Info-Atari16 Digest Fri, 19 Apr 91 Volume 91 : Issue 220 Today's Topics: BBS Programs British systems Cubase information sought ghostscript, dvips on ST HELP LHA211 for Atari ? Looking for a good spreadsheet program! (2 msgs) M-Tools, where to ftp from? Monitors! Printer config desk accessory Radio Shack Color printers and the ST (3 msgs) RISC business Sozobon C starter question Spectre and serial port(s) Track balls for sale WordUp 3.x info Z*Net International Welcome to the Info-Atari16 Digest. The configuration for the automatic cross-posting to/from Usenet is getting closer, but still getting thrashed out. Please send notifications about broken digests or bogus messages to Info-Atari16-Request@NAUCSE.CSE.NAU.EDU. Please send requests for un/subscription and other administrivia to Info-Atari16-Request, *NOT* Info-Atari16. Requests that go to the list instead of the moderators are likely to be lost or ignored. If you want to unsubscribe, and you're receiving the digest indirectly from someplace (usually a BITNET host) that redistributes it, please contact the redistributor, not us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 18 Apr 91 16:18:42 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!news.miami.edu !umiami!dlk0ms9s@arizona.edu Subject: To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Does anyone out there user the ACER Multisynch Monitor on thier ST? I am considering purchasing one and selling off my SC1224. Or does anyone use any other multisynch monitor that will runn all three resolutions? Thanks Mark Santora dlk0ms9s@umiami.ir.miami.edu /------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ l l l If money can't buy happiness, why do all dates start at the l l money machine? l l l l Why ask Why? l \-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/ ------------------------------ Date: 18 Apr 91 18:30:04 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!news-server. csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!hybrid!torag!utdoe!generic!pnet91!taob@arizona.edu (Brian Tao) Subject: BBS Programs To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu From root@prk.UUCP (Phillip Keen): > See, all three types of systems (Atari 8-bit, Atari ST and Apple ][x cost > right around the same amount here in town with Apple ][x being the most > expensive, the Atari ST being the next higher priced, and the Atari 8-bit > being the lowest). I know that Atari ST's can be had for very little, but a used Apple //e, mono monitor and 20-meg HD can probably be bought for under $500, if that. ProLine and GBBS are both excellent BBS programs for the //e. In any case, good luck with your BBS. Brian T. Tao *B-) | t569taob@bluffs.scar.utoronto.ca | "Though this be U of Metro Toronto | - or - | madness, yet there Scarberia, ON | taob@pnet91.cts.com | is method in 't." ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 06:59:37 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!mips!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!uhccux!uhu nix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!kiki@arizona.edu Subject: British systems To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu +zuschlag@diku.dk (Jesper Zuschlag Madsen) writes: +I just have to correct you at this subject! +The Timex computers where special versions of the sinclair ZX 81 +and ZX Spectrum. Perhaps they didn't sell very well in USA, but were +some of the best selling micro(home) computers ever in europa (the spectrum +and its succesor the Sam Coupe, are still selling quite well). Thanks for the corrections! Something does not seem clear though; I can under- stand Sinclair naming their machines ZX 81 and Spectrum, but... Sam Coupe(?!) +The sinclair QL (the name is NOT Quantum QL) where fare ahead from +all other compters in it's days. Ok it was not as great succes! but there +is still about 100.000 users around the world. There is a Timex/Sinclair SIG forum on FREENET, so people can exchange info about their machines. A dealer called Sharp's [Box 326, Mechanicsville, VA 23111, (804) 730-9697, Fax: (804) 746-1978] sells the Sinclair QL for $99.95. The specs for it are pretty good for that price: Motorola 68008 32-bit cpu with 8-bit data bus, 2 serial ports, 2 Atari-compatible joystick ports, ROM and expansion port, RGB/composite/TV output, network i/o, micro (tape) drive con- nector, 640x400/480 graphics (4 colors), SuperBasic ROM. Wordprocessing, data- base and spreadsheet programs are included. Some detractions of the QL are the marginal design (must be kept cool), non- standard keyboard, archaic tape drive and limited memory expansion. Support is hard to find in the U.S., and declining, so you get what you pay for it. +Neither Clive Sinclair or Chris Shelton has anything to do with the Psion +computers (organiser I and II, MC200/400/600). All very fine computers, +but overpriced. On the other hand is the Cambridge Computer Z88 one of the +best selling notebook computer ever, and is still going strong (rumors says +that we soon will see a new version, perhaps the Z91?). Psion developed the software included with the Sinclair QL, so I was confused about their affiliation with Sir Clive. The portable Psions do have a lot of good features: The three models each weigh about 4.5 lbs and are the size of a 8"x11" sheet of paper. All come with a 7.68 Mhz 80C86 cpu, eight batteries, and Intel solid-state flash EPROM memory cards. Models MC-200 and MC-400 use a proprietary multitasking graphical OS. They also have a microphone and speaker to allow voice and sound pro- cessing. The MC-400 comes with more memory as standard (256K). The MC-600 is MS-DOS compatible and has 768K RAM and a 1MB RAM disk, Award BIOS, flash-card slots and a CGA-type display. Battery life is about 30 hours and a 3.5" 1.44MB exteral floppy drive is optional. Prices for the MC-200/400/600 are $799, $1499 and $2499 respectively. Contact Psion Inc, 118 Echo Lake Rd, Watertown CT 06795, (203) 274- 7521. In U.K. call 44 71-262-5580. The situation for the Cambridge portable isn't too good in the US and Cambridge North America [Portland, ME] seems to be no longer in business. There is a firm called Cambridge Direct [1419 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015, (312) 940-0843], where some Z88s might be found. A recent Znet article said that the new ST Notebook was about 1 kg ( so it would be seem to be in a class by itself. I'm not sure if the battery weight was included, because it would be extremely difficult to pack all the features into a package of that weight. If so, then a better name for it might be ST DataBook or ST PortsGalore (James Bond's nemesis!?) >I think Atari might be in a better position to deliver and support a marketable >product based on the PgC chips, because of their experience with the Inmos >transputer and Helios OS, which culminated in the ATW computer. +I totaly disagree! With a PgC7xxx in their hands, Atari would just make some +kind of ST compatible (with TOS and GEM- don't joke me!)... Maybe not TOS, but TAOS? From the article on TAOS by Dick Pountain: "Taos is now committed to producing translators for the Inmos T800 transputer, Motorola 680x0, PgC7600, Intel 386/486, Acorn RISC, and Sun SPARC microprocessors. The first three of these have already been written." Jack ------------------------------ Date: 18 Apr 91 23:18:54 GMT From: uupsi!sunic!news.funet.fi!funic!santra!saha.hut.fi!s37837k@rice.edu (Jari Lehto) Subject: Cubase information sought To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Apr17.165104@disuns2.epfl.ch> choueiry@disuns2.epfl.ch (Berthe Yazid Choueiry) writes: >Hi, >I am posting this for a friend, so please send replies >to choueiry@liasun1.epfl.ch. I shall transmit. Thanks. >-------------------------------------------------------- > >I am looking to buy a portable atari stacy (model 1 or 2) >in order to make use of cubase, but how does this stand >up to todays competition- I heard its still the best, is >this true ? I think Cubase is still the best, 2.0 is absolutely great. But C-Lab's Notator is quite close... Remember, Cubase needs a lot of RAM and a harddisk is preferred! >Is there something comparable available for the macintosh? Sure is, but not really anything that could *clearly* beat Cubase. And portable Mac + MIDI-software (the level you seek) may well cost much more than Stacy + Cubase. Jartsu * * * Nothing yet, but I'll keep on scanning... * * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ------------------------------ Date: 18 Apr 91 12:09:40 GMT From: deccrl!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!corton!laas!ralph@decwrl.dec.com (Ralph P. Sobek) Subject: ghostscript, dvips on ST To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I have uploaded to atari.archive.umich.edu Tim Gallivan's pre release version of dvips for the Atari ST: pr_dvips.zoo. Tim would like to get feedback from you Atariens. So please send comments/kudos/ criticisms to him: timothyg@yoda.ncsa.uiuc.edu. Cheers, -- Ralph P. Sobek Disclaimer: The above ruminations are my own. ralph@laas.fr Addresses are ordered by importance. ralph@laas.uucp, or ...!uunet!laas!ralph If all else fails, try: sobek@eclair.Berkeley.EDU =============================================================================== Proud owner of a Mega 4 ST. Wishing it was a Mega STe! :-| ------------------------------ Date: 14:18:58 GLT FRIDAY 04/19/91 From: GEBZ0703%GRTHEUN1.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU Subject: HELP To: INFO-ATARI16@naucse.cse.nau.edu help info index ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 08:33:11 GMT From: sdfvm1.vnet.ibm.com!cae@ucbvax.berkeley.edu ("Cornelius Caesar") Subject: LHA211 for Atari ? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu (Sorry if this is a duplicate) For about a month now LHA v.2.11 (the successor to LHarc 1.13c) is available as both .EXE and source code for MS-DOS. Has somebody started a port to the ST already? Since a number of assembler modules is involved I suspect it's not straight forward. LHA211 gives about 10% (?) better compression ratios than LHarc113, is faster (in decompressing), upward compatible, but needs more memory. Cornelius cae@sdfvm1.vnet.ibm.com ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 04:40:30 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!gat ech!prism!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!nu!boyd@arizona.edu (Mickey Boyd) Subject: Looking for a good spreadsheet program! To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Apr19.011406.7050@dragon.wpd.sgi.com>, close@lunch.wpd.sgi.com (Diane Barlow Close) writes: >I need a good, but preferably not complicated, spreadsheet program. I I understand Opus has a cult following. It is a shareware product, demo is available from atari.archive. -- ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- Mickey R. Boyd | "It's amazing how much growing up FSU Computer Science | resembles being too tired." Technical Support Group | email: boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu | - Heinlein ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 05:50:12 GMT From: ads.com!pdel@decwrl.dec.com (Peter Delevoryas) Subject: Looking for a good spreadsheet program! To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu >I understand Opus has a cult following. If it does, and there are any of you out there, I need help setting it up. There was a guy in Texas who was going to send me a configured assign.sys file -(if you're in the process, great, I mailed you but don't know if it got to you) I also tried to e-mail the author on Compuserve (twice) but so far have not heard a thing. So if anyone feels charitable I'd sure appreciate it. I have G+Plus, so don't need GDOG, but am in need of (I think) a printer driver for my epson compatible (Citizen GSX-140 w/color ribbon). BTW - does anyone know of a printer driver or some kind of configure program for this printer? Citizen gives you one for an IBM computer- wish there was an ST version. thanks for any help -- login name: L1-A In real life: Peter Delevoryas In any other life: a cheap imitation ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 10:06:50 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!caen!ox.com!math.fu-berlin.de!unidui!un ido!laura!tommy!klute@arizona.edu (Rainer Klute) Subject: M-Tools, where to ftp from? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article , ersys!mforget@nro.cs.athabascau.ca (Michel Forget) writes: |> What is M-Tools, exactly? I haven't heard of it before, so I'm curious. |> |> It it a HD Utility, or is it some form of CLI? Thanks for the |> information (I hope). It is a set of programs that lets you handle floppies formatted for MS-DOS (or Atari) on your Unix machine. I have it installed on my Sun IPC and use it to exchange files with my Atari ST. The big plus is that it works much faster than transfer over the serial line. -- Dipl.-Inform. Rainer Klute klute@irb.informatik.uni-dortmund.de Univ. Dortmund, IRB klute@unido.uucp, klute@unido.bitnet Postfach 500500 |)|/ Tel.: +49 231 755-4663 D-4600 Dortmund 50 |\|\ Fax : +49 231 755-2386 ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 01:21:32 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!wciu!abode!scale@ar izona.edu (Luis Outumuro) Subject: Monitors! To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Hi Justin, About buying an ISAC/ST video board. It is an excellent board for Mega ST users. It offers Moniterm compatibility (both boards were designed by the same person) and is alot more compatible with ST software in general than the Moniterm. The ISAC has a resolution of 1024 x 768 in both color and monochrome modes; with a palette of 4096 in color mode, and 2 colors in "DuoChrome" mode (DuoChrome allow you to choose which two color you prefer in the monochrome mode). I have seen the ISAC used with several different multisync-type monitors, they all looked great (especially the 16" NEC 4D!). If there is not an ISAC dealer in your area, check with American MicroTech in Modesto. Bye............. Luis -- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Luis Mark Outumuro III | "Well... you're damned if you do, Computer Office Products 818/813-1051 | and you're damned if you don't!" Infoline 818/813-1053 | - Bart Simpson, 1990... ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 03:19:12 GMT From: ckb@athena.mit.edu (Christopher K. Brown) Subject: Printer config desk accessory To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I used to have a desk accessory that let me configure my parallel printer. Unfortunately, I can't find it.... Can someone mail it to me or tell me the filename on terminator? I've had no luck finding it. Thanks a bunch, Chris ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 02:38:47 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!@arizona.ed u (BRIAN CASPER) Subject: Radio Shack Color printers and the ST To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Hey, I have no experience with a Radio Schlack [sic] color printer, but I do have a Fujitsu DX-2100 Color printer that I don't use anymore. Fujitsu's are big in industry and business, and the company makes just about everything you can thing of for computers - they're here to stay... The model that I have is about 3 years old, and has been replaced with another version that uses the same ribbons, so there is no problem getting them. I have no use for the thing since I've sold my ST and have no computer. It is Epson compatible and uses a JC-80 driver so it works with just about any program. I've got some old Tom Hudson driver that will allow dumps from any screen as well. I paid about $500 for it back then, and I'd like to get about $225 for it now. It's really quite a tank of a printer, it has a really pleasing NearLetterQuality mode, and is about 210 cps in draft. Lemme know if you're interested. -- Brian Casper bcasper@eos.ncsu.edu NCSU - Project EOS (witty .sig pending) ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 02:30:35 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!@arizona.ed u (BRIAN CASPER) Subject: Radio Shack Color printers and the ST To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu No experience with a Radio Shack printer, BUT... I've got a Fijitsu DX-2100 color printer that I never use anymore since I've sold the rest of my system. I paid $500 for it about 3 years ago, And I'd like to get about $225 or so for it now. It's a real workhorse and it's Epson JC-80 compatible which makes it work with any software. I had excellent results with it on my ST. Fujitsu is a really big company. They still make a similiar model which uses the same ribbons. Most of their products are used in industry, so you don't see a lot of them anywhere else. If you're interested, let me know... -- Brian Casper bcasper@eos.ncsu.edu NCSU - Project EOS (witty .sig pending) ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 04:43:32 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia .edu!emory!gatech!taco!taco.cc!bcasper@arizona.edu (BRIAN CASPER) Subject: Radio Shack Color printers and the ST To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Sorry for the triple post here, but I just figured out where this new version of mxrn sent my e-mail... -- Brian Casper bcasper@eos.ncsu.edu NCSU - Project EOS (witty .sig pending) ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 02:43:35 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!taco!tac o.cc!bcasper@arizona.edu (BRIAN CASPER) Subject: RISC business To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Harry, you fucker. -- Brian Casper bcasper@eos.ncsu.edu NCSU - Project EOS (witty .sig pending) ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 01:46:08 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!mips!spool. mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!brolga!uqcspe!cs.uq.oz.au!warwick@arizona.edu (Warwick Allison) Subject: Sozobon C starter question To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu >> I am getting an error which I am not sure why with this line: >> >> main( int argc, char **argy) >> >Sozobon expects this really arcane method of passing parameters. >In the above example, try: > main(argc, argy) > int argc; > char **argy; > > Yes. Sozobon is K&R C, while gcc is ANSI. Get gcc (if you have the space on your HD), as it is FAR superior, it even produces much fater code. Warwick. -- _--_|\ warwick@cs.uq.oz.au / * <-- Computer Science Department, \_.--._/ University of Queensland, v AUSTRALIA. ------------------------------ Date: 17 Apr 91 21:30:06 GMT From: noao!ncar!gatech!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!hp4nl!telmail!neabbs!vous ten@arizona.edu (ROB VOUSTEN) Subject: Spectre and serial port(s) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Is it possible to have two (or more) serial ports under Spectre on a normal ST? Any additional hardware to do the job? Remember the ROM port is already taken... What about a TT or Mega STE? ----------------------------------------------------------------------. | Rob Vousten | | University of Nijmegen - Dept. of General Linguistics & Dialectology | | Erasmusplein 1 NL-6526 HT Nijmegen The Netherlands | | BITNET: U218008@HNYKUN11 INTERNET: U218008@hnykun11.urc.kun.nl | '----------------------------------------------------------------------' ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 05:16:02 GMT From: cleveland.Freenet.Edu!al885@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Gerard Pinzone) Subject: Track balls for sale To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Hi, I just want to tell everyone that I now have the complete prices for the trackballs for the Atari ST. $25 for a regular Trackball $35 for a Trackball with a 6 foot cord and a right button (like on the mouse) These are genuine Atari Trak-balls that are brand new and are modified for use with the Atari ST and Amiga computers. Please add $5 for P&H. Leave e-mail if you are interested. -- Just on the border of your waking mind, there lies another time, where darkness and light are one. And as you tread the halls of sanity, you feel so glad to be unable to go beyond. I have a message from another time..... - ELO: "Prologue" from the "Time" album -- Daicon IV Opening Animation gpinzone@george.poly.edu ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 04:40:26 GMT From: arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!gatech!prism!m ailer.cc.fsu.edu!nu!boyd@arizona.edu (Mickey Boyd) Subject: WordUp 3.x info To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I have been made an offer to purchase WordUp 3.0 (the most recent version, including bug fixes). Since this company went under, I would not be able to get any support if the product has any fatal bugs. My question is this: How stable is the final update from the company. The seller tells me that it is rock solid on all machines but the Mega4 (which he has). I have a Mega2. It is a shame this product will not be upgraded, it really is nice. Any experiences with any version of Wordup 3.0x would be welcome via email or post. Thanks in advance. -- ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- Mickey R. Boyd | "It's amazing how much growing up FSU Computer Science | resembles being too tired." Technical Support Group | email: boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu | - Heinlein ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 19 Apr 91 06:59:38 GMT From: haven!uvaarpa!murdoch!astsun9.astro.Virginia.EDU!gl8f@purdue.edu (Greg Lindahl) Subject: Z*Net International To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Apr17.142554.2284@inel.gov> lph@INEL.GOV (Randolph Pacetti) writes: > >If I recall correctly, another reason that this was shouted down last >time was because of the advertising in Z*Net, which goes against the >Usenet no-commercialism policy. Well, what you're remembering is the ST Report flap. The ST Report on-line magazine always had an advertisement for hard-drives from the editor's business. That's fine on GEnie and CI$, but isn't in line with Usenet etiquette. Z*Net's only flaw in this regard is that sometimes they're a bit enthusiastic about reprinting verbatim press releases from software companies. These sometimes go overboard on the advertising side. But I don't think I've nuked one in ages. All in all, Z*Net is a much better publication than ST Report anyway. ------------------------------ End of Info-Atari16 Digest ******************************