SILICON TIMES REPORT ==================== INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ============================= from STR Electronic Publishing Inc. December 17, 1993 No. 9.51 ====================================================================== 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 ~ ITCNet 85:881/253 ~ FNET 350 ~ Nest 90:21/350 904-786-4176 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. 690 : PASTE BBS....................1-206-284-8493 FNET. 489 : Steal Your Face BBS..........1-908-920-7981 MNET - Toad Hall BBS.....................1-617-567-8642 ______________________________________________________________________ > 12/17/93 STR 951 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!" """""""""""""""" - CPU INDUSTRY REPORT - ThinkPad 500 Ships - Jaguars Everywhere! - CD ROM Pirates! - TRY DOOM! ITS SUPER! - People Talking - Sharp Sells SUN WS - FOXPRO 2.5 SHIPS - HYPERCARD 2.2 NOW! - Kiddie Porn BBS Nailed - MacBinary Header? - The Old Fishin' Hole! -* North Carolina Christmas Grinch! *- -* APPLE SLIPS AS TOP SELLER! *- -* US School Computers -> TOO OLD! *- ====================================================================== STReport International Online Magazine The Original * Independent * Online Magazine -* FEATURING WEEKLY *- "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information" Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports ====================================================================== STReport's BBS - The Bounty BBS, invites all BBS systems, worldwide, to participate in the Fido/PROWL/ITC/USENET/NEST/F-Net Mail Networks. You may also call The Bounty BBS direct @ 904-786-4176. Enjoy the wonder and excitement of exchanging all types of useful 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 computer platforms BBS systems are welcome and invited to participate. ====================================================================== CIS ~ AOL ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ 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; STREPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine" NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY! CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198 You will receive your complimentary time and be online in no time at all! "Enjoy CompuServe's forums; where information is at its very best! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""" If you haven't already downloaded a demo/freebie called DOOM... Don't hesitate, wait or even think of any further procrastination. This is a superb piece of programming. There are a number of levels available for this outstanding game/RPG, you get one level with it and plenty of docs too! You can register the program with the publishers, you then get more levels and other goodies. I must admit that I am super impressed with the smoothness of animation, the color implementation and the SOUND. The sound is guaranteed to blow you away all by itself. Like I said this is one superb piece of work. Get it.. play with it.. and by all means, if you like it anywhere near as much as I do... REGISTER DOOM. This is one hot piece of entertainment software. Speaking of software, next week STReport will publish its annual "top release" of software in the commercial and shareware/freebie categories. The fields are quite impressive and so far, the contenders deserve every bit of recognition they can garner for their efforts. The STR Awards, a framed wall device will be awarded next week and sent out immediately after the holidays. With the holiday season upon us, its really incumbent upon all of us to remember to keep the holidays safe and sound... PLEASE, don't drink and drive. This past week, a story about a young man from North Carolina was brought to my attention, while I don't ordinarily get involved in human interest stories, this one, to me, was unavoidable. His name is Bobby Turner, he lives in Lincolnton, North Carolina. He was an athletic young man a very short while ago. Now, he's diagnosed as suffering with Leukemia, all his young life his fervent wish was to have a camper so he and his family could go to various events and enjoy their time together. Make a Wish, an organization well known for granting wishes to young people afflicted with Cancer was informed of Bobby's plight and his wish... a camper/trailer soon appeared in front of Bobby's house. Donated by Kim Rittenhaur of "Make a Wish" out of Greensboro North Carolina. In steps the ...SUPER GRINCH! Picture if you please a smiling young man with his eyes on the sinister creep with the long black coat and hard brim black hat coming to take what vestiges of happiness Bobby and his family have left. After all, happiness is hard to come by when one is facing the severe effects of Cancer. The SUPER GRINCH... the North Carolina Department of Human Resources appeared on the scene represented by Andy Pittman of the Lincoln County office. Get this now... Pittman tells Bobby and his family the camper has GOT TO GO else.... the Medicare coverage for Bobby's care will be terminated. Folks, I respectfully submit this type of government is not wanted anywhere not in North Carolina, the United States, the World or the Universe for that matter! You know there is something wrong when a tidy, shiny nosed, bureaucrat in a three piece suit, driving a state owned car can jump up like this and simply dictate such cold harshness that absolutely makes no sense at all. All I ask is that all of you take a moment to drop a letter to the Governor of North Carolina and ask his intercession in this heartless, cold decision by Mr. Andy Pittman. (Whom I am sure will STILL enjoy HIS Christmas while Bobby, dying from Cancer, and his family, watching their child fade away due to the ravages of Cancer, spend this year's Christmas feeling very much alone and clobbered by not only fate but by the dictates of the State of North Carolina in the name of the "people". I don't think the people of North Carolina are so cold hearted, nor do I feel the people of this great nation are... Send the Governor a TON of mail on this one.... NC Dept of Human Resources and its representatives should be ashamed of themselves. Human Resources??? Try ...Human Oppressors! Thank you for listening to my outburst, when I was first told of this.. I was upset. I still am. Please help me to help Bobby have a little happiness while he tries to fight off Cancer. Ralph.... """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU! """""""""""""""" Publisher -Editor """""""""""""""""" Ralph F. Mariano Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor, Current Affairs Section Editors """"""""""""""" PC SECTION AMIGA SECTION MAC SECTION ATARI SECTION ---------- ------------- ----------- ------------- R.D. Stevens R. Glover R. Noak D. P. Jacobson 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 Randy Noak Jeff Coe Contributing Correspondents: """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Tim Holt Norman Boucher Harry Steele Clemens Chin Neil Bradley Eric Jerue Ron Deal Robert Dean Ed Westhusing James Nolan Vernon W. Smith Bruno Puglia Frank Sereno John Duckworth IMPORTANT NOTICE """""""""""""""" Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: Compuserve................... 70007,4454 America Online..................STReport Delphi......................... RMARIANO BIX............................ RMARIANO FIDONET........................ 1:112/35 FNET........................... NODE 350 ITC NET...................... 85:881/253 NEST........................ 90:21/350.0 GEnie......................... ST-REPORT """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > CPU STATUS REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS """"""""""""""""" IBM/POWER-PC/PC SECTION (I) =========================== Computer Products Update - CPU Report ------------------------ ---------- Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Issue #51 by Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. ******* General Computer News ******* ** Trial Edition of Quicken for DOS now Available ** Intuit Inc. this week announced a new Trial Edition of Quicken for DOS, Windows and the Macintosh. The finance software publisher says the Trial Edition lets people test drive Quicken. Intuit notes that it developed the Trial Edition for the 8.5 million PC-owning households that don't currently use personal finance software. The Quicken Trial Edition contains all the functionality of the lat- est versions of Quicken, but limits users to setting up eight accounts and to entering 50 transactions per account, providing about a month's use of the software. Users can continue to run reports and graphs even after they've reached the 50- transactions per account limit. The Trial Edition also includes a Getting Started guide providing an overview of Quicken's features. The Trial Edition is available for $8 directly from Intuit by calling 800-624-5071. A rebate coupon good toward the product's full $69.95 purchase price is included. ** IBM Tries Again with ThinkPad 500 ** IBM has resumed shipments of its ThinkPad 500 subnotebook computer, a system it pulled from the market last month because of a battery prob- lem. Sources say the IBM PC Co. will install and test the new battery free to owners of the unit, which went on sale in July. If you are a ThinkPad 500 owner and need information, call IBM at 800/426-7244. ** U.S. Chipmakers Outdo Japanese ** According to Dataquest, a market research firm, for the first time in eight years, U.S. semiconductor makers this year retook the lead in chip production. The Dataquest report says American companies controlled 41.9 percent of the world semiconductor market in 1993, compared with 41.4% for Japanese makers. Dataquest says that Intel Corp. was the world's largest chipmaker for the second year, stretching its world market share to 9.6%, 2.2 points ahead of Japan's NEC Corp. Motorola Inc. moved ahead of Japan's Toshiba Corp. to become the world's third-largest chip company. ** Apple No Longer in First Place ** The research firm, International Data Corp., sees IBM reclaiming from Apple Computer the title as top seller in the U.S. for the year. IBM is expected to edge out Apple Computer Inc. by 25,000 units in the U.S., which represents 40% of world market. IDC says the 10 largest firms account for 9.5 million of the 14.8 mi- llion PCs sold in the U.S., or about 64% of the market, compared to 52% a year ago. "That is a big, big change," Richard Zwetchkenbaum, chief of PC market research at IDC said. "A brand name has become important for a number of reasons. These vendors have more marketing muscle, more R&D capability, the ability to have multiple brands and an array of dis- tribution channels." IDC's projection of 14.8 million units shipped in the United States represents a 26% increase from 11.8 million units in 1992. The research firm projects worldwide shipments of 36.1 million units, up 19% from 30.4 million in 1992. -:- IBM's U.S. sales rose 51% to 2.08 million units from 1.37 million in 1992. Worldwide sales climbed 37% to 4.4 million units from 3.2 million a year ago. -:- Apple showed 32% growth in the United States, with 2.05 million units compared to 1.55 million a year ago. Its worldwide sales were 3.6 million, up 30% from 2.8 million in 1992. -:- Compaq posted the year's biggest growth, more than doubling U.S. sales to 1.4 million units from nearly 676,000 in 1992. Worldwide sales were up 96% to 3.05 million units from 1.56 million a year ago. Packard Bell remained No. 4, followed by Dell Computer Corp., Gateway 2000 Inc., AST Research Inc., Tandy Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Zenith Data Systems Inc., which rose to No. 10 from No. 16. Compudyne Computer Corp. fell out of IDC's top 10 in U.S. sales. ** Sharp to Sell Sun Workstations ** Starting next year, Japan's Sharp Corp. will sell workstations made by Sun Microsystems Inc. Sharp also plans to start development of its own workstations and server models by acquiring Sun's processors and operating systems. ** Compaq Quits Printer Business ** Compaq Computer Corp. this week announced that it's leaving the prin- ter business. The company will continue to offer its existing Pagemarq product line during early 1994, but is discontinuing its printer devel- opment immediately. It will also continue to offer its printer customers full support ** Piracy of CD-Roms Alleged ** A federal grand jury has indicted a woman for allegedly importing more than 900 counterfeit CD-ROMs from Hong Kong with the intent to sell them in the United States. An indictment for software piracy had been handed down against Clare Waioi Sham, 29, and her company, C-88 Interna- tional Corp. Sham is alleged to have imported more than $200,000 worth of the co- unterfeit computer parts along with manuals. If convicted, Sham could be sentenced to 20 years in jail and a $1.75 million fine. ** Thieves Steal Computer Chips ** A band of armed robbers yesterday handcuffed employees at an Irvine, Calif., computer chip business and escaped with an estimated $200,000 worth of property. Five to six men armed with handguns handcuffed the employees and taped their eyes, mouths and legs while they removed property from the business, said Police Lt. Vic Thies. ** Magazine Editor Convicted of Mail Fraud ** The editor/publisher of defunct computer magazine Desktop Publishing Journal has been convicted of mail fraud following an investigation of an alleged computer scam. Set for sentencing March 18, Linda Ann Laurie, 37 -- who used the name Linda Hansen when she operated the magazine that folded in 1988 -- faces up to five years' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. A statement from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Seattle al- leges from September 1988 through November 1989, after the magazine ceased publication, Laurie mailed numerous letters from her home in Snohomish, Wash., to computer hardware and software companies throughout the United States, "claiming that the Desktop Publishing Journal had a monthly circulation of as many as 80,000 and requesting that certain computer-related items be loaned to her for an evaluation to be reported in an upcoming issue of her publication." The statement says that the indictment handed down against her last May further charged she received equipment worth about $75,000 and attempted to get additional items worth over $95,000. ** Video Games Might Not be a Link to Epilepsy ** A study commissioned by the British government says video games are no more likely to trigger epileptic seizures than TV. The U.K.'s National Epilepsy Society study was commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry last May after reports of several cases of epilepsy among young video game players. The report says: -:- About 30,000 people in Britain have a first epileptic seizure every year. -:- Of these, about 600 are susceptible to seizure triggered by TV, video games, computer graphics and other flashing light sources, meaning they are photosensitive epileptics. -:- Up to 150 people a year may have their first seizure triggered by playing a video game, but the report estimates that TV will touch off about the same number. The report found no evidence that photosensitivity itself can be caused by playing video games, watching TV or by other light sources. ** Study Says U.S. School Computers Outdated ** While America has boasted of the extent to which computers have come to its school classrooms, a new study says the technology often is outdated and that teachers lack adequate training. "Teachers are not afforded the time they need to become conversant in computer technology or to plan lessons which integrate technology into classroom activities," concludes "Computers in American Schools," a study by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, a cooperative of research centers in more than 40 countries that study educational practices. The research, paid for by the National Science Foundation, compared computer use in schools in the U.S., Germany, Japan, Austria and the Netherlands. The study fewer than half the schools surveyed have introductory com- puter courses for teachers either in their schools or at local colleges. By comparison, in the other countries, two-thirds to 95 percent of the schools said training is available. Japan, Austria and the Netherlands all had a higher percentage of up- to-date school computers than the United States, the study found. ** BBS-Delivered Death Threats Gets Houston Teen Jail Sentence ** A death threat made on a computer bulletin board system has meant a 30-day jail term for a Houston teenager who already was on probation for allegedly trying to hire the killing of a romantic rival. Eighteen-year-old Shawn Kevin Quinn also was ordered by State District Judge Denis Collins to spend three months in the county's boot camp for young offenders after finishing his jail sentence. "On Sept. 7, Quinn was using the Spitfire computer bulletin board and found himself discussing his probation with a man who called Quinn a whiny complainer who probably belonged in jail." Quinn responded, "I deserve freedom, criminal conviction or not ... Even if I was in jail, and I read your stupid, rude message, I would probably think about getting a gun or other lethal weapon, Brady bill or not, and you can guess the rest. The moment I escaped or got paroled, guess what I'd do? And you don't need a gun to kill someone, though it certainly makes things a bit easier." Quinn was placed on probation Aug. 12 "after pleading no-contest to charges stemming from him giving seven Atari computer games and $5.30 to a district attorney's investigator in January to assassinate a fellow student at Alief Elsik High School." ** Two Accused of Stealing Systems ** Charges of stealing desktop computers containing the records of 7,000 people who receive AIDS-related services have been lodged against two hospital security guards in Miami. The two insisted they did not know what was on the computers taken from the South Florida AIDS Network at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Some activists fear the confidential informa- tion could be used against the named patients. ** Massachusetts Child Porn BBS Busted ** A Massachusetts man has been indicted by the federal government for operating a computer bulletin board system from his Medford home that offered explicit child pornography images to anyone who logged on. Reports say that Alden L. Baker, 44, distributed child pornography from his home computer BBS during the late 1980s and early 1990s to users all over the United States and as far away as New Zealand. Baker called his BBS Boston's Eagle's Nest. Federal prosecutors said Baker's computer files contained numerous graphic images "which involve the use of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct." The government also accused him of employing or coercing a minor to perform sexually explicit acts to be distributed via computer. U.S. Attorney Donald K. Stern said this indictment "emphasizes that we will vigorously prosecute any sexual exploitation of children. The use of computerized bulletin board systems which distribute pornographic images to members throughout the country are particularly deserving of our vigorous prosecution." UPI notes that if convicted, Baker would face a maximum of 10 years in prison on each count and a fine of up to $100,000. ******* General PC News ******* ** Microsoft Introduces New Windows Releases to Developers ** At its Professional Developers' Conference in Anaheim, Calif., this week, Microsoft Corp. is providing in-depth technical information to 5,000 developers to prepare them for the next major release of the Microsoft Windows operating system -- code-named Windows "Chicago." At the same time, a pre- release version of Windows "Chicago" for developers is being released to attendees. Technical presentations at the conference explain how the same applications programming interface (API), Win32, can be used to develop a new generation of 32-bit applications that can run across the entire Windows platform -- on the Windows 3.1, Windows "Chicago," Windows for Workgroups and Windows NT operating systems, as well as the next major release of Windows NT, code-named Windows NT "Cairo" -- and also can optionally exploit new functions in each. In addition to presentation materials, each developer is receiving two CD-ROMs: the new developer release of Windows "Chicago," including the latest 32-bit development tools for Windows "Chicago" and Win32, and a pre-release implementation of the next version of OLE that provides distributed object support for 32-bit Windows platforms. Microsoft notes that more than 250 32-bit applications for Windows are now available, with several hundred more expected to ship by spring of 1994. Windows NT began shipping in July of 1993, Windows "Chicago" is scheduled to ship in the second half of 1994 and Windows NT "Cairo" is scheduled to ship in the first half of 1995. ** COMMON GROUND For Windows Ships ** No Hands Software says it will begin shipping the Windows version of its Common Ground electronic document distribution software this week. The software publisher says the product is the first commercially available, cross- platform competitor to Adobe Acrobat. Common Ground 1.0 for Windows retains all of the major features of the Macintosh version, including a free, compact MiniViewer and pixel- for-pixel fidelity to the original document. Common Ground 1.0 for Windows also offers full Postscript support, JPEG compression and the ability to save documents into popular word processor formats. Common Ground also acts as an OLE 2.0 server, providing seamless integration into other applications, including electronic mail and databases. "Common Ground users can send documents with confidence they can be viewed and printed, because Common Ground lets them include a small, free MiniViewer, which runs on a minimal system configuration," says Tony Stayner, vice president of marketing at No Hands Software. The Windows and Macintosh versions of Common Ground each have an introductory price of $99.95. ** Dell Offers New Systems ** A second group of Pentium processor-based personal computers has been introduced by Dell Computer Corp. Called the Dell OmniPlex 560 and 566, they start at $3,499 for the 60Mhz and $3,999 for the 66Mhz model. The OmniPlex systems are based on Intel Corp.'s Peripheral Component Interconnect architecture and extended Industry standard architecture, featuring the highest level of Intel-based computing power now available. ******* General Mac News ******* ** Newton's Sales Slow Down ** Sources say that Apple Computer Inc.'s Newton message pad's sales have slowed considerably since they peaked in October. The hand-held communicator, the first of its kind, was introduced in August. Specula- tion is that sales could increase as more software and features become available. ** FoxPro 2.5 for Mac is Here! ** Microsoft Releases to Manufacturing the New FoxPro 2.5 Relational Database Management System for Macintosh Microsoft FoxPro Defines New Standard for Performance and Power; Offered at Special Introductory Price of $99 Microsoft Corporation announced this week that the Microsoft FoxPro database management system version 2.5 for Macintosh has been released to manufacturing, with commercial availability in January 1994. Designed to empower developers and users alike, FoxPro provides unsurpassed speed, full cross-platform capabilities and extensive support for Macintosh System 7 technologies. Through June 1994, FoxPro for Macintosh will be available at a special introductory price of $99. ________________________________________________________ > THE INVOICE STORE STR Review """""""""""""""""""""""""""" THE INVOICE STORE ================= Simplifies Small Business Accounting ------------------------------------ An Ed Cambron Shareware Review I'm a writer. I'm also an engineer and a computer nut, but not a programmer. Nor am I a business or accounting wizard. Although I have a reputation for being "good with numbers," my numerical competence fades like last summer's daisies when those numbers have dollar signs attached to them. Just mention words like "account" and "billing" and my tongue turns green and I get an irresistible urge for a long nap. That's why, when it dawned on me that as the operator of an independent business I would someday have to deal with the mysteries of accounting enough to know whether I was making money, and enough to prove my honesty to Uncle Sam, I began to question whether I really wanted to work as a freelance writer or a freelance anything else. And that's why, when I began working with THE INVOICE STORE I regained a healthy interest in making my dreams come true. THE INVOICE STORE is an excellent small business accounting package that automates most of the invoicing and accounts receivable parts of business operation. By taking the manual effort out of these functions, THE INVOICE STORE sets the small business owner free to do the thing that gives his or her business its reason to be, whether that happens to be building computers or selling tires. THE INVOICE STORE performs a broad range of computational and database management functions which lead to the generation of invoices and the tracking of accounts receivable. In order to do these things, THE INVOICE STORE creates databases to track customers, inventory, salespersons, and vendors. Each of these databases would be, in and of itself, worth having, even if it were not for the fact that they all have to do with the production of invoices. THE INVOICE STORE consists of four modules. The modules are: Maintenance System Invoicing System Receivables System Reporting System The basic data that establishes the operational environment for THE INVOICE STORE resides in the Maintenance System. The Maintenance System contains databases that define the business itself, its customers, its inventory, its sales personnel, and its vendors or suppliers. It is here that the database editing, maintenance, and management functions are found. There is also an appointment calendar and to do list. Since the customer database is in this module, there is a handy telephone dialer that invokes a modem (if installed)to dial the telephone number of the customer whose database entry is on screen. A word processor included in the Maintenance System may be used to prepare and manage letters to customers and vendors. Nice touch! The Invoicing System is where most of the action takes place in THE INVOICE STORE. It is here that customer invoices are entered online. Since the Invoicing System is linked to the databases in the Maintenance System, many of the fields that comprise the invoices are populated automatically. Customer and product codes are entered on the invoice form either directly or by means of pick lists. Using the inventory database, the Invoicing System queries the user when an attempt is made to oversell an item. The user is then given an opportunity to either adjust the quantity sold to fit within available inventory, or to update the inventory to reflect the quantity sold, in case newly received items have not yet been entered in the database. Past invoices may be recalled for editing, printing, or voiding if so desired. During the editing process invoices may be added to a batch to be printed later. The Print Batch feature also permits the printing of mailing labels and packing lists. The Invoicing System allows for the viewing of open invoices and the printing of customer statements for overdue accounts. The Receivables System is where income is entered into the program. There is only one screen in this module, which is used to recall an invoice and record payments. Again, the invoice may be selected from a pick list, and when this is done most of the fields on this screen are populated automatically. The Receivables System is also capable of voiding a payment in the event that it needs to be removed from the records for any reason. The Report System possesses the capability to generate a wide variety of reports to help the business owner evaluate the status of the business. In addition to their functional diversity these reports may be run for various time periods ranging from end-of-day to end-of year. A user selectable range option is provided to cover other time periods if so desired. The Reports System also provides for the creation of customized reports and mailing labels. In addition to the four modules, there are four hotkeys that provide access to online help, a pop-up calculator, a pop-up calendar, and a pop-up measurement conversion utility. All of these utilities are available from any screen within any module of THE INVOICE STORE. Installing both the shareware and registered versions of THE INVOICE STORE is simple and straightforward. The shareware version is installed by simply extracting the files comprising the archive into the desired directory, while the registered version includes an installation program. For THE INVOICE STORE to run it will be necessary to update the CONFIG.SYS file to include the statement FILES=75 unless this statement is already there with an argument of 75 or more. Running THE INVOICE STORE requires moving to the directory in which it is installed and invoking the batch file RUN.BAT. An opening screen appears, then pressing any key brings up the main menu. Any function of THE INVOICE STORE can be called from the main menu simply by entering the letter corresponding to the menu selection and pressing . Although the documentation furnished with the shareware version is rather minimal, operation of the program is intuitive enough that most users will have no trouble finding their way through the program. The registered version is accompanied by a 140-page printed manual which is more than adequate to describe the use of THE INVOICE STORE. This excellent program is a product of Software Store Products, Inc., Oakdale, New York. Registration is $95, which includes a lifetime of free upgrades. The upgrades are available through Software Store Products' BBS, which may be reached at (516)589-4984. The shareware version of THE INVOICE STORE is also available from the BBS. The Invoice Store v3.0 Filename: INV30.ZIP Registration Fee: $95 Software Store Products, Inc. P.O. Box 562 Oakdale, NY 11769-0562 Tel: (516) 244-6927 Fax: (516) 567-5563 BBS: (516) 589-4984 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT: _________________________________ Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo) Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN. GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ___ ___ _____ _______ /___| /___| /_____| /_______/ The Macintosh RoundTable /____|/____| /__/|__| /__/ ________________________ /_____|_____|/__/_|__|/__/ /__/|____/|__|________|__/ /__/ |___/ |__|_/ |__|_/____ Managed by SyndiComm /__/ |__/ |__|/ |__|______/ An Official Forum of the International Computer Users Group *** STReport available in MAC RT *** ASCII TEXT for ALL GEnie users! MAC/APPLE SECTION (II) ====================== Randy Noak, Editor > From the MAC Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""""""" by Randy Noak Ho! Ho! Ho! I need more dough! With Christmas fast approaching, your humble Editor finds that he has more Christmas list than money. No problem. That's why they invented charge cards. Let's hope that I win the lottery before the bills start rolling in. My pre-Christmas wish is that all Mac Report readers are visited by an elf that magically finishes their shopping and also wraps the presents! That's been my personal wish for the last 25 years, but, unfortunately, it's never been granted. Hope _does_ spring eternal, however. Here at Mac Report HQ, we've been using an HP IIIP, PowerPrint and Super ATM to print our documents. While this has worked, since PowerPrint does not support Postscript, we've not been able to proof documents that contained EPS graphics. This week, however, I found a buyer for my HPIIIP, and I've been especially good this year, so I bought myself an early Christmas present. A brand new HP 4MP. Postscript, 600 dpi, resolution enhancement, the whole shebang. So far, I'm very pleased with the HP's output. The difference between 300 and 600dpi is very noticeable and I should be able to cut back on my service bureau bills, so this printer will actually save me money! Well, that's the rationalization at least. Hewlett Packard is also offering a rebate until the end of the year. HEY YOU! Yes, YOU! Mac Report is looking for software reviewers. If you think you've got the "right stuff", send Email to one of the addresses at the end of this column. The pay is lousy, but you do get to keep the software! For your info, STReport is available, in SIT format on the following services: America Online: Mac Games Forum (New Uploads) CompuServe: Mac Community Club Forum (Community Square library) GEnie: GE-MUG RoundTable (library 3) Of course, STReport is also available in ASCII format on, not only these services, but also on Delphi, the Internet, FidoNet, etc.. Okay, I've got to finish up my shopping, so on to the info! __________________________________________________________ > About MacBinary Headers STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Here's a bit of real useful info from Gordon Alley, courtesy GEnie. In case there are some users out there than don't understand what is going on with MacBinary headers-- The MacBinary header is added to the file by your Mac telecommunications program when you upload the file to a bulletin board or information service with the MacBinary mode turned on. The header incorporates the file's Mac type and creator codes and some other information in such a way that it can be stored on the remote system, which usually has no concept of type, creator, and other characteristics of Mac files. When a Mac telecom program downloads such a file, it uses the header to recreate the file on that Mac so that it has all of its original attributes. If that header is absent, the file will usually appear with a default type (usually TEXT) and creator determined by the telecomm program (there are Mac utilities that can be used to supply the missing information to the file, and some Mac graphics programs, like GIFConverter, can look at the data in the file to figure out what its Mac attributes should be). When a PC-compatible computer downloads a Mac GIF (or other) file which includes the header, he has two choices. He can use one of several viewers for the PC that recognizes the MacBinary header and ignores it, or he can use a utility that "strips" the header off of the file so any viewer can read it. When you copy a Mac GIF file from a Mac disk to a PC diskette with PC Exchange, Access PC, or similar utility, only the data fork is copied (a Mac GIF only uses the data fork anyway), and the special Mac attributes are lost, but this is generally just what the PC wants. So no special programs are required on the PC side. When you upload a Mac graphics file to GEnie or a similar service, and you want non-Mac owners to be able to view it without difficulty, turn off the MacBinary mode in your telecomm program before uploading the file. This procedure just uploads the data fork of the file and omits the MacBinary header. It is considerate to always do this in any Roundtable on GEnie that is not dedicated to Mac users (like Graphics, Photo/Video, Science Fiction, etc). Of course, there are some non-Mac users who frequent the Mac areas, but they should expect that files they download from the Mac libraries will have the MacBinary headers, and will probably have the necessary viewers and utilities to handle them. __________________________________________________________ > Talking Calculator STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" This looks interesting. CAL talks back! Perfect for those of us whose typing skills are, uh, minimal. THOUGHT I COULD(R) ANNOUNCES CAL(TM) FOR THE MAC CAL, the talking CALculator & CALendar, will be released by Thought I Could in January 1994. A localized Japanese version will follow soon after. CAL, always there when you need it, is called up by a single mouse-click. CAL talks and CAL listens. CAL speaks, repeating what you've input, whether you input by mouse, by keyboard, or (if you have an AV series Mac) if you input by voice. If you can hear your Mac, CAL is incapable of allowing you to make a mistake. What you input is immediately confirmed by CAL's voice, so you'll catch any mistake right away. You never have to take your eyes from your source material again, losing your place from your input document while you check the screen. CAL sports an animated, scrollable, printable, selectable, copyable, exportable, importable electronic tape. CAL's tape contents can be selected and copied to Clipboard to be pasted into any program you like. CAL can not only print the tape, but can print it in columns, so you don't waste paper printing a single skinny column on a whole page. CAL has a print preview function with a header feature to identify the calculation page. CAL's tape displays negative numbers in red color or outlined (on monochrome monitors) and also has a currency option. The audit trail CAL will print should satisfy the most demanding of auditors and CAL will be shipping in time to ease the work on taxes. CAL's input functions, (buttons), include those most of us have wanted. There's a two-level CLEAR (click once and the input number is cleared; double-click and the running total is cleared). A NEGATE button changes the current number displayed from negative to positive or positive to negative, and there's a PERCENT function. Not only does CAL have MEMORY, CAL always displays what's in MEMORY and can keep a record of which numbers were input into MEMORY. CAL's input functions, or buttons also include those most of us have not wanted: the scientific and programmer functions will be optionally visible, along with an expression parser for nested algebraic expressions. These more sophisticated mathematical functions can be hidden (or displayed) at any time. CAL has a C(A)Lock and a featured CALendar for time, date, schedules and reminders. CALendar can search for text string and can schedule recurring events. CAL's appearance can be customized. (Thought I Could brought you Wallpaper, so what did you expect?) CAL speaks in different voices: choose between a male and female voice. The size of CAL's buttons is adjustable. If one has a vision problem or just prefers larger text, the bigger buttons are your cup of tea. CAL's buttons have a 3-D effect and their color and text color can be changed. You can adjust the color of the calculator and calendar itself: a background and a foreground color allow you to provide textures. If you own Wallpaper, you'll be able to install Wallpaper patterns into CAL, too. Even CAL's title bar and title bar text can change color to suit your taste. Pick a pin-stripe CAL or go to any unusual color-scheme you prefer. Let CAL blend with your desktop pattern or have him stand out. Productivity that every Mac owner can enjoy from Thought I Could. CAL will retail at $79.95. Thought I Could offers direct special pre- release pricing ($49.95). User Group members, CompuServe members and Prodigy members will receive special pricing. Contact: Linda Kaplan voice: 212-673-9724 fax: 212-260-1194 __________________________________________________________ > Seven Hills Info STR InfoFile """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" While some complain about the availability of games for the Mac, new Mac games arrive at Mac Report HQ on an almost daily basis. Most of them are pretty good too. Seven Hills new game, GATE, looks to be a bunch 0' fun also. Look for a review in Mac Report soon! Introducing GATE -- Arcade/Adventure Game for the Macintosh GATE blends action, adventure, and brain-teasing challenges into an addictive fast-action game with smooth animation, exciting music and sound effects. Escape the castle's prison, battle enemies, solve puzzles, and defeat your captor to restore peace to the land. Macintosh (68020 or later processor), 4MB RAM, System 6.0.7 or later Requires a 640x480 monitor with 256 colors. Works with Gravis' GamePad or MouseStick (settings included). GATE retails for $49.95. Contact: Seven Hills Software 2310 Oxford Road Tallahassee, FL 32304 Phone 800-200-4555 (USA) or 904-575-0566, M-F, 9-5 ET FAX 904-575-2015 America Online, AppleLink, GEnie: SevenHills CompuServe: 75300,1743 Internet: sevenhills@aol.com SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER! For a limited time you can order GATE at the introductory price of just $30 plus $3.50 shipping and handling. Call the "24 hours a day, 7 days a week, orders-only" number (1-800-845-9528) and ask for GATE. Or you can order via e-mail (just provide your name, address, phone number, and Visa/Mastercard/Discover number with expiration date). __________________________________________________________ Seven Hills also has a new household info package. I've been using Claris Works' database to do basically the same thing, but At Home looks to be more useful. Look for a review in an upcoming edition of Mac Report. Introducing At Home -- New Macintosh Personal Productivity Package At Home is a completely new type of program that instantly retrieves whatever you need to know about yourself, your family, and your home providing fast answers to your household "need to know now" questions-- anything from a daily planning schedule to those once in a blue moon searches for a policy number. At Home is easy to use so you don't have to be a computer wizard to understand it...it's the perfect information center for the entire family. At Home manages the details of personal information, bills, valuables, vehicles, insurance policies, and more! Not only does it store all this information but it can automatically remind you about anything you need help remembering such as birthdays, appointments and other important dates. At Home stores information for each person in your home with optional passwords to hide private details. At Home is always there to remind you of all those things that are easy to forget like bills due, car maintenance and other schedules, birthdays, phone numbers, and more. At Home will even dial your telephone when you've asked it for a phone number. Forget those "sticky notes" that fall off the fridge! Leave written or voice messages for other members in your household or ask At Home to tell you if you have any messages waiting from someone else. Have you ever needed to know which photo album contains your high school pictures, when your child was inoculated, the total of your valuables, or where that article is on building fish ponds? Ask At Home to find the information for you. Screen and printed reports are always available. At Home comes with a printed operations manual plus an on-screen reference that places the answer to your question just a mouse-click away. You'll feel right At Home in no time at all. At Home works with any Macintosh with at least 3MB memory, running System 6.0.5 or later. The retail price of At Home is $49.95. Contact: Seven Hills Software 2310 Oxford Road Tallahassee, FL 32304 Phone 800-200-4555 (USA) or 904-575-0566, M-F, 9-5 ET FAX 904-575-2015 America Online, AppleLink, GEnie: SevenHills CompuServe: 75300,1743 Internet: sevenhills@aol.com SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER Order now and get At Home at the introductory price of just $7.50 total! Call the "24 hours a day, 7 days a week, orders-only" number (1-800-845- 9528) and ask for At Home. Or you can order via e-mail (just provide your name, address, phone number, and Visa/Mastercard/Discover number with expiration date). __________________________________________________________ > APPLE INFO LINES STR Feature """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Here's some of the latest Apple PR. A new Hypercard and QuickTime. MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 7:40 AM, PST, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1993. Apple Extends QuickTime Multimedia Standard Apple Demonstrates QuickTime Working With MPEG DIGITAL VIDEO CUPERTINO, California--December 10, 1993--Apple Computer Inc. has begun demonstrating technology that will make future television and multimedia devices more compelling, interactive, and useful for people. Specifically, Apple demonstrated the integration of MPEG technology into applications using the company's QuickTime technology at the recent Tokyo Multimedia Conference (Nov. 22-24, 1993). The demonstrations included video editing on a personal computer and an interactive karaoke music video. The company also said it plans to integrate MPEG into future versions of QuickTime. MPEG is an ISO standard cooperatively developed by more than 70 companies and institutions worldwide including SONY, Philip, Matsushita and Apple. It is expected to become the digital video standard for Compact Discs, Cable TV, Direct Satellite Broadcast and high-definition television. QuickTime is a software standard for digital media. It brings audio, animation, video, and interactive capabilities to personal computers and consumer devices. It also permits cross-platform compatibility between platforms which support it. Future devices which use MPEG technology with QuickTime will become more powerful. MPEG, by itself, only allows playback. With the addition of QuickTime, devices that use MPEG will be able to edit, search for, interact with--as well as play back--video information. "This demonstration underscores QuickTime's leadership in the growing multimedia industry," said David Nagel, Apple's executive vice president and general manager of its AppleSoft division. "It's cross-platform. Thousands of applications support it. And we have shipped more than 1 million QuickTime units to customers. By integrating MPEG into QuickTime, we extend our leadership in multimedia,one of the company's key strategic markets." In a related announcement, the company stated that Fujitsu has licensed QuickTime for use on Fujitsu's FM-TOWNS multimedia computer. "Fujitsu is the latest vendor to adopt the QuickTime standard," Nagel MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:18 AM, EDT MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1993. Apple Launches New Version of HyperCard, Providing Significant Flexibility, Power and Customization Enhancements AppleScript Support, Color, Media Integration Extend HyperCard's Appeal to New Users CUPERTINO, California--December 13, 1993--Apple Computer today introduced HyperCard 2.2, a significant new version of its popular software tool that enables users to easily create customized software solutions. Version 2.2 represents dramatic increases in power, functionality and flexibility, extending HyperCard's value to new and existing multimedia title producers, educators, commercial solution providers and in-house developers. HyperCard 2.2 integrates a key Apple technology, AppleScript, which enables users to automate repetitive tasks by launching, controlling and exchanging data with existing applications. HyperCard 2.2 also includes the ColorTools for seamlessly adding color to stacks; WorldScript support for creating multilingual solutions and a new "save as" option that creates double-clickable applications which can be distributed without royalty fees. In addition, HyperCard 2.2 bundles ADDmotion II from Motion Works International for easy creation and editing of animation. According to AppleSoft senior vice president and general manager, David Nagel, "When HyperCard was launched in 1988 it delivered power and flexibility that set a new standard for application development. Today, we are extending that power and flexibility with a host of new features, making HyperCard an even more strategic product for the multimedia, education and in-house development markets." HyperCard is on over eight million Macintoshes worldwide and has been lauded as a key Apple technology by educators and business users worldwide. The latest release of HyperCard extends customers' investments in their data and provides valuable new features that significantly improve end-users' experiences with stacks. "We are a two-person consulting firm specializing in on-line documentation and multimedia development. HyperCard's amazing power and flexibility have enabled us to create our own custom applications which we can fully integrate and modify as needed. Furthermore, it is the glue that allows us to integrate other applications such as Word, Persuasion and Excel," said Katherine Horton, a HyperCard user at William Horton Consulting in Huntsville, Ala. AppleScript Functionality Now Built Into HyperCard -------------------------------------------------- With AppleScript now built in, HyperCard 2.2 provides a dramatic increase in functionality to new and existing users. It enables them to integrate applications with HyperCard, providing much easier ways to manipulate and present information from a wide range of applications. Users can launch, control and exchange data with a host of scriptable applications such as 4th Dimension, MacWrite, FileMaker, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, PhotoFlash, QuarkXpress, and WordPerfect, along with over 75 others. HyperCard supports any Open Scripting Architecture (OSA)-compliant scripting language including AppleScript, UserTalk from UserLand and CEScript from CE Software. "HyperCard 2.2 is an optimal choice for commercial solution providers. With AppleScript support, users can create even more powerful solutions by extending the core functionality of HyperCard with off-the-shelf applications," said Param Singh, HyperCard product marketing manager. "With the wide variety of scriptable applications available today, HyperCard users can immediately create innovative applications to meet their individual needs, while preserving the simplicity and ease-of-use of the HyperCard environment." Color/Media Integration ----------------------- HyperCard's new ColorTools enhance the useability and visual appeal of existing and new solutions. In addition to importing and resizing color PICT graphics, users can select from a palette of 256 shades to color HyperCard elements such as buttons, fields, cards and backgrounds. HyperCard's QuickTime tools allow users to incorporate movies into cards and stacks with point and click simplicity. "The new release of HyperCard, especially with its open scripting and color support, gives a wide range of Macintosh users access to incredible programming power. I am delighted with Apple's commitment to the product, and expect to see new and existing users develop exciting new solutions for themselves and the Macintosh community," said Danny Goodman, HyperCard user and author of The Complete HyperCard 2.2 Handbook, coming in January 1994 from Random House Electronic Publishing. HyperCard continues to help multimedia authors differentiate their product by providing comprehensive multimedia capabilities in one environment. With ADDmotion II, HyperCard 2.2 facilitates easy media, color and sound editing to help users enhance the value of new and existing stacks. ADDmotion II is a 24-bit color paint, animation and sound extension that integrates seamlessly into HyperCard and provides tools for controlling and editing animations and sounds. HyperCard 2.2 is the premier solution for education. With color and QuickTime capabilities, HyperCard enables educators to create innovative, compelling courseware while preserving ease-of-use for students. In addition, HyperCard 2.2 supports WorldScript, which makes it possible to include different languages in a field or card to create powerful multilingual solutions. HyperCard users can script in several languages including French and Japanese, using AppleScript dialects extensions. Pricing and Availability ------------------------ The U.S. suggested retail price (SRP) for HyperCard 2.2 is $249. As part of a special limited time introductory promotion, Apple is offering HyperCard 2.2 for an U.S. SRP of $139. Additionally, Apple will contact registered users of HyperCard 2.0 or 2.1 to offer a full upgrade for $89. Apple is also offering a $39 upgrade to customers who have purchased Claris HyperCard 2.1 between November 1, 1993 and December 31, 1993. For details, users should contact the Apple Software Programs Customer Service at (800)-769-2775, ext. 7810. Volume purchases of site licenses are available for HyperCard 2.2 through the Apple volume licensing program. HyperCard 2.2 is planned to be available at the end of the month and will be able to be ordered through software resellers, Apple authorized resellers and APDA -- Apple's source for developer tools. APDA can be reached in the United States at (800) 282-2732; in Canada at (800) 637-0039; or internationally at (716) 871-6555. Apple resellers can be located by calling (800) 538-9696. All customers have access to toll-free telephone support by calling Apple Assurance at (800) SOS-APPL. Advanced scripting support is available for a fee by calling (800) 950-2442. __________________________________________________________ That's it for this week. I hope that Santa brings each and every one of you exactly what you deserve! As always, please feel free to send your comments or questions to me at: America OnLine: STReportRN Compuserve: 70323,1031 GEnie: R.NOAK ********************************************************************** IMPORTANT NOTICE! ================= STReport International Online Magazine is available every week for your reading pleasure on DELPHI. STReport's readers are invited to join DELPHI and become a part of 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 (12/15/93) (1) STORM Z-MODEM PATCH (6) STORM PATCH 1.01>1.02 (2) DELUXE INVADERS (7) BLITZSCHNELL 1.47 (3) ACCTRIS (8) STAR TREK WARP 9 PICS (4) TALKING CLOCK (9) LAUNCHER (5) ST GAMING DIGEST 9/93 (10) DOGFIGHT 'DEMO' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HONORARY TOP 10 The following on-line magazines are always top downloads, frequently out-performing every other file in the databases. STREPORT (Current issue: STREPORT 9.50) ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE (Current issue: AEO - VOLUME 2, ISSUE 21) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Look for the above files in the RECENT ARRIVALS database. DELPHI-It's getting better all the time! ********************************************************************** ATARI/JAG SECTION (III) ======================= Dana Jacobson, Editor WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (December 17) Please join us in welcoming PMC to the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN)! Message Section 15 and Library 15 are now available for PMC-related messages and files. You can address messages to Oscar Steele [72662,1271]. The following initial files are available in LIBRARY 15: GML8_P.TXT - Gemulator 3.0 information and special GBNCH3.ZIP - Gembench 3.25 benchmarking for ST/Gemulator users COMPUB.ZIP - Catalog of over 3000 books at 50% + discount! CB_REA.TXT - Ordering information for used book catalog. Download the following files from LIBRARY 6 of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO): RN161P.LZH - Runner 1.61 Alternate Desktop RN161N.LZH - New features and overview of Runner 1.61 RN161D.LZH - Docs for Runner 1.61(RUNR161P.LZH) RN161B.LZH - Background pics for Runner 1.61 This is the newest release of Runner (1.61) by Dave Thorson! Organize programs into easy-to-use menus, assign them to QuickKeys for fast access. Use any PI1,.PI2,.PI3,.PC1,.PC2,.PC3 pic as a background pic. You can also run programs and view text files from the file selector, for those that you don't place in menus. Built-in text file viewer lets you search and move forward/backward and print screens as text. LOTS of other features! Download file TOOL.LZH from LIBRARY 14 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) for a replacement of version 1.0 of cadtool. This program provides a nicer user interface, somewhat faster operation and a few bugs were found and squashed. Cadtool V1.1 offers 3D2 object modification similar to the object functions found in CAD3D but it is faster and completes the operations correctly. Also download LANDMN.ZIP from LIBRARY 2 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS) for a simple but habit-forming game, similar to the Minesweeper game that comes with Windows. Find out where the mines are buried... carefully! Shareware, from the PTAUG Nov. 1993 disk. High rez or low rez, source code included. DON'T FORGET THAT ATARI PORTFOLIO SUPPORT CAN NOW BE FOUND IN THE PALMTOP COMPUTING FORUM (GO PALMTOP). _______________________________________________ > From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""""""""" by Dana P. Jacobson By the time that you read this, my Christmas shopping _should_ all be done!! I hope that you all are fairing well this holiday season and can get a chance to relax before next weekend! Before I got married, I really didn't have to do much shopping except for a few gifts for roommates and friends. Being in an inter-religious marriage has certainly changed things . It's fun except for always being in that one long line and a blue-haired woman decides to inquire about each price as it's rung in, and then wants to write a check in a cash-only line! Holiday spirit certainly is strained at these times; patience long-departed! I'm not sure whether or not there will be any Fujis under the Chanukah bush this year. Anything of this sort, I have to pick up myself as my wife defers any computer purchases back to me. I had better decide what I might want and start making some calls if I want any new software for the holidays! I've decided not to try and find an available Jaguar, but I sure would like to get one soon. I'll probably wait until I can be a glutton and gorge myself with a Jag and a bunch of games all at once. It doesn't help to happen to see another Jaguar/Lynx commercial on television as I'm lining up some last-minute gift ideas, and really wanting to cross off my mother-in-law's gift and get a Jaguar instead! Doing the right thing prevailed, darn! Plenty of activity going on with regard to the Jaguar this past week. Most of the online activity that I've been following is occurring in Compuserve's ATARIGAMING Forum. Atari's Don Thomas and Bill Rehbock have been fairly regular visitors there and answering all kinds of interesting questions. It's really nice to see Atari people online being active and helping out with information. CyberMorph has been getting some rave reviews online; and the people who have Jaguars seem to really love the game. It looks like Atari chose a winner for the pack-in game. For those of you anxiously awaiting another game, Raiden is now shipping. I've also heard that Trevor McFur will be close behind (it's featured on the latest Jaguar ads with Raiden). There was also some online mention of Crescent Galaxy being available now, or soon. There has also been some somewhat disturbing news related to the Jaguar. I say somewhat because I have mixed feelings about the news I've read. The first relates to the fact that Atari's original claims that there would be 50,000 Jaguars available before Christmas has been seriously decreased. The latest word is that 20,000 units will be available. While 20,000 is still a significant number, two and a half times that would have been better. From all indications that I have seen to-date, demand is far exceeding the available supply (what an incredible and positive reversal for an Atari product!). I truly believe that Atari's original numbers would achieve an almost sell-out. Let's hope that the Jaguar-induced high will continue to ride waiting for the national rollout. The second piece of news involves the departure from the initial decision to test market the Jaguar in New York and San Francisco. We were told that these two cities would be the only two having Jaguars, but machines have turned up in various other cities in various quantities. While I understand the initial rollout plans, how the other cities or sites were determined (or why a change from the initial two) evades me. I understand that Jaguars have been spotted in Houston and somewhere in the Northwest (Montana?). And then, I saw a message that was reproduced from the FNET stating that a mail-order dealer (the message poster) had a limited quantity of machines. Okay, the original 2-city limit was already broached. I can live with the fact that more people will have better access to the machines. After all, we want Atari to sell as many of these machines as possible. But, this FNET message has me a little concerned. The dealer, Micro Computer Depot, will have a couple dozen machines for sale and taking orders now. What bothers me is that they are selling them for $300 plus shipping. The reason given was because of "high costs and low margins" of the machines. Well, they're not paying any more for machines than anyone else, and the margins are probably exactly the same. Profits are to be made from game sales, not the Jaguar itself. While suggest MSRP is $249.99, obviously dealers aren't required to sell for that price, but a $50.00 increase? It _appears_ that MCD is banking on the increasing demand for fewer and fewer machines and jacking the prices up to take advantage of that demand. Some holiday spirit! Yes, they have every right to do this; and yes, it is a common practice to create a price relevant to supply and demand. What bothers me is that MCD is outside of the designated target areas. I think it's unfair. Those units, as relatively few as they are, should have gone to those stores where their supply has been depleted and waiting lists are growing. I don't understand Atari's departure from their original plans; and the inflated price just makes matters worse. I hope for Atari's sake, that there's no major backlash from this. Personally, I'd stay away from this opportunity to get a Jaguar, no matter how badly I wanted one. What's a few more weeks? Once the national rollout occurs, competition may even result in lower prices. Regardless, opportunities to easily get a machine closer to MSRP will be much greater. Like I said, I have mixed feelings about all of this and I'm not going to dwell on it this close to the holidays! What else has been going on this past week? Not a whole lot of new items other than Jaguar sightings, for sure. Things have continued to be slow on the computing side of Atari. At this time of year, you'd think that there'd be a visible increase in new products available. But, it's not be for Atari computer users this year. They really do say that patience is a virtue...... With the last issue of STReport for 1993 coming out next week, we're scurrying around trying to finalize some feature articles. The one I'm anxiously working on at the moment is a piece on the online services and support staff. Over the years we've learned quite a bit of all of the major services, but we've never really got to know the people who do their best to provide this support. I think you'll find these articles quite enjoyable and interesting. We've received overwhelming response from the staff of Delphi and Compuserve. On a low note, there apparently will not be a feature on the GEnie Atari staff as my letter of suggestion for these articles went unanswered by the Atari RT. On a positive side, this will provide us more time to devote to the remaining staffs. John Duckworth's "The Old Fishin' Hole" continues to gain popularity. This week, John takes a look at the year's best in PD and shareware software: "The Golden Lure Awards". Check it out to make sure that you've caught this year's limit. Joe Mirando's "People Are Talking" column continues to keep us abreast of what's going on in the Atari Forums on Compuserve. Look for a similar column dealing with Delphi's online community in the new year. At a local user group meeting a few days ago, a few of us were sitting around discussing Atari current events and that included the Jaguar. We were reminiscing former Atari game systems and how they grew in popularity. Suggestion of the week: a Jaguar "character." When Nintendo came out, the name that was synonymous with the machine was Mario, that lovable plumber. Sega has Sonic the Hedgehog, that blue speed-demon. Old Atari game consoles, we had Pac-Man and other memorable characters to call our own. Wouldn't it be advantageous if Atari came up with its own character to send Mario back to the sewers and Sonic buried under a mudslide? Kids love to be able to have someone or something to identify with new products, especially games. I think Atari should consider a character and make his/her/its presence a household name! Well, let's get on with some interesting items this week. Spar Systems has just released "Mastering Calligrapher 3.0" and Gribnif Software learned some distressing news about a recent European magazine cover disk featuring its Arabesque software. Let's get on with it. _______________________________________ > Arabesque STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""" Gribnif Software News Release ============================= December 10, 1993 Arabesque / ST Format Recently the British magazine ST Format published in their magazine a cover disk that included a copy of our English language version of the Arabesque Professional software. That issue of the magazine also included an offer to acquire Arabesque manuals and copies of Convector Professional from HiSoft in the United Kingdom. We at Gribnif Software were not aware of this event until after the release of the magazine. We NEVER authorized this distribution of our software. We have contacted all the involved parties and wish to make the following facts clear: o The English language version of Arabesque included in that cover disk was NOT authorized by us and therefore constitutes a violation of our copyrights. o HiSoft does NOT have any distribution rights to either Arabesque or Convector. o HiSoft will NOT be distributing any manuals for Arabesque or any copies of Convector. If you sent an order to HiSoft, it will be returned. They do not even carry the products. If you have a copy of this software, as acquired through ST Format, you have an unauthorized copy of the program. Therefore we ask you to please destroy it. We, Gribnif Software, are the sole publisher of the English version of Arabesque and Convector. In the United Kingdom we are exclusively represented by Compo Software. Both Arabesque and Convector remain as important and successful titles in our line of software for the Atari. They are available, in their complete commercial form (including manuals, packaging, and with technical support) from leading dealers and distributors in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. For more information, please contact: In the U.S. and Canada: In the United Kingdom: Gribnif Software, COMPO Software P.O. Box 779, 7 Vinegar Hill, Northampton, MA 01061 Alconbury Weston, Tel: (413) 247-5620 Huntingdon, Fax: (413) 257-4622 Cambs PE17 5JA Tel: 0 480 891819 Fax: 0 480 890787 _________________________________________ > SPAR SYSTEMS NEWS! STR InfoFile """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Effective Immediately December 4, 1993 Spar Systems Is Proud To Announce The Release Of ************************************ * Mastering Calligrapher 3.0 * ************************************ For Calligrapher 3.0 Word Processor Mastering Calligrapher 3.0 is a Hypertext Personal Training Guide for both novice and advanced users alike. Novice users will find the simple step-by-step approach an easy way to lessen the learning curve, while advanced users will benefit from the referencing feature. Each command is explained in detail with all the necessary information given on how to use it correctly. Tips and tricks are offered as well throughout the guide to give you ideas on how to exploit each command to its fullest. The step-by-step tutorials is just like having a private tutor, but without the expensive cost of a tutor. The package includes example files on disk, user manual, the Hypertext Personal Training Guide and a PaperDirect catalog. A few of the topics covered are quick print, header, initial cap, virtual clipboard buffers, page numbering, text alignment, graphics and much more. Features: Over five printer drivers included. Send online summary to printer for hardcopy reference. Runs together with Calligrapher. Resolution independent. Supports the ST, TT and Falcon resolution modes, and third party graphic cards. Comes on a double sided disk. Requires only 145K of memory. Mastering Calligrapher 3.0 is fast paced and to the point. Tells you everything you need to know to start creating documents, while mastering the program. Prepare to become a Calligrapher power user! Suggested Retail Price $49.95 See your Atari dealer or order from us. Include $2.00 for shipping and handling, and mail to: Spar Systems 381 Autumn Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11208 For additional information ring us at (718)-235-3169 Other New Products Will Be Available Soon _____________________________________ > The Old Fishin' Hole STR Feature """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" THE OLD FISHIN' HOLE ==================== -A Guide to the Online PD/Shareware Waters. by John R. Duckworth Since the nibbles have been almost non-existent on my hook this week, I thought this would be a good time to reflect on the achievements of 1993. This week I present, what I feel, are the best of the public domain and shareware programs for the Atari platform released in the past year. Many of you may disagree with my choices, or find some glaring omission...please forgive me. I have tried to take a quasi-scientific approach to my selections with the packages being rated on the following criteria: usefulness, presentation, and support. Usefulness relates to how much the software was actually needed (did it fill a void?) and how often it was used. The presentation criteria takes into account how professional the softwares interface seemed, as well as the level of GEM integration. The last factor which I used to rate my selections was support from the author...how easy are they to reach online and do they update the software to fix bugs and add more features regularly. Before continuing further I would like to mention one piece of shareware released this week which is targeted toward Falcon users on GEnie. LoadAladdin by Keith Gerdes allows Falcon owners to use the Aladdin online software which had been previously incompatible with their system. LoadAladdin simply loads the Aladdin program into memory and then redirects modem output to the proper place (if you want to get more technical read the press release). I highly recommend this program for all GEnie Falcon users as it saves online time as well as simplifies bulletin board communications. With that out of the way, let's get on with the best of 1993... THE GOLDEN LURE AWARDS - The Old Fishin' Hole's Choices for - - the Best PD/Shareware programs of 1993 - 1. Gem-View 3.01 -A wonderful GEM based graphics viewing package. High scores all around ! 2. ST Zip 2.3 -The easiest of all archivers to use because of the included GEM interface. 3. MasterBrowse 2.8 -A great text viewing/printing application. Works especially well as an installed application bypassing GEM's internal file display routines. 4. Winx 2.2 -Adds new life to the GEM desktop. Increases number of windows allowed open at once as well. Only detraction is the fact that it will not peacefully co-exist with Warp 9. 5. MyDraw 1.10 -Full featured GEM drawing package from Germany. Well worth the registration money. 6. WinRec 1.35 -A Falcon only program reaches the top 10! This commercial quality hard disk recording program features dsp effects and compression. 7. Speed of Light 2.6 -This GIF viewer is one of the fastest and best for all Atari computers. If memory is of the essence...this will fulfill your GIF picture viewing needs. 8. Paula 2.2 -For music lovers, Paula plays .MOD files in the background of STe and Falcon systems. Runs as an accessory and features random play option. 9. PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) 2.3 -This Atari port is a must for transferring secure documents and files. The NSA is always watching! 10. OXYD -This game combines puzzles, action, and strategy to create an enchanting...and often frustrating experience. Versions are available for all Atari TOS computers. *Honorable Mentions* While these programs did not make it into the top ten, I feel they still deserve a bit of fame for making Atari computing a lot more fun. * GEM NetHack 3.13 -An Atari port of the famous RPG NetHack. This version features a unique GEM graphical interface to make game play more interesting. * Dave Munsie's Classic Game Conversions -Mr. Munsie has converted many of the classic video games to the Atari TOS systems. Check out the 2600 classic Kaboom, as well as the always entertaining Frogger and Space Invaders. That wraps it up for The First Annual Golden Lure Awards. I hope you agree with most of my choices and perhaps find one or two programs that you may have overlooked in the past year. As always, my e-mail address is JDUCKWORTH@delphi.com, send any comments, suggestions, and electronic greeting cards there. I'd like to thank all who have given me comments and support with my column and I will continue to do my best in 1994. Merry Christmas to everyone...just don't forget the reason for the season! +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Old Fishin Hole Tackle Box * | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | LoadAladdin | | e-mail K.GERDES@genie.geis.com | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ * The Tackle Box is meant to provide assistance in finding files mentioned in the column. It should not be considered a COMPLETE listing and is provided for convenience only. Delphi Atari Advantage files should be found in the Recent Arrivals section of the database until moved to their appropriate sections. ______________________________________________________________ > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" PEOPLE... ARE TALKING ===================== On CompuServe ------------- compiled by Joe Mirando 73637,2262 Hello again friends. Once again its time for us to look a all the hints and tips that abound in the Atari Forums every week. But before we do, I'd like to take a moment to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah. May the joy of the season be yours throughout the coming year. Well, I've kept my intro short this time (you can consider that your gift from me), so let's get on with the column... From the Atari Productivity Forum ================================= Darrell Eifert asks about Atari Works: "I have a question regarding the font selection from the button bar. With most if not all MS Windows word processors, selecting Bold or Italic from the button bar produces the actual bold or italic font associated with the font you are using, i.e., Times Roman Bold or Times Roman Italic. In AW however, the action simply thickens or slants the current font, resulting in a much "uglier" printout. On my SLM, it even distorts the font when printing in landscape mode. Will a future release of AW give us TRUE Bold and Italic from the button bar?" Mike Fulton at Atari tells Darrell: "The main problem is that there's no really clearly defined method of saying that "Swiss 721 Bold" is the bold version of "Swiss 721". It may seem simple, but some fonts say "Black" instead of "Bold" and that's really just the tip of the iceberg. If we work out a reliable way of figuring out this sort of thing, then it will probably be changed someday." Darrell thanks Mike and asks another question: "Thanks for the reply Mike. How does MS Windows mangage it? Do they have a more standardized font system? This may be a silly suggestion, but is it possible to provide a "user-programmable" button bar, with the user responsible for deciding what fonts go with the Bold and Italic buttons depending on the currently chosen font? This way the system "knows" to go and look for Dutch Bold if Dutch is currently in use. I wouldn't ride the point, except that our Atari at the library is used constantly for resumes and cover letters (which have to look their best), and we endlessly remind patrons to go and select a different font for bold and italic rather than use the handy button bar. Though difficult, a solution would be appreciated." Mike tells Darrell: "Well, I don't really know exactly how Windows manages it. The information to manage it is available with SpeedoGDOS, but at this point it's been left up to the application to get that information and figure it out. There was some discussion of having the system figure this out even back when we were still working on FSMGDOS, before we had SpeedoGDOS, but there seemed to be too many compromises regardless of what method you used. Once somebody figures out a good way to deal with this, I'm sure we'll be able to integrate it for a future revision." Werner Colditz asks: "Does anyone know of a way to get an IBM PC to read 5.25" DD diskettes from an Atari 800 ? Is there a utility program to do this somewhere in the LIBs ? Unfortunately, the Atari does not have a modem, so I can't upload the files. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated." Master Sysop Ron Luks tells Werner: "Hmmmmmm.... Thats s tough one. There was a program that emulated the Atari 800 on a PC (written by Darek Mihocka) but I dont recall if it could read the Atari 5 1/4" disks directly. And even if it could, I dont know how you'd get the files into PC format to access with your normal PC programs." Werner mentions an option that someone else mentioned: "Somebody else told me today that the only way to do this is by uploading the files from the Atari to Compuserve, then downloading to the PC. At that point, there are programs in the LIBs which claim they will convert them to PC ASCII files. Of course, this is only for data or text files. Programs I found are ATARIC.ARC and STTOPC.ARC." Sysop Dan Rhea adds: "As I recall, you had to use a modem to get files in and out of the 800 emulator (I think it was for the ST too, I don't remember a PC version)." Meanwhile, Sanford Aranoff tells us: "I have an excellent word processor that deals with Hebrew and English. Anyone want it? Want the source code (written in Pascal). I use it for all kind of things, like writing, printing, making labels. Hebrew is written from right to left, and so has to be right justified, but not left justified. Also the characters are different. You can search for an English word and replace it with a Hebrew word, and vice-versa. It converts dates from the lunar calendar to our calendar." Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Online Magazine echoes my own thoughts: "If you have the program and the source code please upload it." Curt Fluegel posts: "My name is Curt Fluegel, I am the Software Manager for Guitar Center Minneapolis. I am an Atari Falcon user and new here to Compuserve (I've been a GEnie user for quite some time).. WE have a few bundles left in stock.. they went quite quickly (no surprise).. I'm pretty much the key guy in the chain for Atari stuff so if anyone needs me call me at the Minneapolis store (612)631-9424.. I would be happy to call you right back so there's no l/d call. Also my address here on Compuserve is 73551,2407. Thanks.." Brian Gockley of ST INFORMER Magazine asks Curt: "How are Falcons selling for you? Are prices still the same? What's new on the music front?" Curt tells Brian: "We do all right with Falcons (being a music store anyway).. honestly its about one a month, thats about what we did with 1040STEs also.. The priceas haven't fallen yet.. though I'm hoping the will in January.. Curt As for new on the music front, January is the month for that, should be an interesting year." Gordon Burrows asks about replacing a floppy drive: "Does anyone know if I can use any standard 1.44Mb drive with a 520ST? I want to replace a single sided drive with the 1.44Mb and I want to keep the [old] housing." Sysop Bob Retelle tells Gordon: "No 520ST can use a 1.44 Meg drive without extensive hardware modifications... The drive may connect up ok, but will only work as a normal double sided (720K) drive unless you add an external clock source and change the floppy controller chip. You CAN swap out the single-sided drive for a double sided (720K) mechanism fairly easily, although there can be some side-effects depending on the kind of drive mechanism you use.. (most notably, sometimes the "media change" doesn't work reliably, causing some problems when you change disks in the drives). There ARE some "do it yourself" modifications to utilize 1.44 Meg High Density drives, and at least one commercial High Density drive was released, but they're definately not as simple as just plugging in an Atari DS drive..." Jody Golick tells us: "I just picked up an SLM 804 laser printer for (ridiculously) cheap. In getting set up, I am experiencing a few probs which you may be able to help me with. 1) I can't seem to configure WordPerfect 4.1 to find it. 2) Must the printer's power be ON in order to use the hard drive? I am sure to have more questions soon." Peter Joseph tells Jody: "I have an SLM804 and I had a bear of a time with it at first. But I got great help from here and from Atari. Ok, first of all, as long as the SLM is hooked up you have to have it turned on; but it's a bit more complicated than that so pay attention. :^) You should plug the SLMC controller into your ST and then plug your hard drive into the controller. Second, the SLM should be the first device you turn on and you should wait until the green ready light comes on before switching on anything else (actually, I turn on my monitor while I'm waiting for the green light and that seems to be no problem). If the printer is not on it can actually do weird things to the hard drive I'm told. What version of the diablo emulator do you have. Do you have the manuals? As far as WordPerfect goes, guess what. I use it too so I can help you with that too. Unfortunately, WordPerfect and the SLM are a bit tricky and I haven't even mastered it yet but it is workable. You say you can't get WP to find the SLM. I assume you know how to set up Wordperfect printer drivers so you at least have the SLM driver installed properly in WP. So tell me exactly what is happening and what isn't. If you haven't got the Diablo emulator for the SLM then I think you need to get it from Atari. What I ended up doing was to send Atari about $7.95 +s/h for the manual and they also sent me a disk with the latest emulator software and some other stuff; good deal. Anyway, even with the driver configured in WP I can't get it to print many different fonts correctly. The basic ATTP10 works fine, but there's trouble with either proportional spaced or monospaced fonts, I can't remember which. It's probably not too difficult a problem but I haven't really been dealing with it lately since it's not a big priority for me. Also, I found that I had to adjust the margins to fit the printed page properly. Well, try those things and let me know how you do and I'll try to help you more if you need it. Hey BTW, a little tip: After initial power-up if you're not going to use the printer you can just open the back door on it. This shuts down the heater and fan but still satisfies the ST's need to have the printer on; it also saves on the light bill. :) I can't remember where I read that hint but I've been doing it since and it's had no detrimental effect yet. In fact, I even do cold boots with it that way. If you do need the printer after doing this, just close the door and wait for the green light and you're off. It's a terrific printer." Jody tells Peter: "The Diablo emulator doesn't seem to bear a version number but the file date is 10/6/87. I don't actually have any idea what a Diablo is or why I would want to emulate one. I have all the orginal Atari manuals - such as they are... And something called Atari UltraScript. I shudder to think of the mountains of esoteri information I shall have to absorb to know what that is all about. As fo WP: When selecting a printer you are asked to provide a destination: paralle, serial, MIDI or other. I gather this is a case of "other" but what? You tip about the back door is great." Brian Gockley tells Jody: "Since the SLM has no RAM, you need to run an emulator program from the auto folder called DIABLO.PRG. That will enable WP to find it. And yes, the power does need to be on, unless you buy a "Phantom of the Laser" product." Ira Adams asks: "What (other than a bad RAM chip) could make an ST lose 256K of RAM? I have a 520STFM. Three years ago I installed a JRI RAM+ board populated with 2-1Meg SIMMs, giving me 2.5 Megs of RAM with the .5 Meg that came on the motherboard. No problems for 3 years. Last month I sent the ST to ICD for them to install an Adspeed. It came back dead -- wouldn't operate until I opened it up and pressed all the socketed chips down in their sockets. Then it would run fine for 20 - 30 minutes before crashing, and it was short 256K of RAM (according to NeoDesk, Spectre GCR, and FREERAM.ACC). Removing the Adspeed (which is now back at ICD for replacement) cured the problem of crashing after 20 - 30 minutes, but the missing 256K of RAM persisted. Running MEMTEST.PRG showed no indication of problems. I bought 2 new 1 Meg SIMMs and swapped them for the 2 originals. No effect -- 256K still missing. I installed the required jumpers and put in all 4 SIMMs, taking the ST to 4 Megs and bypassing the chips on the motherboard. Still 256K missing. ICD doesn't have a clue as to what's going on here. Neither do I. I get "Your call cannot be completed as dialed" when I try calling JRI. Can anyone here point me in the direction of a solution? Does anyone have a new phone number for John Russell Inc.?" Sysop Bob Retelle tells Ira: "When you made the modifications to take the memory up to the full 4 Megs, did you have to make any cuts on the original motherboard, or remove any resistors..? Normally the original RAM on the motherboard has to be disabled in some way, in order for both banks of expanded RAM to work on the upgrade board. With the original RAM disabled, you've effectively ruled out a defective RAM chip on the motherboard being the problem with the "missing" 256K. It sounds like possibly the MMU chip is either defective or needs to be reseated in its socket. (Sometimes just pushing it back down isn't enough to make a good contact) I'm not familiar with the JRI memory upgrade.. does it involve the MMU chip at all..? I've used "solderless" memory upgrades that required some rather unkind things be done to the MMU and its socket, and which usually end up eventually causing failures of the system. Assuming your MMU is in its original socket and doesn't have anything attached to it, you can *CAREFULLY* pry it up out of its socket by gently lifting the two opposite corners where there are slots in the socket, a little at a time back and forth until the chip comes up out of the socket. Be EXTREMELY careful, as the socket can crack if there's too much force applied, which will require having the socket replaced..! Also, note which direction the small dot on one side of the MMU chip faces, in case the chip pops out with enough force to actually fly up out of the socket. You'll need to know how to orient the chip to re-insert it. Once the chip is loose, just press it back down firmly into the socket. Be sure to ground yourself to the power supply or shielding before touching the internal components so you don't static shock anything, and of course, be sure the power is completely disconnected. This may or may not fix the memory problem, but it's an easy enough thing to try, and often can work wonders..!" Ira tells Bob: "Reseating the MMU is probably worth a try -- I pressed down on it when I checked the other chips, but since it has a springclip across the top of it, I didn't try wiggling or removing it. The JRI board required the removal of two resistors when installed with 2 SIMMs and another two when I upgraded it to 4 SIMMs. It also required a wire connected to one of the pins of the MMU socket, as well as some wires to where the resistors were removed from. All of that wiring worked fine for 3 years (except, of course, what I just installed in making the jump to 4 megs), so I doubt that it's involved in the problem. It all still looks intact." Sysop Bob Retelle tells Ira: "The resistors you had to remove to install the memory upgrade would have disabled the original RAM on the motherboard, so it's not likely they're involved in the problem.. (Although, there IS a very slight chance that one of the outputs of the original RAM, which is still on the address and data bus, might have gone bad and is shorting the bus, but that's a really long shot.) How does the JRI board connect to the main motherboard..? There needs to be a fairly wide ribbon cable from the memory upgrade to the address and data bus somewhere on the motherboard.. normally they go directly to the MMU somehow (which is usually the trouble spot in a memory upgrade), although there could be other ways of reaching those signals. The original construction of the Atari computers is very good, so shipping them (like to ICD) shouldn't be a problem.. but "add-ons" might not fare so well in transit.. that's why I'm wondering about the connections.." Danny Bull asks: "What is the best (and most reliable) way to upgrade a 1040ST to 4 megs of ram? I would appreciate opinions." John Damiano of Transierra tells Danny: "My advice is to buy a used MEGA 4. They are very inexpensive now. You might find a complete system for less then 500.00 with monitors/software. I bought two that way. The advantages are a great keyboard thats remote, and room for things like an Adspeed or video card. If you figure it out its probably the same price as a four meg upgrade. Also...you have a backup computer if one fails." Sysop Bob Retelle tells Danny: "Another solution along the same lines would be to watch for a used 1040STe computer... they can be very easily upgraded by adding standard SIMM modules, no hacking and slashing needed..! You also get the added enhancements of TOS 1.4, the extended color pallette, stereo sound outputs and DMA sound..." Ringo Monfort posts: "Today, Sunday 12-12-93, on ABC Wallstreet Report they had a segment on video games and they did show the Jaguar game system and I got to tell you the graphics are "HOT"! They mention it as a 64bit system with great graphics. etc. It is very nice to see ATARI on TV again." Peter Joseph posts: "Hey everybody! How many caught the Jaguar bit on CNN's Moneyline last night. The story was about how 3DO wasn't coming out with the titles they promised and they were slipping in popularity. The journalist then went on to say that "the technology top gun is now the Atari Jaguar", that it is twice as powerful as 3DO and costs hundreds less; all the while showing entire screen shots of the Jag in action. They even had Sam Tramiel on there talking about what it could do better than 3DO. Not a long skit, but long enough to make me crazy with glee. :^) I even taped it when they reran it at midnite." Sysop Ron Luks tells Peter: "I saw the piece. Atari sounded pretty impressive." From the Atari ST Arts Forum ============================ Sysop Bob Retelle posts: "Most of the files we have here have been "compressed" to make them smaller and faster to download, but before they can be used on your end they need to be "uncompressed". There aren't very many ZOO type files though.. most of them will be compressed with the LZH method. There is a file in the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO) called ARCLZH.PRG that will automatically uncompress itself when you run it, and will create both the LZH utility and the ARC utility (both are commonly used compression programs), and a handy Shareware "shell" program that will make both of them easier to use. For the ZOO file you downloaded, the best thing would be to BROWSE in Library #4 using the keyword ZOO to find the "unZOO" utilities. Be sure to read the documentation that comes with these programs, and if you have any questions about using them, be sure to post them here... Also, if I read you message right, you were asking why you get those ]D ]D characters..? That's because you were using the cursor arrow keys to try to move the cursor back over a typing error... CompuServe doesn't understand all the special keys from all the different kinds of computers and keyboards, like the Atari cursor arrow keys.. it only knows the very common ones, like the Backspace key. If you make a typing error on the line you're entering, before you hit Return, you can just backspace to the error and fix it.. but then you have to type the rest of the line over.. If you notice an error on a previous line, you can use the online line editor to fix it... there's Help files here that will tell you how to use the editor, and probably the best way to learn about that, and all the rest of the cool things you can do online, is to go to the Practice Forum (GO PRACTICE) where you can try out all these kinds of things.. for FREE..! There's no hourly connect charge in the Practice Forum..!" Here's an interesting and offer for Falcon030 owners with CDROM drives from Greg Kopchak at It's all Reletive Software: " It's All Relative to All Falcon Owners 1. A hot off the press copy of Walnut Creek's new Atari CD. Walnut Creek is one of the largest distibutor of PC and Mac CD roms. This is their first Atari disc. They have an outstanding reputation in the PC market. 2. A Photo CD desktop viewer application for the Falcon. Just click on any Photo CD image and have it pop on the screen in Falcon true-color! 3. A MultiTOS ready XFS driver that will read both Photo CD and standard CD roms. Just plug your drive into the Falcon 030 and welcome to computing in the 90's. Drives supported include the Toshiba 3401, NEC-38, NEC-55, NEC-74 and NEC-84. All the above for $39.95, postpaid, from It's All Relative Software. Send a check for $39.95 to Randall Kopchak, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant, MO 63031. Orders will be shipped as soon as the CD is ready. Planned ship date is on or about December 27. No checks will be cashed till discs are shipped!" Lou Trapani asks Greg about the CD disk: "I was wondering about this new Atari CD-ROM. Is it a collection of software (PD & Shareware and freeware)? Also, I do not have a CD-ROM player for any of my Atari computers. Would I be able to access it using a Mac with a CD-ROM? Thanks for the info. It is great to see that the Atari platform is finally getting some CD-ROM software." Albert Dayes jumps in and tells Lou: "Since the disc is ISO-9660 you can read the contents on any platform. Mac, UNIX, IBM PC, Atari, etc." Greg Kopchak tells Lou: "According to the press release, the Walnut Creek CD will have public domain, shareware, commercial demos, electronic magazines, and other files that will be of interest to the Atari community. The disk can be read from a PC. CD roms in the 9660 format are a common format that is shared across all platforms. The disk will have a suggested retail of $39.95. We are including a Falcon MultiTOS XFS driver and Photo CD desktop viewer for the Falcon in our special Christmas package. It's everything you need to get started on the Falcon, CD, Photo CD viewer and driver. The driver supports the Toshiba 3401, NEC-38, NEC-55, NEC-74 and NEC-84 drives among others." Yat at Lexicor Software talks a bit about the Medusa T040, the new 68040 based TT-compatable computer available from Lexicor: "It is a COMPLETELY Fast system but there is a compatiblity switch that allows you to turn of cache and make the first 8 Megs STRAM Compat. But I wouldn't do that...most serious applications welcome Faster RAM :) You wouldn't need to use a CRDOTS and VME Bus..because with NVDI ET-4000 you can plug in any 'ol ET-4000 Board...1 meg or 2 meg, it shouldn't matter. So you can use Doze boards ;) any one that is ET-4000 based, that's the beauty of it. Also...you don't HAVE to HAVE a SCIS Board...you can do ACSI via ICD to SCSI...eg. for a cheaper solution...just as much as you don't need the VME Board...unless you insist on using your VME Gfx board :) " Boris Molodyi tells Yat: "ompletely fast, eh? I like that. As for ET-4000 and SCSI: the thing is that I already have SCSI drive and Crazy Dots II board in my TT, so I'd have to buy a whole new drive and board for Medusa. OTOH, it might make my TT a better sale, so I could get money for Medusa... It's all so tempting... :-) Say, would you have GEMBENCH results for Medusa? It should be interesting." Well, that's it for this week. Tune in again next time and listen to what they are saying when... PEOPLE ARE TALKING Well, that should do it for another week. Keep tuned to STReport for your latest in Atari news and information. Please remember that during this enjoyable holiday season comes responsibility. Play it safe when attending those office Christmas parties!! Don't drink and drive! Until next time..... -Dana """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > A "Quotable Quote" "Yes indeed... "Tis the time of year!" """"""""""""""""" "'Tis the Season to be Jolly... Falalalala lalala...la lala lala Darn.... where's the "RESET" key?" Hand Held Carollers?? Nah... Get a Jaguar! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > DEALER CLASSIFIED LIST STR InfoFile * Dealer Listings * """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" --------------- ABCO COMPUTER INC. ================== P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 Est. 1985 1-904-783-3319 HOLIDAY SEASON SPECIALS IN EFFECT! ---------------------------------- INTEL 32 BIT 486 Tower PENTIUM READY (HAS SOCKET) PLUG-IN UPGRADABLE (easy) 4MB ram upgradable to 32MB 1MB SVGA VESA VIDEO CARD DOS 6.2 - Windows 3.1 Incl. 256K CACHE - 1.44/1.2 FLOPPY 200MB IDE hd - 2 SERIAL, 1 PARALLEL, 1 GAME PORTS 250W POWER SUPPLY TOWER SYSTEM will meet or beat _any_ legit, advertised price other high power packages available or, design your own! Call for pricing! Call: 904-783-3319 Anytime, Voice Mail =====******===== Diamond Speed Star 24x SVGA/VGA Video Card w/1mbVRAM Enhances Windows SPEED and EFFICIENCY Pro Audio Spectrum STUDIO 16 - 16bit - Midi - Audio Recognition Top of the PAS Media Vision Line - True Multi-Media IDE Super IO cards & 16550 UART 2 & 4 Port Cards Call: 904-783-3319 Anytime, Voice Mail FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER WORLDWIDE MAIL ORDER SERVICE IBM/MSDOS-PC-CLONES-MAC-AMIGA-ATARI CUSTOM HARDWARE CONFIGURATIONS MADE TO ORDER 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 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" EAST HARTFORD COMPUTER ====================== 202 Roberts St. East Hartford CT. 06108 1-203-528-4448 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" MEGABYTE COMPUTERS ================== 907 Mebourne Hurst, TX 76053 1-817-589-2950 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" SAN JOSE COMPUTER ================= 1278 Alma Court San Jose, CA. 95112 1-408-995-5080 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CompuSeller West ================ 220-1/2 W. Main St. St. Charles, IL., 60174 Ph. (708) 513-5220 FULL LINE COMPUTER DEALER """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (DEALERS; to be listed here, please drop us a line.) """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport International Online Magazine -* [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport *- AVAILABLE ON OVER 20,001 PRIVATE BBS SYSTEMS """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STR Online! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" December 17, 1993 Since 1987 copyright (c) 1987-93 All Rights Reserved No.9.51 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" All Items quoted, in whole or in part, are done so under the provisions of The Fair Use Law of The Copyright Laws of the U.S.A. Views, Opinions and Editorial Articles presented herein are not necessarily those of the editors/staff of STReport International Online Magazine. Permission to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Reprints must, without exception, include the name of the publication, date, issue number and the author's name. STR, 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. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""