*---== ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---* """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine" from STR Publishing Inc. """""""""""""""""" September 06, 1991 No.7.36 ========================================================================== STReport International Online Magazine Post Office Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32205 ~ 6672 R.F. Mariano Publisher - Editor ----------------------------------------- Voice: 904-783-3319 10 AM - 4 PM EST BBS: 904-786-4176 USR/HST DUAL STANDARD FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EST ----------------------------------------- STR East: FNET 350 - The Bounty ST BBS 1-904-786-4176 STR West: FNET 075 - Bloom County BBS 1-415-965-9347 STR Canada: FNET 018 - ///Turbo Board Support 1-416-274-1225 STR Europe: FNET 1031 - <<>> 011-44-296-395-935 __________________________________________________________________ > 09/06/91: STReport #7.36 The Original 16/32 bit Online Magazine! ------------------------- - The Editor's Desk - WAACE REPORT - Atari's Phones - HARD DISKS - DEVPAC 225 - MODEM UPGRADE - EXPLORER DEAL - SCROOGE? - PROGRAMMER CONF. - GLENDALE UPDATE - DC'S POW - Atari Cutbacks -* ATARI'S FUTURE EXAMINED *- -* WORLD'S SMALLEST HARD DRIVE *- -* DUSSELDORF REVISITED *- ========================================================================== ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE The _Number One_ Online Magazine -* FEATURING *- "UP-TO-DATE News and Information" Current Events, Original Articles, Hot Tips, and Information Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports ========================================================================== STReport's support BBS, NODE 350, invites BBS systems, worldwide, to participate in the Fido/F-Net Mail Network. Or, call Node 350 direct at 904-786-4176, and enjoy the excitement of exchanging information relative to the Atari ST computer arena through an excellent International ST Mail Network. All registered F-NET - Crossnet SysOps are welcome to join the STReport Crossnet Conference. The Crossnet Conference Code is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is # 350. All systems are welcome and invited to actively participate. Support Atari Computers; Join Today! ========================================================================== AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON: GENIE ~ CIS ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ FIDO ~ F-NET ========================================================================== > The Editor's Podium The questions most folks relate to in the Atari world have been asked of the Tramiels many, many times. One interesting and extremely consis- tent reaction by some of Atari's underlings is that of accusing the ques- tioners of "bashing" and incredibly, of being anti-Atari. Truly, its this atrocious, defensive attitude and the incessant striving on the part of the top execs and their brownies to 'get even' with or, "to do someone or something in" for having the courage to ask pointed questions or illustrating the myriad of dumb faults that are indeed hurting the company on a regular basis. Some folks naively express "its a result of the Tramiels having made enough money", well that's a nice premise but way off the mark. If the Tramiels had the rate of success comparable to that of Bill Gates, there could possibly be cause to listen. Recently however, a preferable explanation about their apparent complacency has arisen, it is simply put; "THEY HAVE NEVER SMELLED OR FELT THE HEAT OF THE WOLF'S BREATH"! Has any of the "three" ever had the wonderful experience of sweating out the mortgage, utility and car payment at any time? Very Doubtful. To them it may appear that dollars are expendable tools and not a necessity. They tend to lend credibility to the impression folks have of them; "going in each day to dabble and have at another day's fun" at Daddy's expense. It may not be accurate.. but its perceived by many observers. To those of us who have been closely observing Atari for years now, it definitely looks like the three sons DO NOT take the entire matter of Atari serious- ly. Jack should BOOT THEM OUT! All they have managed to do is.. ah er.... ummm.. OH WELL, THAT RECORD SPEAKS RATHER LOUDLY FOR ITSELF! Its been said before and will be said again, there is no room at the high level corporate decision making plateau for temper tantrums and in- fighting. Its strongly rumored.. the upper levels 'out there' have been a veritable war zone for the last few months. Watch for the various worldwide Atari subsidiaries to begin attempting to extricate themselves from the control of the "GANG OF THREE". After hearing the "flattering comments" recently passed, at a certain dinner table concerning Germany, its culture, people and future, there's little doubt that the relationship there may be somewhat "strained". Seems there may also be some extensive changes being made in the FAR EAST. How many folks are left at Atari Australia? Atari Canada? Atari Mexico? That's right my friends, the crystal ball predictions was absolutely ac- curate. And continue to be right on the mark. Although a few made very, very loud protestations about the style in which the predictions were made, none could hope to refute them. There were even those in the community, highly respected, who concocted parodies of non-sense in at- tempts to distract people from the real issues. Chiming right in with those folks are those who insist that bringing out the truth about this company and its leadership has done nothing but injure the Atari market in the Americas. Nothing, absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. How in the world can one injure what is already devastatingly wounded? The real and ONLY culprit is Atari's upper management. All the double talk in the world changes nothing. Truth is truth. Atari has yet to recover from the Federated Fiasco, millions right down the tubes. What's happening with the Hotzbox and the big money tied up in it? How many are laying in the warehouse? How much was blown on Microsoft Write, Desk Set, Desk Set II and the infamous PANTHER? And how much is being BURNED UP on "the right on time" FSMGDOS? Will it ever get to market?? Now, we hear; 'maybe by January 1992', it was told to us that August 1 was a "lock". I guess we forgot to ask which year? [F]rantically [S]low [M]oving GDOS It would appear that "skeleton force" is the order of day throughout Tramiel land. For example, its been reported that there is only ONE per- son assigned to handle all the incoming calls at Atari Customer Service. One would think, that if the company's management would like to portray a 'healthy atmosphere' the least they'd do is make sure the public's impres- sion of them would be first rate. It seems that others at Atari must 'sit-in' to answer phones when they have the time available. Its hilarious to hear of users calling the "now infamous" Atari automated phone system, seeking help, and being more lost in the electronic shuffle than "Livingstone" ever was. The products are and have always been fine and dandy. The new Falcon sure looks like its going to go places. The Atari management, on the other hand, leaves much more than a great deal to be desired! I wonder what the majority of folks would give or do to see Shiraz Shivji (Father of the ST) and Sig Hartmann (top notch PR person) back on board. Perhaps, things would get right and in a doggone hurry. Thanks for your support! Ralph...... TODAY'S NEWS ..TODAY! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > STReport's Staff The regulars and this week's contributors! ================ Publisher - Editor ------------------ Ralph F. Mariano PC DIVISION AMIGA DIVISION MAC DIVISION ----------- -------------- ------------ Robert Retelle Charles Hill R. ALBRITTON STReport Staff Editors: ----------------------- Michael Arthur Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. Dana P. Jacobson Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Judith Hamner John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Contributing CorrespondEnts: ---------------------------- Michael Lee Richard Covert Roger Stevens Brian Converse Oliver Steinmeier Ed Krimen Tim Holt Andrew Learner Norman Boucher Ben Hamilton IMPORTANT NOTICE ================ Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: Compuserve.................... 70007,4454 GEnie......................... ST.REPORT Delphi........................ RMARIANO BIX........................... RMARIANO FIDONET....................... 112/35 FNET.......................... NODE 350 NEST.......................... 90:19/350.0 "REPORTING ABOUT ATARI NOT FOR THEM." *********************************************************************** COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME to the Readers of; ST REPORT 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! WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (September 6) WIN $25 COMPUSERVE CONNECT-TIME CREDITS Traditionally, summertime has been the slowest time of the year for online activity in the Atari telecommunications community. The CompuServe Atari Forums would like to help boost this activity with a promotion that just about anybody can win! We're looking for new and interesting files for the file libraries of Atari ST Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) and the Atari ST Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO). Twice each month, during the months of July, August, and Sep- tember, the sysops of the Atari Forums will award a $25 CompuServe connect time credit to the individual who uploads the best new file to Library 1 ("NEW UPLOADS"). This $25 credit can be applied to *ANY* service on Com- puServe, not just time spent inside the Atari Forums! What defines the "best" new upload? Factors in judging will be uniqueness, general interest (the number of downloads received), quality of graphics (if applicable), usefulness or entertainment value. All uploads to Library 1 ("NEW UPLOADS") will automatically be entered into this promotion. Of course, uploads of files already existant in our libraries do not count. (Although, new versions of previous entries are eligible.) You do not need to be the author of the upload to win, but you MUST have sufficient rights to the program to make it an acceptable upload according to CompuServe operating rules (public domain and shareware programs are acceptable, for example.) In case of duplicate uploads of the exact same file, the sysops will accept files based upon time of the first uploaded copy. The first up- load period will run from July 1st thru July 15th (inclusive). Judging will be done by the sysop staff of the Atari Forums (influenced by comments from the membership, so be sure to let us know which new files you like and why!) One credit will be awarded to the best new upload in ATARIARTS and another for the best new upload in ATARIPRO. Please address any questions to Ron Luks [76703,254] via CompuServe Mail (EMAIL) or a message in any of the Atari Forums. MORE WINNERS ANNOUNCED... Congrats to Ray Mattera on winning a $25 CompuServe connect credit for his upload of TELEBASE ver 1.8 to the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO). Congrats to Robert Barnhardt for winning a $25 CompuServe system credit for his ray tracing upload to the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) during the latest upload period. ATARI EXPLORER DISCOUNT Special discount offer for ATARI EXPLORER magazine. See EXPLDI.TXT in LIBRARY 1 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS). Or article in this is- sue of STReport. NEW PLAY-BY-MODEM GAMES IN ATARIARTS The following files are now available in LIBRARY 1 ("New Uploads") of the Atari ST Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) courtesy of Forum member David Be- cker: BGAMMO.ARC - Online backgammon can be played over the phone lines with a modem. Many options including the ability to play the computer make this a fun and challenging monochrome game. Freeware. PAIGOW.ARC - Las vegas style PaiGow poker. Play against the computer or over the phone line with a friend! Monochrome freeware. PROGRAM OF THE WEEK FROM DOUBLE CLICK Double Click's new program of the week will automatically switch screen resolutions modes for the program you are about to run! Download file DCRUNR.ARC from LIBRARY 13 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN). NEW IN ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM Intuit Software in Menlo Park, California is investigating the expan- sion of their product line into the palmtop market. To help determine the features and potential of this growing area, they have contracted the ser- vices of a research firm to assemble an informative focus group. If you would like a member of this research firm contact you, please read and respond to message # 16218 from Don Thomas of Atari Corporation in the Atari Portfolio Forum (GO APORTFOLIO). This is a great opportunity to become instrumental in the adapting of popular software to the Portfolio. Information on a new Spell Checker to be available for the Portfolio ANNOUNCING THE NEW COMPUSERVE PALMTOP FORUM The CompuServe Palmtop Forum will cover all palmtop organizers and computers other than the Portfolio, which will remain in its own forum. Please drop by and take a look around. Type GO PALMTOP at any CompuServe service prompt. THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION "GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM" *********************************************************************** > CPU STATUS REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS ================= Issue #36 Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. -- WORLD'S SMALLEST HARD DISK DRIVE DEBUTS BOULDER, COLORADO Integral Peripherals Inc., a computer component manufacturer based in Boulder, Colo., today announced it has begun producing the industry's smallest hard disk drive. According to the Associated Press, the fledgling company is about six months ahead of other, bigger name firms. The disk drive measures just 1.8-inch and is about the size of a package of cigarettes. Analysts predict the unit could place the unknown Integral Peripherals at the forefront of suppliers for the industry's hottest new product, the "subnotebook" computer. Integral has already shipped 10 of the new disks, which come in 20MB and 40MB sizes, to Japanese firms that are using them in miniature computers. Full-scale production will begin by year end or early in 1992 at Integral's Singapore plant. AP notes that the drive consumes about 10% of the power used by a 2.5-inch drive, now the smallest one available. The unit incorporates a patented technology that prevents the recording heads from contacting the disk surface to diminish wear and enhance reliability. Analysts from International Data Corp. have predicted that the market for miniature disk drives will reach $1.9 billion by 1995. The drives could be used in fax machines and laser printers as well as computers. > P.O.W. STR InfoFile AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE GUYS AT DC SOFTWARE =================== DOUBLE CLICK'S ============== PROGRAM OF THE WEEK =================== In February 1991, Double Click Software announced a remarkable feat to occur: we would write one freeware program each week for one year. Generally, the response to this concept has been nothing short of ex- cellent. We thank each and every downloader. Some people, however, have used our freeware programs as an excuse to not donate for shareware programs. Recently, a shareware author told us that several customers had told this author that they "would not pay the shareware fee requested, because Double Click Software would just write the program next week." For the record, Double Click Software _strongly_ (very strongly) recommends the continued support of shareware authors. We originally started writing the program of the week to show our strong committment towards supporting our original shareware contributors. Without shareware contributions, we would not have been able to make Double Click Software a viable company. Please contribute to shareware authors if you use their program! Our program of the week is very specific: 1) Programs must be ONE and ONLY ONE feature. 2) Programs must take 2-4 hours to write. 3) We will avoid at all cost rehashing a program already done. 4) We will _not_ write a program which competes against a commercial or shareware program. If you are using our program of the week as an excuse to not contribute to a shareware author, then you have entirely missed the intent of why we started doing this. We actually started this ambitious plan back in October 1990, but only made it public in 1991. On October 11, 1991 we will upload our final program of the week for 1991. At that time we will evaluate what to do next. We will consider trimming it down to a program a month, or even less than that. We appreciate everyone's support and feedback to this point. We al- ways look forward to hearing ideas and suggestions concerning new programs. Please continue supporting commercial and shareware authors. Mike, Paul, Gilbert and Keith Double Click Software ______________________________________________________ > The Flip Side STR Feature "... a different viewpoint...." ========================= A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT ================================== by Michael Lee ---------------- From Bill Rehbock (Atari Corp.) - Cat. 14, Topic 18, Message 47 - from the ST Roundtable on Genie... The initial run of FSM-GDOS is being manufactured locally. We had hoped to have units in for the Duesseldorf Atari Messe, but there were problems with the package design. My (personal opinion) guess is that the first FSM-GDOS packages that ship to Goldleaf will be sans outer box. The first real, live, full shelf units will show up at Glendale. ---------------- Some comments about the Dussledorf show by Dave Small (Gadgets by Small) - Cat. 11, Topic 12, Message 7 - from the ST Roundtable on Genie... Dorothy, I am green with envy. I wish I had written that report that well. For heaven's sakes, send it into a mag! [Note: See Dorothy's comments about the Dussledorf show in STR0735.] One online tip (that I didn't know); her name is pronounced "brum- levy", not "brum-leeeeve". "Brum-leh-vee". *grin* I got to see only the parts of the show that were in the way of my path to lunch or to the bathroom. That's it. I barely glanced into the other (crammed full) hall. We were crammed with people from well before the show to well after. The show was done excellently, professionally, and with much care. They were thoughtful enough to even paint an American flag next to our company name -- that is class, folks. (We weren't in the "US area; we'd agreed on a booth long before that was an option. 's ok.) I have never talked to so many people in my life in such a short time. Be warned: If a German says they speak "a little bit" of English, they're usually fluent! Most were; we had a person who was fluent in German in our booth for those who were not. Anyway, I wish I could give you a show report, but I can't. It was overwhelming; were I working the show as press, I would have had to hustle really hard just to get around it all in 3 days. We did have a little fun ... we hung a wicked good picture of an SR- 71 in our booth (subtle, hunh? World's fastest plane) ... and had our kids in the booth for Sunday afternoon. It brought many a smile to a customer, really, to see Dave Small chasing his 3 year old down the hall ... I do want to mention that D.A. Brumleve has a very good touch with kid's programs, they addicted our kids but fast, and our kids howled when we had to tear them away from the booth. They're THAT good. Check 'em out, folks. -- thanks, Dave / Gadgets p.s. Next stop, I guess, is CeBIT -- 8 day show. That is a killer. p.p.s. Yes, of course we're going to WAACE and Glendale. ---------------- Some more comments about the Dussledorf show, this time from Jim Allen (FAST Technologies) - Cat 4, Topic 11, Message 60 - from the ST Round- table on Genie... Yeah!!!!! I'm back. Still on German time though ;-) Thanks to all those who helped out while I was away, it's great to have good customers!! Dussledorf was GREAT!!! Had lots of fun, got to see oodles of new goodies, and show off the T20...yes George, at 33 Mhz ;-)...and the Turbo030. I want to give a special thanks to Jay Craswell for all the work he put in fixing up the ISAC card driver, it really put the icing on the Turbo030 cake. We had a 19" color monitor, an 030'd Mega, a laser printer, and Calamus SL, Pagestream 2.1, Dynacadd TT, ReToucheCD, WordFlair, and Lattice C, all running at 40Mhz with 1024x768 16 color video...WOW!!!!! The nicest compliment..."Bloddy hell, this things faster than the TT!" Phil Reeves, Paragon Computers. Phil was kind enough to give me a bumch of color demo files he'd done for Pagestream...created on a TT...awesome, just awesome. The neatest thing I saw was a 32Meg TT fast ram card, and a new top for the TT that lets you stuff a bunch of extra drives into the TT. ---------------- Speaking of Jim Allen and Fast Tech, here's a post from a satisfied T20 owner - From J.GNIEWKOWSK - Cat 2, Topic 16, Message 144 - from the ST Roundtable on Genie... Well, I received my T16 in the mail yesterday and I couldn't wait - so off I went to Radio Shack to buy a desoldering iron! I clipped the old 68000 out (silly us, I didn't need another 68000 - T16 already comes with one!) and desoldered the legs - 35 minutes. Then I soldered in the new socket (20 minutes) and the line to the 16 MHz clock (15 minutes), so all in all the whole project took 1h 10 min. I was surprised at how easy it was! My only problem is when I soldered the 16MHz wire to the wrong pad on the T16, of course the computer wouldn't boot - but after checking everything over I found the problem... Thanks for everyones help, I'm glad I got this and putting it in myself was VERY rewarding!!! ---------------- If you're like myself, you get confused by all of the different hard drive terms and definitions. Maybe this post by Ron Grant (R.GRANT11 with GXR Systems in Vancouver, B.C.) will help. BTW, he was talking to a user who was asking about upgrading his Atari SH204, 20 meg hard drive to one of the new Quantum drives. From the ST Roundtable on Genie... Ah, well. I'll define some terms, first. SCSI - Small Computer Systems Interface ACSI - Atari Computer Systems Interface IDE - Intelligent Drive Electronics ST506 - The original Seagate Drive Interface - obsolete but still around; sometimes called ST506/411 (or is it 412? No matter.) RLL - One way of encoding a hard drive MFM - Another way of encoding a hard drive Host Adapter (HA) - A device that speaks SCSI and at least one other dialect; a translator, if you will Controller - A device that directly controls a hard drive mechanism Mechanism - The actual guts of the drive; platters, spindle, rotor, heads Embedded SCSI - Combination drive mechanism, and controller that speaks SCSI Cable - The thing that usually breaks down first in any hardware setup Currently, one of the most popular hard drives is the QTLPS105S, the Quantum Low Profile Series 105 Megabyte SCSI drive (lovely drive!). When hard drive manufacturers speak of a SCSI drive these days, they are really talking about a Mechanism with an Controller built in, that happens to speak SCSI. These are called Embedded SCSI drives, because the controller is built right in. There are three other drives that one might come across in the normal retail channel; IDE, MFM, and RLL. Stay away from these. Your Atari computer has a hard drive subsystem based on ACSI, which is a variant of SCSI, but nonetheless is incompatible with any known hard drive mechanism or embedded controller drive. It needs to have an in-terpreter between it and the drive. The ICD Host Adapter (incidentally, ICD does NOT make a controller; they only make Host Adapters) is such an interpreter, there are one or two other brands, as well (Supra, BMS, and Atari's own). No matter what kind of drive is added to an Atari computer, it needs this Host Adapter somewhere. The Atari SH and Megafile series has, of course, Atari's own HA inside the box. Other drive resellers will put ICD's Host Adapter into a box (with the appropriate power supply; you can't run a drive without a power supply!) along with some sort of drive mechanism and controller, or embedded SCSI drive. These days, everybody is using Embedded SCSI drives, because they're much cheaper than buying a separate mechanism and controller. We used to have to make decisions about whether to buy an RLL or MFM mechanism, and the appropriate ST506 interface controller; it was all very confusing. Adaptec vs. OMTI, match the 4000A and the 3520 with the MFM's, the 4070A and 3570 with the RLL's....yuck. Fortunately, with SCSI, one only needs three things to create a hard drive; the Embedded SCSI drive itself, the Host Adapter (which comes with a cable and software), and a box to put them in (preferably with a power supply to run all this stuff). The new MegaSTE computers have a place to put a hard drive, which means that you don't need the box and power supply. You still need the Host Adapter (at this time, only Atari's specialized host adapter will work in the MegaSTE, but still, it's a Host Adapter). If you buy an 'External Hard Drive' from a company that caters to the Atari market, chances are real good that, yes, it comes with everything you need. If you buy one from a company that caters to the Macintosh world, you'll need to get the Host Adapter that talks SCSI on one end, and ACSI on the other. IBM PC owners can use Macintosh drives by buying a Host Adapter that talks SCSI on one end and ISA on the other. Sheesh. Macintosh owners have a SCSI host adapter built into their machines, and don't have to buy anything more. Funny how they wind up paying more for their hard drives than anyone else, though...... To answer your SPECIFIC questions: If you went out and bought a Quantum LPS105S you would need to buy an ICD (or other) host adapter, and a box/power supply. That's all. (Be- ware; if you buy a LPS105A, you've bought something for the IDE Host Adapter, which is meant for IBM PC's), You cannot use an ICD Host Adapter with your current SH204 shoebox drive. It would be redundant anyway; there's already a host adapter in there, albeit an old one. What you COULD do is rip out the Mec- hanism, Controller, and Atari Host Adapter, leaving only the power supply; then you could install the LPS105S and the ICD Host Adapter. Or, you could get another box/power supply, put the Quantum and the ICD in IT, and then chain both drives together, yielding 105 + 20 = 125 Megabytes online. Be warned; the LPS105S will be so much faster than the SH204 that you'll quickly want to sell off the SH204. The Atari Host Adapter in the SH204 or Megafiles is an ACSI - SCSI converter, but it's physically bundled with Atari's version of an Adaptec 4000A MFM Controller. I don't think you can separate them. I may be wrong. But I've never heard of anyone successfully installing an embedded SCSI drive in one of these units using the built-in HA. The only exception to the SH/Megafile rule is the Megafile 44 Removable, which simply has the Host Adapter installed, since the Syquest SQ555 in the M44 is a SCSI device. One other point: if you own a Mega ST, you can optionally install the LPS105S INSIDE the Mega, using a special Host Adapter from ICD called the Micro-I. It's smaller, and cuter than any other SCSI Host Adapter in the world. :-) But, you have a 1040; my advice to you is to buy a complete Quantum LPS105S setup from a reputable hard drive merchant (like me! if you're in British Columbia), sell off your old SH204 to someone in a user group (give him a good deal...be a sport, the things' only gonna last another year, if that) and enjoy five times the size and speed. Ron Grant (GXR Systems, Vancouver, B.C.) ---------------- A related question from G. Anders Hallsby from CIS... A friend of mine has asked me to help him find a SCSI HD for his Atari 1040ST. What does he need? Only a SCSI HD or both a HD and a controller. If he needs a controller is it a specific one for the Atari, or can you use an 8 or 16 bit one for the PC? Also, I know where to find HD (if they are the same as for IBM and Mac) but if he needs a specific controller card do you have any recommendations? Answer from Jeff Rigby (Intersect Software) on CIS... Any SCSI 1 HD will work for the ST, SCSI II HD's are very expensive so I assume that you wouldn't be interested even if it could work . You will need a SCSI to ASCI adaptor board. SCSI means Small Computer System Interface, it's an International standard for small computers (by small we mean single channel, not a mainframe). ASCI means Atari Small Computer Interface. Atari reduced the number of pins on the external ASCI DMA plug on the ST to reduce cost and a small board is needed to connect ASCI to SCSI. A 100 Meg SCSI HD runs about $400 and the ACSI board averages about $100.00. With the above you will need a case with power supply ($75.00) and a SCSI cable ($9.00). If you buy a ICD SCSI to ACSI board it includes a ASCI cable which is also needed to connect the HD to the ST. Closeouts are available on slightly slower 5 1/4 drives at very good prices. Answer from Bob Retelle (CIS sysop) on CIS... Just to expand on what Jeff said, a SCSI HD has the controller *built-in* so you don't have to worry about providing one... The SCSI controller is standard, so it will work OK with an Atari. What you DO need to provide, no matter what kind of HD mechanism you use is a "host adapter" to convert the Atari output to the standard SCSI scheme. Once you have the host adapter for the Atari, any SCSI HD will work (like any Seagate "N" drive for example). ---------------- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" IMPORTANT NOTICE! ================= As a reader of STReport International Online Magazine, you are entitled to take advantage of a special DELPHI membership offer. For only $29.95 ($20 off the standard membership price!), you will receive a lifetime subscrip- tion to DELPHI, a copy of the 500-page DELPHI: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE and over $14 worth of free time. NOTE: Special offers can be found in your favorite Atari magazines: START CURRENT NOTES ST INFORMER ATARI INTERFACE MAGAZINE SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI ====================== Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access DELPHI services via a local phone call JOIN -- DELPHI -------------- 1. Dial 617-576-0862 with any terminal or PC and modem (at 2400 bps, dial 576-2981). 2. At the Username prompt, type JOINDELPHI. 3. At the Password prompt enter STREPORT. For more information call: DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005 or at 617-491-3393 from within Massachusetts or from outside the U.S. DELPHI is a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge, Mass. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT -------------------- The 20/20 Advantage Plan IS FANTASTIC! And it features 20 hours online for just $20 a month! The $20 is a monthly fee that covers your first 20 hours online via direct dial into one of DELPHI's two direct-access lines, or via a special Tymnet 20/20 Access code. It also gets you additional hours at just $1.20 per hour. And you get free access to several services on DELPHI as part of the Advantage Perks. Other telecom services may have additional charges. Canadian Tymnet users have an additional telecom charge. Office Time access (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays) may have an additional charge. And of course, other restric- tions may apply. But this is still an amazing deal! IMPORTANT NOTICE! ================= As a reader of STReport International Online Magazine, you are entitled to take advantage of a special DELPHI membership offer. DELPHI has waived the sign-up fee! For a limited time, you can join the World's Premier Online Service for FREE! Members can access DELPHI worldwide through hundreds of local access lines. For more information please contact: DELPHI at 1-800-544-4005 and ask for Member Services. DELPHI- It's getting better all the time! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > PROGRAMMER CONF. STR FOCUS About proposed programmer online magazine ========================== DELPHI ONLINE CONFERENCE ======================== This is a transcript of a discussion held Tuesday, September 3rd, on the development of an online programming magazine, to be based on DELPHI, but distributed as widely as possible. JDBARNES> As I see it, the proposed online magazine would serve as a forum for programmers to exchange ideas. The most essential features would be an open format, i.e., one that any- one can read and anyone can contribute to. There would be no restric- tions as to language - GFA Bassic and Fortran would be as welcome as C++ or Pascal. The magazine would be expected to contain programs and features. Pro- grams would be given in source form so that readers could modify them and work through all of the steps required to get them running. Features might include profiles on outstanding programmers, reviews of languages and tools, book reviews, etc. The model that I have in mind is something like "Computers in Physics", which is a combination magazine and journal published by the American Institute of Physics. The programming submissions would be subjected to "peer review" in order to ensure that the programs work and that they use a sensible approach to what they purport to do. The impetus behind this arises from the fact that we see far too little useful source code in the public domain. Programmers need to learn from others of their kind. By putting the magazine online we maximize immediacy and keep publica- tion costs down. Now it is time to hear your comments. .Dana> JD, this venture sounds like a _great_ idea, and I wholeheartedly sup- port the concept. Would this magazine also be a forum for folks (like me!) who have little or no programming skills? And would like to learn?! JDBARNES> It might be nice to have a Q&A column. The programs in the mag should provide a starting point for things to try. The dialog that I see on Usenet, for example, is too arcane and techy. We need something more elementary. The biggest startup problem will be to find contributors. .Gordie> JD, I think John Barger from GFA is willing to contribute some material. On a regular basis, even. .Raven> Ok. 1st, will there be "type in" prgs. I miss this in the ST publica- tions that are out now. GA JDBARNES> I would expect them to be in file format ready to compile. But, source code is essential. The ST publications that are out now don't give you anything. .Raven> There will need to be "set" versions of the languages covered...What I mean is, not everyone has Lazer C, but everyone can use Sozobon. Not everyone has the new GFA, but the older one was a STart prg of the month. JDBARNES> I see what you mean. I would not like to shackle people. By having the source code they can modify it to fit their compiler. Perhaps we could keep things simple to begin with and issue sets of bindings so that the function calls would work in a variety of dialects. .Raven> Good point. What level programmer are you shooting for? JDBARNES> The emphasis should be on learning for a broad audience. I would expect the magazine to get distributed through UG libraries and maybe even something like AIM or CN. .Gordie> As well as online, JD? JDBARNES> Online would be the gathering place, where the issues would be assem- bled. Once they are assembled into an ARC file they can go anywhere. .Raven> Will there be "Regular" columns? I mean monthly ones where we can expect them to follow a certain progression from month to month? JDBARNES> Raven, that will depend on the interplay between our readers and our authors. Some columns would be nice, but they should move along and not get bogged down. .Raven> I have two suggestions (for columns). I would like to learn C and assem- bler. It would be nice to see a column on these. JDBARNES> Raven, I would hope that we can attract such submissions. I would expect to see reader feedback asking for some demo programs. This could take place in the Forum here to attract more attention. .Raven> Well, I'm taking the floor again. Would we keep the mag "based" here on DELPHI? JDBARNES> Raven, I expect that we would gather material from everywhere; Usenet, the Internet, GEnie, CIS, Local BBS's, etc. The distribution would be equally universal. .Raven> I am not suggesting that the material be limited, only for the online CO's that are linked to the mag. JDBARNES> DELPHI would be a good forum because of the 20/20 plan. .Gordie> Beyond the content of the magazine, have you given any thought to the mechanics? Name, how it gets put together, etc... JDBARNES> Gordie, I am sure that someone will come up with a clever name. I would expect that people would submit articles to me via Delphi E-Mail (al- though I am not sure how this works with a binary file). .Gordie> Would the distribution file include several smaller files? Text files, code files, etc? Then arc the whole thing and send it out... (I can explain the binary file transfer procedure to you later.) JDBARNES> Yes, the idea is definitely to provide a structured collection. .Raven> How big of an issue are you looking for? I mean pages. JDBARNES> The ARCED file should take no longer than 1/2 hr to download at 2400 baud. .Gordie> That'd run about 300K, then. Usually. .Raven> WOW! That would be big! JDBARNES> Sounds right to me, Gordie. That is an UPPER bound. It would be smaller to start with. .Gordie> Be positive, JD. We'll start there, then work to keep it manageable. .Raven> Ok all. JDBARNES wanted me to post a suggestion for a name. I came up with PRO ST. 'Pro' twofold. Pro for program and PRO cuz we are PRO and not CON on the ST. Ok, I know it's lame. JDBARNES> How about ST PRO? No, there would not likely be any editorializing. .Gordie> ST PRO MONTHLY? (SPM for short?) .Raven> Looks like SPASM JDBARNES> I don't know about the "Monthly". It may be every other week or 3 times a year, depending on content. .Raven> OR SPAM!!! Yeah! Monty Python! I love it!! .Dave> How about Dev Pack ST? Naah, already taken :). .Raven> I vote for SPaM. JDBARNES> By the way, the contributors do not need to be "developers". .Gordie> PRO ST sounds like a drinking toast! JDBARNES> By the way, why restrict it to the ST? .Gordie> JD, a regular schedule of production would lend a significant degree of credibility to it, however. .Dave> Excuse me, but I have a question! JDBARNES> You are right, Gordie. That is a factor. Go ahead, Dave. .Dave> What 'level' of programmer would this mag help the most? GA. JDBARNES> I think the programmer who is willing to get a little serious. I have always maintained that there is no sense learning to program unless you have a problem that needs solving. Did I mention the need for a PR person right at the outset? We need to solicit contributions and make the thing known. I see a good bit of support out there. But I have no idea who the potential contributors might be. .Gordie> JD, who would you see as potential contributors at first? Well-known programmers, or someone who may have more time? .Gordie> Sure, answer me before I ask...! JDBARNES> Gordie, I would just like to see something contributed. No need for big names. .Gordie> Although, some big names would, again, lend some credibility, right from the outset. JDBARNES> Gordie, I am not sure about that. They tend to focus on minutae and cute tricks. We want basic learning. .Gordie> Maybe big names isn't the right term. Someone who might be recognized as having some expertise. Shareware and PD authors, for instance. JDBARNES> I think the material will speak for itself. One version of a program might prompt another in a different language. ST Applications used to have the kind of thing that I am looking for. Hey, I even think of dBMAN as a programming language! .Raven> I think we should limit the covereage to the ST. The part I HATE most about ST Report is the coverage of other machines. If I wanted to read that, I would get things that carry news about that machine. JDBARNES> Well, Raven, we are not shooting for another ST Report. But anything Atari ought to be fair game (except the obscure MS-DOS machines). .Raven> I was just using STR as an example. I don't want to see MAC and IBM coverage. There are already enough mags carrying that. .Gordie> I was going to comment on Raven's point. I think we should at least acknowledge that we can develop on the ST, and then port to other platforms. But certainly not focus on it. JDBARNES> I think Raven's point is clear enough and I accept it. Atari programming only. .Raven> What I REALLY want to know is what will the format be? JDBARNES> OK, format. Submit articles as arced files. Source code separate from documentation. Straight ASCII so anyone can load it into their favorite editor. Images are OK too, for diagrams and the like. .Raven> I mean how will it look? Will there be an editorial page, etc.? JDBARNES> I expect there wil be a README file with a table of contents and separate folders for each article or feature. .Raven> How about reviews? JDBARNES> Reviews, features, articles .. all the same. .Gordie> Reviews of what? Language packages? Books? I guess I just answered my own question. .Raven> Well, there's a new version of Sozobon C. JDBARNES> Both of those, certainly. Programming tools...... .Raven> What about the new C source code libraries? JDBARNES> A feature on Sozobon C would be very good. I find the package so funky that it is of little use to me. .Raven> Glendale Atarifest is coming up. What about a "This is what we saw?" JDBARNES> No, Raven, I think Fests are covered adequately elsewhere. .Raven> How about programming environments (e.g., Sliccware)? JDBARNES> That gets to a gray area. SLICCWARE is really an OS. George Geczy's Hypertext thing might appropriate though. .Gordie> What about hooking into utility programs, like HotWire, LGS, etc. JDBARNES> I had to back off after thinking about your question. I see all of those as universal utilities that a programmer does need to interact with directly. Shells are another matter because they are programming languages as well as development tools. If an environment facilitates programming, then we should cover it. SANZA> I like the 'hooks' business, but also would like info on writing ACCs and TSRs. JDBARNES> Those are valid areas of exploration. They are also usually shareware. Maybe there are some that have their source code floating around. Some tutorials on those would be excellent. SANZA> I've written DA's but haven't found much on TSRs. I'm the type that needs things S P E L L E D out. JDBARNES> Give me an example of a TSR that you like. SANZA> A screen saver for example. JDBARNES> Ok, good example. .Raven> I have code for one of those, I think. JDBARNES> Yes, Raven? .Raven> I have a gray area. What about the macro language of something like LDW? JDBARNES> I don't see that as gray at all. It seems appropriate to me. Such a macro is a structured way to solve a problem. Now that two of you have mentioned that you have code, are you willing to document it, and share it? Perhaps with a little help? .Raven> I made a mistake. It was for a clock. It is from the abacus books. SANZA> I'd be willing. JDBARNES> A bibliography of sources of code would be a real good project. .Raven> I think you should approach Dorothy (Brumleve) about being a regular contributor. JDBARNES> I'll see what she says. JDBARNES> Any more questions? I have gotten a lot of good ideas. We'll post a transcript and a Forum message. The project needs a bigger response, though, and it will take time to fire it up. .Raven> I would really like to have J.Eidsvoog work with us on an ALADDIN type prg for DELPHI. JDBARNES> Raven, that would be too complex for the magazine. .Raven> Well, I can wish. JDBARNES> Does anybody have any other feelings about the magazine enterprise? .Raven> I just wanted to say that I am 100% for it. It is something that the ST community has missed since ST log died. JDBARNES> Everybody should feel free to recruit any of their friends. .Gordie> And Clay might be willing to allow excerpts from his assembly book be published. SANZA> I'm looking forward to it. I loved C-manship and would love to see more of the same. JDBARNES> ST-Log and similar commercial ventures foundered on high overhead and a lack of grass roots input. .Gordie> Grass Roots Programming Magazine? JDBARNES> How do you like Gordie's name? .Raven> Hey GRoPe. Grass Roots Programming. Another name. .Gordie> GRP? .Raven> GRoPe or SPaM. I like SPaM. JDBARNES> Spell out SPaM again, please. .Raven> ST Programming Monthly. SPaM. Find something for the "a". A - Atari ST Programing Atari Monthly - SPAM .Gordie> Department of Redundancy Department! .Raven> Naw. We need another thing for the A. JDBARNES> I think the GRoPe thing has possibilities -- Groping for a solution. .Raven> What if we could get a compacting prg like DC Squish to compress the mag? It would be a self xtracting deal. LZH compresses smaller. JDBARNES> I do not want to get into the compression argument. Z-Net and ST Report use ARC for very good reasons. BOY> I think that some kind of programs should be included in the mag. JDBARNES> Boy, any program can be included as long as its source code is included also. No binary cuties and crutches. Source code to be truly PD. SANZA> Has anyone seen the assembly tutorial in ST Format? .Raven> No. Any good? JDBARNES> No. SANZA> It's excellent. It's what I hope this online mag will be like. JDBARNES> Maybe it offers a standard to strive for? .Raven> U mean surpass. JDBARNES> Well, guys, as I said before. There were lots of good, useful, ideas. Hang on to your suggested names for a contest to name this new elect- ronic marvel. Thanks for your attention. *** End of Conference *** ___________________________________________________________ > DEVPAC INFO STR InfoFile "Improvements in DevpacST 2.25" ======================== DEVPAC ST 2.25 INFO =================== Captured from the Delphi File Libraries By Lloyd Pulley, Sr. Below are the improvements in DevpacST 2.25 as opposed to DevpacST 2.09. The current U.S. distributor of the Hisoft line is Goldleaf Publishing, makers of WordFlair II. DevpacST 3(finally with a multi-window editor, yeah!) supposedly will be out this fall. The update costs $20 and the 3.0 upgrade will probably be at least another $50! This file describes the improvements in DevpacST 2.25 as opposed to Dev- pacST 2.09. Assembler improvements ====================== The assembler now supports the operators >=,<=,!=,<> The latter two both mean 'not equals'. The | character is now accepted as a bitwise OR operator for all you C programmers!) SECTION directives do not cause the local label to be reset, making it easier to use them in macros. \# is now a synonym for NARG in macros. INCBIN is no longer padded with a null byte if the file is odd in len- gth, the even directive should be used after the file if needed. Optimisations 3 through 7 have been added: 3 absolute addresses will be optimised to short-word addressing if in the range $FFFF8000-$7FFF inclusive 4 instructions of the form MOVE.L #x,Dn will be optimised to MOVEQ if x is in the range -128 to 127 inclusive 5 ADD #x and SUB #x instructions will be optimised to Quick forms if x is in the range 1-8 inclusive 6 not strictly an optimisation; a warning will be issued for each forward branch that could be made short; this must be used in conjunction with option type 1 7 convert BRA.S to next instruction to NOP. Formerly this always occurred even when optimisation was off. It is now an error by default The warning messages produced by each optimisation may be individually controlled. When using Word- or Long-sized indirection, addresses are checked to be even, for example MOVE.L 5,A6 will give an error. This may be disabled if required using OPT E- The register list syntax produced in earlier MOVEM lists from MonST is now accepted by GenST. The | character is now accepted as a bitwise OR operator (for all you C programmers!) Symbols set using REG may now be used in expressions, with a warning. Their value is the same as that used in the MOVEM op. There is a new option which can be used to detect typing errors, OPT i. With this on, any indirect, absolute reference will give the error '# probably missing'. For example, the line... and.b $df,d1 ...will give an error as and.b #$df,d1 is really intended. This can be overidden on a line-by-line basis by specifying the expression within brackets and using .W or .L, for example move.l ($ff8000).L,d0 The '@' character is now allowed in symbols, except when followed by a digit from 0-7 when it is taken as the start of an octal number. This is for Lattice C 5 users. When using the stand-alone version of the assembler it is possible to define labels on the command-line. The load bits in the GEMDOS header file may be set from the assembler. Debugger improvements --------------------- Dissassembler now gives labels embedded in DATA areas. The word, long and byte searches can now be made to only look for the pattern starting on word or long word boundaries. Text searches can now be made to ignore case dofferences. Other ----- The AESLIB and GEMMACRO files have had form_keybd and form_button added. Shift-Alt-A assembles without the options dialog. The vertical scroll arrows in the editor cause the screen to scroll rather than move the cursor. ___________________________________________________________ > WAACE FALL/'91 STR SHOW NEWS "THE PREMIER EAST COAST SHOW!" ============================ WAACE Status Report =================== WAACE, Inc. AtariFest '91 Dates: -------------------------------- The Fest is scheduled for 12 and 13 October '91. The show hours are from 10AM to 5PM both days. We also expect to sponsor some special events on Friday evening. The show will feature a full round of seminars and demonstrations. There will also be a swap meet. There will be a cocktail party and a ban- quet on Saturday evening. Vendor space is starting too run short, so those who have missed out need to get cracking. Our ads in AIM, AtariUser, Current Notes, and ST Informer are starting to show results. According to the hotel we are 40 percent of the way toward our room guarantee. There are still plenty of room available, but now is the time to make your plane reservations and line up your hotel rooms. Call the Reston Inn: 703-620-9000 and mention the WAACE AtariFest. Hotel Rates: ------------ Hotel rates are $59 per night for single or double occupancy, $66 for triple and quad. These rates are valid from October 10th through the 13th. Virginia hotel tax (4.5%) must be added to the above prices. In order to obtain these rates you must mention WAACE AtariFest '91 when making your reservations. Seminar slots are starting to run short. There is plenty of time available in the demo rooms. There is a lot of MIDI interest cropping up, so the MIDI room promises to be lively. Look for upcoming announcnements on the banquet, worker registration (lots of fringe benefits), user group participation and more. In a couple of recent phone conversations people have started off by asking: "is the WAACE show really going to take place?". I am afraid that these people do not understand what makes a show tick. The first crucial item is solid vendor support, particularly in the form of exciting products. Anyone who reads my previous post has to be aware that WAACE '91 has that kind of support. The second thing is the attitude of people towards the event itself. WAACE is more than justr an opportunity to buy Atari goods at a cheap price. It is a gathering point for people. We take care to offer interesting entertainment and forums for relaxation during those hours when the show floor is silent. I think it is fair to say that we have established a tone that many people enjoy. The third item is continuity. We have a nucleus of workers who have experienced the little thrills that the Atari world can toss up to distract people. We have been through it before and we know that none of thse little items will bring the world to an end. In fact I suspect that it would take some event like the prelude to the second comiXng to cancel the show this fall. In short, tell everyone you know that WAACE '91 IS GOING TO HAPPEN. We already have enough people coming to make a wonderful party. I am looking forward to seeing all of you there. For additional Information please contact either of the following: General Chairman Vendor Coordinator Charles S. Smeton John D. Barnes P.O. Box 0122 7710 Chatham Rd Columbia, MD 21045-0122 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 GEMail: C.S.SMETON GEMail: J.D.Barnes CIS: 73047,2565 DELPHI: JDBARNES FNET: Charles Smeton, Node 500 Internet: JOHNBARNES@ENH.NIST.GOV *********************************************************************** :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT: _________________________________ To sign up for GEnie service: Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo) Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN. GEnie costs only $4.95 a month for unlimited evening and weekend access to more than 100 services including electronic mail, online encyclopedia, shopping, news, entertainment, single-player games, and bulletin boards on leisure and professional subjects. With many other services, including the biggest collection of files to download and the best online games, for only $6 per hour. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! Any time during your first month of membership if you are not completely satisfied, just ask for your $4.95 back. ****CALAMUS SL/S DEMO**** DTP folks, this is the demo you have been waiting for. Check out file # 20711 called CAL_S_SL.ARC <-- This is a demo of ISD - DMC's latest entry to the DTP field. NEW font and logo editor demo from DMC called TYPE ART. Check it out. File# 20778 called TA_DEMO.ARC <-- Any inquiries, please post in Category 16 Topic 19 in the bulletin board. It's in German but well worth the download. SEARS' 1991 CHRISTMAS CATALOG IS AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW! ====================================================== Ever since we published our first Christmas catalog in 1933, receiving the Sears "WISH BOOK" in the mail has signaled the beginning of the holiday season for millions of American families. This year we celebrate the 58th edition--the largest that we've ever published! What's new this season? >> 225 pages of more than 2000 TOYS--125 dolls are featured with over 30 Barbie Dolls, loads of accessories plus a "Sears exclusive" Barbie, Snowboards, Skateboards, Bikes and the new, Super Nintendo game! >> 123 pages of famous name, Home Electronics like Sony, Panasonic, IBM, AT&T, GE, Jensen, Magnavox, Toshiba, Zenith, Canon, RCA and Pioneer! >> 17 pages of Holiday Foods including Hickory Farms products, Indian River fruit and Lou Malnati's Chicago-style pizza! You'll also find hundreds of great gift suggestions--the latest looks in Apparel, holiday Home Fashions, beautiful Jewelry, the newest Video Games, Sporting Goods, Books and our BEST APPLIANCE VALUES of the year! ORDER OUR WISH BOOK NOW! It costs only $4.00 and includes a $5.00 coupon to apply toward your next catalog order. SHOP EARLY and get an additional bonus--up to $20 off your next order! Order from our WISH BOOK through Oct 21st and get our "Early Shoppers" bonus. If your merchandise total is $100 or more, you'll receive a $10 Bonus Certificate...$200 or more, you'll receive a $20 Certificate! This year, there are only 26 shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Wouldn't it be nice if holiday shopping could be easier? Then do what 97,000 people a day do. Shop from the Sears WISH BOOK! Remember, any item from the WISH BOOK can be ordered online by using the "Electronic Order Blank" found on Sears' Main Menu. There's just no better, faster way to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Happy Holidays from all of us, Sears, Roebuck and Company GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission *********************************************************************** > MODEM UPGRADE STR InfoFile "2400 modem to 9600 baud" ========================== UPGRADING YOUR 2400 BAUD MODEM ============================== Captured from the Genie ST Roundtable by Lloyd Pulley, Sr. ********************************************************************** How to upgrade your 2400 modem into a 9600 baud. (US Robotics compatible of course) Written By Death Bringer (CPT/Info-Net/IRA) 06/7/91 Be sure to turn off your modem before you begin. First of all, you need to go to your nearby electronics store, don't try to go to Radio Shack, their parts have their own model numbers and you will have a heck of a time getting the parts you need. This upgrading of your modem will not work on old Hayes modems, but they will work on any clone maker of modems (Everex, Practical Peripherals, Anchor, Intel, Ati, etc.) It will only work with modems with the Intel Chipset. This technique widens the band width by using a different chip that is similiar to the chip already in your modem. Parts Needed: 1.... 16550 UART 1.... L4313545 IC 1.... SC11020CN IC 1.... L8730183 IC First, check to see if your biggest chips are soldered or socketed. If they are soldered, you'll have to de-solder the chips before you begin. After you get that done, replace the 8250 UART with the 16550 UART. (16550 UARTs are required for 9600+ speeds). The other 1 or 2 chip(s) need to replaced with INTEL L4313545 instead of the chip that is already there. If your modem has another socket or more, then you are in luck. You can purchase a chip from US Robotics, and make your modem faster than 9600. If you don't have the socket, then you can only go 9600. I'll get the chip number to you in the next edition and explain how and where to install it. I am working on a way for the people (like myself) that do not have the extra socket in their modem to speed up the rates. I am working on a way to piggy back the chip. I'll get back to you. There should be a 22 pin chip on your modem also with a model number of SC11005CN or somewhere close to it. Replace it with the SC11020CN. Also, replace the L8630173 with the L8730183 chip. If you have any suggestions or questions, you can locate me through Compuserve USER ID 74702,97524 ***** OPTIONAL, LAP-M Error correction ***** Adding error correction is rather simple. For this the following parts are necessary: Potentiometer. This is a 5k audio taper variable resistor. Capacitor. Any non-polarized 1.0 to 1.5 uf cap should do. 100 ohm resistor - quarter or half watt. Wire Solder, soldering iron, etc. Solder one end of the capacitor to PIN 1 of the phone line input jack... |-------------------| | \ line in :: | \ phone in :: |-----------||||||||| pin 1^ If your modem is external, the diagram looks like this. |------------------| | /| | ||RS-232 port | \| :: | |-|line in :: | |-| pin 1^ | |-|phone in | |-| |------------------| This should be on the back of the modem. Pin one should the farthest on the bottom left. Solder the other end of the capacitor to the center lug of the potentio- meter (there are three lugs on this critter). Solder one end of the re- sistor to the PIN 4 of the line input jack. Solder the other end of the resistor to either one of the remaining outside lugs of the potentio- meter. Doesn't matter which one. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITION TO ORIGNAL FILE - 6/15/91 Bill McCauley & Dark Spyre/Dr. Brains/Ryan Schwartz/Lamer/Loser First, a personal recomendation. _THIS WORKS!!!_ I have been plagued with 2400 baud for some time. I hate waiting for the transfer to finish so that I can use the phone. Threw the gismo together in about 10 or 15 minutes, took another five to adjust the pot for best results on my worst conection, and guess what? No more slow connections! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Have Fun! I am working on cheap ways to install V.32/V.42bis on your modified modem. *************************Updated, 6/16/91****************************** Installing V.42bis: 1) You will need to purchase a 27C512 ROM chip. 2) You will need to purchase a Sony CXK58257P-12L (or equivalent) Ram chip. 3) Install the Rom in the Supervisor (SUP) socket. 4) Install the Ram in the Ram socket. 5) Make up two 3 pin jumpers for P9 and P10 with pins 1 and 2 jumpered on one and pins 2 and 3 jumpered on the other. Connect the vacant pin 1 on the one to the vacant pin 3 on the other with a jumper wire. 6) Remove the jumpers on P9 and P10. 7) Install the jumper with pins 1 and 2 connected together on P9. 8) Connect the jumper with pins 2 and 3 connected together on P10. DeathBringer '91 NOTE: Any hardware modification articles that appear in this publication require some techincal skill and should only be done by a service center or a qualified person. ST Report makes no guarantees regarding the re- liability of any of these modifications. You, as always, perform the modifications at your own risk. _________________________________________________________ > ATARI EXPLORER STR InfoFile SPECIAL EXPLORER OFFER! =========================== BIG DEAL ATARI EXPLORER DISCOUNT OFFER! ======================================= Atari User Groups are the backbone of the Atari community, and an impor- tant resource for Atari owners in their areas. Likewise, you Atari owning CompuServe subscribers help support a valuable resource for information and exchange. In an important sense, the CompuServe Atari Forums are a User Group, too! From now until December 31, 1991, Atari Explorer, the Official Atari Jour- nal, wants to say "thank you" to Atari User Groups and CompuServe users all across the U.S., by offering a 33% discount on Atari Explorer subscriptions! That's right -- for just $9.95, you can get six big issues (one year, regular price $14.95) of Atari Explorer ($24.95 for 18 issues, three years, regular price $39.95). Or, if you already subscribe, we'll extend your subscription at the same low rates! Atari Explorer is currently the largest-circulation magazine serving the U.S. Atari market. And, as the Official Atari Journal, it's the magazine of record. We cover the whole range of Atari products in depth and in detail, from the 2600 and 7800 game systems, to Lynx, to the 8-bit line, to Portfolio, and on to the ST and TT. So you're always sure to find some- thing new, relevant, and exciting in our pages! To qualify for your discount, send your name, address, and a check or money order for $9.95 (1 year) or $24.95 (3 years) to Atari Explorer at the address below. Include, on the same sheet, a statement of the form: I certify that I am currently a member of _______________, (User Group Name) or ... I certify that I am a CompuServe subscriber _______________. (CIS ID Number) ...followed by your signature, and send to: Atari Explorer Discount Offer P.O. Box 6488 Duluth, MN 55806 Or call (218) 723-9202 (and be prepared to supply the same information). VISA/MasterCard orders Keep getting the most out of your Atari investment! (Offer open to CompuServe subscribers and members of Atari User groups who reside in the U.S., only. Offer void after December 31, 1991.) _______________________________________________________________ > ATARI FUTURE STR FOCUS A NEW DAY or IDEA? ====================== AN EBENEZER SCROOGE TESTIMONIAL? ================================ by Dana P. Jacobson Here it is, Labor Day weekend is just past and whoosh.. the summer is gone! Amazing, isn't it, but the summer is "officially" over and the students are returning to school all over this great nation. The summer vacations are but a fond memory. The end of summer marks the beginning of another "season", the period when Atari usually comes alive with news of new developments, various prospects and awe inspiring plans. The mark of this period usually is "announced" with the major show in Dusseldorf, which just recently closed. The German show, along with the fall Comdex show in October, is the time that we all enjoy hearing about. It's this period when we learn what to expect from Atari, when we can begin salivating for news of new products which will soon be available to us. But, I can't help but remember the things that we heard about last year. At the beginning of this year, we heard of new arrangements made with our surviving dealers, distributors, and developers. What's happened to all these "magnanomous" arrangements? There's still little, if any, product shipping with regularity; and what there is of it is difficult to obtain. I constantly hear from dealers that they could sell ten times the machines they now do IF they could get them. They cannot get machines, OR, they are forced to buy more than they can afford at one time. And what about the developers and distributors? Where is all of the Atari support promised to them? How many of these people have spent small for- tunes on advertising this past year and seen nothing in return from Atari? Quite a number, from the various publications I've seen in the past 12 months. Would it surprise you to hear that there's the possibility that three _major_ distributors are considering class-action suits against Atari for broken promises? I was certainly surprised, and unfortunately, I can't elaborate further at present. But, the point is that this cryptic reference shows us that it's gone beyond the point of just the userbase complaining about lack of support. But, getting back to the Dusseldorf show again. A couple of the developers who attended the show were kind enough to let the users of Del- phi know how the show went, in an informal conference. What I could as- certain from what was said, the show was successful and enjoyable. But, reading between the lines, it appeared that this show held no surprises. The new "ST Book" machine was shown, and it appeared to be the hit of the show; but, nothing else premiered (or at least mentioned during the time I was at the CO). What these developers did mention was that, for them, the show was a great opportunity to make many new contacts which should help them expand their market in Europe. Reading between the lines again, it seems that the current U.S. market, or lack of it, has necessitated that the developers search out new markets to survive. This situation only goes to re-enforce that the market here, in the USA, is not improving. There are just too many broken promises. Atari just keeps reaffirming what the users have been claiming for years: Atari is not doing enough in the States. I keep asking myself why, and can't come up with a sensible reason. Atari makes some incredible hardware. If the machines we have available were inferior, I could rationalize what the problems were. But this is not the case. Why have we become 5th-rate, if not forgotten, com- puter citizens? Somewhere along the line, you may have asked yourself what was the purpose of the headline I used for this editorial. Well, I actually had two, but this seemed the appropriate time for the one I chose. Christmas season, especially nowadays, is almost here. Will Atari make it a successful Christmas season? Or, will the Tramiels continue to take on the persona of Scrooge again and just say "Bah, humbug!". Every year, like clockwork, Atari misses the boat and fails to have a viable campaign. Somebody please, send a few copies of "A Christmas Carol" to the Tramiels. If they can't "read" the writing on the wall, send them a few of the Bill Murray movie versions. Why the Scrooge routine? This country is the _richest_ country in the world. The people here make more money than anywhere, and have more to spend. So why, in a country where sales could skyrocket with the right advertising and marketing, can't Atari become a commonplace name in the industry. Atari is in the computer business, or at least that's what we're led to believe. They've had the best gurus in the business at one time or another; and the current staff continues to reflect that. So why can't all of this talent be used to affect some changes so Atari can be- come the company we all know it can be. What can the Tramiels be thinking while buying and selling, by teasing us with new products that never bear fruition (at least in a timely fashion); and why do they continue to be satisfied with just getting by? Atari and its developers have already proved to the existing userbase that they can do things better and cheaper than the Macs and the IBMs. There was nothing wrong with the old slogan of "Power Without the Price" because it was true. Forget these "niche markets", they're limited. They also haven't proven successful, either. Where are the big DTP niches? For a year now, we've been hearing about this fantastic DTP niche, and it's been promoted tirelessly. But the DTP "big gun" isn't even ready yet. The MIDI market is another niche, but where has that gone? The market, in my opinion which is shared by most everyone, is that the Atari computer is a great all-around piece of equi- pment, and it should be marketed that way. Once that has been established, and growth of sales, etc. is established, then branch out with the various niche markets. The time is quickly passing us by, Atari. You've already missed an opportunity to market the STe and MegaSTe for the new school year which is just beginning. The educational market is just one example of where Atari could do some good, especially with school budgets getting cut to shreds these days. They certainly cannot afford the high prices of the Macs and IBMs anymore! Atari, are you also going to miss another Christmas season as well? Well, with a name like mine, the Christmas season ain't all that it's cracked up to be; but even I know that this is the busiest buying season of the year for anything and everything! The time is now, while some still remains to be had, for Atari to make a positive move. It's time for Atari to pay back the faithful and create some enthusiasm by making Atari a household name again. It's time for Atari to see what's happening to the userbase. Look at the attendance figures for recent Atari shows, including the show in Dusseldorf. Attendance, defined enthusiasm, is rapidly decreasing. The largest two Atari shows of the year in the U.S. are rapidly approaching. Will these shows also have to pay the price for loyalty? I certainly hope not. Atari, you've seen the ghosts of Christmas Past and Present. We all know what is represented by the ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come. Even Ebenezer Scrooge realized his mistakes before it was too late, will you? ____________________________________________________________ > STR Portfolio News & Information "Keeping up to date..." ================================ THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ========================= On CompuServe by Judith Hamner 72257,271 This week there has been a detailed discussion about the external disk drives. Ira Adams provided info about the Interloop IL-170 interface. This unit is available from EduCalc and will interface with the HP IL line of peripherals. Ira is using his with the HP9114B floppy drive. Several members now have the Flashdrive. They report that they are impressed with the small size and weight and are pleased with their purchase. The Flashdrive by BSE will interface a hard drive with the Port and other com- puters through the parallel port. Andy Rinehold and Don Thomas are swapping expert tips for Portfolio users in the Community Square. David Stewart announced that the first is- sue of his newsletter, Re:Port, is in the mail. Intuit Software is looking for Port users in the California area to serve in a focus group. They are considering an expansion into the palmtop market. See the file INTUIT.TXT for details. David Stewart is announcing a spelling checker for the Port. Details are in the file SPLCHK.TXT in the library. To aid those who are considering a purchase, PRESS.TXT contains a list of articles about the Port from various magazines. Portfolio Partner is a program for the Atari ST. the program allows editing of files in .adr format on the ST. Filename is PFPART.ARC. Artisan Software has another ST program. PGF2PG.ARC by Don Thomas is a companion to PGFMAKER.PRG. It will compress and expand PGF/PGC file for- mats on an ST with monochrome monitor. Don Thomas gave an explanation of the Atari ST and file transfer to the Port. TransporT is a product of Artisan Software designed for this use. Raymond Blum reported that the September ISSUE OF Dr. Dobbs Journal introduced a new programming language. "BOB" is a C-like object oriented language by David Betz which runs on the Port. __________________________________________________________ > STR InfoFile Flight of the Intruder Here ============ *** FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER FOR ST NOW AVAILABLE *** Spectrum HoloByte Turns Best-Selling Novel on Air War in Vietnam into Fighter Simulation Featuring A-6 Intruders and F-4 Phantoms Category: Simulation Computer: Atari ST Available: Now Suggested Retail Price: $59.95 Alameda, Calif., August 6, 1991--Spectrum HoloByte today announced the availability of its popular fighter simulation, FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER, for Atari ST computers. The game, featuring A-6 and F-4 planes, brings to the computer Stephen Coonts' best-selling novel by the same title, which is based on his experiences as a Navy pilot in the Vietnam war. FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER was also made into a major motion picture by Paramount last year. The movie, recently released on videocassette, stars Brad Johnson, Danny Glover and Willem Dafoe. Flying either an A-6 Intruder or F-4 Phantom in the computer simulation, players are sent into combat from their base on the carrier USS Shiloh. The action takes place during the 1972 Linebacker campaign over North Vietnam. FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER features multiple missions in which the pilot is usually part of a larger operation undertaken by one of several sections of aircraft. For example, a section of A-6 Intruders going on a bombing mission would be joined by a section of F-4 Phantoms to protect the bombers from enemy MiGs. In such a mission, players might be assigned to fly either the bomber or fighter jet. Typical enemy targets of these daily harrowing bombing missions are strategic bridges, power supply plants, docks and shipping facilities. To be successful, players must be prepared to run the gauntlet of both air and ground defenses. Enemy fighters fly MiG-17s, MiG-19s and MiG-21s armed with cannon and Atoll heat-seeking missiles. Major ground threats are SAMs (Surface-to-Air Missiles) and flak. Players may also choose to take on the role of Mission Commander. In this multiple-stage planning role, players select primary and secondary targets, choose weapons and other external stores, select waypoints for setting up their desired route and decide aircraft departure times and duties. The Mission Commander can fly any aircraft in the mission and also switch aircraft mid-mission to keep up with the ever-changing action. FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER features full color graphics and sound support for the ST and is available for a suggested retail price of $59.95. (Special note: Flight of the Intruder is not compatible with TOS 2.02.) The program uses manual-based copy protection and can be installed to most hard drives. ______________________________________________________ > GLENDALE SHOW STR SHOW NEWS Southern California ATARI Computer Faire ============= THE GLENDALE SHOW ================= PRESS RELEASE ============= UPDATE The Southern California ATARI Computer Faire, Version 5.0 (AKA The Glen- dale Show) is expected to be the largest show of its type, ever, in North America. The show will be held at The Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, California, USA. Local directions can be found by referring to the Thomas Brothers Guide for L.A. County page 25-E2. Take the Glendale Blvd. exit of the 134 FWY and go North two miles or take the Mountain St. exit of the 2 FWY and go West one block. The Faire dates are September 14 & 15, 1991 and show hours are Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 10-4. General admission is $6.00 per person. Anybody planning to attend the show who resides outside of Southern California may send a SASE to H.A.C.K.S., 249 N. Brand Bl. #321, Glendale, CA 91203 and receive a pass for free admission. This offer is limited to no more than two people per pass and one request per household. A special hotel rate has been made available at the Burbank Airport Hilton Hotel. That special rate is $59 per night for single or double occupancy. For reservation call 818-843-6000 and mention ATARI. If you have problems with the rate ask for Roy in Convention Services. Do not call the 800 number, unless you want to pay the National rate of $119 per night. THE GLENDALE SHOW PARTICIPANTS: ATARI Corporation * The Computer Network * Mid-Cities Computers * Goodman's Music * Musicode * Safari Fonts * Sliccware * Clear Thinking * Micro Creations * Rio Computers * Best Electronics * Branch Always * Michtron * ADG Productions * CodeHead Software * Omnimon Peripherals * Gadgets by Small * Zubair Interfaces * ICD Magazine * PDC * COMPO Software * Beckemeyer Development Tools (expected) * RIMIK Enterprises * McDonald & Assoc. * GoldLeaf Publishing * Soft-Aware * Talon Industries * JMG * Wiz- Works * Gribnif (expected) * Phil Comeau Software * Double Click * Sudden, Inc. (expected) * D.A. Brumleve * Artisan Software * BSE Company (expected) * Z*NET Online Magazine ____________________________________________________________ > PARDON US! STR Spotlight ======================== Dear Mr. Swanson, The article in CPU Report #34 that you referred to in your "TRUTH.TXT", was compiled from NewsBytes Newswire. As was stated in a recent ST Report editorial, we don't claim to be per- fect, we are only human and can make mistakes. When these mistakes are reported to us, we will attempt to rectify them or at least, issue a cor- rection. But when people don't notify us of mistakes (I noticed that you didn't bother to send either Ralph or myself any such notification - if I hadn't been testing the new beta version of Alladin, I probably would have never seen your 'reply'), there is little we can do. It's easy to say "and I use the word 'press' very hesitantly", but the press is very limited as to what they can report when they are not infor- med of errors. I would expect an Editor/Publisher to be very aware of these facts. ------------------------------------------------- > Hard Disks STR InfoFile ***** ABCO SUMMER '91 SPECIALS! ***** ======================= ** EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! ** ABCO COMPUTER ELECTRONICS INC. P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32236-6672 Est. 1985 _________________________________________ Voice: 904-783-3319 10 AM - 4 PM EDT BBS: 904-786-4176 12-24-96 HST FAX: 904-783-3319 12 PM - 6 AM EDT _________________________________________ HARD DISK SYSTEMS TO FIT EVERY BUDGET _________________________________________ All systems are complete and ready to use, included at NO EXTRA COST are clock/calendar and cooling blower(s). *-ALL ABCO HARD DISK SYSTEMS ARE FULLY EXPANDABLE-* (you are NOT limited to two drives ONLY!) (all cables and connectors installed) * ICD HOST ADAPTERS USED EXCLUSIVELY * OMTI HIGH SPEED CONTROLLERS * * ICD ADSCSI+ HOST ADAPTERS * FULL SCSI COMMAND SET SUPPORTED * * SCSI EMBEDDED CONTROLLER MECHANISMS * WE PAY SHIPPING!!! >BLUE LABEL UPS!< Deluxe 2 bay Cabinet w/65w auto-switching PS TIME PROVEN to be the most reliable! Model Description Autopark Price ================================================== SGN4951 51Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 479.00 SGN1096 85Mb 24ms 5.25" Y 549.00 SGN2055 105mb 12ms 3.5" Y 649.00 SGN6277 120Mb 12ms 3.5" Y 789.00 SGN1296 170Mb 12ms 3.5" Y 1019.00 ================================================== FULLY ASSEMBLED SCSI DRIVES DEDUCT $60.00 ADD $35.00 for 4 BAY SUPER CABINET w/250+w PS EXOTIC TOWER CABINETS AVAIALABLE Call for Info! PLEASE NOTE: The above is partial listing only! CPU ACCELERATOR & MEMORY UPGRADES AVAILABLE & INSTALLED >> ABCO is now taking orders for 1040 & MEGA STe Computers! << Call for VERY special Introductory prices! ATARI COMPUTERS * STILL THE BEST VALUE! If you don't see what you want listed here, call us. Odds are we have it or, can get it for you! AT THE BEST POSSIBLE PRICE! "We service what we sell. (IF necessary)" ****** SPECIAL - SPECIAL ****** * SYQUEST 44MB (#555) >> ABCO "44" << REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE * - SYQUEST 44 MB DRIVE - ICD ST ADSCSI PLUS H/A - ICD Utility Software - 3' DMA Cable - Fan & Clock - Multi-Unit Power Supply (1) 44 MB Syquest Cart. --->> SPECIAL! NOW ONLY __$ 645.00__ <<--- **** SCSI UNITS -> ONLY $585.00 **** WE PAY SHIPPING!!! >BLUE LABEL UPS!< COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED AND READY TO RUN! Cart and Utility Software Included! EXTRA CARTS: $ 74.50 DRIVE MECH ONLY: $ 349.95 ****** SPECIAL - SPECIAL ****** * TWIN SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVES ... PROGRAMMER'S DELIGHT * SPECIALLY PRICED ** $1019.00 ** Includes TWO cartridges! * SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE AND HARD DRIVE COMBINATIONS * - Syquest 44 Model [555] and the following hard drives - 50mb SQG51 $ 819.00 85mb SQG96 $ 1019.00 LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS CUSTOM CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE WE PAY SHIPPING!!! >BLUE LABEL UPS!< Listed above are a sampling of the systems available. Prices also reflect various cabinet/power supply configurations (over sixty configurations are available, flexibility is unlimited) ALL UNITS COMPATIBLE WITH --> SUPERCHARGER - AT/PC SPEED - GCR LARGER units are available - (Custom Configurations) *>> NO REPACKS OR REFURBS USED! <<* - Custom Walnut WOODEN Cabinets - TOWER - AT - XT Cabinets - * SLM 804 Replacement Toner Cartridge Kits $42.95 * * Toner Starter Kits $49.95 * * Replacement Drums $183.95 * >> MANY other ATARI related products STOCKED << ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED -* 12 month FULL Guarantee *- (A FULL YEAR of COVERAGE) WE PAY SHIPPING!!! >BLUE LABEL UPS!< QUANTITY & USERGROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE! _________________________________________ DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED! please, call for details Personal and Company Checks are accepted. ORDER YOUR NEW UNIT TODAY! CALL: 1-800-562-4037 -=**=- CALL: 1-904-783-3319 Customer Orders ONLY Customer Service 9am - 8pm EDT Tues thru Sat ABCO is EXPANDING!! CALL FOR INFORMATION! ____________________________________________________________ > A "Quotable Quote" STReport's Editorial "Cartoon" ================== "THE BUSINESS THAT CONSIDERS ITSELF IMMUNE TO THE NECESSITY FOR ADVERTISING SOONER OR LATER FINDS ITSELF IMMUNE TO BUSINESS..." .... a wise and prudent observer """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport International Online Magazine Available through more than 10,000 Private BBS systems WorldWide! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" September 06, 1991 16/32bit Magazine copyright 1987-91 No.7.36 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of the editors/staff, PCReport, STReport, AMReport, MCReport. Permission to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Each reprint must include the name of the publication, date, issue # and the author's name. The entire publication and/or portions therein may not be edited in any way without prior written permission. The entire contents, at the time of publication, are believed to be reasonably accurate. The editors, contributors and/or staff are not responsible for the use/misuse of infor- mation contained herein or the results obtained therefrom. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""