|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| || || ||| || || || || ||| |||| |||||| || |||| Your || || || || ||| || || |||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GEnieLamp ST || |||||| || || |||||| RoundTable || || || ||| ||| || || || |||||| |||||||| |||||| RESOURCE! || || || || || || || ||||| || || || || || ~ WOW! 1ST ANNUAL GEnieLamp *SWIMSUIT* ISSUE! ~ ~ MEL MOTOGAWA: NEXT GENERATION WORD PROCESSOR ~ ~ SHELDON WINICK: BRAGGING RIGHTS? ~ ~ RICHARD BROWN: ATARI PERCEPTIONS ~ ~ JOHN HOFFMAN: DIGITAL DIVERSIONS ~ ~ AL FASOLDT: BANNED IN THE U.S.A. ~ ~ HOT FILES ~ HOT MESSAGES ~ HOT REVIEWS! ~ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// GEnieLamp Atari ST ~ A T/TalkNET OnLine Publication ~ Vol.3, Issue 54 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Publisher.................................GEnie Information Services Editor-In-Chief........................................John Peters Editor..........................................John Gniewkowski TX2 Editor........................................David Holmes ~ GEnieLamp IBM ~ GEnieLamp [PR]/TX2 ~ GEnieLamp ST ~ GEnieLamp A2 ~ ~ GEnieLamp MacPRO ~ GEnieLamp A2Pro ~ GEnieLamp Macintosh ~ ~ Member Of The Digital Publishing Association ~ ////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ >>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ATARI ST ROUNDTABLE? <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ March 1, 1993 ~ FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY] Notes From The Editor. Is That A Letter For Me? HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] DEALER VIEWPOINT ........ [DLR] By Any Other Name. Bragging Rights. COWTOONS ................ [MOO] MEL'S MANOR ............. [MEL] GEnieLamp Swimsuit Issue! Next Generation Processor. MINI_BYTES .............. [MIN] THE MIGHTY QUINN ........ [QUI] 3 on 1: Mandala. Random Access. MICE, BYTES AND ATARI ... [MIC] PD_QUICKVIEW ............ [PDQ] Atari and You. Yours For The Asking. TELETALK ONLINE ......... [TEL] THE ONLINE LIBRARY ...... [LIB] Online Communications. HOT Files For The Asking. ATARI ON GEnie .......... [AOL] ONLINE FUN............... [FUN] Getting The Word Out. Search-ME! HACK'N ATARI ............ [HAC] PD_QUICKVIEW ............ [PD2] [*]An ST Apple ImageWriter? Yours For The Asking. Pt. II DIGITAL DIVERSIONS ...... [DIG] ADD ALADDIN ............. [ADD] Games People Play. Cut & Paste Sripts. ASK DOCTOR BOB .......... [ASK] LOG OFF ................. [LOG] Gotta Question? About GEnieLamp. [IDX]""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" READING GEnieLamp GEnieLamp has incorporated a unique indexing """"""""""""""""" system to help make reading the magazine easier. To utilize this system, load GEnieLamp 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. MESSAGE INFO To make it easy for you to respond to messages re-printed """""""""""" here in GEnieLamp, you will find all the information you need immediately following the message. For example: (SMITH, CAT6, TOP1, MSG:58/M475) _____________| _____|__ _|___ |____ |_____________ |Name of sender CATegory TOPic Msg.# Page number| In this example, to respond to Smith'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}. ABOUT GEnie GEnie costs only $4.95 a month for unlimited evening and """"""""""" weekend access to more than 100 services including electronic mail, online encyclopedia, shopping, news, entertainment, single-player games, multi-player chess and bulletin boards on leisure and professional subjects. With many other services, including the largest collection of files to download and the best online games, for only $6 per hour (non-prime-time/2400 baud). To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH. Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99368,GENIE and hit RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your information. Call (voice) 1-800-638-9636 for more information about GEnie. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "I do want to thank each and everyone of you, for all your / / input & help.. This is what GEnie'ing is all about!!" / ///////////////////////////////////////////// T.EVANS21 //// [EOA] [FRM]////////////////////////////// FROM MY DESKTOP / ///////////////////////////////// Notes From The Editor """"""""""""""""""""" By John Peters [GENIELAMP] FROM MY DESKTOP A GEnieLamp Swimsuit issue? Yup! Hey, if SI can do it, """"""""""""""" why not GEnieLamp? Our resident CowToonist says, "These bovine barnyard bathing beauties are truly livestock lovelies, heavenly heifers, stockyard stunners, and Cowtoon Cuties. They should be udderly amoosing to anyone who never thought they'd see cows in 2-piece swimsuits." I agree! Definitely something you don't want to miss! AMAZING! Ten years ago I thought a 30 to 50K magazine was large. Now """""""" it's unusual for T/TalkNET Online Publications to publish a magazine less then 150K. Of course, there are reasons for this situation. For one, 300 baud modems were the norm back then; 1200 baud was the top end and 2400 baud was reserved for the elite few who could afford them. Secondly, those who could afford it, had 64K of RAM. Third, floppy drives were $800.00+, and hard drives were just a fantasy to most of me. Thankfully, all of that has changed. Today 2400 baud is the low end of modems, 1, 2, 4 megs (or more) of RAM is not unusual and hard drives are as common as floppies. Still, in spite of the speed-demon modems, the mega-memory systems and the monster hard drives, I must admit that 200K text files are probably pushing the limits of online publishing, considering the hardware and software we are dealing with today. So.... I have come up with an alternative plan. As you may or may not know within 48 hours of publishing GEnieLamp on the menus we also offer all the Lamps in compressed format (Pk-Zip for the IBM, Mac and ST, BXY for the A2) for downloading in the GEnieLamp Library. Starting with this issue you will now also find an abbreviated issue available for downloading as well. These special issues will contain only the main courses from each of the Lamps. That is, no GEnie_Qwik_Quotes, no games or puzzles, or CowTOONS (sorry, Mike :). So, if you prefer your meat without the potatoes, we have what you're looking for! NEW CONTRIBUTOR I am pleased to announce that Al Fasoldt has agreed to """"""""""""""" submit a monthly column for GEnieLamp. Al writes about computers and consumer electronics from Syracuse, N.Y., where he is a newspaper editor and programmer. I've always enjoyed Al's columns that he occasionally posts here on GEnie, and I think you will too. PACIFIC EDGE ON GEnie! The Pacific Edge Magazine has joined the GEnieLamp """""""""""""""""""""" RoundTable. Watch for new issues in the library and reader support in the bulletin board. PERSONAL INVITATION The RealTime Conference room is available...so let's """"""""""""""""""" give it a go! I know this is short notice, but everyone interested in visiting with the Digital Publishing Association and its members is welcome to join in some RTC chat every Wednesday night. Drop by... 6:30pm Pacific 8:30pm Central 7:30pm Mountain 9:30pm Eastern ...to talk about these exciting times for electronic publishing. Make a new friend, meet an old one, or just hang out. It's all informal so don't be shy -- give it a try -- and visit the inner sanctum of DPA's enlightened pioneers of electronic publishing. Hope we see you there! Digital Publishing News "Disktop Publishing"...Yes, that was the headline """"""""""""""""""""""" in the "Trends" section of PC Magazine's March 16 issue. The two column story by Robert Kendall begins by saying Random House is putting selected titles from its Modern Library series on floppy disks in collaboration with Apple and Voyager Company. But the rest of his story focuses on the "new breed" of on-disk publishers targeting the PC-compatible market. First mention goes to Floppyback Publishing International, Bruce Gilkin's "Angel of Death", and even a color screen shot of chapter one as it looks using Dart (a Hyper-text reader for IBM). Floppyback's association with Rutgers University Press is also cited along with "Discovering the Mid-Atlantic: Historical Tours" by Patrick Louis Cooney. Next, Mr. Kendall goes on to say Connected Editions "epitomizes the effect of information technology on higher education" through Connected Education's electronic graduate courses by modem. Faculty member David Hays' annually updated book on disk "Evolution of Technology" is mentioned as an example of an inexpensive way to revise without the prohibitive expense of bound paper reprints. The story quickly summarizes most of the advantages DPA members already know and use, so it seems the author has been reading News from the Disktop and the other gems of information that Ron Albright has diligently distributed for two years. Kendall offers his own opinion that "Disktop publishing is especially appealing for universities" for monographs and text- books using hypertext as a research tool, and for students on a low budget who want to get into 'print' quickly. Regarding distribution, Kendall unfortunately failed to mention the DPA's home on GEnie, (in the GEnieLamp RoundTable) but he did call the DPA's free bulletin board system an "especially rich source of material." Since the PC Mag story appeared, the DPA BBS is averaging about 40 calls per day. That's 1200 calls per month, and proof positive that the public wants more of what the DPA has to offer. I once said something to the effect that this thing was going to take off suddenly, catching us all with our mouths hanging open. Brace yourselves! The tide is turning and is sure to flood the DPA beachfront as this kind of attention roils into an electronic storm charged with new writers, publishers, and adventurers. -Mike White [*][*][*] Until next month... John Peters [GENIELAMP] ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "I just purchased a cordless electric screwdriver. There / / are two pages (31 items!) of "Important Safety Rules" for / / using the screwdriver -- including such things as "wear / / hearing protection during extended periods of operation", / / "stay alert", and "do not operate while under the / / influence of drugs, alcohol, or any medication". Sheesh. / / It's just a simple electric screwdriver. Heaven forbid you / / can't figure out how to use it. They forgot a warning about / / being severely irritated by all of the warnings." / ///////////////////////////////////////////// J.EIDSVOOG1 //// [EOA] [HEY]////////////////////////////// HEY MISTER POSTMAN / ///////////////////////////////// Is That A Letter For Me? """""""""""""""""""""""" By John Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] o BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS o ATARI ODDS & ENDS o WHAT'S NEW? o THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE... o HOT TOPICS o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT >>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [*] CAT27, TOP16, MSG{1}....Who's Sellin' What & Where? [*] CAT14, TOP34, MSG{60}...MultiTOS Lessons From MS Windows Users! [*] CAT33, TOP3, MSG{41}....Lost (in space) Clusters - HELP! [*] CAT15, TOP11, MSG{128}..Atari Interface Subscribers Unhappy [*] CAT14, TOP2, MSG{44}....To Be An Atari Dealer... [*] CAT18, TOP22, MSG{46}...ROM OS 'Image' Debate for Emulators >>> ATARI ODDS & ENDS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" Spectrum's Falcon on a MSTe!! I have had limited success running Falcon """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" on my MegaSTe... it's still touch and go. The loader for the program is some fairly nasty code to trace, and the .img file is, well, huge! The main problems seem to be in the digitized sound code and the mouse handler (surprise, surprise... same problems a *lot* of software has with TOS 2.0 and above, that and disk buffers.) You *CAN* run Falcon on a MSTe by loading it up at 8 Mhz. I moved the loader out of auto and had a little better luck (dbl click it like a normal app). Once Falcon loads, you run through with a 'dummy' pilot and abort the game (bail out). At this point, you will be able to play normally, or the system will crash. I've had marginally better luck with sound *OFF*. Without source code, I really can't delve too far into it, much more difficult fix than I expected. This was Falcon 1.1 running on a 4meg MSTe with TOS 2.05 (K.SCHAFER4, CAT9, TOP34, MSG:46/M475) Fine Tuning STalker Indeed, Stalker's "multitasking" is no better or """"""""""""""""""" faster than the GEM AES messaging system, which was never designed to handle data at high speed. (Yes, I know that the actual serial data doesn't go through the message pipe.) You can improve Stalkers multitasking behavior by: enlarging the serial buffer to at least 4 kbytes, enlarging the Stalker transfer buffer to as large as your memory configuration can stand, and making sure that hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) works. That last can be tricky because it depends on a)fixing the serial routines in the ST operating system with the appropriate patch, b)using a modem that recognizes hardware flow control and configuring it properly, and c)having a cable that transmits the signals. Don't take any of these things for granted. Hardware flow control is a faster way than the normal XON/XOFF flow control for telling the modem that the computer's buffer is full, please don't overfeed me, thank you. If your modem is sending data and the computer's serial buffer fills up because Stalker is multitasking and doesn't have the time to empty it, the computer is supposed to use flow control to stop the incoming data until the buffer can be emptied. If the data is coming in too fast, the flow control doesn't act fast enough and the modem sends some data which overflows into the bit bucket. (By the way, when's the last time you emptied your bit bucket?) The error checking of the file transfer protocol is supposed to catch that, but sometimes it doesn't and even if it does it can slow down the transfer tremendously. Whew, that was long-winded and I hope people aren't irritated because I pointed out the obvious. Hope it helps a little bit. (EXPLORER.5, CAT17, TOP3, MSG:43/M475) Warp 9 & GEMSound OK, here's the word on gemsound. The problem between """"""""""""""""" Warp 9 and gemsound is due to the fact that gemsound fails to follow the trap #2 protocol documented in our "A Programmer's 11 Commandments for Vector Stealing," which has been around for almost 3 years now. (Sigh.) But there is a way to make Warp 9 and gemsound coexist. NOTE: this conflict has nothing to do with the order of the programs in your AUTO folder! The key is the order in which the gemsound CPX and the Warp 9 Control Panel run. The gemsound CPX must run BEFORE the Warp 9 Control Panel - - which means that XCONTROL.ACC must run before the WARP9_CP.ACC, since it's XCONTROL that loads the gemsound CPX. The best way to ensure this is to use MultiDesk Deluxe and load both XCONTROL and WARP9_CP as resident accessories, with XCONTROL loading first. When things are set up this way, gemsound will work just fine. If you don't use MultiDesk Deluxe it may not be possible to force XCONTROL to load before WARP9_CP, since the GEM desktop has its own inscrutable methods of starting up DAs -- they don't necessarily start up in the same order in which they load. You _must_ load the Warp 9 Control Panel accessory in order to use gemsound successfully, and it has to run after XCONTROL. (CODEHEAD, CAT32, TOP31, MSG:57/M475) >>>>> I just did some further testing with Gemsound and the Warp 9 CP. """"" In an attempt to get them to install in the correct order without MultiDesk's help, I installed them as the only two accessories. Gemsound was moved to the first CPX in the directory, making it the first CPX to show up in XControl and presumably the first CPX to be initialized. XControl.ACC and Warp9_CP.ACC were the only two ACCs installed and XControl was first in the directory. All this means is that GEM loads and calls XControl before Warp9 CP. But ACCs are called in a round-robin manner and there's no way to know at which time through the event loop any particular ACC does its "stuff". Because XControl makes a lot of AES calls before it starts calling its CPXes, it's already too late by the time Gemsound.CPX loads and Warp 9 CP has already done it's thing. This makes Gemsound fail and there's nothing that can be done to fix it without using MultiDesk. MultiDesk has special code to insure that its ACCs are called _after_ all of the other ACCs have initialized. It then loads and fully executes each of its resident ACCs in the order you've chosen. This assures that XControl runs _before_ Warp 9, whether XControl is in its own menu slot, or it's a resident ACC loaded into MultiDesk _before_ Warp 9. So much for my "monthly" explanation of how this works. If you want Gemsound to work with Warp 9, you _must_ use MultiDesk. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT32, TOP31, MSG:58/M475) Aladdin Tip! Here's one I discovered. As you know, when doing email you """""""""""" can click on either the TO or the CC and call up the address book. BUT, did you know you can do multiple addresses simply by highlighting several names before clicking on OK? Start a letter. Click on TO. Highlight several names in the address book, then click on OK. Those names will appear on the TO line. Click on too many names? The extras will appear as "*ACC" in the text of the letter. You can still add more by clicking on the CC line. Again, more names than will fit will be added to the existing "*ACC" line. One more. You like to forward messages you read from the RT? If you click on Forward or type F, you get a box for the name(s) to forward to, and you can call up the address book there. You can highlight multiple adresses here too. Select too many names? Aladdin will alert you that the list has been truncated, and show you the names that made it. Click on OK, then hit hit F again, and you get a fresh box,and can forward the same message to the rest of the people you wanted to see it. (MIKE.KELLER, CAT8, TOP12, MSG:1/M1000) MultiTOS Answers Some miscellaneous answers to questions asked: """""""""""""""" (1) MultiTOS doesn't have a "single tasking" compatibility mode; however, you can disable it by holding down the left shift key while booting. (2) We haven't put MultiTOS in ROM yet, but I'm sure that it will require *at least* 512K of ROM. (Not all of the 800K on the MultiTOS distribution disk is taken up by MultiTOS itself, some of it is for the utility programs that come with MultiTOS.) (3) We're looking at various options for putting MultiTOS on 720K disks. Either we will distribute 2 disks, or use some sort of compression to fit it all on 1 disk. We haven't decided yet. (E.SMITH10, CAT14, TOP34, MSG:202/M475) SLM605 Replacement Parts First off, I'd like to thanks all the people """""""""""""""""""""""" who made suggestions a month or so ago on my SLM605 laser corona wire problem. Although I wasn't able to take advantage of any of the suggestions, I did learn a lot and would like to share my experience here in case it helps someone else in the future. A broken corona wire in an SLM804 is easy. You get a new one when you purchase a new drum. Not so easy on the SLM605. Unless you know someone who can "restring" the corona wire onto the module, you need to do what I did. First, call Epson America (1-800-922-8911) to find out where the nearest Epson service center is from you (as EPL-6000 Epson laser parts work perfectly). Either go to or phone the service center and tell them you need a "transfer charge block" for an Epson EPL-6000 laser printer (part number HGMBK-08601). I was charged $40.00 for this part (they could have restrung my block, but they have a minimum $70.00 charge for labor...the whole new part, already strung, is a better deal!!). Then all you have to do is to open up your SLM605, remove the toner cartridge and drum, take out the charger block with the broken wire (one small screw, right in the middle of the block), and replace with the new one. Back in business. Hope this helps someone else avoid the month-and-a-half it took me to work all this out. Cheers. (S.LAPHAM1, CAT14, TOP11, MSG:121/M475) For The Farsighted... (HOW & WHAT TO GET TO EXTEND YOUR MSTe's keyboard """"""""""""""""""""" into your lap & beyond).... :) Here are the right part numbers from Radio Shack for the _RIGHT_ keyboard extension cord and and in-line coupler, that is needed for the Mega STe.. This just might save someone some headache in the future.. Here is all you need from the 'SHACK: Cat. No. 279-422 <*25ft MODULAR 6 WIRE LINE CORD>.. (Or shorter if you can find it.. $7.95.. Cat. No. 279-423 <*6-WIRE IN-LIN COUPLER>. $2.95... That's it.. Hook 'em together and you can compute, in comfort, from your nice comfortable LAZY-BOY recliner, like me.... :) (T.EVANS21, CAT14, TOP14, MSG:103/M475) CAD Packages on ST/TT Only three CADD packages are supported in North """"""""""""""""""""" America to my knowledge: DynaCadd, GfA Draft and tbxCAD. Let me put my two cents worth in for tbxCAD. At $59, it is a very reasonably priced 2D CADD package but has many of the features of a high end package. It has 254 layers, infinite zoom, a large selection of drawing primitives, measurement and dimensioning, scaling and more. Perhaps most importantly, it has Specific Locations, the ability to specify locations with extreme accuracy. We have one customer who is building a 55' mobile home on the chassis of a 1969 LaFrance fire engine using plans drawn in tbxCAD. It has DXF import, and can export a GEM metafile. A print utility gives high resolution output for 9 & 24 pin printers, or it can also output to any GDOS printer. And to show that we stand behind the product, it has an unconditional money back guarantee...if you don't like it, return it within 90 days for a full refund. (ABC.SOLN, CAT7, TOP34, MSG:21/M475) Calligrapher Screen Fonts Explained When you select a point size for """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" which there is a bitmap screen font (10, 12, 18, 24), Calligrapher will use that bitmap representation for its onscreen font. If you select another size, such as 14, it must be "built" by the outline font engine. It is virtually impossible to create a font in a low resolution such as the ST screen (especially medium resolution) using an outline font module without what is called "hinting". Calligrapher's font system does not use hinting (neither does Calamus, etc.). If you find that you need to use 14pt text a lot, it would be worth your while to locate or create a 14pt bitmap font. The reason that 14pt text looks better on the printer is that the printer has a much higher resolution. Therefore, there are a lot more pixels with which to approximate the curvature of the text. To demonstrate this phenomenon, compare a two-inch circle created from pennies with a two-inch circle created from grains of salt. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT32, TOP32, MSG:132/M475) Alternate Video Benchmarks Anyway, here are the stats on those """""""""""""""""""""""""" Pagestream redraws comparing ISAC 16-color mode, ISAC 2-color mode, and ST Med. resolution. This file was a color brochure that included a mix of floor layout, bezier curve artwork, and some text. As you can see, the 2-color mode takes about 35% longer to redraw than ST Medium mode, and the 16-color adds about 43% -- but the screen is larger and the resolution is 614% higher! Not a bad trade-off... Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ST Med. Res. . . . . . . 23.18 seconds Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ISAC 16-color. . . . . . 33.15 seconds Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ISAC 2-color . . . . . . 31.37 seconds This file was also a color brochure, but it had a LARGE amount of Type 1 Postscript text, and I timed it in NON-DRAFT mode to get an example of how ISAC changes things in those unbearably long screen redraw situations. Note that in material that is predominantly text, there is only about a 12% increase in redraw time. WARNING: Do not try this test at home...our tester was a highly trained professional dozer... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ST Med. Res. . . . . . . 5:22 (min:sec) Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ISAC 16-color. . . . . . 6:00 (min:sec) Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ISAC 2-color . . . . . . 6:02? (min:sec) This file is the same as the one above but the screen redraw was done in draft mode (thank you for this ability Deron!). Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ST Med. Res. . . . . . . 14.39 seconds Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ISAC 16-color. . . . . . 20.45 seconds Mega ST4, blitter & G+Plus, ISAC 2-color . . . . . . 18.65 seconds I will post some "scrolling-type" benchmarks in the near future (Non- Pagestream stuff). The only things that I haven't been able to "get working" on the ISAC card are game programs and Degas Elite. Some things benefit a lot from the ISAC (Pagestream, Regent Base II, Aladdin, for example). Other programs cannot change the size of their screens, so they just take up about 1/3 of the 1024 x 768 screen (VIP Professional text version and PHA$AR). (W.JESSOP, CAT4, TOP28, MSG:67/M475) Add On Mega ST Speaker I too use have a multisync connected up to my """""""""""""""""""""" MegaST. As the Multisync is also color capable its connected thru a switch box, and as the switch box has audio output I was able to connect a home built (kit) cheapo amplifier to it without have to open up the MegaST. The only way to wire up a speaker inside your ST is thru an amplifier. The good news is: everything else, except the speaker, is already present. Pin 1 of the Monitor connecter is the audio output. Pin 13 will supply you with ground. Power for you amplifier can be taken directly from the power supply (be carefull). A small DC 5 or 12 volt amplifier should be available at any good electronic store (see if you can find one with a volume control). (F.BELL1, CAT4, TOP10, MSG:172/M475) Falcon Monitor Choices The NEC 3D isn't the only multisync that handles """""""""""""""""""""" the ST and Falcon screen modes. There's a lot of confusion here, and I hope I'm not adding to it by the following explanation: Any good multisync will work just dandy with the Falcon's VGA modes. The Falcon hardly taxes any decent monitor, since it cannot go higher than 640 X 480, which is the bottom of the scale in what is loosely called VGA. (As Hutch as pointed out, and others have jumped in to clarify, VGA standards are more or less 640 X 480 by 16 colors, and Super VGA is 640 X 480 X 256 colors to some folks, and 800 X 600 X 16 or more colors to other folks. (Not to mention higher resolutions....) The problem comes in when the Falcon is trying to emulate an ST on a multisync. The ST and the TT use a non-standard horizontal screen-drawing rate of 15 kHz. This is the part of the signal that controls the physical point at which the left edge of the screen is started and the right edge is ended, and it's not terribly crucial; if the monitor can't synchronize to that rate, the screen is narrower than it would be otherwise. It can be annoying, but it's not a life-or-death matter. If you choose a monitor that is not clearly able to sync to the 15-kHz horizontal rate, try to get a return privilege before you commit yourself to that model. As to why NEC and others left the 15-kHz rate out of the newer models, it's my guess that they saw no market for that feature. (A.FASOLDT, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:155/M475) The 'Children Of The Desktop' I just did some investigation and the """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" reason that not only MultiDesk and its ACC, but _all_ ACCs end, up in TT RAM is that they are all children of the desktop, which has TT RAM flags set in its basepage. I haven't tried it, but I believe it would be possible to have an AUTO program which could examine the TT RAM flags of each ACC that is loaded (into desk menu slots) and set flags accordingly, forcing that ACC to load into the RAM area specified by its flags. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT32, TOP4, MSG:128/M475) Keyboard Measurements The Mega keyboard is not smaller than the TT """"""""""""""""""""" keyboard. Both keyboards have the exact same spacing between _keys_. The TT keyboard has smaller key _tops_, however, which provides extra space between the top edges of the keys. This way, one is less likely to accidentally hit a neighboring key because the neighboring key top is further away from a carelessly aimed finger. BTW, the distance between key blocks (main, cursor control, and keypad) is 3/32" closer on the TT keyboard. This means that some spans between keys are smaller on the TT. For instance, the distance between the Shift and Enter keys is 3/16" less on the TT. Since I have a Mega and a TT within a foot of each other, these comparisons are easy. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT28, TOP13, MSG:124/M475) Stacy TOS Upgrades I would like to know if anyone (Atari or us!) has """""""""""""""""" upgraded a Stacy 2 from the factory installed TOS (1.04) to TOS 2.06. While the onboard TOS chip sockets appear to be compatible (as per pin count), would it be prudent to do that (replace them directly) ?? I realized that on my 1040STe, while the chips could be easily replaced - jumpers had to be changed. Would "simple" modifications be available on the Stacy 2 ?? Appreciate any response. Thanks. (D.MCANDREW, CAT14, TOP29, MSG:194/M475) >>>>> No, you cannot just replace the chips in the STACY with the TOS """"" 2.06 ROMs. I have installed 2.06 in my STACY, but it wasn't easy. Although I have been told that there may be just enough space to get a TEC board (from Codehead) installed inverted near the rear left corner, I ended up removing the PAL from the board and installing it on a small piece of PC board and then wiring it into the space on the right side of the board. I used the existing sockets, but I did have to bend out one pin on each EPROM, is it is connected to ground in the STACY implentation and I could not find a place to cut the trace to rewire the socket. (BPENNER, CAT14, TOP29, MSG:195/M475) Why Fastload?? The memory clearing routine in TOS 1.0 is incredibly """""""""""""" inefficient. It does indeed take TOS 1.0 about 8-9 seconds to clear four megabytes of memory. This is a problem for people with TOS 1.0 and extended memory (4 megs). PinHead solves this problem by fastloading all of your programs. And it has special code that causes it to "fastload" itself. But Warp 9 does not fastload itself. It only fastloads everything after it installs. I've written a program called MAKEFAST.PRG which tacks on some code to make any program fastload itself. The purpose of this program is to allow Warp 9 (and maybe FATSPEED.PRG) to be able to fastload for those who are still trudging through the dark ages with TOS 1.0. Now all I have to do is remember to release this program (I forgot about it until I started typing this message). (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT17, TOP14, MSG192/M475) How To Set Calligrapher's Margins To change margins on your documents, """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" you should not change the "Set Paper Size" settings. Here's the concept once again (which is _not_ spelled our very clearly in the manual): 1. Determine the "printable area" of your printer. This can be obtained from your printer manual, or by using PRNTGRID (Cal3 has PRNTGRID as a pak, Cal2 has it as a separate program). 2. Use "Set Paper Size" to enter the printable area into Calligrapher. This is your "physical page" (not necessarily the full size of the piece of paper). This setting is global and will be saved into your CAL.OPT file when you quit the program. You should not alter the paper size unless you change printers or use a different sized paper. 3. Each document you compose has a "virtual page" size. The virtual page size is determined by two things: a. The virtual width of any particular page is equal to the largest (rightmost) right margin on that page. b. The virtual height is determined by "Page Length" in the Customize box. This is saved separately for each document. Ideally, your "virtual page" is a rectangle that surrounds your block of text. Since your virtual page starts on the left at zero inches, you should always leave your leftmost margin setting at "0". This way you have defined the right and left edges of your virtual page by text, not white space. Your "virtual page" must fit _within_ your "physical page", so it should be smaller than (or at most, equal to) your Paper Size settings. Most printers have a printable area about 8.0" x 10.5". This leaves an unprintable margin of .5" around the edges of the paper. You position the virtual page within the physical page by using the alignment settings in the Print/Preview box. It's easy to experiment with how the page will look by using "Preview". You'll see a white rectangle over a gray filled area. This is your "physical page", defined by your "Paper Size" (remember that it's not necessarily the true dimensions of your piece of paper). Within the white rectangle, you'll see a dotted line which contains your text. This is your "virtual page". If you want to center your document, it's an easy matter to select "Centre" for both horizontal and vertical alignment. Note that if your document is less than one page in length, the text itself will not be centered vertically if it doesn't extend to the bottom of your virtual page. Let's assume your printer has a printable area of 8.0 by 10.5 (and you've entered these settings for your "Paper Size"). If you want a one-inch margin on all four edges of the paper, you'll set your right margin at 6.5" and your page length (in the Customize box) at 9.0" (two inches less than the real dimensions of the paper). Then it's just a matter of using "Centre" alignment in both directions to position your text with a one-inch margin. If you want to position your virtual page differently, you can use the offset settings. Let's say you want a 1-inch margin at the top and a 2-inch margin at the bottom. First, make sure to set your "Page length" in the Customize box to 8.0 (3 inches less than the real paper size). Then set "Vert Offset:" to 0.5 (remembering that you've already got a half-inch space at the top before your physical page starts). This will give you a "real" margin of one inch at the top and two inches at the bottom. I hope this is not too complicated to follow. It's a very important concept that should be grasped when using Calligrapher. As I was writing this information once again, it occurred to me that I should compose a sample document that demonstrates the "do"s and "don't"s of page sizing. It might be a great help to all. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT32, TOP32, MSG:195/M475) Syquest vs Floptical Debate I agree with Al. I'd prefer the Syquest over """"""""""""""""""""""""""" the floptical. The flopticals just don't have the edge yet. For just a little bit more or even less, the Syquest provides greater storage capacity and speed over the floptical. Of course, both are more economical than a tape unit as you can also use the disk drives as extra drives. The 88 meg Syquest makes a great backup unit AND an extra 88 meg HD. Like Al said, when they drop down to a lower price, then the flopticals will be a better value. (R.WATSON15, CAT4, TOP10, MSG:191/M475) Stacy Volume Tip Here's a hint for you Stacy Folks who want to PUMP UP """""""""""""""" THE VOLUME! Want louder sound from your Stacy? Here's how I did it! Remove the top cover on the Stacy. Look around for the small square cover behind the volume control potentiometer. Remove that sucker and look for the LM386 power amplifier (It is a 400 to 500 mW power amplifier). The National Semiconductor applications manual says that the gain of the chip can be increased from 20 to 200 by simply adding a 10 uF capacitor across pin 1 and pin 8. Put the positive leg on pin 1. Put things back the same way you took them apart (in reverse order of course!) ______ | | Warning: This amplifier can | 10uF | overdrive your small internal ------ speaker... Keep volume low. + / \ / \ Disclaimer: I assume NO v v responsibility for this mod. You do it, you pay for your 1 -|--U--|- 8 own mistakes and whatever 2 -| |- 7 else happens! 3 -| |- 6 4 -| |- 5 It worked very well for me! ----- LM 386N (P.MCCANDLESS, CAT14, TOP29, MSG:198/M475) NEC 3D Source Found! Contrary to a previous message by me...USA*FLEX """""""""""""""""""" _does_ have NEC 3D monitors (at least ordered). They are expecting a _huge_ shipment next week (375!). I was happily shocked! They are taking orders against the expected shipment. Cost is $459+shipping($20). It has a 2 yr factory warrantee. Sales help seems to be spotty, so ask for "Tina" (she helped me). BTW, the # is 800-444-4900. I hope this doesn't sound like an ad, but with all the talk over this topic, I thought I'd pass on the info for those of you who want a 3D! (C.LAPEZA, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:209/M475) Expanded Video Compatibility Primer A lot of ATARI users are concerned """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" about the compatibility of their software with our high resolution true color boards. Compatibility is a key issue when attempting to improve the system performance through hardware upgrades. This is especially true for graphic cards. The ability to expand a system greatly depends on the way how the operating system handles I/O operations (like producing an output on the screen), additional hardware and the accompaning software drivers. Fortunately, the ATARI computers feature GEM. GEM consists of several software layers, each providing an increasing freedom and independence from the underlying hardware components. One of these GEM layers is called VDI (Virtual Device Interface). By exchanging the existing ATARI specific VDI portion of the GEM environment, the ATARI system can accommodate a wide range of other display devices. Therefore we have not only tried to develop a unique and powerful graphics expansion board but also a VDI driver that emulates the original, which maintains a high degree of compatibility while extending the capabilities according to the provided hardware features. Considering these facts, all programs can be divided into three groups: a) programs that use the VDI as the only interface to produce ANY output on the screen. b) programs that seem to require one of the original Atari modes to run properly. c) programs that use the VDI AND CUSTOM ROUTINES to update the display. Case 'a' programs show little or no difference when used in conjunction with the CyReL M16-1280 boards. Almost all major software titles can be found in this group. These applications allow the user to take advantage of e.g. higher resolutions (in some cases even higher refresh rates), more colors and sometimes even faster output speeds. Fortunately most of them are designed according to the GEM and ATARI guidelines and therefore can be used instantly without any additional system modifications. Case 'b' programs are a little bit more difficult to deal with. Most of these programs use the information of the Getrez (XBios4) operating system call to find out more about the state of the display. Instead of examining the (correct and available) informations provided by the VDI some programmers seem to prefer the XBios call. This can lead to some surprising results: THE CALL CAN ONLY RETURN A CODE TO DESCRIBE THE GRAPHICS MODE WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING USED BY THE BUILT-IN ATARI VIDEO CIRCUITRY! Original intention: a program wants to find out if the current screen resolution supports all the requirements (e.g. at least 640x400) Effect: Some programs refuse to run even when using a sufficiently high resolution because it might be that the ATARI VIDEO CIRCUITRY is operating in a lower mode, and thus the XBios call returns an unacceptable value. Note that we support a 'two monitor' configuration, consisting of our graphics card connected to one monitor and the simultaneous use of the screen output generated by the Atari connected to a second monitor. WE DO NOT IMPOSE ANY RESTRICTIONS WHATSOEVER regarding the mode in which the Atari must be placed. Our cards even allow 'multi- monitor' setups with up to four CyReL cards per single system + the Atari output. Patch: We provide custom XBIOS driver that can be installed plus an accessory that allows the user to define the return value of the XBios call to eliminate about 90% of the described problems. Nonetheless we would like to urge EVERY developer to adopt the VDI method for any inquiries regarding screen size and/or screen attributes! Further we have to add all programs which take advantage of certain hardware register layouts and ATARI specific hardware features to group 'b'. The use of such features prevents these programs from being used with a graphics card. A number of monochrome-only drawing programs and almost all of the games and entertainment software titles fall into that category. This is not limited to CyReL cards and applies to all system expansions as long as they are not specifically supported by those programs. Group 'c' programs can prove to be the hardest to adapted by the user to run on any graphics card, since some of the screen output may end up at the wrong place and most likely in the wrong format. There is little the user (or we) could do to correct this problem, which means that in almost all cases the developer or author of the program must re-write at least a part of the code. The only way to prevent such problems is to fully support the VDI interface from the very beginning. With the continuous development and introduction of new ATARI systems, it represents the only way to maintain compatibility with new ATARI features and ultimately all third party products. Further it is the only way to guarantee the portability of programs in case the user intends to upgrade to a bigger system. Obviously there will be future developments that cannot be forseen and thus will remain unsupported by today's software titles. But we can at least do our share to improve flexibility and user-friendlyness for years to come. This adaptation of programs is a process that has already begun and benefits all, the user, the developer and the manufacturer of e.g. the graphic boards. The developer can take advantage of new improved screen output, a higher number of on-screen colors, and not to forget new and evolving market niches. The user benefits through improvements in appearance, comfort, features and better ergonomics while the manufacturer can take advantage of increasing market opportunities. We at Cybercube welcome the introduction of the Falcon. We see it as an interesting and important addition to the Atari product line. It will help create a market that is increasingly oriented towards graphic and video applications. Furthermore it will help educate the user base in regards to the requirements of modern desktop video technology. This aspect should not be underestimated. It is our goal to provide a quality product for the professional user or the serious home user. With on-screen resolutions of e.g. 2048x1024 in 256 colors, refresh rates that can go beyond 100 Hz, real (no less than 16 Million colors) True Color capabilities with resolutions of e.g. 640x480, 800x600, 960x512 or even 1024x512 and virtual resolutions up to 4096x4096 (non-interlaced) we do not anticipate any problems regarding the evolving Falcon market. Through the additional expansion capabilities of the cards (which is for instance being utilized by the CyReL VidiMix8 desktop video module) we think that we have a very promising platform to offer. A platform that easily integrates into the ever expanding Atari environment. But we are still convinced that there is a need of a co-operation between users, software-developers and hardware manufacturers in order to make this concept work. We hope that our contributions might help to establish the Atari computers as a viable alternative to the popular systems in the DTP, CAD and desktop video markets. In this spirit, I would like to thank you for your interest in our products. (POTECHIN, CAT16, TOP12, MSG:3/M475) >>> WHAT'S NEW? <<< """"""""""""""""""" $5 Shareware Sound Utility! The new DigiPlay Plus (version 1.8) has been """"""""""""""""""""""""""" completed and will be made available very early in February. Keep an eye open to where it is. DigiPlay Plus is a digital sound player capable of playing several popular sound formats including SND, SPL, and VOC, and can play them at any speed from 3kHz to 55kHz (35kHz on ST/STe's). It also has the ability to add effects like echo and reverse to sounds, or blocks of the sounds. DigiPlay works under a non-GEM 16-color interface with custom dialogs and file selector (however the GEM/AES selector can be used if desired). Operates in low rez on color monitors only. The program is shareware and has a $5 registration fee. New Features: o Full ST/STe/MegaSTe/TT compatiblity "out of the LZH" o No more huge Degas picture, it has been replaced with an 8k data file. o A new color palette choice has been added - green! o Extended speed saver works 100% of the time, save the speed once and never worry about it again o Dozens of "ease-of-use" improvements o Most of all, tons of annoying bugs have been fixed. (S.DOUGHERTY1, CAT10, TOP2, MSG:10/M475) SpirtWare Concordance News I have some good news for those of you who """""""""""""""""""""""""" use the SpiritWare concordance program. First, Zondervan has granted us an exemption to the requirement that we distribute 1000 copies of the NIV Bible per year. We will only have to distribute 100 per year. This will allow us to provide the NIV for at least one more year. Second, the Lockman foundation has agreed to let us distribute the New American Standard Bible (NASB). We should be receiving the files containing the NASB within a few weeks; it will then take a few more weeks to prepare everything for distribution. This means that the NASB should be available by the end of March at the latest. (We will be requesting a donation of $30 for the NASB.) (D.CLIFTON4, CAT2, TOP27, MSG:140/M475) Pha$ar Upgrade Info The latest version of Pha$ar is 4.09. """"""""""""""""""" Terrific (617) 731-3553 (D.WALTER7, CAT6, TOP13, MSG:162/M475) >>>>> I just received my upgrade to Pha$ar on Thursday (2/4/93) and it """"" says Pha$ar 4.09, 1/18/93. I don't know what the changes from 4.08 were, since there was no documentation with it, but it did include a 1040 and schedule A for 1992 taxes! (J.BOSSOLINI1, CAT6, TOP13, MSG:168/M475) Clipboard & MuliTOS Calligrapher 3 now supports the Atari clipboard when """"""""""""""""""" it's running under a multi-tasking system. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT14, TOP16, MSG:68/M475) NEW RELEASE DAY FOR Z*NET! Effective with this week's release of Z*Net, """""""""""""""""""""""""" we are now out and available on Sunday. You will find it on GEnie anytime after 5pm Sunday afternoon. The change is explained in this edition, so, instead of ending your week with the latest news, Start your week with Z*Net! [Ed. Note: This was of February 14th] (Z-NET, CAT15, TOP9, MSG:40/M475) Warp 9 EOS Modules Tonight I mostly finished another module, based on an """""""""""""""""" earlier suggestion. It's called Dropout and pieces of the screen fall out until it's all dark. I'm toying with doing something cute with the pieces when they hit bottom. My plan is to follow this module with the sliding puzzle scheme. That will be fairly easy, now that I've got a routine which already moves small pieces of the screen around. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT32, TOP33, MSG:197/M475) Kidprgs and VERY Young Children Kim Swift bought Kidpainter for his """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" grade-school-aged daughter and now finds his 2-year-old son wanting to play the Puzzle Screen to solve onscreen puzzles. Problem is, Kidpainter was designed for children ages 5-11, the vast majority of whom can tell left from right, and 2-year-olds (including this one) can't. When you place a puzzle piece on the Puzzle Screen, you use the left mouse button. You use the right mouse button to escape from the puzzle mode. Uh-oh. ;-) The left-right thing is used consistently throughout Kidpainter to place or not place drawing functions; since this is the way most adult drawing programs also work, this feature in Kidpainter provides for transition between preschool programs and adult programs, and I wouldn't want to lose that consistency in the commercial release version. However, I have designed a special version which does away with the left-right differentiation on the Puzzle Screen so that it can be used by very young children. In all versions of Kidpainter, it is possible to end work on a puzzle by clicking either button while the mouse is out in the options area on the left-hand side of the screen. In this special version, you can also press to end work, as Kim suggested. And of course I've changed it so that either the right or left mouse button (or both) will cause placement of a puzzle piece when the mouse is over the grid area. If you are a Kidpainter owner whose very young children would prefer to use either button on the Puzzle Screen, please contact me in GEMail for your copy of this special version. We avoid differentiated mouse button response in all programs aimed for use by preschoolers. Some of my older programs available here in Library 31 don't include this feature, but most do. We have a collection of 11 programs which have been reworked, enhanced, and otherwise prepared for independent use by preschoolers. The Creative Discovery Packet sells for $120 (yes, really!) and includes special versions of Frank Hundley's Barnyard and Seaside, Ken Kressin's About the House, and my own Dot-2-Dots, Makin' Aiken, Dreidel, Tannenbaum, Kidkeys (originally another module from PreSchool KidProgs), Kidshapes, Super Kidgrid, and Kidpotato. This package would be right on target for almost any child ages 2-6. The mouse button problem is not the only one encountered by young children when attempting to use programs designed for those with more sophisticated skills. Our commercial line benefits from years of observation of children working with computers, and we've developed a consistent format and style which children can productively exploit even upon the first introduction to a program. We strive to provide activities that make sense to young children. We limit the number of options to avoid confusion. Our programs for preschoolers provide large targets for the mouse so it's easy for young children to hit them. When an option is chosen, our programs provide both auditory and visual indicators of the selection. Over the years, we have developed a color-coding system which helps non-readers (and readers, too) to move from one of our programs to another (the SAVE option is always red, PRINT is always bright greeen, etc.; this system is consistently employed in each and every one of our commercial products. Our programs also provide for automatic loading and saving so that non-readers do not have to hassle with the fileselector. Features such as these speed the child's way to complete independence from adult help when using the computer -- and that's a big boost to the child's self-esteem and the parents' freedom. Sometimes you may run into programs by other authors in which the mouse button response is differentiated but the program would otherwise be accessible to a young child. When this happens in the schools I work with, we place a sticker on the left mouse button and tell the child to always press the sticker. Because there is a tactile sensation when the finger makes contact with the sticker, the child doesn't have to look down at the mouse to make sure he's pressing the proper button. (D.A.BRUMLEVE, CAT29, TOP6, MSG:128/M475) Silhouette - Where's Maxwell CPU? About two weeks ago I spoke to Tim and """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" asked him about upgrading my version (1.25 ) to the most recent. He said he had just moved from Colorado to Maryland and had to open a checking account to get back on GEnie. I am still waiting for an upgrade that he promised to upload to GEnie. His new number is in the ad for Maxwell in ST Informer. I plan to call him this weekend if he has not uploaded my upgrade. (D.DEMERS7, CAT7, TOP14, MSG:84/M475) [Editor's Note: TOAD Computing has taken over distributing Silhouette and the upgrade to version 1.5] Atari Works Looks Good Had my first look at AWorks today and it looks """""""""""""""""""""" _very_ nice. Installation is easy enough so a new user could do it, tho' it sounds like it may already be installed on new Falcons. SpedoGdos looks good and the fonts are excellent! Works WP module looks a cinch to use, formatting is easy, just click on the icon. All very intuitive to anyone who has used the Atari or Mac. Spreadsheet has a lot of functions, drag to change column widths, etc. Cut and paste from Spreadsheet to WP is possible with the destination getting just the data or the cell borders as well, as you like it. Database is Very simple to setup, has calculated fields and very easy double click on the field name for changes, and double click on the data area for setting of data formats. Its quick and very simple. Point and click with key equivalents for lots of things. This program is a really fine program for beginners, and probably most experience users. It will do the job for the average user. I'll only need Calligrapher/Calamus for really fancy work. My intial look indicates its at least as good as the MS Works thing we used to use at work, on the Mac/IBM platforms. (D.FLORY, CAT14, TOP20, MSG:53/M475) MultiTOS Views I've had the opportunity to play around with a beta """""""""""""" version of MultiTOS, and on my 16 Mhz MegaSTe, it runs a little quicker than a normal 8 Mhz ST. Any ST with an accelerator should be a very comfortable MTOS environment. Warp 9 does not work on the beta version, but it is my understanding that the final release of MTOS *WILL* uses the exec_os vector, allowing Warp 9 to function properly. That would make for a VERY nice multitasking system, and with one of the available '030 accelerators, it would be simply fantastic! If any one is interested, I can crank out some benchmarks. Bear in mind this would alll be beta stuff, and may or may not be indicative of the finished product. As an aside, Let me point out that I also find myself using Windoze(tm), both at work on the high-end PC's, and at home on my PS/2, and the MTOS environment is quicker than both. I'd say MTOS on my MSTe at 16Mhz with the AlberTT card at 1024x768 is about the same as Windoze(tm) on a 386/33 at 640x480. (K.SCHAFER4, CAT14, TOP34, MSG:87/M475) PopIt Upgrade The PopIt 1.3 upgrade is now available. It allows up to """"""""""""" 96 hot key combinations, no longer has a problem with being kicked out by AdSCSI CPX (or any other CPX that we know of), and it does not interfere with the Alternate/Numeric Keypad entry of ASCII values in TOS 2.06 and 3.06. To obtain the update, send us your LookIt & PopIt master disk and $10. You'll get LookIt 1.2, PopIt 1.3, and REGACC.PRG 1.3. (J.EIDSVOOG1, CAT32, TOP21, MSG:171/M475) Harlekin 3 Is Coming! Harlekin 3 is on its way in English. We don't have """"""""""""""""""""" a date yet for its availability. It still doesn't support American dates yet! We've mentioned it to Mermaid many times. (HISOFT, CAT33, TOP5, MSG:61/M475) Hi-End Video Card Available DMC is proud to announce that this excellent """"""""""""""""""""""""""" addition to the graphic options available for your Atari platform is now shipping We have been using this card in-house for some time now and are really pleased with its performance. Our next customer mailout will contain the appropriate order information etc.. but in the meantime, we are happy to start the ball rolling for our GEnie customers right now. The suggested retail price is US $1,495.00. The next series of messages will clearly outline the incredible features brought to you by this excellent card. Join me in welcoming Ralf Doewich of Cybercube to GEnie and to Cat 16 where he will be helping us support you and answer any of the technical questions that may arise. This guy is good so don't be shy. ;-) (POTECHIN, CAT16, TOP12, MSG:1/M475) >>> THORUGH THE GRAPEVINE... <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ Rumors, Maybes and Mayhem ~ Falcon Delay Doubts I got a question. Considering their track record, I """"""""""""""""""" wonder if the real problem with not having Falcons ready until March is because Multi-Tos is still not ready? Is there really a manufacturing problem? Also, has anyone heard that thier international sales guy quit and Bob Brodie is now handling sales also? (R.WATSON15, CAT18, TOP23, MSG:66/M475) Ah Ha! We had to make some major last minute changes to MultiTOS. On the """""" up side, these should improve compatibility with old applications quite a bit. The down side is that MultiTOS will be delayed somewhat. Also, I have no idea how long it actually will take from the day we hand MultiTOS over for distribution and copies actually being available to the public; it's certainly not zero time, since it does take a while to get manuals printed, packages made, etc. I certainly wouldn't expect MultiTOS before February, and it could be a month or two later than that before it "reaches the shelves." Please note also that Bob phrased his comment about MultiTOS availability on GEnie very carefully... he did *not* promise that this would happen. It certainly would be nice for users if it happened. But remember that MultiTOS has cost Atari real money to develop, and so it's quite possible that management may decide to charge a fee for it. (E.SMITH10, CAT30, TOP14, MSG:103/M475) Atari Position Rumors The Bob Brodie as sales guy rumor was going around """"""""""""""""""""" about a month and a half ago. I can do you one better. The rumor I heard was that Jack appointed Garry T to replace Sam T, as the boss. That would mean demotions for two of the sons in recent weeks. Must be fun at family gatherings. If that one were true, it would certainly shake up the heirarchy inside. It's always tough to work with a new boss - although the guys who used to work for Leonard may not agree. That rumor is fourth hand, but all the good ones are. (J.NESS, CAT18, TOP23, MSG:68/M475) More Revolving Door Stories We do not have to rely on rumours on GEnie. """"""""""""""""""""""""""" We have access to the facts. Art is no longer with Atari but if he was ever international sales manager, it's news to me. :-) Bob Brodie has not taken over Art's job although I believe he does now have access to Arts executive assistant. :-) Garry Tramiel has been running the North American operation for some months now. This is good news. Garry is quite good at his job. Sam continues in his role as President of the Corporation. Leonard was removed from TOS development to concentrate his efforts in other areas. I imagine the continued streamlining of Atari's operation is of concern to those of us anxiously awaiting the release in quantity of the Atari Falcon030. If the above information is of interest to you, I'm glad that I had access to the facts and was able to clear up any confusion. (POTECHIN, CAT18, TOP23, MSG71/M475) Storm Warnings? Alan Page now have a full time job and the STORM has """"""""""""""" taken a back seat. No other word yet. (BRIAN.H, CAT30, TOP14, MSG:103) >>>>> Double-Click however,. announced that they had closed down their """"" operation. While Alan Page, the original author of Flash has been working on STORM, I have no idea what has happened with its representation in this regard. I believe Neil Symms was involved at some point but has never contacted Alan since the Double Click closure. (Neil is from Atari Advantage.) Neil, you out there? What's the status? (POTECHIN, CAT1, TOP15, MSG:96/M475) These Falcons Are Hot Stuff I just wanted to comment on the Falcon """"""""""""""""""""""""""" overheating problem mentioned in STreport. I have not had any problem with falcon overheating EVER. I have had 3 differnt falcons since July, none have had any problems with heat. Also STR reported that the fan in the falcon pulls air down where heat convection pulls it back into the machine. Well, this is compleatly wrong, in fact the fan sucks air from the bottom into the machine blowing it out the top. The fan is in a position that is not easily blocked and apears to move enough air to keep the machine within operating temps. Often I have the top covered with manuals (I know Bill Rehbock just cringed :-) but I am programming on the thing ;-) and while the manuals do get toasty, the machine has displayed no faults what-so-ever. Falcon030 does run warm (about the same as above a 1040STe's power supply) but it does not run hot enough to melt anything or even hot enough to keep hot coco warm :-) I would think that any heat problems reported on any falcons are totaly due to Q/A problems. This is probably just a bad rumor. (J.COLE18, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:158/M475) While Rubbing Your Tummy & Patting Your Head Batman Secrets revealed! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" At the title screen do the following: Press up eight times Down twelve times left 15 times right 19 times option 1 27 times Then press A to start the game When the game begins, hit the pause button and then press option 1 to skip a level. When the game is in pause mode pressing option two makes Batman almost invincible. He still bites it if you fall off a building. This clue came from an Atari insider and is starting to make the rounds. No way you would have figured this one out. (T.CALHOUN, CAT36, TOP24, MSG:125/M475) Falcon Detached Keyboard - Again! By the way, Mike Schuetz (formerly of """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" the now-defunct German magazine, ST Journal) said in the Deutschland RT that word in Germany is that current production of 1040ST-style Falcon030's have been put on hold and that a seperate keyboard model Falcon will be shown (and maybe even released) at the CeBIT show in Hannover this March. Another interesting tidbit he mentioned is that Alwin Stumpf (former head of Atari Germany who resigned in Fall '92) has apparently gotten a management position at Commodore Germany. (S.JOHNSON10, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:183/M475) And Again - NOT! The "Word in Germany" is definitely wrong. There is no """""""""""""""" hold on production of Falcon. We did take _lots_ of dealer orders at the NAMM (Nat'l Association of Music Merchants) show in Anaheim the other week. Atari is strongly committed to this product, and you will see it very soon, in the same configuration as shown in Byte Magazine :-) A separate keyboard configuration is not in the product offering at all. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:194/M475) Falcon DSP Uses PowerDOS/PowerNET from PowerPoint Software works well on """"""""""""""" the Falcon030 LocalTalk port. On this end, there is a Falcon, TT, Mega STe and a classic 2.5 meg 520 ST connected and talking. The 520 ST is connected via the MIDI ports, the other computers are on the LAN using standard LocalTalk connectors and phone wire. It is a peer to peer network, any or all computers can be servers. I hear the latest beta version is taking advantage of the DSP in the Falcon. (EXPLORER.1, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:41/M475) More DSP Uses Any update (or _any_ info) on as DSP Video Phone for """"""""""""" the Falcon030??? I know for a fact that this would sell a bunch of Falcons! (I know several friends/relatives that will buy one as soon as it's available). (T.MCCOMB, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:193/M475) Atari Interface Magazine Troubles I read a message from Pattie over on """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CIS in which she said she'd "dropped" support of AIM here, Sheldon. Maybe she'll reply to everyone's concerns within the pages of the proposed next issue. (D.BRUMLEVE, CAT15, TOP11, MSG:127/M475) AIM Continues Publishing Just thought I'd post a note about Atari """""""""""""""""""""""" Interface since I talked to Pattie yesterday. She advised that they're planning on going back into publication next month, on a bi-monthly schedule. I'm sure she'll be stopping by this topic before too long with more details, but thought y'all would like to know that Atari Interface will soon be back. It will definitely be a welcome addition to the Atari magazine scene. (S.WINICK, CAT15, TOP11, MSG:122/M475) SDS Drops GEnie Support I heard that SDS dumped GEnie and has moved over """"""""""""""""""""""" to CompuServe. Nice of them to let their customers know, eh? (C.CASSADAY, CAT2, TOP39, MSG:37/M475) >>>>> I _think_ he dropped active support of the SDS line when he wrote """"" the System Audio Manager (SAM) for Atari. Hopefully he did a better job on that. (T.MCCOMB, CAT2, TOP39, MSG:40/M475) >>>>> SDS may have switched services.. But why has the phones been """"" disconnected?? Where I come from this is an indication of folding up the tents... And he had $6 of my hard earned cash for a promised upgrade for well over a year now... I think we can write off, SDS & Mr. Sanders... "Another one bites the dust"... Makes me sad... (T.EVANS21, CAT2, TOP39, MSG:47/M475) Falcon 040??? I read the 32-MHz, 16-MIPS DSP of Falcon can be used for """"""""""""" 3_D animations---blistering fast. Working in parallel, it can do, in ONE INSTRUCTION CYCLE, a 24bit * 24bit multiplication, a 56bit addition, two data transfers, two address pointer changes, and loading the next instruction... It has 56-bit accumulators, 1024 24-bit words of RAM, 512 words of ROM used in part for sinus tables. Virtual reality is at our doors! I also read the F040 availability has been delayed to the 3rd quarter 93. Apparently the reason for the delay is the development of a new specific component. (C.LABELLE, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:169/M475) Spectrum News To all Spectrum fans: Hi, I just happened to be taking a """"""""""""" look at what's going on with the ST as I used to be an ST hack-- my 512 long since shelved. I develop commercial graphics software (on the Mac) with my partner Boris Tsikanovsky--creator of Spectrum. Several messages were curious about possible upgrades to Spectrum and what became of Boris. I'm sorry to say that Boris's ST is gathering dust in my garage and he is no longer associated with Trio. This is unfortunate for Spectrum users--Spectrum was (and still is) a marvelous program. Boris has not done any Atari development for almost 5 years. Boris rarely goes on-line, and I will convey the continued interest in Spectrum to him. I will be honest in saying that it is extremely unlikely that Boris could do anything further with Spectrum. Because he no longer works with Trio, I would say it's impossible. In any case, as this may be my last visit to the Atari forum, I thought I'd leave a note. (J.ANDERSON16, CAT7, TOP19, MSG:96/M475) Calling Unsolved Mysteries! I had the strangest thing happen to me """"""""""""""""""""""""""" today, it has to do with a ghost in my machine (Mega STe/4). First let me tell you exactly what my system consists of: Mega STe/4 no internal HD External Quantum 105 & SysQuest 44 using ICD host Migraph Hand scanner (I leave plugged in ) 1 pair of minispeakers (Koss hardrivers) realistic 5 watt amp Oki-400 laser Monitor master USR HST dual standard modem. Now that you know what I am running see if you can explain this? About two months ago I was programming in GFA at about 2 am when I heard a voice coming from my speakers, it was a short (2 sec) static filled human voice of some kind. It really scared the &*% out of me, I jumped about a foot out of my chair. But I could not get it to repeat itself, the speaker remained silent for the rest of my programming session. I checked out my system and no sound accessories or auto programs were loaded. I figured either it was something from the upstairs neighbors that sounded like it was coming from my speakers or I was hallucinating, anyway I didn't tell anyone about it in fear of being committed. My system has been silent up until tonight. This time the voice was so load it woke my girlfriend sleeping in the next room (20 feet) and I really jumped out of my chair. The voices were intelligible this time. It sounded like a CB radio or maybe a police officer. He said "you copy!"....silence....10 sec..."That's a copy!"....silence. I then knew I was not hallucinating so I began typing this message. About 5 lines up the voice sounded again but it was so load I could not understand what the person was saying, and yes it scared the #&$$ out of me again. This is really weird, how can my MSte be picking up signal from CB's or radios?? It has no antenna, the amp has no receiver, yet the sounds are coming through it. One thing I didn't mention is that I live in Chicago and have a cordless phone in the next room. The area I live in is fairly well populated and the Police arealways busy. I know there must be a logical explanation to this but what is it?? Someone out there please help me find the ghost in my machine. (R.JONES82, CAT14, TOP14, MSG:168/M475) Falcon Emulation Over on the Jerry P forum, Compo said that their """""""""""""""" 486SX/Falcon setup should be able to display VGA color displays and games as long as they are Windows based. Non-Windows games may have problems displaying VGA colors depending on how many rules the programmer broke (sound familiar?). Also, they implied that speed 'may' be a problem on some games, but that the system hadn't been tested out to that extent yet (this was a month or so back). As for using the DSP to emulate the soundblaster... maybe, I guess. It would take a LOT of programming though, an awful lot of programming. I suspect it would also impose quite a speed penalty. (G.ANDERSON, CAT9, TOP43, MSG:15/M475) >>> HOT TOPICS <<< """""""""""""""""" STReport Gone After many attempts by all parties involved it has become """"""""""""" clear that the relationship between STReport and the Atari RoundTables on GEnie will not improve enough to warrant our continued support. Therefore, effective immediately, we will no longer accept issues of STReport. Effective Monday, February 1, 1993, we will be closing Category 24. On behalf of the Atari Roundtables on GEnie I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might cause our valued customers. (DARLAH, CAT24, TOP7, MSG:1/M475) Goldleaf's Back First of all, don't be making jokes about my mamma, """"""""""""""" because I 'will have to come and kick your.... Seriously, though, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for our recent lack of attendance. A few simple explanations are in order: 1) We've been extremely busy attending trade shows (including NAMM for the Atari market. 2) We had a major disk crash on one of our machines, and have been working hard to get that station fully up and running, along with our network. (My hands are raw from stringing coax cable around the office, but now we move data much more easily between our Ataris, NeXTs and Macs) 3) The general volume of posts on GEnie has been much lower than in past months. As always, our first priority is to provide technical suppor to our registered users, the vast majority of which contact us by phone, fax or Internet mail. While we appreciate the value of GEnie for getting information out, we have many demands on our time, and are a small company. We are currently readying a suite of Falcon specific products, three of which were shown at NAMM. We think everyone's interests in the Atari market are best served by making available a new generation of products for the new generation of Atari computers. When Falcons aare available in quantity, you can be certain that we will be making our presence known on GEnie. So, once again, we apologize, and would like to indicate again, for anyone who need immediate help with a technical or product informatio question, they can contact us a follows: 700 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 199 Larkspur, CA 94939 415/257-3513 for Technical support; 415/257-3515 for general info. We will be making more regular posts and uploading press releases in the next few weeks. Look for information on DA's Vektor (Auto-tracing, illustration and animation) DA's Picture (Image processing, with Photo CD support) and GT LOOK: II (Universal scanning and image conversion). Thanks for your continued interest and support. (WORDFLAIR, CAT35, TOP6, MSG:156/M475) Work In Peace Atari Works sounds pretty good -- right? If we keep """"""""""""" telling Atari to add features or compatibilities to it, Atari Works will end up like the fabled Paper Clip Elite (remember THAT one?): A wonderful piece of software that was never finished, and therefore never released. Or maybe the better example is the ST Book, which is *still* waiting for a backlit screen because users clamored for one and Atari listened. Maybe the best thing Atari can do right now is ignore everyone outside of Sunnyvale and do what needs to be done to get the Falcon and the new software into the stores. Atari took on quite a project -- the Falcon, which is unlike any other PC and yet which is, apparently, more compatible with ST and STe software than the TT; MultiTOS, which promises to be a workable, debugged multitasking operating system; Speedo GDOS, which uses the industry's cleverest outline-font technology, along with fonts that are easy to buy (and easy to convert from other fonts), and Atari Works, a long-overdue integrated software package. Not bad for a company with fewer employees worldwide than WordPerfect has in telephone operators alone. (A.FASOLDT, CAT14, TOP20, MSG:22/M475) Making A Living With Atari? >> if you cant make a living in the Atari """"""""""""""""""""""""""" >> market then how are Gadgets, Fasttech, >> Codeheads.etc surviving? Well, I can't speak for the others, but in the case of CodeHead the word "surviving" is quite appropriate. As in "just barely surviving." The Atari market has been shrinking steadily for the past several years, and it has now reached a state that is virtually indistinguishable from rigor mortis. (CODEHEAD, CAT18, TOP14, MSG:8/M475) Good News & Bad News... I went to INCREDIBLE UNIVERSE in Arlington (TX) """"""""""""""""""""""" today to pick up some Lynx games and discovered the Lynx section was GONE! A clerk told me (oh, excue me... I mean a "castmember") they were dripping Lynx because they could not get the product from Arari and were tired of complaints from customers about out of stock items. The good news is that they were closing out all their Lynx games at $19.99 each. I pcked up Baseball Heros, NFL Football and two Awsome Golf games at that price. (T.KILBRIDE, CAT36, TOP5, MSG:204/M475) Falcon Sound Bites I think I can tell You without giving away a secret """""""""""""""""" that an integrated circuit is used for amplifying the Falcon's output signal. I don't have the gear to measure the specs You want but I'm equipped with a highly sophisticated measuring equipment called the human ear. I've been listening to the Falcon sound system several times over headphones, my home stereo system and a 1000W PA system. I was very pleased with the sound quality in all three occasions. Recalling the reports from several computer exhibitions I remember several people complaining about the housing, the 'mushy' keyboard but NEVER about the sound quality of the Falcon. I would appreciate if somebody online with real Falcon experience would add his/her comments to mine. (ATARIAUSTRIA, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:191/M475) State Of Mountain Software 1992 was an interesting year here at Mountain """""""""""""""""""""""""" Software. I purchased my ST just a couple of months before 1992 began, began programming around March, and sold the first shareware copy of The Recipe Box in June. I wrote several updates to The Recipe Box, wrote a game called Tuzzle which I also updated several times, wrote The Recipe Converter, Easy Base, Manualizer, and a host of other smaller utilities. Things started out looking good, though it's been filled with lots of little ups and downs. At one point shortly after the end of summer, registrations were coming in two and three a day, then a couple of months later, I went nearly three months with only a couple of registrations per month. 1993 brings us tax time once again! Among other things, this forces one to take a long hard look at his/her financial situation, evaluate the pro's and con's, and make some decisions. 1993 is a mixed blessing for me this year, Mountain Software finally acquired it's business license in January and is displaying it proudly! Unfortunately, it also brings the reality that I'm losing a great deal of money on this venture, and that Mountain Software's days could be numbered. All this, less than a month after receiving the business license. There's a cruel irony in there somewhere... As a testimony to my 'fortune', I grossed $1000 in 1992! Yep, you read right, $1000! Not exactly a Kings Ransom, it wouldn't even pay our bills around the house for one month! To make matters worse, I've been trying hard to improve the quality of my work, improve service to my customers, and give folks more for their money. However, all this adds up to a great deal of money invested, the worst of which, was $850 on a new laser printer. At the end of the year, I had $1500 in expenses compared to $1000 in income! Even two months into 1993 I'm still over $400 in debt.. SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE: I've always held great faith in Shareware. I felt there were many benefits to both me and the buyer. However, Shareware greatly relies on honesty, and unfortunately I think most folks think Shareware means free software? Perhaps I've just been too naive in my beliefs, or perhaps my software is only limited to small niche markets, or perhaps the quality is just not what folks are looking for? At any rate, the current 'success' level doesn't put food on the table.. The past few months have been very stressful, financially draining, and just downright depressing. I've come to realize that I'm working 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week for only a select group of people who were kind enough to show their support. My latest two projects, Easy Base and The Recipe Converter, have been nothing but headaches every step of the way! I've had 4-6 different projects, each waiting for completion, and several other ideas I've yet to begin. After weighing all of my options and considering the support that has followed my programs, I've decided not to continue development on The Recipe Box 4.0, Easy Base 1.1, or any of the other projects I've had going. Unless interest in these programs grows (we're talking money here! ) there will be no further development on these programs. For those of you who have registered, I am still available for any support I can provide, and will try to continue eliminating bugs if they are found. I just won't be investing time in developing new features. Also, I'm going to be limiting the time I spend on the online services. GEnie alone averages $30-40 a month, approximately half of what I make! So, in an effort to reduce my expenses, I won't be around here as often. So don't be surprised if a reply is a week or two in coming... WHAT WILL I DO WITH ALL OF THAT TIME Well, a vacation in the caribbean would be nice, or maybe a love boat cruise, heck even a night at McDonalds would be nice! Actually, I'll still be programming as often as I can. Most of this time will be in taking the time to learn the computer system better, to improve my methods, and just generally experiment with new ideas. Basically, I'll be programming for ME, and not the world at large! I'll have more time to spend with the family (My daughter is growing fast!) and take care of things around the house. PROGRAM SUPPORT Please, Please, Please.... Don't consider this an abandonment of the ST or my software. Having just purchased my FIRST ST just over a year ago, 'I' am not about to give up on it so soon... And I've worked hard to write the software I've got out now, I'm very happy to serve anyone who wishes to register! In the end, this may be beneficial to us all? I've found that the 'deadlines' I've been setting, combined with too many projects going at once,have resulted in many oversights on my part. Both in the area of finding bugs, and in the service I've been trying to provide. I'll be keeping an eye on the ST market, and on the continued response to my shareware programs. Should I come up with a new piece of software, I'll decide at that time whether or not to go commercial or try the shareware approach again. I'd like to offer my sincere Thank You's to all of you who have registered. Your support has been invaluable in getting Mountain Software off the ground, lets hope we can keep it flying... (A.WATSON6, CAT2, TOp44, MSG:34/M475) Grass Is Greener?? I tried to stay out of this discussion as long as """""""""""""""""" possible but i just can't stand it anymore. I am the store manager for a retail computer store in the Rochester, NY area. We are both Atari and Commodore dealers and service centers. I do not begrudge your jump to the Amiga, but I must let you know that you don't have much to look forward to from Commodore. They have just as many problems as Atari, if not more. Take the A600 for example. It takes some really dumb management to bother releasing a computer that is the same as the A500 without the keyboard. That would be like IBM or Compaq releasing a 286 and expecting someone to buy it. Or selling the A1200 with a 40MB IDE hard drive. Sure IDE is cheap, and they probably had a bunch of 40MB drive kicking around the warehouse from they PC compatibles. But the entire line of Amigas is based on SCSI and they don'y even include a SCSI port on the machine. And please don't get me wrong, I will never defend Atari, but the ST/TT line does exactly what I need, Calamus SL, and a few games. (Plus the best version of Aladdin out there.) Atari has always had the best hardware for the money. Period. Commodore has come close, and in several ways has been better, but it always cost more. The Falcon/A1200 will continue that trend. But then I still think the best hardware (along with the best OS) out there is made by a company called NeXT, but even Mr. Jobs can't compete against Blue Meanies. NeXT STEP 486 is proof of that. So enjoy your new machine, and don't get mad at anyone who is just expressing their feelings about something. :^) As for the Lynx, if you can get the games somewhere and it does what you want, who cares what stores carry the stuff and what ones don't. My nieces and nephew got a Lame Boy for Christmas and it could have a 1000 games and i still would give up my Lynx. As for Game Gear, I tried it out before I got my lynx, and the few extra games that are actually available aren't worth the hardware difference. Computer, end program. Exit. Save program as SoapBox 1. (J.RENNER1, CAT36, TOP5, MSG:27/M475) Economics or Interest? I just got off the telephone with Klaus of """""""""""""""""""""" Dongleware fame. Much to my disgust, he was calling to ask if many people downloaded the program. I assured him that many had. I went over to the library and checked. Over 1100 downloads of the color and mono versions. Why the digust, because the reason he called, was that to date, for all of North America, 6 (SIX) people only, sent in for the book. Sigh. Nathan (POTECHIN, CAT21, TOP7, MSG:41/M475) Atari & Kodak - Is It True? I'm in the middle of an arguement over on """"""""""""""""""""""""""" the Starship (Amiga) RT about whether or not Atari and Kodak have made some kind of professional arrangement regarding Photo CD. The statement has been made that if the Atari has Photo CD capibility that it MUST be an unlicensed hack based on the "legendary" level of piracy in Atari circles. I'm mad as Hell. These people are petitioning Kodak demanding that they release the tools necessary for Photo CD developement on the Amiga. I didn't start the thread and I certainly want to see them succeed in getting Photo CD support for the Amiga. I only want to find some documentation to support the notion that Kodak and Atari have an agreement on this subject. Can you help? ...Nathan? ...Bill Rehbock? Help! This is happening in CAT 5 TOP 24 Page 555 (MUSE, CAT7, TOP9, MSG:139/M475) Falcon At IEEE Show Today I drove 375 miles (the IEEE show in Huntsville, """"""""""""""""""" AL) to see a Falcon030 in person. Was it worth it? Well, I guess I had to prove to myself that they really exist. What I saw was pretty impressive, and I noticed John Cole talking at length (up to 30-45+ minutes each) about the machine to interested passers-by. However, I wasn't too impressed w/ using interlaced mode from the desktop (it looks SLIGHTLY better than the interlaced Screen Height Doubler for the STE, but still flickers quite a bit). I noticed quite a few passers-by give a "Eeu! Yuck!" response when seeing the interlaced 640x400 desktop, though (can't say that I blame them, though -- the VGA desktop is all I'LL be using!). The interlacing looked fine, though, when used to display 640x400 16- bit True Color pictures w/ overscan. I also got to see another Falcon030 used to overlay text over videotape via the JRI Genlock (and a program John Cole wrote to put SpeedoGDOS text titles on the screen). Besides the fact that the videotape used was in bad condition and kept giving the Genlock a bad sync signal, it was pretty nice when it DID work -- and SpeedoGDOS IS quite fast! However, the $599 price for the JRI Genlock seems a bit restrictive (and hardly an "inexpensive add-on"). I had hoped to hear the Falcon030's 16-bit digital audio and see some examples of what the DSP could do (and see Atari Works), but I didn't have time as I could only stay a few hours due to the 7+ hours of driving involved. It also would have been nice for Atari to be there since all the others (IBM, Apple, & Commodore) were there showing off THEIR latest. Then again, Atari just gets WAY TOO MUCH exposure, don't they? Also, I noticed that the 'I' in "ATARI" on the multi-colored Falcon030 badge is PINK, and not white as it looks in most of the pictures I'd seen, but I guess I can live with that. And one more thing... John Cole had a disk labelled "TOS 4.02" on it, but I forgot to ask him about that. Doesn't the ROM in the current production Falcon030's contain TOS 4.01 or has it been updated to 4.02 (or is 4.02 a developers-only release)? That's all I can remember right now (I just woke up from a unintentional nap, and am very tired ), but I'll post more if I recall anything else. (STEVE-J, CAT18, TOP2, MSG:26/M475) >>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" Atari-ST RoundTable Category 11, Topic 4 Message 14 Thu Feb 11, 1993 AEO.5 [Ed Krimen] at 23:23 EST In the latest issue of Z*Net (9306), Len Stys wrote an excellent article about how the Atari user groups should be enhanced and revitalized to offer better support to present and future users. Before last week, I probably wouldn't have thought about it. But Len is right. As I mentioned in another topic, last week I went to a Macromedia user forum. They call 'em "forums" -- we call 'em "groups." They pay a lot more for their software and technical support, so I guess they have a right to go with "forums." :^) Macromedia is a leading multimedia developer on the Macintosh and Windows platforms. You should have seen all of the people they had packed into this place, at 6pm on a Wednesday night! Standing room only for a three-hour monthly meeting in which the first hour is devoted to technical support questions and the last two hours to demos and related questions. They didn't even have enough time to show everything! There must have been 150 people in this room, with flyers and marketing sheets in the back of the room, and projection screens and a large monitor up front. This is what we need -- and would you believe everyone had to pay three bucks to get in?! However, unlike some (most? all?) of Atari's user groups, there must, absolutely be more interaction between the dealers, the groups, and Atari. At this time, I see, as ST vice-president of my group, that the only dealer interaction we get is that the good (local) ones each place an ad in our newsletters. That's it. I think if the dealers used the user groups more as a selling tool (without the hard-line sell) with product demonstrations and the like, then I wouldn't be the only one in the group with a TT, and everyone else wouldn't be using 520STs with single-sided drives. Moreover, this increased level of dealer interaction is recognized as support, which everyone needs. Everybody can't get on the networks, but they can probably make a monthly meeting if it's worth their while. Yes, I'm sure all the great dealers who participate here on GEnie already have excellent relations with their user groups, but there are many more dealers out there who may not understand the benefits of supporting a local user group, other than just running a cheap, full-page ad in their newsletter. Advertisers and marketing executives would kill to get people to pay to show up once a month for three hours so they could sell their products. Imagine attending a user group meeting and getting a demonstration of how to use Ultra Tide in a Maytag washing machine. Well, that's what we do at the meetings -- software demonstrated on hardware -- but we use computers instead of major household appliances. (Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing you are: my computer -is- a major household appliance. :^) User groups can't survive on their own. Of course, there must be a strong, growing user base, but in order for those user groups to survive, they must also be beneficial to their members and visitors. People will attend meetings if they have the opportunity to learn something about the product that they own. As the Macromedia meeting illustrates, they'll even pay an admission fee, on top of the three- or four-figures(!) they paid for the program. [*][*][*] The Falcon, SpeedoGDOS, Atari Works, they're all very close to being released - a very exciting, and nerve-racking time to be sure! I hope the few messages I've culled from the literal _thousands_ online give you some feeling for how users are 'bracing' themselves for this event. Not since the intro- duction of the ST in 1985 have there been so many new and innovative products released at one time (and then many of us were not there to experience it.) It's a grand time to be alive, as it were. The Falcon and the new programs are not without their birth pains. Reading through the messages you get a feeling for the anxieties, both on the user side and the Atari side. I hope we _ALL_ get the support we need to get this new bird flying! Next month I hope to bring you some news and views from across the pond. I've met some people very dedicated to the "Atari Way Of Life" and hope to share some of what it's like computing in the European theater. The GEnieLamp ST staff would like to express their fond wishes to John and Danelle Townsend on the occasion of their marriage! Godspeed and many, many happy returns! John E. Gniewkowski Editor, GEnieLamp ST ///////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "It happens that the Clinton account is numerically very close / / to my account...I get very tired of replying to these messages, / / giving them the correct address. But, it's kind of interesting / / to be able to read the president's mail. Heh heh." / ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// J.NESS //// [EOA] [HUM]////////////////////////////// HUMOR ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// By Any Other Name... """""""""""""""""""" By John Jainschigg [JCOMMS] WHAT'S IN A NAME? As I've been suggesting patiently for years, the real """"""""""""""""" reason Jerry Pournelle no longer pays much attention to Atari hardware (besides the fact that the last call Mr. Pournelle got from Atari was probably from Neil Harris, back in 1985 (grin)) is because nobody has suggested piquant NAMES for his Atari machines. As any real Pournelle fan will tell you, naming computers is absolutely fundamental to the Pournelle ethos of hardware evaluation. Early Chaos Manor scholarship ascribed Pournelle's naming habit to projective futuristic anthropomorphism: By naming his computers, he was merely anticipating such time as literally intelligent, fully-individuated computing machinery would become available. Subsequent scholarship has pointed out, however, that instead of coming up with "computery" names for his systems (C3P0, R2D2, 21MM392, HAL, etc.), Pournelle continues to prefer organic-sounding names such as Ezekial, Lucy Van Pelt, Big Cheetah, and the like. One school of thought now suggests that Pournelle performs the act of naming as a divinatory gesture based in animism or pantheism. Before one can propitiate the capricious _anima_ or spirit of the machine (deus ex machina), one must determine its name -- the first step in determining where a particular anima stands in the greater heirarchy of spirits, which will in turn determine its area of specific influence, threat- value, and to some extent, elucidate the protocols and ceremonies required in its worship. Extending the above thesis, a few Manorologists have suggested that the ultimate goal of naming is not worship and propitiation, but indeed _control_ of the hardware anima. In this formulation, if Pournelle knows the name of a computer's demiurge or loa, he can summon it and to some extent, control its behavior. Even if this so-called "Voodoo" hypothesis is correct, however, it should not be carelessly assumed to presuppose that Pournelle views computers as inherently dangerous or maleficent entities -- i.e., as demons. While this characterization may indeed inform Pournelle's view, it should be noted that the demonic picture of the anima is largely restricted to medieval and post- medieval Judeo/Christian traditions of sympathetic magic, whereas Pournelle's thinking may derive from older African, Mediterranean, and/or Asian traditions, that view the generic anima as being fundamentally unconcerned with human affairs. Even in the somewhat ill-reputed Voodoo tradition, per se, most loas are perceived as neutral -- the practice of Voodoo "demonology," or "dealing with the left hand" is associated only with a few specific spirits, most notably Le Baron Samedi (Baron Saturday), the loa of Death. While many of us, indeed, experience the use of IBM-compatible hardware as being somehow akin to death, this is doubtless related to the fact that IBM computers are, according to a Mambo of my acquaintance, under the especial protection of Lemonmedselma, the loa of segmented-addressing and 640K limitations, who is cousin to Samedi in the traditional Voodoo familial pantheon. On the other hand, some have argued that Pournelle's having chosen the name Ezekial for his CP/M system -- that name figuring significantly in Revelations -- is evidence of precisely this type of demonologic turn in the author's metaphysics. We feel this argument is without merit. Instead, we suggest that while the name Ezekial certainly derives from mystic New Testament sources, Pournelle chose it because Ezekial's peculiar vision was especially meaningful to him, as a science-fiction writer. As the spiritual recounts: "Ezekial saw the wheel, way up in the middle of the air ..." This vision of a fiery flying wheel, along with subsequent descriptions of multi-headed, winged figures, have, of course, been popularly put forward as scriptural evidence of extraterrestrial visitation. In the final analysis, we feel that Pournelle's naming of his computers is essentially Adamic. It derives in kind from the story of Genesis, wherein Adam's first task, as prototypic human, was to name the animals, asserting Man's natural dominion and expressing his essential relationship with God the Creator. The creating God, of course, has established the identification of naming with dominion "... and he called the light Day, and the darkness Night, etc.," and is identified in apostolic scripture with the primal word, or Logos. Having reviewed this analysis, it should be obvious that if Mr. Pournelle is ever to take Atari systems seriously, appropriately evocative and meaningful names for them must be provided. Ideally, of course, we might hope that Mr. Pournelle would invent his _own_ names -- but he may still be awaiting delivery of evaluation systems. In the interim, I suggest that it would do no harm, and may do some good, to suggest a few tony monickers: Binky, Doogie, Semiramis, Carpaccio, Lucrezia Borgia, Lizzy Borden, Murphy Brown, Elizabeth Regina, Rosenkrantz, Despina, Count Ugolino, Blackadder, Lt. Commander Data, Spock (sigh), NOMAD, Tinkerbell, Bazooka Joe ... Please feel free to add your own. -John Jainschigg (EXPLORER, CAT15, TOP7, MSG:88.M475) //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Also, since this message is off topic, I have gave myself / / a warning [grin]." / ////////////////////////////////////////////// BRIAN.H //// [EOA] [DLR]////////////////////////////// DEALER VIEWPOINT / ///////////////////////////////// Bragging Rights """"""""""""""" By Sheldon Winick [S.WINICK] DO YOU REALLY NEED IT? Those of us who have been around Atari systems """""""""""""""""""""" for a while can probably remember back in the 'ol 8-bit days when some friends had upgraded their 800XL's to a megabyte of memory. Tinkering with those things and "upgrading" them back in those early days of personal computers was really an exciting thing to do, or dream about. There were all sorts of aftermarket add-ons and thing-a-ma-jigs for those early machines. Actually, there's still no shortage of such novelties even for today's high tech computers. But to get back to those 1meg upgrades in those early 800XLs, other than giving the owner the opportunity to have 'Bragging Rights' that he had all that memory, what good was it, really? Well, he could install half a gazillion 64K RAMDISKs, of course! Looking back over the years I can't help but feel that the majority of those add-on "upgrades" really offered more bragging rights than actual purposeful performance. True, some teased us with features, usually that didn't actually perform quite up to expectations, of things that would eventually become standard and commonplace in later systems, but most offered very little lasting value. Even today's hugh assortment of after-market "upgrades" consist of a large number of items of questionnable long-term value. Realistically, there comes a time where any piece of electronic equipment simply has reached its maximum feasible potential and needs to be replaced, not upgraded. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to that fact because of the large number of totally fried Atari's we see carried into our service department that have literally been "upgraded" to death (pun intended). Atari's ST series of computers were simply not designed, nor intended, to be capable of handling a plethora of "upgrades". Unless you're really into "bragging rights", I really would suggest you seriously consider either retiring or trading in your old system when you find you've outgrown its capabilities. At the very least, take a realistic look at the cost of the "upgrade" you may be considering as compared to the cost of trading the system in on a new one which is truly designed to handle your actual needs. Frequently we hear as the reason one wants to "upgrade" an older system is because he or she is concerned that a new system may not be totally compatible with all their old hardware and software. But what many fail to realize is that once you've made major hardware modifications to any system, it will really no longer be the same system you started with either. At best, you may find a few incompatibilites, at worst you may find you've created a real monster and invested a lot of money into a system that has become a servicing nightmare and nearly impossible to sell. Unfortunately, we see the later alternative far too often. There is a time and a place for everything. If you've got a system that is going to be dedicated to DTP or CADD, for example, a hardware accellerator board or video graphics upgrade may well be an excellent investment. But hacking up an 'ol 520 that is intended to be a general purpose home system with hang-on RAM upgrades, external keyboard connectors, and all sorts of other assorted "upgrades" will quickly approach the price of a new machine; and may leave you with nothing more than an old machine of little or no lasting value, other than those "bragging rights" of what you've done. The best recommendation I can offer when you find you've outgrown the capabilities of your current equipment, is to contact a reputable dealer for honest advice on your alternatives. Don't merely rush out and blindly start buying hardware add-ons; they may or not be advantageous to your particular short- or long-term best interest. Likewise, it may also not be in your best long-term interest to rush out an buy the latest new system either. Just as it is rarely advisable to put a new engine in that worn out old car, its also rarely beneficial, in the long term, to spend a lot of money on computer hardware modifications to an old system to try to give it the power and performance of a new system. It's really easy to let the purchasing process become more emotional than rational, especially for those of us who truly enjoy "using" our systems. That's where establishing a good relationship with a reputable dealer can be a definite asset. He is the one who should be qualified to provide you with honest information and recommendations which can be of great value in your decision making process. Visit your local, or nearest Atari dealer whenever possible, and take advantage of the expertise and selection he has to offer. If you're not fortunate enough to have an Atari dealer nearby, take advantage of the opportunity you have right here on GEnie to establish a relationship with one of the online dealers through GEnieMail. Keep in mind that during non-prime-time hours and all day weekends and holidays, GEnieMail is part of GEnie*Basic services included with your $4.95 monthly service. There's also a tremendous amount of information available in the Atari and related RoundTables and libraries, as well as online participation by most major developers and Atari personnel who are available to field your questions and offer advice and recommendations. Your GEnie account is the key providing access to all this knowledge and information. Take advantage of this and let your account give you personalized access to the major personalities in the Atari community who can be of incredible value in making sure you get the most out of your Atari system. Then you'll really have something truly worthy of "bragging rights." Happy (Atari) Computing. Sheldon Winick (GEnie Address: S.WINICK) Computer STudio (Asheville, NC) [*][*][*] Sheldon owns and operates Computer STudio, a full-service Atari dealership in Asheville, North Carolina. Sheldon is also a registered architect (licensed in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Colorado, as well as holding a National NCARB certificate). His current architectural drawings are, of course, prepared on his Atari TT030-based CADD system, using DynaCADD software; and a current project in Colorado requires him to spend several days a month in Snowmass Village (during ski season no less.... poor guy ;-). /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "That's quite a feat! I would have thought it impossible for / / you to find a way to be slower and less efficient. :)) " / /////////////////////////////////////////////// N.WEINRESS //// [EOA] [MOO]////////////////////////////// CowTOONS! / ///////////////////////////////// The GEnieLamp Swimsuit Issue No.1 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (___) Concept by | Drawings by (o o) John Peters | Mike White (.) [GENIELAMP] | [M.WHITE25] __/ ~ \//^~ //`(>-<)` ~^ \_/ (\_/\ // || )___( `\\ || (o o) ~~' ~~ (~ (.) ~) \\/ ~ \// Cindy Cowford ^()-()^ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \_/ (\_/) ( ) ( ) () () ( ) `~ ~' Ms. Mooniverse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (___( (o o) _* (.) \__________/ ~ \_ || ( \___/~ ___ ____//-----db--\_/~~ ( ) ~~~~^ |\./ \ -========================|______\=====\ | _|- Elle MoocPherson | |~_|- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ vv | ~_|- Makes a splash \\ (___) | |~_|- \\ (o o) | ~_|- \\--\./--\\ | |~_|- ``/ ~ \``\\| ~_|- /\\_ ( )-( ) \| |~_|- // \ ~-__\___/ | ~_|- \========\______/ | |~ ^^ /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Cowthy Ireland | returns the wave (__) (~~) /-------\/ / | ) >> Watch for another thunderin' herd of * ||----|| Moo Fun in the next issue of GEnieLamp. ~~ ~~ Moodonna If you have an idea for a CowTOON, we ~~~~~~~~ would like to see it. And, if we pick Mooterial Cow your CowTOON for publishing in GEnieLamp we will credit your account with 2 hours ( Special appearance of GEnie non-prime time! cowrtesy of Moo-TV ) /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "BTW, Mandala is a term from Oriental Art, meaning a stylized / / representation of the Cosmos. I spend hours staring at the / / screen, hoping to soak up culture. But I just fall asleep. / /////////////////////////////////////////////// N.WEINRESS //// [EOA] [MEL]////////////////////////////// MEL'S MANOR / ///////////////////////////////// Next Generation Word Processor """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] >>> CALLIGRAPHER 3 <<< """""""""""""""""""""" ~ Next Generation Word Processor ~ FEATURES GALORE! Calligrapher 3 has recently been released by Codehead """""""""""""""" Technologies and is a worthy upgrade to an already popular word processing package. Hopefully, you were able to download the demo while it was a free Treat of the Month and have been examining the power and flexibility of this program. Allow me to highlight just a few of the new features. Installation et al The installation program has been revamped with a GEM """""""""""""""""" interface and is now very easy to use. Version 3 allows you to choose from two printer drivers at print time which means you don't have to maintain two entirely separate configurations of Calligrapher to support more than one printer, as in older versions. G+Plus and Line_arc have been incorporated into Calligrapher, so your auto folder will be a tad trimmer. Templates The Template feature is new to Calligrapher and has quickly """"""""" become one of my favorites. In the older versions of Calligrapher I always wondered why you had to accept certain hardcoded defaults when you opened a new document. The paragraph indents, tabs, margins, justification all came up the same and although you could alter these, I hoped that a future upgrade would allow you to set your own defaults. Now you can set up a DEFAULT.CAT with your favorite margins, ruler settings, etc., which is auto loaded when you run the program. Any number of other templates can be created with a .CAT extension and when you go to save the file, Calligrapher will prompt you for a new filename so your template isn't overwritten, a nice touch! I remember creating various templates for First Word Plus and after loading one and adding some text, I would invariably forget to rename it, overwriting my template. So I got smart and started making these files Read-Only, but now whenever I wanted to change something in the template, I had to remember to unlock the file. Calligrapher's template feature gives you the best of both worlds and besides including ruler and margin settings, your template can also contain text! So you could create a personal letterhead and save this out as a template. Now anytime you want to write a letter, you load up your letterhead template, add your thoughts and when you save the file, Calligrapher will prompt you for a new filename, keeping you from accidentally overwriting your master template. I/O Calligrapher can now import and export files in Rich Text Format, """ popular over in the DOS world. I would have loved to see First Word Plus or Word Perfect exporting, but RTF is a standard in the PC world and even some ST programs are supporting the loading of such files. A side point is that Redacteur documents can now be imported. This is a popular word processor in France, with a following in other parts of Europe as well. Other Gadgets Another nifty feature comes into play when you move a """"""""""""" margin or tab in Calligrapher's ruler. As you click and drag these, a vertical alignment line is drawn down through your document so you can accurately reposition these to your liking. No more gingerly nudging these along trying to eyeball them as best you can to see if they're in the right spot. One feature that will surely enamor those who like to use plenty of different point sizes in their documents is the Incrs/Decrs options in the Font menu. Highlight a block of variable point size text and select Increase or Decrease and everything will be scaled 90% down or up 111%. In other programs, trying to resize such text is a chore and you can easily end up with all your text in one point size. It wouldn't have been bad to have a user definable percentage, but since the current method only increments or decrements by a small amount, you can bump the text up or down until it suits your fancy, while keeping the proportions between point sizes correct. There are many more new features in Calligrapher 3 like MultiTOS/MultiGEM compatibility, support for 1.44 meg drives during installation, usage of TT ram (if you have a TT) for a 30% speed increase while using the program, a separation line between footnotes and the body text and much more. Be sure to download the demo (file #27336 CAL3DEMO.TOS, also file #27389 CAL3MEDM.LZH for medium resolution use) which comes with an excellent tutorial and the press release (file #27315 CAL3NEWS.ARC). Calligrapher 3 is redefining the word processing standards for the Atari ST and you can be a part of it today. Calligrapher 3 $175 (Pro version) $250 (Gold version) Codehead Technologies P.O. Box 74090 Los Angeles, CA 90004 (213)386-5735 (213)386-5789 (fax) ///////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Well, "Cut the muster" is a military term. I can't imagine why / / anyone would want to slice mustard." / ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// O-ZONE //// [EOA] [MIN]////////////////////////////// MINI_BYTES / ///////////////////////////////// 3 On 1: Mandala EOS Module """""""""""""""""""""""""" By John E. Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] Program Name : Mandala Filename : MANDALA.LZH Library Area : 2 Program Number : 27634 File Size : 5120 Program Type : Warp 9 Module Author : John Eidsvoog & Oliver Broadway Version Reviewed: 1.0 File Type : Freeware [*][*][*] FROM THE AUTHOR Mandala requires Warp 9. This module is freeware from """"""""""""""" CodeHead Technologies and works in all resolutions on all monitors. The idea for the Mandala Extend-O-Save module came from a program called MANDALA.TOS, by Oliver Broadway. It produces random kaleidoscopic patterns in an infinitely changing series of graphical movement. MANDALA.TOS worked only in ST High Resolution. Some major additions and changes were made to facilitate color and run in all resolutions. [*][*][*] MINI_BYTE BY RICHARD [5 Lamps] John Eidsvoog, one of the CodeHead """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Technologies gurus, shows just why he and Charles Johnson could, if not should be considered the saving grace of the Atari world with MANDALA.LZH, file 27634, a popular download for Warp 9, another product under the CodeHead banner. This product delivers precisely what it promises: an excellent, entertaining screen saver that is equivalent to or rivals the best of screen savers on any other system. Mandala blanks the screen and forms a myriad of kaleidoscopic displays, each one smoothly dissolving to the next. Of benefit to all Ataris running the Warp 9 screen accelerator, Mandala functions in all resolutions, even in monochrome. For once, I've no complaints. MINI_BYTE BY TERRY [5 Lamps] For a long time, a number of us ST'ers """""""""""""""""""""""""""" looked longingly for a screensaver like "After Dark" for the pc. Well, the wait is over. If you haven't done so already, send off a check to the Codeheads for their excellent Warp 9 accelerator and download the subject of this review. Mandala is one of the latest and arguably the greatest screensaver yet developed for the ST. It seems to be rock steady stable, is interesting (you might even say mesmerizing) and is only 5k in size by itself. A similar product for the PC (if someone were to write one) would probably be 10 times as large. This one is one makes purchasing Warp 9 worthwhile all by itself and when you consider the speed increase you get and the mouse accelerator, etc., After Dark users might very well become jealous of you and your ST. The only drawback to Mandala is that it is rather processor intensive while it runs so you can't have it active at the same time your have your system doing something else. In the normal course of such events, this is not a very severe limitation so download it and enjoy. I give this one 5 lamps! MINI_BYTE BY JOHN [5 Lamps] Just when you think graphics on your ST or """"""""""""""""""""""""""" MSTe are getting boring, along comes the CodeHeads with a knock 'em dead utility. Well, this isn't a stand alone utility, since you need to own a copy of their wonderful Warp 9 screen accelerator (and if you don't have that one, why not!) But it is the small piece that takes the "Extend-O-Save" screen saver of Warp 9 beyond your normal everyday saver. Sure, now-a-days, people argue, you really don't need a screen saver. Well, so be it. Even if you didn't need one, you still want to take a look at Mandala. It's absolutely mesmerizing! I'm sure they have some subliminal hooks in there placing the message, "Buy CodeHead Software..." over and over into your brain. Primarily I use the SM 147 monitor, and Mandala looks every bit as "kaleidoscopic" as you'd imagine on a color monitor, another amazing feat! But on color! Egads! You won't believe your eyes! GEnie LAMP MINI_BYTE'S RATING """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" RICHARD ............................................ 5 TERRY ............................................. 5 JOHN ............................................... 5 """" MINI_BYTE SCORE .................................... 5 . __ (^) <^> /~ ~\ \-=======_/"\_======-/ \) "\. FIVE LAMPS! ./" "\._ _ _./" (_____) ~ A GEnie Lamp Excellence Award Winner! ~ MINI_BYTES RATING SYSTEM """""""""""""""""""""""" 1 LAMP..........A marginal download 2 LAMPS.........Gets the job done 3 LAMPS.........Good execution, stable program 4 LAMPS.........Innovative or feature rich, take a look! 5 LAMPS.........What? You haven't downloaded this program YET? If all three reviewers give the program a "5 LAMP" rating, it will receive the ~ A GEnie Lamp Excellence Award! ~ >>> REVIEWER PROFILES <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" JOHN.......uses his Mega STe to improve computing at a large USAF squadron in Washington, DC Desktop publishing, spreadsheets and Data- base work take up most of his CPU cycles. RICHARD....uses the ST as a full-time professional platform, emphasizing word processing, spreadsheet, DTP, graphics applications, and a host of utilities/accessories for all exigencies. TERRY......Uses mostly Wordwriter ST, Aladdin, and ST_Talk Professional. He writes a lot and is very hard to please. Loves sticking pins in sacred cows (both computer and political). He rarely has time for games (either the enjoyable kind or Bureaucrap!) /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Your probably right! But isn't mustard a plant or something / / that that the workers in the field used to have to cut, but / / when they get to hold, they can't cut the MUSTARD any more? / / hmmmmm! Hey! This sound like a new topic...........(HaHa) / / I think we better give this serious investigation.....:D " / /////////////////////////////////////////////// W.DAVIS20 //// [EOA] [QUI]////////////////////////////// THE MIGHTY QUINN / ///////////////////////////////// Random Access """"""""""""" By Mark Quinn [NEWSIE] "A Whole Buncha Milliseconds with Mark" by Mark Quinn, DOA GEnie address: NEWSIE Forget Alvin Toffler: some of us are waiting for technology to catch up to _us_. I dream of the day when I can buy a MIDI synthesizer that, besides having a decent piano and electronic organ patch, also does a fair job of imitating an acoustic guitar. I'd like to have a vision recognition system good enough to handle driving my car. I'd like to see 40" active matrix TVs, after so many years of hearing that flat-screen TVs were "ten years away". And these are not pie-in-the-sky Star Wars doo-dads -- they are extrapolations of current technologies. Granted, such advances will come with time, but when they will arrive is anyone's guess. I really don't expect to hop in the back seat of my car, speak a destination and have the car do the rest during my lifetime (I am 34, and desperately counting down 40) -- I expect to see glimmerings of the technology, perhaps see a few "gee whiz" promises on _Beyond 2000_, but that's about it. Darn it, doesn't this child of the 60s and 70s, who saw astronauts play golf on the moon, the birth of MTV, and the death of communism, deserve the above wish list? I've been awfully good, I regularly back up my text files -- baby wants techno goodies. Baby promises not to do anything overtly obscene or outright dangerous with them. Sanity returneth. (Good, just in time for this paragraph, too.) Our ancestors made do with far less, and some of them excelled. And a whole lot of people in _today's_ world don't have access to the gee whiz technology (synthesizers that have good piano patches, Super VGA monitors, a reliable car with a full tank of gasoline) I take for granted, so a slice of humble pie is in order. Can I have that slice with a hang-on-the-wall, flat-screen TV, please? ///////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Thanks Alan and Charles. I don't know what I would do without / / you all and GEnie. I knew C was going to be different but, WOW! / / It's like a whole new world." / ///////////////////////////////////////////////// R.WATSON15 //// [EOA] [MIC]////////////////////////////// MICE, BYTES AND ATARI / ///////////////////////////////// Atari And You """"""""""""" By Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] >>> PERCEPTIONS AND THE MIND OF THE BEHOLDER <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT! So there I am, condensing yet another full page ad """"""""""""""""""""" for a discount gaming software mail order house. I take what should be 8.5 x 11 inches and make it fit in 3 x 10 inches. Any DTP'er out there would say "Whoa! Small type!" 5.44 point, thanks. But this is just the prelude to the story. Even though this ad is for the AMIGA (I used to do ST ads for them...) the point is, when the hard-nosed heart of New York mail order manager came by for his output, he hands me a spiff (bonus, if you will) which is every European Atari magazine produced in the English language. Now, everyone has heard about the "greener grass" in Europe relative to the Atari scene. Programs like Calamus, Didot Professional, Avant Vektor, Retouche, Megapaint, Arabesque, Cubase, That's Write, and Redacteur (French for "writer") all have European roots and thankfully, U.S. importers and supporters. Such titles support the ST and TT as a serious, professionally capable machine. But there it was on page 8 (the first article) of the December ST Format: "WHO'S GOT IT IN FOR THE ST?" The article expounds on the "waning" ST -- but in the light of that dreaded label -- as a GAMES machine. Percentages tell the tale that the ST, next to Amiga and DOS machines, is losing its "king-o-the-games" image, and according to one _business_ software seller, is "moving further towards becoming a specialized machine, particularly in the fields of music and DTP." And that is the problem: still perceiving the ST as a games platform, especially after all these years. A computer is not Nintendo, nor should it be reduced to such. Nintendo does not function well for spreadsheet analysis, database management, word processing, desktop publishing, graphics editing, faxing, mailing list management, MIDI sequencing, mixer automation, or in general, in spurring creativity. But perceiving the ST as a Nintendo, as all too many British seem to have done, has also corrupted their minds: THE NINTENDO EQUATION _______________________________________________ Computer = Games machine (Nintendo) Atari < Amiga/DOS for games (Nintendo) Sell Atari --> Buy Amiga/DOS (better Nintendo) Must this be the stench smelt round the world? For those of us who spend long hours in front of a monitor doing professional work on an Atari that reaches a world audience, nothing could be more disheartening. And alarming. For a long time, U.S. Atari users have recognized Atari Corporation's "Europe First" program. It is only natural to sell to the primary market first. Also, since the introduction of the ST, DOS machines, and the Amiga and Mac have zoomed to market dominance in the U.S. with a never ending stream of product improvements from CPU speed to add-on third party capabilities. One of the places I work sports a pigged-out $32,000 DOS machine wherein a single program and the requisite add-on board to make it work cost a combined $8,000+. I work on it, ever so maddeningly, craving to finish up and get back to my TT. That mega-DOS monster, to an Atari user, is awesome in its job (nice video graphics, you know, the 24 bit ones I offload to bring home to ST PageStream) but in functionality, it is truly a dog with fleas in its own "proprietary" pseudo-windowed format. Just like Windows, it takes forever to do simple things. The bit of it: this DOS dog has the capabilities needed for the task. Evolution was responsible. But now Atari has evolved with the upcoming Falcon. This machine has one of the highest base-unit specs in personal computer history. Developers from the NeXT platform have started porting awesome DSP chip-oriented software to the Falcon. Machine speed seems to be tied to various models of the computer to follow the 68030 16 MHz base unit, inclusive of 68040 potentials. And, I've heard the 68060 is in the wings at Motorola (?). However, this new machine does not negate the sound capabilities of the basic 1040ST, the Megas, the STe's, and the TT. From the basics of word processing and spreadsheets, very high end music software is at home and fully usable on the 1040. Megas further support DTP and graphics with significant third party add-on capabilities. The STe adds palette and speed, and the TT is expensively expandable to true color graphics work, as well as handling the subset of virtually everything all other Ataris will do, save the Falcon. Yes, yes, I didn't mention games - but in the modern world, and modern economies - other than developers and grade schoolers, few should claim gaming as there primary computer use. Well... I have found a recent upload, file 26579, RAYOID.LZH, to be an excellent, playable, reasonably faithful, but better (really works on the TT and SHAREWARE) version of the ancient vector based arcade game "Asteroids". I'd confess to burning a few minutes here and there blasting away to the much improved color graphics, cute digitized sounds, and overall nostalgic feel of the game. Luckily, unlike the arcade version, you don't last as long on the small screen. Losing three ships comparatively quickly gets you back to work - if you can resist the temptation of playing again to beat the high score. Pardon the digression, but... The fact is, just about everything currently possible on a computer is within reach of an Atari user, and whatever gaps exist should begin to close with the Falcon. Unfortunately, this is where we get into the numbers game. By sheer force of numbers, the glut of D.imwitted O.perating S.ystems burning electricity today has brought extensive capabilities to that ogre of a system within sensible reach - technology reduced to the "dime a dozen" principle. Right now, it will cost me more to upgrade to true-color on my TT than it would on just about every other system. The monitor price remains the same for all, but the graphics cards are steeper for the TT. This is not to say I could spend the same in DOS - I could, but that merely reflects the range in the glut of options available to users of that other insidious operating system. But now we find ourselves at a crossroads. In both Europe and the U.S., 1993 seems to be the year in which Atari must at long last make its mark as a player in the computer wars. Atari Corporation must put company first and commit to rejuvenating its lifeblood - the dealer and developer network standing behind the machines. Dealers _must_ feel supported and confident in the company, and developers must feel they are catered to - at least sufficiently to make TOS development equal to any other OS in their minds. I'm aware of at least one developer who actually took a significant TOS-based project and ported it over to finish it for another 68000 system first - with only tentative future plans at this time to finish the Atari version - and only due to the feeling that they were of only "back burner" interest to the company. Names withheld, let's just say this particular incident was indeed a setback (but not a death knell). At the executive level, Atari Corporation must make its presence known, and forcefully. Personal agendas must be put aside, and a winning attitude moving towards a resurgence must be felt by the entire Atari community. The fact that NeXT developers have shown interest is a good start (speaking of non-mainstream- machines!), but this trend must continue to include a vicious support of the product pipeline and a moving away from the "silent partner" approach. Okay, all right, enough... get off the soap box... But the ol' digits are just warming up! The question returns to perception and the mind of the beholder. Atari needs to be perceived differently, and especially in those areas that have miscast a fine computer into the ghastly role of "games machine." This, unfortunately, includes a huge portion of other OS users in the United States. Wherein lies the problem is the resultant mindset. These are people who are automatic doubters and therefore less than apt to consider any entry into the world of Atari via a system purchase. With the Falcon, especially with its capacity to run eye-popping software without card by card by card modification, Atari could finally find a ready market, a market tired of "building" a system, as by experience, all DOS users have come to expect. Finally, "Power Without the Price" -- read that "VALUE" -- can return to the desktop under the Atari banner. Until the next... /////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "P.S. This post ought to drive the Topic Cops crazy about / / where it should go - it touches on 2-3 different / / topics (Interpretation, Legalities and ABCO)." / ///////////////////////////////////////////// LEPULLEY //// [EOA] [PDQ]////////////////////////////// PD_QUICKVIEW / ///////////////////////////////// Yours For The Asking """""""""""""""""""" By Fred H. Koch [F.KOCH] Program Name : JC-Calendar Filename : JCCAL03.ZIP Library Area : 2 Program Number : 27671 File Size : 180224 Program Type : Calendar creator Author : John Charles Version Reviewed: 0.3 File Type : Freeware [*][*][*] WHAT IT IS JC Calendar is a calendar creation program. It requires a """""""""" monochrome monitor and prints to a DJ500, 24 pin or 9 pin Epson compatible printer. WHAT IT DOES JC Calendar creates calendars for any month of any year from """""""""""" 1981 to 2100. Individual months or an entire year calendar can be created at one time. Each month has a picture at the top and the days of the month at the bottom filling an 8.5 x 11 inch page. JC Calendar has many configuration options which allow you to customize the printed calendar. A different picture is included for each month or any DEGAS high resolution picture may be used by renaming it to the proper month name. The style of border surrounding the pictures, month name font and month numbers all have several choices to add variety to your calendar. Once all the creation options are selected, the calendar can sent to the printer, or viewed on screen for a last minute check if the choices are what you really want. (show CALPIC1.PC3 here) . __ (^) <^> /~ ~\ \-=======_/"\_======-/ \) PD_RATING "\. FOUR LAMPS ./" """"""""" "\._ _ _./" DOCUMENTATION GOOD (_____) """"""""""""" PD_Q COMMENTS JC Calendar is one of the best calendar printing programs """"""""""""" I have seen. My only real regret is it will not work with color systems. It has a very easy to use set-up and the included help screen provides any further clarification if it is needed. The print-out is superb on my 9 pin Star NX-1000. I can only guess it would be just as good or better with a 24 pin or DJ500. The configuration options make it easy to create a calendar to suit your tastes from a large number wall display to one you can keep daily notes on. The only configuration I miss is the choice to make the weeks start on Sunday instead of Monday. I just can't get use to looking at a calendar that shows the week ending with Sunday. The version number implies this is a beta version, but the operation certainly doesn't look like it. There are a few things which would enhance it's operation, like printing holidays, or allowing entry of special messages for certain dates, like birthdays, etc. The only problem I found was it does not work properly with my screen saver. The screen saver will not kick-in and if I force it to kick-in I can't get the calendar screen back without forcing the program to redraw the screen by finding the exit button and then choosing NO. This could be a problem with either the screen saver or the calendar program,a minor inconvenience. Overall this is an outstanding program, anyone who ever desires to print a calendar should have it. ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "I would pound on the tree's until my characters needed rest / / then back off. Rest up and bash the tree's some more. If / / this got to boring I'd go off and chase rabbits for awhile, / / great fun, especially with throwing the baseballs." / /////////////////////////////////////////////// JLHOFFMAN //// [EOA] [TEL]////////////////////////////// TELETALK ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// Online Communications """"""""""""""""""""" By Al Fasoldt [A.FASOLDT] >>> BANNED IN THE U.S.A. <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ Copyright 1993 by Al Fasoldt. All rights reserved ~ I was banned in Boston the other day. And in Chicago and Los Angeles. I was banned in the rest of the country, too. It lasted for a week. It was the first time I've ever been censored. It all started when I tried to catch up on my mail. I had thousands of unread messages to look through on one of the national computer networks. Nearly all the messages were public postings in the conferences. Anybody in the United States can read them just by calling the network by computer. Public messages on this network are supposed to be civil. After all, the notes that are posted are just like the scraps of paper that you see on supermarket bulletin boards. You don't want to embarrass anyone or make unpleasant remarks in public. But as I started to read the public messages, I came across one directed solely at me. If it had been a private letter, I wouldn't have minded at all. But out in the open, where any caller could read it -- right out on the supermarket wall, so to speak -- was a note that said, more or less, that I had an unorthodox way of dealing with the truth. A liar? Was that what I was being called? So what, you say? You write for a living, you take your lumps, and that's that. I get letters now and then from regular readers who tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. One guy even sends me unprintable references to my ancestors. I'm used to it. But these aren't public remarks. They're personal and private. You can ignore something like that and nobody else cares. Nobody else knows. The public note I found on the computer network (NOT GEnie! -Ed :) had gone too far. I wrote a reply pointing this out. I made a couple of pointed remarks about the letter-writer's grumpiness, and then I posted my reply in the same area of the conferencing network. Since his note about me had been public, I made sure my response was public, too. I called back to look for any new mail the next day. I had a private note from one of the people in charge of the network. Cool it, he said. The other guy is being told the same thing, his note said. The two of you should calm yourselves down. I didn't like being told not to defend myself. I wasn't about to keep quiet. So I checked back into the public messages and found another one from the same caller. It slammed me even harder. And so I slammed back. Nothing could stop me now. Or so I thought. When I called again two days later, everything seemed normal. While I was reading a message, I pressed a couple of keys to tell the network that I wanted to write a comment. They were the same keys I'd always pressed. But this time instead of getting the OK from the computer system, I got a note back from the network. You can't do that, it said in network language. You can't reply to that message. I tried again. Same thing. I went to another message and tried to respond to it. Sorry! This isn't allowed, the network told me. The actual note was "access denied," or something like that. It was that way for all of the conferences I checked into. I had been silenced. I could read but not write. Later, I found an electronic mail letter from the network manager. His note had been mailed to both me and my antagonist. It said we were being childish. Our angry messages had been deleted so nobody could read them. The censorship would last a few days, he said. He also said things could get worse if we didn't behave. This last part was a little odd. Without the ability to write public messages, we had no way to misbehave. We were like patrons of the supermarket who were locked out just outside the door. We could see the little pieces of paper on the public bulletin board, but we couldn't put up any ourselves. I fired off a private reply to the manager. I pay for this service, I reminded him. It's not a service when I can't respond to public messages. I told him I shouldn't have to pay for the time that I was censored. He wrote back right away and told me I wouldn't be charged for that period. By the following week I was back to full status. I minded my manners, and I've been a good boy ever since. I haven't had an argument with anybody. But the whole experience has been unsettling. It's clear that nobody came out ahead, but I still haven't figured out who lost more -- the other network callers, presumably embarrassed, who had to pick their way past our public spat, or the two of us, muzzled and singled out, treated like 7-year-olds. Maybe the real loss is an almost insignificant erosion of the right of free expression. This decade will mark the beginning of true mass communication by computer. In some ways, conferencing networks will become as important as newspapers, and much of the time they'll serve as a replacement for the U.S. mail. However, unlike the press and the postal service, with their long traditions of free speech, computer networks don't have history as a guide. They'll do whatever their managers want. And that means censorship just as easily as it means anything else. When that day comes, who will decide what can be said in public? It's worth thinking about now, while networks and other information services are still young. It may be too late when they've grown up. [*][*][*] Al Fasoldt writes about computers and consumer electronics from Syracuse, N.Y., where he is a newspaper editor and programmer. ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Are you stuck using a female character to get around in the / / temple of the snakes? I would rather bring my white wizard / / than the grey wizard chick." / /////////////////////////////////////////////////// AEO.2 //// [EOA] [LIB]////////////////////////////// THE ONLINE LIBRARY / ///////////////////////////////// HOT Files You Can Download """""""""""""""""""""""""" By Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] >>> HOT FILES! <<< """""""""""""""""" FILES, FILES FILES! A very sound month, this one just past . """"""""""""""""""" Seems a slew of sound related files have been uploaded for use in GEM Sound. Browse library 17, Digitized Sounds, for sounds galore. And even though only a few have Falcons, Falcon-specific programs are already appearing in the library which use unique features of the machine. A search in the file library under the keyword "Falcon" will reveal some of these. The new Extend-O-Save screen saver modules for Warp 9 are causing quite a stir. If you don't have the lastest version of Warp 9, get it and join in the fun. Idle computer time will never be the same. Any comments of my own are shown within double asterisks "**...**" after the file description. [*][*][*] #27756 DROPOUT.LZH 4224 This is another Extend-O-Save module for Warp """""""""""""""""""""""""" 9. Dropout will cause little blocks of your screen to fall out and disappear off the bottom of your screen. Configurability gives you many options for varying the display. Dropout requires Warp 9 version 3.70 or later, and is freeware from CodeHead Technologies. Documentation is included. By John Eidsvoog #27748 CONN192.LZH 291840 Latest version of this versatile term """""""""""""""""""""""""""" emulator from Germany Please use the latest version of Questor LZH to extract this LH5 file. #27747 TERA_130.LZH 97536 This is the long awaited update to """""""""""""""""""""""""""" TeraDesk. Wout had said that the next version would be 1.25, but he added so many features it's now version 1.30 For the unitiated, TeraDesk is a desktop replacement that provides all the features of Atari's NewDesk and more. This version is for ST/STe users. A TT only version is available separately (#27746). Shareware from The Netherlands. Extract with Quester's LHARC201 #27740 NEO3ICNS.LZH 59904 Here are copies of my customized icons in """""""""""""""""""""""""""" all 3 resolutions (High, Medium, and Low), for use with Hard Disk installable Applications and Games. I have borrowed a number of these icons from other uploaded .NIC files and created/modified all of the rest of them. I have broken these icons into 3 separated .NIC files for easier installation into NeoDesk configurations in each of the 3 ST resolutions. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27739 INSP_180.LZH 8192 This program tells you what the program was """"""""""""""""""""""""""" attempting to do when it crashed or had a problem. It also will tell you whatever the program is trying to do and what it is doing. This program is an auto-folder program. It has quite a few options and is very valuable. It doesn't like programs that write directly to the screen, however these are in the minority. It will NOT work with the Program "Pathfinder". It should work ok with everything else. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract TT Compatible. Only supported in ST LOW and ST MEDIUM resolutions #27737 DE102103.LZH 119936 This file contains a patch program that """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" will patch Diamond Edge V1.02 to V1.03. Enhancements include saving lost clusters in individual file for each distinguisable FAT chain and better large screen monitor support. An important bug has been fixed in the Disk Medic when attempting to fix a certain type of severe disk directory corruption. This upgrade is highly recommended for all Diamond Edge owners. Best regards, Bob@ORA Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract. #27733 FLCAT_12.LZH 26624 Version 1.2 of the File Catalog has three """""""""""""""""""""""""""" new features: 1) point and click to rename/delete a file displayed, 2) a DO ALL command to load old list, gen new list, and perform delta, and 3) a file search command. Also a few other enhancements such as more TT compatible. Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract. #27731 SWARM.LZH 9472 This module simulates a swarm of bees. """""""""""""""""""""""" Registered users can obtain a fully working version of this module using their CURRENT keys. Your $10 registration now bring you seven screen savers! Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract NOTE: The REGISTER program is not included in the archive. ** Another Extend-O-Save module for Warp 9's screen saver. ** #27729 APU_1.LZH 21504 Atari Power User Magazine is back online. """"""""""""""""""""""""" After 2 years absence we are back with a new group of writters. In this issue we review the great software called STraight FAX!, review a networking program for ST's called ISIS. Also included are game reviews, graphics program review, and business section. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27725 NEO_CONV.LZH 8192 These two files replace the ones written by """"""""""""""""""""""""""" the NeoDesk 3.02 to 3.03 patch program. INF_CONV will not give an "Illegal function" alert when running on a TOS 1.0/1.2 machine. MAC_CONV now works properly with macro files containing a sequence to select desktop icons. Also, corrects the same bug mentioned above. This file is different from that contained in the 3.03 Rev A patch. .RSC files from previous version necessary. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27721 CDN92TXB.LZH 54144 Hi, this is an improved MACRO version of """""""""""""""""""""""""""" the Canadian Tax Return for LDW. I hope it helps, please ignore the version named CDNTX92B.LZH. This is the best. I am starting to learn MACRO's so watch out for new stuff for the future!! Bye, Bruce K. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27711 RECCON20.LZH 69760 NOTE: This program was previously uploaded. """""""""""""""""""""""""""" If you downloaded this program and have not registered you are in possession of an illegal copy! Please delete it! The Recipe Converter will convert Assistant Chef, Computer Chef, Meal Master and most ASCII text files to the format required by The Recipe Box recipe program. Version 2 includes a new user interface, faster conversions, and an improved status display. SHAREWARE from Mountain Software! #27707 GS252B.ZOO 512000 Latest version of GhostScript, uploaded on """"""""""""""""""""""""""" request. GhostScript prints PS files to many types of non-PS printers, and also allows on-screen viewing. Can work in 1meg of RAM, but the more the better. A GNU FreeWare program. Use ZOO 2.1 to extract #27706 FINDFILE.LZH 18944 Find File is a small accessory that will """""""""""""""""""""""""""" locate files by search name and display up to 100 instances with full paths. It also has file operation options such as Print, Copy, Move and Trash. Great for locating files on up to 8 hard drive partitions + A/B floppies. Provides quick list of files over many partitions at once and avoids the hassle of performing file operations without exiting the comfort of an application. Fully functioning Freeware. #27692 BREAKUP2.LZH 10368 This is an update to BREAKUP.LZH. It allows """""""""""""""""""""""""""" you to split a large file into smaller ones. This version will allow you to choose the drive/path that you want the split files to be written to. Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract (LH5 archive). #27690 INSECTA.ARC 197632 This an excellent PD game with super """""""""""""""""""""""""""" graphics and sound. Similar to Space Invaders only with a new twist. Requires 1meg of memory and a color monitor. Use ARC602ST.TTP (#13310) to extract. Note: This is a STOS program. Does not work with TOS 2.x or 3.x #27679 CHINON.LZH 11904 This program plays CDs with audio tracks on """""""""""""""""""""""""" your Chinon 431 CD-Rom Drive. This should work with the 435 but I can not confirm this. Requires ICD latest software to run. Tested on ST/TT. #27674 JCVUE23.ZIP 102912 The latest version of the increasingly """""""""""""""""""""""""""" unaccurately named JCView. This monochrome-only program will edit (and view) many different types of picture files. Numerous features. An excellent freeware program by John Charles. Extract with Quester's LHARC201 #27673 JCLABL18.ZIP 52096 Latest version of JCLabel by John Charles. """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Monochrome only, this program features mailing list handling and will print mailing labels, mailing labels, and more mailing labels. Extract with Quester's LHARC201 #27672 JCCFNVU1.LZH 29696 This program will read a Calamus font data """""""""""""""""""""""""""" file and display a bitmap image of the font on your screen. Monochrome only. Freeware from John Charles. Will only display unserialized fonts. Extract with Quester's LHARC201 #27671 JCCAL03.ZIP 180224 This is a calendar generating program. """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Prints calendars for any month(s) or year. Include pictures for each month, set the text styles, box styles, and more. Built-in drives for DeskJet and dot matrix printers. Monochrome only freeware from John Charles. Neat stuff!! Extract with the latest version of STZip #27669 NEOP302A.LZH 240256 This program will update registered """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" NeoDesk 3.02 disks, changing their contents to version 3.03. This version supports MultiTOS, adds automatic movement of files into the File Clipboard, multiple copies of a floppy disk, and lots more. The patch program will only work with version 3.02 of NeoDesk. If you only have version 3.01, you must use the 3.01 to 3.02 patch program (also available here in the libraries), first. This version contains a change so that INF_CONV and MAC_CONV will work correctly with a TOS 1.0 or 1.2 machine. See Cat 17, #14. #27666 ANI_DEMO.LZH 230144 This Connections multimedia family is a """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" collection of animations from many different authors, converted to monochrome and presented in this entertaining demonstration family. Requires Connection version 1.2 available here online. Mono freeware. Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract (LH5 archive). ** A screenshot is included in the mono TX2 version of the GEnielamp. ** #27665 UPDATE.LZH 55680 This is an update for those who have already downloaded Connections from GEnie. Replacing CONNECT.PRG and CONNECT.PI3 with your original files will update you to the newest version 1.2 which adds: * automatic loading of animation files * "pingpong" animation (looping backwards and forwards) * better support for stacking animations on top of graphic children * improved memory handling and error correction * static text fields now adjust themselves vertically This program is monochrome only. Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract (LH5 archive). #27664 CONECT12.LZH 117248 Connections is an interactive multimedia """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" networking program. Link text, graphics, animations, sound samples and more into multimedia "families". With Connections, anyone can create user friendly multimedia presentations that are informative, entertaining, educational and impressive. With a copy of this FREEWARE program you can create your own or run other Connections "families". This new version adds: Automatic loading of animation files; Animation now supports 'pingpong' (looping back and forth); Alignment using F10 for stacking animbation on graphic children. This program monochrome only. Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract (LH5 archive). ** I can't believe this is freeware. Very high quality. Quite a few Connections families have been uploaded which demonstrate the vast power inherent in this great program. A must download if you have a mono monitor. ** #27660 CACHE275.LZH 35072 This is LAST shareware version of Master """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Cache V2.75. It now feature pre-caching! It can pre-caching FAT/DIR from C: for speed up AUTO program. It has all features from Master Cache V2.72. It is BEST disk caching program for ATARI ST. After that,I will release Master Cache V3.00 as COMMERCIAL product...! Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract (LH5 archive). #27653 FATCACHE.LZH 14208 Hard disk cache and FAT speedup for TOS 1.0 """""""""""""""""""""""""""" and 1.2/1.02 (just works as a fast HD cache with other versions). Faster, more compatible, more memory efficient than FATSPEED. Gives up to 1000% speed increase when copying files between partitions. Includes GEM installation program and no technical knowledge required (please read the docs though). Devpac 68000 assembly source also available for programmers. See FAT_SRC.LZH (#27654) for source. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27650 2_GSNDV1.ZIP 87680 This file contains TO_GSND version 1.05 and """""""""""""""""""""""""""" TO_GSNDV version 2.01 complete with source files. These programs convert .SPL (unsigned) and .SAM (signed) sound samples to .SMP samples recognized by GEMSOUND. The only change from TO_GSNDV.ZIP is a minor fix TO_GSNDV that allows voice prompts to be turned off if GEMSOUND is not installed. TO_GSNDV is functionally the same as TO_GSND but adds voice prompts for STe and TT (maybe Falcon030?) use. Mike Allen, Las Cruces NM, 2/9/93 Use the newest version of ST_ZIP to unARCHIVE this file. #27644 GAGS.ZIP 111360 This is a collection of "gag" PRGs and ACCs, """"""""""""""""""""""""" written by Meinholf Schneider, author of many German pd/shareware prgs. These were originally written for a German magazine, but are pd. Source Code Included. MONO ONLY!!! BLACKHOL.ACC - Turns trashcan into animated black hole! DJANGO.PRG - Run this, go about your business, and be prepared! MAGIC.PRG - Stars follow your mouse pointer! PHYSICAL.PRG - Gives your mouse pointer gravity! SNOW.PRG - Your screen is slowly hit by a snow blizzard! TRASHY.ACC - Your trashcan becomes animated with sound! >>>Use latest version of ST ZIP program to extract #27636 SOLUTION.LZH 233856 Solutions is a powerful mathematical """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" software that performs numerical computations as well as symbolic manipulations. It supports various data types: real numbers, complex numbers, binary integers, strings, vectors, matrices, lists, names (variables). Solutions is programmable. It plots equations, can find a root, compute numerical integration, find a derivative (symbolic), convert between units and more. The demo has limitations as the complexity of objects you enter and manipulate as well as saving, loading, printing. Tutorial included. Come and talk with us in CATegory 2, TOPic 21. Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract. #27634 MANDALA.LZH 5120 Mandala isn't just a kaleidoscope, it """""""""""""""""""""""""" approaches nirvana! You won't be able to get any work done once you install it! Mandala requires Warp 9, version 3.70 or later (with Extend-O-Save) in order to use it. Mandala produces a never-ending series of changing patterns. It runs in all ST/TT resolutions. Freeware from CodeHead Technologies. Use Quester's LHARC201 (lh5) to extract. #27630 SYMETRY.LZH 6784 All resolution kaleidescope in a window. GFA """""""""""""""""""""""""" BASIC 3.x source code included (in .LST format). Resize the window, move it, make it full, and it still works. TT Compatible in ALL resolutions Use latest version of Quester's LZH to extract #27628 EXPAND.LZH 6016 This version is no different than the original """"""""""""""""""""""""" version of EXPANDER.ACC that I uploaded here a while back, except that most (not all, unfortunately) of it's native French has been translated into English. It takes single-sided disks and converts them into double-sided disks in one operation. No need to erase the data and reformat; this reads the data, saves it, and formats the disk. Use Quester's LHARC201 (lh5) to extract. #27623 LEGAL.LZH 45056 Just fill in the Blanks. Ascii Files. Use """"""""""""""""""""""""" Quester's LHARC201 (lh5) to extract. #27621 SORTIE12.ZIP 17024 Sortie v1.2 will safely sort any directory """""""""""""""""""""""""""" by name or by date (in ascending or descending order). This is especially useful for people wanting to sort their picture directories, or for sysops wishing to sort their download directories. Sortie allows you to sort one folder at a time, using a file selector for input, or sort many folders automatically, using a simple ASCII list. The latter method is especially useful for sysops who wish to sort their files each day, unattended. Sortie v1.2 fixes a harmless cosmetic bug that showed up when sorting long folder names. Reported by E.WISNIEWSKI. FREEWARE! Sysop's Note: Extract with STZIP2.x #27618 FREEFL12.LZH 2176 This is version 1.2 of my ST Aladdin script """"""""""""""""""""""""""" to download the free files from the ST RoundTable menu. You can perform an AutoPass 1 or 2 after downloading the files if you choose. Included are instructions on how to get the script running. It will cost you a few seconds of pay time entering and exiting the file download process, but should be much faster than accomplishing the same thing manually. Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract (LH5 archive). #27612 ECOPYA1.LZH 3456 I messed up. I had a bug in this program """""""""""""""""""""""""" that would come around about 1 in 16 times. This utility allows you to copy a large file that will not fit on one floppy to many floppy disks. You can also restore the file with this program's append function. You may also want this utility if you need a file copy with an append function. Extract with Questor's LHARC201 #27608 MTW_DEMO.LZH 76672 New for the Atari ST/STe/STacy/TT/Falcon """""""""""""""""""""""""""" systems running TOS or MultiTOS. MultiWriter is a word processor fully compatible with ST Writer Elite and is fully compatible with the new MultiTOS operating system soon to be released from Atari Corp. MultiWriter is a "ground up" rewrite of ST Writer Elite. This is a DEMO version. Extract with Questor's LHARC201 #27594 PAD_24.LZH 267392 This PAD, a great art program from Germany. """"""""""""""""""""""""""" Offers many unique options including support for Signum fonts and some great image manipulation tools. Monochrome only, at least 1 meg required. Program and all documentation is in German. Shareware. Some drawing fuctions will not function with Warp9, so turn it off before starting the program. Don't worry, it's worth it. Extract with Quester's LHARC201 #27581 TLCBOOK3.LZH 60160 A combination address book and date keeper. """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Version 3 now prints phone books, mailing labels, date books, and date labels. It allows as many entries as your system's memory will hold and has full Hot Key access. Also new is the ability to merge multiple address books and you can even print addresses, dates, labels to disk! Supports any printer. Works in ST resolutions (except low). Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27571 CRPDIALS.LZH 27520 This is a library and example program """""""""""""""""""""""""""" called "Creeping Dials". Allows easier access to AES funtions for handling GEM dialog boxes in your own GFA programs. Note that source code is in GFA Basic v3.x format, with all comments and other documentation in German. Extract with Quester's LHARC201. #27570 MD.LZH 91648 My Draw is a GEM Draw-like program from Germany. """""""""""""""""""""" Vector based drawing program with various options and features. Requires GDOS (not included). Shareware. Program and all documentation are in German. Requires Monochrome monitor for ST. TT Resolutions supported. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27569 7UP.LZH 127744 7-UP is a feature-packed word processor from """""""""""""""""""""""" Germany. Multiple documents, supports (but doesn't require) GDOS, GEM Clipboard, text preview, and much much more. Reasonably priced shareware. This program and all documentation is in German. Extract with Quester's LHARC201 TT Compatible #27560 PHATAX.ARC 125952 This file is for use with Phasar. It """"""""""""""""""""""""""" includes form 1040,Sch A, B, 8606, the chart and worksheets for IRA deductions, and a Net Worth Statement. I havent had time to make any instructions for it so make a back-up. It is made as generic and automatic as possible. Check cells for codes ie.\103 to enter into your budget catagories. Plan on making a copy for future years projections and use another copy for this year that you will edit for accuracy. If you have questions use Phasar topic or E-mail me. W. DAVIS20. Bill D. Please use ARC602ST.ARC (file #13310) to extract. #27557 SAVERS12.LZH 71936 Shareware. Includes the following savers: """""""""""""""""""""""""""" FRECKLE - Draw dots RANDLINE _ Random Lines RASHAPES - Random shapes ROAMSHAP - Roaming shapes PYRODLX - DeluPyrotech Deluxe SYMMETRY - Symmetric fractals Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract All .EXT modules work in ALL ST/TT Resolutions. Moniterm Supported ** These high quality Extend-O-Save modules for Warp 9 have generated great interest. Well worth the download. ** #27551 TLCICON.LZH 14720 Create icons in .RSC file format from Degas """"""""""""""""""""""""""" medium or high resolution (.PI2, .PI3) pictures for use with DRI's RCS2 or Kuma's K- Resource Construction sets. TT Compatible Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27550 TLCFIXR3.LZH 22912 Allows changing ASCII or HEX strings in """""""""""""""""""""""""""" programs or data filoes. Runs as an accessory or program in all resolutions except low. Will do multiple searches, ask before changing, keep backups, etc. Uses Hot Keys or GEM. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract TT Compatible in all resolutions tested #27549 TLCPLAY3.LZH 18944 Allows playing and manipulation of digized """""""""""""""""""""""""""" sounds created with DigiSound, Soundoff!, MasterSound, ST Replay, and more. You can modify sounds and save them to disk in several formats. Version 3 has Hot Keys access and file is smaller as well! Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27547 AEO_VIEW.LZH 14208 This is an update to Digital Media's AEO """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Magazine Viewer. TT Compatible in ST Medium and ST High resolutions Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27534 ON_LINE.ARC 67840 This is an On Line manual or On Line Help """"""""""""""""""""""""""" interface that can be used with any program with a pull down menu. The user creates the manual The manual is compleately editable. Great for programing languages. Or any program that has a paper manual but you want the information to be a mouse click away. The interface is fast and easy to use. ON_LINE.ACC runs as an accessory in 44k. ST high, ST medium. Compatible with TOS 2.06 Down Load today and start your own On Line Help or Manual for your favorite program. Use ARC602ST.TTP (#13310) to extract. #27533 TLCSHOW3.LZH 9088 A quick and dirty Spectrum picture viewer """"""""""""""""""""""""""" for those times you don't want to load a slide show program and set a series of buttons to display a picture or two. Works in all ST color resolutions and with Mega STEs at 16mhz. Thanks to DMJ software, it now automatically sets 50/60 hz. Extract with an LH5 (Quester) compatible version of LHARC. #27532 TLCMEGA.LZH 13312 Run as an accessory or program. Change the """"""""""""""""""""""""""" processor speed on a Mega STE between 8 and 16 mhz (with or without cache enabled). Also display TOS version and date as well as GEMDOS version. Runs in all resolutions on a STE (speed switching is disabled on non mega STE systems). Extract with an LH5 (Quester) compatible version of LHARC. Sysop note: Unable to test fully due to lack of STe #27531 TLCRSRC.LZH 19840 Creates GFA Basic 3.X compatible ASCII LST """"""""""""""""""""""""""" files from resources created with DRI's RCS2 or KUMA'S K- RESOURCE so you can merge it into your program and include your resource file in your program. Prints full instructions in the LST file. I included a short demo resource file and program showing how this works. Extract with an LH5 (Quester) compatible version of LHARC. #27530 TLCFORM3.LZH 21248 Runs as an accessory or program and allowa """""""""""""""""""""""""""" formatting disks with many different parameters. 'FAST' format reads and writes faster thsn disks formatted with skewed sectoring (twisted) and is 100% compatible with all programs. Program senses high density drive (Ajax chip) and even formats 1.44 meg disks with the Fast format (or other options). Autoswitches between drives if you have 2 connected. All formats except 1.6 megs on high density disks are MS DOS and DR DOS compatible! Extract with an LH5 (Quester) compatible version of LHARC. Not fully tested due to machine/software limitations. #27529 MOUSEBT4.ZIP 54528 This folder contains a "demo" of Mouse Boot """""""""""""""""""""""""""" IV. Feel free to give it to anyone wishing to try the new program. All features of Mouse Boot IV work in the demo, but sometimes - upon exiting - the demo will refuse to change the files you select. -SRL- I just recieved the registered version Jan 30th. (I only mailed my payment on Jan 13th.) This program is DEFINITELY worth the $15 registration fee. Try this demo, you WILL like it, then send your payment. -- Paul Extract with an LH5 (Quester) compatible version of LHARC. #27524 CFG_SEL.LZH 3328 This is a batch to load alternate Neodesk """"""""""""""""""""""""""" configurations from a menu. NEO_CLI is required -- Extract with an LH5 (Quester) compatible version of LHARC. Sysop unable to test fully due to lack of the required program. #27520 PIANODEM.LZH 53504 * PIANISTICS 1.10 * DEMO VERSION * by """""""""""""""""""""""""""" chro_MAGIC Software Innovations Pianistics is a tool designed to help piano players learn chords and scales in all keys. Pianistics will also give insight into the concepts of scale improvisation and chord substitution. In addition, Pianistics has a practice feature designed to assist the player in developing technical mastery of scales, chords, and playing technique. Pianistics will help take the mystery out of improvisation. Included in this archive is a disabled DEMO version of Pianistics. It will run on any ST or Falcon in either color or monochrome. Sysop's Note: Use Quester's LHARC201 (lh5) to extract. #27516 ALADSH03.ZIP 23424 ALADSHOW shows/searches the file list """""""""""""""""""""""""""" maintained by GEnie's automated front-end, ALADDIN. Due to the absence of bug reports, ALADSHOW 0.3 is no longer in BETA release form. So if you have been waiting, now is the time to download. Improvements for since 0.2: Print... finally implemented; will not save preferences to a squished file; default DAT file loads automatically when program loads; Esc key aborts the search command; minor speed increases and bug fixes. Only tested on TOS 3.06 and 1.0. ST/TT LOW resolutions are not supported. Hard drive recommended. Please use file 27231 to extract (Zip Archive). ** Can load up your Aladdin .dat file library file and list it to a window whereupon you can search by file name, uploader or description and it will show only those files that match. Very quick and a handy utility. #27513 ALVIN.LZH 27776 This is v1.23 which fix's a couple bugs that """"""""""""""""""""""""" slipped through in the first upload. It was quickly deleted but a few people had grabbed it already, sorry about that... This program converts amoung the most common 21 units of measurement. It supports the entry of fractions, decimals, units or combinations of all. For Example: "12ft 4-1/2in" can be entered and converted to any of the other length units. Runs as either an ACC or PRG. If you use CADD or DTP this should come in handy! Enjoy! Please use the latest version of Quester's LZH to extract (LH5 archive). #27506 SERFX20.LZH 10880 Serial Fix 2.0 is a patch program to correct """"""""""""""""""""""""""" a couple problems with use of ST/STe/TT Modem 1 port (or the only serial port for older ST's) with high speed modems requiring RTS/CTS operation. This version also includes SERPATCH and TOS14FIX from Atari and will automatically implement what fixes are required for your version of TOS. Serial Fix 2.0 is a universal fix and works with TOS versions 1.0 through 2.06 and 3.0 through 3.06. Use Quester's LHARC201 (lh5) to extract. #27490 JETEMU11.LZH 16128 Program that allows you to look at HP """""""""""""""""""""""""""" graphics. Works in ALL resolutions tested (ST Medium and High, TT Medium). Nicely done. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27489 CWAC2_03.LZH 205184 This file is shareware and will do group """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" conversion on most ST archival programs (ie will convert ARC to LZH, LZH to ZIP, etc). It will act on whole groups of files. Also contains special hooks for BBS operators. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract TT Compatible, but best used in ST Medium and ST High Resolutions. ** A good program for batch converting archives from one format to another. ** #27487 MOVPIC12.ZIP 13184 Moving Pictures will allow you to randomize """""""""""""""""""""""""""" your Desk Manager pics, Warp 9 background pics, and now, your Warp 9 Extend-O-Save modules! If you get tired of looking at the same old background pic, or the same old EOS module, this program is for you! Warp 9 may provide the meal, but Moving Pictures provides the spice. ;^) Please use file 27231 to extract (Zip Archive). #27484 BBDEMO15.LZH 112000 "ButtonzBasic" - Latest version - V1.5 - """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" The ultimate GUI for GFA Basic. A utility in which all of the chores of programming - editing, compiling, moving files, setting compiler options, disk formatting - are completed by pushing a 3-D button. Replaces the MENU program supplied with GFA Basic and is a fully functional work area. Demo - won't save configuration file. Please use the latest version of Questor LZH to extract this LH5 file. #27473 STACYBLK.LZH 768 This Extend-O-Save module will turn off a """""""""""""""""""""""""" Stacy's monitor display in hardware, saving both your battery and wear-and-tear on your display. The Stacy Screen Blanker requires Warp 9 3.70 or later. If you don't have a Stacy, you don't need this module. By John Eidsvoog. Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27472 ROLL_EM.LZH 1664 This Extend-O-Save screensaver module has a """""""""""""""""""""""""" smooth display that scrolls in two directions at once, bouncing back and forth. Roll 'Em requires Warp 9 3.70 or later. By John Eidsvoog Use latest version of QUESTER's LZH program to extract #27441 DBXGA.LZH 16256 DBXGA will read an XGA graphic file (as """"""""""""""""""""""""" DUCK.XGA) and convert it to a monochrome image using Dr. Bobware's custom Floyd-Steinberg halftoning. It provides the option to save as a compressed IMG or a normal IMG as well. Full controls on both brightness AND contrasting. Size options: 1/2x1/2, 1x1 and 2x2. Unfortunatly, there is only one single file of this type around that I know of- it's here on GEnie called DUCK.XGA ... Bye: Dr. Bob Use LHARC201 to extract this file. #27439 LBJRB175.LZH 26752 Here is the latest version that I could """""""""""""""""""""""""""" find of LABELJRB. It is dated 1990, and has several different printer types to choose from. I could not find any docs, but there are some built in to the program. I hope this is what some of you have been looking for. Please use the latest QUESTOR LZH to extract this file. //////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Wow Ringo, was that you? I didn't get a chance to say hello. / / I was too busy jammin' with Jeff. (I can't believe I played / / the drums... I don't _play_ the drums.) It's a good thing / / the management made me quit, eh?" / ////////////////////////////////////////////////////// MUSE //// [EOA] [AOL]////////////////////////////// ATARI ON GEnie / ///////////////////////////////// Getting The Word Out """""""""""""""""""" By John Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] >>> FROM BILL REHBOCK <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" AJAX Low-Down Just a little background on AJAX (Atari's High Density """"""""""""" Floppy Controller)... The original WD1772 (720k) floppy controller operated supplied by an 8MHz clock. AJAX is 100% compatible to a WD1772 when supplied an 8MHz clock. To handle 1.44MB floppies, AJAX requires a 16MHz clock instead of the normal 8. Falcons, TTs, and MegaSTEs can supply AJAX with either speeed clock. The bios (in TOS 2.06 and up) is in charge of which clock gets used. Combo(tm) (or Combel(tm)) actually handle the physical switch of the clock, depending on what the bios instructs. An off-the-shelf 1040STE isn't set up the same way as the above-mentioned models and won't handle 1.44 drives without additional modification other than AJAX. There are some third party kits that add an AJAX _and_ correctly supply it with the necessary 8MHz clock, but I am not sure who they are. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP4, MSG:174/M475) TT030 Class B Certified The TT030 does have Class-B certification, but """"""""""""""""""""""" only the absolute latest revision of it. To pass Class-B certification, there were many changes to the motherboard and it did require the re-addition of the internal metal shielding that makes it difficult to add memory, and change ROMs. To accomodate the shielding, a different tooling for the plastic case is required also. As Nathan said, we had existing inventory (of housings) and Class-B certification was not as high of a priority to the majority of our TT customers as those that have expressed concern here. The current motherboards (that have been shipping since around June) are this latest revision, by the way, and are much "quieter" that any previous TT had been, but without the metal internal shield, are just over the limit of Class-B, so they are not labeled or sold as such. Since the TT is not as much of a broad-interest machine as the 1040STE or MegaSTE, it was decided that FCC Class-A certification was sufficient to accomodate the needs of the majority of purchasers of TTs. These people would have been annoyed by the shielding and didn't need Class-B as they were being used in business environments anyway. A Class-B computing device is explicitly labeled as being "CLASS-B". The general verbage that is on the TTs rating label is the Class-A legal-eze. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP33, MSG:41/M475) Falcon Bundled Software Atari Falcon030/4-65 is scheduled to include no """"""""""""""""""""""" less than... Calappt (Personal Time Manager) Landmines (Game) Breakout (Game) Talking Clock System Audio Manager (Replace System Events and Key Click with sounds) Procalc (Nice calculator) FalconD2D (Direct-to-disk recording system and effects) Audio Fun Machine (DSP Effects Processor with Graphic Equalizer) SpeedoGDOS with 14 Bitstream Speedo fonts. Atari Works integrated productivity software. MultiTOS As it stands right now, the manufacturing of North American Falcons may beat the time that it takes to get manuals for some of the packout software printed, so make sure you send in your warranty cards to receive updates. Falcons without HD's will ship with everything but FalconD2D, SpeedoGDOS, and Atari Works. They will be available separately. All Falcons come with the necessary HD Utilities, so you can quickly connect an external SCSI Drive. We naturally recommend that you buy your internal HD's from us, as they will come with SpeedoGDOS, Atari Works, etc. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:195/M475) More on Software Bundles The software will be installed on the HD, ready """""""""""""""""""""""" to go with icons on the desktop. Unlike the Apple Performas*, we _do_ include backup floppies, just in case your PC or Macintosh friend formats you HD out of jealousy :-) There will be a ROM update in a while. The way that it will most likely work is that the AES that goes into the ROM will be Single and Multitasking-aware and the actual MiNT kernal will stay ram-loaded for easy updates. This is still kind of speculative, and I'm sorry but I have no time frame at all. Yep, it does come with a mouse. *The Perfomas come with the S/W on the internal drive, but you get no floppies at all. Have you ever tried copying System-7 out of a machine to a set of floppies :) (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:207/M475) Falcon Shipping Date We should be seeing Falcons within 6 weeks (I think """""""""""""""""""" manufacturing said 6 to 8 weeks two weeks ago :-) or so. List price for a 4meg RAM, 65 meg HD system is $1299.00 (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:239/M475) [Editors Note: This was posted on February 1st...] Falcon MIDI Software EMAGIC did state at the NAMM press conference that """""""""""""""""""" all of their software would be updated to run on Falcon. The existing C-Lab software does not run properly on a TT, due to several reasons, one of which is the fact that it simply isn't 100% 68030 "clean". They also had a few problems with the copy protection cart. on the TT, which have also been fixed. All of the latest MIDI software from Oktal, Dr. T's, Steinberg, EMAGIC, and Barefoot does run on the Falcon. Many of the music developers have also stated intentions of having "no additional hardware required" direct-to-disk recording systems that integrate directly into MIDI sequencer packages. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:239/M475) Speedo Update SpeedoGDOS is a very fast font scaler that has a lot of """"""""""""" fonts available for it. It is on the average, 4 times faster than TrueType on a similarly equipped system. I use the exact same setup for EasyDraw, Wordflair, PrismPaint, Atari Works, my MultiTOS CLI window, STalker, GEMvelope, PKSWrite, Rufus, STraightFAX, etc. It is designed so that redefining the desktop the desktop font/sizes is trivial, but doing _that_ _does_ break many things that make assumptions about character cell height. It is very easy to set up; there are just two desk accessories, one for switching fonts and setting cache (similar to ATM's or Facelift for Window's) and another to configure Printer drivers and selecting your current printer. Yes, SpeedoGDOS is pronounced "speed-o-gee-dos". After you've said it as many times as I have, it gets really easy. We are sensitive to the fact that "dog" is in there, to the point that the filename is "SPDGDOS" :-) It's really not a big deal, I've survived quite nicely with "BO" in the middle of my last name, as I'm sure that you've done o-k with Gel at the end of yours :-) (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:239/M475) CD-ROM Drives 1) Yes, I have a CDS-431 myself. It should have a 50 pin """"""""""""" SCSI connector on it. 2) We will be releasing MiNT XFS drivers very shortly. This will work with the TT and Falcon. For an ACSI-only machine, you need an ICD Host Adapter and Atari MetaDOS with the ICD driver that talks to their Host Adapter. 3) Yes, a case and power supply would be a good idea. (B.REHBOCK, CAT4, TOP19, MSG:51/M475) MOPS Explained MOPS (Millions of Operations Per Second) is a rating """""""""""""" standard that Motorola uses for DSPs, due to the fact that multiple operations can be done in a single cycle. MIPS still holds for the 68K family. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP5, MSG:32/M475) Speedo & Works PRICES SpeedoGDOS and Atari Works are getting manufactured """"""""""""""""""""" as stand-alone products. The SpeedoGDOS add-on should be _around_ $60.00, and Atari Works will be _around_ $120.00 or so and it will include SpeedoGDOS. These prices are of course, are subject to change :-) (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:62/M475) Clipboard Application Standard Applications that want to place stuff on """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" the clipboard should: 1) Make the scrp_read call to find out if a clipboard exists, and if so, where. 2) If one does not exist, it should create a folder called "\CLIPBRD\" on the boot partition. 3) It should clear the clipboard 4) It should place its scrap on the clipboard This is the condensed version :-) The complete procedure was outlined in the Developer Newsletter. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP16, MSG:77/M475) [Editor's Note: An excellent article about the clipboard was written by Scott D. Sanders in the Nov-Dec 1992 issue of Atari Explorer] Atari Works Future Release Notes Atari Works v1.0 supports only GEM """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Metafile graphics in the Wordprocessor. If you have a GEM Metafile that refers to an IMG file (such as from EasyDraw or TouchUp), the .IMG file will be printed. A wide variety of Graphics import has been on our list and will show up in a future release. RTF and DBF are imported and exported. It is command-compatible with Excel; it does not currently import and export Excel files. The Database Form layout is not limited to the screen, you can layout a form in a window and the window will track the active field. Forms created for 1280x960 work just fine in 640x400. I have quite a list of features that will be added to Atari Works from revision to revision. I don't think anyone will be disappointed. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP20, MSG:34/M475) Works Cut & Paste There is definitely no need for metafile fonts or width """"""""""""""""" tables. Atari Works cuts its graphs to the clipboard using only plain-jane VDI calls to Device 31 using SpeedoGDOS. It also has a feature that allows you to cut regions from the spread sheet or a record in the database form view as metafiles, using the same, simple technique. After these are pasted into a WP document, the user can even scale them and the text gets scaled along with the metafile. Atari Works has been a very good proof of theory regarding the O/S and GEM, and son of a gun, it really does work :-) (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP20, MSG:40/M475) Atari Code Names The Falcon started out life code-name Sparrow. We have """""""""""""""" adopted a Cats=Video Games (Lynx, etc.) and a Birds=Computers scheme. Sparrow was the project name, and Falcon became the product name. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:41/M475) Falcon Audo Specs I did finally get the Audio specs from our R&D """"""""""""""""" group.... Production FCC Class-B approved Falcons are rated at 88dB Signal-to-Noise and less than .05% THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion+White Noise). They actually are working on improving the numbers (though these are pretty darn good), and please keep in mind that these are for the latest rev, not developer machines. (B.REHBOCK, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:188/M475) >>> FROM DAN MCNAMEE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""" Do I Need Speedo?? You don't "have" to use Speedo GDOS with AtariWorks, """""""""""""""""" but then you can only use the system font. Speedo is really VERY nice, and really easy to set up. Heck, even I was able to set it up on my first try, and that was without a manual. ;-) (D.MCNAMEE, CAT14, TOP20, MSG:60/M475) >>> FROM BOB BRODIE <<< """"""""""""""""""""""" MSTe Fan Replacement The fan on a Mega STE is integrated into the power """""""""""""""""""" supply. I'm not 100% certain that you can replace just the fan, you might have to do away with your power supply as well. (BOB-BRODIE, CAT14, TOP4, MSG:175/M475) MIPS, MOPS, MAPS, HUH? I don't think that Motorola endorses the usage of """""""""""""""""""""" the MIPS ratings any longer, they've asked us to use MOPS as the standard measurement from now on. And I'm not aware of any testing that was done on a 1040ST, sorry. (BOB-BRODIE, CAT14, TOP5, MSG:29/M475) STBook Review But please bear in mind that the decision we made was """"""""""""" based on the input given from our dealers about what they felt would sell the best to you, our users. They were very clear about the limitations of the ST Book (especially the lack of a back lit screen), and we went along with what they told us. (BOB-BRODIE, CAT14, TOP7, MSG:103/M475) >>> FROM JOHN TOWNSEND <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""" Clipboard Standard Atari Works will support the Atari defined Clipboard """""""""""""""""" standard. I have been using it for quite some time and it works quite nicely. (TOWNS, CAT14, TOP16, MSG:60/M475) Works Supports RTF Format Atari Works will import and export Microsoft """"""""""""""""""""""""" RTF format. (TOWNS, CAT14, TOP20, MSG:19/M475) Works File Formats It does GEM files. I don't know if it does """""""""""""""""" GEM/3 metafiles. Atari Works will export straight ASCII and Microsoft Rich Text Format. I believe that PageStream will take straight ASCII files. I don't know much about the database or spreadsheet. I will leave those questions for Bill to answer. (TOWNS, CAT14, TOP20, MSG:31/M475) Falcon Audio Specifications This is the Overview information I found on """"""""""""""""""""""""""" the Falcon030 Audio sub-system: The Atari Falcon030 contains a sophisticated digital processing and audio sub-system.. o 32MHz 56001 Digital Signal Processor with 96K bytes of zero wait state RAM. o Eight track, 16-bit digital DMA record channel. o Eight track, 16-bit digital DMA playback channel (operating in parallel with digital record) o On-board 16-bit stereo DACs, feeding the internal loudspeaker and headphone jack. o On-board 16-bit stereo ADCs, and stereo microphone jack. o Sophisticated data path matrix between DSP, DMA, Codec and external connector. o Sample rates up to 50KHz. o Serial data transfer rates up to 1MB per second. o Loudspeaker or headphones can monitor any stereo channel of 8 track digital playback data. o External serial record and playback channels connect to industry standard DACs, ADCs and S/PDIF components with minimum additional logic. The digital processing sub-system has many features which make it ideal for audio processing. However, the data being processed can also be video (images), graphics objects (3D image manipulation) or any other general purpose data. To maintain the maximum flexibility, the Atari Falcon030 provides an extremely general connection system between these components. All data transfers are in a synchronous serial format. Any component can talk with any other. Since some of the components have real time response requirements, the clokcing schemes have also been made especially general and flexible. (TOWNS, CAT14, TOP41, MSG:128/M475) Atari Positions Report Leonard is not gone. He has just changed """""""""""""""""""""" responsibilities here at Atari. He is currently working on exciting new entertainment technology. Sorry, but I am not at liberty to say much more. (TOWNS, CAT14, TOP44, MSG:26/M475) BEST WISHES!!! Well.. As for February 14th, 1993.. I am now married! """""""""""""" Danelle and I were married at 3pm on February 14th at our Church in Fremont CA in front of our family and friends. (Over 250 of them!) We had a wondeful wedding and a very nice reception afterwards. After that, we took a couple of days off for a small honeymoon. We're now back and saving our pennies for the real honeymoon this summer. We haven't decided exactly where we want to go as of yet, but Florida and South Carolina are high up on the list. Anyway, thank you all for your nice comments last week! Its good to know that I have such good friends here on GEnie. Your wishes added to a special time. (TOWNS [+1], CAT14, TOP13, MSG:48/M475) //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Tomas, I thought it was PMS?:-) Sorry, I've got so many / / extenders floating around in my head I can't keep any of / / them straight. :-) " / /////////////////////////////////////////////// REALM //// [EOA] [FUN]////////////////////////////// ONLINE FUN / ///////////////////////////////// Search-ME! """""""""" By Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] EXPLORING GEnie Have you ever wondered what will happen to you in the """"""""""""""" future? If maybe you'll find romance or become rich? Don't say no because like any other human being in this world I know you have! :-) Yes! We'd all like to see what the future might hold for us but unfortunately the time machine hasn't been invented yet. Here on GEnie though, we've got the next best thing... the Astrology Roundtable! That's right! This month I visited the Astrology Roundtable (page 1180) and found a lot of fascinating facts! If your interested in astrology at all you've got to check this RT out! Exchange messages with other astrology fanatics in the BBS and you can even download your horoscopes from the library! It's great fun! But before you go, be sure and solve this months puzzle... Until next month... Keep on smilin'! :-) >>> THE ASTROLOGY ROUNDTABLE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ M1180 Keyword:ASTROLOGY ~ D V T U D B S S U I R A U Q A D A T M X Y Y S M G Z V H C K S A S K H E S W S U R U A T J Y K O L F O O Q A S Q N B P H O F G O P X E Y A M T R R N W N J K N Q C O S I Y E K D Z R R U P U P E F A S M J C O B C P A L J N X P B P R V I K D L X A C M C A P S P G O Q A X I I A I O L S Y Y S G A N G S P O T R S T E L D W J H U Y S C N B I N F W N G R I S N E V A E H A H O E Z G E V T C G U E U O I I N D Y A H S U Q S K I B I S T E Z M A T H C C O N Z N T M D S L S H L W J A R I H O S N U L O A C R Q U E G P A Q J E U R N W L B X T Q I W R O C I I I W T I C G R S I W M W F V I R G O L N N R K I S D F I I T C U C H A R T P S O O H B A X U K W M Y V A T I S F A U M T N R G L A Z X A C R D L V R W H S O L F D F A M I U B O S M U Q Y Q W S N F L Y Y K E W B F C Y S L U G P M M R H N D R K Q Y N M H D P A N T U A E Y Y L Z V Q Z D V M E A U F G X L N Z U L A P B A B S D H H A T R T V C N T E F M N Z R R L I Q Y L U R ANALYSES AQUARIUS ARIES ASTROLOGICAL ASTROLOGY CANCER CAPRICORN CHART GEMINI HEAVENS HOROSCOPE LEO LIBRA MYSTICAL PISCES SAGITTARIUS SCORPIO SIGNS STARS TAURUS VIRGO [*][*][*] GIVE UP? You will find the answers in the LOG OFF column at the end of """""""" the magazine. This column was created with a program called SEARCH ME, an Atari ST program by David Becker. ////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Is that "Pre-Marketed-Syndrome" ? ;-) " / //////////////////////////// W.PARKS3 //// [EOA] [HAC]////////////////////////////// HACK'N ATARI / ///////////////////////////////// An Apple ImageWriter On A What? """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Bill Yung [W.YUNG1] >>> APPLE IMAGEWRITER II WITH NON-APPLE COMPUTERS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" EDITOR'S NOTE The illustrations for this modification are available in """"""""""""" the GEnieLamp Library. Download HACKST1.ZIP. [*][*][*] I've seen many a Christmas come and go since the one my Dad surprised us with an ImageWriter II for our Apple IIc. It wasn't a surprise to me but to my nine year old sister it was and that's all that mattered. She wanted to make banners in color and the old Epson Dad brought home the month before didn't cut the mustard. Recently, my Mom mentioned the ImageWriter II wasn't working. She directed me to the basement where I saw a heap of cables, disks and off-white boxes that used to be a computer system. Looking at the conglomeration my immediate reaction was "there can't be anything here worth fixing" but upon closer examination I decided the printer looked like a solid piece of gear. There was some pretty crude logic at work here. I was taught at a tender age when evaluating loudspeakers and power amps, the heavier the better and the ImageWriter II weighed a ton so I loaded the entire pile into the van and took it home to experiment. After hooking up all the components I discovered the problem with the printer was probably being out of paper. It didn't take long to bound over this hurdle and I was printing in color with Print Shop for the Apple II. If the story ended here, it wouldn't serve much purpose and neither does Print Shop. I'm sure there are many people who still love the IIc but I'm not "in the know" on the platform, so the uses for it seemed limited. I decided (as with most foreign hardware) it would be far more useful when connected to an Atari ST. Being an avid Macintosh user, (via Spectre) I found the possibilities intriguing and imagined someone had probably figured out a sure and clear path to a successful marriage of the two. I was partly correct as being the invaluable resource GEnie is, my first clues were found on-line. In the Gadgets RT I was able to find some posts containing exactly the information I needed. I tried all three configurations offered by the inhabitants of the RT with no success. Discouraged, but not ready to say "uncle", I made a visit to our local Apple dealer and picked up a copy of The ImageWriter II Technical Reference Manual. Now I was in business. The whole works were in this book. Pinouts, dip switch settings and even (to my surprise) in the vvveeeerrrry back, a chart containing the exact method used to make the ImageWriter II compatible with the RS-232 standard. My search was over! I'm home free!...WRONG! It didn't work. Now I WAS dejected. My despair soon turned to aggravation and then a yammering annoyance. Inevitably provoking me to torture myself to an even greater extent... but I was out of clues. I opted at this point to bring out the big guns and hook up my RS-232 mini-tester. (As big a gun as $8 can buy.) This little tool enlightened me to the problem which I quickly rectified and I'm here to tell you how to do the same. If you're wondering why someone would want to do this, there's several good reasons. First and foremost, it prints in color. The ribbon is four color (red, yellow, blue and black) but many other colors can be generated by combining the primary colors. Secondly, this is a very well constructed printer. Everything about the machine exudes quality from the paper feed mechanism to the powerful and accurate servos that move the print head and ribbon cartridge in four directions. To my surprise, this is one unit left from the Apple II days still in production today and a staple item for Mac heads worldwide. Thirdly, if you're not lucky enough to own one, used prices vary from between $100-$250 which is darn reasonable for a COLOR printer. Howzit Work? As some of you sharp folks may have figured out, the """""""""""" ImageWriter II is a serial printer. It operates at 9600 baud with 8 data bits, 1 stop bit and no parity bit. This means you're going to have the same problem all high speed modem users have... you're going to have to handshake and use flow control. There are two types of flow control available, hardware and software. Hardware flow control is know as RTS/CTS while the software type is called XON/XOFF. The more common and most reliable is hardware flow control so that's the type we're going to implement albeit in a non-standard fashion. The reason we need the flow control to function properly is the computer can spit data a lot faster than the printer can print it out so we have to be able to tell the computer to stop sending data when the printer's buffer is full. An overflowed buffer is an ugly sight to behold. Trust me! It usually ends with a continuous form feed and it's amazing how fast the ImageWriter II can chew through a thick stack of paper. Sometimes the ImageWriter will do you the added service of printing a few garbage characters at the top of each page along the way thus wasting paper at a rate of @ 100 sheets/minute! I encourage you not to leave the printer unattended during your initial testing phase for this reason alone. There are several different types of cables available off the shelf that provide the proper type of connectors but I can assure you none of them will make an ImageWriter II work with a standard serial port. So if you're convinced you'd like to try this little hack, you'll have to make the cable yourself. Here's How I've included graphics to accompany this article but as usual """""""""" I will attempt to explain the procedure clearly and completely enough to facilitate successful completion of the project without them. (The graphics are available in the TX2 edition of GEnieLamp ST. -Ed.) The parts required are a female 25 pin d-sub or a female 9 pin d-sub, a suitable length of 7 conductor cable and an male 8 pin mini DIN connector. Those of you with 9 pin serial ports (you know who you are) will want to avoid the use of any adapters and use the female 9 pin d-sub instead of the female 25 pin d-sub. There's no reason this shouldn't work on an IBM or any other computer with an RS-232 port except lack of software including an ImageWriter II driver. Even without a specific driver, text will still print fine. Color graphics will not work without an ImageWriter II driver. Pagestream (for the Atari ST) does supply such a driver. (Two in fact, one for color and one for B&W.) You don't need a color monitor for the Mac or ST to enjoy color printouts. The color printouts are not limited to text as GIF's print out just fine from Pagestream. I've also tested with Write Now and MacDraw II with excellent results. Here's the pin by pin description: Get To The Point! """"""""""""""""" 8 pin mini DIN 25 pin RS-232 9 pin RS-232 """""""""""""" """"""""""""" """""""""""" 1-Data Set Ready 5,6 and 8 8,6 and 1 2-Data Terminal Ready 20 4 3-Receive Data 3 2 4-Ground 7 5 5-Transmit Data 2 3 6-Transmit Data + No Connection No Connection 7-No Connection No Connection No Connection 8-Receive Data + 7 5 That's all there is to it. Works like a charm. For those of you without the graphics for this article the mini DIN pin-outs count like this: When holding the plug facing you with the row of 2 pins toward the bottom, count left to right, bottom to top. The RS-232 connectors will have the pin numbers marked on them. You may need a magnifying glass and good lighting to see them though. If this pinout looks familiar to the MegaSTe/TT owners, it should. It's exactly the same as the LAN port. Kinda makes ya wonder don't it? If you're wondering about the Transmit + and Receive + lines, they're for balancing the transmission signals. This reduces noise by huge factor allowing the long cable runs necessary for LAN operations. Audio guys are sure to understand the importance of balanced lines but since we're going a short distance to the printer and RS-232 doesn't provide for this type of operation, we won't be using them the way they were intended. The method we're using works something like this: When the printer's buffer becomes full, it drops the Data Set Ready (We don't wanna talk right now), the Carrier Detect (We're not even home), and the Clear to Send. (Don't call us; we'll call you.) Thus giving the ST the cold shoulder for a while and deservedly so. Trouble Shooting The type of problem you'll see when flow control is not """""""""""""""" happening is the aforementioned buffer overflow. The printer will work great until it falls behind and the buffer overflows. At that point your best bet is to shut the printer off and reset your software. In Spectre, I had no luck at all until everything was perfect. A handy tool for trouble shooting any RS-232 problem is an RS-232 mini-tester. It's not a fancy thing. It looks like a null modem with led's representing the status of the significant lines. Radio Shack sells one but I found one at the local computer store for @ half the price. If you do happen to have one, all the lights should be red except the RxD and TxD which are green while the printer is on-line. De-selecting the printer should cause CTS, DSR and and CD to go green. If this is true of your work and you're still having problems, check the dip switch settings to make sure they are set to the factory default position as follows: Dip Switch Bank 1 Dip Switch Bank 2* ----------------- ----------------- All 8 switches 1 2 3 4 5 6 up or open D D U U D U *D=down or closed U=up or open For the curious here's the functions of the some additional dip switches: Bank 1 switches 1-3 select the language Bank 1 switch 4 selects a form length of 11 or 12 inches Bank 1 switch 5 enables perforation skip Bank 1 switches 6 and 7 select character pitch Bank 1 switch 8 determines whether a line feed should be added to CR's Bank 2 switches 1 and 2 set the baud rate as follows: Switch 1 Switch 2 Baud Rate """""""" """""""" """"""""" Open Open 300 Closed Open 1200 Open Closed 2400 Closed Closed 9600 I didn't try different baud rates but I should mention it's a good idea to set your control panel up for RTS/CTS at 9600 baud before printing. Bank 2 switch 3 selects RTS/CTS when open and XON/XOFF when closed. Bank 2 switch 4 enables the option card which can carry a 32k buffer. The last two switches control the hammer-fire timing which optimizes bi-directional dot placement and should not be changed from the factory setting. Testing and Use For Spectre users I'd like to recommend the typewriter """"""""""""""" DA available here in the Mac RT. It will allow you to print in color and exercise almost all the software commands for the ImageWriter II. I had trouble with it under Multi-Finder and System 6.0.7 but it works fine with the Finder. It's worth a look. PageStream worked fine with graphics and text provided one doesn't use a print density higher than 4. WordWriterII proved adaptable to the cause by setting the printer port to serial in the control panel. Using the same configuration, STeno didn't see the printer at all. WordWriter II includes a printer install utility enabling one to write their own printer driver as well as issue printer commands manually from inside a document. If you buy an ImageWriter II used, insist on a manual so you'll be able to configure your software with the proper escape sequences. In Spectre, if your cable isn't right, the machine will lock up and wait for a Clear to Send that never comes. Make sure you have the version of the ImageWriter Chooser document that matches your System and Finder. You will need to select "Serial" under the Printer menu in the Spectre program to get results as well. When printing from any TOS application you're going to have to run the appropriate patch program to get RTS/CTS working. This does not apply to TOS > 2.05. One may also check the control panel to verify the correct port is selected on the Mega STe and TT. I haven't been successful in my attempts to print from any port other than the ST compatible. The best printouts I was able to obtain came from Kevin Mitchell's GIF Convertor for the Macintosh. Make sure to set the resolution to 144dpi for best results. Log-off As always, I will be happy to help the needy through GE Mail at """"""" the address (W.YUNG1) anytime. I'd love to hear from you if you get things working right too. (I'm always good for a pat on the back.) I'd especially like to hear from anyone who gets this working with an IBM or Amiga. I'm sure someone has figured this out already but try as I might, I couldn't find an accurate account of their work so I humbly submit this semi-factual account for approval. If you're interested in color printing on any computer platform, this may be a good low cost option. Who knows? You may even find one laying around in your Mom's basement. [*][*][*] PLEASE REMEMBER! You are responsible for any damage or liability when """""""""""""""" you make any modifications or upgrades to your equipment. Also keep in mind that opening your computer may void your guarantee. If you are unsure of your ability to take on a hardware project, find someone who isn't. /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "I have a theory on that. Nathan keeps asking Klaus & Kompany / / about Leader Tabs and they think he means Lederhosen...oh, / / all right it's not as funny as it seemed in the shower...." / //////////////////////////////////////////////// D.GORDON2 //// [EOA] [PD2]////////////////////////////// PD_QUICKVIEW II / ///////////////////////////////// Yours For The Asking """""""""""""""""""" By Fred H. Koch [F.KOCH] Program Name : Connections Filename : CONECT12.LZH Library Area : 28 Program Number : 27664 File Size : 117248 Program Type : Hyper media presentation Author : David Becker Version Reviewed: 1.2 File Type : Freeware [*][*][*] WHAT IT IS Connections is a multimedia presentation program which """""""""" provides the means to link text, graphics, sound and animation. The current version requires a monochrome monitor and 1 meg or more RAM. Hard disk recommended but not required. WHAT IT DOES Connections links the following multimedia family members """""""""""" into your own custom interactive presentation with graphics, text files, sounds and animation: o Digitized sounds (Replay format using the extension .SPL) o Degas full size parent screens (using the .PI3 extension) o Smaller graphic picture blocks (using the extension .DAT) o Multiple block animation files (with the extension .ANI) o Standard ASCII text files (up to 80 columns with the extension .TXT) o External applications (run other programs .PRG from within a family) Multimedia children are accessed from a parent screen. This is always a full size Degas .PI3 picture with icons, arrows, buttons or any prompts you desire painted on the screen. With the Connections creation program, you will choose point and click buttons on the parent screen that users can activate with the mouse and in turn call forth multimedia children. Parent screens can also call upon other parent screens, each with their own set of children. Thus we have an infinite array of multimedia information screens, sounds, animations and text files, branching out just like a family tree, limited only by your imagination and disk space! . __ (^) <^> /~ ~\ \-=======_/"\_======-/ \) PD_RATING "\. FOUR LAMPS ./" """"""""" "\._ _ _./" DOCUMENTATION GOOD (_____) """"""""""""" PD_Q COMMENTS At last we have a public domain hyper media program. I """"""""""""" have seen other text based hyper media presentations on the ST, but was never very impressed having worked with Hypercard on the Mac. Connections is a great start at making hyper media available to every ST user. I suppose the first thing to note about the file is it does not contain a ready to run example. The files to create an example showing most of the program features are included, but they are not put together to form a ready to run demo. This is not a major problem since linking the files is easy once you realize they aren't setup. Note: The file ANI_DEMO.LZH, file number 27666, is a Connections hyper media animation demo available on GEnie in the ST RT library. Connections is easy to use, which is very important in making hyper media available to the masses. Just create the individual components that will make up the hyper media presentation then run Connections to link them together. It really is as simple as point and click to build the hyper media presentation. Since connections does not contain the graphic, sound, animation, and text creation tools, other programs are necessary to build the hyper media components. The formats supported by connections are among the most popular for the ST so finding creation programs should not be a problem, in fact most ST users will already have some if not all of them. Connections is in its beginning, so there are features which people will wish were there but aren't, but it is a great beginning. For the first time anyone can create a hyper media package that any other ST user can use and modify if they choose. The hardware requirements are not too stringent with 1 meg being required for most applications and floppy drive operation supported, a hard drive speeds up playback operation significantly. If you ever wanted to play with hyper media, this program is for you. /////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Cool! Two quotes in the latest GEnieLamp! / / THE OASIS! More quotes than any other topic!" / /////////////////////////////// R.MARTIN22 //// [EOA] [DIV]////////////////////////////// DIGITAL DIVERSIONS / ///////////////////////////////// Games People Play... """""""""""""""""""" By John Hoffman [JLHOFFMAN] o GAMER'S UPDATE: In The Pipeline o SHADOWORLDS: BAT II - James Bond in the 22nd Century >>> GAMER'S UPDATE <<< """""""""""""""""""""" This months Gaming Highlights This month I don't have any new games to """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" add to the list. However, this month two Role Playing & Adventure games arrived. Ween was released early in Febuary. Ween is a graphic adventure game. The other game that was released is BAT II a Science Fiction role playing game which I'm reviewing. Arriving within the next 3 months: o Legends of Valour o Palladin II o Frontier - Elite II o Daemons Gate o Civilization Arriving sometime in 93: o Ambermoon - July o Realms of Arkania, Vol 1 Blades of Destiny AMBERMOON PREVIEW! This month a preview of Ambermoon was shown. The """""""""""""""""" sales of Amberstar were very good so the authors are rushing to complete the sequel, Ambermoon. This sequel will continue the story where Amberstar left off. The operation and game play will be similar to Amberstar but with many new features. The game will be played out in the same land of Lyramion, but will be twice as large. There will also be trips to the two moons for an even larger game area and there will be seven classes of magic with over 100 spells. The graphics have been enhanced to include more detail. Perhaps the most exciting aspect is that dungeons will be displayed in 3D with texture mapped surfaces. This greatly enhances the appearance of the dungeons. Gone will be the typical 3D dungeon system where explorers step through dungeons in a grid like fashion. The dungeons will now be smooth scrolling in 3D. The combat system has been improved to provide more tactics. As with Amberstar, Ambermoon will be hard disk installable. In general the game is bigger, visually more details and better. Anything that could be improved has been improved. I don't know about you, but this is one game I can hardly wait for! >>> BAT II <<< """""""""""""" BAT II is a Science Fiction Role Playing game. It was written by Computer's Dream and marketed by UBI Soft. This game is a follow on to BAT which was released a couple of years ago also by UBI Soft. In the game you play the role of an agent for the highly secret Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters (BAT). In the 22nd century the existence of BAT is unknown to all but the very highest officials in the Confederation of Galaxies. BAT agents are the elite of the elite and have been enhanced by the implant of the Biodirectional Organic Bioputer (BOB) in their arms. BAT agents are only sent on the most critical of missions whose outcomes could affect the future of the confederation. You have been sent to the planet Shedishan for just such a critical mission. On Shedishan your mission is to assist another agent Helaine Vertex who was sent earlier to gain control of the production of Echiatone 21. Echiatone 21 is a very important mineral necessary for the well being of the Confederation. The Miranda system includes a large asteroid called Bedlin 6 which is owned by four people on Shedishan. This asteroid is the main source of Echiatone 21. A company, Koshan Inc, which is responsible for production of Echiatone 21 on Shedishan has been buying out other companies that produce the mineral which would give Koshan a monopoly. This company also controls the majority of shares controlling Bedlins Echiatone wells. Allowing Koshan to gain a monopoly on the production Echiatone 21 isn't acceptable to the Confederation. Helaine was sent to Shedishan under the name Sylvia Hadford daughter of Ernest Hadford. Ernest died 10 years ago and was one of the holders of shares in the Asteroid Bedlin. Her mission was to appeal to the the court on Shedishan claiming to be Ernests daughter and holder of a controlling number of shares in Bedlin. Until the disposition of the challenge was decided the mining on Bedlin would be stopped. This would prevent Koshan from buying out the last competing company and give Helaine time to gain control of the necessary shares. Unfortunately, Helaines fellow agents were killed and Helaine only narrowly escaped. Helaines is hiding out in a hotel on Shedishan. Your task is to meet her in the hotel and assist her in gaining the necessary shares before the next meeting of the court. Gameplay You start the game by selecting one of several agents that are """""""" in the BAT database. You then put your agent through eight weeks of training. The training enhances you agents skills and stats. The stats your agent starts with are strength, intelligence, charisma, perception, vitality, and reflexes. The skills in which you can train include physical, intellectual, sensory, psychological, self control, weapons, and survival. Once your character is generated you start play located in the spaceport. From here you can travel around what is known as the tourist section. Included in the documentation is a small map of this area. In this area you will need to search for Helaine's hotel where you will be given your first task. All areas are displayed in the first person perspective. As you move the mouse around the screen the icon will change form indicating various areas where different actions can take place. In some ways this interface is more like that used in many graphical adventures like Lure of the Temptress. As you move the mouse about the edges of the screen it will turn into an arrow indicating that travel in that direction is possible. Clicking when the arrow is displayed will move you to that new area. When you move to the next area one of the more unusual operations of the game will be demonstrated, the tiling of the screen images. As an example, when you are in the space port the whole screen shows a spaceport. Clicking on the left side on the doorway when the mouse displays an arrow will move you into the mall. At this point the screen is split vertically and the left half displays the mall while the right half is unchanged. Each of these sub window can be dynamically scrolled as you move the mouse left or right. All in all the effect reminds one of a cartoon magazine. This manner of presenting your location, while different, was nice because you could still see where you were previously. This enabled me to learn the layout of different area's rapidly. Character Interaction As you stand in the spaceport, where you start, """"""""""""""""""""" various individuals or small groups will walk by. When you move the mouse onto the walking people it will change into a talking head icon. Clicking will allow you to engage the other character or group of characters. The dialog that ensues will allow you to select one particular character and action. The actions that you can do with the selected character include: Talk, enabling you to conduct a dialog. Give, this option brings up your inventory allowing you to select the object which will be given to the character. Recruit, asks the character for join you on your quest. Buy, brings you a dialog of the characters inventory from which you select the item you want to buy. Steal, this option will if successful allow you to put an item from the characters inventory into your inventory. Lastly, Fight, this allows you to engage the entire group in combat. One of the activities that you will do most often will be talking. Talking works by providing you a list of topics. Selecting a topic will bring up a cartoon like bubble with the response. In the response certain words will be highlighted. Clicking on the highlighted words will bring further dialog. Certain words will add to the topic list. Clicking on the right button will restore the previous dialog. Clicking out of the bubble area will get rid of the dialog. One real unique feature of this interface is the use of different lines that outline the dialog bubbles. Depending on the outline you can tell if the character likes you or hates you. An outline of flowers likes you, a plain line is neutral, a squiggle line is dislike and a squiggle line with a red background is hate! Fighting is another major activity. This activity will operate in two different ways depending on the options selected in the setup options. You can have strategy or action combat. In strategy the combat is pretty much automatic you select weapons and which of the characters in you group will attack which enemy. In action mode you see an infrared display with a cross hair representing the target of your weapon. You will see the enemy running and dodging among various people and objects. You need to put the cross hair on the enemy and fire without hitting bystanders. If you hit the bystanders they may also become your enemy. I played this mode a couple of times but preferred the strategy option. The last set of activities will be buying, selling and stealing. These activities provide you will one method of obtaining weapons, armour and other special objects. One important object is a portable video telephone. This will allow you to talk to party members that have gone off to complete special tasks. Group Management Clicking the right mouse button on the screen will """""""""""""""" change the pointer to an arrow. This will allow you to access the two boxes at the top of the screen. The one on the left selected group actions and the one on the right selects your BOB. The BOB is your interface to your cybernetic implants. With the BOB you can display your stats, your health, food level, hydration level, sleep levels, various details health statistics, access to your implant enhancement functions, and access to the programming facilities of your BOB. The group mode will allow you to select a member of your group to interact with. Group management allows you to instruct members of you group to find objects, learn about subjects, meet up with you at a location, talk as with other characters that you meet, take an object that you give them, give you an object that they are carrying, and allow you to fire them. This set of commands allows you to send members of your group off to do complicated tasks independantly. Some of these functions can also be used over the video phone. It is good to give video phones to members of your group that are going to go off to complete tasks on there own. Cybernetic Implants The BOB is one of the things in this game that """"""""""""""""""" really stands out. Besides checking you characters various status options, you can enhance you characters statistics temporarily to conduct some difficult task. The ATS 34 enhancement allows your agent to stay awake for long periods of time. The FIBRINE implant will allow you agent to heal small wounds very rapidly. HYPERCEP is an implant that enhances your perception. Using this implant you can see in the dark, and enemies will not be able to sneak up on you. The MORPHO L7 enhancement allows you to change you appearance. This implant will allow you to escape enemies and with your increased charisma negotiate excellent deals. It also will greatly enhance your success at stealing. The PSY implant will warn you by flashing the edge of the screen when you are in danger. Another unique function of the BOB is the ability to write programs. You use a graphical programming language to write up to four programs that will run in parallel. These programs allow you to create automatic actions based on scanning either yourself or characters that are nearby. An example might be, if you are injured to decrease your pulse rate to reduce the lose of blood. Or if a nearby character is hostile warn you with a message and a beep and then increase your pulse rate to speed up your reaction times. These programs can test various attitudes, race types, or stats in other characters or yourself and modify certain characteristics, display messages or activate implants. Programming the BOB is a lot of fun and can provide your agent will unique capabilities. Places to Explore As you explore and talk to people you will discover a """"""""""""""""" large number of shops. In these shops you will be able to buy weapons, armour, food and special items. I also noticed that over time the goods offered in various shops would change. In addition to shops you will discover the arcade. In the arcade there are actually three mini games that you can play. These games are played to make money. You place a bet and if you will you double your money. These games are actually quite good, I found myself blowing all my money playing games. One game is sort of a 2D breakout game with four paddles, another is chinese checkers, and the last one is a game where you control various valves to make several tanks fill up at the same time. Great little games! You will also discover a number of transportation facilities. You will be able to rent cars to travel via the various roads, or rent aircraft to fly from place to place, or you can fly in the interplanetary spacecraft and on the space station there is another vehicle called a Sershoyer that travels through tunnels. Each of these vehicles includes a complete 3D simulator that you will operate to get around. Obviously this game is huge, and with all the mini games included you have many different tasks to complete. Fortunately, you can save your game as you progress and can have up to 10 different saves. The large number of saves is a real nice feature as this game is very large and complex. There is more to this game than I've been able to describe in this article. There is undoubtably even more that I have yet to discover. Game Materials This game comes on 5 double sides disks. The game is not """""""""""""" hard disk installable. There was also a security dongle included that must be plugged into the serial port of your ST. The box claims the game will run on everything from a 520 to a Mega STE. It does not have the TT or Falcon listed. On the Mega STE you also need to use an adapter from the 9 pin serial port to 25 pins for attachment of the security dongle. The box also contains three pieces of documentation. First is the instruction booklet of 65 pages. Second is the scenario description which is about 14 pages that give you the background of the game. And finally there is the quick reference card which includes various maps, how to start the game, and instructions on how to control the game, arcade games, and various driving and flight simulators. The documentation wasn't nearly complete enough. There were many things that were difficult to understand or not well covered. There was no discussion of how to use objects found, or how the search operations operate. There was also no warning to remove any cartridges currently installed. This caused me considerable problems before it occurred to me to remove my GCR Spectre cartridge. Some of the words used in the documentation are also poorly translated resulting in confusion or having to look the words up in the dictionary to understand what they mean. Sound and Graphics The graphics are quite good. The pictures are clear """""""""""""""""" and interesting depicting various futuristic city areas. The characters that you meet throughout the game are all uniquely depicted with different graphical portraits. The graphics provides a unique Science Fiction atmosphere. As you wander around the city there is also the feeling of things being alive. Cars drive by, people wander by, you will see planes flying in the sky from time to time. In front of various shops you will sometimes see parked vehicles. In bars and restaurants tables will have people sitting at them one time another time they won't. In addition to the graphics there are digitized sounds to go along with the various places and activities. If you see a plane flying you will be able to hear it in the distance. If you see a fountain you will hear the water burbling. You will even hear it if you are near by. Unfortunately, the sounds are not very clear. They are also very low making it hard to hear on a standard ST even with the volume turned up. If you bought BAT then you will have the MV16 cartridge which provides fantastic sound. If you want to hear great sound you can buy an old copy of BAT and use the cartridge. The cartridge is somewhat compatible with the replay cartridge. So the replay cartridge will also work. I bought an old copy of BAT and a couple of speaker from radio shack. The sound is truly great. It is really unfortunate that they didn't do a better job implementing the sound on the stock ST. If you don't have the MV16 the sound is so so but still adds to the satisfaction of the game. Summary I found the poor manual, complex game, and unusual interface to """"""" make this game difficult to learn. I still don't know how to do everything amd I haven't progressed particularly far in the game. Having restarted about 5-6 times I finally have a good idea of the operation of the basics and what strategies are good and bad. All aspects of the game seemed to work good. The various arcade games and 3D simulators add significantly to the overall game and provide nice diversions within the role playing framework. With all the mini games included in this game it's like getting several games in one. Even thought the game is difficult to learn and some of the features aren't well documented, I do think that it is one of the best all round Science Fiction role playing games I've seen on the ST. If you like Science Fiction and Role Playing games then you will want to have this game. ///////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Yes by all means get Aladdin. Ask away and you will get / / answers. I was shy at first but not anymore. No questions / / - no answers it's that simple. What you consider simple, a / / zillion people out there need the question & answer but are / / afraid to ask. There are no dumb questions - only fearful / / people who don't ask for fear of being considered dumb. / ////////////////////////////////////////////// K.OLSON10 //// [EOA] [ADD]////////////////////////////// ADD ALADDIN! / ///////////////////////////////// Cut & Paste Scripts For Aladdin """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] >>> GET THE LAMP! <<< """"""""""""""""""""" TURBO-ALADDIN! This month we've got a handy script that will log on to """""""""""""" GEnie and download one or more of your favorite GEnieLamp magazines. You then have a choice of logging off or doing an Autopass 1 or 2 first. Jim has designed the script so you will spend a minimum amount of time outside of the GEnie*Basic areas. ~ CUT HERE ~ Script # Get The LAMP! Echo off ;By Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] - 2/7/93 ;Set string 9 to [drive:][path\] ;Example: setstring 9 "c:\aladdin\text\" ;path *MUST* end with a backslash "\" or "" for current directory SETSTRING 9 "" <===[R] default directory to save files clear note "" note " GEnieLamp - Computing on GEnie Newsletter" note "" note " <1> [*]Latest GEnieLamp IBM " note " <2> [*]Latest GEnieLamp Atari " note " <3> [*]Latest GEnieLamp Mac " note " <4> [*]Latest GEnieLamp MacPRO " note " <5> [*]Latest GEnieLamp Apple II" note " <6> [*]Latest GEnieLamp A2PRO " note " <7> GEnieLamp File Of The Week " note " <8> GEnieLamp RoundTable News " note "" note "Select 1 or more:" getstring 0 if string 0 is "" goto end endif :get_pass Note "" Note "Perform Auto-pass 1 or 2 after capture?" note "(press to skip Auto-pass)" Getkey 4 If string 4 is "1" Goto get_time Endif If string 4 is "2" Goto get_time Endif If string 4 is "^M" Goto get_time Endif Goto get_pass :get_time Note "" Note "Enter Time To Begin (24-hour format HH:MM)" Note "HH:MM (or to begin now)" Getstring 1 if string 1 is "" else note "" note "Waiting Until %1 To Begin Capture of %0" if string 4 is "" else note "and perform Auto-pass %4" endif note " (or press any key to begin now)" waituntil %1 endif commandmode on log on if string 0 has <1> [*]Latest GEnieLamp IBM setstring 2 "8" setstring 3 "IBMLMP.TXT" call capture endif if string 0 has <2> [*]Latest GEnieLamp Atari setstring 2 "9" setstring 3 "ATARILMP.TXT" call capture endif if string 0 has <3> [*]Latest GEnieLamp Mac setstring 2 "10" setstring 3 "MACLMP.TXT" call capture endif if string 0 has <4> [*]Latest GEnieLamp MacPRO setstring 2 "11" setstring 3 "MACPLMP.TXT" call capture endif if string 0 has <5> [*]Latest GEnieLamp Apple II setstring 2 "12" setstring 3 "A2LMP.TXT" call capture endif if string 0 has <6> [*]Latest GEnieLamp A2PRO setstring 2 "13" setstring 3 "A2PROLMP.TXT" call capture endif if string 0 has <8> GEnieLamp RoundTable News setstring 2 "5" setstring 3 "GENIELMP.NWS" call capture endif if string 0 has <7> GEnieLamp File Of The Week if currentlinehas "P 515?" sendcommand "7" else sendcommand "M515;7" endif sendcommand "D" sendline "4" waitfor "file." zmodem download "%9" waitforprompt endif if string 4 is "^M" log off else perform %4 endif goto end :capture if currentlinehas "P 515?" sendline "%2" else sendline "M515;%2" endif erasefile "%9%3" capture "%9%3" waitforprompt endcapture return :end Endscript ~ CUT HERE ~ >>> HOW TO ADD THIS SCRIPT TO ALADDIN <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Installing The Script First of all, you will need to separate this """"""""""""""""""""" script from the magazine. To do this, just load this magazine into any word processor or text editor, and cut or block this script file out to it's own separate file and save it as SCRIPT.TXT. Place SCRIPT.TXT into your Aladdin folder. Your script file will now automatically load in when you boot up Aladdin. IMPORTANT! If you are already running one or more script files, you will """""""""" need to append this file to the end of your present SCRIPT.TXT. To do this in... Aladdin IBM """"""""""" o At Aladdin's main menu, call up an available script, or overwrite an existing script: [F7,A] -to use an available script entry [F7,E,n] -to edit a script already used (n is the number of the script) o Make note of the script number in the script editor. o Use CTRL-Y to delete ALL the current text lines in the script editor. o Use CTRL-K,R to read the script file into the script editor. [CTRL-K,R,,ENTER] o Change the # in the line SCRIPT # to reflect the script number you've previously noted. o ESC to save ALADDIN ST/AMI """""""""""""" o Under the "File" menu, click on the "Edit User Script" option. This will load in your current script file. o Position the cursor at the end of your script file. Now, using the "Paste File" option under "Edit" add the new script file. o Change the # in the line SCRIPT # to reflect the script number you've previously noted. For example, if you have already installed 3 files, the line would like like this: Script 7 Get The LAMP! o ESC to save [EOA] [ASK]////////////////////////////// ASK DOCTOR BOB / ///////////////////////////////// Gotta Problem? Gotta Answer! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Bob Connors [R.CONNORS2] o WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFE OF A HARD DRIVE? o WHERE CAN I GET HELP FOR MY LASER PRINTER? Doctor Bob, What is the average life of a hard drive? How about floppies? Is it known how long the data will stay on them without some type of refresh, or what not? Thanks! -Bruce Bruce, Gee Bruce, you sure come up with interesting questions. The answers, are subjective to say the least. Let's take the average life of a hard drive first. I assume you are talking about the life of the physical drive as opposed to the life of the data contained on the drive but I will attempt to respond to each. Almost all electronic components in computers have what is called an MTBF rating. MTBF stands for Mean Time Before/Between Failure. The value assigned to this is usually some amount of hours and is usually the manufacturer's best guess based on all testing done and possibly reports from end users of the equipment and repair facilities. In the case of a hard drive, I do not personally think that many manufacturers actually wait until drives fail before coming up with that value because, if they did so, they would never get the equipment out the door for sale. The actual life of a hard drive may have no relationship at all to the rated life as it depends on so many factors. Things like whether or not the drive is used on a BBS system (where the computer is seldom shut off) or type of applications and whether or not those applications cause a lot of head thrashing (like a database program may do) play a role in the life span of a hard drive. Even whether or not children use the computer can be a determining factor. I have seen drives last a long time. I am still using drives in my computer that I used when I started up my BBS in 1987. However, I also have a dead one from the same system. Data stored on the hard drive, on the other hand, can go bad. Data is stored magnetically on the drive and the magnetism holding that data in its 'fixed' position can weaken due to lack of use. On hard drives, this is usually not the problem though, although it can be. Normally, DOS just reports a read or write error for the data, a sector not found error, or something similar. In other words, data that was good the last time you accessed it suddenly is no longer accessible. The data can be a file of information used by a program or the program itself. There is no set time when you can expect such errors. According to Murphy, though, they will happen when you least expect them, when your backup has not been done recently enough, and when they will do the most damage! It is my experience that such problems are usually caused by drifting head alignment. That is, the hard disk read/write head no longer aligns correctly with the track that contains the information. Often, a retry or a number of retries will succeed in reading or writing the information, sometimes not. When it happens, though, it usually results in an increase in your heart rate and a quickening of your pulse, especially when the retries fail. There are quite a few utilities available that help in such situations. Norton's Disk Doctor and SpinRite are a few of them that immediately come to mind. SpinRite is my favorite because of the way it 'realigns' the head by actually repositioning the hard disk tracks where the head actually is, not where the head is supposed to be. The life span of data on floppy diskettes is another matter and again, depends on many factors. Among these are the age of the diskettes, how they are stored, how they are handled, the environmental conditions, whether or not they are generic, bulk, low cost diskettes or brand name, the type of oxides or other materials used in their manufacturer, the manufacturer itself, and on and on. I have diskettes that I used on my old TRS-80 back in 1979 that I can still use with a fair amount of reliability on my XT clone system and, there are others I cannot. This is despite the fact that the diskettes were certified to be one-sided and my XT uses both sides. Based on the above, I would say the bottom line answer to your question is, no, it is not known with any certainty how long data will stay on a diskette without need of refreshing. There are just too many variables to consider. That is why the DOS God created the DISKCOPY command and even that is not perfect. I hope I have cleared this matter up for you. -Doctor Bob [*][*][*] Doctor Bob, Would appreciate your help, if possible, in buying a Service Manual for my Panasonic KX-P4420 laser printer. Printer makes nice pages but the reliability has been so-so. I'd like to learn more about the printer but Panasonic has not been helpful. Their 800 number says to call a pay number - and the pay number, a couple times, just put me on hold - which I abandoned after several long distance minutes. They have not responded to a 5 Jan 93 snailmail letter. I haven't found a "Panasonic printer help" category or topic on GEnie. Thanks - from another Bob. Another Bob, You are experiencing something that a lot of people seem to be also experiencing with many firm's customer support. I am always amazed that companies always answer their 'sales' phone on the first ring and it always seems to be a 1-800 number. They are willing to spend the money and make the effort to get you as a customer. After sales support really does not live up to the same standard though. The customer service or technical support number is invariably not toll free and, from what I have been reading in the IBM PC RoundTable, people get put on hold for what I consider unreasonable amounts of time. To make matters worse, the call backs that get promised are not always made, even after repeated calls to the company. But, I editorialize and am not solving your problem. The only advice I can give you is to try Category 15, Topic 71 in the IBMPC RoundTable. The label for that topic is Panasonic Printers. I don't remember seeing any recent messages there but I do know that the topic is still open. Good luck, Bob. I wish I could be more help to you. -Doctor Bob [*][*][*] ASK DOCTOR BOB Do you have a question about operating systems, GEnie or """""""""""""" anything concerning computers? If so, you can get your questions answered here in GEnieLamp by Doctor Bob. Any question is fair game...and if the good Doctor Bob doesn't know the answer, he'll find someone who does. Stop wandering around in the dark, send your question to Doctor Bob in the GEnieLamp RoundTable bulletin board, CATegory 3, TOPic 2. //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Is there any truth to the rumor than President Clinton is / / considering postponing his address, lest it conflict with / / the CodeHead RTC? :^) " / ////////////////////////////////////////////// OUTRIDER //// [EOA] [LOG]////////////////////////////// LOG OFF / ///////////////////////////////// GEnieLamp Information """"""""""""""""""""" o COMMENTS: Contacting GEnieLamp o GEnieLamp STAFF: Who Are We? o GET_THE_LAMP Scripts & Macros o SEARCH-ME! Answers GEnieLamp GEnieLamp is monthly online magazine published in the """"""""" GEnieLamp RoundTable on page 515. You can also find GEnieLamp in the ST (475), the Macintosh (605), the IBM (615) Apple II (645), A2Pro (530), Unix (160), Mac Pro (480), Geoworks (1050), BBS (610), CE Software (1005) and the Mini/Mainframe (1145) RoundTables. GEnieLamp can also be found on CrossNet, Internet, America Online and many public and commercial BBS systems worldwide. We welcome and respond to all GEmail.To leave messages, suggestions or just to say hi, you can contact us in the GEnieLamp RoundTable (515) or send GE Mail to John Peters at [GENIELAMP] on page 200. U.S. MAIL """"""""" GEnieLamp Online Magazine Atten: John Peters 5102 Galley Rd. Suite 115/B Colorado Springs, CO 80915 >>> GEnieLamp STAFF <<< """"""""""""""""""""""" GEnieLamp o John Peters [GENIELAMP] Editor-In-Chief """"""""" ATARI ST o John Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] Editor """""""" o Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] ST Staff Writer o Terry Quinn [TQUINN] ST Staff Writer o Sheldon Winick [S.WINICK] ST Staff Writer o Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] ST Staff Writer o John Hoffman [JLHOFFMAN] ST Staff Writer ATARI TX2 o David Holmes [D.HOLMES14] TX2 Editor """"""""" ATARI [PR] o Fred Koch [F.KOCH] Editor/PD_Q """""""""" IBM o Robert M. Connors [R.CONNORS2] Editor """ o Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] IBM Staff Writer o Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] IBM Staff Writer o Tippy Martinez [TIPPY.ONE] IBM Staff Writer MACINTOSH o James Flanagan [JFLANAGAN] Editor """"""""" o Richard Vega [R.VEGA] Mac Co-Editor o Dan "Remo" Barter [D.BARTER] Mac Staff Writer o Tom Trinko [T.TRINKO] Mac Staff Writer o Bret Fledderjohn [FLEDDERJOHN] Mac Staff Writer o Bill Garrett [BILL.GARRETT] Mac Staff Writer MacPRO o James Flanagan [JFLANAGAN] Editor """""" o Erik C. Thauvin [MACSPECT] Supervising Editor o Chris Innanen [C.INNANEN] MacPRO Staff Writer o Paul Collins [P.COLLINS] MacPRO Staff Writer APPLE II o Darrel Raines [D.RAINES] Editor """""""" o Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] A2 Co-Editor o Mel Fowler [MELSOFT] A2 Staff Writer A2Pro o Jim B. Couch [J.COUCH2] Editor """"" INTERNET o Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] GEnieLamp IBM """""""" ETC. o Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] Add Aladdin """" o Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] Search-ME! o Bruce Faulkner [R.FAULKNER4] CrossNET Support o Mike White [M.WHITE25] Cowlumnist (CowTOONS!) GEnieLamp CONTRIBUTORS """""""""""""""""""""" o Steven Weyhrich [S.WEYHRICH] o Bill Yung [W.YUNG1] o Al Fasoldt [A.FASOLDT] o Gina Saikin [G.SAIKIN] >>> SEARCH-ME! ANSWERS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""" + + + + + + S S U I R A U Q A + + + + + + + + + + + + + C + + + + + + E + + S U R U A T + + + + + + O + + A + + + + P + + + + O + + + + A + + + R + + N + + + + + O + + + E + + + + R + P + P + + A S + + C + + C + + L + + + + B + + + I + + L + A C + + A + S + + + + + + I + + + O + S Y + S G A + + + P O + + + + + L + + + + + + S C N + I N + + + G R + S N E V A E H A + + E + G E + T C + + E + O I + + + + + + S + + S + I + + S T E + M A + H + C + + + + T + + S L S + + + + A R I + + S + + + O + + R + + E + + A + + + + R N + + + + T + + + R O + + I + + + + C + + S I + + + + V I R G O L N + R + + + + + + I T + U C H A R T + + O O + + A + + + + + + + A T + S + + + + + + + G L + + + + + + + + + R + + S + + + + + + + I + + O + + + + + + + S + + + + Y + + + + + C + + + + G + + + + + + + + + + + + M + + + A + + + + + + Y + + + + + + + + + + + + + + L + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the following terms only. All articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of each article reprinted. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted, to registered computer user groups and not for profit publications. Opinions present herein are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or staff of GEnieLamp. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy. Include the following at the end of every reprint: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// (c) Copyright 1993 T/TalkNET Online Publishing and GEnie. To join GEnie, set your modem to 2400 baud (or less) and half duplex (local echo). Have the modem dial 1-800-638-8369. When you get a CONNECT message, type HHH. At the U#= prompt, type: XTX99368,GENIE and hit the return key. The system will then ask you for your information. Call (voice)1-800-638-9636 for more information about GEnie. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// [EOF]*****