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- *---== STReport International Online Magazine ==---*
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
- "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
- from
- STR Publishing
- """"""""""""""
-
-
- May 07, 1993 No.9.19
- =========================================================================
-
- 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
-
- Support BBS Network System
- * THE BOUNTY BBS *
- * TURBO BOARD BBS SYSTEM *
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- FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EST
- -----------------------------------------
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- FNET. 489 : Steal Your Face BBS..........1-908-920-7981
- _____________________________________________________________________
-
-
- > 05/07/93 STR 919 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!"
- """"""""""""""""
- - The Editor's Desk - PEOPLE TALKING - PORTFOLIO NEWS
- - ITS A LONG WAIT! - CT Atari FESt'93 - THE RANT & RAVE
- - PGST VER. 3.0 - STR MAILBAG - TOS 4.04 & FALCON
- - ATARI WORKS BUGGY? - BLUE RIDGE FEST - STR Confidential
-
- -* DREW KERR - OPEN LETTER *-
- -* ATARI EXPLORER - THE TRUTH! *-
- -* "FALCONWAIT" The USERBASE WAITS! *-
-
- =========================================================================
- STReport International Online Magazine
- The Original * Independent * Online Magazine
- -* FEATURING WEEKLY *-
- "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
- Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information
- Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports
- =========================================================================
- STReport's BBS, The Bounty, invites BBS systems, worldwide, to participate
- in the Fido/NEST/Atari F-Net Mail Network. You may also phone The Bounty
- BBS direct @ 904-786-4176, and enjoy the wonder & excitement of exchanging
- information relative to computers, worldwide, through the use of excellent
- International Networking Systems. SysOps, worldwide, are quite welcome to
- join the STReport International Conferences. The Crossnet Code is #34813,
- and the "Lead Node" is # 350. All BBS systems are welcome and invited to
- participate. Support your favorite computer! Teleconference Today!
- =========================================================================
- CIS ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ NVN ~ GENIE ~ FIDO ~ FNET ~ NEST
- EURONET ~ CIX ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET
- =========================================================================
-
- =============
- * ATARI EDITION *
- =============
-
-
- 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 (May 7)
-
- SPEED OF LIGHT GIF VIEWER!
-
- Download file SPOFLT.LZH from LIBRARY 14 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO
- ATARIARTS) for a new Speed-of-Light .GIF file viewer. Shows all colors,
- squash the picture to fit the screen or just scroll it, adjust flicker,
- color quality/levels, etc.
-
- NEW PRINTER DRIVER FOR DESKJET
-
- Download PrintAll Version 1.1 (file PRTALL.LZH in LIBRARY 9 of the Atari
- Productivity Forum -- GO ATARIPRO). A Printer driver program for the HP
- Deskjet 500 and 500C. Prints multiple file formats in color or
- black-and-white in multiple sizes and orientations. Latest version adds
- Prism Paint PNT support, Tiny low and medium-res .TNY and Sun Microsystems'
- "Rasterfile" .RAS support. Also numerous bug-fixes and speedups, ability to
- cancel without quitting and cancel long operations. This version supersedes
- PrintAll 1.0.
-
- New "CMYK" output options simulates Deskjet 550C output on 500C printers!
-
- SHAREWARE FROM DOUBLE CLICK IN ATARIVEN
-
- Double Click Software has decided to release DC Xtract Plus as SHAREWARE!
- Included in the LZH file are DC Xtract Plus 2.1v and a doc file. Download
- file XTRPLS.LZH from LIBRARY 13 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN).
-
- Double Click Software has also decided to release DC SEA as SHAREWARE! Make
- ARC/LZH/ZIP/ZOO into a self-extracting file. Download file DCSEA.LZH from
- LIBRARY 13 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN).
-
- MANY NEW FILES IN ATARIPRO!
-
- Lots of new files in the Libraries of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO
- ATARIPRO). Type BRO LIB:ALL to check out the most recent entries!!
-
- REVISED PRINTER DRIVERS FROM SOFTLOGIK
-
- SoftLogik has made the following two files available for download from
- LIBRARY 11 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN):
-
- PS2299.ARC - PostScript printer driver for ImageSetters and Color PostScript
- printers version 2.2.99. This is a temporary driver that fixes problems
- with v2.2.11 printing to Linos and Color PS printers.
-
- PS2211.ARC - Newest PostScript printer driver version 2.2.11. This driver is
- good for users printing to PostScript lasers. For users needing to print to
- Color PS and high-rez imagesetters, you should use the v2.2.99 driver.
-
- THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE
- HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN
- OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION
-
- "GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM"
-
- "ENJOY CIS' ATARI FORUMS WHERE CENSORSHIP IS A DIRTY WORD!"
-
-
-
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- > From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
- """"""""""""""""""""""
-
- There is, apparently, a new "game" afoot. Kinda sad since it appears
- the few who are making all the noises have obvious agendas to follow. Now,
- with the latest of moves by them they are "tipping" their hands for all to
- see the "palms". Neither I, nor any of our staff have ordered any quantity
- of Atari compatibles not ever. In addition, I did not, under any
- circumstances initiate the exchanges of information relative to the
- conception, design or hopes of marketing such a device in the USA. Further
- any and all information spoken of by STR, myself or our staff was cleared
- with the party, who by the way requested that we contact them, before any
- discussions public or private. I say these things to clear the air of all
- the lies and innuendo being spread by those who have these strange agendas
- and IOUs to honor at any price. Including their own integrity. I have the
- proofs to back up what I say. If and when it becomes necessary to produce
- them I shall but only on the advice of counsel and with the permission of
- other equally concerned parties. The persons who are harping about this
- matter are actually the very same antagonists STReport and its staff was, at
- one time, obliged to painfully endure week after week.
-
- It's really sad to see such things going on in the Atari platform
- especially at a time when truth and fairness to the users should be the
- prevalent concern of every participant in the platform. Of course, one of
- the rather outspoken, if not the outspoken person is also claiming to be
- directly responsible in reporting to Mr. Brodie all things relative to the
- compatible project. I'd say that's a pretty neat connection. Now, if one
- considers the obvious obsession it becomes extremely easy to fully
- understand the most recent onslaught occurring in the STRT on Genie. A
- masterful plan indeed to take away attention from the Explorer Hard Copy
- debacle. The only thing left to say relative to entire matter is; please
- pay particular attention to the participants and their trumped up
- allegations. They've jumped the gun on this one and indeed blown it. They
- sure do give STReport a great deal power to sway things in the Atari arena.
- Even I find that very hard to believe, but its there for all to read and see
- in the STRT Cat 18, topic 2... beginning with message 197. Lo and behold
- look who "started" it all. Not surprising.
-
- Reports are slowly trickling in about alleged "Falcon" sightings.
- Unfortunately, its seems these sightings thus far, are only of the dealer
- demo machines of developer machines in action or on loan. Rumors abound but
- solid reports of private individuals making purchases of Falcons and taking
- them home have yet to materialize. Hopefully, we'll hear of some Real Soon
- Now.
-
-
- Thanks again for the wonderful support!
-
- Ralph...
-
-
- ps; Methinks another PC DITTO type thing is brewing!
-
-
-
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU!
- """"""""""""""""
-
- Publisher - Editor
- """"""""""""""""""
- Ralph F. Mariano
-
-
- PC DIVISION AMIGA DIVISION MAC DIVISION
- ----------- -------------- ------------
- Roger D. Stevens Robert Glover R. ALBRITTON
-
-
- STReport Staff Editors:
- """""""""""""""""""""""
- Dana P. Jacobson Michael Arthur John Deegan
- Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Judith Hamner
- John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Joseph Mirando
- Steve Spivey Doyle C. Helms
-
- Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor Emeritus
-
- Contributing Correspondents:
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
- Michael Lee Richard Covert Scott Birch
- Brian Converse Oliver Steinmeier Tim Holt
- Andrew Learner Norman Boucher Harry Steele
- Clemens Chin Neil Bradley Eric Jerue
- Ron Deal Robert Dean Ed Westhusing
- James Nolan Vernon W. Smith Bruno Puglia
-
-
-
- IMPORTANT NOTICE
- """"""""""""""""
- Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc...
- via E-Mail to:
-
- Compuserve.................... 70007,4454
- Delphi........................ RMARIANO
- BIX........................... RMARIANO
- FIDONET....................... 112/35
- FNET.......................... NODE 350
- NEST.......................... 90:21/350.0
- GEnie......................... ST-REPORT
-
-
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- STR'S "BELIEVE IT? OR.. WHAT?"
- <>###############################<>
-
- "There is no comparison! The Atari Falcon
- is far superior to the PC platform."
-
-
- Sam Tramiel, 08/92
-
- About the scathing Forbes Magazine Critique of Atari;
-
- "My new office, which has a better view than my old one, is so far
- quite satisfactory. And Richard Miller is in my old office. The Forbes
- article was a mish-mash and misconstrued article full of half truths. We
- are anxiously awaiting the release of the Atari Falcon to bring us back to
- the forefront. The article has given us some laughs, but otherwise
- has not affected us."
-
- Sam Tramiel, 08/92
-
- About marketing plans and the future....
-
- "As I said before, all marketing announcements will be made at
- Duesseldorf. I will not comment on future models of the Falcon.
-
- WE ARE TALKING TODAY ABOUT A MACHINE.....
- WHICH WILL BE SHIPPING NEXT WEEK."
-
-
- Sam Tramiel, 08/92
-
- A fantastic observation, considering the date it was made...
-
- "I've just returned from Asia, where I saw the first Atari Falcon
- production coming off the lines. Let's hope this new offering will
- make it in North America. I know that the specs are great."
-
-
- Sam Tramiel, 08/92
-
- Again, the dates of the statement conflict with the facts now known....
-
- "We have not yet even given the machine to the FCC. And we are only
- applying for Class B approval. According to our "experts", it should
- pass Class B."
-
- Sam Tramiel, 08/92
-
-
- "...... We are not working for Wall Street but to
- make money for our shareholders and only think long term."
-
-
- Sam Tramiel, 11/92
-
-
- psssst.
- FYI.... The Shareholder's equity is fine.... NOT!
-
- The Stock is hovering around $0.81
-
- CHRISTMAS '92 has COME and GONE...
- AS HAS...
-
- JANUARY 1993, FEBRUARY 1993...
-
- FALCONS ....anyone?
-
- By the Way.... Does the Falcon work well
- with
- any... of the SLM Laser Printers?? NOPE! NOT YET!
-
- Wanna bet there won't be any?
-
- Better yet...
-
- Which _MAJOR_ US Software Developers & Publishers
- are
- producing NEW Software for Atari's FALCON???
-
- Besides, who _needs_ a CARTRIDGE PORT anyhow!
-
-
-
-
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- PEOPLE ARE TALKING
- ==================
-
-
- On CompuServe
- -------------
- compiled by Joe Mirando
- 73637,2262
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Well folks, its that time again. Time to look through the forums on
- CompuServe and check out the news, info, and helpful tips available to us
- all. Let's jump right in and check it out...
-
-
-
- From the Atari Productivity Forum
- =================================
-
-
- Interesting news from Ian Braby:
-
-
- "I paid a visit to Atari UK today, just to be nosey, and was given a quick
- tour (accidental, my guide and I were looking for someone to help me!) and I
- managed to glean the following, having asked about Speedo gdos.
-
- MULTITOS: The final version is with them, now and will be shipped to
- registered Falcon owners in a matter of days; as soon as English docs are
- finished. The product will then be available to other Atari owners,
- distributed by HiSoft.
-
- D2D: As above; this is also likely to be distributed to other interested
- users by HiSoft.
-
- SPEEDO GDOS: should be following along within a week (?Atari-speak for Real
- Soon Now) and distribution of this is likely to also be handled by HiSoft.
-
- ATARIWORKS: Original version received by Atari UK was rejected back to the
- US because of bugs. No new version has been forth-coming from Atari US,
- since.
-
- And, for the Lynx:
-
- LEMMINGS: The EPROM is now in-house. Available RSN!!!
-
- Just thought you might be interested!"
-
-
- The Big Cahoona, Master Sysop Ron Luks tells Ian:
-
-
- "Thanks for the updates! Sounds like something is finally rolling out the
- doors. Its been a long wait."
-
-
- Alex Kiernan adds this about LEMMINGS:
-
-
- "And it is truly wonderful; I half-inched Bill's Lynx at CeBIT & played for
- a while - it is truly excellent!"
-
-
- Well, well, well. Products? From Atari? THIS could be the start of
- something big! ;^)
-
-
- Hans Albert posts:
-
-
- "I've heard about the Atari-Works - but how can i get it in germany?"
-
-
- Jim Ness tells Hans:
-
-
- "It was mentioned yesterday that HiSoft, in England, will be distributing
- Atari Works, MultiTOS, and some other stuff. So, whoever handles HiSoft
- products should be able to get it for you."
-
-
- Ain't that amazing, folks? It gets mentioned in Great Britain that Hisoft
- will be distributing products for Atari, it gets posted on an American
- Service, and the information and helps out a guy in Germany... all in the
- space of one day. Isn't technology great? Meanwhile, as the question of
- reading ST formatted disks on a DOS machine with Gemulator, Bob Retelle
- posts:
-
-
- "I suspect the GEMulator will do whatever the software tells it to do...
- if a boot sector tells it that there are 81 tracks on the disk, it will try
- to read out to track 81.
-
- The only reason exactly the same thing doesn't happen under DOS is that DOS
- only recognizes 9 sector, 80 track formats. If it had the built-in
- flexibility that TOS does, it too would seek out to track 81 if it was told
- to.
-
- The answer would be to not put an 81 track disk in your PC drives, I
- guess..."
-
-
- That's right, friends and neighbors, the much-maligned (of late) ST, for
- all its dated architecture, was more flexible than the original PCs, the
- 286s, and is STILL more flexible than today's 3-and-486s. Elsewhere, Jim
- Lohman asks about unpacking MAC files with his ST:
-
-
- "Can anyone tell me if there are any ST utilities available here or
- elsewhere that will unpack Macintosh StuffIt files? I see some text files
- over in ShowBiz that I'd like to check out, and I've used Atari File Finder
- w/various keywords, but no luck so far. Thanks for your help."
-
-
- The short and (not so) sweet answer from Sysop Keith Joins replies:
-
-
- "There is no Stuffit utility for the ST."
-
-
- Well, even sysops can't be right all the time. Robert Aries tells Jim:
-
-
- "I'm not sure of the keywords, but I downloaded an un-Stuffit utility for
- the ST from the libs here a while ago, so Keith is wrong. I don't think it
- works on all Stuffit files, though (it wouldn't do a few GIFS I downloaded
- from MacFun)."
-
-
- Jim thanks Robert:
-
-
- "I found the file you referred to - it's UNSIT.LZH in Lib. 4. It works fine
- for unpacking the text files I found over in ShowBiz, except I had to write
- a quickie Basic prg. to add linefeeds. Jeez, those Mac disk files are kinda
- different, eh? Resource fork, data fork, salad fork...
-
- Anyway, thanks a lot for the tip."
-
-
- Robert tells Jim:
-
-
- "Glad it worked out. BTW, I think an old utility I use called DCOPY (don't
- know if it's still around here) will add linefeeds to those Mac text files."
-
-
- Our own Dana Jacobson adds this bit of info:
-
-
- "After seeing the messages here in the Forum ... a reader sent me a file
- which may help resolve the problems experienced by users wanting to use
- ST-formatted disks on their PCs. If you feel that this file would have some
- benefit in the Atari areas, let me know and I will post it to wherever you
- feel appropriate. Here's the file description, to give you a brief summary
- of what the program does:
-
- Format and read extended format floppies on MS-DOS machines. The FDREAD
- portion of the program will allow you to use ST formatted extended
- (including "twister" format) disks on an MS-DOS machine (with the right size
- drive, of course). The file is named FDFORM18, in case it matters!"
-
-
- Ron Luks, being the top-notch Sysop that he is, tells Dana:
-
-
- "We'd absolutely *LOVE* to have that file here. It would answer a lot
- of questions.
-
- Where to put it..... Tough Question. for now, please upload it to lib 17
- (Miscellaneous) and if we find a better location, we can move it
- internally."
-
-
- Jim Lohman asks:
-
-
- "Can anyone here explain how the ST floppy drives recognize a media change?
-
- Some time ago, I hacked a Matsushita J-253 double-sided drive onto my trusty
- old 520ST (external drive). It works, but it only sees a disk change if I'm
- changing to or from a write-protected disk. Because of this I have to be
- _real_ careful to keep from clobbering directories right & left.
-
- So far I've tried a utility called Force Media Change in the Auto Folder,
- but it didn't always work exactly right. I also tried connecting pins 2 & 28
- on the 34-pin connector, but then it thought all my disks were WP'ed.
-
- I should also mention that my drive has the extra intelligent controller
- board, as opposed to the older(?) models which apparently had the computer
- more or less directly connected to the drive. Does anyone know the purpose
- of this extra hardware? The 8048 controller IC seems to "process" the head
- step pulses & other signals in some way. Rather intriguing."
-
-
- Larry Green tells Jim:
-
-
- "Ref media change. I am aware that when the ST formats a disk it gives it a
- unique (random) ID number which is put in the boot sector. If it detects
- that this number is different then it knows that the disk has changed.
-
- The problem with this is if you are using PC disks which do not use the
- number idea and swop the disk, the ST senses that no number has changed and
- files can be over written!
-
- Likewise if you have ST disks that are copied (I knew someone who formatted
- one disk and then copied it using blitz turbo or something), the serial
- number never changes and so files can be damaged.
-
- If this is no help I can look up the rest. Of course I bet someone can beat
- me to it."
-
-
- Jim replies to Larry:
-
-
- "Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, I have no DOS-formatted disks in my
- setup, and after checking a few of them w/a disk editor, the serial #'s do
- appear to be random.
-
- This seems to boil down to some sort of hardware difference between the
- original big old SS drive and the new DS one, but I can't finger out what it
- is. I've read that the ST doesn't use pin 2 (DISK CHANGE) of the 34-pin
- connector, which I find puzzling; and I don't see any difference in logic
- levels on pin 28 (WRITE PROTECT) between the two drives for a given
- operation (not with a meter anyway - I'll be checking it with a scope as
- soon as I remember to bring the damn thing home from work!).
-
- To troubleshoot this, I've been booting w/a blank, formatted disk & using
- the Esc. key to update the open directory window. If the disk is
- write-protected, no problem - but if it's not, and I remove & replace it,
- then hit Esc., the window flickers, but the drive doesn't run (i.e. no
- directory update). Of course, that is a Very Bad Thing.
-
- Sumpin's goofy here, but I dunno what."
-
-
- Sysop Bob Retelle adds:
-
-
- "That stuff about the random serial number is right... but the problem Jim
- is having is getting the ST to read the directory (and serial number) in the
- first place..
-
- The ST uses a somewhat, er.. unusual method of detecting that the disk has
- been physically changed.. when you replace the drive with a different type,
- sometimes the detection doesn't work.. thus the ST never reads in the
- directory and serial number from the new disk, and thinks you've still got
- the old disk in there. (Which makes writing on the new disk an invitation
- to disaster..!)
-
- Now if only I could remember what the fix is..."
-
-
- Cullan Briggs asks:
-
- "Can anyone tell me if there is a way of speeding up a Mega STE 4meg/50? I
- am wondering if adding say, a math co-processor would speed up things like
- the generation of patterns in Band in a Box or the processing of things like
- quantization in Notator. I am also wondering about Atari's future. Atari
- Canada no longer exists and some of the programs I need are only available
- on Mac right now.I am looking for an editor/librarian for the Kurzweil K2000
- and the only ones that I know of are Opcode's Galaxy and Unisynth.The Falcon
- should be a great computer IF it gets adequate support but it has yet to
- arrive in my neighborhood.Oh and as far as speeding things up, I already use
- Warp9 but I need even more speed. Any light shed on these questions would be
- appreciated."
-
-
- Jim Ness explains about the co-processor:
-
-
- "A math coprocessor will only speed up computations on programs which use
-
-
- it.
-
- As far as I know, only DynaCADD and some Lexicor graphics products use the
- coprocessor.
-
- Your best bet is to look into an accelerator card. Fast Tech and Gadgets by
- Small both make accelerators, although I believe only the Fast Tech product
- can fit into your MegaSTE. The speed up is dramatic."
-
-
- Sysop Brad Hill tells Cullan:
-
-
- "...Warp 9 is a graphics
- accelerator, and speeds up screen redraws, but doesn't affect processing
- speed.
-
- About the K2000 editor... Last night I saw a note in the new MIDI C
- Vendor Forum about Dr. T's possibly offering one. You might want to stop
- over there (GO MIDICVEN) and encourage them!"
-
-
- Stefan Daystrom at Barefoot Software tells Cullan:
-
-
- "The Mega ST_E_ is capable of running (as I recall) at three speeds:
-
- 8 MHz
- 16 MHz cache off
- 16 MHz cache on
-
- Are you running at the fastest (16 MHz cache on) already? If you're running
- at 8 MHz, that change would give you roughly a 50% speedup.
-
- _BUT_: Last I heard (which _was_ quite a while ago, so they may have fixed
- this by now), Notator was still not compatible (because of timing tricks
- with the cartridge port) with even _that_ faster speed, and would not run on
- any faster Atari models such as the TT. Do you now have a version of
- Notator which will run on faster machines? If not, an accelerator will
- speed up your Band in a Box and most _other_ sequencers, but will make your
- Notator stop working!"
-
-
- Sysop Ron Luks adds:
-
-
- "As others have already mentioned, a math co-processor would be of limited
- value in speeding up your system, but an accelerator board would help
- significantly.
-
- As for Atari's future in the computer business, that's the $64,000 question
- lately. Although we have been promised the new Falcon030 model since last
- fall/winter, to the best of my knowledge, no units are currently shipping
- for customer purchase. Recently a limited number of units went out to
- select dealers as demo units. All I can say at this point is that unless
- Atari ships the Falcon in significant numbers, I don't know that you can
- count on much independent software vendor support for the current models."
-
-
- From the Atari ST Arts Forum
- ============================
-
- It seems that everyone has been interested in displaying SPECTRUM 512
- picture files on DOS machines of late. As Yogi Berra said "It ain't over
- 'till its over", and friends, it ain't over. "Jon" posts:
-
-
- "With the risk of getting some "anti-IBM" messages I will ask a stupid
- question. Is there any way to display the *.SPC graphics files on an IBM
- compatible PC? Go easy on me."
-
-
- Bob Retelle tells Jon the unfortunate news:
-
-
- "Jon, unfortunately I don't know of any direct way of viewing SPC graphics
- files on a PC...
-
- The files can be converted to GIF format, but the utilities to do that only
- run on Atari computers.
-
- The good news is that one of our members has been looking into writing a PC
- program that could view SPC files, but it may be some time until that's
- ready..."
-
-
- Ron Luks sets Jon's mind at ease:
-
-
- "First of all, don't worry about seeing anti-IBM messages here. A
- significant number of our members also have PCs at home or work.
-
- Unfortunately, there is no PC viewer for SPC files. At least one member
- was working on a viewer but I don't think he's finished it yet. Its one of
- our most requested utilities lately."
-
-
- Neil Burton asks:
-
-
- "...And doesn't it make you sick when you see some of the stuff out there
- for the PC ???"
-
-
- Tim Myers answers:
-
-
- "Yep it sure does. Some of the games that use fractal generated landscapes
- with solid, shadowed, shaded graphics in 256 colors are visually amazing!
- You'd think that the falcon could do as well with it's 256 color mode BUT
- the screen draws are comparatively slow so it doesn't look half as good and
- the animation is jerky. Is it just that the 16bit bus and slowish processor
- speed cripple the Falcon? There are already a number of accelerator boards
- available for the falcon. Does that tell us something or what !"
-
-
- Neil says:
-
-
- "I've not seen any yet.. My brother-in-law was showing me a helicopter sim
- on their 486, (A C.D. game..) but the bugger refused to work !!! SO he
- started playing with buffers etc.... I bogged off home !!!
-
- I smell Atari all over this one... Buggy RS232 on TOS 4.04... What will
- they think of next ?? <G>"
-
-
- Brian Gockley of ST Informer and CAF '93 (Connecticut AtariFest)
- Co-Coordinator, posts:
-
-
- "I heard that the Falcon did _not_ have serial port bugs? Alex over at
- HiSoft stated that they had a whole new chipset for the serial ports, which
- rectified the old problems. 4.04? I thought we were on 4.02? Is this our
- weekly TOS update? At least they're updating ROMs, better now than later!"
-
-
- Jim Ness tells Brian:
-
-
- "I've heard that TOS 4.02 still has some serial problems, but they aren't
- the same ones seen in TOS 1.04 and earlier, because there are different
- algorithms to handle the new port hardware.
-
- I don't know if 4.04 still has problems. 4.02 is the one appearing in
- dealer demos in the US. 4.04 is supposed to appear when Atari begins
- shipping inventory units. Mike Fulton says that even 4.04 has some minor
- graphics bugs remaining - but he did not address the serial bugs issue."
-
-
- Bob adds:
-
-
- "Kind of expensive, wouldn't you think, changing ROMs at this rate..?
- We've been hearing all kinds of wild numbers on UseNet, regarding the number
- of Falcons being produced... not that very many people seem to believe
- them.. but just think how much it would cost to toss out 10,000 ROMs and
- order new masked ROMs to clear up ANOTHER bug before you ship your
- product...
-
- Unless they're EPROMs...
-
- Unless they're not really making that many..."
-
-
- Doug Finch, the other Co-Coordinator of the Connecticut AtariFest (see info
- in this issue), asks about "old games":
-
-
- "I recently picked up some old games for my Atari 520 ST (upgraded to 2.5
- mb) and became enamored by some of the games from Mindscape inc., creator of
- Balance of Power 1990, Defender of the Crown & others. I later found out
- they were no longer located in Illinois, which was ID'ed as HQs on the
- packages. Is Mindscape still in business? Bought out by some other company?
- Gone the separate ways of their designers/programmers? Can anyone shed some
- light on the matter for me? I'd love to see what some of these individuals
- are working on now, whether or not it's for the Atari."
-
-
- Doug's post reminded me of all those "old games" I've got tucked away in
- strategic places around the house. I dug them up and played a few of them.
-
- Boy, I had forgotten the sheer fun of playing them.
-
- Now,back to our regularly scheduled program...
-
- Greg Kopchak tells us:
-
-
- "SKware One has some neat things in the works for the Falcon too.
-
- We've got two new programs in the works too...
-
- I'm uploading some Photo-CD to Falcon XGA photos here tonight. They are the
- 4 images featured on the cover of Atari Explorer magazine.
-
- We have a super program called View II in the works right now. Will be out
- in about two weeks.
-
- We publish a super Photo CD / multimedia program for Windows called Virtual
- BookMaker. The Atari port is about 50% done now and is expected to be ready
- in about 4 weeks. The XGA photos on the Falcon are super.
-
- Both Dr. Bob and SKware One have posted XGA utilities/viewers for the
- format."
-
-
- From the Atari Vendors Forum
- ============================
-
- On Atari's marketing strategy, Thomas D'Alimonte says:
-
- "Every Xmas its the same thing. They build up hope with 'the next new
- product' in early Fall. Middle Fall there are promises of a Xmas ad blitz
- and a TV commercial. Come Thanksgiving, no ads in sight 'cept for maybe a
- gaming ad in comic books. Come December, no product anywhere in the
- pipeline, therefore, no Xmas again, just coal. Come January, denials of
- lack of product, yet no idea when product shipments will 'resume'. March,
- product possibly available, IF the product ever sees the light of day at
- all.
-
- Feel free to jump in deny any of this anyone from Atari! ... Hmmm no
- answer.
-
- This has happened for the last <ugh> 7 years at least. To real products
- like the Falcon, STE, Megas, STacy. And to too many products we never saw
- like the ST game machine the 1 meg 8 bit-er, the CD-ROM. (announced in '85
- with the original ST wasn't it?) I think when you hire out manufacturing
- like Atari has to, it costs less to get manufacturing time AFTER Xmas than
- before it.
-
- A pity. "
-
-
- Sysop Bob Retelle tells Tom:
-
-
- "You're not supposed to remember all that stuff...
-
- After all, this is the Year of Atari... (or was that last year?)"
-
-
- On the subject of CodeHead's new product, DigiTape (see info elsewhere in
- this issue), Ron Luks tells CodeHead Charles F. Johnson:
-
-
- "Sounds like cool products. (My musical talents do not extend beyond
- playing the stereo, unfortunately). Now, if there were some Falcons
- available
- .........."
-
-
- Charles tells Ron:
-
-
- "DigiTape really takes advantage of the Falcon's unique strengths (the DSP
- chip, specifically); we feel it has a good chance of winning popularity with
- musicians. We're expecting Falcons to be available to the public within the
- next week or two."
-
-
- It always causes a few pats on the back when "one of our own" (someone who
- frequents CompuServe) gets a mention in a publication, so it came as no
- surprise when Ron Luks told Boris Molodyi:
-
-
- "Hey Boris. You're a celebrity now. I just saw the quote you made in this
- months issue of CompuServe magazine in the DTP article. Now, all we need is
- a picture. [g]"
-
-
- Nathan Potechin, of DMC/Calamus fame, posts:
-
-
- "What? Hmmm, where's my copy of the magazine? Which issue was it? What did
- you say? Did I miss it? No way! ;-)
-
- Boris ... On another issue, is it possible that you have placed your special
- characters in the wrong ASCII position? Calamus SL looks for hyphens in
- ASCII position 252, 253 and 254. Is this where you have your
- hyphens located? 252 is the en-dash that I always use to hyphenate but I
- believe the 253 is the proper standard hyphenation dash."
-
-
- Jim Ness tells Nathan:
-
-
- "See the May, '93 issue of CIS Magazine. The DTP article includes a quote
- from Boris, and even mentions Calamus. Too bad they didn't print a picture
- of Boris. Heh heh.
-
- As I recall, I sent you an email, when Michael Naver requested input for his
- article in these forums, a few months ago. I did the same for Dorothy
- Brumleve, when another CIS Mag author requested the same regarding
- educational software. Dorothy said she did respond. You gotta jump on
- these opportunities for exposure."
-
-
- Nathan replies to Jim:
-
-
- "Thanks Jim. I haven't gotten that issue yet. I do recall your email and I
- thank you for bringing it to my attention."
-
-
- Jim, ever-helpful guy that he is, tells Nathan:
-
-
- "If you don't get the issue, let me know, and I'll fax you the article."
-
-
- Nathan keeps us updated on the magazine situation:
-
-
- "The magazine arrived here yesterday. ;-)"
-
-
- From the Atari Portfolio Forum
- ==============================
-
-
- Don Thomas, Atari's Portfolio Guru, tells us:
-
-
- "Whenever you have a full blown computer with the OS in ROM, there will
- always be bugs of some sort... if nothing else misconceptions or assumptions
- of how it should work when it doesn't. We had a couple OS upgrades and as
- old bugs are fixed, new ones crop up... The UPDATE.COM comes in handy to fix
- that."
-
-
- Sysop BJ Gleason posts:
-
-
- "Atari [as far as I am aware] made a VERY big investment in the portfolio,
- and [might still] have a warehouse full of them. If the Portfolio II came
- out, they wouldn't be able to sell the old ones...
-
- There are different versions of the ROMs about, but not very many. It looks
- as if the Portfolio will remain as is, for a very long time..."
-
-
- Another jewel from the mind of BJ:
-
-
- "Soon... everything will be the size of the Portfolio... :-)"
-
-
- Ain't it the truth? Everything is getting smaller! Perhaps, when
- everything is the size of the Portfolio, the portfolio will be the size
- of... size of... oh, heck, pick something you think a computer could be as
- small as.
-
- Jeff Tucker tells us:
-
-
- "I bought a Portfolio (R19B1008926). It was exactly what I needed - size
- weight and price. Unfortunately I began to get increasingly frequent
- "**SYSTEM ERROR**SORRY" messages and/or a screen full of high ASCII
- characters scrolling by. I would start over and download my small
- spreadsheets, addresses and notes from my desktop. It also became difficult
- to make a connection to download files - like 20 tries before a connection
- would be made.
-
- I still liked the idea of the Portfolio, so I paid $120 more and swapped the
- original for a different one (F2031911895). Unfortunately, the second one
- shared the fate of the first one and I now have a very expensive calculator.
-
- I recently tried once more without loading any old files - all information
- was keyed in. Died again.
-
- The only explanation I can think of is that the airport security x-rays may
- have scrambled its brains when I forgot to take it out of my briefcase,
- although I don't believe that it ever died immediately after an x-ray. I
- only used the applications that came with it, never used memory cards.
-
- I tried a 7 pound notepad, but it has more horsepower than I need while
- travelling and it was too heavy (I don't check plane luggage).
-
- Anyone had similar experiences? Is there hope of reviving the Portfolio?
- Are there any diagnostics that might locate problems?"
-
- Don Thomas tells Jeff:
-
- "Download UPDATE.COM from the libraries and place it on your Memory Card. In
- your AUTOEXEC.BAT file include the word UPDATE on the first line by itself.
- The problem will probably disappear forever."
-
-
- If only everything in life was that simple. Just put the name on a line of
- an autoexec file. What the heck, let's give it a try...
-
-
- AUTOEXEC.BAT for Atari
- ADVERTISE
- LISTEN TO CUSTOMERS
- ADVERTISE
- LISTEN TO DEALERS
- ADVERTISE
- PRODUCE IN QUANTITY
- ADVERTISE
- end
-
- Nope. But it was worth a try, wasn't it?
-
-
- Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Jon Faiers posts:
-
-
- "I have recently become the proud owner of a Atari Portfolio which I use
- to store all my contact addresses. Could someone please tell me what I
- need to buy so that I can download this data from my PC and vice versa? As
- my batteries ran out when I was on holiday last week causing me to type
- everything back in, I don't think that I can cope with doing that again!"
-
-
- Marty Mankins tells Jon:
-
-
- "There are 3 different items that you can buy for the Portfolio;
-
- 1) Parallel interface: This device comes with software that will let you
- download files to and from the Portfolio to an IBM PC. You can also print
- directly from the Portfolio to a parallel printer. ($40)
-
- 2) Serial interface: This device does not come with software, but will let
- you use a communications program to download files to another computer
- running a communications program. This is needed if you have a computer
- other than an IBM PC (Macintosh, Atari ST, etc.). You can also use a modem
- to dial up places like CompuServe or a BBS. ($60)
-
- 3) PC Card Drive: This hooks up to an IBM PC via a board inside the
- computer. It's a small device that lets you take a RAM card from the
- Portfolio and back it up to your desktop. This is the best way to transfer
- files, but it's also the most expensive of the bunch ($100)."
-
-
- Aidan Heritage adds:
-
-
- "Just to be awkward, if you have an Atari ST, you can use the parallel
- interface with the port provided you buy SwiftLink software, which loads as
- a Desk Top Accessory - I find it great and use it to backup my port files -
- and to load files into the port when I want them."
-
-
- Well, that's about all the space we've got for this week. I hope you
- found something of interest... or that you at least read it... or that you
- browsed it for a moment or two... oh heck, I just hope you didn't cut it
- right out with a text editor and forget it ever existed.
-
- Tune in again next week when we'll listen again to what they are saying
- when...
-
-
- PEOPLE ARE TALKING
-
-
- _______________________________________________________
-
-
-
- > PGST 3.0 STR FOCUS! PageSTReam 3.0 Announced for the Amiga!
- """""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
-
- ANNOUNCING PAGESTREAM 3.0
- =========================
-
-
- Every few years a program comes along that changes the way people use a
- computer. PageMaker for the Macintosh and Publishing Partner for the Atari
- ST were introduced in 1986 and were the first desktop publishing programs.
- Publishing Partner grew into PageStream, and quickly became the best-selling
- desktop publisher for Amiga computers. AmigaWorld gave it their coveted
- Expert's Choice award and proclaimed that PageStream is the best. AmigaUser
- International named it the heavyweight champion and Amazing Amiga called it
- a jewel of a program. But underneath the years of improvements, it was still
- the Publishing Partner that Personal Publishing magazine called a knockout
- program back in 1986.
-
- The way you think about publishing has just changed again. We're proud to
- announce PageStream 3.0. This is not just an upgrade, but a completely new
- program.
-
- PageStream 3: it will change the way you think about publishing.
-
-
- PARTIAL PAGESTREAM 3.0 FEATURE LIST
-
- x feature present
- o feature present/limited implementation
- NB unlimited means limited only by memory
- + more formats may be added before release
- ? could not be confirmed
-
- INTERFACE PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Maximum number of open documents unlimited 7 1
- Max number of document views unlimited 1 1
- Reveal/Hide document views x
- Moveable document view windows x x
- Save program defaults x x
- Load program defaults x x
- Pasteboard/bleed area x x x
- User-specified pasteboard size x x o
- Toolbox x x o
- set position x x
- set tool size x
- set toolbox orientation x
- Edit Toolbox x x o
- Number of palettes/panels 6 6 0
- Measurement system options 11 7 3
- Set ruler zero point and offset x x o
- User-specified view magnification x x o
- Number of view magnifications 13 6 5
- View magnification zoom x x x
- Show/Hide invisible characters x x
- Undo levels unlimited 1 1
- Online help x x
- context sensitive x o
- cross-referenced ("hyper") help x
-
- DOCUMENT CONSTRUCTION PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Number of pre-defined page sizes 9 5 6
- Maximum page size (in inches) 2330"x2330" 48"x48" 48"x48"
- Different page sizes in a document x x
- Change page size at any time x x x
- Maximum document size (in pages) unlimited 2000 9999
- Single and double sided documents x x x
- Page spreads x o
- Maximum number of master pages unlimited 127 0
- Hide master page objects x
- Visual page arrangement x x x
- Divide documents into sections x o
- Divide sections into chapters x
- Automatic page numbering x o o
- Link and unlink columns x x o
-
- WORD PROCESSING PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Cut, copy and paste text x x x
- standard keyboard shortcuts x x
- Multiple Style sheets x o o
- Load and save style sheets x x x
- Find and replace text/attributes x x o
- Find and replace style sheets x
- Spelling checker x x o
- Import/Export formats 7/7+ 9/6 9/0
- auto conversion of quotes x x
- auto conversion of commas x x
- auto conversion of dashes x x
- Maximum number of tabs unlimited 20 16
- number of alignment options 4 4 1
- place numerically or manually x x o
- right indent tab x x
- User-definable tab leaders x x
- List all articles used x x
-
- TYPOGRAPHY PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Number of outline font systems 3 2 1
- Font sizes 1-50,000 2-720 2-720
- increments 0.01 pts 0.001 pts 0.125 pts
- horizontally scale text x x
- Align text vertically x x
- Indents and outdents x x x
- Auto/Manual hyphenation x x o
- hyphenation controls x x x
- Auto/Manual kerning x x o
- edit kerning pairs x x x
- Auto/Manual tracking x x o
- Absolute and relative leading x x x
- increments 0.01 pts 0.001 pts 0.01 pts
- Frameless text x
- convert frameless <-> framed x
- Convert shapes to text columns x
- Apply color and fill styles to text x o o
- Automatic drop caps x x o
- Automatic bulleted paragraphs x
-
- GRAPHICS PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Import Bitmapped Pictures x x x
- number of formats 6+ 8? 5
- set frequency, angle and pattern x x
- contrast and posting control x x
- bitmap fencing for text flow x x
- display bitmaps in color x x x
- externally linked bitmaps x x x
- Import Structured Drawings x x x
- number of formats 5+ 4 2
- dissolve into paths and shapes x
- Import EPS Illustrations x x x
- interpretable EPS formats 2+ 0 3
- show bitmap preview TIFF/PICT x x o
- Make pages into EPS files x x x
- List graphics in a document x x x
-
- COLORS PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Number of color models 6 6 2
- 24 bit color support x x x
- Create process and spot colors x x x
- Color Tints x x
- shade increments 0.01% 0.1%
- UCR/GCR x x x
- Set screen angle and frequency x x x
-
- TRAPPING PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Automatic trapping x x
- User-definable trapping x x
- Chokes & Spreads x x
- Knockouts & Overprints x x
- Set trapping for each plate x x
-
- DRAWING AND OBJECT EDITING PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Drawing tools x x x
- basic shapes x x x
- freehand x
- pen/draw tool x
- Select multiple objects x x x
- add/remove from selection x x
- select behind x x
- Bring/Send to Front, Back x x
- Bring/Send Forward, Backward x x
- Cut, copy and paste x x x
-
-
- Move and nudge objects x x
- Step and repeat duplication x x
- Rotate and skew objects x x o
- rotation increments 0.001 0.001 1
- Group/Ungroup objects x x o
- Lock/Unlock objects x x o
- Distribute objects x x
- Set color/line/fill of objects x o o
- Bitmap fills x x
- Gradient fills x o
- Object fills x
- Text runaround objects x x o
- Extend objects across page spreads x x
-
- PAGE LAYOUT PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Margin and column guides x x
- Object guides x x
- snap-to-guides, snap distance x x
- Grid x x x
- snap-to-grid x x x
-
- PRINTING PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Current page, range, even/odd x x o
- Printer spreads x
- Print CMYK/mechanical separations x x o
- Plate control x x
- Tiling, thumbnails, crop/reg x x x
- Print PostScript to disk x x x
- Render to bitmapped picture x
- Custom Printer Drivers x x
- PostScript x x
- Hewlett-Packard inkjet/laser x
- Epson compatibles x
- Plotter support x
- PPD support x x
-
- ENVIRONMENT PAGESTREAM QUARKXPRESS PROPAGE
-
- Open program architecture x x
- (for adding extensions)
- Text (article) editor x x
- Picture (bitmap) editor x o
- HotLinks compatible x x
- ARexx (scripting) compatible x o
- ARexx (scripting) record x
- AGA compatible x n/a o
- Workbench screen compatible x n/a x
- Public screen compatible x n/a
- create public screens x n/a
- Custom screen compatible x n/a x
- Follows interface style guidelines x x
- Price $299.95 $895 $299.95
-
-
- Price and features subject to change before release.
-
-
- HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
-
- Amiga computer, hard drive, 2MB of memory (512K chip), and AmigaDOS 1.3 or
- higher.
-
- If you are a registered owner of a Soft-Logik product, you will be notified
- of the release of PageStream 3.0 (expected in late summer 93).
-
- You can order now by Visa or MasterCard and you will not be billed until
- shipment of your copy.
-
- Retail price: $299.95
- Upgrade from PageStream 2.x and HotLinks Editions 1.x: $ 95.00
- Upgrade from PageStream 2.x: $125.00
- Upgrade from PageStream 1.x: $150.00
- Competitive Upgrade (from any desktop publisher): $175.00
-
- You must be registered to upgrade from PageStream, and must provide proof of
- ownership for a competitive upgrade.
-
- If you have purchased PageStream 2.2 on or after March 15, 1993, you are
- entitled to a free upgrade.
-
- Sales: 1-800-829-8608
- Or: 1-314-894-8608
- Fax: 1-314-894-3280
-
- SHIPPING/HANDLING
- $5 in USA/Canada
- $15 for other countries
-
- CALL FOR A FREE BROCHURE
-
-
- PageStream is a registered trademark of Soft-Logik Publishing Corp.
- XPress is a registered trademark of Quark, Inc.
- Professional Page is a registered trademark of Gold Disk, Inc.
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
-
- IMPORTANT NOTICE!
- =================
-
- STReport International Online Magazine is available every week in the
- ST Advantage on DELPHI. STReport readers are invited to join DELPHI and
- become a part of the friendly community of Atari enthusiasts there.
-
-
- SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI
- ======================
- Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access
- DELPHI services via a local phone call
-
- JOIN -- DELPHI
- --------------
-
- Via modem, dial up DELPHI at 1-800-695-4002
- then...
- When connected, press RETURN once or twice
- and...
- At Password: type STREPORT and press RETURN.
-
- DELPHI's Basic Plan offers access for only $6.00 per hour, for any baud
- rate. The $5.95 monthly fee includes your first hour online.
-
- For more information, call: DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005
-
- DELPHI is a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge, MA.
-
- Try DELPHI for $1 an hour!
-
- For a limited time, you can become a trial member of DELPHI, and
- receive 5 hours of evening and weekend access during this month for only $5.
- If you're not satisfied, simply cancel your account before the end of the
- calendar month with no further obligation. If you keep your account active,
- you will automatically be enrolled in DELPHI's 10/4 Basic Plan, where you
- can use up to 4 weekend and evening hours a month for a minimum $10 monthly
- charge, with additional hours available at $3.96. But hurry, this special
- trial offer will expire soon! To take advantage of this limited offer, use
- your modem to dial 1-800-365-4636. Press <RET> once or twice. When you get
- the Password: prompt, type IP26 and press <RET> again. Then, just answer
- the questions and within a day or two, you'll officially be a member of
- DELPHI!
-
- TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (5/5/93)
- --------------------------
- (1) LITTLE GREEN SELECTOR
- (2) STREPORT 9.18
- (3) TOS COMPATIBILITY FIX
- (4) AEO: VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9
- (5) DC XTRACT PLUS 2.1
- (6) Z*NET 9314
- (7) REHBOCK.ARC
- (8) DOUBLE CLICK'S DC-SEA
- (9) XYZPATCH.ZIP
- (10) SYSINFO.LZH
-
- All of the above files can be found in the RECENT ARRIVALS database for at
- least one week after the posting of this list. Please Note that in the case
- of online magazines, only the most current issue in the database at the time
- of this compilation is considered for the Top 10 list. Also, for all files,
- a submission is eligible for the Top 10 list for only four weeks after its
- original uploading.
-
-
- DELPHI- It's getting better all the time!
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
-
- > CT FEST'93 STR SHOW NEWS The Summertime Atari Event!
- """"""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- THE CT ATARIFEST '93!
- =====================
-
-
- JUNE 12 & 13, AT THE WINDSOR COURT HOTEL
- WINDSOR, CT. (JUST ABOVE HARTFORD)
-
-
- Free Parking!
- Low Room Rates!
- More Vendors!
- More Floor Space!
-
-
-
- CONNECTICUT SHOW TO FEATURE ATARI'S LATEST ENTRY
- ================================================
-
-
- HARTFORD, Conn. (April 12)
-
- More than 1,000 Atari computer enthusiasts are expected to converge
- here June 12 and 13 at Connecticut AtariFest '93, and are certain to debate
- whether the star of the show -- THE LONG-AWAITED FALCON030 COMPUTER -- lives
- up to its advance billing.
-
- Yep, that ACT Atari Group is running another major NorthEast computer
- event. Last year's successful CT Fest had over 700 attendees, which merited
- a larger location, so we've moved a mile away (exit 42 on I-91) into bigger
- and better quarters. We're just as convenient to reach as ever, and only
- two hours from Boston or New York! The new hotel has excellent room rates
- ($35.00 per room), free and plentiful parking, easy access from Interstate
- 91, I-95, I-90, I-84, I-80, an in house Sports Bar, a bigger ballroom and is
- located just 1 mile from Bradley International Airport (free shuttle service
- for hotel guests).
-
- The Falcon030 is a perfect low cost tool for the professional artist,
- with 8 track, 16 bit musical capabilities, truecolor graphics and a 32 bit
- DSP chip. The Falcon will be bundled with several music programs, including
- a 4 track 'Direct to Disk' editing and recording program, a sound sampler
- and an all purpose productivity package called AtariWorks.
-
- The Hartford show will likely be one of the first encounters the
- general public has with the new machine and software leading designers have
- produced for it. Atari was performing quality control tests on the latest
- production models shipped to the Sunnyvale headquarters in mid-April.
-
- The two-day event will feature more than 40 exhibitors, including
- several of the top names in music software development and MIDI equipment.
- Tentative music exhibitors include Barefoot Software (formerly Hybrid Arts),
- Digital F/X, Steinberg/Jones, Pro Musica, Compo Software and others. The
- show, sponsored by ACT Atari Group, will be held at the Windsor Court Hotel,
- just off Interstate 91 at exit 42.
-
- Connecticut AtariFest'93 promises to showcase the work of several
- musicians and will include some live music sessions.
-
- Other vendors will demonstrate new equipment and software that will be
- of interest to musicians whether they're on or off the job. Among them,
- organizers have received tentative nods from A&D Software, ABC Solutions,
- Baggetaware, Barefoot Software, Compo Software, Computer Studio, Derric
- Electronics, East Hartford Computer Repair, Gribnif Software, ICD Inc.,
- MegaType Software, Soft-Logik Publishing, Toad Computers, Wizztronics. Last
- year 14 user groups participated, and that number is expected to grow by
- June.
-
- A Home Business and Entertainment Expo that will focus on high-tech
- gadgetry designed for home use is also planned. Central activities will
- include a New England Lynx Tournament for the gamester in the family, a
- Portfolio corner for the on-the-go palmtop computer user, and other
- technology such as VCRs, lap/palmtops, voice messaging systems, satellite
- receivers, CD-ROM, fax-modems, large screen TV, printers, audio-video
- components, cellular phones, office supplies, video games or add-on units
- and accessories.
-
- We'll have our annual New England Lynx Competition, with multiple
- Comlynxed competitions underway at all times. Last year's winners took home
- prizes ranging from games to accessories to complete Lynx Systems! Bring
- your best player and join the fun.
-
- We'll have the Portfolio Corner, staffed with industry pundits and
- filled with every imaginable palmtop peripheral! Last year we had a few
- Portfolios disassembled at the booth, a real insight into surface mount
- technology!
-
- For those of you with an eye towards seminars, we'll have them in
- abundance, last year's question and answer session with Bob Brodie drew
- standing only crowds! In addition, we had John Eidsvoog's walk through the
- Codehead graphic tools, Jeff Naideau of Barefoot Software showing off
- EdiTrack Platinum, Dave Troy of (Guess[ribbet]) Computers, STReport's Dana
- Jacobson and Joe Mirando and many, many others.
-
- And to top things off, come out and see the Falcon 030 in all its
- glory. By then we expect to see some rad new programs out and some really
- excitement! All in all, we hope to have the best Northeast show yet, and we
- look forward to your participation. Make your plans now for the most
- exciting Atari Weekend this spring!
-
- For further information, call Brian Gockley at 203-332-1721 or Doug
- Finch at 203-637-1034. We can also be found on GEnie in Category 11 or on
- Compuserve in the Atari Forums. E-mail can be directed to B.GOCKLEY or
- D.FINCH7 on GEnie or to 75300,2514 or 76337,1067 on CIS.
-
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
-
-
-
-
- > CLEAR VISIONS STR Spotlight "I can see clearly now..."
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN
- ======================
-
-
- by Drew Reid Kerr
-
-
- It's been several months since I dumped almost every piece of Atari
- equipment I had (including two complete systems, SLM 605 printer and
- Portfolio) and a whole load of software to enter the PC/Windows world. Man,
- what a relief!
-
- Atari no longer offered what I needed -- a good contact manager,
- support and customer service, a word processing program that featured DTP
- and didn't have to be translated from another language. I was tired of the
- stupid bickering of a few small, and I mean SMALL, developers. I wanted to
- be on the edge of technology to run my business, and unfortunately, Atari
- couldn't cut it.
-
- I make my way through areas online devoted to the PC and Windows and
- you never see the kind of silliness and dumb behavior that goes on in the
- Atari world. It's really a supportive atmosphere where nobody is taking
- sides to fight a war. Most of the sysops seem to have their egos in check,
- because most of the Atari sysops in GEnie were so obnoxious and egocentric,
- it turned me off from hanging around their area altogether.
-
- Before the dwindling group of Atari loyalists scream "traitor," realize
- where you are and where I am now. Hardware and software prices in the PC
- world are plummeting rapidly, so that Atari is far from the only bargain
- these days. I've got the best and most sophisticated software on the market
- from Lotus and Microsoft that run rings around most Atari programs. I'm
- multitasked under Windows. Everything is totally compatible. I can go into
- ANY software store and buy what I want for my computer. I've got a CD-ROM
- that purrs like a racing car. I can go on-line with America Online without
- the use of purchasing an additional emulator. And you'll still be bickering
- and screaming at each other even as the Atari ship goes under.
-
- I can read a trillion excellent magazines about my platform where
- manufacturers care about their customers and they get spanked publicly when
- they don't. You never hear the word "censorship." There's no favoritism
- because all these publications are important. And if customers were
- leaving, they would genuinely be alarmed, as opposed to the director of
- communications saying, "Good riddance!"
-
- During my first few months in the PC world, I downloaded STR regularly
- and saw how the magazine was constantly being punished for speaking its mind
- -- first its flag was removed, then it wasn't allowed to be on the Atari RT.
-
- I was convinced that the people who ran the Atari area of GEnie were
- complete control freak lunatics and made me happy that I was leaving them
- behind to save themselves.
-
- The Atari Corporation and a handful of the people who run businesses
- for it have done their best to turn me off. It's hard to believe that some
- lady who runs a microscopic business from her kitchen in God knows where
- thinks Atari is going is save the universe and how dare we tread on its toes
- is going to be taken seriously. Why wait months and months, and be filled
- with such incredible fantasy bull from Bob Brodie when the machine and
- software to do exactly what you want and more and EASILY is right here!
-
- My dad is selling his Atari because it's become plain obvious to him
- that his computer is a dinosaur. He just ordered a Gateway 2000 486SX-25
- with a 170 mb hard drive and 4 mb of RAM and everything else for $1495. I've
- got one more Atari computer running my recording studio, but its days are
- numbered, too. I've seen some damned good sequencing/notation programs for
- Windows.
-
- I never owned a piece of Atari stock, thank God. I look in the paper
- and now it has sunk to below 1. It's a penny stock.
-
- I'm just waiting, folks. Just waiting any day now for the Tramiels to
- throw in the towel and say, "We moron-ed ourselves right out of business."
- Sam Tramiel will say, "We all had a good laugh at that Forbes article." Who
- will be laughing then, Sam? It will be really sad that after all the
- screaming, yelling and absolute immature behavior in the Atari world on and
- off line, many people will be left owning the Edsel of the computer world. I
- admire your loyalty.
-
- But I am sure that after this letter is reprinted, it'll provoke some
- juvenile reaction like, "Who needs you? Atari's the best! DOS stands for
- dumb operating system!" I wish I could send all those people pacifiers,
- spank them, and send them to bed with no supper. Meanwhile, I'm kicking
- royal butt in the computer world, my documents, brochures and materials look
- beautiful and better than anything I could ever do with Calamus and Word
- Writer. And your days will be numbered. I won't be a lemming, folks. Wake
- up and smell the coffee.
-
- Good riddance Bob Brodie, Ron Kovacs, Darlah and her sysops, and the
- Atari Corporation! Eat my dust!!!
-
- -->=<--
-
- Editor Note;
-
- Mr. Kerr,a well known advertising exec and publicist from coast to
- coast and once a severe critic of STReport, sent this item in this past
- week. It was among approximately forty five "convert" letters we've
- received over the past month with permission to re-print included. The
- numbers of staunch Atari supporters leaving the platform is no longer
- alarming its an outright tragedy. I suppose you've heard this many times
- before, but it'll never hurt to keep it ringing in the ears of those who
- KILLED Atari. Atari had it all when they intro'ed the 520ST. They had the
- market by the chops and let it go. They had the new users by the heart
- strings but ATE their hearts instead of gently tugging on the strings. They
- literally had the "cream of the crop" when it came to developers... they
- abused them, ridiculed them and fought with them instead of nurturing them
- and encouraging them. Naturally the abused, insulted and angered developers
- left the Atari platform for more pleasant surroundings and greater earnings.
-
- All these things were in the direct control of the Tramiels at Atari. They
- blew it big time. They took on employees they could control and control
- them they did, the free thinkers were soon dumped. Take a long hard look at
- Atari's "casualty list" it contains some of the finest minds in the USA's
- computing community. The Tramiels either fired, encouraged to resign or
- abused them all out the door! Again, they blew it big time.
-
- Now with latest in the long line of production fiascos at hand, what do
- we find? The greatest campaign of double talk the community has ever seen.
- The guys handling Atari Explorer Magazine (the ever elusive Hard Copy), are
- laid-off, what happens when its reported to the userbase? A disinformation
- campaign the likes of which we have never seen before erupts. They're OFF
- the payroll... yet the masters of doublespeak insist that they call the
- numbers and find they're still there. But are they really? Nope! STReport
- gets called and told there are those at Atari that are ashamed of us and
- that STR had "offended" them. Hmmm Truth is truth no matter how you slice
- it. If anybody is offended, it should be the loyal, continually smoked upon
- userbase! They're the offended ones perhaps even violated. Where is this
- Falcon?? Will it ever get here in the numbers needed to make a dent in the
- market place? STReport feels the Falcon's time has come and gone without a
- chance. In fact, if Atari goes behind this thing now, they'll cut their own
- throats.
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
-
- :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT:
- _________________________________
-
- Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo)
- Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369.
- Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that).
- Wait for the U#= prompt.
-
- Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN.
-
- GEnie costs only $4.95 a month for unlimited evening and weekend access to
- more than 100 services including electronic mail, online encyclopedia,
- shopping, news, entertainment, single-player games, and bulletin boards on
- leisure and professional subjects. With many other services, including the
- biggest collection of files to download and the best online games, for only
- $6 per hour.
-
- MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! Any time during your first month of membership if you
- are not completely satisfied, just ask for your $4.95 back.
-
- .________________________________________________________________________.
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- !________________________________________________________________________!
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- | Erik C. Thauvin .......... MACSPECT | 2. 28121 DISKEEPER V1.9.SIT |
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- | ------{ SOFTWARE LIBRARY }------- | For COMPLETE info and TIPS about |
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- !_____________________________________!__________________________________!
-
-
- GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric
- Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission
-
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
-
- > IAAD PIRACY REPORT STR FOCUS! It certainly does hurt!
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- PIRACY IN THE ATARI COMMUNITY
- WHAT'S BEING DONE TO COMBAT THIS ONGOING TRAVESTY?
-
-
- Part 2
-
-
- by Dana P. Jacobson
-
-
- Last week, we at STReport published the recent report from the IAAD
- about their _ongoing_ investigation of software piracy. I want to
- apologize for some of the confusion that may have come about in areas of my
- commentary. I had mentioned that I'd be quoting particular areas of that
- article and then commenting. At the time that I had written my piece, I
- didn't realize that we would be including the entire IAAD article. It made
- sense for Ralph to edit portions of my piece so as not to repeat the
- original article _and_ my comments. Anyway, since all of you have now seen
- the IAAD article, I'll just refer to it rather than quote any long
- passages.
-
- To continue, the IAAD article went to on to explain what exactly a
- pirate BBS is, and what is usually involved. To the naive, or the
- doubters, there are many seemingly innocent bulletin boards out there. It
- doesn't take much to eventually learn that these same boards have pirate
- areas on them that the "typical" user is never aware. Some try to hide it
- (pirated software) and some are blatant about it. There's really no way to
- know without either hearing about it from a friend or being referred by
- someone else you might meet online. There are ways to suspect a pirate
- BBS, but it's no guarantee, nor really fair to generalize, to determine
- one. The hair on my neck rises every time I call a BBS that allows, or
- recommends, that you use aliases or a handle. Users hiding behind an alias
- oftentimes can mean that there are other things to hide. That's also not
- to say that a BBS where everyone uses their real name can't be a pirate
- board. Most BBS programs allow the ability to provide certain access
- levels for users, and the ability to hide certain file areas from whomever
- the SysOp wants. There are many ways for a SysOp to provide pirate files
- to whomever they want, so there's truly no sure-fire determining factor
- without actually seeing it and downloading the files for yourself. It does
- make locating piracy more difficult, but certainly not impossible.
-
- Discussion of such things as "elite access," "warez," "cracked," and
- many others are certainly something to question. Pro-piracy discussions,
- etc. are also a helpful clue. The trouble is, a lot of this stuff is
- hidden to the first-time caller and he/she may never come across anything
- questionable unless they look or ask for it - then still unlikely. It's a
- real mess.
-
- To quote from the IAAD article:
-
- "Successful software theft has two basic requirements: a dishonest person
- willing to give away a copy of a program he has purchased -- and another
- dishonest person willing to accept it. When this activity takes place on a
- Bulletin Board System, a given copy can be distributed rapidly from BBS to
- BBS, from user to sysop to user, all over the world. One person's
- willingness to give away that first copy can lead to its possession by
- literally thousands of others. Pirate boards succeed because there are
- many people willing to give or take the copies -- and because the sysop
- uses strategies calculated to maintain and escalate their involvement."
-
- Once this cycle begins, piracy has the ability to run rampant. Software is
- thus passed along from user to user, BBS to BBS, and so on. There's really
- no way to estimate how much damage piracy causes. How about all of the
- software that, once downloaded, is passed along through non-BBS channels?
- A friend gives it to a friend, who gives it to a friend, ad nauseam. It
- happens!
-
- Be suspicious of boards that ask a million questions when you first
- log on. What does a SysOp need to know other than your name, address,
- phone number, and computer type? Be suspicious of those boards that tell
- you that in order to get higher access, you're required to upload at least
- one file; and if you do, you're denied that access anyway (because it
- wasn't commercial). Be suspicious of those boards that list "elite" or
- "private" file areas, but doesn't define what elite or private signifies.
- Be suspicious of those boards that require a "byte count ratio"; this
- usually means that these boards want you to upload commercial files which
- are usually quite large (total number of bytes). Be wary of those boards
- that demand that users call in at 9600 baud or higher (to allow more
- callers to get in and out faster, allowing more files to be uploaded). Be
- wary of those boards that ask you who referred you to the board, and end up
- determining whether or not you gain access due to the results of that
- information. There are so many possible "clues", good and bad, that it can
- make the average bonafide caller go crazy trying to determine whether or
- not a BBS is legitimate.
-
- There was something in Brumleve's article that did rattle me,
- somewhat. I may have considered the possibility, but never really gave it
- all that much thought. To refresh your memories:
-
- "As with other criminal activity, the big players in software theft have
- formed alliances to share files, blacklists, message networks, and other
- information. There are dozens of these organizations, some international
- in scope. For example, The Elite, with world headquarters in the
- Netherlands, is headquartered here by the Outer Region BBS in Colorado and
- Dragon's Pub in Quebec. The Syndicate (TSC) has representative BBSs on
- three continents and in both hemispheres; the Happy Hideaway in Florida
- serves as its Eastern US headquarters and Outer Region as its Western base,
- while the Shire BBS in Chile and the Eagles Nest and Slime City BBSs in
- Sweden provide an international link."
-
- "Pirate boards have aligned themselves with legitimate networks as well.
- Many of the BBSs on which we discovered commercial files areas are linked
- to the F-Net -- and, of course, so are plenty of responsible BBSs. For
- example, according to a CrossNet Conference Node Listing, The Time Warp BBS
- (F-Net node 99) serves as the lead node for the "Elite Underground" F-Net
- conference, which also includes Starlight BBS (node 287), Darkworld BBS
- (node 305), Outer Region BBS (node 469), Steal Your Face (node 489), Outer
- Planes (node 558), Gold Nugget BBS (node 622), London Smog BBS (node 632),
- Million Dollar Saloon (node 639), Speedy's Raceway (node 689) and H.B. Smog
- (node 712). According to another CrossNet Conference Node Listing, The
- Gold Nugget serves as the lead node for The "Pompey Pirates Elite" (not
- directly associated with the Pompey Pirates cracking ring mentioned above)
- F-Net conference; The Prairie Chip II BBS (node 45), The Blackhole (node
- 612), The Temple of Doom (node 595), and Spider-man's Web (node 711) are
- among the 9 BBSs involved in this conference. The "Upper Echelon" F-Net
- conference ties US and Canadian boards by serving callers on the Gold
- Nugget in Ohio, Steal Your Face in New Jersey, Space Station BBS (node 248)
- and London Smog in California, Million Dollar Saloon in Texas, Paybax BBS
- (node 307) in Delaware, and Aardvarks from Mars (node 38) and Dragon's Lair
- (node 87) in Ontario."
-
- "Conferences of this kind allow pirates from great distances to "get to
- know" each other, to exchange files as well as messages, to solicit calls
- to their favorite BBSs. Participation in these conferences establishes an
- online identity; a pirate recognized from his posts on one node of a
- conference is likely to be accepted without question when logging on as a
- new user on another node in the same conference."
-
- It's really amazing to see the lengths groups of pirates will go to in
- order to maintain their confederacy. These networks are something which I
- hope the IAAD and SPA are investigating in the hopes of taking out some of
- these links, and if we're fortunate, the top of the chain.
-
- So, how can pirate boards be shut down, and what are some of the
- possible consequences? Brumleve's article sums it up well:
-
- "There are, in fact, many approaches to shutting down pirate boards.
- Copyright infringement is one obvious track. The Software Publishers
- Association is a watchdog agency which works with the FBI to shut down
- large-scale BBS operations. There are legal departments at major computer,
- game machine, and software companies devoting time and effort to this task.
- There's the IRS connection for unreported caller "donations". Some boards
- come down because of the availability of pornography. There are a variety
- of criminal laws related to activities common on pirate boards, and,
- especially in cases of copyright infringement, civil law may offer the most
- effective route to compensation for the victims."
-
- "When a board is busted by the authorities, the related equipment and
- property is usually seized. Any records of callers, caller donations,
-
-
- etc., are seized along with that equipment. Callers could be charged with
- conspiracy. For this reason, it's not wise to have one's real name,
- address, and real phone show up in the records of a pirate board, even
- though the sysop adamantly insists upon it and uses verification checks to
- enforce it..."
-
- With this type of potential redress, I'm really surprised that pirate
- boards are still flourishing. Perhaps with continued vigilance and
- pressure, this community of piracy will diminish. I don't believe that we
- can eradicate it completely, but to be able to cut out a good number of
- them is a terrific start!
-
- I think Brumleve's article ended on a very somber set of points which
- she brought out beautifully: the moral aspects of piracy, and what this
- might instill in people:
-
- "8. The Moral Toll: As the Twig is Bent..."
-
- "~ Right and wrong now seem the same ~
- -- Rats Nest"
-
- "As a parent, I'm concerned about the numbers of young people logged on to
- pirate boards. These kids put themselves in a very vulnerable position.
- In earning their right to download, young callers are implicated in the
- illegal activity. The adults who run and participate on these boards set
- an example which could, by extension, lead to ignoring the laws which
- govern other areas of their lives. Do these kids also shoplift, steal from
- other kids' lockers, buy termpapers to submit as their own? Children
- learn to run and to use pirate boards from adults whose character is
- questionable by definition. When a child has such a sysop as a role model,
- what does that spell for his future?"
-
- "Like the proverbial stranger who offers candy, these criminals lure
- teenagers and young adults with promises of free software in exchange for
- their services. The service, of course, is to provide more free software
- -- which the sysop can then use to lure more callers and to keep his
- current clientele calling back. The first step is to inspire fear; this is
- achieved right off the bat with a new user questionnaire threatening denial
- of access if caller doesn't provide just the right answers. And the second
- is to force the caller to incriminate himself with his initial upload.
- Once the kid begins downloading and playing commercial games he could never
- afford to buy, the pressure cycle of upload/download counts begins."
-
- The topic of piracy is not one that can be mentioned and discussed for
- a short time and then be forgotten for months until someone else feels the
- pinch and the need to bring it up again. This is a problem that has really
- reached epidemic proportions, not only on our small Atari community, but
- other platforms as well. It seems worse for Atarians because of its lesser
- size. I really feel that the pressure needs to be kept on these pirate
- systems. They _need_ to feel paranoid every time a caller logs on to their
- BBS. There is a need for the legitimate userbase to read about pirate
- systems being caught, brought down, and punished substantially to deter
- others from either continuing or started. Users need to become aware of
- the harm that piracy inflicts on everyone. We need to be constantly
- reminded about piracy. As an example, here's what these latest articles on
- piracy has done to get people to start thinking about the problem it's
- causing, from an an E-Mail message to me on my own BBS:
-
- From User: 'XXXX XXXXX':
-
- "Well, now I'm really bummed out. I haven't heard about pirating (though I
- knew it still existed) since I [sic] STart did a cover article on it
- several years back. Nobody seemed to pay it much attention. It's bad
- enough that atari is caving in on itself, but the final blow seems to be
- this pirate thing."
-
- "Good article, Dana. I look forward to reading more next week. Enough
- [sic] people read STR, so hopefully your series and Brumleve's article may
- bring this disease to more people's attention."
-
- "Reading the comments from Rat's Nest and Fawlty Towers, plus the actual
- listings of the software was like touring some skinhead nazi's hideout. It
- really made me sick. Plus when I think of the lost revenue to those
- developers..."
-
- In an ongoing discussion, we deliberated some possible steps to take
- once a pirate BBS and/or pirates is discovered. Although this is not
- something that can be done without proof, once a pirate or system is
- uncovered, there are some possible means to publicize them:
-
- From User: 'XXXX XXXXX':
-
- "It sounds like contacting the owners [of the original pirated program]
- would be a good first step in their punishment. A second step may be to
- publish their names in different Atari publications or uploading an ascii
- file to commercial and local boards. I'm sorry, but if they're Atari
- users, they know how fragile our platform is and if they can't be fined,
- they should be punished in a way that would make them think twice about
- what they did to all of us."
-
- That sounds good to me, "XXXX"!! STReport has extended its full
- support to the IAAD investigation. Whatever we can do, whether it's to
- offer our own ongoing commentary, or publish the findings of the IAAD, will
- be done. We feel that it's everyone's responsibility to help in any way
- possible. If you're aware of pirate BBSs, let us or any member of the IAAD
- know. The information will be kept in the strictest confidence.
-
- Again, if you haven't read Dorothy Brumleve's article, read STReport
- 9.18, or the stand alone article available on any of the online services.
- The article is definitely an eye-opener, and extremely well-written and
- researched. Also, if you have comments about piracy, please send them
- along to us at STReport - your input is always welcome.
-
- Until next time...
-
-
- _____________________________________________________________
-
-
-
- > BLUE RIDGE ATARIFEST'93 STR SHOW NEWS "The Summertime Atari Event!"
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
-
- 1993 Blue Ridge ATARIFEST
- """""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- The Blue Ridge Atari Computer Enthusiasts (BRACE) and Computer Studio
- invite you to participate in the Fourth Annual Blue Ridge AtariFest in
- beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. Show dates and times are:
-
-
- Saturday July 24, 1993 10am - 6pm
- Sunday July 25, 1993 Noon - 5pm
-
-
- Just as in previous years, we have arranged for FREE Booth space for Atari
- developers!! (We're only requesting the donation of a door prize).
-
- We can promise both developers and show-goers an energetic and exciting
- show with as enthusiastic a crowd of Atarians as you'll find anywhere, plus
- the support of Computer Studio in the mall.
-
- We're once again taking over the Courtyard Shop (mall) area at Westgate
- Shopping Center for the show (location of Computer Studio), plus the use of
- vacant store spaces for seminar sessions. Seminar sessions will be 45
- minutes in length, and developers are welcome to conduct a seminar on their
- product line or approved topic of their choice (seminar sessions are
- limited, so first come, first served).
-
- This year's show dates also coincide with Asheville's annual Bele Chere
- street festival, when downtown Asheville is closed to vehicular traffic and
- becomes what must be one of the largest street fairs in the country.
- Westgate Shopping Center is one of the primary Park-and-Ride shuttle
- centers for transporting people to and from downtown, and we've arranged to
- have the shuttle service pick up at the front entrance of the mall and drop
- off at the rear entrance, so everyone taking the service from Westgate WILL
- walk through the AtariFest exhibition area sometime during the day. This
- will be a great opportunity to showcase Atari and Atari related software
- and peripherals, and introduce them to people who aren't already Atari
- owners. Bringing in NEW blood is the key to the growth of this platform,
- and this will be our opportunity to begin that process with a captive
- audience.
-
- Additional discussions of the show, as well as confirmations of your
- participation, are welcome in GEnieMail and in the Blue Ridge
- AtariFest topic 13 in Category 11 here on GEnie.
-
- HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
- HAPPY ATARI COMPUTING.
- IT'S HAPPENING IN ASHEVILLE!
-
-
- Where: Westgate Shopping Center - Asheville, N.C.
-
- Take any major highway into Asheville (US 19-23, US 26 or I-40) to the
- I-240 loop, then take the "Westgate/Hilton Inn Drive exit" into the
- Westgate Shopping Center parking lot.
-
- When: 24-25, July 1993
- Time: 10:am to 6:pm SAT
- 12 Noon 'til 5pm SUN
-
- Points of contact:
-
- Come for a day or come for the weekend,
- but do come and enjoy yourself.
-
-
- Great Smokies Hilton Resort Hilton Inn Drive (704)254-3211
- Toll-free reservation phone number 1-800-733-3211
-
-
- Radisson One Thomas Wolf Plaza (704)252-8211
- Rate: $62.00 per room (1-4 people)
-
-
- ====== Additional Hotel / Motel Information ===========
-
- Days Inn I-26 and Airport Road (704)684-2281
- I-40 Exit 55 (704)298-5140
-
- Econo Lodge US 70 East, I-40 Exit 55 (704)298-5519
-
- Holiday Inn 275 Smoky Park Hwy (704)667-4501
- Toll-free reservation phone number 1-800-HOLIDAY
-
- Red Roof Inn I-40 and US 19-23 Exit 44 (704)667-9803
- Toll-free reservation phone number 1-800-843-7663
-
- Budget Motel I-40 Exit 44 (Enka-Chandler)
- West Asheville Exit (704)665-2100 Best
- Western Asheville Central 22 Woodfin St (704)253-1851
-
- ========= Local Bed & Breakfast lodging Information =========
-
- Aberdeen Inn 64 Linden Ave (704)254-9336
- Albemarle Inn 86 Edgemont Road (704)255-0027
- Applewood Manor 62 Cumberland Circle (704)254-2244
- The Bridle Path Inn Lockout Road (704)252-0035
- Cairn Brae B & B 217 Patton Mountain Rd (704)252-9219
- Carolina B & B 177 Cumberland Ave (704)254-3608
- Cedar Crest Victorian Inn 674 Biltmore Ave (704)252-1289
- Corner Oak Manor 53 St. Dunstan (704)253-3525
- Cornerstone Inn 230 Pearson Dr (704)253-5644
- Flint Street Inn 100 & 116 Flint Street (704)253-6723
- The Lion and The Rose 276 Montford Ave (704)255-7673
- The Ray House B & B 83 Hillside St (704)252-0106
- Reed House 119 Dodge St (704)274-1604
- The Wright Inn 235 Pearson Drive (704)251-0789]
- (1-800-552-5724)
-
- A more complete listing of Bed & Breakfasts can be obtained through the
- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
-
- Reservations should be made immediately, as July is the height of our
- tourist season.
-
-
- =========== CAMP GROUNDS ================
-
- (reservations are a must during this time of season):
-
- Mount Pisgah:
- About 20 miles southwest of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway at
- mile post 408.6 (National Park Service). 690 acres. Elevation 5000'. One of
- the nicest campgrounds in Western North Carolina. 67 tent sites, 70 RV
- sites. For reservations: P.O.Box 749, Watnesville, N.C. 28786; phone (704)
- 235-9109. No showers. Groceries and restaurant. Nature program. 14 day
- stay limit.
-
- Lake Powhatan:
- 4 miles south of Asheville on State road 191, 3.5 miles west on SR
- 806. 30 acres. 98 tent/rv sites. Reservation available thru Mistix
- 1-800-283-CAMP. Disposal station. No showers. Swimming; lifeguard; fishing;
- nature trails; bicycles. 14-day stay limit.
-
- While in the area, you might want to consider a little sightseeing,
- and include a visit to the Biltmore House here in Asheville (the largest
- single family residence ever built in the U.S.--its a "castle"). A visit to
- the Biltmore can be a full-day's activity as you will want to view the
- house, visit the winery, and walk some of the grounds and gardens.
-
- Hours:
-
- The House 9 am to 6pm The Gardens 9am to 7pm
- Conservatory 9am to 5:30pm
- The Winery Monday-Saturday 11am to 7pm Sunday 1pm to 7pm
-
- Other areas of interest include; the Thomas Wolf home (adjacent to the
- Raddison), the Blue Ridge Parkway and Folk Art Center. A drive up the Blue
- ridge Parkway to enjoy the higher elevations and incredible views of our
- mountains. Perhaps a hike up to Mount Pisgah and look back down to
- Asheville(you can see Mt. Pisgah from most anywhere in Asheville). A short
- drive from Mt. Pisgah will take you to Sliding Rock (for those of you
- travelling with kids who are still kids at heart), the Cradle of Forestry
- (first forest school in the country), waterfalls, trout hatchery, etc. For
- the adventurous, white water rafting on the Natahala River near Bryson
- City (approx one and a half hours from here).
-
- There's obviously loads more to see and do around Asheville (in
- addition to the Blue Ridge AtariFest and a visit to Computer Studio :-). If
- any of y'all would like maps and additional tourist info of the area I
- might suggest contacting the Chamber of Commerce:
-
- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
- 151 Haywood Street
- P.O. Box 1010
- Asheville, NC 28802
- 704-258-6111 FAX: (704)251-0926
-
-
- ___________________________________________________________________
-
-
-
- > AIM SLAMMED! STR FOCUS! Another DIVERSIONARY TACTIC!
- """""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- CONCERNING THE EXPLORER SHUTDOWN
- ================================
- THE HEAD GAMES ABOUND!
-
- by R. F. Mariano
-
- It never ceases to amaze me at how clever agendas can be ingeniously
- inserted into the course of current events. What is about to unfold here
- clearly depicts the deft administration of a personal and heavily biased
- opinion and slant on a seriously controversial occurrence in the Atari
- platform. In fact, its rather neat to watch the manner in which an attempt
- to change the focus of the situation is being tried.
-
- The fact remains, Atari Explorer is, at this time, no more. Until
- such time as its announced that either Lindsay or someone else is now
- handling Explorer with full intentions of fulfilling its subscription
- obligations, the users must be cautioned. There may be NO future issues
- done.
-
-
- from Delphi's Atari Area
- 54288 4-MAY 08:39 General Information
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 53912)
- From: ISDMARKETING To: DPJ (NR)
-
- You and Ralph have jumped on the subscription issue re: Atari Explorer real
- fast. I've been reading most of the thread with disgust because of the
- possibility that a double-standard is being used. You stated in your
- message #53912, that you took out a years subscription to Explorer. How
- come STReport appears to have ignored the fact that AIM sold subscriptions
- at WAACE 92 and, to date, after much yelling screaming by paid subscribers,
- finally shipped a single issue 6 months later. Oh, I understand. It is ok
- to start yelling "FOUL" at Atari Explorer days after the cutback is
- announced although it has been made clear to us all that Mike is trying his
- best to get the magazine out regardless, because Atari owns Atari Explorer.
- But it is NOT ok to say one single negative word about the AIM situation
- because Atari doesn't own AIM.
-
- The above is not a commentary on the relative quality of either magazine
- but a point on the manner in which Atari Explorer is being singled out.
-
- Nathan @ DMC
-
-
- Nathan,
-
- It's nice to see you are still up to your old "tricks" of showing a
- "side" of a story but NOT the whole picture. You truly are a master
- debater. Let's see now, why would Nathan be so interested in bringing out
- negatives relative to anything that Bill and Patti Rayle do? Could it be
- because of relentless hardhearted feelings between Nathan, Darlah and the
- Rayles? Say... stemming back to a certain feud that occurred in the ST RT
- over a year and a half ago?? Remember?? When the Rayles told Darlah to
- "keep" her free flag?
-
- Getting to the point, Atari Explorer suffered _how long_ a delay from
- the time Atari grabbed it away from John Jainschigg and took it back in
- house for "so-called" money saving reasons just a year or so ago? Nothing
- was said about _that_ lengthy delay. Atari announced it was doing so to
- cut back the expense of producing Explorer Magazine. Now, we are being
- told that to cut back expenses, Atari is contemplating taking the Explorer
- Magazine "back out of house"?? Time for a _serious_ reality check! Who is
- blowing smoke now with this doubletalk malarkey? Until such time as a
- change in the "shutdown" condition of Explorer is made known, let the
- userbase be aware that as of 4/8/93, Explorer was, for all intents and
- purposes, shutdown. Temporarily or permanently? Who knows?
-
- Now comes the TRUE AIM story; AIM has offered an alternatives to the
- AIM subscription. I might add that the first notices of a choice of
- refund/subscription change came well before the "six months" indicated,
- unbiasedly, by Nathan. They repeatedly offered, on CIS and in STReport,
- either a refund or a full subscription to their successful CONNECT magazine
- which is a highly acclaimed publication. The subscriber's value was
- protected and in the case of Connect, it was enhanced.
-
- What the Rayles DID NOT DO was to obscure the truth in waves of half
- truths and distraction. What the Rayles didn't do was totally ignore the
- controversy and leave the entire matter hanging in mid-air. Since
- Explorer's future is STILL in a state of heightened abstruseness, it's
- incumbent upon all of Atari Explorer's subscribers and advertisers who've
- paid in advance to be very concerned about the future of Atari Explorer
- Magazine. After all, the least they could've done was be UP FRONT and
- truthful about the lay-offs and the overall situation instead of trying to
- sandbag the situation into oblivion.
-
- As for "singling out".... heck, that's a given these days in the Atari
- community. One can only wonder who will be singled out next for the
- slaughter. Seems entire topics are devoted to the singling out of
- individuals, companies, dealers and/or just about anything that may
- generate some "traffic or action". It began way back before the PC DITTO
- thing blew. So please, don't try to make this issue look so unique, new
- and different.
-
- For the record, subscribers and advertisers who've paid in advance for
- services "to be rendered" have every right in the world to be concerned
- with Explorer's current state of affairs. Coupled with the level of
- doublespeak that's been palmed off upon the userbase since April 08, 1993.
- The time when Lindsay, Explorer Editor and Meer, advertising and art layout
- Mgr., were laid off, only increases the urgency as to whether the questions
- should be asked.
-
-
- Dana Jacobson, STReport Editor, answers Nathan's equivocal missive;
-
- 54321 4-MAY 22:40 News & Reviews
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 54288)
- From: DPJ To: ISDMARKETING (NR)
-
- I'll tell you why _I_ didn;t jump down AIM's throat because of late issues,
- Nathan. First of all, I did get my year's subscription from AIM, and I
- subscribed to them much later than AE. Also, the Rayles kept their
- subscribers up-to-date with regard to the problems that they were having;
- it also hasn't been 6 months in-between issues, but I can check to verify
- that for you. Unicorn Publications is also just a two-person operation
- with hardly as near the resources to put out a magazine than Atari is
- capable of doing. This is not to belittle the Rayles - they did a fine job
- with what they had to work with. They were also more regular over the
- years (since the MAM days) than AE ever was.
-
- so, had rumors come out about AIM, I'm sure that we would have discussed
- them online and in STReport. I also believe that we carried an item about
- AIM's problems, a number of weeks back. Why is it that "rumor" didn't
- cause nearly the reaction that the AE issue has caused? You know why.
- Also, why is AIM going through rough times? Mismanagement? Hardly. Could
- it be just one more in a long line of Atari support problems? The
- independent folks can't survive without the company doing something to help
- the market. Losing AE won't hurt me (personally) as much as losing AIM or
- of all of the others we lost over the years (nothing personal to the AE
- staff, past or present/future). But, I can't find fault with those who
- have done just about everything that they could to survive in today's Atari
- marketplace, and find it extremely difficult, if at all possible any
- longer.
-
- Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine
-
-
- So naturally, even though Nathan stated privately he would not post
- further on the subject after his first post.... the game continues...
- <sigh>
-
-
- 54367 5-MAY 09:43 News & Reviews
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 54321)
- From: ISDMARKETING To: DPJ (NR)
-
- I agree that we are both more concerned over the loss of a 3rd party
- magazine more so than over the loss of an Atari-owned publication.
-
- I was referring to the fact that Pattie and Bill sold new subscriptions to
- AIM at WAACE last October 1992. Since that time, they released one
- scaled-down 8 page newsletter with dated info and no editorial or anything
- in March of this year. When complaints started piling up on GEnie, STReport
- carried the offer from AIM, 5 months after they had last shipped AIM. I
- commend AIM for offering to refund subscription money. I commend them again
- for attempting to compete in a more sophisticated market with CONNECT and
- wish them the best of luck.
-
- All I was attempting to point out to you was the fact that NO, they did not
- keep their customers informed. In fact, no one heard a thing for almost 5
- months Dana (or at least no mailout was done to their subscriber base to
- inform them of anything). And the single issue they did publish was a far
- cry from the issue upon which people paid subscriptions. Wouldn't you
- agree? And yes, the Atari market has seen better days. Atari takes the
- blame for that without a doubt. ;-)
-
- My point still stands. Mike Lindsay is actively attempting to work
- something out with Atari so that he can take over Atari Explorer, which
- would be GREAT NEWS! The position of STReport totally ignored that aspect,
- instead going off on a tangent about doom and gloom and what about the
- subscribers. So I ask you, how come you didn't ask about the AIM
- subscribers for 5 months but managed to wait about one day when it was
- Atari Explorer. That's all. ;-)
-
- I'll now try and go back into lurker mode and patiently wait for Calamus
- questions. :-)
-
- Sincerely
-
- Nathan @ DMC
-
-
- Doom and Gloom Nathan?? Are you serious?? Can you say that with a
- straight face? The real Doom and Gloom as you say comes straight from
- Atari's lack of performance and delivery. Not from the FACT that STREPORT
- PRESENTS A TRUE STORY ABOUT ATARI. Talk about the ultimate "set-up" to
- twist and squirm the attention away from the basic fact that Lindsay and
- Meer were laid off and Explorer was shut down, this takes the cake.
-
- As far asking about Aim the answer is easy we spoke to the Rayles on
- an almost daily basis on Compuserve, they kept the users abreast of ongoing
- developments and their options. What they didn't do was blow smoke and try
- to amplify non-existent controversy. Nice try but no cigar.
-
- STReport's point still stands tall; Mike Lindsay and Darren Meer were
- laid off on thursday, April 08, 1993 and at the same time Atari Explorer
- was effectively shut down.
-
- While on the topic of misleading; Do you think its correct to have a
- recording of Mike Lindsay's voice answering calls at the 408-745-2182
- number while, in fact, he is not on the payroll and has not been since the
- 8th of April.?? Don't you think THAT'S misleading and improper? You know,
- the recording that sez; "they're either on another line or out of the
- office"? They've been laid off that's what. Its certainly not what that
- recording infers. I don't see you saying anything about that. The bottom
- line... to reiterate, is to let those who have paid for subscriptions and
- advertisements know a possibility of there not being another issue of or, a
- lack of regularity to Explorer and to govern themselves accordingly.
-
-
-
- __________________________________________________________________
-
-
-
- > EXPLORER NONSENSE STR Spotlight IS IT?? OR, IS IT NOT?
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- After having received a multitude of calls and emails relative to this
- matter I decided to bring forward as much material as I could find and
- allow our readers the opportunity to decide for themselves if a
- "smokescreen" of confusion was perpetrated by certain of Atari's reps. You
- be the judge..
-
-
- From the Delphi Atari Areas...
-
- ABOUT THE LAY-OFFS..
- 53809 28-APR 15:45 General Information
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 53803)
- From: ABARBIERO To: RMARIANO
-
- That was never contested, and not the point. Mike is planning restructuring
- of the magazine, with or without Atari as the owner. The next issue is
- being worked on, and that is all there is to say about the topic.
-
- Andreas@AEO
-
- FORUM>Reply, Add, Read, "?" or Exit> rep
- To: [ABARBIERO]
- Subj: RE: What's going on here?
-
-
- > "That was never contested, and not the point. Mike is planning
- > restructuring of the magazine, with or without Atari as the owner. The
- > next issue is being worked on, and that is all there is to say about the
- > topic.
-
-
- Really??? Its the whole point! They WERE laid-off at the time we reported
- the event and we've been forced to endure a barrage of empty words ever
- since!!
-
- I'm almost inclined to believe the whole thing was perped to ward off fears
- of a deluge of Explorer subscription refund requests.
-
- Ralph @ STReport International Online Magazine
-
-
-
- 53812 28-APR 19:26 General Information
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 53809)
- From: DPJ To: ABARBIERO
-
- Wait just a minute, Andreas!!!! How can you say "that was never contested
- and not the point"????? This is exactly what was the center of this entire
- debate!! The initial story from STReport was that 22 people, including Mike
- & Darren are no longer with Atari. You, along with others, jumped down
- Ralph's throat because of it; and now you're saying it was never contested?!
- Now you're implying that Ralph was correct all along. It sounds like you
- were all side-stepping the issue and refusing to confirm it while letting
- Ralph take the heat; something you had a part in also.
-
- It's amazing to hear the story of Atari Explorer's changes and reasons for
- them over the past couple of years. It goes from an in-house publication to
- an outside contract. John Jainschigg has some terrific success with it; and
- then Atari decides to cut back on expenses and decides to bring it back
- in-house. Not only does Jainschigg lose out on the contract because he opts
- not to foolhardily go to Sunnyvale, but he's owed money from Atari. Now AE
- is in Sunnyvale and Atari is still trying to save some money. Mike and
- Darren are no longer with Atari but have the option to "restructure" the
- magazine with or without Atari as the owner. Why all the secrecy? Is Atari
- concerned about possible repercussions from even more subscribers
- complaining about their potential loss of subscription fees and more delays
- at getting paid-for issues? With good reason - I subscribed to Explorer at
- WAACE '91, and still haven't got a year's worth of issues _yet_!! How many
- similar cases are there?
-
- Personally, I don't care whether AE is published inside or out of Sunnyvale.
- I do hope Darren & Mike stick with it, and I wish them and the rest of the
- staff the best of luck. But, I see no shame in admitting that someone,
- including STReport, reports what starts off as rumor and ends up being true.
- Atari should have better things to do then try and stop the spread of the
- truth just to save face. Much better things....
-
- Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine
-
-
- 53833 28-APR 23:12 General Information
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 53812)
- From: ABARBIERO To: DPJ (NR)
-
- The reasons why it was done is TOTALLY different than was the printed intent
- of the 'report' Atari Explorer is expensive to maintain, and for whatever
- reasons it was brought in house, the savings were not enough, and without a
- in house magazine they had to lay off Mike and Darren. The problem is that
- it was created into a negative media event, and that is the last thing it
- was intended to do. Hard decisions have to made, and I am not in the
- decision circuit, but all I know that all this will appear in ST R as a
- major conspiracy, and yes we all have much better things to do.... we dont
- try to stop spreading the truth, we just have to deal with the overreaction
- that comes from sensationalism. I end up hating to answer people's questions
- here as EVERYTHING that is said is turned around. I am not trying to make
- Atari seem flawless, they aren't, but when I talk to Mike Lindsay and he is
- upset about what is being said here and in your magazine I try to tell his
- side of it all. YES they were laid off,NO there is no 'coverup', NO there
- is no fear of people demanding refunds, YES it may be bad news for the
- magazine, and YES it may make the magazine better than it was.
-
- I understand now why no one from Atari wanted to take this job, or come
- online regularly to help out, everything is taken to extremes, and all the
- work is taken up with things like this instead of helping out with questions
- and problems. this does not help anyone.
-
- Andreas@AEO
-
-
- 53818 28-APR 20:44 General Information
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 53816)
- From: DPJ To: AEO_MAG
-
- Travis,
-
- I think that emotions are taking over and the original points are being
- missed. The initial story was that Darren & Mike are/were no longer with
- Atari. If _that_ is not true, please tell us. If this is true, and it
- appears that it is, the first reaction of _anyone_ is that AE is no longer
- with us, as we know it. If _this_ is true (or false), please say so.
-
- Now, with all of this said and done, hearing that Mike and Darren are
- currently in the process of restructuring AE, and on their own, is something
- which we did not report because that info was not (IMO) available at the
- time of our initial report. This came out _after_ we reported the initial
- "layoffs" at Atari. Working for Atari, publishing AE is not the same as
- working independently of Atari. publishing AE.
-
- All of the smoke and mirrors has been coming from the west coast. All that
- it did was cloud the issue. It appears that what we did report was true.
- It turns out that here was more to it with the apparent re-structuring in
- Oregon. All of this could have been avoided had _someone_ been up-front
- right from the beginning instead of blowing out more smoke.
-
- Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine
-
-
-
- 53859 29-APR 00:38 General Information
- RE: What's going on here? (Re: Msg 53818)
- From: AEO_MAG To: DPJ (NR)
-
- Dana,
-
- > Now, with all of this said and done, hearing that Mike and Darren are
- > currently in the process of restructuring AE, and on their own, is
- > something which we did not report because that info was not (IMO)
- > available at the time of our initial report. This came out _after_ we
- > reported the initial "layoffs" at Atari.
-
- This is not true. If STR had called Mike _the_same_day_, Mike would have
- told STR what was in AEO. The information was there from the beginning. STR,
- to my amazement, did not choose to follow through. Why? Lapse of judgement?
- Maybe. Everyone suffers from that. Intent to blacken Atari's eye? Maybe. It
- _seems_ that could be the case, after reading some messages.
-
- Within 24 hours, both you and Ralph have brought up the point of Explorer
- susbscriber refunds. Why? Explorer is still with us. After he was laid off,
- Mike has worked his behind off these past few weeks at Atari, trying to
- build something positive. All I see online is attempts to tear it down.
- Nothing positive has been contributed.
-
- I feel that if STR had talked with Mike, and if STR had the best interests
- of the Atari community at large, it would not have run the story as it did.
- It would not have left the impression that Explorer was dead.
-
- Anyway, Mike left a message on Ralph's machine tonight. I say, let's let
- this cool down until something more concrete develops.
-
- --Travis
-
-
- Editor Note:
-
- In all fairness, Mr. Guy must be confused as to the timetables here.
- Mike and Darren left Atari's employ on 04/08/93 Holy Thursday. We ran the
- bulletin on Monday April 12, 1993. Atari was closed for the long weekend.
- When the number was called, we heard the announcement pertaining to their
- performing "other duties".
-
- For Mr. Guy to question the veracity of the release is one thing but to
- continue the attempts to coverup a bold and very clumsy coverup is akin to a
- complete disaster. Now, we find indirect admissions that the lay-off
- reports were true and that the indignation has to do with subsequent
- information released. First, the bottom line is; Both Mike Lindsay and
- Darren Meer are not on the payroll. Mike Lindsay is at Atari attempting to
- negotiate a deal to take over Explorer. Facts are facts Travis, if Explorer
- is going to follow the bumpy road it has in the recent past, then it stands
- to reason that subscribers will need some sort of reassurance that they will
- receive future issues in a timely fashion. Having the best interests of the
- Atari Community at heart means much more than hiding the real facts of an
- occurrence from the userbase. It means letting them know all the facts and
- have them make a well informed decision. I indeed had a long talk with Mike
- today and I support his effort to bring Explorer back as strong as, if not
- stronger, than before. I must also say he agreed that STReport, its
- publisher and staff are owed an apology for the actions of AEO's reps
- recently on Delphi.
-
-
-
- ______________________________________________________________
-
-
-
-
- > STR Mail Call "...a place for the readers to be heard"
- """""""""""""
-
-
- STReport's MailBag
- """"""""""""""""""
-
-
- Messages * NOT EDITED * for content
- -----------------------------------
-
-
-
- from Delphi's Atari area
- 53564 24-APR 22:01 General Information
- Atari? A game company?
- From: CMILLAR To: ALL
-
- Long post about a possible future for Atari follows. Read it? <y/n>
-
- Over the past month or so, there has been a great deal of talk
- concerning Atari becoming a "game company", again. The general tone of
- these discussions has been that Atari will phase out the computer line and
- begin to strictly manufacture games and game machines. The obvious message
- these people are trying to get across, then, is that we, the Atari
- _computer_ user base, will be left out in the cold. I feel that this is an
- inaccurate assessment, but not wholly without a basis in fact. This
- situation was first brought to my attention when I read the numerous posts
- by Norman Weinress stating that it was an almost undeniable fact that Atari
- was currently in a "transition" to game company status. When I first read
- this I dismissed it offhand as completely ridiculous, and, in actuality, if
- one takes the statement at face value it _is_ ridiculous. But, if one looks
- at such a statement as perhaps a bit overemphasized, than numerous current
- events in the Atari world begin to make a great deal of sense. So, while it
- is obvious that Atari is shifting its market segment emphasis and hardware
- directions, to what extent and what areas remain a mystery.
-
- As things look right now, I believe that Atari is making an attempt to
- penetrate three markets. These markets are: music, games, and the home.
-
- The first is obviously the music market. The Falcon030 is a
- musician's dream (as I can attest to), and while definitely suitable for
- professional studio work, it is _ideal_ for the low budget and "budding"
- musician - perfect for a niche platform. Couple this with the fact that
- Atari already has some major inroads in the music world, most importantly a
- mature software base, emphasizing this market should lead to some
- spectacular results.
-
- The second market is game machines. Atari now knows that if you have a
- technologically inferior product with a lot of software support (i.e. 7800,
- etc.), it will fail. They also realize that if you have a technologically
- superior product with little software support (i.e. Lynx), it, too, will
- fail. Thus, it appears that they are approaching the Jaguar game console
- from precisely the right direction. From what we have been told, and from
- what some developers have leaked, the Jaguar is technologically superior to
- all machines currently on the market, and all machines slated for release
- this year. Also, Atari has held at _least_ two developer conferences as far
- back as 6-8 months ago, and has already hired 17 people to "pave the way"
- for the Jaguar. Since the release of the machine is not expected until late
- summer to early fall, a great deal of support should be forthcoming. Did
- the Lynx receive this much initial support? Not at all. If it had, the
- Lynx would have taken the market by storm. Just having software and
- developers, though, does not ensure success. Knowing this, I was very
- pleased to read an article in the industrial edition of BusinessWeek which
- stated that Atari had at least a $12 million advertising and promotion
- budget for the Jaguar. Finally, I would like to mention that there is much
- more to the Jaguar project than meets the eye. I foresee Atari going after
- two markets with the Jaguar - one will be as a low priced game system, which
- will appeal to children, and the other will be as an expandable platform
- from which a great deal of multimedia work can be accomplished (see below
- for more information). Whether Atari can successfully do this is the
- question.
-
- The third market is the home market. As things currently stand, there
- are two distinct ways in which corporations are attacking the home market.
- One method is the "business method". Essentially, the emphasis is based upon
- all of the business related functions a person at home could perform on his
- or her platform, etc. Usually, clones and Macintosh computer are marketed
- via this method. The other method is the "multi-media" method, and it is
- just barely beginning to catch on. There are several ways to approach this
- method, but it usually involves combining two usually separate components in
- some fashion and selling it as a single package. The most common examples
- would be the game machine/computer amalgamate. The Coleco Adam, the Atari
- XEGS system, and even Commodore's CDTV can fall into this category, and none
- of them succeeded to any great extent. While the history of this approach
- is bleak, it appears as though the market for this sort of machine is ready
- to explode. Recently there has been a glut of "interactive" machines on the
- market, but none have caught on. It is my opinion that the market only
- needs a viable machine to become active, because the current slew of
- interactive machines are not sufficiently useful to attract the conventional
- buyer. What this buyer needs is a combination of conventional abilities
- (word processing, etc.), and the multimedia features of interactive
- machines. When looking at the capabilities and the software development of
- the Falcon030, it is obvious that it definitely fits the bill. I don't
- think that the Falcon030 is intended primarily for such a market, though,
- but what I _do_ feel is that Atari realized that they could begin to grow
- accustomed to such a market by testing how the current Falcon was received,
- and, based on that knowledge, see if they wanted to pursue it further. Also,
- from what has been said about the Jaguar:
-
- "Electronic Gaming Monthly said (approximately): Atari is planning to do the
- same (as 3DO) with their Jaguar 64bit RISC based Mega system with add-ons
- for hard drives, keyboards and VR goggles to draw the computer heads....
- (hmmmm Sounds like a whole computer to me. Maybe with atari emulation???
- Don't know, so don't take my word for it!)
-
- Game Pro said: Atari told us recently that they wouldn't be at the Summer
- CES and would instead be showcasing their Jag at a private conference some
- time after June. They said that the Jag would be VERY expandable and that
- there would be available a AV for playing LYNX games over the TV. Seeing is
- believing."
-
- -it seems evident that Atari wants to make the Jaguar a lower-tier of a
- double multimedia thrust. From this evidence I can see several different
- situations.
-
- 1.) The Falcon line will be placed as the high end multimedia/conventional
- computer which will appeal to college students, families, etc. The Jaguar
- will be placed as the expandable low end system which will appeal to
- pre-teens as a game system, and then as a semi-computer system as they
- mature.
-
- 2.) The Falcon line will be emphasized only as a music computer, and the
- Jaguar will be released as a game machine and as an expandable base from
- which a computer may be built - the operating system would not be TOS
- compatible.
-
- 3.) Same as above, but with a TOS compatible operating system.
-
- All three approaches would be equally risky, as there really are no positive
- precedents at such market techniques, but even if the Falcon were subjugated
- to "music only" status, it would still receive support as a generic
- platform, and allow it to be used as a conventional computer. Or, if the
- Jaguar were eventually TOS compatible, we would all still have a platform to
- work with. So, as you can see, it does not look as though Atari will become
- "games-only", but it does look as though there are major changes ahead.
- While the Jaguar seemingly represents "games", it will probably mean much
- more. And, while 22 "computer" employees were fired and 17 "game" employees
- were hired, this does not mean that computers will be phased out. It does
- mean that Atari needs to keep a strict balance of manpower and that "games"
- are taking on more of an emphasis.
-
- The truth of the matter is that there is severe weather ahead for the Atari
- world at large. There are going to be some major changes, and I wouldn't be
- surprised if a great number of current users were "swept off the boat", so
- to speak. From the way I look at it, although the technology involved is
- not as divergent as with the 8 bit/ST situation, we will be going through
- such a shift once again. While they are TOS compatible, once the new
- machines are out in great enough numbers, the ST/STe/TT will begin to be
- phased out of software development considerations. Some might ask, "Why is
- this happening?!", and the plain truth is that the Tramiels need to put the
- last eight years behind them. They tried, unsuccessfully, to make the ST
- into a respected business platform since at least 1987, and have completely
- missed the mark. Because of the lack of steady progression during that time,
- they feel obligated to make a clean break and "try again", for better or for
- worse. The future is as of yet completely undecided, and upcoming events in
- the computer market are really going to blow things wide open. Hopefully,
- with their new approach, Atari will be able to adapt accordingly and cash
- in. If TOS survives, as I think it will, we would all benefit. The main
- point, then, is that Atari is currently undergoing drastic changes, and for
- once, Ralph Mariano and I agree...
-
- "While the company is not going under by any means, it will never be the
- company we've grown accustomed to... ever again."
-
- Ralph, your words have never rung more true.
-
-
- - Chris Millar
-
-
- from the FNET
-
- Conf : STReport Online
- Msg# : 23804/23823 Lines: Extended Read: 2
- Sent : Apr 25, 1993 at 10:35 AM
- To : Kerry Bowman
- From : Frank Sereno
- Subj : Re: Food for thought
-
-
- -=> Quoting Kerry Bowman to All <=-
-
- KB> You use another online mag as an example of wasting your online time
- KB> and you turn around and tell me that you don't really care, since you
- KB> have a 14.4k modem. I don't get what exactly you're trying to say.
- KB> One message you're against wasting online time, now you don't care...
- KB> you do have a point right?
-
- I don't remember saying that the OTHER magazine's size was a waste of my
- on-line time, but I pointed out to people that were complaining about STR's
- size that the OTHER magazine was becoming just as large. As far as it goes,
- there is one board in the Chicago area that carries the conference that the
- OTHER magazine is distributed in but the magazine usually isn't available as
- F-mail because it scrolls off the message base because of too many posts.
- And apparently the powers that be in that conference like lots and lots of
- posts because when traffic slowed down in the conference, they gated in the
- Atari ST Fido conference to make up the difference.
-
-
- KB> Well, it could be that we just have a difference of opinions. Meaning
- KB> keeping which end happy, the dealer of the customers. Better if both
- KB> are kept happy. I won't even go into how Atari has been handling
- KB> things, you're not going to get much disagreement from me. But hey, I
- KB> just wanted to hear your thoughts regarding the discount matter.
- KB> Wen
-
- This is really strange how the message is intended for me but addressed to
- ALL and is posted by one person and signed by another. Back to student
- discounts, I doubt if most dealers give them for Atari products. And that
- wasn't what Mr. Brodie told me when the subject came up in the Anti-Piracy
- Fnet Conference. He posted about colleges becoming VAR's of Atari products.
-
- Most PC dealers probably don't give discounts to college students either.
- On the other hand, most PC dealers and manufacturers are not in as dire
- straits as Atari is now. If Atari wants to make sales, they have to
- aggressively seek new customers by offering price incentives, discounts,
- promotions, etc. But it is really blind of Atari to intimate that their
- product has any kind of pricing advantage against the clones when you can
- walk into almost any PC dealer and get a loaded 486DX2-66 system complete
- with monitor for under $1800.
-
- These are my opinions of course, but bear in mind that I have owned Atari
- computers for over 9 years, an ST for five years and wanted to buy a Falcon
- almost TWO years ago. When the waiting became unbearable, I bought a clone
- system. I wanted to buy a Jaguar almost TWO years ago (heck, maybe 3) but
- still nobody can buy one, so last Christmas I bought a Sega Genesis (I
- refuse to own Nintendo products--something about staying away from the PC so
- long, the Nintendo suit with Atari and others, and not wanting to be a darn
- Lemming). I do own a Lynx, but now it appears that the Lynx will no longer
- be available at Toys R Us, Babbages, Software Etc., and other stores. Atari
- has disappointed me so many times that maybe I am a bit hard on them. On
-
-
- the other hand, maybe my perspective on Atari is correct.
-
- --- Blue Wave/QWK v2.10
-
-
- from the FNET
-
- Conf : DTP - ART
- Msg# : 3216/3216 Lines: 6 Read: 1
- Sent : Apr 26, 1993 at 5:36 PM
- To : S. Michael Hallack
- From : Le SysOp at Fnet Node 168, C.C.B.B.S. - Bridgeton, N.J.
- Subj : Re: <3211> Re: Atari Works & Speedo GDOS
-
- That's a very good question! I wish I knew the answer, though it's
- supposed to be that FSM-GDOS was never quick enough or something??
- And it's beginning to look like I may never get a look at Speedo GDOS
- either as I'm tired of waiting for Atari to get off it's dead a** and do
- something with the Falcon.... Too bad they the Tramiels had to go and
- screw the company up so bad...
-
- from the FNET
-
- Conf : STReport Online
- Msg# : 23850/23854 Lines: 15 Read: 1
- Sent : Apr 27, 1993 at 12:25 AM
- Recv : Apr 28, 1993
- To : Ralph Mariano
- From : Thomas Kolakowski at Fnet Node 669, Dateline: Atari
- Subj : Re: <23825> IAAD PIRACY REPORT
-
- I just got through reading the IAAD's Piracy Report. I was shocked! I
- was amazed! I was confused! But most of all I wonder... if they have so
- much damning evidence against these BBS's and users... why are are all
- those BBS's still up and operating? In some ways this report seem to me
- like a beginner's guide to pirating. If you were never on a pirate board
- you now know where they are, how to get online, what the procedures are!
- I think that if the report is 100% factual it will do more harm than
- good! I agree with you, their statements about this conference were
- wrong, and that the talk of piracy just began with that one user (which
- led to much debate here!). Hell, for all we know that was just a plant
- by the IAAD to see what users in this and other conferences have "piracy
- tenancies"; so they know which users they should examine?
-
- ---
- ~ MMST 2.60 UnRegistered (Tagline under construction)
-
-
- from GEnie
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 135 Mon May 03, 1993
- TOWNS at 19:01 EDT
-
- Steve.. CD-ROM drivers for MultiTOS.. Yet another reason to upgrade to
- MultiTOS when it becomes available. You can't expect Atari to support
- versions of TOS that it doesn't even sell anymore. MultiTOS is Atari's
- future for TOS based machines. From my viewpoint, you either upgrade
- or you stick it out with what you got.
-
- This isn't to say that Atari isn't going to do a CD-ROM driver for the
- older versions of TOS. I have no idea if they are planning one or not.
- As you might imagine.. they aren't exactly keeping me up to date on their
- software development efforts ;-)
-
- -- John
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 136 Tue May 04, 1993
- S.SCHAPER [Quinctius] at 00:11 EDT
-
- John (TiNT) Towns,
- Will it be possible to run the new MultiTOS desktop without slowing down
- the system by running all of MultiTOS?
-
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 137 Tue May 04, 1993
- LEPULLEY [Lloyd] at 08:47 EDT
-
- John,
-
- >>You can't expect Atari to support versions of TOS that it doesn't
- >>even sell anymore.
-
- Of course not - another company maybe, but not Atari. So what if 99.9%
- of all Atari users still use the old TOS - just desert them.
-
- Atari's same old upgrade path - whether hardware or software. Throw away
- your old system and buy a new one if you want to upgrade.
-
- Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.
-
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 138 Tue May 04, 1993
- TOWNS at 14:53 EDT
-
- But.. Lloyd.. you have known this for _five_ years. Atari's pricing doesn't
- have margins built-in for upgrade paths and Atari just doesn't do it.
-
- Complaining about it doesn't make it any better.
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 139 Wed May 05, 1993
- LEPULLEY [Lloyd] at 00:28 EDT
-
-
- Towns,
-
- >>But.. Lloyd.. you have known this for _five_ years.
-
- At least it's nice to see you admit it. And _I_ might be stuck with the
- 'throw away' upgrade path that Atari supplies, but others should be warned
- about it before they make their purchases. They might think that Atari is
- like most of the other computer world and makes upgradable computers.
-
- >>Atari's pricing doesn't have margins for built-in upgrade paths...
-
- ROFLAO - Tell the truth John. Atari couldn't make as much money selling
- new systems if they supplied a built-in upgrade path.
-
- >>Complaining about it doesn't make it any better.
-
- Complaining? No, commenting after you bring up the old saw about Atari
- not being able to support previous TOS versions, the one that 99.9% of the
- current owners have. The one that 95%+ (IMO) will still have next year. In
- other words, not supporting most of their current customers.
-
- Does it make it any better? Maybe not. But Jerry should be aware of the
- upgrade path that Atari offers when (if?) he writes his column. BTW, has
- Atari sent Jerry a Falcon030 yet? Afterall, they just got in that huge
- shipment - must have been a two month run - of 150 machines. Surely they
- can afford to send one free to a guy who can give them millions if FREE
- publicity.
-
- Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 141 Wed May 05, 1993
- S.SCHAPER [Quinctius] at 19:12 EDT
-
- When I bought my ST, there was the understanding that all sorts of upgrades
- would be available, out the DMA port, the Cart port, etc. Even the ABAQ was
- originally spoken of in this sort of way. (to me a logical upgrade path
- would have included some of those external boxes, as well as having the ROMS
- in a cart you could exchange. However, to an extent, in a different, and
- more difficult fashion, that is sort of available, with later ROMs available
- in different chip sets).
-
- I'm just sad because I don't think Atari is going to make it (maybe hang
- on for another five years, if that), and I really like my ST, and wish it
- held the market prominence of at least the Mac, preferably the DOS machines.
- (And certainly it could be doing as well as the Amiga, but you have to have
- customer support for more than just the modem-literate (I've gotten lots of
- support, but I'm online), places where you can buy them, a reliable future
- for the machine, and people have to know about it.
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 142 Wed May 05, 1993
- D.MCNAMEE [Dan @ Atari] at 19:23 EST
-
- -> Atari's same old upgrade path - whether hardware or software. <-
- -> Throw away your old system and buy a new one if you want to <-
- -> upgrade. <-
-
- Yep, just like IBMs, Apple's, Commodores, Chevy's, Ford's, Chrysler's
- and everyone else's in the world (although, admittedly Commodore did
- have a trade up thing going for a while).
-
- Dan
-
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 144 Wed May 05, 1993
- D.PATERSON2 [Dave] at 21:59 EDT
-
- Heck, at one point Atari was selling 520STs at half price if you sent in an
- 8-bit Atari. One hacker chum put all his burnt chips and blown boards into a
- single 400 and sent it in for the 50% off. No problem. Of course, now
- that Atari Canada has closed, who knows if anything like that will happen
- again.
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 145 Wed May 05, 1993
- SLP at 23:31 EDT
-
- Lloyd, I agree with Dan on the upgrade path question. I really don't see
- any difference between Atari and any of the other companies (with the
- possible exception of Commodore, but I don't know if they still have an
- upgrade program for the Amiga) when it comes to upgrades. Sure Apple will
- sell a motherboard upgrade, but the cost is about the same as buying the
- computer new and selling your old system. I don't know if they even do that
- much anymore. I bought my 520 in the summer of 1985 when I had to load the
- operating system from disk. Right now I've added memory, a hard drive, TOS
- ROMS, the CPX control panel, and several other items. I've run Speedo GDOS
- on the system, and I can still run most all of the current software without
- a problem. Both my color and monochrome monitors that I bought with the
- machine have always performed admirably, and I really have no complaints at
- all about the value that my Atari system has provided in the last 8 years.
- How many Amiga 1000s, Fat Mac 512s, and 286 machines, all of which cost much
- more than the 520 did, can still be used without feeling that you are
- working with a tired dog of a machine?
-
- Scott
- ------------
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 146 Thu May 06, 1993
- STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 03:38 EDT
-
- D.MCNAMEE - Yeah, in fact A LOT of people are very upset with Apple for
- introducing a new line of Mac's every 4-6 months! MacWorld magazine even
- suggests waiting 6 months after a Mac is introduced before buying one just
- to make sure it isn't immediately discontinued. However, some clones now
- come with the ability to upgrade the processor w/o switching out the
- motherboard, all the new Mac's have easy upgrade access (e.g. installing
- cards/RAM/etc. w/o having to take the whole machine apart), and the new
- Amiga 4000 has the CPU on a plug-in daughterboard so that it can be easily
- switched out.
- ------------
-
-
- Category 4, Topic 36
- Message 148 Thu May 06, 1993
- ST.REPORT [Ralph] at 08:09 EDT
-
- Amazing...... Simply amazing!! Because Atari leaves its loyal and
- thinning userbase hanging for months... heck, years on end with only
- a bleak picture for the future, its ok if other companies do it.
- That's terrific rationale...
-
- Dan, you leave me breathless with your;
-
- just like IBMs, Apple's, Commodores, Chevy's, Ford's, Chrysler's.."
-
- That is really the truth right?? Its really as clear and accurate as
- can be... wrong. Please Dan, don't fall into the "doublespeak" trap
- others at Atari have. You've always been straight forward and frank.
- Don't ruin that now with this sort of example. In the automotive world
- there's trade-ins at DEALERS in every city, county, state and country.
- With Apple, at least they are providing new and exciting products for
- their userbase and potential new customers on a very regular basis.
- Finally, with IBM & Clones... that platform is vibrant, alive and
- loaded with new product like the Apple platform. So much so, that
- the user must be careful in respect to what they buy. The impulsive
- buyer is in trouble with these two platforms. You see, there's DEALERS
- and STORES and PLENTIFUL PRODUCT available around most every corner.
-
- Where is Atari?
-
- Ralph @ STReport International Online Magazine
-
- ------------
-
- from the FNET
-
- Conf : Amiga
- Msg# : 9050/9061 Lines: Extended Read: 1
- Sent : May 02, 1993 at 5:59 PM
- To : All
- From : Tony Astolfi at Fnet Node 683, Ayer - Force
- Subj : the future of computing
-
- All right, in the continuing "The world according to me" series, I have
- decided to address the subject of the future of computing.
-
- In about 30-50 years, computer processors will have reached the point at
- which the only speed constraint will be the speed of light. At this point,
- the object will be to feed the computer with enough data to keep it busy.
- Once this has been achieved through the use of higher speed data transfer
- in about 10 more years, the easiest way to increase the speed of computers
- will be to write tighter, more efficient code. The companies that have
- been doing this all along will be all set, but those that have ridden on
- the success of the hardware industry will have to shape up, or go under.
-
- In the end, about 70 years from now, the focus will be on innovation in
- interface design, such as new input tools, and display devices, such as
- laser-driven holographic displays. With that out of the way, there will be
- no way to increase speed further than to use networking for parallel
- processing and resource sharing. Everyone will own a similar box, and they
- will all be connected in an extremely high-speed network. Like, if all
- your neighbors were not using their computers, then you could access their
- processor resources of their computers for increased speed. When your
- next-door neighbor decides he wants to simulate a virtual world or
- something, your computer will cease to be allowed access to your
- neighbor's computer's resources. This dynamic system of processing would
- be the best way of increasing speed in about 75 years.
-
- Not that the computers of this era will be short on power. One of these
- boxes would be able to do a virtual reality simulation, in 24-bit
- raytraced graphics at 60 frames a second and photographic resolution for
- about 10 people simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
-
- But there will be some tasks that will require extra speed. A true
- simulation of fluid dynamics in realtime in an entire environment, for
- example, would be beyond the capabilities of a single unit. Why someone
- would want to do this, I don't know, but the potential will be there.
-
- The average user, of course, would usually not be able to come up with
- tasks that could really strain the system. The standard, word processing,
- spreadsheet, and other tasks, would be trivial compared to the sheer speed
- and power of these systems. Even high-power entertainment would not pose
- too much of a problem for these systems. Virtual reality street fighting
- games would be common place. The next frontier would be virtual
- entertainment.
-
- What is virtual entertainment? It would be an incredible task of
- artificial intelligence, realtime rendering, and human-like thought
- processing. The computer would combine these to produce
- entertaining programming using existing plots, jokes, themes, and other
-
-
- elements from preproduced works of the past. You would never see the same
- thing twice, and you could even rate the things that the computer produces
- so that the computer could tailor its productions to your specific tastes
- in humor, areas of interest, types of plots, etc.
-
- Beyond virtual entertainment, the future is quite foggy indeed. There
- are hints of space exploration, genetic engineering, and other things, but
- not too many significant developments in the area of computers.
-
- So this, however strange it sounds, is what the future looks like. If
- you have any questions, or ideas, or things to add, please tell me so I
- can respond to the best of my ability.
-
- AND IF YOU SKIPPED OVER READING THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LONG...
- READ IT!!! you will be glad you did.
-
-
- from Delphi's Atari area..
-
- 54414 6-MAY 06:04 General Information
- Professional Usage of Ataris
- From: OCS To: ISDMARKETING
-
-
- Nathan,
-
- the following is not really a question about Calamus, but I think you are
- the appropriate person to ask it:
-
- After reading Jack Tramiel's latest comments at CeBIT ("Our machines are
- aimed at the consumer market. If some are used for professional purposes,
- that's fine, but not our company's philosophy" [from ST Computer 5/93,
- retranslated into English by me <g>]) and seeing their latest actions, what
- do developers like DMC, 3K Computerbild, Application Systems, (i.e.,
- companies that make software mainly for professional purposes) etc. think
- about their future in the Atari market? Are there attempts going on in the
- background to convince Atari that a successor for the TT is badly needed
- NOW? Or can we expect some or all of the developers of professional software
- to move on to more professional platforms (*)?
-
- Calamus is one great piece of software, and while I have never really used
- it myself, I have worked for a magazine (Atari Journal) that was published
- entirely with Calamus from 1989-1993. And as some people here who have seen
- some issues can confirm, the result looked absolutely awesome.
-
- Thanks for reading this!)
-
- Oliver
-
- (*) "more professional platforms" does not necessarily mean more expensive
- platforms. Seen yesterday:
-
- 486DX33, Vesa Local Bus, ZIF CPU socket (allows installation of
-
- (Pentium), 4 meg RAM, 3.5" drive, Multi I/O card, 170 meg Connor hard
-
- disk, VESA Local Bus 1 meg accelerator graphics card with true True
-
- Color (16.7 million colors), VESA Local Bus High Speed hard disk
-
- controller Super-VGA color monitor 0.28, free choice of case (tower, big
-
- tower, desktop...), temperature-controlled fan, MS-DOS 6.0, Windows 3.1,
-
- plus 4 software packages from Computer Associates (Windows word
-
- processor, spreadsheet, DBASE compatible database, time and resource
-
- management program)
-
- The price for this offer: 2,998 marks ($1875)
-
- The Falcon 030 (4/65) : 2,298 marks ($1440)
- + monitor from above : 700 marks
- -------------
- 2,998 marks ($1875)
-
-
- <sigh>
-
- A German saying comes to my mind: "Es war schon immer teuer, einen
- besonderen Geschmack zu haben." (it has always been expensive to have a
- special taste).
-
-
-
- 54416 6-MAY 08:05 Desktop Publishing
- RE: Customer Support (Re: Msg 54388)
- From: ISDMARKETING To: FBRUCH (NR)
-
- Yes Fred. The next update to the Calamus SL program is supposed to have
- Leader Tabs in and working. It had better. That is the top of my own
- personal list of things I want. Did you receive the customer mailout yet? I
- think we finished mailing them yesterday. Thanks for asking.
-
- Sincerely
-
- Nathan @ DMC
-
-
- 54417 6-MAY 08:06 Desktop Publishing
- RE: Customer Support (Re: Msg 54407)
- From: ISDMARKETING To: BONDSERVANT (NR)
-
- I made a blanket offer some time ago to sell Calamus 1.09N to any Pagestream
- customer for $95.00. That offer still stands. And you keep the Pagestream.
- ;-)
-
- Sincerely
-
- Nathan @ DMC
-
-
- 54418 6-MAY 08:19 General Information
- RE: Professional Usage of Ataris (Re: Msg 54414)
- From: ISDMARKETING To: OCS (NR)
-
- Hi Oliver:
-
- The quote from Jack is just about what I'd expect him to say under the
- circumstances. ;-) He's standing at a show where Atari's exhibit consists
- predominantly of Atari Falcon030's. It has always been Jack's personal
- business philosophy to go after the home market, in my opinion. That quote
- just makes it official.
-
- Companies such as DMC, since I am only qualified to discuss DMC, :-), are in
- the process of writing Calamus SL on another platform, one that does not
- consider its machines SPECIFICALLY for the consumer market, although we are
- all consumers, and does have serious market share in professional
- applications. However, we are very conscious of our large existing customer
- user base, most of whom are loyal to Calamus far more so than they are to
- Atari. ;-) We will insure compatibility. We will NOT abandon the Atari line!
- That statement has nothing to do with Atari or their actions but with the
- thousands of people that depend on Calamus to earn a living, on the Atari
- platform. Imagine the nerve, using Jacks machine for professional purposes.
- ;-) And if that's not bad enough, as most of you know, I am also involved
- with DynaCADD. I guess I'll never learn. ;-)
-
- There are many things going on in the background Oliver, which, by
- definition, must remain there. ;-)
-
- Thank you for your kind words about Calamus. I naturally agree. :-)
-
- Sincerely
-
- Nathan @ DMC
-
-
- ___________________________________________________________
-
-
-
-
- > STReport CONFIDENTIAL "Rumors Tidbits Predictions Observations Tips"
- """""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- - Washington DC USERS GETTING WARY & WEARY OF WAITING
- -------------
-
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-
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-
- pssst.... a rubber room candidate for sure! :-)
-
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-
- > DEALER CLASSIFIED LIST STR InfoFile * Dealer Listings *
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ---------------
-
-
-
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- =========================
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- ATARI-AMIGA-PC-CLONES-MAC
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-
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-
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- ================
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- St. Charles, IL., 60174
- Ph. (708) 513-5220
- Authorized Atari Dealer
-
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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