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*---== ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---* """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine" from STR Publishing Inc. """""""""""""""""" March 22, 1991 No.7.12 ========================================================================== STReport International Online Magazine™ Post Office Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32205 ~ 6672 R.F. Mariano Publisher - Editor ----------------------------------------- Voice: 904-783-3319 10 AM - 4 PM EST BBS: 904-786-4176 USR/HST DUAL STANDARD FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EST ----------------------------------------- ** Fnet 350 * Fido Node 1:112/35 * NeST Node 90:3000/350.0 ** privately owned & operated STReport support BBS ALL issues of STReport International Online Magazine are available along with A worldwide list of private bbs systems carrying STReport __________________________________________________________________ > 03/22/91: STReport™ #7.12 The Original 16/32 bit Online Magazine! ------------------------- - The Editor's Desk - CPU REPORT - MAC REPORT - Amiga Price Cuts - NEW! DEV Pac 5 - Piracy in the UK - PORTRAIT MONITORS - ATW KAPUT! - NEW! CD-ROM Drive - OMNIMON REVIEW II - GOOD BACKUP! - STR Confidential * CEBIT 1991 IN-DEPTH REPORT! * * BORLAND AND TURBO C/ST - WHY NOT? * * REFLEX VIDEO BOARD ANNOUNCED! * ========================================================================== ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE™ The _Number One_ Online Magazine -* FEATURING *- "UP-TO-DATE News and Information" Current Events, Original Articles, Hot Tips, and Information Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports ========================================================================== STReport's support BBS, NODE # 350 invites systems using Forem ST and Turbo Board BBS to participate in the Fido/F-Net Mail Network. Or, call Node 350 direct at 904-786-4176, and enjoy the excitement of exchanging information relative to the Atari ST computer arena through an excellent International ST Mail Network. All registered F-NET - Crossnet SysOps are welcome to join the STReport Crossnet Conference. The Crossnet Conference Code is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is # 350. All systems are most welcome to actively participate. Support Atari Computers; Join Today! ========================================================================== AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON: GENIE ~ CIS ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ FIDO ~ F-NET ========================================================================== > The Editor's Podium™ This is the week all the great info is filtering back from CeBIT and this year is no exception for getting good news, we have already had the coverage about the two new devices the Book and Notepad. In this issue we cover the new Unix Developer package, Hard disks, CD-Rom Drive and powerful memory expansion systems for the ST user. We have in this issue in-depth coverage of the show, its announcements and of course, the financial overview of the future. Just for you in STReport. Atari's future is bright indeed, now with large shipments of the new machines in transit (some have already cleared customs) it won't be long before the market buzz word will be "hey, how about that Atari computer, you get one yet?" Developers throughout the USA will finally begin to see a upward surge of activity they have long awaited. As always, thank you for your strong support! Ralph......... TODAY'S NEWS ..TODAY! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > STReport's Staff The regulars and this week's contributors! ================ Publisher - Editor ------------------ Ralph F. Mariano Staff Editors: -------------- Michael Arthur Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. Dana P. Jacobson Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Walter Daniel Oscar Steele Robert Allbritton John Szczepanik Contributing Correspondants: ---------------------------- Michael Lee Richard Covert Roger Stevens Brian Converse Oliver Steinmeier Ed Krimen IMPORTANT NOTICE ================ Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: Compuserve.................... 70007,4454 GEnie......................... ST.REPORT Delphi........................ RMARIANO BIX........................... RMARIANO FIDONET....................... 112/35 FNET.......................... NODE 350 NEST.......................... 90:19/350.0 *********************************************************************** NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME to the Readers of; ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE™ """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine" NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY! CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198 You will receive your complimentary time and be online in no time at all! WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (March 22) AMP JUKEBOX FOR ATARI 8-BIT AMP Jukebox, by Steven Lashower, will automatically play all files on disk with .AMP extenders, one after another. Press [START] during play to skip to next song. Press [OPTION] during play to change disk or drive. For use of CompuServe Atari 8-bit Forum members only. Download AMPJKE.ARC from LIBRARY 1 of the Atari 8-Bit Forum (GO ATARI8). NEW CHECKING ACCOUNT DATABASE "Chekbook" is a dedicated checking account database that allows for easy sorting upon entry, of checking items, and calculates total balance, current balance, what the bank thinks you have, and the last date there was an agreement. Download file CECKBK.LZH from LIBRARY 1 of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO). NEW FROM DOUBLE CLICK Don't miss Double Click Software's "Program of the Week" in the Atari Vendors Forum! Ever hit the <HELP> key instead of the <BACKSPACE> key? If you do it in some programs (FLASH, for example) it can especially be a problem. This week's Program of the Week turns the <HELP> key into <BACKSPACE> and turns <CONTROL>+<HELP> into <HELP>. Download DCBHLP.ARC from LIBRARY 13 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN). CODEHEAD ANNOUNCES MAXIFILE 3.0 Codehead Software announces the release of MaxiFile 3.0, a major upgrade to this excellent program! See the press release entitled MAX30.- TXT in LIBRARY 16 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN). GRIBNIF AND LEXICOR JOIN VENDORS FORUM Please join us in welcoming GRIBNIF SOFTWARE and LEXICOR SOFTWARE to the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN)! Message Section 8 and Library 8 will be used by GRIBNIF SOFTWARE. Messages to them should be addressed to User ID number 75300,1131. Message Section 9 and Library 9 will be used by LEXICOR SOFTWARE. Messages to them should be addressed to User ID number 75300,763. THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE *********************************************************************** > CPU STATUS REPORT™ LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS ================= Issue #12 Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. - Boston, Massachusetts VDTS DON'T CAUSE MISCARRIAGES --------------------- According to a study done by the Ohio-based National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, there is no additional risk of miscarriage caused by exposure to video display terminals (VDTs). Of the women in the survey who were pregnant, 14.8% of the VDT-exposed women and 15.9% of the non VDT-exposed women suffered miscarriages. There were no significant differences in miscarriages among those who worked the terminals more than 25 hours a week or less than 25 hours a week. - Hannover, Western Germany DAVE SMALL AT CEBIT ------------------------- The man who pioneered Macintosh emulators on the Atari ST, Dave Small, was back at Cebit this year with two new product announcements. The MegaTalk board in the Mega ST expansion slot will allow it to connect to AppleTalk networks and give it MIDI and Apple SCSI hard drive capability, and is reported to be 100% Mac compatible - hardware and software. The second announcement was an upgraded version of Spectre GCR which will now support non-American Mac keyboard drivers, the Dayna DOS Mounter, Apple File Exchange, Macintosh sound (previously a problem for GCR Spectre) and large display screens (including 1,280 x 960 pixel monitors). - Hannover, Western Germany THE THIRD TIME A CHARM? ------------------------- For the third year in a row, Atari has announced the launching of the Atari TT, a successor to the Atari ST. Also, for the third year in a row, Atari announced that they would start shipping a Unix system this year. - West Chester, Pennsylvania AMIGA PRICES CUT! -------------------------- Commodore Business Machines cut the prices on its Amiga 2000 and Amiga 3000 personal computers by 10-26% in hopes that the Amigas will be more price-competitive. The Amiga 2000 has been reduced 16%, down to $1,599, the Amiga 2000HD has been reduced 26%, down to $1,999, the Amiga 3000- 16/50 has been reduced 10%, down to $2,999 and the Amiga 3000-25/50 has been reduced 12%, down to $3,499. The company has also announced CommodoreExpress Gold Service, which provides 24-hour toll-free helpline service and next day on-site repairs to customers for a one-year period. - Fort Worth, Texas TANDY ANNOUNCES $199 MS-DOS COMPUTER ----------------- According to their latest sales flyer, Tandy has lowered the price of its Tandy 1000 HX computer to $199. The 1000 HX is a complete computer with MS-DOS stored in ROM, built-in keyboard, floppy drive, quality sound, built-in Personal DeskMate 2 software, a video controller. The only thing not included is a monitor. - Palo Alto, California HP & LOTUS TO PRODUCE A HAND-HELD --------------------- COMPUTER A palm-top computer that will contain the Lotus spreadsheet and its electronic mail software in ROM is reportedly being produced by Hewlett- Packard and Lotus Development. The HP 95LX will also contain an appointment calendar, calculator and software to store a directory of phone numbers, and have a side slot for credit-card sized magnetic cards that will provide storage and added software. It will be able to fit into a coat pocket and will cost $695. - Washington, D.C. SPA SAYS US SOFTWARE SALES UP 22% ---------------- The Software Publishers Association (SPA) reports that more than $1.3 billion in personal computer software was sold in the last quarter of 1990 in North America, up 22 percent from the year before. SPA reports that Windows applications accounted for nearly 10% -- or about $100 million -- of the domestic sales. For the entire year, sales were up 26.2%. - Fort Worth, Texas RS OFFERS LOW-COST CD ROM DRIVE ----------------- Tandy becomes the first name brand to break the the $500 barrier with its $399.95 CD ROM drive. The CDR-1000 CD ROM drive is internally mounted into a five-inch disk bay on a PC and loads like an audio CD ROM, into a tray that slides out to accept the disc. No `caddy' is required, as with other data CD ROMs. The data transfer rate is 150,000 bytes per second. The price includes an eight-bit interface adaptor, driver and player software, and all necessary connections. - Taipei, Taiwan NEW BOOK-SIZE AT AND 386 PCs -------------- Flytech Technology, the Taiwanese PC manufacturer, has launched a new line of 286- and 386SX-based IBM compatible miniature computers. The Carry-1 9000 series computers are about the size of a hardback book, at 240mm x 185mm x 45mm. They can hold up to 4mb of RAM on the motherboard and come with a floppy disk drive and a 80meg hard disk. The keyboards and monitors are scaled accordingly and Flytech claims the computers are the smallest desktop systems produced. - Seol, Korea BAD YEAR FOR SOUTH KOREAN PC MAKERS ----------- As a result of failing to anticipate the trend for users to move toward more up-market products, South Korean personal computer exports dropped by 39.5% last year. The largest personal computer maker in South Korea, Samsung Electronics, registered a 29.7% fall in sales for the year. - Tokyo, Japan MNP CLASS 10 MODEM TO BE RELEASED ------------ As part of a strategy to make the MNP Class 10 error-correction and data compression technology an international standard, Microcom has announced plans to license its MNP Class 10 technology to Japanese modem manufacturers. Rockwell International has already licensed this technology and is expected to release a V.22 MNP Class 10 modem as early as June. MNP Class 10 has a high-quality data error correction capability and data compression and de-compression feature. It is said to support a highly reliable form of data transmission. ________________________________________________________________ > MAC REPORT™ ========== Issue #003 ---------- by Robert Allbritton > MAC NEWS™ NEW FACTORY IN COLORADO SPRINGS ======== *** Apple to open new factory in Colorado Springs A former Data General plant in Colorado Springs that had been on the market since 1989 has been purchased by Apple computer in response to the increased demand for its new line of low cost Macintosh computers. The 340,000 square foot facility will become Apple's fourth plant and will employ between 800 and 1,000 people. Apple currently has production facilities in Freemont, California; Cork, Ireland; and Singapore. The State of Colorado had been courting Apple for quite some time, and the California based company received several incentives including $1 Million for job training, a $500 state tax credit per employee, and a new interchange on Interstate 25 for the plant. This expansion comes fol- lowing extending the Singapore and Cork plants to round the clock opera- tions and airlifting Mac Classics in from Singapore on almost anything with wings, including Aeroflot. *** Spindler to take on more responsibilities In yet another "evolution" of corporate management at Apple, company president Michael H. Spindler will take over product development from CEO John Sculley. This is being viewed by market annalists as a natural chain of events as Apple attempts to improve its time to market from develop- ment. Chairman Sculley will now devote more of his time to long term strategic planning and development, while President Spindler is expected to make some further consolidations of the departments he directly heads sometime in the near future. MAC REVIEW™ SYSTEM 7.0 ---------------------- Part 2 of 2 Last week, we talked about some basic differences between the ST and the Mac, and how System 7 will widen that gap. This week we will dive even deeper into the new version of the Macintosh operating system. Finally the "look" of the Mac is catching up with the times. While it was state of the art in 1984, the advent of color and greyscale screens on the Mac, and their standardization on most IBM systems and the ST has forced Apple's windows and controls to take on a more three-dimensional look. Interestingly, this look is strikingly similar to Windows 3.0, which could have some very unpredictable effects on the current Apple - Microsoft suit over the "look and feel" of Windows 2.03. Aliasing is a feature that is little understood by most people, but it is quite powerful and useful. Aliasing allows the user to make a "clone" icon of a document or application. This allows users to "alias" commonly used applications and then place the alias icon on the desktop, or in a more convenient folder so that they are easier to jump to and use. I have been using a utility that duplicates this function on my Mac for quite a while now, and it is very nice to have. Show Balloons, or "Help" Balloons, is another new function that is built into System 7. Users can now select "help" from the Edit menu found in most Mac applications and the mouse becomes a "help" device. Anything that the user clicks on will display a help dialog balloon that looks similar to a dialog balloon found in the Saturday morning funnies. This is a feature that programmers will have to modify their code to implement, but the modifications are not especially difficult, and many major ap- plications such as PageMaker, Microsoft Word, Excell and others already have Show Balloons built into their current releases. Inter-application communications is another feature that developers will have to modify their code for if they wish to use it. Apple calls it Publish and Subscribe, and it will take cut and paste to a new level. Think of it as a "live" cut and paste. You are preparing a report for your company. You run the figures in Excell and then "publish" them. Now type up the report in Microsoft Word and "subscribe" to your figures in Excell. Big deal, sounds like cut & paste right? Wrong. Every time you make changes to your figures in Excell, they automatically get changed in your report in Microsoft Word as well. If that is not enough, you can also use these features over a network. You could subscribe to reports from the accounting department over the network and automatically, instan- tly, get the latest information put in your work. Speaking of networking, it is built into System 7 as well. Even bet- ter, you don't need a server. Functions very similar to the popular TOPS serverless networking system are now standard in System 7, including all of the security systems and access controls. Another major change in System 7, and perhaps its most famous feature, is the way that System 7 handles memory. At present, TOS on the ST has a limit of 4 megs of RAM, the Mac has a limit of 8 Megs of RAM. This is regardless of how much memory is actually in the computer: the operating system can only "see" 4 or 8 megs respectively. System 7 will eliminate that boundary. Not only will the Mac be able to use all of the memory it has installed, but on Macintosh computers with a 68030 microprocessor, or a 68020 with a PMMU chip, System 7 will allow virtual memory to a hard disk. What this means is the user will be able to set aside a block of the hard disk that the computer will treat as RAM. Operating systems such as UNIX have had this capability since their creation. All of this has a price. System 7 will require 2 megs of RAM just to run the smallest of programs, and there will be bugs, lots of bugs. This is the largest overhaul Apple has ever given the Macintosh, and given its history of growing pains, many Macintosh managers are nervous. Perhaps System 7 can be best summed up by a T-shirt that is growing in popularity in the Macintosh community: "I'm waiting for System 7.1" See you next week. ____________________________________________________________ *********************************************************************** :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT: _________________________________ To sign up for GEnie service: Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN. **** SIGN UP FEE WAIVED **** The system will now prompt you for your information. -> NOW! GENIE STAR SERVICE IS IN EFFECT!! <- *********************************************************************** > PIRATES PURSUED STR INTERNATIONAL HOTLINE™ Audit disk used! ========================================= PIRACY BUSTING DISK PLANNED FOR EUROPE ====================================== by John Szczepanik The Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the Federation Against Softw- are Theft (FAST) have dropped allegations of software piracy against Marconi Instruments following an amicable out of court agreement. Marconi, which has consistently denied the charges of unauthorised copying of software, is now working with the two organisations to develop a programme to control the use of software in large corporations. The BSA and FAST brought the charges against Marconi last December on behalf of four leading PC software companies, Ashton Tate, Lotus Development, Microsoft and Wordperfect. The proceedings were the first part of a larger, pan-European campaign by the two organisations to curb software theft. The BSA is also current- ly taking action against companies in France, Spain and Italy. The UK dispute was resolved when Marconi consented to work alongside FAST and the BSA, both in carring out a review of the company's existing software controls and developing a model system for the use of software in other major companies throughout Europe. A court hearing in January had already been postponed because an agreement was felt to be close. "We believe that this aproach will ensure that our company continues to use legal products which protect our computors against possible viru- ses, while satisfying the software companies that their programs will receive the protection they deserve," said Marconi`s managing director Peter Smith. Unauthorised copying is thought to be costing software companies about 3 billion a year in Europe, but the BSA believes its campaign is proving successful. It reckons significant rises in software sales last year in Italy and Spain can be attributed to action it has taken. FAST believes that the Marconi case "has made a lot of companies very nervous,", according to Nick Hayes of FAST. He claims that over 700 companies rang up with enquiries about the audit programme in the wake of the original news about the charges. He added that FAST would have no hesitation in taking legal action again against companies it suspected of using pirated software, hinting that such new cases are, indeed, imminent. * As part of the audit programme FAST has developed a special Pirate Busting disk designed to seek out illegal copies of programs. It can detect 730 of the most popular business programs in the country. If you want to get hold of a copy, FAST can be contacted by phone ... (UK) 628 660377. Extract From The New Computor Express (UK) March 1991 Reported by JP. _______________________________________________________ > BORLAND TURBO C STR Spotlight™ WHY no Turbo C in the US for Atari? ============================= BORLAND (USA) SHUNS THE ATARI PLATFORM! ======================================= by Ralph F. Mariano Below, the welcome screen from the Borland area on GEnie is presented. This is here to _accurately_ illustrate the position and duties of Mr. Jimenez. Welcome to the Borland International Language and Application Products RoundTable -- A Forum Operated By and For End Users -- To share ideas, discuss subjects and exchange files related to Borland's line of products. -- Your Hosts Are -- Juan Jimenez (GEmail J.JIMENEZ) Kevin-Neil Klop (GEmail K.KLOP) Barry Erick (GEmail B.ERICK) -- Team Borland -- Neil Judell (GEmail NJUDELL) Steven Fischkoff (GEmail EOSINOPHIL) Daniel Paolini (GEmail DPAOLINI) Kevin Hull (GEmail KHULL) RTC Sunday nights at 8:00pm Eastern! Upload Contest Rules are available in the file library in file CONTEST.TXT! Borland Tech Support - (408) 438-5300 Orders/Upgrades ONLY - (800) 331-0877 To the point, this past week a discussion developed on GEnie concer- ning the lack of recognition let alone support on the part of Borland USA in regard to the Atari ST and the program, Turbo C. For some background, let me point out that Gribnif Software imports and distributes the program via Borland GmbH. Of course, the docs are german but the program's drop down menus and help files are in english. A number of comments were made and certain questions arose, the main question being why doesn't Borland US at least bring the program into the USA and make it available. This prompted me to point out my impressions of the situation and as a result Mr. Jimenez felt it necessary to attack me personally and of course, attack STReport and its professionalism or, the lack thereof. First, the comments, verbatim, of a message posted by me.... Category 17, Topic 13 Message 37 Mon Mar 18, 1991 ST.REPORT [Ralph] at 08:07 EST Borland USA 's actions are typically why users hold many of the 'lar- ge, seeminmgly uncaring' software publishers with utter contempt. Bor- land, by its actions concerning Turbo C, the Atari and the US market proves two points; a) they are not the least bit interested in the Atari platform and b) the three piece pinstripes are oblivious to the wants and needs of lesser populated platforms. In a nutshell, Borland is ..by the example shown, ever so typical of the US corporation, dollar conscious for immediate time, and brain dead for the future. Its no wonder they are "miffed" with their German coun- terparts. Borland US has been totally outclassed by them and is in despa- rate need of NEW, intelligent direction. Sorry Juan, I've watched this Turbo C thing for over a year now, and Borland's attitude toward Atari and the US market is plainly put, pathetic. Ralph @ STReport Monday, March 18, 1991 Editor: ------- Now, we present the exact reply Mr. Jimenez provides, seemingly in defense of Borland. Category 17, Topic 13 Message 38 Mon Mar 18, 1991 J.JIMENEZ [Juan] at 13:42 EST Ralph, all of that because a company doesn't want to get into a specific platform, eh? Sorry, guy, but throwing a tantrum and calling Borland an uncaring software publisher full of pinstripe executives is not going to solve anything (apart from the fact that it isn't true, I have yet to run into a pinstripe suit in that part of Scotts Valley, and if Borland were uncaring you'd have to ask why they give away free products on the Borland RT every month, including a prize worth about $2500 last December). I wonder how many here took the time to write to Borland and express your support for selling Turbo C for the ST in the US? I also wonder why Bor- land GMBH has refused two requests for eval copies of Turbo C for the ST to be shipped to two staff members of the Borland RT here on GEnie so that we could explore the idea of opening a support category in the RT? Next time you want to make a statement like that, Ralph, I suggest you inform yourself of the facts first. I assume by your statement of associa- tion with STReport that you are a journalist for that outfit. Ever head of gathering facts from BOTH sides of the story? Juan Editor: ------- Actually as a term of speech the word; 'pinstripes' denotes the TOP executives of any corporation. As is the case with most companies those at the top care and care a great deal but can, at times, be out of touch with the troops in the trenches... that's what this entire issue is all about. No sinister plot or, in the least,certainly not a mockery of someone's wardrobe. The free products Borland gives away, do they have _anything to do with the Atari ST????? I cannot address the reasons why your requests for review copies of Turbo C/ST were ignored, perhaps a bit of Deja Vu? There is no doubt Borland USA's support for the PC market place is first class, but please don't use the "PC give-aways" as an implied ex- ample of Borland USA's caring in any way about the ST platform. Face _real_ facts, those prizes have nothing whatsoever to do with the Atari ST platform. Now, in all fairness folks, I ask, where... is the tantrum and off handed emotion filled outcry? Plainly its in Mr. Jimenez' reply. Then, as a parting shot, Mr. Jimenez proceeds to lower himself to personal attacks and name calling. At this time, please allow me to present an earlier post which further indicates the consistancy of Borland USA's attitude toward the Atari ST platform. Category 17, Topic 13 Message 33 Sun Mar 17, 1991 R.FLASHMAN [Rick@Gribnif] at 22:24 EST Actually, the gentleman in Borland GmbH used the "basic" as an example of what they would like to do. He made it very clear Borland USA was the reason there was NO english language version. Borland USA has NO interest in selling Turbo C/ST in the U.S. and seem rather unhappy that Borland GmbH developed an ST version. We are all out right now, but we expect another shipment in the next week. I will post a message here as soon as I get it. Rick Editor: ------- The bottom line, as always, is profit.. Is there profit in releasing an english language version? Will the added cost of the support team be offset by the profits? Is there enough of a marketplace to support on- going development and support? All very good questions. All of which can be positively answered. Each of the above questions have very strong yes answers. The USA is not the limits of the english speaking world. Without getting into actual demographics, this matter deserves to be fully re-evaluated. The marketp- lace is growing and thus the demand for a first class program such as Turbo C for the Atari ST must not go unanswered. a copy of this article was requested and forwarded via FAX to P. Kahn at Borland USA. _________________________________________________________ > CALAMUS HELPER! STR InfoFile™ Calamus Helper Accessory ============================ ============== CalAssistant ============== THE ONLINE HELP ACCESSORY FOR CALAMUS DTP SOFTWARE o Help is just a mouse click away! o The first online help companion for Calamus DTP software. CalAssistant is an accessory program that runs on top of Calamus. o Using efficient code management and overlay swapping, memory requirement is kept at 90K maximum. o This program uses text, icons and pictures to illustrate, explain and give tips for commands and functions step by step. Since the Calamus interface is very icon oriented, the "Help Messages" function under the "Extras" menu is used to navigate the user online. o Complete page referencing to the Calamus manual is included. o CalAssistant user interface is taken from the tear off menu design used on the Amiga, TT and MAC computers. o CalAssistant can be called from the accessory menu at any time while using Calamus, but we recommend 2 megs of RAM to do this. o A hard drive is needed in order for the software to function at full speed; otherwise it is not required. o The software supports monochrome mode only. o CalAssistant is to Calamus, as MicroSoft Word 5.0 online help screens are to MS Word 5.0, but ours is better, much like HyperText in concept. o Oh, you also get a beautiful printed manual created entirely with Calamus. The package will be shipped with CalAssistant online help accessory, in addition to tutorial CDK files, utilities and fonts. CalAssistant is now available at a suggested retail price of $34.95. Mail Check or Money Order Only. Contact: Spar Systems 381 Autumn Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11208 (718) 235-3169 _________________________________________________________ > STR Portfolio News & Information™ Keeping up to date... ================================ THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ========================= On CompuServe by Walter Daniel 75066,164 See message #10258 and replies for information on ROM cards with medical applications such as drug references. Another possible Portfolio product is text adventure games. Ron Luks reports that Atari is looking at converting some existing games to Portfolio products. For a comparison of the Portfolio, Casio BOSS, Sharp Wizard, and Poqet PC, see the March 1991 issue of Portable Office magazine. Have you ever noticed that your Portfolio screen flashes every couple of minutes even though it is off? As John Feagans pointed out, the screen flash is the Portfolio coming to life from time to time to check if any alarms need be sounded. A message thread in the forum about the effects of airport security gear on Portfolios, RAM cards, and floppy disks continued this week. Some people say X-ray machines corrupt disks and scramble memories; others say that this is a myth. It turns out that X-rays are not the problem, it's the magnetic fields from the machines that cause trouble. I think the safest thing to do is to hand your Portfolio, RAM cards, and floppy disks to the attendent for visual inspection. Just remember to pick them up after you pass through the metal detector! The diagram of the Portfolio serial interface to Diconix printer cable has been uploaded to the forum as SERIAL.TXT in library 1. Information on ordering the printed copy of the PBASIC 4.1 manual is there as well (MANUAL.INF). Shopping for a new home or automobile? It helps to be able to compare various loans on the spot. That's where INHOCK.WKS (I'm not making this up!) comes in handy. This Portfolio worksheet file can give you information on up to six different loans, including options like "points" and so on. So shock your realtor or car dealer next time by whipping out your Portfolio and getting the numbers first.! ______________________________________________________ > The Flip Side STR Feature™ "....a different viewpoint" ========================= A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT ================================== by Michael Lee A few fast comments on how I edit this column. I don't claim to be a professional editor, so through trial and error I have developed my own ways to edit the posts I publish. 1) I try to keep the posts as close to original as possible but I will correct some of the more obvious spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors just to make the posts easier to read. 2) If there are several posts on a certain subject by one author, I'll usually re-compile them into one post. This keeps them shorter as there is usually a lot of duplicate information in the posts and easier to read and follow. 3) Whenever you see a "...", that's where I've take something out of a post. It's usually not relevant to the topic being discussed or is duplicating what has already been said (in a compiled post). But in all cases, I keep the authors original meaning and intent intact!! (So far I haven't had any complaints of quoting out of context.) 4) If I feel it's necessary for me to insert a comment to clarify something, it will be in brackets [ ]. 5) Finally, I have to watch the size of this column. It started out as a 4-5k column and has grown to 14-15k. If I don't watch out, it could easily grow to 20-30k. ---------------- From Geoffrey Hansen on the Gadgets by Small RT on Genie... This Xmas, I purchased a great deal of software for the variety of machines that I have and use...Of the twelve software and hardware purchases I made at Xmas, only two companies have responded to the mailing in of registration cards. Hewlett Packard sent me a complimentary Windows 3.0 driver for my Deskjet 500 and Gadgets by Small sent me a FREE upgrade (to 3.0) for my newly purchased Spectre...I must commend Gadgets for beating out Microsoft and many other software companies to provide the best service...Thanks Gadgets. ---------------- From R.Monfort on the Soft Logik RT on Genie... I have the new TouchUp 1.65 program with the new update to the manual, and it is great! If you have an ATARI with 1.2 or 1.4 TOS. you will only get 8 shay of gray from the program but if you are using an ATARI STE or the new TT030 computers you will be able to use 32 shades of gray. You can save them to the IFF/ILBM format for PageStream and do color separations! ---------------- Two posts from Genie concerning one users hard drive that has started to "screech"... From John Stanley... Don't trust it any more than you have to. With prices for 20meg drives so cheap, treat the drive you have as though it were going to self destruct in two minutes...Once the bearings start to go on a hard drive, you can count the remaining life in months (if lucky) or hours (if you're not). I'd get a new one asap and only keep the old drive in-use long enough to transfer the data to the new drive and then put the old one on the shelf. How much would you loose if your drive stopped running today? So little that you would not mind loosing any of it or enough that you'd kick yourself into the next state for not spending the $150-$200 a new drive would have cost? From Larry Rymal... Be aware that much of the screeching heard on drives is simply lint between the shaft head and ground strap (both are uncovered and exposed). If a user can get to these, simple cleaning with a soft brush will remove the lint. The screeching is not always indicative of bearings going out. Of course it is an almost-requirement to have a drive backed up; I do it weekly. But with hard drive fans sucking dust in, a hard drive mechanism will be covered with dust after only a few months of use. Users complaining of "drives going out" due to screeching should first check to see dust is the problem on the shaft and ground strap. Usually dust can be diagnosed by the nature of the screech. If it is alternating in noise (screeching and then quiet, screeching and quiet), then most likely it is dust. Always assume the positive on these things or one is liable to worry himself to death. ------------------ Does the Mega STe come with the same Analog joystick ports as the STe? According to Greg Zepka on CIS... ....I'm reading from...a sales brochure (a very slick one) entitled 'MEGA STe Business Computer'. On the back page under Input/Output Ports it states "* Controller/Joystick/Light gun ports: 2 x 15 pin high-density D connectors"...also in the brochure it mentions the ability to let six players challenge each other. Answer from Pat Augustine on CIS... ...All the reviews I've read didn't list them. As a matter of fact, the first review made a point of commenting that the Mega STE did not have them, and they felt that that pretty much tolled the death knell for anybody supporting them. Answer from George Richardson (Merlin Group) on CIS... ...the Mega STe does not have the new ports. ---------------- Question from J.E. Donohue from the Soft Logik RT on Genie... ...rumor has it that the new version of PGS for the ST will allow for onscreen PS fonts (ala ATM/Macintosh). What font files will be required for this? Will present fonts work, or will some kind of conversion be necessary? Answer from Jay Pierstorff (Computer Safari)... All existing fonts work with improved performance! Softlogik fonts, Fontability, Safari, Dennis Palumbo's and everyone elses contain the same files...No conversion required! Existing fonts are ready...In addition, you will also be able to use IBM Type 1 fonts. These will also use their outlines to draw the screen representations! ---------------- Question from Bob Stephenson on Genie... Does the DJ Plus or DJ 500 print in landscape mode (sideways)? Is there a driver (or whatever) to make it possible to use GDOS with the DJ? Answer from Lorne Budnick on Genie... The DJ Plus and the DJ 500 both print in landscape mode. Also, you can order a good DJ GDOS driver from Migraph. ---------------- From Michael Loader on the Soft Logik RT on Genie... PageStream 2.1 Atari will be a similar upgrade deal to 2.0 Amiga. That one was $75 for a limited time, then eventually $100. For this amount, you get the program, the quick reference card, the program manual, the tutorial guide and the Compugraphic font license (10 fonts included) ...When PageStream 2.1 Atari is ready, you will receive an upgrade brochure/newsletter in the mail with full details. ---------------- From Terry (OUTRIDER) on Genie... I had a rather interesting experience while reformatting my Seagate ST277R with OMTI controller the other day...[it formatted out to] nearly 68 megs...My drive is rated at 65 megs and has never reached as high as 63 with my OMTI controller. Answer from Tom (ICD) on Genie... ...Howard figured out how to push more capacity out of the format with Omti controllers recently. That is why you are getting more disk space. Just an example of the many changes and benefits our software updates give you that you will never hear about. ---------------- From Dave Shriver on CIS... I have been playing DM and CSB forever. Now I want to go ahead and get a hint book(s). But I don't know which one(s). Any suggestions? From Bob Retelle (Sysop) on CIS... The official FTL "Chaos Strikes Back Adventurers' Handbook" was just released. It should be available in computer dealers soon, or you could call FTL direct. (619) 453-5711 On the other hand, for Dungeon Master, there's an even better hintbook available than the "official" one..."The Lost Scrolls of Mount Anaias" and is available from E. Arthur Brown or direct from the publishers. It might also be at a "local" Atari dealer... [Bob wrote both hint books] For all Dungeon Master fans, FTL has released an audio CD of Dungeon Master background music to set the mood for those long sessions in the Dungeon. It's a sort of "new wave" style, somewhat reminiscent of Tangerine Dream. Sample titles from the tracks: "Into the Dark", "The Adventure Begins", "Choose Your Fate", and "Chaos!" "Dungeon Master, the Album" is $15 from Software Heaven, 6160 Lusk Blvd., Suite C-206, San Diego, CA 92121 ---------------- From Mike Fulton (Atari) on Genie... There are three places to add ram to a TT030. Therefore, you can configure RAM on the TT030 in the following ways: 1) On Motherboard (all machines have this as minimum) -- 2 megabytes 2) ST RAM daughterboard (required) -- 2 megabytes -- 8 megabytes 3) TT RAM daughterboard (required) -- 4 megabytes, using 4 1mb SIMMs -- 16 megabytes, using 4 4mb SIMMs Adding up the maximum amount from each location gives us: 2+8+16 = 26 megabytes ---------------- From Tom (ICD) on Genie... In case you didn't know, thew ATW has been or is being discontinued by Atari. This information came from Atari GmbH (Germany). ---------------- From Ed Riddle on Genie... I talked to Lee at Lexicor today and he said that the product is done! They are waiting on the printer to finish printing the manuals and boxes. Lee also told me about this 24-bit color board from Germany called MATRIX. It has resolutions from 320 X 200 w/like 256 colors to 4096 X 4010 w/4 Colors (Or something REAL close to that). He said that the Lexicor stuff works great with it! It does require a TT though because it is a VME card. Lexicor's 24-bit color board is scheduled for release around June with a price tag of around $400.00. For those of you that can't wait, Lee said the MATRIX VME Board is around $650.00. ---------------- From Mark Dodge on Genie about connecting a third party floppy drive into a SF354 case or a ST (compiled from several posts)... ...The problem with the SF354 is that the connector on the back of the floppy drive mechanism is not a standard 34 pin shugart style. So it would be necessary to re-wire or manufacture an adapter that will allow the replacement drive to interface properly. A second con- sideration is the faceplate. A small amount of modification is required so that the drive light can be made visible. Also access to the eject button. This is not a difficult task. It just requires a bit of time and patience. If you are considering a third party drive, I highly recommend TEAC. The drive seems to hold up well and is very quiet. The track to track performance is the best I've seen and pushing it beyond the standard 40 or 80 tracks is no problem. It plugs right in [to a Mega ST] with absolutely no wiring modification. It uses very low power and is probably one of the most compatible with the ATARI ST lineup. Depending on the style of Atari drive that is in your Mega, very little modification to the faceplate of the CPU case is required. Try to find a computer dealer that includes wiring instructions and more than half of your work is done. Unfortunately, the only company that I am aware of that makes the parallelogram eject button is ATARI. Modifying a third party drive to accept the button is next to impossible. Modifying the CPU case to accept a third party drive is very easy. And it really doesn't look bad. Most of the opening is "filled in" with the faceplate of the new drive. ---------------- From J.ROY18 on Genie... SimEarth will be out in early summer, and SimCity II will be released in about a year. They are currently taking any suggestions you might have on how to make Sim City II better. If there is anything you'd like changed or added, be sure to write Maxis and tell them. Also, don't forget Populous II is going to be here in late summer as well! From Pat Augustine on CIS... The article mentioned that Sim City II would involve more of the realities of City Management, like School Zones, and sewer lines (apparently you can go to an underground view and change underground in addition to above ground). You are also supposed to be able to go to an upper level and build skyscrapers and designate various types of residential areas. Due for release in mid 1991, according to ST Format. Architecture Disk 1 and 2 are due for release "This month", according to the same source. ---------------- From T.Johnson (Cherry Fonts) on Genie... Cherry now has unofficially released FONTPAK #7 which is Mark Crislip's latest wonder. It is 4 styles of Cherry Benjamin Gothic; Book, Italic, Demi, Demi Italic. It looks GREAT!! It's priced the same as all other Cherry FontPacks at $42.95 US or $49.95 CDN. In case you didn't figure it out, it's our version of Franklin Gothic. Get it? Benjamin.. Franklin? Aw.. never mind. :-) Slightly off the topic: I've received Linda Peckham's ELECTRONIC SPINSTER GRAPHICS CATALOG and I'm IMPRESSED!! If you're looking for great clip art at AMAZINGLY LOW prices, send for her catalog. There must be thousands of IMG files there. Everything you can imagine! Her address is: Electronic Spinster Graphics 2345 Ridge Court #39 Lawrence, KS 66046 USA ---------------- Until next week..... ____________________________________________________________ > Monitors! STR Review™ THE OMNIMON RAINBOW MONITOR ==================== ME AND MY OMNIMON! ================== by Dana Jacobson If you were like most kids, whenever you saw a new toy at the store or on television you had to have it. If you were lucky and got it, that thing would keep your attention continuously for days, or weeks. But, after the initial thrill was gone it would most likely end up under the bed or buried under your other must-have toys in the closet. There were few and far-between toys we had to have which kept our attention for any length of time. Eventually, we became bored with it, especially if ano- ther toy took its place. I was that way, like many of you. The problem was that it took a little longer for me to outgrow that behavior. I've always been a "gadg- ets" person. If an item did something just a little different than its conventional counterpart, I had to have it. The good thing is that I've finally learned to be more attentive to my needs rather than just my desires. I revert back, on occasion, but for the most part I can dif- ferentiate between necessity and "I gotta have it!" My computer peripherals are also included in this category. A couple of months ago I wrote an article for STReport about the Omnimon Rainbow monitor. It was suggested that I write a subsequent article after the "thrill" wore off and see if I still felt the same about the monitor. The thrill hasn't worn off, but the initial excitement has certainly diminished. The monitor has been "broken-in", and I've had a chance to run it through its paces. The Rainbow multisync monitor has been added to my list of very important major computer hardware additions. It has become a necessary tool rather than a frivolous toy. In case you didn't read my original article, let me give you a brief summary as to why I got rid of my Atari color monitor and replaced it with a multisync monitor. First of all, the color monitor served its purpose for most of the things that I wanted to do with my ST. I could run most of the productivity software I owned, do some graphics, and play some games (okay, a LOT of games). But, as I became more of a serious user it became apparent that there was software available to me that I couldn't use, or use well, without a monochrome monitor. One option open to me was to add a monochrome monitor to my existing set-up. I actually own a mono monitor, but it's on the BBS I run and it's a lot of trouble to swap the monitors around whenever I needed to do so. Also, I just didn't have the space to add a second monitor to my existing system. So, the obvious answer was to get a multisync monitor. Why a multisync? In case you're not aware of this type of monitor, it allows you access to all three resolutions in just one monitor. All I have to do is touch a switch to change from medium or low resolution to high. I needed high resolution because of my increased use of desktop publishing software. I was alright using Timeworks' Publisher ST, but our user group newsletter was being made over by the Dave Anderson, our Art Director/Layout Artist, and he preferred using Pagestream. I have Page- stream, but up until now, I rarely used it, preferring Publisher instead. After a month of working with Pagestream in color, I found it near or impossible to view text easily in medium resolution. I needed high res- olution if I were to maintain what sanity I had left. The newsletter looked great in its new format that it was foolish to suggest we go back to Timeworks just to keep me happy. And, there were other programs that I was aware of and would like to use, but needed high resolution. So, in order to have access to both "worlds", the multisync monitor made the most sense. My knowledge of these monitors was severely limi- ted; and so were my finances. From what I had seen or heard, a multisync monitor was not going to be cheap. I had also heard that the choice for use with the ST was limited, and most would require special cable/switch boxes in order to use on the ST. What I needed was a monitor that I could just buy and plug in and use. Ironically, I read an issue of ST Informer a few days later. In it was a review of the Rainbow. The review pointed out that this monitor fit all of my requirements, and needs. There was also a $50.00 discount! Needless to say, I got one. The thrill of the new "toy" was dashed almost immediately once I had it hooked up. It didn't work right on my system. All I could use was high resolution, but it had a fuzzy green tint. I couldn't switch to medium or low resolution no matter what I tried to do. What did I do wrong? Did I have a defective monitor? I was devastated. Calls for help on the local boards and Delphi resulted in bewilderment. Send it back was the common reply. Unfortunately, I had received the monitor on a Friday, so I couldn't call WuzTek, the company where I bought the monitor. I had to suffer all weekend not knowing what the problem was. I had the monitor all repacked and ready to ship back. I called WuzTek on Monday, described the problems, and was told immediately that the problem wasn't with the monitor, but with my 520 ST. I was confused. Before I ordered the monitor, I asked if it was compatible with any machine and was told yes. Well, it appears that it does NOT work on all early models of the 520. Was I stuck with an expensive and useless toy - no, there was a solution but I had to modify my ST. WuzTek was kind enough to FAX me the instructions necessary to modify my machine so I could use the monitor. Fortunately, I knew of someone who had the abi- lity to make those changes for which I am eternally grateful (thanks, Joe!). By the way, in my original article I included WuzTek's suggestions and Joe's solution for those of you who may interested in getting the Rainbow but may be intimidated because you have an early 520. Don't be intimidated, the mods can be easily done by a competent Atari service center or someone knowledgeable with the inner workings of the ST. After a few months of using this monitor, I can readily state that it has provided me with all of the uses I had hoped for and needed. Pagestream can now be used without squinting to read the text. I've found some of those old programs that I used before I switched from mono to color two years ago. I've found "new" programs that I always wanted to use, but couldn't because of the resolution limitations. Some prog- rams just "look" better in one resolution rather than the other. Desktop publishing and working with DTP graphics programs were made to be done with high res. Editing on either is just so much easier now in monochro- me. And the great thing is, I don't have to change monitors when I want to go from color to mono or vice versa. With just a touch, I can make the switch "painlessly". I have one monitor without the clutter of over- sized switch boxes. I even have sound, with the speaker conspicuously hidden under the shelf above my keyboard. It's certainly the best of both worlds wrapped up in one. Do you need a multisync monitor? If you want to be able to use the diverse selection of software available to you, then perhaps. Adding a second monitor may be a better option, if you have the room for one. If you do, you can easily pick up a secondhand monitor at a good price. But on the other hand, having just one monitor seems to make better sense. Another plus for the multisync is a larger screen. almost two inches more diagonally. The resolution is equal to the Atari monitors. I've found that, like most of my major purchases for my system, I don't know how I managed to be productive without them. Everything before these purchases seem almost primitive when I remember what it was like before. If you don't believe me, remember what it was like running soft- ware from floppies and moving on to a hard drive? Remember getting that 1200 or 2400 baud modem and marvelling at the speed difference? Remember what it was like using a dot matrix printer before that laser? Remember only having 512K? Like most major purchases, you have to justify the need rather than rationalize. If you don't need a multisync, then it would just be a frivolous and expensive purchase that you would get bored with after awhile. But, if there's a need for the benefits of a multisync, I highly recommend you check out the Rainbow. It's put out by Omnimon. You can get one directly, or I'd suggest WuzTek. Now, if I could only remember where I saw that combination mechanical pencil, fountain pen with the built-in flashlight and penknife...... ________________________________________________________________ > GOOD BACKUP STR FOCUS "The Backup Utility with THOUGHT behind it!" ===================== GOOD Backup Utility =================== From Jeffery Lomicka, a few thoughts and update information about the GOOD BACKUP UTILITY. My name is Jeffrey Lomicka, (pronounced Low-Mike-Ah). I started marke- ting the GOOD Backup Utility in October of 1989 under the Tidbit Software label. The current version is 1.11. If you have an older version, upgrade to 1.11 is free. If you are a registered user, you should have gotten it sometime last August. If not, send me mail. I'll need the serial number and version number from your original disk, and your mailing address. The GOOD Backup Utility is a utility that maintains a shadow of a hard drive partition on another drive, either in a pile of floppy disks, or in another drive partition. There are several key features that make the GOOD backup utility different from the others that are out there: - Backups are incremental. Each run of the utility will remove from the back up all files that have been removed or modified on the hard drive, and then re- use that space, as best as it can, to store all the new files. Because of this feature, each backup update takes very little time. The more often you update, the less time it takes. This encourages you to update your backups frequently, which gives you the best possible protec- tion. - The program is completely interruptable. If you get tired of watching it run, just hit the space bar, and in a few moments you will be given the option to quit or continue. If you quit, you write out the program's index file, and next time it will pick up where it left off. This means you don't have to devote a full hour to getting your first backup done - you can do a little bit at a time as you have the time, until the entire partition is done. Some other notable things: - 100% immune to any 40 folder limits, on any TOS version (Tested on 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.62.) GOOD bypasses GEMDOS for all disk I/O, and there- fore bypasses all of GEM's disk buffering code. The advantage - GOOD can ALWAYS restore your files, no matter if you have enough POOLFIX, FOLDER- XXX, or any other fixes installed or not. (The disadvantage - you can't back up METADOS partitions or MAC partitions with it.) GOOD does work fine with BGM partitions of any sector size, in case you were wondering, and the backup disks are fully TOS compatible. You can still read their contents with the regular GEM desktop or other standard utilities. - In most cases, you can convert you existing backups to GOOD backups without starting over, as long as the backup disks are regular TOS format disks (not image backup disks), and preserve the original file creation date. - Backup disks are filled to the brim without splitting files across multiple disks. Progressively smaller files are backed up until there is only 1K or 2K left. Files are only split if they are actually larger than a single floppy disk. - A disk verify function checks and warns you about any file that has been corrupted since your last backup! - Built-in disk cache for high speed I/O. Built in formatter, exclusion/- inclusion list, context sensitive help, etc. In the eight months since version 1.11 was mailed out to all regis- tered users, and with hundreds of users out there worldwide, (I have the stack of return postcards to prove it), there are a total of 3 bug reports on version 1.11. Count 'em. Three. They are: 1. The final "ED" from the word "EXTENDED" is not erased from the screen when cycling through the disk format menu. No effect on the function of the program. 2. If you do more than one backup in a single run, some small buffer somewhere is left allocated between runs, and fragments the free memory pool, so if you use large disk caches there isn't enough contiguous memory on the second backup to allocate the disk cache. Work-around: if you have this problem (most users's won't), exit GOOD between each run. 3. If you lose your backup data disk (GOOD keeps an index file on a separate disk), and perform the step that re-creates the index file, sometimes, in circumstances that the two users who saw this could not reproduce, GOOD will re-initialize the disk before writing the data file. Work around: To be on the safe side, give GOOD a blank disk as the saveset data file disk when recovering a lost data file. There's a demo of version 1.8 universally available, or you can get the 1.11 demo from anyone that owns a copy of 1.11. (If you have a Monit- erm monitor, get the 1.11 demo.) There is demo folder, separate from the actual program, included on the 1.11 distribution disk that can be shared with your co-workers, friends, or club members. MAGAZINE REVIEWS: - Puget Sound Atari News, Nov 1990, Page 17 - Atari Interface, August 1990, page 21 - ST-Informer, April 1990, page 16 - Current Notes, December 1989, page 46 - STReport (by Bill Baugh) - ST-Plug, ACORN Kernel, & Others (I don't have dates handy) List price is $29.95, distributed to dealers through American Software Dist. in the US, and Braden Ray Software in Australia. If you can't get it locally, you can always get it from "The Computer Bug" in Hadley, MA. (412) 584-7722. Watch for the ST Connection coupon book for a special offer! 91/03/17 From: J.LOMICKA Jeffrey A. Lomicka To: ST.REPORT Ralph F. Mariano Sub: Att: Letters to the Editor I read with interest the March 1991 article by Steve Leibson on at- taching gargantuan disk drives to the ST, and in particular, the problems this brings in performing backups. My suggestion to Steve is that for backing up such a large data store that he consider the combination of Tidbit Software's GOOD Backup Utility, a Syquest 44MB cartridge system (easily attached to the same host adaptor), and a stack of about 24 cartr- idges. After formatting each cartridge as a single 44MB "BGM" type par- tition, he could perform backups in the same way, and with the same ease, as the owner of a 20MB disk does with about the same number of floppy disks. In this situation, the incremental backup capability in the GOOD Backup Utility would be indispensable. Using advertised costs in the same issue of ST-INFORMER, this will cost: $17 for software, $469 for the drive mechanism, and $1896 for cartr- idges. While that may seem like a lot of money, it is not totally un- reasonable to spend a little over $2000 to backup a disk drive that costs over $3000. Also, this number of cartridges would be adequate to back up a gigabyte of disk full to the brim. He wouldn't have to get all the cartridges at once, as I'm sure it will take a while to fill each of the 256MB partitions. He could start with just five cartridges, one for each partition, and work his way up as the gargantuan disk filled. Please tell Steve that if he would like to try this approach, I would be happy to provide the software. - Jeffrey A. Lomicka Tidbit Software Engineering Co. 25 Wood Lane Maynard, Massachusetts 01754 Editor, Its just great to be able to say that Jeff's interest in the ST com- munity is so high, in fact his attitude should set an example for all of us. Jeff I am sure Steve will take you up on your offer. _________________________________________________________ > STReport CONFIDENTIAL™ "BLOCKBUSTER ATARI NEWS FIRST!" ===================== - London, UK NEW PROXIMA DTP PACKAGE ---------- A new DTP package for the ST,TT and MAC is due to be released by Network News Services this autumn. Proxima 2 is claimed to offer all of the features found in high level DTP programs. Not only is color support offered, but DTP industry standard PostScript fonts can also be displayed. The program further allows for files created using many major Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs to be incorporated without losing any of their individual attributes. Priced at under 200 ($400 US), Proxima 2 can be obtained from Network News Services on TEL 375 859103 (UK). - London, UK REFLEX MONOCHROME GRAPHICS BOARD ---------- JOACQUIM Software and Peripherals will be selling the Reflex Mono- chrome Graphics Board in the US. Currently available in the UK only, this superb video board will enable MEGA ST users to display 1024x800 pixels on a standard SC-124 monochrome monitor. As an added benefit, the REFLEX board permits the use of a STANDARD PORTRAIT MONITOR. (Quote from Titan Designs, Ltd., developer of the Reflex board) "Virtually all Atari ST monochrome software is compatible with the Reflex card, including Calamus, Fleet Street Publisher, Timeworks DTP, DynaCADD, Superbase, Kuma K-Series of programs and even utilities such as Quick ST, G+Plus, Neodesk, etc." Currently, the Reflex board is only available for MEGA STs, an adapter is being developed for non-MEGA STs that should be coming out soon. In the UK,its MSRP is 199! USA price is about $370.00 plus shipping. The Reflex board offers a strong alternative to the Viking monitor and at an appreciable savings. Announcements concerning availability and pricing will be provided for our readers as we receive them from JOACQUIM Software and Peripherals. - Sunnyvale, CA ATARI POSTS INTERESTING STATEMENT ------------- Atari Corporation Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (in thousands of dollars, except per share data) Quarter Ended Year Ended Dec.31 Dec.31 Dec.31 Dec.31 Net Sales: $ 151,883 170,646 411,471 423,606 Net Income: 8,798 5,797 14,874 4,017 Earnings per common and equivalent share: .15 .10 .26 .07 Number of shares used in computation: 57,744 58,366 57,739 58,079 Statement of the Atari Corporation for the fourth quarter 1990 and for the financial year 1990. Hannover. The Atari Corporation has reported that the turnover for the fourth quarter 1990 were 411.5 million dollars. That corresponds to a decrease of 3% compared to the same period in the previous year (423.6 million dollars). The net income for 1990 was 14.9 million dollars as against 4.0 million dollars for 1989. Due to the general weak state of the economy and consumer concerns in the light of the events in the Persian Gulf, the sales dropped by 11 % in the fourth quarter of 1990 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. During the fourth quarter of 1990,the company made significant inven- tory reserves, including those of its traditional US manufactured video games, in order to reflect the current market value. In addition, the company repurchased part of its 5 1/4% subordinated convertible debentures. This led to an extra-ordinary credit of 14.2 million dollars (no tax effect due to the use of loss carryforwards). Sam Tramiel, president of Atari said: "Although our sales in the fourth quarter of 1990 were understandably disappointing, the company continues to strengthen its balance sheet. The Atari STE and TT/030 computer line, based on Motorola's 68000 and 68030 micro-processors, still remain the mainstay of our business, and we are taking measures to ensure its continued growth and success. The Mega STe, which was introduced in December 1990, was well received. This product, along with the STE and the TT all with improved graph- ics, sound and speed - strengthened the position of atari in the market for personal computers". And further, "On the most recent show for consumer electronics, Atari announced a new retail price for the Lynx, the world's first handheld color videogame. The new price, together with an extended range of software programs, makes the Lynx one of the most important competitors on the market for portable video games. - New York City, NY ATARI @ CeBIT BOASTS OF SUPER NEW GOODIES ----------------- As an added bonus for the large number of ST users, Atari was showing at CeBit 1991, several new hard drives. Different models shown offered a range of capacities from 83 to 676 megabytes. At the same time, the ave- rage access time was a blazing 12-15ms. For the flagship of the ST fans, the TT, new memory expansion modules were shown: they extend the main memory to a total of 26mb. Enough to be able to keep today's memory hungry applications programs, such as those in the DTP & CAD, largely in main memory. Of course, not to be outdone or left behind, the Atari TT/030 is now being offered in a Unix development environment. The Developer's Package V includes; in addition to Unix V Rel 4.0 a graphical user interface based on X/Window and OSF/Motif and the software tools GNU C, C++ and XFacemaker 2. They offer powerful possibilities for developing graphical applica- tions. Shown at the fair was the NEW 19" monitor TTM 194, a high resolu- tion of 1280x960 pixels and a frame repeat frequency of 70Hz, which is characterized by a particularly low electro-magnetic radiation. Also exhibited at the fair was Atari's NEW CD-ROM drive. Having a storage capacity of 500mb, the Cobra retrieval software for the ST will efficient- ly manage the data on the CD-ROM. _____________________________________________________________ > TURBO BBS! STR InfoFile ///Turbo Board ST written with TURBO C/ST ======================= ///Turbo Board ST BBS Update Jan 20/91 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ///Turbo Board ST is a FoReM ST bbs replacement program. We have pretty well finished the coding on the first release version, and we think we have a very good BBS program indeed! ///Turbo Board IS Shipping!! - The ///Turbo Board Support bbs is running at bps rates from 1200-14400 if you would like to give us a call, the number is 416-274-1225 - Our F-net number is node 18, if you are calling from an ST bbs in the F-net - ///Turbo Board is only available through Bitblit Systems in North America Bitblit Systems 1580 Liveoak Dr. Mississauga, Ont. Canada L5E 2X6 ///Turbo Board's GREAT NEW FEATURES: -Conference Fmail (in any message base) -Ability to View, and Type Fmail arc files -Improved Message Editor (also R-emacs support if you so desire) -ARC(V6.02) LHARC, and ZIP verbose listings -TYPE a text file from any ARC or LHARC file -LZHdl.LZH in the ARCtools (ZIPdl.ZIP still under developement) -Integrated MSDOS style CLI/BATCH shell for running Batch files -FULL BinkleyTerm mailer support (Pcommand not needed) -Much easier when editing User Passwords -Local Sysop Inactivity Timer -Keyboard Lock feature -Option to set Snoop mode on bootup -New Scan file commands, does all the List commands + more! -External program hooks, Executive, Chat.prg, Survey.bat, Syspas.bat, Fmail.bat, Logon.bat, and many other new batch files -Backup command in Email base while reading Messages -Greetings message can be entered at logoff by registered users. -Sysop can now have a No-window VT-52 option if he chooses -Help key for Function key assignments displayed -Undo key will attempt to abort any file transfer in progress -Any alternate CHAT program can be used by the sysop if he so chooses -Improved (greatly) paging control ( *More?(Y/N/C) prompt) -Ringback working for long distance callers -Many bugs that were present in FoReM ST 2.3 are eliminated in this pro gram (you sysops know what they were...) -MSH program NOT needed for the Doors programs -Program size approx 200K, saves memory, and doesn't loose any! -Faster execution than FoReM ST on initialization, and operation -Smaller Window Size, frees up 2 lines on the Window -Mixed Case User Names -PLUS all the features of FoReM ST, including FULL F-net and Crossnet support (+ Conference Fmail support, Forem 2.3 doesn't have this) -Fidonet message bases, are under development, but Binkley and Fidodoor work just fine. Also the FIFO program is Fully Compatible with our BBS. -This board is FoReM ST data file compatible, meaning that all the data files that you use for FoReM will work on this board. Please Remember that ///Turbo Board ST ver 1.0 is only a start. Future Features (Ver 2.0) will include: -Expanded User privileges and Bitmaps for Passwords -KByte Ratio System -Batch uploading & User File Description Editing -Ymodem-g uploads for HST users -BBS handles/Real Name system -Full User File Editor -Masked Sysop commands ( For Co-sysops) -Many NEW Sysop Functions -Execute files from Main menu commands -Many New Copy and Save Functions for Fmail, and other files -Quick help in message editor -Modular BBS, (Main Module only uses about 80K of memory) for greater free memory when running Binkley (Fido Mailer) -User definable Prompts, and menus (v 2.1) -Fidonet Compatible Message bases (v 2.1) -and many other new small features not listed here that are improvements over our Version 1.0 -Version 2.0 is now running on our support bbs, and will be available soon. It is a free upgrade for people running our version 1.0 program, although written docs will be an extra small charge if desired. ******* ///Turbo Board ST ORDER FORM Rev. Jan 12,1991 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ser# ___________________ ___________________ SYSOP'S REAL NAME:_______________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS :_______________________________________________ COUNTY/CITY :_______________________________________________ STATE/PROVINCE :________________ COUNTRY :________________ ZIP/POSTAL CODE :________________ VOICE NUMBER :_______________________________________________ BBS NAME :_______________________________________________ CURRENT SOFTWARE :_______________________________________________ BBS NUMBER :_______________________________________________ FNET NODE # :________ FIDO NODE # :________ Amount Enclosed: ____ $85 Canadian Dollars (+ 8% PST if Ontario resident) ____ $85 US Dollars ____ 45 Pounds (UK price includes Air mail delivery) Delivery Options: ____ $5 for Airmail delivery (other than UK) ____ $20 for Express Mail delivery (North America only) Support Fees: ____ $25 yearly Update support fee (after first year) (UK price 15 pounds) Mail in update: ____ $5 handling (first year and yearly support fee) ____ $15 fee after first year, (no yearly support fee) Total:_______ * Canadian Residents - DO NOT PAY GST!! (We don't make enough money on our software sales, so we don't have to collect it for the Feds.) ** DUE TO AN INCREASE OF N.S.F. (BAD) CHEQUES, WE WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT PERSONAL CHEQUES UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED. ALL UNCERTIFIED PERSONAL CHEQUES WILL BE RETURNED TO SENDER. Please make out your Certified Cheque or Money Order payable to BITBLIT SYSTEMS. Send your Completed Order Form with payment to: American and Foreign residents, remember to check for correct postage. Comments:_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ -------------------------------Cut here ---------------------------------- ///Turbo Board Update Policy Information Rev. Jan 12,1991 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Turbo board comes complete with Manual, System Generator and all the files needed to get you up and running. We have our Crossnet TECH SUPPORT Conference and our Support BBS at 416-2- 74-1225 for product support, and you may call up to download free updates for a period of ONE YEAR from your date of purchase. All pre-release customer's purchase date is assumed to be July 1,1990 After one year, you may get updates for $25 per year, either by calling our BBS, or from our Tech Support Conference All Customers may join our Tech Support conference FREE for a period of ONE YEAR from date of purchase. After that, you can continue to enjoy the Support Conference ONLY if you have paid your yearly update fee. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you choose to mail in your Turbo Disk for an update, please enclose $5 for handling (certified cheque or money order). After a period of one year, please add $10 (for a total of $15) for an update fee. Our Policy on Software Piracy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We reserve the right NOT to support any Turbo Board Owner found pirating our software. If we have obtained proof that a person has done so, we will no longer support them. Turbo Board is sold on a SITE basis, meaning that you may run the software on more than one machine, ONLY if the machi- nes are physically located at the same site (Same Street Address). If not, you are running your software in violation of our Piracy Policy, and we reserve the right to discontinue product support and possibly report such conduct to the appropriate federal authorities. John Miller , ///Turbo Board Support ________________________________________________________________ > Hard Disks STR InfoFile™ TAX TIME SPECIAL OFFERINGS!.... ======================= NEW LOW PRICES! & MORE MODELS!! =============================== >> INCOME TAX REFUND SPECIALS << ** EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! ** ABCO COMPUTER ELECTRONICS INC. P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32236-6672 Est. 1985 _________________________________________ Voice: 904-783-3319 10 AM - 4 PM EDT BBS: 904-786-4176 12-24-96 HST FAX: 904-783-3319 12 PM - 6 AM EDT _________________________________________ HARD DISK SYSTEMS TO FIT EVERY BUDGET _____________________________________ All systems are complete and ready to use, included at NO EXTRA COST are clock/calendar and cooling blower(s). *-ALL ABCO HARD DISK SYSTEMS ARE FULLY EXPANDABLE-* (you are NOT limited to two drives ONLY!) (all cables and connectors installed) * ICD HOST ADAPTERS USED EXCLUSIVELY * OMTI HIGH SPEED CONTROLLERS * * ICD ADSCSI+ HOST ADAPTERS * FULL SCSI COMMAND SET SUPPORTED * * SCSI EMBEDDED CONTROLLER MECHANISMS * Conventional Shoe Box Model Description Autopark Price ================================================== SGN3038 31Mb 28ms 3.5" Y 419.00 SGN4951 51Mb 28ms 3.5" Y 519.00 SGN6177 62Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 619.00 SGN1096 85Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 649.00 SGN1098 100mb 25ms 3.5" Y 719.00 SGN6277 120Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 889.00 SGN1296 168Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 1069.00 SGN4077 230Mb 24ms 3.5" Y 1669.00 ================================================== ****** SPECIAL - SPECIAL ****** ---- FOR USE IN MEGA, MEGA STe & TT030 SYSTEMS ---- >>>> 100mb SCSI HARD DRIVE Mech 25-28ms 3.5" ...ONLY $469.00!! <<<< ****** SPECIAL - SPECIAL ****** >>> ALL ABCO DRIVES ARE HIGH SPEED UNITS <<< (500 - 600k per sec @ 16 - 33ms) CALL FOR SUPER SAVINGS ON ALL OUR OTHER CUSTOM UNITS FROM 30mb 28MS @ $419.00! --==*==-- * SYQUEST 44MB (#555)>> ABCO "44" << REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE * - SYQUEST 44 MB DRIVE - ICD ST ADVANTAGE PLUS H/A - ICD Utility Software - 3' DMA Cable - Fan & Clock - Multi-Unit Power Supply (1) 44 MB Syquest Cart. COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED AND READY TO RUN! --->> SPECIAL NOW ONLY __$ 719.00__ <<--- EXTRA CARTS: $ 74.95 DRIVE MECH ONLY: $ 439.95 SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHGS INCLUDED! (NO Hidden "extras") * TWIN SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVES ... PROGRAMMER'S DELIGHT * SPECIALLY PRICED ** $1329.00 ** * SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE AND HARD DRIVE COMBINATIONS * - Syquest 44 Model [555] and the following hard drives - 50mb SQG51 $ 939.00 30mb SQG38 $ 819.00 65mb SQG09 $ 969.00 85mb SQG96 $1059.00 LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS CUSTOM CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE Listed above are a sampling of the systems available. Prices also reflect various cabinet/power supply configurations (over sixty configurations are available, flexibility is unlimited) *** ALL Units: Average Access Time: 24ms - 34ms *** ALL UNITS COMPATIBLE WITH --> SUPERCHARGER - AT/PC SPEED - GCR LARGER units are available - (special order only) *>> NO REPACKS OR REFURBS USED! <<* - Custom Walnut WOODEN Cabinets - TOWER - AT - XT Cabinets - * SLM 804 Replacement Toner Cartridge Kits $42.95 * Replacement Drums; CALL Keyboard Custom Cables Call for Info ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED -* 12 month FULL Guarantee *- (A FULL YEAR of COVERAGE) NOTICE : SHIPPING, HANDLING AND INSURANCE INCLUDED IN ALL PRICES """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" QUANTITY & USERGROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE! _________________________________________ DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED! please, call for details Personal and Company Checks are accepted. ORDER YOUR NEW UNIT TODAY! CALL: 1-800-562-4037 -=**=- CALL: 1-904-783-3319 Customer Orders ONLY Customer Service 9am - 8pm EDT Tues thru Sat ____________________________________________________________ > A "Quotable Quote"™ ================= "The EARLY BIRD not only gets the goods.... it usually LEADS the pack!" Stretch Everlast """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport International Online Magazine™ Available through more than 10,000 Private BBS systems WorldWide! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport™ "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" March 22, 1991 16/32bit Magazine copyright © 1987-91 No.7.12 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of the editors, staff, STReport™ CPU/MAC/STR™ or ST Report™. Permission to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Each reprint must include the name of the publication, date, issue # and the author's name. The entire publication and/or portions therein may not be edited in any way without prior written permission. The contents, at the time of publication, are believed to be reasonably accurate. The editors, contributors and/or staff are not responsible for either the use/misuse of information contained herein or the results obtained therefrom. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""