SILICON TIMES REPORT ==================== INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ============================= from STR Electronic Publishing July 23, 1993 No. 9.30 ========================================================================= Silicon Times Report International Online Magazine Post Office Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 R.F. Mariano Publisher - Editor ----------------------------------------- Voice: 904-783-3319 10 AM - 4 PM EST STR Publishing Support BBS Network System * THE BOUNTY BBS * FIDO 1:112/35 ~ FNET 350 ~ Nest 90:21/350.0 904-786-4176 USR/HST 24hrs - 7 days 2400 - 38.4 bps V.32 - 42 bis 16.8 Dual Standard FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EST ----------------------------------------- Fido 1:112/35 The Bounty STR Support Central 1-904-786-4176 FNET. 620 : Leif's World ...1-904-573-0734 FNET.. 18 : ///Turbo Board BBS Support...1-416-274-1225 FNET. 690 : PASTE BBS....................1-206-284-8493 FNET. 460 : The Atari ST Connection......1-209-436-8156 FNET. 489 : Steal Your Face BBS..........1-908-920-7981 _____________________________________________________________________ > 07/23/93 STR 930 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!" """""""""""""""" - The Editor's Desk - CPU Report - PORTFOLIO NEWS - CBM Signs NEW DEAL - RATSOFT BBS - Seiko-CC AT - ZIP FILES EXPLAINED - RAM-GIZMO! - Newton Sure Thing - NEC-Toshiba mftr RISC - 4FILE VIEW - STR Confidential -* ASHEVILLE THIS WEEKEND! *- -* GENEVA WELL RECEIVED! *- -* CALAMUS SL UPGRADE ANNOUNCED! *- ========================================================================= 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, invites BBS systems, worldwide, to participate in the Fido/PROWL/ITC/USENET/NEST/F-Net Mail Networks. You may also Phone The Bounty BBS direct @ 904-786-4176. Enjoy the wonder and excitement of exchanging all types of information relative to computers, worldwide, through the use of excellent International Networking Systems. SysOps, worldwide, are welcome to join the STReport International Conferences. The Fido Node is 1:112/35, ITC Node is 85:881/253 Crossnet Code is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is #620. All platform's BBS systems are welcome and invited to participate. Support your favorite computer Today! ========================================================================= CIS ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ NVN ~ FIDO ~ PROWL ~ ITC ~ NEST ~ EURONET USENET ~ CIX ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET ~ FNET ~ GEnie ========================================================================= 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 (July 23) ATARI IN THE NEWS This is a GREAT TIME for Atari-related announcements. First, the alliance between Atari and IBM for the new Jaguar, and now Gribnif Software announces GENEVA, their new multi-tasking environment. See the GENEVA press releases in LIB 15 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) or go to the Gribnif section/library in the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) for additional info. NEW JAGUAR AREA IN ATARI 8-BIT FORUM With the announcement from Sunnyvale on the new JAGUAR Multimedia Entertainment System, we've added a Message Section and Library to the ATARI8 Forum. We invite you to join us in sharing news and views of what promises to be an exciting machine. GO ATARI8 for Section 15 [Jaguar]. TWENTY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FALCON ... ANSWERED BY ATARI CORP. Download file 20Q_01.TXT from LIBRARY 15 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) for the first 20 QUESTIONS file of questions submitted by the members to Atari Corp and answered by Bob Brodie, James Grunke and Bill Rehbock. AGITATION PUZZLE GAME Download file AGIT.ZIP from LIBRARY 2 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) for Agitation. Agitation is easy to learn, tough to solve. This is the most indescribably difficult, infuriatingly impossible program you could choose to run! * create custom puzzles * upload and share * point and click puzzle solving * multiple cheat, peek and help modes * watch the computer solve puzzles * custom graphics and dialogs * check out the other puzzles here online! mono freeware B/STAT VERSION 2.46 NOW AVAILABLE Download file BSTAT4.LZH from LIBRARY 5 of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO) for version 2.46 of B/STAT. B/STAT is a shareware statistical analysis and business graphics program. It requires a 1 megabyte machine and double sided drive at a minimum. B/STAT makes use of GDOS or SPEEDO GDOS if installed but requires neither. This is version 2.46 of B/STAT and offers some improvements in graphing over earlier versions. B/STAT may be registered online by GOing SWREG and selecting ID # 263. OREGON RESEARCH JOINS ATARIVEN! Message Section 12 and Library 12 have been established for online support of Oregon Research's products. Please read OREGON.TXT in Library 12 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) for an overview of the company. Also, be sure to check out the other files in the Library for in-depth information on their entire product line. NEW SOFTLOGIK DEMO IN ATARIVEN Download file FLAGS.LZH from LIBRARY 11 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) for Sample EPS (Adobe Illustrator) files of the new Flags of the World clipart collection now being sold by Soft-Logik Publishing. The archive contains four flags. THE PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION "GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM" "ENJOY CIS' ATARI FORUMS WHERE CENSORSHIP IS A DIRTY WORD!" """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""" The Asheville Show is on for this weekend! Be there or be square! Well it used to sound cool to say that. Long... time ago. Between the floods, droughts and heat waves this is one crazzzzy summer. Here in Florida, the wacky weather has given rise to all kinds of speculation that we'll be seeing a very interesting Hurricane Season. Not the collegiate kind either! Hopefully, those in the flood area are doing ok, and all their loved ones are safe and sound. Please, as we go into the twilight of the summer of 1993, continue to play it safe. At the beaches or wherever, don't drink and drive, use a good sunscreen and enjoy yourselves to the max! Ralph..... """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! ** STReport ** NOW AVAILABLE FOR ELECTRONIC HOME DELIVERY DIRECT TO YOUR (E-)MAIL BOX The Editorial Staff of STReport International Online Magazine is proud to announce the highly successful and continued availability of STReport through GEnie E-Mail subscription delivery. For the past several months, our editorial staff has been busily engaged in experimenting with alternative distribution methods for our popular magazine. We are now confident we can provide STReport to a large number of our readers who subscribe to GEnie by doing so via GEnie E-Mail in a timely and efficient manner. There is no charge associated with receiving STReport via E-Mail except for GEnie's own Connect charges (the same as if you were downloading STReport from any GEnie RT Library). STReport will be E-Mailed to any GEnie subscriber who requests it as an archived (in LZH format) attached file. Instructions for downloading an attached file are provided on page 200 on GEnie (Type M200). Downloading E-Mail utilizes the very same transfer protocols as the GEnie RT Libraries, so there is little or no difference between downloading from a Library and downloading an attached file (also called F-Mail). To request STReport be E-Mailed to you, send subscription request in E-Mail to J.MIRANDO1 requesting such and you will be put on our "paper route" beginning with the next issue. Each issue will be uploaded by Saturday evening and will be available to you immediately. It simply appears in your E-Mail queue! Wait no more for news and information from the world of computing... Ask for your STReport deliveries to begin today! *** 331 SUBSCRIBERS AND GROWING! *** STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU! """""""""""""""" Publisher - Editor """""""""""""""""" Ralph F. Mariano PC DIVISION AMIGA DIVISION MAC DIVISION ----------- -------------- ------------ Roger D. Stevens Robert Glover R. ALBRITTON STReport Staff Editors: """"""""""""""""""""""" Dana P. Jacobson Michael Arthur John Deegan Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Judith Hamner John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Joseph Mirando Steve Spivey Doyle C. Helms Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor Emeritus Contributing Correspondents: """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Michael Lee Richard Covert Scott Birch Brian Converse Oliver Steinmeier Tim Holt Andrew Learner Norman Boucher Harry Steele Clemens Chin Neil Bradley Eric Jerue Ron Deal Robert Dean Ed Westhusing James Nolan Vernon W. Smith Bruno Puglia IMPORTANT NOTICE """""""""""""""" Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: Compuserve................... 70007,4454 Delphi......................... RMARIANO BIX............................ RMARIANO FIDONET........................ 1:112/35 FNET........................... NODE 350 ITC NET...................... 85:881/253 NEST........................ 90:21/350.0 GEnie......................... ST-REPORT """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > CPU STATUS REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS """"""""""""""""" Computer Products Update - CPU Report ------------------------ ---------- Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Issue #30 By: John Deegan COMMODORE, SMG SIGN OUTSOURCING AGREEMENT - Commodore Business Mach- ines Inc. has signed an outsourcing agreement with The Service Manage- ment Group Inc., of Columbia, Md. Under the deal, SMG will provide all post sale support to Commodore resellers, OEMs, VARs and end users. In addition, GMG will administer Commodore's U.S. warranty program. SMG will also serve as the U.S. distributor for Commodore parts. Commodore products are currently covered by a one year, parts and labor warranty provided through authorized Commodore resellers and service centers. COMMODORE EXTENDS AMIGA 2000 POWER UP PROGRAM - Commodore Business Machines Inc. has announce it will extend its Amiga 2000 Power Up program by offering special savings to Amiga 2000 and 3000 owners on the purchase of an Amiga 4000. Promotional pricing for the Amiga 4000 040/120 is $2,349. The Amiga 4000 030/120 will sell for $1,599. This is a savings of $1,350 and $800 respectively. The offer is good through July 31. SEIKO-EPSON DEVELOPS CREDIT-CARD SIZED AT-COMPATIBLE BOARD - From Tokyo comes word Seiko-Epson Co. has developed an AT-compatible board as small as a credit card but with all the necessary features of an AT on the tiny board. The board, called Cardio386, includes the Intel 80386SL processor, input-output controller, VGA controller, 1MB memory and a Flash memory chip. NEC, TOSHIBA TO MAKE RISC CHIPS - Mass production of RISC (reduced instructions set computer) microprocessors is planned by NEC Corp. and Toshiba Corp. at a volume of 10,000 or more units per month within the year. Reports say that the RISC chip performs better than the new- generation microprocessor unit made by Intel Corp. The companies said the R4400 RISC microprocessor uses submicron wiring technology. TI SOFTWARE TO SPEED CHIP MAKING - Texas Instruments Inc. has deve- loped software it says will speed U.S. semiconductor production and manufacturing and lessen U.S. reliance on foreign technologies. The new WORKS software already has set a three-day production cycle record for semiconductor manufacturing at TI. TI officials said the software allows manufacturers to control the wafer fab process in real time, allowing for increased manufacturing and production. IBM OFFERS NEW FAX MODEM CARDS - IBM will be selling two new fax/ modem cards and three infra-red wireless adapters, all based on the Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association standard. The new fax modem cards, which will be available in August and Sep- tember, are priced at $299 and $499. ROCKWELL ANNOUNCES FIRST V.FAST CLASS DATA/FAX - Rockwell Interna- tional Corp. monday announced the world's highest-speed, smallest package-integrated data/fax modems which will support data rates from 19.2 Kbps to 28.8 Kbps. This high-performance modem family -- V.Fast Class -- incorporates V.Fast technology including line probing and multi-dimensional trellis coding, allowing higher data rates and more reliable transmission. The V.FC family can transmit data at speeds 100 percent above V.32bis to meet PC market demands for highest-speed modem capabilities for internetworking and file transfer applications. Rockwell's V.FC family of products includes both data pumps and in- tegrated modem solutions with associated controller firmware. The high- speed products are based on Rockwell's technology and support V.32/ V.32bis standards for data and V.17 for fax. The data pump versions will be pin-for-pin compatible with Rockwell's current V.32 product offer- ings, allowing for ease of design migration. APPLE'S NEWTON PASSES FINAL MILESTONE - Apple Computer Inc. announced this week its hand-held Newton personal digital assistant remains on schedule for sale in the United States this summer and some interna- tional markets later this year. Newton passed its final milestone before volume manufacture. Apple has released Newton's "golden master," or final software program, to Sharp Corp. for the beginning of the product's manufacturing. Newton is expected to sell for less than $1,000 and will be formally unveiled at a news conference in Boston on Aug. 2. Newton will combine the capabilities of a fax, telephone and personal computer. Although it is not expected to generate more than $50 million in revenues in its first year, it is considered to be a key element in the company's strategy to diversify its product line beyond computers. ____________________________________________________________ > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" PEOPLE... ARE TALKING ===================== On CompuServe ------------- compiled by Joe Mirando 73637,2262 Hidi ho friends and neighbors! This week I saw something I feared that I'd never see again: A new, innovative, easy to use, program for the ST at an affordable price. This is a program that no one should be without. The guys (and girls) at Gribnif software have again graced us with a wonderful piece of programming work. Its called GENEVA, and what it does for the ST is something that the folks at Atari said you couldn't do: MultiTasking. Why am I mentioning this in my CompuServe column? Well, since I've been using GENEVA (even though for only a few days), I've been so impressed with the program, that I HAD to tell you about it somehow! Well, enough of the accolades for Gribnif (for now). Let's get to the real focus of this column: The great stuff to be found in the Atari Forums here on CompuServe. So let's get busy... From the Atari Productivity Forum ================================= Sysop Keith Joins posts this file capture: "[70374,2241] Lib: 4 BCK143.ZIP/Bin Bytes: 14080, Count: 1, 18-Jul-93 Title : Allows game compatibility on the Falcon Keywords: FALCON COMPATIBLE GAMES Backwards allows your Falcon to be more compatible with games that run on the ST" David Hagood asks: "Does anyone out there have a similar program for the TT (one that makes it more compatible with many games)?" No answer yet folks, but we'll keep you posted on any possibilities. John Devlin asks about a product from one of the best companies ever to support the ST line of computers: "Does anyone where i can locate a device called DC Port, i was told that it will allow my ST to have a further three serial posts, but i was also that the device is no longer available. If this is the case, does anyone know of any device that will allow me to have further serial ports.." The Big Cahoona himself, Master Sysop Ron Luks tells John: "DC Port was from Double Click Software who is now "out of business." It was the only device of its kind." Editor Note: ------------ There is a new DC Port available at the STR office. Daniel Hopkins tells us about his current problem: "Right now I'm having enormous problems with my UNLZH.PRG. Whenever I use it, the program says Bad CRC No LZH header - and then when I try to run the programs or read the file by clicking on them The computer says TOS error #35. I'm at a real loss as to how to UNLZH a program." Boris Molodyi tells Dan: "Most of the recent files in the Atari forums are compressed with new (lh5) compression, that UNLZH.PRG can not understand. It does only lh1 archives. You need to get a newer version of LZH program. I do not know the exact filename, but ARCLZH.PRG includes latest versions of ARC and LZH archivers, and also Charles F. Johnson's ARCSHELL which makes work with them much easier. It is a self-extracting archive here in the libs (Utilities, I think)." Sysop Brad Hill tells Dan: "The solution to your un-lzh'ing problems is simple. Download the file LHARC.TTP from library 4 in this forum. There's also a shell for using that program called ARCLZH.PRG, which is self-extracting. You don't need the shell; I don't use it." Last week, Ron Luks asked someone (Tony Barker, I think) about hooking an ST into a Novell network. His post was: "When you say "we have stuff here which allows us to put any ST onto our Novell network..." is it proprietary in-house software or is it commercially available?... Is it strictly for file sharing or could you execute an Atari program that > may reside on a network file server HD?" Christian Martens tells Ron: "Excuse me for asking / answering your text... If that "stuff" might be available commercially, that would be really GREAT. We (in Germany) are also looking for a possibility to connect an Atari ST/TT to some kind of 'standard'-network, and that is NOVELL 3.11. As far as I know, there is an adaptor available from a german company (don't know the name at the moment) but that is quite expensive. It will cost about 1.000DM (app. 625$) and that's too much for any private user... In our office, we are just installing a NOVELL network (connecting 50 PCs) and what you describe "execute an Atari program that may reside on a network file server" actually is "file sharing". That means, every Intel-coded program you are accessing through a NOVELL network will be loaded into your local machine and executed by your local processor. If there is an adaptor to ethernet and a software running on your (or mine ) Atari doing the netware filesystem job, a requested M680x0 file would be loaded into your (not again) local Atari and executed by the Atari. But - where is the cheap ethernet connector and the software needed? ;-))" Christian then adds: "in one of the current Atari magazines (we still have one ore two here :->) I found a brief report, I'm trying to translate it for you: --- Comtex Computersysteme is offering a network node for Atari models, that allows a direct access to a standard Novell server. Installation is very easy: two programs have to be placed in the Auto folder, plug the node into the DMA port - that's it. After having starting these two programs you can login into the Novell network immediately. This interface also allows it to have only Atari clients within a Novell network. The price for the package, containing hard and software, is 998DM. Computex Computersysteme Gitteweg 3 79283 Bollschweil Germany --- taken from TOS 7/93 p. 7 and also appearing in ST-Magazin 8/93 p. 6 Don't know, whether that is the same stuff, Pam is offering or not. If you are interested, ask them. There is a file package from the Technical University of Vienna/Austria, called TUWTCPIP.LZH. I'm going to upload it tonight. It contains a wiring diagram for the rom port adapter, software and documentation in english. It's made for connecting an Atari to a TCP/IP network, they use it for accessing a SUN with Atari terminals. All you have to buy is a pocket ethernet adaptor made for the clones printer port. May be that's interesting to you." While Christian is available, Mike Mortilla takes the opportunity to ask: "I heard that there is a program in Germany that allows access to "virtual memory" -Do you know anything about that? I really don't know much else but the subject came up when I asked if I could somehow combine my ST (4 megs) with my Stacy (4 megs) to get a total of 8 megs running as 1 machine." Christian tells Mike: "As far as I know, yes, there is at least one program here giving you access to virtual memory. If I remember right the one that survived is called OUTSIDE and is using the space on your hard disk as virtual memory. BUT: that works only on an Atari TT and maybe on a Falcon because of the MMU within the 68030. That MMU does memory protection and enables virtual memory. So, it's _not_ usable on a 68000 system, sorry." Mike tells Christian: "Thanks for the info Christian. I'm sure others who have TT's and Falcon's may be interested." Gottfried Baumeier asks: "Who can explain the difference between the two types of ATARI 1040, STF and STE ?" Sysop Bill Aycock tells Gottfried: "The 'F' series is older, and indicates an ST with an internal 'Floppy drive. The STE series is newer. It includes an internal floppy like the STF, but also includes 'Enhanced hardware for more colors, better sound, hardware scrolling, analog controller ports, RF converter, etc. That's the basics - is that what you were looking for?" Jonnie Santos tells Gottfried: "The STF or STFm w3s the unit prior to the release of the STE. The STE offers blitter, more colors and RAM upgrades are easier (plug in SIMMS if I remember correctly). The TOS version of a STE is like 1.62 or higher. I'm using a 520 STE with 4 megs - I don't know what the difference is between a 1040 STE with the same amount of memory, if any." Gottfried tells Bill and Jonnie: "Thanks to Sysop*Bill Aycock and Jonnie Santos for their explanations. They will do. Of special interest for me is the possibility of enlarging RAM memory by plugging in SIMMS. I have just bought a second hand 1040 STE with only 1 MB RAM for use in my garden place, additional to my MEGA STE in my study, and would like to have more RAM." Bill Waggener tells us: "I have an early 1040ST and I am thinking about adding another Atari to my collection of computers. Can someone suggest an article or articles which compare the features and capabilities of the 1040ste, the megaST's, the TT and the Falcon? While my primary choice would probably be a Falcon, there are some good deals on the older products which appeal to me. I am particularly interested in the following: 1) Memory expansion Can memory be expanded without soldering, i.e. by adding SIMM's, if so, in what increments and how easy is it do? 2) DMA Port I currently have an external hard disk with a Supra adapter. Which, if any of these machines are compatible with the 1040ST so that I might be able to use my existing hard disk. 3) Compatibility of monitors Are these machines compatible with my 1040ST monitors ( I have both color and monochrome) Any general opinions on these questions and the cost effectiveness of the 1040ste vs the megaST's vs the Falcon vs the TT would be appreciated." Tony Barker tells Bill: "You'll probably get a lot of answers that start like this... It depends a lot on what you want to do with the machine, the TT is very fast and can support high res monitors (1280x960) for DTP stuff etc. It has a DMA as well as a SCSI port so your existing hard disk will plug right in. You cant use existing RGB Atari monitors with it though, you need a standard VGA or a 19inch job to do the high res mono. Memory expansion as the machine comes is limited, but third party boards are available that take SIMMS etc. It also has or can have an internal hard drive. It has a 68030 running at 32Mhz. The mega STE (not mega ST) is similar to the TT only scaled down, it too can have an internal hard disk and also has a VME bus (I forgot to mention that about the TT) and sports a 16Mhz 68000. It has a normal DMA port on the back for connection of your existing hard disk or laser printers etc. You can use your existing Atari monitors with it but it doesn't do any extra resolutions as the TT does (mega STE 320x200x16, 640x200x4,640x400x2, TT all those and 320x480x256, 640x480x16, 1280x960x2). I believe it also has a blitter chip which the TT lacks, this speeds up some graphic operations. The STE is that scaled down again or more like the 1040ST scaled up a little. 68000 running at 8Mhz, blitter, DMA ports and Digital audio by way of stereo DAC's (all the above have the digital audio as well). Memory expansion is easy as they take SIMMS (1 2 or 4 meg, and 2.5 with a little fiddling). The Falcon has all of the above (nearly) and much more, good graphics (many resolutions and colors) great sound (16 bit audio) a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) a 68030 running at 16Mhz, you can use your existing Atari monitors, a TV, any VGA or Multisync. It has no DMA port so your existing hard drive won't work without modification (if it has a DMA-SCSI adapter, it's just a matter of removing it) because it has a standard SCSI-2 interface externally and an IDE interface internally. Great new operating system. Memory is via an interface internally, either with a proprietary (sp?) board from Atari or third party boards that take SIMMS (1,4 or 14 (16)meg). That's a fairly brief run down on them but you need to know what you want your computer to do before you can make a decision, the price performance ratio is great on cheaper older machines but the newer machines have much more potential and a lot of software coming out won't run on the older machines thanks to the advent of the Falcon." Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine asks: "Has anyone noticed how much ram prices have gone up since the epoxy plant in Japan blew up (taking out 50% of the supply)? It seems to have gone from $50 to $62 and most places have limits on the number you can have. Since ram chips are just one part of the chip market I wonder how much other chip prices will go up as well." Isn't technology wonderful folks? From the Atari ST Arts Forum ============================ Barbara Curtis asks: "I have an IBM computer with Dos 6.0. Will I be able to run your program called, KIDPUB.ARC.? If so, How do I initially execute the program. I have downloaded the proper files, but do not know how to start it up." Sysop Bill Aycock tells Barbara: "Sorry, but you won't be able to run KidPublisher on your PC -- the program was written to run on an Atari ST computer, which is not IBM compatible." Rob Rassmussen asks Jim Ness: "...what is "dithering"? Does it involve the resolution your screen is displaying, the detail of the lines drawn, vector vs bit-mapped? In a GIF displayer program I have, it lets me choose fine or course dithering, but I was never clear on this." Jim explains this to Rob Rassmussen quite nicely: "Dithering is a way of representing greater resolution in a picture than the monitor/printer can actually produce. Often, it is represented via crosshatching or dot patterns, to represent shades of color that can't be reproduced truly by the hardware. When I mentioned my wife's H-P 550C color printer, I said that Word Perfect would print to it faster if she chose a lower quality print mode. Basically, this means she prints in a lower resolution, or less dots-per-inch. The loss of detail is made up via the illusions of shading created by dithering. In another conversation here, someone mentioned that they can display 24-bit graphics on a 16-bit graphics card. That means, millions of colors on a card that can only truly display about 65000 colors. Again, this is done by software that uses dithering and similar techniques to emulate all those extra shades. There are specific mathematic formulas used in software, to surround a pixel with pixels of other colors, to sort of fool the eye into seeing the average color, rather than the true colors. Each of these formulas, or methods, has a name. Usually the name of the person who developed it. And, each method is best suited for a specific situation. Some are very fast, others are slow but of better quality, if you have the time to wait." In a nice case of Deja Vu, Gottfried tells Rob: "Fine, Rob, you saved me time and money, as I intended to ask the same question about "dithering". The translation in my dictionary English/German made no sense for this application with graphics. Thank you, and Jim Ness too for his explanations !" Rob tells Gottfried: "Whenever I get an answer to a technical question, like about dithering, it always makes me think of 10 more questions! It never ends. " Our own Dana Jacobson posts: "The Atari United! information was given out Tuesday nite at the weekly CO on Delphi. After the announcement, there was a question and answer period. One of the points brought out was the "failure" of the AUA. First of all, I don't see the AU! as a "revolution"!! I also believe that there's been plenty of time and experiences to learn from mistakes that may have been made by the AUA. I provided many of the comments and questions/answers to Ralph, hopefully to be included in this week's issue of STReport. I like the idea, and plan to support it wherever I can. It's still early, but I think that such an organization is vital today; and I hope that it succeeds!" Mike Mortilla asks Dana: "Do you know why the AU! application is requesting serial #s?" Ralph Mariano tells Mike: "Sure..... Its an easy way to trace the machines. Keep records. Check on dealers. For insurance purposes. An Optional Entry." From the Atari Vendors Forum ============================ Richard Fairchild tells us: "[THis is] my first time in this forum. I am looking into buying a 540st, and i know nothing about the atari computer. i would appreciate some info. i now have a commodore. is the 540st a good system, is software easy to come by, what should i expect to pay for a used system? any help will be greatly appreciated." Mike Mortilla tells Rich Fairchild: "It depends on what you want to use it for. The 520 was a 1/2 meg machine and some don't have disk drives internally! A lot of software needs over 1 meg to run (some need more) and if you *CAN* run a program, you might not have a lot of memory left to do any meaningful work in it. OTOH, a there are frequently STs and Mega ST's for sale. There was a system in the Ataripro area about a week ago w/a 2 meg ST for $200 or $300. I'd think that was a good deal. Also, if a 520 were upgraded, it might also be a candidate. So I guess, to answer your ???, we'd need to know what you want to do with it. I don't think you'll be disappointed in the Atari performance (even a 520). I don't know if the 520 ST has an internal drive or not. As far as value, it depends on what else is coming with the system, condition, software, etc. For basic home stuff it would be great. Also for wordprocessing. Desk top publishing and some MIDI stuff might need more memory, depending on the program." Sysop Bob Retelle jumps in and tells Rich: "Check that box again, just to be sure... the only model Atari made that's close to that is the 520 ST... (that's the one I have, in fact.. :) The "520" part indicates that it has half a Meg of memory in it.. if it actually says 520STFM then it means it has a "F"loppy drive built in and has an RF "M"odulator in it so you can hook it directly to a TV set. A lot of the Shareware programs we have in the AtariArts and AtariProductivity Forums here on CompuServe will run in the 1/2 Meg of RAM that the 520 has, but programs are getting larger all the time, so you may find that amount of memory to be limiting... for example, you may be limited as to how much data you could enter into a budgeting program ... There ARE memory "upgrades" available, but most of them aren't very reliable in the long run... I had one "solderless" upgrade in my 520 that gave me nothing but trouble. I finally replaced it with one I had to solder in place, and it's been OK ever since. It gives my 520 2 and 1/2 l Megs of RAM, which has been enough for everything I've wanted to do. As for software, you may find yourself limited to finding programs on BBSs and here on CompuServe, as commercial program development has all but stopped for the ST (much like the C64 market). Finding a "local" dealer that stocks programs for the ST can also be pretty difficult. If you get a good deal, and can find the software you need, then you'll be really happy with an ST. It's a lot easier to use than a C64 (I've had both..!) and the joy of using an 80 column display for spreadsheets and other "practical" stuff like that is really great..!" Meanwhile, in Gribnif-land, Rick Flashman tells us: "The Geneva Beta release shipped on time last week, so those who ordered it should be getting it this week. I've already heard of people getting it on both GEnie and CompuServe. You can still order the beta, if interested. We are shipping those orders literally overnight." Do you remember earlier in this column when we heard a bit about Double Click Software (You didn't know that you were going to be quizzed on it, did you)? Well Christian Martens asks: "I'm looking for the Shadow program. The doc file of QuickCIS says, that it's a commercial program from Double Click. Unfortunately, I'm from Germany and have never ever heard of this program on this side of the ocean . Is their any dealer known to you, who sells this program in Europe? How much do I have to pay for it?" Mike Veederman tells Christian: "I'm sorry, but Shadow is no longer a supported product... Fact of the matter is, we only received about $2K from Antic in royalties, with much more owed... We no longer support the Atari market, and therefore, do not support Shadow. - mike vederman, Double Click Software, past/present/future" From the Atari Portfolio Forum ============================== From a previous conversation, Don Thomas of Atari tells Barry Childress: "I agree that a lot of shareware is darn good... often better than commercial. But even with the money explanation... if the software is THAT good, then it shouldn't be that hard to find financing or a publisher. The term "commercial quality" is still accepted to mean *better*, since it was good enough to package and sell through retailers. I'm not saying I don't agree with you. It's just easier for a hobbyist programmer to upload ZIP'd files under the terms of shareware than it is to commercialize the work. Users are at the mercy of the programmer's interpretation of his (her) own work being commercial quality." JF Davignon asks Don Thomas: "Would you happen to have the keyboard layout for the french language keyboard ? I type a lot in french and entering ASCII codes for the accents or using replacement characters is a bit of a hassle. I found out some of the keys by trying different combinations but I am missing some. A character map for the french keyboard would come in quite handy." Don tells: I'm not certain what you mean by a character map, but it's the same as any IBM clone. To enter any of the 255 printable characters in the editor, for instance, simply: 1- Set NUM LOCK (Hold LOCK key, then press ATARI key) 2- Hold ALT key and type the ASCII value for the character to be displayed. Most PC reference books will have the chart for the codes. (32=Space) Make certain you type the numeric code on the red numeric keypad. 3- Let go of the ALT key and the character appears within your text at the cursor position. I keep a PC character/ASCII chart handy all the time just for this sort of thing... works just like any other PC I have used." JF tells Don: "The Port keyboard can be set to have a QWERTY, an AZERTY or QWERTZ layout. QWERTY is the standard layout used in North America, AZERTY is the more efficient layout used in France and wich has accented characters right on the keyboard (you do not need to type in the ASCII codes since they are on the keyboard) and the QWERTZ is the german layout. I thought you might have or would be able to get a character map for the Ports AZERTY layout. But I don't need one anymore, I mapped it myself. Note of interest, the AZERTY layout was the first one developed when typewriters were invented. It was a very efficient layout. In fact its was way to much efficient for the technology of the time. Fast typists typed to fast for the machines which would jam. Instead of developing better technology they designed a less efficient layout to slow down the typists, thus was born QWERTY. By the time they developed better technology, everyone was using and were used to QWERTY. That's why we are still using a low efficiency keyboard layout." Don tells JF: "That's real interesting. Thanks for the info. I can't touch type either way, so the keyboard layout has less impact on me than it does for others. I always wondered, though, how the different layouts came to be adopted and why." Wolf-Theo Holl posts: "Some of you might remember, that I've announced a Do-It-Yourself manual about internal memory upgrade a few month's ago. This manual has just been completed ! Right now there is only a german version, but a translated manual is soon available. What started as a personal project for some interested Do-It-Yourself fans turned out to be rather complicated because of the Portfolio's hardware design. At the beginning the idea was to upload the entire manual free... But all the testing and some drawbacks with all the electronic stuff that was necessary to find out the _right_ information, resulted in a change of heart. The author therefore decided not just to upload the manual but to sell it to all interested persons. This manual does not only contain a detailed description of all necessary steps and procedures to upgrade the memory to 320k or 512k, but gives also instructions for a speed-up of the internal clock from 4.9MHZ to 6.5MHZ, a description of an internal power-backup without any backup battery, detailed instructions of how to use the parallel port as an I/O interface (using PBASIC), and last but not least drawings and fotos of the most important parts of the main board. Having read the entire manual I can only say: *GREAT STUFF !* Most of the instructions and tips are to be understood even by a beginner, but the important parts and - of course - the electronic job should only be done by a skilled person with the right equipment !! For all german users I'll upload a order form for the manual in the file ORDER.GER. As soon as the english version is available, I'll let you all know, but if you've got further questions or just want to show your interest, feel free to contact me." Now THAT sounds interesting! Well folks, that's about it for this week. If you happen to make it to the Blue Ridge AtariFest, stop by the STReport Table and say "Hello"! If you can't make it to the 'fest, look right here in STReport for the after-show review. Tune in again next week and listen to what they are saying when... PEOPLE ARE TALKING _____________________________________________________________ > BLUE RIDGE ATARIFEST'93 STR SHOW NEWS "The Summertime Atari Event!" """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 1993 Blue Ridge ATARIFEST """"""""""""""""""""""""" FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION """""""""""""""""""""""""" The Blue Ridge Atari Computer Enthusiasts (BRACE) and Computer Studio invite you to participate in the Fourth Annual Blue Ridge AtariFest in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. Show dates and times are: Saturday July 24, 1993 10am - 6pm Sunday July 25, 1993 Noon - 5pm Just as in previous years, we have arranged for FREE Booth space for Atari developers!! (We're only requesting the donation of a door prize). We can promise both developers and show-goers an energetic and exciting show with as enthusiastic a crowd of Atarians as you'll find anywhere, plus the support of Computer Studio in the mall. We're once again taking over the Courtyard Shop (mall) area at Westgate Shopping Center for the show (location of Computer Studio), plus the use of vacant store spaces for seminar sessions. Seminar sessions will be 45 minutes in length, and developers are welcome to conduct a seminar on their product line or approved topic of their choice (seminar sessions are limited, so first come, first served). This year's show dates also coincide with Asheville's annual Bele Chere street festival, when downtown Asheville is closed to vehicular traffic and becomes what must be one of the largest street fairs in the country. Westgate Shopping Center is one of the primary Park-and-Ride shuttle centers for transporting people to and from downtown, and we've arranged to have the shuttle service pick up at the front entrance of the mall and drop off at the rear entrance, so everyone taking the service from Westgate WILL walk through the AtariFest exhibition area sometime during the day. This will be a great opportunity to showcase Atari and Atari related software and peripherals, and introduce them to people who aren't already Atari owners. Bringing in NEW blood is the key to the growth of this platform, and this will be our opportunity to begin that process with a captive audience. Additional discussions of the show, as well as confirmations of your participation, are welcome in GEnieMail and in the Blue Ridge AtariFest topic 13 in Category 11 here on GEnie. HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. HAPPY ATARI COMPUTING. IT'S HAPPENING IN ASHEVILLE! Where: Westgate Shopping Center - Asheville, N.C. Take any major highway into Asheville (US 19-23, US 26 or I-40) to the I-240 loop, then take the "Westgate/Hilton Inn Drive exit" into the Westgate Shopping Center parking lot. When: 24-25, July 1993 Time: 10:am to 6:pm SAT 12 Noon 'til 5pm SUN Points of contact: Come for a day or come for the weekend, but do come and enjoy yourself. Great Smokies Hilton Resort Hilton Inn Drive (704)254-3211 Toll-free reservation phone number 1-800-733-3211 Radisson One Thomas Wolf Plaza (704)252-8211 Rate: $62.00 per room (1-4 people) ====== Additional Hotel / Motel Information =========== Days Inn I-26 and Airport Road (704)684-2281 I-40 Exit 55 (704)298-5140 Econo Lodge US 70 East, I-40 Exit 55 (704)298-5519 Holiday Inn 275 Smoky Park Hwy (704)667-4501 Toll-free reservation phone number 1-800-HOLIDAY Red Roof Inn I-40 and US 19-23 Exit 44 (704)667-9803 Toll-free reservation phone number 1-800-843-7663 Budget Motel I-40 Exit 44 (Enka-Chandler) West Asheville Exit (704)665-2100 Best Western Asheville Central 22 Woodfin St (704)253-1851 ========= Local Bed & Breakfast lodging Information ========= Aberdeen Inn 64 Linden Ave (704)254-9336 Albemarle Inn 86 Edgemont Road (704)255-0027 Applewood Manor 62 Cumberland Circle (704)254-2244 The Bridle Path Inn Lockout Road (704)252-0035 Cairn Brae B & B 217 Patton Mountain Rd (704)252-9219 Carolina B & B 177 Cumberland Ave (704)254-3608 Cedar Crest Victorian Inn 674 Biltmore Ave (704)252-1289 Corner Oak Manor 53 St. Dunstan (704)253-3525 Cornerstone Inn 230 Pearson Dr (704)253-5644 Flint Street Inn 100 & 116 Flint Street (704)253-6723 The Lion and The Rose 276 Montford Ave (704)255-7673 The Ray House B & B 83 Hillside St (704)252-0106 Reed House 119 Dodge St (704)274-1604 The Wright Inn 235 Pearson Drive (704)251-0789] (1-800-552-5724) A more complete listing of Bed & Breakfasts can be obtained through the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Reservations should be made immediately, as July is the height of our tourist season. =========== CAMP GROUNDS ================ (reservations are a must during this time of season): Mount Pisgah: About 20 miles southwest of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile post 408.6 (National Park Service). 690 acres. Elevation 5000'. One of the nicest campgrounds in Western North Carolina. 67 tent sites, 70 RV sites. For reservations: P.O.Box 749, Watnesville, N.C. 28786; phone (704) 235-9109. No showers. Groceries and restaurant. Nature program. 14 day stay limit. Lake Powhatan: 4 miles south of Asheville on State road 191, 3.5 miles west on SR 806. 30 acres. 98 tent/rv sites. Reservation available thru Mistix 1-800-283-CAMP. Disposal station. No showers. Swimming; lifeguard; fishing; nature trails; bicycles. 14-day stay limit. While in the area, you might want to consider a little sightseeing, and include a visit to the Biltmore House here in Asheville (the largest single family residence ever built in the U.S.--its a "castle"). A visit to the Biltmore can be a full-day's activity as you will want to view the house, visit the winery, and walk some of the grounds and gardens. Hours: The House 9 am to 6pm The Gardens 9am to 7pm Conservatory 9am to 5:30pm The Winery Monday-Saturday 11am to 7pm Sunday 1pm to 7pm Other areas of interest include; the Thomas Wolf home (adjacent to the Raddison), the Blue Ridge Parkway and Folk Art Center. A drive up the Blue ridge Parkway to enjoy the higher elevations and incredible views of our mountains. Perhaps a hike up to Mount Pisgah and look back down to Asheville(you can see Mt. Pisgah from most anywhere in Asheville). A short drive from Mt. Pisgah will take you to Sliding Rock (for those of you travelling with kids who are still kids at heart), the Cradle of Forestry (first forest school in the country), waterfalls, trout hatchery, etc. For the adventurous, white water rafting on the Natahala River near Bryson City (approx one and a half hours from here). There's obviously loads more to see and do around Asheville (in addition to the Blue Ridge AtariFest and a visit to Computer Studio :-). If any of y'all would like maps and additional tourist info of the area I might suggest contacting the Chamber of Commerce: Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce 151 Haywood Street P.O. Box 1010 Asheville, NC 28802 704-258-6111 FAX: (704)251-0926 The Blue Ridge Atari Computer Enthusiasts (BRACE) and Computer STudio invite you to participate in the fourth annual Blue Ridge AtariFest on Saturday, July 24 and Sunday July 25, 1993. The show will take place in the Courtyard Shop area of Westgate Shopping Center in Asheville, North Carolina (Home of Computer STudio). We are still signing up additional exhibitors, but those who have already made a firm commitment to attend include (Alphabetical Listing): Atari Corp/Applied Audio Marketing . Atari's Southeast Regional Representatives will be on hand to let you know what's going on in the Atari world, especially here in the Southeast U.S. Accusoft-ST ........................ PD/Shareware Software (Desktop Publishing Clip Art Libraries) Barefoot Software .................. Professional MIDI Software applications (SMPTETrack, EditTrack Platinum, GenEdit, EZ Score Plus, etc.) Binary Ink ......................... David St Martin will discuss his own desktop publishing business and conduct informative seminars on "Marketing Your DTP Skills" and "Newsletter Desktop Publishing". Codehead Technologies .............. Productivity software & enhancements (G+Plus, MultiDesk Deluxe, HotWire, CodeHead Utilities, Warp 9, Calligrapher, MaxiFile, Lookit & Popit, Avant Vector, MegaPaint, TOS Extension Card, etc.) Computer STudio .................... Visit a 'real' Atari Dealership in the mall (Atari computer systems, software and accessories) DMC Publishing ..................... Desktop Publishing System Solutions (Calamus/SL, PKS Write, Outline Art, Invision Elite, tms Cranach Studio, etc.) GEnieLamp/GEnie .................... Telecommunications and Electronic Publishing JV Enterprises ..................... Developers of low-cost license-ware software and games. Lexicor Software ................... Professional animation and rendering software (Prism Paint, Phoenix Render, Meridian, etc.) MagicSoft .......................... Entertainment Software (New products unveiling!) Missionware Software ............... (Flash II, lottODDS, Printer Initializer, etc.) STReport Online Magazine ........... Electronic Online Magazine Showtimes are 10am - 6pm on Saturday, and noon-5pm on Sunday. Seminar sessions will be scheduled throughout the show. Since this year's show coincides with Asheville's annual Bele Chere Street Festival, we are not having a Saturday evening banquet, but are instead encouraging guests to hop the shuttle bus at the front entrance of the mall and spend Saturday evening downtown enjoying the outdoor festivities (live entertainment, food booths of all types, dancing, etc.). Advance registration is only $3; or $4 at the door. Additional information about the show and Asheville's Bele Chere festival will be mailed to all who pre-register in advance. Door prize winners will also be selected from registered guests (you need not be present at the time of the drawing to win). Advance registration checks should made out to "COMPUTER STUDIO" and mailed to: Computer STudio Westgate Shopping Center 40 Westgate Parkway - Suite D Asheville, NC 28806 For additional information, please contact either: Sheldon Winick Cliff Allen, Show Coord. GEnie: S.WINICK GEnie: C.ALLEN17 Computer STudio Internet: CALLEN@UNCA.EDU Westgate Shopping Center phone: (704) 258-3758 40 Westgate Parkway - Suite D Asheville, NC 28806 (704) 251-0201 +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | BLUE RIDGE ATARIFEST '93 - GUEST REGISTRATION FORM | | """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" | | | | Name: ______________________________________________________ | | | | | | Address: ___________________________________________________ | | | | | | City: ______________________ ST: ______ ZIP: _____________ | | | | | | Telephone: (_______) _______________________________________ | | | | | | Please enclose a separate registration form for each person, | | and return to us at the following address along with your | | check in the amount of $3.00 per person ($4.00 at the show) | | made payable to "COMPUTER STUDIO": | | | | Computer STudio | | Westgate Shopping Center | | 40 Westgate Parkway - Suite D | | Asheville, NC 28806 | | | | Alternate Credit Card Payment Method: | | """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" | | | | __ MasterCard __ VISA __ Discover __ American Express | | | | | | Credit Card Number: ________________________________________ | | | | | | Expiration Date: ___________________________________________ | | | | | | Authorized Signature: ______________________________________ | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ *********************************************************************** IMPORTANT NOTICE! ================= STReport International Online Magazine is available every week in the ST Advantage on DELPHI. STReport readers are invited to join DELPHI and become a part of a 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 Basic Plan offers access for only $6.00 per hour, for any baud rate. The $5.95 monthly fee includes your first hour online. For more information, call: DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005 DELPHI is a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge, MA. 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 getting better all the time! *********************************************************************** > Falcon RAM-GIZMO! STR InfoFile a RAM expansion board for the Falcon030 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" RAM GIZMO FOR FALCON030 ======================= PRESS RELEASE: chro_MAGIC Software Innovations RAM GIZMO FOR FALCON030 516 North Jackson PIANISTICS 1.20 FOR ST/TT/FALCON030 Joplin, MO 64801 United States phone +1-417-623-7393 Delphi: JIMCOLLINS GEnie: J.COLLINS22 ------------------------ Introducing "RAM GIZMO" ------------------------ chro_MAGIC is proud to announce the immediate availability of the giz_WORKS RAM Gizmo - a RAM expansion board for the Falcon030 that uses standard SIMM memory modules. The board plugs into the Falcon030's internal ram expansion socket (no soldering required) and fits neatly inside the case. It allows the use of 256k, 1 Meg, or 4 Meg SIMMs to achieve memory configurations of 1, 4, or 14 megabytes. Note: the RAM Gizmo requires the use of 80ns or faster simms. ----------------------------PIANISTICS 1.20----------------------------- chro_MAGIC Software Innovations announces Pianistics 1.20, a GEM based piano instruction program for Atari ST/TT/Falcon computers. Pianistics is a tool to aid in the technical mastery of scales/chords and gives insight into jazz improvisation, chord substitution and other applications of music theory as well as provide performance/dexterity drills. The new version is completely MultiTOS compatible and will work in most ST/TT/Falcon screen resolutions and should work with any 3rd party graphics card that has a VDI driver. chro_MAGIC Software Innovations' product line currently consists of: __________________________________________ | | Current | Retail | | Product | Version | Price | |--------------+-------------+-------------| | Guitaristics | 1.92 | $69.00 | |--------------+-------------+-------------| | Pianistics | 1.20 | $79.00 | |--------------+-------------+-------------| | RAM Gizmo | n/a | $99.00 | '------------------------------------------' For more information please contact chro_MAGIC Software Innovations at the address below or via: Delphi JIMCOLLINS GEnie J.COLLINS22 chro_MAGIC Software Innovations 516 North Jackson Joplin, MO 64801 United States phone +1-417-623-7393 _________________________________________________________________ > EO440 by AT&T STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""" AT&T OFFERS PEN BASED PERSONAL COMMUNICATOR Fulfilling the promise of some of its futuristic "You Will" advertising, AT&T now says, "You can!" by offering customers its new handheld, pen-based personal communicator, which combines fax, electronic mail, cellular phone and personal productivity applications. The AT&T EO 440 Personal Communicator is available beginning today in 52 select AT&T Phone Centers across the country. In the national television advertising campaign from AT&T, a device similar to the EO 440 is used by a person originating a fax message from the beach. The EO 440 is the first in what AT&T and EO believe will be a new generation of products that will change the way people interact, providing messaging and information-handling capabilities that go far beyond today's fax and electronic mail. "With the introduction of this product into Phone Centers," said Dave Atkinson, vice president of the personal communications group of AT&T Consumer Products, "we begin offering a new dimension of interactive communications that will have as much impact on person-to-person communications in the '90s as the telephone had in the early 1900s." AT&T and EO are making the device available through Phone Centers as part of an agreement announced earlier this month. The agreement will allow EO to use the AT&T brand on its personal communicators; give EO access to AT&T's communications technology and services, and to its sales channels; and make AT&T the majority stockholder in the Silicon Valley company. "With AT&T's powerful sales channels, its reputation for quality and service, and its tremendous brand recognition, we can bring the benefits of personal communications to the broadest possible audience," said Alain Rossmann, EO's president and chief executive officer. AT&T selected 52 Phone Centers for initial rollout of the device based on the market interest in high-technology and business products. Customers can call 800-222-3111 to get the location of the nearest Phone Center carrying the product. The company expects to introduce the 440 into its over 300 other Phone Centers gradually throughout the rest of the year. Prices for the EO 440 start at $1,999. Phone Centers will offer a number of configurations, including one equipped with 8 MB of RAM, a 20 MB hard drive and an internal modem. This version will be available through mid August at the special introductory price of $3,299.99, when the everyday selling price of $3,499.99 will go into effect. The products come with a one- year warranty from EO, Inc. Standard features in all versions include a high-speed serial port and cable, allowing exchange of data with any IBM- compatible personal computer; a parallel port for connection to a printer or an optional 1.44 MB floppy drive; a communications port for optional cellular or wireless modules; and a PCMCIA slot for future expansion. Additional product information is available from EO's toll-free number: 800-458-0880. CONTACT: AT&T, Parsippany Steve O'Donnell, 201/581-3904 (office) or 201 228-6707 (home) or Kevin Compton, 408/452-3966 (office) or 408/355-3883 (home) ______________________________________________________________ > Calamus SL UPGRADE STR InfoFile """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CALAMUS SL UPGRADE ANNOUNCED ============================ Press Release July 14, 1993 Toronto, Ontario DMC Publishing is pleased to announce a new upgrade to Calamus SL. The overall performance of Calamus SL has been dramatically improved. In addition, we are very happy with the significant features that have now been activated as well as the new features and modules that we are including. The new version of Calamus SL will include the following: 1. An upgraded Text Module which now includes both an activated Anchor Frame function and an activated Leader Tab function that allows the use of any character as your assigned Leader Tab character. The module also includes an improved Spellchecker and separate Hyphenation dictionaries, improved Vertical Text Alignment and improved M-Space handling. New features include the ability to insert and search Comments, manual kerning, inserting text style and text ruler information. 2. The new ROTATE.CXM module now gives us the ability to rotate Raster Graphics in any degree with or without anti-aliasing. This means that if you rotate a graphic that has straight lines, anti-aliasing will smoothen the settings and remove stepping. 3. The new COL_CONV.CXM Color List Converter module generates a color list from graphics that have been imported from Outline Art and other sources. It can also generate a list from free colors designed within the existing document. 4. The new COMPRESS.CXM is a compression module designed to save you storage space by compressing bitmap images within your document. Note: Calamus documents, CDK's, saved with compressed bitmap images using this module, will automatically uncompress those images when the document is reloaded into Calamus SL. 5. The new CYMKSWAP.CXM module swaps color planes. 6. The new LIN.CXM Linearity module allows you to set color values optimized for your particular printer. This module will be of special interest to those of you with an HP550C for example. 7. The RASTGEN.CXM Raster Generator module has been upgraded to include the ability to set Raster caches. 8. New drivers that will be enclosed with this upgrade for Calamus SL include: GEMIMG export, CVG export, a RAW import driver for bit planes, an improved TIFF driver, an improved TARGA driver, an RPS driver for Repro Studio and an improved GEM Metafile driver. 9. Set Layout/Working Area has seen some major changes. The automatic generation of both registration marks and crop marks is now activated, as are color plane names, double-page overlap, user definable settings and master page printing. 10. The new selectable document option, added as the far right pull-down menu, now allows you to click on the document you wish to access from the displayed list of all documents present in memory. There are other new modules expected shortly, but we've decided not to wait. All of the above are ready in-house and available for shipping right now. Look for a further press release in the not to distant future announcing the release of at least 4 new modules. The cost for all of the above, the latest and much improved Calamus SL as well as all of the new modules: ROTATE.CXM, COL_CONV.CXM, COMPRESS.CXM, CYMKSWAP.CXM, LIN.CXM, the upgraded TEXT.CXM, the upgraded RAS_GEN.CXM,the upgraded Set Layout/Working Area, the new Select Document and the new import/export drivers, on 3 disks, is US $75.00 or $95.00 CDN which includes shipping and insurance. Prices and configurations are subject to change without notice. ORDERING ======== For further information or to order by telephone using your VISA or Mastercard please call DMC Publishing at VOICE 416-479-1880 or FAX 416-479-1882. If you have a modem, you may order by private email using your Mastercard or VISA at: GEnie email to: ISD or POTECHIN COMPUSERVE email to: 76004,2246 Delphi email to: ISDMARKETING Internet email to: POTECHIN@GENIE.GEIS.COM Payment may also be made by check or money order and mailed to the following address: DMC Publishing, Inc., 2800 John Street, Suite 10 Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 0E2 Please include your Calamus serial number when placing any order. Ontario residents add 8% PST., Canadian residents add 7% GST.. Thank you for your interest in our Calamus products and please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information. Sincerely, Nathan Potechin DMC Publishing ________________________________________________ > NVN WANTS YOU! STR InfoFile Another Network Supports Atari! """"""""""""""""""""""""""" NVN - THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK! =============================== The Atari computer platform has support on yet another top notch telecommunications service! National Videotex Network (NVN) maintains an area just for our favorite computers. Type GO ATARI Order an extended NVN Membership of 6 or 12 months, pay for it in advance and receive a bonus in connect time at no additional charge. NVN lowers its connect time charges! $5/hour non-prime time (EST. 7pm - 9am weekdays and all day weekends) $8/hour prime time (EST 9am - 7pm weekdays) Choose from two great subscription plans: 6-Month Membership ================== Pay just $30 for a 6-month Membership and receive a usage credit that entitles you to $15 of connect-time in the Premium services of your choice. Your total savings using this plan would be over $20! 12 Month Membership =================== Pay $50 for a full year's Membership and get even more free time on-line. We'll give you a $25 usage credit to use in your favorite premium services or try out new ones. You could save as much as $45. NVN now offers Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). For a $2 per month service charge, customers may have their NVN online charges automatically debited from their personal checking accounts. Please contact Client Services for this new feature! For more information about either of these plans.. Please, give us a call at; 1-800-336-9096. You can join NVN one of two ways... By voice phone 1-800-336-9096 (Client Services) or via modem phone 1-800-336-9092. NVN Highlights -------------- 1. For the newcomers .... 2. NEW (MODIFIED) REFERRAL PROGRAM LET'S YOU EARN $10 USAGE CREDITS! 3. A library built *just* for business people 4. Board Certified Psychiatrist heads up the new Substance Abuse Forum 5. VETERANS: Please report to the Military Forum for C&D. 6. Step out into the Great Outdoors Forum 7. We've got just the cure for your medical information needs 8. The Diabetes & Hypoglycemia Support Forum is now online. 9. SOUND OFF!!! Take our Game Survey 10. Let's talk about Coins 11. Call all DISNEYphiles! Join the gang! . 12. Amiga Forum now available for Amiga and Desktop Video enthusiasts! 13. NEW Email enhancements are on-line. Including personal mailing lists! ____________________________________________________________________ > 4-FILES EDITOR STR InfoFile "Finally, an editor that does what it sez!" """"""""""""""""""""""""""" ------------------- ===== 4 - F I L E S ===== ------------------- A FILE MANAGER, FILE DESCRIPTION EDITOR & "COMMAND CENTER" ---------------------------------------------------------- An overview of 4FILES follows, and additional information about the current version (3.0) is at the end of this file. 4FILES -- A UNIQUE FILE MANAGER: ================================ Efficient, accurate file management requires ready access to information about any file, especially its purpose or contents. Unfortunately, eight or eleven character DOS file names are too short to meet this need, causing you to interrupt the flow of your work to do awkward research about various files. No more! 4FILES not only makes such research easy, but allows you to save the information in a permanent note for each file. If you use 4DOS or NDOS (excellent replacements for COMMAND.COM), each note automatically remains associated with its file whenever the file is copied, moved or renamed. 4FILES may be fully evaluated under COMMAND.COM, although notes then will not be transferred during these operations. The ability to create and edit file notes and to have your system automatically keep them with their files is the basis for a quantum leap in file management efficiency. This ability is only a basis however, and an exceptional interface is needed to realize its full potential. My goal has been to design 4FILES to put all of this potential at your finger tips, with a nice complement of features, and keystroke commands that are easy to learn and remember. You will be the judge of my success, and since 4FILES is shareware by an ASP member, the fully functional program is available free for your evaluation. If you like it, a registration fee of $30 is required (includes printed manual). Shareware copies are brandable as registered. There are several essential elements for an efficient file manager: 1) easy inspection of the contents of a file 2) permanent recording of the information obtained 3) clear presentation of this information along with the filename and vital statistics of the file, in a sorted directory listing 4) good implementation of file management operations, including access to third party utilities 5) easy navigation both across drives & directories and within a directory. 4FILES has been designed from its inception with these things as priorities. VERSION 3.0 DETAILS: -------------------- ** Capacity is 799 records (files & subdirectories) per directory. ** Runs under DOS or in its own window under Windows, OS/2 or DESQview. ** NAVIGATION ---------- 4FILES' great drive:directory navigation is further enhanced by ability to call upon the LCD, ACD or NCD directory changing utilities. After one tap on the directory change key, you can make an instant drive change. A double-tap of the directory change key presents a text input field for specifying a path, which may be a path fragment if LCD, ACD or NCD are used. A triple-tap on this key takes you instantly to the previous drive:directory. ** UTILITY PORTS ------------- There are eight utility ports, logically integrated into their keyboard commands, some of which are specialized for use with file browsers, editors or archive utilities. ** OTHER EXECUTIONS ---------------- ^E puts the current filename on an editable command line. ^E^E blanks this command line. F9 or ^X instantly executes the current file if it is a program or batch file or if it is a data file with an "executatable extension". ** FILE MANAGEMENT --------------- All functions use single mnemonic keys, sometimes augmented with CTRL for action on marked files. Included are directory creation and removal; and file copy, move, rename, delete and attribute changes. The file list may be sorted on-the-fly or from the command line. ** ARCHIVE SUPPORT --------------- Single or marked files may be put into new or existing ZIP, ARJ or LHA archives. Three utility ports are dedicated for assignment to de-archiving utilities. ** INTERNATIONAL ------------- Fully supports all national alphabets, keyboard layouts, and code pages. ** Video & Mouse ------------- Dual monitors are now properly supported. Displays of over 80x25 are now detected automatically and supported. A mouse can be used, and is well supported. ** CONFIGURATION ------------- A configuration menu is built in, and changes may be saved or used session-only. ** COMMAND HISTORY --------------- Six history lists are maintained for various input fields, including entries for path changes, filename and target directory for file management operations, and command lines sent to a secondary DOS shell. Also, when used with 4DOS, ^H shells to DOS and displays the 4DOS command history pick-list. 4FILES may be found as 4FILES.ZIP on CompuServe and generally on other systems as 4FILExxx.ZIP or 4FILESxx.ZIP. Keywords for searching for are "4F", "4FILE", or "4FILES" (on some systems only one of these will work). "4DOS", "DESCRIPTION", or "FILE MANAGER" will also often work. ______________________________________________________ > PHOTO SHOW! STR FOCUS! """""""""""""""""""""" PHOTO SHOW ========== for the Falcon GREG KOPCHAK 70357,2312, a member of CIS announced his firm will be shipping the first Photo CD application for the Atari Falcon series of computers starting Monday, July 26. Photo Show for the Falcon makes use of the built in true color graphics, built in SCSI-2 port, and built-in CD quality sound recording and playback capabilities of the Atari Falcon. Graphics can be viewed directly from the Kodak Photo CD disc or scripted into custom slide shows that allow you to mix graphics and sound into a multimedia presentation. Presentations can be played in a continuous loop. Three professional quality sound loops are included with the program to get you started. Presentations can be recorded to VCR without additional cards. All you need is a RCA type cable. Shows can be viewed on RGB, VGA, or broadcast monitors with the outputs built into the basic Atari Falcon. The export module included with Photo Show will allow the exporting of true-color images in 24 bit TIF, 24 bit EPS, 24 bit RGB data, or 16 bit RGB data. A SCSI-2 MultiTOS CD rom driver is included with Photo Show. The driver can read both Photo CD's XA format and standard 9660 CD rom discs. Photo Show retails for $35.00 Ask at your favorite dealer. For more information; write or call: It's All Relative 2233 Keeven Lane Florissant MO 63031. Voice: (314) 831-9482 CIS: 70357,2312 GEnie / Delphi: GREG Randall Kopchak It's All Relative _____________________________________________________________________ > NEW BBS SOFTWARE STR Spotlight FOR BOTH THE PC AND THE ST... """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" RATSOFT BBS SOFTWARE FOR THE PC or ST Salt Lake City, UT - J&J Computers is proud to announce they are now the official North American marketer/distributor for RATSoft/ST BBS Software. Effective July 4th, 1993 all sales and marketing strategies are now managed by them. As an official dealer and service center for Atari Computer Systems, J&J Computers has supported the Rocky Mountain Atari community for over seven years. By marketing RATSoft, they look forward to providing support to the entire Atari Computer community, worldwide, with this exciting new product. J&J's will be distributing version 2.0 of RATSoft/ST. Version 2.0 includes many new features and enhancements not found in the previous versions. Such enhancements include the new FileTool module which provides automation of such mundane operations like BBS Advertisements being stripped from uploads. Updates of Zip comments, and file compression conversion routines. The software will come with a professionally printed manual, and will include dozens of helpful utilities and programs in addition to RATSoft itself. Current owners of RATSoft will receive the 2.0 upgrade at no charge via the support BBS'. The new manuals will also be available to existing owners for a small fee. Owners of RATSoft will also receive a newsletter which is devoted to RATSoft BBS' and Telecommunications in general, at three month intervals. Technical support and updates to legitimate users will continue to be provided by the RATSoft/ST Support BBS at (909) 989-3381 as well as a new support BBS at (801) 272-8370. A UK technical support BBS will be added shortly and others in Europe are being considered. * Effective as of July 4th, 1993, RATSoft is Exclusively Distributed By: J&J Computers 250 East 6400 South Murray, UT. 84107 USA (801)/265-0835 voice (801)/262-6035 facsimile (801)/272-8370 bbs GEnie: N.Baker4 * The author can be reached at: GEnie: S.HUGHEY1 R0dent Laboratories Software P.O. Box 391 Alta Loma, CA. 91701 USA * Official US and Canadian Support Sites: R0dent Laboratories Support BBS (909)/989-3381 (Southern California) 24 hrs, USR Dual Standard Approaching Oblivion (801)/272-8370 (Salt Lake City, Utah) 24 hrs, V.32bis, V.42 * Official European Support Sites: System ST +44 (0)533 413443 Currently 10pm-7am GMT, 9600 Below is a list of features found in the newest version of RATSoft/ST. This is only a partial list of features, so if you have a specific concern or question please feel free to contact us at the numbers above. System Requirements: o Any Atari ST/TT/Falcon with at least 2 MEGs of RAM. RATSoft is compatible with all upgraded ST's o Hard Disk Drive o Hayes Compatible Modem o All mono/color resolutions supported, resolution independent Optional: o Printer (for BBS logs, user log list, file lists, etc.) o Alternative Media (CD-ROM, floptical, etc.) Optimum System (not required, but for best results): o 4 megs of RAM (for mailers, online games, and extensive modules) o TOS 1.4 or above Specifications/Features """"""""""""""""""""""" o Easy installation. Set-up includes a GEM-driven install utility, which will have your new BBS completely operational in only a matter of minutes. Modem-setup is as simple as selecting your modem from a list of the most popular modems. All needed folders are automatically created, and there is no need to modify confusing configuration files. o RATSoft works with ANY hayes compatible modem, and includes pre-configured settings for most of the popular modems in use today. o Supports hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) for port locking and maximum through-put with high speed modems. o GEM editors for configuration options and data files. Intelligently laid out makes modifying system options a snap. Interfaces with RATSoft's Integrated Help System for instant access to extensive help files (no more thumbing through the manual!) o Modular design meaning your system is not limited by memory capacity. New modules are released on a regular basis, and most modules are self-installing. o Uses a conference system, each which may contain it's own message bases and file sections. Easily separates computer types, adult sections, etc. Universal and local scan options are available. o A programmable menu system allowing you to create your own menu system. More than just assigning keys to a function, functions may be linked, stacked, and joined together giving you endless possibilities. o Up to 255 unique translations, with local ANSI emulation (up to 16 colors on TT/Falcon). Any new translation can be easily added with a GEM editor, and translations such as IGS are no problem. o 500 external prompts, with the ability to use an unlimited number of prompt files. o Advanced script language modeled after easy-to-learn BASIC functions. Includes PROCEDUREs and FUNCTIONs, DO ... LOOP, REPEAT ... UNTIL, IF/THEN/ELSE/ENDIF, array variables, and complete access to user information. Examples of scripts included online black lists, caller ID blacklists, a Time Bank, logoff comments, online games manager, and much more... o Over 200 variable tags for user and system information and translation independent color. A wealth of information can be easily placed on the screen anywhere with a simply variable tag in a text file, prompt, script, database, etc. o Trackable voting booths (polls), including options for mandatory voting, age limits, time limited polls, and results can easily be dumped to a text file. o A Callback Verifier (CBV). Supports local, long distance, and international dialing. Setup is as easy as identifying acceptable pre-fixes with a GEM editor. o Supports caller ID recognition, if available. Supports Supra, ZyXEL and others. o A full-screen, bi-directional chat mode with capture/dump features and word wrapping. o Up to 1,024 message bases and 1,024 file sections, each which may contain separate "section news" files, and extended descriptions. o Supports up to 256 different message formats through the use of message modules. Current modules include FIDO (Summer '93), with others planned. These "fit" directly into RATSoft, and do not give the user the "door" impression. o Message bases can be real-name only, all anonymous, or optionally anonymous. Messages are not "byte" limited, and can be anywhere from 1 to 32000 lines in length (may vary with message modules). o Message base spelling checker. Users can have their messages scanned for spelling mistakes with a simply command. o A powerful line editor with quoting, import/export, a unique "back up line" feature, alternative line lengths, message macros, auto-messages ("form letters" BBS-style), all the normal editing commands, and much more. o A full screen editor in which the user may move freely around the screen using cursor keys, move, copy, and delete blocks of text, scroll through a parent message to quote from, and more. Provides a word processor-like approach to message entry. VT52/ANSI compatible. o Up to 50 files (sysop definable) can be attached to any message. F-mail made easier, file attaches a breeze. o "Canvas Mail" and e-mail to "ALL" supported. o "Smart-Filing" file system which allows the sysop to keep files in any folder scheme. o File*Tool[tm], the ultimate archive utility! Handles all archive formats, can convert archive types, compress un-compressed files, delete unwanted files from archives (BBS ads for example), add ZIP comments and BBS advertisements, extract descriptions from FILE_ID.DIZ or RATSoft .DSC files -- all automatically! For example, all LZH files on your system can be converted to ZIP's with a simply command. Want to un-ARC a file using ARC Shell? One command loads it up with the archive ready to go! o "Auto-Offline" feature useful for SyQuest or CD-ROM users. On-the-fly detection of existing files avoids sysops needing to update file lists when a new cartridge or disc is used. o Users may download description files with their downloads. RATSoft sysops can download a description file, add it to their BBS, and RATSoft will grab the description right from the description file. o Online archive support, including archive utilities and display text from within archive. Supports ARC, LZH, ZIP, LHA, ARJ, and ZOO. o "Smart*Batch" uploading. If a user fails to enter file descriptions for an upload, they are automatically prompted for them on their next call. o An upload que. All uploads are placed in this que, and the sysop may review each file and deny or accept the upload. Stops users from uploading unwanted files simply for download credits. o GIF and MOD detection; an off-line file list generator; full search capabilities; brief/full description scan options; Zmodem, Ymodem-G, Ymodem Batch, Fmodem Batch, Xmodem Standard/CRC/1k, and Jekyll (a bi-directional protocol) support included, and a free files schedular. o New-Scans are completely instant: determining the number of new msgs and file sections takes less than 1 second, regardless of the number of new messages or files, or the number of message bases and file sections. o MS-DOS-style DOS Shell (RAT-DOS), supporting errorlevel statements, GOTO labels, environment settings, a MOVE function, supports any size directories, and is capable of processing batch files for mailers. o A Schedular which executes events based on time. Events can be programs, modules, scripts, or batch files. Supports an un-limited number of entries, more intelligent approach to netmail maintenance, automatic system backup, online game maintenance, etc. o Three database styles, from a G-files-style files database, to a free form database and programmable database. o Extensive online help system. o Integrated SysOp Help System. Having trouble or a question? Simply hit a mouse button and extensive help text with examples appears on your screen in a neat GEM window. o User options include expiration dates for pay systems; a mass mask applicator, InfoForms (questionnaires); a revolutionary masking system; guest accounts and visitors; hundreds of bit-masking options for file sections and message bases; and much, MUCH more. o Run any online game, whether it was designed for RATSoft, FoReM, ///Turbo, Express, or any other BBS program. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's just the "tip of the ice-berg." RATSoft provides un-heard of support, frequent updates with exciting new features, and is fast becoming the BBS of choice for all Atari sysops. In addition to the RATSoft package, third party developers are constantly designing new programs for RATSoft. Ready to order? Here's how... RATSoft/ST BBS software comes complete, ready to run on 2 disks, plus an additional "helpful utilities" disk packed with useful programs and hints for any SysOp. Even though RATSoft/ST BBS is extremely easy to setup and to operate, the package also includes a professionally printed manual with over 200 pages of reference material that is useful both for the beginner and the experienced SysOp. The complete RATSoft/ST BBS Software package is only $89.95! Purchase price includes one year of free technical support and updates. For SysOps running other BBS software packages, we offer a competitive upgrade. If you send in your original disks from the other program, you will receive RATSoft/ST for 20% off. We also offer user groups a special discounted rate for RATSoft for use on club owned boards. To order, call any of the support BBS' listed above and place an electronic order for RATSoft over the modem. You may also call, or fax J&J Computers at the address and/or phone numbers listed at the beginning of this document. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. Utah residents please add 6.25%. We offer free shipping of RATSoft to anywhere in the contiguous 48 United States. COD orders accepted for an additional $5.00 charge. J&J Computers also offers the complete line of Atari (tm) products including the Falcon030, and a complete in-house service center. If interested in RATSoft/PC, the IBM-compatible version, which is slated for release in early 1994, please call the R0dent Labs Support BBS at the above listed number and leave E-Mail. RATSoft ST and RATSoft PC are products of R0dent Labs Software and are Copyright (c)1993 R0dent Labs Software. This text file may be passed around or re-printed ONLY in UN-MODIFIED form, unless given permission by the author. Feel free to post this file everywhere and anywhere you call! __________________________________________________________________ > What is a ZIP File? STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" GETTING STARTED to "KNOW THE ROPES" =================================== A ZIP file is one that's been created using the ZIP compression protocol, developed by Philip Katz. It's made up of one or more original files that have been both compressed and combined into one file. The result is a file that's smaller and easier to manage. These are often called 'archives' since they're used to store data and programs. Before being used, the files in an archive need to be returned to their original state. Sometimes, zipfiles will be 'self extracting', with an EXE extension. This means that the file already contains code to do the extraction. For those, all that's necessary is to run the file from the DOS command line. The components will be automatically extracted into the same directory containing the archive. While convenient, this adds some overhead to the size of the file. For that reason, it's more common to find archives in plain ZIP format. More often, an external UNZIP program is needed. While there are other programs available, I recommend that you obtain the original shareware version of PKUNZIP. This can be found on many Bulletin Board systems, as well as on CompuServe. PKWARE maintains a section in the PC Vendors C Forum (GO PCVENC). Their utilities can be found in LIbrary 11 (PKWARE) of the forum. As of this writing, the most current PKUNZIP can be found in the file PK204G.EXE. This is a self extracting archive containing PKZIP (which creates ZIP files), as well as PKUNZIP and several auxiliary utility programs. PKUNZIP is the program used to unzip your files. Remember this is shareware. As with all shareware, if you find the file useful, you should register it with the author. If you don't support Shareware, who will? It's possible that you might already have an earlier version of PKUNZIP (the most popular is v1.1), or a program that recognizes it for extracting files. It's important that you have the latest version. Earlier versions are *not* able to extract files created by PKZIP 2.04. If you run PKUNZIP on a ZIP file and get the message 'I don't know how to handle [filename]', this is probably the problem. A copy of v2.04 should fix it. Once you have PK204G.EXE, make a backup copy on a floppy disk, and store it in case you should need the original in the future. Create a directory on your hard drive named something like ZIP, and copy the EXE file to it. Log into the directory and extract the files, by typing the file name to run the program: CD \ZIP PK204G You'll see a display as the various component files are extracted. Be ready, there are quite a few. It's not necessary that you access all of these, or even know what they all do for now. The main files you'll be using are PKZIP.EXE (which is used to create ZIP files) and PKUNZIP.EXE. In addition there are voluminous documentation files. Again, it's not necessary to learn everything that's in here. It is important that you know where the docs are, are able to read them when you need to. DON'T BE INTIMIDATED. While it looks horrendously complex, the basic functions are actually very simple. As you learn more about the program, you'll be able to use the additional features to gain more flexibility. [A DIGRESSION ON THE PATH] A key concept in using a program like PKUNZIP efficiently is understanding the DOS PATH. If you already know about that, skip ahead. If not... When you issue a command from the DOS prompt, and it's not an internal command, DOS will first look in the current directory to see if there's a program by that name. If it's not found, then it references the Path. This is a list of subdirectories, normally established in AUTOEXEC.BAT. It serves as a roadmap for DOS, telling it in effect "If you can't find the program, start looking here." When it does the search, DOS will look at the files in every directory listed in the path, still looking for the program whose name you typed in at the command line. If it finds it, it runs it. If it doesn't find it, it gives an error message and the command isn't executed. What that means is that for programs that you run frequently, if you put them somewhere on the path then it's not necessary to switch to their directories before running them. This is a huge timesaver. For more, see DISK ORGANIZATION TIPS below. [RUNNING PKUNZIP] In the examples below, I'll assume that PKUNZIP is in a directory on your path. If it's not, then when you see something like: PKUNZIP .... Substitute the full pathname, so that DOS can find the program: C:\ZIP\PKUNZIP .... or whatever name you use for the ZIP directory. All set? Let's see what we can do. First, just run the program with no parameters. PKUNZIP You'll see a list of available options for the program. Don't panic! You don't need to memorize all this. But remember that the quick reference is there, should you need to be reminded of something, and don't have the manual handy. If you get a 'bad command or filename' error from DOS, this probably means that it couldn't find PKUNZIP. Make sure that the program is on your Path, you're in the directory where PKUNZIP is, or you've told DOS where to find it. Here's the basic structure of the command line (the brackets aren't typed in ... they're here for clarity.) Make sure that you leave a space between the parameters, as shown in the examples. The format is: PKUNZIP [options] [targetfile] [destination] The options (all those letters you saw in the command summary) are used to customize things, and there are a bunch of of them. For simple Unzipping, you probably don't need to include any, so don't worry about 'em just yet. [Targetfile] refers to the ZIP file from which you're extracting files. It isn't necessary to add the ZIP extension; that's assumed. If the file is in your current directory, just the name will do. If it's not, then add the full pathname so PKUNZIP can find it. Lets say you've downloaded NEATO.ZIP, and it's currently in your C:\DL directory. First log into the directory, then call PKUNZIP: CD \DL PKUNZIP NEATO will extract all the files from NEATO.ZIP, and place them in the \DL directory. If you're not currently in the \DL directory, specify the full pathname: PKUNZIP C:\DL\NEATO will do the trick. That's great, but suppose you don't want the extracted files to go in your Downloads directory. Talk about making a mess in a hurry. Better is to use the [Destination] option to tell PKUNZIP where you want the files written. If no destination is specified, files are extracted to the current directory. Again, if in doubt, use a full pathname to be sure the files end up where you want. Building on the example above: CD \DL PKUNZIP NEATO C:\HOLD looks just about the same, except now the files won't end up in the \DL directory. Instead they'll go to \HOLD, where they won't interfere, overwrite, or otherwise confuse files that are already on the disk. If you want, you can specify pathnames for both target and destination: PKUNZIP C:\DL\NEATO C:\HOLD will extract all the files in NEATO.ZIP, located in the C:\DL directory, and place them in the C:\HOLD directory. By using the full pathnames, it doesn't matter which directory you're currently in. And THAT'S IT!! You have just learned all you need to do to get started UnZipping files. Take a minute and give yourself a pat on the back. Now that you know how it works, you can go in and start studying the manual. The best way to learn about the various options is by hands on experience. Go ahead and experiment. You'll be amazed at how fast you become an expert. [DISK ORGANIZATION TIPS] Once you start downloading files, you'll find that it's easy to become inundated with files that are included in the download, but aren't something you necessarily need to keep around. Worse, the names are often similar. So if you're not careful it's easy to end up with multiple files with enigmatic names like README.TXT, README.1ST, FILE_ID.DIZ, etc. Also, if you try a program out and decide you don't want to keep it, all the extras make it a bit more difficult to erase it. To make managing downloaded archived files easier, here's a suggestion on how to set up your hard disk. - Set up 1 directory for often used utilities, and make sure it's on your path. Mine is named C:\TOOLS. This cuts way down on the need to Change Directories before running a utility. In addition to PKUNZIP, you might also have a directory manager, menu program, often used batch files ... whatever. Another thing I've done on my own disk is to keep program documentation in a subdirectory below my TOOLS directory. It helps reduce clutter in the tools directory, since once I'm up and running with a program, I don't need to see the docs every time I run a DIR on the directory. - Set up another directory dedicated only to holding downloaded files. This, of course, doesn't need to be on your path. Think of it as the Lobby, where arriving files get a chance to stop and rest up after their exhausting trip over the phone lines to your computer. Many communications programs allow you to set up a default download directory, so check your documentation. - Set up a 3rd directory to serve as a Holding Area (mine is cleverly named C:\HOLD). This is where you tell PKUNZIP to write the files it extracts. Using a dedicated extract directory has several advantages. If you want to run a virus scan on the files, they're all here in one place. You can look over the package, check any README.1ST files, instructions on installation, and look over the docs. Many times, you can also run the program from here to get an idea of how it works, and if you like it. (Sometimes programs will insist they be run from their own directory ... this is where you'd want to check the docs or installation notes.) For convenience, I have this directory included in my PATH, even tho it's contents change a lot. Changing, of course, is what it's all about. If I run NEATO.EXE and can immediately see it's not what I'm looking for, I can delete the files right then and there. Otherwise, I go ahead and copy the files (not all of them! It's doubtful I'll need FILE_ID.DIZ and README.1ST once I've got the program working) to their permanent home. Sometimes that'll be a special directory, sometimes my TOOLS directory ... wherever seems appropriate. It's also a good habit to immediately make backup copies of the original ZIP file from your DL directory, in case you should need to reinstall the program again. The one you don't have a copy of is always the one you need, right? When I've got everything copied, I then clean out \HOLD, and it's ready for the next go. As you work with downloaded files you'll probably come up with your own ideas for how you want to handle things. We all have different ways of working. But hopefully, this will give you a place to start. If you have questions, or want to know more about the finer points, don't hesitate to leave a message in the forum. The Sysops and Forum members will be glad to help you out. Remember that the only 'Stupid Question' is the one that doesn't get asked! It's a cliche, but like a lot of cliches, it's also true. Nobody was born knowing everything about computers. We all have to learn the same way ... by exploring and inquiring. And that's where the real fun is. Enjoy! >>don ______________________________________________________________________ > ATARI UNITED! STR InfoFile An Overview...... """""""""""""""""""""""""" WHAT IS THIS ATARI UNITED! THING? ================================= When ATARI UNITED! was first announced in an online conference on DELPHI, some DELPHI members had questions, which I'm sure others share, about the intent, focus and reasoning behind ATARI UNITED!. A bit of history about the development of this organization might help begin to answer those questions. ATARI UNITED! was born out of the suspicion that more Atari TOS computer owners exist than most in the active Atari community realize. Patti and I have both had many experiences in which we have come into contact with owners who had no idea that a thriving Atari community still existed. We have both been responsible for bringing ST owners 'out-of-the-closet' and renewing their use of their machines. And, of course, with every renewed Atari owner comes some degree of new spending on equipment and/or software. ATARI UNITED! has been organized with the intent of searching out these isolated owners on a nationwide scale, with the hope that these users will expand the active userbase. And as a result will promote new business for our loyal developers. ATARI UNITED! seeks to repair the disintegration of communication between users and developers in the Atari market, especially because of the demise of many printed Atari-specific magazines that all too often are an owner's only link to the community. A late night conversation about the dismal state of the Atari market in the US led to a discussion about ways that it could be improved, independent of direct Atari Corporation involvement. Obviously, we concluded that the creation of a nationwide database containing information about users, dealers and developers was the first step in rebuilding the lost lines of communication. This has become the first priority of our fledgling organization. While it is being compiled, other projects are and will be developed, so that our database can be utilized to its full extent when more complete. Atari user groups have always been a valuable means of keeping the Atari community together, and it was obvious that user groups were the best place to begin compiling information. Bob Brodie, Director of Communication for Atari Corporation, and former User Group Coordinator, was contacted, provided an outline of our purpose and plan of action, and asked for a list of user groups that could be used in the effort. He was happy to provide us with the necessary information, and so, the work began. The name ATARI UNITED! was chosen, and again, Bob Brodie was contacted. Permission to use Atari's name was granted, so long as the organization was used to support Atari products and their users. As this was the very foundation of the organization, an informal agreement was quickly reached, and ATARI UNITED! became our official name. It was further determined that AU! should be a not-for-profit organization, similar to the general form that Atari user groups have taken over the years. ATARI UNITED! does not exist to bilk Atari users out of their money. Actually, we'd prefer that their money be invested in hardware and software, so our loyal developers can make a living. We intend to make all ATARI UNITED! services and projects as affordable as possible. Registration is free of course, and many of the other benefits we will be able to provide will be free of cost to the user also. ATARI UNITED!'s first project beyond the database is a quarterly DiskMagazine. It will be geared to provide developer news, product reviews, game hints, help columns, and a few surprises. Eventually, program demos might be included, so a taste of what is up and coming can be given as wide an audience as possible. While similar things are now available in the online magazines, it is important to realize that most of the Atari community members are not 'modemized', and that many TOS computer owners have no real link with the rest of the market. So, it is not so much a matter of duplicating what already exists, as a matter of distribution where that kind of information is so desperately needed. Kinda like being modern technological missionaries! The potential for ATARI UNITED! is enormous, for both the developers and the owners of TOS computers. With better channels of communication, developers will be able to sell more products, encouraging them to continue investing in the TOS market. We, as users, will continue to be able to purchase new products, and find support for the old. One particular benefit for user groups will grow as the database of TOS computer owners grows. User groups who register with ATARI UNITED! will have their contact information made available to anyone who inquires about TOS support in their area. User groups will also periodically be given access to information about local users contacted by us. Just as the developer and the user can be connected, so too can user groups and users. It's all a part of strengthening the communication channels throughout the entire market. In addition to communication between groups and owners, we can also help on the individual level. When an owner has a problem with his/her system, or with a piece of software, it is often helpful to contact someone nearby with the knowledge to solve the problem. Even if a user doesn't have a 'problem' per se, the exchange of information and ideas can only benefit the community. Some users are lucky enough to have a local dealer, but for many, 'local' is a term that can mean several hundred miles. All of those in that predicament will be able to locate owners nearby. Just consider us a friendly dating service for your Atari computer! Some of our future projects are not far enough along to be openly discussed, but there are some exciting possibilities out there. It is important that we don't take on too much too quickly, only to find that we can't handle our first priorities. Too often a well-intentioned enterprise fails while trying to do too much all at once. Instead, we want to grow slowly with the aid and support of everyone involved in the Atari community. With this in mind, the number of staff at ATARI UNITED! is being kept very small. We have received many offers from users volunteering to help with our project, and we are encouraged by all the offers. But in these early stages, it is essential that our focus be maintained. Too many people with too many ideas would only serve to dilute our efforts at this point. However, as we grow, we will be adding to our little group, to better serve the Atari community. ATARI UNITED! intends to succeed in its effort to strengthen the Atari community. Time and money have already been expended to that end, and we are fully ready to expend more. But, it'll take the cooperation and support of TOS computer owners all across the US to make ATARI UNITED! the best it can be. To help us help all of you, register now, while you are thinking about it! Together, we will make the Atari community stronger! Gordie Meyer ATARI UNITED! To register: Complete the registration form below, and send to: ATARI UNITED! P.O. Box 691 Mountain View, CA 94042-0691 or via e-mail to: abarbiero@delphi.com Name (Last, First, MI): _________________________________________ Mailing Address: _________________________________________ _________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _________________________________________ Computer Model: ___ 520 ST ___ 520 STe ___ TT ___ 1040 ST ___ 1040 STe ___ F030 ___ Mega ST ___ Mega STe Computer Serial Number: (OPTIONAL)________________________________ User Group (if a member):_________________________________________ =======For further information, contact:======= Patti Barbiero Gordie Meyer P.O. Box 691 P.O. Box 1982 Mountain View, CA 94042-0691 or Ames, IA 50010-1982 (415) 903-9787 (515) 232-1627 abarbiero@delphi.com biblinski@delphi.com __________________________________________________________________ > Lazarus Long #3 STR Feature """"""""""""""""""""""""""" The Notebooks of Lazarus Long Issue #3 Compiled by Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. Various real-life sayings (some attributed, some not) that could fit in- to the Notebooks of Lazarus Long. From the Jerry Pournelle RT on Genie The only thing more dangerous than a lieutenant is a lieutenant with a map, compass and sidearm. That's only number two, and doesn't even come close to number 1: A lieutenant with an idea and a word processor. Only field grades are dangerous with an idea and a word processor. . . no one takes lieutenants seriously when it comes to policy. Field grades never have an idea. Of course they do, they steal them from lieutenants. When I was a lieutenant, I thought captains, majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels were self centered, shallow, and careerists. Now I _know_ lieutenants are immature idealists; captains are immature cynics; lieutenant colonels are self centered careerists; and colonels don't care, 'cuz they got theirs. Majors? We're either world-weary skeptics or syncophantic self centered careerists. Except, of course, for me... _I_ know what the answer is - but no one ever asks! "To err is human. To really screw up requires ADP support and Flag Officer guidance." "Stupidity is a self-correcting problem." There are a few things more dangerous thana a lieutenant with a map: A manager with an idea. A programmer with a soldering iron. An engineer with a compiler! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT: _________________________________ Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo) Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN. GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > STReport CONFIDENTIAL "Rumors Tidbits Predictions Observations Tips" """"""""""""""""""""" - Tigard, OR OREGON RESEARCH ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF AMIGA COMPUTERS ---------- Oregon Research, a major developer/distributor of Atari ST software for the last seven years, has just signed a long term agreement with HiSoft and AVR to provide distribution and product support for their entire line of Amiga products. We have partnered with HiSoft for several years now in distribution and support in the Atari market (they distribute our software in England and we distribute and support their software in North America), and this is the logical extension of our excellent business relationship. Initially, we will be providing distribution and product support for: Devpac 3 Professional 680x0 Assembly Language Development System HighSpeed Pascal Professional Pascal Language Development System HighSpeed Pascal Professional Pascal Language Development System PowerBasic Entry level Structured BASIC HiSoft Basic 2 Professional BASIC Language Development System (9/93) ProFlight Tornado Fighter Flight Simulator Clarity 16 Professional 16 bit stereo sound sampler, effects processor and sound editor AMAS 2 8 bit stereo sound sampler with integrated MIDI interface and sound processing/sequencing MegaLoSound 8 bit stereo sound sampler and effects processor with direct to hard disk recording ProMidi Amiga MIDI interface with MIDI cables VideoMaster Real time Video Digitizer In addition, we are developing two new exciting Amiga applications at Oregon Research for release in early 1994. The decision to support the Amiga platform is one we have wanted to make for a long time and we are very excited with the capabilities of the machine and for the opportunity to serve the Amiga community. If anyone has any questions regarding any of our Amiga products we provide free online technical support here as well as on Genie: ORA and on CompuServe: 71333,2655 or you can call us at (503) 620-4919 or FAX us at (503) 624-2940 Bob Luneski, President Oregon Research boblu@tekgen.bv.tek.com Genie: ORA 16200 S.W. Pacific Hwy., Suite 162 CompuServe 71333,2655 Tigard, OR 97224 Phone: (503) 620-4919 FAX: (503) 624-2940 - London, UK FALCON SALES OUTLOOK ---------- Our super sleuth in the UK tells us that the Falcon sales are in the low thousands for all of Europe. The expected crushing rush for the new Falcon has yet to materialize. In fact, while the Falcon is satisfying the game machine affectionados in the UK and elsewhere, a number of support enterprises are on the verge of closure on the continent. - Rockford IL ICD HAS IN HOUSE SALE! ----------- The Link............. regularly $119.95 ......... on sale $109.95 Tape Backup Software (includes tape cleaning kit)......... 99.95 Cleanup ST!.......... regularly $ 29.95 ......... clearance 19.95 AdSpeed ST........... regularly $209.95 ......... clearance 99.95 Personal Pascal...... regularly $ 59.95 ......... clearance 19.95 free with orders over $150 AdSCSI Plus ST....... regularly $119.95 ......... on sale $109.95 AdSCSI Micro ST...... regularly $ 89.95 ......... clearance 39.95 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > A "Quotable Quote" "All that glitters ain't GOLD!" """"""""""""""""" "TIME WILL BRING TO LIGHT WHATEVER IS HIDDEN; IT WILL COVERUP AND CONCEAL WHAT IS NOW SHINING IN SPLENDOR!" ...... a wise old man """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > DEALER CLASSIFIED LIST STR InfoFile * Dealer Listings * """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" --------------- ABCO COMPUTER CONSULTANTS ========================= P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 Est. 1985 1-904-783-3319 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER IBM/MSDOS-PC-CLONES-MAC-AMIGA-ATARI CUSTOM - MADE TO ORDER HARDWARE SOFTWARE, SUPPLIES & INSTRUCTION """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 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 Authorized Atari Dealer """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" EAST HARTFORD COMPUTER ====================== 202 Roberts St. East Hartford CT. 06108 1-203-528-4448 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER Authorized Atari Dealer """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" MEGABYTE COMPUTERS ================== 907 Mebourne Hurst, TX 76053 1-817-589-2950 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER Authorized Atari Dealer """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" SAN JOSE COMPUTER ================= 1278 Alma Court San Jose, CA. 95112 1-408-995-5080 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER Authorized Atari Dealer """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CompuSeller West ================ 220-1/2 W. Main St. St. Charles, IL., 60174 Ph. (708) 513-5220 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER Authorized Atari Dealer """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (DEALERS; to be listed here, please drop us a line.) """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport International Online Magazine -* [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport *- AVAILABLE ON OVER 20,000 PRIVATE BBS SYSTEMS """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STR Online! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" July 23, 1993 Since 1987 copyright (c) 1987-93 All Rights Reserved No.9.30 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Messages quoted in whole or in part are done so under the Fair Use provision of the US Copyright Laws. USPC Title 17. Views, Opinions and 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, STReport and/or portions therein may not be edited in any way without prior written permission. STR, STReport, at the time of publication, is believed reasonably accurate. STR, STReport, its staff and contributors are not and cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of information contained herein or the results obtained therefrom. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""