SILICON TIMES REPORT ==================== INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ============================= from STR Electronic Publishing Inc. June 03, 1994 No. 1023 ====================================================================== Silicon Times Report International Online Magazine Post Office Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 R.F. Mariano Publisher-Editor ----------------------------------------- Voice: 1-904-783-3319 10am-4pm EST STR Publishing Support BBS Network System * THE BOUNTY BBS * ITCNet 85:881/253 JAX HUB ~ FNET 350 ~ Nest 90:21/350 904-786-4176 MULTI-NODE 24hrs-7 days 2400-57.6 bps V.32-42 bis 28.8 Hayes Optima V.FC FAX: 904-783-3319 12am-6am EST ----------------------------------------- Fido 1:374/147.3 The Bounty STR Support Central 1-904-786-4176 FNET. 620 : Leif's World ................1-904-573-0734 FNET. 690 : PASTE BBS....................1-206-284-8493 FNET. 489 : Steal Your Face BBS..........1-908-920-7981 MNET - Toad Hall BBS.....................1-617-567-8642 ______________________________________________________________________ > 06/03/94 STR 1023 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!" """"""""""""""""" - CPU INDUSTRY REPORT - Turner Software - MACFAIR LA'94 - Flintstone Saver - Internet NEWS - E-Mail Stalker - WPerfect FASTEST! - CCITT/ITU-TSS - Internet Help - NEW Gem Group - People Talking - STR Confidential -* INTEL TO RELEASE P6 NEXT YEAR? *- -* COMPAQ SLASHES PRICES! *- -* SEGA, BLOCKBUSTER, IBM TEAM UP! *- ====================================================================== STReport International Online Magazine The Original * Independent * Online Magazine -* FEATURING WEEKLY *- "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information" Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports ====================================================================== STReport's BBS - The Bounty BBS, invites all BBS systems, worldwide, to participate in the ITC/PROWL/USENET/NEST/F-Net/Fido Mail Networks. You may also call The Bounty BBS direct @ 1-904-786-4176. Enjoy the wonder and excitement of exchanging all types of useful information relative to c o m puters, worldwide, through the use of excellent International Networking Systems. SysOps, worldwide, are welcome to join the STReport International Conferences. ITC Node is 85:881/250, The Fido Node is 1:374/147.3, Crossnet Code is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is #620. All computer platforms and BBS systems are welcome and invited to participate. ====================================================================== CIS ~ DELPHI ~ GENIE ~ BIX ~ PROWL ~ ITC ~ NEST ~ EURONET ~ CIX USENET ~ USPOLNET ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET ~ FNET ~ AOL ====================================================================== COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME to the Readers of; STREPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine" NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY! CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198 You will receive your complimentary time and be online in no time at all! "Enjoy CompuServe's forums; where information is at its very best! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""" The "Information Highway".... we hear this term everyday. Well, practically everyday. Does it have real substance yet? It may not. That's not to say its nonexistent but it does say its in the very beginning stages. Strange as it may seem, there are those in this day and age who are resisting the ongoing development of the "highway". Its difficult, if not downright foolish attempting to rationalize the "whys" and "what-fors" of their behavior. But educated guesses indicate its either jealousy, ego, or good old fashioned greed. What ever the special motivation may be, it seems to have surfaced in all its glory quite recently. You see in the last few weeks, there was a "vote" called in the Internet about the establishment of a new "newsgroup". As expected, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the opening of the new group. The point is... the dissenting votes were really about to go un-noticed until one name in particular popped up incredibly, as a NO vote. A reasonable explanation of such an action is, in this reporter's opinion, warranted. The "no vote" cast by this person is of little or no consequence but coming from this person; a past president and a current board member of a developer group and a current software re-seller whose wife is a contract holder with a commercial network service suddenly hits with the presence of booming thunder. Why did this person vote no? Its a very interesting question some suspect will have very interesting answers. Elsewhere in this issue are the vote results, a list of who voted and how they voted. Spring Comdex brought many new software and hardware goodies to market. Over the next few months, we shall endeavor to present a solid picture of these new products, what to look for and above all else try to show that "price" really isn't everything. Shopping quality is by far, the better way to seek out your dream system. Stay with us for the summer months.. its going to be a very interesting time. Ralph.... """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU! """""""""""""""" Publisher -Editor """""""""""""""""" Ralph F. Mariano Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor, Current Affairs Section Editors """"""""""""""" PC SECTION AMIGA SECTION MAC SECTION ATARI SECTION ---------- ------------- ----------- ------------- R.D. Stevens R. Niles J. Deegan D. P. Jacobson STReport Staff Editors: """"""""""""""""""""""" Michael Arthur John Deegan Brad Martin John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Joseph Mirando Doyle Helms Frank Sereno Mike Barnwell Jeff Coe Steve Keipe Guillaume Brasseur Melanie Bell Jay Levy Jeff Kovach Marty Mankins Carl Prehn Paul Charchian Contributing Correspondents: """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Tim Holt Norman Boucher Clemens Chin Eric Jerue Ron Deal Mike Barnwell Ed Westhusing Glenwood Drake Vernon W.Smith Bruno Puglia Paul Haris Kevin Miller Craig Harris Allen Chang Dominick J. Fontana IMPORTANT NOTICE """""""""""""""" Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: Compuserve................... 70007,4454 America Online..................STReport Delphi......................... RMARIANO BIX............................ RMARIANO FIDONET..................... 1:347/147.3 FNET........................... NODE 350 ITC NET...................... 85:881/253 NEST........................ 90:21/350.0 GEnie......................... ST-REPORT Internet.............RMARIANO@DELPHI.COM """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > CPU STATUS REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS """"""""""""""""" IBM/POWER-PC/PC SECTION (I) =========================== Computer Products Update - CPU Report ------------------------ ---------- Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Issue #23 By: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. ******* General Computer News ******* ** Intel to Release P6 Next Year? ** Industry insiders are saying the new P6 chip Intel Corp is developing may be in servers and workstations by the end of next year. Sources say that the P6-based machines should offer up to eight times the power of the current Pentium servers. According to Computergram International, "The Pentium is not intended to fade away." After culling intelligence about the P6 and the P7 chips from various sources (including PC Week and MacWeek), CI noted this week "The company is shrinking the die size in the hope of being able to set clocks well in excess of 200MHz against 100MHz maximum now, and envis- ages producing a range of Pentiums in massive volumes and pricing them low enough for entry-level systems." "The P6 is expected to come as a two-chip module," says CI, "the se- cond chip being 256K of high-speed cache, and to include enhanced multi- processing logic, based on Intel's Multiprocessing Specification, enab- ling manufacturers to mass-produce standard system boards supporting as many as four P6 CPUs." Intel is expected to later move the P6 to a new 0.4-micron process to raise the clock speed, wanting "to optimize its 0.6-micron process to yield 120MHz Pentium chips in volume by the second quarter of 1995 and 133MHz chips by the third quarter, before going to 150MHz using the 0.4 micron process." ** Aldus Unveils ChartMaker Module ** Aldus Corp. has announced Aldus ChartMaker, a new software module that allows users to incorporate charting capabilities into any standard Macintosh or IBM Windows-based application. Initially available on the Macintosh personal computer, with a PC version to follow later this year, ChartMaker is an OLE module that can be used with any word processing, spreadsheet, computer illustration, page layout and design or other application to provide a full range of charting functions. ChartMaker will be the first in a series of modular software products, called Aldus Accessory Products, that the company plans to release during the next 12 months. Each software module will focus on a single function or task that will add features or functionality to a "host" application software package. The Macintosh version of ChartMaker is available now for $149. Pricing and availability of the Windows version will be announced later. ** Sega, Blockbuster, IBM Team Up ** Testing electronic delivery of video-game software for retail sale is the point of a new cooperative venture by game publisher Sega of America, video rental giant Blockbuster Video and IBM. The companies are expected to launch the market test in 10 to 15 Blockbuster stores in one or two markets in August and run the test for two to four months. After the tests, they will decide whether to offer the system for sale to all retailers. Blockbuster has more than 3,000 stores nationwide. Reports say the pilot project calls for some Blockbuster stores to offer customers Sega video games on blank, reusable cartridges using IBM technology. "The companies noted that since the blank cartridges will be rented and returned to the stores, they can then be reprogrammed an unlimited number of times." Sega President/CEO Tom Kalinske added the project is designed to make certain that game rental customers can obtain the nearly 1,000 Genesis and Game Gear software titles available. ** Compaq Slashes Prices ** Compaq Computer Corp. this week announced price reductions on some of its notebook, desktop and server products. The cuts range from 4% to 34% on some items. Among the systems reduced in price are the Contura Aero, Compaq's first subnotebook PC, its multimedia Presario CDS models and on Pentium- based ProSignia and ProLiant 1000 models by as much as 18%. Selected PCMCIA options for the Contura Aero family also were reduced. ** Students Creating New Mac UNIX ** A version of the free Linux clone of the UNIX operating system is being created for Apple Computer Inc.'s Power Macintosh by two computer science students at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Charlton Wilbur and Jem Lewis began laying plans to develop a free- ware UNIX on the Power Mac in January and say they hope to have a stable kernel running by the end of August, together with the basic UNIX utili- ties, including cd, ls, cp, mv, gcc, emacs, vi and bash. "Linux is a Posix-type UNIX," CI notes, "originally written for 80386 and 80486-based personal computers by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds with the assistance of a loosely-knit team working across the Internet. It is freely distributable under the same terms as the GNU UNIX." Wilbur and Lewis said that until the end of the summer they want to keep the project tightly controlled, but once it is running relatively bug-free, it will be freely available for alpha testing and for others to help develop device drivers and so forth. ** NEC Boosts 16-meg Dram Production ** NEC Corp. reportedly plans to increase its production of 16-megabit DRAM chips at its plants in the United States, Singapore and Ireland. Reports say U.S. subsidiary NEC Electronics will invest an additional $68 million in expanding facilities to raise its monthly output. It is expected that the firm will boost production from hundreds of thousand units a month to 1.5 million units by March next year. ** Dell, Aurora Urge PC Recycling ** A marketing deal to encourage computer users to trade in dated systems so they can be refurbished for use in developing economies has been signed by Dell Computer Corp. and Aurora Electronics Inc. Reports say that under the program, companies looking to replace existing computer systems can trade their old equipment and receive credit toward Dell purchases. The program, which initially will focus on Fortune 500 companies, calls for Aurora to refurbish, reconfigure, test and resell the older technology systems overseas. ** IBM Revamping Software Effort ** Word is IBM is overhauling its software-development efforts, launching a new initiative code- named "Workplace" to try to regain business lost to rival Microsoft Corp. and others. Reports say IBM Chairman Louis Gerstner has called the company's failure to adjust to the shift from its mainframe business toward client-server computing "the single most important mistake IBM has made in the last decade." The wire service added, "If the effort succeeds, IBM could reduce the estimated $1 billion it spends annually in developing its various software operating systems." ** Turner Enters Software Business ** Several new software products, including interactive games with scenes from popular movies, have been announced by Turner Home Entertainment as it launches its PC business. Reports from Atlanta's Comdex/Windows World computer trade show say interactive games and screensavers will be offered on the Windows and Macintosh platforms under the name Turner Interactive. Many of the products use visual images from Turner's vast movie library. (Turner Home Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Turner Broadcasting Inc.) Dov Jacobson, Turner's interactive creative development director, said the company decided to get into software because people looking at their computer screens are not watching cable television. Feingold says available now is a $69.95 CD-ROM called "Gettysburg," an interactive simulation of famed Civil War battle. Players decide how the battle should be conducted working with scenes from the popular Turner movie. In addition, "Screen Lovers" screensavers, using scenes from popular movies, will be available in October for about $15. ** Flintstone Screen Saver Announced ** Delrina Corp. has announced The Flintstones Screen Saver Collection. The screen saver is based on The Flintstones, the live- action motion picture of the most successful animated cartoon series in TV history. The Flintstones Screen Saver Collection includes modules featuring the prehistoric characters in full-color animation with sound. Among the software's modules are: The Flintstones theme song, a Dictabird that repeats sound bites; a Bronto Crane that takes boulder-sized bites off the desktop and a paperboy who drives across the screen throwing The Bedrock News. The Flintstones Screen Saver Collection will ship in June for $34.95. Existing users of The Far Side Daily Planner, Intermission Screen Saver, The Far Side Screen Saver and the Opus 'n Bill Screen Saver can purchase The Flintstones Screen Saver Collection for $19.95 directly from Delrina. The Flintstones Screen Saver Collection will be available for computers running Windows 3.1 and Apple Macintosh System 6.07 or higher. System requirements include 5MB of hard disk space, 3MB of RAM and a 256-color display and adapter. A sound board is recommended. ** Man Charged with Online Stalking ** A Dearborn, Michigan, graphics artist has been arrested on charges he broke the state's anti-stalking law because he continued to send amorous electronic mail to a woman after she and the police told him to stop. The American Civil Liberties Union is considering defending 31-year- old Andy Archambeau, saying there appeared to be no real threat to the woman. However, others contend there is no difference between stalking someone physically and electronically. If convicted of the misdemeanor offense, Archambeau could be jailed for one year or fined $1,000. The 29-year-old woman who was the object of Archambeau's attention said, "I wasn't sure if they were going to find me in a ditch. I didn't know what this guy was capable of." The woman herself originally initiated a relationship with Archambeau, choosing him from a video dating service and talking to him by phone before deciding to meet at a dating service party. Later they exchanged electronic mail addresses and sent more than a dozen e-mails back and forth. "At first," the woman said, "I have to admit I liked the guy. Then he started to get too close too soon. He was talking about marriage and kids. I knew him for five days before I told him to get lost." Later she filed a complaint with the police after Archambeau left a message on her answering machine saying he had secretly watched her leave work. Farmington Hills Police Det. Brian DeGrande said, "He didn't threaten her, but he did make some remarks that could be construed as possibly leading into something that her safety could be in jeopardy." Authori- ties told Archambeau to have no more communication with her, electronic or otherwise. Nonetheless, Archambeau sent her another e-mail, saying, "I've been trying to court you, not stalk you. If you let me, I would be the best man, friend, lover you ever could have. ... You've turned my innocent and somewhat foolish love for you into something bad in your own mind." Her electronic reply was: "If you don't leave me alone, you are going to be sorry. You have been warned." It got ugly after that, with his saying he might e-mail their story to all her computer friends on America Online, and mail it to her family and old boyfriends, adding in an April 24 e-mail, "This letter thing is the LEAST of the many things I could do to annoy you." Archambeau was arrested and charged May 4. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 15. Archambeau says the woman easily could have ignored his e-mails and simply not opened them up. Also he said that since his arrest he has changed the hard drive on his computer and put the old one with her messages on it in a plastic bag in his closet, adding, "As part of getting over her, I completely rebuilt my system." Meanwhile, experts on both sides of the issue are lining up for what might be the first case of electronic stalking to reach the courts. Howard Simon, director of the Michigan chapter of the ACLU, said the case is troubling. "If these charges aren't thrown out, then there's something for e-mail users to worry about." However, Dave Banisar, policy analyst with the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, said electronic stalking should be treated like physical stalking. "If it's considered stalking when you send mail through the U.S. Postal Service or over the phone, the same kind of rationale should be used for electronic networks." ______________________________________________ > HAYES 288 V.FC STR InfoFile """"""""""""""""""""""""""" HAYES 288 V.FC MODEM BREAKS MEGABYTE A MINUTE BARRIER WITH ITS 230,400 BIT/S CAPABILITY Since Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. introduced to the global market the Hayes OPTIMA 288 V.FC + FAX modem with data throughput capabilities to 230,400 bit/s (230.4 kbit/s) using data compression, the telecomputing world has not been the same. Shipping in the United States and Canada @ US$579 and CDN$699, Hayes OPTIMA 288 V.FC + FAX is a powerful and an equally reliable solution for remote control, multi-media, remote LAN access, and the transfer of large data files and graphic images. This external data + fax modem supports V.Fast Class (V.FC) for 28,800 bit/s (28.8 kbit/s) data transmission; ITU-T (formerly CCITT) V.42 bis data compression; ITU-T V.42 error-control; and Group 3 fax using V.17 for 14,400 bit/s (14.4 kbit/s) fax transmission. This product is fully compatible with the installed base of V.32 bis (14.4 kbit/s), V.32 (9600 bit/s) and V.22 bis (2400 bit/s) modems. In addition, the product will operate at 28,800 bit/s with future Hayes products implementing the V.34 (V.Fast) standard once it is approved. Hayes will make an upgrade to V.34 available, however, until the standard is finalized, Hayes can only estimate that the cost will be less than US$100. "We are pleased to offer our customers a product with the highest data and fax speeds available today from Hayes," said Hayes President Dennis C. Hayes. "V.FC's widespread availability creates a new industry pre-standard for high-speed communications. This technology not only fills the gap between V.32 bis and V.34 but should enable Hayes to respond quickly when V.Fast becomes a standard." Hayes complements its high-speed modem with Hayes ESP Communications Accelerator, a 16-bit high-speed serial card with either single or dual ports. Hayes ESP enables Hayes OPTIMA 288 V.FC + FAX to achieve the full data transmission port speed of 230.4 kbit/s in environments such as Windows, where a typical PC serial port cannot adequately manage the very high speeds. Hayes ESP Communications Accelerator single port is available worldwide for US$99 and CDN$125. Hayes ESP Communications Accelerator dual port will be available in December for US$149 and CDN$199. Both Hayes ESP Communications Accelerators are half-card boards that incorporate a dedicated communications co-processor with built-in automatic flow control ensuring data integrity by eliminating buffer overrun errors experienced with even the 16550 UART at speeds of 115.2 kbit/s or higher. To maximize the PC's performance, Hayes ESP Communications Accelerators provide dual1024-byte send/receive buffers and a 16-bit PC Bus interface. Approvals are currently underway for Hayes OPTIMA 288 V.FC + FAX in France, Germany, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands and Spain. Product will be available in these countries once approvals are received from the appropriate regulatory authority. Availability in other countries, including Latin America, is also planned. In addition, eight of the world's largest bulletin board systems and the three major North American mail hubs within FidoNet have joined Hayes in extensive V.FC modem testing. "We were pleased to have the opportunity to support Hayes in this testing. These 28.8 kbit/s modems are reliable products and users will certainly benefit from the speed," said George Peace, North American FidoNet Mail Zone Hub. "We can now perform mail exchanges twice as fast." OPTIMA 288 V.FC + FAX comes with Smartcom for Windows LE and Windows fax communications software. Smartcom for Windows LE includes a Phone Book feature to store phone numbers; Smart Buttons to automate communications; popular file transfer protocols; multiple terminal emulations; and a peruse buffer with print and disk capture. With the graphical user interface of Smartcom for Windows LE, users can go online and print files. Best known as the leader in microcomputer modems, Hayes develops, supplies and supports computer communications equipment and software for personal computers and computer communications networks. The company distributes its products in over 65 countries through a global network of authorized distributors, dealers, mass merchants, VARs, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers. ### Hayes, OPTIMA, ESP, and Smartcom are trademarks of Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. V.FC and V.Fast Class are trademarks of Rockwell International Corporation. Other trademarks mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. For further editorial information, please contact: Angie Ciarloni / Peggy Ballard Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. Direct Dial: Angie Ciarloni - 404/840-6823; Peggy Ballard - 404/840-6812 Facsimile: 404/441-1238 MCI Mail: ACiarloni, PBallard For additional product information, customers may contact Hayes Customer Service: Telephone Online with Hayes BBS 404/441-1617 (U.S.) 800/US HAYES (U.S. and Canada) 519/746-5000 (Canada) 404/HI MODEM +33 1 34 22 30 15 (France) 404/729-6525 (ISDN Access) +44 252 775544 (Europe) +44 252 775599 (Europe) +852 887 1037 (Hong Kong) +852 887 7590 (Hong Kong) ______________________________________________ > Word Perfect TOP Speedster! STR FOCUS! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" WORDPERFECT 6.0a FOR WINDOWS FASTER THAN MICROSOFT WORD 6.0a FOR WINDOWS IN KEY AREAS Customers praise new interim release ------------------------------------ WordPerfect Corporation released benchmark testing results for WordPerfect 6.0a for Windows showing that it is faster than Microsoft Word 6.0a for Windows in several key areas. WordPerfect 6.0a for Windows, an interim release of WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows, began shipping in April and is available free to registered WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows users by calling (800) 321-4566. The benchmark testing with WordPerfect 6.0a for Windows and Microsoft Word 6.0a for Windows was conducted using the Microsoft Test 2.0 program.* WordPerfect 6.0a for Windows was significantly faster in several areas: Five times faster opening a 500-page document with simple text and font attributes Four times faster cursoring through a document top to bottom Six times faster changing the font in a 50-page document from Arial to Courier Two times faster spell-checking a document with no spelling errors Four times faster saving a file with changes Two times faster opening a 50-page WordPerfect 5.x document "We use benchmark timings to ensure that our software sets the standard for speed and overall performance," said Bruce Brereton, vice president of development at WordPerfect Corporation. "We have made significant speed improvements in 6.0a as a result of these timings." Customers Praise Interim Release -------------------------------- "We immediately noticed better performance with file retrieval and printing in WordPerfect 6.0a for Windows," said Debbie Ondeck of Malcolm Pirnie, an environmental engineering firm in White Plains, New York. "Our DOS users have been somewhat intimidated by Windows, but are finding that WordPerfect for Windows makes an easy transition." "The speed improvements in 6.0a are terrific on a network," said Rock Blanco, senior vice president of information technology at Garber Travel in Cambridge, Mass. "We also noticed that it is faster to move around in documents, especially when cutting and pasting." Customers Prefer Toll-Free Support WordPerfect Corporation is the only major vendor to offer toll-free, no-service-charge customer support (both Microsoft and Lotus require a toll call). Research from Dataquest and other leading analysts shows that the majority of calls to customer support are made within 90 days of installing new software. Based on user research, WordPerfect Corporation offers twice that amount of time with its Classic Support program, giving users six months of toll-free support from the time they first call for support. "Another reason I switched back from Microsoft Word to WordPerfect was your service," said Clint Guthrie, a WordPerfect for Windows user. "I've been delighted by your service outstanding customer service reps and 800 numbers for help." "Your toll-free number for technical support has been the best thing since the invention of the PC," said Dennis J. Hong, a WordPerfect user in San Francisco. "Why should users have to pay a toll charge to get information about how to install or use a program?" WordPerfect Wins Industry Accolades ----------------------------------- WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows won PC/Computing's prestigious MVP award for word processing in 1993 and was rated highest in the magazine's March 1994 word processing review, beating out Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows. The product is also the winner of Windows Magazine's Win 100 Award, Home Office Computing Editor's Pick Award, CIO Magazine Reader's Choice Award and was given a four-star rating by Software Digest in the February 1994 issue on Windows word processors. New Summer Promotion -------------------- WordPerfect Corporation recently launched a summer promotion entitled "The Perfect Upgrade." From now until August 31, 1994, WordPerfect 6.0a for Windows is available for $99 to users of WordPerfect or any other major word processor. Users can also purchase WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS for $99 or WordPerfect 5.1+ for DOS for $49.95. __________________________________________ > CCITT/ITU-TSS STR FOCUS! The "layout" as it stands.... """""""""""""""""""""""" * CCITT/ITU-TSS * V-Series Recommendations * ============================================ PART 1 - GENERAL ---------------- V.1 Equivalence between binary notation symbols and the significant conditions of a two-condition code. V.2 Power levels for data transmission over telephone lines. V.3 International Alphabet No.5. V.4 General structure of signals of International Alphabet No.5 code for data transmission over public telephone networks. V.5 Standardisation of data signalling rates for synchronous data transmission in the general switched telephone network. V.6 Standardisation of data signalling rates for synchronous data transmission on leased telephone-type circuits. V.7 Definitions of terms concerning data communication over the telephone network. PART 2 - INTERFACES FOR VOICE-BAND MODEMS ----------------------------------------- V.10 Electrical characteristics for unbalanced double-current interchange circuits for general use with integrated circuit equipment in the field of data communications. V.11 Electrical characteristics for balanced double-current interchange circuits for general use with integrated circuit equipment in the field of data communications. V.13 Simulated carrier control. V.14 Transmission of start-stop characters over synchronous bearer channels. V.15 Use of acoustic coupling for data transmission. V.16 Medical analogue data transmission modems V.17 The most recent Fax standard, speed up to 14400 bps. [1991] V.19 Modems for parallel data transmission using telephone signalling frequencies. V.20 Parallel data transmission modems standardised for universal use in the general switched telephone network. V.21 300 bits per second duplex modem standardised for use in the [1964] general switched telephone network. V.22 1200 bits per second duplex modem standardised for use in [1980] the general switched telephone network and on point-to-point 2-wire leased line telephone-type circuits. V.22bis 2400 bits per second duplex modem using the frequency division [1984] technique standardised for use in the general switched telephone network and on point-to-point 2-wire leased line telephone-type circuits. V.23 600/1200-baud modem standardised for use in the general switched telephone network. V.24 List of definitions for interchange circuits between data terminal equipment (DTE) and data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) V.25 Automatic answering equipment and/or parallel automatic calling equipment on the general switched telephone network including procedures for disabling of echo control devices for both manually and automatically established calls. V.25bis Automatic calling and/or answering equipment on the general switched telephone network (GSTN) using the 100-series interchange circuits. V.26 2400 bits per second modem standardised for use of 4-wire leased telephone-type circuits. V.26bis 2400/1200 bits per second modem standardised for use in the general switched telephone network. V.26ter 2400 bits per second duplex modem using the echo cancellation technique standardisedfor use on the general switched telephone network and on point-to-point 2-wire leased telephone-type circiuts. V.27 4800 bits per second modem with manual equaliser standardised for use on leased telephone-type circuits. V.27bis 4800/2400 bits per second modem with automatic equaliser standardised for use on leased telephone-type circuits. V.27ter 4800/2400 bits per second modem standardised for use in the [1976] general switched telephone network. V.28 Electrical characteristics for unbalanced double-current interchange circuits. V.29 9600 bits per second modem standardised for use on point-to-point [1976] 4-wire leased telephone-type circuits. V.31 Electrical characteristics for single-current interchange circuits controlled by contact closure. V.31bis Electrical characteristics for single-current interchange circuits using optocouplers. V.32 A family of 2-wire, duplex modems operating at data signalling [1984] rates of up to 9600 bits per second for use on the general switched telephone network and on leased telephone-type circuits. V.32bis Extension to V.32, with speed at 14,400 bps using TCM. [1991] V.33 14400 bits per second modem standardised for use on point-to-point 4-wire leased telephone-type circuits. >>> >>> Pending and un-official (de facto) high-speed+ standards: (*) V.34 formerly V.FAST, CCITT-ITU draft specifications, up to 28800 bps, [1993] with advanced line probing function, calling tone modulation and multi-dimensional trellis coding. (*) From reliable source, to be officially ratified not before Oct.94. V-FC formerly V.Fast Class, based on the draft specification of V.34, proposed by Hayes Microcomputer Inc., developed by Rockwell Inc. V.32TER formerly V.32terbo, up to 19200 bps, supported by AT&T and USR. V.32ASL Between two V.32terbo USRobotics HST modems, up to 21600 bps. V.32HST High Speed Technology-proprietary by USRobotics, up to 16800 bps. V.32UHS Ultra High Speed-proprietary, up to 16800-19200 bps, by ZyXEL. Under beta testing, ZyXEL-proprietary up to 21600 bps. CV.Fast formerly Codex V.Fast, up to 24000 bps, supported by Motorola. V.fastC formerly V.fast-Class, up to 24400 bps, by Supra Corp./ZOOM Tel. PEP/Trb formerly PEP/Turbo PEP, up to 23000 bps, by Telebit (and w/UNIX). >>> >>> (*) See note below. PART 3 - WIDEBAND MODEMS V.35 Data transmission at 48 kilobits per second using 60-108 kHz group band circuits. V.36 Modems for synchronous data transmission using 60-108 kHz group band circuits. V.37 Synchronous data transmission at a data signalling rate higher than 72 k bits per second using 60-108 kHz group band circuits. PART 4 - ERROR CONTROL V.40 Error indication with electromechanical equipment. V.41 Code-independent error control system. V.42 Error-correcting procedures for DCES using [1989] asynchronous-to-synchronous conversion. V.42bis Data compression procedures for DCEs using error correcting [1990] procedures. PART 5 - TRANSMISSION QUALITY AND MAINTENANCE V.50 Standard limits for transmission quality of data transmission. V.51 Organisation of the maintenance of international telephone-type circuits used for data transmission. V.52 Characteristics of distortion and error-rate measuring apparatus for data transmission. V.53 Limits for the maintenance of telephone-type circuits used for data transmission. V.54 Loop test devices for modems. V.55 Specification for an impulsive noise measuring instrument for telephone-type circuits. V.56 Comparative tests of modems for use over telephone-type circuits. V.57 Comprehensive data test set for high data signalling rates. PART 6 - INTERWORKING WITH OTHER NETWORKS V.100 Interconnection between public data networks (PDNs) and the public switched telephone networks (PSTN). V.110 Support for data terminal equipments (DTEs) with V-series type interfaces by an integrated services digital network (ISDN). V.120 Support by an ISDN of data terminal equipment with V-series type interfaces with provision for statistical multiplexing. V.230 General data communications interface layer 1 specification. (*) Un-official notes added by R. Schiappacassa, CIS_ID 70374,3542. Sources: BYTE, PC Computing, PC Magazine [US/UK], Online Access, PC World, Windows User [US/UK], Win DOS Magazine, Chip, PC Format, PC Plus, PC Today, Computer Shopper [US/UK], CIS Magazine, BBSes, and ITU-TSB, Geneva/CH. Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee since 1993 ---> ITU - International Telecommunications Union Mail Address: Place des Nations, Case Postale/P.O. Box CH-1211-Geneve/Geneva 20 ** Suisse/Switzerland ** Telephone: ++41-22-730.51.11 * Telefax: ++41-22-733.72.56 Telegrams: ITU GENEVE * Telex: 421 000 UIT CH X.400; S=itumail; P=itu; A=Arcom; C=ch ; O=CCITT. _____________________________________________ > Where to Start STR InfoFile FOR NEW INTERNET USERS """"""""""""""""""""""""""" "WHERE TO START" FOR NEW INTERNET USERS Jim Milles Ver. 4.3 15 May 1994 1. E-mail systems vary widely. For help with most e-mail questions (signature files, quoting, and so on), contact your local computer support personnel or your Internet service provider, or consult the books listed below for a discussion of your mail system. 2. Some recommended books for new users of the Internet: Aboba, Bernard. _The Online User's Encyclopedia: Bulletin Boards and Beyond_. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1994. 806 pp. ISBN 0-201-62214-9, US$32.95. (A remarkably useful and comprehensive work, covering everything from the basics of computer communications, to using local bulletin boards, to the intricacies of the Internet.) Dern, Daniel P. _The Internet Guide for New Users_. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994. 570 pp. ISBN 0-07-016510-6, US$40.00 (hardcover); ISBN 0-07-016511-4, US$27.95 (paper). (Dern is the former editor of _Internet World_ magazine and author of numerous articles on the Internet in many other publications.) Engst, Adam. _Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh_. Indianapolis: Hayden Press, 1993. 641 pp. ISBN 1-56830-064-6, US$19.95. (Highly recommended by Mac users, many of whom preferred this to the Fraase book listed below. Comes with a disk containing a variety of Internet access software, including a "legal copy of MacTCP 2.0.2.") Gilster, Paul. _The Internet Navigator_. New York: John Wiley, 1993. 470 pp. ISBN 0-471-59782-1, US$24.95. (An elegantly written and cleanly designed guidebook, the best of the new books for the individual dial-up user. Contains a wealth of useful background information on the workings of the Internet and the organizations behind it. Recommended for the individual dial-up user who is serious about the Internet.) Hahn, Harley & Rick Stout. _The Internet Complete Reference_. Berkeley: Osborne McGraw-Hill, 1993. 818 pp. ISBN 0-07-881980- 6, US$29.95. (Considered by many the best of the new crop of Internet books, and at 800+ pages, among the most comprehensive. The humor, however, seems somewhat more lame than some others.) Krol, Ed. _The Whole Internet: User's Guide & Catalog_. 2nd ed. Sebastapol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 1994. 543 pp. ISBN 1-56592-063-5, US$24.95. (In the fast-moving world of the Internet, for most of 1993 this was the successor to _Zen_ as the essential guide to the Internet, and is still regarded by many as the best of the Internet books. However, the availability of other books like Gilster's makes Krol's Unix bias more evident. Recommended especially for users of Unix systems.) LaQuey, Tracy. _The Internet Companion Plus: A Beginner's Start-Up Kit for Global Networking_. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1993. 196 pp. ISBN 0-201-62719-1, US$19.95. (A good guide for the true beginner, useful even for the pre-beginner who has not yet signed on to the Internet.) Smith, Richard and Mark Gibbs. _Navigating the Internet_. Carmel, Indiana: SAMS Publishing, 1993. 500 pp. ISBN 0-672-30362-0, US$24.95. (A highly readable guide, with an easy-to-use listing of Internet resources arranged by subject. Smith is well known for his popular online "Navigating the Internet" courses.) 3. Other useful books for new users: Badgett, Tom and Corey Sandler. _Welcome to... Internet: From Mystery to Mastery_. New York: MIS Press, 1993. 324 pp. ISBN 1-55828-308-0, US$19.95. (A self-instruction handbook.) Braun, Eric. _The Complete Internet Directory_. New York: Fawcett, 1993. 704 pp. ISBN 0-449-90898-4, US$25.00. (As the title suggests, this is a directory of newsgroups, discussion lists, ftp sites, and so on, with just a few pages on how to use these resources. A directory like this, Hahn and Stout's _Internet Yellow Pages_, or Rittner's _Whole Earth Online Almanac_, may be useful as a companion to one of the other "how-to" guidebooks). Eddings, Joshua. _How the Internet Works_. Emeryville, CA: Ziff-Davis Press, 1994. 218 pp. ISBN 1-56276-192-7, US$24.95. (Excellent integration of graphics to explain some of the technology behind the Internet. However, examples of resources are extremely short and selective; definitely not a resource guide.) Falk, Bennett. _The Internet Roadmap_. San Francisco: SYBEX, 1994. 263 pp. ISBN 0-7821-1365-6, US$12.99. Fisher, Sharon. _Riding the Internet Highway_. Carmel, Indiana: New Riders Pub., 1993. 266 pp. ISBN 1-56205-192-X, US$16.95. Fraase, Michael. _The Mac Internet Tour Guide: Cruising the Internet the Easy Way_. Chapel Hill, NC: Ventana Press, 1993. 288 pp. ISBN 1-56604-062-0, US$27.95. (The first Internet guide written for Macintosh users; includes a 800K disc containing useful software.) Fraase, Michael. _The PC Internet Tour Guide: Cruising the Internet the Easy Way_. Chapel Hill: Ventana Press, 1994. ISBN 1-56604-084-1, US$24.95. Fraase, Michael. _The Windows Internet Tour Guide: Cruising the Internet the Easy Way_. Chapel Hill, NC: Ventana Press, 1994. 344 pp. ISBN 1-56604-081-7, US$24.95. (Good graphics and sample screens, but coverage is selective; some important tools like World-Wide Web are omitted.) Gardner, James. _A DOS User's Guide to the Internet_. Waterloo, ON, Canada: MKS [Mortice Kern Systems], 1993. Hahn, Harley, and Rick Stout. _The Internet Yellow Pages_. Berkeley, CA: Osborne McGraw-Hill, 1994. 447 pp. ISBN 0-07-882023-5, US$27.95. (An entertaining, easy-to-use directory of Internet resources, and an excellent companion to Hahn and Stout's _Complete Internet Reference_.) Heslop, Brent and David Angell. _The Instant Internet Guide_. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1994. 209 pp. ISBN 0-201-62707-8, US$14.95. Hoffman, Paul E. _Internet Instant Reference_. San Francisco: SYBEX, 1994. 317 pp. ISBN 0-7821-1512-8, US$12.99. (A pocket guide to Internet terms and concepts, for both beginning and advanced Internet users.) _The Internet Unleashed_. Indianapolis: SAMS Publishing, 1994. 1,387 pp. ISBN 0-672-30466-X, US$44.95. (Contains chapters written by over 40 prominent Internet experts. This is the most comprehensive, and most expensive, Internet reference currently available, but not recommended for the beginning user). Jaffe, Lee David. _Introducing the Internet: A Trainer's Workshop_. (Internet Workshop Series, Number 1.) Berkeley, CA: Library Solutions Press, 1994. 92 pp. ISBN 1-882208-05-6, US$30.00 (US$45.00 with diskette). (The first in a series of supplements to _Crossing the Internet Threshold_, by Tennant, Ober, and Lipow. Based on an actual trainer's handouts and script, it may also be used as a self-instruction workbook.) Kehoe, Brendan. _Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide_. 3rd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1994. 193 pp. ISBN 0-13-121492-6, US$23.95. (One of the first and most popular guides to the Internet. The first edition was distributed for free on the Internet, and is still available at many anonymous ftp sites, e.g. nic.merit.edu, directory /introducing.the.internet, filename zen.txt.) Kochmer, Jonathan and NorthWestNet. _The Internet Passport: NorthWestNet's Guide to Our World Online_. 4th ed. Bellevue, WA: NorthWestNet, 1993. 515 pp. ISBN 0-9635281-0-6, US$29.95. (A comprehensive guide to Internet resources, comparable to Krol's _The Whole Internet_ but even broader in scope. It covers a number of areas that other guides ignore.) Lambert, Steve & Walt Howe. _Internet Basics_. New York: Random House, 1993. 495 pp. ISBN 0-679-75023-1, US$27.00. (Although this is a good, general guide to the Internet for any user, it is especially useful for those who access the Internet through the commercial Delphi information service. Howe is the sysop of the Delphi Internet SIG.) Levine, John R. and Carol Baroudi. _The Internet for Dummies_. San Mateo, California: IDG Books, 1993. 355 pp. ISBN 1-56884-024-1, US$19.95. (A very useful, well organized, and readable book, one of the publisher's popular "... for Dummies" series.) Marine, April; Kirkpatric, Susan; Neou, Vivian; and Ward, Carol. _Internet: Getting Started_. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: PTR Prentice Hall, 1992. 360 pp. ISBN 0-13-327933-2, US$28.00. (Includes useful information on how to obtain Internet access, as well as other technical reference material.) Pike, Mary Ann and Tod G. Pike. _The Internet Quick Start_. Indianapolis: Que Corp., 1994. 387 pp. ISBN 1-56529-658-3, US$21.99. (Contains separate chapters on "Using the Internet via" CompuServe, AOL, DELPHI, and Unix systems.) Quarterman, John S. _The Matrix: Computer Networks and Conferencing Systems Worldwide_. Bedford, MA: Digital Press, 1990. 719 pp. ISBN 1-55558-033-5, US$49.95. (A comprehensive guide to the history and present--as of 1990--state of the Internet and its component and related networks. Recommended for those who want to learn the background and history of the Internet.) Rittner, Don. _Whole Earth Online Almanac_. New York: Brady Publishing, 1993. 545 pp. ISBN 1-56686-090-3, US$32.95. (Another directory of online resources, this one attempts to cover not only Internet, but also Fidonet and commercial services like America Online and CompuServe, and even local BBSes.) Robinson, David F.W. _All About Internet FTP: Learning and Teaching to Transfer Files on the Internet_. (Internet Workshop Series, Number 2.) Berkeley, CA: Library Solutions Press, 1994. 90 pp. ISBN 1-882208-06-4, US$30.00 (US$45.00 with diskette). (The second supplement to _Crossing the Internet Threshold_; suitable for use either by trainers or as a self-teaching workbook.) Sachs, David and Henry Stairs. _Hands-On Internet: A Beginning Guide for PC Users_. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: PTR Prentice Hall, 1994. 275 pp. ISBN 0-13-056392-7, US$27.95. (A detailed workbook for the individual user; like most of the others, assumes the reader will be working on a Unix system.) Tennant, Roy, John Ober, & Anne G. Lipow. _Crossing the Internet Threshold: An Instructional Handbook_. 134 pp. ISBN 1-882208-01-3, US45.00. Berkeley, CA: Library Solutions Press, 1993. (Includes helpful fact sheets on various Internet tools from ftp and telnet to archie, gopher, WAIS, and World-Wide Web.) Tolhurst, William A., Mary Ann Pike, Keith A. Blanco, and John R. Harris. _Using the Internet: Special Edition_. Indianapolis, IN: Que Corp., 1994. 1188 pp. ISBN 1-56529-353-6, $39.95. (At well over 1000 pages, this is the current leader in the sweepstakes for biggest Internet book. However, its coverage is surprisingly spotty; it includes a 110-page chapter on legal considerations, but ignores major tools like World-Wide Web.) 4. For those who know enough about using the Internet to be able to use "ftp," the following sources are very useful (note that they are regularly updated, so the version numbers and file names may change): de Presno, Odd. "The Online World." Available by anonymous ftp from oak.oakland.edu, directory /pub/msdos/info, type binary, filename online14.zip. Uncompress with PKZip 2.04g. (An excellent source for coverage of European resources, also excellent for users of commercial services like CompuServe, Genie, and MCImail.) December, John. "Information Sources: the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication." 15 December 1993, release 3.15. Available by anonymous ftp from ftp.rpi.edu, directory /pub/communications, filename internet-cmc.txt. (Gives locations and access instructions for hundreds of Internet training documents, directories, and other materials. Essential for locating the many valuable Internet resources discussed in the other guidebooks.) Gaffin, Adam and Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet." January 1994. Available by anonymous ftp from ftp.eff.org, directory /pub/Net_info/Big_Dummy, filename bigdummy.txt. Martin, Jerry. "There's Gold in them thar Networks! or Searching for Treasure in all the Wrong Places." RFC 1402, January 1993. Available by anonymous ftp from nic.merit.edu, directory /introducing.the.internet, filename network.gold. Milles, James. "An Introduction to Using the Internet at Saint Louis University School of Law." Available by anonymous ftp from sluaxa.slu.edu, directory /pub/millesjg, filename interlaw.wp (binary, WordPerfect 5.1/5.2 format), interlaw.txt (ASCII), or interlaw.ps (PostScript). (Although the focus is on legal resources, this guide should be useful for any VAX/VMS user. It is also the only source I know of that discusses the differing commands for the BITNET and Unix listserver systems.) NCSA Education Group. "An Incomplete Guide to the Internet." July 1993. Available by anonymous ftp from ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu, directory /Education/Education_Resources/Incomplete_Guide/Incomp.Guide.Old, filename Incomp.Guide.July.txt. (Focuses on K-12 users and resources.) Noonan, Dana. "A Guide to Internet/Bitnet." June 1993. Available by anonymous ftp from vm1.nodak.edu, directory /nnews, filename guidev2.nnews. (A rare and valuable guide for the VAX/VMS user.) "NYSERNet New User's Guide to Useful and Unique Resources on the Internet." Version 2.2, April 1992. Available by anonymous ftp from nysernet.org, directory /pub/guides, filename new.user.guide.V2.2.txt Parker, Elliott S. "Getting to Start: Selected Readings in Computer Communication." Ver. 4.01 (13 Dec 1993). Available by sending an e-mail message to LISTSERV@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU containing only the line GET NETSTART INFO F=MAIL. (A lengthy bibliography of books, articles, and other materials about the Internet and related topics.) Polly, Jean Armour. "Surfing the INTERNET: An Introduction." Version 2.0.3, May 15, 1993. Available by anonymous ftp from nysernet.org, directory /pub/guides, file surfing.2.0.3.txt. "SURAnet Guide to Selected Internet Resources." December 1993. Available by anonymous ftp from ftp.sura.net, directory /pub/nic, file infoguide.12-93.txt. Yanoff, Scott. "Special Internet Connections" (updated frequently). A list of interesting and useful selection showing the broad range of Internet resources, including a few Online Public Access Catalogs, chat lines, weather servers, Campus Wide Information Systems, and other reference resources. Available by anonymous ftp from csd4.csd.uwm.edu, directory /pub, filename inet.services.txt. 5. For information on how to get connected to the Internet: Engle, Mary, Marilyn Lutz, William W. Jones, Jr., and Genevieve Engel. _Internet Connections: A Librarian's Guide to Dial-Up Access and Use_. Lita Monographs 3. Chicago: Library and Information Technology Association, 1993. 166 pp. ISBN 0-8389-7677-8, US$22.00. Estrada, Susan. _Connecting to the Internet: An O'Reilly Buyer's Guide_. Sebastapol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 1993. 170 pp. ISBN 1-56592-061-9, US$15.95. Notess, Greg R. _Internet Access Providers: An International Resource Directory_. Westport, CT: Meckler, 1993. ISBN 0-88736-933-2, US$22.95. If you have e-mail access to the Internet, you can obtain a copy of the Public Dialup Internet Access List (the most comprehensive list of Internet access providers for individuals and small organizations) by sending an e-mail message containing the command "Send PDIAL" to info-deli-server@netcom.com. 6. The latest version of this document, "Where to Start" for New Internet Users, is available by anonymous ftp from sluaxa.slu.edu, directory /pub/millesjg, filename newusers.faq, or from ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu, directory /NETTRAIN, filename NEWUSERS.FAQ. It may also be obtained by e-mail by sending a message to LISTSERV@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu containing only the line: GET NEWUSERS FAQ NETTRAIN F=MAIL "Where to Start" for New Internet Users is also available on the World-Wide Web (http://lawlib.slu.edu/newusers.htm). A collection of reviews of Internet books can be obtained by anonymous ftp from ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu, cd /nettrain. The filenames are nettrain.revs_1, nettrain.revs_2, and nettrain.revs_3. They may also be obtained by sending a message to LISTSERV@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu containing only the lines: GET NETTRAIN REVS_1 NETTRAIN F=MAIL GET NETTRAIN REVS_2 NETTRAIN F=MAIL GET NETTRAIN REVS_3 NETTRAIN F=MAIL ----------- Jim Milles (listowner, NETTRAIN@UBVM) Phone: (314) 658-2759 Head of Computer Services Fax: (314) 658-3966 Saint Louis University Law Library 3700 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108 E-mail: millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT: _________________________________ Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo) Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN. GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ___ ___ _____ _______ /___| /___| /_____| /_______/ The Macintosh RoundTable /____|/____| /__/|__| /__/ ________________________ /_____|_____|/__/_|__|/__/ /__/|____/|__|________|__/ /__/ |___/ |__|_/ |__|_/____ Managed by SyndiComm /__/ |__/ |__|/ |__|______/ An Official Forum of the International Computer Users Group *** STReport available in MAC RT *** ASCII TEXT for ALL GEnie users! MAC/APPLE SECTION (II) ====================== John Deegan, Editor (Temp) > MACFAIR LA '94 STR SHOW NEWS """""""""""""""""""""""""""" * * * M A C F A I R L A '9 4 * * * ======================== The Los Angeles Macintosh Group announces MacFair LA '94, THE Macintosh Trade Show for Southern California. Produced by the LAMG and co-sponsored by Apple Computer, Inc., MacFair LA '94 is a two-day extravaganza that will feature * * * E X H I B I T O R S * * * - Over 125 exhibit booths offering the latest hardware and software solutions. Exhibitors include the industry's major players, such as Apple, Adobe, Aldus, Claris, Broderbund, Connectix, Frame, Fractal, H.S.C Software, Nisus, MacAcademy, ProVUE, Radius, RasterOps, and many more. * * * S E M I N A R S * * * - Dozens of exciting seminars featuring industry leaders such as ** Robin Williams, author of "The Little Mac Book", "The Mac is Not a Typewriter", and "How to Boss Your Fonts Around." ** Bob "Dr. Macintosh" LeVitus, author of "Dr. Macintosh" and "Stupid Mac Tricks", and contributing editor for MacUser magazine. Also participate in panel discussion with ... ** Deborah Branscum, executive editor, and other editors of Macworld magazine. ** Bob LeVitus, contributing editor, and other editors of MacUser magazine. Other seminar sessions include: ** Making Photo CD Work: How its done, how you can use it and how you can make your own! ** Digital Film Editing: Making Movies in Hollywood ** PowerPC: Buy One or Upgrade? ** Becoming, and Staying, a Successful Animator ** A Clean, Lean Machine: Hard Drive Management ** Don't Blow It...Backup! ** The Power of LivePicture ** Virtual Reality: What is it? How do they do it? What's it good for? ** Super-Hot! Mac CD-ROMs ** Multimedia: Creating the Next Generation ** Digital Documents on the Info SuperHighway Interchange! ** Working on your Mac is "Remotely" Possible ** "King of the Road" ­ Traveling with your PowerBook ** Newton News and Developments ** Introduction to Internet ** Ten Shareware Programs You've Got to Get! ... and many more. * * * K E Y N O T E A D D R E S S * * * eWorld: A New Star in the Electronic Universe, presented by Richard Gingras, Group Manager of Worldwide Services for Apple Online Services, Apple Computer, Inc. eWorld is Apple Computer's new on-line communication and inforamtion service that lets you easily reach millions of e-mail users and fax machines, read the news, make travel arrangements, get technical help, and more! * * * W I N A P O W E R * * * - The LAMG's world-famous raffle with tens of thousands of dollars in prizes. Grand Prize - a Power Mac, donated by Apple Computer, Inc!!! In its 4th successful year, MacFair LA '94 is being held Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, 1993, from 9am to 5pm at the Burbank Airport Hilton and Convention Center in Burbank, CA. Advance registration for MacFair LA '94 is $10 for exhibits ($15 at the d o o r ) , or $45 for exhibits and seminars ($65 at the door). Pre-registration may be done through MacFair LA at 818/574-8047 or tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster's charge-by-phone at 213/480-3232. So that you won't miss a single minute of the excitement, the Burbank Hilton Hotel is offering a special room rate-only $59 a night! Call 800/643-7900 and ask for the MacFair LA special discount. Also this year, the LAMG is hosting NAUGSAW, the National Apple User Group Symposium and Workshop, along with MacFair LA. NAUGSAW, a three-day event, brings together influential user group leaders from around the world to discuss the exciting challenges facing user groups today. The Los Angeles Macintosh Group is the largest community-based Macintosh user group in the country with over 4,500 members. Membership benefits include MacDigest, an award-winning monthly magazine, a First-class Bulletin Board System, dozens of informative meetings each month, and experts available to help with Macintosh concerns. Information on the LAMG is available at 310/278-LAMG (5264). For further information, contact the production office MacFair LA '94, PO Box 2054, Monrovia, CA 91017 818/574-8047, Fax: 818/574-5028 AOL: MacFair LA, Applelink: UG0007, Internet: macfair_la@aol.com ********************************************************************** IMPORTANT NOTICE! ================= STReport International Online Magazine is available every week for your reading pleasure on DELPHI. STReport's readers are invited to join DELPHI and become a part of an extremely friendly community of enthusiastic computer users there. SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI ====================== Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access DELPHI services via a local phone call JOIN --DELPHI ------------- Via modem, dial up DELPHI at 1-800-695-4002 then... When connected, press RETURN once or twice and... At Password: type STREPORT and press RETURN. DELPHI's 20/20 Advantage Plan 20 Hours for Only $20! ----------------------------- Advantage Members have always enjoyed the lowest DELPHI access rates available. On the new 20/20 Advantage Plan, members receive their first 20 hours of access each month for only $20. If you happen to meet someone online or find some other diversion, don't worry because additional usage is only $1.80 per hour. 20/20 Advantage rates apply for access via SprintNet or Tymnet from within the continental United States during home time or via direct dial around the clock. Home Time is from 6pm to 6am weekdays. Access during business time carries a surcharge of $9 per hour. These rates apply for most services, but note that there are some surcharged areas on DELPHI which are clearly marked with a "$" sign. Who is eligible to take advantage of the plan? Any DELPHI member in good standing. Applications are reviewed and subject to approval by Delphi Internet Services Corporation. It's easy to join. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply online -- at any time -- for membership in the DELPHI 20/20 Advantage Plan. Your membership becomes active at 4 a.m. Eastern Time on the first billing day of the following month. The $20 charge will be billed to you at the beginning of the month to which it applies. Any portion of the 20 hours not used in any month does not carry forward into the next month. Advantage rates may be changed with 30 days notice given online. TRY DELPHI FOR $1 AN HOUR! For a limited time, you can become a trial member of DELPHI, and receive 5 hours of evening and weekend access during this month for only $5. If you're not satisfied, simply cancel your account before the end of the calendar month with no further obligation. If you keep your account active, you will automatically be enrolled in DELPHI's 10/4 Basic Plan, where you can use up to 4 weekend and evening hours a month for a minimum $10 monthly charge, with additional hours available at $3.96. But hurry, this special trial offer will expire soon! To take advantage of this limited offer, use your modem to dial 1-800-365-4636. Press once or twice. When you get the Password: prompt, type IP26 and press again. Then, just answer the questions and within a day or two, you'll officially be a member of DELPHI! DELPHI-It's the BEST Value and getting BETTER all the time! ************************************************************ ATARI/JAG SECTION (III) ======================= Dana Jacobson, Editor > From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""""""""" I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that we're going to deeply miss John "Ducky" Duckworth's weekly "Fishin' Hole" column in STReport. John's weekly "catches" were always informative and enjoyable; and some of his reviews have pointed me in the right direction on a number of occasions! I've talked with John online, and to put it simply, his personal obligations at the present time leaves him with little spare time to devote to a regular column. Should the opportunity arise, Ducky has assured me that he'd let us all know the next time he manages to do some online fishin'! Best of luck with your studies, John; and I hope that everything else works out fine. In the meantime, we'd like to keep the idea of a few "choice" public domain/shareware reviews going on a regular basis. If you're interested in writing a weekly column dealing with newly-found gems, or even some old-but-faithful ones, drop me a line. I'll leave all of my various online addresses at the end of this editorial. We're also interested to adding new Atari staff to STReport. Even though the company is "computer-stagnant" doesn't mean that there's not a need to keep the users informed. If you're interested in either doing a regular column, or even an occasional article, drop us a line. Help us keep our fellow Atari users informed. In the tradition of a short holiday week, I'll keep my opening remarks short as well! Until next time... Dana P. Jacobson - E-Mail addresses: Delphi - DPJ Compuserve - 71051,3327 GEnie - D.JACOBSON2 Toad Hall BBS - 617-567-8642 (Dana Jacobson) Internet via any of the above online services, OR Dana_Jacobson%toadhall@lexicor.com Delphi's Atari Advantage!! TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (6/2/94) (1) ST-ZIP 2.6 (6) BATTLETRIS *(2) AEO JAGUAR EDITION #2 (7) OCR V1.25 (3) BERZERK (8) MASTERBROWSE 4.4 (4) WINX 2.3G *(9) DARKLORD SCREEN SAVER SYSTEM (5) NEOCOM - TERMINAL PROGRAM *(10) TETRIS/BITRIS/COLUMNS * = New on list HONORARY TOP 10 The following on-line magazines are always top downloads, frequently out-performing every other file in the databases. STREPORT (Current issue: STREPORT #10.22) ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE (Current issue: AEO - VOLUME 3, ISSUE 8) Look for the above files in the RECENT ARRIVALS database. ___________________________________________________ > New CD ROM Shareware! STR InfoFile! New From "It's All Relative" """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Atari Public Domain und Shareware Ausgabe 1 It's All Relative announces the availablity of Atari Public Domain and Shareware, Volume 1, published by CD-Service of Germany. We have just received the CD's this week and very few of the programs and applications on the CD are familiar to us. Just as GEMini featured the best of North America's GEnie and internet, Volume 1 of Shareware and Public Domain features the best of Germany. Here is your chance to see what is new in Germany today. The disc is dated 1994. There is very little duplication of the files on GEMini by Walnut Creek. Here is a brief synopsis of what is on the CD............... 11,000 files with compressed and ready to run versions of all programs. 122 applications 11 application demo programs 21 terminal and FAX programs 7 text editors ZX-81 emulator with over 100 programs for the ZX-81 17 Falcon demo programs 119 games 26 educational programs Mint and GCC source 28 folders of programmer source and help files, basic through assembly 195 utility programs Shareware and Public Domain, Volume 1 is available from It's All Relative, Randall Kopchak, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant MO 63031 for $39.99, postpaid. Order your copy today. For our latest newsletter drop us mail, e-mail or a call. Dealers ask about quantity pricing or information on ordering direct from Germany. ____________________________________________ > GEM Development Group To Form! STR InfoFile! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" From ogal@cix.compulink.co.uk Fri May 27 01:32:35 EDT 1994 Hello GEM developer, IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS ------------------------------ The GEM user interface has recently matured into a generally non-modal, multi-tasking environment. Thanks to many developers such as 2B (Mag!X), Gribnif (Geneva) and authors of many excellent GEM programs (mainly in Germany, but also in the US, UK and other countries) we now have a very nice environment to work with. One of the main problems for users, which have been expressed to me by many users is the lack of standards, or that there are too many standards. It seems the German programmers have got their keyboard shortcuts sorted, but some of their standards contradict the Atari Style Guide as published in the Atari Compendium and the developer docs from Atari. Since Atari do not seem to be getting involved in this area, it's about time that some communication started between developers across the globe. The Atari market is too small for too many systems. Both Geneva and Mag!X should maintain a high degree of compatibility, and authors of programs should do as much as possible to keep to the standards. The problem is now to agree on a standard interface, and the first topic I would like to discuss is the issue of keyboard shortcuts. I have laid out a proposal for a standard and have discussed it at length on CIX - the UK main BBS for ST users/programmers. My proposal is a PROPOSAL, I do not wish to dictate my ideas. I just want a standard to work to. I invite you along with many other developers to take part in this discussion. If we reach agreement, I will personally make sure that the standard is published in several ST magazines, placed on FTP sites and is also available in a printed form at a minimal cost to cover printing cost. Yat Siu of Lexicor has been kind enough to allow use of his system to start a mail list for this purpose. I have to stress here that Lexicor do not have any 'special' interest in this discussion, although I am sure Yat will want to express his opinions just like everyone else. I urge everyone to put competition aside and to join the mail list. Once we got the keyboard shortcuts standardised we can look at universal implementation of the VA_START protocol, a FAX protocol, adding menu items to programs (Windows style), enhanced GEM Clipboard and anything else we think is useful. The mail list is ready for use, once there are enough people subscribed I will post my keyboard shortcuts proposal and discussion can start. I already have incorporated some amendments suggested by Wilfried Behne (Mag!X, NVDI). To join send mail to majordomo@world.std.com With the content: subscribe gem-list To send a message to the mail list use the following address: gem-list@world.std.com I look forward to your suggestions. Ofir Gal ----- Ofir ogal@cix.compulink.co.uk ----- To add a bit more to Ofir's original Usenet Post: For CIS Users you need to use the Email base, since many developers such as Ofir do not have CIS access..and are on the Internet. If you are interested email from your mail base: INTERNET:majordomo@world.std.com or INTERNET:majordomo@lexicor.com with the body: subscribe gem-list xxxxx.xxx@compuserve.com for your email address Cheers Yat @ Lexicor _____________________________________ > New Atari Internet News Group Passes Vote! STR InfoFile! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" A few weeks ago, STReport announced a proposed new Internet news group, "comp.sys.atari.announce" which would have the potential for Atari developers to have a centralized Internet site to make new product announcements, etc. The vote for this new group took place over a period of time, and the voting results were announced earlier this week. Interesting to note was the fact that not many Atari developers took part in this effort, although it may be due to possible lack of full exposure to the developer population. Regardless, some did take advantage of this proposal, and voted. Also, for whatever reason, there was at least one developer who voted _against_ this proposal! We could speculate the reason(s), but we'll leave that up to you to do. RESULTS for Comp.sys.atari.announce Moderated group "comp.sys.atari.announce" passes 266:33 There were 266 YES votes and 33 NO votes, for a total of 299 valid votes. There was 1 abstain. For group passage, YES votes must be at least 2/3 of all valid (YES and NO)votes. There also must be at least 100 more YES votes than NO votes. There is a five-day discussion period after these results are posted. If no serious allegations of voting irregularities are raised, the moderator of news.announce.newgroups will create the group shortly thereafter. Newsgroups line: comp.sys.atari.announce - Atari related hard/software announcements. (Moderated) This vote is being conducted by a neutral third party. For voting questions only, contact rdippold@qualcomm.com. For questions about the proposed group, contact Yat Siu CHARTER (Yat Siu) The proposed group will provide a forum for the announcement and release of new Atari related products: * Atari computer hardware and software * commercial as well as shareware or related * announcement from individual authors, companies or distributors * press releases Yat Siu (Lexicor@world.std.com) will be the moderator. Justification: ------------- There are currently comp.sys.atari.st, comp.sys.atari.st.tech, comp.sys.atari.8bit and comp.sys.atari.advocacy, the first three groups are discussion forums for their (specific) related hard and software. Product announcements in these discussion forums of new releases by either commercial, shareware groups can often be considered a service, but not encouraged. The Atari computer market is not very widely distributed and it is getting increasingly harder to know more about new products. To begin with, a product announcement group would encourage the people to announce their new products for the benefit of all Atari computer users. It will also allow the reader to focus for a new newsgroup only for product announcements or press releases and will also make the reader more aware of his/her options. comp.sys.atari.announce - Final Vote Acknowledgements Do NOT use this as a mailing list. Voters are not necessarily interested in receiving email about the subject of the vote, and some may react rather violently and try to get your account pulled. Voted No -------- adams@kona.wes.army.mil F. P. Adams, Jr. anders@uss-enterprise.bu.edu Anders M Jorgensen antersbe@informatik.tu-muenchen.de Stefan Antersberger bjv@herbison.com B.J. Herbison catseye@minerva.cis.yale.edu Mark Kupferman cb541@cleveland.Freenet.Edu James R. Gilbert cjackson@csugrad.cs.vt.edu Chris "ASCII Console Monster Man" Jackson cmarble@osiris.ac.hmc.edu Chris Marble crouchkp@flidh102.delcoelect.com KP Crouch dconner@clark.net David Conner devuns@alsys.fr Olivier Devuns Don_Maple@kr.maus.de Don Maple drayer@minerva.cis.yale.edu Rebecca Drayer georg@marie.physik.tu-berlin.de Georg Schwarz grohol@alpha.acast.nova.edu John Grohol HD0022%ALBNYVMS.bitnet@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU Chip Dunham hson@ludd.luth.se Roger Hakansson j414@midway.uchicago.edu mary-frances jagod jrm@globalvillag.com John R. MacWilliamson Kari.Hurtta@fmi.fi Kari E. Hurtta kherron@ms.uky.edu K Herron knarf@nasim.sta.sub.org Frank Bartels kregg@cs.wisc.edu Kregg Brooks neilb@khoros.unm.edu obryan@gumby.cc.wmich.edu Mark O'Bryan potechin@genie.geis.com ???????????????? Russ.Gilbert@apk.wariat.org Russ Gilbert rzb20@juts.ccc.amdahl.com Roger Burrows SAAST8@vms.cis.pitt.edu THE PRINCE smailer@titan.ucs.umass.edu IRA SMAILER srogers@tad.eds.com Steve Rogers stainles@bga.com Dwight Brown WARD@ernie.van.forintek.ca Ward F. Bush Voted YES --------- aa37+@andrew.cmu.edu Ali E Aydar aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu Michael Current adelino@ci.uminho.pt adm2@cs.city.ac.uk Alan Messer ae103@city.ac.uk NoRM ae24@iamk4516.mathematik.uni-karlsruhe.de Peter Januschke afsfpel@cmc.aes.doe.ca Yves Pelletier ai063@freenet.carleton.ca Walter A. Cole akeady%malaga@BUREAU.ucc.ie Aidan Keady alan@papaioea.manawatu.planet.co.nz Alan Brown albi@fido.sub.org Albi Rebmann Alexander_Bochmann@traveller.fido.de Alexander Bochmann alexv@comtex.co.nz alrashi@ecf.toronto.edu AL RASHID SHAHIR Andreas_Hoffmann@k.maus.de Andreas Hoffmann andyl@harlequin.com Andy Latto anisko@usdtsg.daytonoh.NCR.COM Annius.Groenink@cwi.nl aq255@freenet.buffalo.edu Paul W. Zablotski arch@insane.apana.org.au Arch Larizza aspect@cats.ucsc.edu ault@cs.albany.edu Jim Ault bach@satan.vmsmail.ethz.ch Bales_N@CIRAD.fr bart@dutncp8.tn.tudelft.nl Bart Schipper berrah@litsun.epfl.ch Karim Berrah bertil.jagard@straight.ct.se Bertil Jagard BIBLINSKI@delphi.com GORDIE MEYER bili6745@mach1.wlu.ca bilinsky keith bjgrier@bnr.ca brian (b.j.) grier bleekman@cpp.ob.open.de Juergen Bleekmann boisso_s@epita.fr stephane boisson bourlon@gla.ecoledoc.ibp.fr bouronm@trout.ime.dec.com Marc CR Bouron bouton@eurecom.fr Ayukawa Madoka boyd@GAUSS.MATH.FSU.EDU Mickey Boyd brarda@vxclia.cern.ch bruck@brachot.jct.ac.il Elad Bruck buglady@bronze.lcs.mit.edu Aliza R. Panitz butta1@acs.bu.edu nelson chin bwwl@sun.rz.tu-clausthal.de Wolfgang Ley C.J.Ridd@computer-science.birmingham.ac.uk caro@ihtws1.e-technik.uni-stuttgart.de Carsten Rose Carsten_Dunst@h2.maus.de Carsten Dunst cb170@city.ac.uk cb@spia.univ-tours.fr Christophe Boyanique ceebsm@clust.hw.ac.uk cfav1@leonis.nus.sg Victor Pang cfuhrman@csugrad.cs.vt.edu Christopher Fuhrman cherborth@semprini.waterloo-rdp.on.ca Chris Herborth chris@buran.fb10.tu-berlin.de Christian Nieber Christoph_Peus@un.maus.ruhr.de Christopher Peus Christoph_Roessig@hb.maus.de Christopher Roessig cole@Gandalf.camber.com John Cole combee@prism.gatech.edu Benjamin L. Combee Craig.Graham@newcastle.ac.uk Craig Graham cs93dlh@atlas.ex.ac.uk csulw@csv.warwick.ac.uk Paul Donovan czekall@uni-muenster.de D.Corps@helios.hertfordshire.ac.uk cs4bq D.Remmer@uqvax.cc.uq.oz.au dag.dao@dada.ct.se Dag Dao davecook@multi.multiline.com.au Dave Cook daveh@silvaco.com Dave Halliday davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu David Paschall-Zimbel David_Reitter@wi2.maus.de David Reitter dbanarse@sees.bangor.ac.uk D S Banarse dcure@ifremer.fr David Cure deand@lore.kla.com Dean Dierschow debski@cs.tu-berlin.de Andreas Debski derekl@harlequin.co.uk Derek Law desnogue@mimosa.unice.fr Desnogues Dirk_Johannwerner@k.maus.de Dirk Johannwerner Dominik.Strasser@mch.sni.de donaldp@sco.COM Donald Page DPJ@delphi.com dud@u.washington.edu Daniel Aylward dunham@mpd.tandem.com Jerry Dunham dw4g+@andrew.cmu.edu David L Watson ee91ddt@brunel.ac.uk Dimitrios Tsotsos Eick_Wagner@ki.maus.de Eick Wagner ekl@sdf.lonestar.org Evan K. Langlois eliot@ircam.fr Eliot Miranda erichall@io.org error@stack.urc.tue.nl Erlend Nagel esj@harvee.billerica.ma.us Eric S Johansson etmwnou@crosby.ericsson.se Wim Nouwens f93mael@dd.chalmers.se Mats Elfving felber@lsesun5.epfl.ch Pascal FELBER frankp@GOEDEL.UNI-MUENSTER.DE Frank Ploessel Frank_Mueller@sb.maus.de Frank Mueller Franz_Urbanski@hl.maus.de Franz Urbanski galibero@mines.u-nancy.fr Olivier Galibert aka Sarayan GardEggesboe.Abrahamsen@mrih.no Gard Eggesboe Abrahamsen gert@ttgk.textlitho.nl Gert van der Knokke gijs@mbase97.hacktic.nl Gijs Bok gio@wcl.bham.ac.uk Giovanni Ciampa Graham.Irvine@grin.mettav.royle.org Graham Irvine graham@rbhp56.rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de gregk@nskernel.tandem.com Greg Kilfoyle grillo%xsft1@Olivetti.Com Savino Grillo gspear+@CMU.EDU Geoffrey Spear gt1448b@prism.gatech.edu David Forrai Hayo_Schmidt@hh.maus.de Hayo Schmidt hn@Pool.Informatik.RWTH-Aachen.DE Helmut Neukirchen hoga0006@gold.tc.umn.edu hohmuth@freia.inf.tu-dresden.de Michael Hohmuth hqs3269@acf4.NYU.EDU hqs3269 hsp4@columbia.edu Haim S. Poretsky hutch@ilmen.lanl.gov John Hutchinson I.M.Rae-SE1@computer-science.birmingham.ac.uk iagaw@mlucom.urz.uni-halle.de Matthias Baesken ipoorten@cs.vu.nl Ivo van Poorten irscscm!mlake@uunet.UU.NET Marshall Lake Jason.Julyan@tiuk.ti.com jeremyb@alf.pec.co.nz Jeremy Bowen jferris@cwa.com Jim Ferris jfortt@dorsai.dorsai.org Joseph Fortt jk@panix.com Jim Kalb Joachim_Doerr@wi2.maus.de Joachim Doerr john@albemuth.equinox.gen.nz John Collis jon@hpfs1.physik.uni-jena.de J. Nullmeyer JONAL@dhhalden.no Jon Lovstad jonord@solace.mh.se Joakim Nordlander jteske%moacs11@NL.net Joop Teske junkster@halcyon.com James Hague Karl.Brokstad@gades.uib.no Karl A. Brokstad Karl.Meyland@dbce.csiro.au Karl Meyland keithj@cse.lbl.gov Keith J Groves kendrick@vax.sonoma.edu Bill Kendrick kepper@rs6000.ivcc.edu Richard John Kepper kfason@csn.org Kevin Fason kim@vax.mpiz-koeln.mpg.d400.de Jan T. Kim kkimes@npvsrv2.napervilleil.NCR.COM Klaus_Tenter@du.maus.de Klaus Tenter Konstantinos.Xonis@math.uni-giessen.de Konstantinos Xonis krasel@alf.biochem.mpg.de Cornelius Krasel ktessner@isle.waterloo-rdp.on.ca Kevin Tessner L15D@ZFN.UNI-BREMEN.DE Martin Schroeder LANNIE@INS.INFONET.NET lbrink@cd.chalmers.se Lars Brinkhoff Lexicor@world.std.com lmuniz@is1.bfu.vub.ac.be MUNIZ LUIS ltg@gome4.physik.uni-bremen.de Lothar Guthmann ma2ljg@sl1.bath.ac.uk L J Greenhalgh maba@mk.maus.ruhr.de Martin Bartsch madmax@lucky.muc.de Stefan Traxler maestro@cybernet.cse.fau.edu Kenneth Matheis marbud@u14003.skm14.svskt.se Martin Budsjo Marcel_Sacksen@nextjk.textlitho.nl Marcus_Endberg@pb.maus.de Marcus Endberg Mario.Illgen@Informatik.TU-Chemnitz.DE Mario Illgen Mark-Moraes@deshaw.com martin@gw6hva.demon.co.uk Martin Vernon martin@mahu.muc.de Martin Huber Max.Denebian@f318.n105.z1.fidonet.org Max Denebian maxilys@email.teaser.com Remi Villatel mbaffoni@farad.elee.calpoly.edu Michael Baffoni mbmccabe@bronze.coil.com Matt McCabe MC3408@mclink.it Cesare Gianuzzi mczane@verdi.Eng.UniPR.IT Francesco Zanichelli mdulcey@PRYDER.PN.COM Mark J. Dulcey merc@WPI.EDU Christopher Robert Hahn mforget@elfhaven.ersys.edmonton.ab.ca Michel Forget michaelk@pacifier.rain.com Michael Kelsey Michael_Depke@b.maus.de Michael Depke Michael_Neuffer@wi2.maus.de Michael Neuffer Michael_Nolte@k.maus.de Michael Nolte Michael_Wolf@du.maus.de Michael Wolf mike@seb.se S-E-Banken mipap@ars.ath.forthnet.gr mk@anuurn.do.open.de Martin Koehling mkite@lincoln.gpsemi.COM Martin Kite LDC 2414 mm68@unix.brighton.ac.uk Allanon mmartin@neumann.une.edu.au Mark Martin moriarty@imada.ou.dk Peter Mogensen mperry@cairo.anu.edu.au Mark Perry mughal@alumni.caltech.edu A. M. Mughal nexus@netcom.com Vootie nijhof@th.rug.nl Jeroen Nijhof nj1@ukc.ac.uk nk@aaron.ON-Luebeck.DE Nils Kassube nsa@link.hacktic.nl nsa software oberle@mailhost.uni-koblenz.de Christoph Oberle ogal@cix.compulink.co.uk Ofir Gal orres@teleport.com Bob Luneski palmen@acds05.physik.rwth-aachen.de Patrick Palmen papadaca@mines.u-nancy.fr Papadacci Alexandre paries@labri.u-bordeaux.fr Alain PARIES Patrick_Koehne@un.maus.ruhr.de Patrick Koehne patrik.sanfridsson@p2.stacken.ct.se Patrik Sanfridsson Paul.Civati@civ.mettav.royle.org Paul Civati pbouige@pasteur.fr Philippe Bouige pburgel%moacs11@NL.net Piet Burgel PDIRECT@delphi.com pfs@pslu1.psl.wisc.edu Paul Schnettler pierre@WPI.EDU Edwin P Jacques plhays@ucdavis.edu pmbarry@acs.ucalgary.ca Paul Martin Barry ptucker@alsvid.scu.edu.au pwp@cs.indiana.edu Paul Purdom quinn@phoenix.Princeton.EDU Michael J. Quinn R.J.Laukam@student.lut.ac.uk Richard J Laukam Rainer_Muehlenstaedt@kl.maus.de Rainer Muehlenstaedt randyh@hpsadqa.sr.hp.com Randy Hosler rchan@terapin.com Ron Chan rdo@kynes.bison.mb.ca Russell Ochocki Reinhard_Bartel@lu.maus.de Reinhard Bartel rfernand@chuma.cas.usf.edu Robert Fernandez (ENG) RG9@VAX.YORK.AC.UK rgibson@cs.strath.ac.uk richara@westminster.ac.uk Alan Richardson RICHARDSON@sscl.uwo.ca rick@bcm.tmc.edu Richard H. Miller rimfax@acs.bu.edu Wayne Schultz roba@it.ntu.edu.au Rob Adams TopFM Robert_Lechler@ka2.maus.de Robert Lechler robing@galadriel.bt.co.uk Robin Gape robmach@iglou.com Robin Mach rodrojo@abello.seci.uchile.cl rover@nephilim.ON-Luebeck.DE Ralf Over rufinus@cae.wisc.edu rvenable@helix.nih.gov Rick Venable S.Berndtsson@ped.gu.se Stefan Berndtsson S.P.Taylor@bradford.ac.uk Steve Taylor s002893@RW420B15.rz.fhtw-berlin.de Harun Scheutzow sanders@sci.kun.nl Sander Stoks savetz@rahul.net Kevin Savetz sbarnes@mcd.on.ca Steve Barnes schwab@issan.informatik.uni-dortmund.de Andreas Schwab scott@bse.com Scott A. Krutsch ScottM@cup.portal.com seibert@informatik.tu-muenchen.de Ewald Seibert SHALL@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU Stanley Wayne Hall sjdrew@maths.ex.ac.uk S J Drew sjg@phlem.ph.kcl.ac.uk phlem smirk@acs.bu.edu Sheldon Chang smustain@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Mike Mustaine st39@unix.brighton.ac.uk Stephen Ticehurst Stefan_Damerau@sl.maus.de Stefan Damerau Stephane.Chauveau@irisa.fr Stephane Chauveau Stewart.Hilson@def.bae.co.uk Stewart.Hilson Stig.Bakken@pvv.unit.no Stig S{ther Bakken STIRRE31@MAINE.maine.edu sven@joliet.deceiver.sub.org Sven Hoffmann sys1@assam.exnet.com Xavier Gallagher tele@tubul.limmat.net.ch Patrick Seemann tj@ais-dortmund.de Theo Janssen tmiller@suntan.eng.usf.edu Timothy Miller (EE) Toby_Deinhardt@k.maus.de Toby Deinhardt Tommy.Pollak@eua.ericsson.se Tommy Pollak ton@wrestler.wlink.nl Ton de Graaff Torgny.Lindberg@eua.ericsson.se Torgny Lindberg TREVOR@ccc.govt.nz Trevor Ingham tvoverbe@wk.estec.esa.nl Ton van Overbeek veneman@tv99ad.hacktic.nl Hans Veneman Vincent.Lefevre@ens.ens-lyon.fr Vincent Lefevre walra%moacs11@NL.net Waldi Ravens walsh@yooper.switch.rockwell.com Walsh_J. Walter_Loepsinger@m4.maus.de Walter Loepsinger warwick@everest.cs.uq.oz.au Warwick Allison wdb@zeppo.geosurv.gov.nf.ca Doug Boyce weiner@terminator.rs.itd.umich.edu Jeff Weiner whitema@ranger.rtsg.mot.com Michael A. White ylva.budsjoe@p11.f109.n203.z2.ct.se Ylva Budsjoe zieg0008@gold.tc.umn.edu =========== Abstained --------- mmt@RedBrick.COM Maxime Taksar KC6ZPS _______________________________________ > CT AtariFest '94 STR InfoFile """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" ********************************************************************** ** O U R F O U R T H A N N I V E R S A R Y S H O W ! ! ! ** ** /-----------\/------------/ ** ** / / **BOSTON** ** ** / CT ATARIFEST '94 / ** ** ,/ / ** ** **NY** ,/ __________/|\___________/ ** ** /__,/ ** BRIDGEPORT ** ** ** ** ** CONNECTICUT ATARIFEST '94 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 8/27/94 ** ** August 27-28, 1994 at the 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday 8/28/94 ** ** Back at the BRIDGEPORT HOLIDAY INN ** ** 1070 Main St. Sponsored by ** ** Bridgeport, CT 06604 ACT Atari Group ** ** (FACE,WMAUG,DBUG,AOGUGH,CCCC & STAR) ** ********************************************************************** THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE FASTEST GROWING ATARI SHOW... JAGUARs, LYNX, FALCONs, TTO30s, STs! Atari Software & Hardware! Free Indoor Parking! Competition & Prizes ACT Atari Group is running another _MAJOR_ Northeast computer event. Last year's success meant only one thing: ENCORE! The Holiday Inn in Bridgeport, CT - site of the original 1991 show, is just 1.5 hours outside of New York City, making it easier for Big Apple Atarians to attend. Bridgeport is located on the Connecticut coast, at exit 27 off of Interstate 95. It is served by Amtrack Passenger Trains, Sikorsky Airport Terminal, The Port Jefferson Ferry, and a multitude of highways; it is just one block away form both the Railroad station and the Ferry, and has a free shuttle service for guests from the airport. This year we're having an All-You-Can-Eat Prime Rib Buffet for just $12.95. In addition to the Sliced Prime Rib of Beef, the Buffet also includes a mini SaladBar, a Chicken dish, a Pasta dish, Rice or Potatoes, Fresh Vegetables, Selection of Deserts and Coffee. Join us for an informal, low cost dinnerSaturday night, and mix with old friends; What about the Jaguar? Come on out and get (64)BIT! We'll have the largest Jaguar competition in New England, with the latest games and gear. With all theexcitement generated by this hot new machine, you owe it to yourself to get the personal skinny (and the Lynx won't be overlooked either)! We expect an even greater number of vendors this year, surpassing the excellent turnout of the past shows. CAF '93 vendors included: * A&D Software * Gribnif Software * ABC Solutions * Kurlan Music * BaggettaWare Software * Lexicor Software * Barefoot Software * Marcel Software * Best Electronics * MegaType Software * Clear Thinking * Oregon Research Associates * Codehead Technologies * Soft-Logik Publishing * CompuServe Information Services * Software Spectrum * Computer Zone * Straight Edge Software * Derric Electronics * Thin Air Labs * East Hartford Computer Repair * Toad Computer * Evangelo's Software * Wizztronics * GEnie In addition to our commercial supporters, many user groups came from hundreds of miles away to be with us for CAF '93. Those in attendance included The Boston Computer Society, Western Massachusetts Atari User Group, Atari ST and Mega Users of Montreal, South Shore Atari Group [Mass], Atari User Group of Greater Hartford, Scranton Area Atari User Group (PA) and Long Island Atari User Group (DBUG-Danbury and FACE- Fairfield [both CT] were represented in the ACT Atari booth). Most user groups offered numerous demonstrations, public domain disks and great clip art collections, with most of the groups offering "recycled" hardware and software items. We'll have our Lynx Competition, with multiple Comlynxed competitions underway at all times, the Portfolio Corner, staffed with industry experts, an endless stream of door prizes and seminars in abundance (in the past we've had John Eidsvoog of Codehead, Jeff Naideau from Barefoot, Dave Troy of Toad Computers, Joe Mirando & Dana Jacobson from STReport and many others). Stay tuned for this year's list of speakers. All in all, we hope to have our best show yet, and we look forward to your participation. Make your plans now for the most exciting Atari Weekend this summer! CONNECTICUT ATARIFEST '94 TRAVEL TIPS SHUTTLE SERVICE TO THE HOTEL IS FREE FROM THE AIRPORT, THE TRAIN STATION OR THE FERRY! JUST PHONE 334-1234 WHEN YOU ARRIVE! BY CAR: Bridgeport is located directly on Interstate 95 and Route 8. * Northbound: Take I-95 to exit 27. At the end of the ramp, continue straight, and follow the road till you come to the Railroad station. At this point you will be able to see a large white parking garage on your left. At the light on Fairfield Avenue, take a left, and then another left on Middle Street, the entrance on left. * Southbound: Take I-95 to exit 27, stay straight at end of ramp. At next light, State Street, take a right and follow to end. At road's end, the Railroad Station will be directly ahead of you. Take a left and go one light north. At the light on Fairfield Avenue, take a left, and then another left on Middle Street, the entrance on left. * From Route 8: Take exit 2, go straight at end of ramp. Continue one more block to State Street and go left. At road's end, the Railroad Station will be directly ahead of you. Take a left and go one light north. At the light on Fairfield Avenue, take a left, and then another left on Middle Street, the entrance on left. BY AIR: Many airlines serve Sikorsky Memorial Airport: Delta Airlines 800-345-3400, USAir 800-428-4322, and Continental Airlines 800-525-0280. Flights between Boston, New York and Washington arrive hourly. The Holiday Inn offers a courtesy van from the airport; call 334-1234 when you arrive. To contact Sikorsky directly, call 203-576-7498. BY RAIL: Rail passengers can reach Bridgeport aboard several trains that run daily between Washington, D.C., Boston, and points between. For information about fares, schedules, restrictions and connecting trains, contact Amtrak by phoning (800) USA-RAIL. BY FERRY: There are ferries leaving both Bridgeport and Port Jefferson regularly, Monday-Sunday. Departure times are as follows (check to be sure!): Leaving Long Island - 6a.m., 7:30a.m., 9a.m., 10:30a.m., 12p.m., 1:30p.m., 3p.m., 4:30p.m., 6p.m., 7:30p.m., with a 9:10p.m. on Sundays. Directions from New York - Take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 64, then take route 112 North to the end, once in Bridgeport, take a right out of the ferry and head for the white parking garage across the street. Call 203-367-3043 for more info. WHERE TO STAY: The Holiday Inn will be offering special rates for CAF '94 attendees, call them at 203-334-1234. Make sure to mention that you're with the AtariFest! WHAT TO DO: Hotel guest's can enjoy the Health Club and Swimming Pool, and there are many other facilities nearby for golf, tennis, and salt water fishing. Other highlighted activities include: Jai-Alai (203-877-4242), P.T. Barnum Museum (203-331-9881), The Children's Discovery Museum(203-372-3521), Beardsley Zoo (203-576-8082), Captain's Cove Waterfront Shopping (203-335-1443), Downtown Cabaret Theatre (203-576-1636). Call 334-1234 for further information. If you have any questions, or need additional assistance, feel free to call Angela or Brian Gockley at 203-332-1721. E-mail can be directed to 75300,2514 on CIS or D.FINCH7 on GEnie. > Online News! STR NewsFile! - Interesting Tidbits From the Onlines! """""""""""""""""""""""""" Turner Enters Software Business Several new software products, including interactive games with scenes from popular movies, have been announced by Turner Home Entertainment as it launches its PC business. Reporting from Atlanta's Comdex/Windows World computer trade show, Jean Feingold of United Press International says interactive games and screensavers will be offered on the Windows and Macintosh platforms under the name Turner Interactive. Many of the products use visual images from Turner's vast movie library. (Turner Home Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Turner Broadcasting Inc.) Dov Jacobson, Turner's interactive creative development director, told the wire service the company decided to get into software because people looking at their computer screens are not watching cable television. Feingold says available now is a $69.95 CD-ROM called "Gettysburg," an interactive simulation of famed Civil War battle. Players decide how the battle should be conducted working with scenes from the popular Turner movie. In addition, "Screen Lovers" screensavers, using scenes from popular movies, will be available in October for about $15. Reports from United Press International are accessible in CompuServe NewsGrid database (GO NEWSGRID) and through the Executive News Service (GO ENS). Court Judges Wrong Computer Records The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to decide whether arrests based on faulty computer records are good-faith mistakes and evidence seized during those arrests need not necessarily be discarded. Associated Press writer Richard Carelli reports from Washington, D.C. that the Supreme Court justices will decide whether Arizona prosecutors may use evidence seized after a Phoenix man was arrested because a police computer wrongly listed an outstanding warrant against him. Police seized marijuana from Isaac Evans, and the Arizona Supreme Court ruled it could not be used as evidence against him since it followed an unlawful arrest. However, Arizona prosecutors argue that the arrest was a good-faith mistake based on faulty computer information, and it should not lead to the suppression of marijuana as evidence. Evans was stopped for driving the wrong way down a one-way street, and a police computer in the officer's car indicated there was an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for his arrest. In the course of the arrest, the officer discovered the marijuana. Evans was charged with possession, a felony. But the state Supreme Court ruled the marijuana could not be used as evidence since it stemmed from an unlawful arrest. "It is repugnant to the principles of a free society that a person should ever be taken into police custody because of a computer error precipitated by government carelessness," the state court said. "As automation increasingly invades modern life, the potential for Orwellian mischief grows." The case is Arizona vs. Evans, 93-1660. For more news from The Associated Press, consult the Executive News Service (GO ENS) or AP Online (GO APONLINE). HP Updates Network LaserJet Hewlett-Packard Co. says it has enhanced its HP LaserJet 4Si MX network laser printer and reduced its price. The enhancements include new printer management software, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star certification and broader network compatibility and ease of use resulting from a preinstalled HP JetDirect card. The device links the printer directly to Ethernet and LocalTalk networks. HP has reduced the price of the HP LaserJet 4Si MX by $200 to $5,299. The price of the standard HP LaserJet 4Si printer remains unchanged at $3,749. The HP LaserJet 4Si MX is a 17 page-per-minute, 600-dots- per-inch (dpi) unit. It is designed for high-volume printing environments. The printer works concurrently with PCs, Macintosh computers, UNIX-based workstations and multiple networks. ____________________________________________________ > STReport CONFIDENTIAL "Rumors Tidbits Predictions Observations Tips" """"""""""""""""""""" - Sunnyvale, CA "Sweetheart of Atari Gaming World" - Leaves ------------- In a late breaking development, Juli Wade, long regarded as the sweetheart of the Atari gaming world has called it quits. As of today, friday she is no longer at Atari. She has promised however, to obtain a private account on Compuserve in order that she may visit from time to time and say hello to the many friends she has in the Atari Gaming Forum on Compuserve. - Chicago, IL E-MAIL ABUSE ON THE RISE!! ----------- Apparently a number of jaded individuals have taken up presenting verbal assaults against others via E-mail on certain of the major networks. The current trend, according to one source, is "to bait, incense, outrage and otherwise viciously abuse and harrass an individual in hopes of forcing the individual to react publically thus causing the harrassed individual to appear as the initiator of the confrontation". When asked about the law and such deeds.. He added; "With the charges of "stalking" via e-mail having recently occurred, this type action mentioned above, should prove to be chargable also if pursued." It appears Email will no longer be a safe haven for those who abuse its use. - San Francisco, CA INVESTIGATION INTO IRREGULARITIES PURSUED ----------------- According to our reporter's sources, an importer/distributor, two dealers and a computer company are or have been implicated as parties involved in a number of transactions about which those implicated have serious disagreement. The actual complaints may have already been, according to the source, filed with the Southern District in California. Additionally, a high level executive of the aforementioned computer corporation will reportedly be subpoenaed and deposed regarding the irregularities and misrepresentation of his actual participation as to the level of authority and involvement and the unauthorized usage of credit accounts. Also according to our sources, this story has been brewing for some time and has only now apparently come to the attention of the authorities. Reportedly, two of the major complainants are residents in the San Francisco Bay area. ______________________________________________ > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" PEOPLE... ARE TALKING ===================== On CompuServe ------------- compiled by Joe Mirando Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Another week has come and gone and its time to check out all the hot info, news, hints and tips available every week on CompuServe. But before we do that, I'd like to talk for a moment about a few of the changes I'm planning for this column. First off, the Palmtop Forum and the Palmtop B Forum will be returning to the column. Since Atari Portfolio support is now found in the Palmtop Forum, this one isn't too much of a reach. And, while we're at it, why not add info about other popular palmtop and pentop computers (like the Casio/Tandy Z-7000 PDA)? Second, we'll start including information from the Video Games Publishers Forum (Go VIDPUB) next week. The VIDPUB Forum deals with information on current and future video game systems. With systems like the Jaguar out now, and Project Reality waiting in the wings, VIDPUB is the place for gamers to be. Look for it next week. Now, let's get on with the show... From the Atari Computing Forum ============================== When Danny Bull asks about whether or not he should upgrade from TOS 2.05 to 2.06, Robert Aries tells him: "Go to the Codehead section on the Atariven forum and ask there. You'll probably get the definitive answer. When I bought my TEC board from them, the documentation included a story about its history. The developers got an advance copy of TOS 2.05 before they released the TEC board. They wanted to be able to allow owners of older ST's to put the LATEST version of TOS on the board, and TOS 2.05 expected to see the newer hardware (STe's and beyond, with blitter chips, etc.). According to this documentation, the developers convinced Atari to modify 2.05 so that it would not crash when run on older machines, and what resulted was TOS 2.06. So I'll re-state my original answer to you: TOS 2.05 and 2.06 are THE SAME, except that 2.06 is backward-compatible with older STs'." Just an added tidbit: TOS 2.06 also fixes high-density floppy support for computers that have the "AJAX" chip instead of the Western Digital floppy controller chip. Meanwhile, Adam Freemer posts: "I was wondering if someone could recommend a good viewer program that would view .GIF and other formats. Preferably something I could download from CIS but if there is a good commercial one that I would have to buy I wouldn't mind. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!" Daniel Osborn posts this library file description: " Title : GEM-View 3.03 Keywords: IMAGE COLOUR CONVERT VIEW GEM-View 3.03 is uploaded with permission from the UK shareware registrations contact Graeme Rutt whose details are included. It is a very powerful image viewer and converter which supports dozens of formats from PhotoCD, Targa, GIF and TIFF to old ST favourites like Degas and IMG. Images can also be resized, rotated and dithered using various algorithms. A big file but well worth the download time. This version starts to lose functionality after 30 days, to encourage registration." Yat Siu of Lexicor Software tells Daniel: "Speed of Light for regular ST's is in my opinion better, as it does some hardware tricks." Adam asks: "I know this might sound stupid but I just downloaded GIFVIEW (which took about an hour at 2400baud!) And uhhh, How do you make it work? Do you save it as .PRG or something else? An ARC file? Please help a non-intelligent ST user!! Any help greatly appreciated!!!!" Sysop Ron Luks tells Adam: "I dont recall if GIFVIEW was archived as LZH, ARC or ZIP, but it was surely compressed with one of these systems. You should ALWAYS save the file under the same name as you see in our libraries. *If it is LZH, ARC, or ZIP you should then use the appropriate utility program to unpackage it. Once expanded, the individual filenames should have the appropritae names to just double-click and run on your system." Rob Rasmussen tells us about a problem he's having with his Falcon030: "I copied Warp 9 to the AUTO folder of my Falcon's internal IDE drive C. The only other program in there is a mouse accelerator. Everytime I cold boot, I get 2 bombs. Either it's the wrong version of Warp 9 (though it's the most recent), or there's a big problem with it coming after the mouse accelerator (I forgot to make Warp 9 first), or I'm doing something wrong. Now I can't get to drive C to remove W9 or change it's order because Falcon won't boot from the HD. I can boot from the floppy, but doesn't seem to help. On my ST I can install a disk drive for C after booting from floppy and get to C that way, I think. But this internal drive stuff must be different. In the desktop Options menu there is "Install Device" but I can't make it install drive C. The Falcon manual said run HINSTALL.PRG, but since I booted from floppy, it says no other partitions exist. If it comes to it, I would really hate to have to reformat the drive since I just got it with all the programs on it which are not backed up. Surely there's a way around this I hope. Any ideas anyone?" Sysop Jim Ness tells Rob: "Since Warp 9 includes its own mouse accelerator, it may conflict with the one you have installed separately. You said the manual tells you to run HDINSTAL. Did you try that, to get the icon installed and give you access?" Rob tells Bob: "I can install the drive icon OK, but the drive still doesn't exist. Like I said, I'm locked out of the internal HD because it crashes from the conflict between W9 and MACELLE. When I run HINSTALL, it reports that there are no HD partitions available, which is true (I'm trying to _make_ them available). Booting from floppy is the only way I can do anything, but I don't see how to access the HD this way. So it's like a Catch-22. Help!" Carl Barron asks Rob: "Do you have a program to load the hd driver to memory after boot up? Atari's is AHDI.PRG. If so run this small program. then get the drive 'opened' and rename at least macelle.prg in C:\auto to have a different extension. Might rename w9.prg as well, until you get the latest and greatest. Get a directory sorter,one that will physically move the files in an order you choose, and bootfile manager program asap and these conflicts are a lot easier to fix!" Rob tells Carl: "Running the AHDI.PRG did the trick. I was paranoid that it would start reformatting the drive, I got it mixed up with HDX or something. On the ST I use Auto Organizer and Desk Manager, so I will try them on the Falcon. My Falcon and SVGA monitor are set up in my study, just like my ST was when I first got it, not connected to a printer, modem, scanner or MIDI yet. I'm gradually seeing what it can do by itself and it's fun! It really needs Warp 9 or something, especially in the higher rez/colors mode. I have the new Falcon version of it now. Next I'll hook the Falcon to Screenblaster and my stereo Do you or anyone know if the heads of Falcon's internal IDE drive are self-parking? The manual is mysteriously sketchy on this. It says to use SHIP.PRG for any SCSI drives, but doesn't talk much about the internal drive. Maybe it depends on the particular drive? I need to know this before I start moving it around the house." Sysop Bob Retelle, one of the most knowledgeable people around, tells Rob: "Virtually all modern hard disk drives are self-parking. When you turn off their power, the heads automatically retract to a safe position. I even doubt that SHIP.PRG is needed any longer. You just have to remember not to knock the drive or computer containing the drive while the platters are still spinning, and the heads are loaded, or out in working position." Carl Barron tells Rob: "There is a 'patch' to Desk Manager to change newdesk.inf instead of desktop.inf. Desk Manager thus changed does run on a TT. Auto organizer should. If it is the one in the CodeHead Utility package it does on my TT. Don't worry atari's HD formatters give plenty of chances to abort a HD format, before they do format a HD." My buddy Brian Gockley of ST Informer Magazine tells Rob: "Warp 9 is only compatible at version 3.81, and even then, you must run the specific Falcon version (there are three, ST, TT and Falcon)." Rob tells Brian: "You're right, I had forgotten there were separate versions of Warp 9 for ST, TT and Falcon. So I downloaded the zap file which turns the Falcon version 3.80 into 3.81, making it compatible with Screenblaster which I have but haven't hooked up yet." John Amsler posts: "Did you hear? Silicon Graphics and Nintendo have announced that "Project Reality" -- their 3-D game machine -- will be available for consumer purchase next summer (and will be in place in arcades before then). The projected cost is UNDER $250. I hope Atari has something up its sleeve to counter this!" Sysop Ron Luks tells John: "Project Reality wont see the light of day before 1995. Take my word on that one." Believe me, when you get info like that from someone like Ron, you can "take it to the bank. Meanwhile, John Cook tells us: "I need help to repair an Atari. Can anyone help with ideas, or even better, a circuit diagram. (I am not familiar with Ataris, but my electronics and general computer knowledge are good). Details follow: I was upgrading the RAM for a friend from 1M to 4M. The new SIMMS are 80nS. At first the machine booted - with a few glitches on screen (perhaps some dead bits in the RAM?). Then it crashed. The more we tried the less success we had at booting. Sometimes a 'bug' appeared on screen at boot. Sometimes not even that. At the moment the machine doesn't even access the floppy drive. Power supply is good. No apparent broken wires, melted chips, etc. If anyone can help me with any information about ataris which might assist I would be most grateful." Mike Mortilla tells John: "Usually, you need to replace the "controller" chip. The original ST controller chip can only address 1 meg. While your at it, you might want to update the OS to at least 1.4 (Rainbow TOS.) The controller chip was about $100 when I upgraded my ST. I don't know the current price. Others here might have other ideas, but the first thing I'd check would be the controller. If you can disable the 4 megs and go back to the 1 meg, maybe you could eliminate other problems." John tells Mike: "Thanks for your suggestions, Unfortunately going back to a 1M machine leaves me with the same problems. (I neglected to mention this in my original message). I don't know whether the computer is recognising the extra RAM yet, but it seems I am definately up against some sort of hardware problem. Sometimes the machine boots, but always with a large but in the top right of the screen. Sometimes I get a row of small bugs across the screen. Do you have any idea specifically what these signs indicate? I am very grateful for your help. Any further suggestions would be most appreciated." Mike asks John a few more questions about the machine: "1- What model machine is it again? ST? STE? Mega ST? 2- This is important because not all these machines will take a standard SIMMS chip. Certain upgrades are available (Z-RAM is what I used) and support might have to come from those mfg directly. I'll help all I can but I'm not too technically proficient on this type of thing. Again, it sounds like a controller chip needs to be upgraded, but we need more info on the machine you have." John tells Mike: "It's an STE. I found a program on disk (switcher I think) which told me it saw the 4M of RAM. I think my next step is to take it to a repair centre." Gee, I hope he's not counting on taking it to a G.E. repair center... what ever happened to that deal, anyway? John adds: "I don't know whether the computer is recognising the extra RAM yet, but some more information has come to light. With either the old or the new RAM some times it won't boot (doesn't even access floppy). Other times it boots, first displaying a large bug in the top right corner of the screen, then operating fine. Sometimes I get a row of small bugs across the screen. Do any of these symptoms suggest the area of the problem? Is there a diagnostic boot sequence which can be initiated at start up? (These and many many more questions)." Sysop Bob Retelle tells John: "The 1040STe model should recognize the extra RAM without having to do anything special. From your original message, I'm assuming you installed 4 1Meg SIMMs..? The speed of the RAM shouldn't matter... the ST only requires 150ns memory, so the faster parts you installed should work OK. Also, the ST can use either 8 bit (Mac style) or 9 bit (IBM style) SIMMs, so that shouldn't be a problem either. One thing I'm NOT sure about is whether all SIMM configurations will work though... I know the 9 chip, 1 Meg SIMMs work, but I don't know if the newer 3 chip SIMMs will. I believe most, if not all, of the chips on the 1040STe motherboard are surface mounted... one problem in earlier STs was that the socketed chips needed to be reseated on a semi-regular basis. If any of the chips in the machine you're working on are socketed, try pressing them all firmly back into their sockets. I think the MMU problem Mike mentioned only applied to the earlier models with socket mounted memory management chips. If the only change was to swap SIMMs, and now the original SIMMs aren't working either, I think I'd examine the SIMM sockets very carefully for damage to the contacts, or possibly to the soldered joints on the motherboard. Another thing to check would be the power supply, although there shouldn't be any problem powering the extra RAM, supplies have been known to cause flaky symptoms when they become marginal. Unfortunataly, there really isn't anything available in the way of system diagnostics. We do have some RAM testing utility programs, but those of course require the system to be working well enough to load and run a program." John tells Bob: "The RAM is 80nS 3-chip style 1M 9bit SIMMS. I managed to run Switcher yesterday which saw all 4M available. The chips on the mother board are not socketed. Some are surface mount. I have examined the SIMM sockets and motherboard, but I'll do it again. Last night I could get one of two conditions regularly. One it booted and worked fine, but with a bug in the top right (as earlier mentioned). The floppy it booted from had operating system file 3.3 on it. With a different floppy with no such operating system software it booted without the bug. Either case it worked fine from then on. The second situation it still didn't boot. I tell you this more for your information than anything else. I doubt it sheds any more light on the problem. I think I've reached the stage of taking it in for repair. I'll check the messages again just incase you have any brain storm ideas. Failing that, thanks very much for your help." Myles Cohen tells John: "The big bug in the upper right hand corner (scary...isn't it) has a diagonal line running through it and a circle around it which is the international road sign signal for "NO"...and was ICD's "clever" attempt to tell you that the system had booted normally with no bugs... It only appears in version 3.3 and was later replaced by a big ATARI logo in other versions... So...not to worry... I suppose...if the bug is appearing on your screen without the circle and diagonal line...it _is_ a cause to be concerned..." Well folks, we'll keep you informed about John's progress. Meanwhile, let's check out the what's going on with palmtops... From the Palmtop Forums ======================= Steve Riley asks about one of the more popular handheld computers: "The Psion seems to get a lot of accolades. I'll have to check it out. However, I really don't need to carry a computer in my pocket, but more of an organizer. How are the Psion's organizing apps?" Sysop Lloyd Wasser tells Steve: "The Psion's agenda app is perhaps the best of the bunch; full-featured, multi-viewed (day, week, year, list, todo, anniversary, etc) and allows the creation of up to 99 separate to do LISTS (of 50 items each) and to dos, anniversaries and appointments can be alarmed (either just prior to the event or weeks or months ahead of time). Graphical user interface makes things easy to easy, and the whole agenda is totally customizable, Steve. Nice application." Sysop Marty Mankins jumps in and adds his opinion: "The only thing that's missing on the Psion 3a Agenda program is a month view. Other than that, it's really good." David Kramer asks: "Is the Portfolio still in production? How big is it? How much memory? What are it's limitations? I'm looking to buy a HP100LX, but may be swayed!" JF Davington tells David: "I actually don't know its production status but getting new ones is not a problem and Atari is still honoring its $110 (or so) out of Warranty replacement of broken or dead Portfolios. The Portfolio is approximately 8" x 4" x 1" (bigger if you stick on a parallel or serial interface) and, from what I have seen so far (Psion, Sharp and HP), still has the best keyboard on the market for a mahine this size. The standard model comes with 128k of RAM which you can get upgraded to 640 by Megabyte computers in Texas or do it yourself if your technically oriented and handy with a soldering iron. However, I have two Portfolios and I've kept them both at 128k and dont really feel limited. Of course I dont do any DTP or heavy duty Database work with it . Storage is in the form of ramcards or Flash ram cards and sizes go from 64k to 2 meg. The internal applications are pretty versatile and include an ASCII text editor with basic but efficient features, an Address book that can serve many purposes since its pretty much a free form database, a Diary with alarm and repeating appointments, and a Lotus 1-2-3 compatible Worksheet. I guess its nicest feature is that for less than the price of other PDA's you can get a nicely equipped Portfolio. It does remain a machine that requires a bit of imagination but there is plenty of that and of generous support in the Portfolio section of this forum. It does have its quirks but once you know them it becomes a fun machine to work with. There is also a multitude of programs available for the Port up in lib 9. If you intend to program for it, its a good idea to get the technical reference guide from Atari. There are some neat features available. You can get more information by downloading the file PORT.FAQ from lib 9 and by dropping a note in the Portfolio section. I am of course a Fan of the Port and very much biased ;-) but one thing is for sure: It has a surprisingly good keyboard." Mark Nerehausen tells us: "I was given a Portfolio. It has the serial port attachment. Any advice on how I can transfer files from the Portfolio to my desktop? Where do I order the required accessories, if needed? What files or programs do I need on my desktop? Without this capability, the Portfolio seems cute but pretty useless. I love the machine, but am frustrated by not being able to really use it for anything. Thanks for any advice you can offer." Sysop Judy Hamner tells Mark: "There is a file in the forum library that has a lot of good information for the new Port user. It answers questions you may not even think to ask. Look for PORT.FAQ. The serial port interface can be used with a terminal emulator to send files between the Port and PC. There is always a sticky issue of getting the terminal emulator to the Port in the first place. The FAQ file mentions some options. If you purchase a RAM card, try to get the seller to include a public domain program. Otherwise, there are files in the forum library that offer various strategies that have been sucessful for forum users. I think you'll enjoy the Port. With the vast assortment of files available in the forum library, it can assume many personalities." Don Thomas of Atari tells Mark: "The Portfolio's built-in software supports transfers to PCs with the Parallel Interface. The serial Interface works also, but you will need to know or learn the basics of null-modem file transfers. In that case, the Portfolio will need a program found in the forum libraries called: XTERM2.COM. The easiest way to "transfer" files is with a PC Card Drive. This is a disk drive for your PC that reads and writes Portfolio Memory Cards." Well folks, that about wraps it up for this week. Tune in again next week for more Atari info as well as expanded coverage of the Palmtop and Video Game Publishing Forums... or is that "Fora"? Well, at any rate, tune in next week and be ready to listen to what they are saying when... PEOPLE ARE TALKING """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > A "Quotable Quote" "The more things change....." """"""""""""""""" CORPORATE AMERICA ================= by Linda Bialawa Once upon a time, an American corporation and the Japanese decided to have a competitive boat race. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance. On the big day they both felt as ready as they could be. The Japanese won by a mile. The American team became very discouraged by the loss, and morale began to sag. Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found. The "Continuous Improvement Team" was established to investigate the problem and recommend the appropriate corrective action. The results showed that the Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering, whereas the American team had one person rowing and eight people steering. The American Corporate Steering Committee immediately hired a consulting firm to do a study on the management structure. After some time and millions of dollars, the consulting firm concluded that too many people were steering and not enough were rowing. The American team's management structure was totally reorganized. The reorganized structure included 3 Steering Directors, 3 Steering Managers, 2 Steering Supervisors and 1 Rower. Included in the reorganization plan was a new performance standard which gave empowerment and enrichment to the Rower in order to develop an incentive for him to work harder. The next year the Japanese won by 2 miles. Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the Rower to "cut costs", sold all of the paddles, cancelled all capital investments for new equipment, ceased development of a new canoe, gave a "Superior Performance" award to the consulting firm and distributed the money saved as bonuses to senior executives. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > DEALER CLASSIFIED LIST STR InfoFile * Dealer Listings * """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" --------------- ABCO Incorporated ================= P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 Est. 1985 1-904-783-3319 1994 SPRING SPECIALS NOW IN EFFECT! ------------------------ ABCO manufactures custom storage devices! INTEL 32 BIT 486/66, VLB w/Math CoProcessor 4MB ram upgradable to 32MB 1MB SVGA VESA VIDEO CARD Sound Blaster Compatible Stereo Sound Card DOS 6.2 - Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Included 128K CACHE - 1.44/1.2 FLOPPY Drives, Mouse & 101 deluxe Keyboard 250MB IDE hd - 2 SERIAL, 1 PARALLEL, 1 GAME PORTS 250W POWER SUPPLY TOWER SYSTEM 14" Non-Interlaced SVGA 1024x768, 28dpi Monitor 66Mhz, S&H Incl 1695.00 695.00 with order, balance COD other higher powered packages available or, design your own! Call for value added pricing! Call: 904-783-3319 Anytime, Voice Mail =====******===== Syquest Removable 44-105-270mb SCSI Drives All Size Platters Available Diamond Speed Star 24x SVGA/VGA Video Card w/1mbVRAM Diamond Stealth & Viper 1mb & 2mb - Call for prices Enhances Windows SPEED and EFFICIENCY Diamond High Performance Sound Cards Available Soundblaster Cards and compatibles 8 & 16 bit Creative Technologies' Sound Blaster AWE 32 SUPER Sound Card Pro Audio Spectrum STUDIO 16 - 16bit - Midi - Audio Recognition Top of the Media Vision PAS Line - True Multi-Media IDE Super IO cards & 16550 UART 2 & 4 Port Cards Call: 904-783-3319 Anytime, Voice Mail """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" COMPUTER STUDIO =============== WESTGATE SHOPPING CENTER 40 Westgate Parkway -Suite D Asheville, NC 28806 1-800-253-0201 Orders Only 1-704-251-0201 Information FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" EAST HARTFORD COMPUTER ====================== 202 Roberts St. East Hartford CT. 06108 1-203-528-4448 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" MEGABYTE COMPUTERS ================== 907 Mebourne Hurst, TX 76053 1-817-589-2950 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" SAN JOSE COMPUTER ================= 1278 Alma Court San Jose, CA. 95112 1-408-995-5080 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CompuSeller West ================ 220-1/2 W. Main St. St. Charles, IL., 60174 Ph. (708) 513-5220 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (DEALERS; to be listed here FREE of Charge, please drop us a line.) """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport International Online Magazine -* [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport *- AVAILABLE ON OVER 20,001 PRIVATE BBS SYSTEMS """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STR Online! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" June 03, 1994 Since 1987 copyright (c) 1987-94 All Rights Reserved No.1023 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" All Items quoted, in whole or in part, are done so under the provisions of The Fair Use Law of The Copyright Laws of the U.S.A. Views, Opinions and Editorial Articles presented herein are not necessarily those of the editors/staff of STReport International Online Magazine. 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