SILICON TIMES REPORT ==================== INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ============================= from STR Electronic Publishing Inc. October 28, 1994 No. 1044 ====================================================================== 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 90:301/3 904-786-4176 MULTI-NODE 24hrs-7 days 2400-115.2 bps V.32-34 v.42 bis 28.8 Hayes Optima 28.8 V.FC Data/FAX USRobotics Dual Standard 28.8 V.FC Ready Fax 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 ______________________________________________________________________ > 10/28/94 STR 1044 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!" """"""""""""""""" - STR INDUSTRY REPORT - CLEANSWEEP! - PICTURE PUB 5 - UNDER A KILLING MOON! - Stylus 800+ - ZEOS DREAM MACHINE - Stradiwackius? - PEOPLE TALKING - JAGUAR CONTEST! - 3d0 & CREATIVE! - BSF CART REVIEW! - JAGUAR NEWSWIRE! -* ZIFF-DAVIS SOLD FOR $1.4 BILLION *- -* IBM's OS/2 Warp Ships! *- -* RAID TECHNOLOGY AT COMDEX *- ========================================================================== 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 all computer types, worldwide, through the use of excellent International Networking Systems. SysOps and users alike worldwide, are welcome to join STReport's 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 invited to participate. ========================================================================== CIS ~ DELPHI ~ GENIE ~ BIX ~ PROWL ~ ITC ~ NEST ~ EURONET ~ CIX USENET ~ USPOLNET ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET ~ FNET ~ AOL ========================================================================== SOFTWARE CREATIONS BBS is proud to distribute Silcon Times Report STReport International Online Magazine -------------------------------- With more than 130 Lines of PCBOARD access, Internet, Telnet and X.25 local access in every major city world-wide through SprintNet Software Creations delivers the files! -------------------------------------------------- Silicon Times Report joins names like Apogee Software, Borland, id Software, TriSoft, Interactive Gaming, PC Techniques, Coriolis, Fastgraph, PC Information Group, and many more. -------------------------------- Real-Time Credit Card Approval and Membership Upgrades The Software Download Store - for on the spot purchase/approval and download ability! -------------------------------- Call 1-800-4SWCBBS (479-2227); Fax 1-508-365-7214 for more information! ----------------------------------------------------- So, Get the latest releases from SOFTWARE CREATIONS BBS "Home of the Authors" * Software Creations, Voted #1 BBS for 1993 & 1994 * 1200/2400 V.42/MNP Lines : (508) 365-2359 2400-14.4k HST US Robotics Lines : (508) 368-7036 2400-16.8k V.32/V.42bis US Robotics lines : (508) 368-7139 14.4-28.8k V.32/V.42bis/V.fc Hayes Optima lines: (508) 365-9352 14.4-28.8k V.32/V.42bis/V.32terbo/V.fc US Robotics lines: (508) 368-3424 ======================================================================== 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!" """""""""""""""""""""" Here we are.. just about seven weeks away from Christmas. Yes, this year has gone by really fast. They say time flies when you're having fun. Who are "they" anyhow? Meanwhile, the arena I got my "start" in is still around in a way. It was the Atari computer arena. Although today, Atari is very busy trying to introduce the game machine of all game machines on a worldwide basis. Atari's Jaguar game console is quite impressive. Its innovative design, futuristic style and technological superiority over all other contenders in the game console marketplace give it an envious edge. While this reporter may not have very much faith in the manner in which the Tramiels operate Atari, the fact remains they have a very strong winner on their hands. While they've certainly been in a similar position before and blown it, this time they have a huge, overly eager worldwide market that's at least ten to twenty times as large as they had with the computers. Hopefully, they'll be aggressive this time around. In any case, if you are in the market for a really superb game machine that has both a future and a respectable amount of high quality game carts available, go for the Jaguar. For the money, you can't go wrong at all. Comdex is upon us in a few weeks. Look for all the great new goodies both in hardware and software to begin their triumphant arrivals shortly. You can be sure you'll read about them right here in STReport. Ralph... Of Special Note: ---------------- STReport will be branching out further to Internet's userbase in the very near future. We've received numerous requests to receive STReport from a wide variety of Internet addresses. As a result, we're putting together an Internet distribution/mailing list for those who wish to receive STReport on a regular basis, and we'll UUENCODE each issue and mail it to you. If you're interested in being added to our mailing list, please, send your requests to either "dpj@delphi.com" or, RMARIANO@DELPHI.COM. Look for mailings to begin by October first. We are also considering a number of Internet ftp sites in which to post our issues for as well. Whatever we can do to make STReport available to you. we'll try it! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 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 Paul Guillot Joseph Mirando Doyle Helms Frank Sereno John Duckworth Jeff Coe Steve Keipe Guillaume Brasseur Melanie Bell Jay Levy Jeff Kovach Marty Mankins Carl Prehn Paul Charchian Contributing Correspondents: """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Dominick J. Fontana 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 Tim Holt Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: Compuserve................... 70007,4454 Delphi......................... RMARIANO GEnie......................... ST.REPORT BIX............................ RMARIANO FIDONET..................... 1:347/147.3 FNET........................... NODE 350 ITC NET...................... 85:881/253 NEST........................ 90:21/350.0 America Online..................STReport Internet.............RMARIANO@DELPHI.COM IMPORTANT NOTICE ---------------- STReport, with its policy of not accepting any paid advertising, has over the years developed the reputation of "saying it like it really is". When it comes to our editorials, product evaluations, reviews and over-views, we shall always keep our readers interests first and foremost. With the user in mind, STReport further pledges to maintain the reader confidence that has been developed over the years and to continue "living up to such". All we ask is that our readers make certain the manufacturers, publishers etc., know exactly where the information about their products appeared. In closing, we shall arduously endeavor to meet and further develop the high standards of straight forwardness our readers have come to expect in each and every issue. The Staff & Editors """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > STR INDUSTRY REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS """"""""""""""""""" IBM/POWER-PC/PC SECTION (I) =========================== Computer Products Update - CPU Report ------------------------ ---------- Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Issue #44 Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. MATH BLASTER EDUCATIONAL Davidson & Associates Inc. is shipping a new version of its popular Math Blaster educational arcade/adventure game. The new version runs on Sega and Nintendo game players. The company's very first Math Blaster was released for the Apple II in February 1983. It was one of the first educational software products on the market and it continues to be the leading educational math offering. The company has released several derivative products and updates including an MS-DOS version and Macintosh, Windows, and CD-ROM versions. Company spokesperson Susan Wooley told Newsbytes since 1983 the company has shipped about two million products in the Math Blaster family. MS & MULTIMEDIA STORY BOOKS The new storybook series will be marketed by Microsoft as part of its Microsoft Home software series as well as under the Rabbit Ears brand name. "How The Leopard got His Spots" is scheduled for release in January 1995. Mark Grayson, Rabbit Ears president, told Newsbytes the deal is somewhat fluid but will probably include at least six titles. The Rabbit Ears collection includes "Koi and the Kola Nuts" which is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg; "Paul Bunyan," narrated by Jonathan Winters; "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin," narrated by Jack Nicholson; and "David and Goliath," narrated by Mel Gibson. Grayson said future titles developed in conjunction with Microsoft would probably include some of those titles. SECRETS OF STARGATE CD-ROM Stargate, which has been released this week by MGM, has the time honored elements of aliens, spacecraft, and interdimensional travel embedded in an Egyptian inspired environment. With over 700 stills, and 500 storyboards linked to interviews and clips, Secrets of Stargate CD "is very compelling because of the epic nature of this film and the way it assists the viewer to see the myriad of fascinating elements that went into it." Stargate, the movie, stars Kurt Russell, James Spader, and Jaye Davidson. Interview questions are indexed, allowing the user to skip those not of interest. The CD-ROM retails for $39.95 and is a hybrid supporting Windows MPC and Macintosh. FANCY CANON SCANNER SOFTWARE BUNDLE Canon Computer Systems, Inc. will include a copy of Caere Corp. OmniPage Direct optical character recognition (OCR) software with the IX-4015 Canon's top of the line 1200lpi Color Scanner. Both PC-WIN and Apple Computer Macintosh versions are to be available. According John Brassner, product manager, imaging products, this scanner offers the highest resolution and best features, including one-touch operation, of any color scanner priced under $1,000. Further, according to Brassner, Caere's OmniPage Direct OCR software is so adept "it, in effect, teaches Windows or Macintosh computers to read." OmniPage Direct is designed to work on top of the user's applications, usually a word processor. After one chooses the Scan Text command from the Windows File menu, the OCR software automatically uses the best settings for the scanned page without user intervention. Once scanned, recognized, and placed directly into the user's document by OmniPage Direct, the text and numbers are ready to edit, reformat, print and distribute without the user needing to leave the word processor. The Ofoto image scanning software has a one-button automatic scan option which the company says makes it simple enough for any novice to use. RAID TECHNOLOGY CENTER TO BE AT COMDEX The RAID Advisory Board (RAB) is sponsoring a RAID Technology Center in room N236 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 14-18, 1994 to provide one convenient location for RAID and related storage technologies: o See RAID products on display, including controller, enclosures, disk drives, subsystems and test equipment. o Pick up or sign up for RAID product literature. o See a demonstration of RAB-endorsed RAID Functional and Performance Test Suites. o Win a free RAIDbook. o See three video presentations: o RAID Basics o RAID Futures o RAID Advisory Board o Visits with some of the world's leading RAID technologists. o Browse through official RAB publications including: o The RAIDbook o RAID Functional Test Specification o RAID Performance Test Specification o Host Interface Tutorial The RAID Advisory Board is a 50+ Member industry consortium dedicated to fostering the understanding and utilization of RAID and related storage technologies. COMPUADD * FIRST * TO SHIP IBM OS/2 WARP CompuAdd Computer Corp. today announced the industry's first customer shipment of IBM's OS/2 Warp. The new operating system was preloaded on CompuAdd's recently introduced CP90p personal computer, a 90MHz Pentium-based model, and shipped today to the Air Quality Bureau of the New Mexico Environment Department, Santa Fe. The system will be used as part of the bureau's statewide air quality monitoring and other programs. "CompuAdd was the first OEM to announce plans to preload OS/2 Warp for its customers," said Jerry Mixon, director of sales and marketing for CompuAdd. "We're very pleased to follow through with the first shipment, and we're looking forward to the incremental sales potential created by a 32-bit operating system." "CompuAdd's new 90 MHz Pentium-based PCs loaded with Warp create a powerful computing solution for customers," said John Soyring, division director for IBM's Personal Software Products Division. "CompuAdd's customers will be among the first in the industry to experience the impressive new features in the new release of OS/2." FORSTMANN LITTLE BUYS ZIFF-DAVIS FOR $1.4 BILLION Forstmann Little & Co. made it known a company formed by it signed an agreement with the Ziff family to buy Ziff-Davis Publishing Company for $1.4 billion in cash. Ziff-Davis is the largest publisher of computer magazines and the leading provider of information about computer products. The acquisition is not subject to financing and is expected to close by year-end. The Ziff family will retain a small equity interest in Ziff-Davis. Ziff-Davis Publishing Company delivers authoritative information to computer buyers, users and marketers through a variety of media, including magazines, newspapers, newsletters, books, CD-ROM products, and online services. Forstmann Little is acquiring five units: business media, consumer media, international media, market research, and Ziff-Davis Interactive. DEC ADDS SEARS AND CIRCUIT CITY Digital Equipment Corporation (NYSE: DEC) today announced that it has signed agreements for its PC printers with Sears one of the leading national retailers, and Circuit City, one of the leading national consumer electronics superstores. Through these agreements, Sears and Circuit City have begun selling Digital's DECcolorwriter 520ic color ink jet PC printers in several hundred outlets nationwide. "Our comprehensive retail strategy, coupled with Digital's technology leadership, enables Digital's PC printers to continue to increase our share of the retail channel," said Larry Cabrinety, Vice President of Digital's Components & Peripherals Business Unit. "We are on schedule to deliver other products, such as our printer supplies, into this market later in the year." "We are excited to add Sears and Circuit City to our list of national retailers that now totals more than 1,300 outlets nationwide," said Patrick Sullivan, Vice President of Digital's Components & Peripherals Merchandising Business. "According to our retail partners, customer feedback on Digital's printers is very positive." MASSACHUSETTS SYSOP PLEADS GUILTY Alden Baker plead guilty to 84 counts of a Federal Indictment charging him with violating child exploitation laws. The charges were based upon Baker's operation of a BBS containing visual images of minors engaged in sexual acts. U.S. Attorney Donald K. Stern announced that Baker admitted to U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf that he was guilty of sexual exploitation of children and that he had transported, via computer, visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Baker admitted to running a computer bulletin system called "Boston's Eagle's Nest", which allowed other persons to call and log on to the system, out of his High Street home in Medford during the late 1980's and early 1990's. Baker further admitted that he had employed and/or coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing the visual depictions. In addition, Baker admitted that he had published notices or advertisements about the graphic images to those persons who would log on to the system. Under an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Baker could be sentenced to a period of 99 months. He also agreed to forfeit to the government all of the computer equipment which was seized during a search of his home. Baker is also required to pay a special assessment of over $4,000. Sentencing is set for January 17, 1995. DELPHI SHOWS POSITIVE SECOND QUARTER RESULTS Delphi's net income results, while generally consistent with the second quarter of the prior year, increased significantly over the company's previous quarter ended June 30, 1994. This improvement reflects a sales rebound in the mid-market segment of the company's business, as well as operating expense reductions across generally all of Delphi's operating units. Concurrent with these reductions, the company continues its investment in the new product and sales efforts associated with its recent acquisitions. M. Denis Connaghan, Delphi's president and chief operating officer, stated, "We are very pleased with the significant improvement of earnings over the first quarter and believe that our product strategies and cost containment programs have positioned Delphi for continued earnings momentum." _______________________________________ > Stradiwackius STR Review """""""""""""""""""""""" The Kids' Computing Corner -------------------------- Stradiwackius from T/Maker Company ================================== by Frank Sereno Stradiwackius: The Counting Concert is the second in the VroomBooks series of software from T/Maker Company which is well known for its ClickART clip art for desktop publishing. The program is designed for children ages three and up, and it is available on a dual format CD-rom for Macintosh and Windows systems. The program educates children on musical instruments, counting, sets, and even has multilingual capabilities as French, English, Spanish and German versions are included on the CD-rom. The system requirements for this program are quite high. For Windows, needed are Windows 3.1 or newer, a 486 or higher CPU, a mouse, sound card, 256-color 640 by 480 display, CD-rom drive and four megs of ram. T/Maker recommends eight megs of ram and a double-speed CD-rom drive on both Windows and Mac systems. Macintosh requirements are a color display, System 6.0.7 or higher, and an LC series or higher system, including the PowerPC in emulation mode. After having attempted to run this program on a 386DX-40 machine with a single-speed CD-rom drive and a 486DX2-66 system with a double-speed drive, I heartily concur with T/Maker's recommendations. Installation is very easy on Windows machines by running the setup program on the CD-rom. It will copy some QuickTime files to your system and modify the autoexec.bat and win.ini files. Then it will install a program group. A Parent's Guide icon is included. Clicking on this icon starts a brief guided tour of Stradiwackius led by the founder and CEO of T/Maker, Heidi Roizen. A user's guide is packaged in the innovative CD- rom box. The book is divided into English, French, Spanish and German versions. About five pages are devoted to the English Windows version of the game. A phone number is given for technical support and most of the technical advice in the user's guide is about having the newest drivers for the sound and video cards. The program begins with a brief animation which can be avoided by pressing the right cursor key. The main interface consists of a combination of tubes making a rectangular frame, three balls that act as action or selection buttons and the presence of three bookworms on the left side of the frame. They are named Albert, Wendy and Pablo. Albert explains how each of the ten featured instruments works. Then he will guide the child through math and music games. Wendy reads to the child and guides him in writing songs with each instrument. Pablo is an artist and he develops children's imaginations through coloring pages and by building unique musical instruments. A trapdoor in the upper left corner of the frame will start a sing-along song which features the counting of musical instruments. The program consists of ten main pages. These main pages will introduce a number. It will be spelled visually and aloud. Then the corresponding number of musical instruments will be displayed and counted. Finally, part of the sing-along song will be recited. This will teach counting, number concepts and words. At this point the child will have several options. He can click on a worm to do those activities or click on the arrow buttons to go back or forward in the book. By clicking on the page number, he can go to any activity page or change the program language from the resulting menu screen. Clicking on Albert will start his explanation of the instrument and how it works. A jack-in-the-box in the lower right corner is the icon for playing Albert's game. He has a different game for each instrument. In one game he asks the child to identify an instrument by sound. In others the child must distinguish sets of instruments, count, add or subtract. Upon a wrong answer Albert will only say "Try again." Choices are not removed to assist the child in finding the correct answer nor are hints given such as "too high" or "too low" in the number games. No method is provided for setting difficulty levels. The program does not seem to use artificial intelligence to slowly increase the difficulty of the questions as the child progresses. In the addition and subtraction game, one problem may be adding six unseen objects to two objects on the screen. The next question could randomly be asking the child to add one and two or to subtract seven from nine regardless if the last question was answered correctly. Clicking on Wendy will move the game to a chalkboard with part of the sing-along song on display. A purple ball will bounce on the words and highlight them while Wendy reads aloud. The individual words can be reread by clicking on them. Then Wendy will instruct the child to click on the musical instrument on the bottom of the page to start the music making game. Wendy will explain about the musical scale and then invite the child to make songs. Music is made by sliding notes in a multicolored eight by eight grid. Clicking on Pablo will give the child two choices, either to paint a picture of the musical instrument on that page or to construct a musical instrument. The paint program is very simple with only two brush sizes and seven colors. Mistakes can be erased with the pencil-tip eraser icon or the whole picture can be wiped with the large eraser. By clicking on the icon that looks like a beach ball the child can cycle through different colors for the line drawing of the picture. This portion of the program will help build coordination in younger children but I'm not certain it will encourage artistry. It is very hard to stay within the lines and by using only seven colors it does not make for very pretty pictures. Finally, the program does not save the pictures or allow them to be printed out for future viewing. Constructing musical instruments is fun and easy. The instrument is composed of four sections and for each section the child is given six choices. The child can choose a new design for his instrument by clicking on the arrow above a section to cycle through the six choices. Then he can click on a purple button to hear the instrument play. Over one thousand instruments can be made. One of the more interesting features of Stradiwackius is its multilingual capability. You can easily change to French, Spanish and German and back to English to learn a fair vocabulary in those languages. Most experts agree that the best time to learn languages is childhood and Stradiwackius does make this learning fun. Graphics in this program are excellent. The images seem three- dimensional and textured with much eye-grabbing color. The animations are amusing and they are smooth if you have the recommended processing power. The sound is very good. All voice acting is done well with excellent diction. The music is very entertaining and sounds very lifelike with no distortion. Sound effects are very realistic. The interface is quite good. The "live" demonstration of Stradiwackius in the Parent's Guide is an excellent idea and was done very well. No reading is needed to navigate within the program and all activities are explained aloud to the child. I do feel that hints or a reduction of possible answers would be a good addition to this program. This would prevent frustration in the child from not being able to answer a question correctly during the problem-solving exercises. Educational value is well above average. Stradiwackius offers many learning opportunities with its multilingual features. A bit of adult supervision may be necessary to interest children in learning different languages. The combination of music and math is quite logical as music can be expressed in mathematical formulas. The musical instrument activity will teach children to enjoy the music which is available in everyday objects. Children should also learn basic math skills such as counting, adding, subtracting and recognizing sets of objects. Play value is good. The sights and sounds of this program should bring children back for many hours of learning fun. Bang for the Buck is good. This program is available for under $40 at many software outlets. Its combination of educational value and play value deems Stradiwackius worthy of consideration to add to your educational software collection if your computer system meets the high requirements. Ratings Graphics ........... 9.0 Sounds .............10.0 Interface .......... 8.0 Educational Value .. 9.0 Play Value ......... 8.0 Bang for the Buck .. 8.0 Average ............ 8.67 ### WordPerfect has released many new home entertainment and educational titles under its Main Street label. One of those titles is Kap'n Karaoke. This sing-along program is intended for everyone ages four and up and it is available for both Windows and Macintosh computers. Kap'n Karaoke for Windows comes on a single high-density 3.5 inch disk and the package includes a brightly colored microphone. This program is easy to install. It is simple to run if you have the latest drivers for your sound card. The interface is very intuitive. Along the top of the screen is a menu bar which accesses various options that are best used by adults such as driver configuration, exit, etc. In the upper left corner is a large blue button which is marked "click here first." This button will provide a list of twenty songs which are included with the program. The song list includes some adult favorites and many children's songs. WordPerfect is offering a special holiday season bonus through January 15 of a Holiday Song Pack of five Christmas songs but removes one of the regular package's songs. To the right of the blue button are two rows of buttons. The top row contains the special effects sounds which can replace the original lead instrument in the song. The bottom row contains the buttons for playing the song. These buttons are similar in design to those which are found on most VCRs. A pink arrow pointing to the left will "rewind" a song to its beginning. The left blue arrow will "rewind" the song one stanza or verse. The green arrow points to the right and it is the play button. A blue arrow pointing to the right serves as a "fast forward" button and moves the song forward one stanza or verse. The last button is red with a drawing of hand in the middle and this is the stop button. The next portion of the screen is the display window for the lyrics. The words appear in white and then are highlighted in yellow when they should be sung. Up to three lines of the song can be displayed in the window. Below are three pairs of control buttons. The turtle and rabbit buttons control tempo. By clicking on the turtle, the song is slowed. Clicking on the rabbit will increase the tempo. Next are the buttons for controlling pitch. The button showing a low note will lower pitch while the one showing a high note will increase the pitch. Finally, the volume of the music can be changed by using last two buttons. The button picturing a boy with his mouth barely open will decrease the volume while the other button, picturing a boy with his mouth open wide, will increase volume. Depending on your sound card, you may have to go into the mixer program included with the card to set the microphone volume if you wish to amplify your voice through the computer. This makes the program a bit inconvenient to run on a system using KidDesk. Singing is a very enjoyable family activity so this should be no big drawback. Since this is not really an educational program, I won't rate this program numerically but I will comment on the various components. Graphics are colorful but not very detailed. This program will only sound as good as your sound card or midi equipment will allow. Yes, Kap'n Karaoke will output to midi devices. The interface is very easy to operate. This program does not have a lot of educational value. It may increase a child's appreciation of music and possibly he might learn to recognize the words to a song if he has memorized the words already. Play value should be very good, especially if several members of a family will participate together. If you or child loves to sing, Kap'n Karaoke can be a good addition to your software library. ### Nordic Software, a longtime developer and publisher of educational software for Macintosh computers, announces the release of six new educational products for Windows systems. These titles are Clock Shop, Coin Critters, Language Explorer, Word Search Deluxe, Preschool Parade and Turbo Math Facts. Look for a review of Preschool Parade in an upcoming release of the Silicon Times Report. Nordic Software, Inc. P.O. Box 6007 Lincoln, NE 68506-0007 Phone: 402-488-5086 Fax: 402-488-2914 ### Sanctuary Woods announces the availability of two new educational titles on CD-rom in both Windows and Macintosh formats. The first offering is published in cooperation with a leading textbook publisher. "Addison-Wesley's Real World Math Series" attempts to teach children math concepts through real-world examples. The first title of this new series is "Adventures in Flight." Designed for children ages seven to eleven, "Adventures in Flight" shows children how pilots and other workers use math daily to do their duties. Children will learn how pilots use air speed and distance to estimate arrival times, how air traffic controllers use place value when reading the radar, and how baggage handlers can use pattern recognition to route luggage to different destinations. They will learn concepts such as operations, measurement, geometry and graphing. This program and its companion programs in the series will answer the age-old question of why children need to learn math in school. A special, enhanced school version is available from Addison- Wesley's School Division. The second new title is the latest addition to the I-learn Library of products from Sanctuary Woods. Designed for children ages three to six, WordStuff is an animated interactive picture dictionary in Spanish and English which will aid children by increasing their vocabulary and comprehension. Word concepts such as opposites (light/heavy) and action words (sing/grow) are brought to life and understanding through animation and sounds. Children can use a microphone to record and play back their pronunciation of new words. The program allows children to create and print their own word and sentence coloring books. Also included is a karaoke program which uses lyrics rewritten with the WordStuff vocabulary of over 700 words. WordStuff also includes sheet music, flash cards and other off-computer activities. Both Adventures in Flight and WordStuff are priced at $39.95 and are available through mass merchants, mail order and software retailers and directly through Sanctuary Woods. Hardware requirements for the Windows versions are a 386DX-33 CPU, VGA display, Windows 3.1, four megs of ram, 1.9 megs of hard drive space, and a sound card. For the Macintosh, requirements are a Mac LC III or higher, system 6.0.7 or higher, four megs of ram and a hard drive. Sanctuary Woods can be contacted at 415-286-6100. Addison-Wesley can be contacted at 416-447-5101. ### My mailing list that will be available soon from uti.com is still undergoing testing. Soon I will detail how you can obtain the Silicon Times Report through this list. When the list is fully configured, it will allow subscribers to post articles for all to read as well. For now, if you wish to comment or make suggestions on the content of this column, please use the following addresses: Internet: Frank.Sereno@uti.com FidoNET: Frank Sereno, 1:2235/10 U.S. Mail: 528 West Ave. Morris, IL 60450-1768 I extend my warmest regards for your perusal of this humble prose! ___________________________________________ > QUARTERDECK'S NEW "CLEANSWEEP"!STR InfoFile """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" QUARTERDECK ANNOUNCES SOFTWARE TO CLEAN UP CLUTTERED WINDOWS PCS CleanSweep Safely Removes Unwanted or Unneeded Programs, Files and System Components, Increasing Available Disk Space and Enhancing System Performance SANTA MONICA, Calif., October 17, 1994 -- Quarterdeck Office Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:QDEK) today announced plans to ship CleanSweep, formerly code-named "Anvil". CleanSweep makes it easy for Windows users to substantially increase available disk space and improve Windows performance by safely finding and removing outdated, unnecessary or unwanted applications, files or system components. The product establishes a new level of functionality in the category first addressed by MicroHelp's Uninstaller. "Windows PC users are discovering that they are wasting megabytes of precious disk space due to unnecessary and unwanted the increasing size of applications and files. In an attempt to recover this space some users have resorted to manually deleting unneeded files," said Alex Eckelberry, Quarterdeck group product manager for utilitiesAnvil. "Unfortunately, this tactic rarely works well. Most Windows applications install themselves in multiple directories, making it difficult to track down all of the application's files. Even worse, it's all too easy to remove files that are still needed, accidentally disabling applications that are still in use. CleanSweep eliminates these hassles and dangers, analyzing unwanted programs to find all the associated components that should be deleted and safely removing them at the user's request." "We've made safety and accuracy the guiding principles in the development of the product, and included extensive confirmation and backup options of any deleted files as a user default. CleanSweep safely gives the user more available disk space just as QEMM provides more available memory," added Eckelberry. The key features of Quarterdeck's CleanSweep include: ----------------------------------------------------- "Uninstalls" unneeded and unwanted programs and files -- At the user's request, CleanSweep analyzes an unwanted program and provides a list of the files associated with it. The user can then request that CleanSweep delete these files, or choose to remove only specific files. CleanSweep will always allow the user to confirm and backup any deletion before continuing. The product's proprietary Helper Technology provides for safe and thorough uninstalls. Finds Unneeded, Unused and Duplicate Files -- After normal use, many Windows PCs become cluttered with unused files. CleanSweep automatically locates backup, temporary, archive, help, bitmap and lost cluster files, making it easy for the user to reclaim this wasted disk space. The software can even locate files that match a user-specified naming pattern, complete with wild-card capability. CleanSweep can also free-up even more disk space by searching the user's hard disk for duplicate files. Searches can be conducted for files with (i) the same name, (ii) the same name and size or (iii) the same name, size, date and time. Removes Unneeded System Components -- CleanSweep goes beyond merely deleting unwanted Windows programs. It also helps the user to remove unneeded system components such as graphics drivers, fonts, system files, DOS files, wallpaper, help files, screen savers and documents. Extensive Safety features -- CleanSweep provides the user with help and advice every step of the way. If a user unintentionally removes a required file, CleanSweep's Restore Backup feature can restore it quickly (advanced users can disable most of the help and warning messages as well as the automatic Backup function). Users can also choose to perform a "trial run", which will have no effect on the files suggested for deletion but will provide projected disk space savings. By default, CleanSweep automatically compresses and archives all uninstalled files, making it easy for the user to restore any previously removed file. If the user forgets the status of a file, it can always be looked-up in CleanSweep's perpetual log, which by default automatically records every action performed in CleanSweep. In addition to these key features, CleanSweep provides a number of additional product innovations: Finds and Removes More Files -- CleanSweep tracks down the many files associated with an unwanted program, such as system files, DLLs, VxDs, Help Files, .ini file entries and dedicated .ini files. Besides removing the obvious files in an application directory, Anvil identifies, locates and removes files in shared directories. The software also removes dedicated .ini files and removes win.ini sections dedicated to removed applications. Further, CleanSweep tracks files in use by multiple applications, such as like shared DLLs, and removes them only when the last application is uninstalled. It can even detect and remove hidden files or icons associated with a deleted application. The product hunts down related files through the use of its own database as well as a variety of proprietary search algorithms. Elegant Simplicity -- Context-sensitive help and intuitive icons make it easy for any Windows user to reclaim wasted disk space. The product extensively uses the latest interface conventions, including tab-format dialog boxes and drag-and-drop support. Safety Guaranteed by Automatic Undo and Archive Features - A constant stream of advisory messages helps prevent accidental removal of needed files. If a user unintentionally removes a required file they can quickly restore it using Anvil's Undo feature. Anvil automatically compresses and archives all reclaimed files, making it easy for the user to restore any previously removed file. If the user forgets the status of a file they can always look it up in Anvil's perpetual log, which records and saves every action performed on every file. Built-In Networking -- Free with every copy of CleanSweep is a thorough network uninstall module, so all traces of an unwanted program can be removed from a network --including all of the workstations on the network-- and not just from the network server. SuperLinks -- SuperLinks is a function of CleanSweep which runs in the background or can be updated manually to monitor which files are used by programs, providing for an even more thorough and safe uninstall. Removes Unneeded System Components and Duplicate Files - Its easy for an uninstaller to remove old applications. Anvil goes beyond this, helping the user to remove unnecessary system components like wallpaper, games, applets and help files. The built in duplicate file identifier makes it easy to remove multiple copies of files and can search for files of the same name or for files of the same name and size. Finds "Orphaned" Windows programs and components -- CleanSweep can find and remove "Orphaned files", which are left over files from programs no longer being used. CleanSweep is currently in beta test and is anticipated to begin shipping later this fall upon successful completion of the beta test process. The software will be available through Quarterdeck's standard distribution and reseller channels with an expected street price of $39 to $49. Quarterdeck is a leader in software technology and specializes in enhancing the power and performance of personal computers. Their best known product, QEMM, manages a PC system's memory resources to make sure that applications, utilities, DOS and Windows programs can work together. Other Quarterdeck products provide multitasking of applications running on one PC; while still others support seamless distributed computing by ensuring cooperation among multiple systems in cross-platform applications. Quarterdeck Office Systems, Inc. is located at 150 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405. The company can be reached at (310) 392-9851. Quarterdeck and QEMM are registered trademarks and CleanSweep is a trademark of Quarterdeck Office Systems, Inc. All other products mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. ____________________________________ > UNDER A KILLING MOON! STR Spotlight GREAT STUFF!!!! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" AT LAST! Under A Killing Moon NOW Shipping! ================================== A quick "snippet and sneak preview", the package consists of FOUR CD- ROMS and the play is absolutely GORGEOUS! UKM is what we've all wished for in superb reality and "eye candy" for all these years of RPG participation. This will be known for some time as the "ninth wonder of the world". With Under A Killing Moon, Access set out to really define the category of Interactive Movies. As you get involved with UKM, you will see that Access has succeeded in defining what this important new category is all about. The main stars, James Earl Jones, Margot Kidder, Brian Keith and Russell Means were asked to join the cast of Under A Killing Moon because of their acting abilities and not just for their names. As you get into the story of UKM, you will see how important their abilities are to the success of the story. Please take the time to revel in the Virtual World of Under A Killing Moon, it is quite an experience. See for yourselves the beginnings of a wonderfully Legitimate Interactive Movie category of entertainment products. I believe Under A Killing Moon is an incredible piece of entertainment software, I hope you will concur! PS: The next generation of LINKS will be shipping next year. The working title for this product is LINKS FOR PENTIUM. It will be CD based and will definitely look even more realistic than Links 386 Pro! ___________________________________________ > Picture Publisher 5.0 STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Micrografx Picture Publisher 5.0 Continues to Define Innovation in Image Editing Command List Provides Maximum Productivity through Infinite Undo Micrografx is shipping Micrografx Picture Publisher-5.0, the latest version of its award-winning Windows-based image editing software. Announced at Seybold Fall 1994 in San Francisco, Picture Publisher 5.0 is the ideal solution for PC-based photographers, graphic designers and desktop publishers. In addition to Picture Publisher 5.0's feature-based innovation, the company also announced plans to offer a CD-ROM version of the product for the introductory price of $149.95 until Dec. 31, 1994. This is a full version of Micrografx Picture Publisher 5.0, including all online help and clipart images. The printed documentation is also available to users for an additional $29.95. The foundation of Picture Publisher 5.0 is an innovative concept: Command List. This intelligent macro provides productivity-enhancing benefits such as Infinite Undo and Command Layering - which allows rearranging and editing of all commands applied to an image. By giving digital photographers and graphics professionals complete creative control over an image, Micrografx Picture Publisher 5.0 has once again raised the bar for innovation in image editing. By integrating a drag-and-drop Clipboard Browser and Customizable Toolboxes, Micrografx Picture Publisher 5.0 continues to be the easiest-to-use image editor for Windows. "Micrografx Picture Publisher 5.0 continues the tradition of a strong balance between image editing power and intuitive ease-of-use," said J. Paul Grayson, President and CEO of Micrografx. "We've refined and added many features to Picture Publisher, while ensuring it continues to run quickly on 386 and 486 machines." Command List Benefits --------------------- In providing peak productivity through technical innovation, Micrografx has implemented an intelligent macro called Command List. By transparently attaching an ASCII file to the Picture Publisher file format, the macro records all commands applied to the image - with no unique memory demands. The Command List provides the following benefits: * Infinite Undo - unlimited undo capability for all commands within Picture Publisher * Command Layering - ability to rearrange, edit all commands that are applied to an image * Low-Rez Post Processing - work quickly on a low resolution proxy, then apply functions to high resolution * Full Macro Facility - save and replay any set of steps Ease-of-Use Enhancements ------------------------ Comparative reviews in computer publications have consistently recognized Picture Publisher as the easiest-to-use image editor, and Picture Publisher 5.0 continues to be even easier-to-use and learn with: * Bubble Hints - visual, yellow-colored "pop-up" menus to describe icons * Power Right Mouse Button Support - instant access to functions from right mouse button * Customizable Toolboxes and Workspace - create and save any tool, menu or macro in floating toolboxes * Extensive Hot Keys - virtually all menus have hot keys for faster access and use * Enhanced Visual Previews - larger, more accurate previews during effects and color balance * Interactive, CD-ROM-based On-Line Tutorial - speeds initial learning and on-going use Improved Performance -------------------- Optimized for Windows 3.1 (or WFWG 3.11), Picture Publisher 5.0 has been architected to excel on 486-based PCs with 8MB of RAM. Unlike competitive products requiring high-powered Pentium systems with at least 16MB of RAM, Picture Publisher performs exceptionally quickly in lower-powered machines. Leading Industry Standards -------------------------- As a leading technology provider, Micrografx is the first image editor to offer extensive OLE 2.0 support including drag-and-drop and in-place activation. OLE 2.0 provides a tremendous improvement in productivity by allowing users to bring compelling graphics to other applications such as spreadsheets and databases. In addition to OLE 2.0, Picture Publisher 5.0 fully integrates the Kodak PRECISION Color Management System. This color management system ensures color fidelity from scanner, to monitor to printer. The Best Value in Image Editors ------------------------------- Micrografx Picture Publisher 5.0 is available now and retails for $595 SRP for the diskette version *$200-$300 less than competing products. A CD-ROM only version is also available for $395 SRP. A special introductory price of only $149.95 for the CD-ROM version will be offered through December 31, 1994. Registered users of previous version of Picture Publisher (including LE versions) can upgrade to Picture Publisher 5.0 for $99.95 for the CD-ROM only version, or $149.95 for the diskette version. System Requirements ------------------- 386 PC (486 recommended), 4MB RAM (8MB+ recommended), hard drive, Windows 3.1 or higher, DOS 5.0 or higher, mouse, VGA or better display. Note: CD-ROM drive required to access additional of photos, Kodak PRECISION Color Management System and on-line tutorial. MICROGRAFX RETURNS TO PROFITABILITY Company Announces First Quarter Results Richardson, Texas (October 25, 1994) Micrografx, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGXI), a leading graphics software developer, today reported income of $0.1 million, or $0.01 per share, on revenues of $14.2 million for the first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1994. This compares to the most recent quarter ended June 30, 1994 when the company reported a loss of $1.3 million, or $0.15 per share, on revenue of $13.6 million. For the three months ended September 30, 1993, the company reported revenues of $15.9 million and net income of $0.6 million, or $0.07 per share. "We are proud to announce our return to profitability, particularly given the revenue seasonality associated with the summer months," said J. Paul Grayson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are especially pleased with the performance of our key business products. Micrografx Designer TM revenue began to pick up momentum during the quarter, growing 22% sequentially from the June quarter, while revenue from the ABC Product Family grew 55% over the same quarter last year. Geographically, the Pacific Rim region showed particularly strong revenues, increasing 180% over the quarter ended September 30, 1993. In addition, our new consumer products, Crayola Amazing Art Adventure (TM) and Crayola Art Studio (TM), continued to perform well following their introduction in April." New product shipments during the quarter included Micrografx Designer TM 4.1 Technical Edition (TE) and Picture Publisher (R) 5.0. Designer 4.1 TE is a new version of the company's flagship product designed for technical illustrators, architects and engineers. Designer 4.1 TE allows users to draw and edit illustrations at any stage of the product development process, from quick sketches to sophisticated technical drawings. Picture Publisher 5.0 is the latest version of the image editing software which includes productivity-enhancing benefits including Infinite Undo (TM) and Command Layering (TM), which allows rearranging and editing of all commands applied to an image. Also during the quarter ended September 30, 1994, the company launched two CD-ROM versions of its award-winning creativity software for kids, Crayola Amazing Art Adventure and Crayola Art Studio. The new CDs feature the creative activities, games and crafts found in the floppy disk versions of the products plus additional video, animation and sounds. MICROGRAFX OFFERS SOLUTION TO STRANDED PHOTOSTYLER USERS Company Providing Offer 30-day Free Trial Version and $99 Upgrade Richardson, Texas -- Micrografx Inc. (NASDAQ: MGXI) announced a competitive upgrade path for all PhotoStyler users to Micrografx Picture Publisher 5.0 the latest version of the company's award-winning image editing software for Windows. Micrografx is offering a free 30-day trial version of Picture Publisher, and a $99 upgrade to the full version to all PhotoStyler users by calling (800) 261-6125. The trial/upgrade program is partially a result of recent press reports confirming Adobe's purchase of the PhotoStyler source code from its developer, U-lead Systems. According to press and industry analysts, this appears to confirm a common fear of PhotoStyler users: The best parts of PhotoStyler will be integrated into Photoshop, and PhotoStyler will be discontinued. Many industry analysts also agree the transition to Picture Publisher will be most logical for current PhotoStyler users, given their hardware configurations and dependence on intuitive ease-of-use and enhanced speed. "Micrografx's goal has been to become the standard in Windows-based image editing. Given the possibility that PhotoStyler will be merged into Photoshop, users who take up this offer may reward Micrografx with this achievement. Regardless, this aggressive trial and upgrade promotion will provide an excellent product to users in need of an alternative." - Kristy Holch, BIS Strategic Decisions "Given the Adobe/Aldus merger, many PhotoStyler users are concerned about the long-term future of the product. Picture Publisher 5.0 is a technologically superior product that PhotoStyler users will feel comfortable with based on its enhanced speed and intuitive ease-of-use." - Craig Simmons, Micrografx By consistently setting the pace for innovation in image editing including the introduction of Object Layers with version 4.0 in June 1993 Picture Publisher has retained its place as the top-selling Windows-based image editor. The foundation of Picture Publisher 5.0 is an innovative concept: Command List. This intelligent macro provides productivity-enhancing benefits such as Infinite Undo and Command Layering which allows rearranging and editing of all commands applied to an image. "Picture Publisher is a strong contender in PC-based image editing. We would recommend Picture Publisher to anyone even if they're already using PhotoStyler or Photoshop." - Daniel and Sally Grotta, authors of Digital Imaging for Visual Artists, from Windcrest/McGraw-Hill "The Command Layering in Picture Publisher 5.0 is an incredible innovation for PC-based image editing. I've used PhotoStyler over Photoshop in the past, but consistently turn to Picture Publisher for my most important and demanding commercial assignments. $99 is an unbelievable bargain." - Dennis Helmar, GDI Image Founded in 1982, Micrografx is the international leader in creativity software for personal computers. Micrografx creates, publishes and markets applications that enable and enhance visual communication and creative expression in the mainstream business, home and professional creativity markets. Driven by customers * from children who play with Micrografx Crayola Amazing Art Adventure to corporate managers who rely on ABC FlowCharter * Micrografx provides tools for visualizing the future. The company's U.S. operations are based in Richardson, Texas with a satellite office in San Francisco. International locations include Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, the Netherlands and Japan. __________________________________________ > ZEOS International STR InfoFile STReport Mini-Series """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ZEOS INTERNATIONAL, LTD. A DREAM SYSTEM! Let's begin the third in an STReport mini-series on what can only be called a "Dream System" with the ZEOS International 90Mhz Pentium at the center. Through the course of the mini-series, we shall cover in detail the installation of each of the custom peripherals which are listed below. The Peripheral List: -------------------- A)- 2 1083 Mb Western Digital 31000a Enhanced IDE Hard Drives B)- 1 Teac CDROM CD55a 4x Drive C)- 1 Mitsumi IDE CDROM Drive D)- 1 Archive Viper 250mb SCSI Tape Backup E)- 1 Sound Blaster AWE32 Sound Card w 2mb & Roland SCD-15 Daughter Board. F)- 1 Maxtor 340Mb SCSI Hard Disk G)- 1 Canon IX-4015 SCSI Color Scanner 1200lpi w/ADF H)- 1 Fargo Primera Pro Color Printer 600dpi I)- 1 Hewlett Packard Laser Jet 4P Printer 600dpi J)- MAG Innovision 17F Color Monitor 17" ni K)- 1 USRobotics Dual Standard V.34/V.FC/28.8 External Modem L)- Adaptec 1542cf SCSI Busmaster card & EZ SCSI Software along with a few other items yet to be made mention of. THE INSTALLATION OF THE GB IDE HARD DRIVES AND TWO CD ROM DRIVES Where to begin... Let's see, will we start with the ribbon cables or the power supply feeds? First things first, the power supply, like all other power supplies has only so many feeds. Since most are accounted for by the basic system, it becomes necessary to have a few "splitters" to power up everything. After the splitters were installed (easy) comes the ribbon cables. Usually, they are set to the right lengths or so it seems. Actually, they are made somewhat longer than needed. (just in case) In this situation there WAS a "just in case". I know because the cables just adequately fit in the huge tower cabinet supplied by ZEOS International. One ribbon cable ran from the enhanced IDE controller (bank two) on the motherboard to the Mitsumi 2x CDRom. The other ribbon cable ran from the Sound Blaster AWE 32 Card to the Teac CD55a 4x CDRom. After installing the cables and power feeds. The time had come for power-up and driver installation. As the system came up I wondered what joys awaited me with the driver installation. After all, I was trying to run two CDRoms in the same system. Not surprisingly, the power-up was perfect. What did you expect? Mushroom Clouds? sheesh! The driver installations for both CDRoms were really very straight forward, adequately prompted and quickly completed. This 90mhz Zeos Pantera Pentium is fast. Really fast. Back to the CDRoms. After a subsequent bootup, both were running fine and recognized. The system was doing just fine. With this done it was now the hard disk's turn to "get with the program". After having heard all the horror stories about large hard disk installations this was beginning to look like a formidable task. After the hardware part of the installation, in other words eight screws later, the ribbon cables and power connectors were installed and we were ready to see this part of the setup purr right along. After a reboot and quick entry into the "setup" program of the computer, I was confronted with the hard disk info entry screen. Being cautious and deliberate, I immediately chose the "auto" function for both IDE gb drives. Whew, that was difficult. After F-10 and a yes to save the config info, we were at the ever so familiar DOS prompt. Now for FDISK, (that's right, no special format programs), to set five equal partitions for each of the mechanisms, ten partitions in all, and a format of each partition. To make a long boring story short. The new CMOS easily handled the big drives and we had every last "drop" of room to use. Without the need of an outside handler like Disk Manager etc.. The hard drives are running perfectly. Once all the preliminary installations are done, we'll go into the software installs in depth. Especially the 32bda and 32bfa. Its a remarkable improvement in the way things are done. Next week, Dos and Windows installation and setup. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N FARGO PRIMERA PRO COLOR PRINTERS - 600DPI For a limited time only; If you wish to have a FREE sample printout sent to you that demonstrates FARGO Primera & Primera Pro SUPERIOR QUALITY 600dpi 24 bit Photo Realistic Color Output, please send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope [SASE] (business sized envelope please) to: STReport's Fargo Printout Offer P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155 Folks, the FARGO Primera Pro has GOT to be the best yet. Its far superior to the newest of Color Laser Printers selling for more than three times as much. Its said that ONE Picture is worth a thousand words. Send for this sample now. Guaranteed you will be amazed at the superb quality. (please, allow at least a one week turn-around) A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" :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. Fire up that high-speed modem and head for your favorite GEnie Software Library! Effective October 10, 1994, you'll be able to participate in an open beta test, offering access to GEnie Services at 9600 bps for as little as $5.00 per hour. As a result of an arrangement with Sprint, GEnie will be offering 9600 bps access from almost 300 SprintNet locations. Best of all, this high-speed access will not be subject to high-priced surcharges. The normal $2.00 per hour SprintNet surcharge will apply...even at 9600 bps! This open beta test is expected to run through the end of the year. To find the number of the SprintNet access number nearest you, simply type PHONES at any GEnie menu prompt (or use the "Move To Keyword" option in Genie for Windows and type PHONES). Remember, this rate applies only to 9600 bps access via SprintNet. So be sure to choose the access number showing "9600" in the "Baud Rate" column AND "SprintNet" in the "Network" column. From the "Fine Print" department, please note that the $2.00 per hour surcharge for SprintNet access is applicable even during your initial four hours of monthly usage. So, whether you're into downloading software, reading bulletin boards, or accessing databases, it's about to become cheaper to do it faster! GEnie Information Services copyright (C) 1994 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) > EPSON Stylus 800+ STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" EPSON Stylus 800+ Ink Jet Printer ================================= FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS ------------------------- EPSON Stylus technology created an entirely new standard, with the crispest, clearest images ever seen in ink jet printing. And now, with the High Definition EPSON Stylus 800+, we've made our extraordinary ink jet printing even better. The EPSON Stylus 800+ uses Stylus technology advances such as microfeeding, plus new software driver features, including MicroWeaving and Error Diffusion to provide even sharper, more detailed graphics output. These improvements would slow most printers down, but we've actually speeded ours up! The EPSON Stylus 800+ prints at a fast 165 cps in letter quality, and has a new super-fast draft mode of 250 cps. The High Definition EPSON Stylus 800+ is more extraordinary than ever. And even more remarkable when you consider the price. High Definition ink jet printing -------------------------------- Exclusive EPSON Stylus technology provides the best ink jet printing available at 360 dpi. Improved grayscale graphics --------------------------- Microfeeding, MicroWeaving and Error Diffusion combine to produce even sharper, more detailed graphics printing. Convenient paper handling ------------------------- Built-in 100 sheet plain paper tray. Prints envelopes, transparencies and labels with ease. Your choice of fonts -------------------- Eight different typefaces built in, with four scalable up to 32 points. Quiet, compact, and easy to use ------------------------------- Whisper-quiet at 45 dB(A), with a compact footprint of 17"x10.4". Easy to set up and use. EPSON support ------------- Two-year limited warranty and toll-free EPSON Connection hotline to answer your questions. Product Specifications ---------------------- Printing Method Drop on demand piezoelectric ink jet Print Speed Letter Quality 165 cps (10 cpi) 198 cps (12 cpi) 248 cps (15 cpi) Draft 250 cps (10 cpi) 300 cps (12 cpi) 375 cps (15 cpi) Resident Bit-Mapped EPSON Roman 10, 12, 15 proportional Fonts EPSON Sans Serif 10, 12, 15 proportional EPSON Courier 10, 12, 15 EPSON Prestige 10, 12, 15 EPSON Script 10, 12, 15 EPSON Draft 10, 12, 15 Scalable Fonts EPSON Roman 8 to 32 points EPSON Sans Serif 8 to 32 points EPSON Roman T (PS) 8 to 32 points EPSON Sans Serif H (PS) 8 to 32 points Sound Level 45 dB (A) Emulation EPSON ESC/P 2 Character Sets 1 legal and 14 international character sets, 9 character tables Maximum Graphics 360 x 360 dpi Resolution Print Enhancements Bit-mapped fonts Condensed, double width, double strike, italic, underlined, double underlined, overscore, strike through, shadow/outline, double height, emphasized Scalable fonts Emphasized, double strike, italic, underlined, double underlined, overscore, strike through, shadow/outline Dimensions H x W x D 6" x 17" x 10.4" Weight 10.6 lbs. Input Buffer 32KB - Mixed text/graphics OFF 8KB - Mixed text/graphics ON Interface Centronic-compatible 8-bit parallel standard Paper Feed Mechanism Friction feed with auto sheet feed or manual insertion Print Direction Bi-directional logic seeking in text and graphics modes Hardware Features Control panel selection of fonts, form feed, default settings Paper Handling Cut sheet (paper tray) Width 8.2" to 8.5" Length 11.0" to 11.7" Thickness .0O26 to .0055 inches Weight 18 to 24 lbs. Quality Bond paper, plain paper Cut sheet (manual insertion) Width 7.1" to 8.5" Length 10.1 " to 11.7" Thickness .0026 to .0043 inches Weight 14 to 24 lbs. Quality Bond paper, plain paper Envelope No. 6 or No. 10 Size #6 (W x L) 6.5" x 3.6" Size #10 (W x L) 9.5" x 4.1" Thickness .0063 to .02 inches Weight 12 to 24 lbs. Quality Bond paper, plain paper, air mail Printable Area (Minimum) Top margin .12" Left and right margins .12" Bottom margin .51" Enviromnental Characteristics Temperature Operating: 50 to 95 degrees F (10 to 35C) Storage: -4 to 132 degrees F (-20 to 50øC) Humidity Operating: 20 to 80% relative humidity Storage: 5 to 85% relative humidity (no condensation) Safety Approvals Safety Standards UL1950 w/D3, CSA22.2 #220 R.F.I. FCC Part 15 Subpart B class B Reliability/Life Expectancy Printer MTBF 4,000 power on hours Product Codes EPSON Stylus 800+ C134001 Accessories Ink cartridge S020025 (Stylus 400/800/800+/1000) Electrical Requirements 120VAC+/- 10%; 50 to 60 Hz; 60 VA Maximum Ink Cartridge Black - 700,000 characters Warranty Two-year limited warranty in the U.S. EPSON Support EPSON Connection information hotline 800-922-8911 Faxback System 800-922-8911/310-782-4214 Electronic Bulletin Board 310-782-4531 USA: Call 1-800-289-3776 for the nearest dealer location Epson America, Inc. 20770 Madrona Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503 Canada: Call 1-800-463-7766 Epson Canada, Ltd. 550 McNicoll, Willowdale, Ontario M2H 2E1 Fax 416-498-4574 Latin America: Call 1-305-265-0092 Epson Latin America 6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 390, Miami, Florida 33126 Fax 301-265-0097 Specifications are subject to change without notice. Epson is a registered trademark and Epson Stylus is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation; Epson ESC/P 2 is trademark and Epson Connection is a servicemark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. _______________________________________ > CREATIVE & 3DO STR FOCUS! """"""""""""""""""""""""" 3DO Technology Now Available For Creative Labs' Extensive Installed Base!! SINGAPORE -- October 26, 1994 -- Creative Technology Ltd. (Nasdaq:CREAf), the leading provider of multimedia products for the PC, today introduced the first desktop PC implementation of 3DO's advanced interactive entertainment technology taking direct aim at the desktop interactive game marketplace. With the introduction of 3DO(TM) Blaster, Creative is targeting their extensive installed base of CD-ROM users. 3DO Blaster provides PC owners with the ultimate game platform -- exciting 3DO games recognized for unprecedented interactive realism, full-motion video, CD-quality audio and three-dimensional sound effects. "Today's announcement reflects the efforts of two of the most advanced technology suppliers, Creative Technology and 3DO. The 3DO Blaster provides the advantage of Creative's and 3DO's innovation to the installed base of PC's already using Creative multimedia products," said Sim Wong Hoo, CEO and chairman of Creative Technology Ltd. "Creative's and 3DO's technologies create an advanced entertainment platform which will enhance the capabilities of PCs, and expand the imagination of users by providing them access to exciting, interactive products that fully exploit the potential of multimedia entertainment." Trip Hawkins, president and CEO of The 3DO Company, said today's announcement enables his company to expand quickly and aggressively into the vast PC market. "Creative is the leading supplier of multimedia products for PCs, providing us with the opportunity to deliver 3DO's advanced interactive technology to an even broader audience," said Hawkins. The Technology -------------- The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer(TM) system incorporates twin custom graphics processors, a digital signal processor (DSP) for CD quality soundtracks and three-dimensional sound effects, a 32-bit RISC processor and a video system capable of displaying photorealistic images. Under an exclusive licensing agreement, Creative has taken this technology and developed a single expansion card that provides similar functionality for a personal computer. The 3DO Blaster Package ----------------------- The 3DO Blaster will include two 3DO titles - Electronic Arts' ShockWave(TM), Tetragon's Gridders(TM), and the 3DO Interactive Sampler CD2. In addition to the 3DO software titles, included is Aldus PhotoStyler(TM) SE to provide the user with Kodak Photo CD(TM) compatibility. The 3DO Blaster will be available in late October at a suggested retail price of $399.95. The 3DO Blaster will provide users access to over 125 titles available for 3DO Interactive Multiplayer systems, which include action games, interactive movies, educational titles, simulation games and many others. System Requirements ------------------- 3DO Blaster is compatible with a 386 25 MHz (or above) standard PC, and functions as a standard Windows application running on Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) 3.1 or higher. This allows for resizing the gaming window to view games at full screen. Additional requirements include: o Creative CR-563 CD-ROM drive o 4 MB RAM o VGA display adapter with feature connector o Sound Blaster™ series audio card with CD-Audio connector o Speakers Creative Technology Ltd. develops, manufacturers and markets a family of sound and video multimedia products for IBM-compatible PCs. The company's Sound Blaster sound platform enables IBM-compatible PCs to produce high-quality audio for entertainment, educational, music and productivity applications, and has been accepted as the industry standard sound platform for PC-based software. Creative Technology Ltd. was incorporated in 1983 and is based in Singapore. Creative Technology's subsidiaries include Creative Labs, Inc., E-mu Systems, Inc., and ShareVision Technology, Inc. Creative also has other subsidiaries in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and China. The Company’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol CREAf. Sound Blaster is a trademark of Creative Technology Ltd. 3DO, the 3DO logo, and Interactive Multiplayer are trademarks of the 3DO Company. All other products mentioned herein are assumed trademarks and are hereby recognized as such. CONTACT INFORMATION ------------------- Theresa Pulido Lisa Kimura Creative Labs, Inc. Copithorne & Bellows (408)428-6600 ext. 6416 (415)284-5200 ********************************************************************** 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!" """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Time is still tight these days. I wish that there were more hours in the day, or days in the week - I just can't seem to find the needed time to express some personal views in my editorials lately. Maybe it's for the better, at least for the moment. Anyway, it's getting late, deadlines to meet, and a few things left to put together before we send another installment off "to the presses." Don't forget to set your clocks BACK one hour this weekend and enjoy that extra hour for some sleep or whatever other good use that you can find! Until next time... Delphi's Atari Advantage! TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (10/26/94) (1) HSMODA04 SERIAL PORT ACC (6) ESS-CODE V6.2 (2) MAGIC SPOOLER 1.09 *(7) SPEEDO GDOS FONTS (3) IDEALIST 3.51 (8) E-MAIL LIST (4) TYPE 1 CONVERTER *(9) AVP MAPS (5) HACE NEWSLETTER *(10) AHDI CONFIGURATION PRG * = 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 10.43) ATARI ONLINE (Current issue: AEO: VOLUME 3, ISSUE 12) Look for the above files in the RECENT ARRIVALS database. ______________________________________ > Internet Update! STR InfoFile! - Atari Internet FTP Sites! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ATARI ST FTP LIST From: Hallvard =?iso-8859-1?Q?Tanger=E5s?= Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 19:51:35 GMT Posted to newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st, comp.sys.atari.st.tech, comp.sys.atari.announce - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Last edit: 24-October-1994 Additions/changes since last list: 2 - disabuse.demon.co.uk - alice.fmi.uni-passau.de - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Any new information regarding changes/deletions/additions etc. can be emailed to me. Thanks! Compiled by: Hallvard Tangeraas, Oslo, Norway (hallvart@ifi.uio.no) ()==========================() // ____/__ __/ ____/ //\\ // / / / _/ // () // __/ / ____/ // // // / / / // // // _/ _/ _/ Archives // // // // // ()==========================() // \\ \\// ()=========================() (log in with "anonymous" as name, and full name/e-mail address as password) FTP instructions after this list! A T A R I S T F T P S I T E S : ------------------------------------- USA: --- atari.archive.umich.edu...(141.211.120.11)..../atari/ email server.............atari@atari.archive.umich.edu cs-ftp.bu.edu.............(128.197.13.20)...../PC/ATARI-ST/ world.std.com.............(192.74.137.5)....../src/atarist/ and /pub/atari/ ftp.std.com...............(192.74.137.7)....../pub/atari/ f.ms.uky.edu..............(128.163.128.6)...../pub2/atari/ CANADA: ------- aupair.cs.athabascau.ca...(131.232.10.8)....../atari/ CZECH REPUBLIC: --------------- ftp.dcs.muni.cz.....(147.251.48.3)........../pub/archives/atari/ NETHERLANDS: ------------ nikhefh.nikhef.nl...(192.16.199.1)........../pub/atari/ star.cs.vu.nl.......(192.31.231.42)........./pub/atari/ ftp.twi.tudelft.nl..(130.161.156.11)......../pub/atari/ ftp.icce.rug.nl.....(129.125.14.129)......../pub/erikjan/Atari FINLAND: -------- ftp.funet.fi........(128.214.248.6)........ /pub/atari/ FRANCE: ------- ftp.cnam.fr.........(163.173.128.6)......../pub/Atari/ GERMANY: -------- alice.fmi.uni-passau.de...(132.231.1.180)...../pub/atari/ ftp.uni-kl.de.............(131.246.9.95)....../pub/atari/ ftp.uni-erlangen.de.......(131.188.1.43)....../pub/atari/ ftp.tu-clausthal.de.......(139.174.2.10)....../pub/atari/ email server.............mail-server@ftp.tu-clausthal.de ftp.uni-muenster.de.......(128.176.121.55)..../pub/atari/ ftp.uni-paderborn.de......(131.234.2.32)....../atari/ ftp.cs.tu-berlin.de.......(130.149.17.7)....../pub/atari/ email server.............mail-server@cs.tu-berlin.de pascal.math.fu-berlin.de..(130.133.4.50)....../pub/atari/ ftp.uni-regensburg.de.....(132.199.1.202)...../freeware/software/atari/ vax.ph-cip.uni-koeln.de...(134.95.64.1)...... /pub/atari/ ftp.germany.eu.net........(192.76.144.75)...../pub/comp/atari-st/ email server.............archive-server@Germany.eu.net ftp.uni-stuttgart.de......(129.69.8.13)......./pub/systems/atari/ email server.............ftpmail@ftp.uni-stuttgart.de ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de.(131.159.0.198)../pub/comp/platforms/atari/ ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de......(137.226.225.3)....../pub/atari/ wowbagger.pc-labor.uni-bremen.de...(134.102.228.9)......../pub/atari_st/ ma2s2.mathematik.uni-karlsruhe.de..(129.13.115.2)........./pub/atari/ reseq.regent.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de..(129.187.230.225)../pub/comp/ platforms/atari/ email server...........ftp-mailer@ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de ftp.hrz.uni-kassel.de....(141.51.12.12)..../pub/machines/atari/ ftp.ira.uka.de...........(129.13.10.90)..../pub/systems/atari/ ftp.thp.uni-koeln.de.....(134.95.64.1)...../pub/atari/ nibelung.worms.fh-rpl.de..(143.93.16.3)..../atari/ rzserv3.rz.tu-bs.de......(134.169.9.31)..../pub/atari/ email server............archive-server@ibr.cs.tu-bs.de ftp.coli.uni-sb.de.......(134.96.68.1)...../pub/atari UK: --- micros.hensa.ac.uk (148.88.8.84) .......... /micros/atari/ email server......archive-server@micros.hensa.ac.uk disabuse.demon.co.uk (158.152.1.44)........ /pub/atari/ SWITZERLAND: ----------- ftp.isbiel.ch.....(147.87.2.27)............/atari/ FTP "mirror"-sites:('back-door' to other FTP sites when they are too busy ------------------- or there are other problems accessing them!) mirror.archive.umich.edu...(128.252.135.4) or (128.193.2.13) or (128.193.4.2) or (128.255.21.233) or (128.255.40.200) nic.switch.ch (130.59.1.40)............/mirror/atari/ - (umich.edu, USA) archive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4)....../mirrors/archive.umich.edu/atari/ - (umich.edu, USA) src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.2.1)........./packages/atari/umich/ PS!!! 155.198.1.40 is more reliable!!! - (umich.edu, USA) src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.2.1)........./packages/atari/uni-paderborn PS!!! 155.198.1.40 is more reliable!!! - (uni-paderborn, GERMANY) - to find the numbered address of the FTP site, use the following command, while inside FTP: ftp> !host FTP-address [CR] i.e. "!host cs.bu.edu" DOWNLOADING FILES, Instructions: [CR]= carriage return/return/enter -------------------------------- 1) Go to the directory where you want the files to be downloaded. 2) ftp [CR]. 3) open {ftp address} [CR]. i.e. "open ftp.uni-kl.de" [CR] OR use the (IP) number address, NOT both! 4) "Name": anonymous [CR]. 5) "Password": {full e-mail name/address}. i.e. "hallvart@ifi.uio.no" [CR] 6) use "cd" to access the appropriate directory. i.e. "cd pub/atari" [CR] 7) bin [CR]. (set `binary` transfer mode) 8) hash [CR]. (shows 'hash` signs (#####...) when transferring data) 9) get {filename} [CR]. i.e. "get rename.lzh" [CR] 10) mget [CR] to get several files at once. i.e. "mget syst12.Z fixdsk.arc icon4.zip" [CR] 11) prompt [CR] to download several files with "mget" without having to reply "y" for each file when asked "get {filename}?". 12) quit [CR] to end FTP session and go back to UNIX 13) close [CR] to close the FTP site you're currently on, so that another site can be opened without having to set bin, hash, prompt etc. again. - bin, hash, prompt will be turned on/off each time it's typed! - Be sure to check if all modes are set correctly (especially 'bin')! - stat [CR] or; status [CR] will show all modes and where you are connected. - Most files are compressed. Use an appropriate program on your computer on which the programs were intended, or in UNIX ....... - uncompress [CR] if ".Z" file - uudecode [CR] if ".uu" file - very often, files are still compressed in another format after uncompressing .Z and/or .uu. Use the appropriate decompression program for this. - ls [CR] lists files (shows all files in current directory). - pwd [CR] shows path. i.e. /pub/mirrors/umich/atari/utilities - If down-loading several files with similar names use "*". i.e. "mget *sys" [CR] (will get f.x.; datasys, lm23isys, xlinksys etc...) (ALL files with "sys" in their names) i.e. "mget *.lzh" [CR] (will get f.x.; stest.lzh, dw3.lzh, xlba.lzh etc...) (ALL files ending with ".lzh") i.e. "mget * [CR] (will get ALL files in the current directory!) - If your computer doesn't have a disk drive you can "remote login" to another computer (use an other terminal's disk drive); - rlogin {computer name} [CR]. i.e. "rlogin hnoss" [CR]. - You can now access the disk just as if it was on your own machine. - eject [CR] to eject disk on disk-drives without "eject button" TRANSFERRING FILES TO MS-DOS DISKS ---------------------------------- - mcopy {filename} a: [CR] i.e. mcopy microtcx.zoo a: i.e. mcopy microtcx.zoo icone.lzh shblr.arc a: - mdir [CR] to show disk-directory/space left. - fdformat -d [CR] to format an MS-DOS 3.5" 1.44mMb disk ("-d" for MS-DOS) - fdformat -l -d [CR] to format an MS-DOS 720Kb 3.5" disk ("-l" for "low density") - mcopy a:{filename on disk} {copy filename} [CR] to get a file from disk to computer. i.e. "mcopy a:dlist.txt dlist.txt" - mdel a:{filename} [CR] to delete a file on disk. i.e. "mdel a:dslist.txt". Compiled by Hallvard Tangeraas, Oslo, Norway (hallvart@ifi.uio.no) (c) 24-October-1994 This file may by all means be reproduced and distributed freely, but only with all data intact. ____________________________________________ > Online Gaming! STR NewsFile! - "Net Games" Book Available! """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Net Games - New Book from Creators of Net Guide From: Michael Wolff Date: 20 Oct 1994 18:29:49 -0400 We've just finished our new book Net Games--a guide to the world of online games. It's stuffed with addresses and hints for playing games over the Net from chess to Doom to FurryMUCK. We've put up a sampling of pages from the book as GIF's that can be downloaded from ftp://www.ypn.com/pub/pages. Feel free to upload these pages anywhere on the Net. For more information about Net Games, our first book Net Guide, or our upcoming books Net Chat, Net Money, Net Trek, Net Sports, and Net Tech check out our Web site at http://www.ypn.com/. BTW, we're looking for freelance Netsurfers and writers (we even pay!). Here's the press release that the publisher, Random House, sent out: New Book Charts Entertainment Revolution What's Playing in Cyberspace? Net Games, a new release from Random House Electronic Publishing and Michael Wolff & Company, Inc., is the first book to document the revolution taking place in interactive entertainment--at any hour of the day millions of people worldwide are online playing games with each other in Cyberspace. Most do not know each other. Few will ever meet each other. And yet, online camaraderie and competition rival the intensity of contact sports. Night after night, old hands and newbies meet at the electronic equivalent of parks and sandlots where they blast away at each other, sit on opposite sides of chess boards (with thousands of miles between them), or create rate adventure worlds together. Not only do the players fiercely compete, but as they play they talk (or type back and forth), bragging, complaining, and sharing their lives. Where the first generation of video games pitted human against computer, the new breed of games takes advantage of the Internet and other computer networks to bring human rivalry and team spirit directly to your screen. Net Games is a guide to more than 1,500 of these new computer games, including: - Multiplayer virtual scrimmages like Air Warrior, Cyberstrike, Doom, and Bolo, which combine the local color of a hometown bowling league with the massive firepower of a Hollywood action movie; - Chess, go, bridge, backgammon--even Jeopardy--servers that function as anytime, anyplace meeting spots for novices and masters alike to get games going at any moment of the day--or night; - MUDs, MOOs, and MUSHes--participatory narrative adventures (the true post-modern novel)--wherein players build and explore virtual worlds from gaslit San Francisco to the USS Enterprise, from worlds based on Anne Rice's vampire chronicles and sci-fi classics like the Dune series, to FurryMUCK, an anthropomorphic world where players experience polymorphous pleasures. (There are more than 400 virtual world games which, at any hour of the day, have as many as 200 players!); - Play-by-mail strategy classics like rotisserie baseball and Henry Kissinger's favorite game, Diplomacy, that travel over email lines. By some estimates more than half of online time is spent playing interactive games. Indeed, games are proliferating around the Net at such an astonishing rate and are gaining so much popularity that some universities have begun to control the bandwidth games take up on their mainframes. On commercial services, games are one of the fastest growing offerings. GEnie players of Air Warrior, a flight simulation game, have spent up to a $1,000 a month. It is no coincidence that shortly after Rupert Murdoch bought Delphi, he also bought Kesmai, one of the largest producers of online games. Besides the games people play online, Net Games also covers the thousands of free computer games and demos that people download from online archives and the modern-day mutual aid societies that share cheats, hints, and walk-throughs for mastering home and arcade hits ranging from Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam to Sim City 2000 and Doom (and even the daily crossword puzzle). Net Games, the second book in the Net Books Series, is by the creators of Net Guide, the best-selling guide to Cyberspace that Wired editor Louis Rossetto called "the TV Guide to Cyberspace," and USA Today called "the liveliest most readable online guide yet!" In addition to Net Guide and Net Games, the Net Books Series includes: - Net Chat, a map of salons and meeting places in Cyberspace, to be published in November; - Net Money, a handbook for using online personal finance resources, to appear in time for tax season in January; - Net Trek, a directory of the online Trekkie universe, to arrive in bookstores in March. -- Michael Wolff & Company, Inc., 1633 Broadway, 27th floor, New York, NY 10019 Vox: 212-841-1572 Fax: 212-841-1539 Email: editors@ypn.com To order books or find out more about our new Internet service, YPN-- Your Personal Network, call toll-free 1-800-NET-1133 Jaguar Section ============== It's Still AvP!!, Virtual Reality Next X-Mas?, Brutal Sports Football Review, New Games SOON!, and more! > From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is! """""""""""""""""""""""""""" We're in the middle of a lot of interesting Jaguar news lately. More games are either in production, or about to get there. That's the good news. However, there's also been a lot of grumbling online about the delays and/or the lack of a lot of new games. Also, will the CD player and the voice modem be ready in time for the holidays? It's getting close folks - almost down to the wire. Christmas is a mere eight weeks away and 30-50 games seems like it may be an unlikely target. But, I'm willing to see what happens and maintain some degree of positive thinking. The "official" holiday season is still 4 weeks away, so let's see what happens. Meanwhile, the excitement of Alien vs. Predator is still being expressed online. It's a great game, and one that I've been able to spend a limited amount of time playing myself. Other games of equal playing excitement are just around the corner - definitely! It appears that virtual reality may actually become one for the Jaguar. Make sure to check out the latest press release from Atari, below. Marty Mankins has finally stopped travelling on business long enough to spruce up his review of Brutal Sports Football. As of this writing, his review of AvP is imminent and may also make this issue. We're also expecting a second review of this latest game from staffer Craig Harris. Stay tuned! And, what better way to get into the swing of the Holidays but to offer another opportunity to win some fantastic Jaguar-related items. Yes, it's contest time once again!! You'll see the details later on in this section. Don't miss out on this one! Well, we've got a lot of interesting news and information for you this week, so let's get to it! Until next time... > Jaguar Catalog STR InfoFile - What's currently available, what's """"""""""""""""""""""""""" coming out. Current Available Titles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT # TITLE MSRP DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER J9000 Cybermorph $59.99 Atari Corp. J9006 Evolution:Dino Dudes $49.99 Atari Corp. J9005 Raiden $49.99 FABTEK, Inc/Atari Corp. J9001 Trevor McFur/ Crescent Galaxy $49.99 Atari Corp. J9010 Tempest 2000 $59.95 Llamasoft/Atari Corp. J9028 Wolfenstein 3D $69.95 id/Atari Corp. JA100 Brutal Sports FtBall $69.95 Telegames J9008 Alien vs. Predator $69.99 Rebellion/Atari Corp. Available Soon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT # TITLE MSRP DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER CatBox $49.95 ICD CatBox + $69.95 ICD J9007 Checkered Flag $69.99 Atari Club Drive $59.99 Atari Doom $69.99 id/Atari Theme Park TBD Ocean Syndicate TBD Ocean Troy Aikman Football$69.99 Williams Sensible Soccer J9036 Dragon: Bruce Lee $59.99 Atari J9012 Kasumi Ninja $69.99 Atari Cannon Fodder TBD Virgin Hover Strike $59.99 Atari Iron Soldier $59.99 Atari J9042 Zool 2 $59.99 Atari Hardware and Peripherals ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT # TITLE MSRP MANUFACTURER J8001 Jaguar (complete) $249.99 Atari Corp. J8904 Composite Cable $19.95 J8901 Controller/Joypad $24.95 Atari Corp. J8905 S-Video Cable $19.95 _______________________________________ > Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Contact: Ron Beltramo, Atari Corporation, 408/745-2000 David Harrah, Edelman Public Relations, 415/968-4033 Dr. Jon Waldern, Virtuality Group plc, UK, 44-11-62-33-7000 For Immediate Release ATARI JOINS FORCES WITH VIRTUALITY TO OFFER HOME VIRTUAL REALITY GAMES BY CHRISTMAS 1995 SUNNYVALE, CA (October 25, 1994) -- Atari Corporation (AMEX:ATC), the name that created the video game industry, has joined forces with Virtuality Group plc, the leader in virtual reality technology and arcade games, to create the world's first immersive virtual reality games for the home market. According to the just signed agreement, Virtuality will finalize development of a consumer version of its head mounted display technology (virtual reality headset) that Atari will manufacture and market for use with the Atari Jaguar 64-bit multimedia home entertainment system. Terms of the agreement call for Atari to contribute toward the development cost and pay a license to Virtuality to produce and market the product. The virtual reality headset will be available to consumers by Christmas 1995 with a targeted price of less than $200. "The Atari Jaguar platform is the only 64-bit system currently on the market and is ideally suited for immersive, virtual reality games," said Jon Waldern, chief executive officer of Virtuality. "This deal propels both companies to the forefront in the home market for virtual reality gaming. Thanks to the Atari Jaguar, fans of our many hit arcade titles will soon be able to play their favorite virtual reality games at home." Atari President Sam Tramiel explained that both Atari and Virtuality have worldwide reputations for offering the most advanced gaming technology and performance. "Combining Virtuality's ability to deliver low cost solutions for virtual reality technology applications with the processing power capabilities of the 64-bit Atari Jaguar will result in a very high quality virtual reality experience at a very affordable price," he said. Tramiel added, "By Christmas 1995, Jaguar owners will already be wearing their virtual reality headsets and playing virtual reality games at home. While others in the industry play catch up trying to offer 32 and 64-bit systems, Atari is extending our technological advantage over our competitors by delivering a high-quality virtual reality experience." Atari Corporation markets interactive multimedia entertainment systems, including Jaguar, the world's only 64-bit game system, and the only video game system manufactured in the United States. Virtuality Group plc is the world leader in the design of high quality virtual reality technology, arcade gaming systems and software. # # # > Jaguar Developers STR InfoFile - Current Developer Lists & Titles """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" DRAGON: The Bruce Lee Story - COMBAT SIMULATION THE LEGEND FIGHTS ON . . . The spirit of martial arts Master Bruce Lee lives on in DRAGON: a dangerously life-like combat simulation based on his biographical film. Apply discipline and a devastating array of age-old fighting techniques to subdue opponents more cunning than the real Bruce Lee ever faced. Unite your spiritual and physical strength to confront The Phantom, the mythical samurai which has plagued your thoughts and dreams, in a jeet kune do duel to the death! [1 player] $59.99 (Atari/J9036) [TEEN] KASUMI NINJA - ARCADE FIGHTING (DIGITIZED) ALL HELL IS ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE . . . Stop the Evil Ninja Lord Gyaku from opening the Dragon Cloud temple's portal to Hell and unleashing his demon minions upon Kasumi island and the world. Battle it out in this bloody brawler in 1 Player Story mode or Two Player versus mode as one of the 8 all-time greatest warrior-fighters. Gain fighting skill and master special moves from bout to bout as you journey through the Underground Labyrinth to the Dragon Cloud temple where you'll face your ultimate opponent: the Evil Ninja Lord Gyaku himself! [1 or 2 players] $69.99 (Atari/J9012) [MATURE] CHECKERED FLAG - VIRTUAL SPEEDWAY THIS AIN'T NO DRIVE TO GRANDMA'S! Get ready to burn rubber! Race for the Checkered Flag behind the wheel of a turbo-powered speedway racer in real-time, 3D-rendered action. Choose from 10 high-performance tracks and see the speedway from 6 distinct views. Alter features and attributes on your racer to improve your times or even change the weather conditions. Action so realistic you'll swear you feel the wind in your hair as your tires screech around the curves. Keep your sweaty palms on the controller! [1 player] $69.99 (Atari/J9007) ZOOL 2 - SIDESCROLLING ADVENTURE IT'S KROLL & UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT! Zool and his daring and lovely sidekick Zooz face a challenge that would wilt the knees of even the toughest Ninja. The Nth Dimension is under attack from the evil forces of Krool. Our heroes must restore the Nth Dimension to equilibrium and exile Mental Block and his mind-numbing cronies before imagination is wiped out of existence. Zoon the two-headed intergalactic wonder-canine will help, but you'll need skills from the Nth Dimension to save imagination! [1 player] $49.99 (Atari/J9042) > Jaguar Game Review: Brutal Sports Football """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Brutal Sports Football ====================== by Marty Mankins "No Limits Football" is how I would describe this game. It's how some of us would have loved to play football as kids, minus the sledgehammers and swords. In real football they say that the rules take away from the game's enjoyment level. Well, if your idea of enjoyment is seeing some blood, watching a head fly off or being able to stomp on an opposing player and steal the ball, then Brutal Sports Football is really cool and you will have all sorts of fun with this game. Game play is very simple. Getting to a game the first few times is not as simple as it could be. The first screens you come to are the spinning Telegames logo and the introduction screen. Once past these screens, then you have your options to pick from, including the team, how harsh the team plays and an idea of their past victories. But enough with the brief setup. Let's take a look at some of the fun I had playing Brutal Sports Football. PLAYING THE FIELD ----------------- This was one very interesting game. I found that there was a lot of fun to be had with the "no holes barred" rules and that it really didn't matter that there were no rules. To be honest, it was bothersome the first few times I played BSF, but after I read the manual (I try to see how long I can play the game before having to read a manual - sometimes a great test of how easy or how difficult the game is to learn/play) and spent several hours at a time playing the game, I found that BSF is really enjoyable. Out of all the teams that are available, the Vikings were my favorite. Their skills were average enough that I found them to be easy to beat, but yet providing a challenge to just about any move I decided to make. The Lizzards were very difficult. Of course their standing in the number of wins made the difference of how smart their men were on the field. It was very hard to make easy goals with this team. You had to really try hard to get by and get the ball thrown into the scoring tunnel. And don't get near them if they are breathing fire. You can become "crunchy" and "crisp" without any healing. The Wild Goats had a lot of tricks they used to win each and every game I played. Not too many tricks were easy to get around, so teams that played the Wild Goats became very frustrated. The team to beat (of which I didn't when I played against them) is the Rhinos. These guys are unstoppable. They will not let up and will run the score up to the point beyond embarrassment. If you are trying to impress friends and still want to walk a winner, this is NOT the team to play against. This is the team to be! GAME PLAY --------- Almost all of my BSF sessions made me want to play more and more. The very few times that I didn't want to play more was when I had troubles with commands and controls (see below). After each 7 minute game (the clock does not move in real time - it's more of a sped up version of a game clock), if you won or lost, you felt a burning desire to get back on the field and start kicking and slashing people. One of the fun incentives was the different pick-ups that you ran into. These are little perks or hazardous spiffs that were placed in your path (normally a hazardous item) or out of your ball-carrying path (normally something that helped you score. You could run into a sword (for slashing the other players' heads off), magic potion (making you invisible to everyone, including yourself) or my favorite - the rabbit. This was nice to pick up right before you reached the goal line. It sped you up so fast that they other team players almost didn't even notice you. Of course, there is the opposite of the rabbit - the turtle. Hit this and you slow to, well, a turtle's speed. Not cool for those times when you need to score and the clock has very little time on it. The speed of the game didn't appear to affect overall game play at all. I found that I could follow the players and keep track of where the ball was most of the time. There were a couple of times when I would run into one of the other team players and forget which direction I was traveling in. But that was easily fixed after you got a good run on the field, possibly picking up the speed from Mr. Rabbit. GAME CONTROLS ------------- In my opinion, the controls of the game could use some work. It was difficult to know how to re-energize my players in the locker room. It took several times in the locker room before I knew what I was doing. The manual did not go into any detail of how things should work. So BSF is a game that is suited for people who love to figure things out and make things work. I would rather have some instructions that, at the very least, show me what to push and how long I need to do something for. Nevertheless, things eventually get figured out in a game like this and you feel like you need to master the game to the best of your ability. OVERALL ------- I found Brutal Sports Football to be fun and easy to play, with needs for improvements. According to Telegames, there will be other titles in the Brutal Sports line of Jaguar games. If they can look at the small improvements that need to be made and apply them to the future titles, then Telegames will have some very cool Jaguar games for all of us 64-bit mongers. Until then, have fun with a game of football that turns into a blood fest of "no rules" enjoyment. Graphics: 8.0 Sound FX/Music: 8.0 Control: 9.0 Manual: 7.5 Entertainment: 7.0 Reviewer's Overall: 8.0 -= Available Now =- Developed by: Teque/Millenium Published by: Telegames, Inc. Sugg. Retail Price: $69.95 Ease of Play: Easy/Average ______________________________________________ > Jaguar Online STR InfoFile Online Users Growl & Purr! """""""""""""""""""""""""" CATnips... Jaguar notes from Don Thomas... Due to the enthusiasm over the Jaguar (as well as renewed interest in the Lynx), the press and investors are finding opportunities to ask us questions we haven't been asked for a while. Although we have the answers they need at Atari, the excitement has motivated me to do something I've wanted to do for a long time... create and in-depth timeline-orientated history of Atari. I've already made great headway. As a past C-64 owner, TI99-4/A owner, ColecoVision, 2600, 7800, 400, 800, 800XL, ST, MEGA, etc. etc.. I have accumulated hundreds of books and periodicals. Additionally, I have some unique insights and resources having come up through Federated so I lived through the retailing side... between manufacturer and end user. I also own my own (humble) Atari software company and have been an active member of Atari Users' Groups and shows in past years. As I pass the halfway point in producing my "book" (now over 70 pages), it occurs to me that there are highlights that only YOU may be able to help with... things only you, your user group, publication or company can know... When was your first publication? How many pages? Lead story? When did it go monthly from bi-monthly? Where was your first store? What was the first Atari product you carried? Who was the founder? What day did it open? How many members were in your first Users' Group meeting? What did the Users' Group name stand for? Who was the first President? What is the most significant event the Group hosted? Who started the BBS? What was it run on? When did you release your first commercial product? I am looking for specific events, places, trivia and people that tie in to one or more of the following: * Significant technical advances that remotely relate to Atari's evolution. * Topics related to Mr. Jack Tramiel, his sons or his businesses. * Topics related to Mr. Nolan Bushnell, his family or his businesses. * Significant topics related to competitors or allies that affected Atari's evolution. * Outstanding people, places, groups, things, events, etc. that relate to the evolution of Atari. The purpose of my project is to celebrate Atari's birth of 64-bit technology and to reminisce with the devoted followers of Atari about the good 'le days that continue to number past us. I've found there are only a couple of books that do any kind of job to cover this subject matter. I am NOT looking for co-authors , but I am looking for every opportunity to include as many of the countless anecdotes that await their place in recorded history. If you have something you wish to share, here's what I need... The simplest thing to do is send me E-Mail with a paragraph that contains as many facts as possible. I cannot use generalities or guesses. It must all be solid material. Include your name, address and a weekend phone number in case I have any questions. E-Mail to 75300.1267@compuserve.com or call CATscan @ 209/239-1552. If you have something in your possession that you feel may help me that you don't use or refer to any longer such as an old Fortune magazine article and wish to send it to me, send it to: Artisan Software, P.O. Box 849, Manteca, CA 95336 Please do not send things you hope to have returned. If you send me copies of something, please make sure I know the publisher, year of publication, author, name of publication, page numbers, etc. Just to clear up any confusions in advance, I'm asking for "volunteer" assistance to make sure the things that meant most to you get in this timeline (if I agree it applies). All items sent become the property of Artisan Software with no compensation. I will acknowledge published sources and thank significant contributions in a page of appreciation. I have not sought a publisher as of yet, but I have passed the point of no return. My completed work will be submitted to Atari prior to publication for review of accuracy and formal critique. The form of distribution has not been decided. Thanks in advance for you help! If you cannot help directly, help indirectly and pass this on to others in your group or someone you know. -- Don Thomas Atari Corporation, Full Time Artisan Software, After Full Time if there is time From the Usenet: From: Scott Le Grand (4-Play, Atari 3rd party developer) The biggest news: We changed the name Star Battle to Battle Sphere... My two co-workers are coding up the opening sequence right now... No FMV, just clever re-use of graphic elements from the game... We're coming along well but slower than we'd like as we all have day jobs that we can't neglect... We've been rewriting parts of the graphics engine to keep things fast when there are a lot of ships onscreen. We have some absolutely gorgeous cockpits and background graphics now and like AvP, most of our cockpits are almost full screen views with minimal clutter... As you guys might remember, we've tried to make the thing put as much info into the HUD as possible: no meaningless blinking lights put there to make the view area smaller. We even have an independent review of our music: One person who heard it wanted a tape of it for his own. It's sort of a cross between John Williams, and Christopher Franke's Babylon 5 music... We've just learned a few things from Atari that will also help us speed things up that are pretty transparent to our current code. We're going for running this game 95% out of the DSP and GPU which IMO have the best instruction set for game writing that I've EVER seen (this includes the ARM60, the RS4000, and the SH-1)... I never thought I'd become a hardcore assembly programmer, but the RISCs are just too cool... Oh yeah, if you're a fanatic 3DO/32X devotee don't bother trying to start a processor war with me, I won't respond, this is my opinion, and I'm entitled to it. I wish we could do this thing full time... We'd have made Christmas if we could have... Alas, I think 2Q 1995 is when you'll see it, allowing time for production and playtesting by Atari... We ought to have a rockin' WCES beta though... Hopefully you guys will make it possible for us to go full time :-) with our second game... I apologize for taking so long with this game, but it's been a really non-linear ride if you know what I mean... Other things that have happened in my life: 1) The morons who live above me clogged their toilet and flooded my apartment. My apartment would not have flooded had they either figured out how to turn off the water supply to the toilet or used something better than porno magazines to wipe up the spill. It has been suggested that we should put a giant space toilet somewhere in our game in honor of this... 2) Some idiots broke into my car, destroyed the lock, but then stole nothing from it. 3) The day job got very busy for a while but now that I'm writing papers, it's not so bad. 4) The book I co-edited is finally out. It's day job stuff guys, but a book's a book! 5) AvP hooked me like only Doom, Dungeon Master, Rescue at Fractalus, Ultima II, and Sundog have in the past. I'm glad I finished it... Although I find myself playing it more gradually now for 20 minutes or so a day to sightsee. Since I pretty much memorized the maps while playing the marine, it's not that hard to achieve set goals fairly quickly. I love boogieing with the smart gun and the motion tracker... Scott I promise you networking... I promise you modem play... These are set in stone. What I don't promise is 1) the release date and 2) the maximum number of players on the network as this is uncharted territory as far as jag games go so far... > 3) Is Star Sphere going to be able to use the voice modem and will you > be able to use a vm with the jag-com(2 people on the phone and > 3 other people hooked up to them)? See above, we've had modem support in there for some time now. However, without a hardware upgrade, modem-based networking isn't possible as they use the same I/O lines... It's an either/or kind of thing as far as I can tell... -/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/ * * J The STReport "Name the Jaguar Games" Contest J A Win a Jaguar tee-shirt _and_ A G An Official In-Store Atari Jaguar Banner!!! G * * J ____ ____ ___ ____ ___ __ / J A / / / / ` / / / / / / / ` / A G / /---/ / __ /___/ / / / /__ / / G * \ / / / / / / \\\ / / / / / / * J \/ / / /___/ / \\\ /___/ /___ /___ \__/ * J A \\\ A G \\\ G * * -/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/-STR-/ As an avid Jaguar fan, we're sure that you've been keeping a careful eye on the growing list of Jaguar games coming out. You _have_ been keeping track, right? Well, we want to find out just how attentive you've been; and we're willing to reward you for your concentration! What do you have to do? That's easy, or is it...? We want you to name the first 20 games available for the Jaguar - IN ORDER OF RELEASE - and be the first one to do so! That's right, just send us a card or letter with the first 20 games out for the Jaguar! Games include cartridges and CD-games. Oh, there aren't 20 games out yet? Well, there has to be some challenge to a contest! You'll also need to send us your name and address, of course. 1st Prize will be an official Atari Jaguar tee-shirt AND an official in-store promotional Jaguar banner! 2nd prize will be a Jaguar tee-shirt (identical to the one above). 3rd prize will be a "JAG RULES!" rubber stamp which is normally available exclusively from Artisan Software! Entries will be judged, and prizes will be awarded by the Atari/Jaguar editor of STReport, Dana Jacobson. Release dates are determined as _actual_ first-time availability of games, including Atari-published and 3rd-party games. The Jaguar pack-in game, Cybermorph, counts (hint: it should be #1!!) All entries must be received by December 20, 1994. The winners will be announced in STReport online magazine, in the issue scheduled to be released on Friday, December 23, 1994. To be eligible, please submit your entry which clearly lists your choices of the first 20 games (numbering them helps!) Also include your name and address. Winners will be determined by a random drawing until the first three winning entries are found. Contest is valid in the United States and Canada only. Employees of Atari Corporation and staff members of STReport or Amiga Report are not eligible to win. This contest is void where prohibited by law. Send your entry, your name and address to: Jaguar First 20 Games Contest STReport Online Magazine 1121 Saratoga Street East Boston, MA 02128-1225 USA Again, 1st prize includes a Jaguar tee-shirt and a Jaguar banner! The tee-shirt is 100% cotton. It's a black crew-neck shirt with the Atari Jaguar name on the chest. On the back is the famous Jaguar logo. The banner is the same as you've seen at your favorite Jaguar dealer. What? You haven't seen one? Well, it measures 4 feet wide and 2 feet tall! The Jaguar logo consists of those piercing yellow Jaguar eyes above the dark red Jaguar, claw marks and all! These banners are collector's items which are almost impossible to get anywhere! Rumor has it that this one may have been discovered in a rare cache somewhere in the bowels of Sunnyvale. And it can be all yours! Show it off proudly on the wall of your room or fly it out your window! All of your friends will want one, but only you will have one. It's awesome! JAG RULES! The 2nd prize consists of the Jaguar tee-shirt, as described above. The 3rd prize is the official "JAG RULES!" rubber stamp! Use a bright red ink pad (not included) for a vivid 2.25" by 1.5" image of JAG RULES in the impact of the Jaguar logo type style. Use it as an economical way to advertise your enthusiasm of the Atari Jaguar. Stamp your letters and your envelopes. Stamp your arm as a tattoo. Stamp your money. Stamp school notebooks and post-its. Writing a letter to your favorite software company? Stamp it! Sending a birthday card to your best friend? Stamp it! Dropping a postcard to your brother at school? Stamp it! Let everyone know you're a Jaguar gamer. After all, in the empire of high technology entertainment systems, JAG RULES! For an example of the JAG RULES logo, call the CATscan BBS. Dial 209/239-1552. Download file: JAGRULES.ZIP. File is ZIP'd and requires PKUNZIP to decompress. Or, call your favorite online service to find it! Need a tip to help you start thinking of these games? Drop us a line in E-Mail to either DPJ on Delphi, 71051,3327 on Compuserve, D.JACOBSON2 on GEnie, or Internet mail at dpj@delphi.com. Or, call us at Toad Hall BBS at (617)567-8642 and leave a private message to Dana Jacobson. Are you still here? Start your list of games now!! You may even get some useful tips elsewhere in this and past/future issues of STReport! Credits: STReport and its staff would like to thank Atari Corporation for its generous donation of the banner and tee-shirts. **** Tradenames herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their owning companies. Permission hereby granted to re-post this contest text, in its entirety, anywhere that you feel it would be appropriate - your favorite BBS, user group newsletter, magazine, etc. Please spread the word! _________________________________________ > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" PEOPLE... ARE TALKING ===================== On CompuServe ------------- compiled by Joe Mirando 73637,2262 Hidi ho good neighbors and neighborettes. Boy, what a week. Lots of work, little sleep, and nowhere near enough time to spend online. I mean, heck, there are literally megabytes of information that would interest me generated every day here on CompuServe and it pains me to know that I'll probably never get to see most of it. I guess that's just the down-side of the information age. Well, let's check on the information that I DID get to check out... From The Atari Computing Forums =============================== Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Online Magazine posts: "There is a problem with AW v1.207 which has a problem if not enough memory is available for printing. It results in a black page being printed rather than your document." Steven Russell tells Albert: "I haven't had that problem yet, but I do have a problem with loading graphics into AW and having them show on the page as black square with an X through the middle. I am having a hard time trying to decide which questions to ask, because I don't have my manual handy and Iknow that if I ask the question I will relize that the answer could probably be found in the manual. I just moved from Alaska to Virginia, courtesy of Uncle Sam, and my household goods are still in storage from the transit. I thought that I had seen a message concerning the bug and that there was a new version out that fixes it. Am I wrong in guessing this? Anyway, Love Atari Works and the company that supports it as well, well almost supports it." One of my online friends, Myles Cohen tells Albert about some of his (least) favorite things: "...There are certain bits of esoterica...things that I am too terrified to even begin to try... These include...the Internet...MINT...C...Pascal...STOS...Unix...Gulam... and the many COMM programs I've got but don't use...and especially anything that has a CLI...partly because of the vast amounts of documentation involved...partly because I don't have time to invest...partly because of the gaps in my knowledge...partly because of new versions of the stuff that keeps coming out...but mostly because I have a short attention span...and I dislike steep learning curves..." Don't let Myles fool you folks. He's one of the sharpest people around. He's also one of the more helpful travellers on this particular stretch of the Electronic Highway. The fact that he freely admits that he doesn't know everything shows what a good guy he is. Albert Dayes tells him: "That is the way we lea0rn... by asking questions. At one time I used to be a Basic fan even though no one would ever believe it. Then a pascal fan and then I found my true calling in C. Gulam is not too bad to learn. It even has some siple online help to get you started with the commands." Myles asks Albert: "What is Gulam...what will it do for me that I cannot now do...why would I even attempt to learn it..." Albert tells Myles: "Gulam is a CLI (Command Line Interface) that works similar to a UNIX shell. If you want to learn how Unix shells operate or environmental variables it is a good program for that. If you don't like CLIs you might wish to avoid the program." On the subject of Myles being terrified of 'the Internet...MINT...C...Pascal...STOS...Unix...Gulam... and the many COMM programs I've got but don't use...and especially anything that has a CLI' Jon Sanford tells him: "One can compute very happily without getting into any of that stuff. Unless one is intrested in ancient history, there is not much one can't do with a GUI. I seriously believe that the Next generation of Object Orented Programming environments will be easier for people who don't know how to do it the old way." Albert Dayes jumps in and asks Jon in jest: "How does internet account fit into this? I thought it was part of the great 'information highway'. " On the subject of a word processor, Michael Squire tells D.L. Andrews: "You might also check out Codehead Software's "Calligrapher" and Marcel Software's "Marcel Word Processor". Both of these programs can import and export files in Rich Text Format (RTF) which will workvery nicely with Microsoft Word for Windows. 'Calligrapher' is a commercial product; go see Codehead Software over in the ATARIVEN forum for more information. "Marcel WP" is shareware and may be available from this forum's library. Use CI$'s Atari File Finder to earch for it and look for something like a filename of MRCEL234.ZIP or keywords like MARCEL, WORD, PROCESSOR to search for its location." Myles Cohen offers help: "Use CI$'s Atari File Finder to search for it and look for something like a filename of MRCEL234.ZIP or keywords like MARCEL, WORD, PROCESSOR to search for its location. >> The only MARCEL that we have on CIS is called MARCEL.LZH...which is version 2.20...long outdated... If you have a copy of MARCEL 2.34...I sure would appreciate it if you would upload it here..." Doug Finch, one of the Coordinators of the Connecticut AtariFest, adds: "Another WP program capable of exporting to MS Word or Wordperfect format is Epigraf's "Le Redacteur," a very nice writing/editing package in its third version, I think. Last time I saw it was available from Toad Computers. Has some very nice features." Bob Ledbetter tells us: "I'm going to be adding a hard drive to my system. Currently I'm running a Mega STe w/TOS 2.05, 50 Meg internal hd and using Atari's hard drive, driver. I'm getting a Toadfile 105 from friend. It has been his only hd and consequently he has a C:\ partition on it that he's been booting from. My question is this: If I change the SCSI ID number with the thumb wheel from 0 to 1, plug it into my Mega STe, and power them up at the same time, will my system "see" the new drive as an additional set of partitions in the "chain", or will my system try and boot from the C:\ drive on the additional hd?" Albert Dayes tells Bob: "From what I recall it is would be an additional set of partitions in the 'chain'." Robert Aries asks: "Does the original Flash (I have v1.52) work at 14.4 kbaud? It seems to choke if more than about 3K of data comes in without a pause (the program doesn't bomb, it just locks up and I have to press ^C). This includes reading thread messages OR downloading files. Regular X-modem file transfers do work, but CIS B/B+ doesn't (I'm presuming because the data iscoming in continuously without a break, unlike X-modem). Just to let you know, I *am* using the "serial port fix" auto program, along with the CPX to lock RTS/CTS on. This hasn't helped. BTW I checked and my cable does support hardware handshaking. Could the fact that Flash doesn't have an option for 14.4 mean anything? I set it to 19200, assuming that my modem will then "negotiate" to the lower speed. Is that the right way to use my modem at its maximum speed? Here's the rub: I downloaded the Flash II demo, and it does indeed fix the locking up problem. But, text seems to print to the screen much slower than with the original Flash! If I enter a list of threads to read, the i/o light on my modem might blink for about 1/3 second, but it takes Flash II's screen *much longer* than that to "catch up". On the original Flash, the screen writes are almost instantaneous at 14.4 (up until the limit of around 3K's worth of data, of course, after which it locks up). To me, this kind of defeats the purpose of using the higher baud rate with Flash II. So, while Flash II fixes the main problem I'm having, it introduces another!" The big Kahuna himself, Head Sysop Ron Luks tells Robert: "I use FLASH v1.6 on CIS at 14.4. As you noted, the input buffer quickly overflows, but I just dropped chars. I didnt lock up. The CIS B-protocol file transfers seem to work okay at the higher baudrate for me. I havent tried them for excessively big files, but it worked for my tests. I'm using the serial fix, too, but it doesn't correct the input problems so for message reading, I went back to 9600 on my Atari system. If I was using my Atari system as my main telecomm system, I'd probably change to Flash II to accommodate the higher speeds." Peter Joseph tells Robert: "You should be able to find a patch here in the libraries that will upgrade 1.52 to 1.60. I don't know if that will help you with your trouble, but it adds a few things that 1.52 doesn't have. Also, I seem to remember having trouble with the RTS/CTS locked in the CPX with a faster modem; can't remember exactly. You might want to try unlocking that. Robert asks Ron: "So you log in seperately at 9600 to read messages and then back on at 14.4 to do file transfers? Since 1.6 seems to work for file transfers at 14.4 I'll just look for that patch that Peter Joseph mentioned, then try it your way (or look into QuickCIS). Thanks for the info." Sysop Jim Ness, author of QuickCIS, tells Robert: "Flash 2 "falls back" to accepted GEM standards for screen display, so that it can adapt itself to whatever monitor you own. As a result, it does scroll slowly. Flash 1 didn't have to worry about such things. That was the reason I had QuickCIS not diplay the scrolling text at high bps rates. The ST just could not keep up." Robert replies: "Thanks for the reply, Jim. The way I do things it sounds like the slower scroll rate of Flash II won't work for me, although the other features are nice. Actually I should get into QuickCIS, I don't know why I haven't. I take it there are no problems with messages *or* file transfers at 14.4K?" Jerry Bradshaw posts: "I need some help/advice. This may sound like a "dumb" question to a lot of people but when you don't know the answer then you just have to be dumb and ask it anyway! I have an ST1040 which I bought shortly after their introduction several years ago. I bought this computer for only one purpose and that was to run music software, such as sequencers, etc. It has served me well and still does. Last summer, so that I could run Notator Logic from Emagic I upgraded the RAM to 4 mb. No problems. However, when I received the latest upgrade from Emagic to Logic 2.0 I noticed in their system requirements that I needed to have at east TOS 1.02 on my system Well, I only have the original TOS which came with the ST when I bought it and it is on a floppy disk. It gives me no version number when I boot it so I assume it is 1.0. I understand, after talking with a dealer this afternoon that probably the only way I could upgrade the TOS is to purchase ROM with the TOS burned in and plug it in myself. I'm not afraid to do this but I need to find out how and where I can obtain these ROMs. Can someone please help or point me in the proper direction if this is not the way to go. I would certainly appreciate any help. I am in an area of the country which has to Atari dealers close by so I will have to deal by telephone or via mail." Albert Dayes tells Jerry: "You should be able to get a new set of TOS roms from your dealer. I would recommend at TOS 1.4 since it is much better than TOS 1.2." Robert Aries tells Jerry: "I have an old 520st I needed to upgrade the operating sytem. Wound up buying the Codehead TEC board, which is a circuit card that you install. It includes the ROMS for TOS 2.06, the latest for the ST series. On some machines you COULD just pop out the old ROMS and install new ones. I supposed it depends on which machine you had and what you were upgrading from & to. AFAIK, this simpler methodcouldn't be done on my 520 and may not be possible on your 1040. Go to the ATARIVEN forum and look in the Codehead section. Ask there, they'll tell you the full scoop. You may as well go to TOS 2.06, it adds a lot of new features that are very nice. Be warned...you have to solder about 40 wires from a ribbon cable directly to the microprocessor. I'm no tech genius but I did it and it came out fine. The TC board is about $130 if I remember correctly. The 2.06 ROMS by themselves are around $60." Robert tells Jerry: "Whoaaa...I just re-read your message. You load TOS from a disk?? I didn't catch that before! Atari changed to rom-based TOS shortly after the ST's introduction. This may complicate matters a bit, although I suppose if the empty sockets are there it should work OK. If you go to the Codehead section to check out the TEC Board, be sure to tell them you have TOS on disk." Well folks, I'm afraid that I've run out of steam already. It's been a long week, and I'm pooped. C'mon back next week, same time, same station, and be ready to listen to what they are saying when... PEOPLE ARE TALKING """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > A "Quotable Quote" """"""""""""""""" Reviewing is no easy matter. To begin with, you must be sure that writing is your vocation, next you must be convinced that reviewing is not writing, hence the conclusion that your vocation is not reviewing. Once you feel that way, you can begin... ...unknown Reviewer """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > DEALER CLASSIFIED LIST STR InfoFile * Dealer Listings * """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" --------------- ABCO Incorporated ================= P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 Est. 1985 1-904-783-3319 1994 Fall SPECIALS NOW IN EFFECT! EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND!! --------------------- ABCO manufactures custom storage devices! TEN PERCENT OFF (10%) with this ad (clip) INTEL 32 BIT 486/66, VLB w/Math CoProcessor 8MB ram upgradable to 64MB 1MB SVGA VESA VIDEO CARD Sound Blaster Compatible Stereo Sound Card DOS 6.2 - Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Included 256K CACHE - 1.44 FLOPPY Drive, Mouse & 101 deluxe Keyboard 340MB IDE hd - 2 SERIAL, 1 PARALLEL, 1 GAME PORTS 250W POWER SUPPLY TOWER SYSTEM - 14" SVGA 1024x768, NI 28dpi Monitor 66Mhz, S&H Incl 1295.00 - 595.00 with order, Checks OK, balance COD Other higher powered packages available or, design your own! 100Mhz - Pentium Call for value added pricing! Call: 904-783-3319 Anytime, Voice Mail =====******===== Syquest Removable 200mb 449.95 SCSI Drives(Priced Right!) All Size Platters Available 200mb (84.95) One Platter included with each Drive free! Bernoulli! Call for Prices! Diamond Computer High Speed Video Cards w/1-2mb VRAM Greatly Enhances Windows SPEED and EFFICIENCY Diamond High Performance Sonic Sound Cards Available Soundblaster Cards and compatibles 8 & 16 bit Creative Technologies' Sound Blaster 16 SCSI & Sound Blaster * AWE 32 * SUPER Sound Card Media Vision Line - True Multi-Media IDE Super IO cards & 16550 UART 2 & 4 Port Cards SCSI ADAPTER CARDS & SCANNERS COLOR & MonoChrome 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, drop us a line in Email.) """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport International Online Magazine -* [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport *- AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE ON OVER 70,000 PRIVATE BBS SYSTEMS """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STR Online! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" October 28, 1994 Since 1987 copyright (c) 1994 All Rights Reserved No.1044 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 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. Permission to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Reprints must, without exception, include the name of the publication, date, issue number and the author's name. STR, CPU, STReport and/or portions therein may not be edited, used, duplicated or transmitted in any way without prior written permission. STR, CPU, STReport, at the time of publication, is believed reasonably accurate. STR, CPU, STReport, are trademarks of STReport and STR Publishing Inc. STR, CPU, STReport, its staff and contributors are not and cannot be held responsible in any way for the use or misuse of information contained herein or the results obtained therefrom. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""