*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*››           NEWSLETTER REVIEWS›             by Alan Sharkis›       OHAUG Newsletter Librarian›› I've  been  watching  the leaves turn› color and  I've  been  thinking  that› this  is  the fifteenth time that has› happened with an Atari  8-bit  in  my› house!   Funny.   I  didn't  get a PC› anywhere near that long ago, I'm  now› on  my  second one, and it's woefully› short of memory,  speed  and  storage› space given today's applications.›› As  those  of   us   who   read   the› comp.sys.atari.8bit    newsgroup   on› Usenet and those who  are  subscribed› to  the  Atari8-L  mailing  list will› testify, our  machines  keep  rolling› along  in  spite  of  their  age, and› there are  always  new  and  exciting› things happening for them.  There are› guys designing "virtual machines" and› discussing  plans  to  build the real› versions.    Although  it's  doubtful› that these new machines would contain› 6502  microprocessor chips, they will› be   capable  of  running  all  8-bit› software,   even   with   their  more› advanced   microprocessors.    What's› more,  software  can  be  written for› them that would run faster and better› than  what  we  have  now without the› need for all the  storage  space  and› memory associated with the PCs.›› Cenacle  Newsletter  for   September,› 1998  --  I  had  to dust off my high› school French again.  It's a pleasure› to  see  this  newsletter   continue,› although  translating it is sometimes› hit-or-miss.   Editor  REMI  GALLOPIN› begins by  stating,  "Apres  un  long› silence  radio, votre News-letter est› infin de retour ... Il faut dire  que› les  News 8-bits sont de plus en plus› rares."  He then goes on to  fill  up› eight  pages!   I  hope I can have as› much material for each issue  that  I› edit.   He writes about the demise of› NOSAUG   and   its  fine  newsletter,› Futura   and  gives  STUART  MURRAY's› address.  He writes reviews  of  some› dealers and new user groups, covers a› CD-ROM   on   the  history  of  video› gaming, Bill Gates, and  lots  more. › Even if your French is as bad as mine› (or worse --  is  that  possible?  --› Ed.)  you should take  a look at this› newsletter.›› JACG  Newsletter for  September, 1998› --  TOM LASKOWSKI starts his promised› series on Atari's Unsung  Heroes  and› Heroines,  this  time highlighting AL› ALCORN,   JAY  MINER,  SCOTT  FISHER,› BRENDA  LAUREL  and  ALAN  KAY.   The› PACESetter   for   August,   1998  is› reviewed by JOE HICSWA.   SAM  CORY's› essay  on  the  Y2K problem is a MUST› READ!›› The PACESetter for September, 1998 --› The   instructions    for   SHANGHAI,› PACE's  DOM,  are  printed  in   this› issue.   A  review  of Battlezone, by› KEN MODEEN,  is  reprinted  from  the› SPACE/MAST  Newsleter (4/89.)  Editor› WALT   LEWIS   shows   us   how    to› alphabetize  the  index of Print Shop› icon names that was  created  in  the› last issue.  SPARTADOS, SPAINDEX.COM,› and  a  word  processor  with  global› search-and-replace are needed for the› task.   There  are  also  columns  on› "Mine  is  Better!",  definitions  of› computer terms, hints for AtariWriter› Plus (by CAROLYN HOGLIN, ANTIC,  7/87› and    MFACC    Newsletter,    12/90)› upgrading  PCs  (ALAN  FRAZER),   and› assorted other goodies.›› SLCC Journal for October 1998 -- It's› not often that this short, but  sweet› newsletter  has  someting of interest› to 8-bitters, but there is an ad  for› a  device  called  JAM which can take› NTSC video (which is the  signal  our› 8-bits  sends  to  our  monitors) and› converts it for use by a VGA monitor.› This is a useful device for those who› have  two  (or  more)  platforms  and› limited space.›› XIO3 for  September/October  1998  --› Good    news   for   our    ST-owning› colleagues!    According   to  editor› GORDON HOOPER,  the  STs  are  immune› from    the   Y2K   bug.    The   TOS› clock/calendar will  not  fail  until› 2107.   Gordon  expects   that   most› current  GCACE  members won't have to› worry  about  that.   ROWLAND  GRANT,› however,   mentions  the  JAM  device› (described above)  in  more  detail. › The  Pool  Disk  TOO  CD-ROM  will be› released     on     October     24th.› Atari800Win  is  an  excellent  8-bit› emulator   that  runs  under  Windows› 95/98/NT.  It will also  emulate  the› 5200 game console with the proper ROM› image file.  There are other assorted› tidbits in the column.›› The  PACESetter  for  October 1998 --› Editor WALT LEWIS  reviews  PAPERCLIP› WORD  PROCESSOR.   There is a list of› hints for the game GHOST  BUSTERS,  a› pinout of the Atari 850-Epson printer› cable, a column  on  using  computers› for    writing    by   JEAN   BROKAW,› instructions for SILENT SERVICE,  and› a  list  of  useful peeks and pokes. › There's an answer to my challenge  to› Walt on getting a printer to print to› the bottom of a page.  How  did  Walt› do it?  Read this issue to find out!›› JACG  Newsletter for October, 1998 --› This  month,  editor   TOM  LASKOWSKI› continues  his  column   on   Atari's› Unsung   Heroes   and   Heroines   by› highlighting   SKIP   PAUL  and  JEFF› MINTER.  JOE HICSWA  reviews  several› user  group  newsletters.   DONALD A.› THOMAS, JR.'s article, The AfterMath,› is reprinted from his Web site.  This› is his account of the recent WOA  '98› show  in  Las  Vegas.  In addition to› being a great narrative of the event,› Don  has  included  the  URLs of just› about    every    organization    and› individual he mentions.›› +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+›››