Info-Atari16 Digest Mon, 15 Jul 91 Volume 91 : Issue 393 Today's Topics: An idea for DC Software? An idea for DC Software? (wish list) (2 msgs) Atari's monitors Atari in Concert Autoloading ramdisk Colour monitor died... Double Click programs Hot Wire lynx games mentioned in AE Mupfel w/Neodesk 3 Portfolio in Terminator 2? (3 msgs) Quality control problems? Not here! Running a dual TOS system Starving Developers Sale 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: 15 Jul 91 19:49:40 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!wciu!abode!scale@arizona.edu (Luis Outumuro) Subject: An idea for DC Software? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Jul13.184629.16508@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> lch3e@holmes.acc.Virginia.EDU (Lauren C. Howard) writes: > > I encourage folks who can't afford other computers to buy the ST. Most >of them end up with one floppy drive, no HDD. > We'd like to be able to boot a disk, copying everything on it to a RAM >disk it creates, all done automatically on bootup. Then we could run that >program from RAM. RAMSTART for the Mac does this. It takes just as long >to load it to the RAM disk and then run it, as it does to run it from the >floppy; but then in using the program you have the extra speed. > Having a user-selectable drive name, or else defaulting to drive A:, >would make it useable with fussy programs like Timeworks DTP. > >Please don't comment with "why dont you buy a hard drive/pagestream/etc." >There are a lot of people in the world who can't afford a small fortune >for a computer, much less adding harddrives. The ST is ideal for them; >excellent service from 1 disk drive, even with a TV set. > >Thanx for your time and consideration. > >Lauren Howard, Chief Potentate > ACCCHU! >Atari Computer Club CHarlottesville Users ! Hi Lauren, Being able to create a RAMdisk at bootup, copying files to the RAMdisk, then continuing to boot from the RAMdisk; is a great idea! Although the solution is already commercially available on the CodeHead Utilities disk from CodeHead Software. CodeHead has just released Version 4.0 of this disk. It has a list price of $34.95, although street price is around $25 - $30; it is available from your local dealer (if you have one!), your favorite mail-order or from CodeHead Software directly. The CodeHead Utilities 4 has lots of new versions of previous programs and lots of brand new programs (it comes on two floppy disks now). It also includes the latest versions of the Codehead's collective public domain and shareware programs; and the updated demos of thier other commercial works (all of which support the ST/STe/TT's). No... I don't work for CodeHead Software, but I am a satisfied CodeHeadian customer! Bye...................... Luis ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 20:15:38 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!mips!atha!aunro!ersys!mforget@arizona.edu (Michel Forget) Subject: An idea for DC Software? (wish list) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu timothyg@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Timothy Gallivan) writes: > > While everyone is presenting wish lists, how about a spooler that tests > the size of a spooled file, mallocs enough memory, then shrinks itself > when the file has been printed. Is this possible? Frankly, I would be > happy if I can find a spooler that can simply handle binary files. Now this is a really good idea. A printer spooler that shrinks itself to match the size of the file (or expands to a maximum limit) would be really great. Sometimes I want to print something that is only two or three kilobytes, and it seems like such a waste to keep a thirty-two kilobyte buffer. The spooler itself would be a little larger, but the benefits would be fantastic. Good idea, Timothy! I just hope DC read it and like it...:) << ---------------------------------- >> << ersys!mforget@nro.cs.athabascau.ca >> << mforget@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca >> << Michel Forget >> << "He's dead, Jim..." - Bones >> << ---------------------------------- >> ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jul 91 00:37:07 GMT From: munnari.oz.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!uqcspe!cs.uq.oz.au!warwick@uunet.uu.net (Warwick Allison) Subject: An idea for DC Software? (wish list) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu mforget@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Michel Forget) writes: >timothyg@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Timothy Gallivan) writes: >> >> How about a spooler that tests >> the size of a spooled file, mallocs enough memory, then shrinks itself >> when the file has been printed. >Sometimes I want to print something that is only two or >three kilobytes, and it seems like such a waste to keep a thirty-two >kilobyte buffer. I'm in the opposite position: I'd like a spooler that spooled to disk, and read back in chunks (eg. 4K) for printing. That would make printing from PageStream much more pleasant on my 9-pin. I believe the lpr stuff with MiNT did this. What are the pitfalls of having a TSR access the disk? If I knew them, I would gladly write such a spooler. Warwick. -- _-_|\ warwick@cs.uq.oz.au / * <-- Computer Science Department, \_.-._/ University of Queensland, v Brisbane, AUSTRALIA. ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jul 91 03:32:29 GMT From: noao!asuvax!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com !snorkelwacker.mit.edu!world!azog@arizona.edu (azog-thoth) Subject: Atari's monitors To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Last week, my colour monitor died, and due to price reasons, I decided to get a new monochrome monitor (SM124), and it arrived today, and I just wanted to make a few statements about it, to anyone who cares :-) (in other words, Ill be babbling:-) Anyways. What I want to know is why Atari didnt make _one_ monitor for _all_ resolutions. I love the resolution on this monochrome! When I think of monochrome, I always picture black and amber (or green), but this is black and a nice shade of offwhite. Easy on the eyes, and the dot pitch seems to be pretty good (what is it, btw?). But Ive software that has to run on colour (mainly games. my new Populous game arrived the day after my colour monitor died :-( ), so why did they do it this seemingly silly way? (was it a sleazy marketing ploy, to make people buy _two_ monitors, or just perhaps an engineering overlook?) +---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+ | Billy D'Augustine | Come as you are, reclaim your identity!!! | | azog@world.std.com | -- MOD -- | +---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 22:00:55 GMT From: mcsun!news.funet.fi!fuug!nntp.hut.fi!saha.hut.fi!s37837k@uunet.uu.net (Jari Lehto) Subject: Atari in Concert To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I just happened to see the Jean-Michel Jarre's Paris-La Defense concert from TV. Atari France was one of the main sponsors for the concert and there were several Atari Mega 2/4 machines on the stage. The best PR Atari has done in long time... If someone noticed the machines. * Jari Lehto * 90-387939 * Jari.Lehto@hut.fi * Music, love & * * Tenavatie 19 A * 90-382887 * jartsu@vipunen.hut.fi * friendship! * * 00760 HELSINKI * 94040/02887 * jartsu@otax.hut.fi * Garlic, beer &* * Finland * fax +358 0 8735916 * s37837k@saha.hut.fi * sausage! * ------------------------------ Date: 15 JUL 91 20:52:31 CDT From: Z4648252 Subject: Autoloading ramdisk To: Lauren Howard, Chief Potentate writes: " We'd like to be able to boot a disk, copying everything on it to a RAM disk it creates, all done automatically on bootup." No problem... get SI_RAM.ACC and it will do this for you. Before I bought my hard drive a few years back (1988), I used SI_RAM.ACC daily and loved it! It supports autoloading of programs during powerup and, if your electricity is stable, and if you don't turn off your computer, then you are set. Sorry, I have no idea as to where to pick up this old but excellant accessory. Nor do I know if it works with anything above TOS 1.0, but it was a favorite utility for me. I am sure that it or something similiar is available across the various sites. Larry Rymal |>Atari ST Users of East Texas<| Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 23:51:58 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.ed u!rjast1@arizona.edu (Robert J Anisko) Subject: Colour monitor died... To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Check who manufactured the monitor. If it is a Goldstar, then check in the yellow pages under TV repairs and look for a Goldstar authorized dealer. As for the other makes, I can't help... Robert Anisko rjast1@unix.cis.pitt.edu ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jul 91 03:15:56 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia .edu!emory!gatech!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!nu!boyd@arizona.edu (Mickey Boyd) Subject: Double Click programs To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I would like to see a .ttp version of DCShowit for us Neodesk users. DCShowit is by far the best ASCII file viewer for the ST (IMHO), and I miss it!! -- ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- Mickey R. Boyd | "Kirk to Enterprise. All clear FSU Computer Science | down here. Beam down Technical Support Group | yeoman Rand and a six-pack . ." email: boyd@nu.cs.fsu.edu | ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 22:52:31 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!gumby!wmu-coyote!dodgson@arizona.edu (Harry Dodgson) Subject: Hot Wire To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Hi I just bought Hot Wire (version 1.2) from: RiteWay Computers in Warren MI I like the program!!!!!!! It makes program launching easy. It hates formdoit - but I seldom used those features anyway. I have one annoyance. They sold me a copy that had the envelope with the disk opened and the software already registered to someone else!!! I want to know if I send in the registration card, Can I get a clean copy for a nominal fee? I bought the software, I like it, and I refuse to do business with those people any more. I am 3 hours drive from the place so I can't just drive there and make them do the right thing. I will be glad to send in this copy if they want me to. I would ask just how to change the registered name at boot time but I don't want to encourage that. I want a copy with my name on it though. Anyone know an Atari ST software dealer within 200 miles of Kalamazoo MI? Anyone from CodeHead Software or friends with them on here? apologies for being a bit incoherant - I am just upset right now. -- Harry Dodgson Jr. | Internet dodgson@cs.wmich.edu -(141.218.40.2)- Western Michigan University | Computer Science Department | Voice (616) 387-5803 Kalamazoo, MI 49008 | Office 4038 Friedmann Hall ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 19:56:17 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!wciu!abode!scale@arizona.edu (Luis Outumuro) Subject: lynx games mentioned in AE To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Jul13.053647.6688@casbah.acns.nwu.edu> glover@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Eric Glover) writes: >Speaking of the Lynx, Promises and Atari; > >Is Atari Explorer Dead, [a pause] Again? > >Glover >A man who hasnt seen an issue of AE since Feb. Hi Eric, From what I have heard Atari Explorer is on hiatus again. I have not heard anything about when that status may or may not change. Bye... Luis ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jul 91 03:34:06 GMT From: cadence!cadence.com!bammi@uunet.uu.net (Jwahar R. Bammi) Subject: Mupfel w/Neodesk 3 To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu > > > >I've seen some wierdness when using Neodesk 3 and Mupfel, any help would be > >appreciated: > > > Sounds as if Neodesk catches the AES trap and does his own things with > shel_read/shel_write (very bad idea). Can you check whether they changed > the AES trap (do the use XBRA?). They indeed do. They also screw around with lineF in their keyboard equivalent for dialog buttons utility (i forget the name). I was wondering why inlined math code would'nt work with a '881 in co-processor mode. Their acc was the cuprit. I left the autor a message on GEnie some time ago, dont know if they did something about it. cheers, -- -- bang: uunet!cadence!bammi jwahar r. bammi domain: bammi@cadence.com GEnie: J.Bammi CIS: 71515,155 ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 19:21:54 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!samsung!rex!ukma!dftsrv!tzeng@arizona.edu (Nigel Tzeng) Subject: Portfolio in Terminator 2? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Jul8.205146.12683@menudo.uh.edu> rcte2p@menudo.uh.edu (Paul S. Sears) writes: jbunch@isis.UUCP (John Bunch) presents in article <1991Jul7.125336.26862@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> > >I saw credits for Atari Games, but not for Atari Computers... But it >sure did look an awful lot like a portfolio... Coolness... > >John. > I wish I had a copy of the program the kid ran on the Portfolio to break the codes in the ATM's. Of course, it was staged, but the opportunities are endless.... :-) Out of curiosity...I assume that PIN numbers are not on the card (otherwise anyone finding your card can just read it off witha card reader from RS). Does anyone know for sure? I know that the cards have account numbers and other basic info (like your name) but I've noticed that they tend not to notice bad pin numbers until after they poll your bank. That may just be a feature of the machines I frequent but I'm sure the Chevy Case ATMs wont tell you that you mistyped your pin until after you try a transaction. -- * Paul Sears * Technology *** |"The greater an individual's power * The University of Houston *** | over others, the greater the evil that * RCTE2P@Jetson.uh.edu * * * | might possibly originate with him." * RCTE2P@menudo.uh.edu * * * | - PROPAGANDA, from A Secret Wish (CD) NT ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 22:04:58 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.w isc.edu!dali.cs.montana.edu!milton!iho@arizona.edu (Il Oh) Subject: Portfolio in Terminator 2? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu tzeng@sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng) writes: > rcte2p@menudo.uh.edu (Paul S. Sears) writes: > > jbunch@isis.UUCP (John Bunch) presents in article <1991Jul7.125336.26862@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> > > > >I saw credits for Atari Games, but not for Atari Computers... But it > >sure did look an awful lot like a portfolio... Coolness... > >John. > I wish I had a copy of the program the kid ran on the Portfolio to break > the codes in the ATM's. Of course, it was staged, but the opportunities > are endless.... :-) >Out of curiosity...I assume that PIN numbers are not on the card >(otherwise anyone finding your card can just read it off witha card >reader from RS). Does anyone know for sure? I know that the cards >have account numbers and other basic info (like your name) but I've >noticed that they tend not to notice bad pin numbers until after they >poll your bank. That may just be a feature of the machines I frequent >but I'm sure the Chevy Case ATMs wont tell you that you mistyped your >pin until after you try a transaction. I think the program was "cracking" the PIN numbers (isn't that redundant) rather than reading it off of the card. Of course, I don't think those ATM's are programmed to accept PIN's through the magnetic reader. -- Il Hwan Oh |"Sometimes of late years I find myself thinking Univ. of Washington, Tacoma | the most beautiful sight in the world might be iho@cac.washington.edu | the birds taking over New York City after the | last man has run away to the hills" ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jul 91 00:49:10 GMT From: noao!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!menudo.uh.edu!rcte2p@arizona.edu (Paul S. Sears) Subject: Portfolio in Terminator 2? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu tzeng@sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng) presents in article >In article <1991Jul8.205146.12683@menudo.uh.edu> rcte2p@menudo.uh.edu (Paul S. Sears) writes: > > jbunch@isis.UUCP (John Bunch) presents in article <1991Jul7.125336.26862@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> > > > >I saw credits for Atari Games, but not for Atari Computers... But it > >sure did look an awful lot like a portfolio... Coolness... > > > >John. > > > I wish I had a copy of the program the kid ran on the Portfolio to break > the codes in the ATM's. Of course, it was staged, but the opportunities > are endless.... :-) > >Out of curiosity...I assume that PIN numbers are not on the card >(otherwise anyone finding your card can just read it off witha card >reader from RS). Does anyone know for sure? I know that the cards >have account numbers and other basic info (like your name) but I've >noticed that they tend not to notice bad pin numbers until after they >poll your bank. That may just be a feature of the machines I frequent >but I'm sure the Chevy Case ATMs wont tell you that you mistyped your >pin until after you try a transaction. > [my sig delete...] > >NT You are correct to assume that the PIN is not on the ATM card. The account number is magnetically encoded (a number of times for safety) and somecards even have the person's name encoded. The ATM requests that you give it a PIN number, then when it polls the bank for your transaction, it asks the bank to verify it. If it matches, then the ATM goes on it merry way, if it doesn't it usually asks for it again, unless it gets a message to "aquire" the card (i.e., the damn machine ate my ATM card....) -- * Paul Sears * Technology *** |"The greater an individual's power * The University of Houston *** | over others, the greater the evil that * RCTE2P@Jetson.uh.edu * * * | might possibly originate with him." * RCTE2P@menudo.uh.edu * * * | - PROPAGANDA, from A Secret Wish (CD) ------------------------------ Date: 15 JUL 91 21:01:00 CDT From: Z4648252 Subject: Quality control problems? Not here! To: Greg Carter writes: "Especially since the ST is NOT at any point a stable hardware design. Even during periods of manufacturing the boards electrical chracteristics change often enough to make such a upgrade dubious." The reference here is to the installation of an accelerator board. Dang, I usually don't react this way, but this kind of comments concerns me. Should I stop using my accelerator on my ST? This ST has been struck by lightning, trucked across the country to various exhibits, and abused with terrible line voltage via a poorly functioning Europe to U.S. transformer. The durn thing keeps working. It has had salt air exposure for a year on the motherboard while on assignment on the coast. It works the Spectre GCR Mac emulator while using an accelerator. So, should I stop doing this since "obviously" the ST is not a stable hardware design? (grrrrrrrrrrrr!) Larry Rymal |>Atari ST Users of East Texas<| Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 18:19:06 GMT From: noao!asuvax!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.c olumbia.edu!ira.uka.de!fauern!faui43.informatik.uni-erlangen.de!csbrod@arizona. edu (Claus Brod) Subject: Running a dual TOS system To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu steveg@cseic.saic.com (Stephen Harold Goldstein) writes: >Does TOS 1.0 support BGM partitions? Yes. >Will this let me get past the 16MB limit? Yes. You can have up to 256 MB per partition. >What problems might occur by using larger clusters? Creating files with 1 byte length will cost you 2048, 4096... bytes instead of 1024, for example. >(I've got an ICD Advantage host adapter with version 4.x.x software, >though I just downloaded the 'latest' v5.x.x) Note: Do not use ICD's option to create 32 MB partitions with 512 bytes per logical sector. This will not work under TOS 1.0. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Claus Brod, Am Felsenkeller 2, Things. Take. Time. D-8772 Marktheidenfeld, Germany (Piet Hein) csbrod@medusa.informatik.uni-erlangen.de Claus_Brod@wue.maus.de ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 91 20:17:13 GMT From: zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekgen!boblu@uunet.uu.net (Robert Luneski) Subject: Starving Developers Sale To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu **** Newsflash **** Atari Developers Starving ****** Details at 11 Have you heard of starving artists sales? Well this is a starving developers sale. In order to generate cash to continue operations I am forced to liquidate some of my excess hardware and software. Hard disk stuff: CDC Wren 86 Meg 15ms $400 Seagate 157N-1 49Meg 28ms $225 ICD Advantage Plus SCSI Host adapter w/clock $75 Supra SCSI Host adapter w/clock $65 External case w/power supply & fan $75 If you also get one of the drives only $50 I'll put together any combinations of above in a system loaded with PD software plus a copy of the latest version of Diamond Back II Miscellaneous hardware: External DreamPark PowerDrive 1.44 meg Floppy $200 Includes 60 free HD disks 520ST w/1 meg upgrade $200 Epson DX-10 Daisy Wheel printer $75 Epson MX-80 9 pin Dot Matrix printer $50 Supra 2400 Baud modem w/cable $75 JoppaFAX 2400 modem with 9600 baud FAX w/cable $150 I also have the following software items that I no longer need for sale: Productivity: Wordup 3.0 $25 Degas Elite $20 Revolver $15 MiGraph Labelmaker Elite $20 Megamax C $40 G+Plus $10 Neodesk 2.05 $15 Play: Hero's of the Lance SSI $10 Rings of Zilphin SSI $5 Star Command SSI $8 Warship SSI $10 Red Lightening SSI $10 Storm Accross Europe SSI $10 Wargame Construction Set SSI $10 SuperStar Ice Hockey $8 F40 Pursuit $5 Silent Service $8 Dive Bomber $8 Fire Brigade $10 Spitfire 40 $10 Lombard Ralley $8 All hardware and software items have the original box and documentation. Terms: First full price offer gets it. I will consider offers through August 1 (I may be starving, but I won't give it away. Listed prices are already at the low end of fair market value). You pay UPS ground shipping and payment is UPS COD cash. ____ ____ /\/\/\ Bob Luneski Diamond Back II Support: boblu@tekgen.BV.TEK.COM /\/\/\ \/\/\/ Oregon Research Associates Genie: B.LUNESKI1 \/\/\/ \/\/ 16200 S.W. Pacific Hwy., Suite 162 Phone: (503) 620-4919 \/\/ \/ Tigard, OR 97224 FAX: (503) 639-6182 \/ ------------------------------ End of Info-Atari16 Digest ******************************