh, they weren't the configuration, or the price, especially, that
we're looking for."
"Well, I've talked to several dealers (NOTE: I lied. I only talked to
Sheldon) and they said they haven't had any problem getting TT's."
"Sure, but did you ask them the price? They can get them, but you're
talking long dollars here."
"That's true, they were a little more. But, here's where I am with it.
My mom wants her money back."
"That's impossible at this point. I've got too many irons in the fire,
too much going towards it. Besides, I should have one if not both of
them within ten days." I thought I heard the faint refrain of an old
familiar song playing in the background.
"Well, it's like this. My mom is mad, and I don't blame her. We gave
you almost four thousand dollars ($4,000!!!) over two months ago, and
haven't seen anything for it."
"That's nothing (NOTHING?!). A custom deal like this can often go six
to eight weeks. I've had it take as long as three months before."
"But you didn't tell me that. You said two to three weeks."
"Well that's something you just never know."
We talked for a few more minutes with the gist of the conversation being
that I would take delivery of the first TT if it came in, but I
cancelled the order on the other one. He said he could not return our
money until he actually got the units in and then resold them, but that
we would have the whole thing resolved one way or the other within ten
days. Advertisements for various and sundry Atari products that were
announced as coming out "Real Soon Now", but never arrived, began
scrolling across my memory monitor. I decided to do nothing but wait a
while longer. Besides, it would all be resolved... uh, real soon now.
More Waiting...
November 24th, one week past next Tuesday. If you're confused, that
means that last Tuesday was the next Tuesday that was cited earlier as
the delivery date. So now it's one week later. Okay? Good. Now,
where was I? Oh, yea. I have spoken to several people about this
situation. I have, of course, been advised to hire a lawyer (you know
what's black and white and looks good on a lawyer? A Pit Bull! hahaha..
Do you know what you... well, never mind.) and sue the guy; call the
Better Business Bureau, etc. One friend said he could call his Uncle
Louie in Chicago and he'd guarantee I'd get double my money back. But,
that didn't sound like a very Christian thing to do. I might have to do
something (something spelled L-E-G-A-L) in time, but I wanted to give
Ralph a chance to come through. I refused to believe that he was
purposely trying to take me (and Mom). I always try to believe the best
about people until they give me reason to think differently. I figured
I'd give him the ten days. Now, was that ten calendar days, or ten
business days?
December 1st, another week past next Tuesday, which means it's been ten
weeks since I ordered and paid for our computers. Still with me? Okay.
It has now been two weeks since the latest promise of delivery, unless
of course you subtract the Thanksgiving holidays, which means it has
been twelve days, unless you only want to count business days, in which
case it would be eight days. So, I'm waiting until Thursday. That
would be at least ten days any way you want to count them. If I haven't
heard from Ralph, which could be but isn't necessarily his real name,
I'm going to call him to see if he has my computer or my money, which I
know he won't because if he did he would call me. Right? I decided it
was time to call my attorney to see what action should be contemplated,
just in case Ralph didn't come through (I was still holding out hope he
would). I had to wait for him to get back to me (isn't that just like a
lawyer?), but in the meantime, his secretary told me to go ahead and
call the Better Business Bureau to see if they had received any
complaints against Ralph and his business. So, I called.
The Bad News...
Bingo! The man I talked to said Ralph and his company have an
"unsatisfactory" rating with the Better Business Bureau because of not
responding to customer complaints. I asked him if that was just one
complaint, or many. He said he didn't know, they just had the
unsatisfactory rating down for that reason. It would be interesting to
see what my attorney had to say. (Actually, I have a pretty good
attorney. When he told me he has no respect for lawyers, I knew he was
alright.) Wednesday, December 2nd. I talked to my attorney and
explained the story. He said we could, of course, sue him (I wonder if
lawyers name their daughters "Sue") to get our money back, plus court
costs and attorney fees.
He asked me if I thought Ralph, which could be but still isn't
necessarily his real name, had in mind to take our money and never come
through with the product at all, in other words, to defraud us. "Well,
I don't think so," I said. "Or maybe I should say 'I don't want to
think so.' " "Because if that's what it was, and we can show fraudulent
intent, we can recover triple damages from him, assuming he has
something to recover, that is." He said that, because it was a special
order, if the computers came in and they were right, we would be
expected to accept them.
That was fine with me. We just wanted our computers. He also said he
didn't understand why Ralph could not give us our money back. If he
hadn't actually bought our equipment yet, then he should still have our
money, unless he used it for something else. We talked for a few more
minutes and decided I should pull together some of the pertinent
information to see which way to go. I got the informatin on the check
and the date it was deposited in Ralph's account (September 24th, the
very next day). I called Ralph, but his machine answered, so I just
hung up. I figured if anything had come in (i.e., a computer or two) I
would have gotten a call.
Still More Waiting...
Thursday, December 3rd. No phone call telling me the computers had
miraculously arrived by UPS... which causes me to wonder. Didn't Ralph
say that one was "on the way" by UPS Brown Label? Why, yes, I believe
he did. That's it. It must be UPS' fault! Either that, or it was one
of the ones that he got in with a bad memory board and he sent it back.
Didn't even let me look at it or touch it first. I called Ralph after I
got home from work and left a message on his answering machine. He
didn't return my call.
Friday, December 4th. Another call to Ralph. Another brief but
courteous message on his answering machine. About 15 minutes later, he
returned my call.
"I've gotten two more TT's in and I've rejected them both. I can't
believe how many bad memory boards these things have in them. No wonder
Atari is in trouble. But, I have another TT ordered from Washington.
It's been fully tested and it's a good one. I've also got two monitors
on the way, one Magnavox and one CTX, so you should have one of your
computers by next Wednesday (is this the same song?). I can't wait to
get you in one 'cause I know it's gonna blow your socks off. I'll call
you Monday or Tuesday and keep you up on the latest."
If the TT's are truly having memory problems, then Ralph may really be
doing me right by making sure I get a good one and most, if not all, of
my fears may turn out to be unjustified. If not, and these are just all
excuses for non-delivery, then... well, we'll just have to wait and see
about then.
The Thickening Plot...
On Monday, December 7th (Happy Pearl Harbor Day), I called DMC
Publishing (formerly ISD) to upgrade my Calamus 1.09n to Calamus S
(Yaaaayyy!). I asked if Nathan was in so I could say "HI", but he had
just stepped out to lunch. About five minutes later, Nathan called me.
Bright and early that morning I had been on GEnie trying to find out
about the bad TT memory boards and had sent E-mail to Sheldon Winick
asking him about the situation (I copied it to Nathan, which is how he
knew about it).
He basically told me that Sheldon's reply to my inquiry, which he agreed
with, was that Ralph is not an Atari dealer, Atari will not sell him any
equipment and the TT's are NOT having memory board problems. He also
told me about two new posts in the Mail Order RTC about Ralph that I
might be interested in reading. That night I got on GEnie again to read
the Mail Order posts. It seems three other people had been having
problems getting satisfaction from ABCO (which could be but isn't
necessarily... well, you know). One of them, Joey Sherman, had been
trying for almost two years to get something done. I sent the three
E-mail requesting details of their dealings with Ralph and ABCO,
indicating that the information may be needed to bring suit against him,
if it came to that.
Tuesday, December 8th. Ralph called me. No, he didn't have my computer
or my money, so don't get your hopes up. He had been on GEnie, read my
posts inquiring about the TT memory board problems and wanted to explain
everything to me. He said that nobody is going to put what really
happens on a public board such as GEnie, I guess because nobody wants
anybody else to know how bad a shape Atari is really in (?). He went on
to explain the history of the TT and how the early ones were 16
megahertz machines, not 32. He said the motherboards have been
redesigned numerous times and that is the source of the problems. He
assured me that he was looking out for my best interests; that he was
only trying to get me a good machine. I honestly appreciated that.
Ralph is nothing if not convincing. He is a salesman.
Then I asked Ralph about the complaints against him in the Mail Order
RTC. He explained them away. They have either been taken care of or
else they were just misunderstandings. I asked about the TT not being
sold for residential use. He said that laser printers are in the same
boat, and there wouldn't be any problem because they weren't going to
interfere with the neighbors' TV, which is the bottom line. Ralph said
my computer would be ready by the end of the week if not tomorrow,
Wednesday, December 9th. More music. I reminded him of cancelling the
second computer. He remembered. He said he'd have one ready and cut me
a check for the second one by Friday (December 11th). I quietly
wondered if I should request a cashier's check.
Friday, December 11th. The big day. The day Ralph said would be the
finalization of this whole fiasco. I have been on GEnie several more
times, and gotten several more letters about this situation. The
consensus seems to be that there are plenty of TT030's available and
they are not having memory problems. I also found out that, because
Ralph is not an authorized Atari dealer, Atari will not sell him any
TT's. That means that if he comes up with one, he will have bought it
from someone else (not Atari), so it will be considered USED.
Furthermore, according to the warranty, if anything goes wrong with it,
I have to take it back to the authorized Atari dealer I bought it from,
except that I won't have bought it from an authorized Atari dealer.
Sounds like problems waiting to happen. To really put the icing on the
cake, the TT030's are not available in the configuration I ordered
(4meg ST RAM/2meg TT RAM). So, is there any way possible that Ralph can
deliver what he ordered for me?
I called Ralph and left another brief but courteous message on his
machine. I waited but he did not return my call. I tried again several
hours later. He answered the phone.
"Ralph, this is Don."
"Hello, stranger. Haven't seen UPS yet today."
"But we're going to get this finished today one way or another, right?
"Either today or after the first of the week."
I couldn't believe he said that. "Well, I need it to be finished by
Monday." I was planning on seeing my attorney Monday.
"Or what?"
I started to tell him about the impending suit, but flagged. "I'm going
out of town next week, and I need to get this over with. It looks like
I might need the money to get some transmission work done on my car."
That was true, I didn't lie.
"Vacation, eh? Where you going?"
I gave a brief outline of my vacation, then said, "So anyway, I need to
get it over with by Monday." I wanted to reiterate that Monday was the
deadline.
"Well, I'll do what I can."
Strangely enough, I didn't think anything would be any different Monday.
But, I still could not bring myself to be unkind or threatening, or even
to tell him about the suit. I figured a letter from my attorney would
be more convincing than I could be.
The Moral...
This was not meant to be an indictment of Ralph, which could be but
isn't necessarily his real name, nor his business, which could be but
isn't necessarily ABCO computers. If anything, it's more an indictment
of my consumer savvy, because first of all, I should never have agreed
to pay the full price in advance. I guess I have to consider the
prospect that if it had been my four thousand dollars, I probably would
have been a little more discerning. Aside from that, any business of
good repute should have a good enough record with its suppliers, or
failing that, to have enough cash surplus to be able to get merchandise
without having to make the customer pay full price up front. I've been
doing graphic design and typesetting for several years now and none of
the printers I do business with hesitate to let me take the merchandise
and wait for their money until I get mine from my client. That's just
good business. If a store wants you to pay full price up front on
promise of delivery, you should probably check out another source.
Granted, the lack of Atari dealers makes that a little more difficult,
but not impossible. I guess the Better Business Bureau could have
steered me away if I had been smart enough to call them before handing
over large sums of money. Then again, maybe all special orders, if this
was one, are handled this way. I don't know.
Secondly, I should have heeded the voices of warning. As B'rer Fox used
to say, "You kin hide de fire, but what you gwine do wid de smoke?" I
chose to ignore the criticisms and complaints I had heard against Ralph
and his business, thinking that it was just his endearing personality
that people didn't like. I thought that, though others had been burned,
I would be a most notable exception and, as I raised one eyebrow and
curled my lip into an almost- but-not-quite- noticeable sneer, I would
be able to smile and say, "I haven't had any problems. It must have
been you."
Is it too much to hope that Ralph has learned anything from this Episode
of Caveat Emptor? I can only hope he has. I hope he has learned to
give a more realistic time frame to his customers, or to at least expose
the possibility of delay when they order through him. A customer that
has been told the goods he ordered and paid for will arrive in two or
three weeks isn't going to be a happy customer when he's still waiting
eight (or nine, or twelve) weeks later. One valid maxim of business is
"A Happy Customer is a Repeat Customer." If that one is true, then it's
logical that the obverse of that statement is also true. You don't stay
in business by ignoring legitimate customer complaints. If the
circumstances are beyond your control you bite the bullet and satisfy
the customer! If you don't believe in doing business that way then you
have no business being in business.
Copyright 1992 D P Harris
###### THE UNABASHED ATARIOPHILE
###### By Michael R. Burkley
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
It's nasty to be sick! I put an exclamation mark at the end of that
last sentence, but I certainly don't feel it. For the past two days I
have been alternating between the bed and the bathroom, happy with
neither. It's a busy season for me (obviously!), and I don't have time
to be sick, but that doesn't seem to make me well!
Last week I said that I would either talk about the adventures of my
hard drive or share with you a list of all the programs I downloaded
(or just read the discriptions of) this week. I've decided to do the
latter. So here goes...
BACKUP is a hard drive backup program that comes in a form useable on
any ST and one particularly adapted to take advantage of the TT. It
supports the use of the Archive bit (so when you make a new backup you
don't need to back up your WHOLE drive but only those parts that have
changed). It compresses the file using LHARC (which you need to order
separately--see UTILITYS category). This program can keep you safe from
the terror of a hard drive crash. It also saves on the number of
floppies you have to use through the compressing of the files. GEM
based and fast. Color or mono. Docs included. SHAREWARE.
Blizschnell by Erin Monaco was reviewed two or three columns back?
This program is a hard drive defragmenter and more. The only thing I
didn't like about this program was that you had to manually tell the
program how to defragment your drive, but I mentioned that Erin was
continuing to support this program with frequent updates. Guess what?
Blitzschnell now supports auto-defragmentation in the registered
version. If you haven't checked out version 1.45 of this program take
a look!
BORDERS1 is a series of eight .IMG drawings of various Christmas
oriented scenes (secular) that you can use to frame a holiday message.
DataBlaze v.2.00 by Sherry Mackiewicz Reulback (dated Dec. 11, 1992)
is a mono-only program that takes full advantage of David Becker's
"ZEST" interface. DataBlaze is a desk accessory that allows you to
forget people's e-mail addresses. Simply put DataBlaze in the root
directory on your boot disk, and call it from your favorite term
program! DataBlaze even types in the address for you! The Search
button helps you find who you're looking for. Simply enter a first or
last name, or part of one, and Blaze will show all people who match.
Diamond Edge, the comprehensive program from Oregon Reseach that will
allow you to maintain and repair the data on your hard drive(s) has
released two patch programs this week. The two patches will allow you
to upgrade either your v.1.00 or v.1.01 of Diamond Edge to version
1.02.
ESCAPE_D is a working demo of Escape by PAC (Programs from Atari
Consumers). Escape is a 'crazy' text adventure and graphics game. You
must escape from your parents' home (Why? You just were released from a
mental institution and your parents are keeping you at home to help in
your "cure."). Find clues located all over the property and try to
escape. Digitized graphics and sounds. TOS 1.0--TT, one meg of RAM
(at least), a DS drive and a color monitor required.
FORUM36 is Forum 36 v.1.01 by Nathan W. Sienicki (dated Dec. 9, 1992).
Forum36 is an advanced form of the popular tic-tac-toe game. It
utilizes a 6 X 6 grid in which each opponent must attempt to match four
of his/her pieces in a vertical or horizontal row to win. If you're a
lonely bachelor(ette) or a latch key kid, you can select the single
player option and match wits with the computer. Strategy in this
version was purposely limited to allow a fighting chance for those
under age eight. The game's control panel has many features like bonus
play, one or two player selection, game status and win displays, and
the ability to clear the game status. Gem Based. Nice interface. Low
rez only. Docs included. This is a fun game.
GemFast v.1.8 is a Public Domain GEM Bindings and Programming Library
by Ian Lepore (dated Nov.3, 1992). This huge library (just over one
meg uncompressed) is full of high-level functions, excellent and
extensive documention, and much more. If you are a "C" programmer then
this is for you. I am not, and I have no idea what this is all about!
Maybe someday!
HERSANTA is a MIDI file of a Bebop version of "Here Comes Santa Claus"!
Merry Christmas people! HO!HO!HO!
Studio Manager v.1.00 by Up All Night Software (dated Nov '92) is an ST
based Invoice and Accounting package for music studio management.
Created by studio musicians to make their task easier, this demo of the
commercial product is intuitive, easy to learn, and quick. If you have
a home or professional recording/midi studio this program is for you.
It handles client invoice billing and accounts receivables. This demo
is save and load disabled. Color or mono. Any ST(e).
Jekyll v.1.38 by Vincent Partington (dated Nov. 22, 1992) is a full
duplex file transfer protocol that allows your modem to send files both
ways and what's more: you can even chat with the other side at the same
time and the CPS rate won't drop noticably. It can even go up if you're
sending uncompressed files because Jekyll will compress them before
sending and decompress them automatically when receiving! This
program is continuously being updated and being made better. It also
comes with a small terminal shell called Hyde. In order to use it the
BBS you are calling needs to support it. I would predict that any BBS
that uses Jekyll will see a dramatic increase in the number of files
uploaded, since it wouldn't take any more time to do so on the callers
part. ST/STe/TT compatible with at least one meg of RAM. Color or
mono. Docs included. SHAREWARE.
MDEMO is M for the ST by Eric Ameres, David Zicarelli, Joel Chadabe,
John Offenhartz, and Antony Widoff (dated 1987, but it was just
uploaded this week!). This demo version (no save) of "M", an
algorithmic composer for the ST allows you to do all sorts of things
with your music (transpose, shift, create, etc.). Color or mono. STe
compatible. Use with your MIDI keyboard. Numerous sample files, docs,
tutorial, and ordering info included.
MT32DEMO is a disabled demo of a MT-32 Controller in an .ACC format by
David Barr. It is designed to allow you complete control over your
Roland MT-32 synthesizer, even from within your favorite (GEM)
sequencer. It also is a patch librarian, and allows you to take a
"snapshot" of your MT-32 setup and save it to disk! No more time
wasted trying to reconfigure the "mix" you spent so much time setting.
You'll be able to restore any setup in seconds---even from within your
sequencer! You'll also be able to access many otherwise inaccessable
features of the MT-32, such as four different reverb types and
individual tuning or transposing of parts! Color or mono. Docs
included. STe compatible.
PCSVIEW3 is the PhotoChrome Slideshow Utility by Douglas Little. This
viewer will allow you to load in the fantastic .PCS pictures created by
PhotoChrome 3 and display them on your STe. It will also load Degas
Elite .PC1 and .TNY pictures (and the Ice-Packed versions of all
three). This version will allow you to display from a hard drive
instead of just drive A. Color only. ST/STe/TT compatible.
PCS_PICS is three .PCS pictures converted from the GIF format to the
new PhotoChrome standard. These pictures are fantastic! A glowing
dragon, a transformed death mask of King Tut, and a mirror-finished
robot viewing a TV show. This is only one file of the many .PCS
pictures that were uploaded this week. PhotoChrome v.3 will run on any
color ST/STe/TT and produces stunning pictures (though the .PCS files
are only accessable when using an STe or better.
SCHLBOOK is a 10pt and 12pt Century Schoolbook GDOS font for 300 dpi
devices and mono 90 dpi monitor. The screen fonts are not optimized
and rather ugly, but the printer fonts are very good looking. All
accented and diacritical characters are present. It's good to see some
GDOS fonts being produced again!
SpaceWar: The Next Generation by Howard Jones (dated Nov. 1, 1992) is a
modernised, colourful version of the classic (some say the first)
computer game, SpaceWar! Spacewar is a space-combat simulation game in
which two spaceships duel around a central sun, shooting torpedoes at
each other and jumping through hyperspace to (hopefully!) avoid danger.
It is also a fun two-player game. This version features a range of
gadgets for the ships, not just hyperspace, variable gravity,
lightsource shaded ships, a gravitating particle system, real
inverse-square gravity (rather than some lesser non-newtonian gravity),
sampled sound and a Duel mode. Excellent graphics. This game is going
in my library. Color only, joystick controlled. Hard drive compatible
(and it doesn't mess up your screen colors when you quit!). Any
ST/STe.
SPX_V17 is a picture viewer for .SPX pictures. .SPX stands for
Spectrum Extended Picture Format. .SPX pictures are Spectrum 512
Pictures that can be up to 10 screens high and they can also be 640
pixels wide on an STe instead of the limited 320 Pixel width that the
ST is.
STalky v.0.8 by Paul Lefebvre (dated Dec. 14, 1992) is a desk accessory
that gives STalker a type ahead buffer. The type ahead buffer is three
lines and allows a total of 233 characters to be entered. ST/STe/TT
compatible. Color or mono. Docs included.
ST Sweep v. 2.0 by Bud Rasmussen (dated Dec. 5, 1992) is basically a
directory/file manipulation program allowing access, to drives 'a' thru
'p', and any directory/file on these drives. The main options of STS
are: Copy a file or copy all tagged files, Delete a file or delete all
tagged files, Free space display on the current drive, Hex file
display, Log to a new drive, Move a file or move all tagged files,
Print a text file, Rename a file, Switch to a new directory, Tag a file
or Tag all files, Untag a file or Untag all files, and View a text
file. ST/STe/Mega STe compatible. Color or mono. Docs included.
BLRUT19 is the B.L. Rasmussen's Utilities v.1.9 (dated Dec. 5, 1992).
This is a series of 26 utilities that are usable on any ST (TOS
1.0-Mega STe) in any resolution. Copy, move, sort, display disk info.
or compare disks and files, format disks, output data for the screen or
to your printer, show free RAM, display key ASCII code values, a sector
editor, and much much more. Docs included.
TWKDEMO2 is a demo version of Tweak It! by Rich Hickey (dated 1988, but
still supported as I know from talking with the author yesterday).
Tweak It! is software that functions as a universal MIDI mixer and
control panel. It provides a set of 16 'faders' for each of up to 17
MIDI devices. These faders are user-definable. You can use them to
transmit program changes, MIDI volume and other controller messages, as
well as system exclusive messages for altering patch parameters. Some
of the file functions have been disabled. Color or mono. ST/STe
compatible. Extensive docs included.
VWALKER is Vidi-Walker by Barry Summers is a vidi-digitized color .SEQ
animation of the attack on one of those giant walker fighting machines
from "The Empire Strikes Back. Created using the vidi digitizer and
cyberpaint. The animation lasts about six seconds and is quite good.
Use ANIMATE4.PRG to view.
W9_374UP is the update patch for Warp 9. It will take your Warp 9
v.3.73 and transform it to v.3.74. Thanks CodeHeads!
W9_375UP is the update patch for Warp 9. It will take your Warp 9
v.3.74 and transform it to v.3.75. Thanks AGAIN CodeHeads!
ZNET9222 is the December 13, 1992 issue of Z*NET.
(always read with avid attention!)
Unfortunately, that's not all of the files I've downloaded this week.
I've gotten 18 more! There's a lot out there. Grab your modem, log on
and go for it!
It's back to bed for me! Take care. May God bless.
BIO: Michael lives in Niagara Falls, NY. He is a former Polyurethane
Research Chemist and is presently the pastor of the Niagara Presbyterian
Church.
###### SOFTWARE VERSIONS LISTING
###### Reprint Courtesy of AtariUser Magazine
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
Use this list to see that you are using the newest release of these
popular software packages for the ST/TT. Please help us (and you!) by
forwarding corrections, additions, and updates to AtariUser, for NEXT
time!
1st Card Logilex 1.2
1st Word ABC Solutions 3.2
Arabesque Pro Gribnif 2.15
Avant Vector CodeHead 1.2
Calamus SL DMC 28.08.92
Calamus DMC 1.09N*
Calligrapher CodeHead 2.88/44
CardFile 4 Gribnif 4.02
Chronos Lexicor 1.3
CodeHead Utilities CodeHead 4.0
CodeKeys CodeHead 1.3
Convector Pro Gribnif 1.00J
Cubase Steinberg/Jones 3.015
Cubeat Steinberg/Jones 2.0
Crossword Crtr. II Fair Dinkum 1.07
Cryptographer Fair Dinkum 1.01
CyberDrome Fair Dinkum 1.01
DB Man Versasoft 5.2
DC Desktop Double Click 1.2H
DC Data Diet Double Click 1.0A
DC Shower Double Click 1.0E
DC Utilities Double Click 2.0G
Degas Elite Batteries Included 1.1*
Diamond Edge Oregon Research 1.0
Diamond Back II Oregon Research 2.5
DynaCADD Ditek 2.04
eSTeem PILOT eSTeem 2.0
Flash II Missionware 2.01
Fleet Street Pub. MichTron 3.0*
G+Plus CodeHead 1.5
G_MAN DragonWare 4.0
Gemulater Branch Always 2.0
Gemvelope Synergy Resources 2.9
Genedit Barefoot (Hybrid Arts) 2.0
Genus Font Editor CodeHead 1.85
GFA BASIC GFA 3.6
Glendale Show HACKS 6.0
Hard Disk Accell. Beckemeyer Development 1.2
Hard Disk Sentry Beckemeyer Development 1.3
Hard Disk Toolkit Beckemeyer Development 3.20.1
Highspeed Pascal Oregon Research 1.6
HotWire CodeHead 3.0
HyperLINK JMG Software 2.0
ICD HD Boot ICD 6.0.4
Interlink Intersect 1.85
INVision Elite DMC 1.13
Kidpainter D.A. Brumleve 2.3A
Kidpublisher Pro D.A. Brumleve 6.4EB
LDW Power II LDW 1.0
LDW Power LDW 1.1*
Lookit CodeHead 1.2
lottODDS Missionware 1.1.0
Mah-Jong Solitaire Cali-Co 3.0
Mail-Pro High-Tech Advisers 4.11
Master Drummer Zobozian 2.1
MaxiFile III CodeHead 3.0
MegaPaint Pro CodeHead 4.0*
MIDIMax CodeHead 1.3
Migraph OCR Migraph 1.1
MTC Shell/VSH Beckemeyer Development 2.0
MulltiDesk Deluxe CodeHead 3.4a
Multiplay D.A. Brumleve 3.4B
NeoChrome Atari 1.0
NeoDesk 3 Gribnif 3.02
Notator C-Lab/EMAGIC 3.01
Omni-Banker (MIDI) Paradigm 1.6c
PageStream SoftLogic 2.2
Pha$ar Pacific Software 4.06*
Pheonix 512 Lexicor 1.0
PopIt CodeHead 1.1
PowerDOS DragonWare 1.03
PowerNet LAN DragonWare 1.07
Prism Paint Lexicor 1.5b
ProCopy Proco 1.8*
Quick ST III Branch Always 3.4*
QuickTools Branch Always 1.0*
Rosetta Lexicor 1.0
Sales-Pro High-Tech Advisers 6.2
Satellite Locator DragonWare 1.0
Seurat SKWare One 2.2
Silhouette Maxwell CPU 1.37
SMPTETrack Barefoot (Hybrid Arts) Platinum
Spectre/GCR Gadgets by Small 3.0
Spelling Sentry Wintertree Software 1.0
ST TOS Atari 2.06
Stalk the Market Quidnunc Software 2.0
STalker 3 Gribnif 3.02
STe TOS Atari 2.05
STeno Gribnif 2.00
Straight Fax Joppa 1.6
Sudden View Sudden, Inc. 1.0
Super Kidgrid D.A. Brumleve 1.6
Superbase Pro Oxxi 3.0
Telegram D.A. Brumleve 2.5
TouchUp MiGraph 1.8
Tracker/ST Step Ahead Software 3.04
TT TOS Atari 3.06
TurboST SoftTrek 1.8*
UIS III Application and Design 3.3
Ult. Virus Killer Oregon Research 5.5
Warp 9 CodeHead 3.73
Word Search Crtr. Fair Dinkum 1.05
WordPerfect WordPerfect 4/91*
WordUp NeoCept 3.0*
WordWriter Timeworks 2.0*
XBoot III Gribnif 3.00
* Indicates that this is expected to be the final version to be
supported.
###### CDROM/MULTIMEDIA TITLE AND HARDWARE VENDORS
###### From Optical Publishing Association
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
This list is provided as a public service only. OPA neither endorses
nor guarantees the performance of these companies in any way.
There have been requests for a list of vendors from whom CDROM
publications are available. This list has been compiled in an effort to
meet this need. If you have dealt with other dealers not on the list,
please let me know and they will be included on the next iteration.
These vendors focus on CDROM titles and some also hardware and related
products. Many of the standard computer product mail-order houses (such
as PC Warehouse and Mac Warehouse) are beginning to stock a limited
inventory of CDROM products and they are worth a look as well. And
increasing numbers (as many as 4000 outlets around North America) of
computer and software stores, and other outlets, now carry CDROM
products on their shelves, in addition to these mail order sources.
VENDORS:
Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of this information,
but mistakes are inevitable. If information listed here about your
company is incorrect, incomplete or missing, please let me know ASAP.
Also please include 800 phone numbers and your CompuServe address,
AppleLink ID etc.
Rich Bowers - OPA 71700,3404
---------------------------------
CDROM Title Vendors
BetaCorp Technologies Inc.
6770-40 Davand Dr.
Mississauga ON L5T 2G3 Canada
Contact: John Bechtel
416/564-2424 416/564-2432 (fax)
Better Business Systems
7949 Woodley Ave.
Van Nuys CA 91406
800/829-9991, 818/373-7250, 818/376-1581 (fax)
Bureau of Electronic Publishing
141 New Road
Parsippany NJ 07054
Contact: Larry Schiller
800/828-4766, 201/808-2700, 201/808-2676 (fax)
CompuServe 71261,3345
CD-I (Philips hotline) (Basic CD-I info and nearby dealers)
800/532-6363
CD Marketing Corporation
1200 Valley West Dr., Suite 120
West Des Moines IA 50265
515/223-1230, 314/394-8685, 515/223-7749 (fax)
CD ROM Inc.
1667 Cole Blvd., Suite 400
Golden CO 80401
Contact: Roger Hutchison
800/821-5245, 303/231-9373, 303/231-9581 (fax)
CompuServe: 71174,2463
The CD-ROM Source
5454 E. Fall Creek Pkwy.
Indianapolis IN 46220
317/541-0222
CD Xpress
London England
Conatct: Mushtaq Ahmed
+44 (0)81 514 2741
CompuServe: 100021,2631
Compact Disk Products
272 Route 34
Aberdeen NJ 07747
908/290-0048, 908/290-8087 (fax)
Compton's NewMedia
722 Genevieve, Suite M
Solana Beach CA 92075-9846
800/532-3766, 619/793-4813 (fax)
Computability Consumer Electronics
PO Box17882
Milwaukee WI 53217
800/558-0003, 414/357-8181
Computron Ltd.
7874 N. Lincoln Ave.
Skokie IL 60077
Contact: Frank Harris
708/982-5144 ext 2, 708/675-6286
CompuServe: 76106,3221
Consumer Products
6913 18th Avenue Suite 190
Brooklyn, NY 11204
718-641-9493
DAK Industries Inc.
8200 Remmet Ave.
Canoga Park CA 91304
800/DAK-0800, 800/888-7808, 818/888-8220, 800/888-9818 (tech support),
800/888-6703 (TDD), 818/888-2837 (fax)
EBSCO Electronic Information
447 Old Boston Road, Suite 11
Topsfield MA 01983
Contact: Tim Collins
508/887-6667
EDUCORP Computer Services
7434 Trade St.
San Diego CA 92121-2410
800/843-9497, 619/536-9999, 619/536-2345 (fax)
Ellis Enterprises Inc.
4205 McAuley Blvd. #385
Oklahoma City OK 73120
800/729-9500, 405/749-0273, 405/751-8096 (BBS), 405/751-5168 (fax)
ERM Electronic Liquidators
37 Washington St.
Melrose MA 02176
Contact: Bob Simons
617/662-9363, 617/665-4856 (fax)
Erwin Computers
Cherry Hills NJ
Contact: David Chen
609/751-6330, 609/751-1415 (fax)
Euro - CD
13 Cite Voltaire
75011
Paris FRANCE
Contact: Christian Delacourt
+33 1 40 09 80 30, +33 1 43 67 00 38 (fax)
GROUPWARE
7902 27th. St. W. #7A
Tacoma WA 98466
Contact: Ismail Arslangiray
800/373-0628 (Orders Only), 206/565-1735, 206/588-1588 (fax)
CompuServe: 70274,423
Highsmith Co., Inc.
PO Box 800
Fort Atkinson WI 53538-0800
Contact Robert Cuellar
414/563-9571, 414/563-7395 (fax)
Insight Software
1912 W. 4th St.
Tempe AZ 85281
800/998-8037, 602/350-1155
Light Years Ahead
PO Box 561
Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia
Contact: Ian Eastman
+61 2 477-6666, +61 2 477-6655 (fax)
Max Systems (Mr. CD-ROM)
123 S. Woodland St.
Winter Garden FL 34787
800/444-MRCD, 407/877-3807, 407/877-3834 (fax)
Maya Computer
Waitfield VT 05673
802/496-6982, 802/496-8110 (fax)
Micromedia Limited
158 Pearl St.
Toronto ON M5H 1L3
416/593-5211, 416/593-1760 (fax)
MPC Marketing Council
(list of certified hardware products and CDROM titles)
202/452-1600
The Multimedia Publishing Studio (IBM)
4111 Northside Parkway
Atlanta GA 30327-2150
800/995-9999, 404/238-2102 (fax)
New Media Source
3830 Valley Centre Dr., Suite 2153
San Diego CA 92130
800/344-2621, 619/438-2330 (fax)
PC CompNet
2060 Emery Ave., Suite 215
La Habra CA 90631
800/524-3811, 310/947-9878, 310/947-1131 (fax)
PC Info Systems
PO Box 23591
Columbus OH 43223
614/276-5736
PCJ Computers
323 Tennessee Nursery Blvd.
Cleveland TN 37311
Contact: Douglas Carpenter
615/339-0235
Pinnacle Micro
19 Technology
Irvine CA 92718
800/366-3632, 714/727-3300
Profit Press
2956 N. Campbell Ave.
Tucson AZ 85719
800/843-7990
Public Software Library (PSL)
5925 Kirby Dr., Suite 209
Houston TX 77005
Contact: Nelson Ford
800/242-4PSL, 713/524-6394, 713/524-6398 (fax)
CompuServe: 71355,470
QB Products
1260 Karl Ct.
Wauconda IL 60084
708/487-3333
Comment: Specializes in CDROM caddies
ROM-BO
1300 Mohawk Blvd.
Springfield OR 97477
800/533-DISK, 503/744-2656, 503/726-7413 (fax)
Sole Source Systems
8248 #B Ronson Rd.
San Diego CA 92111
619/467-0661, 619/467-0666 (BBS), 619/467-0665
Super Computer Products
6415 Vineland Rd.
Orlando FL 32819
407/352-1228
Telemart
8804 N. 23rd Ave.
Phoenix AZ 85021
800/821-2033, 602/944-3045
TigerSoftware Inc.
800 Douglas Entrance, Penthouse
Coral Gables FL 33134
800/955-1888, 305/529-3333, 305/444-5010 (fax)
Todd Enterprises Inc.
224-49 67th Ave.
Bayside NY 11364
718/343-1040, 718/343-9180 (fax)
UNI-ROM
5694 Mission Center #449
San Diego CA
Contact: Mike Drummond
619/279-1139, 619/561-4253 (fax), 619/279-4774 (BBS)
CompuServe: 72540,1444
UPDATA Publications Inc.
1736 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90024
800/882-2844, 310/474-5900, 213/474-4095
UP FRONT Multimedia Inc.
13659 Victory Blvd., #123
Van Nuys CA 91401
818/782-3683, 818/782-4411 (fax)
###### THE Z*NET COMPUTER CALENDAR 1992-1993
###### Schedule of Shows, Events and Online Conferences
###### ----------------------------------------------------------------
### December 20, 1992
Eugene, Oregon. Atari SWAP MEET planned at the GATEWAY MALL MEETING
PLACE. The hours have not been finalized yet but tentively they will be
10am - 5pm. There may be a small admission fee this year (no more than
$1.00) and there may be a table fee.
### December 24-25, 1992
Christmas 1992! Spend time with your loved ones! Hope you bought an
Atari product for your favorite person!
### December 31/January 1,1993
New Years Eve, New Years Day! Happy New Year! Make those resolutions
stick this time around!
### January 6-9, 1993
MacWorld Expo in San Fransisco California, Sponsored by MacWorld
Magazine. Titled San Fransisco '93 at the Moscone Center.
### January 12-14, 1993
Networld '93 in Boston, Massachusettes
### January 7-10, 1993
The Winter Consumer Electronics Show comes to Las Vegas, Nevada. CES is
an electronic playground, with everything in the way of high tech toys
for kids and adults. Game consoles and hand-held entertainment items
like the Atari Lynx are big here, and Atari will attend with a hotel
suite showroom. Contact Atari Corp for more information on seeing their
display at 408-745-2000.
### January 15-18, 1993
NAMM is the largest conclave of musicians each year. Held in Los
Angeles at the Anaheim Convention Center, the variety of sights at the
National Association of Music Merchandisers is wilder than at
Disneyland, just next door. Atari was the first computer manufacturer
to ever display at NAMM in 1987, and has become a standard at the shows.
A trade show for music stores, distributors, and professionals of every
strata, entertainers are seen everywhere at NAMM. Contact James Grunke
at Atari Corp for more information at 408-745-2000.
### February 2-4, 1993
ComNet '93 in Washington, DC.
### March 1993
CeBIT, the world's largest computer show with 5,000 exhibitors in 20
halls, is held annually in Hannover, Germany. Atari traditionally
struts its newest wares there, usually before it's seen in the USA or
anywhere else. In '93, the Atari 040 machines should be premiering, and
this is the likely venue. Third party developers also use this show to
introduce new hardware and software, so expect a wave of news from CeBIT
every year. Atari Corp and the IAAD coordinate cross-oceanic contacts
to promote worldwide marketing of Atari products, and this show is an
annual touchstone of that effort. Contact Bill Rehbock at Atari Corp
for information at 408-745-2000.
### March 13-14, 1993
The Sacramento Atari Computer Exposition is to be sponsored by the
Sacramento Atari ST Users Group (SST) at the Towe Ford Museum in
Sacramento, California. This show replaces the earlier scheduled, then
cancelled Northern California Atari Fest for the Bay Area, to have been
held in December 1992. A major two day effort, the SAC show is being
held in the special events area of the Towe Ford Museum, home of the
worlds most complete antique Ford automobile collection. As an added
bonus, admission to the museum is free when you attend the Expo. The
museum is located at the intersection of Interstates 5 and 80, just 15
minutes from the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport. Contact Nick Langdon
(Vendor Coordinator) C/O SST, P.O. Box 214892, Sacramento, CA 95821-
0892, phone 916-723-6425, GEnie: M.WARNER8, ST-Keep BBS (SST) 916-729-
2968.
### March 20, 1993
Philadelphia, PA area group PACS is holding their 16th annual Computer
Festival from 9 AM til 4 PM. It will be a multi-computer show with
Atari showings by the PACS Atari SIG's, NEAT, CDACC, and JACS clubs.
The Fest is to be at the Drexel University Main Building, 32nd and
Chestnut Streets in Pennsylvania. Contact for Atari display: Alice P.
Christie, 207 Pontiac Street, Lester, PA 19029, 215-521-2569, or 215-
951-1255 for general info.
### March 21-24, 1993
Interop Spring '93 in Washington DC.
### August 3-6, 1993
MacWorld Expo at the Boston World Trade Center, Bayside Exposition
Center and sponsored by MacWorld Magazine. This event is titled Boston
'93.
### September 18-19, 1993
The Glendale Show returns with the Southern California Atari Computer
Faire, V.7.0, in suburban Los Angeles, California. This has been the
year's largest domestic Atari event, year after year. Contact John King
Tarpinian at the user group HACKS at 818-246-7286 for information.
### September 20-22, 1993
The third MacWorld Expo, titled Canada '93 at the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre, sponsored by MacWorld Magazine.
### September 21-23, 1993
Unix Expo '93 in New York City, New York.
If you have an event you would like to include on the Z*Net Calender,
please send email vai GEnie to Z-NET, CompuServe 75300,1642, or via
FNET to node 593 or AtariNet node 51:1/13.0
# # #
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To sign up for DELPHI call | To sign up for GENIE call
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Upon connection hit return | Upon connection type HHH
once or twice. At Password: | and hit return. Wait for
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=========================================================
**--ATARINET INFORMATION--**
If you'd like further information or would like to join
AtariNet-please contact one of the following via AtariNet
or Fido: Bill Scull Fido 1:363/112 AtariNet 51:1/0, Dean
Lodzinski Fido 1:107/633 AtariNet 51:4/0, Terry May Fido
1:209/745 AtariNet 51:2/0, Tony Castorino Fido 1:102/1102
AtariNet 51:3/0, Don Liscombe AtariNet 51:5/0, Daron
Brewood Fido 2:255/402 AtariNet 51:6/0. You can also call
the Z*Net News Service at (908) 968-8148 for more info.
========================================================================
Reprints from the GEnie ST Roundtable are Copyright (c)1992, Atari
Corporation and the GEnie ST RT. Reprints from CompuServe's AtariArts,
AtariPro, AtariVen, or Aportfolio Forums are Copyright (c)1992, CIS.
========================================================================
Reprints from AtariUser Magazine are Copyright(c)1992, Quill Publishing.
You can subscribe and read ALL of the informative articles each and
every month by contacting Quill at (818) 246-6277. For $15.00 you will
receive 12 issues. Send your payment to AtariUser Magazine, 249 North
Brand Boulevard, Suite 332, Glendale, California, USA, 91203. Foreign
delivery is $30.00 in US funds.
========================================================================
Atari is a registered trademark of Atari Corporation. Atari Falcon030,
TOS, MultiTOS, NewDesk and BLiTTER, are trademarks of Atari Corporation.
All other trademarks mentioned in this publication belong to their
respective owners.
========================================================================
**--** Z*NET OFFICIAL INFORMATION **--**
=========================================================
Z*Net Atari Online Magazine is a weekly online publication covering the
Atari and related computer community. Material published in this issue
may be reprinted under the following terms only: articles must remain
unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of each
article reprinted. Reprint permission is granted, unless otherwise
noted at the beginning of the article, to registered Atari user groups
and not for profit publications. Opinions present herein are those
of the individual authors and do not reflect those of the staff. This
publication is not affiliated with the Atari Corporation. Z*Net, Z*Net
News Service, Z*Net International, Rovac, Z*Net Atari Online and Z*Net
Publishing are copyright (c)1992, Syndicate Publishing, PO Box 0059,
Middlesex, NJ 08846-0059, Voice: (908) 968-2024, BBS: (908) 968-8148,
(510) 373-6792.
===~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~==
Z*Net Atari Online Magazine
Copyright (C)1992, Syndicate Publishing - Ron Kovacs
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