|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| || || ||| || || || || ||| |||| |||||| || |||| Your || || || || ||| || || |||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GEnie ST || |||||| || || |||||| RoundTable || || || ||| ||| || || || |||||| |||||||| |||||| RESOURCE! || || || || || || || ||||| || || || || || ~ CALAMUS: ATARI AT ITS BEST! ~ ~ AN INDEPTH REPORT ON DIGITAL AUDIO ON THE ST ~ ~ THE WINNER, BY TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT: ATARI! ~ ~ GEnie_QWIK_QUOTES ARE BACK! ~ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// October 01, 1991 ~ A T/TalkNET OnLine Publication ~ Issue No.2.33 ////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Publisher/Editor ................................... John F. Peters Co-Editor ........................................ Darlah J. Pine Technical Editor ................................ Jeff Williams TX2 Editor ..................................... David Holmes [IDX] """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ WHAT'S HAPPENING ON GEnie? TAKE A LOOK! ~ """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY] Notes From The Editor. Is That A Letter For Me? ATARI & THE REAL WORLD .. [WOR] ATARI_QWIK_TIPS ......... [TIP] The Final Bell. Atarians Helping Atarians. MEL'S MANOR ............. [MEL] FOCUS ON... ............. [FOC] [*]PS's/Hot Files To Download! CALAMUS:Atari At Its Best! DEALER VIEWPOINT ........ [DLR] ST ELSEWHERE ............ [ELS] Ceveat Emptor! Of Interest To YOU. SOFTVIEW ST ............. [SOF] THE ONLINE LIBRARY ...... [LIB] [*]Digital Audio On The ST. Get It While It's HOT! HACK'N ATARI ............ [HAC] LOG OFF ................. [LOG] Down To The Wire. GEnie Lamp Information. ~ TX2 GRAPHICS ISSUE: SEE THE DIFFERENCE! ~ [REA] """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" READING GEnie Lamp GEnie Lamp has incorporated a unique indexing """""""""""""""""" system to help make reading the magazine easier. To utilize this system, load GEnie Lamp into any ASCII word processor or text editor. In the index you will find the following example: HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] [*]GEnie Fun & Games. To read this article, set your find or search command to [HUM]. If you want to scan all of the articles, search for [EOA]. [EOF] will take you to the last page, whereas [IDX] will bring you back to the index. TX2 FORMAT What are you missing when reading the ASCII version of """""""""" GEnie Lamp? EXCITEMENT! Whenever you see a [*] in the index or in the article header, that indicates that the article contains TX2 graphics and/or pictures. To see the graphics, you will need the following files: LMP_233.LZH GEnie Lamp in TX2 format MINI_TX2.LZH Mini-version of TX2 Viewer (File #20441) LMP233_C.LZH COLOR TX2 picture file. LMP233_M.LZH MONO TX2 picture file. GEnie Lamp Online Magazine: SEE THE DIFFERENCE! MESSAGE INFO To make it easy for you to respond to messages re-printed """""""""""" here in GEnie Lamp, you will find all the information you need immediately following the message. For example: (DARLAH, CAT6, TOP1, MSG:58/M475) _____________| _____|__ _|___ |____ |_____________ |Name of sender CATegory TOPic Msg.# Page number| In this example, to respond to Darlah's message, log on to page 475 enter the bulletin board and set CAT 6. Enter your REPly in TOPic 1. A message number that is surrounded by brackets indicates that this message is a "target" message and is referring to a "chain" of two or more messages that are following the same topic. For example: {58} [EOA] """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" /////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ///// / "This is starting to sound like a rip off of COLA WARE! / / Of course, REAL cola ware requires nothing less than JOLT! / / I'se not a 'Pepper! Never have, never will." / /////////// BOB-BRODIE, CAT14, TOP40, MSG:65/M475 ////////// [FRM]////////////////////////////// FROM MY DESKTOP / ///////////////////////////////// Notes From The Editor """"""""""""""""""""" By John Peters [GENIELAMP] o TOP OF THE PAGE: Random Ramblings. o THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW: RoundTable Happenings. o HOT SPOTS: Where The Action Is. o IT CAN'T WAIT: Hot Info! o WHO ARE WE? ST RoundTable SysOps TOP OF THE PAGE QWIK_QUOTES are back! Yes folks, I've been clipping """"""""""""""" messages, and where appropriate, asking for permission to reprint the words of wisdom that have been posted in the RT bulletin board and elsewhere. This following news is so hot, it can't wait for the, "It Can't Wait Department." :-) RSCARDS, the amazing front-end program that allows you to play Backgammon, Blackjack, Checkers and (my favorite) Poker has been updated to include Chess. ALRIGHT! But wait, there's more good news... the chess area is the first multi-player game area to become part of the GEnie Basic*Services. That's right, you can now play Chess online, on GEnie and without watching the clock! The chess game will be a complete graphic implementation of multi- player Chess and the software will be available for Atari ST, Commodore Amiga and 128, Apple Macintosh, and IBM-compatible computers. Current plans are to open the Chess RT October 1st. (That's TODAY!) What are you waiting for? GET THIS FILE! (File #21047 in the ST Library.) The graphics are stunning and the cost is right on! To get to the chess area, type RSCARDS at any GEnie prompt. To use RSCARDS v4.0 on your Atari ST: 1. Log on to GEnie using your regular communications program. 2. Move to the GEnie menu page for the game you wish to play. 3. Select the "Play" option from the GEnie menu page. 4. Wait for the message "Please run your RSCARDS program now" to appear on your screen. 5. Run RSCARDS.PRG as a GEM program from within your communications program (if possible), or exit your communications program and double-click on RSCARDS.PRG from the GEM Desktop. >>> THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Jon Carroll, the author of Make*A*Date, says the commercial version is "going to happen any day now." Jon reports that Version 2 is a lot more reliable and contains a lot of new features like the ability to print (and customize printing), TODO lists that can be prioritized, Import/Export functions and more. The price of the package will be $24.95. Watch for it. Make*A*Date is definitely one of the better "date reminder" programs available for the ST (or any other platform for that matter!). Tim Purves, author of ST Aladdin says that the file limit for version 1.3 is 30,000 files. This is great for those of us with 1 meg or more of memory but it is causing headaches for 520 users. Plans are to make the index disk based in the next version of ST Aladdin. Did you purchase an earlier version of the CodeHead's MultiDesk utility, from someone other then your dealer or the CodeHeads? Fear not! The CodeHead's will upgrade your copy MultiDesk for $20.00 along with the original disk _even_ if you aren't the original owner. NOw _that's_ support! A bunch of Happy Birthday cards was posted when John Townsend of Atari Corp. "admitted under pressure" that he is now another year older. Happy Birthday, John, from all of us here at GEnie Lamp :-). The Atari ST RoundTable SysOps are proud to announce Lee Seiler and crew now have their own Category (CAT 25) here in the ST RoundTables. Interesting news is already being posted there... the Animation classes by Lee will be uploaded to the new Lexicor library (#39) along with the lecture and homework assignments. If you want to learn about graphics and animations, watch this area closely! There's only a couple of bugs holding up C Sculpt. "Render for sculpt" is almost ready for release. This program will allow you to view and render ongoing or finished 3D2 objects. Check out CAT 25 for more graphic info and news. Do you hate your meeces to peecses? Lots of mail is being generated on who has the best mouse out for the ST. Everybody has a favorite, from the Atari original to the make your own (borrowed from a PC clone). And there's also talk of a new cordless mouse... to get in on the conversation, see CAT4, TOP37, MSG:{15}. WIN ONLINE TIME! We have a NEW and exciting way to win a FREE one day """""""""""""""" flag for the ST area. The flag can be used on a day of your choice. Prizes will be awarded to those stories we select to reprint. Any additional stories we can use, will receive free time online. 5 hours for the second and third stories we select. 2 hours for any additional stories we use. We ask that the stories be real and able to be verified. That permission is granted to give GEnie LiveWire, GEnie Lamp and the ST RT to reprint in their respective magazines and in the ST bulletin board area. We can't use all the stories but we will use those that present an interesting story. Photographs may be requested to highlight the story but will not always be necessary. Got an interesting way you use GEnie? Did you meet someone special online? Tell us about it. We want to hear it! Send Mail to DARLAH <-- I will forward it on to my staff at GEnie Lamp and also will be sharing them with the LiveWire Staff. Be sure to include all pertinent information in order for us to verify your stories. I met the love of my life at a trade show in Las Vegas but I kept up a long distant relationship via GEnie till we decided to take the plunge. What's your story??? Tell us all about it. If we select your story, you will not only be highlighted in our article(s) but will win free time. Articles MUST be submitted before December 5th in order for us to use them in our holiday issue of GEnie Lamp in December. Looking forward to hearing from you...... WHAT'S FAST? A new option in the latest ST Aladdin 1.3 has an option """""""""""" button called FAST! in the configuration screen. Although "greyed" out for now, it has created a slew of messages on the ST and ST Aladdin RTs of curious users wondering what it is. ST Aladdin SysOp [Gordon] explains: FAST is a very simple protocol. It does no error checking, except for the CRC for the entire file. For that reason it requires an error- corrected connection through MNP, X.25 or X.PC for example. It's really easy to implement, the SPEC is =truly= PD so anybody can use it without the need for any legal threats, etc. Since the connection is error corrected, all you have to do is blast the file down or up the connection and that's it. And you can do UPLOADS with it. That alone is a big boon for GEnie. Frankly, I think this is what we needed a long time ago. Now that MNP is so widespread, this makes sense. Fast upload and downloads with little or no problems, better throughput, etc. Thanks Gordon! UPCOMING CONFERENCES Wednesday, October 2: WAACE Realtime Conference. """""""""""""""""""" Get ready for the biggest and best Atari event on the East Coast! Show organizers John Barnes and Charles Smeton and others will be on hand to get the excitement started. The WAACE Atari- Fest is October 12 - 13, but don't wait, get in on the fun now! Wednesday, October 9: Gribnif Software Realtime Conference. Gribnif Software's Rick Flashman, Dan Wilga, and Tricia Metcalf will tell you all about the latest goodies from Gribnif, like the popular Neodesk 3, STalker 3, STeno, CardFile 3, Arabesque Professional, and who knows what else! Be on hand to get hear the latest and to get your own questions answered directly by the Gribnifs. >>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [*] CAT2, TOP31, Msg:{57}........Accelerator WARS! [*] CAT4, TOP37, Msg:{26}........Mouse mortality. [*] CAT11, TOP18, Msg:{114}......"Atari Apologists" fight back! [*] CAT6, TOP11, Msg:{60}/M1000..ST Aladdin Billing clock removal. [*] CAT14, TOP7, MSG:{97}........ST Notebook lacks a "true" cartridge port. [*] CAT26, TOP2, Msg:{24}........ST Report editorial comments. >>> OFF TOPIC MESSAGES <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""" [*] CAT18, TOP26, Msg:{66}.......Which car do you own? [*] CAT4, TOP35, Msg:{113}.......HDTV. [*] CAT4, TOP37, Msg:{36}........Coffee, Tea, Coke and computers together? This and other computer horror stories told. [*] CAT6, TOP2, Msg:{2}/M1000....Is copying cassettes, VHS cassettes etc. legal. [*] CAT18, TOP26, Msg:{20}.......Unions - Good or bad? IT CAN'T WAIT DEPARTMENT Bill Rehbock announced that Atari is signing """""""""""""""""""""""" GE Service Centers to be the authorized service places for all Atari warranty and repair work. This should be finalized before Christmas, and should result in faster, cheaper and more available service. And very likely, the end of the 90 day warranty. Look for 6 mos or year warranty as the standard once this deal is in place. Atari is dead serious about this: they even re- designed the TT motherboard ENTIRELY in order to make it meet GE's requirements of the deal. And the NEW version of the TT PASSED FCC TYPE B THIS WEEK. (Why do I presume that this will be dissected and refuted and turned into another club with which the perpetually disgruntled will proceed to beat Atari -- and its purported apologists -- in the head?) (Z-NET, CAT18, TOP25, MSG:82/M475) >>>>> Yep.. I understand this deal is close. We have been working on """"" this for awhile. I think this will be a great thing for Atari Users. -- John (TOWNS, CAT28, TOP15, MSG:94/M475) IN THIS CASE IT MAY PAY TO WAIT We have looked at this, it is possible """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" that this would work for some modem chipsets, but not for the Intel chipset. Due to the way it is written, I suspect that the person does not know what they are talking about. [This is in reference to a questionable file which explained how to upgrade 2400 baud modems to 9600 baud. -ed.] There are a lot of generalities, with ver little specifics. Believe me, if it only cost a couple of $$ to upgrade out modems, we would be selling kits or doing it for you. If you are looking for cheap 9600 v.32 modems, I suggest that you wait until the end of this year. The retail price of v.32 will be dropping to the range of $300-400, about half what it is now. 2 manufacturers are already shipping v.32 modems at this price level, we and several other manufactures will be joining them RSN. (SUPRATECH, CAT8, TOP4, MSG:53/M475) >>> WHO ARE WE? <<< """"""""""""""""""" HAVE A QUESTION? If you have a question about GEnie, the RoundTables """""""""""""""" or whatever, you can now ask a SysOp! Post your question in the GEnie Lamp bulletin board, CAT 34. o Darlah J. Pine [DARLAH] o Sandy Wilson [SANDY.W] o Jeff Williams [JEFF.W] o Fred Beckman [FB] o Larry Duke [LARRY.D] o John J. Kennedy [JJKENNEDY] o John Peters [GENIELAMP] o Vince Averello [VINCE.A] o Nathan Potechin [ISD] Take care... John Peters ////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ///// / "I look forward to the day I don't need the Amiga around, / / I will then beat that 1084 to pieces with a bat... / / as soon as my eyes stop bouncing up and down ;-)" / //////////// J.ALLEN27, CAT4, TOP5, MSG:116/M475 ////////// [EOA] [HEY]////////////////////////////// HEY MISTER POSTMAN / ///////////////////////////////// Is That A Letter For Me? """""""""""""""""""""""" o ATARI ODDS & ENDS o ATARIAN MINDS WANT TO KNOW o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT >>> ATARI ODDS & ENDS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" ONLINE SURVEY I have profiled the potential computer graphics card """"""""""""" buyers/users into three groups of people. These three groups of people have slightly different needs and therefore requires slightly different hardware configuration. a) The first group is DTP users. DTP users need a high resolution display to view more information on the screen at once. Since the display is static most of the time, screen update speed is less essential. b) The second group of people-- computer animation experts --will certainly benefit from a color board. Resolution requirement is low since any output will need to be NTSC compatible. However, a decent screen update rate (>10 frames per second) and lots of colors are essential to this group of people. c) The third group is probably the toughest to please. The graphic artists group will not settle for less than perfection. They need the high resolution to display a full page of scanned image and millions of colors to touch-up a digitized picture. I bet you probably don't even know there are so many uses for a color graphics card like the OmniChrome. What I need you to do now is to tell me what you'll be planning to use it for. I will use the OmniChrome for: A) ___% in Desktop Publishing B) ___% in animation or solid-modeling C) ___% in computer graphics Please help me with this research. Either post your answer here [in CAT4, TOPic 32] or email me (WUZTEK.OPI). The result will improve our ability to serve the Atari market. (WUZTEK.OPI, CAT4, TOP32, MSG:47/M475) JOHN JAINSCHIGG ONLINE! Hi, everybody. It's me. John Jainschigg. """"""""""""""""""""""" Publisher/Editor of Atari Explorer Magazine. Back on-line after a short, year-long hiatus. Everybody check out the latest issue of Explorer, yet? It's our "Words and Pictures" issue, with reviews of Wordflair II, Chronos, GFA BASIC 3.5E, Portfolio PowerBASIC, Le Redacteur (a French WP program), six snazzy new Lynx games, a flock of new 7800 games, buncha ST games, new products up the wazoo, and much, much more. Our upcoming issue (Fall #2, due out in mid October) will be a MIDI/Music spectacular, containing a 40-page-long "mini-magazine" on the Atari MIDI universe. We've collected and reviewed more than 50 of the latest MIDI software packages and hardware add-ons -- Plus, we're including profiles of musical luminaries, and other nifty stuff. Our lead article is a probing analysis of the state of the Atari in music, by Craig Anderton, former Editor of Electronic Musician. Check it out! Our final issue of 1991, due out late November, will be the "Arnold Schwarzenegger/Terminator II/Pocket computer that saved the world" issue, focusing on Portfolio and on the wild co-marketing stuff that Atari is doing w/regard to the video release of this classic film. SPECIAL NOTE: GEnie subscribers are eligible for 33% off the price of a subscription to Atari Explorer between now and December 31st. Call (218) 723-9202, tell 'em your public username, and get a year's worth of The Official Atari Journal for only $9.95! (Or three years' for $24.95). Okay, now that I'm back on-line, let's start asking the tough questions, here. C'mon! Puddem' up! I'm ready for ya! Let's generate some controversy! (Just don't ask about PHONE.ACC. I'm STILL working on it, but when I send back all the disks, they're going to have PHONE.ACC, a MIDI-based Email network, a calculator, and other nifty stuff on 'em. In the meantime, if you *really* can't live without a cardfile system, Gribnif's Cardfile is a direct expression of God's will in this important application area.) -John J. (EXPLORER, CAT14, TOP30, MSG:113/M475) APPLE JOINS CPF The Software Publishers Association announced this """"""""""""""" week that Apple has joined its Copyright Protection Fund (CPF) to help battle illegal software use. Launched in 1988, the CPF was created to fight software piracy on behalf of the entire PC software industry. The following is a list of current CPF members: Adobe Systems Aldus Ashton-Tate AutoDesk Claris IBM Lotus Development Microsoft Novell Santa Cruz Operation Software Publishing Symantec WordPerfect There are two charters of the fund, to provide computer users with an educational program on how to become and stay software legal; and to execute a legal campaign to fight software piracy. Apple will sponsor several other anti-piracy projects and is under- writing the translation and duplication of the SPA's videotape "It's Just Not Worth the Risk" into French and Spanish. SPAudit an SPA software program that enables computer users to inventory their software will be updated and finalized by Apple. This program for the MAC will help ensure compliance with software licenses, while taking full advantage of the Macintosh computer's graphical user interface. The CPF has filed more than 100 lawsuits against computer dealers who illegally load software onto the hard disks of PCs they sell, against training schools and BBS (Bulletin Board Systems) operators, and against corporations that make unauthorized copies of copyrighted software for internal use. The statutory penalty for willful infringement is up to $100,000 per copyright infringed. (Z-NET, CAT31, TOP9, MSG:1/M475) FSMGDOS DOES WORK! FSMGDOS does work on ALL TOS versions. It has CPX """""""""""""""""" modules (and Accessories for those not wishing to use use the CPX modules) for configuration of your FSMGDOS installation. One word of warning. The Accessories are exactly the same as the CPX modules. (i.e. For Each CPX, there is a Desk Accessory available). If you go the Accessory route, you will probably use up more memory and take up 2-3 desk Accessory slots. -- John (TOWNS, CAT14, TOP18, MSG:60/M475) >>>>> Actually John, that is not exactly true. On a TT with TOS 3.01, """"" FSM works but the bezier's don't work right. It even puts up a message at installation time saying "please upgrade your TOS". (R.FLASHMAN, CAT14, TOP18, MSG:61/M475) CALAMUS ALERT I'm currently compiling the last version of the CFRG. """"""""""""" It is and will be available from PDC Software (GEnie: PDC.SW). The next and last version should be available at the end of October. If anyone has fonts, Calamus related utilities/prgs, or offers Calamus related services and would like to display in the Guide, please contact me via E_Mail at S.CEROVICH. This will be the last version of the Guide that I compile, so if you have font(s), utilities or programs that are nearing completion, please contact me. They can be included as "Available Soon". (S.CEROVICH, CAT16, TOP13, MSG:31/M475) EXTRA ZEST FOR YOUR PROGRAMS! I have upload Auto ZeST to the library. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" This program allows GFA users to 'draw' a custom front-end or graphic user interface for their own program and then automatically save the GFA code to disk! You can create a complete 3D NeXT look-a-like operating environment for the mono monitor quickly and cleanly. The ZeST interface is easy to understand for new programmers and easy to use for those people that will be operating your custom GFA applications. You can create push buttons, sliders, windows, text boxes, information boxes, line boxes, platforms, vertical lines, horizontal lines, add text anywhere and much more! Auto ZeST code is fully remarked showing where you can add your own code and what variables to follow for slider and button manipulation. You can save a graphic image of the ZeST cube for inclusion in your own programs as well! Auto ZeST can save the entire ZeST interface with your own custom creation or just the procedures associated with your front-end. This allows you to nest screens and have them appear and overlap when active and disappear when not being used. The possible uses for ZeST within your own programs are endless. In fact, it's a lot of fun just fooling around with Auto ZeST and creating interesting three dimensional effects. Auto ZeST is freeware in the hope that more hobby programmers will upload to GEnie and share their ideas. Don't be shy! (D.BECKER8, CAT22, TOP6, MSG:32/M475) >>> WHAT'S NEW? <<< """"""""""""""""""" DOUBLE CLICK TRIMS THE FAT Double Click Software presented its soon- """""""""""""""""""""""""" to-be released DC Data Diet, bringing 'program invisible' compression to data files used in most major software releases. Text files, font files -- virtually all program specific files can now be compressed using two types of compression, one for greater speed, the other for greater compression. These files will then auto- decompress, or "normalize" as the program needs them. The savings for hard drive users should be phenomenal, adding greatly to the hard drive's _uncompressed_ storage capacity. Double Click maintains that Data Diet is unique not only to ST's, but to all platforms. If you are a hard disk user, Data Diet may be the best reduction program since Pritikin. Double Click Software P.O. Box 741206 Houston, Texas 77274-1206 [RICHARD BROWN] AVANT VECTOR PRICE REDUCTION Your comments about the price of the EPS """""""""""""""""""""""""""" version of Avant Vector (known as Avant Plot) have been heard! Avant Vector is the Rolls Royce of vector tracing/editing programs -- and now we're able to bring it you for Toyota prices! Through extensive discussions with our European contacts, and with new information about taxes and import duties, we've been able to manage a price reduction of $300 for Avant Plot. This version includes EPS importing/exporting, and professional plotting/cutting features. The new pricing is: Avant Vector ...... $495 Avant Plot ........ $895 And until December 31, 1991, we have special introductory prices: Avant Vector ...... $445 Avant Plot ........ $845 To order your copy of the premiere vector graphics package for Atari computers, contact: CodeHead Software PO Box 74090 Los Angeles, CA 90004 Tel (213) 386-5735 Fax (213) 386-5789 MULTIDESK DELUXE RELEASED CodeHead Software is now shipping MultiDesk """"""""""""""""""""""""" Deluxe, a major upgrade for their very popular desk accessory loader/unloader. In the past, the main drawbacks to MultiDesk were that it could eat up a lot of memory because all your DAs had to be loaded at once, and that you couldn't load or unload DAs while running a program. This new version of MultiDesk transcends both those limitations in one leap! MultiDesk was the first program to break through the GEM barrier of six desk accessories. The new version now lets you load and unload DAs "on the fly," at any time, even while running a program. While Multi- Desk Deluxe still supports the old-style "resident" DAs, it now also allows "nonresident" DAs (known as MDXs) which are loaded only when you select them and wiped from memory when you close them. All nonresident DAs share the same memory space, giving you access to many more DAs and freeing up more memory for use by applications. This approach (inspired by Atari's new Extensible Control Panel) also lets you boot up faster, since only the names of the DAs need to be read from disk. A breakthrough technique called "delta vector snapshotting" allows MultiDesk Deluxe to load and unload nonresident DAs even in programs that take over the ST's interrupt vectors, without fear of crashing the system. And MultiDesk Deluxe's new "reserve buffer" lets you open DAs that need to allocate memory even in programs that try to grab all available memory for themselves. In contrast to Atari's Extensible Control Panel (which requires its "CPX modules" to be specially written and puts severe limits on their functionality), MultiDesk Deluxe works with almost all existing ST desk accessories; no modifications to the DAs or special coding techniques are required. It is compatible with all models of ST, STe, and TT computers. MultiDesk Deluxe is available now, and retails for $49.95. Current owners of MultiDesk can upgrade to the latest version for $20.00, which includes a brand new rewritten manual, now packaged in a 3-ring binder. For more information, contact: CodeHead Software PO Box 74090 Los Angeles, CA 90004 Tel (213) 386-5735 Fax (213) 386-5789 After you get MultiDesk Deluxe, you too will be singing "Thanks For The Memory!" >>> ATARIAN MINDS WANT TO KNOW! <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (Facts, Fiction & Maybe) PHILIPS CD-I FOR THE ST? Ok, according to ST FORMAT (UK),ATARI is """""""""""""""""""""""" releasing a PHILIPS CD-I unit for the entire ST line! Here is the stats: o Full stereo sound (will play back regular dio cd's) o 650 megs of storage o 16 million colors (no,thats not a mistake!) at regular resolution, 32768 colors at high (double) with the RGB 555 encoding method o PRICE - approximately $500.00!!! PHILIPS,SONY AND MASUSHITA have entered into a compatibility agree- ment. ATARI's drive and software will be in control but according to the way that I read the article any data on the disks from these 3 companies can be read and used by the drive and software.....!!! IF this does all that ST FORMAT says it will it is the best news to come along since the ST LINE!!! IF ANYBODY KNOW OR "HEARS" ANYTHING ABOUT THIS LET US KNOW.....VERY IMP.!!! (R.HALL49, CAT14, TOP28, MSG:47/M475) QUICK ST 3.0 VIRUS? I just wanted to warn some of you who may have up- """"""""""""""""""" graded to Quick ST 3 at the show. My disk and a fellow users had a VIRUS on it. Check it out. (J.SIEBEN, CAT11, TOP18, MSG:146/M475) >>>>> J.: That was no virus, although virus checkers see it as one. """"" Darek had a botched master copy and all the copies have munged files and garbage in the boot. All those who upgraded from 2.x to 3.0 on Saturday will find that their disk is bad... but not really virused. Darek is replacing them. (Z-NET, CAT11, TOP18, MSG:148/M475) CALAMUS SL WITHIN THE MONTH? It was always the intent to release """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Calamus SL initially as we already had the very excellent 1.09N. :-) Once the manual had been completed for SL, as well as a solid, working program, we could then concentrate on S. The thought was that our customers that were desperately in need, were after color separation capabilities first and foremost. As it stands now, I expect, barring real unforeseen circumstances, to be shipping Calamus SL within a month. The delay lies in the manual itself. But I will state publicly, :-), this manual is excellent!! Calamus SL has no problem performing in black and white or grey scale, none at all. Hope this helps. (ISD, CAT16, TOP20, MSG:28/M475) IS TT CLASS B? By the way... Could someone at Atari confirm or deny """""""""""""" that the TT is now class B? (J.WENZEL2, CAT28, MSG:99/M475) >>>>> Bill Rehbock stated, in front of 100 people or so, that the TT """"" passed Class B approval under two separate configurations. No mistake JR. He also stated that they had replaced the old lab Atari had used for FCC things and gotten hooked up with a first class professional place that easily did whatever was required to get proper certification. Wild Applause, long overdue. :-) By the way, with Bill on the podium, was James Grunkie, Atari Midi Man extraordinaire. :-) (ISD, CAT28, TOP15, MSG:100/M475) NEW CORDLESS MOUSE? Some company *is* marketing the same mouse that """"""""""""""""""" was formerly OEMed by Practical Solutions. I don't remember the name of the company but a gal in our user group purchased the cordless mouse at the Glendale Atari Faire (from the Computer Network booth) for $59!! That's a deal!! (STACE, CAT4, TOP37, MSG:31/M475) >>>>> I believe the new cordless is a Golden Image. """"" (MUSE, CAT4, TOP37, MSG:33/M475) IS THE ST PAD FOR YOU? The PAD is something Realtors, warehouse """""""""""""""""""""" workers, insurance adjusters, and various sales types, and maintenance supervisors, etc, etc. This is a technology that will foster the creation of market niches that don't currently exist. It is an "enabling" technology. Only trouble, Atari isn't the only company to recognize this ;-) But it definitely isn't a product for the average consumer. The BOOK is, and boy does the BOOK resemble the new Toshiba T2200SX ;-) The case that is. BTW, Atari has thought ahead, and developed a couple of plastic peripheral cases, that will allow developers to package their products in matching high quality cases...without going broke making an injection molded case. Good move ;-) (J.ALLEN27, CAT14, TOP7, MSG:85/M475) >>>>> Stu.. funny you should mention that! Being a student, that was """"" my first thought. Sort of a portable NoteTaking computer. Once I can get one, I would really like to write some programs to do this kind of thing. -- John (TOWNS, CAT14, TOP7, MSG:86/M475) ROSETTA UPDATE I just received a call from the printers of the manual. """""""""""""" We should be getting the final gally proofs on monday. If we do we will be shipping about two weeks later. The software has been finished and we are sure that all who have waited so long will enjoy the results. Watch this topic for the release date announcement. (L.SEILER, CAT25, TOP1, MSG:3/M475) IT'S A KNIGHTMARE This game is made by the same people who did """"""""""""""""" Captive. It is suppose to be better than Captive with better graphics and sound. I saw the some screen shots of this game and it looked great. It is a Dungeon-Master type game with excellent graphics and sound. It involves not only going into a dungeon, but also traveling on land and it even has you going under water. Seems to be a very good complete RPG game. It should be out very soon (if it is not already). I saw an ad for it in ST Informer. There was no price listed, but beside the title was the word "awesome". I think it will be.... (E.BAIZ, CAT9, TOP9, MSG:0-1/M475) INTERLINK, AGAIN? I just called Intersect out of curiosity to see how """"""""""""""""" the new protocols they said that they were going to write, (Zmodem and a NEW ANSI) were coming along. Well, what I heard was a surprise. He (Jeff) told me that they have decided to add these features and others (a 2nd buffer, spelling checker...ect) to a NEW version of INTERLINK! Because they are taking on this bigger project it will take more time than just the protocols, so don't expect it till next year. It seems that Intersect has not left the ST market yet. Something nice to see. (S.HOLMES1, CAT8, MSG:143/M475) NEW ST COMPUTERS? Supposedly, "Falcon" and the other three "ST-based" """"""""""""""""" machines are MUCH MORE than what the STE/MSTE are (i.e. better graphics and other NEW stuff), although at least one is rumored to have an IBM emulator built-in and there may also be a built- in CD-ROM. (S.JOHNSON10, CAT18, TOP20, MSG:64/M475) QIX FOR LYNX I have just received a preproduction copy of QIX, the new """""""""""" LYNX cartridge from TELEGAMES. For those of you un- familiar with TELEGAMES, they are the only LYNX Third Party Developer with any kind of a product on the market. I won't take the time to discuss how to play QIX here, but I will tell you a bit about the LYNX version. First of all, the sound really makes this one feel BIG. Much of the effect of the game is only available through use of headphones, which allow the sounds of boxes filling and the SPARX and QIX moving about to really penetrate to your core. Unlike MS. PACMAN for the LYNX, QIX doesn't come off as being too cramped. Granted, the SPARX are somewhat hard to see and the joypad control is a bit annoying, but there is a lot of great color and sound to this game. If you didn't like QIX in the arcade, this one ain't gonna change your mind. But if you were a QIX fanatic, or even got mild enjoyment from QIX in the arcade, you will probably want to give this one a try. Either you will love it in the first 10-20 minutes of play, or you will put it down and move on... Look for an indepth review in the premier issue of COLOR HANDS. Also look for a candid interview with Terry Grantham, president of Telegames. He'll tell you all about what it's like to be a Third Party Developer for the LYNX and drop some hints about the Fantasy Role Playing Game they have in the works. -Mark Nelson - Editor (M.NELSON15, CAT36, TOP10, MSG:1/M475) >>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" Atari-ST RoundTable Category 18, Topic 16 Message 82 Sat Aug 31, 1991 WALLY at 18:46 EDT Howdy! I've no doubt that Atari is in a slump right now, but they have a pretty sturdy plan laid out and are doing their best to follow it. Things are actually _starting_ to look up, even though the road is a long one and we are just now taking it. I've read the entire thread in this topic and have this to say: I'm stationed at the Coast Guard Air Station in Sitka, Alaska. Computer support of any kind up here is nonexistent, and you just can't drive somewhere to find it; there aren't any roads leading off the island. Everytime I've had a question, wanted to make a purchase, or needed service I've been more than happy with Far North Computer and Cave Creek Computer. They offer expert service, expert advice, expert everything. My setup is 110% usable by anyone... In the last year and one-half I've had eleven friends buy MS-DOS type computers. Two bought Packard Bell Legend-types, three bought differing models of Radio Shack's T1000, the other six bought God knows what (Dell, Leading Edge, etc...) Of these eleven people only two are still using their computers, and they hate them. One of the guys with the PB actually quit GEnie because his computer was too hard to use. None of them can afford any of the software they want for their computers. None of them can afford to get the cards necessary to have joysticks and hand scanners and the like. All of them come to me for help using their computers and I give them as much help as is humanly possible. They still don't know how to use their computers (something like un-ARCing a file is completely out of their reach, and they keep little notebooks to help remember procedures, etc.). Inevitably, when showing them how to use their computers the issue of my computer comes up, i.e., "Hey Wally, what kind of computer do you have? What makes it easier to use?" Inevitably, I bring them to my set-up for a demo. They honestly can't believe a computer would be that easy to use. Likewise they can't believe the low prices I pay for software that does what they want to do. Software they have been putting off buying because it was so expensive for their machines. I have two friends that bought Mac's. They have as much wrapped up in their keyboard, monitor, modem, 40 meg HD, and computer as I do with: o 1040STe w/4meg RAM o Emerson Multi-sync o Seagate 85meg HD w/ ICD host + o Migraph hand scanner o SupraModem 2400 o KX-P1124 printer Like my IBM-type friends, they often need help using their computers, and can't afford software. Like my IBM friends, they wish they had bought an Atari. Of course, up here the lack of service makes ALL computers equal in attaining service... I will be buying a SuperCharger (286, I hope), but I will never buy an IBM-type computer and dump my Atari. Why? Because this little Atari will do everything any other computer will do. Why? Because I can make this little Atari do whatever I want it to do. Why? Because I don't have to worry about being snubbed for what type of IBM clone or Mac I own at computer stores and in RT's. Why? Because I have all the programs and support I need and more things are coming out every month. Why? Because I don't have to pay IBM/Mac prices for hardware and software. Why? Because I am not a POWER USER, just a computer user. I am not a dyed-in-the-wool Atari fanatic, just a computer user happy with his setup. Regards, Wally the kayaking hermit in Alaska [*][*][*] While on GEnie, do you spend most of your time downloading files? If so, you may be missing out some excellent information in the Bulletin Board area. The messages listed above only scratch the surface of what's available and waiting for you in the bulletin board area. If you are serious about your Atari, the GEnie Lamp staff strongly urge you to give the bulletin board area a try. There are literally thousands of messages posted from people like you from all over the world. //////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ///// / "We got a computer-generated PARKING ticket yesterday... / / Sometimes I think this technology craze has gone too damn far." / //////////// D.A.BRUMLEVE, CAT14, TOP7, MSG:90/M475) //////////// [EOA] [WOR]////////////////////////////// ATARI AND THE REAL WORLD / ///////////////////////////////// The Final Bell """""""""""""" By Richard W. Brown [R.BROWN30] >>> "The Winner, By Technical Knockout: ATARI! <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ IBM Buckles Under Pressure ~ As we all know, when purchasing a new piece of software, very often, a "README.1ST" file is included, mainly to brief the user on the latest updates or to give information that was not printed in the manual. In the Atari universe, README files have a very common feel. What do you suppose a README file on the IBM might have in store? Let's take a look at the FIRST PARAGRAPH of the README file that comes with the fine flight simulator, _Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe_, for the IBM family of computers: (VERBATIM) "To run SWOTL on your IBM, Tandy, or compatible computer, you must have at least 581,000 bytes of RAM available. If your computer is equipped with expanded memory, you can run SWOTL with as little as 543,000 bytes of RAM available. If you experience memory related difficulties in running SWOTL, use the DOS program "CHKDSK" to see how much free RAM your computer has available. You may need to disable one or more TSR programs (if you're running any) to provide more free RAM for SWOTL to use." Notice that the first, most important, and fundamental worry on the IBM is the limitations of DOS, the IBM's operating system. In the first sentence of the README file, they're already talking about RAM. Notice in the second sentence, they're talking about 'expanded memory,' that would-be saving grace that tries to offer RAM above 640K. In the third sentence they talk about RAM problems again, this time within the hidden context that 'expanded memory' simply doesn't work. Also, they eagerly tell the user how to run a program included with all DOS setups, "CHKDSK," which is devoted to Microsoft's own worries about RAM problems, "how much RAM is really free?" In the forth sentence, they regret to inform the user that, in the event of a memory crisis, the user must disable "one or more TSR programs... to provide more available RAM for SWOTL to use." If you are an Atari user with a 1040, Mega, or TT, by this point you should be dancing on the ceiling. What have we learned? The simple truth to DOS: expanded memory, even a gigabyte's worth, is meaningless and a red herring next to the central problem of DOS- that anointed first 640K of RAM. Even high-end, respected software titles that have had developmental funding akin to Atari's _hardware_ R&D budget suffer daily with this fundamental DOS inadequacy. We're talking programs like LOTUS 123, folks... The gist: It's fair to say that most DOS software for the IBM and its enormous variety of compatibles must reside, or at least the main program files, within 640K of memory. Even a game can tax this memory, as is plainly obvious. Consider what this takes away from the user: Limited TSR programs, something like your Atari's AUTO folder programs; only, in DOS, they try to emulate Desk Accessory status- a stock DOS machine has no 'desktop'. On Mount DOS, this is etched in stone: "Too many TSR's mean 'OUT OF MEMORY' problems down the road." And what about a desktop. Loading Windows 3 and the Norton Desktop is the closest thing IBM users know to a graphical interface. Take a guess where this combination of programs reside? That's correct. So, what happens if you run a spreadsheet out of Windows 3? Well, many things can happen related to memory. Some programs actually make some use out of expanded memory, but the share of the 640K they must have can lead to problems. It's complex. Very complex. Almost like a witch's brew. A little of this, a little of that, and... magic! Wonderful! Or... doom and despair. It's hard to tell which will happen at any time... Which makes me think, "What am I doing right now?" Hmmm... I just added up my TSR's: 609,767 bytes Now I added my desk accessories: 289,285 bytes ------------- TOTAL RAM USED FOR HIGH POWER SETUP: 899,052 bytes With this staggering overhead, tell me how many programs would be successful under DOS right now? Of course, I'm not playing games. I'm working on a 785K spreadsheet in LDW power (of course, writing this has put a damper on THAT). I doubt that 1% of all DOS users on earth could emulate this situation, regardless of machine: * Windowed environment * 899K of TSR's and Accessories * Lotus running with 785K Spreadsheet Wait a minute... O.K., what ELSE could I do, RIGHT NOW, without exiting my huge spreadsheet: 1. View or Decompress any ARC, LZH, ZIP, or ZOO file, 2. View (on an SM 124) any Degas PI? or PC?, or any .IMG file, 3. Write a document with word processing control up to 33K in length (you are reading one), 4. View any text file, with mouse controlled, FAST scrolling, 5. Field a phone call, and insert the person's name, address, phone number(s), date of call -- everything and more that you can do with a Rollodex in CardFile 3, my ready and able "right-hand... desk accessory?" I makes for a paper-free office, 6. While talking with the caller, with a mouse click provide names, addresses and phone numbers to any of the people with whom I generally do business, including pay scales or traffic directions for same, 7. Take down notes on the conversation in copious detail and save it to disk under a filename I'll remember, 8. If worried I won't remember some important detail, I can attach a (long) note linked to the file name (that I won't have to look for, it's ATTACHED) that is instantly ready to keep me on track, 9. With a mouse click, instantly auto-dial that person back if I remember something upon hanging up the phone (or dial any other person, even if I can only remember the first three letters of the last name), 10. Do _complete_ hard drive / floppy disk management, including file copies, moves, changes in time stamps, hide files, lock files, set archive bits, create folders, format floppies, copy disks, erase files, comment files, graphically display how much of my poor hard drive partitions are available at this time... at some point the brain locks up trying to remember _all_ the things... Oh! And view TWO directories at once in any combination of drives/directories. 11. Set my appointment calendar, and print it. 12. Print a hard copy of THIS document, if I want it. 13. Save a Degas screen dump of the screen to hard disk. Actually, 99 of them... 14. ...or continue working on my spreadsheet.... And to think, this is not multitasking... but it is stock ST. I defy any DOS user to emulate this power without multitasking. Better yet, I defy it with multitasking: O.K., 486 IBM whiz-kids, let's do a dare. Now, the rules are simple. This little game has to apply to EVERY DOS MACHINE EVER MADE (the same goes for Atari): When my hard drive is wrestled from me by the Terminator, and all my Syquest platters turned to twisted junk, and all the hard drive parts crushed by a steamroller... I can still boot my Atari to a graphic environment with full mouse control and a high-power sophistication, easily, from floppies. Keeping up, DOS? O.K.: Then, when the Terminator returns, takes all my floppies and eats them for lunch, one by one, sparing one disk only, a floppy that has just one text file on it... a word processing document with my insurance company's number... I can still boot my Atari, enjoy a windowed, graphic environment, access the floppy with a mouse, read the file on screen, then print