SILICON TIMES REPORT ==================== INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ============================= from STR Electronic Publishing September 03, 1993 No. 9.36 ========================================================================= 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 _________________________________________________________________________ > 09/03/93 STR 936 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!" """""""""""""""" - The Editor's Desk - CPU HEADLINE REPORT - STR Confidential - Ray-Start News! - AVERKEY UPDATE - LEXICOR NEWS! - QUICKTUTORS! - PROCOMM PLUS 1.2 - BUTTONFILE - PC/IBM NEWS - MAC/APPLE NEWS - ATARI/JAG NEWS -* PC SALES AT ALL-TIME HIGH! *- -* LEXICOR/STRT/IAAD FIASCO *- -* LEXICOR ANNOUNCES 2cnd WORD OFFER! *- ========================================================================= 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 (September 03) The history of Atari is posted as file ATARI.TXT in LIBRARY 17 of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO) (from the Internet system). The second set of "20 QUESTIONS" submitted by Atari Forum members and answered by Atari Corp (specifically Bob Brodie, Bill Rehbock and James Grunke) is available for download as file 20Q_02.TXT in LIBRARY 15 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS). See files OMEGA_.ZIP and OMEGAF.ZIP in LIBRARY 12 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) for a very well done European demo for the STE and TT. Well worth the download time. Download file JAPANE.ZIP from LIBRARY 4 of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO) for a program which makes it possible to display the Japanese and input single-byte katakana, double-byte katakana, hiragana and more than ten different series of special symbols which are assigned to symbol keys. Download file DRIVRS.LZH from LIBRARY 11 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) for the latest PageStream import modules. Updated 10-AUG-93. This archive contains ALL of the import modules currently shipping with PageStream 2.2b. Included are new Illustrator, EPS, and TIFF import modules. 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!" """""""""""""""""""""" Its the long Labor Day Weekend. The end of summer and the beginnings of the Fall Season. School starts or has started depending on your location. Please drive carefully, the kids are loose again! Since it is a long weekend and everyone seems to have "said it all" online, a period of cooling off appears to be very much in need. The Lexicor/STRT/IAAD fiasco is not going to go away but.. the least we can do is use the long weekend to re-examine the situation and perhaps, by the time the weekend is over, things will appear differently. Its a very sad state of affairs that's for sure. After all, even the developers who were only "associated" with Lexicor were expelled simply for being associated with Lexicor.. this is very wrong. Additionally, the late entry and interference coming from Bob Brodie is unwarranted and totally uncalled for, but... that's his call and he'll have to live with it. In the meantime, STReport stands by every word published relative to this matter and will continue to report what its goings on until such time as the matter is declared resolved by all parties involved and concerned. The users have been told a number of times of an underlying story that "caused" all this. This is true. In fact, the friction started over GEMVIEW and escalated from there. The underlying story appears to have provided an easy way out for some of the "players" in this horrendous happenstance. The captures from the IAAD area have arrived and now, without a doubt, we have the backgrounder in hand. STReport has given its word to never reveal the contents of such files and that will stand good. Unlike those we gave our word to... we will stand by our commitment. This much can be made known; the substantive matter that was used to expel Lexicor from the IAAD is pretty flimsy if not ridiculous. In fact it only makes the matter look worse... much worse. So much so as to lend further credence to the stories that this incident has finished the IAAD as a viable entity in the Atari community. Not to mention the reflection it has had on the STRT. The clock is ticking on the Lexicor/STRT/IAAD matter as well as on certain "business associates" of Nathan Potechin. We all wait for the questions asked of Nathan Potechin by ordinary users to be answered. We also wait patiently for the questions asked of the IAAD to be answered. If honest and truthful answers are not forthcoming, the continued silence will only grow into a deafening, thunderous roar confirming the worst. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ** STReport International Online Magazine ** NOW AVAILABLE FOR ELECTRONIC HOME DELIVERY DIRECT TO YOUR (E-)MAIL BOX 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 the REAL news and FULL information from the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of computing... Ask for your STReport deliveries to begin today! *** 349 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 Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor Emeritus 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 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 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" PEOPLE... ARE TALKING ===================== On CompuServe ------------- compiled by Joe Mirando Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Time to travel that electronic highway again and, if you've got to travel a highway, you might as well travel one with a nice even surface and lots of scenery. There are two major differences between the regular, run-of-the-mill highway and and an electronic highway like CompuServe: On the electronic version you can't get rear-ended (at least not on CompuServe) and, you don't have to stop for gas every couple of hundred miles. Hey, I know that these aren't really profound thoughts or anything, but give me a break, it's late thursday night and I'm out of profound ideas. Anyway, there's lots of stuff to be found on CompuServe this week, so let's get right too it... From the Atari Productivity Forum ================================= Jay Craswell posts: "I wish I had a way to get into internet... Is there a phone book of places that might allow some "extra" people to use there machine?" Sysop Bob Retelle tells Jay: "There are some info files in the UNIXFORUM that list public access sites to the Internet.. I'm not 100% sure what the filename is, but I think it's something like PUBNIX.. (that seems to stick in my mind for some reason). Another thing to check into are BBSs in your area that have connections into the Internet.. there's a couple here in Ann Arbor (I know Pattie uses one of them for access to the net), and they're popping up all over..." David Hagood posts some observations on MultiTOS: "I just got MultiTOS, and thought I'd share some problems and solutions with the world. Problem: MultiTOS prints the message "could not execute c:\gulam.prg: MiNT exitting". Cause: the files MINT.CNF and GEM.CNF were placed in C:\MULTITOS, not C:\ Solution: Move these files to C:\ Problem: The system fails with a memory protection fault after loading the accessories. Cause 1: the accessory RAMBUFFR.ACC was allocating memory for a RAMDISK that was not globally accessable. Solution 1: Remove memory protection for RAMBUFFR.ACC Cause 2: The program DESKPIC.PRG and the DESKPIC.ACC were allocating memory for the picture that was not globally accessable. Solution 2: Remove memory protection for DESKPIC.PRG and DESKPIC.ACC OK, now for the problems I've been unable to solve: Problem: Kornshell crashes when trying to run a program. This is strange since Kornshell is MiNT specific and was running fine under MiNT 0.95 Problem: QuickCIS 1.75 crashes when loading. This too ran fine under MiNT 0.95 Problem: No documentation on environment variables that GEM and MultiTOS use. It looks like you can tell GEM where to find the accessories via the ACCPATH variable. However, it doesn't work: only ACC's in C:\ load. Problem: No way t load ACC's except at boot time. I thought under MultiTOS you could just double-click on an ACC to start it. Problem: The CHPROT program that comes with MultiTOS, used to change the memory protection flags, doesn't tell you the current or new state of the protection flag. Problem: The SOUND.CPX suppled with MultiTOS indicates "No DMA sound present". Rather a surprise, considering I'm running a TT030!! I know several of you out there have MultiTOS, so let's share information!" Greg Kopchak tells David: "Put the FPATCH1.PRG in your AUTO folder. A TOS bug causes the DMA sound to be initialized wrong with some TOS versions. A version should be posted here in the libraries. Anyone know the name?" Dazzz Smith jumps in and tekks Greg: "The current version is FPATCH2 guys. (It still causes a slight problem with Bconmap as well, but nothing too serious.)" David adds: "What's weird is that the older version of the SOUND.CPX works quite nicely. Just the newer version fails. Also, what kind of "minor problems" does the patch program cause?" T.Colman Nilan Jr. posts: "A friend of mine owns a 520ST w/ GEM Dos. He knows nothing about computers; I know knothing about Atari. Are there any applications available on Compuserve or elsewhere? Is GEM Dos the best he can do? If anyone could point us in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated." Oscar Steele of Purple Mountain Computing tells "Collie": "If he's looking for software priced right, we have over 1000 titles of recycled software. Ask him to call send for a free issue of CompuNews which lists everything. Also, he can send $1 for a disk catalog we have that also lists over 5000 books (including a lot of helpful Atari ST books)." Dick Paddock tells Collie: "As Ron Luks, chief sysop (and all-around good guy) (or anyone else) here will tell you, the libraries are full of free-, share- and demo-ware. Some of the freeware/shareware is unmatched by any commercial stuff (as is true on any platform, I guess.) So browse as you like, and welcome! As to your first question, about GEM Dos, it is properly called GEM TOS (The Operating System-no false modesty here). There are enhancements, but no real replacements except for upgrades, which are advisable. There are some replacement operating systems, OS-9 and Unix (I think), but if it's a true 520ST (only 1/2MB of memory) these are impracitcal as they take real memory, whereas TOS is wholly ROM-resident." Rick Flashman of Gribnif Software adds: "Well, there's always our Geneva (shameless plug). It enhances the OS to be multitsking (similar to Windows on the PC), tear-off menus, 3D buttons, unlimited applications and accessories (limited by free memory), etc." Lars Borgh posts: "Remember me, the one from Sweden with a diskdrive problem? You help me beforeso I'm hoping you can work this out as well! I'm planning on buying a 1.44 Mb drive for my Mega STE. The internal drive I have should fit just perfectly in my 1040 ST, which doesn't have a workable drive at the moment. So I tried, disconnected my Mega drive and placed it in the 1040. It didn't work. Is there any differences between the two computers? Is there any jumpers or switches thats different. The one in the Mega is a Epson SMD-380. (I have already tried to set the 34 pin cable both ways)." Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine tells Lars: "I remember you. In the MegaSTe you need TOS 2.06, the AJAX chip and a 1.44 meg drive to work correctly. Also something else about a 16mhz signal in the right place as well. I know some have used 1.44 drive (mechs) on normal STs but the performed some operation so that the drive will only sense low density. I'm not technically familar with what they did." Lars tells Albert: "Oh, I didn't know that I needed Tos 2.06 to get a 1.44 Mb drive to work. I thought it was enough with a new controller and a suitable drive. That's bad news upgrade in Tos :-( About the internal drive in my Mega, it's a regular 720 drive, why can't I use that one in my ST?" Bob Retelle, Sysop Extrordinare, tells Lars: "I know you said you tried the wide ribbon cable both ways, but the symptom you described (the drive light comes on and stays on all the time) is usually caused by the drive data cable being plugged in upside down. It's possible that the Mega drive has the connector opposite the way the one in the 1040 is set up..." Hal Dougherty tells Lars: "I replaced the drive in my old ST Mega 2 with one from a 1040. To get it to work, the cable had to be turned upsidedown. It's another STrange ST problem." When Grosvenor Barber asks about differences and similarities between WINDOWS (affectionately called "WIN-DOZE" by many) and GEM, Woodrow Windischman tells him: "Windows and GEM are *similar* but not identical. The APIs are different, but they follow the same Menu, Icon, Mouse paradigm pioneered by Xerox and popularized by the Mac. Subtle differences are that, In Windows, Each app has a main window, which contains the menu bar. In GEM, there is a fixed menu bar at the top of the screen. In GEM, the Menu drops down when the mouse hits it, in Windows you need to press the mouse button to drop the menu. Windows also has been using a 3d effect for its last few versions. At the API level, they both offer programmers facilites to create all of the primary screen elements, but Windows has a lot finer control. In contrast, the GEM interface is MUCH easier to write to." Rick Flashman at Gribnif Software tells Woody about his least favorite Windows "feature": "Windows STILL lacks a "proportional" scroll bar. This is a real pet peeve of mine, as I can never tell where exactly in a document I am and how big that document is." Jay Craswell tells Woody: "A friend who did applications in both systems said that writing "any" program was like learning to walk. Writing a GEM app was learning to drive a car. And doing a windows program was piloting a rocket to the moon. He said that sanity soon leaves you as you try to do simple things under windows too!" From the Atari ST Arts Forum ============================ Scott Evans tells us: "I have downloaded 101.lzh. can I play this with my dos machine? I try to use lha to uncompress it but it will not uncompress, example Lha e/c:\open\101.lzh c:\a nothing, it can't find 101.lzh Lha x/c:\open\101.lzh c:\a " " lha e / c:\101.lzh c:\a -- I moved 101.lzh to the root and booted. nothing tryed with x and still nothing." Sysop Bob Retells tells Scott: "Scott, unfortunately the file you downloaded, 101.LZH, is a demo of a game called "Resolution 101", which is an Atari ST rogram... it won't runon your DOS machine... Just for reference though, Albert is right... the command to use LHA.EXE in this case would be: lha x 101.lzh (assuming you are in the same subdirectory as the .lzh file)." George Yamagata posts his feelings about an ethnic slur that apparently appeared in ST FORMAT (I say apparently because I haven't seen it yet): "This message is to announce that I will no longer be doing the ST Format summaries due to the racial slur printed in that magazine. The title of this message is the editted version of what is printed. I was not going to respond to this, except that I was prodded by STeve Kipker on this issue. ST Format summaries will therefore not be a thing of the past. I just will not be doing them. ST Format now advertises itself as the World's Best Selling ST Magazine. When you go global, I feel you have take in consideration the sensibilities of your cosmopolitan constituency or readership, something I tried to address once before on CIS. The reason that the statement raises my ire, is that the racial epitome, 'Jap', has never been used in my presence in anything but a derisive manner. Annecdotally more recent than in my youth (pre-graduate school), I was at a departmental function at UCD and I met a British Gentleman that used the ethnic slur with vemon and vehmenence. He was one of a handful of survivors of the torpedoing of the HMS Prince of Wales, the cruiser that encountered the German pocket battleship, Bismark, and had observed the sinking of the Hood. The cruiser was sent from the North Atlantic to the Pacific to help in the defense of Singapore. The British gentleman survived the Imperial air attack only to spend 3 years in a POW camp in Malay suffering degradation and deprivation at the hands of his Imperial Japanese captors. So, I suspect that there are a number of British males at retirement age that will fully embrace the STF statement with enthusiam. They may even engage in the STF to win the program that is listed in the number 1 slot. That thought raises my blood pressure. The second thought is that if Andy Hutchinson was editor, I would know that such a statement was a veiled editorial statement, but with Paula Richards as editor, I am uncertain. I remember when the rallying cry around the world was that the Japanese were coming to take over the home computer market. MSX was the system that was going to make total networking of home appliances possible and what was going to make the home appliance automation, envisioned by Ray Bradbury in the '50s a reality. Well, in this day of Michael Crichton's RISING SUN, keeping the Japanese industrial might, especially in the electronics industry, at bay is a real or imagined thing of concern for many. As a note it is interesting that it is Jack Tramiel, then at the helm of Commodore Business Machines Ltd. that is credited with delaying MSX's introduction to the world markets with the VIC 20, long enough that the 16-bit computer made it impractical to market MSX in the US and impact the sale of MSX in Europe and even in Japan. If you want to read about the fear that the Japanese and MSX instilled in the US home computer industry, just pick up a copy of BYTE or Compute! from 9 to 12 years ago. Fear of Japan's competition in world markets and Japan bashing is nothing new. The last thought is that I am sensitized on this issue, not only from personal experience, but by the fact that the civil rights organization, the JACL, of which I am a member, is currently fighting a legal and media battle in a township in Texas. The city council there saw fit to name an avenue, Jap Avenue. The city council maintains that it is only an abbreviation, used on the street signs. The mayor of the town has confided to reporters that he considers it an ethnic slur. That this happened in Texas is an affront to history. In the Black Forest of Germany, a battlion of Texans was encircled. The Japanese American 442nd regiment was sent in to save less than 600 Texans at a loss of 1200 killed and wounded and over 900 more reported missing (mostly captured). This ST Format advert caption comes at a time when this is still an issue. Well, this is one American of Japanese ancestry, that will be "kept at bay" from reading another issue of ST FORMAT." Editor Emeritus Lloyd Pulley posts his thoughts: "While I might disagree with use of the word "Jap" in the title, I also think you're over-reacting. Was the article itself racist, or did the author/editor just use a bad choice of words in the title? Are you re- ading more into the article/title than is actually there? As you said yourself... "The second thought is that if Andy Hutchinson was editor, I would know that such a statement was a veiled editorial statement, but with Paula Richards as editor, I am uncertain." ...so I would have to assume the article wasn't blatantly racist or you wouldn't be uncertain. I have no idea of Paula Richards' age or background, but it asn't too long ago that such terms were part of normal conversation and weren't meant to be a racial insult. Where/when I grew up (Kansas City/60's) it was normal to use such terms as "dago", "whop", "hunky" (sp), etc. And we used these terms in speaking _to_ each other, not necessarily in tal- king _about_ someone. I had friends who lived on 'dago hill' and I'd call them 'dagos' all the time ("Hey Tony, you ugly 'dago', what's hap- pening?") and they would do the same back ("Lloyd, you dumb flat-headed Dutchman, who let you out?") [Note: I'm not Dutch but my step-father was and everyone assumed I was also partially Dutch.] It wasn't the term, it was the TONE that mattered (and why I asked about the article, it set the tone for the header - IMO). If Paula Richards' came from a similar background, she might not have thought the title was racially insulting." Editor Note: ------------ There was no "pocket" battleship in the German Navy called the Bismark. In fact The Bismark was far from a "pocket battleship". Perhaps the poster was referring to the pocket battleship Graf Spee. I too, feel the matter is a gross overreaction. I'd like to see how the families of the GIs who marched the infamous Bataan Death March would feel. Or, the families of the crew of the Arizona would also feel. Maybe we should ask the surviving family members of the liberators of Iwo Jima? Or, the loved ones who survived the victims of the fanatical Kimikaze Raids? There is no cure for the hurt savage viciousness leaves none at all. To protest an abbreviation of a word as a dire transgression to me is akin to grabbing at straws. It also adds to rekindling the burning hurt that time seems to cool down. From the Atari Vendors Forum ============================ Dazzz Smith asks a question of Sysop Ron Luks: "Ah but if you sit a TT next to a Falcon but at a lower price which would you pick?" Ron tells Dazzz: "What would I pick if I had to choose between a Falcon and a lower priced TT? Very tough choice. The TT had some annoying aspects to it (ST vs TT ram, etc.) but it is much more expandable, has a faster CPU, uses SIMMS. However, the Falcon has the DSP chip..." Tom Mynar asks a question of ICD: "I recently sold my ELS85S to Mike Mortilla. His LINK doesn't aknowledge the drive is there at all. Yet, my old ICD (with PAL daughter board) seems to accept the drive with no problems. There are no PARITY jumpers on this drive, thus, parity must be disabled by s/w. Seems strange to me your OLD controllers work but the NEW controller doesn't, Why is this ? What were the features you added which caused this? I'm very curious as this is a very new and fast drive. It is unfortunate that he can't use the thing yet it served me just fine. BTW, maybe you guys could come up with a quick program like you did for my Conner motor-start-command problem last year !" Jim Ness tells Tom: "As you know, I also just bought an ELS85S, and ran into the same problem. The drive does not have a parity jumper, and must have parity disabled via software, so that it works with host adaptors that don't support parity. Some ICD products do support parity, and won't have problems with the ELS85S. Some don't, and need to have the ELS reprogrammed, for it to work. To reprogram the ELS, you need to plug it into something that DOES support parity, or you can't talk to it to tell it to disable parity. ICD suggests a Falcon or TT SCSI port, or one of the ICD host adaptors that supports parity. You just run the BOOTFIX.PRG to take care of the problem, once you find a device you can plug the ELS into. The text also says that only newer ELS drives have a EPROM that accepts the command to disable parity. If you don't have the newest EPROM, you have to get one." From the Atari Portfolio Forum ============================== Alan Ogden tells us: "A friend has just purchased a Portfolio (used) for 25 pounds but the label showing the serial number is missing. Is there any way of finding the serial number from, say, the ROM?" Don Thomas of Atari Corp tells Alan: "I know of no way to redefine a serial number once it has been lost. The serial number has its greatest value to Atari during manufacture for international distribution, lot changes, etc. The consumer is best served by referencing the DOS (DIP Opearting System) number. In the U.S., that will be either 1.052 or 1.072." Ralf Ludwig posts: "I need the parallel card for the Atari Portfolio ... but i can't find them in any store... Who can help me...?" For anyone who's interested, Toad Computers in Maryland usually has parallel interfaces for the Portfolio in stock... in addition to just about everything else! Well folks, it was short, but the Portfolio Forum was represented this week. Now perhaps Sysop BJ Gleason and Don Thomas of Atari will stop giving me a hard time.... NAH. Well, at any rate, that's it for this week. Be sure to tune in again next time (same time , same station). Be ready to sit back and relax, take your shoes off and listen to what they are saying when... PEOPLE ARE TALKING _______________________________________________________ > AVERKEY! STR InfoFile LEXICOR INTROS THE AVERKEY! """"""""""""""""""""" This is an Official Press Release by LEXICOR SOFTWARE EUROPE AVERKEY ======= by ADDA Technologies from Jong-Ho County, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. We are proud to announce that we have got direct distribution rights from ADDA Technologies for this great piece of Multimedia Hardware. The Averkey is the fitting Link that bridges your VGA Signal, be it TT Medium,Falcon or NOVA Graphics Board resolution to your Video System in either PAL or NTSC. It has not only got a Composite Video Output but also a S-VHS Output for prime quality. Add your Television, VCR and large screen display to your computer hardware. Move your presentation from the VGA Monitor to the world of Video with Averkey! AVerKey features reflect the latest in multimedia hardware design. Through its compact size and powerful internal design, the AVerKey can be quickly installed to convert a number of VGA Modes eg. 640x480 to NTSC or PAL Systems. As an added feature, the AVerKey features a state-of-the-art built in flicker filter. This filter helps overcome the inherent flicker problems which arise when linking the VGA environment with video. The Averkey adjustment control's the brightness of your TV (Video) Display. Since VGA scan rates are almost twice that of a Television the display quality of the Television signal is inferior to that of VGA. This is especially true of picture stability when displaying single line. Single line display will result in television flicker unless a flicker free function is employed. The AVerKey has such a built-in "flicker-free" feature which stabilizes VGA Graphics on a television Monitor. This feature greatly improves the display quality of your Animations in either Prism Paint, Da's Vektor, Chronos, Phoenix or any other Atari Software that will work in VGA Modes. Besides helping reduce flicker, this feature even further reduces brightness to a comfortable level. Price: $289.00 U.S. Dollars. Shipping and Tax not included. Availabitlity: Now System Requirements: Any kind of VGA based System. This includes NOVA Graphics Card and TT Medium. The Averkey has not been tested with any other Atari Based Graphic Card and can therefore not guarantee it running on anything else. Software: DOS Software already included, Atari Software available end of September. However Software is not required to run the Averkey. The Software will however allow the Averkey to switch down its scan rates to as low as 320x200. Display Mode Supported: All standard VGA Modes. 640x480 mode in 256, 32k, 64k or even 24bit in NTSC or PAL (720x400 in NTSC Max.) 800x600 mode if using Cirrus, CL-GD 6410 VGA chip or Tseng Labs. ET-4000 with frequency synthesizer as ICS 2494-237 in PAL. One VGA Input Signal (Analog RGB 15 pin display connector, 0.7 Volt p.t.p.) Four Output Signals: 1 x Composite Video, 1.0 Volt peak to peak RCA Jack Connector 1 x S-VHS Y and C Video, Mini-DIN 4 pin connector 1 x RGB Output 1 x Standard VGA card Signal (15 pin) FCC Warning: It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A Computing Device pursuant to subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection in a commercial environment. Additional hardware to the Averkey: Averkey GENLOCK Board which will allow your Averkey to have Genlock capabitlities. Lexicor Software and ADDA Technologies are working closely together to give you the best possible value for our Customers. We Believe that the Averkey is one of the best VGA to Video Scan Line Converters for the price. LEXICOR SOFTWARE U.S. 1726 Francisco St. Berkeley, CA 94703 U.S.A. Tel: (510)848-7621 Fax: (510)848-7613 LEXICOR SOFTWARE EUROPE Cottagegasse 69 A-1190 Vienna AUSTRIA Tel: (1) 36 75 91 Fax: (1) 36 91 787 ************************************************************************* 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! TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (9/1/93) (1) ST ZIP 2.3 (2) STREPORT 9.35C (3) AEO: VOLUME 2 ISSUE 14 (4) AEO JAGUAR SPECIAL (5) SYSTEM INFO, TELLS ALL! (6) WORLDWIDE 9600 TYMNET/SPRINTNET (7) XCONTROL PANEL 1.31 (8) AEOPJ1.ZIP (9) GEMBENCH 3.03 (10) DESKTRACKER V1.11 All of the above files can be found in the RECENT ARRIVALS database for at least one week after the posting of this list. Please Note that in the case of online magazines, only the most current issue in the database at the time of this compilation is considered for the Top 10 list. Also, for all files, a submission is eligible for the Top 10 list for only four weeks after its original uploading. DELPHI- It's getting better all the time! ************************************************************************* > GEMVIEW SHAREWARE STR FOCUS! NO "EXCLUSIVES" HERE! """""""""""""""""""""""""""" GENERAL AGREEMENTS FOR GEM-VIEW OUTSIDE OF GERMANY All agreements with Cybercube Research Limited are herewith reinstated. Cybercube has been granted the right to collect and bundle registration applications on my behalf. Cybercube will send these applications to my address in Germany for registration. Lexicor requested the right to provide customer support. Lexicor has been granted the right to explain the registration procedure on my behalf. However, Lexicor is not authorized to accept or relay any registration applications, cheques or payments. 1) The SHAREWARE versions of GEM-View may be freely copied. These copies of GEM-View must be provided as: a) a SHAREWARE product, and b) free of charge. In case the GEM-View copy is being requested by mail, a maximum $3 shipping and handling fee may apply. 2) All interested users may discuss GEM-View related topics. Efforts to explain the formalities of the registration process will be kindly appreciated. Discussions must be limited to the existing and available SHAREWARE versions. The creation of any new GEM-View forum or topic requires my prior written permission. 3) The right to accept registration applications and the handling of such applications requires my prior written permission and may be obtained if applied for. No charges greater than $1 per GEM-View copy should incur to the user due to such services. 4) I will solely and personally handle all registrations of the SHAREWARE versions. The user will, depending on the version, either receive a personalized registered copy or his personal registration key directly from me. The party that collected and bundled the registration applications will not be involved in the actual registration process. 5) GEM-View must always be provided on its own disk(s). If GEM-View is being distributed on a disk or disks containing files or applications which are not a part of the existing GEM-View package, a special file containing an appropriate copyright notice must be obtained through me and added on the same disk(s) along with the other GEM-View files. Users that obtain their copy of GEM-View from such disks still have to register their copy. It is not allowed to include the registration fee in the price of the disk containing the GEM-View package. In all cases, I require prior notification of any intentions to provide GEM-View in conjunction with other files, applications or utilities and a copy of such a disk must be forwarded to my address. 6) Any interested party may compile and distribute any form of documentation for GEM-View. Special care must be exercised to make the user aware of the fact that he still has to register his copy of GEM-View even if he acquires any such documentation. - customers must be made aware of the additional registration. - if the documentation is being provided in printed form: a special notice on the cover page must be included, stating that an independent third party is responsible for the contents and that the author of GEM-View was not involved with the process of compiling the documentation. - if the documentation is being provided on a disk or other form of electronic media: a special notice on a highly visible area (e.g. label) must be included, stating that an independent third party is responsible for the contents and that the author of GEM-View was not involved with the process of compiling the documentation. - If the customer requests both, the documentation and a copy of GEM-View at the same time, the distributor/retailer must make sure to avoid any suggestion or impression that the customer acquired the rights on the GEM-View program as well. The customer still has to separately register his copy. I would greatly appreciate the receipt of a sample of any such documentation made available for GEM-View users. 7) All of the above listed rules apply to the SHAREWARE versions of GEM-View only. These are (at the present date) all versions up to and including 2.40! SHAREWARE versions can be easily identified in the dialog box 'About GEM-View'. Dieter Fiebelkorn, 1993 _________________________________________________ > BUTTONFILE STR InfoFile Database Manager for Windows """"""""""""""""""""""" WHY DO YOU NEED BUTTONFILE? =========================== WHAT IS BUTTONFILE? ButtonFile is a personal database manager for Windows. No other program gives you such quick & easy access to the essential database tasks. Manage mailing lists, team rosters, phone directories, inventory lists, catalogs, recipe collections, and more! Auto-dial any phone number, and create a list of frequent speed-dial numbers. Design and print mailing labels, envelopes, Rolodex(R) and 3x5 cards, and a myriad of reports. buttonFile does all this better than a Rolodex and with more ease than a full-blown database manager. WHY DO YOU NEED BUTTONFILE? Because buttonFile is so simple, so useful, and so inexpensive. Whether you're a novice computer user who needs to manage a mailing list, or an experienced computer user who doesn't want to spend a lot of time with programming languages, macros, and query languages to keep track of your company's personnel information, buttonFile is the answer. It's the perfect marriage of a no-learning-curve interface with the database essentials --storing, sorting, searching, and printing. And because it imports and exports the most common formats, it makes a great companion to the other programs you use everyday. UP AND RUNNING IN SECONDS! ButtonFile provides over a dozen pre-defined decks that you can be using within seconds after opening buttonFile. And you can quickly design custom databases from scratch or by starting with pre-defined template as a pattern. Because it's fully graphical, you use a click-and-drag interface to place the fields on a card...Then start entering your data! PRE-DEFINED DECKS *Book Library *Home Inventory *Recipes *Business Contacts *Mailing Lists *Rolodex Cards *Credit Cards *Music Collection *Software Library *Data/Boxes *Notes *Video Library *File Folders *Personnel Records EASY TO LEARN AND USE! Using a Rolodex-like interface makes understanding and navigating in buttonFile intuitive even for novice users. Cards (records) are "stacked" on the screen so you can click on the one you want to see. Or view your records in a familiar spreadsheet-like table. You can browse through the deck a screenful at a time, or click on the handy index buttons to jump to the first card in a group. And buttonFile provides powerful yet understandable searching, so you can locate exactly what you're looking for without query languages or confusing syntax. TOP QUALITY PRINTING! ButtonFile comes with over 100 pre-defined forms for printing on all common labels, cards, envelopes, and paper sizes, including most Avery and Dennison laser and tractor-fed forms. Professional looking output of your data has never been so easily accessible. Address Labels Lists 3x5 Cards Mailing Labels File Folder Tabs Index Cards Shipping Labels Envelopes Rolodex Cards Diskette Labels Index Tabs Name Tags Cassette Labels Post Cards Rosters Video Labels Catalogs And More! A VERSION FOR NETWORKS Ideal for both small or large businesses, the buttonFile Network Version pack lets up to five people access the same data simultaneously--Add, Modify, Search, and Print using shared information. Need more than five people? Just add more "packs". MAIN FEATURE SUMMARY 1. Be up-and-running instantly with over a dozen pre-designed templates to choose from. Or design your own cards using a point-and-click interface. No programming! 2. View your data as stacked cards on the screen or in a spreadsheet-like table. 3. Print on all the common business forms including over 100 pre-defined Avery and Dennison laser and tractor-fed forms: Mailing & shipping labels, Rolodex cards, envelopes, name tags, lists, rosters, catalogs, and more. 4. Easy yet powerful searching using "begins with", "contains", "sounds-like", "greater than", and "less than"--just to name a few. 5. Import & Export your data to a variety of programs and data formats--dBase, PC-File, Windows Cardfile, WordPerfect, and ASCII comma delimited (CSV). 6. Dial phone numbers stored as data or use "quick dialing" (same as your telephone's speed dial feature) to dial your most common phone numbers easily. 7. Sort your data in up to three levels. And re-sort at any time without re-keying data. 8. Protect sensitive data with a password and data encryption. 9. The multiple document interface (MDI) lets you work with multiple data files on the screen at the same time. 10. The handy button bar gives instant access to the most common activities including index buttons that jump immediately to a group of cards for easy browsing. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Maximum fields size: 256 characters Maximum number of fields: 40 Maximum notes field size: 8192 characters Maximum number of notes fields: 1 Data Types: Character Maximum indexes per file: 1 Maximum fields (keys) per index: 3 Recommended record limit: 200,000 (true limit is disk capacity) The files containging buttonFile are BF10A.ZIP BF10B.ZIP BF10C.ZIP BF10D.ZIP BF10E.ZIP You need ALL 5 files to run buttonFile. _______________________________________________________________ > NOVA CARD NEWS! STR InfoFile NOVA SPECS and UPDATE NEWS! """""""""""""""""""""""""""" NOTICE: SPECIAL NOVA CARD UPDATE ======================== Announcement from Lexicor Software Corp. ---------------------------------------- As of Monday 19th July 1993, the Special NOVA Deal offered by Lexicor Software for the NOVA Graphics Card is over. The NOVA Mega and the NOVA VME 16M will now both have the same price of 599.99 U$D. The price for the SUPERNOVA has not changed and will cost: 999.99 U$D The 32K Graphic Card is only available on Special Order and will cost 429 U$D both the Mega and the VME. For these Card's there may be an added handling Price. Shipping cost are excluded from these prices. Technical Specifications ------------------------ NOVA Megabus 16M ---------------- Maximum Frame Rate : 90Mhz Video RAM : 1 Megabyte RAMtype : DRAM Maximum Color's : 16,7 Million Colors (24bit) Maximum Resolution (>70Hz): 1024x768 in 256 Color's Maximum Resolution (15bit): 768x512 Maximum Resolution (24bit): 640x400 Virtual Resolution : YES Automatic REZ Switch : YES Upgradable : YES VDI for 24bit : YES VMG : YES HARDWARE Accelerator : NO NOVA VME 16M ------------ Maximum Frame Rate : 90MHz Video RAM : 1 Megabyte RAMtype : DRAM Maximum Color's : 16,7 Million Colors (24bit) Maximum Resolution (>70Hz): 1088x832 in 256 Color's Maximum Resolution (15bit): 800x600 Maximum Resolution (24bit): 640x480 Virtual Resolution : YES Automatic REZ Switch : YES Upgradable : YES VDI for 24bit : YES VMG : YES HARDWARE Accelerator : NO SUPERNOVA --------- Maximum Frame Rate : 135MHz Video RAM : 2 Megabytes RAMType : VRAM Maximum Color's : 16,7 Million Colors (24bit) Maximum Resolution (>70Hz): 1280x1024 Maximum Resolution (15bit): 1024x768 Maximum Resolution (24bit): 800x600 Virtual Resolution : YES Automatic REZ Switch : YES Upgradeable : YES VDI for 24bit : YES VMG : YES HARDWARE Accelerator : YES For more information check our previous releases on the NOVA Card. The Virtual Resolution are programmable via the VMG. The VDI of the NOVA has proven to be very compatible with our Software and many other Software applications as well. There is also a NOVA Special disk available soon that has some NOVA Specific program's on it, including NOVA Mines, the game, and the special Calamus SL driver that will enable Calamus SL to run in 15/16bit in 15/16bit color mode. Yat Siu Lexicor Software Europe LEXICOR SOFTWARE CORP. 1726 Francisco ST. Berkeley, CA 94703 Phone 510-848-7621 FAX 510-848-7613 _______________________________________________________________ > 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! ____________________________________________________________________ > PROCOMM PLUS 1.02 STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF WINDOWS VERSION OF PROCOMM PLUS! DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES, publisher of PROCOMM PLUS, which is ranked as the world's best-selling communications software program for the IBM PC by the leading computer magazines and distributors, is currently shipping PROCOMM PLUS for Windows version 1.02. According to DATASTORM Vice President of Marketing Stephen Monaco, "PROCOMM PLUS for Windows contains the features most frequently requested in our customer surveys and wish lists," including 34 popular terminal emulations and 10 error-correcting file transfer protocols including Zmodem. Also included is an Action Bar(tm) for easy access to program features; a fully automated dialing directory; Windows ASPECT, an extremely powerful script language; support for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE); File Clipboard; a graphical dialog box editor; keyboard remapping; and a GIF utility for viewing graphics files as you download them. The new Windows program also includes unlimited voice line technical support and easy to understand user and script language reference manuals. PROCOMM PLUS for Windows requires Microsoft Windows 3.0 or higher, a hard disk, and an EGA, VGA or higher video graphics card. PROCOMM PLUS for Windows will also run on the IBM-AT and PS/2 family of computers as well as any compatible capable of running Microsoft Windows 3.0 or higher in standard or enhanced mode. Current users of PROCOMM PLUS (DOS version) may purchase PROCOMM PLUS for Windows for $69 by calling 314.443.3282 and charging to their MasterCard or VISA cards. Corporate site licensees are being offered a special discount on a software license for PROCOMM PLUS for Windows for a fraction of their current PROCOMM PLUS licensing fee. Call the Sales department at 314.443.3282 for additional information on corporate licensing. PROCOMM PLUS for Windows software comes in 3.5" disk format (5.25" available if you prefer) and is available at most software retailers with a limited introductory suggested retail price of $179. DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. TECHNICAL BULLETIN Setting Terminal Window Size and Colors Summary You have installed PROCOMM PLUS for Windows. Now you want to customize your terminal window, setting its size and colors. Here are some specifics to help you make the program look the way you want it to look. Symptoms The Terminal frame (the "window" through which you view data received from another computer), occupies only part of your screen. There is a large border around it you may want to minimize or eliminate. You want to know how to adjust the font size and th e screen colors as well. Solutions Requirements It's possible to do these procedures with PROCOMM PLUS "windowed," but be aware that, although you may change the size of the program's window, the actual Terminal frame will not change. The procedures that follow assume you have maximized PROCOMM PLUS for Windows, opening it to full screen mode. To do so, click on the up arrow in the upper right hand corner of the program. Two methods There are two principle methods to size the Terminal frame. You may adjust it by changing the size of the characters being received, or you may fix the character size and adjust the Terminal frame independently. Which method you use is a matter of preference, since the outcome is similar. You will actually size your Terminal frame by setting options under the Terminal Settings menu. Note that these settings are specific for each terminal type in the program. Make sure you select the terminal emulation you want to adjust before making the following changes. Enabling/disabling Autosizing 1. Click on the Setup icon from the program's Action bar. 2. From the Setup menu, double-click on the "User settings" option. 3. At the next menu, under "Autosize", click a radio button beside either "Window based on font", "Font based on window" or "No autosize". 4. Click on OK in the User settings menu. 5. From the Setup menu bar, click on "File" then "Exit and save". Choose from the following procedures based on the selection you made in the "Autosize" window. Sizing the Terminal window, Autosizing on ("Window based on font") 1. Click on the Setup icon from the program's Action bar. 2. From the Setup menu, double-click on "Terminal:" with your terminal choice selected. 3. Click on "Font select" in the Terminal Settings menu. 4. Click one of the font sizes to select it. 5. Click on OK in the Font select menu. 6. Click on OK in the Terminal settings menu. 7. From the Setup menu bar, click on "File" then "Exit and save". Sizing the Terminal window, Autosizing on ("Font based on window") 1. Click on the Setup icon from the program's Action bar. 2. From the Setup menu, double-click on "Terminal:" with your terminal choice selected. 3. In the "Terminal Size" box, click on the arrow next to the "Rows" select box, and select the number of rows you want to display by clicking one of the row numbers. 4. In the same box, click on the arrow next to the "Columns" select box, and select the number of columns you want to display by clicking one of the column numbers. 5. Click on OK in the Terminal settings menu. 6. From the Setup menu bar, click on "File" then "Exit and save". Sizing the Terminal window, Autosizing off 1. Click on the Setup icon from the program's Action bar. 2. From the Setup menu, double-click on "Terminal:" with your terminal choice selected. 3. In the "Terminal Size" box, click on the arrow next to the "Rows" select box, and select the number of rows you want to display by clicking one of the row numbers. 4. In the same box, click on the arrow next to the "Columns" select box, and select the number of columns you want to display by clicking one of the column numbers. 5. Click on OK in the Terminal settings menu. 6. From the Setup menu bar, click on "File" then "Exit and save". Removing the Display frame You can gain some additional room for the Terminal frame by removing the Display frame around it. 1. At the menu bar across the top of PROCOMM PLUS for Windows, click on "Window". 2. From the drop list, click on "Custom colors". 3. In the following window, click the arrow button by "Screen element". 4. From the list that follows, click on "Terminal workspace". 5. In the next menu, click to uncheck the "Display terminal frame" option. 6. Click on OK to exit the Window menu. Removing the Action bar and Metakey buttons Finally, you can gain yet more space for the Terminal frame by removing either or both the Action bar at the top of the Terminal frame, and the Metakey bar at the bottom. To set them off by default, 1. Click on the Setup icon from the Action bar to open the Setup menu list. 2. Click on System settings from the list. 3. Under "Display at Startup", click to uncheck the "Action Bar" and "Meta Keys" options. 4. Click on OK to exit the System settings menu. 5. From the Setup menu bar, click on "File" then "Exit and save". To open the Setup menu without the Action bar, simply press ALT-S from Terminal mode. Change Terminal Colors PROCOMM PLUS for Windows allows you to define how an emulation displays character attributes. For example, a blinking character can be displayed truly blinking, or it can be displayed in a specific color; similarly, a bold character can be displayed in a bold font, or in a specific color. Emulations that allow the host to define the color of the screen, such as ANSI-BBS, do not allow the selection of colors for attributes. You may define the Normal Attribute for these emulations, which will be used as the "default attribute," before any other attributes are defined by the host. For example, the Normal Attribute is used when you clear the screen. To change the colors for a specific terminal emulation, 1. Open the Setup Window, click on the Terminal button and choose a terminal. 2. Double-click on the Terminal button to open the Terminal Settings dialog. 3. Click on the Color Select button. PROCOMM PLUS for Windows displays two selection dialogs. In the left dialog, the attributes for the current color combination are displayed, while in the Color Selector Window you'll see all the allowable color combinations under the current video driver. 4. Select the attributes to modify from the left dialog -- then choose the colors for those attributes from the right dialog. 5. Click on OK to exit the Terminal Settings dialog. 6. From the Setup menu bar, click on "File" then "Exit and save". Datastorm Technologies, Inc. Tech Support: 314.875.0530 P.O. Box 1741 Fax: 314.875.0595 Columbia, MO 65205 BBS: 314.875.0503 Copyright 1993 by DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Author: Mike Robertson/DATASTORM Forum Primary Sysop [76702,1130] """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" :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 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" | Welcome to the GEnie - MUG RT | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | The GEnie - Macintosh Users Group RoundTable | ============================================ ._____________________________________________________________________. |========================= Tonight in the RTC=========================| |"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""| | SUNDAY NIGHT FIGHTS!! x THE GEnie-MUG HELP DESK!! | | x | | The weekly GEnie Mac Users x Having problems with your Mac? | | Group gathering. Please, come x Stop by the Macintosh Help Desk | | fully prepared! Anything goes! x for the answers! | | x | | 9pm EDT -- ROOM 3 (605;2) x 10:30pm-12am EDT - ROOM 1 (605;2) | !_____________________________________________________________________! ._______________________________..____________________________________. |========= Hosted by... ============== Top 10 Downloads - 07/93 ======| |"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""||""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""| | Kent Fillmore ......... DRACO || 29484 TIDBITS#186/26-JUL-93 | | Erik C. Thauvin .... MACSPECT || 29452 CARD SHELL.SIT | | David W. Reid (Unk) DAVE.REID || 29445 THE ARCADE GAME.SIT | | Eric Mueller ... (DLAND.ERIC) || 29416 TIDBITS#185/19-JUL-93 | | -- SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS -- || 29476 GUARDIAN M1.SIT | | Education ..(Rob) R.WHITELOCK || 29465 STUFFIT EXPANDER 3.0.3 | | Hardware ... (Nick) N.PASSINO || 29419 DATAMAN.2.0.2.CPT | | Games ...... (Bart) MAC.GAMES || 29437 HANDWRITING PS.SIT | | Telecommunity .. (Kent) DRACO || 29431 TRIST | | PowerBooks (Doc) D.E.JOHNSTON || 29478 MAC SE - FOR SALE | | ------SOFTWARE LIBRARY------- || __________________________________ | | Chief Librarian . RANDY.SIMON || For COMPLETE information & TIPS on | | Asst Librarian........ S.MACK || dnloading be sure to read: item #4 | | Asst Librarian..... ANNE-INDA || on page 605 "About The RoundTable" | !_______________________________!!____________________________________! ._______________________________..____________________________________. |==== Weekly RTC Schedule ====||==[]======= Help Desk Schedule =======| |"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""||""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""| | (All Times Eastern) || (All Times EDT) | | || | | Education Mac Mon:9:45pm Rm 3 || Rm 1 Mon-Fri 9:00pm-12:00am | | Hackers' I M480;2 10:30pm Rm 1|| Rm 1 Sunday 10:30pm-12:00am | | PowerBooks Tue 9:45pm Rm 2 || __________________________________ | | HyperTalk M480;2 10:30pm Rm 1 || To enter the GE-MUG RTC, type | | Telecom Wed. 9:45pm Rm 2 || MOVE 605;2 and choose room #1 | | Mac Games Wed. 10:30pm Rm 3 |!____________________________________! | Mac Hardware Thr. 9:45pm Rm 2 |.____________________________________. | Hackers'II M480;2 10:30pm Rm 1||======== Online Servant RTC ========| | Sunday Nite Fights 9:00pm Rm 3||""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""| | || Every 2nd Sunday of the month, | | Type M605;2 to enter the RTC || in the MacPro RTC, page 480;2 | !_______________________________!!____________________________________! _________________________________________________________________ |=[]============== GE-MUG RoundTable Announcement ================| |^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| | Apple has just released some new 'goodies' which are currently | | available in GE-MUG Software Library, page 605;3 -- Lib #16. | | The file numbers are: | | | | 29710 SOFTWARE UTILS UPDT 1.0 | | which include MacCheck 1.0.4 and Disk First Aid 7.2 | | | | 29714 LW 8.0 INSTALL-1.4MB.SIT | | which include the LaserWriter 8.0 printer driver | | 29715 LW 8.0 DISK 1(800K).SIT } 800K disk version of | | 29716 LW 8.0 DISK 2(800K).SIT } file #29714 | !_________________________________________________________________! > MACNEWS! """""""" STReport in its ongoing efforts, is now beginning a new era in computer coverage. In this area, will appear our new, APPLE/MAC coverage. We are seeking an individual who would enjoy the long hours of thankless toil, loss of sleep, blood, sweat and tears. We are seeking an editor for the MAC area in STReport. One who is willing to carry on the time-proven tradition of Saying it like it is. To keep the users in the forefront of consideration at all times and most of all, must have a very thick skin. Oh and last but not least... have a strong desire to help. Call; 904-783- 3319 anytime and leave your info. We will return your call. Sig Ops, RT Sysops, and all other sysops, if you know of such an individual please inform them of this "wonderful opportunity". Editor.... ________________________________________________________ > QUICKTUTORS! STR InfoFile """"""""""""""""""""""""" WORDPERFECT PRESENTATIONS INCORPORATES QUICKTUTORS FROM USABILITY SCIENCES CORPORATION On-Line Tutorials Take "Tell and Show" Approach in Helping Users OREM, Utah WordPerfect Corporation announced the licensing of QuickTutors for use in WordPerfect Presentations 2.0 for Windows. An advanced help technology designed and developed by Usability Sciences Corporation, QuickTutors are on-line tutorials that demonstrate how to perform common tasks. "QuickTutors will not only tell our users how to perform specific tasks, but will show them how to perform those tasks," said Richard Whitehead, product marketing manager, WordPerfect Presentations. "The information presented in these visual tutorials will be easier for users to assimilate and remember." "QuickTutors were developed as a result of our extensive experience in usability testing. They provide help the way users want help without requiring a significant time commitment," said Jeff Schueler, president of Usability Sciences Corporation. "Usability support products such as QuickTutors are becoming an increasingly important part of PC software as companies strive for usability enhancements as well as a lower cost of support." QuickTutors are easily accessed from the Help pull-down menu in WordPerfect Presentations 2.0 for Windows. Users simply click on "QuickTutors...," select a QuickTutor from the dialog box, and are presented with a description of what they are about to learn. They press the spacebar or click on a button in the InfoBox and the QuickTutor describes the action about to take place. Every action necessary to perform the task is demonstrated and explained at the users' own pace, and at the conclusion of the QuickTutor a QuickCard appears giving them the opportunity to work through the steps and accomplish the task in their own work. QuickCards are also accessible for times when a user just needs a quick reference card as a reminder on how to perform a task. The QuickCard provides a list of steps that stays on the screen while the user performs the task outlined on the card. For more information on WordPerfect Presentations for Windows, customers can call WordPerfect Corporation at (801) 225-5000. For more information on QuickTutors, customers can call Usability Sciences Corporation at (214) 550-1599. _________________________________________________________________ > STReport CONFIDENTIAL "Rumors Tidbits Predictions Observations Tips" """"""""""""""""""""" - Newark, NJ NE DEVELOPER BESIEGED BY DEPOSITIONS & POSSIBLE LAWSUITS ---------- Reports are rapidly filtering in about a NE developer of custom hardware accelerator cards having more to do with lawyers than he cares to. Seems there is a group in the NW USA in hot pursuit of this developer to the tune of $25,500 plus interest. The group claims the developer received the funds for a specific job to be done under contract. The group claims nothing was ever done in relation to the contracted project the money was paid for. Further it was rumored, the money had been spent on unrelated projects. In a another matter, during a recent deposition, taking place in Springfield, N.J., a signed contract was produced by the defendant's attorney while the developer (witness for plaintiff) was busy stating "there was no signed contract". Additionally, it was indicated there were another thirty one irregularities discovered in the developer's "sworn" deposition. Further in another, totally different and separate action, it appears a group of users have banded together in hopes of bringing suit to recover funds deposited with this very same developer for product the users claim they've waited over a year for. Allegedly, there are well over one hundred users who have come forward and claimed they are involved at approximately three hundred dollars each. Reportedly, this action is reaching all the way into Canada, thus becoming international in its scope. (FYI-Reprint) _______________________________________________________ > STR Mail Call "...a place for the readers to be heard" """"""""""""" STReport's MailBag """""""""""""""""" Messages * NOT EDITED * for content ----------------------------------- Lexicor's Lee Seiler makes some exciting announcements about NEW Lexicor product. #: 42205 S11/LEXICOR Software 03-Sep-93 02:21:31 Sb: Prism Paint II is here! Fm: LEXICOR Software 75300,763 To: LEXICOR Software 75300,763 Hi all, As is my habit from time to time I like to make some-what informal announcements. comments and what-evers. This is one of thoses times...... Lexicor is ready to begin the release of its Fall line of software and hardware for the Atari user. First: RAY START. This is a wounderful full function Ray-tracer which loads 3D2 files and produces its own object files. Ray Start is very fast as Ray Tracers go and produces a number of different kind of rendered file formats. out put can be used as stock for animations in Prism Paint II. Yes! Prism Paint II is here, an ol'e friend with many new tricks. P-II supports the .ANM-Link, builds and previews 24bit animations and supports color printer output. Also, it runs on just about every thing in every resolution. Its fully compatable with the NOVA. Rick!.... It also supports the Crazy Dot!.... and For those owners of the "HIGH END" Cyrell grafix card, a special version is available for just $225! All other P-II versions suggested retail is $189.00 Up date info available Sept 15th. 93' Lets see what else? Lexicor is offering 2nd WORD, a great DTP application for all systems that support mono chrome. Special release offer.. Trade in any copy of Calamuss and pay just $59. More details on this great DTP RSN. Blow-UP; "a-must-buy" product anounces ST magazine in a recent issue. This application comes in three forms. Software and two hardware versions. Software version $49. So what does Blow-up do? It increases the resolution on the Falcon (a Falcon specific product), from 1 to 800%, how about 1280X960 in 16 colors? Sounds neat to me.. if you own a Falcon I am told you can run Calmus in a high res-16 colors or so the manufacturer tells us. Also the 15/16 bit calmus drivers for NOVA will be ready for release on the 15th. The .ANM-LINK and Phoenix patch will be ready once we get done teasing you with all the current demo's... :-) Top top off the list Lexicor will be distributing a full line of AVer-Key line of products, with such things as Gen-locks, AVer-Key/2 with Audio track.....eg.....viseo and sound. In addition, there are image captures and other neat stuff to be coming this month. There is more.. watch this area for our formal announcements in the next few days.. updated Nova drivers, new tools, players, and maybe even a few more DTP applications. Have a great three day week-end..... Lee@Lexicor """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > A "Quotable Quote" "Seeing the TREES AND the Forest!" """"""""""""""""" "WHO HAS THE MOST TO GAIN AS A RESULT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO LEXICOR?" ... The Old, Lamplighter """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > 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" September 03, 1993 Since 1987 copyright (c) 1987-93 All Rights Reserved No.9.36 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" All Items quoted, in whole or in part, are done so under the Fair Use Provision of The Copyright Laws of the U.S.A. Penal Code. Views, Opinions and Editorial Articles presented herein are not necessarily those of the editors/staff of STReport International Online Magazine. Permission to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Reprints must, without exception, include the name of the publication, date, issue number and the author's name. STR, 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 in any way for the use or misuse of information contained herein or the results obtained therefrom. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""