*=*=*=*=*=›  PREVIEW OF THE NEWEST ATARI MODEL› By Scott Anderson› (Reprinted from MILE HIGH  ATARI  and› THE  RAM  GAZETTE   via   MACE,   and› rprinted by OL' HACKERS AUG, NY, with› THANKS!)››      At first it  was  just  rumors. › I'm  sure you've heard some of them. › Mergers and/or joint ventures.  Atari› and AT&T.  Atari and Teledyne.  Atari› and   whomever.    But  this  one  is› confirmed.  I saw the proof  at  last› month's  outdoors  exposition.  Atari› is involved in a joint  venture  with› Coleman Western, the outdoor products› giant.    The   offspring   of   this› marriage    is   the   Coleman   Camp› Computer,   hereafter  known  as  the› CCC.›      It was on display in one  corner› of  the  Coleman booth at the outdoor› show,   with   an   Atari   rep.   in› attendence  to  demo the machine.  It› is   quite  the  machine.   Its  most› impressive feature is its ability  to› function  without a power supply; the› CCC uses  white  gas  (Coleman  fuel)› like    so    many    other   Coleman› appliances.  After filling  the  tank› with  fuel  & pressurizing the system› by hand  pumping,  you  start  up  by› firing  the  pilot/burner.   The  gas› flame  heats  a  sealed  fluid system› which   powers   a   micro    turbine› generator.   This in conjunction with› a regulator provides all the voltages› you  need to power the CCC and all of› its peripherals.›      The CCC is a 128k  machine  that› utilizes  the 6502 processor.  It has› a   new   O.S.   that  is  completely› compatible with all ATARI  and  third› party    software.     Two   built-in› languages are switched on or off  via› a  three  way rocker switch, they are› BASIC (of course) and ACTION!.  ATARI› apparently  had  a  large quantity of› 400 keyboards that  they  decided  to› use  up  on  the  CCC.  While being a› pain to  type  on,  the  use  of  the› membrane  keyboard  is understandable› on a product that can be left out  in› the rain.›       Yes,    CCC    is    completely› weatherproof.  Rubber doors cover the› 4 joystick ports, the I/O  port,  the› serial/expansion  bus, and the built-› in disk drive and  modem.   The  disk› drive  is  a  half height 5 1/4" that› uses single or enhanced density.  The› modem    is    something   completely› different.  It is said to  be  almost› Hayes compatible, the exception being› that   it   can't  answer.   This  is› understandable,  you  have  no  phone› number.  At the end of  the  25  foot› modem  cable  is  a special induction› device that you merely clamp over any› phone  cable.   No pins, no plugs, no› muss, no fuss.  The device  can  only› originate  calls,  but  it  can do it› anywhere there is a  telephone  line,› be it the backwoods or your backyard.› All this and 1200 Baud too.›      When you lift the cover  on  the› CCC  you'll  see  the best feature of› all.  The 9" Hi-Res LCD color monitor› has  a  true 80 column screen that is› compatable   with   most    available› software.   If  not  a  rubber toggle› switch will get you back to 40 column› at  any  time.   In  either modem the› characters  are  sharp  and  easy  to› read.  All this and only  14.4  lbs. › But  if  that seems too heavy for you› backpackers,         the         fuel› tank/pump/burner/stand  assembly  can› be  detached.  The remaining unit, at› 8.3 lbs, can be used at any  campsite› simply   by   setting   it   on   the› campfire.›      Included in the $450  price  are› three  new  pieces  of software.  The› first, "Camp-Calc", is  a  wilderness› management        program.        The› second,"Camp-Talk", synthesizes  bird› and  animals  calls.   The third is a› graphics   masterpiece.    It   is  a› Conestoga   wagon   simulator  called› "Yeass".   No  more  boring  evenings› around the campfire.›› (Although this article is coming  out› in  MARCH/APRIL  issue  sent  out  in› MARCH,  the  article was very fitting› for the April's  fool  issue,  but  I› couldn't  wait till next issue, cause› this kind of humor befits ATARI to  a› TEE anytime. Hope you all enjoyed it.› -Ed.)›            0o0 End 0o0››