*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*››           NEWSLETTER REVIEWS›             by Alan Sharkis›       OHAUG Newsletter Librarian›› Some  people  call  this time of year› the "dead"  of  winter.   Although  I› know how the expression originated, I› think it's a misnomer in these  times› of  ours.  There is much happening in› our Atari 8-bit world, as there is in› the  natural  world.   Some  of   the› developments  that affect our Classic› Ataris   is  hidden  to  us,  as  the› activities of  deciduous  plants  and› hibernating  animals  is hidden to us› in the "dead" of winter.  But  if  we› discover  something  new, and make it› known to all of  our  user  group  --› perhaps to the rest of the  community› as well --   everyone  will  benefit.› Once again, I urge all of our members› to   rejoin,  and  to  add  to  their› checks,   a  little  note  containing› their  name  and  their  Internet  or› FidoNet   e-mail  address.   At  this› time, I'd like to remind those of you› who  didn't  note  it  that  mine has› changed.  It's now:››           asharkis@erols.com›› and  I'd  really  appreciate  hearing› from you via e-mail if you use it.›› I'm going to ask Ron Fetzer, when  he› promulgates  the next member list, to› include e-mail addresses if  he  can,› even  if  it means typing up the list› at my house, on my PC, so that we can› take  advantage  of  a  smaller,  but› still  readable  font.   As  you  may› remember, I don't balk at using my PC› in service to the Atari community.›› With all that the Internet  and  BBSs› have  to  offer, there is still a lot› of 8-bit news that comes out of  user› group  newsletters,  whether in print› or on disk.  I allow  the  disk-based› newsletters  to  be  reflected in our› minutes, since I demonstrate them  at› meetings.   Print   newsletters   are› reviewed here, as most of you know.›› SCAT  President's  letter  for Autumn› 1997 -- The Suburban Chicago Atarians› welcomed Eric Cron as an 8-bit member› as well as a couple of new ST members› during  the summer.  It's nice to see› a user group grow when  some  groups,› including  the  heavy  hitters,   are› complaining      about      dwindling› membership.   SCAT president, NICK DI› MASI seems to have some some  of  the› same beefs common to other user group› presidents.  He seems  not  to  enjoy› people  who  come to the meeting with› their   own  agenda,  merchandise  to› sell, etc., without first  discussing› it  with  the  president.  Nick feels› that meeting time, limited as it  is,› shouldn't be taken over by a surprise› "sale" of surplus equipment.  But  he› does  plan to have a swap meet in the› near future.  (Since  OHAUG  meetings› are  on  Saturdays  and  run long, we› don't have as acute a problem as SCAT› -- ed.)  He also made a plea, similar› to mine above,  for  the  members  to› make their e-mail addresses available› to the club, to notify  the  club  if› they  aren't getting expected e-mail,› and to use the  BBS  as  a  means  of› contacting  the club and its officers› in the absence of e-mail  access.   A› list  of  ST  DOMSs was enclosed.  If› any of you owns and uses an ST,  Mega› or  Falcon,  you might find this list› useful.›› LVAUG News for September/October 1997› --  There  is  an article on buying a› computer by  CHUCK  MELVIN  (Newhouse› News Service.)  It refers, of course,› to terminology you should have at our› fingertips if you are going to buy an› IBM-compatible computer.  Much of  it› is  outdated,  even in the short time› since it  was  written,  but  with  a› little  imagination  you  can  extend› some  of the specification numbers to› see   what   applies   today.   (I've› included this, even though  it's  not› Atari-related,  since  some  of   you› might  want to buy a PC now or in the› near  future  to  ENHANCE  what  your› Atari can do -- ed.)   GARY  CONDON's› Hartford  Courant  article  discusses› the  benefits,  dangers,  maintenance› and  possible   successors   of   the› computer mouse.  There is also a list› of filename extensions  used  in  the› LVAUG library.›› TWAUG          Newsletter         for› September/October   1997   --  DENNIS› FOGARTY had  previously  asked  about› the TARI-TALK interface to enable him› to transfer files from his  8-bit  to› his  ST  so that they could be backed› up on another platform.  He  couldn't› find  one,  but  instead found an 850› interface.  The story of how he  used› it  and  a  homebrew null-modem cable› with Kermit software to  do  the  job› makes  for  a  fascinating  and  very› complete  article.    Dennis   raises› questions  in  the  article, and they› were  answered  at  the  end  of  the› article.  DAVID  RUSSELL's  excellent› series   on   graphics   modes   also› continues in this issue.›› (FR)ANTIC for October 1997 --  Editor› MANUEL  GARCIA  has included the Star› Trek/Microsoft parody I put into  our› last  OHAUG  newsletter.    Elswhere,› Manuel  has  also reprinted a version› of the  famous  Microsoft  helecopter› story.   (Knocking Microsoft seems to› be a common pursuit  these  days.   I› know  that the Atari 8-bit will never› represent   a   threat  to  the  IBM-› compatible  platform,  but  don't  be› surprised if cloned  STs  do  make  a› dent,  particularly  in Europe.  Read› on ... Ed.)  Librarian RUSSELL  STOWE› has asked the user group for thoughts› on putting together a  Web  page.   A› Nybbles  and  Bytes  article  by DALE› WOOSTER and JOHN POWELL  on  adapting› Nintendo controllers for the Atari 8-› bit rounds out the issue.›› IMAGE for November 1997 --  I  seldom› include    material     from     this› newsletter.    The   Indiana-Michigan› group supports  all  Atari  products,› but there is seldom 8-bit news in it.› However, for those of you who got the› feeling that ST owners were suffering› a greater decline than we  8-bitters,› I'd advise reading this newsletter --› particularly  this   issue  and   the› next, which I  will  review  in  this› column.   If  you own a Jaguar, IMAGE› is   also   a   reliable   source  of› information on  that  machine,  too. › Editor  ED BAIZ and President STEPHEN› ELEK,   JR.  are  the  most  frequent› contributers.›› JACG Newsletter for November 1997  --› It  is  with  great  pleasure that  I› welcome this newsletter back!  It had› been  missing  for  quite some  time.› SAM COREY had done a great  job  with› it,  but after some medical problems,› Sam switched roles  and  is  now  the› club's 8-bit librarian.  Assuming the› editorship of the JACG Newsletter  is› TOM  LASKOWSKI.   Tom  reports that a› motion was made to disband  the  JACG› at  their  last meeting, and that the› motion   has   caused   some    soul-› searching.   He  also  reports   that› there  is  now a two-way race for the› presidency of the JACG.   SAM  COREY,› meanwhile,    writes    an    article› explaining  why  he  had proposed the› motion  to  end  the  JACG.   In  the› article, Sam speaks about stimulating› members  to contribute their time and› talent to the club.  It was  not  his› intention  to  see  the club end, but› simply to redirect its focus and  get› more  member  participation.  Current› President JOSEPH HICSWA goes  far  to› explain  why  he  doesn't want to see› the club disband.   There  are  other› letters  concerning  the  controversy› that    Sam   created,   the   coming› election, the  club's  not-for-profit› status   in   New   Jersey,   and   a› particularly amusing letter from PHIL› GREENHUT  regarding  the  new Pentium› machine in his house.  There is  also› a  reprint  of  part 5 of DON THOMAS'› (Compuserve) article, "Did  You  Hear› Anyone  Say  Goodbye?", and a reprint› of parts of the Atari 8-bit FAQ  that› deals  with  the  features   of   the› 400/800  and te development team that› produced them.›› (FR)ANTIC for November  1997  --  The› AAAUA  has  elected  a  new  slate of› officers.  Congratulations  to  all. › It's  good  to  see  the  user  group› continue.  The  AAAUA  has elected to› become a multiplatform club, and this› is  reflected  in their election of a› PC   Vice-President.  A  rather  long› article, concerning  lack  of  member› attendance  at meetings and a general› lack of enthusiasm for  the  Internet› as  a   communication   facility   is› reprinted from AELian Transmissions. › It was written by JAN D.  WILT.   The› AAAUA  asks if the article fits their› group.    (I   might   ask  the  same› question of OHAUG local members  with› one  or  two exceptions.  Seems as if› our   out-of-town  members  are  more› Internet active than our  officers  -› Ed.)   Also   in   the   issue    are› photographs  of  some  AAAUA members,› and  an  article  by  CRAIG  LISOWSKI› describing the additon of an internal› speaker for the 800XL.›› XIO3  for  November/December  1997 --› GORDON F. HOOPER  continues the  jabs› against  the  computer industry.  No,› his  target  is  not  Microsoft  this› time,  but  rather  those  "friendly"› tech   support   representatives  you› speak to on the phone  from  time  to› time.   Elswhere  in   the   article,› Gordon  also provides a very humorous› dictionary of computer  terms.   DOUG› SKRECKY  reports  a  mention  of  the› Atari name in the February 1986 issue› of  Isaac  Asimov's  science  fiction› magazine,   in   a   story    called,› "Salvage,"  Doug prints a synopsis of› the story,  which  describes  a  game› being  played on an "ancient" Atari. › If   you   request  this  newsletter,› please read the article  and  try  to› answer the question at the end.  Doug› wants to know which  Atari  game  was› being described in the story.  On the› back   cover,   Doug   also  reprints› another Bill  Gates  joke.   Although› there  is  little  8-bit  news in it,› ROWLAND   GRANT's   Atari   News  and› Rumours   column   makes  interesting› reading this month.  He  covers  JTS,› the  Jaguar, the loss of Compuserve's› Run Luks, and  with  him,  the  Atari› Forums  and  software  libraries.  He› also  reports  the  obvious  loss  of› Current Notes.  However, Rowland also› writes  the 8-bit Affairs column, and› in this issue  he  discusses  several› interesting developments and projects› for our 8-bits, including the  return› of  Austin  Franklin  to CSA8, STEVEN› (A.P.E.)   TUCKER's    interest    in› developing    another   PC   keyboard› interface for the 8-bits, the release› of  STEFAN  DORENDORF's  Version  4.0› QMEG+OS  chip,  the  development  (in› Poland)  of  an 8-bit version of UNIX› (called ANIX,) ANDRE FACHAT's  OS/A65› which  can  be  ported  to  any  6502› machine,  WILLIAM  KENDRICK's release› of  Gem  Drop,  and  the  release  of› ABBUC's 50th Magazine.›› LVAUG News for November/December 1997› --  A  LEIF  B.  STRICKLAND (KNT News› Wire   -   Allentown   Morning   Call› 10/7/97)  describes  the way students› are   taking  term  papers  from  the› Internet, rather than doing the  work› necessary  to   produce   their   own› papers.   The  article  raises   some› interesting  points, and is certainly› worth    reading.     Editor    LARRY› TISCHBEIN     has    included    some› interesting material.  On page  5  of› this issue are come interesting short› anecdotes   and   cartoons  that  you› should  also  read.On  the  next  two› pages he has reprinted some  material› that he has obviously obtained on the› Internet   regarding   8-bit    Atari› computers.  He has included a simple,› 8-line program to produce the  famous› Atari  rainbow.  More cartoons and an› interesting frog story fill  out  the› issue.›› The  PACESetter  for December 1997 --› Another  editor  is   giving  up  the› newsletter?     Well,    here's     a› difference.   JEAN BROKAW is doing it› with  style  and  good  humor.   Just› check   the   first   page   of  this› newsletter    to    see    how    she› accomplishes this.  Jean expresses no› sadness  at  leaving,  no  bitterness› about  the  conditions  that make her› leave;   just  thankfulness  for  the› experience, which,  she  admits,  was› difficult  but  rearding.  We welcome› WALTER LEWIS to the position.  Walter› has  a difficult act to follow and we› trust he'll do it well.   (For  those› of  you  that think I'm quitting too,› NO SUCH LUCK :-), Ed.)  Jean goes  on› to  bring  s  some  holiday-based web› sites, among other familiar features.› There is a reprint of a STEPHEN MANES› story from the December 1995 issue of› the  JACG  Newsletter.   This  story,› "Rip    Van    Digital's     Software› Hangover,"    is    certainly   worth› reading.  There's a message hidden in› it;  see if you can tell what it is. › The series on PCs and Windows 95 tips› continues, this time concentrating on› the   shift   key   and   its  hidden› functions.  There is a review  of  an› old  Atari  8-bit  favorite,  "Winter› Games."›› IMAGE  for  December,  1997   --   As› promised,  I am reviewing this issue,› even though 8-bit material is scant. › I'm  doing  this  to show that the ST› community, which  we  often  consider› more disheartened than our own by the› PC's dominance,  is  making  a  great› comeback.  There are manufacturers of› Falcon clones in Canada and Germany. › One  particular  machine,  the German› Hades,   uses   a   Motorola    68060› processor    and    has     fantastic› capabilities.   Editor  ED  BAIZ  has› recently discovered a BBS in his area› that   carries   FidoNet.    At  Ed's› request, the BBS is now carrying both› the  8-bit  and  ST national echoes. › Now,  I  see  Ed's  messages  several› times a week when I log on to another› FidoNet  BBS  that  I  call   daily. › FidoNet's National Atari Echo, the 8-› bit echo, used to carry  as  many  as› sixty messages daily.  The average in› recent   days   has  been  one  daily› message.  The bulk of  the  remaining› 8-bitters          prefer         the› comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup on  the› Internet.   Speaking of the Internet,› Ed reminds us that a new Atari  8-bit› mailing  list   now   exists.    I've› subscribed, to find out that messages› can   be   in   a  great  variety  of› languages.  Ours IS an  international› community,  after all.  To subscribe,› mail a message to:››       majordomo@zwieracz.pse.pl›› and put the line "subscribe atari8-l"› in the body of your message, (not the› subject.)   There  is,  as  I  stated› before, lots of news about the ST and› Falcon  clones,  but the major themes› seem to be  Web  browsers  for  these› machines and PC emulation on them.›› SCAT  for  December/Holiday  1997  --› President  NICK  DiMASI reports  that› the group had an  exceptionally  good› year.   They recently did a joint ST-› 8-bit demo showing  how  to  transfer› files   via   null-modem   connection› between the two machines.  They  used› XModem    protocol    because    it's› universally  available.   (I'd advise› all  8-bitters  to  look  into  LARRY› BLACK's Atar-Z-Modem add-on or to run› ITAY   CHAMIEL's   Ice-T   2.72,   if› possible, since both of  these  allow› for ZModem downloads -- ed.)›› JACG  Newsleter  for December 1997 --› The club's election has taken place. › RON CARLSON is the new president, SAM› CORY continues  as  8-bit  librarian,› and  THOMAS LASKOWSKI is now editor. › JOSEPH E. HICSWA  promises  to  be  a› rather  active  president  emeritus. › This  month,  the  club  will vote on› whether or not to disband.   (Judging› from the material in this newsletter,› my money is on the JACG being a force› in our community for the next several› years -- ed.)  Tom  reports  that  he› stumbled  across a web site put up by› B. and C. ComputerVisions, and  there› learned  that  there will be an Atari› World 98 next summer in  California. › Inside  the  issue  is Part VI of DON› THOMAS'  "Did  You  Hear  Anyone  Say› Goodbye."  JOE HICSWA,  as  president› emeritus,  is  te  same old Joe, part› cheerleader,   part  historian,  part› diplomat.   Read  his  column.   He's› also   an   OL'   HACKER!   SAM  CORY› contributes an interesting  article. › I  will  simply quote the first line,› and then hope that it prods you  into› reading  the  article:  "Reality   is› always   catching   up   to   Science› Fiction."›› *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*›››