*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*››          NEWSLETTER REVIEWS››            by Alan Sharkis››   Ol' Hackers Newsletter Librarian››I have reviewed many newsletters this›issue, and I  beg  your  patience  in›trying  to  get  through the reviews.›The information coming  out  of  that›pile  of  newsletters is amazing both›in its quantity and its quality.››Status Newsletter,  Volume  10  Issue›2&3  --  I  wondered,  as I read this›newsletter, what STATUS has  been  up›to  lately.  Then, I went back to the›editor's   column   and  found  out. ›Here's   a   club   that   went  from›bimonthly meetings to  monthly,  thus›bucking    a    trend    that    has,›unfortunately,  befallen many clubs. ›Staying active in light of a lack  of›direction  from  the  parent  company›(Atari)  and  in  this   economy   is›difficult  at  best, and STATUS is to›be congratulated  for  the  increased›activity  level  they've   achieved. ›Their  one  complaint,  and it can be›made in every club, is  the  LACK  OF›ARTICLES  FROM  MEMBERS!   I  can use›that as a hint to our own membership.›STATUS  also  gets  a  nod  for their›longevity.  The club  was  ten  years›old  in  April.   Articles  include a›reprint   of   one   of  their  older›articles, a review of YEMACY  B/4  by›ELDRIDGE  STOCKS.   For  those of you›who aren't familiar, YEMACY B/4 is  a›software  system  that allows true 4-›color printing from  8-bit  computers›from  any  62-sector  MicroPaint   or›Micro  Illustrator file.  The rest of›the newsletter consists  of  reprints›from  our  own   newsletters.    They›include  A  review of Labelmaster and›Small Business  Systems  (Black  Moon›Systems)  by  CARLOS   HURTADO,   RON›FETZER's  article  on color printing,›our   reprint   of   Calamity  Jane's›M.A.G.I.C.     D.O.M    article    on›shareware, and  a  very  useful  More›Little  Bytes 'N'  Pieces   by   ALEX›PIGNATO.   The  STATUS Newsletter has›returned, and we welcome it heartily.›I would suggest, however, that STATUS›can identify the issue with  a  month›as well as a volume and number.››The W.A.N.D. for July/August, 1991 --› We congratulate Dr.  Roland  Herman,›admittedtly  belatedly,  on the birth›of his  grandchild.   Rolly  has,  in›spite  of a busy summer, put together›a great list of reviews of  articles,›all reprinted from onter newsletters.›Because I have reviewed most of  them›before, I'll skip the details here.››Clevatari Newsletter for August, 1991›-- I usually  don't  say  much  about›this publication, since the Cleveland›ACE   seems   not  to  publish  8-bit›articles.    However,  when  they  do›publish   an   article   of   general›computer interest, I am glad to share›it with you.  In this issue there  is›mention  of a service provided by the›local   (Northeast   Ohio)  telephone›system called Touch Four which allows›you to get recorded answers to simple›computer questions.  If  the  service›(part  of  Ameritech)  is provided in›our area it would go very far  toward›helping  with specific problems.  You›must dial an  area  code  and  number›from  a  touch  tone telephone.  When›the connection is made, you punch  in›a  four-digit  code  from  a  list of›topics   and  simply  listen  to  the›recorded   information.    If    this›service is not available in our area,›it should be!››LIAUG Light House for September, 1991›contains  my  review  of  DAN  ELEK's›BobTerm  Phone  List  Utility,  which›most  of you have undoubtedly read in›our own newsletter.››Between Bytes for September, 1991  --› The  JACS has had to auction some of›its 8-bit hardware  and  software  to›members because it owned more than it›needed.  What a happy  circumstance! ›The article of most interest to us as›8-bitters is  Part  3  of  ROBERT  S.›ELY's  fine  series on SpartaDos.  In›this article,  Robert  describes  the›archive and attribute functions built›into the SpartaDos X cartridge.››MUG Newsletter for September, 1991 --› There are a couple of articles here,›but without the usual NAPCO masthead.›One  is  a  reprint  of JIMMY BOYCE's›(CACE) Atariwriter series  (part  II)›and  the other is DAN LOY's review of›Joust.››Newsline   (ACE  of  St.  Louis)  for›September, 1991 -- the  loss  of  the›only Atari dealer in town has put the›club into a  blue  funk,  of  sorts. ›They  wonder  about the future of the›owner of that store who  is  a  vice-›president  of the club and a prolific›contributor to its activities.  There›is  a  rather  sad  article,   "8-Bit›Blues"  (no  author named) that seems›to sum it up.  The  pessimism  drips,›but  I'll  bet  that  each  and every›member of Ol'  Hackers  can  come  up›with  solutions  to the problems that›the author  anticipates.   Read  this›article  and put your brain to work! ›Better   still,   let's   pool    our›suggestions  and  write to them about›it.  Afer all, we are  in  a  similar›situation, and we're not quitting!››BCS  Computers for September, 1991 --› following the pessimism of the  last›review  is an entirely upbeat article›by SUE FITZGERALD of the BCS Atari 8-›bit  User  Group.  Her "rediscovered"›8-bit is  serving  her  quite  well. ›But,  rediscovery  is   a   continual›process  with  computers,  as long as›you   let  the  rediscovery  happen. ›Maybe Sue can write to St. Louis?››Update Atari  (HACE)  for  September,›1991  proudly anticipates their show,›the Atari Safari  '91.   GEORGE  IKEN›has   written   two   articles,   one›describing the 8-bit Safari  Pack,  a›collection of gift items to attendees›at the show.  In the pack will be  an›8-bit  disk  containing TextPRO+ 4.54›together with BOB PUFF's Super UnArc.›If  more  than  one   family   member›attends,  there  are   also   limited›amounts  of  disks  to  be  given out›containing  BobTerm  (configured  for›SX-212   modems)   and   Express  850›(configured for Hayes modems,  and  a›whole collection of BASIC utilities. ›George's   second   article  concerns›TextPRO's   startup   screen   and  a›collection of the commands that  make›this program run.››(FR)ANTIC  for September, 1991 -- The›AAAUA always has something to see  in›their newsletter and this month is no›exception.  An announcement that  the›club  will  particiate  in   Computer›Education Month is always welcomed by›this educator, and that the club will›do  this  by  participating in a Girl›Scout     Computer     Exhibit     is›particularly welcome news.  The Atari›8-bit's   value   as  an  educational›computer has always been  evident  to›me,  and  this  chance to show it off›shows  good  planning  and  community›awareness by the AAAUA.  ED HALL, the›club's    corresponding   member   in›Canada, has prepared a description of›KE-SOFT's entries and has also put in›plugS for New Atari User, the English›magazine-and-disk from Page 6, EXCEL,›a disk magazine  from  Scotland,  and›some excelent offerings from American›Techna-Vision (they do sell  software›as well as hardware).  It seems as if›the   club   is   doing  a  lot  with›cassette-to-disk    transfers,    and›RUSSELL GIBSON's column continues the›trend  and  gets into a discussion of›sector   copiers.    President  ALVAN›SHERRILL's Beginner's Column begins a›series on word processors with a good›overview of the selection process and›the  importance  of  word   processor›programs  for computers as contrasted›with   stand-alone   word  processing›machines.      ANDREW    BUONGIORNO's›program to set up a 15K ramdisk in an›800xl,  reprinted  from  the MAY/JUNE›1989  issue  of  Ol'  Hackers  A.U.G.›Newsletter  also appears here.››The W.A.N.D. for September,  1991  --› Again,  this  newsletter  has combed›other newsletters and  Current  Notes›to  reprint some of the best articles›produced.  And, again I have reviewed›most  of  them,  but strongly suggest›that you read this issue, anyway.››The SAGE Scroll for Septenber, 1991 -›-  This  newsletter,  produced by the›Spectrum Atari Group of  Erie,  seems›to  have  mostly  ST  material,   but›occasionally     produces     general›interest and 8-bit  news.   The  club›still   maintains   an   8-bit   disk›library, and has  several  8-bit  and›24-bit  members.   Inside  the  front›cover is the eulogy to "someone Else"›that has been making the rounds,  but›there  is  also  a reprint of "How to›Kill   a   User  Group",  which  they›apparently   reprinted   from  WNYAUG›Pokey  and  from  Portland  Users  of›99's.  (See, even the TIs still  have›user  groups!   Are  we  a  vanishing›breed?)   We  and  our newsletter are›mentioned in  ROBERT  BUMAN's  column›which    updates   their   newsletter›exchange  program.   The  mention  is›very positive.››The JACG Newsletter for October, 1991›--  The front page "From the Editor's›Desk" article is entitled, "The Atari›8-Bit,  1979-1991,  R. I. P."  I have›to disagree with  the  title  of  the›front  page  article.   In  fact, the›editor makes it clear in the  article›that  he  is  merely  writing   about›Atari,  Corp.'s  seeming orphaning of›the line; official with the  November›Chicago AtariFest and the dropping by›ICD of  their  8-bit  line.  He  also›makes  it  clear  that  until now the›future   of   the  machine  has  been›guaranteed  by  user  groups,  third-›party resellers,  and  BBSs.   It  is›sad,  indeed,   that   the   editor's›feelings are colored by the six-month›absence of the club's BBS.  I do wish›that  they  can  get  a  BBS  up  and›running  soon.   I  also see that the›issue is really full of mention of 8-›bit activity, including visits to the›club by Ol' Hackers  RON  FETZER  and›KRIS HOLTEGAARD.  Ron's contributions›are highlighted,  with his interview.››(FR)ANTIC for October, 1991  --  Vice›President  BILLY  WASHBURN  discusses›what  he presented at the Girl Scouts›Computer Exhibit.  It  sounds  great,›Billy.   President   ALVAN   SHERRILL›presents  the second in his series on›word   processos  in  his  Beginners'›Column.  Featured in this installment›is    the    original     AtariWriter›cartridge.   RUSSEL  STOWE presents a›terrific   tutorial   on  disk  drive›maintenance.    Another   column   by›Russell brings in possible answers to›printer  problems  and  a  number  of›other hints.››Update Atari  for  October,  1991  --›HACE's  HAROLD GAILEY did double duty›with the file  PICDEMO.ARC.   He  not›only demonstrated the file, from AIM,›but he wrote  up  the  file  for  his›club's  newsletter.   While  I am not›suggesting that the same be  done  by›our  members,  since  all  demos  are›covered  in  the  meeting minutes, it›would be a good idea to have  someone›do  the same thing with an especially›important   piece   of   software  or›hardware.  Harold was not without his›problems.   The  program came without›any documentation.  Harold searched a›number  of sources and finally called›the author for help with a number  of›aspects  of the program.  He was well›rewarded in that effort, as were  the›members  of  H.A.C.E.  who  saw   his›demonstration.  I'd like very much to›see the program.  The  magazine  also›mentioned  a  new online service that›seems to have at least  a  few  Atari›public  domain files.  The service is›called The Public  Data  Network.   I›missed  the  article  in October AIM,›but  GEORGE  IKEN's  writeup  of  the›service has me curious.  I'd recently›joined,  then  dropped America OnLine›when they rejected my request for  an›Atari file section.››Keeping PACE for October, 1991 -- The›Pittsburgh  group  has  reprinted  an›important list from ZMAG196, possibly›the same  as printed by BEN POEHLAND,›8BIT EDITOR of CURRENT NOTES. It is a›list  of  sources  of   Atari   8-bit›support.     It   includes   software›distributors,     both     p/d    and›commercial,   hardware  manufacturers›and  retailers,  and  magazines  that›carry 8-bit articles.››Te W.A.N.D. for October, 1991 -- This›newsletter continues to carry a great›selection of reprints.   One  that  I›haven't    reviewed,     and     most›informative,  is  a  reprint  of  BEN›POEHLAND's  (Current   Notes,   April›1991)  writeup  of   the   Innovative›Concepts  24-pin  driver  for   Print›Shop.   I  can personally kick myself›in the head  for  buying  a  nine-pin›printer  just  MONTHS  before IC came›out with that line of  drivers.   Ben›walks us through the process of using›this  driver  after  describing  what›life was like before having it.››M.U.G. Newsletter for October, 1991 -›-   NAPCO  reprints  article  7  from›JIMMY BOYCE's series on AtariWriter+,›in which the process  of  creating  a›printer  driver  for  the   Panasonic›1080i is described.››The  W.A.N.D.  for  November, 1991 --› President Rolly Herman  has  written›an  extensive   article   about   the›process  of  using   the   8-bit   in›conjunction  with a VCR.  The article›starts with a review of  Video  Title›Shop  and  plans  for  constructing a›computer-to-VCR   patch   cable.    A›construction  project  for  a  hutch,›taken  from  an  old  (date  unknown)›issue  of  B.A.C.E.   Newsletter   by›HOWARD   WEN,   shows   careful   and›practical design and should  be  easy›to build.  Reprints of other articles›I   reviewed   previously   are  also›included.››SLCC Journal for  November,  1991  --› It's  always  a  treat  to  see this›newsletter.  Sometimes,  there  isn't›even  an  8-bit  article in it, but I›enjoy reading it anyway.  This month,›Michael  St.  Pierre brings us a very›technical, but fascinating article on›a  design  he  developed.    It's   a›genlock  for  the  8-bit!   What's  a›genlock,  you  say?   Well, since the›above W.A.N.D.  article  has  whetted›your appetite for video, consider the›problems  in  trying  to  synchronize›computer-generated graphics  with  an›outside  video  source.  You may have›heard that this can  be  solved  with›STs  or  Amigas, and you can bet that›many people scoffed at the idea of an›8-bit  machine  doing  that.    Well,›Michael  has presented the first part›of   a   two-article  series  on  the›problem and  his  solution,  complete›with schematic.  Construction details›will follow next month.   The  editor›of  the  SLCC  Journal  remarked that›Michael demonstrated his  genlock  at›the  October  meeting  and  it  was a›successful meeting.  BOB  WOOLEY  has›explored    the    1400XL's     voice›synthesizer  and  found  it  to  be a›Votrax SC-01.  He cannot identify the›voice  chip  in the 1450XLD.  Can any›of us help him out?   ROBBIE  BRIDGES›explains how he modified a program to›fit the needs of his young children. ›None of this would have been possible›if   the   original  author  had  not›released the program into the  public›domain,  and that, my friends, is the›real   essence   of  computing  as  a›hobby.›››+*+*+*+*+* THE END for NOW! *+*+*+*+*+››